U.S. completes third consecutive night of strikes against Iran
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President Donald Trump said earlier that he was reinstating a naval blockade on Iranian ports and that the U.S. would charge ships for protection in the Strait of Hormuz.
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What to know today
- IRAN ESCALATION: The U.S. said this afternoon that it had launched strikes on Iran for a third consecutive day. President Donald Trump announced earlier in the day that the U.S. would impose a 20% fee on cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz as reimbursement for securing the waterway.
- LINDSEY GRAHAM: South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to serve the rest of his Senate term after his death Saturday.
- IRS SETTLEMENT: A federal judge in Florida ruled that Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS was brought in “bad faith” for an “improper purpose” and slapped sanctions on some of those involved.
U.N. maritime agency says there should be no tolls in Strait of Hormuz
The U.N. maritime agency said it opposes charging fees to transit through the Strait of Hormuz after Trump said he wanted to charge a 20% toll on ships in exchange for protecting them from Iranian attacks.
“The Council reaffirmed that passage through the Strait should remain free of any tolls and charges, in accordance with international law,” the International Maritime Organization said in a statement.
The agency condemned Iranian attacks on civilian commercial ships and called for a de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, where the U.S. and Iran are locked in a power struggle over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil trade route that ships have always passed through free of charge.
After the U.S. and Iran exchanged a series of attacks in recent days, Trump said he was reimposing a naval blockade on Iranian ports and that the U.S. should be reimbursed 20% of the value of the cargo that successfully transits the strait. Iran has also said that it wants to impose tolls on ships.
Trump’s threat to charge fees in the strait contradicts U.S. support for freedom of navigation that goes back to its earliest days as a country.
It is also not in line with comments from members of his administration such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said last month that, “No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway.” Also last month, Vice President JD Vance said that “we believe international waterways should be free of tolls.”
UAE threatens retaliation against Iran as U.S. suspends consular services
The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the U.S. Consulate in Dubai said consular appointments had been canceled through Wednesday “due to the regional security situation,” as the latest exchange of U.S.-Iranian attacks threatened to draw the United Arab Emirates back into the war.
The UAE government earlier condemned what it said were Iranian cruise missile attacks on two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz that set both vessels on fire, killing one seafarer from India and injuring eight other people. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said that it was responsible for the attack and that the tankers had “ignored repeated warnings.”
The UAE said it “reserves its full right to respond to this escalation and to take all necessary measures to protect its territory, its citizens and residents,” which is similar to language it used before it launched attacks on Iran earlier in the war.
A fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire collapsed in recent days as the two countries have exchanged a series of strikes amid a power struggle over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial trade route that carried one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and natural gas before the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.
U.S. says it has completed latest round of Iran strikes
The latest round of U.S. strikes on Iran was completed at 10:15 p.m. ET, U.S. Central Command said.
During the five-hour mission, U.S. forces struck military targets across Iran, the command said on X, “to further degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping” in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil trade route that is the subject of a power struggle between the two countries.
The command said precision munitions were used to target Iranian coastal defense systems, missile and drone sites and maritime capabilities in places including Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa and Bandar Abbas.
Iran has responded to the latest U.S. strikes with attacks on the Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain, as well as two tankers in the strait with links to the United Arab Emirates, killing one seafarer from India and wounding eight other people.
Trump dismisses speculation of any foul play surrounding Lindsey Graham's death
Trump said tonight he didn't think there was any foul play surrounding Graham’s death as conspiracy theories involving Russia swirled.
Asked in an interview with Newsmax whether "we know the whole story about his death," Trump said, "Well, I think we do."
The chief medical examiner in Washington, D.C., said Graham’s death was due to a rupture of his aorta. Graham’s father died of a heart attack at age 69.
“Just to answer the conspiracy theory, I’d love to say yes, but I think he had some problems and very, very difficult. And his father died just about at the same age,” Trump said.
“I’m a believer in the racehorse theory," Trump added. "You know, if you have problems, you have problems, and he had some problems that were a little bit deep-seated and not easy to find.”
Graham was a frequent critic of Russia and President Vladimir Putin. He had visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv shortly before he died in Washington.
