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Trump Attends Dignified Transfer of Six US Service Members Killed By Iran

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KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Air Force Two taxies into the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., on Feb 11, 2011. The base frequently supports visits by the president and vice president when they travel to Louisville. Vice President Joe Biden was in town to speak at the University of Louisville. (U.S. Air Force by Maj. Dale Greer)

On Saturday, President Donald Trump attended the dignified transfer of six American service members killed so far by Iran in Operation Epic Fury.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt first announced the news during her Wednesday press briefing

“President Trump intends to attend the dignified transfer of these American heroes to stand in grief alongside their families,” she said during the White House press briefing

Four of the six have been identified: Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa. All four died Saturday in Kuwait from an Iranian drone attack.

The service members, who were killed in a make-shift office space at a civilian port in Kuwait, will be transported to the United States at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson, described the site as a “secure facility fortified with 6-foot walls,” in a Tuesday post on social platform X.

Congressional Investigators Issue Subpoena To Pam Bondi Over Epstein Files

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The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability has issued a subpoena to Attorney General Pam Bondi, demanding she testify before lawmakers regarding the investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The subpoena intensifies the growing conflict between Congress and the Justice Department over transparency and accountability.

Lawmakers say Bondi’s testimony is necessary to comprehensively review files related to the deceased sex trafficker. The resolution to subpoena Bondi was introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and passed in a bipartisan 24-19 vote.

The Hill continues:

All Democrats present for the committee hearing voted in favor, with Mace and GOP Reps. Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Tim Burchett (Tenn.), Michael Cloud (Texas) and Scott Perry (Pa.) joining their colleagues from across the aisle. 

The subpoena of Bondi would bring the highest-level sitting official before the House panel as it pushes ahead with its review of the files related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

Bondi has faced steady criticism over her handling of the files throughout her tenure as attorney general, cries that have only grown louder as the Justice Department has been accused of failing to release all the files and faced questions about how it has handled redactions.

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Questions Over Missing Records

The demand comes after a CBS News report on Tuesday stating that the Justice Department had started removing documents:

After removing tens of thousands of files, the Department of Justice currently makes public about 2.7 million pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, a CBS News analysis found, a number below the Department’s initial claim of 3 million, and a total that continues to fluctuate.

The Justice Department initially said that its release, made in response to a law passed by Congress compelling the agency to disclose nearly all files related to Epstein, comprised more than 3 million pages. Combined with previously released materials, the Department put the total at 3.5 million pages.

And now, in part in response to widespread criticism and concern from survivors and their attorneys that the files contain nearly 100 survivors’ personal information and photos, the DOJ has scrambled to remove documents. A CBS News analysis found that as of late February, the Justice Department has taken down more than 47,000 files comprising about 65,500 pages. Links to those files now return a “page not found” error on the department’s website.

Some of those removed documents contained explicit images or survivor information — including one document with unredacted photos of 21 survivors along with most of their birthdates. But the reasons for other files’ removal is unclear, such as a call log with all names redacted and images of Epstein’s jail bunk where investigators say he hanged himself. The Justice Department appears to be putting some removed files back up.

Bondi Faces Questions

Bondi has already faced intense questioning from lawmakers during recent oversight hearings about the department’s handling of the Epstein document releases.

During those hearings, members of Congress pressed the attorney general about:

  • Extensive redactions
  • Missing records
  • Whether additional investigations tied to Epstein could still occur

Epstein, a financier with connections to powerful political and business figures, was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls.

He died in federal custody later that year while awaiting trial.

His associate Ghislaine Maxwell was later convicted of sex trafficking and is currently serving a federal prison sentence.

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

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

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.

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

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.”

Report: Federal Judge Clears Path For Trump’s $400M White House Ballroom

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A federal judge on Thursday denied a legal challenge to President Donald Trump’s proposed White House ballroom project, clearing the way for construction to move forward on the estimated $400 million expansion.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon rejected an injunction sought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which had asked the court to halt demolition work tied to the project. The organization sued the Trump administration in December, arguing that officials failed to complete required federal reviews and did not obtain congressional approval before proceeding with plans that include demolishing portions of the East Wing.

In his ruling, Leon said the preservation group was unlikely to succeed on the merits of its claims. He wrote that the plaintiffs relied on a “ragtag group of theories” under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and the Constitution.

