WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump complained Thursday that the United States provided too many weapons to Ukraine under the previous administration, his first public comments on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-hegseth-trump-pentagon-weapons-1df59a85dbfaa5085b56d84820737376">the pause in some shipments</a>&nbsp;as Russia escalates its latest offensive.

Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-america-250th-birthday-iowa-e6fb5df832cdba107ae4e9c62f2577e9">a flight to Iowa</a>, Trump said former President Joe Biden “emptied out our whole country giving them weapons, and we have to make sure that we have enough for ourselves.”

Air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery and other weapons are among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-america-stockpiles-army-trump-pentagon-weapons-94ff0c465b58608c653b6f64c113a5b9">those being withheld from Ukraine</a>. The country suffered a new barrage overnight, with warnings of ballistic missiles followed by explosions in Kyiv. The sound of machine gun fire and drone engines could be heard across the capital.

Trump, who also spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, suggested he wasn’t completely cutting off American&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-weapons-europe-52fa070cd64062c5d4979e3a13192199">assistance to Ukraine</a>.

“We’ve given so many weapons,” he said, adding that “we are working with them and trying to help them.”

Trump said he had a “pretty long call” with Putin that “didn’t make any progress” in resolving the war, which the Republican president had promised to swiftly bring to a conclusion.

“I’m not happy about that,” he said.

The Kremlin described the conversation as “frank and constructive” — the sixth publicly disclosed chat between the two leaders since Trump returned to the White House.

While discussing the situation around Iran and in the broader Middle East, Putin emphasized the need to resolve all differences “exclusively by political and diplomatic means,” said Yuri Ushakov, his foreign affairs adviser.

The leaders agreed that Russian and U.S. officials will maintain contact on the issue, he added.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-nuclear-fordo-ef530114e5297884b1c3b76a04a3b1de">United States struck three sites in Iran</a>&nbsp;on June 22, inserting itself into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-missile-attacks-nuclear-news-tehran-trump-06-17-2025-3f08988b5e8fd375645967b6e22916f3">Israel’s war</a>&nbsp;aimed at destroying Tehran’s nuclear program.

On&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine#">the conflict in Ukraine</a>, Ushakov said Trump emphasized his push for a quick halt to the fighting, and Putin voiced Moscow’s readiness to pursue talks with Kyiv, noting the previous rounds in Turkey yielded humanitarian results.

At the same time, the Russian leader emphasized that Moscow will seek to achieve its goals in Ukraine and remove the “root causes” of the conflict, Ushakov said.

“Russia will not back down from these goals,” Ushakov told reporters after the call.

Putin has argued he sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022 to fend off a threat to Russia posed by Ukraine’s push to join NATO and to protect Russian speakers in Ukraine — arguments rejected by Kyiv and its allies. He insisted that any prospective peace deal must see Ukraine abandon its NATO bid and recognize Russia’s territorial gains.

Ushakov said a suspension of some U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine wasn’t discussed in the Trump-Putin call.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in Denmark after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-ukraine-denmark-eu-20ab5cfa9ba97460972cfb9998c16546">meeting with major European Union backers</a>&nbsp;that he may talk to Trump in the coming days about the suspension.

“I hope that maybe tomorrow, or close days, these days, I will speak about it with President Trump,” he said.

The previous publicly known call between Trump and Putin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-us-putin-trump-498642958089922ffc038330041e9987">came June 14</a>, a day after Israel attacked Iran.

The resumed contact between Trump and Putin appeared to reflect their interest in mending U.S.-Russian ties that have plummeted to their lowest point since the Cold War.

Ushakov said the leaders discussed developments in Syria and expressed interest in pursuing bilateral projects in the energy sector and space exploration, during what he described as “frank, businesslike and concrete conversation.”

The Kremlin adviser added that Putin even suggested that the U.S. and Russia could exchange movies promoting “traditional values shared by us and the Trump administration.”

On Tuesday, Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron held their first direct telephone call in almost three years.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/lisa-mascaro">LISA MASCARO</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/aamer-madhani">AAMER MADHANI</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration will hold back delivering to Ukraine some air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery and other weapons as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-us-weapons-shipments-halt-review-48229eb7c814419631a16067a38d6a1d">part of its announced pause</a>&nbsp;to some arms shipments amid U.S. concerns that its own stockpiles have declined too much, officials said.

The Pentagon’s chief spokesperson on Wednesday said the pause of weapons shipments to Ukraine is part of a review of military assistance to ensure it aligns with U.S. defense priorities.

Sean Parnell declined to specify the types or amounts of weaponry that will be withheld under the halt.

He says the pause does not reflect any concerns about the military’s ability to defend U.S. interests.

“We’re always assessing, you know, our munitions and where we’re sending them,” he told reporters. “We can’t give weapons to everybody all around the world.”

On Tuesday, the details on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-weapons-europe-52fa070cd64062c5d4979e3a13192199">weapons in some of the paused deliveries</a>&nbsp;were confirmed by a U.S. official and former national security official familiar with the matter. They both requested anonymity to discuss what is are being held up as the Pentagon has yet to provide details.

The pause includes some shipments of Patriot missiles, precision-guided GMLRS, Hellfire missiles and Howitzer rounds.

Elbridge Colby, Defense Department undersecretary for policy, said the decision to halt some weapons comes as Pentagon officials have aimed to provide Trump “with robust options to continue military aid to Ukraine, consistent with his goal of bringing this tragic war to an end.”

“At the same time, the department is rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving this objective while also preserving U.S. forces’ readiness for administration defense priorities,” Colby added in a statement.

The decision was greeted with some pushback from Republican and Democratic boosters on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., in a letter to Trump on Wednesday requested a briefing from the White House and Pentagon to explain the pause. Fitzpatrick is a co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus.

“We must build up our own defense industrial base here in the U.S. while simultaneously providing the needed assistance to our allies who are defending their freedom from a brutal invading dictator,” the Pennsylvania representative&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/RepBrianFitz/status/1940385262489485361" target="_blank">said in a post on X</a>. “To not do both is unacceptable.”

Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur, another co-chair of the Ukraine Caucus, blasted the move that came just days after Russians forces launched&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-biggest-aerial-attack-9fda235a9345d506cf6c796ddfa80e33">one of the biggest air assaults on Ukraine</a>&nbsp;since it launched the war more than three years ago.

“U.S. made air defense systems, including the Patriot platform, are the centerpiece of Ukraine’s defenses against Russian strikes. They work. They save lives every day,” the Ohio Democrat said. “But there are no parallel defensive alternatives for Ukraine if the U.S. stops supplying these vital munitions.”

One of the officials said other weaponry being held up includes the AIM-7 Sparrow — a medium-range radar homing air-to-air missile — as well as shorter-range Stinger missiles and AT-4 grenade launchers.

The Pentagon review that determined that stocks were too low on some weapons previously pledged comes just over a week after Trump helped forge a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-trump-ceasefire-attacks-continue-f1e60190722cc3410b69f21717872ffa">ceasefire between Israel and Iran</a>&nbsp;to end their 12-day conflict.

The U.S. has provided provided air defense support to Israel, Qatar and other Mideast neighbors. It’s unclear if that conflict had any impact on the Trump’s move in Ukraine.

The U.S. deployed air defenses systems as it knocked down an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-trump-bomber-news-06-23-2025-9e78510c88ccc5e262341f41550609c5">Iranian ballistic missile assault</a>&nbsp;last month launched on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/al-udeid-air-base-military-qatar-iran-501e9e64e80480ef3aa4ee43c1243235">Al-Udeid Air Base</a>&nbsp;in Qatar. The retaliatory strike from Tehran against the U.S. military installation came days after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-talks-geneva-news-06-21-2025-a7b0cdaba28b5817467ccf712d214579">Trump ordered a barrage of strikes</a>&nbsp;on three key Iranian nuclear sites.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is halting some shipments of weapons to Ukraine amid concerns that its own stockpiles have declined too much, officials said Tuesday.

The munitions were previously promised to Ukraine for use during its ongoing war with Russia under the Biden administration. But the pause reflects a new set of priorities under President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>.

“This decision was made to put America’s interests first following a (Defense Department) review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement. “The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran.”

That was a reference to Trump recently ordering U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-iran-nuclear-strikes-intel-863369a112a14021cb59cbf985a1c74b">missile strikes against nuclear sites in Iran</a>.

The Pentagon review determined that stocks were too low on some items previously pledged, so pending shipments of some items won’t be sent, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide information that has not yet been made public.

To date, the U.S. has provided Ukraine more than $66 billion worth of weapons and military assistance since Russia invaded in February 2022.