Reflecting Pool drained again, Trump says
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has been drained once again, Trump said tonight on Truth Social, this time to fix the peeling blue sealant, which he has alleged was caused by vandalism.
“We wanted to wait until after the July 4th Weekend. The slashes were 300 yards long, and the floor of the pool was cut and then pulled upward, with great force, by these thugs,” Trump wrote in his post.
Trump has repeatedly alleged, without evidence, that vandalism is to blame for the recent problems with the pool, which his administration drained this year to make changes to its appearance and in an effort to make repairs.
Trump's description of the alleged damage keeps changing. Today, he said the slashes were “300 yards long.” He previously said there was a single gash, measuring 250 feet, and later described it as “numerous slashes over a very long 350-foot length.”
Conspiracy theories about Sen. McConnell’s health spread after his office posts hospital photo
A new photo of Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., smiling and sitting up in the hospital was meant to put to rest rumors that the former powerful Republican leader was incapacitated, or worse.
Trump reduces size of 2 national monuments in Utah as Republicans reshape land management
Trump today sharply reduced the size of two national monuments in Utah, undoing protections established by former presidents on public lands that are sacred among many Native Americans.
Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in southern Utah have ancient cliff dwellings, petroglyphs and scenic canyons, as well as coal and uranium deposits that state officials want made available for development.
Trump issued proclamations under the Antiquities Act to reduce their size by about 90% each. He took similar actions during his first term, but President Joe Biden reversed them.
Trump and other Republicans have drastically reshaped the management of vast taxpayer-owned lands concentrated in Western states. Trump administration officials and congressional Republicans have sought to expand drilling, mining and logging on public lands while removing protections for imperiled species and rolling back rules for conservation.
Sen. Tuberville says a former aide of his was the one who called 911 on the night Lindsey Graham died
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., told reporters this evening that it was his former scheduler who called 911 for Sen. Lindsey Graham on the night he died.
“My former scheduler was Lindsey’s scheduler, and one of my staff members was with that scheduler the night Lindsey called," Tuberville said on Capitol Hill.
He said Graham's scheduler got a call from Graham saying: "I'm having chest pains. You know, I need to do something."
“Did you call 911?” the scheduler asked, according to Tuberville.
"No, that's the reason I called you," Graham responded, Tuberville added.
"And so she called 911," Tuberville said of his former scheduler, Taylor Stephens.
"They were at a restaurant downtown watching the soccer game," said of Stephens and one of his staffers. "By the time she got there, 911 had knocked the door down, and they were working on him.”
Graham’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuberville’s account of the evening he died.
Stephens started working for Graham in May 2023. Before that, she was Tuberville's scheduling director.
UAE says Indian national killed, others injured in Iran attacks on 2 ships
The United Arab Emirates government condemned what it said were Iranian cruise missile attacks on two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz that killed one person and injured other people.
The tankers Mombasa and Al Bahia were attacked by two cruise missiles from Iran as they passed through the strait but in Omani territorial waters, the UAE Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
The UAE said one Indian national died and eight others were injured. Six of the injured are Indian nationals, and the two others are Ukrainian nationals, the UAE said.
“The UAE stressed the necessity for Iran to cease these aggressive attacks, ensuring its full commitment to halting all hostile acts and the complete and unconditional reopening of the Strait, thereby achieving regional security and the stability of the global economy and trade,” the ministry said in a statement.
Darline Graham Nordone expected to be sworn in tomorrow
Darline Graham Nordone will be sworn in tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. ET to serve the rest of her late brother's term, two sources familiar with the matter told NBC News.
She will be sworn in less than 24 hours after South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, announced her appointment to fill the seat held by Lindsey Graham.
U.S. says it has begun a third straight night of strikes on Iran
The U.S. military said this afternoon that it has begun a third night of strikes against Iran.
“At 4:45 p.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command began launching the third consecutive night of strikes against Iran, at the Commander in Chief’s direction,” U.S. Central Command said on X.
“These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” it said.
Speaking to reporters this afternoon, Trump said "we're doing another very major attack tonight," adding that the U.S. will also be "taking out all of their capability for anything having to do with the Hormuz Strait."
"I think in the end, we will end up just controlling the whole thing," Trump said.
