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Tim Howard calls it 'impossible' for the USMNT to win the 2026 World Cup despite strong start
Former U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Tim Howard understands the early success this group has in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but he doesn’t think they will be hoisting any trophy by the end of the tournament.
In fact, Howard believes it’s "impossible" for them to win the World Cup.
"The U.S. cannot, unequivocally, win the World Cup," he said on his "Unfiltered Soccer" podcast alongside former USMNT teammate Landon Donovan. "The U.S. will have to play the greatest game they’ve ever played…four games in a row. Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, finals.
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"It’s literally impossible for the U.S. to win the World Cup. That’s just the reality."
Donovan, though, was a bit more optimistic than the Hall of Fame goalie.
"Can we? Yes. Has this group proven they can beat a top team? No," Donovan added. "If they play the way they’re playing, they can absolutely compete with any team in this World Cup. For sure."
USA WORLD CUP TEAM CLINCHES SPOT IN KNOCKOUT STAGE AFTER ANOTHER HISTORIC PERFORMANCE VS AUSTRALIA
Thus far, the USMNT has had strong victories against Paraguay, a 4-1 victory that marked the most goals scored by Team USA in a World Cup match. Then, they followed it up with a commanding 2-0 win over Australia this past Friday to notch a spot in the knockout rounds.
Donovan believes Mauricio Pochettino’s group is building momentum, which could ultimately help them make that Cinderella run.
"I’ve said this over and over. Can you do it four times in a row? Can you do it in the round of 16, the quarter, the semi, the final. That is where it gets really hard," Donovan explained. "But momentum gets going, you never know."
The USMNT still has one more Group D match to go, as they face Türkiye on Thursday, which will only impact who they will face in the new round of 32.
It’s a new format for the World Cup, as they expanded group from 32 to 48 teams has now led to a round of 32 instead of the usual round of 16. The top two teams of each group, as well as the top eight third-place teams, will be heading for the knockout rounds.
While this game technically doesn’t matter for the U.S., Pochettino will surely be stressing its importance to continue building on the momentum they’ve created throughout their first two matches.
Also, the status of Christian Pulisic, the team’s superstar midfielder who sat out against Australia due to a left calf injury, will be under a microscope once again heading into the final group stage match. Considering the spot in the knockout stage is secured, it will be interesting to see if Pochettino decides to be cautious and sit Pulisic once more to ensure he’s ready for the elimination game.
Can they make a run in those games and shock Howard with a run to the final? The sky is the limit for this group that has made a statement thus far.
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Elon Musk 'needs to answer' for 4.5 million kids 'sentenced to death' over DOGE cuts, Ro Khanna argues
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk will need to be investigated for the "4.5 million children" whom he "possibly sentenced to death" through his spending cuts, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., argued Saturday.
Khanna suggested that the Democratic Party take initiative to hold Musk accountable if they were to regain control over the House of Representatives or the Senate.
"I do believe once we take power, there needs to be accountability," Khanna said on the "I've Had It" podcast. "There needs to be accountability for Elon Musk. You know, they’re celebrating that he created 4,400 millionaires, but they don’t talk about the 4.5 million children around the world who he possibly sentenced to death by dismantling USAID."
MAMDANI’S ‘COGE’ ROLLOUT GETS DOGE’S ATTENTION AFTER CRITICS SAY HE RIPPED OFF ELON MUSK
Khanna continued, "He needs to answer for that. He needs to be subpoenaed. He needs to face investigation. He needs to answer for what he did with DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency]. It's not just 'let's move on.'"
Host Jennifer Welch agreed with the idea of investigating Musk, claiming that he was responsible for "killing" millions through DOGE's government spending cuts.
"I love that we need to keep pushing the talking point that you just had that we don't need to celebrate Elon Musk making other people millionaires. If you are the party of pro-life like you say you are, MAGA, he’s killing millions of the poorest people on the planet," Welch said. "So I think that hypocrisy there is really stunning."
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Fox News Digital reached out to Khanna's office, Tesla and SpaceX for comment.
Democratic politicians and mainstream media renewed their criticism against Musk after he became the world's first trillionaire through SpaceX's record-breaking IPO earlier this month, cementing Musk's status as the world's richest man.
