Dems Sound Alarm About Scared Americans the Trump Admin Stranded in the Now-Warring Middle East
“Are they thinking about something?”
Pressure mounted throughout the day Tuesday as it became clear that the Trump administration had done little preemptive work to evacuate Americans from countries surrounding Iran.
The State Department released a flyer Monday listing more than a dozen newly threatened countries, ordering Americans to “depart now by commercial means due to serious security risks.” These risks have already reportedly led to the closure of airports in many of these countries, leaving people stranded.
“My office is receiving panicked calls from Americans stuck in the Middle East, outraged that our government has not provided any evacuation assistance,” Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) tweeted Tuesday.
“Many Americans are stranded and scared across the Middle East right now,” wrote Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA). “Where is this administration? Where has the preparation been to get these people to safety? Are they thinking about anything?”
“You all should have had a plan in place before you started a war. The only guidance Americans have been given is to find their own way home,” said Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN). “The State Department must immediately charter flights and buses for Americans and their families. »
By Tuesday afternoon, the Trump administration was ready to act. Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson tweeted: “Yes, the State Department is actively securing military aircraft and charter flights for U.S. citizens who wish to leave the Middle East. »
It is unclear whether the State Department is keeping this promise; Stranded Americans called a hotline announced Tuesday by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and did not receive help, according to NOTUS.
As recently as Tuesday evening — as the State Department’s travel advisories arrive for countries surrounding Iran — they are not offering government aid to evacuees. “These alternative plans should not rely on the US government for assisted departure or evacuation,” it reads about Qatar.
The media, as a whole, ridiculed President Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan as “botched”: more than 120,000 people were evacuated and 13 American troops were killed. His popularity plunged and never recovered.
When President Trump was asked in the Oval Office why there was no plan to evacuate Americans before striking Iran, he responded, “Well, because it happened to everyone very quickly.” »
-Kate Riga
Noem won’t exclude ICE in elections
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was asked Tuesday by at least two Democratic senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee about a possibility raised by Trump’s allies in recent weeks: sending Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to the polls this fall. Noem dodged each time, saying her agency had “no plans” to send ICE agents to polling sites before attempting to play 3-D chess, asking Democrats if they expected “illegal aliens” to vote in the midterms, invoking a myth that Trump and Republicans have generally pushed for years. Here is Noem’s exchange with Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE):
Coons: Are you going to rule out the deployment of ICE or CBP at polling places next November?
Noème: There are no plans to have ICE agents at our polling places –
Coons: I’m happy to hear that, but would you rule it out? Would you say that won’t happen?
Noème: Do you envision illegal aliens voting in our elections, senator?
Coons: No.
Noème: Okay, that shouldn’t be necessary, unless you’re planning on making illegal aliens vote.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons engaged in similar rhetorical gymnastics when asked about ICE at polling places last month. He dodged senators’ questions and said only that he agreed there was “no reason” for ICE agents to go to polling sites.
However, privately, the Trump administration reportedly assured state election officials that there would be no ICE agents at the polls this fall. By democracy file:
During the phone call, officials from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Election Assistance Commission and Heather Honey, a senior “election integrity” official at DHS, told state officials that the Trump administration would not send ICE agents — or any other armed federal agents — to polling places this year.
—Nicole LaFond
Rubio and the White House attempt to walk back Israel’s comments
It appears Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the White House are trying to clean up Rubio’s comments Monday when he said, “We knew there would be Israeli action, we knew it would precipitate an attack on American forces, and we knew that if we didn’t pursue them preemptively before they launched these attacks, we would suffer higher casualties.” »
Here’s Rubio today:
More on this from Axios: Rubio’s warlike remarks shatter Israel’s MAGA divide
—Nicole LaFond
In case you missed it
The latest from Emine Yücel ahead of the Senate and House briefings this evening: Democrats briefed on Iran say they still haven’t seen evidence of imminent threat
Khaya Himmelman reports on the wave of citizenship proof bills popping up in red state legislatures across the country: With SAVE Act stalled in Senate, red states provide grist for Trump’s non-citizen voting myth
NEW from Josh Kovensky: Meet the gun-toting influencer who, thanks to the Tony Gonzales scandal, could soon be in Congress
Kate Riga: In New York case, Alito could preview voting rights bill
Yesterday’s most read story
Republicans lay groundwork to blame Democrats for Iran retaliatory strikes
What we read
The Trump administration, going against the grain, tries to continue the fight against law firms
Lutnick volunteers to testify about Epstein ties
Kash Patel gutted FBI counterintelligence team tasked with tracking Iranian threats days before US strikes, sources say
