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“Jihad in NYC is Electing One of Our Own”: Queens Imam Sparks Outrage with Political Call Queens, NY — A fiery statement from Imam Ali of Queens is drawing sharp reactions after he declared during a recent speech that “Jihad in NYC is electing one of our own — Zohran Mamdani — for mayor.” The imam emphasized that “Jihad is not only fighting in Palestine; they need it to defend themselves. Jihad here is different.” He explained that in the local context, it means political engagement and Muslim unity, highlighting a larger strategy to increase Muslim political power in New York. Ali praised the community’s growing cohesion: “If London made it, why can’t NYC make it?” — a reference to London’s Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan. The comments have sparked backlash online, with many questioning the use of religiously charged language like “jihad” in American political discourse. Others see it as a call to civic participation within the Muslim community. Zohran Mamdani, currently a New York State Assemblymember, has not publicly commented on the imam’s remarks.

In a fiery speech delivered Sunday night, the Satmar Rebbe, launched a scathing rebuke of the Israeli government and those who express admiration for Israel’s military might in its current war against Iran, known as Operation Am K’Lavi.

Speaking at a siyum on Maseches Bechoros organized by the Satmar Zichru learning initiative in Boro Park, the Rebbe warned against falling into the trap of believing in kochi v’otzem yadi—human power and might—rather than in Divine salvation.

“Our holy Rebbe, the Vayoel Moshe, had a heart that ached with the suffering of Klal Yisroel. He mourned every Jewish soul lost in war,” the Rebbe said. “But what pained him even more was when sincere, G-d-fearing Jews were misled into putting their faith in human strength. He would plead: do not prolong the golus by believing in their power. In every generation, we face great challenges that tempt us to fall into this mistake, but we must constantly remind ourselves—we are not impressed by their actions, not in the least.”

The Rebbe quoted the posuk, ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness’ (Shmuel I 24:13), emphasizing, “Acts of violence are the traits of the wicked. Our path is not to admire them. The Medrash on Birkas Kohanim explains the brocha of ‘Hashem shall bless you and guard you’ as protection from harm and from the yetzer hara. These two—physical harm and spiritual danger—go hand in hand.”

Continuing his critique, the Rebbe stated, “The minim and apikorsim—heretics and deniers—are worse than the yetzer hara itself. We see this clearly in recent years, as they attempt to destroy Klal Yisroel from within by drafting yeshiva bochurim into the army. Their goal is to sever Jews from belief in Hashem and His Torah. These people cannot be the source of yeshuah. They are the greatest mazikin—spiritual destroyers.”

The Rebbe then posed a rhetorical question: “If we were truly in such danger in recent years, under threat from enemy nations, why did no one urge the public to flee Eretz Yisroel? The answer is clear—they caused the danger themselves. Without a state, there would be no decrees, no wars, and no draft of bnei yeshiva. As I’ve said before, these are the agents of the Satan, working to uproot emunah from the Jewish people.”

“There is only one way to withstand these trials,” the Rebbe declared. “We must study and internalize the teachings of our holy Rebbe, Vayoel Moshe. He was anguished by the suffering of Klal Yisroel, wept bitterly for every soul, and yet he battled against the forces of secularism with sword and spear.”

The Rebbe concluded with a powerful message: “We must instill within ourselves the truth of ‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness.’ Salvation will not come from them—they are the emissaries of the yetzer hara.”

