A provision inside President Donald Trumps "big, beautiful bill" that would have lessened regulations on certain firearms was one of many stripped policies that did not pass muster with Senate rules.The Senate parliamentarian ruled late Thursday night that policy changes that would delist short-barrel rifles, shotguns and suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA) would have to be scrubbed from the Senate Finance Committee's portion of the mammoth bill.GOP SENATOR CALLS FOR PARLIAMENTARIAN'S FIRING AFTER SERVING MEDICAID BLOW TO TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL'The provision would have allowed for those particular guns and accessories to no longer be subject to a $200 federal tax. They would also no longer have needed to be registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.Changes to the NFA were part of the Stop Harassing Owners of Rifles Today (SHORT) Act, a bill pushed by Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., in the upper chamber, and Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., in the House.FURY ERUPTS AS UNELECTED SENATE 'SCOREKEEPER' BLOCKS TRUMP'S AGENDA"This is a setback, but we are committed to working with the parliamentarian to protect the Second Amendment in any way we can through reconciliation," Marshall told Fox News Digital in a statement. "Shall not be infringed is crystal clear and the rights of gun owners must be respected."Indeed, lawmakers do have the opportunity to rewrite the provision to comport with the Byrd Rule, which governs the budget reconciliation process and allows either party in power to skirt the 60-vote filibuster threshold in the Senate.'I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER WAY': REPUBLICANS PUSH FOR GUN TAX CUT IN TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL'Clyde told Fox News Digital in a statement that he disagreed with the ruling, "as the taxation and registration of firearms under the draconian NFA are inextricably linked.""Im working with my Senate Republican colleagues to rewrite the language so we can retain our 2A wins and deliver the best possible outcome for the American people," he said. "We must seize this rare opportunity to restore our Second Amendment rights."Arguments before the parliamentarian, who many Republicans lashed out at on Thursday following rulings that stripped key, yet divisive, Medicaid tweaks from the "big, beautiful bill," are expected to continue throughout Friday and likely until the last few minutes before the final bill is revealed.The gun provision was one of many tax-related items stripped from the package. Others included subsidies for private schools and carve-outs for religious colleges from the endowments tax, among others.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThere are other provisions still under consideration, including "Trump Accounts," which would have set aside $1,000 in taxpayer money for newborns, requiring Social Securities numbers for a slew of tax credits, and making tax benefits for those who invest in opportunity zones permanent.

FIRST ON FOX: Maine's Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has for years dismissed an investigation into her alleged cocaine use as politically motivated, but a newly unearthed memo obtained by Fox News Digital contradicts her decades-old claim.In early 1990, the U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO) in Maine, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Maines Bureau of Intergovernmental Drug Enforcement (BIDE) investigated Mills, then a sitting district attorney in Maine, after a drug suspect accused her of using cocaine.The investigation was eventually dropped without charges being filed, but Mills has maintained that the investigation never had any merit and that she was politically targeted for her Democratic affiliation and criticism of BIDE. In 1990, she and two other district attorneys in Maine criticized BIDE for inflating arrest numbers through excessive enforcement of low-level drug offenders."It's scary," Mills told the Portland Press Herald in November 1991. "Maine apparently has a secret police force at work that can ruin the reputation of any who opposes it."MAINE REP LAUREL LIBBY CONDEMNS GOV JANET MILLS OVER RESPONSE TO DOJ TRANS ATHLETE LAWSUITA March 1995 memorandum from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Professional Responsibility (DOJ/OPR), addressed to the Deputy Attorney General, of whom Merrick Garland was an associate serving as the principal associate Deputy Attorney General, unearthed by Fox News Digital, refutes Mills' claim, revealing there was no misconduct by federal or state authorities investigating her case.BONDI SLAMS MAINE GOV FOR BRUSHING OFF TRANS ATHLETE ISSUEAccording to the DOJ memo, WCSH-TV reported in December 1990 that Mills was being investigated by a federal grand jury for drug use, citing law enforcement sources. Mills later sued that reporter for libel and slander. The report also prompted Mills' attorney to demand a grand jury investigation, arguing that "the press received leaks from BIDE law enforcement officials."The results of the libel and slander suit are no longer available. The docket for the case showed that the records were disposed of in 2015 in accordance with policy. However, a 1991 Lewiston Sun-Journal article appears to state that the effort to "end drug probe rumors" was thrown out by a judge.In January 1992, then-Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., stepped in and requested the DOJ/OPR investigate allegations that Maine's USAO had "refused to investigate the grand jury leak" and that attorneys had engaged in "intimidation and coercion of witnesses" during the investigation.Those concerns were initially raised by Patrick Paradis and N. Paul Gauvreau, the House and Senate chairs of the Judiciary Committee of the Maine Legislature, in a letter sent to then-Sen. George Mitchell, D-Maine. The letter suggested that the allegations involving Maines USAO "go far beyond the state agency involved."Ultimately, no charges were