In a desperate effort to drive a wedge between Catholics and the Trump administration, the fake news circulated a story implying that the Department of War (DOW) threatened the Vatican.

According to the initial report in The Free Press and amplified by outlets such as The Daily Beast, Catholic blogs, and social media, the incident allegedly occurred during a closed-door meeting on January 22, 2026, at the Pentagon.

The report claims that Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby (a Catholic and a Trump administration official) and colleagues supposedly summoned the then-Vatican apostolic nuncio/ambassador to the U.S., Cardinal Christophe Pierre, and delivered a “bitter lecture.”

One official reportedly invoked the Avignon Papacy (a 14th-century historical episode where French kings exerted military/political control over the Pope), which some interpreted as a veiled threat of force or pressure against the Holy See.

The Vatican, however, formally debunked the story.

CruxNow reports:

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni flatly denied the report in a statement Friday, saying that “As confirmed by His Eminence Christophe Pierre…his meeting with Mr. Elbridge Andrew Colby was part of the papal representative’s regular mission and provided the opportunity for an exchange of views on matters of mutual interest.”

“The narrative offered by some media outlets about this meeting is completely untrue,” Bruni said.

The Vatican nunciature in Washington had previously distributed a statement to the press also denying the portrayal of the meeting, confirming the Jan. 22 meeting at the Pentagon to discuss “current affairs,” but characterizing the interaction as “routine.”

“The Apostolic Nunciature is grateful for the opportunities to meet and dialogue with government officials and others in Washington to discuss areas of mutual concern,” the nunciature said.

“As confirmed by His Excellency Christophe Pierre, former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, his meeting with Mr. Elbridge Andrew Colby was part of the Pontifical Representative’s regular mission and provided an opportunity for an exchange of views on matters of mutual interest. The narrative presented by certain media outlets regarding this meeting does not correspond to the truth at all.”

VATICAN CITY—Holy See issues statement to accredited press on fake news reports claiming U.S. “threatened” the Vatican:

“As confirmed by His Excellency Christophe Pierre, former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, his meeting with Mr. Elbridge Andrew Colby was part of the… https://t.co/jfA6zHeLtm pic.twitter.com/UKa5UPvIzb

— Bree A Dail (@breeadail) April 10, 2026

The DOW noted, “Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby @USWPColby had a substantive, respectful, and professional meeting with Cardinal Pierre, the then-Papal Nuncio, and his team on January 22, 2026. During the cordial meeting, they discussed a range of topics, including issues of morality in foreign policy, the logic of the U.S. National Security Strategy, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and other topics.”

“Cardinal Pierre expressed his appreciation for the outreach and both sides looked forward to continued open and respectful dialogue.”

“In light of grossly false and distorted recent reporting, the Department of War repeats its statement: Recent reporting of the meeting is highly exaggerated and distorted. The meeting between Pentagon and Vatican officials was a respectful and reasonable discussion.”

“We have nothing but the highest regard and welcome continued dialogue with the Holy See.”

Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby @USWPColby had a substantive, respectful, and professional meeting with Cardinal Pierre, the then-Papal Nuncio, and his team on January 22, 2026. During the cordial meeting, they discussed a range of topics, including issues of… pic.twitter.com/McI0sB2wKC

— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) April 9, 2026

United States Ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, added, “I was pleased to speak today with His Eminence, Cardinal Christophe Pierre.”

“As expected, he confirmed that recent media characterizations of his meeting with Undersecretary Colby are ‘fabrications’ that were ‘just invented.’”

“Given the intelligence and seriousness of Mr. Colby, I was likewise not suprised when His Eminence acknowledged there were no threats of any kind in the meeting.”

“’It was a frank and cordial meeting that took place two months ago.’”

“Threat of Avignon?”

“’None.’”

I was pleased to speak today with His Eminence, Cardinal Christophe Pierre. As expected, he confirmed that recent media characterizations of his meeting with Undersecretary Colby are “fabrications” that were “just invented.” Given the intelligence and seriousness of Mr. Colby, I… https://t.co/R2ogLy2HAf

— Ambassador Brian Burch (@BrianBurchUSA) April 9, 2026

The post “Completely Untrue”: Holy See Rejects Fake News Story of Pentagon Threat to Vatican appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

From a landslide victory to an absolute rejection by voters.

Failing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer remains one of the western world’s least popular ‘leaders’, despite his efforts to paint himself as a relevant and world-respected head of state.

And his poll numbers continue to sink, as we learn today that almost two-thirds of Brits want Starmer to resign immediately.

If that was not enough, a similar percentage of voters also want a general election now, according to a new poll.

The British people want Starmer out.

