The State Department has ordered some diplomats and family members to depart from its missions in Saudi Arabia and is drawing up plans for further withdrawals from other embassies. Reports also said the Pentagon was pulling American troops from bases in the region.
Archiv: Donald J. Trump
Saudi Arabia spends billions on its military. Why can‘t it stop deadly attacks by Iran‘s Houthi allies?
„No country can ever have a 100% interception rating, that just doesn‘t really exist,“ Elizabeth Dent, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told CBS News, but that „was a hell of a one to miss.“
Saudi Arabia spent $83 billion on defense last year, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute â far more than any other country in the Middle East, including Israel.
So why has the kingdom struggled to stop the Houthi barrage?
Trump and Republicans fight to protect the midtermsâ most surprising battleground
(October 19, 2026)
Republicans havenât lost a Kansas Senate race in almost 100 years, but the state has become central to the fight for the Senate majority.
Yair Golan accuses Netanyahu of plotting fresh Iran strikes to serve âpolitical and personal considerationsâ
Yair Golan, the leader of the Democrats in Israel, has condemned Prime Minister Netanyahu following allegations that the premier planned fresh strikes against Iran just weeks before the upcoming Knesset elections.
Netanyahu ‚completely lacks legitimacy‘ to launch new war ahead of elections: Opposition leader Golan
His remarks came after The Financial Times reported that US President Donald Trump had rejected Netanyahu‘s plan to strike infrastructure and nuclear facilities in Iran, a military campaign that was reportedly set to begin on Oct. 10.
Trump opposes any military escalation ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm congressional elections in the US, fearing negative repercussions for the Republican Party‘s electoral prospects, according to the report.
Golan, also a former deputy chief of staff of the Israeli army, said in a post on US social media platform X: „Netanyahu is a sick and weak leader clinging to power by force, willing to put Israel‘s security at risk to save himself.“
Trump gives âwarriorâ Netanyahu âcomplete and total endorsementâ for reelection
âBibi Netanyahu has been Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition,â writes Trump, âincluding that coming from even Israel, itself.â
Trump says Netanyahu has âendured and, in fact, he has thrived!â
âI have watched Bibi under the most trying of times,â writes Trump. âNormal men or women in such situations would have wilted under the pressure â But Bibi did not wilt, he actually got stronger, and maintains that same Strength today. This is the kind of Partner that the United States of America is demanding of Israel, a Country for which it has done so much.â
Trumpâs MAGA Pals Push Sinister Martial Law Plot
Tina Peters, a prominent MAGA election activist, met with Trump in October. She was convicted in 2024 of crimes tied to a breach of election equipment, then freed this year after Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, commuted her sentence. Peters and her attorney, Peter Ticktin, also visited Trump at the White House in late June.
Ticktin, who is Trumpâs childhood friend, was among the speakers on a Sept. 30 video call for MAGA election activists streamed on Rumble. They warned of widespread election security breaches they believe will hit in November, and they urgently pushed for remedies.
The Supporters Urging Trump to Declare Martial Law for the Midterms
(September 23, 2026)
The way Ticktin sees it, there are three possible outcomes this fall. The firstâa smooth electionâwonât happen in his view because, he claims without evidence, Democrats already cheated in the primaries. The second is that Trump takes action before the election to prevent cheating. The last option is that Trump tries to declare martial law on or around November 3. âEither martial law, or step aside,â he told us about Trumpâs choices in the last scenario. When we asked about the prospect of riots if Trump tries to overturn the election results, Ticktin said he was not concerned. âBelieve me, our armed forces are a lot bigger than they are,â he said.
Gas Prices and the 2026 Midterms
(March 26, 2026)
Few economic indicators hit voters as fast or as visibly as the price of gasoline. Academic research stretching back decades confirms what political operatives have long understood intuitively: when gas prices rise sharply, presidential approval falls, and when approval falls heading into a midterm, the presidentâs party loses seats. That chain is being tested dramatically right now.
Gas Prices Could Cost Republicans the Midterms
(September 14, 2026)
If Democrats manage to take back the House and Senate in November despite an inhospitable electoral map, the Trump effect on gas prices may well be the reason.
Trumps Drohung: HĂ€nde hoch, Diesel her!
(October 1, 2026)
Alles nur, weil Trump seine Umfragewerte mit einem kurzen MilitĂ€r-Quickie im Iran pushen wollte. Das jedoch löste eine destruktive Kettenreaktion sondergleichen aus, wie ein Elefant, nein, eine Atombombe im Porzellanladen. Diese Ăra wird in ein paar Jahren zumindest gute Serien auf Netflix oder HBO erzeugen, und man wird sich fragen, wie zum Teufel ein Mensch wie Trump je an die Macht kommen konnte.
Trump Signs Order Exempting Russia From Sanctions Law
President Trump signed an executive order on Friday night exempting Russia from a new sanctions measure that Congress passed last month, offering another economic lifeline to Russian President Vladimir V. Putin as the United States turns to Russia for help in lowering gas prices.
