Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 98

Trump’s big gamble in Iran is a risky moment after his pledges to keep US out of ‘stupid wars’

By AAMER MADHANI and JOSH BOAK, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump expressed certainty that his big gamble to directly assist the Israelis delivered a knockout blow to Iran’s nuclear program — even as many supporters and detractors alike were warning that U.S. military action could draw the U.S. into an expansive regional conflict.

Trump, in brief remarks to the nation on Saturday evening from the White House, said the strikes “obliterated” three critical Iranian enrichment facilities and “the bully of the Middle East must now make peace.”

But it’s a risky moment for Trump, who has belittled his predecessors for tying up America in “stupid wars” and has repeatedly said he was determined to keep the U.S. and the Middle East from another expansive conflict.

“There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran,” Trump said. He added, “If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill.”

The U.S. has struggled for decades to deal with the threat posed by Iran and its proxies.

Related Articles White House photos show rare look inside the Situation Room as Trump authorizes strikes in Iran Trump’s move against Iran may draw more criticism from MAGA’s anti-interventionists Democrats are at odds over the Israel-Iran war as Trump says US has struck Iranian nuclear sites Trump ignites debate on presidential authority with Iran strikes and wins praise from Republicans Watch: Trump addresses nation after U.S. military strikes on Iran nuclear facilities

Iran-backed Hezbollah carried out the 1983 U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut, the Beirut barracks bombing that same year and the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing. And Iranian-backed militias were responsible for hundreds of Americans killed during the U.S. war in Iraq.

Trump took note of the long history of animus, and took credit for taking action.

“For 40 years, Iran has been saying death to America. Death to Israel. They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs with roadside bombs. That was their specialty,” Trump said. “I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen. It will not continue.”

The possibility of U.S. involvement had been building for days. Still, the strikes, which were carried out early Sunday morning in Iran, carried an element of surprise.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday had said that Trump would decide whether to move forward with U.S. strikes on Iran within two weeks.

But on Saturday afternoon, commercial flight trackers identified multiple U.S. aerial refueling tankers on a path suggesting that they were accompanying aircraft from the Midwest to the Pacific, raising speculation that something was afoot. Those aircraft may have been a decoy — they were not part of the mission.

Trump returned from his New Jersey golf club just after 6 p.m., and had a previously scheduled evening meeting with his national security team. Less than two hours later, the president announced the strikes had been completed.

The White House posted photos of Trump in the White House Situation Room with top advisers as he monitored the strikes, wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat.

The action by Trump immediately raised some concerns among U.S. lawmakers that the president had exceeded his authority.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., quickly posted on the social media site X: “This is not Constitutional.”

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said on social media that Trump hit Iran without congressional authorization and lawmakers should pass a resolution he’s sponsoring with Massie “to prevent America from being dragged into another endless Middle East war.”

The decision to directly involve the U.S. comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran that have moved to systematically eradicate the country’s air defenses and offensive missile capabilities, while damaging its nuclear enrichment facilities.

The U.S. military used 30,000-pound bunker busters on Fordo, while U.S. submarines also participated in the attacks, launching about 30 Tomahawk land attack missiles, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the United States in advance that strikes targeting the Islamic Republic would “result in irreparable damage for them.” And Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei declared “any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region.”

Trump had initially hoped that the threat of force would motivate the country’s leaders to give up their nuclear program peacefully.

Ultimately, Trump made the calculation — at the prodding of Israeli officials and many Republican lawmakers — that Israel’s operation had softened the ground and presented a perhaps unparalleled opportunity to set back Iran’s nuclear program, perhaps permanently.

The Israelis have said their offensive had already crippled Iran’s air defenses, allowing them already significantly to degrade multiple Iranian nuclear sites.

Trump went forward with the strikes even as there is some murkiness about the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment on how close Iran was to building a nuclear weapon.

In March, Tulsi Gabbard, the national intelligence director, told lawmakers that it was not building a nuclear weapon and its supreme leader had not reauthorized the dormant program even though it had enriched uranium to higher levels.

Trump earlier this week dismissed the assessment, saying Gabbard was “wrong.” “I don’t care what she said,” Trump told reporters.

It’s unclear if the U.S. has developed fresh intelligence since Gabbard’s March testimony, but she insisted following the public pushback from Trump that the two of them were on the same page about Iran.

Trump’s decision for direct U.S. military intervention comes after his administration made an unsuccessful two-month push — including with high-level, direct negotiations with the Iranians — aimed at persuading Tehran to curb its nuclear program.

For months, Trump said he was dedicated to a diplomatic push to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions. And he twice — in April and again in late May — persuaded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off on military action against Iran and give diplomacy more time.

The U.S. in recent days has been shifting military aircraft and warships into and around the Middle East to protect Israel and U.S. bases from Iranian attacks.

All the while, Trump has gone from publicly expressing hope that the moment could be a “second chance” for Iran to make a deal to delivering explicit threats on Khamenei and making calls for Tehran’s unconditional surrender.

“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” Trump said in a social media posting. “He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.”

The military showdown comes seven years after Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Obama administration-brokered agreement with Iran, calling it the “worst deal ever.”

The 2015 deal, signed by Iran, the U.S. and other world powers, created a long-term, comprehensive nuclear agreement that limited Tehran’s enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Trump decried the deal as giving Iran too much in return for too little, because the agreement did not cover Iran’s non-nuclear malign behavior.

Madhani reported from Morristown, N.J. AP writers Lolita C. Baldor, Chris Megerian and Seung Min Kim contributed reporting.

Trump’s move against Iran may draw more criticism from MAGA’s anti-interventionists

By MEG KINNARD, Associated Press

President Donald Trump’s decision to strike three nuclear sites in Iran could deepen a divide among some of the Republican’s supporters, including high-profile backers who had said any such move would run counter to the anti-interventionism he promised to deliver.

Notably though, immediately following Trump’s Saturday announcement of the strike, some of those who had publicly spoken out against U.S. involvement voiced their support.

The lead-up to the move against Iranian nuclear sites had exposed fissures within Trump’s “Make American Great Again” base as some of that movement’s most vocal leaders, with large followings of their own, expressed deep concern about the prospect of U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran war.

