<a>Sherri Lea (Lotker) Shuler, born March 2, 1950, in
Oberlin, KS to Floyd Lee and Helen Dorothea (Forrester) Lotker, Jr. and started
her journey on June 17, 2025 at the age of 75, in Goodland, KS at Topside
Manor.</a>

Sherri grew up on the family homestead west of Oberlin alongside her three
siblings Floyd Lee III (Skipper), Laurie and Jackie. Along with the daily farm
chores and looking after her younger sisters, she loved spending time with the
family pets, Classy the dog and riding Patsy the family horse, Sunday boat
outings at the lake, water skiing and 4-H. She attended school in Oberlin, with
activities including Home Ed and Civil Air Patrol, graduating from DCHS in
1968.

On a summer visit to her grandmother in Bonita Springs, FL, Sherri fell in
love with the ocean, walking along the beach, collecting&nbsp;butterfly
seashells, and enjoying the warm tropical weather.

Sherri met the love of her life, Steven Leslie Shuler, at the age of two
and they later reconnected at the pool during the summers and were allowed to
date after Sherri turned 16.&nbsp; They married March 7, 1968, and Amy Marie,
Deborah Rae and Samuel Jonathan completed their family. Steve’s military
service sent them to Germany for 2 years before returning to Selden, KS, where
they farmed and raised cattle together with Steven’s parents. They later
divorced.

She began her post education in 1985 at McCook Community College and
transferred to Fort Hays State University in 1987. She obtained her Bachelor’s
in Psychology.&nbsp; Her career allowed her to work in Colorado, Kansas,
Oklahoma and Texas. She returned to Oberlin in 2009 to become her parents'
caregiver until their deaths in 2012 and 2015. She then retired to Bonita
Springs, FL, living only a few minutes from her favorite beach. But the longing
of her great grandchildren and illness brought her back to Kansas to be cared
for.

Sherri was a member of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, McCook, NE; her faith
was always important to her and through her life was actively involved with the
United Methodist Church, Selden, KS; St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Hays, KS;
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Goodland, KS; Christ Church, Denver, CO; and Faith
Lutheran Church, Oberlin, KS. She was a member of Order of Eastern Star for
over 50 years, many as the Worthy Matron, Selden Garden Club, Selden Methodist
Ladies, Red Hat Society, Monday evening club, book-cooking clubs, prayer
groups.

Family was the most important part of her life. Especially becoming Grandma
and then later Gigi. Nothing made her prouder than watching all of them grow
and always daydreaming of what they would be like when they got older.

Sherri loved to learn about other cultures. She was especially fond of
Scottish Bagpipes, often attending the Highland Games in Colorado. She enjoyed
traveling overseas: Germany and France, staying with her adopted French family,
Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxemberg, and Belgium. One of her
greatest joys was fulfilling her lifelong dream with discovering London on
several occasions, and most of all, retracing the footsteps of her
grandparents' lives in Birmingham, England.

She is survived by her three children: Amy (Sebastien) Gavieiro, Deborah
Shuler, and Samuel Shuler. Her six grandchildren Tyler (Taryn) Jones, Tanner
(Abby) Jones, Thatcher (Valerie) Jones, Rebecca (Thomas) Gavieiro, Taitem
Jones, Andrew (Annika) Gavieiro. Four great grandchildren: Brody, Harper,
Baxter and Rocky. Brother, Floyd Lee (Khadine) Lotker III and sister, Laurie
(James) Wasson. Honorary son, Ross Hunt, Brother-in-law, Lynn Myers,
Goddaughter Eustacia (Dustin) Drake, along with many aunts and an uncle,
cousins, nieces and nephews, and many close, cherished friends.

Sherri is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Jackie Lotker-Myers
and nephew Jacob Wasson.

A memorial service will take
place on July 12, 2025, 11:00AM, at the Faith Lutheran Church, Oberlin, KS.
Private burial in Rexford, KS, will take place at a later time. Memorials can
be made out to the Sherri Shuler Memorial Fund in care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral
Home, Oberlin, KS. Condolences can be left at <a href="http://www.plumergobber.com">www.plumergobber.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751556929991.jpeg" alt="Sherri Lea (Lotker) Shuler" />
 <figcaption>Sherri Lea (Lotker) Shuler</figcaption>
 </figure><a>Sherri Lea (Lotker) Shuler, born March 2, 1950, in
Oberlin, KS to Floyd Lee and Helen Dorothea (Forrester) Lotker, Jr. and started
her journey on June 17, 2025 at the age of 75, in Goodland, KS at Topside
Manor.</a>Sherri grew up on the family homestead west of Oberlin alongside her three
siblings Floyd Lee III (Skipper), Laurie and Jackie. Along with the daily farm
chores and looking after her younger sisters, she loved spending time with the
family pets, Classy the dog and riding Patsy the family horse, Sunday boat
outings at the lake, water skiing and 4-H. She attended school in Oberlin, with
activities including Home Ed and Civil Air Patrol, graduating from DCHS in
1968.On a summer visit to her grandmother in Bonita Springs, FL, Sherri fell in
love with the ocean, walking along the beach, collecting&nbsp;butterfly
seashells, and enjoying the warm tropical weather.Sherri met the love of her life, Steven Leslie Shuler, at the age of two
and they later reconnected at the pool during the summers and were allowed to
date after Sherri turned 16.&nbsp; They married March 7, 1968, and Amy Marie,
Deborah Rae and Samuel Jonathan completed their family. Steve’s military
service sent them to Germany for 2 years before returning to Selden, KS, where
they farmed and raised cattle together with Steven’s parents. They later
divorced.She began her post education in 1985 at McCook Community College and
transferred to Fort Hays State University in 1987. She obtained her Bachelor’s
in Psychology.&nbsp; Her career allowed her to work in Colorado, Kansas,
Oklahoma and Texas. She returned to Oberlin in 2009 to become her parents'
caregiver until their deaths in 2012 and 2015. She then retired to Bonita
Springs, FL, living only a few minutes from her favorite beach. But the longing
of her great grandchildren and illness brought her back to Kansas to be cared
for.Sherri was a member of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, McCook, NE; her faith
was always important to her and through her life was actively involved with the
United Methodist Church, Selden, KS; St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Hays, KS;
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Goodland, KS; Christ Church, Denver, CO; and Faith
Lutheran Church, Oberlin, KS. She was a member of Order of Eastern Star for
over 50 years, many as the Worthy Matron, Selden Garden Club, Selden Methodist
Ladies, Red Hat Society, Monday evening club, book-cooking clubs, prayer
groups.Family was the most important part of her life. Especially becoming Grandma
and then later Gigi. Nothing made her prouder than watching all of them grow
and always daydreaming of what they would be like when they got older.Sherri loved to learn about other cultures. She was especially fond of
Scottish Bagpipes, often attending the Highland Games in Colorado. She enjoyed
traveling overseas: Germany and France, staying with her adopted French family,
Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxemberg, and Belgium. One of her
greatest joys was fulfilling her lifelong dream with discovering London on
several occasions, and most of all, retracing the footsteps of her
grandparents' lives in Birmingham, England.She is survived by her three children: Amy (Sebastien) Gavieiro, Deborah
Shuler, and Samuel Shuler. Her six grandchildren Tyler (Taryn) Jones, Tanner
(Abby) Jones, Thatcher (Valerie) Jones, Rebecca (Thomas) Gavieiro, Taitem
Jones, Andrew (Annika) Gavieiro. Four great grandchildren: Brody, Harper,
Baxter and Rocky. Brother, Floyd Lee (Khadine) Lotker III and sister, Laurie
(James) Wasson. Honorary son, Ross Hunt, Brother-in-law, Lynn Myers,
Goddaughter Eustacia (Dustin) Drake, along with many aunts and an uncle,
cousins, nieces and nephews, and many close, cherished friends.Sherri is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Jackie Lotker-Myers
and nephew Jacob Wasson.A memorial service will take
place on July 12, 2025, 11:00AM, at the Faith Lutheran Church, Oberlin, KS.
Private burial in Rexford, KS, will take place at a later time. Memorials can
be made out to the Sherri Shuler Memorial Fund in care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral
Home, Oberlin, KS. Condolences can be left at <a href="http://www.plumergobber.com">www.plumergobber.com</a>

Sherri Lea (Lotker) Shuler

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/chris-megerian">CHRIS MEGERIAN</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/katie-vogel">KATIE VOGEL</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) —For more than a week, President Donald Trump kept the world wondering whether he would join Israel’s attacks on Iran in an attempt to decapitate the country’s nuclear program. The guessing ended this weekend, when American stealth bombers, fighter jets and a submarine struck with bombs and missiles.

