He described him as a true American patriot who was always working and said Lindsey would be greatly missed, with details and arrangements to follow. Trump ended the message with a simple note of sadness.

Graham was 71. His office confirmed he passed away Saturday evening after a brief and sudden illness. The senator had just returned from Ukraine, where he met twice in recent days with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Though Graham and Trump had clashed during the 2016 Republican primary—when Graham warned that nominating Trump would destroy the party and that Republicans would deserve it—the two men later built a close alliance. Graham became a steady supporter of Trump’s foreign policy, particularly the administration’s firm positions toward Venezuela, Iran, and Cuba. He often appeared on cable news to defend those actions.

A well-known defense hawk, Graham was running for a fifth term in the Senate. He chaired the Budget Committee and served on the Judiciary, Appropriations, and Environment and Public Works committees. He had visited Ukraine ten times since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. Zelensky paid his own tribute, remembering Graham as someone who stood with Ukraine and its people when they needed it most. The Ukrainian leader noted their constant dialogue, recent meetings, and Graham’s work on initiatives that could help bring peace closer, including stronger sanctions against Russia. Zelensky said America and the world had lost a determined leader.

Graham had been scheduled to appear that Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press. It would have been his 64th appearance on the program. Host Kristen Welker posted her own tribute online, reflecting on how much he would be missed by colleagues and viewers alike.

Graham had just celebrated his 71st birthday a few days earlier and was still very much in the thick of things. He’d returned from a trip to Ukraine where he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and he was even scheduled to appear on Meet the Press the very next day. Colleagues described the news as a gut punch. Emergency crews had responded to his Capitol Hill home Saturday evening for what reports indicated involved chest pains and cardiac arrest.

For Trump, this feels deeply personal. The president posted a heartfelt tribute calling Graham “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known” and a “true American Patriot.” The two men had grown extremely close over the years — frequent golf partners who shared a strong vision on national security and foreign affairs.

Their relationship hadn’t always been smooth. During the 2016 campaign, Graham was actually one of Trump’s sharpest Republican critics. He used blunt language to warn the party against nominating him. But once Trump won the White House, Graham became one of his most loyal defenders and a key adviser, especially on issues involving Iran, Russia, Israel, and Ukraine aid. He stood by the president through impeachments and tough political fights, even after a brief break following the January 6 Capitol riot.

Graham built his career as a foreign policy hawk with deep roots in South Carolina. The first in his family to go to college, he served in the Air Force, spent time in the House, and won his Senate seat in 2002. He was known for his outspoken support of a strong American military presence abroad and his unwavering backing of Israel. World leaders have been quick to pay tribute. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him “one of its greatest friends,” while President Isaac Herzog said he was “shocked and heartbroken.” South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster described Graham as “irreplaceable.”

His death also marks the end of an era for the group sometimes nicknamed the “three amigos” — Graham, the late John McCain, and Joe Lieberman — close friends who each ran for president at different points.

Under South Carolina law, Governor McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement to serve until a special election is held. Graham had been running for reelection this November.

It’s a stark reminder of how suddenly everything can change, even for someone who seemed tireless and larger than life just days ago.

“There’s something wrong with them. They’re cuckoo as far as I’m concerned it’s over,” Trump said. He didn’t stop there. “They go after everyone, probably including me. I’ve been number one on their list for years.”

The comments came hours after the United States carried out fresh strikes on more than 80 Iranian targets. Those strikes were in direct response to Iranian attacks on commercial tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had already violated the earlier truce by targeting shipping lanes, prompting the U.S. retaliation and further Iranian reprisals against American allies in the region.

Trump made clear he sees no point in continuing the diplomatic dance. He described Iran’s leadership as scum and sick people who say one thing in private talks and the opposite to the press. The president said dealing with them has become a waste of time, though he left the door slightly ajar for his negotiators to keep working if they want.

The remarks carried a personal edge. Trump painted Iran as a regime that plays by no rules and goes after its enemies without hesitation. He tied that behavior directly to himself, noting he has sat at the top of their hit list for years and has been fortunate to avoid harm so far. The tone suggested he believes that luck could run out.

This latest escalation follows weeks of on-again, off-again tensions that included a brief ceasefire brokered earlier in the summer. That fragile pause collapsed after Iran resumed strikes on vessels and the U.S. hit back hard. Oil prices jumped more than 5 percent on the news, reflecting global jitters over any wider disruption in the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping route.

Trump’s language at the NATO gathering left little room for misinterpretation. He framed Iran not just as a difficult negotiating partner but as a dangerous actor whose behavior has stayed consistent for decades. Allies at the summit heard both his frustration and his warning that more U.S. military action could follow if the attacks continue.

The president has repeatedly said he prefers deals over endless conflict, yet his latest comments show the line has been crossed. For now, the ceasefire is dead in his eyes, and the ball sits firmly in Iran’s court.

