After Trump decamped early from the G-7 Summit, French President Emmanuel Macron couldn\u2019t resist a swipe, not minding his own business but claiming Trump had bailed to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Iran. Naturally, Trump didn\u2019t let that moronic comment go unanswered<\/p>\n
Whatever he\u2019s doing, Trump says it\u2019s \u201cmuch bigger\u201d than a cease-fire. Which elicits the question: what is bigger than halting a potentially nuclear Middle East war? With Trump, it could be anything from a surprise peace framework to a geopolitical branding play (\u201cTrump Peace Tower: Tehran\u201d). But the possibility of a broader regional deal is suddenly not off the table.<\/p>\n Before jetting off, Trump reportedly demanded that the G-7\u2019s joint statement include language affirming Israel\u2019s right to self-defense\u2014a sticking point for some members. Once that was secured, he was gone. Zelensky, Ukraine\u2019s piano-playing headliner, hadn\u2019t arrived yet despite scurrying as fast as he could, so he missed his window for a Trump photo op.<\/p>\n The second story appeared in the Journal below the headline, \u201cTrump May Send Vance, Witkoff to Speak With Iranians.\u201d Trump is using strong language befitting Iranian tough guys, but didn\u2019t completely rule out negotiating with Iran. \u201cThey should have done the deal,\u201d the President told reporters. \u201cI told them do the deal, so I don’t know. I’m not too much in the mood to negotiate.”<\/p>\n image 11.png Meanwhile in the Middle East, missiles continued flying like fur in a stray cat kennel, and the propaganda war was just as thick. A helpful reminder came this morning courtesy of the Jerusalem Post and its backtracking headline: \u201cIDF reversal: IAEA may be right that Natanz centrifuges not destroyed, only site above damaged.\u201d<\/p>\n Apparently, the IDF has now discreetly walked back two earlier claims that they\u2019d destroyed Iran\u2019s entire underground nuclear base. The sub-headline explained, \u201cThe IDF had said twice that the underground site beneath Natanz was also destroyed by a military strike.\u201d<\/p>\n After four years of fake Ukrainian coverage, we\u2019re becoming familiar with some of the war propagandists\u2019 modern techniques. This particular type involves a huge, dramatic claim of success, followed a few days later with a quiet \u201crecalibration.\u201d Thanks to assists from helpful corporate media, the initial claim always makes international front-page news, but the retraction languishes in local reporting on page 26.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve come to terms with it. Propaganda has been a staple of war news since The 300 fought off the entire Persian Army. It is what it is. But we folks breathing the thin air of information up in the cheap seats must remain skeptical of whatever they claim is happening down on the field. Results, as they say, may vary.<\/p>\n Anyway, unlike a certain former (alleged) president with an Autopen, Trump is fully engaged. That is all we can ask for. Biden would have shut the lid around 10am yesterday and would still be \u201cresting\u201d on the beach in Delaware<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" JEFF CHILDERS Today\u2019s quick war update contains hopeful signs of good news, which appeared in a trio of stories this morning. The first article, from the Wall Street Journal, was headlined, \u201cTrump Says Not Working on Cease-Fire\u2014but Something Bigger.\u201d https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/livecoverage\/israel-iran-conflict-news\/card\/trump-says-not-working-on-cease-fire-but-something-bigger-bv6mx8ZUfNDw4cIbp6Fk? … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goldtadise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/dt-800x280.png\")
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\nBut more optimistically, Trump also said he is considering sending both Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff to negotiate with the Iranian government. Previously, only Witkoff was talking to the mullahs, so adding Vance might boost the dickering horsepower. But Trump remained cagey and didn\u2019t commit. \u201cNot sure yet, I may. Depends on what happens when I get back,\u201d he told reporters on Air Force One.<\/p>\n