Elon Musk has sparked controversy by alleging that director Christopher Nolan chose Lupita Nyong’o and transgender actor Elliot Page for roles in his forthcoming Greek epic, “The Odyssey,” solely to garner awards.

The 54-year-old entrepreneur voiced his opinions on social media, responding to troubling remarks that questioned Nyong’o’s attractiveness as a Black woman and dismissed Page’s gender identity, ahead of the film’s premiere on July 17.

In an insightful profile of Nolan by Time Magazine released on Tuesday, it was unveiled that the 43-year-old Nyong’o will take on the iconic role of Helen of Troy, famed as the most beautiful woman in Greek mythology.

Additionally, Nyong’o will assume a dual role in the eagerly awaited movie, also portraying Helen’s sister, Clytemnestra, who is wed to Agamemnon.

Conservative pundit Matt Walsh wasted no time in criticizing Nyong’o on X, bluntly claiming, “Not one person on the planet actually thinks that Lupita Nyong’o is ‘the most beautiful woman in the world.’”

‘But Christopher Nolan knows that he would be called racist if he gave ‘the most beautiful woman’ role to a white woman,’ he added. 

‘Nolan is technically talented but a coward. Too afraid to do anything that even slightly challenges the spirit of the age.’

The Tesla chief responded to Walsh’s comment with a simple: ‘True.’

Elon Musk blasted Christopher Nolan and his casting of Lupita Nyong’o and transgender actor Elliot Page in his upcoming Greek epic The Odyssey

Nolan revealed that 43-year-old Nyong’o will play Helen of Troy on the big screen, the most beautiful woman in Greek mythology

Musk accused Nolan of casting both of the stars because ‘he wants to win awards’

Pictured: Matt Damon as King Odysseus 

In another post, a user asked: ‘Why is Christopher Nolan like so many other directors so keen to race swap white characters?’ Musk replied, ‘He wants the awards.’

Walsh shared another post in which he claimed people would be ‘driven to murderous violence’ if Sydney Sweeney had been cast in a film as ‘the most beautiful woman in Africa.’

‘Absolutely true,’ the billionaire wrote. ‘Such hypocrisy in Hollywood.’ 

Rumors swirled earlier this month that 39-year-old Page had been cast as Achilles, the legendary hero of the Trojan War – a prospect that seemingly also drew the ire of Musk.

Responding to the unconfirmed rumors on X, he wrote that the idea was ‘one of the dumbest and twisted things I’ve ever heard.’

Even after it was announced that Page will portray the character Elpenor, Musk reposted a wildly offensive tweet that read, ‘I’m not mocking her masculinity. I’m denying its existence.’

Elpenor, the youngest member of Odysseus’s crew, dies on Circe’s island after falling from a roof while drunk and left unburied – an event that later haunts Odysseus on his journey home. 

While initially troubled by his death, Odysseus is later confronted by Elpenor as the first figure he encounters in the Underworld, a moment that becomes a moral turning point in the story.

Musk liked posts ‘denying’ Page’s masculinity, who will portray the character Elpanor

The Odyssey, which is set to hit theaters on July 17 (pictured: filming in Morocco)

He realizes his crew is more important to him than his own glory as Elpenor begs not to be left unburied, and he ultimately returns to bury his shipmate at the edge of the Underworld. 

Meanwhile, this marks the latest outburst from Musk over casting in The Odyssey, after whispers began growing in February that Nyong’o, an Oscar-winning actress, would be portraying the iconic character.

He amplified an X user who claimed that casting her as the Helen of Troy would be ‘an insult,’ to Homer, the novel’s author.

The user’s reasoning, they said, was because the Greek poet described the fictional character as ‘fair skinned, blonde and “the face that launched a thousand ships” because she was so beautiful that men started a war over her.’ 

Musk later appeared to agree, writing: ‘Chris Nolan has lost his integrity.’

