Trump Warns Iran: ‘the clock is ticking’

With Trump back from Beijing, watch to see what happens this week as the Iranian regime continues to demonstrate their true colors. The report comes from Axios: President Trump told Axios in a phone call that “the clock is ticking” for Iran and warned that if the Iranian regime doesn’t come with a better offer for a deal “they are going to get hit much harder.” … Trump is expected to convene his top national security team in the Situation Room on Tuesday to discuss military options, two U.S. officials said. Trump spoke Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the situation in Iran. Trump met Saturday with members of his national security team at his Virginia golf club to discuss Iran, a source with knowledge said. Attendees included Vice President JD Vance, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. State of play: Pakistan’s interior minister visited Tehran on Saturday and Sunday for talks with senior Iranian leaders about the deal for ending the war. Pakistan is the official mediator between the U.S. and Iran (Axios).

Amb. David Purdue on Trump Visit to China: Needed ‘to correct the malaise in the United States over the last 25 years’

 


The comments from former Georgia Senator and now the U.S. Ambassador to China. Washington Times: President Trump’s visit to Beijing was a strategic diplomatic engagement that advanced his top priority of correcting a decades-old economic imbalance that “hollowed out” crucial American industries, U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue said Sunday. He called the trip historic — the first presidential trip to China in nine years — and described the president’s talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping as “candid, cordial and consequential.” “The first thing you have to realize is it’s going to be very difficult to run independent of China. They’re the second largest economy in the world, 1.4 billion people,” Mr. Perdue said on “Fox News Sunday.” “But what President Trump is doing is trying to correct the malaise in the United States over the last 25 years, where we saw some of our strategic industries hollowed out by the Chinese” (Washington Times).

Iran Strikes UAE Nuclear Power Plant

The drone strike did not compromise the nuclear reactor, but the very fact that Iran was attempting to do so is a dangerous escalation—and will, no doubt—steel the resolve of the Emiratis. Financial Times: The United Arab Emirates said a drone strike caused a fire at the perimeter of its Barakah nuclear power plant, but that there were no injuries and radiation levels remained safe. The emirate’s state news agency said on Sunday that authorities were “handling a fire that broke out in an electric generator outside the inner perimeter” of the Barakah power plant “caused by a drone strike”…. Since the war began, Iran has launched almost 3,000 drones and missiles against the UAE, attacking Gulf states in an attempt to raise the costs of the conflict to the US, its regional allies and the global economy…. The UAE foreign ministry said the attacks “constitute a dangerous escalation, an unacceptable act of aggression, and a direct threat to the country’s security” (Financial Times).

Key Terrorist Eliminated, I: Israel Kills Key Planner of October 7 Attacks

Izz al-Din al-Haddad was the head of military operations for Hamas after the death of Yahyah Sinwar and, subsequently, the death of Mohammed Sinwar. IDF: The IDF and the ISA announce that yesterday (Friday), in a precise strike in the area of the City of Gaza, the terrorist Izz al-Din al-Haddad was eliminated. Haddad was Head of Hamas’ military wing and one of the architects of the brutal October 7th massacre…. Throughout the war, Haddad was involved in the holding of many Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity. Haddad managed Hamas’ hostage captivity system and surrounded himself with hostages in an attempt to prevent his elimination. Haddad is one of the longest-serving commanders in Hamas, having joined the terrorist organization during its early establishment, and maintained close ties with Hamas leadership. Throughout his time in the terrorist organization, Haddad played a central role in Hamas’ terrorist rule and held a number of senior positions, such as the commander of the Gaza City Brigade and commander of additional units (IDF). Wall Street Journal: Nickolay Mladenov, the Gaza high representative for President Trump’s Board of Peace, said this week that Hamas’s failure to disarm had stymied progress on a peace deal and that the group was taxing Gazans and blocking contractors from building temporary shelter for the population. “It is in plain sight for all of us,” Mladenov said. “In the areas that it still controls. Hamas is consolidating its grip on the population.” Hamas has denied the allegations (Wall Street Journal).

