What Matters Now For Israel

The Telegraph wrote on June 13:

“Now all that matters is how much damage Israel can inflict on three vital plants at the core of Iran’s nuclear industry – Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan. The first two are where Iran enriches uranium…  In Isfahan, raw uranium is converted into gas prior to being fed into centrifuges for enrichment… So far, Israel appears to have struck Natanz but not Isfahan or Fordow.

“The latter is by far the toughest target – an enrichment facility dug into a mountain, beneath hundreds of feet of rock and earth, where centrifuges are already producing uranium at 60 per cent purity, barely a hair’s breadth from weapons grade… The great risk for Mr Netanyahu is that when the smoke clears and Operation Rising Lion, the codename of this campaign, is over, Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan will be reparable in a matter of months or even weeks.

“If so, he will have achieved nothing but a short delay in Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon. And you can be sure that Iran’s leaders – if they are still in power when this ends – will immediately dash for a bomb…”

Reuters wrote on June 13:

“… satellite imagery did not yet show significant damage to nuclear infrastructure, several experts said. ‘The first day was aimed at things that you would get through surprise – killing leadership, going after nuclear scientists, air defense systems, the ability to retaliate,’ said nuclear expert David Albright at the Institute for Science and International Security. ‘We can’t see any visible damage at Fordow or Isfahan. There was damage at Natanz,’ said Albright, referring to Iranian nuclear sites. But ‘there’s no evidence that the underground site was destroyed.’…

“‘It has always been the conventional wisdom that Israel may not have the ordnance to destroy Fordow without American military support,’ Mark Dubowitz, head of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank, told a podcast. The United States is better equipped than Israel to destroy such targets with its most powerful bunker buster bombs, the 30,000-pound (14,000 kg) Massive Ordnance Penetrator.

“If Iran decides not to negotiate a nuclear deal, the U.S. could use its B2 bombers and those bombs to destroy Fordow, Dubowitz said….”

Israel will receive a [military] “wound” before the beginning of the Great Tribulation. 

Trump Warns Iran 

Breitbart wrote on June 13: 

“President Trump related that ‘I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to “just do it”’, but said they ‘just couldn’t get it done’. This is a serious matter, the President said, because ‘the United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, [by far], and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come’. 

“Iranian hardliners had been brave in negotiations but they are ‘all [dead] now, and it will only get worse’, he said… ‘Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left… [Just do it, before it is too late]’, he wrote…” 

Trump Claims He Knew Everything! 

The New York Post wrote on June 13:

“President Trump told The Post Friday that he knew Israel would strike Iran if the theocratic regime didn’t quickly agree to a revised nuclear deal with the US. ‘I always knew the date,’ the president said in a brief phone interview. ‘Because I know everything. I know everything. I know everything. I gave them 60 days and they didn’t meet it,’ Trump went on. ‘Today’s 61, you know. Today’s day 61.’… 

“The first sign that a significant operation was afoot came Wednesday, when non-essential US personnel were told to leave several outposts in the region…” 

Trump’s and Pakistan’s Threats 

The Sun wrote on June 17: 

“Trump is reportedly considering joining Israel in striking Iranian nuclear sites hours after he said the Ayatollah is an ‘easy target.’ Trump claimed the US and Israel know exactly where Iran’s Supreme Leader is hiding out but he won’t order any assassination plot ‘for now’… 

“[Trump] is now said to be considering allowing for a US strike on Iran, according to multiple current and former administration officials… 

“Tension across the Middle East is now skyrocketing as the conflict threatens to spiral into a wider regional war after Pakistan called for the Islamic world to back Iran. Islamabad even warned they will nuke Israel, a senior Iranian general claimed.” 

Daily Mail wrote on June 17: 

“Israel has said it is ‘on the verge’ of destroying ‘more than 10 nuclear targets’ in Iran’ – amid fears that strikes on the sites could trigger a radiation incident… Trump last night refused to sign a joint statement with fellow G7 leaders calling for de-escalation in the conflict before storming out of the summit, saying he had to get back to Washington early ‘for obvious reasons’. 

“Speaking from Air Force One, he then furiously denied claims made by French President Emmanuel Macron that he was heading back to work on a ceasefire… He warned that the US will join Israel’s war and ‘come down hard’ on Tehran if provoked, adding that if Tehran ‘touches’ US troops, ‘the gloves are off’.” 

Tehran to Evacuate 

The New York Post wrote on June 16:

“President Trump warned that ‘everyone’ in Tehran should ‘immediately evacuate’ in an alarming Monday night Truth Social post as it was revealed he would be leaving the G7 summit a day early due to the Iran-Israel conflict… The president’s evacuation warning came after Israeli officials called for those in Tehran to evacuate earlier Monday ahead of its continued military campaign against Iran, which has included slews of missile exchanges between the conflicting countries. 

“The evacuation area includes an estimated 330,000 people in central Tehran, including Iran’s state television headquarters, police headquarters and three key hospitals including one owned by the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard… thousands have been pushed to flee, the chaos only exacerbated by Tehran’s lack of publicly accessible bomb shelters. A majority of the 9.5 million people in Iran’s capital have been left in limbo as mass evacuations clogged traffic while others lack the means to leave at all… Earlier that same day, Trump told ABC News that it is ‘possible’ the US could get involved in the conflict… As of Monday, an estimated 224 people were killed during the attacks in Iran. In Israel, 24 deaths have been confirmed…”

 Reportedly, tens of thousands of Americans are living in Tehran, with no realistic possibility of evacuation. 

Tucker Carlson Attacks Trump 

The Independent wrote on June 13: 

“Tucker Carlson has turned on President Donald Trump by accusing him of being ‘complicit’ in Israel’s attacks on Iran.  The former Fox News host and MAGA figurehead rebuked Trump and the administration in his newsletter: ‘… While the American military may not have physically perpetrated the assault, years of funding and sending weapons to Israel, which Donald Trump just bragged about on Truth Social, undeniably place the U.S. at the center of last night’s events….’ 

“The conflict is already splitting MAGA down the middle, leading figures of the movement have said publicly. ‘A direct strike on Iran right now would disastrously split the Trump coalition,’ podcaster Jack Posobiec wrote on X… He added that it could cost the Republicans the midterms. 

“If Trump gave Israel the ‘green light’ to target Iran, it ‘would be seen as an unforgivable betrayal by millions of American voters,’ Mollie Hemingway, the editor of right-wing publication The Federalist, said in a post on X… Iran has since retaliated by firing missiles at Israel, which the U.S. is supporting to intercept…” 

MAGA in Disarray? 

The Daily Mail wrote on June 15: 

“Donald Trump is teetering on the brink of an all-out Iran crisis amid MAGA fury over his ‘complicity’ in Israel’s strikes. In a sensational development Sunday, two US officials revealed that the president vetoed an Israeli plan this week to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei… The president is now facing calls from Iran hawks in the GOP to join Israel’s bombing campaign… It comes as Trump this morning refused to rule out involvement in the conflict, while at the same time denying any American participation to this point… 

“The intra-MAGA split on foreign policy appears to be far-reaching, even extending as far at the leadership at the Pentagon itself…”

On June 16, Netanyahu said during a TV interview with ABC that assassinating Ali Khamenei would “end the conflict” between the two nations, thereby not ruling out “killing Iran’s supreme leader” (The New York Post, dated June 16). 

Tucker Carlson Attacks “Warmongers” 

Newsmax wrote on June 15: 

“Carlson targeted conservative media figures and donors, labeling them ‘warmongers’ for advocating U.S. military involvement… [listing] specifically Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Rupert Murdoch [and others]… 

“U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also weighed in, saying Israel’s security remains in America’s national interest. ‘Seven hundred thousand Americans live in Israel,’ Huckabee wrote to supporters… 

“Carlson argued Trump had campaigned against regime change in Iran. He also argued that a war with Iran could be challenging… ‘An attack on Iran could very easily become a world war. We’d lose.’ 

“Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that abandoning uranium enrichment was ‘100%’ against the country’s interests, rejecting a central U.S. demand in talks to resolve a decadeslong dispute over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions… Iranian leaders have long claimed that if they acquired nuclear weapons they would ‘wipe Israel off the map.’” 

Carlson has been a strong Trump supporter. But so have been Hannity and Levin. Trump praised them all in the past. Now what? 

Israel’s surprise attack killed at least 20 senior Iranian commanders, sources said, including the head of its Revolutionary Guard. At least six nuclear scientists have also been confirmed killed in the strikes. 

End of American Empire? 

Mediaite wrote on June 16: 

“Tucker Carlson warned Monday that U.S. involvement in the escalating Israel-Iran conflict could bring down President Donald Trump and mark the collapse of America’s global influence… ‘I’m really afraid that my country’s gonna be further weakened by this. I think we’re gonna see the end of the American empire… But it’s also going to end, I believe, Trump’s presidency and effectively end it.’

“… Carlson expressed doubt about U.S. military readiness and warned of overreach… ‘We don’t even have a good track record… Why are the Houthis still there?… How prepared is the U.S. military for a real conflict? The answer is totally unprepared. Scary unprepared. I don’t think people understand that.’” 

MAGA War Intensifies 

The Hill wrote on June 17:

“The ideological battle over what ‘America First’ means in the Trump era is intensifying in wake of Israel’s strikes on Iran, splitting the MAGA right and testing its relationships with the president. On one side, noninterventionist doves insist the Trumpian tagline means the president must avoid U.S. troops, resources or dollars going toward the conflict, for fear of getting dragged into an endless war. ‘Anyone slobbering for the U.S. to become fully involved in the Israel/Iran war is not America First/MAGA,’ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) posted Sunday on…  X.  

“But on the other end, foreign policy hawks and supporters of Israel are appealing to President Trump’s position that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon, and encouraging him to leave all options — including direct military intervention — on the table… 

“Trump beat back the dove side somewhat in another post calling Carlson ‘kooky’ — prompting Greene, who almost never criticizes the president, to make the stunning move to come to Carlson’s defense. ‘Foreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction. That’s not kooky. That’s what millions of Americans voted for,’ Greene said.” 

In a heated interview with Senator Ted Cruz, exposing the massive fault line ripping through the MAGA world, Carlson accused Cruz of not knowing anything about Iran which he wants to “topple.” 

The Reaction of the Arab World 

Aljazeera wrote on June 13: 

“Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani condemned Israel’s ‘military aggression’ against Iran, saying that the wave of air strikes violated international law and threatened global security… Oman, which has been mediating nuclear talks between the US and Iran over recent months, decried Israel’s attacks as a ‘dangerous and reckless escalation’ that ‘violates the principles of international law’… 

“Ankara issued a sharp condemnation of Israel’s attack, calling it a violation of international law and a reckless provocation… Saudi Arabia denounced the ‘heinous’ Israeli attacks… Qatar said it was deeply concerned over the ‘dangerous escalation’ and called on the international community to ‘urgently halt these Israeli violations’… The UAE condemned the Israeli attacks and called for restraint… ‘Jordan has not and will not allow any violation of its airspace, reaffirming that the Kingdom will not be a battleground for any conflict,’ a government spokesperson told AFP after Jordan closed its airspace following Israel’s attack on Iran… 

“The Lebanese foreign ministry condemned Israel’s attack on Iran…” 

The nations mentioned in Psalm 83 are coming together in their hatred against “Israel.” And while the German government (CDU and SPD) is honoring Israel’s right to self-defense, the AfD and the left-wing parties strongly condemned Israel’s actions.   

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it would close all consulates and embassies worldwide.

Turkey to Be Part of Europe’s Defense System 

Arab News wrote on June 13:

“Turkiye has long insisted on being a part of Europe’s defense programs and having a say in how Europe shapes its security. Yet, for decades, European states viewed Turkiye mostly through the lens of its EU membership bid and political disagreements. But today, geopolitical matters — especially growing security threats — are shifting that perspective. Now, both Ankara and Brussels recognize that they face similar security concerns….

“A few years ago, the idea of integrating Turkish defense companies into Europe’s security systems might have seemed unrealistic. But several factors have changed that. Turkiye’s falling-out with the US over the F-35 program, increasing regional threats, Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and Europe’s doubts about long-term US security commitments have all helped bring Ankara and the EU closer together and make EU-Turkiye defense cooperation more appealing. The combination of these factors has created a major shift in their relationship, which is now reflected in more regular meetings between Turkish and European defense officials.” 

Even though it is not to be expected that Turkey will join the EU, a collaboration between the EU and Turkey is prophesied… 

Rand Paul Criticizes Saturday’s Military Parade 

Mediaite wrote on June 15: 

“Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) — who has clashed heavily with President Donald Trump in recent days by speaking out against the Trump-backed budget bill — condemned Saturday’s military parade  in Washington, comparing it to similar marches in the Soviet Union and North Korea…

“‘I just never liked the idea of the parade because I grew up in the ’70s and ’80s and the only parades I can remember are Soviet parades for the most part or North Korean parades,’ Paul said. ‘And the parades I remember from our history were different… we were rejoicing the end of war, and we were rejoicing our soldiers coming home… But we never glorified weapons so much.’ 

“[He] added that he also objected on the basis of the parade’s reported price tag of more than $40 million… ‘I mean, we’re $2 trillion in the hole and just, an additional cost like this, I’m not for it.’” 

Paul certainly has a point. According to the Hill, dated June 14, “Six in 10 adults in a nationwide AP-NORC poll conducted between June 5 and June 9 said that the parade was not a good use of government funds. However, 40 percent of people approved of Trump’s decision to hold a parade… Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said he wouldn’t have held the parade. ‘We’re a lion, and a lion doesn’t have to tell you it’s a lion,’ Kennedy said on Tuesday. ‘I would save the money, but if the president wants to have a parade, he’s the president, and I’m not.’” 

Nationwide Anti-Trump Demonstrations and Protests 

The Guardian wrote on June 14: 

“As tanks and soldiers paraded through the streets of Washington on Saturday, several million people around the country [the estimate is up to 6 million] turned out to protest against the excesses of Donald Trump’s administration.  The protests, dubbed ‘No Kings’, took place at about 2,100 sites nationwide, from big cities to small towns. A coalition of more than 100 groups joined together to plan the protests…” 

The Associated Press reported on June 15: 

“Atlanta’s 5,000-capacity event quickly reached its limit, with thousands more gathered outside barriers to hear speakers in front of the state Capitol. Officials in Seattle estimated that more than 70,000 people attended the city’s largest rally downtown, the Seattle Times reported….” 

Newsweek wrote on June 15: “Police estimate the crowd at the ‘No Kings’ protest in Chicago was ~15,000 deep…” 

CBS News wrote on June 15: “An estimated tens of thousands joined the ‘No Kings’ demonstrations throughout Portland, Oregon…” 

USA Today wrote on June 15: “50,000 people showed up in New York City…” According to the Guardian of June 15, “more than 200,000 in New York and over 100,000 in Philadelphia [showed up]… The protests were largely peaceful, though some – in Los Angeles and Portland – were later deemed unlawful assembly by law enforcement…” 

The Los Angeles Daily News wrote on June 15: “Around 4 p.m., the downtown LA rally – with an estimated 200,000 protesters – switched from peaceful to chaotic, as some people reportedly threw rocks, bottles and fireworks at police. Officers issued a dispersal order and unleashed a multitude of flash-bang grenades, rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at the crowd. Confusion broke out as police on horseback pushed people away from various areas and traffic had to be diverted…”

America Divided 

NPR wrote on June 16: 

“The 33-mile trip from one protest in Annapolis to the parade grandstand in front of the White House was like a journey between two different countries… 

“America’s split-screen day had finally merged into a collective image of a divided people a half block from the White House, many unable or unwilling to talk to one another…” 

Trump’s Vengeance? 

The Guardian wrote on June 16: 

“Trump has promised an expanded immigration crackdown in several large Democratic-led cities as apparent vengeance for ‘No Kings’ protests against his administration on Saturday that drew millions of people… 

“Trump’s stance on immigration has fluctuated wildly in recent days. Last week, his administration ordered Ice to stop workplace immigration enforcement actions unless related to criminal investigations, in the face of growing public backlash to raids perceived to harm industries with a significant proportion of immigrant labor, such as farming and tourism… 

“Sunday’s post, however, appeared to reverse his position again. His choice to identify only Democratic-run cities with large immigrant populations, and omit others controlled by, or leaning Republican, was notable.” 

Also, “Trump told ICE staff to ‘do all in their power’ to detain and deport undocumented immigrants in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York” (The Daily Beast, dated June 15). 

None of this will lead to peace in the USA.

Trump Flip-Flops Again, While Listening to Bad Advice 

The Daily Beast wrote on June 17:

“White House Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem… were enraged after learning that Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins had called Trump and suggested that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents avoid deporting longtime workers in sectors heavily reliant on migrant labor… Rollins’ intervention… appeared to sway the president. 

“Last week, Trump floated the idea of carving out exemptions from his mass deportation plans specifically to avoid targeting non-criminal workers on farms and in hotels. An official policy shift followed soon after. Senior ICE official Tatum King informed regional ICE offices Thursday that ‘investigations/operations on agriculture (including aquaculture and meatpacking plants), restaurants, and operating hotels’ would be paused… 

“Miller, Noem and other hardline anti-immigration officials then sought to change the policy back to where it was before Rollins got in Trump’s ear… That pressure campaign seemed to work… By Monday, the Department of Homeland Security reversed course, notifying staff that the previous guidelines were scrapped and that ICE would resume raids on agricultural businesses, hotels, and restaurants.” 

The New York Post added on June 17: 

“The Trump administration is backing away from its earlier instructions to halt immigration raids at farms, hotels and restaurants, according to reports… President Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday that his mass deportation campaign was taking its toll on the agricultural and hospitality industries… ‘Our great Farmers and people in the Hotel and Leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace,’ Trump wrote. ‘This is not good. We must protect our Farmers…,’ he said… 

“All the while, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has further pushed ICE to meet the 3,000 daily arrest quota the administration has set…”

In an interview on Wednesday, June 18, Trump said that before considering the farmers and hotel and restaurant owners, ICE had to get rid of the criminals first, defining them, again, as those coming from prisons and mental institutions. The truth is, the raids are clearly not limited to or even mainly directed towards those people. 

And what a ridiculous quota! So, that America’s economy, American farmers, hotel and restaurant owners and others are hurting does not seem to be of any concern to the Trump Administration. Shameful! 

Dramatic Confrontations and Federal Overreach 

NBC News wrote on June 17: 

“New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was released Tuesday hours after he was arrested in connection with an episode at a federal courthouse in the city, where he and his wife were serving as advocates for defendants in immigration courts, they said.

“The Department of Homeland Security said Lander, a candidate for mayor, had been arrested and accused of ‘assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer.’…  After he was released, Lander denied assaulting law enforcement… ‘We are not going to allow Donald Trump to wreck the rule of law, to deny people due process and to turn our country into something that doesn’t meet its obligations under international law,’ Lander said… 

“New York Gov. Kathy Hochul accompanied him as he was released and told reporters that ‘to my knowledge’ any charges had been dropped… Hochul also called Lander’s arrest ‘total bull—’ on X.  ‘When elected officials are being detained without cause, we have to ask: what the hell is happening to our country?’… 

“Kat Capossela, Lander’s campaign press secretary, said in an email earlier in the day that ‘Brad was taken by masked agents and detained by ICE,’ a reference to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, after ‘escorting a defendant out of immigration court’… Lander [said] that after he was handcuffed, federal agents escorted him to a detention room. ‘They took the cuffs off, and I just sat for 3½ hours in a detention room,’ Lander said, adding that he was not released until Hochul showed up… 

“The incident is the latest in a series of dramatic confrontations between immigration officials and Democrats opposing President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Last week, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., was forcibly removed from a news conference with Homeland Security Secretary Kristin Noem. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was then a candidate for governor of New Jersey, was also arrested on trespassing charges last month at an ICE detention facility in the state. The charges were dropped, but Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver was subsequently charged with assaulting law enforcement during the incident. Trump and his ‘border czar,’ Tom Homan, also suggested that California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass could be arrested, too.  [Trump even said, if he was Homan, he would arrest Newsom.] 

“The Democratic officials and their allies have argued that the incidents were politically motivated and have criticized the administration’s conduct, while the Trump administration has fiercely defended immigration agents and accused Democrats of staging political stunts. 

“Lander can be seen in a video on his personal X account being surrounded by people, including masked officers in vests labeled with the word ‘police.’ At one point, someone says, ‘Put him in custody,’ and the men holding him scuffle with him before they pin him to a wall and handcuff him. ‘I’m not obstructing. I’m standing right here in the hallway. I asked to see the judicial warrant,’ Lander says in the video. ‘You don’t have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens asking for a judicial warrant,’ he adds. 

“Lander’s wife, Meg Barnette [a former attorney], criticized the Trump administration’s handling of cases involving immigrants at a news conference shortly after her husband’s arrest. She also echoed Democratic criticisms of the administration’s immigration policies, arguing that judges were dismissing charges against defendants before the defendants were turned over to federal agents to begin the deportation process…” 

The New York Times added on June 18: 

“With tensions rising over President Trump’s mass deportation policies, the government crackdown is extending to the political opposition… The scenes of chaos reflect the tinderbox nature of this political moment… 

“In recent weeks, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have also aggressively thought to detain migrants at immigration courts, leading to emotional scenes as masked agents make surprise arrests of people who thought they were attending routine hearings. 

“Last week, Senator Alex Padilla, Democrat of California, was forcibly removed from a news conference being held by Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, and handcuffed despite identifying himself as a senator… ‘Like me, Mr. Lander had the audacity to question the legitimacy of federal actions, only to find himself handcuffed, pushed against a wall and detained,’ Mr. Padilla said in a statement. ‘If it happened to us in full view of the public, imagine what is happening in communities across the country when the cameras are off. This should be a wake-up call to the country.’” 

Violence and perceived authoritarian federal actions are continuing in the USA… 

Innocent Protestor Killed in Utah 

Newsmax wrote on June 15: 

“A demonstrator was shot and killed at Salt Lake City’s ‘No Kings’ protest when a man believed to be part of the event’s peacekeeping team fired at another man allegedly aiming a rifle at protestors, authorities said Sunday. Police took the alleged rifleman, Arturo Gamboa, 24, into custody Saturday evening on a murder charge… The bystander, Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, 39, died at the hospital. 

“Detectives don’t yet know why Gamboa pulled out a rifle or ran from the peacekeepers, but they accused him of creating the dangerous situation that led to Ah Loo’s death… 

“[Police Chief Brian] Redd said a man dressed in a brightly colored vest fired three shots from a handgun at Gamboa, inflicting a relatively minor injury but fatally shooting Ah Loo. The gunshots sent hundreds of protestors running, some hiding behind barriers and fleeing into parking garages and nearby businesses, police said in a statement.” 

Trump’s Actions Illegal

The Ron Paul Institute republished the following article by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano on June 14: 

“The deployment of California National Guard troops and active-duty U.S. Marines onto the streets of Los Angeles is an assault on federalism, violates federal law and manifests a dangerous pattern of governmental behavior in defiance of constitutional principles and the rule of law… President Donald Trump, against the express wishes of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, federalized the CA National Guard, became their commander in chief, and ordered them to thwart both lawful and unlawful demonstrators in Los Angeles. 

“There, agents of the U.S. Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were attempting to make warrantless arrests of persons whom they and their colleagues believed were unlawfully present in the U.S. Demonstrators soon arrived, some of whom peaceably assembled and vociferously objected to the arrests, and some of whom attempted to interfere with them violently. Clearly, acts of physical interference with even unlawful arrests are themselves unlawful, but condemning government behavior, waving Mexican flags, cheering on those who have been arrested, even standing in the way of federal agents until ordered to move are all protected acts of expression and historically recognized acts of civil disobedience… 

“Then the president ordered in the federalized National Guard and then — almost unimaginably — he ordered in active-duty Marines. The sight of active-duty armed troops confronting unarmed persons exercising their constitutionally protected freedom of expression, and the declaration of no free speech zones, was and is gut wrenching, un-American and without lawful precedent in modern times… 

“Can National Guard troops be used for law enforcement?… Congress addressed this in numerous federal statutes, enacted in 1792, 1794, 1795 and again in 1807. The essence of these laws permits the president to declare himself the commander in chief of the National Guard for law enforcement purposes only when asked by a state governor. Short of the gubernatorial request, the Guard may not be summoned by the president for law enforcement purposes, except in the cases of invasion or rebellion… since there is no invasion or rebellion as the laws define them, there is no lawful basis for all these troops on the streets. 

“This is not constitutional hairsplitting. This is very serious business. If the feds can characterize an unarmed assemblage of protesters as an invasion merely because they are angry, carry a foreign flag and prefer a foreign language — all protected speech — and engage in civil disobedience, and thus justify the use of military force against them, whose freedoms are safe? 

“The government argues that the current state of affairs in Los Angeles constitutes an emergency and thus it has broad powers to address it. That is constitutional hogwash…” 

More Countries to Be Added to Travel Ban List? 

The Washington Post wrote on June 14: 

“The United States is considering restricting entry to citizens of an additional 36 countries in what would be a significant expansion of the travel ban announced by the Trump administration early this month, according to a State Department memo reviewed by The Washington Post. Among the new list of countries that could face visa bans or other restrictions are 25 African nations, including significant U.S. partners such as Egypt and Djibouti, plus countries in the Caribbean, Central Asia and several Pacific Island nations… 

“The memo, which was signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and sent Saturday to U.S. diplomats who work with the countries, said the governments of listed nations were being given 60 days to meet new benchmarks and requirements established by the State Department. It set a deadline of 8 a.m. Wednesday for them to provide an initial action plan for meeting the requirements. 

“The memo identified varied benchmarks that, in the administration’s estimation, these countries were failing to meet. Some countries had ‘no competent or cooperative central government authority to produce reliable identity documents or other civil documents,’ or they suffered from ‘widespread government fraud.’ Others had large numbers of citizens who overstayed their visas in the United States, the memo said. 

“Other reasons included the availability of citizenship by monetary investment without a requirement of residency and claims of ‘antisemitic and anti-American activity in the United States’ by people from those countries… 

“The countries facing scrutiny in the memo: Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Benin; Bhutan; Burkina Faso; Cabo Verde; Cambodia; Cameroon; Democratic Republic of Congo; Djibouti; Dominica; Ethiopia; Egypt; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Ivory Coast; Kyrgyzstan; Liberia; Malawi; Mauritania; Niger; Nigeria; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Sao Tome and Principe; Senegal; South Sudan; Syria; Tanzania; Tonga; Tuvalu; Uganda; Vanuatu; Zambia; and Zimbabwe. 

“The list represents a significant expansion of a presidential proclamation issued June 4, when the United States fully restricted the entry of individuals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The United States also had partially restricted the entry of travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela under that order…” 

Pretty soon, if this trend continues, America will become a “sealed castle” with no ability to enter for most. And many have no desire to visit Trump’s America anyhow. Note the next article. 

Avoiding the USA? 

The Associated Press wrote on June 16: 

“The world may be rethinking the American dream. For centuries, people in other countries saw the United States as place of welcome and opportunity. Now, President Donald Trump’s drive for mass deportations of migrants is riling the streets of Los Angeles, college campuses, even churches — and fueling a global rethinking about the virtues and promise of coming to America… Early clues across industries — like tourism, trade, entertainment and education — suggest the American dream is fading for foreigners who have historically flooded to the U.S… 

“Trump and many of his supporters maintain that migrants in the country illegally threaten American safety, jobs and culture. But people in the country legally also have been caught in Trump’s dragnet. 

“… the United States has always been a nation of immigrants… Everyone, after all, comes from somewhere — a fact underscored on-camera in the Oval Office this month when German Chancellor Friedrich Merz gave the president the framed birth certificate of Trump’s grandfather, also named Friedrich, who emigrated from Germany in 1885. He was one of millions of Germans who fled war and economic strife to move to the United States in the late 19th Century… 

“Trump himself has married two immigrant women: the late Ivana Zelníčková Trump, of what’s now the Czech Republic, and his current wife, Melania Knauss Trump of Slovenia…” 

Trump’s Weird Comments 

Mediaite wrote on June 13: 

“President Donald Trump went on a strange rant about World War II when he was asked about his upcoming military parade, revealing a phone conversation in which he and Russian President Vladimir Putin humorously riffed about everyone ‘hating Russia’ but loving Germany and Japan now.

“Trump has a long history of oddball (and worse) commentary about World War II, which reared its head recently when he made a crack about Nazi Germany during a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz… A MAGA-friendly reporter asked him about Saturday’s parade to ostensibly celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army — which also coincides with Trump’s 79th birthday…. 

“‘Russia fought, sort of interesting, isn’t it? He [Who? Putin?] fought with us at World War II and everybody hates him [Putin?]. And Germany and Japan, they’re fine, you know… But Putin is a little confused by that. You know, he said, we lost 51 million people, and we were your ally. And now everybody hates Russia, and they love Germany and Japan.’” 

Stalin was America’s and Britain’s ally. He was as much a mass murderer as Hitler. Without this questionable alliance, the world would have been much better off. There would have been no Iron Curtain, no divided Germany, no Berlin Wall. Churchill was strongly advocating against having an alliance with Stalin whom he deeply distrusted, but he was not listened to. He even designed a contingency plan to invade Russia, called “Operation Unthinkable.” 

Madman Kills and Injures Politicians in Minnesota, Masquerading as Police Officer 

The New York Post wrote on June 14: 

“A Minnesota [Democratic] state lawmaker [and former House speaker] and her husband were killed, and another [Democratic] politician [senator] and his wife were seriously injured early Saturday in a ‘politically motivated attack’ when a madman posing as a police officer turned up at their homes and opened fire, authorities said… 

“Officers… discovered a car outfitted with flashing lights to look like an SUV squad car. ‘When they arrived at [the] house, they noticed that there was a police vehicle in the driveway with the emergency lights on and what appeared to be a police officer at the door coming out of the house,’ [Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark] Bruley said, adding that the suspect was wearing a vest, a badge and other equipment… ‘When our officers confronted him, the individual immediately fired upon the officers who exchanged gunfire, and the suspect retreated back into the home,’ he continued….” 

A hit list was found in which the suspect listed nearly 70 names as potential targets, “mostly naming Democrats or figures with ties to abortion rights” (CNN, June 15). The suspect was subsequently arrested. 

No Trust in US Economy 

The Telegraph wrote on June 16: 

“British manufacturers snub [the] US after Trump’s trade war. Only 4 [percent] of companies would consider setting up a production facility in America… 

“The US has dropped out of the three most desirable markets for British manufacturers for the first time in decades, as Donald Trump’s trade war dents confidence in the world’s biggest economy.”. 

Japan’s Nippon Steel Takes Over US Steel 

The Financial Times wrote on June 18: 

“Japan’s Nippon Steel has closed its nearly $15bn purchase of its American rival US Steel, ending more than a year of political wrangling that threatened to scuttle the agreement on multiple occasions. US President Donald Trump approved the tie-up last week, months after his predecessor Joe Biden moved to block the deal. Nippon clinched Trump’s approval after pledging to invest $11bn in the Pennsylvania-based company by 2028, billions of dollars more than it had initially promised. It also handed the government a golden share in US Steel, which will allow the White House to veto key corporate decisions… 

“The Japanese steelmaker has committed to keeping US Steel’s headquarters in the industrial city. Nippon also said that a majority of US Steel’s board of directors will be US citizens, and so will top executives like its chief executive….” 

Still, Nippon now owns 100% of US Steel… an outcome which Trump had originally strongly opposed. 

San Diego Tops It All 

fox5sandiego wrote on June 15: 

“Food prices in San Diego County are rising noticeably, squeezing families’ wallets amid broader inflation trends. 

“San Diego topped all major cities in May when it comes to inflation, and food costs factor in…” 

AI Copyright Violations? 

NPR wrote on June 12: 

“In a first-of-its-kind lawsuit, entertainment companies Disney and Universal are suing AI firm Midjourney for copyright infringement… 

“The suit accuses Midjourney, a well-known force in the AI image generation space with around 20 million registered users… of ‘selling an artificial intelligence (‘AI’) image-generating service (‘Image Service’) that functions as a virtual vending machine, generating endless unauthorized copies of Disney’s and Universal’s copyrighted works.’ 

“The lawsuit details Midjourney’s alleged infringement of popular Disney and Universal figures, including Shrek, Homer Simpson and Darth Vader…” 

Germany’s First-Ever Veterans Day 

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 15: 

“The president of the German parliament, Julia Klöckner, officially opened the country’s first national Veterans Day on Sunday, saying it was ‘high time’ for such an occasion. ‘This day has created something which has always been lacking: public visibility, recognition and respect for all those who have served in our country’s armed forces,’ she said at an event in Berlin… Klöckner highlighted the role of the German army… as a ‘parliamentary army’ which is answerable to parliament – as opposed to an individual head of state as commander-in-chief… 

“Writing on social media, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the Bundeswehr a ‘key component of our society’ and said: ‘The men and women who serve, or have served, in it deserve our thanks, our recognition and our respect. This service for our country belongs in center of our society.’ 

“On Saturday, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius praised the professionalism of German troops and said that the challenges facing them will increase in years to come… ‘The threat has increased in recent years… We have to be clear: we have to be able to defend our country and our alliance if it is attacked.’” 

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.

LA Protests: Trump’s National Guard Move Sparks Legal Concerns 

Newsweek wrote on June 8: 

“Federal immigration enforcement operations sparked protests across California for a second day in a row on Saturday. [They continued on Sunday.] ICE carried out raids in Paramount, Los Angeles County, following similar actions at several locations throughout other parts of city on Friday. Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the move [to send 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles], saying that local law enforcement was already mobilized and the presence of the National Guard was ‘purposefully inflammatory,’ would ‘escalate tensions’ and ‘erode public trust.’ 

“On Saturday, the White House ordered the deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles under a provision called Title 10 to ‘temporarily protect ICE and other United States government personnel who are performing federal functions.’ The National Guard is a state-based military force that serves as both a state and federal reserve branch of the U.S. Army and Air Force.

It typically operates under state command and is funded by the state. However, in some cases, troops may be assigned to federal missions while still under state control, with funding provided by the central government. 

“The law referenced in Trump’s proclamation allows National Guard troops to be placed under federal command, and permits this under three conditions: if the U.S. is invaded or faces the threat of invasion; if there is a rebellion or imminent rebellion against federal authority; or if the president is unable to enforce federal laws using regular forces. The memorandum from the White House reads: ‘To the extent that protests or acts of violence directly inhibit the execution of the laws, they constitute a form of rebellion against the authority of the government of the United States.’ 

“However, the law also stipulates that such orders should ‘be issued through the governors of the states.’ It is not immediately clear if the president can activate National Guard troops without the order of that state’s governor… The Trump administration has not invoked the Insurrection Act, according to anonymous U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters this weekend. The act of 1807 serves as the primary legal authority allowing a president to deploy the military or National Guard during times of rebellion or civil unrest. 

“… After Trump announced he was deploying National Guard troops on Saturday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said other measures could follow. Hegseth wrote on X that active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton, south of Los Angeles, were on ‘high alert’ and could also be mobilized ‘if violence continues.’” [Newsom called the potential deployment of US Marines in his state “deranged”.] 

BBC News added on June 8: 

“Trump’s decision to federalise the National Guard, which is normally under state control, is unusual. The military force’s website says it was brought under federal control using Title 10 of the US Code – the same law Trump used – during the Civil Rights era. 

“Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson used the National Guard to help enforce civil rights and keep public order. The Guard was also federalised during the 1967 Detroit riot, in riots after the killing of Martin Luther King Jr in 1968, and during the New York postal strike in 1970 

“… the last time a president federalized the National Guard was during the 1992 LA riots… after four white police officers were acquitted over the videotaped beating of a black motorist [Rodney King].” 

All of this will lead to more and more legal challenges in court. 

“Frightening Actions” by the Trump Administration 

The Guardian wrote on June 8: 

“US national guard troops began to deploy in downtown Los Angeles after an immigration crackdown saw police use teargas on protesters in a move that has sent shockwaves through American politics... The order… marks a stunning escalation in a broad crackdown on immigrants in the United States following raids across the country which have triggered protests… many critics have feared [something like this] might happen during his second administration amid fears that the US is sliding into authoritarianism… 

“Tom Homan, Trump’s ‘border czar’,… warned that immigration enforcement will continue ‘every day’ in Los Angeles….  ‘I don’t care if they like it or not.’… 

“During afternoon protests at a downtown federal detention facility on Friday, David Huerta, the president of the California branch of the Service Employees International Union, was arrested. Huerta, who was injured and detained, released a statement to the Los Angeles Times from the hospital, saying, ‘Hard-working people, and members of our family and our community, are being treated like criminals. We all collectively have to object to this madness because this is not justice,’ he added.” 

Huerta Charged… For What? 

The Associated Press reported on June 9: 

”Federal prosecutors have charged California [SEIU] union leader David Jose Huerta with conspiring to impede an officer… In a court affidavit, a homeland security agent wrote that a ‘law enforcement officer approached Huerta and told him to leave, then put his hands on Huerta to move him out of the way of a vehicle’… The agent said Huerta pushed back and the officer pushed Huerta to the ground and arrested him. 

“The SEIU has planned a rally in Los Angeles for Monday. ‘We demand David Huerta’s immediate release and an end to these abusive workplace raids,’ April Verrett, SEIU’s international president, said in a statement.” 

It’s getting more and more ridiculous… 

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 8: 

“Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law, told the Los Angeles Times that by overriding Newsom’s authority, Trump ‘is using the military domestically to stop dissent.’ 

“‘It certainly sends a message as to how this administration is going to respond to protests. It is very frightening to see this done,’ he added.” 

Violence and Mayhem 

Daily Mail wrote on June 8: 

“The Los Angeles Police Department warned rioters on Saturday night that the use of non-lethal munitions has been authorized… The threats to use force came as activists set cars on fire and threw rocks and flaming projectiles at the authorities…. On Saturday, amid chants for ICE agents to get out, some protestors waved Mexican flags while others set a US flag on fire. 

“Cement blocks and overturned shopping carts from Home Depot served as crude roadblocks… Smoke rose from burning shrubbery and refuse in the street, and demonstrators kicked at a Border Patrol vehicle.” 

The New York Post wrote on June 8: 

“Dramatic footage of a masked protester on a dirt bike waving a Mexican flag as he performs donuts around a blazing car in Los Angeles has become a symbol of the anti-ICE riots in the city.

The drone footage of the masked protester went viral after it was shared on X — and many observers say it gives President Trump a propaganda coup as he works to round up and deport migrants from LA and other sanctuary cities. 

“Further pictures from demonstrations show protestors waving the flags of Palestine, and one demonstrator stands on top of a blazing car with a flag from the impoverished African nation of Burkina Faso… ‘This is like the perfect propaganda footage for Trump and Steven Miller. Why do people do this?’ Australian political observer Drew Pavlou [wrote]…” 

Social media is speculating, without evidence, that all of this has been staged by Trump. But it is a known fact that many times, peaceful demonstrations are being infiltrated by violent elements. That is why Christians should stay away from those demonstrations.

Newsom Is Threatened With Arrest 

NBC News wrote on June 8: 

“Tom Homan, Trump’s appointed border czar,… warned that the governor and L.A.’s mayor could be arrested… 

“The Trump administration appointee has previously stated that efforts to impede ICE operations could result in arrest. He said that neither Newsom nor Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, both Democrats whom he accused of creating ‘a sanctuary for criminals,’ were exempt from that prospect. ‘I’ll say about anybody,’ Homan said. ‘It’s a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It’s a felony to impede law enforcement from doing their job.’” 

This might be an idle threat, but if it were to be carried out, more violent protests would be the consequence. 

Technically, Homan’s statements regarding the law may be correct, even though this is clearly a controversial statute. What makes Homan’s statements troublesome is the fact that he declared earlier that only aliens with criminal convictions would be the subject of the deportation policy, and that there might just be a little bit of “collateral damage.” This was quite clearly not true as many aliens being arrested are those who are undocumented or who have overstayed their visa, without having committed any crime beyond being here illegally. The anger in the USA is growing. 

Newsom Responds to Homan 

The New York Post wrote on June 9: 

“California Gov. Gavin Newsom added fuel to the fire after daring President Trump’s border czar Tom Homan to arrest him for failing to crack down on violent anti-ICE agitators in his state. ‘Come after me. Arrest me. Let’s just get it over with, tough guy,’ the defiant Democrat told NBC News on Sunday… 

“‘But you know what? Let your hands off 4-year-old girls that are trying to get educated. Let your hands off these poor people. They’re just trying to live their lives, man. Trying to live their lives, paying their taxes. Been here for 10 years. The fear, the horror… These guys need to grow up. They need to stop, and we need to push back. And I’m sorry to be so clear, but that kind of bloviating is exhausting. So, Tom, arrest me. Let’s go,’ he added.” 

Newsom will become more and more popular among Democrats. His assumed goal is to run for the Presidency in 2028.

California Sues Trump 

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 9: 

“California Governor Gavin Newsom said California will sue the Trump administration over its deployment of the National Guard to quell Los Angeles protests. Newsom told MSNBC that the lawsuit would challenge the president’s move to authorize federal troops without the state’s consent. 

“‘Donald Trump has created the conditions you see on your TV tonight. He’s exacerbated the conditions. He’s, you know, lit the proverbial match. He’s putting fuel on this fire, ever since he announced he was taking over the National Guard — an illegal act, an immoral act, an unconstitutional act,’ Newsom said…” 

Judge: Trump’s Action Illegal

Threadreader wrote on June 12:

“Judge Breyer orders Trump to return control of the National Guard back to California, saying the call-up was illegal… Breyer stays his order until noon tomorrow, which should be enough time for Trump to seek emergency appeal at 9th Circuit and perhaps Supreme Court.”

The judge granted Newsom a temporary restraining order and enjoined Trump from deploying members of the California National Guard in Los Angeles.

