US Central Command on Sunday announced a US service member was killed in action by a down Iranian drone in Iraq and another service member was wounded.

According to CENTCOM, the service member was killed during a controlled detonation of an unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian drone.

Another service member was wounded and is receiving treatment for a minor injury.

CENTCOM also announced that US personnel found unidentified remains presumed to be from the missing US service member from an attack on a Jordanian base.

Full statement from CENTCOM:

Yesterday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the passing of two U.S. service members and the missing status of one in Jordan following an Iranian attack on July 17. After a thorough search, U.S. military personnel found unidentified remains at the location earlier today. An examination process to verify the remains is ongoing.

Separately, a U.S. service member in northern Iraq was killed in action July 18 during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone. A second service member was wounded and continues to receive medical treatment for a minor injury.

CENTCOM is withholding additional information, including the identities of the missing and fallen warriors, out of respect for the families during the notification process.

CENTCOM Update on Recently Fallen U.S. Service Members

TAMPA, Fla. — Yesterday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the passing of two U.S. service members and the missing status of one in Jordan following an Iranian attack on July 17. After a thorough search, U.S.…

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 19, 2026

Two US service members were killed in action at Jordanian bases last week.

One service member was missing, but it appears their remains were recovered.

Later Saturday, the US military unleashed new strikes against Iran.

The post JUST IN: CENTCOM Announces US Service Member Killed in Action by Iranian Drone in Iraq, Another Service Member Wounded appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna is fighting back hard against a classic Swamp smear.

On Saturday, the Wall Street Journal published a report alleging that Rep. Luna told associates in the summer of 2024 that she knew President Trump would select Sen. JD Vance as his running mate and that she tipped off popular MAGA influencer Rogan O’Handley (better known as DC Draino) so he could place a winning bet on the prediction market platform Polymarket.

The Journal’s claim, based on anonymous sources and a person “familiar with the conversation,” suggested Luna bragged about the tip during a lunch and even teased O’Handley for not betting bigger.

The CFTC is reportedly looking into aspects of political betting, but Luna’s office made clear the real story is very different.

Luna and her team immediately rejected the entire narrative as false. In a post on X Sunday, Luna released internal communications with the WSJ reporter to expose the process:

“I typically hate having to post internal communications, but this journalist was not being transparent and trying to create a narrative that doesn’t exist. It is important that everyone knows that. Here is his correspondence with my Comms Director. The fact is: this is false.

“There are screenshots and time stamps on x to prove it. There is now an open investigation into the false reporting of which people will have to learn, you cannot file fake claims because you’re mad at your ex-boyfriend. Also, the reporter failed to disclose that the alleged tipster works for a competing betting company of Polymarket. Making a fraudulent report warrants criminal investigation.”

The screenshots Luna shared show her communications director providing the official denial and later updating the reporter that Luna had initiated a criminal complaint with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for false and defamatory reporting.

The CFTC informed her office that filing fraudulent reports is against the law and that an open investigation is underway into who filed the fake claim.

Luna’s official statement to the Journal was blunt:

“I am honored the WSJ thinks I am telepathic but unfortunately I am not. However, the only allegation of this nature against Rogan was one made by his bitter ex, of which she later deleted the tweet, I assume because of fear of defamation lawsuit. Either which way, I will continue to champion the fight against insider trading and happily excuse myself from people’s personal drama.”

She also accused the Wall Street Journal of omitting what she described as a significant conflict of interest.

“Also, the reporter failed to disclose that the alleged tipster works for a competing betting company of Polymarket. Making a fraudulent report warrants criminal investigation.”

According to screenshots released by Luna, her communications director told the reporter:

“UPDATE: Rep Luna has initiated a criminal complaint for false and defamatory reporting with the CFTC and she’s providing any and all relevant information to them. The CFTC has informed her that it is against the law to make fraudulent reports and there is now an open investigation into who filed this fake claim. Please print this and you can confirm with the CFTC.”

The screenshots also show back-and-forth messages in which Luna’s office disputed the Journal’s reporting and provided additional context they argue was ignored before publication.

I typically hate having to post internal communications, but this journalist was not being transparent and trying to create a narrative that doesn’t exist. It is important that everyone knows that. Here is his correspondence with my Comms Director. The fact is: this is false.… pic.twitter.com/K00PHY9h0k

— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) July 19, 2026

DC Draino himself called the story “pure BS.” He noted that even the Wall Street Journal previously reported Trump himself did not finalize the Vance decision until the last day, making the idea of a tip months earlier nonsensical. “I never had inside info… Nobody knew,” O’Handley posted.

This is pure BS based on an anonymous source who filed a false claim with the CFTC and is now being investigated.

