President Donald Trump's track record and repeated commitment to keeping the nation out of "endless wars" suggest that he does not have the interventionist reflex common to most of his predecessors.
Some lawmakers in Washington nevertheless appear uncertain amid the chatter about Iranian regime change, the recent buildup of U.S. forces in the region, the threat of an Iranian attack warranting American retaliation, and Trump's recent remarks — "Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!"
There is now a bipartisan effort underway to limit President Donald Trump's ability to commit the United States to military actions without congressional approval.
Israel launched an attack Thursday on Iran, hammering its nuclear facilities, taking out many of its air defense systems, and eliminating top Iranian military officials.
Iran responded to the apparent decapitation strike with missile and drone attacks, and the two nations have exchanged deadly fire in the days since, threatening to put President Donald Trump's nuclear deal permanently out of reach.
Although the Trump administration initially stressed that the Israeli attacks were undertaken unilaterally and that the U.S. "was not involved" — a message the State Department recently emphasized in a directive to all of its embassies and consular ports — there are indications of foreknowledge and possibly even coordination on the part of Washington.
RELATED: Israel's strategy now rests on one bomb — and it's American
Regardless of its previous involvement, the U.S. has helped Israel shoot down Iranian missiles and drones and appears now to be preparing for another Middle Eastern engagement.
White House spokesman Alex Pfeiffer clarified Monday evening that American forces are not presently attacking Iran but are rather "maintaining their defensive posture."
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth indicated that over the weekend, he "directed the deployment of additional capabilities to the United Central Command Area of Responsibility." The USS Nimitz — set to be decommissioned next year — is among the warships now headed to the Persian Gulf along with a number of refueling planes.
While bolstering America's military presence in the region, Trump nevertheless expressed hope for a peaceful resolution on Monday.
'Iran should have signed the 'deal' I told them to sign.'
Before leaving the G7 summit in Canada early to deal with the Iranian matter, Trump told reporters, "As I've been saying, I think a deal will be signed, or something will happen, but a deal will be signed, and I think Iran is foolish not to sign."
The Wall Street Journal indicated that Iran is desperate for a deal, telling Washington and Jerusalem through intermediaries that it wants an end to the hostilities — something Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly not presently interested in — and that it is ready to negotiate so long as the U.S. stays out of the fight.
"The Iranians know the U.S. is supporting Israel in its defense, and they are sure the U.S. is supporting Israel logistically," an Arab official told the Journal. "But they want guarantees the U.S. won't join the attacks."
The president appeared less hopeful Monday night, writing, "Iran should have signed the 'deal' I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!"
'What we're likely looking at is yet another nation-building exercise in the Middle East.'
The evacuation notice came a day after Netanyahu indicated that regime change "could certainly be the result" of the escalating conflict, which he framed as an "opportunity"; several hours after exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo Monday that it was a "matter of time" before the Iranian regime was overthrown; and shortly after Netanyahu said Israel was "doing what we need to do" when asked about plans to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and other lawmakers on the Hill began speaking as though America's direct involvement in the conflict was a forgone conclusion.
"Israel has formally requested a direct US intervention in its war against Iran," Sohrab Ahmari, the Iranian American editor of Compact, noted in an essay on X. "What we're likely looking at is yet another nation-building exercise in the Middle East — except on a much vaster and more complex scale than anything attempted in the post-9/11 wars. In other words: another decade or two wasted in the Middle East. If you don't want that, pray for rapid de-escalation."
On Monday, Trump told reporters on Air Force One he was looking for "an end. A real end. Not a ceasefire — an end."
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) — whom Trump said earlier this year "SHOULD BE PRIMARIED" — tweeted Monday evening, "This is not our war. But if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution."
RELATED: Trump fires off serious threat to Iran — and then leaves G7 forum early to return to White House
"I'm introducing a bipartisan War Powers Resolution tomorrow to prohibit our involvement," continued Massie. "I invite all members of Congress to cosponsor this resolution."
Massie's initial pitch drew commitments from numerous Democrats, including California Rep. Ro Khanna, who wrote, "Are you with the neocons who led us into Iraq or do you stand with the American people?"
Sen. Tim Kaine, the Virginia Democrat who was Hillary Clinton's running mate in her most recent failed presidential bid, also took action Monday aimed at barring Trump from potentially embroiling the U.S. in a Middle Eastern conflict.