The president added that the U.S. will resume a blockade on Iran, and said that he would like for the U.S. to be "reimbursed" for "protecting a very rich portion of the world."
According to Iran’s hard-line Student News Network, Iran’s army has targeted U.S. military facilities in Kuwait. It also said Iran’s navy “targeted a hostile American enemy vessel by firing cruise missiles.”
Epstein survivors take aim at Todd Blanche nomination in new video
A group of Jeffrey Epstein survivors is urging the Senate to oppose Todd Blanche’s nomination to be attorney general.
In a 60-second video produced by World Without Exploitation and first shared with NBC News ahead of Blanche’s confirmation hearing Wednesday, a dozen survivors say he is responsible for having released personal information about them that should have been redacted under the Epstein Files Transparency Act while failing to follow investigative leads about Epstein’s associates.
One of the women, Liz Stein, told NBC News "Hallie Jackson NOW" that Blanche's conduct has been "beyond concerning to us because of the way that these files have been handled over the past year."
"We have seen over and over again where victims’ names and personal identifying information has been exposed, yet perpetrators’ names and information has been redacted," Stein said today.
Blanche and the Justice Department have acknowledged victims’ information was improperly released but maintain that it was because they were trying to comply with the law making the files public and that they fixed issues that were brought to their attention.
Joanna Harrison was one of the women whose identities the Justice Department exposed. "I never wanted to go public. I didn't want my face out there," Harrison told Jackson today, adding that it was "devastating" when her name was released.
The survivors speak in turn in the video, saying, "We were exposed" while Blanche “protected the people who committed crimes against us.”
“He failed the victims everywhere. We deserve better. Our country deserves better. Vote no on Todd Blanche for attorney general,” they say in the video.
Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford doesn't rule out potential Senate bid
Mark Sanford, a Republican former governor of South Carolina, did not rule out a potential run for Graham’s Senate seat today in an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press NOW.”
Asked whether he was considering throwing his hat in the ring, Sanford said he has gotten “more than a fair number of calls on that.”
“I think I’ll mull that as time goes on,” he said. “But right now I just want to mourn Lindsey and stay focused on what’s ahead for him and his family.”
Sanford was South Carolina's governor from 2003 to 2011. He also represented the 1st Congressional District from 1995 to 2001 and then again from 2013 to 2019 before he launched an unsuccessful long-shot bid for president.
Darline Graham Nordone accepts McMaster's appointment to serve out her late brother's Senate term
Darline Graham Nordone, Lindsey Graham’s sister, accepted South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster’s appointment to serve out her late brother’s Senate term.
“I want to thank the governor for selecting me to serve the remainder of Lindsey’s term. It is such an honor. Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him,” Graham Nordone said at a news conference alongside McMaster in Columbia, South Carolina.
McMaster, introducing Graham Nordone, said she had agreed to serve “through tears” early Sunday.
“I called the president afterwards, and he thought it was a great idea,” McMaster said.
Trump recommended Graham Nordone to serve out Graham’s term in a Truth Social post today.
“I know Lindsey thought the world of his staff and colleagues, and with their support, I feel confident,” Graham Nordone said at the news conference.
“I think this is what Lindsey would have wanted, and I plan to honor him in this way. Now, to Lindsey, I miss you more than I can even put into words. But I’m going to do this. I got it. Thank you," she said.
South Carolina governor appoints Lindsey Graham’s sister to finish his Senate term
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham Nordone to serve the rest of Graham’s term, which ends in early January.
“Today, under the law, it’s my duty to and honor to name someone to serve in the place of this irresistible man, this irreplaceable man, this extraordinary man, for the remainder. remainder of his term,” McMaster, a Republican, said at a news conference. “Lindsey took care of his little sister in years long departed. It’s my honor to ask his little sister Darline Graham to finish his work for him now.”
Colleagues pay tribute to Lindsey Graham on the Senate floor
A black drape is lying over the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s desk on the Senate floor, with a bouquet of white roses sitting on top of it. Senators are on the floor delivering speeches to honor Graham’s legacy.
