Misdirection and ‘deception’ likely key in Trump admin’s surprise Iran strike
Potential misdirection likely served a key role in the Trump administration’s successful strikes on a trio of Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday evening, which were abruptly announced by President Donald Trump in a Truth Social post just days after he said his decision on Iran would unfold within the next two weeks. “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump said on Truth Social on Saturday evening. “All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow.” Trump’s surprise announcement came with no media leaks ahead of time, and followed White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announcing on Thursday during a press briefing that Trump would make a decision on potentially striking Iran within a two-week time period as opposed to an imminent decision. “I have a message directly from the president, and I quote, ‘based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,’” Leavitt said at a White House press briefing on Thursday, quoting Trump. TRUMP SAYS ISRAEL’S NEXT IRAN ATTACK WILL BE EVEN MORE BRUTAL: ‘MAKE A DEAL’ Ahead of the strikes on Saturday evening, six B-2 stealth bombers from an Air Force base in Missouri appeared to be en route to a U.S. Air Force base in Guam, U.S. officials confirmed to Fox News on Saturday. Fox New’s Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin said during an appearance Saturday evening as news broke of the strikes that reports of the bombers were likely part of the “misleading tidbits put out there to suggest that maybe President Trump had had put off the decision.” TRUMP FACES CRITICAL DECISION AS MIDDLE EAST TEETERS ON BRINK OF WAR “Those six B-2 bombers that were heading west towards Guam, they would not have made it to Iran in time to take part in this strike. So, that suggests to me that there was an additional B-1 package that perhaps flew eastward from Whiteman Air Force Base. Again, this was all part of the deception. There was a great deal of sort of misleading tidbits put out there to suggest that maybe President Trump had put off the decision and that this would happen two weeks from now.” She said this while speaking with Fox News’ Bret Baier on Saturday evening. “But as we knew, there were other indications, and we did not report earlier this week, even though we knew that Whiteman Air Force Base had put out a notice suggesting that the base was closed for so-called repairs until Monday, June 23. Now, if you look at the timeframe of where we are right now, those B-2s would be home at Whiteman by the time that notice and that would be lifted on Monday, June 23. So, that was put out a week ago, and so we should have had some clue that this might have been some indication of the time frame,” Griffin added. Fox News’ Lucas Tomlinson added on Saturday:”Everyone woke up this morning to chatter about these six B-2 bombers flying West over the Pacific, refueling over Hawaii at about 11pm.But it’s clear now that those were decoys and that another flight of B-2s flew east, likely three of them.” TRUMP WEIGHS STRIKING IRANIAN NUCLEAR FACILITIES: ‘I MAY DO IT, I MAY NOT DO IT’ Trump said in his Truth Social post he will address the nation at 10 p.m. ET to provide details on the strikes. “I will be giving an Address to the Nation at 10:00 P.M., at the White House, regarding our very successful military operation in Iran. This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!” Israel launched pre-emptive strikes on Iran on June 12 after months of attempted and stalled nuclear negotiations and subsequent heightened concern that Iran was advancing its nuclear program. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared soon afterward that the strikes were necessary to “roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.” He added that if Israel had not acted, “Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time.” Dubbed “Operation Rising Lion,” the strikes targeted Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure and killed a handful of senior Iranian military leaders. ISRAEL LAUNCHES SWEEPING STRIKE ON IRAN WHILE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SEEKS DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION Trump has repeatedly urged Iran to make a deal on its nuclear program before striking its nuclear facilities, but the country pulled out of ongoing talks with the U.S. scheduled for June 15 in Oman and refused to return to the table in the days following. “Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign,” Trump posted to Truth Social Monday evening, when he abruptly left an ongoing G-7 summit in Canada to better focus on the Israel–Iran conflict. “What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
Trump receives mixed support from Congress for Iran strikes as war powers debate rages
Most Republicans are willing to give great deference to President Donald Trump to strike Iran — without Congressional authorization to hit inside sovereign territory inside another country. There are some concerns that the President’s aggressive action could peel off some pro-MAGA supporters — simply because Trump campaigned against getting involved in overseas conflicts. There are also divisions among Democrats. Pro-Israel Democrats have been calling for the US to strike Iran because of the threat it poses to Israel. TRUMP DECLARES ‘VERY SUCCESSFUL ATTACK’ ON IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM AS US FORCES STRIKE 3 KEY SITES Regardless, lawmakers from both sides are concerned about retaliation from Iran and its proxies. Even possible strikes in the U.S. from sleeper cells. Members of Congress will want to understand what risks lie ahead for the US as it infuses itself into this conflict — and what battle plans lie ahead. Expect a Senate-wide briefing on Iran to come Tuesday. ISRAEL SAYS IT KILLED IRANIAN COMMANDER WHO HELPED FUND, ARM HAMAS Now the question is what else the U.S. may need to do. Will Congress feel it needs to authorize further action against Iran, under the “war powers” provision in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution? CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., have a resolution to ban the U.S. from getting involved in Iran. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., will force a vote Thursday or Friday in the Senate on whether the U.S. should be involved overseas at all.