Trump’s decision marks one of the riskiest foreign policy decisions by a U.S. president in recent memory, potentially plunging the nation back into armed conflict in the Middle East with no clear endgame.

Like most of Trump’s presidency, the path to military action was unconventional and played out on social media, as he alternatively pledged diplomacy, demanded the evacuation of Tehran, threatened the ayatollah and ultimately announced the U.S. strike.

Here’s a look at how the 11 days unfolded, a cascade of events that could reshape a combustible corner of the globe. All dates below are in Eastern time.

The first sign that conflict could be on the horizon came when families of U.S. troops began leaving the Middle East. “They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place, and we’ll see what happens,” Trump said as he arrived at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-kennedy-center-performing-arts-487a890419ebf4de42660c5d947dc69c">Kennedy Center</a>&nbsp;for opening night of “Les Misérables,” one of his favorite musicals.

It wasn’t clear whether Israel was preparing to strike, fulfilling years of threats to attack Iran’s nuclear program, or if the movements were a feint to increase pressure for negotiations. The next round of talks between Washington and Tehran was just days away, and Trump was adamant about reaching a diplomatic solution.

Behind the scenes, the Israeli military operation was already taking shape.

Trump said an attack by Israel “could very well happen.” But Iran still seemed to be taken by surprise. Around 8 p.m. in Washington, explosions in Tehran killed top military leaders and scientists. Multiple sites connected to Iran’s nuclear program were also hit.

Israel said 200 warplanes took part in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-explosions-israel-tehran-00234a06e5128a8aceb406b140297299">the first wave of attacks.</a>&nbsp;More damage was done with drones that Israeli spies had smuggled into the country, destroying air defenses and missile launchers.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a “targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.” Although Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program was for peaceful purposes, Israeli leaders claimed it was an imminent threat.

Iran retaliated against Israel with missiles and drones, many of which were shot down by air defenses. As Trump started his day in Washington, he seemed impressed by Israeli military prowess and his tone became more aggressive toward Iran.

“The United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come - And they know how to use it,” he&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114675456780398208" target="_blank">wrote</a>&nbsp;on social media.

But Trump suggested that diplomacy was his first choice, and urged Iran to make a deal.&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114675841423085927" target="_blank">“Now they have, perhaps, a second chance”</a>&nbsp;to get it done, he said.

Trump talked to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the morning, and they discussed the conflict between Israel and Iran. The next round of talks between the U.S. and Iran was canceled.

As Israel and Iran continued to trade strikes, Trump attended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-army-parade-troops-tanks-birthday-protests-4cca4da0e89908d39c820240744375a1">a military parade in Washington.</a>&nbsp;It was the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, as well as his 79th birthday.

The muscular display of American military might — tanks, troops, paratroopers and a 21-gun salute — played out in the nation’s capital as the potential for a new conflict loomed.

Trump spent the day talking up his reputation as a peacemaker, encouraging Iran and Israel to “make a deal” similar to how he had brokered an end to fighting between India and Pakistan.

“Many calls and meetings now taking place,” Trump wrote on social media. “I do a lot, and never get credit for anything, but that’s OK, the PEOPLE understand. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!”

Iran’s health ministry said 224 people had been killed by Israeli strikes at this point in the conflict. Reports also emerged that Trump had rejected an Israeli plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-israel-attack-43e3b1ce47d12477ae4533c941386b75">kill Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei</a>. U.S. officials viewed the idea as dangerously destabilizing.

Trump flew to Canada for the annual Group of Seven summit, which gathers the world’s most powerful democracies. He would not be there long.

Israel claimed it had achieved “aerial superiority” over Tehran, allowing its warplanes to operate freely in the skies above Iran’s capital. One of the strikes hit Iran’s state-run television, abruptly stopping a live broadcast. Netanyahu said Israeli strikes set back Iran’s nuclear program a “very, very long time.”

However, the extent of the damage was unclear, and U.S. and Israeli officials believed only American planes with specially designed “bunker buster” bombs had the capability to destroy nuclear sites buried deep underground.

After a single day at the G7 summit, the White House abruptly announced that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-g7-carney-canada-trade-iran-75c17fffe96c9031d8ebb22af923d86c">Trump would leave early</a>&nbsp;on a red-eye flight to Washington to meet with his national security team.

Trump demanded Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” in a post on social media and he told reporters aboard Air Force One that he wanted “a real end” to the conflict, not just a ceasefire.

He expressed frustration with Iranian leaders for failing to reach an agreement. “They should have done the deal. I told them, ‘Do the deal,’” he said. “So I don’t know. I’m not too much in the mood to negotiate.”

Trump also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gabbard-trump-intelligence-iran-nuclear-program-51c8d85d536f8628870c110ac05bb518">brushed off assessments from U.S. spy agencies</a>&nbsp;that Iran hadn’t decided to build a nuclear weapon. He insisted they were “very close.”

The sun had not yet risen when Trump arrived at the White House. He took part in a meeting in the Situation Room, but did not appear publicly.

With little clarity on next steps, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters that “I’m here to take questions, not necessarily answer them.”

By this point, there was no question that Trump was considering joining Israel’s attacks on Iran. “I may do it, I may not do it,” he said that morning. “Nobody knows what I’m going to do.”

The president spoke to reporters while overseeing the installation of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-flagpoles-a0928efcdcb6d1362a0e1827e96d0344">a massive new flagpole</a>&nbsp;on the South Lawn of the White House, toggling back and forth between chatting up construction workers in hard hats and sizing up the Iranian nuclear threat.

Later, in the Oval Office, Trump again suggested that the U.S. might get directly involved to thwart Iran’s atomic ambitions. “I’m not looking to fight,” he said. “But if it’s a choice between fighting and having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do.”

On Capitol Hill, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers the Pentagon was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-trump-senate-iran-signal-8a0814d29f204addede54202d40e954d">presenting Trump with military options.</a>

It was a federal holiday — Juneteenth — and much of Washington took the hot, steamy day off, but White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt scheduled a briefing nonetheless.

She entered the briefing room to deliver a message from the president:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-attacks-nuclear-news-06-19-2025-b508817b78ed8d2f6067c1516215cf94">He would decide within two weeks</a>&nbsp;whether to become directly involved in Israel’s war on Iran.

Trump has long been known to toss out “two week” deadlines for actions that never materialize, so the statement left people guessing on his next move.

Trump convened another meeting of his national security advisers and then flew to his golf club in New Jersey, where he attended a political fundraiser in the evening. He talked to reporters briefly en route, long enough to say his director of national intelligence,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tulsi-gabbard">Tulsi Gabbard</a>, was “wrong” when she previously said that the U.S. believed Iran wasn’t building a nuclear weapon.

Around midnight, the U.S. military operation began in secret: B-2 stealth bombers taking off from a base in Missouri. They headed east, over the Atlantic Ocean, refueling from airborne tankers along the way. It would take them 18 hours to reach Iran. A decoy flight went west, toward the Pacific.

Trump returned to the White House from New Jersey around 6 p.m. Less than an hour later, American ordinance began exploding in Tehran.

More than two dozen Tomahawk missiles were fired from a U.S. submarine. Fighter jets scanned for Iranian interceptors. The stealth bombers dropped 14 bunker buster bombs, marking the first time that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bunker-buster-bomb-israel-iran-fordo-fordow-b2-nuclear-8a612cbf16aa0f99bd9992334ffc93d7">the 30,000-pound weapon</a>&nbsp;had been used in combat.

Trump announced the strikes on social media, saying it was a “very successful attack and “NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!” In a brief national address from the White House, the president threatened to attack Iran again if there was any retaliation.

