The Evangelical Pope | See Others as Brothers and Sisters

Each week we let Saint Pope John Paul II share meaningful signposts to spark socio-economic resolves through justice and righteousness combined with mercy and compassion; in short, love.

               21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you ...

               __ John 17:21 (New International Version)

Buenos Aires, Argentina – 12 April 1987 | As I express my appreciation for all those initiatives aimed at strengthening the bonds that unite us, I raise my fervent prayer to the Most High that he may assist with his grace those responsible for the Churches in the land of Argentina, and that one day we may attain the unity we desire.

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Are you curious about humanity's biggest challenge? It involves those who haven't yet met Christ, especially those seeking to understand God's love. Humanity often tries to detach from God, feeling abandoned and unloved. This diminishes the ability to see others as brothers and sisters, leading to destructive actions and loss.

Connection and compassion are vital for well-being.

...

Humanity cannot fully grasp its true self without Christ; in essence, understanding human nature is impossible without Him. We cannot comprehend our identity, the foundation of our dignity, or our ultimate purpose and destiny without Christ. This understanding is only attainable through Him.

Therefore, Christ's presence is vital to human history worldwide, regardless of latitude or longitude. Leaving Christ out of human history is an act that contradicts humanity itself.

Excerpted from:

VIAJE APOSTÓLICO A URUGUAY, CHILE Y ARGENTINA

DISCURSO DEL SANTO PADRE JUAN PAOLO II, DURANTE EL ENCUENTRO ECUMÉNICO EN LA NUNCIATURA APOSTÓLICA, Buenos Aires, domingo 12 de abril de 1987.

https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/es/speeches/1987/april/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19870412_incontro-ecumenico.html

EDITOR’S NOTE | ZIONISM: RETURN TO GOD, NOT A RETURN TO THE LAND

Pete Hegzegth’s prayer could have been more effective if he started with the words, “Our Father in Heaven ... “ and ended with “and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “I’d be a Christian if it weren’t for those Christians.”

Time for Real Zionism9 … “To Return to God and Creating a Heaven on Earth”

It is time for real Zionism. Simply stated, ‘Zionism’ means doing God’s work, God’s people creating a heaven on earth; ordinary people doing extraordinary things; exemplary in every way, the Light Among Nations.

Time for Real Jihad10 ... “To Return to God Striving in the Path of God … al-jihad fi sabil Allah.”

It is time. The word ‘Jihad’ frequently appears in the Qur’an with and without military connotations, idiomatically articulated as "striving in the path of God (al-jihad fi sabil Allah).” Jihad, Arabic: جهاد‎‎ jihād, an expression of hope, literally striving or struggling, especially with a praiseworthy aim.

The word ‘Zion’ is among the most sacred in Judaism and Christianity and is comparable in sacredness and connotations to ‘Jihad.’ Both words symbolize a connection among Jews, Christians, and Muslims within the Abrahamic faiths. Judaism and Islam are especially close religions, and historically, Jews and Muslims have coexisted peacefully for centuries.

Many classical works of Judaism are written in Arabic. Historically, both have lived a lot better together than within Christian realms.

The relationship among Jews, Christians, and Muslims is marked by moments of grief, interwoven with lights and shadows.

Can we work toward real reconciliation among all believers in the one God?

Is it possible for us to unite in Spirit to pursue what is most beneficial for everyone? Can we simply coexist by living side by side?

• Judaism reveres the Almighty as the protector of humanity and as the God who affirms the promises of life.
• Christianity teaches that God is love and that humanity, made in His image, should demonstrate Agape love.
• Islam describes God as good, compassionate, and merciful, bestowing His abundant mercy upon believers.

Inspired by these convictions, those who are one in the Abrahamic Faiths – Jews, Christians, and Muslims – reject the supposition that hatred threatens the earth; that endless wars continue to plague humanity; that mankind will destroy itself.

And yet, peace between our people remains a bridge too far unless trust can be the thrust to bring us together.

Zion has a broad spectrum of meaning that extends beyond any single entity or identity.