Over the course of the war, the U.S. has routinely pressed for allies to provide air defense systems to Ukraine. But many are reluctant to give up the high-tech systems, particularly countries in Eastern Europe that also feel threatened by Russia.

The halt of some weapons comes after Russia launched its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-biggest-aerial-attack-9fda235a9345d506cf6c796ddfa80e33">biggest combined aerial attack against Ukraine</a>&nbsp;over the weekend, Ukrainian officials said, in an escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in peace efforts championed by Trump.

The U.S. stoppage was first reported by Politico.

Trump met with Ukrainian leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;on the sidelines of the NATO summit last week and had left open the possibility of sending Kyiv&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/trump-doesnt-rule-out-sending-ukraine-more-patriot-missile-systems-44d4654fdab34363a46ce0de4f603ee7">more U.S.-made Patriot air defense missile systems</a>, acknowledging they would help the Ukrainian cause.

“They do want to have the antimissile missiles, OK, as they call them, the Patriots,” Trump said then. “And we’re going to see if we can make some available. We need them, too. We’re supplying them to Israel, and they’re very effective, 100% effective. Hard to believe how effective. They do want that more than any other thing.”

Those comments reflect a change of thinking about providing weapons to Ukraine across the administration in recent months.

In opening remarks at a Senate defense appropriations subcommittee hearing in June, Defense Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-hegseth">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;said he has moved quickly to quash wasteful programs and redirect funding to Trump’s top objectives.

Hegseth said a negotiated peace between Russia and Ukraine, which has been promoted for months by Trump, makes America look strong, even though Moscow is the aggressor in the conflict. He also said the budget includes hard choices and “reflects the reality that Europe needs to step up more for the defense of its own continent. And President Trump deserves the credit for that.”

The defense secretary said during that testimony that some U.S. security spending for Ukraine is still in the pipeline, but provided no details. Hegseth also acknowledged that funding for Ukraine military assistance -- which has been robust for the past two years -- would be reduced.

“This administration takes a very different view of that conflict,” Hegseth said. “We believe that a negotiated peaceful settlement is in the best interest of both parties and our nation’s interests.”

Last month, Hegseth skipped a meeting of an international group to coordinate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-us-arms-hegseth-nato-contact-group-ac6ad098dbbe733d40a64fe66085004c">military aid</a>&nbsp;to Ukraine that the U.S. created three years ago. Hegseth’s predecessor, Lloyd Austin, formed the group after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia attacked Ukraine</a>, and Hegseth's absence was the first time the U.S. defense secretary wasn’t in attendance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751596013182.png" alt="President Trump spoke to reporters before traveling to Iowa on Thursday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Trump spoke to reporters before traveling to Iowa on Thursday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump complained Thursday that the United States provided too many weapons to Ukraine under the previous administration, his first public comments on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-hegseth-trump-pentagon-weapons-1df59a85dbfaa5085b56d84820737376">the pause in some shipments</a>&nbsp;as Russia escalates its latest offensive.Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-america-250th-birthday-iowa-e6fb5df832cdba107ae4e9c62f2577e9">a flight to Iowa</a>, Trump said former President Joe Biden “emptied out our whole country giving them weapons, and we have to make sure that we have enough for ourselves.”Air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery and other weapons are among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-america-stockpiles-army-trump-pentagon-weapons-94ff0c465b58608c653b6f64c113a5b9">those being withheld from Ukraine</a>. The country suffered a new barrage overnight, with warnings of ballistic missiles followed by explosions in Kyiv. The sound of machine gun fire and drone engines could be heard across the capital.Trump, who also spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, suggested he wasn’t completely cutting off American&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-weapons-europe-52fa070cd64062c5d4979e3a13192199">assistance to Ukraine</a>.“We’ve given so many weapons,” he said, adding that “we are working with them and trying to help them.”Trump said he had a “pretty long call” with Putin that “didn’t make any progress” in resolving the war, which the Republican president had promised to swiftly bring to a conclusion.“I’m not happy about that,” he said.The Kremlin described the conversation as “frank and constructive” — the sixth publicly disclosed chat between the two leaders since Trump returned to the White House.While discussing the situation around Iran and in the broader Middle East, Putin emphasized the need to resolve all differences “exclusively by political and diplomatic means,” said Yuri Ushakov, his foreign affairs adviser.The leaders agreed that Russian and U.S. officials will maintain contact on the issue, he added.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-nuclear-fordo-ef530114e5297884b1c3b76a04a3b1de">United States struck three sites in Iran</a>&nbsp;on June 22, inserting itself into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-missile-attacks-nuclear-news-tehran-trump-06-17-2025-3f08988b5e8fd375645967b6e22916f3">Israel’s war</a>&nbsp;aimed at destroying Tehran’s nuclear program.On&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine#">the conflict in Ukraine</a>, Ushakov said Trump emphasized his push for a quick halt to the fighting, and Putin voiced Moscow’s readiness to pursue talks with Kyiv, noting the previous rounds in Turkey yielded humanitarian results.At the same time, the Russian leader emphasized that Moscow will seek to achieve its goals in Ukraine and remove the “root causes” of the conflict, Ushakov said.“Russia will not back down from these goals,” Ushakov told reporters after the call.Putin has argued he sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022 to fend off a threat to Russia posed by Ukraine’s push to join NATO and to protect Russian speakers in Ukraine — arguments rejected by Kyiv and its allies. He insisted that any prospective peace deal must see Ukraine abandon its NATO bid and recognize Russia’s territorial gains.Ushakov said a suspension of some U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine wasn’t discussed in the Trump-Putin call.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in Denmark after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-ukraine-denmark-eu-20ab5cfa9ba97460972cfb9998c16546">meeting with major European Union backers</a>&nbsp;that he may talk to Trump in the coming days about the suspension.“I hope that maybe tomorrow, or close days, these days, I will speak about it with President Trump,” he said.The previous publicly known call between Trump and Putin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-us-putin-trump-498642958089922ffc038330041e9987">came June 14</a>, a day after Israel attacked Iran.The resumed contact between Trump and Putin appeared to reflect their interest in mending U.S.-Russian ties that have plummeted to their lowest point since the Cold War.Ushakov said the leaders discussed developments in Syria and expressed interest in pursuing bilateral projects in the energy sector and space exploration, during what he described as “frank, businesslike and concrete conversation.”The Kremlin adviser added that Putin even suggested that the U.S. and Russia could exchange movies promoting “traditional values shared by us and the Trump administration.”On Tuesday, Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron held their first direct telephone call in almost three years.-------------By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/lisa-mascaro">LISA MASCARO</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/aamer-madhani">AAMER MADHANI</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration will hold back delivering to Ukraine some air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery and other weapons as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-us-weapons-shipments-halt-review-48229eb7c814419631a16067a38d6a1d">part of its announced pause</a>&nbsp;to some arms shipments amid U.S. concerns that its own stockpiles have declined too much, officials said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Pentagon spokesman <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanParnellATSD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SeanParnellAtSD</a> on Ukraine military aid: &quot;This capability review…is being conducted to ensure U.S. military aid aligns with our defense priorities...we will not be providing any updates to specific quantities or types or munitions being provided to Ukraine.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/59ApQYz6SM">pic.twitter.com/59ApQYz6SM</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1940494044343230772?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Pentagon’s chief spokesperson on Wednesday said the pause of weapons shipments to Ukraine is part of a review of military assistance to ensure it aligns with U.S. defense priorities.Sean Parnell declined to specify the types or amounts of weaponry that will be withheld under the halt.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">. <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanParnellATSD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SeanParnellATSD</a> &quot;The Department of Defense continues to provide the President with robust options regarding military aid to Ukraine, consistent with his goal of bringing this tragic war to an end. At the same time, the department is rigorously examining and adapting its… <a href="https://t.co/RHB1gEtBXE">pic.twitter.com/RHB1gEtBXE</a>&mdash; DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DODResponse/status/1940488131603468562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>He says the pause does not reflect any concerns about the military’s ability to defend U.S. interests.“We’re always assessing, you know, our munitions and where we’re sending them,” he told reporters. “We can’t give weapons to everybody all around the world.”On Tuesday, the details on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-weapons-europe-52fa070cd64062c5d4979e3a13192199">weapons in some of the paused deliveries</a>&nbsp;were confirmed by a U.S. official and former national security official familiar with the matter. They both requested anonymity to discuss what is are being held up as the Pentagon has yet to provide details.The pause includes some shipments of Patriot missiles, precision-guided GMLRS, Hellfire missiles and Howitzer rounds.Elbridge Colby, Defense Department undersecretary for policy, said the decision to halt some weapons comes as Pentagon officials have aimed to provide Trump “with robust options to continue military aid to Ukraine, consistent with his goal of bringing this tragic war to an end.”“At the same time, the department is rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving this objective while also preserving U.S. forces’ readiness for administration defense priorities,” Colby added in a statement.The decision was greeted with some pushback from Republican and Democratic boosters on Capitol Hill.Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., in a letter to Trump on Wednesday requested a briefing from the White House and Pentagon to explain the pause. Fitzpatrick is a co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus.“We must build up our own defense industrial base here in the U.S. while simultaneously providing the needed assistance to our allies who are defending their freedom from a brutal invading dictator,” the Pennsylvania representative&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/RepBrianFitz/status/1940385262489485361" target="_blank">said in a post on X</a>. “To not do both is unacceptable.”Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur, another co-chair of the Ukraine Caucus, blasted the move that came just days after Russians forces launched&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-biggest-aerial-attack-9fda235a9345d506cf6c796ddfa80e33">one of the biggest air assaults on Ukraine</a>&nbsp;since it launched the war more than three years ago.“U.S. made air defense systems, including the Patriot platform, are the centerpiece of Ukraine’s defenses against Russian strikes. They work. They save lives every day,” the Ohio Democrat said. “But there are no parallel defensive alternatives for Ukraine if the U.S. stops supplying these vital munitions.”One of the officials said other weaponry being held up includes the AIM-7 Sparrow — a medium-range radar homing air-to-air missile — as well as shorter-range Stinger missiles and AT-4 grenade launchers.The Pentagon review that determined that stocks were too low on some weapons previously pledged comes just over a week after Trump helped forge a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-trump-ceasefire-attacks-continue-f1e60190722cc3410b69f21717872ffa">ceasefire between Israel and Iran</a>&nbsp;to end their 12-day conflict.The U.S. has provided provided air defense support to Israel, Qatar and other Mideast neighbors. It’s unclear if that conflict had any impact on the Trump’s move in Ukraine.The U.S. deployed air defenses systems as it knocked down an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-trump-bomber-news-06-23-2025-9e78510c88ccc5e262341f41550609c5">Iranian ballistic missile assault</a>&nbsp;last month launched on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/al-udeid-air-base-military-qatar-iran-501e9e64e80480ef3aa4ee43c1243235">Al-Udeid Air Base</a>&nbsp;in Qatar. The retaliatory strike from Tehran against the U.S. military installation came days after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-talks-geneva-news-06-21-2025-a7b0cdaba28b5817467ccf712d214579">Trump ordered a barrage of strikes</a>&nbsp;on three key Iranian nuclear sites.----------WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is halting some shipments of weapons to Ukraine amid concerns that its own stockpiles have declined too much, officials said Tuesday.The munitions were previously promised to Ukraine for use during its ongoing war with Russia under the Biden administration. But the pause reflects a new set of priorities under President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>.“This decision was made to put America’s interests first following a (Defense Department) review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement. “The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran.”That was a reference to Trump recently ordering U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-iran-nuclear-strikes-intel-863369a112a14021cb59cbf985a1c74b">missile strikes against nuclear sites in Iran</a>.The Pentagon review determined that stocks were too low on some items previously pledged, so pending shipments of some items won’t be sent, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide information that has not yet been made public.To date, the U.S. has provided Ukraine more than $66 billion worth of weapons and military assistance since Russia invaded in February 2022.Over the course of the war, the U.S. has routinely pressed for allies to provide air defense systems to Ukraine. But many are reluctant to give up the high-tech systems, particularly countries in Eastern Europe that also feel threatened by Russia.The halt of some weapons comes after Russia launched its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-biggest-aerial-attack-9fda235a9345d506cf6c796ddfa80e33">biggest combined aerial attack against Ukraine</a>&nbsp;over the weekend, Ukrainian officials said, in an escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in peace efforts championed by Trump.The U.S. stoppage was first reported by Politico.Trump met with Ukrainian leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;on the sidelines of the NATO summit last week and had left open the possibility of sending Kyiv&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/trump-doesnt-rule-out-sending-ukraine-more-patriot-missile-systems-44d4654fdab34363a46ce0de4f603ee7">more U.S.-made Patriot air defense missile systems</a>, acknowledging they would help the Ukrainian cause.“They do want to have the antimissile missiles, OK, as they call them, the Patriots,” Trump said then. “And we’re going to see if we can make some available. We need them, too. We’re supplying them to Israel, and they’re very effective, 100% effective. Hard to believe how effective. They do want that more than any other thing.”Those comments reflect a change of thinking about providing weapons to Ukraine across the administration in recent months.In opening remarks at a Senate defense appropriations subcommittee hearing in June, Defense Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-hegseth">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;said he has moved quickly to quash wasteful programs and redirect funding to Trump’s top objectives.Hegseth said a negotiated peace between Russia and Ukraine, which has been promoted for months by Trump, makes America look strong, even though Moscow is the aggressor in the conflict. He also said the budget includes hard choices and “reflects the reality that Europe needs to step up more for the defense of its own continent. And President Trump deserves the credit for that.”The defense secretary said during that testimony that some U.S. security spending for Ukraine is still in the pipeline, but provided no details. Hegseth also acknowledged that funding for Ukraine military assistance -- which has been robust for the past two years -- would be reduced.“This administration takes a very different view of that conflict,” Hegseth said. “We believe that a negotiated peaceful settlement is in the best interest of both parties and our nation’s interests.”Last month, Hegseth skipped a meeting of an international group to coordinate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-us-arms-hegseth-nato-contact-group-ac6ad098dbbe733d40a64fe66085004c">military aid</a>&nbsp;to Ukraine that the U.S. created three years ago. Hegseth’s predecessor, Lloyd Austin, formed the group after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia attacked Ukraine</a>, and Hegseth's absence was the first time the U.S. defense secretary wasn’t in attendance.

