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Israel targeted Iran's nuclear program with F-35I Adir stealth fighter jets that cost $44,000 per hour to fly

13 June 2025 at 16:04
An Israeli F-35 fighter jet
A F-35I fighter jet flies during a graduation ceremony for Israeli Air Force pilots in southern Israel.

Amir Cohen/Reuters

  • Israeli Air Force planes struck Iranian military targets and nuclear facilities on Thursday.
  • Israel's F-35I stealth fighter jets participated in the strikes targeting Iran's nuclear program.
  • The planes also aided defenses against Iranian missiles in 2023 and 2024.

Israel launched a preemptive strike against Iran's nuclear program on Thursday with its fleet of F-35I stealth fighter jets on the front lines.

The Israeli variant of the US-made Lockheed Martin Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter plane is known as "Adir," meaning "Mighty One" in Hebrew. With advanced stealth capabilities and a customized electronic warfare system, the F-35I is one of the most powerful tools in Israel's air defense arsenal.

In addition to Israel's assault on Iran, the Israeli planes also took down a missile fired by an Iran-backed group in Yemen in 2023 and intercepted hundreds of drones, missiles, and rockets fired by Iran in a retaliatory attack in 2024, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

Here's a closer look at the "Mighty One" military aircraft.

F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets, produced by Lockheed Martin, are some of the most advanced military aircraft in the world.
An Israeli F-35 lands during the bi-annual multi-national aerial exercise known as the Blue Flag, at Ovda airbase near Eilat, southern Israel
An Israeli F-35I lands at Ovda airbase near Eilat, southern Israel.

Tsafrir Abayov/AP

The F-35 stores its weapons and fuel internally, and its aligned edges and radar-absorbent coating also help the aircraft evade detection. The planes cost $44,000 per hour to fly, The National Interest reported in January.

They feature advanced stealth and information-processing capabilities and can reach supersonic speeds of Mach 1.6, or 548.8 meters per second.
An Israeli Air Force F-35I Adir multirole fighter aircraft
An Israeli Air Force F-35I Adir fighter aircraft flies over the Negev Desert.

YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn A. Hewson said in 2018 that the planes "can fly in what we call 'beast mode,' carrying up to 18,000 pounds of internal and external ordnance, in a mix that can include 5,000-pound-class weapons."

In 2016, Israel became the first country other than the US to acquire F-35 fighter jets.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands next to a F-35 fighter jet just after it landed in Israel at Nevatim air base  in 2016
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands next to a F-35 fighter jet just after it landed in Israel at Nevatim air base.

Amir Cohen/Reuters

Israel was the first country to select the model through the US Foreign Military Sales process and bought 50 planes, according to Lockheed Martin.

Israel has made significant modifications to the jets.
A new production line for F-35 wings is seen in Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI) campus, near Tel Aviv
A production line for F-35 wings in Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI) campus near Tel Aviv.

Amir Cohen/Reuters

Israel manufactures its own wings and electronic warfare system for the F-35I. It also developed its own version of the high-tech helmet that displays the plane's airspeed, altitude, targeting information, and other crucial stats directly on the pilot's visor.

The Israeli Air Force named its F-35I variant "Adir," meaning "Mighty One" in Hebrew.
Israeli Air Force technicians customize an F-35I plane with a Star of David symbol.
Israeli Air Force technicians customize an F-35I plane with a Star of David symbol.

Israeli Air Force

The Israeli Air Force also added a six-pointed Star of David to the design, a Jewish symbol that also appears on the Israeli flag.

In 2018, Israel became the first country to use the F-35I in combat, its air force chief said.
An Israeli Air Force F-35 flies during an aerial demonstration
Israeli Air Force F-35 flies during an aerial demonstration.

Amir Cohen/Reuters

"We are flying the F-35 all over the Middle East and have already attacked twice on two different fronts," then-Israeli Air Force chief Major-General Amikam Norkin said in a speech at a gathering of foreign air force leaders, Reuters reported.

In July 2023, Israel acquired an additional 25 Adir planes in a $3 billion deal.
Israeli F-35I planes at Nevatim airbase in Israel.
Israeli F-35I planes.

Israeli Air Force

The deal was financed through the military aid Israel receives from the US, Reuters reported.

In November 2023, Israel's F-35I Adir fighter jets took down a missile fired by an Iran-backed group in Yemen, according to the IDF.
An Israeli F-35 fighter jet
A F-35I fighter jet flies during a graduation ceremony for Israeli Air Force pilots in southern Israel.

Amir Cohen/Reuters

It was the first known intercept of a cruise missile by an F-35 plane.

The Israeli Air Force released footage of the encounter on X, writing in Hebrew that its personnel are "preoccupied at every moment with planning and managing the defense response and are prepared for any threat in any area."

Iran appeared to target the Nevatim air base, which houses Israel's fleet of F-35I jets, during an attack in April 2024.
An Israeli F-35 combat aircraft is seen in the skies over Israel's border with Lebanon
An Israeli F-35 combat aircraft in the skies over Israel's border with Lebanon.

