It’s Wednesday. The Congressional Baseball Game is happening tonight! Oh, and if you happen to be near the U.S. Capitol this evening, there’s an ice cream party!
In today’s issue:
- · Trump flexes military muscle in U.S.
- · President signals trade deal with China
- · Musk’s 3 a.m. Trump apology
- · Trump sends warning to parade protesters
- · Les Mis at the Kennedy Center
🪖 ADMINISTRATION
Flexing that commander in chief title:
President Trump is domestically leaning into his role as the head of the U.S. military this week. He sent hundreds of active-duty Marines to join thousands of National Guard members to respond to the immigration protests in Los Angeles.
The president has deployed the Guardsmen and Marines to protect federal buildings and personnel, despite state leaders stressing that local law enforcement can handle the demonstrations.
Then Trump traveled to Fort Bragg in North Carolina on Tuesday for a campaign-style rally, met with cheers from the military crowd. (The crowd also booed at mentions of Democrats, including several barbs aimed at former President Biden.)
And to round out the week, Trump will attend the military parade in Washington, D.C., an event that carries a price tag of $45 million.
Read more on Trump ‘basking in military’s might’ this week, via The Hill’s Alex Gangitano
A temporary ‘W’ for Trump and ‘L’ for Newsom:
A judge rejected California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) immediate request to limit President Trump’s troop deployment in Los Angeles, allowing the White House to make its case before the court issues its emergency ruling.
The Trump administration has until 2 p.m. EDT today to submit its arguments.
➤ THE NATIONAL GUARD IS ALSO DEPLOYING IN TEXAS:
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said this morning that he will be deploying the Texas National Guard to “ensure peace & order” amid planned immigration protests that have spread outside of Los Angeles.
➤ SIGHTS AND SOUNDS:
📸ICE photo of National Guard standing by during arrests
A police officer confronted a CNN reporter: “Are you grabbing me? Get away from me!” the officer shouted. “No, I didn’t,” the reporter shouted back.
➤ RELATED READS:
Axios: MAGA feasts on red meat as Trump escalates L.A. showdown
The Atlantic: This Is What Trump Does When His Revolution Sputters
The Wall Street Journal: How Home Depot Became Ground Zero in Trump’s Deportation Push
RIP to D.C.’s roads:
Preparations are underway for President Trump’s military parade Saturday, which also happens to be his birthday. The event is officially meant to celebrate the Army’s 250th birthday.
When?: A festival on the National Mall will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, and the parade will start at 6:30 p.m.
Where?: Constitution Avenue NW
What’s involved?: Significant military hardware, including tanks, helicopters, armed fighting vehicles, a paratrooper landing and fireworks.
Price tag: The event is expected to cost taxpayers roughly $45 million, including $16 budgeted for repairing the roads after. Trump argues the cost is “peanuts” compared to the value.
Road closures: Here’s a map of the downtown D.C. road closures. Some of the parking restrictions are already in place, per WTOP News.
➤ PREPARATION SIGHTS AND SOUNDS:
📹 Tanks maneuvering through Gallery Place
📹This tank is on a massive flatbed truck
➤ ARE ANY PROTESTS EXPECTED?:
Yes and no. Several organizations are planning demonstrations around the country.
Organizers have decided against holding a big protest in D.C., but will be holding demonstrations in the suburbs, per Axios.
What we know about the expected Saturday protests
It’s my party: Trump threatened “any protester” who comes to Washington on Saturday, saying “they will be met with very big force.”
🚢️ IN THE WHITE HOUSE
A sort-of announcement:
President Trump says that a trade deal with China is “DONE” following negotiations in London, but was vague on the details.
Yes, but: Trump said the deal is still pending approval from Chinese President Xi Jinping. China will supply “full magnets, and any necessary rare earths,” Trump said on Truth Social.
What’s the deal, according to Trump?: Trump said the U.S. would impose 55 percent tariffs on Chinese goods, and China would impose a 10 percent tariff on American products.
What we know about this deal: “A person familiar with the negotiations who was not authorized to speak publicly said the Chinese side had agreed to begin sending the United States rare earths, while the United States would roll back export controls implemented on Chinese products since the meeting in Geneva, and that both efforts would happen simultaneously.” (The New York Times)
That’s not his only tariff win this week: A court Tuesday night allowed Trump’s tariffs to continue while legal challenges are pending.
💡 Why this matters: Trump is touting this deal, but Xi hasn’t agreed to it yet — and the details are vague at best. But so is Trump’s trade deal with the United Kingdom. The trade war has been politically risky for Trump, hence why he is announcing progress. But the details of those deals are still hazy.
The overnight anxiety is real:
Tech billionaire Elon Musk had a change of heart about his messy public breakup with President Trump last week. At 3:04 a.m., Musk posted on X, “I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.”
I’m guessing he’s referring to his midfight allegation that Trump is mentioned in the “Epstein Files” — the documents about the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Is Trump open to patching things up?: He told the New York Post’s “Pod Force One” he could mend things with Musk, but that it’s not a priority for him.
➤ DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING?:
Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President Vance and second lady Usha Vance are attending “Les Misérables” at the Kennedy Center tonight. Some cast members are planning to boycott.
COMING UP
The House and Senate are in. President Trump and Vice President Vance are in Washington. (All times EST)
12:30 p.m.: Trump and Vance have lunch together.
1 p.m.: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt briefs reporters. 💻 Livestream
4 p.m.: Trump participates in an ambassador credentialing ceremony.
6:30 p.m.: Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the opening night of “Les Misérables” at the Kennedy Center.
7 p.m.: The Congressional Baseball Game. 💻Livestream
June 22: Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will speak in Israel.
🐝 INTERNET BUZZ
🌽 Celebrate: Today is National Corn on the Cob Day.
🐶 A livestream of joy: There’s a livestream of sled dog puppies at Denali National Park in Alaska. 💻 Enjoy
🕺 Amazing: “Overheard District” posted a funny interaction at the Archives Metro stop. A member of Metro staff reminded riders to stay “to your left, to your left.” A passerby responded, “Take it back now y’all.”
👋 AND FINALLY…
Because I thoroughly enjoyed watching this, have you ever seen a dog eat a mozzarella stick with a ~long~ cheese pull?