Trump puts new Russia sanctions that he recently signed into law on hold, citing national interest
Trumpâs unexpected decision comes a week after he stunningly said the U.S. had agreed to purchase diesel from Russia to try to bring down global energy prices, despite that potentially hurting Ukraine in its war with Russia.
An AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll published Oct. 1 found that Americans disapprove of the presidentâs handling of the Iran war and blame him for higher prices.
Order to limit Starshield for Ukraine came from inside White House, sources say
The move to temporarily restrict the vital communications system came as President Donald Trump has pressured Kyiv to stop its attacks on Russian refineries, which he has blamed for the âsoaring energy prices that are denting his Republican Party‘s prospects in the November midterm elections.
But experts say that surge in energy costs is mainly the result of the US-Israeli war with Iran, which brought Iranian âattacks on energy facilities and has largely shut the vital Strait of Hormuz.
Report: Netanyahu pressed Trump to renew Iran fighting before election; PMO denies
The US officials tell the network they came away with the impression that Netanyahu wanted to launch an attack before the elections, with Netanyahu citing concerning steps by Iran in the nuclear arena.
Even though Trump has said publicly that he will not resume attacks on Iran before the US midterms, the IDF and CENTCOM are both at a high state of readiness and are completing preparations in case Trump changes his mind, the report quotes unnamed sources saying.
âI Can Call Him Whatever the Hell I Wantâ: Trump Misnames Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed
During a rally in Tennessee on Saturday, President Trump repeatedly misnamed Michiganâs Democratic Senate candidate Abdul ElâSayed as âMohammed,â calling him a âjihadist.â
President Donald Trump: âLike Mohammed El-Sayed â I call him Mohammed. Somebody said, ‚His name isn‘t Mohammed; itâs Abdul.â I said, ‚To me, it‘s Mohammed.â Iâm the president. I can call him whatever the hell I want. To me, heâs Mohammed, and heâs a radical jihadist.â
Trump rally crowd chants ‚deport‘ as president rips Ilhan Omar after federal raid
Two sources close to the investigation told Fox News Digital the search of Omar‘s home stemmed from a criminal fraud investigation into the Somali-born congresswoman‘s immigration paperwork, which was filled out by her late father.
Beteiligung der Marine an EUNAVFOR Aspides im Roten Meer soll fortgefĂŒhrt werden
(October 9, 2026)
Am 8. Oktober 2026 haben die parlamentarischen Beratungen ĂŒber die Fortsetzung der Beteiligung bewaffneter deutscher StreitkrĂ€fte an der von der EuropĂ€ischen Union gefĂŒhrten Operation European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Aspides begonnen.
Daten und Fakten
– Die personelle Obergrenze soll unverĂ€ndert bis zu 350 Soldatinnen und Soldaten betragen.
– Das Mandat soll bis zum 31. Oktober 2027 verlĂ€ngert werden.
– EUNAVFOR Aspides (âSchildeâ) ist eine Operation der EuropĂ€ischen Union. Der Einsatz wurde am 8. Februar 2024 von der EU beschlossen. Die Bundesregierung sprach sich fĂŒr eine deutsche Beteiligung am 16. Februar 2024 aus und das Parlament gab am 23. Februar 2024 grĂŒnes Licht.
– Der deutsche Beitrag zum Einsatz umfasst derzeit Stabspersonal im Hauptquartier im griechischen Larissa, sowie auf dem FĂŒhrungsschiff der Operation. DarĂŒber hinaus erfolgen regelmĂ€Ăige EinsatzflĂŒge zur Bereitstellung luftgestĂŒtzter SeeraumĂŒberwachung und die grundsĂ€tzliche Möglichkeit zur Beteiligung mit seegehenden Einheiten.
(…)
Einsatzgebiet
Das Einsatzgebiet von EUNAVFOR Aspides umfasst die internationalen GewĂ€sser im Roten Meer, im Golf von Aden, im Arabischen Meer, im Golf von Oman und im Persischen Golf. Im Bereich der StraĂe von Hormus gibt es allerdings ein gesondert ausgewiesenes Einsatzgebiet mit besonderen Regelungen. Dort gibt es fĂŒr Aspides derzeit keine Befugnisse fĂŒr das MinenrĂ€umen oder den Schutz von Schiffen.
Netanyahu denounces Riyadh attack, calls for a region „united against threats“
„Terrorism targets innocent people and seeks to spread fear and instability. It must be confronted with resolve,“ said Netanyahu in a statement posted to X. „Israel looks forward to a strong Middle Eastâone that stands united against threats, protects its people, and builds a future of security, cooperation, and prosperity for all the peoples of our region.“
U.S. „may“ join Saudi strikes on Houthis, Trump says
„We may. We‘re gonna look at it,“ Mr. Trump said when asked about the possibility as he left the White House for a campaign rally in Tennessee. „We just found out about the recent attack [on the airport]. So we‘ll make a decisionâ we move very quickly.“
Mr. Trump was also asked about whether the Houthi strike on Riyadh‘s airport would change his previously announced decision not to launch any potential strikes on Iran until after the midterms.
„Well, we‘re gonna take a look,“ he responded.
