Fox News Latest Headlines
DAVID MARCUS: Hey politicians, stop co-opting our sports teams. It's un-American
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani used the blue and orange of the New York Knicks last year in much of his campaign material, and heading into Tuesday’s primary in Gotham, all of the socialists running seem to be sporting the now NBA Championship Knicks logo for their branding. It's a very troubling trend.
We have seen this phenomenon recently in Los Angeles as well, with GOP mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt rocking campaign gear based on the Dodgers baseball logo. Not only is this not merely playful, not only is it divisive, it's also deeply un-American.
In Europe and South America, especially in soccer, pro teams often represent political or religious splits in the region. In Spain, Barcelona is a team of the left, Real Madrid of the right. In Scotland, Celtic is Catholic, Rangers is Protestant, and their craziest fans, called "ultras," have clashed violently.
This is such a completely foreign concept to Americans that I once fell victim to it myself.
On a recent trip to Israel, I wanted to buy a soccer jersey as a souvenir, and, knowing nothing about Israeli soccer, picked the shirt of a random team from Tel Aviv. threw it on and took a walk on the beach.
That’s when the stares started, people looking at me with odd disdain. I thought maybe it was because I was smoking, but Israelis don’t care about that. I decided to look up this soccer team, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and discovered it is the team whose fans support Hamas, Antifa, and communism.
Headed back to my room to change. I was waylaid by an Israeli official I know.
WOKE PROTESTERS TRIGGERED BY ‘ISRAEL’ GET THEIR WAY IN EUROPEAN CYCLING RACE
"How did you not know?" he asked increduilously. "It's bright red."
I replied, "So are the Arizona Cardinals, it doesn’t make them communists!"
The point is that in America’s 150 years of professional sports, our teams have never become avatars for political ideologies or parties. As a result, sports still have a unique ability to bring cities and regions together.
FROM THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE TO LITTLE LEAGUE FIELDS, SPORTS STILL HOLD AMERICA TOGETHER
Part of the reason American sports have avoided this fate is pure geography. In Europe, major cities have as many as 10 pro soccer teams, catering to differing demographics. In Cincinnati, it doesn’t matter if you are MAGA or Maoist, you’re rooting for the Bengals.
So, when Democratic Socialists try to co-opt the Knicks, or Pratt does so with the Dodgers, it undermines one of the last things that truly brings us all together.
Look, if a politician is a die-hard fan of a team, as Rudy Giuliani was of the Yankees, that’s one thing. It's part of the bio. But in Mamdani’s case, despite his current zeal, just a year ago he couldn’t tell the difference between a New York Knick and a shaving cut.
WHY POLITICIANS ABANDON SWITZERLAND-LIKE CENTRISM TO BE MORE LIKE TRUMP
On the other hand, it's obvious that Mamdani’s lifelong love of London’s Arsenal soccer team is genuine, if somewhat amusing since Arsenal is not only considered a political establishment team, but also one with a strong Jewish fan base.
The simple fact of the matter is that the New York Knicks have nothing to do with progressive politics, and the LA Dodgers have nothing to do with the political frustrations of Angelenos. It's just sports, which in some ways, is way more important than politics.
It has long been a tenet of the Marxist left that every action is a political action, every choice a political choice. In recent years even on the right, we have seen boycotts of Bud Light and Target bring politics to our commerce.
NFL'S VIRTUE SIGNALING JUST HIT AN EMBARRASSING NEW LOW
We must protect sports from this hyper-partisan fate. We root for our teams because we love our regions and we love our neighbors, not for the base motivations of political power.
I suppose there is nothing to be done when gangs like MS-13 adopt the Chicago Bulls logo, then use the logos to target enemies. But responsible politicians can and should stop turning our sports logos into pink or red hats.
As a Philadelphia Eagles fan, when I see a Dallas Cowboys jersey I want to feel the simple pure hatred for that horrid symbol that my parents and theirs before them felt. I don’t want it sullied by politics like some European.
So, please, politicians, from progressives to Pratt, give it a rest with turning our beloved sports franchises into competing tabloid newspapers. Leave us this one, pure thing that we can share. I promise, there will be plenty left to argue over.
Trump says UK's Starmer will resign, wishes him well amid reports of PM's political future
U.S. President Donald Trump declared in a Sunday Truth Social post that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will resign from his post.
