Iran War “Terminated?”

Politico wrote on May 1:

“President Donald Trump notified lawmakers Friday that the Iran war has ‘terminated’ — an effort to quelch the fight over the need for Congress to approve the conflict. The White House laid out its rationale in a letter… as the Middle East conflict reached a 60-day legal deadline under which operations must halt unless lawmakers authorize military force. A ceasefire with Tehran, Trump argued, effectively stops the clock. [It does not.] The missive seeks to head off a growing battle on Capitol Hill, where Trump faces the prospect of losing Republican support as the war stretches into its second month with no clear exit strategy…

“The 1973 War Powers Resolution requires U.S. forces to withdraw from a conflict 60 days after the president notifies Congress, unless lawmakers vote to authorize continued military action. The White House can seek to extend military operations for another 30 days for the purposes of winding down the conflict… Trump’s GOP support for the war could be starting to wane, particularly with a public who largely wants it to end.

“Trump on Thursday derided lawmakers who were pushing for authorization. ‘I don’t think it’s constitutional what they’re asking for,’ he said. ‘These are not patriotic people.’

“Advocates of reining in Trump through the 1973 law contend he is misreading the statute. And they note that despite the ceasefire, the U.S. military is still engaged in a blockade meant to force Tehran’s hand as Trump seeks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, not to mention roughly 50,000 American troops still stationed in the Middle East… Pentagon officials have said American military forces remain on standby to resume attacks on Iran if peace talks break down.”

Of course, Trump is under an obligation to follow that law. His objections are ludicrous, as the Iran war has clearly NOT ENDED. But Congress is too weak and ineffective to force Trump to obey the law.

Note the next article.

Congress “Deferring” to Trump

ABC News wrote on April 30:

“GOP lawmakers… continue to defer to the White House…. Congress made no attempt at enforcing that requirement, leaving town for a week on Thursday… Trump administration has shown no interest in seeking congressional approval at all….

“The reluctance to defy Trump on the war comes at a politically perilous time for Republicans, with public frustration mounting both over the conflict and its impact on gas prices.”

Congress is not doing Trump and the public any favors with its own severely damaged reputation any favors.

Trump’s Project Freedom– Ceasefire Ended?

The Hill wrote on May 4:

“The fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is under threat of falling apart after President Trump declared that the U.S. would ‘guide’ vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in an effort he called ‘Project Freedom’… In response, Iran’s armed forces said they would not allow passage to American combat forces or commercial ships without their authorization. Tehran’s forces opened fire on U.S. warships and commercial vessels on Monday, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) head Adm. Brad Cooper told reporters. He said American forces returned fire and destroyed six small Iranian boats... [Iran denies this.]

“The situation is threatening to reignite a war that has been paused during the temporary ceasefire and send gas prices even higher. It may also fuel frustration in Congress, after Trump told lawmakers last week the war was over as it passed the 60-day mark.”

The Daily Mail wrote on May 4:

“Trump has today confirmed Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, hours after Tehran launched a series of missile and drone attacks on the UAE. Tehran launched four missiles at a US-backed Middle Eastern ally on Monday, blowing up a major oil port following the President’s move to reopen the Strait. Trump later threatened to ‘blow Iran off the face of the earth’ if US warships and commercial vessels continue to be targeted…”

ABC News reported on May 5:

“President Donald Trump suggested that Iran hasn’t yet violated the ceasefire despite firing shots in the Strait of Hormuz, saying ‘I’ll let you know’ when it is breached. ‘They didn’t shoot the ships that were guarded by us,’ Trump said during an Oval Office event on Tuesday…. ‘Since the ceasefire was announced, Iran has fired at commercial vessels nine times and seized two container ships, and they’ve attacked U.S. forces more than 10 times, all below the threshold of restarting major combat operations at this point,’ Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Tuesday.”

Zeteo wrote on May 5:

“President Donald Trump claimed hostilities against Iran had been ‘terminated,’ that seems, predictably, anything but the case, as the US, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates attack and counterattack over the Strait of Hormuz.”

Trump called the current situation a “mini war,” while he falsely alleged that America’s “economy is booming.” His terminology is carefully chosen as he tries to avoid abiding by the 60-day deadline of the War Powers Resolution of 1973. But he did not even have to be that concerned as most Republicans in control of Congress have shown no sign of holding Trump to that limit.

Project Freedom on Hold

The Guardian wrote on May 5:

“Donald Trump announced he is pausing ‘Project Freedom’… so he can finalise a deal with Iran, but added that his blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place… The announcement came after military leaders and the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, insisted a ceasefire in the Middle East was still holding and that – while the conflict is not resolved – the initial major US military operation against Iran has concluded. ‘The operation is over. Epic Fury – as the president notified Congress – we’re done with that stage of it,’ Rubio said…

“Trump’s pausing of Project Freedom appeared to run counter to comments from Rubio and the US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, only hours earlier. In a Pentagon news conference, Hegseth said the US had successfully secured a path through the waterway and that hundreds of commercial ships were lining up to pass through. ‘We know the Iranians are embarrassed by this ​fact. They said they control the strait. They do not,’ he said.

“Rubio later said the US was working to get ships through the strait as a ‘favour to the world … because we’re the only ones that can’… So far, only two merchant ships are known to have passed through the US-guarded route, with hundreds more, carrying up to 23,000 crew members, bottled up in the Persian Gulf.”

ABC News added on May 5:

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters at the White House that operation Epic Fury is now over, saying the U.S. is now involved in a ‘defensive’ operation as it seeks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. ‘If they pose a threat to our forces, we’ll shoot down drones, we’ll shoot down missiles. But it’s defensive in nature,’ Rubio said.”

This is such nonsense. But IF operation Epic Fury is over, then America has LOST the war on all fronts… a terrible and humiliating, unparalleled defeat.

Pete Hegseth—Incompetent and Out of His Depth

The Independent wrote on April 30:

“Pete Hegseth is struggling: that much has been clear for a while. When it comes to the Iran war and the updates he is tasked to provide, he’s most comfortable in front of a journalistic audience, where he can yell and berate people for ‘being negative’ any time they ask anything that sounds too much like an actual question…

“But today, pressed calmly and continually by a bipartisan group on strategy and military expenditure, it became extremely obvious how out of his depth Hegseth is….  Asked about the length of the war, he pulled out manufactured outrage, talking about how his generation served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that was a quagmire, and ‘you stain the troops’ by suggesting this war has been going on too long. ‘Who you cheering for?’ he yelled, adding, ‘Your hatred for President Trump blinds you to the truth of the success of this mission!’ In the quiet, unostentatious room, his words sounded flat, eerie, cult-like. They did not project the power he must’ve hoped that they would…

“Here is a man who cannot answer basic questions about what his decisions mean to the average American taxpayer; a man who is quick to call his fellow Americans adversaries and reluctant to talk specifics; a man who performs shockingly badly under pressure and becomes volatile in high-pressure situations. Just who you want in charge of the Pentagon…. it is, of course… deeply and unrelentingly scary.”

Hegseth should never have been placed in the position of Secretary of Defense or of War.

USA to Withdraw 5,000 Troops From Germany

CBS News wrote on May 1:

“The Pentagon is planning to withdraw about 5,000 American forces from Germany… officials characterized the move as a signal of President Trump’s discontent with the level of assistance that European allies have offered in the U.S.-Iran war. Mr. Trump has publicly criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the leaders of other NATO member states for not getting directly involved in the U.S.’s military campaign against Iran.

“The U.S. military has a massive presence in Germany dating back to the aftermath of World War II and the Cold War. More than 36,000 active duty troops were assigned to bases throughout Germany as of last December, along with nearly 1,500 reservists and 11,500 civilians. Japan is the only foreign country with a larger presence of U.S. troops. 

“Germany is also home to the headquarters of U.S. European Command and Africa Command, and its Ramstein Air Base is a key hub for U.S. operations.”

ABC News wrote on May 2:

“Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, sharply criticized the move, calling it a ‘foolish decision,’ in a statement.

“‘Withdrawing thousands of American troops from one of our most important strategic positions in the middle of a war is a serious mistake that will reverberate well beyond this moment,’ Reed said in the statement. ‘Weakening our military footprint in Europe at a time when Russian forces continue to mercilessly attack Ukraine and harass our NATO allies is a priceless gift to Vladimir Putin and suggests American commitments to our allies are dependent on the president’s mood.’”

More Than “Just” 5,000 Troops?

The Guardian wrote on May 3:

“Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw more US troops from Germany after stunning European leaders and some senior members of his own party by last week announcing the withdrawal of 5,000 soldiers from Germany. The move left 30,000 US troops still in the country… But Trump threatened on Saturday that more cuts were coming. ‘We are going to cut way down, and we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000,’ he told reporters on Saturday….

“The Republicans who chair the armed services committees in Congress, Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Representative Mike Rogers of Alabama, released a joint statement on Saturday saying they were ‘very concerned’ by the possibility of reducing troops in Germany… Any reduction in troops should be done in coordination with Congress and allies.’

The reduction is supposed to be completed in six to twelve months, according to Die Welt, dated May 3. Nius added on May 3 that American nuclear weapons are also stationed in Germany.

It is anticipated that many GOP members will submit to Trump in this regard as well, even though 62% of the population rejectsTrump’s policies, according to NTV, dated May 3, while 37% give him a positive evaluation. One has to wonder who those 37% are!!!

Withdrawing Troops From Spain and Italy As Well?

The Guardian wrote on May 1:

“Donald Trump also threatened Italy and Spain for not helping to reopen the strait of Hormuz…. Asked late on Thursday whether he would consider pulling US troops out of Italy and Spain, Trump told reporters: ‘Probably … look, why shouldn’t I? Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible.’… About 13,000 US military personnel are stationed across seven naval bases in Italy….

“According to the US Defense Manpower Data Center, at the end of last year the US military had 68,000 active-duty military personnel assigned permanently in its overseas bases in Europe… Late last year, in an apparent rebuke to Trump’s threats to downgrade military ties with Europe, the US House approved a defense bill limiting the president’s authority to reduce troop numbers, barring levels on the continent from falling below 76,000 for more than 45 days and blocking the removal of major equipment….

“On 1 April, Trump said he was ‘absolutely without question’ considering withdrawing from Nato because of the European allies’ refusal to take part in the war on Iran and help secure the strait of Hormuz. A US withdrawal would be catastrophic for Europe’s security but is seen as unlikely because of US legislation passed in 2024 that bars a president from leaving Nato without either a two-thirds Senate majority or an act of Congress.”

But Trump may not abide by any of these provisions.

No Anti-Putin Missiles

Bild Online reported on May 2:

“This decision by US President Donald Trump really hurts! Not only is he withdrawing 5,000 American troops from Germany, but he is also canceling the planned deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles. Defense experts view this development as dangerous to our defensive capabilities against Russia… These long-range precision weapons were originally scheduled to be stationed in West Germany this year. In the event of a defensive conflict, they would have enabled strikes against targets within Russia as well…

“The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, Henning Otte (57), reacted with concern: ‘The withdrawal of US combat units sends a poor signal regarding Germany’s defensive capabilities. This loss must be compensated for.’ Trump’s decision ‘tears a gap in Germany’s defense architecture.’”

Trump Announces 25 Percent Tariffs on Cars and Trucks

Die Welt reported on May 2:

“Trump announces plans to raise tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union to 25 percent…

“Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had agreed on a trade deal in July of last year. That agreement established a tariff rate of 15 percent for most goods. However, the status of the agreement was called into question by a Supreme Court ruling in February, which held that Trump lacks the authority to declare an economic emergency in order to impose tariffs on EU goods…

“Should Trump proceed to raise US tariffs as announced, the EU reserves the right to take countermeasures… Bernd Lange, Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade, has sharply criticized the announced tariffs on European cars. ‘This latest move demonstrates just how unreliable the US side is,’ the SPD politician declared on Friday. ‘This is not how one treats close partners.’ Trump’s conduct is unacceptable. The European Union must now respond with the utmost clarity and determination, from a position of strength, Lange demanded…

“For economist Marcel Fratzscher, the renewed escalation in the trade conflict with the U.S.—triggered by President Donald Trump’s tariff threats—comes as no surprise. ‘For President Trump exploits Germany’s and Europe’s constant yielding as a sign of weakness,’ the President of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) told the news agency Reuters on Friday. ‘It is now coming back to haunt us once again that the European Union, as well as the German government, have repeatedly given in to Trump during this conflict and allowed him to have his way.’”

Vice-Chancellor Klingbeil Criticizes Trump’s Mess

t-online reported on May 1:

“SPD leader and Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has defended Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) against criticism from the USA. ‘We really don’t need any tips from Donald Trump right now. He should take a look at the mess he has created. He should ensure that serious peace talks are held in Iran immediately,’ said Klingbeil…

“Klingbeil also voiced criticism of Trump’s strategy in Iran. ‘I believe he genuinely thought this would be a matter of two or three days, and then everything would be fine,’ he said. ‘He now bears the responsibility for ensuring that this war in Iran ends quickly,’ said the Federal Minister of Finance. ‘Above all, he must ensure that the burdens resulting from his war do not end up on our doorstep—on workers, consumers, and the economy.’

“However, it is also crucial that Europe be economically strong enough ‘that we do not have to let ourselves be blackmailed by anyone,’ said Klingbeil. ‘I do not want us to be dependent on whatever mood Donald Trump happens to be in today or tomorrow.’”

US Surveillance of Europeans

Fodors wrote on April 30:

“Citizens of the European Union do not need to apply for a visa to visit the U.S. The two sides have a visa waiver program in place. Now, however, the U.S. is adding a condition: If the EU wants to continue to enjoy visa-free travel, it needs to give American authorities access to its database…

“This is a highly controversial move in Europe. The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) offers strong protections to residents regarding their data. Businesses must comply with rules about data collection and processing of EU residents. They need to be clear and transparent about data use, and residents have the right to deny or withdraw consent at any time. The U.S., however, does not have such protections in place, and experts are concerned this could lead to mass surveillance…. A member of the European Parliament, Hermida-van der Walle, criticized the proposal calling it blackmail….

“It is possible that criticizing the government or its policies could get travelers barred from entering the country…  experts warn this could create a chilling effect among travelers, who might take their tourist dollars elsewhere.”

Trump—The Chaos President

t-online wrote on May 2:

“Over the past few days, Trump has worked himself into an ever-increasing rage. The trigger for his anger: Friedrich Merz. Trump’s outbursts—flanked by numerous statements from other administration officials, such as his ‘Secretary of War’ Pete Hegseth—culminated finally in a threat from the President directed not only at Spain and Italy, but above all, once again, at Germany. The long-standing specter of a troop withdrawal had suddenly returned….

“Trump’s familiar modus operandi against his chosen adversaries was visibly playing out: First, the personal attacks against Merz. Then, the threats. Then, the economic pressure. On Friday, Trump also announced new punitive tariffs of 25 percent on European automobiles. That alone constituted a very concrete, frontal assault on Germany’s industrial heartland. Shortly thereafter came the security-policy leverage: US troops out of Germany. The lesson intended to be taught is this: Anyone who dares to criticize Trump publicly—and as harshly as Merz did—will be made an example of….

“A simple principle governs Trump’s domestic and foreign policy: Loyalty or reprisals. The mere fact that Germany is not participating militarily in the conflict with Iran was enough to land it in his crosshairs. The fact that Merz then proceeded to lash out against him, too, was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Now, the US President is making an example of the Chancellor. Trump is bullying Merz. Germany is to be the victim…

“Trump’s erratic policies do not merely weaken Germany; they weaken all of Europe. And they benefit Russia. Trump’s often impulsive decisions do not merely sacrifice security on the other side of the Atlantic; they also jeopardize the security of the United States itself. For the United States, Europe is indispensable to maintaining its own global standing—whether in the Middle East or the Arctic, whether against Russia or against China. Trump, however, does not care. He snubs allies whenever it suits him…

“Military capabilities cannot be accelerated by decree. The Trump administration knows this all too well, given its dwindling military stockpiles resulting from the conflict with Iran, or its naval fleet, which is falling further and further behind China…

“Trump remains a ‘chaos president’—fighting on too many fronts with far too little strategy. He spreads himself too thin across the globe: war with Iran, presidential abductions in Venezuela, unlawful sanctions of economic blackmail against Cuba. Yet, he suspends those directed at Russia. He weakens his European allies—and even threatens them territorially, as seen in Greenland—wherever and whenever he can. The US President escalates conflicts everywhere simultaneously, thereby losing control. Ultimately, what is missing is the very thing that made America a global power for decades: trust.”

Trump’s pronouncements that America is respected again is nonsense. Just the opposite is the case.

Trump—a Master Builder Full of Pride

The Atlantic wrote on April 29:

“The tendency to self-aggrandize is as fundamental a feature of Trump as his sculpted hair and overlong red ties. But it has become even more important in setting his priorities and steering his actions as he hurtles through his final term in office. He no longer has to worry about the judgment of voters and can instead focus on what he’s decided really matters: ascending to become one of history’s so-called great men and leaving an enduring—and, in many cases, physical—imprint. The result, at least so far, has cost many lives and billions of dollars, damaged the world economy, strained already fragile alliances, and cratered the president’s standing with the public. But those around him cast his new focus as a liberation…

“Trump’s heightened tendency to view himself as a world-historical figure—capable of brash, misunderstood greatness—has transformed his second term, and not necessarily in a good way. …

“A foreign leader visiting Washington today would find a city under reconstruction, with tower cranes over the White House, a spectacle that recalls Roman Emperor Augustus’s claim that ‘I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marbles.’ There’s the planned remodeling (and recent renaming) of the Kennedy Center, the affixing of his name to the United States Institute of Peace, the attempted seizure of D.C.-municipal golf courses that Trump plans to renovate, the paving over of Jackie Kennedy’s Rose Garden into a Mar-a-Lago-style patio, and the tearing down of the East Wing to make way for the massive ballroom. (That destruction prompted the largest outcry, perhaps because the symbolism was visual, physical, visceral—a wrecking ball laying waste to a cherished pillar of democracy.)

