President Donald Trump, speaking Tuesday at the G7 Summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, signaled confidence in the next phase of negotiations with Iran while delivering a pointed message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the escalating conflict in Lebanon.
“We have our deal done with Iran and it should be successful. It goes to a second stage which I think will be actually easier,” Trump told reporters. The president’s remarks come amid confusion over a reported $300 billion fund linked to the accord, which he has since denied. The administration’s peace deal with Tehran has drawn a chilly reception from Trump’s own allies on Capitol Hill, raising questions about long-term political fallout for the GOP.
In some of his most direct criticism of Netanyahu to date, Trump added, “I have had a great relationship with Bibi. Now Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon.” The comments reflect growing friction between the two leaders as Israel’s military operations intensify along its northern border.
European leaders at the summit are eager to shift focus to the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in attendance Tuesday, pressing for continued Western support as the conflict grinds on. Trump’s brief Iran war earlier this year has already risked long-term political fallout for Republicans, and the G7 gathering underscores the administration’s competing foreign policy priorities.
Back in Washington, the Trump administration’s Iran deal is facing skepticism even from GOP lawmakers. The president’s endorsement power will be tested in Tuesday’s primary elections and runoffs across several states, including Oklahoma, Alabama, and the District of Columbia. All eyes are on Georgia, where Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms—a former Atlanta mayor—will learn their Republican opponents in closely watched toss-up races. The Georgia Senate runoff has already seen Trump back one candidate while Governor Brian Kemp sides with another, highlighting a deepening intraparty clash.
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance releases his second book, “Communion,” on Tuesday. He is scheduled to appear on ABC’s “The View” and on “The Megyn Kelly Show” on SiriusXM, promoting a work that blends personal narrative with political commentary.
The G7 summit also comes as the White House faces criticism over domestic and global crises, from an Ebola outbreak exacerbated by a U.S. leadership vacuum to ad hoc AI regulation following the takedown of an Anthropic model. House Democrats, meanwhile, are crafting an agenda focused on affordability and anti-corruption, signaling a sharp contrast with the president’s priorities.
Follow live updates below for the latest developments from France and the campaign trail.
