President Donald Trump claimed in a new interview what he thinks will come next for the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran as reports surfaced about a conversation Monday between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the president.
CBS Senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang reported that Trump said in a phone interview that the war in the Middle East could be ending soon. It's unclear when the conflict was expected to end.
“I think the war is very complete, pretty much," Jiang wrote about the conversation with Trump via X. "They have no navy, no communications, they’ve got no Air Force.”
Trump also said that the "U.S. is 'very far' ahead of his initial 4-5 week estimated time frame," Jiang added.
The president also reportedly had a phone call with Putin, according to Reuters chief national security reporter Phil Stewart in a post on X, and "shared his proposals aimed at a quick settlement to the Iran war, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters. The leaders also discussed the Ukrainian conflict and the situation in Venezuela in the context of the global oil market situation, Ushakov said."
Trump was slated to address press questions about the war on Monday afternoon.
The internet reacted Monday after reports that President Donald Trump has set his eyes on Arizona's largest county in hopes to — again — try and litigate the 2020 presidential election and increase the federal government's influence over elections.
The Trump administration subpoenaed records from Maricopa County, Arizona, on Monday, Politico reported. In January, the Trump administration raided election offices in Fulton County, Georgia, seizing 2020 ballots.
The 79-year-old president has long maintained the conspiracy theory that the 2020 election was "rigged" against him despite no evidence of fraud. In 2023, he was indicted in Fulton County for his attempts at reversing his loss in Georgia.
Republican and Arizona Senate President Warren Peterson wrote on X that he agreed with Trump, confirming the state would follow the federal demands.
"President Trump is 100% correct," Peterson wrote. "Late last week I received and complied with a federal grand jury subpoena for records relating to the Arizona State Senate’s 2020 audit of Maricopa County. The FBI has the records. Any other report is fake news."
On social media, people responded to Trump's latest attempt to revive his 2020 election claims.
"Then there were 2 (with Fulton County): Arizona Republican Just hands over keys to election. He posts that he 'received and complied with a federal grand jury subpoena for records relating to the Arizona State Senate’s 2020 audit of Maricopa County. The FBI has the records.' Uggh," Harry Litman, professor and former Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the Department of Justice, wrote on Bluesky.
"Good Lord. You lost man, move on," author and historian Cal Schoonover wrote on Bluesky.
"To be clear: In 2021, the AZ Senate hired a now-defunct company, Cyber Ninjas, to lead 'recount/audit' into Maricopa's 2020 results -- the Cyber Ninjas found that, in fact, Joe Biden had won the county, per their hand count, by 360 more votes than originally believed," Vaughn Hillyard, MS NOW senior White House reporter, wrote on X.
"The subpoena of the audit records comes at a time that the Trump administration is seeking to rehash the 2020 election. Biden's narrow win in Arizona, which was reaffirmed by the GOP-led audit, was a major focus of Trump's," Eliza Collins, Wall Street Journal politics reporter, wrote on X.
White Nationalist Jan. 6 participant Jacob Lang recently wished for the death of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Just days after he was targeted with an explosive device for protesting Muslims in New York, Lang told conspiracy theorist Alex Jones that he viewed Trump's attack on Iran as a righteous war on Islam.
"I stand by our commander-in-chief. Now that we've engaged with the enemy, it's time for total decimation," he explained on Monday. "I love seeing the Muslims being absolutely dominated by the American forces in the Middle East. It shows the warring Christians are stronger than the weak Muslims."
"Right now, we're at war with Islam in our streets, and we're at war with Islam in the Middle East," he continued. "It's good to see the Christian countries of this world, America being the most dominant Christian country, show its absolute strength and prowess. When it comes wartime, these Muslims know who's on top."
At one point, Lang suggested that "nuclear warheads" were the answer for alleged Muslim rapes.
