Patriots, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is telling the truth that too many in Washington have been afraid to say…##

Radical Islam poses a serious threat to the entire world, and yes — I agree with him completely.

This isn’t about peaceful Muslims who want to live quietly and assimilate. It’s about the toxic, supremacist ideology that motivates terrorism, subjugates women, persecutes religious minorities, and seeks to replace Western liberty with Sharia law. From Hamas and Hezbollah to ISIS and the Iranian regime, radical Islam has left a trail of bloodshed across the globe. It fuels endless conflict in the Middle East, inspires attacks in Europe’s streets, and threatens America’s homeland.

We’ve seen the pattern for decades: 9/11, the Pulse nightclub massacre, the Boston Marathon bombing, countless European attacks, and the daily rocket fire on Israel. These aren’t random acts of violence. They stem from an ideology that views non-believers as inferior and martyrdom as glorious. Europe’s experiment with mass migration has delivered no-go zones, grooming gangs, honor violence, and rising antisemitism — a warning America must heed.

Secretary Rubio’s statement is a welcome dose of honesty. For too long, political correctness has forced leaders to pretend that radical Islam is no different from any other faith. It isn’t. It is a political-theological system at war with modernity, individual rights, and Judeo-Christian civilization. President Trump has always understood this. His travel bans, strong support for Israel, and America First foreign policy treated the threat seriously instead of wishing it away.

We can respect individual Muslims who reject extremism while firmly confronting the radical ideology that seeks to conquer or destroy us. Secure borders, honest vetting, and zero tolerance for Sharia infiltration aren’t bigotry — they are basic national survival.

Raise your hand if you agree with Secretary Marco Rubio: Radical Islam is a serious threat to the world! It’s time to stop the denial and defend Western civilization without apology.

No apologies. No retreat. America First means protecting our people and our values from every existential threat.

The Diplomatic Efforts

Pakistan continues serving as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran, with Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir heading to Iran for consultations with Iranian officials. The behind-the-scenes engagement represents a critical diplomatic channel as tensions remain elevated across the region.

President Trump expressed “cautious optimism” to Fox News anchor Bret Baier about reaching a deal within a week, according to reporting on the discussions. However, significant obstacles remain in the negotiation process.

The Strait of Hormuz Dispute

Iran’s proposal to implement a “tolling system” in the Strait of Hormuz-charging commercial vessels for passage-emerged as a major sticking point. Rubio called the proposal unacceptable and warned it would derail any potential diplomatic agreement.

“No one in the world is in favor of the tolling system,” Rubio said. “It can’t happen. It would be unacceptable.” The strait handles nearly one-fifth of global oil exports, making any disruption a concern for markets and governments worldwide.

Iran claims sovereignty over the waterway and has introduced what it calls the Persian Gulf Strait Authority to regulate maritime transit. Under the system, vessels would require prior authorization and follow guidance from Iranian officials before crossing.

What This Means

Rubio signaled that military action remains on the table if Iran continues refusing to reopen shipping routes. “If Tehran refuses to reopen the route, the US and its partners can’t just sit around and hope for the best,” he stated, noting Washington must develop contingency plans.

The European Union moved Friday to expand sanctions targeting those responsible for blocking the strait, implementing travel bans and asset freezes against identified individuals. Lebanon’s health ministry reported that Israeli strikes have killed more than 3,100 people since March 2, with combat against Iran-backed Hezbollah continuing despite a ceasefire agreement reached in mid-April.

This story has been updated. CNN’s international affairs team contributed to this report.