Trump says US has given Ukraine too many weapons in first public comments on pause in shipments

Morning Blend show host Jeff Leiker interviews the Spin Doctors prior to their performance at 9:30 tonight at the Wild West Festival in Municipal Park in Hays.

<a href="https://wildwestfestival.com/">Learn more about the festival at&nbsp;https://wildwestfestival.com/.</a>

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749222209289.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Spin Doctors Interview" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=s9xnd-18f57f3-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Morning Blend show host Jeff Leiker interviews the Spin Doctors prior to their performance at 9:30 tonight at the Wild West Festival in Municipal Park in Hays.<a href="https://wildwestfestival.com/">Learn more about the festival at&nbsp;https://wildwestfestival.com/.</a>

🎙 Post Podcast: Spin Doctors to perform at tonight's Wild West Festival

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Rescuers scoured flooded riverbanks littered with mangled trees Saturday and turned over rocks in the search for more than two dozen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">children from a girls’ camp</a>&nbsp;and many others missing after a wall of water blasted down a river in the Texas Hill Country. The storm killed at least 27 people, including nine children.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">destructive fast-moving waters</a>&nbsp;rose 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes before daybreak Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as torrential rains continued pounding communities outside San Antonio on Saturday and flash flood warnings and watches remained in effect.

Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue stranded people in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads.

“People need to know today will be a hard day,” said Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. “Please pray for our community.”

Authorities were coming under growing scrutiny Saturday over whether the camps and residents in places long&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flood-deaths-flash-flooding-weather-408b11abe0389f38c93d8722b9d15dd0">vulnerable to flooding</a>&nbsp;received proper warning and whether enough preparations were made.

The hills along the Guadalupe River in central Texas are dotted with century-old youth camps and campgrounds where generations of families have come to swim and enjoy the outdoors. The area is especially popular around the July Fourth holiday, making it more difficult to know how many are missing.

“We don’t even want to begin to estimate at this time,” said City Manager Dalton Rice said on Saturday morning.

Raging storm hit camp in middle of the night

Some 27 children were among the missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the river, he said.

“The camp was completely destroyed,” said Elinor Lester, 13, one of hundreds of campers. “A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.”

A raging storm woke up her cabin just after midnight Friday, and when rescuers arrived, they tied a rope for the girls to hold as they walked across a bridge with water whipping around their legs, she said.

Frantic parents and families posted photos of missing loved ones and pleas for information.

On Saturday, the camp was mostly deserted. Helicopters roared above as a few people looked at the damage, including a pickup truck tossed onto its side and a building missing its entire front wall.

Among those confirmed dead was the director of a camp just up the road from Camp Mystic.

The flooding in the middle of the night caught many residents, campers and officials by surprise in the Hill Country, which sits northwest of San Antonio.

