INTERNACIONAL
Trump envoy to Turkey doubles down after backlash, pushes ‘peace through strength’ policy
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EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Ambassador Tom Barrack is pushing back after backlash over remarks seen as equating Israel with Hezbollah, insisting his comments reflect «realism» and not a change in U.S. policy.
Barrack appeared to equate America’s closest ally in the Middle East with a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, suggested Turkey should soon regain access to the F-35 program despite its purchase of Russia’s S-400 system, and argued that only «powerful leadership regimes» have succeeded in the region.
In exclusive written answers to Fox News Digital’s questions, Barrack rejected accusations that he was softening the administration’s stance toward Hezbollah or Iran, and argued that President Donald Trump’s «peace through strength» approach requires a more pragmatic reading of the Middle East.
WALTZ HAILS ‘NIGHT-AND-DAY’ MIDDLE EAST SHIFT AS TRUMP’S GAZA PLAN RESHAPES REGION
U.S. Ambassador Tom Barrack is pushing back after backlash over remarks seen as equating Israel with Hezbollah. (Hussein Malla/AP)
Fox News Digital: During your remarks at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum Friday, you described the Israel–Hezbollah ceasefire as a «time out» and said that «everybody has been equally untrustworthy.» How do you reconcile that characterization with the U.S. designation of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization?
Does your statement that the goal is «not killing Hezbollah» reflect any shift from the previous «maximum pressure» approach toward a strategy of containment or political inclusion?
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack: Let me be very clear about my remarks at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on April 17.
When I described the Israel–Hezbollah ceasefire as a ‘time out’ and said that ‘everybody has been equally untrustworthy,’ I was simply stating the obvious reality on the ground. This is realism, not criticism of any side.
The November 2024 ceasefire and the recent April 2026 ceasefire have repeatedly proven fragile because all parties — Israel, Hezbollah and their backers — have tested the limits in the past. Historical patterns of violations, rearmament and proxy escalation confirm that mutual mistrust is the core challenge.
That mutual mistrust is exactly why this administration brokered the ceasefire in the first place: to stop the senseless killing, create breathing room and build a monitored, enforceable path forward that strengthens Lebanese sovereignty and Israeli security.
This characterization in no way softens our ironclad position: Hezbollah is a designated terrorist organization responsible for the deaths of Americans and countless acts of destabilization.
We have never trusted them. We acknowledge that within Lebanon itself, the Hezbollah political party is differentiated from Hezbollah the terrorist group, which holds parliamentary seats within the Lebanese government. Political trust in that regard will have to be earned.
U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack speaks during a session at Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, Turkey, April 17, 2026. (Umit Bektas/Reuters)
My point was straightforward: durable peace requires confronting that mistrust head-on, not pretending it does not exist. This approach fully supports President Trump’s policy of maximum pressure on Iran and its proxies while delivering real results: positioning us to degrade Hezbollah’s terrorist capabilities through a combination of enforcement, Lebanese state authority and the renewal of an economy that can provide a new era of hope to Lebanese communities in both the north and south.
On the goal not being ‘killing Hezbollah,’ I stand by every word. After decades in the region, you cannot eliminate an embedded militia solely by kinetic means when a sovereign state like Iran continues to arm and fund it. Pure ‘mowing the lawn’ has never worked. To the contrary, it often fuels recruitment and prolongs conflict.
Our objective has always been to degrade Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure to the point where diplomacy and a sovereign Lebanese government can take over under Lebanon’s confessional system, reflecting Christian, Sunni and Shiite interests. This is not a shift toward containment or political inclusion of a terrorist group. It is the same ‘maximum pressure plus smart diplomacy’ playbook this administration has used successfully against ISIS and other threats.
We continue to back Israel’s right to defend itself decisively, as Secretary Rubio explicitly affirmed in the current ceasefire terms, while also pushing for an end to the idiocy of endless war. Stopping the bleeding first, then enforcing the win. That is exactly what President Trump and Secretary Rubio achieved with this ceasefire.
No policy changes whatsoever. Just clear, effective execution.
TRUMP’S GAMBLE IN NORMALIZING RELATIONS WITH SYRIA IN THE FACE OF IRAN: ‘HIGH-RISK, HIGH-REWARD’
Tom Barrack, U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, meets Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Baabda, east of Beirut, on July 7, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency Press Office/AP)
Fox News Digital: You described the dispute over Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program as «insane» and suggested the Russian S-400 issue could be resolved within months.