Kaine's war powers resolution would require a debate and a vote prior to the use of military force against Iran.
"It is not in our national security interest to get into a war with Iran unless that war is absolutely necessary to defend the United States," Kaine said in a statement. "I am deeply concerned that the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran could quickly pull the United States into another endless conflict."
Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) also introduced legislation with several other Democrats Monday that would prohibit the use of federal funds for any use of military force in or against Iran without specific congressional authorization, stating, "Another war in the Middle East could cost countless lives, waste trillions more dollars and lead to even more deaths, more conflict, and more displacement."
Blaze News reached out to the White House for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
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The United States Army will celebrate its 250th anniversary with a Grand Military Parade in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 2025. The anniversary lands on President Donald J. Trump's 79th birthday, as well. The U.S. Army, formed first as the Continental Army, was founded June 14, 1775.
The Army will start its coverage of the birthday festival at 9:15 a.m. Eastern Time, while the parade is officially scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. local start time. See the embedded livestreams below.
The parade will involve a march down Constitution Ave. NW in D.C. and is expected to last between 60 and 90 minutes, with fireworks starting at 9:45 p.m. ET. For a map of the parade route, see this graphic from CBS News.
RELATED: Soros-tied No Kings protesters plot to sabotage US Army's 250th anniversary parade
If you are having trouble viewing the livestream, visit TheBlaze on X for videos and reactions to the parade.
Alternatively, visit the U.S. Army YouTube and Facebook pages for more direct feeds.
As well, CBS News has promised a dedicated stream of the event.
RELATED: Joy Behar's deep thoughts: 'What a coincidence' Trump, Army share birthday
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A transgender athlete ignored biological reality and mocked his hecklers after his second straight win at a state championship in girls' track and field.
Veronica Garcia, a boy, won the Class 2A 400-meter dash at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma, Washington, on Saturday, beating out female competitors as cheers and jeers rained down.
'I know I'm gonna push myself to keep going, but I don't want a man pushing me to have to go.'
As Blaze News previously reported, Garcia — a 17-year-old senior from East Valley High School — used to go by the names Davina Brown and Donovan Brown.
Garcia received a fair amount of taunting in 2024, but the backlash against the male's participation in female athletics has been much more prominent this year.
While heckling and protesting from other participants were apparent, it was the runner's response to critics that has been making headlines.
According to the Spokesman-Review, two men stared at Garcia as he took his mark for the race and then yelled, "May the best girl win," in his direction.
Garcia addressed the remarks after his victory, the paper said: "I'm just gonna say it's a ... shame they don't have anything else better to do."
The runner added, "I hope they get a life, but oh well, it just shows who they are as people," according to Spokesman-Review.
As Garcia took the podium and was announced as the state champion, two competitors were noticeably absent: Lauren Matthew, who placed second, along with her teammate Quincy Andrews, who placed fifth, the paper said.
The girls, both from West Valley High School, refused to stand on the podium — and spoke out against Garcia afterward: "I shouldn't have to push myself to the point of where I'm about to, like, die in order to win," Matthew told the Spokesman-Review. "I know I'm gonna push myself to keep going, but I don't want a man pushing me to have to go."
Andrews talked up her teammate and called her the "best woman" who should be the rightful state champion, the paper said: "She should have won state last year, and that’s taken away from her, which isn’t fair."
Former NCAA athlete and women's sports activist Riley Gaines shared a photo of Matthew on her X page and declared her the "real state champ."
Garcia gave Matthew props, saying she forced him to perform better, the Spokesman-Review said: "I honestly couldn't do this without competition; Miss Matthew, I think she really pushed me."
A handful of protesters outside the venue held signs that read "Save women's sports!" the paper said — a sentiment that has exploded in recent months.
One of the voices responsible for the rise in women refusing to participate against transgender athletes is the CEO of XX-XY Athletics, former gymnast Jennifer Sey.
Sey told Blaze News that the conversation around whether males have an advantage over females in sports should be over.
"Activists continue calling for more research to better understand if men are stronger and faster than women," Sey told Blaze News. "We don't need more research. We don't need more categories to compete in. We just need to test for sex. And athletes just need to compete in the category to which they were born."
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Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg has proven an effective albeit unwitting saboteur on the left. In addition to spilling the beans about who was really running the Biden White House, the 25-year-old gun control activist hammered California Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D) for her alleged insider trading in newly released undercover footage from Project Veritas.
