Trump admin live updates: Iran says US agreed to release $12 billion in frozen assets during nuclear negotiations

The Senate voted 50-48 Tuesday to pass a resolution requiring President Trump to cease the Iran war — which ended last week with a memorandum of understanding.

Four Republicans — Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana — voted with the majority of Democrats to ratify the House-passed measure.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) sided with the majority of Republicans.

It's unclear what practical effect the unprecedented resolution might have given the conflict's apparent end.

50 minutes ago

Trump says Mamdani-endorsed 'communists' in NYC primaries are 'good thing'

President Trump weighed in on Tuesday primary elections in New York — saying that "communists" backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani were "good news" for Republicans.

"If you look at New York, we have all communists running. They're all excited, they're going to win their primaries. But I can't imagine they can beat a normal Republican," Trump said.

"I think it's a good thing. Wouldn't you like to run against somebody like that?"

President Trump speaking at a Mack Trucks manufacturing facility in Macungie, Pa. on June 23, 2026. AFP via Getty Images

Mamdani is supporting comptroller Brad Lander's challenge against incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, as well as democratic socialist Darializa Avila-Chevalier's challenge to Rep. Adriano Espaillat in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx.

1 hour ago

Karoline Leavitt returns from maternity leave for Trump Pennsylvania trip

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt returned from maternity leave to join President Trump's Tuesday trip to a Mack Truck facility in eastern Pennsylvania.

Leavitt, who also appeared on Fox News Monday, was spotted boarding Air Force One for the day trip intended to tout Trump's economic policies.

The press secretary gave birth to her second child, Viviana, on May 1 and had an all-star lineup of substitutes lead briefings, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt departing Air Force One in Reading, Pa. on June 23, 2026. Getty Images

2 hours ago

Trump says Iran deal critics need 'to be educated'

President Trump said Tuesday that critics of his peace deal with Iran need "to be educated" — as implementation talks continued in Switzerland.

"Well, I think anybody that's been critical of it has to be educated, even if they're friends of mine, because we have Iran in a position that nobody's ever had," Trump said, responding to a question about criticism from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and other Republicans.

"This should have been done for 47 years by other presidents, and we have Iran in a position where their military has been totally wiped out, their leadership has been wiped out, their radar has been wiped out, everything has been wiped out. They have not a good negotiating position," Trump added.

"But despite that, and money that will be taken out of Iran is going to go to our farmers to give corn, soybeans, wheat to Iran, because they have a hunger problem, they have a food problem, they have a medicine problem. They got a lot of problems."

2 hours ago

Israeli ambassador blasts Lebanon cease-fire talks as a 'train wreck'

By Caitlin Doornbos

The Israeli ambassador to the United States blasted the status of peace efforts between the Jewish state and Lebanon ahead of the latest round of US-mediated talks on Tuesday.

Yechiel Leiter warned the issue has become a "train wreck" and questioned whether dismantling Hezbollah remains a central objective.

Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter speaks with media after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire. — Israeli ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter warned the peace talks have become a "train wreck" and questioned whether dismantling Hezbollah remains a central objective. REUTERS

"This is the fifth round of talks, and I must say – we are in a train wreck," he said in a statement before meeting US and Lebanese leaders. "For the previous four rounds, we all boarded the same train. We sat in the same carriage and traveled to the same destination, with the United States serving as the leading engine."

"The train was heading in a very clear direction: full peace between the countries; Iran out and its malicious influence out of Lebanon; the dismantling of Hezbollah; peace and security for Lebanon and Israel," he continued.

"Today, this train is in danger of derailing. I hope we can get it back on track."

READ MORE

2 hours ago

Trump urges hope for finding Nancy Guthrie after ransom note revelation

President Trump said he hopes law enforcement finds Savannah Guthrie's mom, Nancy, noting the NBC News anchor and her family have been through "hell."

"I hope they find her," he told reporters after he landed in Pennsylvania for a speech. "That family has gone through hell. I hope they find her."

Donald Trump speaking to media at Reading Regional Airport, holding an umbrella. — President Trump said he hopes law enforcement finds Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy, noting the NBC News anchor and her family have been through “hell.” REUTERS

Trump's comments came after new reports revealed that a ransom note believed to be sent by Nancy Guthrie's kidnappers claimed she had died.

