TWO CHILDREN were shot and killed Wednesday in the pews where they worshipped during the first week back after summer break at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minn.

The victims were 8 years old and 10 years old.

Seventeen others were injured in the shooting, including 14 children, two of whom remain in critical condition.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the shooter, a man in his early 20s, fired at the congregation from outside through the windows. The shooter acted alone and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The media identified the alleged shooter as Robin Westman.

“The shear cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church of children is absolutely incomprehensible,” O’Hara said.

President Trump ordered flags to fly at half-staff.

“I have been fully briefed on the tragic shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “The FBI quickly responded and they are on the scene. The White House will continue to monitor this terrible situation. Please join me in praying for everyone involved!”

Trump spoke with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) abut the shooting.

“I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence,” Walz posted on X.

The 102-year old Catholic school for prekindergarten through eighth grade students was holding an all-school Mass this morning when the shooting took place.

FBI director Kash Patel in an X post said the shooting is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics.

Democrats lashed out at Republicans after the shooting, blaming lax gun laws.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) swiped at those offering “thoughts and prayers,” which Democrats have mocked as a toothless Republican response to mass shootings.

“Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now,” Frey said. “These kids were literally praying.”

Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) said Republican leaders “have blood on their hands” for opposing gun control measures.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) posted on X, saying “the @GOP will continue to do absolutely nothing while our kids are being gunned down.”

The Trump administration Wednesday escalated the battle over crime in Washington, D.C., announcing the federal government would take control of Union Station.

“Instead of being a point of pride, Washington’s Union Station has fallen into disrepair,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. “By reclaiming station management, we will help make this city safe and beautiful at a fraction of the cost.”

The White House said more than 1,170 arrests have been made since the federal troop surge and takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department earlier this month.

A man who allegedly spit on two South Carolina Army National Guard soldiers deployed as part of the crackdown on crime in the District has been charged with a felony.

However, prosecutors failed to secure an indictment on felony charges for a man who was captured on video slamming his sandwich into the chest of a federal agent.

Trump said Tuesday he’s working on a new crime bill with GOP leaders on Capitol Hill.

The White House is relishing Trump’s feud with Democrats leading blue states and cities, viewing it as a potent political tool ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

A new AP/NORC survey released Wednesday found that two-thirds of voters view crime as a major problem in the U.S. Eighty-one percent view it as a problem in major cities.

A majority, 55 percent, support the use of the military and National Guard to assist local police, although a similar majority opposes the federal takeover of local police departments.

The survey found Trump’s approval rating rose 5 points in the past month, with 53 percent approving of how he’s handling crime.

Republican strategist Karl Rove said Tuesday that crime is a “big problem” for the Democratic Party.

“The Democrats don’t seem to understand…the problems that this represents for their party, and their party’s label,” Rove said during his appearance on Fox News’s “America Reports.” “They only need to look to recent history to see how being soft on crime, and adopting the methods of sanctuary cities blow up in their faces.”

💡Perspectives:

• The Hill: The MAGA agenda pushes Trump out of the mainstream.

• The Hill: Fear is the only thing keeping campus radicalism afloat.

• The Spectator: The devastating cost of cashless bail.

Read more: 

• Here are 10 cities with the highest crime rates.

• What we know about Minneapolis Catholic school shooting.

• Trump appeals ruling that kept fraud case intact, wiped penalty.

• FBI agents claiming Biden-era bureau politicization reach settlements.

• FEMA employees who signed dissent letter put on leave, group says.

• Kilmar Abrego Garcia wants to seek asylum in the U.S.

   

• Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee opened a probe into alleged organized efforts to inject bias into Wikipedia entries and the organization’s response. 

   

• The Food and Drug Administration rescinded emergency use authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Wednesday, saying the move was made to end vaccine mandates.

© Mark Schiefelbein, Associated Press

The White House on Wednesday sought to keep the pressure on Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook to leave her post amid accusations from the Trump administration that she lied on mortgage documents.

White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett told reporters that Cook should go on leave until the matter is resolved.

“The fact that she is not doing that suggests that she is partisan and is trying to make a partisan stance, which is contrary to the independence of the Fed,” Hassett said.

Trump moved to fire Cook earlier this week after she refused to resign.

Cook hired a high-profile attorney and is preparing to sue the administration.

“President Trump has no authority to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook,” her attorney Abbe Lowell said. “His attempt to fire her, based solely on a referral letter, lacks any factual or legal basis. We will be filing a lawsuit challenging this illegal action.”

The Federal Reserve says it will abide by whatever the courts decide.

