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The Hill
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump takes wait-and-see approach to Iran
Morning Report is The Hill's a.m. newsletter. Subscribe here or using the box below: Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here President Trump has bought more time to make a decision on U.S. military intervention in Iran, capping off a whirlwind week that saw his administration approach the brink of direct action before hitting pause. 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiation that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go in the next two weeks,' Trump said in a statement Thursday read aloud by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Trump's decision puts on hold any immediate move by the Pentagon to directly engage in strikes or other actions targeting Iran and its nuclear program, something the president has openly mulled this week amid escalating tensions between Israel and its biggest regional rival. The updated timetable would put Trump's self-imposed deadline for potential strikes on the eve of Independence Day weekend. In the week since Israel launched a barrage of missiles into Iran — targeting Tehran's nuclear infrastructure and high-ranking generals — the world has been holding its breath as Trump weighs whether to directly involve the U.S. in the conflict. Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility, Fordow, is located in a mountain bunker only U.S. missiles could penetrate. Trump has been briefed on both the risks and the benefits of bombing Fordow, and he believes that disabling it is necessary because of the risk of weapons being produced in a relatively short period of time, CBS News reports. ▪ The New York Times: Forced to wait for Trump, Israel faces a strategic dilemma in Iran. ▪ NBC News: U.S. intelligence says Iran has a large stockpile of enriched uranium but isn't close to creating a weapon. ▪ ABC News: What do we know about Iran's nuclear program amid different assessments? Leavitt sidestepped a question Thursday over potential U.S. involvement in a regime change in Iran. When pressed on how close the president thinks Iran is to completing the production of a nuclear weapon, Leavitt said that at this point, it's up to the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to decide to move ahead with final stages. 'Iran has all that it needs to achieve a nuclear weapon. All they need is a decision from the supreme leader to do that,' she said. 'And it would take a couple of weeks to complete production of that weapon.' Some military experts estimate Israel and Iran have sufficient remaining munitions to continue pounding each other for a few more weeks. Iran is weaker on the missile ledger. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has repeatedly spoken with Trump since Israel began attacking Iran, pushed Trump to support Israeli strikes over the course of a series of meetings, Time magazine reports. The president initially said the U.S. would not involve itself in the conflict while reiterating he could not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. Trump, who in his first term withdrew from the Obama-era nuclear agreement with Iran, had been pressing for talks to hammer out a new agreement in his second term. Those negotiations have been on ice for weeks, but European foreign ministers are slated to meet with Iranian officials in Switzerland today to press them to de-escalate and to offer a rollback of Iran's nuclear activities. White House officials are watching those talks with interest as Trump suggests that he would wait to let discussions unfold. But Iran's foreign minister said his country is not seeking negotiations with anyone as long as Israel continues its strikes. Next week's NATO summit at The Hague will offer another opportunity to glean what the president is thinking about any negotiations with Tehran. ▪ The Economist: The Europeans plan to keep the NATO summit short and snappy. ▪ CNN: In a veiled message to Trump, the Chinese and Russian leaders present a united front over the Israel-Iran crisis. ▪ CBS News: The Trump administration is boosting monitoring of possible Iran-backed cells in the U.S. The conflict in the Middle East is also dividing Trump's MAGA base, with some of the president's key supporters urging him not to get the country involved in a new Middle Eastern war. The anti-interventionist arm of the Republican Party — alongside Democrats — is watching with alarm as Trump has moved from solely seeking a diplomatic solution with Iran to considering engaging in direct strikes. Former Trump adviser and conservative firebrand Steve Bannon told the Christian Science Monitor at a breakfast event on Wednesday that Israel can finish its task in Iran without roping in the U.S. military. 'My mantra right now, the Israelis have to finish what they started,' Bannon said. 'They started this, they should finish it. They have air superiority.' Other Trump supporters want the president to take direct action. Robert O'Brien, Trump's former national security adviser in his first term, said on social platform X that the president is 'delivering a master class on how to conduct an America First foreign policy' and 'has gracefully given an enemy multiple chances to avoid war.' During Thursday's briefing, Leavitt sought to reassure 'everyday Trump supporters' who have concerns about U.S. involvement. 