President Trump will make a decision on getting directly involved in Iran within two weeks, leaving the door open for negotiations press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday at a briefing.
Earlier in the day, Trump pushed back on reports he had given a green light to an Iran attack plan. “The Wall Street Journal has No Idea what my thoughts are concerning Iran!” Trump posted on Truth Social, referencing a late Wednesday story that indicated he had approved plans.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran would pay for targeting a civilian area of southern Israel on Thursday, with a missile hitting a hospital in Beersheba. No serious injuries were caused by the strike, but there was “extensive” damage.
Israel “will exact the full price from the tyrants in Tehran,” Netanyahu wrote on social platform X. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “absolutely should not continue to exist.”
Trump has met with his top advisers this week as he considers whether to bring the U.S. more fully into the fight.
In the U.S., Thursday is a federal holiday marking Juneteenth. Former President Biden, who designated the day on the federal calendar, is expected to join in the celebrations in Galveston, Texas, later in the day.
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Could US involvement in Israel-Iran war spark cyberattacks?
U.S. companies, global supply chains and other critical infrastructure could be at risk of Iranian cyberattacks if President Trump engages the U.S. in the escalating war between Israel and Iran.
Threats of the U.S. being targeted come as cyberattacks launched by Iran on Israeli banks and other targets have reportedly spiked by 700 percent since the conflict began last week.
In the wake of the attack, the U.S.-based Food and Agriculture-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) and the Information Technology-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (IT-ISAC) issued a joint statement urging U.S. companies to bolster their defenses against possible cyberattacks.
But as Trump considers whether and to what extent the U.S. could become involved in the ongoing war, how the country’s digital landscape will be affected should remain among the White House’s biggest concerns, former CIA officer and FBI special agent Tracy Walder told NewsNation, The Hill’s sister network.
“I personally feel that this is the No. 1 threat,” Walder, a NewsNation national security contributor, said Thursday.
Ex-NATO commander sees 2 in 3 chance Trump strikes Iran
Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis on Thursday said he sees a two in three chance that President Trump strikes Iran.
“I think it’s a close call for the president,” Stavridis told CNN’s Pamela Brown on “The Situation Room,” in an interview highlighted by Mediaite. “At this point, Pamela, I would say there’s a two in three chance he will go ahead and strike.”
“I think there’s a one in three chance he’ll give it a bit more time and see how diplomacy plays out. You can make a case on either side of that decision,” he added.
What is Iran’s secretive Fordow site?
Iran’s secretive Fordow nuclear site, hidden in a mountain south of the country’s capital, has become a focal point in the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, as the U.S. weighs stepping in to help Israel topple Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.
The Fordow site, formally known in the international community as the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant and in Iran as the Shahid Ali Mohammadi Nuclear Facility, is located under more than 300 feet of rock, necessitating the use of heavy weaponry to strike it.
The U.S. has the capability to deploy massive bombs known as bunker busters to hit the facility, but Israel does not.
Read more about it here.
White House: No plans for Trump to mark Juneteenth
Karolien Leavitt on Thursday said Trump doesn’t have plans to commemorate Juneteenth, but thanked reporters for attending the White House briefing on the federal holiday.
“I’m not tracking his signature on a proclamation today,” the White House press secretary said. “I know this is a federal holiday, I want to thank all you for showing up to work. We are all certainly here, we’re working 24/7 right now.”
She also did not respond to a question about the possibility of an event this week or next week to mark Juneteenth.
Trump will still attend NATO summit
The president is still planning to attend next week’s NATO summit in the Netherlands, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
Trump is expected to depart Monday for the two-day event, which will take place amid mounting conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Iran.
White House sidesteps question on regime change
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt sidestepped a question over if the possibility of the U.S. getting involved in a regime change in Iran is at all on the table for President Trump.
“The president’s top priority right now is ensuring that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon and providing peace and stability in the Middle East,” she said when asked about a regime change.
While Trump mulls over U.S. involvement in Iran, the president said Tuesday that Iran’s “Supreme Leader” is an “easy target” but that there are not plans to take him out — “at least right now.”
Trump to decide on Iran action in next two weeks
Trump is expected to make a decision about whether to take direct action against Iran in the next two weeks, he said Thursday in a message delivered through his spokesperson.
“Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiation that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go in the next two weeks,” Trump said in a statement read aloud by Leavitt.
United, American halt flights to Middle East amid unrest
Two commercial airlines announced Thursday they would pause flight routes between the U.S. and Middle East region after airstrikes between Israel and Iran continued into a seventh day.
