Iran fires missiles at US bases across Middle East after American strikes on nuclear, IRGC sites
Iran launched missile and drone strikes targeting U.S. military facilities in multiple Middle Eastern countries Friday, retaliating after coordinated U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear-linked sites. Explosions were reported in or near areas hosting American forces in Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Jordan, according to regional officials and state media accounts. Several of those governments said their air defense systems intercepted incoming projectiles. It remains unclear whether any U.S. service members were killed or injured, and the extent of potential damage to American facilities has not yet been confirmed. U.S. officials have not publicly released casualty figures or formal damage assessments. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described the operation as a direct response to what Tehran called “aggression” against Iranian territory earlier in the day. Iranian officials claimed they targeted U.S. military infrastructure and command facilities. PRESIDENT TRUMP’S IRAN BUILDUP MIRRORS 2003 IRAQ WAR SCALE AS TENSIONS ESCALATE The United States military earlier carried out strikes against what officials described as high-value Iranian targets, including IRGC facilities, naval assets and underground sites believed to be associated with Iran’s nuclear program. One U.S. official told Fox News that American forces had “suppressed” Iranian air defenses in the initial wave of strikes. Tomahawk cruise missiles were used in the opening phase of the U.S. operation, according to a U.S. official. The campaign was described as a multi-geographic operation designed to overwhelm Iran’s defensive capabilities and could continue for multiple days. Officials also indicated the U.S. employed one-way attack drones in combat for the first time. IF KHAMENEI FALLS, WHO TAKES IRAN? STRIKES WILL EXPOSE POWER VACUUM — AND THE IRGC’S GRIP Iran’s retaliatory barrage targeted countries that host American forces, including Bahrain — home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet — as well as Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base and the UAE’s Al Dhafra Air Base. Authorities in those nations reported intercepting many of the incoming missiles. At least one civilian was killed in the UAE by falling debris, according to local authorities. Iranian officials characterized their response as proportionate and warned of additional action if strikes continue. A senior U.S. official described the Iranian retaliation as “ineffective,” though independent assessments of the overall impact are still developing. Regional governments condemned the strikes on their territory as violations of sovereignty, raising the risk that additional countries could become directly involved if escalation continues. The situation remains fluid, with military and diplomatic channels active across the region. Pentagon officials are expected to provide further updates as damage assessments and casualty reviews are completed. Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.
TSA workers brace for missed paychecks as Democrats hold firm on DHS funding
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers are on the cusp of working without pay, and there is no backup plan in place to ensure they don’t miss a check. During the longest government shutdown in history last year, the White House was able to shift around funding from the GOP’s “big, beautiful bill” to ensure that military service members were paid. But TSA workers won’t get the same treatment. Over 60,000 TSA workers are set to receive partial paychecks this week for the work they did before funding expired earlier this month. They won’t get another paycheck until Congress can land on a deal to fund the agency. AGENCY THAT NABBED ‘EL CHAPO,’ ‘DIDDY’ THREATENED AS DEMOCRATS’ DHS SHUTDOWN DRAGS ON And the likelihood of that wrapping sooner rather than later is low. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said that if the Trump administration could “figure out a way to pay government employees, absolutely.” “I mean, these are people who have jobs and have commitments and have families,” Thune said. “And, you know, it’s going to be really unfortunate if we get to a point where I hope we don’t, where people aren’t getting paid because the Democrats continue to insist on changes to things that are just not feasible or tenable.” DHS SHUTDOWN EXPLAINED: WHO WORKS WITHOUT PAY, WHAT HAPPENS TO AIRPORTS AND DISASTER RESPONSE But a White House official told Fox News Digital in a statement that, like the 43-day shutdown, the Trump administration would be able to transfer funding “to cover certain employees at DHS that were funded by the bill — namely law enforcement and active-duty military such as USCG.” “TSA has not been part of that, as they have a different funding stream from these other agencies,” the official said. Republicans believe that a key difference maker in the shutdown could be longer lines at airports and flight cancellations start to stack up as workers go without pay and take time off. A similar scenario played out during the previous shutdown, when cancellations compounded day after day. “When people start missing paychecks, and you start