“The proposed ‘Arc de Trump,’ a 250-foot structure modeled after Paris’s Arc de Triomphe, would be taller than any similar structure in world history, and more than twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial, across the river from where it would stand. ‘The GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumphal Arch, anywhere in the World,’ Trump declared three days after announcing the cease-fire with Iran.”

So, when is he going to start building the Third Temple in Jerusalem?

Trump: After Iran We’ll Take Over Cuba

The Telegraph wrote on May 2:

“US president suggests Cuban government would ‘give up’ if his warships appeared near Havana. Donald Trump has warned that American forces could ‘almost immediately take over Cuba on the way back from Iran…”

Some said Trump was joking or partly joking, but his actions towards Cuba so far are no joke. His ambition to take over Cuba is far too obvious. Vox asked the question on May 1: ”Trump says Cuba is ‘next.’ What does that mean? The island may be next in the administration’s crosshairs after Venezuela and Iran…”

Spirit Airlines Folds… Blow to Trump

Reuters wrote on May 2:

“Bankrupt discount carrier Spirit Airlines ceased operations on Saturday, the industry’s first casualty linked to the Iran war, after failing to secure creditor support for a U.S. government bailout plan. The collapse of the carrier following a doubling in jet fuel prices during the two-month-old Iran war will cost ‌thousands of jobs. It is a blow to President Donald Trump, who had proposed $500 million to save Spirit despite opposition from some of his closest advisers and many Republicans in Congress.

“No U.S. ‌carrier of Spirit’s size – it accounted for 5% of U.S. flights at one point – has liquidated in two decades. Spirit helped keep fares lower in markets where it competed against major carriers… Spirit’s collapse highlights the unintended consequences of the Iran war launched by Washington.”

The Associated Press added on May 2:

“The airline said on its website that all flights have been canceled and customer service is no longer available. Some passengers arrived Saturday for flights and were stunned to find them canceled, while workers learned overnight they were out of jobs…

“U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Saturday that Spirit had a reserve fund set up for customers who bought directly from the airline to get refunds. People who bought from third-party vendors like travel agents would have to seek refunds from them.”

Other airlines are in danger of collapsing as well. For example, in late April, Lufthansa announced that they are permanently withdrawing 27 aircraft belonging to its subsidiary CityLine from service due to rising jet fuel prices and ongoing labor disputes. Lufthansa (including SWISS, Austrian, Brussels, and ITA Airways) also cancelled approximately 20,000, or 1% of its capacity, in short-haul flights across key European hubs (Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels, and Rome) until October 2026.

Trump Proclaims National Sabbath

chabad.org wrote on May 4:

“For the first time in American history, a sitting president has called on the nation to observe a Shabbat… President Donald Trump designated the period from sundown Friday, May 15, through nightfall Saturday, May 16, as a national Shabbat, dubbed ‘Shabbat 250.’ ‘In special honor of 250 glorious years of American independence and on the weekend of Rededicate 250 — a national jubilee of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving — Jewish Americans are encouraged to observe a national Sabbath,’ the President wrote.

“‘From sundown on May 15 to nightfall on May 16, friends, families, and communities of all backgrounds may come together in gratitude for our great Nation. This day will recognize the sacred Jewish tradition of setting aside time for rest, reflection, and gratitude to the Almighty.’”

Trump also wrote the following in his proclamation:

“I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2026 as Jewish American Heritage Month.  I call upon Americans to celebrate the heritage and contributions of Jewish Americans and to observe this month with appropriate programs, activities, and ceremonies.  I further call on all Americans to celebrate their faith and freedom throughout this year, during this month, and especially on Shabbat to celebrate our 250th year.”

It was pointed out that the move sent shockwaves through Jewish and Christian communities alike and that it is impossible to ignore the personal dimension behind the proclamation, as Trump’s daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner are shomer Shabbat — fully Shabbat-observant Orthodox Jews.

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Trump Calls on All Americans to Celebrate the National Sabbath.”

Trump Keeps Attacking Pope Leo

The Guardian wrote on May 5:

“Donald Trump has issued a fresh verbal attack against Pope Leo XIV, accusing the pontiff of ‘endangering a lot of Catholics’ because ‘he thinks it’s fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon’…

“Leo has never said that Iran should have nuclear weapons, but has repeatedly opposed the war on the country and the subsequent escalation of the conflict in Lebanon and the wider Middle East, calling for ceasefires and dialogue.”

Pope Leo Indirectly Accuses Trump of Lying

Der Tagesspiegel reported on May 5:

“Pope Leo XIV has responded to the latest attacks by US President Donald Trump. ‘If anyone wishes to criticize me for proclaiming the Gospel, let them do so truthfully,’ the head of the Church told journalists on Tuesday evening in Castel Gandolfo.

“The Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons for years—of this there is no doubt—Leo XIV stated, addressing Trump’s renewed assertion that the Pope would find it acceptable for Iran to possess a nuclear weapon.”

End-Times Atmosphere in Germany

Apollo News wrote on May 1st:

“These are the signs of the end times—signs that have become unmistakable in political Berlin these days. The verdict that Friedrich Merz simply isn’t up to the task—that is, the task of governing—has by now become almost indisputable, even within CDU circles. The Chancellor, meanwhile—just days before his anniversary in office—is left with nothing but a bunker mentality.

“Merz is now largely isolated. It has always been this way—at least during his tenure as parliamentary group leader—that Merz kept his distance from many people, rarely let anyone get close, and had few intimate confidants. A handicap at the start of his chancellorship, this has since evolved into a fatal paralysis for his government. By now, Merz appears to have no one left whom he trusts—and, apparently, no one left to tell him what the actual situation is.

“The man sitting in the Chancellery seems utterly detached from—and insulated against—reality. While his government is going up in flames, the ‘Great Reform Chancellor’ continues to announce one reform initiative after another, speaking of plans and projects that, outside the confines of his own mind, have long since died. His orders are merely words cast to the wind…

“It is an open secret in Berlin that the general consensus is: this coalition will fall apart sooner or later. Yet the fact that this sentiment is now being voiced so publicly serves as an ominous sign. The days of this coalition truly seem numbered.”

“Jens Spahn: The Indestructible”

Welt Online wrote on May 5:

“Jens Spahn has been confirmed as Chairman of the Union parliamentary group. His position of power has been strengthened; the CDU politician can now present himself with greater confidence vis-à-vis Federal Chancellor Merz. But just how loyal is Spahn?…

“One year after he took office, the members of the larger governing parliamentary group confirmed the 45-year-old CDU politician in his post by a large majority, securing his tenure until the end of the legislative term. A group spokesperson reported the result as 86.5 percent…. Spahn’s tenure had gotten off to a rocky start… After those difficult initial months, however, Spahn has found his footing; his support within the parliamentary group is now considered stable.”

ntv wrote on May 5:

“Many viewed the post of parliamentary group leader merely as a stepping stone on the way to the top—to the Chancellery. Whether he will ever succeed in reaching that goal remains an open question. He is not exactly popular, in any case…”

The Survivor

Bild Online wrote on May 5:

“You have to give Jens Spahn (45, CDU) credit for one thing: He is a political survivor unlike almost anyone before him. No matter what happens—one person survives it: HE. Mask deals, COVID-related failures, COVID fundraising dinners, shady villa financing, a botched judicial election, coup plots by his own party members, a sugar tax despite a party congress veto… Political crashes look different. So do electoral rebukes….

“The man—widely rumored to harbor ambitions for the chancellorship—is unlikely to ever become the darling of the German public. He has, however, just displaced the Chancellor—from the very last spot in the Bild politician rankings.”

Jens Spahn Is Unpopular and Controversial—Yet Untouchable

Wirtschaftswoche wrote on May 5:

“The CDU parliamentary group leader was controversial within his own party, is detested by his political opponents, and is unpopular among the general public. Now, he has been re-elected. How did he manage that?… Spahn was considered a precarious candidate—a man playing for his own advantage; a liability. Today, there is no longer any talk of that…

“Merkel was always adept at pushing critics to the sidelines—at marginalizing them. Yet with Spahn, she never succeeded… Not even within the Union itself does anyone believe that his political ambitions end with the office of parliamentary group leader.”

Guttenberg and the Bilderbergers

Apolut wrote on April 23:

“It is the 72nd Bilderberg meeting… 57 of the 128 participants had already attended the previous year in Stockholm… Back at Bilderberg for the first time: Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, former Federal Minister of Defense—who resigned in 2011 due to plagiarism—and who has since been based in New York and Washington as the head of Spitzberg Partners—a consulting and investment firm operating in the transatlantic defense and technology sectors—a transatlantic networker with CSU roots and a Washington base…

“On November 22, 2019, Wolfgang Effenberger wrote in WORLD ECONOMY under the headline ‘US War Against Rival China’: ‘For the “Deep State” in the USA, the slick, model student Guttenberg thus appears to be the right man to lead Germany into war in accordance with US directives, and to sell this war to the public as a “fight against evil.” Germany would then, once again, end up being the culprit.’”…

“Today, Guttenberg is no longer a politician, but rather a transatlantic networker with direct access to Washington and Berlin. His invitation is therefore explained, first and foremost, by his professional role: He is one of the few Germans who are simultaneously deeply embedded within the American establishment and who still command respect within the German CDU/CSU sphere…”

“Guttenberg understands both sides—a quality that makes him valuable in a year when the relationship between the U.S. and Europe is under considerable strain due to Trump… Guttenberg has repeatedly ruled out a return to politics in recent times—most recently in 2022 in an interview with Stern. Yet such statements have a well-known half-life in political history.

“Guttenberg’s profile fits more precisely than ever: transatlantically connected, media-savvy, and imbued with the aura of a fallen hero who deserves a second chance.

“… Bilderberg does not invite tourists. Thus, he is likely being kept in reserve as an option—not as a designated successor, but as someone being signaled that the door remains open should the time come. This is the classic function of Bilderberg: not to make decisions, but to pave the way for possibilities.”

Elections in England… a Massacre

On May 2, broadcaster Andrew Neil wrote in the Daily Mail:

“The only unknown about next Thursday’s elections is whether it will be a terrible day for Labour or a truly historic awful one. My money is on the latter… the local election results in England will be a massacre… I see no salvation in the new, so-called insurgent parties…

“In a democracy we get the political system we deserve… the prospect of a national revival remains as far away as ever.”

This is true for Britain, as it is true for America.

Royal Navy Warship Crisis Deepens 

The Daily Mail wrote on May 4:

“The Royal Navy’s fleet of frigates was reduced to just five today after the withdrawal of HMS Iron Duke – while the Army has ‘no money to buy weapons’… The warship is to be retired due to technical issues just three years after a £103million refit.”

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

Another Assassination Attempt on Trump 

The Associated Press wrote on April 26: 

“The man accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner sent writings to family members minutes before the shooting referring to himself as a ‘Friendly Federal Assassin,’ railing against Trump administration policies and signaling what investigators increasingly believe was a politically driven attack… 

“The writings, sent shortly before shots were fired at the Washington Hilton, made repeated references to President Donald Trump without naming him directly and alluded to grievances over a range of administration actions and recent events, including U.S. strikes on drug smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific… 

“Authorities also uncovered what the official described as numerous anti-Trump social media posts linked to the suspect…, a 31-year-old California man accused of trying to breach a security checkpoint at the dinner while armed with multiple weapons.” 

Lacking Security 

Newsmax wrote on April 26: 

“Fred Fleitz [former National Security Council chief of staff in Trump’s first term] told Newsmax on Sunday that the security breach surrounding the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner raises serious concerns about the safety of President Donald Trump and other top officials… ‘This shooter got far too close to the president. He brought a bag full of guns and knives … into a hotel room in the hotel… He could have brought a bomb into the hotel, a large bomb, and no one would have known. This is unacceptable,’ he said… 

“Fleitz… said the size and layout of the gathering pose inherent risks. ‘There’s far too many people there … It’s hard to walk from table to table. This is a fire hazard. It’s a security hazard,’ he said. He also questioned why the president and Vice President JD Vance were at the same venue under those conditions… Fleitz also pointed to specific security vulnerabilities at the hotel, particularly the placement of screening measures… ‘the magnetometers were far too close to the president. They should have been outside,’ he said. 

“He added that some attendees appeared to pass through minimal screening before getting near the event….” 

More Chaos on the World Stage 

NPR wrote on April 26: 

“The incident brought America’s commonplace gun violence just feet away from a room full of lawmakers, top officials, and journalists. It also may add to a string of troubling political violence in the U.S. that includes two assassination attempts on President Trump… 

“The high-profile incident of potential political violence adds yet another layer of chaos to an already tumultuous time both in Washington and on the world stage.” 

Trump Haunted by Epstein Files 

Daily Beast wrote on April 26: 

“60 Minutes correspondent Norah O’Donnell caught President Donald Trump in a revealing moment while pressing him on the manifesto of the gunman who stormed the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday. In a Sunday interview on the shooting, O’Donnell referenced the sprawling manifesto written by the alleged gunman, Cole Thomas Allen, 31, which detailed his plan to kill Donald Trump and his top administration officials. At one point, Allen allegedly wrote, ‘I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes.’ ‘What’s your reaction to that?’ O’Donnell asked Trump. 

“The agitated president, 79, reacted with a flurry of defiance—and inadvertently revealed that he himself believed he was the subject of the shooter’s remarks… ‘Well, I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would, because you’re horrible people. Horrible people,’ he said, before adding, ‘Yeah, he did write that. I‘m not a rapist. I didn’t rape anybody.’ 

“That’s when O’Donnell called him out for appearing to identify himself in the gunman’s words. ‘Oh, you think—do you think he was referring to you?’ she interrupted. ‘Excuse me, excuse me,’ Trump shot back, before pausing for a beat as he appeared to process her question. But he then pressed on without recalibrating, voluntarily invoking the backlash over his close friendship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. ‘I’m not a pedophile. You read that c— from some sick person. I got associated with stuff that has nothing to do with me. I was totally exonerated,’ he said. ‘Your friends on the other side of the plate are the ones that were involved with, let’s say, Epstein or other things’… ‘But you should be ashamed of yourself reading that because I’m not any of those things.’ 

“‘Mr. President, these are the gunman’s words,’ O’Donnell reminded him. ‘Excuse me, excuse me. You shouldn’t be reading that on 60 Minutes,’ Trump said. ‘You’re a disgrace… ‘You’re disgraceful’… 

“The president has desperately sought to move past questions about his administration’s bungled Epstein files release and his own relationship with the convicted sex trafficker, but the issue continues to haunt him. Files released by the Justice Department revealed that one woman was interviewed by the FBI in 2019 after accusing Trump of sexually abusing her when she was 13. Trump has vehemently denied any wrongdoing in connection with his friendship with Epstein and has not been charged with any crime.” 

Trump also vehemently denied signing and sending an offensive “lewd” birthday card to Epstein in 2003, even though most believe that card was genuine. A federal judge dismissed Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal on April 13, 2026. Darrin Gayles ruled that Trump failed to prove “actual malice” and allowed until April 27, 2026, to refile an amended complaint, which Trump’s team indicated they would do. As of April 29, it has not been reported or confirmed that an amended complaint was filed. 

The Deadline: May 1 

On April 25, Focus wrote: 

“[Trump] is initiating a war without parliamentary approval and does not appear to intend to involve the U.S. Congress either…. However, a legislative act from 1973 could prove to be a stumbling block here. The so-called ‘War Powers Resolution’ (WPR) establishes a procedure enabling Congress to force a vote that either authorizes the President’s use of U.S. armed forces or orders their withdrawal from hostilities…. Sixty days after he first reports to Congress, the deployment of armed forces automatically terminates, unless Congress has declared war or passed legislation authorizing the action. And that deadline is May 1. 

“The President may extend this 60-day period by an additional 30 days by notifying Congress in writing of the necessity for the continued use of military force. The prevailing view, however, is that this extension may not be utilized for offensive military actions, but only for the safe withdrawal of U.S. troops. Yet that is likely not what Trump intends. The President thus faces a dilemma. If he allows May 1 to pass, he is obligated to withdraw U.S. troops. If he declares the necessity of continuing combat operations, he gains only an additional thirty days. At that point, however—absent congressional approval—the deployment would have to be terminated immediately. 

“Trump still has one avenue of escape left—one, ironically enough, for which he has Obama to thank. The latter extended the Libya operation by four years, arguing that U.S. operations in Libya did not constitute ‘hostilities’ within the meaning of the War Powers Resolution, as they involved neither sustained combat operations nor active exchanges of fire by U.S. ground troops. However, given that there have already been U.S. military personnel killed and wounded in the conflict with Iran, it will be difficult for Trump to invoke this ‘Obama clause.’ 

“A congressional majority is by no means assured for Trump… A successful vote appears doubtful as early as May 1, and even more uncertain by May 31. Precisely in this precarious situation, he has extended the ceasefire with Iran and suspended his ultimatum indefinitely. It is almost grotesque that he has left the timing of the ultimatum’s expiration up to Iran—for the guns are to remain silent until Iran has finally managed to formulate a response. 

“The dilemma could hardly be greater; yet perhaps Trump will simply play the feudal lord and disregard the law entirely. In any case, time is running out for the President—far faster than it is for Iran.” 