Speaking at a Democratic Party gala in Maryland, Biden called out what he saw as unnecessary changes to Washington landmarks and zeroed in on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

He accused Trump of corruption on a scale never seen before in American history and specifically mentioned the pool repairs. Biden noted that Trump had gone ahead and hired his own pool guy to take care of it. The comment drew laughter and applause, prompting Biden to add, “Whoa, what a loser.”

The Reflecting Pool had undergone a major renovation that reportedly cost more than 14 million dollars. Workers drained it, resurfaced the bottom, and painted it in a color described as American flag blue. The idea was to freshen up the National Mall landmark ahead of summer events. But problems showed up quickly. Less than a month later, the paint started peeling and algae turned the water green.

Trump responded by blaming vandals. He said chemicals had been poured into the water and claimed someone had sliced a long slit, around 350 feet, in the lining with a box cutter or knife. He had mentioned a slightly shorter length earlier. The president warned that anyone caught vandalizing the pool or other monuments could face up to ten years in prison, and he said such penalties would be fully enforced. He has not presented public evidence backing up the vandalism claims.

Biden, who is 83 and received a diagnosis of late-stage prostate cancer last year, did not bring up his health during the appearance. His keynote speech lasted about ten minutes.

He was addressing supporters at the Mack Trucks manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley on Tuesday when the moment happened. Trump has made the issue of transgender women competing in female categories a regular part of his message and this time he decided to illustrate it with some physical comedy. He even joked beforehand that his wife Melania hates when he does this kind of thing but went ahead with it anyway.

What came next was a detailed impression of a young woman attempting a heavy Olympic lift in front of her proud parents. Trump described the mom cheering her daughter with words of encouragement while the father looked on skeptically knowing it was probably too much. The young woman strains and struggles before ultimately dropping the weights in defeat leaving her crushed by the experience. Trump then added that a guy who had transitioned came along.

Clips of the speech spread rapidly across social media and the commentary was brutal in many corners. One person called it a national embarrassment.

Another asked to see just one world leader who has ever behaved like this on TV and labeled Trump a bloody embarrassment. Others said it was weird to watch the president do something like that and questioned whether he thought it was appropriate behavior.

At the same time plenty of Trump supporters pushed back against the criticism. They argued that he was making a valid point about protecting the integrity of women’s sports and that the theatrics did not change the underlying concerns many share about fairness and safety in competition.

The broader debate over transgender athletes remains deeply divisive in American politics. Trump has repeatedly promised to implement restrictions keeping biological males out of women’s events and he continues to bring it up at events across the country. Whether this latest moment helps or hurts that cause is something people are still arguing about online.

It is no secret that Trump has been taking shots at Obama for over a decade. He often refers to him by his full name, Barack Hussein Obama, and blames him for everything under the sun.

Things heated up again earlier this year when a video from Trump’s social media account showed a racist depiction of Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. The Reflecting Pool situation brought Obama back into the conversation too. Trump has complained about vandalism there and pointed fingers at Obama instead of taking any responsibility himself.

When asked about the timeline and costs for fixing the pool, Trump said, “Barack Hussein Obama. Have you ever heard of him?” He claimed Obama spent two years and over a hundred million dollars trying to fix it, referencing the actual thirty four million dollar renovation that wrapped up in 2012. Trump insisted it was never even opened properly after that.

Obama has mostly stayed above the fray when it comes to responding to Trump, but he broke his silence during a recent appearance on the podcast All the Smoke with former NBA player Matt Barnes. Barnes noted how fascinated Trump seems with Obama and his family. Without naming Trump directly, it was obvious who they were discussing.

Barnes praised Obama for handling all the negativity and racism with class, then asked if he ever just wants to curse the guy out sometimes. Obama replied that people should ask Trump himself what it is all about. When Barnes mentioned the obsession, Obama jumped in with a laugh. “The obsession. I obviously have a room in his head, a suite in his head.”

He joked that he is living rent free in Trump’s mind and has a whole suite there. Obama added that all these constant references say more about Trump than about any real political differences.

Looking back on his own time in office, Obama pointed out that he barely thought about his predecessor George W. Bush once he took over. “They are gone,” he said. “I have got work to do.” He found it strange that someone would spend so much energy worrying about what the last guy is doing instead of focusing on the American people and the job at hand. That kind of distraction, he suggested, shows a lack of focus on what really matters.

What do you think about this back and forth? Feel free to share your thoughts below.

Mary Trump shared her thoughts during a conversation with journalist Steven Beschloss. The discussion focused on Donald Trump’s recent appearance at the G7 summit in France. She suggested that while he might have brief moments of clarity, overall he is heading into a troubling decline.

According to Mary, her uncle’s biggest fear has always been public embarrassment. She pointed out that he deals with constant blows to his ego, and nothing scares him more than being humiliated. The real issue, she added, is that he often brings that humiliation on himself more than anyone else could.

The White House was quick to push back against her remarks. Communications Director Steven Cheung called her comments completely off base, labeling her a bitter critic with no real insight. He suggested her motivation is simply to stay in the spotlight by spreading falsehoods about the president.