The Lebanese government has lodged a strongly worded complaint with the United Nations, accusing Iran of misusing diplomatic immunity. This comes after Iran’s refusal to recall its ambassador from Beirut, despite Lebanon’s request for his expulsion amid allegations of Iran’s involvement in terrorist activities within Lebanese borders. This information was revealed in a letter dating back to late April.

The release of this letter marks a potentially groundbreaking action by Lebanon, coinciding with ongoing talks in Washington. These discussions, now in their second day, aim to normalize relations between Israel and Lebanon—two nations technically still at war—and address the presence of the Hezbollah movement, which is backed by the Iranian regime, within Lebanon.

A spokesperson from the U.S. State Department informed Fox News Digital on Friday that the talks facilitated by the United States between Israel and Lebanon have resumed and are progressing. The spokesperson added, “The atmosphere of talks has been very positive, even exceeding expectations.”

In the image, a mourner holds a portrait of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a funeral procession on March 5, 2026, for members of Iraq’s pro-Iran paramilitary group Kataeb Hezbollah, who were killed in a strike in Baghdad the previous day. (Ahmed Al-Rubaye/AFP via Getty Images)

State Department representative Tommy Pigott shared on X that on May 14 and 15, the United States facilitated two days of highly productive talks between Israel and Lebanon. He announced that the truce declared on April 16 will be extended by 45 days to allow for further advancements. Additionally, the State Department plans to resume political negotiations on June 2 and June 3.

He added that, “In addition, a security track will be launched at the Pentagon on May 29 with military delegations from both countries. We hope these discussions will advance lasting peace between the two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border.”

As the sides report back to their capitals, the potentially game-changing letter in which Lebanese ambassador to the U.N. Ahmad Arafa, slammed Iran for inserting alleged terrorists from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) into Lebanon “under the guise of diplomatic activity,” has given hope to critics of Iran and Hezbollah.

Arafa said, according to the letter, that Iran committed “unlawful acts in blatant defiance of the decisions of the Government of Lebanon.” He continued, “This Iranian conduct constitutes direct and blatant interference in the internal affairs of Lebanon and drags the country into a war it did not choose to become involved in.”

Michael Needham, counselor for the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad, and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter pose for a photo before a meeting at the State Department in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 2026. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

The U.S. and the European Union have classified the IRGC as a terrorist entity.

The letter took the Iranian Ambassador to Beirut, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, to task for “blatant interference” in Lebanon.

According to Lebanon’s U.N. letter, Beirut argued that Iran is violating the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and interfering in Lebanon’s state of affairs.

Iranian protesters carry flowers in front of a large banner of Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah during a protest in Tehran on Sept. 30, 2024, condemning an Israeli air strike on Hezbollah’s Beirut headquarters and the killing of Nasrallah and IRGC Quds Force commander General Abbas Nilforoushan. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto)

When asked about the details of the letter, a spokesperson for Lebanon’s ambassador to the U.S. declined to comment. The spokesperson also declined to weigh in on the current talks with Israel in Washington.

Walid Phares, a leading U.S. expert on Lebanon and the Mideast, told Fox News Digital that “Many have considered the Lebanese memo to the U.N. as the start of the Lebanese government change of attitude towards Iran and a sign of escalation by Beirut. While the tone of the letter and its narrative make people feel that there is a government resistance to Iran and Hezbollah reality is still lesser.”

He added that “The subject of the last quarrel is a legal change of status regarding the presence of Iranians on Lebanese soil. The Lebanese government has decided not to grant Iranians, government, and private citizens an automatic visa waiver, which upset Iran and Hezbollah. Besides, Tehran is furious at the fact that the Lebanese government has not been helpful in dealing with the elimination of a number of IRGC members killed in Lebanon by Israel. Tehran blames the foreign ministry of Lebanon, particularly foreign minister Youssef Raggi, for the ‘lessening of solidarity with Iran.”‘

Smoke rises from Israeli airstrikes in Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, on April 5, 2026. (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

According to Phares, “Raggi represents a Lebanese Christian bloc in the parliament, who is not sympathetic to the regime. However, the actual talks in D.C. are designed by the Lebanese government to show the Trump administration that the ‘state wants to talk’ but not to reach an agreement that would trigger Hezbollah’s wrath. The leaders of the Lebanese state are not yet where the U.S. and Israel expect them to be.”

