A vigil held outside the Idaho State Capitol for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk turned violent when a fight broke out following a heckler’s outburst, according to local reports, as reported by The New York Post.
The incident occurred just hours after Kirk was assassinated. Footage captured by a bystander showed the moment tensions escalated when a man on a bicycle shouted, “f*ck Charlie Kirk,” during the gathering.
The outburst prompted a group of attendees to surround the man, leading to shoving and punches being thrown.
San Marcos, TX / United States – Oct. 24 2018: Turning Point USA founder and president Charlie Kirk during a visit to Texas State University in San Marcos.
In the video, a green bicycle can be seen lying on its side near the crowd as several individuals attempted to confront the heckler. At one point, another person in the crowd was heard yelling, “I’m not condoning violence – beat his ass,” as the scene grew chaotic.
Witnesses said the confrontation drew loud reactions from other attendees, with many screaming in shock as the situation escalated.
Dylan Anson, a local resident who attended the vigil, told KIVI-TV that he stepped in to help restore order before police arrived. “Charlie Kirk, he stood as a Christian man, and as Christians, we do not support violence,” Anson said.
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk (left) interviews Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) during a campaign stop at Generation Church Mesa Campus on Sept. 4, 2024.
“A wrong plus a wrong does not make a right. In any sense.”
Police officers were eventually called to the scene and dispersed the crowd. No immediate arrests or injuries were reported.
Fight broke out at the Charlie Kirk vigil on Wednesday night when a protester yelled, “F*** you Charlie Kirk!”
People pummeled and tackled him. Others intervened to try to keep the peace. Police finally calmed the situation and removed the evil agitator.pic.twitter.com/V08AWbjIGL
The vigil was one of several held across the country in the wake of Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University earlier this week.
Supporters had gathered at the Idaho State Capitol to honor Kirk’s life and work as the founder of Turning Point USA, known for his efforts to promote free speech on college campuses.
Authorities said that they are continuing to investigate the brawl, reviewing video evidence and speaking with witnesses who were present at the vigil.
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was left visibly stunned during a street interview in New York City when a Bronx immigrant backed President Donald Trump’s call for tougher policing, including the deployment of the National Guard, as reported by The Daily Mail.
Lemon, who was filming a man-on-the-street segment for his YouTube channel, approached a woman who said she had lived in the Bronx for eight years after emigrating from the Dominican Republic. He asked her if she felt safe in her neighborhood.
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 28: Don Lemon attends Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show” World Premiere at David Geffen Hall on October 28, 2019 in New York City.
“Yes,” the woman initially responded, before clarifying, “a little bit.”
Lemon pressed further, asking whether she supported the idea of deploying the National Guard to city streets. To his surprise, she replied: “Maybe more.”
When Lemon raised the prospect of armed troops on patrol, the woman didn’t hesitate. “I think it’s good. If we are going to be safe,” she said.
Looking incredulous, Lemon asked again: “Then you’re all for it?”
“Yes, the better is, we are safe, is the important thing,” she said.
Lemon quickly ended the exchange, thanking the woman and turning back to the camera with a sour expression. The clip, which has since gone viral, shows Lemon’s visible discomfort as the conversation veered in a direction he seemingly did not anticipate.
Social media users widely mocked the encounter. “Don Lemon exited that convo fast!” one user wrote.
Woman from Dominican Republic tells Don Lemon that President Trump should send in the National Guard to NYC.
Another added, “Bro is fuming.” Others joked that the exchange was “not at all what he was expecting.”
Some commenters noted that the woman’s remarks reflected the views of many in immigrant communities.
One post read: “As a Dominican myself, I can attest that Dominicans in the States are largely right-wing, far more than Puerto Ricans.”
Another added, “Keeping our streets safe should always come first. National Guard support can help protect citizens.”
Critics of Lemon also weighed in. One called him a “one-man clown show,” while another wrote, “Amazing Don Lemon is still around.”