Glendale Ends ICE Detention Contract 

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 9:

“The City of Glendale in Los Angeles County has canceled a contract that allowed Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to house detainees in its local jail… ICE’s agreement with Glendale has been in place since 2007. 

“Even before the recent anti-ICE protests, the city faced criticism from community members and activists who argued that the collaboration violated California’s sanctuary laws. California is a sanctuary state, meaning state and local law enforcement agencies are barred from assisting federal civil immigration officers.” 

“What You Need to Know About the Riots in Los Angeles” 

Bild Online wrote on June 10: 

“… at Trump’s direction, the US Department of Defense mobilized 2,000 additional National Guard troops for deployment in the West Coast metropolis—and 700 Marines from the regular armed forces. Trump had already mobilized 2,000 National Guard troops over the weekend in a highly unusual and controversial move. So, a total of 4,000!… 

“Downtown L.A. is a war zone: anarchy, looting, vandalism. US flags are being set on fire. ‘Death to America’ is being sprayed on walls. At the same time, the political feud between Trump and Gavin Newsom is escalating… 

“The beginning of the US federal authorities’ deportation offensive was associated by many with a dramatic moment: A white van drove into the parking lot of a Home Depot store in Los Angeles. Suddenly, someone in a group of day laborers shouted, ‘La Migra!’ – ‘Immigration and Customs Enforcement!’ Masked agents from the ICE deportation agency jumped out of the vehicle, and people fled in all directions. According to eyewitness accounts, the officers ‘attacked whoever they could catch’… These and similar raids were interpreted as the prelude to a large-scale deportation offensive by the federal authorities. The outrage spread like wildfire, especially in Los Angeles County – home to the largest Hispanic community in the USA. About 50 percent of the population there is Latino, and around 10 percent live without papers… 

“Donald Trump’s ‘border czar,’ deportation commissioner Tom Homan (63), however, disagrees: The raids are said to have taken place as part of the investigation into gang violence. ‘These were not migrant raids,’ he said on MSNBC. According to the federal agency, those arrested were illegal immigrants convicted of, among other things, violence against children, manslaughter, or sexual abuse… 

“At first, it was migrants and activists, encouraged by local politicians, who wanted to blame Trump for the chaos. However, extremists from progressive groups quickly joined in – Israel haters with Palestinian flags, ‘Black Lives Matter’ agitators, and especially ‘Antifa’ rioters. Antifa, as so often, forms the core of violent perpetrators: They wear black, paramilitary outfits and have tools for breaking out concrete blocks as projectiles… NGOs, especially the ‘Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles’ (CHIRLA), have also been criticized… 

“Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass (71) assert that local security forces can restore calm: But the LAPD is dramatically understaffed with just 8,620 police officers – with the riots at multiple hotspots, there is a lack of police everywhere.” 

KTLA wrote on June 8: 

“Protests over President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and the deployment of the National Guard boiled over on the streets of Los Angeles on Sunday as demonstrators blocked the 101 Freeway and surface streets, set cars ablaze, and lobbed projectiles at law enforcement… throwing concrete, bottles and other objects… Later in the evening, CHP officers on the 101 Freeway came under assault from rocks, fireworks and other objects thrown by agitators on a bridge.”  

And the Raids and Protests Will Go On… 

The New York Post wrote on June 11: 

“ICE tactical units are gearing up to conduct raids in five Democrat-led areas… The tactical units are set to deploy into New York City, Philadelphia, northern Virginia, Chicago, and Seattle… Previous ICE raids led to distressing scenes in downtown Los Angeles after protests quickly escalated into full-blown riots over the last five days. 

“Newsom condemned Trump’s decisions during an emotional televised address Tuesday night, when he likened the president’s actions to those of an ‘authoritarian’ regime… ‘If some of us can be snatched off the streets without a warrant, based only on suspicion or skin color, then none of us are safe. Authoritarian regimes begin by targeting people who are least able to defend themselves. But they do not stop there… California may be first — but it clearly won’t end here. Other states are next… There are no longer any checks and balances. Congress is nowhere to be found. [House] Speaker [Mike] Johnson has completely abdicated that responsibility…’ 

“While the California governor spent most of his address attacking Trump, he pleaded with protesters not to turn to violence and claimed authorities have arrested ‘more than 370 people’ who participated in ‘criminal behavior’ and are actively looking to take more into custody… 

“As law enforcement continues to try to get the chaos in the city under control, other parts of the US have begun to see an uptick in unrest, with anti-ICE protests sprouting up in New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco. Thousands of  angry New Yorkers took to the streets near Foley Square in the shadow of City Hall to protest the Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportations going on in the city and throughout the country on Tuesday… In Chicago, thousands of people marched downtown and eventually clashed with police…”

The Guardian added on June 10: 

“Large rallies also took place in Dallas and Austin on Monday, and up to 1,800 protests are planned nationwide on Saturday, to coincide with the military parade Donald Trump is throwing on his birthday in the nation’s capital.” 

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbot has already ordered state National Guard troops deployed to San Antonio in anticipation of immigration protests this week. 

Trump to Liberate Los Angeles? 

Newsmax wrote on June 11: 

“President Donald Trump called protesters in Los Angeles ‘animals’ and ‘a foreign enemy’ in a speech at Fort Bragg on Tuesday as he defended deploying the military on demonstrators opposed to his immigration enforcement raids and as he vowed to ‘liberate’ the West Coast city… Trump’s intense comments came as he has left open the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, one of the most extreme emergency powers available to the president. It authorizes him to deploy military forces inside the U.S. to suppress rebellion or domestic violence or to enforce the law in certain situations… 

“The president called Los Angeles ‘a trash heap’ with ‘entire neighborhoods under control’ of criminals… 

“Trump said earlier Tuesday that there would be more immigration raids and that any additional protests would be met with even greater force, including those who show up at the parade.”

He also said that Europe should learn from what Trump is doing regarding immigration and should act likewise. 

Civil War?

The Mirror wrote on June 9: 

“Americans fear civil war is beginning right before their eyes as L.A. protesters and police clash… 

“Writing on X, one user said, ‘…sadly LA looks like a scene from the 2024 Civil War movie,’ while another user asked: ‘Is the US now in de facto civil war or is that not yet what they call it?’ Others said they fear L.A. is the ‘beginning’ of a wider civil war across the U.S….” 

Time Magazine wrote on June 8: 

“… the ACLU condemned Trump’s decision, calling it ‘akin to a declaration of war on all Californians… We intend to file suit and hold this administration accountable and to protect our communities from further attacks.’… Daniel Kanstroom, a professor at Boston College Law School, says that this is an ‘incredibly dangerous’ moment in America… Trump’s tactics, he says, have only worsened this crisis. 

“‘When you have agents apparently arbitrarily arresting people, pulling them off the street without showing a warrant, without explaining who they are, without being respectful, then this creates a sense of terror and fear in the community, and that tends to result, sooner or later, in a kind of resistance, which is what we’re seeing develop,’ says Kanstroom.”

Trump Admits Error?

Otus wrote on June 12:

“President Donald Trump said Thursday that he may create a carveout to his mass deportation efforts for hospitality and farm workers.

“After facing criticism over immigration raids that picked up people who have lived in the U.S. for years, Trump said the White House is looking at executive action that would exempt employees of some farmers and hotels from the administration’s sweeping immigration enforcement push.”

This is all Trump’s doing and should not have happened in the first place. Also, effective June 12, Trump terminated humanitarian parole for about 450,000 aliens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Their work authorization was revoked—contributing further to the destruction of America’s economy.

Trump’s Fury Backfires

The New Republic wrote on June 11:

“The media has it wrong. Trump is not coming across as fearsome and strong… With President Donald Trump sending more troops into Los Angeles amid protests there, a remarkable image has gone viral on social media. It shows members of the National Guard crowded into a sterile-looking office, sleeping on a hard floor, in evident discomfort, all dressed in full military gear.

“The image doesn’t just reveal awful planning for this dispatching of troops. It also captures the deeper absurdity of this entire operation: These members of the military were supposedly needed to quell an urgent emergency, but as it has turned out, they were simply not needed for this purpose at all…

“The Wall Street Journal… says that in May, top Trump adviser Stephen Miller told Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials that Trump was displeased with lagging deportation numbers. Miller told ICE officials that they are not merely supposed to target gang members and violent criminals, and instead must ‘just go out there and arrest illegal aliens.’ It’s this order that inspired the ICE sweep at a Home Depot in Los Angeles that led to where we are right now, reports the Journal.

“… by definition this entails targeting day laborers—that is, going after people who want to work and whose labor is in demand, meaning it inherently constitutes the opposite of hunting for dangerous criminals. Worse, Trump and Miller are not just neglecting serious criminal migrants to target more noncriminals; to do so, they’re also actively shifting law enforcement resources away from other serious crimes, from drug trafficking to child exploitation…

“And polling data shows that while generalized deportations sometimes poll well, majorities do not support removals of longtime residents, noncriminals, and people with jobs. Voters want a law-based, orderly immigration system, but they don’t harbor Trump-Miller’s deep ideological hostility to the mere presence of undocumented immigrants…”

ABC Correspondent Suspended After Attacking Stephen Miller 

The New York Post wrote on June 8: 

“ABC News’ senior national correspondent Terry Moran [went] on a late-night screed against top White House adviser Stephen Miller along with President Trump on social media — drawing scathing backlash from the Trump administration. 

“Moran… blasted Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, as a man ‘richly endowed with the capacity for hatred’… ‘He’s a world-class hater,’ the ABC News reporter added… ‘He eats his hate… Trump is a world-class hater. But his hatred [is] only a means to an end, and that end [is] his own glorification. That’s his spiritual nourishment.’ 

“ABC News announced Sunday that it was suspending him over concerns about him violating the outlet’s standards on impartiality and objectivity. ‘ABC News stands for objectivity and impartiality in its news coverage and does not condone subjective personal attacks on others. The post does not reflect the views of ABC News and violated our standards — as a result, Terry Moran has been suspended pending further evaluation,’ a spokesperson told The Post. Moran later deleted his posts, but not before they were screen-shotted and spread across X like wildfire… Moran’s tirade against Miller came as tensions boiled over in Los Angeles… During this time, Miller publicly ripped the riots as an ‘insurrection.’… 

“The ABC news correspondent hasn’t been shy about weighing in on some of the politically dicey subjects he covers. Last November, Moran explained that he predicted Trump would win in 2016 and 2024. ‘The way to understand Trump (as I said on ABC Election Night 2016) is to see him not as a Republican or Democrat, not as a conservative or liberal, but as a Nationalist,’ he posted on X last November. ‘And, like many nationalist leaders, he is a man with an authoritarian cast of mind and a personality to match,” he added, noting that he was ‘not endorsing any political point of view.’ 

“In April, Moran notched a highly coveted interview with Trump for his 100 days in office milestone. The two had sparred over Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation to El Salvador and alleged ties to MS-13. In December, ABC paid $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit Trump brought against the news network over George Stephanopoulos’ use of the word ‘rape’ to describe the civil sexual abuse judgement against Trump in a case brought by E. Jean Carroll. Trump has denied wrongdoing in that case.” 

Subsequently, Disney’s ABC fired Moran on Tuesday. One may ask what was really behind ABC’s actions. The explanation given by ABC is laughable and not believable. It needs to be stated that Miller is perceived by many as a highly controversial figure whose rage has been broadcast even on conservative channels like Fox News.   

Biden Cover-Up Worse Than Watergate

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on June 5, 2025: 

“For years, Jake Tapper, the leading newsreader for CNN, has been very unfair to and very biased against Republicans in general, and to President Trump in particular. Now, in an attempt to restore some of his lost credibility, he has written a new book with Alex Thompson of Axios about the Biden health cover-up. He apparently is embarrassed and/or feels guilty about all he did in a very partisan way to try to keep a very unhealthy Joe Biden in office as president, but I will give him credit for now admitting to some extent how wrong he was. Of course, he is putting most of the blame on the White House staff… 

“He said: ‘Alex and I are here to say that conservative media was right and conservative media was correct and that there should be a lot of soul-searching, not just among me, but among the legacy media.’ In an interview with Piers Morgan, Tapper said the cover-up of Biden’s health by the White House, aided by Tapper and most of the national media, was ‘maybe even worse’ than the Watergate scandal… 

“Tapper’s book apparently says that Biden’s inner circle ‘couldn’t believe how easily (the media) swallowed campaign lies’… Much of the mainstream media was doing everything it could to protect and promote Biden… In the summer of 2023, the New York Times reported that ‘people who deal with him regularly, including some of his adversaries, say he remains sharp and commanding in private meetings’ and ‘he has at times exerted striking stamina.’ 

“His two young press secretaries said at different times they were having trouble keeping up with him and that videos shown by Fox News and other conservative media were ‘deep fake.’ Yet, several months before the election, the Biden campaign tried to film a town hall meeting to use on TV ads, but they couldn’t use it because, according to the Tapper book, Biden ‘couldn’t put together coherent thoughts.’ The book also said Hunter Biden was ‘effectively chief of staff.’” 

The cover-up was indeed outrageous and constitutes embarrassing testimony for the political agenda of the mass media. 

Was a Coup Planned in Washington Against German Chancellor? 

Der Westen wrote on June 5: 

“Former ‘Bild’ editor-in-chief Julian Reichelt could have caused the bombshell of the day. Many press representatives from Berlin had already anticipated an unpleasant surprise for Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office. Possibly even a scandal! Just as with the visits of Volodymyr Zelenskyy or South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Would Trump want to expose and humiliate his guest from Germany? 

“When Reichelt was suddenly spotted in the White House, speculation began. The controversial head of the far-right portal ‘Nius’ was not traveling to Washington as part of Merz’s press delegation. 

“So it was clear that Reichelt was smuggled into the White House by the Trump side. For an appearance to attack Merz in the middle of the US capital in front of the press? That freedom of expression was supposedly restricted in Germany or that the AfD is being suppressed by the state? Trump’s vice president, JD Vance, struck a similar tone months ago at the Munich Security Conference. Vance appeared to be sitting on the sofa, lurking with anticipation. 

“But things didn’t go according to plan for Reichelt. His appearance briefly caused a stir online, but he didn’t get a chance to ask Trump or Merz a question… ‘Welt’ journalist Robin Alexander, who was present in the Oval Office himself, reported… : ‘Julian started a question in which the word “freedom” appeared, but was drowned out…’ The journalist was unfortunate enough to be seated in the second row, thus not in Trump’s direct line of sight.” 

Handelsblatt wrote on June 5: 

“Surprise guest in the White House: ‘Nius’ editor-in-chief Julian Reichelt is the only German journalist who was not part of the Merz delegation present in the Oval Office. A total of 18 people from the Merz delegation, including journalists, were granted access to the Oval Office. Reichelt managed to attend outside of official channels. His presence underscores two developments: the White House is placing increasing emphasis on the influence of right-wing media – and: official channels are becoming less and less relevant for networking and access.” 

Merz had been warned before his trip not to fall into the trap, like Zelensky had done, which might be prepared by Trump, especially in regard to the issue of freedom of speech and the press in Germany. Trump asked twice at the end of the press conference whether there weren’t any questions for Merz—was this the set-up? But the other journalists made so much noise, maybe intentionally so, that Reichelt was not heard. And only one asked a question of Merz. The other one asked something of Trump. And then Trump ended the press conference with his good friend Friedrich. 

After the meeting, Merz said that the issue regarding the AfD did not come up, not even in his private talks with Trump,  because the Trump Administration “must have recognized by now how problematic the AfD is.” He also reiterated that it is Germany’s responsibility, and Germany’s alone, as to how to deal with the AfD. But this issue is not off the table. 

The American Dream—Gone! 

TTW wrote on June 9: 

“Australia now stands firmly beside Canada, Mexico, Germany, the UK, Spain, and South Korea in a growing movement to cancel trips to the United States. The shift is loud, deliberate, and impossible to ignore. These countries aren’t just reducing travel—they’re choosing easier, safer, more welcoming destinations. And the US once the dream, is now the detour. 

“Australia is walking away. Canada is turning inward. Mexico is rerouting. Germany, the UK, Spain, and South Korea are all following suit. The travel tides are changing fast. But why now? Why all at once? 

“The truth is hidden in plain sight. It’s in the headlines. It’s in the airports. It’s in the anxious conversations of travelers second-guessing their plans. And now, it’s becoming a global pattern… 

“Australia’s love affair with U.S. travel is fading fast. Once a top destination for Aussie tourists, the United States is now facing a major pullback. Flights are being rebooked. Itineraries are being torn up. And travel dollars are being redirected toward countries that feel safer, friendlier, and more predictable… the impact on America’s tourism industry is quickly becoming undeniable. 

“The warning signs have been building for months. Across travel forums, group chats, and travel agencies, Aussies are voicing the same concerns. Getting into the U.S. feels like a gamble. The visa process is stressful. Border experiences are unpredictable. And recent policies have created a climate of anxiety and hesitation. Moreover, Australia’s travelers are highly informed. They watch the global news, follow political shifts, and study how tourists are being treated. And what they see coming out of the U.S. in 2025 is turning them away. 

“Aggressive airport checks. Talk of tariffs and trade feuds. Headlines filled with cultural tension. It all adds up. The perception is clear: visiting America no longer feels like a holiday—it feels like a risk… 

“For the U.S., this trend couldn’t come at a worse time. Just as the industry was inching back toward pre-pandemic levels, international travel is stalling. One market at a time… The decline is not just inconvenient. It’s financially devastating. 

“While the U.S. struggles to retain interest, other regions are thriving. Japan, South Korea, Italy, Greece, and Portugal are seeing a surge in Australian tourists… European destinations are capitalizing on America’s decline by offering cultural depth, visa-free access, and streamlined travel infrastructure… 

“Campaigns like ‘Visit the USA’ are falling flat in Australia. Instead, travelers are being drawn in by digital influencers, local tour deals in Europe and Asia, and a growing awareness that the U.S. trip they once dreamed of may no longer be worth the cost—or the worry… With Canadians, Mexicans, and now Australians pulling back, the trend is global. It signals something deeper: America’s image as a traveler-friendly nation is being questioned…” 

Trust in Trump Government “Completely Gone” 

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on June 10: 

“… the wild optimism that greeted the inauguration of Trump has turned to something different, a mixture of incredulity from the grassroots combined with outrage and disgust from the legacy media and establishment that fought this revolution at every turn… The new leaders – elected to change course…, began with tremendous bravado and sweeping edicts that seemed promising. Four months later, they are asking for patience while dealing with legacy barriers on all sides from media harassment to court blockages.  

“The trouble is that public trust is completely gone. The whole country, traumatized by years of lies [under Biden], has become Missouri: show me.  

“First, no one believes that the ‘one big beautiful bill’ is just a first step on the way to future draconian cuts. We’ve seen this too many times, which is why Elon Musk finally broke his silence and denounced the entire ‘massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill’ as ‘a disgusting abomination.’ That has set off a power struggle for the ages.  

“Second, in areas of government transparency, there have been some steps but not nearly enough to fulfill the promises. There are still no new Epstein files. The JFK files are a mess and incomplete. We know no more than already public information about the two shooters who tried to kill Trump. There are still many lingering questions about 9-11, the Covid disaster, and so much else. This is not the opening for which the people had hoped.  

“Third, let’s talk more at length about the public health area of policy where we’ve seen the most progress. We have a new and excellent Executive Order on science. Tax-funded Covid testing has ended. A contract of $750M for a Bird flu shot has been cancelled. There are new limits on gain-of-function research, and experiments on beagles and other animals are over. Many terrible contracts from NIH have been cancelled while parts of the CDC have been dismantled… 

“Above all else, what we really need is the blunt truth about the last five years. We need to know that the people in office, whether elected or appointed, still share the deep outrage that fueled the movement that put them in power. We need to hear frank talk about the harms, the mandates, the suffering, the deceptions, the payoffs, the graft, the abuses, the illegal vanquishing of freedom, science, and human rights.  

“It is not enough to proclaim a new Golden Age and be done with it. This pertains to every aspect of public life. Press conferences by the new officeholders, with smiles and promises of better behavior in the future, don’t cut it given the mass loss of trust, rampant cynicism, and grassroots fury. There must be more straight talk, more decisive action that goes to the heart of what happened, and some degree of accountability…” 

Israel Attacks Iran

The Jerusalem Post wrote on June 13:

“Dozens of Israeli aircraft participated in an initial wave of strikes on dozens of military targets and Iranian nuclear sites early on Friday morning. Warning sirens have been set off to get the public ready for potential Iranian counterattacks of ballistic missiles on Israel.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Iran is gearing up to produce tens of thousands of ballistic missiles, which could kill millions of Israelis even without nuclear weapons, but imagine if any of them had nuclear weapons on them. Further, Netanyahu stated Iran may only be a few months away from being able to actually make a nuclear weapon…

“In recent days, Iran developed a plan with Hezbollah, Hamas, and other proxies to destroy the State of Israel, potentially including attempts to attack via all borders, including Egypt and Jordan… Israel has had strong coordination with the US, but Israeli military officials refused to say whether America was pre-updated or fully coordinated into the current attack, coming hours after Washington seemed to suggest it might not be in the loop or approve… ‘Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,’ Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.”

Tusk Wins Confidence Vote 

Deutsche Welle reported on June 11: 

“Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk won a parliamentary vote of confidence in his pro-European government on Wednesday, just days after a stinging presidential election defeat… [The] inability to deliver on key reforms — which also includes abortion rights — despite holding a parliamentary majority, has been a dark cloud over Tusk’s government… 

“In Poland, the prime minister, chosen by parliament, holds most day-to-day power, while the president, as the head of state, can influence foreign policy and veto legislation… Opposition leaders had seized the moment to signal Tusk’s downfall. Former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro told reporters, ‘The lost presidential election is the end of Donald Tusk. His fate is already sealed.’” 

Maybe not… 

Germany to Introduce Compulsory Military Service? 

DPA wrote on June 6: 

“The head of the organization that represents Germany’s armed forces personnel has called for the reintroduction of compulsory military service. André Wüstner, from the Bundeswehr Association, said on Friday that Germany’s new coalition government should start laying the groundwork now for the possible reintroduction of conscription. In an interview with the Deutschlandfunk radio station, Wüstner also called for voluntary military service to be made more attractive in order to achieve increased NATO targets. 

“He expressed doubts that it would be possible to recruit up to 60,000 additional men and women for active duty on a voluntary basis alone. He added that he could almost predict that a review would be necessary in the middle of the legislative period and that a switch to some form of compulsory military service would then be necessary… In view of the threats Germany faces, speed is needed to increase the number of active soldiers from 181,000 to 260,000, he argued. 

“… Defence Minister Boris Pistorius had recently made it clear on several occasions that the voluntary nature of military service agreed by the coalition only applies if the demand can be met in this way… 

“On Thursday, NATO defence ministers in Brussels agreed on the largest rearmament programme since the Cold War in response to the threat posed by Russia.” 

Compulsory Military Service is coming, even though many Germans don’t (want to) believe it. 

Germany’s Military Goals 

Oema wrote on June 5: 

“Germany in 2025 is changing. Under the leadership of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the country is undergoing the most radical reorientation of its military policy since the end of World War II.  Merz’s goal is clear: to turn the Bundeswehr into ‘the strongest conventional military force in Europe.’ This statement, as noted in an article by The Economist, is not merely symbolic. It reflects Berlin’s new self-confidence and its intention to assume a leadership role in European security at a time when Russia is once again threatening the continent and the United States is no longer seen as a guaranteed defender of European defense. 

“The most striking evidence of this shift was the military ceremony on May 22 in Vilnius. For the first time since 1945, German armored units were permanently stationed abroad, forming the ‘Lithuania’ Brigade as part of Berlin’s NATO commitment. The symbolic weight of this move is immense. For decades, German politicians avoided such actions, mindful of World War II memories and a deeply ingrained societal stance on military restraint. But today, the facts are changing. 

“Berlin’s pivot comes with significant investments. Merz and the Defense Ministry have pledged to dramatically increase the defense budget in order to renew the arsenal, boost readiness, and fill personnel gaps. At the same time, the industrial sector is being strengthened: new orders for Leopard tanks, missile systems, and electronic defense systems are activating German defense manufacturers. At the core of this strategy lies the desire for strategic autonomy—not only for Germany, but for all of Europe. 

“However, transforming the Bundeswehr is no easy task. Military infrastructure remains outdated, staffing shortages are widespread, and public support is not a given. German society remains divided. Some welcome Merz’s decisiveness and believe the country must shoulder greater responsibility. Others fear that expanding the military’s role could stir tensions, especially with the historical burden of the past still fresh. 

“What’s clear is that Germany is not merely aiming for defensive sufficiency. It seeks a strategic role, power, and influence within Europe’s security architecture. And if Merz’s plan succeeds, Berlin will not only be able to defend itself but also lead Europe both politically and militarily. Germany’s new military might is no longer a ghost of the past—it’s the foundation of a different geopolitical reality unfolding before our eyes.” 

Indeed it is. 

No Peace Between Russia and Ukraine 

Newsweek wrote on June 9: 

“The Ukraine war won’t end until NATO withdraws troops from the Baltics, a top Russian official has warned… [Sergei] Ryabkov’s comments mark a shift in the Kremlin’s position. He suggested that the conflict’s roots lie not only in Ukraine itself but in NATO’s eastward expansion… NATO maintains a strong military presence in the Baltic States, with multinational battle groups and brigades stationed in Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia… 

“The Kremlin had said Ukraine must abandon its ambitions to join NATO as a condition for ending the war, but Ryabkov appeared to signal to Tass that the alliance must withdraw completely from the Baltics as well… Moscow and Kyiv will continue to launch strikes on each other’s territory, with the war in Ukraine showing few signs of a peace deal in the near future.”

What Germans and Russians Think…

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 5: 

“The vast majority — 84% — of those [Germans] surveyed thought that Russia could not be relied upon, and 73% said the same of the US. Israel was also classified as no longer reliable by a clear majority. Only 16% of respondents still regarded Israel as a partner that Germany can rely on — an 11% drop compared with October 2024… The Israeli course of action in Gaza has gone too far, according to 63% of respondents, while 18% thought it was appropriate. 

“Seventy-seven percent of respondents thought it was right that Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized Israel for its current military conduct in Gaza. Only one in eight thought Germany should unconditionally support Israel in the Gaza conflict… Almost exactly as many respondents blame Israel for the situation faced by Palestinian civilians in Gaza as blame Hamas… 43% supported restricting weapons exports to Israel, and a further 30% wanted a complete stop… 

“Forty percent of those surveyed were satisfied with the [German] coalition’s first few weeks in office… Friedrich Merz of the CDU has gained considerable popularity since taking office as Germany’s chancellor. Of those surveyed, 39% were satisfied with his work, up 14% since April. Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil of the SPD, also has a 39% approval rating. The only high-profile German politician who most citizens are satisfied with remains Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD).

How easily gullible Germans can become deceived and manipulated…At the same time, most Russians consider Germany as their greatest enemy, followed by the United Kingdom and Ukraine. They consider Belarus, China, India and North Korea as their greatest friends. These “friendly” countries, together with Russia, would all be part of the prophesied Kings of the East. 

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.

The World Loves Dead Jews 

Israel Today wrote on May 28: 

“European leaders who have recently criticized Israel over its war against Hamas in Gaza have succumbed to political pressure fueled by a nefarious international media campaign against the Jewish state, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said on Tuesday. The unequivocal remarks by Israel’s second-highest diplomat come amid some of the harshest criticism leveled against Israel by British, German, French and Canadia leaders since the war began nearly 20 months ago, following the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, 2023. 

“‘What we are seeing is the capitulation of several European leaders to a very loud political campaign in countries with a massive immigrant influx from many Muslim countries, together with an immense propaganda campaign waged against Israel on international TV networks,’ Haskel told JNS ahead of a series of meetings in Europe this week. ‘The world loves dead Jews, and one day after they turn their backs on us,’ she said, referring to the day after the Oct. 7 massacre… 

“Haskel singled out the BBC, which she accused of a long-standing bias against Israel… ‘We are seeing the persecution and racism against Jews around the globe in ways we have never seen before since the Holocaust,’ Haskel said. ‘It always starts with the Jews, and then it comes for the rest of humanity.’” 

France 24/AFP wrote on May 30: 

“The United Nations condemned Friday a [Palestinian] group of ‘armed individuals’ for raiding warehouses in the Palestinian territory of Gaza and looting large amounts of medical supplies. The group ‘stormed the warehouses at a field hospital in Deir al-Balah, looting large quantities of medical equipment, supplies, medicines, nutritional supplements that was intended for malnourished children,’ said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The stolen aid had been brought into war-ravaged Gaza just a day earlier, he said.”

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Why This Hatred for Israel and the Jews?” 

Trump Attacks BBC Over Gaza Misreporting 

The Telegraph wrote on June 3: 

“The White House has attacked the BBC’s coverage of the Gaza conflict, accusing the broadcaster of taking Hamas’s word as ‘total truth’… Donald Trump’s press secretary… accused the BBC of having to repeatedly correct its reporting from the territory about aid distribution… The BBC’s coverage of the conflict has been repeatedly accused of bias against Israel, but the White House’s comments mark an extraordinary escalation in criticism of the broadcaster…

“Ms Leavitt’s attack is the latest criticism of the BBC’s coverage of the conflict. The broadcaster was forced to pull a documentary about Gaza and apologise for ‘serious flaws’ in its making after it was revealed that the narrator was the son of a Hamas government minister… 

“Last month, the BBC’s Today programme prominently reported a claim by Tom Fletcher, the UN’s humanitarian chief, that 14,000 babies in Gaza could die within 48 hours. The corporation later issued a correction, when it emerged the figure was an estimate for the number of children at risk of ‘severe malnutrition’ by March next year. However, the claim had by then been widely reported as fact and was cited by nine Members of Parliament in the Commons…”

BBC’s latest scandalous report claimed that Israel had fired indiscriminately on Palestinian citizens—a claim which is either an outright lie or which was instigated by the terror organization Hamas to produce “martyrs.” But it’s not only BBC, of course, which is accused of reporting falsely about the crisis in Gaza. Note the next article. 

CNN Accused of False Reporting

Breitbart wrote on June 3:

“CNN persisted Tuesday in publishing fake news pushed by Hamas, claiming that ‘dozens’ of Palestinians had been killed near an American-run aid site in Gaza, despite Israeli denials and a history of Hamas lies.

“Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told journalists: ‘The IDF did not fire at civilians in, or near, humanitarian aid distribution zones.’ The story came a day after U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee demanded that CNN and other outlets retract false reporting of dozens of Palestinians being killed at a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) site Sunday.

“CNN reported its story under the headline, ‘Dozens of Palestinians killed near Gaza aid distribution point, health officials say, in third day of shooting.’ It cited the Gaza ‘health ministry’ — without noting that the ‘ministry’ is controlled entirely by Hamas and has a long record of false and sensational claims — and reported that ‘Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians as they made their way to the distribution site in Tel al-Sultan in Rafah.’

“The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that its forces had fired, half a kilometer away from the aid site, at a few people who had deviated from the route and had ignored warning shots. The IDF added: ‘IDF troops are not preventing the arrival of Gazan civilians to the humanitarian aid distribution sites. The warning shots were fired approximately half a kilometer away from the humanitarian aid distribution site toward several suspects who advanced toward the troops in such a way that posed a threat to them.’

“The CNN story cited only part of the IDF statement, leaving out the denial of the main claim. CNN also left out the GHF’s denials, and its report that aid had been delivered to civilians without incident….

“The Trump administration is backing GHF (Gaza Humanitarian Foundation) as an alternative to aid distribution by the United Nations, which has been hijacked by Hamas, which steals aid and sells it to Palestinians, profiting while controlling them.” 

Waiting For the Third Temple 

Israel 365 News wrote on May 30: 

“The first Caucus for Jewish Freedom on the Temple Mount was held Thursday morning in the Knesset in English… For the first time, Jewish organizations participated in this kind of meeting, alongside Christians who want to promote sovereignty on the Temple Mount and the building of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Tom Nisani, CEO of ‘Beyadenu  Returning to the Temple Mount’, said: ‘… I get inquiries from all over the world that ask, “Why is there no Temple yet?”’… 

“According to Michael Oren… ‘Hamas calls this war the al-Aqsa flood. For Hamas, the objective of their October 7 attack was unambiguous: pushing the Jews out “from the river to the sea”, but specifically from the very site that gives us our legitimacy here. Their explicit goal was to “liberate Al Aqsa” from the “infidel” Jews… In recent months, an anecdote spread about an IDF soldier returning from Gaza. When his relieved mother asked what he wanted to do first, he said he needed to buy a picture of the Beit Hamikdash (Temple) for his bedroom. Surprised, she asked if he wouldn’t prefer a shower or his favorite food. The soldier responded, “Eema, you don’t understand. In Gaza, every home, government office, and school displays a picture of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”’… 

“MK Dan Illouz also spoke, saying: ‘… The Temple Mount is where the Temples stood and where Jews pray every morning. Today, Jews are discriminated against on the Temple Mount, and that needs to change…’ 

“John Enerson, Cry for Zion [said]: ‘As a Christian, I want to say that the whole world is watching you. We support your sovereignty on the Temple Mount. If you want it, it is not a fairy tale! We are waiting for the Temple Mount to fulfill its destiny to be a house of prayer for all nations.’… 

“MK Amit Halevi said, ‘… We must demand that the presence of God and the Temple be restored to the Temple Mount. We need to demand from the American Congress the rights of the Jews on the Temple Mount.’ MK Limor Son Har-Melech [said]: ‘… Things have changed for the better on the Temple Mount, but there are still problems and obstacles until the building of the Temple.’… 

A third temple will be built in Jerusalem prior to Christ’s return. 

No Two-State Solution 

The Jerusalem Post wrote on May 29: 

“French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot delivered a speech on Wednesday [at the UN Security Council], reiterating the country’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, urging ‘the implementation of a two-state solution.’ Barrot also announced that France will co-host, alongside Saudi Arabia, a United Nations conference in June regarding this topic.  

“The American embassy argued in response that the implementation of a two-state solution would constitute a ‘reward for Hamas’ shocking attack on Israel,’ in reference to the May 21st Washington shooting attack at the Jewish Museum in which [anti-Semite] Elias Rodriguez killed two Israeli embassy staffers, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim… ‘The United States stands with Israel in unequivocally rejecting any effort to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state or impose conditions on Israel,’ the embassy stated.” 

“In response to the French ministry, Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said that any ‘recognition of a Palestinian state is a reward for Hamas for the atrocities of October 7, and a resounding message to terrorist organizations around the world to murder, burn, rape and kidnap – this is the way.’” 

Ganging Up Against Israel 

Israel Today wrote on June 1: 

“A visit to Ramallah by the Saudi, Emirati, Qatari, Egyptian, Jordanian and Turkish foreign ministers… won’t take place. An Israeli official told reporters that the Jewish state blocked the visit, which would have been the highest-level visit by a Saudi diplomat to Judea and Samaria since the 1967 Six-Day War… ‘The Palestinian Authority, which to this day refuses to condemn the Oct. 7 massacre, intended to host in Ramallah a provocative meeting of foreign ministers from Arab countries to discuss the establishment of a Palestinian state,’ the Israeli official said. ‘Such a state would undoubtedly become a terrorist state in the heart of the land of Israel,’ the official said. ‘Israel will not cooperate with such moves aimed at harming it and its security.’ 

“The Jordanian foreign ministry stated in Arabic on Saturday that the decision is ‘a blatant violation of Israel’s obligations as the occupying power.’ The ministry stated on behalf of the delegation that it had ‘decided to postpone the visit to Ramallah in light of Israel’s obstruction of its mission by refusing the delegation entry through the airspace of the occupied West Bank, which is controlled by Israel.’” 

The nations listed above are interesting in light of Psalm 83. 

Will Netanyahu Strike Iran? 

The Sun wrote on June 1: 

“PM Netanyahu has been making preparations behind the scenes to swiftly blitz Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities as he deems the country ‘enemy number one’. Trump, however, has firmly insisted Israel take no action that could jeopardise his administration’s efforts to thrash out a deal with Iran. 

“It culminated in a heated phone call this week between the leaders as they continue to clash on how to curb Tehran’s nuke programme, sources said.” 

It was reported that even though Netanyahu would like to have America’s help, he will also strike Iran alone, if he feels that this is necessary.  It was also reported that Iran is now in a position to produce 10 nuclear bombs. 

Is Germany Sabotaging Trump’s Peace Initiative? 

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on May 29: 

“Efforts to bring peace to Ukraine just received a stifling blow. German Chancellor Fredrich Merz, with less than a month in office, has stepped forward to set back the US sponsored peace initiative… He apparently favors supplying German Taurus missiles to Ukraine… Actually, the United States, Great Britain, and France have already supplied long-range missiles to Ukraine… But the missiles had insufficient range to threaten Moscow…

“But the German Taurus missiles have sufficient range to hit smack dab in the middle of the Kremlin, the traditional embodiment of Russia’s center of power…

“Before his election, Merz actually promoted a Ukraine peace plan of his own. It involved the Taurus missiles. In an interview with Stern he said, ‘If elected, I will issue an ultimatum to Putin to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. If he does not agree, I will supply Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles and give permission to strike on Russian territory.’..

“Germany’s Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil… gave his own statement to the press saying plainly, ‘I would like to say that there is no new agreement that goes beyond what the previous government has done.’..

“RT.com reported, ‘Russia would not rule out a direct strike on Berlin if German personnel help Ukraine target Moscow with German-supplied Taurus missiles.’” 

Is Trump Administration Repeating Past Mistakes of Appeasement? 

The Independent wrote on May 30: 

“The Trump administration’s sympathy for Moscow’s anti-Nato demands has been likened to Nazi appeasement as parts of the alliance’s eastern bloc warn that the US is priming non-members for invasion. Top officials from four Eastern European countries have hit out after Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg,  appeared to support Vladimir Putin’s reported demand to have in writing that Nato will not accept any new members from the region. 

“In an interview with US network ABC News, Mr Kellogg described Putin’s latest position as a ‘fair’ one that was likely to include not just Ukraine but also Georgia and Moldova… ‘It looks like Munich, when great powers decide the fate of small ones,’ [a senior Lithuanian] official said, referencing the 1938 agreement between Adolf Hitler, the UK, France and Italy that ultimately led to Nazi Germany invading Czechoslovakia… 

“Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and six years later began its attempted takeover of Ukraine, initially by illegally annexing Crimea. Moscow has also stationed more than a thousand troops in the Moldovan region of Transnistria, sparking fears that Moldova could be the next target for the Kremlin. Olga Rosca, foreign policy adviser to the Moldovan president, Maia Sandu, said Russia is already ‘violating our neutrality’…

“Estonian president Alar Karis said the country’s position on Nato expansion was clear: ‘Every country has the right to choose its own security arrangements…’  Jan Lipavsky, foreign minister for the Czech Republic, also hit back at Mr Kellogg’s comments late last night… 

“European officials have long cautioned that the Russian suggestion that Nato is expanding aggressively eastward is propaganda aimed at justifying its imperialistic ambitions. Putin’s attacks on Georgia and Ukraine in 2008 and 2014 came well before either country had serious chances of joining Nato, and the Russian leader’s pre-invasion speech in February 2022 made little mention of Kyiv’s Nato membership hopes…” 

Russia’s Pearl Harbor? 

The New York Post wrote on June 2: 

“Ukrainian forces stunned the Russian military Sunday after wiping out and damaging dozens of nuclear bombers and other aircraft with ambitious and complicated attacks that struck President Vladimir Putin’s air bases deep inside the country, Kyiv says. Even pro-Moscow military bloggers are calling the strike — which used drones hidden in trucks  — ‘the Russian Pearl Harbor.’… 

“The mission… hit 41 Russian heavy bombers and other warplanes at four separate airfields thousands of miles from Ukraine. The cost of the destroyed aircraft, most of which Russia no longer even manufactures, is at least $7 billion, Kyiv said. The doomsday bombers are a critical part of Russia’s nuclear deterrent — originally designed to obliterate the US and Europe with atomic weapons in the event of all-out war. 

“Ukraine said the aircraft had been converted and were being used to pummel their country with cruise missiles. Officials claimed they had destroyed more than one-third of Russia’s strategic bombers in the strike…

“Ukraine said the attack was launched in response to Russia carrying out one of its largest drone attacks since the start of the war last week, with 472 drones and seven ballistic and cruise missiles involved… In separate attacks, the collapse of two bridges near the Ukrainian border, killing at least seven people, has been blamed by Russian investigators on sabotage.”

No Peace in Sight 

The New York Post wrote on June 4: 

“President Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, saying it was ‘not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace’ between Russia and Ukraine… ‘President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.’” 

That was SO predictable.  And so, the war will go on… 

Russia to Strike Soon? 

BBC wrote on June 1: 

“Members of the Western alliance Nato need to prepare for a possible attack from Russia within the next four years, according to Germany’s chief of defence.

“General Carsten Breuer told the BBC that Russia was producing hundreds of tanks a year, many of which could be used for an attack on Nato Baltic state members by 2029 or even earlier… Russia also produced four million rounds of 152mm artillery munition in 2024, and not all of it was going to Ukraine either, added Gen Breuer.”

Invasion of Taiwan Imminent? 

The Sun wrote on May 31: 

“China is ‘credibly preparing’ for a military invasion of Taiwan and the attack is ‘real and [could be] imminent’, the US Defence Secretary [Pete Hegseth] has warned…. 

“His warning comes after China deployed two hulking H-6 bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons on a strategic island in the South China Sea… China claims almost the entire disputed waterway in the South China Sea – through which more than 60 per cent of global maritime trade passes. 

“Fears are that the weakening of Western alliances and the unpredictability of US foreign policy under Donald Trump could create the perfect atmosphere for Beijing to trigger an invasion.” 

