Vance Says Trump Has ‘Tools’ He Hasn’t Yet Used Against Iran
Vance Says Trump Has ‘Tools’ He Hasn’t Yet Used Against Iran
Vice President JD Vance, speaking to an audience in Hungary alongside Prime Minister Viktor Orban early Tuesday, addressed a looming deadline for Iran to make a cease-fire deal with the United States before President Trump makes good on a threat to annihilate the country’s power grid and other infrastructure.
“We feel confident that we can get a response, whether it’s positive or negative, we’re gonna get a response from the Iranians by 8 o’clock tonight,” Vance began. “I hope they make the right response because what we really want is we want a world where oil and gas is flowing freely, where people can afford to heat their homes and cool their homes, where people can afford to transport themselves to work.
“That’s not gonna happen if the Iranians are engaged in acts of economic terrorism,” the vice president continued. “They’ve got to know, we’ve got tools in our toolkit that we so far haven’t decided to use. The president of the United States can decide to use them, and he will decide to use them if the Iranians don’t change their course of conduct.”
WATCH:
A week ago, Trump said Iran had agreed to allow additional oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, describing the move as a “tribute” to the United States as negotiations continue over a potential end to the escalating conflict.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said Iran had expanded an earlier concession involving 10 tankers to include 20 more vessels, signaling what he characterized as a step toward de-escalation.
“They gave us… 20 boats of oil. Big, big boats going through the Hormuz Strait,” Trump said. “That’s taking place starting tomorrow morning.”
The announcement builds on what Trump previously described as an initial “gift” earlier in the week, tied to ongoing discussions between U.S. officials and Iranian representatives. The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the negotiations, given its strategic role as a global energy chokepoint.
Before the conflict began in late February, the narrow waterway handled roughly one-third of global oil exports. Since then, traffic has reportedly dropped by as much as 90 percent, contributing to volatility in global energy markets and raising concerns among U.S. allies and international partners.
Administration officials have framed Iran’s decision to allow limited tanker passage as a positive signal, though questions remain about the scope and durability of the arrangement. Iranian officials have downplayed the move, suggesting the shipments reflect routine regional trade rather than a concession tied directly to U.S. demands.
Meanwhile, Trump on Saturday warned Iran of dire consequences if the Middle Eastern country does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz or agree to a ceasefire deal within 48 hours. “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” he wrote on Truth Social. “Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!”
He appeared to drop a similar warning late Sunday, according to a Truth Social post that said, simply, “Tuesday, 8 P.M. Eastern Time!”
The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route for oil, was closed by Iran in retaliation for the recent U.S.-Israeli attacks. The closure has unsettled the global energy market.
His latest statement reiterates a warning he gave on March 26, in which he stated that he would postpone attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure by an additional 10 days in hopes of reaching a deal.
Last weekend, Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum, promising to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if the country did not reopen this vital maritime chokepoint.
This latest development follows Iran’s downing of two U.S. planes on Friday. All pilots and airmen from the aircraft have been rescued, the president announced late Saturday evening.
Leaked Congressional Bill Triggers Panic as Midnight Vote Slashes Monthly Social Security Checks for Seniors 65+ Starting Next Month
Leaked Congressional Bill Triggers Panic as Midnight Vote Slashes Monthly Social Security Checks for Seniors 65+ Starting Next Month
WASHINGTON — Millions of American seniors were thrown into an absolute financial panic on Friday morning following the sudden emergence of a fast-tracked emergency legislative package quietly pushed through Capitol Hill, mandating immediate, sweeping cuts to monthly Social Security benefit disbursements for retirees aged 65 and older starting on the first of next month.
The draconian proposal, crafted behind closed doors under an urgent deficit-stabilization mandate, sent shockwaves across the country, crashing government phone lines, igniting fiery protests outside the Capitol, and forcing retirement advocacy groups into round-the-clock emergency mobilization.