'Trust in President Trump,' she said. NEW HEADWINDS: Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and his GOP colleagues are eyeing polling and economic forecasts that suggest next year's elections could be tougher than expected. The Hill's Alexander Bolton reports this morning on new exclusive polling figures showing Trump's frequent clashes with federal courts are unsettling to likely voters in Senate battleground states. The survey of 1,000 likely voters from Democratic-aligned firm Global Strategy Group found 53 percent disapprove of Trump's handling of the courts, including 39 percent of self-identified, non-MAGA Republicans. Senate Republicans are facing pressure this month to advance Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,' which can only make the trip to the president's desk if it attracts a bare majority of Republican votes. And as June rushes past, GOP support has still not gelled. Lawmakers are weighing public hand-wringing about proposed Medicaid changes and cutbacks to programs that help lower-income families at a time when inflation and economic uncertainty are hitting hard, including in many red states. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults held an unfavorable opinion of the version of the legislation that narrowly passed the House last month, according to a recent survey. The bill includes proposed tax breaks and spending cuts that affect key federal programs that have bipartisan backing. Meanwhile, the president is juggling steep tariffs, inflation fears and potential U.S. military intervention against Iran, an idea that's unpopular with his MAGA base. His job approval numbers on most issues except immigration are underwater six months into his presidency. The White House reached out to MAGA influencers to try to quiet dissent as Trump mulls the situation in Iran and urges a return to negotiations. Trump fumed on Thursday on social media about a Fox News poll released this week that found 58 percent of adults surveyed disapprove of his handling of the economy, compared with 40 percent who approve. On his handling of inflation, 64 percent of respondents disapproved. The president urged the network to change its pollster. CURVEBALL: The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday clashed over the presence of federal agents outside the stadium grounds. The baseball organization and the Trump administration differed over which federal agents showed up Thursday morning at the stadium, whether the agents were asked to leave the grounds or exited voluntarily, and whether government vehicles and personnel were there for immigration enforcement. DHS conceded that Customs and Border Patrol personnel gathered in the parking lot, but said they were not tied to any immigration enforcement. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is a different DHS entity, asserted that a Dodger post on X, which attracted a firestorm of media attention, was 'false.' The Los Angeles Times published photos of masked, geared-up federal agents, but reported the purpose of their presence was unclear. The home team's message: 'This morning, ICE agents came to Dodger Stadium and requested permission to access the parking lots. They were denied entry to the grounds by the organization. Tonight's game will be played as scheduled.' ⚾ The Dodgers lost to the San Diego Padres in a fiery 5-3 game with some bench-clearing drama. Major League Baseball has a rich history of Hall of Fame and star players from other nations who made their mark on America's pastime. Los Angeles officials say tensions remain high in reaction to federal efforts to round up migrants who lack legal status and to deport them, especially from Democratic-led cities the president and his immigration team said this week they're targeting. Trump says his administration's crackdown honors voters' wishes and removes criminals while securing U.S. borders. White House border czar Tom Homan told reporters on Wednesday that 'worksite enforcement' to round up migrants without legal status employed at farms and hotels will not abate, despite the president's recent expression of support for industries complaining about the impact of his immigration policies on workers and businesses. 'The message is clear now,' Homan said, 'that we're going to continue doing worksite enforcement operations, even on farms and hotels, but based on [a] prioritized basis — criminals come first.' Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, interviewed Thursday by NewsNation, urged undocumented migrants to self-deport or risk being rounded up at worksites. 'We're not going to take any option off the table,' she said. The Hill: Absenteeism in America's schools, already a problem in education, is worsening because of the U.S. immigration crackdown, according to a recent study. UKRAINE: Russian President Vladimir Putin denied in remarks published Thursday that Moscow was targeting civilians and said he was open to meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, even while still questioning his legitimacy. Meanwhile, Russia continues to attack Kyiv and recently destroyed apartment blocks in a strike that killed 28 people. 'We are ready to meet, and by the way, I said I am ready to meet with everyone, including Zelensky,' Putin said. 