Even the WSJ reported that Trump himself didn’t make the final decision until the last day. The claim that I was secretly tipped off months earlier makes zero sense.…

— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) July 18, 2026

The post Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Files Criminal Complaint with CFTC Over False Wall Street Journal Hit Piece Claiming She Tipped Off DC Draino on Trump’s Vance VP Pick appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

The World Cup Final between Argentina and Spain is underway at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and President Trump is in attendance. 

Before the game, Trump flew over the stadium on board his Marine One helicopter.

WATCH:

Another clip shows Trump looking at the crowd from the sky on Marine One.

Via Ivanka Trump on X:

Trump was later seen in the packed stadium, with over 80,000 roaring fans, during the singing of the National Anthem, performed by Grammy Award-winning artist Jennifer Hudson.

WATCH:

Another video shows Trump in his suite with First Lady Melania Trump.

Via Margo Martin on X:

The President is expected to present the World Cup trophy to the winning team later.

Trump declined to say who he’s rooting for in an interview earlier, but noted that it’s “very hard to bet against” Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team.

WATCH:

Trump further spoke about the end of the FIFA World Cup, saying he previously thought the idea of hosting the tournament in the US was “crazy” because “We’re not a soccer country.” But “It turns out we are a soccer country,” Trump said, noting that there’s “never been anything like what’s happened with the whole World Cup.”

Per Fox:

President Donald Trump will present the FIFA World Cup trophy to the winner of the match between Spain and Argentina on Sunday, a White House official confirmed to Fox News.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said last month on “Fox & Friends” that he and Trump would deliver the trophy to the winning team’s captain on the field of New York/New Jersey Stadium.

Infantino also said at the time that Trump would attend the contest. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the president’s attendance “a fitting conclusion to a tournament that showcased America’s ability to host the world on the grandest stage.”

Trump was on stage during the FIFA Club World Cup trophy presentation after Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

The post WATCH: Trump Does Marine One Flyover Before Attending FIFA Final Match in New Jersey appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

This mega-viral image sums up a fantastic World Cup in which Christians unashamedly brought their faith to the pitch.

The third-place playoff match, England 6×4 France, was special for many reasons – and in some aspects, even historic.

To begin with, it’s not every day you see 10 goals in a dispute between two top-tier national teams.

From the English side opening 4×0 with a dominant first-half showing, to France wrestling three goals to put the match in play again, it was sheer drama – before the ‘Wonderwall’ boys settled the match with another two goals.

This was the best World Cup finish for the third-placed English side since 1966, when they won the title at home.

For France, it was a bitter pill, and will cause many changes in their national side in the next weeks, including the arrival of Zinedine Zidane as the new coach.

But it was a scene caught after the game that is going viral.

French and English players embraced in a circle, praying together.

England and France players praying together after the game! Love this #FRAENG pic.twitter.com/DaIOGTSgIY

— Dani (@ArchLiliHazMeg) July 18, 2026

Daily Mail reported:

“England and France’s footballers put rivalry aside after their 10-goal thriller in Miami on Saturday night to share a poignant moment of unity on the pitch.

Seven players from both national sides stood together shoulder to shoulder to form a ring and bow their heads in collective prayer just moments after their World Cup epic.”

This is such a beautiful moment from the World Cup.

7 men, from 2 rivals… praying together at the end of their journey this summer.

Opponents on the pitch… together in their faith

Dayot Upamecano
Bukayo Saka
Maxence Lacroix
Eberechi Eze
Marc Guéhi
Jean-Philippe Matte… pic.twitter.com/usOhVwTeRc

— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) July 19, 2026

“The players involved in the centre circle gathering were England’s hat-trick hero Bukayo Saka, Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze, Trevoh Chalobah of Chelsea, Marc Guehi of Manchester City, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Maxence Lacroix of Crystal Palace and Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano.

The moving scene was shared widely across social media, drawing plaudits from supporters of both teams and beyond.

Though this show of faith is not common among opposing teams on the pitch, it plays an important part in football.”

England and France gave everything in the World Cup third place play-off, but after the final whistle, players from both teams came together in prayer.

The players praying together were: Dayot Upamecano, Bukayo Saka, Maxence Lacroix, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guéhi, Jean-Philippe… pic.twitter.com/Ik4S68keBV

— Ballers In God (@BallersinGod) July 18, 2026

And this was not the first time this happened, in a World Cup marked by Christians going all-in on their faiths.

USA and Belgium players prayed together after their World Cup knockout match.

The players involved were USA’s Mark McKenzie and Belgium’s Jeremy Doku and Dodi Lukébakio.

Beautiful to see! #worldcup #usa #belgium pic.twitter.com/J4MIM6N3v7

— Sport and Faith (@sportandfaith) July 7, 2026

German and Ecuador players together praying after the match yesterday.

