The sanctions target the Autistici/Inventati Collective, described in a State Department press statement as a digital services operation specifically built to provide far-left militant groups with the means to organize, recruit, communicate, and carry out violent actions — all while remaining beyond the reach of the law. The collective, which has operated for more than two decades, provides encrypted email, messaging, and hosting services that have been used by activist groups across Europe and North America. U.S. officials now assert that these privacy-focused tools have been weaponized to shield illegal coordination and planning.

Far-left terrorism poses a profound threat to the United States and the broader West. Today, the United States sanctioned several transnational far-left terrorist networks, including Autistici/Inventati – a major far-left tech collective whose services are used by the most active…

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) August 26, 2026

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the action as part of a broader crackdown on far-left extremist networks operating across borders. Rubio, who has made countering what he characterizes as rising left-wing political violence a priority since taking office, framed the sanctions as necessary to protect national security and maintain public order in the face of what his office describes as an evolving and increasingly coordinated threat.

The sanctions also hit Palestine Action, a United Kingdom-based organization involved in pro-Palestinian direct actions, and Masar Badil, a transnational network with branches in Europe and Canada that the State Department says operates as a front for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Palestine Action has been involved in protests and property damage targeting facilities tied to defense contractors, while Masar Badil describes itself as a grassroots Palestinian organization focused on advocacy and mobilization. The inclusion of these groups alongside tech infrastructure providers signals a wide-ranging approach to disrupting what the administration views as interconnected militant ecosystems.

According to the State Department, the targeted groups allegedly support violent political extremism or act as fronts for designated militant organizations. The designations rely on executive authority granted under several federal statutes that allow the government to impose economic penalties on entities determined to threaten U.S. national security, foreign policy, or economic interests.

State Department spokesperson Thomas Pigott issued a statement Wednesday:

“Violent far-left terrorist networks, such those targeted today, pose a threat to the United States and our foreign partners. There will be no refuge for violent extremists who wage war on our civilization and plot to undermine law and order, destroy critical infrastructure, assault political opponents, or conceal their crimes from authorities. We will use all the tools and authorities at our disposal to fight terrorism and protect our way of life.”

Under the new sanctions, all property and interests of the designated groups that fall under U.S. jurisdiction are now blocked. All U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the sanctioned entities. This means that any individual or organization within the United States that provides material support, financial assistance, or services to the designated groups could face civil or criminal penalties. The practical effect is intended to isolate the targeted networks from the global financial system and limit their operational capacity.

Last month, Rubio met with delegates from dozens of countries to address what he described as a “resurgence of transnational far-left terrorism” — driven by a globally networked group of far-left extremists turning to violence to advance their political agenda. That diplomatic effort was aimed at building international consensus around shared definitions of extremism and coordinating enforcement actions across allied nations. The sanctions announced this week appear to be a direct follow-up to those discussions, reflecting a coordinated policy shift within the administration.

The Treasury Department joined the State Department in coordinating the sanctions action. This interagency collaboration underscores the seriousness with which the administration is treating the issue and ensures that financial enforcement mechanisms are fully deployed alongside diplomatic measures.

The State Department ordered diplomatic posts to reschedule all immigrant visa interviews until consular officers complete mandatory training on new public-charge guidance. Under federal immigration law, a public-charge determination can block a visa applicant if officials believe the person will likely become dependent on government benefits after arriving in the U.S. The public-charge test has existed in American immigration law for more than a century, originally designed to prevent immigrants from becoming wards of the state. However, its application has varied significantly across different presidential administrations, with debates over which government benefits should count against applicants and how to weigh factors like age, health, education, and financial resources.

“To accommodate this in-depth training, appointments for visa services will be adjusted.”

The pause hit applicants mid-process, many of whom had already invested months or even years navigating the complex visa application system, submitting extensive documentation, and paying substantial fees. Those who received cancellation emails were told they’d get a future interview date — but no timeline for when that reschedule notice would arrive. The training sessions are expected to run through this week at most posts. For many applicants, the uncertainty adds stress to an already anxiety-inducing process, particularly for those who have quit jobs, sold property, or made other irreversible commitments in preparation for their anticipated move to the United States.

A State Department official said the training ensures visa evaluations are made “comprehensively and consistently.” Translation: stricter standards, applied uniformly across the board. The emphasis on consistency suggests the administration identified what it viewed as uneven application of public-charge rules across different embassies and consulates, with some posts potentially approving applicants who might have been denied elsewhere.