What specific safeguards regarding possession and operability are under consideration to satisfy Section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act and address concerns that the Russian S-400 system could compromise sensitive F-35 technology? How do you respond to members of Congress who have threatened to oppose F-16 upgrades or any future F-35 transfer to Turkey until your comments regarding Hezbollah and Israel are clarified?
(For example, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who responded directly to Barrack’s April 2026 remarks by saying Turkey would not receive either F-35s or F-16s. Scott wrote that Turkey «funds Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, hates Israel, and loves Russia and Iran,» adding: «Good luck buying F-35s, F-16s, and other American-made defense platforms.)
Barrack: Calling the prolonged impasse «insane» is blunt common sense. It highlights exactly why the administration is right to pursue a resolution: NATO unity against Russia and China is a core U.S. national security interest.
Turkey remains a vital ally, hosting critical U.S. assets, contributing to NATO missions and countering shared threats. Sanctions and exclusion from the F-35 program, triggered by the S-400 purchase, have strained ties unnecessarily while Russia benefits from the wedge.
The S-400 issue can and should be resolved within months through surgical diplomacy from Secretary Rubio, grounded in the strong personal relationship between President Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Let me be explicit: any resolution will fully satisfy Section 1245 of the NDAA. That means verifiable cessation of possession and operability of the Russian S-400 system, with formal certifications from the secretaries of Defense and State confirming there is no risk of compromise to sensitive F-35 technology.
There will be no shortcuts on American security standards. What I am signaling is that real breakthroughs are imminent: restoring Turkey’s role in the F-35 ecosystem, strengthening NATO interoperability, boosting U.S. industry and denying Russia leverage.
This is classic Trump deal-making: enforce the law, protect our technology and rebuild alliances that advance American strength.
In every one of these statements, I am speaking directly in support of this administration’s foreign policy. We believe in peace through strength, candid assessment of realities and delivering results that protect U.S. interests without dragging America into endless conflicts.
These comments reflect that approach: maximum leverage against terrorists, pragmatic engagement with key partners like Turkey and a clear-eyed path to greater stability in a volatile region.»
Another point of contention was Barrack’s repeated argument that strong centralized rule, rather than Western-style democracy, has been the most successful model in the Middle East. Reiterating comments he had made previously, Barrack said at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on April 17: «The only thing that’s worked, the only thing, are these powerful leadership regimes: either benevolent monarchies, the kind of monarchical republic.
IRAN’S COLLAPSE OR SURVIVAL HINGES ON ONE CHOICE INSIDE THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD
Turkey was removed from the American F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing Russia’s S-400 air defense system, which U.S. officials warned could allow Moscow to gather intelligence on the stealth fighter.
Under Section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act, Turkey cannot rejoin the program unless the president certifies to Congress that Ankara no longer possesses or operates the S-400 and that the system poses no risk to the F-35.
Syrian President Ahmed Sharaa met with U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack at the People’s Palace in Damascus on Jan. 18, 2026. (Syrian Presidency/Handout/Anadolu)
Fox News Digital: You said that «powerful leadership regimes» are the only structures that have worked in the Middle East.
Does that statement reflect a broader shift away from longstanding U.S. support for democratic governance and human rights in the region?
Barrack: When I said that ‘powerful leadership regimes,’ whether benevolent monarchies or the kind of monarchical republics seen elsewhere in the region, are the only structures that have actually worked in the Middle East, I was speaking from decades of hard-earned observation, not ideology.
Look at the track record. Countries that tried to adopt Western-style democracy quickly after the Arab Spring largely failed, often descending into chaos, civil war or new forms of authoritarianism.
Meanwhile, stable, results-oriented leadership in places like the Gulf monarchies has delivered security, economic growth, modernization and real improvements in people’s lives.
Israel, which one can rightly point to as a vibrant democracy in the region, stands as a notable outlier that has thrived under extremely strong, bold leadership capable of delivering security and prosperity under extraordinary challenges, even as some critics describe it as a «flawed democracy.»
Turkey, operating as a presidential republic with regular multiparty elections, also demonstrates how strong, centralized leadership under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has delivered stability, economic dynamism and assertive regional influence, though critics have described it as a hybrid regime with strong authoritarian tendencies.
This is not a change in U.S. policy away from supporting democratic governance and human rights. It is a realistic assessment of what produces stability so that human rights and prosperity can take root.
