Donald J. Trump

Sept. 24 (UPI) — The National Park Service on Wednesday removed bronze-colored statues of President Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein holding hands and frolicking on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The papier-mache and paint statues were erected on Tuesday by an anonymous group called The Secret Handshake, UPI reported. The statues were near U.S. governmental buildings with the Capitol in the backdrop.

“We celebrate the long-lasting bond between President Donald J. Trump and his ‘closest friend,’ Jeffrey Epstein,” the middle plaque reads. “There must be more to life than having everything.”

A member of the group behind the statue told MSNBC that U.S. Park Police took down the statue around 5:30 a.m. EDT, although they had a permit that allowed them to remain through Sunday evening. CNN also confirmed the removal.

The group said it had initially been told it would be given 24 hours’ notice if the administration wanted it removed.

“Instead, they showed up in the middle of the night without notice and physically toppled the statue, broke it and took it away,” the group said.

The permit is for a 6-foot-tall statue, but the display is taller than that when combined with its base, which is almost as tall.

A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior, which oversees the Park Service, told MSNBC, “the statue was removed because it was not compliant with the permit issued.”

In a statement to Time magazine, the White House said, “Liberals are free to waste their money however they see fit — but it’s not news that Epstein knew Donald Trump, because Donald Trump kicked Epstein out of his club for being a creep.”

Trump is displayed with another plaque quoting the infamous 50th birthday card to Epstein, which reads in part, “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”

Epstein’s plaque reads: “Nor will I, since I also know what it is. Yes, we do come to think of it. As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you.”

Epstein died by suicide in jail on Aug. 10, 2019, while awaiting trial on federal charges of sex trafficking. He had been convicted on state charges of soliciting prostitution in Florida in 2008.

Tourists stopped before the statues out of curiosity and lined up to take photos.

“I think it’s a really good reminder about how artists are the ones that always push back on fascists first, on fascist governments,” D.C. resident Matt Gordon told UPI on Tuesday.

“This is a hoot,” D.C. resident Lelaina Brandet also told UPI. “It seems there’s other daily distractions, whether calling a marginalized group a terrorist organization or attacking some random vote to distract from what pretty much everybody from both sides wants — which is to see the release of the Epstein files.”

One week ago, a 12-foot golden Trump statue whose faceplate called him the “Bitcoin president” was displayed anonymously at the same location for about a day before being taken down.

“It is great to have these artists that keep pushing the focus of ‘Hey, let’s not forget this is what America wants right now.’ We love it. It’s fantastic,” resident Brandet said.

In 2024, the group’s “The Resolute Desk” and “The Donald J. Trump Enduring Flame” statues went viral. In June, their “Dictator Approved” statue and another of a golden television appeared.

“Before this, they’ve never been anything but friendly to work with,” Patrick and Carol Flaisher, an independent contractor who files the group’s permits, told CNN.

The group said they were able to view the removed statues. Trump’s head was split in half.

“It’s a great example of where we’re headed in this country when it comes to freedom of speech,” Patrick said.

Last week, a giant banner with Trump and Epstein was unveiled on the lawn outside Windsor Castle, where Trump was hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The banner was removed before Trump arrived in Britain.

Protesters then projected images of them on the walls of Windsor Castle. Also targeted was Prince Andrew, who was associated with Epstein.

President Donald Trump, seen here in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C, in August. Trump is expected to announce Tuesday that U.S. Space Command headquarters would move from Colorado to Alabama. Photo by Al Drago/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 2 (UPI) — President Donald Trump is expected to announce Tuesday that the U.S. Space Command headquarters will releocate from Colorado to Alabama.

The move would shift the U.S. Space Command headquarters from its current spot Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Huntsville, Alabama, CBS News, Politico and CNN reported.

The U.S. Department of Defense had posted to its Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, or DVIDS, that Trump was to make a 2 p.m. EDT statement on its website that was initially titled “U.S. Space Command HQ announcement.”

