President Donald Trump's administration has revoked the visas of six foreigners who made disparaging remarks about the death of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, The Hill reported. The State Department said it has "no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans" as the left panics about the chilling effect on free speech.
The individuals singled out include an Argentine national, a Brazilian national, a German national, a Mexican national, a Paraguayan national, and a South African national. The statement department made it clear in a post to X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday that it was completely within its rights to do so before presenting a thread with the statements from each.
"The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans. The State Department continues to identify visa holders who celebrated the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk. Here are just a few examples of aliens who are no longer welcome in the U.S.," it said before sharing each statement in a thread.
The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans.
The State Department continues to identify visa holders who celebrated the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk. Here are just a few examples of aliens who are no longer welcome in the U.S.:
— Department of State (@StateDept) October 14, 2025
As the State Department made clear, the U.S. does not have to admit people who don't align with the values of this nation. Whereas Freedom of Speech protections in the First Amendment of the Constitution apply to Americans, those in the U.S. on visas are in the nation as a privilege rather than a right.
One of the objectionable remarks included in the State Department's thread came from an Argentine claiming that the late conservative icon "devoted his entire life spreading racist, xenophobic, misogynistic rhetoric" and therefore deserves eternal hellfire. The German national said that "when fascists die, democrats don’t complain" in celebration of Kirk's murder.
The Paraguayan national wrote that "Charlie Kirk was a son of a b**** and he died by his own rules," but the Mexican national got particularly nasty. The individual wrote that Kirk "died being a racist, he died being a misogynist" and determined that "there are people who deserve to die," implying that Kirk was one of them.
"There are people who would make the world better off dead," the Mexican national wrote. The South African individual wrote that the people grieving Kirk's death are "hurt that the racist rally ended in attempted martyrdom," and that Kirk "was used to astroturf a movement of white nationalist trailer trash."
The State Department said that these statements led to the revocation of their visas as the only option. "@POTUS and @SecRubio will defend our borders, our culture, and our citizens by enforcing our immigration laws. Aliens who take advantage of America’s hospitality while celebrating the assassination of our citizens will be removed," a post at the end of the lengthy thread said.
While foreign-born detractors had horrible things to say about Kirk, Trump honored his legacy on Tuesday by posthumously awarding him the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. "Charlie Kirk was a martyr for truth and for freedom," Trump said from the Rose Garden ceremony, the New York Post reported.
Charlie Kirk's wife, Erika Kirk, was in attendance to accept the award on her husband's behalf. "And from Socrates to Saint Peter, from Abraham Lincoln to Martin Luther King, those who change history the most — and he really did — have always risked their lives for causes they were put on Earth to defend," Trump went on about the deceased honoree.
“We’ve watched legions of far-left radicals resort to desperate acts of violence and terror because they know that their ideas and arguments are persuading no one. They know that they’re failing,” Trump added, alluding to the suspected killer. "They have the devil’s ideology, and they’re failing. And they know it. They feel it, and they become violent."
The president, who only returned from Egypt at 3 a.m. on Tuesday, said he "raced back halfway around the globe" to present the medal on Charlie Kirk's birthday. "He should have been turning 32 years old," Trump noted.
Charlie Kirk was an American hero, and he deserves to be treated as such. While Americans have Freedom of Speech rights, guests in this nation do not, and those who choose to say objectionable things about Charlie Kirk absolutely should be shown the door. It's the least we as a nation can do for his grieving family.
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has declined to hear a case brought by Colorado parents over the local public middle school's policy to not inform parents about their children's "gender identity" decisions, but not for the reason you think.
The case was declined on procedural grounds, as the high court agreed with lower courts that the case was not brought correctly on the proper grounds.
Lower courts dismissed the case against Wellington Middle School in Poudre School District R-1 on procedural grounds before considering it on the merits.
