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Bring Back Privateers to Take On Narco-Terrorist Pirates: Rep Tim Burchett
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Bring Back Privateers to Take On Narco-Terrorist Pirates: Rep Tim Burchett

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Republican lawmakers Tim Burchett and Mike Lee are pushing legislation that would allow private citizens to engage cartel operations in the Caribbean Sea through the use of letters of marque, a constitutional authority that has not been used in more than 200 years.

The proposal was discussed during an exchange on Fox & Friends, where co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy outlined the effort and its growing attention.

“Welcome back to Fox and Friends. Could privateers help take down cartels in the Caribbean Sea? Republican lawmakers Tim Burchett and Mike Lee hope so,” Campos-Duffy said.

“They’re introducing bills to both the House and the Senate respectively. The President would issue a Letter of Marque which lets private citizens act against us enemies and seize property, something that has has not been done for over 200 years, and it’s already gained support from Elon Musk, who says, quote, it would work super well.”

Burchett said the proposal is both constitutional and necessary, arguing that the United States is facing an active threat from cartel organizations.

“Well, first of all, we’re we’re basically under attack and and there’s constitutional consequences,” Burchett said.

“This was done by, I believe, President Jefferson, first the Barbary pilot pirates. It’s in the Constitution. It’s provided for. It just has to get congressional approval, and I think it’s a legitimate way to go after these, these cartels.”

Burchett described cartels as armed combatants operating outside traditional military definitions, creating legal complications for direct military engagement.

“They’re not, they’re they’re, they’re armed combatants, so they’re not necessarily military. So there’s a constitutional question,” he said.

He also argued that congressional involvement in sensitive military actions has created challenges for national security decision-making, citing past criticism from Democrats when President Donald Trump authorized the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.

“And as soon as you know, I remember back when President Trump took out some Soleimani, I believe it was, is an evil, evil man, and the Democrats in Congress, Pelosi and the rest of them, they were mad that they didn’t get his approval, as if he had to take out this dirt bag,” Burchett said.

Burchett said the letters of marque legislation would give President Trump another option for confronting cartels without deploying U.S. troops.

“And I think it just gives President Trump just another tool in this in his toolbox to go after him,” he said.

He also praised Lee for advancing the proposal in the Senate.

“And and Mike Lee is a superstar man. There’s like outside of Andy Biggs, I think he’s probably my favorite Mormon in Congress,” Burchett said.

Campos-Duffy then asked whether private citizens would realistically participate if the measure became law.

“Absolutely, ma’am,” Burchett responded. He said the bill is not designed to attract unqualified volunteers but highly trained professionals.

“They’re not going to run an added Soldier of Fortune magazine or down here at some at Toddy’s Back Door Tavern in Knoxville,” he said.

“They’ll have privateers that will be former operators. You’ll have seals, special operations people. It’ll be top notch.”

Burchett emphasized that the proposal includes safeguards and structure, including insurance requirements, and would rely on experienced individuals rather than ad hoc forces.

“There’s an insurance provision in this there’s all kinds of things that that are, it’s just not some ragtag thing like you’d see on on some movie somewhere,” he said.

“These are going to be first rate operators.”

He said the approach would allow the United States to confront cartel violence while avoiding extended constitutional disputes and limiting direct military involvement.

“And I think it’s a great way to do it, and it saves all the constitutional back and forth and keeps our military out of it,” Burchett said.

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Vivek Ramaswamy Calls Out Everyone That Doesn’t Have a Place in the Conservative Movement
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Vivek Ramaswamy Calls Out Everyone That Doesn’t Have a Place in the Conservative Movement

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Vivek Ramaswamy said individuals who support specific positions or engage in certain rhetoric should not be considered part of the conservative movement, stating plainly that he will not apologize for drawing clear boundaries.

In a statement outlining his views on the direction of conservatism, Ramaswamy said the movement must exclude people who support policies or express beliefs he described as fundamentally incompatible with its principles.

“If you believe that boys should compete with girls in girls’ sports, I’m sorry you’re not on the team, you have no place in this movement,” Ramaswamy said.