“Due to conflict in the region, United’s daily flights between Newark and Dubai (DXB) are paused,” United Airlines officials wrote in a statement.
“United will continue to monitor the situation and will work to assist our customers through this disruption,” the company added.
American Airlines also said it made adjustments to its operations between Philadelphia and Doha, Qatar, until at least Sunday.
“We will continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and will adjust our operation further as needed,” the airline wrote.
Americans fleeing Israel on evacuation flights to Florida
Americans fleeing the deadly conflict between Israel and Iran are heading back to the U.S. thanks, in part, to Florida officials.
Early Wednesday, a cruise ship transported roughly 1,500 people from Israel to Cyprus. From there, some boarded a plane bound for Tampa.
Carrie Best-Lary, from Broward County, was one of those transported to Cyprus. She had traveled to Israel for a 10-day trip sponsored by the Birthright Israel Foundation, just ahead of her 50th birthday.
Now, instead of reconnecting with her Jewish identity, she’s fleeing back to the United States after barrages of Iranian missile strikes targeted Israel, following Israel’s missile strikes on Iran.
More here from WFLA’s Nicole Rogers.
More American voters say Iran poses real risk to US: Survey
More voters in the U.S. say they think Iran poses a real risk to national security, according to results of a new survey.
The poll, shared Wednesday by Fox News, shows that 73 percent of respondents believe Iran poses a real threat, while 24 percent said the opposite. Another 3 percent admitted they “don’t know.”
Broken down by party, Republicans were slightly more likely to say Tehran is a threat to the U.S. Around 82 percent of GOP voters, 69 percent of Democrats and 62 percent of independents shared that belief, according to the survey.
On the opposite side, 17 percent of Republicans brushed off the threat along with 26 percent of Democrats and 36 percent of independents. Collectively, about 8 percent said they “don’t know.”
The results come as back-and-forth strikes between Israel and Iran continued into a seventh day.
Read more here.
Theo Von speaking out against US military action in Iran
Comedian and podcast host Theo Von is speaking out about potential U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, saying he “doesn’t understand” why America would get involved in the Middle East fight.
In a recent podcast episode, Von addressed the possibility that Israel is “trying to get us into a war with Iran,” referring to the United States.
“I don’t trust the Israel leader at all,” Von continued. “I don’t believe anything that guy says, and I don’t think that our soldiers should have to go and defend stuff that they start.”
European, Iranian officials expected to meet Friday in diplomatic push
Officials from Iran and three major European countries are expected to meet Friday in Geneva, in the latest diplomatic push amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed the meeting to Iran’s state-run news agency, IRNA.
Araqchi said he plans to meet with foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, Germany and France, as well as European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas.
Reuters initially reported on the planned talks, which the outlet said would focus on persuading the Iranian side to guarantee its nuclear program would be used solely for civilian purposes.
The four European officials held a phone call with Araqchi on Monday, “regarding the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel,” according to a readout of the call issued on Wednesday.
Putin offers to broker Israel, Iran deal
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to mediate an end to Iran and Israel’s nearly weeklong military clash on Thursday while addressing the interests of both countries.
“This is an extremely delicate issue that calls for extremely careful actions,” Putin told reporters Thursday. “However, I believe that a solution can be found.”
Putin said he thinks Iran can continue its nonmilitary nuclear efforts, while ensuring Israel’s security.
“We are not trying to impose anything on anyone; we are simply articulating our perspective on a potential solution,” he said.
US restarting foreign student visas, demands social media access
The Department of State announced Wednesday the U.S. will be restarting interviews and processing foreign student visas but now will be asking applicants to make their social media public for vetting, with potential denial if they refuse.
The State Department added it would look for those “who pose a threat to U.S. national security,” the same phrase it has applied to pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses.
Read full story here.
White House says the migrant ‘problem’ is in sanctuary cities
White House border czar Tom Homan said on Thursday that the biggest issues with immigration are in sanctuary cities, days after Trump directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to expand deportation efforts in cities run by Democrats.
“Right now, we’re concentrating on sanctuary cities because that’s where the problem is. They knowingly release public safety threats, illegal aliens to the community every day. So that’s why we’re sending more resources to sanctuary cities,” Homan told reporters.
He added, “we got to concentrate where we know they’re being released in the street.”