With the president barred from seeking a third term, what remains unknown is how long-lasting the schism could be for Trump and his current priorities, as well as the overall future of his “America First” movement.

Related Articles White House photos show rare look inside the Situation Room as Trump authorizes strikes in Iran Trump’s big gamble in Iran is a risky moment after his pledges to keep US out of ‘stupid wars’ Democrats are at odds over the Israel-Iran war as Trump says US has struck Iranian nuclear sites Trump ignites debate on presidential authority with Iran strikes and wins praise from Republicans Watch: Trump addresses nation after U.S. military strikes on Iran nuclear facilities

Among the surrogates who spoke out against American involvement were former senior adviser Steve Bannon, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., commentator Tucker Carlson and Charlie Kirk, the founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point. Part of their consternation was rooted in Trump’s own vocalized antipathy for what he and others have termed the “forever wars” fomented in previous administrations.

As the possibility of military action neared, some of those voices tamped down their rhetoric. According to Trump, Carlson even called to “apologize.”

Here’s a look at what some of Trump’s biggest advocates had said about U.S. military involvement in Iran:

Steve Bannon

On Wednesday, Bannon, one of top advisers in Trump’s 2016 campaign, told an audience in Washington that bitter feelings over Iraq were a driving force for Trump’s first presidential candidacy and the MAGA movement. “One of the core tenets is no forever wars,” Bannon said.

But the longtime Trump ally, who served a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, went on to suggest that Trump will maintain loyalty from his base no matter what. On Wednesday, Bannon acknowledged that while he and others will argue against military intervention until the end, “the MAGA movement will back Trump.”

Ultimately, Bannon said that Trump would have to make the case to the American people if he wanted to get involved in Iran.

“We don’t like it. Maybe we hate it,” Bannon said, predicting what the MAGA response would be. “But, you know, we’ll get on board.”

Tucker Carlson

The commentator’s rhetoric toward Trump was increasingly critical. Carlson, who headlined large rallies with the Republican during the 2024 campaign, earlier this month suggested that the president’s posture was breaking his pledge to keep the U.S. out of new foreign entanglements. Trump clapped back at Carlson on social media, calling him “kooky.”

During an event at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said that Carlson had “called and apologized” for calling him out. Trump said Carlson “is a nice guy.”

Carlson’s conversation with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that day laid bare the divides among many Republicans. The two sparred for two hours over a variety of issues, primarily about possible U.S. involvement in Iran. Carlson accused Cruz of placing too much emphasis on protecting Israel in his foreign policy worldview.

“You don’t know anything about Iran,” Carlson said to Cruz, after the senator said he didn’t know Iran’s population or its ethnic composition. “You’re a senator who’s calling for the overthrow of a government, and you don’t know anything about the country.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

The Georgia Republican, who wore the signature red MAGA cap for Democratic President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address in 2024, publicly sided with Carlson, criticizing Trump for deriding “one of my favorite people.”

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., waits for a video interview at the Georgia Republican Convention in Dalton, Ga., Saturday, June 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)

Saying the former Fox News commentator “unapologetically believes the same things I do,” Greene wrote on X this past week that those beliefs include that “foreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction.”

“That’s not kooky,” Greene added, using the same word Trump used to describe Carlson. “That’s what millions of Americans voted for. It’s what we believe is America First.”

Alex Jones

The far-right conspiracy theorist and Infowars host posted on social media earlier in the week a side-by-side of Trump’s official presidential headshot and an artificial intelligence-generated composite of Trump and former Republican President George W. Bush. Trump and many of his allies have long disparaged Bush for involving the United States in the “forever wars” in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Writing “What you voted for” above Trump’s image and “What you got” above the composite, Jones added: “I hope this is not the case…”

Charlie Kirk

Kirk is among those who seemed to have made a quick about-face.

About an hour after Trump’s announcement, Kirk posted a series of messages on social media supportive of Trump, saying Iran had given the president “no choice.” Kirk praised Trump for acting “with prudence and decisiveness” and “for the betterment of humanity.”

Kirk also reposted a 2011 tweet in which Trump had written that “Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons is a major threat to our nation’s national security interests. We can’t allow Iran to go nuclear.”

“When Trump speaks, you should listen,” Kirk added.

It was a different tone from the start of the week, when Kirk said in a Fox News interview that “this is the moment that President Trump was elected for.” But he had warned of a potential MAGA divide over Iran.

Days later, Kirk said that “Trump voters, especially young people, supported President Trump because he was the first president in my lifetime to not start a new war.” He also wrote that “there is historically little support for America to be actively engaged in yet another offensive war in the Middle East. We must work for and pray for peace.”

In Kirk’s view, “The last thing America needs right now is a new war. Our number one desire must be peace, as quickly as possible.”

Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP

Democrats are at odds over the Israel-Iran war as Trump says US has struck Iranian nuclear sites

By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON and THOMAS BEAUMONT, Associated Press

After nearly two years of stark divisions over the war in Gaza and support for Israel, Democrats seemed to remain at odds over policy toward Iran. Progressives demanded unified opposition before President Donald Trump announced U.S. strikes against Tehran’s nuclear program but party leaders were treading more cautiously.

U.S. leaders of all stripes have found common ground for two decades on the position that Iran could not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon. The longtime U.S. foe has supported groups that have killed Americans across the Mideast and threatened to destroy Israel. But Trump’s announcement Saturday that the U.S. had struck three nuclear sites could become the Democratic Party’s latest schism, just as it was sharply dividing Trump’s isolationist “Make America Great Again” base from more hawkish conservatives.

Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, noted that in January, Trump suggested the U.S. could “measure our success not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars that we end, and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into.”

“Today, against his own words, the president sent bombers into Iran,” Martin said in a statement. “Americans overwhelmingly do not want to go to war. Americans do not want to risk the safety of our troops abroad.”

President Donald Trump gestures as he boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Sen. Peter Welch, a Vermont Democrat, said the U.S. entering the war in Iran “does not make America more secure.”

“This bombing was an act of war that risks retaliation by the Iranian regime,” Welch said in a statement.

While progressives in the lead-up to the military action had staked out clear opposition to Trump’s potential intervention, the party leadership played the safer ground of insisting on a role for Congress before any use of force.