Indeed, different shirts, different countries, different languages, different outcomes, there’s no loser and there’s no winner but one saviour, our Lord, Jesus Christ. pic.twitter.com/UN2JXaz7RA

— SportsDokita (Odogwu ) (@Sports_Doctor2) June 26, 2026

Read more:

WORLD CUP CONTROVERSY: Argentine Players’ Banner Demanding Return of Falkland Islands Puts South American Country, the US and the UK in a Geopolitical Clash

The post CUP OF FAITH: Wonderful Moment Sees English and French Players Praying Together in a Circle After 10-Goal Third-Place Playoff Thriller appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced yet another taxpayer-funded pilot program called “Parents’ Night Out,” providing free supervised childcare for one evening so parents can enjoy a night out on the city’s dime.

Scheduled for Saturday, August 16, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the program will serve up to 500 children ages 6–13 at NYC Parks facilities across the five boroughs. Activities include sports, crafts, outdoor play, and dinner.

“Every parent knows that a few hours to yourself can feel like an indulgence,” Mamdani said. “It shouldn’t be that way.” But many New Yorkers are asking why the solution always involves more government spending and bureaucracy rather than fixing the policies driving up costs in the first place.

Critics are calling it classic Mamdani: flashy symbolism over substantive reform. Others are concerned about who will be taking care of those children.

Since taking office on January 1, 2026, Mamdani—a democratic socialist—has pursued an aggressive left-wing agenda that many say prioritizes ideology over fiscal responsibility and proven results. His administration has:

Imposed a rent freeze on roughly one million rent-stabilized apartments, a move opponents warn will discourage new housing construction, exacerbate shortages, and lead to deteriorating building conditions as landlords face squeezed margins. en.wikipedia.org 

Pushed universal childcare and expansions of 2-K/3-K programs, with massive new spending (billions annually) funded partly through higher taxes and state partnerships. Detractors argue these programs balloon costs, create dependency, and fail to deliver quality care while driving up taxes on working families and businesses. en.wikipedia.org 

Advanced fare-free buses and extensive bus/bike lane expansions, diverting resources and worsening congestion for drivers and commerce despite mixed results from earlier pilots. theguardian.com

Proposed city-owned grocery stores and other municipal takeovers to combat “food costs,” echoing failed socialist experiments elsewhere that crowd out private enterprise. archive.ph 

Raised taxes on corporations and high earners (including a proposed “millionaire tax” and corporate rate hikes) to fund ambitious social programs, risking business flight, reduced investment, and slower economic growth in a city already hemorrhaging residents and jobs. theguardian.com 

Expanded gender-affirming care initiatives with millions in new funding, including hotlines and access programs, while establishing new offices for LGBTQ+ affairs—priorities critics say divert attention from core issues like public safety, homelessness, and basic infrastructure. www1.nyc.gov 

Pursued large-scale “social housing” plans aiming for 200,000 new affordable units, heavy union mandates, community land trusts, and zoning changes that critics say distort markets, delay development through red tape, and burden taxpayers with enormous long-term costs. housingwire.com 

Continued progressive policing and criminal justice approaches, alongside heavy investments in climate initiatives like retrofitting schools and “Green New Deal”-style projects, even as homelessness strains shelters and core city services face budget pressures. en.wikipedia.org

These policies, funded through higher taxes, state aid, and creative accounting to close budget gaps, have drawn sharp criticism for accelerating New York’s reputation as a high-tax, anti-business environment. Rents remain stubbornly high overall, housing shortages persist, and businesses continue to eye exits amid regulatory overload.

While Mamdani touts “Parents’ Night Out” as relief for families crushed by the city’s cost of living, skeptics see it as another short-term distraction. New York already spends billions on shelters due to its unique “right to shelter” mandate, yet homelessness remains a visible crisis. Median rents in Manhattan exceed $5,000, and childcare and housing costs rank among the nation’s highest.

Conservative and good-government voices argue that real family support comes from lower taxes, reduced regulations, school choice, pro-growth housing policies, and safer streets—not one-off government babysitting programs or expansive entitlements. Questions remain about operational capacity, vetting for the pilot, long-term costs if expanded, and whether this is simply laying the groundwork for broader government intrusion into family life.

Mamdani’s tenure has reinforced a familiar progressive pattern: symbolic programs and wealth redistribution that sound compassionate but often fail to deliver sustainable results, while punishing taxpayers and eroding the economic engine that makes New York viable. The August 16 event will test logistics, but for many, it highlights deeper concerns about a mayor more committed to leftist ideology than pragmatic governance in a city desperately needing fiscal restraint and common-sense reforms.

The post NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s “Parents’ Night Out” Giveaway: Latest Progressive Gimmick Amid a String of Failed Big-Government Experiments appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.