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Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) intensified his criticism of President Donald Trump this week, labeling him “America’s chief insurrectionist” as he unveiled new legislation aimed at preventing Trump’s name from being placed on federal buildings.

Nadler made the remarks while promoting the bill, which would prohibit naming public structures after the president, arguing that such honors are inappropriate in Trump’s case.

“Donald Trump is a convicted felon, a twice impeached president, and America’s chief insurrectionist,” Nadler said, adding that placing Trump’s name on a federal building or monument would associate it with “tyranny.”

“His name is unfit to honor our nation’s buildings. I am proud to introduce this bill to stop Donald Trump from using taxpayer-funded buildings for his personal vanity projects, because New Yorkers deserve public spaces that they can respect, not monuments to tyranny and corruption,” the Democrat said.

A video posted alongside Nadler’s statement on X featured a compilation of media headlines related to the issue, including one from The Guardian reading, “Dictator vibes as dear leader Trump puts name front and center.”

The announcement came Monday, just two days after a reported assassination attempt targeting President Trump was thwarted. Authorities identified the suspect as Cole Allen, a California teacher, who allegedly expressed strong anti-Trump views in a written manifesto.

The document included statements outlining his motivations, including: “I would still go through most everyone here to get to the targets if it were absolutely necessary (on the basis that most people chose to attend a speech by a pedophile, rapist, and traitor, and are thus complicit) but I really hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes,” he allegedly wrote. Despite the contents of the manifesto, former President Barack Obama said the suspect’s motives were still unclear.

In response to the incident, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized what she described as inflammatory rhetoric directed at the president, suggesting it contributes to real-world violence.

“The left-wing cult of hatred against the president and all of those who support him and work for him has gotten multiple people hurt and killed, and it almost did so again this weekend,” Leavitt said during a press briefing on Monday.

“Ask yourselves, how different is the rhetoric from this almost-assassin than what you read on social media and here in various forums every single day? The answer — if you’re being honest with yourself — is that there is no difference at all,” she said. “Much of the manifesto of the would-be assassin is indistinguishable from the words that we hear daily from so many.”

Two people were stabbed Wednesday in London in what Britain’s prime minister has described as an “antisemitic attack.”

Shomrim, a Jewish neighborhood patrol group that operates in the north London suburb of Golders Green, which has seen a number of antisemitic incidents in recent weeks, said its team had detained a male suspect after an attack targeting “Jewish members of the public.”

London’s Metropolitan Police said two men, one in his 70s and one in his 30s, were treated at the scene for stab wounds. Both were taken to the hospital and were in a stable condition, police said Wednesday.

Police said a 45-year-old man had been arrested in suspicion of attempted murder after also attempting to stab police officers. They said he was tasered prior to being taken into custody, with police still working to “establish his nationality and background.”

The department said specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing were leading the investigation as authorities worked to “establish the full circumstances and any links to terrorism.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the incident in a post on X on Wednesday, writing: “The antisemitic attack in Golders Green is utterly appalling. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan meanwhile condemned what he called an “appalling attack on two Jewish Londoners,” promising “high visibility patrols in the area.”

A significant development has taken place at the famed Brisk Yeshiva of Rav Meshulam Dovid Halevi Soloveitchik zt”l, as the rosh yeshiva, Rav Yitzchok Zev (Velvel) Halevi Soloveitchik, has appointed his sons to take on expanded teaching roles following a notable increase in enrollment for the current summer zeman.

With the start of the zeman, the yeshiva saw an unusually large influx of bochurim, placing added pressure on the existing structure. In response, the rosh yeshiva Rav Velvel announced that his eldest son, Rav Chaim Halevi Soloveitchik, will now begin delivering formal shiurim in the yeshiva on a regular basis.

Until now, since the passing of his father, Rav Velvel had been solely responsible for delivering the main shiurim. Rav Chaim had been involved in the yeshiva primarily through giving chaburos to smaller groups of bochurim during the afternoon hours. With the growing number of talmidim and the increasing demands on the rosh yeshiva’s time, the decision was made to formally expand Rav Chaim’s role.

