President Trump told CBS News Tuesday morning that he is not ready “quite yet” to remove U.S. assets as part of efforts to force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, despite a Truth Social post suggesting allies need to do it themselves.
In a phone call, Mr. Trump reiterated his frustration that other countries, including the U.K., had not sent military assets to join the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. But he said he isn’t pulling American forces out of the effort yet.
“At some point I will, not quite yet. But countries have to come in and take care of it. Iran has been decimated, but they’re going to have to come in and do their own work,” Mr. Trump said.
The president also reiterated his claim that, despite ongoing Iranian strikes on ships and Persian Gulf nations’ infrastructure, “there’s no real threat” in the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for 20% of the world’s oil supplies.
“I’ll be there, but if they’re having a hard time getting oil, let them come and take it like they’re supposed to. Let them come up and take it. They didn’t want to give a hand to anybody. NATO is terrible, and they’re all terrible. So if they want oil, come up and grab it. There’s no real threat, there’s no substantial threat because the country [Iran] has been decimated,” he said. “Let them come up and take it. It’s about time they did something for themselves.”
Gas prices have continued to rise as the war has progressed. The national average for a gallon officially surpassed $4 Tuesday for the first time in more than 3 years, according to AAA. Asked about this milestone, Mr. Trump said that the prices would drop “when we leave” after the war is over.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also told CBS News in a statement, “When Operation Epic Fury is complete, gas prices will plummet back to the multi-year lows American drivers enjoyed before these short-term disruptions.”
Asked when the U.S. military operation may wind down, Mr. Trump did not give an end point but said, “It won’t be long,” adding, “I would say we are two weeks ahead of schedule.”
When the war started, Mr. Trump said it would last “4 to 6 weeks,” but this is already week 5.
He said Iran has “no military might anymore. They are down on everything they had. They’re a mess.”
“We’ve done our job,” he continued. “It’ll take them 10 years to rebuild. We’ve had total regime change. These are different people than anyone has ever heard of before, and frankly they’ve been more reasonable. So, we’ve had total regime change beyond what anyone thought possible. It’s a big factor.”
One of the president’s original objectives was to guarantee that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. But in the call, Mr. Trump declined to specify if it would be possible to declare victory without removing Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile ā something military experts say would be incredibly challenging and risky to attempt.
“I don’t I even think about it. I just know that, you know, that’s so deeply buried it’s gonna be very hard for anybody,” he said. Referring to last June’s U.S.-Israeli bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities, he said, “Finally people admit it was obliteration. It’s down there deep. And they haven’t been able to do it. You know, even without a war they haven’t been able to do it. Soā¦ it’s pretty safe. But, you know, we’ll make a determination.”
President Donald Trump will deliver a primetime address Wednesday to give an update on the Iran War, the White House has confirmed.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X that Trump will “give an Address to the Nation to provide an important update on Iran” at 9 p.m. ET. Related video above: Trump keeping options open on ground troops in Iran, despite public oppositionLeavitt’s post came shortly after Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday evening how soon U.S. forces could leave the region.He predicted the U.S. would be done with the conflict āwithin maybe two weeks, maybe a couple of days longer to do the job. But we want to knock out every single thing they have.āTrump also said he āhad one goal: They will have no nuclear weapon and that goal has been attained.ā He did not explain how he felt that goal had been reached.He said the U.S. may strike a deal with Iran before the next few weeks are up, but added, if not, āWeāll hit some bridges, got a couple of nice bridges in mind. But if they come to the table, thatāll be good.āThe Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump will deliver a primetime address Wednesday to give an update on the Iran War, the White House has confirmed.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X that Trump will “give an Address to the Nation to provide an important update on Iran” at 9 p.m. ET.
Related video above: Trump keeping options open on ground troops in Iran, despite public opposition
Leavitt’s post came shortly after Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday evening how soon U.S. forces could leave the region.
He predicted the U.S. would be done with the conflict āwithin maybe two weeks, maybe a couple of days longer to do the job. But we want to knock out every single thing they have.ā
Trump also said he āhad one goal: They will have no nuclear weapon and that goal has been attained.ā He did not explain how he felt that goal had been reached.