Ammar Awad/Reuters

Out of the over 350 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and UAVs, or unmanned aerial vehicles, launched at Israel by Iran and its proxies in Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon, around 99% were intercepted by Israel and its allies. The IDF released photos showing minor damage near a runway at the Nevatim Airbase and to a road in Hermon caused by the few projectiles that landed.

The missiles appeared to target Israel's Nevatim Airbase in the Negev desert, which houses its fleet of F-35I stealth fighter jets. The base remained operational throughout the attack, according to the IDF, with the Adir fighter jets aiding the defensive mission.

"Iran thought it would be able to paralyze the base and thus damage our air capabilities, but it failed," IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a statement.

On Thursday, the Israeli Air Force launched over 200 fighter jets, including F-35I planes, in a preemptive strike targeting Iran's nuclear program.
An F-35I Israeli fighter jet used in strikes against Iran.
An F-35I Israeli fighter jet used in strikes against Iran.

Israel Defense Forces

An IDF spokesperson said that Israeli fighter jets struck over 100 sites across Iran on Thursday to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon, including military targets and its largest uranium enrichment site in Natanz.

The IDF said that Iran's nuclear program has "accelerated significantly" in recent months and called it "clear evidence that the Iranian regime is operating to obtain a nuclear weapon." Iran maintains that its nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes.

"This is a critical operation to prevent an existential threat by an enemy who is intent on destroying us," Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the IDF's Chief of the General Staff, said in a statement.

The IDF released photos showing planes used in the large-scale operation, including F-35I jets.

Iran launched a retaliatory attack with over 100 drones on Friday morning, which were mostly intercepted by Israeli forces, the IDF said.

The ongoing war in Gaza has prompted new scrutiny of US military aid to Israel.
An Israeli soldier sits inside a F-35 fighter jet
An Israeli soldier sits inside an F-35I fighter jet after it landed in Israel at Nevatim Airbase.

Amir Cohen/Reuters

The October 7 terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas killed around 1,200 Israelis and captured over 240. Around 53 hostages remain in Gaza, though it is unknown how many are still alive.

Israel's counteroffensive airstrikes and military actions in Gaza have resulted in over 55,000 Palestinian fatalities, according to figures provided to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs by the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza. The IDF reports that 17,000 of these fatalities were Hamas militants.

According to the United Nationals Relief and Works Agency, over 1.9 million Gazans, around 90% of the population, have been displaced by the war.

The devastating human toll of the war in Gaza with US-funded planes like the F-35I has prompted new scrutiny of US aid to Israel, with some lawmakers in Congress raising the possibility of conditioning military and economic aid.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Tiffany Trump gave birth to a baby boy. Here's a timeline of her relationship with husband Michael Boulos.

15 May 2025 at 17:45
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos danced at the Liberty Ball on Inauguration Day.
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos are parents to a baby boy.

Carlos Barria/Reuters

  • Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos met in Mykonos in July 2018 and wed at Mar-a-Lago in 2022.
  • Boulos grew up in Nigeria, where his family owns an automotive company, and he works in business.
  • Donald Trump revealed Tiffany was pregnant at a campaign event in 2024. She has welcomed a baby boy.

Tiffany Trump and her husband, Michael Boulos, are new parents.

Tiffany Trump gave birth to a baby boy, Alexander Trump Boulos, in the early hours of Thursday, she shared on social media.

Trump began dating Michael Boulos in 2018, and he proposed to her with a reported $1.2 million engagement ring at the White House, shortly before President Donald Trump left office after his first term. The couple wed at Mar-a-Lago in 2022.

Boulos' father, Massad Boulos, is CEO of the Nigerian automotive business SCOA Nigeria and serves as a senior advisor on Middle Eastern affairs in Trump's second White House administration.

Donald Trump had shared that his daughter was expecting her first baby at a campaign event in Michigan with Massad Boulos in October.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Here's a timeline of Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos' relationship.

July 2018: Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos met at Lindsay Lohan's beach club in Mykonos, Greece, according to People magazine.
lindsay lohan 2019
Lindsay Lohan.

Andy Kropa/Invision/AP

Boulos grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, where his family owns the automotive conglomerate SCOA Nigeria. He was studying project management at City, University of London, when he met Tiffany, then a law student at Georgetown, on vacation in Mykonos.

"I wasn't there when they met," Lohan told People magazine at the premiere party for her MTV series, "Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club," in 2019, adding that she knew both Tiffany Trump and Boulos but didn't know exactly how they met.

September 2018: They made their first public appearance together at New York Fashion Week.
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos at New York Fashion Week in 2018
Michael Boulos and Tiffany Trump at New York Fashion Week.

Noam Galai/Getty Images

Boulos joined Tiffany Trump in the front row of the Taoray Wang show during New York Fashion Week.