Trump indicated that he wishes Starmer well, but also accused the British politician of failing on two issues.
"Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom. He failed badly on two very important subjects- IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well! President DJT," Trump declared in the Truth Social post.
Trump's statement comes amid reporting that Starmer could be on his way out as early as Monday, with Reuters reporting Sunday the prime minister was still deliberating over his future.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated
Responders put out explosive blaze at fireworks stand in Oklahoma
The Broken Arrow Fire Department in Oklahoma reported that firefighters quenched a blaze at a fireworks stand on Saturday night.
The department noted in a Facebook post that there were "fireworks actively detonating" when they arrived.
"At approximately 8:50 p.m. Saturday evening, BAFD was called out for a fire near E. Kenosha St. & S. 236th E. Ave," the department posted.
VIDEO CAPTURES FIREWORKS EXPLODING FROM BURNING TRAILER THAT SHUT DOWN INTERSTATE 75
"Upon arrival, BAFD Engine 4 arrived to find a fireworks stand on fire with fireworks actively detonating," the post continued.
PALISADES FIRE SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY DRIVEN BY 'SOCIETAL REVENGE,' BEHAVIORAL ANALYST TESTIFIES IN COURT
"As other crews arrived, A-Shift firefighters were able to quickly control the scene and extinguish the fire in about 20 minutes," the department stated, adding that there were "no reported injuries."
AT LEAST ONE TOURIST DEAD AFTER MASSIVE FIRE NEARLY DESTROYS CARIBBEAN RESORT; 1,690 EVACUATED
The fire occurred two weeks ahead of July 4, when many Americans will celebrate Independence Day by setting off fireworks or watching fireworks shows.
The simple and frustrating reason there are very few fans at the US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Wyndham Clark secured a six-shot lead through 54 holes at the U.S. Open on Saturday evening, yet as he closed out his third round beneath a picturesque sunset, the extremely sparse galleries and nonexistent atmosphere at Shinnecock Hills were impossible to ignore.
Shinnecock Hills is one of the great championship golf courses on Earth, but it is also a logistical nightmare given its location on Long Island, New York, where getting tens of thousands of fans to and from the property is a never-ending challenge.
TRUMP PRAISES MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT GOLF BALL ROLLBACK THAT HAS THE SPORT DIVIDED
The crowds throughout the morning and early afternoon action on Saturday were large, vocal and engaged, but as the final groups played their last few holes, the energy from outside the ropes was borderline nonexistent.
"It was kind of unfortunate that we're finishing in the dark and people weren't really out there because there were some obviously key, big moments, and it did kind of get a little flat, so yeah, unfortunately," Clark said after the third round.
"Hopefully, tomorrow there's a bunch of fans and stuff, but for me, it's still really important, and I still felt the moment. It's just maybe unfortunate that there weren't all the people there."
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
The USGA may deserve a bit of criticism for the sparse crowds on Saturday evening, with the final pairing of Matt Fitzpatrick and Clark having a 3:45 p.m. local tee time, but most of the issues fall under transportation.
With a large portion of the fans descending on Shinnecock coming from the boroughs of New York City, the only logical way to get to the property is to take the Long Island Rail Road train from Grand Central Station or Penn Station.
The LIRR provided additional trains to and from the Shinnecock Hills stop on Long Island throughout tournament week, but with the journey being over a four-hour round-trip with multiple stops, fans weren't left with much of an option other than to get on an early-evening train to get back to the city at a decent hour.
Fans, including families with children, looking to get back to Grand Central Station or Penn Station before 9 p.m. on Saturday had to jump on the 6:07 p.m. train from Shinnecock. The final train from Shinnecock back to the city left at 9:30 p.m., but did not arrive at Grand Central until after midnight.
Who is raising America's children? Mentor warns kids are seeking role models online as communities fade
As Father's Day approaches and Americans reflect on the role that fathers play in children's lives, some are warning that a decline in community involvement is leaving young people vulnerable to bad influences. As traditional networks of mentors fade, many children are turning to social media for guidance.
King Randall, founder of the mentorship organization The X for Boys and The X for Boys Life Preparatory School in Albany, Ga., believes the problem extends beyond fatherlessness, and lies in the movement away from community. The father and professional mentor, who teaches children through real-world lessons and life skills training, argues that by pulling away from a "village" mentality, social media and technology have been left to fill the void created by absent role models.
