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President Trump expressed amazement Friday at the sprawling gardens and towering roses inside Beijing’s tightly guarded Zhongnanhai leadership compound during a personal tour hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“These are the most beautiful roses anyone’s ever seen! I asked the president, ‘Could you get me some for the Rose Garden?’ and he said yes. I’ve never seen roses so big!” Trump said while wrapping up his visit to China.

As Xi guided Trump through the historic complex, a translator explained that the Chinese leader had agreed to send rose seeds to the White House following Trump’s admiration for the flowers.

“We will provide the president with some of our Chinese rose (Rosa chinensis) seeds, as he wants to plant some in the rose garden,” a translator said, according to the press pool report.

“I love that. That’s great,” Trump responded.

During the walk through the compound, Xi described Zhongnanhai as the nerve center of China’s Communist leadership and the longtime residence of the nation’s rulers.

“the place where leaders of the party central government of China work and live, including myself.

“After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, we have been here, including Chinese leaders: Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao and so on.”

Photos from the visit showed Trump examining the former imperial grounds with visible fascination as Xi encouraged him to inspect centuries-old trees scattered throughout the property.

“On our way in, we stayed to look at some of the old trees. One of them is 490 years old. In other places within this compound, there have been trees that have lived to be over 1,000 years old,” Xi said while discussing the tour.

“The President was interested in learning all about that, including the Chinese roses, which we looked at. And I’ve agreed to send the seeds for these roses to the President as a gift.”

Trump later praised the estate, calling it a “nice place.”

Xi reportedly extended the rare invitation as a gesture of appreciation for Trump’s hospitality during Xi’s 2017 visit to Mar-a-Lago shortly after Trump entered office.

The 1,500-acre Zhongnanhai compound has served as the seat of Chinese Communist authority since Mao Zedong’s victory in the civil war in 1949. Mao chose the former imperial grounds as the headquarters of Communist leadership, believing it reflected the party’s message of governing in the name of the people.

The heavily restricted complex — often compared to America’s White House — has only rarely been opened to foreign leaders since President Richard Nixon’s groundbreaking trip to China in 1972.

Barack Obama met Xi there in 2014, while President George W. Bush toured the site during a 2002 visit and met then-Chinese leader Jiang Zemin.

Obama’s visit included a stop at Yingtai Island, where the Guangxu Emperor was imprisoned under house arrest for a decade before his death following the 1898 political upheaval.

At one point during Friday’s tour, Xi appeared to subtly needle Trump while mentioning that Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously been hosted at the compound.

“Can I ask the president.. does he bring them here?” Trump asked.

“Very few,” Xi replied. “We usually don’t hold diplomatic events here.

“Even after we started having some, it’s still extremely rare. For example: Putin.”

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin, also visited Xi at the compound on June 4 of last year during what marked his 15th trip to China.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump pointed to China’s lavish state facilities as fresh justification for his planned White House ballroom, saying the United States should have a grand venue of its own after visiting Beijing this week.

Just hours after departing China aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump praised the ongoing construction of the massive ballroom project in a Truth Social post, comparing it to the enormous ceremonial hall used by Chinese leaders in Beijing.

“China has a Ballroom, and so should the U.S.A.!” Trump wrote alongside a photograph showing him standing with Chinese President Xi Jinping outside the Great Hall of the People, the sprawling government complex near Tiananmen Square where the Chinese government hosted a formal state banquet in his honor.

Trump said the planned White House ballroom is progressing quickly and predicted it would become unmatched in the country.

“under construction, ahead of schedule, and will be the finest facility of its kind anywhere in the U.S.A.” He added: “Thank you for all the support I have been given in getting this project going. Scheduled opening will be around September of 2028.”

The president’s remarks came after a fast-paced three-day visit to China, his first trip there since 2017. During the visit, Trump received an elaborate welcome ceremony, attended an upscale state dinner, toured a centuries-old temple, and held multiple meetings with Xi.

The formal banquet Thursday evening featured members of Trump’s inner circle and administration, including Elon Musk, Eric Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio was seen admiring the towering chandeliers inside the Great Hall of the People as Chinese officials rolled out an extravagant evening for the American delegation.

Guests were served lobster, pork dishes, and tiramisu, while a Chinese military orchestra performed “Y.M.C.A.,” one of Trump’s favorite songs.

Addressing attendees during the banquet, Trump praised the reception he received in China.

“great honor” to visit China, adding that he received a “magnificent welcome like no other.”

Trump also extended an invitation to Xi — whom he called “my friend” — to travel to Washington in September.

The president highlighted cultural ties between the two nations and noted the popularity of each country’s exports and traditions abroad.

“Just as many Chinese now love basketball and blue jeans, Chinese restaurants in America today outnumber the five largest fast foods chains in the United States all combined — that’s a pretty big statement,” he said.

Xi, speaking after Trump, described the visit as “historic” and urged the world’s two largest powers to cooperate rather than clash.

He called on both nations to be “partners rather than rivals,” adding, “We must make it work.”

Behind closed doors, the leaders discussed several major international issues, including the ongoing conflict involving Iran. Trump later told Fox News that Xi expressed willingness to help broker a resolution and that both leaders agreed on the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open.

Taiwan also emerged as a topic during the talks, with Xi warning Trump that mishandling the issue could create “an extremely dangerous situation.”

According to the White House, the discussions additionally focused on trade matters and joint efforts to stop fentanyl from entering the United States.

{Matzav.com}

CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper told lawmakers Thursday that Iran’s military infrastructure and regional terror network have been devastated by the recent American military campaign, saying the U.S. achieved every objective laid out under Operation Epic Fury and effectively severed Tehran’s support pipeline to Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Cooper described the Islamic Republic as severely weakened after nearly six weeks of sustained combat operations targeting Iran’s military leadership, weapons industry, naval forces, and proxy infrastructure.

“We met every military objective for Epic Fury,” Cooper said, describing Iran’s command-and-control structure as “shattered” while arguing the regime currently lacks the capacity to meaningfully rebuild critical weapons stockpiles.

