Feed aggregator

President Donald Trump is intensifying his criticism of a federal judge overseeing a lawsuit that has delayed portions of his administration’s planned $400 million White House ballroom and rooftop drone facility, arguing that the legal challenge is jeopardizing national security.

In a post Sunday on Truth Social, Trump praised the proposed project’s security capabilities and warned against any effort to obstruct its construction.

“The DronePort at the White House Ballroom will be, perhaps, the most sophisticated anywhere in the World!” Trump wrote Sunday on Truth Social. “It will safeguard our Nation’s Capital, Washington, D.C., long into the future.

“Judge Richard Leon should stop playing games with America’s Security!”

Trump specifically targeted U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, who has been handling the case, and urged him to dismiss the lawsuit brought against the project. The president described the plaintiff as a frequent litigant with no legitimate legal standing and warned that any future attack on the White House would place responsibility on those blocking the project.

“If anything happens, he will be held responsible for the Death and Destruction caused to our Country,” Trump added. “He has already created enough problems by allowing ‘Top Secret’ information to be released and exposed based on a ridiculous lawsuit started by a highly litigious woman (serial plaintiff!) whose ‘strolling,’ in her opinion, will be disturbed by the new, desperately needed structure – In any event, a woman who has absolutely no STANDING!

“With the advent of highly sophisticated, and powerful, modern day weaponry, we can no longer defend Washington, D.C., with rifles and pistols, alone. This ridiculous lawsuit must be dismissed, IMMEDIATELY!” Trump added.

The president’s comments came as the Justice Department renewed its effort to have a court order blocking parts of the project lifted. In a recent filing, government attorneys argued that a shooting incident at a White House security checkpoint earlier this month highlighted the need for enhanced protection measures at the executive complex.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche echoed Trump’s arguments in a five-page court submission, citing multiple threats against the president and criticizing the injunction.

“In light of the recent attacks against President Trump’s life — including two attempts in less than a month — the injunction entered by this Court for the benefit of a strolling woman, who filed suit against the East Wing Project long before she knew what was going to be built (This is a woman who is a known serial plaintiff throughout Washington, D.C.), and who has absolutely no standing, must be immediately vacated, and this suit, which is a complete embarrassment to our Country, must be dismissed,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote in the five-page filing.

“This is a terrible, tremendously harmful case to the United States of America, and all it stands for!”

The gunman involved in the recent White House checkpoint incident was shot by law enforcement officers and later died at a hospital.

The legal dispute stems from an April ruling by Judge Leon, who found that Trump lacked authority to proceed with construction of the ballroom without congressional approval. Leon issued an injunction stopping above-ground construction work on the project. However, an appellate court subsequently paused that ruling, allowing work to continue temporarily through June.

The lawsuit was filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit organization chartered by Congress. The group has continued to pursue the case despite Justice Department arguments that security concerns warrant ending both the injunction and the lawsuit altogether.

Trump has previously outlined ambitious plans for the project, saying it will include not only a large ballroom but also a rooftop drone base and a six-story underground military facility equipped with a hospital and research operations.

During a recent tour of the site with reporters, Trump emphasized the military applications of the structure and its defensive capabilities.

“The entire roof is built for military,” Trump said. “They have a massive drone capacity. Not only is it drone-proof, if a drone hits it, it bounces off, it won’t have any impact. But it’s also meant as a drone port that would protect all of Washington.”

The proposed ballroom would encompass approximately 90,000 square feet, making it substantially larger than existing White House event spaces. The project has become a focal point in a broader debate over presidential authority, federal security spending, and the preservation of historic government properties.

Trump has maintained that the facility is needed to accommodate major events in a secure environment, arguing that existing White House venues are inadequate for gatherings of up to 1,000 attendees.

According to the White House, the project’s security infrastructure will include titanium barriers, reinforced roofing systems, specialized impact-resistant glass, and underground facilities. Trump has also described the roof as being made of “impenetrable steel” and said the fencing is so strong that “a bulldozer cannot knock it over.”

{Matzav.com}

New criticism is being directed at Jill Biden after a former senior aide accused her of attempting to reshape public perceptions of her reaction to President Biden’s widely criticized debate performance in 2024.

Michael LaRosa, who previously served as a spokesman for Jill Biden, said the former first lady appears to be revising her account of what she thought during the debate, after recently revealing that she feared her husband might be suffering a medical emergency while on stage.

According to LaRosa, the effort is aimed at altering how the public remembers both the debate and her response to it.

“They’re trying to change the tape in people’s minds about who she is… that’s why she’s sort of changing her tune a little bit about her reaction in real time,” LaRosa said. “She wants to say, ‘Oh no, my reaction was just as concerning and was just as severe as everyone at home. I was shocked.'”

LaRosa argued that Jill Biden effectively became the public face of the administration’s immediate response following the debate and suggested that a more candid reaction at the time would have resonated with voters.

He said she was “the face and the voice of the initial reaction for the country,” and that if she had reacted at the time with the sentiments she later shared with CBS, “it would have been a more human response.”

In the moments following the June 2024 debate, Jill Biden publicly praised her husband before a crowd of supporters.

“You did such a great job, you answered every question, you knew all the facts,” she said to then-President Biden in front of a crowd of cheering supporters following the debate in June 2024.

However, in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning that aired last week, she offered a dramatically different description of what she was thinking while watching the event unfold.

“I don’t know what happened. I mean, as I watched it, I thought, ‘Oh my God, he’s having a stroke.’ And it scared me to death,” she told CBS Sunday Morning in an interview that aired last week.

Republicans seized on Biden’s debate performance at the time as evidence that he was no longer fit to continue serving as commander in chief. Democrats, by contrast, largely insisted that the performance was an isolated incident rather than a reflection of a broader decline.

While Jill Biden’s recent remarks appeared to reinforce the argument that something unusual occurred that night, Axios reporter Alex Thompson challenged the notion that the debate performance was an isolated event.

Drawing on reporting conducted for the book Original Sin, which examines President Biden’s years in office, Thompson said aides had witnessed similar episodes on other occasions.

“Biden aides told Jake Tapper and me that they had seen him act that way before and after. Those moments became more difficult to predict and conceal,” Thompson said, referring to comments gathered during the writing of “Original Sin,” a book covering President Biden’s time in office.