"I believe in the village concept when it comes to fatherhood. I wasn't raised solely by my father or stepfather or my uncle or grandfathers – they all had a collective part in helping to raise me. I believe nowadays we've gotten to a point where we feel as if only I know what's best for my child, when I believe that multiple people should be having an effect on your child," Randall told Fox News Digital.
OPINION: I’VE BEEN A PASTOR FOR 40 YEARS. YOUNG MEN ARE STRUGGLING AND I THINK I KNOW WHY
He argued that "egos" can often get in the way of children learning skills, with parents not wanting to admit that they don't know how to do something, leaving their son or daughter without crucial life lessons. This is something that he practices with his own children. Randall told Fox News Digital that he strives to have different kinds of men who can impart wisdom to his children, similar to the way he was raised.
Without these in-person role models and with busy parents, children and teens are turning to social media for guidance, according to Randall. He said that parents have started using phones, tablets and other devices as "pacifiers" and are ultimately "losing their child" by letting technology raise their kids.
"I don't think necessarily that they are searching for them, but they are finding them," he said. "Every young man wants to be told, 'I'm proud of you,' whether that be for something bad or something good."
Randall argued that social media personalities, gangs, rappers and other negative influences have found ways to exploit children's desire for validation by seeming to offer them a sense of belonging. He said that kids are often getting messages online that their parents aren't cool or that they're depressed and living bad lives, even when that's not necessarily their reality.
Randall believes that confidence comes from experience, not lectures. Rather than teaching life skills in a classroom, Randall's mentorship program takes place in the real world. He brings boys to grocery stores, restaurants, doctors' offices and even the dump to teach them how to interact with the world around them. His own children often participate in the program, which he says not only gives them the opportunity to learn the same lessons, but to see him teaching others.
"In order to be a man, you have to see a man," he said. "I mean, that's very important when it comes to boys. A mom could definitely tell and try and show the young man all the right things to do, but certain mannerisms, certain conversations to have, et cetera, they learn all these things innately by just being around men."
IT IS UP TO US, NOT THE STREETS, TO TEACH OUR BOYS ABOUT 'GUN ETIQUETTE': YOUTH ORGANIZATION FOUNDER
The X for Boys founder maintains that some lessons need to be taught by example and that boys often learn from seeing the men around them do simple tasks, which is why he puts an emphasis on real-world scenarios. Randall told Fox News Digital that the lessons aren't really about grocery shopping or asking a waiter for the right order – they're about getting boys to pay attention more often. Beyond the life skills he's teaching, Randall also aims to build boys' confidence.
"I can't tell a young boy, 'just be confident' and, you know, 'stand up straight' and all these things. No, I have to put him in those situations where he has to be confident in order for it to work," he said.
"Routines build character and habits build character, and routine, habits and character, they all make the man," he added.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
While much of Randall's work has been focused on boys, he recently held his first-ever girls camp. He taught the girls practical life skills, such as checking their tires, using a fire extinguisher and turning off a home's main water shutoff valve.
"Your dad is the one who teaches you how to not let a mechanic get over on you at the auto repair shop or how to check your tires," he said. "We have so many college girls whose cars' engines go out or they're always with a flat tire or, you know, the check engine lights are always on because they don't know to go get your car checked, go pay attention to your tire pressure, pay attention what kind of oil you need, pay attention to your brakes, pay attention on your tire tread. Those are things I was able to teach the girls this past week they had no clue about."
For Randall, the lessons that he has taught boys and girls in his program reflect his broader belief in communities playing larger roles in children's development.
Ahead of Father's Day, Randall told Fox News Digital that men should look beyond their own households and seek to impact kids in their communities. He explained that, in his view, fathers benefit from mentoring other children because it mitigates the risk of one's own kids coming into contact with bad influences. Randall encourages fathers to volunteer, coach a team or look for opportunities to mentor children in the community.
"You should be responsible for some children that are not yours," he said, and later added, "We have so many children that your kids will come into contact with, and it would behoove us as fathers to make sure we're affecting those children as well."
Stonehenge breakthrough reveals surprising path behind ancient stone’s 450-mile trek
For centuries, historians and archaeologists have debated how Stonehenge was built — and now researchers believe they may have finally traced one piece of the landmark's complex journey.
