WFMX

President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida on Monday in the hopes of advancing the ceasefire deal that the president brokered in Gaza.  Ahead of their closed-door meeting, Netanyahu also met with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu comes one day after the president hosted Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago as part of the U.S. bid to negotiate a peace deal with Russia.

Prior to the meeting, Trump told reporters that the two leaders will discuss the need for Hamas to disarm, Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs, and Syria’s new government. Netanyahu, standing beside Trump, praised the President: “I’ll say it again and again and again, we’ve never had a friend like President Trump in the White House. It’s not even close. And I think you can judge that by not merely by the frequency of our meetings, but by the content and the intensity.”  Trump responded, “Well, I just want to say that it’s very important who the prime minister and president of Israel is. We have a great relationship. He can be very difficult on occasion, but you need a strong man. If you had a weak man, you wouldn’t have Israel right now. Israel would have been, you know, Israel, with most other leaders, would not exist today.”

Standing alongside Netanyahu after the meeting’s conclusion, Trump said the talks with Netanyahu were productive, but disagreements remain over the occupied West Bank. Trump also said Hamas “will be given a very short period of time” to disarm to move to the second phase of his Gaza peace plan or “there will be hell to pay;” adding that Israel has “100%” lived up to the plan.  Trump said of Hamas, “They’re going to be given a very short period of time to disarm. And we’ll see how that works out. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be in charge of that, from our side. But if they don’t disarm, as they agreed to do — they agreed to it — then there will be hell to pay for them. And we don’t want that. We’re not looking for that. But they have to disarm within a fairly short period of time.”  Trump added: “we have 59 countries that signed on, big countries, countries that are outside of the Middle East as you know the Middle East. They want to go in and wipe out Hamas. They don’t want Israel, they don’t need Israel; they want to do it because it’s the right thing to do. Because they were for the deal, based on the fact that Hamas pledged, they swore, that they were going to disarm. Now, if they’re not going to disarm, those same countries will wipe out Hamas.”

Trump also threatened Iran with potential consequences, saying that Iran “may be behaving badly” and suggesting the country was trying to rebuild nuclear sites after the U.S. struck three of them this year:  “If it’s confirmed, look, there will be consequences. Consequences will be very powerful, maybe more powerful than last time.” In response, Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, said that “any aggression will receive a strong, immediate response that goes beyond what the attacker expects,” (per the state-run Nour News agency).

Netanyahu said he had a “very, very productive meeting” with the president, and he thanked him for his partnership, and said that Mr. Trump would receive the Israel Prize, the most prestigious award in Israel, for his work on the peace negotiations.  Netanyahu told reporters: “We’ve never awarded it to a non-Israeli. And we’re going to award it this year to President Trump.”

Editorial credit: noamgalai / Shutterstock.com

President Donald Trump said the United States recently destroyed a major facility in Venezuela tied to drug trafficking, a claim that, if confirmed, would represent a significant escalation in Washington’s campaign against the South American nation.

Trump made the remarks during a radio interview on 77 WABC’s “Sid and Friends in the Morning,” while discussing his administration’s efforts to disrupt narcotics flows from the region. He described the target as a large site used to support drug-smuggling operations by sea.  Trump said: “And we just knocked out, I don’t know if you read or you saw, they have a big plant or a big facility where they send the, you know, where the ships come from. Two nights ago we knocked that out, so we hit them very hard.”

In the interview with WABC radio, the station’s owner, John Catsimatidis, argued that “Venezuela is going to provide a lot more oil to the United States of America if Maduro leaves,” referring to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Trump replied, “well, it’s about a lot of things. It’s about that. It’s about, you know, they took our oil, they took it, and they also sent millions of people in there from jails into our country, from jail, some of the worst people on Earth.”

The president offered no location or operational details during the interview, and U.S. officials have not independently confirmed the reported strike – leaving key questions unanswered about the scope and consequences of the alleged operation. The Pentagon referred questions about Trump’s statements to the White House, who did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The CIA also declined to discuss the matter. The New York Times later reported that U.S. officials said Trump was referring to a drug facility in Venezuela that had been eliminated, though they also declined to provide specifics.