At the same time, the responsibility for delivering the afternoon chaburos will now shift to another son, Rav Yerucham Soloveitchik. Rav Yerucham, a son-in-law of Rav Peretz Mayerson, who serves as rov of the Brisk bais medrash and heads Yeshivas Chochmas HaTorah in Yerushalayim, has been asked to take over this component of the yeshiva’s daily learning structure.

In a further meaningful step, Rav Chaim’s shiurim will be delivered in the home of the rebbetzin, the wife of Rav Meshulam Dovid Halevi Soloveitchik, on Rechov Eli HaKohen near the yeshiva. The arrangement is intended to provide chizuk to the rebbetzin and allow her to remain closely connected to the ongoing life and growth of the yeshiva to which she has been so devoted and whose hatzlocha means the world to her.

{Matzav.com}

A new safety method aimed at improving emergency response at large-scale gatherings in the United States is set to be rolled out at a major Satmar event, prompting discussion over whether it is a smart innovation or a formula for confusion.

The initiative is being introduced ahead of the massive maamad hachnasas sefer Torah of the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, scheduled for Lag BaOmer in Williamsburg and expected to draw tens of thousands of participants. At a special planning session for community organizers, one of the speakers, Reb Eizik Daskal, presented the idea and explained the reasoning behind it.

He noted that at crowded events, due to the noise and density of the crowd, Hatzolah volunteers often have difficulty hearing radio communications and then locating the exact site of an emergency, which can delay critical response times.

To address this issue, organizers, in coordination with emergency services, proposed a simple but effective solution: a uniform signal of raising four fingers during an emergency. Once noticed, others nearby repeat the gesture, forming a rapid “human chain” that visually guides responders to the exact location within seconds — without the need for shouting or radio contact.

The concept has quickly become a major talking point in the American chassidishe community, with organizers stating that “four fingers” will now be the standard signal at large gatherings. While the idea has been welcomed in the United States, some emergency personnel in Israel have raised concerns, warning that such a system could create confusion. They argue that if too many people lift their hands at once, it may be difficult to pinpoint where the incident is actually taking place.

A source within Brooklyn emergency services responded to those concerns, explaining to Matzav.com: “First of all, emergency volunteers are already positioned in multiple locations throughout the event, so the human chains are designed to remain localized and focused. In many cases, it involves no more than about 20 people raising their hands. Secondly, as the responders move closer to the scene, the chain gradually narrows until it converges on the exact location of the incident itself.”

It was also noted that on the same day, the traditional hadlakah of the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Aharon Teitelbaim, will take place in Kiryas Joel. However, the new system will not be implemented there at this stage, since that event draws a broader and more mixed crowd, including thousands who are not part of the chassidus, making it more difficult to introduce and standardize the method at this point.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said Tuesday that President Donald Trump is “guilty of inciting violence,” as he sharply criticized the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey during an appearance on MS NOW’s “Deadline.”

Speaking during the segment, Pritzker argued that the case against Comey reflects a broader effort by Trump to use federal law enforcement against political opponents.

“Let’s start with what Donald Trump is really after here: weaponizing the DOJ to go after his political enemies. As you know, this indictment is not the first indictment that they’ve gone after Comey.”

Pritzker then addressed the social media post at the center of the case, downplaying its significance and disputing the claim that it constituted a threat.

“The picture of 86 47, that was the what they’re using as the evidence that Comey is threatening the life of the president. 86 47 he posted it, even pulled it down because he thought it might be rude or improper to put it up. And not because he thought it was a threat against the president.”

He went on to predict that the case would ultimately be dismissed, while criticizing the administration’s handling of the matter and pointing to what he described as inconsistent standards.

“The case is going to be thrown out. I can almost guarantee you we’re talking about seashells on a beach. That’s what that picture is, that Comey posted. Remember, this is the president who threatened the death penalty for General Mark Milley, the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This is the same guy who told crowds at his, you know, at his rallies that, oh, that protester, punch him, take him down. This president is guilty of inciting violence, and now he’s using the First Amendment. He’s going after people for exercising their First Amendment rights and claiming that they’re the ones who are attacking people. I mean, he just applauded the death of Robert Mueller, who is a patriot. So I mean, I’m disgusted by what this administration is doing, by what the DOJ is doing. Todd Blanche seems to be doing more of what Pam Bondi was doing. This whole administration seems full of people who are just following, whatever this demented president tells them to do.”