China Steps in Where America Retreats 

Breaking Defense wrote on May 29: 

“As the US prepares African nations to rely less on Washington’s help, China is attempting to ‘replicate every type of thing’ the US military does to build and maintain relationships on the continent, according to the top US military official [Michael E. Langley]…

“Langely was speaking from Nairobi, Kenya, as the US wrapped up its participation in the African Chiefs of Defense Conference, attended by representatives from more than 30 African nations. There, amid drastic US cuts to civilian aid programs, Langley said he had a message for the leaders of African militaries: America does not want to do more for Africa, but to ‘help Africa do more for itself.’’ 

While the USA is retreating, China is stepping in.

Trump’s Air Force One Debacle 

The Huffington Post wrote on May 30: 

“Before he even took office the first time in 2017, Trump was already boasting that he would force Boeing — which had been on pace to deliver two new, purpose-built 747s by the end of that term — to slash its contract price… Among the features dropped from the required specifications list was in-flight refueling, thereby reducing the amount of time a commander-in-chief can remain aloft to only about 15 hours, rather than a week or more. 

“If a plane carrying the president cannot refuel in midair, that severely limits how and where a president can travel and be kept out of harm’s way in the event of a major attack on the United States…

“What’s more, it’s unclear whether Trump’s interference in the program will have saved taxpayers a dime…. And none of that includes the new burden taxpayers must now bear to transform Qatar’s gift to Trump… Modifying the plane could take many months or even years, meaning… hundreds of millions of dollars or more will be spent…” 

The U.S. Sun added on May 30: 

“Donald Trump’s luxury ‘sky Palace’ gifted to him by Qatar will cost a few billion dollars, says the President of Emirates airline. The US government now faces a ‘Herculean task’ to transform the huge Boeing 747-8 into a new Air Force One fit for a president, warns Sir Tim Clark… Aviation specialist Jeff Wise also told The Sun that he expects the Air Force One replacement to take years and need billions of dollars pumped into the project to make the jet viable… 

“Trump’s Air Force One jets currently in use come with dozens of specialised security features. These include armoured glass and plating, on board flares to confuse enemy missiles, mirror-ball defences and even an electric jamming system. 

“Another unique yet needed element is an electromagnetic shield for nuclear explosions. This has to be on a presidential plane as the leader of Washington can actually launch a nuke from the aircraft. 

“But the new Qatari jet lacks most of these security features.” 

Musk Attacks Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” 

The New York Post wrote on June 3: 

“Tech mogul Elon Musk went on a tirade Tuesday against President Trump’s marquee One Big Beautiful Bill Act days after leaving the administration — ripping the legislation as an ‘abomination’ and condemning lawmakers who supported it. ‘I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,’ the Tesla and SpaceX CEO wrote on his X platform. ‘This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.’ 

“The 53-year-old added in subsequent posts that the bill ‘will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America [sic] citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.’ In a third post, Musk groused that ‘Congress is making America bankrupt.’ ‘In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people [apparently suggesting Republican politicians should be kicked out of Congress at the midterms],’ he later fumed… 

“Multiple estimates have found that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will increase the federal deficit by between $3 trillion and $4 trillion over a 10-year period… 

“The billionaire’s diatribe against the measure comes amid delicate negotiations among Republican lawmakers. The mammoth bill cleared the House last month but still needs to go through the Senate and then the House again before it can get to Trump’s desk.  Multiple lawmakers have complained that they’ve since discovered provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of which they weren’t aware. [So, they did not even read the bill before signing it!] 

“Far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) flagged a provision in the bill that curtails state rights to regulate artificial intelligence over the next 10 years. She said Tuesday that she would have voted against the bill if she had known it was in there.  Last week, Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) admitted during a town hall that he wasn’t privy to a provision in the megabill that restrains district judges’ ability to hold people in contempt… The measure spans 1,038 pages, and was quickly rammed through the House following marathon markup sessions by multiple House committees… [This is SO shameful indeed.]

“Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), one of two GOP ‘nay’ votes in the House alongside Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), praised Musk’s screed, saying on X that ‘he’s right.’ The world’s richest man holds significant sway over fiscal hawks in both chambers of Congress. Last month, he publicly lamented that congressional Republicans neglected to codify the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts he helped shepherd. Almost immediately after, a chorus of GOP lawmakers in Congress began demanding that leadership do so. In December of last year, Musk helped torpedo a government funding agreement to avert a government shutdown. That prompted GOP leadership to back off and put forward a significantly watered-down spending patch to keep the government’s lights on…” 

Breitbart added on June 4: “Trump has also made clear that he wants the bill on his desk by the Fourth of July.” 

Musk also wrote in another post: “This immense level of overspending will drive America into debt slavery!” 

It was also reported that two Republican senators, Mike Lee (Utah) and Rand Paul (Ky.), signaled their agreement with Musk, who in turn shared posts from Republicans in Congress who publicly aligned with him. Behind the scenes, Trump reportedly is livid, but until June 5, he had not come out publicly against Musk who was the biggest donor in the 2024 political cycle, donating $288 million to help elect Trump and other Republican candidates.

Feud Between Musk and Trump Escalates

The Sun wrote on June 5:

“The feud began when Trump addressed Musk’s criticism of the president’s ‘big beautiful bill’ in the Oval Office. But it dramatically escalated when the Tesla mogul called for the president’s impeachment [and replacement with J.D. Vance] and brought up Trump’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein…. Trump later threatened to cut Musk’s government contracts by saying it would save a lot of money… 

“Musk responded to Trump’s threats with a threat of his own. ‘In light of the President’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, Space X will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately,’ he said. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft was the one that brought stranded astronauts back safe to Earth after 268 days in March.”

Chilling Warning About the “Enemy Within” America 

Daily Mail wrote on May 30: 

“JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has sounded the alarm about the ‘enemy within’ America… 

“Dimon claims that the United States is suffering from a worrying government ‘mismanagement’ issue…. Dimon, the boss of America’s biggest bank, cautioned that the ‘mismanagement’ that occurs at all levels of government could be the biggest catalyst for the nation’s economic demise. ‘The amount of mismanagement is extraordinary – by state, by city, for pensions, and that stuff is going to kill us,’ the billionaire banker [said]… 

“Dimon sounded the alarm on a ‘crack’ appearing in the bond market as a result of the wildly soaring national debt – which Trump is set to compound with the $3 trillion Big Beautiful Bill awaiting Senate approval. A ‘crack’ in the bond market occurs when investors lose confidence in the government’s ability to service its debt. Bonds are sold, yields go higher and the cost of borrowing increases for all Americans, including the government itself. 

“’You are going to see a crack in the bond market… I’m telling you it’s going to happen, and you’re going to panic’…. Dimon clarified that a crack in the market hasn’t happened yet, but is confident it will occur. .. 

“His remarks… come just days after he delivered a sobering assessment of the US economy  and warned the true fallout from Trump’s sweeping tariff policy has yet to be felt… Dimon said behind the scenes of a soaring stock market lies a deep and under-appreciated risk… Dimon pulled no punches as he described Trump’s tariff strategy as ‘pretty extreme,’ even in its scaled-back form following an April 2 announcement that placed most tariffs on a temporary 90-day pause…” 

America’s downfall, due to “enemies from within” and “from without,” is inevitable.

Deal Between U.S. Steel and Japan 

ABC News reported on May 30: 

“President Donald Trump on Friday touted a ‘blockbuster agreement’ between U.S. Steel and Japanese company Nippon Steel… Trump discussed the ‘partnership’ between the two companies during a rally at the Irvin Works plant in Allegheny County on Friday evening… During the event, Trump also announced his plan to double a current 25% tariff on [all] steel imports to 50%… 

“Trump told the crowd Nippon would invest a total of $14 billion as part of the deal… Trump emphasized that the U.S. Steel headquarters would stay in Pittsburgh…

“U.S. Steel would still be ‘controlled by the USA,’ Trump said, adding, ‘Otherwise, I wouldn’t have done the deal.’ But he did not explicitly say how the ownership of the company would be structured. Despite hailing the agreement during the rally, Trump later told reporters that he hasn’t seen the final [deal] yet… 

“During the 2024 campaign, Trump pledged to block the Japanese steelmaker from purchasing U.S. Steel. As president-elect, he repeated that vow. ‘I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company, in this case Nippon Steel of Japan,’ Trump wrote in a post… The Biden administration in January blocked the sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel over national security concerns. The White House said at the time it was important to keep one of the largest steel producers in the nation an American-owned company…

“Nippon was seeking 100% ownership of U.S. Steel in talks with Trump…” 

Trump Attacks Court of International Trade 

The New York Post wrote on May 29: 

“President Trump on Thursday rebuked the trio of judges [nominated by Reagan, Obama and Trump] who overturned his sweeping tariff agenda the day before – calling out ‘backroom hustlers’ and slamming the Court of International Trade’s ruling as ‘horrific’ and a threat to ‘Presidential Power.’… A federal appeals court stayed the trade court’s order on Thursday as the White House appeals the initial ruling… 

“The horrific decision stated that I would have to get the approval of Congress for these Tariffs,’ he fumed. ‘In other words, hundreds of politicians would sit around D.C. for weeks, and even months, trying to come to a conclusion as to what to charge other Countries that are treating us unfairly. If allowed to stand, this would completely destroy Presidential Power — The Presidency would never be the same!’…

“Trump claimed the trade court’s ruling ‘is being hailed all over the World by every Country, other than the United States of America.’” 

In an apparent response to the ruling, Trump posted a cryptic meme on Wednesday night declaring that he is “on a mission from God.” 

America Breaks Its Promises… Again! 

NPR wrote on May 30: 

“The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the Trump administration to temporarily pause a humanitarian program that has allowed nearly half a million people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to enter the U.S. and remain here legally for two years. The move to grant a stay in the case means that the Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who were granted temporary parole under the program known as CHNV would lose their temporary legal status to be in the U.S. — and could potentially be deported while the case plays out in the lower courts… 

“The court did not give a reason in its brief order. But in a lengthy dissent from Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor joining, Jackson wrote that the court ‘has plainly botched this assessment today’ in causing irreparable harm for everyone admitted under the program… The program… has allowed individuals from the four countries to enter the U.S. temporarily for humanitarian reasons, usually because conditions in their home country pose a threat to their safety… 

“The federal law authorizing such humanitarian ‘parole’ dates back to the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act. It was first used to provide temporary entry for some 30,000 Hungarians fleeing their country after a failed attempt at overturning Soviet rule and a crackdown that followed. In the decades since then, every administration, including the first Trump administration, has used the parole program to meet some emergency immigration need, allowing individuals who have been screened and approved to enter the U.S. if they have a U.S. sponsor willing to provide financial and other support. Individuals granted such temporary status can, once here, apply for asylum or some other more permanent status. 

“The Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela parole program, known as the CHNV program, is similar to programs created in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine when some 200,000 people were granted temporary parole, and the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, when more than 76,000 Afghanis fled, many of them people who worked to assist U.S. forces there. So far, the Trump administration has not tried to end the Ukraine programs, but it has terminated the Afghan program, effective July 14. 

“President Trump, however, on the day he took office signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to end ‘all categorical parole programs.’ In March, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem formally announced the termination of the CHNV parole process, declaring that it was being terminated immediately, and that the cessation would apply to all people currently enrolled in the program. It was the first en masse termination of such a program on record. Noem’s order said that the interests of the parolees, and their reliance on the government’s promise of protection for two years, were outweighed by the government’s ‘strong interest’ in deporting them through expedited removal, rather than normal removal proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act. 

“A group of individuals whose temporary protection had been guaranteed for two years, and their sponsors, challenged Noem’s order in court, and a federal district court judge in Massachusetts ruled in their favor. Judge Indira Talwani said that the secretary had erred in seeking to expedite removal of individuals who still had time left on their promised two-year protection in the U.S. The judge also said that the secretary’s en masse ending of the two-year term violated the statutory requirement that parole be determined only on a case-by-case basis…” 

The bottom line is, the US government made a promise which the Trump administration is now breaking. This is the sad history of US “promises,” especially in regard to their deceitful and ungodly “dealing” with the American Indians. 

Trump’s New Travel Bans

Daily Mail wrote on June 5:

“President Donald Trump has announced widespread bans and restrictions for visitors from 19 countries…

“Nationals of Afghanistan, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen will be barred from entering the United States under the new order, which goes into effect on June 9. Citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela will be partially restricted from traveling, removing access to all immigrant visas and several non-immigrant travel options.

“Trump also issued a warning that Egypt could soon join the no-fly list in the wake of the Colorado terror attack in which an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa allegedly set fire to pro-Israel demonstrators…

“Several of the nations facing bans have been targeted because their screening and vetting capabilities are not up to the president’s standards, putting Egypt on high alert…. the nations included on the list have disappointed Trump in various ways, either by having a high rate of nationals who overstay their visas or by limiting the United States’ access to security data…

“The primary concern for Iranian nationals is that the government ‘is a state sponsor of terrorism’… Similarly, the inclusion of Somalia comes after ‘The United States Government identified Somalia as a terrorist safe haven… Haitian nationals, Trump argued, have a higher likelihood of trying to overstay their visas… Eritrea, for example, has been included on the list because ‘the United States questions the competence of the central authority for issuance of passports or civil documents in Eritrea.’…

“Looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Trump has already added a clause in his proclamation which states: ‘Any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event’ will be exempt.”

Biden Dead? 

The Daily Mail wrote on June 1: 

“President Donald Trump shared a bizarre theory on social media Saturday night that suggested Joe Biden died in 2020 and has since been replaced by a ‘clone.’… ‘There is no…JoeBiden – executed in 2020… Biden clones doubles & robotic engineered soulless mindless entities are what you see,’ wrote [a little known user with fewer than 1000 followers] named llijh… 

“Trump did not add any of his own commentary to the post, but simply amplifying the wild conspiracy created confusion. Almost immediately, social media erupted, with supporters and critics alike grappling with the surreal suggestion… 

[The New York Post added on June 1: “Trump last met Biden in person roughly five months ago during Inauguration Day, and shared the debate stage with him in both 2020 and 2024.”] 

“Trump’s casual amplification served to underscore the surreal and conspiratorial environment that defines the MAGA movement. This isn’t the first time Trump has danced with conspiracy theories. 

“Throughout his first term as president Trump continued to give oxygen to baseless theories: suggesting Ted Cruz’s father was involved in the JFK assassination, refusing to fully distance himself from QAnon, and promoting claims of massive voter fraud during the 2020 election without evidence. [There is much evidence, however, that the election was rigged]. 

“Trump was the most prominent promoter of the so-called ‘birther’ conspiracy, falsely claiming that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. For years, Trump demanded Obama’s birth certificate and continued to suggest it was fraudulent even after Obama released the official long-form document. It wasn’t until 2016, under mounting political pressure, that Trump finally admitted Obama was born in the US – without apology or acknowledgment of the damage the false claims had caused. [Trump should have never conceded. There is mounting evidence that Obama was NOT born in the USA. The “official long-form” from Hawaii was not an original, and the version produced appears to have been doctored. The original short form went missing, and the custodian of record died in a mysterious plane crash.] 

“But suggesting the idea that a former president of the United States was a ‘clone’ pushes the envelope even further.” 

This of course IS crazy. 

Attacks on the Unvaccinated–CDC Is At It Again! 

Daily Mail wrote on May 31: 

“The CDC is urging Americans to cancel their upcoming [international] flights if they are not vaccinated against measles. The agency has upgraded its health travel warning after discovering the virus… is spreading on US airplanes. A previous recommendation that said Americans should ‘consider making alternative travel plans’ if they could not get vaccinated before departing now says travelers should ‘consider postponing their trip.’ 

“Estimates suggest around 10 percent of adults may lack immunity, either due to never receiving the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine or because their immunity has diminished over time… the CDC confirmed at least one case where the virus was spread during air travel… 

“The latest airport warning came Friday as three passengers flying into Denver International Airport on [a] Turkish Airlines flight tested positive for measles. One of them was a vaccinated adult… 

“Around 90 percent of confirmed cases are tied to outbreaks in the US rather than travel outside the country.”

Absolutely stupid! Haven’t we learned anything yet from the CDC’s ridiculous “recommendations”—and worse—during the Covid “pandemic”? And so, the outrageous and unscientific attacks against the “unvaccinated” continue with full force. 

Epstein Committed Suicide?

The FBI announced that they would release a video proving that no one was in Epstein’s cell, putting to rest the notion that he was murdered. However, the Drudge Report issued immediately a flashback article from the BBC, dated January 10, 2020, painting a totally different picture: 

“Soon after Epstein’s death, in August, two of the CCTV cameras outside his cell had malfunctioned and were being examined by the FBI, US media reported… 

“Epstein was found semi-conscious in his prison cell with injuries to his neck on 25 July. After this incident, he was placed on suicide watch. Eventually, Epstein was moved to a different cell, where he died on 10 August. Two prison guards have since been accused of failing to check on him during this time and falsifying records to say that they had… 

“There have been ongoing questions over the July recording, which was initially deemed missing and then was said to have been located by jail staff. A letter filed by Assistant US Attorneys Jason Swergold and Maurene Comey said ‘the footage contained on the preserved video was for the correct date and time, but captured a different tier than the one where Cell-1 was located’, New York City media report. ‘The requested video no longer exists on the backup system and has not since at least August 2019 as a result of technical errors.’”

Fox News reported on June 4:

“FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Wednesday… ‘ We do have video. It’s not the greatest video in the world. I don’t want to set expectations on fire’… ‘However, the video does show in that specific block, that he goes in, made a phone call; you’ll see 12 hours of guards going in basically check on him, come back. You’ll see nobody really comes out of that bay in that area than him.”

But what about his cell itself???

Why would Epstein even commit suicide? And who is to benefit the most from his death? In times past, key witnesses in cases brought against the FBI or high-ranking officials died under mysterious circumstances. 

EU Threatens Hungary Over LGBTQ Issues 

Breitbart wrote on May 30: 

“In response to recent legislation passed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s conservative government to ban Pride parades in Hungary, over half of fellow European Union member states signed an open letter demanding that Budapest reverse course or face punishment from Brussels. The ‘declaration’ was signed by the countries of Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Sweden… 

“Brussels and Budapest have long been at loggerheads over the issue, with Eurocrats previously criticising laws banning LGBTQ+ content from children’s television programmes… Currently, the EU Commission is withholding around €18 billion from Hungary over supposed violations of the ‘rule of law.’…”

The dictatorial conduct of the EU is becoming more and more blatant.

Erdogan Against the Gender Ideology 

C-Fam wrote on May 30: 

“‘The fight against LGBT perversion is also a fight for freedom, dignity, and the future of humanity,’ [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan said… at the international Family Forum held on May 23 and 24. The conference was sponsored by Erdogan’s government and was attended by ministers from 27 countries from Africa, Asia, and the Balkans… Erdogan called gender ideology a ‘threat to humanity, women and children’ and a ‘national security threat.’ He pledged to work with everyone to protect the family and to fight the LGBT agenda domestically and abroad. 

“The conference addressed a full spectrum of policies to protect the family, including defending traditional man-woman marriage, incentives for young people to marry and found a family, how to raise fertility, and the effect of technology on the family. It also featured warnings against population control, abortion, gender ideology and harmful sexuality education that normalizes promiscuity as well as homosexual and transgender behavior… 

“He also said the LGBT agenda had become a system of ‘fascism and oppression’ and called gender ideology a form of child-abuse. In veiled criticism of the European Union, he denounced attacks against politicians in neighboring countries for defending marriage as the union of a man and a woman…” 

Turkey, unlike Hungary, is not a member of the EU, but it is a member of NATO. Will the EU dare to threaten Turkey as well?  

Canada’s Defense Deal With Europe 

The Toronto Star wrote on May 28: 

“Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday that he wants a ‘concrete’ commitment by July 1 to partner with the European Union on a huge military industrial program, as he declared Canada must spend more on defence… Carney’s comments, in an interview with the CBC, came after King Charles III delivered the Liberal government’s throne speech in a show of Canadian sovereignty meant to highlight the country’s distinctiveness amidst a trade war and talk of annexation from American President Donald Trump. 

“The King’s speech said Canada will join ReArm Europe, the EU’s plan to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on defence over the next five years to ‘quickly and significantly’ boost the bloc of countries’ military strength…” 

Blow for Merz 

Deutsche Welle reported on June 4: 

“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has defended his government’s effort to turn away asylum seekers at the country’s borders, one day after a court blocked the move. The emergency decision by the Berlin Administrative Court was a blow for Merz, who has promised he will curb irregular migration.

“Speaking in Berlin, the chancellor said the ruling may narrow his administration’s room for maneuver, but there was still scope… Shortly after taking office last month, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt ordered police to beef up border checks and turn away irregular migrants, even if they apply for asylum. 

“The court ruling on Monday found that three Somalis who were turned back to Poland on May 9  should have been processed under the European Union’s Dublin Regulation for asylum cases. The court found that the government’s evidence to proclaim a ‘national emergency’ to justify the measure lacked sufficient evidence.

“Merz’s immigration policies have been repeatedly criticized as violating both German and EU law.” 

Government of the Netherlands Collapses

The Sun wrote on June 3:

“The Dutch government has collapsed after far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled his party from the coalition amid an asylum row… Wilders’ PVV party was the largest in the four-party coalition, which had been in place since July 2024… Former coalition partners have accused Wilders of engineering the crisis – and using asylum as cover to make a lunge for power. Earlier in the day, Wilders said he intended to become Prime Minister of the Netherlands… Wilders had demanded ten additional measures – including a freeze on asylum applications and halting the construction of reception centres…

“Any fresh election is unlikely to be held before October, and the formation of a new government traditionally tends to take months in the Netherlands…” 

Wilders Thanks Trump

Breitbart wrote on June 5:

“The Trump White House offered tacit support to Geert Wilders… President Trump has been clear on supporting European allies that work to protect sovereignty and national identity… Responding to this vote of confidence from President Trump, Mr Wilders wrote overnight: ‘Thank you [President Trump]… We will win the Dutch elections again and Make The Netherlands Great Again!’…

“Such an endorsement is no trivial matter as voters around the Western world fraction into pro- and anti-Trump camps… President Trump is due to be in the Netherlands before the forthcoming snap election, potentially offering an opportunity for him to show in-person support.”

Tusk’s Government Suffers Setback in Poland

Deutsche Welle wrote on June 2:

“Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he will request a vote of confidence in the near future. His centrist government suffered a setback [in its efforts to strengthen Warsaw’s pro-European orientation] after conservative nationalist Karol Nawrocki won the presidential election…

“Prime Minister Tusk’s governing coalition has sought to reverse the previous PiS government’s judicial reforms, which the European Union said undermined democracy and the rights of women and minorities. However, [outgoing President Andrzej Duda] blocked those efforts, and Nawrocki is expected to maintain this position. Supporters of Nawrocki view him as a champion of conservative values, including his strong anti-abortion stance…

“In the Polish political system, the prime minister, who is chosen by parliament, holds most day-to-day power. However, the president’s role is not merely ceremonial. The head of state can influence foreign policy and veto legislation… Nawrocki will succeed Duda, whose second and final term ends on August 6. According to the Polish constitution, the president serves a five-year term and may be re-elected once.” 

Von der Leyen Receives Charlemagne Prize Amid Criticism 

Brussels Signal wrote on May 30: 

“European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen received the Charlemagne Prize on May 29–leading to criticism from MEPs who called the award ‘in blatant contradiction to the fundamental values for which this prize was originally created’. 

“Spain’s King Felipe VI and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz both delivered remarks at an awards ceremony in Aachen town hall. The prize citation praised von der Leyen’s ‘visionary leadership’ in ‘guiding the EU through profound transformation with vision, courage, strength and foresight’. 

“However, German MEP [Member of European Parliament] Christine Anderson (Alternative for Germany, AfD) condemned the award, calling von der Leyen an ‘autocratic, power-drunk and corrupt’ politician who drove a wedge between citizens and the EU institutions. ‘Democracy, transparency, the rule of law, and international understanding have all been undermined under her watch,’ wrote Anderson in a letter to the Charlemagne Prize Board. 

“Anderson said the award was especially inappropriate after the Pfizergate scandal. A ruling by the European General Court affirmed von der Leyen acted wrongly by refusing to release messages in which she was accused of negotiating a multi-billion-euro vaccine deal via undisclosed text messages… 

“Another MEP, France’s Virginie Joron [National Rally, formerly National Front], said ‘the EU has overstepped its original mandate’ under von der Leyen. The legacy of EU founding father Robert Schuman was one of cooperation, not coercion, said Joron. 

“During her acceptance speech [in Aachen], Ursula von der Leyen sidestepped criticism while defending her legacy and pushing for a new European project calling for a 21st-century version of ‘Pax Europaea.’ She warned of a chaotic international order marked by ‘imperial ambitions,’ and urged Europe to rearm and reassert itself geopolitically. ‘A new international order will emerge in this decade… we must shape this new order… Our mission is European independence,’ she added.” 

Van der Leyen is no stranger to controversy, even during her tenure as Germany’s defense minister. 

Politico added on May 30: 

“The Commission chief received the Charlemagne award for ‘her services to the unity of the member states, in the containment of the pandemic, for the unity of the Union’s determination to defend itself against Russia — and for the impetus towards the Green Deal,’ the award’s board of directors said. 

“The prize is named after the Frankish king Charlemagne, who united much of Western and Central Europe under the Holy Roman Empire in the 9th century.” 

Especially rewarding her for “services in the containment of the pandemic” should be considered to be a major scandal, as her actions have done unspeakable harm to millions of people.

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.

Trump’s Latest Tariffs Debacle 

The Associated Press wrote on May 23: 

“President Donald Trump on Friday threatened 25% tariff on Apple unless iPhones are made in America as well as a 50% tax on all imports from the European Union [starting June 1]. [Trump said the talks with the EU were going nowhere].” 

The New York Post added on May 23: 

“In response, the Dow dropped 256 points in a volatile day… while luxury automaker Volvo warned that prices on cars are going to spike…   A warning to President Donald Trump: Everyone, including your friends, is starting to get a brutal case of tariff burnout… It’s one thing for your enemies to find you unpredictable, another for your friends to worry that you’re acting on pure whim. 

“All this uncertainty exacts a cost of its own, angst that builds with every surprise twist. Every day, folks are nervous… Americans are really tired of tariffs… Even fans of the president’s theater can get sick of endless drama. Trump clearly sees tariffs as a wonderful hammer, but not everything is a nail.” 

Bild Online wrote on May 24:

“In return, Trump is accepting punitive tariffs [of 50 percent] on [some] US exports to the EU. Because Brussels has no choice now.” 

Subsequently, it was reported that Trump delayed his 50% EU tariffs. Trump’s tariffs policy will contribute to America’s financial ruin and its political isolation. 

Trump’s Tariffs Rollercoaster

Reuters reported on May 29:

“A federal appeals court on Thursday reinstated the most sweeping of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, a day after a trade court had ruled Trump had exceeded his authority in imposing the duties and had ordered an immediate block on them. An order from the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington provided no opinion or reasoning but directed the plaintiffs in the case to respond by June 5 and the administration by June 9…

“Financial markets, which have whipsawed wildly in response to every twist and turn in Trump’s chaotic trade war, reacted with cautious optimism to the trade court ruling, though gains in stocks were largely limited by expectations that the court’s ruling faced a potentially lengthy appeals process. Indeed, analysts said broad uncertainty remained regarding the future of Trump’s tariffs, which have cost companies more than $34 billion in lost sales and higher costs…

“Emblematic of that uncertainty, a separate federal court earlier on Thursday had also found Trump overstepped his authority in using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act for what he called ‘reciprocal’ tariffs of at least 10% on goods from most U.S. trading partners and for the separate 25% levies on goods from Canada, Mexico and China related to fentanyl. That ruling was much narrower, however, and the relief order stopping the tariffs only applied to the toy company that brought the case.”

The three judges on the trade court who unanimously blocked the tariffs were Judge Timothy Reif, who was nominated by Mr. Trump; Judge Jane Restani, who was nominated by former President Ronald Reagan; and Judge Gary Katzmann, who was nominated by former President Obama. “We are living under a judicial tyranny,” White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller wrote in response to the ruling by the trade court, adding that “the judicial coup is out of control.”

European Airlines Freeze Travel to Major US Cities 

Travel and Tour World wrote on May 24: 

“European airlines are freezing their transatlantic growth and pulling back from major U.S. cities like New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Chicago as they redirect flights to Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Caribbean, where bookings are rising and demand is outpacing the American market. Carriers including Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, KLM, Iberia, and SAS have adjusted their summer schedules to reflect shifting traveler priorities, with more passengers opting for destinations that offer smoother entry, better seasonal deals, and fewer political complications. The changes mark a clear retreat from the U.S. at a time when international sentiment is cooling and alternative routes are proving far more profitable. 

“The decision to reduce flights is being driven by a sharp drop in bookings, rising concerns among European travelers about safety and border restrictions, and growing political discomfort tied to President Donald Trump’s second term. Airlines that had once expanded aggressively across the Atlantic are now turning their attention elsewhere. Internal forecasts, passenger surveys, and travel agency reports across Europe point to one conclusion: fewer people are planning trips to the United States this year… 

“Lufthansa has quietly reduced frequencies on its routes to New York, Miami, and Chicago, three of the airline’s most important U.S. destinations… several weekly flights have been removed compared to last year…

“British Airways has suspended service to Las Vegas and has reduced its operations to Orlando and Philadelphia… Air France has discontinued its Seattle route and trimmed service to Washington D.C. for the upcoming summer… KLM is cutting back flights to both San Francisco and Boston… Iberia has… reduced service between Madrid and Chicago… Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has canceled its routes from Oslo to Newark and Copenhagen to Los Angeles… 

“… United Airlines has dropped its Newark–Tenerife service… Norse Atlantic Airways has pulled out of Miami–Oslo and Miami–Berlin… Lufthansa ended its Frankfurt–Minneapolis route on April 30… American Airlines suspended Miami–Paris… while KLM, Aer Lingus, and Iberia have all stepped back from routes including Miami–Amsterdam and Las Vegas–Dublin… 

“Behind the numbers is a growing sense among European travelers that visiting the United States has become more difficult. The return of tariff tensions between Washington and Brussels, renewed warnings at U.S. borders, and reports of increased security screening are all feeding into traveler hesitancy. Several European countries have updated their advisories for citizens planning to visit the U.S… In response, airlines are simply following the trend… for now, the skies between Europe and America are looking quieter.” 

Crazy! Meaning, that thanks to the Trump administration, the USA will suffer big time economically.

US-Japan Steel Deal

The Associated Press wrote on May 23:

“President Donald Trump said Friday that U.S. Steel will keep its headquarters in Pittsburgh as part of what he called a ‘planned partnership’ that seemed to signal that he’ll approve a bid by Japan-based Nippon Steel [of 15 billion] to make a big investment in the iconic American steelmaker, if not buy it outright.

“Still, Trump’s statement left it vague as to whether he is approving Nippon Steel’s bid after he vowed repeatedly to block the deal to prevent U.S. Steel from being foreign-owned. More recently, Trump suggested that Nippon Steel would invest in U.S. Steel, not buy it, and one union official suggested Friday that the federal government will have a role in the company’s management going forward. But investors seemed to take Trump’s statement as a sign that he’s approving some sort of merger, sharply pushing up U.S. Steel’s shares [by 21%], and the companies issued approving statements.” 

All of this seems to be in total contradiction to Trump’s previously declared goals for the USA. 

Musk Steps Down

 Newsmax wrote on May 29:

“Elon Musk is leaving his government role as a top adviser to President Donald Trump… Musk’s departure comes one day after he criticized the centerpiece of Trump’s legislative agenda, saying he was ‘disappointed; by what the president calls his ‘big beautiful bill.’… Musk’s concerns are shared by some Republican lawmakers…

“‘The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized,’ he told The Washington Post. ‘I thought there were problems, but it sure is an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least.’…”

Trump’s Fight Against Harvard

Breitbart wrote on May 23:

“A judge temporarily suspended Friday the Trump administration’s move to block Harvard from enrolling and hosting foreign students after the prestigious university sued, calling the action unconstitutional. On Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll foreign nationals, throwing the future of thousands of students and the lucrative income stream they provide into doubt. But Harvard sued, and Massachusetts district judge Allison Burroughs ordered that ‘The Trump administration is hereby enjoined from implementing… the revocation of Plaintiff’s SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) certification.’ There will be an injunction hearing on May 29, a court filing showed.

“President Donald Trump is furious at Harvard — which has produced 162 Nobel prize winners — for rejecting his demand that it submit to oversight on admissions and hiring over his claims that it is a hotbed of anti-Semitism and ‘woke’ liberal ideology…. The loss of foreign nationals — more than a quarter of its student body — could prove costly to Harvard, which charges tens of thousands of dollars a year in tuition… Noem had said Thursday that ‘this administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.’ Chinese students make up more than a fifth of Harvard’s international enrollment…” 

Newsmax added on May 23: 

“On Thursday, Noem said Harvard could restore its certification by turning over within 72 hours a raft of records about international students, including video or audio of their protest activity in the past five years.… Harvard called the revocation ‘unlawful many times over,’ saying the government violates the First Amendment by using coercion to police private speech, and forcing universities to surrender their academic freedom.” 

Breitbart added on May 26: 

“Harvard Law professor emeritus Laurence Tribe said Monday: ‘…This case involves Trump’s attempt to tell Harvard that it can no longer host foreign students. Now that’s crazy. There’s no legal basis for it. He’s talking about information that he would like about students. He wants to know details about what they say, what they think. That’s a violation of the First Amendment.’” 

The possible attack on freedom of speech is indeed ironic in light of the next article. 

USA vs. UK on Freedom of Speech 

Breitbart wrote on May 25: 

“The Trump administration reportedly dispatched a team to meet with victims of Britain’s draconian speech restrictions amid growing concerns over the state of liberty in the United Kingdom. A group of five diplomats from the U.S. State Department were recently sent on a fact-finding mission in March to Britain to meet with pro-life activists who have been arrested for silently praying outside abortion clinics in the UK…

“The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) team also met with UK Foreign Office officials and members of the Ofcom broadcasting regulator, which was recently empowered to police speech on the internet in Britain by the controversial Online Safety Act. The legislation has reportedly become a major bone of contention between Washington and London, given the potential for the British authority to impose hefty fines on American social media firms for failing to police content on their platforms.

“The Trump administration has publicly chastised Britain for its increasingly restrictive speech codes, and reports have claimed that the issue could become a sticking point during trade negotiations…

“Reform UK leader and longtime Trump ally Nigel Farage remarked: ‘… My American friends cannot believe what is happening in the UK.’ During a February meeting in the Oval Office, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer denied that his country has a problem with free speech… According to a report last month from The Times of London, British police arrest more than 30 people every day for supposedly offensive comments on the internet or other platforms, totalling around 12,000 arrests per year.”

Censorship and restrictions on freedom and liberty everywhere…

Trump’s Major Blunder re South Africa

Express wrote on May 24:

“Donald Trump made a major blunder at the White House during his meeting with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa. The meeting turned confrontational after the US President presented his guest with alleged evidence of genocide committed against White South African farmers. In a moment that caught Ramaphosa and his delegation by surprise, Trump showed a screenshot of a video he claimed showed a mass grave of White farmers. ‘These are all white farmers that are being buried,’ Trump said as he glowered at his South African counterpart. However, the video – shot by Reuters – recorded the aftermath of an attack by a Rwanda-backed rebel paramilitary group in Congo.

“Published by the international news agency on February 3, the video showed humanitarian workers lifting body bags in the Congolese city of Goma. The image was pulled from footage of a mass burial following an M23 rebel assault on Goma, filmed by video journalist Djaffar Al Katanty. Al Katanty was stunned to see his video used during the meeting. ‘In view of all the world, President Trump used my image, used what I filmed in DRC to try to convince President Ramaphosa that in his country, White people are being killed by Black people,’ he said. However, a BBC report identified the crosses as part of a memorial to a couple who were killed in 2020. 

“While South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, most of the victims are Black. Of the more than 26,000 murders committed in 2024, eight of those were of farmers, according to South African Police Service (SAPS) figures.”

Whether or not there is genocide against white farmers in South Africa, the incompetence with which the Trump administration presented its case is shocking and embarrassing. 

US Bishops vs. Trump on Immigration 

Newsmax wrote on May 24: 

“The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is on a collision course with the Trump administration over competing views on immigration and the role the government should play in caring for at-risk migrants…  This USCCB chastised the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) for rescinding a policy that gave guidance on the care, custody and documentation of pregnant women they encounter. 

“Bishop Mark J. Seitz, of El Paso, Texas, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration wrote, ‘It is deeply troubling and inexcusable that measures intended to ensure the basic safety of pregnant mothers and their young children while in government custody could be rescinded with such indifference toward the vulnerability of those involved… This decision is all the more concerning as the [Trump] administration simultaneously ramps up family detention in place of safer, more cost-effective alternatives to detention,’ Seitz said. 

“‘Let us be clear: protecting pregnant mothers and their children can never be considered “obsolete.” This principle irrefutably extends to noncitizens in immigration detention, each of whom possesses an inviolable, God-given dignity that must be respected. We urge the Administration to reissue guidance that adequately reflects and affirms the increased standard of care due to this vulnerable population while in government custody,’ he added. 

“Time will tell how much a of conflict the Catholic church generally and Pope Leo XIV specifically will have with the Trump administration over the issue of illegal immigration… Although he has yet to address the issue publicly, Pope Leo’s brother John Prevost told the New York Times, ‘I know he’s not happy with what’s going on with immigration. I know that for a fact. How far he’ll go with it is only one’s guess, but he won’t just sit back. I don’t think he’ll be the silent one.’” 

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is correct in this case. 

Catholic Sacrament of Confession Under Attack

The Blaze wrote on May 22: 

“Washington State Senate Bill 5375, passed earlier this month… would force Catholic priests who hear admissions of abuse within the context of the sacrament of confession to break the seal of the sacrament and report those admissions to the state, even though all other recognized privileges — like those between doctor and patient and lawyer and client — are preserved… 

“The practice of confession [is] a sacrament where we believe God extends His forgiveness for our sins, which we must lay out to a priest, Christ’s representative on earth. It’s a ritual: You list your sins in conversation with a priest, often anonymously or from behind a screen, and in return, the priest assigns a penance and grants absolution. It’s also a ritual critical to the spiritual life of Catholics. Without forgiveness and absolution, Catholics who die in a state of sin could go straight to hell, and Catholics who live in a state of mortal sin are barred from communion, which is the heart of our faith… 

“Priests who are found to be uncompliant could face a year in jail or thousands of dollars in fines… And priests who do comply would face excommunication… because the issue of confessional confidentiality is covered right there in the Church’s own catechism… 

“In a statement issued May 5, [the Trump administration] vowed to fight the Washington law on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment’s right to free exercise since it infringes on a core, sincerely held religious dogma…”

Confession (even though not biblical) is at the heart and core of the Catholic Church’s teaching. It will never abrogate that “sacrament.”

America.. the Fading Empire 

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on May 23: 

“The inexorable decline of the American Empire has arrived at an Imperial Paradox. It must either fight a war and die, or not fight a war and yet still die… 

“The Pentagon must understand it cannot sustain logistics in a war against China in the western Pacific. It simply cannot be done… 

“In the context of a war against Iran, all the geography is against the US… The US Navy could only operate at extreme risk in the southern Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Persian Gulf. Every US base in the region is well within range of Iranian missile strikes… 

“From a geographic and logistical standpoint, the only remotely conceivable war is one in Ukraine against Russia. The US at least has bases and forces already in place in the UK, Germany, Poland, Romania, Finland… Of course, whether or not such a condition persists long in a war scenario is another question altogether… 

“So if you’re an empire that thinks it needs a war to reaffirm at least its short-term relevance and fading glory … well, these are your choices. Sic transit gloria mundi.”

Thus passes the glory of the world… 

Germany to Defend Europe 

Bloomberg wrote on May 22: 

“As Europe waits anxiously for US President Donald Trump’s possible rollback of security commitments in Ukraine’s war against Russia, Germany wants to play more of a leading role. Speaking in Lithuania yesterday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany’s military is prepared to defend the Baltic region against ‘any threat.’ The new German leader and his defense minister, Boris Pistorius, traveled to Vilnius to take part in the first ceremonial roll call of the Panzer Brigade 45 [Germany’s biggest foreign military mission since World War II.]”

“Since taking office earlier this year, the center-right chancellor has pledged to transform the German military into Europe’s strongest army. G-7 finance ministers meanwhile agreed to continue supporting Ukraine as it attempts to keep Russia at bay. For its part, the EU is also giving its dedicated defense fund a 40 million Euro boast.” 

The Draft to Return to Germany? 

Deutsche Welle reported on May 24: 

“Germany is considering bringing back military conscription from next year unless more volunteers sign up for the armed forces, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said… The initial plan to boost numbers will rely on volunteers, but Pistorius warned that could change if numbers remain insufficient. Compulsory military service was scrapped in 2011… 

“‘If the time comes when we have more capacity available than voluntary registrations, then a decision may be made to make recruitment mandatory. That is the roadmap,’ he added…” 

It will come… sadly. 

Sebastian Kurz Acquitted 

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 26: 

“An Austrian court on Monday overturned former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s conviction for giving false testimony to a parliamentary inquiry. ‘Sebastian Kurz… is acquitted,’ a three-member panel of judges said… 

“Kurz was found guilty of making false statements in February 2024 and was given an eight-month suspended sentence, a conviction he then appealed. In his appeal, Kurz argued that he was interrupted during his testimony and that the judge who handed out his conviction was biased…

“Kurz is still under investigation for corruption in a separate case. Prosecutors suspect him of embezzling state funds, diverting them to polls distorted to boost his popularity.”

Ukraine Unstable Country

EurAsia Daily wrote on May 23: 

“The readiness of the European Union to maintain a Ukrainian army of one million people poses a threat to the security of the EU countries themselves, since Ukraine is an unstable state. This was stated by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban…  ‘Ukraine is a politically unstable state, and no one can say what kind of government there will be,’ he warned. 