Adding to the recent buzz, Trump posted something on Truth Social for Father’s Day that left people scratching their heads. He shared a message praising a “great daughter” along with a photo of a woman who wasn’t actually a family member. The post was later taken down, and many figured the woman was likely Margo Catsimatidis, the wife of a wealthy Trump supporter.

Even with all the speculation swirling around, the White House has stood firm on the president’s condition. After a recent checkup, the White House doctor reported that Trump is in excellent overall health. He even scored perfectly on a cognitive test, hitting the maximum of 30 out of 30.

Mary’s latest comments continue a long pattern of family tension, but they have sparked fresh conversations about Trump’s well-being as he navigates his time in office.

Michelle, now 62, stepped onto the stage in a light brown pencil skirt that featured a beautiful portrait of her late mother, Marian Robinson. It was a heartfelt tribute to the woman who had passed away in 2024 at the age of 86. The skirt had been custom made with help from Michelle’s longtime stylist, Meredith Koop.

In her speech, Michelle explained how much it meant to her. She said she was so proud of her husband and noticed right away that he was really affected by it. She gave him a moment because this skirt, with her favorite portrait of her mom on it, was something he had not seen until just minutes before.

Michelle gently placed her hand on Barack as he wiped away tears. She went on to say that she had spent a few weeks getting used to how special the skirt was, but it was hitting him hard for a very good reason. She added that her mom, Marian, would have been so proud of him as a son-in-law and the wonderful man he had always been to their family. Marian loved how he dreamed big and always found a way to make those dreams happen, especially for the South Side of Chicago. Michelle ended with a simple “I love you.”

While Michelle had known about the skirt for weeks, the moment Barack saw it in person during the event was the first time for him, and it clearly touched him deeply. He shared that he felt a little shaken because he loved his mother-in-law so much.

Marian Robinson had been known as America’s “first grandmother” during the Obama years. She played a big part in raising Malia and Sasha, and even when the family lived in the White House, she chose to stay out of the spotlight and focus on what mattered most to her, her loved ones.

Photos from the event quickly spread across social media, with many people praising the thoughtful gesture and the emotional reaction it brought out.

Credit: Getty Images, Youtube/Forbes

One person wrote that the skirt with her mom’s portrait made them cry and called it so lovely. Another described it as a masterpiece and said Michelle’s mother looked beautiful. A third simply called it one of a kind and beautiful.0

Of course, not everyone online agreed, with some commenting on body language or a kiss in the pictures, but others quickly defended the couple and highlighted how much love and care was there. It was a reminder of the strong bond the Obamas share and the lasting impact of family.

Just before the action kicked off, screenshots of what appeared to be private messages between Eric Trump and former UFC champion Daniel Cormier started making the rounds on social media.

In those alleged exchanges, Eric seemed to be inquiring about fighter injuries and even asking if any of the bouts might be rigged. One message reportedly said something like he was eyeing the Diego Lopes fight and thought an upset could be a good betting opportunity.

Cormier supposedly pushed back hard, saying none of the fights were fixed and that he was shocked anyone would even ask. Soon after, he shared the screenshots on his X account with a note about not staying silent on anything that could hurt the sport he loves. The posts spread like wildfire, sparking heated discussions among UFC fans and political watchers alike.

Eric Trump quickly fired back, calling the whole thing completely fake and insisting the screenshots were made with artificial intelligence. He said he had never reached out to Cormier at all and described it as scary how easily this kind of misinformation can circulate. He also pointed out that Cormier later deleted the post, which he took as confirmation it wasn’t real.

Things got even murkier when Cormier seemed to step back from the viral claims. He posted something that left people wondering if his account had been hacked or if the images were fabricated from the beginning. A few MMA journalists said they caught the original post before it vanished, which only added more fuel to the speculation.

At this point, there is no solid evidence that the messages were genuine. Both Eric Trump and Daniel Cormier have publicly denied their authenticity, yet the story has become one of the biggest talking points around the star-studded UFC event, leaving fans split and hunting for the truth.

Dr. Jonathan Reiner, who once served as a cardiologist for the late Vice President Dick Cheney, appeared on CNN’s “The Lead” with Jake Tapper. He didn’t hold back when discussing what he sees as the president’s noticeable sleepiness. According to Reiner, it’s not exactly a mystery why this keeps happening.

“He doesn’t sleep at night. He’s up posting on social media in the middle of the night,” Reiner explained. “But the net effect is that he’s sleepy during the day and this has a real concern.”

The doctor went on to wonder about the practical side of things. “The president is very sleepy during the day. Does his staff have to curtail the length of briefings that he has? It’s not just a vanity thing. The president falls asleep. Have they had to curtail his daily CIA briefings?”

This discussion came up as part of a larger conversation about Trump’s recent physical exam. Reports indicated that an unusually high number of specialists, 22 in total, were brought in to evaluate him. Reiner later shared on X that there are still lingering questions about that checkup, including why so many consultants were involved.

The White House has pushed back on these observations before, often brushing off footage of Trump appearing to doze as nothing more than him blinking. But for Reiner and others watching closely, the pattern points to something worth paying attention to when it comes to the demands of the job.