{Matzav.com}

FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau spent close to a year examining former FBI Director James Comey’s Instagram post before charges were brought, describing the inquiry as a careful, by-the-book process led by career investigators and prosecutors, according to remarks reported by Mediaite.

Patel explained that the investigation focused on a May 2025 post by Comey showing seashells arranged to read “86 47,” which prosecutors interpret as a coded threat against President Donald Trump, the 47th president. He noted that cases involving potential threats against high-level officials typically undergo lengthy review before any indictment is issued.

“These cases take time,” Patel said, stressing that the matter followed normal procedures and that the work was carried out by seasoned FBI agents and prosecutors rather than political appointees.

He added that agents “call the balls and strikes in the field as they see fit,” emphasizing that decisions were based on evidence and guided by established legal standards, according to Mediaite.

During a separate afternoon briefing, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the indictment represents a straightforward enforcement of federal law prohibiting threats against the president, rather than a dispute over free speech protections, according to reporting from Newsmax.

Blanche acknowledged that prosecutors will need to establish intent in court but maintained that the law clearly does not shield threats directed at the president, noting that a grand jury has already determined there is sufficient evidence to move forward.

Following the indictment, Comey released a video message in which he said, “Well, they’re back,” a remark widely viewed as referencing the renewed legal proceedings, according to The Hill, while asserting that he has done nothing wrong.

Comey said he was surprised by the charges but voiced confidence in the judicial system, adding that he is “not afraid,” and insisted that his post was intended as political commentary rather than a threat, according to comments cited by The Hill.

He has also said the Instagram post was taken down once he realized it could be misunderstood, and his legal team is expected to argue that the case involves protected political expression rather than a genuine threat, raising a First Amendment defense.

At this stage, there is no specific penalty outlined publicly, as the case remains in the indictment phase without any conviction or sentencing determination.

The case sets up a renewed legal clash involving Comey and officials tied to the Trump-era Justice Department, potentially becoming a prominent test of how courts interpret intent and draw the line between protected speech and criminal threats.

“It’s not a very difficult line to look at,” Blanche said. “And it’s not, in my mind, a difficult line for one to cross over one way or the other. You are not allowed to threaten the president of the United States of America. That’s not my decision. That’s Congress’ decision in a statute that they passed that we charge multiple times a year.”

President Donald Trump welcomed King Charles III to the White House for a state dinner Tuesday evening, where the ongoing conflict with Iran briefly surfaced in the president’s remarks, including his assertion that the British monarch shares his stance on preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

During his comments, Trump pointed to developments in the Middle East and expressed confidence in the current situation.

“We’re doing a little Middle East work right now, and we’re doing very well,” said Trump.

He went on to emphasize what he described as a military success and reiterated his position on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, noting agreement from the visiting monarch.

“We have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we’re never going to let that opponent ever – Charles agrees with me even more than I do – we’re never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon,” added the President.

Trump: We're doing a little Middle East work right now too, if you might know. We have militarily defeated that particular opponent. Charles agrees with me pic.twitter.com/qPqoI6qTaP

— Headquarters (@HQNewsNow) April 29, 2026

At the same time, officials in Washington told The Wall Street Journal that Trump has directed his team to prepare for a prolonged blockade targeting Iran, signaling a continued effort to pressure the country economically.

According to those familiar with the discussions, the administration is focusing on restricting Iran’s oil exports and limiting shipping activity to and from its ports. Sources said Trump views this approach as less risky than alternatives such as renewed military strikes or disengaging from the conflict entirely.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iranian officials had communicated to the United States that their government is facing severe instability.

“Iran has just informed us that they are in a ‘State of Collapse.’ They want us to ‘Open the Hormuz Strait,’ as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation (Which I believe they will be able to do!),” he wrote.

Over the weekend, Iran submitted a fresh proposal aimed at ending the conflict. The plan reportedly calls for reopening the Strait of Hormuz while delaying negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

A U.S. official told Reuters on Monday that the administration is not satisfied with the proposal, pointing to what it sees as insufficient attention to Iran’s nuclear activities.

