Trump attends dignified transfer of service members as Iran war escalates
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The president later spoke at a campaign rally-style event in Georgia, where he talked up Trump Accounts and bashed Democrats as “communists.”
What to know today
- DIGNIFIED TRANSFER: President Donald Trump attended the dignified transfer of U.S. service members who were killed in the Middle East amid an escalation in the war with Iran.
- GEORGIA SPEECH: Trump spoke this afternoon in Marietta, Georgia, where he ramped up his attacks on communism and took digs at Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., who is seeking re-election this year.
- HOUSE RETIREMENTS: Rep. Cleo Fields, D-La., this week became the latest member to retire from the House in a state that engaged in partisan redistricting this cycle.
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U.S. completes 12th consecutive night of Iran strikes
The U.S. military has completed its 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran, U.S. Central Command said.
The strikes targeted Iranian maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites and air defense assets, the command said in a post on X, adding that the strikes “further degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial vessels.”
The U.S. resumed strikes on Iran this month as the two countries vie for control of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial trading route. Iran has responded with drone and missile attacks on U.S. bases and other targets in the region, including an attack in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members over the weekend.
Their deaths, along with that of an Army soldier killed over the weekend during a “controlled detonation” of a downed Iranian drone in Iraq, bring the total number of U.S. service member deaths in the Iran war to 18. Thousands of Iranians and others across the Middle East have also been killed since the war began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28.
Disgraced former Gov. Blagojevich wants Trump to pardon a politician on the lam in Greece
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich at a news conference outside his home in Chicago after President Donald Trump pardoned him in February 2025. Scott Olson / Getty Images file
Rod Blagojevich, the former Illinois governor whom Trump pardoned last year on federal corruption charges, is now seeking clemency on behalf of a similarly disgraced political figure: a suburban Chicago councilman who authorities say fled the country just days before his 2005 sentencing in a vote-buying scheme.
John Thune joins Ken Paxton for fundraiser on Capitol Hill
Congressional Republicans joined Texas Senate Republican nominee Ken Paxton at a fundraiser on Capitol Hill this evening.
Among them was Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who endorsed Paxton’s opponent in the primary, Sen. John Cornyn, and threw the weight of the campaign arm for Senate Republicans behind Cornyn before Paxton won the nomination.
On his way into the fundraiser, which was held at the Safari Club International, Thune was asked whether he is going to raise money for Paxton.
“We are indeed,” he told reporters.
Paxton ignored reporters’ questions entering the venue, including questions about whether Thune should remain as Senate majority leader.
As lawmakers came and went from the fundraiser, a digital billboard circled the block, featuring a hot pink Barbie-themed sign that called Paxton “Corrupt Ken.”
It read: “He’s cute, he’s corrupt, he’s Ken!”
Paxton will face Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in November.
‘Off the charts’: Secret Service describes rising threats to protectees
The Secret Service has opened more than 10,000 investigations this year into threats against people it protects, a 40% rise over the same period last year, officials said today.
Tom Williams / Getty Images
Director Sean Curran told reporters at a briefing that the volatile political climate has reached a new level that he has not seen in his 24-year career.
He said the threat numbers are “off the charts.”
Despite the heightened environment — Trump has been the target of at least three assassination attempts — Curran and other senior leaders at the agency tasked with protecting Trump and other high-profile politicians are confident in security plans ahead of the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner this week.
Departures of Senate-confirmed Trump officials are surpassing his first term, new report finds
The Trump administration faces a spike in departures of powerful Cabinet officials compared with his first term, according to the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service.
More than two dozen Senate-confirmed officials have left their Cabinet positions during Trump’s second term, the group's analysis found.
The departures of 27 officials in high-ranking positions far outpace the total numbers in recent previous administrations, including Trump’s first term, when 11 Senate-confirmed officials in Cabinet positions left their roles over four years.
Trump hypes Mike Collins’ Senate campaign at Georgia rally
Trump came down to Georgia today to help boost the campaign of Republican Rep. Mike Collins, a Senate candidate who he said was one of the most “highly respected” members of Congress.
Trump took several shots at Collins’ opponent, Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who he said looks like “Pee-wee Herman.”
“You have to vote for Mike because he is running against Pee-wee Herman,” Trump told a standing-room-only gymnasium crowd at Wheeler High School. “He will bring a lot of action back to your state. ... Vote for Mike.”