November 2018: Page Six reported they were dating and that Tiffany Trump introduced Boulos to her family over Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago.
The Trump family at Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago in 2018
The Trump family celebrated Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago in 2018.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

"Tiffany is happy she has so far been able to keep things with Michael under the radar," an unnamed source told Page Six. "But she introduced him to her family at Thanksgiving, and he comes across as a very intelligent young man from a great family. There was no mention of the president's unfortunate comment about African nations."

In January 2018, Donald Trump reportedly referred to African nations and Haiti using an expletive during a meeting with lawmakers. He denied the reports, writing on X that the language he used was "tough" but that the widely reported remark was "not the language used."

January 2019: Boulos made his first appearance on her Instagram.
Tiffany Trump pictured in 2020.
Tiffany Trump.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Trump posted an Instagram photo of her and Boulos in the Red Room of the White House at Christmastime. Boulos also shared a photo with her at a White House Christmas party, captioned, "Christmas vibes are the best vibes," in a post that no longer appears on his page.

February 2019: They attended New York Fashion Week with Tiffany Trump's mother, Marla Maples.
tiffany michael boulos
Michael Boulos, Tiffany Trump, and Marla Maples at New York Fashion Week.

Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Taoray Wang

As they had the year before, Tiffany Trump and Boulos sat in the front row of the Taoray Wang show.

April 2019: Boulos joined the Trump family for Easter services at the Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach, Florida.
Donald Trump and Melania Trump with Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos on their way to church for Easter services
Donald Trump and Melania Trump with Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos on Easter.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

Tiffany Trump shared a photo of herself and Boulos, as well as snapshots with her father, Donald Trump Jr., and Kimberly Guilfoyle, on Instagram. The photos are no longer available on her Instagram page.

May 2019: They stepped out together at the Cannes Film Festival.
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos at Cannes Film Festival.

Pierre Suu/GC Images

Public records showed that the three-night trip to France, during which the couple stayed at the Marriott Jesta Fontainebleau hotel, cost taxpayers at least $20,000, Quartz reported.

"For operational security reasons, the Secret Service cannot discuss specifically nor in general terms the means, methods, resources, costs, or numbers we utilize to carry out our protective responsibilities," a Secret Service spokesperson told Quartz.

June 2019: They flew to Orlando for a rally kicking off Donald Trump's 2020 campaign.
The Trump children at President Trump's 2020 campaign kickoff rally in Orlando, Florida
Members of the Trump family at Donald Trump's 2020 campaign kickoff rally.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

"With every ounce of heart and mind, and sweat and soul, we're going to keep making America great again, and then we will indeed keep America great," Donald Trump said in his speech. "I will keep it so great. Better than ever before. We're going to keep it better than ever before. And that is why tonight, I stand before you to officially launch my campaign for a second term as president of the United States."

August 2019: Tiffany Trump wished Boulos a happy birthday on Instagram, writing that he fills her life with "so much joy, kindness and laughter!"
Michael Boulos and Tiffany Trump tied the knot on Saturday.
Michael Boulos and Tiffany Trump.

Mandel Ngan/Getty Images

"Happy Birthday, @michaelboulos," she captioned a photo of her and Boulos. "You fill my life with so much joy, kindness and laughter! Thank you for always putting a smile on my face!"

September 2019: Boulos joined his girlfriend to hear Donald Trump speak at the UN.
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos (sitting behind her) listen to Donald Trump's speech at the UN
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos at the UN.

Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

Boulos sat behind Tiffany, who was seated beside Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle.

November 2019: They greeted guests at the national Thanksgiving turkey pardoning event in the Rose Garden of the White House.
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos at the White House turkey pardoning event before Thanksgiving
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos at the national Thanksgiving turkey pardoning.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

How the turkey pardoning tradition started is still a bit of a mystery, but the White House traces it all the way back to President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.

December 2019: They celebrated New Year's together at Mar-a-Lago.
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos at Mar-a-Lago for New Year's
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos at a New Year's celebration at Mar-a-Lago.

JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

Trump's other children were in attendance, as well as his then-lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

July 2020: Trump and Boulos waved to crowds gathered at Mount Rushmore for Independence Day fireworks.
Tiffany Trump, her boyfriend Michael Boulos, Eric Trump and his wife Lara Trump at Mount Rushmore
Michael Boulos, Tiffany Trump, Eric Trump, and Lara Trump at Mount Rushmore.

Tom Brenner/Reuters

They were joined by Eric Trump and Lara Trump.

August 2020: They attended the funeral of Donald Trump's brother, Robert.
President Donald Trump's children at his brother's funeral
Members of the Trump family on the White House North Portico following the funeral of Robert Trump.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Robert Trump died on August 15, 2020, at the age of 71.

"He was not just my brother, he was my best friend," Donald Trump said in a statement. "He will be greatly missed, but we will meet again. His memory will live on in my heart forever. Robert, I love you. Rest in peace."

August 2020: Tiffany Trump and Boulos attended the Republican National Convention, where she gave a speech.
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos at the RNC in 2020
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos at the 2020 Republican National Convention.

Evan Vucci/AP

Tiffany Trump spoke on the second night of the RNC in support of her father and mentioned her recent graduation from Georgetown Law School.