“Accordingly, there are no guarantees that Ukraine, and therefore its armed forces, will take a friendly position towards the EU countries. Therefore, Orban stressed that the financing by the European Union of the million-strong Ukrainian army at the suggestion of Kiev creates a ‘serious threat to European security.’ 

“… the Government of Hungary from the very beginning of the conflict on Ukraine refused to supply weapons there and opposed the provision of military assistance to it. Budapest condemned Moscow’s actions, but at the same time always stressed that the Ukrainian conflict cannot be resolved on the battlefield, it should be settled through negotiations.”

Ukraine and Russia WILL become allies against Europe. 

What Happened During the Phone Call With Trump

Focus wrote on May 24: 

“The week began with a shock for Europe. After his phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, [Trump] dropped the bombshell in a conversation with the European heads of state: The US is no longer interested in acting as peace mediator. And sanctions against Putin, which Trump had previously promised, were suddenly off the table. The German magazine ‘Der Spiegel’ has now reconstructed what really happened in the shock phone call between Trump and the Europeans (Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelensky, Giorgia Meloni, Ursula von der Leyen, and Alexander Stubb)…

“The Europeans had hoped that Trump would read Putin the riot act during their phone call. Trump, who recently said that Putin might just be leading him on, is supposed to reinforce the new sanctions threats, according to the Europeans’ wishes. But Trump has none of that. Instead, according to ‘Spiegel,’ Trump says Putin doesn’t want a deal. And Ukraine is now the Europeans’ problem. Sanctions, ceasefire, not a word about that. 

“The Europeans know immediately: As before, Putin has lulled Trump into a false sense of security. As several media outlets report, there is a very long silence afterward. And all Europeans ask themselves: How can we keep Trump in this process? And above all: Who of us? 

“In the end, it is Friedrich Merz who takes the floor. As ‘Der Spiegel’ reports, citing diplomats and government circles, he says he wants to ‘summarize’ the situation. Merz says technical talks must now begin. The Chancellor also says that the Vatican could host such talks, as Trump suggested. Trump’s reaction: ‘Fine by me.’ Merz subsequently asked twice whether Trump was really part of it. It would be nothing new for Trump to suddenly back down. But the US President promises to send his special envoy on this matter…

“It is the absolute minimum success on a shocking day for Europe. Friedrich Merz himself threatened Putin with harsh consequences if there would be no ceasefire. He had believed he had the agreed-upon backing of Donald Trump. But he abandoned him again, just like he abandoned Ukraine.” 

America’s Betrayal of Europe 

news.de wrote on May 25:

“Ben Hodges is shocked by Donald Trump’s behavior in the Ukraine war. The former US general [who commanded the US Army in Europe] speaks in a recent interview about the US president’s betrayal of his allies and simultaneously revealed Vladimir Putin’s true war aim… ‘After all the loud talk about solving the problem in 24 hours, I think the credibility of this president and this administration will be severely damaged by this failure.’ 

“And further: ‘If the US turns away and says, “Hey, Europe, this is your problem!” I think that would be a real betrayal of our allies who have stood by us for decades… Russia has never changed its war aims. It’s still about the destruction of Ukraine and the idea of ​​Ukraine as a state’… 

“However, he is also convinced that Putin’s goals are much bigger than Ukraine. ‘Russia’s goal is to break NATO… And they achieve that by attacking a NATO country to see if we all respond appropriately. And if not, then I think it’s the end of the alliance,’ said Hodges…” 

Russia’s Demands 

Bild Online wrote on May 24: 

“Another setback for any hopes of peace in Ukraine in the near future. Vladimir Putin’s (72) regime now refuses to sign any peace agreement with Ukraine as long as the democratically elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (47) remains in office.” 

Trump: “Putin Absolutely Crazy!” 

Newsmax wrote on May 26: 

“President Donald Trump used his social media platform to take aim at Vladimir Putin, calling the Russian president ‘absolutely crazy’ for continuing to fire missiles that are killing Ukrainian citizens. Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for saying things that help undermine the U.S. president’s efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. 

“‘I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!… He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever. I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!…’ 

“Earlier Sunday, Trump expressed deep unhappiness at Russia’s weekend bombing of Ukraine, saying of the Russian president, ‘I’m not happy with Putin… I don’t know what’s wrong with him. What the hell happened to him? Right? He’s killing a lot of people. I’m not happy about that,’ Trump told reporters at the airport in Morristown, New Jersey, as he prepared to return to Washington. 

“Trump spoke in reaction to a Russian barrage of 367 drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities overnight on Sunday, including the capital Kyiv, in the largest aerial attack of the war so far, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens more.” 

Trump added on May 27: “What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!”

Trump also announced now that there will be sanctions against Russia. Russia responded by saying that Trump is suffering from “emotional overload.”  

Now, when did Trump ever say that Putin wants all of Ukraine? If Russia and Ukraine unite, that will not lead to the immediate downfall of Russia. That downfall will come later. 

Germany and Ukraine 

The Guardian wrote on May 28: 

“German chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday during a visit by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Berlin will help Kyiv develop new long-range weapons that can hit targets in Russian territory… 

“The production of long-range weapons ‘can take place both in Ukraine and here in Germany,’ he said… Germany will provide further military support for Ukraine amounting to about €5bn ($5.65bn)…” 

The New York Post added on May 28: 

“Merz said last Monday that Germany and other major allies were no longer imposing range limits on weapons they send to Ukraine, although he indicated their use was limited to Russian military targets…” 

Israel’s Standing 

Israel Today wrote on May 23:

“Nearly 600 days after the outbreak of the October 7 war, and Israel has sunk to an all-time low in its international standing. Some of its closest allies—Britain, France, and Canada—have threatened sanctions if the war in Gaza continues. Never before has such a harshly worded statement been directed at Israel, effectively branding it a pariah state… 

“Most astonishing and alarming is the silence of the United States, Israel’s steadfast ally that has always stood by its side. Not a single word of condemnation from Washington regarding this threatening statement from other Western powers. If President Donald Trump was accused of throwing Israel under the bus, this is now taking tangible form on the global stage…” 

And so, Israel will end up all alone. 

US Demands of Israel to Delay Gaza Takeover 

Newsmax wrote on May 25:

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a full-fledged takeover of Gaza from Hamas terrorists, but the U.S. is pushing to delay that until the remaining hostages are returned, effectively giving the terrorists justification for their holding of what Israel has called its ‘human shields.’… 

“Netanyahu has pledged to hold all areas under full Israel control to accomplish the long-stated war goals: 1. Return all hostages. 2. Destroy Hamas in total. 3. Deradicalize and demilitarize Gaza.

Netanyahu’s regime contends that third goal can only be accomplished with Israel’s occupation of Gaza to root out radical anti-Israel extremism that led to the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack.

The security situation in Gaza remains tenuous without a controlling force, under Israel’s view. 

“Not only are Hamas terrorists reportedly looting the humanitarian aid for the innocent civilians, but they are also reportedly firing on civilians trying to access the aid that the world leaders have demanded Israel release. Israel has long warned aid is getting stolen by the very hostage-holding terrorists Israel seeks to remove from power…” 

How much longer does Trump want to delay this? Admittedly, one has to note that Trump’s foreign policy has been pretty unsuccessful so far. 

Houthi Continue to Attack Israel 

Breitbart wrote on May 25: 

“The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have stepped up their attacks on Israel, firing three ballistic missiles in the last four days. Though all were intercepted by missile defenses, the pace of the attacks is a notable escalation. Moreover, the attacks have come despite a Houthi ceasefire with the United States; ongoing talks between the U.S. and Iran on a possible nuclear deal; and Israeli reprisals at Yemen’s Hodeidah port and Sanaa airport… 

“Both President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have said in the past that Iran is ultimately responsible for Houthi attacks. Israel could conceivably use that as justification to attack Iran. However, that would risk interfering in the ongoing diplomatic effort between the U.S. and Iran — an effort that is not making much progress, given that Iran refuses to accede to demands to stop enriching uranium.”

Breitbart wrote on May 28:

“The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded to days of missile attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Wednesday, targeting the Sanaa airport and destroying the Houthis’ last serviceable airplane… The other planes were destroyed in an Israeli strike on the airport on May 6… It is unclear whether, or when, Israel will target Iran in response to Houthi attacks, though Netanyahu keeps raising the possibility…” 

Friedrich Merz Criticizes Israel 

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 26: 

“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday that Israel’s ‘current level of attacks on Gaza can no longer be justified by the fight against Hamas.’ ‘Harming the civilian population to such an extent, as has increasingly been the case in recent days, can no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas terrorism,’ he told German public broadcaster WDR in a televised interview.  

“He added he planned to hold a call with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week to tell him ‘to not overdo it,’ though for ‘historical reasons,’ Germany would always be more guarded in its criticism than some European partners. ‘But if lines are crossed, where international humanitarian law is really being violated, then Germany, the German chancellor, must also say something about it,’ Merz said.” 

The Lying Press and Hatred Against Israel 

Report 24 wrote on May 25: 

“The mainstream media bombards the public with images of children with wide, pleading eyes… Instead of demanding evidence or sources, hatred against Israel is sweeping through the country… Ever since the Middle East conflict began, there have been countless lies emanating from the machinery of the so-called ‘Palestinians’ and their ‘National Authority’… 

“On May 20, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, via the formerly highly respected BBC, claimed that 14,000 babies in Gaza were at risk of dying within 48 hours… Tom Fletcher had fabricated the story. There is no truth to it. And the BBC failed to question it or classify it. Israel has been exposed to the hatred of the world. This doesn’t happen by chance—it’s a calculated move. Of course, the ORF [in Austria] also participated in the unreflective spread of this lie… 

“The wrongly accused Jews once again had to do their own research to find out the background to the story. It was discovered that Fletcher was referring to a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which estimated that up to 14,000 children between 6 months and 6 years of age could be affected by malnutrition over a period of one year… There were no current threats of death within 48 hours… 

“A high-ranking UN official went public with a fact that, upon closer examination, feeds the centuries-old antisemitic narratives that have led to pogroms, i.e., mass murder and expulsion, in many places. The ritual murder legend of the Jew as baby murderer. First historically documented in 1144 in England, when Jews were accused, without any evidence, of murdering a Christian boy. In 1475, a two-year-old boy was found dead in Trento. The authorities subsequently had all the city’s Jews tortured and executed. The image of the child-murdering Jews was taken up by Nazi propaganda… 

“We live in a time in which leftists, Muslims, and National Socialists are fraternizing to incite hatred against Israel and attack Jews. Yet, every lie seems to be justified. As a media consumer, one should have learned, at the very latest after the madness of the Corona period, to question everything critically… Anyone who relies on mainstream media is abandoned. Not just during the Corona pandemic, but always…”

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.

Trump’s Phone Conversation With Putin 

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 19: 

“US President Donald Trump says talks between Russia and Ukraine to end the war would start ‘immediately.’ In a post on his Truth Social, Trump said his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin went ‘very well.’… Putin described the conversation with Trump as ‘frank and meaningful.’…  

“Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected Russian demands to withdraw Ukrainian forces from key regions in the east and south of the country claimed by Moscow… Russia has made it a condition for ending its war in Ukraine… [Zelenskyy] told reporters that he emphasized to US President Donald Trump that no decisions should be made about Ukraine without involving Kyiv… He spoke with Trump before and after the US president held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.” 

The New York Post wrote on May 19:

“[Putin] doubled down Monday on not accepting a cease-fire… following a two-hour call with President Trump — saying that Moscow was not ready for peace until the ‘root cause’ of the ‘crisis’ is addressed.” 

Trump’s “happy spin” can’t ignore the fact that the phone call did not accomplish anything. He stressed that Russia wants to become trading partners with the US — and made no mention of secondary sanctions, which the Europeans are determined to impose (note article below). 

Victory for Putin 

Die Welt wrote on May 19: 

“Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with his US counterpart Donald Trump for two hours. There was no sign of Trump’s criticism of the Russians’ behavior in Ukraine. Putin can count the day a victory… For Putin, this means, on the one hand, he can continue fighting until a ceasefire is agreed upon – and with Trump’s tacit approval. Previously, some of Trump’s reactions to Russian attacks on residential buildings in Kyiv had caused irritation in Moscow. Now Moscow has nothing to justify itself for. 

“Trump failed to criticize the largest Russian drone attack on Ukraine since the war began on Sunday night. On the other hand, [Putin] can set conditions for the ceasefire alone… 

“The pressure on the Europeans is now increasing. The recently signaled transatlantic unity is over faster than it began.”

Bild Online wrote on May 19:

“If Putin’s statement is to be believed, the talks with Trump ended WITHOUT any concrete results. Russia is unwilling to fulfill Trump’s most important demand, an immediate 30-day ceasefire… That means: nothing will happen immediately. Putin will continue bombing Ukraine… This makes it clear: Putin once again turned down the most powerful man in the world.” 

As was to be expected, Trump lost again… while Putin was playing him like a fiddle. This was SO predictable. Note the following articles below which had been published prior to the phone conversation between Putin and Trump.

Putin Warns Trump 

The Daily Mail wrote on May 18: 

“Russian state TV aired a video of Vladimir Putin warning Donald Trump to stop trying to dictate the terms of a ceasefire with Ukraine. Putin stressed that he plans to finish what he started three years ago and warned that Trump should not push him into a US blueprint for stopping the war…. 

“Putin’s words were recorded in late March but broadcast today after Trump made clear he wants the Russian leader to concede a ceasefire… ‘We have enough strength and resources to bring what was started in 2022 to its logical conclusion with the result that Russia needs,’ Putin added.” 

This does not look like Putin is REALLY interested in a lasting peace agreement which can be secured and guaranteed. 

Trump Got It All Wrong 

The New York Post wrote on May 19:

“It was never going to be easy for President Trump to bring an end to the Ukraine war, but it’s even harder when he’s operating under an erroneous theory of the conflict. The man who instigated the war and who is the chief obstacle to peace is Vladimir Putin. Yet this enemy of the West, murderer of dissidents, and serial perpetrator of wars of territorial aggrandizement has never been subjected to the same US pressure campaign as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose fundamental offense is to be leading a country that his larger neighbor wants to subjugate… Putin, in contrast, has been at the receiving end of an all-carrots approach, and has reacted accordingly. 

“Pretty much whatever Putin does, Trump says someone else would do the same in his circumstances… 

“The play for the Kremlin is obvious here. It wants to keep inching ahead with territorial gains in the war, and if it continues to string along negotiations, has to hope that Trump tires of the whole thing and cuts off US aid to Ukraine. That would reward [Putin] with a very important diplomatic victory — a split between the US and Europe — and a chance to make major advances against an increasingly hard-pressed Ukraine…

“Whatever you think of the policy of NATO expansion, Ukraine didn’t invade Russia, and Putin has made it clear that Ukraine’s existence as its own independently governed nation is at the root of his war. So long as Putin believes that he’s winning and holds ‘all of the cards,’ there’s no reason for him to become more pliable… Putin has every reason to think he can persevere when the world’s superpower is inclined to blame the victim of his unprovoked aggression.” 

German Foreign Policy and the Dubious Trump 

Bild Online published the following commentary on May 15: 

“If Chancellor Friedrich Merz believed in Kyiv this weekend that the Europeans had Donald Trump (78) back on their side with the spontaneous call from Emmanuel Macron (47) and the prearranged statement, then he must now realize: No, Trump is continuing as before. 

“Trump’s statement today, after Russian dictator Vladimir Putin canceled the meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, is devastating. Trump isn’t even gently criticizing the Russian president; he even understands his cancellation. The Kremlin must be laughing its head off… 

“If Merz cannot announce tough sanctions together with the US (for example, on oil and gas)…, that would be his first major embarrassment as Chancellor… 

“But Vice Chancellor Klingbeil also has a problem. The CDU/CSU and SPD had announced that they did NOT want to discuss arms deliveries in order to keep Putin in the dark. Just a few days after Merz reiterated this position regarding Taurus cruise missiles… Klingbeil’s parliamentary group leader, Mattias Miersch, showed that he couldn’t care less about the Chancellor’s words. Miersch publicly stated that he was AGAINST Taurus deliveries… Why? So that Putin knows exactly, shortly before possible negotiations, that he can rely on the SPD?… 

“Foreign policy is already becoming the biggest test for Merz and Klingbeil.” 

New European Sanctions Against Russia

Express wrote on May 16:

“European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen criticized Vladimir Putin for his lack of presence at the peace talks with Ukraine on Thursday in Istanbul, Turkey, stating that it demonstrates Putin’s disinterest in peace. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had urged Putin to personally engage in peace talks with Zelensky regarding the ongoing three-year conflict, but Putin dispatched lower-level delegates instead, which many interpreted as an indication that Putin is indifferent to peace. Consequently, Zelensky also opted to send lower-ranking officials, with von der Leyen indicating that the EU is now compelled to impose further sanctions on Russia due to Putin’s actions….

“‘… [The] new package of sanctions… will include for example sanctions on Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2. It will include working on listing more vessels of the Russian shadow fleet and also lowering the oil price cap, and it will include more sanctions on the financial sector in Russia,’ she detailed.” 

It will remain to be seen whether Europe is going to go through with this without the USA. 

New Sanctions 

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 20: 

“The EU on Tuesday approved its 17th round of sanctions on Russia, the bloc’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas announced at a meeting of foreign and defense ministers in Brussels. The new measures target the nearly 200 ships of Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet.’ These ships are used to help Russia evade oil sales restrictions, and are often dilapidated, uninsured, with unclear ownership. 

Kallas added that more Russia sanctions are ‘in the works… The longer Russia wages war, the tougher our response,’ she added. .. 

“Kaja Kallas… called for the United States to take ‘strong action’ against Russia if ceasefire talks do not come to fruition. ‘America said that if Russia doesn’t agree on an unconditional ceasefire, then there are going to be consequences. So, we want to see those consequences, also from the US side,’ Kallas said… 

“The UK on Tuesday said new sanctions would target Russia’s military, energy and financial sectors, coming as the EU also adopted a new raft of sanctions. The UK Foreign Office said the dual sanctions were part of ‘a coordinated effort to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.’”

Already: Merz in a Bind 

Focus wrote on May 16: 

“Politicians should always set the bar so high that they can just barely fit under it. For the tall Friedrich Merz, this advice, given half a century ago by Franz Josef Strauss, is difficult to follow. And Merz promptly broke in his first week in government – his own bar. 

“The resounding failure of the Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul after 90 minutes, the demonstrative departure of the delegations from the negotiating room, does not fit at all with the images of that conspiratorial gang of four a few days ago. They showed a standing Friedrich Merz in a light blue sweater, clearly briefing his counterparts from France, Poland, and Great Britain on his way to Kyiv about his actions in Ukraine. 

“A 30-day ceasefire as a prelude to serious peace negotiations was the demand of the united leading Europeans who had been working with the new Chancellor from Germany who should have been looked upon as a new leader… Merz remained vague. A tough chancellor would have sounded different… Merz suffered his first bitter foreign policy defeat. Annalena Baerbock couldn’t have done better, and Merz must realize that the international stage wasn’t waiting for this German.” 

Perhaps not for Merz… 

The Most Important American 

ntv wrote on May 18: 

“Trump is no longer the most important American in the world, that’s now Robert Francis Prevost. The headline in the New York Times sums it up. Pope Leo XIV has already won the sympathy of Trump’s critics – as a 100 percent antithesis to the US President… There were only doubts as to whether, after the Jesuit Bergoglio, it would be another person of a religious order, the first Augustinian ever in the history of the Church… 

“Of course, this Pope also carries the burdens of the Catholic Church: Half of humanity is women, but they have no say in his election or in his Church. Pope Leo XIV will also have to address the many cases of abuse by clergymen of their wards, minors, women, and men in the Church… 

“A harsher political antithesis to Trumpism is hard to imagine. The US President may have many Catholic voters, but he doesn’t have the Church…” 

The Pope’s Vision of the “Unity of Faith” 

Vatican News reported on May 19: 

“Speaking first to other Christian Churches and ecclesial communities, Pope Leo XIV took note of the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea, emphasizing that unity among Christians ‘can only be unity in faith.’…

“Turning to representatives of non-Christian religious traditions, Pope Leo XIV said our ‘common path’ can and must be understood to involve everyone, ‘in a spirit of human fraternity.’ 

The Council of Nicea decided dogmatically that God is a Trinity–  three co-equal and co-eternal Persons. All who disagreed were declared “anathema” (“cursed”) from  Christ and excluded from fellowship. Pope Leo’s somewhat inconsistent statements are interesting: “Unity among Christians can only be united in faith” seems to be saying what the Council of Nicea decreed with its consequences for “heretics,” while non-Christians seem to be given some time in reaching a “common path,” until the “unity of faith” must be encompassing them as well? 

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Pope Leo’s Demand of ‘Unity in Faith!’” 

Trump’s Goals Are Crystal Clear 

Focus wrote on May 18:

“Trump’s policies are so consistent that the surprise in the liberal part of the West can only be explained by self-deception. Yet the US President’s goals are crystal clear. 

“The truly astonishing thing about Donald Trump’s policies is that they still astonish so many. The headlines express shock and disbelief whenever Trump once again shakes a cornerstone of the liberal world order – whether by endorsing Russia’s claim to Ukrainian territory, bringing up the forcible annexation of Greenland, or triggering economic chaos with tariff announcements.” 

Supreme Court Stops Trump 

CNBC wrote on May 16: 

“The Supreme Court on Friday granted a request by Venezuelan nationals seeking to block their removal from the United States under the Alien Enemies Act.  In a 7-2 decision, the court said the Trump administration had not given the detainees enough time or adequate resources to challenge their deportations. ‘Under these circumstances, notice roughly 24 hours before removal, devoid of information about how to exercise due process rights to contest that removal, surely does not pass muster,’ the ruling said. 

“The justices barred the removal of the men, who the Trump administration alleges are members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, pending a new decision from a lower federal appellate court… The justices did not rule on whether the Alien Enemies Act, which the Trump administration invoked in mid-April to deport the detainees, had been applied correctly. ‘To be clear, we decide today only that the detainees are entitled to more notice than was given on April 18,’ their ruling said… 

“Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented from the opinion.” 

Trump raged against the order. 

Suspending Habeas Corpus? 

The Ron Paul Institute published the following article by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano on May 15: 

“What if the writ of habeas corpus has been guaranteed to the British since 1215 and to Americans since 1789? What if this encompasses the right of every person who is confined by the government against his or her will to compel the jailer to justify the confinement before a neutral judge? 

“What if this right is personal and individual and applies to all persons at all times? What if the right can be exercised by anyone who is arrested… What if this right — to be free from an unjust confinement; to be free from arrest without trial — is one for which the Founders and the Framers fought the American Revolution? 

“What if habeas corpus is today recognized by all judges in the United States? What if judges actually stop court proceedings when a habeas corpus petition is received in order to hold a hearing and compel the government to lay out the evidence against the accused and justify his or her confinement, lest he or she spend one minute more behind bars than is lawful? 

“… What if even the most tyrannical and absolute of monarchs in Britain recognized and respected habeas corpus for their subjects in Britain?… 

“What if Madison recognized that in cases of invasion or rebellion, Congress might want to suspend habeas corpus until the rebellion or invasion subsided? What if Congress — in order to prevent frivolous or politically based suspensions of the right — defined invasion or rebellion as a state of affairs of such calamity that the federal courts are unable to conduct proceedings? 

“What if Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus during the War Between the States in certain regions in the north so he could arrest his critics without trial? What if the Supreme Court ruled that under the plain meaning and recognized structure of the Constitution, only Congress — not the president — can suspend habeas corpus?… 

“What if Franklin D. Roosevelt did the same based on race during World War II and he claimed he did so based not on invasion or rebellion but on the fear of invasion or rebellion? What if — in one of its lowest moral rulings in history, at a time of anti-Japanese racial animosity in America — the court permitted the suspension? 

“What if subsequent Congresses and presidents and courts condemned this ruling and this suspension? What if Congress — 40 years later — compensated those still living and their offspring for these arrests without trial? 

“What if George W. Bush tried to suspend habeas corpus in the months following 9/11?… What if the Supreme Court ruled against him? What if Congress tried to implement arrest without trial and the Supreme Court ruled that there was no invasion or rebellion of such chaotic magnitude that the federal courts could not conduct proceedings, and so it invalidated the suspension of habeas corpus? 

“What if here we go again? What if the White House (Stephen Miller) announced last week that it—not Congress—is contemplating the suspension of habeas corpus, but only for certain persons?…” 

What if we never learn from history? 

Walmart Buckles… Somewhat 

Fox Business reported on May 18: 

“Walmart is going to absorb the cost of some tariffs, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday after speaking with the company’s CEO in the wake of President Donald Trump’s warning that the retail giant should ‘eat the tariffs.’… 

“On Thursday, [CEO Doug] McMillion said Walmart would do its best to keep prices down, but with the ‘magnitude’ of the tariffs, ‘even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren’t able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins.’” 

One wonders what was going on behind the scenes. 

Strong Accusations by Rand Paul Against Trump 

Politico wrote on May 18: 

“Sen. Rand Paul attacked the economic logic of President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy on Sunday… 

“The Kentucky Republican said Trump’s sweeping tariffs on foreign trading partners are based on ‘an economic fallacy’ about trade deficits… 

“‘Well, tariffs are taxes, and when you put a tax on a business, it’s always passed through as a cost. So, there will be higher prices,’ Paul said…

“Courts have previously upheld the legality of tariffs when they’re based on congressional authority. However, Trump’s decision to impose tariffs by himself has raised legal questions about whether he is exceeding his delegated power. ‘Now, we do have a long history, though, of both parties abdicating their responsibility on tariffs and granting power to Congress, which brings up another constitutional question, can Congress delegate powers given to it under the Constitution to the president?’ Paul said.” 

Interesting legal questions indeed… 

Jeffrey Epstein Committed Suicide? Hardly! 

Financial Express wrote on May 20: 

“Hoping to finally move past convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s death, the FBI gave its verdict on the case. Declaring the sex offender’s 2019 death inside the notorious Metropolitan Correctional Centre a suicide, Deputy Director Dan Bongino (alongside FBI Director Kash Patel) that there was no evidence to prove any foul play being at work… [Epstein’s] brother, Mark Epstein, has since slammed the suicide verdict. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he fumed over Patel having ‘no idea what… he’s talking about,’ as he ‘wasn’t there, he didn’t see the body, he didn’t see the autopsy.’.. 

“He admitted that it would be a lot easier for him to move on as well if he accepted his brother’s death as suicide. Suggesting that there was a ‘long list of things’ that serve as bombshell evidence of Jeffrey Epstein having been murdered in his prison cell. And so, Mark is among the many who are cynical of the FBI’s declaration… Standing his ground, Mark alleged that there was good reason for people wanting his brother dead, especially for ‘what he knew, what he had on people.’ … 

“While Jeffrey’s file states that he was discovered hanging by a bedsheet, Mark Epstein said, ‘I don’t think that sheet could have held his weight, it would have torn.’.. In light of the two cameras trained on Epstein’s cell experiencing technical issues, Mark went on to say, ‘So, [former attorney general] Bill Barr came out and said he personally viewed the video and nobody went in or out of the tier [where Epstein was housed]. When I heard that I said this is cover up.’… Noting that 11 or 12 inmates were already on that tier, Mark said, ‘They would not have to go in or out of the tier to kill somebody in their cell. Supposedly cell doors were left locked.’ The Epstein brother laid emphasis on how easily someone could have gotten into ‘Jeff’s cell and killed him.’.. 

“Mark Epstein’s argument aligns with what forensic pathologist Michael Baden had to say about the case. The deceased billionaire’s family hired Baden after his death was initially ruled a suicide. According to the pathologist, homicide was more likely than suicide, as he focussed on fractures in Epstein’s thyroid cartilage and hyoid bone being indicative of strangulation.”

The suicide story seems to be a fabrication and a cover-up. Far too many famous people would be interested in putting this case to rest and burying what could otherwise come to light.

Starmer’s Betrayal of Britain 

The Sun wrote on May 19: 

“BRITAIN will pay money to Brussels for a ‘sellout’ deal that drags the country back under the control of European judges and grants French boats access to our fishing waters for 12 YEARS. The agreement signed by Sir Keir Starmer in London today reveals the UK will be tethered to the EU’s rulebook on trade standards… 

“Former PM Boris Johnson blasted: ‘Two-tier Keir is once again going back on his promises to the people of this country – by making us non-voting members of a two-tier European Union. ‘Under this appalling sell out of a deal the UK will have to accept EU law on a host of measures from food standards to emissions trading.’… 

“The deal will see Britain follow the EU’s food standards but only be involved in ‘early stages’ of setting the rules – with the European Court of Justice the ultimate arbiter… The text also shows British taxpayers will make an ‘appropriate financial contribution’ to the EU as the price of what critics are blasting as a ‘surrender’ deal… 

“Sir Keir has agreed to give EU nations full access to its fishing waters until June 2038. The 12-year concession undermines one of the primary promises of Brexit: regaining control over British waters. UK fishermen, who were gunning for greater independence have expressed outrage at the major policy surrender.” 

Further evidence for Britain’s downfall. 

Britain Surrenders to the EU

On May 18, The Sun published the following article by Chris Philp, Shadow Home Secretary: 

“Whenever Labour negotiates, Britain loses. Keir Starmer is shamefully giving away Chagos Islands and then pay to rent them back. The two-tier tax deal with India was deeply unfair to British businesses. And today, we will see him roll over once again at his EU surrender summit… While he now talks tough on immigration for the cameras, we all know behind closed doors he doesn’t believe a word of it… 

“Today is Starmer’s first step in a walk of shame back to the EU’s stranglehold so he can crack Britain’s borders even wider open… It would make it far easier for hordes of unemployed people to come to the UK at a time when Labour is driving unemployment through the roof…” 

… and that without a shot having been fired…

Nigel Farage Issues Damning Verdict 

Daily Express published the following article by Nigel Farage on May 19:

“So, it’s happened. The Brexit betrayal by Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour party is in full swing. In 2016 we voted to take back control of our fishing waters from the EU and give a much-needed lifeline to our fishing industry. Today, we learn that Sir Keir [Starmer] will grant European fishermen access to British waters for 12 years. It’s an abject surrender… What makes this so galling is that 12 years is essentially enough to give European boats permanent access to our waters. This is because during that time older fishermen will leave the industry, and there will be no younger ones joining, and likewise no investment in new boats. With no new investment, the UK will quickly become an island with no fishing industry to speak of.

“First, he targeted our farming industry with increased inheritance tax on family farms. Now, he’s undermining our fishing sector by granting unbridled access to EU competitors. Starmer’s track record consistently puts foreign interests ahead of those of the British people. A clear example is the Chagos Islands deal, which is projected to cost the taxpayer £50 billion over its lifetime…” 

Starmer’s and Germany’s Take

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 19:

“The EU and UK are working towards a level of cooperation not seen since Brexit, with new agreements on fisheries, trade and security… ‘This is the first UK-EU summit,’ Starmer told reporters on Monday. ‘It marks a new era in our relationship, and this deal is a win-win.’ 

“An agreement on fisheries allows EU fishermen to have access to British waters for an extended period of 12 years in exchange for the EU indefinitely easing red tape on food and drink imports and exports. The eased customs checks on food and plant products are expected to add ‘nearly 9 billion pounds’ ($12 billion/€10.7 billion) to the British economy by 2040, Starmer’s office said in a statement.  Downing Street also said a new defense and security pact with the EU deal ‘will pave the way’ for the UK defense industry ‘to participate’ in a €150 billion ($167-billion) defense fund being set up by the EU… 

“Since taking office in July 2024, Starmer has pushed for what he calls a ‘reset’ of ties with the EU… Von der Leyen called the new agreements a ‘success’ and ‘an historic moment.’ Since the UK formally left the EU in 2020 after the Brexit referendum in 2016, ties have mostly been governed under a ‘Trade and Cooperation Agreement’ negotiated by former conservative PM Boris Johnson and signed in December 2020. Starmer… had opposed Brexit…

“In its election manifesto last year, Labour promised that it wouldn’t rejoin the EU’s single market and customs union, and free movement of people and goods. In August 2024, Starmer said revamping agreements with the EU ‘does not mean reversing Brexit or re-entering the single market or the customs union.’” 

Starmer has said the deal does not mean that Britain joins the EU. Stamer and the Labour Party are clearly engaging in double-talk. Starmer’s ambitions and goals are clear, but he will not succeed. Britain will never again become a full-fledged voting member of the EU. However, Starmer’s conduct may lead to a further surrender of Britain and its ongoing prophesied downfall. 

To Take Control of ALL of Gaza

AFP wrote on May 19:

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel will ‘take control’ of the whole of Gaza, as the military pressed a newly intensified campaign in the war-ravaged territory. After Israel announced it would let a ‘basic amount’ of food into the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu said it was necessary to prevent a famine for ‘diplomatic reasons.’… Last week President Donald Trump acknowledged that ‘a lot of people are starving,’ adding ‘we’re going to get that taken care of.’ In his inaugural mass, Pope Leo XIV [said], ‘In Gaza, the surviving children, families and elderly are reduced to starvation’… 

“But Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir argued against any resumption of aid, saying on X: ‘Mr Prime Minister, our hostages receive no humanitarian aid… The Prime Minister is making a serious mistake in this move, and he has no majority at all. Hamas must only be crushed, and not at the same time provided with oxygen for its survival,’ he said in a statement… 

“Since a two-month ceasefire collapsed in March as Israel resumed its offensive, negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have failed to make a breakthrough. Netanyahu has opposed ending the war without Hamas’s total defeat, while Hamas has balked at handing over its weapons…

“Hamas’s October 2023 attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians… Hamas also took 251 hostages during the attack, 57 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 the military says are dead. Gaza’s health ministry said Sunday at least 3,193 people have been killed since Israel resumed strikes March 18, taking the war’s overall toll to 53,339.”

A terrible situation all around. Trump’s Gaza “Riviera vision” becomes more and more a bad joke.

“Germany Can Still Rule the World” 

On May 17, the following article was authored by Johannes Koenraadt and published on linkin.bio: 

“… the Germans during the time of Otto von Bismarck were trying to unify all Muslims of the Middle East under the rule of the Turkish Ottoman Empire… Von Bismarck wanted… to attack colonial British interests in Egypt, Sudan, and Syria, by causing a revolt against the colonial rule. Germany could then seize control of the important trade routes of the Suez Canal and the Persian Gulf. Indeed, the surrounding territories such as Palestine, Iraq, Iran, and Syria were once allies of Germany during the world wars, even Turkey was an ally during World War I… 

“… American strategists also deeply fear… a German conquest of Russia… new German chancellor Friedrich Merz… vows to make the German army the strongest in Europe!

“During the Second World War, Germany was barely 1.5 times richer than Soviet Russia. Today, Germany is nearly 7 times richer than Putin’s Russia… Germany may indeed try to conquer Russia again… to ‘bring democracy’. With the EU’s help, by switching from Russian gas to gas from Qatar, the Muslim world might, for reasons of profit, even support the new German war machine…”

The Bible does indeed prophesy that Germany will enter into a collaboration treaty with Arab nations and Turkey to conquer Israel, and that a war will break out between Europe under German leadership and Russia and other Far Eastern nations. We are informed that the German leader will be disturbed by unsettling rumors from the Far East and will go out against those regions with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. 

The “Report” Against the AfD 

On May 15, Nius published the following commentary by Julian Reichelt: 

“This horrific report [by the “Verfassungsschutz” or “Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution”] is not about the AfD. It’s about the fundamental right to freedom of expression and all of us. The AfD is merely being used as a pretext to criminalize and permanently make impossible completely legitimate expressions of criticism of power and government… We are witnessing the most dangerous and unscrupulous attack on freedom of expression in the history of the Federal Republic. The report should remain secret so that you don’t realize that it’s not really about the AfD, but about your most sacred fundamental right… 

“In order to keep this report secret, the old government lied to us in its final hours in office. The failed, authoritarian former Interior Minister Nancy Faeser claimed that secret sources had to be protected… Now, our research reveals: There are no sources at all in this report. The report consists exclusively of public statements that were copied and documented from social media and public speeches… 

“Every journalist who has read this report must have realized: If the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution gets away with it, freedom of expression will end for every citizen. The secret dossier is nothing less than a legal basis for the prosecution of any criticism of power… The Stasi would be proud of this Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which naturally also wants to pursue comparisons to the GDR as delegitimization. Criticism of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution is, of course, also recorded by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and classified as right-wing extremist… 

“Criticism of Microsoft founder Bill Gates is classified by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as anti-Semitism because Bill Gates supposedly ‘reads Jewish.’ This means: The secret service assumes that people are criticizing the political activist Bill Gates, who has financed Der Spiegel with millions, simply because they consider him a Jew, even though he is not.”

German Police Union: Tougher Border Checks Not Sustainable

Deutsche Welle reported on May 18: 

“Germany’s intensified border checks and the rejection of asylum seekers cannot continue for much longer…

“[Andreas] Rosskopf, chairman of the German Police Union (GdP) police union, [said] that the current measures were only sustainable because duty rosters had been adjusted, training sessions paused, and officers’ overtime leave canceled. ‘The police can only keep up these intensive checks for a few more weeks,’ Rosskopf said, noting that more than 1,000 riot police officers had been deployed in border areas for several days.

“Shortly after taking office earlier this month, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt ordered stricter border controls, allowing authorities to turn back migrants even if they seek asylum. According to Dobrindt, the number of people turned away has increased by nearly 50% since the changes were introduced….” 

What will the new German government do next? 

Pro-European Nicusor Dan Weins Romania‘s Election 

Newsmax wrote on May 18:

“Pro-European Union candidate Nicusor Dan has won Romania’s closely watched presidential runoff against a hard-right nationalist… A huge turnout Sunday played a key role in the tense election that many viewed as a geopolitical choice between East or West. 

“The race pitted front-runner George Simion, the 38-year-old leader of the hard-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, or AUR, against Dan, the incumbent mayor of Bucharest. It was held months after the cancelation of the previous election plunged Romania into its worst political crisis in decades… In the first-round vote on May 4, Simion won almost double the votes as Dan, and many local surveys had predicted he would secure the presidency.

“But in a swing that appeared to be a repudiation of Simion’s more skeptical approach to the EU, which Romania joined in 2007, Dan picked up almost 900,000 more votes to solidly defeat his opponent in the final round… 

“Romania’s political landscape was upended last year when a top court voided the previous election in which far-right outsider Calin Georgescu topped first-round polls, following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference, which Moscow denied.” 

Romania has been accused of dictatorial methods and undue interference in the election process. 

WHY Does the Universe Exist? 

BBC wrote on May 20:

“Inside a laboratory nestled above the mist of the forests of South Dakota, scientists are searching for the answer to one of science’s biggest questions: why does our Universe exist?

They are in a race for the answer with a separate team of Japanese scientists – who are several years ahead… 

“The current theory of how the Universe came into being can’t explain the existence of the planets, stars and galaxies we see around us… 

“The scientists will travel 1,500 metres below the surface into three vast underground caverns…. ‘We are poised to build the detector that will change our understanding of the Universe with instruments that will be deployed by a collaboration of more than 1,400 scientists from 35 countries who are eager to answer the question of why we exist,’ [Dr Jaret Heise] says. When the Universe was created two kinds of particles were created: matter – from which stars, planets and everything around us are made – and, in equal amounts, antimatter, matter’s exact opposite.

Theoretically the two should have cancelled each other out, leaving nothing but a big burst of energy. And yet, here we – as matter – are… 

“Scientists believe that the answer to understanding why matter won – and we exist – lies in studying a particle called the neutrino and its antimatter opposite, the anti-neutrino. They will be firing beams of both kinds of particles from deep underground in Illinois to the detectors at South Dakota, 800 miles away. This is because as they travel, neutrinos and anti-neutrinos change ever so slightly. The scientists want to find out whether those changes are different for the neutrinos and anti-neutrinos. If they are, it could lead them to the answer of why matter and anti-matter don’t cancel each other out. 

“The Japanese-led team will be ready to turn on their neutrino beam in less than three years, several years earlier than the American project.  

Has one ever heard such total nonsense? Apart from this colossal waste of time and resources, it shows the absolute stupidity with which scientists are approaching the “mystery” of creation, even though the Bible has been giving the answers all along. But of course, scientists are too proud and far too “educated” to accept the simplicity of the Truth!

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.

Pope Leo XIV… Up to the Task?

The Independent wrote on May 9:

“The first-ever American-born pope inherits a world in crisis… Leo XIV’s vision for the Catholic church is one of ‘peace and justice’ and ‘building bridges’ ready to receive, with open arms, ‘all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love.’… His urgent message of peace confronts vast suffering and death from brutal wars, simmering tensions among nuclear powers, a long shadow of abuse within a church he now leads, and humanitarian outrage from his home country following three months of chaos under Donald Trump’s administration…

“The papal conclave… selected Leo XIV despite allegations that he had mishandled sexual abuse cases involving priests in both Peru and the United States. Survivors of abuse are now demanding accountability from the new pope… Leo XIV — the ‘Latin Yankee,’ as he is known in Rome — follows the Jesuit legacy of Francis in South America.”

Leo XIV has been hailed by many, including his own brother, as a “second Francis.” But this may or may not be an accurate designation.

Pope Leo XIV… Not So Good News For Trump?

