The British Medical Association (BMA) officially voted to suspend its ties with the Israel Medical Association (IMA) at its annual conference last month, claiming that it “did not condemn attacks on the health system in Gaza.” The decision was approved by a majority of over 80% and became the official policy of the association, although it has not yet been decided how it will be implemented in practice. The Israel Medical Association is working diplomatically in an effort to influence the implementation of the decision. IMA chairman Prof. Tzion Hagai told Ynet, “This is a declarative step that could encourage other countries to adopt similar measures. We’re trying to prevent that first domino from falling.” Hagai noted that since October 7, there have been instances where Israeli doctors were disinvited from conferences where they were scheduled to speak. “We’re working behind the scenes, talking to organizers and explaining why a boycott of Israel is the wrong path.” Prof. Hagai, who also serves on the World Medical Association council, said that during an international meeting in April 2024, the UK delegation attempted to pass a resolution accusing Israel of war crimes. “We ultimately reached an understanding and avoided a formal condemnation, but this latest vote marks an unprecedented escalation.” He added that the IMA plans to send representatives to the UK to meet with the BMA leadership in hopes of changing the decision. “We’ve asked to come. We want to present our side before irreversible decisions are made. We’ll show our compliance with international law and our commitment to treating even Gaza terrorists who were brought into Israeli hospitals after October 7.” “We act in accordance with international law. There is no justification for cutting ties with us.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
President Trump voiced strong support for the newly launched Justice Department inquiries into James Comey and John Brennan, describing the two men as “crooked as h—.”
During an exchange with Fox News reporter Peter Doocy, Trump was asked whether he believed Comey and Brennan should be imprisoned.
“Well, I know nothing about it, other than what I read today, but I will tell you, I think they’re very dishonest people. I think they’re crooked as h—, and maybe they have to pay a price for that,” Trump said.
He continued by emphasizing his opinion of the two officials: “I believe they are truly bad people and dishonest people. So whatever happens, happens.”
Brennan, who led the CIA during President Barack Obama’s administration, is reportedly being investigated for potentially giving false testimony to Congress regarding the Steele dossier, which included unverified claims tying Trump to Russia.
Details surrounding the investigation into Comey remain vague. However, it’s known that he was questioned by the Secret Service in May after sharing an image online that some interpreted as threatening toward Trump.
Trump dismissed Comey from his position as FBI director in May 2017. While the official reasoning cited his handling of information related to Hillary Clinton during the campaign, many connected the dismissal to Trump’s frustration with the probe into alleged ties between his campaign and Russian officials.
{Matzav.com}
Avraham Azoulai, a young pioneer and newlywed from Shaked Farm in the hills of Yitzhar, was killed while operating engineering machinery during an IDF operation in the southern Gaza Strip, the Shomron Regional Council announced Wednesday. He was 31 years old and had been married for just three months. Azoulai is the third Yitzhar resident to fall in the ongoing war. He was one of dozens of civilian volunteers from Shomron who joined IDF operations in Gaza by operating heavy construction and engineering equipment alongside military forces. According to an initial IDF probe, the incident occurred in Khan Younis when several Hamas terrorists emerged from a tunnel and launched a surprise attack on IDF troops engaged in engineering work. During the ambush, the terrorists attempted to abduct Azoulai, who was operating an excavator. Azoulai resisted the attackers and was fatally shot. Israeli forces in the area responded quickly, firing on the terrorists, hitting several, and preventing the abduction. The IDF has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan issued an emotional statement mourning Azoulai’s loss. “Avraham was a hero, a true pioneer, one of the builders of the hilltops and farms. He gave his life for the people and the land while doing what he loved — building Eretz Yisrael.” Dagan pledged full support for Azoulai’s widow. “The Samaria Regional Council family will stand by Rus and provide her with everything she needs.” Golan Avgi, chairman of the Yitzhar Local Council, also praised Azoulai’s character and commitment. “Avraham established a Jewish labor business and was beloved by all. He joined his friends in the reserves to serve in Gaza, not as a soldier, but as a builder in uniform.” Azoulai is the 31st resident of the Shomron region to die in the war. He follows Sergeant Yehonatan Luber and Sergeant Shneur Zalman Cohen, also of Yitzhar, who were killed in earlier stages of the conflict. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The U.S. Senate’s health committee on Wednesday approved Susan Monarez to be President Donald Trump’s director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, taking her one step closer to confirmation. The committee voted 12-11 for advancing her nomination to the full Senate. The vote went along party lines, with Democrats in opposition. Monarez, 50, is poised to become the first CDC director to pass through Senate confirmation following a 2023 law. She was named acting director in January and then tapped as the nominee in March after Trump abruptly withdrew his first choice, David Weldon. She holds a doctorate in microbiology and immunology from the University of Wisconsin, and a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University. Prior to the CDC, Monarez was largely known for her government roles in health technology and biosecurity. The committee’s action comes after months of turmoil with no leader at the helm of the Atlanta-based federal agency tasked with tracking diseases and responding to health threats. The CDC has been hit by widespread staff cuts, resignations of key officials and heated controversy over longstanding CDC vaccine policies upended by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Last month, Monarez told senators that she values vaccines, public health interventions and rigorous scientific evidence, but she largely dodged questions about whether those positions put her at odds with Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic who has criticized and sought to dismantle some of the agency’s previous protocols and decisions. “Unfortunately, Dr. Monarez — who has served as Trump’s acting CDC director — has done nothing to stand in the way” of Kennedy’s actions, Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent, said Wednesday. The CDC was created nearly 80 years ago to prevent the spread of malaria in the U.S. Its mission was later expanded, and it gradually became a global leader on infectious and chronic diseases and a go-to source of health information. (AP)
The impact of the massive spending bill that President Donald Trump signed into law on Independence Day is expected to filter down to infants and toddlers — a segment of the population that is particularly vulnerable to cuts to the federal social safety net. Many middle-class and wealthy families will see benefits from the new legislation, but programs that help low-income families keep babies healthy have been cut back. While state money funds public schools and preschool in some cases, programs supporting the youngest children are largely backed by the federal government. The law extends tax cuts that Trump passed during his first term in office and pours billions more into border security as the president seeks to broaden his crackdown on immigration. To pay for these initiatives, the law cuts Medicaid and food stamps — programs relied upon by poor households with children — by more than $1 trillion. The legislation Republicans called Trump’s “big beautiful bill” is set to deliver some gains for families with children. It increases tax credits, including one that now allows parents to deduct up to $2,200 per child from their tax bills. And it introduces investment accounts for newborns dubbed “Trump Accounts,” each seeded with $1,000 from the government. Still, advocates say they do not make up for what children are likely to lose under the new law. And they fear what comes next, as the next Trump budget proposes more cuts to programs that help parents and babies. Medicaid cuts could add to strains on families Over 10 million Americans rely on Medicaid for health care. About 40% of births are covered by Medicaid. Newborns, too, qualify for it when their mothers have it. The new law doesn’t take little kids or their parents off Medicaid. It institutes Medicaid work requirements for childless adults and adults with children over the age of 13. But pediatricians warn the cuts will be felt broadly, even by those who do not use Medicaid. The Medicaid cuts are expected to put a financial strain on health care providers, forcing them to cut their least profitable services. That’s often pediatrics, where young patients are more likely to use Medicaid, said Lisa Costello, a West Virginia pediatrician who chairs the federal policy committee for the American Association of Pediatrics. The ripple effects could exacerbate an existing shortage of pediatricians and hospital beds for children. “Any cuts to that program are going to trickle down and impact children, whether that’s pediatric practices who depend on Medicaid to be able to stay open or children’s hospitals,” Costello said. States also use Medicaid to pay for programs that go beyond conventional medical care, including therapies for young children with disabilities. Under the new law, states will foot a greater portion of the bill for Medicaid, meaning optional programs are at risk of getting cut. Advocates worry that if an adult loses Medicaid coverage, it could ratchet up household stress and make it more difficult for parents to make ends meet, both of which can negatively impact youngsters. And parents who lose their health insurance are less likely to take their children to the doctor. “When parents lose their health insurance, they often think that their children also are no longer eligible, even if that’s not the case,” said Cynthia Osborne, a professor of early education and the executive director of […]