having disruptions in travel and that sort of thing, it’s going to get more and more painful,” Thune said. “So it’d be nice to fix this before and to avoid all that, but we’ve got to have a partner that actually wants to make a deal.” DEMOCRATS DEMANDING ICE REFORMS LOSE AIRPORT ESCORTS IN SHUTDOWN THEY TRIGGERED The White House and Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have been at odds over finding a compromise deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with hopes for a quick resolution to the ongoing shutdown quickly fading this week. Both sides have rejected back-and-forth offers over the last two weeks. Senate Democrats argued that, for now, whether the agency would be reopened and TSA workers get paid was in the White House and Republicans’ hands. Senate Democrats portrayed negotiations as having totally flatlined and put the onus of further conversations on the Trump administration. “We told them what our priorities were, they answered with a very, very weak, limited response,” Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said. “And we said, ‘No, this is what our requests were. We made a few changes,’ nothing back.” When asked if she believed the White House was negotiating in good faith, Murray said, “Not yet.” But Senate Republicans said that talks were happening on the side among members. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., hoped that she could convince enough Senate Democrats to come around and ensure that TSA agents, and others, wouldn’t go without pay for the foreseeable future. “I am working on talking to people,” Britt said.
GOP Rep Massie joins Democrats in opposition to US Iran strikes
One of President Donald Trump‘s longtime Republican critics, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., joined Gang of Eight Democrats in opposition to Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets. Trump has not sought congressional approval for an attack on Iran, Massie wrote on X, rebuking “acts of war unauthorized by Congress.” “I am opposed to this War,” Massie added in a second X post Saturday morning. “This is not ‘America First.’” “When Congress reconvenes, I will work with @RepRoKhanna to force a Congressional vote on war with Iran. The Constitution requires a vote, and your Representative needs to be on record as opposing or supporting this war.” HISTORIC US-ISRAEL STRIKES ON IRAN UNDERWAY AS TEHRAN FACES REGIME SURVIVAL TEST Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly met earlier this week with the Gang of Eight and a spokesman for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told Fox News Digital that Rubio called the speaker before the overnight strikes were carried out in Iran. Notably, Trump has reminded the world that Iran’s regime had targeted him, including fomenting assassination talk in retaliation of his first administration’s taking out Islamic Republican Guard QUDs force commander Qasem Soleimani on Jan. 3, 2020. “I was the hunted, now I am the hunter,” Trump said on the White House lawn before the Operation Midnight Hammer strikes and amid past warnings to Iranian leaders. Article I of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, but a U.S. official told Fox News Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin that Trump’s U.S. military armada in the Middle East, working in concert with Israel, is targeting military targets and ballistic missile sites that pose an “imminent threat.” The U.S. military is not targeting Iran’s leadership, but Israel is, the official added. KHANNA AND MASSIE THREATEN TO FORCE A VOTE ON IRAN AS PROSPECT OF US ATTACK LOOMS Alerting Congress was a topic of contention during the stealth operation to extract Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, when Trump and Rubio said they did not alert the Gang of Eight in advance, fearing leaks and putting U.S. troops at risk before the operation. The Gang of Eight is the four Republican and Democrat leaders of Congress and four other members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, is part of the group. “Everything I have heard from the administration before and after these strikes on Iran confirms this is a war of choice with no strategic endgame,” Himes wrote in a statement. “As I expressed to Secretary Rubio when he briefed the Gang of Eight, military action in this region almost never ends well for the United States, and conflict with Iran can easily spiral and escalate in ways we cannot anticipate. It does not appear that Donald Trump has learned the lessons of history. “The president’s own statement acknowledges this is war, and the Constitution requires the Administration to come to Congress for authorization, something it has not done. Next week, the House will vote on a war powers resolution, and I will support that resolution. In the meantime, I will be praying for the safety of our servicemembers and all civilians who are in harm’s way.” Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, spoke out against Trump’s Operation Epic Fury action. GOP LAWMAKERS SPLIT ON US MILITARY INTERVENTION TO FULFILL TRUMP’S CALLS FOR REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN “Iran’s leadership has long supported terrorism across the region, undermined regional stability, continued to advance its nuclear ambitions, and brutally repressed its own people, but acknowledging those realities does not relieve any president of the responsibility to act within the law, with a clear strategy, and with Congress,” Warner wrote in a statement. “The American people have seen this playbook before – claims of urgency, misrepresented intelligence, and military action that pulls the United States into regime change and prolonged, costly nation-building. We owe it to our service members, and to every American family, to ensure that we are not repeating the mistakes of the past.” Warner added a call for Trump to give the “country clear answers: What is the objective? What is the strategy to prevent escalation? And how does this make Americans safer?” TRUMP HAS THREE STRIKE OPTIONS THAT WOULD AID THE PROTESTERS AND DEVASTATE IRAN “The president moved forward without seeking congressional authorization,” Warner’s statement concluded. “The Constitution is clear: the decision to take this nation to war rests with Congress, and launching large-scale military operations – particularly in the absence of an imminent threat to the United States – raises serious legal and constitutional concerns. “Congress must be fully briefed, and the administration must come forward with a clear legal justification, a defined end state, and a plan that avoids dragging the United States into yet another costly and unnecessary war.” Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, noted Trump gave “Iran plenty of opportunities to take the diplomatic route.” REPUBLICAN SENATORS SAY LEAKED IRAN DAMAGE REPORT WAS INACCURATE, POLITICALLY MOTIVATED “Prior to the initiation of this action, in earnest diplomatic engagements with Iran, President Trump was very clear about his red line from the start and his expectations of Iran during these negotiations,” Crawford wrote in a statement. “Iran absolutely cannot be allowed to maintain a nuclear weapon or capabilities. The safety and security of Americans and our allies are on the line.” Crawford’s statement stressed concern for American forces conducting the operation versus Democrats’ concerns over Trump’s authority as commander in chief. TRUMP ISSUES STERN IRAN WARNING AS TEHRAN ANGRILY REACTS TO SPEECH AMID MUTED WORLD REACTION “The United States of America has the most premier military in the world, and I am confident it will successfully carry out the very clearly stated goals of this operation,” Crawford wrote. “As the operations continue, we pray for the safety of the U.S. military forces involved, Americans in the region, and our allies. “I would strongly
Israel targets Iran’s supreme leader in sweeping strikes as US joins ‘Operation Epic Fury’
In a sweeping pre-dawn bombing campaign across Iran, Israeli forces targeted sites linked to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a senior Israeli official confirmed to Fox News. The official said Iran’s president was also targeted as part of the joint U.S. operation, dubbed Operation Epic Fury. Reuters reported that Khamenei was not in Tehran during the strikes and was instead transferred to a secure location. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that Khamenei and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian are still alive “as far as I know.” President Donald Trump described the “massive and ongoing” operation as the opening phase of a campaign that he said would devastate Iran’s military, dismantle its nuclear program and ultimately bring about regime change. TRUMP TELLS IRANIANS THE ‘HOUR OF YOUR FREEDOM IS AT HAND’ AS US-ISRAEL LAUNCH STRIKES AGAINST IRAN “It will be yours to take,” Trump said in a video statement addressing the Iranian public. Hours later, Tehran signaled it would not back down, saying it would defend itself against any attack. “This will be probably your only chance for generations,” he added. Officials in Tehran said the country would defend itself against any attack. WORLD’S LARGEST AIRCRAFT CARRIER HEADS TO MIDDLE EAST AS IRAN NUCLEAR TENSIONS SPIKE DRAMATICALLY Ahead of the strikes, the U.S. military amassed what Trump previously called an “armada” in Iran’s backyard. Mapped out across the Persian Gulf and beyond, the deployment tells its own story, one of calculated pressure backed by credible capability. The buildup coincided with indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s disputed nuclear program. Trump has warned that the regime must fully dismantle its nuclear infrastructure or face consequences. THE ONLY MAP YOU NEED TO SEE TO UNDERSTAND HOW SERIOUS TRUMP IS ABOUT IRAN At the heart of America’s force projection are the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier strike groups — dual mobile fortresses at sea, guarded by destroyers and equipped to unleash precision strikes at a moment’s notice. More than a dozen other U.S. warships are also in the region to support. For Iran, it means U.S. forces are not concentrated in a single vulnerable location — they are distributed, layered and positioned to operate from multiple directions at once. It was not immediately clear how or when Iran might respond. But with senior leaders targeted and U.S. naval assets positioned across the region, the latest exchange marks one of the most volatile moments in the decades-long standoff between Israel, Iran and the United States.