He said the U.S. may strike a deal with Iran before the next few weeks are up, but added, if not, āWeāll hit some bridges, got a couple of nice bridges in mind. But if they come to the table, thatāll be good.ā
Rock’s “Southern White House,” a sprawling home modeled after the actual White House, sits just north of Nashville in Whites Creek. The helicopters are part of the 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell. The military installation straddles the Kentucky/Tennessee border northwest of Whites Creek.
Kid Rock Thinks Suspended Aircrew Will Be ‘Alright’
Rock shared a video of the March 28 incident on social media that showed him saluting the helicopters as he stood near the pool at his home. The post drew some backlash from those questioning how the helicopters ended up there in the first place.
Rock told Nashville ABC affiliate WKRN that he thought the aircrews would be cleared of any wrongdoing connected to the visit.
“I think they’re going to beĀ all right ā my buddy is the commander in chief,” Rock said, referencing his relationship with President Donald Trump.
He told a WKRN reporter that he thought the incident was “cool” and that it wasn’t something he expected to happen.
“They circled back around and came out right over here and I just gave them a salute, kind of a thank you, and man, it was a level of respect that I got that no award or record sales could,” Rock recalled for WKRN.
Reason for U.S. Army’s Investigation
The U.S. Army said on Monday that its investigation would center on “compliance with regulation and airspace requirements.”
“Army aviators must adhere to strict safety standards, professionalism and established flight regulations,” Army officials said in a statement.
Officials were also looking into reports that Apache helicopters were seen flying over a “No Kings” protest in Nashville on Saturday. The Army has now confirmed that the helicopters outside Rock’s home were not the same ones seen during the protest.
It is unclear how many aircrew members have been suspended or how long their suspensions will last.
The incident is far from the first controversial moment involving Kid Rock. Here is a look back at some of the more stunning moments from his career.
Kid Rock Trivia: 17 STUNNING Facts, Ranked Level 1 to 100
As the levels get higher, the facts get wilder! Here are 17 things you probably didn’t know about Kid Rock, including the truth about his son, why he divorced Pam Anderson and whether or not he’s friends with Eminem.
Burger joined the Womenās Professional Rodeo Association in 1985, when she moved to Oklahoma with her husband, Kerry, but just dabbled in the ProRodeo ranks until 2006. That year a horse named Rare Fred carried her to her first WPRA world title. She not only etched her name in the record books for the 2006 world title, but she also became the oldest world champion in the WPRA at the age of 58.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āIt used to bother me when people would talk about age and not being able to do things because of age, but then when I made it to the NFR (for the first time) and all the different fans that would tell me how much of an inspiration I was. It changed the way I looked at it,ā said Burger. āI am just thrilled to be able to do what I love and glad that I can serve as an inspiration.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Burger would qualify for the Wrangler NFR two more times (2008-09) with Fred. In 2010, Fred was sold and so began Burgerās search for the next great ride. Enter a buckskin gelding registered Sadiefamouslastwords, known as Mo.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI have trained all my life and have had lots of top-notch horses come through, so I knew I had it in me to train another great one after Fred,ā said Burger in 2016. Brad Leiblong, a futurity trainer and horse trader, had sent horses to Burger in the past and he found a 2-year-old that he wanted to trade for, so she asked him to send a photo.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āOnce I saw the photo there was just something about him and I knew I wanted him, so we made the trade,ā beamed Burger, who traded an open horse for Mo. āIt was the best trade I have ever made in my entire life.ā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Mo took to the ProRodeo circuit like a champ, collecting his first big win at RodeoHouston and followed that up a few months later with the title at the Calgary Stampede. The first week of August, Burger surpassed Lindsay Searsā record for most money won prior to the NFR with $185,439. Sears set the record in 2008 with $184,567. Burger would set a then regular season record earnings mark with $190,977 and would become just the third WPRA contestant in Wrangler National Finals Rodeo history to wear the No. 1 back number, joining Charmayne James and Sherry Cervi.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Burger would finish the 2016 season with $277,554 in earnings capturing her second gold buckle at her fourth and final NFR.