{Matzav.com}

The Federal Reserve will continue to wait and see how the economy evolves before deciding whether to reduce its key interest rate, Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday, a stance directly at odds with President Donald Trump’s calls for immediate cuts. “For the time being, we are well positioned to wait to learn more about the likely course of the economy before considering any adjustments to our policy stance,” Powell said in testimony Tuesday before the House Financial Services Committee. Powell is facing two days of what could be tough grilling on Capitol Hill, as Trump has repeatedly urged the Fed to reduce borrowing costs. Powell has often received a positive reception before House and Senate committees that oversee the Fed, or at least muted criticism. Powell has also often cited his support in Congress as a bulwark against Trump’s attacks. Trump lashed out again early Tuesday, posting on his social media site: “I hope Congress really works this very dumb, hardheaded person, over. We will be paying for his incompetence for many years to come.” Several Republicans did question Powell about why the central bank hasn’t yet moved to lower borrowing costs. Powell responded that most economists, inside and outside the Fed, still expect tariffs to push inflation higher, and Fed policymakers want to see what happens over the next couple of months before making any changes. “We really don’t know how much of that’s going to be passed through the consumer,” Powell said, referring to the duties. “We have to wait and see.” Some Republicans also praised Powell for remaining focused on the Fed’s mission to lower prices and support maximum employment. Rep. French Hill, the Arkansas Republican who chairs the committee, thanked Powell for keeping “politics out of the Fed” by disbanding several committees that focused on finance and climate change. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey, asked Powell whether Trump’s “bullying” would impact the Fed’s decision-making. Powell said the Fed wants to “deliver a good economy for the benefit of the American people, and that’s it.” “Anything else is kind of a distraction,” Powell added. “We always do what we think is the right thing to do, and we live with the consequences. I don’t know how else to do the job.” Powell also told the committee that “ increases in tariffs this year are likely to push up prices and weigh on economic activity.” He said the bump to inflation from tariffs could be temporary, or it could lead to a more persistent bout of inflation. The Fed’s “obligation,” Powell said, “is … to prevent a one-time increase in the price level from becoming an ongoing inflation problem.” The Fed’s 19-member interest rate setting committee, led by the chair, decides whether to cut or raise borrowing costs. They typically increase rates to cool the economy to fight or prevent inflation, and lower rates when the economy is weak to boost borrowing and spending. The Fed’s committee voted unanimously last week to keep its key rate unchanged, though the Fed also released forecasts of future rate cuts that revealed emerging divisions among the policymakers. Seven projected no rate cuts at all this year, two just one, while 10 forecast at least two reductions. Powell said Tuesday that “a significant majority” of the committee supports cutting […]

With Israeli airports shuttered due to the ongoing war with Iran, a wave of travelers sought unconventional and costly means to leave the country, many through the Sharm el-Sheikh airport in Egypt. Some have paid staggering sums, often upwards of tens of thousands of dollars, for private jet charters.

Among those who flew in was the Gerrer Rebbe, whose travel arrangements have drawn particular attention.

In an unusual scene in Williamsburg, one of America’s top frum travel agents was summoned to the private residence of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe. The agent had just received a call from the Rebbe’s personal assistant and promptly closed his office to make his way over. Unsure of what urgent matter awaited him, he entered the Rebbe’s room with curiosity.

The Rebbe quickly put him at ease and got straight to the point: “Several people, chassidim and businessmen alike, are asking me about traveling to Eretz Yisroel. They say the only way is through Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. I want to know before I advise them: What is this place? Who works there? Do Jews normally travel through it? And how long is the journey from there to Israel? That’s why I called you. I want to give an informed answer.”

The agent remained in the Rebbe’s room for some time, offering detailed explanations about the routes, organized shuttles from Eilat, and the current travel infrastructure. He reassured the Rebbe that even senior admorim and rabbanim were choosing this path, which was deemed safe under the circumstances.

As for the Gerrer Rebbe himself, he too traveled by private jet—both on his initial flight to the U.S. and now on his return—thanks to the generosity of a major American philanthropist eager to assist the Rebbe and his entourage during this difficult time.

Meanwhile, scores of Israelis have been flocking to Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh airport and Jordan’s Aqaba airport to escape or return to Israel. Some chose to charter private jets, spending fortunes to leave what they viewed as a danger zone. One group of just 13 passengers reportedly paid about $38,000 per person to charter a private jet to New York over the weekend.

With commercial air travel from Israel largely frozen, a mini-industry has emerged to ferry passengers out of the country. Several chareidi travel companies are offering charter flights from Sharm el-Sheikh and Aqaba to Larnaca, Cyprus. One Beit Shemesh-based agency has sold one-way tickets from Aqaba to Larnaca for 2,990 shekel.

Some have tried leaving Israel by boat from Ashdod to Cyprus, but the sea journey proved nauseating. Many passengers reportedly turned back within 30 minutes, one quipping to his friend, “I’d rather buy a small apartment in Yerushalayim than ride this crazy boat through the open sea.”

But for others, cost was no object. They opted for the so-called “oligarch route”: a fully managed escape that included door-to-door service. These luxury packages featured pick-up from Yerushalayim, transfer to the Taba border, crossing into Sinai, security-escorted vehicles to Sharm el-Sheikh, and from there, a private flight to New York or other destinations.

