Vice President JD Vance is jetting off to Israel on Monday, and it’s not for a sightseeing tour of the Holy Land.
He’s on a mission to push forward the second phase of President Trump’s ambitious 20-point peace plan for Gaza, a deal that’s already seen some hard-won successes but still faces serious roadblock, the New York Post reported. Let’s hope Vance packed some diplomatic steel in his suitcase.
The trip comes on the heels of the first phase’s completion, where Hamas released 20 living hostages and returned the remains of 10 deceased Israeli captives, while Vance, alongside Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, aims to tackle lingering tensions over Hamas’ refusal to disarm.
This peace plan, unveiled by President Trump on September 29, laid out a clear roadmap: return all hostages, disarm Hamas, and transition Gaza’s governance to a committee under international oversight. It’s a bold strategy, unlike the recycled failures of past decades that have left the region in perpetual conflict. And with the Israeli Defense Forces already pulling back from half of Gaza as part of the deal, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The first phase wrapped up with a bittersweet victory as Hamas handed over the bodies of 28 deceased Israeli hostages, 10 of whom, including 76-year-old Eliyahu Margalit, were confirmed returned as of Saturday. Israel announced Margalit’s remains were back home, a small but significant step after their forces withdrew from large swaths of Gaza. It’s progress, but every name on that list is a reminder of the human toll.
On Monday, 20 living hostages were finally freed by Hamas, a move that brought relief to families and a rare moment of hope to a weary region. Yet, the joy is tempered by what’s still unresolved. This isn’t a Hollywood ending—not by a long shot.
Now enter Vance and Witkoff, stepping into a diplomatic minefield to ensure the next phase doesn’t collapse under the weight of mistrust. Their focus is on building momentum for Trump’s vision, which demands more than just handshakes and photo ops. It’s about results, something this administration has relentlessly prioritized.
But here’s the rub: Hamas isn’t playing ball on a critical demand—disarmament. Despite signing the peace agreement, the group’s politburo member Mohammed Nazzal told Reuters they’re flat-out refusing to lay down arms, a stance that could derail everything. It’s as if they’ve agreed to a ceasefire but insist on keeping the loaded gun on the table.
President Trump isn’t mincing words on this, either. “Well, they’re going to disarm because they said they were going to disarm, and if they don’t disarm, we will disarm them,” he declared at a White House meeting this week. That’s not a suggestion; it’s a line in the sand, and one wonders how long patience will hold.
Adding fuel to the fire, Hamas has reportedly carried out public executions, a grim signal of defiance that undermines any goodwill from the hostage releases. This isn’t just a stumbling block; it’s a potential deal-breaker. If they think they can cherry-pick terms, they’re in for a rude awakening.
Trump has made it crystal clear that if Hamas doesn’t follow through, consequences will follow. He warned CNN, “Israel will return to those streets as soon as I say the word.” That’s a promise of action, not a idle threat, and it’s a reminder that peace isn’t a gift—it’s a contract.
The Israeli Defense Forces’ partial withdrawal from Gaza was a gesture of good faith, but it’s not irreversible. Trump’s plan hinges on mutual compliance, and if Hamas drags its feet, the region could slide back into chaos faster than a progressive policy flops at the ballot box. The administration’s frustration with endless delays and half-measures is palpable.
Vance himself echoed this no-nonsense approach, emphasizing the need for fresh thinking. “So much has failed and the president said we’re not going to do the same stuff we’ve tried for fifty, sixty, seventy years that’s failed,” he told Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax. It’s a swipe at the stale, woke-adjacent diplomacy of yesteryear, and a call to focus on what actually works.
As Vance and Witkoff land in Israel, they’re not just carrying briefcases—they’re carrying the weight of a region’s future. Their discussions will zero in on advancing Trump’s comprehensive plan, ensuring that the hostage returns and troop withdrawals aren’t wasted efforts. Every meeting, every word, matters.
The refusal to disarm by Hamas looms large over these talks, casting a shadow on what could be a historic breakthrough. If this group thinks they can outmaneuver an administration that’s laser-focused on results, they’re misreading the room. Trump’s team isn’t here for symbolic wins; they want lasting change.
Ultimately, this trip is about more than just Gaza—it’s about proving that a different kind of leadership can break through decades of deadlock. While the path ahead is fraught with challenges, there’s a gritty determination to see this through, without bowing to the usual excuses or appeasement tactics. Let’s see if Vance and Witkoff can turn diplomatic grit into a peace that sticks.