Martin’s statement took a similar tact, stating, “Americans do not want a president who bypasses our constitution and pulls us towards war without Congressional approval. Donald Trump needs to bring his case to Congress immediately.”

Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine called Trump’s actions, “Horrible judgement” and said he’d “push for all senators to vote on whether they are for this third idiotic Middle East war.”

Many prominent Democrats with 2028 presidential aspirations had been silent on the Israel-Iran war, even before Trump’s announcement — underscoring how politically tricky the issue can be for the party.

“They are sort of hedging their bets,” said Joel Rubin, a former deputy assistant secretary of state who served under Democratic President Barack Obama and is now a strategist on foreign policy. “The beasts of the Democratic Party’s constituencies right now are so hostile to Israel’s war in Gaza that it’s really difficult to come out looking like one would corroborate an unauthorized war that supports Israel without blowback.”

Progressive Democrats also are using Trump’s ideas and words

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., had called Trump’s consideration of an attack “a defining moment for our party.” Khanna had introduced legislation with Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., that called on the Republican president to “terminate” the use of U.S. armed forces against Iran unless “explicitly authorized” by a declaration of war from Congress.

Related Articles White House photos show rare look inside the Situation Room as Trump authorizes strikes in Iran Trump’s big gamble in Iran is a risky moment after his pledges to keep US out of ‘stupid wars’ Trump’s move against Iran may draw more criticism from MAGA’s anti-interventionists Trump ignites debate on presidential authority with Iran strikes and wins praise from Republicans Watch: Trump addresses nation after U.S. military strikes on Iran nuclear facilities

Khanna used Trump’s own campaign arguments of putting American interests first when the congressman spoke to Theo Von, a comedian who has been supportive of the president and is popular in the so-called “manosphere” of male Trump supporters.

“That’s going to cost this country a lot of money that should be being spent here at home,” said Khanna, who is said to be among the many Democrats eyeing the party’s 2028 primary.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who twice sought the Democratic presidential nomination, had pointed to Trump’s stated goal during his inaugural speech of being known as “a peacemaker and a unifier.”

“Supporting Netanyahu’s war against Iran would be a catastrophic mistake,” Sanders said about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Sanders reintroduced legislation prohibiting the use of federal money for force against Iran, insisted that U.S. military intervention would be unwise and illegal and accused Israel of striking unprovoked. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York signed on to a similar bill from Sanders in 2020, but so far was holding off this time.

Some believed the party should stake out a clear anti-war stance.

“The leaders of the Democratic Party need to step up and loudly oppose war with Iran and demand a vote in Congress,” said Tommy Vietor, a former Obama aide, on X.

Mainstream Democrats are cautious, while critical

The staunch support from the Democratic administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for Israel’s war against Hamas loomed over the party’s White House ticket in 2024, even with the criticism of Israel’s handling of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Trump exploited the divisions to make inroads with Arab American voters and Orthodox Jews on his way back to the White House.

Today, the Israel-Iran war is the latest test for a party struggling to repair its coalition before next year’s midterm elections and the quick-to-follow kickoff to the 2028 presidential race. The party will look to bridge the divide between an activist base that is skeptical of foreign interventions and already critical of U.S. support for Israel and more traditional Democrats and independents who make up a sizable, if not always vocal, voting bloc.

In a statement after Israel’s first strikes on Iran, Schumer said Israel has a right to defend itself and “the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security and defense must be ironclad as they prepare for Iran’s response.”

FILE – Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., speaks during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)

Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., said “the U.S. must continue to stand with Israel, as it has for decades, at this dangerous moment.”

Other Democrats have condemned Israel’s strikes and accused Netanyahu of sabotaging nuclear talks with Iran. They are reminding the public that Trump withdrew in 2018 from a nuclear agreement that limited Tehran’s enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions negotiated during the Obama administration.

“Trump created the problem,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., posted on X.

The progressives’ pushback

A Pearson Institute/Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll from September 2024 found that about half of Democrats said the U.S. was being “too supportive” of Israel and about 4 in 10 said their level of support was “about right.” Democrats were more likely than independents and Republicans to say the Israeli government had “a lot” of responsibility for the continuation of the war between Israel and Hamas.

About 6 in 10 Democrats and half of Republicans felt Iran was an adversary with whom the U.S. was in conflict.

Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Linley Sanders, Will Weissert and Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report

Trump ignites debate on presidential authority with Iran strikes and wins praise from Republicans

By MARY CLARE JALONICK and LISA MASCARO, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s bombardment of three sites in Iran quickly sparked debate in Congress over his authority to launch the strikes, with Republicans praising Trump for decisive action even as many Democrats warned he should have sought congressional approval.

“Well done, President Trump,” Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina posted on X. Alabama Sen. Katie Britt called the bombings “strong and surgical.” The Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, said Trump “has made a deliberate — and correct — decision to eliminate the existential threat posed by the Iranian regime.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., questions Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during a Senate Committee on Appropriations subcommittee hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Defense, on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

The instant divisions in the U.S. Congress reflected an already swirling debate over the president’s ability to conduct such a consequential action without authorization from the House and Senate on the use of military force. While Trump is hardly the first U.S. president to go it alone, his expansive use of presidential power raised immediate questions about what comes next, and whether he is exceeding the limits of his authority.

“This was a massive gamble by President Trump, and nobody knows yet whether it will pay off,” said Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Democrats, and a few Republicans, said the strikes were unconstitutional, and demanded more information in a classified setting. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said that he received only a “perfunctory notification” without any details, according to a spokesperson.

“No president should be allowed to unilaterally march this nation into something as consequential as war with erratic threats and no strategy,” Schumer said in a statement. “Confronting Iran’s ruthless campaign of terror, nuclear ambitions, and regional aggression demands strength, resolve, and strategic clarity.”

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said that Trump “misled the country about his intentions, failed to seek congressional authorization for the use of military force and risks American entanglement in a potentially disastrous war in the Middle East.”

The quick GOP endorsements of stepped up U.S. involvement in Iran came after Trump publicly considered the strikes for days and many congressional Republicans had cautiously said they thought he would make the right decision. The party’s schism over Iran could complicate the GOP’s efforts to boost Pentagon spending as part of a $350 billion national security package in Trump’s “big, beautiful” tax breaks bill, which is speeding toward votes next week.