"Like so many students across the world, I graduated from law school during the pandemic," she said. "Our generation is unified in facing the future in uncertain times. And many of us are considering what kind of country we want to live in. As a recent graduate, I can relate to so many of you who might be looking for a job. My father built a thriving economy once and believe me, he will do it again."

October 2020: They arrived in Nashville to watch the final presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos arrive in Nashville in October 2020
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos at the Nashville International Airport.

Tom Brenner/Reuters

The debate featured plexiglass barriers between the candidates to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and a mute button to prevent them from talking over each other.

November 2020: They joined Donald Trump at the White House to watch the election results come in.
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos at the White House on election night in 2020
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos at the White House on election night.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

The Trumps watched election results in the East Room of the White House.

January 2021: The couple announced their engagement on Instagram the day before Trump left office.
Tiffany Trump, center, and her fiance Michael Boulos wait for President Donald Trump at Andrews Air Force Base
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos departed Washington, DC, on Inauguration Day.

Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

The day before Biden's inauguration, Tiffany Trump shared an Instagram photo of her and Boulos standing in the White House Colonnade.

"It has been an honor to celebrate many milestones, historic occasions and create memories with my family here at the White House, none more special than my engagement to my amazing fiancΓ© Michael!" she wrote. "Feeling blessed and excited for the next chapter!"

Boulos also announced their engagement on Instagram, writing, "Got engaged to the love of my life! Looking forward to our next chapter together."

Boulos proposed in the White House Rose Garden with a diamond ring worth $1.2 million, People magazine reported.

July 2021: Trump and Boulos, who moved to Miami after her father's presidency, were spotted in Mykonos.
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos in Miami
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos in Florida.

Sam Navarro/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

Tiffany Trump and Boulos vacationed in Mykonos, where their relationship began, over the summer.

May 2022: Tiffany Trump and Boulos chose Mar-a-Lago as their wedding venue.
Aerial shot of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida.
Mar-a-Lago.

Steve Helber/AP

Page SixΒ reported that Donald Trump and his ex-wife, Tiffany's motherΒ Marla Maples, would host the wedding at Mar-a-Lago with over 500 people expected to attend.

November 2022: Tropical Storm Nicole made landfall north of Palm Beach days before the wedding, putting their wedding plans in jeopardy.
Tropical Storm Nicole floods streets in Fort Pierce, Florida
Tropical Storm Nicole floods streets in Florida.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Days before the wedding, Mar-a-Lago and its surrounding coastal residential areas were under mandatory evacuation orders because of the storm.

A Mar-a-Lago employee confirmed to Business Insider that the club had reopened on Friday, November 11, just in time for Trump and Boulos' welcome dinner.

November 2022: The wedding proceeded as planned.
Flowers outside Mar-a-Lago before Tiffany Trump's wedding
Preparations at Mar-a-Lago ahead of Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos' wedding.

MEGA/GC Images

Tiffany Trump wore a sparkling long-sleeved wedding dress from Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab, a likely nod to Boulos' Lebanese heritage. The couple exchanged vows under a gazebo decorated with cascading bouquets of pastel-colored flowers.

In an Instagram post, Tiffany Trump described the wedding as "the most magical day."

May 2024: Tiffany Trump and Boulos attended the closing arguments of Donald Trump's hush-money trial in New York City.
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos with other Trump family members at the courthouse in New York City.
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos with other Trump family members at the Manhattan Criminal Court.

Julia Nikhinson-Pool/Getty Images

Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 hush-money payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. The former president denies ever having sex with Daniels and has called the trial a "witch hunt."

July 2024: They attended days two and four of the Republican National Convention.
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos at the RNC.
Corey Lewandowski with Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos at the Republican National Convention.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Unlike in 2020, Tiffany Trump did not speak at the 2024 Republican National Convention.

October 2024: While speaking at a campaign event, Donald Trump announced that Tiffany Trump and Boulos were expecting their first child.
Donald Trump speaks at the Detroit Economic Club.
Donald Trump at the Detroit Economic Club.

Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Speaking to a crowd at the Detroit Economic Club, Donald Trump shared the news while acknowledging the presence of Michael Boulos' father, businessman Massad Boulos, at the event.

"He happens to be the father of Tiffany's husband Michael, who's a very exceptional young guy, and she's an exceptional young woman," he said. "And she's going to have a baby, so that's nice."

November 2024: In the days before the election, Tiffany Trump and Boulos appeared at campaign events in Michigan and Pennsylvania.
Tiffany Trump shakes Donald Trump's hand as Michael Boulos looks on.
Donald Trump with Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Tiffany Trump delivered a rare speech in Reading, Pennsylvania, telling the crowd, "Hello, we love you, we support you, and my father's here fighting for you and he's never gonna let you down, so please vote. Let's get this country back on track."

November 2024: Tiffany Trump and Boulos celebrated Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election.
Trump family members on election night.
Trump family members on election night.

JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

Tiffany Trump and Boulos joined other Trump family members and associates at the campaign's election night watch party in West Palm Beach, Florida.

December 2024: Trump chose Boulos' father, Massad Boulos, to serve as a senior advisor on Middle Eastern affairs.
Michael Boulos in New York City.
Michael Boulos.

Jeenah Moon for The Washington Post via Getty Images

In a Truth Social post, Donald Trump described Massad Boulos as "an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world."

"He has been a longtime proponent of Republican and Conservative values, an asset to my Campaign, and was instrumental in building tremendous new coalitions with the Arab American Community," he wrote in part.

Trump's description of Massad Boulos as an "accomplished lawyer" may not be accurate.Β Although Massad Boulos listed a law degree from Texas Southern University on his LinkedIn profile, a Business Insider investigation found that he does not appear to be licensed to practice law in any of the countries where he's lived.

Massad Boulos was also widely reported to be the billionaire owner of Boulos Enterprises and told The New York Times in December that his company was worth billions. However, Boulos Enterprises is owned by a different Boulos family. The small automotive company Massad Boulos runs, SCOA Nigeria, is reportedly worth about $865,000.

Massad Boulos later told The New York Times that he was referring to his father-in-law's companies when asked about his business. Massad Boulos' wife, Sarah Fadoul Boulos, is the daughter of wealthy Lebanese businessman Michel Zouhair Fadoul, who runs The Fadoul Group's conglomerate.

In an email to Business Insider, Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt called media reports examining Boulos' credentials "fake news."

"The truth is Mr. Boulos is a highly respected businessman who has proudly served as the CEO of some of his family's group of companies based in West Africa for more than 27 years, and his family has employed tens of thousands of people around the globe," Leavitt said.

January 2025: Tiffany Trump and Boulos attended Donald Trump's second inauguration.
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos danced at the Liberty Ball on Inauguration Day.
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos danced at the Liberty Ball on Inauguration Day.

Carlos Barria/Reuters

Tiffany Trump wore a gray off-the-shoulder dress designed by Zuhair Murad to the inaugural balls. She wrote on Instagram that she was six months pregnant.

March 2025: Tiffany Trump and Boulos joined other Trump family members at Donald Trump's joint address to Congress.
Michael Boulos and Tiffany Trump with Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump at Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress.
Michael Boulos and Tiffany Trump with Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump at Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress.

Alex Brandon/AP

Donald Trump Jr. attended the address with his girlfriend, Bettina Anderson. They were joined by Melania Trump, Eric Trump, Lara Trump, Jared Kushner, and Ivanka Trump.

April 2025: Ivanka Trump hosted a baby shower for Tiffany Trump, where she publicly revealed the sex of the baby.
Ivanka Trump and Tiffany Trump.
Ivanka Trump and Tiffany Trump.

Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Ivanka Trump shared photos on Instagram from Tiffany Trump's Peter Rabbit-themed baby shower.

"Every detail was inspired by Beatrix Potter's world β€” from bunny tails to garden treats β€” to celebrate the little boy she's about to welcome into her life," Ivanka Trump wrote.

May 2025: Tiffany Trump gave birth to a baby boy, Alexander Trump Boulos.
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos at Donald Trump's inauguration.
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos welcomed a baby boy.

Jack Gruber/via REUTERS

"Welcome to the world our sweet baby boy, Alexander Trump Boulos," Tiffany Trump wrote in an Instagram post on May 15. "We love you beyond words! Thank you for coming into our lives!"

"He's a blessing," Boulos added in a comment on the post.

Members of the extended Trump family congratulated Tiffany Trump and Boulos in the comments.

"No greater joy in the world," Marla Maples, Tiffany Trump's mother and Donald Trump's ex-wife, wrote. "Michael and Tiffany this Gran Mar Mar loves you all so much!! You rocked it, my girl!"

Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr.'s ex-fiancΓ©e and Donald Trump's nominee for ambassador to Greece, wrote: "Congratulations, mama, so happy for you all and welcome to the amazing world of being a boy mom! Love you!"

Read the original article on Business Insider

See inside Marble House, a 50-room Gilded Age mansion that a Vanderbilt heir gifted to his wife for her birthday

5 May 2025 at 16:16
Marble House in Newport, Rhode Island.
Marble House is in Newport, Rhode Island.

Alexander Nesbitt β€” The Preservation Society of Newport County

  • Marble House was completed in 1892 as a summer home for William K. Vanderbilt and Alva Vanderbilt.
  • Built with half a million cubic feet of marble, it features 50 rooms and spans 140,000 square feet.
  • Scenes from the HBO show "The Gilded Age" were filmed in the historic Rhode Island home.

Alva Vanderbilt's 39th birthday present from her husband was a 140,000-square-foot summer "cottage" on the shores of Newport, Rhode Island.

As heir to the Vanderbilt family fortune during the Gilded Age, William K. Vanderbilt spared no expense in building Marble House for his wife. It was designed by Richard Morris Hunt, the same architect who worked on The Breakers, another expansive Newport mansion. Construction cost around $11 million in 1892, or about $387 million in today's dollars. The home's 500,000 cubic feet of marble alone cost about $7 million, or around $246 million today.

The marriage didn't last, but Marble House remained in her possession after their divorce. In addition to throwing extravagant balls and dinner parties, Alva Vanderbilt also hosted women's suffrage rallies on the property and leveraged her wealth to champion the cause. She even wrote the libretto for an operetta about women's suffrage, which was performed at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in 1915.

In recent years, the HBO show "The Gilded Age" has used Marble House as a film set.

I visited the expansive home in August 2024. Take a look inside this historic Newport mansion.

Completed in 1892, Marble House is a 50-room, 140,000-square-foot summer home that belonged to William K. Vanderbilt and Alva Vanderbilt.
Marble House.
Marble House.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The Preservation Society of Newport Country acquired the home in 1963 and turned it into a museum open to the public. Self-guided tours cost $25 per adult ticket and can be purchased on the Preservation Society's official website.

During the winter months, the mansion is only open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, with daily tours restarting in mid-February.

William K. Vanderbilt gifted the home to Alva Vanderbilt for her 39th birthday.
William K. Vanderbilt and Alva Vanderbilt.
William K. Vanderbilt and Alva Vanderbilt.

NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

William K. Vanderbilt was Cornelius Vanderbilt's grandson and heir to the family's railroad and steamship fortune during the Gilded Age. Alva Vanderbilt was a popular hostess in Newport.

When Alva Vanderbilt divorced her husband in 1895, she survived the scandal and kept Marble House and custody of their three children, Consuelo, William Kissam Jr., and Harold Stirling. She then married one of her neighbors in Newport, a financier named Oliver H.P. Belmont, in 1896.

After Belmont died in 1908, she became a leader in the women's suffrage movement, funding the National American Woman Suffrage Association and serving as president of the National Woman's Party.

Marble House's foyer featured walls, ceilings, and a grand staircase made of solid Italian marble, which Alva Vanderbilt chose for its warm hue.
The foyer and staircase at Marble House.
The foyer and staircase at Marble House.

John W. Corbett β€” The Preservation Society of Newport County

"It would have been impossible to have used a pure white marble for the interior without having a mausoleum effect too cold for living comfort and joy," Alva Vanderbilt wrote of Marble House. "The soft gold brown fading off into delicate cream catches the sunlight by day or electric sparkle at night with a warm living glow."

The marble entrance hall led out to a portico overlooking the ocean.
A porch with ocean views at Marble House.
A porch at Marble House.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The French doors in the entryway stayed open during the summer to provide a cooling ocean breeze.

The Dining Room was modeled after the Salon of Hercules at the Palace of Versailles.
The Dining Room at Marble House.
The Dining Room.

Gavin Ashworth β€” The Preservation Society of Newport County

Alva Vanderbilt was born in Alabama and raised in France. Her French design sensibilities were evident throughout the house.

The purple marble used for the walls was imported from Algeria.
The purple marble walls of the Dining Room at Marble House
The marble walls of the Dining Room.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The walls were created from one solid slab of marble that was cut in half to create pieces with mirroring patterns, a technique called bookmatching.

Alva Vanderbilt commissioned dining-room chairs inspired by those used by King Louis XIV of France.
A purple gilded dining room chair at Marble House.
A dining-room chair.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Crafted from bronze and covered in gold, the chairs weighed 75 pounds each and required the help of a footman to be seated in.

The Gothic Room displayed medieval and Renaissance art that Alva Vanderbilt acquired from Emile Gavet, a French art collector.
The Gothic Room at Marble House with stained glass windows.
The Gothic Room.

Gavin Ashworth β€” The Preservation Society of Newport County

The ribbed ceiling, stone mantlepiece, and wood floors were all imported from Paris.

Alva Vanderbilt purchased the art collection "en bloc," or all together in a set.
Stained-glass windows in the Gothic Room at Marble House.
Stained-glass windows in the Gothic Room.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Buying art collections "en bloc" was popular during the Gilded Age as a way to quickly acquire a status symbol instead of taking generations to build a collection.

The Morning Room also functioned as a library.
The Morning Room at Marble House.
The Morning Room.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The wooden bookcases, built in Paris by Allard and Sons, held books on architecture and European history that were original to the Vanderbilt family's collection.

The Grand Salon was also called the Gold Room because of the 22-karat gold leaf covering every wall.
The Salon, or Gold Room, at Marble House.
The Grand Salon.

The Preservation Society of Newport County

"This room is really the epitome of the Gilded Age," Caitlin Emery, the research and interpretation coordinator at the Preservation Society of Newport County, said on the audio tour. "It is coated in gold and you have to imagine guests coming in on a summer evening with the sun going down. And the light picking up on all these gilded surfaces. The feel and the essence of the room would have been absolutely remarkable."

The Vanderbilts used it as a ballroom.
The Grand Salon at Marble House.
The Grand Salon.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

In 1895, the Vanderbilts hosted a ball to celebrate their daughter Consuelo Vanderbilt's engagement to Charles Spencer-Churchill, the ninth Duke of Marlborough. The party featured 300 guests and lasted until 5 a.m.