{Matzav.com}

Signs of growing turmoil are emerging at the highest levels of Iran’s leadership, with a report claiming that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has raised the possibility of stepping down as the country grapples with mounting political, military, and economic pressures.

According to a report by Iran International, Pezeshkian sent a letter to Mojtaba Khamenei warning that the regime’s ability to survive is nearing a breaking point. The report states that the Iranian president made clear he would not remain in office if current conditions continue.

If accurate, the message would represent one of the sharpest public indications yet of tensions between Iran’s civilian leadership and the powerful military and religious figures who wield significant influence behind the scenes in Tehran.

The reported development follows earlier claims by Iran International that serious disagreements have emerged between Pezeshkian and leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps over the management of the war and its economic consequences.

According to sources cited by the outlet, Pezeshkian warned that without a ceasefire, Iran’s economy could face collapse within a matter of weeks.

The report further alleges that Pezeshkian sought to regain executive powers that had effectively been stripped from the government, but that request was rejected by IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi.

At the same time, the outlet reported that the president repeatedly attempted to arrange an urgent meeting with Mojtaba Khamenei but was unable to secure one.

The latest report paints a picture of an increasingly strained leadership structure in Tehran, with the president signaling that he may no longer be willing to bear responsibility for the country’s deteriorating situation while key security institutions continue to dictate policy and strategy.

{Matzav.com}

Gadi Eizenkot, chairman of the Yashar! party and former IDF chief of staff, has reportedly proposed a new framework aimed at resolving the growing leadership rivalry within Israel’s anti-Netanyahu bloc. Under the plan, the leader of whichever party wins the most seats in the next election would automatically receive the bloc’s backing to form a government.

According to a report by Amit Segal on Channel 12 News Sunday evening, Eizenkot presented the proposal several weeks ago to a number of opposition party leaders. The move is intended to avoid a prolonged struggle over who would lead the bloc and, at least for the foreseeable future, appears to sideline the idea of a “grand merger” involving Eizenkot, Naftali Bennett, and Yair Lapid.

The proposal is also directed at Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman, who has repeatedly stated in recent months that he aspires to become prime minister. Current polling places his party at approximately eight to nine seats.

Responding to the report, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid published a message on X in which he appealed directly to Eizenkot.

“We love and appreciate Gadi Eizenkot and believe that if he joins the union it will bring the country hope for change and lay the foundations for the government of repair and healing that the country so desperately needs. Gadi, come!”

Earlier Sunday, Bennett renewed his criticism of Eizenkot over the latter’s recent meeting with Degel HaTorah chairman Moshe Gafni.

Speaking at an event over the weekend, Bennett said: “It’s naive, it’s naive… because you will enter negotiations and then they will say what the parameters are for an exemption. What Gafni and Deri forgot, Eizenkot and Yair Golan have not yet learned. Therefore there is no room for dialogue, simply.”

Bennett’s latest attack on Eizenkot and Yair Golan is part of a broader series of clashes within the opposition and comes as recent surveys have shown growing support for Eizenkot’s Yashar! party.

A Channel 12 poll released last week found that Eizenkot is now viewed as the opposition’s most suitable candidate for prime minister.

The same survey also examined the possibility of a joint slate comprising Bennett, Lapid, and Eizenkot. According to the results, such a unified party would emerge as the largest faction in the Knesset with 38 seats.

However, the poll found that if the parties run separately, they would collectively earn 39 seats—22 for Bennett and Lapid’s joint list and 17 for Eizenkot’s Yashar! party.

The survey further indicated that under a Bennett-Lapid-Eizenkot merger scenario, Likud would maintain its strength with 23 seats. The Democrats would receive 11 seats, while Yisrael Beiteinu would win 10.

Shas would secure eight seats, while both United Torah Judaism and Otzma Yehudit would also receive eight seats each, according to the poll.

{Matzav.com}

The Torah communities of Manchester and London are mourning the petirah of Rav Yosef Chaim Greenhaus zt”l, a respected mechanech who devoted more than four decades to educating generations of talmidim. He was 76 years old.

Rav Greenhaus passed away on Shabbos at a hospital in Manchester, England, following a prolonged period of suffering and illness.

Affectionately known throughout the community as “Reb Yossi,” he was born 76 years ago to Rav Moshe Mordechai Greenhaus z”l and Mrs. Sarah Yehudis Fried Greenhaus a”h.

For more than forty years, he served as a beloved melamed at Talmud Torah Yesodei HaTorah in London’s Stamford Hill neighborhood. Thousands of talmidim passed through his classroom over the years, benefiting from his warmth, dedication, and unique educational approach. He was known for instilling Torah values and yiras Shamayim in generations of children, many of whom maintained a deep affection and appreciation for him long after leaving his class.

Approximately a decade ago, Rav Greenhaus relocated to Manchester to be closer to his children. Despite advancing age, he continued learning with remarkable diligence, spending long hours immersed in Torah study at a kollel for rabbonim under the leadership of Rav Eliezer Kaufman.

About six months ago, his health began to deteriorate, leading to a lengthy hospitalization. During that difficult period, the family endured an additional tragedy with the passing of his brother, Reb Shamai Zerach Greenhaus z”l of Haifa.

He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and a large extended family living in Manchester, Gateshead, and Eretz Yisroel.

Among his brothers are Rav Dovid Greenhaus, a dayan on the Kedasia Beis Din in London, and Rav Tzvi Greenhaus of Bnei Brak.

His brothers-in-law include Rav Yisroel Gukovitzky, rov of the Bruchim Haba’im Shul in London who now resides in Beit Shemesh and is the author of Targum HaLa’az and Maaseh Oreg, as well as Rav Daniel Ortzel, rosh kollel of Kollel Pinto in Manchester.

The levayah is scheduled to take place on Monday in Manchester. Levayah arrangements were delayed due to bureaucratic procedures involving the release of the body by the local coroner’s office, which is closed on Sundays. He will be laid to rest in the Machzikei Hadas cemetery in Manchester.

Tehei Nishmaso Tzerurah B’Tzror HaChaim.

{Matzav.com}

A wave of concern swept through a yeshiva in Beitar Illit after talmidim reported repeatedly seeing what they described as a mysterious dark figure moving through one of the building’s classrooms late at night. The unusual reports eventually prompted an investigation by staff and, according to local accounts, led to the replacement of all the mezuzos in the yeshiva on the instruction of a city rabbi.