A regional official well-versed in the U.N. dispute told Fox News Digital that Lebanon “argued that Iran had not given the Lebanese foreign ministry the list of all Iranians and the details about their place of stay. And that’s why Israel targeted that hotel in Lebanon in which six were killed, which is true.”

The official said that “Iran had not told the foreign ministry of Lebanon about those six people.”

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rylee White, a 27-year-old screenwriter, was unfamiliar with the dynamic game of handball until her roommate showed her a TikTok video about open tryouts for the U.S. Olympic women’s team in Los Angeles — no prior experience required.

Compelled to give it a shot, White wasn’t alone. The viral video drew over 150 women to the January tryouts, a number that marked a significant increase, multiplying previous attendance by five.

In the months since, White has joined a select group of women who have relocated to Florida, joining USA Handball’s national residency program. Their goal is to earn a spot on the U.S. team for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Handball is popular overseas but not in the US

As the host country, the United States is granted automatic entry into every sport.

The U.S. last fielded a women’s handball team in the 1996 Olympics. Securing the funding and resources to build a competitive squad remains a formidable task, with many athletes being dual citizens who compete professionally in Europe.

While handball is little known in the U.S., it is popular in Germany, France, Norway and Denmark as well as Balkan nations in southeastern Europe. These countries usually dominate at the Olympics.

Men’s handball was introduced in the 1936 Olympics, and women started participating at the 1976 Games. But while many Olympic athletes start training in childhood to compete for their country, handball athletes in the U.S. often pivot to the sport later in life.

The game involves two teams of six players who use their hands to pass a ball — covered in a sticky resin — to get it into the other team’s goal, protected by a goalkeeper. It’s fast, full-contact and can draw tens of thousands of spectators overseas.

Former athletes take a gamble

Many female handball players were Division One athletes in college or are former professional basketball players. Most are in their 20s and 30s, but some play into their 40s.

White had hoped to have a college athlete career playing basketball and lacrosse but was hindered by injuries and several surgeries on her knees. Handball felt like her chance to play competitive sports again.

“I think a lot of people would describe me as the most competitive person they’d ever met,” White said. “I definitely was raised in a house where we had big, big dreams.”

She told the coach after tryouts: “I’m ready to go do this and I will work as hard as you want me to work.”

The goal of the residency is for players to improve enough to be paid to play professionally overseas.

Many have left partners behind to pursue their dreams, including White.

“I told him I’m going to take him to Europe with me,” she said.

As for the Olympic team roster, that won’t be finalized until a few months ahead of the LA Games. While dozens of women are training in the residency, only about 14 to 18 can represent the country in a tournament. It’s a big gamble.

Multisport athletes tend to make the best handball players

Sarah Gascon, who played on the women’s national team for years, recently became its head coach. Her goal is to rebuild the team and the program in the U.S. after years of decline.

“We’ve had great successes in my career and some really great moments but still didn’t get an opportunity to play in the Olympic Games because we just weren’t good enough,” Gascon said.

The best players, Gascon has found, are multisport athletes. Basketball teaches you how to dribble, volleyball teaches you how to block a ball when someone is shooting, and softball or rugby teaches you how to throw. Handball incorporates all of these skills.

“It’s really about their athleticism,” Gascon said. “Do they have a good foundation that we could build upon? And how are they able to adapt with learning something new at 22 or 23 years old?”

A lack of funding is the biggest hurdle

While Gascon has rounded up enthusiastic athletes in Florida, the biggest challenge they face is resources.

Gascon and her staff are all volunteers, and the athletes have to work full-time while training.

“Some of our best athletes haven’t been able to go to tournaments or go to events because they can’t afford it,” Gascon said.

Devyn Holbrook had also never heard of handball before the tryouts.