AccuWeather said the private forecasting company and the National Weather Service sent warnings about potential flash flooding hours before the devastation.

“These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety,” AccuWeather said in a statement that called the Hill Country one of the most flash-flood-prone areas of the U.S. because of its terrain and many water crossings.

Officials defended their actions while saying they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months' worth of rain for the area.

One National Weather Service forecast earlier in the week "did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

Helicopters, drones used in frantic search for missing

Search crews were facing harsh conditions while "looking in every possible location,” Rice said.

Authorities said about 850 people had been rescued. U.S. Coast Guard helicopters were flying in to assist.

One reunification center at an elementary school was mostly quiet Saturday after taking in hundreds of evacuees the day before.

“We still have people coming here looking for their loved ones. We’ve had a little success, but not much,” said Bobby Templeton, superintendent of Ingram Independent School District.

President Donald Trump said Saturday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was traveling to Texas and his administration was working with officials on the ground.

“Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy,” Trump said in a statement on his social media network.

In Ingram, Erin Burgess woke to thunder and rain in the middle of the night Friday. Just 20 minutes later, water was pouring into her home, she said. She described an agonizing hour clinging to a tree with her teenage son.

“My son and I floated to a tree where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away. He was lost for a while, but we found them,” she said.

Barry Adelman said water pushed everyone in his three-story house into the attic, including his 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson.

“I was having to look at my grandson in the face and tell him everything was going to be OK, but inside I was scared to death,” he said.

Local resident know it as “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flash-flood-warning-watch-texas-986af31b0402a7a721fd9cc275622457">flash flood alley.</a>&nbsp;”

“When it rains, water doesn’t soak into the soil,” said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which was collecting donations. “It rushes down the hill.”

‘No one knew this kind of flood was coming’

The forecast for the weekend had called for rain, with a flood watch upgraded to a warning overnight Friday for at least 30,000 people. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the potential for heavy rain and flooding covered a large area.

“Everything was done to give them a heads up that you could have heavy rain, and we’re not exactly sure where it’s going to land," Patrick said. "Obviously as it got dark last night, we got into the wee morning of the hours, that’s when the storm started to zero in.”

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county's chief elected official, said: “We do not have a warning system.”

When pushed on why more precautions weren't taken, Kelly said no one knew this kind of flood was coming.

The slow-moving storm is bringing more rain Saturday, with the potential for pockets of heavy downpours and more flooding, said Jason Runyen, of the National Weather Service.

The threat could linger overnight and into Sunday morning, he said.

Cortez reported from Hunt, Texas. Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press reporter Susan Haigh contributed from Hartford, Connecticut.

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Crews searched through the dark early Saturday for two dozen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">children from a girls’ camp</a>&nbsp;and many others who were still missing after a wall of water rushed down a river in the Texas Hill Country during a powerful storm that killed at least 24 people. The death toll was certain to rise.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">destructive fast-moving waters</a>&nbsp;along the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes before dawn Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as more heavy rains were expected Saturday and flash flood warnings and watches remained in effect for parts of central Texas.

Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue stranded people. The total number of missing was not known but one sheriff said about 24 of them were girls who had been attending Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the river.

“The camp was completely destroyed,” said Elinor Lester, 13, one of hundreds of campers at Camp Mystic. “A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.”

A raging storm woke up her cabin just after midnight Friday, and when rescuers arrived, they tied a rope for the girls to hold as they walked across a bridge with floodwaters whipping around their legs, she said.

At a news conference late Friday, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said 24 people were confirmed dead, including some children. Authorities said about 240 people had been rescued.

The flooding in the middle of the night on the Fourth of July holiday caught many residents, campers and officials by surprise. The Texas Hill Country, which sits northwest of San Antonio, is a popular destination for camping and swimming, especially around the summertime holiday.

Questions were being raised about whether enough warnings and preparations were made. Officials defended their actions while saying they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months’ worth of rain for the area.

One National Weather Service forecast this week had called for only between three and six inches (76 to 152 millimeters) of rain, said Nim Kidd, the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

“It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” he said.

A river gauge near Camp Mystic recorded a 22 foot rise (6.7 meters) in about two hours, said Bob Fogarty, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Austin/San Antonio office. The gauge failed after recording a level of 29 and a half feet (9 meters).

“The water’s moving so fast, you’re not going to recognize how bad it is until it’s on top of you,” Fogarty said.

More than 1,000 rescuers were on the ground. Rescue teams, helicopters and drones were being used, with some people being plucked from trees. U.S. Coast Guard helicopters were flying in to assist.

In Ingram, Erin Burgess woke to thunder and rain in the middle of the night Friday. Just 20 minutes later, water was pouring into her home from the river, she said. She described an agonizing hour clinging to a tree with her teenage son and waiting for the water to recede enough to walk up the hill to safety.

“Thankfully he’s over 6 feet tall. That’s the only thing that saved me, was hanging on to him,” she said.

Matthew Stone, 44, of Kerrville, said police came knocking on doors but that he had received no warning on his phone.

“We got no emergency alert. There was nothing,” Stone said. Then “a pitch black wall of death.”

At a reunification center in Ingram, families cried and cheered as loved ones got off rescue vehicles. Two soldiers carried an older woman who could not get down a ladder. Behind her, a woman clutched a small white dog.

Later, a girl in a white “Camp Mystic” T-shirt and white socks stood in a puddle, sobbing in her mother’s arms.

Barry Adelman said water pushed everyone in his three-story house into the attic, including his 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson. Water started coming through the attic floor before receding.

“I was horrified,” he said. “I was having to look at my grandson in the face and tell him everything was going to be OK, but inside I was scared to death.”

The forecast for the weekend had called for rain, with a flood watch upgraded to a warning overnight Friday for at least 30,000 people.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the potential for heavy rain and flooding covered a large area.

“Everything was done to give them a heads up that you could have heavy rain, and we’re not exactly sure where it’s going to land,” Patrick said. “Obviously as it got dark last night, we got into the wee morning of the hours, that’s when the storm started to zero in.”

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county’s chief elected official, said: “We do not have a warning system.”

When pushed on why more precautions weren’t taken, Kelly said no one knew this kind of flood was coming.

The slow-moving storm stuck over central Texas is expected to bring more rain Saturday, with the potential for pockets of heavy downpours and more flooding, said Jason Runyen, of the National Weather Service.

The area is known as “flash flood alley” because of the hills’ thin layer of soil, said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which was collecting donations to help nonprofits responding to the disaster.

“When it rains, water doesn’t soak into the soil,” Dickson said. “It rushes down the hill.”

River tourism industry is a key part of the Hill Country economy. Well-known, century-old summer camps bring in kids from all over the country, Dickson said.

