To supporters, this is long overdue alignment: the party finally bending to its most dominant figure and his loyal inner circle
as RNC co-chair is not just a promotion; it is the formal merging of party machinery with one family’s political destiny.
Her rise cements Donald Trump’s control over the party’s purse strings, messaging, and ground game heading into a brutal election cycle.
Either way, Lara Trump’s new role is a clear signal: the era of quiet resistance within the party
To critics inside the GOP, it feels like the last guardrail snapping, the transformation from
Republican National Committee to Trump National Committee now complete.
Either way, Lara Trump’s new role is a clear signal: the era of quiet resistance within the party
is ending, and the next chapter will be written by those who never planned to share power.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump declared Thursday that the conflict between the United States and Iran was effectively over after announcing that he had canceled additional U.S. military strikes, signaling a dramatic shift from confrontation toward negotiations.
Speaking during a tele-rally supporting Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in his campaign for governor, Trump said the two countries had reached a point where diplomacy could potentially replace further military action.
“I don’t know if you heard, but we ended the war with Iran today,” Trump said.
The president said a central condition of any agreement would be Iran’s commitment not to develop a nuclear weapon. According to Trump, that issue represented the overwhelming majority of the U.S. objective in the conflict.
“They have agreed never to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, describing the issue as “95 percent” of the purpose behind the military campaign.
Despite his announcement, Trump indicated that the situation was not yet fully resolved. He said the U.S. naval blockade affecting the Strait of Hormuz would remain in place until a formal agreement was completed.
Negotiations Move Toward Final Agreement
Trump said representatives would meet in Switzerland to finalize the proposed arrangement, with reports suggesting that a formal agreement could potentially be signed within days.
The development followed a period of intense military escalation between Washington and Tehran. Trump said he had discussed the emerging agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as leaders from several other countries in the region.
Netanyahu’s office later confirmed the conversation and said Israel welcomed Trump’s commitment to ensuring that any final agreement would impose significant restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program and address other activities considered destabilizing.
However, Israel was not described as a direct participant in the negotiations.
Trump said in a social media statement that discussions had reached Iran’s highest levels of leadership and that the progress prompted him to cancel additional strikes that had been scheduled.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Critical
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most strategically important waterways in the global energy system. A substantial share of the world’s seaborne oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passes through the narrow waterway, making any disruption a major concern for international markets.
The prospect of reduced tensions prompted a positive response from financial markets. European stocks moved higher as investors assessed the possibility that a diplomatic agreement could reduce the risk of prolonged disruptions to global energy supplies.
Oil prices also declined amid expectations that easing tensions could reduce the likelihood of further interruptions to shipments through the region.
Military Campaign Preceded Diplomatic Shift
Trump’s announcement came after days of escalating military activity.
The president had previously warned that Iran would face severe consequences if negotiations failed. In a social media post, he described Iran’s military capabilities as severely damaged and warned Iranian leaders that they would pay a price for delaying negotiations.
U.S. Central Command also announced that American forces had conducted additional self-defense strikes against targets inside Iran at the president’s direction.
The latest development therefore represents a significant change in tone—from military pressure and threats of additional attacks to negotiations aimed at establishing a longer-term arrangement.
A Fragile Path Forward
Despite Trump’s declaration that the war is over, a final agreement has not yet been formally signed. Important questions remain regarding the precise terms of any deal, enforcement mechanisms, Iran’s nuclear commitments and the future of the Strait of Hormuz blockade.
The coming days could therefore prove decisive.
If negotiators successfully finalize an agreement, the development could mark a major diplomatic breakthrough with consequences for energy markets, regional security and relations between Washington and Tehran.
If negotiations fail, however, the possibility of renewed confrontation could quickly return.
For now, Trump is presenting diplomacy as the next stage of the conflict, while governments and markets around the world wait to see whether the proposed agreement can turn a fragile pause in hostilities into a lasting settlement.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt returned to TV to denounce the agitators who have been hanging out or even participating in the alleged vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
During an interview on Fox News, Leavitt revealed that authorities have arrested at least five people in connection with the alleged vandalism of the pool.
There have been 14 police reports filed for vandalism, the official added.
Leavitt, who went on maternity leave in late April and gave birth to her daughter in early May, has not returned to her duties in the White House Briefing Room, but she did provide more information on the situation in D.C.
The discussion began when host Sean Hannity detailed President Donald Trump’s plan to restore the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
After the project was completed, algae began to grow in the pool. The Trump administration has accused critics of sabotaging the project.
Agitators have been appearing at the Reflecting Pool, with some carrying signs in favor of the algae that has destroyed Trump’s project.
“Well, the baby is certainly much more enjoyable to talk about, Sean, but the algae is obviously the news of the day, and it is completely ridiculous,” Leavitt told Hannity.