The exchange comes as President Trump continues to push forward his law-and-order agenda during his second term. Since January 2025, he has repeatedly pledged to send the National Guard into major U.S. cities plagued by crime and unrest.
WASHINGTON – February 22, 2025: President Donald Trump arrives at the White House South Lawn on Marine One after his visit to CPAC.
Over the summer, National Guard units were deployed in Los Angeles after immigration riots. Troops were also sent to Washington, D.C., as part of Trump’s federal law enforcement takeover of the capital.
On Saturday, thousands of protesters marched in Chicago against Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and the pending deployment of Guard troops.
When asked why his administration was focusing on Chicago rather than other cities with high crime rates, Trump defended his decision.
Responding to NBC White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor, Trump pointed to a post he made on Truth Social that included an AI-generated image of him in front of a burning Chicago.
“I love the smell of deportations in the morning. Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR,” he wrote.
TRUMP: “CHICAGO ABOUT TO FIND OUT WHY IT’S CALLED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR”
“‘I love the smell of deportations in the morning…’
Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR”
A House Judiciary Committee markup session Wednesday turned contentious when Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) dismissed the case of Kayla Hamilton, a 20-year-old autistic woman murdered in 2022 by an illegal alien, as the use of a “random dead” person in political debate.
Hamilton was killed in Aberdeen, Maryland, in July 2022 by 16-year-old Walter Javier Martinez, an illegal alien from El Salvador who was affiliated with the MS-13 gang.
Martinez had been apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in March 2022 and was transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which placed him with a sponsor in the United States shortly afterward.
During the committee’s markup of the Kayla Hamilton Act, legislation introduced by Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC) to address dangerous placements of unaccompanied alien children (UACs), Crockett accused Republicans of politicizing Hamilton’s death.
✅PASSED THE COMMITTEE: H.R. 4371, the Kayla Hamilton Act, sponsored by @RepRussellFry.
For unaccompanied alien children (UACs) 12 years and older, the Kayla Hamilton Act requires HHS to request the UACs’ criminal records in their home country and determine if they have gang… pic.twitter.com/rPKJYH9kZv
“I’m tired of y’all cherry-picking one horrible event! Because that’s what y’all do!” Crockett said during the exchange.
“Y’all find one terrible situation that took place and then you say that person’s name and you wear it out and you make it political!”
She continued: “Stop playing these games and acting like you care about one particular situation. You take a situation and then you exploit what has happened to not only that person, but you exploit those families and you make it a game! Stop just throwing a random dead person’s name on something for your own political expediency!”
DISGUSTING BEHAVIOR: Rep. Jasmine Crockett just called Kayla Hamilton, a young girl murdered by an illegal alien, a “random dead person.” pic.twitter.com/pSqBF0RAc5
The remarks drew strong reactions from Republican members, who argued that the committee was considering legislation named in honor of Hamilton to prevent future tragedies involving unvetted UAC placements.
Rep. Fry first introduced the Kayla Hamilton Act to Protect American Communities from Dangerous UAC Placements in July.
The bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consider whether an unaccompanied minor poses a risk to themselves or the community before assigning them to a sponsor.
Hamilton’s murder has remained a focal point in debates over border security and vetting of UACs.
A May 2023 report from the House Judiciary Committee detailed how Martinez was allowed into the country despite warning signs.
“The Committee’s and Subcommittee’s oversight has revealed that the Biden Administration insufficiently vetted Kayla’s murderer and allowed him to enter the country,” the report stated.
“Tragically, [Homeland Security] Secretary [Alejandro] Mayorkas and his department missed key warning signs about the alien’s propensity for violence, which law enforcement officials investigating the murder later uncovered.”
The report concluded that stronger vetting procedures could have identified Martinez’s gang ties prior to his release into the U.S.
Hamilton’s case has drawn national attention not only because of her murder but also because of her vulnerability as a young woman with autism.
Advocates have argued that her death highlights systemic flaws in how UACs are processed and placed after crossing the southern border.