SEATTLE MAYOR SHRUGS OFF MILLIONAIRE-TAX CONCERNS AS 44% OF BUSINESS LEADERS CONSIDER LEAVING
Khanna has also encouraged a massive new tax proposal called the "Make Billionaires Pay Their Fair Share Act," targeting wealthy men like Musk with a direct 5% annual wealth tax on assets, not just income, exceeding $1 billion.
"We have a deep economic divide in this country. On one side, places like Silicon Valley are generating extreme wealth. On the other side, families are struggling to cover the cost of health care, housing, and basic needs. We can tax billionaires a modest amount to make sure everyone has a fair chance while keeping our innovative engine," Khanna said in a press release in March.
Katy Perry snubs famous exes before sweet nod to Justin Trudeau in cheeky onstage moment
Katy Perry made her feelings about her past relationships clear during a recent concert as she took not-so-subtle swipes at some of her famous exes, including Orlando Bloom and John Mayer.
While headlining the O Son do Camiño festival in Santiago de Compostela, Spain on Thursday, the 40-year-old pop star made playful jabs at several former flames as part of an onstage stunt while highlighting her current romance with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
During a performance of her hit 2019 song "Never Really Over," Perry sang and danced in front of a giant smartphone prop that displayed incoming calls from some of her exes, per videos shared on social media.
When the screen showed a call coming in from Diplo, the "Firework" hitmaker nervously hit the "Decline" button several times before covering her eyes and strutting away from the phone.
Perry briefly dated the DJ in 2014 after the pair were linked at Coachella during a break in the singer's relationship with Mayer.
In a 2017 appearance on "The Late Late Show with James Corden," Perry placed Diplo behind Bloom and Mayer when asked to rank her exes' performances in the bedroom.
Diplo later laughed off Perry's ranking, joking on social media that he had won the "bronze medal in the sex Olympics."
KELSEA BALLERINI DEFENDS EX MORGAN EVANS AFTER FANS SHOUT OBSCENITIES ABOUT HIM DURING CONCERT
The phone prop next displayed an incoming call from a contact labeled "JM," seemingly referring to Mayer, whom Perry dated on and off for nearly three years between 2012 and 2015. Perry turned around and walked back to the phone before holding her hand up and backing away.
Perry then ignored a call from a contact named "OB," wagging her finger and striking a pose. "OB" was an apparent reference to her ex-fiance Orlando Bloom. The former couple were together for nearly a decade after first meeting in 2016.
Following a 2017 split, the two reconciled the following year and announced their engagement in 2019. Perry and the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star, who share daughter Daisy Dove, 5, ended their relationship in June 2025.
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Perry concluded her performance of "Never Really Over" with a sweet nod to Trudeau. After the exes' calls were rejected, another caller named "JPJT" appeared on the screen. The contact appeared to refer to Trudeau's full name Justin Pierre James Trudeau and it was accompanied by emojis of a Canadian flag and a red heart.
The singer emphatically held the "Accept" button as the song ended and fans cheered.
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Perry and Trudeau first sparked romance rumors when they were spotted dining together in July 2025 at Le Violon in Montréal. Days after their dinner date, Trudeau attended the "Teenage Dream" crooner's sold-out concert in Canada.
KATY PERRY AND JUSTIN TRUDEAU PACK ON THE PDA IN AFFECTIONATE RED CARPET DEBUT AT TRIBECA FESTIVAL
The duo went public with their relationship in December 2025. Earlier this month, Perry and Trudeau made their red carpet debut together during the Tribeca Festival as they cozied up for photographers at the premiere of "Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour - Live from Paris" in New York City,
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In an interview with People magazine at the event, Perry gushed over her boyfriend while discussing her new concert film.
"I feel like a more grounded person in so many aspects of my life," Perry said. "I am very in love. And actually, that show was after I met the love of my life, and so I felt very anchored by that, because I'm a little bit like a rainbow kite."
"I fly super high and touch the veil ... cosmos ... and sometimes I need to be anchored. So, to have that anchor finally makes me feel really whole now," she added.
Last week, the couple were spotted sharing kisses while on a picnic in Santa Barbara, California ahead of their one-year anniversary.