President Donald Trump has worked overtime to put a dent in the narcotics traffickers roaming international waters, and he's clearly proud of the ongoing strikes as he has decided to authorize the release of videos showing drug traffickers getting blown out of the water.
According to Fox News, Trump authorized the U.S. military to strike a "very large drug-carrying submarine" in the waters of the Caribbean Sea, and he's letting the public see the video of the operation.
Two narco-terrorists died in the strike, and two others were captured alive.
The president took to his Truth Social account to talk about the strike, indicating that it was a "great honor" to see the drug submarine destroyed by the precision U.S. military strike.
In a statement posted to his Truth Social account, President Trump said the vessel was carrying mostly "fentanyl and other narcotics" toward the U.S. on a "well known narcotrafficking transit route."
That single interdiction alone, the president claimed, prevented the deaths of at least 25,000 Americans.
"It was my great honor to destroy a very large DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINE," Trump wrote in the statement. "U.S. Intelligence confirmed this vessel was loaded up with mostly Fentanyl… There were four known narcoterrorists on board. Two of the terrorists were killed.
📹 DESTROYED: Confirmed DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINE navigating towards the United States on a well-known narcotrafficking transit route.
"Under my watch, the United States of America will not tolerate narcoterrorists trafficking illegal drugs, by land or by sea." - President Trump pic.twitter.com/N4TAkgPHXN
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 18, 2025
Trump added, "The two surviving terrorists are being returned to their Countries of origin, Ecuador and Colombia, for detention and prosecution."
Fox News noted:
Fox News previously confirmed that two survivors were rescued by the U.S. Navy after the strike and were being held aboard an American warship. Trump’s statement is the first official acknowledgment of their identities and nationalities.
Users across social media weighed in on the successful strike.
"Can't believe they're actually trying that. Would be hilarious if it wasn't so despotic," one X user wrote.
Another X user wrote, "Couldn't we do the same thing to cartel mansions? Just a thought..."
It'll be interesting to see what targets Trump approves next.
Fox News host Jesse Watters is constantly under fire from the left, including his rivals in the liberal media, who are always on the hunt for a negative story about him.
According to the Daily Mail, Watters is now facing criticism -- at least from the radical liberal media -- over the way he reportedly met his now-wife, which included an admission that he let the air out of her tires at work so that she would need a ride home.
That was reportedly the story that Watters told in a clip on Fox News in 2022, drawing shock from his co-hosts.
The woman, who was 25 at the time, was Emma DiGiovine, who is married to Watters. It was noted that at the time of the alleged tire-deflating incident, Watters was married to another woman who he had also met at work.
In the clip, Watters admits to letting the air out of DiGiovine's tires as they were both leaving work, with the hopes that she would ride home with him, which ultimately worked.
"When I was trying to get Emma to date me, first thing I did, let the air out of her tires," Watters said in the clip. "She couldn't go anywhere, she needed a lift. I said, 'Hey you need a lift?' She got right into the car."
His co-hosts at the time expressed shock at the admission, and Watters admitted that the woman was unaware of his moves at the time it was happening.
Watters would go on to marry DiGiovine in 2019 and then have children together.
A known jokester and overall funny guy, Watters really dug in when his co-hosts peppered him with questions after the admission.
The Daily Mail noted:
Another of his colleagues asked if he had taken the air out of other women's cars in order to get them into his own, which the Fox host implied that he may well have done.
'Is that the first time you did it, or did you use that before?' Jeannine Pirro inquired.
'It works like a charm!' he bragged.
Watters would later admit that the story was false and that he was just having fun, which is probably true given that he's one of the biggest characters on the network.
That didn't stop the leftwing media from labeling his story as "predatory."
"Not only [was Watters story] insanely creepy and predatory, but Watters also played it off like it was a perfectly normal thing to do," the hosts of the Young Turks show said at the time.
Rest assured, we don't think Watters is losing any sleep over their comments.
An endorsement from President Donald Trump is about the closest a candidate can get to a golden ticket into elected office, as Trump's endorsement success rate is extremely high.
According to Breitbart, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who has long been on Trump's bad side, could be on the receiving end of a competitor with Trump's backing, which would pose a massive threat to Massie's longevity in Congress.
Next year's primary in Kentucky could get interesting, as Trump suggested former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein should challenge Massie for his seat, setting up a potentially huge primary battle.