“There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran,” he said.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/chris-megerian">CHRIS MEGERIAN</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/katie-vogel">KATIE VOGEL</a>WASHINGTON (AP) —For more than a week, President Donald Trump kept the world wondering whether he would join Israel’s attacks on Iran in an attempt to decapitate the country’s nuclear program. The guessing ended this weekend, when American stealth bombers, fighter jets and a submarine struck with bombs and missiles.Trump’s decision marks one of the riskiest foreign policy decisions by a U.S. president in recent memory, potentially plunging the nation back into armed conflict in the Middle East with no clear endgame.Like most of Trump’s presidency, the path to military action was unconventional and played out on social media, as he alternatively pledged diplomacy, demanded the evacuation of Tehran, threatened the ayatollah and ultimately announced the U.S. strike.Here’s a look at how the 11 days unfolded, a cascade of events that could reshape a combustible corner of the globe. All dates below are in Eastern time.<h2>Wednesday, June 11</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749688538463.png" alt="The Trumps at the Kennedy Center-image White House" />
 <figcaption>The Trumps at the Kennedy Center-image White House</figcaption>
 </figure>The first sign that conflict could be on the horizon came when families of U.S. troops began leaving the Middle East. “They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place, and we’ll see what happens,” Trump said as he arrived at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-kennedy-center-performing-arts-487a890419ebf4de42660c5d947dc69c">Kennedy Center</a>&nbsp;for opening night of “Les Misérables,” one of his favorite musicals.It wasn’t clear whether Israel was preparing to strike, fulfilling years of threats to attack Iran’s nuclear program, or if the movements were a feint to increase pressure for negotiations. The next round of talks between Washington and Tehran was just days away, and Trump was adamant about reaching a diplomatic solution.Behind the scenes, the Israeli military operation was already taking shape.<h2>Thursday, June 12</h2>Trump said an attack by Israel “could very well happen.” But Iran still seemed to be taken by surprise. Around 8 p.m. in Washington, explosions in Tehran killed top military leaders and scientists. Multiple sites connected to Iran’s nuclear program were also hit.Israel said 200 warplanes took part in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-explosions-israel-tehran-00234a06e5128a8aceb406b140297299">the first wave of attacks.</a>&nbsp;More damage was done with drones that Israeli spies had smuggled into the country, destroying air defenses and missile launchers.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a “targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.” Although Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program was for peaceful purposes, Israeli leaders claimed it was an imminent threat.Iran retaliated against Israel with missiles and drones, many of which were shot down by air defenses. As Trump started his day in Washington, he seemed impressed by Israeli military prowess and his tone became more aggressive toward Iran.“The United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come - And they know how to use it,” he&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114675456780398208" target="_blank">wrote</a>&nbsp;on social media.But Trump suggested that diplomacy was his first choice, and urged Iran to make a deal.&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114675841423085927" target="_blank">“Now they have, perhaps, a second chance”</a>&nbsp;to get it done, he said.<h2>Saturday, June 14</h2>Trump talked to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the morning, and they discussed the conflict between Israel and Iran. The next round of talks between the U.S. and Iran was canceled.As Israel and Iran continued to trade strikes, Trump attended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-army-parade-troops-tanks-birthday-protests-4cca4da0e89908d39c820240744375a1">a military parade in Washington.</a>&nbsp;It was the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, as well as his 79th birthday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749942889066.png" alt="Thie Trumps at the parade celebrating the 250 anniversary of the U.S. Army -image from White House video." />
 <figcaption>Thie Trumps at the parade celebrating the 250 anniversary of the U.S. Army -image from White House video.</figcaption>
 </figure>The muscular display of American military might — tanks, troops, paratroopers and a 21-gun salute — played out in the nation’s capital as the potential for a new conflict loomed.<h2>Sunday, June 15</h2>Trump spent the day talking up his reputation as a peacemaker, encouraging Iran and Israel to “make a deal” similar to how he had brokered an end to fighting between India and Pakistan.“Many calls and meetings now taking place,” Trump wrote on social media. “I do a lot, and never get credit for anything, but that’s OK, the PEOPLE understand. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!”Iran’s health ministry said 224 people had been killed by Israeli strikes at this point in the conflict. Reports also emerged that Trump had rejected an Israeli plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-israel-attack-43e3b1ce47d12477ae4533c941386b75">kill Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei</a>. U.S. officials viewed the idea as dangerously destabilizing.Trump flew to Canada for the annual Group of Seven summit, which gathers the world’s most powerful democracies. He would not be there long.<h2>Monday, June 16</h2>Israel claimed it had achieved “aerial superiority” over Tehran, allowing its warplanes to operate freely in the skies above Iran’s capital. One of the strikes hit Iran’s state-run television, abruptly stopping a live broadcast. Netanyahu said Israeli strikes set back Iran’s nuclear program a “very, very long time.”However, the extent of the damage was unclear, and U.S. and Israeli officials believed only American planes with specially designed “bunker buster” bombs had the capability to destroy nuclear sites buried deep underground.After a single day at the G7 summit, the White House abruptly announced that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-g7-carney-canada-trade-iran-75c17fffe96c9031d8ebb22af923d86c">Trump would leave early</a>&nbsp;on a red-eye flight to Washington to meet with his national security team.Trump demanded Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” in a post on social media and he told reporters aboard Air Force One that he wanted “a real end” to the conflict, not just a ceasefire.He expressed frustration with Iranian leaders for failing to reach an agreement. “They should have done the deal. I told them, ‘Do the deal,’” he said. “So I don’t know. I’m not too much in the mood to negotiate.”Trump also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gabbard-trump-intelligence-iran-nuclear-program-51c8d85d536f8628870c110ac05bb518">brushed off assessments from U.S. spy agencies</a>&nbsp;that Iran hadn’t decided to build a nuclear weapon. He insisted they were “very close.”The sun had not yet risen when Trump arrived at the White House. He took part in a meeting in the Situation Room, but did not appear publicly.With little clarity on next steps, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters that “I’m here to take questions, not necessarily answer them.”<h2>Wednesday, June 18</h2>By this point, there was no question that Trump was considering joining Israel’s attacks on Iran. “I may do it, I may not do it,” he said that morning. “Nobody knows what I’m going to do.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750269288982.png" alt="President Trump spoke with reporters while overseeing the installation of a massive new flagpole on the South Lawn of the White House -image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump spoke with reporters while overseeing the installation of a massive new flagpole on the South Lawn of the White House -image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>The president spoke to reporters while overseeing the installation of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-flagpoles-a0928efcdcb6d1362a0e1827e96d0344">a massive new flagpole</a>&nbsp;on the South Lawn of the White House, toggling back and forth between chatting up construction workers in hard hats and sizing up the Iranian nuclear threat.Later, in the Oval Office, Trump again suggested that the U.S. might get directly involved to thwart Iran’s atomic ambitions. “I’m not looking to fight,” he said. “But if it’s a choice between fighting and having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do.”On Capitol Hill, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers the Pentagon was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-trump-senate-iran-signal-8a0814d29f204addede54202d40e954d">presenting Trump with military options.</a><h2>Thursday, June 19</h2>It was a federal holiday — Juneteenth — and much of Washington took the hot, steamy day off, but White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt scheduled a briefing nonetheless.She entered the briefing room to deliver a message from the president:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-attacks-nuclear-news-06-19-2025-b508817b78ed8d2f6067c1516215cf94">He would decide within two weeks</a>&nbsp;whether to become directly involved in Israel’s war on Iran.Trump has long been known to toss out “two week” deadlines for actions that never materialize, so the statement left people guessing on his next move.<h2>Friday, June 20</h2>Trump convened another meeting of his national security advisers and then flew to his golf club in New Jersey, where he attended a political fundraiser in the evening. He talked to reporters briefly en route, long enough to say his director of national intelligence,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tulsi-gabbard">Tulsi Gabbard</a>, was “wrong” when she previously said that the U.S. believed Iran wasn’t building a nuclear weapon.<h2>Saturday, June 21</h2>Around midnight, the U.S. military operation began in secret: B-2 stealth bombers taking off from a base in Missouri. They headed east, over the Atlantic Ocean, refueling from airborne tankers along the way. It would take them 18 hours to reach Iran. A decoy flight went west, toward the Pacific.Trump returned to the White House from New Jersey around 6 p.m. Less than an hour later, American ordinance began exploding in Tehran.More than two dozen Tomahawk missiles were fired from a U.S. submarine. Fighter jets scanned for Iranian interceptors. The stealth bombers dropped 14 bunker buster bombs, marking the first time that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bunker-buster-bomb-israel-iran-fordo-fordow-b2-nuclear-8a612cbf16aa0f99bd9992334ffc93d7">the 30,000-pound weapon</a>&nbsp;had been used in combat.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750596896391.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Trump announced the strikes on social media, saying it was a “very successful attack and “NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!” In a brief national address from the White House, the president threatened to attack Iran again if there was any retaliation.“There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran,” he said.