The Judiciary Committee debate underscored the divide between Republicans, who say Hamilton’s death demonstrates the urgent need for reforms to immigration policy, and Democrats, who contend that individual cases are being used to advance a broader political agenda.
The Kayla Hamilton Act remains under consideration as lawmakers continue to debate how federal agencies handle the placement of unaccompanied minors and the broader implications for public safety.
Tensions erupted on the House floor Wednesday after Democrats declined to join Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) in holding a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA who was shot and killed earlier in the day at Utah Valley University.
Kirk, 31, was addressing students in Orem, Utah, when he was fatally struck by gunfire during a question-and-answer session.
Authorities said he was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The killing prompted reactions across the country, including in Congress.
Sometimes there are no words to describe the barrage of emotions that come with this news but if there is one word, it would be heartbroken.
Heartbroken for the loss of a friend.
Heartbroken for the loss of a wonderful husband to Erika and two beautiful children.
Heartbroken… pic.twitter.com/UOfSpGXmUS
Speaker Johnson moved to recognize Kirk with a moment of silence. According to members present, the request was met with vocal opposition from Democrats, who declined to participate.
The exchange quickly escalated when Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) directed an outburst toward Democrats on the floor.
“You f**king own this,” she shouted in response to their refusal, according to multiple accounts from lawmakers in the chamber.
An unbelievable moment on the House floor.
Rep. Lauren Boebert requests a moment of prayer for Charlie Kirk.
The clash showcased the heightened divisions in Washington following the assassination of one of the most visible young conservative leaders in the country.
Tonight, @kaitlancollins on CNN aired an edited clip of me responding to Democrats on the House floor after their members booed @RepBoebert’s motion to hold a prayer for Charlie Kirk’s family. I said their hateful rhetoric was responsible for this, and I stand by it.
My office has been receiving calls from individuals celebrating the assassination attempt on Charlie Kirk. I am disgusted by the level of depravity the Left has stooped to— including one caller who even demanded my location. All of this has been reported to our threats team.
Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA in 2012, had built a large national profile through campus events, media appearances, and political commentary.
The refusal to honor Kirk with a moment of silence drew sharp criticism from Republicans, who argued that the gesture should have transcended political divides.
Several GOP lawmakers expressed frustration at what they described as a lack of respect for a slain activist.
House officials did not immediately release a statement on the incident. The moment passed without formal recognition, leaving the chamber divided in its response to the day’s events.
Outside of Congress, tributes for Kirk continued to pour in from conservative leaders, students, and colleagues who worked alongside him.
At the same time, law enforcement in Utah said its investigation into the shooting remains ongoing, with federal and local agencies cooperating in the search for the gunman.
Kirk’s assassination has sent shockwaves across political circles and prompted calls for accountability.
The scene on the House floor reflected the national debate that has intensified in the hours since his death, with lawmakers split not only on political issues but on how to honor one of the most prominent conservative activists of his generation.
Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk criticized corporate media outlets Tuesday for their handling of the murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, arguing that the selective coverage of violent crime has exposed contradictions in the prevailing racial narrative.
During an appearance on Fox News’ The Will Cain Show, Kirk said the stabbing death of Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina, initially received little coverage from major networks until public backlash forced a response.
He said this pattern revealed how race-centered reporting has distorted public perception of crime.
“We’re the least racist country ever to exist in the history of the world,” Kirk said.
“In fact, if you want to actually talk about race-focused activity, why is it that you then ignore all the race-focused activity of black on white crime? Will, I want to live in a race-neutral country. I don’t like talking about race all the time, but when I see it, and I see the left ignore it, and we try to make them live up to their own standard of rules that they force fed us during the chaos of 2020, it really goes to show the destruction that this can lead to the entire nation.”
Kirk accused left-leaning media outlets of emphasizing narratives of white-on-black violence while minimizing or ignoring black-on-white crimes.
“The media doesn’t care about this, and we should start asking why,” Kirk said.