Trump declares ‘very successful attack’ on Iran’s nuclear program as US forces strike 3 key sites
President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social Saturday that U.S. forces have successfully launched attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and [Isfahan],” Trump wrote in the post. “All planes are now outside of Iran air space.” B-2 STEALTH BOMBERS APPEAR TO BE ON THE MOVE HOURS BEFORE TRUMP EXPECTED AT WHITE HOUSE The president said a “full payload of BOMBS” was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. Fox News host Sean Hannity said he spoke with Trump and six bunker busters were used on Fordow. They were dropped by American B-2 stealth bombers. All planes are safely on their way home, according to Trump. President Trump reposted a screenshot of Open Source Intel announcing, “Fordow is gone.” Fordow, Iran’s main underground enrichment site, was difficult for the Israeli Army to destroy due to its location, leading to requests for the U.S. to use its B-2 stealth bombers and 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs. ISRAEL WEIGHS OPTIONS TO DESTROY FORDOW IF IT HAS TO GO IT ALONE WITHOUT HELP FROM THE US Fox News Digital on Saturday morning reported six B-2 stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri appeared to be on their way to a U.S. Air Force base in Guam. The bombers reportedly refueled after taking off from Missouri, suggesting they launched without full fuel tanks due to the weight of carrying bunker-buster bombs — which only the U.S. has. “Congratulations to our great American Warriors,” he wrote. “There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.” This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Fox News Digital’s Lucas Y. Tomlinson and Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
Trump demands special prosecutor investigate ‘stolen’ 2020 election, loss to Biden
President Donald Trump has called for a special prosecutor to be appointed to investigate the 2020 presidential election, which he has long maintained was rigged against him and in favor of Joe Biden. In a fiery Truth Social post Friday, Trump praised his administration for cutting border crossings to zero in May compared to the Biden administration, which oversaw the release of 62,000 migrants into the country during the same time last year. Trump said it was incomprehensible a president could oversee such an influx of illegal immigration and then took aim at the 2020 election. “Zero Border crossings for the month for TRUMP, verses 60,000 for Sleepy, Crooked Joe Biden, a man who lost the 2020 Presidential Election by a “LANDSLIDE!” Trump wrote. “Biden was grossly incompetent and the 2020 election was a total FRAUD! The evidence is MASSIVE and OVERWHELMING. A Special Prosecutor must be appointed.” Trump has argued for years that a series of alleged misdeeds led to Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. In the lead-up to the Jan. 6, 2021, certification of the Electoral College results, several pro-Trump marches were held, culminating in a violent riot at the U.S. Capitol. TWO MEN CONVICTED IN PENNSYLVANIA MAYORAL RACE ELECTION FRAUD CASE HIT WITH HARSHER SENTENCES THAN EXPECTED Trump and his supporters failed to convince Vice President Mike Pence to delay the certification by sending the results back to key battleground states’ legislatures to allow for further investigation or the consideration of alternate slates of electors. Pence rejected the demands, arguing that the Constitution did not give the vice president authority to decide which electoral votes to count. Trump and his allies filed dozens of lawsuits challenging the results in various states. Most lawsuits failed due to what judges determined was a lack of standing or insufficient evidence. Biden secured 306 electoral votes with 81.2 million votes