US seizes $3 million in fuel shipments to Cuba as crackdown continues
(October 7, 2026)
The US said on Wednesday it had seized 90 separate shipments of biodiesel bound for Cuba worth nearly $3 million, the second time âin a week US authorities have announced the seizure of „illegal“ fuel âen route to the island nation.
Gas Prices Could Cost Republicans the Midterms
(September 14, 2026)
If Democrats manage to take back the House and Senate in November despite an inhospitable electoral map, the Trump effect on gas prices may well be the reason.
Trump rips Zelensky amid Russia diesel deal feud: âI suggest they get a new leaderâ
It comes as the president faces growing pressure to address concerns over mounting energy costs due to global fuel shortages during the U.S.âs military operations against Iran and the Russia-Ukraine war.
The ICC strongly rejects US sanctions against the institution
This measure targets an independent judicial institution, created by treaty and entrusted by 125 States Parties with investigating and prosecuting genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. It is an attempt to obstruct the course of justice and to prevent the Court from doing what it was created to do. It is an assault on the rule of law and on the very foundations of the international legal order which strikes at the simple principle that no one stands above the law.
The designation is aimed at disrupting the Courtâs operations and at intimidating those who work for or cooperate with the Court. The Court, for its part, will not be deterred. âThe Court will continue to fully discharge its mandate, with independence and impartiality, acting only on the basis of the law and the evidence, for the sake of the countless victims of grave crimesâ said ICC President Tomoko Akane.
»Schurkengericht«: US-Regierung verhÀngt weitreichende Sanktionen gegen Strafgerichtshof
Wir werden Transaktionen mit diesem Schurkengericht verbieten, seine Ressourcen beschneiden und seine Arbeit lahmlegen«, hieĂ es weiter. Washington stöĂt sich insbesondere an den im â vergangenen Jahr erlassenen Haftbefehlen des Gerichts gegen israelische Regierungsvertreter, darunter MinisterprĂ€sident âBenjamin Netanjahu. Zudem ermittelte der IStGH zu mutmaĂlichen Kriegsverbrechen von US-Soldaten in Afghanistan, stellte das Vorhaben jedoch nach eigenen Angaben inzwischen zurĂŒck.
âThe truth is Cuba has already fallenâ: the United Statesâ strategy to subdue the island
(October 2, 2026)
âThe president says anything and Marco Rubio finds himself in a very difficult position to react to what he says,â says Andy GĂłmez, the former director of the Cuban and Cuban American Studies Institute at the University of Miami, who helped shape a policy proposal for U.S.-Cuba relations in the Obama era. âThe scene is like a soap opera, a soap opera lived every day in Miami and in Cuba. There is a major global problem with the war with Iran, for which no solution is in sight; so Cuba has had to wait.â
We Are All Living at the Mercy of Donald Trumpâs Brain
(August 18, 2026)
And in truth, whatever happens as far as Iran is concerned (or for that matter Greenland) by the time this piece appears, who among us wonât have long known that, with such a president, we simply couldnât be in a stranger, more happenstantial, less predictable universe? For all I (we) know, by the time it comes out or anytime thereafter, âourâ president could be doing more or less anything, including, say, kidnapping the first secretary of the communist party and leader of Cuba, Miguel DĂaz-Canel BermĂșdez. After all, if he could do so for Venezuelaâs leader, why not Cubaâs?
The truth is that Donald Trumpâs brain, returned to the White House by 49.8% of American voters in 2024, should make us all anxious (even them). At any moment, any thought might enter it and the next thing you know… well, unfortunately, you already do know that, whatever it might be, weâre not likely to know until it smacks us all in the face!
Trump suggests letting Iran âtake outâ Los Angeles and San Diego at campaign rally
Trump said he wanted to âsee a tremendous victoryâ in the November election, ââcause it verifies all the things we did. And again, remember, with the war itâs just artificial, itâs a little bit high.â
âItâs a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe,â he continued. âThey can take out a city, let âem take out Los Angeles, let âem take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay.â
The crowd cheered.
Europas Rechte leckt Trump die Stiefel
Es zeigt sich: Immer wieder haben sich gerade jene Parteien, die behaupten, die Nation an die erste Stelle setzen zu wollen, als die eifrigsten VerrÀter der Interessen ihres eigenen Volkes erwiesen. Sich mit Trump und Netanjahu gut zu stellen, scheint schlichtweg wichtiger.
In diesem Sinne kuschelt sich die radikale Rechte auch eng an das liberal-konservative Establishment in den europĂ€ischen Institutionen. TatsĂ€chlich hat sich die einstige Kluft zwischen diesen beiden Fraktionen seit Jahren stetig verringert. Die jĂŒngsten Kriegshandlungen in Nahost machen diese AnnĂ€herung noch deutlicher sichtbar. Beide Seiten sind nur allzu gerne bereit, ihre Rolle als Untergebene in der globalen Hierarchie zu spielen.
Zuckerberg, Altman, other Big Tech moguls among attendees at Trump-Xi dinner
President Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House for a state dinner Thursday, whose guest list is full of tech billionaires and some of the worldâs most powerful business leaders.
Dressed in black tuxedoes, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos were among the corporate elite invited to attend the dinner, according to a guest list released by the White House.