Pete Hegseth has already stated, as was to be expected, that they will not abide by the law because of a ceasefire.

Unpleasant Choices 

Daily Mail wrote on April 26: 

“President Donald Trump has been left with three hard choices to make about the war with Iran after he canceled peace talks and rejected the country’s last-minute offer. 

“…  he can go one of three ways: escalate the conflict, use the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to pressure Iran into a compromise, or decide to settle for a deal he does not want… On Sunday morning, Trump claimed that Iran’s oil pipelines will erupt in about three days’ time.” 

Of course, this did not happen, as is the case with most of Trump’s empty threats. 

Pakistan Allows Transit of Goods To Iran 

Ary News wrote on April 27: 

“The federal government has officially enforced the Transit of Goods Order 2026, allowing the movement of cargo through Pakistan for onward transit to Iran and other destinations… Under the revised system, goods originating from third countries will be permitted to pass through Pakistan en route to Iran, subject to regulatory compliance… 

“Officials added that the Transit of Goods Order 2026 is expected to improve trade efficiency, boost revenue generation, and reinforce Pakistan’s position as a key transit corridor in the region.” 

And so, America is losing again… In spite of Trump saying that Americans are sick of winning! 

Merz: Iran Is Humiliating the USA 

Reuters reported on April 27: 

“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday Iran’s leadership was humiliating the United States and getting U.S. officials to travel to Pakistan and then leave without results, in an unusually abrupt rebuke over the conflict. Merz also said he [does] not see what exit strategy the U.S. was pursuing in the Iran war – comments that underlined deep divisions between Washington and its European NATO allies, which had already been festering over Ukraine and other issues. ‘The Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skillful at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and then leave again without any result,’ he said during a talk to students in the town of Marsberg. ‘An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards’… 

“Merz reiterated that Germans and Europeans were not consulted before the U.S. and Israel started attacking Iran on February 28, and that he had conveyed his scepticism directly to Trump afterwards. ‘If I had known that it would continue like this for five or six weeks and get progressively worse, I would have told him even more emphatically,’ Merz said, comparing it to previous U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

“Hopes of reviving peace efforts have receded since Trump scrapped a visit on Saturday by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad, the Pakistani capital. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi travelled to Russia on Monday after failed talks in Pakistan and Oman. Merz said it was evident the Strait of Hormuz had been at least partially mined… 

“He said the conflict was costing Germany ‘a lot of money, a lot of taxpayers’ money and a lot of economic strength.’” 

Trump Fires Back 

aa.com wrote on April 28: 

“US President Donald Trump alleged Tuesday that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz finds it acceptable for Iran to possess nuclear weapons, further straining ties between the allies… He added that Merz ‘doesn’t know what he’s talking about’ and said a nuclear-armed Tehran would leave the world ‘hostage.’… 

“‘No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both economically, and otherwise,’ said Trump… ‘Regarding Iran, yes, I’ve become disillusioned,’ Merz said at a news conference in Berlin when asked about his remarks that the US lacks an ‘exit strategy’ and Americans were ‘humiliated’ by Tehran.” 

ntv added on April 24: 

“‘German Chancellor Friedrich Merz thinks it is fine if Iran possesses nuclear weapons,’ Trump begins his post on Truth Social with a claim that is untrue. As recently as early March, Merz had stated that Germany shares the objectives of the United States and Israel regarding the Iranian nuclear and missile programs. ‘Iran’s military nuclear program, as well as its ballistic missile program, must be verifiably terminated,’ the statement continued. 

“Trump then proceeds with his post based on this false premise…” 

Pope Attacks Those Who Fight in War 

Reuters wrote on April 27: 

“Pope Leo on Sunday described those who wage wars and appropriate the earth’s resources as thieves who rob the world of a peaceful future, issuing a warning about the use of nuclear power on the anniversary of the Chornobyl reactor accident. Ukraine is commemorating the 40th anniversary of the world’s worst nuclear disaster on Sunday amid lingering fears that Russia’s four-year-old war could spark a repeat of the tragedy… 

“Pope Leo said thieves came under many appearances, listing as examples ‘superficial lifestyles driven by consumerism’, prejudices and wrong ideas. ‘And let’s not forget also those thieves who, by plundering the earth’s resources, by fighting bloody wars or feeding evil in whichever form, are simply taking away from all of us the chance of a future of peace and serenity,’ he added.” 

These comments are right on. 

America’s Depleted Weapons Arsenal 

The Independent wrote on April 24: 

“The U.S. has burned through billions of dollars’ worth of its critical weapons stockpile in the war with Iran… The conflict, which began on February 28, has seen the Pentagon use more than 1,200 Patriot interceptor missiles, and each costs more than $4 million. The military has also used up around 1,100 of its long-range stealth cruise missiles stockpiled for a potential war with China, according to congressional officials and internal Defense Department estimates obtained by the New York Times. More than 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles have been fired, too, which is around 10 times the amount currently bought by the U.S. Military each year. 

“Internal Pentagon estimates also suggested that around 1,100 JASSM-ER missiles, which cost around $1.1 million each, have been used. That has left just 1,500 of the projectiles in the military’s inventory… 

“[The war] has resulted in the death of several Iranian leaders and 3,000 citizens, according to state media. It has also resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members. According to a study conducted in April by the American Enterprise Institute, the war has cost the United States between $25 billion and $35 billion. In the first two days of the conflict alone, the military burned through around $5.6 billion worth of munitions… 

“Officials told the Times that the Defense Department is waiting for Congress to approve additional funding before it can pay manufacturers to replenish the military’s drained supplies… However, officials told the publication that there has been no effort to begin the expanded production effort since the Pentagon is still scrambling to find the funding it needs… Pentagon information obtained by the outlet also found that the war has led to depletions in essential weapon systems deployed to defend NATO’s eastern flank in the event of Russian aggression. The ability to launch offensive operations in the region has also been damaged due to the loss of attack and surveillance drones….” 

The Pentagon denied everything, but it’s not trustworthy. No wonder Trump is anxious to appease Putin and Xi Jinping. 

Fortune wrote on April 24: 

“The U.S. has depleted its store of seven major types of missiles, intensifying concerns of a ‘near-term risk’ it will run out of munitions for a future war… 

“Though the U.S. has enough missiles to continue to fight in the Iran war without limitations, there is an increased risk of the U.S. military being insufficiently prepared for a future war in the Pacific… [It is] estimated it would take one to four years to restock the seven major munitions to prewar levels.” 

Trump’s “Arithmetic Skills” 

Der Tagesspiegel wrote on April 24: 

“Trump had claimed that, through his policies, he could reduce [drug] prices by up to 600 percent. Mathematically, however, this is impossible, since a price can decrease by a maximum of 100 percent—at which point it would be zero. Kennedy… nevertheless stuck to his calculation… ‘If the drug costs 100 dollars and rises to 600 dollars, that would be a 600 percent increase. If it drops from 600 to 100 dollars, that would be savings of 600 percent.’ Trump, who was listening to Kennedy’s explanation, nodded in agreement and said: ‘Correct.’ The calculation presented, however, is nonetheless completely wrong. 

“… These fundamentals of percentage calculation are typically taught to students in the U.S. between the 6th and 8th grades. The scene caused an uproar on social media. Several users pointed to a passage in George Orwell’s… novel 1984: ‘In the end the Party would announce that two and two made five, and one would have to believe it.’” 

Trump Insults Country With Vile Comparison 

t-online reported on April 24: 

“India has sharply criticized US President Donald Trump for a post on his online platform, Truth Social, in which Trump referred to India as a ‘hell hole’… Trump had previously linked an article attributed to a conservative podcaster. The text denounces the constitutional right in the US whereby anyone born on US soil automatically receives US citizenship. ‘Every baby here immediately becomes a citizen, and then they bring the whole family over from China, India, or some other hell hole on the planet,’ the post states. 

“Furthermore, the text accuses Indian immigrants of refusing to hire white Americans in their companies and of speaking poor English… On the online platform X, the Hindu American Foundation described the remarks as ‘hateful, racist rhetoric’… 

“Following a period of initial closeness, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently fallen out of favor with Trump, allegedly because he had downplayed Trump’s role in mediating the conflict between India and Pakistan… 

“Trump has used the term ‘hell hole’ to anger a country once before. Following the Islamist terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels in 2015 and 2016, Trump referred to the Belgian capital as a ‘hellhole’.” 

He has also referred to other countries—such as Haiti, El Salvador, and various African nations—as “shitholes.” 

USA Threatens UK Over Falkland Islands 

Daily Mail wrote on April 24: 

“The ‘Special Relationship’ was rocked by a furious new row today after Washington hinted at helping Argentina’s claim to the Falklands. On the eve of the King’s State Visit, it has emerged that US support for British sovereignty over the islands could be reviewed. The move appears to be part of Donald Trump’s drive to punish Nato countries for failing to help with his war against Iran. Argentinian president Javier Milei is a close ally of Mr Trump, and has reiterated the country’s claim to the islands – which the UK defended by force in 1982, at the cost of more than 250 lives. But the threat has drawn outrage from across the UK political spectrum… 

“According to Reuters, an internal memo floated reassessing US diplomatic support for longstanding European ‘imperial possessions’ such as the Falklands, as well as kicking Spain out of Nato for refusing to ramp up defence spending…. The State Department’s website states that the islands are administered by the United Kingdom but are still claimed by Argentina, whose Libertarian President Javier Milei is a Trump ally…. 

“Shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois said: ‘Because of his strong personal bond with Mrs Thatcher, President Reagan ultimately backed Britain during the 1982 Falklands War. The fact the Americans could now even be contemplating something like this, shows just how far their relations have deteriorated…’ 

“Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has expressed doubt over whether the US would be ‘loyal’ to its NATO commitment to defend Europe in the event of a Russian attack, and called on the EU to become a ‘real alliance’ in protecting the continent… Tusk added that some countries in the US-led defence alliance ‘pretend[ed] that nothing happened’ when about 20 Russian drones violated Poland’s airspace last September.” 

“Falklands Left Without Key Air Defences” 

The Daily Mail wrote on April 25: 

“Ministers have been accused of downgrading air defences for the Falkland Islands – just as Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw his support for Britain’s sovereignty and Argentina is expanding its air force. Critics warn the islands will be without air-to-air refuelling capacity for the first time since the 1980s, when Margaret Thatcher  sent the Task Force to defeat Argentina. Saturday marked the 44th anniversary of British forces recapturing South Georgia… 

“RAF sources confirmed the sole Voyager refuelling aircraft based on the islands had been redeployed amid the Iran crisis. It potentially means RAF Typhoons could not do around-the-clock air patrols for the 1,600 mile round trip to South Georgia…. Buenos Aires is spending more than £220million on 24 refurbished F-16s fighter jets from the Danish air force, and seeking to procure two KC-135R Stratotankers from the US for air-to-air refuelling. 

“President Javier Milei has pledged to strengthen the nation’s military forces and, as part of his election campaign, stated his desire for Argentina to regain sovereignty of the Falklands. Tory Armed Forces spokesman Mark Francois said: ‘Withdrawing this tanker aircraft sends all the wrong signals, particularly in light of President Trump’s recent comments.’” 

Charles Answers Trump in Congress 

Politico wrote on April 28:

“British monarchs deliver their political messages in code — and the reference we just heard Charles make to 9/11 is worth unpacking. ‘In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, when NATO invoked Article 5 for the first time … we answered the call together, as our people have done so for more than a century, shoulder to shoulder,’ the king said.

“Make no mistake — this is a carefully targeted rebuff to Trump and his allies in Congress that, contrary to the president’s repeated claims over recent weeks, NATO was in fact there to help in America’s hour of need…

“The king went further still, linking that seminal moment in 2001 to the need to maintain Western unity in support of Ukraine as the war continues…

“The king is striking a very different tone from Trump’s incessant criticisms of Ukraine and its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom Charles has met multiple times for private talks over the past few years. This passage is a direct plea to Trump and Hill Republicans to maintain American support against the Russian invasion.” 

Things Got Awkward

News.com.au wrote on April 29: 

“Things got awkward during King Charles and US President Trump’s first meeting of this royal visit, it has now been revealed… Buckingham Palace has released a statement after US President Donald Trump claimed that King Charles ‘agrees’ with him that Iran shouldn’t be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon… 

“‘The King is naturally mindful of his Government’s longstanding and well-known position on the prevention of nuclear proliferation,’ the spokesman said.” 

The visit of King Charles and his speech in Congress have been described as dignified and have been received with overwhelming support and respect. 

Europe Responds to Trump’s Threats 

t-online reported on April 25: 

“US President Donald Trump is apparently considering not only annexing Greenland to the United States but also suspending Spain’s membership in NATO. Furthermore, since the outbreak of the conflict with Iran, Trump has been highly critical of European NATO allies, accusing them of failing to support the United States. Additionally, the island of Cyprus—while situated in close proximity to the Middle East—is not a NATO member and would therefore be dependent on EU assistance in the event of war. The EU is thus vulnerable on multiple fronts. Consequently, the EU now intends to stand firm against any potential aggressors targeting its member states. The mutual assistance clause currently in force is set to be expanded…. As early as January, the EU clarified that, in the event of a violent conflict, Germany and other EU states would be obliged to provide assistance at Denmark’s request… 

“Article 42.7 is worded even more strictly than Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, under which it remains at the discretion of alliance members to decide how they will come to the aid of allies in the event of an attack. Moreover, were the United States to threaten Greenland, Denmark would be unable to invoke the NATO collective defense clause at all, as doing so would require the consent of the United States itself…. 

“A new formulation [of Article 42.7] is intended to effectively mandate that members come to the aid of any state under attack. Specifically, the newly worded paragraph states: ‘In the event of an armed attack on the territory of a Member State, the other Member States shall owe it all the aid and assistance in their power (…).'” 

Focus wrote on August 24: 

“[There is] fundamentally no procedure whatsoever that provides for sanctions—or even expulsion [from NATO]—in the event of undesirable behavior. Moreover, Spain is an important ally, and it is considered out of the question that European partners would assist the USA in pushing the country out of NATO.” 

Europe Must Act Without the USA 

Logos Press published on April 25 the following article by Joschka Fischer, German Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor from 1998 to 2005, and former leader of the German Green Party for almost 20 years: 

“Whether she is ready for it or not, Europe’s post-American future has already arrived. 

“What will Europe be like without the U.S. military and political presence? Europeans had better start preparing for this prospect, because it is no longer in doubt that U.S. President Donald Trump wants to end the North Atlantic Alliance and is well on his way to achieving this goal. The only question that remains is whether he will officially withdraw from NATO or simply devastate it with his disdain and contempt. In any case, the disintegration of the alliance has already begun. Long-standing and time-honored structures such as NATO do not usually collapse overnight or in a single act. Rather, they erode as confidence in their fundamental commitments – namely, mutual defense – wanes. This is precisely what is happening in President Trump’s second term, especially now that Europeans have abstained from participating in his disastrous war in the Middle East… 

“For reasons that are barely intelligible, [Trump and his MAGA movement] harbor a deep hostility to the EU and are intent on returning Europe to an era of self-destructive nationalism. This is a dangerously misguided goal, given that achieving it will ultimately make America itself much weaker and more isolated… 

“For the first time in eight decades, Europe will be left to its own devices. Europeans will have to decide their own fate and take responsibility for their own security. This might seem like a trivial remark if it were not for Europe’s uniquely bloody history. The U.S. withdrawal from the European theater of operations after World War I set the stage for Hitler’s rise to power and, ultimately, for World War II. Had the world’s leading military and economic power remained in Europe during the interwar years, German revanchism would have had no chance of success. It was this lesson that the World War II generation learned from the war and applied in the postwar period. U.S. President Harry S. Truman maintained a strong U.S. presence in Europe not only to counter the threat from Stalin’s Red Army – which stood in Berlin, the center of Europe – but also to allay European fears of German revanchism… It was America’s presence on the continent that allowed the eventual reunification of Germany and the eastward expansion of NATO and the EU. Without it, Europe as we know it would never have emerged. 

“So what does the post-American future hold for Europe? Will it be able to ensure its security and maintain its unity without the US? For Germany, which has its own history of hegemonic aspirations on the continent, America’s departure raises difficult questions… The growing popularity of the far-right Alternative for Germany party shows that nothing can be taken for granted. As for the question of who will lead Europe, there is no alternative to Germany and France… 

“The question arises: do the Americans realize that they are destroying the greatest diplomatic success in their history, as well as significantly weakening the foundation of American power and prosperity? There is no reason to believe that the U.S. can simply abandon its strategic partner without incurring any costs… The long period of American protectorate has come to an end under Trump, and it is not coming back. Europe must now chart its own course.” 

Is a Chancellor Swap Now Imminent? 

Nius reported on April 24: 

“The coalition’s disastrous policies have severely damaged Friedrich Merz’s reputation—both among the public and within his own party… A specific strategy is currently making the rounds: replacing Chancellor Friedrich Merz, modeled after the chancellor swap involving Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt (both SPD) in 1974. 

“At that time, the federal government was rocked by the scandal surrounding the spy in the Chancellor’s office, Günter Guillaume. Behind the scenes, however, the governing parties—the SPD and FDP—had long been exasperated and disillusioned by the Chancellor’s chaotic governing style, which was foreseeably leading toward electoral defeat. In the background, SPD parliamentary group leader Herbert Wehner was pulling the strings, ultimately pressuring Brandt to resign. When Merz was ousted by Merkel in 2002, there were reportedly quite a few members within the parliamentary group who were relieved that the chaos associated with their former leader had finally come to an end. 