Parents wanted to challenge “District Secrecy Policies” that said teachers and administrators could keep a child's so-called gender transition a secret from parents and not inform them that the child was identifying as a different gender and even taking on a different name at school.
Parents argued that the policy violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause by denying them parental rights to be informed and make decisions for their children.
The school district's attorneys argued that the petitioners were seeking "an advisory opinion that would fail to afford them any relief from the rulings below, and this is the wrong case to consider whether a public school employee’s alleged discouraged disclosure regarding gender identity and expression implicates a fundamental right."
We aren't talking about 16 or 17-year-olds, here, but 12 and 13-year-olds who are generally quite immature and whose ideas about gender identity are often changeable.
In no way, shape, or form should schools be allowed to hide this or any other information from parents, who have the right to make these decisions for their children.
While even the most conservative justices on the court agreed with the ruling, Justice Samuel Alito encouraged lower courts not to avoid similar cases that did not have the procedural hurdles this one does.
“I concur in the denial of certiorari because petitioners do not challenge the ground for the ruling below. But I remain concerned that some federal courts are tempted to avoid confronting a particularly contentious constitutional question: whether a school district violates parents’ fundamental rights when, without parental knowledge or consent, it encourages a student to transition to a new gender or assists in that process,” Alito wrote.
“Petitioners tell us that nearly 6,000 public schools have policies—as respondent allegedly does—that purposefully interfere with parents’ access to critical information about their children’s gender identity choices and school personnel’s involvement in and influence on those choices,” he continued. “The troubling—and tragic—allegations in this case underscore the great and growing national importance of the question that these parent petitioners present.”
A case like this one definitely needs to be heard, either in a lower court or by the Supreme Court if necessary.
It is unfortunate that this case was bungled procedurally and that the courts will have to wait for some other brave parents to get fed up with the schools taking their power away.
Most good parents know that kids this age are not making a long-term decision when they decide to change their gender identity, and they should be the ones deciding how that plays out in their child's life, not the school.
Hold onto your hats, folks—another media storm has erupted over a supposed Qatari military base on American soil, only to be revealed as a tempest in a teapot.
Last week’s uproar among MAGA Republicans, sparked by reports of Qatari pilots training at an Idaho air base, has been chalked up to sloppy reporting and a game of telephone gone wrong, The Hill reported.
The controversy kicked off on Friday when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a plan to establish a Qatar Emiri Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho, complete with Qatari F-15 jets and pilots.
That phrasing lit a fire under some GOP figures who assumed this meant a full-blown foreign military outpost on U.S. turf, a notion that spread like wildfire.
Far-right activist Laura Loomer took to social media with a flurry of posts, decrying the idea of an Islamic nation setting up shop stateside and even threatening to sit out future votes.
Loomer’s outrage, while passionate, seems to have missed the mark, as her posts painted a picture of betrayal that doesn’t quite match the facts on the ground.
Quick to douse the flames, Qatar’s media attaché to the U.S. explained this isn’t a stand-alone base but a dedicated training space within an existing American installation, locked in for a 10-year partnership.
Vice President Vance jumped into the fray on “Sunday Morning Futures” on Fox News, calling the whole brouhaha a fabrication born of misreporting rather than Pentagon missteps.
“This is largely a fake story,” Vance declared, stressing that joint training with allied pilots is routine and dismissing any notion of a foreign base on our soil. (Source: Vice President Vance)
“We’re not going to let a foreign country have an actual base on American soil,” Vance added, taking a swipe at the media for fanning unnecessary panic. (Source: Vice President Vance)
Let’s be honest—while Vance’s point about joint operations holds water, the initial wording from Hegseth didn’t exactly help clarify things for a skeptical conservative base.
Speaking of Hegseth, he doubled down on the U.S.-Qatar defense ties during a Pentagon address alongside Qatari Defense Minister Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, praising their support for American troops at Al Udeid base in Qatar.
The Trump administration has indeed deepened connections with Qatar, pointing to their role in brokering peace between Israel and Hamas in Gaza as a key achievement.