As the Senate gaveled into session, Chaplain Barry Black dedicated the opening prayer to Graham. “Give comfort, strength and peace to his family, friends, colleagues and all who mourn his passing. Surround them with your presence in the days ahead and remind them of the hope that endures even in the midst of grief. May this time of remembrance inspire us to value service over self-interest, compassion over division, and hope over despair,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., became emotional as he concluded his speech about Graham. “I will miss Lindsey’s friendship, Mr. President, more than I can say."
Hegseth creates task force to prosecute ‘leakers’ of national defense information
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced today on X that a joint task force of the Defense and Justice departments has been created to target media leaks of “sensitive national defense information” and “prosecute leakers.”
In a video attached to the post, Hegseth said he authorized the Defense Department’s Office of General Counsel to “request and receive all information, records and support across the department concerning media leak investigations.”
Hegseth said U.S. security “cannot be a bargaining chip for those who seek momentary headlines.”
The Trump administration has repeatedly pursued actions against media reporting on national security information. In April, Trump threatened to jail journalists at the news outlet that initially reported a second airman was missing in Iran after an American fighter jet was shot down during the war.
And on Friday, the Trump administration subpoenaed New York Times journalists for reporting on the new Air Force One’s security concerns. Critics argue that the plane, donated by Qatar, poses a security risk to the U.S.
Trump says he'll make a prime-time speech to the nation Thursday
Trump announced in a post on Truth Social this afternoon that he'll deliver "speech to the nation" at 9 p.m. ET Thursday.
It wasn't immediately clear what the topic will be. NBC News has reached out to the White House for comment.
FBI agents are back at Sen. Graham's Capitol Hill residence
Nearly 20 agents from the FBI and other federal agencies were with U.S. Capitol Police officers entering Graham's D.C. residence today, two days after he died.
Two law enforcement sources familiar with the scene say federal agents continue to investigate his death out of an abundance of caution.
No new evidence has arisen since Saturday night to indicate foul play.
NBC News reached out to Graham's office for comment.
Trump administration tried to ‘manipulate the judicial process’ with its IRS settlement, judge says
Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS was brought in “bad faith” for an “improper purpose,” a federal judge in Florida found as she slapped sanctions on some of those involved.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, an Obama appointee, said the lawsuit “was not brought to vindicate rights,” but to “manipulate the judicial process.”
Where is the Reflecting Pool gash?
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is being drained this week ahead of repairs to fix its lining.
As the water starts to recede, we’re able to get a view of the bottom of the pool for the first time since Trump made multiple claims of vandalism in and around the area of the pool.
NBC News went down to the pool — currently surrounded by fencing — and found no evidence that matches up with Trump’s claims of a 350-foot gash, a 290-foot gash or even a 250-foot gash.
Our team did find and document pieces of debris, bird feathers, sediment and dead algae on the bottom of the pool.
Ducks sitting by the reflecting pool today. Khang Mischke / dpa / Getty Images
According to an Interior Department notice dated Saturday affixed to fencing closer to the Lincoln Memorial, the pool will remain closed until Aug. 10.
“The closures will be lifted as soon as they are no longer necessary to protect NPS resources and provide for public safety, restoring access to the public as soon as practical,” the notice reads, using the initialism for National Park Service. “The footprint of the closure area will be reduced upon equipment removal and some areas may reopen before August 10.”
Several portable security cameras remain in the area.
At least four people accused of taking or trying to take pieces of blue sealant from the bottom of the pool have been charged with destruction of government property in D.C. Superior Court.
The public pays tribute to Graham with flowers, sticky notes and a condolence book outside his Senate office
Outside Graham’s Senate office, people are mourning his death and expressing their condolences to his family and staff members.
Sticky notes on the wall held messages from staff members and others thanking Graham for his service. Some wrote longer messages, while others left notes saying, “We will miss you,” and “True Patriot!”
A condolence book was placed outside the office for the public. A woman signed the book with a Ukrainian flag wrapped around her back; Graham was an outspoken supporter of Ukraine. Others wrote messages and paid their respects.
Aides bring flowers to Graham's office today. Finn Gomez / Getty Images
Businessman Mark Lynch to run for Graham's seat, spokesperson says
South Carolina businessman Mark Lynch will run in the August primary for Graham's seat, a spokesperson for Lynch confirmed to NBC News.
