Stories

Browse major news stories and see what officials have said.

Jun 21, 2026

Trump and Pezeshkian Sign US–Iran Ceasefire Memorandum; Hormuz Standoff and Invasion Threat Follow

On June 17, 2026, President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian remotely signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding extending the 2026 Iran war ceasefire for 60 days, reopening the Strait of Hormuz toll-free, and lifting the US naval blockade while negotiators pursued a final nuclear deal. The framework drew sharp bipartisan criticism in Washington, with Republican hawks calling the terms a capitulation and Democrats saying Iran had "won" the negotiation. The truce frayed on June 20 when Iran's IRGC Navy declared it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz, citing continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon, though US Central Command said traffic continued to flow. On June 21 Trump warned in a Fox News phone interview that if Iran closed the strait "you won't have a country," and separately threatened to impose US tolls on the waterway if a final deal was not reached within 60 days. On June 23 the Senate advanced a war powers resolution rebuking Trump's handling of the conflict.

Trump Announces Renewed Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire in Lebanon After Deadly Beirut Strikes

On June 19, 2026, President Trump said Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to renew their ceasefire in the 2026 Lebanon war, a truce a U.S. official described as mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Iran. The agreement came after fighting flared with intense Israeli strikes on southern Beirut and across southern Lebanon that killed dozens, making it one of the deadliest days of the conflict and briefly derailing U.S.-Iran talks. Vice President JD Vance postponed a trip to sign a related U.S.-Iran memorandum and publicly pressed Israel to respect the peace process, while Trump called the renewed truce "a little icing on the cake." Reactions among U.S. officials ranged from praise for the de-escalation to skepticism that a diplomatic solution would hold.

Trump and Xi Hold High-Stakes Beijing Summit; China Warns Over Taiwan

President Trump traveled to Beijing on May 13-14, 2026 for a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping — the first U.S. presidential state visit to China in years. Xi placed Taiwan at the center of talks, calling it "the most important issue" and warning that if it is "mishandled," the two countries "will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy." The two leaders agreed on a framework for "constructive strategic stability," that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open, and that Iran should not acquire nuclear weapons. Trade, tariffs, AI, and rare earths were also on the agenda. A major pre-summit flashpoint: Trump had not formally notified Congress of a $14 billion in arms sales to Taiwan that Congress pre-approved in January 2025. A bipartisan group of eight senators — led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) — sent Trump a letter urging him to proceed with the sale. A second bipartisan letter, led by Sens. Bennet (D-CO) and Curtis (R-UT), urged Secretary Rubio to reaffirm U.S. commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act.

US and Israel Launch Joint Military Attack on Iran

On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran — codenamed "Epic Fury" by the Pentagon and "Roaring Lion" by Israel — striking nuclear facilities, missile sites, and government compounds across Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah. By Day 2, CENTCOM confirmed over 1,000 targets had been hit, and Iranian state media acknowledged that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed along with dozens of senior officials. Iran retaliated by launching waves of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel, US military bases, and Gulf states including the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, killing three US service members and eight people in Israel. Hezbollah broke its November 2024 ceasefire by firing rockets at northern Israel, the Strait of Hormuz was disrupted, and Middle Eastern airspace was largely closed. In Congress, bipartisan war powers resolutions were introduced with votes expected as early as March 4, while Trump said the operation was "ahead of schedule" and could take "four weeks or less." As of March 1, strikes continued with international calls for ceasefire from the UN, China, and others, while Oman offered mediation and Iran signaled openness to de-escalation.

JD Vance Campaigns for Orbán Ahead of Hungary Election

Vice President JD Vance traveled to Budapest on April 7, 2026 to campaign for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of the April 12 election — an extraordinary move by a sitting U.S. vice president to openly support a foreign leader's reelection. At a joint press conference, Vance said Orbán's leadership "can provide a model for the continent" and accused the EU of "one of the worst examples of foreign election interference" he'd ever seen. Opposition leader Péter Magyar, whose Tisza party leads in polls, responded by asking Vance not to make Hungarian taxpayers foot the bill for his visit. The trip overlapped with Vance's role managing the Iran crisis, leading to the surreal moment where he learned of Trump's "civilization will die" threat from a reporter while onstage with Orbán.

US Military Buildup in Persian Gulf Raises Threat of Iran Strike

The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group with 5,000+ troops is heading to the Middle East amid reports that US military action against Iran could come within 24 hours. The buildup follows mass protests in Iran where UN officials report at least 5,000 protesters killed by security forces. Iran has warned it will strike US bases in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Turkey if attacked. Trump says Iran "wants to talk" while deploying what he calls a "massive fleet."

Trump Claims NATO Deal for Greenland Control

President Trump announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos that he has a framework deal with NATO for US control of Greenland, drawing criticism from European leaders and fueling international tensions. The expansionist push has prompted boycott discussions for World Cup 2026 and strained transatlantic relations.

US Military Operation Captures Venezuela's Maduro

On January 3, 2026, "Operation Absolute Resolve" deployed over 200 Delta Force operators and 150+ aircraft to capture President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. Maduro and wife Cilia Flores were transferred to New York to face narco-terrorism charges. At least 23 Venezuelan and 32 Cuban security officers were killed. Six Latin American nations condemned the action as a violation of international law and the UN Charter. Americans are evenly split (33% approve, 34% disapprove) with a stark partisan divide.

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