Wyndham Clark survives hostile crowd and Sam Burns charge to win second US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Wyndham Clark entered Sunday with a six-shot lead at the 2026 U.S. Open and victory seemed all but inevitable until his wayward drive on the par-5 16th hole sailed into the thick fescue at Shinnecock Hills.
NBC on-course broadcaster Jim "Bones" Mackay described Clark's lie in the tall grass as "horrendous." Others in the booth noted that Clark would be lucky to escape with par on the hole. But the 32-year-old American somehow managed to advance the ball nearly 180 yards and back into the fairway before hitting his third on the green and then sinking the birdie putt that set the stage for his second U.S. Open victory.
Clark entered the final round with a six-shot lead over four players, and he was an overwhelming favorite to hoist the trophy at the end of the tournament. For the majority of the weekend, fate appeared to be on his side. It seemed like every time Clark hit a bad shot, the next thing that followed was a commentator saying something like, "he caught a break with this one." Clark led the tournament after each round, becoming the first wire-to-wire U.S. Open winner since Martin Kaymer in 2014.
But he battled through a major shift in luck on Sunday afternoon. Not only did his luck flip, but so did the crowd on Long Island. It was clear from the first hole that the gallery was rooting hard for Scottie Scheffler, Clark's playing partner and one of the four players who started the day six shots back of the leader.
THE SIMPLE AND FRUSTRATING REASON THERE ARE VERY FEW FANS AT THE US OPEN AT SHINNECOCK HILLS
But that spilled into active cheering against Clark, to the point that the NBC broadcast reported that at least two fans were ejected from the venue for crossing the line with their taunts toward Clark. According to reporter Kevin Van Valkenburg, one was tossed for saying "Don't choke, Wyndham" prior to Clark's tee shot on No. 4.
Ejectable offenses aside, the crowd roared for every good Scheffler shot, but there was a noticeable moan when Clark would execute a good shot.
Unfortunately for Scheffler, and the crowd following the group, the world No. 1 didn't have quite as much magic in his clubs on Sunday as Sam Burns did. Attempting to become a career Grand Slam winner on his 30th birthday, Scheffler never really put much pressure on Clark. He bogeyed the first hole and shot a one-over 36 on the front nine before trudging his way to a one-over 71.
While most golf fans probably assumed that Scheffler would be the guy to chase down Clark, it was Burns who emerged as Clark’s biggest threat after beginning the day at even par and seven shots behind Clark.
Not only did Burns come out firing, but Clark struggled early. He made bogey on the par-3 second hole, made a mess of the easiest hole on the course, the par-5 fifth, for another bogey and then added a third dropped shot with a bogey on No. 7.
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With momentum clearly gone and Burns charging, it would have been easy for Clark to wilt under the immense pressure. But he managed to steady the ship and make par at No. 8 and No. 9 before ripping driver on No. 10 straight down the middle. The broadcast questioned the choice of club off the tee, but Clark's plan worked to perfection, eventually making his first birdie of the day.
Clark made another bogey on No. 13 and Burns got within one shot of the lead.
But two key moments took place down the stretch. Burns, who was several groups ahead of Clark, nearly holed his birdie putt on 18. As the putt just missed on the right side of the cup, Burns dropped to his knees. It was as if he knew he might have been just that close to winning the U.S. Open. And he was.
Clark's 24-and-a-half-foot birdie putt on 16 pushed his lead over Burns back to two shots with two holes to play. At that moment, Clark could feel the trophy in his hands, and that's a familiar feeling given he won the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club.
But his nerves showed on No. 17. Clark hit a conservative tee shot on the par-3, leaving himself a nearly 70-foot putt. His birdie effort came up six feet short, and he followed that by pulling his par putt left to drop his lead back to one.
All Clark needed to do on the 72nd hole of the tournament was to make par and he would become a two-time U.S. Open champion. And that's exactly what he did, although it didn't start great. Clark leaked his tee shot to the right and it skirted into the rough. He got the ball to the green in two, but stood over 50 feet away. Clark calmly stepped up and perfectly lagged his putt to within one foot of the hole, tapped in for par and became a two-time major champion.
And, on Father's Day, Clark's dad surprised him by taking a red-eye flight to New York so that he could greet his son following the victory.