The spokesperson, Liam Ford, said Lynch would finish the mission he started this year when he lost in the Senate GOP primary, adding that Lynch was putting $5 million into his campaign.
WCIV-TV of Charleston first reported Lynch’s plans.
Trump officials are ramping up efforts to sow doubt about midterm election results
With the 2026 midterms less than four months away, Trump administration officials are intensifying efforts to stoke concerns about noncitizen voting and using Justice Department investigations to try to sow doubts about elections.
The U.S. and Iran are locked in a power struggle over the Strait of Hormuz
We control the Strait of Hormuz.
That is the message from both Iran and the United States, with the two sides locked in a power struggle over the crucial waterway that intensified with a weekend of attacks and fiery statements.
Michael Cohen confirms he met with Trump and says their relationship is 'on its way back'
Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal attorney and fixer, is hitting the airwaves, launching a new weekly WABC New York radio show, "When You Know, You Know," as his once-fractured relationship with the president continues to improve.
At a press conference this morning with WABC owner John Catsimatidis, Cohen said the Sunday night program is aimed at the “tired majority”—Americans looking for honest conversations and a break from political extremes.
The announcement comes after Cohen confirmed to NBC News that he has met privately with Trump twice over the past year, first at Trump’s Bedminster golf club last August and again earlier this year at Mar-a-Lago. Cohen said he and Trump had a meal at Mar-a-Lago that lasted more than an hour and that it was "warm, and reminiscent of old times."
The meetings mark a dramatic turnaround after years of public acrimony following Cohen’s testimony against Trump in the Stormy Daniels hush money case. During their estrangement, Trump repeatedly criticized Cohen, calling him a “rat” and filing legal action against his former attorney. Cohen said today that their relationship is “on its way back” to where it once was.
Cohen said his new show will encourage respectful dialogue and allow room for agreement and disagreement across the political spectrum. Catsimatidis, a longtime Trump ally, praised Cohen as someone who “tells it the way it is” and said WABC is committed to presenting a range of viewpoints.
Looking ahead, Cohen said he hopes Trump will eventually call into "When You Know, You Know," saying it would be another step forward in their renewed relationship.
A look at Graham’s political legacy and impact
"Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker joins "TODAY" to discuss Graham’s vast political legacy and share what he was like off camera. She also breaks down how his death impacts U.S. foreign policy with the Iran and Ukraine wars.
Trump recommends Graham's sister fill the remainder of his term
Trump announced in a Truth Social post that he recommended that South Carolina's governor appoint Darline Graham Nordone, the late senator's sister, to fill the remainder of his term.
"I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina," Trump said in the post. "This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!"
McMaster will announce an appointment this afternoon.
Trump said yesterday in an interview on "Meet the Press" that he had "somebody that I think would be great" for McMaster to appoint, but declined to say who.
"But I don’t want to say it now because, you know, it’s too soon with Lindsey," he said. "I don’t want to even talk about anybody."
Lindsey Graham's sister, Darline Graham Nordone, at the announcement of his presidential campaign in 2015. Rainier Ehrhardt / AP file
Gov. Henry McMaster to announce appointment to fill remainder of Graham's term
Gov. Henry McMaster, R-S.C., will hold a press conference this afternoon to announce whom he is selecting to fill the remainder of Graham's term, his office announced in a news release.
McMaster will also make remarks on Graham's life and service at the news conference, which will be at 4 p.m., his office said.
The appointee will serve as senator until early January. There will be a special Republican primary Aug. 11 for Graham's permanent replacement.
The flag flies at half-staff Monday at the Capitol in honor of Graham. Finn Gomez / Getty Images
Trump announces 20% reimbursement to U.S. for securing Strait of Hormuz
Trump announced in a Truth Social post that the U.S. would reinstate the blockade on Iranian "ships and customers" entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz.
"We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran’s ships or customers from entering or leaving," Trump said in the post. "All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait."
The president added that the U.S. would be reimbursed 20% on cargo shipped through the Strait, but he did not provide details about how the fees would work and who would be charged.
