Trump-endorsed candidate wins GOP primary for Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District
The race has been called for the Republican primary in Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District. Former Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, was declared the winner of the GOP primary race on Tuesday. The seat is currently represented by 36-year-old Rep. Jake LaTurner, who left it open after announcing he would not be seeking re-election this cycle. POLLING GURU NATE SILVER CHANGES HIS PREDICTION FROM TRUMP ELECTORAL VICTORY TO ‘TOSS-UP’ “An America First Patriot and a true friend of MAGA, Derek is now running for Congress, where he will work tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Secure the Border, Uphold the Rule of Law, Support our Veterans, Strengthen our Military, Defend our always under siege Second Amendment, and Champion our Incredible Farmers and Ranchers,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post endorsing Schmidt. “Derek Schmidt has my Complete and Total Endorsement – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” The primary saw a large pool of candidates, including former Health and Human Services official Jeff Kahrs, Michael Ogle, Shawn Tiffany, and Chad Young. The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan handicapper, reported that the seat has been held “Solid Republican” for the last 30 years.
Incumbent Rep Elissa Slotkin wins Democratic Senate primary in Michigan
Incumbent Rep. Elissa Slotkin won the Democratic primary election for Senate in Michigan on Tuesday, setting up a short general election campaign before November. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., defeated actor Hill Harper in the state’s Democratic primary to fill outgoing Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s seat. Slotkin currently represents Michigan in the House of Representatives. She was previously a Middle East analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). She first ran for office in 2018 and defeated a Republican incumbent, flipping her district. KEY PRIMARIES IN 4 STATES ON TUESDAY TO SET TABLE FOR NOVEMBER SENATE, HOUSE SHOWDOWNS In her Senate campaign, Slotkin positioned herself as a moderate in the swing state of Michigan. She has pointed to her work under both former President Obama and former President Bush to make this point. PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS ‘INVISIBLE’ IN CRITICAL SWING STATE OF MICHIGAN: REPORT Slotkin has also remained careful in her stance on Israel and the war against terrorist group Hamas in Gaza. However, Michigan is home to a significant Arab population which has been pushing the Biden administration to end its military assistance to Israel. Slotkin’s Democratic opponent, Harper, has been more vocal in criticizing Israel and the Biden administration’s support for the U.S. ally. Harper has called for a ceasefire on several occasions and had pressed Democratic front-runner Slotkin to do the same. The Democrat nominee is now tasked with winning the general election in November, which could go either way given the battleground nature of Michigan. Non-partisan political handicapper, the Cook Political Report, rated the open Senate seat as a “Toss Up.” The race was originally thought to be “Lean Democratic” but was shifted shortly before President Biden exited the 2024 race.
Beware the Ides of July: Trump assassination attempt, Biden ends reelection campaign in wild month
It’s customary for me to write a piece this month titled “Beware the Ides of August.” It’s a take on Shakespeare, where Julius Caesar is warned “Beware the Ides of March.” The middle of March is what spells doom for Caesar. And over the years, I have found that the month of August – often the midway point – to be the most dramatic, historic and often volatile period in politics and government. Richard Nixon resigned the presidency in August 1974. The U.S. dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Martin Luther King Jr., gave his “I Have a Dream” speech in August 1963. There was the riot in Charlottesville, Va., in August 2017. There was even an earthquake in Washington, DC in August 2011. And not the political kind. Will August 2024 measure up? REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: A PORTRAIT OF MIDDLETOWN, OHIO, HOME TO JD VANCE July of 2024 is like, “August, hold my beer.” We’ve got a lot of August to go. But July earned a special spot in the pantheon of extraordinary political months. The shooting of former President Trump followed by the decision by President Biden to bow out of the 2024 campaign were extraordinary news events. And then there was the political hailstorm which pelted the news cycle for nearly three consecutive weeks after President Biden’s horrific debate performance in late June. We haven’t even mentioned the Republican convention in Milwaukee and Mr. Trump’s selection of Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio as his running mate. Those tectonic shifts were significant enough. But failed to rival the sheer intensity of the assassination attempt of the former President coupled with Mr. Biden dropping out. An astonishing case study into the intensity of the July news cycle came on July 24. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was slated to deliver a controversial speech to a Joint Meeting of Congress. Bipartisan Congressional leaders – but mainly Republicans – invited Netanyahu to speak to Congress for a record fourth time. But Netanyahu’s address would temporarily take a backseat to some of the other events. Consider how the story shifted throughout the day on July 24. Netanyahu would have constituted the news lede early that morning during any other period. But the testimony of FBI Director Christopher Wray to the House Judiciary Committee that morning eclipsed Netanyahu for a time. Wray was already scheduled to appear before the panel prior to the Trump shooting. But the failed assassination of the former president now commanded most of the nation’s news oxygen. Especially with Wray appearing before a House committee to discuss the FBI’s inquiry into the shooting. Netanyahu wasn’t due to speak to the Joint Meeting of Congress until the afternoon. But Netanyahu’s address infuriated the left and many pro-Palestinian/anti-Israel demonstrators. They flooded the streets of Washington and clashed with police. They burned American flags and hoisted Palestinian flags in front of Union Station, just blocks from the Capitol. The dramatic video and audacity of the demonstrations captured the news cycle for a bit before Netanyahu’s speech. ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS INVADE CAPITOL HILL BUILDING ON EVE OF NETANYAHU ADDRESS Then came Netanyahu’s presentation to Congress. The news here was just not what the Israeli Prime Minister said. But multiple sub-angles highlighted the controversy of Netanyahu’s speech. Many Democrats boycotted the Joint Meeting. There was the fact that Vice President Harris – who serves as President of the Senate – did not preside because she was speaking to a Black sorority in Indiana. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., – the highest ranking Jewish member in Congressional history – refused to shake hands with Netanyahu on the House floor. Netanyahu railed against the demonstrators near the Capitol, calling them “useful idiots” for Iran. Democrats who did attend the speech lamented that Netanyahu failed to offer a plan to get hostages back or call for a ceasefire. But by nightfall, Netanyahu was old news. President Biden was now healthy enough after a bout with COVID. He planned to speak to the nation about his monumental decision against seeking a second term. Yes. The president formally told the nation via X on Sunday he was standing down. But a nationwide address to the country is another level. Never mind that buried in all of this was the fact that Harris quickly wrapped up what appeared to be support from Democratic delegates and Democratic lawmakers to stand-in for Mr. Biden. The country was exploring who Harris was and determining how she measured up to former President Trump. There was also a deep dive amid this into Vance, his policy positions and explorations of his 2016 book, Hillbilly Elegy. HOW DEMOCRATIC CONCERN ABOUT BIDEN WENT QUIET FOR A FEW DAYS There was a lot going on. So August, beware. You have a lot to live up to. Not that those of us involved in politics or media are asking for another hellish news cycle. Sure. There will be the Democratic National Convention at the end of August in Chicago. Harris just selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) as her running mate. There’s plenty to chew on. But these events don’t seem as dynamic as what we wrestled with in July. That’s not to say that other major things won’t bubble up this month. The Middle East is white hot. There are grave concerns about a conflagration which could engulf the entire region. One could always fret about the chances of hostilities between China and Taiwan. Another major political narrative could emerge about former President Trump, Harris, Vance or Walz. Mr. Biden is still President and questions abound about his final months in office. And then there is the unknown. August has a way of surprising people with historic events and episodes which spring out of nowhere, shifting the course of history. Iraq invaded Kuwait in early August, 1990, setting off the first Gulf War a few months later. The Soviets shot down a Korean jetliner in late August, 1983, killing an American congressman and hundreds of
