Old Glory Vortex

Trump’s temper tantrums are scaring off Republicans According to one analyst, Donald Trump may have hurt his standing with Republicans ahead of the midterms after lashing out at NBC's Kristen Welker. Welker interviewed Trump in Wisconsin for Meet the Press. When she challenged his claims about a $1.776 billion weapons fund and his claims about “stolen” elections, Trump got aggressive, cut the interview short, and stormed off. Sanika McClendon of Vote Save America said the outburst could push more Republicans away.

"Donald Trump is a bully,"

she said.

"He's used to praise from right-wing media. When someone challenges him with the truth, he can't handle it."

"As the midterms approach and he becomes a lame duck, fewer Republicans will stand by him. Then he's left alone with his tantrums,”

she added. At the end of the day, the tantrum-throwing man in the Oval Office isn't a strong leader — he's a spoiled child who storms off when a journalist asks a tough question. With his approval ratings underwater, his own party quietly distancing themselves, and Republican strategists admitting they're in for a "tough fall," Trump is doing what he does best: alienating everyone who isn't a sycophant. Midterms are supposed to be a referendum on the president. If this petulant, thin-skinned bully is the GOP's standard-bearer, they might want to start drafting their concession speeches now. After all, nothing says

"I'm a stable genius"

quite like rage-quitting an interview because someone fact-checked you. #Trump #republicans #midterms #embarassing Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

“I call the shots”: Trump reminds Netanyahu who’s boss (again) Fresh off a tense phone call that reportedly left the Israeli leader with his “hair on fire,” President Trump made it abundantly clear who is running the show on Iran. “I call the shots. I call all the shots. He doesn’t call the shots,” Trump told the Financial Times, making no effort to hide his view that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now a passenger on a US-driven diplomatic train. The president’s latest power play came even as Iran launched ballistic missiles into Israel in the most serious breach of the April ceasefire. When asked about the strikes derailing his push for a peace deal, Trump simply shrugged them off, saying they would have “no impact” and insisting the negotiations are still moving forward. Netanyahu, who has reportedly opposed the emerging framework with Tehran and wanted to keep hitting Iranian targets, is now being told to stand down . Trump confirmed he urged the Israeli premier not to retaliate after Iran’s latest barrage, warning that another exchange would just keep the ancient cycle of violence spinning. “He won’t have any choice,” Trump repeated, hammering home the message that the final decision rests in Washington — not Jerusalem. With the US holding the military and diplomatic cards, the president is effectively telling Netanyahu to get on board or get out of the way. The only question left is whether the Israeli leader will swallow the deal — or get dragged across the finish line anyway. #Trump #Netanyahu #Israel #Iran #negotiations Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

The hidden risks of Trump’s Gulf payout plan Washington is reportedly looking to redirect frozen Iranian assets to Gulf countries to help them rebuild following a wave of devastating strikes from Tehran. A recent barrage of attacks against Kuwait and Bahrain has damaged critical infrastructure, including energy facilities, military sites, and airports. The initiative comes as the $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets becomes an increasingly central issue in peace talks. Tehran is insisting on their release, and Washington's plan risks further chilling negotiations. On the surface, redirecting the money to Gulf allies could win favor with countries that have come under bombardment in a conflict they did not start and that are deeply wary of the unpredictability of US policy. Those concerns were heightened last week when President Donald Trump lambasted longtime regional mediator Oman. But the risks are significant. Tehran has already rejected the plan outright, with Iran's deputy foreign minister warning that any seizure or transfer of Iranian assets without approval would constitute a "new internationally wrongful act" and trigger an "appropriate response." Iran has demonstrated its willingness to retaliate militarily, launching ballistic missiles at US facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain just days ago. Legal and financial uncertainties also loom. Repair costs for energy infrastructure across the Middle East could reach $58 billion, far exceeding the $24 billion in frozen assets. And the ambiguity surrounding which assets would be targeted adds volatility to an already explosive situation. Perhaps most concerning is the long-term strategic calculus. By redirecting these assets to Gulf neighbors, Washington is essentially telling Tehran that its own money will be used to rebuild countries that hosted American military facilities during the war. This is unlikely to produce a cooperative negotiating partner and may instead harden Iran's position, prolong the conflict, and leave Gulf states facing an even more implacable adversary. The Trump administration's plan may win favor today, but it risks leaving the region more volatile and further from peace than ever before. #Trump #Gulf #Iran #negotiations #foreignpolicy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