Earlier this month, an executive order from Trump bolstered U.S. protection for Qatar after an Israeli strike in Doha claimed six lives, including a Qatari security officer, further cementing this alliance.
Yet, for many on the right, this cozy relationship raises eyebrows, especially when voices like Loomer’s echo a deep distrust of Qatar’s intentions—though her rhetoric may overstep into territory that clouds the real policy debate.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was caught sharing a private joke with President Trump, who mocked Carney's predecessor, Justin Trudeau.
The moment was captured on a hot mic at the Gaze peace summit in Egypt, where Trump signed the first phase of the Israel-Hamas cease-fire and gave a speech touting the breakthrough, the Daily Mail reported.
Trump peppered his comments with his usual improvised humor, saying he would get in trouble for complimenting Italy's "beautiful" prime minister, Giorgia Meloni.
"Italy. We have a woman, a young woman who's - I'm not allowed to say it because usually it's the end of your political career if you say it - she's a beautiful young woman."
"Now if you use the word beautiful in the United States about a woman, that's the end of your political career, but I'll take my chances."
At one point in his 30-minute speech, Trump acknowledged Carney and mistakenly referred to him as the "president" of Canada.
"You have Canada. That's so great to have, in fact, the president called, and he wanted to know if it's worth - well, he knew exactly what it is. He knew the importance. Where's Canada, by the way? Where are you? He knew the importance of this," Trump said.
After concluding his speech, Trump asked the media to leave so the world leaders could speak together for a few minutes.
Immediately afterward, Carney approached Trump and thanked him for "upgrading" Carney's title.
Trump smiled, slapped Carney on the arm and then seized the moment to knock Carney's predecessor, Justin Trudeau, who resigned in March after his approval rating tanked.
"I'm sorry! At least it wasn't governor," Trump added.
Before Trudeau stepped down, Trump had repeatedly called him the "governor" of Canada as Trump threatened to annex the United States' northern neighbor.
Trump and Carney have had a more cordial relationship, with undercurrents of tension over Trump's tariff war.
The friendliness between them comes despite Carney being elected prime minister on a Trump-bashing platform. During their initial Oval Office meeting in May, Carney told Trump that Canada is "not for sale."
But as geopolitical reality sets in, Carney has increasingly turned to flattery to get on Trump's good side.
While meeting at the Oval Office this month, Carney heaped praise on the president, who teased Carney about a "merger" between the U.S. and Canada.
“We have natural conflict. We also have mutual love ... you know we have great love for each other,” Trump said.
Former Republican presidential candidate and ex-senator Mitt Romney has issued a statement on the sudden loss of his sister-in-law, who was found dead near a Los Angeles parking garage.
Carrie Elizabeth Romney, 64, either "jumped or fell" from a five-story parking garage near a Hyatt Regency hotel in Valencia, NBC News reported. She died at the scene.
"Our family is heartbroken by the loss of Carrie, who brought warmth and love to all our lives," Mitt Romney told People. "We ask for privacy during this difficult time."
Los Angeles County Deputy Brenda Serna told the New York Post through email that it is "unknown at this moment" if Romney jumped or fell from the parking garage or a nearby building.
She was found on the street outside the parking garage around 8:30 p.m. Friday night. Police discovered her car inside the parking garage.
The medical examiner in Los Angeles has yet to make a ruling on the cause of death, with an autopsy in progress.
While an investigation is ongoing, authorities do not suspect any foul play.
Mitt Romney is known for his large, picture-perfect Mormon family, which includes five kids of his own and three siblings.
Elizabeth Romney was the third wife of his older brother, 81-year-old George Scott Romney. The couple wed in 2016 and did not have any kids together, keeping a low profile.
According to divorce records obtained by the Daily Mail, George Romney, who goes by Scott, filed for divorce in June of this year, citing irreconcilable differences.
