LIVE COVERAGEUpdated 7 minutes ago
Trump administration live updates: Iran-backed militants’ Red Sea attacks could add new trade chokepoint
President Donald Trump said today that a nuclear deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia requires the kingdom to normalize relations with Israel
White House says Saudi Arabia nuclear deal contingent on joining Abraham Accords
06:20
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Updated July 23, 2026, 11:53 AM EDT
By NBC News
What to know today
- IRAN WAR: Iran-backed Houthi militants said today that they had struck two tankers in the Red Sea, risking another bottleneck that could further disrupt global energy supplies, spike prices and heap domestic political pressure on President DonaldTrump.
- SAUDI NUCLEAR DEAL:Trump said today that the nuclear deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia requires the kingdom to normalize relations with Israel — a significant condition not previously mentioned as the deal was announced.
- WAR POWERS VOTE:The House voted 214-208 to pass a war powers resolution that directs the president to remove armed forces from hostilities with Iran. The measure now goes to the Senate for a vote today around 11:30 a.m. A similar measure, which is nonbinding,passed the Senate 50-48 in June.
7m ago / 11:53 AM EDT
Leavitt says Saudi nuclear deal is contingent on nation joining Abraham Accords
In a briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke about the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal, telling reporters that it is “contingent” on Saudi Arabia signing the Abraham Accords, a series of normalization deals between Israel and several Middle Eastern nations that Trump brokered during his first term
“He wants to see these countries sign the Abraham Accord. It was one of the most historic accomplishments of his first term, and it continues to be a long-term goal of his to expand those accords to ultimately come to a place where the Middle East can be a peaceful and stable region,” Leavitt said. “And yes, this deal with Saudi Arabia, the energy deal, is contingent on this condition as far as the president is concerned. “
Her remarks echoed those of the president in a post on Truth Social earlier today, where Trump wrote that the deal, “is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords.”
The original nations who joined the Abraham Accords alongside Israel were the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, followed by Sudan and Morocco
36m ago / 11:24 AM EDT
Mark Sanford jumps into Senate race for late Lindsey Graham’s seat
Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford said today that he plans to run for the Senate seat held by Sen. Lindsey Graham until his death earlier this month
“Our country is at a financial tipping point, and I can’t sit on the sidelines while Washington adds a trillion dollars to the debt every 100 days,” Sanford, also a former congressman, said in a post on X. “I’ve spent my entire time in politics fighting this fight, and I’m running for U.S. Senate to keep the American dream alive for our sons, my grandson, and those you love.”
Sanford joins Rep. Russell Fry and Sen. Darline Graham, each of whom declared their intention to run for the seat earlier this week, in a special GOP primary that will take place on Aug. 11
Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister, was appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster after Lindsey Graham’s death to serve out the rest of his term. Days later, President Donald Trump publiclyurged Darline Graham to run for a full term, offering her his endorsement
2h ago / 10:42 AM EDT
House approves war powers resolution
The House approved a Democratic war powers resolution that directs the president to remove armed forces from hostilities with Iran
The vote was 214-208. Four Republicans joined all Democrats in voting for the measure: Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tom Barrett of Michigan, Warren Davidson of Ohio and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania
The measure now heads to the Senate. But as a concurrent resolution, it would not go to the president for his signature and would not have the force of law
The House now heads out on its summer recess and will return Aug. 31
The House approved a similar war powers resolution in early June on a 215-208 vote, with the same Republicans supporting it who voted for the measure today. The Senate later passed the same nonbinding measure
The Supreme Court in its 1983 INS v. Chadha ruling “found simple and concurrent resolutions that approve or disapprove of executive action to be unconstitutional because they did not require presentation to the President,” according to theCongressional Research Service
That ruling prompted the Senate to update its fast-track procedures to consider war powers resolutions as bills or joint resolutions, which would be subject to the president’s signature. But the House does not have a way for members to expedite consideration of war powers bills or joint resolutions
2h ago / 10:16 AM EDT
Tension between Mullin and White House appears to be growing
Only four months into his role heading the Department of Homeland Security, there appears to be growing tension between Markwayne Mullin and the White House after some early missteps, according to a senior Trump administration official and a senior DHS official
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Jim Lo Scalzo / Bloomberg
Read the full story here
3h ago / 9:55 AM EDT
Senate to vote on another war powers resolution
The Senate will vote today at 11:30 a.m. on another war powers resolution related to the Iran war
The resolution, which was introduced by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., “directs the President to remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific authorization for use of military force.”
The resolution would only need a simple majority to pass, and we’re watching to see if enough Republicans join Democrats to vote to pass it
Some Republican senators, such as Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., have been willing to switch their votes from yes to no to give Trump more time to negotiate during the ceasefire, but now that that’s over, we’re watching them particularly to see if they’ll vote for the resolution
Speeches on the Senate floor related to the resolution are expected around 11:10 a.m
3h ago / 9:33 AM EDT
Oil surges to $100 per barrel after Red Sea attacks
Oil prices rose today to their highest level since early June after the latest Iran war escalation threatened severe new disruption to global supplies
Brent crude oil, one of two key global benchmarks, rose more than 6% to more than $100 per barrel in early trading. That is its highest level in eight weeks, since the end of May
U.S. crude oil also jumped for a second straight day, rising more than 5% to almost $92 per barrel — its highest level since June 11
The new surge in prices comes after Tehran-backed Houthi rebels claimed attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, following their announcement of a naval blockade on the kingdom
Read the full story here
3h ago / 9:09 AM EDT
Trump says Saudi Arabia must normalize Israel ties before nuclear deal is approved
Trumpsaid today that the nuclear deal between the United States and Saudi Arabia requires the kingdom to normalize relations with Israel — a significant condition not previously mentioned as the deal was announced
There will be “no enrichment of material” under the agreement, he wrote on Truth Social, adding that the deal signed a day earlier “pertains only to non-military use.”Lawmakers and experts have raised concerns that the civil nuclear agreement could fuel nuclear proliferation in the Middle East
Trump added that the deal “is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords.”