If Khamenei falls, who takes Iran? Strikes will expose power vacuum — and the IRGC’s grip
As U.S. and Israeli forces strike deep inside Iran — reportedly targeting senior regime officials including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian — the question of who would lead Iran if the Islamic Republic collapses is no longer theoretical. Iran has retaliated with missile barrages against U.S. positions across the Middle East, and while Iranian state media says top leaders remain alive and have been moved to secure locations, the direct targeting of political and military leadership marks a dramatic escalation. Yet despite the intensity of the moment, regional analysts say there is no obvious successor poised to take control of the country. Experts consistently point to one determining factor: whether Iran’s coercive institutions — particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — fracture or consolidate. If the IRGC remains cohesive, the most likely outcome is not democratic transition but a harder, more openly security-dominated system. A clerical reshuffle or military-led consolidation could preserve much of the existing power structure even if key figures are removed. If, however, segments of the IRGC or regular armed forces defect or splinter under pressure from war and internal unrest, a political opening could emerge. At this stage, there is no confirmed evidence of widespread security defections. TRUMP TELLS IRANIANS THE ‘HOUR OF YOUR FREEDOM IS AT HAND’ AS US-ISRAEL LAUNCH STRIKES AGAINST IRAN One of the most prominent opposition figures abroad is Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last shah. He has lived outside Iran since the 1979 revolution and has spent decades advocating for a secular, democratic system. In a recent statement, Pahlavi called the U.S. strikes a “humanitarian intervention” and urged Iran’s military and security forces to abandon the clerical regime. He declared that the Islamic Republic is “collapsing” and called on Iranians to prepare to return to the streets at the appropriate time. But while Pahlavi has name recognition and support among parts of the diaspora, his actual base of support inside Iran is difficult to measure. He has not lived in the country for more than four decades, and many Iranians remain divided over the legacy of the monarchy. Analysts note that symbolic visibility — including chants heard during past protests — does not necessarily translate into the organizational infrastructure needed to govern a country of nearly 90 million people. Maryam Rajavi, leader of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), has taken a different approach. Her organization announced a provisional government framework aimed at transferring sovereignty to the Iranian people and establishing a democratic republic based on her longstanding ten-point plan. In a subsequent message, Rajavi called on “patriotic personnel in the armed forces” to stand with the Iranian people and urged regime forces to “lay down their arms and surrender.” She also rejected both clerical rule and what she described as “monarchical fascism,” an apparent reference to restorationist movements linked to the former royal family. The plan calls for dissolving the IRGC and other security institutions, separating religion from the state, abolishing the death penalty, guaranteeing gender equality and holding elections for a constituent assembly. The NCRI presents itself as a ready governing alternative. TRUMP ADMIN RAMPS UP ‘MAXIMUM PRESSURE’ IRAN SANCTIONS AHEAD OF NEW ROUND OF NUCLEAR TALKS But the group — closely associated with the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) — remains deeply controversial. Its history of armed struggle and years spent in exile have led many analysts to question the depth of its support inside Iran, particularly among younger generations. While some Western political figures have expressed backing over the years, domestic legitimacy remains uncertain. Despite bold statements from opposition figures, experts caution that Iran’s future leadership is more likely to be shaped inside military barracks and security compounds than in exile press conferences. Four decades of repression have hollowed out internal political alternatives. No widely recognized civilian leader inside Iran has emerged with cross-factional legitimacy. If the regime’s leadership were to fall quickly, the immediate struggle would likely be among security elites — not between rival exile figures. For now, analysts say, Iran has competing visions but no consensus successor. Whether the country transitions toward a new political system, hardens into military rule or experiences prolonged instability will depend less on declarations abroad and more on whether the regime’s core power structures fracture from within.