Consuelo Vanderbilt was secretly engaged to another man and resisted the arrangement, but she wrote that her mother "would not hesitate to shoot" her lover if she tried to run away with him.

"Alva wanted to secure for her daughter the one thing that money couldn't buy β€” a title," Emery said in the audio tour.

Theirs was a loveless marriage. After 26 years, Alva Vanderbilt testified that she had forced her daughter to marry the duke, which allowed her to receive an annulment in 1921.

The tour continued up the grand staircase on the second floor.
The second floor of Marble House.
The second floor.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The mezzanine level featured two private studies, one for William K. Vanderbilt and one for Alva Vanderbilt.

Consuelo Vanderbilt's bedroom appeared as George Russell's room on the HBO show "The Gilded Age."
Consuelo Vanderbilt's bedroom at Marble House.
Consuelo Vanderbilt's bedroom.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Consuelo Vanderbilt moved to Marble House when she was 15. She described her room as "austere," writing that her mother had picked out every piece of furniture and "forbidden the intrusion of my personal possessions," according to the audio tour.

A wooden spiral staircase outside Consuelo Vanderbilt's bedroom led to the service areas at Marble House.
The servant staircase at Marble House, a wooden spiral staircase.
The servant staircase.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The Vanderbilts would never have used the servant staircase or gone into the service areas.

The Vanderbilts' youngest child, Harold Vanderbilt, was an award-winning sailor whose trophies were displayed in the Trophy Room.
Trophies in a glass case at Marble House.
The Trophy Room.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

When the Vanderbilts lived at Marble House, the Trophy Room was a set of two connected dressing rooms for Alva Vanderbilt and Consuelo Vanderbilt. The Preservation Society turned it into a room for Harold Vanderbilt's yachting trophies.

Decorated in the Louis XIV style, Alva Vanderbilt's bedroom featured a throne-like bed and silk wall hangings.
Alva Vanderbilt's bedroom at Marble House with purple silk wallpaper.
Alva Vanderbilt's bedroom.

The Preservation Society of Newport County

The carvings in the molding throughout the room featured nymphs and cherubs for a fairytale-like oasis.

The lilac silk wallpaper was an exact copy of the original.
A close-up of Alva Vanderbilt's purple wallpaper at Marble House.
Alva Vanderbilt's purple wallpaper.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The factory that made Alva Vanderbilt's original wallpaper is still in business in Lyons, France, and it kept the Marble House orders in its archives. In 1990, the Preservation Society ordered the exact same wallpaper from the factory to replace the room's existing fabric, which had faded to gold, according to the audio tour.

William K. Vanderbilt's bedroom was much smaller than his wife's.
William K. Vanderbilt's bedroom at Marble House.
William K. Vanderbilt's bedroom.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

His bedroom was decorated in the French Neoclassical style. After he and Alva Vanderbilt divorced, William K. Vanderbilt moved to France with his second wife.

The guest bed still featured its original 18th-century lace canopy.
The guest bedroom at Marble House.
The guest bedroom.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Marble House only had one guest bedroom because it was mainly built for family use.

The guest room was connected to a guest sitting room.
The guest sitting room at Marble House.
The guest sitting room.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The guest sitting room was furnished with 18th-century French art and furniture produced by Allard and Sons.

Downstairs, Marble House would receive deliveries of flowers, wine, and food through the service entrance.
The service entrance at Marble House.
The service entrance.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The stairs leading up to the rest of the house were locked to protect the Vanderbilts and their priceless possessions.

The Vanderbilts hired a French chef to staff the kitchen, which burned 30 tons of coal each summer.
The kitchen at Marble House with copper pots hanging from the ceiling.
The kitchen.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The Vanderbilts paid their French chef a salary of $10,000 per year, or around $375,000 in today's dollars.

Dishes were cleaned and stored in the scullery.
The Scullery at Marble House.
The scullery.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

The sink was made of a soft mineral called soapstone to prevent the Vanderbilts' silver from being scratched or damaged during washing.

Alva Vanderbilt made a set of china emblazoned with "Votes for Women" which she used at women's suffrage rallies hosted at Marble House.
Alva Vanderbilt's "Votes for Women" dishes at Marble House.
Alva Vanderbilt's "Votes for Women" dishes.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Alva Vanderbilt hosted women's suffrage conferences at Marble House in 1904 and 1914.

She is quoted as saying in her speeches: "Just pray to God. She will help you."

Replicas of the "Votes for Women" china were available for purchase in the Marble House gift shop.
The gift shop at Marble House featuring replicas of "Votes for Women" dishes.
The gift shop.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

A "Votes for Women" teapot cost $28 at the gift shop when I visited in August. The large plates cost $14.95 and the smaller plates retailed for $12.95.

The grounds of Marble House featured beautiful views of the ocean.
Ocean views at Marble House.
Ocean views at Marble House.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Marble House is located along Newport's Cliff Walk, a scenic walking tour of the area's famous mansions.