Speaking to reporters Monday at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump expanded on his comments, pointing to damage at a port area allegedly used to load drugs onto boats. “Well, it doesn’t matter, but there was a major explosion in the dock area, where they load the boats up with drugs,” he said. He added that the strike hit what he called “the implementation area,” saying, “that is no longer around.”

If accurate, the strike would mark the first publicly acknowledged U.S. attack on land inside Venezuela since the Trump administration began a broader counternarcotics campaign that has largely focused on maritime operations. Since September, the U.S. military has targeted more than two dozen vessels it says were carrying drugs, resulting in at least 105 deaths, according to U.S. figures.  Earlier this month, Trump ordered what he called a “complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, striking at the government’s primary revenue source. U.S. forces have since seized oil tankers off Venezuela’s coast.

The president has repeatedly accused Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro of facilitating drug trafficking and collaborating with criminal groups designated by the U.S. as terrorist organizations, allegations Maduro denies. Trump has also claimed — without evidence — that Venezuela released prisoners who later entered the United States.  Trump last week suggested it would be “smart” for Maduro to step aside, saying: “He can do whatever he wants, it’s alright, whatever he wants to do. If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough.”

Editorial credit: IAB Studio / Shutterstock.com

On Sunday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, in the latest attempt to end Ukraine’s war with Russia. The high-stakes meeting comes at a key moment in efforts to end nearly four years of war initiated when Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022.

Zelenskyy arrived shortly before 1:30 p.m., with Trump greeting the Ukrainian president and the pair shaking hands, flanked by American and Ukrainian flags.  Asked whether he thinks Putin is serious about the peace, Mr. Trump told reporters “I do. I think he is. I think they both are.” Trump said his message to Putin earlier in the day was, “got to make a deal. Got to get it done. Too many people dying. And I think both presidents want to make a deal.” Mr. Trump said “I do believe we have the makings of a deal that’s good for Ukraine, good for everybody, adding that “we’re going to have a great meeting today” and said he planned to call Putin back after the meeting with Zelenskyy to “continue a negotiation.”

During a news conference after their roughly two and a half-hour meeting, Trump and Zelenskyy indicated they are close to a potential peace deal and struck an optimistic tone, while acknowledging that challenges remain. Trump said: “You can say 95% but I don’t like to say percentages. I just think we’re doing very well. There are one or two very thorny issues, very tough issues, but I think we’re doing very well. We made a lot of progress today.”

Zelenskyy echoed those sentiments, telling reporters that “We had a really great discussion. We discussed all the aspects of the peace framework.” He added that the deal as a whole was 90% agreed, saying U.S., Europe and Ukraine security guarantees are “almost agreed.”  As for a timeline on finalizing a potential deal, Trump said the best case scenario is in “a few weeks .. I think we’ll get it done. I don’t want to say when, but I think we’ll get it done.” The two leaders also said they spoke with the leaders of France, Finland, Poland, Norway, Italy, the U.K. and Germany, as well as the presidents of NATO and the European Commission after their meeting at Mar-a-Lago. They also said that Trump is expected to host Zelenskyy and other European leaders in Washington in January.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on X that several European leaders had spoken with Trump and Zelenskyy. von der Leyen wrote: “We had a good, one-hour-long call with @POTUS, President @ZelenskyyUa and several European leaders to discuss their meeting today on peace negotiations. There was good progress, which we welcomed. Europe is ready to keep working with Ukraine and our US partners to consolidate this progress. Paramount to this effort is to have ironclad security guarantees from day one.”

Trump had noted earlier on Sunday said that he had spoke with Putin ahead of his meeting with Zelenskyy. Trump wrote on Truth Social: “I just had a good and very productive telephone call with President Putin of Russia prior to my meeting, at 1:00 P.M. today, with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. The meeting will take place in the main dining room of Mar-a-Lago. Press is invited. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT”

Zelenskyy said just days ago that he had a “good conversation” with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law. Zelenskyy said the two leaders planned to talk about economic and security agreements and the “territorial issues” that remain major sticking points between Russia and Ukraine. Zelenskyy had also told reporters earlier this week that a draft 20-point peace proposal is roughly 90% ready. Agreed upon by U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators, the proposal is under review by the Kremlin, although Moscow has shown no signs of budging on its territorial demands. Chief obstacles to an agreement with Russia include the Donbas areas most highly coveted by Putin, U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine, and the status of Europe’s largest nuclear plant. Zelenskyy conceded last week he’d be willing to withdraw Ukrainian troops from Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland if Russia pulls back and allows the area to become a demilitarized zone to be monitored by international forces.

Editorial credit: Joshua Sukoff / Shutterstock.com

A midair crash involving two helicopters over southern New Jersey claimed one life and left another person in critical condition as of late Sunday morning, according to authorities. The incident occurred in Hammonton, a community of roughly 15,000 people in Atlantic County, sitting about 35 miles southeast of Philadelphia.

Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said rescuers responded to a report of an aviation crash at about 11:25 a.m near Hammonton Municipal Airport in the area of the 100 block of Basin Road. Police, fire, and EMS units arrived to find that two helicopters had collided in the air and crash-landed, with one aircraft engulfed in flames that responders quickly put out. New Jersey Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way wrote on X that “The Atlantic County Office of Emergency Management, Hammonton Police Department, and @NJSP personnel are on the scene.”

Federal officials said the incident involved an Enstrom F-28A helicopter and an Enstrom 280C helicopter. Each aircraft was carrying only its pilot at the time of the collision. One pilot was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was rushed to a nearby hospital with critical, life-threatening injuries.

Witnesses described a terrifying scene as the helicopters fell from the sky. Local resident Dan Dameshek told NBC10 that he recalls hearing a “loud snap” before seeing the aircraft lose control, adding that he “turned around and saw one helicopter go from right side up to upside down and dive into the ground. For a second it looked like the other helicopter was OK, then I heard another smack like metal slapping metal and it started spinning out of control.”

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were notified shortly after the crash, with the NTSB taking the lead on the investigation. In a preliminary statement, the FAA confirmed the midair collision and noted that its findings are subject to change as more information becomes available.

Investigators will examine a wide range of factors, including pilot qualifications, aircraft maintenance records, weather conditions, flight data, and air traffic communications. Wreckage from both helicopters will be documented before being moved to a secure location for further analysis. The NTSB said a preliminary report is expected within 30 days — a final determination of probable cause could take up to two years.

Authorities have not released the identities of those involved. Anyone with information related to the crash has been asked to contact investigators at witness@ntsb.gov.

Editorial credit: Enrique Micaelo / Shutterstock.com

Pope Leo XIV delivered his first Christmas address as pontiff to issue a sweeping appeal for empathy, peace and international cooperation, focusing repeatedly on the suffering caused by war, poverty and displacement, particularly in Gaza and Ukraine.

Addressing about 26,000 people from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing, the first U.S.-born pope urged believers to reject indifference and recognize the shared fragility of humanity. He framed the Christmas story as a reminder that suffering and hope are inseparable.  The Pope said:  “In becoming man, Jesus took upon himself our fragility, identifying with each one of us: with those who have nothing left and have lost everything, like the inhabitants of Gaza; with those who are prey to hunger and poverty, like the Yemeni people; with those who are fleeing their homeland to seek a future elsewhere, like the many refugees and migrants who cross the Mediterranean or traverse the American continent.”