The 30-year-old self-proclaimed “queen of side quests” grew up doing ballet, soccer, basketball, softball, and javelin for track and field. She quickly became obsessed with handball after playing for just a few days.

“I just loved it and then I couldn’t stop watching videos online of past Olympic Games,” Holbrook said. “You don’t get a lot of chances to do like women’s team sports later in life.”

She figured she had nothing to lose.

“There will never be a chance again that I could go to the Olympics in this capacity,” Holbrook said. “So why not give it everything that I have? And if I don’t make it, then I don’t make it.”

Andy Pages received a celebratory sunflower seed shower, only to turn around and give one himself shortly after.

The Dodgers secured their third consecutive victory with a 6-0 triumph over the Angels on Friday night, driven by two pivotal home runs.

Pages initiated the scoring by launching a 3-0 fastball from Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz for a three-run homer in the fourth inning. Just moments after this, Max Muncy capitalized on an 0-2 pitch that Kochanowicz left hanging, sending it soaring for a solo home run to right field, marking consecutive homers for the Dodgers.

Upon returning to the dugout after his home run, Pages was welcomed with a shower of sunflower seeds from teammate Teoscar Hernández, who has made this celebration a signature move since joining the team three years ago.

With Hernández ready to bat when Muncy smashed his homer, Pages took the opportunity to return the favor, dousing Muncy with seeds as he re-entered the dugout.

“He’s going to have my job when I’m not here,” Hernández joked of Pages’ seed-throwing form. “So it is getting better.”

The scene represented an uplifting turn on what started as a dark day for the Dodgers (27-18), who placed scheduled starting pitcher Blake Snell on the injured list pregame with loose bodies in his elbow that could require surgery.

Snell’s injury is the third the Dodgers have suffered to a star pitcher in the last month (after Edwin Díaz and Tyler Glasnow). It leaves them concerningly thin on depth as they try to emerge from a month-long slump.

“It seems like every year we go through it,” manager Dave Roberts said of the sudden deluge of pitching injuries. “What I have learned is, we get through it.”

The easiest way to do so this time: More offensive performances such as Friday’s. 

Thanks to a third home run in the sixth inning from Hernández –– who snapped a month-long homer drought by driving a two-run blast the other way –– the Dodgers eclipsed the six-run mark for only the fifth time in their last 23 games.

It gave their pitching staff plenty of breathing room in what became an emergency bullpen game.

And it served as the latest encouraging sign that they are beginning to rediscover better form at the plate.

“The at-bats are getting better throughout this week,” Hernández said.

Given the team’s pitching situation, not a moment too soon either.

What it means

The Dodgers don’t want to go with bullpen games regularly this year.

But when they need to, as Friday showed, it isn’t always the worst tactic.

Eight different Dodgers pitchers combined for the club’s fifth shutout this year, limiting the Angels to just two hits while striking out a combined 11 batters.

It started with two scoreless innings from Will Klein, who retired his first five batters before stranding a couple runners in the second. Edgardo Henriquez and Blake Treinen then followed with 1-2-3 frames, keeping the Angels quiet as the Dodgers built their lead. 

Wyatt Mills and Kyle Hurt both worked around walks in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively. Alex Vesia negated a seventh-inning single by striking out his other three batters. Jack Dreyer and Charlie Barnes (a recent waiver claim who was called up in Snell’s place pregame) handled the final six outs.

It was the latest standout performance from a Dodgers relief corps that has a top-10 ERA in the majors this year.

It was also somewhat historic; marking only the 10th time in MLB’s modern era (since 1901) that club pitched a shutout using at least eight pitchers.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better situation tonight,” Roberts said. “It was good to see a few of the guys break out.”

Who’s hot

We covered Hernández (who is 9-for-19 in his last five games with four extra-base hits) in this space last night.

So, let’s go with Pages.

Entering Friday, the third-year slugger was in a lull, held without a hit in his last 13 at-bats. But with his score-opening home run, he continued to build on his strong overall start to the season –– continuing to be the Dodgers’ most consistent, and clutch, hitter.