“It doesn’t fit a narrative. This is my most charitable reading. The narrative that they have pushed forward in the last 10 years is that there is a relentless assault against black people on behalf of white people, and the data does not show that.”
Kirk went on to say that the post-2020 emphasis on systemic racism has reshaped public institutions and corporate practices without aligning with statistical realities.
“White individuals are actually more likely to be attacked, especially even per capita, by black individuals in this country,” Kirk said.
“The narrative that they have tried to force feed this nation post 2020 is that we are a systemically racist country to our core. We started to say the word racist more. We started to redesign our corporations. We started to teach things in our classrooms that were from the 1619 project, and all of this has now been met with an appropriate backlash where people said we’re actually not nearly as racist as you say we are.”
Kirk added that the issue is not confined to rhetoric, but affects real-world decisions.
He pointed to policing policies and government payouts as examples of policies influenced by what he described as an unchallenged media-driven narrative.
“The final thing I’ll say is this is more than just a semantic argument. This is more than just whether or not it’s a race thing or not,” Kirk said.
“Bad policing practices, consent decrees, opening up the prisons. As you say, $3.3 million is an outgrowth of a media narrative lie. So it’s not just an innocent media narrative lie. Real policies get put into place when you don’t challenge this nonsense in the public schools.”
The discussion followed the release of footage showing bystanders rushing to assist Zarutska after she was stabbed on a Charlotte train in August. The video circulated widely online, drawing attention to the attack.
Axios published a report on Monday claiming that “MAGA influencers” were exploiting the incident to promote concerns about violent crime.
The piece drew criticism on social media, with opponents accusing the outlet of minimizing the lack of coverage from national outlets.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk also shared multiple posts about the incident on X, highlighting what he described as a double standard in how media outlets cover crimes depending on the race of those involved.
Why is “white” always in lowercase, but Black is uppercase, @nytimes?
The NY Times is deliberate, precise and comprehensive in its anti-White racism. https://t.co/4edUTAWsjU
Critics of the muted response compared it to the extensive coverage of Jordan Neely’s death in 2023 after he was restrained by Marine veteran Daniel Penny on a New York subway.
The contrast, they argued, further demonstrated inconsistencies in how violent incidents are presented to the public depending on the narrative being advanced.
CHARLIE KIRK FIRES BACK AT VAN JONES
“The attacker said, quote, ‘I got that white girl.’ The moment we make them live up to their own standard, they start to cry foul.” — @charliekirk11pic.twitter.com/mAN4CCI1lH
The U.S. House Oversight Committee released new documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th “birthday book,” including a letter written by former President Bill Clinton and a disputed message purportedly linked to President Donald Trump.
The materials were provided by Epstein’s estate following a congressional subpoena.
The letter from Clinton, written in his handwriting, offered birthday wishes to Epstein in 2003.
“It’s reassuring isn’t it, to have lasted as long, across all the years of learning and knowing, adventures and [illegible word], and also to have your childlike curiosity, the drive to make a difference and the solace of friends,” Clinton wrote.
Former President Bill Clinton referenced Jeffrey Epstein’s “childlike curiosity” and “drive to make a difference” in a letter for his 50th birthday, according to documents released by the House Oversight Committee. pic.twitter.com/fSimrqHNJw
Alongside the letter, the committee also released an illustration from the book depicting Epstein in 1983 offering balloons and candy to young girls, contrasted with a 2003 image showing Epstein being massaged by topless women beneath a drawing of his private jet.
The cartoon was captioned, “What a great country!”
House Oversight
The release came the same day a note allegedly bearing Trump’s signature was publicized.
The message read, “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Trump has strongly denied writing the note, calling it “fake.”
Such creative wordplay.
Odd they don’t say “true”
Linguistics dude in me kinda loves this stuff.
Example – This is a remarkable sentence: “We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting.”
He filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal earlier this year after it first reported on the contents of the book.
