The U.S. military may be ramping up for a potential Cuba operation, multiple reports suggest. Two sources familiar with the matter leaked the information to USA Today on condition of […]

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Eight children ranges in age from 1 to 14 were shot to death early Sunday in Shreveport, Louisiana. Two women and one teenager were wounded,  Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said. […]

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A socialist city councilwoman led opposition to an ordinance, supported by the incumbent mayor she is running against, that would have cleaned out a homeless camp in a neighborhood where […]

The post Socialist Councilwoman Running for LA Mayor Votes Against Cleaning Out Homeless Camps appeared first on The Western Journal.

UK government paralysed on surge of antisemitism because it is afraid of offending key voting bloc, Islamic South Asians, Farage said. 

The post Farage: Starmer Petrified of Losing ‘Pakistani-Kashmiri-Bangladeshi’ Voting Bloc to the Greens appeared first on Breitbart.

Utah Valley University announced Thursday that author Sharon McMahon would not be speaking at its April 29 commencement ceremony following objections from conservative groups, citing safety concerns. The selection of […]

The post Podcaster Slandered Charlie Kirk's Character Just After His Death, Was Set to Speak at School He Was Killed at appeared first on The Western Journal.

Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian has become one of the faces of the Eric Swalwell story. She’s not particularly happy about it. She’s not one of the victims, nor one of Swalwell’s former […]

The post Reporter Who Admits She Had Info on Swalwell Abuse During Chinese Spy Investigation But Didn't Pursue It Blames... Conservative Media appeared first on The Western Journal.

When Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney looks across the southern border to his country's near neighbour he doesn't like what he sees. So great is his disappointment Carney announced Sunday that Canada's reliance on the U.S. must be diminished by inking trade deals elsewhere.

The post Watch: Canada PM Mark Carney Dismisses U.S. Ties as a ‘Weakness’ appeared first on Breitbart.

President Donald Trump vowed Sunday that there would be “no more Mr. Nice Guy” as American forces seized an Iranian cargo ship trying to run the blockade of Iran . […]

The post Watch: Iranian Ship Tries Running Blockade, Gets Engine Room Blown Apart by US Destroyer and It's Caught on Film appeared first on The Western Journal.

A looming jet fuel shortage in Europe and Asia could compound the Iran war’s impact on world travel within weeks if a fragile agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz […]

The post Jet Fuel Shortage Could Cause Airfares, Flight Cancellations to Skyrocket appeared first on The Western Journal.

For decades, the relationship between the United States and the Vatican has played a vital role in promoting individual liberties, religious freedom, and resisting authoritarianism in the West. This partnership, forged by then-President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, helped hasten the dissolution of the Soviet Union and contributed to the liberation of millions from Communism’s grip.

When aligned, America and Rome have exercised a formidable moral and geopolitical influence, representing the best of Western civilization. Yet the current feud between them, as historian Paul Kengor suggests, potentially presents a new cold war that could have deep ramifications for the future of free government.

While tension between political leaders and pontiffs is nothing new in world history, open hostility risks undermining cooperation at a moment when it is badly needed. The path back to stability—and to the renewal of Western civilization—will require both Trump and Leo to draw from the lessons of the past.

Round One

For Trump, who is lobbing derogatory insults at the Holy Father, history offers a clear warning: conflicts with the papacy rarely end well for political leaders.

Napoleon Bonaparte learned this lesson the hard way.

Following the French Revolution’s Jacobin chaos and anti-clericalism, Napoleon initially restored relations with the Catholic Church through the Concordat of 1801. For a time, he was hailed as a stabilizing force and the “Restorer of Religion.” Despite the renewed agreement, the French emperor largely viewed religion as “a social utility” and a tool of statecraft, per Andrew Roberts’s Napoleon: A Life.

Within several years, however, relations with the Vatican rapidly deteriorated, with Napoleon’s ire being ignited by Pope Pius VII’s neutrality in continental politics. In response, the French emperor annexed the Papal States and then imprisoned the Holy Father. Unsurprisingly, these moves backfired. Catholics across Europe were outraged, and the pope’s dignified resistance cast Napoleon as a tyrant. In Spain, anger over Napoleon’s treatment of the Church helped fuel insurgency and resistance to French rule. Even secular observers recoiled at the excess.

What began as an assertion of power weakened Napoleon, diplomatically and politically.

Trump is no Napoleon. And no similar extreme scenario is on the horizon. Nevertheless, the broader lesson applies: antagonizing the Holy Father is not a good idea. If Trump hopes to build an international coalition to counter Iran, publicly disparaging the pope as “WEAK” on crime and “terrible” on foreign policy risks alienating key allies and domestic support, thus undermining his own objectives.