“It’s generally a very tranquil river with really beautiful clear blue water that people have been attracted to for generations,” Dickson said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751724125124.png" alt="Heavy rains in Kerr County and elsewhere in Central Texas have caused severe flooding and loss of life. Credit: City of Kerrville Facebook page" />
 <figcaption>Heavy rains in Kerr County and elsewhere in Central Texas have caused severe flooding and loss of life. Credit: City of Kerrville Facebook page</figcaption>
 </figure>KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Rescuers scoured flooded riverbanks littered with mangled trees Saturday and turned over rocks in the search for more than two dozen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">children from a girls’ camp</a>&nbsp;and many others missing after a wall of water blasted down a river in the Texas Hill Country. The storm killed at least 27 people, including nine children.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">💔 <a href="https://t.co/ylhTDXGVly">pic.twitter.com/ylhTDXGVly</a>&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1941512723449446807?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">destructive fast-moving waters</a>&nbsp;rose 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes before daybreak Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as torrential rains continued pounding communities outside San Antonio on Saturday and flash flood warnings and watches remained in effect.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Air rescue missions like this are being done around the clock. We will not stop until everyone is accounted for. <a href="https://t.co/tqwTr1RkEi">pic.twitter.com/tqwTr1RkEi</a>&mdash; Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/1941236386646077698?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue stranded people in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/USCG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USCG</a> is punching through storms to evacuate Americans from central Texas. We will fly throughout the night and as long as possible. This is what the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard do. <a href="https://t.co/2vOgkS5Hun">pic.twitter.com/2vOgkS5Hun</a>&mdash; Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/1941280141260488771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“People need to know today will be a hard day,” said Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. “Please pray for our community.”Authorities were coming under growing scrutiny Saturday over whether the camps and residents in places long&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flood-deaths-flash-flooding-weather-408b11abe0389f38c93d8722b9d15dd0">vulnerable to flooding</a>&nbsp;received proper warning and whether enough preparations were made.The hills along the Guadalupe River in central Texas are dotted with century-old youth camps and campgrounds where generations of families have come to swim and enjoy the outdoors. The area is especially popular around the July Fourth holiday, making it more difficult to know how many are missing.“We don’t even want to begin to estimate at this time,” said City Manager Dalton Rice said on Saturday morning.<h2>Raging storm hit camp in middle of the night</h2>Some 27 children were among the missing from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the river, he said.“The camp was completely destroyed,” said Elinor Lester, 13, one of hundreds of campers. “A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.”A raging storm woke up her cabin just after midnight Friday, and when rescuers arrived, they tied a rope for the girls to hold as they walked across a bridge with water whipping around their legs, she said.Frantic parents and families posted photos of missing loved ones and pleas for information.On Saturday, the camp was mostly deserted. Helicopters roared above as a few people looked at the damage, including a pickup truck tossed onto its side and a building missing its entire front wall.Among those confirmed dead was the director of a camp just up the road from Camp Mystic.The flooding in the middle of the night caught many residents, campers and officials by surprise in the Hill Country, which sits northwest of San Antonio.AccuWeather said the private forecasting company and the National Weather Service sent warnings about potential flash flooding hours before the devastation.“These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety,” AccuWeather said in a statement that called the Hill Country one of the most flash-flood-prone areas of the U.S. because of its terrain and many water crossings.Officials defended their actions while saying they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months' worth of rain for the area.One National Weather Service forecast earlier in the week "did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.<h2>Helicopters, drones used in frantic search for missing</h2>Search crews were facing harsh conditions while "looking in every possible location,” Rice said.Authorities said about 850 people had been rescued. U.S. Coast Guard helicopters were flying in to assist.One reunification center at an elementary school was mostly quiet Saturday after taking in hundreds of evacuees the day before.“We still have people coming here looking for their loved ones. We’ve had a little success, but not much,” said Bobby Templeton, superintendent of Ingram Independent School District.President Donald Trump said Saturday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was traveling to Texas and his administration was working with officials on the ground.“Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy,” Trump said in a statement on his social media network.<h2>Residents clung to trees, fled to attics</h2>In Ingram, Erin Burgess woke to thunder and rain in the middle of the night Friday. Just 20 minutes later, water was pouring into her home, she said. She described an agonizing hour clinging to a tree with her teenage son.“My son and I floated to a tree where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away. He was lost for a while, but we found them,” she said.Barry Adelman said water pushed everyone in his three-story house into the attic, including his 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson.“I was having to look at my grandson in the face and tell him everything was going to be OK, but inside I was scared to death,” he said.Local resident know it as “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flash-flood-warning-watch-texas-986af31b0402a7a721fd9cc275622457">flash flood alley.</a>&nbsp;”“When it rains, water doesn’t soak into the soil,” said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which was collecting donations. “It rushes down the hill.”<h2>‘No one knew this kind of flood was coming’</h2>The forecast for the weekend had called for rain, with a flood watch upgraded to a warning overnight Friday for at least 30,000 people. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the potential for heavy rain and flooding covered a large area.“Everything was done to give them a heads up that you could have heavy rain, and we’re not exactly sure where it’s going to land," Patrick said. "Obviously as it got dark last night, we got into the wee morning of the hours, that’s when the storm started to zero in.”Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county's chief elected official, said: “We do not have a warning system.”When pushed on why more precautions weren't taken, Kelly said no one knew this kind of flood was coming.<h2>More pockets of heavy rains expected</h2>The slow-moving storm is bringing more rain Saturday, with the potential for pockets of heavy downpours and more flooding, said Jason Runyen, of the National Weather Service.The threat could linger overnight and into Sunday morning, he said.___Cortez reported from Hunt, Texas. Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press reporter Susan Haigh contributed from Hartford, Connecticut.------------------KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Crews searched through the dark early Saturday for two dozen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">children from a girls’ camp</a>&nbsp;and many others who were still missing after a wall of water rushed down a river in the Texas Hill Country during a powerful storm that killed at least 24 people. The death toll was certain to rise.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">destructive fast-moving waters</a>&nbsp;along the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet (8 meters) in just 45 minutes before dawn Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as more heavy rains were expected Saturday and flash flood warnings and watches remained in effect for parts of central Texas.Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue stranded people. The total number of missing was not known but one sheriff said about 24 of them were girls who had been attending Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along the river.Frantic parents and families posted photos of missing loved ones and pleas for information.“The camp was completely destroyed,” said Elinor Lester, 13, one of hundreds of campers at Camp Mystic. “A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.”A raging storm woke up her cabin just after midnight Friday, and when rescuers arrived, they tied a rope for the girls to hold as they walked across a bridge with floodwaters whipping around their legs, she said.At a news conference late Friday, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said 24 people were confirmed dead, including some children. Authorities said about 240 people had been rescued.The flooding in the middle of the night on the Fourth of July holiday caught many residents, campers and officials by surprise. The Texas Hill Country, which sits northwest of San Antonio, is a popular destination for camping and swimming, especially around the summertime holiday.Questions were being raised about whether enough warnings and preparations were made. Officials defended their actions while saying they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months’ worth of rain for the area.One National Weather Service forecast this week had called for only between three and six inches (76 to 152 millimeters) of rain, said Nim Kidd, the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.“It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” he said.<h2>Helicopters, drones used in frantic search for missing</h2>A river gauge near Camp Mystic recorded a 22 foot rise (6.7 meters) in about two hours, said Bob Fogarty, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Austin/San Antonio office. The gauge failed after recording a level of 29 and a half feet (9 meters).“The water’s moving so fast, you’re not going to recognize how bad it is until it’s on top of you,” Fogarty said.More than 1,000 rescuers were on the ground. Rescue teams, helicopters and drones were being used, with some people being plucked from trees. U.S. Coast Guard helicopters were flying in to assist.<h2>‘Pitch black wall of death’</h2>In Ingram, Erin Burgess woke to thunder and rain in the middle of the night Friday. Just 20 minutes later, water was pouring into her home from the river, she said. She described an agonizing hour clinging to a tree with her teenage son and waiting for the water to recede enough to walk up the hill to safety.“Thankfully he’s over 6 feet tall. That’s the only thing that saved me, was hanging on to him,” she said.“My son and I floated to a tree where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away. He was lost for a while, but we found them,” she said.Matthew Stone, 44, of Kerrville, said police came knocking on doors but that he had received no warning on his phone.“We got no emergency alert. There was nothing,” Stone said. Then “a pitch black wall of death.”<h2>‘I was scared to death’</h2>At a reunification center in Ingram, families cried and cheered as loved ones got off rescue vehicles. Two soldiers carried an older woman who could not get down a ladder. Behind her, a woman clutched a small white dog.Later, a girl in a white “Camp Mystic” T-shirt and white socks stood in a puddle, sobbing in her mother’s arms.Barry Adelman said water pushed everyone in his three-story house into the attic, including his 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson. Water started coming through the attic floor before receding.“I was horrified,” he said. “I was having to look at my grandson in the face and tell him everything was going to be OK, but inside I was scared to death.”<h2>‘No one knew this kind of flood was coming’</h2>The forecast for the weekend had called for rain, with a flood watch upgraded to a warning overnight Friday for at least 30,000 people.Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the potential for heavy rain and flooding covered a large area.“Everything was done to give them a heads up that you could have heavy rain, and we’re not exactly sure where it’s going to land,” Patrick said. “Obviously as it got dark last night, we got into the wee morning of the hours, that’s when the storm started to zero in.”Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county’s chief elected official, said: “We do not have a warning system.”When pushed on why more precautions weren’t taken, Kelly said no one knew this kind of flood was coming.<h2>More pockets of heavy rains expected</h2>The slow-moving storm stuck over central Texas is expected to bring more rain Saturday, with the potential for pockets of heavy downpours and more flooding, said Jason Runyen, of the National Weather Service.The threat could linger overnight and into Sunday morning, he said.<h2>Popular tourism area prone to flooding</h2>The area is known as “flash flood alley” because of the hills’ thin layer of soil, said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which was collecting donations to help nonprofits responding to the disaster.“When it rains, water doesn’t soak into the soil,” Dickson said. “It rushes down the hill.”River tourism industry is a key part of the Hill Country economy. Well-known, century-old summer camps bring in kids from all over the country, Dickson said.“It’s generally a very tranquil river with really beautiful clear blue water that people have been attracted to for generations,” Dickson said.

Desperate search for two dozen girls from summer camp amid Texas floods

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Get ready for a week of fun for all generations as the Trego County Fair returns to WaKeeney with its signature small-town magic.