filed against Mills for her alleged cocaine use.But the Department of Justice also found that all of Mills' claims were "unsubstantiated," including allegations that she was politically targeted, that investigators solicited false testimony, that witnesses were coerced or threatened and that BIDE agents leaked grand jury information to the press."The USAO in Maine conducted a proper investigation of serious allegations; no misconduct of any kind can fairly be attributed to any member of that office," DOJ/OPR concluded in 1995.While the Justice Department debunked Mills' claims, she dismissed the allegations against her as politically motivated throughout the investigation.According to the memo, Mills "announced publicly that she was the victim of a smear campaign" in 1991."Id say its awfully coincidental that this investigation started and was leaked to the press shortly after my public comments about the lack of accountability at BIDE," Mills said that same year.Mills also claimed it sets a "very bad precedent when a prosecutor has to look over his or her shoulder every time you put somebody in jail and wonder whether that person is going to find an audience down the street in the BIDE office or down the road in the U.S. Attorneys Office to say dirty things about you."Fox News Digital reached out to Mills's office multiple times for comment but did not receive a response.Earlier this year, Mills accused President Donald Trump of leading a "politically directed investigation" into Maine's Department of Education.During a National Governors Association (NGA) meeting at the White House in February, Mills and Trump publicly sparred over biological men playing in women's sports.Trump said Mills should comply with his executive order preventing transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports, or "you're not going to get any federal funding," to which she replied, "Well see you in court," which is exactly where the issue has been tied up.Longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins is up for re-election in 2026, and with Mills' governorship term limited next year, she would be a competitive Democratic candidate to challenge Collins.Mills indicated in April that she did not "plan to run for another office," but admitted that "things change week to week, month to month," leaving the door open to a potential Senate bid.

FIRST ON FOX: A Florida man was indicted Friday for allegedly threatening to kill Alina Habba in a series of online "86" posts against the interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey, Fox News Digital has learned."86" has been interpreted by law enforcement officials to mean "get rid of."Gregory W. Kehoe, the Interim U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida, announced the charges Friday.According to the indictment reviewed by Fox News Digital, Salvatore Russotto, in May, made a threat to "injure and kill the victim in a series of online posts."FBI DIRECTOR PATEL SAYS HE'S HAD TO DIVERT RESOURCES TO INVESTIGATE 'COPYCATS' OF COMEY '86 47' POSTFox News Digital has learned that the victim referred to in the indictment is Habba, the interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey who previously served as counselor to President Donald Trump."[VICTIM] is a c***," Russotto posted. "86 that b****."He also allegedly posted: "A slow painful death for [VICTIM]. 86 that c***."Russotto also allegedly posted: "Eliminate [VICTIM]. 86 Traitor. Death penalty for all traitors."Russotto was charged with transmission of an interstate threat to injure and retaliating against a federal law enforcement officer by threat."This is yet another disturbing example of a dangerous copycat inspired by the reckless behavior of former officials, targeting those who serve our country and threatening the very people working to keep America safe," FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Digital. "Our FBI will not tolerate political violence in any form."Patel added: "Im grateful to our law enforcement partners in Florida for their swift action and steadfast commitment to justice."The indictment comes after Patel said that he has been forced to divert agents to investigate "copycats" of potential threats to Trumpas a result of former FBI Director James Comeys "86 47" social media post last month.FORMER FBI DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY MEETS WITH SECRET SERVICE AFTER CONTROVERSIAL '86 47' POST"Do you know how many agents Ive had to take offline from chasing down child sex predators, fentanyl traffickers, terrorists because everywhere across this country, people are popping up on social media and think that a threat to the life of the president of the United States is a joke and they can do it because he did it?" Patel said last month."Thats what Im having to deal with every single day, and thats what Im having to pull my agents and analysts off because he thought it was funny to go out there and make a political statement," he continued.An FBI official told Fox News Digital that they cannot disclose the number of "copycat" incidents due to ongoing investigations but described the number to Fox News Digital as "significant."Comey met with Secret Service officials in Washington this month for an interview about his "86 47" Instagram post, two sources briefed on the meeting told Fox News.Comey is under investigation for the now-deleted Instagram post that showed seashells arranged on a beach to read "86 47.""Cool shell formation on my beach walk," he wrote along with the post.Comey offered an explanationfor the postafter he received backlash on social media."I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message," the subsequent post from Comey said. "I didn't realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe president, in a May interview with Fox News' Bret Baier, didn't accept Comey's explanation."He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant," Trump told Baier. "If you're the FBI director, and you don't know what that meant, that meant assassination, and it says it loud and clear."

