The Pentagon has just opened the door to arming Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, a move that could shift the balance in a war that’s already a geopolitical powder keg, the Hill reported.
The Department of Defense has given its blessing to send these powerful weapons to Kyiv, though the final call rests with President Trump, who’s playing a cautious hand amid pressure from European allies and urgent pleas from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Let’s rewind a bit to see how we got here. Earlier in October, the Joint Staff provided an assessment to the White House, relaying that European allies saw no strong reason for the U.S. to hold back on the missile transfer. It seemed like a green light was imminent, with the Pentagon later confirming that sending Tomahawks wouldn’t dent U.S. stockpiles.
But then came the curveball—President Trump, in a meeting with Zelensky at the White House on October 17, expressed serious reservations. “It’s not easy for us to give … you’re talking about massive numbers of very powerful weapons,” Trump remarked before their discussion, signaling his reluctance to commit right away.
During that meeting, Trump made it clear he wasn’t ready to approve the transfer just yet, leaving Zelensky empty-handed for the moment. You can almost hear the frustration from Kyiv—after all, these missiles aren’t just hardware; they’re a potential game-changer. Tomahawks, with their radar-evading, low-altitude flight and subsonic speed, could let Ukraine strike deep into Russian territory, targeting military and energy assets.
Zelensky didn’t take the delay lying down, though. He’s been vocal about needing advanced weaponry to bolster Ukraine’s position against Russia, arguing that long-range strike capabilities could be the linchpin for peace. It’s a bold claim, but in a war of attrition, every edge counts.
In a video address earlier in October, Zelensky doubled down, suggesting that Ukraine’s ability to hit far-off targets might force Russia to the negotiating table. He’s framing this not just as a military need but as a diplomatic chess move. And let’s be honest—when your enemy is lobbing missiles made in-house and sourced from places like North Korea and Iran, as Russia is, you’d want every ace up your sleeve.
After his White House meeting, Zelensky kept the pressure on, highlighting the stakes of the missile discussion. “The front line can spark diplomacy. Instead, Russia continues to do everything to weasel out of diplomacy, and as soon as the issue of long-range capabilities for us — for Ukraine — became less immediate, Russia’s interest in diplomacy faded almost automatically,” he stated, pointing to the missed opportunity.
He didn’t stop there, adding, “This signals that this very issue — the issue of our deep strike capabilities — may hold the indispensable key to peace.” Now, that’s a powerful pitch, but it’s worth asking if arming Ukraine to this degree might escalate tensions rather than cool them. Russia’s already warned that such a move would be seen as a major provocation, and the Kremlin isn’t exactly known for restraint.
Across the Atlantic, European officials were reportedly taken aback by Trump’s hesitation. Two of them told CNN they expected a quicker approval, especially given the Pentagon’s assessment that U.S. readiness wouldn’t suffer. It’s a reminder that not everyone in the West is on the same page when it comes to how far to push the envelope with Moscow.
Meanwhile, the White House and Pentagon have been contacted by outlets like The Hill for confirmation of these developments, though no official word has sealed the deal yet. CNN broke the initial story of the Pentagon’s approval, underscoring that Trump holds the ultimate veto power. It’s a classic case of bureaucratic green lights hitting a political red wall.
From a conservative vantage point, Trump’s caution isn’t unwarranted—handing over cutting-edge weaponry in “massive numbers” could drain resources or embolden adversaries if not managed with an iron grip. Yet, there’s empathy to be had for Ukraine, a nation under siege, fighting for survival against a relentless foe. The balance between supporting allies and safeguarding American interests is a tightrope walk, no question.
Russia, for its part, isn’t mincing words, cautioning that supplying Tomahawks to Ukraine would cross a dangerous line. When a nation already leaning on foreign drones and missiles issues such a stark warning, it’s not just posturing—it’s a signal they’re ready to up the ante. This isn’t a game of Risk; real lives and global stability hang in the balance.
So where does this leave us? Zelensky’s argument that delayed weaponry dulls Russia’s appetite for talks has merit, but it’s also a gamble to assume more firepower guarantees peace over escalation. Trump’s deliberation might frustrate some, but it’s a nod to the gravity of arming a war zone with tools of such destructive potential.