HAVANA — Cubans accustomed to shopping with wads of bills stuffed into bags because of skyrocketing inflation will get some relief Wednesday when two new high-denomination banknotes go into circulation.
Cubaās Central Bank was set to release 2,000 and 5,000 Cuban peso notes, equal to roughly $4 and $10, after they were previewed Tuesday on the government website Cubadebate.
It will be the first time the islandās paper currency features women. The 2,000 Cuban peso note in violet and pink tones will feature a portrait of Mariana Grajales, a patriot of Cuban independence and mother of several of its heroes. The 5,000 peso note in blue will depict Celia SĆ”nchez, a guerrilla fighter who became a close collaborator of former President Fidel Castro.
The new notes will āfacilitate cash transactions, respond to the real needs of an economy that demands large amounts of cashā¦ reduce the costs of cash logistics, and improve operational efficiency during the current period of inflation,ā Cubadebate said.
The highest denomination until now has been the 1,000 peso note, but rising inflation since 2001 has meant that many people are forced to carry around bills that don’t fit in their wallets.
Authorities have promoted bank deposits and transfers, but many residents still prefer cash.
Annual inflation closed last year at 14%, according to official figures. The price increases of the last five years ā peaking at 77% in 2021 ā combined with severe declines in gross domestic product have had a significant impact on daily life.
Cuba is experiencing a severe economic crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 financial reform ā when inflation skyrocketed ā and an increase in U.S. sanctions aimed at prompting Cuba to liberalize its politics and economy.
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) ā The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe over claims that the medical facility violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. The EEOC lawsuit claims the hospital failed to accommodate an employee with a disability and fired her because of […]
If you need to get yourself a little roughed up by riffs today, you’re in luck! We’re streaming “Valley of The Wolf” by Ćga BĆ¼ga, from their record of the same name due out on June 5. Just try not to break your neck while you’re listening to this.
4/9 Norfolk, VA The NorVa 5/11 Richmond, VA Canal Club 5/20 Lynchburg, VA Arcade Bar (w/ Pentagram) 5/27 Washington, DC Pie Shop
Ćga BĆ¼ga blends influences like Mastodon, Soundgarden, High on Fire, and The Mars Volta into a heavy, genre-crossing sound paired with fantasy-themed lyrics about post-apocalyptic warriors and surreal worlds.
After their 2024 debut album Year of the Hog gained attention on the Doom Charts, the band is preparing their next release, Valley of the Wolf. Theyāve built momentum through intense live shows across the eastern U.S., opening for acts like Nothing More, Darkest Hour, and King Buffalo, as well as appearances at underground festivals.
Formed in 2021 and solidified in 2022, the current lineup of Calloway Jones, Niko Cvetanovich, and Jimmy Czywczynski now writes collaboratively, shaping a heavier, more unified sound that defines their evolving identity.
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Every soccer fan dreams of seeing their nation in a World Cup, but for many of FIFA’s 211 member associations, that ambition remains just that: a dream.
However, the expansion of soccer’s showpiece event to 48 teams for the 2026 tournament, which is co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, has left the door ajar to nations who previously would have fallen short, while other countries have hit their stride at just the right time with golden generations driving them to qualification for their maiden finals.
While as many as nine potential newcomers were in the mix for 2026 heading into the March playoffs, only four of those teams will be on the ground when the competition kicks off on June 11.
Cape Verde, CuraƧao, Jordan and Uzbekistan have punched their tickets, but what do we know about these nations, both on and off the pitch? For most fans around the world who’ll be watching this summer, it’s not a whole lot.
We spoke to an expert from each debutant country to get better acquainted with 2026’s World Cup underdogs.
A volcanic archipelago of 10 islands off Africa’s West Coast, Cape Verde secured their spot by winning Group D in Africa, beating Cameroon to top spot.
With a population of just 525,000, Cape Verde is the third-smallest nation by population to qualify for a World Cup, after Iceland in 2018 and fellow 2026 debutants CuraƧao. The decisive win came on Oct.13 when Cape Verde overcame Eswatini 3-0 on home soil, sparking wild celebrations in the capital Praia.
