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    Iran Rebukes Trump Demand While Announcing New Supreme Leader

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54581054338/, Public Domain,

    Iran has selected a new supreme leader to replace Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following his death in a U.S.-Israeli strike, while rejecting demands from President Donald Trump to have any role in the leadership selection.

    Iran’s Assembly of Experts — the powerful body of senior clerics responsible for choosing the country’s supreme leader — announced Sunday that Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s 56-year-old son, will succeed his father.

    CNN’s Jeremy Diamond, reporting from Tel Aviv, said the decision came just over a week after the killing of Ali Khamenei during the opening phase of the conflict with Israel.

    “This is just in from Iran’s Assembly of Experts,” Diamond said. “This is the body of senior Iranian clerics responsible for electing the next supreme leader, and they have now chosen, just over a week after the assassination of the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his son Mojtaba Khamenei as his successor.”

    Diamond noted that Mojtaba Khamenei is widely seen as a hardline figure with close ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

    “He is known for having close ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, and his selection will largely be viewed as a continuation of his father’s rule,” Diamond said. “This is quite a hard-line stance for the Assembly of Experts to be choosing as the next supreme leader of Iran.”

    According to the report, Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded in the same strike that killed his father. The attack also killed his wife.

    His appointment comes amid escalating tensions with the United States and Israel, both of which have sharply criticized Iran’s leadership.

    President Trump had previously dismissed the possibility of Mojtaba Khamenei becoming supreme leader, calling him a “lightweight” in an interview with Axios and saying such a choice would be unacceptable.

    Iranian officials, however, have firmly rejected any suggestion that Washington could influence the selection.

    Speaking Sunday on NBC News’ Meet the Press, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the choice of supreme leader is strictly an internal matter for Iran.

    When asked whether Iran would allow Trump any role in choosing the country’s next leader, Araghchi responded bluntly.

    “We allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs,” he said. “This is up to the Iranian people to elect their new leader. They have already elected the Assembly of Experts, and the Assembly of Experts will do the job. It is only the business of the Iranian people and nobody else’s business.”

    Araghchi also pushed back on Trump’s earlier demand for Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”

    “This is what he asked the previous time in June, when Israel started to attack us,” Araghchi said. “President Trump used the same phrase, ‘unconditional surrender.’ That was the tweet he made. And that didn’t happen.”

    “We resisted, and after 12 days Israelis asked for an unconditional ceasefire,” he continued. “So we never give up, we never surrender, and we will continue to resist as long as it takes. We are defending our territory, our people, and our dignity. And our dignity is not for sale.”

    Even as Iran moves forward with its new leadership, Israeli officials have issued stark warnings that the country’s next leader will also become a target.

    Days before the leadership announcement, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that anyone appointed to lead Iran’s ruling regime could face assassination if they continue policies hostile to Israel and its allies.

    “Every leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue and lead the plan to destroy Israel, to threaten the United States and the free world and the countries of the region, and to suppress the Iranian people will be an unequivocal target for elimination,” Katz wrote in a post on X.

    “It does not matter what his name is or the place where he hides,” he added.

    Katz said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare for such action as part of Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Iran, known as Operation Lion’s Roar.

    “The Prime Minister and I have instructed the IDF to prepare and act by all means to carry out the mission as an integral part of the objectives of Operation Lion’s Roar,” Katz said.

    He added that Israel will continue coordinating with the United States to weaken the Iranian regime and create conditions that could lead to political change inside the country.

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    Hegseth Confirms Leader Behind Trump Assassination Effort Has Been ‘Hunted Down and Killed’

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America - Pete Hegseth, CC BY-SA 2.0

    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the Iranian leader behind multiple assassination attempts against President Donald Trump was killed during U.S. strikes on Iran over the weekend as part of Operation Epic Fury.

    “The leader of the unit that attempted to assassinate Trump has been hunted down and killed,” Hegseth said during a press conference Wednesday morning.

    “Iran tried to kill President Trump and President Trump got the last laugh,” Hegseth continued. “Now, this is not a ‘mission accomplished’ situation. This is simply a reality check.”

    U.S. officials confirmed earlier this week that strikes against Iran, which began Saturday, killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior figures in the regime’s leadership.