Pages’ big fly was his 10th of the year, trailing only Muncy (who has 12) for most on the team.

It also put him back in a tie for the MLB lead in RBIs with 38, while helping him finish the night with a .305 batting average (11th-best in the National League) and .893 OPS (which ranks 12th).

Who’s not

Plain and simple, the Angels.

Since an encouraging 11-10 start to the season, the team has dropped 19 of its last 24 games. At 16-29 overall, they now own the worst record in the majors.

Before the game, manager Kurt Suzuki was asked if the club’s recent slump was simply in a run-of-the-mill “cold stretch” –– or something more reflective of the state of an organization that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2014.

Suzuki insisted it was the former, arguing that “there are a lot of games where we’re in it; we’re one swing away, maybe one pitch away, one out away.” 

“We’re gonna turn this around,” he added.

Either he was running cover for his bosses, or helplessly kidding himself.

Regardless, a franchise that has never before lost 100 games is well on its way to doing so right now. The “cold stretch,” unsurprisingly, continues.

Up next

The Dodgers will be going for only their second series win in the last three weeks on Saturday, when Justin Wrobleski (5-1, 2.42 ERA) faces breakout right-hander José Soriano (6-2, 1.66).

In a significant development, Donald Trump has revealed that American and Nigerian forces have successfully neutralized the world’s “most active terrorist.” This joint operation led to the demise of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, also known as Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al-Mainuki, who was the second-in-command of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The mission, which unfolded on Friday night in Africa, was described by Trump as a “meticulously planned and very complex” endeavor. Taking to Truth Social, Trump stated that the operation was carried out at his directive, highlighting the bravery and precision of both American and Nigerian forces involved in this high-stakes mission.

Trump elaborated that al-Minuki had been in hiding in Africa, with intelligence sources providing crucial information about his location to U.S. officials. The successful execution of this mission ensures that al-Minuki will no longer pose a threat by terrorizing the African populace or orchestrating attacks against Americans.

He added that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was ‘hiding’ in Africa, and sources had informed US officials of his whereabouts. 

‘He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans,’ Trump wrote.

‘With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished. Thank you to the Government of Nigeria for your partnership on this operation.’

Abu-Bilal al-Minuki is a Nigerian national and was sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. 

Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken designated him a Specially Designated Terrorist in 2023. 

Donald Trump, pictured above on Friday on the White House lawn, announced that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the second in command of ISIS, was killed in Africa on Friday 

Nigerian forces worked with American troops to locate and kill Abu-Bilal al-Minuki. Pictured above is a Nigerian Security Forces vehicle 

Trump said that sources in Nigeria informed officials of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki’s whereabouts. Pictured above are Nigerian soldiers in 2015 

ISIS- West Africa is one of the most significant and lethal branches of the terror group. 

The National Counterterrorism Center estimates that there are between 4,000 and 7,000 fighters affiliated with ISIS in the region. 

The group is concentrated in northeastern Nigeria, with operations throughout the Lake Chad region, including Cameroon, Chad and Niger. 

The branch was formed in 2015 when Boko Haram, a violent Islamist insurgency, pledged its allegiance to ISIS. 

Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was the leading official in the Lake Chad division of ISIS’s General Directorate of Provinces (GDP, according to the Counter Extremism Project. 

He reportedly has held a high-ranking position in the terror group since 2018. Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was described as a ‘hardline militant.’ 

He ascended through the ranks of the terror group after the execution of Boko Haram leader Mamman Nur. 

Nur was reportedly killed by subordinates shortly after he released abducted schoolgirls without demanding ransom, according to the Counter Extremism Project. 

ISIS has a significant following in Nigeria, called ISIS- West Africa. Pictured above are soldiers patrolling the streets in Kebbi 

Abu-Bilal al-Minuki reportedly ascended through the ranks after the execution of Mamman Nur, pictured above 

It was believed that Nur was executed because other members of ISIS disagreed with his ‘soft’ approach. Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was Nur’s primary rival. 

