Latest news with #U.S.AirForceAcademy
Newsweek
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
GOP Rep.: American Airpower Obliterated Iran's Nuclear Ambitions—Rightfully So
For decades, Iran pursued nuclear weapons while remaining the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world—two realities that posed a serious threat to the free world. President Donald Trump was clear when he called for the complete and permanent suspension of Iran's nuclear program, giving them 60 days to take action toward lasting peace. Iran not only ignored America's good-faith diplomatic efforts, but accelerated their weapons program instead. When intelligence revealed Iran was weeks away from completing a nuclear weapon, our commander in chief acted decisively, and he called upon airpower to deliver strategic results. Operation Midnight Hammer decimated Iran's nuclear facilities, eliminating this imminent threat and sending an unmistakable message: America will secure peace through strength. Representative August Pfluger (R-Texas) speaks during a hearing on March 10, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Representative August Pfluger (R-Texas) speaks during a hearing on March 10, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Ting Shen-Pool/Getty Images As a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy with over two decades of service in our nation's military, I've flown combat missions against the very terrorists funded and directed by the Iranian regime. I've led operations in the Middle East, shaped strategy from the Pentagon, and stood alongside our allies in NATO's air command and control center. I've seen firsthand the threat Iran poses, not just to Israel or the region, but to every American in uniform. President Trump is right: Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon. That is not negotiable. Tehran's relentless pursuit of nuclear capabilities, combined with its sponsorship of terrorism, makes it the most dangerous regime on the planet. Many presidents attempted to end Iran's nuclear program, but none were successful until President Trump unleashed America's military might to finish what others couldn't. I will always remember the Americans who never made it home because of Iranian proxies. And I know that strength—not appeasement—is the only language Iran understands. That's why Congress must act with the same fortitude. The Republican Study Committee's Maximum Pressure initiative includes 10 bills designed to cut off Tehran's remaining funding, freeze their assets, isolate their regime, and protect U.S. interests. My Iran Waiver Rescissions Act freezes all Iranian-sanctioned assets and is a key component of this effort. Other critical legislation in this package—including the Maximum Pressure Act—sanctions terrorist groups, blocks sanctions relief until Iran ends terror support, counters Hezbollah's influence in Latin America, supports Iraqi independence from Iran, and urges our European allies to restore multilateral sanctions. Together, these measures represent the most comprehensive legislative response to Iranian aggression in decades. Swift congressional action is not merely advisable—it is essential. The long-term threat posed by Iran to our forces is real and ongoing. With approximately 40,000 American servicemembers deployed across the Middle East, the stakes could not be higher. I was one of them from 2016 to 2017 when I led combat operations against ISIS. In January 2024, an Iranian backed group used a drone to kill three American soldiers and injure over 40 others at a base in Jordan. Since October 2023, our forces have been attacked hundreds of times in the Middle East. In the days ahead we must stay vigilant and ensure that any attack against U.S. forces will unleash the full might of the U.S. military. As chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, I led a hearing following the October 7 Hamas attacks. We know the Iranian regime tried to exploit weaknesses on our southern border. President Trump hardened the southern border, but four years of weak Joe Biden policies left us vulnerable. The One Big Beautiful Bill makes key enhancements at the border and mitigates vulnerabilities that terrorists like Iranian backed groups could exploit. This understanding of Iran's multi-faceted threat comes from decades of experience. While advising the Air Force chief of staff in the Pentagon during escalating tensions with adversary nations, I prepared leadership for meetings on the complexity of executing an air campaign within contested airspace. I served on President Trump's National Security Council coordinating defense policy and my war planning experience is shaped by over 300 hours of combat flight time. The flawlessly executed airstrikes that obliterated Iran's nuclear facilities over the weekend are historic and demonstrate the unmatched power of our United States Air Force (USAF). The threat environment is more complex than we've ever seen. The capabilities of our adversaries are increasing and that is why we must keep pace with our own weapons systems. President Trump was absolutely right to acquire the F-47 fighter, after Biden cancelled it. Airpower offers the strength and deterrence that President Trump needs and we should double our spending on USAF programs to remain strong against China and other adversaries. I stand with our ally Israel and call on my colleagues in Congress to pass the Republican Study Committee's Maximum Pressure initiative bills to hold Iran accountable. My experience spans from the cockpit to the Pentagon, from the battlefield to the halls of Congress. The lesson is clear: this is not the time for weakness. This is the time for peace through strength, backed by American resolve and unrelenting firepower. August Pfluger represents Texas's 11th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. He is the chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) and sits on the House Committee on Energy & Commerce. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Karma on the stairs? Trump stumbles months after ridiculing Biden's slip