The site has since replaced that with “President Trump Makes an Announcement.”

Trump’s decision to uproot the military branch’s current spot follows an April report from the Department of Defense Inspector General that “could not determine why the (former) [Secretary of the Air Force] did not make an announcement decision for the transition of [U.S. Space Command headquarters] from Colorado Springs to [the Redstone Arsenal].”

The Redstone Arsenal is a U.S. Army base adjacent to Huntsville, Alabama.

The first Trump administration had planned to move Space Command to Alabama, but after a 2022 report from the Government Accountability Office which found fault with that conclusion, then-President Joe Biden decided in 2023 to keep it in Colorado, to the chagrin of officials in Alabama.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has pushed for the move to her state even before Biden’s call to leave the base in Colorado.

“I couldn’t be more pleased to learn that Alabama will be the new home to the United States Space Command,” she posted to X in January of 2021.

However, following Biden’s decision, she posted in May of 2023 that “Alabama is the only rightful home for Space Command Headquarters, and supporting this mission is critical to the advancement of our national security.”

In April, Kay signed a resolution that urged Space Command Headquarters to be permanently established in Huntsville.

Meanwhile, Republican Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville introduced a resolution in the Senate in January that “encourages President Donald J. Trump and his incoming second Presidential administration to halt the Biden administration’s disastrous decision and immediately proceed in establishing a permanent headquarters for United States Space Command at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama.”

“Space Command coming to Huntsville?” Kay posted to X Sunday. “Count on it.”

Aug. 29 (UPI) — An 11-member appeals court on Friday struck down most of President Donald Trump‘s tariffs on foreign goods, declaring they are illegal.

The court held off mandating its decision because of a possible appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social, declared: “The United States of America will win in the end.”

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that Trump does not have the power to invoke the expansive tariffs on most U.S. trade partners, including a baseline 10% and much higher for nations the president called the “worst offenders.”

The 127-page opinion vacated the lower court’s injunction, blocking the tariffs altogether and directing the court to re-evaluate whether universal relief is appropriate. The chief judge is Kimberly Moore, who was appointed by President George W. Bush.

The ruling doesn’t affect tariffs imposed under other laws, such as the Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum and autos.

Tariffs are paid by the importing company at the U.S. ports of entry. The additional cost is often passed on to retailers and, in turn, means higher prices paid by consumers.

In July, the Department of the Treasury brought in more than $29 billion in “customs and excise taxes,” which is mostly from tariffs.

Judges agreed with the three-member Court of International Trade ruling on May 28 that set aside five executive orders that “imposed tariffs of unlimited duration on nearly all goods from nearly every country in the world.” The New York-based court, in a 49-page opinion, said the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not give the president the “unlimited” power to levy across-the-board tariffs.

The judges’ decision was based on two cases brought by a group of small businesses and 12 Democratic state attorneys general.

They held that “the tariffs were not authorized by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Because we agree that IEEPA’s grant of presidential authority to ‘regulate’ imports does not authorize the tariffs imposed by the Executive Orders, we affirm.”

Four judges dissented.

“We agree with the majority’s decision on jurisdiction and standing and on the need for reconsideration of the remedy if the tariffs are unlawful,” Richard Tranto, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, wrote. “But we disagree with the majority’s conclusion on the issue of the tariffs’ legality. We conclude that plaintiffs have not justified summary judgment in their favor on either statutory or constitutional grounds.”

Trump quickly responded on Truth Social: “ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT! Today a Highly Partisan Appeals Court incorrectly said that our Tariffs should be removed, but they know the United States of America will win in the end. If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country. It would make us financially weak, and we have to be strong.”

He added: “At the start of this Labor Day weekend, we should all remember that TARIFFS are the best tool to help our Workers, and support Companies that produce great MADE IN AMERICA products.”

The ruling took aim on Trump’s authority.