White House aides responded Monday with examples of Trump’s signature, arguing the handwriting in the book did not match.
“The latest piece published by the Wall Street Journal proves this entire ‘Birthday Card’ story is false,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement on X.
“As I have said all along, it’s very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it. President Trump’s legal team will continue to aggressively pursue litigation.”
The latest piece published by the Wall Street Journal PROVES this entire “Birthday Card” story is false.
As I have said all along, it’s very clear President Trump did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it.
President Trump’s legal team will continue to aggressively…
Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich also rejected the report, posting signature comparisons and calling the story defamatory.
Another image from the book shows Epstein and a Mar-a-Lago member holding an oversized check with a handwritten caption implying a woman was being “sold” to Trump for $22,500.
The woman’s name was redacted.
Her attorney told the Wall Street Journal she had no prior knowledge of the note and described it as “a disgusting and deeply disturbing hoax.”
Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who compiled the book for his 2003 birthday, reportedly asked Epstein’s friends and acquaintances to submit messages, drawings, or stories.
Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epstein’s crimes.
In interviews with federal investigators, she told Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche she could not recall whether Trump had contributed a note.
Democrats on the Oversight Committee seized on the release to criticize Trump.
Ranking Member Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., said: “President Trump called the Epstein investigation a hoax and claimed that his birthday note didn’t exist. Now we know that Donald Trump was lying and is doing everything he can to cover up the truth. Enough of the games and lies, release the full files now.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi, who last month turned over 33,000 pages of Epstein-related records from the Department of Justice to the committee, oversaw the initial review.
Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., confirmed that many of the pages contained previously known information, including Customs and Border Protection flight logs documenting Epstein’s private jet travel between 2000 and 2014.
In a letter included in Monday’s release, attorneys for Epstein’s estate wrote that they are not aware of a client list tied to Epstein’s activities.
They stated that the original copy of Epstein’s “Black Book,” a directory of contacts, was likely seized by the FBI in 2019 during searches of Epstein’s residences.
President Trump, in a post last Friday on Truth Social, criticized Democrats for pursuing the investigation.
“The confused and badly failing Democrat Party did nothing about Jeffrey Epstein while he was alive except befriend him, socialize with him, travel to his Island, and take his money! They knew everything there was to know about Epstein, but now, years after his death, they, out of nowhere, are seeming to show such love and heartfelt concern for his victims,” Trump wrote.
The Oversight Committee continues to review unredacted materials provided by the Epstein estate, though it remains unclear how much additional information will be made public in the coming weeks.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is taking direct aim at former President Joe Biden’s decision to seek a second term, calling it an act of “recklessness” in her upcoming memoir, as reported by The New York Post.
Excerpts from the book, 107 Days, obtained on Wednesday by The Atlantic, reveal Harris’s sharp criticism of Biden’s choice to remain in the 2024 race despite growing concerns about his age and health.
Washington DC USA – August 15, 2024 – President Biden and Vice President Harris appear together for the first time since Biden stepped down from the election. They were speaking at a health care event
Harris wrote that Biden’s decision should not have been left to “an individual’s ego” or “an individual’s ambition.” She reflected:
“Was it grace, or was it recklessness? In retrospect, I think it was recklessness.”
Harris acknowledged that she had doubts but refrained from publicly urging Biden to step aside, saying she feared it would be perceived as self-serving.
“I knew it would come off to him as incredibly self-serving if I advised him not to run. He would see it as naked ambition, perhaps as poisonous disloyalty, even if my only message was: Don’t let the other guy win,” Harris explained.
The former vice president described the environment inside the White House, where aides and allies repeated a refrain that “It’s Joe and Jill’s decision.” Harris said the sentiment became “like a mantra, as if we’d all been hypnotized.”
Despite her reservations, Harris said she chose loyalty during “months of growing panic” about Biden’s condition. “The American people had chosen him before in the same matchup,” she wrote, noting that she allowed for the possibility Biden could prevail again.
