All posts tagged: Northrop Grumman Corp

Trump puts Taiwan arms sales, Jimmy Lai on agenda with Xi meeting

Trump puts Taiwan arms sales, Jimmy Lai on agenda with Xi meeting

Published by Sam Flores

US President Donald Trump speaks during a maternal healthcare event in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, May 11, 2026. Aaron Schwartz | Bloomberg | Getty Images President Donald Trump said Monday that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and the imprisonment of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai would be on his agenda for the Beijing summit later this week. Washington’s arms sales to Taiwan have been a flashpoint between the two countries, drawing a sharp response from Beijing that has accused the U.S. of violating the “one-China principle,” and warned that attempts to “contain China” via Taipei were set to fail. When asked about Washington’s longstanding support for Taiwan’s defense, Trump said Monday that, “I’m going to have that discussion with President Xi.” “President Xi would like us not to, and I’ll have that discussion. That’s one of the many things I’ll be talking about.” That comes after Beijing reportedly pressed the Trump administration to scale back its security commitments for the island. Trump is expected to …

Israel and Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire, Trump says

Israel and Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire, Trump says

Published by Sam Flores

The leaders of Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire after officials from the two countries met in Washington, President Donald Trump said Thursday. The temporary truce will start at 5 p.m. ET, Trump said in a Truth Social post. In a follow-up, Trump added that he will be inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon to the White House “for the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983, a very long time ago.” “Both sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly!” Trump wrote. The U.S. State Department said in a statement later Thursday that the two countries “will work to create conditions conducive to lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border, while preserving Israel’s inherent right to self-defense.” “Both countries recognize the significant challenges faced by the Lebanese state from non-state armed groups, which undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty and threaten regional stability,” read the statement, which …

Trump threatens tariffs of 50% on nations supplying weapons to Iran

Trump threatens tariffs of 50% on nations supplying weapons to Iran

Published by Sam Flores

US President Donald Trump looks on during a press conference about the conflict in Iran in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on April 6, 2026, in Washington, DC. Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images The U.S. will impose tariffs of 50% on “any and all” goods imported to the country from any nation “supplying military weapons to Iran”, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday. Trump said in a Truth Social post that any country found to be supplying Iran with weapons would be subject to the levy “immediately”, with no “exclusions or exemptions”. The president wrote: “A Country supplying Military Weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed, on any and all goods sold to the United States of America, 50%, effective immediately. There will be no exclusions or exemptions!” It came as Trump said the U.S. would “work closely” with Iranian authorities, following the ceasefire agreement announced on Tuesday and what Trump called “very productive regime change”. Trump said in a separate Truth Social post that “there will …

NASA Artemis II captures solar eclipse during moon flyby

NASA Artemis II captures solar eclipse during moon flyby

Published by Sam Flores

The crew of Artemis II captured what NASA’s chief called an “absolutely stunning” photo of the moon eclipsing the sun, as the spacecraft broke Apollo 13’s 56-year-old record for the longest distance traveled by humans from Earth. “This is not AI,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in an interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Tuesday. “This is why we do what we do,” said Isaacman, as Artemis II continued heading back home to Earth. The White House posted the photo taken Monday by Artemis II, and NASA released other photos from the Orion capsule, which conducted a six-hour flyby of the moon with four astronauts on board. Artemis II view of the moon eclipsing the sun. NASA Isaacman said, “I just looked at the pictures about five minutes before getting on … this interview, and I would just say they looked absolutely stunning.” Artemis’ crew “mentioned this last night during the webcast that they don’t know if human eyes are ready to see what they’ve captured,” he said. A view of the Moon as the …

U.S. fighter jet downed in Iran

U.S. fighter jet downed in Iran

Published by Sam Flores

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle on 16 July 2020. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images The U.S. was searching for the crew of an American fighter jet Friday after it was downed in Iran, a U.S. official told MS NOW. It isn’t clear if the plane was shot down or went down for another reason, MS NOW said. The jet was an F-15, which has two crew members, and the whereabouts of the servicemembers was unknown, according to MS NOW. The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command didn’t immediately comment. The New York Times said Iran shot down the fighter jet, citing U.S. and Israeli officials and Iranian state media, though MS NOW said it hadn’t independently verified the reporting. It appeared to be the first known loss of a U.S. jet in the country since the war in Iran started in late February. The downing of the jet comes at a delicate time, when the U.S. has showed few signs of slowing its assault on Iran and reports of potential peace talks did …