In the end, this decision isn’t just about missiles—it’s about whether the U.S. can thread the needle between deterring aggression and avoiding a broader conflict. While progressive voices might push for unchecked support, a measured approach that weighs every consequence isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom. Let’s hope the final call, whatever it may be, prioritizes both security and sanity in a world already on edge.
Ronald Holmes III has left his position as national finance director for the campaign of U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner of Maine, WMTW-TV reported. Holmes announced that he was leaving the campaign because his "standards as a campaign professional no longer fully aligned with those of the campaign."
Platner, an oyster farmer, has positioned himself in the Democratic primary but has already hit some snags. The latest comes after Holmes abruptly announced that he was leaving the "Graham for Maine" campaign in a post to the professional networking site LinkedIn.
"I joined this campaign because I believed in building something different — a campaign of fresh energy, integrity, and reform-minded thinking in a political system that often resists exactly those things. Somewhere along the way, I began to feel that my professional standards as a campaign professional no longer fully aligned with those of the campaign," Holmes said in his post.
"I'm proud of the people who showed up with good hearts and clear purpose and the lessons that came with the work," he added. Losing Holmes is just the tip of the iceberg of problems Platner is facing.
Holmes is only the latest insider to abandon what appears to be a sinking ship. On Oct. 17, former Maine Rep. Genevieve McDonald left her job as the political director for the campaign following resurfaced Reddit posts crafted by Platner that attacked rural White Americans and slammed police.
As Politico reported, this trouble triggered the campaign to send out non-disclosure agreements to staffers, including McDonald. “The campaign offered me $15,000 to sign an NDA. I did not accept the offer. I certainly could have used the money. I quit my job to work on Platner’s campaign, believing it was something different than it is," McDonald told Politico.
This explaination from McDonald sounds shoickingly similar to the way Holmes described their parting. Unfortunately, the scandal has grown after additional posts came to light that he ridiculed the tipping culture of Black Americans and downplayed sexual assaults in the military.
Platner continued to experience personnel issues as recently as last Tuesday. His campaign manager, Kevin Brown, left his post after discovering that he and his wife were expecting a child, though the issues surrounding the campaign couldn't have helped. Prior to leaving, Brown had only served in the campaign position for a week.
As difficult as these changes have been for the campaign, arguably the worst scandal has to do with Platner's tattoo that contains a Nazi symbol. He has tried to explain it away as a drunken impulse, but the scandal is far from over.
According to Fox News, the controversy about Platner's tattoo erupted after old social media posts revealed the skull and crossbones design that was used by Nazi officers. The candidate said that he didn't know the origin of the design when he got the tattoo in Croatia in 2007, following a "night of drinking" while he was in the Marine Corps.
"We thought it looked cool," Platner claimed. He said he's "lived a life dedicated to anti-fascism, anti-racism and anti-Nazism" and was therefore "appalled" to find out its true origin. Platner shared the story in a video uploaded to X, formerly Twitter, on Oct. 22.
"Years ago I got a skull and crossbones tattoo with my buddies in the Marine Corps. I was appalled to learn it closely resembled a Nazi symbol. I altered it yesterday, into something that isn't deeply offensive to my core beliefs. I am very sorry to all of you who had to contemplate a symbol of hate over the past 48 hours," Platner explained in the caption.
Years ago I got a skull and crossbones tattoo with my buddies in the Marine Corps.
I was appalled to learn it closely resembled a Nazi symbol. I altered it yesterday, into something that isn't deeply offensive to my core beliefs.
I am very sorry to all of you who had to… pic.twitter.com/RQSiRsrTiC
— Graham Platner for Senate (@grahamformaine) October 22, 2025
Democrats have largely been silent on this controversy, but it seems Platner is unable to stop the momentum, even with the establishment remaining silent. Only time will tell whether Platner can ride this out, but it isn't looking good, and certainly won't serve him if he makes it to the general election.
Vice President J.D. Vance activated the outrage mob by saying that he hopes his wife, Usha, will convert to Catholicism, the New York Times reported. The vice president was asked about the possibility during a Turning Point USA appearance at the University of Mississippi on Wednesday, and his answer sent people across the political spectrum into a tizzy.
