The best week of Donald Trump's second presidency just got even better
There's no denying it – Donald Trump just had the best week of his second presidency, by a big margin. A combination of daring, good fortune and the brute wielding of American power combined to deliver a momentous week in global affairs and a number of stunning wins for the president himself.
It began with the US bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites, an operation contemplated by previous administrations but never executed. A flurry of 30,000-pound bombs, fired for the first time outside of testing, was deposited right into the ventilation shafts of a facility deep underneath a mountain.
Two days later, Trump was on the phone piecing together a ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran, which, after some teething problems, appears to have held. Now he's involved in a potential resolution in Gaza, saying on Saturday (AEST) that it could come as soon as next week.
The president flew to the Netherlands for a whirlwind visit to the NATO summit, where he confirmed a pledge from members to lift their core defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP – a long-standing US goal – and spend another 1.5 per cent on defence-adjacent infrastructure and projects.
Trump, who casually admitted he considered his attendance something he ought to do, not something he really wanted to do, nonetheless charmed his audience with his usual brand of impulsive banter, especially after a sycophantic reception from NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte, who called him 'daddy'.
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Back at home, Trump was still doing his victory lap when the Supreme Court handed him a thumping victory courtesy of a majority ruling that limited the ability of lower court judges to issue 'universal injunctions' when federal government policies face a legal challenge.
Federal judges have been a thorn in Trump's side – or more accurately, a brick wall blocking his path – since his return to power, issuing temporary injunctions that apply nationwide, rather than just in their state or for the plaintiff bringing the case.
The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 split decision along ideological lines, ruled that this was a modern phenomenon lacking historical precedent and a legal basis. It paves the way for Trump to resume a range of controversial measures held up by the courts, and at a hastily convened press conference on Friday, local time, he said he intended to do exactly that.
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