Perhaps most importantly, though, Clark became the first American to win a major in 2026 after Europeans Rory McIlroy and Aaron Rai won the Masters and PGA Championship respectively.
That also means the U.S. Open trophy is staying where it belongs.
Iranian fans flood SoFi Stadium with banned Lion-and-Sun flags despite FIFA's crackdown at World Cup
FIFA tried to ban the pre-revolutionary Iranian flag. Iranian fans at SoFi Stadium made sure everyone saw it anyway.
For the second straight World Cup match in LA, Iranian supporters openly flooded the stands with the Lion-and-Sun flag during Sunday's 0-0 draw against Belgium, completely ignoring FIFA's efforts to keep the symbol out of the tournament.
According to videos and photos shared by the X account Throwback Iran, FIFA and stadium security cranked up screening measures ahead of kickoff, subjecting fans to additional security screenings to keep the banned flag out of the venue. But the effort did little to stop it.
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By the time the match started, Lion-and-Sun flags were everywhere, popping up on banners, shirts and signs all across the crowd.
The massive backlash against Iran's ruling regime was impossible to miss before the game even kicked off.
When the anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran played over the loudspeakers, a deafening wave of boos erupted across SoFi Stadium.
EX-IRANIAN WOMEN'S SOCCER EMPATHIZES WITH NATIONAL TEAM, BREAKS DOWN SHARING STORY OF FATHER'S DEATH
One supporter held a sign reading, "Where is Rashid Mazaheri?", referencing the former Iran national team goalkeeper whose detention became a rallying cry after he publicly blasted the regime's leadership earlier this year.
Tensions boiled over during the match when a fan wearing an Iran shirt was arrested and escorted out by law enforcement.
Despite the heavy security presence, large Lion-and-Sun flags remained visible throughout the stands for most of the match.
The political drama largely overshadowed the action on the pitch. Iran ground out a hard-fought point in a scoreless draw against a Belgium squad that dropped to 10 men after Nathan Ngoy picked up a second-half red card.
Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand made seven saves to preserve the clean sheet, while Mehdi Taremi had a first-half goal overturned by an offside review.
Sunday's defiance perfectly mirrored Iran's opener against New Zealand, where fans similarly ignored FIFA's restrictions and loudly booed the official anthem.
But the fans appear unmoved. With Iran set to face Egypt in its final Group G match on June 26, tournament officials may soon find themselves dealing with the same scenes all over again.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
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Brady Tkachuk headed to Panthers in blockbuster trade to team up with brother Matthew: reports
The Tkachuk brothers won gold with Team USA together, and now it appears they’ll be chasing a Stanley Cup together after a reported blockbuster trade on Father’s Day.
The Ottawa Senators are reportedly close to trading Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers, where his brother, Matthew, stars, according to multiple reports.
The Panthers’ package for Brady is reportedly their first-round picks in the 2026 NHL Draft as well as a 2029 first-round pick and a 2030 second-round pick.
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Brady, 26, was a trade candidate entering this offseason, as he has two years remaining on his seven-year, $57.5 million contract he signed with the Senators. He tallied 59 points last season (29 goals), helping the Senators get back to the playoffs.
The Senators also lost in the first round in 2025 to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Unfortunately for Ottawa, they were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup-champion Carolina Hurricanes, which happens to be one of the teams he was willing to go to in a trade.
Brady also reportedly had the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild on his list of teams he’d be willing to join, per TSN.
The Senators named Brady their team captain ahead of the 2021-22 season – the same year he signed his contract.
Now, Brady will look to bring the chemistry with his brother, leadership and physical play he showcased earlier this year at the Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina to the Panthers.
Brady played a pivotal role in helping Team USA capture gold over Team Canada in historic fashion during the Winter Olympics. He tallied three goals and five total points during the tournament.
The Panthers get a major upgrade on their roster following a year when they missed the playoffs after going 40-38-4. Florida won the Stanley Cup in back-to-back seasons before this past season, and the Panthers’ front office is clearly looking to run the table in the postseason again.
Getting Brady to not just team up with Matthew, but the rest of the talented roster in Sunrise, is a hot start to the offseason.