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Warren Stephens, Tom Barrack, and Tilman Fertitta sit for their confirmation hearings. (Getty Images)
President Trump’s approach has always been peace through strength: deal with the world as it is, not as we wish it to be. We support effective governance that prevents chaos, counters terrorism and creates conditions for long-term progress.
That includes backing strong, accountable leaders who deliver for their people, whether in monarchies that have modernized successfully or in evolving systems that prioritize security and opportunity over imported models that have repeatedly collapsed.
lebanon, turkey, middle east foreign policy, war with iran, terrorism, national security, israel
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FIRST ON FOX: The reports of President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s dead working relationship have been greatly exaggerated, the South Dakota Republican leader told Fox News Digital.
«I’ve heard from him twice this morning already. He called me over the weekend, and so there, you know, we talk, I don’t bother him, I’m not calling him every day,» Thune said in an interview.
Last week, Trump said, «We’re going to find out,» whether Thune was the man for the job to lead Senate Republicans, casting doubt on a critical relationship between him and the Senate’s top Republican.
TRUMP QUESTIONS THUNE’S LEADERSHIP AS SAVE AMERICA ACT STALLS
Reports of Senate Majority Leader John Thune and President Donald Trump’s relationship deteriorating are greatly exaggerated, Thune told Fox News Digital. In fact, they have spoken several times over the last few days since Trump’s «we’ll see» comment about his future as Republican leader. (Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images 😉
The tension stems from the SAVE America Act floundering in the Senate, and Trump’s desire to see the election integrity package passed by any means necessary.
Thune doesn’t see Trump’s comment as a personal slight, however. Both he and the president «want to get to the same place. We have, sometimes, disagreements about how best to get there.»
«Most of mine are constrained by what’s achievable in an institution like the Senate that has procedural roadblocks to do almost anything,» Thune said.
«We have those candid conversations, but I’m not worried about that relationship,» he continued. «I know he’s going to push as hard as he can. That’s his business model, is to just keep pushing, pushing, pushing to get people to go as far as they can go.»
SENATE FACES ‘COME-TO-JESUS’ MOMENT ON TRUMP’S ELECTION PRIORITY UNDER GOP’S NEW PLAN
There is a voracious appetite among Trump, Senate Republicans and their base to see the SAVE America Act passed. One that Thune hears every day, either online or within his own conference.
It’s dominated the oxygen inside the Capitol and beyond its walls, and the pressure comes as the Senate is sprinting to finish work on key items, like preventing a government shutdown and confirming dozens of Trump’s nominees.
«There are good days and bad days,» Thune said. «And around here, probably lately more bad days than good days, but you know you just kind of, like I said, keep your head down, do the work.»
But passing the SAVE America Act is the most elusive item for Republicans, given the current make up of the Senate.
While there are a cohort of Republicans who are voting against it, Thune made the point that every single Senate Democrat has shut it down each of the five times that it’s been brought to the floor in a variety of configurations.
And Thune is one of the Republicans that wants the bill passed — he’s an original co-sponsor of the SAVE Act, the precursor to the current version of the SAVE America Act. The avenue of cutting Democrats out of the equation and ramming through aspects of the bill through budget reconciliation exists, which Thune is interested in pursuing.
But then comes the problem of generating 50 votes to support that, and keeping those votes together to shut down «crazy democratic amendments.»
GOP RIFT GROWS AS THUNE HITS BRAKES ON TRUMP’S ELECTION BILL TO AVERT SHUTDOWN
Thune’s job helming the Senate majority is to do the math on what can be accomplished in an institution that’s «designed» to be difficult. And the votes still aren’t adding up.
«I keep asking the question, am I the only one in this town that can count to 50? Because it seems like these questions recur and there are a lot of people out there who haven’t seemed to internalize the fact that there aren’t Democrats that are going to flip and vote for this,» Thune said.
«And there aren’t 50 Republicans that are going to vote to nuke the filibuster. Those are two facts that are indisputable and unchangeable.»
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., argued that Democrats were continuing their push to keep DHS closed because it was «politically advantageous.» (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Thune’s position is, by extension, an embodiment of the Senate in many ways.
Unlike the House, legislation and agendas can’t be rammed through without a bipartisan agreement to blast through the filibuster. And senators’ concerns and desires encompass an entire state, not just a sliver of a state’s population.
Through several interviews with Fox News Digital, he’s instilled that part of his job is to listen and take consensus on what does and doesn’t work, deliberating on the best path for a deliverable outcome.
«This place was supposed to be difficult, so that no dictator could master it, and I think that’s kind of the role of the Senate in our system and our democracy,» Thune said.
