Trump says no deal with Iran except “unconditional surrender”

President Trump says there will be no deal struck with Iran except “unconditional surrender.” In response to the Iranian president’s statement that “some countries have begun mediation efforts” to end the war, President Trump said Iran’s surrender will be the only acceptable outcome. He wrote online that after a new leader is selected, the United States and its allies “will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction.” And he promised that Iran will be “economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.”

GOP Rep. Gonzales ends re-election bid amid ethics probe

A GOP Congressman facing an ethics investigation is withdrawing from his re-election race. The decision by Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales of Texas to end his re-election bid came after he admitted an affair with a former staff member who later died by suicide. But Gonzales vowed to finish out his term in Congress. This week, the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into his conduct, prompting calls from GOP leadership to end his reelection bid, and from others in Congress to resign.

House follows Senate’s lead, rejects war powers resolution

The House of Representatives has rejected an effort to stop the Trump administration’s war against Iran.
By a tally of 219 to 212, House lawmakers voted down a war powers resolution, one day after the Senate rejected a similar measure. The resolution would have limited President Trump’s power to continue major combat operations against Iran and ​required that ​any hostilities against Iran be authorized by ​Congress.

Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

President Trump has fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The president announced the personnel decision on social media, saying he’ll nominate Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin to replace Noem. Her departure comes two days after she faced tough questioning from Republicans and Democrats during congressional testimony. Noem, who is the first Cabinet secretary to leave during Donald Trump’s second term, has faced waves of criticism as she’s overseen the president’s immigration crackdown, including the shooting deaths of two citizens in Minneapolis.

Trump wants to choose Iran’s next Supreme Leader

President Trump wants to be involved in choosing Iran’s next supreme leader. Speaking to the Axios and Reuters news outlets, the president said he has to be involved in the appointment, like he was with the leader in Venezuela. He said he would refuse an Iranian leader who would continue the same policies and he ruled out the son of the late Ayatollah, calling him a “light weight.” The Pentagon has denied that the goal of the war against Iran is regime change, but the president’s comments may raise more questions about the military campaign’s objective.

GOP Sen. Steve Daines won’t seek re-election in the fall

Another Senate Republican is calling it quits. In a surprise announcement, GOP Senator Steve Daines of Montana dropped his bid for a third term. He announced his withdrawal just minutes before a filing deadline for candidates. That makes Daines the 6th Senate Republican to not seek re-election in this fall’s midterms. Montana U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme, also a Republican, entered the race shortly before the state’s deadline and President Trump immediately offered his endorsement.

House committee opens ethics investigation into GOP member

The House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation of Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales of Texas. The top Republican and Democratic members on the committee said an investigative panel would look into whether Gonzales engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee in his office and whether he discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges. The congressman, now in his third term, has said he would not step down. In this week’s GOP primary election, Gonzalez was forced into a May runoff against Brandon Herrera.

Senate rejects resolution to restrict Trump’s war against Iran

The U-S Senate has rejected an effort to halt the Trump administration’s war against Iran. Senate Republicans voted down a war powers resolution that would restrict President Trump’s ability to continue major combat operations against Iran. The vote fell mostly along party lines,It was a sign of early GOP public support for a conflict that has rapidly spread across the Middle East. Democrats complain that the war is not justified and that there’s no clear U-S exit strategy.

House panel votes to subpoena AG Bondi over Epstein case

House lawmakers have voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi for her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation. Five Republicans joined Democrats on the House Oversight Committee to support the subpoena, which was proposed by GOP Congresswoman Nancy Mace of South Carolina. The action reflects continued frustration among conservatives with the Justice Department’s review and release of Epstein documents. In a social media post, Mace wrote: “The American people want answers on the Epstein files, and so do we.”

Trump to endorse a candidate in Texas GOP Senate runoff

President Trump is promising to intervene in the Senate Texas Republican primary. Leading up to this week’s GOP primary in Texas, the president did not endorse a candidate. But now with Senator John Cornyn and Texas AG Ken Paxton heading for an election runoff at the end of May, Donald Trump said he’ll soon be making an endorsement. He also wrote online that the candidate he doesn’t embrace should “immediately” drop out of the race.” The winner of the runoff will face Democrat James Talarico.

Pentagon, White House criticize news coverage of U.S. military deaths

The Trump administration is complaining about the news media’s coverage of U-S military deaths in the war against Iran. From the Pentagon to the White House, Trump administration officials chastised the press for “front page” news coverage of 6 American deaths in the Iranian conflict. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused the press of only wanting to make the president look bad. News organizations have long reported U-S military deaths, including during the Biden administration’s military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Pentagon: U.S. military is gaining control of Iranian airspace

The Pentagon says the United States is quickly gaining air superiority over Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that the U.S. military is quickly taking over Iranian airspace. He also reported on a U.S. submarine torpedo sinking an Iranian warship. Despite progress in the opening days of the war, Hegseth said the U-S can’t stop all air attacks. And he refused to commit to a time frame for how long the conflict may last. Top officials caution that U-S service members “remain in harm’s way.”