    The military campaign comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran following repeated threats from Iran against Trump after the 2020 U.S. strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani.

    In 2024, Iran-linked actors attempted to arrange an assassination plot targeting Trump. The U.S. government has also previously warned of other Iranian efforts to target the former president.

    In 2022, an Iranian video depicted an assassination attempt on Trump while he played golf.

    Trump referenced those threats during a phone call with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl earlier this week following reports of Khamenei’s death.

    “I got him before he got me,” Trump said.

    “They tried twice,” Trump continued, referring to Iran’s previous attempts on his life. “Well, I got him first.”

    During Wednesday’s press conference, Hegseth said the combined power of U.S. and Israeli intelligence and military forces is rapidly weakening Iran’s ability to respond.

    “America is winning decisively, devastatingly and without mercy,” Hegseth said.

    He also emphasized that the current military campaign was never intended to be evenly matched.

    “This was never meant to be a fair fight and it is not a fair fight. We are punching them while they’re down, which is exactly how it should be,” he said.

    Iran has launched retaliatory attacks in response to the strikes. A drone strike in Kuwait earlier this week killed at least six Americans, according to U.S. officials. Hegseth vowed those casualties would be avenged.

    He said:

    “As President Trump said, more and larger waves are coming. We are just getting started. We are accelerating, not decelerating. Iran’s capabilities are evaporating by the hour, while American strength grows fiercer, smarter and utterly dominant. More bombers and more fighters are arriving just today. And now, with complete control of the skies, we will be using 500-pound, 1,000-pound and 2,000 pound GPS and laser-guided precision gravity bombs, of which we have a nearly unlimited stockpile. We used more exquisite standoff munitions at the start, but no longer need to. Our stockpiles of those, as well as patriots, remains extremely strong.”

    Hegseth added that the United States has the capacity to sustain the conflict if necessary.

    He warned the U.S. can “sustain this fight easily for as along as we need to.”

    The defense secretary compared Iran’s situation to a football team that had prepared only the opening portion of a game.

    “I liken Iran’s predicament to a football team who scripted the first 20 plays of a game,” he said. “The team knew what plays to run because their first few drives were scripted. But now that the game has started and the blitz is on, they don’t know what plays call, let alone how to get in the huddle and call those plays.”

    Hegseth concluded by saying the strikes represent Trump getting the “last laugh” against Iran.

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    Dem Senator Left ‘Baffled’ By Lack of Support for Trump’s Iran Strikes and Death of ‘Evil’ Leaders

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    5
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) is expressing disbelief at fellow Democrats who have criticized President Donald Trump’s military strikes against Iran, calling the action a decisive moment for regional peace and security.

    Fetterman questioned members of his own party who voiced opposition to the strikes, arguing that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon has long been a bipartisan priority.

    “Every single member of the Senate has agreed that we can never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear bomb, and clearly they [Iran] were actually intending to do that. So, are you really committed to that?” Fetterman asked Monday on Hannity.

    U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes on Iranian military and government targets on Feb. 28, deploying air, sea and missile power in what officials described as a sweeping operation. The mission, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, struck more than 1,000 military, intelligence and government sites across Iran within its first 24 hours, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior regime officials were eliminated in the strikes.

    Fetterman said he was “baffled” that more people were not celebrating the death of what he described as “one of the most evil men ever” and the crippling of the Iranian regime.

    “It’s a good thing for the region, it’s a good thing for Israel, it’s good for America, and so, for me, that’s why I stand with the country over perhaps what the base may demand,” Fetterman said.

    Watch:

    He also defended the legality and strategic rationale behind the operation, pushing back on critics who questioned whether the president overstepped his authority.

    “Imagine if people just listened to the conventional wisdom, that they could have possibly have acquired a bomb if we weren’t bombed back in June. So, yes, there is a threat. It’s not imminent that it could happen right now. But it’s one that I think is entirely appropriate to deal with it,” Fetterman told CNN host Dana Bash. “And that’s why I support it. So, again, people keep— describe that it was a legal war. Now read the War Powers Act. And, now, that has not been violated at this point what happened yesterday.”

    The War Powers Act requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing U.S. military forces. The Trump administration notified the “Gang of Eight” — the bipartisan group of top congressional leaders and intelligence committee chairs — before the strikes but did not seek formal authorization.