The RCCS Pre-Campaign is Now Live! Donations are now being accepted for the Pre-Campaign portion of a major two-day push to provide RCCS with all they need to care for cancer patients in our communities. The 2025 “Attention” Campaign is dedicated to hearing the Call of cholei Yisroel and opening doors for them to receive all the assistance they need as they struggle through the grim challenges of a dreaded diagnosis. No matter where you live, the word “cancer” is a frightening reality for all too many of your neighbors, R”L. This dreadful disease and its treatment regimens afflict men, women, teenagers, even young children, of all ages and backgrounds – as well as their family and friends. In our communities, virtually every one of these suffering souls relies on RCCS as a lifeline – the one stop resource that guides them from diagnosis through recovery and makes sure that everyone has access to the absolute best medical care available anywhere in the world. RCCS provides medical referral and support, getting each patient into the best doctor for their diagnosis; this includes handling their medical records and expediting appointments. To this end, they conduct extensive medical research to avail patients to the most cutting-edge medical treatment. They provide crucial financial support to cover insurance premiums and other out-of-pocket expenses. In essence, they serve as the patient’s virtual “back office” from beginning to end. They arrange insurance guidance and advocacy, helping a patient navigate the complex world of insurance, and advocating for them when an insurer rejects a claim. They ensure that finances never stand between a patient and world-class treatment. In addition, the RCCS Care Management team opens doors for patients and their families to access the full gamut of financial and logistical assistance available through individual donors and other organizations. It now costs over $31 million a year for RCCS to cover its global operations; including paying insurance premiums and other patient expenditures. RCCS is currently helping over 5,000 patients and their families with everything they need to fight cancer – with dozens of new patients reaching out for help each week. Jewish communities around the country have united to support RCCS’s lifesaving operations through a special two day “ATTENTION” online fundraising campaign. This is RCCS’s primary community fundraising event in these communities for the year. You now have an opportunity to help RCCS save lives. The start of the Pre-Campaign means that you can submit your donation now. Please jump in and be among the first to grab this zechus. With your support, RCCS will get off towards a great start to reach its goal! Make a life-saving donation today by clicking HERE
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of R’ Chaim Tzvi Hershy Treitel z”l of Flatbush. He was 70 years old.
R’ Chaim Tzvi was born in Eretz Yisroel on the 16th of Elul in 1954 to his father, R’ Mordechai Yitzchok Treitel, and his mother, Rebbetzin Chana.
He married the daughter of R’ Yisroel Shimon Kirshenbaum and was a grandson of the mekubal and Breslover mashpia R’ Binyomin Zev (Velvel) Cheshen.
Those who knew R’ Chaim Tzvi describe him as a man of grace, dignity, and warmth, a person beloved by all who encountered him. His home was a haven of hospitality, always open to guests. He personified compassion and kindness, always pursuing acts of tzedakah and chesed.
He made his livelihood through his air conditioning business, conducting his work with honesty and integrity, always viewing his profession as secondary to his mission in life.
Every year, he made the journey to Uman for Rosh Hashanah to spend the Yomim Nora’im near the kever of Reb Nachman of Breslov zt”l. On those days, he would sit in the kloiz beside his uncle, the renowned gaon Rav Tzvi Cheshen.
The levayah took place this morning at Shomrei Hadas Chapels in Boro Park, Brooklyn. Kevurah followed at the Moses Mt. Hope Cemetery in Long Island.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
A 60-year-old resident of the Levi Yitzchak neighborhood of Kfar Chabad woke up on Wednesday before dawn to a noise in his yard. When he went outside to check what was happening, he was brutally attacked by an Arab who had entered the yard. The attacker fled the scene, leaving the man seriously injured. Security forces were called and the police are conducting a manhunt. Moti Dorov, the brother of the injured man, wrote on his Facebook account, “Today at 4 a.m., a terrorist arrived in the yard of my brother’s house in Kfar Chabad and looked for a victim. My brother heard the dogs barking, went out to check what the reason was, and saw the terrorist leaving the yard. My brother followed him to ask what he was doing in the yard,and the terrorist started attacking my brother. “While my brother was fleeing back to the house, he lunged after him and started punching him in the face and then with an iron bar in order to murder him. My brother screamed ‘Help’ at the top of his voice and neighbors who heard called the police and the local security. The terrorist fled. “My older brother, 60 years old, is in serious condition with a fracture in the eye socket after a concussion and a blood clot in the brain. The terrorist is walking around free. Anyone who sees him should spread the word until they catch him.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