'But that is not the question. The question is who will sign the documents,' he said, repeating a central piece of propaganda that denies Zelensky's political legitimacy. American aid to Ukraine appears to be drying up. While the U.S. approved a $50 million sale of military aid to Ukraine earlier this month, it came only after Kyiv signed off on a deal to share rare earth minerals. The White House has yet to dip into some $3.9 billion earmarked to fund military aid to Ukraine that former President Biden was not able to spend before the end of his term. ▪ Al Jazeera: In its war on Ukraine, is Russia's vast size becoming a liability? ▪ France24: Russia and Ukraine on Thursday completed another exchange of prisoners of war. ▪ Politico: The Ukrainian official Washington loves to hate. And finally … 👏👏👏 Congratulations to this week's Morning Report Quiz winners! While pondering a big U.S. jewelry robbery (and the fate of the alleged criminal masterminds this week), we quizzed readers about notable heists. 🧩 Here's who stole away with a perfect score: Richard Baznik, Stan Wasser, Lynn Gardner, Joe Atchue, Jess Elger, Russ Lowenthal, Alan Johnson, Peter Sprofera, Rob DiMaggio, Pam Manges, Rick Schmidtke, Linda Field, Mark Williamson, Brian Hogan, Michael McGinnis, Robert Bradley, Luther Berg, Stanton Kirk, Chuck Schoenenberger, Steve James, Carmine Petracca, Savannah Petracca and Jose Ramos. Seven California suspects were charged Tuesday with stealing gold, diamonds, rubies and emeralds in what prosecutors called the largest jewelry heist in U.S. history. The 2022 haul was worth $100 million. In Canada's largest heist, thieves in 2011 made off with tons of maple syrup. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston displays empty frames that once held masterpieces stolen in 1990 in a still-unsolved art caper. Inspired by a plot in a Sherlock Holmes story, British robbers tunneled their way into a Lloyds Bank in London in 1971, making off with what today would be $51 million in cash before being caught. Thanks for reading! Check out more newsletters from The Hill here. See you next time!
The Hill
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Poll shows Trump's clash with courts puts Senate GOP on defense
New polling of likely voters in Senate battleground states has found that President Trump's frequent clashes with federal courts are becoming a hot issue that could put Senate Republican candidates on the defensive in 2026. A poll of 1,000 likely voters in 2026 Senate battlegrounds, obtained exclusively by The Hill, found that 53 percent disapprove of Trump's handling of the courts, including 89 percent of Democrats, 55 percent of independents and 39 percent of self-identified non-MAGA Republicans. The poll was conducted by Global Strategy Group, a Democratic-aligned polling firm, on behalf of Demand Justice, a Democratic-aligned judicial advocacy group. The survey found that more than two-thirds of voters, 72 percent, said they are concerned about Trump's response to court orders and 48 percent said they were extremely concerned by what they saw as the president's refusal to obey court orders. The poll found that 68 percent of voters surveyed said they viewed congressional Republicans as helping Trump evade legal norms, and 44 percent said they viewed that dynamic as extremely concerning. It surveyed voters in Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio and Texas. The Senate's two most vulnerable Republican incumbents are Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) is the chamber's most vulnerable Democrat. 'The data is clear: Americans increasingly reject Donald Trump's attacks on the rule of law and the courts. Over two-thirds are concerned about this blatant disregard for court orders and the threat that it poses to the rights of every person in this country,' said Maggie Jo Buchanan, the interim executive director of Demand Justice.'When Trump treats judicial rulings as mere suggestions instead of legally binding obligations, it sends a chilling message that our legal protections are meaningless,' Buchanan added. 'An overwhelming majority of Americans across the political spectrum are concerned that this calculated defiance sets a precedent where individuals may face unfair trials, see their rights disregarded without consequence, and find themselves powerless to seek justice,' she added. U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia James Boasberg criticized the Trump administration earlier this year for disregarding his order to stop the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador. The administration argued that the deportation flights had already departed the United States at the time Boasberg issued his order and asserted they later complied with a written order. The Trump White House has also come under criticism for barring a reporter and photographer from The Associated Press from the Oval Office in April despite a court order from U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia Trevor McFadden ruling that the government could not retaliate against the news agency for refusing to follow Trump's order renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. The poll also found that 70 percent of voters that Trump's allies in Congress will help him pick judges who will do what he wants instead of acting independently, with 43 percent of respondents saying they're 'extremely' concerned. The poll's sample included 44 percent of self-identified Democrats, 44 percent of self-identified Republicans and 12 percent of self-identified Democrats. It was conducted between May 28 and June 1 and had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.1 percent.
