Latest
TEVI TROY: Trump faces the burdens of a wartime presidency
America’s war with the mullahs of Tehran is into its second month and it has already changed Donald Trump’s presidency in important ways. As the president considers how to navigate these new dynamics, it’s worth considering the experience of some previous presidents who entered office not expecting to be wartime presidents.
Woodrow Wilson ended a four-cycle Republican winning streak by winning the three-way election of 1912. He did so because his two opponents, former president Teddy Roosevelt and incumbent president William Howard Taft, split the Republican vote. As president, Wilson embarked on an aggressive progressive domestic policy agenda. Things changed when World War One broke out in Europe midway through Wilson’s first term. Wilson then ran for reelection in 1916 promising to keep America out of the conflict, even using the slogan “He kept us out of war.” He did not keep that promise, though, as America entered the war in 1917, during the first year of his second term.
Franklin Roosevelt was elected in 1932 to rescue the economy from the Great Depression. In his third term, he gained a new mission: fighting the Axis Powers and presiding over the largest military mobilization in American history. Roosevelt addressed this shift at a 1943 press conference where he explained the transition from “Dr. New Deal” to “Dr. Win-the-War.” FDR’s quip highlighted the way his administration had to reorder itself to face the new challenge.
Lyndon Johnson came to office unexpectedly after the tragic assassination of John F. Kennedy. He took over in peacetime and began pursuing his dream of a Great Society — a sweeping domestic agenda to rival Roosevelt’s New Deal.
WHY TRUMP, IRAN SEEM LIGHT-YEARS APART ON ANY POSSIBLE DEAL TO END THE WAR
As he managed to pass his ambitious — and costly — domestic agenda, he soon found himself and his administration consumed by the conflict in Vietnam. The experience was so draining that by 1968, Johnson, who had spent his whole life pursuing the presidency, shocked the world by refusing to seek re-election.
In 2000, George W. Bush explicitly campaigned on pursuing a humble foreign policy, rejecting the nation-building missions of the Bill Clinton era. His ambition was to be the “Education President.” Then, 19 militant jihadis from Al Qaeda struck America on September 11. In response, Bush ordered the invasions of terror-supporting countries Afghanistan and then Iraq. As someone who served in that administration, the shift I saw was palpable. Bush had entered office with one kind of vision for his presidency, but history had a different idea entirely.
War reshapes more than just the man sitting behind the Resolute Desk. It changes the teams around the president. We saw this with the resignation of Trump’s counterterrorism director, Joe Kent. As the Kent episode showed, advisors who were in alignment before the shooting starts are not necessarily in alignment once fighting begins.
DESTROY THE REGIME’S POWER WITHOUT OCCUPYING IRAN: A SMARTER WAR PLAN
This sort of thing has also happened in previous presidencies. In the early years of Wilson’s administration, Wilson was reliant on the advice of Texan political operative Colonel Edward House, who was so close to the president that he even lived in the White House. Things changed during the war, however, as internal critics in the State Department and the White House pushed back against House’s broad mandate managing the war. Wilson and House also clashed over the Versailles Treaty, which led to a permanent end to their once close relationship.
As for Johnson, he was famously intolerant of internal dissent, and he drove away or silenced advisors who questioned his Vietnam strategy. Johnson pushed aside his defense secretary Robert McNamara — initially the face of the Vietnam War—after Johnson noticed and didn’t appreciate McNamara’s increasing skepticism of Johnson’s Vietnam policy. Johnson wanted — and got — an echo chamber, to his administration and to our nation’s detriment.
In the Bush administration, the Iraq war set off a bureaucratic civil war inside Bush’s national security team. This internal struggle led to the Valerie Plame affair, which brought about the indictment of Vice President Cheney’s top aide Scooter Libby after the exposure of the name of a covert CIA operative. Libby, however, had not leaked her name; his bureaucratic nemesis Dick Armitage was the leaker, and Armitage shamefully stayed silent about his role during the investigation. The episode showed the degree to which the higher stakes brought about by war can roil an administration, not to mention innocent lives.
