Pentagon Releases Videos, Images Of Iranian Strikes
The Department of War has released the first images and videos of U.S. military actions against Iran as the campaign against the regime extends into its third day. Operation Epic Fury has so far claimed the lives of four U.S. military personnel and wounded more than a dozen others.
Early on Monday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared that the primary focus of the U.S. military operation in Iran is the use of lasers.
“Destroy Iranian missiles, destroy Iranian missile production, destroy their navy and other security infrastructure and they will never have nuclear weapons,” said Hesgeth, who was joined by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine.
Hegseth declined to give a timeframe for the operation, but he insisted it would not be “endless.”
“This is not Iraq,” Hegseth said. “This is not endless. I was there for both — our generation knows better, and so does this president. He called the last 20 years of nation-building wars dumb and he’s right. This is the opposite. This operation is a clear, devastating, decisive mission: Destroy the missile threat, destroy the navy, no nukes.”
Hegseth said there are no U.S. military “boots on the ground” in Iran right now, but said he would not “go into the exercise of what we will or will not do” in the future.
Caine said it will “take some time for us to conduct a battle damage assessment, and the targeting that CENTCOM will run will take those things into effect.”
At least 11 people have been killed in Israel. The Iranian Red Crescent says 555 people have been killed in Iran.
Caine said it will “take some time for us to conduct a battle damage assessment, and the targeting that CENTCOM will run will take those things into effect.”
Hegseth on Monday accused Iran of having started the war, saying Iran’s “stubborn and self-evident nuclear pursuit” as well as “targeting global shipping lines.”
“Iran had a conventional gun to our head as they tried to lie their way to a nuclear bomb,” Hegseth said to a room full of reporters on Monday morning with an important update.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a gaggle of reporters on Saturday, following U.S. and Israel strikes on Iran, that “the old world” he grew up in “is gone,” while urging American allies to realize that and help Washington forge a new path forward for the West.
“The world is changing very fast right in front of us,” Rubio said. “The old world is gone, frankly, the world I grew up in, and we live in a new era of geopolitics, and it’s gonna require all of us to sort of reexamine what that looks like and what our role is going to be.”
He added, “We’ve had many of these conversations in private with many of our allies. We need to continue to have those conversations.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Saturday that Rubio notified senior congressional leaders ahead of the joint U.S. Israeli military operation against Iran.
Leavitt’s statement, posted to X, came as critics questioned whether President Donald Trump authorized the strikes without the required approval from Congress.
“President Trump monitored the situation overnight at Mar a Lago alongside members of his national security team. The President spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu by phone,” Leavitt wrote.
“Prior to the attacks, Secretary Rubio called all members of the gang of eight to provide congressional notification, and he was able to reach and brief seven of the eight members,” she added.
“The President and his national security team will continue to closely monitor the situation throughout the day.”
Leavitt did not indicate whether Trump would return to Washington or remain at his Florida residence.
The so-called “Gang of Eight” includes the Senate and House majority and minority leaders, as well as the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate intelligence committees.
Under the 1947 National Security Act, Congress must be kept “fully informed” of significant intelligence activities.
However, according to the Harvard Kennedy School, presidents from both parties have interpreted that language to mean that notifying the “Gang of Eight” satisfies the requirement rather than briefing the full intelligence committees.
Donald Trump branded “classless” over behavior towards Queen Camilla…
Donald Trump faced criticism after appearing to position himself in front of Queen Camilla during a formal greeting ceremony at King Charles III’s state visit to the United States.
The four-day diplomatic tour was designed to strengthen ties between the two nations. The visit featured a military review on the South Lawn and an address to Congress by King Charles emphasizing the trans-Atlantic relationship.
What Happened
During the formal greeting ceremony, Trump appeared to step in front of Queen Camilla as she moved to shake hands with invited guests. The interaction, captured on camera and widely shared on social media, disrupted the established sequence of royal protocol where visiting monarchs typically take precedence in formal exchanges.