Key Terrorist Eliminated, II: US Targets Number Two Leader of ISIS in Nigeria

Sebastian Gorka calls it: an operation that makes any fictional representation look amateurish, American operators, working with local Nigerian forces, killed Abu-Bilal-al-Minuki, the second in command for ISIS global operations, a man with the blood of countless innocents on his hands, including many Christians (Gorka). Fox News: “Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing,” Trump continued. “He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans” … Al-Minuki was “the most active terrorist in the world and has a significant history of involvement in planning attacks and directing hostage taking,” AFRICOM wrote. The announcement comes after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out multiple strikes against more than 30 ISIS targets in Syria in February as part of a joint military effort to “sustain relentless military pressure on remnants from the terrorist network.” CENTCOM said U.S. forces struck ISIS infrastructure and weapons-storage targets using fixed-wing, rotary-wing and unmanned aircraft (Fox News). U.S. Africa Command: Last night’s operation targeted a significant presence of ISIS fighters in Northeastern Nigeria eliminating multiple high value individuals including Abu-Bilal al-Minuki (AFRICOM).

Key Terrorist Captured: Iraqi Islamist Responsible for Nearly 20 Terror Attacks

Fox News reports:  An Iraqi man accused of orchestrating nearly 20 terrorist attacks across Europe and plotting attacks on Jewish institutions in the United States has been brought to New York to face federal terrorism charges after what the FBI described as a major international operation. Since early March, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi and his associates allegedly planned and coordinated 18 attacks in the name of Ashab al-Yamin, a pro-Iranian Islamist group that has taken credit for attacks against Jewish schools, synagogues and charities in Europe, as well as American, Israeli and Iranian opposition targets, according to the FBI. “The FBI’s successful FTOC (foreign transfer of custody) of Mohammad Al-Saadi, another high-value target responsible for mass global terrorism, is just the latest success in this administration’s historic work to bring terrorists to justice,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement. “This was a righteous mission executed brilliantly by our agents, investigators, CIRG tactical units, and interagency partners who delivered yet again” (Fox News).

Could the Redistricting Battles Net the GOP 15 Congressional Seats?

That’s the number floated by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. He was a guest of Tony Perkins on “This Week on the Hill.” Speaker Johnson: …. you had the Virginia Supreme Court correct the hyper gerrymander that they were trying to hoist upon that state and correct it, and then they had the U.S. Supreme Court hand down the decision in the Calais case, the Louisiana case that said section two of the Voting Rights Act can’t be misused to draw congressional lines based on skin color, which has always been a rather obvious prospect. It really did make a major change. And so, you have as many as maybe six or seven states who are in the some stage, some process of redrawing their lines to make sure they have constitutional congressional districts. In our case, as you know, in our state of Louisiana, the Supreme Court specifically said your current map is unconstitutional. So, the legislature had to convene a quick special session to correct it because you obviously can’t have an election based on a blatantly unconstitutional map. And then that court decision then had a reverberating effect across several states because they had similar situations as Louisiana. We’re still awaiting the final sort of the dust to settle over all that, but of course the midterm election is right upon us. November is a fateful decision day coming up for the American people and you have primaries that have to be determined before that. A lot going on right now. People have asked me every five steps here in Washington, what does this mean for the outcome of the midterms? As you know, I’ve been very bullish that House Republicans would keep and grow our majority in the House and will keep it in the Senate. Of course, President Trump will stay in the White House for two and a half more years. But I think that it does make those prospects even greater. By most analyses now, Republicans will probably have as many as seven more seats that are drawn that would be more favorable for us when all those unconstitutional lines are corrected. As many maybe as double digits, maybe 15 or more…. We’ll see. But I have to win on whatever maps are produced, Tony. So I’m ready to go either way (Salem Podcast Network).