The New York Post wrote on May 8:

“Newly elected Pope Leo XIV spent years amplifying criticism of President Trump’s policies on social media — with the Catholic Church’s first American leader taking particular aim at the Republican’s hardline immigration stance… His final X post before being elected… was a retweet of a message from Philadelphia-based Catholic commentator Rocco Palmo, who on April 14 slammed Trump’s partnership with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele on deportation of illegal migrants… ‘Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?’ the tweet reads…

“Prevost was also an active participant in US political discussion during Trump’s first term — in 2017 retweeting a post from Palmo that said, ‘Calling refugee bans ‘a dark hour of US history,’ [Chicago Archbishop] Blase [Cupich] says “the world is watching as we abandon our commitment to American values”’. Also in January 2017, the new pope retweeted a message from Jesuit priest James Martin, who wrote, ‘We’re banning all Syrian refugees? The men, women and children who most need help? What an immoral nation we are becoming. Jesus weeps.’…

“The new pope expressed his opinion on other subjects as well. In October 2017, Prevost retweeted a call for new US gun control from Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) after a gunman murdered 60 people in Las Vegas…

“Trump congratulated the new pontiff on Truth Social and told reporters outside the West Wing that he was thrilled that an American will hold the post… ‘It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!’…”

Other Popes Leo…

CNN wrote on May 8:

“The first Pope Leo, who served in the fifth century (from 440 to 461), is known as ‘Leo the Great,’ and is remembered [in legend] for persuading Attila the Hun to halt his invasion and spare the Roman Empire from destruction… The name Leo derives from the Latin for ‘lion,’ suggesting strength and courage.”

It was also suggested that his name choice could represent a pope who wants to be strong during a time of crisis, with a profound respect for tradition and history.

There have been 14 popes with the name of Leo. Famous was Leo III. (795-816). He is notable for the coronation of Charlemagne as Emperor of the Romans on Christmas Day, 800 CE. [see below].

CBS News wrote on May 9:

“Leo I… wrote Leo’s Tome, a document that influenced the official doctrine defining Jesus Christ as both fully human and fully divine. [A totally false teaching.]…

“… the last pope to use the name Leo, Pope Leo XIII, who was the head of the Catholic Church between 1878 and 1903… is perhaps most famous for writing the Rerum Novarum… which translates to ‘On New Things,’ but the Latin meaning is also ‘On Revolutionary Changes.’…”

Why Did the Pope Pick Leo? Here’s Why the Name Is So Important in the Catholic Church

National Geographic wrote on May 9:

“Pope Leo I tangled with Attila the Hun and won…

“Elected in A.D. 795, Pope Leo III was the pope who crowned Charlamagne as the first Holy Roman emperor. ‘Many historians credit Charlemagne with spreading Christianity across these formerly pagan regions, bringing a common culture and homogeneity to disparate tribes.’ The ruler became defender of the Christian faith and, under him, the continent flourished.

“Pope Leo III’s decision to name the emperor as leader of the Church reaffirmed the relationship between the papacy and the Frankish rulers who would protect the Catholic Church against threats.

“Things came to a head after Constantinople closed all its Latin churches. In response, Pope Leo IX sent a delegation led by Hubert of Silva Candida to Constantinople ostensibly to settle the disagreement with Patriarch Michael Cerularius. Instead, Hubert placed an excommunication bull for the patriarch in the city on the altar at Hagia Sophia on July 16, 1054 A.D. Pope Leo IX had died by the time of the excommunication, but it was nonetheless a move that he had initiated. As a result, the Roman Catholic Church based in Rome and the Eastern Orthodox Church centered in Constantinople became two separate entities after this Great Schism…

“Another Pope Leo—Pope Leo X—also faced a divisive moment within Christendom. Pope Leo X… held the papal see from 1475 to 1521 A.D. During the last year of his pontificate, Pope Leo X excommunicated Martin Luther…”

Before and after the Great Schism, Bible prophecies focus on the development of the Catholic Church, headquartered in Rome.

Why the Name Leo XIV was Chosen?

Breitbart wrote on May 10:

“Speaking with the College of Cardinals on Saturday, [the new pope said:]

“‘I chose to take the name Leo XIV. There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution… In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labor…’”

It is doubtful that this was the main reason for the choice of the name Leo. Note the next article.

The Pope and the Latin Mass

The Federalist wrote on May 9:

“[I’m setting] aside the obvious fact that Pope Leo is far more conservative on issues like abortion and gay marriage than most MAGA influencers… Pope Leo appears to be far more traditional and liturgically orthodox than his predecessor. In particular, he seems to have a special devotion to the Traditional Latin Mass.

“This matters a great deal more than whether he has policy disagreements with Trump over things like immigration or gun control… Pope Francis was infamously hostile toward the Latin Mass despite its growing popularity around the world, especially among young people, converts, and Catholics committed to conforming their lives to the orthodox Catholic faith… In contrast, there are ample signs that Pope Leo will reverse course on the Latin Mass, lift restrictions on its celebration.

“… a restoration of the Latin Mass under Pope Leo would mean a return to doctrinal clarity and confidence, and a renewed papal resistance to the modernizing factions within the Catholic Church, such as the German prelates who for many years have been pushing for the ordination of women and communion for divorced-and-remarried Catholics. Above all, the restoration of the Latin Mass will all but guarantee that this pope will not push doctrinal boundaries the way Pope Francis did, and will return the Holy See to its traditional role of defending the Catholic faith and evangelizing the world.

“… In recent days multiple Catholic commentators have reported that Pope Leo, when he was Cardinal Prevost, privately celebrated the Latin Mass for years, including at the Vatican in recent years, where he had a special indult from Pope Francis to do so… the blessing Pope Leo gave the crowd from St. Peter’s Basilica was in Latin, using a formula that has not been used since Pope Pius XII in 1939. On Friday, Pope Leo celebrated the first Mass… in Latin…

“All Catholics should hope and pray for this, but so should all non-Catholics, whether Protestants or unbelievers, for the simple reason that… without a clear, strong voice in the Holy See defending the faith, our civilization will not long endure.”

The mother church with its daughter churches will become all-powerful again in these last days.

Where the New Pope MIGHT Stand…

Newsmax wrote on May 11:

“Based on a 2012 address to bishops, Leo would likely bring the church back in line.

“In that speech, Cardinal Robert Prevost accused the media of fostering ‘sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the Gospel.’ He cited the ‘homosexual lifestyle’ and ‘alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children,’ according to the Post.

“Also, Prevost shot down a government initiative to promote gender ideology in schools while he was bishop of Chiclayo in northwestern Peru. ‘The promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don’t exist,’ he told media outlets at the time.

“On abortion, Prevost posted [a] photograph from a March For Life event in Chiclayo with the exhortation, ‘Let’s defend human life at all times!’ That includes a push against euthanasia…

“In regards to capital punishment, Prevost said in a 2015 post, ‘It’s time to end the death penalty.’

“The new Pope is aligned with the previous Pope on climate change. In November, Prevost said it is time to move ‘from words to action’ on the ‘environmental crisis,’ the Post reported…”

And then there are the issues of immigration and gun control…

Capitulation Day

The Guardian wrote on May 12:

“Donald Trump will inevitably claim Monday’s temporary truce in the US-China trade war as a victory, but financial markets seem to have read it for what it is – a capitulation. Stocks were up and bond yields were higher after the US treasury secretary Scott Bessent’s early morning press conference in Geneva…

“… tariffs on Chinese goods will be cut from 145% to 30% initially for a 90-day period. In return, China has cut its own tariffs on US imports to 10%, from the 125% it had imposed in retaliation against the White House. That still marks a big shift in the terms of trade between the two countries since before Trump came to power, but falls far short of what was in effect a trade embargo… In other words, the president has caved… the White House seems to have opted for tactical retreat…”

Mediaite added on May 12:

“In a series of posts to X early Monday, Fox Business Senior Correspondent Charles Gasparino delivered a blunt analysis of the drastic temporary tariff reduction by the U.S. and China and the 90-day pause before any further escalation.

“‘Both sides blinked,’ Gasparino wrote. He quickly followed up by adding, ‘I didn’t say we won…. Trump… was forced to back off… when you have to depend on [the markets] as we still do… you can’t go to trade war with the world without bad stuff happening.’”

What Is Trump Even Doing?

The Hill wrote on May 9:

“One of the most frustrating things about the Trump administration is that it offers too much nuttiness to process. Not long ago, the discovery that the president doesn’t know what the Declaration of Independence is would have consumed the country for months. Today, it barely registers because the Trump White House pumps out similar stories two or three times a week.  When you compare such stories to the trade war with China or President Trump’s claim that he doesn’t know whether he’s required to uphold the Constitution, it’s tempting to view Trump’s recent brainstorms on movie tariffs and reopening Alcatraz as mere distractions. That would be a mistake. They are evidence of something much darker than Steve Bannon’s call to ‘flood the zone with s…’

“Alcatraz was closed down in 1963 because it was too expensive to run and too expensive to renovate… Nor can it be ‘substantially enlarged’ because Alcatraz Island is only 22 acres. If you want a new prison for the worst of the worst, Alcatraz would be the last place you would choose. 

“About 20 minutes later, Trump decided he is going to impose a 100 percent tariff on foreign movies… The idea is unworkable and betrays no understanding of how movies are made. What, exactly, is a ‘foreign film?’ Many films are made in multiple locations both inside and outside the U.S. What about content made for television and streaming? And what would you impose a tariff on? The cost of shooting overseas? The movie’s budget? Ticket sales? 

“Apart from all the practical issues, any plan to impose a tax on foreign films is almost certainly an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment. If it isn’t constitutional to impose a two percent tax on newspapers, it’s hard to see how it could be constitutional to impose a 100 percent tax on movies… as a content-based restriction based on the ‘messaging and propaganda’ in foreign films…”

And now, controversial and extremely right-wing conservative White House “adviser” Stephen Miller announced that the Trump administration is considering suspending “habeas corpus,” as we are being invaded by foreign enemies. Can anything become more weird?

Regarding the concept of “habeas corpus,” ctvnews wrote on May 10: “Habeas corpus is a legal principle that allows people who believe they are being unlawfully detained or imprisoned to petition for their release in court.”

Habeas corpus, meaning “you should have the body,” is a legal procedure to ensure that individuals are not unlawfully imprisoned. It is a legal order that requires a person to be brought before a judge to ensure their detention is lawful. It’s a check on government power, protecting against unlawful imprisonment. 

Money Struggles and Mental Health

Study Finds wrote on May 8:

“Americans are drowning in money worries, and it’s taking a serious toll on their mental health. A new survey reveals that 70% of Americans say their financial stress has hit an all-time high, with more than three-quarters feeling totally alone in their struggle to manage money pressures.

“Even worse, this financial strain is affecting people’s overall well-being, with 20% reporting worse mental health over the past year. The survey found that 40% of respondents have skipped work or school to focus on their mental health…”

But everything is getting better in the USA, right?

Fighting Big Pharma

The Associated Press wrote on May 12:

“President Donald Trump on Monday signed a sweeping executive order setting a 30-day deadline for drugmakers to electively [sic] lower the cost of prescription drugs in the U.S. or face new limits down the road over what the government will pay…

“It’s unclear what — if any — impact the Republican president’s executive order will have on millions of Americans who have private health insurance. The federal government has the most power to shape the price it pays for drugs covered by Medicare and Medicaid… The nation’s pharmaceutical lobby, which represents the top U.S. drugmakers, immediately pushed back against Trump’s order, calling it a ‘bad deal’ for American patients…”

Of course, Big Pharma would oppose this, as their incredible profit from overcharged drug prices might be somewhat diminished. As the article points out:

“Taxpayers spend hundreds of billions of dollars on prescription drugs, injectables, transfusions and other medications every year through Medicare, which covers nearly 70 million older Americans. Medicaid, which provides nearly-free health care for almost 80 million poor and disabled people in the U.S. also spends tens of billions of dollars each year for drugs.”

On average, drugs in the USA are approximately three times more expensive than the same drugs in Europe.

Many Afraid of World War III

Global News Canada wrote on May 6:

“Eighty years after VE-Day, which marked the formal Nazi surrender and the end of six years of war in Europe, many fear a third world war is imminent. New [polling] conducted in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.S. shows that between 41 per cent and 55 per cent of respondents in each country think another world war is likely to occur within the next five to 10 years. Forty-five per cent of Americans hold the same view…

“If another world war happens…, the majority (68 to 76 per cent) believe the conflict would involve nuclear weapons. Moreover, 57 to 73 per cent think that a third world war would result in a higher casualty count than previous global conflicts…  25 to 44 per cent believe that if another world war were to occur in the next five to 10 years, it would result in the deaths of most of the world’s population… 72 per cent believe there is a likelihood that nuclear, biological, or chemical warfare could happen somewhere in the world.

“… most people felt their respective country’s militaries would not be sufficiently prepared to enter a war. ‘Only a minority of western Europeans believe their national militaries could effectively defend their countries in the event of a third world war, ranging from a low of 16 per cent in Italy to a high of 44 per cent in France,’ the survey says. ‘By contrast, 71 per cent of Americans have confidence that the armed forces could defend their country,’ YouGov found.

“As for the source of the threat, most European countries cite Russia as the culprit, with 72 to 82 per cent of Western Europeans telling YouGov they see the superpower as a major or moderate threat to peace in Europe. Meanwhile, 69 per cent of Americans agreed.

“Since the beginning of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term, attitudes towards Europe’s once-steadfast ally have shifted, with many now considering the country [the USA] a looming threat to peace… ‘With Donald Trump making threats against Greenland, Canada and Panama, as well as his stance on Ukraine, a majority of people in Spain (58 per cent), Germany (55 per cent) and France (53 per cent) see tensions between Europe and the U.S. as a major or moderate threat to continental peace,’ it says. ‘Meanwhile, Americans are less likely to say so, although a third (34 per cent) still agree with their western European counterparts,’ the polling continues.”

Nuclear War—a Frightening Scenario

The Telegraph wrote on May 10:

“The Arms Control Association, a US-based nonpartisan organisation, counts more than 12,100 nuclear weapons in the world today, 90 per cent of them held by the US and Russia. China, France, Britain, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea hold the remainder.

“They are generally delivered by very fast ICBMs that fly into space and can reach targets less than half an hour after launch. Some carry multiple warheads that then independently plummet to different targets. They are almost impossible to intercept.

“While we tend to think of mushroom clouds over Hiroshima and Nagasaki and memories of GCSE physics – the banging together of lumps of uranium or plutonium until electrons start smashing apart atoms – most of the weapons in the nose cones of today’s missiles are different beasts entirely.

“These ‘thermonuclear’ weapons use a Hiroshima-style device only as the trigger for another device, nestled next to it in the same bomb casing, that contains isotopes of hydrogen that fuse into helium atoms. That is the same thing that happens in the centre of the sun, and it generates extraordinary amounts of energy.

“The Hiroshima bomb killed 66,000 people with 15 kilotons of power – the equivalent of 15,000 tons of conventional TNT high explosive going off at once. But the most powerful thermonuclear weapons ever exploded, the US Castle Bravo test in 1954 and the Soviet Tsar Bomba in 1961, released 15 and 50 megatons respectively. One megaton equals 1,000 kilotons. There is, Soviet scientists concluded after testing the Tsar Bomba, practically no upper limit to the destructive power of such devices…”

Is Trump Abandoning Netanyahu?

Israel Today wrote on May 9:

“Sources claim Trump is fed up with Netanyahu and tired of Israel standing in the way of his Middle East vision.

“If the Reuters report is accurate and Donald Trump is no longer making normalization with Israel a condition for the US supporting a civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia, this would prove what many fear: Trump has thrown Israel under the bus.

“But this report doesn’t come out of nowhere. It fits into a series of American moves that have shaken Israel in recent months—whether it’s the secret dialogue with Iran, the US announcement of an agreement with the Houthis that Israel only learned about through the media, the omission of Israel from Trump’s upcoming Middle East trip, the warm relations with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at Israel’s expense, the planned withdrawal from Syria, and much more.

“… The US administration is frustrated with… the obstacles Jerusalem is creating for Washington’s vision for the Middle East—a vision that is supposed to earn Trump the Nobel Peace Prize.”

The White House responded by saying that reports about friction between Trump and Netanyahu are “preposterous.”

Will Israel Do It Alone?

Breitbart wrote on May 9:

“Netanyahu is reaching the point where he will attack Iran’s nuclear sides — and, ironically, it is President Donald Trump who is pushing him there. That might seem odd, given that Trump has been more supportive of Israel than any other U.S. president… Trump is now pursuing a new nuclear deal with Iran, and early reports suggest that it will have many, if not all, of the same features that made President Barack Obama’s Iran deal such a failure…

“Netanyahu recently said that no deal would be a better option than a bad deal. Meanwhile, Trump reportedly has grown frustrated with him, and is prepared to act without his cooperation. But the feeling is mutual. Netanyahu has been recalling, in public, the many times that Israel acted on its own, regardless of who was in the White House, to protect its interests. He is clearly setting the stage for Israel to strike Iran unilaterally….

“Moreover, the Trump administration has twice surprised the Netanyahu government in the past several weeks. First, as Netanyahu sat next to him in the White House last month, Trump announced that the U.S. would talk with Iran. Next, Trump announced a ceasefire with the Houthis — without Israel, which the Houthis vowed to continue attacking.

“Netanyahu does not want to risk his relationship with Trump… but he also does not want to go down in the in history as the leader who could have protected his country, but did not. (Especially after October 7.) The chance is growing that Israel will strike Iran on its own… do not be surprised when it happens.”

Trump in the Middle East

Reuters reported on May 13:

“The US agreed on Tuesday to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $142 billion, according to a White House fact sheet that called it ‘the largest defense cooperation agreement’ Washington has ever done.

“The agreement, signed during US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh, covers deals with more than a dozen US defense companies in areas including air and missile defense, air force and space advancement, maritime security and communications, the fact sheet said.”

In 2019, a congressional rebuke of Saudi Arabia followed the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, which weakened support for Riyadh in Washington after US intelligence agencies found that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) ordered the operation. MBS has never been held accountable, and the newly-found “friendship” between MBS and Trump is embarrassing, to say the very least.

Trump encouraged Saudi Arabia to sign the “Abraham Accords,” which have established by now formal ties between Israel and four Arab countries. Trump also encouraged Saudi Arabia to recognize the State of Israel. Saudi Arabia had stated that in order to do so, a Palestinian State must be recognized first. According to the Bible, Saudi Arabia will turn against Israel—and perhaps the USA—in an effort to destroy Israel. Trump also announced that Saudi Arabia will invest $600 billion in the USA.

Further, in a major policy shift, Trump declared in Riyadh that he will end sanctions against Syria under Syria’s new president Ahmed al-Sharaa (whom Trump met in Saudi Arabia), who has been called by Israel a jihadist, leading a “terror group from Idlib that took Damascus by force”. Sharaa was for years the leader of al Qaeda’s official wing in the Syrian conflict. He first joined al Qaeda in Iraq, where he spent five years in a U.S. prison. The United States removed a $10 million bounty on Sharaa’s head in December. Trump encouraged al-Sharaa to join the Abraham Accords recognizing Israel and said al-Sharaa would do so once his country has stabilized.

Trump’s policy shift came about after pleas from MBS and Turkey’s PM Erdogan.

Later, Trump flew to Qatar where he signed an agreement with Qatar to generate an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion. Trump also announced economic deals totaling more than $243.5 billion between the United States and Qatar, including a historic sale of Boeing aircraft and GE Aerospace engines to Qatar Airways.  

Fox News Host Mark Levin, a strong supporter of Trump, was not happy with his tour of Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Levin blasted Saudi Arabia for playing a “significant role in the 9/11 slaughter of our people.” He also condemned Qatar for having “protected the leader of the 9/11 attack from the FBI, before he was able to launch his war on America that killed our people.”

Canada and Europe on Defense

The Canadian Press wrote on May 9:

“As U.S. President Donald Trump continues to cast doubt on the future of the NATO military alliance, Canada is looking to partner with the European Union on defence… European companies already invest fairly heavily and extensively in Canada, including on defence…

“Separately, Germany and Norway have proposed partnering with Canada to procure new submarines…

“… the EU wants to use the clout it enjoys due to the size of its market to set military procurement standards that would make it easier for European armies to work together…”

Russia and China vs. USA

NBC News wrote on May 9:

“Russia marked the 80th anniversary of the World War II victory over Nazi Germany on Friday with a parade attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, as the two countries vowed to strengthen ties and ‘firmly’ counter U.S. influence… thousands of Russian troops marched on Red Square, with military units from China and 12 other countries also taking part…

“In a lengthy joint statement, Xi and Putin said they would deepen military and other ties and ‘strengthen coordination and jointly respond firmly to the United States’ policy of ‘dual containment’ against both countries.’”

The Kings of the East alliance is getting stronger.

The U.S. Is Unloved

Politico wrote on May 12:

“The world is more divided than ever, but there’s still something (nearly) everyone agrees on: The U.S. is unloved. A majority of people surveyed had an overall negative perception of the U.S… America’s reputation took a particularly massive hit in EU countries…

“Meanwhile, China kept improving its global standing, overtaking the U.S. for the first time and recording mostly positive perceptions in all regions except Europe. Russia, the reputation of which tanked in the wake of President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, is still (slightly) more unpopular than the U.S. — though its image is also improving…

“Israel emerged as the country with the worst global reputation… especially in the Middle East and South Asia. Israel is unpopular even in European countries that have historically been its allies, such as Germany, signaling growing discomfort with its government’s conduct in Gaza and the West Bank….”

A Peace Deal Between Russia and Ukraine?

Fox News wrote on May 11:

“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to meet face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin… Putin initially proposed the Thursday meeting this weekend, and President Donald Trump prompted Zelenskyy to accept the offer… Ukraine and Russia are currently under a ceasefire marking the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe…

“‘President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH,’ Trump wrote on social media. ‘Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY. At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly! I’m starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who’s too busy celebrating the Victory of World War ll, which could not have been won (not even close!) without the United States of America. HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!’ He added.

“Putin has thus far offered few, if any, concessions but is now saying talks should address the root causes of the war. He said he would speak to Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan later on Sunday about facilitating the negotiations…

“Putin’s proposal for direct talks came hours after European leaders [from Germany, France, UK and Poland] demanded on Saturday in Kyiv that the Russian president agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire or face new sanctions. But Putin dismissed attempts by some European powers to issue what he described as ‘ultimatums.’…”

The New York Post wrote on May 15:

“Instead of turning up himself, Putin sent his aide Vladimir Medinsky — his former culture minister… Though Zelensky was ready to meet with Putin for direct talks, he will now send Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to represent Kyiv in the talks with Medinsky.”

The four European leaders communicated with President Trump over cell phone, saying that their proposal for a 30-day ceasefire was “backed by” Trump, and that Russia would face “massive” sanctions if Moscow does not comply. Merz also stated Germany would continue “supporting Ukraine militarily as much as we can”; that “the measures we take together to end this war and what joint decisions we make to secure a possible peace in Ukraine are not matters for public discussion”; and that “Under my leadership, the debate about weapons deliveries, caliber, weapons systems and so on will be kept out of the public eye.” Is he just talking about his leadership of Germany, or his leadership of Europe?

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 15:

“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday pledged to turn the Bundeswehr into ‘the strongest conventional army in Europe.’… ‘Our goal is a Germany and a Europe that are so strong together that we never have to use our weapons,’ Merz said… The chancellor said he believed that ‘anyone who seriously believes that Russia would be satisfied with a victory over Ukraine or with the annexation of parts of the country is mistaken.’”

No Return to EU

The Telegraph wrote on May 9:

“The EU has missed its chance to draw Britain back into its close commercial and regulatory orbit… Each British trade deal with another country or bloc closes the window further on a return to the EU single market and customs union. The agreements with India and the US follow rapidly on Britain’s accession to the East Asia-Latin America trade pact (CPTPP). A deal with the Gulf states is coming soon. These are large parts of the world economy.

“The magnetic pull of the EU can no longer compete with this greater force. All of the accumulating deals would have to be repudiated if Britain were ever again subsumed into the EU’s trading machinery as a satellite – i.e. a de facto EU member without voting rights. To do so would have exorbitant geopolitical consequences and costs. It is safe to say that the Rejoiner dream entered its final agony this week.”

Britain is not to become part of the EU again. However, the nature of the “deal” between the USA and the UK is highly disputed.

Trade “Deal” With UK Bad for USA

The Huffington Post wrote on May 8:

“President Donald Trump boasted on Thursday of a new trade agreement that, on average, triples the taxes Americans will have to pay on British imports…

“According to a chart used by Trump, the new trade deal with the United Kingdom will bring in $6 billion in ‘external revenue’… to describe payments collected by U.S. Customs… The new 10% rate for nearly all goods, which was announced last month for countries all over the world, is three times higher than the 3.4% average rate Americans have paid for goods from Britain and Northern Ireland.

“… In reality, foreign nations pay none of those tariffs. American importers do, predominantly manufacturers buying raw materials and retailers. Both pass along the import taxes in the form of higher prices paid by consumers… If all the tariff rates announced by Trump on his so-called ‘Liberation Day’ on April 2 go into effect, it will cost American importers and consumers an extra $2.4 trillion in new taxes over a decade.”

At the same time, voices in Britain say that the “deal” is bad for the UK.

Starmer Destroys UK Business

Express wrote on May 10:

“This week Keir Starmer has not asked what he can do for Britain, but what Britain can do for America. His attempt at a trade deal has sold our country short of the comprehensive agreement which is what we need. It is a rushed response to Donald Trump’s tariffs that leaves almost every business with worse trading arrangements than we had in January – and far worse off than when he got the job.

“Starmer is parading around like the emperor with no clothes… whilst the world averts its eyes at this sight of our embarrassing leader and his cabinet who understand nothing about business… The right deal with the US could start to repair some of the damage he caused by trash talking the economy, hiking taxes to record highs and the devastating trade union red tape about to be unleashed on business. A comprehensive US trade deal covering all sectors and eliminating tariffs on both sides is the closest he will find to a silver bullet…

“And it shouldn’t have been too hard. He just needs to pick up where we left off when we negotiated with President Trump in his first term… His Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, said that any agreement that didn’t get rid of tariffs would be a failure. By his own mark – Starmer has failed. Most products made in Britain will continue to face the 10% baseline tariff imposed in April…

“As a patriot, I want Keir Starmer to succeed in securing the real deal with America, but this deal just is not it…  With a proper deal, every single part of the UK would benefit from better business access, more investment, better jobs and higher wages…”

India-Pakistan Ceasefire?

Daily Mail wrote on May 10:

“Donald Trump says India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire just hours after both sides boasted of fresh military strikes. The two nuclear-armed neighbours had also traded drone attacks and artillery fire after a gun massacre last month that India blames on Pakistan.

“In a post on social media platform Truth Social, the US President wrote: ‘After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire…’”

Hours after the announcement, both India and Pakistan accused each other of having broken the ceasefire. It appears now that the ceasefire seems to hold.

Germany’s Fight Against “Far-Right Extremists” Continues Under New Government

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 14:

“A spokeswoman for Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office said the founder of the ‘Reich Citizens’ subgroup ‘Kingdom of Germany,’ Peter Fitzek, had been taken into custody on Thursday. Fitzek and three other suspected ringleaders of the group, part of a conspiracy theorist movement that rejects the legitimacy of the modern German republic, were arrested.

“Police on Tuesday conducted raids on the properties of key members of the group in seven German states, making four arrests. The swoop came after [new] Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt banned what is currently the largest group of so-called Reich Citizens. He accused the ‘Kingdom of Germany’ of trying to establish a ‘counter-state’ within Germany [and building] up criminal economic structures…

“According to Dobrindt, the ‘Kingdom of Germany’ group, which reportedly has around 6,000 members, is the biggest association within the Reichsbuerger scene… [S]ome members… refuse demands made by legal authorities, such as fines and taxes. They have also been known to print their own passports and driver’s licenses… The Tuesday raids took place in Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia.”

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.

Arresting a Judge 

On May 1, the Ron Paul Institute published the following article by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano: 

“Last week the FBI arrested a Wisconsin state judge as she was walking into the courthouse where she works. The feds had alerted the media — but not the judge — to this event, and they arrived and recorded the arrest. The standard and preferred practice when arresting a nonviolent person who is a public official with deep roots in the community is to invite the person to surrender with counsel. Instead, without notice, this judge was stopped on a public street, handcuffed behind her back — a technique reserved for the most dangerous or threatening individuals — and within minutes, the FBI Director himself had posted still photos of this event on his X account. 

“The feds were unhappy at the manner in which a criminal defendant before this judge was permitted to leave her courtroom. By leaving through a nonpublic exit, instead of through the doors where the feds were awaiting him, his departure frustrated the feds who apparently expected the judge to accommodate them. The technical charge against the judge is obstructing the administration of justice. The true charge was failing to aid the feds… That frustration boiled over outside a Wisconsin courthouse last week when the feds did what was surely unthinkable to Justice Scalia… 

“Judge Hannah Dugan was presiding over an arraignment for a non-incarcerated defendant when her court officers told her that the feds were in the courthouse hallway seeking to arrest the defendant in her courtroom, and the feds were growing impatient. When she asked to see their arrest warrant, they had none. Instead of an arrest warrant issued by a judge, as the Fourth Amendment requires, they presented an administrative warrant in which one federal agent authorizes another to arrest a person in a public place. 

“Judge Dugan shares the view of your author that… administrative warrants are blatantly unconstitutional, and she would not recognize it. The purpose of the [14^th] amendment is to ensure that only judges order arrests. When her business with the defendant in her courtroom was completed, she asked him to leave through the exit used by jurors, which was not accessible to the feds. She did not inform the defendant that the feds were looking for him…  A week later, Judge Dugan was arrested for obstruction of justice… if a judge tells a defendant to leave her courtroom from door A and not door B, because behind B are folks with a phony warrant, she cannot be prosecuted.

“This is bigger than Judge Dugan. We are witnessing an unprecedented assault on the separation of powers and the concept of federalism by a White House impatient with the constitutional process and largely indifferent to the role and function of the judiciary… If the feds succeed in intimidating judges and bending them to the presidential will, our liberties will have no protection.”

Alarming developments indeed which are being suppressed, for the most part, in the right-wing media by Trump supporters. Some still claim that the USA could never become a dictatorship. They are clearly wrong.

Trump Blocked in His Fight Against Prestigious Law Firms

The Associated Press wrote on May 2: 

 “A federal judge on Friday blocked a White House executive order triggering an elite law firm, dealing a setback to President Donald Trump’s campaign of retribution against the legal profession. U.S. District [Judge] Beryl Howel said the executive order against the firm of Perkins Coie amounted to ‘unconstitutional retaliation’ as she ordered that it be immediately nullified and that the Trump administration halt any enforcement of it. 

“‘No American President,’ Howell wrote in her 102-page order, ‘has ever before issued executive orders like the one at issue in this lawsuit targeting a prominent law firm with adverse actions to be executed by all Executive branch agencies but, in purpose and effect, this action draws from a playbook as old as Shakespeare, who penned the phrase: “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.”’ 

“The ruling was [the] most definitive rejection to date of Trump’s spate of similarly worded executive orders against some of the country’s most elite law firms… by targeting perceived adversaries in hopes of extracting concessions from them and bending them to his will. Several of the firms singled out for sanction have either done legal work that Trump has opposed, or currently have or previously had associations with prosecutors who at one point investigated the president…

“The other law firms that have challenged orders against them —WilmerHale, Jenner & Block and Susman Godfrey — have succeeded in at least temporarily blocking the orders. But other major firms have sought to avert orders by preemptively reaching settlements that require them, among other things, to dedicate tens of millions of dollars in free legal services in support of causes the Trump administration says it supports.” 

Something like this is indeed unheard of in a free society. To say that those judges are “rogue” and “Anti-Trump” and should therefore be disregarded misses the point completely. 

Revoking Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status?

CBS News wrote on May 2: 

“President Trump said Friday that his administration will be rescinding Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, further escalating the ongoing feud with the Ivy League school… Mr. Trump did not provide further details about the effort to strip Harvard of its designation as a 501(c)(3) organization… 

“Roughly 2 million organizations have received tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service, including charities like churches, environmental groups and universities. The designation means the groups are exempt from paying federal income taxes and the IRS considers donations to 501(c)(3) organizations to be tax-deductible.   

“Harvard president Alan Garber expressed doubt about the legality of revoking the status. ‘If the government goes through with a plan to revoke our tax exempt status, it would…be highly illegal, unless there is some reasoning that we have not been exposed to that would justify this dramatic move,’ Garber told the Wall Street Journal. Tax-exempt status, he said, enables universities to carry out their missions of education and research… 

“The tax code prohibits executive branch officials from asking an IRS employee to conduct or terminate an audit or investigation into a specific taxpayer…” 

It will be interesting to see on what basis Harvard’s tax-exempt status is supposed to be rescinded.

Trump to End Funding for NPR and PBS 

CNN wrote on May 2: 

“President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to end federal funding for America’s two biggest public broadcasters, which have faced a series of attacks from the White House and Republican lawmakers accusing them of biased reporting. The order instructs the CPB’s board to terminate direct funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) to the ‘maximum extent allowed by law and shall decline to provide future funding.’ It also orders the board to take steps to ‘minimize or eliminate’ indirect funding to NPR and PBS. 

“The corporation, however, is a private entity that is supposed to be protected from government interference, including executive orders from the president. The corporation is currently suing Trump because the White House tried to terminate three of its board members earlier this week. ‘CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to the President’s authority,’ the corporation’s CEO, Patricia Harrison, said in a statement. ‘Congress directly authorized and funded CPB to be a private nonprofit corporation wholly independent of the federal government.’ ‘The President’s blatantly unlawful Executive Order, issued in the middle of the night, threatens our ability to serve the American public with educational programming, as we have for the past 50-plus years,’ PBS CEO Paula Kerger said in a statement Friday morning… NPR joined PBS in suggesting it will consider legal action against the administration… 

“When Congress established the corporation in 1967, it specifically tried to insulate public media from political pressure. The law said the corporation is a private entity, not a federal agency, ‘to afford maximum protection from extraneous interference and control,’ and expressly forbids the government from exercising ‘any direction, supervision, or control over educational television or radio broadcasting.’ But Congress could choose to stop funding the corporation…” 

This case needs to be watched further as well. 

Free Speech Under Trump? 

American attorney and author Jacob G. Hornberger wrote the following article for the “Future of Freedom Foundation,” which was reprinted on May 3 by the Ron Paul Institute: 

“After riding a wave of criticism of Democrats for suppressing freedom of speech, President Trump has just put the quietus on Amazon, which had the audacity to contemplate including the price of Trump’s tariffs in its shopping carts. Upon hearing of Amazon’s plan, Trump went ballistic, calling Amazon’s plan a ‘hostile and political act.’ According to an article in Aljazeera, Trump telephoned Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to express his displeasure… Amazon quickly capitulated, announcing that it would not share the tariff information with its buyers… 

“What was wrong with what Amazon was contemplating? Nothing. Nothing at all. Amazon was simply going to inform Amazon buyers of the truth about what Trump’s tariffs were costing them. If that isn’t an exercise of freedom of speech, I don’t know what is.

“But Trump obviously does not want American buyers of goods and services to see how much money his tariffs are costing them… Convinced that Amazon’s plan to disclose the truth about the cost of his tariffs to American consumers was a ‘hostile’ act, Trump… immediately went on the attack… In the process, by striking a harsh and effective blow against the fundamental… right of freedom of speech, Trump was guilty of what he criticized Democrats for doing.” 

This is clearly an attack on free speech in an attempt to hide the truth of the negative effects of Trump’s tariffs from the American taxpayers. Warren Buffett said it’s “a big mistake to slap punitive tariffs on the rest of the world,” adding that trade and tariffs “can be an act of war.” Trump said it’s OK if tariffs lead to a short-term recession. Prices in US stores for necessities and other items are already skyrocketing. 

Amazon Buckled 

Newsmax wrote on May 5: 

“Trump last week contacted Amazon’s Jeff Bezos about a report that the retail giant was planning to list the impact of 145% tariffs on China as it pertained to certain purchases. Trump said Bezos and Amazon acquiesced… Further, Trump asserted that tariffs are not supposed to be passed on to consumers in the first place. ‘What people don’t understand is, and this is a lot, the country eats the tariff. The company eats the tariff. And it’s not passed along at all,’ Trump said. 

“However, some American retailers are warning to buy now with the possibility of rising prices in the future due to tariffs. Lingerie store Bare Necessities offered a ‘pre-tariff sale,’ adding, ‘save up to 30% before prices shift,’ CNBC reported.

“Luggage company Beis warned in a letter to consumers that the ‘tariff situation is a complete dumpster fire, and we’re all getting burned. Here’s the situation: Costs are up, and unfortunately, our prices will have to follow suit,’ according to the report.” 

Of course they will. Clearly, consumers will have to pay higher prices because of the tariffs. 

Fox News reported on May 5: 

“President Donald Trump defended his tariff policy in an interview with NBC News on Sunday, saying that he would reach out to CEOs like Jeff Bezos if he has disagreements over their response to tariffs or other issues.” 

Amazon denied that they had contemplated listing import charges on certain products. This is not believable as Trump himself said that he called Bezos who “took it off immediately.” 

100 Percent Tariffs for Foreign Films?

The Mirror US wrote on May 5: 

“Already reeling from the devastation of recent wildfires, Hollywood is now facing a fresh threat from Donald Trump – a 100 per cent tariff on films made outside the States. The move will come as a major blow to the UK movie industry, which was expected to help rescue American filmmakers following the deadly infernos… 

“Trump announced the proposed levy on his Truth Social platform, declaring foreign-made movies a ‘National Security threat’ and accusing other countries of using taxpayer-funded incentives to lure away American film productions. ‘WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!’ Trump wrote. ‘It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!’ 

“…insiders say the move could be catastrophic… ‘We’ve lost soundstages, sets, and entire production schedules to the wildfires. And now we’re being told if we shoot overseas to stay on budget, we’ll be punished? It’s madness.’ 

“The policy, which lacked any detail, will authorise the US Department of Commerce and the US Trade Representative to begin imposing the punitive tariffs, in what Trump called an effort to revive a domestic film industry that he claims is ‘dying a very fast death.’ The US film production has already declined sharply… By contrast, countries like the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have seen production spending surge… Trump blamed this shift on a ‘concerted effort’ by foreign governments to undermine Hollywood, while offering no evidence. 

“His administration has yet to clarify whether the proposed tariffs would apply to US companies filming abroad, foreign films distributed in the States, or content produced for streaming platforms like Netflix… Complicating matters further, several upcoming blockbusters by American studios… were all filmed overseas and could be caught in the policy crossfire.’

“Trump’s pledge to revive the domestic film industry rings hollow for many in Hollywood, especially given the damage his broader economic policies have already inflicted… Ahead of his inauguration, Trump had appointed actors Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone as ‘Special Envoys’ tasked with revitalising Hollywood. But insiders say those appointments have amounted to little more than symbolic gestures as the industry faces tangible threats. ‘The wildfires are destroying our homes, and now the president wants to set the rest of our economy on fire,’ said a union rep for film workers in Burbank. ‘It’s hard to imagine a worse time to attack your own industry.’”

Trump’s fascination with ill-conceived and harmful tariffs is really shocking. 

Overriding the US Constitution? 

NBC News wrote on May 4: 

“President Donald Trump argued in an interview with NBC News’ ‘Meet the Press’ that fulfilling his ambitious campaign promise to rapidly carry out mass deportations may take precedence over giving immigrants the right to due process under the Constitution, as required by courts…. ‘I don’t know. I’m not, I’m not a lawyer. I don’t know,’ Trump [said.]… The Constitution’s Fifth Amendment says ‘no person’ shall be ‘deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law’; it does not say that person must be a U.S. citizen… 

“Trump suggested that such a process would slow him down too much. ‘I don’t know… we’d have to have a million or 2 million or 3 million trials,’ he said… ‘I was elected to get them the hell out of here, and the courts are holding me from doing it,’ he added.” 

Trump does not know whether he needs to uphold the constitution? Also, he just announced that he might want to reopen the notorious prison Alcatraz in California. 

Trump as Pope 

The New York Post wrote on May 3: 

“An AI-generated picture of President Trump dressed as the pope is breaking the internet — with some suggesting it’s ‘kind of beautiful,’ while others are bashing it as  ‘sacrilegious.’ The Trumped-up papal image was jokingly shared on the White House’s X account Friday and the president’s Truth Social has since topped tens of millions of views. The image shows Trump holding up his index finger as if about to preach ex cathedra — clad in the traditional bright white Catholic vestments with gold lining… [Trump as] a non-denominational Christian is ineligible to be pope unless he converts to Catholicism…

“But the New York State Catholic Conference and other members of the faith tore into the White House for the ‘offense and sacrilegious’ meme. ‘There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President,’ the Empire State Catholic Bishops blasted the president… ‘Do not mock us.’ ‘Mr. President…—please cease this offensive and sacrilegious behavior,’ pleaded former Vice President Mike Pence’s speechwriter Joshua Charles. 

“Eric Sammons, a Catholic and the editor-in-chief of Crisis magazine said he wasn’t offended. ‘It’s typical Trump humor, and I’ve learned not to take that too seriously,’ said Sammons. ‘I’m much more worried about how actual occupants of the Chair of St. Peter might demean the office.’… Vance, who is Catholic, defended the meme.  ‘As a general rule, I’m fine with people telling jokes and not fine with people starting stupid wars that kill thousands of my countrymen,’ he wrote on X.”

This did not go well. Note the next articles. 

Trump Playing God? 

Bild Online published the following scathing commentary by Franz Josef Wagner on May 4: 

“Dear Donald Trump, What devil possessed you to publish an AI-generated photo of yourself as Pope?… The most powerful man in the Western world considers himself infallible… He has enough followers in the Oval Office who admire him. When he signs hundreds of decrees with his grotesque signature, he feels omnipotent. He’s playing God. 

“The photo with the Pope’s miter on his head isn’t a photo to laugh at; it’s a photo to be frightened. A man in love with himself, surrounded by admirers. American bishops are now demanding that Trump apologize. A god like Trump will never apologize. We can only pray. Our Father, deliver us from Trump.” 

This reflects more and more German sentiments towards Trump and his government. 

Trump’s Closest Ally Turns on Him 

The Daily Mail wrote on May 2: 

“Firebrand Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene has issued a surprising statement critical of President Donald Trump. The Georgia congresswoman is known for her loyal support of the two-time president and her devout defense of his MAGA policy platform… On Friday, she issued a scathing statement putting distance in between her and the commander-in-chief… ‘I campaigned for no more foreign wars,’ Greene wrote. ‘And now we are supposedly on the verge of going to war with Iran.’… ‘Didn’t we learn our lesson when we went to war in Iraq and killed Saddam Hussein because of ‘weapons of mass destruction?’ Did we ever find any?’ Greene said.