The move is the latest chapter in President Trump’s broader immigration enforcement overhaul, which has touched nearly every aspect of America’s immigration system since he returned to office. While Trump campaigned hard on illegal immigration in 2024, focusing much of his messaging on border security and deportations, his administration has also tightened the screws on legal immigration pathways — from six-figure fees for H-1B work visas to new limits on how long foreign students and journalists can stay. The dual approach marks a significant expansion beyond the campaign rhetoric that primarily emphasized undocumented immigration.

The administration has also revoked visas over political activity and speech, including targeting anti-Israel activists. Those crackdowns have triggered court challenges alleging free-speech and due-process violations, with civil liberties organizations arguing that denying entry based on political viewpoints violates constitutional principles even when applied to foreign nationals.

And the numbers keep climbing. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said more than 100,000 visas have been revoked under the department’s continuous vetting program, with DUIs among the primary criminal offenses prompting action against foreign nationals. The continuous vetting program represents a departure from traditional practices where visa holders were generally not subject to ongoing review unless they triggered specific red flags or applied for visa renewals.

This week, the administration announced it’s preparing to revoke business and tourism visas for up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for asylum — what would be the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history. The move targets individuals who entered on temporary visas but subsequently sought asylum protections, a practice the administration characterizes as abuse of the visa system.

Not every move has gone smoothly. On Friday, a federal judge struck down a State Department policy that suspended immigrant visa issuance to applicants from 75 countries, ruling that Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his statutory authority. The legal setback demonstrates the constitutional limits on executive power over immigration policy, even as the administration continues pursuing other avenues to restrict entry.

But the Trump team isn’t backing down. The worldwide pause on immigrant visa interviews signals one thing: the vetting process just got a lot harder — and applicants waiting overseas are feeling it in real time. The ripple effects extend beyond individual applicants to U.S. businesses awaiting foreign employees, American families separated from relatives abroad, and diplomatic relationships with countries whose citizens face expanded scrutiny.

The State Department is expected to announce the sweeping action in the coming weeks, according to internal documents and two U.S. officials. The move would mark the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history.

“People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims. Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law.”

The effort targets B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to foreigners who entered as temporary visitors but then filed for asylum to remain permanently. The decade-long timeframe suggests the administration views this pattern of behavior as a systemic problem that transcends any single presidency or policy approach, affecting visa holders who entered under both Republican and Democratic administrations.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed the crackdown in a statement.

“We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently,” Pigott said.

The coordination between the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security reflects the complex jurisdictional nature of immigration enforcement, where visa issuance falls under State Department authority while immigration enforcement and asylum processing are handled by DHS. This interagency approach is necessary because the two departments maintain separate databases and operate under different legal frameworks.

Pigott did not confirm the exact number affected, saying the revocations would occur on a “rolling basis” and the total remained “dynamic.” This incremental approach suggests the process will unfold over an extended period rather than as a single mass cancellation, potentially allowing officials to adjust their strategy based on legal challenges or operational obstacles that emerge.

The move would not automatically trigger immediate deportations. Foreigners with pending asylum cases would be reclassified but would lose their status as business or tourist travelers, officials said. This distinction is significant because it means affected individuals would remain in the country while their asylum claims are adjudicated through the immigration court system, a process that can take months or years given current backlogs. However, losing their nonimmigrant visa status could affect their ability to work legally or travel internationally while their cases are pending.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said Monday that asylum should not be used to bypass immigration laws.

“People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims,” Landau wrote on X. “Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law.”

B1 visas are typically issued for business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism, family visits and medical care. Applicants must demonstrate that they plan to return to their home countries. This requirement, known as demonstrating “nonimmigrant intent,” is central to the State Department‘s concern. Officials argue that individuals who file for asylum after entering on these visas misrepresented their intentions during the application process, undermining the integrity of the visa system.

The potential revocations come as the Trump administration cracks down on what it considers widespread abuse of the immigration system. The administration has made immigration enforcement a central priority, arguing that existing pathways have been exploited by those seeking to circumvent legal immigration channels designed for permanent residency.