Critics characterized the action as a breach of diplomatic protocol and discourtesy toward traditional customs governing state ceremonies. The moment reignited discussions about Trump’s past interactions with the Royal Family, which have previously drawn scrutiny for deviations from monarchical protocol.
The Response
Some observers offered a more measured perspective, suggesting that the logistical complexities of high-profile diplomatic events frequently result in minor overlaps in movement during crowded ceremonies. Others viewed the moment as a notable lapse in diplomatic awareness regarding established customs.
The broader state visit maintained its focus on historical unity and shared policy objectives despite the controversy surrounding the brief exchange. Digital media shaped public perception of the diplomatic event, with the visual moment carrying significant weight alongside substantive policy discussions.
Photo Of Trump Family On Election Night Turns Heads After People Spot Small Detail!
Melania Trump was noticeably absent from a widely shared family photo taken at Mar-a-Lago on election night, prompting questions about her role in Donald Trump’s political future.
The photograph showed members of the Trump family gathered to mark the results of the presidential election. The missing figure of Melania Trump from the image quickly drew attention on social media and among political observers.
The Photo and Its Significance
The image captured the Trump family at their Florida residence as election results came in. Her absence from the frame raised questions among observers about her level of involvement in the campaign and her future responsibilities.
Melania Trump has maintained a notably low public profile throughout much of the 2024 election cycle. She made limited campaign appearances compared to spouses of other presidential candidates.
Questions About Her Role
The missing presence sparked broader discussions about the expectations placed on presidential spouses. Historically, First Ladies have been expected to maintain a visible public presence and active schedule.
Her approach differs markedly from traditional models of the role. Some observers have noted her apparent preference for privacy and limited public engagement in recent years.
What Comes Next
As Donald Trump prepares for his second term, questions remain about what capacity Melania Trump will assume in Washington. Her future involvement in official duties remains unclear.
Her choices regarding public life and the First Lady role will likely influence broader conversations about presidential spouses and their autonomy in defining their positions. The coming months will provide clarity on her intentions.
California Dems Pass ‘Stop Nick Shirley’ Bill After He Exposed Massive Fraud…
California’s state Assembly passed legislation Tuesday that would enhance privacy protections for service providers, weeks after an independent journalist’s investigation into alleged welfare and hospice fraud drew scrutiny from state Democrats.
The Assembly voted 57-19 to advance AB2624, sending the measure to the state Senate. Assembly member Mia Bonta, wife of California’s attorney general, sponsored the bill, which expands the state’s Safe At Home program to include workers at immigrant service providers.
What the Bill Does
The legislation allows participants to use substitute addresses designated by the secretary of state, keeping home, work and school addresses out of public records while enabling them to receive mail and legal documents, Bonta said. The bill targets what sponsors describe as online harassment and doxing of immigrant service workers.
“It allows participants to use a substitute address designated by the secretary of state, keeping their home, work and school addresses out of public records, while still allowing them to safely receive mail and legal documents through the state,” Bonta said.
The Timing and Controversy
The bill arrived less than two months after independent journalist Nick Shirley released an investigation into alleged fraud within Minnesota welfare programs, and weeks after he traveled to California to examine claims of fraudulent activity in taxpayer-funded hospice operations. Critics say the legislation targets the messenger rather than addressing the underlying fraud allegations.
Assembly member Carl DeMaio, a Republican, urged colleagues to reject the measure. “Nick Shirley shows up with his camera crew to the Somali Learning Center – or maybe one of the 90 fake hospices operating in a building in Los Angeles that was highlighted by CBS News,” DeMaio said.
“People have a right to go out there and kick the tires and find out what these organizations are doing with our taxpayer funds,” DeMaio added.
Supporters’ Position
Co-sponsor Christopher M. Ward, a Democrat from San Diego, said the state has a responsibility to protect people who face targeting because of their work. Bonta stated that employees at immigrant service providers have been targeted and doxed online.