If Cook is removed, it would give President Trump the opportunity to have appointed a majority of governors on the Federal Reserve board, as he seeks to force the central bank to implement his monetary policy over that of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

Politico reports that a nomination hearing for Trump’s pick to fill a different open Federal Reserve board seat will happen next week.

Trump can only fire Federal Reserve members for cause. He argues that the allegations against Cook are sufficient, even though no charges have been brought against her.

“She seems to have had a legal infraction,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday. “And she can’t have an infraction.”

The Hill’s Alexander Bolton reports that Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill are skeptical of Trump’s attempt to fire Cook, but they’re keeping quiet for now to avoid a direct confrontation with the president.

Conservative media broadcaster Erick Erickson blasted the move on social media.

“This groupthink on the right on the Fed is sort of what I was getting at with the bad ideas on the right starting to fester that will eventually alienate them from voters, just as the left did,” he posted on X. “If you really think an accusation should be enough to cost someone their job, you’re no better than the left.”

💡Perspectives:

• American Prospect: Trump attempts to take over the Fed.

• The Progressive: The consolidation crisis.

• Responsible Statecraft: Is nationalizing the defense industry a bad idea?

• The Hill: Trump’s agitprop banners reveal his authoritarian ambition.

• TK

Read more: 

• 5 questions surrounding ousted Fed governor Lisa Cook.

• A US tariff exemption for small orders ends Friday.

• Labor Day gas prices lowest since 2020.

• Indiana Republicans visit White House amid redistricting push.

• Newsom’s popularity grows in 2028 Dem primary field: Poll.

©  AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

President Trump met with Israeli officials at the White House on Wednesday, as Israel expands its incursion on Gaza.

Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News on Tuesday that the meeting at the White House was to discuss a “comprehensive” plan for what will happen when Israel completes its takeover of Gaza City.

“It’s a very comprehensive plan we’re putting together on the next day that I think many people are going to be, they’re going to see how robust it is and how well-meaning it is,” Witkoff said. “And it reflects President Trump’s humanitarian motives here.”

In addition to Trump’s “large meeting,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

This comes amid a stalled push for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas has said it would accept a ceasefire proposal that is similar to one offered previously by the U.S. However, Israel is seeking a deal that would require Hamas to demilitarize and abdicate all its power in Gaza, as well as hand over all the remaining hostages kidnapped during its Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack.

Witkoff said “we’re going to settle this one way or another, certainly before the end of this year.”

Israel is under international pressure to end the war and the food crisis in Gaza.

Two Israeli strikes that killed journalists and health care workers at a hospital this week have added to the pressure.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the strike on the Nasser Hospital in Gaza a “tragic mishap.” The Israeli military is investigating.

The Hill’s Laura Kelly writes:

“The Nasser Hospital strike was particularly shocking for press freedom advocates and audiences who watched in real time as rescue workers and journalists, responding to an initial strike on the hospital, were bombarded a second time.”

ELSEWHERE…

Witkoff said Russian President Vladimir Putin offered a peace proposal to end the war with Ukraine that involves Russia taking over the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine is unlikely to accept that deal.

“It may not be something that the Ukrainians can take, but no one’s ever made that kind of progress here, and it’s because of his [Trump’s] force of personality and his motivation to end the conflict and the death that we’re at this, this place where we think the end is in sight,” Witkoff told Fox News’ “Special Report.”

The Kremlin also has no interest in making concession to allow for the potential involvement of foreign forces in Ukraine, effectively ruling out a NATO-like security pact to ensure Ukraine’s future safety.

The Hill’s Colin Meyn reports:

“U.S. officials emerged from President Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month in Alaska touting a major concession: Moscow was willing to allow “NATO-like” security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a comprehensive peace deal. Ten days later, that commitment is looking empty, with Russia now demanding an effective veto over what those security guarantees would look like.”

Trump’s steep new tariffs on India to penalize the country for buying Russian oil took effect Wednesday.

💡Perspectives:

• New York: The summer of Gavin Newsom.

• Wall Street Journal: Should we believe the AI doomsayers?

• The Nation: How China engineered the next century.

Read more: 

• Israeli protesters hold day of disruption to demand ceasefire, hostage deal.

• DNC Chair Ken Martin withdraws Israel resolution.

• Trump dismisses Russia questioning Zelensky’s legitimacy as ‘posturing’.

• Trump administration is investing in US rare earths to break China’s grip.

• Denmark summons US envoy after report of Americans carrying out influence operations in Greenland.

Someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up to get your own copy: TheHill.com/Evening. See you next time!