Key facts
- Donald Trump claims he personally convinced Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to halt a planned invasion of Lebanon.
- Donald Trump confirmed calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'f***ing crazy' during a call about Lebanon operations.
- Trump directed acting DNI Bill Pulte to fire intelligence employees, stating the ODNI is 'unnecessary and or too big'.
- Trump signed an executive order on Artificial Intelligence with a 30-day review period and reduced government scrutiny.
- Trump stated rioters and those assaulting federal officers will face arrest and prosecution.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked promotions for eight Navy captains, impacting diversity.
- The Pentagon redesignated its press office as a SCIF, barring journalists.
- Hakeem Jeffries has not decided whether to endorse Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz's reelection.
- The White House directed the Pentagon to loan $620 million to a company.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Speaker Mike Johnson's offices are negotiating a housing deregulation bill.
- US business leaders await potential new tariff announcements.
- EPA Chief Lee Zeldin made criminal referrals.
Former President Donald Trump has claimed he personally intervened in the conflict in Lebanon, stating he called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and convinced him to halt a planned invasion. Trump also confirmed reports that he called Netanyahu "f***ing crazy" during a phone call concerning Israel's operations, expressing perturbation and urging an end to the conflict. In other actions, Trump has directed acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte to fire intelligence employees, asserting the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is "unnecessary and or too big" and expressing a preference for a smaller organization. He also signed an executive order on Artificial Intelligence that includes a 30-day review period and features less government scrutiny than initially envisioned by the White House. Furthermore, Trump stated that individuals who riot, obstruct, or assault federal officers will face arrest and prosecution following an incident in Newark where radicals attempted to block and attack federal agents. He also posted on Truth Social claiming "fake news" is misrepresenting him, without detailing specific outlets or the nature of the misrepresentation.
In defense and national security matters, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked the promotion of eight Navy captains to one-star admiral, a move that reportedly impacts diversity by excluding women and Black officers from the final nominee list, which allegedly includes only two nonwhite men. The Pentagon has also redesignated its press office as a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), barring journalists from entry, a decision reportedly stemming from speechwriters handling classified material within the office, thereby impacting media access and transparency. The White House has directed the Pentagon to loan $620 million to a company following a call from the executive branch, highlighting a directive for swift financial assistance. Separately, a congressional appropriations committee is holding a closed-door session with Aaron Lukas to discuss the intelligence budget request, with the timing of the meeting noted as significant.
On the legislative front, offices of Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Speaker Mike Johnson are actively negotiating a bicameral bill aimed at deregulating U.S. housing construction, though specific details remain undisclosed. Top Republicans have secured substantial earmark funding from the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) and Interior committees, with further details expected soon. US business leaders are anticipating a potential announcement from the government regarding new tariffs, with the announcement expected early this week.
In political maneuvering, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has not decided whether to endorse Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz's reelection, a rare deviation from his usual practice of backing incumbents, as Wasserman Schultz faces criticism from Black Democrats for running in a majority-minority district. EPA Chief Lee Zeldin revealed he has made several criminal referrals stemming from ongoing investigations. The White House Correspondents' Association has rescheduled its annual dinner for July 24, following its postponement from April 25 due to a shooting incident, with President Donald Trump scheduled to attend and enhanced safety measures in place. A court has ruled to pause a fund for two weeks, clarifying that the fund is not defunct, and a White House official clarified a previous statement regarding a fund, indicating it was not a vow to end it entirely but a commitment to a different approach, though the exact nature of the fund and strategy remain unspecified. California's primary election results may be delayed past election night due to a large volume of mail-in ballots, particularly for the governor's race. Social media posts suggest that a non-governmental organization may have the ability to control protest timing on demand and reference a surreptitious recording intended for public humiliation, though no specific individuals or context are provided.
Separately, tomorrow's hearing in Benjamin Netanyahu's trial will be shortened for security reasons, according to Ynet. The context or outcome of Trump's alleged intervention to halt the Israeli invasion of Lebanon is not provided. The specific details and implications of potential new tariffs are being closely watched.