“He doesn’t love the proposal,” the official said, referring to the president.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump met with advisers Monday morning to review the proposal. While he did not dismiss it outright, officials said he questioned whether Iran is negotiating sincerely and expressed concern that Tehran is avoiding Washington’s primary demand: a full halt to uranium enrichment and a pledge never to pursue nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, sources speaking to CNN indicated that although a second round of talks between the United States and Iran did not take place in Pakistan, the two sides may be closer to an agreement than public statements suggest.

According to those sources, intensive behind-the-scenes diplomacy is continuing, with mediators working to narrow the remaining gaps between the two sides.

{Matzav.com}

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Several pro-Israel, Democratic House members, including multiple Jews, could face tough races to be reelected to Congress if proposed redistricting maps, which Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, unveiled on Monday come to pass.

“The proposed map is a blatant attempt to push out pro-Israel, Democratic champions in Congress,” Brian Romick, president of Democratic Majority for Israel, told JNS.

“It’s bad for our country. It’s bad for those who care about Israel, and it’s a violation of Florida’s redistricting constitutional amendment,” Romick said. “We urge lawmakers to reject this shameless partisan stunt.”

The Florida legislature must approve the maps for them to take effect. Some analysts warn that the governor’s plan could backfire based on a projected Democratic wave this year. Some also predict that Democrats could flip Republican-held seats in south Florida, where millions of registered Democrats would be combined in some Republican-held districts.

DeSantis aims to eliminate four of Florida’s eight Democratic-friendly congressional districts within the Sunshine State’s 28-member congressional delegation. A special session of the legislature, where Republicans holding a supermajority, is considering the measure.

The Florida governor told Fox News exclusively that “Florida got shortchanged in the 2020 Census, and we’ve been fighting for fair representation ever since.”

“Our population has since grown dramatically, and we have moved from a Democrat majority to a 1.5 million Republican advantage,” DeSantis told the channel. “Drawing maps based on race, which is reflected in our current congressional districts, is unconstitutional and should be prohibited.”

A source “familiar” with the proposed Florida map told Fox News that the governor is motivated more by population increases than responding to proposed Virginia maps, which would likely flip four Republican seats Democrat. “The governor has been planning this long before what took place in Virginia,” the source told Fox News.

The Broward and Palm Beach County districts, represented by Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), are projected to favor Republicans come election time if the new maps are implemented. Both are pro-Israel Jews.

“DeSantis drew up illegal, partisan maps in a backroom and made sure Fox News got them before lawmakers did,” Wasserman Schultz told JNS.

“This clear effort to steal more seats for Republicans shows his total contempt for Florida voters, who voted two-to-one in favor of a ban on partisan gerrymandering in our Constitution,” Wasserman Schultz said.

“This nakedly partisan scheme breaks state law,” she told JNS. “While Republicans focus on cherry-picking their voters, I’ll keep fighting for better jobs and schools and take on the healthcare and housing high-cost crisis that Republicans continue to ignore.”

Sam Markstein, national political director and spokesman at Republican Jewish Coalition, told JNS that “in Florida, even more pro-Israel Republicans will be elected to Congress.”

“Meanwhile, in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom purged five pro-Israel Republican members of the House in favor of far-left radical Democrats, and the Left said nothing,” Markstein said. “Spare us the faux outrage.”

Frankel told the Miami Herald that she wants to look at the proposed map before commenting.

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), another Jewish, pro-Israel Democrat, would see much of his current district drawn into the area that Wasserman Schultz now represents. That could potentially force a primary faceoff between the two. (JNS sought comment from Moskowitz.)

The Orlando-area district held by Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.), who is pro-Israel, would favor Republicans under DeSantis’s proposal, as would the Tampa-area district of Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), who has generally supported Israel.

Richard Stark, president of the Florida Democratic Party Jewish Caucus, told JNS that he is “personally outraged” that the governor is redistricting a state that already favors Republicans “overwhelmingly.”

“All of the congressional seats that are affected are pro-Israel,” Stark told JNS.

JNS sought comment from Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.), the lone Jewish House Republican in the state.

“South Florida is home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the country, which is why most of South Florida is represented by Democrats, because historically, and certainly under Trump, it’s only Democrats who share democratic and Jewish values,” Haile Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, told JNS.