Source: X/@armslist What goes around, comes around—sometimes in the form of a misstep. On Sunday, President Donald Trump found himself the subject of online mockery after stumbling on the steps of Air Force One—an ironic twist considering his past ridicule of Joe Biden for doing the same. The brief misstep in Morristown, New Jersey, was quickly recovered, but not before cameras caught the moment and social media users had a field day calling it "stair karma." The stumble happened as President Trump boarded Air Force One at Morristown Municipal Airport, heading back to Washington, D.C., after weekend engagements. Gripping the handrail with his right hand, Trump's left foot caught the edge of a step. He faltered briefly, bracing himself with a quick touch of the stairs, and then continued up without incident. Though it lasted just a second, the moment immediately sparked chatter online—mainly because of Trump's previous jabs at Biden's own stumbles. Source: X/@armslist To add to the awkwardness, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was accompanying Trump on the flight to Camp David, also tripped on the same set of stairs while boarding. Both recovered quickly, but the double misstep did not go unnoticed. When Trump mocked Biden's fall Trump's stumble drew comparisons to Biden's own high-profile trips—and Trump's sharp criticisms of them. In 2023, Trump mocked Biden after the latter fell at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation in Colorado, calling it 'not inspiring' while also saying, 'I hope he wasn't hurt… You don't want that.' Back in 2020, Trump defended himself for walking cautiously down a ramp at West Point, likening it to 'an ice-skating rink.' He explained at the time, 'The whole thing is crazy… even if you have to tip-toe down a ramp, you don't want that.' In another speech from the campaign trail, Trump jabbed: 'Joe Biden can't even walk up a flight of stairs on Air Force One and he can't put two sentences together.' The incident this week has prompted critics to throw Trump's own words back at him. Source: X/@armslist Social media was quick to remark on this. One user said, 'That looks like the exact same spot President Biden tripped. Those stairs are fired!' A second user, 'Fix the stairs for heavens sake. Is this intentional or just blatant lazy negligence in the maintenance department?' A third user, 'Rubio reading the terrain and taking another one for the team! Love that guy!!'
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Cadets who met all Air Force Academy graduation standards denied commissions because they're transgender
They stood in formation at Falcon Stadium, diplomas in hand, having met every standard of physical endurance, academic excellence, and military discipline. But, on Thursday, when the time came for the U.S. Air Force Academy's class of 2025 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to commission as second lieutenants, three cadets were quietly held back. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. They are the first out transgender cadets to graduate from the Academy. And under a newly reinstated Trump administration ban, they will not be allowed to serve. Related: Federal judge blocks Trump's transgender military ban One of them, Hunter Marquez, had spent years preparing to become a combat systems officer. He earned dual degrees in aeronautical engineering and applied mathematics. He passed the Air Force's fitness standards for men. And he did so as himself, having transitioned while enrolled at the Academy. 'I really want to stay in for as long as possible, fight this out,' Marquez told The Colorado Springs Gazette. But the rules changed. On May 6, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to begin enforcing Executive Order 14183, which bans transgender people from military service. The unsigned order—issued without full argument and over the dissent of the Court's three liberal justices—overturned a Washington state lower court's preliminary injunction and gave the Pentagon the green light to begin separations. Related: Supreme Court allows Trump administration to enforce transgender military ban Marquez, along with the two other graduates, was placed on administrative absence, barred from taking the oath, and warned he might need to repay the cost of his education if he refused to leave voluntarily, the paper reports. That education—funded by taxpayers—is valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to The Gazette, Marquez was later told by Air Force officials that if he is involuntarily separated, he won't be billed. But the message was clear: his government does not want him in uniform. And yet, there is no question he met the standard. 