compared to Trump’s 232 electoral votes and 74.2 million votes. RED STATE AG INVESTIGATING MORE THAN 30 POTENTIAL NONCITIZENS WHO VOTED IN 2024 ELECTION The president has made a variety of claims to support his assertion that the 2020 election was “stolen.” Trump has argued that ballot harvesting “mules” deposited ballots at late-night ballot drops after deadlines in key swing states. He made the claims central to his 2024 re-election bid, often using the slogan “too big to rig” to urge supporters to turn out in force and overcome what he described as a rigged or unfair system. “This cannot be allowed to happen again in the United States of America!” Trump said in the post Friday. “Let the work begin! What this Crooked man, and his CORRUPT CRONIES, have done to our Country in 4 years, is grossly indescribable! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump’s attorney general in 2020, Bill Barr, said there no was evidence of fraud that could have affected the outcome, and the Department of Homeland Security’s cybersecurity arm pronounced the election “the most secure in American history.” It was unclear who Trump had in mind for a special prosecutor, but in the event Attorney General Pam Bondi heeds his call, she may face pressure to appoint someone who has already been confirmed by the Senate. The Justice Department in recent years has appointed a succession of special counsels — sometimes, though not always, plucked from outside the agency — to lead investigations into politically sensitive matters, including conduct by Biden and by Trump. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom challenges Vice President JD Vance to debate: ‘How about saying it to my face?’
California Gov. Gavin Newsom challenged Vice President JD Vance to face off in a debate. “Hey @JDVance — nice of you to finally make it out to California. Since you’re so eager to talk about me, how about saying it to my face? Let’s debate. Time and place?” the Democratic governor said in a Friday post on his @GavinNewsom X account. So far, the vice president has not replied on the social media platform to Newsom’s challenge. JD VANCE RAILS AGAINST NEWSOM, LA MAYOR FOR DECLARING ‘OPEN SEASON ON FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT’ Fox News Digital reached out to Vance’s press team on Saturday, but did not receive a response by the time of publication. The vice president lambasted the Golden State governor and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass while delivering remarks in Los Angeles on Friday. Vance said that the governor “is endangering law enforcement,” adding, “The law enforcement officials themselves tell me as much.” Newsom communications director Izzy Gardon pushed back, calling Vance “a liar” in an email to Fox News Digital on Saturday. “Jose Vance is a liar. The Vice President’s claim is categorically false. There is no evidence to support his made-up claim — and we challenge him to produce any. The Governor has consistently condemned violence, including against law enforcement officers, and has made his stance clear over and over again. Here are at least a dozen examples,” Gardon wrote, providing a list of more than a dozen links to posts on the @CAgovernor X account. One of the posts reads, “Los Angeles: don’t take Trump’s bait. Trump wants chaos and he’s instigated violence. Those who assault law enforcement or cause property damage will risk arrest. Stay peaceful. Stay focused. Don’t give him the excuse he’s looking for.” Gardon’s reference to “Jose Vance” seems to be a play on Vance’s comment about “Jose Padilla” on Friday when apparently referring to U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif. “He knows my name,” Padilla said during remarks Saturday on MSNBC, calling Vance’s jab an “indicator of how petty and unserious this administration is.”