According to Cooper, approximately 90 percent of Iran’s defense-industrial capabilities were destroyed during the operation, including large portions of its missile production, drone manufacturing, naval infrastructure, and weapons facilities.

“In less than 40 days, CENTCOM forces achieved our military objectives,” Cooper said, arguing the operation crippled Tehran’s ability to “project power outside its borders and threaten the region and our interests.”

Referring to Iran’s large-scale missile and drone assaults against Israel in April and October of 2024, Cooper said Tehran no longer possesses the operational strength necessary to carry out attacks of similar scale.

The CENTCOM commander also dismissed recent public reports claiming Iran preserved much of its missile arsenal and launcher systems during the conflict, stating that widely circulated open-source estimates were inaccurate, though he declined to discuss classified intelligence assessments in detail.

Cooper further testified that American operations had successfully cut off Iran’s ability to supply weapons and logistical support to allied terror groups across the Middle East.

“Today, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis are all completely cut off from Iranian weapons supplies and support from Tehran,” Cooper said.

“This result was not foreordained,” he continued. “It is the culmination of months of precise planning and decades of experience.”

Cooper framed the campaign as a response to decades of Iranian-backed aggression against the United States, noting that Iranian proxy groups conducted more than 350 attacks against American troops and diplomats during the 30 months leading up to Operation Epic Fury.

“For 47 years, the Iranian regime has terrorized the region and made hostility to the United States a core tenant of its rule,” Cooper said.

He also described Iran’s navy as having suffered catastrophic losses, estimating that Tehran could require between five and ten years just to begin rebuilding portions of its maritime capabilities, and potentially an entire generation to restore the force to prewar levels.

As part of the naval campaign, Cooper said U.S. forces conducted more than 700 airstrikes targeting Iran’s naval mine infrastructure, destroying over 90 percent of Tehran’s estimated stockpile of roughly 8,000 sea mines intended for deployment in the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite the extensive damage, Cooper warned lawmakers that Iran still maintains some limited asymmetric warfare capabilities.

“Iran retains nuisance capability — harassment, low-end drone and rocket attacks, and residual proxy support,” Cooper stated in written testimony submitted to lawmakers.

“But it no longer possesses the means to threaten major regional operations or deter U.S. freedom of action in the air or maritime domains.”

Cooper acknowledged that while Iran’s actual ability to block commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been significantly reduced, Tehran’s threats alone continue to unsettle global shipping lanes, insurers, and oil markets.

“The Iranian ability to stop commerce has been dramatically degraded through the straits,” Cooper said.

“But their voice is very loud, and those threats are clearly heard by the merchant industry and the insurance industry.”

He added that the United States and allied regional militaries remain fully capable of reopening the Strait of Hormuz by force if necessary, though he stressed that policymakers are still prioritizing diplomatic negotiations amid what President Trump recently called a ceasefire on “massive life support.”

Although Iran’s military hierarchy suffered major losses during the conflict, Cooper testified that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps still maintains substantial control within the regime.

When asked whether the IRGC remained dominant following the deaths of several senior commanders, Cooper responded that the organization was still “exercising significant authority.”

Later in the hearing, Cooper agreed with Sen. Tom Cotton’s description of Iran as a “revolutionary terrorist regime.”

“They are,” Cooper responded.

The CENTCOM commander also discussed how the Pentagon altered its drone warfare strategy after months of attacks carried out by Iranian and Houthi drones throughout the region.

“The days of using high-value defenses to shoot down cheap targets are behind us,” Cooper said, arguing the United States had successfully “flipped the cost curve” against Iran’s drone warfare apparatus by forcing Tehran to rely on increasingly sophisticated — and expensive — systems.

According to Cooper, Iran’s drone capabilities have now been reduced to roughly 10 percent of what they were before the conflict began.

Cooper additionally revealed that U.S. forces incorporated numerous anti-drone battlefield tactics developed by Ukrainian forces during their war with Russia.

“We adopted a large number of tactics, techniques and procedures that the Ukrainians have passed us that have helped us defend Americans,” Cooper said.

Although the administration officially declared hostilities with Iran over following the April 7 ceasefire, intermittent clashes and maritime incidents have continued throughout the region while broader diplomatic talks remain stalled.

Earlier this week, President Trump described the fragile ceasefire as being on “massive life support” after dismissing Iran’s latest proposal as “garbage” and “totally unacceptable.”

Trump also warned that if Tehran refuses to comply with American demands regarding its nuclear program and regional activities, the United States would ultimately “finish the job” “peacefully or otherwise.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu attended the main Yom Yerushalayim gathering Thursday night at Yeshivas Mercaz HaRav in Yerushalayim, joining rabbonim, senior government officials, and prominent public figures for the annual event commemorating the reunification of the city.

During the program, the rosh yeshiva, Rav Yaakov Shapira, presented Netanyahu with a special tribute marking 50 years since Operation Entebbe.

The presentation honored the heroism and sacrifice of Netanyahu’s brother, Yoni Netanyahu, who commanded the rescue operation that freed hostages held in Uganda.

As part of the tribute, the Prime Minister received a framed photograph of Yoni Netanyahu bearing the posuk: “Lo, a people that rises like a lioness, leaps up like a lion.”

The portrait was personally signed by Rav Shapira as a gesture of appreciation for Yoni Netanyahu’s role in safeguarding the people of Israel.

{Matzav.com / Photo: Arutz Sheva}

President Trump on Thursday pushed back against suggestions that Chinese President Xi Jinping views the United States as a declining power, arguing that any such remarks were directed at the Biden administration rather than America under his leadership.

In a lengthy Truth Social post published during his visit to Beijing, Trump said Xi’s comments referred to what he described as the damage done to the country during Joe Biden’s presidency.

“When President Xi very elegantly referred to the United States as perhaps being a declining nation, he was referring to the tremendous damage we suffered during the four years of Sleepy Joe Biden and the Biden Administration, and on that score, he was 100% correct,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Our Country suffered immeasurably with open borders, high taxes, transgender for everybody, men in women’s sports, DEI, horrible trade deals, rampant crime, and so much more!”