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Kyle Busch's wife shares heartbreaking Father's Day tribute one month after his death: 'Doesn’t feel real'
Samantha Busch, the wife of late NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, remembered her husband in a heartbreaking social media post on Father’s Day – one month after his death.
Busch tragically passed away at 41 years old from severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis last month.
Samantha’s emotional tribute to her late husband was from herself and her two children, 11-year-old son Brexton and four-year-old daughter Lennix.
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"This still doesn’t feel real at all," Samantha captioned the post with pictures and videos of the family together. "I was up all night thinking about what today should have looked like for Kyle and the kids. The Father’s Day cards that were already made, sitting in a drawer with no one to give them to. Trying to figure out how to navigate a day that should be filled with so much joy for them."
Samantha remembered her husband’s parenting skills, saying that he "never missed a chance to be silly," while being present in moments where he would "stay up a little longer" to read the children a bedtime story or simply spend more time together.
KYLE BUSCH'S SON SUFFERS HEARTBREAK IN EMOTIONAL RETURN TO RACING AFTER FATHER'S STUNNING DEATH
"Nothing made him prouder than being Brexton and Lennix’s dad," she added.
Photos and videos showed the Busch family meeting Kyle after races with loving embraces and smiles, no matter the result on the track. Others were of moments away from work, whether it be time on a boat, having fun at the beach, or enjoying moments at home.
Samantha said she would promise to tell Kyle’s stories, which there are many, and make sure that her children always know how much their dad loved them.
"Watching these memories hurts more than I can explain, but they also remind me how lucky we were to have him," Samantha’s caption continued. "Kyle, the kids and I miss you every second of every day. Our hearts ache for you, but it’s more than that. Your absence is something we physically feel. Our bodies hurt from missing you, from reaching for someone who isn’t there, from loving someone we can’t hold anymore."
These raw emotions were spilled out by Samantha, yet she noted, "Brexton and Lennix always know just how deeply they were loved by their dad."
"Happy Father’s Day," she finished the caption. "We love you and miss you more than words can say."
Busch’s death shocked the racing world, leading to an outpouring of condolences, sadness and remembrance for one of the sport’s best drivers.
He was honored at the Coca-Cola 600 shortly after his death on May 21. His parents Tom and Gaye Busch, as well as his older brother, joined Samantha and the children on the track, where Kyle’s memory and everything he poured into NASCAR was honored.
"Kyle Busch is NASCAR," NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell said at the race. "He was one-of-a-kind, and there will never be another."
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Iowa news anchor quits live on-air in emotional plea for facts over 'sanitized news'
Local Iowa news anchor Dustin Nolan announced he would be leaving his job at KWQC TV6 during a live broadcast on Friday.
"I’ll try to get through this," Nolan said. "Well, before we go this morning, I have an announcement. Today is my last day here at KWQC TV6. I have chosen to step away from the news industry. Before I say goodbye, I just want to say, I hope every one of you that’s allowed me to be a part of your mornings know just how important that I have taken this job."
He began to tear up as he described feeling grateful for how viewers have trusted him during his years at the station and how he has pushed to be as transparent as possible.
Nolan did not explain his reasons for leaving but emphasized the importance of delivering more than "sanitized news" to the public.
"When it comes to this job, all I’ve ever wanted to do is report on the issues that really matter. I’ve always believed that we as a local news station, owe you, the viewers, the best that we can do because without you, none of us would be able to do this job," Nolan said.
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He added, "I also believe that we as a local news station have to be more than trends or sanitized news because it makes people feel uncomfortable. That’s why the facts matter and that’s why we do what we do here. We have to take people out of their bubbles and comfort zones and make them think about the world we all live in."
Nolan also thanked his co-worker and wife Jenna Jackson for their work together at the station.
Fox News Digital reached out to KWQC TV6 for comment.
Nolan has worked for KWQC TV6, an NBC-affiliate organization, since 2022. He and his wife previously took home a Mid-America Emmy in 2025 for Best Morning/Daytime newscast in the medium and small market category.
KWQC TV-6 later posted Nolan's farewell on its official TikTok account.
Meloni's spat with Trump is calculated strategy to boost her approval ratings: expert
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s escalating feud with President Donald Trump is nothing but a calculated political strategy aimed at boosting her standing at home, a leading Italian political analyst told Fox News Digital on Sunday.
After the row between Trump and Meloni escalated on June 20, analysts also said the Italian leader may see little downside in confronting Trump, particularly as she faces declining approval ratings ahead of Italy's 2027 general election.
The diplomatic dispute had reached a boiling point after Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced June 19 that he was scrapping a trip to Washington, where he had been scheduled to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
"Giorgia Meloni must have calculated that a public row with Trump yields no tangible consequences, other than an increase in her domestic and international standing," Mattia Diletti, a political science lecturer at Sapienza University of Rome, said.
TRUMP SAYS MELONI 'WANTS TO BE FRIENDS AGAIN' AFTER ITALY REFUSED TO HELP US AMID IRAN WAR
Giovanni Orsina, a political scientist at Rome’s Luiss University, also told the Financial Times that the row would offer a "positive image" for Meloni and a "silver lining" to a confrontation she had "desperately tried to avoid."
The friction between Trump and Meloni intensified after an interview broadcast by Italy’s La7 television network, where the president claimed she had asked for a photograph with him at the G7 summit and that he agreed only out of pity.
"She begged me to take a picture with her," Trump said. "She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn’t have taken it, but I felt sorry for her."
RUBIO MEETS MELONI AS TRUMP–POPE CLASH CLASH ESCALATES US STRAINS WITH KEY EUROPEAN ALLY
Meloni fired back, releasing a video statement on X rejecting the president’s narrative.
"I am frankly stunned," Meloni said in the video message. "I don’t know why the president of the United States behaves this way toward his own allies. But there’s one thing he must remember: Neither I nor Italy ever beg."
Trump doubled down on Truth Social and tied the row directly to Meloni’s political fortunes.
"Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G7 meeting in France," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"She is doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity, possibly because she turned down the United States of America... when it came to denying Iran from obtaining or developing a nuclear weapon ... She wouldn’t even let us use Italy’s landing strips or runways, a great logistical inconvenience ... Now, after the United States defeated Iran militarily, she wants to be friends again in order to get her 'numbers up.' No thanks!!!"
Within hours, Meloni responded on social media: "As for my popularity, being your friend certainly has not helped it ... My popularity depends on my ability to defend Italy’s national interest... In any case, my popularity is none of your concern. I suggest you focus on yours."
TRUMP ‘RIGHT TO BE OUTRAGED’ BY EUROPE’S BETRAYAL ON IRAN, SAYS FORMER THATCHER ADVISOR
The back-and-forth marks a reversal for two leaders who once enjoyed a close political alignment.
When Meloni first came to power, she positioned herself as a bridge between Washington and Brussels while pushing ties with Trump based on shared nationalism and stances on immigration.
"Politically, Trump has favored Meloni," Diletti noted, pointing out that she had previously visited Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in 2025. She was the only European Union leader to attend his second inauguration.
The cracks also appeared in April when Trump criticized Meloni for siding with Pope Leo XIV’s condemnation of the U.S. conflict with Iran.
On Sunday, Trump also criticized Italy and Giorgia Meloni over their approach to Iran, accusing the NATO ally of failing to help confront Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
"As the 2027 Italian general election approaches, Meloni is facing a decline in approval ratings for the first time," Diletti explained.
"The opportunity to counter a President so unpopular in Europe and Italy helps bolster her approval ratings and allows her to build European solidarity," he claimed.
Albanian protesters flood streets demanding prime minister's resignation amid corruption accusations
The government of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama is under increasing pressure as Albanians continue taking to the streets to call for his resignation, as well as the leader of the opposition, Sali Berisha, faulting them and their parties for some thirty years of corruption ever since the end of the communist regime in 1991.
The catalyst for the protests first began over a multi-billion-dollar luxury resort plan by Jared Kushner and his business partners pursuing the creation of two resort properties through investment firm Affinity Partners that will add around 10,000 hotel rooms and villas to Albanian coastal lands.
One planned location, the abandoned Sazan Island, is the home of a former Soviet military base. The other property in Zvërnec is said to be home to the Vjosa-Narta protected landscape where monk seals and flamingos make their homes and sea turtles nest.