    Fetterman noted that Trump had previously attempted diplomacy before resorting to military action.

    “Well, what is true is that President Trump tried to negotiate that and tried to find a firm kinds [sic] of agreements, absolutely. And they refused to those basic, basic kinds of things: remind everybody, you are never allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. And, clearly, they was [sic]. And I absolutely supported what happened last June,” Fetterman continued.

    Fetterman is one of the few Democrats who backed Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear facilities ordered by President Trump. While most of the Democratic caucus condemned that action, Fetterman later voted as the lone Democratic senator against a war powers resolution seeking to curb the president’s authority following the operation.

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    MTG Accuses Trump Of Implementing ‘Manufactured Crisis’ To Cancel Midterm Elections

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    5
    Marjorie Taylor Greene -Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, via Wikimedia Commons

    Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said Sunday that she could envision President Donald Trump declaring a “national emergency” tied to Iran or another crisis, responding to speculation that such a move could affect the upcoming midterm elections.

    The comments came after conservative podcaster Shannon Joy posted on X, “Trump doesn’t seem to care about the midterms. Who wants to bet he’ll declare a ‘national emergency’ because of Iran (or some other manufactured crisis) and try to cancel the elections in November?”

    Greene replied, “Yeah, I could see it. INSANE.”

    Her response follows a recent public break with the president over U.S. military action against Iran. Greene has sharply criticized the strikes in multiple social media posts, arguing they run counter to the “America First” platform that helped elect Trump.

    “The Trump admin actually asked in a poll how many casualties voters were willing to accept in a war with Iran???” Greene wrote Saturday on X. “How about ZERO you bunch of sick f*cking liars. We voted for America First and ZERO wars.”

    In another post, she added: “This is NOT freeing the Iranian people!!! This is murdering their children!!! WTF are you insane people doing??? AMERICA DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS!!!”

    The exchange comes amid debate within Republican circles about the administration’s decision to strike Iran. Critics have questioned the timing, noting that Trump said in June that prior U.S. strikes had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

    In an interview Sunday with Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich, Trump defended the latest action, saying that without U.S. and Israeli missile strikes, Iran “would have had a nuclear weapon within two weeks.”

    However, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) offered a more measured assessment during an appearance on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”

    “I don’t have present-day intelligence on what progress they had made toward rebuilding nuclear weapons since we bombed their facilities,” Cruz said. “I have no indication that they were anywhere close to getting nuclear weapons, because our bombing was devastating… That’s one of the reasons I urged President Trump, ‘Now is the time’” to strike.

    The midterm elections, scheduled for November, are expected to be closely contested, with some political analysts projecting potential Republican losses in key districts. Greene’s comments reflect broader concerns among some conservatives about U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts and their potential domestic political implications.

    A January report from Roll Call cited a prior Oval Office meeting in which Trump discussed elections during wartime. According to the report, during an Aug. 18 meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about the conditions required to restart elections in Ukraine.

    “So you say, during the war, you can’t have elections,” Trump mused, according to the report. “So you mean if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections. I wonder what the fake news would say to that.”

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    Secret Service Fatally Shoot Armed Mar-A-Lago Intruder

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2
    Marine One lifts-off after returning President Donald J. Trump to Mar-a-Lago Friday, March 29, 2019, following his visit to the 143-mile Herbert Hoover Dike near Canal Point, Fla., that surrounds Lake Okeechobee. The visit was part of an infrastructure inspection of the dike, which is part of the Kissimmee-Okeechobee Everglades system, and reduces impacts of flooding for areas of south Florida. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian) [Photo Credit: The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

    PALM BEACH, Fla. — A 21-year-old man was shot and killed early Sunday after allegedly breaching the secure perimeter of President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, prompting a multi-agency federal investigation, the U.S. Secret Service confirmed.

    The incident unfolded around 1:30 a.m. when the suspect made what officials described as an “unauthorized entry” onto the property.

    According to the Secret Service, the individual was observed near the north gate carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel can. Agents, along with a deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), responded immediately.

    Sheriff Ric Bradshaw identified the suspect as Austin Tucker Martin, 21, of North Carolina.

