PRESIDENT TRUMP arrived in the Netherlands to meet with world leaders at the NATO summit Tuesday, with a fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran holding, for now.

Early Tuesday, it appeared as if the Trump-brokered deal between the warring nations might fall through, with Israel dispatching fighter jets to retaliate after Iran conducted a deadly strike.

Trump appeared to intervene in real time, posting on Truth Social:

“ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”

Before embarking on his trip, Trump cursed Israel and Iran in front of cameras on live TV.

“They don’t know what the f— they’re doing,” he said.

Trump unloaded on Israel in a way that he has rarely, if ever, done in public.

“[Iran] violated it. But Israel violated it, too,” Trump said.

“Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs the likes of which I’d never seen before,” Trump added. “The biggest load that we’ve seen. I’m not happy with Israel.”

But Israel called off its retaliatory strike, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying Trump convinced him to end the war entirely in a phone call.

“Pursuant to the conversation between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israel has refrained from additional attacks,” Netanyahu’s office said.

If the peace holds, it could be a major win for Trump, with the U.S. unilaterally striking at Iran’s nuclear capabilities while avoiding a wider war and regime change — for now.

“I want to see everything calm down as quickly as possible,” Trump told reporters during his flight to the NATO Summit. “Regime change takes chaos, and ideally we don’t want to see much chaos. You know, the Iranians are very good traders, very good business people.”

Vice President Vance lauded what he described as Trump’s foreign policy doctrine.

“We are seeing a foreign policy doctrine develop that will change the country (and the world) for the better: 1) clearly define an American interest; 2) negotiate aggressively to achieve that interest; 3) use overwhelming force if necessary,” he posted on X.

Praise for Trump’s actions has been trickling in from surprising places.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), who lost to Trump in a nasty 2016 presidential primary, posted on X:

“President Trump’s decision to neutralize Iran’s regime’s nuclear program is a watershed moment. It reasserts U.S. strength, restores deterrence, and sends an unmistakable message to rogue regimes: the era of impunity is over.”

The House on Tuesday rejected an effort by Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) to impeach Trump over the Iran strikes in a 344-79 vote, with 128 Democrats joining Republicans to table the measure.

Still, uncertainty remains.

A new bulletin from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned of a “heightened threat environment” from pro-Iranian actors, who have a “long-standing commitment to target US Government officials.”

DHS said 11 Iranian nationals illegally in the U.S. were arrested over the weekend.

Trump’s border czar Tom Homan warned that Iranian terror cells pose a “significant threat.”

And there are questions about how much damage the U.S. did to Iran’s nuclear capabilities, with CNN reporting one early intelligence assessment said the nuclear sites were not destroyed and may have only setback by months.

The New York Times reported that the intelligence assessment estimated the program was delayed less than six months. 

It’s an initial assessment and one that could change, the outlets reported. The White House denied the reports.

“The leaking of this alleged assessment is a clear attempt to demean President Trump, and discredit the brave fighter pilots who conducted a perfectly executed mission to obliterate Iran’s nuclear program,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000 pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration.”

NATO leaders are expected to raise their defense spending to 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP), a massive win for Trump, who has pushed U.S. allies to contribute more to their own national security.

Only Spain has received an opt-out, earning a rebuke from Trump.

“There’s a problem with Spain,” Trump told reporters. “Spain is not agreeing. Which is very unfair to the rest of the people, frankly.”

Still, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte praised Trump in a personal letter the president shared on his Truth Social account.

“Donald, you have really driven us to a really, really important moment for America and Europe, and the world,” Rutte said. “You will achieve something NO American president in decades could get done. Europe is going to pay in a BIG way as they should, and it will be your win.”

Trump has at times had a rocky relationship with NATO leaders, suggesting the U.S. may not defend allies who do not contribute enough to defense spending.

Asked about NATO’s Article 5 obligations, Trump said there are different interpretations.

“Depends on your definition. There’s numerous definitions of Article 5,” he told reporters on Air Force One. “But I’m committed to being their friends. You know, I’ve become friends with many of those leaders, and I’m committed to helping them.”

The Russia-Ukraine war will be another key topic at NATO, while sideline conversations could also touch on tariffs. 

Trump’s 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs expires July 8, and several key U.S. trading partners, including Canada, France and Italy, will be at the summit.

“We know that we’re very, very close to a few countries and are waiting to announce after we get the big, beautiful bill closed,” White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Tuesday. “And so I think you’re going to see a sequence of trade bills really starting from around the Fourth of July.”

💡Perspectives:

• The Free Press: Why Trump’s Iran strike worked.

• Washington Post: Trump is right. Europe must pay more to defend itself.

• New Yorker: How Donald Trump got NATO to pay up.

• The Free Press: Democrats go AWOL on Iran.

Read more: 

• Here’s how Iran could retaliate against the US if diplomacy fails.

• NATO leaders gather for historic summit with unity on the line.

• Voters in New York are heading to the polls Tuesday for primary elections, with the battle to be the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor being the marquee event. Here are five things to watch for tonight and everything you need to know about the ranked choice voting system.

   

• New York City closed an arrival center for migrants that had been established at the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan to manage the flood of new people that came into the U.S. over the past few years

Greg Nash

President Trump is putting the squeeze on Senate Republicans, demanding they rally to pass his agenda bill by July 4, even as the GOP appears no closer to resolving key outstanding disagreements.