Fetterman praises Operation Epic Fury: Trump is ‘willing to do what’s right’
As one of Israel’s staunchest defenders from the left, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., full-throatedly endorsed President Donald Trump’s attacks on Iran as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle reacted Saturday morning. “President Trump has been willing to do what’s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region,” Fetterman wrote on X. “God bless the United States, our great military, and Israel.” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., one of Congress’ biggest backers of bold military action, is hailing President Donald Trump as a “man of peace,” and “evil’s worst nightmare.” “As I watch and monitor this historic operation, I’m in awe of President Trump’s determination to be a man of peace but at the end of the day, evil’s worst nightmare,” Graham wrote Saturday morning on X in a string of posts. “Well done, Mr. President.” FETTERMAN BREAKS WITH DEMOCRATS TO BACK TRUMP TAKING MILITARY ACTION IN IRAN IF NECESSARY Trump’s U.S. military armada in the Middle East, working in concert with Israel, is targeting military targets and ballistic missile sites that pose an “imminent threat,” a U.S. official told Fox News Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin. The U.S. military is not targeting Iran’s leadership, but Israel is, the official added. Strikes hit the compound home of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, in downtown Tehran on Saturday morning. And Trump issued a video statement on social media, urging Iranian people to get out of the way for now, but “when we are finished, take over your government; It will be yours to take.” “God bless @POTUS for planning and now executing Operation Epic Fury, making America more safe and eventually more prosperous,” Graham added. “I seek God’s protection for all under President Trump’s command, as well as our allies in Israel. LINDSEY GRAHAM CALLS FOR US TO USE ‘ANY MEANS NECESSARY’ TO STOP THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE KILLING OF IRANIANS “My mind is racing with the thought that the murderous ayatollah’s regime in Iran will soon be no more. While reports of explosions happened hours earlier, Graham posted his first support for the actions after 3 a.m. ET, calling the “operation is necessary and long justified.” “The biggest change in the Middle East in a thousand years is upon us,” Graham added in his second post on X. “The likelihood of normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel getting back on track is exceedingly high – a subject I brought up last week to the key players in the region who concurred if the ayatollah goes down, historic peace advances.” As the attacks were under way and battle damage assessments were yet to come, Graham delivered his prayers to the troops undertaking the operation. “As to the men and women participating in this operation for our country and Israel, may God bless you and keep you safe,” he wrote. “If you are injured or fall, I believe with all my heart that your sacrifice makes your country and the world a better and safer place. This moment is why you chose to serve. “This operation has been well-planned. It will be violent, extensive and I believe, at the end of the day, successful. Again the demise of the ayatollah’s regime with American blood on its hands is necessary and more than justified.” MORNING GLORY: WHAT WILL PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP DECIDE TO DO WITH IRAN? And, one of Trump’s long-time Republican critics, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., also posted on X, noting Trump has not sought congressional approval – although there was a briefing held with the Gang of Eight earlier this week. “Acts of war unauthorized by Congress,” Massie wrote on X. Senate Armed Forces Committee Chair Roger Wicker, R-Miss., praised the “decisive action” against “the world’s leading proliferator of terrorism.” “This is a pivotal and necessary operation to protect Americans and American interests,” Wicker wrote in a statement. “The president has stated the operation’s goals clearly: thwart permanently the ayatollahs’ desire to create a nuclear weapon, degrade their ballistic missile force and their production capacity, and destroy their naval and terrorism capabilities. “These are the hardest decisions that face any American commander-in-chief, and I appreciate that President Trump and his team conducted a comprehensive strategy using all tools of national power and a well-orchestrated military planning process.” The time to strike was now, according to Wicker. “The Iranian regime has never been weaker,” he added. “Without the use of military force against them, Iran’s ayatollahs would simply continue to grow their ability to threaten Americans and our interests, working in concert with the Chinese Communist Party, the Russian dictator Putin, North Korea, and other terrorist allies. “The ayatollahs have mortgaged the economic future of ordinary Iranians to engage in their obsessive and apocalyptic vision. Most importantly, I commend the brave men and women of our armed forces, who continue to demonstrate a level of operational proficiency unrivaled the world over. That fact will be evident in the coming days. Thanks to them, Americans are safer – not just today, but for generations to come.”