    Bradshaw said during a press conference that a deputy and two Secret Service agents assigned to the detail confronted the man after he entered what authorities described as the “inner perimeter” of the estate.

    “They confronted a white male that was carrying a gas can and a shotgun. He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him — at which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position,” Bradshaw told reporters. “At that point in time, the deputy and the two Secret Service agents fired their weapons and neutralized the threat.”

    Bradshaw said the suspect did not respond verbally to commands from law enforcement officers to drop the items.

    Martin was pronounced dead at the scene.

    Officials confirmed that no Secret Service personnel or sheriff’s deputies were injured during the confrontation. No Secret Service protectees were present at Mar-a-Lago at the time of the incident, and Trump was not in Florida when the shooting occurred.

    The FBI, Secret Service, and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office are jointly investigating the shooting, including the suspect’s background, actions, potential motive, and the use of force.

    FBI Miami Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles said the bureau is assisting due to the location being under Secret Service protection.

    The FBI’s evidence response team is processing the scene and collecting physical evidence. Skiles urged residents in the area to review surveillance footage from late Saturday night into early Sunday morning.

    “If you see anything that looks suspicious or out of place, please contact us,” he said.

    FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post on X that the agency “is dedicating all necessary resources in the investigation of this morning’s incident,” adding that the bureau “will continue working closely with @SecretService as well our state and federal partners and will provide updates as we are able.”

    Heightened Security After Previous Threats

    Sunday’s incident comes amid heightened security surrounding Trump following multiple high-profile threats and assassination attempts in recent years. Most notably, Trump survived an assassination attempt during a July 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman opened fire, injuring Trump and killing a rally attendee. That attack prompted sweeping reviews of Secret Service procedures and significantly intensified protective measures at Trump properties and public events.

    Since then, federal authorities have reported disrupting additional threats against the former president, contributing to an already elevated security posture.

    Mar-a-Lago, which serves as Trump’s private residence and a frequent venue for political and public events, operates under layered security protocols when under Secret Service protection. Officials have not yet indicated whether Sunday’s incident is connected to any broader threat.

    The investigation remains active, and authorities say additional details will be released as they become available.

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    Report: Trump Advisor Warns ‘90% Chance’ Strike On Iran Is Coming

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2
    President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd after delivering remarks at the House GOP Member Retreat, Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at the Donald J. Trump- John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

    A senior adviser to President Donald Trump is warning that U.S. military action against Iran may be imminent as diplomatic efforts appear to be faltering.

    One senior adviser told Axios reporter Barak Ravid on Monday that there is a “90% chance” the United States could launch strikes within weeks.

    “The boss is getting fed up. Some people around him warn him against going to war with Iran, but I think there is 90% chance we see kinetic action in the next few weeks,” the adviser said.

    The comments come amid heightened tensions following three-hour talks in Geneva between Trump advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Both sides publicly stated that discussions “made progress,” though significant differences remain.

    Vice President JD Vance echoed that assessment, signaling that while diplomacy has not collapsed, it may be nearing its limits.

    Negotiations “went well” in some ways, Vance said, but “in other ways it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through.” He cautioned that diplomacy could soon have “reached its natural end.”

    The administration has consistently maintained that Iran will not be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon, a position widely supported by Republican lawmakers and national security hawks. Trump has repeatedly emphasized that Tehran must meet strict conditions or face serious consequences.

    At the same time, U.S. military deployments in the region have accelerated. Two aircraft carriers, dozens of warships, and hundreds of fighter jets are being positioned across the Middle East. More than 150 cargo flights have reportedly delivered weapons systems and ammunition to support forces in the region.

    According to Axios, a potential strike on Iran would likely unfold as a sustained and coordinated U.S.-Israeli effort. Sources familiar with planning discussions indicated that any operation would not be limited to nuclear facilities but could also target key regime assets.

    While the president has continued to leave the door open to a negotiated solution, senior officials suggest patience is rapidly wearing thin.

    On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the two sides reached a “general agreement on a number of guiding principles” and agreed to begin drafting text for a possible agreement during a meeting between the two countries, with plans to exchange drafts and schedule a third round of talks. 

    “Good progress was made compared to the previous meeting,” he said, adding that while drafting would slow the process, “at least the path has started.”