The Trump administration announced Wednesday it will impose sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur for the West Bank and Gaza, escalating its campaign to defend Israel against what U.S. officials describe as a dangerous and deeply biased assault on its legitimacy. The move follows longtime criticism over Albanese’s controversial public statements and her recent campaign of letters warning that institutions supporting Israel could face criminal liability for “aiding and abetting genocide.” The U.S. government has firmly rejected those accusations as baseless and defamatory. “This is a campaign of political and economic warfare against our closest ally,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “We will always stand by Israel in its right to self-defense. Ms. Albanese’s rhetoric and actions go beyond the mandate of her office and veer into dangerous incitement.” A May 19 letter sent to Albanese by top U.S. officials, including DOJ Antisemitism Task Force head Led Terrell and Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, accused her of waging a “defamatory, dangerous, and flagrant abuse of office.” The letter denounced her efforts to criminalize support for Israel, describing her actions as legally groundless and morally repugnant. The letter, which has since been shared with senior international officials including U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, lays out graphic evidence of Hamas atrocities on October 7, 2023 — including the murder of infants, the execution of pregnant women, and the kidnapping and torture of civilians — and criticizes Albanese for failing to issue clear and unequivocal condemnations of those crimes. “Your persistent evasiveness and rationalization of terrorism do not reflect neutrality. They reflect complicity,” the letter states. It further accuses Albanese of amplifying propaganda and engaging in antisemitic double standards, warning that her silence on violence against Jews “sends a chilling message that Jewish lives are worth less.” Albanese, a human rights lawyer, has accused Israel of genocide in its war against Hamas, aligning herself with calls for International Criminal Court investigations into Israeli officials. She has also been criticized for attending overseas events funded by groups linked to Hamas, with the letter citing reports she received $20,000 from such groups shortly after the October 7 attacks. Her campaign has drawn widespread condemnation from pro-Israel groups and bipartisan lawmakers. Efforts to remove her from her U.N. post have so far been unsuccessful, but the administration’s sanctions represent a significant step in holding her accountable. U.S. and Israeli officials say Albanese’s actions undermine not just Israel’s right to defend itself, but also the credibility of international human rights mechanisms. They contrast her approach with Israel’s adherence to the laws of armed conflict, including taking extraordinary steps to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza — despite Hamas embedding itself within civilian infrastructure. “This is not principled human rights work — it is antisemitism cloaked in the language of international law,” said one senior administration official. “We are drawing a red line.” Supporters of the sanctions praised the administration for standing up to what they see as an institutional bias within the United Nations. “When a U.N. official can distort the truth, excuse terrorism, and still claim the mantle of human rights, the system is broken,” said Rabbi Kaploun, one of the letter’s co-signers. “This is a long-overdue reckoning.” The sanctions are expected to restrict Albanese’s financial access to U.S. institutions and block any U.S.-based travel or […]
CBP Sector Chief Greg Bovino on The LA Mayor interfering with immigration enforcement operations: “I don’t work for Karen Bass. The federal government doesn’t work for Karen Bass… She’d better get used to us now because this is gonna be normal very soon”
Houthi terrorists have released footage showing their missile attack on the “Eternity C” bulk carrier, leading to its sinking in the Red Sea.
PM NETANYAHU: “I completed a second meeting with President Trump. President Trump and I share a common goal — the release of the hostages and the end of Hamas’s rule in Gaza.”
The US Embassy in Yemen confirms that the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists have abducted multiple surviving crew members of the Eternity C, a commercial vessel that was attacked and allegedly sunk by the Houthis.
U.S. Secretary of State Rubio imposes sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her “illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt ICC action against U.S. and Israeli officials, companies, and executives.”
[Video below.] Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu appeared on Fox Business Wednesday, where he addressed a range of pressing regional issues and highlighted the strength of his partnership with President Donald Trump.
During the interview, Netanyahu said that negotiations for the release of hostages were progressing and expressed confidence that every individual held captive would ultimately be brought home. He also made a stark comparison, warning that allowing Hamas to continue ruling Gaza would be akin to permitting the Nazi SS to remain in control of Germany following World War II.
He went on to speak highly of the recent operation inside Iran, calling it a coordinated mission between Israel and the United States. Netanyahu credited Trump’s unwavering support for Israel, calling him “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House.”
Turning to recent threats against Trump, Netanyahu issued a grave warning about Iran’s intentions. “I think this is very serious. They mean it. They are threatening to murder him and murder me – but this is the kind of people we are dealing with. They are enemies of America. They’re enemies of everything we stand for,” he said. He added that the Iranian population is suffering under a regime that does not represent their best interests.
On the topic of sanctions, Netanyahu said he would only support lifting them if a truly beneficial agreement with Iran were reached. However, he made clear that he does not see such a possibility as long as the current regime remains in charge.
