President Trump used the past tense on Saturday to describe the U.K. as America’s “once great ally” when he rejected the country’s offer to send aircraft carriers to the Middle East.

“The United Kingdom, our once great ally, made the greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the middle east,” said Trump. “That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer. But we will remember. We don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won.” 

Before changing his stance, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer had criticized the strikes, saying, “Donald Trump has plunged the Middle East into chaos. We will stand by ethics, no matter the pressure.”

At a press conference on Friday, Starmer explained the policy shift came when Iran started attacking countries around the Gulf and the surrounding region.

“When Iran started attacking countries around the Gulf and the wider region, the situation changed. Iran has now fired drones and missiles at ten countries that did not attack them,” Starmer said. “These are allies of the U.K. where we have hundreds of thousands of British people as well as British military personnel. Our number one priority is protecting our people.”

Before Iran’s attacks, Starmer explained he only wanted a negotiated settlement with Iran where they would give up their nuclear ambitions. “That’s why I took the decision that the U.K. would not join the initial strikes on Iran by the U.S. and Israel. That decision was deliberate. It was in the national interest and I stand by it.”

Trump criticized Starmer on his initial decision, saying, “This is not Winston Churchill we are dealing with.”

Initially, Starmer blocked the United States from using British military bases for strikes against Iran during Operation Epic Fury. However, the U.K. later gave Trump permission for “defensive strikes.”

The president wanted to use British territories in the Indian Ocean. Days later, the U.K. agreed, but for the intervening time, American air forces had to make other arrangements.

A terror scare erupted in America’s tourist hotspot when suspected homemade bombs packed with nuts, bolts, and screws were hurled toward a crowd.

The devices were tossed during dueling protests late Saturday morning near Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s residence on Manhattan’s Upper East Side in New York City.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said investigators are still working to determine whether the devices were functional explosives or hoaxes, adding the information released so far is early and could change as the investigation develops.

Police say the first protest began around 11 a.m. near Gracie Mansion. The demonstration — titled “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer” — drew about 20 participants and was organized by individuals associated with January 6 defendant Jake Lang.

A counter-protest nearby called “Run the Nazis out of New York City, Stand Against Hate” drew roughly 125 people at its peak. Officers separated the two groups into designated protest areas, but tensions escalated shortly before noon.

At 12:15 p.m., police say a protester associated with the Lang demonstration used pepper spray against counter-protesters and was arrested.

Fast forward 20 minutes. The situation intensified.

Police say an 18-year-old counter-protester identified as Amir Balat lit and hurled an ignited device toward the protest area. Witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke trailing the device as it flew through the air before striking a barrier and extinguishing just feet from police officers.

Balat then ran from the scene, where investigators say he obtained a second device from a 19-year-old man tentatively identified as Ibrahim Nick.

Police say Balat lit that device while running before dropping it nearby. Officers quickly moved in, secured the area and took both men into custody. The incident was captured on NYPD surveillance cameras.

WATCH: NYPD tackle man who allegedly set off a “homemade smoke bomb.” Police are now ordering everyone to clear the area.@Bodittle | @TPUSA pic.twitter.com/lUnciJLJ25

— FRONTLINES TPUSA (@FrontlinesTPUSA) March 7, 2026

Bomb squad technicians responded to examine the devices. Tisch said early inspections suggest the objects appeared to be jars wrapped in black tape, slightly smaller than a football, packed with nuts, bolts, and screws and fitted with a hobby fuse that could be ignited.

Investigators are still working to determine whether the devices were functional improvised explosive devices or hoaxes, as it remains unclear whether they contained explosive material.

Both devices were transported by the bomb squad to the department’s Rodman’s Neck facility for further testing and analysis.

Police established a safety perimeter and searched the surrounding area for additional hazards, using canine units and manually inspecting garbage cans, vehicles, and nearby locations.

In total, six arrests were made in connection with the events. Those arrests include the two men accused of handling and deploying the devices, the protester who used pepper spray earlier in the demonstration, and additional individuals charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic.

Some on social media are claiming Balat or Nick yelled “Allahu Akbar,” though that has not been confirmed by authorities.

Tisch praised officers who rushed toward the danger as the situation unfolded.

“I always speak about the police running toward the danger when everyone else runs away,” the commissioner said. “Let me be clear — that happened today.”

“I am grateful that there were no injuries associated with the incident,” she added.

Tisch said she has remained in contact with Mayor Zohran Mamdani throughout the day. Authorities say there is currently no indication the incident is connected to ongoing hostilities involving Iran, though the investigation remains active.

Watch as @NYPDPC and NYPD executives brief the media on an ongoing investigation. https://t.co/FgTRZHumPV pic.twitter.com/MKsui1817S

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) March 7, 2026

Frontlines TPUSA reporter Bronson Alford told The Daily Wire that the counter-protesters from “Drive the Nazis out of New York” were not your average demonstrators.

“The protesters weren’t normal protesters; they were ANTIFA and their goal was to hurt as many conservative journalists as they could,” Alford told The Daily Wire. Alford said things escalated when protesters started screaming “Bomb, bomb, bomb.” His surroundings began to fill with smoke saying it smelled like something had been ignited.