One such jet—a Bombardier Global 7500 used by a group of 13—resembled a flying hotel. It featured a lounge area, full-size reclining beds, kosher catering, attentive flight attendants, and two pilots. The total cost: approximately $500,000.

Prices to European destinations were slightly lower, though still in the tens of thousands of dollars, making them viable only for businesspeople needing to return to their routines.

Several families flew to London for simchos last week. Upon returning to Israel, they reported seeing long lines of Israelis waiting to travel, a stark contrast to the near-empty flights they had taken earlier. Still, they emphasized that they encountered no antisemitism along the way and praised the airline staff for their courteous service.

In a time of chaos and closed borders, some are paying steep prices for mobility, but for others, the cost is worth it to remain close to home, family, and routine.

{Matzav.com Israel}

New York City Democrats will decide Tuesday whether to reboot Andrew Cuomo’s political career, elevate liberal upstart Zohran Mamdani, or turn to a crowded field of lesser-known but maybe less-polarizing candidates in the party’s mayoral primary. Their choice could say something about what kind of leader Democrats are looking for during President Donald Trump’s second term. The vote takes place on a sweltering day about four years after Cuomo resigned as governor following a harassment scandal. Yet the 67-year-old has been the favorite throughout the race, with his deep experience, nearly universal name recognition, strong political connections and juggernaut fundraising apparatus. The party’s progressive wing, meanwhile, has coalesced behind Mamdani, a 33-year-old self-described democratic socialist. A relatively unknown state legislator when the contest began, Mamdani gained momentum by running a sharp campaign laser-focused on the city’s high cost of living and secured endorsements from two of the country’s foremost progressives, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders. While preliminary returns will be released after the polls close at 9 p.m. Tuesday, a winner might not emerge for a week because of the city’s ranked choice voting system, which allows voters to list up to five candidates in order of preference. If a candidate is the first choice of a majority of voters, they win outright. If no candidate reaches that threshold, the tabulation of the rankings wouldn’t begin until July 1. The primary winner will go on to face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat who decided to run as an independent amid a public uproar over his indictment on corruption charges and the subsequent abandonment of the case by Trump’s Justice Department. Republican Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels, will be on the ballot in the fall’s general election. The mayoral primary’s two leading candidates — one a fresh-faced progressive and the other an older moderate — could be stand-ins for the larger Democratic Party’s ideological divide, though Cuomo’s scandal-scarred past adds a unique tinge to the narrative. The rest of the pack has struggled to gain recognition in a race where nearly every candidate has cast themselves as the person best positioned to challenge Trump’s Republican agenda. Comptroller Brad Lander, a liberal city government stalwart, made a splash last week when he was arrested after linking arms with a man federal agents were trying to detain at an immigration court in Manhattan. It was unclear if that episode was enough to jump-start a campaign that had been failing to pick up speed behind Lander’s wonkish vibe. Among the other candidates are City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, hedge fund executive Whitney Tilson and former city Comptroller Scott Stringer. Mamdani’s energetic run has been hard not to notice. His army of young hipster canvassers relentlessly knocked on doors throughout the city seeking support. Posters of his grinning mug were up on shop windows. You couldn’t get on social media without seeing one of his well-produced videos pitching his vision — free buses, free child care, new apartments, a higher minimum wage and more, paid for by new taxes on the rich. He would be the city’s first Indian-American and first Muslim mayor. Cuomo and some other Democrats have cast Mamdani as unqualified. They say he doesn’t have the management chops to wrangle the city’s […]

The IDF announced on Tuesday that, following a new situational assessment and with the approval of Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, most of Israel will return to full civilian activity starting tonight. According to the official statement, the Home Front Command’s updated defensive guidelines will take effect Tuesday, June 24th, at 8:00 PM, and remain in place until Thursday, June 26th at 8:00 PM. “All areas of the country will shift to full activity without restriction,” the IDF stated. The only exception is the area surrounding the Gaza Strip, where communities will remain under the Southern Command’s specific guidelines due to ongoing security concerns. The IDF emphasized that the public must continue to follow official instructions from the Home Front Command. Residents are urged to remain alert and follow any future updates as the security situation continues to evolve. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Trump unleashed a fiery attack on his political adversaries Tuesday morning via Truth Social, challenging them to once again attempt to remove him from office.