“The immediate catalyst for the rumors regarding a potential replacement of Chancellor Merz stems from reports detailing the proceedings of the crisis meeting at Villa Bordig—a meeting in which the Union parties reportedly entered negotiations in a completely disorganized and chaotic manner… 

“Following the heavy losses in the Bavarian municipal elections and the most recent opinion polls in North Rhine-Westphalia… it is said that efforts to replace Merz have likely been underway behind the scenes for some time now… Merz is failing to deliver politically, and the Union cannot win elections with him at the helm. Within the leadership of the NRW Union, there is currently no doubt being left that the CDU’s slump in the polls—along with the seemingly unstoppable rise of the AfD—can be laid squarely at Merz’s doorstep.” 

“When Union parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn (CDU, North Rhine-Westphalia) spoke on Sunday of the federal government currently merely ‘managing decline,’ many strategists pricked up their ears. In such a scenario involving a change of Chancellor, Spahn would play a pivotal role. He would have to steer the Union parliamentary group through this reshuffle, rally them behind the transition, and command the trust of the new Chancellor. 

“The most uncertain variable in these speculative scenarios is the role of the SPD. Behind the scenes, they would have to be persuaded to support the transition—even though, at first glance, a stronger Union Chancellor would appear to offer no advantage to party leader Lars Klingbeil and his comrades… Above all, CSU leader Markus Söder is rumored to harbor the greatest ambitions in this scenario: specifically, to prevent the CDU—following the missteps involving Armin Laschet and Friedrich Merz—from sending a third unsuitable candidate into the Chancellery. Moreover, it is no secret that Söder has for some time now shown palpable frustration with the incompetence on display in Berlin. Even CDU members with a declared aversion to the CSU privately concede that Söder and his state leadership have demonstrated extreme professionalism in their political, logistical, and strategic planning. 

“…These deliberations regarding a minority government and a change of Chancellor underscore the growing desperation within the Union—not only among the party base but also within the ranks of party officials…” 

Spahn More Popular Than Merz 

Der Tagesspiegel wrote on April 25: 

“‘I have learned a great deal over the past twelve months’: Jens Spahn was considered a precarious candidate, yet now he is more popular than the Chancellor. 

“Publicly, Jens Spahn is a polarizing figure; internally, however, the Union parliamentary group leader has managed to consolidate his position. After a year fraught with crises, his re-election suddenly appears certain…” 

Also, AfD’s popularity has exceeded Merz’s party (CDU) by 5%. 

Europe Preparing for Nuclear War With Russia?

Natural News wrote on April 24: 

“France and Poland… are preparing joint military exercises that simulate both conventional and nuclear strikes against Russia and Belarus… President Emmanuel Macron’s push to extend France’s ‘nuclear umbrella’ over other European states, combined with Poland’s willingness to host French Rafale fighters armed with nuclear warheads, signals a fundamental shift in European security dynamics…

“The planned exercises represent a break from NATO’s traditional decision-making structure… It suggests that France and Poland are not simply acting within existing alliance frameworks but are forging a separate nuclear partnership capable of independent action… 

“Macron announced earlier this year ‘a new phase in French deterrence,’ a historic shift that would see other European countries play an enlarged role in what France calls forward deterrence. Cooperation includes Poland, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden… 

“Simultaneously, Finland’s parliament took up a bill to allow the import and storage of nuclear weapons on Finnish territory… The timing of these developments is not coincidental 

“Russia possesses approximately 7,000 nuclear warheads… France holds roughly 300… France and Poland are gambling that nuclear escalation will deter Russia rather than provoke it. History offers little comfort. Napoleon’s invasion of Russia ended with Russian troops occupying Paris in 1814. The same territories now hosting French nuclear fighters saw Russian soldiers march through their streets two centuries ago. Some lessons are slow to learn.” 

Hitler’s attack on Russia ended likewise in Germany’s defeat. 

Germany Stronger Because of Ukraine War 

RBC-Ukraine wrote on April 24: 

“Russia’s war in Ukraine has triggered an unprecedented surge in military technology development, with a pace that would have been impossible in peacetime, said German Chancellor Fredrich Merz at a press conference during a summit in Cyprus…. ‘We are witnessing military-technological development advancing at a speed that would not have happened without this war. And in that, despite all the tragedy of this war and the terrible pain, there is also a great opportunity that we will use,’ the Chancellor said… 

“Germany’s first-ever comprehensive military strategy… provides for large-scale reform of the Bundeswehr to transform it into the most powerful conventional army on the continent, capable of sustained defense…. Germany has significantly shifted its position on supplying weapons to Ukraine over the past two years… Germany had become one of the leading suppliers of armored vehicles, air defense systems, and ammunition, despite ongoing attempts by Russia to sow divisions within Europe.” 

Bavarian Premier Söder Calls for Compulsory Military Service 

Deutsche Welle reported on April 26: 

“Bavaria’s conservative State Premier Markus Söder has criticized the government’s plan to boost the number of people enlisting in the armed forces, saying that the only thing that will work is compulsory military service. ‘For us it’s very clear: If the Bundeswehr is to become the biggest army in Europe, then there’s no way around military service,’ Söder told Bild newspaper. 

“‘With volunteers alone we won’t achieve the necessary security our country needs. And security is the prerequisite for freedom,’ he said, adding: ‘That’s why military service needs to come as soon as possible.’” 

And sadly, it will. 

Israel Awaits Green Light From US to Resume War 

Focus reported on April 23: 

“According to Defense Minister Israel Katz, Israel is ‘ready to resume the war against Iran.’ Israel is awaiting a green light from the US, he said… The targets have already been identified. 

“The primary objective is to definitively dismantle ‘the Khamenei dynasty’ and to destroy key energy and power facilities, as well as the national economic infrastructure. Katz spoke of sending Iran ‘back to the Stone Age.'” 

Israel Owes A Lot of Money 

Calcalist wrote on April 29: 

“The Ministry of Defense owes the three major defense companies, Rafael, Israel Aerospace Industries, and Elbit Systems, an unprecedented sum of about NIS 13 billion ($4.3 billion)… Executives in the defense industries have expressed dissatisfaction with the continued practice of delayed payments… 

“The expansion of interceptor missile production earlier this year was made possible only after an exceptional commitment by Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram, guaranteeing that the state would repay the company for the missiles ordered.” 

“Mocking God” 

The Christian Post wrote on April 22: 

“The official X account of Israel, which is run by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, promoted an upcoming four-day LGBTQ+ pride festival in June at the Dead Sea, which some detractors on social media noted is the traditional location of Sodom and Gomorrah. ‘Pride rises at the lowest place on earth,’ the Monday post read. ‘This June the Dead Sea becomes Pride Land, the biggest LGBTQ+ festival ever in the Middle East. Four days of nonstop celebration community and connection. Israel celebrates its LGBTQ+ community bigger than ever.’ 

“‘Pride Land,’ which is slated to celebrate LGBT behavior from June 1-4, will transform a part of the Judaean Desert near the Dead Sea into a 24-hour city with 15 hotels, beach facilities and a central performance arena that will host continuous entertainment from prominent Israeli performers… 

“The promotion of the event by Israel’s official X account prompted significant backlash on social media, including from Christians who saw the event’s location as an affront to God and a mockery of the Bible. Some users pointed out that the southern region of the Dead Sea has traditionally been considered the site of Sodom, Gomorrah and the other cities of the plain that God destroyed with fire and brimstone because of their rampant sexual perversion, according to Genesis 19… 

“The Pride Land event comes as Israel attempts to revitalize its flagging tourism amid the war against Iran and its proxies in the region…” 

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

Israel “PROHIBITED” by the US From Bombing Lebanon, and Strait of Hormuz Open?

The Guardian wrote on April 16:

“A half hour after posting that the US naval blockade on Iran was still in effect [and will remain in full force until a deal is reached with Iran], Donald Trump posted that ‘Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer’. ‘They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!! Thank you!’ the US president wrote…” 

Netanyahu Stunned and Alarmed 

Newsmax reported on April 18: 

“Israel sought clarification from the White House following a statement by President Donald Trump in which he said Israel had been ‘prohibited’ from carrying out airstrikes in Lebanon… Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly ‘stunned and alarmed’ by Trump’s statement and learned of it from the media…. A U.S. official later clarified Trump’s remarks, telling The Times of Israel that the ‘ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel clearly states that Israel will not carry out any offensive military operations against Lebanese targets but preserves its right to self-defense against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.’… 

“Trump announced the agreement as a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. However, Israel has not been fighting with Lebanon itself, but rather with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants inside the country, who were not formally part of the agreement… [Netanyahu] said Israeli troops would not withdraw… [but would] extend six miles into Lebanon. ‘That is where we are, and we are not leaving,’ he said.’” 

Trump and Netanyahu don’t see eye to eye. Who will prevail in that fight? 

Lebanon Not the Problem

The Jerusalem Post wrote on April 17: 

“The breakthrough in Israel-Lebanon talks is that both sides now agree that Hezbollah is the problem, but whether Lebanon can do anything about it is a different question…  it’s nice to have hope… but it’s dangerous to have illusions, or to create them…. 

“The problem is that Lebanon – or, more precisely, the government of Lebanon – is not the problem. It is not the one ordering the rocket and drone attacks on Israel. Hezbollah is doing that, and it is taking its orders from Iran. Israel and Lebanon can talk all they want, but if Lebanon cannot force its will on Hezbollah, then what is it worth?…  if the Lebanese government cannot even implement an order to expel a diplomat [Iran’s ambassador] it itself declared persona non grata, how in the world is it going to disarm Hezbollah?” 

The deal, brokered by the US and France, requires the Lebanese government to prevent Hezbollah from attacking Israel. This is a non-starter. Also, Hezbollah approved the ceasefire deal but demanded full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, which Netanyahu rejected. 

Closed Again 

Thomson/Reuters wrote on April 17: 

“Merchant ‌vessels attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday received radio messages from Iran’s navy telling them they were not allowed to pass, while two ships reported being hit by gunfire… ‘Attention all ships, ⁠regarding ⁠the failure of the U.S. government to fulfill its commitment in the negotiation [including lifting its blockade], Iran declares the ‌Strait of Hormuz completely closed again. No vessel of any type or nationality is allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,’ the radio ‌message said. 

“Hundreds of ships and about ‌20,000 seafarers remain stranded in the Gulf, waiting to pass through the key waterway…” 

Even after Iran temporarily opened the Strait and before it closed it again, oil tankers remained cautious about sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. A number of tankers and cargo ships tried to exit the strait on Friday via the route designated by Iran around Larak Island, but they suddenly turned back. 

The Sun wrote on April 18:

“Tehran is yet to agree to a second round of negotiations, a source told Iranian state TV, adding that the regime will not waste its time with America’s ‘excessive demands’…. Trump warned the US will resume its bombing campaign in Iran if peace is not reached by Wednesday…”

Trump Threatens AGAIN…

Newsmax wrote on April 19: 

“President Donald Trump on Sunday morning threatened to ‘knock out every single power plant and every single bridge’ in Iran unless the country’s leaders accept a ‘very reasonable deal’ offered by the United States.” 

The Algemeiner added on April 19: 

“Iran rejected new peace talks with the United States, its state news agency reported on Sunday, hours after US President Donald Trump said he was sending envoys for talks in Pakistan [JD Vance, Kushner and Witkoff] and would launch new strikes on Iran unless it accepts his terms.” 

Trump Extends Ceasefire… Again! 

The Independent wrote on April 21:

“President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the U.S. would extend its ceasefire with Iran that was due to expire tomorrow, at the request of Pakistani authorities… The president’s latest walk-back of his threats to resume the U.S. air campaign against Tehran comes hours after he told CNBC he was not inclined to agree to any extension of the ceasefire…

“For their part, Tehran’s negotiators had refused to participate in the sessions unless Trump had lifted the blockade of Iran’s ports… [Trump said he would not end the blockade]. Tuesday’s announcement is just the most recent in a series of reversals, which critics have come to give the derisive acronym TACO (‘Trump Always Chickens Out’) that have characterized Trump’s second bite at the apple of presidential power….

“The ceasefire extension echoes his decision to announce the ceasefire agreement on April 7, hours ahead of a self-imposed deadline before he ordered U.S. forces to bomb Iranian civilian infrastructure.”

Further, the White House confirmed the US team (JD Vance, Kushner and Witkoff] would not be traveling to Pakistan on Tuesday. So, no talks, but a fragile “ceasefire”? Trump’s declarations of intent cannot be trusted. 

Iran Seizes Two Cargo Ships

The U.S. Sun wrote on April 22:

“IRAN has claimed it seized two cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz and fired at a third, just hours after Donald Trump extended a ceasefire with the rogue nation… Hopes of a deal to end the war were dashed as the rogue state inflicted ‘heavy damage’ on one ship as the crew dived for cover…

“Iran shot at and seized the ships, despite Trump’s claims to have wiped out the threat posed by the Revolutionary Guard’s navy.”

“Trump’s Blockade COLLAPSES”

Daily Mail wrote on April 22:

“Donald Trump’s naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is unraveling after dozens of Iranian vessels secretly slipped past US surveillance… Approximately 34 Iranian oil tankers have slipped through the blockade, with 19 vessels exiting the Persian Gulf past Trump’s navy and another 15 ships entering from the Arabian Sea toward Iran… Six of those tankers were smuggling Iranian crude oil totaling 10.7 million barrels, estimated to be worth approximately $910 million in revenue for the regime. ..

“As reports of Iranian gunfire on three container ships emerged, oil prices rose with Brent crude futures up to $99.21 a barrel. Gas prices in the US have skyrocketed to above $4 a gallon as polling suggests the public is turning against Trump’s war… Senior officials say Trump seemed wary about prolonging the conflict because of how deeply unpopular it is with the American public.”

The Huffington Post wrote on April 23:

“Iran flaunted its tightened grip over the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday with video of its commandos storming a huge cargo ship, after the collapse of peace talks.”

America’s Concessions… But Iran Unwilling to Concede 

The Daily Mail wrote on April 6: 

“US officials have said that Washington and Tehran are negotiating a three-page plan to end the war, which could see Iran surrender its enriched uranium in exchange for $20 billion in unfrozen funds… 

“There has been no confirmation from Iran, however, that it made this concession… ‘Iran clearly wants the $20 billion — and a lot more. They clearly want to sell oil at free-market rates without sanctions. They want to participate in the global financial system. But they also want to have this nuclear weapons program,’ one official said. The official added: ‘They want to fund terrorists like Hamas. And they don’t want to give that up enough to get the things we’re offering.’”

Trump later declared that Iran won’t get $20 billion in unfrozen funds. Iran denied Trump’s claim that it was ready to surrender nuclear materials, saying those materials are located on Iran’s holy ground and cannot be given away.

Chaos Inside the White House 

The Guardian wrote on April 19: 

“… the US president’s chaotic approach to diplomacy doubles the need for Tehran to act calmly and strategically – two competencies it believes he totally lacks. 

“Such is the distrust and fog surrounding relations between Iran and the US that no one can know whether Trump… has once again decided to use diplomacy as a giant smokescreen prior to a further military attack on Iran… 

“…in a series of tweets on Friday Trump… gave the impression that Iran had surrendered. The backlash that followed in Tehran on Friday was inevitable… the leader of Iran’s delegation to Islamabad, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf,… accused Trump of telling lies… 

“The sense of unbridled chaos inside the White House was only underlined by a flurry of conflicting reports as to whether the vice-president, JD Vance, was to attend… None of this brings either side closer to the solving the substantive problem of how to address Iran’s determination to maintain a right to enrich uranium on Iranian soil…”

It gets worse. Note the next article.

Trump Was Screaming at Aides for Hours 

The Independent wrote on April 19: 

“When President Donald Trump learned that two American pilots had gone missing in Iran on Good Friday, he ‘screamed at aides for hours’ and was then ‘kept out of the room’ while his team was given minute-by-minute updates, according to a report [by the Wall Street Journal]…. ‘Images of the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis—one of the biggest international policy failures of a presidency in recent times—had been looming large in his mind,’ The Journal reported…. ‘Aides kept the president out of the room because they believed his impatience wouldn’t be helpful,’ the official told the newspaper…. 

“Trump boasted about the success of the mission on Truth Social at around midnight and went to bed at 2 a.m., according to the WSJ… The next morning, Trump ordered Iran to ‘open the F***in’ Strait, you crazy b*******, or you’ll be living in Hell,’ in an expletive-laden post that ended with ‘Praise be to Allah.’ On April 7, Trump threatened that a ‘whole civilization will die tonight’ unless Iran agreed to open the strait…. The comments prompted global alarm and caused concerned lawmakers to contact the White House to inquire about the president’s state of mind, according to the newspaper.”

Trump later said that he sent out his provocative note with his foul language and the desecration of Allah so that he would be viewed as being mentally unstable, as to deceive his enemy and have them guess as to what he would do next. Apart from the doubtfulness of his “defense,” he did not have to send out that note so that people would reach that conclusion.

Trump: No Need for NATO Help 

The Daily Mail wrote on April 6: 

“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that his country was prepared to contribute to a mission ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that input from the United States would also be ‘desirable’… [and] that this could include… mine clearing. 

“’We will therefore take part in the further military planning discussions that are taking place…’ 

It comes after Trump wrote on Truth Social: ‘Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help. I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL. They were useless when needed, a Paper Tiger! President DJT’ 

Trump also said that the US/UK relationship is “not good, not good at all.” Friedrich Merz claimed that only he and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte can still talk to Trump. What does this say about the strength of Merz and Rutte?