The monument, which sits on the Salisbury Plain near Amesbury, Wiltshire, was constructed in stages beginning around 3000 B.C., according to English Heritage, the organization that manages Stonehenge.
New research focuses on Stonehenge's Altar Stone, which sits near the center of the monument and has long been debated among scholars, news agency SWNS reported.
EXCAVATORS DISCOVER PREHISTORIC VILLAGE BENEATH FUTURE GOLF COURSE: 'REMARKABLE JOURNEY'
Work by researchers from Curtin University in Perth, Australia, suggests the stone originated in northeast Scotland and reached southern England through a combination of glacial movement and human transport.
Using geological analysis and ice-sheet modeling, researchers found that glaciers may have carried the stone as far as Dogger Bank in the North Sea, or roughly 200 miles.
Prehistoric people then likely transported it to its current site in Wiltshire, another 250 miles away — a feat that researchers said required "tremendous determination."
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
In a statement, co-lead author Anthony Clarke said the journey would have required careful planning and coordination.
"Rather than being carried naturally by ice, the evidence points to a deliberate, carefully planned movement across a challenging and varied landscape," said Clarke, according to SWNS.
"Our modeling shows glaciers may have transported rocks part of the way during the last Ice Age — potentially as far as Dogger Bank in the North Sea — but not into southern England, meaning the stone would still have needed to be moved hundreds of kilometers by people."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
Clarke added that the Altar Stone was likely moved in stages, with prehistoric people transporting the stone after glaciers carried it only part of the journey.
"Transporting a stone of this size over such a long distance would have required planning, coordination and a deep understanding of the landscape — not to mention tremendous determination," the researcher said.
"The study demonstrates how combining geological analysis with computer modeling can help resolve long-standing questions about how Stonehenge was built."
The research comes amid a series of recent archaeological discoveries that shed light on ancient Britain.
Earlier this spring, archaeologists uncovered traces of a rare purple dye mentioned in the Bible at two Roman infant burial sites in York.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Also, recently, a 2,000-year-old coin unknowingly used as bus fare in Leeds was identified as a rare artifact dating to the Carthaginian empire.
Hugh Jackman says brutal 'Robin Hood' fight scenes were harder than anything he's done in Hollywood
Hugh Jackman didn't just step into Robin Hood's boots for his latest film — he strapped on 200 pounds of gear and endured what he calls the toughest fight scenes of his Hollywood career.
When Fox News Digital asked Jackman about the craziest things he did to prepare for "The Death of Robin Hood," including wearing a 200-pound vest during production, Jackman said the physical demands of the movie eclipsed anything he'd done before.
"I've done a lot of fight sequences in my career. Nothing has prepared me for how hard these were," Jackman told Fox News Digital on the red carpet at "The Death of Robin Hood" world premiere.
"They were so exhausting, and we did a lot of rehearsal for them. That was the hardest bit," Jackman, best known for his portrayal of Wolverine in the "X-Men" and "Deadpool" series, said.
The film, written and directed by Michael Sarnoski, offers a darker and more grounded reimagining of the legendary outlaw.
Rather than focusing on the heroic folklore audiences have come to know, "The Death of Robin Hood" examines the aging outlaw as he grapples with violence, regret and the myths he helped create about himself.
WATCH: HUGH JACKMAN SAYS 200-LB VEST MADE FIGHT SCENES BRUTAL
Jackman said his interpretation of Robin Hood wasn't influenced by the famous portrayals that came before him.
When Fox News Digital asked whether versions played by Kevin Costner, Russell Crowe or Sean Connery inspired his performance, Jackman pointed instead to the animated classic from his childhood.
"The Fox. I was first introduced to the Disney animated version," he said. "I don't think I even knew it was a fox ... that's how young I was. But I loved that version when I was growing up."
Still, the actor intentionally avoided revisiting previous adaptations while preparing for the role.
"But I didn't look at any of them for this because this is a completely different reinvention ... it was almost like a re-deconstruction of the whole myth of Robin Hood," Jackman added.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
The A24 film follows an aging Robin Hood who is haunted by a lifetime of crime, bloodshed and violence. After suffering a devastating injury in what he believes will be his final battle, he finds himself in the care of Sister Brigid, played by Jodie Comer.