“The Georgian also stressed her distaste for the White House’s recently announced rare Earth minerals deal with Ukraine, noting how the embattled nation has not committed to pay back the U.S. for the billions in aid and arms that have been provided to the Eastern European country. ‘Why on earth would we go over and occupy Ukraine and spend an untold amount of future American taxpayer dollars defending and mining their minerals as well as potentially putting American lives at risk and future war?’ Greene asked. ‘Why don’t we just mine our own rare earth minerals that are tied up on federal lands that the government confiscated years ago?’ she continued.  

“The Trump ally also expressed her displeasure that the COVID-19 vaccines still have FDA approval though the treatment ‘does not stop people from catching COVID.’ Greene also shared that she does not think the White House is doing enough to combat ‘the evil transgender assault against our children.’… The congresswoman also aired her concerns with the pace of election integrity reforms and the ‘rogue judicial system.’” 

Greene won’t remain the only close Trump ally who will be turning against him. Note the next articles. 

Karl Rove Attacks Trump 

The Daily Beast wrote on May 5: 

“In an unvarnished interview on Fox News, [Republican strategist and former White House aide Karl] Rove attacked the president… ‘We elected him for a variety of reasons that were important: inflation, the border, DEI, the military, respect for America,’ Rove said Sunday during an interview with Fox News. ‘[But] things like tweeting out a picture of you as the pope is deeply offensive to a great many people.’… 

“Rove also criticized Trump’s handling of the case of Garcia, the Maryland dad who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT mega-prison. Despite admitting the error, the Trump administration has refused to bring Abrego Garcia home and has claimed he’s a member of the criminal gang MS-13 without providing any evidence in court… Rove warned that the Abrego Garcia case had dragged on for weeks and was eating away at the president’s approval rating on immigration, even as Trump gets strong marks for border security…  ‘That shows discernment of the American people,’ he said. ‘Bring him back and do it the right way, and the American people will give you better credit.’… 

“Rove… warned Trump was ‘in very bad shape’ on the economy… ‘It’s inflation—the president is saying gas is $1.90. I just filled up my tank. It ain’t $1.90,’ he said… [In California, the very low end is above 4 dollars a gallon.] 

“He also blasted the president for his ‘offhand remarks’ on tariffs… in saying the comments sounded like they came straight from the mouth of the cold-hearted miser Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol… ‘The ordinary American is like, ‘Wait a minute, I thought you were on my side. I didn’t think you were on the side of saying I need to do with less. You’ve got plenty of money, [but] I’ve got to make mine stretch as far as I can?’” 

Of course, Trump’s response came immediately. Note the next article.

Trump Attacks Conservative Critics 

Newsmax wrote on May 5: 

“President Donald Trump denounced two Fox News commentators… ‘I don’t need to have Karl Rove of FoxNews to tell me what to do. The guy’s a total Loser who’s been wrong about almost everything!” Trump wrote…  Trump also used Truth Social to criticize [FoxNews] host Howard Kurtz… ‘It is time for Howie Kurtz to retire!… The case Howie makes for me is so pathetic that it would be a lot better if he didn’t say anything…’ 

“The Wall Street Journal, which, like Fox News, is part of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, also was a target of Trump… When a Journal reporter began asking the president a question, Trump asked him whom he was with. ‘Boy, you people treat us so bad. The Wall Street Journal has truly gone to hell. Go ahead, you’re a rotten newspaper,’ Trump said. ‘You hear me what I said? It’s a rotten newspaper.’ After the reporter asked his question concerning peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine, Trump said, ‘I wouldn’t tell The Wall Street Journal because I’d be wasting my time.’” 

The Wall Street Journal is one of the most respected and established conservative newspapers in the Nation. 

Marco Rubio and JD Vance Blast Germany 

Newsweek wrote on May 2: 

“US. Secretary of State Marco Rubio tore into Germany on Friday after its domestic intelligence service designated the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) as an extreme group.   Germany’s decision to label AfD as a ‘proven right-wing extremist endeavor’ makes it easier for the Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Germany’s spy agency, to conduct some types of surveillance of the group… 

“The AfD denies that it is an extremist party and has said its platform, which calls for mass deportations, criticizes Islam, and emphasizes nationalism and traditional Christian values, reflects the views of the German electorate… 

“‘Germany just gave its spy agency new powers to surveil the opposition. That’s not democracy—it’s tyranny in disguise,’ Rubio wrote on X… ‘What is truly extremist is not the popular AfD—which took second in the recent election—but rather the establishment’s deadly open border immigration policies that the AfD opposes,’ he wrote. ‘Germany should reverse course.’… 

“The AfD… has been backed by several Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and billionaire CEO Elon Musk…” 

Politico added on May 2: 

“… this is the first time in modern German history that a party with nationwide representation on the federal level has been classified as extremist… President Donald Trump and his inner circle have been largely supportive of the AfD. Its co-leader, Alice Weidel, was… invited to attend Trump’s inauguration.” 

The Hill wrote on May 2: 

“Vance, who met with AfD’s leader Alice Weidel in February ahead of the country’s elections, said the entity is the ‘most popular party in Germany, and by far the most representative of East Germany. Now the bureaucrats try to destroy it.’ 

“‘The West tore down the Berlin Wall together. And it has been rebuilt—not by the Soviets or the Russians, but by the German establishment,’ the vice president wrote Friday on X.” 

Rubio and Vance are not wrong with their remarks. But considering the present state of affairs in the USA, they are not well received in Germany. 

Is Rubio on an Anti-German Course? 

Die Welt wrote on May 4: 

“Not only is the US already an unpredictable and therefore difficult partner, the obsession with Germany in the Trump camp is growing and has now also engulfed Rubio, someone who was actually considered a traditional foreign policy expert…

“He skillfully portrayed himself as an iron defender of Trump’s policies with targeted TV appearances. He even threw his own principles overboard. Previously known as a Russia hawk, he refrained from criticizing the president when he humiliated his Ukrainian guest, Volodymyr Zelensky, in the Oval Office and unilaterally increased pressure on Kyiv. Instead, he jumped into the breach for Trump. 

“Rubio also defended his tightened migration policy. As a senator, he spoke out in favor of protecting refugees from the Maduro regime in Venezuela. These days, he wants nothing to do with that. This has elevated him to Trump’s inner circle. 

“This context gives his attack on Germany increased weight. Now, he’s following Vance and Musk’s course and forming a united front against Berlin in the White House. Merz and Wadephul’s first trips to the US are thus facing difficult prospects.”

It will be interesting to see whether Merz will really stand up to Trump, as he said he would . 

Germany Upholding Democracy? 

BBC wrote on May 2: 

“Germany’s Foreign Office has defended a decision to classify the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party as right-wing extremist, after sharp criticism from the White House… In an unusual move, the foreign office directly replied to Rubio on X, writing: ‘We have learnt from our history that right-wing extremism needs to be stopped.’ The intelligence agency that made the classification found AfD’s ‘prevailing understanding of people based on ethnicity and descent’ goes against Germany’s ‘free democratic order’… The agency, Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV), had already classed the AfD as right-wing extremist in three eastern states where its popularity is highest. Now, that designation has been extended to the entire party. 

“The AfD ‘aims to exclude certain population groups from equal participation in society’, it said in a statement. The agency said specifically that the party did not consider citizens ‘from predominantly Muslim countries’ as equal members of the German people.

“Joint party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla said the decision was ‘clearly politically motivated’ and a ‘severe blow to German democracy’. Beatrix von Storch, the party’s deputy parliamentary leader, told the BBC’s Newshour programme that the designation was ‘the way an authoritarian state, a dictatorship, would treat their parties’. 

“The new classification gives authorities greater powers to monitor the AfD using tactics like phone interception and undercover agents…” 

Germany’s “explanation” is unconvincing. Note the following articles. 

Merz Under Pressure 

The Guardian wrote on May 2: 

“… the move puts the incoming conservative-led government of Friedrich Merz under great pressure, as well as [Federal Minister of the Inferior and Community Nancy] Faeser’s Social Democrat colleagues, who will be the junior partners in the new coalition that gets to work next Tuesday. [Faeser will be out by then.]

“On the back of the decision, Merz will now be responsible – on top of the myriad other challenges in his in-tray – for deciding whether and how to ban the AfD, a decision that will involve the most precarious of political tightrope walks.

“Migration, Ukraine, Trump and an ailing economy are among the burgeoning issues that he will also have to tackle with urgency. The growing mood of dissatisfaction over these and other issues, exacerbated by the six months of political deadlock that followed the premature collapse of the previous government – which induced an added layer of nationwide ennui – has already caused the AfD to creep up in the polls… The ruling by the BfV is unlikely to put people off supporting the AfD.

“Finding a way to reduce the AfD has been at top of the agenda among all of the political parties since it emerged as a protest force of professors and academics in 2013… The challenge has only grown in importance, as the populists – morphing from anti-euro to anti-migrant over time – have grown their success at the ballot box…

“Merz’s party, the Christian Democratic Union, has been torn over how to deal with the AfD. Merz tacitly cooperated with the party earlier this year – despite insisting he would not – to push migration policies through parliament. And on the local level, his party and the AfD have cooperated on issues such as a ruling that the German flag should be hoisted in schools. 

“Jens Spahn, Merz’s close ally, recently prompted scorn by suggesting the AfD should be treated as a ‘normal opposition party’, arguing that excluding the party from parliamentary procedures only boosted its popularity…” 

The Fight Against the AfD

Breitbart wrote on May 5:

“Germany’s right-wing… Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has launched a lawsuit against the nation’s political police… The deadline for Germany’s political police force… to retract a decision to classify the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as ‘confirmed right-wing extremist’ or else face legal action passed on Monday morning. The AfD… said the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) declined to respond to their legal letter and so they were launching a lawsuit to challenge the decision in court. 

“The AfD had called the BfV classification ‘manifestly unlawful’ and said they’d filed for proceedings and for an urgent motion at the Cologne administrative court, the city where the BfV is based…  Crucially, the BfV classification means it can spy on the party, its politicians, and its members without restriction. Further, with this step, the discussion has progressed to banning Germany’s second most popular elected party altogether, all in the name of protecting democracy. Views are split on this, however…

“This timing, it is alleged, is not a matter of coincidence, with a claim aired by Germany’s Bild newspaper today that the old left-wing government rushed through the order to classify the AfD as extremist as one of their final acts before losing power. The new Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, who is being sworn in on Tuesday, believed, per that report, the BfV decision wasn’t even properly reviewed before being promulgated, and that once he is in office this week, he intends to have it reviewed…

“While the AfD may not hope for much from Dobrindt’s review of the document by Interior Ministry experts, he at least… has said the bar for banning a party in Germany is high, and the AfD does not meet the standard because ‘[an] aggressive and militant nature’ is not present as a defining characteristic of the party, reports Die Welt. He said using lawfare to persecute the party would likely be counterproductive…

“Refuting this view, among others, is German politician Michel Friedman, who took to Die Welt on Monday to accuse anyone who still votes for AfD of making themselves an ‘accomplice’ who ‘must be held accountable’ for supporting ‘an anti-democratic party’.” 

Julien Michel Friedman is a controversial German author, former CDU politician and talk show host. From 2000 to 2003 Friedman was vice president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and president of the European Jewish Congress from 2001 to 2003. From 1998 to 2003 he had his own show on German television.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban posted this on X on May 3: “What the hell is going on in Germany? You can count on us… Alice Weidel!” 

Attack on Freedom of Expression

Julian Reichert [former Bild Editor-in-Chief] wrote in Nius on May 5: 

“Nothing publicly known about AfD statements even remotely borders on (violent) anti-constitutionalism; much of it is frustrated colloquial German, as expressed by millions of people. Everything publicly known is clearly protected by freedom of expression. The real scandal here is that an intelligence agency is collecting countless statements and compiling them into a secret dossier that clearly fall under the fundamental right to freedom of expression… 

“What we are experiencing is the greatest attack on freedom of expression ever undertaken by a federal government. Anyone who participates in this would themselves be a case for the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in a functioning system… You can strongly reject the choice of words (or not), but if this is supposed to be a case for the intelligence agency, we will soon have informants at the bars of this country again. What’s happening right now is a national crisis, a serious civil rights crisis. The state wants to end freedom of expression as it has existed for 75 years.”

Presently On Hold

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 8:

“The German domestic intelligence agency BfV has said it will not publicly refer to the AfD as a ‘confirmed right-wing extremist movement’ until a Cologne court rules on a bid by the AfD for an injunction against using the term. ‘The measures associated with the classification will also be suspended, ‘Reuters reported…

“The decision made by the BfV means it can avoid a potential court ruling prohibiting it from using the extremist label while the AfD’s injunction bid is litigated. This is likely to avoid giving the AfD politicians the opportunity to say they had forced the agency to retract its classification had such a ruling come from the court.

“The injunction is separate from the AfD’s appeal against the BfV’s decision, which will likely take a lot longer.”

Merz Elected Chancellor in Second Round of Voting

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 6: 

“German conservative leader Friedrich Merz has been elected chancellor in a second round of voting after a dramatic day in Germany’s lower house of parliament, the Bundestag. A total of 325 lawmakers voted in favor of Merz this time around, bringing him over the necessary 316 threshold. 

“Earlier, the 69-year-old became the first presumptive chancellor to fail in the first round of voting, a unique event in Germany. With 310 yes votes, he was six votes short of a chancellor majority. He becomes Germany’s tenth postwar chancellor and the Christian Democrats’ sixth holder of the post.” 

Merz Criticizes USA 

Focus wrote on May 7:

“Merz criticized the voices within the US government that supported the AfD in the federal election campaign and recently criticized the party’s classification as right-wing extremist by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. These were ‘absurd observations about the Federal Republic of Germany,’ Merz said. 

“‘I did not interfere in the American election campaign and take sides unilaterally for one side or the other.’ He therefore encouraged the American government to let domestic politics in Germany be domestic politics.” 

No Peace in Sight 

The Sun wrote on May 2 

“THE US has announced it will no longer act as the mediator to negotiate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine after Vladimir Putin refused to accept a full ceasefire. The State Department said the country is changing ‘the methodology of how we contribute’ to the talks and will no longer ‘fly around the world at the drop of a hat’ for meetings. 

“The shift comes just hours after Trump’s deputy JD Vance said the war in Ukraine is unlikely to end ‘any time soon’. He added: ‘It is going to be up to the Russians and Ukrainians now that each side knows what the other’s terms for peace are. It’s going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict.’… 

“The shift comes just two days after the US and Ukraine signed a historic minerals deal… The US also drafted a seven-point plan, which it hoped would draw a path to peace between Ukraine and Russia. However, the plan was rejected by Zelensky as it involved the US formally recognising Russian sovereignty over Crimea. Trump is said to be growing ‘increasingly frustrated’ with both Putin and Zelensky in his attempts to bring the Ukraine war to a close… Moscow dashed hopes of a peace deal by repeating demands that Ukraine must surrender and disarm…” 

Europe Rejects Trump Proposal 

Breitbart wrote on May 2: 

“The European Union’s high representative for foreign and security policy Kaja Kallas — almost the bloc’s Foreign Minister, except the budding super-state hasn’t quite got one yet — says the Union will never accept Russian occupation of any Ukrainian land, nor any loosening of sanctions on Russia… 

“The paper [Financial Times] paraphrased that she had said: ‘no EU country would accept recognition of Crimea as Russian, an element of the US proposal that is a major red line for Kyiv’, and directly quoting: ‘I can’t see that we are accepting these kind of things… we have said this over and over again… Crimea is Ukraine. 

Russia Blasts USA 

The New York Post wrote on May 1: 

“The Kremlin on Thursday blasted President Trump’s historic mineral rights deal with Ukraine… sarcastically praising the US leader for making a deal with a nation that will soon ‘disappear.’ ‘Trump has finally pressured the Kyiv regime to pay for US aid with mineral resources,’ Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev [considered Russian President Vladimir Putin’s right-hand man] said on Telegram. ‘Now, the country that is about to disappear will have to use its national wealth to pay for military supplies.’

“Unlike military aid packages under the Biden administration, Ukraine would pay the United States for these weapons — benefiting both Kyiv’s defense and the US defense industry without the use of American taxpayer dollars. The deal holds that Washington and Kyiv will split all profits from licenses for new oil, gas and minerals mining in Ukraine in a mutual fund. While Kyiv will  contribute to the fund largely through mineral profits, the US has the option to contribute to the fund by letting Ukraine purchase weapons. Still, there are no requirements that the US must allow Ukraine to purchase weapons as part of the arrangement.” 

The Mineral Deal 

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 1: 

“Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has said Ukraine would retain full ownership of all its mineral resources in the agreement with the United States… Svyrydenko… said the fund would be jointly managed by both countries, with Svyrydenko writing on X:  ‘It is the Ukrainian state that determines what and where to extract.’ 

“Meanwhile, Trump said on Wednesday evening on NewsNation that the deal, ‘in theory,’ means the US will get more from Ukraine than it contributed. ‘I wanted to be protected,’ he said, adding that he didn’t want to look ‘foolish; by not getting money back for US aid to Ukraine… 

“The Ukrainian parliament will still have to ratify the agreement before it can come into force.” 

Just a Matter of Time 

ntv wrote on May 4: 

“Despite his war of aggression against Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin believes in reconciliation with his neighbors. ‘It seems to me that this is inevitable, despite the tragedy we are currently experiencing,’ said the Kremlin chief… on the 25th anniversary of his first presidency. ‘It’s a matter of time,’ Putin said… He [had] called the Ukrainians themselves part of the Russian people.” 

Some have questioned whether Putin wants to indeed restore the Soviet Union’s former “glory” by restoring Russia as an imperial power. Putin said on several occasions, at least as early as 2005 in his annual state of the nation address, that the collapse of the Soviet empire “was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century”. He added: “As for the Russian people, it became a genuine tragedy. Tens of millions of our fellow citizens and countrymen found themselves beyond the fringes of Russian territory.” 

They should also remember Putin’s speech in June of 2022 in which he compared himself with Peter the Great. He said: 

“Peter the Great waged the Great Northern War for 21 years… On the face of it, he was at war with Sweden taking something away from it… He was not taking away anything, he was returning. This is how it was… When he founded the new capital, none of the European countries recognized this territory as part of Russia; everyone recognized it as part of Sweden… However, from time immemorial, the Slavs lived there along with the Finno-Ugric peoples, and this territory was under Russia’s control. The same is true of the western direction, Narva and his first campaigns. Why would he go there? He was returning and reinforcing, that is what he was doing… Clearly, it fell to our lot to return and reinforce as well…” 

US to Stop Bombing Houthis 

Politico wrote on May 6:

“The United States will stop strikes against Yemen’s Houthi group, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday, after a nearly-two-month bombing campaign. Trump… said the halt would start immediately. The Houthis approached the administration on Monday night indicating ‘they want to stop the fighting,’ he said. The military has struck at least 800 targets in Yemen and killed hundreds of Houthis since March, according to U.S. Central Command. 

“Trump framed the move as a handshake agreement to end the Pentagon’s bombing campaign in exchange for the Houthis no longer attacking American ships. It’s not a deal,’ he said. ‘They said, “Please don’t bomb us anymore and we’re not going to attack your ships.’”… But the arrangement is unlikely to calm tensions in the region if it’s limited to protecting American ships. Israel escalated strikes against the Houthis on Monday night…” 

The Houthis said that they would continue their fight in support of Gaza. The Jerusalem Post reported that Netanyahu was not informed about Trump’s announcement ahead of time. 

India at War With Pakistan 

The U.S. Sun wrote on May 7: 

“NUCLEAR war could break out “at any time” if India continues strikes, Pakistan’s defence chief has warned as his country teeters on the brink of a conflict with India. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif gave the stark warning in an interview with Pakistani TV channel Geo News as tensions between the two nuclear powers continue to reach boiling point… 

“Pakistan’s Prime Minister earlier blamed India for igniting an “inferno” in the region after bombing his country overnight and has now authorised his troops to fire missiles back…” 

First Canada, Now Australia 

The Wall Street Journal wrote on May 3: 

“Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was returned to power in an election Saturday, the latest left leaning leader to achieve a comeback victory as President Trump roils global markets and upends international affairs… The election is the latest snapshot of how voters are reacting to a shifting world order as President Trump targets countries with tariffs, pivots towards Russia and uses harsh rhetoric about Washington’s traditional allies. Polls show voters in Australia, Canada, and the U.K. view Washington more unfavorably since Trump took office. 

“Earlier this week, Canadians gave the left-leaning Liberal Party a fourth term in office, even though the party was trailing badly in the polls at the start of the year. Canadians embraced the tough-talking approach of Prime Minister Mark Carney, a former central banker, while shying away from the conservative candidate, Pierre Poilievre, who was viewed as being too similar to Trump.  

“A similar dynamic has played out in Australia… Dutton, a former police officer and defense minister, seesawed between embracing policies with a Trump-like flair and distancing himself from Trump-style rhetoric. He backtracked or clarified proposals to end working from home and slash the government workforce, two initiatives that have been supported by Trump in the U.S…. He also unveiled plans to further boost Australia’s military spending, aligning himself with Trump’s demand that U.S. allies to spend more on their militaries. But the strategy seemed to backfire in a country where Trump is very unpopular. Dutton lost his seat to the Labor candidate… 

“Albanese, though, had to be careful not to position himself as too anti-Trump given that the U.S. is Australia’s main military partner. He will now have to navigate thorny issues including trade talks… He also faces a delicate balancing act with China, which is Australia’s biggest trading partner but has been boosting its military…” 

“The Demons of the Holy See” 

AFP wrote on May 2: 

“Sexual predators, crooked financiers, spies and a spattering of murderers: while the Vatican may appear an earthly garden watched over by its beloved saints, it also has its demons… Today, clerical sexual abuse against minors and nuns is hands down the most serious crime facing the Catholic Church… 

“Ambition and money — even murder — are woven through the Vatican’s dark history. Since its origins 2,000 years ago, the Church of Rome has experienced ‘some truly scandalous periods in terms of morality’, a senior prelate told AFP… They are so numerous that only a few of the most emblematic need be mentioned. 

“In the 10th century Pope John XII is said to have turned the Lateran Palace in Rome into a harem. Five centuries later, the Borgia pope, Alexander VI, organised an orgy for his daughter’s wedding… 

“Fast forward a few centuries later, and money was again at the root of a major scandal over the Banco Ambrosiano-majority owned by the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR), or the Vatican bank. It collapsed in 1982 amid accusations of money-laundering mafia money while its director, Roberto Calvi, was found hanging that same year from London’s Blackfriars Bridge. A commander of the Swiss Guards, Alois Estermann, also met with an unfortunate fate. In 1998, he and his wife were shot dead in their Vatican flat by one of his men, who then committed suicide…. 

“Whatever their nature, whatever their era, the depravities of past popes and their Curia collided with the ‘demanding’ moral teachings of the Church — with the result of ‘displacing’ some of them… Those consequences are sometimes drastic. Reformer Martin Luther, whose denounced the Church as ‘Babylon’ with its sale of indulgences, initiated the schism with Rome that began the Protestant Reformation.” 

Francis’ Final Miracle? 

The Daily Mail added on May 3: 

“Trump has posted an AI picture of himself as the Pope… The Republican, who is not Catholic, took to Truth Social to post the image, which shows him wearing a white papal hat, also referred to as a miter, while a large crucifix dangles from his neck. Trump had previously joked with reporters how he wouldn’t be against succeeding the late Catholic leader, adding: ‘I’d like to be Pope. That would be my number one choice.’ … Trump’s post has been met with outrage online with many branding the move as ‘a great disrespect’, urging the US President to remove the post immediately. … 

“During the Pontiff’s funeral, Zelensky and Trump spoke face to face for the first time since their disastrous White House clash earlier this year… The outcome was dubbed Pope Francis’ ‘final miracle’…  ‘It was also moving to see what they are now calling ‘Pope Francis’s miracle’ with Trump and Zelensky meeting, there’s so many things that happened today – it was just overwhelming,’ Professor Father Francesco Giordano told Sky News…   

“It comes as the cardinals of the Catholic Church held their ninth in a series of near-daily meetings at the Vatican ahead of the election of a new pope today. The closed-door ‘general congregations’ allow them to discuss the challenges the new pontiff will face before they are locked into the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday for the vote. Walking through crowds of pilgrims and journalists for the morning meeting, the so-called ‘Princes of the Church‘ gave little away – not even speculating how long the conclave would last… 

“On Wednesday, 133 of them will enter the Sistine Chapel and not leave until they have – after a series of secret ballots – given a two-thirds majority to Francis’ successor.”

Of course, this has nothing to do with a “miracle” caused by the dead pope. 

The New American Pope

Focus wrote on May 8:

“The American Robert Prevost has been elected [in the fourth round of voting] as the new Pope… He will be called Pope Leo XIV.”

Prevost is also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop. He is the first American pope. He is described as a progressive on many social issues, but conservative on church doctrine; he opposes ordaining women as deacons, for example. Overall, many view him as a centrist.

JK Rowling Speaks Out… Again! 

Daily Mail wrote on May 4:

“[Harry Potter author] JK Rowling has posted an essay about signatories ‘motivated by fear’ after Harry Potter stars signed a pro-trans open letter [with over 2000 signatures, disagreeing with the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that under the Equality Act, ‘woman’ is defined by biological sex and that ‘the concept of sex is binary, a person is either a woman or a man’. The signatories state that ‘We believe the ruling undermines the lived reality and threatens the safety of trans, non-binary, and intersex people living in the UK.’] 

“Rowling took to social media this weekend to state that ‘nobody sane believes, or has ever believed, that humans can change sex, or that binary sex isn’t a material fact… 

“’I often wonder whether the signatories of such letters have to quieten their consciences before publicly boosting a movement intent on removing women’s and girls’ rights… and campaigns for the continued sterilisation of vulnerable and troubled kids…” 

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.

Trump’s Appeasement Policy

Daily Mail wrote on April 24:

“It’s 11 years since I watched Russian troops stripped of military insignia seize Ukrainian army bases in Crimea, while their president, Vladimir Putin, publicly denied that any of his forces had crossed the border… Following the first annexation of European terrain since the Second World War, the 2.3 million Crimean citizens of Ukraine faced a terrible choice: flee their homes or submit to Russian servitude…

“By showing itself to be an unreliable ally, Washington not only leaves Nato seriously undermined but offers encouragement to China’s grotesque dictatorship in its determination to seize democratic Taiwan… Putin feels emboldened by Trump’s stance, especially given the US failure to approve fresh military aid for Ukraine.

“Britain, like the rest of Europe, can be under no illusions. The world has become more dangerous. Democracy is under threat. We can no longer rely on the US… Trump attempts to force an unjust peace on Ukraine...”

Especially Europe realizes that they cannot rely on the USA and they conclude that they must build up their own powerful and independent war machine.

“Trump’s Folly”

The Sun wrote on April 24:

“Despite his threats and ultimatums, Donald Trump surely knows that walking away from Ukraine would seriously weaken America’s global standing. It could also be as politically damaging as Joe Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“The President would never allow Russia to seize Alaska. So why does he expect Ukrainians to give up huge swathes of land that they have lost tens of thousands of lives bravely defending? Including Crimea which allows Russia to maintain an iron grip on the region. And all without any promise of a US security guarantee or NATO protection?… Meanwhile, where is the pressure on Putin, the aggressor in this war…?

“Currently, it sends an unthinkable message to rogue dictators.  That America allows murderous invaders to win.”

Friend of a Murderer

On April 24, Bild Online published the following commentary by Franz Josef Wagner:

“The sky over Kyiv flickers reddish under the blows of Russian bombs… They are the fingerprints of a murderer. Trump wants to make peace with a murderer. You can’t make peace with a murderer… Trump must look at the pictures from Kyiv… They are all evidence of Putin’s character. You want to make peace with him. What will become of Ukraine then? A slave state… President Trump, don’t become a friend of a murderer.”

Empty Threats to a Dictator

The New York Post wrote on April 24:

“Remember when Joe Biden was facing off against Vladimir Putin? Questioned about the Russian leader’s threats, old Joe memorably said: ‘Don’t.’… On another occasion, a year into the war, Biden got really tough: ‘I don’t have time,’ he warned Putin..

“But today, President Trump continued Biden’s approach. His reaction to one of the biggest missile attacks in the past year was to tell Vladimir Putin, ‘STOP.’ As if Putin is listening.”

Russia’s “Concession”

Deutsche Welle wrote on April 25:

“The US has proposed a deal between Russia and Ukraine, in which the front would be frozen where it is, meaning Ukraine would cede 20% of its country. US President Trump said Russia had made a major concession by not seeking to conquer all of Ukraine.”

Why No Peace in Ukraine-Russia War?

The Sun wrote on April 25:

“EVERYONE says they want peace, so why is the war still raging in Ukraine? The short answer is simple: Peace means very different things to very different people. They have different goals and different motives. 

“Putin wants total conquest. And he wants to be remembered as a modern Tsar who restored Russia’s imperial greatness.

“Ukraine wants to survive, as a sovereign independent nation.

“Europe wants a chastened Russia and peace that lasts beyond six months.

“Trump just wants a deal — any deal at any price — with minerals thrown in for good measure. He wants to claim the glory and perhaps a Nobel Peace Prize for sorting out the carnage…

“The American position is clear from the terrible deal they want Kyiv to accept. Their… plan would freeze the war on the current front lines and force Ukraine to surrender almost all of its occupied territories — some 44,000 square miles — with almost nothing in return… Russia would hand back small pockets of territory… Moscow would also give up its ambitions to capture the… provinces that its troops have been unable to take by force. But crucially, for Ukraine, there are no security guarantees.

“That means there is nothing to stop Russia catching its breath, rearming and invading again a few months or years later. Does that sound unlikely? It is precisely what has happened already. Moscow seized Crimea and parts of Donbas in 2014. Peace deals known as Minsk I and Minsk II were signed in 2014 and 2015 respectively. But they both lacked guarantees… The world watched in horror — and in disbelief — as Moscow spouted brazen lies that they had no plans to invade. The rest, we could say, is history. More than a million troops have been killed and maimed since Putin ordered his full-scale invasion, as have tens of thousands of civilians. Some 20,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported to Russia…

“But if the deal was not bad enough already, the crowning insult to Ukraine is that America would legally recognise Russia’s ownership of Crimea… Russia’s invasion of Crimea in 2014 was the precursor to the war they began in 2023. Legally, Crimea is unambiguously Ukrainian. It has been part of Ukraine since 1991 when the country gained its independence from the USSR.

But Russia claims it is theirs since Catherine the Great seized it from the Ottomon Empire in 1783…

“The American plan rewards Russian warmongering… Everyone says they want peace but Trump is the leader who has made it a priority… He deserves to be applauded for trying to end the war. That is a truly noble aim. But what he needs to realise is that how the war ends matters. Just like with his New York real estate, there are good deals and there are bad deals.”

Trump’s Interview: Give Up Crimea!

Time Magazine wrote on April 25:

“President Donald Trump sat down for an interview with TIME at the White House on April 22. Over the course of the interview, Trump discussed a wide range of issues.”

We are bringing you relevant experts regarding his comments on Ukraine, Greenland, Canada and Israel: 

“You said you would end the war in Ukraine on Day One.

“Well, I said that figuratively, and I said that as an exaggeration, because to make a point, and you know, it gets, of course, by the fake news [unintelligible]. Obviously, people know that when I said that, it was said in jest, but it was also said that it will be ended….

“Should Ukraine give up any hope of ever joining NATO?

“I don’t think they’ll ever be able to join NATO… that’s I think what caused the war to start was when they started talking about joining NATO. If that weren’t brought up, there would have been a much better chance that it wouldn’t have started. 

“Should Crimea go to the Russians? Should they get to keep Crimea? 

“Well, Crimea went to the Russians. It was handed to them by Barack Hussein Obama, and not by me. With that being said, will they be able to get it back? They’ve had their Russians. They’ve had their submarines there for long before any period that we’re talking about, for many years. The people speak largely Russian in Crimea…

“Would it be acceptable to you in a deal if Crimea and the four other regions that Russia has taken from Ukraine would be folded into Russia under a final accommodation?

“…Crimea will stay with Russia. And Zelensky understands that, and everybody understands that it’s been with them for a long time…

“You’ve talked about acquiring Greenland, taking control of  the Panama Canal, making Canada the 51st state. Maybe you’re trolling a little bit on that one…

“Actually, no, I’m not. 

“Well, do you want to grow the American empire?

“Well, it depends as an empire, it wasn’t, these are not things that we had before, so I’d view it a little bit differently if we had the right opportunity. Yeah, I think Greenland would be very well off if they I think it’s important for us for national security and even international security… But I’m really not trolling. Canada is an interesting case. We lose $200 to $250 billion a year supporting Canada… We’re taking care of their military. We’re taking care of every aspect of their lives, and we don’t need them to make cars for us. In fact, we don’t want them to make cars for us. We want to make our own cars. We don’t need their lumber. We don’t need their energy. We don’t need anything from Canada. And I say the only way this thing really works is for Canada to become a state. 

“You reportedly stopped Israel from attacking Iran’s nuclear sites.  

“… I didn’t stop them. But I didn’t make it comfortable for them, because I think we can make a deal without the attack. I hope we can. It’s possible we’ll have to attack because Iran will not have a nuclear weapon… I didn’t say no. Ultimately I was going to leave that choice to them, but I said I would much prefer a deal than bombs being dropped. 

“Are you worried Netanyahu will drag you into a war? 

“No… By the way, he may go into a war. But we’re not getting dragged in. 

The U.S. will stay out of it if Israel goes into it? 

“No, I didn’t say that. You asked if he’d drag me in, like I’d go in unwillingly. No, I may go in very willingly if we can’t get a deal. If we don’t make a deal, I’ll be leading the pack.”

Realistically, as we point out below, even Putin does not want to accept Trump’s peace plan, even though he would get everything he wants—for the time being—but Ukraine and Europe would not accept it. Conversely, Europe has now proposed a peace plan which Russia and the USA will clearly not accept. Under that plan, Ukraine would continue to attempt to become part of the EU; it would be recompensed with Russian frozen assets for the damage caused by Russia; Ukraine would receive security guarantees also from the USA; and no territorial commitments would be made towards Russia until a lasting peace agreement has been entered into.

Crimea Belongs to Ukraine

Daily Mail wrote on April 25:

“Ukraine has rejected ceding ground to Moscow, and says it will not accept Russian control of Crimea… recognizing occupied Ukrainian territory as Russian is a red line for his country.”

Deutsche Welle added on April 25: 

“Zelenskyy reiterated that Crimea ‘belongs’ to Ukraine, saying his ‘position [remains] unchanged.’… ‘only the Ukrainian people have the right to decide which territories are Ukrainian. The constitution of Ukraine says that all the temporarily occupied territories… belong to Ukraine, to the Ukrainian people,’ Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv.”

When in Rome…

The Associated Press wrote on April 26:

“Trump said Saturday that he doubts… Putin wants to end his war in Ukraine, expressing new skepticism that a peace deal can be reached soon… ‘There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,’ Trump said in a social media post as he flew back to the United States after attending Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican, where he met briefly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy… It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions?” Too many people are dying!!!’ Trump wrote.”

Trump also wrote this on “Truth Social”:

“No matter what deal I make with respect to Russia/Ukraine, no matter how good it is, even if it’s the greatest deal ever made, The Failing New York Times will speak BADLY of it. (They) wrote that Ukraine should get back territory, including, I suppose, Crimea, and other ridiculous requests, in order to stop the killing that is worse than anything since World War II… it was Obama who made it possible for Russia to steal Crimea from Ukraine without even a shot being fired…”

Since Trump admits that Putin stole Crimea from Ukraine, why should he keep it? Why is the request to return these occupied territories to Ukraine a ridiculous request? How can the deal proposed by Trump possibly be characterized as a “good deal”? It is by far not only the New York Times which rejects Trump’s peace plan.

German Defense Minister Slams Trump’s Plan For Ukraine Peace

MSN wrote on April 28:

“Boris Pistorius, the German defence minister, expressed his concern over Donald Trump’s proposals regarding Ukraine. The SPD politician stated that the suggestions of the American president concerning handing over parts of Ukrainian territory to Russia are too far-reaching. ‘Ukraine on its own could have got a year ago what was included in that (Trump) proposal. It is akin to a capitulation,’ Pistorius said on ARD television.

“Pistorius assured that Germany will continue its military support for Ukraine, even if the United States decides to halt it. ‘If Ukraine falls, if Putin wins this war by taking Ukraine or a large part of it, it will be a maximum threat to NATO territory and neighbouring countries such as Moldova and Georgia,’ the minister warned.” 

Trump stated after his return from Rome that he thinks Zelensky will agree to giving Crimea to Russia. Zelensky repeated his position AFTER his talk with Trump that Crimea would not be given to Russia.

Tanks for Ukraine on Hold

abc.net.au reported on April 28:

“A fleet of retired tanks the Albanese government pledged to Ukraine last year remains stuck in Australia, with defence figures in part blaming resistance from the United States for their delayed transfer… after US President Donald Trump placed a temporary freeze on military assistance to the war-torn nation…

“… the process is facing further uncertainty because formal permission that must be given by the US before the M1A1 vehicles can be handed over to another nation has not yet been granted… There is also the concern that with a possible peace deal looming it would be embarrassing to have the tanks on board ships in the middle of the ocean.”

No Progress in Peace Negotiations – Just the Opposite!

The New York Post wrote on April 28:

“Russia shamelessly demanded that the US lift its sanctions and that Kyiv be ‘demilitarized’ and recognize that 20% of Ukraine belongs to the Vladimir Putin-led nation as it refused President Trump’s push for peace just days after his envoy returned to Moscow for yet another round of talks. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted Monday that Russia will accept nothing less than total victory over Ukraine after Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff made no progress in ending the country’s three-year war when he met with Putin Friday… Lavrov rattled off a list of Ukrainian red-line items — and mentioned no willingness to make even the smallest concessions, such as the US-proposed return of a small, occupied portion of Kharkiv.

“Lavrov said ‘the international recognition of Crimea, Sevastopol, (Donetsk), (Luhansk), Kherson and Zapor(i)zh(ia) regions as part of Russia’ is an ‘imperative,’ insisting that not just the world — but also Kyiv itself — recognize 20% of Ukraine as sovereign Russian territory… That alone is a nonstarter. While Kyiv has shown a willingness to freeze the fighting lines where they are and acknowledge that Russia technically controls the occupied regions, its constitution outlaws the recognition of its land as belonging to any other nation.

“Since Witkoff began speaking with Russia roughly two months ago, Moscow has only upped its demands. For example, its desire to annex Ukraine’s Kherson and Zaporizhia oblasts was never part of Putin’s original goals of the war when his forces launched the full-scale invasion in 2021… George Barros of the Institute for the Study of War [said:] ‘the Kremlin is rejecting Trump’s proposals and articulating goals that require the war to go on or for Ukraine to surrender things for no reason. The only thing it is willing to negotiate are the terms of US capitulation and Ukrainian surrender.’ To that end, Lavrov also called for the West — including the US — to begin ‘lifting sanctions, withdrawing lawsuits and cancelling arrest warrants, as well as returning Russian assets subjected to the so-called freeze in the West.’

“The foreign minister also said Russia would not begin talks with Ukraine until Kyiv makes yet another change to its constitution—disavowing its citizens’ wishes to one day join NATO… Though Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Russia for its continued bombardment of Ukraine as he tries to reach a peace deal, the president has so far taken no punitive steps to attempt to force Moscow to back down from its untenable demands.”

Russia will not make any concessions. Trump’s naïve peace deal was dead from the outset. Please view our new StandingWatch program with the title, “Trump’s Peace Plan—A Failure!”

The Worst Pope in History?

The Ron Paul Institute and Newsmax published on April 24 and April 25 an article by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano:

“Catholics believe that he is the Vicar of Christ on earth. But Francis may have been the worst pope in history. He watered down Church teachings on marriage, sexuality and confession. He declined to judge right from wrong.

“He forbade the Mass that every canonized saint… attended and participated in since 1564. He has even claimed that all religions are equal and welcomed in the eyes of God — contrary to 2,000 years of express Church teaching. This is heresy.

“… He even questioned the concept of sin…”

Please view our StandingWatch program, “The Pope Is Dead… Now What?” 

Why Trump Attended Pope’s Funeral 

Daily Mail wrote on April 25:

“The president… told reporters on Air Force One he was attending the service partially because he won Catholic voters in the 2024 election. Trump won Catholics by more than 120,000 votes when he faced former Vice President Kamala Harris. 

“Trump himself identifies as a ‘non-denominational Christian.’ First lady Melania Trump is Catholic. The Trumps met Pope Francis during a visit to the Vatican in 2017 during the president’s first term. At the time, Melania… brought a pair of rosary beads for the pontiff to bless. She is the first Catholic first lady in the White House since Jacqueline Kennedy….

“President Trump and Pope Francis also had their differences. In 2015, Trump said Francis was too political, and the pontiff later suggested Trump wasn’t Christian over his ‘build a wall’ rhetoric.

Trump, responded that ‘for a religious leader to question a person’s faith is disgraceful.’”

Firing Powell?