Leon determined that the challenge fell short in part because “the White House office in question is not an agency” under the APA, limiting the court’s ability to review the actions at issue. He also wrote that the plaintiffs did not present sufficient legal grounds to challenge the president’s statutory authority to complete the project using private funds without explicit congressional approval.

The decision marks a significant legal victory for the administration and allows work on the 90,000-square-foot ballroom to continue. According to Trump, the facility is intended to host large-scale events such as state dinners, official receptions, and potentially inauguration-related gatherings — functions that often require temporary structures on the White House grounds due to space limitations.

Trump celebrated the ruling on Truth Social, emphasizing that the project would not rely on taxpayer funding.

“Great news for America, and our wonderful White House! The Judge on the case of what will be the most beautiful Ballroom anywhere in the World, has just thrown out, and completely erased, the effort to stop its construction,” Trump wrote. “As everyone knows, not one dollar of Taxpayer money is being spent, but rather, all money necessary to build this magnificent building is being put up by Patriot Donors and Contributors.”

He added that construction is “ahead of schedule and under budget.”

The administration has said the ballroom will be funded entirely through private donations, a structure supporters argue avoids additional strain on federal budgets. Critics, however, have raised concerns about precedent, transparency, and the potential long-term impact on the historic White House complex.

The White House has undergone numerous expansions and renovations throughout its history. The West Wing was added in 1902 under President Theodore Roosevelt, and the East Wing was constructed in stages beginning during World War II. Major structural renovations were also undertaken during the Truman administration after engineers determined the building was at risk of collapse.

Legal disputes over executive authority and historic preservation are not uncommon when changes to federally owned landmarks are proposed. The National Trust argued that federal preservation laws and administrative procedures required more extensive review before demolition could proceed. The court’s ruling suggests that, at least at this preliminary stage, those arguments did not meet the threshold necessary to stop the project.

Further legal action remains possible, though the denial of the injunction allows construction to continue while the case proceeds.

If completed as planned, the ballroom would represent one of the most significant additions to the White House complex in decades, reshaping how large official events are hosted at the executive residence.

Trump’s Hockey Team Surprise Sends Shockwaves To Independent Voter Approval Rating

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President Donald Trump’s introduction of the gold medal-winning U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team during Tuesday night’s State of the Union address sparked largely positive bipartisan reactions, with Independent voters showing particularly strong approval.

According to Lee Carter of the polling group maslansky+partners, Independent voters responded most enthusiastically when the team entered the House Chamber wearing their gold medals and USA sweatshirts, greeted by thunderous chants of “U-S-A.”

“The USA hockey team and military recognition moments were widely noticed,” Carter said. “Visual, patriotic moments landed more consistently than policy-heavy segments.”

Real-time dial testing conducted by the polling group showed the sharpest spike among Independent voters during the team’s entrance. Republican voters, who were already energized by the speech, showed additional gains in approval during the moment. Even Democratic voters—who overall were the least enthusiastic throughout the address—registered a modest uptick in reaction.

Participants in the polling offered enthusiastic feedback, with comments such as, “What a great moment!” and, “Love it!” Even some critics acknowledged, “They deserve recognition,” and, “It’s a nice moment.”

The president had invited the team to attend the State of the Union after their thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against Canada in the Winter Olympics gold medal game.

During the address, President Trump introduced the team to loud cheers from members of Congress and the audience, who once again broke into chants of “USA! USA! USA!”

“Our country is winning again. In fact, we’re winning so much that we really don’t know what to do about it. People are asking me, ‘Please, please, please, Mr. President, we are winning too much. We can’t take it anymore. We’re not used to winning in our country. Until you came along, we were just always losing, but now we’re winning too much.’ And I say, ‘No, no, no, you’re going to win again. You are going to win big, you’re gonna win bigger than ever.’ And to prove that point, to prove that point, here with us tonight is a group of winners who just made the entire nation proud,” Trump said, adding:

The men’s gold medal Olympic hockey team — come on in!

After extended applause inside the chamber, Trump remarked, “That’s the first time I’ve ever seen them get up. And actually, not all of them did get up, but they beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime, as everybody saw, as did the American women, who will soon be coming to the White House.”

The president also announced that he would honor goaltender Connor Hellebuyck with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. After praising the team’s collective performance, Trump described asking players to vote on whether their goaltender deserved the nation’s highest civilian honor.