Rav Binyamin Chuta, rov of the Ohel Rachel Shul in Beitar Illit, recounted the incident during one of his shiurim, describing the unusual events that reportedly unfolded at the yeshiva in recent days.

According to the account, the episode began when several bochurim approached members of the yeshiva staff to report a disturbing phenomenon. They claimed that during the late evening and nighttime hours, strange activity that appeared to be supernatural was taking place in one of the yeshiva’s classrooms.

The talmidim said they repeatedly observed what appeared to be a dark shadowy silhouette moving around the room and appearing on the walls, despite there being no visible light source or apparent explanation for the phenomenon.

At first, staff members reportedly assumed the claims were the result of a prank or misunderstanding. However, after multiple talmidim continued reporting similar experiences, the yeshiva’s mashgiach decided to investigate the matter personally.

The mashgiach arrived at the yeshiva late at night and entered the classroom in question to see whether there was a rational explanation for what the bochurim had described.

According to the story related by Rabbi Chuta, the mashgiach himself suddenly observed a dark shadow-like figure moving across the walls of the room. The sight reportedly left him so frightened that he nearly collapsed.

The mashgiach then rushed out of the room and fled the area while calling for help.

Following the incident, and acting on the guidance of one of Beitar Illit’s rabbonim, all of the mezuzos in the yeshiva were reportedly replaced that same day.

{Matzav.com}

A significant new economic measure affecting the Torah world is moving forward after Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara directed government agencies to begin implementing a policy that will deny certain tax benefits to Torah institutions whose students are classified as draft-eligible and have not regularized their status with military authorities. At the same time, a special interagency task force will be established to prevent alternative funding channels from being used to circumvent the policy.

According to a statement issued following a meeting chaired by the attorney general, the government determined that under existing law, Supreme Court rulings, and decisions relating to the economic enforcement of military service obligations, “it is not possible to indirectly fund Torah institutions in which draft evaders are studying through the tax benefit provided under Section 46 of the Income Tax Ordinance.”

Under the new directive, the Israel Tax Authority must publish an official notice outlining the policy change by June 7, 2026. The announcement will detail the revised eligibility requirements, the documentation institutions will be required to submit, and the deadlines for doing so.

The new policy will require Torah institutions seeking either a new Section 46 approval or a renewal of an existing one to certify that their students have arranged their status with military authorities. In addition, institutions will be required to provide student information, including identification numbers, so that records can be cross-checked against military databases.

Organizations that already possess Section 46 approval will also be affected. The Tax Authority is expected to contact those institutions by July 1, 2026, requiring them to submit the necessary documentation in order to maintain eligibility for the tax benefit.

The decision further states that institutions that fail to provide the required information, or whose eligibility is not approved by the Tax Authority, will lose their tax-benefit status.

In addition, the attorney general ordered the formation of a special interministerial committee headed by the Deputy Attorney General for Public-Constitutional Law. Representatives from the Tax Authority, the Budget Department, the Corporations Authority, and the Justice Ministry will participate in the effort.

The committee’s mission will be to develop procedures designed to prevent the creation of indirect funding mechanisms for institutions whose students are draft-eligible but have not resolved their military status.

The decision also referenced a Supreme Court ruling issued in April, which stated that “the creation of alternative funding channels contradicts the court’s ruling and directly undermines the government’s obligation to enforce the provisions of the Security Service Law.”

{Matzav.com}

With Election Day just around the corner, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and her rivals spent the weekend making appearances across the city as an unexpectedly tight mayoral contest appeared increasingly likely to continue into a runoff election.

Bass, who is seeking another term in office, faces challenges from former reality television personality Spencer Pratt and Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman in Tuesday’s primary.

Recent surveys suggest that none of the candidates is on track to secure an outright majority, making a second-round runoff in November increasingly probable. Under the city’s election system, if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the two highest vote-getters advance to a head-to-head contest later in the year.

On Saturday, Bass, whose campaign has attracted support from prominent Democrats including Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom, campaigned at Yosemite Recreation Center in the Eagle Rock neighborhood.

During the event, Bass served tacos to attendees while wearing an apron emblazoned with the phrase “Common Sense and Carne Asada.”

Bass also used a Saturday Instagram livestream to criticize Pratt, drawing a contrast between his entertainment background and the responsibilities of public office.

“You have a failed reality TV star who wants to be famous,” she said while speaking with two actresses before appearing to reference President Donald Trump. “We know what it means if you put somebody who is a reality TV star in a seat of power.”

Meanwhile, Pratt spent part of the day targeting Raman on social media, posting criticism of several of her recent campaign advertisements on X.

Raman, for her part, pointed to encouraging polling numbers in a video shared on Instagram and urged voters to turn out on Election Day.

“After millions of dollars of spending against us, we are still here and we are still competitive,” she said.

Pratt, best known for his appearance on the reality television series “The Hills,” has built much of his campaign around criticism of Bass’s handling of the devastating January 2025 wildfires that destroyed thousands of properties, including his own home in Pacific Palisades.

He has also made homelessness, public safety, and drug abuse central themes of his campaign, frequently arguing that city leadership has failed to address those issues effectively.

In recent weeks, Pratt has drawn increased attention and picked up endorsements from a range of reality television figures, entertainers, musicians, and media personalities.

Even so, Pratt faces a difficult path in Los Angeles, where Democratic candidates have traditionally enjoyed a significant advantage in municipal elections and where Republican-backed candidates have historically struggled to gain widespread support.

{Matzav.com}

As New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani chose not to attend the annual Israel Day Parade, becoming the first sitting mayor to skip the event since it began more than six decades ago, former Mayor Eric Adams marched alongside Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana in a display of solidarity with Israel and the Jewish community.

Shortly before the parade got underway, Adams spoke with Arutz Sheva-Israel National News about the significance of participating in the event together with Israel’s parliamentary leader.

“Just being here with the Speaker of Knesset says a lot, and the clear display of unity for not only the country of Israel, but also the Jewish community globally.”

Adams said the joint appearance sent a powerful message of support and partnership.

“And that’s why we’re marching together. We will stand together, we will fight together, and we will ensure that the entire globe knows that the people of America and New York respect and will stand with the people of Israel,” he added.

Ohana noted that this year’s parade was marked by an unprecedented absence from City Hall.

“In more than 60 years of this parade, it is the first time that the mayor of New York will not attend,” he said.

At the same time, Ohana pointed out that the circumstances also led to a historic first from Israel’s side.

“We are very happy to have Mayor Adams. And for that reason, in more than 60 years of the parade, it is the first time that the Speaker of the Knesset will.”

The Knesset Speaker said he arrived with what he described as the largest parliamentary delegation ever sent from Israel to the New York event.

Ohana explained that the group included lawmakers from both coalition and opposition parties, reflecting broad support across Israel’s political spectrum.

According to Ohana, the purpose of the visit was to demonstrate solidarity with Jewish communities abroad at a time of growing challenges.

He said the delegation had come “to send a message to the Jewish world, to the Jews of New York. We are here with you. You are not alone.”

Closing his remarks, Ohana emphasized unity between Israel and Jews around the world.

“We stand together. Am Yisrael Chai,” Ohana concluded.

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Mike Lawler sharply criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for opting not to attend the city’s annual Israel Day Parade, arguing that the move reinforces concerns many voters already have about the mayor and breaks with a longstanding tradition observed by City Hall for decades.

Appearing on Newsmax’s “Wake Up America Weekend,” the New York congressman said Mamdani’s decision sends the wrong message in a city that is home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the world.

“The fact is, many New Yorkers and Americans believe he’s an antisemite,” Lawler said on “Wake Up America Weekend.”

“And the fact that for the first time in decades, the mayor of New York City is refusing to attend the Israel Day parade, where New York is home to the largest Jewish population outside of the state of Israel, just speaks volumes to his conduct, his rhetoric, and those he associated himself with.”

Mamdani, who took office earlier this year and became New York City’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor, is set to become the first sitting mayor since 1964 to skip the annual march along Fifth Avenue. Organizers describe the event as the largest public celebration of Israel outside the Jewish state.

Lawler announced that he would participate in the parade himself, presenting his attendance as a show of solidarity with New York’s Jewish community.

“I will be there tomorrow, proudly marching up Fifth Avenue in support of our Jewish Americans here in New York,” he said.

The congressman, whose district includes Rockland and Putnam counties as well as portions of Westchester and Dutchess counties, argued that elected officials have a responsibility to engage with every segment of the population, regardless of political differences.

“I show up in every community because that’s the job, you are elected to represent everybody, regardless of who votes for you or not,” he said, contrasting his own approach with Mamdani’s.

Lawler also pointed to the results of last November’s mayoral election, where Mamdani secured approximately 50.4 percent of the vote in a three-way contest against Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

“Mayor Mamdani barely got above 50% of the vote, which is very telling,” Lawler said. “Even in New York, where nearly 50% of New Yorkers rejected his rank, antisemitism and socialism.”

Mamdani, who has publicly identified as pro-Palestinian and has accused Israel’s government of committing genocide in Gaza, defended his decision this week, saying he was following through on a campaign commitment while continuing to support security arrangements for the event.

“I take seriously my responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of every New Yorker and every event, regardless of my attendance,” he said at a briefing alongside NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who will serve as grand marshal.

Lawler concluded by predicting that Mamdani’s absence from the parade could have lasting political repercussions.

“I think this is a very bad decision on his part,” he said. “And I do think there’s going to be blowback for it.”

{Matzav.com}

A terror ramming attack at the Gush Etzion Junction on Sunday evening left three people injured, including a 17-year-old girl who sustained serious wounds. The attack occurred at the busy intersection between Yerushalayim and Chevron before the suspected terrorist was fatally shot by an IDF soldier.

Emergency responders said the 17-year-old victim suffered severe injuries, while a 15-year-old girl was moderately injured. A third person was treated at the scene for shock.

All three victims were transported to Shaare Tzedek Medical Center in Yerushalayim. Hospital officials reported that the critically injured teenager was taken directly into emergency surgery upon arrival.

The suspected attacker, identified as a resident of the Chevron area, was shot and killed by a soldier from the Nachshon Battalion of the Kfir Brigade.

Moshe Benita, a paramedic with Magen David Adom, and senior MDA medic Chaim Sharabi described the chaotic scene encountered by rescue crews.

“When we arrived at the scene of the attack, we observed significant commotion and a vehicle near a bus stop. Lying next to the vehicle was a 17-year-old girl who was fully conscious and suffering from severe injuries to her lower limbs. We provided initial medical treatment at the scene, including stopping the bleeding, and evacuated her by intensive care ambulance to the hospital in serious condition.

“Additional MDA teams provided medical treatment to another injured girl, 15, who was in mild condition and suffering from facial injuries.”

Security forces launched an investigation into the attack as authorities continued to assess the circumstances surrounding the incident.

{Matzav.com}

A promising new cancer therapy has produced remarkable results in patients with advanced head and neck cancer, completely eliminating tumors in some individuals whose disease had continued to progress despite chemotherapy and immunotherapy, according to findings reported Saturday.

Data from the international OrigAMI-4 clinical trial showed that the experimental medication amivantamab either reduced or completely wiped out tumors in 43 of 102 participants whose cancer had returned or spread after standard treatments stopped working.

Of those patients, 15 experienced a complete disappearance of their tumors.

Kevin Harrington of the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust described the outcomes as exceptionally encouraging for a group of patients who typically have very few options left.

“This is a group of patients for whom treatment options are extremely limited, so seeing this level of benefit is very striking,” Harrington said.

Researchers are scheduled to present the findings at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago.

Amivantamab fights cancer through multiple mechanisms. The drug blocks the EGFR protein that fuels tumor growth, shuts down the MET pathway often used by cancer cells to resist treatment, and also helps stimulate the body’s immune system to attack malignant cells.

Investigators noted that the medication is administered through a small injection beneath the skin rather than by intravenous infusion, making treatment quicker and more convenient for patients.

Most participants experienced only mild or moderate side effects, and fewer than 10 percent discontinued treatment because of complications related to the drug.

One participant in the study, 56-year-old Carl Walsh of Birmingham, entered the trial after conventional therapies failed to stop the progression of his tongue cancer.

“I was initially treated with both chemotherapy and immunotherapy, which unfortunately were not successful,” Walsh said.

“At that point, I was recommended for the OrigAMI-4 trial,” he said.

Walsh said the experimental treatment dramatically changed his daily life.

“I now feel able to live a normal life,” he said.

“Since beginning treatment, the swelling has reduced significantly, and my pain levels have improved considerably,” he said.

He said he noticed major improvements after only two rounds of treatment, eventually regaining the ability to eat normally and enjoying “the first big steak” after months of being restricted to soft foods.

Researchers emphasized that the trial focused specifically on HPV-negative head and neck cancers, a form of the disease that is generally more difficult to treat and often carries a poorer prognosis than HPV-related cancers.

Despite having aggressive cancer that had already progressed after standard therapies, patients in the study survived a median of 12.5 months following the start of treatment.

Scientists cautioned that the results are still preliminary and will need to be confirmed through larger clinical trials before definitive conclusions can be drawn.

Amivantamab, which was developed by Johnson & Johnson, is currently being evaluated in approximately 60 clinical studies involving a variety of cancers, including lung, colorectal, brain, and stomach cancers.

Kristian Helin, chief executive of the Institute of Cancer Research, said the early findings could represent a major advance for patients who have exhausted most available treatment options.

The findings represent “a significant step forward” for patients with very limited treatment options, Helin said.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration is accelerating efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into the U.S. military, arguing that the technology could provide a major strategic advantage. At the same time, some technology firms and senior military leaders are urging caution, warning that powerful AI systems must be governed carefully before they are entrusted with life-and-death decisions on the battlefield.

Adm. Frank Bradley, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, recently addressed a special operations conference in Tampa, Florida, where he stressed the importance of approaching AI with care when it comes to military applications. Bradley told attendees that troops “have to be very careful about how we come to (AI’s) employment and its inspiration into the delivery of lethality.”

Bradley said he can envision a future in which AI plays a role in identifying military targets. However, he emphasized that human oversight must remain central. According to Bradley, “we, as humans, have to have the confidence that … it’s going to deliver violence only where we intend it to be delivered.”

His comments stand in contrast to the aggressive push by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to expand AI capabilities across the armed forces. The debate has created tension between Pentagon leaders and some technology companies that want stronger safeguards governing how their systems can be used.

Hegseth has repeatedly argued that the military should be free to employ AI in any lawful manner necessary for national defense. Speaking to SpaceX employees in January, he declared that he would reject AI systems “that won’t allow you to fight wars” and said he favors platforms that operate “without ideological constraints that limit lawful military applications.”

The administration’s support for military AI mirrors its broader strategy of expanding American technological leadership while competing with foreign rivals, particularly China, even as concerns grow over regulation and oversight.

President Donald Trump recently scrapped plans for a new executive order on artificial intelligence just hours before it was expected to be signed at the White House. According to Trump, the proposal risked slowing America’s progress in the rapidly evolving field.

“We’re leading China, we’re leading everybody, and I don’t want to do anything that’s going to get in the way of that lead,” Trump told reporters.

Asked about Bradley’s concerns, a Pentagon official said the department’s focus remains on developing practical battlefield tools that allow troops to identify and analyze targets more rapidly, ultimately accelerating military operations. The official spoke anonymously in order to discuss the issue candidly.

Officials within U.S. Special Operations Command have generally framed AI as a force multiplier rather than a replacement for human decision-making, describing it as a technology that allows service members to spend more time concentrating on mission execution.

Sgt. Maj. Andrew Krogman, the command’s senior enlisted leader, said he believes AI can take over routine administrative functions, freeing operators for more critical tasks while improving organizational efficiency.

Melissa Johnson, the command’s top acquisition official, similarly argued that AI should be used to lighten the burden of repetitive work.

“We’re leveraging AI more and more, but it’s not to replace operator judgment, it’s to enhance it,” she added.

Helen Toner, interim executive director of Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, said both perspectives on military AI are valid.

“There are a huge number of potential uses for AI in these kinds of bureaucratic settings, which the U.S. military is actively exploring,” Toner said.

Evidence of that expansion is already visible. Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, who leads Air Force Special Operations Command, told lawmakers in May that AI-powered “bots” were used during the Iran war to rapidly downgrade highly classified intelligence into a format that could be shared with drone operators in the field within seconds.

At the same time, officials acknowledge that AI is increasingly being used not only for administrative functions but also for identifying and engaging military targets.

Toner’s research center highlighted that reality in a study released two years ago examining how the Army’s 18th Airborne Corps used artificial intelligence to guide artillery targeting. The study concluded that the corps performed “just as efficiently as the best unit in recent American history” while utilizing roughly 2,000 fewer personnel.

“Human operators are still the ones making crucial decisions, but AI … is making it possible to operate with a new level of speed and scale,” she said.

The battle over military AI, who controls it, and how it should be regulated has become unusually public during the Trump administration.

One of the most visible disputes involves Defense Secretary Hegseth and Anthropic, which has raised concerns about unrestricted government use of advanced AI systems. The company has expressed worries about technologies such as fully autonomous armed drones and large-scale AI-powered surveillance programs capable of monitoring dissent.

The conflict intensified after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei refused to retreat from his concerns regarding the use of the company’s Claude chatbot within classified Pentagon environments. Trump and Hegseth subsequently accused the company of undermining national security.

The Pentagon later designated Anthropic, based in San Francisco, as a supply-chain risk, terminating a $200 million defense contract and barring other government contractors from partnering with the company.

Anthropic responded with a lawsuit, arguing that the government was unlawfully retaliating against the company by applying a designation intended to address threats from foreign adversaries and national security sabotage.

Since then, Pentagon officials have highlighted partnerships with Anthropic’s competitors, including Google, OpenAI, and SpaceX, as they seek AI systems capable of helping to “augment warfighter decision-making in complex operational environments.”

Toner, who previously served on OpenAI’s board before a high-profile dispute with CEO Sam Altman, said many Americans underestimate how cautiously military leaders typically approach emerging technologies.

“Commanders want their missions to succeed, which means both being able to create lethal effects at scale, and avoiding unintended effects like friendly fire, civilian casualties, or simply identifying targets incorrectly,” she said.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Sunday praised Israeli forces for capturing the strategic Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon, calling it a major milestone in Israel’s efforts to strengthen security along the northern border and push Hezbollah farther from Israeli communities.

Speaking about the operation, Netanyahu highlighted the significance of the historic stronghold and the symbolism of Israeli troops raising the national flag there.

“Last night, our heroic fighters captured the Beaufort castle,” Netanyahu said. “They proudly raised the flag of the State of Israel and the flag of the Golani Brigade there.”

The prime minister noted that the site carries deep historical meaning for Israel, recalling one of the country’s most memorable battles in Lebanon.

“I remind you that 44 years ago, this place was a symbol of a heroic battle by our fighters, but it was also a symbol of deep division among us.

“Today, we returned to Beaufort differently. We returned united, determined, and stronger than ever. I spoke with the fighters on the northern border on Friday. They told me: ‘Tell the people of Israel what we are doing here. Prime Minister, the public doesn’t know what achievements we have made.'”

Netanyahu went on to detail what he described as significant Israeli successes against Hezbollah since the outbreak of the war.

“Since the beginning of the War of Redemption we have eliminated 8,000 Hezbollah terrorists. Since Operation Roaring Lion – 3,000. In the past month alone – 700. This is more than all those we eliminated during the Second Lebanon War.”

He also revealed that he has instructed the military to broaden its operations inside Lebanon and increase Israel’s control over key areas previously dominated by Hezbollah.

“I have instructed the IDF to expand the incursion in Lebanon. Our forces have crossed the Litani River. They took dominant terrain. They captured the Beaufort ridge. And now my instruction is to deepen and expand our hold on places that were under Hezbollah’s control.

“The capture of Beaufort is a dramatic stage and a dramatic change in the policy we are leading. We have broken the barrier of fear. We are taking the initiative, we are operating on all fronts – in Syria, in Gaza, in Lebanon; we have established security zones beyond our borders to protect our communities.”

The prime minister said he recently met with senior field commanders operating in Lebanon and relayed their confidence in the mission.

He added, “On Friday, I spoke with the brigade commanders. They are daring brigade commanders, inside the territory, leading the heroic soldiers. And they told me: ‘Prime Minister, we are carrying out the mission. We are charging forward – and Hezbollah is fleeing for its life.’ And I told them: ‘I am with you. The entire nation of Israel is with you. It will take more time, but we will restore security to the residents of the North, just as we did for the residents of the South.'”

Netanyahu concluded by stressing that the campaign is not yet complete but pledged that Israel will continue until its objectives are achieved.

“It will take time, but we will complete the mission.”

{Matzav.com}

Anyone entering the office of Rabbi Menachem Ingber is immediately struck by the wall lined with diplomas, certifications, and professional credentials. Yet behind those framed accomplishments stands a fascinating life story that bridges seemingly opposite worlds: American openness and chassidic discipline, the therapist’s office and the Rebbi’s room.

One of the most respected figures in the field of mental health in the chareidi community, Rabbi Ingber recently sat down for an extensive Hebrew interview with Kikar HaShabbat in which he discussed his unusual journey, parenting, therapy, shidduchim, trauma, and the emotional challenges facing Klal Yisroel today.

Matzav.com presents portions of the interview in English for our readership.

The American Boy Who Wanted a Gartel

Before discussing his work, Rabbi Ingber felt compelled to clarify a common misconception.

“I completed my master’s degree in psychology more than thirty years ago,” he explained. “When we came to Eretz Yisroel, there were certain requirements I still needed to complete in order to receive the Ministry of Health’s official psychologist’s license. By then I was already the father of eight children, and the practical realities of life made it difficult. Instead, I entered professional clinical practice. I am a recognized psychotherapist and have worked for years in welfare services, the National Insurance Institute, and the military.”

His path toward psychology began much earlier.

Rabbi Ingber grew up in what he describes as a modern Yekke home in America. His father began as the principal of a kiruv school before later becoming a professor of psychology.

“I grew up in a modern Yekke environment,” he recalled. “The natural path for me would have been Yeshiva University. Then one summer, shortly after my bar mitzvah, I attended a camp where there were chassidim, and something clicked.”

What attracted him was not merely the clothing or customs.

“I was drawn to the warmth, the varemkeit, and the understanding that serving Hashem involved more than learning. There was tefillah, chesed, and a complete way of life.”

Among all the chassidic groups he encountered, Ger made the strongest impression.

“I saw people who could live in both worlds. They were successful businessmen and genuine chassidim. Later, when I came to Eretz Yisroel, I saw avreichim arriving to daven Minchah with the Rebbe. They wore jackets and gartlach, but beneath them you could still see the green pants from army reserve duty. I loved that balance.”

Choosing a Different Path at Fourteen

The decision to become a chassid at fourteen was not something his parents embraced immediately.

“Of course it worried them,” he said. “They didn’t simply let me do whatever I wanted.”

When he began growing long peyos, his parents called him in for a serious conversation.

“They told me, ‘This isn’t how things are done.’ I answered with a sentence that still guides me today: ‘You taught me that the most important thing in life is yiras Shamayim. I believe this is my path.’”

Eventually a compromise was reached. The full chassidic dress would wait until he came to Eretz Yisroel.

Looking back, Rabbi Ingber sees the experience as a powerful lesson in parenting.

Parents, he says, need to distinguish between technical limitations and essential limitations.

He offers the example of a child who excitedly discovers rumors of an ancient mikvah beneath a neighborhood building and wants to start digging.

“The tired parent says, ‘Don’t make a mess.’ But the wiser response is, ‘Interesting idea. Let’s see what would actually be involved.’ Let him dream.”

Too many children stop dreaming because they hear too many versions of “No.”

“A child says he wants to become a singer. The parent immediately responds, ‘Be a talmid chacham instead.’ But the child isn’t thinking about fame. He sees someone inspiring people and bringing them together. He wants to make a difference.”

The dream should be encouraged, even if practical limitations eventually shape the path.

A Life-Changing Directive from the Pnei Menachem

Ironically, despite growing up around psychology, Rabbi Ingber initially pursued a rabbinic career.

He learned in kollel, received semichah, taught shiurim, and served in rabbinic capacities in Yerushalayim.

The turning point came through the future Ger Rebbe, the Pnei Menachem.

A struggling bochur in the yeshiva had become withdrawn and isolated. Rabbi Ingber was asked to learn with him and provide encouragement.

Gradually, the young man emerged from his shell and reconnected with his peers.

When the Pnei Menachem heard what had happened, he summoned Rabbi Ingber.

“He told me, ‘I hear your father is a psychologist. Apparently there are psychological genes in your family.’”

Then came the directive that would shape the rest of his life.

“‘You’re already married, you have children, you’re American—you won’t be corrupted. Go study psychology.’”

Rabbi Ingber followed the advice. More than thirty years later, he remains deeply involved in helping people navigate emotional struggles.