Indeed, Catholics including high-profile clergy like Bishop Robert Barron and the Knights of Columbus have denounced the president’s treatment of the pontiff. CatholicVote, a right-leaning advocacy group whose former president is currently the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, called Trump’s rhetoric “insulting,” arguing that it “crossed, again, a line of decorum.” For the 2026 congressional midterms, the president-pontiff rift might exacerbate predicted Republican electoral defeats, leaving Trump less able to achieve his MAGA agenda in his last two years in office.

At the same time, Trump’s underlying concerns are not without merit. A nuclear Iran poses a legitimate national—and international—threat to global stability. The “death to America” chants notwithstanding (and even assassination attempts on Trump’s life), Iran has sponsored terrorism for nearly half a century, including the heinous October 7 massacre, which disrupted normalization talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Open borders, meanwhile, have brought increased crime to American cities and compounded financial burdens on taxpayers. If the president’s oath is to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution, Trump—and Congress—are duty-bound to improve the lives of American citizens.

Leo, on the other hand, as the Vicar of Christ, is equally justified in criticizing the president’s rhetorical threat to destroy Iran’s civilization as “truly unacceptable.” As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “The end does not justify the means,” meaning one cannot do evil even if it produces a good outcome. As for migration, Christ offered the parable of the Good Samaritan for a reason, and the lessons therein should cause us to reflect on “who is my neighbor.”

Yet moral clarity must also be paired with prudence. Leo must have calculated that his comment would goad a Trumpian response. After all, if not the Trump Administration, to whom was his message directed? The declaration, in some respects, may have been counterproductive to U.S.-Vatican relations.

Stronger Together

Another important point is that the Catholic Church has never been a pacifist entity entirely. Broad declarations such as “God does not hear the prayers of leaders who start wars” oversimplify a complex tradition. Throughout history, the Church has wrestled with the reality that force, in certain circumstances, may be necessary to preserve peace, protect the innocent, and defend Western civilization. The just war tradition exists precisely because the world is not free from grave threats.

On this point, Leo should draw lessons from another October 7 (this being in 1571) with another Pope Pius (Pius V).

The Battle of Lepanto is arguably one of the most consequential naval engagements in human history, as the Ottoman Empire not only threatened European sovereignty, but Christendom. In the years before, Islamic nations unleashed devastating assaults, killing Christians, capturing their territory, and enslaving many. Pius V recognized the danger of further Islamic conquests in the Mediterranean and knew the belligerent forces had to be halted. 

In turn, in a show of diplomatic fortitude and agency, Pius assembled and financially supported a combined force known as the Holy League, which included Naples, Sardinia, Venice, Genoa, Savoy, and the Knights Hospitallers. Moreover, according to Word on Fire, he “ordered the churches of Rome opened for prayer day and night, encouraging the faithful to petition the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary through the recitation of the Rosary.” 

Ultimately, the Holy League defeated the Ottomans. In honor, the Church now celebrates October 7 as the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. 

Yes, the peacemakers are blessed—but as Lepanto proves, peace sometimes can be achieved only through strength and action, not merely words alone. Today’s climate may require more action akin to Pius V or Pope John Paul II.

As Trump has suggested, Iran has been a bad actor for decades, disrupting peace in the Middle East while murdering its own citizens. Indeed, European capitals and the Vatican would be in range of an Iranian ballistic missile, as demonstrated by the recent launch against the Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean. Additionally, mass migration has ignited instability in the United States and Europe.

This is why the current dispute is so counterproductive. Both Trump and Leo are advancing arguments that, in isolation, contain elements of truth. But in conflict, those truths become obscured by rhetoric and reaction.

The stakes extend beyond personal disagreement. The U.S.-Vatican relationship has historically served as a stabilizing force, blending moral authority with political power. At a time of rising global instability—from the threat of nuclear proliferation to ongoing regional conflicts—division between these two actors weakens a partnership that has proven effective in confronting such challenges.

As the St. Francis Prayer asks, we can be instruments of God’s peace. Trump and Leo must be such instruments. Reviving the West requires boldness, moral clarity, and the shared understanding that human rights are endowed by our Creator, a truth both the United States and the Vatican believe wholeheartedly.

Despite the public feud between the president and the pope, reconciliation is possible. Both heads of state should meet and mend fences—quickly. People throughout the world, consciously or instinctively, look to both nations for guidance and hope. If a lasting peace is to be achieved, the U.S. and the Vatican need to be indispensable allies. Restoring that partnership will require both leaders to draw not only from conviction, but also from the lessons of history.

The post The President Versus the Pope appeared first on The American Mind.

The British Prime Minister’s office reportedly claims that officials within the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office withheld critical information about former ambassador Peter Mandelson. Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggests his […]

The post UK Prime Minister Claims Officials Hid Former Ambassador's Epstein Ties from Him: Report appeared first on The Western Journal.