It was not immediately clear which specific remarks Trump was referencing. Public summaries of the summit and media reports did not show Xi directly calling the United States a nation in decline, although Chinese officials and commentators have increasingly promoted rhetoric emphasizing “the rise of the East and decline of the West.” Newsmax reported that it contacted the White House seeking clarification.

Trump continued his post by contrasting what he described as America’s current resurgence with the conditions he said existed before his return to office.

Trump continued: “President Xi was not referring to the incredible rise that the United States has displayed to the world during the 16 spectacular months of the Trump Administration, which includes all-time high stock markets and 401K’s, military victory and thriving relationship in Venezuela, the military decimation of Iran. (to be continued!)

“Strongest military on earth by far, economic powerhouse again, with a record 18 trillion dollars being invested into the United States by others, best U.S. job market in history, with more people working in the United States right now than ever before, ending country destroying DEI, and so many other things that it would be impossible to readily list.

“In fact, President Xi congratulated me on so many tremendous successes in such a short period of time. Two years ago, we were, in fact, a Nation in decline. On that, I fully agree with President Xi! But now, the United States is the hottest Nation anywhere in the world, and hopefully our relationship with China will be stronger and better than ever before!”

Trump’s comments came as Chinese political figures, academics, and state-linked media outlets continue to argue that internal division and political instability have weakened the United States — themes that have become increasingly common in Chinese rhetoric during Trump’s political rise and return to the White House.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed during their meetings in Beijing to order 200 Boeing aircraft, calling the commitment a major victory for American manufacturing and jobs.

In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump described his discussions with Xi as productive and said the final aircraft commitment surpassed what Boeing had initially hoped to secure.

“One thing [Xi] agreed to today: he’s going to order 200 jets. That’s a big thing. Boeing — 200 big ones. That’s a lot of jobs. It’s a lot. Boeing wanted 150, he got 200,” Trump said.

Specific details regarding the agreement — including the types of aircraft involved and delivery schedules — were not immediately released.

Trump arrived in China on Wednesday accompanied by a group of prominent American executives for meetings with Chinese government officials and business leaders. The visit marked his first trip to China since 2017 and took place amid heightened tensions involving trade disputes, artificial intelligence, Taiwan, and the aftermath of the conflict with Iran.

Among the executives traveling with Trump was Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who recently described the trip as “a meaningful opportunity” for the aerospace company.

Although Ortberg did not publicly disclose the number of planes being discussed during a recent analyst call, he said he was “highly confident” that any agreement reached between Trump and Xi would involve aircraft purchases.

Bloomberg had previously reported that China was considering a much larger purchase of roughly 500 Boeing 737 Max aircraft as airlines there seek to meet growing demand for air travel.

Despite the announcement, Boeing stock dropped more than 4% during Thursday trading after investors reportedly viewed the order as falling short of some Wall Street expectations, according to Reuters.

The last major Boeing agreement announced by China came during Trump’s 2017 visit to Beijing, when Chinese officials agreed to purchase 300 aircraft from the American manufacturer, Reuters reported.

Boeing continues to compete aggressively with European aerospace giant Airbus for dominance in the Chinese aviation market, one of the largest and fastest-growing in the world.

Other high-profile executives traveling with the American delegation included Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Apple CEO Tim Cook, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Citi CEO Jane Fraser, and Cargill CEO Brian Sikes.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump said Thursday that his patience with Iran is rapidly diminishing, warning that Tehran must agree to a deal regarding its nuclear program or face continued military consequences.

Speaking in an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Trump said Iran’s refusal to reach an agreement is becoming increasingly difficult to tolerate.

“I’m not going to be much more patient. No, I’m not. They should make a deal. Any sane person would make a deal, but they might be crazy,” Trump clarified.

NOW – Trump on Iran: "I'm not going to be much more patient." pic.twitter.com/nxJyEW17U7

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) May 15, 2026

Trump said the broader military campaign involving Iran is intended not only to support Israel, but also to protect key American allies throughout the Middle East.

He further said that the purpose of the war in Iran is “to help Israel and to help Saudi Arabia and to help Qatar and UAE and, you know, Kuwait and other countries.”

The president also said he discussed Iran directly with Xi during their talks in China, arguing that Beijing likewise has no interest in seeing Tehran acquire nuclear weapons.

“I told [Xi] today, I said, ‘You know, we’re helping you and we’re helping you in another way’ because I don’t think China wants Iran to have a nuclear weapon either. I said, just don’t go crazy. You don’t need them having a nuclear weapon either,” continued Trump.

When Hannity asked whether Xi agreed that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons, Trump suggested the Chinese leader wanted the conflict resolved.

“Yeah, I think. No, he would like to see it end.”

Trump was also questioned about Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and whether the United States intended to seize it.

On the issue of retrieving the enriched uranium in Iran, the President said, “We were thinking about doing it early on, and it would take a while, it would take a week and a half, that’s a long time, to be in enemy territory.”

He added that recovering the uranium was not militarily necessary, though he argued critics and media outlets were focused on the issue.

“No, I don’t think it’s necessary, except from a public relations standpoint. I think it’s important for the fake news that we get it. I’m the one that said we’re going to get it, and we’re going to get it. We have our eye on it,” he added.

Trump insisted that Iran’s nuclear infrastructure has already suffered catastrophic damage and claimed any attempt by Tehran to rebuild or relocate materials would immediately trigger additional strikes.

Trump declared that “if we left right now, it would take around 25 years to rebuild, and it can never be like it was. It would take 25 years. I would rather get [the enriched uranium], but we have our eyes on it. You know, we know exactly what’s happening there…if they send a force over there to try, all we’ll do is just hit it with a couple of bombs, and that’s going to be the end of that. We have nine cameras on that site, on those three sites, 24 hours a day. We know exactly what’s happening.”

The interview aired only hours after Trump hinted in a Truth Social post that military operations involving Iran may continue.

The remarks came after Trump’s visit to China and were included in a broader message discussing America’s economic recovery and foreign policy under his administration.