The president promised that if Gallrein jumps in and challenges Massie, he'll have his "Complete and Total Endorsement."
The president revealed his willingness to back Gallrein in a late-night Truth Social post. Trump has vowed to end Massie's career for some time now.
"Third Rate Congressman Thomas Massie, a Weak and Pathetic RINO from the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky, a place I love, and won big SIX TIMES, must be thrown out of office, ASAP!" Trump wrote.
He added, "The incredible people of Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District gave us a mandate to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and the person that will help us do that is Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Fifth Generation Kentucky Farmer, Captain Ed Gallrein, a true America First Patriot."
The president then heaped praise on Gallrein, highlighting his work with veterans and his success in the business world.
"A Brave Combat Veteran, Ed knows the Wisdom and Courage required to Defend our Country, Support our Military/Veterans, and Ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH. Additionally, as a very successful Businessman, Ed knows how to Create GREAT Jobs, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Support our Amazing Farmers and American Agriculture, Unleash American Energy Dominance, and Champion our Nation’s Golden Age," Trump wrote.
In Congress, he will fight tirelessly to Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.
The president held nothing back as he continued to rip Massie, even suggesting that the people of Kentuck have gotten "wise" to his RINO ways.
"I hope Ed gets into the Race against Massie, who is now polling at about 9% because the Great People of Kentucky are wise to him — He only votes against the Republican Party, making life very easy for the Radical Left. Unlike “lightweight” Massie, a totally ineffective LOSER who has failed us so badly, CAPTAIN ED GALLREIN IS A WINNER WHO WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN," Trump wrote.
He added, "Should he decide to challenge Massie, Captain Ed Gallrein has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, ED, RUN — MAGA!"
It'll be interesting to see if Gallrein takes the president up on his offer.
President Donald Trump encouraged Ed Gallrein on Friday to challenge Rep. Thomas Massie in the upcoming Kentucky Republican primary, the Washington Examiner reported. This comes after Massie has opposed Trump on several issues, including refusing to sign onto his signature legislation and breaking with the president over Israel.
Trump had threatened to back a challenge for Massie’s seat over their disagreements. Now it appears he’s ready to make good on that.
The Kentucky Republican, who has been in Congress since 2012, has also faced a challenge from a super PAC in June looking to stop his 2026 reelection. Massie has not only lost the president’s backing, but also faces opposition from House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Still, Gallrein has yet to announce his intention to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. He previously ran for Kentucky state senate and lost in a tight three-way race.
Trump posted about his disapproval for Massie on his Truth Social on Friday. “Third Rate Congressman Thomas Massie, a Weak and Pathetic RINO from the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky, a place I love, and won big SIX TIMES, must be thrown out of office, ASAP!” Trump wrote.
The president then pivoted to his endorsement of Gallrein. “The incredible people of Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District gave us a mandate to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and the person that will help us do that is Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Fifth Generation Kentucky Farmer, Captain Ed Gallrein, a true America First Patriot,” Trump wrote.
“A Brave Combat Veteran, Ed knows the Wisdom and Courage required to Defend our Country, Support our Military/Veterans, and Ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH. Additionally, as a very successful Businessman, Ed knows how to Create GREAT Jobs, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Support our Amazing Farmers and American Agriculture, Unleash American Energy Dominance, and Champion our Nation’s Golden Age,” Trump gushed.
”In Congress, he will fight tirelessly to Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment. I hope Ed gets into the Race against Massie, who is now polling at about 9% because the Great People of Kentucky are wise to him — He only votes against the Republican Party, making life very easy for the Radical Left,”Trump charged.
“Unlike ‘lightweight’ Massie, a totally ineffective LOSER who has failed us so badly, CAPTAIN ED GALLREIN IS A WINNER WHO WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. Should he decide to challenge Massie, Captain Ed Gallrein has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, ED, RUN — MAGA!”
Despite these attacks, Massie has amassed an impressive war chest, raising more than three-quarters of a million dollars. This is a record for the Kentucky Republican.
Massie is a proven winner and received 76% of the vote in his 2024 primary. He’s also continued to support Trump, even if he disagrees with some of his recent policies and stances.
Meanwhile, Massie has pointed out that Gallrein is a supporter of establishment Republicans based on donation records. “We’ll look here. The hack Trump just endorsed to run against me is a Lindsay Graham donor,” Massie posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday.
