Trump can declare Iran victory now and withdraw troops, former counterterror official argues

August 3, 2026 9:11am EDT / Fox News

‘If we stay, we risk accelerating an escalation/retaliation cycle we can’t control,’ Joe Kent says

By Alex Nitzberg Fox News

NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

blob:https://www.foxnews.com/178a2b5c-e89d-456d-a2da-d6b22ec6f84d

Listen to this article

3 min

Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent is continuing to advocate for President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from the Middle East.

“President Trump again called off strikes on Iran—this is a good decision. It is clear that he wants out of this war, for all the obvious reasons. It is also clear that Iran will not simply return the SOH [Strait of Hormuz] to how it was before the war. We need to accept that we can’t use military force to open the SOH (we’ve tried that) without a catastrophic escalation into a bloody, years-long war,” Kent wrote.

“Now is the time for President Trump to pull our troops out of the region. He can declare victory (reiterate the previously stated goal—no nukes—was met) & quietly use the carrot of sanctions relief to open the SOH once our troops are out of harm’s way. If we stay, we risk accelerating an escalation/retaliation cycle we can’t control,” he added.

EX-COUNTERTERRORISM OFFICIAL JOE KENT CONTINUES CALLING FOR US MILITARY WITHDRAWAL FROM MIDDLE EAST

Then-National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025.(Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Kent cited his opposition to the Iran war when he resigned from the National Counterterrorism Center director role earlier this year.

Fox News Digital reached out to request comment from the White House early on Monday morning.

President Donald Trump indicated in a Saturday night Truth Social post that the U.S. was going to hold off on launching new attacks against Iran.

TRUMP SAYS IRAN DEAL ‘IMMINENT’; PLANNED STRIKE WOULD’VE BEEN LARGEST SINCE WORLD WAR II

U.S. President Donald Trump walks to a waiting Air Force One at the Hagerstown Regional Airport on July 31, 2026, in Hagerstown, Maryland.(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

“The U.S.A. is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II. Despite this, we have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to. This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat,” Trump wrote.

“Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL. The Country of Israel joins me in this commitment. Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” he added.

Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency pushed back against the notion that Iran requested America refrain from additional attacks, calling Trump’s claims, “nothing but a new lie,” the BBC reported.

NPR reported that Mehr described the U.S. president’s assertions as “simply a new lie,” citing unnamed Iranian military figures.

IRAN’S WAR ON AMERICANS BEGAN DECADES AGO. THESE FAMILIES STILL CARRY THE SCARS

Trump: New Iran talks to begin Monday
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402658342112

While speaking to the press aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump, referring to negotiations, said, “It begins tomorrow afternoon.”

Alex Nitzberg is a writer for Fox News Digital.

US manufacturing activity jumps to more than four-year high in July

2026-08-03 14:05:44 UTC / Reuters

By Reuters

August 3, 2026 2:05 PM UTC Updated 1 hour ago

QCells employees test a finished solar panel at the QCells North America factory in Cartersville, Georgia, U.S. June 8, 2026. REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer

• Manufacturing PMI rises to 55.6 in July from 53.3 in June
• New orders index climbs to 56.7 while factory employment measure rebounds to 52.8
• Supplier deliveries slow, prices paid gauge remains elevated at 71.1

WASHINGTON, Aug 3 (Reuters) – U.S. manufacturing activity increased to the highest level in more than four years in July ‌amid strong order growth, boosting factory employment, though the Middle East conflict is straining supply chains and keeping input costs elevated.

The Institute for Supply Management said on Monday its manufacturing PMI increased to 55.6 last month, the highest reading since May ​2022, from 53.3 in June. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the PMI would edge up to ​54.0.

The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here.

Advertisement · Scroll to continue

The PMI has this year held above the 50 threshold, which indicates growth in ⁠the manufacturing sector.

Manufacturing, which accounts for about 9.4% of the economy, has been supported by businesses front-loading ​orders to avoid higher prices and shortages stemming from the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. An artificial intelligence buildout is ​also driving activity in the technology sector, blunting the hit on manufacturing from import tariffs.

With business inventories at very low levels, there is ample room for manufacturing to expand. The Federal Reserve reported last month that factory production grew at its fastest ​pace in four years in the second quarter.

Advertisement · Scroll to continue

Business inventories have declined for five straight quarters, the government reported ​last week.