«It’s important to keep that in perspective, but it’s frustrating as heck when you’re somebody who likes to get things done, likes to get results, and you’ve got procedural roadblocks holding things up as we try to wind down and get some things done,» he continued.
politics, john thune, donald trump, senate, republicans elections
Como consecuencia del Brexit, miles de enfermeras filipinas, camilleros, ambulancieros y médicos partieron a sus países de origen para no regresar porque no consiguieron ser residentes tras la salida de Gran Bretaña de la Unión Europea. El servicio de salud británico tuvo un serio déficit de personal, especialmente en el Covid. Debió reclutar en otros países, incluidos los africanos y asiáticos. Hoy se enfrenta con el racismo de sus pacientes frente a los que los cuidan, los curan y los atienden.
Pacientes británicos se niegan a ser atendidos “por personal no blanco “mientras el NHS informa de “un aumento alarmante del racismo”.
Paul Awah, técnico en radiodiagnóstico de Bedfordshire y originario de Nigeria, declaró: «Definitivamente ha empeorado; la gente se expresa más abiertamente».
Una encuesta ha revelado que miembros del personal del NHS han sido llamados «extranjeros sucios» y «monos» , en medio de un aumento «notable» e «inaceptable» de actitudes racistas por parte de los pacientes.
La Sociedad de Radiólogos (SoR) afirmó que esta tendencia, observada en los últimos 18 meses, refleja negativamente a la sociedad y calificó dicho comportamiento de «inadmisible».
Un sondeo realizado entre sus miembros reveló que algunos pacientes incluso se han negado a ser atendidos «por personal no blanco”.
Una ecografista de origen asiático, que trabaja en la región de las Midlands, relató que varios pacientes le han dicho: «Este país ya no es el mismo con toda esa gente que viene aquí y nos quita el trabajo».
Señaló que estos incidentes se han vuelto «más frecuentes» . Atribuyó la situación a «los medios de comunicación y a ciertos partidos políticos», donde la gente «expresa abiertamente» tales opiniones.
Paul Awah, dijo: «Lo que antes era algo que la gente no decía… ahora el discurso ha cambiado».
Awah también afirmó haber tenido pacientes que le decían que no podían entenderle, a pesar de que el inglés es el único idioma que habla.
Otros incidentes mencionados en la encuesta de la SoR (Society of Radiographers) incluyen:
– «Algunos pacientes siempre se quejan del color de piel de las personas que los atienden«, dijo un trabajador.
-Un técnico en radiodiagnóstico habló de «pacientes que describían al personal sanitario como extranjeros sucios».
-Otro comentó: «He sido testigo de cómo un paciente llamaba ‘mono’ a un compañero».
-Un hombre blanco supuestamente se negó a permitir que un ecografista examinara a su esposa embarazada, diciendo al personal: «No quiero que nadie de ningún origen étnico toque a mi mujer».
-Y otro paciente se negó a dejar que un técnico en radiodiagnóstico negro le hiciera una radiografía de tórax, alegando que «la gente negra me da miedo».
Estas conclusiones se producen después de que la última encuesta al personal del NHS mostrara que el porcentaje de empleados que han sufrido algún tipo de discriminación en los últimos 12 meses ha alcanzado su nivel más alto en cinco años.
El informe, publicado en marzo, reveló que el 9,26% de los trabajadores había sufrido discriminación personalmente en 2025.
Thomas Simons, director de recursos humanos y desarrollo organizativo del NHS de Inglaterra, declaró: «Los abusos racistas contra el personal del NHS son totalmente inaceptables y no tienen cabida en nuestro servicio de salud». «Nuestras nuevas normas nacionales para el personal dejan claro que las organizaciones del NHS deben tomar medidas significativas para prevenir el racismo y responder ante él, apoyar al personal afectado y garantizar que existan consecuencias claras para los pacientes que profieran insultos racistas o discriminen al personal del NHS, incluida la opción de denegar la atención en situaciones que no sean de emergencia.
Los medios Sky News, The Independent y The Guardian denunciaron unánimemente el racismo en el servicio de salud británico.
Diversos expertos, incluida la Society of Radiographers (SoR), han informado de un aumento «notable» en los comentarios xenófobos y racistas dirigidos al personal del NHS durante los últimos 18 meses.
Una encuesta realizada a los miembros de la SoR reveló que algunos empleados se sienten obligados a tolerar comentarios racistas, lo que ha llevado a la organización a exigir un mejor registro y seguimiento de estos incidentes.