“On the day of the Eswatini game I was trying to conserve energy, but my stomach was dancing with nerves,” Cape Verde defender Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes told ESPN.
“I was supposed to have a pre-game nap but then one of the other players got out the speakers and started playing music. We all started dancing. And then it’s like we knew that everything was going to be okay, it had to be our day.”
Music, and food, have been a big part of bonding the Cape Verde team who come together from all over the world for their international fixtures.
“Music is a huge part of the dressing-room atmosphere,” Lopes said. “We play traditional songs, funanĆ” music, a mix of old and modern. We eat Cachupa (a bean and corn stew) in the evening and for breakfast. It’s the national dish and we eat it together.”
The Blue Sharks were Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinalists 2013 and 2023, so they are no strangers to major competition, but the enormity of qualifying for a World Cup was evident.
“We had been building for years and when the draw was done there was this determination. We thought ‘if not now, when?'” Lopes said.
“The government gave everyone the day off work to watch the Eswatini game and to qualify means everything. We’re a very proud football nation, but these 10 tiny islands off the coast of Africa up there with the biggest names, how can you not feel proud?”
“The little boy in me wants to play Brazil,” Lopes said. “They are the symbol of the World Cup. But we’d have some work to do to get to play them! We’re happy with the group we have.”
Jordan is an Arab nation on the east bank of the Jordan River, bordering five countries: Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Palestine‘s West Bank. It has become a hugely popular tourist destination, with visitors flocking to see its UNESCO heritage sites and to swim in the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth.
“The most famous tourist site is the ancient city and archaeological site of Petra,” Jordan fan Zaid Al Atiyat told ESPN. “It’s nicknamed the ‘Rose City’ due to its pinkish sandstone and is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World [after a campaign in 2000 to choose Wonders of the World from 200 existing monuments].
“Or, if you want to go to Mars but don’t want to travel quite as far, Wadi Rum is a good second choice. Hollywood films such as Dune, Star Wars, The Martian and Lawrence of Arabia were set there.”
Jordan’s national dish, mansaf, made of lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented dried yogurt and served with rice or bulgur, is a source of great pride to the country’s 11.5 million inhabitants, but it was also at the center of an on-the-pitch controversy.
“At the 2023 AFC Asian Cup round-of-16 game between Jordan and Iraq, Jordan forward, Yazan Al-Naimat celebrated his goal by gathering his teammates into a Bedouin-style circle and everyone gesturing with their hands as if eating mansaf,” Al Atiyat said. “Once Iraq took the lead in the second half, the goal scorer Aymen Hussein celebrated by sitting cross-legged in a mansaf gesture of his own, before controversially getting a second yellow card by [referee] Alireza Faghani.”
Jordan got the last laugh against Iraq, winning 3-2, and they went all the way to the final where they lost to hosts Qatar.
The Chivalrous Ones qualified for the World Cup back in June 2025 with a 3-0 away victory over Oman that confirmed they would finish second in Asia’s Group B behind South Korea.
“Growing up, I never imagined I’d see Jordan on the global stage,” Al Atiyat said. “But the 2023 Asian Cup truly allowed us to dream big in ways we had never before.”
Jordan were drawn in Group J at the World Cup and will come up against Austria, Algeria and Argentina. While that looks like a tough test for the debutants, they have some talented players ready to step up.
“Mousa Al-Tamari and his lightning pace and dribbling should be the name in everyone’s heads when they think of Jordan,” Al Atiyat said. “He is the first Jordanian to play and score in a top five league, and he has established himself as a key player for Stade Rennais.
“Yazan Al-Arab is our pillar at center back, he’s the first Jordanian to play in K League 1 [or FC Seoul], and he was in the K League’s 2025 Team of the Year.”
An autonomous Caribbean island within the Kingdom of the Netherlands known for its stunning beaches and diving, CuraƧao can also now claim a piece of soccer history. With a population of just 156,000, CuraƧao became the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup, taking advantage of the absence in qualification of three of CONCACAF’s traditional giants.
CuraƧao’s two main sports are baseball and soccer. Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Andrew Jones hails from CuraƧao, but on the soccer field, successes until now have been harder to come by.
“As soon as we knew the tournament would be held in the USA, Mexico and Canada, we knew we could make it,” Brenton Balentien, also known as Captain Blue Face, a former CuraƧao youth international and head of the nation’s supporters’ group, told ESPN.
But the qualification process wasn’t without its stresses. CuraƧao had to travel to Jamaica on the final day needing a draw to book their place.
“When we beat Jamaica at home, I knew it was our year but then I thought I was going to die during the away fixture,” Balentien said. “My heart stopped for a couple of seconds when they were awarded a penalty at the end, but VAR disallowed it. That feeling stays with you though!”
The majority of CuraƧao’s players were born in the Netherlands and they were led in qualification by legendary Dutch coach Dick Advocaat. Advocaat, who is 78 years old, would have become the oldest coach ever to manage at a World Cup, but he had to step down from the role last month for family reasons. However, in addition to strong links to the Netherlands, there are many other influences on CuraƧaoan culture.
“Curacao is a very diverse island, a lot of different cultures became one,” Balentien said. “We speak five or six languages: Dutch, English, Spanish, Papiamento, Portuguese, French.
CuraƧao will have their work cut out in Group E when they face Germany, Ecuador and Ivory Coast, but whatever happens it will be a special time to be on the island.
“There always energy, always a party, energy overflows particularly when it comes to sport,” Balentien said. “We know how to eat and drink well.
“Our specialty is Kuminda di Tera, or earth food. We eat goat and iguana, okra soup, those are favorites. To drink we have blue CuraƧao (a vibrant orange flavored liquor) — the original and best in the world, which is produced in a local distillery Landhuis Chobolobo.
“It will be a party whether we win, lose or draw. We’ll just be celebrating the fact we can play on such a big stage.”
The first Central Asian nation to qualify for a World Cup, Uzbekistan finally exorcised the ghosts of past near-misses to make it to soccer’s biggest event.
Geographically, the former Soviet republic of around 38 million inhabitants has an unusual claim to fame that it shares with the tiny European principality of Liechtenstein. “Uzbekistan is one of the two doubly landlocked countries in the world [meaning there are two other countries between it and a coastline in any direction],” Uzbekistan supporter Jaloliddin Makhmudov told ESPN.
“Our country once used to be the center for the Great Silk Road [a vast network of sea and land trading routes linking China to the Roman Empire, India and Africa].”
When it comes to cuisine, Uzbekistan also has some impressive feats to boast about.
“Our traditional food is known as plov [a hearty one-pot rice dish] and it’s served on every occasion, whether it’s a wedding party or a funeral,” Makhmudov said. “We even set a Guinness World Record when 7,360kg [16,226 lb] of Plov was prepared in Tashkent, the capital city.”
Uzbekistan were unbeaten throughout the second qualifying round and secured qualification with a game to spare after a goalless draw with the UAE. As well as euphoria, there was a sense of relief after Uzbekistan’s history of heroic failures.
The White Wolves lost 9-8 on penalties to Jordan in a 2014 World Cup qualification playoff and were controversially knocked out of the 2006 edition on away goals by Bahrain when the first leg was replayed due to a refereeing error.
“The whole of Uzbekistan has been waiting for the World Cup for 34 years,” Makhmudov said. “We would always fail in the last round, and that would really hurt the entire nation.
“Football is undoubtedly the most loved sport in Uzbekistan even though we are one of the best at boxing. So, the World Cup is a very big occasion. We always felt capable of getting there and our players have started shining in top five leagues while our national league has improved greatly.”
Uzbekistan will have Fabio Cannavaro, Italy‘s World Cup-winning captain and a Ballon d’Or winner in 2006, at the helm. Manchester City‘s Abdukodir Khusanov will be their most famous face on the pitch, but there are other exciting players ready to shine.
“Oston Urunov could steal the headlines with his outstanding dribbling and shooting skills,” Makhmudov said. “And Abbos Fayzullaev is another rising star who was named the 2023 AFC Youth Player of the Year at the AFC Annual Awards in 2024. Prepare to be surprised!”