The State Department has revoked roughly 175,000 visas over the past 18 months — a crackdown that has already set records before this latest action. That earlier wave of revocations targeted various categories of visa holders, including those with suspected ties to security concerns and those who violated the terms of their admission. The scale of those actions, which already represented an unprecedented level of visa cancellations, provides context for understanding how dramatically this new 200,000-visa revocation would expand enforcement efforts.

If carried out, the 200,000-visa revocation would dwarf that total and could face legal challenges from open-borders advocates. Immigration attorneys and advocacy organizations have historically contested large-scale administrative actions affecting visa holders, arguing they may violate due process protections or exceed executive authority.

The announcement is expected in the coming weeks.

The visa cancellations mark a dramatic acceleration of immigration enforcement — rising from 8,000 revocations per month earlier in the administration to roughly 10,000 per month now.

According to State Department officials, the vast majority of cancellations stemmed from criminal charges filed after local law enforcement encounters.

Leading causes included driving under the influence, assault, theft, drug offenses, reckless driving, and severe allegations involving sexual battery, child abuse, and human trafficking.

The pace of revocations has accelerated significantly, rising from an average of 8,000 per month earlier in the administration to roughly 10,000 per month.

The State Department also highlighted financial fraud cases — including a multi-million-dollar Medicaid scheme — and targeted organized birth tourism networks.

One embassy in North Africa revoked over 100 visas issued to parents accused of traveling solely to secure U.S. birthright citizenship for their children.

Beyond criminal charges, the Trump administration has expanded visa revocations on foreign policy and national security grounds.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio personally ordered cancellations for diplomatic and security reasons, targeting individuals linked to hostile foreign governments such as Cuba and Iran.

The State Department confirmed it also revoked visas belonging to foreign nationals who posted online comments celebrating the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk or endorsing violence against U.S. officials and citizens.

Rubio announced the crackdown on social media last September.

America will not host foreigners who celebrate the death of our fellow citizens.

Visa revocations are under way. If you are here on a visa and cheering on the public assassination of a political figure, prepare to be deported. You are not welcome in this country. pic.twitter.com/dQys2OAeK7

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) September 16, 2025

Officials explained the crackdown is necessary to ensure public safety, emphasizing that holding a U.S. visa remains a privilege rather than a legal right.

The administration’s enforcement posture signals a sharp departure from prior immigration policy — with visa revocations now enforcing not just criminal conduct but foreign policy alignment and social media vetting as part of the framework.

The high-level gathering represents a significant shift in how Washington approaches economic security, elevating mineral independence to the same strategic tier as energy independence and defense manufacturing. For decades, policymakers treated mining as primarily an environmental issue rather than a national security concern, allowing vital supply chains to migrate overseas with little strategic consideration for long-term consequences.

The event comes as the White House looks to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains while replenishing weapons stockpiles depleted during the war with Iran.

This dual challenge—rebuilding arsenals while simultaneously restructuring the industrial base that supplies them—illustrates the complexity of reversing decades of strategic drift. Previous administrations outsourced these concerns to market forces, assuming global trade would remain stable and adversaries would never weaponize their control over essential resources.

Breaking China’s grip on critical minerals is a national security imperative.

The roundtable brings together mining executives and national security officials to address the strategic vulnerability created by decades of offshoring mineral extraction to hostile nations.

This cross-sector collaboration marks a departure from the siloed approach that traditionally kept Pentagon planners separate from industrial policy discussions. By convening both private sector leaders and security officials in the same room, the administration is acknowledging that America’s defense capabilities rest fundamentally on its industrial capacity and resource access.

Trump’s focus on domestic mining reverses years of environmental policy that pushed rare-earth mineral production overseas — directly into China’s hands.

Beginning in the 1990s, increasingly stringent environmental regulations made domestic mining economically unviable for many operations. Companies faced years-long permitting processes and mounting legal challenges, while Chinese firms operated under far looser standards. The result was a wholesale migration of mineral extraction and processing to China, which welcomed the strategic leverage these industries provided.

Critical minerals power everything from fighter jets to guided missiles to smartphones. China currently controls roughly 70% of global rare-earth processing capacity, giving Beijing leverage over American defense contractors and tech manufacturers.

This dominance extends beyond simple extraction. China has invested heavily in the complex refining and processing infrastructure required to transform raw minerals into usable materials for advanced manufacturing. Even minerals mined elsewhere often must be shipped to China for processing, creating chokepoints throughout the supply chain that Beijing could exploit during any geopolitical crisis.

