Washington Times - Politics, Breaking News, US and World News

U.S. launches ‘self-defense’ strikes after Iran downs military helicopter

President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One, Friday, June 5, 2026, at Morristown Airport in Morristown, N.J. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

By Vaughn Cockayne and Tom Howell Jr. - The Washington Times

The U.S. launched what it called “self-defense strikes” against targets in Iran on Tuesday in response to the downing of a military helicopter earlier in the day, according to U.S. Central Command, which called the operation a “proportional response to Iran’s aggression.”

House sends $70 billion immigration enforcement package to Trump’s desk

A United States Border Patrol agent gestures to a car while conducting immigration enforcement operations, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)

By Lindsey McPherson - The Washington Times

House Republicans on Tuesday passed the party’s $70 billion immigration enforcement funding package, sending it to President Trump for his signature.

A United States Border Patrol agent gestures to a car while conducting immigration enforcement operations, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)

House sends $70 billion immigration enforcement package to Trump’s desk

By Lindsey McPherson - The Washington Times

Attorney General Keith Ellison, right, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz give a news conference in Blaine, Minn., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) ** FILE **

Vance refers Minnesota’s Walz, Ellison to DOJ for fraud probe

By Jeff Mordock - The Washington Times

California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton speaks to reporters outside the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, June 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

California’s post-election flood of mail-in ballots fails to knock Steve Hilton from governor’s race 41 minutes ago

By Susan Ferrechio - The Washington Times

An unmanned surface vessel — or drone boat — helped rescue two Army crew members whose AH-64 Apache helicopter was shot down near the Strait of Hormuz late Monday, according to government officials and defense industry sources. It is believed to be the first time an autonomous boat was used in such an operation, underscoring the growing role the vessels play in U.S. military missions around the world. The boat used in the rescue operation was the Corsair, a 24-foot autonomous surface vessel made by the Texas-based company Saronic. (Photo courtesy of Saronic)

Drone boat helps rescue U.S. Army helicopter crew shot down near Strait of Hormuz

By Ben Wolfgang and John T. Seward - The Washington Times

Files on UFOs, released Friday, May 8, 2026, by the Pentagon, are photographed in Washington. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

Lawmakers, whistleblower demand full disclosure of government’s extraterrestrial files

By Mary McCue Bell - The Washington Times

Happening Now

An unmanned surface vessel — or drone boat — helped rescue two Army crew members whose AH-64 Apache helicopter was shot down near the Strait of Hormuz late Monday, according to government officials and defense industry sources. It is believed to be the first time an autonomous boat was used in such an operation, underscoring the growing role the vessels play in U.S. military missions around the world. The boat used in the rescue operation was the Corsair, a 24-foot autonomous surface vessel made by the Texas-based company Saronic. (Photo courtesy of Saronic)

Drone boat helps rescue U.S. Army helicopter crew shot down near Strait of Hormuz

By Ben Wolfgang and John T. Seward - The Washington Times

Files on UFOs, released Friday, May 8, 2026, by the Pentagon, are photographed in Washington. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

Lawmakers, whistleblower demand full disclosure of government’s extraterrestrial files

By Mary McCue Bell - The Washington Times

President Donald Trump speaks as he tours the ballroom construction around the outside of the White House, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) ** FILE **

Supreme Court awaiting Trump appeals in ballroom battle, CNN defamation lawsuit

By Alex Swoyer - The Washington Times

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried leaves federal court in New York on July 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) **FILE**

Crypto convict Sam Bankman-Fried asks Trump for pardon

By Susan Ferrechio - The Washington Times

Commentary View all

Celebrating American History and the Founding Founders illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Make November National American History and Founders Month

By Jennifer London

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Matt McLain stands near flags in honor of Pride Night in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Memo to MLB: How about ‘Title IX Night’ instead of ‘Pride’?

By Editorial Board

The U.S. Postal Service and mail-in ballots' integrity for elections illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

USPS releases proposed security, transparency standards for mail-in ballots

By Don Palmer

World Cup and drones illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

We must move now for safer American skies

By Gen. Glen D. VanHerck (retired)

E. Jean Carroll arrives at Manhattan federal court, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, in New York. Less than a year after convincing a jury that former President Donald Trump sexually abused her decades ago, writer E. Jean Carroll is set to take the stand again to describe how his verbal attacks affected her after she came forward. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)

Jean Carroll’s ‘lies’ central to Trump’s appeal

By Rowan Scarborough

Culture View all

Ticket booth. File photo credit: Bradley Olson via Shutterstock.

