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    Inside The White House Correspondents’ Dinner Suspect’s ‘Manifesto’

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    3

    The man accused of opening fire outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner left behind a detailed “manifesto” describing his intent to target members of the Trump administration, “prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest,” according to a copy obtained by CBS News.

    Cole Allen, 31, allegedly sent the writing to family members before the attack. In it, he stated that while law enforcement, hotel employees, and guests were not his intended targets, he was willing to harm them if necessary to reach administration officials. “I really hope it doesn’t come to that,” he wrote.

    Authorities say Allen charged a security checkpoint outside the Washington Hilton on Saturday night armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and knives. President Donald Trump and other officials were quickly escorted from the event, which was later canceled. A Secret Service agent who was shot during the incident, while wearing a bulletproof vest, has since been released from the hospital.

    The suspect’s brother reportedly alerted police in Connecticut after receiving the email, prompting law enforcement to intervene. Investigators later recovered additional writings from Allen’s home in Torrance, California, and his hotel room at the Hilton.

    A chilling and ironic tone

    Throughout the message, Allen adopted a matter-of-fact tone, at times veering into irony.

    “Hello everybody!” he began. “So I may have given a lot of people a surprise today.”

    He apologized to his parents “for saying I had an interview without specifying it was for ‘Most Wanted,’” and to colleagues and students for claiming he had a personal emergency. He suggested that by the time the email was read, he might already require medical attention, referring to potential injuries as “self-inflicted status.”

    Declared targets — with one exception

    Allen wrote that he chose to act because he did not want the administration’s alleged “crimes” to “coat [his] hands.” While he did not explicitly name Trump or the event, he described a plan to target officials in descending order of rank.

    He made one notable exception: “not including Mr. Patel,” he wrote, referencing the FBI director, who was also in attendance.

    Allen added that he would avoid targeting Secret Service, Capitol Police, or National Guard personnel unless necessary. “I hope they are wearing body armor,” he wrote.

    He also detailed tactical decisions, claiming, “In order to minimize casualties, I will also be using buckshot rather than slugs (less penetration through walls).”

    Anticipating criticism

    The manifesto included a section addressing hypothetical objections to his actions, along with rebuttals.

    “As a half-black, half-white person, you shouldn’t be the one doing this,” he wrote as a potential criticism. “Rebuttal: I don’t see anyone else picking up the slack.”

    He also referenced his Christian faith, writing that some might argue he should “turn the other cheek.”

    “Rebuttal,” he continued, “Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed.”

    Allen then described various unnamed individuals experiencing hardship, in some cases attributing their struggles to the administration.

    “I don’t expect forgiveness, but if I could have seen any other way to get this close, I would have taken it,” he added.

    Criticism of security

    In a postscript, Allen sharply criticized security measures at the event.

    “PS… what the hell is the Secret Service doing? … No damn security. Not in transport. Not in the hotel. Not in the event,” he wrote.

    He claimed that if he had been a foreign agent, he could have brought in heavier weaponry without detection. Officials note that while the Washington Hilton hosted the event, it remained an operational hotel with public access, and only specific areas were secured.

    Family warnings and prior behavior

    Allen’s sister reportedly told investigators that he frequently used “radical” rhetoric and had previously discussed doing “something” to address what he saw as problems in society and government.

    She also revealed her brother was a regular visitor to the shooting range, was a member of a group called “The Wide Awakes” and had previously attended a “No Kings” rally in California. 

    Political reaction and unanswered questions

    The motive behind the attack remains under investigation.

    Former President Barack Obama emphasized the lack of confirmed details while condemning political violence broadly.

    “Although we don’t yet have the details about the motives behind last night’s shooting… it’s incumbent upon all of us to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy,” Obama wrote. He also praised the Secret Service, calling their work “a sobering reminder of the courage and sacrifice” they show.

    During a “60 Minutes” interview, Trump reacted angrily after host Norah O’Donnell read excerpts from the alleged manifesto.

    “You read that crap from some sick person? I got associated with all stuff that has nothing to do with me,” Trump said, adding, “You should be ashamed of yourself… You’re a disgrace.”

    More than 2,500 people had gathered for the annual dinner, which celebrates the First Amendment. Trump, who has typically declined to attend during his presidency, had made a historic appearance this year and has since said he hopes to reschedule the event within 30 days.

    The Full Manifesto

    To read Allen’s full 1,052-word manifesto as published by The New York Post, with minor edits to improve profanity, see below:

    Hello everybody!

    So I may have given a lot of people a surprise today. Let me start off by apologizing to everyone whose trust I abused.

    I apologize to my parents for saying I had an interview without specifying it was for “Most Wanted.”

    I apologize to my colleagues and students for saying I had a personal emergency (by the time anyone reads this, I probably most certainly DO need to go to the ER, but can hardly call that not a self-inflicted status.)

    I apologize to all of the people I traveled next to, all the workers who handled my luggage, and all the other non-targeted people at the hotel who I put in danger simply by being near.

    I apologize to everyone who was abused and/or murdered before this, to all those who suffered before I was able to attempt this, to all who may still suffer after, regardless of my success or failure.

    I don’t expect forgiveness, but if I could have seen any other way to get this close, I would have taken it. Again, my sincere apologies.

    On to why I did any of this:

    I am a citizen of the United States of America.

    What my representatives do reflects on me.

    And I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.

    (Well, to be completely honest, I was no longer willing a long time ago, but this is the first real opportunity I’ve had to do something about it.)

    While I’m discussing this, I’ll also go over my expected rules of engagement (probably in a terrible format, but I’m not military so too bad.)

    Administration officials (not including Mr. Patel): they are targets, prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest

    Secret Service: they are targets only if necessary, and to be incapacitated non-lethally if possible (aka, I hope they’re wearing body armor because center mass with shotguns messes up people who *aren’t*

    Hotel Security: not targets if at all possible (aka unless they shoot at me)

    Capitol Police: same as Hotel Security

    National Guard: same as Hotel Security

    Hotel Employees: not targets at all

    Guests: not targets at all

    In order to minimize casualties I will also be using buckshot rather than slugs (less penetration through walls)

    I would still go through most everyone here to get to the targets if it were absolutely necessary (on the basis that most people *chose* to attend a speech by a pedophile, rapist, and traitor, and are thus complicit) but I really hope it doesn’t come to that.

    Rebuttals to objections:

    Objection 1: As a Christian, you should turn the other cheek.

    Rebuttal: Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed. I’m not the person raped in a detention camp. I’m not the fisherman executed without trial. I’m not a schoolkid blown up or a child starved or a teenage girl abused by the many criminals in this administration.

    Turning the other cheek when *someone else* is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressor’s crimes.

    Objection 2: This is not a convenient time for you to do this.

    Rebuttal: I need whoever thinks this way to take a couple minutes and realize that the world isn’t about them. Do you think that when I see someone raped or murdered or abused, I should walk on by because it would be “inconvenient” for people who aren’t the victim?

    This was the best timing and chance of success I could come up with.

    Objection 3: You didn’t get them all.

    Rebuttal: Gotta start somewhere.

    Objection 4: As a half-black, half-white person, you shouldn’t be the one doing this.

    Rebuttal: I don’t see anyone else picking up the slack

    Objection 5: Yield unto Caesar what is Caesar’s.

    Rebuttal: The United States of America are ruled by the law, not by any one or several people. In so far as representatives and judges do not follow the law, no one is required to yield them anything so unlawfully ordered.

    I would also like to extend my appreciation to a great many people since I will not be likely to be able to talk with them again (unless the Secret Service is *astoundingly* incompetent.)

    Thank you to my family, both personal and church, for your love over these 31 years.

    Thank you to my friends, for your companionship over many years.

    Thank you to my colleagues over many jobs, for your positivity and professionalism.

    Thank you to my students for your enthusiasm and love of learning.

    Thank you to the many acquaintances I’ve met, in person and online, for short interactions and long-term relationships, for your perspectives and inspiration.

    Thank you all for everything.

    Sincerely,

    Cole “coldForce” “Friendly Federal Assassin” Allen

    PS: Ok now that all the sappy stuff is done, what the hell is the Secret Service doing? Sorry, gonna rant a bit here and drop the formal tone.

    Like, I expected security cameras at every bend, bugged hotel rooms, armed agents every 10 feet, metal detectors out the wazoo.

    What I got (who knows, maybe they’re pranking me!) is nothing.

    No damn security.

    Not in transport.

    Not in the hotel.

    Not in the event.

    Like, the one thing that I immediately noticed walking into the hotel is the sense of arrogance.

    I walk in with multiple weapons and not a single person there considers the possibility that I could be a threat.

    The security at the event is all outside, focused on protestors and current arrivals, because apparently no one thought about what happens if someone checks in the day before.

    Like, this level of incompetence is insane, and I very sincerely hope it’s corrected by the time this country gets actually competent leadership again.

    Like, if I was an Iranian agent, instead of an American citizen, I could have brought a damn Ma Deuce in here and no one would have noticed s**t.

    Actually insane.

    Oh and if anyone is curious is how doing something like feels: it’s awful. I want to throw up; I want to cry for all the things I wanted to do and never will, for all the people whose trust this betrays; I experience rage thinking about everything this administration has done.

    Can’t really recommend it! Stay in school, kids.

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    Trump Asks Court To Throw Out Remnants of ‘Legally Unsound’ Fraud Case

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    Alec Perkins from Hoboken, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

    President Trump has asked New York’s highest court to dismiss the remaining findings and penalties in the state’s civil fraud case against him, arguing that the lawsuit brought by Attorney General Letitia James was legally flawed and politically motivated.

    In a 119-page filing submitted Wednesday to the New York Court of Appeals, Trump’s attorneys described the case as an “unprecedented” use of the attorney general’s authority and urged the court to fully overturn it.

    “This Court should put an end to this politically motivated action,” his lawyers wrote.

    James filed the civil lawsuit in 2022, accusing Trump and his family business of inflating the value of their assets to secure more favorable loan and insurance terms. The case became one of the most significant legal challenges Trump has faced, threatening both his public image as a successful real estate developer and the future of the Trump Organization. It also elevated James as one of Trump’s most prominent political and legal adversaries.

    The case has taken a complex path through the courts. After a bench trial, Judge Arthur Engoron found Trump liable for fraud and imposed a $464 million judgment, which grew to more than $500 million with interest. Engoron also barred Trump from serving in top roles at New York companies for three years, imposed two-year bans on his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, and appointed an independent monitor to oversee the Trump Organization’s business practices.

    However, a mid-level appellate court later struck down the financial penalty as excessive, removing the largest monetary consequence while leaving the liability finding and other restrictions in place. The appellate judges were sharply divided in their ruling.

    Despite that partial victory, Trump’s legal team is now seeking to eliminate the remaining penalties and the underlying liability determination. His lawyers acknowledged the “unusual posture” of the appeal, since the prior ruling largely benefited him, but argued that the decision still rests on an “erroneous finding” that must be reversed.

    “This unprecedented and legally unsound case is about far more than President Trump,” his lawyers said, arguing that James stretched a New York law targeting “persistent fraud or illegality” beyond its intended use.

    “If left on the books, the mistaken legal rulings below threaten New York’s position as the Nation’s financial capital, as well as the State’s commercial real-estate industry,” they added.

    The New York attorney general’s office, which has also appealed aspects of the appellate ruling, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    The appeal comes amid a broader and highly contentious legal and political battle between Trump and James. During the period between Trump’s presidential terms, James secured a major civil fraud ruling against him, while Trump and his allies have repeatedly accused her of pursuing politically motivated cases.

    More recently, Trump administration officials have sought to pursue criminal cases against James. She was indicted last fall on mortgage fraud allegations, but a federal judge dismissed the charges, finding that the prosecutor who brought the case had been unlawfully appointed. Prosecutors later sought two additional indictments, but grand juries declined to bring charges.

    Trump’s latest appeal now asks the state’s highest court to bring the long-running civil case to a close by wiping out the remaining findings and penalties that continue to affect him and his business.

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    White House Responds To Reports Trump Plans To Fire Another Admin Official

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2
    President Donald Trump answers questions from members of the media aboard Air Force One en route to Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, for a rally on the economy, Tuesday, December 9, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

    The White House is forcefully denying a new report that President Trump is preparing to fire Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard—just one day after ousting Attorney General Pam Bondi in a major Cabinet shakeup.

    White House Communications Director Steven Cheung dismissed the report outright, saying Trump has “total confidence” in Gabbard and that “any insinuation otherwise is totally fake news.”

    “The President has assembled the most talented and impactful Cabinet ever, and they have collectively delivered historic victories on behalf of the American people,” Cheung added in a post on X.

    The response came after a report from The Guardian claimed Trump had begun quietly exploring Gabbard’s potential replacement, even polling Cabinet members about the idea.

    According to the report, Trump has been privately frustrated with Gabbard’s handling of internal dissent—particularly her defense of former counterterrorism official Joe Kent, who resigned in protest over the administration’s military operations in Iran.

    “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” Kent wrote in his resignation letter, shortly after U.S. and Israeli forces carried out joint strikes.

    Gabbard, a longtime critic of U.S. intervention abroad, declined to publicly rebuke Kent—fueling tensions inside the administration. Trump has been “venting frustration that she shielded a former deputy who undercut his rationale for war with Iran, according to two people briefed on the discussions,” the report said.

    Her recent congressional testimony added to the strain. When pressed by lawmakers, Gabbard refused to offer her personal view on the legality of the Iran strikes—a position consistent with her past skepticism of executive war powers, but one that reportedly irritated the president.

    Despite the internal friction, it remains unclear whether Trump is prepared to act.

    “It is not clear that Trump will actually fire Gabbard over the episode,” the report noted, adding that “currently, there is no standout candidate to take the job, and advisers have cautioned that creating a high-profile vacancy before a successor is ready could cause unhelpful political distractions.”

    Trump himself has sent mixed signals. When asked aboard Air Force One whether he still had confidence in Gabbard, he offered only a lukewarm endorsement:

    “Yeah, sure,” Trump said. “I mean, she’s a little bit different in her thought process than me, but that doesn’t make somebody not available to say it.”

    The episode comes at a sensitive moment for the administration. Trump’s decision to remove Bondi marked the most significant personnel shakeup of his second term—and raised new questions about whether additional changes could follow.

    For now, the White House is trying to shut down that narrative. But with tensions simmering over foreign policy—and Trump’s track record of abrupt personnel moves—the speculation is unlikely to fade anytime soon.

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    Eric Trump Unveils First Renderings Of Proposed Donald J. Trump Presidential Library

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    2
    President Donald J. Trump attends the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, Sunday, February 16, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

    A newly released animated video is offering the first public look at renderings of former President Donald Trump’s proposed presidential library in downtown Miami, showcasing a waterfront skyscraper and museum complex.

    Trump shared the video on Truth Social early Tuesday, while his son Eric Trump posted it on X with additional details about the project. Eric Trump described the development as a “lasting testament” to his father and his legacy.

    “Over the past six months, I have poured my heart and soul into this project with my incredible team,” Eric Trump wrote. He added that the waterfront landmark would stand as a tribute to “an amazing man, an amazing developer, and the greatest President our Nation has ever known.”

    “These images have never been seen by the public — until today. Enjoy!” he added.

    Eric Trump, who has been leading the project’s development, serves as president of the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation and is one of its trustees.

    The video, set to orchestral music, opens with aerial views of the proposed waterfront site, featuring landscaped grounds with palm-lined walkways, fountains and green space. It then reveals a towering glass structure topped with a spire.

    Renderings show Trump’s name displayed in gold lettering across the building’s facade, along with a large American flag draped down the center. The design includes a presidential aircraft resembling Air Force One on the ground floor, as well as gold escalators reminiscent of Trump Tower in New York City.

    Additional images depict military aircraft displayed inside the complex and a large auditorium-style space featuring a gold statue of Trump, a stage and large digital screens.

    The plans also include replicas tied to Trump’s time in the White House, including the Oval Office, the West Colonnade and a ballroom.

    The proposed library is being designed by Miami-based architecture and engineering firm Bermello Ajamil and would be built on a roughly 2.6-acre waterfront site.

    In late September, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved transferring the Biscayne Boulevard parcel to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. The site was briefly tied up in a legal dispute after a federal judge paused the transfer from Miami-Dade College before allowing it to proceed in December.

    The property is currently used as an employee parking lot for Miami-Dade College’s Wolfson Campus and sits next to the historic Freedom Tower, which served as a resource center for Cuban immigrants fleeing communism in the 1960s and 1970s. The 100-year-old building is widely regarded as a symbol of Miami’s immigrant heritage.