Hogg, warned not to challenge Democratic incumbents earlier this year by DNC Chairman Ken Martin, appears to say in the newly released video, "I would say Pelosi's actually very good at her job. I don't agree with the stock-trading stuff."
"I mean, she gets better returns than almost every hedge fund in this city, every year," continued Hogg. "Some of these members of Congress make trades that are way too well timed to not have insider knowledge."
Pelosi, whose annual salary is now around $174,000, has a net worth of $260.37 million, according to Quiver Quantitative.
RELATED: Throw us a bone, Congress, and lay off the stock trough
"They happen to be some of the best financial analysts in human history," quipped Hogg, who is facing a potential ouster next month after party elites effectively declared his election null and void.
'I just want to burn everything down.'
In his Blaze Originals documentary, "Bought and Paid For: How Politicians Get Filthy Rich," James Poulos, the host of BlazeTV's "Zero Hour" and the editor at large of Blaze Media, highlighted some of the "most egregious transactions" members of Congress have directly or indirectly pulled off in recent years — like making big investments in defense contractors on the eve of the war in Ukraine — without remorse or consequence.
A financial disclosure signed on July 2, 2021, by Nancy Pelosi revealed that her husband bet big on Alphabet, Amazon, and Apple stock ahead of the House Judiciary Committee's vote on antitrust legislation that threatened to limit how those companies organized. According to Bloomberg, Mr. Pelosi's trade secured him a $4.8 million gain.
In September, President Donald Trump demanded that Pelosi be prosecuted for alleged insider trading after her husband dumped 2,000 of his shares in Visa — valued at roughly $500,000 — two months before the company was sued by the Department of Justice for allegedly monopolizing the debit markets. Visa stock dropped by 5% following the announcement of the DOJ's civil antitrust suit.
There are many more such cases of conveniently timed bets and dumps, not just from the Pelosi household but by others in Congress as well.
RELATED: David Hogg spills the beans to undercover reporter about who really controlled the Biden White House
Multiple bills have been introduced in recent years that would ban congressional stock trading, including Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley's Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments Act — or PELOSI Act for short.
While Hogg apparently shares the concern expressed by Trump and other Republicans, it's not a battle he's willing to fight.
Hogg told the Project Veritas journalist, "The hardest part about my job is I just want to burn everything down because it's all so corrupt. But you got to pick your battles and slowly build your momentum."
The DNC vice chair noted that even if he tried to hold Pelosi accountable, "we wouldn't beat her." He suggested that it was instead preferable to go after members who "are far weaker."
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President Donald Trump indicated last week that Russia and Ukraine would "immediately" begin negotiation talks. Trump appeared optimistic, noting that his two-hour call on May 19 with Vladimir Putin went "very well," even though the Russian president would not immediately agree to an unconditional ceasefire with Ukraine.
While the road to peace still appeared rocky and uncertain, Trump indicated days later that there were signs of promise as Russia and Ukraine had started their largest prisoner-of-war swap. Trump wrote, "This could lead to something big?"
Trump's optimism turned out to be premature.
Russia has pelted Ukrainian cities in recent days with drones and missiles, while Russian forces continue to advance in the east of the beleaguered country.
"The U.S. condemns Russia's attacks and all resulting civilian casualties in Ukraine. As the President has said many times, the killing must end. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families," a State Department spokesman told Blaze News. "We call for restraint and urge all parties to avoid further escalation that risks civilian harm."
On the evening of May 24, Russia fired 14 ballistic missiles into Ukraine, six of which were apparently shot down, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. Russia also dispatched 355 drones, 128 of which were also reportedly shot down.
'This cannot be ignored.'
At least 12 people were killed in what has been recognized as Moscow's largest aerial attack in the war so far.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X, "Russia is dragging out this war and continues to kill every day. The world may go on a weekend break, but the war continues, regardless of weekends and weekdays. This cannot be ignored. Silence of America, silence of others around the world only encourage Putin."
— (@)
Russia, which accused Kyiv of attempting to assassinate Putin earlier this month with two drones, has characterized the drone and missile offensive as retaliatory.
Sergey Lavrov, the Russian minister of foreign affairs, claimed prior to Russia's May 24 attacks that the "Ukrainian side launched a record number of combat drones" and suggested the alleged attacks were "a clear attempt to derail peace talks and disrupt the process that began in Istanbul."
'I don't like it, and it better stop.'