Trump on Sunday night had called on ICE “to do all in their power” to help reach the administration’s mass deportation goals, singling out Los Angeles, Chicago and New York for ramped-up enforcement efforts.
45 percent against potential US strikes in Iran: Poll
Just under half of U.S. adults in a recent snap survey said they are against potential U.S. strikes in Iran.
The snap poll, conducted by The Washington Post on Wednesday, found that 45 percent said they would not back “the U.S. military launching air strikes against Iran over its nuclear program,” while 25 percent said the opposite and 30 percent said they were “unsure.”
Read more here.
US begins evacuations of nonessential personnel from Israel
The State Department has begun evacuating nonessential government personnel and their families from Israel, as the conflict with Iran heats up and President Trump weighs greater U.S. involvement.
A government plane departed from Israel Wednesday with diplomats and family members who had asked to leave the country, according to The Associated Press, which cited two U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Read the full story here.
Trump rips Fox News poll showing 53 percent approval on border
President Trump on Thursday tore into Fox News over a poll showing Americans virtually split on his handling of immigration issues and the southern border.
The poll, released this week, found a majority, 53 percent, approve of Trump’s handling of border security while 46 percent disapprove. The outlet also noted the president’s negative ratings on issues such as immigration, as 46 percent approve and 53 percent disapprove, and foreign policy, with 42 percent approving while 57 percent disapprove.
His worst marks, per the Fox News poll, include the economy, with a 58 percent disapproval and 40 percent approval, as well as inflation, with 64 percent disapproving and 34 percent backing his handling.
Iranian leader ‘cannot continue to exist,’ Israel says
Israel’s defense chief on Thursday declared Iran’s leader “cannot continue to exist,” days after President Trump joined Israeli officials in threatening the ayatollah.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz made the remarks while touring the site of an Iranian missile strike in Holon, just south of Tel Aviv. In an earlier social media post, Katz called the Iranian leader “cowardly” and vowed he “will be held accountable.”
Israel accuses Iran of war crimes after missile strikes hospital
Israel accused Iran of committing war crimes on Thursday after the latest barrage of missiles struck a hospital in southern Israel, as the warring nations close in on one week of fighting.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to target Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei directly, in a post on social platform X responding to the latest attack.
“The cowardly Iranian dictator sits in the depths of the fortified bunker and fires aimed shots at hospitals and residential buildings in Israel,” he wrote, according to a translation.
“These are war crimes of the most serious kind — and Khamenei will be held accountable for his crimes,” Katz said.
Trump pushes back on report he approved attack plan for Iran
President Trump on Thursday pushed back on reporting that he had given approval for attack plans against Iran as he publicly insists he has yet to decide on a path forward.
The Wall Street Journal reported late Wednesday that Trump had approved of attack plans for Iran, but was waiting to give a final order in case Tehran agreed to abandon its nuclear program.
“The Wall Street Journal has No Idea what my thoughts are concerning Iran!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Former Trump official: ‘I think we are gearing up for a strike’ on Iran nuclear site
A former Middle East envoy in President Trump’s first administration said Wednesday that he believes the United States is preparing to strike Iran’s Fordow nuclear enrichment facility in the coming days.
“What I can see is the military maneuvers are getting in place,” Brett McGurk told CNN’s Pamela Brown on Wednesday. “I think we are gearing up for a strike … a U.S. military strike.”
Iran’s secretive Fordow nuclear plant is located deep in a mountain south of Tehran, requiring the use of a so-called “bunker buster” bomb to hit.
SpaceX rocket explodes during test
A SpaceX rocket exploded late Wednesday during a static fire test, which the company attributed to “a major anomaly.”
“On Wednesday, June 18 at approximately 11 p.m. CT, the Starship preparing for the tenth flight test experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase,” the aerospace company, owned by tech billionaire Elon Musk, wrote early Thursday in a post on social platform X.
“A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for,” it added.
Footage of the incident at the Texas facility obtained by The Wall Street Journal showed an expansive explosion and large flames, with debris falling from the sky.
“Just a scratch,” Musk posted to X — which he also owns — without directly acknowledging the incident.
GOP leader aggressively woos GOP Medicaid holdouts on Trump bill
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is making an aggressive bid to win over Senate Republican colleagues who have balked at hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicaid spending cuts, hoping to clear obstacles in time to bring the bill to the floor next week.
Thune is under pressure to speed up the pace of talks in order to meet the July 4 deadline President Trump set for Congress to pass the bill — a deadline the Senate risks blowing past.