Nur was believed to be the mastermind behind a suicide bombing in 2011 that killed 21 people at the United Nations headquarters in Nigeria. 

ISIS grew out of Sunni Iraqis during the Iraq War in the early 2000s as an affiliate of al-Qaeda. 

The terror group expanded outward in Syria and had branched off to conflict zones in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia by 2015. 

Insurgent groups, including Boko Haram, the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and factions of the Taliban in Afghanistan, pledged allegiance to ISIS. 

ISIS-WA uses military assaults, roadside bombs, kidnappings and targeted killings to equip fighters, according to the National Counterterrorism Center. 

ISIS members in Nigeria grew from the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram. Pictured above is a screengrab released by Boko Haram in 2014 

ISIS gained prominence during the Iraq War in the early 2000s. Pictured above is a group allegedly tied to the Islamic State in 2014 

‘The branch mainly attacks regional military targets and civilian defense forces and frequently attacks government personnel and infrastructure; foreign aid workers for kidnapping and hostage-taking; Christians; and other civilians whom ISIS-WA perceives as working against the branch or opposing its interpretation of sharia,’ the NCC said. 

Although ISIS’s influence in the Middle East has decreased significantly since the war in Iraq, insurgent groups in Africa have remained prominent, exploiting poor economic conditions in countries like Nigeria. 

The Trump administration targeted ISIS groups in Nigeria on Christmas Day last year, killing ‘multiple ISIS terrorists.’ 

The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House and the Pentagon for more information. 

Late Friday, President Donald Trump revealed that a joint operation by U.S. and Nigerian forces successfully eliminated a high-ranking ISIS leader.

Trump named the individual as Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, describing him as the second most senior leader within ISIS globally.

“Under my orders, courageous American forces, alongside Nigeria’s military, executed a meticulously planned and highly complex mission to remove the world’s most active terrorist from the battlefield,” Trump announced via a post on Truth Social.

“Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, who held the position of ISIS’s global second-in-command, believed he could evade capture in Africa. However, our intelligence sources kept us informed of his activities,” Trump added. “He will no longer pose a threat to the people of Africa or assist in planning attacks against Americans.”

In Washington, D.C., on March 2, President Donald Trump was pictured overseeing military operations during Operation Epic Fury against Iran at the White House. (Image credit: The White House via X Account/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Trump also thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation in the mission.

“With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished,” he added.

Additional details surrounding the mission were not immediately available.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.

The announcement comes after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out multiple strikes against more than 30 ISIS targets in Syria in February as part of a joint military effort to “sustain relentless military pressure on remnants from the terrorist network.”

CENTCOM said U.S. forces struck ISIS infrastructure and weapons-storage targets using fixed-wing, rotary-wing and unmanned aircraft.

The U.S. military carried out ten strikes against more than 30 ISIS targets in Syria following a December ambush that killed U.S. troops. (CENTCOM)

Trump told reporters on Jan. 27 that he had a “great conversation” with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

“All of the things having to do with Syria in that area are working out very, very well,” he said at the time. “So, we are very happy about it.”

CENTCOM announced in February that more than 50 ISIS terrorists had been killed or captured and more than 100 ISIS infrastructure targets struck during two months of targeted operations in Syria.

The U.S. launched Operation Hawkeye Strike in response to an ISIS ambush that killed two U.S. service members and an American interpreter Dec. 13, 2025, in Palmyra, Syria.

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On Saturday morning, Long Island Rail Road employees commenced a strike after negotiations over salary increases between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and five labor unions reached an impasse.

Over 3,500 LIRR workers, spanning roles such as engineers, signalmen, and trainmen, initiated the strike at 12:01 a.m. following intense discussions centered on wage increases. Union representatives have emphasized that wage hikes are essential to counterbalance inflation’s impact.

“The responsibility for this strike lies with the LIRR,” stated Sean M. O’Brien, the Teamsters’ general president, in a Saturday announcement.

