Congressman Francis Rooney, Ret.

America saw 4 million fewer foreign visitors in 2025 vs 2024 and a staggering $8 billion less in spending by those that did come.

They hear continually from their media about President Trump's Truth Social rants, stories of our dysfunctional government, rampant crime in our cities, ICE raids, murders, and deportments of people who while here illegally, have committed no other crimes and should be treated fairly while their cases are legally adjudicated.

We need to win back the respect of our allies around the world so they will want to visit our great country.

Lord Acton's well-known dictum, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely", applies directly to President Trump.

The Iran attack was not thought out and has become a disaster - American consumers are paying the price, but Trump finally crossed a line with Republican leaders by endorsing Paxton over Cornyn and proposing the $1.8 billion slush fund to pay off lawfully convicted criminals. Finally Republicans may have found their voices.

President Trump's Iran folly has cost the US taxpayer $29 billion so far. if Europe doesn't want to engage Iran, despite being potentially reachable by its weapons some day - although not now - why should we pay for it? This is not our fight.

Unfortunately, China "won" the summit - for the first time they are feted as equals with the US; as President Trump said, 'the G2'. New stature for China, nothing for us; nothing concerning China's agressive activity in the South China Sea, no support for Taiwan and nothing regarding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. In fact, Trump said that he is 'not looking to have' Taiwan become independent. Incredible.

Trump is publicly thanking himself on signs installed around Washington, and now wants to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building's grey stone facades white. Is this more important than $5 per gallon gas or rising food prices?

Column | Trump demands gratitude in D.C. So he put up banners thanking himself. Signs appearing around the capital twist appreciation and patriotism into an authoritarian knot.

In addition to costing the American taxpayers billions of dollars and raising the prices of food and gasoline, the attack on Iran is harming our allies in Asia and driving them into the arms of China.

U.S. offers no help with Iran war’s fallout, Thai foreign minister says “This war should not have taken place,” Sihasak Phuangketkeow said in an interview, adding that Thailand is approaching Russia and China amid its economic crisis.

Trump has really lost it now, posting him imitating Jesus and launching a broadside attack on Pope Leo IV. The last sovereign leader to attack a pope was Stalin. He has gotten us into a morass in Iran with no apparent way out. We are fortunate to have a pontiff who is so thoughtful, clear and articulate to speak out on these attacks.

Iran's president says deal will be reached if US abandons 'totalitarianism' The U.S. began a blockade against Iran's ports in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday after Tehran withdrew from peace talks with President Donald Trump's administration in Pakistan.

This morning CNN ran headline entitled 'US vs the world' but it’s actually 'Trump vs the world'. The American people are suffering the same rise in inflation, gas and food prices as the rest of the world, but we get to pay trillions in taxpayer dollars for the privilege.

Hegseth and the Defense Department are off the rails, threatening the Holy See to deter them from disagreeing with their warfare? The Holy See is always going to support alternatives to armed conflict, and the 'just war theory' does not apply here - there is no proportionality.

US-Vatican tensions rise as Pentagon warns Pope Leo - CNBC TV18 Vatican US tensions rise after reported Pentagon clash over Pope Leo stance on war and Trump doctrine, sparking cancelled visit and denials from US officials

Earlier this week we had TACO Tuesday - lots of aggressive talk and hyperbole from the president before he ultimately retreats. America deserves real leadership - honest, principled, and consistent. We don't have that now. An increase in defense spending to $1.5 trillion won't fix the leadership problem.