“We now have very serious choices ahead to provide security for our citizens and our allies,” Wicker posted on X.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune both were briefed ahead of the strikes on Saturday, according to people familiar with the situation and granted anonymity to discuss it. Thune said Saturday evening that “as we take action tonight to ensure a nuclear weapon remains out of reach for Iran, I stand with President Trump and pray for the American troops and personnel in harm’s way.”

Johnson said in a statement that the military operations “should serve as a clear reminder to our adversaries and allies that President Trump means what he says.”

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford, R-Ark., said he had also been in touch with the White House and “I am grateful to the U.S. servicemembers who carried out these precise and successful strikes.”

Breaking from many of his Democratic colleagues, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, an outspoken supporter of Israel, also praised the attacks on Iran. “As I’ve long maintained, this was the correct move by @POTUS,” he posted. “Iran is the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have nuclear capabilities.”

Both parties have seen splits in recent days over the prospect of striking Iran, including some of Trump’s most ardent supporters who share his criticism of America’s “forever wars.” Republican Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio posted that “while President Trump’s decision may prove just, it’s hard to conceive a rationale that’s Constitutional.”

Related Articles White House photos show rare look inside the Situation Room as Trump authorizes strikes in Iran Trump’s big gamble in Iran is a risky moment after his pledges to keep US out of ‘stupid wars’ Trump’s move against Iran may draw more criticism from MAGA’s anti-interventionists Democrats are at odds over the Israel-Iran war as Trump says US has struck Iranian nuclear sites Watch: Trump addresses nation after U.S. military strikes on Iran nuclear facilities

Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, a longtime opponent of U.S. involvement in foreign wars, also posted on X that “This is not Constitutional.”

“This is not our fight,” said Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.

Most Democrats have maintained that Congress should have a say, even as presidents in both parties have ignored the legislative branch’s constitutional authority. The Senate was scheduled to vote soon on a resolution from Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine that would require congressional approval before the U.S. declares war on Iran or takes specific military action.

Kaine said the bombings were “horrible judgment.”

“I will push for all senators to vote on whether they are for this third idiotic Middle East war,” Kaine said.

Democratic Rep. Greg Casar, the chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, also called on Congress to immediately pass a war powers resolution. He said politicians had always promised that “new wars in the Middle East would be quick and easy.”

“Then they sent other people’s children to fight and die endlessly,” Casar said. “Enough.”

Watch: Trump addresses nation after U.S. military strikes on Iran nuclear facilities

President Donald Trump says the U.S. military struck three sites in Iran, directly joining Israel’s effort to decapitate the country’s nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe amid Tehran’s threat of reprisals that could spark a wider regional conflict.

The decision to directly involve the U.S. comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran that have moved to systematically eradicate the country’s air defenses and offensive missile capabilities, while damaging its nuclear enrichment facilities. But U.S. and Israeli officials have said that American stealth bombers and a 30,000-lb. bunker buster bomb they alone can carry offered the best chance of destroying heavily-fortified sites connected to the Iranian nuclear program buried deep underground.

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency early Sunday acknowledged an attack on the country’s Fordo nuclear site.

US inserts itself into Israel’s war with Iran, strikes 3 Iranian nuclear sites

By SAM MEDNICK, AAMER MADHANI and DAVID RISING, Associated Press

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The United States struck three sites in Iran early Sunday, inserting itself into Israel’s war aimed at destroying the country’s nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe despite fears of a wider regional conflict.

Addressing the nation from the White House, President Donald Trump asserted that Iran’s key nuclear were “completely and fully obliterated.” There was no independent damage assessment.

It was not clear whether the U.S. would continue attacking Iran alongside its ally Israel, which has been engaged in a nine-day war with Iran. Trump acted without congressional authorization, and he warned that there would be additional strikes if Tehran retaliated against U.S. forces.

“There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran,” he said.

An Israeli flag is hung outside a damaged apartment two days after it was struck by a missile launched from Iran, in Ramat Gan, Israel, on Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)Israeli air defense system fires to intercept missiles during an Iranian attack over Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)A person illuminates a light inside a tent while spending the night in a public shelter as a precaution against possible Iranian missile attacks, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)Parnia Rahmanian, 13, lies unconscious in a hospital bed following Israeli strike that targeted her neighborhood, in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)People shout slogans during an anti Israel protest in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, June 21, 2025. The board on the left reads in Turkish: “Get out of Palestine”. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)A protester holds a portrait of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a rally to show solidarity with Iran in the Shi’ite district of Kazimiyah, in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)Children play in a public bomb shelter in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday, June 21, 2025, amid concerns over potential Iranian missile attacks. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)Show Caption1 of 7An Israeli flag is hung outside a damaged apartment two days after it was struck by a missile launched from Iran, in Ramat Gan, Israel, on Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)Expand

Iran’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, warned in a post on X that the U.S. attacks “will have everlasting consequences” and that Tehran “reserves all options” to retaliate.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations called for an emergency Security Council meeting to discuss what he described as the U.S.’s “heinous attacks and illegal use of force” against Iran.

In a letter obtained by The Associated Press Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, said that the U.N.’s most powerful body must “take all necessary measures” to hold the U.S. accountable under international law and the U.N. charter.

Early Sunday morning Israel alerted the public of an Iranian missile launch and urged people to take shelter. Iranian has been firing missile barrages at Israel since the war began but they have decreased in size as Israel targets Tehran’s missile launchers. The Islamic Republic may also be keeping some arms in reserve.

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran confirmed that attacks took place on its Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz sites, but it insisted that its work will not be stopped. Iran said there were no signs of radioactive contamination at the three locations and no danger to nearby residents.

Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, and U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that Tehran is not actively pursuing a bomb. However, Trump and Israeli leaders have claimed that Iran could quickly assemble a nuclear weapon, making it an imminent threat.

The decision to directly involve the U.S. in the war comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran that aimed to systematically eradicate the country’s air defenses and offensive missile capabilities, while damaging its nuclear enrichment facilities. But U.S. and Israeli officials have said American stealth bombers and the 30,000-pound (13,500-kilogram) bunker-buster bomb they alone can carry offered the best chance of destroying heavily fortified sites connected to the Iranian nuclear program buried deep underground.