Ramaswamy said he would be explicit even when the positions he criticized are widely debated or controversial, arguing that clarity is necessary for leadership within the movement.

“If you believe, thank you. It’s pretty obvious, but I’m gonna say it anyway,” he said.

He said support for race-based policies in government hiring also disqualifies individuals from being part of the conservative movement.

“If you believe in racial quotas and government hiring, you have no place in the conservative movement,” Ramaswamy said. “Sorry, you’re not on the team. You’re free to believe it. It’s a free country, but you have no place in the conservative movement.”

Ramaswamy also said he rejects any effort to normalize hostility toward ethnic groups, regardless of which group is targeted.

“If you believe in normalizing hatred towards any ethnic group, toward whites, towards blacks, towards Hispanics, towards Jews, towards Indians, you have no place in the future of the conservative movement period,” he said.

He said he would not retreat from those positions or soften his language to avoid criticism.

“And I will not apologize for that. I will not hedge when I say it,” Ramaswamy said.

Ramaswamy also addressed rhetoric that praises or excuses historical figures responsible for mass violence, saying admiration for such figures places individuals outside the conservative movement.

“If you believe and you will forgive me for giving you an exact quote from our online commentator Nick Fuentes, if you believe that Hitler was pretty fucking cool, you have no place in the future of the conservative movement,” he said.

He said debate on foreign policy issues is acceptable but does not extend to endorsing or excusing totalitarian leaders.

“You can debate foreign aid to Israel all you want. That’s fine. That’s fair, but you have no place with that level of hatred,” Ramaswamy said.

“You can debate the right resolution to the Russia Ukraine war, but if you believe Joseph Stalin is someone to look up to, you have no place in the future of the conservative movement.”

Ramaswamy also condemned personal attacks directed at public figures and their families, citing remarks aimed at Vice President J.D. Vance’s wife.

“If you call Usha Vance The Second Lady of the United States of America, a Jeet, you have no place in the future of the conservative movement,” he said.

He concluded by saying that leaders who are unwilling or unable to state these positions clearly should not hold leadership roles within conservatism.

“And if you can’t say those things without stuttering, then you have no place as a leader at any level in the conservative movement either, certainly not in my State of Ohio,” Ramaswamy said.

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Coast Guard Leads New Seizure as Trump Tightens the Noose on Maduro’s Regime
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Coast Guard Leads New Seizure as Trump Tightens the Noose on Maduro’s Regime

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The United States intercepted and seized a vessel in international waters near Venezuela, marking the second such operation in recent weeks as pressure continues to mount on the Maduro regime, according to multiple reports published Saturday.

The U.S. Coast Guard led the interdiction with assistance from other branches of the U.S. military, American officials told CNN.

The operation took place in international waters off Venezuela’s coast and follows a similar seizure conducted earlier this month.

The latest action comes on the heels of a December 10 seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker operating near Venezuelan waters.

It also occurred just days after President Donald Trump announced a sweeping blockade targeting all sanctioned oil tankers traveling to or from Venezuela.

In announcing the blockade on Tuesday, Trump designated the ruling Venezuelan regime as a foreign terrorist organization and accused it of using stolen oil resources to finance criminal activity.

“The illegitimate Maduro Regime is using Oil from these stolen Oil Fields to finance themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela.”

Following the December 10 seizure, Trump was asked what the United States would do with the confiscated oil.

He responded, “Well, we keep it, I guess.”

The vessel seized this week represents the second confirmed interdiction tied to Trump’s expanded enforcement posture toward Venezuela.

U.S. officials have not publicly released details about the ship’s cargo or ownership, but the operation aligns with the administration’s stated intent to aggressively enforce sanctions against the Maduro government.

The seizures come after months of steadily escalating U.S. military and diplomatic pressure on Venezuela.

American armed forces have increased their presence in the southern Caribbean, particularly in waters off Venezuela’s coast, where they have conducted numerous operations targeting drug smuggling vessels.

That buildup has fueled speculation about a broader confrontation between the United States and Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, including the possibility of intensified efforts to force him from power.