“So go ahead and try impeaching me again, MAKE MY DAY!” Trump wrote, directing his anger particularly at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), a leading voice among the progressive “Squad,” who had demanded impeachment in response to his recent military strikes on Iran.

Trump referred to Ocasio-Cortez as “one of the ‘dumbest’ people in Congress” and accused her of being unable to accept that “our Country [is] being successful again.” He criticized Democrats more broadly, mocking their supposed unfamiliarity with success and their aversion to his leadership style.

The president also lashed out at other prominent progressive lawmakers, slamming Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) as “seriously a Low IQ individual” and delivering a harsh rebuke of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). He wrote that Omar “does nothing but complain about our country, yet the failed country she comes from doesn’t have a Government, is drenched in Crime and Poverty, and is rated one of the WORST in the world, if it’s even rated at all,” a clear reference to her Somali origins.

Ocasio-Cortez’s condemnation of Trump’s airstrikes particularly set him off. She had described the bombings as “a grave violation of the Constitution and Congressional War Powers,” prompting the president to assign her the nickname “The Mouse” and ridicule her concerns over executive authority.

Trump went on to contrast his administration with what he called the “Radical Left experiment” under President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. “We’re just now coming back from that Radical Left experiment with Sleepy Joe, Kamala, and ‘THE AUTOPEN,’ in charge. What a disaster it was!” He added that Ocasio-Cortez ought to undergo the same cognitive evaluation he had taken at Walter Reed Medical Center, which he proudly claimed to have “ACED,” according to the attending physician.

In closing, Trump addressed rumors that Ocasio-Cortez might run against Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in a future primary, issuing a mocking warning. “She better start worrying about her own Primary, before she thinks about beating our Great Palestinian Senator, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, whose career is definitely on very thin ice!”

{Matzav.com}

Hakeem Jeffries on delayed Iran briefing: “Why are Republicans hiding facts and the the truth from America with respect to the possibility that their actions will drive us into another catastrophic war in the Middle East.”

GOOD NEWS! The IDF Home Front Command has lifted all restrictions on gatherings, schools, and workplaces, as the ceasefire with Iran appears to hold. There will be no restrictions ons on gatherings in most areas of the country, workplaces can open, and schools may resume.

New video shows the extensive damage at tge Iranian Evan prison, which was bombed during an Israeli attack.

A historic maamad shook the city of Passaic, New Jersey, on Sunday, as a wave of kavod haTorah swept through both private and public asifos in support of Keren Olam HaTorah, the movement that has become the lifeline of the Torah world in Eretz Yisroel. The day began with an intimate gathering at the home of R’ Barry Lebovits, a well-known supporter of Torah. There, Gedolei Yisroel—Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a, Harav Dovid Cohen shlit”a, Harav Meir Stern Shlit”a and many local rabbanim—were welcomed to the city.  R’ Menachem Rokowsky addressed the guests, quoting the Gemara: “One who hosts a talmid chacham in his home and supports him with his assets, it is as if he has brought the korban tamid.” He continued with a powerful insight from Rabbeinu Yonah: “It’s true the Mishnah says im ein kemach ein Torah, but it also says im ein Torah ein kemach — if one doesn’t use their kemach (resources) for Torah, they won’t have it. Not as a punishment, but because that’s the purpose for which Hashem gave it in the first place.” The private gathering served as a prelude to the main event later that day — a public maamad attended by thousands of yeshiva bochurim, baalei batim, roshei yeshiva, and rabbanim from across Passaic and beyond. It was led by Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a and Harav Dovid Cohen shlit”a, with the participation of Harav Yosef Chevroni shlit”a and the leading rabbanim of Passaic’s Torah institutions. The event opened with heartfelt Tehillim led by Harav Nosson Weissman shlit”a, mashgiach of the Passaic yeshiva, for the safety and success of acheinu Bnei Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel. Opening remarks were delivered by the evening’s emcee, who exclaimed: “Gedolei Yisroel—many of them elderly—have been traveling nonstop for over a week. Why? Because they have hefkered themselves for Torah. They’re not doing this for the few major yeshivos that might survive without help. They’re thinking about the majority of mosdos such kollel in Ashdod with 11 avreichim that would have no way to continue without the Keren. They’re thinking about Klal Yisroel. And now, we have the zechus to stand with them.” Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a said that supporting Keren Olam HaTorah is not merely tzedakah. “It is a declaration!” the revered gadol explained. “We’re saying: We want Torah! We want Hashem! And when we show Him that, He returns to us — with bracha, with hatzlacha, with yeshuos.” He added: “The Torah in Eretz Yisroel isn’t just sustaining Klal Yisroel there — it determines the vitality of Torah in America as well. Anyone who joins Keren Olam HaTorah will see bracha in their homes: shalom bayis, parnassah, nachas, and spiritual success. This is what will bring the geulah.” Thousands erupted in spontaneous dancing at the conclusion of the maamad—rikudim l’kavod haTorah, as they all committed themselves to supporting the unparalleled limud hatorah of Eretz Yisroel.