WHY TRUMP FACES AN AGONIZING DECISION ON OBLITERATING IRAN’S OIL SUPPLY IF HE CAN’T GET A DEAL
War also takes a personal toll on presidents. Sometimes it leads to behavioral changes. In 2003, Bush gave up playing golf, one of his few outlets for escaping the pressures of the presidency. He said years later that he was unwilling to be seen on the links while American soldiers were dying in Iraq. As he explained in 2008, “I don’t want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander-in-chief playing golf.” It was a quietly devastating admission about the weight a wartime president carries every day.
In other cases, the toll of being president in wartime has been even heavier. Wilson suffered a stroke while in Europe and was incapacitated for much of the rest of the administration; his team kept the American people in the dark as his wife Edith secretly managed things in the White House. Roosevelt died during his fourth term at 63. Those who saw him in his final days found him to be pale and depleted beyond his years. A visibly thinned Johnson, who left office at 60, died less than four years after exiting the White House.
While these examples may seem harrowing, there is one also instructive counterexample.
George H.W. Bush entered the Gulf War with a limited objective, built a broad international coalition for expelling Saddam Hussein from Kuwait, achieved that objective, and got out. Bush’s national security team was extraordinarily disciplined and cohesive. The war did not appear to fundamentally damage Bush’s presidency or his person. Yet even Bush could not escape the political gravity of wartime leadership — he was perceived as so focused on foreign affairs that he lost touch with a domestic economy in recession, leading to what many believed was highly improbable when Bush had a 91% approval rating on the way: His defeat at the hands of Bill Clinton in 1992.
The lesson here is not that presidents should shrink from the use of force. President Trump has shown courage in taking on one of the most murderous and predatory regimes in the past half century. The decision to go to war is the most difficult decision a president must make. It costs lives and changes the world in unpredictable ways. And even before the end is reached, it changes the president, his staff, and his agenda, testing his character and taxing his body and soul in ways that cannot be fully anticipated.
Latest
Trump Humiliates Top UK Leader At G7 With Chilling Move
President Donald Trump arrived at the G7 summit this week once again demonstrating why world leaders continue to look to Washington for leadership on the most pressing international issues.
While European leaders initially planned to focus discussions on Ukraine, trade, migration, and economic concerns, attention quickly shifted to Trump’s newly announced framework agreement with Iran—a diplomatic breakthrough that could reshape stability in the Middle East and strengthen global energy markets.
The president confirmed that both he and Vice President JD Vance electronically signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran on Sunday. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf signed on behalf of Tehran.
Administration officials emphasized that the agreement represents only the first stage of a broader negotiation process designed to permanently address concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions while protecting American and allied interests.
“We’ll be releasing the text this week,” Vance said during a television interview on Monday.
“What everybody will see is that Iran doesn’t get a dime of money unless they perform their obligations.”
The vice president’s comments directly challenged media reports suggesting the agreement included hundreds of billions of dollars in reconstruction funding for Iran.
Instead, administration officials stressed that any future economic benefits would be entirely contingent on Iran fulfilling strict requirements established by the United States and its allies.
Vance dismissed reports of massive direct payments as misinformation and explained that any economic relief would primarily come through sanctions adjustments tied to verified compliance.
According to officials, Iran would be required to permanently abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions, eliminate enriched nuclear material stockpiles, and submit to extensive international inspections before receiving any meaningful economic benefits.
“So long as they honor their end of the obligation,” Vance explained, Gulf nations could potentially participate in reconstruction efforts only after Iran demonstrates full compliance with the agreement.
The framework marks a significant departure from years of escalating tensions that repeatedly threatened to destabilize the region and disrupt global energy supplies.
Administration officials also announced that the Strait of Hormuz—one of the most strategically important shipping routes in the world—is expected to fully reopen following the formal signing ceremony scheduled for Friday in Geneva.
The recent disruptions in the waterway have contributed to uncertainty in global energy markets and increased economic pressure on nations around the world.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the importance of restoring normal operations in the strait.
“The strait being closed has had an impact on our economy and an impact on every household across the country,” Starmer said.
The British leader suggested that the United Kingdom could potentially assist with demining operations if necessary.
The summit also served as another reminder of America’s dominant role on the world stage under Trump’s leadership. While European leaders sought greater involvement in ongoing negotiations surrounding both Iran and Ukraine, much of the summit’s focus remained squarely on Trump’s diplomatic initiatives and high-profile meetings.