Trump tells Iranians the ‘hour of your freedom is at hand’ as US-Israel launch strikes against Iran
President Donald Trump encouraged the Iranian people to take over their government once the United States and Israel finished “major combat operations” in Iran, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran. The U.S. and Israel launched the joint attack just after 9 a.m. local time in what the Pentagon has dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.” In video remarks posted to Truth Social, Trump addressed the Iranian people directly and told them to “seize control of [their] destiny.” “The hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take,” Trump said. “This will be, probably, your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it. No President was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a President who is giving you what you want.” LEAVITT SAYS TRUMP CHOOSES DIPLOMACY FIRST FOR IRAN, BUT REMAINS ‘WILLING TO USE’ LETHAL FORCE IF NECESSARY “America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force,” Trump directed at Iranians. “Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.” While Trump focused some of his message on empowering the people of Iran, he stated that the intent of the operation is to “defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” which he described as “vicious” and “very hard, terrible people.” Trump also said that while there may be American casualties as a result, the mission is “noble” as it is aimed at stopping a “wicked, radical dictatorship” from threatening American national security interests and destabilizing the Middle East. “I do not make this statement lightly; the Iranian regime seeks to kill,” he said. “The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties, that often happens in war. But we’re doing this not for now. We’re doing it for the future, and it is a noble mission.” TRUMP ADMIN RAMPS UP ‘MAXIMUM PRESSURE’ IRAN SANCTIONS AHEAD OF NEW ROUND OF NUCLEAR TALKS Trump noted repeated failed attempts at negotiating a deal with Iran, accusing Tehran of rebuilding its nuclear program and calling it “the world’s number-one state sponsor of terror.” “It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say it again. They can never have a nuclear weapon,” he said. TRUMP SAYS HE IS ‘CONSIDERING’ A LIMITED MILITARY STRIKE TO PRESSURE IRAN INTO NUCLEAR DEAL The president vowed to destroy Iran’s missile infrastructure and annihilate its navy. “It’s a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon. This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States Armed Forces,” Trump said. He also called on members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, Iran’s armed forces and police to lay down their weapons and accept immunity or “face certain death.” The military operation comes hours after Trump told reporters Friday that he was “not happy” with the state of nuclear negotiations. The two countries had been engaged in indirect talks, and Trump gave Iran a deadline of roughly 10 to 15 days on Feb. 19 to reach an agreement. During his State of the Union address, he emphasized that his push for a deal was backed by force. Trump has repeatedly warned of severe consequences for the Iranian regime if negotiations ultimately failed. “It’s been mass terror and we are not going to put up with it any longer,” Trump said.