Feeling at Home Everywhere

One of Rabbi Ingber’s most distinctive qualities is his ability to move comfortably between very different worlds.

He speaks Hebrew, Yiddish, and English fluently and interacts naturally with people from across the Jewish spectrum.

“I once came home and told my wife, ‘Something must be wrong with me.’”

That day had begun with a lecture at Hebrew University. From there he davened Minchah with a religious Zionist minyan at the Kosel. Later he listened to a secular street musician near Machane Yehudah. That evening he learned with his chavrusa in Ger’s main beis medrash.

“I felt at home everywhere.”

The lesson, he says, is simple.

“We are all Jews. We don’t have to become identical. But we do need connection.”

The Three Foundations of Emotional Resilience

Through years of clinical work and his involvement in trauma and resilience organizations, Rabbi Ingber developed a framework he frequently teaches to parents.

According to his model, emotional resilience rests upon three pillars: identity, community, and skills.

Identity means understanding who you are, including your strengths and weaknesses.

Community means having meaningful connections—family, friends, shul, yeshiva, and community.

Skills are the practical tools needed to navigate stress, conflict, and life’s challenges.

Too many parents, he argues, spend their lives reacting.

“A child acts out, and we punish. A problem appears, and we respond. Instead, parents need to lead.”

The goal is not to force every child into the same mold.

The goal is to understand each child’s unique personality while maintaining clear and consistent boundaries.

Breaking the Stigma

Perhaps the most sensitive part of the conversation centered on the lingering stigma surrounding therapy and shidduchim.

Years ago, Rabbi Ingber delivered a lecture to teachers in Bnei Brak about ADHD and behavioral challenges. To avoid discussing others, he used examples involving his own son.

That evening he received an unexpected phone call from Rebbetzin Shoshana Alter.

“She told me, ‘Menachem, you said your son has behavioral and attention difficulties? You don’t have married children yet. Be careful what you say publicly about your children.’”

Years later, when that son entered shidduchim, a prospective family actually remembered the lecture.

The Rebbetzin had been right.

Yet Rabbi Ingber believes the community has changed dramatically.

“Today people understand much more.”

Seeking help, he insists, is not a sign of weakness.

“Psychologists are not for crazy people. Most of the people we see are normal, intelligent, successful individuals—roshei yeshiva, avreichim, top bochurim—who are stuck at a particular point in life.”

His message is simple:

“Getting help is not a deficiency. It’s a form of wisdom.”

A Nation Living Through Trauma

As someone who works extensively with emergency services and trauma-response organizations, Rabbi Ingber believes the Jewish people are still living inside an ongoing traumatic event.

“In the past, PTSD was measured in weeks or months after an event. Today, we’re not ‘after’ the event. We’re still inside it.”

The constant uncertainty affects everyone.

A passing motorcycle can trigger panic. A loud noise causes people to jump. The stress seeps into parenting, marriages, and even spiritual life.

Sometimes, he says, it causes people to become more rigid in their Judaism.

The challenge is remembering that Torah was given to bring connection and joy, not fear.

The Secret of Venasnu

When asked what one lesson people should focus on today, Rabbi Ingber pointed to the word venasnu.

The word reads the same forward and backward.

“When you give, you receive.”

Helping others, listening to others, and accepting people who are different from us are among the greatest sources of emotional resilience.

He recently spoke with an educator who visited the sites of the October 7 massacre and emerged with a painful realization.

“I spend my life learning Torah and working on my middos, but I realized I need more ahavas Yisroel.”

Rabbi Ingber believes strengthening those bonds—between communities, between parents and children, and between Jews of all backgrounds—is one of the most important challenges facing the Jewish world today.

He concluded with a powerful illustration.

Imagine a room filled with the greatest rabbanim, roshei yeshiva, admorim, and philanthropists in the world. Together they number only nine men. They cannot recite Kaddish, Kedushah, or Barchu.

Then a simple thirteen-year-old boy walks in.

Suddenly there is a minyan.

Suddenly all those giants can sanctify Hashem’s Name.

“That,” Rabbi Ingber says, “is the power of every Jew and every child. Every single person matters.”

{Matzav.com}

Residents of Bnei Brak’s Shikun Hey neighborhood are expressing growing concern after a string of incidents involving a group of troubled youths culminated in a break-in and theft at a Gerer shtiebel on Friday night.

According to local residents, the group has been causing disturbances for several weeks in the area surrounding the neighborhood’s public garden, allegedly breaking into shuls during the nighttime hours and creating an atmosphere of fear among area residents.

The situation escalated significantly on Friday night when vandals reportedly broke into the Gerer shtiebel in the neighborhood. The intruders smashed windows, damaged the rear entrance door, and stole various items from inside the building.

Witnesses reported that the group returned to the area on Shabbos afternoon and allegedly made threats of violence, including threats to stab local residents.

In the wake of the incidents, the gabbaim of the shuls located near the public garden are urging members of the community to come forward with any information that may assist law enforcement.

Anyone who witnessed acts of vandalism, theft, threats, or other violent behavior is being asked to contact the police and provide any relevant evidence or testimony as soon as possible.

{Matzav.com}

A dramatic confrontation unfolded shortly after midnight on Highway 1 leading to Yerushalayim when police attempted to detain a yeshiva bochur and transfer him to military authorities. The arrest was ultimately prevented after dozens of protesters rushed to the scene and blocked the roadway.

The incident took place near the Kiryat Ye’arim interchange. According to reports, demonstrators who were alerted to the attempted arrest quickly arrived and staged a protest, bringing traffic to a standstill in opposition to the effort to take the student into custody.

After a lengthy standoff and a heated demonstration, police reportedly withdrew from the area and released the yeshiva student.

The incident comes amid growing tensions following the arrest of two students from Yeshivas Maalos HaTorah on Erev Shabbos. In response, the central faction of the Peleg Yerushalmi is scheduled to hold large-scale demonstrations across the country on Sunday protesting the arrests of yeshiva students and their transfer to military prison.

The leader of the Peleg Yerushalmi, Rav Ezriel Auerbach, issued a strongly worded call urging supporters to participate in the protests.

In his statement, Rav Euerbach declared that this is not a time for silence and that every ben Torah has a doubled and redoubled obligation to protest what he described as the humiliation of Torah and its students, the criminal arrests, and the actions of military authorities and those cooperating with them from within and without.