Zion, meaning ‘fortification,’ is recognized as the seat of power not only for the ancient kingdom of Israel but also as the spiritual Kingdom of God. It is another name for Jerusalem, the ‘City of David,’ but has historically been overshadowed by the title ‘City of God.” Isaiah 52:1-2 refers to it as the “City of God,’ where God's people become the “Light among nations.” Jeremiah 31:6 calls on believers to “Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.” Mount Zion symbolizes the spiritual Kingdom of God, as stated in Hebrews 12:22: “you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,’ which is the New Jerusalem descending from heaven (Revelation 21:10-26), representing ‘heaven on earth.’

In Christianity, ZION is wherever God is.

Christians are commanded to spread the Good News about the Kingdom of God (on Earth as in Heaven) to all nations.

               14 This good news of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world. It will be a witness to all nations. Then the end will come.

               __ Matthew 24:14 (International Version)

We have yet to begin.

It might take another ten to 10,000 years, if not 1 million years, before Christians themselves understand what the Good News about the Kingdom of God truly means. Christians have spread Christianity for two millennia, totally clueless about what Christianity means.

van Kempen, Abraham A Christian Zionism ... Enraptured Around a Golden Calf - 2nd Edition: Evangelicals Rediscovering New Testament Revelations (pp. 14-16). (Function). Kindle Edition.

EDITORIAL | “IT AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER.”

Words of Wisdom by Yogi Berra, “It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over.”

In our current geopolitical dilemma, this essentially means that the ‘forever’ wars will end once the EU, US, NATO, and the Coalition of the Willing lay down their weapons, allowing the rest of humanity to do the same.

Iran will persist in targeting its most vulnerable points to break free from Western dominance. Similarly, Russia, China, India, and all BRICS nations will follow suit.

Unipolarity conflicts with multipolarity. Deterrence is king. To illustrate, in under 45 minutes, nuclear war could erupt if Russia, China, Iran, India, Pakistan, and North Korea launch their arsenals against the 800 US bases worldwide, the 550 US bases within the United States, and the over 40 EU-US/NATO bases in Europe. If the EU-US/NATO retaliates—which is likely—their response would trigger an automated response from Russia, China, Iran, India, Pakistan, and North Korea, and destroy all major European capitals and every urban center in the US, Canada, and Australia within less than an hour. I need not elaborate on what follows. North America, together with large parts of Russia and China, would experience complete destruction, resulting in hundreds of millions of deaths and many more injured on all sides.

Iran, Russia, and China demand a total and complete cease and desist from the EU-US/NATO + the Coalition of the Willing Hegemon. They will remain resolute in their demands. Iran has launched nearly 5,000 missiles and drones at carefully targeted military sites in the Gulf states, and over 900 into Israel. Given that Israel is 70 times smaller than Iran, this level of strikes is comparable to 630,000 attacks against Israel, versus the 11,500 strikes carried out by Israel and the United States on Iran.

Nonetheless, it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.

Abraham A. van Kempen

Sr. Editor

P.S. It’s time for Presidents Trump, Xi, and Putin to become friends to eliminate their enemies, echoing President Abraham Lincoln’s words: “Destroy your enemy by becoming friends.”

THE IRAN WAR IS A POLITICAL PROJECT FROM THE TORAH

Many aspects of the US-Israeli aggression look like attempts to fulfill biblical prophecies

© Jon Hicks / Getty Images

By Matthieu Buge, who has worked on Russia for the magazine L’Histoire, the Russian film magazine Séance, and as a columnist for Le Courrier de Russie. He is the author of the book Le Cauchemar russe (‘The Russian Nightmare’)

HomeWorld News
30 March 2026

The Iran-Israel tension isn’t a typical war driven only by geopolitics. While their rivalry is well known, much of the focus is on the Strait of Hormuz and the economic fallout from disruptions there. The timing appears to overshadow the Epstein scandal amidst chaos in Palestinian, Lebanese, Iranian, and Israeli issues. But are these concerns fleeting?

The conflict initiated by Israel, with US involvement as Joe Kent noted upon resigning as counterterrorism chief, can be seen as an irrational religious and eschatological pursuit rooted in Hebraic mythology. Let’s examine its three main pillars.