"They're grabbing little white girls and pinning them down. And the court said the rape didn't last long. Nuclear warheads!" he exclaimed. "You kidding me? Scourge on the earth! They're sending, they're sending, they're sending, they're sending Zohran Mamdani over here to take over our mayorship role, okay? Wouldn't it be a lot better if our American military forces stop that communist Muslim b------ in his tracks in his homeland?"
"Hey, Jake," Jones interrupted. "You're running hot here."
"I'm running hot, Alex!" Lang shouted. "I'm going to put a reaction, baby. They come at me and my family on my home turf in New York. They're asking for war. I got it. I'm a peaceful American living and exercising my First Amendment. But we will not cower, or we will not relent to radical Islam."
Republicans in Wisconsin got yet more bad news on Monday, with conservative state Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler announcing she will not seek re-election next year.
“Now is the right time for me to step away to spend more time with my husband, kids and grandkids,” said Ziegler, according to the Wausau Pilot and Review. “I am incredibly proud that in all my elections I had support from a broad spectrum of legal, civic, law enforcement and political leaders — both Democrats and Republicans — who believed in my commitment to fairness, ethics and the rule of law.”
Supreme Court justices in Wisconsin are nominally nonpartisan, but in practice, each party endorses a candidate in their elections. The race to replace Ziegler will take place in 2027.
Ziegler, who previously served as the state's chief justice and was one of the most consistent votes on the court for Republican Party positions, had reportedly thrown a temper tantrum behind the scenes after liberals secured a majority on the court in 2023. Since liberals achieved a majority, they have moved quickly to strike down the state's abortion ban and Republicans' legislative gerrymander in the state legislature.
This comes as the GOP is already fighting an uphill battle to hold the seat being vacated by fellow departing conservative justice Rebecca Bradley, the election for which takes place next month. If Democratic-aligned Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Chris Taylor defeats Republican-aligned colleague Maria Lazar, the court would shift to a 5-2 liberal majority, ensuring a liberal hold until at least 2030 if all judges serve out their terms.
If liberals go on to also win Ziegler's open seat next year, the only remaining conservative justice on the court would be Brian Hagedorn, who is already considered one of the most moderate members of the conservative bloc.
Prosecutors are seeking a search warrant for Jeffrey Epstein's New Mexico ranch, hoping to find details that could corroborate victim testimony in their ongoing investigation.
While the chances of finding relevant information at the Zorro Ranch in New Mexico may be slim, prosecutors are hopeful that small details, which could be pieced together with the property layout, can corroborate victim testimony. Zorro Ranch did not, at the time of Epstein's death, receive the same level of scrutiny as the homes he owned in Manhattan or Palm Beach, nor as much focus as Little Saint James, the island in the US Virgin Islands.
New Mexico officials are pushing for a search of the property, with defense attorney and former prosecutor John Day saying that, although there may not be much in the way of vital information, there could be details that give credence to the current victim statements.
Speaking to The Guardian, Day explained, "A search warrant would have to be based on information that’s not stale. Somebody couldn’t come in and say: ‘Hey, seven years ago, something happened, and I just got around to telling you.'
"Now, it would have to be: ‘Well, we just uncovered something about a crime that occurred seven years ago that we didn’t know about until now.” One of the major issues in obtaining the search warrant is proving to a judge that an adequate reason to search the property has been found.
Day suggested "the value of anything that they can find would be minimal." He added, "You don’t know what has happened between the time Epstein was last there and the time the new people bought it, so that’s a problem."
Zorro Ranch has changed ownership in the years between Epstein's death and now, though some are hopeful of small details still maintained at the property being of help to the prosecution's case.
Kate Mangels, a partner with firm Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir, says Zorro Ranch is a non-starter for "forensic evidence" but there could be some help to be found in the house blueprints and layout.
She said, "If the layout of the house hasn’t changed, and they’re saying: ‘I have a recollection of someone coming through the bathroom door on the left side of the room,’ and the search demonstrates that that’s where it is, it gives more credence to that testimony of that victim.