The prime minister also spoke about his recommendation of Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. He said Trump had earned the recognition due to his work on the Abraham Accords—a diplomatic breakthrough that required three years of intensive effort—and his role in brokering peace agreements between India and Pakistan, as well as Rwanda and the Congo.
WATCH:
{Matzav.com}
President Joe Biden’s former White House physician is refusing answer questions as part of the House Republican investigation into Biden’s health in office. Dr. Kevin O’Connor invoked doctor-client privilege and his rights under the Fifth Amendment during an appearance Wednesday before the House Oversight Committee, his attorneys said. Republicans are conducting a sweeping investigation into Biden’s actions in office and questioning whether the Democrat’s use of an autopen in office may have been invalid. They have also claimed that some policies carried out by the White House autopen may be invalid if it is proven that Biden was mentally incapacitated for some part of his term. Biden has strongly denied that he was not in a right state of mind at any point while in office, calling the claims “ridiculous and false.” David Schertler, one of O’Connor’s lawyers, said in a written statement he prepared for the committee that the doctor would not violate his oath of confidentiality with his patients. He also said the House Oversight committee should hold off on its investigation until Attorney General Pam Bondi concludes an investigation that the Oversight Committee’s chair, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, said she has launched into the use of the autopen. “The pending Department of Justice criminal investigation leaves Dr. O’Connor no choice but to invoke his constitutional rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution to any questions posed by the Committee,” Schertler said in the statement. Republicans on the Oversight Committee had no immediate comment. In a June subpoena of O’Connor, Comer said that claims of physician-patient privilege under the American Medical Association’s code of ethics “lack merit” because that code is not part of federal law. He said the committee’s subpoena meets the AMA’s own requirement that physicians must share a patient’s medical information if “legally compelled to disclose the information” or “ordered to do so by legally constituted authority.” Comer has said his committee will release a report of all its findings after the probe is complete. He has issued subpoenas for O’Connor and Anthony Bernal, former chief of staff to former first lady Jill Biden. Last month, Neera Tanden, former director of Biden’s domestic policy counsel, gave voluntary testimony. Comer has requested testimony from nearly a dozen former senior Biden aides, including former White House chiefs of staff Ron Klain and Jeff Zients; former senior advisers Mike Donilon and Anita Dunn; former deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed, former counselor to the president Steve Ricchetti, former deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini and a former assistant to the president, Ashley Williams. President Donald Trump’s White House has waived executive privilege, a right that protects many communications between the president and staff from Congress and the courts, for almost all of those senior staffers. That clears the way for those staffers to discuss their conversations with Biden while he was president. (AP)
Iran planned to shower Israel with thousands of ballistic missiles in the coming years. Even after Israel destroyed thousands of its missiles and launchers, the Islamic Republic still boasts that it can cause serious damage to Israel and/or the US if it chooses to do so. “Our armed forces are at the height of their readiness,” said Major General Ebrahim Jabbari of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), speaking to the semi-official Mehr News Agency. “The warehouses, underground missile bases, and facilities we have are so enormous that we have yet to demonstrate the majority of our defense capabilities and effective missiles.” “In case of a war with Israel and the U.S., our facilities will not run out even if we launch missiles at them every day for two years,” he added. Of course, Iranian officials are not known for telling the truth. According to an investigation by Fox News Digital, on the eve of the attack on Israel in the opening days of the campaign, Iran’s stockpile of ballistic missiles stood at about three thousand, along with a reserve of between five hundred and six hundred launchers. These were considered the Islamic Republic’s main strategic capability to strike Israel. International experts note that one of the main reasons for the Israeli offensive was Iran’s ambitious plan to produce thousands of new missiles and distribute them to terror proxies such as Hezbollah and the Houthis. Now, after numerous precise Israeli strikes deep inside Iran, intelligence sources estimate that Iran has only about a thousand active missiles and only about two hundred launchers left. According to the report, this is a dramatic reduction that does not allow for a large-scale attack, and replacing the missile launchers after Israel degraded their production capabilities will be extremely difficult, according to Danny Citrinowicz, Iran expert at the Institute for National Security Studies. “Israel attacked every place that the Iranians manufacture missiles,” he told Fox News Digital. Iran may have the capacity to attack Israel with its missiles, but “not in the hundreds.” However, Can Kasapoglu, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and Middle East military affairs expert, asserts that Iran “is still the largest ballistic missile power in the Middle East.” He told Fox, “We saw that during the war, as Iran was able to penetrate Israeli airspace—even when Israeli and American interceptors were firing interceptor after interceptor to stop a single ballistic missile.” Kasapoglu also noted that Iran still maintains a deeper stockpile of missiles than Israel, even with U.S. assistance, and has interceptors. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
Avraham Azoulai, a resident of Shaked Farm in the hills near Yitzhar, was killed while operating engineering equipment in Gaza, just three months after marrying. The Shomron Regional Council confirmed his passing on Wednesday.
