NPR News: 05-05-2026 2AM EDT

President Trump hosted a small business summit at the White House on Monday amid escalating tensions in the Iran War, while other headlines included a shooting near Vice President JD Vance's motorcade, GameStop's takeover bid for eBay, Republican political challenges over redistricting, and calls to prepare for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.

Escalation in the Strait of Hormuz

Trump commented on the Iran conflict during the summit, stating the US cannot allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon and that efforts are going well. Fighting flared Monday with the US and Iran exchanging volleys after Trump announced a new operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Most Iranian fire targeted merchant ships, though US naval vessels were also engaged; none of the ships was hit. A US official named Cooper indicated plans to expand the operation, but uncertainty remains about how many commercial ships will risk passage even with US protection. Hundreds of merchant ships remain stranded in the Gulf due to Iran's blockade, while the US maintains its own blockade on ships to and from Iranian ports. These mutual blockades have disrupted global shipping routes critical for oil and trade.