WATCH: Dem lawmaker makes surprising admission about border as others trash Trump’s SOTU ‘lies’
Democrats in the House and the Senate on Capitol Hill clapped back with criticisms about President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, calling him out for “lies” and suggesting the president isn’t winning the way Trump says he is. Some Democrats, like Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., argued that Trump’s move to blame former President Joe Biden for the current affordability issues Americans are facing is expired, while Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said he had to up-and-leave the president’s address because he was talking about making America healthier, describing the claim as a “lie.” Markey wasn’t the only Capitol Hill Democrat to accuse Trump of lying during his State of the Union speech, with Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., using the same attack line. “I don’t want to respond to all of Dr. Trump’s lies,” Booker said when asked about Trump’s address to the nation. VULNERABLE HOUSE DEM LASHES OUT AT TRUMP’S ‘RACIST’ SOTU CHALLENGE: ‘THAT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE’ But, in the process of discussing Trump’s approach to immigration, Blumenthal did admit “that the border is more secure.” That comment, however, was quickly followed up with a criticism about how Trump is doing just that. “I’ve long favored border security. I’m pleased that the border is more secure,” Blumenthal said when asked about his reaction to parts of Trump’s speech. “Some of the tactics used within the country, I think, are really regrettable and inhumane. And that’s why I think there needs to be reforms that stop the violations of law and constitutional rights.” ICE enforcement appeared to be a sticking point for Omar as well. BACKLASH GROWS AFTER CLINTON-APPOINTED JUDGE FREES MIGRANTS OVER ICE AGENT MASKING “It happens all the time when a president is lying and clearly forgets that his administration killed two of my constituents,” she told Fox News Digital when asked about some of the interruptions that took place during the State of the Union. “It is important for the reminder to be there.” When asked about her stance on defunding ICE, Omar said, she “look[ed] forward” to doing it. “At this moment, actually accountability and for people to go to jail for the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti,” Omar responded when asked what it would take for her to fund ICE and end the current partial government shutdown impacting workers.
Biden accuses Trump of erasing history and squandering US leadership role on global stage: ‘Dark days’
Former President Joe Biden on Friday accused President Donald Trump of attempting to “erase the truth” and squandering the United States’ role as the leader of the world. “It’s not just my record Trump’s trying to erase,” Biden told South Carolina Democrats, while talking about the president’s efforts to get rid of the Affordable Care Act. “He’s trying to erase fairness, equity, history, the truth,” he continued, citing incidents in which information about slavery has been removed or altered from museums and national parks since Trump took office. “Great nations don’t bury the truth, Biden balked. “They face it. This is a great nation.” BIDEN SPEAKS OUT AGAINST IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN IN MINNESOTA, SAYS IT GOES AGAINST AMERICAN VALUES Last summer, Trump wrote that “The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been — Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future.” He also ordered a review of the Smithsonian to make sure its exhibits align with celebrating “American exceptionalism.” Biden — the guest of honor at Friday’s “thank you” event organized by state Dems who helped resuscitate his presidential campaign six years ago — claimed the U.S. is currently living in “dark days.” LIZ PEEK: AMERICA EXPECTED ONE THING FROM TRUMP’S STATE OF THE UNION. IT GOT ANOTHER “Our future is literally on the line,” he said. “We have to be unapologetic about fighting for our country.” Biden also issued a warning about the upcoming midterms, claiming that Trump is “trying to steal the election because he knows he can’t win your vote, so he’s going to do everything he can to prevent you from wanting to vote. … Mark my words. I hope I’m wrong.” He said the more that voters see of Trump, the “less they like him.” SPEECHWRITERS SPLIT AFTER TRUMP’S RECORD-BREAKING SOTU: ‘LIVING IN HIS OWN REALITY’ VS. ‘RESOUNDING SPEECH’ “They don’t like that he’s raising health care costs, fighting against the Affordable Care Act, and they sure as hell don’t like what they saw in Minnesota: Mass ICE agents pulling people out of their homes and literally murdering two people in the street,” he swiped. Biden, 83, added, “They don’t believe the president should be king or dictator.” He said because of this, Democrats are winning in places “you’d never expect.” BIDEN TO HEADLINE NATIONAL BAR ASSN GALA DESPITE SON HUNTER’S DISBARMENT, ALONG WITH CROCKETT, TISH JAMES “So, we have reason to be hopeful, because time and again throughout history, in the moments of great crisis, Americans have summoned the better angels of our nature and brought our country back from the abyss.” Biden