Wednesday's event was held in honor of the memory of Turning Point USA's late founder, Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated nearly two months ago. During a question-and-answer portion of the event, Vance was asked about his interfaith marriage and whether he hoped his wife would join him.
The vice president is himself a convert, having been raised in a culturally evangelical household. Vance is outspoken about his deep faith, and it seems he wishes for his wife, who is a Hindu of Indian descent, to have the same experience.
Vance was forthcoming that he hopes "that she is somehow moved by the same thing I was moved by in the church," the vice president reframed the questioner's point before agreeing. "Yeah, I honestly do wish that because I believe in the Christian Gospel, and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way," Vance told the audience.
Because the left is overly scrupulous about such things, many are apoplectic about his instinct to want to impose his will on his wife. As the Times noted, "some Indians and Indian Americans across the political spectrum who said that Mr. Vance was not respecting his wife’s religious decisions" by wishing for her to come to the faith he loves.
"Some also said his remarks suggested that Hinduism was inferior at a time when aggressive immigration enforcement has left many South Asian Americans and people of non-Christian faiths feeling uncertain and afraid of their place in American society. The backlash reflected worries by some in the South Asian community over the Trump administration’s immigration policies and its embrace of conservative Christian groups," the Times went on.
While outsiders worry about their marriage and Usha Vance's autonomy, the vice president's wife is unfazed by such sentiment from her husband. "The kids know that I’m not Catholic, and they have plenty of access to the Hindu tradition from books that we give them, to things that we show them, to the visit recently to India and some of the religious elements of that visit," Usha Vance said in an interview with Meghan McCain in June.
"So it is a part of their lives and they know many practicing Hindus as a part of their lives in their own family," the second lady added. The Vances' children attend Catholic school, and Usha Vance often attends Mass with her family. Still, this isn't good enough for the left because there is allegedly a rise in anti-Asian sentiments with the success of Zohran Mamdani's mayoral candidacy in New York City and the controversy of H-1B visas.
Regardless of how this remark is being spun, the truth is that Catholics in particular believe that a person must be baptized to get to heaven, and it makes sense for J.D. Vance to want what is best for his wife. J.D. Vance said as much in a social media post Friday.
Amidst the controversy, J.D. Vance took to X, formerly Twitter, on Friday to dispel rumors and rebut accusations against him, including one that has since been deleted. "What a disgusting comment, and it's hardly been the only one along these lines. First off, the question was from a person seemingly to my left, about my interfaith marriage. I'm a public figure, and people are curious, and I wasn't going to avoid the question," the vice president wrote.
"Second, my Christian faith tells me the Gospel is true and is good for human beings. My wife--as I said at the TPUSA--is the most amazing blessing I have in my life," J.D. Vance explained. "She herself encouraged me to reengage with my faith many years ago. She is not a Christian and has no plans to convert, but like many people in an interfaith marriage--or any interfaith relationship--I hope she may one day see things as I do. Regardless, I'll continue to love and support her and talk to her about faith and life and everything else, because she's my wife," J.D. Vance went on.
"Third, posts like this wreak of anti-Christian bigotry. Yes, Christians have beliefs. And yes, those beliefs have many consequences, one of which is that we want to share them with other people. That is a completely normal thing, and anyone who's telling you otherwise has an agenda," the vice president charged.
What a disgusting comment, and it's hardly been the only one along these lines.
First off, the question was from a person seemingly to my left, about my interfaith marriage. I'm a public figure, and people are curious, and I wasn't going to avoid the question.
Second, my… https://t.co/JOzN7WAg3A
— JD Vance (@JDVance) October 31, 2025
Christians are called to evangelize, and often the most pressing need comes from the people closest to them. Usha Vance is an intelligent woman and surely can handle a discussion about faith. Unfortunately, leftists don't give her enough credit.
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani has ordered the Trump administration to keep SNAP benefits funded as the government shutdown continues to drag on.
On Friday, Judge Talwani issued an order requiring the Trump administration to direct emergency funds to keep the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as SNAP, funded as the government shutdown is beginning to drag into the months.