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani belted his 28th home run of the season in the teams 3-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday at Coors Field.With the home run, Ohtani became the first player since Hall of Famer Willie Mays to hit 28 home runs and have six triples through the teams first 80 games in a season. Mays achieved the feat in 1954.Ohtanis home run came in the top of the seventh inning with the Dodgers up 2-1. There were no runners on and two outs when Ohtani belted Rockies' reliever Tyler Kinleys hanging breaking ball 418 feet into the Dodgers' bullpen.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMThe three-time MVP is in the midst of another outstanding season for the Dodgers. In 80 games, Ohtani has a .291 batting average with 52 RBI and 11 stolen bases in addition to the 28 home runs.Ohtanis 28 home runs are tied for second in the big leagues with New York Yankees superstar slugger Aaron Judge. Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh leads Major League Baseball with 32 home runs.In addition to the excellence Ohtani provides at the plate, the Japanese star has begun pitching for the team.HALL OF FAMER TREVOR HOFFMAN DEFENDS 'OLD-SCHOOL' PADRES-DODGERS RIVALRY AFTER BENCH-CLEARING INCIDENTOhtani made his debut on the mound on June 16 against the San Diego Padres and pitched one inning while he yielded one run on two hits. Ohtani hadn't pitched since August 2023, after he underwent elbow surgery.His second appearance was also an inning, when he faced the Washington Nationals on June 22 and pitched a scoreless inning and struck out two batters.The Dodgers dont want to send Ohtani down to the minor leagues to build up his pitch count, because his bat is too valuable, which is why his first outings have only been an inning long.Ohtanis next scheduled start is against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET.The Dodgers (51-31) and Royals (38-43) begin a three-game series at Dodger Stadium on Friday at 8:10 p.m. ET.Follow Fox News Digitals sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The Supreme Court of the United States on Friday upheld a Texas law requiring pornography websites to verify visitors' ages to protect minors from sexually explicit content online.Justices ruled 6-3 that requiring adults in Texas to verify their age does not violate the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment, noting at least 21 other states imposed similar regulations on sexual material that could be harmful to minors online.Texas and other states prohibit the distribution of sexually explicit content to children in brick and mortar stores, but online content remains largely unregulated.'WE WON': SOCIAL MEDIA ERUPTS OVER SCOTUS RULING DEALING 'FATAL BLOW' TO TRANSGENDER SURGERIES ON MINORSLawmakers from the Lone Star State enacted a bill requiring certain commercial websites that publish sexually explicit content to verify the ages of those entering the site, which the justices upheld as constitutional, noting at least 21 other states imposed similar regulations on sexual material that could be harmful to minors.Those who visit sexually explicit websites will need to use government-issued identification or a "commercially reasonable method that relies on public or private transactional data."Sites can perform verification themselves or through a third-party service.SCOTUS RULES ON STATE BAN ON GENDER TRANSITION 'TREATMENTS' FOR MINORS IN LANDMARK CASEIf website owners knowingly violate the law, the Supreme Court ruled the Texas attorney general can sue and collect a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per day that the site is non-compliant.They can also collect an additional penalty of up to $250,000 if any minors accessed the covered sexual material as a result of the violation.TEXAS BILL PUSHES STRICTEST SOCIAL MEDIA BAN FOR MINORS IN THE NATIONJustices wrote in their opinion that internet access has drastically changed since 1999, when only two out of five American households had a computer.In 2024, 95 percent of American teens had access to a smartphone, with 93 percent reporting frequent internet use.In a dissenting opinion, Justice Elena Kagan argued speech that is obscene for minors is often not obscene for adults."So adults have a constitutional right to view the very same speech that a State may prohibit for children," Kagan wrote. "And it is a fact of lifeand also of lawthat adults and children do not live in hermetically sealed boxes. In preventing children from gaining access to obscene for children speech, States sometimes take measures impeding adults from viewing it tooeven though, for adults, it is constitutionally protected expression."But what if Texas could do betterwhat if Texas could achieve its interest without so interfering with adults constitutionally protected rights in viewing the speech H. B. 1181 covers? That is the ultimate question on which the Court and I disagree."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPPornhub and other pornography giants have stopped service in Texas and other states where regulations are in place.