“When President Xi very elegantly referred to the United States as perhaps being a declining nation, he was referring to the tremendous damage we suffered during the four years of Sleepy Joe Biden and the Biden Administration, and on that score, he was 100% correct. Our Country suffered immeasurably with open borders, high taxes, transgender for everybody, men in women’s sports, DEI, horrible trade deals, rampant crime, and so much more!” wrote Trump.

“President Xi was not referring to the incredible rise that the United States has displayed to the world during the 16 spectacular months of the Trump Administration, which includes all-time high stock markets and 401K’s, military victory and thriving relationship in Venezuela, the military decimation of Iran (to be continued!),” he added.

Trump, who has repeatedly vowed that Iran will never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, reiterated that position again Tuesday before departing for China.

While speaking with reporters ahead of the trip, Trump warned Tehran that it must accept American terms for ending the war and addressing its nuclear activities.

“They’ll either do the right thing, or we’ll finish the job,” Trump said, rejecting the idea that rising prices in the US pushed him to seek an end to the war.

{Matzav.com}

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The IDF announced Friday morning that Staff Sergeant Negev Dagan, 20, of Dekel, was killed during fighting in southern Lebanon.

According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, Dagan served as a combat soldier in the Golani Brigade’s 12th Battalion. He was killed Thursday night at approximately 10:00 p.m. when Hezbollah terrorists fired an anti-tank missile during combat operations in southern Lebanon.

The announcement came as fighting along the northern border continues to intensify amid ongoing exchanges between Israeli forces and the Hezbollah terror organization.

Earlier this week, the IDF reported additional casualties stemming from Hezbollah attacks near the Lebanese border.

On Tuesday, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said one soldier sustained moderate injuries and a reservist was lightly wounded after an explosive drone launched by Hezbollah struck near Israeli territory along the northern frontier.

Both injured soldiers were transported to a hospital for treatment, and their families were informed of the incident.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yosef Chaim Lieberman zt”l of Lakewood, formerly of Boro Park, who was niftar at the age of 98.

A remarkable survivor of the Churban Europe and a living link to the great dor of prewar Torah Jewry, Rav Yosef Chaim endured hunger, concentration camps, and unimaginable upheaval as a young child in Antwerp during the Holocaust, while clinging fiercely to Torah umitzvos under the harshest conditions.

Even as refugee children escaping war-torn Europe, the Lieberman siblings became known for their uncompromising insistence on kashrus and maintaining Yiddishkeit wherever they went.

After surviving the war years in Europe, Rav Yosef Chaim arrived in America as part of the famed Kindertransport aboard the Nyassa. He learned in Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin under Rav Yitzchok Hutner zt”l, spending Yomim Tovim in the rosh yeshiva‘s home and maintaining a close lifelong kesher to the yeshiva.

He later learned for seven years in Lakewood under Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l, with whom he shared a uniquely close kesher, and became close friends and chavrusos with Rav Dov Schwartzman zt”l for many years. His older brother was the noted talmid chochom Rav Dovid Moshe Lieberman zt”l, prominent rov in Antwerp.

Already as a bochur, Rav Yosef Chaim received semichah from Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l — something Rav Moshe rarely granted to younger talmidim.

For close to fifty years, Rav Yosef Chaim resided in Boro Park, where he was among the founding members of the Lakewood Minyan.

For the last twenty years, he lived in Lakewood, where he became a fixture at Bais Medrash Kol Shimshon, spending his days immersed in learning with remarkable hasmadah and consistency well into his later years.

Rav Yosef Chaim was zocheh to raise a family of eleven children, all bnei and bnos Torah, continuing the legacy of Torah and emunah that defined his life.

Yehi zichro baruch.

President Trump said Thursday that China is preparing to invest “hundreds of billions of dollars” into companies led by top American executives who accompanied him during his meetings this week with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity that aired Thursday night, Trump said the business leaders traveling with him were focused on securing major economic agreements and bringing jobs back to the United States.

“Those business people are here to make deals and to bring back jobs,” Trump said of the dozens of executives and entrepreneurs that accompanied him on his historic trip to Beijing.

“China’s going to invest hundreds of billions of dollars with those people that were in that room today,” the president told Fox News host Sean Hannity in an interview that aired Thursday night. “That’s why they came.”

Trump also disclosed that several prominent executives — including Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook — were not originally expected to participate in the formal meeting between the American delegation and Xi at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.

“I suggested that before we start the meeting, ‘I’d like to introduce them to you,’” Trump said, “and they were surprised, because it wasn’t, you know, it wasn’t scheduled.”

According to Trump, Chinese officials eventually embraced the unexpected addition to the meeting despite the last-minute change in protocol.

Trump said Chinese leadership “really had a good time” once they “got used to the fact that we’re a little off schedule here.”

“They did fantastically well,” he said of the businesspeople. “It was really good.”

“Xi actually said that was very good. That was a good idea, but it was very different from what the schedule had.”

The Hannity interview was recorded Wednesday following Trump’s lengthy meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People, which lasted more than two hours.

So far, both leaders have projected a cooperative tone, particularly regarding Iran and the broader state of U.S.-China relations.

A White House summary of the summit said “both countries agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump also claimed Xi expressed willingness to help de-escalate tensions involving Iran.

“President Xi would like to see a deal made, he would, he would like to see a deal made. And he did offer. He said, ‘If I can be of any help at all, I would like to be of help,’” Trump told Hannity.

“He’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open. He said, ‘If I could be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help,’” the president added, noting that Xi intends to continue purchasing oil from the regime and “didn’t like the fact that they are charging tolls.”

Trump further stated that Xi committed not to provide military assistance to Tehran.

“He said he’s not going to give military equipment, that’s a big statement,” Trump said.

At a formal state banquet honoring Trump on Wednesday, Xi emphasized the importance of maintaining stable ties between Washington and Beijing.

“We must make it work, and never mess it up.”

Xi also referenced Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan while speaking optimistically about future relations between the two powers.

“achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand,”

Trump and Xi were scheduled to meet again Thursday evening at Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing, the headquarters compound of the Chinese Communist Party and the location of Xi’s main official residence.

The two leaders planned to continue discussions over tea and lunch, with talks expected to cover Iran, trade, investment, and Taiwan.