“It’s unbelievable to see these people, these deranged leftists, in algae costumes with ‘team algae’ on their backs. What does that even mean?” she remarked.
“Only the Democrats could hate beautifying our nation’s capital and making it a symbol of pride again, but this is what the American people elected President Trump to do,” she continued.
Leavitt concluded, “He made this promise to them on the campaign trail. The president approved this. He promised that he was going to make our nation’s capital both safe and beautiful again, and it is a promise that he has kept.”
WATCH:
Among the arrests was former U.S. Olympic canoeist David “Davey” Hearn, who told NBC News he was detained five hours on Friday after touching a piece of detached coating at the Reflecting Pool.
Trump said over the weekend, after a meeting with contractors at Camp David, that the Reflecting Pool will likely need to be drained again.
Marine One was seen flying over the area Sunday, and Trump said he had “inspected” the Reflecting Pool.
Trump, on Monday morning, reiterated his allegations of the Reflecting Pool being under siege ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday.
“Chemicals have been dumped illegally into the water,” the president wrote in a Truth Social post. “The Reflecting Pool has been torn open with a 300-foot-long gash.
“Please remember that there is a 10-year prison sentence for the destruction, or even the attempted destruction, of such things — Which will be fully enforced!” Trump added in his Truth Social post.
On Monday afternoon, Trump told reporters it was a “350-foot slit from one end to the other.”
“I saw it. They cut it. They cut it very violently,” he said.
When a reporter asked to see photos, Trump said, “You’ll see it in court, but all you have to do is call the parks department, call the Department of Interior.”
The $14.8 million restoration project has sparked outrage from Democratic lawmakers and Washington residents who have descended on the National Mall to inspect the pool.
During an appearance on CNN, Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell said her constituents are “outraged” by the algae.
The president has vowed to keep cleaning up the nation’s capital despite efforts from Democrats and leftists to stop him.
Someone vandalized the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Thursday by carving or burning “86 47” into one of its grassy areas.The White House has argued that the message “86 47” is a threat against President Donald Trump’s life.
Footage of the phrase, often used in a slang way to refer to killing or getting rid of someone, went viral online.
It is unclear who made the message or how, but the grass appears deliberately burned or discolored.
The United States Park Police said they were investigating.
U.S. Park Police said it’s investigating the matter.
“Grass samples have been collected for testing,” the agency told media outlets.
White House Spokesman Davis Ingle denounced the act, saying, “Anyone who engages in or endorses political violence or assassination culture must be condemned in the harshest terms possible.”
The phrase “86 47” has been used often by Trump critics, including fired FBI Director James B. Comey.
Last year, Comey posted a photo on Instagram of seashells on a beach forming the numbers “86 47,” prompting an inquiry by the U.S. Secret Service.
Last month, Ohio GOP Rep. Jim Jordan accused Comey of committing multiple offenses, including what he described as a threat against President Trump.
Jordan made the comments during an interview with Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer while discussing a social media controversy involving Comey.
“So this is what he posted on Instagram then took it down: 86-47,” Hemmer said. “As we all know, 86 is an old phrase for get rid of someone.”
Hemmer referenced Comey’s explanation that the image was simply something he noticed while walking on a beach in North Carolina.
Jordan rejected that explanation and argued the post carried a threatening meaning.
“Well, it’s is a crime to threaten the president. 18 USC Section 871. So you can’t do that. And he obviously did,” Jordan said.
“Now, he tries to tell us No, no, no. He was just strolling on the beach one morning drinking his coffee and the good lord washed up on shore and the shells formed 86-47 and he took a picture of it,” Jordan said.
“OK, that’s his story. I don’t think anyone buys that,” he added.
Jordan then broadened his criticism, tying the controversy to Comey’s role in the early Trump-Russia investigation.
“But you can’t threaten the president,” Jordan said. “I think it’s important to remember this is Jim Comey who started it all.”
“This 10-year attack on the president of the United States, on President Trump started with Comey,” he continued.
A federal judge has been assigned to preside over Comey’s case after the Justice Department issued new charges against him late last month.
U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan of the Eastern District of North Carolina was appointed by George W. Bush and is considered to be right-leaning, according to Ballotpedia.
In an interview last weekend, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche made it clear that Comey’s indictment was the result of a year-long investigation and had much more to it than his seashells photo posted to Instagram.
The scene outside the desert residence is deeply disturbing, looking less like
a quiet neighborhood and more like the opening sequence of a grim psychological thriller.
On the concrete steps leading up to the front entrance, investigators discovered a faint, unsettling trail of fresh blood. Directly adjacent to the door, the home’s electronic security system had been violently compromised. A Ring doorbell camera had been physically ripped from its mountings, its wires left exposed and dangling, indicating a deliberate and desperate attempt by an intruder to erase any digital footprint of their arrival or departure.