Earlier in the day, Leo presided over his first Christmas Day Mass beneath the ornate interior of St. Peter’s Basilica.  In his homily, he stressed that peace can only emerge through genuine listening and dialogue, saying:  “There will be peace when our monologues are interrupted and, enriched by listening, we fall to our knees before the humanity of the other.”  Leo spoke directly about Gaza, describing civilians living in extreme conditions amid continuing humanitarian distress. “How, then, can we not think of the tents in Gaza, exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold?” He broadened his message to include civilians in other conflict zones, warning that “fragile is the flesh of defenseless populations, tried by so many wars, ongoing or concluded, leaving behind rubble and open wounds.”  He also highlighted the plight of young people forced into combat, saying they experience “the senselessness of what is asked of them, and the falsehoods that fill the pompous speeches of those who send them to their deaths.”

Leo also appealed directly for an end to fighting in Ukraine during his Christmas blessing, calling on all sides to pursue talks. “May the clamour of weapons cease, and may the parties involved, with the support and commitment of the international community, find the courage to engage in sincere, direct and respectful dialogue,” he said. He offered prayers for what he described as the “tormented people of Ukraine,” nearly four years into the war triggered by Russia’s 2022 invasion.

The pope also called for justice, peace and stability across the Middle East, including Lebanon, Israel, the Palestinian territories and Syria, and remembered victims of violence and instability in Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso and Congo. He urged reconciliation in Myanmar, renewed dialogue across Latin America, and humanitarian support for communities affected by natural disasters in South Asia and Oceania. Addressing tensions in Southeast Asia, he appealed for the restoration of “the ancient friendship between Thailand and Cambodia.”

Leo revived the tradition of offering holiday greetings in multiple languages, drawing cheers when he spoke in English and Spanish – the latter reflecting his years as a missionary and archbishop in Peru.  Leo, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, was elected in May, becoming the first American pope in Church history. His inaugural Christmas celebrations come as the Catholic Church approaches the close of the Holy Year, set to conclude on Jan. 6 with the Feast of the Epiphany.

Editorial credit: Marco Iacobucci Epp / Shutterstock.com

President Donald Trump announced that the United States carried out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day, saying the operation targeted extremists he accused of attacking civilians, particularly Christians. The strikes come shortly after separate U.S. military action against ISIS positions in Syria, launched in response to an attack earlier this month that killed American service members and an interpreter. Details about casualties, specific targets, or the full scope of the operation were not immediately released. The White House said additional information would be provided later.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump described the action as a decisive military operation, writing that a “powerful and deadly strike” had been launched against ISIS elements in the region. He said the militants had been “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” The president added that the strikes followed earlier warnings to the group: “I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was. The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing,” Trump wrote.

Hegseth echoed the president’s remarks after the strikes, posting on X that there would be “more to come” and thanking Nigerian authorities for their cooperation. He wrote: “The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end. The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas.” He concluded his message with, “Merry Christmas!”

U.S. Africa Command later confirmed the operation, stating that the strikes were conducted “in coordination with Nigerian authorities.” The Pentagon also shared an unclassified short video appearing to show a missile launch from a naval vessel. A U.S. defense official said the attacks hit multiple militants at known ISIS camps.

Nigerian officials acknowledged the strikes and said they were part of an ongoing security partnership with Washington. A spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two countries are engaged in structured counterterrorism cooperation, including intelligence sharing and strategic coordination, which led to “precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West.”

The announcement followed weeks of escalating rhetoric. In early November, Trump posted a video threatening to intervene in Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” and later said he had directed the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action. At the time, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly confirmed that the Department of Defense was “preparing for action.”  Days after his November warnings, the U.S. State Department redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” under U.S. law for alleged “severe violations of religious freedom.” Nigeria was also recently added to a U.S. travel ban list imposing partial entry restrictions.

Nigeria’s population is roughly divided between a Muslim-majority north and a predominantly Christian south Nigerian leaders have pushed back on claims that the country is religiously intolerant. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has acknowledged violence but said such portrayals “does not reflect our national reality.” On Christmas Eve, Tinubu posted that he prayed “for peace in our land, especially between individuals of differing religious beliefs. I stand committed to doing everything within my power to enshrine religious freedom in Nigeria and to protect Christians, Muslims, and all Nigerians from violence.”

Editorial credit: Joey Sussman / Shutterstock.com