Americans agree with Trump that Iran poses threat to United States: poll
Amid a week of daily attacks between Middle Eastern juggernauts Israel and Iran, President Donald Trump has repeatedly drilled home a key point. “IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,” the president wrote on social media. And speaking with reporters in the Oval Office at the White House, Trump highlighted, “I’ve been saying for 20 years, maybe longer, that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.” It’s a stance U.S. presidents have taken for a couple of decades. And it appears most Americans agree with Trump and his presidential predecessors when it comes to the possibility of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS THINK IRAN POSES REAL THREAT TO U.S. SECURITY Nearly three-quarters (73%) of registered voters questioned in a new Fox News national survey said they think Iran poses a real security threat to the U.S. That’s a 13-point boost since Fox News last asked the question six years ago. And the poll, conducted June 13-16, indicates wide support across the partisan spectrum. Majorities of Republicans (82%), Democrats (69%) and Independents (62%) agreed that Iran poses a threat. The survey also showed that 78% of those questioned said they were very or extremely concerned about Iran obtaining a nuclear bomb. And eight in 10 said what happens in the Middle East does matter in the U.S. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST POLLING FROM FOX NEWS Daron Shaw, a veteran GOP pollster and the Republican partner on the Fox News poll, said that “the increased sense that Iran constitutes a threat is real, but it also reflects the unique timing and circumstances surrounding this poll.” “The poll was in the field as images of Iranian missiles falling on Tel Aviv dominated television and the internet — the immediacy and clarity of the conflict undoubtedly contributes to how voters gauge what is at risk,” noted Shaw, who is also a politics professor and chair at the University of Texas. There was a similar response regarding the threat from Iran in a Ronald Reagan Institute national survey conducted earlier this month, before Israel’s initial attack last week sparked the daily bombardments by both nations. Eighty-four percent of those questioned in the poll, which was shared first with Fox News, said preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons matters to U.S. security and prosperity. FOX NEWS LIVE UPDATES ON THE ISRAEL-IRAN ATTACKS Trump is weighing whether the U.S. should join Israel in striking Iran to cripple its nuclear program and prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. “President Trump doesn’t often get a political softball sent his way. His decision to support Israel’s attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran and the prospective decision to deal a limited but decisive blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions by striking the Fordow facility can prove to be political mana from heaven,” veteran political scientist Wayne Lesperance said. Lesperance, president of New England College, noted that “If the President makes the case clearly and firmly to the American people, polling data suggests he would enjoy support from his own party, Democrats and Independents. What’s more, Trump’s decision and subsequent action would crowd out any of the issues or coverage like immigration, the budget, or tariffs in the near term. Politically, a decision to act against Iran is smart politics.” But Lesperance cautioned that “this all assumes that the attacks are successful. It also assumes Americans are tolerant of the repercussions of backlash over the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.” Fox News’ Dana Blanton and Victoria Balara contributed to this report.
Bernie Sanders endorses former punk rock musician with history of racist, sexist remarks
Progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders has endorsed a Democratic candidate for New York City comptroller who, as a former punk rock musician, has a history of making racist, sexist and homophobic statements online, according to a review by Fox News Digital. Sanders endorsed Justin Brannan, a Democratic New York City councilman who is now running for comptroller, saying he would fight corruption and stand for the working class. Brannan’s campaign website says that, in the music scene he comes from, “people look out for one another and pick each other up when they fall down.” Brannan says he has carried these values into his work as a New York City councilmember and that he will do so as a city comptroller. OUSTED DEM ‘SUPER MAYOR’ CHARGES WHOPPING PRICE TAG FOR TELL-ALL BOOK WHILE DODGING LEGAL TROUBLES However, a review of statements Brannan made on several music listservs during his years as a punk rocker in the ’90s puts a very different set of values on display, including statements mocking Puerto Ricans, Asians, homosexual individuals and others. On two different occasions in 1999, Brannan used the N-word, writing, “Yo n—- be representing Dead Kennedys and Social D in ‘Stir of Echoes’” and “Yo, this swizz n—- is deep.” In a 1998 post, Brannan also recounted an interview with a now-defunct music publication in which he said he preferred to shave his head bald, explaining, “I like to keep it nice and trim like the Nazis.” He then added, “I find myself more intimidating with the shaved head too when I smack up my b——.” Brannan also mocked Asians, writing in one 1999 post that “Chinese people can not drive” and in another, “one thing you’ll never see” is a “Chinese driving instructor.” That same year, he mocked “Homicide: Life on the Street” actor and New York City native Yaphet Kotto, writing “Yaphet Koto ? Yum. I like it with brown rice.” The Democratic candidate also repeatedly sparred with a disabled listserv member, writing posts such as, “If you are really crippled, thats pretty funny. Guess what I did today? I walked up and down stairs, all around the town. What did you do? Drool into a spitoon?,” “I think it would be funny to beat up a handicapped person” and “I just had a vision of you like Stephen Hawking. I made myself laugh. HAHAHAHAAHA! You parapalegic f—.” Brannan, along with other city employees, was also accused of bullying an autistic colleague during his time as a New York City government staffer. According to reporting by the New York Post, the staffer received an $850,000 court settlement paid for by the city in 2021. DEMOCRATS IN DISARRAY: KEN MARTIN’S TENURE SO FAR AT DNC RIPPED In 1999, shortly after returning from shows in Puerto Rico, Brannan said, “Everyone in Puerto Rico has a gun and doesn’t wear underwear.” Brannan also constantly used an anti-gay slur to insult others or make jokes, such as writing, “you f—— loser f–.” “He said he was gonna see some f—– punk show at Coney Island” and “Email me you f–.” The New York City primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 24. Brannan is running to replace the current city comptroller, Brad Lander, who is running for New York City mayor and was recently arrested by federal authorities for allegedly impeding an immigration enforcement arrest. DEMOCRATS MUST FIND A MESSAGE BEYOND CONSTANT ATTACKS ON TRUMP AND ICE, SAYS FORMER DEM ADVISOR Sanders has also endorsed New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. Neither Brannan’s office nor Sanders’ office responded to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment ahead of the publication deadline.
