INTERNACIONAL
Trump backs former critic Sununu in high-stakes swing state Senate race
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
President Donald Trump on Sunday endorsed former Sen. John E. Sununu of New Hampshire, a longtime GOP Trump critic, over one of his first-term ambassadors, former Sen. Scott Brown, in a crucial Senate race that’s one of a handful that may determine the Senate majority in the midterm elections.
Sununu, who was praised by Trump as an «America First Patriot» who «will work tirelessly to advance our America First Agenda,» is seen by top Senate Republicans as the strongest candidate to flip the seat held by longtime Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who is retiring at the end of this year rather than seek re-election to a fourth six-year term.
«John E. Sununu has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN — ELECT JOHN E. SUNUNU,» Trump emphasized, in a post on social media.
Sununu is a former three-term representative who defeated then-Gov. Shaheen in New Hampshire’s 2002 Senate election. But the senator lost to Shaheen in their 2008 rematch.
DEMOCRATS EYE NARROW PATH TO CAPTURE SENATE MAJORITY, BUT ONE WRONG MOVE COULD SINK THEM
Former Republican Sen. John E. Sununu of New Hampshire is interviewed by Fox News Digital, on Sept.15, 2025 in Rye, N.H. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News Digital)
«I want to thank the President for his support and thank the thousands of Granite Staters who are supporting me,» Sununu said after landing Trump’s endorsement.
The endorsement will further boost Sununu, who enjoys a polling and fundraising advantage over Brown.
After Trump’s endorsement, the Senate Leadership Fund, which is aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, said on X that «John Sununu is the clear choice to be New Hampshire’s next US Senator, and President Trump’s critical endorsement has put an end to the primary.»
TIM SCOTT TELLS MAGA VOTERS TRUMP ‘IS ON THE BALLOT’ AS GOP FIGHTS TO GROW SENATE MAJORITY IN 2026
But Brown, as of now, has no intentions of dropping out.
«I’ve always believed that the people of New Hampshire are the ultimate authority on our future, and they deserve a choice between candidates seeking to earn their support,» he said in a statement.
And apparently questioning Sununu’s MAGA credentials, he added, «I am running to ensure our America First agenda is led by someone who views this mission not as a career path, but as a continuation of a lifelong commitment to service.»
Former Sen. Scott Brown, who launched a Republican Senate campaign in New Hampshire in June, is interviewed by Fox News Digital, on July 4, 2025, in Exeter, N.H. (Paul Steinhauser – Fox News )
Brown emphasized, «My priorities for New Hampshire remain clear: a stronger economy, a secure border, reliable and affordable energy and better health care for our veterans. This mission has always been about you, not me. Let’s keep working!»
Sununu is a brand name in New Hampshire politics. His father, John H. Sununu, is a former governor who later served as chief of staff in then-President George H.W. Bush’s White House. And one of his younger brothers is former Gov. Chris Sununu, who won election and re-election to four two-year terms steering the Granite State.
FIRST ON FOX: SUNUNU LAUNCHES BID TO RETURN TO SENATE
But Sununu has a long history of backing Trump rivals. He served as national co-chair on the 2016 Republican presidential campaign of then-Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who declined to support Trump as the party’s nominee.
And Sununu, along with then-Gov. Chris Sununu, endorsed former ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the 2024 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary, as she battled Trump for the nomination.
And on the eve of the first-in-the-nation presidential primary, the former senator wrote an opinion piece titled «Donald Trump is a loser,» that ran in the New Hampshire Union Leader, the state’s largest daily newspaper.
Brown endorsed Trump ahead of his 2016 New Hampshire primary victory, which launched him toward the GOP presidential nomination and ultimately the White House. Brown later served as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand during Trump’s first term.
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, seen speaking at a press conference in Washington, DC on November 9, 2025, is retiring at the end of this year. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Some in New Hampshire’s MAGA base immediately rejected the president’s endorsement of Sununu, calling it a «slap in the face to grassroots supporters» who have long backed Trump.
«The Sununu family openly mocked, degraded, and worked against the America First movement, the President himself, and the policies that energized New Hampshire voters,» a group of MAGA activists posted on X. «We will continue and intensify our campaign opposition to the Sununu operation.»
Brown formally launched his Senate campaign in June, after over six months of reaching out to grassroots supporters in the state. He raised roughly $1 million during his first three months as a candidate.
Sununu jumped into the race in late October, with the backing of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which is the Senate GOP’s campaign arm.
FIRST ON FOX: BROWN SHOWCASES HEALTHY FUNDRAISING HAUL
NRSC chair Sen. Tim Scott said at the time that Senate Republicans were «all-in» for Sununu.
Since then, Sununu has landed the backing of a majority of the Republicans in the Senate, as well as from GOP leaders in New Hampshire.