The 115th-annual fair, set for July 8-12, will feature a carnival and free family entertainment. Trego County Fair President Kathleen Fabrizius said the event will offer a sense of nostalgia for many in the community.

"A lot of the people have been to the fair since they were little kids," Fabrizius said. "They want to bring their kids and grandkids to relive all those memories."

A parade will hit the road at 10 a.m. Saturday on Main Street.

One grand event Fabrizius highlights is the 7 p.m. races at WaKeeney Speedway on July 10. Admission is $15 for adults, while children 14 years and under get in free.

Family Night begins at 5 p.m. July 9 with 4-H livestock competitions in the Livestock Arena, followed by pedal pull state fair qualifiers and kids’ games at 7 p.m. near the South Arena.

That evening's activities include a chicken catch, a frog race, a water balloon toss and a straw dig. Registration for the cornhole and washer tournaments opens at 5 p.m., with games starting at 5:30 p.m.

Fabrizius said kids will also have the opportunity to explore law enforcement and public service vehicles during the touch-a-truck event at 5:30 p.m.

The 4-H livestock shows run from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on July 10 in the Livestock Arena. Open-class competitions will also take place with a variety of categories, ranging from cooking to quilting. Entry is free, and a complete list of categories and regulations can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tregocountyfair.com/2017-open-class-rules-and-regulations">here</a>.

Free musical performances during the fair will include Oren Hobbs, Wade Richards, DJ Brandon Carver and Crazy Horse 2.0. Food vendors will offer a variety of options, including Mexican cuisine, Weaver's BBQ and snow cones.

You can learn more about the fair and its scheduled events on its <a href="https://www.tregocountyfair.com/">website</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751570396522.jpg" alt="Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostGet ready for a week of fun for all generations as the Trego County Fair returns to WaKeeney with its signature small-town magic.The 115th-annual fair, set for July 8-12, will feature a carnival and free family entertainment. Trego County Fair President Kathleen Fabrizius said the event will offer a sense of nostalgia for many in the community."A lot of the people have been to the fair since they were little kids," Fabrizius said. "They want to bring their kids and grandkids to relive all those memories."A parade will hit the road at 10 a.m. Saturday on Main Street.One grand event Fabrizius highlights is the 7 p.m. races at WaKeeney Speedway on July 10. Admission is $15 for adults, while children 14 years and under get in free.Family Night begins at 5 p.m. July 9 with 4-H livestock competitions in the Livestock Arena, followed by pedal pull state fair qualifiers and kids’ games at 7 p.m. near the South Arena.That evening's activities include a chicken catch, a frog race, a water balloon toss and a straw dig. Registration for the cornhole and washer tournaments opens at 5 p.m., with games starting at 5:30 p.m.Fabrizius said kids will also have the opportunity to explore law enforcement and public service vehicles during the touch-a-truck event at 5:30 p.m.The 4-H livestock shows run from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on July 10 in the Livestock Arena. Open-class competitions will also take place with a variety of categories, ranging from cooking to quilting. Entry is free, and a complete list of categories and regulations can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tregocountyfair.com/2017-open-class-rules-and-regulations">here</a>.Free musical performances during the fair will include Oren Hobbs, Wade Richards, DJ Brandon Carver and Crazy Horse 2.0. Food vendors will offer a variety of options, including Mexican cuisine, Weaver's BBQ and snow cones.You can learn more about the fair and its scheduled events on its <a href="https://www.tregocountyfair.com/">website</a>.

115th-annual Trego County Fair set for Tuesday

ELLSWORTH COUNTY —The recovery effort for a man and teen missing at Kanopolis Lake continues, according to a social media report from the Ellsworth Couinty Sheriff late Friday.

High winds have been hampering efforts. KDWP along with three area dive teams have been at it steadily since early Friday. The sheriff office asked holiday boaters, to stay away from the search personnel and vessels.

According to Ellsworth County Sheriff Kenny Bernard, at around&nbsp;7:15-7:30pm&nbsp;on&nbsp;Thursday,&nbsp;Ellsworth County dispatch reported three people who went missing after being on a boat at the lake.

A 14-year old girl was recovered by an individual in the area and was taken for treatment.

According to Bernard, a 40-year old man and a 14-year old girl are the two who are still reportedly missing.

By:&nbsp;NICOLAS FIERRO Salina Post

ELLSWORTH COUNTY - The search for two people missing at Kanopolis Lake in Ellsworth County continued Friday morning.

According to Sheriff Bernard, a 40-year old man and a 14-year old girl are the two who are still reportedly missing.

Multiple agencies including the Rice County Sheriff's Office, Ellsworth County Sheriff's Office, Marquette County Sheriff's Office, Marquette Fire Department, Ellsworth Fire Department and Law Enforcement Dive Teams from Salina and the Kansas Game Wardens were assisting with the investigating at the scene.

Sheila Watkins a resident of Salina who was at the scene after the report, commented on the investigation. "It is scary and sad," said Watkins. "I am hoping for the best possible scenario and I am just praying for the families."

&nbsp;Check the Post for additional details as they become available..

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751708351076.png" alt="google map" />
 <figcaption>google map</figcaption>
 </figure>ELLSWORTH COUNTY —The recovery effort for a man and teen missing at Kanopolis Lake continues, according to a social media report from the Ellsworth Couinty Sheriff late Friday.High winds have been hampering efforts. KDWP along with three area dive teams have been at it steadily since early Friday. The sheriff office asked holiday boaters, to stay away from the search personnel and vessels.According to Ellsworth County Sheriff Kenny Bernard, at around&nbsp;7:15-7:30pm&nbsp;on&nbsp;Thursday,&nbsp;Ellsworth County dispatch reported three people who went missing after being on a boat at the lake.A 14-year old girl was recovered by an individual in the area and was taken for treatment.According to Bernard, a 40-year old man and a 14-year old girl are the two who are still reportedly missing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751619956983.png" alt="Scene at 11:30p.m. Thursday at Kanopolis Lake as multiple agencies search for two people, photo by Nicolas Fierro Salina Post" />
 <figcaption>Scene at 11:30p.m. Thursday at Kanopolis Lake as multiple agencies search for two people, photo by Nicolas Fierro Salina Post</figcaption>
 </figure>---------By:&nbsp;NICOLAS FIERRO Salina PostELLSWORTH COUNTY - The search for two people missing at Kanopolis Lake in Ellsworth County continued Friday morning.According to Ellsworth County Sheriff Kenny Bernard, at around&nbsp;7:15-7:30pm&nbsp;on&nbsp;Thursday,&nbsp;Ellsworth County dispatch reported three people who went missing after being on a boat at the lake.A 14-year old girl was recovered by an individual in the area and was taken for treatment.According to Sheriff Bernard, a 40-year old man and a 14-year old girl are the two who are still reportedly missing.Multiple agencies including the Rice County Sheriff's Office, Ellsworth County Sheriff's Office, Marquette County Sheriff's Office, Marquette Fire Department, Ellsworth Fire Department and Law Enforcement Dive Teams from Salina and the Kansas Game Wardens were assisting with the investigating at the scene.Sheila Watkins a resident of Salina who was at the scene after the report, commented on the investigation. "It is scary and sad," said Watkins. "I am hoping for the best possible scenario and I am just praying for the families."&nbsp;Check the Post for additional details as they become available..

Recovery effort continues for man, teen at Kanopolis Lake

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/48a66a67-f8e5-4642-a473-3187493208f0">SEE RELATED STORY: Wild West Festival Castellows, Walker Montgomery</a>

Photos by Cristina Janney/Hays Post

Brock Wagoner and Austin Williams opened for Drew Baldridge Thursday night at the Wild West Festival.

Fireworks will be tonight at 10 at&nbsp;183 Bypass and Golf Course Road.

The parade will be at 10 a.m. Saturday on Main Street.

Reprise and Paramount will open for the Spin Doctors on Saturday.

See a full schedule at&nbsp;<a href="https://wildwestfestival.com/">wildwestfestival.com</a>.