The order will ensure that SNAP benefits continue to flow to the 42 million Americans who receive aid just hours before the funding was set to expire.
This order was issued just before a separate federal judge in Rhode Island issued an order mandating similar action from the Trump administration.
While military members and air traffic controllers face uncertainty about their next paycheck, these federal judges are making sure that those abusing welfare to support their lifestyle can still take advantage of the notoriously exploited SNAP program.
A coalition of 25 Democratic governors and state attorneys general sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture over its refusal to keep SNAP benefits funded during the ongoing government shutdown.
Considering Democrats are reliant on votes from those perpetually on welfare, it's no surprise to see Democrats push hard to keep those benefits paid out while doing nothing to fund the troops' paychecks.
Talwani, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, wrote in her decision that, "It’s hard for me to understand how this isn’t an emergency when there’s no money and a lot of people need their SNAP benefits."
The issue is there isn't much money to go around as the USDA only has a $5 billion contingency fund which will now need to be spent on food stamps.
The Trump administration wanted to keep that contingency fund intact in order to respond to possible natural disasters.
Democrats don't care about ensuring that disaster response is maintained through the shutdown. After all, its Democrats in Congress who refuse to fund the government unless they secure absurd concessions from the GOP.
It's unclear what will happen from here as the Trump administration has yet to announce how it will proceed following these decisions. It's possible that there will be an appeal, but it would take months for this case to be decided, long after the emergency fund is drained.
Ideally, the GOP will take drastic action to end the shutdown but at this point, it seems unlikely that the GOP will unite and end the filibuster.
This decision also highlights the problem of federal judges appointed by Democrat presidents who consistently make activist rulings at the expense of good governance.
James Carville criticized Hunter Biden for speaking publicly about anything, given the disgrace he has brought to his family, the Daily Caller reported. The famed Democratic strategist excoriated the son of former President Joe Biden on the "Politics War Room" podcast released on Thursday, telling him to "shut the f--k up."
The impetus for this tirade came from a revelation in a new book, Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America by ABC News's Jonathan Karl. In it, he claimed that Biden was angry over an incident that happened at a 2024 fundraiser where his father appeared with former President Barack Obama.
Joe Biden had one of his moments on stage, and Obama took him by the wrist to lead him off, which outraged the younger Biden. When Carville's co-host Al Hunt brought up the topic, Carville laid into the former president's son for being a grifter and embarrassing his family.
Carville pulled no punches when it came to the former president's son. "In terms of Hunter Biden, look — he did some really stupid g-----n things," Carville stated.
"That $50,000 a month from a Ukrainian energy company — I mean, if he cared so much about his father, it looks like he wouldn’t have done so much s--t to embarrass him. Getting him on the phone and whatever," Carville said.
Burisma employed Hunter Biden despite his lack of experience and education in the energy industry. There were also accusations that Hunter Biden was engaged in influence peddling and profiting from his famous name.
According to PBS News, Hunter Biden's former business partner, Devon Archer, accused him of using his famous father's influence to make a favorable impression. There were numerous shady dealings between Hunter Biden, his father, and business associates; however, Joe Biden pardoned his son on his way out of office.
"And I don’t criticize [former] President [Joe] Biden for pardoning his own son. I think he was a target of malicious prosecution, but I think he was guilty of some s--t. Okay?" Carville added. "He wasn’t like Chelsea Clinton or the Obama children or anything like that. He traded on his family name. But it would look like after you’ve gone through all of that, you would do the simple thing and just shut the f--k up.”
Carville is correct that Hunter Biden appeared to be intent on embarrassing his father, considering the abandoned laptop that would have become a career-ending scandal, had Big Tech not suppressed the New York Post's report. Still, the humiliating details of his alleged drug-fueled life of debauchery will never go away.
There were photos of Hunter Biden allegedly doing drugs, engaging with prostitutes, and all sorts of other activities. Rather than being discreet about it, Hunter Biden allegedly left behind this hard drive containing a trove of damning evidence at a Delaware repair shop.
Still, Hunter Biden continues to downplay the findings on the laptop and its origins. "So number one, there’s really never a laptop," Hunter Biden claimed.