“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump said in a post on social media. “All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.”

Trump added in a later post: “This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s decision to attack in a video message directed at the American president.

“Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities, with the awesome and righteous might of the United States, will change history,” he said. Netanyahu said the U.S. “has done what no other country on earth could do.”

Israel announced Sunday that it would close the country’s airspace to both inbound and outbound flights in the wake of the U.S. attacks.

The White House and Pentagon did not immediately elaborate on the operation. U.S. military leaders are scheduled to provide a briefing at 8 a.m. Eastern.

The attack used bunker-buster bombs on Iran’s Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant that is built deep into a mountain, a U.S. official said. The weapons are designed to penetrate the ground before exploding. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.

In addition, U.S. submarines launched about 30 Tomahawk missiles, according to another U.S. official who also spoke on condition of anonymity.

The strikes are a perilous decision, as Iran has pledged to retaliate if the U.S. joined the Israeli assault, and for Trump personally. He won the White House on the promise of keeping America out of costly foreign conflicts and scoffed at the value of American interventionism.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “gravely alarmed” by the “dangerous escalation” of American strikes.

“There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control — with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world,” he said in a statement.

Trump told reporters Friday that he was not interested in sending ground forces into Iran, saying it’s “the last thing you want to do.” He had previously indicated that he would make a final choice over the course of two weeks.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the United States on Wednesday that strikes targeting the Islamic Republic will “result in irreparable damage for them.” And Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei declared “any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region.”

Trump has vowed that he would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, and he had initially hoped that the threat of force would bring the country’s leaders to give up its nuclear program peacefully.

The Israeli military said Saturday it was preparing for the possibility of a lengthy war, while Iran’s foreign minister warned before the U.S. attack that American military involvement “would be very, very dangerous for everyone.”

The prospect of a wider war loomed. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said they would resume attacks on U.S. vessels in the Red Sea if the Trump administration joined Israel’s military campaign. The Houthis paused such attacks in May under a deal with the U.S.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that Trump planned to make his decision on the strikes within two weeks. Instead, he struck just two days later.

Trump appears to have made the calculation — at the prodding of Israeli officials and many Republican lawmakers — that Israel’s operation had softened the ground and presented a perhaps unparalleled opportunity to set back Iran’s nuclear program, perhaps permanently.

The Israelis say their offensive has already crippled Iran’s air defenses, allowing them to significantly degrade multiple Iranian nuclear sites.

But to destroy the Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant, Israel appealed to Trump for the bunker-busting American bomb known as the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, which uses its weight and sheer kinetic force to reach deeply buried targets and then explode. The bomb is currently delivered only by the B-2 stealth bomber, which is only found in the American arsenal.

It was the first combat use of the weapon.

Related Articles Watch: Trump addresses nation after U.S. military strikes on Iran nuclear facilities How the humble water gun became the symbol of Barcelona’s anti-tourism movement US starts evacuating some diplomats from its embassy in Israel as Iran conflict intensifies Trump says he’s ‘not looking for a fight’ with Iran but stands ready to act if necessary US spies said Iran wasn’t building a nuclear weapon. Trump dismisses that assessment

The bomb carries a conventional warhead, and is believed to be able to penetrate about 200 feet (61 meters) below the surface before exploding, and the bombs can be dropped one after another, effectively drilling deeper and deeper with each successive blast.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that Iran is producing highly enriched uranium at Fordo, raising the possibility that nuclear material could be released into the area if the GBU-57 A/B were used to hit the facility.

Previous Israeli strikes at another Iranian nuclear site, Natanz, on a centrifuge site have caused contamination only at the site itself, not the surrounding area, the IAEA has said.

Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 865 people and wounded 3,396 others, according to the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists. The group said of those dead, it identified 363 civilians and 215 security force personnel.

Trump’s decision for direct U.S. military intervention comes after his administration made an unsuccessful two-month push — including with high-level, direct negotiations with the Iranians — aimed at persuading Tehran to curb its nuclear program.

For months, Trump said he was dedicated to a diplomatic push to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions. And he twice — in April and again in late May — persuaded Netanyahu to hold off on military action against Iran and give diplomacy more time.

All the while, Trump has gone from publicly expressing hope that the moment could be a “second chance” for Iran to make a deal to delivering explicit threats on Khamenei and making calls for Tehran’s unconditional surrender.

The military showdown with Iran comes seven years after Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Obama-administration brokered agreement in 2018, calling it the “worst deal ever.”

The 2015 deal, signed by Iran, U.S. and other world powers, created a long-term, comprehensive nuclear agreement that limited Tehran’s enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Trump decried the Obama-era deal for giving Iran too much in return for too little, because the agreement did not cover Iran’s non-nuclear malign behavior.

Trump has bristled at criticism from some of his MAGA faithful who have suggested that further U.S. involvement would be a betrayal to supporters who were drawn to his promise to end U.S. involvement in expensive and endless wars.

Madhani reported from Morristown, N.J. Rising reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi in Iran; Mehmet Guzel in Istanbul; Josef Federman in Jerusalem; Samy Magdy in Cairo; Matthew Lee and Josh Boak in Washington; and Farnoush Amiri and Jon Gambrell in Dubai contributed to this report.

Rafael Devers powers SF Giants to win over old team with first home run

SAN FRANCISCO — Rafael Devers never harbored any concerns about hitting in San Francisco. In Devers’ mind, he didn’t need to change anything about his approach. The baseball, after all, is still the same.

“I know that I’m a power hitter,” Devers said through team interpreter Erwin Higueros on Friday. “If I hit the ball good, I know it will go out of any ballpark.”

Any ballpark, of course, includes Oracle Park. On Saturday afternoon at China Basin, Devers proved his power will play in the Bay against, appropriately enough, a team that knows his power all too well.

San Francisco Giants’ Rafael Devers (16) is all smiles after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

With his first homer as a Giant, a two-run, opposite-field shot, Devers powered San Francisco to a 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox — the only major-league team Devers had known for more than a decade. In Boston, Devers blossomed into one of baseball’s best players. In San Francisco, the Red Sox can only watch their former star from afar.