The Midnight Compromise: A 22% Benefit Redirection
The firestorm erupted when an unredacted 450-page legislative rider, dubbed the Federal Solvency and Mandatory Outlay Alignment Act, slipped out of a closed-door committee session just hours before an emergency floor vote.
Framed by fiscal hardliners as the only viable mechanism to prevent an imminent trust fund insolvency crisis, the measure bypasses standard multi-year phase-in windows, enacting immediate cuts:
Direct Check Reductions: All monthly Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) disbursements issued to beneficiaries aged 65 and older will face an immediate, across-the-board reduction of up to 22% starting with the upcoming calendar cycle.
COLA Freezes: Cost-of-living adjustments are effectively frozen through 2029, eliminating statutory inflation relief despite persistent grocery and utility increases.
Means-Tested Clawbacks: Seniors earning even modest secondary supplemental income—including basic part-time wages or modest pension distributions—face tiered clawbacks that could strip up to 40% of their monthly federal deposit.
"This isn't an adjustment—it is an economic execution for millions of fixed-income Americans," warned an incensed senior advocacy director on the Capitol steps. "People who paid into this system for fifty years are being told with three weeks' notice that their grocery and medication budgets are being slashed in half. It is a total betrayal of the social contract."
Capitol Chaos: Phones Jammed and Protests Swarm the Rotunda
Within thirty minutes of the draft text circulating on financial wires, the reaction across the country was instantaneous and overwhelming:
Switchboards Crash: Congressional call centers and the Social Security Administration’s national 1-800 helpline completely buckled under catastrophic call volumes, registering over eight million automated attempts in under two hours.
Protests at the Steps: Hundreds of retirees, union workers, and healthcare advocates converged on the Capitol plaza, waving signs reading "Hands Off Our Checks" and "We Paid In Full," chanting loudly enough to echo through the rotunda corridors.
Floor Clashes: A scheduled procedural roll call derailed into screaming matches across the aisle, with lawmakers shouting over gavel strikes and hurling accusations of economic sabotage as armed Capitol Police tightened security around committee entryways.
Senior Panic: The Human Cost of Overnight Slashes
Across the nation, the realization that next month’s direct deposits could arrive hundreds of dollars short triggered raw fear among vulnerable households:
Prescription Triage: Healthcare networks reported frantic calls from seniors inquiring how to ration insulin, blood pressure medication, and cardiac prescriptions ahead of the expected budget drop.
Housing Insecurity: Housing advocacy groups warned of a catastrophic surge in senior evictions, noting that over 40% of single elderly Americans rely on Social Security for ninety percent or more of their total monthly livelihood.
Bank Runs Averted: Federal banking regulators issued rapid advisories urging calm as panicked account holders lined up at local credit unions and community banks demanding physical cash withdrawals.
An Explosive Political Reckoning
At 11:30 AM EST, legislative leadership scrambled to contain the mounting revolt, with defensive sponsors issuing brief statements claiming the immediate reductions are "provisional emergency balancing measures" subject to future review.
The defense did little to stem the fury. Within moments, the leaked draft dominated national cable news panels and saturated social media feeds under the viral trending hashtags #SaveSocialSecurity, #SeniorsBetrayed, and #MidnightBillWalkout.
With a final procedural vote looming and outrage reaching a boiling point nationwide, the controversial package has ignited an existential political showdown, leaving millions of aging Americans terrified of what will arrive in their bank accounts when the calendar turns next month.
Lisa Kennedy recently married Fred in Hawaii: Who is the Fox News star’s new husband?
Lisa Kennedy recently married Fred in Hawaii: Who is the Fox News star’s new husband?
Fox News personality Lisa “Kennedy” Montgomery has entered a new chapter in her personal life after marrying Fred in a beautiful outdoor ceremony in Hawaii.
Kennedy shared photographs from the celebration at the Four Seasons Resort Lanai, giving followers a glimpse of the man she now calls her husband and the friends who joined them for the occasion.