11 days in June: Trump’s path to ‘yes’ on bombing Iran

By LINN ANN HUNTINGTON Special to Hays Post

The little girl waited breathlessly that Christmas Eve as the pastor at her church in central Romania distributed boxes of brightly wrapped shoebox gifts to all the children in the room.

The children were seated in horizontal rows. The first row received boxes and then passed them over their heads to the row behind them. That row did the same, with each row repeating the process, to the back row.&nbsp;

The event was an Operation Christmas Child (OCC) gift distribution. Finally, 6-year-old Lorena Surducan had her box. The pastor asked the children to place their hands on their box as he led them in prayer to bless the person who had prepared their gift.

Then the pastor began his countdown, and all the paper went flying as the children opened their gifts at the same time, amidst squeals of delight.

But Lorena was careful about opening her gift. The paper was so pretty, she wanted to save it, she said.

Surducan told her story of that special night when she spoke in Hays May 28 at North Oak Community Church.

Operation Christmas Child is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization headquartered in Boone, N.C. Each year thousands of people fill simple shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items.

The boxes are collected during November each year and are shipped to children in need. According to data provided by the ministry, “Since 1993, over 232 million shoebox gifts have been collected for children in over 170 countries and territories.”

Rachel Albin of Hays, the Northwest Kansas Area Coordinator for OCC, said for many children this is the first gift they have ever received. Inside each box is a pamphlet in the child’s language talking about Jesus and his love for each child. Albin said this is the first time many of these children have heard of Jesus also.

But that was not the case for Surducan. She and her sister grew up in a Christian home, and she had heard about God from an early age.

“My mother taught us how to pray, and she read us a Bible story each night before bed,” Surducan said.

Although she didn’t know it at the time, she said her father often prayed that God would provide when there was little money for food or bills. And God always did.

A few years before attending the OCC event at her church, Lorena and her sister got hold of a catalog from a U.S. department store. The little girls were mesmerized by the toys they saw. Toys were not sold in Romanian stores, Lorena said.

The toy that captured her attention the most was a Barbie doll, and she told her mother she wanted one. Her mother suggested that she pray and ask God for the doll.

For several years, each night during her bedtime prayers, Lorena would ask God for a Barbie doll. As she opened her OCC shoebox gift that Christmas Eve, she carefully looked through the contents—school supplies, glittery pens, a matching hat, mittens, and scarf set.

Then, at the very bottom of her box was a Barbie doll.

Surducan said, “The impact of this on my life was just fantastic. If God cares so much about this one prayer, don’t you think he cares about other prayers? If he cared so much for this one little girl, wouldn’t he care about other children?”

That faith has sustained Surducan throughout her life. In 2015 she moved to the United States to attend college at Mississippi University for Women in Columbia, Miss. Her church there was a drop-off location for OCC shoebox gifts.

Surducan casually mentioned to one of the church volunteers that she had received such a gift when she was a child. The volunteer took note and contacted people at Samaritan’s Purse’s headquarters.

Soon Surducan was sharing her story across the South. At one point she moved to Florida where she met and married her husband, Bryson. Then two years ago, they moved to Lawrence, Kan., so Lorena could continue her education in Music Therapy at the University of Kansas.

A year ago, 29-year-old Bryson suffered a stroke. On the ride to the hospital, Surducan said she realized she had two choices: “I could give in to panic, or I could trust God and his faithfulness.”

She began to pray, releasing her husband to God, no matter the outcome. She said she immediately experienced peace.

“The faith that began years ago resulted in my ability to pray this biggest prayer of my life,” she said.

The doctors placed Bryson in ICU and ran many tests, but they were never able to figure out what caused the stroke, Lorena said. A few days later Bryson walked out of the hospital and has experienced no after-effects of his stroke, she said.

Albin, who oversees the shoebox collections in 15 Northwest Kansas counties, including Ellis County, said last year those residents packed 13,602 boxes, and she is hoping for more this year.

Only God could have orchestrated the journey that one box took in reaching Lorena, Albin said.

“Each child who receives a box is praying for something special,” Albin said. “As we pack shoeboxes, may we pray that God will lead us in selecting what we put in our boxes.”

Those wishing to know more about Operation Christmas Child may visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.

This year’s shoebox National Collection Week is Nov. 17-24. North Oak Community Church, where Surducan spoke, packed 768 boxes last year, said LuAnn Walters of Hays, North Oak’s OCC coordinator. Naturally, she is hoping for more this year also.

Walters said many area churches, including North Oak, have special events throughout the year, where members paint blocks for younger children’s boxes, sew simple dresses, and prepare pencil packs and hygiene kits. North Oak’s adults and children also participate in “packing parties” prior to collection week.

Individuals, groups, and churches wanting to learn more about organizing such events are encouraged to contact Albin at (785) 639-1325 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ralbinmk@yahoo.com">ralbinmk@yahoo.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749736991708.jpeg" alt="Lorena Surducan, center, prepares to speak May 28 at North Oak Community Church about her experience receiving an Operation Christmas Child (OCC) shoebox gift as a child in her native Romania. At left is Rachel Albin of Hays, Northwest Kansas Area Coordinator for OCC. At right is LuAnn Walters of Hays, North Oak’s OCC Coordinator. Photo by Linn Ann Huntington" />
 <figcaption>Lorena Surducan, center, prepares to speak May 28 at North Oak Community Church about her experience receiving an Operation Christmas Child (OCC) shoebox gift as a child in her native Romania. At left is Rachel Albin of Hays, Northwest Kansas Area Coordinator for OCC. At right is LuAnn Walters of Hays, North Oak’s OCC Coordinator. Photo by Linn Ann Huntington</figcaption>
 </figure>By LINN ANN HUNTINGTON Special to Hays PostThe little girl waited breathlessly that Christmas Eve as the pastor at her church in central Romania distributed boxes of brightly wrapped shoebox gifts to all the children in the room.The children were seated in horizontal rows. The first row received boxes and then passed them over their heads to the row behind them. That row did the same, with each row repeating the process, to the back row.&nbsp;The event was an Operation Christmas Child (OCC) gift distribution. Finally, 6-year-old Lorena Surducan had her box. The pastor asked the children to place their hands on their box as he led them in prayer to bless the person who had prepared their gift.Then the pastor began his countdown, and all the paper went flying as the children opened their gifts at the same time, amidst squeals of delight.But Lorena was careful about opening her gift. The paper was so pretty, she wanted to save it, she said.Surducan told her story of that special night when she spoke in Hays May 28 at North Oak Community Church.Operation Christmas Child is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization headquartered in Boone, N.C. Each year thousands of people fill simple shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items.The boxes are collected during November each year and are shipped to children in need. According to data provided by the ministry, “Since 1993, over 232 million shoebox gifts have been collected for children in over 170 countries and territories.”Rachel Albin of Hays, the Northwest Kansas Area Coordinator for OCC, said for many children this is the first gift they have ever received. Inside each box is a pamphlet in the child’s language talking about Jesus and his love for each child. Albin said this is the first time many of these children have heard of Jesus also.But that was not the case for Surducan. She and her sister grew up in a Christian home, and she had heard about God from an early age.“My mother taught us how to pray, and she read us a Bible story each night before bed,” Surducan said.Although she didn’t know it at the time, she said her father often prayed that God would provide when there was little money for food or bills. And God always did.A few years before attending the OCC event at her church, Lorena and her sister got hold of a catalog from a U.S. department store. The little girls were mesmerized by the toys they saw. Toys were not sold in Romanian stores, Lorena said.The toy that captured her attention the most was a Barbie doll, and she told her mother she wanted one. Her mother suggested that she pray and ask God for the doll.So, Lorena did.For several years, each night during her bedtime prayers, Lorena would ask God for a Barbie doll. As she opened her OCC shoebox gift that Christmas Eve, she carefully looked through the contents—school supplies, glittery pens, a matching hat, mittens, and scarf set.Then, at the very bottom of her box was a Barbie doll.Surducan said, “The impact of this on my life was just fantastic. If God cares so much about this one prayer, don’t you think he cares about other prayers? If he cared so much for this one little girl, wouldn’t he care about other children?”That faith has sustained Surducan throughout her life. In 2015 she moved to the United States to attend college at Mississippi University for Women in Columbia, Miss. Her church there was a drop-off location for OCC shoebox gifts.Surducan casually mentioned to one of the church volunteers that she had received such a gift when she was a child. The volunteer took note and contacted people at Samaritan’s Purse’s headquarters.Soon Surducan was sharing her story across the South. At one point she moved to Florida where she met and married her husband, Bryson. Then two years ago, they moved to Lawrence, Kan., so Lorena could continue her education in Music Therapy at the University of Kansas.A year ago, 29-year-old Bryson suffered a stroke. On the ride to the hospital, Surducan said she realized she had two choices: “I could give in to panic, or I could trust God and his faithfulness.”She began to pray, releasing her husband to God, no matter the outcome. She said she immediately experienced peace.“The faith that began years ago resulted in my ability to pray this biggest prayer of my life,” she said.The doctors placed Bryson in ICU and ran many tests, but they were never able to figure out what caused the stroke, Lorena said. A few days later Bryson walked out of the hospital and has experienced no after-effects of his stroke, she said.Albin, who oversees the shoebox collections in 15 Northwest Kansas counties, including Ellis County, said last year those residents packed 13,602 boxes, and she is hoping for more this year.Only God could have orchestrated the journey that one box took in reaching Lorena, Albin said.“Each child who receives a box is praying for something special,” Albin said. “As we pack shoeboxes, may we pray that God will lead us in selecting what we put in our boxes.”Those wishing to know more about Operation Christmas Child may visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.This year’s shoebox National Collection Week is Nov. 17-24. North Oak Community Church, where Surducan spoke, packed 768 boxes last year, said LuAnn Walters of Hays, North Oak’s OCC coordinator. Naturally, she is hoping for more this year also.Walters said many area churches, including North Oak, have special events throughout the year, where members paint blocks for younger children’s boxes, sew simple dresses, and prepare pencil packs and hygiene kits. North Oak’s adults and children also participate in “packing parties” prior to collection week.Individuals, groups, and churches wanting to learn more about organizing such events are encouraged to contact Albin at (785) 639-1325 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ralbinmk@yahoo.com">ralbinmk@yahoo.com</a>.