We are the only party that can beat Labour and give them what they want. pic.twitter.com/K452GqGV0C

— Reform UK (@reformparty_uk) April 10, 2026

The Telegraph reported:

“Fewer than one in five think the Prime Minister should stay on, while almost half of those who voted Labour at the 2024 general election want him to go.

Sir Keir is likely to come under increased pressure to step down if Labour fares badly in next month’s local elections, and there is a growing belief within the party that it cannot win the next general election with him as leader.”

Keir Starmer has been ridiculed by just about everyone today.

He looks weak, out of depth, irrelevant, clueless and most importantly, finished.

How much longer will his own MPs tolerate their awful polling, the humiliation at home and on the world stage?

He needs to go. pic.twitter.com/fJ2kc7K68D

— Chris Rose (@ArchRose90) April 8, 2026

The poll by JL Partners shows a majority of voters, in every region and age group, wanting the Prime Minister to be replaced.

“Asked ‘should Keir Starmer stay or go?’, 64 per cent of people said he should go and 18 per cent said he should stay. Of those who voted Labour in 2024, 46 per cent said they wanted him to go now.

[…] While Labour has attempted to rebrand the Prime Minister as a world statesman at a time of global conflict in an attempt to stem a wipe-out at the polls on May 7, the results are set to be brutal.”

NIGEL FARAGE: Starmer is our worst ever PM who believes in nothing except saving his own skin. That’s why you must vote to get him out https://t.co/J9oAqUnR7s

— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) April 9, 2026

These two need to go. NOW pic.twitter.com/QV2BBkVn4o

— Essex Patriot (@EssexgoonerMr) April 6, 2026

Read more: Failing British PM Starmer Attacks Trump and Putin, Tries to Avoid Blame for His Own Energy Fiasco – PLUS: Scandal Erupts as It’s Revealed He Was ON A HOLIDAY as Iran War Escalated

The post Two-Thirds of UK Citizens Want Failing PM Starmer To Resign NOW, and For Britain To Hold General Elections Right Away: POLL appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

The post Huge Update on Seth Rich Case – FBI May Finally Be Forced to Act appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

The jizya is a tax historically levied on non-Muslims living under Muslim rule, understood as a fee for protection, exemption from military service, and permission to practice a non-Muslim faith. Historically, jizya was imposed by Muslim countries across the Middle East, South Asia, North Africa, and Central Asia, a practice that has been abolished in most Muslim nations.

With the exception of Taliban-governed Afghanistan, no internationally recognized nation-state in the Islamic world currently imposes jizya by name or in formal legal code. However, it is being actively imposed today by jihadist groups operating as de facto governing authorities across West Africa, Central Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East.

The most well-documented active cases are in Mali and the broader Sahel, where JNIM (Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin), an al-Qaeda affiliate, controls large rural areas beyond the reach of the Malian government. In August 2024, church leaders in the Dougouténé area of southern Mali were summoned to a meeting with JNIM militants and given new rules the entire community was required to follow.

The group subsequently imposed a tax of 25,000 CFA francs, roughly $40 to $41, on all Christians over the age of 18 in Douna-Pen, the largest Christian village in eastern Koro, Mopti. Payment was set as a condition for the free practice of religion. Those unable or unwilling to pay were warned their churches would be closed. Militants collected the money openly and without resistance.

The practice began in Dougouténé and spread to Douna-Pen, with local sources warning that more communities would face the same demands. In the La Tapoa region near the Niger–Burkina Faso border, jihadists announced that all males 15 and older who refused to convert must pay jizya, with Christians told they would “live as slaves” if they paid.

Open Doors analysts assess that these cases are not isolated but part of a wider plan, with families who refuse or cannot pay being driven from ancestral lands. One Christian told Aid to the Church in Need, “We are supposed to be living in a secular state, where such practices should not take place, but unfortunately this is becoming our new reality.”

The 25,000 CFA franc monthly payment represents more than half the monthly income for many families in one of the world’s poorest countries.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), operating as ISIS’s Central Africa Province (ISCAP), has imposed jizya as part of a documented campaign against Christian communities. Around late 2022, ISIS’s Al-Naba newsletter first began imploring Congolese Christians to pay jizya to be spared from ISCAP violence. By June 2025, the group was presenting Christians in Ituri Province with three choices during preaching campaigns: conversion to Islam, payment of jizya, or death.

An August 2025 Al-Naba editorial stated: “If the Christians of Africa want to feel safe and escape the cycle of killing, then they must know that our true Islam provides them the freedom to choose between three options,  Islam, jizya paid humiliated and subdued, or death and displacement.”

These options were repeated in videos published on YouTube and TikTok in Swahili, Lingala, and French by ISCAP ideologue Zakaria Banza Souleymane, known as Bonge La Chuma. Locals and ISCAP defectors confirmed to Bridgeway Foundation personnel that the group systematically gathered farmers to register and tax their access to fields while requiring attendance at Islamic lectures. An ISIS December 2025 article warned that fighters would continue to slaughter Congolese Christians who refuse to pay, framing the violence as permitted by Islamic law.