also predicted that Democrats would take back both the Senate and House of Representatives in November. Biden boasted that he knew more heads of state than any other president in history, adding, “Americans knew they had a president who believed in, respected and followed the Constitution.” Citing a Pew Research Poll that he said showed a “dramatic drop in our reputation around the world,” he claimed, “We’re no longer the way we were.” He added if the U.S. doesn’t lead the world, it could be Russia or China that does. Biden also blasted Trump’s State of the Union speech on Tuesday for what he left out. “The guy talks for almost two hours but never mentioned the anniversary of Putin invading Ukraine,” Biden admonished. “Never once.” He also noted that the president didn’t mention Renee Good or Alex Pretti, the Americans who were killed by ICE agents earlier this year in Minneapolis, “or offer even a word of solace to their families.” “He doesn’t offer a word of support, even recognition to Epstein’s victims sitting in front of him during the entire time,” Biden said, mentioning the Jeffrey Epstein survivors who were in the audience for the speech. “He never acknowledged them.” The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
ICE blasts Washington mayor over directive restricting immigration enforcement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) accused Everett, Washington, Mayor Cassie Franklin of escalating tensions with federal authorities after she issued a directive limiting immigration enforcement in the city. Franklin issued a mayoral directive this week establishing citywide protocols for staff, including law enforcement, that restrict federal immigration agents from entering non-public areas of city buildings without a judicial warrant. “We’ve heard directly from residents who are afraid to leave their houses because of the concerning immigration activity happening locally and across our country. It’s heartbreaking to see the impacts on Everett families and businesses,” Franklin said in a statement. WHITE HOUSE SLAMS DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR FOR URGING PUBLIC TO TRACK ICE AGENTS WITH NEW VIDEO PORTAL “With this directive, we are setting clear protocols, protecting access to services and reinforcing our commitment to serving the entire community.” ICE blasted the directive Friday, writing on X it “escalates tension and directs city law enforcement to intervene with ICE operations at their own discretion,” thereby “putting everyone at greater risk.” ICE said Franklin was directing city workers to “impede ICE operations and expose the location of ICE officers and agents.” “Working AGAINST ICE forces federal teams into the community searching for criminal illegal aliens released from local jails — INCREASING THE FEDERAL PRESENCE,” the agency said. “Working with ICE reduces the federal presence.” “If Mayor Franklin wanted to protect the people she claims to serve, she’d empower the city police with an ICE 287g partnership — instead she serves criminal illegal aliens,” ICE added. DHS, WHITE HOUSE MOCK CHICAGO’S LAWSUIT OVER ICE: ‘MIRACULOUSLY REDISCOVERED THE 10TH AMENDMENT’ During a city council meeting where she announced the policy, Franklin said “federal immigration enforcement is causing real fear for Everett residents.” “It’s been heartbreaking to see the racial profiling that’s having an impact on Everett families and businesses,” she said. “We know there are kids staying home from school, people not going to work or people not going about their day, dining out or shopping for essentials.” The mayor’s directive covers four main areas, including restricting federal immigration agents from accessing non-public areas of city buildings without a warrant, requiring immediate reporting of enforcement activity on city property and mandating clear signage to enforce access limits. BLOCKING ICE COOPERATION FUELED MINNESOTA UNREST, OFFICIALS WARN AS VIRGINIA REVERSES COURSE It also calls for an internal policy review and staff training, including the creation of an Interdepartmental Response Team and updated immigration enforcement protocols to ensure compliance with state law. Franklin directed city staff to expand partnerships with community leaders, advocacy groups and regional governments to coordinate responses to immigration enforcement, while promoting immigrant-owned businesses and providing workplace protections and “know your rights” resources. The mayor also reaffirmed a commitment to “constitutional policing and best practices,” stating that the police department will comply with state law barring participation in civil immigration enforcement. The directive outlines protocols for documenting interactions with federal officials, reviewing records requests and strengthening privacy safeguards and technology audits. “We want everyone in the city of Everett to feel safe calling 911 when they need help and to know that Everett Police will not ask about your immigration status,” Franklin said during the council meeting. ”I also expect our officers to intervene if it’s safe to do so to protect our residents when they witness federal officers using unnecessary force.” Fox News Digital has reached out to Mayor Franklin’s office and ICE for comment.