Sources identified the target as a dock allegedly used by the Tren de Aragua gang to store and transport narcotics. According to The New York Times, no casualties occurred as the site was empty, but the strike represents the first confirmed US operation inside Venezuela.

CNN initially broke the news, providing context to an incident President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged, overriding typical CIA secrecy.

Speaking Monday, Trump avoided operational specifics but confirmed US responsibility, The New York Times noted. "There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs," Trump told reporters. "They load the boats up with drugs. So we hit all the boats, and now we hit the area. It's the implementation area, that's where they implement, and that is no longer around."

While the Venezuelan government offered no direct comment, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello blasted the "imperial madness" and ongoing "harassment, threats, attacks, persecution, robberies, piracy and murders."

Both the CIA and the White House declined to comment, according to The New York Times. Trump had warned of expanding anti-Maduro measures to land targets, with the CIA compiling data on drug facilities in Colombia and Venezuela.

Previous US pressure involved seizing tankers and intercepting boats in international waters. The New York Times stated the drone strike occurred inside Venezuela, likely Wednesday, aligning with Trump's Friday remarks about an attack two days earlier. The campaign targets Tren de Aragua and Maduro, though intelligence agencies question the administration's claims of close ties between them.

Washington holds a prior indictment against Maduro and recently increased the reward for his capture to $50 million. The New York Times previously reported that Trump authorized CIA missions in Venezuela and directed the agency to prepare options.

While the CIA frequently used drones in Yemen and Pakistan under Obama, recent strikes have typically been conducted by the US military. It is unclear if the drone was CIA or military property; officials declined comment, but the Pentagon has stationed Hellfire-armed MQ-9 Reapers in Puerto Rico.

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The Iran International channel, which is affiliated with Iran's opposition, reported overnight (between Sunday and Monday) that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been developing biological and chemical warheads for long-range ballistic missiles.

The report also stated that the IRGC's Aerospace Force has been working on manufacturing the unconventional warheads for ballistic missiles while transferring launchers to areas in eastern Iran. "These activities have accelerated in recent months, against the backdrop of regional tensions and Tehran's fear of the possibility of another direct confrontation with Israel and the US," the report said.

Trump-Netanyahu meeting

The report comes hours before the scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump in Florida, which was moved up to 8:00 p.m. Israel time. The talks between the leaders are expected to focus on the Iranian issue, amid concerns that Tehran has been rehabilitating ballistic missile production facilities and repairing air defense systems that were damaged during the war in June.

"Complementary deterrent factor"

According to Iran International, the IRGC's plans include optimizing ballistic missiles so they can carry biological or chemical material. One of the sources claimed that the IRGC, while preparing for scenarios of wide-scale confrontation, has been building capabilities that decision-makers in the Islamic Republic view as a "complementary deterrent factor," alongside Iran's conventional missile program.

The push to develop chemical and biological warheads comes half a year after Iran's foreign minister described his country as "the greatest victim of chemical weapons in modern history," referring to the chemical weapons attack carried out by Saddam Hussein in the city of Sardasht in western Iran – an attack that, according to OPCW documentation, claimed the lives of more than 100 people in a large-scale mustard gas attack.

When asked about the contradiction between these statements, one of the sources said: "The Iranian leadership views potential Israeli and American strikes as a threat to its very existence, and intends, in the event of confrontation, to significantly raise the price for the opposing side." According to that source, among the highest decision-making ranks in the Islamic Republic, there is a perception that "the use of unconventional weapons can be justified in situations of existential threat."

"Unusual activity"

Last week, the outlet reported that Western intelligence agencies had identified "unusual" activity by the IRGC's Aerospace Force and had increased monitoring and surveillance of these movements. In Iran, the use of unconventional weapons has allegedly been banned for religious reasons.

In 2003, it was reported that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issued a "fatwa" against developing nuclear weapons, but before the Israeli strike on Iran and the 12-day war, Israel was no longer certain he would even announce the cancellation of this "fatwa" publicly – which would allow detection that Iran was building such a weapon.

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This was the first occasion in modern financial history where a manufacturing commodity surpassed a premier technology corporation in worldwide asset rankings.

Global markets confronted a fifth consecutive year of supply shortfalls, intensified by China's strengthening export restrictions scheduled to commence January 1, 2026. Simultaneously, successive interest rate reductions by the US Federal Reserve enhanced the appeal of non-yielding holdings such as precious commodities, driving additional capital flows into the sector.