Amalek

In Exodus, Amalek is the founder of a nation that attacks the Israelites after they leave Egypt without provocation. The Amalekites are seen as Israel's most relentless enemies, and Jehovah gave a direct command about them.

               Deuteronomy 25:17-19: “Don’t forget what Amalek did to you on the road after you left Egypt, how he attacked you when you were tired, barely able to put one foot in front of another, mercilessly cut off your stragglers, and had no regard for God. When God, your God, gives you rest from all the enemies that surround you in the inheritance-land God, your God, is giving you to possess, you are to wipe the name of Amalek from off the Earth. Don’t forget!”

Read more
Is the war in Iran the Biblical end times?

               Samuel 15:3: “Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.”

At this point, it goes beyond genocide. Some might see it as biblical mythology. In October 2023, Netanyahu referenced the Amalek story when the IDF entered Gaza, and again in March 2026 about Iran:

               “Remember what Amalek did to you.’ We remember – and we act.”

The message is clear.

Esther

Then we have to move on to the Book of Esther.

The Israelis wiped out the Amalekites except for one survivor, Haman, whose descendant became grand vizier of Persia. Esther, a Jewish orphan adopted by Mordecai, became Queen. Haman, representing Amalek, aimed to exterminate the Jews because Mordecai refused to bow. Mordecai urged Esther to persuade the King to stop Haman’s plan. The King, angry with Haman, reversed the situation, enabling the Jews to defeat their enemies in Persia. This victory is celebrated annually during Purim.

One can only speculate on the extent of Iranian infiltration by Israeli secret services; without it, Israel wouldn’t operate so effectively against Tehran.

Gog and Magog

Next, the Book of Ezekiel.

Prophet Ezekiel saw visions of ‘Gog and Magog’ attacking Israel, defeated by Jehovah. This implies a new temple, the coming of the ‘Messiah,’ and Israel’s dominance. While their true identity is debated, Revelation describes them as pagan nations opposing the Israelites.

Read more
The war on Iran could remake the world

Examining the current conflict, Israel, supported by Christian Zionists, faces Iran, backed by Russia and China. Russia, a multi-confessional country, is mainly Orthodox Christian. China follows Buddhism, while Iran, an Islamic Republic, retains Zoroastrian roots, as seen in Nowruz and the Strait of Hormuz, named after Hormoz, the Zoroastrian deity of wisdom and light.

The biblical pattern depicts a coalition of diverse nations in an existential conflict against Israel, often simplified to a final battle between Gog and Magog (Iran, China, Russia) and biblical Israel (Zionist Israelis and Americans). However, Chinese pragmatism and the presence of many Russian Jews in Israel suggest Beijing and Moscow are unlikely to act against Israel directly. Still, many Israeli and American Zionists believe in this mythological view. For example, Pete Hegseth, US Secretary of War, called the creation of Israel a 'miracle,' and Mike Huckabee, US ambassador to Israel, once said that if Israelis wanted to take everything in the Middle East, "it would be fine."

Western media labels Iran a “theocracy” and Israel as “the only democracy in the Middle East.” Yet, geopolitical events reveal the US-Israel alliance is driven by a religious vision with aims like establishing Greater Israel, rebuilding the temple, and awaiting the Messiah. Much of the Torah and Talmud seems more political than religious, and Israel operates as a theocracy in disguise. Even if Iran wins, Israelis will see nations opposing them as Gog and Magog.

IRAN IS WINNING THE WAR WITH THE US. THIS IS HOW

Iran is winning the war started by Trump. This is now admitted even in the Western media. Tehran has destroyed major US military bases in West Asia, expelling American troops to Europe.

