Monday, June 23 | By Jonathan Easley |
AP Photo / Ben Curtis - Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP |
Trump seeks to deescalate after Iran's 'weak' retaliation
|
IRAN LAUNCHED MISSILES at a U.S. Air Force base in Qatar on Monday, following the U.S. attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. The Qatari foreign Ministry said the nation "thwarted the attack and successfully intercepted the Iranian missiles." President Trump sought to deescalate the situation, characterizing it as a "weak" attack that could potentially allow for an off-ramp from war. Posting on Truth Social, Trump said Iran gave the U.S. and Qatar a heads-up before the strike. He said no one was killed and no damage was done, as 13 of the 14 missiles fired were "knocked down" and the remaining missile was "set free" because "it was headed in a nonthreatening direction." "I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done," Trump said. "Most importantly, they've gotten it all out of their 'system,' and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE. I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured. Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same." Iran announced the attack on state television, calling it "a mighty and successful response by the armed forces of Iran to America's aggression." But there are early signs that attack may have been meant as a face-saving move by Iran. The New York Times reports: "Three Iranian officials familiar with the plans said that Iran gave advance notice that attacks were coming, as a way to minimize casualties. The officials said Iran symbolically needed to strike back at the U.S. but at the same time carry it out in a way that allowed all sides and exit ramp." Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, told MSNBC's "Chris Jansing Reports": "Hopefully, this is performative. Hopefully, this is the Iranian regime saying, we can't afford to let the attack on our nuclear facilities go unanswered. It will be performative, that we will say, look, we can reach these people, and then maybe we can get back to trying to deescalate a very, very dangerous situation. But, again, it's too early to say." |
IRAN CONFLICT HANGS OVER NATO SUMMIT |
The president is scheduled to fly to the Netherlands on Tuesday for the annual NATO summit, though his plans could change due to the evolving crisis with Iran, as it did when he left the Group of Seven summit last week. The White House has been touting the surprise strikes against Iran as a resounding success, even as the U.S. braces for Iran to retaliate. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday the administration has a "high degree of confidence" the strikes hit Iran's uranium enrichments stores, although a full accounting could take some time. The United Nations nuclear chief said Fordow likely sustained "very significant damage" from the U.S. "bunker buster" bombs dropped from B2 bombers that took off from a base near Kansas City, Mo. "Obliteration is an accurate term," Trump posted on social media. Trump and his officials have at times given conflicting messages about what's next from the U.S. Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have been adamant that regime change is not under consideration and that there are no further planned military operations, unless Iran escalates. However, Trump on Sunday night mused publicly about overthrowing Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!" Trump wrote. Iran has been ratcheting up its rhetoric toward the U.S., promising a "proportionate response," although there are questions about Iran's capabilities, as Khamenei's closest advisers have been assassinated and Israel's bombing campaign appears to have badly damaged Iran's military infrastructure. Still, Iran has options beyond a direct military response. The Iranian Parliament approved a measure to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil choke point. Rubio is urging China, an ally to Iran, to intervene to prevent Tehran from closing the waterway. Oil prices initially spiked after the U.S. bombing, but they've fallen since Iran's counterattack. There are fears Iran could activate terrorist sleeper cells, potentially within the U.S. "Though we have not received any specific credible threats to share with you all currently, the threat of sleeper cells or sympathizers acting on their own, or at the behest of Iran has never been higher," U.S. Customs and Border Protection Rodney Scott said in a memo obtained by NewsNation. Russia, another Iranian ally, appears to be a wild card. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that the U.S.'s "unprovoked aggression" has "no justification." Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said over social media that "a number of countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads," eliciting a furious response from Trump. "Did he really say that or, is it just a figment of my imagination? If he did say that, and, if confirmed, please let me know, IMMEDIATELY. The 'N word' should not be treated so casually," Trump posted. Medvedev later clarified that "Russia has no intention of supplying nuclear weapons to Iran." However, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Russia stands ready to help Iran, but it "all depends on what Iran needs." |
The response to the U.S. strikes on Iran largely cut along partisan lines, although there was dissent in both parties. Most Republicans were on board with the strikes, seeing them as a necessary step to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. However, the vocal anti-war right criticized Trump, with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) saying the strike was unconstitutional. Trump is at the end of his wits with Massie, who opposed the GOP's mega-bill over spending and debt concerns. Trump's allies on Monday launched a super PAC aimed at ousting Massie. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who opposed U.S. strikes, argued that breaking with Trump on this issue is "not disloyalty" to his presidency." Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) posted on X: "We must not forget Congress holds the war-power. If we don't our nation drifts further from both liberty and peace." Some Democrats, including pro-Israel members, such as Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.) and Rep. Ritchie Torres (N.Y.), praised the strikes. "The world can achieve peace in the Middle East, or it can accept a rogue nuclear weapons program—but it cannot have both," Torres posted on X. "The decisive destruction of the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant prevents the dangerous spread of nuclear weapons in the world's most combustible region. No one truly committed to nuclear nonproliferation should mourn the fall of Fordow." But some Democrats, led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), are calling for Trump to be impeached, arguing the strike violated the Constitution and Congressional War Powers. |
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) vetoed a total ban on recreational cannabis that had been backed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, causing a rare rift between the state's top elected officials. Abbott signed a bill that will force manufacturers of processed foods and drinks to put warning labels on any products containing 44 different food additives or dyes believed to be toxic. Credit scores will begin accounting for consumers who choose the "pay later" option at checkout. A massive heat dome will envelope many parts of central and eastern U.S. this week, leading to levels of heat and humidity that are historically rare in June.