Silver retreated after securing an all-time high exceeding $80 per ounce on Monday, while gold prices softened from near-record levels as investors locked in gains and geopolitical concerns appeared to ease, Reuters reported. The shift in sentiment curbed the aggressive safe-haven buying that has characterized recent sessions.

Following the extraordinary price appreciation, asset valuations were briefly reorganized across major categories. Gold commands the apex at $31.5 trillion, while silver now registers approximately $4.7 trillion, narrowly exceeding Nvidia's roughly $4.6 trillion valuation. Apple follows at approximately $4.0 trillion, with Alphabet controlling around $3.8 trillion, Microsoft holding approximately $3.6 trillion, and Bitcoin totaling roughly $1.8 trillion.

The metal's advancement to the runner-up slot resulted from a remarkable 170–180% appreciation throughout the calendar year. The commodity functions as a dual-purpose asset, proving indispensable for high-growth manufacturing sectors including photovoltaic panel production, battery-electric vehicle systems, and artificial intelligence data center infrastructure.

Spot gold dropped 1.7% to $4,455.35 per ounce by 1321 GMT, slipping from Friday's record of $4,549.71, while US gold futures for February delivery fell by an identical margin to $4,474.80, according to Reuters.

The pullback was even sharper for other precious metals. Spot silver lost 5.1% to trade at $75.15 per ounce, falling from an intraday peak of $83.62. Reuters noted that this correction comes amidst a broader sell-off in the sector.

Platinum prices slid 6.9% to $2,281.15 per ounce after reaching a record $2,478.50, while palladium experienced a steep decline of 11.9% to $1,694.75 per ounce, the wire service reported.

"This morning's (gold) price decline, which follows record highs, is attributable mainly to traders taking profits ahead of the year-end,"  ActivTrades analyst Ricardo Evangelista was quoted by the outlet.

The analyst further observed that "Tentative optimism from the US administration regarding progress in the Ukraine peace talks also represents a mild headwind."

This sentiment followed comments from US President Donald Trump, who stated on Sunday that he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were "getting a lot closer, maybe very close" to a deal to end the conflict, according to Reuters.

Despite the day's losses, bullion has climbed roughly 72% this year, mainly due to factors such as  relaxed US monetary policy, dollar weakness, global friction, and robust central bank purchasing.

Silver has significantly outperformed gold, registering a 181% increase year-to-date. Reuters identified key drivers as its classification as a US critical mineral, persistent supply deficits, and rising appetite from both industrial users and investors.

Attention now turns to the release of the Federal Reserve's December meeting minutes on Tuesday, which investors hope will provide clarity on the interest rate trajectory, the outlet noted.

Traders have currently priced in two rate reductions for the coming year. Reuters explained that assets without yield typically prosper during periods of low interest rates.

"Gold prices are trading at an elevated premium, and downside risks could emerge if a hawkish pivot by the Federal Reserve were to surprise and/or large ETF outflows were to affect the market," UBS analysts said in a note.

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That last issue may be the most critical. Iran is the engine driving regional wars and terrorism. Israeli intelligence and security establishments have devoted extensive work to preparing the case, assembling the evidence and drawing the conclusion that as long as the current regime in Tehran remains in power, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to advance meaningful processes on any of Israel's other fronts. This includes expanding the Abraham Accords to Saudi Arabia and other partners.

In Lebanon, Iran maintains Hezbollah, rebuilds its capabilities and missile arsenal in the Beqaa Valley, and bars the terrorist organization from any compromise regarding disarmament. Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah's secretary-general, has escalated his rhetoric by the day. In Syria, Iran stirs friction through militias and tribes it supports in order to prevent an arrangement with Israel, while also attempting to establish terrorist cells along the Golan Heights border.

In Gaza, Iran operates through its proxies under the leadership of Hamas, hardening the organization's positions in negotiations to prevent the surrender of weapons and governing authority. It also threatens the Gulf states, warning that in the next military confrontation it would strike oil facilities and paralyze tanker traffic in the Persian or Arab Gulf.

Yet on the path toward confronting Iran, Israel is dealing with a very friendly US administration whose internal views differ, both on Iran and on several other arenas.

Back to war with Iran?