    The surrounding area includes luxury high-rise apartments and waterfront views facing the Kaseya Center, home of the NBA’s Miami Heat, as well as Dodge Island, a major cruise port.

    The parcel has been appraised at more than $66 million, according to media reports, though it could sell for at least $360 million, The New York Times reported, citing a real estate consultant.

    Trump’s post also included a link inviting supporters to donate to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation. Other trustees include Michael Boulos, the husband of Tiffany Trump, and Trump attorney James Kiley.

    Trump carried Miami-Dade County by 13 points, becoming the first Republican to do so since 1988.

    The unveiling comes as former President Barack Obama’s presidential center in Chicago is scheduled to open in June. President Donald Trump was notably left off the guest list for the opening of the Obama Library.

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    DOJ To Pay Ex-Trump Adviser Michael Flynn $1M

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    4
    Susan A. Romano, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    The Justice Department has agreed to pay roughly $1.2 million to former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, settling a lawsuit in which he claimed he was politically targeted during Trump’s first administration, according to ABC News.

    The payout falls far short of the $50 million Flynn initially sought when he filed the lawsuit in 2023. Still, the settlement is likely to raise fresh questions about whether Flynn benefited from his continued loyalty to President Trump.

    A federal judge dismissed Flynn’s case in 2024, siding with a Justice Department motion filed during the Biden administration and ruling that Flynn failed to meet the legal standard for malicious prosecution. After Trump returned to office, however, Flynn’s attorneys moved to revive the case. The department later confirmed in a court filing that it had entered settlement discussions with Flynn’s legal team.

    In a statement, a Justice Department spokesperson framed the agreement as corrective action: “Those who instigated the Russia Collusion Hoax and Crossfire Hurricane abused their power to mislead the American people and tarnish the reputations of President Trump and his supporters. Today’s settlement, secured by this Justice Department, is an important step in redressing that historic injustice.”

    Flynn had previously pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents during a January 2017 White House interview about his contacts with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, part of the Mueller investigation.

    In 2020, under Attorney General William Barr, the Trump Justice Department moved to drop the case entirely, sharply criticizing the FBI’s handling of the investigation and arguing the charges should never have been brought. The move drew skepticism from a federal judge in Washington, D.C., who questioned the department’s reasoning. Flynn was ultimately granted a full pardon by Trump after the 2020 election.

    Since leaving government, Flynn has remained closely aligned with Trump’s inner circle and built a large following online, where he has promoted a range of conspiracy-driven claims.

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    Top Trump Admin Official Shares Big Prediction About Energy Prices

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1

    Energy markets could see a sharp reversal if tensions ease in the Middle East, as U.S. officials signal that a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran may be within reach.

    The outlook comes after President Donald Trump said earlier Monday that negotiations with Iran have been “very good and productive,” announcing a five-day pause on planned U.S. strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure to allow talks to continue.

    Against that backdrop, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said oil prices could fall significantly if a deal leads to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route that has faced disruptions in recent weeks.

    Wright made the comments during an appearance on FOX Business’ “Varney & Co.” with host Lauren Simonetti, emphasizing how closely energy markets are tied to developments in the region.

    “They would go down quite a bit. If we see a pathway to have the Strait of Hormuz open soon and energy flowing again, you’d see energy prices drop pretty significantly,” Wright said.

    Global markets have been reacting to reduced traffic through the strategic waterway, one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. Even temporary disruptions have driven fuel costs higher for consumers.

    Wright suggested that the trajectory of energy prices will depend largely on whether Iran chooses to de-escalate and engage in negotiations.

    “That could happen if a peace agreement is reached… If Iran thinks enough is enough, and they’re willing to make a deal… Then there’ll be a deal,” Wright said.

    For now, officials caution that short-term volatility is likely to continue as negotiations unfold, though a sustained diplomatic breakthrough could quickly stabilize markets.

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    Top Iranian Official Responds To Report He’s Trump’s Secret Negotiating Partner

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    2

    A senior Iranian official identified in media reports as a potential backchannel to President Donald Trump has publicly denied any involvement in negotiations with the United States.

    Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, rejected the reports after The Jerusalem Post described him as the “top person” Trump had suggested his administration was engaging with behind the scenes.

    In a post on X, Ghalibaf dismissed the claim and accused the U.S. of spreading misinformation.