Congress to honor the late Sen. Lindsey Graham in Capitol's rotunda
The House adopted a resolution by unanimous consent today to hold a ceremony in honor of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in the Capitol rotunda on Tuesday.
The Senate agreed to the measure by unanimous consent yesterday.
The resolution authorizes "the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to honor" Graham, who died suddenly on July 11 at age 71.
Graham's funeral in South Carolina is set for July 29.
House Republicans adopt $95 billion budget blueprint to start third reconciliation package of Trump's second term
The House this afternoon adopted a $95 billion Republican budget resolution that sets topline numbers for work to start on a third reconciliation bill that would include military and election-related measures.
The vote was 216-214, with two Republicans joining all Democrats in voting against the measure. Reps. Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, and Warren Davidson, of Ohio, were the GOP “no” votes. Rep. Kevin Kiley, of California, an independent who caucuses with Republicans, also voted against the measure.
The budget resolution now heads to the Senate, which has to adopt the same set of instructions to start reconciliation work.
It is essentially a blueprint with instructions for the following committees on how much money they each have to work with. The budget resolution is the first step of the reconciliation process. Here are the top-line dollar amounts for each House committee involved in the early stages of the process:
- Administration: $10 billion
- Agriculture: $12 billion
- Armed Services: $60 billion
- Intelligence: $13 billion
Trump’s speech in Georgia finishes
Trump’s remarks at an event to promote Trump Accounts in Marietta, Georgia, just wrapped.
Trump again urges Senate to pass the SAVE America Act, tells crowd to call Sen. John Thune
Trump called on the Senate to terminate the filibuster and pass the SAVE America Act in his speech this afternoon, repeating his plea for Congress to pass the legislation to overhaul elections ahead of the midterms.
"We have to pass the SAVE America Act to defend American elections," Trump told the crowd in Marietta, Georgia.
"I have to say, [House Speaker] Mike Johnson and Congress have done a great job, but we're having a hard time in the Senate. The Senate, what they're doing, it's just — it's just not right," he said. "It’s like the Senate is a place that you send things when you want them to die."
He added that Senate Republicans should end the filibuster, meaning they would bypass the 60-vote threshold to advance the bill, instead needing only a simple majority.
"They should terminate the filibuster and approve everything, because the Democrats are going to do it," Trump said.
He claimed that Democrats would eliminate the filibuster and then "approve Puerto Rico and D.C. as a state" to gain more Democratic seats in Congress and more electoral votes.
Trump urged the crowd to call Sen. Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., in support of the SAVE America Act. Thune has repeatedly refused to break the filibuster and has said Senate Republicans do not yet have enough votes to do so.
House passes stock purchase ban bill that includes a voter ID provision
The House this afternoon passed a Republican-led bill that would prevent members of Congress and their families from purchasing publicly traded stocks.
The vote was 232-198, with 13 Democrats joining all Republicans in support.
The Stop Insider Trading Act would prohibit members of Congress, their spouses and their dependent children from “purchasing publicly traded stocks.” It would not require members to divest stocks they already own, and they could still sell if they followed disclosure rules.
Republicans also added a provision that would require photo IDs for in-person voting.
Critics argue the bill doesn’t go far enough. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and seven other good government organizations sent a letter to Congress in February opposing the bill.
There are several bipartisan stock ban bills in Congress, but this one only has Republican co-sponsors. Democratic leaders had urged their members to vote against it.
Trump takes dig at Jon Ossoff, likens him to Pee-wee Herman
Trump bashed Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., at a rally in Georgia today, calling him “terrible” and comparing him to the children's comedy character Pee-wee Herman.
“Georgia is a state that believes in common sense, and yet, your terrible senator Jon Ossoff, he’s terrible,” Trump said in his remarks, which were followed by loud boos from the audience.
“He reminds me of Pee-wee Herman,” Trump added of Ossoff, who is up for re-election and will face Republican nominee Mike Collins in November.
“I also want to thank a man who had to stay back in Washington to vote for making America great again, maybe the most important man in this room right now is not here,” Trump continued. “His name is Mike Collins, and he’s going to beat Pee-wee Herman.”
House passes defense authorization bill that will be packaged with SAVE America Act
The House passed the National Defense Authorization Act in a 216-212 vote this afternoon.
Seven Republicans voted against the measure, and six Democrats supported it.