Harris also addressed speculation that the administration concealed Biden’s health struggles.
President Joe Biden speaks and Vice President Kamala Harris during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center.
She pushed back on conspiracy claims, writing, “Here is the truth as I lived it. Joe Biden was a smart guy with long experience and deep conviction, able to discharge the duties of president. On his worst day, he was more deeply knowledgeable, more capable of exercising judgment, and far more compassionate than Donald Trump on his best.”
Still, Harris acknowledged Biden’s limitations at his age. “But at 81, Joe got tired. That’s when his age showed in physical and verbal stumbles,” she wrote, attributing his poor debate performance to exhaustion following overseas trips and a Hollywood fundraiser.
She insisted she would have intervened if she believed Biden was truly incapable of serving. “I don’t believe it was incapacity. If I believed that, I would have said so. As loyal as I am to President Biden, I am more loyal to my country,” Harris concluded.
The memoir 107 Days is set for release later this year, promising more revelations about Harris’s perspective on the 2024 election and her role in the administration.
Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., announced on Sunday that he will introduce legislation aimed at holding judges accountable when repeat violent offenders they release commit additional crimes.
The move comes in response to the August 22 killing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was fatally stabbed while traveling on Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line light rail system.
The attack took place at the East/West Boulevard station in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Authorities identified the suspect as 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., a repeat offender with a history of felony convictions.
“I’m going to introduce legislation to hold judges accountable when violent repeat offenders they release commit new crimes,” Fine said.
“It’s easy to release criminals when you’re protected by an armed bailiff at all times. The rest of us aren’t so lucky.”
He added, “Those 12+ judges that released Decarlos Brown Jr. should have their day in court too.”
I’m going to introduce legislation to hold judges accountable when violent repeat offenders they release commit new crimes.
It’s easy to release criminals when you’re protected by an armed bailiff at all times. The rest of us aren’t so lucky.
According to the New York Post, he has been convicted of felony larceny, communicating threats, and robbery with a dangerous weapon, for which he served a five-year sentence.
Local station WBTV reported that Charlotte police had arrested Brown on multiple occasions, including a January arrest for misusing 911.
Court records from that arrest indicate Brown told officers that he believed “man-made material” had been placed inside his body to control his actions, including eating, walking, and talking.
Following the rail station stabbing, Brown was taken into custody and charged with murder.
The case has raised concerns about judicial leniency toward repeat offenders.
Fine’s proposal would focus on creating accountability measures for judges who approve the release of individuals with violent criminal histories and who then commit further crimes.
President Donald Trump also addressed the killing, offering condolences to the victim’s family and criticizing the conditions that allowed Brown to be free at the time of the attack.
“I just give my love and hope to the family of the young woman who was stabbed … in Charlotte by a madman — a lunatic,” Trump said.
Describing the attack, he noted, “He just got up and started — it’s right on the tape. [It’s] not really watchable, because it’s so horrible, but just viciously stabbed. She’s just sitting there.”
Trump added, “So they’re evil people. We have to be able to handle that. If we don’t handle that we don’t have a country.”
JUST IN – TRUMP HONORS IRYNA ZARUTSKA: “I give my love and hope to the family of the young woman who was stabbed in Charlotte by a madman… a lunatic… while she’s just SITTING THERE.
There are EVIL PEOPLE. We have to be able to handle that. If we don’t handle that, we… pic.twitter.com/87kVS5yMjd
The murder has drawn criticism of the broader criminal justice system, particularly in Charlotte, where residents and officials have previously expressed concern over repeat offenders being released back into the community.
Fine’s upcoming legislation is expected to generate debate over the role of judicial discretion in such cases and whether lawmakers should impose additional checks on judges who release individuals with violent records.
The killing of Zarutska, a young refugee seeking safety in the United States, and the criminal history of the accused, showcase the ongoing discussion over public safety and judicial accountability.
Lawmakers are preparing to examine Fine’s proposal in the coming weeks as the case continues to unfold in North Carolina courts.