America and China are racing for technological supremacy, and the margin is razor thin. Today, tech supremacy is increasingly synonymous with artificial intelligence (AI) leadership. And China has an aggressive five-part plan to overcome what advantages America still has in AI.

For decades, America’s military edge was unquestioned. That era is over. China is closing the gap fast, and the nations that move decisively now will lock in advantages that compound over time. Those who hesitate will be left behind permanently. 

The good news: American innovation—particularly AI—is already delivering results for America’s national security, preventing supply-chain shortfalls, detecting cyberattacks in real time, and optimizing military logistics. Not as experiments, but as operational reality. The question is no longer whether these technologies work. It’s whether America will build the infrastructure and maintain the policies to stay ahead of an adversary running hard to catch us. 

Accelerating New Weapons Design and Procurement 

As the United States navigates existing and evolving threats, producing advanced munitions at adequate scale will be a prerequisite for success. Traditionally, the path from concept to fielded capability stretched across years, or even decades, as weapon designs moved through prototyping, testing, and federal procurement bureaucracy.

However, AI-assisted design, manufacturing, and supply chain management have compressed these timelines at a speed we have never seen before. For example, California-based company Divergent Technologies utilizes AI-enabled engineering software and robotic assembly to 3D print components and machinery in the automotive and aerospace industries.  

Last year Divergent and CoAspire announced that AI-driven manufacturing had taken the Rapidly Adaptable Affordable Cruise Missile (RAACM) from concept to flight-tested hardware in 16 weeks. What once took years can now be done in months – a revolutionary development. A nation that can surge weapons production in weeks rather than years holds a decisive advantage in any conflict, and that advantage will increasingly belong to whoever builds the AI infrastructure to support it. 

Autonomous Technologies Bypass Enemy Countermeasures

Autonomous drone technology further proves how AI has crossed from theory to operational reality, and nowhere is that more evident than in Ukraine. By reducing human presence in high-risk combat environments, autonomous vehicles protect servicemember lives while maintaining battlefield effectiveness.

Take for example Shield AI’s V-BAT drone, which last year executed more than 35 missions and enhanced U.S. drones’ ability to skirt Russian jammers that were previously grounding many U.S. systems. Traditional drones rely on GPS for navigation and radio links to human operators—both targets of Russian electronic warfare. Jamming these signals effectively renders a drone blind or uncontrollable. The V-BAT drones’ resilience to jammers helped turn a once aspirational idea into a tangible advantage on the front lines, handing American and allied efforts a competitive edge. 

Defending Critical Infrastructure in Real-Time

America’s critical infrastructure is under constant cyberattacks from sophisticated state-backed adversaries. In 2024, multiple U.S. government agencies warned that Chinese hackers had embedded malicious code inside U.S. communications, energy, transportation, and water systems, prepped to launch disruptive attacks during a future conflict. 

Threats at this scale exceed what human analysts can monitor alone. Our adversaries are increasingly using AI to accelerate attacks and almost instantaneously adapt to changing defenses, underscoring the need for the U.S. to match this evolving threat with an equally adept defense. AI meets this need by continuously scanning network traffic, detecting anomalies, and neutralizing threats before they become breaches. 

In December 2025, Darktrace Federal was awarded a State Department contract to deploy AI-powered network detection and response capabilities across the Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s global IT infrastructure, protecting U.S. diplomatic personnel, facilities, and sensitive information in more than 170 countries, including conflict zones. 

The real-time response capabilities of AI have proven critical in protecting sensitive information and infrastructure, especially for agencies under persistent pressure from Chinese and Russian AI-enabled adversaries. The U.S. needs to enable, not undermine, American AI innovation if we want to remain ahead in national security. 

Domestic Infrastructure Enables our Security

None of this works without infrastructure. The weapons systems, autonomous platforms, and cyber defenses described above all run on massive compute power. They all depend on the data centers and energy systems that power modern AI. 

That means the local decisions being made today about AI infrastructure are also decisions about national security. Every community that says yes to this infrastructure is helping to strengthen our nation’s security. And every conflicting state mandate, every permitting delay, is ultimately a choice to cede that future—and America’s technological edge—to competitors like China who will not hesitate. 

The question facing U.S. leaders is no longer whether AI will shape national security. The tools are already deployed, and the results are already measurable. Weapons systems fielded in weeks rather than years. Autonomous drones operating where human pilots cannot. Critical networks defended in real time against state-backed attacks. 

These use cases make one reality clear: the nations that harness AI fastest will not only gain a tactical edge, but will set the terms that others follow. The infrastructure that determines American leadership is being built right now, community by community, across hundreds of towns and cities. Washington’s only real choice is whether to accelerate that buildout, or hand China the advantage by slowing it down. 

This article was originally published by RealClearDefense and made available via RealClearWire.

We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal.

The post AI Isn’t the Future of Our National Security. It’s the Present. appeared first on The Daily Signal.