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President Donald Trump launched a blistering attack Sunday against two New York Times reporters over their forthcoming book about his administration, accusing them of fabricating events and conversations that allegedly took place inside the White House Situation Room.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump dismissed the book as fiction and singled out veteran Times reporter Maggie Haberman for sharp criticism.

“Based on a very quick and boring briefing concerning the Magot Hagerman book about me, it is mostly made up, Fake News, largely fiction, as have been most of the things she has written about me for so many years,” Trump wrote.

He continued, “She is a third rate writer and intellect, who has made a first rate income because of your favorite President, ME.”

The criticism came ahead of the release of Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, co-authored by Haberman and Jonathan Swan, a former Hill reporter who now covers the White House for The New York Times.

Excerpts from the book claim that senior Trump administration officials discussed the possibility of suspending habeas corpus and debated how to respond to renewed scrutiny surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a confidential meeting inside the highly secure White House Situation Room.

The authors also recount what they describe as detailed exchanges from that meeting, including direct quotations attributed to Vice President JD Vance, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung.

The level of detail included in the reported conversations has fueled speculation that the reporters may have obtained an audio recording of the classified meeting or had access to someone with unusually detailed knowledge of what transpired.

Haberman and Swan have declined to say whether any recordings were provided to them, stating only that they are “not going to comment” on the matter. At the same time, both reporters have defended the accuracy of their reporting.

The reports have reportedly unsettled some administration officials. Vice President Vance acknowledged concerns about the possibility that recordings of internal White House meetings could exist, saying he is “legitimately worried” that such audio may have been made.

{Matzav.com}

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is facing fierce criticism after publicly celebrating Somali Independence Day and declaring that the city stands with its Somali community, remarks that quickly reignited debate over immigration, public spending, and a massive federal fraud case involving Somali-owned organizations in Minnesota.

Happy Somali Independence Day!

Here in Minnesota, home to one of the largest Somali communities in the United States, we celebrate the resilience, culture, and leadership that continue to enrich our city and community. pic.twitter.com/RP7jlgO5ar

— Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) June 28, 2026

In a post on X, Frey shared a video commemorating the occasion, praising the Somali community for its contributions to Minneapolis. He wrote that the city was honoring “the resilience, culture, and leadership that continue to enrich” both Minneapolis and its residents.

In the accompanying video, Frey emphasized that Somali residents are viewed as members of the community rather than outsiders.

“Through the most difficult of times and through Operation Metro Surge, we all saw that they tried to come for some of us,” Frey said. “And, when that happens, we say that you’re coming for all of us. In Minneapolis, we love our neighbors. In Minneapolis, we do not see you as immigrants, we see you as our family.”

He continued, “You are our brothers, you are our sisters. You have done so much for this incredible city, and for that, we stand with you.”

According to Kare11 News, Somali Independence Day is observed annually on July 1, marking the day Somalia gained independence from European colonial powers and unified as a nation.

The mayor’s comments quickly drew criticism online, with several conservative commentators and independent journalists pointing to the massive Feeding Our Future fraud scandal that centered on numerous Somali-run organizations in Minnesota.

Commentator Matt Van Swol wrote on X, “The Somali community in Minnesota alone stole $250 million from federal child nutrition programs meant to feed hungry underprivileged children.”

Independent journalist Nick Sortor also criticized the mayor, asking, “Are you really too stupid to understand the Somalis simply see you as their useful idiot?”

Townhall columnist Dustin Grage took aim at Frey’s priorities, writing, “Jacob Frey’s Independence Day references. America: 4, Somalia: 10.”

Another social media user sarcastically questioned the mayor’s praise, asking, “Minnesota taxpayers, do you feel enriched?”

The controversy follows previous criticism of Frey over his outreach to the Somali community. After winning reelection in November 2025, he delivered portions of his victory speech in Somali, a move that also generated backlash.

More recently, federal authorities carried out coordinated raids at more than 20 locations across Minneapolis, including childcare centers, as part of an investigation into alleged fraud involving Somali-owned businesses.