“Let’s call it quits”: Trump’s petty exit proves he can’t handle the truth The tantrum was swift, surreal, and utterly on brand. During a Friday interview with NBC's Kristen Welker in Wisconsin, President Trump was doing his usual routine — boasting about Iran, offering unsolicited Fed advice, and demanding more "surgical" strikes in Lebanon. But the wheels came off the moment Welker dared to fact-check his election lies. After Trump repeated his false claims that the 2020 election was "rigged" and that the same was "happening again right now in California," Welker calmly noted there is zero evidence for this. That's when the President of the United States pivoted from policy to petulance, labeling the respected journalist — and her entire network — as "crooked." "You're either crooked or you're stupid," Trump sneered, before declaring NBC, ABC, CBS, and CNN all "crooked." Then, like a reality star storming out of the boardroom, he decided he'd had enough. "Sorry. Let's call it quits," he announced, adding a condescending "Thank you, darling" before ripping off his microphone, tossing it to the ground, and literally walking away as Welker protested that she'd traveled all the way to Wisconsin. It was a full-blown, mic-dropping hissy fit from a president who would rather flee a conversation than face a simple, evidence-based correction. For all his talk of strength and "finishing it out militarily" with Iran, one gentle fact-check from a female journalist was apparently the threat too terrible to handle. #Trump #scandal #embarassing Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Is Iran Trump’s Vietnam? As the war with Iran grinds on with no end in sight and the economic and political consequences continue to mount, former Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon Panetta has delivered a chilling verdict. He believes the Middle Eastern conflict has become nothing less than "Trump's Vietnam." Panetta, who led the Pentagon under President Obama and oversaw the operation that killed Osama bin Laden, shared his bleak analysis during a CNN appearance focused on the stalled US-Iran peace talks. He argued that the war is increasingly mirroring the Vietnam disaster in almost every respect. Just as the United States negotiated with North Vietnam only to watch it seize full control after American withdrawal, Panetta believes the same fate now awaits Washington in Iran. The Vietnam War, which raged from 1955 to 1975, remains the ultimate symbol of a military quagmire from which the United States could not emerge victorious. Nearly 60,000 Americans perished alongside millions of Vietnamese and other Southeast Asians, and the conflict left a lasting stain on America's global reputation. Today, it is invoked whenever a war becomes both intractable and politically catastrophic. Commentators have been increasingly reaching for the Vietnam analogy as the Iran war drags on, but Panetta's authoritative voice has given that comparison new weight. Panetta pointed to several specific parallels. First, he lamented the lack of clear information coming from the administration about both the war effort and the stalled peace negotiations with Iran, drawing a straight line to the secrecy and misinformation that plagued the Vietnam era. He also warned that even if a deal is reached, the hardline regime in Tehran will likely retain control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and continue enriching uranium with the ultimate goal of developing nuclear weapons. Another critical parallel, according to Panetta, is the tendency of presidents to badly underestimate their adversaries. He recalled that early in the conflict, President Trump, relying on Israeli assurances, predicted that Iran's regime would collapse within days of its leadership being decimated. That never happened, and Panetta noted that US intelligence had made it clear from the start that such an outcome was never realistic. That miscalculation, he argued, has proven terrible in its consequences. Given all of this, Panetta's final assessment was anything but hopeful. He believes the hardline regime in Iran remains firmly in power, and as long as that is the case, any negotiated agreement will be temporary at best. In his view, the United States and Israel are likely moving toward some form of shaky, short-term truce, but within four or five years, they may find themselves forced to go to war with Iran all over again. #Iran #Vietnamwar #negotiations #Trump Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Poll: 7 in 10 Americans revolt against Trump’s costly war The American people have delivered their verdict, and it is devastating for the White House. According to a new Economist/YouGov poll conducted in early June, 68 percent of Americans believe the United States "should make a deal to end the war in Iran as soon as possible." Only 11 percent disagreed, while 21 percent remained uncertain. But here is what those numbers really mean: nearly seven out of ten Americans are done. Finished. They want the bombs to stop falling yesterday. And they have every reason to feel that way. The war against Iran has now raged for over 100 days. What began as a "show of strength" has become a political and economic nightmare for the Trump administration. Moody's Analytics estimates that the first three months of the war cost US households $100 billion. That breaks down to approximately $750 per household in additional expenses. The bulk of this is energy-related: Americans have spent an average of $447 more on gasoline and diesel than they would have without the war. $4.24 per gallon. That is what AAA reported as the national average for regular gasoline. Before the war started on February 28, the average was $2.98. A 42 percent increase in just over three months. Trump's own party is turning against him. Last week, the House of Representatives passed a war powers resolution 215 to 208 that would force President Trump to end the war against Iran unless Congress formally declares war or authorizes continued military