President Donald Trump addressed a defense summit at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, delivering remarks on military strategy as the U.S.-Iran conflict enters its fourth month. The speech came hours after the U.S. launched fresh strikes on Iran and reinstated a naval blockade. Trump also hosted Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the White House this week, touting 'tremendous chemistry' between the two leaders amid delicate negotiations over the future of U.S. forces in Iraq.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham Nordone, the little sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, to fill the Senate seat left vacant after Graham's sudden death from an aortic dissection at age 71. Nordone, backed by President Trump, will serve until a special election in early 2027. Graham, a staunch Trump ally and Ukraine's most influential Republican champion, died Saturday night after returning from a trip to Kyiv. The Washington, D.C. medical examiner confirmed the cause of death as an aortic dissection. Nordone's appointment maintains Republican control of the seat during a period of intense foreign policy debates.
President Trump threatened Iran with '1,000 missiles locked and loaded' after Israeli intelligence shared threats from Iranian hardliners to assassinate him. U.S. assessments showed no specific new plot but steady chatter. Iran's chief negotiator said Tehran is prepared for 'all-out defense,' accusing the U.S. of violating their Memorandum of Understanding. The threats come amid escalating strikes between the two nations over control of the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) died Sunday at age 71 after what his office described as a 'brief and sudden illness.' The South Carolina Republican, who served in the Senate since 2003, was a sharp critic of Trump before becoming one of his most loyal backers in later years. His death creates a critical vacancy in the closely divided Senate ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, with South Carolina's governor expected to appoint a temporary replacement.
President Donald Trump rejected $227 million in disaster aid requests from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island for recovery from a February snowstorm, while approving aid for six Republican-led states. Democrats accused Trump of politicizing FEMA's disaster declaration process. Data shows Trump approved just 23% of disaster requests from Democratic-led states versus 89% from Republican-led states in his current term. White House denied politicization.
President Trump rejected $227 million in disaster aid requests from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island for recovery from a February snowstorm, while approving aid for six Republican-led states on the same day. Democrats accused the White House of politicizing federal emergency management after POLITICO revealed Trump approved just 23% of disaster requests from Democratic-led states compared to 89% from Republican-led ones.
Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner suspended his Maine Senate campaign on Wednesday after a woman accused him of sexual assault, an allegation he called 'categorically false.' Platner, a progressive who had energized the party's left wing, announced the suspension via a video posted to social media. The accusation has thrown a must-win Senate race into chaos, with Democratic leaders scrambling to find a replacement candidate. Maine is one of the most competitive Senate battlegrounds in the 2026 midterms, and Platner's exit has exposed deep divisions between the party's progressive and moderate factions. Several potential replacements have already expressed interest in seeking the nomination.
President Donald Trump has denied federal disaster assistance requests from four Democratic-led states — California, New York, Illinois, and Washington — following devastating flash floods and severe weather events that have left dozens dead and thousands displaced. The White House cited budget concerns and disputed the severity of the damage, sparking outrage from governors who said the decision was politically motivated. Congress is weighing a possible override vote.
Donald Trump has renewed his call for U.S. acquisition of Greenland as he arrives for the NATO summit, while the Graham Platner scandal dominates Washington politics. Bernie Sanders calls on Platner to withdraw from the Senate race amid new allegations, and Democrats clash over who should replace him.
President Donald Trump travels to Ankara, Turkey, for the annual NATO summit on July 7-8, where he will push allies to boost defense spending and meet Ukraine's President Zelenskyy for peace talks. Turkish President Erdogan is using the summit to project power as a global broker, with Turkey's weapons industry and strategic position giving it new leverage within the alliance.