One particularly revealing moment occurred when Starmer appeared to be caught on a hot microphone asking whether Trump was holding another meeting elsewhere after the president met with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The incident sparked speculation in British media that Starmer had been sidelined during portions of the summit as world leaders sought opportunities to engage directly with the American president.
Starmer dismissed suggestions that he had been snubbed.
“We had very productive, very good conversations,” Starmer said.
Nevertheless, observers noted that the summit’s most significant developments centered on Trump’s diplomatic efforts rather than the priorities advanced by many European leaders.
The president also met separately with Zelensky as he continues advocating for a negotiated resolution to the war between Russia and Ukraine, a position that has increasingly gained attention among leaders seeking an end to the prolonged conflict.
Meanwhile, administration officials released additional details regarding the Iran framework agreement.
The United States will maintain its current military posture throughout a 60-day negotiation period while talks continue. Officials repeatedly emphasized that any economic concessions will remain tied to verified Iranian compliance and that enforcement mechanisms will remain firmly in place.
The administration’s approach reflects Trump’s longstanding strategy of combining diplomacy with strength—pursuing peace agreements while ensuring America retains leverage throughout the negotiation process.
As negotiations move forward, the agreement is being viewed by many observers as a significant diplomatic achievement that could reduce tensions in the Middle East, strengthen global economic stability, and further underscore America’s leadership role on the international stage.
Latest
FBI Raids George Soros — Major Plot Narrowly Thwarted
Federal investigators executed a major raid Thursday on a Soros-funded voter mobilization organization in Ohio as part of an ongoing fraud investigation, marking the latest effort by the Trump administration to crack down on alleged election-related misconduct.
According to reports from MS Now, FBI agents raided the headquarters of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative (OOC) on June 11 and conducted interviews with individuals connected to the organization across the state. Some of those contacted reportedly received subpoenas or were asked to surrender electronic devices.
Sources familiar with the matter later told CBS News that the law enforcement activity was connected to a fraud-related investigation.
The operation represents another significant step in President Donald Trump’s broader push to investigate allegations of voter fraud and election integrity violations. Conservatives have long argued that such cases were not aggressively pursued by previous administrations and have welcomed increased federal scrutiny of organizations involved in voter registration and mobilization efforts.
The Ohio Organizing Collaborative is a nonprofit organization that works closely with Democratic Party-aligned causes in Ohio, focusing on voter registration, turnout efforts, and ballot initiatives. The group has received substantial financial support from major liberal donor networks, including organizations tied to billionaire George Soros.
While federal authorities have remained tight-lipped about the details of the investigation, the Department of Justice emphasized that the search warrants were approved through the normal judicial process.
“Search warrants are authorized by a judge, and anything said by any organization or others in the media is unfounded speculation, as the target of any investigation is not privy to the search warrant affidavit until after indictment,” a DOJ official told Fox News.
Financial disclosures show OOC has become a major force in Ohio politics. The organization reported more than $10 million in revenue during 2024 and has spent heavily on ballot initiatives and political campaigns.
Last year alone, OOC spent $250,000 opposing a Republican-backed effort related to abortion policy in Ohio and another $300,000 fighting a GOP redistricting initiative.
The group’s financial backing comes from a network of prominent Democratic-aligned organizations, including the Soros family’s philanthropic entities, the New Venture Fund, the Tides Foundation, and major labor unions such as the American Federation of Teachers and the Service Employees International Union.
Records show the Soros family’s Foundation to Promote Open Society provided approximately $1.9 million to OOC between 2019 and 2020. In addition, the Open Society Action Fund contributed $1 million to OOC’s affiliated organization in 2021 and another $1 million in 2023.
OOC leaders have sharply criticized the investigation, accusing the Trump administration of using federal law enforcement to target political opponents.
The organization has faced controversy before. In 2017, a paid canvasser associated with OOC pleaded guilty for his role in a fraudulent voter registration scheme, a case that continues to draw attention amid the current federal investigation.
OOC board member Prentiss Haney questioned the timing of the operation.
“How can they distract and intimidate civil rights leaders and voters and community leaders who are helping people get registered to vote, and create a national spectacle about it?” Haney told MS Now.
“That is the only reason why they would choose to do that, do it now, in the middle of a contested political election in the state. There’s no other reason. They have no evidence of that,” Haney added.
The investigation also comes after President Trump publicly criticized George Soros and his son, Alexander Soros, earlier this year.