“I’m really happy that I was able to contribute to the win,” Devers said. “Hopefully (I can) continue to contribute, give my 100 percent and hopefully get more wins.”

Devers downplayed the significance of the homer, saying it was “nothing more special than any other home run that I’ve hit.” Considering what’s unfolded over the last week, there will be few homers in Devers’ career that will match the magnitude of his first with the orange and black.

“It kind of feels almost like a little weight fell off his shoulders when he hit that ball,” said starter Landen Roupp. “You could just see it. We expect many more from him in that area. Really excited to have him on the team, and I think he’s going to be a huge help.”

Devers went hitless over five at-bats in his first game against Boston in Friday’s 7-5 loss, then grounded out in his first plate appearance of Saturday’s game. When Devers stepped to the plate in the bottom of third, he had only recorded three hits in 17 at-bats with his new team.

Manager Bob Melvin never got the impression Devers was pressing even amidst all that had happened in the last week. If Devers was pressing, Melvin said “it certainly isn’t evident to me.” In his seventh at-bat against his former team, Devers finally met the moment.

With Andrew Knizner on first, the Red Sox’s Brayan Bello began his battle against Devers with a 95.7 mph four-seam outside fastball for a called strike. Bello, who played alongside Devers for four seasons, tried going back to that well. Devers sent the offering over the left-field fence for this 16th home run of the season, while sending the announce attendance of 39,027 into a frenzy.

“He’s my brother out there,” Devers said of Bello, “but we know that once we cross that line, we’re competing with each other. Whoever wins, wins. It was us this time.”

Added Melvin: “That’s kind of typical him, too. Let it travel, catch it late and block it out to left field. He’s done it so many times in Boston, and this park kind of plays that way to lefties as well. To get that one off his back, (he feels) good about that. Obviously, be incredibly impactful in the outcome of the game. Now, he can settle in and do his thing.”

Along with their new acquisition, the Giants saw their homegrown talent also contribute to Saturday’s win.

Heliot Ramos provided the appetizer to Devers’ entree with a solo homer, his 13th of the season, and Roupp turned in his seventh quality start of the year with seven strikeouts over six scoreless innings. For Roupp, Saturday’s outing allowed him to put behind one of the worst games of his career, when he allowed six runs while recording just five outs against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Roupp normally watches film of his previous start as he’s preparing for the next start, but the 26-year-old didn’t bother reviewing his outing against the Dodgers. Given how poorly he pitched, Roupp didn’t believe a film session was necessary. The mindset was simple: move on and compete.

“He’s a competitor,” Melvin said of Roupp. “It’s not like he backs off or he’s timid or anything on the mound. It’s just the opposite. Sometimes, it’s too much confidence in what he’s doing, if there’s such a thing. I didn’t worry about him worrying about it and lacking confidence when he took the mound today. He was just looking forward to getting back out there.”

Roupp earned his fifth win of the season but almost got stuck with a no-decision when Camilo Doval nearly blew a save in the ninth inning.

Doval entered with the Giants leading by three runs but the Red Sox began the ninth inning with three straight hits off Doval. Wilyer Abreu’s RBI single shrunk San Francisco’s lead to two runs, then a throwing error by Knizner allowed another run to score and whittled the Giants’ advantage to 3-2. Boston put a runner on third base with two outs, but Doval shut the door and secured the win.

The last five days have provided Devers with an opportunity to become acclimated with his new stomping grounds. He appreciates the love from his new fans, and after thrilling the Oracle Park crowd with the first of many homers, Devers made sure to send love right back to his old supporters.

“As we know, San Francisco and Boston have the greatest fans,” Devers said. “Now that I’m on this side, I really do appreciate how they have received me. But let’s not forget how good the fans in Boston are, too.”

San Francisco Giants’ Rafael Devers (16) throws his bat after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Dominic Smith (7) caches a foul ball hit by Boston Red Sox’s Ceddanne Rafaela (3) in the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 21, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 3-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants pitcher Randy Rodríguez (73) pitches against the Boston Red Sox in the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 21, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 3-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants pitcher Tyler Rogers (71) pitches against the Boston Red Sox in the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 21, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 3-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Boston Red Sox’s Nate Eaton (40) steals second base as San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) dives towards the bag in the ninth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 21, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 3-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello (66) pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Boston Red Sox’s Trevor Story (10) catches a fly ball hit by San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski (5) in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Heliot Ramos (17) connects for a solo home run in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Heliot Ramos (17) gestures after hitting a solo home run in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’s Daniel Johnson (56) catches a fly ball hit by Boston Red Sox’s Abraham Toro (29) in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp (65) pitches against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski (5) celebrates with teammate Willy Adames (2) after defeating the Boston Red Sox during their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 21, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 3-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski (5) celebrates with teammate Willy Adames (2) after defeating the Boston Red Sox during their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 21, 2025. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Boston Red Sox 3-2. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Show Caption1 of 13San Francisco Giants’ Rafael Devers (16) throws his bat after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Expand

Hunger strike begins as California prisons hand down biggest restrictions since COVID

Nearly two dozen state prisons last week imposed sweeping restrictions on their incarcerated population — including shutting off all outside communication. Now, hundreds of prisoners are reported to be on a hunger strike to protest the system’s largest restrictions since the pandemic.

The corrections department “significantly limited” the daily activities and movement of roughly 34,000 incarcerated people on June 12 in response to a recent uptick in violence, overdoses and contraband, according to its website.

Under the restrictions, incarcerated people are forced to remain primarily in their cell or dormitory. All in-person visitation, programming, phone access and tablet communications has been suspended. Medical care and other essential services will continue, the department said.

The department did not say when the restrictions will end.

Legal experts and advocates called the department’s move drastic and said the approach is solitary confinement in all but name.

“It’s a very lonely space to be in,” said Warren Hands, supervising parole success advocate at UnCommon Law, a nonprofit. “Addiction is real. Mental health issues are real. And they are exacerbated by these lockdowns.”

Corrections Secretary Jeff Macomber said in a written statement that the department has an obligation to ensure public safety for staff, incarcerated individuals and the communities.

“We recognize the concerns of the incarcerated and their families and how this impacts participation in rehabilitation programs and visiting,” he said.