In late November, Trump reportedly offered Maduro a deal that would have allowed him and his family to leave Venezuela safely in exchange for vacating office.

The offer was not accepted.

The pressure campaign intensified further in August, when the United States announced a $50 million bounty on Maduro, the largest amount ever offered for a sitting head of state.

In his Truth Social post announcing the blockade, Trump warned that U.S. naval forces surrounding Venezuela would continue to expand.

“The Armada surrounding the illegitimate Maduro Regime will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before,” Trump wrote.

He also demanded that the regime “return to the United States of America all of the oil, land, and other assets that they previously stole from us.”

Despite the blockade announcement and recent interdictions, the Maduro government has continued exporting oil.

Reuters reported that on Thursday, Venezuela dispatched two non-sanctioned vessels carrying oil to China.

The continued shipments suggest that while the U.S. blockade is focused on sanctioned tankers, the Maduro regime is still attempting to move oil through vessels not currently subject to U.S. sanctions.

The Biden-era approach to Venezuela, which relied more heavily on limited sanctions relief and diplomatic engagement, has now been fully replaced by Trump’s renewed strategy of economic isolation, maritime enforcement, and direct pressure on the regime’s financial lifelines.

U.S. officials have not indicated whether additional interdictions are imminent, but Trump’s statements and the recent increase in military operations signal that enforcement actions are expected to continue as part of the administration’s broader effort to cut off funding sources for the Maduro regime.

America’s Youth Are Turning to God and Family Over Wokeness: Benny Johnson
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America’s Youth Are Turning to God and Family Over Wokeness: Benny Johnson

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Conservative commentator Benny Johnson said the United States is witnessing a significant cultural and political shift driven by younger generations who are increasingly embracing faith, family, and conservative values, crediting Charlie Kirk with playing a central role in that transformation.

In a statement discussing recent trends among young Americans, Johnson said a unified political movement has emerged alongside what he described as an unprecedented revival of Christianity among the nation’s youth.

“Who put together the most powerful political movement and the most powerful unified movement in American history, and is having incredible results,” Johnson said.

He pointed to personal connections as part of that broader cultural moment, adding, “That woman there is talking about her children, you are a mother. I’m a father.”

Johnson said current data and social trends show younger Americans practicing religion at higher rates than previous generations, a development he said has no historical precedent.

“Right now in America, we are witnessing a miracle,” Johnson said.

“This generation, the young generation, believes in God and is going to church at higher rates than their parents. That’s never happened before in the history of all civilization. That is incredible.”

Johnson also highlighted political changes among young men, saying their ideological leanings and priorities reflect a sharp break from trends seen in prior decades.

“Young men are more right wing than they have ever been measured,” Johnson said.

He said those shifts are especially evident among young men who supported President Donald Trump, noting that their priorities extend beyond politics.

“And most importantly, young men who voted for Trump, their number one priority Kaylee, is starting families and having children,” Johnson said.

Johnson attributed that focus on family and faith to the influence of Charlie Kirk, whom he said consistently emphasized those values.

“That’s what Charlie was always preaching about, because that’s God’s first command to us, go be fruitful and multiply,” Johnson said.

“That’s what God says in the book of Genesis to Adam.”

According to Johnson, Kirk’s message resonated with young men by grounding politics and personal choices in Christian belief and purpose.

“And young men, because they’ve been Christ centered in their life through Charlie Kirk and his legacy,” Johnson said.

Johnson said Kirk’s life and death reinforced the credibility of his message, particularly his emphasis on truth.

“And they saw Charlie lived for and died for the truth,” Johnson said. “No man dies for a lie. Charlie died for the truth.”

Johnson concluded by describing what he said was the core of Kirk’s message to young Americans.

“And that truth was God wants you to be happy,” Johnson said. “God wants you to be joyous. Fall in love, get married, have children, and that’s the legacy of Charlie Kirk.”