Soifer criticized DeSantis for failing to bring the maps up for a referendum, as Democrats did when they sought to redistrict in Virginia and California.

“They appear to have forgotten that you can’t gerrymander away a deeply unpopular president with an approval rating below 40%,” Soifer told JNS. “No matter the maps, voters’ views and voices cannot be erased, which is why we’re confident this gerrymandering effort may backfire on the GOP and benefit Democrats in November.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

Gasoline prices across the United States climbed on Tuesday to their highest point in four years, highlighting growing pressure on consumers as instability tied to Iran continues to rattle global energy markets, according to The New York Times.

The nationwide average for regular unleaded reached $4.18 per gallon, based on data from AAA. That figure represents the highest level since April 2022 and reflects a 1.6% increase in just one day — the sharpest single-day percentage gain in over a month.

Since the conflict began, prices at the pump have jumped by about 40%, adding to the burden on households already dealing with high everyday expenses.

The surge comes on the heels of a significant jump in crude oil prices, largely driven by stalled talks over reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global oil shipments. Located between Iran and Oman, the strait typically handles roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply, meaning any disruption carries major implications for energy markets.

Brent crude, the global benchmark, briefly rose above $105 per barrel for July delivery before pulling back slightly.

Over the past week, oil prices have increased by more than $10 per barrel and remain more than 40% higher than they were before U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year. At the same time, West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. benchmark, climbed to approximately $101 per barrel.

Market analysts say continued uncertainty surrounding Iran’s nuclear negotiations, along with disruptions to shipping routes, is driving volatility in oil prices — a trend that is quickly being felt by consumers at gas stations.

Because gasoline prices often trail movements in crude oil, experts warn that further increases at the pump could still be on the way if tensions remain unresolved.

Diesel fuel has seen even steeper gains, rising to $5.46 per gallon — about a 45% increase since the start of the conflict. Higher diesel costs tend to ripple across the economy, pushing up transportation and shipping expenses that can ultimately be passed along to consumers.

Despite the rise in energy prices, stock markets have remained relatively steady, staying close to record highs.

Investors are now focused on upcoming earnings from major technology firms as well as the Federal Reserve’s next decision on interest rates for signals about where the economy may be headed.

For the moment, drivers are absorbing the impact of rising fuel costs, with little indication of relief as geopolitical tensions continue to weigh on energy markets.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. State Department is preparing to introduce a special-edition American passport to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary this July, and the updated design is expected to include a portrait of President Donald Trump, according to a department official cited by CBS News.

Under the proposed design, the president’s image and signature will appear on interior visa pages alongside excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, a departure from the traditional passport format that has typically highlighted historical imagery, cultural motifs, and iconic American landmarks.

The commemorative passports will be issued as the standard option at the Washington Passport Agency once they are released, without any added fee. However, applicants who apply online or through other passport offices will continue receiving the existing passport design.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott commented on the initiative. “As the United States celebrates America’s 250th anniversary in July, the State Department is preparing to release a limited number of specially designed US passports to commemorate this historic occasion. These passports will feature customized artwork and enhanced imagery while maintaining the same security features that make the US passport among the most secure documents in the world.”

Early reporting by Fox News Digital and The Bulwark suggested that approximately 25,000 of the passports would be produced, but a State Department official rejected that figure as “fake news” while declining to disclose how many will actually be issued.

The current “Next Generation” passport, rolled out in 2021, includes illustrations of American scenery and key historical moments throughout its pages. An earlier redesign in 2007 introduced electronic safeguards aimed at preventing counterfeiting, along with quotations from past U.S. presidents.

During President Trump’s second term, his name and likeness have been tied to a number of public initiatives and proposals. These include efforts to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the “Trump-Kennedy Center” and the United States Institute of Peace as the “Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.” The administration has also proposed a “Trump gold card” visa program that would allow non-citizens to secure residency and work authorization in the United States for a fee of five million dollars.

The commemorative passport is part of a broader push to celebrate the country’s semiquincentennial while reflecting the administration’s approach to marking the milestone.

King Charles III gifted President Donald Trump a historic naval artifact during a White House state dinner on Tuesday, presenting him with the bell from the HMS Trump, a British submarine that served during World War II.

The symbolic gesture was framed as a tribute to the longstanding relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, highlighting both shared history and continued partnership.