Well look 👀 here. The hack Trump just endorsed to run against me is a Lindsey Graham donor❗️ pic.twitter.com/pePwtiHszp
— Thomas Massie for Congress (@MassieforKY) October 18, 2025
Trump demands loyalty from his fellow Republicans, and he’s right to do so. There is so much opposition coming from the left already that the GOP needs to present a united front against them.
A disgraced Minnesota judge's petition to have his first name legally changed to "Judge" was denied by Ramsey County Judge Leonardo Castro, MPR News reported. The man, former Anoka County Judge John Dehen, retired from his position on Oct. 10 following a suspension from the Minnesota Supreme Court over misconduct.
Dehen filed for the name change in August, requesting that his given name be changed instead to Judge John Dehen. The case was assigned to Castro, who slammed the petition made "in bad faith and with the intent to mislead" the public.
"To permit a former district court judge, who has been suspended for abusing his position of authority, to regain the title he was stripped of, would make the administration of justice a practical mockery. The Applicant is not replacing his first name of John with Judge but is requesting that Judge be added before John so he can be addressed as 'Judge John Dehen,'" Castro said in his order.
"By using the name ‘Judge,’ the Applicant would be holding himself out as a judge, a position he held for 15 years, but no longer holds," Castro added. The judge also denied Dehen's request to keep the filing private, though his home address was redacted.
Last month, the Minnesota Supreme Court suspended Dehen for nine months and censured him after Dehen was accused of a "pattern" of prejudice, KSTP-TV reported. The recommended punishment from the state panel was originally a six-month suspension, but Minnesota’s high court felt his misconduct warranted a more severe penalty.
Some of the misdeeds Dehen was accused of included holding a remote hearing from the passenger seat of his moving vehicle, attempting to rehire his court reporter with double the salary he state allows, and injecting his opinions about illegal immigration to "influence his decisions" in guardianship cases for troubled youth.
"His actions wasted precious judicial resources and disrespected the rule of law and the administration of justice that he took an oath to uphold," the order from the Supreme Court charged. It also said Dehen "damaged the professional function of the Judicial Branch" and that he "exhibited little if any remorse" for doing so.
For his part, Dehen's testimony before the state panel included an admission that he had "poor judgment" when he decided to hold a hearing from his vehicle, but he would not budge on the guardianship decisions. Dehen claimed those were "merely an error of law" rather than ideological influences.
However, the Supreme Court disagreed, instead finding that Dehen had weaponized his official position and that the only remedy was to censure the judge. The high court said it had a duty to "fulfill our obligation to ensure that the misconduct is not repeated again, and to deter others from similar behavior."
In 2022, Dehen was disciplined privately after making threats during proceedings in a small claims lawsuit, MinneapoliMedia reported. Later, he was accused of using immigration status and lack of English proficiency while ruling on guardianship hearings.
“Just because you’re an immigrant doesn’t mean you’re eligible for an at-risk status,” Dehen told the initial panel investigating earlier this year. In at least three cases, other judges have either overturned Judge Dehen’s findings or ordered him removed entirely from at-risk juvenile cases.
Petitions in Minnesota for guardianship assignments for at-risk youth are seldom denied. In the county Dehen was presiding, he was responsible for all of them.
“He does what he wants to do and doesn’t accept disagreement,” Eric Magnuson, the former Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court who anrgued the state’s case angainst Dehen, said. That hasn’t worked out so well for Dehen after all.
Dehen seems to do whatever he wants, perhaps believing that his position as judge gives him the cover to do so. Unfortunately for him, that’s not the way it works, and the judge will have to deal with the consequences of his actions.
Buckle up, folks—newly released documents from the House Oversight Committee are pulling back the curtain on Jeffrey Epstein’s shadowy world, and the details are as murky as a swamp on a moonless night.
The committee dropped a bombshell on Friday, releasing flight manifests from Epstein’s private jet alongside a transcript of a late September interview with former U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta, who brokered the infamous 2008 plea deal for the disgraced financier, Fox News reported.
Let’s rewind to 2008, when Acosta, then U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, negotiated a deal that saw Epstein serve just 13 months in jail, register as a sex offender, and pay restitution to victims instead of facing federal charges.
Acosta’s reasoning? He claimed the case had serious flaws, with many victims unwilling to testify and others offering inconsistent accounts, which could have torpedoed a trial.