    “Iranian people demand complete and remorseful punishment of the aggressors. All Iranian officials stand firmly behind their supreme leader and people until this goal is achieved. No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.”

    The denial comes amid conflicting signals from Washington about the state of diplomacy. Just hours earlier, Trump said his administration had engaged in “very good and productive conversations” with Iran and announced a five-day pause on planned military strikes targeting Iranian energy infrastructure.

    Read Trump’s Truth Social message:

    “I AM PLEASE TO REPORT THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE COUNTRY OF IRAN, HAVE HAD, OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS, VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF OUR HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST,” Trump wrote. “BASED ON THE TENOR AND TONE OF THESE IN DEPTH, DETAILED, AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS, WITCH WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD, SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS.”

    The pause marked a sharp shift in tone after Trump had warned over the weekend that Iran could face “total decimation” if it failed to comply with U.S. demands regarding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.

    Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, Trump hinted at the existence of a high-level Iranian contact but declined to identify the individual.

    “A top person,” Trump said, offering no further details.

    When asked whether Iran’s newly named supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was involved, Trump said the U.S. had not heard from him. Khamenei has not appeared publicly since his appointment and is widely believed to be gravely injured.

    “Don’t forget: We’ve wiped out the leadership phase one, phase two and largely phase three. But we’re dealing with a man who I believe is the most respected and the leader, you know it’s a little tough, they’ve wiped out — we’ve wiped out everybody,” Trump added.

    Trump’s claims of active discussions followed his announcement that strikes would be temporarily halted to allow negotiations to continue. However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has also denied that any talks are taking place, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the diplomatic track even as tensions remain high following U.S. threats tied to the Strait of Hormuz.

    Police Officer Chance Bretches was awarded a Lifesaving Medal with Valor for rescuing someone from a burning vehicle…But now radicals are trying to ruin his life just for doing his job. Officer Bretches and his family need your help.[Support Police Officers HERE]

    Former Vice President Mike Pence Chimes In On Trump’s Strikes On Iran

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    Mike Pence via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Former Vice President Mike Pence is offering strong praise for President Donald Trump’s military strikes on Iran—an endorsement that comes despite the long-standing and highly public rift between the two former running mates.

    In an interview with Fox News Digital, Pence applauded Trump for what he described as decisive leadership in confronting Iran, while also criticizing a growing isolationist faction within the Republican Party.

    “It’s one of the things I give President Trump great credit for,” Pence said this week.

    Pence’s comments arrive nearly three weeks into ongoing U.S. military strikes against Iran, part of a broader escalation that has drawn sharp criticism from some populist and anti-war voices aligned with the MAGA and “America First” movements. Those critics argue the operation risks entangling the U.S. in another prolonged conflict overseas.

    But Pence, a longtime advocate of a more traditional Republican foreign policy rooted in strong global engagement and deterrence, rejected those concerns. He framed Trump’s actions as a rejection of isolationism within the party.

    “Around this administration, and to some extent in this administration, there have been some increasingly loud voices calling for America to pull back from our role as leader of the free world. Isolationist voices have taken hold in some quarters of the Republican Party,” Pence said.

    “But fortunately, President Trump turned a deaf ear to those voices last year when he struck Iran, and this year, when he launched Operation Epic Fury,” Pence emphasized. “I think it’s greatly to his credit.”

    Pence argued that Trump’s approach aligns with the broader Republican base.

    “I think it’s reflective of where the overwhelming majority of Republicans are. Republicans understand that America is the arsenal of democracy, that we’re the leader of the free world, that we have obligations to lead,” he said.

    The former vice president also drew on his firsthand experience serving alongside Trump during their time in the White House.

    “I’ve told people many times, I’m proud of President Trump for making the decision to launch operation Epic Fury. But I’m not surprised, because the President I served with is no isolationist.”

    The praise is notable given the fractured relationship between the two men. Pence and Trump have been estranged since the final days of their administration, particularly following the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump publicly pressured Pence to reject the certification of the 2020 election results—something Pence refused to do, citing constitutional limits. The fallout led to years of mutual criticism, with Pence at times condemning Trump’s actions and Trump frequently targeting Pence in speeches and on social media.

    Despite that personal and political break, Pence has occasionally continued to support Trump’s policy decisions—especially on national security—reflecting enduring alignment on certain ideological priorities even as their political alliance has dissolved.