Watch the Video Here (31 minutes, 37 seconds)

Table of Contents (Topics)

0:00 Iran is winning the war
2:32 Iran's strategic goals
2:47 Failure of regime change
3:34 US military bases
4:25 Iran destroyed US bases
7:32 USA wages war from Europe
8:53 Bases used by the USA in Europe
9:30 Iran's objectives
10:05 Gulf monarchies (GCC)
13:46 Normalization with Israel
14:54 Threats to Gulf regimes
16:40 Lifting of US sanctions
19:10 Oil and Strait of Hormuz
22:34 Escalation dominance
23:33 Costs of the war
25:34 USA running out of missiles
26:59 Deterrence
29:17 The US and Israel are losing
29:42 Multipolar world
31:34 Outro

By Ben Norton
Editor in Chief
Geopolitical Economy Report
Substack.com
4 April 2026

More than a month has passed since the United States and Israel launched a war of aggression against Iran on February 28.

It is now clear that Iran is winning this war.

• The Donald Trump administration has failed to carry out regime change or state collapse.
• The Iranian government has proven to be resilient.
• Tehran has used asymmetric tactics to defend itself, targeting the weak points of the US empire and exacting a heavy price on its military, economy, and allies.

In fact, Iran has successfully destroyed the US military bases in West Asia, forcing many American troops out of the region. The Pentagon is primarily waging this war from bases in Europe.

Western media admits Iran is winning the war

The fact that Iran is winning the war is even being admitted by major Western media outlets.

The British newspaper The Independent printed an article titled “Iran is the clear winner as Trump’s desperate bid for peace shows he wants out of the war”.

Politico published an op-ed arguing that the “war against Iran is a far bigger strategic error” than the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Ironically, this article was written by the former US ambassador to NATO, Ivo Daalder, who had previously supported the war in Iraq.

Most US media outlets helped to promote the George W. Bush administration’s invasion of Iraq, which blatantly violated international law. In fact, the corporate press has supported every major US war for decades, including the wars in Korea, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, Iraq (twice), Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Yemen, the list goes on and on.

This is the first major US war in decades that the Western media has been criticizing from the very beginning.

So the writing is on the wall. It is clear to everyone that this conflict is a disaster, and Iran is winning.

Foreign Affairs is the official publication of the Council on Foreign Relations, whose members are a veritable Who’s Who of the US ruling class. Yet even Foreign Affairs published an article acknowledging that Iran is winning this war.

The author of the essay, Narges Bajoghli, is a professor at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University, which is a significant recruiting ground for the US State Department.

Bajoghli wrote the following in Foreign Affairs (all emphasis added):

Based on typical conflict metrics, Iran appears to be struggling against the US and Israel, with key targets destroyed and military assets degraded. However, these are not the best indicators of Iran’s true status in the war. The real measure isn’t how well Iran withstands damage—it's whether Tehran is meeting its strategic goals. On this front, Iran is actually coming out ahead.

This outcome is deliberate. Tehran has been preparing for this conflict for nearly forty years, starting with the Iran-Iraq War from 1980 to 1988, which was its first major military challenge. Currently, Iran is implementing a strategy that has successfully neutralized vital U.S. and Israeli air defense systems, caused significant damage to U.S. military facilities in the Persian Gulf, and inflicted economic hardship while creating divisions between the U.S. and its Gulf allies. In essence, the Iranian regime is not merely enduring the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes; the economic and political struggles it imposes on its opponents are, strategically, giving Iran a significant advantage.

Iran’s strategic objectives in the war

To assess if Iran is winning the war, it is necessary to analyze Tehran’s goals.

The first and most obvious strategic objective of Iran has been to prevent regime change and state collapse.

The Trump administration initially thought it could overthrow the Iranian government by carrying out so-called decapitation strikes, assassinating its senior political and military leaders.

Nevertheless, Washington has failed to orchestrate regime change. In fact, the Iranian government has not only shown that it is resilient; it has probably become even stronger now, because it has more popular legitimacy.

Many Iranians who were critical of the Islamic Republic have rallied behind the flag and are supporting the state to prevent the US from taking control of their country (and exploiting its oil, natural resources, and other lucrative resources).

More than 850 public demonstrations were held in Iran in support of the government in the first month of the US-Israeli war.

Iran destroyed US military bases

A longtime strategic goal of Iran has been to expel the US military from West Asia.

The US surrounded Iran with roughly two dozen military bases, which were developed over decades.

In response to the US-Israeli war of aggression, Iran has pummeled most of these bases in the Persian Gulf.

Iran launched at least 5,471 missiles and drone attacks against the US and its allies in the first month of the war, according to official data compiled by Turkish state media outlet the Anadolu Agency.

These Iranian attacks have been remarkably successful.

In fact, the New York Times reported that the US military has essentially been pushed out of West Asia (a more accurate term for the Middle East).

“Many of the 13 military bases in the region used by American troops are all but uninhabitable”, the Times wrote in an article titled “Iran’s Attacks Force U.S. Troops to Work Remotely”.

Among the US facilities that have been severely damaged is the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which is the biggest US base in West Asia, as well as the headquarters of the Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.

The major US newspaper reported the following:

Iran has bombed U.S. bases across the Middle East in retaliation for the U.S.-Israeli war, forcing many American troops to relocate to hotels and office spaces throughout the region, according to military personnel and American officials.

So now much of the land-based military is, in essence, fighting the war while working remotely, with the exception of fighter pilots and crews operating and maintaining warplanes and conducting strikes.

Before Trump launched this war of aggression on February 28, the US had approximately 40,000 troops in the region. In the first month of the war, thousands of these US forces were sent to Europe.

The American troops that remain in West Asia have been relocated to “makeshift” and “alternative” sites, off base, the Times reported.

Critics have pointed out that, given that US soldiers are waging war on Iran from hotels and office spaces, this means the Pentagon is essentially using civilians in these areas as human shields.

The US military is waging war on Iran from bases in Europe

In short, Iran has largely succeeded in expelling the US military occupiers from West Asia.

This fact was further confirmed by an article in the Wall Street Journal titled “Europe Is Quietly Playing a Crucial Role in the Iran War”.

The newspaper reported:

While many European leaders have publicly decried the U.S. attacks on Iran, behind the scenes, their military bases are facilitating one of the most logistically complex operations the U.S. military has been involved in for decades.

In recent weeks, U.S. bombers, drones, and ships have been fueled, armed, and launched via bases in the U.K., Germany, Portugal, Italy, France, and Greece, officials say.

According to German and U.S. officials, attack drones are being controlled from a large U.S. base at Ramstein in Germany, which serves as the core of America’s operations against Iran. Heavy B-1 bombers have been seen loading munitions and fuel at RAF Fairford in the U.K. Meanwhile, the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is docked at a naval base in Crete for repairs following fire damage.

U.S. Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s top military commander, said in recent Senate testimony that most European allies “have been extremely supportive.”

The continent, which is home to around 40 U.S. military bases and 80,000 U.S. service personnel, is a launchpad for U.S. operations in both the Middle East and Africa. “The distances are shorter, it’s less expensive, and it’s much easier to project power with our network of bases and allies,” he said.

There are two major takeaways from this report.

• Initially, some European governments have openly criticized the US's actions against Iran, stating that it breaches international law and is an illegal act of war.
• Nevertheless, in private, most EU countries and the UK support Washington's efforts, providing territory for the Pentagon to conduct operations against Tehran.
• Consequently, Europe is complicit in the conflict.

Secondly, Iran has succeeded in destroying the major US military bases in West Asia and expelling most American troops from the region.

This is one of several reasons why it is clear that Tehran is winning this war.

APRIL 5, 2026

LETTER FROM AN AMERICAN

Trouble ahead? Iran says Trump’s ‘open the f**kin Strait’ threat shows ‘intent to commit war crime’ (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)

By Heather Cox Richardson
Substack.com
6 April 2026

At 8:03 this morning, Easter Sunday, President Donald J. Trump’s social media account posted:

               “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F*ckin’ Strait, you crazy b*stards, or you’ll be living in Hell—JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP”

Various factors may be affecting this ultimatum, which doesn’t appear to align with Trump’s usual approach, just as yesterday morning’s post didn’t.

The post appears to threaten war crimes by attacking civilian infrastructure and suggests Trump is considering the use of tactical nuclear weapons.

• He emphasized the production of such weapons during his first term. He seemed to support this interpretation in an interview with ABC News' Rachel Scott today.