The seat in New Hampshire, along with an open Democrat-held seat in Michigan are two of the NRSC’s top targets this year as they aim to expand their 53-47 majority in the chamber. Georgia, where the GOP views Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff as very vulnerable, is the NRSC’s other top target.
Sununu more than doubled Brown’s fundraising haul during the past three months, and the latest public opinion polls in New Hampshire indicate Sununu with a double-digit lead over Brown in the GOP primary, which won’t be held until September.
Democratic Senate candidate in New Hampshire, Rep. Chris Pappas, is interviewed by Fox News Digital, on July 4, 2025, in Portsmouth, N.H. (Paul Steinhauser – Fox News)
Pappas, a four-term congressman who represents the eastern half of the state, outraised both Sununu and Brown combined during the 4th quarter of 2025 fundraising.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
And the latest polls indicate Pappas topping Sununu by single digits and Brown by double digits in hypothetical general election matchups.
Pappas is the clear front-runner for his party’s nomination, in a race that also includes Karishma Manzur, a member of the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s rules committee.
donald trump,senate elections,midterm elections,republicans elections,campaigning,new hampshire
INTERNACIONAL
Iran could ‘activate’ Hezbollah if US targets regime, Trump’s inner circle to decide: expert
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has tightened control over Hezbollah in the Middle East amid looming prospects of potential U.S. strikes, according to reports.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the tactical shift comes as Hezbollah and Iran prepare for military confrontation in the region, with analysts warning that if Washington specifically strikes the regime, Hezbollah is ready to be «activated.»
«If the regime in Tehran feels threatened, the likelihood of unleashing Hezbollah against Israel and U.S. regional assets increases substantially,» Ross Harrison, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told Fox News Digital.
«Hezbollah would not be activated right away, unless the attack immediately targets the leadership of the Islamic Republic. But as part of a graduated response, Hezbollah will likely be seen as an asset,» he said.
«If it faces an existential risk, then Iran may throw caution to the wind and try to deploy Hezbollah to the maximum,» Harrison, author of «Decoding Iran’s Foreign Policy» explained.
IRAN SIGNALS NUCLEAR PROGRESS IN GENEVA AS TRUMP CALLS FOR FULL DISMANTLEMENT
«As part of a graduated response, Hezbollah will likely be seen as an asset,» Ross Harrison, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told Fox News Digital. (Fadel Itani/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
President Donald Trump previously gave Iran a deadline of 10 to 15 days to respond to a deal, raising questions about what steps Washington could take if Tehran fails to comply.
A new round of talks is now scheduled for Thursday in Geneva and expected to focus on Iran’s nuclear program, including uranium enrichment levels and sanctions relief.
«The decision-making circle in the White House is very small regarding Iran, with the president keeping a close hand on it all,» Harrison explained.
He added that any decision to directly target the Iranian regime would likely rest within Trump’s inner circle of advisers.
«Normally there is input from the National Security Council and the wider intelligence community,» Harrison said. «Since the decision-making process in the White House is opaque, it is hard to know how much of this is getting through.»
WITKOFF WARNS IRAN IS ‘A WEEK AWAY’ FROM ‘BOMB-MAKING MATERIAL’ AS TRUMP WEIGHS ACTION
Another round of talks between the U.S. and Iran is slated for Thursday in Geneva. (Getty Images)
«If the U.S. is engaging with the Saudis and Emiratis, they are getting warnings about the possibility of this war spreading to the broader region, which would be deleterious to the U.S. and its allies,» he added.
Harrison also warned that there was «potential for attacks to spread across the region, to Israel through direct Iranian ballistic attacks and via Hezbollah, and to the Gulf Arab states through Iran directly and possibly via the Houthis from Yemen.»
Regional media reports also suggest Iran’s ties with Hezbollah are strengthening. Sources told Al Arabiya and Al Hadath that IRGC officers have been rebuilding Hezbollah’s military infrastructure and managing strategic war plans.
The coordination follows changes within Hezbollah’s leadership, Harrison explained.
«Since the killing by Israel of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last year, ties and operational coordination have to some degree been reestablished,» he said.
«The IRGC has supported Hezbollah in Lebanon for decades,» he said, adding that efforts to reestablish ties appear to be occurring «particularly in light of the destruction of Iran’s nuclear sites last June.»
IRAN DRAWS MISSILE RED LINE AS ANALYSTS WARN TEHRAN IS STALLING US TALKS
«Since the killing by Israel of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last year, ties and operational coordination have to some degree been reestablished,» Harrison said. (Marwan Naamani/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)
«Iran is trying to resurrect lost assets, such as its missile program and its connections to Hezbollah,» Harrison said.
«Hezbollah has been seen for decades by Iran as a deterrence asset against an Israeli or American attack. Since Hezbollah has its own interests, connected to but separate from Iran, whether its leadership will go all the way for Tehran is unknown,» he concluded.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The developments surrounding Hezbollah and the IRGC came as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed close ally Ali Larijani as the country’s de facto leader, according to reports.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.
middle east,iran,ali khamenei,donald trump,middle east foreign policy,israel,lebanon
INTERNACIONAL
Ruud Gullit y la historia de su rechazo a un gigante de Europa que terminó definiendo su carrera: “Era demasiado pronto”
En la historia del fútbol, existen decisiones que alteran el rumbo de una carrera y, en ocasiones, de un deporte entero. El caso de Ruud Gullit y su rechazo al Arsenal cuando apenas tenía 17 años es uno de esos episodios poco conocidos, pero fundamentales, que definieron el destino de una de las mayores leyendas del fútbol neerlandés.
La propia voz del protagonista permite entender cómo ese “no” a tiempo marcó la diferencia y abrió una trayectoria irrepetible.
A finales de los años setenta, Ruud Gullit brillaba en el HFC Haarlem, club de la liga neerlandesa, cuando recibió una propuesta que cambiaría su perspectiva profesional. “Cuando tenía 17 años, escuché que el Arsenal quería ficharme”, relató el exfutbolista a Gambling Insider, citado por FourFourTwo. En ese momento, el club londinense contaba con la observación de Liam Brady como ojeador y ya había iniciado negociaciones con el Haarlem.
La magnitud de la oferta era inusual para un futbolista tan joven que apenas comenzaba a destacar en su país natal. “Era un privilegio que un club tan grande se interesara por mí a esa edad, pero era demasiado pronto para dar ese salto en mi carrera, así que lo rechacé”, explicó el propio Gullit, subrayando que la decisión no se debió a falta de ambición, sino a una evaluación racional de su desarrollo personal y futbolístico. “Simplemente no quería mudarme al club en ese momento”, añadió el exjugador.
La determinación de Gullit lo llevó a permanecer algunos años más en Haarlem antes de buscar el siguiente paso adecuado para su evolución.
Tras su negativa al Arsenal, Gullit continuó su formación en los Países Bajos. En 1982, firmó con el Feyenoord, donde compartió vestuario con el legendario Johan Cruyff y logró el doblete de liga y copa en su segunda temporada. Este proceso de maduración resultó clave para su posterior explosión en la élite. “Terminé pasando algunos años más en Haarlem antes de irme al Feyenoord, lo que sentí que era el movimiento correcto para mí”, reconoció.
La progresión no se detuvo en Rotterdam. En 1985, Gullit pasó al PSV Eindhoven, consolidando su estatus como una de las figuras emergentes del fútbol europeo. Su talento atrajo la atención del AC Milan, que en 1987 rompió el récord mundial de traspasos para asegurarse sus servicios. Ese mismo año, ganó el Balón de Oro, y su llegada a Italia marcó el inicio de una etapa dorada tanto a nivel individual como colectivo.
Durante su etapa en el AC Milan, Gullit conquistó tres títulos de la Serie A y dos Copas de Europa, siendo pieza central en el resurgimiento del club lombardo y en la consolidación de la liga italiana como epicentro del fútbol mundial.
Además, lideró a la selección de los Países Bajos en la obtención de la Eurocopa 1988. Este camino de gloria difícilmente habría sido igual si, en su adolescencia, hubiese optado por la oferta del Arsenal.
Mientras alcanzaba la cima en Italia y Europa, el Arsenal vivía sus propios procesos de reconstrucción. El club londinense celebró títulos de liga en 1989 y 1991, pero los aficionados aún se preguntan cómo habría influido la presencia de un joven Gullit en el equipo durante los años ochenta. La pregunta sobre el impacto potencial de una decisión tan temprana sigue vigente entre los hinchas y analistas británicos.
En 1995, tras una exitosa etapa en Italia, Gullit dejó la Sampdoria para unirse al Chelsea inglés, ya en el tramo final de su carrera, donde se convirtió en jugador-entrenador y logró la FA Cup.
Su paso por Inglaterra llegó mucho después de aquel primer contacto con el fútbol británico, reafirmando la importancia de aquel rechazo inicial al Arsenal. “Era demasiado pronto para mí. Necesitaba estar preparado y crecer antes de afrontar un reto fuera de los Países Bajos”, sentenció el neerlandés en sus declaraciones.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A government shutdown, big or small, is usually a front-and-center issue for lawmakers — but the most recent partial closure could be put on the back burner as Congress returns to several issues in Washington.