“Married the love of my life at the Four Seasons Lanai in a Heidi Merrick dress drenched in sunshine and aloha,” Kennedy wrote. “I love you forever, Fred!!”
While Kennedy has been open about how much Fred means to her, she has kept many details about her new husband firmly outside the public spotlight.
Kennedy and Fred celebrate their marriage in Hawaii
The couple exchanged vows during an outdoor ceremony overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Kennedy wore a sparkling white Heidi Merrick gown with a fitted silhouette, completing her bridal look with a veil and colorful tropical bouquet. Fred wore a light-blue suit with a white shirt, light-colored tie and brown shoes. The newlyweds also wore traditional Hawaiian leis.
Photographs showed Kennedy and Fred walking hand in hand as guests applauded, with the bride raising her bouquet in celebration. Another captured them cutting their multi-tiered wedding cake against a backdrop of palm trees, ocean views and the evening sky.
The wedding announcement became a major moment among Kennedy’s followers, receiving more than 154,000 likes and nearly 2,000 comments.
Several familiar Fox News personalities were also part of the celebration. Emily Compagno, Abby Hornacek and Alexis McAdams were among the recognizable guests photographed in Hawaii.
Emily later wrote that they had the “best time celebrating Kennedy and Fred’s marriage,” adding, “The Fox family showed up for our favorite girl.”
Who is Kennedy’s husband, Fred?
Despite the attention surrounding their wedding, Fred remains largely a private figure.
Based on what Kennedy has publicly shared, his surname, profession and detailed background have not been revealed. Even when announcing her marriage, Kennedy continued referring to her husband simply as Fred.
What she has shared, however, offers some insight into how unexpectedly their relationship entered her life.
Lisa Kennedy and her new husband Fred / Youtube
Kennedy discussed Fred publicly when announcing their engagement on The Five in December 2025. She revealed that he had proposed on December 10 and said the two had met recently and “unexpectedly.”
During the emotional on-air conversation, Kennedy described the impact their meeting had on her life.
“He is the most beautiful, wonderful human being,” she said. “And I had totally given up until those elevator doors opened and I met him out of the blue — he changed my life.”
Kennedy has not provided additional details about exactly where that first meeting occurred or the circumstances surrounding it.
Their relationship began before the public announcement
Although viewers did not learn about the engagement until December 2025, Kennedy revealed another detail suggesting Fred had quietly been part of her life for some time.
She told her The Five colleagues that she had secretly brought him to the Fox Christmas party the previous year.
“I snuck him in. Don’t tell security,” Kennedy joked during the conversation.
That revelation indicated the couple had already been seeing each other by at least December 2024, even though Kennedy had kept the relationship away from public attention.
Dana Perino was among those particularly moved by the engagement news.
Perino recalled learning about it while Kennedy was appearing on America’s Newsroom, telling her colleague that the announcement had made her cry.
“And Fred is such a wonderful guy,” Perino said before telling Kennedy, “I cried because I’m so happy for you.”
From a private romance to a Hawaiian wedding
Kennedy continued keeping Fred’s personal details private even as she became more open about their relationship.
That approach remained evident at their wedding. While she shared numerous photographs of their special day and publicly expressed her love for her new husband, she did not use the occasion to reveal his surname, career or other biographical information.
Instead, Kennedy kept the attention on their marriage and the happiness surrounding it.
The couple received congratulations from numerous familiar names, including Kat Timpf, Janice Dean, Sandra Smith, Griff Jenkins, Abby Hornacek and Meghan McCain.
For followers who had watched Kennedy announce her engagement months earlier, the Hawaiian ceremony provided the next chapter in a relationship that had largely developed outside the public eye.
What is publicly known about Fred remains limited, but Kennedy has made one thing unmistakably clear: she considers him the man who unexpectedly entered her life, changed it and ultimately became her husband.
From secretly attending a Fox Christmas party together to an emotional engagement announcement and finally exchanging vows beside the Pacific Ocean, Kennedy and Fred have now made their commitment official — while continuing to keep much of their story between themselves.