READ MORE

3 hours ago

Trump calls DC's likely next mayor 'radical-left Communist' when asked about possible takeover

President Trump trashed the likely next mayor of the nation's capital, Janeese George, as a "radical-left Communist" Tuesday when asked if he was likely to assert greater federal control over the city following the socialist's primary-election win last week.

Trump had threatened a federal takeover days before the Democratic primary election, which George decisively won by a nearly 19-point margin.

President Trump speaking to reporters after arriving in Reading, Pa., on June 23, 2026. Getty Images

"We have a radical-left Communist elected, I guess soon to be elected, mayor of DC. DC is now a safe, you people know better than anybody, it's a safe, beautiful city," Trump told reporters as he arrived in Reading, Pa. — without directly commenting on a possible takeover.

"When I came here, it was an unsafe, unkempt, horrible city. It was horrible. The monuments and the waterfalls and the statues and everything were graffiti-ridden, hadn't been fixed in 50 years ... our country is doing really well, and we're going to keep it that way."

Washington, DC, Councilwoman Janeese George celebrating after winning the city's Democratic mayoral primary at a watch party at the Howard Theatre on June 16, 2026. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

3 hours ago

Rubio warns Iran that Trump could take action if they don't let nuclear inspectors in

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Tehran that President Trump could take action if Iran doesn't allow inspectors to its nuclear sites to ensure its program has been dismantled.

He shrugged off reports that Iran said it had no plans to invite the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency into its country.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that President Trump could take action if Iran doesn't let UN nuclear inspectors into the country. Eric Lee/Pool REUTERS via AP

"We know what they agreed to," he told reporters upon his arrival in the UAE. "They'll either do it or they won't."

"And if they do, the process moves forward, and if they don't, the president will have some decisions to make," he added.

Rubio: No nation can charge tolls in Strait of Hormuz

Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted Tuesday that no nation can charge tolls on traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, citing its status as an international waterway.

“No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That's existing international law, that's the way it is,” he told reporters Tuesday after landing in the United Arab Emirates as part of a two-day visit to the Middle East.

“I don't think we have anybody to convince around here in that regard. I think all the countries in this region would agree with us,” Rubio added.

Oman, Iran announce plan to handle 'costs' of navigating Strait of Hormuz

By Ryan King

Iran and Oman announced a working group tuesday to administer services related to future navigation of the Strait of Hormuz and "the costs associated with them" -- even as the Trump administration publicly insisted that Tehran can't charge tolls.

The two countries said in a joint statement they had "agreed to maintain their dialogue on this issue through a joint working group ... in order to reach agreement on the future administration of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the services that will be provided in this regard and the costs associated with them in accordance with international standards."

Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz. — Iran and Oman announced a working group Tuesday to administer services related to future navigation of the Strait of Hormuz and “the costs associated with them.” REUTERS

Over recent months, Iran has publicly threatened to charge ship operators a toll to cross the Strait of Hormuz, though it recently tweaked its language to describe it as fees for unspecified services.

Nearly a fifth of the world's seaborne oil supplies flowed through the critical waterway annually.

Since the Trump administraiton's memorandum of understanding with Iran, ships have begun traversing the waterway once again, though at rates below pre-war levels.

READ MORE

White House denies Trump was the mystery patient with special access to new weight loss drug

The White House was forced to slap down a rumor on Tuesday that President Trump was the mystery patient who was given “compassionate use” of a new weight loss drug.

Stat News’ Lizzy Lawrence published a story that drug manufacturer Eli Lilly gave a 79-year-old man early access to its weight loss drug retatrutide at the request of the NIH. The outlet noted the White House wouldn’t respond if the person was Trump, who would have been 79 at the time of the request.

Social media immediately flooded with speculation that it was the president, even though Trump has said he’s never taken a GLP-1.

White House spokesman Kush Desai denied the president was the patient, writing on X: “Because this has to be spelled out for, who has proven herself to be an unserious gossip columnist, this application was not for the President.”

Trump was asked by the New York Times in January if he'd ever taken a weight-loss drug. “No, I have not,” he said. “I probably should.”

Because this has to be spelled out for @LizzyLaw_, who has proven herself to be an unserious gossip columnist, this application was not for the President. https://t.co/TjUOSWISmx
— Kush Desai (@KushDesai47) June 23, 2026

Marco Rubio hits Cuba with new sanctions