President Donald Trump told an enthusiastic group of supporters that he would declare another U.S. territory in the Middle East after the military operation in Iran is completed.

The fate of the Strait of Hormuz is still in limbo, 167 days after the U.S. and Israel began a joint military operation to strike at Iran’s nuclear capabilities and leadership.

‘We have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to …’

Trump appeared confident at a rally as he touted the many victories of his administration before making the astonishing promise to seize control of the Strait of Hormuz.

“We’re bringing the prices way down; look at what’s happening! Coming way down,” said the president. “And after we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States.”

The president laughed and got thunderous applause from those in attendance at the Nassau County Police Academy Center for Training and Intelligence in Garden City.

“Essentially that’s what — we have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to,” he added. “And how about Venezuela? Venezuela was a one-day war, and now we work great with them.”

Video of the president’s comments was posted to social media.

CBS News notes that the strait is traditionally treated as a open waterway despite it being split between Iran and Oman at its narrowest point.

RELATED: That time Marco Rubio warned the Iranian regime against ‘suicidal’ closing of the Strait of Hormuz

Control of the strait has become a contentious issue between Iran and the president, as they both seek a peace deal to end the military operation.

The president has insisted that any nuclear capabilities be ruled out for Iran, while the Islamic regime has demanded that the country be allowed to charge a toll on the many tankers and other ships that cross through the key trade route.

If the Trump administration agrees to such a toll, it could mean tens or hundreds of billions of dollars going to the Iranian regime.

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​Iran, Islamic regime, Middle east, President donald trump, Strait of hormuz, War, Politics 

The mayor of a Massachusetts city was arrested on Friday morning after prosecutors say he illegally funneled federal money into his political campaign as well as toward his personal tax debt.

Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña, a 61-year-old Democrat, allegedly received more than $1 million worth of pandemic relief cash under the assumption that it would be used to prop up his small business.

‘I know I’m bothering you a lot, but I have no other option. Only you can give me what I need,’ he allegedly texted.

Instead, DePeña allegedly used that cash to pay off his IRS and campaign debts and to make high-interest payments on other properties he owned, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.

“This was emergency financial assistance meant to be a safety net for struggling businesses, not Mr. Depena’s [sic] own personal ATM,” said FBI Special Agent Ted Docks.

The mayor applied for the low-interest loans for a car and tire shop he owned named Tenares Tire Services Inc. After receiving more than $1.5 million, he allegedly misused $883,000 of it to pay off high-interest loans related to properties separate from the tire shop.

The press release included several text messages allegedly made by the mayor seeking help from his accountant and financial adviser to obtain the loans.

“Brother, call me, I’m in trouble. I don’t want to pressure you, but I don’t have time to wait for this loan. I’m in your hands,” DePeña allegedly wrote, translated from Spanish.

“I know I’m bothering you a lot, but I have no other option. Only you can give me what I need,” he allegedly wrote in another text.

The mayor was arrested on charges of wire fraud and money laundering, the press release said.

“Mayor DePeña was elected to be a leader for the City of Lawrence. He was looked up to and trusted by his constituents, but he betrayed that trust through his alleged corruption and lies,” read a statement from United States Attorney Leah Foley. “Today’s arrest is just another example of our determination to root out fraud by anyone, even public officials and holding elected officials accountable.”

RELATED: Pro-reparations Illinois Democrat indicted in FRAUD SCAM along with her daughter and husband

DePeña did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

DePeña was first elected as mayor in 2021 and was re-elected to a second term in 2025. Prior to that he had been a member of the Lawrence City Council from 2016 until 2021.

The Benefit and Voter Fraud Team was established in Massachusetts as part of the efforts to support “the administration’s war on fraud and … the work of the vice president’s Anti-Fraud Task Force and the Department of Justice’s National Fraud Enforcement Division,” according to an announcement from Foley’s office in March.

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​Fraud, Task force to eliminate fraud, Massachusetts, Covid fraud, Crime, Politics 

Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) is in the primary fight of his life after a string of scandals have damaged his public profile.

With Primary Election Day just days away, Mills has already lost the support of one of the most popular Republicans in his state: Gov. Ron DeSantis.

‘Earning only 28% support as an incumbent should already be extremely concerning to Mills.’

On Friday, DeSantis was speaking at a press conference at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University when he was asked about the 7th Congressional District, which Mills currently represents. DeSantis made his thoughts about Mills abundantly clear:

“I have not endorsed Cory Mills, and I do not support Cory Mills,” DeSantis replied.

Mills’ office did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

RELATED: Rep. Cory Mills under investigation AGAIN — this time from the DOJ

Recent polling shows that many of Mills’ constituents seem to agree with DeSantis. A Victory Insights poll released last Friday reveals that Mills holds about a 6% lead over challenger Ryan Elijah, 28.3% to 22%, and the poll even classified the race as “Lean – Ryan Elijah.”