The grounds also included a Chinese Tea House which Alva Vanderbilt commissioned after the death of her second husband.
The Chinese Tea House on the grounds of Marble House.
The Chinese Tea House on the grounds of Marble House.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Designed by Richard and Joseph Howland Hunt, the Chinese Tea House is now a cafΓ© that offers refreshments and afternoon tea to Marble House visitors.

European copper beech trees dotted the property in another nod to the European palaces that inspired the design of Marble House.
European copper beech trees on the grounds of Marble House.
European copper beech trees on the grounds of Marble House.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Imported from Europe, the trees can grow 35 to 45 feet wide.

Marble House is more than just an opulent Gilded Age mansion β€” it tells the story of Alva Vanderbilt's remarkable life.
Marble House viewed from the backyard.
Marble House.

Talia Lakritz/Business Insider

Built during a time of economic and technological advancement, Marble House symbolized the beginning of a new era where women could leave loveless marriages with their reputations intact and fight for the right to participate in America's democracy.

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Photos show the most powerful moments from Pope Francis' funeral proceedings

26 April 2025 at 12:29
The coffin of Pope Francis was carried during the funeral Mass on April 26. More than 250,000 people gathered to pay their respects to the late pontiff, Vatican authorities said.
The coffin of Pope Francis was carried during the funeral Mass on April 26. More than 250,000 people gathered to pay their respects to the late pontiff, Vatican authorities said.

Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

  • Pope Francis, the 266th head of the Roman Catholic Church, died on April 21 at the age of 88.
  • Trump, Macron, Zelenskyy, and other world leaders attended the funeral Mass on Saturday.
  • Over 250,000 people gathered to pay their respects to the late pontiff, Vatican authorities said.

After 12 years of serving as the 266th head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis died on April 21 at the age of 88.

Thousands of people paid their respects as the pontiff's body lay in state inside St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City in the days before his burial in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.

Saturday's funeral Mass was attended by world leaders, including President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

A new pope will be chosen by the College of Cardinals in a papal election known as the conclave.

Photos show powerful moments from the late pope's funeral proceedings.

After Pope Francis' death was announced on Easter Monday, mourners assembled for an evening rosary prayer in St. Peter's Square.
Mourners for Pope Francis at St. Peter's Square.
A rosary prayer in suffrage of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square.

Massimo Valicchia/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Visitors left flowers, candles, and photos of the late pope.
Memorials for Pope Francis.
A memorial for Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square.

Christoph Reichwein/picture alliance via Getty Images

The late pope lay in state in an open wooden coffin on Tuesday at Casa Santa Marta, his papal residence.
Cardinals pray at the Chapel of Santa Marta.
Cardinals prayed at the Chapel of Santa Marta.

Simone Risoluti Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images

On Wednesday, his body was transferred to St. Peter's Basilica, one of the holiest sites in the Catholic church, for three days of public viewing.
Pope Francis' body was transferred to the Basilica at St. Peter's Square.
Pope Francis' body was transferred to the Basilica at St. Peter's Square.

Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

His coffin was placed in front of the Altar of the Confession, which sits above what is believed to be the tomb of Saint Peter, one of Jesus' Twelve Apostles.
Pope Francis lay in state at St. Peter's Basilica.
Pope Francis' coffin at St. Peter's Basilica.

Ernesto Ruscio/Getty Images

After leading the procession to the Basilica, the Cardinals conducted a service featuring liturgical readings and hymns.
Cardinals mourn Pope Francis at St. Peter's Basilica.
Cardinals paid their respects to Pope Francis inside St. Peter's Basilica.

ALESSANDRO DI MEO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Tens of thousands of people waited in line to enter St. Peter's Basilica and pay their respects to Pope Francis.
Pope Francis lies in state inside St. Peter's Basilica.
Pope Francis lay in state inside St. Peter's Basilica.

Picture Alliance via Getty Images

On Saturday, Pope Francis' funeral Mass took place in front of St. Peter's Basilica.
A photograph taken from St Peter Basilica shows the large crowds that gathered for the funeral mass of late Pope Francis.
A photograph taken from St Peter Basilica shows the large crowds that gathered for the funeral Mass of late Pope Francis.

Alberto Pizzoli / AFP via Getty Images

Vatican authorities said more than 250,000 people watched on during the ceremony, which included Gregorian chants and Latin verses.
Crowds of people gathered during the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.
Crowds of people gathered during the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

Ernesto S. Ruscio/Getty Images

Dozens of world leaders attended the Holy event, including Trump. Macron, Zelenskyy, and Biden also attended.
President Trump, who attended with his wife Melania Trump, was among the world leaders in attendance.
President Trump, who attended with his wife Melania Trump, was among the world leaders in attendance.

Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

After the Mass, the coffin carrying the Pope's body was brought to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, his final resting place.
The popemobile delivered the late pope's body to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome for burial.
The popemobile delivered the late pope's body to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome for burial.

Alejandro Martinez Gonzalez /Hans Lucas via AFP/Getty Images

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