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Senator Mike Lee Explains How the MAGA Agenda Can Be Passed in Congress
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Senator Mike Lee Explains How the MAGA Agenda Can Be Passed in Congress

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Senator Mike Lee said Republicans in the Senate could pass significantly more legislation if they stopped what he described as cloture abuse and returned to enforcing existing Senate rules that allow for extended debate followed by a simple majority vote.

In a statement addressing Senate procedure, Lee said the current approach has resulted in what he called a “perpetual tail chasing model,” even when Republicans hold unified control of government.

He said the insistence on reaching a 60-vote threshold has unnecessarily limited what the party can accomplish.

“The point is this, if we enforce the cloture rule, we could end cloture abuse, and we could end this perpetual tail chasing model in which, even when Republicans control the Senate and the House and the White House, as we currently do, we just take all sorts of things off the table,” Lee said.

Lee said Republicans frequently declare major policy goals unattainable because they lack the votes to overcome cloture, even though Senate rules provide alternative paths. He said this approach has become routine rather than the exception.

“We can’t accomplish this. We can’t accomplish that. Why? Well, because we don’t have 60 votes,” Lee said.

According to Lee, the Senate already has rules that allow the majority to force extended debate, ultimately leading to a vote once senators are no longer able to continue speaking. He said enforcing those rules would shift leverage back to the majority.

“There are other ways that break through this,” Lee said. “You enforce the rules by requiring them to debate.”

Lee explained that Senate rules place limits on how often a senator may speak on the same legislative matter during a legislative day.

He said once those limits are reached, or once senators are physically unable to continue debating, the presiding officer can call for a vote.

“Then the minute they stop debating, either because you’ve physically exhausted them, or because they have exhausted their right to continue speaking,” Lee said, “you can call the vote.”

Lee said the rules governing debate include limits on the number of times a senator may speak on the same issue, and once those limits are reached, the Senate is no longer required to continue debate.

“We have a number of rules about that, including you can only speak twice on the same legislative day on the same discreet legislative matter,” Lee said.

Once debate ends under those conditions, Lee said the Senate can proceed to a vote that requires only a simple majority, rather than the 60 votes typically needed to invoke cloture.

“If they have exhausted either themselves physically or their right to speak that moment, you can call the vote, and that vote is cast as simple majority threshold,” Lee said.

Lee argued that using this process would allow Republicans to advance and pass more legislation without changing Senate rules.

He said the problem is not the rules themselves, but the failure to use them.

“And you can get a lot passed,” Lee said.

Lee said Republicans have moved away from enforcing these rules and have instead accepted procedural gridlock as unavoidable.

He said that decision has limited legislative output even when the party controls both chambers of Congress and the White House.

“We haven’t been doing that,” Lee said.

“We need to get back into that business.”

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The NFL’s Chicago Bears Are Considering Leaving Illinois If Politicians Keep It Up
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The NFL’s Chicago Bears Are Considering Leaving Illinois If Politicians Keep It Up

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The Chicago Bears are increasingly signaling that they may take their search for a new stadium beyond Illinois, citing frustration with state and local political leaders and warning that stalled legislation has jeopardized plans to keep the franchise in the Chicago area.

For several years, the Bears have warned that remaining in downtown Chicago may not be viable without a new stadium and updated infrastructure.

The team has explored relocation options within the region, including a move to nearby suburbs, but negotiations and required government actions have slowed considerably.

State lawmakers in Illinois would need to approve zoning changes, infrastructure funding, and property tax arrangements, but those steps have not materialized.

Last year, Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren said the organization was focused on relocating to suburban Arlington Heights, on the site of the former Arlington Park horse racing track.

That plan, however, has stalled at the state Capitol in Springfield, prompting the team to broaden its search.

According to WGN-TV, Warren has now indicated that the Bears could leave Illinois entirely.

“In addition to Arlington Park, we need to expand our search and critically evaluate opportunities throughout the wider Chicagoland region, including Northwest Indiana,” Warren said in an open letter to fans.

Warren wrote that the Bears had relied on guidance from Illinois leadership but had not received the legislative cooperation needed to move forward.

“We listened to state leadership and relied on their direction and guidance, yet our efforts have been met with no legislative partnership,” he said.

