Victor Wembanyama expressed dissatisfaction with the NBA’s approach to concussion protocols, which led to his absence from Game 3 in the Spurs’ series against the Trail Blazers. He described the situation as “very disappointing” in terms of how it was managed.

Despite Wembanyama’s frustration, the Spurs managed to secure a 3-1 lead in the series, clinching a 114-93 victory over the Blazers on Sunday night. In a postgame discussion with Malika Andrews, Wembanyama openly shared his discontent with the league’s handling of concussion procedures.

“I was experiencing a mix of emotions before the game — excitement and frustration among them — so I released a lot of that energy tonight,” he explained to Andrews, who inquired about his experience with the concussion protocol.

“The Spurs staff has been excellent,” Wembanyama remarked. “My dissatisfaction lies with how the protocol was managed by other entities. However, my team has been outstanding. From the very first day after the injury, I was on the path to recovery. The injury itself was peculiar, almost amusing,” he added.

Wembanyama suffered a hard fall during Game 2 against Portland, which resulted in him entering concussion protocol. Following the game, San Antonio confirmed that he had indeed sustained a concussion.

Wembanyama was given another chance to address the topic after the Game 4 win. Though he didn’t give much more detail on what upset him about the process, he reiterated his frustration. 

“I won’t get into the details. I don’t want to become a distraction,” he said. “Ask me again after the end of the season. But again, all the doctors, especially on the Spurs, we have the doctors all around, they were great, took great care of me. But the way the situation was handled was very disappointing. Not on the Spurs, again. But as I said, I won’t get into the details. 

“I’m not saying that not playing was a good or bad decision. It was a decision. I’m not saying it was good or bad, but the way the situation was handled, very disappointing.”

Wembanyama finished the game with 27 points and shot 9-of-17 from the field, while pulling down 11 rebounds, three assists and seven blocks. 

The Spurs’ big man also had three steals by the end of the game.

EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Ambassador Tom Barrack is responding to criticism after his comments, which some interpreted as likening Israel to Hezbollah, asserting that his statements were grounded in “realism” rather than signaling a shift in U.S. policy.

Barrack had seemingly compared America’s key Middle Eastern ally with a group labeled as a terrorist organization by the U.S. He also suggested that Turkey should soon be allowed back into the F-35 program, despite its acquisition of Russia’s S-400 system, and claimed that only “strong leadership regimes” have thrived in the region.

In a set of exclusive written responses to Fox News Digital, Barrack dismissed the notion that he was easing the administration’s position on Hezbollah or Iran, emphasizing that President Donald Trump’s strategy of “peace through strength” calls for a more practical approach to the Middle East.

U.S. Ambassador Tom Barrack is addressing criticism over remarks perceived as comparing Israel and Hezbollah. (Hussein Malla/AP)

Fox News Digital: At the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on Friday, you referred to the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire as a “time out” and mentioned that “everyone has been equally untrustworthy.” How do you justify this view considering Hezbollah’s classification as a terrorist organization by the U.S.?

Does your statement that the goal is “not killing Hezbollah” reflect any shift from the previous “maximum pressure” approach toward a strategy of containment or political inclusion?

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack: Let me be very clear about my remarks at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on April 17.

When I described the Israel–Hezbollah ceasefire as a ‘time out’ and said that ‘everybody has been equally untrustworthy,’ I was simply stating the obvious reality on the ground. This is realism, not criticism of any side. 

The November 2024 ceasefire and the recent April 2026 ceasefire have repeatedly proven fragile because all parties — Israel, Hezbollah and their backers — have tested the limits in the past. Historical patterns of violations, rearmament and proxy escalation confirm that mutual mistrust is the core challenge.

That mutual mistrust is exactly why this administration brokered the ceasefire in the first place: to stop the senseless killing, create breathing room and build a monitored, enforceable path forward that strengthens Lebanese sovereignty and Israeli security.

This characterization in no way softens our ironclad position: Hezbollah is a designated terrorist organization responsible for the deaths of Americans and countless acts of destabilization. 

We have never trusted them. We acknowledge that within Lebanon itself, the Hezbollah political party is differentiated from Hezbollah the terrorist group, which holds parliamentary seats within the Lebanese government. Political trust in that regard will have to be earned.

U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack speaks during a session at Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, Turkey, April 17, 2026.  (Umit Bektas/Reuters)

My point was straightforward: durable peace requires confronting that mistrust head-on, not pretending it does not exist. This approach fully supports President Trump’s policy of maximum pressure on Iran and its proxies while delivering real results: positioning us to degrade Hezbollah’s terrorist capabilities through a combination of enforcement, Lebanese state authority and the renewal of an economy that can provide a new era of hope to Lebanese communities in both the north and south.