“For years, union workers have dedicated themselves to the railroad, consistently negotiating in good faith for equitable contracts. The LIRR is leaving passengers in the lurch while refusing to offer just wages, benefits, and respect to BLET Teamsters and other diligent union members,” O’Brien continued.

The strike is anticipated to disrupt travel for nearly 300,000 passengers, with only a few shuttle buses available for essential personnel and those unable to work remotely during weekdays. MTA chief Janno Lieber and Governor Kathy Hochul have advised other commuters to work from home as a temporary solution.

“LIRR service is suspended until further notice because of a strike,” the railroad wrote on X early Saturday.

“Avoid nonessential travel and work from home if possible. We will have limited shuttle bus service on weekdays for essential workers and those who cannot telecommute.”

Union officials said they did everything the could to reach a deal but had no choice but to walk off the job.

“To every LIRR passenger whose trip is disrupted, know that the MTA left us no choice but to strike,” said Gil Lang, general chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen’s (BLET) General Committee.

“We don’t want to be on the picket line. But after three years without raises, we cannot make anymore compromises to cover for the MTA’s mismanagement.”

Workers are expected to begin picketing at Penn Station at 7 a.m. Saturday, union officials said.

The dispute between the MTA and the coalition of labor groups involves contracts that became amenable in 2023 and centers on pay and work rules for train workers.

The sides have agreed on retroactive raises of 3% in 2023, 3% in 2024 and 3.5% in 2025, but remain at odds on the unions’ request for a 5% pay raise in 2026.

Union leaders say they need higher wages to keep up with inflation.

“We’re not asking for the moon and stars. We’re asking for an agreement that keeps pace with inflation,” a source at one of the unions involved in the negotiations told The Post Wednesday.

“They’re coming up with lump-sum payments rather than putting the money in our wages.”

Gary Dellaverson, the MTA’s lead labor negotiator, said Wednesday that in recent meetings, the authority has offered individual lump-sum payments over the remaining 12 months of the contract rather than the wage increases the unions are seeking.

But union officials argue that lump-sum payments do not raise base pay and would leave workers effectively stuck at 2025 wage levels when the next round of bargaining begins.

Negotiations reportedly continued late into Friday night as the strike deadline loomed, with riders rushing to return to Long Island before service was disrupted.

“At this point, we have no idea what’s going to happen, and we’re just kind of waiting to figure it out,” commuter Jordan Rund told ABC 7 News Friday night, noting how working from home isn’t an option for him.

“I work in the West Village, so for me to drive all day from Long Island to the west side, it would take me like over two hours to be able to get there. So, it’s kind of a hassle.”

Commuter Dana Camera told the outlet working from home is out of the question for her.

“I do ultrasounds for pregnant women and gynecology and so on and I have to be there,” she said. “I can’t do that remotely.”

Options will be slim for the LIRR’s daily riders who can’t work from home during the strike. 

The MTA has planned rush‑hour shuttle buses for essential workers from five Long Island stations into Queens, at a projected cost of roughly $325,000 to $550,000 per day.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani warned riders to expect “heavier-than-usual traffic,” crowded transit and longer travel times as the strike continues.

“City Hall and agencies across the administration are actively coordinating preparedness and contingency efforts to maintain continuity for commuters and support New Yorkers as conditions evolve,” Mamdani said in a Friday night post on X.

“The MTA has announced that limited weekday bus service will be available for essential workers and others who cannot telecommute.
We encourage New Yorkers to stay informed, plan ahead and check for updates and travel guidance as more information becomes available.”

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli estimated the strike could cost up to $61 million in lost economic activity per day, based on prior analysis, inflation and rider trends.

“A LIRR strike will be felt far beyond the tracks, triggering the loss of millions of dollars per day in lost economic activity, disrupting thousands of riders and throwing the region’s transit service into chaos and gridlock,” DiNapoli said in a statement Friday.

“I urge the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and its union partners to expedite reaching a reasonable settlement so we can avoid the widespread disruption of a strike.”