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    War Department Takes Out Cartel-Owned Drone

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America - Pete Hegseth, CC BY-SA 2.0

    On Wednesday morning, the White House confirmed drone activity from Mexican drug cartels caused the sudden closure of U.S. airspace over El Paso, Texas.

    In a statement to Newsweek the White House said: “Mexican cartel drones breached US airspace. The Department of War took action to disable the drones.

    “The FAA and DOW have determined there is no threat to commercial travel.”

    A Trump administration official told Fox News that the initial lockdown came in response to “Mexican cartel drones” that breached U.S. airspace. The FAA had announced Wednesday morning that all flights to and from El Paso were being grounded, including commercial, cargo and general aviation. The restriction was initially set to be effective from February 10 at 11:30 p.m. MST to February 20 at 11:30 p.m. MST.

    “Mexican cartel drones breached US airspace. The Department of War took action to disable the drones. The FAA and DOW have determined there is no threat to commercial travel,” the official told Fox News.

    Restrictions set earlier by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have been lifted and authorities say there remains no threat to commercial air travel.

    “The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted. There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal,” the FAA said on its X account.

    This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

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    Attempted Trump Assassination Suspect Sentenced In Court

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    0

    Just in…

    On Wednesday, Ryan Routh was sentenced to life in prison plus seven years over his attempt to assassinate Donald Trump on a Florida golf course.

    Prosecutors argued that Routh, 60, should get a life sentence after a jury last year convicted him on five counts for allegedly plotting “painstakingly to kill President Trump, and [taking] significant steps toward making that happen.” 

    “Routh’s crimes undeniably warrant a life sentence — he took steps over the course of months to assassinate a major presidential candidate, demonstrated the will to kill anybody in the way, and has since expressed neither regret nor remorse to his victims,” prosecutors argued in a court filing. 

    During the September trial, a jury quickly found Routh guilty on five felony counts, including attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer. 

    Routh allegedly hid in the bushes of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach and pointed a military-grade SKS rifle towards Trump and a Secret Service agent. 

    “Routh’s crimes of conviction reflect careful plotting, extensive premeditation, and a cowardly disregard for human life,” prosecutors wrote. “Routh’s motive for his crimes was unconscionable – preventing the American people from electing the candidate of their choice for President. Routh’s gloss on his crimes has always been that anything he may have done was justified by events in Ukraine or American domestic politics.”

    Since his conviction, Routh was appointed an attorney and has requested a 27-year sentence that would allow him to “experience freedom again as opposed to dying in prison.” His lawyer argued that Routh could not have a fair trial because he represented himself, even though Routh made that decision after repeated warnings about the potential consequences. 

    Routh represented himself at trial and attempted to argue that he never intended to harm Trump or the Secret Service agent, claiming his actions were a form of protest

    Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump-appointed judge, dismissed the criminal case against the president in 2024 related to his handling of classified documents. Routh unsuccessfully attempted to have Cannon removed from the case by arguing her appointment by Trump is a conflict of interest.

    This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

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    Russian Military Plane Lands In Cuba As Trump Declares National Emergency

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    0
    Kremlin.ru, via Wikimedia Commons

    A sanctioned Russian military cargo plane landed Sunday night at a Cuban military airfield outside Havana, raising fresh concerns in Washington as President Donald Trump sharply escalates pressure on the communist government in Cuba.

    The aircraft — an Ilyushin Il-76 heavy transport jet operated by Russian state-linked airline Aviacon Zitotrans — touched down at San Antonio de los Baños Airfield, a Cuban military installation roughly 30 miles south of the capital, according to public flight-tracking data. The Il-76 is commonly used to move military equipment and personnel and has been scrutinized by U.S. officials in past operations.

    Flight records show the plane traveled through St. Petersburg and Sochi in Russia, Mauritania, and the Dominican Republic before arriving in Cuba. Each stop would have required authorization from host governments, highlighting which countries continue to permit Russian military-linked aircraft to operate despite Western sanctions.

    The same aircraft conducted multiple flights to Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba in late October 2025, during a period of heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas. Those movements preceded U.S. military action in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of longtime strongman Nicolás Maduro, an operation U.S. officials and analysts have since cited as a warning sign when assessing similar Russian aviation activity in the region.