New Rifts Between Washington, Europe, the Vatican, and Israel 

The Jerusalem Post wrote on April 16: 

“In a matter of days, tensions have surfaced simultaneously across different arenas: the United States has openly criticized its European allies for what it sees as a lack of support; Italy has recalibrated its position toward Israel following a series of incidents in Lebanon; and an unusually direct confrontation has emerged between Washington and the Vatican…

“The deterioration in relations between Italy and Israel must be understood as a gradual escalation rather than a single decision point… The disagreement between Washington and European capitals over Iran… reflects long-standing differences in strategic culture, threat perception, and political capacity that the war has brought into sharper focus… 

“Trade between the European Union and Iran… still exists, and European governments continue to weigh the economic consequences of escalation… Germany earns about €1.2 billion from exports to Iran and imports roughly €200 million in Iranian goods, while Italy exports around €700 million to Iran and imports about €170 million… Iran seeks to destroy Israel, not Italy or Germany… 

“From Washington’s perspective, European restraint is not interpreted as strategic caution but as a failure to meet alliance expectations. The Trump administration has framed the issue in terms of burden-sharing, arguing that European allies have benefited from American security guarantees while declining to support US-led efforts in the current conflict… 

“The tensions reached their most visible point in the overlapping confrontation involving President Trump, Meloni, and Pope Leo XIV… The feud with the Vatican is not just another Trump spectacle. It matters because the Holy See occupies a distinctive place in international politics… Massimo Faggioli, a professor of theology and religious studies at Trinity College Dublin, told The Media Line that President Trump’s posture reflected political self-legitimization. ‘It is the picture of a presidency that sees itself with a religious function… it is covered with a messianic cloak. Trump believes he is the savior of America, the savior of the Middle East, the savior of the world.’… 

“Taken together, these developments point to a broader transformation rather than a temporary rupture… This means that NATO loses importance… The Iran war did not create this shift. It exposed it.” 

Rejected by Everyone 

Politico wrote on April 20: 

“The Iran war is damaging America’s influence around the world and exacerbating tensions… an erosion of power that could be tough to reverse… 

“The war appears to be accelerating what some see as a U.S. break-up with much of the rest of the planet…” 

“When an Amateur Wages War” 

ntv wrote on April 12: 

“A golfer—indifferent to the world, to facts, and to science—rules the most powerful country on Earth like an autocrat… 

“We can safely assume that the man in the White House unwaveringly believes in his own absurd self-assessments… ‘We have had a regime change,’ Trump declared regarding the fact that numerous figures who had previously been influential spokespersons within Iran’s political, military, Revolutionary Guard, and intelligence circles had lost their lives. The executions of insurgents serve as proof that the ‘barbarians in Tehran’ have not lost an ounce of their domestic power. ‘Iranian patriots, keep protesting!’ Trump had urged the courageous demonstrators via Truth Social in mid-January. ‘Help is on the way.’ The opposition has been waiting for that help to this day. Anyone who relies on Trump is left in the lurch. Europe and NATO are feeling the effects of this as well… 

“Trump has no boldly hatched plan—or any plan at all, for that matter. The only thing that drives him is generating headlines, so that he can dominate the news cycle every day and feel vindicated in his belief that he is a brilliant leader.”

“Trump’s most effective tactic is retaliation. He vows revenge against anyone who does not fall in line—imposing a tariff here, issuing a threat to cut off military aid there. The man may possess a certain street smarts; yet in the realm of global politics, he has so far proven himself to be clueless and incompetent… To this day, Trump fails to even grasp that NATO is a defensive alliance, not a coalition for waging wars… 

“Reports emerging from the U.S.—suggesting that intelligence officials and military leaders no longer dare to present the President with findings and facts that do not suit his agenda—appear entirely plausible… U.S. ‘War Secretary’ Pete Hegseth serves as the archetype of these absurd figures. His public appearances—his effusive paeans of praise to Trump—are so preposterous that one can scarcely distinguish them from satire… 

“Trump has maneuvered himself into a dead end… The beneficiary of this fiasco is China, along with its allies, Russia and Iran… This tripartite alliance… flanked by North Korea and economically closely linked with India—poses a formidable challenge to the United States… 

“The conflict with Iran has exposed just how easily the U.S. President can be defeated. All it takes is driving up oil prices… On the stock market, a term for this phenomenon has already emerged: TACO. The acronym stands for ‘Trump Always Chickens Out’—or, loosely translated: Trump always folds. Iran grasped this reality very quickly and translated it into policy. Other nations will undoubtedly follow suit. A development that renders the world an even more precarious place…” 

EU Military Plans… 

Inbox.Iv wrote on April 17: 

“Serious discontent is growing within the North Atlantic Alliance due to a number of defense initiatives proposed by the European Union. According to the Financial Times, NATO is particularly irritated by projects such as the ‘drone wall’ and plans to strengthen the EU’s central military headquarters. According to the publication, alliance officials see these steps as an attempt by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to establish herself as the key architect of Europe’s militarization. In NATO, such initiatives are perceived as an effort to make rearmament the main element of her political legacy. 

“The European Union is steadily and systematically enhancing the military component of its foreign and domestic policy. In the spring of 2025, a colossal rearmament plan… was unanimously approved at an emergency summit in Brussels, with a budget of a staggering 800 billion euros. This ambitious plan includes joint arms procuremen…”

… Without USA

RBC wrote on April 17: 

“The European Union will hold its first large-scale exercises on activating the mutual assistance mechanism in the event of armed aggression against one of its member states…   

“The purpose of the exercises is to test Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty, which obliges member states to provide assistance by ‘all means in their power’ in the event of an attack on the territory of one of them. This wording is considered legally stricter than Article 5 of the NATO Charter, which only requires allies to take actions they ‘deem necessary.’… 

“The need to implement defence guarantees has become more relevant amid growing tensions in transatlantic relations. In particular, this includes threats by US President Donald Trump to withdraw from NATO and his statements regarding Greenland…. In recent months, discussions about Europe’s autonomous defence capabilities have intensified significantly. In particular, the Wall Street Journal reported that European countries have begun secretly developing a plan B in case the US withdraws from NATO… 

“In addition, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has directly stated that the EU should move towards creating its own army and deeper defence integration in order to take security matters into its own hands… NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed during talks in Brussels the need to urgently accelerate weapons production in Europe…” 

Euractiv wrote on April 17 that “EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius on Friday proposed a new intergovernmental European treaty to create a defense union and prepare the bloc to defend itself.”

Sebastian Kurz on Friedrich Merz 

Die Welt reported on April 11: 

“Former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz warns of ‘massive rifts’ within NATO in light of the conflict involving Iran. ‘Regardless of who is President in America, I do not believe that, in the medium term, it will be possible for the USA to stand by the European Union’s side whenever we happen to want them to—for example, in Ukraine’s defensive war against Russia,’ Kurz said in an interview with Business Insider and WELT AM SONNTAG… 

“Kurz considers Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s stance on the conflict involving Iran to be misguided. Merz had stated: ‘Germany is not a party to this war, nor do we wish to become one.’ Kurz countered…: ‘It is crucial that the European Union—and, above all, the NATO member states—make a fundamental decision regarding how cooperation with the USA is to proceed in the future.’ He argued that this conflict involving Iran affects Europe just as profoundly as the war in Ukraine… 

“Following his withdrawal from politics, Kurz worked—among other roles—as an advisor for Thiel Capital, the firm founded by Silicon Valley investor Peter Thiel. In 2022, he co-founded the company Dream Security alongside Shalev Hulio. By 2025, the start-up was valued at 1.1 billion US dollars. Kurz himself holds a 15 percent stake in the company. 

“Dream’s AI models were able to uncover, for instance, a cyber-espionage campaign orchestrated by Iran that aimed to sabotage negotiations regarding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages. Using disguised emails, diplomats from Oman, Egypt and the USA, were able to spy on and falsify their communications in real time.”

“U.S. Nuclear Scientist LEAKS Trump’s SENSATIONAL IRAN Plan”

The Times of India wrote on April 22: 

“A shocking undercover video has put the US military under scrutiny after a senior nuclear official was caught allegedly revealing sensitive details about war operations and chemical weapons. The footage, now viral, shows the official speaking casually about nuclear systems, missile detection, and even potential plans involving Iran’s leadership. The claims go further, touching on nerve agents, civilian casualties, and internal safety failures. The US Army has reacted swiftly, placing the official on administrative leave and launching an investigation. 

“However, the incident has triggered deeper concerns about how securely critical information is handled. It also raises uncomfortable questions about the gap between official policy and what may be happening behind closed doors. At a time when tensions with Iran remain volatile, this leak is not just a scandal. It is a moment that could reshape perceptions about US military conduct, transparency, and the risks of sensitive information slipping into the public domain.”

When the President Pulls the Nuclear Trigger 

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on April 17: 

“Larry Johnson is reporting ‘shocking details of what is going on behind the scene at the White House [where] Donald Trump began exhibiting signs of early dementia in September 2025… He frequently confabulates [In psychology, it describes when a person unintentionally creates false memories to fill gaps, often seen in dementia or brain injuries. Synonyms include chats, converses, gossips, confers, or consults. Examples include casual chatting or fabricating memories.] … he routinely loses his temper and unleashes screaming rants, and he is incapable of doing critical thinking. [As a result] Trump’s senior White House staff are behaving like children with an abusive, drug-addled father… i.e., they walk on egg shells fearful of saying anything that might ignite Trump’s rage.’ 

“… Beyond his mental breakdown, Trump’s foreign and domestic policies are characterized by their belligerency [a generally hostile or aggressive attitude], full of threats directed against imaginary enemies, friends and allies unwilling to go to war for nothing, and anyone in the media or among the public who dares to criticize what comes out of the White House… 

“… Trump is full of threats to ‘obliterate’ foreign countries, and includes unconscionable diatribes [bitter, angry and abusive speeches] against folks like the Roman Catholic Pope Leo for daring to ask for an end to wars and to seek peaceful coexistence among nations. After Trump posted an Artificial Intelligence picture of himself as Jesus, the Pope argued ‘Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.’.. 

“Trump is also outraging America’s former loyal allies in NATO… But unfortunately there is much more than the trading of insults at stake in the Donald Trump debacle… 

“So for the benefit of all those, like myself, who want to learn what happens when the United States President pushes the so-called button or pulls the trigger, whichever metaphor one prefers, to start a nuclear war, I will outline what I have discovered. The biggest surprise to me was that there are not really any checks and balances on what takes place to make sure that no president is making a mistake or exceeding authority to go nuclear. Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution states that ‘The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States’ and both courts and legal scholars have long interpreted this clause as giving the President direct command over military operations, including decisions about when and how to use specific weapons. Indeed, no statute or constitutional provision requires the President to get approval from anyone else before ordering a nuclear strike… he has absolute authority to launch when, in his or her judgement, there is a proportionate imminent threat coming from a hostile state…

“… in practice, every President retains the physical ability to order a first strike without asking Congress first as the launch system does not distinguish between retaliatory and first-use orders. The button to push is located on an electronic ‘nuclear football’ that is carried around in close proximity to wherever the president is at by a military aide… the fact is that Donald Trump… could no doubt both legally and practically initiate a nuclear weapons attack on Iran or any other country based on his ‘feelings’ about what is going on with that country’s foreign policy. In shaping any such a judgement he will no doubt have plenty of false information fed to him…

“Trump, to be sure, is the second president in a row who has not been of sound mind and the danger that he might stumble into doing something awful is all too real…”

The author is apparently referring to Biden and Trump as two presidents in a row who have not been of a sound mind. However, studies suggest that half of all presidents suffered from mental illness. If a president is perceived as acting irrationally and willing to use nuclear weapons against an “enemy,” it is not unreasonable to assume that the “enemy” will strike first, preemptively with nuclear weapons. A nuclear war between Europe and the USA is prophesied. Time will show HOW this war is triggered. 

Franklin Graham’s “Defense” of Trump 

The Huffington Post wrote on April 17: 

“On Thursday, Franklin Graham… a longtime prominent ally of Trump… took to X to vehemently defend President Donald Trump for posting an AI-generated image that depicted him as a Jesus-like figure earlier in the week… He… said he was ‘thankful’ that Trump had since made it ‘very clear’ that he believed the AI image depicted him as a doctor ‘helping someone,’ not Jesus…. 

“Graham suggested on X that he didn’t come to the same conclusions as just about everyone else who thought Trump was depicting himself as Jesus…. Graham went on to defend another Jesus post that Trump shared on Truth Social… Graham said he liked the image.” 

Graham’s statements are to be rejected as being strictly political. Trump lied about his posts, and Graham should recognize this. After Trump admitted that he sent out the image of him being Jesus, but it allegedly depicted him as a doctor, he denied posting it a day later. One lie followed the next lie. 

Tucker Carlson: Is Trump the Antichrist? 

The Wrap wrote on April 18: 

“Tucker Carlson is beginning to wonder if Donald Trump might be the Antichrist… ‘Here’s a leader who’s mocking the gods of his ancestors, mocking the God of gods and exalting himself above them. Could this be the Antichrist? Well, who knows?…’” 

MSN added on April 18: 

“Carlson read from Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, describing a ‘man of lawlessness’ who opposes God and exalts himself, often linked in Christian teaching to the Antichrist. He also cited the Book of Daniel’s prophecy of a ruler who acts as he pleases, speaks against God, and elevates himself above all gods. Carlson suggested Trump’s behaviour, including self-promotional religious imagery, could fit these descriptions, though he left the question open-ended.” 

The passage in 2 Thessalonians does not depict “the Antichrist,” if it is interpreted to mean the “beast” in the Book of Revelation, but it speaks about the false prophet who will sit in the temple of God [to be built in Jerusalem prior to Christ’s return], proclaiming to be God (or that he is Jesus Christ who has allegedly returned). The passage in the book of Daniel 11 does however depict the beast. Trump is not “the Antichrist” or the beast, but the Bible speaks about many “antichrists” who have risen…false messengers who proclaim a teaching opposed to the true Jesus of the Bible. 1 John 4:3 reads: “And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” 2 John 7 reads: “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh [that Christ lives today in His disciples]. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

Pope Leo’s False Message

EWTN wrote on April 13:

“‘The Sunday Eucharist is indispensable for Christian life,’ Pope Leo XIV said before reciting the Marian prayer of the Regina Caeli on April 12 in St. Peterʼs Square… ‘Faced with the offer to save their lives on the condition that they renounce celebrating the Eucharist, they [some martyrs of the early African Church] replied that they could not live without celebrating the Lord’s Day… For this reason, on the “eighth day,” that is, every Sunday, the Church invites us to do as the first disciples did: to gather together and celebrate the Eucharist as one,’ he said…. ‘May the Virgin Mary help us to do this — she who is blessed because she was the first to believe without seeing,’ he said.”

The pope’s comments are filled with errors. Sunday is the first day of the week, not the eighth day, nor is Sunday the “Lord’s Day.” Christ said that He is the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). The Eucharist is not a biblical concept either. Christ commanded His disciples to partake of the Passover once a year, not participating in an “Eucharist” every Sunday. The disciples did not assemble on Sunday for worship services, nor did they celebrate the “Eucharist” together on Sunday. They continued to assemble on the Sabbath to keep it holy. (See our previous Update #1202 and the article, “A Christian Bishop’s Confession: We Changed God’s Sabbath”.)

The “Virgin Mary” – Mary did not stay a virgin after her conception of Jesus – was most certainly not the first one to believe without seeing. She believed that she would bear a Son—Jesus—but she did not believe Him (she even thought at times that he was mad) until she became converted and received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost in 31 AD.  Please read our free booklet, “Jesus Christ—a Great Mystery.” 

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

God Rejects Prayers of Bloody Men!

Reuters and the Algemeiner wrote on March 29:

“Pope Leo said on Sunday that God rejects the prayers of leaders who start wars and have ‘hands full of blood,’ in unusually forceful remarks…the pontiff… said Jesus cannot be used to justify any wars… ‘(Jesus) does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: “Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood”’…

“Some US officials have invoked Christian language to justify the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 that initiated the expanding war. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has started leading Christian prayer services at the Pentagon, prayed at a service on Wednesday for ‘overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.’

“Leo referenced a Bible passage in which Jesus, about to be arrested ahead of his crucifixion, rebuked one of his followers for striking the person arresting him with a sword. ‘(Jesus) did not arm himself, or defend himself, or fight any war,’ Leo said…” 

Hegseth—the “Christian” Crusader? 

The Hill wrote on March 29:

“During his briefing on the Iran war last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested that Americans take a knee and pray to Jesus for the success of U.S. forces in the Middle East. A few days later, he read out a sermon praying that ‘wicked souls’ be ‘delivered to the eternal damnation’ in the fight against Iran. The Defense secretary has increasingly used his bully pulpit to promote his combative, controversial brand of Christianity….

“Hegseth quite literally wears his Christian faith on his sleeve, with a tattoo on his arm of the words ‘Deus Vult,’ or ‘God wills it’ — a motto from the Crusades — as well as a tattoo on his chest depicting a Jerusalem cross. Both are associated with extremists and the Christian right.”

Nothing Wrong With Praying for Those Who Fight in War?

Barrons wrote on March 30:

“The White House on Monday defended praying for US troops engaged in the Iran war after Pope Leo XIV warned that God rejects the prayers ‘of those who wage war.’ ‘I don’t think there is anything wrong with our military leaders or with the president calling on the American people to pray for our servicemembers and those who are serving our country overseas,’ Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters in response to a question about the pontiff’s comments… 

“In response to the pope’s comments, Leavitt — who is Catholic, along with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio — said the United States was founded on Judeo-Christian values. Leaders and troops have prayed ‘during the most turbulent times in our nation’s history, and if you talk to many servicemembers they will tell you they appreciate the prayers,’ she added. ‘In fact, I think it’s a very noble thing to do.’” 

