Trump Says Iran ‘Can’t Blackmail’ United States

President Donald Trump said that the United States will not be “blackmailed” after the Iranian military has once again proclaimed that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed and allegedly fired on multiple vessels on Saturday.

Speaking from the Oval Office on Saturday morning, President Trump said that while his administration is having “very good conversations” with Tehran, he said that the Islamist regime was trying to act “a little cute” by attempting to close down the Strait of Hormuz just hours after agreeing to open the critical waterway.

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“They can’t blackmail us,” Trump said, noting that many international shipping firms have re-routed their traffic to purchase energy from the United States in the Gulf of America rather than in the Persian Gulf.

The president added that more information about the state of negotiations with Iran would be released later on Saturday.

Separately on Saturday, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said there was no date set for further peace negotiations, adding that both sides must agree to a “framework” before sitting down again.

Trump Has Redefined America’s Standing on World Stage Ahead of China Trip

President Donald Trump embarks on a much-anticipated trip to China next month to meet with President Xi Jinping, as the first year-plus of the Trump presidency has redefined global economic affairs and foreign policy.

Trump and Xi are set to meet in Beijing on May 14-15. Over the past 15 months, Trump has reasserted the United States’ role on the global stage, whether it be through economic policy, diplomacy, or military operations. In turn, the developments have certainly redefined the U.S.-China relationship.

“President Trump has undoubtedly restored American strength on the world stage – showing the entire world that the days of Biden-era weakness are over. The President has secured key trade deals, solved eight global conflicts through his peace through strength policies, and built the greatest military in the world – whose results speak for themselves,” White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said.

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“The United States is respected again thanks to President Trump’s leadership, and the President looks forward to visiting China, which he is expecting to be a very positive visit that will lay the groundwork for many positive results achieved in the coming years between our countries,” Wales added.

On the economic front, Trump has assembled numerous trade deals that not only strengthen ties between the United States and the respective countries but also counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Following his Liberation Day tariffs announced on April 2, 2025, the president struck major deals with the European Union, the United Kingdom, and numerous countries in China’s backyard, like Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, while also securing major investments from key Middle East countries. The deals account for more than 85 percent of the global gross domestic product.

Patel Unleashes On The Atlantic Over ‘Categorically False’ Report Including ‘Locked Room’ Claim

FBI Director Kash Patel is preparing for a full-scale legal battle against The Atlantic after the outlet published a bombshell report he says is riddled with falsehoods, and he’s making clear he intends to take it to the mat.

“Print it, all false, I’ll see you in court bring your checkbook,” Patel told the magazine ahead of publication, a warning that has now escalated into an imminent lawsuit.

The Friday article by Sarah Fitzpatrick, titled “The FBI Director is MIA,”levels a barrage of allegations against Patel, painting a picture of a senior law enforcement official allegedly plagued by instability, heavy drinking, and internal dysfunction. The report claims Patel engaged in “erratic” behavior, suffered bouts of paranoia about his job security, and was frequently absent or unreachable during key moments.

Among the most explosive claims: that Patel is “known to drink to the point of obvious intoxication” in front of colleagues, that members of his security detail have struggled to wake him due to alleged inebriation, and that officials once considered using breaching equipment to access a locked space when he could not be reached. The piece also alleges that meetings had to be delayed due to his condition and suggests his behavior could pose a “national security vulnerability.”

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Rubio targets Nicaraguan official over alleged torture tied to ‘brutal’ Ortega regime

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Saturday that the Trump administration is sanctioning a senior Nicaraguan official over alleged human rights violations.

Rubio said the U.S. is designating Vice Minister of the Interior Luis Roberto Cañas Novoa for his role in “gross violations of human rights” under the government of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, marking what he said was the latest effort to hold the regime accountable.

“The Trump administration continues to hold the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship accountable for brutal human rights violations against Nicaraguans,” Rubio said in a post on X. “I’m designating Nicaraguan Vice Minister of the Interior Luis Roberto Cañas Novoa for his role in human rights violations.”

The designation was made under Section 7031(c), which allows the State Department to bar foreign officials and their immediate family members from entering the United States due to involvement in significant corruption or human rights abuses.

The State Department has said the Ortega-Murillo government has engaged in arbitrary arrests, torture and extrajudicial killings following mass protests that began in April 2018.

“Nearly eight years ago, the Rosario Murillo and Daniel Ortega dictatorship unleashed a brutal wave of repression against Nicaraguans who courageously stood against the regime’s increased tyranny, corruption, and abuse,” the statement reads.

The State Department said that the sanction marked the anniversary of the 2018 protests, after which more than 325 protesters were murdered in the aftermath.

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Trump signs executive order directing FDA to review psychedelics designated as breakthrough therapy drugs

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Saturday that he said “directs the FDA to expedite their review of certain psychedelics already designated as breakthrough therapy drugs.”

“The executive order I’m signing, we’re actually signing the executive order today, is really a moment,” Trump said. “These treatments are currently in the advanced stages of clinical trials to ensure that they’re both safe and effective for the American patients.”

The president said the executive order would implement “historic reforms to dramatically accelerate access to new medical research and treatments based on psychedelic drugs.”

"In many cases, these experimental treatments have shown life-changing potential for those suffering from severe mental illness and depression, including our cherished veterans," Trump said, citing the veteran suicide rate.

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“And the nice part is we’re actually doing this early, but it has been going on. Research has been going on for quite some time. But, you know, usually with things like this, nothing ever happens, no matter how the research ends up, but we’re changing that. This order will clear away unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, improve data sharing among the FDA and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and facilitate fast rescheduling of any psychedelic drugs that become FDA approved,” Trump continued.

The president said “in 2024, a study from Stanford University, 30 special operation veterans with traumatic brain injuries underwent — it’s called ibogaine treatment — ibogaine, remember the name,” noting that they “experienced an 80 to 90% reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety within one month.”

“In Texas, Republican leaders have already committed $50 million to the ibogaine research. And today, the federal government is making a $50 million research investment in its own. And so that was just approved just last night,” Trump announced.

“We’re also opening a pathway for ibogaine to be administered to desperately ill patients under the right to try law,” Trump said.