On the goal not being ‘killing Hezbollah,’ I stand by every word. After decades in the region, you cannot eliminate an embedded militia solely by kinetic means when a sovereign state like Iran continues to arm and fund it. Pure ‘mowing the lawn’ has never worked. To the contrary, it often fuels recruitment and prolongs conflict.

Our objective has always been to degrade Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure to the point where diplomacy and a sovereign Lebanese government can take over under Lebanon’s confessional system, reflecting Christian, Sunni and Shiite interests. This is not a shift toward containment or political inclusion of a terrorist group. It is the same ‘maximum pressure plus smart diplomacy’ playbook this administration has used successfully against ISIS and other threats.

We continue to back Israel’s right to defend itself decisively, as Secretary Rubio explicitly affirmed in the current ceasefire terms, while also pushing for an end to the idiocy of endless war. Stopping the bleeding first, then enforcing the win. That is exactly what President Trump and Secretary Rubio achieved with this ceasefire.

No policy changes whatsoever. Just clear, effective execution.

Tom Barrack, U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, meets Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Baabda, east of Beirut, on July 7, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency Press Office/AP)

Fox News Digital: You described the dispute over Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program as “insane” and suggested the Russian S-400 issue could be resolved within months.

What specific safeguards regarding possession and operability are under consideration to satisfy Section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act and address concerns that the Russian S-400 system could compromise sensitive F-35 technology? How do you respond to members of Congress who have threatened to oppose F-16 upgrades or any future F-35 transfer to Turkey until your comments regarding Hezbollah and Israel are clarified?

(For example, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who responded directly to Barrack’s April 2026 remarks by saying Turkey would not receive either F-35s or F-16s. Scott wrote that Turkey “funds Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, hates Israel, and loves Russia and Iran,” adding: “Good luck buying F-35s, F-16s, and other American-made defense platforms.)

Barrack: Calling the prolonged impasse “insane” is blunt common sense. It highlights exactly why the administration is right to pursue a resolution: NATO unity against Russia and China is a core U.S. national security interest.

Turkey remains a vital ally, hosting critical U.S. assets, contributing to NATO missions and countering shared threats. Sanctions and exclusion from the F-35 program, triggered by the S-400 purchase, have strained ties unnecessarily while Russia benefits from the wedge.

The S-400 issue can and should be resolved within months through surgical diplomacy from Secretary Rubio, grounded in the strong personal relationship between President Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Let me be explicit: any resolution will fully satisfy Section 1245 of the NDAA. That means verifiable cessation of possession and operability of the Russian S-400 system, with formal certifications from the secretaries of Defense and State confirming there is no risk of compromise to sensitive F-35 technology.

There will be no shortcuts on American security standards. What I am signaling is that real breakthroughs are imminent: restoring Turkey’s role in the F-35 ecosystem, strengthening NATO interoperability, boosting U.S. industry and denying Russia leverage.

This is classic Trump deal-making: enforce the law, protect our technology and rebuild alliances that advance American strength.

In every one of these statements, I am speaking directly in support of this administration’s foreign policy. We believe in peace through strength, candid assessment of realities and delivering results that protect U.S. interests without dragging America into endless conflicts.

These comments reflect that approach: maximum leverage against terrorists, pragmatic engagement with key partners like Turkey and a clear-eyed path to greater stability in a volatile region.”

Another point of contention was Barrack’s repeated argument that strong centralized rule, rather than Western-style democracy, has been the most successful model in the Middle East. Reiterating comments he had made previously, Barrack said at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on April 17: “The only thing that’s worked, the only thing, are these powerful leadership regimes: either benevolent monarchies, the kind of monarchical republic.

Turkey was removed from the American F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing Russia’s S-400 air defense system, which U.S. officials warned could allow Moscow to gather intelligence on the stealth fighter. 

Under Section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act, Turkey cannot rejoin the program unless the president certifies to Congress that Ankara no longer possesses or operates the S-400 and that the system poses no risk to the F-35.

Syrian President Ahmed Sharaa met with U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack at the People’s Palace in Damascus on Jan. 18, 2026. (Syrian Presidency/Handout/Anadolu)

Fox News Digital: You said that “powerful leadership regimes” are the only structures that have worked in the Middle East. 

Does that statement reflect a broader shift away from longstanding U.S. support for democratic governance and human rights in the region?

Barrack: When I said that ‘powerful leadership regimes,’ whether benevolent monarchies or the kind of monarchical republics seen elsewhere in the region, are the only structures that have actually worked in the Middle East, I was speaking from decades of hard-earned observation, not ideology.

Look at the track record. Countries that tried to adopt Western-style democracy quickly after the Arab Spring largely failed, often descending into chaos, civil war or new forms of authoritarianism.