The 22-year-old activist was among participants in what organizers described as the “largest solidarity mission” to Gaza.
A total of 20 boats departed Barcelona on Aug. 31 with the goal of reaching the Gaza Strip to deliver aid.
Thunberg had joined the mission before Israel warned that she and other activists faced arrest and detention if they attempted to breach the blockade.
Israel Hayom reported that Israeli authorities had already prepared plans to intercept the flotilla.
The report said activists would face detention under strict “terrorist-level” conditions if they were taken into custody.
Prior to her departure, Thunberg said her involvement was part of what she called “a global uprising of people standing up” against what she described as “atrocities” in Gaza.
The flotilla’s Steering Committee emphasized that they intended to continue their mission despite the incident.
“Acts of aggression aimed at intimidating and derailing our mission will not deter us.
Our peaceful mission to break the siege on Gaza and stand in solidarity with its people continues with determination and resolve,” the Global Sumud Flotilla said in a statement released after the drone strike.
The organization did not provide further details on who may have been responsible for the strike.
It said the incident remains under investigation, and that additional updates would be shared when available.
The flotilla’s route from Barcelona to Gaza was already subject to heightened scrutiny by regional authorities.
This latest development added to tensions surrounding the group’s efforts, with video evidence of the attack circulating widely on social media.
At present, the Family Boat remains in Tunisian waters following the strike.
Organizers have not said whether repairs will be undertaken to allow the vessel to continue toward Gaza. The Global Sumud Flotilla reaffirmed its intent to move forward with the remaining boats in the mission.
The reported strike marks the most serious incident to affect the convoy since its departure.
Lawmakers and regional authorities are closely monitoring developments as questions remain about the origin of the drone and the broader implications for the flotilla’s mission.
Former CNN host Don Lemon was confronted by a heckler in Manhattan during the filming of his podcast, leading to a profanity-filled exchange that was caught on video, as reported by The New York Post.
The clash occurred on a New York City street while Lemon, 59, attempted to conduct a man-on-the-street interview.
The encounter began when Lemon approached a man and asked where he was from. The stranger quickly interrupted him. “You’re a f**king moron, dude,” the man said.
“Thank you. So are you,” Lemon replied, smiling before trying to continue the conversation.
The man accused CNN and MSNBC of being “full of sh*t,” alleging that the networks misrepresented coverage of Gaza and other international conflicts. Lemon countered by saying the outlets were reporting on rulings from international courts, but the man was unmoved.
“They would never say it’s genocide. They were protecting Israel,” he said.
Lemon attempted to argue that the man contradicted himself by claiming not to watch him while referencing his past segments. “You must watch me. So you’re not making any sense,” Lemon told him.
The man compared it to recognizing actor George Clooney without seeing his movies, before adding, “And I’ve seen you spouting nonsense.”
As the argument escalated, Lemon asked why the man would approach him with an insult. “Because it just comes out, man. Because you’re big and think you’re something,” the man responded.
Lemon then suggested that the man’s behavior reflected poor self-respect.
“I would never in a million years walk up to anybody, whether I knew them or not, and call them a f**king moron,” Lemon said. “Not unless I had terrible self-respect and I wanted to lash out because I felt bad about myself.”
The heckler stood his ground. “I called you a f**king moron. I don’t need to defend that, cuz it’s accurate,” he said.
The exchange devolved into back-and-forth accusations, with Lemon insisting the man had repeated the insult multiple times and the heckler accusing Lemon of insulting him in return.
The interaction ended only after the man walked away, telling Lemon to “go find a library.” Lemon shot back, “You go find a library. There’s a bookstore right there.”
Afterward, Lemon admitted on camera that the argument was “beneath” him but also said he found it “fun.”
The man in the video has not been identified. The New York Post reported that Lemon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Lemon was fired by CNN in April 2023 after controversies that included on-air remarks about women being “past their prime” and disputes with colleagues.
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