Citizen journalist Nick Shirley has also drawn attention to the issue through videos documenting visits to several Minnesota childcare centers that reportedly received millions of dollars in federal funding. According to Shirley, many of the facilities appeared empty during his visits, with no visible signs of children despite receiving substantial government assistance.

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, sharply criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday after the mayor questioned Israel’s identity as the Jewish state and renewed his calls for major changes to U.S. support for Israel.

Speaking in an interview with ABC, Mamdani challenged the concept of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people and argued for a sweeping overhaul of American foreign policy, including military assistance to Israel.

His latest comments came shortly after he referred to the pro-Israel lobbying organization AIPAC and its supporters as “monsters,” drawing widespread criticism.

Responding on social media, Danon accused the mayor of engaging in increasingly hostile rhetoric toward Israel and the Jewish community.

“Recently, Mamdani used blatant antisemitic language against AIPAC, calling them ‘monsters moving dark money.’ He then expressed sorrow over the elimination of a Hamas terrorist, and now says he does not support Israel as a Jewish state,” Danon wrote.

“When you connect all the dots, it becomes very easy to understand who Mamdani does support,” the ambassador added.

Mamdani has drawn repeated criticism over his comments and positions regarding Israel. During his mayoral campaign, he declined to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada,” a phrase many Jewish organizations have described as a call to violence against Jews. He also faced backlash for criticizing Israel on October 8, 2023, just one day after the Hamas massacre in southern Israel.

He has repeatedly accused Israel of committing war crimes during its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza and has pledged that, if Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visits New York City, he would seek to have him arrested.

Controversy continued after Mamdani assumed office, when he rescinded several executive orders signed by his predecessor, Eric Adams, that dealt with Israel and antisemitism.

Among the orders he revoked was one issued in June 2025 formally adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism.

He also eliminated an executive order that prohibited mayoral appointees and city agency employees from participating in boycotts or divestment campaigns targeting Israel.

Since taking office, Mamdani has remained at the center of multiple disputes involving antisemitism. Most recently, he became the first New York City mayor to boycott the city’s annual Israel Day Parade, a move that drew sharp criticism from many Jewish leaders and pro-Israel organizations.

{Matzav.com}

The United States and Iran have reportedly agreed to temporarily halt military action following a tense exchange of attacks near the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, with diplomatic talks now scheduled to resume in Qatar later this week.

A Trump administration official told CNN on Sunday that both countries have agreed to de-escalate for the time being. “Both sides will stand down for now and vessels can move freely,” the official said, confirming an earlier Axios report.

According to both CNN and Axios, American and Iranian representatives are expected to meet in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday in an effort to continue negotiations.

Iran, however, has not publicly confirmed the reported agreement, leaving uncertainty over Tehran’s official position regarding the planned talks.

Earlier Sunday, another senior administration official emphasized that negotiations surrounding the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding remain on schedule despite the recent military confrontation.

“Nothing has been canceled. Technical talks regarding the implementation of MoU are on track for the coming days as planned, and deconfliction channels are up and running after the Lake Lucerne Summit,” the official told CNN, referring to the recent Switzerland meetings led by Vice President JD Vance.

The diplomatic developments came after U.S. forces carried out two rounds of strikes over the weekend against Iranian positions near the Strait of Hormuz. American officials said the attacks were launched in response to what they described as repeated Iranian violations of the ceasefire agreement.

President Donald Trump issued a stern warning Saturday evening, signaling that the United States could escalate its military campaign if Tehran continues to violate the ceasefire.

“United States aircraft just struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, and coastal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN! It is very possible that they will never learn!” Trump wrote.

He added, “There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!”

Israel’s decision to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide triggered a furious response from Turkey on Sunday, with Ankara accusing Israel of exploiting history for political purposes and attempting to divert attention from the ongoing war in Gaza.

The dispute erupted after Israel’s Cabinet unanimously approved a resolution recognizing the mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I as genocide. Turkish officials swiftly condemned the move, dismissing it as a politically motivated maneuver.