'We want warfighters. We want people with grit, that are resilient. They have done all that,' a U.S. Air Force Academy staff member told The Gazette, speaking anonymously for fear of retaliation. All three cadets passed physical fitness tests for both men and women. All three graduated with distinction. What disqualifies them is not their performance but their identity. Marquez is a plaintiff in Talbott v. United States, one of the central legal challenges to the policy. In a sworn statement, he wrote that the executive order describes people like him as 'undisciplined, selfish, and dishonest.' 'None of those are correct descriptions of my character or my abilities,' he wrote. 'I have achieved alongside my peers throughout my time at the Academy.' The policy is not theoretical. It is personal. It has required cadets like Marquez to trek across dorms to find gender-compliant restrooms and showers. It has forced them to race through final semesters in case they're expelled before graduating. And it has turned what should have been a joyful week of ceremonies into a lesson in resilience. Related: Meet the transgender Army lieutenant who is challenging Donald Trump's military ban Marquez, now 23, is applying to the University of Colorado Boulder to earn an advanced degree in aerospace engineering. He is still receiving medical benefits and cadet pay, but he knows that may be temporary. 'There's still a lot of anger and frustration and sadness,' he said. 'Just because I have worked so hard to be a second lieutenant in the Air Force, and at the very end that was taken from me.' Academy alumni have responded with solidarity. Nearly 1,000 graduates have signed an open letter defending transgender cadets and midshipmen. 'Being transgender is in no way incompatible with any of our Academies' cherished virtues and values,' the letter reads, according to
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Funeral Set For Ava Moore, Teen Killed In Grapevine Lake Jet Ski Crash
Funeral services for 18-year-old Ava Moore, killed in a hit-and-run jet ski crash while kayaking on Grapevine Lake during Memorial Day weekend, will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31, at The Met Church in Fort Worth, with full military honors from the United States Air Force to follow outside the church. Moore, a 2024 Timber Creek High School graduate, was visiting her parents in North Texas when the crash occurred on Sunday. A recent graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School on May 19, she was set to join the U.S. Air Force Academy's Class of 2029 and begin basic training in weeks. The family has requested privacy as they grieve, stating, 'We are so thankful for the countless messages and demonstrations of love and support but most grateful for the many prayers we have received. This is a difficult time for all involved but also an opportunity for our beautiful girl to continue to impact our community. Out of this tragedy, God will make good and that only can be accomplished through forgiveness. We respectfully ask for our time and privacy to grieve, and thank you for all of your kindness and support. God bless.' Known for her leadership, Moore played basketball at the preparatory school and aspired to become a four-star general, according to her coach, Ke'sha Blanton. 'She talked all year about becoming a four-star general one day because she loved it,' Blanton said, per Fox 4 KDFW. 'She made those around her better.' U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind added, 'We lost an exemplary teammate this weekend – Cadet Candidate Ava Moore, whose passion for leadership and service left an impact on everyone she met. Her constant happiness and attitude helped her squadron get through the challenges of the Prep School, and her drive to excel was on display as she sought out leadership positions to improve herself and her team.' The service at 11301 N. Riverside Drive will honor Moore's legacy, with the Air Force ceremony underscoring her commitment to military service. Authorities continue to investigate the crash, with two illegal aliens in custody, as reported by The Dallas Express.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
What to know about the Thunderbirds at U.S. Air Force Academy graduation
(U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.) — Looking to see the Thunderbirds? The fighter jets will be performing at the Air Force Academy graduation in Colorado Springs on Thursday, May 29. The graduation ceremony is set to begin at 9 a.m., and the Thunderbirds demonstration is scheduled to occur at the conclusion of graduation. While Thursday morning began cloudy and misty, the Thunderbirds are still set to perform as of 9 a.m. Thursday's weather still calls for rain and even low visibility in some areas due to clouds. U.S. Air Force Academy graduation guide: traffic, entry, Thunderbirds and more According to FOX21 News Storm Team Chief Meteorologist Matt Meister, Thursday will remain cooler than usual for May. Thunderstorms will begin around the middle part of the day and will stick around until 4 p.m. A livestream is available for those who want to watch the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation, Individuals can also check out the Thunderbirds live in the link listed. The community is reminded not to stop along I-25 or any roads on the Academy to watch the Thunderbirds for public safety. Visitors and the Colorado Springs community can expect traffic delays near the Academy on Thursday due to graduation and the fighter jets. Got some good photos of the Thunderbirds? Share them with us here. To watch graduation live, click the link above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