    The current conflict underscores those stakes. U.S. and Israeli strikes have reportedly killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and severely weakened Iran’s military leadership and infrastructure. In response, Iran has launched retaliatory attacks across the Middle East, targeting Israel and regional neighbors.

    The conflict has also had major global economic consequences. Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have halted roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply, sending fuel prices sharply higher in the U.S. and worldwide.

    Against that backdrop, Pence doubled down on his support for the administration’s aggressive posture.

    “I couldn’t be more proud of President Donald Trump for making the decision to send our troops directly against an enemy that has literally claimed thousands of American lives, including nearly 1,000 service members,” he said.

    He added that Trump has “unleashed the armed forces of the United States to take the fight directly to the source of global terrorism. And I think at the end of the day, the American people understand that this is a fight that we have to win, and it’s going to be important that we finish the threat that Iran has posed to the American people, to our cherished ally, Israel, to nations across the region and across the West, once and for all.”

    Pence concluded by offering advice he would give Trump if asked:

    “To finish the threat that the mullahs and Tehran have posed to the people of this country once and for all.”

    FROM THE DESK OF DONALD TRUMP JR. Democrats tried to rig the census by counting millions of illegal immigrants — giving blue states more power in Congress. Now we’re making sure only American citizens are counted. But first, we need to verify our own records. CONFIRM YOUR VOTER INFORMATION NOW.

    Trump Denies Plan To Deploy Troops Amid Iran Conflict

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    President Donald Trump answers questions from members of the media aboard Air Force One en route to Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, for a rally on the economy, Tuesday, December 9, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

    President Trump on Thursday denied he would deploy additional U.S. troops to aid in his war in Iran, telling reporters he’s not putting forces “anywhere.”

    “No, I’m not putting troops anywhere,” Trump said at the White House when asked whether he intends to send more service members to the Middle East.

    “If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you,” he continued, before adding that the U.S. “will do whatever’s necessary to keep the price” of oil down. 

    The comments come as Reuters reported the Trump administration is considering deploying thousands of U.S. troops to reinforce its operation in the region.

    At least 13 service members have already died in the conflict, while another 200 have been injured, including 10 severely, according to the Pentagon.

    The war is now nearing the end of its third week with no clear conclusion in sight. The White House is set to ask Congress for $200 billion in supplemental funding for its military campaign.

    This article is breaking news and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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    Trump Lifts Jones Act Shipping Rule To Lower Oil Costs Amid Iran War

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

    President Donald Trump has issued a 60-day waiver of the century-old Jones Act, allowing foreign ships to transport oil and other resources between U.S. ports, a White House official told FOX Business on Wednesday.

    The Jones Act requires that cargo shipped between U.S. ports be carried on American-built, American-owned vessels crewed primarily by U.S. citizens. The temporary waiver suspends those requirements to ease short-term supply disruptions.

    “President Trump’s decision to issue a 60-day Jones Act waiver is another step to mitigate disruptions to the oil market as the U.S. military continues meeting the objectives of Operation Epic Fury,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement posted on X. “This action will allow vital resources like oil, natural gas, fertilizer, and coal to flow more freely to U.S. ports.”

    Press secretary Karoline Leavitt framed the move as a short-term fix tied to ongoing military operations, saying it would help “vital resources…flow freely” during the disruption.

    But the backlash was immediate.

    Shipping industry groups warn the waiver could sideline U.S. workers under the guise of emergency policy. And despite the political urgency, they say consumers shouldn’t expect relief at the pump — the estimated impact on gas prices is basically negligible.

    At the same time, frustration is building inside the administration over allies who are largely staying out of efforts to secure the Strait.

    Trump made that frustration public, floating the idea that maybe those countries should handle the problem themselves.

    “I wonder what would happen if we ‘finished off’ what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called ‘Straight?’ (sic) That would get some of our non-responsive ‘Allies’ in gear, and fast!!!” Trump wrote.

    FROM THE DESK OF DONALD TRUMP JR. Democrats tried to rig the census by counting millions of illegal immigrants — giving blue states more power in Congress. Now we’re making sure only American citizens are counted. But first, we need to verify our own records. CONFIRM YOUR VOTER INFORMATION NOW.

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