    Now, attention has turned to Cuba — and to President Trump’s increasingly aggressive posture toward Havana.

    On Thursday, Trump declared a national emergency related to Cuba, stating that the Cuban government poses an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. The administration also announced it would impose penalties on any country that sells or supplies oil to Cuba without U.S. authorization, a move aimed at further isolating the regime.

    Trump confirmed Sunday that the United States is engaged in direct talks with Cuban officials.

    “Cuba is a failing nation. It has been for a long time, but now it doesn’t have Venezuela to prop it up,” Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago. “So we’re talking to the people from Cuba, the highest people in Cuba, to see what happens. I think we’re going to make a deal with Cuba.”

    Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have both signaled support for political change in Havana, though the administration has not said whether it would pursue that goal through military action.

    Russian military ties to Cuba have long alarmed U.S. officials. While Moscow’s presence on the island diminished after the Cold War, Russia has steadily rebuilt defense and intelligence cooperation with Havana over the past decade — a development Washington views as a potential security risk just 90 miles from the U.S. mainland.

    The Il-76’s capabilities only heighten those concerns. The aircraft can carry roughly 50 tons of cargo or up to 200 personnel, and its operator, Aviacon Zitotrans, has a well-documented history of supporting Russia’s defense sector. The airline has been sanctioned by the United States, Canada, and Ukraine.

    “Aviacon Zitotrans has shipped military equipment such as rockets, warheads, and helicopter parts all over the world,” the U.S. Treasury Department said when it sanctioned the company in January 2023.

    It remains unclear what the aircraft carried on its most recent flight. During earlier operations tied to Venezuela, Russian state media and a Russian lawmaker said the same plane delivered Pantsir-S1 short-range and Buk-M2E medium-range air defense systems to Caracas.

    With the Trump administration pressing Cuba economically and diplomatically — and with Russian military activity once again surfacing in the Caribbean — U.S. officials are watching closely

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    Trump Confirms The US Used New Sonic Weapon

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    President Donald Trump confirmed in a NewsNation interview this week that the U.S. used a previously undisclosed weapon during the mission that captured Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.

    During a conversation with NewsNation host Katie Pavlich, Trump was asked about reports claiming a “sonic weapon” was deployed in Venezuela—one that allegedly disabled Maduro’s Cuban bodyguards and left them unable to fight back.

    Trump didn’t offer technical details, but he strongly implied the reports were accurate.

    “Yeah, something I don’t wanna— Nobody else has it,” Trump said, suggesting the U.S. possesses capabilities that America’s enemies simply can’t match.

    Trump added that the U.S. military has “weapons that nobody knows about,” saying it’s better not to discuss them publicly—but praising the operation as a total success.

    “That was an amazing attack,” Trump said. “Don’t forget, that house was in the middle of a fort, an army base, a big one, a lot of soldiers, and they came in and they did their job. We lost nobody.”

    Leavitt amplified viral claims of a “sound wave” weapon

    The conversation follows a viral post shared on X by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on January 10. Leavitt reposted a dramatic account from influencer Mike Netter, writing, “Stop what you are doing and read this…”

    Netter’s post claimed to feature an exchange between a Venezuelan security guard loyal to Maduro and an interviewer. In the account, the guard described U.S. forces as overwhelmingly precise and unstoppable, even while badly outnumbered.

    The guard alleged the Americans used such advanced firepower that it seemed “each soldier was firing 300 rounds per minute,” and claimed the attack wasn’t just about guns.

    According to the account, the turning point came when U.S. troops launched something the guard described as “a very intense sound wave.” He claimed it caused instant physical effects—including nosebleeds, disorientation, and even vomiting blood—leaving Maduro’s men collapsed and defenseless.

    The guard also claimed the raid ended with roughly twenty U.S. soldiers defeating hundreds of defenders without a single American casualty.

    Legacy media largely ignores the story

    Despite Trump’s comments and the attention Leavitt’s post received online, the story has seen limited coverage from major U.S. outlets.

    However, several British tabloids—including The Independent and Daily Mail—reported on Trump’s remarks, with the Mail running the headline: “Trump reveals details of secret ‘sonic weapon’ used in Venezuela raid: ‘Nobody else has it.’”

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