He emphasized that delays and uncertainty have created significant challenges for a project of this scale.

“Stable timelines are critical, as are predictable processes and elected leaders, who share a sense of urgency and appreciation for public partnership that projects with this level of impact require,” Warren wrote.

“We have not received that sense of urgency or appreciation to date.”

Warren also said the team was informed that its stadium project would not be a priority for state lawmakers next year.

“We have been told directly by State leadership that our project will not be a priority in 2026, despite the benefits it will bring to Illinois,” he wrote.

While acknowledging the growing tension, Warren insisted the Bears are not using the possibility of relocation as a negotiating tactic.

“Our goal is clear: build a world-class football team that has a world-class stadium worthy of our world-class fans — a stadium that reflects the future we are building together,” he said.

The Bears’ efforts to secure a new stadium date back to at least 2023, when the organization first asked Chicago officials to assist in identifying a downtown site and to partner on funding.

City leaders did not take formal action, and neither of the city’s two most recent mayors advanced a concrete proposal to keep the team in Chicago.

In 2024, the Bears signed a memorandum of understanding with the City of Arlington Heights to relocate to the former racetrack property.

That agreement was tied to the advancement of a “megaprojects” bill in the Illinois legislature, which a local state senator had pledged to support.

The bill was intended to provide infrastructure funding needed to support a large-scale development such as a new stadium.

Arlington Heights officials have said the legislation is essential before the project can proceed.

The megaprojects bill, however, has stalled in Springfield, where Chicago Democrats have opposed measures that could facilitate the Bears’ departure from the city.

With no movement on the legislation, the Bears’ Arlington Heights plan remains uncertain.

As Illinois lawmakers debate, officials in Indiana have moved to position their state as a potential alternative.

The Indiana General Assembly has passed House Bill 1292, creating a “professional sports development commission” designed to explore options for attracting a major sports franchise to northwest Indiana.

The legislation “authorizes the commission to study various plans and recommendations that are proposed with respect to attracting a professional sports franchise to northwest Indiana.”

Several towns in northwest Indiana have already expressed interest in hosting the Bears, hoping to capitalize on the opportunity should the team decide to cross the state line.

The situation places pressure on Illinois leaders to act if they hope to keep one of the state’s most storied sports franchises.

With no firm timeline in place and political disagreements unresolved, the Bears appear poised to continue exploring all available options as they seek a long-term home for the team.

Clinton Camp Responds After Damaging Epstein Files Photos Go Viral
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Clinton Camp Responds After Damaging Epstein Files Photos Go Viral

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The Justice Department on Friday released long-awaited files connected to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, complying with a congressional deadline that has renewed public scrutiny of high-profile figures linked to Epstein and reignited debate over accountability, transparency, and unresolved allegations.

The release followed a mandate set by Congress requiring the department to turn over records by December 19 under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump on November 19.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that the investigation identified more than 1,200 victims and their families, according to reporting earlier Friday.

The document release included thousands of pages of materials, many of them heavily redacted, as well as photographs that quickly drew widespread attention.

Among the most circulated images were multiple photos of former President Bill Clinton appearing with Epstein in various settings, including dinners, travel, and leisure environments.

Some of the photographs show Clinton with unidentified women in pools, a jacuzzi, and at social gatherings.

The images spread rapidly online and across media outlets, prompting a public response from Clinton through a spokesperson later Friday.

In a statement reported by the Daily Mail, the spokesperson criticized the timing and intent of the release.

“The White House hasn’t been hiding these files for months only to dump them late on a Friday to protect Bill Clinton,” the spokesperson said.

“This is about shielding themselves from what comes next, or from what they’ll try and hide forever.”

The spokesperson added that the release was not centered on Clinton.

“So they can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn’t about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be.”

The statement also referenced comments made by Susie Wiles in a recent Vanity Fair interview.

“Even Susie Wiles said Donald Trump was wrong about Bill Clinton,” the spokesperson said, referring to Wiles’ remark that “Trump was wrong” about there being incriminating evidence against Clinton in the files.