"But there was a hard drive, and that hard drive became just a dumping ground for things that were hacked, stolen, fabricated, manipulated, real. Lot of — vast majority of things that are real," Hunter Biden said.
Joe Biden was no choir boy by any means, but his son seems to have surpassed him in the ways he could allegedly break the law and misbehave. If Hunter Biden had any sense, he never would have done those things, but he can't even manage to keep his mouth shut about it.
President Donald Trump agreed to cut tariffs on China after the nation agreed to accept agricultural trade from the U.S., Breitbart reported. The deal was struck during a meeting on Thursday with the communist nation's dictator, Xi Jinping, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in South Korea.
Trump has been excoriated for trying to work with his Chinese counterpart. He has also received heat for imposing tariffs, which his enemies said would make goods more expensive and create an economic downturn in America.
All along, Trump has insisted that the tariffs would put money in America's coffers, while many speculated he was using them as a bargaining chip. Now it appears the world's best negotiator has come away from the table with another win for America its farmers, and the energy sector.
Trump shared his triumph in a lengthy post to his Truth Social on Thursday. "There is enormous respect between our two Countries, and that will only be enhanced with what just took place," Trump's post began.
"I had a truly great meeting with President Xi of China. There is enormous respect between our two Countries, and that will only be enhanced with what just took place. We agreed on many things, with others, even of high importance, being very close to being resolved," Trump went on.
"I was extremely honored by the fact that President Xi authorized China to begin the purchase of massive amounts of Soybeans, Sorghum, and other Farm products. Our Farmers will be very happy! In fact, as I said once before during my first Administration, Farmers should immediately go out and buy more land and larger tractors," Trump advised.
"I would like to thank President Xi for this! Additionally, China has agreed to continue the flow of Rare Earth, Critical Minerals, Magnets, etc., openly and freely. Very significantly, China has strongly stated that they will work diligently with us to stop the flow of Fentanyl into our Country," Trump continued.
"They will help us end the Fentanyl Crisis," he added. Trump has been adamant about getting the dangerous drug off the streets in America, and turning off the illicit drug pipeline from China goes a long way to getting it done.
Besides helping with the drug crisis and purchasing agricultural products, China has also struck a deal that is good news for the energy sector. "China also agreed that they will begin the process of purchasing American Energy," Trump announced.
"In fact, a very large scale transaction may take place concerning the purchase of Oil and Gas from the Great State of Alaska. Chris Wright, Doug Burgum, and our respective Energy teams will be meeting to see if such an Energy Deal can be worked out," Trump added.
"The agreements reached today will deliver Prosperity and Security to millions of Americans. After this Historic trip to Asia, I am now heading back to Washington, D.C.," Trump said, underscoring the message that his work there is now done.
"I want to thank the Great Countries of Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea for being so generous, gracious, and hospitable. Also, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, who were at the Dinner last night hosted by His Excellency Lee Jae Myung. Hundreds of Billions of Dollars are being brought into our Country because of them. Our Nation is Strong, Respected, and Admired Again and, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!" he concluded.
Trump has made America safer and more prosperous while also getting the nation's adversaries under control. This represents a significant triumph for the president and his administration, achieved in the first year of his second term.
President Donald Trump only plans to admit 7,500 refugees into the country in 2026, and that includes mostly white Afrikaners fleeing South Africa.
Refugee groups are shocked and dismayed by the move, which reverses the huge numbers of refugees admitted under former President Joe Biden.
Just over 100,000 refugees were admitted to the U.S. in fiscal 2024, the latest year figures were available.
The number of refugees admitted has varied widely in recent years, but the 7,500 figure is historically low.
"For more than four decades, the U.S. refugee program has been a lifeline for families fleeing war, persecution, and repression," Krish O’Mara Vignarajah said. "At a time of crisis in countries ranging from Afghanistan to Venezuela to Sudan and beyond, concentrating the vast majority of admissions on one group undermines the program’s purpose as well as its credibility."
Vignarajah leads one of several groups paid by the federal government to resettle refugees in American communities, so of course she would be unhappy with the limits.