Cornyn and Paxton to face off in Texas Senate runoff election

Congress prepares to vote on a war powers resolution

Congress is preparing to vote on a war powers resolution following President Trump’s decision to wage war against Iran. Both the House and Senate are getting ready to vote on a resolution that would restrict Donald Trump’s ability to continue major combat operations against Iran. Under the U.S. Constitution, it’s up to Congress, not the president, to decide when the country goes to war. The looming votes come as lawmakers demand answers over the military strategy in Iran, exit plan, and costs to Americans in lives and dollars.

Trump threatens to cut off all trade with Spain over Iran dispute

President Trump is lashing out at Spain for not supporting U-S military attacks on Iran. During an Oval Office meeting with Germany’s chancellor, the president complained about Spain’s lack of support for the war against Iran. At one point saying that U-S military jets could “just fly in” and use Spain’s air bases without permission. The president also said he plans to “cut off all trade” with Spain. It’s unclear how that could happen, given that Spain is under the umbrella of the European Union, which negotiates trade deals on behalf of all 27 member countries.

U.S. citizens face difficulty leaving Mideast during Iran conflict

Concerns are being raised about U-S citizens who are having trouble evacuating from the Middle East. The State Department has urged Americans across more than a dozen countries in the Mideast to immediately depart the region using “commercial transportation.” But many airlines have canceled flights. Some current and former lawmakers from both political parties are criticizing the Trump administration’s handling of the situation. However, the White House insists the State Department is working to help Americans return home.

Trump claims U.S. has “knocked out” most Iranian systems

President Trump says the U-S military has the upper hand in the war against Iran. The president said the ongoing combat operations have been very successful in eliminating Iran’s forces and systems. He also disputed claims that Israel forced the U-S to take action. The president said, “If anything, [he] might have forced Israel’s hand” because he believed Iran was going to attack.

Trump says oil, gas prices will drop after Iran conflict ends

President Trump believes the war against Iran is worth a temporary spike in oil and gas prices. The president acknowledged that oil and gas prices were going to rise as the U.S. remains engaged in the ongoing Middle East conflict, but said prices will come down. Triple-A reported the average price for a gallon of gasoline jumped 11 cents overnight Tuesday.

It’s Primary Day in Texas, Arkansas, and North Carolina

Three states are kicking off the 2026 election cycle with primaries. Texas, Arkansas, and North Carolina are holding primary elections for party nominations ahead of the November midterms. Among those three, Texas is generating the most interest with heated Senate races. Incumbent Republican John Cornyn is facing off against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Congressman Wesley Hunt. In the Democratic contest, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett is facing State Representative James Talarico.

Court rejects DOJ’s attempt to slow tariff refund process

A federal court has rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to slow the tariff refund process. The Justice Department wanted to slow the process of refunding billions of dollars’ worth of tariffs. But a federal court refused, sending it to a lower court to sort out. The legal activity follows last month’s Supreme Court ruling that struck down the tariffs as illegal, clearing the way for the importers who paid them to seek refunds.. However, the high court offered no guidance on refunds.

Trump: Iran operations to last 4-5 weeks, but could be longer

President Trump says the U-S military action against Iran could last a month or more. Two days after authorizing Epic Fury, the president said combat operations against Iran will take some time. Speaking at a White House Medal of Honor ceremony, he said the U-S military will do what is necessary to meet the objectives of destroying Iran’s missiles and navy, and preventing that country from developing nuclear weapons and sponsoring terror.

Hegseth says Iran war “is not Iraq…is not endless”

The Trump administration is insisting the war with Iran will not be an “endless” Middle East conflict.
Addressing concerns that combat operations could spiral into a long-running regional conflict, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said this military mission has a defined objective. He said the mission is to “destroy the missile threat” from Iran, destroy its navy, and prevent it from developing nuclear weapons. Hegseth wouldn’t rule out putting U-S troops on the ground, saying the Pentagon will not forecast what it will or will not do.

Trump warns of more U.S. casualties in ongoing Iran combat

President Trump is paying tribute to the first American casualties in the military attack against Iran. In a White House video statement, the president offered his prayers and condolences. He also warned that, “sadly, there will likely be more” U-S casualties before the end of combat operations.

Trump mourns loss of U.S. troops in strikes against Iran

President Trump says American troops have died during the U-S attacks on Iran. The president mourned the loss of American service members and said there could be more U-S casualties in the coming weeks. In a video statement, he called those killed “true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.” The president also offered prayers for the full recovery of wounded U-S troops.