"It may be hard to use those things other than maybe a structural description of the house. Those details are not evidence of a crime, but when you’re dealing with a victim’s testimony and there isn’t other evidence, any corroboration can be helpful to prove that."
The bombing of a school in Iran has already started to create cracks in the MAGA coalition, as commentators generally loyal to the president are demanding answers.
Reports have indicated that a U.S. strike destroyed the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school, leaving 175 dead. President Donald Trump has dismissed these claims, asserting that the Iranian government itself destroyed the school.
"Re-upping what I said last week: Admin must wrap its investigation and address head-on. Horrible unintended tragedy of this war," wrote right-wing commentator Laura Ingraham on X.
Other MAGA accounts, however, pushed back on them, with one saying, "People die in a war, and sometimes they are not the target. War is messy. If a war is just, and this one is, then responsibility automatically falls on the party responsible for the war in the first place. In this case that is Iran. Case closed," and another saying, "Laura falling for Iran propaganda is very on brand for Fox News."
This comes as the MAGA sphere remains divided over the wisdom of invading Iran in the first place, with some pro-Trump influencers blasting it as a "betrayal" of his entire pledge to supporters to get America out of military adventurism.
Two men were charged Monday on suspicion of using weapons of mass destruction and supporting the Islamic State after throwing a bomb near New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Gracie Mansion.
Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi were arrested Saturday night after authorities alleged they tried to detonate two explosive devices, according to The New York Times. One of the explosives reportedly tested positive for TATP, which is a highly volatile material that has been used in terrorist attacks over the last 10 years.
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton said that one of the suspects said they were apparently plotting an attack worse than the Boston Marathon bombing.
"They admitted to authorities that they had traveled to New York City to watch ISIS videos, and that their actions that day were partly inspired by ISIS,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters.
Rebecca Weiner, NYPD's deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism, said the arrests were consistent with what authorities have seen, as “younger and younger individuals are radicalizing.” The attack was “very much in keeping with the trend we were seeing with ISIS inspired adherence,” she said.
The improvised explosive devices were detonated in isolation by officials, CNN reported. The materials were now under FBI investigation.
Piers Morgan had a sharp response to MAGA influencer Ben Shapiro and his claims about the host on Monday.
In an episode of "Piers Morgan Uncensored," Morgan responded to Shapiro's comments after Morgan hosted comedian and political commentator Dave Smith, who took a few swipes at both Morgan and his guest.
"Apparently his job is never to tell jokes but to instead give poorly informed foreign policy takes, but also to hate America," Shapiro said.
Morgan reacted to Shapiro's remarks, then took a few of his own jabs at the MAGA podcast host's biases.
"Ben Shapiro is undoubtedly an intelligent and influential commentator," Morgan said. "I’ve always liked and respected him, even when we disagree. I still do. He’s stridently partisan and staunchly conservative, of course, but he’s willing to criticize other Trump and others in the administration when he thinks they’ve got it wrong. One thing he doesn’t criticize, however, is Israel. And he routinely gets upset when other people do. It’s such a blind spot for Ben, that through the red mist of his rage, he’s in an alternative reality where anybody who disagrees with him is a demonic, America-hating terror apologist who could only possibly be doing it for ratings."
Morgan called Shapiro "cowardly" for not debating Smith or others he disagrees with, instead labeling people who don't have the same world views as him.
"We also invite many people who don't support his world view and don't invite the Israeli government," Morgan said.
Shapiro said that Morgan was inviting "Nazis" or "Nazi-adjacent" guests — and that's why Shapiro stopped joining Morgan on his show.
"It's Piers' choice who he decides to have on his show and how he tries to conduct the kind of clown car 'Battle Royale' that he does on his show every night and it's my choice not to join that circus," Shapiro said, saying it had to do with his principles for why he didn't appear on Morgan's show anymore.
Morgan instead described that Shapiro's stance on Israel and the war In Gaza is part of why he's no longer involved in the show, adding that Shapiro has his number and hasn't responded to his messages.