“But I have to say that, and I told them this, and we took a vote of the team. I said, ‘Anybody votes no, I’m not doing it.’ So they stood there, and they weren’t about to say no because I’ve never seen a goaltender play as well as goalie Connor Hellebuyck,” said Trump.

He continued:

Think of it– 46 shots on goal. And I asked him, “The one shot, the one where you put your stick in the back and it hit the neck of your stick and bounced off, you practice that or was that a little lucky?” He refused to answer that question, but I just want to tell you that the members of this great hockey squad will be very happy to hear, based on their vote and my vote– and in this case, my vote was more important– that I will soon be presenting Connor with our highest civilian honor, which we will be given and which has been given to many athletes over the years. But when I say many, not too many, like 12. It’s called the highest civilian honor in our country. The Presidential Medal of Freedom. Great athletes have gotten that very great, the best. And I thought he deserved it. And I did take a vote. Every single one of them. I said, “I’m not giving it if anybody goes no.” And every single one of them rapidly put up their hand. So I want to thank you all. What a special job you did. What special champions you are. Thank you very much.

The moment stood out as one of the evening’s most unifying highlights.

Air Force One Jets To Be Repainted In Trump’s Iconic Colors

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Image via Pixabay

Air Force One and other presidential aircraft are expected to receive a new paint design featuring red, white, gold, and dark blue — colors long associated with President Trump’s preferred aesthetic — according to confirmation from NewsNation.

An Air Force spokesperson told NewsNation that both the luxury jet donated by Qatar and the new VC-25B Boeing aircraft currently under development will adopt the updated color scheme. The title “Air Force One” refers to any aircraft carrying the president.

In addition to the presidential aircraft, four smaller C-32 planes are also slated for repainting. These aircraft are designated as “Air Force Two” when the vice president is aboard and are frequently used by the first lady and Cabinet secretaries for official travel.

A Break from the Kennedy-Era Design

The current light blue and white design has been in place since the Kennedy administration in the early 1960s. The iconic look was created by famed industrial designer Raymond Loewy at the request of President John F. Kennedy and has remained largely unchanged for more than six decades.

The shift to a darker blue with bold red and gold accents marks the most significant visual update to the presidential fleet in generations.

According to NewsNation, the first C-32 aircraft has already been repainted and is expected to be delivered to the Air Force within the next few months.

Work Underway in Texas

CBS News first reported on the repainting efforts. Contractor L3Harris is overseeing upgrades to the Air Force Two planes at its facility in Greenville, Texas. The broader VC-25B program — the long-delayed replacement effort for the current 747-based Air Force One aircraft — remains under development through Boeing.

The new VC-25B jets are designed to replace the aging presidential aircraft that have been in service since 1990. The modernization program includes upgraded communications systems, enhanced security features, and defensive capabilities intended to ensure continuity of government under any circumstances.

A Longstanding Proposal

The idea of changing Air Force One’s paint scheme is not new. During his first term, President Trump proposed replacing the light blue design with a darker navy base and bold red striping. At the time, he described the existing color scheme as outdated and expressed interest in a look that he said better reflected American strength and tradition.

The updated red, white, and dark blue palette aligns more closely with the American flag and mirrors the aesthetic often seen in Trump-branded properties and campaign materials.

While the aircraft’s mission capabilities and security features remain the primary focus of the modernization effort, the visual redesign ensures that the presidential fleet will look noticeably different when the new planes enter service.

The repainting of the C-32 fleet is expected to be completed first, with the new VC-25B aircraft anticipated to enter service later this decade, pending continued testing and production milestones.

Trump Announces 10% Global Tariff While Blasting SCOTUS Ruling

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President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders, Monday, February 10, 2025, in the Oval Office. (Official White House photo by Abe McNatt)

President Donald Trump strongly criticised the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision that ruled he does not have the authority to levy sweeping tariffs under a specific emergency powers law, saying he will pursue “alternatives” to tariffs under the emergency law.

“Other alternatives will now be used to replace the ones that the court incorrectly rejected,” Trump said during a White House press briefing Friday afternoon. “We have alternatives. Great alternatives. Could be more money. We’ll take in more money, and we’ll be a lot stronger for it. We’re taking in hundreds of billions of dollars. We’ll continue to do so.”

The president also announced he is imposing a 10% “global tariff” following the court’s decision.

“Today I will sign an order to impose a 10% global tariff under section 122 over and above our normal tariffs already being charged,” Trump said. “And we’re also initiating several section 301 and other investigations to protect our country from unfair trading practices of other countries and companies.”