“This case involves the extent of the President’s authority under IEEPA to ‘regulate’ importation in response to a national emergency declared by the President,” the judges wrote. “For many years, Congress has carefully constructed tariff schedules which provide for, in great detail, the tariffs to be imposed on particular goods. Since taking office, President Donald J. Trump has declared several national emergencies.”

They said Trump has departed from the “established tariff schedules and imposed varying tariffs of unlimited duration on imports of nearly all goods from nearly every country with which the United States conducts trade.”

In a separate opinion, the judges paused the ruling from taking effect through Oct. 19 to allow the Trump administration the opportunity to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Trump declared April 2 as “Liberation Day” during a “Make America Wealthy Again” event in the Rose Garden of the White House. The highest tariffs of 50% were placed on sparsely populated Lesotho, France’s Saint Pierre and Miquelon islands. Other countries facing some of the highest tariffs were Cambodia (49%), Laos (48%), Madagascar (47%), Vietnam (46%), and Myanmar (44%).

One week later with U.S. stocks and the bond market reeling, Trump instituted a 90-day pause on all reciprocal tariffs except on China. The 10% baseline that went into effect remained.

Nations then negotiated trade deals, including 15% reciprocal tariffs on European Union nations. Britain, which is not part of the EU, has a 10% tariff on most goods.

A 50% on goods from India took effect on Wednesday.

On July 9, Trump imposed a total 50% tariff in Brazil because of what he called the “disgrace” of how former President Jair Bolsonaro has been treated and an “unfair trade relationship.”

Tariffs are 15% on Japan and South Korea, with 20% on Vietnam, 19% on Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.

Regarding China, a pause was extended on Aug. 11 for 90 days. Trump had China with tariffs as high as 145%, while China threatened retaliatory tariffs of 125%. During the initial 90-day truce, the United States reduced its China tariffs to 30%, with China dropping its tariffs on U.S. goods to 10%.

China and Mexico have been hit with 25% tariffs.

South Africa was hit with a 30% duty.

Aug. 18 (UPI) — President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday during a White House meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and said he will arrange a bilateral meeting between the two, within the next two weeks.

The call came during Monday’s negotiations between Zelensky, Trump and European leaders, who had gathered to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

Trump said the future meeting would be followed by a trilateral meeting, involving the United States. On Monday night, the White House posted an Oval Office photo of Trump on the phone with Putin, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance looked on.

Trump said Vance, Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff would be involved in coordinating the meeting between Putin and Zelensky.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he “had a very good meeting with distinguished guests,” which included Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as well as much of the European delegation and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

“I called President Putin and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelensky,” Trump said. “After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two presidents, plus myself. Again, this was a very good, early step for a war that has been going on for almost four years.”

Trump met with Zelensky earlier Monday afternoon to signal that the United States would provide Ukraine with “very good protection.”

“The security guarantees would be provided by the various European countries, with a coordination with the United States of America,” Trump said. “Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine.”

Macron called the U.S. commitment for Ukrainian security guarantees the “first and most important” outcome of Monday’s talks.

“Today, it was agreed that we will work with the United States of America on the content of these security guarantees and the cooperation that each party is prepared to provide,” Macron said, adding that any meeting would have to take place under a cease-fire.

“Call it a truce or a cease-fire, but we cannot hold discussions under bombs,” Macron added.

Trump told Zelensky at the start of the meeting: “I have a feeling you and President Putin are going to work something out. Ultimately, this is a decision that can only be made by President Zelensky and by the people of Ukraine working also together in agreement with President Putin. And I just think that very good things are going to come of it.”

By the end of the day, Zelensky told reporters he is ready for “any format” of a meeting with Putin and said he would also participate in a trilateral meeting if there is progress in the first one.

“I believe unconditionally we should meet and think about the further development of this path of the war,” he said.

Zelensky told reporters that the security guarantees included plans for Ukraine to purchase $90 billion in American weapons through European funding.

Zelensky also said he and Trump had a long discussion about a map in the Oval Office, showing Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine. Rutte said Ukrainian territory was not discussed during the broader Monday meetings.