As previously reported, two 21-year-old students from Yeshivas Maalos HaTorah were arrested on Erev Shabbos after failing to report to military induction offices in accordance with the directives of leading gedolim.

According to reports, the two students—including the son of the rosh yeshiva—were stopped by traffic police on Highway 6 while attempting to obtain a ride home.

After police identified the pair in the system as draft evaders, they were immediately handed over to military authorities and transferred to military prison.

The timing of the arrests, occurring just hours before the onset of Shabbos as families were preparing to welcome the holy day, sparked widespread outrage in segments of the chareidi community and intensified calls for the nationwide demonstrations scheduled for Sunday.

{Matzav.com}

Police in Manchester, England recovered two large knives from two men believed to be from Yemen during a security operation that has drawn significant attention online.

Videos circulating on social media appear to show officers detaining the two men while confiscating the blades during the incident. According to reports accompanying the footage, the men told police that the knives were traditional items connected to their cultural heritage and were not being carried for criminal purposes.

The knives were reportedly jambiyas, curved daggers commonly associated with Yemeni culture and traditionally worn as part of ceremonial or cultural dress. Social media reports claimed the men were wearing traditional Yemeni clothing at the time of the encounter.

Authorities have not publicly released detailed information regarding the incident, and it remains unclear whether any arrests resulted in formal charges.

Police have also not publicly disclosed the precise circumstances that led officers to stop the men or whether the matter remains under investigation.

WATCH:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/VIDEO-2026-05-31-09-06-42.mp4

Interest continues to surround last week’s historic lottery that divided the sacred heirlooms of the Siget-Satmar dynasty left behind by the Satmar Rebbe, the Berach Moshe of Satmar, zt”l.

While the division of the estate itself marked the conclusion of a process that lasted nearly two decades, attention has now shifted to two particularly significant items: a historic letter from the Divrei Chaim of Sanz and a pair of tefillin belonging to the Kedushas Yom Tov. Both are regarded within Satmar circles as treasures of extraordinary historical and spiritual importance.

In recent days, Satmar chassidim and students of chassidic history have been closely examining the details of the sacred items that once belonged to the Rebbes of the Siget-Satmar dynasty and were left behind by the Berach Moshe. The items were distributed among the heirs during a historic lottery held last Thursday, attended by the Rebbe’s grandchildren, current gabbaim, and senior figures within the chassidus who had been involved in the lengthy process, which finally reached its conclusion after twenty years.

Although the collection—estimated to be worth millions of dollars—was carefully cataloged and divided under strict supervision to ensure complete equality between the parties, two artifacts stand out as what many in Satmar refer to as the “tie-breakers,” owing to their unique significance and historical value.

The first item, which was awarded to the Satmar Rebbe Rav Zalman Leib, is considered one of the most important handwritten documents preserved in the dynasty’s archives. Within the chassidus, it is viewed as a document whose importance extends far beyond its historical value and is closely tied to the very continuity of the Siget-Satmar dynasty.

The document is the famed letter sent by the Divrei Chaim of Sanz to the Kedushas Yom Tov, the second Rebbe of the Siget dynasty. At the time, the Kedushas Yom Tov had been married for many years without children, and the Divrei Chaim wrote to bless him with offspring.

In the letter, the Divrei Chaim writes, among other things: “Let neither he nor his wife lose hope, for we are confident that you will not be denied children. May the good Hashem have mercy upon you, and may you soon be blessed with offspring through the blessing of Hashem.”

Within Satmar, the letter is regarded as far more than a rare historical document. It is viewed as the blessing from which the entire Siget-Satmar dynasty ultimately emerged. The Vayoel Moshe was known to say that the blessing was given with genuine ruach hakodesh, and that the expression “tzipinu” used by the Divrei Chaim reflected his prophetic foresight regarding the future continuation of the dynasty.

For the past two decades, the treasured letter was in the possession of the Satmar-Monsey Gaavad, Chaim Yehoshua Halberstam, son-in-law of the Berach Moshe. As a result of last week’s lottery, it has now become the property of Rav Zalman Leib of Satmar.

The second highly coveted item, which went to the Satmar Rebbe Rav Aharon, is a pair of Rabbeinu Tam tefillin that belonged to the Kedushas Yom Tov. The Kedushas Yom Tov presented the tefillin to his son, the Vayoel Moshe, upon his marriage, and they have long been regarded as one of the most important heirlooms in the dynasty.

Satmar sources note that over the years the Vayoel Moshe made various improvements and enhancements to the tefillin, including replacing some of the parshiyos and batim. Nevertheless, they continue to occupy a unique place within the family’s collection of sacred artifacts and are viewed as among the most historically and spiritually significant items in the possession of the dynasty.

{Matzav.com}

The White House is forcefully rejecting a report that Chief of Staff Susie Wiles urged Vice President JD Vance to scale back his social media activity, dismissing the story as entirely fabricated.

The controversy erupted after The New York Times reported that Wiles and other senior administration officials had advised Vance to step away from online disputes, arguing that his frequent exchanges with critics were “beneath his office.”

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung publicly disputed the account, saying the alleged conversation never occurred.

“This isn’t true,” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung wrote on the social platform X, in response to a post from Jewish Insider editor-in-chief Josh Kraushaar, who shared the Times report on X. “We denied it to the New York Times and they refused to run our quote. Complete fake news. This supposed ‘conversation’ never happened.”

The claim was included in a broader New York Times article examining Vance’s relationship with President Trump and his potential future as a leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028.

Although the report included criticism from unnamed sources, it also featured comments from Cheung defending both Vance and his role within the administration.

“Vice President Vance has done a remarkable job of helping implement the president’s America First agenda,” Cheung told the Times. “Any false media narratives from unknown and unnamed sources fabricating stories clearly do not have any knowledge of the truth.”

Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz also pushed back on the report, accusing critics of unfairly targeting the vice president.

“Steven Cheung has stated clearly in the article and reiterated on X that this is completely fake news,” Bruisewitz wrote on X. “JD Vance is an exceptionally effective communicator and invaluable member of President Trump’s Team. Vance Derangement Syndrome is real, folks.”

The dispute comes as speculation continues to build over the Republican Party’s future leadership. Both Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are widely viewed as potential contenders for the GOP nomination in 2028, with recent polling showing the two administration officials running virtually even in hypothetical primary matchups as attention increasingly turns toward the post-Trump political landscape.

{Matzav.com}