President Donald Trump has been navigating a complex Middle Eastern situation for 22 weeks now, particularly after Israel initiated a preemptive strike against Iran, which has raised fresh worries about Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The world has been watching closely to see how Trump, in his role as Commander-in-Chief, would address these escalating tensions.
This week kicked off following the president’s 79th birthday celebrations, which included participation in a grand parade in Washington, D.C., marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
Trump then headed to Alberta, Canada, for the G-7 summit, where he engaged in discussions with leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the European Union. However, the urgent situation in the Middle East prompted him to return to the White House a day earlier than planned.
The conflict began with Israel’s “Operation Lion’s Rising,” a targeted strike on June 12 aimed at Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, which resulted in the death of Iran’s top military leader.
In retaliation, Iran labeled Israel’s attack a “declaration of war,” launching a series of missile strikes that breached Israel’s Iron Dome defense system, leading to significant destruction.
On his way back to D.C., Trump noted that Iran is “very close” to achieving nuclear weapon capabilities. Earlier in June, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Iran was sitting on 60% enriched uranium, capable of being refined to the 90% needed for a nuclear weapon. U.S. Central Command chief General Eric Kurira had also indicated that Iran possessed documents to develop nuclear arms within a week.
While the Trump administration continues to pursue talks with Iran regarding its nuclear program, the president urged the nation to strike a deal, yet it appears Iran has been hesitant to engage fully. The latest round of negotiations was supposed to take place on June 15 but did not materialize.
Before leaving the G-7, Trump reiterated that Iran should have accepted the terms he laid out. He expressed regret over the situation, saying it was “a shame, and a waste of human life,” emphasizing that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons.
In a social media post, he stressed that evacuation from Tehran was necessary. By Tuesday, Trump declared that the U.S. held “full and complete control of the sky over Iran” and mentioned that Iran’s highest leader, Ali Khamenei, is an “easy target,” yet is currently safe in hiding.
Trump noted, “I’m not going to take him with me for at least now,” adding that he aims to avoid civilian and military casualties. Meanwhile, questions loom about whether the U.S. might attack Iran’s nuclear sites, with Trump indicating, “I might do that, I might not do that.” He emphasized that he doesn’t share his military plans in advance, a practice from his previous administration.
In a separate context, in early June, riots erupted in Los Angeles over immigration enforcement, causing Trump to consider sending the National Guard without state approval. This was a complicated legal situation, as the president awaited a court decision regarding the deployment. This week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in Trump’s favor, stating he could retain control of the National Guard in Los Angeles, maintaining a lower court’s order.
This marks a notable occurrence since it was established that deploying the National Guard without a state governor’s consent is quite rare. Trump described the court’s ruling as a triumph and commended the judges for recognizing incompetence at the state level, asserting it is vital for the safety of citizens that routine protective measures are in place.
By Friday, Vice President JD Vance visited Los Angeles to oversee federal operations and meet key law enforcement figures in the area, emphasizing the administration’s focus on maintaining order during this turbulent period.