Following the working lunch, Trump was expected to depart Beijing and conclude his fast-moving three-day visit to China.

{Matzav.com}

A CIA whistleblower told senators that internal intelligence assessments pointing to a lab leak as the most likely origin of COVID-19 were repeatedly sidelined by the Biden administration, raising new questions about how the government handled early conclusions about the pandemic.

Testifying before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, James Erdman III — a veteran CIA officer with more than 20 years of experience — alleged that key findings from agency scientists were excluded from official reports and never shared with Congress.

Committee Chairman Sen. Rand Paul said Erdman came forward despite significant personal risk, emphasizing the importance of transparency.

“According to his testimony, CIA scientific analysts concluded multiple times between 2021 and 2023 that a lab leak was the most likely origin of COVID-19,” Paul said in his opening statement. “Yet those conclusions never shaped the official narrative, never made the intelligence report. Congress was never told.”

Paul further claimed that the timing of a later CIA assessment raised concerns about political motivations.

“It was not until after the 2024 election that the outgoing Biden administration directed the CIA to issue an assessment, not because of new intelligence, but so officials could walk out of the door claiming there was nothing left to find,” he said. “That is not analysis. That is a cleanup operation.”

Erdman appeared publicly despite objections from the CIA, which criticized the hearing as politically driven. Agency spokeswoman Liz Lyons said lawmakers acted improperly in compelling the testimony.

“The witness testifying today is not appearing as a whistleblower in pursuit of the truth, but instead in response to the subpoena issued by Chairman Paul,” Lyons said.

Erdman’s attorney, Carol Thompson, said her client had concerns about possible retaliation but declined to elaborate further.

During the hearing, Erdman also pointed to the role of former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci in shaping internal discussions about the virus’s origins.

“It was significantly influenced by Anthony Fauci, injecting himself into the IC [intelligence community],” Erdman said when asked whether the CIA minimized the possibility of a lab leak.

His testimony prompted calls from several Republican lawmakers for criminal action against Fauci.

“We just heard testimony that he intervened behind the scenes to try and get our own intelligence agency, CIA, FBI to change their assessment of the lab leak,” Sen. Josh Hawley said. “Why? Because he helped fund the Wuhan lab. He supported and funded gain-of-function research, and then he tried to cover it up, and then he worked to cover it up from the American people.”

“I hope he’s indicted,” Hawley added.

The hearing came shortly after the statute of limitations for certain potential charges related to Fauci’s prior testimony expired, though Paul signaled he intends to continue pursuing the matter.

“I’ve sent several criminal referrals on Anthony Fauci to the Justice Department,” Paul said. “And I hope they will be pursued at this time.”

Paul has long argued that Fauci misled Congress regarding research connected to Wuhan, an allegation Fauci has denied.

Former President Joe Biden issued a preemptive pardon for Fauci near the end of his term, though President Donald Trump has said the pardon is invalid due to how it was signed. That claim has not yet been tested in court.

Separately, a former Fauci adviser, Dr. David Morens, was recently indicted by a federal grand jury on allegations tied to concealing information about the origins of the pandemic.

Tensions also flared between Republican senators and the CIA during the hearing, particularly over the agency’s characterization of the proceedings.

“This proceeding amounts to nothing more than dishonest political theater masquerading as a congressional hearing,” Lyons said in a statement.

Sen. Ron Johnson sharply rejected that assessment.

“This is not political theater,” Johnson said. “I have years and years and years of built-up frustration of agencies like the CIA, Department of Justice, the FBI, HHS snubbing our oversight, giving us the big middle finger.”

Paul also defended holding the hearing in public, arguing transparency is essential.

“Closed-door testimony doesn’t provide oversight. Public testimony provides oversight,” he said.

Democratic members of the committee did not attend the hearing, drawing criticism from Republicans who said the absence undermined the seriousness of the issue.

“Nothing shocks me anymore with our colleagues from the other side of the aisle, but I’m shocked that not one of them showed up here,” Johnson said.

“This is serious oversight work,” he added. “This is what the American people need to see. And I just wish our Democrat colleagues had any level of curiosity about what’s happening inside the deep state.”

Sen. Bernie Moreno argued that Democrats avoided the hearing to sidestep accountability for pandemic-era decisions.

“This isn’t about politics, but somehow it’s become about politics because the Democrats don’t even want to hear the conversation about what obviously was a grave error that this country made during COVID,” Moreno said. “There’s never been a situation, certainly not in my lifetime, where you had decisions made that affected generations of Americans, kids that were absolutely deprived of their childhood, businesses that were destroyed, families that were torn apart, memories that you’ll never get back, trillions of dollars of economic loss.”

Erdman also accused the CIA of obstructing the investigation into COVID-19’s origins and retaliating against those involved.

“The CIA did not comply with lawful oversight during the DIG’s investigation,” he testified. “The CIA refused to provide information necessary to understand why analytic standards at the CIA were violated.”

He further alleged that agency officials monitored communications involving investigators and whistleblowers.

“These were Americans being spied upon illegally while executing duties directed by the president and under the authority of the Director of National Intelligence,” Erdman said.

According to his testimony, at least one contractor who cooperated with the investigation was dismissed.

Thompson said she hopes the public testimony will encourage others to come forward.

“There has been obstruction by those intelligence agencies, precluding those individuals from being able to conduct the investigation,” she said.

Hawley echoed those concerns, warning about broader implications.

“We have basically a systematic effort to violate the laws of Congress, to lie to the American people, to mislead the American people. And it’s still going on,” he said. “If you’ve got people who will just not follow the laws of Congress and lie openly to the American people, I don’t know how you can hope to preserve our country.”

{Matzav.com}

Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voiced support for President Donald Trump’s recent remarks prioritizing stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, even as those comments drew attention for downplaying concerns about Americans’ financial struggles.

In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Fetterman said Trump’s statement had been taken out of context and that the president’s core message was centered on preventing a nuclear-armed Iran.

“He said something that got clipped … saying, ‘I’m not thinking about [the] American people financially,’ but what he really was saying — he did say, is, ‘I’m really thinking that we can’t ever let Iran [build] a bomb,’” Fetterman told Fox News host Sean Hannity.