FACTORY EMPLOYMENT REBOUNDS

The ISM survey’s new orders measure rose to 56.7 last month from 56.0 in June. Export orders surged and ‌unfinished ⁠work piled up, prompting factories to boost employment. A measure of manufacturing employment rebounded to 52.8, the highest level since August 2022, from 49.7 in June.

Strong demand is, however, running into supply constraints.

The survey’s supplier deliveries index increased to 58.9 from 57.4 in June. A reading above 50 indicates slower deliveries. The lengthening in suppliers’ delivery ​times likely contributed to ​the jump in the ⁠PMI last month, as it is normally associated with a strong economy and high demand.

Supply constraints meant inflation at the factory gate remained elevated last month, ​though the pace of increase slowed. The survey’s gauge of prices paid for inputs ​slipped to a ⁠still-high 71.1 from 73.0 in June.

That reading could reflect a retreat in oil prices in June amid a shaky ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. Oil prices have since risen following the collapse of the truce ⁠in July.

The ​Fed last week left its benchmark overnight interest rate in the ​3.50%-3.75% range. Three members of the U.S. central bank’s policy-setting committee dissented, preferring a quarter-percentage-point hike.

Inflation risks are tilted to the upside ​because of the war, which is now in its sixth month.

Advertisement · Scroll to continue

Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Paul Simao

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

美战争部签框架协议 增加“爱国者”和“萨德”零部件产能

2026年8月3日 22:35 / 联合早报

美国是乌克兰的坚定盟友，但乌克兰的“爱国者”导弹供应长期短缺。这款导弹是乌军武库中，唯一能够拦截弹道导弹的武器。图为美国五角大楼。 （路透社档案照片）

美国战争部已与洛克希德马丁公司和诺斯罗普格鲁曼公司签署框架协议，扩大“爱国者PAC-3”和“萨德”导弹拦截系统的零部件产能。

路透社报道，美国战争部星期一（8月3日）发声明说，已与这两家军工企业签订初步协议，预计“爱国者”导弹的产量将增加两倍，“萨德”反导系统（THAAD）的产量增加三倍。

中东和乌克兰冲突导致美国武器库存紧张。华盛顿是基辅的坚定盟友，但乌克兰的“爱国者”导弹供应长期短缺，而这款导弹是乌军武库中，唯一能够拦截弹道导弹的武器。

美国战争部的声明没有透露协议金额，但强调协议会为“爱国者PAC-3”固体火箭发动机建立第二个供应来源，并提高点火安全装置的产量。

在这之前，美国陆军上周授予洛克希德马丁公司一份价值高达586亿美元（约751亿新元）的合同，用于生产“爱国者”拦截导弹。

Jay Clayton sworn in as U.S. director of national intelligence

2026-08-03 15:46:00 UTC / Reuters

Jay Clayton, U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee to be Director of National Intelligence, testifies during a Senate Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 15, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

WASHINGTON, Aug 3 (Reuters) – Jay Clayton was sworn ​in Monday as ‌the U.S. director of national intelligence, ​overseeing 18 U.S. ​intelligence agencies, the Office ⁠of the ​Director of National ​Intelligence said.

He takes on a role that was ​vacated in ​June when Tulsi Gabbard stepped ‌down ⁠after a tenure marked by clashes with congressional ​Democrats, who ​accused ⁠her of advancing U.S. ​President Donald Trump’s ​political ⁠agenda and promoting debunked election ⁠claims.

The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here.

Reporting ​by Ismail ​Shakil and Doina Chiacu; Editing ​by Michelle Nichols

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Senate pushes ahead with plan to fund the government through midterm elections

2026-08-03 09:55:58 EDT / CBS News

Washington — The Senate is set to move ahead Monday with a plan to keep the government funded beyond the midterm elections as lawmakers work to avoid another costly shutdown this fall.

Senate appropriators unveiled the continuing resolution on Sunday, which would keep the government funded at current levels, with some exceptions, through Dec. 11. But the measure sets up a clash between the Senate and the House when the lower chamber returns next month, with just a few weeks before the Sept. 30 deadline to fund the government.

Before leaving town last month for a lengthy recess, the House approved a separate stopgap measure to fund the government into December, in a vote that fell largely along party lines and faced opposition from Democrats. Senate leaders announced at the time that the upper chamber would pursue a bipartisan approach, with the Senate’s 60-vote threshold to advance most legislation requiring buy-in from both sides of the aisle, while also looking to work with the White House on making funding adjustments.