Trump cuts G-7 summit short as Israel–Iran conflict escalates during his 22nd week in office
President Donald Trump spent his 22nd week back in the Oval Office participating in the G-7 Summit, while handling the conflict in the Middle East, after Israel launched preemptive strikes on Iran after months of attempted and stalled nuclear negotiations amid renewed concern that Iran was advancing its nuclear program. The country and the world waited during Trump’s 22nd week back as commander-in-chief to see how the president planned to respond to the crisis in the Middle East. The week began after the president celebrated his 79th birthday and participated in the massive parade in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States Army on Saturday. VANCE TO MEET WITH FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, MARINES IN LA AMID ANTI-ICE RIOTS He then traveled Sunday night to Alberta, Canada, for the G-7 Summit, where he participated in multiple sessions of meetings with allies. The president met with leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the European Union. But the situation in the Middle East sent the president back to the White House a day early. Israel’s initial strikes on Iran June 12 were part of its “Operation Rising Lion,” which targeted Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure. The strikes have killed top Iranian military leaders and beyond. FLASHBACK: TRUMP LAUNCHED HIS FIRST PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN TEN YEARS AGO Iran said the strikes were a “declaration of war,” and launched its own strikes on Israel — with a barrage of missiles hitting the Jewish state throughout the week, with some breaking through the Israeli Iron Dome defense system and causing destruction. On his way back to Washington, D.C., the president stressed that Iran is “very close” to developing a nuclear weapon. Earlier in June, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s estimation said that Iranian stockpiles included 60% enriched uranium that could become 90%. And last week, Gen. Erik Kurilla, the U.S. Central Command chief, ahead of Israel’s preemptive strikes, said that Iran has the materials to build a nuclear weapon within one week. The Trump administration had been engaged in talks with Iran to make a deal on its nuclear program, and the president has urged the Islamic state to make a deal. But the country pulled out of ongoing talks with the United States. The most recent round of talks were scheduled for June 15. The president, Monday night, before leaving the G7, again said Iran “should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign.” “What a shame, and a waste of human life,” Trump said. “Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.” The president added, in his Truth Social post, that he has “said it over and over again!” “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” Trump posted. TRUMP WEIGHS STRIKING IRANIAN NUCLEAR FACILITIES: ‘I MAY DO IT, I MAY NOT DO IT’ By Tuesday, the president announced that the United States has “complete and total control of the skies over Iran.” He also said that the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei’s location had been determined. The president said that Khamenei is “an easy target,” but is “safe” in his hiding spot. “We are not going to take him out (kill), at least for now,” the president said. “But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin.” As for whether the United States will strike Iranian nuclear facilities, the president said: “I may do it, I may not do it.” “Yes, I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do. I can tell you this, that Iran’s got a lot of trouble, and they want to negotiate,” Trump told reporters Wednesday. “And I said, why didn’t you negotiate with me before all this death and destruction? Why didn’t you go? I said to people, why didn’t you negotiate with me two weeks ago? You could have done fine. You would have had a country. It’s very sad to watch this.” Trump, dating back to his first administration, has said that he refuses to broadcast his military plans ahead of time. The White House said the president would make his decision on how to handle Iran in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement riots that broke out in Los Angeles earlier in June slowed as the president awaited a federal court ruling in California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s lawsuit against the Trump administration for sending in the National Guard without his authority. Trump, earlier in June, ordered the National Guard to L.A. to aid law enforcement amid the violent protests. On Thursday night, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled unanimously in Trump’s favor, saying that the president is allowed to keep control of the National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles. The ruling stayed a lower court order that ordered