The Editorial Board of the Wall Street Journal wrote on April 21, 2025: 

“If the White House wanted a test of how firing Jerome Powell would go over in the markets, it succeeded on Monday. U.S. stocks and the dollar plunged while yields on long-term Treasurys climbed after President Trump renewed his attacks on the Federal Reserve Chairman…

“Mr. Trump is furious that Mr. Powell has said publicly that tariffs will likely lead to higher inflation and slower growth… Markets fear Mr. Trump really might fire Mr. Powell, not that it would do the President any good… Mr. Trump can’t fire the regional Fed bank presidents on the committee, and all 12 voting members of the FOMC seem to agree with the Fed’s recent policy moves. A Powell replacement would also have a harder time establishing credibility with markets…

“Mr. Trump thinks he can bully everyone into submission… Markets know tariffs are taxes, and taxes are anti-growth. The Trump tariffs are the biggest economic policy mistake in decades, and extending the 2017 tax reform and deregulation may not compensate for all the damage…”

Subsequently, Trump bowed to pressure and stated that he would not fire Powell, and that such a suggestion was fake news. Really?

America’s Inhumane Immigration Policy 

The Guardian published the following article on April 24 about America’s detention camps, eerily reminiscent of Germany’s Nazi concentration camps in their early stages:

“The Texas-based legal non-profit Raices said it was aware of at least 100 families held at Karnes since early March, after the Trump administration restarted the practice known as ‘family detention’ – locking up children along with their parents. Those detained include families who had recently crossed into the US, as well as those swept up in cities across the country. Among the youngest detainees was a one-year-old child…

“Jade (13) and her family had fled a surge of violence in Colombia in 2022, and had managed to make a good life for themselves in Mississippi. But things changed this year as the Trump administration ramped up its immigration crackdown. Jade was afraid to go to school, worried that immigration agents could come find her there, or take her parents while she was away. Jason and Gabriela had trouble finding work – employers had become squeamish about hiring workers without a legal status… So they decided to leave (to go to Canada)… 

“At first, they encountered Canadian border agents and tried to explain they were seeking asylum. But those agents told them they’d be ineligible, and turned them over to US border officials… Agents handcuffed [Jason] and Gabriela, and drove them to Plattsburgh, New York and then Buffalo… [and then] sent [them] via commercial flight to Texas… 

“Jade was too young to remember the violence her family had left behind in Colombia, but Jason and Gabriela’s minds constantly flashed back to the threats and extortion they had faced… 

“[American] Officials had confiscated all their things, and the family was given second-hand clothes and towels to use. They were able to buy minutes to make phone calls, but it was expensive…

“Relief finally came when they were able to connect with lawyers from Raices, who have been working with several families held at the detention center. Jade, Jason and Gabriela were finally released on 25 March – after about three weeks in detention – and their lawyers are now helping them seek legal status to remain in the US… ‘The bottom line is that these individuals have final deportation orders from federal judges,’ said McLaughlin of the DHS. ‘This administration is not going to ignore the rule of law.’ Raices said that assertion is ‘objectively untrue’. Immigration judges are not the same as federal judges. And as a result of Donald Trump’s asylum ban at the southern border, ‘many families have not even appeared in front of immigration judges’, said Faisal Al-Juburi of Raices…

“The facility, which is run by the private prison company CoreCivic, is not a licensed childcare facility and thus a violation of the protections afforded children under the Flores Settlement Agreement, a decades-old consent decree that requires the government to hold children in the least restrictive setting and release them as quickly as possible… The Trump administration isn’t the first to detain families. For decades, Democratic and Republican administrations have held immigrant families in specialized facilities – and the practice has elicited widespread criticism from pediatricians and mental health experts, and lawsuits from human rights groups…

“The Bush administration had wanted to ramp up immigrant detention, and promoted family detention as an alternative to separating families and sending children to shelters while their parents were detained… In 2014, as families and unaccompanied children began increasingly arriving at the US southern border, the Obama administration contracted with private prison companies to open the Karnes and Dilley facilities, and the US family detention program grew to its largest since the internment of Japanese Americans in the 1940s… 

“Though the Biden administration stopped detaining families in 2021 – opting instead to track immigrant families via electronic monitoring and regular check-in appointments – it left in place most of the infrastructure to restart the practice. And earlier this year, the Trump administration did just that… Karnes, operated by the private contractor Geo Group, is more like a traditional adult prison… Families are allowed to be together during the day, but at night, mothers and children sleep together while fathers sleep in separate dorms. The South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, meanwhile, is more akin to an ‘internment camp’… Before it was a detention center, it was a migrant labor camp. But in the end, both centers are, ‘essentially, jails.’ 

“… Many of the families in detention now have been apprehended by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (Ice) officials in cities and towns across the US. Some were picked up at traffic stops, and others were arrested despite complying with orders to check in regularly with Ice…

“Now that she is back in Mississippi, Jade said… ‘I just told one friend, a good friend, and he said he wouldn’t tell anyone else.’ She doesn’t know how to explain to them what happened to her family, or how uncertain their lives still are. It’s not like she knows how much longer they’ll get to stay in Mississippi. It could take months or longer for lawyers to work out their immigration case. In the meantime, they remain afraid of being swept up in the administration’s immigration crackdown once again….” 

Trump’s administration has been assuring us that they would only go after illegal hardcore criminals. This is clearly not true. When you read about personal experiences like this, you get a better picture of how inhumane America’s immigration system is. 

Trump’s Fight With the Judges 

The left-wing New Republic (TNR) wrote on April 28: 

“The Trump administration is open to arresting Supreme Court judges, as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told it on Monday morning. ‘You guys arrested a Milwaukee County Circuit judge for allegedly helping illegal immigrants get away,’ Fox News’s Peter Doocy asked Leavitt. ‘As you guys look at other judges, would you ever arrest somebody higher up on the judicial food chain, like a federal judge or even a Supreme Court justice?’ 

“‘…let’s be clear about what this judge did: She obstructed federal law enforcement who were looking for an illegal alien in her courthouse. She showed that illegal alien the door to evade law enforcement officials. That is a clear-cut case of obstruction,’ Leavitt replied. ‘And so anyone who is breaking the law or obstructing federal law enforcement officials from doing their jobs is putting theirselvses [sic] at risk of being prosecuted, absolutely.’ 

“The Department of Justice on Friday arrested Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan, on charges of obstruction after she allegedly ‘intentionally misdirected federal agents away’ from Eduardo Flores Ruiz, an undocumented immigrant. He was later arrested outside the courthouse. 

“The Trump administration is showing open and direct hostility toward the judicial branch, identifying any judge who dares to defy them as an ‘activist judge.’ The arrest of Judge Dugan, the numerous court orders ignored by the administration, the eight immigration judges who have now been fired or put on leave, and now, Leavitt’s alarming answer are all clear indications that Trump has no plans to reel back his abuse of executive power.” 

This fight between the Trump Administration and the court system will continue and become worse.

Trump’s (Dis-)Approval Rate

Express wrote on April 25:

“By the end of April, it will have been 100 days since Trump took office for his second term. During that time the world has witnessed unprecedented political and economic decisions over the past 100 days have sent stock markets plunging and governments everywhere rushing to react.

“Pew Research Center conducted the poll between April 7 – 13 and the only 40 per cent of young US adults approve of Trump’s latest plans while an overwhelming 59 per cent disapprove. Fox News also conducted a poll which showed Trump’s approval ratings with 44 per cent and disapproval of 55 per cent. That’s the lowest Fox has registered since the last six presidents at this point in their term… 

“It is also lower than the approval of Joe Biden (54 percent), Barack Obama (62 percent), and George W. Bush (63 percent) at the 100-day mark in their presidencies, and is down 5 points from Trump’s 49 percent approval in March.” 

Chaotic and Scary 

The New York Post wrote on April 25: 

“More than half of voters described President Trump’s second term in office as ‘chaotic’ and ‘scary’ in a new poll released Friday… 66% of registered US voters felt the term ‘chaotic’ described Trump’s second stint in the White House well, while 59% thought ‘scary’ was apt.

“Nearly half of Republican voters (47%) agreed that the president’s first three months back in power have been ‘chaotic,’ as did 75% of Independents… Only 35% approve of Trump’s handling of the Ukraine-Russia war, while 31% approve of the case involving Abrego Garcia. The president’s net approval rating was -21 points on both issues… Overall, 42% approved of Trump’s job in the Oval Office so far, while 54% disapproved.” 

Trump Blasts Sinking Poll Numbers 

The New York Post wrote on April 28: 

“President Trump on Monday blasted ‘unheard of’ polls showing low approval ratings on the eve of his 100th day in office — calling on the ‘fake news’ outlets behind them to be investigated for election fraud. The commander-in-chief took aim at the recent New York Times and ABC/Washington Post surveys that indicate sinking support, declaring that ‘they suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome… These people should be investigated for ELECTION FRAUD, and add in the FoxNews Pollster while you’re at it… They are Negative Criminals who apologize to their subscribers and readers after I WIN ELECTIONS BIG, much bigger than their polls showed I would win, loose [sic] a lot of credibility, and then go on cheating and lying for the next cycle, only worse,’ he seethed in the post… ‘THEY ARE SICK,’ he added…” 

Mediaite wrote on April 28: 

“Legendary GOP operative and Fox News contributor Karl Rove declared that President Donald Trump is in ‘very bad shape’ during a scathing segment over the weekend. Rove’s comments came after host Paul Gigot, editor of The Wall Street Journal‘s editorial page, observed that a new Fox News poll demonstrated that only 38% of Americans approve of Trump’s job performance on the economy and even fewer approve of his handling of inflation and tariffs and asked Rove to weigh in.” 

When something negative is reported about Trump, he blames that on fake news. After a while, that won’t be credible anymore for most people. His threat to investigate these “negative criminals” is not being received well. 

Axios wrote on April 29: 

“A majority of Americans say President Trump is a ‘dangerous dictator’ who poses a threat to democracy and believe he’s overstepped his authority… The wide-ranging poll released Tuesday, on Trump’s 100th day in office, is the latest sign of him losing support for his immigration and economic policies — the two issues that largely fueled his election… 

“Only four in 10 Americans expressed favorable views of Trump after his first 100 days in office, according to the survey by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). And 52% agreed with the provocative statement that Trump ‘is a dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys American democracy,’ the survey said. That question provided a big warning sign for Trump: Most independents (56%) agreed that Trump is a ‘dangerous dictator,’ suggesting that middle-of-the-road voters who helped put him back in office are abandoning him… Two-thirds of Americans oppose new tariffs, or taxes, on imported goods from other countries.” 

Prosecutors Charge Vancouver Man For Attack on Filipino Festival 

Reuters wrote on April 28: 

“Canadian prosecutors have charged a 30-year-old Vancouver resident with murder for killing at least 11 people aged between 5 and 65 and injuring dozens after he rammed an SUV through a crowd at a Filipino community festival in the western Canadian city, police said on Sunday… More than 12 hours after the incident, police still did not have a motive for the attack at the festival, which took place without a dedicated police presence or heavy vehicle barriers…

“The festival, celebrated especially in the central Philippines, honors Datu Lapu-Lapu, a Filipino chieftain who defeated Spanish forces led by Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan in 1521… The government of British Columbia officially recognized April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023, acknowledging the cultural contributions of the Filipino-Canadian community, one of the largest immigrant groups in the province. The centerpiece of the festival is a multi-block street party featuring Filipino food and traditions, live performances and cultural displays.” 

Why were the police not better prepared for these kinds of events? This seems to be a colossal failure in many Western countries, including Germany where a similar event had taken place around Christmas time.  It has been stated that the man had previous mental health issues. The demonic influence should be clear. 

Canadians Humiliate Trump

The Mirror wrote on April 29:

“Donald Trump, the self-proclaimed titan of global deal-making and nationalist bravado, just got humiliated by the very country he loves to insult – Canada. With the election of Mark Carney as Prime Minister, the Canucks delivered a roaring rebuke not only to the US leader but to the hideous version of America he represents – arrogant, unstable, and dangerously delusional. Let’s be honest, this wasn’t just a Canadian election. It was a referendum on Trumpism and, by extension, the States.

“Canadians, America’s closest and most loyal ally, have had enough. Enough of the trade wars. Enough of being branded the ‘51st state.’ Enough of being treated like a doormat for Trump’s latest tantrum. What happened at the ballot box was less a Liberal Party recovery and more an international gut punch to a discredited figurehead. 

“Trump triggered this backlash himself. He kicked off a pointless trade war against Canada, wanting tariffs on steel, aluminum, and dairy… He smeared a peaceful, democratic neighbour as weak and subordinate, then expected diplomatic loyalty in return. He misread Canada completely…

“Canadians responded the only way a proud, sovereign nation could by using their votes to send a message so loud it echoed across the border. Former Bank of England governor Carney… inherited a Liberal Party floundering after Justin Trudeau’s missteps, down by more than 25 points and transformed it into a platform for national defiance.

“He stood up to Trump’s bullying and drew a line in the snow – Canada will not be anyone’s puppet. This rejection is far bigger than one man or one election. It marks a sobering turning point in the world’s relationship with the States. For decades, America was admired as the leader of the free world – a beacon of democracy, stability, and reason. Under Trump, it has become a punchline. An unstable, angry, nation-baiting circus that shouts about freedom while eroding it at home and abusing it abroad.

“The world is watching, and it is moving on. Nations like Canada are no longer looking to Washington for leadership. They’re building new alliances, strengthening regional partnerships, and investing in self-reliance to insulate themselves from the chaos of modern America. This is Trumpism’s true legacy – a smaller, meaner, more isolated States. The message from Canada couldn’t be clearer; if America wants to act like a belligerent, fading empire, it will be treated like one. Trump may still swagger at his rallies and scream about greatness, but his lies stop cold at the border. 

“Carney’s victory wasn’t just a political win. It was a polite, precise, and utterly devastating rejection of everything Trump – and, increasingly, America – stands for. And that rejection is only the beginning...” 

Sobering words, and prophetic indeed. Trump does not see that way, of course. In an interview with The Atlantic, which was published on April 28, he said:  “The first time, I had two things to do ‒ run the country and survive; I had all these crooked guys… And the second time, I run the country and the world.” 

But he is not running the world. And if he is not careful, he might not be running the USA for much longer, either, as his latest poll numbers may suggest. 

Germany’s Militarization

News.az quoted “prominent German political scientist and former advisor to the German government Alexander Rahr” on April 24: 

“Germany’s government currently has three key objectives in the area of militarization. First, it seeks to preserve the European security architecture established after the Cold War and, under no circumstances, allow Ukraine to return to Russia’s sphere of influence or be absorbed by it. Second, Germany aims to build its own European army and military-industrial complex—largely to reduce dependence on the United States, which may eventually withdraw from NATO. This also serves as preparation for a potential military confrontation with ‘imperial’ Russia. Third, militarization of the economy is viewed as a tool to reignite economic growth across the European Union… 

“Although only about 60% of the population supports militarization, Berlin is prepared to invest in it as a way to strengthen its leadership role in Europe. Most other EU countries lack such capacity—either because they are burdened by debt or do not see themselves as military leaders… There are certainly risks to democracy. Militarization of the economy, industry, and education can affect civil liberties. However, the German government is using the image of ‘aggressive Russia’ to tighten control over society and instill discipline in the population. This strategy may work: the generation that remembers the horrors of World War II is gone, and young Germans today are less afraid of war. In fact, many increasingly believe that Europe’s liberal values are worth defending by force… 

“European bureaucrats in Brussels are working to consolidate all EU governments around the goal of confronting ‘imperial Russia.’ Russia should prepare for the reality that most European countries will support a policy of military containment… Russia will never accept being surrounded by Western military bases and infrastructure. The West, in turn, will never recognize Russia’s right to a sphere of influence. This is a fundamental dividing line—one that, unfortunately, cannot be overcome through diplomacy.” 

Jens Spahn Wants to Become Chancellor 

Capital and Der Stern wrote on April 24: 

“Jens Spahn is to become the new leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag. Friedrich Merz is making a risky decision – and ignoring warnings… The former health minister just has to be elected. 

“Merz thus places Spahn at the central hub of the coalition. The parliamentary group leader organizes cooperation with the coalition partner, defends the chancellor in parliament, and organizes majorities and funding for government policy. In other words: Friedrich Merz is now dependent on Jens Spahn – more than anyone else. He needs his unconditional loyalty. ‘Of all people!’ groan some in the party. 

“There were and are doubts within the CDU about Jens Spahn’s loyalty. Influential CDU figures warned Friedrich Merz about Spahn until recently. He said he played too often on his own account, changing his political form depending on the mood… Spahn’s relationship with the SPD is also considered strained… Spahn is not trusted… 

“But perhaps Merz couldn’t get past him at all… In the coalition negotiations, the 44-year-old appeared in almost all important negotiating groups. He drew red lines, sometimes even towards the boss. ‘That’s not possible, Friedrich!’ Spahn is said to have retorted to Merz in a large gathering. It demonstrates his utmost self-confidence – and gives a foreshadowing of the future…

“Some in the party fear that with the election of the parliamentary group leader, the question of Friedrich Merz’s successor could arise sooner than the chancellor-designate would like. And not in four years… his own people and long-time associates believe he’s capable of it. This also explicitly includes those who long for a quick end to the CDU/CSU coalition and have long been eyeing the AfD… If the coalition fails, then I’m out. That’s what Merz recently said. Jens Spahn made clear… what he wants: to become chancellor. He will soon come a long way toward achieving this goal.” 

Der Tagesspiegel wrote on April 25: 

“Spahn wants to become Chancellor… with whomever.” 

Der Freitag wrote on April 25: 

“Germany’s most dangerous politician? Jens Spahn is making the AfD capable of forming alliances… Jens Spahn… has long been speaking the language of the far-right. The firewall to the AfD is shaky.” 

Chaos in Spain 

The Sun wrote on April 29: 

“Panic-stricken shoppers across Spain and even Portugal are clearing supermarket shelves and leaving grocery stores empty amid chaos… Roads… were left snarled up with traffic as lights and signals went blank… Some hospitals cancelled all surgeries for Monday amid fears for patient safety in the region’s most severe blackout for years… Spain’s train service came to a complete stop, leaving huge crowds stranded at stations, and Madrid’s underground network was evacuated… Air traffic was slashed to ‘half capacity’ as flights were cancelled from a number of airports – with Lisbon cancelling all arrivals for hours… 

“Portugal’s national grid operator, REN, said it believes a ‘rare atmospheric event’ could be behind the outage… Many had raised fears that a ‘Russian cyberattack’ is behind the chaos, following previous similar plots against Europe… An outage of this scale is extremely rare and has caused mayhem for millions, including Brits on their holidays.” 

No Power in Spain, Portugal and Parts of France 

SKY News wrote on April 28: 

“We rarely think about how essential and reliable electricity grids are until they fail. Now, millions of people across Spain, Portugal and parts of France are likely thinking of little else… Much of Spain and Portugal’s electricity transmission system collapsed in seconds, including major cities Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona and Seville. It’s likely the outage will surpass Europe’s largest blackout to date, when 56 million people in Italy and Switzerland lost power for up to 12 hours in 2023… 

“Portugal’s grid operator has blamed a ‘rare atmospheric phenomenon’ that caused ‘anomalous oscillations’ in high voltage power lines in Spain… But it’s unlikely whatever caused the outage was a single, localised event.  

“A major power line going down can cause a large outage (as it did in 2021 when an interconnector between France and Spain failed, leaving a million people without power for a few hours in 2021). But it’s unlikely to cause a system-wide failure of the kind we’re seeing now…” 

If it can happen in Spain, Portugal or France, it can happen everywhere. 

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.

The Pope Is Dead…

AFP and Barron’s wrote on April 21:

“Pope Francis, who died on Monday aged 88, aroused both fervour and fury within the Church… Here are the main disputes, which set ultra-conservatives within the Catholic Church against the pope. 

“Francis in 2021 signed a decree limiting the use of the Latin Mass, reversing a more flexible edict from 2007 by his predecessor Benedict XVI. The decision provoked incomprehension and anger among part of the clergy and Catholics attached to the so-called ‘Tridentine’ Mass — which is conducted entirely in Latin with the priest facing the altar, like the congregation. Some went so far as to accuse him of preventing them from practicing their faith.

“Pope Francis attracted the wrath of several cardinals, the red-hatted prelates who are supposedly his closest collaborators, but also next in command in the hierarchy of the Church. In 2017, Francis spoke out against unnamed ‘traitors’ who were holding back his institutional reforms. The bad blood was aired in public in 2023, when an Italian journalist named then-recently deceased Australian Cardinal George Pell as the author of an anonymous note attacking Francis. In the note, Pell — previously a close advisor to Francis — described the papacy as a ‘disaster in many respects’ and slammed ‘serious failures’ of diplomacy, particularly regarding the Ukraine war.

“The same year, German Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, former prefect of the powerful Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, published a book in which he railed against Francis’s governance.

He denounced an influential ‘coterie’ around Francis, and criticised the pope’s ‘doctrinal confusion’.

“Francis had a particularly conflictual relationship with Georg Gaenswein, private secretary to his predecessor Benedict XVI. After Benedict’s death in 2022, Gaenswein said Francis had ‘broken’ the retired pope’s heart by limiting the use of the Latin Mass. Francis hit back, saying he regretted that Benedict’s death had been ‘instrumentalized’ by ‘people without ethics, who act for partisan ends’.

“In a rare move in 2023, Francis ousted US Bishop Joseph Strickland, one of his fiercest enemies, who had accused the pope of being lax on abortion and too open towards homosexuals and divorcees. In 2024, it was the turn of ultra-conservative Italian bishop Carlo Maria Vigano, who accused Francis of ‘heresy’ and ‘tyrannical’ behaviour. Vigano, a former ambassador of the Holy See to the United States, was excommunicated — expelled outright — for rejecting the authority of Francis, head of the world’s nearly 1.4 billion Catholics.

“In 2023, the Vatican published a document which paved the way for blessings for same-sex couples, provoking an outcry in the conservative Catholic world, particularly in Africa and the United States. The wave of criticism forced the Vatican to make a ‘clarification’ to defend itself from any doctrinal error, while acknowledging it may be ‘imprudent’ to apply it in certain countries. ‘In their opposition to blessings for same-sex couples, the African bishops are criticising what they call European moral decadence or European Catholicism. They include the pope in that,’ Francois Mabille, director of the Geopolitical Observatory of Religion, told AFP in February 2025.

“The Argentine also irritated far-right Catholics with his calls for migrants to be given welcome in the Old Continent, with some warning Europe could lose its Christian identity.”

He also spoke against Trump’s immigration policy and especially the American-Mexican border, and he seemingly advocated open borders, while at the same time closed access for most immigrants to the Vatican State. He also locked down Vatican City during the coronavirus crisis. “His greatest test came in 2018 when he botched a notorious case of clergy sexual abuse in Chile, and the scandal that festered under his predecessors erupted anew” (The Associated Press, April 21).

He died on “Easter Monday,” apparently of a stroke. It will be interesting to see whether the liberals (referred to in the press as the “reform-oriented group”) or the conservatives (the “traditionalists”) win in electing the new pope by about 120 cardinals. The shenanigans behind the scenes were portrayed quite remarkably in the recent award-winning movie, “Conclave.”  Of course, many critics have attacked and rejected the movie. However, the movie might even be harmless in comparison to what really might be going on behind closed doors. Ultimately, the candidate will emerge who is supposed to enhance the development of biblical prophecy. 

Francis’ Anti-Israel Legacy 

Israel 365 News wrote on April 21: 

“[According to] Cardinal Kevin Farrell, ‘… we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God’… Francis was the first pope from the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit Order), the first from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope born or raised outside Europe since the 8th-century Syrian pope Gregory III. Following Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on 13 March.

“The pope frequently omitted Judaism when discussing other religions. This was clearly expressed in 2021 when Francis became the first pope to visit Iraq. While there, he hosted an inter-religious prayer service at a ziggurat. The structure is an ancient Mesopotamian site built in the 21st century BCE, built on the purported site of the city of Ur, the birthplace of Biblical Abraham. The prayer event was named ‘Prayer for the sons and daughters of Abraham.’  No Jews were invited to the event… 

“In 2019, Francis and Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, signed a statement about Jerusalem, referring to Israel’s capital as Al-Quds Acharif, the Arabic name for Jerusalem… 

“Pope Francis’ anti-Israel/pro-Palestinian agenda has led him into bizarre theological territory that diverges from traditional Catholicism…

“Pope Francis called for an investigation into claims that Israel is carrying out a ‘genocide’ in Gaza… The Vatican supports a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians that would establish an unprecedented militarized Palestinian state inside Israel’s borders that has been ethnically cleansed of Jews, with its capital in an exclusively Muslim Jerusalem… In 2015, just a few days after the Vatican officially recognized the Palestinian state, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was granted an audience in the Apostolic Palace. After the meeting, Francis gave Abbas a special medallion, representing the angel of peace ‘destroying the bad spirit of war.’ The Pope explained to Abbas that the gift was appropriate since ‘you are an angel of peace.’”

It will be interesting to see whether Pope Francis’ distorted ideas will be adopted or rejected by the new pope.

The Prophecy of the Popes

Daily Mail wrote on April 21, 2025:

“The 12th-century ‘Prophecy of the Popes’ — reportedly uncovered in the Vatican’s secret archives — claims to predict the identity of Francis’ successor and even foretells the return of Christ.

“The document [starts] with Celestine II in 1143 and [ends] with ‘Peter the Roman’ in 2027… Fanning the flames is the eerie fact that there are currently nine frontrunners to succeed Pope Francis — and three of them are named Peter. 

“The renewed interest has also reignited fears about one of the prophecy’s more chilling predictions: that Judgment Day is near… According to the final entry surrounding Peter the Roman, the ‘last pope’ will preside over the Church during a time of great turmoil, culminating in the destruction of Rome and the end of the papacy. ‘In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End,’ the last passage of the book reads…

“Although some scholars have claimed the text is a 16th century forgery, Malachy allegedly wrote Prophecy of the Popes in 1139 after receiving a vision during a visit to Rome…”

If the text is not a forgery, but legit, it would have been written under demonic influence, which can be seen, amongst other things, by the wording “dreadful Judge,” in appliance to Jesus.  We know, of course, that Christ could not possibly come back in 2027; and we also know that demons, even though they may know future events, are lying spirits; so one never knows when they lie or when they tell the truth.

Europe Mainly Catholic

Breitbart wrote on April 21: 

“Much of Europe has, historically, been Catholic and remains officially so… In Paris, the bells of the recently restored Notre Dame rung out 88 times for the Pope’s 88 years of age, and the Eiffel Tower will not be illuminated this evening. In churches throughout Catholic Austria, bells will ring simultaneously for ten minutes this afternoon and football matches planned for today across Italy are cancelled in mourning…

“In a statement Catholic-faith politician Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni said: ‘Pope Francis has returned to the Father’s house… We bid farewell to the Holy Father with hearts full of sorrow, but we know that he is now in the peace of the Lord.’…

“In the United Kingdom Buckingham Palace published a statement from King Charles III [stating] ‘our heavy hearts have been somewhat eased’ by knowing the Pope was able to celebrate Easter before his passing…’”

There is not much difference between the (unbiblical) faith and practices of the Catholic Church and of the Church of England.

Trump’s Fight With (German) Tourists Continues

Newsweek wrote on April 21:

“Two German teenage girls were detained and deported from the United States after arriving in Hawaii without a hotel reservation. The case highlights how minor oversights can trigger severe immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s aggressive border policies.

“International travelers face increased scrutiny under the Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies. This case exemplifies how minor oversights can lead to severe consequences, raising concerns about the treatment of tourists and the potential detrimental effect on international travel to the U.S…

“Maria Lepère and Charlotte Pohl, both recent high school graduates from Rostock, Germany, embarked on a world tour, visiting countries like Thailand and New Zealand… Their journey took an unexpected turn when they arrived in Hawaii without pre-booked accommodations. Immigration officials, suspecting potential unauthorized work intentions due to the lack of hotel reservations, detained them. They arrived in Honolulu on March 18, planning to spend five weeks exploring the islands before continuing to California and then Costa Rica following their graduation. The duo spent several days in a detention facility before being deported, despite holding valid travel documents (through ESTA) and having no prior infractions…

“The teens said they were questioned for several hours at Honolulu Airport before allegedly being subjected to full-body scans and strip searches… They were then dressed in green prison uniforms and placed in a holding cell alongside long-term detainees, some reportedly facing serious criminal charges…

“This incident is not isolated, as reports indicate a rise in detentions of European tourists under the current U.S. administration, including the recent detention of three German nationals by border authorities under Trump’s watch. Meanwhile, Germany has issued travel advisories warning its citizens about the threat of deportation under Trump’s rule. The Foreign Ministry said that neither approval through the U.S. ESTA system nor a U.S. visa means people will be granted entry every time.

“The German Foreign Office is monitoring the situation and may engage in diplomatic discussions with U.S. counterparts to address the treatment of German nationals. Travelers are urged to meticulously plan their trips, including securing accommodations in advance, to mitigate the risk of detention or deportation.”

This is SO crazy and SO alarming!!!

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Rules Against Trump

The Hill wrote on April 17:

“The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday declined to lift a judge’s order that the Trump administration ‘facilitate’ the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia…  The 4th Circuit declined to put Xinis’s ruling on hold just one day after the administration filed the appeal, a swift order that came without waiting for Abrego Garcia’s lawyers to file their response… ‘we shall not micromanage the efforts of a fine district judge attempting to implement the Supreme Court’s recent decision,’ U.S. Circuit Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson wrote for the unanimous three-judge panel…

“‘The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order,’ he continued. ‘Further, it claims in essence that because it has rid itself of custody that there is nothing that can be done. This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear.’

“Wilkinson, an appointee of former President Reagan, was joined on the panel by U.S. Circuit Judge Robert King, who is an appointee of former President Clinton, and U.S. Circuit Judge Stephanie Thacker, who is an appointee of former President Obama.” 

The Alien Enemies Act of 1798

npr wrote on April 19:

“The act has only been invoked three previous times in U.S. history, most recently during World War II to hold Japanese-American civilians in internment camps. The Trump administration contended it gave them power to swiftly remove immigrants they identified as members of the gang, regardless of their immigration status…” 

What does the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 actually say? Here is the wording: 

“Whenever there is a declared war between the United States and any foreign nation or government, or any invasion or predatory incursion is perpetrated, attempted, or threatened against the territory of the United States by any foreign nation or government, and the President makes public proclamation of the event, all natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects of the hostile nation or government, being of the age of fourteen years and upward, who shall be within the United States and not actually naturalized, shall be liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as alien enemies. 

“The President is authorized in any such event, by his proclamation thereof, or other public act, to direct the conduct to be observed on the part of the United States, toward the aliens who become so liable; the manner and degree of the restraint to which they shall be subject and in what cases, and upon what security their residence shall be permitted, and to provide for the removal of those who, not being permitted to reside within the United States, refuse or neglect to depart therefrom; and to establish any other regulations which are found necessary in the premises and for the public safety.” 

Clash Between Trump and the Courts

npr wrote on April 21: 

“In the early hours of Saturday, the U.S. Supreme Court seemed to signal it is losing its patience with the Trump administration. On April 7, the high court clearly said that if the government intends to deport a foreign-born resident, it must notify the individual ‘within a reasonable period of time’ so that the individual has the ability to challenge the removal in court prior to deportation. In the nearly two weeks that followed, however, the Trump administration dragged its feet, avoiding meaningful compliance with the court’s order. Then late Friday afternoon, on Good Friday, the court had a new deportation case on its docket, one that suggested the Trump administration was violating the terms of the earlier order. Racing to the Supreme Court, lawyers for the ACLU told the court that dozens of Venezuelan detainees were about to be deported. They said that the men were notified, in papers written in English, which they didn’t understand, that they were eligible to be deported under the Alien Enemies Act. And, the ACLU said, the men were being loaded on to buses that presumably were going to take them to the airport for deportation. 

“This time the high court acted swiftly, releasing a one-paragraph order so quickly that the court did not even wait for the two dissenters to file their opinion explaining their disagreement. That was not the only extraordinary feature of the court’s order. Although couched in legal terms, the order reeked of mistrust for the government. ‘The government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class [of detainees] from the United States until further order of this court,’ the justices said.

“The court went on to note that the detainees’ case is pending before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and that pending the outcome in that most conservative court, the solicitor general ‘is invited to file a response’ to the still pending application for review by this court ‘as soon as possible.’ In other words, the court was saying to the administration, whether you win in the Fifth Circuit or not, this isn’t over yet…

“Today, with many Republicans terrified of crossing Trump, it is not clear that Donald Trump could do anything to lose his GOP support in Congress. But in a clash with the Supreme Court, he could lose a lot. So too could the court, because it has few tools to actually make a president do something. And if a president succeeds in defying the court, the whole system of government, and of checks and balances, would be in peril. So, are we in a constitutional crisis?…

“But at some point in the not too distant future, the high court may have to confront the president head on… Chief Justice John Roberts, at his confirmation hearing 20 years ago, opined that ‘judges have to have the courage to make the unpopular decisions when they have to,’ including striking down as unconstitutional acts of the executive. ‘That is the judicial oath,’ he said. But he likely never imagined a president as insistently recalcitrant as Trump.”

Trump’s Attack Becomes More Desperate 

Newsmax wrote on April 20:

“President Donald Trump called the opposition [to his immigration procedures, especially in regard to Garcia] ‘despicable,’ ‘un-American,’ and premised on a ‘blatant and dangerous lie.’… ‘Those lying to the American People on behalf of violent criminals have to be held responsible by the Agencies and the Courts.’… 

“Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., criticized Trump and his administration Sunday for talking about sending American citizen criminals to foreign prisons. Kennedy was asked… if he thought the law allowed sending U.S. citizens who were criminals to foreign prisons. ‘No, Ma’am. Nor does it, nor should it, nor should it be considered appropriate or moral. We have our own laws,’ he said. ‘We shouldn’t send prisoners to foreign countries in my judgment.’

“Trump has said he wants to deport some violent criminals who are U.S. citizens to Salvadoran prisons, a move experts said would violate U.S. law.”

Trump’s lack of support for some of his actions seems to bother him very much. 

Supreme Court to Weigh In on Trump’s Plans to Restrict Birthright Citizenship 

USA Today wrote on April 17: 

“The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would weigh in on the Trump administration’s request that it be allowed to broadly enforce its new restrictions on birthright citizenship while the policy is being litigated. The court said it will hear oral arguments on May 15. 

“The [14^th] amendment states that all ‘persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.’ The Trump administration maintains that right was intended to help formerly enslaved people after the Emancipation Proclamation and doesn’t cover children of people who entered the country without proper authorization… 

“Twenty Republican attorneys general backed Trump’s Supreme Court appeal, as did gun rights groups. Attorneys for immigrant rights groups… said Trump’s order violates the plain text of the Constitution, common law history, Supreme Court precedent and more than a century of consistent practice.” 

Losing Faith in the USA 

npr wrote on April 21: 

For decades, the U.S. financial system has been regarded as one of the most stable and powerful in the world. Now, there are fears that something unprecedented may be happening as a result of President Trump’s tariffs: Investors everywhere may be losing their faith in the United States… 

“Stocks, U.S. government bonds, and the dollar are all taking a hit at the same time…” 

US Weapons Left Behind in Afghanistan 

BBC News wrote on April 17: 

“Half a million weapons obtained by the Taliban in Afghanistan have been lost, sold or smuggled to militant groups… with the UN believing that some have fallen into the hands of al-Qaeda affiliates. 

“The Taliban took control of around one million weapons and pieces of military equipment – which had mostly been funded by the US… As the Taliban advanced through Afghanistan in 2021, many Afghan soldiers surrendered or fled, abandoning their weapons and vehicles. Some equipment was simply left behind by US forces… 

“This is very much a political issue, and US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that he will reclaim weapons from Afghanistan. He said that $85bn (£66bn) of advanced weaponry was left there. ‘Afghanistan is one of the biggest sellers of military equipment in the world, you know why? They’re selling the equipment that we left,’ Trump said during his first cabinet meeting of the new administration. ‘I want to look into this. If we need to pay them, that’s fine, but we want our military equipment back.’… 

“Whether Trump will take any action remains to be seen, but, in the meantime, concerns about the spread of weapons in the region and access by militant groups remain unresolved.” 

Meloni in Washington 

Die Welt wrote on April 18: 

“Donald Trump… has alarmed the European Union. And prompted it to undertake previously unthinkable efforts. The EU is now supposed to become a serious global political force… Germany, France, Poland, and Great Britain as the driving forces of a post-Carolingian Europe – this quartet gives hope. But that’s not enough. Because at least one important state is missing from the new alliance: Italy. The country has been almost written off north of the Alps… But that’s unfair. And short-sighted. 

“Unfair because it ignorantly disregards Italy’s historical significance for the formation of Europe. And because Italy was an important founding nation of the European unification process. The contemptuous treatment of Italy is short-sighted because the largest EU state on the Mediterranean coast plays a significant role in the EU’s migration policy.” 

“Italy is needed. Like Donald Trump, Giorgia Meloni is also a nationalist. This is one of the reasons why they are close. Meloni, who wants to play a prominent European role, has been striving to mediate between the EU and the US since Trump’s election as US president… 

“When she was received by the US president at the White House on Thursday evening as the first European head of government, she vigorously countered Trump’s disparaging remarks about President Volodymyr Zelensky with her conviction that Ukraine still deserves Western support. She did, however, agree with Trump in her disdain for all things woke and, like Trump, sees migration as a warning sign for the West.

“The meeting with Trump has not (yet) produced any tangible results. There was a lot of smiling and laughing. But Giorgia Meloni seems wise enough not to allow herself to be expelled from the EU community, even by a fiercely flattering Trump.” 

Italy is indeed an indispensable part of Europe. Not so Great Britain.

Trump’s Peace Proposals

Bild Online published an analysis by Bild deputy editor Paul Ronzheimer on April 24:

“Above all, there is one feeling that characterizes political Kyiv these days: disbelief. The behavior of US President Trump, his threats and insults against the Ukrainian President Zelenskyy – we had almost become accustomed to all of this. But for a long time, no one wanted to believe that Trump really seemed willing to give Russian President Vladimir Putin everything he wanted. But after Trump’s peace plan was confirmed, everything changed…

“It has long been clear to Ukraine: They cannot rely on the US. The other question is: Can Ukraine rely on Europe?…

“Trump has repeatedly announced that he no longer wants to deliver. He wants the deal now. Come what may… It’s not just about the recognition of Crimea, but also about the regions Russia is fighting over in the east and south…

“In fact, that’s Zelensky’s problem: He not only has to negotiate with the US and Russia, but also achieve a result that would be acceptable to the Ukrainian people. Putin, on the other hand, is making maximum demands because he assumes that time is on his side. The calculation: The US will withdraw, stop delivering – and Europe cannot provide what Ukraine needs. The result would be a situation that is even worse for Ukraine than it already is. An absolute dilemma…”

Ultimately, Russia and Ukraine will unite.

Boris Johnson Explodes at Donald Trump

Express wrote on April 24:

“The former Prime Minister has raged against Washington over the treatment of Ukraine in peace proposals… claiming they reward Vladimir Putin in five key ways… Mr Johnson wrote: ‘Putin indiscriminately butchers more Ukrainian civilians, killing and injuring 100 in Kyiv including children. And what is his reward under the latest peace proposals?’

“The former Conservative leader then listed the five ‘rewards’ he believed President Putin was getting from the current US deal.

“He wrote: ‘1, The right to keep sovereign Ukrainian territory he has taken by violence and in breach of international law, 2, The right to control Ukraine’s destiny by forbidding Nato membership, 3, The lifting of sanctions against Russia, 4, An economic partnership with America, 5, The chance to rebuild his armed forces for the next attack in a few short years’ time.’

“Mr Johnson, 60, added: ‘As for Ukraine – what do they get after three years of heroic resistance against a brutal and unprovoked invasion? What is their reward for the appalling sacrifices they have made – for the sake, as they have endlessly been told, of freedom and democracy around the world? Apart from the right to share their natural resources with the United States they get nothing. What is there in this deal that can realistically stop a third Russian invasion? Nothing…’

“It comes as President Trump launched an extraordinary attack on the Ukrainian wartime leader after the latter said Ukraine was not prepared to recognise Russian control of the Crimea, a part of Ukraine annexed by the Kremlin in 2014…”Subsequently, in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine on Thursday, Trump wrote: “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!”

Turkey Greatest Danger to Israel 

The Atlantic wrote on April 19: 

“Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, its would-be sultan, dismantles the country’s secular democracy… While Erdoğan consolidates power at home and prepares to project it abroad, he has set the stage for a clash with Israel. Indeed, Turkey has quickly emerged as perhaps the greatest danger to the Jewish state in the Middle East, escalating the threat of a conflict he won’t be able to avoid… 

“Erdoğan’s grand designs appear to include establishing himself as the Muslim world’s principal champion of anti-Zionism. The president has routinely hosted Hamas leaders for official visits and has referred to the architects of the October 7 attack as a ‘liberation group.’…  In turning against Israel and in favor of Hamas, Erdoğan is riding a wave of anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism that has been rising in Turkey since at least the 1980s, especially on the secular left… 

“The Turkish president has intensified a long-held desire in his country to gain greater distance from the United States and NATO…” 

Merz’s Coalition Deal: ‘Betrayal’ of Germany? 

The Week (UK) wrote on April 20: 

“When the incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, won the election in February,  he promised to be bold and brave: to tighten our borders, unshackle our low-growth economy, bolster our defences, and wean us off our dependence on the United States. Last week… the CDU leader unveiled his coalition deal with the SPD – and it was full of the same tired old policies: no military conscription; no social and tax reform; no major migration measures… With war raging in Europe, the far-right on the rise, and the US intent on destroying the global economic order, we need our leaders to be courageous. Instead, we have a ‘coalition of the timid.’… 

“It had barely begun, but the honeymoon is definitely over for Merz… His approval ratings have plunged ten points since the election. The world needs Germany’s new leader to succeed… The stakes are incredibly high… With liberalism, freedom and democracy under threat, it’s a time for ‘giants’ – yet sadly we have no Helmut Kohl, no Gerhard Schröder, no Merkel. All of them have experience of governing during international crises. Our incoming chancellor and his coalition partners do not…” 

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg Suddenly in Favor of Conscription 

ZDF Heute wrote on April 18: 

“[Former Defense Minister] Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg… spoke out… in favor of reintroducing conscription: ‘I was a supporter of conscription and I still am today, if it is properly implemented. We can and should return to that point…’ As Defense Minister, he was responsible for the suspension of conscription in 2011… ‘We were faced with the decision: Can we still fulfill our alliance obligations (…) or can we afford a non-functional conscription?’ 