WATCH: ‘THE DEATH OF ROBIN HOOD’ STAR JODIE COMER SAYS ONE THING ABOUT HUGH JACKMAN STOOD OUT
Comer, whose character nurses the wounded outlaw back to health, said Sister Brigid serves as a guide rather than a savior.
"I think she's trying to teach him to be his own salvation, actually," Comer explained to Fox News Digital. "I think that's what she's trying to instill in him — a sense of hope and his innate goodness, for him not to be so kind of wrapped up in the identity of his actions of the past."
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
The actress also had high praise for her co-star.
"He's got so much humility, he's incredibly personable and what you see is what you get," Comer said of Jackman.
Alongside Comer, the cast includes Bill Skarsgård, Murray Bartlett, Faith Delaney and Elijah Ungvary.
"The Death of Robin Hood" is in theaters now.
Viral hurdler Kennedy Smith pops up at the World Cup, Gabriela Moura in her summer uniform & meat on the grill
Welcome to Sunday Screencaps where the best reliever in the game gets to take the mound and keep himself in shape for those calls to the bullpen. There is a relief appearance coming up at the end of the week and into much of the following week.
That will take us right up to a couple of days before the biggest holiday of the summer. But we have a few days to go before that arrives and there are matters to attend to today.
First up, is former Texas A&M hurdler Kennedy Smith. She went viral several years ago, months after her final competition.
Her ability to find the camera on the track turned her into a social media star. That love of the camera has helped in her career away from the track. Since calling it a career in hurdling, she's been seen on the sidelines covering the UFL and is now a Professional Fighters League reporter.
Smith is also a Houston Texans host. Those have opened doors up for an opportunity she never even dreamed of putting on her bucket list, covering the World Cup as a host.
She's in Houston for the World Cup festivities and hasn't lost a step when it comes to being in front of the camera.
An 85-year-old man out "having a little ride" in his favorite car was arrested for allegedly street racing in Florida. According to police, two cars appeared to be street racing earlier this month just before midnight.
A deputy, reports Fox 35 Orlando, saw a red Corvette and a Nissan sports car hitting speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. He pulled over the Nissan and found William Bosworth, 85, behind the wheel smoking what appeared to be a cigarillo.
The officer asked Bosworth if he was street racing. He replied that the other car had swerved at him and he was driving fast "to get away from him before we caused a problem."
Bosworth, who told the officer he was "having a little ride in my favorite car," was arrested and charged with excessive speeding and street racing.
- Chris sent:
SeanJo
Chris, you're absolutely correct. I did need this. But now I want to track down the kid. Whatever happened to mom and her baby? Were they born with far less hair than their Bigfoot father? Are they living among us?
Or were they forced into the wilderness to live with dad, because of the excess body hair? Unfortunately, I don’t think we'll ever get the answers to these questions.
I'd like to believe the hair wasn’t an issue and they've gone on to live a full life without issue. Maybe a weekend every year they spend out in the wilderness to fulfill a desire they've never quite understood.
- Jim T in San Diego:
Our house is a two-story south facing structure on a quarter acre plot (pretty good sized for SoCal!). So with that second floor, we don't get much direct sunlight in the backyard. I went over to the local independent garden shop and they walked me through exactly which blend of grass to put in our yard. I'm sure there's someone near you with the same level of expertise.
Never sodded (it was too pricey out here), but just seeding and overseeding got us a pretty luxurious lawn for the kids to play on when they were young.
Good luck!
SeanJo
The sodding, we did ourselves (which I don't recommend). Our neighbor did their backyard and had enough leftover to do half of ours. We only had to buy the other half and it looked great for a few months.
It grew, not a lot of it died off initially, but it wasn’t meant to be. The heat. The two dogs and the lack of rain that followed were too much for it.
BACKSEAT GRILLMEISTERS ARE THE ABSOLUTE WORST AND OTHER PETTY COMPLAINTS ABOUT BBQING
We'll see how it goes with the seeding and the creeping from the front before looking for an expert.
Just some brats and red hots.
SeanJo
It doesn’t have to be complicated. This is great and reminds me, again, that I need to get my hands on a charcoal grill. It's been a long time since I've had meat from a charcoal grill.
Keep it up. Keep tossing your meat on a grill and keep sending it my way. Whatever the grill and whatever the complexity of the meat you're cooking. I'll take it all.