Ukrainian officials recently boasted that their large-scale drone attacks on Russian targets have in recent days damaged Russian military facilities, reported the Wall Street Journal.
RELATED: Dictator, thief, puppet: Volodymyr Zelenskyy's 3 strikes revealed
In a message on May 23, the Russian foreign ministry noted that "Russia will deliver a matching response to barrages of terrorist attacks carried out by the Kiev regime."
On the evening of May 25, Russia "carried out a combined strike on Ukraine" involving nine ballistic missiles, 55 winged missiles, one Soviet Kh-22 missile, four controlled aviation missiles, and hundreds of suicide drones, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
Trump noted on the night of the second consecutive aerial bombardment, "I've always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!"
"He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I'm not just talking about soldiers," continued Trump. "Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever. I've always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that's proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!"
Trump assigned some blame to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, suggesting that "everything out of his mouth causes problems."
"I don't like it, and it better stop," added Trump.
Trump's threat of "downfall" evidently fell on deaf ears, as Moscow launched yet another missile and drone attack on Monday, this time deploying nine winged missiles and 355 drones, most of them Shahed suicide drones.
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reportedly referred to the Monday attack as a "retaliatory strike."
When asked about Trump's remarks regarding Putin, Peskov said, "We are really grateful to the Americans and to President Trump personally for their assistance in organizing and launching this negotiation process," according to Reuters.
'There are no longer any range restrictions for weapons.'
"Of course, at the same time, this is a very crucial moment, which is associated, of course, with the emotional overload of everyone absolutely and with emotional reactions," added Peskov.
Trump did not respond well to Monday's attacks, stating, "What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He's playing with fire!"
While Trump is now contemplating hitting Moscow with new sanctions, Russia could soon be hit with something far more devastating.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signaled on Monday that Germany, the U.K., the U.S., and other nations have removed all remaining range restrictions on weapons provided to Ukraine.
"We will do everything in our power to continue supporting Ukraine," wrote Merz. "This also means no longer having any range restrictions on the weapons we supply. Ukraine can now also defend itself by attacking military positions in Russia."
Merz clarified who was onboard with this move, telling a crowd, "There are no longer any range restrictions for weapons that have been delivered to Ukraine — neither by the British, nor by the French, nor by us, and not by the Americans either," reported the Associated Press.
Former President Joe Biden secretly signed off on the transfer of the Army Tactical Missile System to Ukraine in February 2024. The American-made supersonic missiles have a range of up to 190 miles. Ukraine also has British-made Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of 155 miles.
Around the time of the American presidential election, Biden eased some of the restrictions on American long-range missile use against Russia. It's unclear what additional limits on use still remained.
RELATED: Trump reveals Ukraine ceasefire challenges and who he blames most
The use of long-range weapons against targets deep within Russia is a move long urged by Ukrainian officials, resisted by U.S. officials concerned about escalation, and identified by Putin as a trigger for a direct conflict between NATO and Russia.
Peskov said of Merz's statement that the elimination of range restrictions would be "quite dangerous" and "run contrary to our efforts to reach a political settlement."
'All options remain on the table.'
Although Peskov suggested that such a counterpunch could jeopardize negotiations, Russia is doing its part to delay meaningful peace in the region. After all, Russian forces are presently on the move and advancing through eastern Ukraine. They reportedly captured two settlements in the Donetsk region and a third settlement in the northern region of Sumy over the weekend.
The Institute for the Study of War noted in its Sunday assessment of the Russian campaign that
Russian President Vladimir Putin is leveraging long-range strikes against Ukrainian cities, aggressive rhetorical campaigns, and excessive pessimism in the West about the battlefield situation in Ukraine in a multi-pronged effort to degrade Ukrainian morale and convince the West that a Russian victory in Ukraine is inevitable and that supporting Ukraine is futile.
"We continue to support direct talks between Russia and Ukraine. There is no military solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. A diplomatic solution is necessary to end the war and save lives," a State Department spokesperson told Blaze News.
Responding to question about whether the U.S. might now adopt a different approach to Russia, the spokesperson said, "All options remain on the table. President Trump has said clearly that he has a range of measures available to encourage Russia to participate constructively in negotiations."
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Pro-life Christians held a prayer event at Cal Anderson Park in Seattle, Washington, over the weekend.