The department published a press release late Tuesday that listed a number of armed assaults on staff members, armed battery on incarcerated people, and several riots in the weeks leading up to the restrictions, but did not attribute those incidents to specific prisons.

Families of incarcerated people say the restrictions are cruel and collective punishment. Angel Torrez said it feels unbearable to have no contact with his father, who is incarcerated at Folsom State Prison.

“I wonder if he’s safe and sound,” said Torrez. The department “is playing propaganda warfare. They are professionals of abstract, obtuse, and vague statements that are generated to keep families in the dark.”

At prisons across the country, lockdowns have become increasingly common due to staffing shortages. In California, the corrections department has imposed broad restrictions on incarcerated people twice in the span of three months.

Prisons report ‘surge in violence’

The last restrictions on March 8 were placed on nearly a dozen prisons due to a “surge in violence against staff and incarcerated people.” They ended on April 11. During that time, at least three incarcerated people were killed and one officer reportedly was attacked.

In recent years, the department has come under fire for its approach to managing violent incidents and contraband. It was criticized by a Sacramento County Superior Court Judge in 2022 for creating violence when it merged incarcerated people from the general population with those who were previously protected, such as informants, bypassing established procedures in the process.

The following year, an oversight agency found that drugs continued to get inside California prisons during the pandemic when public health protocols prohibited visits.

“It’s an open secret that staff are the primary vector of contraband into the prison,” said Sharon Dolovich, a law professor at UCLA.

She said a lockdown may be a useful tool if it’s done in a limited way, but the department’s blanket policy appears to be hard to defend.

“This is a blunt instrument when they should be using a scalpel,” she said. “The question is the relationship between the ill that they are trying to wrestle with and the strategy that they are adopting to try to address it. I remain unconvinced that a lockdown of this scale is necessary to address this problem.”

Hunger strike in Salinas

One day after the corrections department implemented the restrictions, incarcerated people at Salinas Valley State Prison formally declared a hunger strike.

“This action arises in response to persistent and unlawful practices by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, including the use of indiscriminate lockdowns, deprivation of rehabilitative and constitutional rights, and collective punishment of the incarcerated population,” they wrote in a letter provided to CalMatters. “This protest is not rooted in defiance but in our firm demand that (the corrections department) adhere to its obligations under the U.S. Constitution, California Penal Code, and Title 15 of the California Code of Regulations.”

Corrections spokesperson Terri Hardy said the department has procedures to monitor and evaluate hunger strikes.

Brooke Terpstra, a member of the anti-prison group Oakland Abolition & Solidarity, estimated that upwards of 500 people are participating in the strike. He suspects incarcerated people at other prisons with restrictions will join.

“All hunger strikes are notable, but this is a major occurrence,” he said. “(The department’s) unified collective punishment has produced a unified collective response. It’s inspiring.”

Cayla Mihalovich is a California Local News fellow.

Red Sox phenom Roman Anthony says Rafael Devers ‘always great to me’ before trade to Giants

SAN FRANCISCO – Roman Anthony’s parents have an affinity for Napa Valley wine, and on their annual visits from Florida, their youngest son tagged along to a few games at Oracle Park.

Friday night saw them all return, only this time Anthony was the Boston Red Sox’s designated hitter, a role Rafael Devers flourished in before his trade Sunday to the Giants.

“I’ve been here quite a few times. I got to watch Tim Lincecum throw as a kid,” Anthony said. “It was always fun. It’s just a great ballpark.”

Anthony is Boston’s next great prospect, and last week’s big-league debut helped temper Red Sox Nation’s outrage over Devers’ departure.

“I got to know him a little bit last year and spent time with him in camp this year. He was always great to me,” Anthony said. “He was always great to watch. Obviously when you have a hitter who’s generational like him, it’s great and you learn from watching him.”

Boston Red Sox’s Roman Anthony (19) prepares to swing against the San Francisco Giants in the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, June 20, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

What exactly could Anthony — and, now, young Giants players — learn from watching a professional hitter like Devers?

“You watch their routines. You watch how on-point they are with everything they do,” Anthony said. “How good his cage work is and everything he does, it’s no mistake why he is as good as he is.”

Red Sox manager Alex Cora coined this series’ reunion with Devers as “awkward,” considering his contributions the past 8-plus seasons.

“If you look at the list of homers in the franchise (10th, with 215), and base hits (24th, with 1,136), the (2018) World Series ring, there’s a lot of stuff Rafi did for us that we’re going to miss,” Cora said. “We’re very proud of him. To see him here it’s going to be different.

“He’s going to keep doing his thing over here.”

Devers is 3-for-16 since joining the Giants, including an 0-for-5 outing in Friday night’s 7-5 series-opening loss to Boston.

Rather than good riddance, several Red Sox players joined Cora in wishing Devers well in San Francisco, which inherited his $313.5 million contract through 2034.

“It was a very difficult moment for me and for us, but I feel he’s going to be successful anywhere he goes,” outfielder Wilyer Abreu said. “My best wishes to him. Hopefully he’ll stay healthy and he’ll do a great job.”

San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers (16) walks in the dugout after grounding out in the 5th inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, June 20, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Shortstop Trevor Story has no doubt Devers can add to Oracle Park’s modest total of 106 “Splash Hits” over the right-field arcade.

“He can definitely do it – one of the most prolific hitters in our game and one of the most powerful guys, for sure,” Story said.

What Story would not weigh in on is the controversy that factored into Devers’ exit: Whether he’ll play first base when not the DH.

Devers rebuffed repeated questions about his Boston tenure, but did note: “I would say I have put up good numbers over at Boston and I do feel I’ve earned some respect. If they would have asked me at the beginning of spring training, yes I would have played (first base).”

Cora said he’s not surprised that Devers, the Red Sox’s third baseman the past eight seasons, is fielding grounders at first base before games this week for Giants’ skipper Bob Melvin, who’s removed Devers from consideration as a third baseman.

Cora insisted the Red Sox’s motive for the trade was nothing personal.

“People have their opinions about the whole thing – communication, first base, DH, third base, the manager, the GM, the owner. Whatever. It’s a baseball trade,” Cora said. “From my end, I turn the page. I’ve got 26 guys in that locker room that are ready to go. We’re in a good spot, playoff-wise, right? It’s still early in the season but the guys are doing an outstanding job in the moment.  We have a big series here and our goal is to win.”

