Trump Celebrates String of Victories at Home and Abroad

Donald Trump has capped a remarkable week with a series of political triumphs, addressing reporters at length in two White House news conferences where he outlined his achievements with visible enthusiasm. From a high-stakes military operation to diplomatic breakthroughs, here are four key successes from the US president's week, alongside some challenges that remain.

**1. US Strike and Israel-Iran Ceasefire**

The week began with a successful US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities on 21 June, followed by Trump's announcement of a "complete and total" ceasefire in the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran. Despite a rocky start, with Iran launching ballistic missiles at a US airbase in Qatar and both sides accused of breaching the truce, Trump persuaded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt further attacks. The president hailed the ceasefire as proof of his "peacemaker" credentials, though tensions persist in Gaza and Ukraine.

**2. Nato Summit Success**

At the Nato summit in the Netherlands, Trump secured a commitment from allies to increase defence spending to 5%, a long-standing demand. Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte praised Trump’s leadership in the Iran strike, jokingly calling him "Daddy" during a press conference—a moniker Trump embraced with humour. The White House later shared videos captioned "Daddy’s home," highlighting Trump’s triumphant mood.

**3. Supreme Court Boosts Trump’s Agenda** A major domestic win came with a Supreme Court ruling limiting judges' ability to block Trump’s orders nationwide. Stemming from a case on ending birthright citizenship for some immigrants’ children, the decision weakens lower courts’ power to issue injunctions. This clears the way for Trump to advance policies like freezing funds to "sanctuary cities," suspending refugee resettlement, and restricting tax-funded gender surgeries. Trump called it a "monumental victory for the constitution." **4. Peace Deal in Africa** On Friday, Trump hosted Rwanda and Congo’s foreign ministers after they signed a peace deal to end decades of conflict. Though details are sparse and past agreements have faltered, Trump framed it as a "new chapter of hope" for the region. The deal also secures US access to critical minerals in Congo. Trump admitted limited knowledge of the conflict but celebrated his role in brokering the agreement. **Challenges Ahead** Despite these wins, Trump faced setbacks. His flagship tax legislation, dubbed the "One, Big, Beautiful Bill," hit obstacles after Senate rules blocked certain provisions, jeopardizing its passage by the 4 July deadline. Trump also acknowledged ongoing struggles to secure peace in Gaza and Ukraine. When asked by the BBC about potential future strikes on Iran if its nuclear programme resumes, Trump replied, "Sure, without question, absolutely." As Trump basks in these victories, questions linger about the durability of his foreign policy achievements and the fate of his domestic agenda.