The United States strongly rejects France's plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly, calling the move reckless and a setback for peace. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the decision "only serves Hamas propaganda" and is "a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th." Rubio announced the U.S. stance in a statement this morning, emphasizing the administration's opposition to the initiative led by French President Emmanuel Macron. The U.S. government views this action as detrimental to ongoing peace efforts in the region. In other news, President Trump referred to the Jeffrey Epstein matter as a "SCAM" and expressed hope that "the grand jury files will put an end to this hoax." The New York Times confirmed that Trump was listed as a contributor to Epstein's 50th birthday book and published a handwritten letter from Ghislaine Maxwell and a 1997 inscription from Trump to Epstein reading "You are the greatest!" The newspaper also published a previously undisclosed photo of Trump with Epstein and James Brown. A judge is currently weighing a disciplinary referral for Department of Justice lawyers involved in a Venezuela deportations case, according to Reuters. The U.S. Air Force's CENTCOM confirmed an F-15E Strike Eagle conducted a combat air patrol in its area of responsibility. The Secret Service also highlighted the role of its counter snipers, noting their deployment atop the Federal Reserve during a visit by President Trump today. The Democrats released a statement saying, "It’s time to give Americans a raise." Separately, a significant environmental and national security agreement was finalized today in Mexico City to address sewage flowing into San Diego communities from Tijuana, Mexico. The agreement is described as a "100% permanent solution" by officials involved. The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. posted on X, formerly Twitter, about the growing attention on Chinese brands and also shared a message stating, "Smoking less is good for your health."