Read our free booklet, “Should YOU Fight in War?” 

Trump Bound For Heaven? 

Newsmax wrote on March 29:

“President Donald Trump shared a private letter on Truth Social on Palm Sunday in which evangelist Franklin Graham assured him about the fate of his soul, writing that it is ‘secure’ and that he is ‘bound for heaven’ if he accepts Jesus Christ. Graham, the son of the late Billy Graham and a longtime evangelical ally of Trump, sent the letter on Oct. 15 after the president jokingly questioned whether he would make it to heaven… ‘The only way to Heaven is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to earth, died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and God raised Him to life on the third day. If you accept that by faith and invite Him to come into your heart, you ARE heaven bound, I promise you.’ 

“In the letter, Graham also cited Romans 10:9: ‘If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.’… Graham has been a consistent supporter of Trump for years, signaling as early as 2011…”

Nothing could be further from the Truth.

Trump’s “Holy” War 

The Rutherford Institute wrote on March 31: 

“War has been dressed up in patriotism. Wrapped in Scripture. Called ‘righteous.’ Marketed as ‘peace through strength.’ But this is not a holy war. It is a political war dressed up as holy… the values animating America’s wars and power plays bear no resemblance to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

“Jesus said: Love your enemies. The government says: destroy them. Jesus said: Blessed are the peacemakers. The government says: blessed are the war-makers. Jesus said: Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me. The government cages the poor, criminalizes the homeless, bombs the foreigner, and calls it security.

“This is not a misunderstanding of Christianity. It is a deliberate rewriting of it. Consider the prayer offered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at a Pentagon worship service: ‘…Give … overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy. We ask these things with bold confidence in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ.’ No mercy. Spoken in the name of the Prince of Peace.

“This is not faith. This is blasphemy baptized in nationalism. It is the hijacking of religion to sanctify violence—the turning of the Sermon on the Mount into a war manual. It is also an attempt to recast modern warfare as a holy war—sanctioned by God, justified by faith, and beyond moral reproach. That idea is… un-Christian… 

“When government officials invoke God to justify violence, when military power is cloaked in religious language, when prayer becomes a tool of state policy—we are no longer dealing with freedom of religion…

“What we are witnessing is not Christianity. It is Christian nationalism—a counterfeit religion that wraps political power in religious language and calls it holy. It is idolatry of the nation masquerading as devotion to God… Yet today, far too many churches have traded prophecy for proximity to power. They have exchanged the cross for the flag…

“If Jesus walked into today’s halls of power—into the Pentagon, the White House, the halls of Congress—would He be welcomed? Or would He be surveilled, silenced, labeled a threat? Would He bless drone strikes and military parades?… This is the great moral crisis of our time. Not just that the government wages endless war, but that it dares to do so in the name of God—and too many cheer it on. 

“The early Christians understood something we have forgotten. Their allegiance was not to Rome. It was not to Caesar. It was not to the machinery of empire. Their allegiance was to a higher law. And for that, they were persecuted, imprisoned, executed. They did not seek to control the empire. 

“They refused to conform to it. Today, by contrast, much of the modern church has become indistinguishable from the power it once challenged. But the teachings of Jesus have not changed.”

Sadly, all of this is so true. 

Shameless Blasphemy 

Die Welt wrote on April 4: 

“Munich Cardinal Reinhard Marx has sharply criticized the misuse of religion to justify violence and war. It is a ‘shameless blasphemy’ when US Defense Secretary Pete Hegzeth prays that every bullet in the Iran war hits its mark, the archbishop said in his Easter Sunday sermon. 

“The same applies to the statement by Kirill I, the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow, who described the war of aggression launched by Russia against Ukraine as a ‘holy war.’”

Shameless blasphemy indeed!

Pentagon Threatens Vatican

Focus wrote on April 8:

“A few days after the Pope’s State of the World Address in early January, the Pentagon summoned a Vatican representative. US officials gave him a ‘bitter dressing-down,’ according to several US media outlets. Elbridge Colby, Under Secretary of Defense, reportedly told Cardinal Christophe Pierre: ‘The United States has the military power to do whatever it wants worldwide. The Catholic Church would be wise to side with them.’

“Another US official then reportedly brought up the ‘Avignon Papacy.’ This refers to a period in the 14th century when the French monarchy brought the Catholic Church under its control and later ordered an attack on Pope Boniface VIII, which led to his overthrow and subsequent death.

“The reason for the harsh action by US officials? They were dissatisfied with certain parts of Pope Leo’s speech… The Trump administration interpreted Leo’s statements as a hostile message toward the US… The Vatican was apparently so alarmed after the Pentagon meeting, which included a threat, that Pope Leo canceled a planned visit to the US. Several Vatican officials perceived the Pentagon’s reference to ‘the Avignon Papacy’ as a threat to ‘use military force against the Holy See’…

“But Pope Leo XIV doesn’t seem intimidated. He continues to comment on the global political situation and also on actions connected with the Trump administration… ‘As we all know, there was also this threat today [by Trump] against the entire people of Iran [to annihilate them with nuclear weapons], and that is truly unacceptable,’ said the head of approximately 1.4 billion Catholics…”

Franklin Graham’s Wrong Christianity 

Christian Post wrote on April 3: 

“Franklin Graham cited the Old Testament example of King David earlier this week to push back against Pope Leo XIV’s claim that God rejects the prayers of those who wage war… ‘King David, he prayed that God would train his hands how to fight his enemies. We know that God does take sides in history, certainly as it relates to biblical history. God gave great favor to David, great wisdom to David, every time he went into battle.’ Graham explained there are just wars, singling out World War II as an example…

“Avraham Burg, a native Israeli who briefly served as interim president of Israel in 2000 in his capacity as speaker of the Knesset… suggested Graham was misapplying the story of King David… ‘King David, yes, was a warrior, but he explicitly, in the Bible, was not granted to build the temple for the good Lord because, as the prophet [Nathan] said, “Your hands are full of blood.'”

Burg is right, while Graham is terribly wrong. 

Pope vs. Trump

The Associated Press wrote on April 12:

“President Donald Trump delivered an extraordinary broadside against Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night, saying he didn’t think the U.S.-born global leader of the Catholic Church is ‘doing a very good job’ and that ‘he’s a very liberal person,’ while also suggesting the pontiff should ‘stop catering to the Radical Left.’… 

“Trump’s comments came after Leo suggested over the weekend that a ‘delusion of omnipotence’ is fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran… 

“Later, Trump posted a picture suggesting he had saint-like powers akin to those of Jesus Christ. Wearing a biblical-style robe, Trump is seen laying hands on a bedridden man as light emanates from his fingers, while a soldier, a nurse, a praying woman and a bearded man in a baseball cap all look on admiringly. The sky above is filled with eagles, an American flag and vaporous images. 

“Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement saying he was ‘disheartened’ by Trump’s comments.” 

Trump’s Blasphemy 

The Daily Mail wrote on April 13:

“Conservatives are expressing outrage after Donald Trump posted an image portraying himself as Jesus Christ, forcing fractures among his evangelical base. After rebuking Pope Leo over the weekend following critical remarks that the President should be a ‘peacemaker’ amid the Iran war, Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as Christ. 

“The image shows Trump draped in white with a red shawl, placing his hands, glowing with a divine light, on a sick patient in a hospital bed as a soldier, a nurse and others look on in adoration. Behind him are some US motifs, like the Statue of Liberty and the American flag. Above him are what appear to be angels. One seems to have horns. 

“The post has since been deleted from the President’s Truth Social account. Trump later claimed that he believed the AI image depicted him as a doctor, telling reporters: ‘It wasn’t a depiction. I did post it and I thought it was me as a doctor. And had to do with Red Cross as a Red Cross worker, which we support and only the fake news could come up with that one. It’s supposed to be me as a doctor making people better and I do make people better.’…”

Not in a million years could this image be mistaken for Trump being a doctor.

The article continued:

“Trump’s ridicule of the Pope got the attention of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who piled on the controversy. ‘I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah,’ the Iranian official wrote. 

“Ex-Trump ally and Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene went further, saying the post is ‘more than blasphemy’ and that ‘it’s an Antichrist spirit.’ … Trump’s bashing of the Pope and ‘blasphemous’ comparison to Christ come despite his closest advisors’ Catholic and Christian beliefs. ..

“Outkick host Jon Root wrote: ‘This is blasphemous.’ ‘Trump portraying himself as Jesus Christ, descending from the clouds, healing the sick, with people praying to him, is reprehensible. If only there was a qualified leader of the White House Faith Office, and not a heretic, so this wouldn’t happen or at least would be called out,’ he continued.”  

Trump Removes His Blasphemous Image

The Guardian wrote on April 13:

“Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself to Truth Social on Sunday depicting him as a Jesus Christ-like figure, with divine light emanating from his hands as he heals a stricken man in a hospital bed with a demon from hell floating in the background. The president has since deleted the post, but not before facing the wrath of some of his most high-profile and loyal Christian supporters, many of whom have stood by the president through multiple other indiscretions and were unable to contain their righteous fury.

“Riley Gaines, Fox News host and conservative commentator, said she ‘cannot understand why he’d post this’. ‘Is he looking for a response? Does he actually think this? Either way, two things are true. 1) a little humility would serve him well 2) God shall not be mocked,’ she wrote on X. 

“Megan Basham, a writer at the conservative Daily Wire, called the post ‘OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy.’ ‘I don’t know if the President thought he was being funny or if he is under the influence of some substance [or some other influence] or what possible explanation he could have for this,’ she wrote. She demanded Trump ‘take this down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God’. Isabel Brown, a host on the same outlet, said he image was ‘disgusting and unacceptable… This post is, frankly, disgusting and unacceptable…’

“The AI-generated image Trump shared was not the original. The picture first appeared in early February, posted to X by Nick Adams, a conservative commentator with a history of sharing AI-generated, biblically themed Trump content. In Adams’s version, a silhouette of a US soldier stands in the background. In Trump’s version, that soldier has been photoshopped into a demonic figure with horns looming behind the president as he performs his miracle… 

“One user on X… captured the mood: ‘God, we might have made a mistake and accidentally elected the Antichrist. Send help.’”

More Blasphemies

The Independent wrote on April 3: 

“Paula White‑Cain, a televangelist who has served as Trump’s spiritual adviser across both his presidencies, used her Wednesday address to draw parallels between the legal battles and assassination attempts he has faced and the trials endured by Christ…. 

“However, the comparison has been branded ‘insanity’ on social media. Catholic theologian Rich Raho posted on X: ‘Blasphemous. It’s stunning to see a US Bishop standing right there on the stage while Paula White compares Trump to Jesus Christ.’… ‘As a Catholic, I find this woman completely sacrilegious and offensive on every possible level,’ another X user said.” 

It appeared at times that Paula White‑Cain could have been under demonic influence. 

“Pope Leo Decries World ‘Ravaged By Tyrants’”

The Associated Press wrote on April 16:

“Pope Leo blasted leaders who spend billions on wars and said the world was ‘being ravaged by a handful of tyrants,’ in unusually forceful remarks in Cameroon on Thursday…

“Leo… also decried leaders who used religious language to justify wars and urged a ‘decisive change of course’ in a meeting in the biggest city in Cameroon’s anglophone regions, where a simmering conflict going back nearly a decade has left thousands dead. ‘The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild,’ the pontiff said.”

“A Christian Bishop’s Confession: We Changed God’s Sabbath”

Israel 365 News published the following article by Bishop Jerry L. Bowers:

“In 365 AD, the Council of Laodicea issued an edict that should unsettle every serious Bible reader. Responding to pressure from the Roman Emperor Constantine — who wanted to unify pagan sun-worshipers and Christians under one imperial religion — the Church decreed: ‘Christians must not Judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honoring the Lord’s Day. But if any shall be found to be Judaizers, let them be anathema from Christ.’ 

“Any Christian who rested on Saturday — the day God Himself sanctified at creation — was to be cut off from the Church and from Christ. That edict reveals something important: church leaders would never have needed to threaten excommunication over a rest day unless large numbers of Christians were actually keeping it. The decree wasn’t addressed to pagans. It was addressed to Christians who knew the Fourth Commandment and were living by it. What Constantine and the Council of Laodicea did, under the banner of Christianity, was weaponize antisemitism to bury a commandment God called eternal. 

“…The Sabbath didn’t begin at Mount Sinai. It began in the Garden of Eden. After six days of creation, we are told: ‘God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it’ (Genesis 2:2-3). That first full day Adam spent on earth was a Sabbath — spent in the presence of his Creator. God was establishing a rhythm for human life: six days of work, one day of sacred rest and renewed relationship… This is why the Fourth Commandment, unlike any of the other nine, opens with a single striking word: ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy’ (Exodus 20:8). Remember — because it already existed. 

“God wasn’t introducing something new at Sinai. He was calling His people back to something they had abandoned. Christians have offered several reasons for setting aside the Sabbath. They deserve honest examination — and it’s worth saying upfront that Sunday worship is not the problem. Gathering to honor the risen Christ on Sunday reflects genuine faith and devotion. [The typical WRONG Catholic and Protestant human reasoning.] What the historical record shows is something different: not that Sunday was added, but that Saturday rest was actively forbidden — on pain of excommunication. That’s a different argument entirely… 

“The Sabbath predates the Jewish people by thousands of years. It was given to all mankind at creation. The Jewish people deserve enormous credit for preserving and honoring this day across nearly four millennia… but the day itself belongs to the whole human family.

“The letter to the Hebrews addresses it directly: ‘If Joshua had given them rest, then he would not have afterwards spoken of another day. Therefore, there remains a rest for the people of God. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest’ (Hebrews 4:8, 11). The writer is not describing eternal rest in heaven as a substitute for the weekly Sabbath. He is arguing that the Sabbath rest established at creation was never abolished… 

“There is only one day Jesus claimed as His own: ‘The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath’ (Matthew 12:8). He didn’t claim Sunday. He claimed the Sabbath. And He warned clearly against using tradition to override God’s commands: ‘You make the word of God of no effect through your tradition’ (Mark 7:13). 

“[In] Acts… ‘on the first day of the week’ Paul’s disciples gathered to break bread before his departure (Acts 20:7-8). But in the biblical reckoning of time, a day runs from sunset to sunset — placing this gathering on what we would call Saturday night. Paul was holding a farewell meeting before a journey. He was not inaugurating a new weekly worship practice. Throughout the book of Acts, the apostles consistently gathered with both Jews and Gentiles on the Sabbath (Acts 13:42-44; 18:4). There is no record anywhere of them announcing a change in the day of worship.

“What changed the day was not apostolic authority. It was imperial politics. Constantine’s edict in 321 AD mandated Sunday observance across his empire. The Council of Laodicea, under that pressure, issued the threat of excommunication. The Church had no authority to alter a commandment God placed in stone — and the history shows it knew the edict would be resisted, which is precisely why the threat was necessary…” 

His comments are absolutely correct, except for the Sunday resurrection narrative. 

Catholic Position on Timing of Resurrection 

Newsmax wrote on April 4: 

“Pope Leo led the world’s Catholics into Easter at a Saturday night vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and urged people not to feel numbed by the scope of the conflicts raging across the world but to work for peace… ‘Let us not allow ourselves to be paralyzed!’ the first U.S. pope exhorted in a service for the holiest night in the Catholic calendar, when the Bible says Jesus rose from the dead… 

“The pope will conclude his Easter celebrations on Sunday morning with a Mass in St. Peter’s Square…” 

Does this mean that the Catholic Church is admitting now that Jesus rose from the dead on Saturday [the “holiest night”], and not on Sunday? 

Automatic US Draft Registrations 

The Hill wrote on April 8: 

“Eligible men will automatically be registered into the military draft pool by December as part of an effort to streamline the previous process of self-registration and save money… Most men between the ages of 18 and 25 are already required to register with the Selective Service, but automatic registration was mandated in December 2025 as part of the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act… 

“Many have questioned whether a U.S. military draft could take place amid the war in Iran… Trump alone cannot bring back the draft through executive action, as Congress would need to pass legislation to amend the Military Selective Service Act to authorize the president to induct personnel into the military. 

“Still, failure to register in the draft is considered a crime and can prevent people from receiving state-funded financial aid and employment in numerous states, cause ineligibility for many federal employment opportunities and job training under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and can carry a fine of up to $250,000 and jail time for up to five years. In addition, immigrants who don’t register may lose their U.S. citizenship. 

“Under the new rule, men will be registered automatically within 30 days of their 18th birthdays. Women are still ineligible for the draft…” 

Only Four Weeks Left?

The Telegraph wrote on March 26: 

“Having gone to war with Iran declaring the ‘strength and might’ of the US military, Donald Trump is now in a race against time to extricate himself. After almost four weeks of war, the US is facing shortages of critical offensive and defensive weapons, inventory analysis shows… the US is, at most, a month away from running out of some of its most critical weapons… 

“The US can fight on without those munitions. But it means exposing its military to the Iranian and drone attacks that will find their way through the cracks in its protective shield… Last week, Armin Papperger, the head of German defence manufacturer Rheinmetall, warned air defences across the US, Middle East and Europe were ‘almost empty’ as a result of the war. If the conflict lasts another month, there will be ‘nearly no missiles available’, he added… 

“What has been fired in a matter of weeks will take years to replenish. Building up the stock of the 535 Tomahawk missiles used will take at least five years… The White House’s desire to wipe out Iran’s missile capabilities are unfulfilled, while the regime still retains the ability to menace American forces and its Gulf neighbours… 

“Mr Trump is running out of weapons, interceptors and time. Munitions shortages have hemmed in his escalation options, and there is no obvious path to de-escalation. What started as a stunning demonstration of US military might will probably end in the president cutting his losses.” 