“That’s the essence of what that is, and to hold that line,” the Pennsylvania Democrat continued. “I mean, how could we just walk away and … let that happen?”

Fetterman, who ran as a liberal during his 2022 campaign, has in recent months found common ground with Trump on several major issues, including the conflict with Iran, border enforcement, and even plans related to the White House.

Despite that alignment on certain policies, Fetterman made clear he is not changing his political affiliation. Writing last week in a Washington Post opinion column, he said he would remain a Democrat, explaining that he would “be a terrible Republican who still votes overwhelmingly with Democrats.”

Trump’s original comments came before his departure for Beijing earlier this week, when he was asked whether Americans’ financial conditions influenced his approach to negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.

“Not even a little bit,” he told reporters when asked about motivations.

“The only thing that matters when I’m talking about Iran, they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” he added. “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situations. I don’t think about anybody.”

“I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.

The ongoing conflict with Iran, which began following U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28, has had economic repercussions at home, particularly in rising fuel prices linked to instability in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments.

As of Thursday, the national average price for regular gasoline has climbed above $4.53 per gallon, according to AAA. Just two days before the conflict began, prices were below $3 per gallon.

Inflation has also ticked upward, with consumer prices rising 0.6 percent between March and April, pushing the annual inflation rate to 3.8 percent, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That marks a 1.4 percentage point increase since February.

Although a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran remains in place, no final agreement has been reached to bring a permanent end to the hostilities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said over the weekend that significant threats still remain despite the pause in fighting.

“It’s not over, because there’s still nuclear material, enriched uranium that has to be taken out of Iran,” he told Major Garrett on CBS News’s “60 Minutes.”

“There are still enrichment sites that have to be dismantled,” Netanyahu added. “There are still proxies that Iran supports. There are ballistic missiles that they still want to produce. Now, we’ve degraded a lot of it. But all that is still there, and there’s work to be done.”

Meanwhile, Trump is in Beijing for meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping. During his appearance with Hannity, Fetterman argued that China, along with other global powers, should join the effort to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

“The whole world should join us, stand with us. China … Europe, all these other countries should say, ‘We should demand Iran end their nuclear ambitions, and now we can all get back to building up all of our nation and parts of the world,’” the senator told Hannity.

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota said that marijuana use may be more widespread among lawmakers than publicly acknowledged, as she also renewed calls for broader legalization nationwide.

Speaking to TMZ in Washington, D.C., Omar — who serves as co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus — addressed ongoing discussions surrounding medical and recreational marijuana research. When asked whether it was surprising that no members of Congress openly identify as regular marijuana users, she suggested that advocacy and personal use are not necessarily connected.

“I will say –– advocacy for legalizing doesn’t necessarily mean that you are a user, so everybody can be an advocate to legalizing it because we understand that it is not OK for us to spend the billions of dollars we do now in incarcerating people for smoking a joint,” she said.

Pressed further on whether lawmakers themselves use cannabis, Omar laughed and indicated she believes such behavior is not uncommon on Capitol Hill.

“I think there are a lot of people who smoke cannabis in Congress,” she said, flashing a peace sign before ending the exchange.

Omar also argued that federal law should catch up with state-level changes, noting that many states have already legalized marijuana in some form. She pointed to President Donald Trump’s role in shifting Republican attitudes on drug policy and encouraging more dialogue within the party.

“I think any step forward is a good step, but we need to go farther than where we are yet,” she said. “We need to continue building the coalition, we need to continue to have people speak to the president. He has the power, Congress has the power, and it’s time for us to come together and get this done.”

Recent actions by the Trump administration reflect a broader shift in federal policy toward marijuana and psychedelic drugs. Last month, Trump signed an executive order easing restrictions on research into psychedelic substances, particularly for treating conditions such as depression and substance abuse.

The order also instructed the Food and Drug Administration to accelerate its review process, leading to approvals for certain psychedelic-based treatments. Several Republican lawmakers, including Reps. Morgan Luttrell of Texas and Jack Bergman of Michigan, have advocated for making such treatments available to veterans.

Shortly afterward, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche directed that state-approved medical marijuana be reclassified as less dangerous, aligning with what officials described as the president’s “promise to expand Americans’ access to medical treatment options.”

The move reduced regulatory burdens on medical marijuana and introduced tax benefits for licensed providers.

“These actions will enable more targeted, rigorous research into marijuana’s safety and efficacy, expanding patients’ access to treatments and empowering doctors to make better-informed healthcare decisions,” Blanche said in his announcement at the time, posted to the social platform X.

While these developments have not significantly altered the legal status of recreational marijuana at the federal level, they represent a notable departure from the strict enforcement approach that defined the decades-long “war on drugs” launched during the Nixon administration.

{Matzav.com}

Cuba’s government acknowledged Wednesday that the country has exhausted its fuel reserves, with officials warning that worsening shortages are crippling the national power grid and deepening unrest across the island.

Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said Cuba has completely run out of both oil and diesel, blaming the crisis on ongoing U.S. sanctions and disruptions to foreign fuel deliveries.

“We have absolutely no fuel, and absolutely no diesel,” Vicente de la O Levy said on state media, according to The Guardian. “We have no reserves.”

The minister said the country’s electrical infrastructure has entered a “critical” phase, with residents in some parts of Havana now enduring rolling blackouts lasting as long as 22 hours each day.

Cuba relies heavily on imported Venezuelan crude, but officials said the island has received just one shipment of oil since January. United Press International separately reported that de la O Levy said a 730,000-barrel shipment delivered by a Russian-flagged tanker had already been depleted. According to officials, Cuba’s power grid is now being sustained only through locally produced crude oil, natural gas, and renewable energy sources.

Cuban authorities pointed to U.S. economic pressure following this year’s American military operation in Venezuela as a major cause of the deepening energy emergency. President Trump has also publicly warned foreign nations against maintaining commercial ties with Cuba.