Zelensky arrived around 1 p.m. EDT on Monday along with several EU leaders. Trump and Zelensky sat in the Oval Office, mirroring their meeting earlier this year.

This time, they avoided the dramatic shouting match from six months ago in the same space.

During the February exchange, Trump and Vance accused Zelensky of being “disrespectful” toward the United States and the Trump administration.

Zelensky was much more complimentary during Monday’s meeting, immediately thanking Trump for his efforts to stop Russia’s war.

Vance, who was in the Oval Office, said nothing this time.

The meeting came after Trump’s summit with Putin on Friday in Alaska.

European Council leaders are scheduled to meet via videoconference Tuesday to discuss the meeting. The council’s president, Antonio Costa, called the conference, he announced on X Monday.

“I have convened a video conference of the members of the European Council for tomorrow at 1 p.m. CEST, for a debriefing of today’s meetings in Washington, D.C., about Ukraine,” Costa wrote. “Together with the U.S., the EU will continue working towards a lasting peace that safeguards Ukraine’s and Europe’s vital security interests.”

European leaders, including Rutte, Starmer, Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, accompanied Zelensky to Washington for the talks.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the James S. Brady briefing room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday, the same day he posted on Truth Social that gold will not face tariffs. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo

Aug. 11 (UPI) — President Donald Trump said Monday in a Truth Social post that there will be no tariffs on gold.

The post said: “A Statement from Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America: Gold will not be tariffed!”

He did not elaborate further.

Gold futures closed 2.48% lower at $3,404.70 per ounce after the announcement, CNBC reported.

The precious metal hit a record high Friday, after U.S. Customs and Border Protection ruled that 1 kilogram and 100 ounce gold bars from Switzerland would face Trump’s 39% tariff against the country.

These gold bars are used to back contracts on The Commodity Exchange, or COMEX. The exchange is the main futures market for gold, silver and other metals.

The ruling would have applied to any country exporting gold bars to the United States, according to the Swiss Precious Metal Association. So gold bars would have been subject to the prevailing U.S. tariff rate against their country of origin.

The Swiss Precious Metal Association warned Friday that the customs ruling “may negatively impact the international flow of physical gold.”

“The imposition of tariffs on these gold cast products makes it economically unviable to export them to the U. S., thereby eliminating any future trade deficit arising from gold exports,” the press release said.

July 19 (UPI) — President Donald Trump sued the Wall Street Journal and its parent company, seeking at least $10 billion in damages, after the newspaper published an article one day earlier about a letter Trump allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein before the financier was convicted of sex crimes.

The 18-page lawsuit, which was filed Friday in the Southern District of Florida in Miami’s division, names the two reporters, The Wall Street Journal, as well as Dow Jones, News Corp. and Rupert Murdoch, who controls the company, and New Corp’s CEO Robert Thomson.

“Defendants concocted this story to malign President Trump’s character and integrity and deceptively portray him in a false light,” the lawsuit, signed by Alejandro Brito of the Ian Michael law firm in Coral Gables, reads.

“We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit,” a Dow Jones spokeswoman told the Wall Street Journal, which noted that News Corp did not respond to its request for comment.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump sent Epstein a letter for his 50th birthday consisting of text in the outline of a naked woman over her signature. As noted in the filing, the newspaper did not publish the letter.

The letter was one of several published in a leather-bound album of birthday messages Epstein received as a gift that is reportedly among documents examined by the Justice Department several years ago.

“The reason for those failures is because no authentic letter or drawing exists,” Trump’s lawyer wrote in the lawsuit.

On Friday night, Trump posted on Truth Social: “We have just filed a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit against everyone involved in publishing the false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS ‘article’ in the useless ‘rag’ that is, The Wall Street Journal. ….