Trump’s Contradictions 

The Guardian wrote on April 2: 

“Donald Trump used a prime-time address to the nation on Wednesday evening to declare the month-long war in Iran a success ‘nearing completion’, despite a spiraling conflict that has caused economic turmoil across the globe, fractured transatlantic alliances and eroded the president’s approval ratings… Oil prices rose and Asian stocks traded lower immediately after Trump’s address, which did little to soothe investor concerns over the closure of the strait of Hormuz… 

“Since the start of the war, [Trump] has sent mixed and at times contradictory signals about the US’s objectives… 

“…key US objectives remain unclear. Trump has downplayed concerns about Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, dismissing it as too deeply buried underground to matter. He had previously argued that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was a major justification for the war…” 

More of the same baseless war propaganda. But far too many believe this nonsense. 

In checking the veracity of Trump’s claims in his speech, Deutsche Welle wrote on April 2: 

“Trump’s claim that the United States is completely independent of the Middle East is… false when it comes to crude oil… Trump said the US has received more than $18 trillion in investments since he took office last year… A White House website dedicated to tracking total US and foreign investment lists of a total of $10.5 trillion— far less than what Trump claimed in his address to the nation.” 

Coming… Shortages of Jet Fuel 

Sky News wrote on April 10: 

“Airports are bracing for mass shortages of jet fuel if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen within the next three weeks, according to a trade body. 

“Airports Council International (ACI), which represents more than 600 airports, warned of a ‘systemic’ shortage in a letter to the European commissioners for energy and transport and tourism… Analysts have also warned that soaring jet fuel prices can be quicker to pass through to airfares than road fuel and household energy costs.” 

“Europe Has ‘Maybe 6 Weeks Of Jet Fuel Left,’ Energy Agency Head Says”

The Associated Press wrote on April 16:

“Europe has ‘maybe six weeks or so (of) jet fuel left,’ the head of the International Energy Agency said Thursday.. warning of possible flight cancellations ‘soon’ if oil supplies remain blocked by the Iran war. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol painted a sobering picture of the global repercussions of what he called ‘the largest energy crisis we have ever faced,’ stemming from the pinch-off of oil, gas and other vital supplies through the Strait of Hormuz… The impact will be ‘higher petrol (gasoline) prices, higher gas prices, high electricity prices,’ Birol told AP…’

Trump Carries Out Putin’s Dream Plan 

“The Polish Prime Minister… said: ‘The threat of NATO’s break-up, easing sanctions on Russia, a massive energy crisis in Europe, halting aid for Ukraine and blocking the loan for Kyiv by Orbán – it all looks like Putin’s dream plan.’… 

“With Europe-US relations at an all time low, Putin and his cronies in the Kremlin must be rubbing their hands in glee.” 

Like Vietnam 

The Mirror wrote on March 28: 

“Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has issued a chilling warning over the ‘likelihood of a nuclear conflict’ in the Middle East, claiming Donald Trump has made a ‘gross’ strategic error…  He blamed the United States for what he called an ‘unprovoked, extremely dangerous war’, accusing Washington and Israel of behaving like a ‘bull in a china shop’ and pushing the region towards catastrophe… ‘Probably the biggest war in the Middle East could still be ahead,’ he said…. 

“He warned ‘the consequences will be fatal – for all participants because getting involved in such a ground operation at a great distance from the very same United States of America, threatens with approximately the same consequences as what happened in Vietnam, when Washington got involved in a foreign country, located a thousand miles away, and for 10 years could not find a decent way out of this conflict.’” 

A Two-Week Ceasefire and More Uncertainties 

Reuters wrote on April 10: 

“A fragile two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran showed further strain on Friday… There was no sign Iran was lifting its near-total blockade of the strait, which has caused the worst-ever disruption to global energy supplies.  

“U.S. President Donald Trump said in a social media post late Thursday that Iran was doing a ‘very poor job’ of allowing oil to go through the strait. ‘That is not the agreement we have!’

In a separate post, he said oil would start flowing again, without saying what actions the U.S. might take. 

“In the first 24 hours of the ceasefire, which Trump announced on Tuesday, just a single oil products tanker and five dry bulk carriers sailed trough the strait which typically carries a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows and 140 ships a day before the war.” 

Trump Always Chickens Out 

The Huffington Post wrote on March 31: 

“Trump is walking away from any responsibility for the global energy crisis he created when he attacked Iran 32 days ago, particularly Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a full fifth of the world’s oil flows… The suggestion that he is ready to wash his hands of opening the strait to unfettered navigation contradicts what he promised on March 3 — ‘the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible. No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD’ — and again on Monday, when he demanded that Iran open the strait ‘immediately.’ 

“‘It’s a major geopolitical failure,’ said Robert Kagan, once a senior State Department official in the Reagan administration and now with the Brookings Institution. ‘If Trump TACOs now, the net effect of the war will be to give China unprecedented influence in the Gulf, and therefore over the world economy,’ he added, using the shorthand for ‘Trump Always Chickens Out’ coined by Wall Street traders when he backed down from his massive tariffs a year ago…” 

Trump knows he has lost the war. Now he tries to chicken out by lying to the people that he won the war. And far too many simple-minded folks will believe the lie. 

Remove Trump From Office 

The Mirror wrote on April 7:

“Anthony Scaramucci, who served in Trump’s first administration in 2017, called for the president to be removed from office ‘immediately’ after he threatened to wipe out a ‘whole civilization’ in Iran… ‘Wake up: he is calling for a nuclear strike,’ said Anthony Scaramucci, who served in Trump’s first administration in July 2017. ‘Seek his removal immediately,’ the former communications director added. 

“It comes after the president launched another shocking rant on Truth Social… ‘A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,’ he wrote… ‘However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change [what a joke], where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?’”

A Ceasefire Deal? What a Joke! 

The Independent wrote on April 8: 

“The US and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire hours after President Donald Trump threatened to wipe Iranian civilization off the map. Trump claimed America ⁠won a ‘total and complete victory’ after making the agreement… 

“Both sides have framed the ceasefire as a win… 

“Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid has branded a US-Iran ceasefire the biggest ‘political disaster’ in all of the country’s history… ‘Israel wasn’t even at the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security… Netanyahu failed politically, failed strategically, and didn’t meet a single one of the goals that he himself set.’” 

Neither did Trump. A total disaster. 

Trump vs. CNN 

The Independent wrote on April 9: 

“CNN Anchor Jake Tapper hit out at President Trump after the commander-in-chief accused the network of reporting a ‘false statement.’ Trump tore into CNN on Tuesday, after anchor Erin Burnett read out a statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council… ‘The enemy, in its unfair, unlawful, and criminal war against the Iranian nation, has suffered an undeniable, historic, and crushing defeat,’ the statement… said… 

“Trump demanded that the network ‘withdraw this statement with full apologies’ and claimed that an investigation was being launched into whether CNN had committed a crime by publishing the document… Jake Tapper hit back at President Trump… ‘The issue boils down to this,’ Tapper said. ‘The statement from Iran‘s Supreme National Security Council, which claimed victory for Iran, did not fit the messaging that the Trump administration wanted to project. And instead of calling out the Iranian regime for its conflicting statements or explaining how Iran does this all the time, President Trump attacked CNN by falsely claiming we made it up by lying to you,’ he added. 

“Highlighting that CNN did not invent the statement nor present Iran’s claims as fact, Tapper said that it was the network’s job to report on the ongoing events in the war. ‘Our job is not to try and please the president or only report the statements he likes… We‘re going to tell you what‘s going on, and we‘re going to keep doing that, no matter how many lies this administration or the Iranians tell.’”

Epic Rage Collapses… Top US General Warns Trump: “We Will Not Win” 

Banking News wrote on April 4: 

“The American military operation in Iran, ‘Epic Rage’ as it is called, has failed. The Islamic Republic of Iran and its army, regular and the IRGC the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, are continuously launching ‘epic’ attacks, as the Americans would say, on sensitive American areas in the Persian Gulf, and it seems that Iran has no intention of stopping… There was no ‘mass popular uprising’ to overthrow the ‘dark regime of the bloodthirsty Ayatollah.’

“The leadership of the country was not decapitated. The assassinated and dead Iranian politicians became martyrs, despite the fact that they had every opportunity to hide. The vacant positions were immediately filled, which indicates both control at the highest levels of power and the fact that such a scenario, deaths as a result of attacks, was considered.. 

“But Iran has not only not lost, it has essentially defeated its opponents. The state maintained control of all institutions, as well as exclusive command of the army. The arsenals were not destroyed. Moreover, no one knows the real number of missiles that were stored there.” 

Trump’s Foul and Unpresidential Language 

The Mirror wrote on April 5: 

“The US president ordered Iran to ‘open the f**kin’ Strait [of Hormuz]’ or otherwise face hell… He went on to say ‘Praise be to Allah’ as he warned the attacks on Iranian infrastructure will be like nothing seen before. ‘Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran,’ he wrote on Truth Social. ‘There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F**kin’ Strait, you crazy b*stards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP.’” 

Such foul and offensive language is highly unworthy of anyone, especially a US President. 

Open or Closed? 

The Nightly wrote on April 8: 

“A ceasefire agreement in the Middle East faces collapse within 24 hours of its announcement after Israel launched strikes across Lebanon… 

“There is also a large amount of uncertainty over whether passage through the Strait of Hormuz, when it is open, would come with a hefty price tag. Some sources say the 10 point agreement used to secure the two week ceasefire includes the condition for Iran, and Oman, to be paid for any use. Some say this figure could be between $2 million to $3.5 million a trip, something that the White House says it will not be paying. 

“Mr Trump told PBS NewsHour that Lebanon was not included in the deal due to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah… Israel has said the agreement does not extend to its war with Iran-backed Hezbollah, although mediator Pakistan said it does… Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has remained at an effective standstill in the 24 hours since Iran conditionally lifted its blockade on the critical shipping lane… Shipping companies say they have been warned not to cross the Strait without permission or risk having their ships destroyed.” 

Trump Threatens Again

Mirror wrote on April 11:

“Donald Trump has threatened to unleash fury on Iran using ‘the best weapons ever made’ if peace talks in Pakistan fail this weekend. ‘We’re loading up the ships with the best ammunition, the best weapons ever made,’ the US president  said. ‘If we don’t have a deal, we will be using them, and we will be using them very effectively.’” 

No Deal! 

Focus wrote on April 11: 

“Iran currently has no plans for further negotiations… ‘Iran is in no hurry, and as long as the US does not agree to a reasonable agreement, the status of the Strait of Hormuz will remain unchanged’… 

“After hours of negotiations, the talks ended on Sunday morning without any tangible result… 

“US Vice President JD Vance boarded Air Force Two in Islamabad, Pakistan, following the failed negotiations and is now on his way back to the US. ‘The bad news is that we did not reach an agreement. And I believe that is much worse news for Iran than for the United States of America,’ Vance said upon departure…” 

“According to Iranian sources, key issues such as the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear question, war reparations, the lifting of sanctions, and an end to the war in the region were discussed during negotiations between the US and Iran, mediated by Pakistan… the news agencies Tasnim and Fars spoke of ‘excessive demands’ from the US side. Specifically, the Strait of Hormuz was mentioned as the central point of contention… After hours of negotiations, according to the Vice President, Iran did not commit to refraining from developing a nuclear weapon…” 

Trump’s Blockade 

Daily Mail wrote on April 12: 

“Sir Keir Starmer as refused to join Donald Trump’s naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz… after Iranian peace talks failed. The move signals growing tensions between the UK, other NATO members and the United States, as hostilities in the Middle East look set to continue… 

“Trump… wrote on his Truth Social platform that the US military would start ‘blockading any and all ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz’. The President said the US navy would also ‘seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas’. 

“He added in a Fox News interview following his announcement: ‘I understand the UK and a couple of other countries are sending minesweepers.’ But Britain will not play a part in the move, the Daily Mail understands.” 

Nobody else has said that they would participate in this counter-productive blockade. See the next article. 

Is Trump Causing a Worldwide Depression? 

On April 13, Ron Paul wrote in the Ron Paul Institute: 

“President Trump was presented with a great opportunity on Saturday to take the off-ramp from his war on Iran. After threatening Iran that ‘a whole civilization will die tonight,’ Trump managed to get a two week pause in the war with the intervention of the Pakistani government. A window opened to end this illegal war. Vice President Vance traveled to Pakistan to negotiate with a high-level Iranian delegation… 

“Unfortunately, after a month and a half of war, where tens of billions of dollars have been spent, every US base in the region is either damaged or destroyed, and dozens of military aircraft have been lost, President Trump did not take the off-ramp. He hit the accelerator. After 21 hours of negotiations, the talks blew up, reportedly because the US side again insisted that Iran turn over its enriched uranium, destroy its nuclear facilities, and never enrich uranium again… 

“So the Pakistan meeting was a waste of time… Immediately after the talks ended in failure, an increasingly volatile Trump increased his threats against Iran. Over the past weeks he has alternated between insisting that the Strait of Hormuz is unimportant to the United States and demanding that the Strait be opened immediately. 

“Then yesterday he announced… that the United States military would start blockading Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Any ship departing from an Iranian port would risk being boarded, inspected, and possibly seized. Iran’s restricting traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has sent oil prices soaring, along with the price of fertilizer and other related products. Inflation is increasing in the US. Global markets are reeling. Trump further restricting traffic in and out of the Persian Gulf with his own blockade will only accelerate this process. It is like fighting a fire with gasoline. 

“And if the Houthis in Yemen close the Red Sea in response to Trump’s blockade of Iran’s blockade, we could even see a global economic depression. 

“There is a feeling that President Trump is flailing around while becoming increasingly volatile. He expected that the Europeans, the Japanese, and the South Koreans would join his efforts to force open the Strait, but instead they decided to make their own deals with Tehran and pay the transit fee. The rest of the world does not want war with Iran. Only the Trump Administration and Netanyahu want the war… 

“China has warned the US against interfering in its trade with Iran. A major escalation is brewing and Congress still cannot find its voice.”

The whole world is beginning to HATE Trump… and with him the entire USA. 

Iran Denies Passage of American Military Vessels in Strait of Hormuz 

Press TV wrote on April 12, 2026:

“The spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has roundly dismissed the US Central Command (CENTCOM) claims about the passage of American military vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. ‘The permission for the transit of any vessel (in the strategic waterway) is within the authority of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran,’ Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari said in a statement released on Sunday. Separately, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy announced that any attempt by military vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz will face a harsh confrontation. 

“The force said in a statement that the IRGC has full authority, intelligently manages the Strait of Hormuz, and only civilian vessels will be permitted to pass under special regulations. The statement further highlighted that any reports regarding the passage of American ships through the Strait are denied, and any attempt by military vessels to pass will be met with complete decisiveness and hard response. 

“On Saturday, CENTCOM claimed that two destroyers, the USS Frank E Peterson and USS Michael Murphy, had ‘transited the Strait of Hormuz and operated in the [Persian] Gulf as part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines.’”

Strait of Hormuz Open? 

The Daily Mail wrote on April 15: 

“Donald Trump has declared the Strait of Hormuz ‘permanently open’ after secret talks with Xi Jinping, claiming the Chinese leader had agreed to stop arming Iran… 

‘‘China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social. ‘I am doing it for them, also – And the World. This situation will never happen again.’”

If one could only believe this. We will wait and see.

Austria Blocks US Warplanes From Using Its Airspace During Iran War 

Metro wrote on April 2: 

“American fighter jets will not be allowed to use the Austrian airspace for missions against Iran. The Alpine nation has reportedly blocked the US from using its airspace after an announcement by its Ministry of Defence today. Austria said the US will not have permission for military operations against Iran. This is due to the country’s neutrality law, which bans Austria from joining any military alliances like Nato or allowing foreign military bases on its territory. 

“Sven Hergovich, the head of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), which is part of the coalition, said the defence minister should ‘not approve a single further US military flight to the Gulf.’ He said: ‘Nor should she approve any transport flights or other logistical support. Just as Spain, France, Italy and Switzerland are doing. This war is damaging Austrian economic interests, Europe as a whole, and world peace.’”

Widening Rift Between USA and Spain 

The Independent wrote on March 30: 

“Spain has closed its airspace to American aircraft involved in military operations against Iran.  This move marks a significant escalation beyond Madrid’s’ previous refusal to allow the use of jointly operated military bases… The closure… compels US military planes to reroute around the Nato member state on their way to targets in the Middle East… 

“The US relocated 15 aircraft, including refuelling tankers, from the Rota and Moron military bases in southern Spain after the country’s Socialist leadership said it would not allow them to be used to attack Iran….”

Italy Distances Itself From Trump 

Politico wrote on April 9: 

“Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni distanced herself from U.S. President Donald Trump during a parliamentary address on Thursday, in a bid to save her premiership after a bruising referendum defeat last month… Her allies blame the defeat on rising energy prices caused by the war in Iran and on her friendship with Trump, who is increasingly seen as toxic even on the right… 

“The right-wing prime minister used her address to emphasize publicly her disagreements with the American leader for the first time since he was reelected in 2024…[She listed] episodes where she claimed her government stood up to the White House, from tariffs ‘which we have many times defined as a wrong choice,’ to defending ‘the honor of our soldiers in Afghanistan, who had been defined as useless,’ and protecting Greenland’s territorial integrity alongside European allies. 

“The Italian leader also described the war in Iran as ‘a military operation that Italy did not agree with and did not participate in … a fact that emerged in all its concreteness with the Sigonella affair,’ she continued. She was referring — for the first time in a public statement — to Italy’s recent decision to refuse permission for a U.S. military aircraft to land at the Sigonella air base in Sicily before flying to ‌the Middle East. 