Horror film ‘Obsession’ becomes highest-grossing festival acquisition

By Juliet La Sala - The Washington Times

Jack Black, from second left, Benny Safdie, Donald Glover, Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Keegan Michael Key and Brie Larson pose for photographers at the World premiere of the film "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" in Kyoto Japan, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Reyes) ** FILE **

‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ becomes first $1 billion-grossing box office hit of 2026

By Juliet La Sala - The Washington Times

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith is shown at the NFL's Super Bowl Radio Row in San Francisco, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) ** FILE **

Video
Trump, Stephen A. Smith trade jabs over presidential appearance at Knicks’ game

By Mary McCue Bell - The Washington Times

This image released by Universal Pictures shows director Steven Spielberg, center, with actors Emily Blunt, left, and Wyatt Russell on the set of "Disclosure Day." (Niko Tavernise/Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment via AP)

Spoiler alert: New Spielberg movie ‘Disclosure Day’ follows up on ‘Close Encounters’

By Juliet La Sala - The Washington Times

View all

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives at the Bucharest B9 summit held at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Ukraine has plan to develop its own long-range missiles

Tuesday, June 9 2026

South Korean National Election Commission officials check boxes containing ballots for the local elections at a gymnasium in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, June 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Korea’s out-of-power conservatives rage, rally over ballot shortage fiasco

By Andrew Salmon - The Washington Times

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addresses a media conference during the EU-Armenia summit at the Presidential Palace in Yerevan, Armenia, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Anthony Pizzoferrato) ** FILE **

EU to ban travel to Europe for Russians who fought against Ukraine

By Mike Glenn - The Washington Times

History of China and the Indo-Pacific illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Commentary
Shackled by history: How Asia risks forfeiting its future in the Indo-Pacific

By Miles Yu

Trump Central View all

Eric Trump, left, and Donald Trump Jr. watch during the second round of a welterweight mixed martial arts bout between Robbie Lawler and Colby Covington at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019, in Newark, N.J. Covington won the bout. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) **FILE**

Trump family selling $12K gold coin to promote White House UFC fights

By Jeff Mordock - The Washington Times

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testifies before the House Appropriations Committee, Tuesday, June 2, 2026 in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

Trump nominates Todd Blanche to permanent post as attorney general

By Tom Howell Jr. - The Washington Times

In this Aug. 17, 2018, photo, people arrive before the start of a naturalization ceremony at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field office in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) **FILE**

Federal judge blocks Trump’s $100K fee for H1-B visas

By Jeff Mordock - The Washington Times

President Donald Trump gestures during the National Anthem as he attends an NBA Finals playoff basketball game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, June 8, 2026, with Kai Trump, left, Knicks owner James Dolan and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, right. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Video
Welcome to New York: Trump booed during national anthem, though crowd reserves biggest ire for Spurs

By Jeff Mordock and Tom Howell Jr. - The Washington Times

Politics View all

Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, questions Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the oversight of the Department of Homeland Security in Washington on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf) **FILE**

SPLC on hot seat over evidence staffer shacked up with paid neo-Nazi informant

By Valerie Richardson - The Washington Times

A United States Border Patrol agent gestures to a car while conducting immigration enforcement operations, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)

House sends $70 billion immigration enforcement package to Trump’s desk

By Lindsey McPherson - The Washington Times

Files on UFOs, released Friday, May 8, 2026, by the Pentagon, are photographed in Washington. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

Lawmakers, whistleblower demand full disclosure of government’s extraterrestrial files

By Mary McCue Bell - The Washington Times

The west front of the U.S. Capitol with the Supreme court on the left and the Library of Congress on the right, is seen from the top of the Washington Monument , Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Social Security’s retirement trust fund faces funding shortfall one year earlier than expected

By Fatima Hussein - Associated Press

Dive Deeper View all

A soldier from the Mexican Army's anti-drone squadron displays equipment and tactics to be used during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, during a media presentation in Mexico City, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

From the skies to the streets, feds are bracing for World Cup threats across 11 U.S. cities

By Matt Delaney - The Washington Times

Monica Crowley, White House chief of protocol, watches as Rwanda's President Paul Kagame drives away from the West Wing of the White House, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) **FILE**

Video
Monica Crowley, ambassador and chief of protocol, makes case for Trump ballroom

By Alex Swoyer - The Washington Times

In this May 8, 2019, photo, third-grade student Miles Stidham uses an East Webster High School laptop to do homework in Maben, Miss. The Stidhams are unable to get internet at their home in the country, so they take advantage of the internet in the school's library. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) ** FILE **

FCC takes aim at school internet program as Big Tech backlash grows

By Susan Ferrechio - The Washington Times

Mexico’s head coach Javier Aguirre gives instructions to his players during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against Australia Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong) ** FILE **

‘Beautiful Game’ faces ugly test: Racism, slurs in stands

By Liam Griffin - The Washington Times

National View all

Seattle Stadium is seen in the background as a person rides a scooter past a series of tents on a trail near the stadium ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer matches Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in downtown Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Some host cities are aiming to house, not arrest, homeless people ahead of the World Cup

By Michael Casey and R.J. Rico and Charlotte Kramon - Associated Press

FILE - A sign marks the entrance to a series of hardened tents at the Camp East Montana immigrant detention center in the desert at a U.S. Army base on the outskirts of El Paso, Texas, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee, File)

Largest ICE detention facility wasted millions and put detainees at risk, report finds

By Michael Biesecker and Ryan J. Foley - Associated Press

A Kroger grocery store is seen in Monroe, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, File)

Kroger to pay $1.25 million over alleged mislabeling of calorie content of bread products

By Brad Matthews - The Washington Times

Dry riverbed earth texture. File photo credit: Tupungato via Shutterstock.

Drought, and water releases from dam, kill all fish in Arizona lake

By Brad Matthews - The Washington Times

World View all

President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One, Friday, June 5, 2026, at Morristown Airport in Morristown, N.J. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

U.S. launches ‘self-defense’ strikes after Iran downs military helicopter

By Vaughn Cockayne and Tom Howell Jr. - The Washington Times

An unmanned surface vessel — or drone boat — helped rescue two Army crew members whose AH-64 Apache helicopter was shot down near the Strait of Hormuz late Monday, according to government officials and defense industry sources. It is believed to be the first time an autonomous boat was used in such an operation, underscoring the growing role the vessels play in U.S. military missions around the world. The boat used in the rescue operation was the Corsair, a 24-foot autonomous surface vessel made by the Texas-based company Saronic. (Photo courtesy of Saronic)

Drone boat helps rescue U.S. Army helicopter crew shot down near Strait of Hormuz

By Ben Wolfgang and John T. Seward - The Washington Times

President Donald Trump talks with reporters before boarding Air Force One at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, early Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump vows to retaliate for downed U.S. chopper as Middle East turmoil imperils peace talks

By Vaughn Cockayne and Tom Howell Jr. - The Washington Times

FILE - An Afghan woman walks out of a cell inside the women's section of the Pul-e-Charkhi prison in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sept. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)

Taliban open fire during protest over arrests of women for dress code violation

By Elena Becatoros - Associated Press

Sports View all

FILE - Miles Russell smiles after his tee shot on the 10th hole during the first round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament at Detroit Country Club, June 27, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

The U.S. Open is getting away from its roots with a shrinking number of qualifiers

By Doug Ferguson - Associated Press

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots over New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during second half of Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Monday, June 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are undaunted on the road at the Knicks in the NBA Finals

By Stephen Whyno - Associated Press

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

Commanders’ Daniels ranks fifth in NFL merchandise sales

By Liam Griffin - The Washington Times

Washington Spirit's forward Trinity Rodman stands during the second half of a NWSL soccer match against Bay FC in San Francisco on on Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Benjamin Fanjoy) **FILE**

Spirit’s Rodman, Kang named to inaugural TIME100 Sports list

By Liam Griffin - The Washington Times

Higher Ground View all

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, addressed a gathering of the nation's Christian and Jewish colleges on Monday, June 8, 2026, at The Catholic University of America. (Sean Salai/The Washington Times)