A so-called dream home for literature lovers has hit the market in Columbus, Ohio, packed wall to wall with more than 7,000 hardback books and dramatic floor-to-ceiling shelves and it's listed for $1.6 million.Nicknamed "The Book House," the home was custom-designed to evoke the feel of a historic German village cottage, according to news agency SWNS.Though the building appears aged from the outside, with materials mirroring early 20th-century construction, its a modern dual-unit property with high-end features and built to function as a short-term luxury rental.THIS $1M 'FLINTSTONES'-STYLE HOME BUILT INTO ANCIENT RED ROCK COULD BE YOURSSpanning 4,536 square feet, the residence has two living units with a total of eight bedrooms and six bathrooms, offering enough accommodations to sleep as many as 24 guests.The property was reportedly imagined as an immersive design experience, with every detail merging "vintage character with modern convenience," said SWNS.To bring his vision to life, developer Guy Marshall began collecting books for the project.Eventually he amassed some 7,000 hardcover volumes, which he acquired for just 10 cents apiece, SWNS reported.The books now line every room in the home, on shelves that reach floor to ceiling; they're accessed by rolling library ladders.THE FIERY SECRET TO A LONGER LIFE MIGHT BE HIDING IN YOUR SPICE RACKThe listing describes the property as an ideal entertaining space, with open layouts, modern amenities and a location just minutes from downtown Columbus, German Village, plus a nearby childrens hospital."One of the more notable features includes floor-to-ceiling bookshelves with library ladders and 7,000 plus hardcover books spanning every room," the listing reads.Rental projections from short-term stay experts estimate the home could bring in approximately $273,000 in gross annual income, said SWNS.Marshall said every element of the design was chosen deliberately.That includes the exterior, which is made of concrete blocks dyed and finished to resemble aged masonry."The single-layer, one-foot-thick walls mirror those of buildings constructed in the early 1900s," he said, emphasizing an intent to channel the aesthetics and durability of historical craftsmanship, from antique lighting fixtures and custom ironwork to reclaimed barn beams and bespoke installations."My goal was to blend charm and character with the luxury and comfort expected in todays most finely appointed homes," he said.For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyleThough it cost significantly more to build than a typical stick-frame house, Marshall said the extra investment was worth it to create something unique and memorable."Thats why I designed it to operate as a high-end short-term rental: to increase revenue and share it with guests from all over," he added.The quirky home was recently featured on "Zillow Gone Wild" which shared the comment, "Imagine sleeping surrounded by books. The dreams you will HAVE."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERIn response to a social media post about the listing, a Facebook commenter wrote, "Just thinking about the amount of dust that collects on all those books makes me need to use my inhaler."Another person wrote, "3 things: Where's the kitchen sink? Where is the toilet? Can you imagine packing up all those books?? It's like moving a library."Yet another person said simply, "I love it so much."