“May it stand as a testimony to our nation’s shared history and shining future,” the King said.

He concluded his remarks with a lighthearted note.

“And should you ever need to get hold of us, just give us a ring,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

SpaceX’s board has approved a compensation plan that could deliver an enormous stock payout to Elon Musk if the company successfully establishes a permanent human settlement on Mars.

Under the arrangement, which was approved in January, Musk would receive 200 million super-voting restricted shares if several ambitious conditions are met: the Mars colony must be permanent, house at least one million people, and SpaceX must reach a $7.5 trillion valuation.

Details of the unusual incentive structure were disclosed in internal company documents tied to SpaceX’s confidential filing with the SEC ahead of a planned public offering, according to a report by Reuters, which reviewed the materials.

Musk, 54, has consistently promoted the idea of building a self-sustaining civilization on Mars, describing it as critical for humanity’s future. He has even been seen publicly wearing an “Occupy Mars” T-shirt. SpaceX itself notes on its website that creating such a colony would “require upwards of one million people and millions of tons of cargo to be delivered to the Red planet.”

The compensation plan does not set a deadline for achieving these goals, meaning Musk could qualify for the payout at any point as long as he remains CEO of SpaceX.

In addition to the Mars-related incentives, the plan includes another potential award of up to 60.4 million restricted shares scheduled for March 23. These shares are tied to unspecified valuation milestones and to progress on Musk’s concept of launching data centers into orbit to support his company’s artificial intelligence initiatives, Reuters reported.

Those additional shares would be distributed in stages depending on whether and when SpaceX meets its valuation targets.

If all of the outlined benchmarks are achieved, Musk’s already vast wealth could grow to unprecedented levels. His current net worth is estimated at $778 billion, according to Forbes.

In November, shareholders of Musk’s other company, Tesla, approved a separate record-setting $1 trillion compensation plan. Similar to the SpaceX structure, that package is tied to the company reaching certain valuation thresholds and production targets related to its vehicles and Optimus humanoid robots.

SpaceX is currently aiming for a valuation of $1.75 trillion in its anticipated initial public offering and is seeking to raise more than $50 billion, a move that could make it the largest IPO ever.

{Matzav.com}

ABC has no plans to take action against Jimmy Kimmel following criticism over a controversial joke about First Lady Melania Trump, with the network signaling it intends to move forward without disruption.

According to a source at the network, ABC is continuing to support the longtime host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and does not intend to suspend him, terminate his contract, or cancel the program.

The insider confirmed, “It’s back to taping per usual. They’re moving on.”

The controversy stems from remarks Kimmel made during Thursday night’s broadcast, which featured an “alternative” version of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The segment mocked the real event’s decision to feature a mentalist rather than a comedian.

During the monologue, Kimmel delivered a line aimed at Melania Trump that quickly spread online.

“You have a glow like an expectant widow,” Kimmel said. “You know, Melania’s birthday is on Sunday. She’s planning to celebrate at home the way she always does — looking out a window and whispering, ‘What have I done?’”

Just two days after the broadcast, a shooting occurred at the Washington Hilton, the venue hosting the Correspondents’ Dinner, further intensifying the reaction to Kimmel’s remarks.

Melania Trump, 56, responded publicly on X, condemning the comedian’s comments.

“Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country. His monologue about my family isn’t comedy — his words are corrosive and deepen the political sickness within America.”

She continued, “Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.”

President Donald Trump also weighed in, calling for immediate action against Kimmel and labeling the joke “shocking” and “far beyond the pale.”

Facing mounting criticism, Kimmel addressed the controversy during his Monday night show, defending his remarks as a straightforward joke referencing the age difference between the president and first lady.

“It was not by any stretch a call to assassination,” he said. “I agree hateful and violent is something we should reject. … A great place to start to dial that back would be to have a conversation with your husband.”

He also spoke directly to Melania Trump, acknowledging the emotional toll of the shooting and describing the incident as frightening.

The late-night host has previously faced disciplinary action, including a suspension last year after remarks connected to the death of Charlie Kirk prompted his show to be temporarily pulled from the air.

Kimmel returned to television within a week, drawing strong viewership numbers, and has since secured a contract extension that keeps him on air through May 2027.