Operation Christmas Child: The story of a simple gift, impact that it had

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The search for the man wanted in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-lawmakers-shot-197b8073b66449297986f8276e6dcfc9">shootings of two Democratic Minnesota lawmakers</a>&nbsp;led to the discovery Sunday of a vehicle authorities believed he was using in a rural area outside Minneapolis as residents on edge struggled to make sense of the brazen political violence.

Former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-lawmakers-shot-197b8073b66449297986f8276e6dcfc9">House Speaker Melissa Hortman</a>&nbsp;and her husband, Mark, were killed in their Brooklyn Park home early Saturday. Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were injured at their Champlin home, about 9 miles (about 15 kilometers) away.

Authorities named 57-year-old Vance Boelter as a suspect, saying he wore a mask as he posed as a police officer, even allegedly altering a vehicle to make it look like a police car. The FBI issued a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction. They circulated a photo taken Saturday of Boelter wearing a tan cowboy hat and asked the public to report sightings after he fled the area on foot.

&nbsp; (Click below to watch Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz statement.)

Near where they located the vehicle, investigators found a cowboy hat and were working to definitively determine whether it belongs to Boelter. Law enforcement officers were searching the area, including nearby homes, the officials said. The officials could not discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

“We believe he’s somewhere in the vicinity and that they are going to find him,” U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said Sunday NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “But right now, everyone’s on edge here, because we know that this man will kill at a second.”

Residents of rural Sibley County, roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Minneapolis, received an emergency alert via text message about the located vehicle Sunday.

“Keep your doors locked and vehicles secured,” the alert read. “Law enforcement will be going to area residences to ask to search properties.”

The shootings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/political-violence-assassination-minnesota-trump-3c750cff0749633872ab6101bfa23b23">come</a>&nbsp;as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arson-pennsylvania-governor-political-violence-388da01e84661fb12ac79c626b0004eb">political leaders nationwide</a>&nbsp;have been attacked, harassed and intimidated amid deep political divisions.&nbsp;<a href="https://lawmakers%20on%20sunday%20continued%20to%20reel%20from%20the%20shooting%20of%20two%20democratic%20minnesota%20state%20legislators%20in%20their%20homes%20that%20led%20to%20the%20death%20of%20one%20and%20her%20husband,%20contemplating%20a%20previously%20unthinkable%20world%20where%20democratically-elected%20representatives%20need%20full-time%20security%20details%20to%20protect%20them%20from%20the%20public./">Lawmakers said they were disturbed</a>&nbsp;by the attacks as Twin Cities residents mourned.

Brightly colored flowers and small American flags were placed Sunday on the gray marbled stone of the Minnesota State Capitol along with a photo of the Hortmans. People scrawled messages on small notes including, “You were our leader through the hardest of times. Rest in Power.”

The Hoffmans were recovering from surgery, according to their nephew, Mat Ollig.

“It’s just a long road to healing," he said Sunday.

Authorities have not yet given details on a motive.

A list of about 70 or so names was found in writings recovered from the fake police vehicle that was left at the crime scene, the officials said. The writings and list of names included prominent state and federal lawmakers and community leaders, along with abortion rights advocates and information about healthcare facilities, according to the officials.

A Minnesota official told the AP that lawmakers who had been outspoken in favor of abortion rights were on the list. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.

The attacks prompted warnings to other state elected officials and the cancellation of planned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/no-kings-protest-trump-philadelphia-los-angeles-immigration-raids-a3b67d23733cd060f8d01aef1e391dbf">“No Kings” demonstrations</a>&nbsp;against President Donald Trump, though some went ahead anyway, including one that drew tens of thousands to the State Capitol in St. Paul. Authorities said the suspect had “No Kings” flyers in his car.

Law enforcement agents recovered several AK-style firearms from the suspect’s vehicle, and he was believed to still be armed with a pistol, a person familiar with the matter told AP. The person could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Boelter is a former political appointee who served on the same state workforce development board as Hoffman, records show, though it was not clear if or how well they knew each other.

Police responded to reports of gunfire at the Hoffmans’ home shortly after 2 a.m. and found the couple with multiple gunshot wounds.

After seeing who the victims were, police sent officers to proactively check on Hortman’s home. There they encountered what appeared to be a police vehicle and a man dressed as an officer leaving the house. Officers confronted him, and the suspect fired on them before retreating back into the home and fleeing on foot, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said.

Around 6 a.m. Saturday, Boelter texted friends to apologize for his actions, though he didn't say what he had done.

“I’m going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly, so I just want to let you know I love you guys both and I wish it hadn’t gone this way. … I’m sorry for all the trouble this has caused," he wrote in messages viewed by the AP.

On social media, Gov. Tim Walz remembered Hortman Sunday as, “The most consequential Speaker in state history.”

Hortman, 55, had been the top Democratic leader in the state House since 2017. She led Democrats in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-legislature-power-struggle-republicans-democrats-7db12f51ad0e47d49f4c50f56cb1e5c4">three-week walkout</a>&nbsp;at the beginning of this year’s session in a power struggle with Republicans. Under a power-sharing agreement, she turned the gavel over to Republican Rep. Lisa Demuth and assumed the title speaker emerita.

Hortman used her position as speaker in 2023 to champion expanded protections for abortion rights, including legislation to solidify Minnesota’s status as a refuge for patients from restrictive states who travel to the state to seek abortions — and to protect providers who serve them.

Melissa Hortman died at the scene while her husband was pronounced dead at a hospital, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Hoffman, 60, was first elected in 2012 and was chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, which oversees one of the biggest parts of the state budget. He and his wife have one daughter.

Klobuchar condemned online threats and urged people Sunday to think twice before posting accusations or motives.

“This is a person that did everything for the right reasons. And regardless of political parties, look at her face before you send out your next post,” Klobuchar said of Hortman on CNN's ”State of the Union."

The shootings are the latest in a series of attacks against lawmakers across parties.

In April a suspect set fire to the home of Democratic Pennsylvania&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/josh-shapiro-arson-fire-pennsylvania-governor-passover-ae70cd73ccddd6f49a1d017ab7d07784">Gov. Josh Shapiro</a>, forcing him and his family to flee during the Jewish holiday of Passover.

In July 2024, Trump was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-shooting-history-1636c4cfc7d8a239bf83b9f64817eab0">grazed on the ear</a>&nbsp;by one of a hail of bullets that killed a Trump supporter. Two months later a man with a rifle was discovered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fbi-assassination-attempt-fee81d8bcf737bfcde2ee8e5cea88465">near the president's Florida golf course</a>&nbsp;and arrested.

Other incidents include a 2022 hammer attack on the husband of then-House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/paul-pelosi-nancy-hammer-attack-depape-sentence-b41b6c776fb27f62913e3754afa1ceac">Nancy Pelosi</a>&nbsp;in their San Francisco home and a 2020 plot by anti-government extremists&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-whitmer-kidnapping-plot-convictions-042227f68a3fcc49ea91126388cd91de">to kidnap Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer</a>.

Balsamo and Durkin Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Giovanna Dell'Orto in Champlin, Minnesota; Carolyn Thompson in Buffalo, New York; Michael Biesecker in Washington; Jim Mustian in New York; Sophia Tareen in Chicago and Obed Lamy in St. Paul, Minnesota, contributed to this report.

BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (AP) — A massive search was stretching into its second day for a man who authorities say posed as a police officer and fatally shot&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-lawmakers-shot-197b8073b66449297986f8276e6dcfc9">a Democratic state lawmaker</a>&nbsp;in her suburban Minneapolis home, an act Gov. Tim Walz called “a politically motivated assassination.” Authorities said the suspect also shot and wounded a second lawmaker and was trying to flee the area.

Former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in their Brooklyn Park home early Saturday. Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, were injured at their Champlin address, about 9 miles (about 15 kilometers) away.

Authorities identified the suspect as 57-year-old Vance Boelter, and the FBI issued a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction. They shared a photo taken Saturday of Boelter wearing a tan cowboy hat and asked the public to report sightings. Hundreds of law enforcement officers fanned out in the search for the suspect.

Authorities had not given any details on a possible motive as of Saturday night.

The attacks prompted warnings to other state elected officials and the cancellation of planned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/no-kings-protest-trump-philadelphia-los-angeles-immigration-raids-a3b67d23733cd060f8d01aef1e391dbf">“No Kings” demonstrations</a>&nbsp;against President Donald Trump, though some went ahead anyway. Authorities said the suspect had “No Kings” flyers in his car and writings mentioning the names of the victims as well as other lawmakers and officials, though they could not say if he had any other specific targets.

A Minnesota official told AP the suspect’s writings also contained information targeting prominent lawmakers who have been outspoken in favor of abortion rights. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.

The shootings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/political-violence-assassination-minnesota-trump-3c750cff0749633872ab6101bfa23b23">happened at a time</a>&nbsp;when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arson-pennsylvania-governor-political-violence-388da01e84661fb12ac79c626b0004eb">political leaders nationwide</a>&nbsp;have been attacked, harassed and intimidated amid deep political divisions.

“We must all, in Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence,” said Walz, a Democrat. He also ordered flags to fly at half-staff in Hortman's honor.

“Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!” President Donald Trump said in a statement.

Police responded to reports of gunfire at the Hoffmans' home shortly after 2 a.m., Champlin police said, and found the couple with multiple gunshot wounds.

After seeing who the victims were, police sent officers to proactively check on Hortman's home. There they encountered what appeared to be a police vehicle and a man dressed as an officer at the door, leaving the house.

“When officers confronted him, the individual immediately fired upon the officers who exchanged gunfire, and the suspect retreated back into the home” and escaped on foot, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said.

Multiple bullet holes could be seen in the front door of Hoffman’s home.

John and Yvette Hoffman each underwent surgery, according to Walz.

Hortman, 55, had been the top Democratic leader in the state House since 2017. She led Democrats in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-legislature-power-struggle-republicans-democrats-7db12f51ad0e47d49f4c50f56cb1e5c4">three-week walkout</a>&nbsp;at the beginning of this year’s session in a power struggle with Republicans. Under a power sharing agreement, she turned the gavel over to Republican Rep. Lisa Demuth and assumed the title speaker emerita.

Walz called her a “formidable public servant, a fixture and a giant in Minnesota."

Hortman and her husband had two adult children.

The initial autopsy reports from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office gave their cause of death as “multiple gunshot wounds.”

The reports said Melissa Hortman died at the scene while her husband was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Boelter was appointed to the workforce development board in 2016 and then reappointed in 2019 to a four-year term that expired in 2023, state records show.

Corporate records show Boelter’s wife filed to create a company called Praetorian Guard Security Services LLC with the same Green Isle mailing address listed for the couple. Boelter’s wife is listed as president and CEO and he is listed as director of security patrols on the company's website.

The website says the company provides armed security for property and events and features a photo of an SUV painted in a two-tone black and silver pattern similar to a police vehicle. Another photo shows a man in black tactical gear with a military-style helmet and a ballistic vest.

An online resume says Boelter is a security contractor who has worked in the Middle East and Africa, in addition to past managerial roles at companies in Minnesota.

Around 6 a.m., Boelter texted friends to say he had “made some choices,” the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startribune.com/brooklyn-park-police-searching-for-suspect-in-multiple-targeted-shootings/601372993">Minnesota Star Tribune reported</a>.

In the messages, read to reporters by David Carlson, Boelter did not specify what he had done but said: “I’m going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly, so I just want to let you know I love you guys both and I wish it hadn’t gone this way. … I’m sorry for all the trouble this has caused.”

Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, a Republican from Cold Spring, called the attack “evil” and said she was “heartbroken beyond words” by the killings.

In April a suspect set fire to the home of Democratic Pennsylvania&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/josh-shapiro-arson-fire-pennsylvania-governor-passover-ae70cd73ccddd6f49a1d017ab7d07784">Gov. Josh Shapiro</a>, forcing him and his family to flee during the Jewish holiday of Passover. The suspect said he planned to beat Shapiro with a small sledgehammer if he found him, according to court documents.

Other incidents include a 2022 hammer attack on the husband of then-House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/paul-pelosi-nancy-hammer-attack-depape-sentence-b41b6c776fb27f62913e3754afa1ceac">Nancy Pelosi</a>&nbsp;in their San Francisco home and a 2020 plot by anti-government extremists&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michigan-whitmer-kidnapping-plot-convictions-042227f68a3fcc49ea91126388cd91de">to kidnap Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer</a>&nbsp;and start a civil war.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said he asked Capitol Police to “immediately increase security” for Minnesota Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. He also asked Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, to hold a briefing on member security.

Karnowski reported from Minneapolis, and Durkin Richer from Washington. Associated Press writers Giovanna Dell'Orto in Champlin, Minnesota, Carolyn Thompson in Buffalo, New York, and Michael Biesecker in Washington contributed.

Search for suspect in shooting of 2 MN lawmakers leads to one of his vehicles

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;is leaving his government role as a top adviser to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;after spearheading efforts to reduce and overhaul the federal bureaucracy.

His departure, announced Wednesday evening, marks the end of a turbulent chapter that included thousands of layoffs, the evisceration of government agencies and reams of litigation. Despite the upheaval, the billionaire entrepreneur struggled in the unfamiliar environment of Washington, and he accomplished far less than he hoped.

He dramatically reduced his target for cutting spending — from $2 trillion to $1 trillion to $150 billion — and increasingly expressed frustration about resistance to his goals. Sometimes he clashed with other top members of Trump's administration, who chafed at the newcomer's efforts to reshape their departments, and he faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-trump-doge-tesla-d1206a96983b30b9cef7b18eaa8c48a7">fierce political blowback</a>&nbsp;for his efforts.

Musk's role working for Trump was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-tesla-government-cuts-c47211544c5382a6207779ee95c6060b">always intended to be temporary</a>, and he had recently signaled that he would be shifting his attention back to running his businesses, such as the electric automaker Tesla and the rocket company SpaceX.

But administration officials were often vague about when Musk would step back from his position spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, and he abruptly revealed that he was leaving in a post on X, his social media website.

“As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” he wrote. “The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”

A White House official, who requested anonymity to talk about the change, confirmed Musk's departure.

Musk announced his decision one day after CBS released&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLbx2PJ4pqE">part of an interview</a>&nbsp;in which he criticized the centerpiece of Trump’s legislative agenda by saying he was “disappointed” by what the president calls his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/big-beautiful-bill-trump-tax-cuts-medicaid-00ce1ff8a7b7fea7a894d38398748c6b">“big beautiful bill.”</a>

The legislation includes a mix of tax cuts and enhanced immigration enforcement. Musk described it as a “massive spending bill” that increases the federal deficit and “undermines the work” of his Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE.

“I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful,” Musk said. “But I don’t know if it could be both.”

Trump, speaking in the Oval Office on Wednesday, defended his agenda by talking about the delicate politics involved with negotiating the legislation.

“I’m not happy about certain aspects of it, but I’m thrilled by other aspects of it,” he said.

Trump also suggested that more changes could be made.

“We’re going to see what happens,” he said. “It’s got a way to go.”

Republicans recently pushed the measure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-tax-cuts-trump-f2c60ae5c7c1313de69446f9ac7176e6">through the House</a>&nbsp;and are debating it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tax-cuts-medicaid-congress-senate-trump-bill-2825f8fa0e96a00cf72a6de6a5a88a25">in the Senate</a>.

Musk's concerns are shared by some Republican lawmakers. “I sympathize with Elon being discouraged,” said Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson.

Speaking at a Milwaukee Press Club event on Wednesday, Johnson added that he was “pretty confident” there was enough opposition “to slow this process down until the president, our leadership, gets serious” about reducing spending. He said there was no amount of pressure Trump could put on him to change his position.

Speaker Mike Johnson has asked senators to make as few changes to the legislation as possible, saying that House Republicans reached a “very delicate balance” that could be upended with major changes. The narrowly divided House will have to vote again on final passage once the Senate alters the bill.

On Wednesday, Johnson thanked Musk for his work and promised to pursue more spending cuts in the future, saying “the House is eager and ready to act on DOGE’s findings.”

The White House is sending some proposed rescissions, a mechanism used to cancel previously authorized spending, to Capitol Hill to solidify some of DOGE’s cuts. A spokesperson for the Office of Management and Budget said the package will include $1.1 billion from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS, and $8.3 billion in foreign assistance.

Musk occasionally seemed chastened by his experience working in government.

“The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized,” he told The Washington Post. “I thought there were problems, but it sure is an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least.”

He also recently said that he'll&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-campaign-donations-ff47d9b4cf02b2e63633edf37823c8ff">reduce his political spending</a>, because “I think I’ve done enough.”

Musk had previously been energized by the opportunity to reshape Washington. After putting at least $250 million behind Trump's candidacy, he wore campaign hats in the White House, held his own campaign rallies, and talked about excessive spending as an existential crisis. He often tended to be effusive in his praise of Trump.

“The more I’ve gotten to know President Trump, the more I like the guy,” Musk said in February. “Frankly, I love him.”

Trump repaid the favor, describing Musk as “a truly great American.” When Tesla faced declining sales, he turned the White House driveway into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-tesla-9a43c57a0591a4c7ed8d3f1b2c7ef8d9">a makeshift showroom</a>&nbsp;to illustrate his support.

It's unclear what, if any, impact that Musk's comments about the bill would have on the legislative debate, especially given his departure from the administration. During the transition period, when his influence was on the rise,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-budget-debt-ceiling-shutdown-musk-johnson-e0258d31a9018c7af09afc11a8634707">he helped whip up opposition</a>&nbsp;to a spending measure as the country stood on the brink of a federal government shutdown.

His latest criticism could embolden Republicans who want bigger spending cuts. Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee reposted a Fox News story about Musk's interview while also adding his own take on the measure, saying there was “still time to fix it.”

“The Senate version will be more aggressive,” Lee said. “It can, it must, and it will be. Or it won’t pass.”

Only two Republicans — Reps. Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky — voted against the bill when the House took up the measure last week.

Davidson took note of Musk’s comments on social media.

“Hopefully, the Senate will succeed with the Big Beautiful Bill where the House missed the moment,” he wrote. “Don’t hope someone else will cut deficits someday, know it has been done this Congress.”

The Congressional Budget Office, in a preliminary estimate, said the tax provisions would increase federal deficits by $3.8 trillion over the decade, while the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-cuts-trump-tax-cuts-bill-1e2b12a91a3d12ceb0420ce7053de58e">changes to Medicaid</a>, food stamps and other services would reduce spending by slightly more than $1 trillion over the same period.

House Republican leaders say increased economic growth would allow the bill to be deficit-neutral or deficit-reducing, but outside watchdogs are skeptical. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the bill would add $3 trillion to the debt, including interest, over the next decade.

___ Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in Milwaukee, and Kevin Freking, Lisa Mascaro and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741607065509.png" alt="File photo Elon Musk image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>File photo Elon Musk image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;is leaving his government role as a top adviser to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;after spearheading efforts to reduce and overhaul the federal bureaucracy.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending. The <a href="https://twitter.com/DOGE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DOGE</a> mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1927877957852266518?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>His departure, announced Wednesday evening, marks the end of a turbulent chapter that included thousands of layoffs, the evisceration of government agencies and reams of litigation. Despite the upheaval, the billionaire entrepreneur struggled in the unfamiliar environment of Washington, and he accomplished far less than he hoped.He dramatically reduced his target for cutting spending — from $2 trillion to $1 trillion to $150 billion — and increasingly expressed frustration about resistance to his goals. Sometimes he clashed with other top members of Trump's administration, who chafed at the newcomer's efforts to reshape their departments, and he faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-trump-doge-tesla-d1206a96983b30b9cef7b18eaa8c48a7">fierce political blowback</a>&nbsp;for his efforts.Musk's role working for Trump was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-tesla-government-cuts-c47211544c5382a6207779ee95c6060b">always intended to be temporary</a>, and he had recently signaled that he would be shifting his attention back to running his businesses, such as the electric automaker Tesla and the rocket company SpaceX.But administration officials were often vague about when Musk would step back from his position spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, and he abruptly revealed that he was leaving in a post on X, his social media website.“As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” he wrote. “The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”A White House official, who requested anonymity to talk about the change, confirmed Musk's departure.Musk announced his decision one day after CBS released&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLbx2PJ4pqE">part of an interview</a>&nbsp;in which he criticized the centerpiece of Trump’s legislative agenda by saying he was “disappointed” by what the president calls his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/big-beautiful-bill-trump-tax-cuts-medicaid-00ce1ff8a7b7fea7a894d38398748c6b">“big beautiful bill.”</a>The legislation includes a mix of tax cuts and enhanced immigration enforcement. Musk described it as a “massive spending bill” that increases the federal deficit and “undermines the work” of his Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE.“I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful,” Musk said. “But I don’t know if it could be both.”Trump, speaking in the Oval Office on Wednesday, defended his agenda by talking about the delicate politics involved with negotiating the legislation.“I’m not happy about certain aspects of it, but I’m thrilled by other aspects of it,” he said.Trump also suggested that more changes could be made.“We’re going to see what happens,” he said. “It’s got a way to go.”Republicans recently pushed the measure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-tax-cuts-trump-f2c60ae5c7c1313de69446f9ac7176e6">through the House</a>&nbsp;and are debating it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tax-cuts-medicaid-congress-senate-trump-bill-2825f8fa0e96a00cf72a6de6a5a88a25">in the Senate</a>.Musk's concerns are shared by some Republican lawmakers. “I sympathize with Elon being discouraged,” said Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson.Speaking at a Milwaukee Press Club event on Wednesday, Johnson added that he was “pretty confident” there was enough opposition “to slow this process down until the president, our leadership, gets serious” about reducing spending. He said there was no amount of pressure Trump could put on him to change his position.Speaker Mike Johnson has asked senators to make as few changes to the legislation as possible, saying that House Republicans reached a “very delicate balance” that could be upended with major changes. The narrowly divided House will have to vote again on final passage once the Senate alters the bill.On Wednesday, Johnson thanked Musk for his work and promised to pursue more spending cuts in the future, saying “the House is eager and ready to act on DOGE’s findings.”The White House is sending some proposed rescissions, a mechanism used to cancel previously authorized spending, to Capitol Hill to solidify some of DOGE’s cuts. A spokesperson for the Office of Management and Budget said the package will include $1.1 billion from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS, and $8.3 billion in foreign assistance.Musk occasionally seemed chastened by his experience working in government.“The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized,” he told The Washington Post. “I thought there were problems, but it sure is an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least.”He also recently said that he'll&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-campaign-donations-ff47d9b4cf02b2e63633edf37823c8ff">reduce his political spending</a>, because “I think I’ve done enough.”Musk had previously been energized by the opportunity to reshape Washington. After putting at least $250 million behind Trump's candidacy, he wore campaign hats in the White House, held his own campaign rallies, and talked about excessive spending as an existential crisis. He often tended to be effusive in his praise of Trump.“The more I’ve gotten to know President Trump, the more I like the guy,” Musk said in February. “Frankly, I love him.”Trump repaid the favor, describing Musk as “a truly great American.” When Tesla faced declining sales, he turned the White House driveway into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-tesla-9a43c57a0591a4c7ed8d3f1b2c7ef8d9">a makeshift showroom</a>&nbsp;to illustrate his support.It's unclear what, if any, impact that Musk's comments about the bill would have on the legislative debate, especially given his departure from the administration. During the transition period, when his influence was on the rise,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-budget-debt-ceiling-shutdown-musk-johnson-e0258d31a9018c7af09afc11a8634707">he helped whip up opposition</a>&nbsp;to a spending measure as the country stood on the brink of a federal government shutdown.His latest criticism could embolden Republicans who want bigger spending cuts. Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee reposted a Fox News story about Musk's interview while also adding his own take on the measure, saying there was “still time to fix it.”“The Senate version will be more aggressive,” Lee said. “It can, it must, and it will be. Or it won’t pass.”Only two Republicans — Reps. Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky — voted against the bill when the House took up the measure last week.Davidson took note of Musk’s comments on social media.“Hopefully, the Senate will succeed with the Big Beautiful Bill where the House missed the moment,” he wrote. “Don’t hope someone else will cut deficits someday, know it has been done this Congress.”The Congressional Budget Office, in a preliminary estimate, said the tax provisions would increase federal deficits by $3.8 trillion over the decade, while the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-cuts-trump-tax-cuts-bill-1e2b12a91a3d12ceb0420ce7053de58e">changes to Medicaid</a>, food stamps and other services would reduce spending by slightly more than $1 trillion over the same period.House Republican leaders say increased economic growth would allow the bill to be deficit-neutral or deficit-reducing, but outside watchdogs are skeptical. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the bill would add $3 trillion to the debt, including interest, over the next decade.___ Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in Milwaukee, and Kevin Freking, Lisa Mascaro and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.

Elon Musk is leaving Trump admin. after leading effort to slash federal government

NEW YORK (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;posted an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself dressed as pope as the mourning of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;continues and just days before the conclave to elect his successor is set to begin. Trump's action drew rebukes from a group representing Catholic bishops in New York and among Italians.

The image, shared Friday night on Trump's Truth Social site and later reposted by the White House on its official X account, raised eyebrows on social media and at the Vatican, which is still in the period of nine days of official mourning following Francis' death on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-francis-dead-01ca7d73c3c48d25fd1504ba076e2e2a">April 21</a>. Catholic cardinals have been celebrating daily Masses in his memory and are due to open the conclave to elect his successor on Wednesday.

The death of a pope and election of another is a matter of utmost solemnity for Catholics, for whom the pope is Christ’s vicar on Earth. That is all the more true in Italy, where the papacy is held in high esteem even by nonreligious Italians.

The image featuring Trump in a white cassock and pointed miter, or bishop’s hat, was the topic of several questions during the Vatican’s daily conclave briefing Saturday. Italian and Spanish news reports lamented its poor taste and said it was offensive, given that the period of official mourning is still underway.

Left-leaning former Premier Matteo Renzi said the image was shameful. “This is an image that offends believers, insults institutions and shows that the leader of the right-wing world enjoys clowning around,” Renzi wrote on X. “Meanwhile, the U.S. economy risks recession and the dollar loses value. The sovereignists are doing damage, everywhere.”

The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, declined to comment.

In the United States, the New York State Catholic Conference, which represents the bishops of the state in working with government, accused Trump of mockery.

“There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President,”&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NYSCatholicConf/status/1918634983712772173">they wrote.</a>&nbsp;"We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us.”

NEW YORK (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;posted an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself dressed as pope as the mourning of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;continues and just days before the conclave to elect his successor is set to begin. Trump's action drew rebukes from a group representing Catholic bishops in New York and among Italians.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/x2HrR939tn">pic.twitter.com/x2HrR939tn</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1918502592335724809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The image, shared Friday night on Trump's Truth Social site and later reposted by the White House on its official X account, raised eyebrows on social media and at the Vatican, which is still in the period of nine days of official mourning following Francis' death on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-francis-dead-01ca7d73c3c48d25fd1504ba076e2e2a">April 21</a>. Catholic cardinals have been celebrating daily Masses in his memory and are due to open the conclave to elect his successor on Wednesday.The death of a pope and election of another is a matter of utmost solemnity for Catholics, for whom the pope is Christ’s vicar on Earth. That is all the more true in Italy, where the papacy is held in high esteem even by nonreligious Italians.The image featuring Trump in a white cassock and pointed miter, or bishop’s hat, was the topic of several questions during the Vatican’s daily conclave briefing Saturday. Italian and Spanish news reports lamented its poor taste and said it was offensive, given that the period of official mourning is still underway.Left-leaning former Premier Matteo Renzi said the image was shameful. “This is an image that offends believers, insults institutions and shows that the leader of the right-wing world enjoys clowning around,” Renzi wrote on X. “Meanwhile, the U.S. economy risks recession and the dollar loses value. The sovereignists are doing damage, everywhere.”The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, declined to comment.In the United States, the New York State Catholic Conference, which represents the bishops of the state in working with government, accused Trump of mockery.“There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr. President,”&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NYSCatholicConf/status/1918634983712772173">they wrote.</a>&nbsp;"We just buried our beloved Pope Francis and the cardinals are about to enter a solemn conclave to elect a new successor of St. Peter. Do not mock us.”Italy’s left-leaning La Repubblica also featured the image on its homepage Saturday with a commentary accusing Trump of "pathological megalomania.”The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the backlash to the image or why the president had shared the image.But Jack Posobiec, a prominent far-right influencer and Trump ally who recently participated in a Catholic prayer event in March at Trump's Florida resort, defended the president."I’m Catholic. We’ve all been making jokes about the upcoming Pope selection all week. It’s called a sense of humor,"&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/jackposobiec/status/1918643358341156894?s=46&amp;t=3i-N0FHmxEr1p3UbjXIyNg">he wrote on X</a>.The episode comes after Trump joked last week about his interest in the vacancy. “I’d like to be pope. That would be my number one choice," the thrice married president, who is not Catholic, told reporters.Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, piled on.“I was excited to hear that President Trump is open to the idea of being the next Pope. This would truly be a dark horse candidate, but I would ask the papal conclave and Catholic faithful to keep an open mind about this possibility!”&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/1917331380297478530">Graham, R-S.C., wrote on X</a>. “The first Pope-U.S. President combination has many upsides. Watching for white smoke…. Trump MMXXVIII!”Vice President JD Vance, who is Catholic and was one of the last foreign officials to meet with Francis before the pope died, also&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/JDVance/status/1918083148803453334">joked about Secretary of State Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;becoming pope, suggesting Rubio could add it to the long list of titles he holds, including national security adviser and acting archivist.Beyond floating himself for the job, Trump also has put in a plug for Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York.“I have no preference. I must say, we have a cardinal that happens to be out a place called New York who's very good. So we'll see what happens,” he said.Dolan, 75, is one of 10 U.S. cardinals who will be voting in the conclave, but Trump’s pitch might have cost Dolan support.The reason conclaves are held in secrecy, with cardinals sequestered for the duration, is to prevent outside secular powers from influencing their choice, as occurred in centuries past.There is an old saying about campaigning for the job of pope or of being promoted excessively, especially by outsiders: If you “enter a conclave as pope, you leave as a cardinal.”While Trump attended Francis’ funeral, he and Vance have clashed with U.S. bishops in general and Francis in particular over the administration’s hard line stance on immigration and its efforts to deport migrants en masse. Right before he was hospitalized in February for pneumonia, Francis issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-trump-migration-09a89091f8e7dc3270099f0947d04e90">strong rebuke</a>&nbsp;of the administration's mass deportation plans and Vance's theological justification of it.Over 12 years as pope, Francis tried to remake the U.S. Catholic hierarchy more in his image, elevating pastors who prioritized social justice and migration issues over culture warriors who were more favored by his more doctrinaire predecessors St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI. A new pope who is more conservative could reverse that effort.Trump has nominated as his ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch, whose&nbsp;<a href="http://catholicvote.org/">Catholicvote.org</a>&nbsp;has been aggressively covering the pre-conclave days at the Vatican. It was one of the main disseminators in English-speaking media of a report, flatly and officially denied by the Vatican, that Cardinal Pietro Parolin had had a health scare this past week that required medical attention.Parolin was the secretary of state under Francis and is seen as a leading contender to be pope. He is also the main architect of the Vatican’s China policy and its controversial 2018 deal with Beijing over bishop nominations --&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cea788b88fd2ae4bbef77503ee0c1a85">a deal that the was sharply criticized by the first Trump administration.</a>___ Winfield reported from Vatican City.