The Trump administration'sDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS) is ending temporary protection status (TPS) for roughly 520,000 Haitians currently residing in the US.The TPS designations for the country will expire on Aug. 3, 2025, and the termination will be effective on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025."This decision restores integrity in our immigration system and ensures that Temporary Protective Status is actually temporary," said a DHS spokesperson."The environmental situation in Haiti has improved enough that it is safe for Haitian citizens to return home. We encourage these individuals to take advantage of the Departments resources in returning to Haiti, which can be arranged through the CBP Home app. Haitian nationals may pursue lawful status through other immigration benefit requests, if eligible."KRISTI NOEM CANT BELIEVE DEMOCRATS WILL DEFEND ACTIONS AGAINST ICE, LAW ENFORCEMENTNoem made the decision to revoke TPS status after reviewing a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) report which showed that Haiti no longer meets the statutory requirements that grant foreign residents the ability to obtain temporary protected status.Sources at DHS tell Fox they are encouraging Haitians in the U.S. under TPS to use the CBP Home app to secure a safe departure with a complimentary plane ticket and a $1,000 exit bonus.SUPREME COURT ALLOWS TRUMP ADMIN TO MOVE ON ENDING LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR SOME VENEZUELAN MIGRANTSTPS was created by Congress in the Immigration Act of 1990 with the intention of allowing residents of countries who faced natural disasters, war, or other unsafe, extraordinary conditions to designate refuge in the U.S. The program can be extended in increments of 18-month periods.The Trump administration has made a hard push to roll back TPS designations to fulfill a campaign promise to strengthen the border and deport many of the illegal migrants who crossed the borderduring the Biden administration.President Joe Biden granted TPS status to Venezuelans in 2021 and again just before he left office in January 2025, a designation to the South American nation from April 3, 2025, to Oct. 2, 2026. It's estimated the protection would have applied to roughly 300,000 Venezuelan nationals had the Trump administration not rolled back the decision.TRUMP IMMIGRATION ADVISOR TARGETS CRIMINALS EXPLOITING UNACCOMPANIED MINORS WHO ENTERED US UNDER BIDENU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) spokesperson Matthew Tragesser confirmed to Fox News Digital that stripping the TPS status for Haitians would affect roughly 520,000 migrants in the U.S.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Washington Post editorial board warned on Thursday that democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani's recent primary win in the New York City mayoral race is not only "bad" for New York, but also for the "struggling" Democratic Party.The Post's editorial board argued that Mamdani's socialist policies could bring the city back to the "bad old days" and "discredit" the next generation of Democratic leaders."New Yorkers should be worried that he would lead Gotham back to the bad old days of civic dysfunction, and Democrats should fear that he will discredit their next generation of party leaders, almost all of whom are better than this democratic socialist," they asserted.CITY-RUN GROCERY STORES, DEFUNDING POLICE, SAFE INJECTION SITES: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT NYC'S NEXT POTENTIAL MAYORAccording to The Post, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., played a key role in Mamdani's primary win making the election a referendum on himself and blocking "potentially more appealing center-left candidates" from challenging the young democratic socialist.They argued that Mamdani's policies, including "city-owned grocery stores," no bus fares, freezing rent on one million regulated apartments and raising the minimum wage to $30 may be tempting to some voters, but the trade-off would "hurt the people they are supposed to help.""Such a massive minimum wage would depress low-skilled employment. His rent freeze would reduce the housing supply and decrease its quality. Cutting bus fares would leave a transit funding hole that, unless somehow filled, would erode service. Meanwhile, the grocery business operates on thin margins, and his plan for city-run stores would probably lead to fewer options, poor service and shortages, as privately run stores closed rather than try to compete with city-subsidized shops," the Post claimed. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTUREThe liberal outlet also acknowledged the mayoral hopeful's previous record of calling to defund and dismantle the police, contending that even though he has toned this rhetoric down, he still opposes hiring more officers.Another issue the Post took with Mamdani's proposed policies is the tax burden the city would have to bear in order to achieve them, more than likely sparking a "corporate exodus" from the Big Apple and, in turn, "undermining the tax base."In conclusion, the Post laid out what it believes Democrats need to do if Mamdani does end up becoming mayor."Should Mamdani become mayor, Democrats such as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul can lead the way in containing him, not least so he does not define their party," it argued, adding, "Their gubernatorial nominees in Virginia and New Jersey, Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill, respectively, would be much better representatives of a Democratic brand that still needs to buff out the rough edges of its left wing."

Restaurant operations and processes could be affected by a bill in Delaware that was just voted out of committee and seeks to crack down on waste in the Diamond State.House Bill 111 would prohibit food establishments from providing any single-use food service items plastic or not unless a customer specifically requests them.Restaurants would be forced to forgo giving out utensils, napkins, and even condiment packets, according to the bills text.CHICK-FIL-A SHOOTS DOWN CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT RUMORED STRAW CHANGEAfter three violations, food establishments would be subject to civil penalties starting at $100 and a fine of $500 after a fifth violation.Restaurants would be allowed to have self-service stations so that patrons could grab their own single-use food service items, according to the bill.Maddy Corporen, an employee at Cilantro Cocina de Mexico in Rehoboth Beach, told local news outlet WBOC that if the law is passed, it might be hard to follow."In the summer especially, we're so busy, we're not thinking super clearly about everything," Corporen told the outlet.For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle"While we're setting up a to-go order, we might just throw it [a utensil or napkin] in there and completely forget about it," she added.The legislation may complicate things for those who place to-go orders through apps like Uber Eats or DoorDash.If a customer does not request "single-use food service items" through the food delivery app and a restaurant still provides those items, the restaurant is subject to penalties. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERNonprofit organizations and schools would be exempt from the new rule.Many cities and states such as New York City, Washington D.C., Denver, Chicago, California and Washingtonhave implemented "Skip the Stuff" rules to date.The rules were implemented to crack down on waste and environmental impact by reducing the use of non-biodegradable and non-recyclable materials.