FBI executes search warrant on Rep. Andy Ogles, seizes cell phone day after primary win
Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., announced on social media Tuesday that his phone was seized by the FBI last week – just one day after he won a Republican primary in the Volunteer State. Ogles, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, shared a statement on X about the investigation, which reportedly involves campaign finance filings. Sources confirmed to Fox News that FBI agents executed a search warrant at his D.C. office last week. “It has been widely reported for months that my campaign made mistakes in our initial financial filings,” the Tennessee politician said in his post. “We have worked diligently with attorneys and reporting experts to correct the errors and ensure compliance going forward.” “Last Friday, the FBI took possession of my cell phone.” SEN. HAWLEY REVEALS NEW WHISTLEBLOWER CLAIMS ABOUT SECRET SERVICE FAILURES AT TRUMP RALLY: ‘SCARED TO DEATH’ Ogles added that he believes the phone seizure is related to the campaign filings, and vowed to cooperate with authorities. “It is my understanding that they are investigating the same well-known facts surrounding these filings,” the Republican added. “I will of course fully cooperate with them, just as I have with the Federal Election Commission.” “I am confident all involved will conclude that the reporting discrepancies were based on honest mistakes, and nothing more.” TRUMP SHOOTING: TIMELINE OF ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT Last Thursday, Ogles won a high-profile primary battle against Nashville Metro Council member Courtney Johnston. His supporters included former President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. “Andy is working hard to Grow the Economy, Stop Inflation, Secure our Southern Border, Uphold the Rule of Law, and Defend our Second Amendment,” Trump wrote on Truth Social in May. “I was proud to help Andy flip a Democrat seat in 2022, and he has my Complete and Total Endorsement for re-election. He will not let you down!” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Fox News Digital reached out to Ogles’ office and the FBI for comment. Fox News Digital’s Liz Elkind contributed to this report.
Tim Walz called Biden ‘fit for office’ after disastrous presidential debate performance
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Vice President Kamala Harris’ vice presidential pick, called President Biden “fit for office” last month after the president’s poor debate performance against former President Trump. “Yes, he’s fit for office,” Walz said July 3 at a meeting of governors at the White House after he was asked about Biden by a reporter. “Three and a half years of delivering for us, going through what we’ve all been through. None of us are denying Thursday night [June 27] was a bad performance. It was a bad hit, if you will, on that, but it doesn’t impact what I believe that he’s delivering.” Harris’ campaign told Fox News Digital that Walz stands by his comments. Walz’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Biden faced increased public pressure from Democrats to drop out of the race after his shaky debate performance and eventually announced July 21 he wasn’t going to seek re-election. TIM WALZ SLAMMED AS ‘POLITICAL CHAMELEON’ AFTER DITCHING PRO-SECOND AMENDMENT STANCE The president plans to remain in office, however, until the end of his term. “This is Joe from Scranton,” Walz continued. “He talked about building the middle class. He did it. He delivered. And I think this idea that you get in your own head, you get a little bit cycled up on that. What we saw in there today was a guy who was the guy that all of us believed in the first time who could beat Donald Trump and did beat Donald Trump.” Biden was pressured to step away from his re-election bid as polls continually showed him behind Trump, and Democrats were worried Biden couldn’t beat Trump again. Biden endorsed Harris for the Democratic nomination after he announced he was withdrawing from the race, and she announced Walz as her running mate Tuesday. WHO IS TIM WALZ? Biden praised the decision Tuesday. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Kamala Harris has made a great decision in choosing Governor Tim Walz to be her running mate,” the president posted on X. “I’ve known Tim Walz for nearly two decades, first during his time in Congress and as Governor. A husband and father, he’s been a school teacher and a high school football coach. He served for 24 years in the Army National Guard and became the highest ranking enlisted soldier to ever serve in Congress. As Governor, he’s been a strong, principled, and effective leader.”