“Reducing reliance on Chinese supply chains while replenishing weapons stockpiles depleted during the war with Iran.”

The administration is working to fast-track domestic mining permits and strengthen partnerships with allied nations like Australia and Canada that have significant mineral deposits.

These partnerships offer a middle path between complete domestic self-sufficiency and dangerous dependence on adversaries. By building integrated supply chains with trusted allies who share America’s security interests, the administration aims to create resilient networks that can withstand geopolitical shocks while remaining economically competitive.

Environmental groups have long opposed new mining projects in the United States, citing habitat concerns. But national security analysts argue that dependence on China for materials essential to weapons systems is a far greater threat.

This tension between environmental protection and national security creates difficult tradeoffs that policymakers can no longer avoid. The question is not whether mining carries environmental costs, but whether those costs are acceptable compared to the strategic risks of maintaining the status quo.

The Iran conflict exposed supply chain weaknesses when weapons stockpiles ran low. Replenishing those arsenals requires minerals that currently flow through Chinese-controlled supply chains.

The munitions expenditure rates during that conflict shocked many defense planners who had grown accustomed to limited, precision-strike campaigns. High-intensity warfare consumes vast quantities of missiles, artillery shells, and other weapons that require steady flows of specialized materials—materials America can no longer produce in adequate quantities without Chinese cooperation.

Trump’s mining push is part of a broader economic security strategy that includes tariffs on Chinese goods and reshoring of strategic industries.

The State Department roundtable signals that mineral security is now a cabinet-level priority, with diplomatic efforts focused on securing new sources outside China’s reach.

Elevating these discussions to the State Department—rather than confining them to the Commerce or Interior departments—demonstrates how thoroughly economic and security considerations have merged in Trump’s strategic framework. Diplomacy now serves industrial policy as much as traditional geopolitical objectives.

Patriots know Trump doesn’t wait for permission to protect American interests — he acts while the establishment wrings its hands over imaginary risks.

The unprecedented rebuke marks a dramatic escalation in diplomatic tensions between Washington and Madrid, signaling that the Trump administration views Europe’s migration crisis not merely as a continental problem but as a direct threat to American national security interests. The State Department’s willingness to publicly condemn a NATO ally represents a significant departure from traditional diplomatic protocol and underscores the administration’s determination to make border security a central pillar of its foreign policy.

“The Ceuta invasion is the direct result of the Spanish government’s deliberate efforts to enable and facilitate mass illegal migration into Europe,” the department declared in a statement.

The statement didn’t mince words.

“We are considering actions to defend Americans at home and abroad from this threat and stand ready to assist other European allies considering similar options.”

The carefully worded threat of potential “actions” leaves the door open for a range of responses, from economic measures to security cooperation adjustments. Diplomatic observers note that the phrase “assist other European allies” appears designed to drive a wedge between Spain’s socialist government and more conservative European nations that have resisted mass migration policies, including Hungary, Poland, and Italy.

President Trump connected the chaos directly to America’s border fight.

“It is terrible,” Trump said Friday morning. “That’s going to be us in three years if the wrong side gets in. If the Democrats get in, you will not live a very good life.”

The president’s comments reflect his long-standing argument that migration policy represents an existential choice for Western nations. By framing the Ceuta situation as a preview of America’s potential future, Trump is effectively using Spain as a cautionary tale in the ongoing domestic debate over border security ahead of the 2028 election cycle.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted a graphic image from the New York Post and warned patriots what’s at stake: “If the Democrats take back power, they will immediately reopen our border and allow millions of unvetted migrants to pour into our country again.”

The Ceuta invasion happened Thursday with the quiet backing of Morocco’s government and the passive acquiescence of Spain’s socialist leadership.

Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city located on the North African coast, has long been a flashpoint in European migration debates. The enclave’s unique geographic position—surrounded by Morocco on three sides and the Mediterranean Sea on the fourth—makes it particularly vulnerable to orchestrated migration surges. The city’s border fence, designed to prevent illegal crossings, was apparently overwhelmed by the sheer volume of migrants attempting simultaneous entry.

Spain’s pro-migration government promised “decisive action” on Friday — but that action may consist of waving the 50,000 Muslim migrants through to mainland Spain, then on to Germany, Poland, Hungary, Ireland, and the rest of Europe.