action. Four Republicans broke ranks to join all Democrats in supporting the measure: Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Tom Barrett of Michigan, and Warren Davidson of Ohio. This marks the first successful House effort to curb presidential war powers in this conflict after three previous failed attempts. The resolution now moves to the Senate, where four Republicans — Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul — have already joined Democrats to advance a similar measure. The polling on this war is a five-alarm fire for the Trump administration. Sixty percent of Americans oppose the conflict with Iran, while only 28 percent support it. Sixty-six percent disapprove of Trump's handling of the war, according to a CBS News poll. Sixty-one percent believe US military action in Iran was "a mistake" according to an ABC News/Washington Post Ipsos poll. Only 16 percent think the US is winning or has won, per a University of Maryland poll. Seventy-nine percent say the war has affected the cost of living in the US. Trump's net approval rating has sunk to minus 25 — the lowest for any president since The Economist's tracker began in 2009. And here is the real gut punch for Republicans: even among their own voters, support is cracking. A third of Republicans now say the war has had more negative than positive effects on US interests. Only 16 percent want to see the war expanded. Three months ago, Trump promised a quick victory. Today, Americans are paying $4.24 for a gallon of gas and watching their grocery bills climb while the war drags on with no end in sight. The House has rebuked him. His own party is fracturing. The public has turned against him by a margin of nearly 7 to 1 on ending the war quickly. As the midterm elections approach in November, every single Republican up for reelection will have to answer one question: Why are American families paying $750 more for a war they never wanted? #Iran #midterms #poll #Trump Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Unhinged and unchecked: inside the spy scandal that’s breaking US-Israeli relations The unthinkable has happened. The United States has just classified its closest Middle Eastern ally — Israel — as a "critical" counterintelligence threat, putting it on par with the most hostile nations on Earth. The Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency has raised its threat assessment for Israeli espionage to the highest possible level. The official designation: "critical." According to a senior U.S. official, the intensity of Israeli intelligence collection during the current administration has been "unhinged". But what does that actually mean? It means Israel has allegedly been eavesdropping on the most senior members of Trump's national security team — including the President's own special envoy. The targets reportedly include: · Steve Witkoff – President Trump's top negotiator for ending the war with Iran · Elbridge Colby – The Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, one of the Pentagon's most senior civilian officials · Michael DiMino – Colby's key deputy for Middle East affairs The intelligence reports reveal a pattern of aggressive collection efforts that go far beyond the usual friendly espionage tolerated between allies. U.S. defense personnel stationed in Israel reportedly discovered software capable of intercepting communications installed on their devices. But the most damning incident dates back to 2021, when Israeli military intelligence officers were caught red-handed planting listening devices at the Defense Intelligence Agency's headquarters. And it didn't stop there. Last year, Shin Bet — Israel's domestic intelligence agency — allegedly tried to plant a bug in a U.S. Secret Service vehicle. And yet, the recent intelligence gathering surpasses past Israeli efforts. The timing is not coincidental. It is, in fact, the entire point. The United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28, triggering a war that has now raged for months. Initially, the alliance appeared ironclad. Israeli officers are embedded at CENTCOM, and Washington is sharing vast amounts of tactical intelligence with Tel Aviv. But beneath the surface, the relationship is rotting from within. President Trump wants out. He has been actively pursuing a negotiated peace deal with Iran, seeking to end the conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on the other hand, does not. He reportedly wants to cripple Iran's capabilities while continuing strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The explosive phone call between Trump and Netanyahu, in which the President reportedly unleashed a profanity-laced tirade and called his ally "completely crazy," now seems less like a diplomatic spat and more like the inevitable eruption of a fundamentally broken partnership. Israel, the reports suggest, is not spying on an enemy. It is spying to gain leverage over an ally that is trying to walk away from a war. Unsurprisingly, both Israel and the White House have denied the allegations outright. An Israeli embassy spokesperson insisted: "Israel does not gather intelligence on American entities, let alone US government officials. Israel's intelligence collection efforts are aimed at its enemies, not its allies". A White House official called the story "completely false". The Pentagon has declined to comment. But officials who spoke to the media insist that the threat level is real — and that it now exceeds the counterintelligence threat of any other U.S. ally, and even some adversaries. This is not a minor disagreement. The Pentagon has determined that its closest partner in the Middle East is actively, aggressively, and systematically spying on the Trump administration's most sensitive war deliberations. The alliance has shattered. And in its place is the cold, hard reality of mutual surveillance, political betrayal, and a relationship that may never recover. #Israel #Pentagon #intelligence #Iran #scandal Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