In the Senate, appropriators touted the upper chamber’s continuing resolution Sunday for making those funding adjustments, known as anomalies, including to nutrition, national security and disaster relief programs.

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democratic appropriator in the Senate, called the measure a “much-improved CR to keep the government funded and avert a shutdown that no one wants,” and pointed to additional provisions secured in the Senate version.

“This bill includes important extensions and language that House Republicans’ CR did not, and it rejects Trump’s frivolous war spending wish list,” Murray said in a statement. “Importantly, we closed the loophole in House Republicans’ CR that would have allowed the Trump administration to transfer funding provided for other programs to Border Patrol, which desperately needs reform, not more money.”

Democrats have been seeking a number of provisions in the stopgap measure. The Border Patrol portion, which they argue would prevent the administration from moving funds allotted to the rest of Customs and Border Protection to the agency, comes after Democrats refused to fund immigration enforcement agencies earlier this year. The top Democratic appropriator in the House, Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, said last month that she wouldn’t support the lower chamber’s stopgap measure because it failed to include a provision that zeroed out funding for Border Patrol. In a statement Sunday, DeLauro called the Senate measure “a clear improvement over the House Republican continuing resolution.”

Senate Democrats also celebrated language to temporarily prevent political appointees in the administration from implementing a proposed grants rule, which they warn would allow the administration to cancel grants and “take even more federal funding hostage.”

But Democrats were unable to secure additional provisions, like one aimed at preventing the administration from pursuing so-called “pocket rescissions” to claw back previously appropriated funding.

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, praised the stopgap funding measure for avoiding “any poison pills.” She called it a “major step toward averting a damaging shutdown that only harms vital programs and federal workers.”

“I look forward to our continued work on appropriations legislation and to bringing them to the Senate floor as soon as possible,” Collins said in a statement.

The Senate is aiming to approve the measure before leaving town for its August recess later this week, with an initial procedural vote Monday evening.

How the House will proceed when it returns on Aug. 31 remains to be seen. The Senate’s measure could see support from Democrats, giving House Speaker Mike Johnson a bipartisan coalition to secure its passage. But the Louisiana Republican could also face pushback from members of his own conference and pressure to stand firm on the House-approved measure. Even so, with limited time and widespread concern about the cost of another shutdown ahead of the midterms, lawmakers may be less inclined to oppose a deal.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who was at the center of the record government shutdowns over the past year and has faced pressure to leverage the funding fights for his party, praised the continuing resolution as a “responsible path forward that allows continued bipartisan negotiations on a budget that delivers for American families.”

“For months, Democrats have been clear: we want to fund the government, avoid a shutdown, and pass strong, bipartisan appropriations bills that improve people’s lives,” Schumer, a New York Democrat, said in a statement. “Democrats remain committed to funding negotiations that help hardworking Americans get ahead and stymie Trump’s wasteful, corrupt agenda that has failed families.”

美战争部签框架协议 增加“爱国者”和“萨德”零部件产能

2026年8月3日 22:35 / 联合早报

美国是乌克兰的坚定盟友，但乌克兰的“爱国者”导弹供应长期短缺。这款导弹是乌军武库中，唯一能够拦截弹道导弹的武器。图为美国五角大楼。 （路透社档案照片）

美国战争部已与洛克希德马丁公司和诺斯罗普格鲁曼公司签署框架协议，扩大“爱国者PAC-3”和“萨德”导弹拦截系统的零部件产能。

路透社报道，美国战争部星期一（8月3日）发声明说，已与这两家军工企业签订初步协议，预计“爱国者”导弹的产量将增加两倍，“萨德”反导系统（THAAD）的产量增加三倍。

中东和乌克兰冲突导致美国武器库存紧张。华盛顿是基辅的坚定盟友，但乌克兰的“爱国者”导弹供应长期短缺，而这款导弹是乌军武库中，唯一能够拦截弹道导弹的武器。

美国战争部的声明没有透露协议金额，但强调协议会为“爱国者PAC-3”固体火箭发动机建立第二个供应来源，并提高点火安全装置的产量。

在这之前，美国陆军上周授予洛克希德马丁公司一份价值高达586亿美元（约751亿新元）的合同，用于生产“爱国者”拦截导弹。

Trump’s AG pick off life support after key Republican rebels relent

August 3, 2026 11:03am EDT / Fox News

Sens Cornyn and Tillis hold the keys to Blanche’s future on the Senate Judiciary Committee

By Alex Miller, Fox News

President Donald Trump defended the Anti-Weaponization Fund and bashed Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, for opposing his nomination of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as permanent attorney general during his Friday Cabinet meeting at Camp David.

NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

blob:https://www.foxnews.com/165bc345-0a1e-45e2-a541-862e272adabc

Listen to this article

3 min

Two key Republican rebels are dropping their resistance against President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Justice Department.

Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., have for weeks dug their heels into the ground against confirming acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to fully take over the position. They have been trying to extract concessions from the administration in exchange for their votes.

And those concessions came on Sunday as Blanche’s first key test fast approaches. After warring with Trump and Blanche’s confirmation nearly being withdrawn, the duo are now ready to support the president’s pick to replace former Attorney General Pam Bondi.

TRUMP THREATENS TO YANK HIS OWN AG NOMINEE AS GOP REVOLT GROWS

A split image of President Trump, Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and John Cornyn, R-Texas(Eddie Seal/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Aaron Schwartz/AFP via Getty Images; Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc.)

“We want to express our gratitude to Mr. Blanche and his staff for working with us on this, and we look forward to voting to advance his nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee soon,” they said in a joint statement.

Cornyn and Tillis had two primary objectives: ensure, in explicit writing, that the nearly $2 billion anti-weaponization fund would return, and that Trump’s audit immunity would not extend beyond him and the defendants listed in his lawsuit against the IRS.

Blanche announced on Sunday that the anti-weaponization fund was getting the permanent boot, and that the audit protection was just going to be narrowly tailored to Trump and his family.

DOJ BARS IRS FROM AUDITING TRUMP’S PRIOR TAX RETURNS IN SETTLEMENT ORDER SIGNED BY BLANCHE

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6402496253112

Cornyn and Tillis said that they “are pleased” with the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) formal order to deal with both issues, and noted that doing so addressed “concerns that multiple of our Republican colleagues share.”

Both issues came from the settlement deal Trump and his family reached with the IRS earlier this year that Blanche helped to roll out.

And both lawmakers are needed to advance Blanche out of committee and onto the Senate floor, given that if either one of them balked against the nominee, he would fail and be stuck in limbo.

TRUMP UNLOADS ON CORNYN, TIES AG NOMINATION FIGHT TO BITTER TEXAS PRIMARY

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appears at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., July 15, 2026.(Eric Lee/Getty Images)

Cornyn and Tillis both sparred with Trump over the last few days leading up to this moment.

Trump declared that he would withdraw Blanche’s nomination if neither of them broke their resistance. He reupped the pressure over the weekend when he announced that if Blanche’s confirmation continues to stumble or fail, he would revive the anti-weaponization fund and pressure Congress to codify it.

He declared on Truth Social that, “I will keep Todd as Acting AG, and push hard to get the Anti-Weaponization Bill,” passed through Congress.

And Tillis countered that Trump “clearly intends to resurrect the payout pot for punks either by inappropriately establishing another bogus fund or pushing Congress to vote for a bill that the majority of Republicans in the Senate would be against.”

“It’s unfortunate that Todd Blanche, who I consider qualified for the job, will not be confirmed because of this reversal,” Tillis said over the weekend. “Hopefully, we can resolve this by Tuesday.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

With the issues appearing to be resolved, the committee vote on Blanche is moving full steam ahead.

Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, rescheduled the vote for Tuesday after nixing last week’s hearing. A spokesperson for Grassley said that his top goal is to see “Todd Blanche’s nomination to be successful.”

“Grassley would like to see Blanche confirmed before the August recess as he has an excellent record restoring law and order and keeping Americans safe,” they said.

Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital covering the U.S. Senate.