The prospect of redistribution across the European Union raises thorny questions about sovereignty and the bloc’s already-strained migration agreements. Eastern European nations have consistently resisted mandatory migrant quotas, while countries like Germany and Sweden have borne disproportionate shares of previous migration waves, leading to political backlash and the rise of populist parties across the continent.

Spain’s socialist government is already using executive power to grant amnesty to more than 1 million Muslim and South American migrants without a parliamentary vote. The amnesty is expected to trigger chain migration of an additional 2 million family members.

Spain’s population is roughly 49 million.

The inflow would be equivalent to 20 million migrants moving into America.

That proportional comparison helps illustrate the scale of demographic transformation Spain faces. Such rapid population changes have historically produced significant social, economic, and political disruptions, particularly when cultural integration lags behind the pace of arrivals. Critics of the socialist government’s approach argue that Spain’s social services infrastructure and labor market cannot absorb such numbers without severe strain.

The State Department’s blame-Spain framing helps the U.S. maintain working relations with Morocco, which plays a key role in the Trump administration’s efforts to broker a stabilizing peace deal between Israel and nearby Muslim-majority countries.

Morocco’s strategic importance extends beyond Middle East peace negotiations. The North African kingdom also serves as a critical partner in counter-terrorism operations and regional stability efforts. By directing criticism at Spain rather than Morocco, the administration preserves diplomatic flexibility while still addressing what it views as a migration crisis with global implications.

Many Spanish socialists want to destroy Spain’s ethnic democracy by importing a vast diversity of government-dependent migrants — despite Islam’s documented hostility to Western values and the high crime rates of Muslim and Moroccan migrants across Europe.

The United States stands with the people of Spain, and all Europeans, against this egregious violation of their sovereignty and human rights.

This unacceptable incident is the direct result of the Spanish Government's deliberate efforts to enable and facilitate mass illegal…

— Department of State (@StateDept) July 31, 2026

If the Democrats take back power, they will immediately reopen our border and allow millions of unvetted migrants to pour into our country again. https://t.co/XopJ3KvUFl

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) July 31, 2026

Two U.S. service members were killed in Jordan on Friday in an Iranian ballistic missile and drone attack.

The announcement warned Americans worldwide, especially in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution.

“The security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation. We remind Americans in the region of the continued need for caution and encourage them to monitor the news for breaking developments.”

U.S. Central Command announced Saturday night it had completed another round of strikes meant to degrade Iran’s capacity to launch missile and drone attacks at commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The strikes also targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces responsible for the service members’ deaths.

“CENTCOM forces successfully hit Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites to continue degrading Iranian military capabilities,” the statement said.

The U.S. struck Iran for the eighth night in a row this week after a fragile peace agreement unraveled earlier in the month.

The State Department’s announcement also warned that “U.S. diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted.”

Groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world, according to the alert.

Saturday’s announcement also warned of potential flight cancellations and periodic airspace closures.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on Saturday the U.S. would face “unforgettable consequences” if it continued attacking Iran.

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he is open to wiping out the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and has threatened throughout the conflict to escalate military operations, including by ordering a ground invasion of Kharg Island.

The department last issued a Worldwide Caution advisory on March 22, about a month after fighting broke out between the two countries.

Worldwide Caution: Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation. We remind Americans in the region of the continued need for caution and encourage them to monitor the news for breaking… pic.twitter.com/A3LKEQSRiO

— TravelGov (@TravelGov) July 18, 2026

The Minnesota Board of Pardons, comprised of Walz, state Attorney General Keith Ellison and state Chief Justice Natalie Hudson, granted clemency to Laotian national Tou Lue Vang, 42, on June 10. Vang was scheduled to be deported from the United States before the pardon.

State Department Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson didn’t mince words.

“Governor Walz’s pardon of a convicted foreign sex offender was a grave and unconscionable betrayal of the very people he is supposed to defend.”

Vang was convicted for repeatedly raping a 10-year-old girl between 2002 and 2004. After his arrest, he told authorities “it is a cultural thing… to marry and have sex with girls as young as 12.”

Rubio revoked Vang’s visa earlier this month, and he was deported back to Laos.