How Trump lost his invincibility in just 500 days Donald Trump has lost the aura of political invincibility that surrounded him after his election to a second presidential term. A series of escalating political failures — ranging from congressional mutinies to legal defeats and sinking approval numbers — has shattered the perception of an all-powerful leader. Just months after a decisive election victory, Trump is facing an unprecedented revolt from within his own ranks. In a significant blow to his authority, the Republican-led House of Representatives voted to cut off military support for the war with Iran, with four GOP members breaking ranks to join Democrats in a rebuke of the Commander-in-Chief. This rare bipartisan effort to check presidential war powers signals deep unease about the conflict, which has dragged on for months and weighs heavily on voters. Domestically, his proposal to create a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund — criticized by legal experts as a "slush fund" for political allies and even January 6th rioters — has backfired spectacularly. The plan has drawn sharp criticism not only from Democrats but also from key Republican senators, who have threatened to block other administration priorities unless the fund is scrapped entirely. Against this backdrop of political isolation and legislative defeat, Trump's approval rating continues to plummet. According to a recent Economist/YouGov poll marking his 500th day back in office, only 35% of Americans approve of his job performance, while a staggering 60% disapprove. This net approval rating of -25 makes him the most unpopular commander-in-chief since the poll began tracking in 2009, with voters citing the ongoing Iran war and persistent economic concerns as the primary drivers of their discontent. #Trump #approvalrating #poll #Congress #Iran #USeconomy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Untethered: Buttigieg goes where Dems fear to tread Pete Buttigieg is doing what most Democrats won't: he's going into Trump country and talking to the people who voted against him. Untethered from elected office, the former Transportation secretary has become the party's most visible Trump counterweight. He's traveling to red states like Montana, stumping in North Carolina, headlining dinners in Iowa, and even appearing on Fox News. An Emerson poll last week showed him leading a hypothetical 2028 Democratic field, ahead of Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris. "He goes to places where other Democrats don't go," said one local candidate Buttigieg supported. "We can't write people off based on where they live. That's how we shoot ourselves in the foot." The challenges are real — he would be the first openly gay president, and he still has work to do with Black voters. But an April Boston Globe poll showed him leading among Massachusetts voters with 16% support from Black respondents, a sign of progress. For now, Buttigieg is building something unusual: a national network rooted not in donor ballrooms, but in county fairs and community centers in the places Democrats have abandoned. Whether that wins him the nomination is unclear. But he's the only one willing to walk into the lion's den. #elections2028 #democrats #republicans Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