“Mills is in trouble, not just with the law, but also with the voters of District 7,” the Victory Insights polling analysis read. “Earning only 28% support as an incumbent should already be extremely concerning to Mills.”

The analysis pointed to Mills’ recent legal troubles, the unified support behind Elijah, endorsements for Elijah from other members of the Florida Republican congressional delegation, and the undecideds souring on Mills as other reasons for Mills to panic.

Still, Mills has at least one strong Republican ally in his corner: President Donald Trump. Back in February, Trump endorsed Mills’ re-election bid, calling Mills “an America First Patriot and Tremendous Champion for the Great People of Florida’s 7th Congressional District!”

As Blaze News has reported at length, Mills has been accused of stolen valor, converting to Islam, and even of threatening to release revenge porn of ex-girlfriend Lindsey Langston, a former Miss United States.

A few weeks ago, news broke that the Department of Justice had opened an investigation into Mills, though the nature and scope of the investigation is unclear. Some reports indicate that it relates to Mills’ finances.

The primary election in Florida is Tuesday, and early voting has been underway for days.

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​Cory mills, Ron desantis, Donald trump, Florida, Politics 

After the birth of her second child, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has made the decision to leave the White House — however she will remain one of his top outside advisers.

“It’s not that surprising when she just had another baby,” BlazeTV host Pat Gray says on “Pat Gray Unleashed.”

“All of those mothering instincts start kicking in and then they’re not doing their job all of a sudden. And that’s exactly what happened,” he adds.

And she will be missed, particularly by President Trump.

In a post on Truth Social, he wrote: “Our wonderful White House Press Secretary, and one of my most trusted aides, Karoline Leavitt, will be departing her role at the end of the month so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision I totally understand and respect!”

“Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections. Karoline has been a real leader in the White House, and has done a phenomenal job fighting for Justice, Liberty, and Freedom, since 2018, including our Historic Re-Election Campaign of 2024. Karoline has been one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office,” he added.

“Not that many people can stand up to the press like Karoline Leavitt. So good at it. Really good. Young, smart, looked good in her position. And now she’s gone,” Gray says.

However, Kris Cruz points out that the truth might be a little messier.

“The word on the street is there was an argument on Marine One a couple nights ago where her and Trump got in a heated argument,” Cruz explains.

“In a leaked video from last night, she looks visibility isolated during a tense Marine One exchange with Trump and another woman. Hours later, she’s out,” Cruz reads from a post on X, which shows the video.

“She does not look happy,” executive producer Keith Malinak comments.

“Well, she’s missing her babies,” Jeff Fisher adds.

Want more from Pat Gray?

To enjoy more of Pat’s biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

​Donald trump, Karoline leavitt, Marine one, Maternity leave, Pat gray, Truth social, Blazetv show 

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has announced criminal charges against a woman who allegedly vandalized the World War II monument in D.C. and posted video of herself apparently in the act.

Pirro noted her personal interest in the charges against Melissa Farris in a statement released Friday about the vandalism.

‘Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit. … Where do these animals come from???’

“Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom. Those Americans include my father and grandfather,” said Pirro in a post on social media.

Farris allegedly spray-painted messages on the memorial in pink paint and also allegedly put a sudsing agent into the waters of the fountains. “I’m here. I done did it,” she appears to brag on video.

“Clean hands Dirty $” was the message scrawled in spray-paint, WJLA reported.

Pirro went on to say that Farris was charged in a federal district court with depredation against the property of the United States as well as destruction of veterans’ memorials.

President Donald Trump noted the vandalism in a post on Truth Social.

“Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals,” he wrote Friday morning. “THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II. First the Reflecting Pool, now this. We are on their trail! Where do these animals come from???”

The president linked the war memorial vandalism to the damage allegedly done to the new lining that was sprayed into the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial. Pirro dropped charges against a man accused of damaging the lining, claiming that contractor errors were to blame for the damage.

RELATED: Swastika and racial slur found on fence at elementary school in SoCal town

Trump was reportedly furious at Pirro, who blamed the debacle on Interior Sec. Doug Burgum.

Farris could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted, according to Pirro.

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​Crime, Donald trump, Jeanine pirro, Social media, Vandalism, World war ii, Politics 

The 911 operators of New Orleans are not happy about what they are calling irresponsible journalism.

The conflict stems from a report that accused the emergency service providers in the city of using artificial intelligence — instead of humans — to respond to emergency calls.

‘No, New Orleans 911 is NOT replacing humans with AI.’