At a Tuesday press conference, Walz offered a strange defense of the clemency move — arguing that deporting a convicted child rapist somehow didn’t make America safer.

“Did that make us any safer?” Walz asked. “Did that make the children that are left behind any more stable? Did it improve the idea that we can’t all be judged by our worst day?”

Walz did admit that Vang’s crimes were “horrific.”

But that admission didn’t stop Johnson from unloading again.

“Walz sides with foreign criminals. Secretary Rubio sides with the American people. Walz wants open borders. This administration ended the era of mass migration. Walz endangered the American people. Secretary Rubio protected them.”

When Rubio announced last week that the State Department had bypassed Walz’s pardon and deported Vang, he blasted the Minnesota governor for shielding a predator in the first place.

“Americans should never have to live in fear that foreign sex predators — shielded from deportation by their own elected officials — could endanger them or their children,” Rubio said.

“That’s why I terminated his legal status in the United States. Vang has now been removed from our country and will never pose a threat to any American ever again.”

At the time of Vang’s pardon, the Department of Homeland Security feared that the move would shield the criminal illegal alien from deportation.

“Governor Tim Walz’s decision to pardon an illegal alien convicted child rapist so he can remain in our country is disgusting,” DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said at the time.

“These are the criminal illegal aliens he and his Minnesota sanctuary politicians are protecting.”

The charges remain allegations. The case has not been proven in court.

Scavino told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview that she views her appointment as part of Trump’s broader effort to elevate American culture alongside American history ahead of the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration.

“I WAS A DAY ONE HIRE BY PRESIDENT TRUMP BECAUSE JUST LIKE WE’VE SEEN WITH THE KENNEDY CENTER, HE WANTED TO MAKE THE PERFORMING ARTS GREAT AGAIN, AND HE ALSO PUT ME AT ART IN EMBASSIES TO MAKE VISUAL ARTS GREAT.”

The Art in Embassies office has existed since 1964, placing American artwork in nearly 190 diplomatic properties around the world as a form of cultural diplomacy. Scavino said the nation’s 250th anniversary offered an opportunity to introduce the program to a broader audience.

Opening July 30 at the Art Museum of the Americas, “Passport to Patriotism: 250 Years of Diplomacy” brings together more than 30 contemporary American artists whose work explores patriotism, diplomacy, military service, immigration and national identity.

The exhibition, presented through a partnership between the State Department’s Office of Art in Embassies and the American Arts Conservancy, will be free to the public through Oct. 18.

The exhibition spans dozens of contemporary works exploring patriotism through photography, painting, sculpture and fashion, with each gallery approaching the American story from a different perspective.

Among the featured works is “Gallantly Streaming” by acclaimed artist Barbara Ernst Prey, a sweeping interpretation of the American flag that anchors the exhibition’s exploration of national identity.

Internationally recognized pop artist Romero Britto also reimagines the Statue of Liberty in his signature bold palette for the exhibit, layering vibrant colors against the Stars and Stripes to celebrate what Scavino described as the enduring promise of the American dream.

The exhibit features a powerful series of photographs by Korina Marie Moore, whose images capture moments of military service through a deeply personal lens. Moore’s photographs spotlight the men and women who serve — from sailors gathered around a U.S. Navy vessel to service members standing watch as the Statue of Liberty rises across New York Harbor and the solemnity of Arlington National Cemetery.

Visitors will also encounter an America 250 haute couture gown created specifically for the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration, inspired by Betsy Ross’ flag.

For Scavino, the exhibit represents the latest chapter in a career that unexpectedly led from “The Apprentice” to the Trump administration.

“THE COMMON THREAD THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS IS PRESIDENT TRUMP. THAT’S WHY I ALWAYS THANK HIM SO MUCH FOR THESE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.”

Scavino said one of her goals was to create an exhibition that feels welcoming to visitors who might never consider themselves “art people.”

“Art has become sort of a gatekeeping situation or something that’s only for the rich or the elite,” she said. “I wanted to say, ‘Hey, no. We want kids. We want grandparents. We want moms. We want families. We want dads. We want people all over the world to come to this museum because there is something for everyone.'”

Each artwork includes QR codes allowing visitors to hear directly from artists about their work and creative process, an effort Scavino said makes the exhibit more approachable.

“You don’t have to have your nose in the air saying, ‘Oh, that Monet’ or ‘That Degas,'” she said. “You’re going to see a flag. You’re going to see a sculpture. You’re going to hear Americans tell their stories.”