“Many victims refused to testify. Many victims had changing stories,” Acosta told the committee, painting a picture of a prosecution on shaky ground.
But let’s not sip the Kool-Aid just yet—while Acosta’s concerns about a weak case may hold water, it’s hard to ignore how this deal let a billionaire skirt the full weight of justice, sending a troubling message about who gets a pass in our system.
Fast forward to the latest release, and those flight manifests are raising eyebrows with names like Prince Andrew, Bill Gates, Walter Cronkite, Richard Branson, and even former President Bill Clinton, who flew multiple times, including a 2002 trip with Secret Service in tow.
Before the outrage machine revs up, let’s be clear: none of these individuals are accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein’s crimes, and the manifests alone prove nothing beyond a shared ride.
Still, the optics aren’t great—hobnobbing with a predator like Epstein, even unknowingly, fuels public skepticism about elite circles and their accountability, a concern that resonates deeply with those fed up with two-tiered justice.
During the interview, Acosta didn’t shy away from defending his 2008 decision, arguing it was better than the alternative of Epstein walking free, which he claimed Florida’s state attorney was ready to allow.
“Simply put, the Palm Beach state attorney’s office was ready to let Epstein walk free, no jail time,” Acosta insisted, framing his plea deal as a necessary compromise to ensure some punishment.
Call it pragmatism or a cop-out, but Acosta’s stance highlights a frustrating reality: sometimes the system’s flaws force prosecutors into deals that leave a bitter taste, especially when a billionaire’s resources can tilt the scales.
Acosta also took a swipe at Epstein’s defense team, alleging they danced dangerously close to unethical behavior, though he emphasized he pushed back against their tactics.
Looking back as U.S. Secretary of Labor in 2019, Acosta acknowledged the cultural shift in how victims are treated, admitting that today’s standards might have led to a different outcome in handling such a high-profile case.
While it’s refreshing to hear some reflection, it’s cold comfort for those who see the Epstein saga as a glaring example of how wealth and influence can undermine justice—a sentiment that fuels distrust in institutions and skepticism of progressive narratives about systemic fairness.
Former Republican New York Rep. George Santos received an early Christmas present this week after he found out the remainder of his sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump.
According to the Daily Caller, Trump made the bombshell revelation this week that he commuted Santos' prison sentence. Earlier this year, Santos was sentenced to 87 months in prison "after pleading guilty to 23 federal charges related to wire fraud and identity theft."
Santos has seldom been heard from after he was essentially booted out of Congress, except for making headlines a few weeks after he was thrown out.
Before he was thrown out of Congress by his Republican colleagues, Santos had served nearly a year in Congress.
President Trump had quite a bit to say about the situation in a Truth Social post this week.
"George Santos was somewhat of a 'rogue,' but there are many rogues throughout our Country that aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison. I started to think about George when the subject of Democrat Senator Richard 'Da Nang Dick' Blumenthal came up again. As everyone remembers, 'Da Nang' stated for almost twenty years that he was a proud Vietnam Veteran, having endured the worst of the War, watching the Wounded and Dead as he raced up the hills and down the valleys, blood streaming from his face," Trump wrote.
"He was 'a Great Hero,' he would leak to any and all who would listen — And then it happened! He was a COMPLETE AND TOTAL FRAUD. He never went to Vietnam, he never saw Vietnam, he never experienced the Battles there, or anywhere else. His War Hero status, and even minimal service in our Military, was totally and completely MADE UP," Trump continued.
That's when Trump revealed that Santos had been "horribly mistreated" in prison, having served several long stretches in solitary confinement.
"This is far worse than what George Santos did, and at least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN! George has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time and, by all accounts, has been horribly mistreated."
"Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!"
Users across social media had plenty to say about Trump commuting Santos' remaining prison sentence.
BREAKING: President Trump commutes George Santos’ sentence, sending him home from prison immediately.
“I signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!” pic.twitter.com/3FxipT10c4
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 17, 2025
"Great! It was the right thing to do. Violent criminals are walking around free with no bail and this guy got a very harsh sentence for what he did. He's been mistreated in prison and President Trump did the right thing," one X user wrote.
Another X user wrote, "Another twist in the saga. Let's see how this plays out now."
President Donald Trump and his administration are taking the fight to the narcos in international waters, and some members of Congress aren't thrilled with the idea, claiming only Congress can authorize such actions abroad.