House Republicans previously adopted a rule that would package the SAVE America Act — Trump's election overhaul bill — with the NDAA when it is sent to the Senate following House passage.
House votes on defense policy bill, budget reconciliation blueprint and stock purchase ban
The House is voting this afternoon on three measures: the National Defense Authorization Act, a budget resolution that would start the process for the third Republican-focused reconciliation bill and a GOP-led measure that would prevent members of Congress and their families from purchasing publicly traded stocks.
A rule previously passed by House Republicans would package Trump's SAVE America Act with the NDAA when it is sent to the Senate.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., will need to keep Republicans in line to get GOP budget resolution adopted. It is a $95 billion blueprint with top-line numbers for how much committees can spend in the partisan reconciliation process. If the House and the Senate both adopt it, work can start on the details of policy in the third reconciliation process.
The Stop Insider Trading Act would prohibit members of Congress, their spouses and their dependent children from “purchasing publicly traded stocks.” Critics argue the bill doesn’t go far enough. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and seven other good government organizations submitted a letter to Congress in February opposing the bill. While there are several bipartisan stock ban bills, this one has only Republican co-sponsors.
According to a whip notice sent to Democratic lawmakers, Democratic leaders are urging their members to vote against all three measures.
Trump repeats warnings of communism, crowd joins in 'boos' against far-left candidates
Trump condemned communism in his speech in Georgia this afternoon, reiterating warnings against candidates he has labeled as communist that have become common during his speeches in recent weeks.
"The radical left is actively trying to destroy our children's future with the disaster known as communism," Trump said, sparking a wave of "boos" from the crowd.
He appeared to take a dig at democratic socialist candidates and leaders, such as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
“You see the blue states are all going bad,” Trump said. “They’re all going bad because communism is a loser. The concept, the policy, it’s a loser, and it always has been, and it always will be.”
He added, "You know, they want to give everyone everything away. You want free rent. You want free housing. You want what they don’t say is that a year from now there’ll be absolute squalor, turmoil and death.”
"This isn't social democrat. These are communists, by another name, right?" Trump said.
Trump recognizes family of soldier killed in Iranian attack during Georgia speech
Trump recognized the family of one of the four soldiers killed this month by Iranian attacks during a speech in Marietta, Georgia, this afternoon.
The president said that while speaking to the family of 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, at the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware earlier today, he offered them a ride back to Georgia on Air Force One. The family members are now at Trump's rally in Marietta.
"This is a son who was like a flawless, perfect person — beautiful, beautiful son, handsome in every way, brilliant, respected by everybody," Trump said of Feehan, in a speech where he also referred to the Iran war as a "skirmish."
He thanked Feehan's mother, father and uncle who were in attendance at the speech.
"We will carry Tyler's memory in our hearts forever. And I just want to thank you. It's an honor to have you here today," Trump said.
Wisconsin Democratic candidate David Crowley disavows his old crude and caustic ‘Dirt McGirk’ Twitter account
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley relaunched his Democratic primary campaign for governor last week, just days after suspending it, with a coveted endorsement from outgoing Gov. Tony Evers.
Crowley had been trailing in the polls, but with a Democratic socialist candidate gaining momentum in the race, some party strategists said there was a rush to present a viable alternative.
However, a deeper look at Crowley’s past social media use reveals a connection to incendiary posts about women and race, as well as derogatory LGBTQ references.
Trump attends dignified transfer of 4 service members killed in Iran
Trump attended the dignified transfer of the remains of four service members killed in Iranian attacks this month after hostilities ramped up following the collapse of the ceasefire.
Dignified transfers are some of the most solemn occasions for presidents, who often attend to pay respects to troops killed in conflicts they overseen by them as commander in chief. Trump has attended two prior dignified transfers since the war began in February, but this is his first since he declared on July 8 that the ceasefire was over.
Redistricting has already led 7 House incumbents into retirement, with more likely to come
House lawmakers are heading for the exits at the fastest rate in decades, including several who decided to retire after their districts became more competitive following partisan redistricting efforts across the country.
Several Texas Republicans, including Reps. Troy Nehls, Jodey Arrington and Michael McCaul, opted not to run for re-election after state leaders redrew congressional maps there in an effort to gain five GOP-leaning seats. Though the partisan makeup of their districts didn’t change, their constituencies did, bringing in new voters who may be less familiar with the incumbents.