“This lawsuit is filed not only on behalf of your favorite President, ME, but also in order to continue standing up for ALL Americans who will no longer tolerate the abusive wrongdoings of the Fake News Media. I hope Rupert and his ‘friends’ are looking forward to the many hours of depositions and testimonies they will have to provide in this case. Thank you for your attention to this matter. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

On his Truth Social account on Thursday, Trump claimed the letter was fake, and said “I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women. It’s not my language. It’s not my words,” threatening to sue.

“The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued,” the president posted Thursday.

He noted that Murdoch told him “he would take care to it. But, obviously, did not have the power to do it.”

Trump has been pressured by his Make America Great Again base and Democrats to release files on Epstein, of which the grand jury testimony is a small portion.

Attorney General Palm Bondi said earlier this month in a memo said that much of the information is under legal seal but that there is “no incriminating ‘client list'” in the files and that “there was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions.”

On Thursday, Trump ordered grand jury testimony to be released by DOJ with victims’ names likely redacted.

Epstein died by suicide in 2019 in his Manhattan jail cell as he was awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges in connection with allegations of running a child sex-trafficking ring. The memo also confirmed he died by suicide with surveillance video included through three minutes were missing.

June 23 (UPI) — President Donald Trump early Tuesday announced a cease-fire between Israel and Iran was in effect, seven hours after he announced plans for the truce, half a day after Iran struck a U.S. military base in Qatar and 11 days after Israel’s first airstrikes.

After his 6 p.m. Monday truce plans, Trump posted on Truth Social after 1 a.m. EDT: “THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!”

On Tuesday morning in Iran and Israel, media in both countries reported the cease-fire began after strikes were reported on both sides.

Earlier, Trump posted on Truth Social that the war pause would take effect just after midnight on the U.S. East Coast, with the war slated to officially end a day later.

The U.S. president said there are two 12-hour cease-fire periods, starting with Iran and then Israel.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his nation would stop fighting if Israel stops strikes, posting on X: “The military operations of our powerful Armed Forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4 a.m. [8 p.m. EDT[.”

Israel hadn’t confirmed the cease-fire and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was meeting with his security cabinet, a source told CNN.

“During each CEASEFIRE, the other side will remain PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL.” Trump wrote. “On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, ‘THE 12 DAY WAR’. This is a War that could have gone on for years, and destroyed the entire Middle East, but it didn’t, and never will! God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!”

Trump later told NBC News in an interview that “I think the cease-fire is unlimited. It’s going to go forever.” Trump said he doesn’t believe Israel and Iran “will ever be shooting at each other again.”

And in a follow-up post on Truth Social at 10:18 p.m., Trump wrote: “Israel & Iran came to me, almost simultaneously, and said, “PEACE!” I knew the time was NOW. The World, and the Middle East, are the real WINNERS! Both Nations will see tremendous LOVE, PEACE, AND PROSPERITY in their futures. They have so much to gain, and yet, so much to lose if they stray from the road of RIGHTEOUSNESS & TRUTH. The future for Israel & Iran is UNLIMITED, & filled with great PROMISE. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH!”

Trump and his U.S. Vice President JD Vance negotiated with top Qatari leaders, who took the proposal to Iran, a diplomat told NBC News and CNN. Trump spoke with Netanyahu and Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

“We were actually working on that just as I left the White House to come over here,” Vance told Fox News. “So that’s good news, that the president was able to get that across the finish line.”

Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also is Trump’s National Security adviser, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff negotiated the terms, CNN reported.

The United States entered the war early Sunday with B-2 bomber airstrikes on three nuclear sites two days ago in an effort to present Iran from having an atomic bomb. The seven planes took 18 hours to fly from Missouri to Iran. Decoys also flew west to Guam.

After Trump’s announcement, Israel military told residents in the Tehran neighborhoods of Mehran and District 6 that it will carry out operations there. And Iran warned people in the Ramat Gan suburb of Tel Aviv to evacuate, according to the semi-official Mehr News Agency.

A residential building in southern Israel took a “direct hit” from an Iranian missile strike early Tuesday in the city of Beer Sheva , according to Israel’s emergency services, Magen David Alom. At least three people were killed and six others were being treated with light to moderate injuries,.