EUROPEAN CAPITAL ROCKED BY VIOLENT PROTESTS AS GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION PROBE FUELS UNREST
Agim Nesho, former Albanian ambassador to the U.S. and the United Nations, told Fox News Digital that, "Unlike some of the misinformation in the media, the protests in Albania are not against the family of President Donald Trump and foreign investors like Jared Kushner. These investors are bringing in $4 billion dollars into Albania that will create jobs and opportunity for our youth.
"They are building on private land whose protected status was revoked years ago by Rama and his oligarchs. Global investors have standards and demonstrate accountability, and there is a hope they will show more care and consideration for the environment than Edi Rama and the business interests around him, who would instead build there on their own," he said.
Nesho claimed that "After 12 years and at least three stolen elections, including last year’s parliamentary election which was not recognized by the United States, and which handed Rama a supermajority that can change laws and the constitution, Rama’s days now look to be numbered."
Eric Czuleger, Editor-in-Chief of The Under Report, has lived in Albania for five years and has documented the growing protests. He told Fox News Digital that "Rama’s government has never been under such direct pressure from the Albanian people and his response is instructive. First, he denied the existence of the protests, claiming that they were a couple hundred people with an axe to grind. When they grew, the international media forced the domestic media [to] stop its blackout. Suddenly, the protests were a ‘hybrid war’ spurred on by Iran and Russia."
The protests, which began in May, have not swayed Prime Minister Rama’s support for planned investments. The Rama government sent a lengthy response to Fox News Digital on behalf of the prime minister directed at "all interested foreign parties and individuals, who have spread all kinds of misinformation and launched all kinds of baseless attacks all over the globe against a highly ambitious project with the potential to become another role model for how next-generation tourism destinations can be built."
ALBANIANS RALLY BY THE THOUSANDS AGAINST RULING SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT
His statement added that "Sazan Island is state property and has never been intended, nor requested, to be sold." He also said that the "area in Zvërnec is privately owned land," and explains that additional claimants to the land have taken their claims to court.
In an effort to clear up misconceptions, Rama's statement said that "the project must undergo not merely an ordinary Environmental Impact Assessment, but an In-Depth Environmental Impact Assessment." Rama also claims that the project location "has no connection whatsoever with the Vjosa Delta," and says that claims that protected status labels were removed from development areas to allow for investment "is one of the greatest falsehoods inflated beyond all imagination."
Irrespective of Rama’s defense of the projects, on Wednesday, the European Parliament urged the Albanian government to stop construction on protected lands, Politico reported. They also called for a moratorium on further permits and construction in protected areas.
A source familiar with the situation with the luxury resort project told Fox News Digital that some of what is circulating online about the project is fabricated and doctored, and that some disinformation has emerged from outside the country.
Asher Abehsera, Chair of Sazan Real Estate Development LLC, told Fox News Digital that "for four years, we have worked toward creating a world-class destination on the Albanian coast—one rooted in thoughtful design, environmental stewardship, and long-term economic opportunity. Our goal is simple: celebrate Albania’s natural beauty, create jobs, and build something future generations can be proud of." Abehsera said that the project's "future will ultimately be determined by Albania and the Albanian people."
As the protests continue, Czuleger said that Albanians are both "concerned that nothing will happen" and "concerned that something bad could happen" if the Rama government does step down. "If leadership doesn’t change now, then people wonder if the corruption will ever stop," he said. "If leadership does change then it’s possible someone worse comes in." Czuleger said that "protesters are tired," and "the news cycle is moving on." Noting that the "only thing that will bring a change to the administration is patience, pressure, and a clarification of the movement’s goals."
Albanian actor and artist Florjan Binaj told Fox News that the protests "are the biggest protests that have ever happened in Albania since 1991." He called the protest atmosphere "amazingly powerful.
Binaj said that he plans to join the protests for "as long as [he] can," noting that "the protesters want Rama’s resignation" to pave the way for an alternative government.
Nesho added," The protesters have risen up due to the fact that one of the poorest countries in Europe can count billions and billions in corruption by a government that holds itself accountable to no one. It is difficult for the protesters to compromise and negotiate with PM Rama under these circumstances. The only path is resignation of the government and early elections under international monitors."
The Rama government did not respond to direct questions about protesters’ concerns.