“This dramatic worsening has a single cause: the genocidal energy blockade to which the United States subjects our country, threatening irrational tariffs against any nation that supplies us with fuel,” Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel wrote in a Wednesday post on the social platform X.

“It is a perverse design whose main objective is the suffering of the entire people, to hold them hostage and turn them against the Government,” he added.

Trump administration officials have repeatedly signaled support for political change in Cuba. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously indicated that Washington could reconsider parts of its economic campaign if Cuba were to install new leadership.

Rubio, whose family emigrated from Cuba, has long taken a hard line against the communist government. One of his earliest actions after taking office last year was reinstating sanctions targeting entities tied to Cuba’s military and government. Last week, the State Department announced additional sanctions against two Cuban organizations and one individual accused of supporting the regime.

“Cubans leave Cuba, they go to other countries and become successful,” Rubio said during an interview with Fox News aboard Air Force One this week. “The only place in the world where Cubans can’t seem to prosper and succeed is in Cuba.”

As fuel shortages worsen alongside an expanding humanitarian crisis, demonstrations have begun erupting in the capital. Reuters reported that hundreds of Cubans gathered in Havana on Wednesday night, blocking roads, banging pots and pans, and demanding electricity.

Reuters noted that police officers were deployed heavily around the protest areas, though authorities reportedly avoided major confrontations with demonstrators.

De la O Levy said Cuba continues trying to secure imported fuel supplies, but global energy markets have become increasingly unstable because of the conflict involving Iran and the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, which has driven up both oil and shipping costs.

“Cuba is open to anyone that wants to sell us fuel,” he said, per Reuters.

President Trump also referenced possible communication with Cuban officials in a Truth Social post Tuesday, ahead of a state visit to China.

“No Republican has ever spoken to me about Cuba, which is a failed country and only heading in one direction – down! Cuba is asking for help, and we are going to talk!!!” he wrote ahead of a state visit to China.

Leaders in Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s Likud party are working to revive the stalled draft law in an effort to keep the right-wing bloc intact, even as tensions with chareidi parties continue to rise.

Coalition chairman Ofir Katz placed a series of calls Thursday to Likud Knesset members, seeking to gauge their positions on the draft legislation. The goal, according to reports, is to maintain the bloc under all circumstances, even as political instability grows.

According to reporting by Amit Segal, Likud wants to head into potential elections as a unified and recognizable bloc, rather than being forced to explain how Netanyahu could piece together a coalition after the vote. The message being conveyed to United Torah Judaism is direct: even if the draft law does not pass — due to the war or other complications — Likud wants the party to publicly commit to remaining part of the bloc.

The effort comes against the backdrop of a dramatic directive from Rav Dov Landau, who instructed Degel HaTorah representatives to work toward dissolving the Knesset as soon as possible. In strong terms, Rav Landau made clear that from this point forward, the only consideration would be “what is good for chareidi Jewry,” adding that “the concept of a bloc does not exist” — a statement that significantly weakens Likud’s attempt to project unity.

Attempts to pass the draft law have failed repeatedly in recent months, despite Netanyahu’s earlier assurances to chareidi party leaders that a finalized version would be presented. The delays ultimately led to growing frustration. “We have to admit, there will not be a draft law in the current Knesset. We failed,” a senior chareidi Knesset member said at the time.

At this stage, United Torah Judaism has not committed to returning to the bloc. Still, Likud is continuing to push forward with efforts to advance the draft law, effectively offering to try to pass it in exchange for political loyalty.

The move reflects a broader concern within Likud about maintaining political stability ahead of possible elections, while trying to prevent the chareidi parties from seeking new alliances. However, in light of Rav Landau’s sharp remarks and the evident lack of trust in Netanyahu’s commitments, restoring the previous partnership appears to be a complex and uncertain challenge.

The Justice Department announced Thursday that an investigation lasting more than a year concluded that Yale School of Medicine unlawfully considered race in its admissions decisions, despite the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling prohibiting race-conscious admissions policies in higher education.

In a statement released by the department’s Civil Rights Division, federal officials accused Yale administrators of deliberately factoring race into admissions choices and attempting to rely on what the department described as “racial proxies” in order to work around the Supreme Court’s decision.

Investigators said admissions records indicated that Black and Hispanic applicants were accepted at higher rates than white and Asian applicants who posted similar academic credentials and test scores.

“Yale has continued its race-based admissions program despite the Supreme Court and the public’s clear mandate for reform,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said in a statement.

“This Department will continue to shed light on these illegal practices, and demand that institutions of higher education comply with federal law.”

Federal officials also said their review found that Black and Hispanic applicants were “admitted with consistently lower academic qualifications” than white and Asian applicants, which the department said constituted intentional discrimination prohibited under federal law.

The findings represent another step in the Trump administration’s broader campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at colleges and universities across the country.

Following the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, conservative legal organizations and federal authorities have intensified scrutiny of admissions procedures at universities, including medical and professional schools.

The Justice Department emphasized that institutions receiving taxpayer funding are obligated to follow federal anti-discrimination laws while educating future doctors.

“Medical schools use substantial federal financial assistance to train the next generation of doctors,” the department said.

“The Department is continuing its focus on eradicating illegal race politics from admissions at medical schools, where quality and excellence are vitally important to public safety.”

Although the department did not announce any immediate penalties or lawsuits against Yale, officials said efforts would continue to ensure colleges and universities comply with federal civil rights requirements.

Yale did not immediately issue a response Thursday after being asked for comment.

The Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling struck down admissions systems used by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, with the justices determining that race-based admissions practices violated the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.

That decision prompted schools across the nation to overhaul longstanding admissions policies that had considered race as one factor in evaluating applicants.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri said that the appointment of Rav Yitzchak Edelstein as chief rabbi of Ramat Hasharon fulfilled a personal commitment he made years ago to the new rov‘s father and uncle, two of the most prominent gedolim of the previous generation.

Speaking to close associates after the selection, Deri described the moment as the culmination of a long-awaited pledge. “Thank G-d that I merited to fulfill the promise I made to his father, Rav Yaakov Edelstein, and to his uncle, Rav Gershon Edelstein. This was their special request to me, and for years I waited to carry out this wish. Thank G-d we worked toward his election, and today he was chosen.”