command of the troops back to Newsom. A president hasn’t made a decision about the deployment of a National Guard without the permission of the state’s governor since 1965. Trump, in a post to his Truth Social, praised the Court of Appeals for their decision, touting it as a “WIN.” “BIG WIN in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on the President’s core power to call in the National Guard!” Trump posted. “The Judges obviously realized that Gavin Newscum is incompetent and ill prepared, but this is much bigger than Gavin, because all over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should State and Local Police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done.” The president added: “This is a Great Decision for our Country, and we will continue to protect and defend Law abiding Americans. Congratulations to the Ninth Circuit, America is proud of you tonight!” By Friday, Vice President JD Vance traveled to Los Angeles to tour a multiagency Federal Joint Operations Center and a Federal Mobile Command Center. The vice president also met with leaders
Arrest of Chinese nationals in swing state, Israel’s fight with Iran are ‘wake up’ call on CCP threat: experts
Recent arrests of Chinese nationals at the University of Michigan have resurrected concerns about CCP-owned farmland and property in the United States, particularly in Michigan, and caused some to draw parallels with the current conflict between Iran and Israel. Earlier this month, two Chinese nationals were charged with allegedly smuggling a “dangerous biological pathogen” into the U.S. to study at the University of Michigan in an incident that FBI Director Kash Patel described as a “sobering reminder that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate our institutions and target our food supply, an act that could cripple our economy and endanger American lives.” Later, a third Chinese national with connections to the university was arrested, renewing questions about China’s efforts to infiltrate and influence various sectors in the United States, including buying up farmland, which has been a growing concern nationwide. A 2023 report from the United States Department of Agriculture found that “foreign persons held an interest in nearly 45 million acres of U.S. agricultural land,” which represents 3.5% of all privately held agricultural land and 2% of all land in the country. NEW LEGISLATION AIMS TO TELL CHINA ‘NO’ ON BUYING UP AMERICAN FARMLAND While China is not at the top of the list of countries in that report, the arrests in Michigan have prompted calls from Congress to ensure that the CCP, viewed by many as the nation’s top geopolitical adversary, is not buying up farmland in the United States. Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts exclusively told Fox News Digital this week that China has been aggressively buying American agriculture, “which is why we need to have a heightened sense of vigilance around protecting our homeland.” Ricketts, along with Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, introduced the bipartisan Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure (AFIDA) Improvements Act that seeks to implement recommendations published by the Government Accountability Office in January 2024, which found the AFIDA was ill-equipped to combat foreign ownership of American agricultural land. “China’s land purchases aren’t just about acreage—they’re about access,” Michigan GOP Rep. John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the CCP, told Fox News Digital. “Even small parcels near military bases or critical infrastructure pose serious national security risks. In my home state, we’ve seen concerning cases like Gotion’s site near Camp Grayling. We need full transparency into who’s buying land and where—because the Chinese Communist Party shouldn’t be allowed to hide behind shell companies to gain a foothold in our country.” FBI DIRECTOR PATEL LEADS CHARGE TO ROOT OUT CHINESE INFLUENCE ON US SOIL China’s encroachment into Michigan’s agriculture was enough of a concern for Republican state Rep. Gina Johnsen to introduce legislation earlier this year banning foreign adversaries from buying up farmland. “Our state’s agricultural industry is a pillar of our economy. My community is an agricultural community,” Johnsen said. Our farms provide food security, jobs, and economic stability for countless residents. However, there is growing concern about losing our farmland to countries of concern.” Additionally, Chinese farmland has become a topic of conversation in the wake of revelations that Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear capabilities was aided by years of covert planning, surveillance and infiltration by Israeli intelligence. Code-named “Am Kelavi” (Rising Lion), the preemptive operation was the product of unprecedented coordination between the Israeli air force, the Military Intelligence Directorate, the Mossad and the country’s defense industries. For years, they worked “shoulder to shoulder” to gather the intelligence files needed to eliminate Iran’s most sensitive military and nuclear assets. As part of that operation, Israel was able to establish a drone base inside Iran, where Mossad operatives retrieved them from hiding spots to use against Iranian sites. Bryan Cunningham, president of Liberty Defense and former CIA intelligence officer, told Fox News Digital that the Israeli operation is a “wake-up call” for the United States about what a foreign adversary like China could potentially carry out in the United States. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “As an intelligence officer, part of me says, I wish that the sources and methods of building these drone factories inside the target countries hadn’t been revealed,” Cunningham said. “But on the other hand, it does serve as a wake-up call, hopefully for our policymakers, and it also ties in, and if I were the administration, I would make this tie in immediately and loudly with the Trump administration’s border strategy.” Cunningham continued, “Our borders are where you’re most likely to actually intercept these kinds of toxins, explosives, flares, 3D-printed weapons, ceramic weapons, whatever it is. So if it were me and I were the Secretary of Homeland Security, I would be tying this all together. You know, it is important to get people out of the country that have committed violent or other serious crimes in the country, but it’s also really important to prevent people like these guys from bringing in those kinds of materials.” The FBI is increasing its surveillance of Iranian-backed operatives inside the United States as Trump weighs strikes, a senior law enforcement official told Fox News on Friday. Fox News Digital’s Deirdre Heavey, Lucas Tomlinson and Efrat Lachter contributed to this report.
Judge Boasberg orders Rubio to refer Trump officials’ Signal messages to DOJ to ensure preservation
A federal judge on Friday ordered Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also serving as the acting archivist, to collect any Signal messages belonging to top Trump officials that could be at risk of deletion and to refer those messages to the Department of Justice for further review. Judge James Boasberg said his hands were tied beyond that and that he could not do anything about Signal messages that had already been deleted. Boasberg’s order came in response to a watchdog group suing five of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet members, including Rubio, after the Atlantic published a story revealing their Signal chat discussing imminent plans to conduct airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen. Boasberg, who has become one of Trump’s top judicial nemeses because of his rulings in an unrelated immigration case, said the court record shows that the five Trump officials “have thus far neglected to fulfill their duties” under the Federal Records Act. JUDGE IN CROSSHAIRS OF TRUMP DEPORTATION CASE ORDERS PRESERVATION OF SIGNAL MESSAGES The judge said American Oversight, the left-leaning watchdog that brought the lawsuit, made a strong case that the Cabinet officials have used Signal, an encrypted messaging app, to communicate for work purposes and that they have allowed the messages to auto-delete, likely rendering them permanently lost. But in the context of the Federal Records Act, Boasberg said he had limited options to address American Oversight’s allegations aside from demanding that Rubio ask Attorney General Pam Bondi to ensure compliance with the law for existing Signal messages that were at risk of deletion. Chioma Chukwu, executive director of American Oversight, indicated in a statement that the group’s lawsuit was over for now but that it was “fully prepared” to sue again if it found the Trump administration failed to comply with Boabsberg’s order. JUDGE TELLS GOVERNMENT WATCHDOGS FIRED BY TRUMP THERE’S NOT MUCH SHE CAN DO FOR THEM “It should never have required court intervention to compel the acting Archivist and other agency heads to perform their basic legal duties, let alone to refer the matter to the Attorney General for enforcement,” Chukwu said. The explosive Signal incident involved Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and others communicating about their attack plans in a chat group after then-National Security Adviser Mike Waltz apparently accidentally added an Atlantic journalist to the chat. The Trump administration denied wrongdoing and insisted the communication was not “classified.” Bondi dodged a question during a press conference about investigating the incident and instead doubled down on the White House’s claims that the chat was merely “sensitive” and not “classified.” The Pentagon inspector general launched an investigation into the incident in April in response to a bipartisan request from the Senate Armed Services Committee.