TheU.S.-brokered agreements aimed at normalizing relations with Israelwere forged during Trump’s first term, and signed by several majority Muslim countries including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, and later Sudan and Morocco. Their expansion across the Middle Easthas been a long-standing objective for Trump in his second term
Read the full story here
3h ago / 9:00 AM EDT
Trump says he will hold Iran responsible for future Houthi strikes
Trump said in a Truth Social post that the U.S. would hold Iran responsible if the Houthi militants target ships transiting nearby waterways
The Houthis “have acted very responsibly” during the war with Iran, Trump wrote, adding, “Unfortunately, now they are starting up again, shooting at two Saudi Arabian ships last night.”
Houthi militants, who control part of Yemen, said today that they hit two tankers in the Red Sea
Trump wrote in his post, “Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if they do this again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves, who I am very disappointed with in that they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart.”
4h ago / 8:51 AM EDT
Trump attends dignified transfer of 4 troops killed in Iran attacks
The United States carried out a 12th straight night of airstrikes just hours after Trump attended the dignified transfer of four American service members killed in Iran attacks. With negotiations to end the war stalled, Trump has threatened to destroy Iran’s bridges and power plants each time it attacks a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. NBC’s Garrett Haake reports for “TODAY.”
Trump attends dignified transfer of 4 troops killed in Iran attacks
02:13
4h ago / 8:09 AM EDT
U.S. committed to helping end Ukraine war but no quick deal, Rubio says after meeting with Russia’s Lavrov
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said today the Trump administration is poised to help end the “senseless war” in Ukraine but acknowledged there is no quick path to a deal, saying diplomacy will require sustained effort and new ideas
Rubio, who earlier held talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, said Moscow and Kyiv should have the incentive to end a “very blood war” that devastated both sides
Read the full story here
5h ago / 7:27 AM EDT
Rep. Jim Jordan formally asks DOJ to prosecute Jack Smith over congressional testimony
The top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee sent a letter to the Justice Department yesterday requesting a criminal investigation of former special counsel Jack Smith, alleging he made false statements during a congressional deposition last year
Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, wrote in a letter to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche that Smith “seemingly made willfully and intentionally false statements of material fact that contradict new documents” the Senate Judiciary Committee obtained this month
In a letter to Jordan and Blanche, attorneys for Smith denied that he made any false statements during his deposition, writing that he “provided truthful, responsive answers and candidly discussed his work as Special Counsel.”
Read the full story here
Rep. Jim Jordan formally asks DOJ to prosecute Jack Smith
01:12
5h ago / 7:27 AM EDT
‘Off the charts’: Secret Service describes rising threats to protectees
The Secret Service has opened more than 10,000 investigations this year into threats against people it protects, a 40% rise over the same period last year, officials said yesterday
Director Sean Curran told reporters at a briefing that the volatile political climate has reached a new level that he has not seen in his 24-year career
He said the threat numbers are “off the charts.”
Read the full story here
5h ago / 7:26 AM EDT
Oil tankers attacked as Iran threatens to turn second trade route into a ‘Gate of Tears’
Far from easing the crisis over a key global trade route, Iran has now moved to create another critical chokepoint. Iran-backed Houthi militants said today that they had struck two tankers in the Red Sea, risking another bottleneck that could further disrupt global energy supplies, spike prices and heap domestic political pressure on Trump
Read the full story here
5h ago / 7:26 AM EDT
Sen. Tina Smith endorses Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan Senate race
Michigan progressive Abdul El-Sayed is picking up another endorsement for Senate, with Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., announcing that she is backing him
Smith, whose endorsement was shared first with NBC News, is part of a group of Democratic senators who have been weighing in key primaries and have been critical of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s approach to intraparty contests
“I’ve been in Washington for nearly nine years, and I’ve seen two kinds of senators. There are those that go along to get along, hoard their power, and pacify big money. And then there are the fighters willing to challenge the status quo to make this country better for working people,” Smith said in a statement. “Abdul is a fighter, and that’s why I’m endorsing him to be the next United States Senator for Michigan.”
Smith, who is retiring, went on to say that the nation’s capital needs leaders “with bold ideas for how to help Americans afford their lives and fix an economic system that’s rigged to benefit the wealthiest and biggest corporations while regular people struggle to pay for rent and groceries, let alone save a little for a vacation or their retirement.”
Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., has endorsed progressive Abdul El-Sayed for Senate in Michigan.
Smith joins fellow Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and fellow Democrats Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland in backing El-Sayed, who is facing Rep. Haley Stevens in the Aug. 4 primary
Stevens has been endorsed by Schumer, retiring Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and former Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow
