Friday morning news: May 22, 2026

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Trump signals possible action in Cuba » President Trump seemed to signal on Thursday that he could be ready to launch U.S. military action against Cuba.

He told reporters at the White House:

TRUMP: Other presidents have looked at this for fifty, sixty years doing something, and, uh, it looks like I'll be the one that does it.

His comments came a day after the Justice Department announced murder charges against former Cuban President, longtime dictator Raúl Castro.

That indictment mirrors drug-trafficking charges against former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro that preceded a January military raid in Caracas to arrest him.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in Miami Thursday:

RUBIO: The president's preference is always a negotiated agreement that's peaceful. That's always our preference. That remains our preference with Cuba. I'm just being honest with you, you know, the likelihood of that happening given who we're dealing with right now is not high.

The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and other U.S. Navy ships arrived in the Caribbean this week. The Trump administration has also tightened sanctions and restricted fuel shipments to Cuba.

Iran latest » Iran says it is still reviewing the latest peace proposal from the United States, as President Trump says his patience is running thin.

Pakistan's Interior Minister has been to Tehran twice in less than a week trying to keep the talks moving.

Two major sticking points remain: First and foremost, Trump says Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and it cannot keep its enriched uranium:

TRUMP: We don't need it. We don't want it. We'll probably destroy it after we get it, but we're not gonna let them have it.

Iran still says it will not give up its nuclear program. And Teheran also wants the U.S. to agree to allowing it to charge tolls to any ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. 

But the president says that’s another non-starter.

TRUMP: We want it open, we want it free. We don't want tolls. Uh, it's international, it's an international waterway, they're not charging tolls.

Iran has reportedly offered to suspend uranium enrichment for five years. The U.S. wants at least 20.

Trump says Iran has only a few more days to reach a deal before the U.S. could resume military strikes.

Reconciliation » Senators are heading home for the Memorial Day recess without voting on a bill to fund immigration enforcement agencies.

WORLD’s Harrison Watters reports from Washington. 

HARRISON WATTERS: Senators spent Thursday morning approving nominations for district court judges, but wrapped up before a so-called “vote-a-rama” planned for the afternoon.

Republican leaders had removed a $1 billion request in the bill to fund security for a new White House ballroom after the Senate Parliamentarian said it broke chamber rules.

But they hit the brakes on the entire package after the Justice Department unveiled a nearly $2 billion fund to compensate Americans for alleged Biden-era political targeting.

Democrats promised to swamp the session with amendments to block that fund. And Majority Leader John Thune said the White House needs to answer a lot of questions about it.

Thune delayed the vote on immigration enforcement funding until after next week’s recess. The Senate will return on June 1st—the day the President hopes to sign the legislation into law.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Harrison Watters.

Trump emissions rollback » The Trump administration is loosening federal rules on the kinds of refrigerants grocery stores and air-conditioning companies have to use.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) announced the change on Thursday—pushing back deadlines from a 2023 Biden-era rule that phased out a class of refrigerants called hydrofluorocarbons.

Trump discussed the move at a White House ceremony alongside grocery executives.

TRUMP: Many grocery stores and restaurants had no choice but to replace their refrigerators entirely. And these costs rose. Americans faced higher grocery prices and reduced access to critical medical supplies.

Trump says the move will have no adverse effect on the environment. Critics, though, disagree. Some environmental groups say it will slow the phase-out of refrigerants many times more potent than carbon dioxide.

Israel deports hundreds of Gaza flotilla activists » In Turkey:

SOUND: [Activists return home]

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists who tried to breach Israel's naval blockade of Gaza returned home Thursday. That, after Israeli security forces apprehended and deported them.

Turkish state media reported that several appeared to have injuries and were expected to undergo medical checks. One activist with a black eye claimed his injuries were caused by Israeli police.

ACTIVIST: They put my head down and started beating me. One of them had gloves on with hardened plastic and he started punching my face and it swelled shut.

That claim could not be independently verified, but it came after Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir posted a video on his X account, drawing widespread condemnation.

SOUND: [Video from Ben Gvir's X account]

The video appeared to show the activists crammed together, handcuffed and bowing, as the security minister mocked them and forced them to listen to the Israeli national anthem.

The video was widely condemned by many, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. 

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also chimed in, characterizing the flotilla effort as a stupid stunt, but also calling Ben Gvir's actions "despicable."

I’m Kent Covington

And coming up: Collin Garbarino on whether The Mandalorian and Grogu does or does not live up to expectations. Plus, Ask the Editor. 

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