The story behind the commitment dates back to the final days of Rav Yaakov Edelstein, the longtime rov of Ramat Hasharon. While on his deathbed, he asked Deri to come see him and personally requested that he do everything in his power to ensure that his son, Rav Yitzchak Edelstein, would succeed him as the city’s rov. According to those close to Deri, he gave his word at that time that he would work to make it happen.

Ramat Hasharon Mayor Yitzchak Rochberger also praised Deri’s efforts, saying the outcome would not have been achieved without his involvement. “If not for Rabbi Aryeh Deri, who acted and stood like a rock for the election of Rav Edelstein, we would not have reached this day.”

The pledge was strengthened further during the shivah period following Rav Yaakov Edelstein’s passing. Deri came to comfort the family, and Rav Gershon Edelstein was also present. After offering condolences, Rav Gershon asked to speak privately with Deri in his car, where he again urged him to work toward appointing his nephew, Rav Yitzchak Edelstein, as rov of Ramat Hasharon in order to continue his father’s legacy and the spiritual transformation he led in the city. Deri again assured him that he would act on the request.

Sources within Shas said that throughout the recent round of rabbinic appointments across the country, the Ramat Hasharon position was effectively reserved for Rav Yitzchak Edelstein. According to those familiar with the matter, Deri worked together with former minister Michael Malkieli and Religious Services Ministry Director-General Yehuda Avidan to advance the process and secure his appointment.

After the results were announced, Rav Yitzchak Edelstein held an emotional conversation with Deri, thanking him sincerely for his efforts and for honoring the wishes of his father and uncle.

A controversial proposal to tax luxury second homes in New York City may end up affecting far more homeowners than initially expected, after Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office unveiled a plan that lowers the threshold for some properties from $5 million to just $1 million in assessed value.

New details released Thursday by Hochul’s office outlined a complicated two-part framework for the proposed pied-à-terre tax, developed alongside Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The proposal could eventually reshape major aspects of New York City’s long-criticized property tax structure.

Under the proposal, the tax would apply to second homes in condos and co-ops assessed above $1 million, while one-, two-, and three-family homes would only qualify if assessed at more than $5 million.

The proposal, first reported by the New York Times, also caught lawmakers by surprise even as Albany continues prolonged budget negotiations requiring legislative approval for the measure.

“This budget process is broken. It needs to be fixed,” an exasperated state Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-Queens) said, griping that lawmakers learned the proposal from the media instead of the governor.

“We should know these things. It shows a level of disrespect.”

The latest proposal represents another concession by Hochul to Mamdani and progressive allies who have pushed aggressively for higher taxes on wealthy New Yorkers.

The pied-à-terre concept gained traction after Mamdani’s broader proposal to tax millionaires lost momentum, largely due to opposition from Hochul.

Instead, the governor agreed to support a targeted tax on luxury second residences, originally describing it as a levy aimed at homes valued at $5 million or more — approximately 13,000 properties citywide, according to her office.

Hochul and Mamdani estimated the tax would generate roughly $500 million annually, though city Comptroller Mark Levine disputed those projections, estimating revenue would likely fall between $340 million and $380 million.

Real estate experts warned that implementing the tax would be extraordinarily complicated because of New York City’s notoriously confusing property tax system and the challenge of determining which residences qualify as second homes.

The framework released Thursday appeared to be an attempt to address those concerns.

Under the proposal, second homes classified as one-, two-, or three-family residences would still only be taxed if their assessed value exceeds $5 million.

Homes assessed between $5 million and $15 million would face a surcharge of 0.8%.

The surcharge would rise to 1.05% for properties valued between $15 million and $25 million, while homes at the highest tier would face a 1.3% rate.

Officials estimated that a part-time city resident with a single-family home assessed at $11.5 million would owe approximately $92,000 annually under the tax.

The proposal takes a far more aggressive approach toward condos and co-ops, aligning with Mamdani’s campaign promise to target “richer and whiter neighborhoods.”

According to the plan, condos and co-ops with a Department of Finance “market value” of at least $1 million would immediately be subject to the surcharge during the first two years.

Hochul’s office argued that because of the city’s unusual assessment formulas, a property carrying a $1 million assessed value may actually sell for around $5 million in the real market.

During the initial phase, properties with assessed market values between $1 million and $3 million would pay a 4% surcharge.

Units assessed at $5 million or higher would face a 6.5% surcharge, according to the proposal.

“For example, a condo selling for $18.5 million may have a (Department of Finance) assessed market value of only $1.1 million,” the proposal states. “In the first two years, it would pay a surcharge of $45,115, or 4% of its current assessed market value.”

After the first two years, officials hope to replace the temporary structure with an entirely redesigned valuation system for condos and co-ops that would align their taxation more closely with single-family homes.

Under that revised model, officials said the same $18.5 million condo would eventually owe $194,250 annually.

Hochul’s office estimated that the updated tax plan would impact between 8,000 and 10,000 properties.

The release of the proposal came only hours after legislative leaders acknowledged that negotiations over the tax were still unresolved.

“I don’t have any final details. I have an idea of it, but I don’t have the exact details,” Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) told reporters Thursday.

At the time, Heastie noted that lawmakers were still debating whether the surcharge should be based on assessed value or the more difficult-to-determine market value.

Real estate attorneys predicted the proposal would trigger a surge of legal challenges from property owners disputing their tax bills, according to Erik Zaratin, a partner at Goldberg Weprin Finkel Goldstein LLP.

“There will be more property owners filing grievances,” he said.

James Whelan, president of the Real Estate Board of New York, sharply criticized the plan, warning it would place additional financial burdens on residents already facing some of the nation’s heaviest tax loads.

“On the back of $500 million in a new second-home tax, putting even more costs on home buyers and sellers will further discourage transactions and threaten existing revenue collected by the State, City, and MTA,” he said.

Bloomberg separately reported Thursday that Hochul and state lawmakers had also agreed to another previously undisclosed tax measure — a surcharge targeting cash purchases of homes valued above $1 million.

{Matzav.com}