WATCH: IDF Home Front Command personnel continue to clear debris from the site of last night’s devastating ballistic missile impact on an apartment building in Be’er Sheva

A wave of anger swept across the chareidi political leadership on Monday after dozens of chareidi educational institutions were issued closure orders by Israel’s Education Ministry. The schools and chadarim had opened despite Home Front Command guidelines issued during the current security situation.

Minister of Yerushalayim and Jewish Tradition Meir Porush blasted Education Minister Yoav Kisch for the move, accusing him of overstepping his authority and displaying a lack of understanding of the chareidi way of life. Finance Committee Chairman MK Moshe Gafni joined the criticism shortly afterward.

As previously reported by Matzav.com, institutions ranging from yeshivos ketanos to chadarim and girls’ schools in cities such as Yerushalayim, Bnei Brak, Tiveria, Rechovot, Modiin Illit, and Beitar Illit received formal notices to shut down for violating national emergency protocols.

In a public statement, Education Minister Yoav Kisch declared, “The lives of our children come first. Any educational institution that violates Home Front Command instructions will be dealt with immediately through the enforcement tools available to the ministry: sending inspectors, issuing closure orders, and freezing funding. There are no compromises when it comes to student safety. This is a national responsibility, and we will use every tool at our disposal.”

He added that the ministry would continue strict enforcement against any school that does not adhere to emergency directives.

In response, Minister Meir Porush stated: “I am not defending those who disregard Home Front Command instructions, especially when there are emergency alternatives near the school. I continue to urge the public to follow these life-saving guidelines.”

However, he sharply criticized the closures themselves, saying, “Minister Yoav Kisch’s decision to shut down these institutions reflects the condescending attitude of someone completely disconnected from the chareidi lifestyle.”

Porush emphasized the centrality of education in Jewish life and pointed out that most chareidi schools were established by private nonprofit organizations, not by the state. “If the Ministry of Education didn’t open these institutions, it has no right to close them,” he said.

With biting sarcasm, Porush added, “Clause 32 of the Supervision of Schools Law empowers the Education Ministry director-general to close a school if incitement against the state is taking place. I’d be happy to tour East Jerusalem with Minister Kisch to see whether all schools that promote incitement are being shut down. Apparently, in Kisch’s view, incitement to terrorism does not endanger lives.”

MK Moshe Gafni echoed Porush’s remarks, stressing that Home Front Command directives are essential for saving lives. Still, he called the ministry’s recent actions against chareidi schools “disproportionate and outrageous.”

“The Education Minister is not a law enforcement agency and lacks the authority to act as one,” Gafni said. “The sectoral affiliation of these institutions is clearly relevant here. It seems the minister is enthusiastic—almost gleeful—about revoking licenses from chareidi schools. He would do better to focus his efforts on improving education, budgets, teachers, and students rather than turning his staff into ad hoc judges and police officers casually issuing closure orders.”

Gafni concluded with a call for dialogue: “I urge him to immediately halt these harsh measures and sit down with school leaders to find mutually acceptable solutions, rather than throwing the baby out with the bathwater.”

In response, Minister Kisch’s office doubled down: “Pikuach nefesh overrides everything—there can be no compromises when lives are at stake. Contrary to Minister Porush’s claims, the Education Ministry will ensure that any institution that endangers students or staff by violating Home Front Command guidelines will lose its funding and be closed. Sectoral identity is entirely irrelevant.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Amid the ceasefire with Iran, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir says that “despite the phenomenal achievement, we must keep our feet on the ground. Many challenges lie ahead. We must remain focused; there is no time to rest on our laurels.”

SENATOR BLACKBURN: President Trump “achieved a great victory for the American people; for all people around the globe; for peace in the Middle East. Taking out the nuclear complex in Iran was the right thing to do and he did it.”