But the viewpoints expressed at the Mayday USA event — in support of the "sanctity of human life, the sacrality of biological gender, the importance of the nuclear family, and the right to freedom of speech and religion" — proved intolerable not only to the leftist radicals whose violent response prompted police to shut down the event early but also to the city's Democratic mayor who subsequently smeared the Christian organizers as bigots.
'Today's far-right rally was held here for this very reason — to provoke a reaction by promoting beliefs that are inherently opposed to our city's values, in the heart of Seattle's most prominent LGBTQ+ neighborhood.'
The purpose of the Mayday USA tour — which is linked to the "#DontMessWithOurKids movement" — is to "offer prayer and resources to help post-abortive men and women, trafficking victims, those who desire freedom from same-sex attraction, and those who are struggling with sexual and drug addictions throughout their restoration process."
Ahead of Saturday's main event — which featured speeches, musical performances, and prayer — there were free haircuts for kids and bicycle giveaways. Roughly 500 people attended the prayer rally, reported the Seattle Times.
However, hundreds of leftists — including members of the groups Radical Women, Puget Sound Mobilization for Reproductive Justice, Freedom Socialist Party, Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity — also showed up. But they weren't there to pray.
The leftists — later thanked by Democratic Mayor Bruce Harrell — circulated a post claiming event organizers were pushing "fascist 'family values,'" were waging a "war on trans & queer folk," and were somehow linked to a "racist Christian identity movement," as well as to President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Project 2025.
While the leftists' stated goal was to send the message that "bigotry is not welcome here," it appears their aim actually was to shut down Mayday USA.
Seattle Police swooped into action, making numerous arrests after leftists protesting the Christian prayer event turned to violence.
According to the Seattle Police Department, officers initially intervened after witnesses observed "multiple people inside one group throw items at the opposing group" around 1:30 p.m.
'Seattle is proud of our reputation as a welcoming, inclusive city for LGBTQ+ communities.'
What's more, while officers were taking violent individuals into custody, additional radicals physically attacked police. One officer injured during the ensuing scuffle was taken to hospital for treatment.
Just before 5 p.m. local time, the SPD announced on X that it requested backup from the Washington State Patrol.
Police said they charged 22 individuals with assault and obstruction and took them to King County Jail. A juvenile also was arrested for obstruction but later was cut loose.
RELATED: Seattle to ditch anti-cop initiatives that transformed city into crime haven
While leftists appeared to have initiated the violence, the Democrat mayor — who admitted to "displaying" a gun amid a 1996 dispute with a pregnant woman over a parking spot — reserved his fury for the peaceful Christians whom law enforcement protected.
"Seattle is proud of our reputation as a welcoming, inclusive city for LGBTQ+ communities, and we stand with our trans neighbors when they face bigotry and injustice," Harrell said in a statement Saturday. "Today's far-right rally was held here for this very reason — to provoke a reaction by promoting beliefs that are inherently opposed to our city's values, in the heart of Seattle's most prominent LGBTQ+ neighborhood."
'We are just warming up.'
Harrell, who's presently campaigning for reelection, suggested further that the Christian organizers were questioning the "humanity of trans people and those who have been historically marginalized."
After suggesting that the leftist violence was the result of anarchist infiltrators, Harrell expressed gratitude for those who peacefully protested the event and indicated that he was directing Seattle Parks and Recreation to "review all of the circumstances of this application to understand whether there were legal location alternatives or other adjustments that could have been pursued."
"In the face of an extreme right-wing national effort to attack our trans and LGBTQ+ communities, Seattle will continue to stand unwavering in our embrace of diversity, love for our neighbors, and commitment to justice and fairness," added the mayor whose city has a 1-rating on the Neighborhood Scout crime index; a 100-rating is the safest.
Jenny Donnelly — host of the event and founder of the Christian prayer organization Her Voice Mvmt — blasted the mayor over his mischaracterizations.
RELATED: Meek, not weak: The era of Christian loserdom is over
Donnelly noted that her team had: worked with the parks department for weeks; originally requested an alternate location but "were told no and given Cal Anderson Park"; cooperated with police and ended their event 2.5-hours early due to the leftist violence; and had not come to "attack" anyone but "stayed in [their] permitted area, worshipped, and did not engage any of the counter protestors."
The Seattle Police Officers Guild said it welcomes a mayoral review of the parks department's decision to authorize a permit for Cal Anderson Park — not because the Christian families were somehow undeserving but because "this park is commonly known as the heart of ANTIFA land."