President Donald Trump is not like his predecessors. Confronting a hostile regime in Tehran that has played American presidents for 35 years, the commander in chief took decisive action on Saturday to keep his promise that he would never allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons. Operation Midnight Hammer was a success Americas fine men and women in uniform destroyed Irans nuclear facilities and came home safe.Now begins "the Art of the Deal." In the aftermath of the war between Israel and Iran, President Trump will need to employ all his dealmaking acumen to maintain a fragile ceasefire and most importantly to keep his promise to prevent America from being dragged into another forever war in the Middle East.Recent history has taught us that it wont be easy. Between the end of the Cold War and President Trumps first term, every single American president was drawn into protracted conflicts around the world. They knew how to make war, but not how to broker peace.TRUMP EXERTED 'MAXIMUM PRESSURE' ON IRAN AND ISRAEL TO 'DELIVER PEACE': LEAVITTIn the Balkans, President Bill Clinton laid the groundwork for liberal interventionism boots on the ground for "peacekeeping," moral preening, and no plan for what comes next. Then, in the wake of the devastating attacks on 9/11, instead of confining himself to destroying the terrorists who had used Afghanistan as a base, President George W. Bush implemented this same playbook: launching an invasion of Iraq to topple Saddam Hussein while prolonging the U.S. presence in Afghanistan to nation build.At the time, I supported it, as did more than 70% of Americans and almost 90% of Republicans. But soon, Iraq devolved into a sectarian nightmare that led to thousands of dead soldiers and decades of regional instability. The war consumed Bushs presidency, shattered GOP foreign policy credibility, and sowed the seeds for the rise of ISIS.Meanwhile, the "good war" in Afghanistan went sour as dreams of a liberal democracy ran up against the reality of the "graveyard of empires."Americas experience in Iraq and Afghanistan transformed my view of foreign policy. So much so, that by the time President Barack Obama pursued a disastrous intervention in Libya, I was decidedly opposed to it.BUSH'S WAR ON TERROR VS TRUMP'S IRAN APPROACH: HOW US MIDDLE EAST STRATEGY EVOLVEDMillions of conservatives, bitter at being sold a bill of goods by their own party, had this same experience. They wanted a new type of national security policy focused on their needs and interests. And when President Trump whose longstanding opposition to the Iraq war was well known announced his campaign in 2016, they rallied behind him.Throughout his first term, President Trump rewarded their confidence time and again and proved what the Art of the Deal could achieve on the world stage.Trump was no dove, mind you.He dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb used in combat by the United States on Afghanistan, ruthlessly decimated ISIS, and took out Irans top general Qassem Soleimani. But he always prevented these aggressive actions from becoming protracted conflicts, and he never allowed the Middle East to absorb his attention to the detriment of more important national security priorities: securing our borders and deporting illegal immigrants, pushing our allies in NATO to pay their fair share for our common defense, and confronting Americas number one adversary, China.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONNo doubt, the current conflict between Iran and Israel is more serious than any that occurred in the region during Trumps first administration. And the United States involvement is more direct, more dangerous, and more likely to escalate into a wider war if not checked by firm, prudent leadership, capable of completing the Presidents stated mission to deny the Iranian regime a nuclear weapon without drifting into other lanes, notably regime change.But thats entirely in President Trumps wheelhouse. This is his moment. This is why millions of Americans, disheartened by the surrender of Afghanistan and grinding war in Ukraine overseen by President Joe Biden, went to the ballot box in November to bring him back to the White House.He is the only leader in the world who could pull off this daring operation to ensure the safety of the American people without it turning into another Middle East quagmire. And if he can now keep us out of war and focused on the various domestic challenges that confront us from our falling birth rate to our failing schools it will be one of the greatest accomplishments in modern American history.Im confident that he will.Why? Because President Trump is not like his predecessors. Heisnt driven by ideology or bought by special interest groups. He is a statesman who makes deals on behalf of the American people. And in this uncertain moment, as we are poised to celebrate Americas 249thIndependence Day, thats exactly what we need. For Americas freedom is hard-won and easily squandered.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM KEVIN ROBERTS