According to American and Israeli sources, one side of the divide includes envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, while the other includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, backed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Witkoff and Kushner, who in practice manage the negotiations on behalf of the president, are pushing for rapid progress across all fronts.

On Iran, the Defense Department, led by Hegseth, supports the intelligence Israel has provided regarding Iran's renewed buildup of missile systems and air defenses. Hegseth aligns with Rubio's hardline approach toward Iran, including the demand for an ultimatum before any negotiations begin. Witkoff, by contrast, believes Iran can be prevented from returning to its nuclear program and is particularly wary of renewed war, partly because of the danger Iran poses to other Gulf states and their oil infrastructure.

Gaza is at the top of the talks alongside Iran, in part because of the president's strong desire to move toward a complete end to the war. Here, Witkoff and Kushner argue for advancing to Phase Two, pressuring Israel to open the Rafah crossing and prepare for a second withdrawal. Sources say they are seeking workarounds to the issue of Hamas disarmament, potentially stretching the process over a long period. Rubio, whose department in previous Democratic administrations often pushed to impose solutions on Israel, is taking the opposite approach this time.

According to the sources, Rubio has presented more cautious positions and insists on adhering to the Trump plan framework. That means demanding Hamas' disarmament and the transfer of governing authority before a full Israeli withdrawal. Rubio is also cautious on Turkey and supports Israel's position opposing the involvement of Turkish troops in the multinational ISF force. Defense Secretary Hegseth, who receives briefings from US Central Command chief Gen. Brad Cooper and from the headquarters in Kiryat Gat, is aware of Hamas' violations, its seizure of aid supplies and the importance of an Israel Defense Forces presence in the Gaza Strip. Another unresolved issue is the role of the Palestinian Authority in weapons collection and in the new governance arrangement in Gaza.

Political sources who spoke with Israel Hayom say there is a strong likelihood of an announcement on the new governing body and the international oversight mechanism, as well as a date for opening Phase Two talks, even though the body of hostage Ran Gvili has not yet been returned. Gvili's family traveled with the prime minister's delegation to showcase the need for full implementation of Phase One before moving to the next one. A compromise is likely to include a presidential statement affirming the necessity and commitment to bringing Ran home, along with caveats tying progress to the next phase to that obligation.

The internal US debate has not escaped Israeli attention. An Israeli official said it is clear who in the administration is briefing against Israel in an effort to create pressure for concessions and a rapid but dangerous agreement to end the war. Witkoff is expected to attend the president's meeting with Netanyahu, while the prime minister met separately with Rubio on Monday, ahead of the meeting with Trump.

The opportunity 

Two additional issues that Trump and his team want to advance in meetings with Netanyahu are civilian talks with the Lebanese government and negotiations over a security arrangement with the al-Sharaa administration in Syria. Here, US officials see an opportunity to set positive processes in motion that could pull the entire region forward. According to a regional diplomat, differences over Syria can be bridged, and with Lebanon there are many shared interests that could form the basis of a future agreement.

Netanyahu himself said last week, in response to a question from Israel Hayom, that Israel wants to see a sovereign and stable Lebanon. In the same breath, he added that Hezbollah terrorists operated by Iran must be addressed.

Syria introduces an additional player to the talks: Turkey. Ankara, the patron of al-Sharaa, is seeking to establish a full protectorate and in doing so to restrict Israel's freedom of action in Syrian airspace and on the ground.

That airspace is critical for Israel on the route to Iran. According to unverified reports, Turkey is moving radar batteries into Syrian territory, which would enable it to detect Israeli Air Force flights.

Two more issues are also expected to come up. One is the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on security assistance between the two countries, which is set to expire in 2027 and now requires groundwork in preliminary talks. Alongside this, the sides are expected to raise economic, technological and trade relations, from tariffs to cooperation in advanced technology research.

The breadth of issues is likely to necessitate a second meeting between Netanyahu and Trump. Tuesday has been left open on the schedule, partly to allow room for such a meeting. Another option is that the prime minister will remain in the US and the meeting will take place next week. That scenario is likely if truly significant developments emerge.

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The divide pits Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner against Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has the support of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

Witkoff and Kushner, who are effectively managing the contacts on behalf of the president, are pushing for rapid progress on all fronts, including progression to Phase 2 and compelling Israel to reopen the Rafah crossing while preparing for the second withdrawal. According to these sources, they have pursued workarounds to Hamas disarmament requirements, potentially considerably extending the timeline.