In some places, Democrats whose districts became more competitive opted to seek re-election, including Reps. Emanuel Cleaver in Missouri and Kathy Castor and Darren Soto in Florida. So did Republican-turned-independent Rep. Kevin Kiley in California.
That means the number of incumbents leaving the House due to redistricting could rise sharply once more in November, depending on the outcome of those races.
Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., grills Waltz on Saudi Arabia deal
Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., slammed the Trump administration's nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia today while U.N. Ambassador Mike Waltz appeared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
"We have no idea who is going to be running Saudi Arabia 10 years from now," Sherman said, citing past Saudi leaders who were not allied with the U.S.
He added that it was hypocritical of the U.S. to sign a nuclear deal with the Saudis while engaging in war with Iran over their failure to limit their nuclear program.
"Is there any reason we should be bombing Iran because they won’t agree to limit their nuclear program while telling Saudi Arabia we give them the green light and they don’t even have to agree to these additions?," Sherman asked Waltz.
Trump meets with families of service members killed in Iranian attack
At a dignified transfer at the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, Trump met with family members of the four service members who were killed in an Iranian attack on a U.S. air base in Jordan on July 17.
As each transfer case was moved from a military aircraft to awaiting vans, Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine held their salutes.
The late service members are:
- 1st Lieutenant Tyler J. Feehan, 25 years old
- Sergeant Michael E. Swinton, 30 years old
- Sergeant Angel S. Rampersad, 28 years old
- Private Isabella Gonzales, 19 years old
Photos: Trump salutes fallen soldiers at dignified transfer
Trump salutes as a U.S. Army team carries a transfer case at Dover Air Force Base today. Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images
Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images
Transfer cases holding the remains of Army 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, Army Staff Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, Army Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad and Army Pvt. Isabella Gonzales. Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images
Trump says he's going to Dover Air Force Base to 'honor our heroes'
During a gaggle with reporters before boarding Air Force One, Trump said he was going to the dignified transfer to "honor our heroes."
"It’s one of the hardest things to do, for me, it’s one of the hardest things to do as a president, but has to be done," Trump told reporters.
Asked what he would say to the families of fallen service members, the president said he'd tell them that "We love you. We love your child, and that’s what they are to them. They’re their children. There’s no games, no nothing. That’s their child, and all you can do is throw out your heart."
Trump arrives at Dover Air Force Base today. Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images
Alexander Kolodin, who tried to overturn Arizona election results, wins GOP nod for secretary of state
Republican state Rep. Alexander Kolodin will face Arizona’s Democratic secretary of state, Adrian Fontes, in November’s general election, NBC News projects, after he won the GOP primary.
Kolodin won the Republican nomination over former state GOP Chair Gina Swoboda.
Kolodin, who has frequently questioned the results of past elections in interviews, led several lawsuits to overturn the results of the 2020 and 2022 elections in Arizona, earning rebukes from judges and the state bar association. Kolodin is backed by the conservative nonprofit group Turning Point USA and several Arizona GOP members of Congress.
Arizona state Rep. Alex Kolodin. Rob Schumacher / The Republic / USA Today Network via Imagn file
Now, he’s running to be the chief election officer in a battleground state during the 2028 presidential campaign. Part of the role of secretary of state in Arizona is overseeing state elections. The office’s duties include working to certify “voting devices, election results, candidates and measures to the ballot, as well as the results of statewide elections,” according to the secretary of state’s website.
The costs of the Iran war are rising, as Trump and Tehran signal no letup in expanding conflict
The costs of the Iran war are rising each day, but Trump has shown little intent to rein in the expanding conflict.
The United States unleashed its 11th night of strikes as Trump threatened to hit a key underground nuclear facility next, and Iran launched new attacks on U.S. allies across the Middle East today.
Despite renewed diplomatic efforts to revive the deal between Tehran and Washington, the two sides have intensified their clash centered on the Strait of Hormuz. With shipping through that crucial waterway increasingly throttled, Iran has also opened a new front in its campaign to pressure the global economy by disrupting another key trade route: the Red Sea.
And the toll is rising — on American and Iranian lives, energy prices, civilian infrastructure across the region and financial costs to the U.S. government.
White House expected to announce civilian nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia
Trump has approved an agreement to support the creation of a nuclear power program for Saudi Arabia, a senior administration official tells NBC News, with an announcement of the deal expected to be made later today.
The Wall Street Journal was first to report the agreement, which would have American companies building the program in Saudi Arabia.