General Admission tickets are still available at the gate for $45 per night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751651792052.jpeg" alt="Drew Baldridge performing at the Wild West Festival Thursday night." />
 <figcaption>Drew Baldridge performing at the Wild West Festival Thursday night.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/48a66a67-f8e5-4642-a473-3187493208f0">SEE RELATED STORY: Wild West Festival Castellows, Walker Montgomery</a>Photos by Cristina Janney/Hays PostBrock Wagoner and Austin Williams opened for Drew Baldridge Thursday night at the Wild West Festival.<figure>
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 </figure>Fireworks will be tonight at 10 at&nbsp;183 Bypass and Golf Course Road.The parade will be at 10 a.m. Saturday on Main Street.Reprise and Paramount will open for the Spin Doctors on Saturday.See a full schedule at&nbsp;<a href="https://wildwestfestival.com/">wildwestfestival.com</a>.General Admission tickets are still available at the gate for $45 per night.<figure>
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751653679183.jpeg" alt="Austin Williams performs at the Wild West Festival Thursday." />
 <figcaption>Austin Williams performs at the Wild West Festival Thursday.</figcaption>
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📷 Wild West Festival 2025: Austin Williams, Drew Baldridge

According to Sheriff  Bernard, a 40-year old man and a 14-year old girl are the two who are still reportedly missing.

This investigation is currently ongoing.&nbsp;Check the Post for additional details as they become available..

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751619956983.png" alt="Scene at 11:30p.m. at Kanopolis Lake as multiple agencies search for two people, photo by Nicolas Fierro Salina Post" />
 <figcaption>Scene at 11:30p.m. at Kanopolis Lake as multiple agencies search for two people, photo by Nicolas Fierro Salina Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;NICOLAS FIERRO Salina PostELLSWORTH COUNTY - The search for two people missing at Kanopolis Lake in Ellsworth County continued Friday morning.According to Ellsworth County Sheriff Kenny Bernard, at around&nbsp;7:15-7:30pm&nbsp;on&nbsp;Thursday,&nbsp;Ellsworth County dispatch reported three people who went missing after being on a boat at the lake.A 14-year old girl was recovered by an individual in the area and was taken for treatment.According to Sheriff Bernard, a 40-year old man and a 14-year old girl are the two who are still reportedly missing.Multiple agencies including the Rice County Sheriff's Office, Ellsworth County Sheriff's Office, Marquette County Sheriff's Office, Marquette Fire Department, Ellsworth Fire Department and Law Enforcement Dive Teams from Salina and the Kansas Game Wardens were assisting with the investigating at the scene.Sheila Watkins a resident of Salina who was at the scene after the report, commented on the investigation. "It is scary and sad," said Watkins. "I am hoping for the best possible scenario and I am just praying for the families."This investigation is currently ongoing.&nbsp;Check the Post for additional details as they become available..

Search continues: Man and teen missing at Kanopolis Lake

Sign up Saturday at Mr. K's Foodtown in Plainville to become a finalist for a&nbsp;Yuengling Flight Golf Cart from our friends at A &amp; A in Hays. 

The Yuengling Flight Golf Cart, which is worth $10,000, will be given away at this year’s OKTOBERFEST 2025!

Special thanks to our sponsors: High Plains Roofing and A &amp; A Coors Yuengling.

Keep listening and reading the Hays Post all summer long for your chance to become a finalist.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751402885859.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Sign up Saturday at Mr. K's Foodtown in Plainville to become a finalist for a&nbsp;Yuengling Flight Golf Cart from our friends at A &amp; A in Hays. The Yuengling Flight Golf Cart, which is worth $10,000, will be given away at this year’s OKTOBERFEST 2025!Special thanks to our sponsors: High Plains Roofing and A &amp; A Coors Yuengling.Keep listening and reading the Hays Post all summer long for your chance to become a finalist.

Enter to be finalist for Yuengling Flight Golf Cart Saturday at Mr. K’s Foodtown in Plainville

PARKER, Colo. – The Hays Larks scored eight runs in each of
the first two innings and defeated the Gameday Angels 27-3 Thursday at Double
Angel Field. The Larks hit five home runs and had nine extra base hits in the
game which ended after seven innings by run rule.

It’s the most runs scored by a Larks team since they tallied
26 at the Derby Twins on June 26, 2018. Their 22 hits are the most in a game since
collecting 24 at the Colorado Springs CageRats on June 23, 2023.

Paul Smith, Taber Stokes, Trent Baker, Dylan LaRue and Lane
Sparks all homered for the Larks (16-4-1, 12-4 RMBL). Garrett Gruell had three
hits and was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. Kaleb Duncan, Sparks and
CJ Reid also had three hits. LaRue drove in six runs, Sparks had five RBIs and
Stokes knocked in four runs.

Starter Nolan Wilson (2-0) allowed two runs on three hits
with seven strikeouts and two walks over four innings and picked up the win. Jordan
Stribling followed with two shutout innings. Adrian Najar allowed a solo homer in
the final inning.

Eight of the Larks first nine batters had hits in the top of
the first. LaRue hit a three-run homer, Stokes a two-run shot and Baker a three-run
blast in the eight-run second. Sparks hit the Larks third grand slam of the
season in fifth and Smith added a three-run shot an inning later.

Two of the three Angels (8-10, 4-7 RMBL) runs came on solo home
runs from Owen Best and James Harbison.

The Larks close out their three-game Colorado road swing
with another game against the Gameday Angels on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. CDT.

Hays Post SportsPARKER, Colo. – The Hays Larks scored eight runs in each of
the first two innings and defeated the Gameday Angels 27-3 Thursday at Double
Angel Field. The Larks hit five home runs and had nine extra base hits in the
game which ended after seven innings by run rule.It’s the most runs scored by a Larks team since they tallied
26 at the Derby Twins on June 26, 2018. Their 22 hits are the most in a game since
collecting 24 at the Colorado Springs CageRats on June 23, 2023.Paul Smith, Taber Stokes, Trent Baker, Dylan LaRue and Lane
Sparks all homered for the Larks (16-4-1, 12-4 RMBL). Garrett Gruell had three
hits and was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. Kaleb Duncan, Sparks and
CJ Reid also had three hits. LaRue drove in six runs, Sparks had five RBIs and
Stokes knocked in four runs.Starter Nolan Wilson (2-0) allowed two runs on three hits
with seven strikeouts and two walks over four innings and picked up the win. Jordan
Stribling followed with two shutout innings. Adrian Najar allowed a solo homer in
the final inning.Eight of the Larks first nine batters had hits in the top of
the first. LaRue hit a three-run homer, Stokes a two-run shot and Baker a three-run
blast in the eight-run second. Sparks hit the Larks third grand slam of the
season in fifth and Smith added a three-run shot an inning later.Two of the three Angels (8-10, 4-7 RMBL) runs came on solo home
runs from Owen Best and James Harbison.UP NEXTThe Larks close out their three-game Colorado road swing
with another game against the Gameday Angels on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. CDT.

⚾ Larks hit 5 home runs, score 27 runs on rout of Angels

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans propelled President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inside-trump-republican-spending-bill-provisions-details-06eb10bad4fd2a7ea2ac236e6535e61d">$4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill</a>&nbsp;to final congressional passage Thursday, overcoming multiple setbacks to approve his signature second-term policy package before a Fourth of July deadline.

The tight roll call, 218-214, came at a potentially high political cost, with two Republicans joining all Democrats opposed. As expected, the three Kansas GOP lawmakers voted with the majority.

GOP leaders worked overnight and the president himself leaned on a handful of skeptics to drop their opposition and send the bill to him to sign into law. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York delayed voting by holding the floor for more than eight hours with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffries-trump-record-speech-house-tax-bill-f75825c61f0cb75f294c9eb25b739306">record-breaking speech</a>&nbsp;against the bill.

“We have a big job to finish,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/speaker-johnson-trump-tax-bill-christian-prayer-f82ed140d9110d5cc7b4029b681ea9eb">House Speaker Mike Johnson</a>, R-La. “With one big beautiful bill we are going to make this country stronger, safer and more prosperous than ever before.”

The outcome delivers a milestone for the president, by his Friday goal, and for his party,. It was a long-shot effort to compile a lengthy list of GOP priorities into what they called his “one big beautiful bill,” an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-119hr1eas.pdf">800-plus page measure</a>. With Democrats unified in opposition, the bill will become a defining measure of Trump's return to the White House, aided by Republican control of Congress.

At its core, the package's priority is $4.5 trillion in tax breaks enacted in 2017 during Trump's first term that would expire if Congress failed to act, along with new ones. This includes allowing workers to deduct tips and overtime pay, and a $6,000&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-congress-big-bill-tax-social-security-adea287e00c7c553f69f3667d3ef78cc">deduction for most older adults</a>&nbsp;earning less than $75,000 a year.

There's also a hefty investment, some $350 billion, in national security and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-enforcement-deportation-public-polling-df7d0d35dfa031e1444bfa9e9e0b13bd">Trump's deportation agenda</a>&nbsp;and to help develop the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/golden-dome-missile-defense-trump-space-e74d637feac06edcfde79214d8acf179">“Golden Dome”</a>&nbsp;defensive system over the U.S.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751536761079.png" alt="As House Speaker Mike Johnson looks on, Kansas 4th District Rep. Ron Estes speaks during the overnight session in the House on the battle to pass the Big, Beautiful Bill-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>As House Speaker Mike Johnson looks on, Kansas 4th District Rep. Ron Estes speaks during the overnight session in the House on the battle to pass the Big, Beautiful Bill-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans propelled President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inside-trump-republican-spending-bill-provisions-details-06eb10bad4fd2a7ea2ac236e6535e61d">$4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill</a>&nbsp;to final congressional passage Thursday, overcoming multiple setbacks to approve his signature second-term policy package before a Fourth of July deadline.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">✅ The House of Representatives just officially PASSED the One Big Beautiful Bill. The largest middle-class tax cut in American history — and so much more — is on its way to President Trump&#39;s desk. MAGA! <a href="https://t.co/V3U8xhenrS">pic.twitter.com/V3U8xhenrS</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1940841386305319258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">VICTORY: The One Big Beautiful Bill Passes U.S. Congress, Heads to President Trump’s Desk 🇺🇸🎉 <a href="https://t.co/d1nbOlL21G">pic.twitter.com/d1nbOlL21G</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1940840879075611037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The tight roll call, 218-214, came at a potentially high political cost, with two Republicans joining all Democrats opposed. As expected, the three Kansas GOP lawmakers voted with the majority.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This bill delivers on what Americans voted for in November - it&#39;s time to pass the One Big, Beautiful Bill. <a href="https://t.co/Kj4LlnSq24">pic.twitter.com/Kj4LlnSq24</a>&mdash; Rep. Ron Estes (@RepRonEstes) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRonEstes/status/1940736458027159886?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>GOP leaders worked overnight and the president himself leaned on a handful of skeptics to drop their opposition and send the bill to him to sign into law. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York delayed voting by holding the floor for more than eight hours with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffries-trump-record-speech-house-tax-bill-f75825c61f0cb75f294c9eb25b739306">record-breaking speech</a>&nbsp;against the bill.“We have a big job to finish,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/speaker-johnson-trump-tax-bill-christian-prayer-f82ed140d9110d5cc7b4029b681ea9eb">House Speaker Mike Johnson</a>, R-La. “With one big beautiful bill we are going to make this country stronger, safer and more prosperous than ever before.”The outcome delivers a milestone for the president, by his Friday goal, and for his party,. It was a long-shot effort to compile a lengthy list of GOP priorities into what they called his “one big beautiful bill,” an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr1eas/pdf/BILLS-119hr1eas.pdf">800-plus page measure</a>. With Democrats unified in opposition, the bill will become a defining measure of Trump's return to the White House, aided by Republican control of Congress.<h2>Tax breaks and safety net cuts</h2>At its core, the package's priority is $4.5 trillion in tax breaks enacted in 2017 during Trump's first term that would expire if Congress failed to act, along with new ones. This includes allowing workers to deduct tips and overtime pay, and a $6,000&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-congress-big-bill-tax-social-security-adea287e00c7c553f69f3667d3ef78cc">deduction for most older adults</a>&nbsp;earning less than $75,000 a year.There's also a hefty investment, some $350 billion, in national security and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-enforcement-deportation-public-polling-df7d0d35dfa031e1444bfa9e9e0b13bd">Trump's deportation agenda</a>&nbsp;and to help develop the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/golden-dome-missile-defense-trump-space-e74d637feac06edcfde79214d8acf179">“Golden Dome”</a>&nbsp;defensive system over the U.S.To help offset the lost tax revenue, the package includes $1.2 trillion in cutbacks to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gop-bill-trump-medicaid-cuts-coverage-health-bb4f090d2706ffb3d5652e70f246a10e">the Medicaid health care</a>&nbsp;and food stamps, largely by imposing new work requirements, including for some parents and older people, and a major&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-republican-tax-credits-wind-solar-trump-ceb3bd36c25017e29fccdcc4c749391f">rollback of green energy tax credits</a>.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-big-beautiful-bill-trump-republican-deficit-debt-d432b67a965790e4a26de46ea8db1266">nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office</a>&nbsp;estimates the package will add&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-trump-tax-bill-republicans-senate-5f591bea21bd95eec45ba90c93c50687">$3.3 trillion to the deficit</a>&nbsp;over the decade and 11.8 million more people will go without health coverage."This was a generational opportunity to deliver the most comprehensive and consequential set of conservative reforms in modern history, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, the House Budget Committee chairman.<h2>Democrats united against ‘ugly bill’</h2>Democrats unified against the bill as a tax giveaway to the rich paid for on the backs of the working class and most vulnerable in society, what they called “trickle down cruelty.” Tensions ran high in the chamber.Jeffries began the speech at 4:53 a.m. EDT and finished at 1:37 p.m. EDT, 8 hours, 44 minutes later, a record, as he argued against what he called Trump’s “big ugly bill.”“We’re better than this,” Jeffries said, who used a leader's prerogative for unlimited debate and read letter after letter from Americans writing about their reliance of the health care programs.“I never thought that I’d be on the House floor saying that this is a crime scene," Jeffries said.“It’s a crime scene, going after the health, and the safety, and the well-being of the American people."And as Democrats, he said, "We want no part of it.”Hauling the package through the Congress has been difficult from the start. Republicans have struggled mightily with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/johnson-trump-republicans-budget-vote-tax-cuts-4cb74ca15f6a74a7344355e4507ab9fe">the bill</a>&nbsp;nearly every step of the way quarreling in the House and Senate, and often succeeding only by the narrowest of margins: just one vote.The&nbsp;<a href="https://i%20never%20thought%20that%20i'd%20be%20on%20the%20house%20floor%20saying%20that%20this%20is%20a%20crime%20scene.%20and%20house%20democrats%20want%20no%20part%20of%20it.%20...%20it's%20a%20crime%20scene,%20going%20after%20the%20health,%20and%20the%20safety,%20and%20the%20wellbeing%20of%20the%20american%20people.%20and%20mr.%20speaker,%20we%20want%20no%20part%20of%20i/">Senate passed the package days earlier</a>&nbsp;with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie vote. The slim majority in the House left Republicans little room for defections.<h2>Political costs of saying no</h2>Despite their discomfort with various aspects of the sprawling package, in some ways it became too big to fail — in part because Republicans found it difficult to buck Trump.As Wednesday's stalled floor action dragged overnight Trump railed against the delays.“What are the Republicans waiting for???" the president said in a midnight post. "What are you trying to prove???”Johnson relied heavily on White House Cabinet secretaries, lawyers and others to satisfy skeptical GOP holdouts. Moderate Republicans worried about the severity of cuts while conservatives pressed for steeper reductions. Lawmakers said they were being told the administration could provide executive actions, projects or other provisions in their districts back home.The alternative was clear. Republicans who staked out opposition to the bill, including Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-kentucky-thomas-massie-primary-iran-55252ce7fbda9c27f6fbd9123927b1b4">being warned</a>&nbsp;by Trump’s well-funded political operation. Tillis soon after announced he would not seek reelection.<h2>Rollback of past presidential agendas</h2>In many ways, the package is a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-bill-medicaid-tax-cuts-bec87c569760ed979ac8c34cccba186b">repudiation of the agendas</a>&nbsp;of the last two Democratic presidents, a chiseling away at the Medicaid expansion from Barack Obama's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-obamacare-preventive-care-health-care-d81aa3b66b94642dceafb3e51be9a319">Affordable Care Act</a>, and a pullback of Joe Biden's climate change strategies in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-climate-health-tax-law-economy-inflation-f112d7c78abaa724d22964317d213deb">Inflation Reduction Act</a>.Democrats have described the bill in dire terms, warning that cuts to Medicaid, which some 80 million Americans rely on, would result in lives lost. Food stamps that help feed more than 40 million people would "rip food from the mouths of hungry children, hungry veterans and hungry seniors,” Jeffries said.Republicans say the tax breaks will prevent a tax hike on households and grow the economy. They maintain they are trying to rightsize the safety net programs for the population they were initially designed to serve, mainly pregnant women, the disabled and children, and root out what they describe as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-waste-fraud-abuse-635b1419014a43e061f548c9713860c4">waste, fraud and abuse</a>.The Tax Policy Center, which provides nonpartisan analysis of tax and budget policy, projected the bill would result next year in a $150 tax break for the lowest quintile of Americans, a $1,750 tax cut for the middle quintile and a $10,950 tax cut for the top quintile. That's compared with what they would face if the 2017 tax cuts expired.___