The Hill
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
NYPD investigating car bomb threat against mayoral candidate Mamdani
Police in New York are investigating car bomb threats against Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, according to a Thursday release from his campaign. Mamdani said a repeat caller has been leaving 'alarming' voicemails. 'While Zohran does not own a car, the violent and specific language of what appears to be a repeat caller is alarming and we are taking every precaution,' Mamdani said in a statement sent to The Hill by his campaign. 'While this is a sad reality, it is not surprising after millions of dollars have been spent on dehumanizing, Islamophobic rhetoric designed to stoke division and hate. Violence and racism should have no place in our politics. Zohran remains focused on delivering a safe and affordable New York,' the statement added. The New York State Assemblymember's reports of violent threats come after New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, a fellow Democratic mayoral candidate, was arrested while leaving immigration court. It also follows a 'politically motivated' shooting involving two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota. 'This is an atrocious threat of political violence against Mr. Mamdani. It is unacceptable —I strongly condemn these threats and any others like them. This has no place in our politics or our society. Thankfully no one was harmed,' Andrew Cuomo, a Democratic candidate for mayor, wrote in a Thursday post on X. 'This is a pivotal time in this country and we need to tone down the rhetoric and focus on the people's agenda,' he added. Mamdani and Cuomo had a notably heated moment during the June 12 candidate debate. The former slammed the latter for past misconduct and mispronouncing his name. 'I have never had to resign in disgrace. I have never stolen hundreds of millions of dollars from the MTA. I have never hounded the 13 women who credibly accused me of sexual harassment. I have never sued for their gynecological records. And I have never done those things because I am not you, Mr. Cuomo,' Mamdani said during the debate. 'The name is Mamdani, M, A, M, D, A, N, I. You should learn how to say it,' he added. Cuomo and Mamdani are neck and neck with voters, separated by 10 percentage points— 55 percent to 45 percent— according to a June poll from the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. Jared Gans contributed to this article.