The corporate lawyer sought to deny his wife spousal support, saying most of their property had been acquired separately before marriage, and he requested that she take back her maiden name.
As reported by the New York Post, Romney asked to "terminate the court’s ability to award support" to either party, which would have prevented his wife from receiving any assets. She had money troubles in the past, filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy with a former husband.
Prior to his wife's death, Scott Romney had been out of the public eye since 2012, when his younger brother lost that year's presidential race to Democrat Barack Obama. Mitt Romney later won a Senate seat in Utah and became a consistent critic of President Trump. He is the only Republican senator to vote for both of Trump's impeachments.
Scott Romney is the father of former Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel through his first marriage.
President Trump declined to say whether Palestinians should have a state of their own in the future, as questions linger over the implementation of his Gaza peace deal, Fox News reported.
Trump shared his thoughts with reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned from a whirlwind 24-hour trip through Israel and Egypt.
“Well, we’re going to have to see,” Trump told reporters when asked about how Gaza's future. “A lot of people like the one-state solution, some people like the two-state solution. We’ll have to see.”
After two years of war, much of Gaza has been utterly destroyed. For now, Trump is declining to say what Gaza's political future looks like in concrete terms as he focuses on clearing rubble.
"I’m not talking about single state or double state … I’m talking about the rebuilding of Gaza,” Trump said.
Trump's plans for Gaza have shifted considerably. Earlier this year, he sparked an outcry for suggesting that the coastal strip could be developed into a luxury resort.
His 20-point peace plan at least raises the possibility of a Palestinian state when the conditions are right.
The Trump plan calls for a temporary international government to rebuild the enclave, with a "board of peace," chaired by Trump himself, to oversee the reconstruction effort until a reformed Palestinian Authority is ready to take the reins.
"While Gaza redevelopment advances and when the [Palestinian Authority] reform program is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognize as the aspiration of the Palestinian people,” reads point 19.
Trump secured a major victory on Monday as Hamas released the last living Israeli hostages taken in the October 7, 2023, attack. After a triumphant visit in Israel, Trump stopped in Egypt for a global peace summit with world leaders, where he signed phase one of the cease-fire.
While hope is mounting for a new chapter of regional stability, tough obstacles remain.
The issue of Palestinian statehood remains a major point of contention.
Israel's government under prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu objects to a two-state solution. Israel has doubled down on that position despite accepting Trump's broad framework for peace.
There are also questions of whether Hamas will comply with demands to give up their weapons and relinquish authority over Gaza, which has been ruled by the terror group since 2007.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working to secure the positions of 1,000 employees laid off in error in emails sent Friday, the UK Daily Mail reported. The erroneous emails attributed the firings to President Donald Trump's cuts during the ongoing shutdown of the federal government.
President Donald Trump promised that a government shutdown would give him the opportunity to scale back the size of government permanently. What wasn't expected was the largest single layoff event in the agency's history, which was later deemed an error.
Some of those who received notices that they would be losing their jobs included top scientists and disease experts, some of whom were currently working on outbreaks of Ebola and measles. The emails also effectively cut through entire sectors of the agency, including the Global Health Center, which leads in immunizations, and the Epidemic Intelligence Services, which are known as the "disease detectives" that track and anticipate outbreaks.
The mix-up became apparent quickly, and by Saturday, health officials were rolling back their "erroneous" dismissal notices. Nevertheless, the CDC is left to sort out the mishap and track down affected personnel to set the record straight.
The Trump administration sent warnings to at least 4,200 federal employees on Friday from at least seven different agencies, indicating that pink slips were forthcoming, The Hill reported. Of those, approximately 1,100 to 1,200 were from the Department of Health and Human Services.
The notices were sent via email just before 9 p.m. as the Columbus Day weekend began. Even before this happened, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2883, representing employees at the CDC's Atlanta, Georgia, headquarters, had charged that firings during the government shutdown were punitive.