Scavino pointed to Romero Britto’s colorful Statue of Liberty piece, “Liberty for All,” as one example of the American dream reflected throughout the exhibit.

“When I think about his hearts or his Statue of Liberty, it just makes me think about the American dream,” she said. “He is so patriotic and he loves this country.”

One of the exhibition’s most unexpected pieces isn’t a painting or sculpture — it’s a couture gown inspired by Betsy Ross’ American flag.

Scavino said the idea came while she was searching for a wedding dress ahead of her February wedding to fellow Trump administration official Dan Scavino at Mar-a-Lago, when she discovered designer Kate Wasserbach Moore, whose appreciation for American history sparked an unusual collaboration.

“I cold-called her out of the blue and said, ‘Can you create a dress that looks like something one of the wives of our Founding Fathers would have worn and make it patriotic?'” Scavino recalled.

The finished design, featuring flowing red-and-white accents inspired by Betsy Ross’ flag, was created for the exhibition rather than the aisle, adding fashion to a collection that otherwise spans photography, painting and sculpture.

Although Art in Embassies typically works overseas, Scavino said creating a major public exhibition in Washington had been one of her goals since taking over the office.

“I started with a dream because Art in Embassies is generally overseas,” she said. “I wanted to do something, to start a footprint here in the United States.”

For Scavino, the exhibition is ultimately less about individual works than the conversations they may inspire.

“What I love about art is it’s totally different from politics,” she said. “You can get in the door by talking about art… and maybe instead of tear down, we can come together.”

She said that’s especially important because, for many people overseas, an American embassy may be their first — and sometimes only — connection to the United States.

Scavino hopes visitors leave with a deeper appreciation not only for the artwork, but for the stories it tells about the nation it represents.

“You only get to celebrate 250 years once,” she said. “So let art be a way of celebration.”

The move legitimizes a regime led by a former al-Qaeda fighter who once battled U.S. forces in Iraq.

“I think I will, yeah. I think I will, why wouldn’t I? He’s done a great job,” Trump told reporters when asked about lifting the terror designation.

“I think I will, yeah. I think I will, why wouldn’t I? He’s done a great job.”

The State Department followed with a Wednesday press release formalizing the decision. Al-Sharaa’s movement, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), split from al-Qaeda in 2017, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The State Department revoked HTS’s Foreign Terrorist Organization designation in 2025.

JUST IN: President Trump is REMOVING Syria as being designated a State Sponsor of Terrorism

Q: Will you remove Syria as a State Sponsor of Terrorism?

TRUMP: “I think I will. Why wouldn’t I? He’s done a good job!”

This comes after the US also released sanctions off Syria,… pic.twitter.com/ERJr05X9Nw

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 8, 2026

“Lifting sanctions on Syria will unlock international trade and investment, give Syria a chance to rebuild, and open up a new chapter for the Syrian people,” the State Department’s press release states.

Trump invited al-Sharaa to the White House in November 2025 shortly after the U.S. normalized relations with Syria.

Al-Sharaa once fought as an insurgent against U.S. forces in Iraq and later led one of Syria’s largest Islamist armed groups before being welcomed by Trump in Washington, The Conversation reported.

Today, President Trump, at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. President Erdogan of Turkey joined by phone. President Erdogan praised President Trump for lifting sanctions on Syria and committed to working alongside Saudi… pic.twitter.com/0yhyZbQ1o0

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) May 14, 2025

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump told al-Sharaa “he has a tremendous opportunity to do something historic in his country” and “encouraged President Al-Sharaa to do a great job for the Syrian people.”

The Iran War has caused Iraq and other Gulf states to ship oil overland through Syria to reach Mediterranean ports, generating transit fees for the Syrian regime, The New York Times reported in May.

“The United States supports a Syria that is stable, unified, and at peace with its neighbors, as well as a Syria that denies safe haven to terrorist organizations and ensures the security of all minority groups,” a State Department spokesperson previously told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

The Nusrah Front, the predecessor behind Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s creation, was responsible for hundreds of terrorist attacks in Syria over the years, according to State Department records.

“Opposition armed groups began using car bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), sometimes in suicide attacks, in areas under government control in 2012,” Human Rights Watch reported in 2015.