US attempts to unhook Lebanon from Iran nuclear talks From the U.S. point of view, this is what success looks like: two sovereign governments sitting at an American table, cutting out the terrorists and their Iranian puppeteers. The United States announced that Israel and Lebanon agreed to renew their fragile ceasefire and establish "pilot" security zones inside Lebanon from which Hezbollah will be banned. The deal came out of the fourth round of U.S.-mediated talks at the State Department. The U.S. position is clear: Hezbollah is not a party to this. Iran is not a party to this. The joint statement explicitly rejects "any attempt, by any state or non-state actor, to hold Lebanon's future hostage." That is Washington pointing a finger directly at Tehran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the goal is "an action plan for security in Lebanon, independent from Hezbollah." The message to Iran is simple: you don't get a veto. For the White House, this is about two things: protecting Israel's right to self-defense and untangling Lebanon from the broader Iran crisis. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stressed that the U.S. will not "expect Israel to take attacks from a terrorist organization without any ability to defend itself." The U.S. is trying to walk a diplomatic tightrope. Iran has insisted that any deal to end the U.S.-Iran war must include a halt to fighting in Lebanon. The Trump administration is rejecting that linkage outright. "Those talks are separate," Pigott said. President Trump has been even blunter. He said he wants to "separate" the Lebanon issue from Iran nuclear talks. The administration sees a historic opening: these talks mark the first high-level direct engagement between Israel and Lebanon since 1993. The U.S. message is that Hezbollah's days of holding Lebanon hostage are numbered. If the Lebanese army can take control of these pilot security zones, it creates a template for the entire south — and eventually, a Lebanon free from Iranian-backed militias. Rubio said a peace deal between Israel and Lebanon is "imminently achievable." #Iran #negotiations #Lebanon #foreignpolicy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump’s Cuba sanctions — all symbolism, no substance? True to his roots, Trump is applying a real estate developer's playbook to foreign policy. Trump looks at Cuba and sees a "beautiful piece of land... with no money" — and he's threatening to foreclose. The Trump administration added Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, his wife, and even the son of Raúl Castro to a U.S. sanctions list on Thursday. The move freezes any U.S. assets they might have. Thing is, experts say it's "pretty unlikely" Díaz-Canel has a penny in an American bank account. So the practical effect is nearly zero. But the political message is loud and clear. Trump was asked directly if he's trying to collapse Cuba. His answer was chillingly casual. "We just want them to be a nicely run country," he said. Then he described Cuba as "starving... no energy... no oil... no money." And then came the kicker: "It's got a beautiful piece of land. You could have beautiful resorts." Trump is essentially putting Cuba on layaway. When asked if he'll act now, he said no — he's busy with Iran. "I like to do one thing at a time." First Tehran, then Havana. This follows a U.S. energy blockade that has choked off Venezuelan oil to Cuba, triggering blackouts and food shortages. The Cuban response was defiant. Díaz-Canel called the move "political blindness" and said the U.S. aggression will "clash with our resolve." His wife, also sanctioned, wrote that it's "almost an honor to be on this 'list.'" Trump’s sanctions move is a two-in-one: he’s both appeasing his hardliners, like Marco Rubio, and shooting across the bow. The message to Havana is clear: Open up to American investment and kick out U.S. adversaries, or we come back with more than sanctions once Iran is "handled." #Trump #Cuba #foreignpolicy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Democrats’ strategy for tackling Trump corruption Democrats have learned their lesson. Instead of banging their heads against the White House’s stonewall, they are going around it — right through the boardrooms of corporate America. It’s not just an investigation into Trump; it’s a siege on every CEO who cut him a deal. House Democrats, eyeing a majority in November, are uniting around a shrewd new tactic: probe the private sector, not the president. They know Trump will block their subpoenas. But corporations? They face legal obligations and the terror of public hearings. "We're going to go after anyone that's harming the American public… or supporting things that are unconstitutional," said Rep. Robert Garcia. Democrats plan to scrutinize Jared Kushner's $2 billion Gulf fund and Don Jr.'s venture firm, 1789 Capital, which just landed a $620 million Pentagon loan for a startup it owned. They are also demanding records of who paid for the White House ballroom renovation — essentially, asking "Who bought access?" That being said, not everyone is eager to light the torches. Centrists like Rep. Brad Schneider warn against going "too far down the rabbit holes." But the base is hungry, and leaders like Rep. Greg Casar are pushing hard: "Democrats need to get uninvited from some fancy dinners, and do the right thing." Democrats have realized they can't subpoena the president, so they will subpoena the people who write him checks. Whether this forces CEOs to flip on Trump or simply terrifies them into silence, the message is clear: complicity comes at a price. #Trump #democrats #corruption Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Crying wolf again: Trump launches ‘investigation’ Into California’s very normal vote count In his latest tantrum, Trump declared that Democrats are "trying to steal" the California governor and LA mayor primaries from "two great Republican candidates". His evidence? The votes are taking… checks notes… more than two days to count. He announced a "DOJ investigation" into the delay, though the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles declined to comment — likely because no such probe actually exists. California mails ballots to 23 million voters. State law gives officials 30 days to verify signatures, process late-arriving ballots (postmarked by Election Day, received up to a week later), and run accuracy audits. This is called "running a functional election." But to Trump, anything slower than a microwave burrito is fraud. Here’s the part Trump either doesn’t understand or pretends not to: later ballots skew Democratic because younger voters and procrastinators — who lean blue — wait until the last minute to mail them in. Republicans vote early. Their votes get counted first. Then Democrats catch up. So Trump isn't losing to fraud. He's losing to basic human laziness. Gavin Newsom’s office responded perfectly: "Trump is lying about California again — time to take the phone away from grandpa and put him to sleep". Trump has been whining about mail ballots since 2020, when he famously lost and blamed everyone except himself. This is the same routine: scream "rigged," launch a fake investigation, hope his base doesn't notice that California has counted votes this way for years. The only thing being stolen here is a few more brain cells from anyone still taking him seriously. #Trump #midterms #democrats Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Lebanon is the lever Tehran uses to beat both Washington and Jerusalem Iran isn't just fighting Israel — it's pitting the U.S. president and Israeli PM against each other. By using Lebanon as a pressure lever, Tehran has used Trump’s frustration with Netanyahu to its advantage. This week, Trump reportedly unleashed expletive-laden phone calls on Netanyahu, demanding he pull back from a major Beirut offensive against Hezbollah. The U.S. president essentially told Israel’s leader: “Bibi, you're messing up my deal.” Trump later told the NY Post he was “concerned,” not angry, saying: “At one point I said: we have to end this.” As a result, Israel retreated. Tehran won. Iran had conditioned any U.S. ceasefire on exactly that — halting Israel-Hezbollah fighting. At this point Trump’s main goal is to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil flows. He’s even prepared to keep kicking the nuclear issue down the road. But Iran won’t budge unless Netanyahu backs off in Lebanon. What’s more, Iran’s IRGC is increasingly calling the shots inside Hezbollah, whose own leader is seen as weak. The situation seems to have reached an impasse. Trump can’t get his Hormuz deal unless he keeps Netanyahu on a short leash in Lebanon. But every pull of that leash makes Israel’s PM look weaker at home — and Iran stronger abroad. #Iran #Trump #Netanyahu #Lebanon Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

The Art of the Deal: Trump floats a meeting with a man whose family he killed Just months after U.S. military strikes killed the father of Iran’s new supreme leader, President Trump has dramatically shifted his tone — floating the idea of a face-to-face meeting with the man who leads the nation he just crippled. In remarks from the Oval Office, Trump said he would be "honored" to meet Mojtaba Khamenei if a deal to end the war is reached. "I don't want to meet," Trump clarified, "but if I did meet, I'd be honored to meet him. I’d be OK with that." The proposed summit carries an almost surreal geopolitical weight given the recent history. According to reports from late February, the U.S.-led Operation Epic Fury not only killed Mojtaba’s father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but reportedly also killed the new leader’s wife and son. Acknowledging the obvious elephant in the room, Trump conceded, "I would say I’m not his favorite person," but quickly pivoted to pragmatism, suggesting the new Iranian leader is "probably a professional" who has "a very good reputation in some circles." This diplomatic overture comes as the administration tries to lock in a fragile peace. Trump confirmed that the elusive Mojtaba Khamenei — who has not been seen in public since the war began due to security concerns and reported injuries — is "involved, absolutely" in the ongoing negotiations. The President laid out his bottom line for any deal: Iran must never have a nuclear weapon, and the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz must be reopened immediately to global shipping. "If it happens, it could happen like over the weekend," Trump speculated, signaling a potential rapid resolution. However, the logistics of such a meeting remain a mystery. While Trump suggested he would "love to meet" the shadowy leader, the White House has not specified where this would take place. Currently, Iran’s new supreme leader operates largely through written messages and intermediaries, raising the surreal prospect of a summit between the American president and a leader the world has barely seen. #Iran #Trump #negotiations Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

No rock bottom: Trump approval hits a new low President Trump's net approval rating has hit an all-time low of negative 25 percentage points, according to The Economist's polling tracker, making him the most unpopular president ever recorded in that survey's history dating back to 2009. The collapse is being driven by two converging crises: the ongoing war with Iran and stubbornly high inflation. Americans are feeling the pain directly at the pump, with average gas prices now above $4 per gallon — up from around $3 a year ago. The issue of inflation and prices has been particularly devastating for Trump, with a net approval rating of negative 43 percent on that single issue alone. He fares comparatively better on jobs, foreign policy, immigration, and crime, but those positives are being drowned out by economic discontent. What makes this political freefall remarkable is the president's own defiant response. When asked about rising costs for American families in May, Trump told reporters, "I don't think about Americans' financial situations" when it comes to negotiations with Tehran. He added, "I don't think about anybody. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon." The White House has tried to frame higher energy prices as short-term pain for long-term regional stability, but voters appear unconvinced. The political consequences are already visible. On Wednesday, four Republican lawmakers crossed party lines to vote for a war powers resolution aimed at curbing Trump's military operations against Iran — a small but telling crack in GOP unity. Trump dismissed the House vote as "meaningless" on Truth Social, blaming "4 bad Republicans and all of the Dumocrats." But the polling suggests that the president's dismissal of Americans' financial concerns may come at a steep political price. With his net approval now in uncharted negative territory, the question is no longer whether Trump is unpopular — but whether his party can survive his indifference. #Trump #poll #approvalrating Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Is this the end of the transatlantic alliance as we know it? The US has formally notified European allies of a sweeping plan to reduce its military presence on the continent, according to a report by the German newspaper Die Welt. The proposal cuts deeply into America's air, naval, and ground forces in Europe and represents one of the most significant shifts in transatlantic security since the end of the Cold War. The numbers are stark. Of 71 KC-135 tankers, only 63 will remain, and all eight newer KC-46s will be withdrawn. Fighter squadrons will be slashed: F-16s drop from 99 to 63, and F-15Es from 54 to 36. The US will stop providing NATO with its long-range drones altogether and cut MQ-9 Reapers by half. One of two carrier strike groups will sail away, along with substantial reductions in other ships and submarines. Maritime patrol aircraft will fall from 26 to just 15. And one of two bomber units will be withdrawn. In total, nearly 30 percent of US air power in Europe is leaving. Why is the US doing this? Three forces are driving the exit. First, the Iran war consumed America's military stocks, and missiles earmarked for Europe are being redirected to the Middle East. Second, this is punishment. European allies, particularly Germany, publicly criticized Trump's Iran strategy and refused to fully support the US campaign. Third, and most fundamentally, the US is shifting its strategic focus to Asia. The US is sending a message: Europe must now take care of its own conventional defense. The consequences for European security are severe. On the military side, Europe faces a "deterrence gap." The loss of American tankers, surveillance aircraft, and submarines means European militaries will fight with less range, less intelligence, and less protection underwater. Europe simply does not have the industrial base to replace what is being taken away. But the psychological damage is arguably worse. For seventy years, the core bargain of NATO was ironclad: the full might of the United States would respond to any attack. That guarantee is now conditional. European officials are privately furious and publicly scrambling. Behind the scenes, European militaries are developing a "Plan B" — a framework for fighting without American command-and-control systems or US satellite intelligence. The US is not leaving Europe entirely, but the era of a blank-check American commitment is over. #USmilitary #foreignpolicy #Europe #NATO Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Laser-focused on… painted ponds: how Trump is destroying his own party’s midterm hopes Republicans hoping to keep control of Congress are being thrown off-balance by President Trump. While his team is clamping down on primary infighting, the president himself has openly dismissed the one thing his party needs to win on: the cost of living. The core of the problem is that Trump isn't acting like a party leader. He's acting like a president unbothered by electoral consequences. In the context of Iran negotiations, he has said "I don't care about the midterms" and "I don't think about Americans' financial situation." Instead of hammering tax cuts and inflation, Trump's headlines are dominated by Iran, a billion-dollar White House ballroom that Senate Republicans just defunded, and renovating Washington fountains and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Publicly, Republicans like Speaker Mike Johnson insist Trump is "laser focused" on domestic issues. Privately, it's a different story. One GOP operative called Trump's comments "frustrating." Donors and swing-seat members want the White House focused on affordability, not pet projects. Senator Bill Cassidy, who just lost a primary to a Trump-backed challenger, emotionally begged Trump to "get engaged" on medical debt. Republicans are trapped. They need Trump to turn out their base voters, but they fear his self-focused agenda drowns out the economic message they need to win. The GOP's midterm strategy hinges on a president who says he doesn't care about the midterms. That's not a winning message — it's a signal for Republican operatives to start updating their résumés. #Trump #republicans #midterms