Man arrested for ‘numerous threats of violence’ against Vice President Harris
A 66-year-old man was arrested on federal charges after making violent threats against Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and other public officials. Law enforcement arrested Frank Lucio Carillo in Winchester, Virginia, after he reportedly made “numerous threats of violence” against the vice president, President Joe Biden and FBI Director Christopher Wray on social media. The FBI’s Phoenix Office was reportedly first notified of threats being made against Harris on social media platform GETTR in July. “Open political discourse is a cornerstone of our American experience. We can disagree. We can argue and we can debate. However, when those disagreements cross the line to threats of violence, law enforcement must step in,” U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia said in a press release. VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS NAMES MINNESOTA GOV. TIM WALZ AS HER RUNNING MATE Carillo, posting under the username “joemadarats1,” reportedly made 19 references to Harris on his page, according to the Western District of Virginia’s attorney’s office. IT’S OFFICIAL: VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS FORMALLY WINS THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION In one post shared by the attorney’s office, Cariilo wrote: “AR-15 LOCKED AND LOADED.” During a raid on Carillo’s home, law enforcement seized a 9mm pistol, an AR-15 rifle and thousands of rounds of ammunition. “The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people. We take all threats of violence seriously, and we will investigate them to the fullest and hold those responsible accountable,” Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division said. Carillo made his first appearance in court on Monday.
In competitive South Texas legislative race, a fight emerges over a candidate’s Hispanic surname
The Bexar County GOP accused Democrat Kristian Carranza of using a Hispanic surname to appeal to the district’s largely Hispanic population.
Harris, Walz kick off battleground state swing as VP’s running mate introduced to Americans
PHILADELPHIA — Democrat Gov. Tim Walz is not a household name outside his home state of Minnesota. So, in the hours after Vice President Harris named the former longtime congressman and two-term governor as her running mate on the Democratic Party’s 2024 ticket, the Harris campaign instantly began working to showcase Walz. His biography was blasted out on social media platforms, including Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, and the Harris campaign spotlighted the governor in a new video. And the vice president and Walz on Tuesday evening, in Pennsylvania’s largest city, will kick off a jam-packed campaign swing through the key battleground states that will likely determine the outcome of their 2024 election matchup against former President Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio. VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS NAMES MINNESOTA GOV TIM WALZ AS HER RUNNING MATE The introduction to Walz is needed because 7 in 10 Americans didn’t know enough about the governor to form an opinion, according to a new poll by Marist College for NPR and “PBS NewsHour.” As she boarded Air Force Two on her way to Philadelphia, Harris said Walz “is going to make a great vice president” when asked why she chose him over some of the other front-runners in the veepstakes: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona. Shapiro is expected to address the crowd at the rally. WHAT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN SAYS ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS’ NEW RUNNING MATE The Harris campaign on Tuesday afternoon said it hauled in more than $10 million from grassroots supporters in the hours after the vice president announced her running mate, which it said was “one of the campaign’s best fundraising days this cycle.” The naming of the 60-year-old Walz was not a shocker as his name was instantly thought to be in contention in the 16 days since Harris succeeded President Biden as the party’s standard-bearer. Walz, a former high school teacher and coach who spent nearly a quarter-century in the National Guard, was elected to the House in 2006 and re-elected five times. He represented Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District, a mostly rural district covering the southern part of the state. Having the plainspoken Walz on the national ticket not only helps Harris in Minnesota – a state that leans blue in presidential elections that the Trump campaign has been aiming to flip this year – it also benefits the vice president in the two neighboring Midwestern battlegrounds of Wisconsin and Michigan. WHO IS TIM WALZ? MEET THE HARRIS RUNNING MATE WHO CALLED REPUBLICANS ‘WEIRD PEOPLE’ The governor will also be able to showcase a slew of progressive policy