“Thursday’s remarks are a clear rhetorical pivot on her alliance with Trump — who is highly unpopular in Italy…”

… as he is in all of Europe.

Trump vs. Meloni 

The Mirror wrote on April 14: 

“Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy, described Trump’s tirade against the Pope as ‘unacceptable’. Now [Trump] has said it is ‘she who is unacceptable… because she doesn’t care if Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italy in two minutes if it had the chance… She is no longer the same person, and Italy will not be the same country.’’ 

At one time, Trump and Meloni were the strongest allies. But strong alienation between the USA and Italy is prophesied. 

AfD Demands US Troops Leave Germany 

The Telegraph wrote on March 29: 

“The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has called for the withdrawal of all US soldiers from the country. Tino Chrupalla, the far-Right party’s co-leader, told a meeting on Saturday that it was time to remove allied troops and nuclear weapons from Germany in order to pursue an ‘independent’ foreign policy… 

“The Telegraph reported on Friday that Donald Trump was considering pulling US troops out of Germany – something he has been thinking about since returning to office last year… Mr Chrupalla’s comments put him at odds with the Trump administration, particularly over whether America should be able to use German bases for its military activities in the future…

“Praising Spain’s decision to block its bases from being used by the US to attack Iran, Mr Chrupalla said: ‘That’s exactly the right thing to do. Spain is not interfering in this war’… 

“Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor… accused Mr Trump of carrying out a ‘massive escalation’ in the conflict, rather than attempting to end the fighting. The rhetoric between Washington and Berlin has become increasingly hostile in recent days. 

“…the US president’s foreign policy, including his military action against Venezuela and Iran, has increasingly distanced the non-interventionist AfD from Washington.”

Britain and Nato Are Pulling Away From Trump’s America

The Independent wrote on April 10: 

“While Trump was pounding Iran with bombs, the UK led a secret operation against Russian spy subs in the Arctic. It is a sign that Starmer is focusing on where the threat to the alliance really lies… 

“Just a day after Donald Trump floated the idea of turning the Strait of Hormuz into a ‘joint’ tollbooth to enrich the US and Iran, the British government revealed that a joint operation with Norway had been undertaken to protect Nato’s northern flank. 

“The move, combined with a visit this week by Keir Starmer to the Arabian Gulf, is the latest sign that even Europe’s Anglo-Saxons are pulling away from Washington… Healey made it clear that Russia had taken the opportunity, as the focus shifted to the Middle East following Trump and Israel’s illegal attacks on Iran, to continue its ‘hybrid war’ against Nato… Frustrated by the refusal of members of the alliance to take part in the attacks on Iran, and (of many of them) to allow US forces to use bases on their territory to carry out these operations, Trump has repeated his threats to withdraw the US from the organisation altogether… 

“America’s Gulf allies have been rattled by Trump’s joint attack with Israel, a country led by a prime minister facing indictment for crimes against humanity. Iran’s response has throttled oil exports and targeted their territory… 

“Trump has refused to address Vladimir Putin’s support for Iran at all since launching the conflict in February. But his deputy, JD Vance, has been in Hungary, explicitly violating diplomatic norms by openly backing Viktor Orban’s candidacy in this weekend’s general elections. Vance is an exponent of the racist ‘great replacement’ conspiracy theory that Europe is being overrun by non-white immigrants and faces ‘civilisational erasure’. The Trump administration has taken an explicit anti-European Union and anti-Ukrainian stand for the last year, backing Russia’s claims to territory in eastern Ukraine and cutting military aid to Kyiv.” 

After JD Vance’s visit to Hungary, Orban’s popularity decreased even further. 

Orbán Defeated 

ABC News wrote on April 12: 

“The big election over the weekend was in a small European country nearly half a world away from Washington, but the defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has significant reverberations in the United States…. Orbán’s loss was a reminder of how the war has diminished Trump’s ability to help allied politicians overseas… 

“Orbán’s defeat has immediate global implications because he was the European leader closest to Russian President Vladimir Putin and had blocked European Union aid to Ukraine, which is defending itself after Russian’s 2022 invasion.” 

The Sun added on April 13: 

“The result is also a huge blow to Russian tyrant Putin – who has enjoyed Orbán’s consistent anti-Ukraine rhetoric within the EU over the last four years. His defeat could pave the way for an £80billion loan to Ukraine which had previously been blocked by Orbán… 

“European leaders took to social media to congratulate Magyar – with French president Emmanuel Macron, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and German chancellor Friedrich Merz hailing the victory.” 

This was foreseeable. Hungary will become a strong supporter of Europe and possibly one of Europe’s core member states. 

British Navy in Trouble 

Daily Mail wrote on March 26:

“Trump today described Britain’s aircraft carriers as ‘toys compared to what we have’ in his latest swipe at the UK’s lack of support for his war against Iran… it comes at a time when the Royal Navy’s ability to wage war and defend Britain is being thrown further into doubt, after we had to ask Germany for the use of a warship to keep a major Nato commitment…

“Defence Secretary John Healey was this morning unable to say how many of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet of 17 frigates and destroyers is currently fit to fight, when grilled over the state of the service. But he admitted he was ‘not happy with the situation we have with British warships’.” 

US Pulling Out of NATO?

The Telegraph wrote on April 1:

“Donald Trump has told The Telegraph he is strongly considering pulling the United States out of Nato after it failed to join his war on Iran.  The US president labelled the alliance a ‘paper tiger’ and said removing America from the defence treaty was now ‘beyond reconsideration’. It is the strongest sign yet that the White House no longer regards Europe as a reliable defence partner following the rejection of Mr Trump’s demand that allies send warships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz… 

“The White House has grown increasingly frustrated with long-time partners over their position in the war. Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, accused Nato of being a ‘one-way street’ as he hit out at US allies for not allowing access to their military bases on Tuesday… Mr Rubio said America would have to ‘re-examine’ its Nato membership when the war in Iran came to an end… Sources close to the president said he was also considering pulling US troops out of Germany…

“Any decision to withdraw the US from Nato would require approval from Congress… Ivo Daalder, who served as Barack Obama’s ambassador to Nato, said: ‘What the president can do – and there’s no question about this – he can withdraw all American troops, he can withdraw all Americans from the command structure, he can say Article 5, but don’t count on military capabilities let alone nuclear if you get attacked. All of that is legal.’” 

Leaving NATO? 

Politico wrote on April 1: 

“Trump’s latest rhetoric on American participation in NATO was extreme even for his standards…

“European officials worry that Trump might try [to] stay in the alliance but starve NATO of high-level attention and military assets. They fear Trump’s rhetoric has already rendered NATO meaningless. ‘With Trump in office, NATO is worthless,’ said a German official. ‘We might have NATO, but we no longer have an alliance. We’re biding our time here, but the damage is immense.’” 

A “European” NATO? 

The U.S. Sun wrote on April 15: 

“EUROPEAN nations are hatching a secret plan to form a new Nato – as the looming threat of US withdrawal makes the continent vulnerable to Vladimir Putin… Trump’s threat to seize Greenland from Denmark is said to have moved the plan up the priority list and it has since gained even more urgency in the wake of the Iran war. 

“It has been boosted after a spectacular reversal from Germany, which has long defended America’s position as the ultimate guarantor of European security…. But the challenge to build a new pact from scratch will be enormous.” 

EU Lawmakers Call for Joint Military Drills 

United 24 Media wrote on April 4: 

“German lawmakers in the European Parliament are calling for immediate joint EU military exercises following renewed threats from US President Donald Trump to withdraw the United States from NATO… 

“Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chair of the EU Defence Committee, described NATO as the continent’s ‘military backbone’ but warned that the United States can no longer be viewed as a reliable partner. While she emphasized the importance of maintaining ties with non-EU NATO members like the United Kingdom, Norway, and Canada, she insisted that the European Parliament must ensure military capabilities are fully available and independent… 

“As the rift between Washington and its traditional allies widens, the push for military independence in Brussels has moved from a theoretical policy to a matter of immediate survival… This adherence to independent defense policies has become the primary catalyst for President Trump’s ‘paper tiger’ rhetoric and the subsequent drive in Brussels to establish a security framework capable of operating without Washington’s involvement.” 

Germany’s Largest Medical Exercise 

Express wrote April 4: 

“This week, for the first time in decades, Germany carried out its largest medical exercise in decades as Russia’s threat to Europe increases the possibility of large‑scale war. 

“The NATO ‘Quadriga 2026’ exercise took place in Lithuania and simulated evacuating wounded soldiers from the country and transporting them to hospitals across Germany. The prospect of a large-scale war is not being taken lightly by Europe.” 

Germany’s Preparation for War 

Breitbart wrote on April 4: 

“Military-age men in Germany must now seek permission to leave the country for more than three months as a result of Berlin’s new conscription rules… meaning that all men between the ages of 17 and 45 must receive dispensation from the military to travel abroad for more than three months. 

“A Ministry of Defence spokesman attempted to downplay the regulation, telling broadcaster NTV that requests are almost always approved, because ‘military service is based exclusively on voluntary activity under current law… In case of an emergency, we need to know who is staying abroad for a longer period of time,’ the spokesman said… “ 

Deutsche Welle added on April 4: 

“The Frankfurter Rundschau… said the rule would apply regardless of whether a German man ‘planned a semester of studying abroad, working in a foreign country or going on a backpacking trip around the world.’… 

“From mid-2027, all men turning 18 will also be required to appear for a fitness test to determine who could be drafted in the event of conflict — a highly controversial measure that has been slammed by critics as a first step towards full conscription.” 

The provision became the issue of hot displeasure. Germany decided to retreat… but the damage was done. 

Germany Retreats… 

BBC News wrote on April 8: 

“Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius says men of military age in Germany do not need to report lengthy stays abroad. His statement comes after a controversy broke out over the possible consequences of a new law which re-introduced military service in Germany… The requirement to obtain permission had gone largely unnoticed until it was reported by a German newspaper last week…. 

“Now, Boris Pistorius from the Social Democrats has told the German Press Agency (DPA) that he is introducing an exemption. ‘During this peacetime period, there will be no permission procedures. We are suspending the permission requirement as long as military service is voluntary,’ Pistorius said. At the same time, he announced that appropriate procedures would be established in the event of a crisis. He defended the regulation ‘as a precautionary measure.’” 

Germany’s government was caught red-handed and due to enormous pressure and outrage, it retreated, for the time being. But the intentions are and have been clear. Pistorius’ conduct has been compared with methods in the former DDR.

Spectacular Journey to the Moon

The Guardian wrote on April 10:

“The number of human beings who have travelled to the moon and returned safely to Earth will grow to 28 [all American] on Friday night when Nasa’s Orion capsule containing four Artemis II astronauts will glide gently to a Pacific Ocean splashdown beneath three giant parachutes. The scheduled 5.07pm PT landing (1.07am BST Saturday) off the coast of San Diego will mark the end of a 10-day lunar odyssey that made the three Americans and one Canadian the first people to travel beyond lower Earth orbit since the final mission of the Apollo program in December 1972…” 

Artemis II Back Home 

“NASA’s Artemis II crew has successfully splashed down after their historic Moon mission, as the Orion spacecraft made a fiery plunge through Earth’s atmosphere Friday night. The spacecraft reached blistering speeds of up to 25,000 miles per hour before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California.   

“The four-person crew, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, wrapped up a ten-day mission that carried them around the moon and farther than any human had ever traveled into space before. The journey marked the first time in more than 50 years that humans have traveled this far into space and viewed the lunar surface with the naked eye since the Apollo era. 

“During the mission, the astronauts also passed behind the moon, flying over the mysterious far side, often referred to as the moon’s dark side because it permanently faces away from Earth. The historic flight also shattered a decades-old distance record set during Apollo 13 in 1970, when astronauts traveled 248,655 miles from Earth. Artemis II surpassed that milestone by thousands of miles, setting a new distance record for human spaceflight.

“With a historic moon mission now complete, NASA administrators fielded multiple questions Friday night about the plans for the next mission after Artemis II, which is now scheduled to be Artemis III in 2027. Artemis III will also involve a lunar flyby but no landing.

“Currently, NASA’s revamped plan for the moon includes sending an additional space flight, Artemis IV, as soon as 2028. That mission is expected to land on the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972… that mission will also begin the work of building a permanent US moon base which will facilitate future human space travel and a manned mission to Mars.”

Rewriting the Constitution on Birthright Citizenship 

Fox News wrote on March 29: 

“The Supreme Court is poised to answer a fundamental constitutional question largely ignored for more than a century: Who qualifies as an American citizen? The justices… will review… Trump’s efforts to limit birthright citizenship in the U.S., a landmark case with the potential to upend the lives of millions of Americans and lawful residents. At issue is the executive order the president signed on his first day back in office, which would end automatic citizenship for nearly all persons born in the U.S. to undocumented parents, or parents with lawful temporary status in the country — a seismic legal, political, and social shift that critics note would break with more than 150 years of legal precedent.  

“A ruling is expected within three months, but until then, Trump’s plans remain on hold… To date, no court has sided with the Trump administration’s interpretation of the 14th Amendment, and blocked the order from taking force. The ACLU and other immigrant advocacy groups in the U.S., have accused Trump of attempting to ‘unilaterally rewrite the 14th Amendment.’… A recent Pew Research poll asked Americans whether they wanted children of immigrants, temporary immigrants or any immigrants lawfully present in the United States to be citizens, and 94% said yes.”

Trump Attends Oral Argument… Sort Of… 

The Mirror wrote on March 2: 

“Trump was met with furious protests as he arrived at the nation’s highest court at around 10 a.m. He was pictured in his motorcade as demonstrators swarmed the steps of the court, advocating against Trump’s plan to limit birthright citizenship — which has largely been understood to be guaranteed under the Fourteenth Amendment. …

“[Trump] stayed for the arguments made by U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer in favor of his plan to limit birthright citizenship, but then left as soon as Cecillia Wang, the legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), began arguing against it…” 

Politico wrote on April 1: 

“President Donald Trump’s unusual presence at the Supreme Court on Wednesday didn’t seem to sway the justices, who sounded broadly skeptical about his attempt to upend the country’s long tradition of birthright citizenship. Trump looked on from the front row of the public gallery as Solicitor General John Sauer attempted to defend Trump’s executive order that would deny U.S. citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants and foreigners on temporary visas. The court’s conservative majority joined the liberals in aggressively questioning Sauer about the potential implications of disturbing the decades-long consensus on citizenship…. 

“Chief Justice John Roberts suggested it was strange for the administration to seize on some narrow exceptions to the birthright citizenship rule, such as an exclusion for American Indians and for children of diplomats, in order to justify denying citizenship to millions of children of undocumented immigrants and visitors… Even Justice Samuel Alito, one of the court’s most strident conservatives, expressed some discomfort with the administration’s claim that the children of undocumented immigrants who’d spent years living in the U.S. could be denied citizenship on the grounds that their parents were not ‘domiciled” here… 

“Justice Neil Gorsuch also expressed doubt about the administration’s claim that one has to be living legally in the U.S. to be domiciled here and get citizenship for a child. He noted that when the 14th Amendment was adopted in the 1860s the U.S. had no real immigration laws and left foreigners free to take up residence here… 

“Sauer repeatedly emphasized Wednesday that Trump’s order only applies to children that would be born in the future, but several justices said a ruling that the 14th Amendment doesn’t automatically confer citizenship on those born in the U.S. would also cast doubt on the citizenship of those already born and assumed to be citizens…” 

ABC News wrote on April 1: 

“After the hearing concluded, Trump wrote in a social media post that the U.S. is ‘stupid’ to allow the practice… saying judges and justices who disagreed with his policies are ‘stupid people.’” 

Trump’s attempt to rewrite the Constitution should have no chance of being victorious … His outrage is deplorable. 

What the Mueller Report Did (Not) Conclude 

The National Circus wrote on March 24: 

“Donald Trump has never really closed the book on Robert Mueller… 

“Mueller’s March 2019 report did not accuse Trump of conspiring with Russia, but it also did not deliver the sweeping exoneration Trump allies often advertise. In Volume II, Mueller’s team made a point of explaining why it was not making a traditional prosecutorial judgment on obstruction of justice for a sitting president. 

“The line that refuses to die is this: ‘If we had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so.’ That sentence, in the DOJ report, is the crack in the wall for critics, and the reason Trump keeps trying to mortar it shut with repetition.” 

Bondi Gone 

npr wrote on April 2: 

“President Trump announced Thursday that Attorney General Pam Bondi is out from the top job at the Justice Department. Her departure comes amid simmering frustration over her leadership and her handling of the Epstein files… A longtime Trump loyalist, Bondi is the second member of the president’s Cabinet to be forced out. Her departure comes almost one month after Trump fired Kristi Noem as secretary of Homeland Security. 

“Bondi leaves after a tumultuous 14 months in charge that critics say damaged the Justice Department’s credibility, hollowed out the career ranks and undermined the rule of law… she used the department’s vast powers to go after the president’s perceived foes. That includes the high-profile cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, which were brought after Trump publicly called on Bondi to prosecute them. 

“A federal judge later tossed both cases after finding the acting U.S. attorney who secured the indictments was unlawfully appointed. Other political opponents of the president or individuals standing in the way of his agenda also have found themselves under DOJ investigation, including Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff, and former Obama-era intelligence officials James Clapper and John Brennan.

“Bondi also oversaw sweeping changes to the career workforce at the department. The agency fired prosecutors and FBI officials who worked on Capitol riot cases or the Trump investigations.” 

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:  

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.