This sentiment was echoed by Debra Houry, who served as chief medical officer at the CDC before resigning in August over the so-called "politicization of science" that Trump was engaging in. "Some of the best-trained epidemiologists in the world were told they no longer had a job," she complained about the same agency that got so much wrong during the pandemic.
The layoff notices were issued to a pair about to deploy to the Democratic Republic of Congo to respond to an Ebola outbreak. At the same time, another was an official with nearly 30 years of experience who had been working on outbreaks of Marburg virus, mpox, and Ebola in Africa. The Global Health Center's director and half-dozen regional global offices were also "wiped out" before the correction was made to the cuts.
The Trump administration was quick to correct the record, but that hasn't stopped detractors from slamming the very idea of making personnel cuts. Meanwhile, they're blaming Trump for retaliatory action against the agencies rather than sticking to the facts.
The work that the CDC does is certainly worthwhile, but the amount of caterwauling about the firings is overkill. Like any government agency, even those on the frontline of disease prevention can afford to trim the fat. However, those who were impacted act like every individual on the payroll is equally vital. "This Administration continues to destroy critical pillars of America’s already wounded public health system," Richard Besser, who was previously acting director of the CDC, claimed.
"Using a government shutdown as a pretense to fire hundreds of critically important health officials and thousands of additional government staffers is the height of cruelty and recklessness. The damage this will do to our nation is incalculable," Besser added.
Meanwhile, the Infectious Disease Society of America and other infection control organizations complained that any cuts "will cripple the agency that keeps our country safe by monitoring and preventing disease and saving lives in every community across the country,” a joint statement said. "Uncertainty around which staff have been fired or rehired leaves health professionals and the public in a state of complete confusion about which longstanding public health services they can rely upon," it added.
Still, Dr. Robert Malone, an outspoken critic of the CDC's pandemic response, recognized the bureaucracy likely needed the cuts regardless of how it ended up. "CDC has had decades of mission creep, and has lost focus in core mission. It is now being restructured, redirected, and dismantled," Malone posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday.
My opinion, not speaking on behalf of USG, CDC leadership, or ACIP.
CDC has had decades of mission creep, and has lost focus in core mission. It is now being restructured, redirected and dismantled. The international component is being transferred to the State department.…
— Robert W Malone, MD (@RWMaloneMD) October 12, 2025
These government organizations need a shakeup every now and then, even if it unsettles some of the employees who believe they are essential. The administration corrected its error, but it's a good thing for these lifelong government employees to be on notice that their jobs could always be in jeopardy.
Democratic New York Rep. Josh Riley was briefly forced out of his own town hall meeting by an anti-Israel protester who shouted him down for nearly six minutes, the Daily Caller reported. The Oct. 6 incident occurred in Riley's upstate New York district, which has been a battleground for both Republicans and Democrats.
The problem for Riley and other Democrats is that support for Israel has been tanking since the beginning of the war with Gaza, a little over two years ago. Although Hamas was initially the aggressor in the conflict, sympathies among leftists in particular are increasingly with the Palestinian people.
As a politician who supports giving aid to the Israeli military, Riley was singled out by the people in New York’s 19th congressional district as being part of the problem. The Caller shared a video posted to YouTube of the exchange.
The people in Riley's district confronted the freshman lawmaker at the State University of New York's Sullivan campus over the unpopularity of continuing the war. "Seventy-five percent of Democratic voters are against you, the United States, giving arms to Israel," a woman shouted at Riley as the lawmaker was trying to speak.
"Why are you voting for arms to Israel?" she added. Riley said he would answer the question, but he admonished the gray-haired woman for being disrespectful in her approach and told her she would need to be more polite about it to get a response.
"Just answer it. People are dying. Americans do not want to support genocide," the woman shouted back at a stunned Riley. She also mentioned that Riley and other House Democrats participated in an August visit to Israel, sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation, which has ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
"I would love to answer your question," Riley pushed back again at the woman, which prompted another man in the crowd to interject. "You’re filibustering!" a male protester yelled at Riley.