六艘沙特油轮绕开曼德海峡 驶向非洲南部

2026年8月3日 22:41 / 联合早报

也门胡塞武装组织近日袭击沙特船只，红海局势再次陷入动荡。图为7月27日，一艘商船驶过红海也门哈尼什岛附近的国际航道。 （法新社）

追踪数据显示，在也门胡塞武装恫言袭击沙特阿拉伯船只后，六艘悬挂沙特国旗的超级油轮近日在亚丁湾改变航向，正驶往非洲南部。

路透社报道，伦敦证券交易所集团（LSEG）和船舶追踪网站“海事追踪”（MarineTraffic）星期一（8月3日）的数据显示，这六艘油轮从亚洲目的地返回后，空载驶往非洲南部，而未选择经由曼德海峡穿越红海南部水域。

船舶追踪信息显示，其中一艘油轮的目的地是直布罗陀。

这些油轮每艘最多可运载200万桶原油，运营商是沙特国家航运公司（Bahri），公司和沙特当局尚未对此事作出回应。

两名贸易消息人士说，根据他们的评估，这些油轮选择绕道好望角，是出于对安全形势的考虑。

路透社计算，如果这些油轮选择经苏伊士运河返回红海的沙特港口，航程至少增加25天。

受伊朗支持的胡塞武装7月20日宣布对沙特实施海上禁运，在当前伊朗战争中开辟对抗美国及其盟友的新战线。

胡塞武装近日袭击与沙特有关的船只，促使伦敦海事保险市场上周扩大红海“高风险”区域，将更多靠近沙特港口的海域纳入其中。

六艘沙特油轮绕开曼德海峡 驶向非洲南部

2026年8月3日 22:41 / 联合早报

也门胡塞武装组织近日袭击沙特船只，红海局势再次陷入动荡。图为7月27日，一艘商船驶过红海也门哈尼什岛附近的国际航道。 （法新社）

追踪数据显示，在也门胡塞武装恫言袭击沙特阿拉伯船只后，六艘悬挂沙特国旗的超级油轮近日在亚丁湾改变航向，正驶往非洲南部。

路透社报道，伦敦证券交易所集团（LSEG）和船舶追踪网站“海事追踪”（MarineTraffic）星期一（8月3日）的数据显示，这六艘油轮从亚洲目的地返回后，空载驶往非洲南部，而未选择经由曼德海峡穿越红海南部水域。

船舶追踪信息显示，其中一艘油轮的目的地是直布罗陀。

这些油轮每艘最多可运载200万桶原油，运营商是沙特国家航运公司（Bahri），公司和沙特当局尚未对此事作出回应。

两名贸易消息人士说，根据他们的评估，这些油轮选择绕道好望角，是出于对安全形势的考虑。

路透社计算，如果这些油轮选择经苏伊士运河返回红海的沙特港口，航程至少增加25天。

受伊朗支持的胡塞武装7月20日宣布对沙特实施海上禁运，在当前伊朗战争中开辟对抗美国及其盟友的新战线。

胡塞武装近日袭击与沙特有关的船只，促使伦敦海事保险市场上周扩大红海“高风险”区域，将更多靠近沙特港口的海域纳入其中。

The Odds: Lone Star Shake-up

9:54 AM EDT, Mon August 3, 2026 / CNN

By Ainsley Ehlers, CNN

Video Ad Feedback

The Odds: Lone Star Shake-up

A deeply unpopular GOP ticket is creating a potential political earthquake in Texas, with the Democratic challenger now leading the Senate race. CNN News Central’s John Berman and Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten break down how the shifting landscape in Texas is tightening the odds for control of the Senate.

3:35 • Source: CNN

US News 8 videos

The Odds: Lone Star Shake-up

3:35

Now playing
• Source: CNN

Multiple angles show Minnesota ICE shooting

1:14

Now playing
• Source: CNN

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey tears into DHS and ICE after woman is fatally shot by agent

8:19

Now playing
• Source: CNN

Witness to ICE agents: ‘you shot her in the f**king face’; says: ‘I can’t let this narrative of self-defense go any further’

6:52

Now playing
• Source: CNN

Noem claims Minneapolis ICE shooting was result of ‘act of domestic terrorism’; police chief responds

7:31

Now playing
• Source: CNN

DHS Secy. Kristi Noem says officer in shooting “followed his training”

5:04

Now playing
• Source: CNN

Sen. Thom Tillis: Stephen Miller needs to know ‘what he’s talking about or get out of this job’

1:36

Now playing
• Source: CNN

‘You’ve done enough’: Gov. Waltz shares message for Trump and Noem

2:39

Now playing
• Source: CNN

See more videos

https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/03/politics/video/the-odds-lone-star-shake-up-cnc-kalpar