Trump threatens Iran’s infrastructure as reports emerge of downed U.S. F-35

Trump threatens Iran’s infrastructure as reports emerge of downed U.S. F-35

Published by Sam Flores

Significant sections of the B1 Bridge are seen destroyed after an airstrike attributed to the United States and Israel targeted the site near Tehran, in Karaj, Iran, on April 03, 2026. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to destroy Iran’s bridges and power plants, saying the “New Regime leadership knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST!” in a Truth Social post. Trump did not elaborate on what needed to be “done,” but said the U.S. “hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran.” Hours later, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reportedly claimed that a U.S. F-35 fighter jet was shot down over central Iran. Images of debris posted on Telegram included a photo that appeared to show the words “U.S. Air Forces in Europe” on what looked like a plane’s tail section. The U.S. Central Command, which oversees the region, and Iranian authorities did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication. Read more U.S.-Iran war news Trump’s latest threat …

Warner, Schiff probe potential insider trading in government

Warner, Schiff probe potential insider trading in government

Published by Sam Flores

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). Nathan Posner | Anadolu | Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call, Inc | Getty Images Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif., demanded answers on potential insider trading in government in a letter sent Thursday to the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Defense inspector general. The senators cited public reporting of “large positions in equities and equity-linked derivatives” being built up before major policy announcements, such as decisions related to the Iran war and President Donald Trump’s tariffs agenda. And they suggested those instances indicate “federal officials are disclosing material nonpublic information for financial gain.” “Recent reports of equity trading that occurred shortly before significant government policy announcements suggest that federal officials are disclosing material nonpublic information for financial gain,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter to SEC Chair Paul Atkins and Pentagon IG Platte Moring. “These actions undermine public interest and market integrity, and demand oversight by each of your respective authorities, as well as by Congress.” The letter …

Trump says Iran war nearly done: Speech recap

Trump says Iran war nearly done: Speech recap

Published by Sam Flores

Sen. Lindsey Graham says Trump gave a ‘compelling explanation’ about U.S. action against Iran Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) speaks alongside Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol Building on September 27, 2023 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said that President Trump gave a “compelling explanation” on why the U.S. had to act against Iran’s “evil regime.” Graham said in a post on X that it was “the best speech I could’ve hoped for,” adding that it informed Americans and the world that the U.S. is “2-3 weeks from reaching our military objectives, which is the destruction of Iran’s missile and nuclear weapon programs.” He said that “the most compelling and biggest takeaway of all” was that Trump’s declaration to use military force to destroy the Iranian regime’s economy, guaranteeing “they will never go back to their old ways.” Sen. Ted Cruz in his post on X said the U.S. was “on the cusp of ending Iran’s nuclear blackmail,” which makes America “much, much …

Iran’s war propaganda homes in on Trump with Lego memes

Iran’s war propaganda homes in on Trump with Lego memes

Published by Sam Flores

Young Iranian women walk past a state building covered with a giant anti-U.S. billboard depicting a symbolic image of the destroyed USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, in downtown Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 26, 2026, the final day of Iran-U.S. talks that take place in Geneva. Morteza Nikoubazl | Nurphoto | Getty Images Wartime propaganda has evolved for the social media age, and Iran is now vying with the U.S. to be the world’s biggest keyboard warrior. As the real-world bombardment in the Middle East continues and casualties mount, both sides in the month-old war are also firing off ironic, pop-culture-steeped memes on the online battlefield. Iran’s new leaders have quickly assumed an online fighting posture, amping up their memes and pointed attacks on the U.S. and Israel. “What we’re seeing is not just a war of weapons, but it’s also a war of aesthetics,” said Nancy Snow, a professor and author who studies propaganda. “Whoever controls the meme controls the mood.” Iran’s prime target is President Donald Trump, with state media and top officials alike …

Trump to address nation on Iran war Wednesday night, White House says

Trump to address nation on Iran war Wednesday night, White House says

Published by Sam Flores

US President Donald Trump speaks after he signed an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 31, 2026. Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty Images President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he expected that U.S. military forces will leave Iran in “two or three weeks.” “We leave because there’s no reason for us to do this,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We’ll be ‌leaving very soon.” Hours later, the White House said that Trump will deliver an address “to the nation to provide an important update on Iran” at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday. The U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. Trump, in his comments Tuesday, brushed aside the idea of having to reach a negotiated settlement to end the war, raising the prospect that the United States could just declare victory and end hostilities. “Iran doesn’t have to make a deal,” Trump said. “It’s a new regime. They are much more accessible.” “No, they don’t have to make a deal with me when …