Inside the residence, the signs of a sudden, violent disruption were undeniable. Personal items were left scattered, and the daily rhythm of an elderly woman’s life appeared to have been abruptly and forcefully cut short.
Law enforcement officials have launched a high-priority missing persons investigation, stating that the circumstances strongly suggest Nancy was taken from her home against her will. However, in the tense days following the initial discovery, police have maintained a strict, frustrating silence. They have yet to name any potential suspects, propose a clear motive for the apparent abduction, or even confirm whether the blood found pooling on the front steps belongs to the missing octogenarian or to a struggling intruder.
For prominent television journalist Savannah Guthrie, the horror of this unfolding investigation is almost too heavy to bear. Having spent decades reporting on the devastating tragedies of other families on live, national television, the anchor now finds herself trapped in a deeply personal, agonizing nightmare.
The woman who has spent her career asking the hard questions is now left with nothing but silence as she waits for updates from the detectives working the case. Suspended in a torturous limbo between hope and dread, she and her family can only pray that her mother is holding on, wherever she is, and that answers will come before it is too late.
The apparent kidnapping of an elderly woman from a supposedly secure, affluent
neighborhood has sent a cold chill through the Tucson foothills. Neighbors, who once felt entirely safe in their secluded properties, are now double-locking their doors, checking their security feeds, and looking at the surrounding desert with newfound suspicion. The physical evidence left at the scene—particularly the destruction of the security camera—points to a calculated level of planning that has deeply alarmed local security experts. It suggests the perpetrator was aware of the home’s vulnerabilities and took active measures to avoid leaving behind critical video evidence.
As forensic teams continue to meticulously sift through the physical evidence gathered from the home, scanning for fingerprints, DNA, and any overlooked clues, the local community has rallied to support the family. Search parties have begun organizing, scouring the rugged desert terrain and dry washes surrounding the Tucson property, hoping to find any sign of the missing eighty-four-year-old. The unforgiving desert climate adds a layer of extreme urgency to the search, as exposure to the elements poses a severe threat to an elderly individual.
Despite the lack of public updates from the police department, investigators are reportedly working around the clock, reviewing traffic camera footage from nearby intersections and attempting to recover any cloud-stored video data from the damaged Ring camera before it was destroyed. Digital forensics experts are working to determine if the camera captured a partial image of the suspect or a vehicle before being ripped from the wall.
Every hour that passes without a demand for ransom or a sighting of Nancy increases the tension, leaving her loved ones to navigate a sea of frightening possibilities.
For Savannah Guthrie, the public nature of her life has only intensified the struggle. While millions of viewers express their sympathy and concern online, the family is desperately pleading for privacy as they cooperate fully with law enforcement. The sudden transformation of their beloved mother’s home from a place of warmth, family gatherings, and safety into a taped-off crime scene has left a scar that will take years to heal.
The empty desert air holds the secrets to what happened on that quiet, dark night, and until those secrets are revealed, a daughter is left waiting, watching the clock, and hoping for a miracle that will bring her mother safely home.
A rocket attack struck Los Angeles, causing multiple explosions, fires, and casualties across residential and commercial areas.
Witnesses reported hearing loud blasts that erupted without warning, sending residents fleeing their homes and workplaces. Emergency responders arrived at the scene within minutes to begin search and rescue operations.
What Happened
The attack began with a barrage of rockets hitting buildings and infrastructure across multiple blocks. Explosions triggered fires that spread rapidly through the affected neighborhoods, forcing evacuations and creating widespread panic.
Eyewitnesses described sudden loud blasts and the sound of windows shattering as buildings shook from the impact. Many residents reported hearing a high-pitched sound moments before the explosions began, according to those in the area.
Casualties and Emergency Response
Local authorities confirmed fatalities in the attack, though the exact number remains unclear as rescue efforts continue. Many others sustained injuries including burns, blast trauma, and respiratory issues from the explosions.
Medical teams worked to treat the influx of patients as firefighters and rescue crews searched through collapsed buildings and debris. Emergency responders faced challenging conditions, with roads blocked by wreckage and structural collapse posing ongoing dangers.
Rescue Operations Underway
Search and rescue teams continue working through damaged structures to locate survivors trapped beneath rubble. Despite difficult conditions and blocked access routes, crews remain focused on locating survivors and providing urgent medical care.
Authorities warned residents about risks from damaged buildings and unexploded ordnance in the impact zones. Officials urged people to remain indoors in secure shelters and avoid affected areas during ongoing operations.
International Response and Aid Efforts
The attack has drawn attention from international observers and humanitarian organizations. Aid agencies are assessing immediate needs for medical supplies, shelter, and psychological support to displaced residents.
Local communities have begun helping those affected, with volunteers distributing essential supplies to displaced families. Officials say casualty numbers could rise as rescue teams gain better access to heavily impacted zones.
This story has been updated. CNN’s reporting team contributed to this report.