The Hill
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump pushes off decision on Iran action
The Big Story President Trump is expected to make a decision about whether to take direct action against Iran in the next two weeks. © Associated Press The message was delivered Thursday through White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who told reporters at a briefing that she had a message directly from Trump in response to speculation about whether he would get directly involved in the conflict between Iran and Israel. 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiation that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go in the next two weeks,' Trump said in a statement read aloud by Leavitt. Leavitt said correspondence between the U.S. and Iran 'has continued' as the two sides engage in negotiations, though she would not provide specifics about whether they were direct or through intermediaries. Iran must agree to no enrichment of uranium, and Tehran must not be able to achieve a nuclear weapon as part of any diplomatic agreement, Leavitt said. Trump was noncommittal Wednesday morning about a potential strike against Iran's nuclear facilities: He dodged a question about whether he's moving closer to ordering a strike against Iranian nuclear facilities. 'I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do,' Trump told reporters. 'I can tell you this, that Iran's got a lot of trouble. And they want to negotiate. And I say, 'Why didn't you negotiate with me before all this death and destruction?'' The president has met each day since Tuesday with his national security team in the Situation Room. Trump has, throughout his political career, repeatedly fallen back on a two-week timeline to decide on policy decisions, including in recent weeks when he said he would know in roughly two weeks whether Russian President Vladimir Putin was interested in negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. Asked if he would stick to his two-week timeline in the case of Iran, Leavitt did not directly answer but described the situation in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine as 'two very different, complicated global conflicts.' Read the full report at Welcome to The Hill's Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future: Live updates: White House leaves room for more Iran talks; US airlines scale back Mideast flights President Trump will make a decision on getting directly involved in Iran within two weeks, leaving the door open for negotiations press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday at a briefing. Earlier in the day, Trump pushed back on reports he had given a green light to an Iran attack plan. 'The Wall Street Journal has No Idea what my thoughts are concerning Iran!' Trump posted on Truth Social, referencing a late Wednesday … Ex-NATO commander sees 2 in 3 chance Trump strikes Iran Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis said Thursday he sees a 2 in 3 chance President Trump strikes Iran. 'I think it's a close call for the president,' Stavridis told CNN's Pamela Brown on 'The Situation Room,' in an interview highlighted by Mediaite. 'At this point, Pamela, I would say there's a 2 in 3 chance he will go ahead and strike.' 'I think there's a 1 in 3 chance he'll … What is Iran's secretive Fordow site? Iran's secretive Fordow nuclear site, hidden in a mountain south of the country's capital, has become a focal point in the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, as the U.S. weighs stepping in to help Israel topple Tehran's nuclear capabilities. The Fordow site, formally known in the international community as the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant and in Iran as the Shahid Ali Mohammadi Nuclear Facility, is located under … White House sidesteps question on Iranian regime change White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt sidestepped a question Thursday over potential U.S. involvement in a regime change in Iran, as President Trump weighs his options on action amid the unrest in the Middle East. Leavitt, during a press briefing, was asked whether assisting with plans for regime change in Tehran is at all on the table for Trump. 'The president's top priority right now is ensuring that Iran cannot … On Our Radar Upcoming things we're watching on our beat: In Other News Branch out with a different read from The Hill: DHS places new limits on lawmakers visiting ICE facilities The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is placing new limitations on lawmakers seeking to visit detention facilities, releasing guidelines in the wake of visits from Democrats that have turned confrontational. Members of Congress have the legal right to make unannounced visits to U.S. Immigration … On Tap Tomorrow Events in and around the defense world: What We're Reading News we've flagged from other outlets: Trending Today Two key stories on The Hill right now: Michelle Obama on being 'glad' she didn't have a son: 'He would've been a Barack Obama' Michelle Obama says she's 'so glad' she never had a son — because he would've been a kiddie clone of her husband. 'You … Read more Senate GOP leader faces pushback after members blindsided by Trump bill Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is facing strong pushback from members of the GOP conference over the Finance Committee's piece of … Read more Opinions in The Hill Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here
The Hill
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Judge rejects ‘Duffy Directive' tying DOT grants to ICE cooperation
A federal judge on Thursday rejected Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's attempt to tie state funding to immigration enforcement operations. 'Congress did not authorize or grant authority to the Secretary of Transportation to impose immigration enforcement conditions on federal dollars specifically appropriated for transportation purposes,' US District Judge John McConnell wrote in the preliminary injunction. McConnell, a former President Obama appointee, said the 20 states suing the Trump administration are likely to succeed in blocking Duffy's efforts to restrict federal funding. In late April, the Transportation Secretary said states would lose federal funds for roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects if they block President Trump's immigration enforcement efforts, support diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, or defy other directives from the administration. Democratic state attorneys general in jurisdictions with sanctuary cities filed the lawsuit, alleging that Duffy's restrictions were an overreach of authority. The White House and Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. The 20 states are also pursuing a separate case in Rhode Island regarding the blocking of federal grants issued by the Department of Homeland Security.