“George Soros, and his wonderful Radical Left son, should be charged with RICO because of their support of Violent Protests, and much more, all throughout the United States of America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“We’re not going to allow these lunatics to rip apart America any more, never giving it so much as a chance to ‘BREATHE,’ and be FREE. Soros, and his group of psychopaths, have caused great damage to our Country! That includes his Crazy, West Coast friends. Be careful, we’re watching you! Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump added.
As federal investigators continue their work, the raid is likely to intensify the national debate over election integrity, political activism, and the role of powerful donor-funded organizations in American elections.
Latest
Bone-Chilling Details Emerge From White House Terror Plot
Federal authorities say they foiled a chilling terror plot targeting Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House South Lawn, preventing what investigators believe could have been one of the most devastating attacks on the nation’s capital in recent memory.
According to officials, five suspects are already in custody after the FBI uncovered a multi-phase attack plan that allegedly included explosive-laden drones, sniper teams, and an attempted assault on the White House itself.
The plot was reportedly aimed at the historic UFC event attended by President Donald Trump and thousands of supporters. Authorities say the attackers intended to use drones carrying explosives to strike buildings near the venue, creating chaos among attendees and forcing panicked crowds into predetermined kill zones where snipers would allegedly open fire.
Investigators say the operation did not stop there. Officials revealed that a “second wave” of attackers allegedly planned to exploit the confusion and attempt to breach the White House gates.
FBI Director Kash Patel credited law enforcement agencies for stopping the threat before it could be carried out.
The scheme was “stopped cold” on June 10 after investigators executed a search warrant in Cincinnati, where the first arrest was made.
Federal court documents identify California resident Michael Alan Thomas as one of the alleged organizers behind the operation.
According to an arrest affidavit, Thomas told investigators he believed the federal government is controlled by elites who sacrifice and eat children, had ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and are protected by President Trump.
Authorities say some members of the group traveled to Fredericksburg, Virginia, on June 12 or June 13 to conduct preparations for the planned attack.
The investigation uncovered extensive communications among the suspects. After examining an iPhone linked to one of the individuals, federal agents reportedly discovered at least 23 users participating in discussions on the encrypted messaging application Signal.
Investigators say those conversations included detailed planning for what could have become a catastrophic attack. Screenshots recovered by federal agents allegedly show maps of the UFC event being circulated among participants, along with discussions regarding potential sniper positions.
Law enforcement officials also recovered rifles and ammunition during the investigation.
According to the affidavit, one suspect told investigators that the goal of the operation was to target “capitalist elites,” “billionaires” and politicians who had received support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, known as AIPAC.
Sources familiar with the investigation told Fox News correspondent David Spunt that all five suspects currently in custody are American citizens. At this time, authorities say they have found no evidence suggesting any foreign involvement in the alleged plot.
Following the arrests, Patel praised the coordinated efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
“While the result represented the best of investigative work, it was also nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team — we are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens — particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight,” Patel later wrote on X.
The UFC Freedom 250 event marked a major celebration coinciding with President Trump’s 80th birthday and drew approximately 4,300 attendees, including 1,200 active-duty military service members.
Officials estimate another 80,000 to 85,000 fans attended a ticketed watch party on the Ellipse south of the White House, while thousands more gathered on the National Mall to watch the event on giant screens.
The successful disruption of the alleged attack underscores the significant security challenges surrounding high-profile public events and highlights what officials describe as the vigilance of law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting both President Trump and the tens of thousands of Americans who attended the historic celebration.
-
Economy2 months agoVance Leaves Meeting, Looks Straight Into Camera, Announces Stunning Arrest
-
Economy2 months agoAdam Schiff Facing 30 Years In Prison After Bank Records Leak
-
Economy2 months agoSupreme Curt Sides With Trump — He Can Remove The All
-
Economy2 months agoAll Hell Breaks Loose On Fox When Jesse Watters Asks Fetterman One Question
-
Economy2 months agoNBC Stops LIVE Broadcast — Breaks Big Trump News
-
Economy2 months agoTrump Pulls Off Miracle Of A Lifetime — It’s Permanently Open
-
Economy2 months agoSwalwell Facing Jail Time After Sickening New Video Leaks
-
Economy1 month agoBarack Obama Just Made Insane Announcement About His Marriage