"You’re supposed to listen to your voters!" the woman again interjected. Flustered, Riley replied to the woman, "I'm trying to." The woman left the room, and Riley continued with his event in the question-and-answer segment of the town hall.
There was a time when being a radical leftist meant there was no reason to fear public disruptions or attacks, as their ire was reserved for Republicans with the "wrong" viewpoints. However, those incensed about the support for Israel in the war with Hamas have caused Democrats to turn on their own, including Riley.
In August, a Quinnipiac poll revealed that nearly 75% of Democrats opposed sending military assistance to Israel, meaning that just about any move that sides with Israel will outrage the Democratic base, even in a "leans left" jurisdiction like Riley's. He is no centrist Democrat, either, as the 44-year-old has repeatedly proven his leftist bona fides.
For instance, Riley opposed allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to wear masks and has supported a system to confer citizenship on illegal immigrants who have not broken the law (except the law against entering the country illegally, of course). He also purchased $15,000 worth of shares in a "women-owned, queer-led" distillery in Washington, D.C., which sells liquor branded Dissent Gin and Fascist Tears Vodka, according to the New York Post.
So far, early polling for the 2026 race still indicates that the district skews for the Democratic Party, but support for Riley could wane if this issue persists. The good news is that, as CBS News reported, President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire between the two sides, potentially fostering peace and taking the issue off the table by the time the 2026 midterm elections roll around.
Regardless of the issue, it's quite fitting that Riley was heckled by the same unhinged leftists that Democrats court and support. It's about time one of these leftists gets the same treatment from their own that's usually reserved for right-wing commentators and politicians.
President Donald Trump got a standing ovation from the Israeli Knesset on Monday when he asked Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of bribery charges he faces.
“Hey, I have an idea. Mr. President, why don’t you give him a pardon? Give him a pardon,” Trump said, after which applause and chants of “Bibi, Bibi!’ broke out.
“By the way, that was not in the speech, as you probably know, but I happen to like this gentleman right over here,” Trump continued.
“It just seems to make so much sense. You know whether we like it or not, this has been one of the greatest wartime presidents. Cigars and champagne? Who the hell cares about that?” he stated.
🚨 BREAKING: President Trump asks the President of Israel ON THE SPOT to give Benjamin Netanyahu "a PARDON."
The Knesset erupts into a standing ovation
"That was NOT in the speech! But I happen to like him, and it just seems to make so much sense. One of the greatest war time… pic.twitter.com/EgdBx2RtEj
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 13, 2025
Trump's on the spot request has put Herzog on the spot, and at a time when both Trump and Netanyahu are being looked at as heroes for reaching a deal to stop the fighting.
Trump has been saying since June that the State of Israel should drop the charges against Netanyahu.
Supporters of the PM say the charges of petty corruption for acts such as receiving cigars from a friend are politically motivated.
The judges in the case even suggested that at least one of the charges should be dropped, but Netanyahu was forced to testify during a time of war anyway.
Trump is riding high on public opinion after brokering an initial peace deal between Israel and Hamas, bringing an end to the fighting and the release of all hostages held by Hamas for the last two years.
Figures on both sides of the political aisle are lauding him for the peace deal, even some who criticized him before.
This includes media figures like CNN's Jake Sullivan, The View co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, and even his former presidential opponent Hillary Clinton.
"I really commend President Trump and his administration, as well as Arab leaders in the region for making the commitment to the 20-point plan and seeing a path forward for what's often called the day after," Clinton told CBS' Norah O'Donnell on Friday.
Former President Barack Obama praised the peace deal, but did not name Trump in the post that did so, drawing criticism from another CNN figure, host Abby Phillip.
"I think if you can't say that ending a deadly war that has killed so many children and human beings is a good thing, I think you need to take a look at your gut and find out what's going on there. This is, everybody wants this to end and if he's able to get it done, he deserves credit for it," she said.
