International
US Secret Service: The attempted murder of Trump is the “biggest operational failure” in decades
The director of the United States Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle, acknowledged on Monday before Congress that the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump was the “greatest operational failure” of the agency “in decades.”
In an ongoing hearing before a committee of the House of Representatives, Cheatle assumed “full responsibility” for the “security” lapse of his agency and assured that they are cooperating with the ongoing investigations into the attack.
“The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on July 13 is the largest operational ruling of the Secret Service in decades,” Cheatle said in his initial statements before the committee, to which he was summoned on the initiative of the Republicans who control the Lower House.
The Republican opposition has asked for the resignation of Cheatle, at the head of the agency in charge of Trump’s security.
Trump was wounded in the ear while participating in a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13 by a shooter who had climbed a roof about 140 meters from the former president, although outside the security perimeter.
Witnesses had alerted two minutes before the shootings of the suspicious presence of the shooter, a 20-year-old boy whose reasons are still unknown, who ended up shot dead by Secret Service agents.
During the hearing, Republicans protested Cheatle’s refusal to answer most of his questions, alleging that there are several ongoing investigations with which the Secret Service is collaborating to clarify what failed in the operation.
International
Iran issues threat to Trump as conflict escalates over Strait of Hormuz
The head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, threatened U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, warning him to “beware of being eliminated.”
The Republican president had warned on Monday that he would strike Iran “very hard” if the Islamic Republic blocked oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively been closed since the war began eleven days ago.
“Iran is not afraid of your empty threats. Others more powerful than you tried to destroy the Iranian nation and failed. Beware that you are not eliminated,” Larijani wrote on X.
Earlier, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards — the ideological military force of the Islamic Republic — also said their forces would move to block oil exports from the Gulf.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s military offensive against Iran is far from over.
“Our aspiration is that the Iranian people free themselves from the yoke of tyranny; ultimately, that depends on them. But there is no doubt that with the measures taken so far we are breaking their bones, and we are not finished yet,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
International
Driver detained after suspicious vehicle incident near the White House
The driver was detained and no injuries were reported after an incident that occurred before dawn in Lafayette Square, just north of the White House.
The U.S. Secret Service, which is responsible for presidential security, said in a statement that it was “investigating a suspicious vehicle.” The driver of the car was taken into custody and is currently being questioned.
Washington remains under heightened security measures amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran.
Police closed several major streets around the White House. However, by about 8:30 a.m. local time (12:30 GMT), government employees and staff from nearby institutions were allowed to pass through the area with proper identification, according to an AFP journalist at the scene.
Dozens of emergency vehicles with flashing lights responded to the location, while tourists and residents waited for authorities to reopen the streets.
International
Trump Raises Possibility of “Friendly Takeover” of Cuba Amid Deepening Crisis
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, reiterated Monday the possibility that Washington could pursue a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, amid the severe crisis facing the island following the oil blockade promoted by the U.S. government.
Speaking at a press conference in Miami, the president said that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently “negotiating” with representatives of the Cuban government, although authorities in Havana have repeatedly denied that such talks are taking place.
Trump suggested that Washington could play a more direct role in the island’s future.
“It may be a friendly takeover. It may not be a friendly takeover. It wouldn’t matter because they’re really down to, as they say, fumes. They have no energy, they have no money. They are in deep trouble on a humanitarian basis, and we really don’t want to see that,” the U.S. president said.
The president also argued that the Cuban government had long depended heavily on support from Venezuela, particularly oil supplies.
According to Trump, that support has been drastically reduced following measures adopted by Washington.
“They were living off Venezuela. Venezuela doesn’t send them energy, fuel, oil, money, or anything anymore. They couldn’t survive without Venezuela, they couldn’t have made it, and we cut everything off,” Trump said.
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