The spokesperson further stated, “There are two types of people here. The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships with him after. We’re in the first. No amount of stalling by people in the second group will change that. Everyone, especially MAGA, expects answers, not scapegoats.”

Clinton has previously said he cut off ties with Epstein in 2005, when investigations into Epstein became widely known.

The two had been associated since the early 1990s, and Clinton’s name has appeared in flight logs, photographs, and other records connected to Epstein over the years.

Clinton has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crime related to Epstein.

The release of the files has also renewed attention on how different administrations handled Epstein-related records.

The Biden White House held the files for several years prior to the passage of the transparency law.

The Friday release occurred on the deadline established by Congress rather than at the discretion of the executive branch.

Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

His death was ruled a suicide, but questions surrounding his activities, associates, and the handling of his case have persisted.

Many victims of Epstein have said they have yet to receive full justice or accountability from those who enabled or ignored his crimes.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act was authored to compel the release of unclassified materials related to Epstein’s network and activities.

Supporters of the law argued that public disclosure was necessary to address lingering questions about who knew what and when.

As of Friday, the release of the files has intensified calls for testimony from individuals named in or connected to Epstein-related records.

Former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have previously been scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee.

Their appearance has been postponed multiple times and is currently set for January 13, according to congressional scheduling information.

Brown University Completely Outsmarted by Homeless Man Who Cracked the Case Wide Open
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Brown University Completely Outsmarted by Homeless Man Who Cracked the Case Wide Open

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Authorities searching for answers after a deadly shooting at Brown University say the case only came together after an unexpected tip from a homeless man who noticed details investigators had missed.

For four days following the shooting, law enforcement agencies reviewed hundreds of surveillance cameras and deployed elite investigators, yet were unable to identify a suspect.

Brown University, one of the nation’s wealthiest institutions, became the center of an intensive investigation that yielded few leads until the man, publicly identified only as John, came forward.

State and federal officials now credit John with providing the key information that led investigators to identify Claudio Neves Valente as the suspect in the Brown University shooting, as well as a separate killing of an MIT professor that occurred days later.

According to the New York Post, federal officials say John is likely “entitled” to a $50,000 reward.

“He blew this case right open,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said.

John’s role in the investigation became public after police released his image and asked for help locating him.

By that point, John had already drawn attention online. According to court records, he posted on Reddit after recognizing the suspect from police images circulated following the Brown shooting.

“I’m being dead serious,” the post said.

“The police need to look into a grey Nissan with Florida plates, possibly a rental.”

In the post and later statements to investigators, John described behavior that struck him as suspicious. He said he watched the suspect approach a grey Nissan, unlock it using a key fob, then abruptly back away and relock it.

John said the man then circled the block, prompting him to check the license plate.

At the time, investigators had not confirmed any vehicle connected to the suspect.

Authorities later verified that Valente had been driving a rental car matching the description provided by John.

That information allowed investigators to narrow their focus and connect additional surveillance footage and records to Valente.

Court documents show John also told investigators he had encountered Valente earlier inside a bathroom at Brown’s engineering building. He noted that Valente’s clothing appeared “inappropriate and inadequate for the weather.”

Sources told Fox News that John had been living in the basement of the engineering building at the time, a fact university officials were reportedly unaware of.

That circumstance placed him in proximity to the suspect during critical moments before and after the shooting.

John later described a tense encounter outside the building, according to an affidavit.

He said he followed Valente and confronted him about the vehicle.

“Your car is back there, why are you circling the block?” John yelled, according to court records.

Valente responded angrily, telling John, “I don’t know you from nobody,” and accused him of harassment before walking away.

Federal investigators said the information John provided proved decisive in breaking the case.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks said the tip met the criteria for a federal reward.

“It would be logical to think that, absolutely, that individual would be entitled to that,” Docks said.

The case has drawn attention not only for the crimes involved but also for how it unfolded.

Despite extensive institutional resources and days of investigative work, authorities said the critical break came from an individual living on the margins, whose observations filled gaps left by technology and formal investigative efforts.

Officials have not disclosed when or how John may receive the reward, nor have they released further details about his current status.