The UN report assessed ADF at approximately 2,000 members, including families and dependents, with 600 to 700 active fighters. ADF leader Musa Baluku was located in Madina camp in Epulu National Park, Mambasa Territory, Ituri Province. The report states that ADF enjoys complete freedom of operation within its designated area, as M23’s occupation of key cities has diverted Congolese military resources.

The report names Abu Waqas, listed as Ahmad Mahmood Hassan, as responsible for 300 deaths in and around Lubero Territory since June 2025 alone, including the massacre of 50 churchgoers at a church in Oicha and 70 mourners at a funeral in Ntuyo village in August and September, respectively. ADF has adapted to satellite communications as a force multiplier, enabling fighters to transmit propaganda directly to ISIS central media from the bush and to convert cryptocurrency into mobile money without access to conventional cellular networks.

In Pakistan, TTP and Lashkar-e-Islam have applied jizya in tribal border areas where state authority is absent. In 2009, TTP forced the Sikh community in the Peshawar region to pay after occupying their homes and kidnapping a Sikh leader. Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs in villages along the northern Afghan-Pakistani border,  including Bara, Chora, Karamna, and the Tirah Valley in the Khyber Agency, have been collectively required to pay jizya, with some Sikh families in Feroze Khel forced to pay 20 million rupees. In Orakzai, TTP took over stores and houses owned by Sikhs. Some families paid while others abandoned their homes and the area rather than comply.

ISIS imposed jizya on Christians in Raqqa in 2014, the city it controlled as its de facto capital, and summoned Christian leaders in Mosul to negotiate payments. Hudson Institute scholar Nina Shea documented that imposition of jizya by ISIS consistently preceded dispossession, violence, rape, murder, kidnapping, and enslavement. Experts note ISIS imposed jizya even on Muslims, which Islamic law strictly forbids, reflecting financial desperation rather than doctrinal consistency.

ISIS’s territorial caliphate collapsed in 2019, but its provincial affiliates in the DRC, West Africa, and Mozambique continue the practice. The debate over whether Coptic Christians should pay jizya has also surfaced periodically in Egypt since the 1980s.

From August 2025, Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh reportedly began collecting jizya from Hindus and other religious minorities following a political transition that brought increased radical Islamic influence.

Of the several groups currently imposing jizya on Christians and other non-Muslims, the most expansionist and dangerous are ADF/ISCAP and ISIS and its affiliates. ADF/ISCAP poses a regional threat, while ISIS and its affiliates are expanding not only across Africa and the Middle East but also into South Asia, Europe, and the United States.

In this context, jizya serves multiple purposes. First, it pressures poor populations to convert to Islam if they cannot afford to pay, which in turn creates a larger recruitment base for extremist armies. Second, it generates revenue that is used to fund expansion.

The post Where in the World Christians Are Forced to Pay Jizya for Protection from Islamists appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Another one bites the dust.

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi passed away this week following injuries sustained in US-Israeli strikes on the regime leaders.

JUST IN: Former Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi dies from injuries sustained in US-Israeli strikes. pic.twitter.com/KyZaLEPAyB

— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) April 10, 2026

Kharazi was seriously injured in the attack. His wife was killed. According to Aljazeera the attack occurred earlier this month.

In 2018, Kharazi famously met with former Secretary of State John Kerry in Paris. The secret meetings were captured on camera.

Former Obama Secretary of State was seen dining with several Iranian regime officials.

An onlooker snapped this photo as Kerry left the restaurant.

Jason Osborne, a former Senior Advisor to President Donald Trump’s campaign, posted this tweet earlier today:

So John Kerry just left a meeting @ L’Avenue in Paris w/3 Iranians. A friend was sitting next to their table and heard JK blasting @realDonaldTrump. The Iranians had a 5 person security detail and left in diplomatic vehicles. Is he FARA registered? @seanhannity @TuckerCarlson

So John Kerry just left a meeting @ L’Avenue in Paris w/3 Iranians. A friend was sitting next to their table and heard JK blasting @realDonaldTrump. The Iranians had a 5 person security detail and left in diplomatic vehicles. Is he FARA registered? @seanhannity @TuckerCarlson pic.twitter.com/vVYwDQTPNb

— Jason Osborne (@_JasonOsborne) May 12, 2018

Kerry was meeting with Kamal Kharazi at the time. Kerry and Democrats were hoping to assist the ghoulish regime in seeking a nuclear program.

The post Another One Bites the Dust: Former Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi Dies from Injuries Sustained in US-Israeli Strikes appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.