Sunday shows preview: Trump faces pressure on Israel-Iran conflict; LA protest turmoil lingers

The Hill

10 hours ago

President Trump is facing pressure as his administration grapples with unrest in Middle East as Israel and Iran continue to trade attacks. Israel's initial attack on Thursday took out half a dozen of Iran's top military generals, nuclear scientists and inflicted damage on Tehran's nuclear facilities.
Israel's initial strikes on Iran killed 78 people and injured north of 320, according to Iran's ambassador to the United Nations. Iran retaliated on Friday by launching ballistic missiles that hit major population centers, including Tel Aviv.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter will likely weigh on the strikes on ABC's 'This Week' Sunday.
The back-and-forth has continued with Iran firing a new round of ballistic missiles on Saturday evening, Iranian state news media confirmed. The escalating crisis in the Middle East has also spotlighted the divide among MAGA supporters on how involved the U.S. should be in the conflict.
Meanwhile, large protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles have continued throughout the week, with the Trump administration greenlighting the deployment of Marines and the National Guard to help quell the demonstrations and protect federal buildings and personnel. The Marines temporarily detained a civilian protesting the federal immigration raids on Friday.
'The temporary detention ends immediately when the individual(s) can be safely transferred to the custody of appropriate civilian law enforcement personnel,' the U.S. Northern Command said in a statement.
Amid the demonstrations in California, Democrats have strongly condemned the Thursday incident when Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was forcibly removed and handcuffed after being removed from a Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem press conference in Los Angeles.
Privately, however, some Democrats have expressed concerns that the mishap could have negative ramifications for the party in the long run.
'Here's the thing: Did it change anyone's minds or did it just rev up the base?' one Democratic strategist told The Hill this week. 'This is what we don't understand. We think these moments will cause outrage, but they miss the point. It's not swaying anyone. It just makes us look petty.'
Padilla is set to join the morning shows on ABC, CNN and CBS, where he is likely to discuss the incidents.
The 'No Kings' protests are also taking place nationwide parallel to Trump's massive military parade in Washington, D.C.. The parade, which could cost up to $45 million, will commemorate the Army's 250th anniversary and take place on Trump's 79th birthday.
Lawmakers, including both Democrats and Republicans, have been critical of the festivities. Sen., Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who will join NBC on Sunday, said he would 'save the money' rather than host the parade.
This all comes as Minnesota officials confirmed that state Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband were assassinated at their home on Saturday. Lawmakers from across the aisle have condemned the act of political violence and will likely weigh in Sunday.
Here are this week's Sunday show guests:
NewsNation's 'The Hill Sunday,': Former Vice President Mike Pence; Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio); Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at American Enterprise Institute Kori Schake.
ABC's 'This Week': Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter; Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.); retired Gen. Joseph Votel, ex-commander of U.S. Central Command.
NBC's 'Meet the Press': Sens. Adam Schiff, (D-Calif.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
CNN's 'State of the Union': Padilla; Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D); Pence.
CBS' 'Face the Nation': Padilla; Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).
'Fox News Sunday': Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).
Fox News' 'Sunday Morning Futures': Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas); Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.); Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.); Fox News senior strategic analyst retired Gen. Jack Keane; HRH Reza Pahlavi, exiled Iranian crown prince