The article in question was originally titled “New Orleans will use AI to answer 911 calls instead of a human,” from the Shreveport Times.

The outlet said the Orleans Parish Communication District, which handles emergency and public safety calls for the city, was testing out a new tool to reduce the intake volume for dispatchers.

Citing “over a thousand emergency calls a day,” the paper stated that while the AI was originally implemented in April for non-emergencies, the AI is now answering 911 emergency calls for Louisiana’s largest city.

In response, the OPCD called the report “extremely misleading & inaccurate, and “containing numerous errors of fact.”

A press release from the organization titled “No, New Orleans 911 is NOT replacing humans with AI,” refuted the claim that officials are exchanging staff members for artificial intelligence and offered an explanation for how their “AI call-triage” tool works.

That’s where the automated responses come in.

OPCD said that when all operators are busy and a 911 call comes in from within 200 meters of an already-reported incident, the AI tells the callers they have reached New Orleans 911 and asks if they are calling about the same case.

RELATED: Surveillance pricing is here — and this surprising state is saying NO

Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

“If the caller responds with anything other than ‘YES’ (in any language), they are returned to the 911 call queue to speak with a human,” the organization wrote.

If the caller does say “Yes,” the AI tells the caller that the incident is already known and that if the caller is involved or has further information to stay on the line. The call is still logged and the normal audio and data still recorded, the OPCD stated.

Although OPCD described the story as “irresponsible,” the Louisiana paper’s description of the program was seemingly not as egregious as one would imagine. The Times described the triage as a system that assesses incoming calls to provide immediate feedback to callers.

“This is intended to handle the increase of calls that are related to one incident,” the Times said.

RELATED: Infamous cyberattackers claim their next shocking victim — using a decades-old trick

Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images

In fact, the outlet outright stated that the AI “will not be used to handle emergency calls, only to direct such calls to a human dispatcher.”

One discrepancy was that the program had started in just April, but OPCD said it has been in use since the fall of 2023.

Nonetheless, OPCD said the Shreveport Times failed to properly fact check its “incredibly inflammatory story,” while labeling such acts “irresponsible” and “unprofessional.”

Following the OCPD’s complaints, the Shreveport Times has updated its article and title. The article now reads, “New Orleans hoping limited AI use could speed response for emergencies,” with the following note:

The original version of this story did not meet our editorial standards. We are conducting a thorough review and implementing immediate measures to strengthen our process. We regret the error and any distress it may have caused. This story will be updated as additional facts or information warrant.

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​Artificial intelligence, 911, 911 dispatch, New orleans, Louisiana, Tech 

The Democrats’ plot to seize control of the U.S. Senate may not get any help from the voters in Michigan if the latest polling results hold until Election Day.

Republican Mike Rogers has a narrow lead over Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, but other results in the Fox News poll show some strength on the left that may show up at the ballot box.

‘El-Sayed being down by that 4-point margin is the weakest that any Democrat has polled at this point in a Senate race this entire century.’

Fifty-one percent of respondents back Rogers while only 47% say they are voting for El-Sayed, but that lead is within the poll’s margin of error.

However, Democrats are much more interested in voting in the election generally, to the tune of a 15-point advantage over Republicans.

El-Sayed was able to defeat establishment candidate Rep. Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary by 1% despite polling showing that she competed better against Rogers.

CNN election analyst Harry Enten found that El-Sayed’s support is historically low among Democrats vying for the U.S. Senate.

“El-Sayed is significantly weaker than these other Democrats who are running, and I will also note, I went back, and I tried to find every single poll I could find at this point in previous Michigan Senate campaigns in the 21st century,” he said. “I believe that El-Sayed being down by that 4-point margin is the weakest that any Democrat has polled at this point in a Senate race this entire century.”

Political science professor Robert Shapiro of Columbia University says Democrats should be encouraged by the poll despite the narrow Rogers lead.

“First, it’s an encouraging sign that he is not trailing badly in the polls given how he is readily painted as an extremist and vehemently anti-Israel,” Shapiro said to Newsweek.

RELATED: El-Sayed PURGED more than 100 YouTube videos expressing FRINGE beliefs — and they have resurfaced

“It is trite to say it but true that the election will be all about turnout,” he added. “Turnout of the MAGA base and anti-leftist Republicans versus a fired up Democratic voting base that is fed up and angry with how they see Trump and his Republican congressional lackeys have not only failed to perform effectively on the inflation and affordability front, but have made things worse overall with the misguided war against Iran.”

El-Sayed is the first Muslim to be nominated for a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Rogers sailed into the Republican nomination unopposed after previously serving as a congressional representative for Michigan and losing a U.S. Senate race in 2024.

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​Democrats, Us senate, Michigan, Abdul el-sayed, Muslim, Politics