Published Time: 08-10-2025, 16:00 (U.S. Eastern Time)

U.S. President Donald Trump has nominated Tammy Bruce, a former Fox News contributor and current State Department spokeswoman, to serve as the United States’ deputy representative to the United Nations. The announcement, made on Trump’s social media platform Truth Social, highlights Bruce’s work at the State Department since Trump began his second term in January.

Tammy Bruce’s Background and Nomination Details

Tammy Bruce has been a prominent conservative voice for over two decades, initially gaining recognition as a Fox News contributor. She is also a bestselling author, known for books such as Fear Itself: Exposing the Left’s Mind-Killing Agenda, which critiques liberal policies and ideologies.

Since joining the U.S. State Department earlier this year, Bruce has served as the department’s spokeswoman, a role in which she has defended several of the administration’s controversial foreign policy decisions. These include the enforcement of stricter immigration policies and the deployment of private military contractors for humanitarian efforts, such as aid distribution in Gaza.

In his Truth Social post on Saturday, President Trump praised Bruce’s performance, calling her a “Great Patriot” and predicting she will represent the United States “brilliantly” at the United Nations. However, her nomination still requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate before she can officially assume the role.

The Role of the Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

The deputy representative to the UN plays a crucial role in advancing U.S. interests in the international body. This position involves working closely with the U.S. ambassador to the UN to shape diplomatic strategies, engage with global partners, and address critical issues such as security, human rights, and international law.

Currently, the acting U.S. ambassador to the UN is Dorothy Shea, a career diplomat who has held the deputy ambassador role throughout 2024. Trump’s nominee for the ambassador position, Mike Waltz, is also awaiting Senate confirmation, highlighting the ongoing transitions within the U.S. diplomatic team at the UN.

Implications and Reactions

Tammy Bruce’s nomination reflects the Trump administration’s continued preference for appointing politically aligned figures with media backgrounds to prominent diplomatic positions. Her history as a conservative commentator and outspoken critic of liberal policies signals a clear ideological direction for U.S. representation at the UN under Trump’s second term.

While some conservatives have welcomed the nomination as a reinforcement of U.S. interests on the global stage, critics argue that diplomatic roles should prioritize seasoned career diplomats with extensive international experience. The Senate confirmation process will likely bring these debates to the forefront as lawmakers evaluate Bruce’s qualifications and suitability for the deputy ambassador role.

Looking Ahead

As the Senate prepares to consider Tammy Bruce’s nomination, attention will also focus on the confirmation of Mike Waltz as the primary U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Together, their appointments will shape the United States’ diplomatic posture amid ongoing international challenges, including tensions with Russia and China, global security issues, and multilateral negotiations on climate change and human rights.

Source BBC – Trump nominates ex-Fox News host Tammy Bruce as deputy UN ambassador

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WASHINGTON — In a move that could disrupt the plans of thousands of international students, the U.S. State Department has temporarily stopped scheduling new visa interviews for those hoping to study in the United States, officials confirmed.

The pause, which does not affect students who already have interview appointments, comes as the department prepares to roll out stricter guidelines for screening applicants’ social media activity.

According to an internal cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and obtained by the Associated Press, consulates have been instructed to stop adding appointments for student and exchange visitor visas until new vetting guidance is issued.

“Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consulate sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity,” the memo reads.

A Crackdown With Ripple Effects

The change marks yet another move in a broader crackdown on international student programs that began under former President Donald Trump. While the Biden administration continued the policy of social media screening for visa applicants, this latest step could have more immediate consequences.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the U.S. will continue to use “every tool we can” to evaluate visa applicants, including students.

“We will continue to use every tool we can to assess who it is that’s coming here, whether they are students or otherwise,” Bruce said during a press briefing.

The decision, first reported by Politico, follows a series of high-profile efforts to restrict or revoke international student privileges.

Just last week, the administration revoked Harvard University’s authority to enroll international students under the student visa program—a decision that was challenged in court and temporarily blocked by a federal judge.

Earlier this year, thousands of international students already in the U.S. lost their legal status after a separate policy change. Although many successfully fought back in court and had their status restored, the administration quietly broadened the criteria for future terminations.