Brace yourself for a book tour that’s less about pages and more about political firestorms.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris found herself in the crosshairs of pro-Palestine activists during a recent stop in Chicago, where her memoir promotion turned into a shouting match over foreign policy, the Daily Caller reported. It’s a stark reminder that public figures can’t escape the weight of global issues, even when they’re hawking personal stories.
At this Chicago event for her book “107 Days,” Harris endured multiple interruptions from activists decrying her perceived role in the Gaza conflict, echoing similar disruptions from an earlier stop in New York City.
Saturday’s event saw Harris in discussion with journalist Michael Norris when a female heckler unleashed a verbal barrage, accusing her of supporting atrocities in Gaza. The crowd wasn’t having it, demanding security step in, and the protester was promptly shown the door.
The heckler didn’t hold back, shouting, “Your legacy is genocide! This is what you did,” directly at Harris, laying the blame squarely at her feet. Let’s be real—such accusations are heavy, but they sidestep the reality of who actually wields executive power in Washington.
Harris, unfazed, shot back with a pointed reminder of her current status. “You know what? I am not president of the United States,” she said, urging the protester to take her grievances to the White House instead. The audience roared with approval, clearly appreciating the deflection of responsibility to the sitting commander-in-chief.
But the drama didn’t end there—a second activist branded Harris a “war criminal,” while a male heckler echoed the genocide claim, insisting her legacy is tied to the conflict. It’s a tough crowd when your book signing feels more like a war crimes tribunal. One has to wonder if these activists are targeting the right figure for their frustrations.
This isn’t the first time Harris’s tour has been derailed by such protests. A similar scene unfolded in New York City, where she offered the same defense—pointing out her lack of authority over the Israel-Hamas situation. It’s a consistent playbook, but does it really address the underlying anger?
Meanwhile, Harris’s memoir itself isn’t winning universal praise, even among her own party. Advisers have called the book “divisive” and an “embarrassment” for both Harris and the Democratic establishment. When your own team is throwing shade, it’s hard to claim a literary victory.
The backdrop to these protests is a shifting landscape in the Middle East, where Israel and Hamas have agreed to the initial phase of a deal brokered by President Donald Trump. This agreement includes freeing hostages and repositioning Israeli troops in Gaza—a step toward de-escalation. It’s a development that might temper some criticism, if only the news could reach the hecklers.
Adding to the geopolitical context, President Trump is set to travel to Israel on Sunday afternoon to mark this agreement. It’s a moment of diplomatic spotlight, one that contrasts sharply with Harris’s current role on the sidelines. Her detractors might note who’s actually steering the ship on these issues.
Back to the book tour, it’s clear Harris is navigating a minefield of public opinion. The accusations of complicity in Gaza are emotionally charged, but they often ignore the limits of her influence as a former vice president. It’s easier to yell at a book event than to engage with the complexities of policy-making.
Still, the optics aren’t great for Harris when her memoir—meant to reflect on her political journey—becomes a lightning rod for international grievances. One might argue she’s paying the price for a progressive agenda that’s long struggled to balance domestic image with foreign policy realities.
Critics within her party aren’t helping, as their harsh words about the book paint Harris as out of touch with even her base. When your own advisers are calling your work an embarrassment, it’s a signal that the narrative is slipping out of control.
At the end of the day, Harris’s Chicago event shows how deeply the Israel-Hamas conflict resonates, even in personal, non-political settings. Protesters have every right to voice their concerns, but targeting someone without current executive power feels like a misdirected punch.
As Trump prepares to celebrate a potential breakthrough in the Middle East, Harris is left fending off hecklers at home. It’s a tale of two political realities—one shaping global outcomes, the other stuck defending a memoir amid cries of “war criminal.” Perhaps it’s time for activists to redirect their energy toward those actively crafting policy, rather than a figure signing books.