According to Fox News, a bipartisan group of senators took action on Sunday to block President Trump and his administration from engaging in further "hostilities" in and around Venezuela following the president greenlighting an operation that destroyed part of a drug cartel's operations.
Trump authorized the strike off the Venezuelan coast, which didn't sit well with some members of the upper chamber.
Those members of the Senate initiated the War Powers Resolution to block Trump from authorizing further strikes.
In essence, the resolution is to remind the president that only Congress has "sole power to declare war" after the president hinted that he could greenlight land operations after authorizing CIA operations in the area.
So far, Venezuela isn't loving the idea of Americans conducting military operations in and around the country, especially Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Fox News noted:
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has responded to the U.S. anti-drug cartel attacks off their shores by launching military exercises and deploying thousands of troops near the Colombian border first starting in August, according to reports.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) was one of the senators behind the War Powers Resolution.
"I’m extremely troubled that the Trump Administration is considering launching illegal military strikes inside Venezuela without a specific authorization by Congress," Kaine said.
He added, "Americans don’t want to send their sons and daughters into more wars—especially wars that carry a serious risk of significant destabilization and massive new waves of migration in our hemisphere."
"If my colleagues disagree and think a war with Venezuela is a good idea, they need to meet their constitutional obligations by making their case to the American people and passing an Authorization for Use of Military Force," he continued.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was one of the Republicans who felt that Trump shouldn't be conducting such operations.
"The U.S. should not be blowing up boats without even knowing who’s on them. There’s no due process in that — no names, no evidence, no oversight. I’ll be co-sponsoring a War Powers resolution to make sure military action abroad has congressional approval. We can’t drift into another regime-change war," Paul wrote on X.
The U.S. should not be blowing up boats without even knowing who’s on them.
There’s no due process in that — no names, no evidence, no oversight.
I’ll be co-sponsoring a War Powers resolution to make sure military action abroad has congressional approval. We can’t drift into… pic.twitter.com/UyW5Nfv5J7
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) October 8, 2025
President Donald Trump's plan to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago was largely backed by Republicans and reasonable people on both sides of the aisle who know it's necessary to bring down soaring crime rates, but the move was blocked by a Democrat-appointed judge.
According to the Daily Caller, President Trump and his administration are now asking the U.S. Supreme Court to get involved and approve the deployment of National Guard troops to the crime-torn city.
The request to the high court came a day after the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals declined to stop a lower court's decision in halting the deployment of troops to the city.
Solicitor General John Sauer laid out the argument for troops and federal officers to be deployed to Chicago, citing safety concerns especially for those stationed at federal facilities.
In the application to the Supreme Court, Sauer wrote that letting the lower court's order stand will "immediately increase the risk that federal personnel in Chicago may be seriously harmed by violent anti-ICE agitators."
He then argued on behalf of the Trump administration that any block of the deployment of federal officers and troops puts lives in danger every single day.
“[The ruling] deprives DHS officers of the protections that the President sought to give them from ongoing violence, prevents the Guard from ensuring the enforcement of federal law, and puts lives and property in danger,” Sauer wrote.
He added, "It also places the Seventh Circuit in the untenable position of controlling the military chain of command and judicially micromanaging the exercise of the President’s Commander-in-Chief powers, including the decision about which military forces the President can deploy."
The Daily Caller noted:
Saur noted the Ninth Circuit blocked a lower court order in June preventing Trump from sending troops to Los Angeles. He also highlighted that lower courts are currently considering a similar injunction blocking Trump from “federalizing the Oregon National Guard to address violent opposition to federal immigration officers in Portland."
Sauer added, "In recent weeks, federal officers in Chicago have been threatened and assaulted, attacked in a harrowing pre-planned ambush involving many assailants, rammed in their government vehicles, shot at with fireworks and other improvised weapons, injured and hospitalized, and threatened in person and online—including by a $10,000 bounty for the murder of a senior federal official."
The appeals court panel was quick to shoot down the request to overturn the lower court's ruling.
The court wrote that there is "insufficient evidence that protest activity in Illinois has significantly impeded the ability of federal officers to execute federal immigration laws."
"Political opposition is not rebellion," the panel added.
"A protest does not become a rebellion merely because the protestors advocate for myriad legal or policy changes, are well organized, call for significant changes to the structure of the U.S. government, use civil disobedience as a form of protest, or exercise their Second Amendment right to carry firearms as the law currently allows."