Reflecting on past controversies during a recent episode of “IMO,” Kimmel maintained that political commentary is an unavoidable part of his role.

“Don’t tell me what my job is. I don’t tell you what your job is. My job is whatever I decide my job is, whatever my employer allows me to do. That’s what my job is.”

{Matzav.com}

Gulf nations are lining up against Iran’s push to impose tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, signaling support for the United States as regional leaders met Tuesday in Saudi Arabia to coordinate their response to the escalating crisis.

“During the summit, a number of topics and issues related to regional and international developments were discussed, as well as the coordination of efforts in response to them,” the Saudi Press Agency said of the Gulf powwow, which is being held in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

The gathering of Gulf Cooperation Council leaders comes just days after Iran floated a proposal through diplomatic channels. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had traveled to Oman to suggest a joint arrangement in which the two nations bordering the strait would divide control of the vital shipping route, according to multiple U.S. and regional officials.

That proposal was quickly dismissed by Oman, a country that had itself been targeted by Iranian strikes earlier in the conflict. The rejection has complicated Tehran’s efforts to assert authority over the strategic passageway, one of the world’s most important oil transit routes.

“They will forgive, but they will never forget what Iran has done,” a source familiar with mediation efforts told The Post of the Gulf allies.

“They have no interest in paying for Iran’s reconstruction. As a result of all of this, they are not going to allow Iran either control the strait nor toll ships coming through.”

Oman’s position aligns closely with that of President Trump, who has made clear that Iran should not be permitted to charge fees or exert control over access to the waterway. Former Pentagon official and Atlantic Council fellow Alex Plitsas said the broader Gulf bloc shares that view.

“The GCC states support the administration’s assertion that Iran cannot control the Strait of Hormuz nor be able to toll it or be able to close the straits at any time of their choosing,” he said.

Plitsas added that Iran’s recent actions have severely damaged its standing in the region, particularly its attacks on neighboring Gulf states.

“Iran’s strategy of attacking GCC states as it means to put pressure on the United States absolutely backfired and set relations back with their Gulf neighbors by decades,” Plitsas said.

“It was a grave and profoundly stupid mistake.”

He also cautioned that patience among Gulf countries is running out as the strait remains shut and fears persist of additional Iranian aggression.

General negotiations between Washington and Tehran, which had been taking place in Islamabad, Pakistan, have now stalled amid the ongoing tensions.

“Renewed or continued Iranian aggression toward Gulf States will not go unanswered in perpetuity,” Plitsas said.

Tuesday’s summit marked the first time the GCC has convened at this level since the conflict erupted two months ago.

As the war approaches its third month, Qatar signaled it is eager to see the fighting end, though not at the cost of a temporary or unstable arrangement.

“We do not want to see a return to hostilities in the region anytime soon,” Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, said at a press conference.

“We do not want to see a frozen conflict that ends up being thawed every time there is a political reason.”

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Ilhan Omar is facing widespread criticism online after a previously recorded video resurfaced showing her mistakenly referring to World War II as “World War Eleven” during a Capitol Hill press conference.

The incident occurred last year as Omar, the first Somali American elected to Congress, delivered opening remarks at a Democratic event announcing the reintroduction of the Neighbors Not Enemies Act. The proposed legislation, which ultimately did not pass, was aimed at challenging immigration enforcement policies under President Donald Trump, particularly his use of the Alien Enemies Act.

During her remarks, Omar criticized past uses of the law, stating that the “last time the Alien Enemies Act was invoked it was used to detain and deport German, Japanese, Italian immigrants during World War Eleven.”

She immediately corrected herself, adding, “Oh, two,” and laughing.

The clip has resurfaced at a time when Omar’s district is under heightened scrutiny due to a large-scale federal fraud investigation involving businesses connected to the Somali immigrant community. The video has circulated widely on social media, drawing mockery from critics, including Sen. Mike Lee, who joked, “‘World War Eleven’ … Yes, that was deadly.”

Lee followed up with another post highlighting the gaffe alongside a separate video in which Omar criticized Trump supporters. In that clip, she said, “It’s become really hard to have an intellectual debate with any of these people,” and added that “the dumbing of the United States has arrived, because how else do we get a Trump presidency again?”