She reported that Trump said,

• “The conflict should be over in days, not weeks, but if no deal is reached, he’s willing to blow up the entire country with ‘very little’ off the table.
• ‘If [it] happens, it happens.
• And if it doesn’t, we’re blowing up the whole country,’ he said.
• When asked if anything is off-limits,
• He replied, ‘Very little,’”

In 2023, a book by New York Times Washington correspondent Michael Schmidt revealed that in 2017, while Trump publicly warned North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on social media that North Korea would be “met with fire and fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before,” he was privately discussing the possibility of launching a preemptive strike against North Korea. He also considered using a nuclear weapon and blaming someone else for the attack.

Schmidt states that Trump’s then-White House chief of staff, retired Marine General John Kelly, brought military leaders to advise him against the plan. Kelly ultimately persuaded Trump to abandon it by suggesting he could demonstrate he's the “greatest salesman in the world” by resolving his conflict with the North Korean leader diplomatically.

In his book recounting that period, journalist Bob Woodward stated: “The American people had little idea that July through September of 2017 had been so dangerous.”

However, Trump’s secretary of state Mike Pompeo told Woodward, “We never knew if it was genuine or just a bluff.”

This perspective offers another way to interpret the post from Trump’s social media: that he is panicked because he hasn't been able to coerce other countries into fixing the chaos he caused by attacking Iran and shutting down the Strait of Hormuz. Now, he appears to be solely attempting to intimidate Iran. In The Guardian last Monday, Sidney Blumenthal observed that Trump has claimed victory more than eight times, stated he has won over ten times, and claimed Iranian forces have been “obliterated” or suffered “obliteration” more than six times. Blumenthal pointed out that Trump is now threatening to destroy Iran’s power grid and has used words like 'decimate” or “decimation” at least six times.

Trump’s erratic post, after all, delays the deadline for his threats to attack Iran once more, which he then extended again in a subsequent post at 12:38 P.M., stating: “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!”

Allison Gill from Mueller, She Wrote, observed this pattern, saying: “It was March 23rd, then March 27th, then March 30th. He also announced a strange address on April 1st, with a new deadline set for April 4th. Subsequently, there was another at 7 AM on April 6th, then at 8 PM on April 7th, and now another address is scheduled for tomorrow at 1 PM. The deliberate chaos is evident.” She added that his deadlines and their frequent changes often mirror the stock market's fluctuations.

In an interview with Barak Ravid of Axios today, shortly after this morning’s post, Trump reaffirmed his stance by stating, “If they don’t make a deal, I am blowing up everything over there.” He also mentioned that the U.S. is engaged in “deep negotiations” with Iran and believes a deal is possible. Trump explained to Ravid that his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, rather than Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are conducting talks with the Iranians. Additionally, sources informed Ravid that mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, and Türkiye are facilitating the negotiations.

Iranian officials are declining to engage with Witkoff and Kushner because they apparently misunderstood previous negotiations. They informed Trump that the talks were unsuccessful before he initiated strikes. Neither Witkoff nor Kushner is a trained diplomat, and both have substantial financial connections to the Middle East. For example, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who encouraged Trump to begin the Iran conflict, has invested at least $2 billion in Kushner’s private equity firm.

On March 13, Rob Copeland and Maureen Farrell of the New York Times reported that Kushner is seeking to raise over $5 billion for his private equity firm from Middle East governments, even as he is reportedly involved in negotiating peace in the region.

Today, Stephen Kalin, Eliot Brown, and Summer Said of the Wall Street Journal reported that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has already cost Saudi Arabia approximately $10 billion. MBS's ambitious plans were already short of funds, including some US investments. The journalists point out that even before the conflict, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign-wealth fund- also known for investing in Kushner’s private equity firm- had sold much of its U.S. stock holdings. Last year, MBS committed to investing up to $1 trillion in the US, but these plans are currently being reevaluated.

No matter what inspired Trump’s post, it clearly reveals a story. Frank Figliuzzi, a former assistant director for counterintelligence at the FBI, commented: “The American president has lost his mind.”

