
Donald Trump began the week expressing frustration over Iran and Israel’s fragile ceasefire situation, but concluded with celebratory White House appearances following several political victories.
The president appeared triumphant during an extended news conference, highlighting his accomplishments across multiple fronts.
Iran Strike and Ceasefire Achievement
The US military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 21 preceded Trump’s announcement of a “complete and total” ceasefire in what he called the “12-day war” between Israel and Iran.
Initial developments proved challenging. Iran launched ballistic missiles at a US airbase in Qatar shortly before the ceasefire announcement, raising concerns about regional escalation. Both sides faced accusations of ceasefire violations, prompting Trump’s heated response to reporters.
Trump acknowledged he barely persuaded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt additional attacks on Iran. However, the ceasefire ultimately maintained stability, allowing Trump to claim success for his military strategy and present himself as a “peacemaker” amid ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.
NATO Summit Success
During Trump’s Netherlands visit for the NATO summit, Secretary General Mark Rutte sent congratulatory messages about the Iran strikes, which Trump publicly shared. US allies committed to 5% defense spending, fulfilling Trump’s repeated demands.
At a joint press conference, Rutte jokingly called Trump “Daddy,” referencing his role in brokering the Israel-Iran ceasefire. Trump embraced the nickname, stating at a subsequent news conference, “I think he likes me. If he doesn’t… I’ll come back and hit him hard. He did it very affectionately.” The White House later posted videos captioned “daddy’s home.”
Supreme Court Ruling
Trump’s week concluded with a Supreme Court decision limiting judges’ authority to issue nationwide injunctions against presidential orders. While the case concerned birthright citizenship for certain immigrant children, the ruling has broader implications for Trump’s domestic agenda.
The decision prevents what Attorney General Pam Bondi termed an “endless barrage” of injunctions, enabling Trump to pursue policies including funding freezes for “sanctuary cities,” refugee resettlement suspension, and restrictions on gender surgery funding.
Trump called the ruling a “monumental victory for the constitution, the separation of powers, and the rule of law” during an impromptu news conference, joking with reporters while staff smiled nearby.
African Peace Agreement
Trump met with foreign ministers from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday after they signed a peace deal addressing decades of conflict. While details remain limited and previous agreements have failed, both the US and Congolese presidents characterized this as significant progress.
The agreement also provides US access to regional critical minerals. Trump stated, “I was able to get them together and sell it. And not only that, we’re getting for the United States a lot of the mineral rights from the Congo.”
Trump admitted limited knowledge of the conflict, saying, “I’m a little bit out of my league… because I don’t know too much about it. I know one thing. They were going at it for many years, and with machetes.”
Ongoing Challenges
Trump’s major legislative priority, the tax bill he calls the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” faces obstacles. Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled certain provisions violated Senate rules, jeopardizing billions in proposed cuts despite Trump’s July 4th deadline.
While Trump celebrates ceasefires in Iran, central Africa, and between Pakistan and India, he has yet to achieve promised peace in Gaza and Ukraine. Regarding Ukraine, Trump said “We’re working on that one” without mentioning Gaza.
Future military action against Iran remains possible. When asked if he would bomb Iran again over nuclear program concerns, Trump responded, “Sure, without question, absolutely.”
Be the first to leave a comment