victories in Minnesota, including protecting abortion rights, legalizing recreational marijuana, and restricting gun access to curb shootings. And the naming of Walz over more moderate Democrats such as Shapiro and Kelly will please the progressive wing of the party. “As a governor, a coach, a teacher and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his,” Harris said in announcing her choice. Harris said “one of the things that stood out to me about Tim is how his convictions on fighting for middle class families run deep.” “It’s personal,” she said. “He grew up in a small town in Nebraska, spending summers working on his family’s farm. His father died of cancer when he was 19, and his family relied on Social Security survivor benefit checks to make ends meet. At 17, he enlisted in the National Guard, serving for 24 years. He used his GI Bill benefits to go to college and become a teacher.” It was a very different take from the Trump campaign, which instantly targeted Walz. “Kamala Harris just doubled down on her radical vision for America for tapping another left-wing extremist as her VP nominee,” the moderator in a new Trump campaign video charged. “Tim Walz will be a rubber stamp for Kamala’s dangerous liberal agenda.” And Vance, who was in Philadelphia hours before the Democrat ticket arrived, called Walz’s record as governor “a joke” and said he was “one of the most far-left radicals in the entire United States government at any level.” Vance is tailing Harris and Walz with small-scale events this week as they hold rallies in key swing states. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Fox News Politics: It’s Tim Walz
Welcome to Fox News’ Politics newsletter with the latest political news from Washington D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. What’s happening… -Republicans eager to face Harris-Walz ticket… -Most voters haven’t heard of Tim Walz… -Walz past positions on immigration come back to haunt him Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, on Tuesday named Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate as she faces off against former President Trump in the 2024 election, Fox News Digital has confirmed. The naming of the 60-year-old Walz was not a shocker, as his name was instantly thought to be in contention in the two weeks since Harris succeeded President Biden as the party’s standard-bearer. Walz, a former congressman, is in his second term as governor of Minnesota, a state that Democrats have reliably won in presidential elections for decades but that the Trump campaign has aimed at flipping this cycle. “I am proud to announce that I’ve asked @Tim_Walz to be my running mate,” Harris officially announced on X Tuesday. “As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his.” She added: “It’s great to have him on the team. Now let’s get to work.” Harris also said that “one of the things that stood out to me about Tim is how his convictions on fighting for middle class families run deep.” …Read more ‘INEXPERIENCED AND POLARIZING’: Obama takes subtle jab at Vance in statement praising Walz …Read more ‘THANK YOU, KAMALA!’: Republicans chomping at the bit to face ‘socialist’ Harris-Walz ticket …Read more BORDER PROBE: Top House committee demands docs on Harris’ role in migrant crisis …Read more ‘AMERICANS’ NIGHTMARE’: Trump camp says Harris-Walz ‘dangerously liberal extremist’ ticket is ‘every Americans’ nightmare’ …Read more ‘PIVOT’: Trump-supporting women hope JD Vance can ‘take back control’ of media narrative …Read more WHO IS HE?: What to know about Harris’ pick as running mate …Read more RECESSION CONCERNS MOUNT: Harris attacks Trump’s economic record when asked how she’d handle a recession …Read more LAW & ORDER: Kamala Harris’ VP pick previously charged with DUI, got off on reckless driving charges …Read more ‘HIS RECORD IS A JOKE’: Vance shreds Harris VP pick Walz at Philadelphia counter-event …Read more CALIFORNIA LIBERAL, MINNESOTA NICE: Ex-GOP Minnesota governor gives the down low on Tim Walz …Read more KAMALA ‘CAVED’: Harris’ pick of Walz over Shapiro shows progressives’ power over Dem Party: strategist …Read more VEEP VETTING: Tim Walz: A DUI, BLM riots and other controversies attached to Minnesota governor, now VP nominee …Read more ‘MASSIVE GIFT’: Conservatives rejoice after Harris selects Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as running mate …Read more ‘NOT ASKING YOU TO AGREE 100%’: Progressives for Harris host urges ‘solidarity’ among ‘comrades’ despite accusations of supporting ‘fascist’ government …Read more ‘WIN FOR OPEN BORDERS’: Harris’ VP pick takes heat for past immigration positions …Read more NEW RACE: Harris solidifies traditional blue states, gives Dems a better national outlook …Read more ‘POLITICAL CHAMELEON’: Tim Walz wildly flip-flopped his gun stance after years of praise from 2A groups …Read more ‘DEEPLY PERSONAL DECISION’: Number 2 veep candidate released statement after Harris announcement …Read more A CLOSER LOOK: Harris running mate’s handling of BLM riots, COVID getting fresh scrutiny …Read more ‘THRILLED’: Top Democrats rally behind Harris VP pick after Biden’s failed re-election bid …Read more ELECTION INTEGRITY: Legal group sues Maricopa County over alleged illegal aliens on voter rolls …Read more MASK BAN: Blue state county passes bill criminalizing face coverings …Read more ABOUT FACE: University with no police force reconsiders after antisemitic chaos …Read more Subscribe now to get the Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Mike Johnson demands Biden ‘immediately release’ any withheld aid to Israel as Middle East tension grows