The Supreme Court blocked Trump’s tariffs levied under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) in what amounts to a consequential test of the executive branch’s authority. 

Trump called the ruling “deeply disappointing,” saying he was “ashamed” of certain members of the court.

“I’m ashamed of certain members of the court, absolutely ashamed, for not having the courage to do what’s right for our country,” the president said. “In actuality, I was very modest in my ask of other countries and businesses because… I wanted to be very well-behaved.

“I didn’t want to do anything that would affect the decision of the court, because I understand the court. I understand how they are very easily swayed. I want to be a good boy. I have very effectively utilized tariffs over the past year to make America great again,” he said.

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

Trump Praises Late Civil Rights Icon Rev. Jesse Jackson

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By Lorie Shaull from St Paul, United States - Jesse Jackson at Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Thursday Aug. 22, 2024 in Chicago, CC BY 2.0,

The nation mourns an icon…

President Donald Trump reacted to the news of the death of Rev. Jesse Jackson in a Tuesday Truth Social post.

Trump said he knew Jackson “well” and described the 84-year-old civil rights leader as “a good man.”

“The Reverend Jesse Jackson is Dead at 84. I knew him well, long before becoming President. He was a good man, with lots of personality, grit, and “street smarts.” He was very gregarious – Someone who truly loved people!” the president said in the post.

“Despite the fact that I am falsely and consistently called a Racist by the Scoundrels and Lunatics on the Radical Left, Democrats ALL, it was always my pleasure to help Jesse along the way,” Trump continued.

“I provided office space for him and his Rainbow Coalition, for years, in the Trump Building at 40 Wall Street; Responded to his request for help in getting CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM passed and signed, when no other President would even try; Single handedly pushed and passed long term funding for Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), which Jesse loved, but also, which other Presidents would not do; Responded to Jesse’s support for Opportunity Zones, the single most successful economic development package yet approved for Black business men/women, and much more,” the president added.

“Jesse was a force of nature like few others before him. He had much to do with the Election, without acknowledgment or credit, of Barack Hussein Obama, a man who Jesse could not stand. He loved his family greatly, and to them I send my deepest sympathies and condolences. Jesse will be missed!” Trump concluded.

Republican Demands Bondi Appear Before Congress for Monitoring Epstein Searches

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Republican lawmakers are escalating scrutiny of Attorney General Pam Bondi following a contentious House Judiciary Committee hearing this week, with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) now calling on Bondi to testify before the House Oversight Committee over concerns about how sensitive materials are being handled inside the Department of Justice.

Mace led the charge Friday morning, arguing that questions raised during Wednesday’s hearing warrant further examination by lawmakers.

During that hearing, a photographer captured an image of Bondi holding a folder that appeared to display search records connected to Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) within the Justice Department’s Epstein files database. Members of Congress were granted access to portions of those files two days earlier amid ongoing public pressure for transparency surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associates.

“In the Judiciary Committee, she had a folder open, and you saw an image of a search history of a member of Congress in the software in the database,” Mace said in an interview circulating Friday. “Why is the DOJ — why is the attorney general carrying around a folder of the search histories of members of Congress who only simply want the truth? She should answer for that, and I think she should come before the Oversight Committee, because I have a lot of tough questions.”

Mace framed the issue as one of accountability and equal treatment under the law, signaling that Republicans intend to continue pressing the Justice Department over how it is managing and tracking access to the highly sensitive Epstein materials.

The Judiciary hearing itself was marked by sharp exchanges between Bondi and several Democratic lawmakers, who accused the department of withholding information and mishandling aspects of the long-running Epstein investigation. Republicans, meanwhile, have emphasized the need to fully expose any failures connected to the case and to ensure that political considerations do not interfere with the release of relevant records.

At one point during the hearing, Jayapal urged Bondi to apologize directly to victims of Epstein who were seated in the room. Bondi declined, accusing the congresswoman of engaging in “theatrics” rather than focusing on substantive oversight.

The exchange underscored the broader partisan divide surrounding the Epstein files, which have fueled public distrust across the political spectrum.

It remains unclear whether the House Oversight Committee will formally request Bondi’s testimony. However, Mace’s public demand signals that Republican lawmakers are not finished pressing the attorney general for answers as the Epstein controversy continues to reverberate through Congress.