We’re finally about to learn whether the war in Iran is a big enough story to distract the American People’s attention away from the Epstein Files…also Trump is REALLY mad at Starmer
Donald Trump is still pretty grumpy with Keir Starmer. He’s moaned (again) overnight that the UK should have “without question” backed his strikes in Iran – and is “very disappointed” with the PM, who he maintains is not Winston Churchill.
Meanwhile, we’re about to finally learn whether the war in Iran is a big enough story to distract from the Epstein Files – as the Department of Justice prepares to release another trenche of files.
You’ll find all that and Kristi Noem getting ritually humiliated below. Buckle up.
Meanwhile, in Trumpworld
- Trump and Starmer haven’t spoken since SATURDAY
- White House posts poor taste Iran/Call of Duty mashup
- DoJ drops Biden autopen case
- Veteran breaks arm in protest against Iran war
Here’s what you need to know
1. Fuming Trump has another pop at Starmer
The UK should have backed the US war on Iran “without question” Donald Trump has moaned in a fresh attack on Keir Starmer.
The US President made the complaint in an interview with the New York Post, saying he was “very disappointed” in the UK PM.
“It was very disappointing — his performance, having to do with our tremendous attack on a hostile nation,” Trump said.
“He should be giving us, without question or hesitation, things like bases where we can use others.”
“We should [be able to] certainly count on them,” he added. “I was very surprised at Keir. Very disappointed.”
2. Starmer hasn’t spoken to Donald Trump since SATURDAY
Keir Starmer admitted he hasn’t spoken to Donald Trump since Saturday evening, just a few hours after the US launched its first strikes on Iran.
He made the startling admission in response to a question from the Mirror’s Sophie Huskisson at a No10 press conference this afternoon.
That means the two leaders haven’t spoken since Trump flipped out over Britain’s reluctance to let the US launch strikes from joint bases on UK soil – and since the US President branded Starmer “no Winston Churchill”.
But he insisted the Special Relationship is alive and well.
3. More Epstein documents are coming…soon
The Department of Justice says it plans to release a new batch of Epstein Files “fairly soon.”
The DoJ has come under fire in recent weeks for withholding some documents – despite Attorney General Pam Bondi claiming the department had released everything.
In particular, people are concerned about the government withholding FBI case files relating to unverified allegations of abuse against Donald Trump, and records of interviews with a whistleblower.
4. White House posts tasteless Call of Duty vs Iran War mashup
The White House last night demonstrated the solemn, serious attitude the Trump is taking to putting American service personnel in harm’s way, by posting a mashup of footage from strikes in Iran with clips from the video game Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3.
The caption reads “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.”
5. Marine veteran’s arm broken in scuffle after protest
Brian McGinnis, a US Marine veteran, suffered a broken arm while being dragged out of a congressional hearing, where he was protesting against the Iran war. Mr McGinnis stood up in the Armed Services Committee wearing dress uniform, and interrupted the session yelling “No-one wants to fight this war for Israel.”
He struggled against three officers trying to remove him from the room, and after Montana Republican Senator Tim Sheehy joined in the fracas, an audible snap could be heard as McGinnis’ arm was broken while clinging on to the door frame.
On his way out, McGinnis expanded his protests to include anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian slogans.
“Free Palestine, from the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli, Palestine will be free” – he shouted, a reference to the Marine Corps’ official song, which opens: “From the Halls of Montezuma To the shores of Tripoli; We fight our country’s battles In the air, on land, and sea.”
There’s footage of the incident, but it’s not for the squeamish. I cannot in all conscience recommend anyone watches it. You get the idea.
6. DoJ drops Biden autopen case
Donald Trump’s justice department has reportedly dropped its stupid legal case against Joe Biden, whom Trump has repeatedly claimed (baselessly) abdicated responsibility in the later months of his presidency, allowing aides to take decisions for him using the “autopen.”
According to NBC News, the Department of Justice could not find a “readily identifiable and applicable criminal statute” that had been broken.
7. Leavitt tries to clear up why the Iran war is handling without much success
After a day of various administration figures giving various conflicting motivations for America going to war with Iran, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took to the podium to try and clear this whole thing up. She was not entirely successful.
Repeatedly berating the press for reporting things that the administration figures had said, Leavitt explained condescendingly that the reason Trump launched fire and fury against Iran was that Iran is bad, and hates America, OK?
Asked if Trump thinks that Americans support the Israel-U.S. war in Iran – even though Trump hasn’t given a national address to personally make the case – Leavitt said, “I think he does.”
“This was a rogue terrorist regime that has been threatening the United States, our allies and our people for 47 years,” she said. “And the American people are smart enough to know that, and they’re smart enough to listen to the president himself – not just over the past year, in the second term, but during his first term as president.”
Leavitt said a phone call between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before they launched the war was “important with respect to the timeline.”
However, she said, “I think the president, prior to that phone call, had a good feeling that the Iranian regime was going to strike the United States assets and our personnel in the region.”
A good feeling. Huh.
8. Trump hosts roundtable on affordability (and AI) – and immediately starts talking about Iran
Immediately after Leavitt’s press conference, Trump was scheduled to host a roundtable on his plan to let AI companies build their own power stations next to data centres, theoretically preventing energy bills for nearby residents skyrocketing.
This is all part of the big push from some within the Administration for Trump to focus on the cost of living between now and the midterms.
Trump, however was having none of it, and within seconds of the roundtable starting, he was talking about Iran.
“These are exciting times, I think you’ll probably want to talk about war, rather than this,” Trump said immediately after sitting down.
“But this is also important. We’re doing very well on the war front, to put it mildly.”
On his rationale for launching the war, he Iran had “for years…been killing our people. And if we didn’t do it first they would have done it to Israel. And given us a shot if that’s possible.”
9. Kristi Noem’s insanely awkward exchange over affair allegations…in front of her husband
Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security Secretary has been giving evidence to congress, and it’s been a doozy. Not least because of this teeth-grindingly awkward exchange about the persistent rumour that she’s having an affair with Corey Lewandowski, a “special government employee” of the White House (but who really works for her).
Both Noem and Lewandowsky are married and deny the claims. But Democrat Sydney Kamlager-Dove gave her the opportunity to do so under oath during a House committee hearing yesterday.
“At any time during your tenure as director of Department of Homeland Security, have you had sexual relations with Corey Lewandowski?” asked Kamlager-Dove.
Noem said she found the question offensive, and that it was based on “tabloid garbage.” But she didn’t say “no”.
“You should be able to answer if someone asks if you or any federal official is sleeping with their subordinate,” Ms Kamlager-Dove added.
Noem fired back: ‘It is garbage.’
Which again, is not strictly speaking a denial.
What made the exchange all the more awkward for Noem was that sitting directly behind her for much of the meeting was…Bryan Noem, The Secretary’s husband. Eesh.