What This Means for Students and Schools

The suspension of new interview appointments could cause serious delays for students planning to start classes this summer or fall. With limited time before the next academic term, any prolonged pause could derail travel and enrollment timelines.

Universities, especially those already grappling with budget constraints, could also feel the impact. Many institutions rely heavily on international students—who often pay full tuition—to offset reductions in federal research funding and other revenue shortfalls.

If the freeze continues into peak visa season, colleges may face an unexpected enrollment crunch, and students may be left scrambling for alternatives.

Source: AP News – US stops scheduling visa interviews for foreign students while it expands social media vetting

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In a dramatic and harrowing turn of events, three passengers were injured when an American citizen hijacked a small plane in Belize on Thursday. The hijacker, identified as Akinyela Sawa Taylor, a U.S. citizen, reportedly threatened passengers at knifepoint aboard a Tropic Air Belize flight.

The flight, which was scheduled to take off with 14 passengers aboard—including two Americans—was hijacked just before departure. Taylor allegedly demanded the plane be taken out of the country and insisted on refueling. Tensions escalated quickly as the plane circled the area, running dangerously low on fuel.

The situation took a deadly turn when a passenger on board, who was legally carrying a firearm, fatally shot the hijacker in the chest. The shot stopped the threat, but not before three Belizean passengers suffered knife wounds. Thankfully, despite the chaos, the plane managed to land safely, avoiding what could have been a much more catastrophic outcome.

According to police, the hijacker’s actions were communicated to authorities via text by a passenger on board, providing real-time updates of the unfolding situation. Investigators are still puzzled over how Taylor was able to board the flight with a knife, given security protocols.

Tropic Air Belize CEO Maximillian Greif praised the quick-thinking actions of the pilot, describing them as “nothing short of heroic.” He also acknowledged the airline’s commitment to training pilots to handle high-stress situations like the one that unfolded on Thursday.

“We pause to recognize the bravery, skill, and leadership that brought our aircraft home safely,” Greif said in a statement.

As the investigation continues, the U.S. Embassy has been notified and will assist local authorities in their probe. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, Tammy Bruce, expressed relief that the incident did not escalate into a mass casualty event. “We are grateful this did not turn into something much worse,” Bruce said during a press briefing.

Authorities revealed that Taylor had been denied entry into the country just days earlier. The investigation is now focused on how the hijacker managed to bypass border security and board the flight with the weapon.

This alarming incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks that can arise even on routine domestic flights, and the swift actions of passengers and crew likely prevented a much greater tragedy.

Source: ABC News – American citizen hijacks small plane in Belize, 3 injured: Police

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The Biden administration has announced that a U.S.-Israel panel will hold its first meeting in early December to address reports of civilian harm during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This meeting, however, comes more than a month later than the U.S. initially requested, which was for the panel to be established by the end of October.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated that the panel will focus on gathering information regarding incidents involving American-made or -supplied weapons, which have been implicated in civilian casualties. The goal, Miller explained, is to assist the State Department in evaluating the use of U.S.-provided weapons and to inform potential U.S. policy decisions related to the war.

This panel follows the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which triggered Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza. The conflict, which has lasted for weeks, has caused widespread devastation. Experts warn that famine may already be affecting northern Gaza, with Israel’s air and ground offensives leading to hundreds of deaths and forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes.

In response to worsening humanitarian conditions, U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, sent a letter to Israeli leaders in October, urging them to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza. The letter warned that the U.S. might restrict some weapons systems to Israel if progress was not made within 30 days. However, that deadline passed without any concrete decisions, and while some positive steps were noted, Israel has yet to meet the full criteria laid out by the U.S.

Aid organizations have reported that the situation in Gaza has continued to deteriorate, citing incidents such as the theft of nearly 100 trucks carrying vital supplies, which led to soaring food prices and severe shortages, particularly in central Gaza. Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced, and many are now living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions in tent camps.

Miller acknowledged these developments, pointing to a breakdown in law and order in Gaza and emphasizing the need for an end to the fighting. He stressed that a sustainable resolution to the crisis could only be achieved with a new governance and security framework in Gaza, which would address the root issues behind the ongoing conflict.

The U.S. hopes that the investigation into civilian casualties will contribute to making more informed decisions about its future support and actions in the region.

Source

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