|
|
|
The Jewish Federations of North America is convening leaders to DC this week to call on Congress and the Trump Administration to take action to safeguard Jews and Israel. Find out more at jfeds.org/sixpointsecurity |
| |
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite |
Trump megabill faces critical week on Capitol Hill
| President Trump's agenda bill faces a critical week ahead, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) expected to bring the legislation to the floor soon for a series of procedural votes. Republican anxiety over the fate of the bill is growing, with Trump's July 4 deadline for passage fast approaching. GOP fiscal hawks are dug in, saying they won't vote for the bill because of its spending and debt levels, underscored by the legislation raising the debt ceiling by $5 trillion. Cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and debate over how quickly to phase out renewable energy tax subsidies have emerged as new fault lines in the Senate. And some conservatives, led by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), say they won't support the bill over cuts to Medicaid. "It seems to me that now we're in a place where this provision is threatening the entire bill, and we just don't have time for that," Hawley told Axios. "The idea of having now to go to a conference committee with the House because they say, well, we can't pass this... I mean, good lord, that's just a nightmare scenario," he added. The Hill's Alexander Bolton writes: "The cross-cutting criticisms from different parts of Thune's conference, combined with the tight timetable, has many observers doubting the Senate will get to the promised vote this week." MEANWHILE… The Senate Parliamentarian splashed cold water on portions of the bill, including language authorizing states to conduct immigration enforcement and language barring immigrants who are not citizens from receiving SNAP benefits. The parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, also ruled against text that would have made it more difficult for courts to enforce contempt findings against the Trump administration. Provisions that the parliamentarian decides violate the Senate's Byrd Rule cannot pass with a simple-majority vote, so they'll have to be removed if Republicans hope to circumvent a Democratic filibuster. |
The Democratic primary for New York City mayor takes place Tuesday. New York Assembly member Zohran Mamdani has effectively drawn even with former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), according to a new poll. |
Press Office Sen. Chris Van Hollen, via Associated Press |
Judge orders Abrego Garcia released; DOJ appeals
|
The Department of Justice (DOJ) appealed a judge's ruling that Kilmar Abrego Garcia be released as he awaits trial on human trafficking charges. U.S. Magistrate Barbara Holmes of the Middle District of Tennessee ruled Abrego Garcia is not a flight risk and can be released. Holmes set a hearing for Wednesday to determine the parameters of Abrego Garcia's release. The government responded with a motion to stay the order to keep him in custody. Earlier this month, prosecutors said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would take Abrego Garcia into custody if he was released ahead of his trial. Abrego Garcia's case has become a proxy in the broader political battle over President Trump's deportations. Abrego Garcia, who entered the country illegally, was deported to his home country of El Salvador, despite an immigration court's ruling that he must not be sent home due to threats against his life. After a weeks-long standoff, Abrego Garcia was returned to the U.S., where he now faces human smuggling charges. MEANWHILE… Mahmoud Khalil, the former leader of Columbia University's pro-Palestinian movement, was released from ICE detention over the weekend. In an interview with The New York Times, Khalil vowed to continue protesting, despite the government's efforts to deport him. Khalil, a green card holder, still faces a deportation hearing, but a judge ruled he's not a flight risk and could be released until his legal dispute is resolved. Khalil returned to Columbia University over the weekend, where he spoke at a pro-Palestinian rally. "The wave of repression that the Trump administration initiated with my detention was intended to silence the movement for Palestinian liberation," Khalil said at the rally. "It was intended to scare people into silence. It was intended to distract us from the fact that the U.S. government is a killing machine in Palestine and across the world." The Syrian-born activist was among the first campus protesters arrested by the Trump administration in its crackdown on anti-Semitism at universities. The administration cited a rarely-used provision of immigration law that says a person can be deported if the secretary of State determines they are a threat to U.S. foreign policy. "I literally laughed," Khalil told the Times. "What did I do that I'm a foreign policy threat to the United States? Did I, like, damage, the U.S.-Israeli relationship? Because it doesn't appear so." |
💡Perspectives: • The Hill: Prosecuting officials challenging ICE raids won't be easy. • Washington Examiner: Dems embrace arrest theater to protect criminals. • The American Prospect: Trump's bigoted travel bans. • USA Today: Dems keep falling into Trump's traps on immigration. • L.A. Times: Newsom stood tall against Trump. Is he presidential timber? |
|
|
400 N Capitol Street NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20001 |
© 1998 - 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. |
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment