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May 23, 2026 - World

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday publicly attacked the Iran agreement that President Donald Trump is reportedly close to finalizing, comparing it unfavorably to the Obama-era nuclear deal and demanding more aggressive action against Tehran.In a post on X, the former Trump official from term one took direct aim at the framework that Trump announced from the Oval Office earlier in the day, which would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and bring in a coalition of Arab and Muslim nations."The deal being floated with Iran seems straight out of the Wendy Sherman-Robert Malley-Ben Rhodes playbook: Pay the IRGC to build a WMD program and terrorize the world," Pompeo wrote, naming three Obama administration officials closely associated with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action."Not remotely America First," Pompeo added.The former secretary of state, who hasn't been a part of the administration for the president's second term, called for a far more aggressive posture toward Tehran."It's straightforward: Open the damned strait. Deny Iran access to money. Take out enough Iranian capability so it cannot threaten our allies in the region," Pompeo wrote."Overdue. Let's go," he concluded.Trump himself confirmed earlier Saturday that a peace framework involving Iran had been "largely negotiated."The deal being floated with Iran seems straight out of the Wendy Sherman-Robert Malley-Ben Rhodes playbook: Pay the IRGC to build a WMD program and terrorize the world.Not remotely America First. It’s straightforward: Open the damned strait. Deny Iran access to money. Take out…— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) May 23, 2026

May 23, 2026 - World

President Donald Trump confirmed Friday afternoon what set off hours of online speculation, posting to Truth Social with an Oval Office statement about a major foreign policy development.In the post, Trump said he had spoken with a long list of Arab and Muslim world leaders about a possible peace agreement involving Iran."I am in the Oval Office at the White House where we just had a very good call with President Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, of Saudi Arabia," Trump wrote, going on to name the leaders of the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain. The call concerned "the Islamic Republic of Iran, and all things related to a Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE."The president said the framework is close to done."An Agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries, as listed," Trump wrote.He added that he had spoken separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and that "final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly."Trump closed with one specific detail."In addition to many other elements of the Agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened," he wrote.

May 23, 2026 - World

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) turned heads on Saturday after openly questioning why the U.S. war against Iran "started to begin with,” despite having personally lobbied for the United States to launch it.Graham’s remarks come amid reports that President Donald Trump – who Graham notably didn’t name in his comments – is “close to a deal to end the war” with Iranian officials, according to a claim from Axios’ Barak Ravid on Saturday. The prospect of a deal appeared to trouble Graham, however, at least without first crippling Iran's military capacity beyond the point of recovery.“This combination of Iran being perceived as having the ability to terrorize the Strait in perpetuity and the ability [to] inflict massive damage to Gulf oil infrastructure is a major shift of the balance of power in the region and over time will be a nightmare for Israel,” Graham wrote in a social media post on X.“Also, it makes one wonder why the war started to begin with if these perceptions are accurate. I personally am a skeptic of the idea that Iran cannot be denied the ability to terrorize the Strait and the region cannot protect itself against Iranian military capability.”Graham was widely mocked back in January after appearing “legitimately depressed” in the wake of Trump’s decision back in January to hold off on striking Iran. In March, it was revealed that Graham had “coached” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on how to convince Trump to bomb Iran.For Graham to now question why the war he lobbied to start was launched “to begin with” caused concern among some onlookers.“Reading Senator Graham's tweets is always really exciting because you really have no idea if you're getting utterly sycophantic sane washing of POTUS, or, entirely accurate and cogent geopolitical analysis,” wrote journalist Matt Gurney in a social media post on X to his more than 52,000 followers.Journalist Chuck Todd noted how Graham was “trying so hard not to use the word ‘Trump’” in his remarks, writing in a social media post on X to his nearly 2 million followers, and political commentator Tommy Vietor offered Graham some advice.“File this one under: things you should’ve thought through before starting the war,” Vietor wrote to his nearly 540,000 followers on X.Graham has long been among the most vocal advocates for a U.S. strike on Iran, consistent with his long record of backing military action against other nations throughout his career, including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mexico, North Korea, Syria and Venezuela, among other nations.Reading Senator Graham's tweets is always really exciting because you really have no idea if you're getting utterly sycophantic sane washing of POTUS, or, entirely accurate and cogent geopolitical analysis. https://t.co/3w29R1Gtoq— Matt Gurney (@mattgurney) May 23, 2026

May 23, 2026 - World

US president says it’s a ‘solid 50/50’ on either making a ‘good’ deal with Iran or striking the country anewDonald Trump said he would meet today with American negotiators to review Iran’s latest proposal and decide by Sunday whether he will strike Iran “to kingdom come”.The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, also told reporters in India on Saturday that “there may be news later today” about Iran. He did not specify what that news would be. Continue reading...

May 22, 2026 - World

President Donald Trump's brag on Friday at Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York, left the internet questioning his comments.Trump was in Rockland County, New York — the first time a president has visited the town since Gerald Ford in 1976. He was there to deliver a midterm message on the economy and throw support behind Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), who is up for re-election in the fall, according to The Associated Press. The speech took several turns and strayed off topic, with Trump at one point telling his supporters: "You'll never hear me call myself stupid. I’m the smartest guy you’re ever going to meet. In fact I took the cognitive test. I'm the only one."The internet couldn't help but comment after the remark."Only the smartest guy loses the Strait of Hormuz for the entire world," literary agent Mitch Solomon wrote on Bluesky."You know who doesn't talk about how brilliant they are? Smart people," Peter Hopey, former columnist for The Bleacher Report, wrote on X."Not the cognitive test, again. We might get dinner with his friend, Hannibal Lecter in this speech," user Mason, a frequent political commentator and Iraq war veteran, wrote on X."What a complete embarrassment," author and graphic designer Donald Capone wrote on Threads.Trump: "I am the smartest guy you're ever gonna meet. In fact I took the cogni-titive test. I'm the only one."[image or embed]— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) May 22, 2026 at 1:24 PM