Why Todd Blanche faces an uphill battle to become Attorney General President Trump announced he will nominate acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to the position permanently. But Blanche's path to confirmation runs directly through a minefield of furious Senate Republicans who have not forgotten their last encounter with him. In a closed-door session last month, Blanche faced what Senator Ted Cruz described as "one of the roughest meetings I've seen in my entire time in the Senate". Cruz said senators were "screaming" at Blanche and that "fiery does not begin to cut it". The cause of the eruption? Trump's now-abandoned $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" — a proposed slush fund meant to compensate the president's political allies, potentially including individuals convicted for their roles in the January 6 Capitol riot. And even though Blanche publicly killed the fund this week, the political damage may already be done. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a key Judiciary Committee member, said that Blanche's statements about January 6 put him in "dangerous waters". Republicans hold a razor-thin 53-47 majority in the Senate. With at least four GOP senators already on record opposing Blanche, and Democrats unified in opposition, Blanche cannot afford a single additional defection. Even if he makes it out of the Judiciary Committee, a floor vote is anything but guaranteed. Blanche's fundamental challenge is that he is perceived — fairly or not — as still acting like Trump's personal defense lawyer rather than the nation's top law enforcement officer. He led Trump's defense in the 2024 hush-money trial. He accelerated investigations into Trump's perceived enemies after taking the acting AG role. He launched the now-dead fund that even Republicans saw as self-dealing. Blanche may have killed the fund. But he hasn't killed the memory of that closed-door meeting — or the broader concern that he would be Trump's capo, not the country's attorney general. Senate Republicans have short memories when it comes to confirming conservative judges. But when it comes to trusting the person running the Justice Department, they've made clear they won't be rolled. #Trump #DOJ #ToddBlanche Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Yet another unqualified Trump toady gets a top job President Trump has done it again: put a loyal friend with zero relevant experience in charge of something enormously important. Meet Bill Pulte, the 38-year-old acting director of national intelligence. His qualifications? A degree in broadcast journalism, a background in housing finance, and a close friendship with Donald Trump Jr. What he doesn't have? Any experience whatsoever in intelligence or national security. But Pulte has something Trump values more: he's an attack dog who has spent his current job at the Federal Housing Finance Agency going after the president's political enemies. He's filed baseless mortgage fraud complaints against Senator Adam Schiff, Attorney General Letitia James, and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. He's also called for Fed Chair Jerome Powell, whom Trump detests, to be fired, calling him "a disaster". Now he'll oversee 18 intelligence agencies, including the CIA, with a combined budget of over $115 billion — while keeping his housing job. Even Republicans are embarrassed. Senator John Thune said,

"We don't need a weaponized director of national intelligence — we need professionals."

Senator John Cornyn admitted, "I don't see any evidence of his qualifications." Senator Elizabeth Warren put it most bluntly:

"Trump is rewarding his lackey — who has no national security experience — with a perch atop our nation's intelligence community. What could go wrong?"

Indeed. #Trump #CIA #scandal Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