Rubio, who leads the department that historically pressured Israel toward concessions during Democratic administrations, has adopted the opposite approach. According to the sources, his positions emphasize caution and adherence to Trump's 20-point framework. Specifically, he insists on stripping Hamas of weaponry and transferring governance authority before any complete Israeli pullback.

Rubio has also exercised restraint on the Turkish question (Turkey's role in regional security frameworks), endorsing Israel's position against incorporating Turkish forces into the International Security Force (the multinational contingent envisioned for Gaza). Hegseth, who receives intelligence from Central Command chief Brad Cooper and the Kiryat Gat Civil-Military Coordination Center, recognizes Hamas violations, aid theft, and the necessity of maintaining IDF presence in the Strip. The Palestinian Authority's involvement in weapons collection and future Gaza Strip governance represents another unresolved dispute.

The Iranian challenge

Regarding Iran, the Defense Department and Hegseth validate intelligence Israel provides about reconstituted missile arrays and air defense networks, aligning with Rubio's firm position on Iran and issuing an ultimatum before entertaining negotiations.

Witkoff maintains that preventing Iran's nuclear resurgence remains achievable while objecting primarily to warfare resumption, citing risks to additional Gulf nations and their petroleum infrastructure from Iranian retaliation. Notably, this stance enjoys near-universal administration support, particularly since Israeli actions including settlement expansion undermine normalization prospects. Trump administration factions advocate applying Israeli sovereignty over West Bank territories within comprehensive agreements, resembling proposals from the Deal of the Century (Trump's 2020 Middle East peace initiative) unveiled six years ago.

This internal debate has not escaped Israeli attention. An Israeli official acknowledged that certain administration figures brief against Israel, manufacturing pressure for compromises and expedited yet perilous war-ending arrangements. Witkoff will join the presidential meeting with Netanyahu, while the prime minister separately consults Rubio, whose positions apparently kindle optimism in Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, applying Israeli law throughout Judea and Samaria will surface among numerous discussion topics during Trump-Netanyahu deliberations, Israel Hayom confirmed from multiple involved sources. Surprisingly, American pressure for advancing such initiatives exceeds Israeli momentum, following senior evangelical figures expressing determination to pursue it.

Northern arrangements

Trump and his team prioritize advancing two initiatives during Netanyahu meetings: civilian discussions with Lebanon's government and security arrangement negotiations with Syria's al-Sharaa administration. The administration perceives opportunities for launching positive developments potentially transforming the entire region. A regional diplomat noted that Syrian disagreements permit bridging while Lebanon presents abundant mutual interests forming foundations for eventual agreements.

Netanyahu himself responded to Israel Hayom inquiries this week that Israel envisions sovereign, stable Lebanon. He simultaneously emphasized addressing Hezbollah operatives directed from Iran.

Militarily, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has achieved merely partial success exposing Hezbollah's southern bunkers and arsenals, with Washington meetings addressing operational approaches following expired deadlines for Hezbollah's southern disarmament, minimally.

Syria introduces an additional dialogue partner: Turkey, al-Sharaa's benefactor, pursuing comprehensive protectorate zones while constraining Israeli aerial and terrestrial operations inside Syrian territory. Israel requires this airspace critically for Iranian approaches, with Turks reportedly deploying radar batteries into Syrian territory capable of detecting Israeli Air Force movements, according to unconfirmed accounts.

Iran dominates discussions both specifically regarding reconstituted missile capabilities and broadly concerning Israeli demands for fundamental Iranian problem resolution. Israeli delegations will present evidence documenting Iranian involvement stoking regional terror organizations and independently initiating terror operations.

The objective demands recognition that addressing Iran requires comprehensive treatment, otherwise regional conflicts persist or cyclical confrontations recur monthly. Assessments suggest minimal agreement on intensified, severe sanctions regimes surpassing current measures, systems producing additional economic weakening of Iran's collapsing economy.

Two additional subjects emerge. First, the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), the bilateral security understanding expiring 2027, requiring foundational preliminary negotiations currently. Concurrently, bilateral trade relations, and technology and economic matters surface, spanning tariff questions through elite technology research collaborations.

The agenda's breadth will probably necessitate subsequent meetings between both leaders, with alternatives including delegating certain matters to ministerial and professional echelons.

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But, we also know Operation Rising Lion last June achieved its objective first and foremost because it took Iran completely by surprise. To that end, a range of deceptive narratives were spread, confusing the Israeli and American public, and certainly Iran's leaders and senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officials.

So what are we supposed to make of all this?

In the topsy-turvy reality we are living in, does it mean Israel is heading toward a coordinated strike on Iran, with or without the US? Are all these reports designed to distract everyone to enable a surprise scenario in Lebanon or Gaza? Or are they meant to divert attention from a US intention to push Israel into the next phase in Gaza, contrary to the prime minister's intent?

Or, perhaps, the meeting is meant to serve the domestic political needs of both leaders, who could use a public display of closeness amid the internal and external storms bearing down on Israel and the US?

These questions are fascinating, but it is important to consider the possibility that all this chatter is indeed meant to distract attention, but from something else entirely: the Netanyahu government's growing difficulty in coordinating policy with the Trump administration on fundamental issues.

The deep strategic coordination between Israel and the US should, in recent months, have matured into the launch of negotiations to formulate a new decade long Memorandum of Understanding, known as an MOU. The current MOU is set to expire in about two years, and judging by the previous round, the process of shaping a new one should already have begun.

The previous MOU, signed in 2016, codified the web of strategic cooperation between Israel and the US. It also included an American funding package for the purchase of US-made weaponry from the American defense industry totaling about $3.3 billion a year, plus an additional $500 million package for Israel's procurement of missile interceptors.

Netanyahu knows all of this well. He was prime minister then, too, and the negotiations on Israel's behalf were led by my colleague Professor Yaakov Nagel, who at the time served as acting head of the National Security Council.

Netanyahu is delaying the launch of the process, possibly because he fears Trump is not eager to approve a new MOU. On the other hand, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said publicly this week that while it is a presidential decision over which he has little influence as ambassador, he believes conditions will ripen for signing another MOU.

In a normal situation, one would add to this the fact that the previous US president signed a presidential statement given to Israel's government during his visit in the summer of 2022, in which the US committed to the continuity of MOUs with Israel even after the current one ends. True, this was during Prime Minister Yair Lapid's tenure and under US President Joe Biden, but today, unfortunately, continuity of decision-making between governments and administrations does not appear to carry much weight.

In Washington, there are currently winds calling for cuts to US foreign aid. Unfortunately, voices are also multiplying among extremists on both the right and the left calling for an end to all US backing for Israel. Precisely because of this, it should be the perfect moment for an experienced prime minister like Netanyahu to put this issue at the center of his meeting with Trump. He should show that now is the time to make America's commitment visible for all to see, not only to Israel's security but to the value of strategic cooperation between the two countries.

This is the moment to showcase Israel's significant contribution to US national security: through procurement of US weapons systems; operating them in a real operational environment that encourages their improvement; extensive and deep intelligence cooperation that protects US forces in our region; and the opportunity to shape the Middle East in a positive direction through a partnership in which Israel bears most of the security burden.

At the same time, such an MOU would entrench Israel's standing in the region as the US' leading ally, and at the heart of a pragmatic alliance in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, cooperating against shared enemies such as Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood.

This is an issue of fundamental importance to Israel's national security. All that remains is to hope that Netanyahu addresses it as well in his meeting with Trump.

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"Merry Christmas to all, including the Radical Left Scum that is doing everything possible to destroy our Country, but are failing badly," Trump wrote in his holiday message.

"We no longer have Open Borders, Men in Women's Sports, Transgender for Everyone, or Weak Law Enforcement," the president declared, adding that under his leadership, the situation had dramatically improved.

"What we do have is a Record Stock Market and 401K's, Lowest Crime numbers in decades, No Inflation, and yesterday, a 4.3 GDP, two points better than expected. Tariffs have given us Trillions of Dollars in Growth and Prosperity, and the strongest National Security we have ever had. We are respected again, perhaps like never before. God Bless America!" Trump concluded.

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During the visit, an additional meeting between the two leaders is also possible, as previously revealed by Israel Hayom. Netanyahu is also scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as with evangelical figures, public officials and representatives of Jewish communities.

Key issues on the agenda

The central topics to be discussed by the two leaders are the front against Iran and the implementation of Phase Two of the American president's 20-point plan for the Gaza Strip.