Vessels anchored in the Strait of Hormuz yesterday. Razieh Poudat / ISNA via AP
"The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as 'THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,' but as such, and as a matter of FAIRNESS, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World," he said in the post. "The process and formation will begin immediately."
Ukraine loses its closest ally in Trump’s circle
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Graham had made no fewer than 10 trips to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted yesterday.
Graham's final plea: Pass the Russia sanctions bill
More than a year after introducing a stalled, bipartisan bill to hamstring Russia’s economy, Graham announced Friday — in what would be his final public appearance — that the White House had agreed to let the legislation move forward.
The Trump had administration revised the bill, which was designed to hit countries that buy Russian oil and gas with 500% tariffs, to allow more flexibility on how the sanctions would be applied.
Democrats, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, a co-author of the bill, told NBC News last month they feared the revisions would render the legislation insignificant. But on Friday, Graham declared that the bill, which is co-sponsored by a majority of senators, would become law.
“I have never been more optimistic than I am today that we have the formula to end this war,” he told reporters in Kyiv.
Graham had told NBC News that he believed cutting off exports of Russian oil to the countries that rely on it most, including China and India, would hurt President Vladimir Putin’s ability to fund the war in Ukraine.
Following Graham’s sudden death, numerous Democrats are urging swift passage of the legislation in his honor. Trump made no mention of the bill during his interview on NBC News' "Meet the Press" yesterday, instead insisting Graham was most excited about passage of an elections overhaul bill called the SAVE America Act.
Some Republican lawmakers said yesterday that the two bills should be tied together as a way to advance the elections bill, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and personal identification at the polls. That bill does not have enough support to advance, however, meaning linking the two measures would effectively kill the sanctions legislation.
Trump rates Graham's defense of Brett Kavanaugh among top 10 greatest moments of Congress
In his interview with "Fox & Friends," Trump credited Graham with helping to get Brett Kavanaugh confirmed to the Supreme Court.
"When he got angry, like he did in the case of Brett Kavanaugh, it was so impactful," Trump said. "I think it saved the, I think it saved the — Brett becoming a justice."
During the 2018 controversy surrounding sexual assault allegations against the now-justice, Graham slammed Democrats and accused them of wanting to "destroy this guy's life." He called the Kavanaugh hearing "the most unethical sham since I've been in politics." Kavanaugh had stridently denied the allegations.
"Lindsey went on his tirade and it was much more than a tirade," Trump said this morning. "I think it was one of the great 10 moments of Congress."
Trump says the U.S. 'should be reimbursed' for guarding the Strait of Hormuz
Trump said this morning that the U.S. is going to control the Strait of Hormuz in an interview on "Fox & Friends."
Asked for his response to Iran "trying to take over" the critical shipping route, Trump responded, "Well, we're taking over the strait."
Tehran has claimed it controls the strait as the U.S. and Iran continue to exchange attacks amid the power struggle over the waterway. The Memorandum of Understanding the two countries signed last month said Iran would arrange for safe passage and not charge vessels traveling through the strait for 60 days. But amid Iranian attacks on ships in the strait, Trump said last week that the ceasefire was over.
Later in the interview, Trump said that the U.S "should be reimbursed" for efforts to protect the waterway.
"We guarded it for nothing, and now we're going to guard it, and we're going to get paid for guarding it, a lot of money," Trump said, without detailing how this would work.
"But we just want to be reimbursed for doing all of this, for putting our people in danger," he added.
Graham's hometown residents remember the senator
NBC News spoke with people in Graham’s hometown of Seneca, South Carolina, after the state's senior senator died.
Clay Vassey, a realtor who said he had been in Washington two weeks ago at a legislative conference to push the recently passed housing bill, said that he met the senator on the plane to D.C. Vassey said Graham “introduced himself” and that he was “very energetic, very personable.”
“I was just there two weeks ago," Vassey said. "I was just talking. I just shook his hand. I was just on the airplane with him, and now all that we have is a legacy."
Sue Feather, who has lived in the state since 2018, said that she’d already seen online rumors of Graham dying from causes other than a heart attack.
“I said I didn’t have that on my bingo card." Feather said. "I mean, really, with all the stuff going on, now people have ideas of what could happen to them, you know, other than just having a heart attack."
Her husband, Jeff Feather, told NBC News that while Graham has a “great legacy,” he developed “a lot of controversies” and that there’s been “a lot of love-hate relationships over the years.”
Sue Feather said that when the shock of Graham’s passing fades, South Carolinians will be “sad, because [Graham] had a lot more to give.”
“He was a big proponent of President Trump. He was supportive. He was supportive of South Carolina, especially upstate. So I don’t know. I think it’ll be sad,” she said.
Heart condition suspected in Graham’s death is rare and can happen without warning
The tear in the aorta that doctors preliminarily believe led to the death of Graham late Saturday is an immediately life-threatening emergency that may cause symptoms similar to those of a heart attack.
Trump says he spoke with Graham hours before his death
Trump told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” yesterday that he spoke with Graham on Saturday night, hours before the senator died.
Trump said that “other than being tired, he was fine,” adding that he believed Graham’s death was a “quick end, and maybe that’s not the worst way to go.”
Graham leaves a legacy as a Trump booster, foreign policy hawk and powerful chairman
Graham, who died unexpectedly Saturday at the age of 71, leaves behind a legacy defined by his hawkish foreign policy views, a key chairmanship that helped transform the Supreme Court and his evolution from a fiery critic of Trump to one of his staunchest allies.
U.S.-Iran strikes escalate over the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to collapse ceasefire
The U.S. launched another round of strikes on Iran yesterday, part of an effort it said was intended to thwart attacks on traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway crucial to the world’s oil supply.
Tehran said it retaliated with strikes across the region, targeting U.S. facilities.
The latest round of strikes began at 5 p.m. ET, U.S. Central Command said in a statement. It said on X around 10:30 p.m. that the strikes had been completed. The goal was to curb Iran’s ability to target commercial shipping in the strait at a time when the U.S. has declared it open for business and Iran has said it’s closed.
Trump to host top IndyCar drivers at the White House ahead of D.C. Grand Prix
Trump will host top IndyCar drivers at a White House event this afternoon ahead of next month’s Grand Prix here, a White House official told NBC News.
Mitch McConnell says he suffered fall, was unconscious in first statement since hospitalization
Mitch McConnell said yesterday in his first public statement since he was hospitalized nearly a month ago that he was “briefly unconscious” after he suffered a fall.
In the statement, accompanied by a photo of McConnell smiling in a hospital chair alongside his wife, Elaine Chao, he said doctors have not yet cleared him to return to the Senate floor to vote.
Republicans scramble to find a replacement for Lindsey Graham ahead of the midterm elections
Republicans are starting to scramble to find both a temporary and a permanent replacement for Graham, who in June won the GOP Senate primary in South Carolina and was expected to cruise to re-election to a fifth term in November.
Hours after Graham’s death, Trump said he had a preferred replacement in mind but declined to share a name out of respect for Graham.
Sen. Gary Peters endorses Haley Stevens in Michigan Senate race
Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., is endorsing Rep. Haley Stevens in the hotly contested primary to replace him in the Senate.
“Over the last eighteen years, while serving the people of Michigan, I have been surrounded by many extremely talented and dedicated partners who work tirelessly for our state. Haley Stevens has been that partner in Congress,” Peters said in a statement announcing his endorsement.
Peters later added that Stevens “will be ready on day 1 to fight for Michigan.”
Stevens called Peters “a mentor, a friend, and a role model throughout my career” in a statement touting the senator’s endorsement.
“Senator Peters knows what it takes to win in Michigan, and he knows what Michigan needs from our next U.S. senator: grit, effectiveness, hard work, and Michigan common sense. I am honored to have his support in this campaign,” Stevens said.
The four-term congresswoman is facing off against former Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed, a staunch progressive, in the race to replace Peters, who opted not to run for re-election this year.
Michigan’s other Democratic senator, Elissa Slotkin, has not endorsed in the race, citing a “tradition” of elected Democrats in Michigan remaining neutral in primaries.
Peters’ endorsement also comes less than a week before El-Sayed is set to rally with two of his high-profile backers: Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. The primary is Aug. 4.