The resurfaced footage also drew attention from Elon Musk, who reacted by posting a grimacing emoji.

A popular conservative account on X, “I Meme Therefore I Am,” mocked the incident by writing, “She must have gotten her education in the Quality Learing Center.” The comment referenced a Minneapolis daycare previously in the spotlight for allegedly fraudulent activity and for misspelling its name as “Quality Learing Center.”

Conservative activist Chloe Cole also weighed in, posting, “Absolutely in awe of this clip of Ilhan Omar calling World War II ‘World War Eleven.’”

She added, “Truly quality learing. We’re learing like we’ve never leared before.”

Podcast host Matt Walsh responded with sarcasm, writing, “God forbid we ever have World War 3, Ilhan Omar will think we’re on World War One Hundred Eleven.”

In another post, Walsh added, “Consider the astronomical levels of stupidity on display here. Ilhan Omar doesn’t know how to read Roman numerals AND she thinks there have been 11 world wars,” Walsh wrote in another X post. “Either one of those would be reasonable justification to remove her from office and send her back to Somalia. But both?”

The renewed attention comes as federal authorities expand their investigation into alleged widespread fraud in Minnesota. On Tuesday morning, agents executed 22 search warrants at various sites, including childcare centers suspected of billing the state for services that were never provided.

According to sources who spoke to Fox News, two of the locations searched were the Quality Learning Center and Baby Halimo Child Care, both located in Minneapolis.

Omar has previously criticized the federal probe. In a January interview with CBS News, she argued that the administration’s handling of the investigation was negatively affecting her constituents. She said the Trump administration’s approach “is harming my constituents, and it is creating the kind of chaos and confusion that no one needs in this moment.”

Speaking with journalist Margaret Brennan, Omar further stated that the response to the fraud allegations “creates the level of confusion and chaos that is not necessary in a moment when we are trying to deal with a serious problem that needs serious people to be able to address it.”

She added, “We want to collaborately [sic] work with the administration to try to make sure that there is no fraud that’s being perpetuated on our state.

“What we do not want is the level of terror, of confusion, of chaos that is being created without any results in this moment.”

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Tuesday that the criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey, accused of threatening President Donald Trump, does not fall under the protections of free speech.

Earlier in the day, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina handed down an indictment against Comey on two counts connected to a since-deleted Instagram post. The post featured seashells arranged to spell out “86 47,” which prosecutors interpret as a serious threat, noting that Trump is the 47th president and that “86” can be used as slang for killing someone.

Comey issued an apology for the May 2025 post, explaining that he believed the seashell arrangement conveyed a political message and that “it never occurred to me” that “86 47” was associated with violence.

During a press briefing, Blanche was questioned about how to distinguish between constitutionally protected speech and a genuine threat.

“It’s not a very difficult line to look at,” he said. “And it’s not, in my mind, a difficult line for one to cross over one way or the other. You are not allowed to threaten the president of the United States of America. That’s not my decision. That’s Congress’ decision in a statute that they passed that we charge multiple times a year.

“And so, whether there is a defense, maybe there is, but the government will have evidence. I am not going to talk about the evidence that we have. That’s unfair to him. It’s unfair to the prosecutors. But it’s enough to say that the grand jury returned an indictment.”

Blanche was also asked whether proving Comey’s intent would be a challenge in court.

“This case was indicted today,” he said. “This conduct occurred about a year ago, May 15 of last year. There has been a tremendous amount of investigation. And how do you prove intent? In any case, you prove intent with witnesses, with documents, with the defendant himself, to the extent it’s appropriate. And that’s how we’ll prove intent in this case.”

He added that an arrest warrant has been issued for Comey and said authorities anticipate communicating with his legal team as the case moves forward.

“This case will proceed like hundreds of others do every year,” Blanche said. “There will be some sort of arraignment set by the judge or assigned to the magistrate judge. And when that happens, you’ll know about it. But this is being handled differently from the last time he was indicted.”

This is not the first time Comey has faced federal charges. In September, he was indicted in Virginia on felony allegations involving false statements tied to the Russia investigation and obstruction. However, that case was dismissed in November after a judge determined that the Trump administration had improperly appointed Lindsey Halligan as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

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