La última encuesta al personal del NHS refleja “el nivel más alto de discriminación por parte de los pacientes en los últimos cinco años”, ya que el 9,26% de los trabajadores notificó haber sufrido incidentes de este tipo en los últimos 12 meses.
El NHS de Inglaterra ha condenado estos abusos . Ha declarado que las organizaciones deben tomar medidas para prevenir el racismo y responder ante él, incluida la posibilidad de denegar la atención a pacientes que incurran en conductas abusivas en situaciones que no sean de emergencia.
INTERNACIONAL
Buses Alegres: estas son algunas de las opciones que ofrece El Salvador para hacer turismo en estas vacaciones de agosto
Durante las vacaciones de agosto, el Instituto Salvadoreño de Turismo (ISTU) ha puesto en marcha una serie de opciones para quienes buscan destinos turísticos accesibles desde San Salvador.
A través del programa de Buses Alegres ofrece viajes organizados hacia algunos de los parques y sitios recreativos más visitados del país, con salidas programadas y tarifas asequibles para todos los interesados.
El programa Buses Alegres está diseñado para facilitar la visita a diferentes parques administrados por el ISTU, permitiendo a las familias y visitantes disfrutar de recorridos seguros y coordinados durante el periodo vacacional.
La oferta incluye destinos variados y precios que oscilan entre los seis y los diez dólares, cubriendo únicamente el transporte de ida y vuelta, según información difundida por la institución en su sitio web.
La agenda de agosto contempla salidas diarias a partir desde el 2 hasta el 9, con destinos que incluyen parques acuáticos, playas y rutas de montaña.
Para este día, el destino fue la Playa Los Almendros con un precio de 10 dólares. Para mañana, 5 de agosto los Buses Alegres irán al Parque Recreativo Apulo por un costo de 6 dólares.
Las siguientes fechas abarcan otras atracciones gestionadas por el ISTU. El 6 de agosto los buses parten hacia Cerro Verde con un costo de 8 dólares, el 7 de agosto la excursión será a Ichanmichen por 6 dólares, mientras que el 8 de agosto el destino será fuera del circuito administrado por la institución, específicamente hacia la Ruta de Las Flores, con un costo de 8 dólares, y el 9 de agosto el viaje será hacia la Costa del Sol también por un monto de 8 dólares.
Estas tarifas incluyen el traslado de ida y regreso, aunque el precio no contempla la entrada a los parques, la cual debe ser pagada por separado al llegar.
El punto de partida para todas las excursiones está ubicado en el parqueo del Parque Infantil de Diversiones, con acceso vehicular en la intersección de Alameda Juan Pablo II y Diagonal Universitaria. La hora de salida está fijada a las 6:30 de la mañana, permitiendo aprovechar al máximo el día en el destino turístico elegido.
El parqueo tiene un costo adicional de un dólar por vehículo, facilitando la llegada de quienes utilizan transporte propio antes de abordar los buses.
El programa de Buses Alegres establece que los viajes están sujetos a posibles cambios, recomendando a los interesados reservar su asiento con antelación.
Las reservaciones pueden realizarse a través del número telefónico 7517-9169 en horario de lunes a viernes, de 7:30 de la mañana a 3:30 de la tarde. Esta medida busca garantizar la disponibilidad de cupos y evitar contratiempos el día del viaje.
Los parques recreativos forman parte de la red de espacios que administra el ISTU, institución encargada de promover el turismo interno y el acceso a zonas naturales y de esparcimiento. Entre ellos destacan destinos como Amapulapa, conocido por sus piscinas y áreas verdes; y Walter Thilo Deininger, que ofrecen senderos y contacto directo con la naturaleza.
Otros destinos incluidos en los recorridos, como Cerro Verde, permiten el contacto con zonas de montaña y vistas panorámicas de la región occidental del país. Por su parte, la Ruta de Las Flores representa una alternativa para quienes se interesan en el turismo cultural y gastronómico, recorriendo pueblos emblemáticos de la zona. Ichanmichen y Apulo complementan la oferta con infraestructuras para el descanso y actividades acuáticas.
El Instituto Salvadoreño de Turismo mantiene de este modo su apuesta por acercar a la población a los principales atractivos turísticos del país, facilitando la movilidad y promoviendo el disfrute de las vacaciones de agosto en familia o con amigos. Para quienes buscan opciones accesibles y organizadas, los Buses Alegres representan una alternativa consolidada dentro del calendario turístico salvadoreño.
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