Journalist Steven Beschloss stated, “This is a real post. It’s not humorous. It’s extremely desperate. It reveals a deeply unwell individual unfit for power. All members of his cabinet and Congress share responsibility for not insisting on his removal at this point.”

Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) wrote: “If I served in Trump’s Cabinet, I would be using Easter to consult constitutional lawyers about the 25th Amendment. This is absolutely unhinged. He has already caused thousands of deaths and will cause many more.”

The 25th Amendment sets out a process where a majority of the Cabinet and the Vice President, or another body chosen by Congress, can remove a president who is considered “unable to carry out the powers and duties of his office.”

Murphy wasn't the only one considering this. Hollie Silverman from Newsweek noted that on the prediction market platform Kalshi, where traders can buy “yes” or “no” shares on whether “Will the 25th Amendment be used during Trump’s presidency?”, the probability of “yes” has recently risen from 28.6% to 35.1%.

—

Notes:

https://fas.org/publication/w76-2deployed/

https://www.npr.org/2019/01/28/689510716/trump-administration-begins-production-of-a-new-nuclear-weapon

https://www.newsweek.com/trumps-chances-of-being-removed-by-25th-amendment-climb-11785658

https://2017-2021.state.gov/nuclear-weapons-policy-in-the-trump-administration/

https://en.unav.edu/web/global-affairs/a-sense-of-deja-vu-in-the-us-nuclear-domain-trump-and-the-prospective-policy-shift

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-discussed-using-nuclear-weapon-north-korea-2017-blaming-someone-rcna65120

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nuclear-threat-trump-bob-woodward_n_5f5ae074c5b62874bc1ad130

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/05/us/politics/trump-iran-war-crimes-truth-social.html

https://www.justsecurity.org/135423/professors-letter-international-law-iran-war/

https://www.axios.com/2026/04/05/trump-iran-deal-power-plants

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/theres-another-big-reason-trump-is-stuck-in-the-gulf

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/03/24/jd-vance-eyed-take-over-iran-talks/

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/30/trump-iran-war

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/13/business/jared-kushner-affinity-mideast-funds.html

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/the-back-channel-diplomacy-behind-trumps-u-turn-on-iran-b70efc60

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-futuristic-vision-reality-3245a8b5

X:

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PAKISTAN PROPOSES PLAN TO END HOSTILITIES BETWEEN IRAN AND U.S., COULD REOPEN STRAIT OF HORMUZ

Iran and the United States have received a plan from Pakistan to end hostilities that could take effect on Monday and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a source familiar with the proposals said.

The Strait of Hormuz Credit: Rafiq Maqbool/AP

The framework, which was exchanged overnight with Iran and the U.S., proposes a two-step approach: an immediate cease-fire, followed by a comprehensive agreement. "All elements need to be agreed today," a source stated. The understanding would be formalized as a memorandum of understanding, finalized electronically via Pakistan, the only communication channel in the negotiations.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a "temporary cease-fire," emphasizing that Tehran considers Washington unprepared for a lasting peace. The official confirmed Iran received Pakistan's proposal for an immediate cease-fire and is currently reviewing it. He added that Tehran refuses to be pressured into accepting deadlines or making decisions.

The source told Reuters that Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, was in contact "all night long" with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

Under the proposal, the cease-fire would begin immediately, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and allow 15–20 days to finalize a broader agreement. Tentatively named the "Islamabad Accord," the deal would establish a regional framework for the strait, with the final negotiations taking place in Islamabad.

Field Marshal General Asim Munir prays after laying wreath on the Martyrs monument during a special guard of honor ceremony at General Headquarters, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, May 2025. Credit: Inter Services Public Relations via AP

U.S. officials did not respond immediately. Pakistan's foreign office spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, chose not to comment.

The final agreement is anticipated to involve Iran's commitments to abstain from developing nuclear weapons, in return for sanctions relief and the release of frozen assets. However, two Pakistani sources indicated that Iran has not yet made any commitments, despite increased outreach efforts. One source remarked,

               "Iran has not responded yet," and highlighted that proposals supported by Pakistan, China, and the U.S. for a temporary cease-fire have not yet received a commitment.