##########
Happy Father's Day. Hopefully, you're having some meat on the grill today. If you do, send it my way. I'll be back (for my relief appearance) on Friday.
That's it for today. Game 2 of the College World Series Championship is on this afternoon. Oklahoma has a chance to end it after winning Game 1 on Saturday, 9-3.
If your meat is on the grill, send your meat my way. I want to see it and whatever else you want to send in my inbox, which is always open sean.joseph@outkick.com. You can also follow me on Twitter and over on Instagram if you'd like. Feel free to slide into the DMs.
17-year-old MLB prospect swipes eight bases in minor league game
The Los Angeles Angels have a speed demon in their farm system, and he’s just getting started.
Juan Cespedes is only 17 but he’s already a record-holder. Playing for the Angels’ Dominican Summer League team, Cespedes swiped eight bases. It’s the most stolen bases ever recorded by a minor league player in a single game since at least 2005, according to MLB.com.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Billy Hamilton stole seven bases in a major league game for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1894.
Cespedes started the game with a walk and was able to steal second, third and home. In his second plate appearance, he reached base on a throwing error. He stole second but couldn’t make it past there. He stole second and third two more times after reaching base two more times later in the game.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
He was replaced in the top of the seventh inning by Yelinson Betances.
Cespedes plays the outfield for the rookie-level Angels team. He joined the Angels as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic. He reportedly agreed to a deal with the team during the 2025-26 international signing period and received a $300,000 bonus.
He’s appeared in 13 games for the Angels. He’s hitting .395 with an OPS of .975. He has stolen 25 bases in 56 plate appearances and had only been caught stealing twice.
Cespedes’ baserunning abilities will definitely have the rest of the majors on notice if he continues his torrid pace.
Victor Davis Hanson dissects how critics completely misread the Iran deal
Historian Victor Davis Hanson called out critics of the newly signed U.S.-Iran preliminary agreement, arguing that they are misreading American leverage in negotiations.
Speaking on "Jesse Watters Primetime," Hanson disputed what he described as misconceptions about the deal and said the military conflict dismantled Iran’s infrastructure, leaving Tehran with no cards to play.
"They've suffered probably a half a trillion dollars to their nuclear military industrial complex that took them 50 years to build," Hanson said in response to what he called "unhinged" arguments that Iran is better off now than before the conflict.
JD VANCE UNCOVERS HIDDEN THREAT TO AMERICAN WORKERS AS HE WARNS DEMOCRATS EMBRACE 'RADICAL FRINGES'
The Trump administration’s memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran was released this week, laying out the terms of the deal reached by both parties for a 60-day ceasefire and a framework for negotiations.
The deal itself has drawn criticism from both sides of the political aisle, with critics arguing that it does not include aspects like an immediate dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure or the removal of enriched uranium stockpiles.
Hanson also pushed back against critics who have cited difficulties moving oil out of the region due to Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz.
LISA DAFTARI: HORMUZ WHIPLASH PROVES TEHRAN CAN'T HONOR ANY DEAL IT SIGNS
"They keep saying, 'Well, the strait was open before, and now it was closed, and now we had to negotiate to get it open.' It was only open because they chose not to cause trouble," he said.
"They chose to not cause trouble because the last seven presidents said, 'We don't dare touch you. We're not [going to] interfere with your nuclear programs.'"
Hanson argued that sanctions on Iran and its oil distribution efforts have put pressure on the Middle Eastern nation and given the U.S. leverage.
"They think time is on Iran's side. Time is not on Iran's side," Hanson said, referencing the burden imposed by sanctions.
TRUMP’S IRAN STRATEGY IS WORKING AND TEACHING OUR FOES WHAT DETERRENCE MEANS
He suggested that Tehran is concerned about America's upcoming midterm elections and the nation's 250th anniversary.
Hanson argued that if the conflict goes past the midterms, Trump will be less constrained by electoral considerations.
"They are terrified that if he wins the midterms and the price of gas goes down, he's got a free hand, and he already has a free hand now," Hanson said.
"They are afraid that Donald Trump is [going to] drag it out because if he drags it out after the midterm, after the 250th anniversary, he's [going to] have a lot more options than he does now when he's worried about gas and the midterm. So the dynamic is all upside down. They are the ones that have the time clock."