Azoulai becomes the third individual from Yitzhar to be killed during the ongoing conflict. Like many from his community, he had volunteered to assist the IDF by working with heavy machinery in the Gaza Strip.
Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, delivered a heartfelt tribute: “Avraham was a hero, a true pioneer, one of the builders of the hilltops and farms. He worked on the preparation and development of farms and road construction in Samaria, fully dedicated to the settlement of the Land of Israel and its defense. He came to Samaria as a young man to build Samaria and was one of our finest who built the hilltops with courage and love. Avraham is the 31st from the region to fall in the Swords of Iron War. He gave his life for the people and the land when he did what he loved and believed in — building the land. The Samaria Regional Council family will support Ruth with everything she needs. The Samaria settlement family and the entire Itamar community are grieving and embracing the Azoulai and Yogev families.”
Golan Avgi, who heads the Yitzhar local council, also mourned the loss: “Avraham was a pioneer. He established a Jewish labor business. He enlisted in the reserves together with a large group of friends from the Itamar settlement, and they worked with heavy machinery in Gaza. I knew him as a man of integrity, talented, with good character traits, and beloved by everyone, by all who knew him and by all his friends.”
As previously reported, Azoulai is the third casualty from Yitzhar in this war. About eighteen months ago, Sergeant Yehonatan Luber was killed in combat in southern Gaza. Eight months later, Sergeant Shneur Zalman Cohen fell while fighting in the northern part of the Strip.
{Matzav.com Israel}
In a series of behind-closed-doors fundraisers recorded in 2024 and obtained exclusively by CNN, President Donald Trump is heard describing aggressive foreign policy threats, hardline domestic crackdowns, and eyebrow-raising fundraising tactics — offering a glimpse into the unfiltered rhetoric he reserved for high-dollar donors. According to the audio, Trump told one private gathering that he had warned Russian President Vladimir Putin he would “bomb Moscow” if Russia invaded Ukraine. “With Putin I said, ‘If you go into Ukraine, I’m going to bomb the [expletive] out of Moscow,’” Trump said. “And then he goes, like, ‘I don’t believe you.’ But he believed me 10%.” In the same breath, Trump claimed he gave a similar warning to Chinese President Xi Jinping over a potential invasion of Taiwan: bomb Beijing. Xi, Trump recounted, “he thought I was crazy” — but added, “we never had a problem.” The remarks, which have not previously been aired, were recorded during intimate donor events in New York and Florida in early and mid-2024. They were obtained by Washington Post reporters Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf, who cite them in their upcoming book, 2024. The recordings show a version of Trump more candid and aggressive than in public — especially as he pitched himself as the only candidate who could prevent further wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. “If I were president, you wouldn’t have Ukraine, you wouldn’t have Gaza,” Trump said, before shifting into a tirade against Putin’s unwillingness to make peace. Trump’s unfiltered commentary extended well beyond foreign policy. At one event, Trump vowed to deport student protesters, specifically targeting pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses. “Any student that protests — I would throw them out of the country,” he said. “Those people made a big mistake. Throw them out, and I think that will stop it.” He also claimed that his administration had begun efforts to revoke visas and crack down on foreign students involved in activism — igniting legal battles with federal courts over the constitutionality of such policies. At another event, Trump urged donors to open their wallets more generously, arguing that Republicans were at a systemic disadvantage. “The unions give big money, the civil service stuff gives big money, and they have the advantage of welfare,” he said. “The welfare people will always vote for Democrats.” He called on Jewish donors in particular to mobilize: “You’ve got to get them to start voting Republican.” Trump also bragged about his success in persuading ultra-wealthy donors to dramatically increase their contributions. In one instance, he said a donor offered $1 million for a lunch with Trump — and walked away pledging $25 million. “You have to have the courage to ask,” Trump said. “You have to get them into the mindset.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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