Unlike Netanyahu's previous visits, which took place at the White House in Washington, this time he is expected to meet Trump at the president's private residence, the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where Trump is staying for the holiday period. The prime minister is not expected to stay at Mar-a-Lago itself but rather at a hotel in Palm Beach.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Prime Minister's Office announced that Gal Hirsch, the government's coordinator for captives and missing persons, had departed for Cairo, where he met with senior officials and representatives of the mediating parties in an effort to secure the return of the body of fallen captive Sgt. First Class Ran Gvili. The statement said that representatives of the Israel Defense Forces, the Shin Bet security agency and the Mossad also took part in the delegation.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated publicly that "The State Department is taking decisive action against five individuals who have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize, and suppress American viewpoints they oppose." He asserted that "these radical activists and weaponized NGOs have advanced censorship crackdowns by foreign states—in each case targeting American speakers and American companies."

Their admission into America therefore creates "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences," he contended, declaring that "Based on these determinations, the Department has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on agents of the global censorship-industrial complex who, as a result, will be generally barred from entering the United States.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the European Commission "strongly" condemned Washington's decision to ban five people from entering the country – including former commissioner Breton – over allegations they suppressed free expression.

"Freedom of expression is a fundamental right in Europe and a shared core value with the United States across the democratic world," the European Commission's statment read. "The EU is an open, rules-based single market, with the sovereign right to regulate economic activity in line with our democratic values and international commitments. Our digital rules ensure a safe, fair, and level playing field for all companies, applied fairly and without discrimination."

The Commission warned it is prepared to take countermeasures: "We have requested clarifications from the US authorities and remain engaged. If needed, we will respond swiftly and decisively to defend our regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures."

For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose. The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.

Today, @StateDept will take steps to…

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) December 23, 2025

The Digital Services Act mandates that major technology corporations, including Google and Meta, intensify policing of illegal content or confront substantial fines.

Breton, whose commissioner tenure spanned 2019 to 2024, posted on X: "Is McCarthy's witch hunt back? As a reminder: 90% of the European Parliament — our democratically elected body — and all 27 Member States unanimously voted the DSA." He also wrote: "To our American friends: "Censorship isn't where you think it is."

Josephine Ballon, who co-directs the non-profit organization HateAid and sits on Germany's Advisory Council of the Digital Services, was among anti-disinformation workers receiving sanctions. Her co-director Anna-Lena von Hodenberg also faced restrictions. The organization called the US move an "act of repression," Barrons reported.

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The labor organization representing America's career diplomats verified this constitutes the first such widespread recall targeting career diplomats serving as ambassadors or mission chiefs. "Those affected report being notified abruptly, typically by phone, with no explanation provided," American Foreign Service Association spokeswoman Nikki Gamer informed The New York Times. "That method is highly irregular."

"The lack of transparency and process breaks sharply with longstanding norms," Gamer declared. After consulting institutional archives, the union determined it "can say definitively that such a mass recall has never happened since the founding of the Foreign Service as we know it," Gamer added.

"This is a standard process in any administration," the State Department declared when questioned about the recalls. "An ambassador is a personal representative of the president, and it is the president's right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda."

An unofficial roster circulated within diplomatic networks on Monday, The New York Times reported. The document indicated that ambassadors from every global zone faced recall, with approximately a dozen stationed in sub-Saharan Africa receiving exit orders. Multiple diplomats confirmed the list's general reliability.

Trump hasn't selected candidates for several vacant sub-Saharan African ambassadorships. Globally, scores of US embassies operate without confirmed ambassadors. In these cases, deputy mission chiefs – usually career diplomats – function as acting mission leaders.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio supervised what he termed a "reorganization" of the department this year. The department declared approximately 1,300 layoffs in July, affecting 264 foreign service officers. Numerous terminated diplomats held Washington assignments between overseas postings and worked in offices targeted for elimination.

Ambassador candidates receive presidential nominations followed by Senate confirmation, The New York Times noted. Two categories of ambassadors exist: career diplomats and political appointees. Political appointees typically include presidential donors or associates who traditionally submit resignations during administration changes. This practice occurred following Trump's January swearing-in, with resignations immediately accepted. Career diplomats, by contrast, usually continue serving well into successor administrations under established precedent. The Trump administration disclosed no justification for the recalls and made no public declaration.

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