“Lock yourself in a room if you must, don’t go home, and GET THE DEAL DONE THIS WEEK,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Work with the House so they can pick it up, and pass it, IMMEDIATELY. NO ONE GOES ON VACATION UNTIL IT’S DONE.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said the Senate will remain in Washington until the legislation is passed, intent on getting the bill to Trump’s desk by the nation’s 250th birthday. Senators are currently scheduled to be on a recess break for the Fourth of July holiday.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Senate is on track to vote on Friday after meeting with GOP senators. He said Trump would be involved in the final negotiations.

Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” has been held back by GOP divisions over spending and debt levels, cuts to Medicaid, the state and local tax deductions cap, and the phase-out of renewable energy tax credits.

Even if Senate Republicans muster the 51 votes needed to pass the bill through the upper chamber, some House Republicans are digging in against changes that have been made.

A group of 16 vulnerable House Republicans is warning they won’t support the Senate’s version of the bill because the proposed Medicaid cuts are too steep. 

“Protecting Medicaid is essential for the vulnerable constituents we were elected to represent,” the lawmakers wrote. “Therefore, we cannot support a final bill that threatens access to coverage or jeopardizes the stability of our hospitals and providers.”

House Freedom Caucus Chair Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), a fiscal hawk who voted “present” when the bill went before the House earlier this month, said Tuesday he’ll vote “no” if the Senate version makes it back to the House.

“The currently proposed Senate version of the One Big Beautiful Bill weakens key House priorities—it doesn’t do enough to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid, it backtracks on Green New Scam elimination included in the House bill, and it greatly increases the deficit – taking us even further from a balanced budget,” he posted on X. “If the Senate tries to jam the House with this version, I won’t vote ‘present.’ I’ll vote NO.”

In addition, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough has been chipping away at items in the bill that must be removed for it to bypass a Democratic filibuster.

Most recently, MacDonough ruled against provisions that would dramatically accelerate the approval of offshore oil and gas projects.

The Hill’s Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech details the 12 pieces the parliamentarian has struck from the bill so far.

MEANWHILE…

Centrist Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), a pivotal vote for Trump’s mega-bill, said she has “considered” the possibility of switching parties.

However, Murkowski said she hasn’t made the leap because she has major policy disagreements with the left and doesn’t “see Democrats being much better.”

“Do I feel that within my Republican conference, I always feel like I’m right here in my political home? No. There’s some directions and policies that I disagree with,” Murkowski told Semafor.

Murkowski also emphasized that her political outlook aligns “more closely” with the Republicans, for now.

ELSEWHERE…

Rep. Robert Garcia (Calif.) won the vote to be the next top Democrat on the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, beating a crowded field to replace former Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who died of cancer last month.

It’s a swift ascent for Garcia, 46, who is only in his third year on Capitol Hill. If Democrats reclaim the House majority in the midterms, he’ll be in the high-profile position of leading probes into the Trump administration.

💡Perspectives:

• The Liberal Patriot: Republicans give Dems an opening on healthcare.

• Washington Examiner: Democrats can’t find their way.

• American Prospect: Parliamentarian comes for the beautiful bill.

Read more: 

• GOP chair asks RFK Jr. to retract claim against Democrat in hearing.

• Inside the group making an ‘EPIC’ impact on the Trump-GOP megabill.

• Biden’s White House physician to appear before House panel.

• GOP’s Cornyn looks to fight his way out.

Greg Nash, The Hill

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell defended his decision to hold interest rates steady, even as forecasts of inflation due to President Trump’s tariffs have largely failed to materialize.

In testimony before two congressional committees, Powell said uncertainty around tariffs and the “ongoing inflation problem” have led to him to hold rates steady, for now.

“Policy changes continue to evolve, and their effects on the economy remain uncertain,” Powell said. “The effects of tariffs will depend, among other things, on their ultimate level.”

Trump has been lashing out at Powell, accusing him of refusing to lower rates for political reasons.

The president ripped Powell in a Truth Social post ahead of his testimony, calling him “dumb” and “hardheaded.”

“‘Too Late’ Jerome Powell, of the Fed, will be in Congress today in order to explain, among other things, why he is refusing to lower the Rate,” Trump said. “Europe has had 10 cuts, we have had ZERO. No inflation, great economy — We should be at least two to three points lower. Would save the USA 800 Billion Dollars Per Year, plus. What a difference this would make.”

• HIGH COURT MOVES: The Supreme Court lifted judge-imposed limits on the Trump administration’s deportations to countries where migrants have no ties, in a 6-3 ruling that cut along ideological lines.

The three liberal justices wrote a scathing dissent, saying their colleagues were “rewarding lawlessness.”

The Trump administration Tuesday accused a federal district judge of defying the Supreme Court’s ruling by insisting the administration still cannot swiftly remove a group of migrants with serious criminal records to South Sudan.  

The Hill’s Zach Schonfeld details the big cases to come as the high court races to finish work by their end-of-June deadline.

A decision on Trump’s birthright citizenship order is among the most anticipated to come before the end of the month.

💡Perspectives:

• New York: The political class is responsible for the man they’re trying to stop.

• The Nation: In L.A., immigrants are leading the fight.

• The Hill: What ICE agents are doing is outrageous and totally legal.

• The Hill: Can Trump pull off a sharp left-turn on immigration?

Read more: 

• Florida to receive federal funds to build “Alligator Alcatraz.”

• Cassidy calls for postponing RFK Jr’s vaccine advisory panel meeting.

• Trump’s media company will buy $400 million of its own shares.

• Mortgage rates, prices, weigh on housing market.

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