Religious schools push ‘respectful disagreement’ in Trump era

By Sean Salai - The Washington Times

A police officer stands guard inside the St. Francis Catholic Church, a day after an attack that targeted worshipers in Owo, Nigeria, June 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba, File)

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Bold and Blunt: Team building the Jesus way

By Cheryl K. Chumley - The Washington Times

Interpreting the bible illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

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Pastor’s open letter to Senate candidate James Talarico says it all

By Everett Piper

Attendees hold up their ballots during the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Anaheim, Calif., June 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Southern Baptist Convention weighs stricter ban on churches with women pastors

By Peter Smith - Associated Press

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President Donald Trump speaks as he tours the ballroom construction around the outside of the White House, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) ** FILE **

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Karmelo Anthony's mugshot from April 2, 2025. (Credit: Frisco Police Dept.)

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lays a wreath of flowers during a ceremony at the US cemetery to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings, in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez)

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D.C. Council member Janeese Lewis George speaks during the council hearing on the fiscal year 2027 budget at the Wilson Building, City Hall, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

D.C. mayoral candidates fight it out in final days before election

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Eric Trump, left, and Donald Trump Jr. watch during the second round of a welterweight mixed martial arts bout between Robbie Lawler and Colby Covington at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019, in Newark, N.J. Covington won the bout. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) **FILE**

Trump family selling $12K gold coin to promote White House UFC fights

By Jeff Mordock - The Washington Times

California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton speaks to reporters outside the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, June 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

California’s post-election flood of mail-in ballots fails to knock Steve Hilton from governor’s race 41 minutes ago

By Susan Ferrechio - The Washington Times

President Donald Trump watches Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, June 8, 2026, with Knicks owner James Dolan and Kai Trump. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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Attorney General Keith Ellison, right, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz give a news conference in Blaine, Minn., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) ** FILE **

Vance refers Minnesota’s Walz, Ellison to DOJ for fraud probe

By Jeff Mordock - The Washington Times

Mexico’s head coach Javier Aguirre gives instructions to his players during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against Australia Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong) ** FILE **

‘Beautiful Game’ faces ugly test: Racism, slurs in stands

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Workers continue building the stage for a future UFC fight on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Nearly 50% of Americans say UFC event tarnishes White House image

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President Donald Trump gestures during the National Anthem as he attends an NBA Finals playoff basketball game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden in New York, Monday, June 8, 2026, with Kai Trump, left, Knicks owner James Dolan and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, right. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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Welcome to New York: Trump booed during national anthem, though crowd reserves biggest ire for Spurs

By Jeff Mordock and Tom Howell Jr. - The Washington Times

This satellite image provided by Vantor shows the aftermath of the reported drone attacks that struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, June 3, 2026. (Satellite image ©2026 Vantor via AP)

Swarmer’s Wall Street debut points to new era in U.S.-Ukraine defense ties

By Guillaume Ptak - Special to The Washington Times

An attendee monitors results at an election night event for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)

Raman clinches spot in Los Angeles mayoral runoff against Bass, as Pratt slips to third

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Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, listens during a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on oversight of fraud and misuse of Federal funds in Minnesota, Wed., March 4, 2026, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Seated left is Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey Jr.) **FILE**

Minnesota officials ignored years of fraud warnings, House report says

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Farmers spray water in a burned agricultural field next to a projectile near the town of Najha, Syria, Monday, June 8, 2026, after debris from Iranian missile launches during the Iran-Israel conflict fell in the area. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Israel, Iran hold their fire after Trump pressures Netanyahu

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President Donald Trump talks with reporters before boarding Air Force One at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, early Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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Two crew members rescued after U.S. Army helicopter goes down near Strait of Hormuz

By Ben Wolfgang - The Washington Times

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testifies before the House Appropriations Committee, Tuesday, June 2, 2026 in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

Trump nominates Todd Blanche to permanent post as attorney general

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President Donald Trump speaks as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu listens during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago in in Palm Beach, Fla., on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) **FILE**

Iran war pushes Trump-Netanyahu friendship to limit

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