"We have no doubt that this city decision, as naïve or deliberate as it was, put police officers in an untenable predicament," the guild said in a statement.
"A riot started in Cal Anderson Park in Seattle formerly known as the CHOP zone. Why?" wrote evangelist Ross Johnston, a co-host of the event. "The church showed up outside to worship Jesus and preach the gospel! Let me make it clear, we are just warming up and WE AIN'T BACKING DOWN."
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Two Israeli embassy staffers were shot at close range as they left an event Wednesday evening at the Capital Jewish Museum building in Washington, D.C. The suspected gunman, a pro-Palestinian Marxist from Chicago, allegedly shouted, "Free, free Palestine!" after his capture.
According to FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, FBI police officers assigned to the bureau's Washington Field Office immediately responded and rendered aid after the attack. Despite their efforts and the efforts of members of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, the victims both succumbed to their injuries.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry deemed the shooting a "brutal terrorist attack" and identified the victims as Yaron Lischinsky, a research assistant in the embassy's political department, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, an aide who organized trips to Israel.
"Israeli diplomats and representatives around the world stand on the frontlines of Israel’s diplomatic efforts — defending the country with their very lives," said the ministry. "We will not be deterred by terror. We will continue our mission across the globe, with unwavering commitment to represent Israel with pride."
— (@)
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter said that the "couple that was gunned down tonight in the name of 'free Palestine' is a young couple about to be engaged. The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem. They were a beautiful couple."
Leiter noted further that Israelis and Americans are resilient peoples who, together, "will overcome moral depravity of people who think that they're going to achieve political gains through murder."
'We are witnessing the terrible price of anti-Semitism and wild incitement against the State of Israel.'
The ambassador indicated that earlier in the evening, Attorney General Pam Bondi handed him a phone and on the other end was President Donald Trump, "who told me that his administration is going to do everything it could possibly do to fight and end anti-Semitism and the hatred that's being directed — the demonization and delegitimization of the State of Israel."
Trump, among the many Western leaders and diplomats who expressed sympathy for the victims' families and solidarity with Israel, noted early Thursday morning, "These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA."
"Condolences to the families of the victims," continued Trump. "So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!"
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump and Bondi for their "clear stance against anti-Semitism" and suggested that "we are witnessing the terrible price of anti-Semitism and wild incitement against the State of Israel."
Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith told reporters that prior to the shooting, the suspect was observed pacing back and forth outside the museum. After approaching four individuals, including Lischinsky and Milgrim, the suspect drew a handgun and opened fire.
Smith indicated that after the shooting, the suspect entered the Capital Jewish Museum, where he was detained by event security.
Once in custody, the suspect, Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, indicated where he left the weapon, "implied that he committed the offense," and shouted pro-Palestinian slogans, said Smith.
'We have nothing to do with this shooting.'
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino indicated early Thursday morning that the Washington Metropolitan Police Department was interviewing the suspect in conjunction with the bureau's Joint Terrorism Task Forces team.
Bondi told reporters late Wednesday that the "defendant, if charged, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
The Jerusalem Post reported that Rodriguez is a graduate from the University of Illinois who donated to Joe Biden's 2020 campaign.
RELATED: NYPD detains 80 'pro-Hamas thugs' accused of Columbia library takeover as Rubio targets visas
According to a now-deleted page on the website for the HistoryMakers, a research institution that documents and records black Americans' stories, Rodriguez served as an "Oral History Researcher," preparing "outlines and biographies of accomplished leaders in the African American community."
Rodriguez, who apparently also has a history of anti-white commentary, has been involved with the pro-Palestinian group Party for Socialism and Liberation. The PSL acknowledged that Rodriguez "had a brief association" with one of its branches but claimed his involvement ended in 2017.
"We have nothing to do with this shooting and do not support it," added the PSL.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser stated, "We will not tolerate acts of terrorism, and we are going to stand together as a community in the coming says and weeks that we will not tolerate the acts of terrorism that we will not tolerate anti-Semitism."
According to the Anti-Defamation League's latest annual audit, there were 9,354 anti-Semitic incidents last year, representing a 5% increase over the previous year, a 344% increase over the past five years, and a 893% increase over the past 10 years. The ADL report, released last month, said that 57% of the incidents last year were related to Israel.
The American advocacy group StopAntisemitism said in a statement to Blaze News, "The murder of two Israeli embassy staffers at an event honoring Jewish lives is the tragic result of 600 days of Jews being targeted on the streets, on campuses, and even with a Jewish governor’s home set ablaze. This is the end result of chaos fueled by calls for intifada and tolerated Jew-hatred. A win for the pro-Palestine movement that seeks to erase Jewish identity from the world."
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The state of Washington has declared war on the Catholic Church, and it could cost Americans their free exercise of religion — all under the guise of “helping children.”
Washington State Senate Bill 5375, passed earlier this month in that state’s ongoing crusade against what it claims is “abuse,” would force Catholic priests who hear admissions of abuse within the context of the sacrament of confession to break the seal of the sacrament and report those admissions to the state, even though all other recognized privileges — like those between doctor and patient and lawyer and client — are preserved.
What happens to Catholics today may affect many more Americans tomorrow.
The practice of confession isn’t just “therapy for Catholics”: It's a sacrament where we believe God extends His forgiveness for our sins, which we must lay out to a priest, Christ's representative on earth. It’s a ritual: You list your sins in conversation with a priest, often anonymously or from behind a screen, and in return, the priest assigns a penance and grants absolution.
It’s also a ritual critical to the spiritual life of Catholics. Without forgiveness and absolution, Catholics who die in a state of sin could go straight to hell, and Catholics who live in a state of mortal sin are barred from communion, which is the heart of our faith.
Our very souls depend on it. It’s not some optional counseling; it’s a critical practice of Catholicism.
Washington is not alone in trying to compel priests to tell law enforcement what’s said in the confessional, but it’s the state that’s gotten the furthest. It’s also certainly the first state to bring the issue of repeating confessions to the public in a way that gives regular Americans a glimpse into how the Catholic religion works.
Even right-leaning media has gotten the issue wrong: Shortly after the bill was passed, Fox News and others announced that the Catholic Church had threatened to excommunicate any priest who complied with the law and spilled secrets to cops, almost as if the battle over the seal of confession was a war between the state and the Church.
In reality, it's a war on the Catholic Church.
Priests and religious workers, especially those who work around children, are already mandated to report abuse if they can identify it everywhere other than in the confessional, and the Church has taken significant steps to address issues of clergy abuse in its past, including involving law enforcement right from the moment of discovery, rather than handling it through church administration.
The problem, while an embarrassment for the Catholic Church, is also one of the past. Recent reports show that incidents of abuse peaked in the 1970s and 1980s and dropped off significantly after 1989.
The Catholic Church is now on notice and has the data to prove it.
But Washington wants to continue to subject the Catholic Church to punishment for past sins in a way it does not subject any other organization. Washington also wants to intercede in only the penitent privilege. The bill specifically demands clergy report abuse to law enforcement but takes pains to note that no other privileged communication is affected: Lawyers do not need to report crimes confessed in their conference rooms, nor do therapists nor doctors nor members of other occupations where privilege applies.
Nope, in the bill's own words, “Except for members of the clergy, no one shall be required to report under this section when he or she obtains the information solely as a result of a privileged communication.”
Priests who are found to be uncompliant could face a year in jail or thousands of dollars in fines.
And as the local diocese has already said, in a statement made directly to legislators, it simply won’t comply. And priests who do comply would face excommunication, not because of a threat from the bishops, but because the issue of confessional confidentiality is covered right there in the Church’s own catechism.
This isn’t a matter of the bishops facing down the state of Washington and threatening priests with excommunication if they comply with the law; it’s the bishops letting the state of Washington know: Priests would rather serve jail time than be excommunicated from the Catholic Church.
The left has engaged in this type of intimidation before in the name of “saving” children from sure violence, but it all has the same intent: bullying the religious institutions that keep our community healthy and help individuals and families loosen their reliance on the state and bullying those with sincere and orthodox beliefs at odds with the left’s agenda.
Washington is just one front in a large and aggressive war on the rights of Americans to exercise their freedom of belief.
Luckily, the Trump administration does not appear to be taking Washington’s threat to religious liberty lightly. In a statement issued May 5, it vowed to fight the Washington law on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment’s right to free exercise since it infringes on a core, sincerely held religious dogma.
President Trump has also welcomed several members of the Catholic clergy onto a council that will seek to protect religious liberty — because what happens to Catholics today may affect many more Americans tomorrow.
To cut federal spending, Republicans should join Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., in reforming Medicaid and saving federal dollars.
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