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is urging President Biden to release any existing holds on U.S. lethal aid to Israel and to speed up the release of previously withheld aid, hours after an attack on an American military base in Iraq. “After repeated attacks on American troops in the region, and while Israel is under threat from Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, the U.S. cannot hesitate to defend our service members and our ally,” Johnson said Tuesday morning. “Any attack by Iran against Israel or American interests would be unjustified and met with decisive force. America and our allies and partners in the region should work together to strongly counter Iran and its terror proxies to send a clear message against these malign activities.” IDF SAYS ‘SUSPICIOUS AERIAL TARGETS’ CROSSED FROM LEBANON BEFORE ISRAELI FORCES KNOCKED THEM DOWN Johnson suggested aggression from Tehran was due to “a months-long pressure campaign against Israel from the Biden-Harris administration.” “Now is the time for the White House to realize their choices have brought us to the brink of disaster and give full-throated support to Israel. President Biden must immediately release all previously withheld and delayed weapons to Israel — so it can defend its people and deter Iran — and make clear that there will be decisive economic, military and international ramifications should Iran engage in or support any attacks,” the Louisiana Republican said. White House National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett told Fox News Digital in response, “President Biden has been clear on many occasions that our commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad and unwavering. Since the horrific attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7, we have worked to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself. President Biden made the historic decision to direct the U.S. military to defend Israel in April when Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel in an unprecedented attack and stand ready to support the defense of Israel should it be attacked again.” It comes after an Iran-backed militia fired rockets at al-Asad Airbase in Iraq Monday, injuring several U.S. personnel members, two defense officials told Fox News. ISRAEL’S NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE PREPARES FOR HEZBOLLAH RESPONSE AFTER IDF STRIKE: ‘HIGH-ALERT’ Tensions in the Middle East are threatening to reach a fever pitch after Iran threatened an imminent attack over the suspected Israeli assassination of Hamas’ top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in the capital city of Tehran last month. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed the attack on the Iraqi air base in a call with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. “Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant agreed that today’s Iran-aligned militia attack on U.S. forces stationed at al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq marked a dangerous escalation and demonstrated Iran’s destabilizing role in the region. Secretary Austin provided an update on measures to strengthen U.S. military posture in the region in light of this escalating situation,” Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Monday. IDF REVEALS 4 REASONS WHY IT KILLED HEZBOLLAH COMMANDER FUAD SHUKR Meanwhile, Biden’s Republican critics have accused him of helping raise tensions in the Middle East by not sufficiently backing Israel, the closest ally of the U.S. in the region, as it conducts an invasion of Gaza with a stated purpose of eradicating Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Biden administration in June of withholding critical lethal aid to his military. The administration paused a shipment of bombs to Israel in May, according to reports, and Biden threatened to withhold more days later during an interview with CNN. “I made it clear that if they go into Rafah — they haven’t gone in Rafah yet — if they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities, that deal with that problem,” Biden said. As of late last month, the U.S. was still withholding a 2,000-pound bomb shipment to Israel, Ryder said during a Pentagon press briefing.