Terror Attack Thwarted: During a joint operation near Hebron, Israeli police forces from the Judea and Samaria District and Border Police successfully uncovered improvised explosive devices intended for use in terror attacks.

Dozens of bochurim from Yeshivas Torah B’Tifartah, forced to vacate their Elad campus due to the war, have found refuge at Yeshivas Be’er HaTorah in Beit Shemesh, where they are continuing their learning.

The bochurim, residents of Beit Shemesh, joined Yeshivas Be’er HaTorah and took part in a shiur klali delivered by the rosh yeshiva, Rav Gavriel Yosef Levi. The shiur uniquely integrated sugyos from Maseches Sanhedrin, which the Torah B’Tifartah talmidim had been learning, with Maseches Bava Kama, the masechta being studied in Be’er HaTorah.

“It was a deeply uplifting scene,” shared one talmid. “The bais medrash was filled with intense hasmadah and the energy of Torah. Watching bochurim from both yeshivos engaging with each other, connecting the sugyos from both masechtos, created an extraordinary atmosphere of Torah growth.”

The relocation came after Yeshivas Torah B’Tifartah, which numbers around 1,200 talmidim, divided into four temporary branches around the country so the bochurim could remain close to home and near protected spaces. Locations included Bnei Brak (Beis Knesses Chanichei HaYeshivos on Rechov Rambam), Yerushalayim (Beis Knesses Chazon Ish in Ramat Shlomo), Beit Shemesh (Yeshivas Be’er HaTorah – Gil branch), and Modiin Illit

The roshei yeshiva, rabbeim, and ramim are making regular visits to each branch, delivering shiurim.

With the announced ceasefire, the talmidim of Torah B’Tifartah are now preparing to return to their main campus in Elad.

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump on Tuesday injected some uncertainty over whether the U.S. would abide by the mutual defense guarantees outlined in the NATO treaty as he headed to its summit — comments that could revive long-standing concern from European allies about his commitment to the military alliance. “Depends on your definition,” Trump told reporters as he was headed to The Hague, where this year’s summit is being held. “There’s numerous definitions of Article 5. You know that, right? But I’m committed to being their friends.” Asked later aboard Air Force One to clarify, Trump said he is “committed to saving lives” and “committed to life and safety” but did not expand further, saying he didn’t want to elaborate while flying on an airplane. The remarks previewed what could be another volatile appearance by Trump at a summit celebrating an alliance that the Republican president has often derided. And it comes amid a backdrop of tumult in the Middle East, after Trump moved to strike three nuclear enrichment facilities in Iran, as well as the president’s sudden announcement that Israel and Iran had reached a “complete and total ceasefire.” The sharp U-turn in hostilities — followed hours later by Trump’s declaration that both parties violated the agreement — had already started to shape the summit, with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte publicly dancing around the issue even as hundreds of people showed up in The Hague on Sunday to denounce the conflict in a protest that was initially focused on defense spending. Still, other NATO countries have become accustomed to the unpredictable when it comes to Trump, who has made no secret of his disdain for the alliance, which was created as a bulwark against threats from the former Soviet Union. Trump’s debut on the NATO stage at the 2017 summit was perhaps most remembered by his shove of Dusko Markovic, the prime minister of Montenegro, as the U.S. president jostled toward the front of the pack of world leaders during a NATO headquarters tour. And he began the 2018 summit by questioning the value of the decades-old military alliance and accusing its members of not contributing enough money for their defense — themes he has echoed since. That year in Brussels, Trump floated a 4% target of defense spending as a percentage of a country’s gross domestic product, a figure that seemed unthinkably high at the time. “NATO was broke, and I said, ‘You’re going to have to pay,’” Trump said Tuesday, recounting his initial encounters with the alliance. “And we did a whole thing, and now they’re paying a lot. Then I said, ‘You’re going to have to lift it to 4% or 5%, and 5% is better.’” That 5% figure is “good,” Trump said, adding: “It gives them much more power.” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, will also attend the NATO summit this week. She said if Trump does anything to sow division within the alliance, it would benefit Xi Jinping of China, which NATO countries have accused of enabling Russia as it invades Ukraine. “That does not help America, does not help our national security,” Shaheen said in an interview. “What it does is hand a victory to our adversaries, and for an administration that claims to be […]

Rep. Buddy Carter has nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize following the Iran-Israel ceasefire agreement.