In a sharply worded statement, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry alleged that Israel was using the recognition to distract the world from its military campaign in Gaza.

“The Israeli government, which has systematically persecuted the Palestinian people before the eyes of the entire world and is being tried at the International Court of Justice on charges of committing genocide against the people of Gaza, is seeking to cover up its own crimes through the political decision it has adopted regarding the events of 1915,” the Ministry said, as quoted by AFP.

“Turkey will continue to work resolutely to bring an end to Israel’s expansionist and destabilizing policies in the region,” the statement added.

Turkey, which succeeded the Ottoman Empire, has long rejected the characterization of the 1915 killings, forced deportations, and imprisonment of Armenians as genocide, maintaining that the historical events should not be described by that term.

Israel’s latest move follows a significant shift that began last August, when Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu publicly recognized the Armenian Genocide for the first time. Ankara angrily rejected those remarks at the time, insisting they were politically driven and lacked historical basis.

The question of officially labeling the atrocities as genocide has long been diplomatically sensitive. For years, the United States avoided using the term out of concern for its strategic relationship with Turkey. That changed in 2021, when President Joe Biden formally referred to the Ottoman Empire’s actions against Armenians as “genocide,” prompting a fierce backlash from the Turkish government.

Sunday’s announcement also comes against the backdrop of steadily worsening relations between Israel and Turkey. Although the two countries appeared close to restoring ties shortly before Hamas’ October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, relations have sharply deteriorated since then, with Turkish leaders—led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan—repeatedly launching harsh attacks against Israel.

Among the most pointed exchanges came in March of last year, when Erdogan denounced Israel as a “terror state” following Israeli strikes against terrorist targets in Gaza.

Months later, Erdogan escalated his criticism further, asserting that Netanyahu’s government posed the greatest threat to stability and security throughout the Middle East.

{Matzav.com}

Senior commanders in the IDF are warning that Hamas is rapidly rebuilding its military capabilities and preparing for another large-scale conflict with Israel, according to a report aired Sunday by Kan News. The assessment was presented last week to IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and reportedly paints a troubling picture of the terrorist organization’s renewed strength.

According to the report, senior officials from the IDF Intelligence Directorate and Southern Command told Zamir that Hamas has significantly accelerated its military production, manufacturing hundreds of explosive devices and anti-tank missiles every month. They also said the group has launched an aggressive recruitment campaign targeting young men between the ages of 18 and 22 and has resumed training members of its elite Nukhba force.

The briefing reportedly stated that Hamas is also working to smuggle drones and advanced communications equipment into Gaza through the Sinai Peninsula while continuing to rebuild its extensive underground tunnel network across the Strip.

Military officials further warned that Hamas remains firmly entrenched in Gaza, faces no meaningful internal opposition, and has shown no willingness to surrender its grip on the territory.

Kan News reported that Israeli defense officials have concluded that renewed military operations against Hamas are necessary and that this position has already been conveyed to American officials. However, the United States reportedly opposes restarting the fighting, preferring instead to preserve the current arrangements established under the recent agreement while continuing efforts to advance President Donald Trump’s broader regional peace initiative and the Board of Peace.

According to the report, Israeli security officials have expressed deep concern over Hamas’ military buildup, but renewed operations have not moved forward because of what was described as an American veto on resuming the war.

In a separate development, Kan News reported that a senior Hamas delegation headed by Mousa Abu Marzouk traveled to Moscow on June 10 for meetings with senior Russian government officials.

A Palestinian Arab source familiar with those discussions told the broadcaster that much of the meeting centered on Clause 8 of the proposed peace framework, which deals with the removal and storage of weapons in Gaza and addresses the issue of Hamas disarmament.

According to the source, Hamas indicated that it is prepared, in principle, to accept the provision, but only if several conditions are met. The terrorist group reportedly wants implementation to be handled exclusively by the “National Committee for the Administration of Gaza,” insists that any international stabilization force coordinate directly with Palestinian factions, and demands guarantees that weapons removed from Gaza will not be transferred to Israel or any other outside entity.

{Matzav.com}