“Since the U.S. Refugee Program was created in 1980, it has admitted over two million people fleeing ethnic cleansing and other horrors,” Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, an advocate at the American Immigration Council, said. “Now it will be used as a pathway for White immigration. What a downfall for a crown jewel of America’s international humanitarian programs.”
Refugees are typically given transportation into the country, and unlike illegal or other immigrants, they are eligible for all entitlement and aid programs.
"Admission numbers will primarily be allocated among Afrikaners from South Africa, pursuant to Executive Order 14204, and other victims of illegal or unjust criminal discrimination in their respective homelands… [The order] mandates that the refugees receive the most stringent identification verification of any class of aliens seeking admission or entry to the United States," the Trump directive expected tomorrow reads.
Vice President JD Vance commented on the damage refugees can do to a community when a large number are settled there.
Because of the amount of government benefits they can get and their willingness to live in crowded conditions, they drive up rent prices so that citizens in the community are priced out, he said.
“That completely destroys the ability of Americans to live the American dream, and that’s what those open border policies did,” Vance added.
The presence of the refugees along with illegal immigrants also drives down wages for jobs in the area and puts citizens out of work, because the refugees are willing to work for less.
Trump is trying to reverse this damage by cutting off most illegal immigration and limiting refugees in a way consistent with his America-first policy focus.
Imagine walking into a state office building, expecting public service, only to find it’s a hub for a massive cocaine operation. That’s the shocking reality in Springfield, Massachusetts, where a high-ranking staffer for Gov. Maura Healey has been caught in a scandal rocking public trust.
This unfolding drama centers on Lamar Cook, a now-former deputy director in Healey’s western Massachusetts office, who was arrested and fired after being linked to a major drug trafficking probe involving huge amounts of cocaine and illegal firearms, as Breitbart reports.
Let’s start at the beginning, when authorities uncovered trouble with two major drug busts at Hotel UMass in Amherst, seizing roughly 28 pounds of cocaine in suspicious packages. Evidence from those seizures hinted at a larger operation, one that would soon lead to a state office building.
Next came a controlled delivery operation at the Springfield State Office Building on Dwight Street, where Cook worked. Authorities intercepted about 17 pounds of cocaine in a sting that revealed a dark side of state employment.
The Hampden District Attorney’s office confirmed, “The controlled delivery took place at 436 Dwight St., the Springfield State Office Building, where the suspect was employed.” That statement is a gut punch -- state property allegedly used as a drug drop-off?
If true, it’s a glaring example of how progressive oversight can stumble when accountability isn’t prioritized. One has to wonder if the focus on social initiatives distracted from basic staff vetting.
The night after the sting, investigators executed a search warrant at Cook’s former office in the same building. Evidence gathered there matched the narcotics from the controlled delivery, tightening the case against him.
It’s a grim reminder that corruption can hide behind a government title. How does this happen in a place meant to serve the public?
Then came the arrest during a traffic stop, where 45-year-old Cook was taken into custody. He now faces serious charges, including trafficking over 200 grams of cocaine and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The governor’s office acted quickly, confirming Cook’s immediate termination. A spokesperson declared, “The conduct that occurred here is unacceptable and represents a major breach of the public trust.”
That’s the right tone, but how did someone with such alleged ties land a deputy director role? It raises questions about hiring under an administration often more focused on narrative than rigorous governance.
Cook’s legal process began with an arraignment in Springfield District Court, where a not guilty plea was entered for him. The judge ordered him held in custody until a follow-up appearance.
The damage to public confidence is already done. When state offices become entangled in drug scandals, it fuels arguments that government overreach creates ground for misconduct.
For conservatives, this is why limited government and strict accountability matter. While empathy for personal struggles is valid, public roles demand integrity -- something allegedly missing here.
The investigation continues, and the governor’s office has vowed to assist law enforcement in resolving this mess. Let’s hope this scandal sparks a push for competence over political optics in state hiring practices.
President Donald Trump's Transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, announced that the U.S. is cutting off 13 flight routes to Mexico over the country's flagrant disrespect of its commitments to America, Breitbart reported.
Duffy said the U.S. is holding Mexico accountable for years of violations of a bilateral air transport agreement, the 2015 U.S.-Mexico Air Transport Agreement.