Senate Democrats and the White House are still at odds over funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as the shutdown dragged into its tenth day. Neither side is budging, with the most recent concrete action coming early last week.
Trump, who proved pivotal in striking a funding truce with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in January, was not directly involved in recent negotiations.
‘TARIFFS SUCK’: SOME REPUBLICANS PRIVATELY CELEBRATE AS SUPREME COURT BLOCKS TRUMP POLICY
President Donald Trump has not had any «direct conversations or correspondence» with congressional Democrats recently. (Evan Vucci/The Associated Press )
Trump has not had any «direct conversations or correspondence» with congressional Democrats recently, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, noting that the White House and its representatives have been handling the dialogue.
«But, of course, Democrats are the reason that the Department of Homeland Security is currently shut down,» she said. «They have chosen to act against the American people for political reasons.»
Senate Democrats offered a counter to the White House’s own counterproposal, which quickly was rejected as «unserious» by Leavitt. It’s a peculiar instance, given that this is the third shutdown during Trump’s second term, and neither side appears to be in a particular rush to end it.
DEMOCRATS RISK FEMA DISASTER FUNDING COLLAPSE AS DHS SHUTDOWN HITS DAY 5
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his caucus have not relented in their position as DHS enters its tenth day of being shut down. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told Fox News Digital that there’s «some room for give and take» in the negotiations, but remained firm in the GOP’s positioning against requiring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from getting judicial warrants, unmasking or other reforms sought by Democrats that could increase risks for agents in the field.
«I felt like, you know, the last offer the White House put out there was a really — it was a good faith one, and it was clear to me that they’re attempting, in every way, to try and land this thing so we can get DHS funded,» Thune said.
Funding the agency will be a top priority for the upper chamber, but they’ll be delayed because of winter storms descending on the East Coast. The weather has caused the Senate to delay a vote on the original DHS spending bill until Tuesday night, ahead of Trump’s State of the Union address.
There are other issues that could get in the way of hashing out a deal, including a possible conflict with Iran and Trump’s desire to move ahead with tariffs without congressional approval.
GOP WARNS DEMOCRATS USING DHS SHUTDOWN TO STALL SENATE VOTER ID PUSH
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., warned that Senate Democrats were trying to tie up Republicans from hitting the campaign trail ahead of the pivotal 2026 midterm cycle. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Trump told reporters Friday that he was «considering» a limited military strike against Iran, which already has riled up some in Congress, who are demanding that lawmakers get a say on whether the U.S. strikes.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said in a statement that he has a war powers resolution to block an attack on Iran filed and ready, and challenged his colleagues to vote against it.
«If some of my colleagues support war, then they should have the guts to vote for the war and to be held accountable by their constituents, rather than hiding under their desks,» Kaine said.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
On the heels of the Supreme Court’s ruling to torpedo his sweeping duties, Trump is considering bypassing Congress to move ahead with another set of global 10% tariffs.
That comes as some Republicans are quietly celebrating the end of the duties, and others are open to working with the administration on a path forward for trade policy.
On tariffs, a Republican aide told Fox News that the GOP was «waiting to see what POTUS does next.»
«The State of the Union should be interesting,» they said.
politics,senate,government shutdown,homeland security
La esposa de Nahuel Gallo habló tras confirmarse que él participa de la huelga de hambre: “Solo la levantará si recibe asistencia consular”
Iran could ‘activate’ Hezbollah if US targets regime, Trump’s inner circle to decide: expert
El Gobierno quitó una protección clave que favorecía a Aluar, otra empresa del dueño de Fate
El mapa de la Copa Libertadores: con Argentinos, la llave rumbo a la fase de grupos
Macri opinó sobre el cierre de FATE y lanzó una definición que desató críticas: “Un pobre de hoy vive igual o mejor que un rey de hace cien años”
Yanina Latorre se ofendió porque Ivana Icardi la trató de vieja y le tiró con lo peor que averiguó de ella: «Sin dignidad»
Escándalo en MasterChef: una famosa abandonó a los gritos y acusando que está todo arreglado
Del himno peronista de Kelly Olmos al exabrupto de Agustina Propato: las perlitas del debate por la reforma laboral
Villarruel cuestionó la apertura de importaciones: «Sin industria, se pasa a depender de China»
“Ahora es la hora de jugarse”: el mensaje de Patricia Bullrich a los empresarios tras aprobarse la reforma laboral
ECONOMIA2 días agoVillarruel cuestionó la apertura de importaciones: «Sin industria, se pasa a depender de China»
- POLITICA2 días ago
“Ahora es la hora de jugarse”: el mensaje de Patricia Bullrich a los empresarios tras aprobarse la reforma laboral
- ECONOMIA2 días ago
Según un especialista, el precio de la carne se mantendrá alto “entre dos y tres años”