Law enforcement sources indicated the investigation into Valente’s alleged actions remains ongoing, with prosecutors continuing to review evidence related to both killings.

U.S. Pounds ISIS After Terrorists Kill American Troops in Syria
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U.S. Pounds ISIS After Terrorists Kill American Troops in Syria

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The United States military carried out a large-scale strike against Islamic State targets in Syria on Friday following the deaths of two U.S. service members and a military interpreter, according to Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The operation came in direct response to a December 13 attack in the Syrian city of Palmyra, where a lone Islamic State gunman ambushed U.S. forces, killing two American troops and an interpreter and wounding three additional U.S. service members.

President Donald Trump vowed “very serious retaliation” following the attack.

According to Fox News, the U.S. operation struck more than 70 targets linked to ISIS.

A senior U.S. official told the network that the targets included “ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage sites.”

Hegseth announced the operation publicly, stating that U.S. forces had initiated a coordinated military response aimed at dismantling Islamic State capabilities in the region.

“Earlier today, U.S. forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on December 13th in Palmyra, Syria,” Hegseth wrote on social media.

The United States maintains approximately 900 troops in Syria, primarily tasked with counterterrorism operations and advising allied forces as part of the ongoing mission to prevent an ISIS resurgence.

Hegseth emphasized that the strikes were intended as a targeted response rather than a broader escalation, while underscoring the administration’s posture toward attacks on U.S. personnel.

“This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance,” Hegseth said.

“The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people.”

The December ambush in Palmyra marked the first U.S. combat fatalities in Syria since the collapse of the Assad regime in 2014.

Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family fled to Russia after Turkish-backed Islamic militants seized control of the government, reshaping the country’s political and security landscape.

U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that despite territorial losses in recent years, ISIS continues to pose a threat through insurgent attacks and targeted violence, particularly against U.S. and allied forces operating in the region.

Hegseth reiterated the administration’s position that any attack on Americans abroad will be met with decisive force.

“As we said directly following the savage attack, if you target Americans — anywhere in the world — you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you,” he wrote.

“Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies,” Hegseth added.

“Lots of them. And we will continue.”

 

Stephen Miller Cuts Through the Noise About Somali ‘Pirates’ in Minnesota
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Stephen Miller Cuts Through the Noise About Somali ‘Pirates’ in Minnesota

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White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller sharply criticized U.S. refugee resettlement policies during a televised exchange with Fox News host Jesse Watters, arguing that Democratic-led immigration decisions have imported crime into multiple states and drained American resources.

The exchange occurred as Watters and Miller discussed recent immigration controversies and the broader impact of refugee admissions into the United States. Watters opened the segment by referencing ongoing debates over migrant resettlement and public assistance programs.

“All right, Miller, we got Haitians now on the gravy train, not just eating the dogs and cats anymore,” Watters said.

Miller responded by broadening the focus beyond Haiti, pointing specifically to Somali refugee populations resettled across several Midwestern and Northeastern states.

He argued that Democratic officials were responsible for placing these populations in American communities without adequate consideration of crime or cultural consequences.

“Well, first of all, regarding the situation in Minnesota, by the way, not just Minnesota. We have Somali refugees that were dumped here by Democrats in Ohio and Massachusetts,” Miller said.

Miller went on to argue that crime issues associated with some refugee populations should not come as a surprise, citing Somalia’s history and economic conditions as justification for his claims.

“Let me just say we should not be shocked when you import a population whose primary occupation is pirate, that they are going to come here and steal everything we have,” Miller said.

He continued by describing Somalia’s economic history and linking it directly to what he characterized as criminal behavior carried out in the United States.

“Somalia has this giant coastline, and the only industry they have created after hundreds of years is piracy, stealing what anyone going through who has actually built something has made,” Miller said.

Miller concluded his remarks by asserting that American taxpayers have borne the cost of these policies and that refugees responsible for crime should be returned to their country of origin.

“So yes, the pirates have stolen all of our money, and they have to go home. Jesse, that’s the situation we’re in right now,” Miller said.

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