Anthony went 1-for-4 Friday night, ripping an RBI single 112 mph up the middle and then scoring on an error to put Boston ahead 5-4 in the fifth.

Last week, he doubled in his second game for his first big-league hit, while parents Tony and Lori sat in the front row with other family and friends. His first home run came Monday in his road debut at Seattle.

Anthony entered Friday’s game with only two hits in 27 at-bats since his June 9 debut, a game in which he collected his first RBI on a groundout that drove in, of all people, Devers.

“That first week at home was a whirlwind, with a lot of people there,” Anthony recalled. “It was great but it was kind of nice to be past the first week, strap it in, get to Seattle, handle everything on my own, and getting my first (home run) out of the way was cool.”

Anthony was only 3 when Barry Bonds was finishing his career in 2007 – and hitting his 35th Splash Hit.

“That’s something that would be cool, to run into one and see that out there,” Anthony said. “That’s really unique with people in the kayaks and everything out there. That’d be fun, for sure. That’d be nice.”

Both Anthony and Devers almost hit home runs Friday night, only their blasts went the opposite way to the left-field warning track for deep flyouts.

While Anthony’s roster spot isn’t officially linked to Devers’ departure, Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks were two former Giants pitchers acquired in the trade and both recently pitched on the side at Triple-A Worcester.

Cora said of that duo, starting with Harrison: “We expect big things out of him, just like they did. A special fastball. We saw it last year at one point, so we’re excited about that. … Hicks threw live BP yesterday and today he felt OK with the toe. It’s another good arm we’ll have in the bullpen. He’s going to fit right in and help us win a lot of games.”Related Articles SF Giants fall to Red Sox in Rafael Devers’ first game against former team SF Giants’ Rafael Devers says time with Red Sox is ‘in the past’ SF Giants get Logan Webb a win, avoid sweep thanks to Wilmer Flores’ clutch two-run double SF Giants playing ‘banged up’ through four-game losing streak ahead of series finale with Guardians Zander Darby grew up watching SF Giants. Now he’s living out his dream just down the road.

Boston is 40-37 with visions of postseason contention.

“(Devers’ trade) was more a shock to the system for a bit. We did a good job not letting it hang around,” Story said. “There’s ball to be played and we know we have a good team. We’ve built a lot of momentum the past two weeks, and we’re looking to continue that even though we lost Rafi.”

Horoscopes June 21, 2025: Chris Pratt, you have more control than you realize

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Lana Del Rey, 40; Jussie Smollett, 43; Prince William, 43; Chris Pratt, 46.

Happy Birthday: You have more control than you realize. Refuse to let anyone overshadow you. Stand tall, prepare and engage, and you will discover what’s possible and the best way to come out on top. Being secretive and unassuming will throw any adversary off guard, allowing you to fulfill your dreams. Learn by observing and fine-tuning your plans to ensure victory this year in love, finance and health. Put yourself first. Your numbers are 8, 12, 20, 28, 32, 36, 42.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Protect against being misdirected or taken advantage of by those looking for a quick money grab. Gimmicks and offers that are too good to be true will tempt you. Do your homework before venturing down a path for the wrong reason. Put your energy where it brings the most satisfaction and rewards. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Distance yourself from those who disturb what you are trying to accomplish. Visiting a place that enriches your mind and offers insight into using your time to maximize your skills will lead to success and help you connect with someone who can further your goal. Romance and self-improvement are favored. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Let creativity lead you and enforce changes that inspire you to follow your heart and soothe your soul. Refuse to let anger trigger what you do when innovative thoughts and positive acts will guide you to a better place. Set a budget, and figure out how to reach your goal with no regrets. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Limit, restructure and redistribute, making room for what’s meaningful. Taking charge and letting go of unnecessary items and pastimes to make room for what makes you feel alive will rejuvenate and set the stage for a bright future. Don’t wait to see what others do; lead the way. Your life, your decisions. 4 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Rethink your day and take care of responsibilities first. Make last-minute adjustments and learn as you go. Discipline and alternative thinking will get you further than following the crowd or sticking to tradition. Take pride in what you do, and don’t apologize for being different. Your people will find you. 2 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Gather information and use your experience to push your way into the spotlight. Attend events that allow you to shine and attract interest. An outgoing approach will put you in an influential position and encourage you to express your beliefs, findings and prospects confidently. High energy and enthusiasm will attract attention. 5 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Unusual concepts and people will draw you. Tread carefully to avoid being captivated by someone offering beliefs different than your own. Trust your instincts, verify information and follow the most comfortable path. Pay attention to your surroundings and make changes that are conducive to your comfort and convenience. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Don’t skip a beat. Your mind, body and soul are eager to reach whatever goal you set. Opportunity is apparent through networking, travel and determining who you want to spend time getting to know better. Love is on the rise, and personal self-improvement will attract attention. Invest time and money in yourself. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Spend more time on self-improvement. Anger will surface if you venture out or debate with someone. Pay attention to your surroundings and be ready to counter any negativity that comes your way. Take care of domestic problems and spaces requiring adjustments to make life easier. Thinking ahead will eliminate waste. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Review important papers, update documents and handle matters with expiration dates and penalties. Opportunities are apparent if you socialize or sign up for something of interest. Budget for the extras you want to implement into your routine before you start. Ask questions and get what you want in writing. 5 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Focus on what you have and the maintenance necessary to stabilize your life. Refuse to let others dominate you. Address what’s meaningful to you and concentrate on pleasing yourself. Show discipline when handling money and avoid unnecessary expenses. A change at home will turn out better than anticipated. Put yourself first. 2 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Lead the way and don’t look back. Consider how to make your environment user-friendly. Check what’s happening in your community, or attend an event that promises to inspire and push you in a direction that excites you. Today offers endless options if you get moving and take advantage of what life offers. 4 stars

Birthday Baby: You are comprehensive, articulate and chivalrous. You are perceptive and elaborate.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes.2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others.3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals.4 stars: Aim high; start new projects.5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

Want a link to your daily horoscope delivered directly to your inbox each weekday morning? Sign up for our free Coffee Break newsletter at mercurynews.com/newsletters or eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.