"He lacks the self-awareness to realize that many pro-Palestine contributors got very angry with our show for hosting so-called genocide enablers — like him," Morgan said. "That's exactly why I'm not partisan, and don't want to be. There is more than one view on any emotive or consequential subject. You can't possibly know you're right if you don't know what the other side thinks. That's precisely why free speech exists as a principle we all defend."
"But his own compromising views on Israel, and America's military and political sport for Israel, has turned him into a cancel culture vulture with the very same sneering intolerance that he used to loathe," Morgan said.
Morgan delivered a message to Shapiro directly, using his platform.
"The difference between you and me, Ben, is that I'm heavily criticized by both sides because I listen to both sides and very often I criticize both sides, too, without fear or favor," Morgan said. "You're only criticized by one side because you choose to only air one side and you choose to ignore or even silence the other. I'm a journalist, you are a propagandist. Oh, and facts don't care about your feelings."
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) faced backlash after suggesting Muslims should be banned from the United States.
"Muslims don't belong in American society," the GOP lawmaker stated in an X post on Monday.
"Pluralism is a lie," he added.
Commenters immediately scorned Ogles for the remarks.
"Andy Ogles, your statement is hateful, disgraceful, and flatly un-American," Seth Taylor wrote. "I'm telling you plainly: you do not get to decide which faiths belong in this country. That is not your job, and it is not your right."
"People like you love to wrap yourselves in the Constitution while trampling its most basic promises. Your rhetoric is bigotry, not leadership. It is division, not patriotism. And it should be condemned without hesitation," he added.
"How does this align with the principle of religious freedom?" Eleanor Hayes asked.
"Why would you write something so hateful?" Justin Dangel wondered. "I'm Jew and a supporter of Israel and my friends include many wonderful Muslim Americans. This is not the way. Muslim's belong in America."
President Donald Trump issued an ominous hint Monday as to what his plans for Iran might be following his administration’s unprecedented attack earlier this month on the Middle East nation.
Speaking with NBC News, Trump was asked whether he planned for the United States to seize Iran’s ample oil reserves, with Iran having the third-largest proven oil reserves on earth, behind only Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. Trump declined to confirm or deny whether such plans were in place, but did note that “certainly people have talked about it.”
The Trump administration has already asserted control over Venezuela’s oil trade after launching an attack on the South American nation in January, halting most oil trade to Cuba and opening up trade with Israel for the first time in years.
Trump referenced his administration’s takeover of Venezuela’s oil trade when asked about Iran, but reiterated that, regarding the Middle East nation, it was too early to definitively say whether the United States would seize its oil reserves.
“You look at Venezuela,” Trump told NBC News. “People have thought about it, but it’s too soon to talk about that.”
The Trump administration’s attack on Iran earlier this month has sparked what former White House energy advisor Bob McNally called an “authentic crisis” and the “largest oil disruption ever in history.” The attack saw oil prices surge to more than $100 a barrel, the highest price seen since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Trump has dismissed concerns about rising energy prices, calling them a “very small price to pay,” and saying “only fools think differently.”
Amid his war in Iran, President Donald Trump shared a 2007 video from the so-called Christian prophet Kim Clement.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump described the video as "Kim Clement prophesying about Donald Trump, 2007."
"This that shall take place shall be the most unusual thing, and transfiguration, and going into the marketplace, if you wish, into the news media where Time magazine will have no choice but you say what I want them to say, Newsweek what I want to say, The View what I want to say. Trump shall become a trumpet, says the Lord," Clement says in the video.
"I will raise up the Trump to become a trumpet, and Bill Gates to open up the gate of a financial realm for the church, says the Lord. I will not forget 9-11. I will not forget what took place that day, and I will not forget the gatekeeper that watched over New York who will once again stand and watch over this nation, says the spirit of God."
In the video, Clement predicts "that the man that I place in the highest office shall go in whispering my name, that God said when he enters into the office. He will be shouting out by the power of the spirit, for I shall fill him with my spirit when he goes into office, and there will be a praying man in the highest seat.
"There will be a praying president, not a religious one, but I will fool the people, says the Lord. I will fool the people. Yes, I will. God says, the one that is chosen shall go in, and they shall say he has hot blood," the alleged prophet continues. "But the spirit of God says, yes, he may have heard blood, but he will bring the walls of protection on this country in a greater way, and the economy of this country shall change rapidly, says the Lord of Hosts. Listen to the word of the Lord God.
"I will put it in your helm for two terms, a president who will pray, but he will not be a praying president when he starts. I will put him in office, and then I will baptize him with a holy spirit and my power, says the Lord of hosts. Come on!"
Clement, who died in 2016 at the age of 60, was described as a "false prophet" by fellow Christians.
The U.S. military disputed President Donald Trump's claims about an airstrike that killed at least 175 people at an Iranian elementary school.
Three current and former defense officials, and even Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, pushed back on the president's claim that Iran had launched the attack on the Shajarah Tayyebeh school in Minab that left scores of children dead, reported The Intercept.
“This is another instance of Trump lying and just talking out of his a--,” said a U.S. government official who reviewed satellite images of the school. “This clearly was not a failed rocket from the IRGC base.”
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps operated a navy base adjacent to the school, and social media accounts that support the restoration of Iran's monarchy pushed false claims about the attack that Trump then repeated.
“Based on what I’ve seen, it was done by Iran,” Trump said.
Hegseth stopped short of agreeing with the president, saying "we're certainly investigating." But U.S. Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, said that commenting before an investigation was complete was improper.
“It would be inappropriate to comment given the incident is under investigation," said a CENTCOM spokesperson.
An expert examined video of the attack showing a cruise missile striking the naval base near the elementary school, which was already on fire, and he said the U.S. was clearly at fault and likely misidentified the target.
“This munition is only employed by the U.S., not Israel or Iran,” said Wes Bryant, a former Special Operations joint terminal attack controller who called in thousands of strikes across the Middle East. “The strikes on this compound have the signature of a U.S. strike. The strikes on this compound are also incredibly precise and well-placed. This entire compound — including the girls’ school — was deliberately targeted in a highly precise strike operation.”
Another former Pentagon official agreed with Bryant and the current U.S. official.
“The entry holes suggest a near perpendicular entry. Meaning, this strike was precisely targeting the structures from high above, not some short range attack with a ballistic missile,” said the former Pentagon official, who specialized in civilian harm issues. “All evidence points to the compound being repeatedly attacked — over the course of a couple hours potentially — with highly accurate munitions that we know the U.S. and Israel routinely use and have used in strikes across Iran.”
The Trump administration was hit with a major lawsuit on Monday by AI developer Anthropic after it enacted an “extreme punishment” on the company over its refusal to allow its AI system to be used for mass surveillance and autonomous weapons, NBC News reported.
“This is a necessary step to protect our business, our customers, and our partners,” an Anthropic spokesperson told NBC News. “We will continue to pursue every path toward resolution, including dialogue with the government.”
Last month, Axios reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was getting “close” to cutting ties with Anthropic and classifying the company as a supply chain risk, a classification that would bar any business working with the federal government from maintaining ties with Anthropic.
The issue, Axios reported, was Anthropic's insistence that its AI technology wasn’t “used to spy on Americans en masse, or to develop weapons that fire with no human involvement.”
That insistence was apparently too much for the Trump administration, which ultimately cut ties with the company earlier this month and made good on its pledge to classify the company as a supply chain risk.
Now, Anthropic is hitting back with a lawsuit over what it described as the Trump administration’s “unlawful campaign of retaliation.”
The lawsuit, filed in California, accuses the Trump administration of violating its First Amendment rights, Politico reported, and of acting unlawfully in designating it as a supply chain risk.