“We were dealing with a conscription period of ‘only six months’. In six months, you barely learn to distinguish a combine harvester from a tank. At that time, we only recruited 16 percent of young men. We had to fear that conscription would be completely abolished by the Federal Constitutional Court… At the same time, there is a… need to bring a Bundeswehr that has been run down for decades to a level (…) that allows it to act in some form both in the European context and in a tense NATO context…'” 

Spahn on the Rise 

Bild Online wrote on April 20: 

“BILD reported that Merz wants to appoint former Health Minister Jens Spahn as parliamentary group leader. Only the final go-ahead from CSU leader Markus Söder (58) is still missing. According to BILD information, the appointment could officially be made as early as the end of April at the CDU party conference. Or shortly before Merz’s swearing-in as Chancellor on May 6th… 

“The Spahn appointment is causing a stir in the party and parliamentary group – and it is also causing resentment among some… Critics cite the debate Spahn sparked about how to deal with the AfD as an example. He believes: It needs to become more normal… Added to this is the fear of many in the parliamentary group about Spahn’s past as Corona Health Minister, and long-simmering scandals surrounding mask deals… 

“Conservative CSU MPs, who appreciate Spahn’s course on migration policy, for example, are not the only ones satisfied with Spahn’s solution at the parliamentary group’s leadership. According to BILD, a ‘young group’ in the parliamentary group supports Spahn… Merz has already decided on Spahn, as BILD reported. The SPD, but especially the Greens, are barraging criticism of the appointment. The soon-to-be opposition party is targeting Spahn…” 

Die Welt wrote on April 15:

“Jens Spahn (CDU) has sharply criticized the charter flights planned by the outgoing federal government for people from Afghanistan to Germany. ‘I find this fundamentally wrong and presumptuous,’ said Spahn… The caretaker government ‘doesn’t even have a majority in parliament,’ complained the CDU politician. ‘Our coalition agreement states very clearly: The reception programs should end…’ 

“The CDU and SPD agree ‘that these flights must be stopped… We don’t want any more flights from Afghanistan to Germany, but rather fly criminals and threats back to Afghanistan,’ Spahn emphasized.” 

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.

Happy Easter From Donald Trump

Newsmax wrote on April 13:

“President Donald Trump hails ‘Holy Week, 2025’ with a message celebrating Jesus’ resurrection and salvation of sins… ‘Beginning with Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and culminating in the Paschal Triduum, which begins on Holy Thursday with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, followed by Good Friday, and reaching its pinnacle in the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night… we acknowledge that the glory of Easter Sunday cannot come without the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the cross… On Easter morning, the stone is rolled away, the tomb is empty, and light prevails over darkness — signaling that death does not have the final word.

“This Holy Week, my Administration renews its promise to defend the Christian faith in our schools, military, workplaces, hospitals, and halls of government. We will never waver in safeguarding the right to religious liberty, upholding the dignity of life, and protecting God in our public square… This week, we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our beloved Nation. We pray that America will remain a beacon of faith, hope, and freedom for the entire world, and we pray to achieve a future that reflects the truth, beauty, and goodness of Christ’s eternal kingdom in Heaven….”

This shows how deeply false Christianity is rooted in the USA, from the very top down. Christ kept the Passover—not the “Lord’s Supper”—on Tuesday evening; He was crucified on Wednesday—not Friday—and He was resurrected Saturday evening before sunset; not Sunday morning. Christ will establish His Kingdom on earth, and He will rule on earth, and we will rule under Him on earth, not in heaven.

Happy Passover From Donald Trump

Breitbart wrote on April 12:

“President Donald Trump issued a Passover message to Jewish families in the United States and to people in Israel, telling them to ‘have a blessed’ Passover holiday. In a video posted to X by the White House account, Trump explained that the story of Exodus ‘is a reminder not only of the enduring strength of the Jewish people,’ but that it also served as an important reminder to put faith ‘in Almighty God no matter what the circumstance’ is…

“‘To all the Jewish families gathering with friends and loved ones this week, have a blessed Passover and may God continue to watch over the Jewish people, the State of Israel, and the United States of America.’”

This year, Passover was held Friday evening, after sunset. The Jews kept it one day too late, on Saturday evening. The story of Exodus does not relate just to the Jews, but to the entire nation of Israel, consisting of twelve tribes—the Jews derived from Judah and are just one tribe of Israel. Many Jews are indeed living in the State of Israel, and many modern descendants of the ancient House of Israel can be found today in the USA. Hence, Trump’s wish that God may watch over the Jewish people, the State of Israel and the USA is quite remarkable from that perspective.

US-China Trade War Escalates

The Associated Press wrote on April 11:

“China announced countermeasures by raising tariffs on U.S. goods from 84% to 125% starting Saturday… Trump’s universal tariffs on China total 145%. When Trump announced Wednesday that China faced 125% tariffs, he did not include a 20% tariff on China tied to its role in fentanyl production… Beijing last week suspended sorghum, poultry and bonemeal imports from some American companies, and put more export controls on rare earth minerals, critical for various technologies…

“Given the size of the two economies, experts fear global economic turmoil…”

The New York Post wrote on April 11:

“US stocks fell on Friday as China struck back at President Trump’s latest tariff with a total 125% tax — further escalating trade tensions between the two nations.”

Can Trump Win the Trade War With China? 

The Telegraph wrote on April 11:

“China has just shown it can defeat America in a trade war. Donald Trump has almost certainly started a battle he cannot win. Free trade is a win-win, so the escalating tariff war between the US and China will be a lose-lose for both parties. Nonetheless, China is more likely to come out on top…

“For a start, the official data suggest that China’s economy grew by about 5 per cent last year. The true figure may well be lower, but a sharp drop in trade with the US alone is unlikely to tip China into recession. Moreover, there are several ways in which Beijing could limit the damage.

“One is simply to reroute more exports to the US via third countries. The US will of course be alert to this and attempt to tighten up the ‘rules of origin’ which determine the tax due on each shipment. But it will be almost impossible to enforce a regime with so many different rates on different goods coming from different countries.

“Beijing could also refocus on selling to other markets. Officials in the EU have already raised concern about the prospect of a flood of cheap imports, as Asian producers divert goods that can no longer sell in the US…

“China’s public debt is relatively low – a little above 60 per cent of GDP – and there is plenty of room for it to rise further. China’s inflation is also relatively low. Consumer prices actually fell by 0.1 per cent year-on-year in March…

“The flipside of China’s huge trade surplus is that US businesses and consumers have come to rely on relatively cheap manufactured goods from China, as well as the rest of Asia. These supplies cannot easily be replaced. Indeed, it would be practically impossible to replicate Asia’s low-cost manufacturing model in Ohio, even if this were desirable. Basic economics tells us that the US will always run deficits in goods with countries such as China, and Vietnam…

“The scope for US fiscal and monetary policy to offset a trade shock is more limited too, partly because the public finances are in an even worse state. Some hope that the new tariffs might raise as much as US$700 billion a year for the US Treasury. But this assumes that these tariffs will do little harm to trade, to the wider economy, or to revenues from other taxes. In reality, most of the economic burden of higher US tariffs will be borne by US taxpayers.

“Another flipside of the large US trade deficits is that other countries have accumulated large holdings of US assets. In particular, China is the second largest foreign holder of Treasury securities, after Japan… The upshot is that President Trump has started a war that he almost certainly cannot win…”

The Daily Beast added on April 11:

“China has announced it will tax U.S. products at 125 percent but it won’t go any higher… ‘Given that American goods are no longer marketable in China under the current tariff rates, if the U.S. further raises tariffs on Chinese exports, China will disregard such measures,’ the Ministry of Finance said in a statement.

“The Commerce Ministry said in a separate statement that the numbers no longer had any ‘economic significance’ and were just a ‘tool of bullying and coercion’ that had turned the U.S. into a ‘joke.’… Although it has ruled out new tit-for-tat tariffs, China has taken other measure to strike at U.S. interests. On Wednesday, it cautioned citizens not to travel to the U.S. and warned Chinese students not to study in ‘certain U.S. states,’ according to Bloomberg. On Thursday, it limited the number of U.S. films that can play in Chinese theaters.”

Huge Trump Tariff U-Turn Will Exempt iPhones and Laptops

The Daily Mail reported on April 12:

“President Donald Trump has spared iPhone, laptops and other electronics from his brutal China tariffs in [a] surprise move. The moves gives the likes of Apple and Samsung a major win while Americans dodge massive price hikes. The list of spared items includes smartphones, laptop computers, hard drives, memory chips, and processors – all tech essentials that are rarely made in the United States. [Also, solar cells, memory cards and flat-panel TV displays have all been exempted.]

“Experts say it would take years to ramp up domestic production, if it happens at all. More than 80 percent of all Apple products are made in China — including a staggering 80 percent of iPads and over half of all Mac computers… In the days following Trump’s tariff announcement, Apple saw $640 billion wiped from its market value. But it is not clear if the tariff timeout is permanent…

“Analysts warn that relocating iPhone production to the U.S. would be a monumental task, both logistically and financially. Bank of America Securities analyst Wamsi Mohan estimates that producing the iPhone 16 Pro Max domestically could increase its price by 91 percent, pushing it from $1,199 to approximately $2,300. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives suggests the cost could soar even higher, potentially reaching $3,500 per unit. 

“In response to the escalating tariffs, Apple has taken swift action to mitigate potential disruptions. The company chartered flights to expedite the shipment of approximately 1.5 million iPhones from India to the U.S., aiming to preempt the impact of the tariffs.”

Do Trump and his administration really know what they are doing? It appears not. Note the next article:

No Exemptions for Electronics

On April 13, The Daily Mail introduced an article with the following headline: “Trump says there will be NO tariff exemptions in dramatic reversal that’ll hit Americans hard.”

The article continued:

“The post on Sunday came after Trump appeared to spare electronics like iPhones and laptops momentarily from his sweeping tariffs, but the prospect of an exemption was short lived. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick clarified on Sunday those products will be part of the tariffs that are still to come…” 

Trump even said that he did not exempt electronics like iPhones or laptops. This is clearly false. On Monday, April 14, he said he is considering a short-term tariff exemption for auto companies. This is getting more and more ridiculous.

Worse Than a Recession

Daily Mail wrote on April 14:

“A hedge fund manager who predicted the 2008 financial crisis warned that a fate even more dire than another recession may be on the horizon… Ray Dalio, the billionaire founder of the world’s largest hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, has expressed deep concern over the American economy in light of Donald Trump’s tariff decisions sending the stock market into a frenzy…. Dalio has spoken extensively on the possibility of America’s economic demise, pointing out that there are other risk factors than the foreign tariffs situation.

“He wrote: ‘Don’t get me wrong, while these tariff announcements are very important developments and we all know that President Trump caused them… [People] are also mostly overlooking the vastly more important forces that are driving just about everything, including the tariffs.’

“One of the key dilemmas he discussed is that ‘monetary/economic order is breaking down‘ because America is in an extreme amount of debt. ‘Also, it should be obvious that the US government debt level and the rate at which the government debt is being added to is unsustainable,’ he asserted.”

Tariff Surcharge

Fox Business wrote on April 12:

“American consumers are noticing a new line on their shopping receipts — a tariff surcharge. The surcharges have been popping up across several industries, impacting nearly everything from prices of clothing to automobile manufacturing.

“Some companies are charging flat fees, while others charge a percentage of the total cost of a given purchase…” 

Investor Confidence Shaken in US Dollar

Business Insider wrote on April 11:

“The euro is increasingly gaining strength against the US dollar. At the end of the week, it rose to $1.13, its highest level in three years… Donald Trump is risking the dollar’s role as the world’s reserve currency, says Deutsche Bank. The euro is becoming an alternative. The consequences would be dramatic. With Trump’s election victory, the US dollar initially appreciated… Economists even expected the euro to fall to parity with the dollar for the first time in ten years, i.e., to one dollar for one euro.

“But… when Trump announced his major tariff package on almost all products and almost all countries in the world at the beginning of April, the mood changed… The dollar lost value. When Trump suddenly suspended most tariffs for 90 days, stocks recovered some of their losses. But the dollar continued to lose value, even faster… This is due to a loss of confidence. The reason is less doubt about the strength of the US economy, but rather about the reliability of US policy and institutions… The globally respected foreign exchange experts at Deutsche Bank Research in London have been warning for days of a dramatic and, above all, lasting dollar crisis…

“On the other hand, Germany’s recent decisions to increase spending on defense and infrastructure have been highly acclaimed internationally and received a very positive response… The euro is increasingly seen as a genuine alternative to the US dollar…

“If the dollar loses its function as a safe haven, this would have enormous consequences for the US’s financial viability. The world’s largest economy has a unique situation: The US is the only country in the world that can afford a gigantic double deficit in both its national budget and its foreign trade. The reason is the exceptional position of the dollar. It ensures that the US receives a steady flow of the new capital it needs…

“The more the dollar loses this role, the smaller the budget deficit the US can still afford without becoming unbalanced… The US’s double deficit [requires] sustained financing from foreign investors. For the US, it will therefore be crucial how foreign investors assess the reliability and risks in the US…

“Statements such as the US claims to ownership of Greenland have already contributed to the destabilization of the dollar…”

We have proclaimed for decades that ultimately, the Euro will become the strongest currency in the world. 

US Economy to Lose Billions as Foreign Tourists Stay Away 

Economic Times wrote on April 14:

“The US economy is set to lose billions of dollars in revenue in 2025 from a pullback in foreign tourism and boycotts of American products, adding to a growing list of headwinds keeping recession risk elevated. Arrivals of non-citizens to the US by plane dropped almost 10% in March from a year earlier… Goldman Sachs Group Inc. estimates in a worst-case scenario, the hit this year from reduced travel and boycotts could total 0.3% of gross domestic product, which would amount to almost $90 billion.

“… many potential visitors are now rethinking their vacation plans amid increased hostility at the border, rising geopolitical frictions and global economic uncertainty… stories of harsh detentions at US airports, ensnaring travelers from countries like France and Germany, started making headlines. Canadians, meanwhile – the largest group of foreign tourists in the US – are choosing to stay put as Trump ramps up attacks on the country’s economy and sovereignty… Canadian flight reservations to the US are down 70% through September versus the same period last year…” 

US Tariffs Stifle German and European Economy

t-online wrote on April 15:

“The US government’s tariff policy caused economic expectations among German financial experts to collapse in April. The ZEW research institute’s sentiment barometer fell by 65.6 points compared to the previous month, to minus 14.0 points… It is the sharpest decline in expectations since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in 2022….

“‘The erratic upheaval in US trade policy is causing expectations for Germany to collapse,’ commented ZEW President Achim Wambach…. ‘[It] has led to a massive increase in global uncertainty.’… ‘The US tariffs will become a heavy burden for the German economy,’ commented Thomas Gitzel, Chief Economist at VP Bank…. In the eurozone as a whole, expectations also collapsed. They fell by 58.3 points to minus 18.5 points. The assessment of the economic situation worsened by 5.7 points to minus 50.9 points.”

Germany’s and Europe’s anger with the US is growing… 

Misunderstanding Regarding Ukraine Comments?

The Times reported on April 12 on X:

“EXCLUSIVE: President Trump’s envoy to Ukraine [Keith Kellog] has said the country could be partitioned ‘almost like Berlin after World War Two’ as part of a peace deal.”

Kellog responded on X:

“The Times article misrepresents what I said. I was speaking of a post-cease fire resiliency force in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty. In discussions of partitioning, I was referencing areas or zones of responsibility for an allied force (without US troops). I was NOT referring to a partitioning of Ukraine.”

It still sounds like partition.

News on the Russia-Ukraine War

Focus wrote on April 14:

“In a meeting with El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, Trump told reporters on Monday that ‘three people are responsible’ for the ‘millions of deaths’ in Ukraine, adding: ‘Let’s say (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is number one, but let’s say (former US President Joe) Biden, who had no idea what the hell he was doing, is number two, and Zelensky is number three.’ Trump also again falsely accused Zelensky of starting Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. ‘When you start a war, you gotta know that you can win the war, right? You don’t start a war with someone who’s 20 times your size and then hope people give you some missiles’…

“The potential next German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz (CDU), has provoked sharp criticism in Moscow with comments about the possible destruction of the Russian bridge to the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. ‘Think twice, Nazi!’ wrote the deputy head of the Russian National Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, on the X platform. The former president was responding to Merz’s comments on the ARD program ‘Caren Miosga.’ In them, the CDU leader not only remained open to the delivery of the Taurus cruise missile to Ukraine. He also stated that the destruction of the Crimean bridge could benefit Ukraine.”

As for the alleged peace talks between Putin and Trump, everything seems to have come to a standstill.

Preparing For the Third Temple

Israel 365 News wrote on April 15:

“Every year before Passover, the Temple movements organize a full-dress practice of the Passover offering, which usually includes an actual lamb slaughtering. The practice is intended to work out any practical details involved in the Temple ritual and to raise awareness of the need to revive the Temple service. A lamb was slaughtered in advance and its proper use in the Temple service was demonstrated.

“This year, the reenactment included, for the first time, musical accompaniment by a corps of Levites. Young Kohanim (Jews descended from Aaron the High Priest) played a prominent role in the reenactment as part of their training for the Third Temple… the police have been increasingly supportive of the reenactment.” 

U.S. Troops to Deploy Near Panama Canal

Tico Times wrote on April 11:

“U.S. troops will be allowed to deploy in areas adjacent to the Panama Canal, according to an agreement signed between the two nations—a significant concession to President Donald Trump, who has been determined to regain control of the strategic interoceanic waterway. The Panamanian government insists these are not military bases…

“Since returning to power in January, Trump has threatened to ‘reclaim’ the maritime route built by the United States, arguing it is under ‘Chinese influence.’ ‘We’re taking back the canal. China has had too much influence (…) together with Panama, we’re kicking them out, sir,’ Hegseth told Trump on Thursday in Washington, briefing him on the agreement and the results of his visit. The three-year agreement, which can be extended, stipulates that the facilities remain the property of the Panamanian state and will be used jointly by the security forces of both countries.

“While visiting Lima on Thursday, Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino stated he rejected the Pentagon’s attempts to include terms like ‘permanent military presence,’ ‘military bases,’ and ‘territorial concessions’ in the agreement. ‘That is simply unacceptable,’ Mulino said, noting that he sent back ‘four versions’ of the agreement drafted by the U.S. Department of Defense for this reason.

“… Amid the tensions, Mulino’s government revealed that the United States removed a phrase recognizing Panama’s ‘inalienable sovereignty over the canal’ from the English version of a joint statement. On Thursday, Panama requested Washington revise the statement to include it…”

This fight is far from over. But the USA won’t take back the Panama Canal.

White House vs. Associated Press

The New York Post wrote on April 8:

“A federal judge ruled Tuesday the White House has to allow the Associated Press to take part in presidential pool coverage, including restoring access to Air Force One and other areas where only certain journalists are allowed to enter to speak to President Trump. DC US District Judge Trevor McFadden— nominated to the federal bench by Trump in 2017 — promptly stayed his own order for five days, giving the administration until Sunday to appeal to a higher court before the ruling takes effect.

“The White House implemented the ban after the AP refused to use the term ‘Gulf of America’ in its coverage after the president renamed the Gulf of Mexico upon taking office Jan. 20… But the court ruled Tuesday that although the White House is not mandated to provide access to every event, it does have the responsibility to allow journalists the same access as similar outlets — even if they disagree with their views…

“Trump’s administration isn’t the first to face accusations of discriminating against outlets based on their content. The Biden White House… [banned] The Post for seven months straight — following bombshell reporting… detailing his involvement in his son and brother’s foreign business relationships. Biden aides at times claimed there was simply no space available — while leaving up to two dozen press seats empty.”  

The Associated Press wrote on April 9:

“The government filed a notice of appeal early Wednesday afternoon on behalf of the three officials sued by the AP — White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, White House chief of staff Susan Wiles and deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich. The one-page notice of appeal gave no other details.”

Discrimination everywhere… As of Monday, April 14, AP was still barred… in violation of the court order.

Trump’s Censorship

Fox News reported on April 16:

“The Associated Press and Reuters released sharply critical statements of the Trump White House this week in response to news that it was cutting traditional wire service slots in the rotating pool. ‘We are deeply disappointed that the administration has chosen to restrict the access of all wire services, whose fast and accurate White House coverage informs billions of people every single day, rather than reinstate The Associated Press to the wire pool,’ AP spokesperson Lauren Easton said, according to reports. ‘The wire services represent thousands of news organizations across the U.S. and the world over,’ Easton added. ‘Our coverage is used by local newspapers and television stations in all 50 states to inform their communities. The administration’s actions continue to disregard the fundamental American freedom to speak without government control or retaliation. This is a grave disservice to the American people.’

“Wire services are outlets like the AP, Reuters and Agence France-Presse that provide news reports to news outlet subscribers. It is common to see AP and other wire service stories reprinted in other publications… In its report about the decision, the AP said it was ‘the latest attempt by the new administration to control coverage of its activities.’ 

“Reuters was also harshly critical of the change. ‘Reuters news coverage reaches billions of people each day, mostly through the thousands of news organizations around the world that subscribe to Reuters services. It is essential to democracy that the public have access to independent, impartial and accurate news about their government. Any steps by the U.S. government to limit access to the President threatens that principle, both for the public and the world’s media,’ a spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Wednesday…

“‘We deeply regret the decision to remove that permanent level of scrutiny and accountability,’ Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait said, according to The New York Times…”

Lawyers to Be Intimidated

Detroit Free Press wrote on April 7:

“A lawyer’s spring break trip to the Dominican Republic with his family ended on a troubling note at Detroit Metro Airport on Sunday: He was detained by federal agents, questioned about his clients, and asked to give up his cellphone, he says. But Dearborn attorney Amir Makled [an American citizen], who is representing a pro-Palestinian demonstrator who was arrested at the University of Michigan last year, stood his ground. He didn’t give up his phone…

“What followed was a 90-minute, back-and-forth verbal tussle between Makled and two federal agents, who, he said, ultimately released him without taking his phone, but looked at his contacts list instead. For the 38-year-old civil rights and criminal defense attorney, it was a daunting experience that he says highlights a troubling phenomenon that’s occurring across the United States: Lawyers are getting targeted for handling issues the administration of President Donald Trump disagrees with.

“Makled’s airport experience comes in the wake of a memo that President Donald Trump issued to the U.S. Justice Department last month, in which he directed the agency to seek sanctions against attorneys, alleging they are helping fuel ‘rampant fraud and meritless claims’ in the immigration system.” 

The Justice Department was clearly weaponized under Biden… now it seems to be weaponized under Trump.

“Immigration Judge: US Can Deport Pro-Palestinian Columbia Student Khalil”

Reuters reported on April 11:

“A U.S. immigration judge in Louisiana ruled on Friday that President Donald Trump’s administration can proceed with its deportation case against Columbia University graduate student and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, who was arrested in New York City last month…

“Khalil, a prominent figure in the pro-Palestinian student protest movement that has roiled Columbia’s New York City campus, was born in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria, holds Algerian citizenship and became a U.S. lawful permanent resident last year. Khalil’s wife, Noor Abdalla, is a U.S. citizen.

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined last month that Khalil should be removed because his presence in the United States has ‘potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences,’ citing a 1952 law called the Immigration and Nationality Act. Khalil and his lawyers have said the Trump administration was targeting him for speech that is protected under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment including the right to criticize American foreign policy…

“Rubio wrote that Khalil should be removed for his role in ‘antisemitic protests and disruptive activities, which fosters a hostile environment for Jewish students in the United States.’ Rubio’s letter did not accuse Khalil of breaking any laws, but he said that the State Department can revoke the legal status of immigrants even when their beliefs, associations or statements are ‘otherwise lawful.’ 

“Baher Azmy, the legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights and one of Khalil’s attorneys, told a press briefing on Thursday that Rubio’s letter ‘is a sort of tacky, Soviet-style diktat that’s equal parts empty and chilling.’ Khalil has said criticism of the U.S. government’s support of Israel’s military occupation of Palestinian territories is being wrongly conflated with antisemitism…

“The American immigration court system is run and its judges are appointed by the U.S. Justice Department, separate from the government’s judicial branch.”

Politico added on April 12:

“Immigration Judge Jamee E. Comans said at the conclusion of a hearing in Jena that the government’s contention that Khalil’s presence in the United States posed ‘potentially serious foreign policy consequences’ was enough to satisfy requirements for his deportation.

“Comans said the government had ‘established by clear and convincing evidence that he is removable.’ Lawyers for Khalil are expected to appeal… Federal judges in New York and New Jersey have ordered the government not to deport Khalil while his case plays out in court.”

One can most certainly agree with the outcome of the case in removing a non-American citizen who supports Hamas and preaches hatred against Jews. What is troublesome is the rationale that the Justice Department can, in its discretion, revoke the legal status of any lawful immigrant, including green card holders, even when their beliefs, associations or statements are “otherwise lawful.”

Arrests at Churches and Schools

The Associated Press wrote on April 11:

“A federal judge on Friday sided with the Trump administration in allowing immigration agents to conduct enforcement operations at houses of worship…

“In February, a federal judge in Maryland ruled against the Trump administration in a similar case brought by a coalition of Quakers and other religious groups. U.S. District Judge Theodore Chang’s order in that case was limited to those plaintiffs. A judge in Colorado sided with the administration in another lawsuit over the reversal of a similar policy that had limited immigration arrests at schools.”

The prospect of immigration agents invading churches and schools to carry out arrests is frightening. Only imagine federal agents storming into classrooms during school hours or churches during worship services to arrest immigrants in attendance. Terrible pictures of Germany’s dark past come to mind.

Supreme Court: Garcia Must Be Returned from El Salvador Prison

The Associated Press wrote on April 10:

“The Supreme Court on Thursday said the Trump administration must work to bring back a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to prison in El Salvador, rejecting the administration’s emergency appeal… U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis had ordered Abrego Garcia, now being held in a notorious Salvadoran prison, returned to the United States by midnight Monday. ‘The order properly requires the Government to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador,’ the court said [unanimously] in an unsigned order with no noted dissents… 

“In Thursday’s case, Chief Justice John Roberts had already pushed back Xinis’ deadline. The justices also said that her order must now be clarified to make sure it doesn’t intrude into executive branch power over foreign affairs, since Abrego Garcia is being held abroad. The court said the Trump administration should also be prepared to share what steps it has taken to try to get him back — and what more it could potentially do…” 

The case was sent back to U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis. Notice what happened next.

Justice Department Keeps Stonewalling 

Politico wrote on April 11:

“An exasperated federal judge commanded the Trump administration Friday to begin providing ‘daily updates’ on whether it is doing anything to comply with her order to return a Maryland man — illegally deported to El Salvador last month — back to the United States. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis scolded the administration for refusing to provide even ‘basic’ details about Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s location, despite her demand for an update by Friday morning… 

“‘I’m asking a very simple question. Where is he?’ Xinis asked Justice Department attorneys at a court hearing. ‘I do not have that information,’ replied Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign. The administration’s stonewalling, which Xinis described as ‘extremely troubling,’ raised the specter that it is defying the order that the judge issued last week and that the Supreme Court largely upheld on Thursday…

“The Trump administration has acknowledged that immigration officials wrongly deported Abrego Garcia to El Salvador on March 15, in violation of a 2019 immigration court order that barred his deportation to that country because of a credible fear of persecution by a local gang. He was taken with other deportees to a notorious anti-terrorism prison in El Salvador.”

In the meantime, Trump said the USA will abide by the Supreme Court’s order. But this did not last long (note next article).The government represented that Garcia is still in El Salvador’s prison but it is up to El Salvador whether or not they will release him. This is such a mess… all caused unnecessarily by overzealous federal officials and the subsequent stonewalling by the Justice Department.

Professor Laurence Tribe Warns!

Breitbart wrote on April 16:

“Left-wing commentator and Harvard Law professor emeritus Laurence Tribe [said] Tuesday: ‘… I have been in school for 50 years studying the constitution, teaching about it. It doesn’t enforce itself. It takes human beings… to take it seriously…’

“He added, ‘It’s not just immigrants, they’re important, but it’s all of us. If the United States government can do what Trump claims and that is just grab people off the street, make claims about them that you never present to a judge, whisk them away to a prison colony in El Salvador, a place notorious for torturing people, for getting them to perform slave labor, if that can happen to Kilmar Abrego Garcia it can happen to anybody… Very few people are standing up…’”

Tribe is very correct in this. He also helped the Worldwide Church of God under Herbert W. Armstrong when it was unlawfully and unconstitutionally invaded and illegally taken over by the Attorney General of the State of California in 1979. 

Garcia has been referred to as an illegal alien; a member of the MS-13 gang; a convicted criminal and a terrorist. None of these accusations are correct or supported by the evidence. Garcia has never been convicted of any crime. There is no credible evidence that he was a member of the MS-13 gang or a terrorist. He was legally allowed to be in the U.S. because a federal immigration judge granted him a legal protective order in 2019 to prevent his removal to El Salvador. Though he entered the U.S. illegally as a teen, the immigration judge’s ruling in late 2019 allowed him to stay in the country legally. However, all these questions should have been decided by the court; not by the government which, in violation of the 2019 protective order, just took him and deported him to El Salvador.

Bad and Deeply Distressing Show of Trump and Bukele 

Daily Mail wrote on April 14: 

“President Donald Trump welcomed El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to the White House. (Bukele describes himself as the “world’s coolest dictator.”) Trump and… Bukele… defended keeping [Garcia] in a notorious megaprison after the Supreme Court ordered his return to the U.S. Bukele argued he couldn’t return… Garcia… who was mistakenly deported along with dozens of other migrants on March 15, to America… Trump indicated he was open to sending Americans convicted of violent crimes to the notorious El Salvadorian megaprison…”

This is getting worse and worse… 

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Rules Against Trump

The Hill wrote on April 17:

“The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday declined to lift a judge’s order that the Trump administration ‘facilitate’ the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia…  The 4th Circuit declined to put Xinis’s ruling on hold just one day after the administration filed the appeal, a swift order that came without waiting for Abrego Garcia’s lawyers to file their response… ‘we shall not micromanage the efforts of a fine district judge attempting to implement the Supreme Court’s recent decision,’ U.S. Circuit Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson wrote for the unanimous three-judge panel…

“‘The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order,’ he continued. ‘Further, it claims in essence that because it has rid itself of custody that there is nothing that can be done. This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear.’

“Wilkinson, an appointee of former President Reagan, was joined on the panel by U.S. Circuit Judge Robert King, who is an appointee of former President Clinton, and U.S. Circuit Judge Stephanie Thacker, who is an appointee of former President Obama.” 

This seems to be the correct decision, under the circumstances.

Kennedy Backpedals

CNN wrote on April 12:

“Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. this week made his strongest endorsement yet of the measles vaccine amid an ongoing outbreak that has killed three and infected more than 600 people across the US. But his recent push for people to get vaccinated for measles stands in stark contrast to Kennedy’s years of work against measles vaccines, including suing the state of New York for its vaccine mandates, and making numerous claims that the shot is dangerous and unnecessary.

“Kennedy’s comments on X last Sunday that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, ‘is the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles’ set off vaccine critics who saw the statement as a betrayal of the health secretary’s longtime views on vaccine safety…. Kennedy followed up this Thursday with a Fox News interview, where he told host Martha MacCallum that it is ‘very hard to tell’ whether measles deaths this year could have been averted with vaccinations.”

What double talk! Is there anyone left in the political arena whom you can believe?

PETA Thanks Trump

Breitbart wrote on April 14:

“Animal rights nonprofit group PETA is praising the Trump administration for its work to end animal testing within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)… FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary said drug manufacturers have performed ‘additional animal testing of drugs’ for which they already have had human data ‘for too long.’…

“PETA, which has blasted health officials such as Dr. Anthony Fauci for past animal testing, released a positive statement in response… ‘All animal use, including failed vaccine and other testing on monkeys at the federally-funded primate centers, must end… PETA thanks the Trump administration for modernizing the FDA and helping spare tens of thousands of animals each year from being killed in expensive and archaic laboratory tests,’ the group wrote.”

This is good news that those cruel and inhumane animal “experiments” are to be stopped… hopefully very soon.  

Articles set forth below show German and European perspectives which we may or may not share, but they reflect an unparalleled development of hostility between the USA and the EU and especially Germany, which has been prophesied to occur in these last days.

A Person Is Either a Man or a Woman

npr wrote on April 16:

“Britain’s Supreme Court has ruled that the legal definition of a woman is someone born biologically female. Wednesday’s ruling is the culmination of a long-running legal battle that began in Scotland in 2018. But it has big implications for transgender people across the United Kingdom — at a time when similar legal challenges are underway in the United States after President Trump banned transgender people from military service.

“The court’s five judges issued an 88-page judgment. In it, they say the “concept of sex is binary, a person is either a woman or a man.”

BBC News added on April 16:

“Harry Potter author JK Rowling posted on social media: ‘It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, they’ve protected the rights of women and girls across the UK.’” 

Many years and huge legal costs could have been avoided if they had only read Genesis 2:21-25. Ignoring God’s Word was a very expensive and time-consuming exercise where the answer was there all the time in Genesis, chapter 2.

Enemies Everywhere

Focus wrote on April 12:

“We [Germans] are now enemies of the American people. Rapists. Looters. Criminals. That’s what Donald Trump called us on ‘Liberation Day’…

“The president has the Europeans in particular in his sights. Of all those who rip off the American people, they are the worst. Sneaky, devious, and never at a loss for an excuse when confronted. Tariffs are not enough to hold them accountable for the injustice they have suffered.

“On Monday, Trump demanded reparations. For every VW, every BMW, and every Mercedes that rolls on American roads, compensation must be paid… ‘There will be no talks as long as they don’t pay us a lot of money on an annual basis, for the present, but also for the past.’

“If you declare the whole world an enemy, you only have enemies everywhere. That’s inevitable….

“If I were an American, I would be a bit quieter on my next visit to Europe. My advice: whisper when ordering in a restaurant. And in a hotel, pretend you got the address wrong. Or adopt an accent that makes you look British. If there is a need, an Australian will work too…

“The USA dominates the entertainment industry, the oil industry, and the financial industry. In the tech world, its dominance is so overwhelming that practically no cell phone or computer can function without its help. Of the 25 most valuable companies in the world, 23 are from the United States. But on US television, Trump’s Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller is declaring, with a voice trembling with indignation, that not a single American car can be seen on German roads.

“American steaks are supposedly nowhere to be found because American meat is ‘beautiful’ and European meat is ‘weak’… This insight comes from the new Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick. I have no idea when the man was last in Germany. I’d be happy to invite Lutnick to inspect the meat counter at Simmel, the Edeka supermarket around the corner from me. US prime beef can be found there in almost every degree of maturity and cut: Tomahawk, T-bone, or ribeye…

“160 million US citizens have invested their money in the stock market. A friend from Washington told me on the phone that the past few days had cost him $50,000. He’s not alone in his loss…

“It’s going to be lonely. Bookings from Canada have plummeted by 70 percent. Others will also consider whether they want to take the risk of traveling to the US. You don’t know if you’ll even get in – or out again... The only people here who are bravely supporting Trump are the people of the AfD. The AfD still believes Trump is one of their own…”

“The US President Detests the Europeans”

ntv wrote on April 12:

“Three members of the European Parliament traveled to Washington to save transatlantic relations: Bernd Lange, Chairman of the Trade Committee, David McAllister, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Brando Benifei, Chairman of the parliamentary delegation to the US. There, they spoke with high-ranking Republicans to explore how they could still convince US President Donald Trump to cooperate with the Europeans – especially on economic policy.

“A difficult undertaking, given that Trump had repeatedly expressed his disgust with Brussels… ‘Trump hates the EU and its institutions. That’s clear. During my visit to Washington, it became clear: Republicans also hate the European Union,’ says Lange. 

“Not ideal conditions for an amicable agreement. Trump would much rather negotiate with individual European states… ‘But if the 27 EU member states stand together, then we are 450 million compared to 330 million Americans,’ says McAllister…

“No matter how emotionally driven Trump’s actions may be, the EU should never make the mistake of allowing itself to be intimidated by him, as Trump sees this as weakness, says Lange… McAllister agrees: ‘Trump is only impressed by those who show strength and also appear confident.’…”

Tesla a Flop?

t-online wrote on April 12:

“Even in the Republican-dominated US state of Montana, Tesla seems to be met with nothing but hostility: As former Defense Minister Karl Theodor zu Guttenberg… reported, he was repeatedly heckled during his test drive of the Cybertruck… The former CSU politician and current lobbyist attributes these reactions to the unpopularity of Tesla CEO Elon Musk… The driving experience in the Cybertruck does not seem to have compensated Guttenberg for this experience: The vehicle itself is an ‘unbelievably hideous pickup monster.’

“This image problem is also reflected in the company’s business figures. Tesla recorded a 13 percent decline in sales in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year… The latest Tesla model is also increasingly being criticized. The Cybertruck is said to be struggling with significant quality issues. By the end of February, only around 46,100 vehicles were produced – significantly less than the original annual target of 250,000 units. Forbes magazine calls the model the biggest flop in the auto industry in decades.”

“Poor Germany: ‘Coalition Agreement Is Friedrich Merz’s Capitulation Document.'”

The Austrian magazine Report 24 wrote on April 12:

“The coalition agreement reads in places like a left-wing election platform for a surveillance state – from mandatory digital ID and electronic patient records to a ‘ban on lying’ and the automated transfer of data from online platforms to law enforcement agencies, everything that enables total control and persecution of citizens is represented. Meanwhile, all of the Union’s relevant election promises have been scrapped… The AfD views the agreement as a capitulation document. Initial polls show it is now the strongest party in Germany.

“Below you can read the statement by the chairmen of the AfD parliamentary group in the German Bundestag, Alice Weidel, and Tino Chrupalla:

“‘This coalition agreement is Friedrich Merz’s capitulation document. The paper bears throughout the hallmarks of the election loser, the SPD, peppered with nods to the Greens, who will always be at the table in this cabinet.

“‘It is a “business as usual” document that offers no solutions to the major future issues facing our country. There is no departure in sight from the electric car-based planned economy that is ruining our key industry. Energy remains expensive because nuclear energy and cheap gas remain taboo topics. 

“‘Apart from platitudes and announcements, nothing of the boastfully promised “migration turnaround” can be found in the paper… The coalition partners praise themselves for not raising taxes. But they promised tax cuts… But when it comes to debts at the expense of our children and grandchildren, they summon the defeated Bundestag and amend the Basic Law…”

What the AfD is stating here is, sadly, not far off.

Attack on Germany’s “Freedom of Expression” 

Focus wrote on April 12: 

“Journalist David Bendels was sentenced to probation for distributing a distorted image of Nancy Faeser on X… Faeser [currently still the lame-duck Federal Minister of the Interior] had posed with a sign reading ‘We remember’ on the occasion of a memorial day. Bendels, in turn, had replaced the lettering with ‘I hate freedom of expression.’ The court thus considered the offense of defamation under Section 188, Paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code [defaming politicians] to have been fulfilled.

“However, this cannot be said, says FOCUS columnist Jan Fleischhauer. Faeser ‘disregarded press freedom in Germany like no other,’ he said… After all, she tried to ‘shut down a right-wing magazine that didn’t suit her.’ Even during the coronavirus pandemic, as Minister of the Constitution, she had a questionable attitude toward the right to demonstrate. ‘She recommended to citizens they could just stay at home. Why do we even have to take to the streets for these lateral thinker (“Querdenker”) demonstrations? Demonstrating at home would be nice too…’ 

“The fact that the public prosecutor’s office took action in this case at all was due to Faeser’s insistence. ‘In the end, that means: She will go down in history as the Federal Minister of the Interior who took government-critical images on X more seriously than the marches of hardcore anti-Semites on German streets shouting ‘Death to Israel.’ Strangely, she didn’t take action.”

“‘…if satirical images are considered hate and incitement…then freedom of expression is in jeopardy.'” 

It surely is. 

Focus wrote on April 11: 

“Was someone smoking something under their robe? That, at least, would be an explanation… Unfortunately, it’s not a slip-up. In Germany, cases are increasing in which judges and public prosecutors demonstrate an astonishing, indeed astonishingly disturbed, attitude toward freedom of expression.”

Unbelievable Verdict Against an Anti-Coronavirus Protester

Report 24 wrote on April 15: 

“… on the evening of May 1, 2021, a group of around 50 people [gathered] in Tuttlingen… Their goal: to protest against the excessive coronavirus measures. Dressed in black, some with white makeup on their faces, carrying torches and some with flags, the group moved… toward the city center. But… the police [obstructed] their way because the gathering had not been registered… The woman, now 59, had also participated in the demonstration…

“The Tuttlingen District Court had already sentenced her to eight months’ probation. But she rejected the verdict and appealed. She was charged with disturbing the peace, violating the ban on assembly and wearing masks, and carrying a ‘weapon’—a torch. The Rottweil Regional Court has now re-set the sentence: a €7,500 Fine… The verdict is final.

“The verdict shows that the judiciary takes tough action, even years later, when rules are broken – especially when the ‘perpetrators’ are government critics. But given the realization that the measures were excessive and in some cases unconstitutional, the punishment could only further fuel anger against the state. Citizens are demanding an investigation – instead, they are receiving such verdicts. On social media, users are expressing incomprehension.

“It cannot be ruled out that [in] Germany, people will soon end up in prison again because of their political views, even if their statements have nothing to do with incitement. Harsh criticism of the government can nowadays be considered lèse majesté [offense against the dignity of a ruling head of state] … and punished…”

Germany again on the way towards a dictatorship?  

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.