President Donald Trump on May 23 told Axios that the chance of negotiations with Iran leading to a peace deal is about "50–50." He said the two sides will reach what he considers a “good” deal or else the United States will “blow them to kingdom come.” The president said he will likely decide on whether to continue warring with Iran by May 24.

Tens of thousands of people in Orange County, California, have been evacuated due to a chemical leak at an aerospace facility. Fire officials say the leak is coming from an industrial tank containing roughly 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, which is a highly flammable toxic substance.