The Trump administration's action impacts flights between the U.S. and Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA), which was opened in Mexico City by leftist president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) in 2022.
Over the last three years, Mexico has been "illegally" cancelling U.S. carrier flights, while all-cargo flights have also been forcibly relocated in violation of the agreement, Duffy said.
Mexico had said the changes were "temporary" to allow for construction to alleviate congestion at Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) that has yet to materialize three years later, Duffy said.
Duffy's order also stops the expansion of Mexican carriers' services between MEX and the U.S.
Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg were too weak to stand up to Mexico when they walked all over our bilateral aviation agreement.
These deals are binding, and like our trade agreements, @POTUS is going to enforce them. America First! https://t.co/UPmdHaqxml
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) October 29, 2025
“Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg were too weak to stand up to Mexico when they walked all over our bilateral aviation agreement. These deals are binding, and like our trade agreements, President Trump is going to put America First and enforce them,” said Duffy.
“Until Mexico stops the games and honors its commitments, we will continue to hold them accountable. No country should be able to take advantage of our carriers, our market, and our flyers without repercussions.”
The Trump administration is urging Americans with travel plans in Mexico to contact their airline.
The cancellations impact both existing and proposed flight routes for the Mexican airlines Aeroméxico, Volaris and Viva Aerobus.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has requested a meeting between Mexico's foreign minister and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss Duffy's "unilateral" action.
For months, Trump has put Sheinbaum under immense pressure with an unapologetic "America First" policy on trade and immigration.
While Trump has the leverage, Sheinbaum has tried her best to save face. In response to the cancelled flight routes, she snapped that Mexico is "no one’s piñata" and said Mexico "must be respected."
"We are not in agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation,” she said.
Maryland State Senator Dalya Attar has been charged in a wild extortion plot in which she threatened to expose her political enemy's affair with a married man.
Attar, 35, is facing eight different charges over the conspiracy, which also involved her brother Joseph Attar and Kalman Finkelstein, a Baltimore policeman, as well as four unnamed accomplices, the Daily Mail reported.
Around January 2020, Attar and her co-conspirators planted tracking devices in the consultant's car, as well as hidden cameras inside smoke detectors at an apartment where the lovers met.
The plot was driven by Attar's fear that her rival would "screw" her out of re-election in the House of Delegates by sending out mailers to the Jewish community about her voting record. Attar is an Orthodox Jew and the first woman of the faith to serve in the Maryland State Senate.
Within days of being installed, the cameras had picked up a man visiting the apartment. “Damn, I wish I had [the man’s] stamina,” Finkelstein wrote in one message.
In December 2021, on the same day that Attar filed for re-election, her brother approached the consultant's lover and threatened to leak "hours" of compromising footage.
As part of the disturbing plan, the blackmailers invoked the consultant's daughters, warning they would not be able to find husbands in the conservative Orthodox community once the footage got out. "I’ll share this video with everybody you know, everyone she knows, every Rabbi in town, your kids, your wife, her daughters … I already have all her daughters’ phone numbers, right? And every shadchan [matchmaker] in Israel who is trying to set up her daughters, I’ll share these videos with," Joseph Attar said.
The married man told Attar's brother that the consultant had no intention of coming after Attar.
"I did what you asked. There’s nothing else I can do. [The consultant] has already indicated multiple times that she is not involved in any activity that could or would harm Dalia [sic]. She has no intention of harming her in anyway [sic] either.
"You have everything you asked for. Put it to bed. Leave me the hell alone," the man said.
In January of this year, Attar was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Maryland State Senate. She was pictured with Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, in a post on Attar's Instagram account.
"I ran for public office because of my strong belief in serving my community that I love, and I would never do anything to knowingly jeopardize my constituents' trust in me," Attar said in a statement. "The case centers on the allegations of my former disgruntled employee. We have yet to see any tangible evidence to support the claim that I knew of any illegal actions taken on my behalf."
"I look forward to sharing my side of the story, and believe the truth will be the arbiter of justice. In the meantime, I will continue to serve my community with humility and honor, and look forward to being as transparent as possible," the statement added.
The Baltimore Banner reported that Finkelstein's police powers were suspended in 2022, and he has since been placed on administrative duty.