Trump Signals U.S. Could Join the Fight But Hopes for Peace
President Donald Trump made it clear this weekend that while the United States isn’t currently involved in Israel’s military strikes on Iran, he’s not ruling out the possibility of joining the fray. Speaking on Sunday, Trump said, “It’s possible we could get involved,” responding to growing speculation about U.S. engagement as the Middle East edges closer to a broader war.
At present, Trump emphasized, the U.S. has “nothing to do with the attack on Iran.” Still, he warned that any strike against American interests would be met with overwhelming force. That’s a line in the sand the administration isn’t likely to ignore.
When asked if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had directly asked for U.S. military support, Trump sidestepped the question. He kept the door open for future involvement while maintaining the line that America isn’t part of any offensive moves right now—at least not officially.
Despite the saber-rattling, Trump voiced confidence that a diplomatic solution is still on the table. “Iran and Israel should reach an agreement, and they will,” he predicted, even going so far as to say peace could come “soon.” He also confirmed that he’s been in touch with Russian President Vladimir Putin, floating the idea of a potential mediation role for Moscow.
So far, the U.S. has limited its role to defensive support—helping Israel intercept Iranian retaliatory strikes—but has avoided hitting Iranian nuclear infrastructure. That decision hasn’t escaped criticism. Some say Trump should’ve done more to prevent things from getting this far in the first place.
Diplomatic talks between the U.S. and Iran have stalled. A planned meeting in Oman was scrapped after Israeli strikes escalated tensions. For now, Trump is walking a tightrope: holding out hope for diplomacy while making sure Tehran knows America won’t stay on the sidelines if its assets come under fire.
Bottom line—Trump’s message was calculated: the U.S. is sitting out for now, but that could change fast. And if Iran makes the wrong move, the response won’t be a polite memo from the State Department.
Trump Signals U.S. Could Join the Fight But Hopes for Peace
President Donald Trump made it clear this weekend that while the United States isn’t currently involved in Israel’s military strikes on Iran, he’s not ruling out the possibility of joining the fray. Speaking on Sunday, Trump said, “It’s possible we could get involved,” responding to growing speculation about U.S. engagement as the Middle East edges closer to a broader war.
At present, Trump emphasized, the U.S. has “nothing to do with the attack on Iran.” Still, he warned that any strike against American interests would be met with overwhelming force. That’s a line in the sand the administration isn’t likely to ignore.
When asked if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had directly asked for U.S. military support, Trump sidestepped the question. He kept the door open for future involvement while maintaining the line that America isn’t part of any offensive moves right now—at least not officially.
Despite the saber-rattling, Trump voiced confidence that a diplomatic solution is still on the table. “Iran and Israel should reach an agreement, and they will,” he predicted, even going so far as to say peace could come “soon.” He also confirmed that he’s been in touch with Russian President Vladimir Putin, floating the idea of a potential mediation role for Moscow.
So far, the U.S. has limited its role to defensive support—helping Israel intercept Iranian retaliatory strikes—but has avoided hitting Iranian nuclear infrastructure. That decision hasn’t escaped criticism. Some say Trump should’ve done more to prevent things from getting this far in the first place.
Diplomatic talks between the U.S. and Iran have stalled. A planned meeting in Oman was scrapped after Israeli strikes escalated tensions. For now, Trump is walking a tightrope: holding out hope for diplomacy while making sure Tehran knows America won’t stay on the sidelines if its assets come under fire.
Bottom line—Trump’s message was calculated: the U.S. is sitting out for now, but that could change fast. And if Iran makes the wrong move, the response won’t be a polite memo from the State Department.
Minnesota Lawmakers Targeted in Shooting Spree—Suspect Still on the Run
Authorities in Minnesota are hunting for 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter after a pair of politically motivated shootings left one state legislator and her husband dead, and another lawmaker and his wife wounded. Boelter is considered armed, dangerous, and desperate—exactly the kind of guy you don’t want sneaking around your neighborhood at night.
Boelter is accused of killing State Representative Melissa Hortman and wounding State Senator John Hoffman in back-to-back attacks early Saturday morning, June 14. Both victims and their spouses were shot in their homes—Hortman in Brooklyn Park, and Hoffman about five miles away in Champlin. Hortman and her husband, Mark, didn’t make it. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, are recovering from their injuries.
Law enforcement says Boelter posed as a cop during the attacks, wearing police-style gear and a mask. A vehicle resembling a police SUV—complete with emergency lights—was found at the scene of the first shooting. Officers engaged in a shootout with Boelter at Hortman’s house, but he slipped away and vanished into the night.
Boelter’s resume paints a shaky picture. Though he claimed to be the Director of Security Patrols at something called Praetorian Guard Security Services, investigators believe he padded his credentials. His actual work history reads more like a food service manager’s than a hardened security professional’s. He did, however, serve on the Minnesota Governor’s Workforce Development Board—appointed by both Democrats and Republicans—and had prior contact with both victims in that role.
Recently, Boelter had been living in north Minneapolis, though his registered address is in rural Sibley County. Friends say he’d been spiraling financially and emotionally. Hours before the shootings, he reportedly sent out a farewell message, suggesting he expected to die soon. As of now, authorities haven’t pinned down a motive, but Governor Tim Walz is calling this a “politically motivated assassination.” A list of other potential targets, including Attorney General Keith Ellison, is under investigation.
Boelter’s vehicle was found ditched in Sibley County, setting off a flood of emergency alerts in the area. The manhunt is now in its second day, and the FBI has put up a $50,000 reward for information leading to his capture. He was last seen in Minneapolis wearing a light-colored cowboy hat, dark long-sleeve shirt, and light pants, carrying a dark bag. If you see him, don’t play hero—call the authorities.
Images released by the FBI show Boelter dressed like law enforcement outside one of the victims’ homes. Whether he had help remains an open question, but what’s certain is this: the suspect is dangerous, the motive seems political, and the clock is ticking.
Gunfire Erupts at Salt Lake City “No Kings” Protest, One Critically Wounded
What started as a peaceful protest in downtown Salt Lake City took a violent turn Saturday night when shots rang out, leaving one person in critical condition and a suspect in custody. The demonstration—part of a nationwide “No Kings” movement pushing back against President Trump’s policies—had drawn around 10,000 people to the streets. Protesters were marching between Pioneer Park and the Federal Building, chanting against ICE raids and Trump’s latest show of military pageantry in D.C., when the gunfire erupted near 151 South State Street just before 8 p.m.
According to Police Chief Brian Redd, the shooter had been blending in with the crowd before opening fire. One protester was hit and rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The suspected gunman was also shot—how exactly that happened hasn’t been fully detailed—and was taken into custody a few blocks away. He’s now under police watch at the hospital.
Two more individuals were also detained at the scene, but officials haven’t clarified what role they played. As of now, there’s no indication anyone else is involved, and authorities say there’s no ongoing threat to the public. Whether the attack was politically motivated or personal remains to be seen.
What we do know is this: witnesses jumped into action, helping police zero in on the suspect quickly. The Salt Lake City Police Department is asking the public to upload any photos or videos of the incident to their online evidence portal. In a crowd that size, there’s bound to be some footage that helps fill in the blanks.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox called the shooting “deeply troubling” and thanked the protesters who stayed peaceful. Mayor Erin Mendenhall echoed that, condemning the violence and commending police for their fast response.
One bad actor turned a peaceful protest into a crime scene, but it’s worth noting—out of 10,000 people marching, the overwhelming majority were exercising their rights responsibly. The investigation is still underway, and for now, the focus is on figuring out what sparked this attack and making sure it doesn’t happen again.
COMMENTS
There are
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.