Before Trump’s announcement, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted on X: “Those who know the Iranian people and their history know that the Iranian nation isn’t a nation that surrenders.”

It was his first comments since U.S. struck the nation.

Iran strikes major U.S. base

Iran retaliated though it gave the United States advance notice it would strike the U.S. airbase in Qatar.

Qatar’s defense ministry said its air defenses “successfully” intercepted the missiles, and there were no deaths or injuries. The U.S. also used Patriots to stop the missiles.

The base in Doha was attacked “by short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles originating from Iran,” a U.S. defense official told CNN.

“At this time, there are no reports of U.S. casualties,” the official said. “We are monitoring this situation closely and will provide more information as it becomes available.”

Iran’s Armed Forces said they “targeted the Al Udaid base in Qatar with destructive and forceful missiles,” according to a statement obtained by The New York Times.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, relying on Almighty God and the faithful, proud people of Iran, will never leave any aggression against its territorial integrity, sovereignty, or national security unanswered,” the statement read.

Iran said it used the same number of bombs the U.S. used to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, the secretariat of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said. The seven B-2’s dropped 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators. U.S. Tomahawk missiles also were used.

Trump thanked Iran for giving advance notice of the airstrikes.

“Iran has officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “There have been 14 missiles fired – 13 were knocked down, and 1 was ‘set free,’ because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction. I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done. Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their “system,” and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE.”

Qatar called the attack “a flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and airspace.”

“We affirm that the state of Qatar reserves the right to respond directly, proportionate to the nature and scale of this blatant aggression and in accordance with international law,” Majed Al-Ansari, a spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, said in a statement Monday.

Video by CNN shows burning debris falling next to a highway in Qatar after Iranian missiles fired at US base Al-Udeid were intercepted.

Air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain, which is close to Qatar and where the U.S. Fifth Fleet is headquartered. In addition to Qatar, United Arab Emrites, Kuwait and Iraq closed their airspace. But they later were reopened.

Airspace remains closed in Iran but flights resumes in Israel on Monday.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine were in the Situation Room, a White House official told CNN.

The New York Times reported loud booms were heard in Doha, the capital of Qatar. Lights were going upward, apparently part of a missile defense system, and some objects were seen falling to earth.

The base, which is heavily fortified, has been on high alert in the past few days for Iranian retaliatory attack after missiles targeted nuclear facilities early Sunday local time.

The base is the headquarters of U.S. Central Command and has 10,000 military and civilian personnel.

Non-sheltered American planes were moved from the base, according to a satellite image taken Thursday that shows tarmacs nearly empty.

Also, all U.S. Navy ships deployed at the base Bahrain left port last week. The U.S. has two aircraft carriers in the region — the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Nomitz — and the USS Ford, the newest carrier in the 11-ship fleet, will deploy from Norfolk Va., this week. Destroyers are part of the strike group.

The State Department has also begun organizing departure flights from Israel, and Americans can leave through Jordan via land crossings. Approximately 250 U.S. citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members departed Israel on U.S.-facilitated flights, a State Department official said Monday.

The United States has not fought Iran since the B-2 bombers’ attacks.

Israeli attacks

Israel’s military targeted Iran’s Evin prison in Tehran where dissidents and political prisoners are held.

France’s foreign minister condemned the strikes on the prison, which houses two French nationals.

“The strike aimed at Evin Prison in Tehran put in danger two of our nationals, Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, hostages for the past three years. It’s inacceptable,” Jean-Noël Barrot said in a post on X.

The Israeli strikes on Tehran also damaged the main power lines in the northern part of Iran’s capital, according to the Iranian government-affiliated Mehr news agency. The area has more than 1 million people.

In Vienna, Rafael Grossi, the head of the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, warned on Monday at an emergency meeting in Vienna that “violence and destruction could reach unimaginable levels” if Iran, Israel and the United States do not find a pathway to diplomacy.