Meanwhile, stable, results-oriented leadership in places like the Gulf monarchies has delivered security, economic growth, modernization and real improvements in people’s lives.

Israel, which one can rightly point to as a vibrant democracy in the region, stands as a notable outlier that has thrived under extremely strong, bold leadership capable of delivering security and prosperity under extraordinary challenges, even as some critics describe it as a “flawed democracy.”

Turkey, operating as a presidential republic with regular multiparty elections, also demonstrates how strong, centralized leadership under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has delivered stability, economic dynamism and assertive regional influence, though critics have described it as a hybrid regime with strong authoritarian tendencies.

This is not a change in U.S. policy away from supporting democratic governance and human rights. It is a realistic assessment of what produces stability so that human rights and prosperity can take root.

Warren Stephens, Tom Barrack, and Tilman Fertitta sit for their confirmation hearings. (Getty Images)

President Trump’s approach has always been peace through strength: deal with the world as it is, not as we wish it to be. We support effective governance that prevents chaos, counters terrorism and creates conditions for long-term progress.

That includes backing strong, accountable leaders who deliver for their people, whether in monarchies that have modernized successfully or in evolving systems that prioritize security and opportunity over imported models that have repeatedly collapsed.

Lindsey Vonn, the renowned American skier, was seen being assisted in a wheelchair through Los Angeles airport recently, as she continues to recuperate from a severe crash at the Winter Olympics.

The 41-year-old skiing icon has spent several months recovering from multiple surgeries following a devastating fall during her downhill final at the Milan Cortina Games in February.

In a remarkable feat, Vonn made a comeback at the Milan Cortina Games but suffered a severe broken leg just 13 seconds into her women’s downhill final on February 8. This incident came after she had already torn her ACL prior to the competition.

Despite these setbacks, Vonn has shown impressive progress, even sharing a video of herself working out in the gym last month. However, it seems she is yet to fully regain her mobility.

On Sunday, Vonn was photographed being wheeled through the airport, underscoring the ongoing nature of her recovery journey.

The former Olympic Champion kept it relaxed in an all-black athleisure wear ensemble, prioritizing comfort for her travels. 

A fatigued-looking Lindsey Vonn was spotted being pushed through Los Angeles airport

The Olympic champion was in a wheelchair as she continues her recovery from a brutal crash

Vonn, who appeared to be wearing minimal makeup, had her pair of crutches resting over her lap, while her wheelchair was pushed by a member of airport staff. 

As she arrived at the gate for boarding, she was seen resting a $4,000 navy Louis Vuitton duffle bag with the fashion house’s signature monogram print in white on her lap.

Vonn’s assisted outing came just days after she admitted to battling mental health struggles in the wake of her accident. 

After the first of her five surgeries, Vonn suffered from compartment syndrome which left doctors facing a race against time to avoid having to amputate the limb.

Following multiple surgeries in both Italy and the United States, the skiing legend was allowed to return home to Utah on March 1, almost a month after the crash happened.

Vonn has since proven that she has bounced back faster than fans expected with regular updates on her progress. Earlier this month, she managed to walk for the first time since the crash.

But speaking to People Magazine, Vonn revealed how crushing it was in isolation as she recovered from the injuries.

‘It’s definitely been up and down,’ she told the outlet – revealing that she suffered from depression in the loneliness.

Vonn clipped the gate on her second turn and ended up breaking her leg in a violent wreck

Vonn needed five surgeries in total after she came dangerously close to losing her leg

‘I’d say in the last month, it’s definitely gotten better, but of course there were really low moments. I hate being dependent on people, and was pretty much 100% dependent for everything,’ Vonn added.

‘It was quite a challenge, just being in the hospital alone for two and a half weeks. Being completely immobile for that extended time period was so rough.’

In the time she had to herself, the only thing Vonn had to pass the time was her phone – which led to her scrolling endlessly through social media to read what others said about her. 

‘There were a million things that were being said online, that people were so convinced that they knew even though they don’t really have a concept of ski racing, and what it physically takes,’ the 41-year-old told the outlet. 

‘So I think reading all of that online was hard. Of course, I tried not to read it, but I also didn’t really have any other way of being connected to the outside world, because I was so isolated.’

With Vonn laid up in bed, she admitted to replying to some of the critiques of her effort to race down the mountain on a previously torn ACL.

Vonn tore her ACL in Switzerland the week before the Olympics, but chose to compete anyway in a controversial and scrutinized decision. 

‘Sometimes I got frustrated and, you know, had a hard time staying away from battling trolls on Twitter,’ she said, jokingly. 

‘But sometimes you just gotta stand up for yourself. And I maybe did that a few too many times, but it’s hard.’