Louisiana Primary: Senator Bill Cassidy Defeated

The two-term Senator had been a target of Trump for his ‘disloyalty.’ Now: He won’t even be on the ballot in November. Julie Letlow—whom Trump had endorsed—won 45 percent of the vote in Saturday’s primary. State Treasurer John Flemming won 25 percent of the vote. As neither reached the 50 percent threshold, there will be a runoff on June 27 (Decision Desk). President Trump: His disloyalty to the man who got him elected is now a part of legend, and it’s nice to see that his political career is OVER! I’d like to thank the Great People of the State of Louisiana, and this Big Victory will only make me work even harder for your success, and all that comes with it (Truth). The last time a Republican incumbent lost his or her nomination battle was 2012, when Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar lost to Richard Mourdock. Mourdock went on to lose to Joe Donnelly in November (Fox News; Ballotopedia). Julie Letlow: I’m so grateful to President Trump and all he has done to make our communities safe for our kiddos and I will continue fighting for a secure border that he did on day one when President Biden said it was not possible. I will continue fighting for a strong economy (YouTube).

Tomorrow: Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon and Pennsylvania Hold Primaries

Watch the race for the GOP nomination for the Senate seat in Georgia. Republicans see Georgia as an opportunity for a pick-up—as Democrat Jon Ossoff is not widely seen as representing the values of Georgia voters. New York Times: Three Republicans are competing in the primary to take on incumbent Senator Jon Ossoff, a Democrat, in the general election. Derek Dooley, a former football coach with close ties to Gov. Brian Kemp, is facing off against Mike Collins and Buddy Carter, both of whom are pursuing a Senate seat rather than trying to retain their spots in the House of Representatives. President Trump has yet to make an endorsement (New York Times). Polling: (RCP). Also watch the Kentucky Senate seat. GOP veteran Mitch McConnell is stepping aside. Politico: President Donald Trump endorsed a Republican congressmember to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell while rejecting a self-styled MAGA candidate with backing from Elon Musk. Trump announced his support Friday [May 1] for Rep. Andy Barr in the Kentucky Republican primary, shortly after he said he asked businessperson Nate Morris to drop out of the race and take an unspecified role in the Trump administration (Politico). Also watch the battle for Kentucky’s 4^th Congressional seat, currently held by Thomas Massie (Massie). Trump has endorsed former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein: Third Rate Congressman Thomas Massie, a Weak and Pathetic RINO from the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky, a place I love, and won big SIX TIMES, including all Primaries, must be thrown out of office, ASAP! He is the Worst “Republican” Congressman in History, voting against Tax Cuts, the Wall, Law Enforcement, and in favor of the Transgender Mutilization of our Children, Men playing in Women’s Sports, and so many more horrible things. The incredible people of Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District gave us a mandate to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and the person that will help us do that is Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Fifth Generation Kentucky Farmer, Captain Ed Gallrein, a true America First Patriot (Truth).

Speaker Johnson at Rededicate 250: ‘We hereby rededicate the United States of America as one nation under God’

 


Speaker Johnson continues to demonstrate not just the authenticity of his Christian faith, but also his bold, refreshing eloquence in articulating it. After praying through our nation’s history up to our current challenges with “sinister ideologies” he prayed: Lord, grant us the courage in your favor to preserve this republic and still within us the same devotion that compelled 56 men to pledge their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to this grand experiment and self-governance. The same devotion of patriots like a Patrick Henry for whom liberty was worth any price. The same devotion of President Abraham Lincoln, who at Gettysburg charged his countrymen to rededicate themselves to the unfinished work of our fathers. Lord, today we pray that you grant us that same devotion to these United States. Give us courage, Lord. Make us worthy of all those who devoted and sacrificed their lives so that a government of the people by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth. Almighty God, we ask that you hear these solemn petitions just as we in the beginning dedicated this land to your most holy name. Today here, Lord, in this 250th year of American independence, we hereby rededicate the United States of America as one nation under God. Look upon us with favor upon your country as we celebrate this momentous anniversary and let your Holy Spirit descend upon this land so that future generations will look back at this day and this present age and once again, see your providential hand at work. I ask this today, Lord, I pray it and I believe it in your holy name in Jesus’ name. Amen (NewsMax). More: (Townhall).