Good Thursday evening. In this edition: Trump renews NATO criticism over Iran after meeting with alliance chief.
Plus, first lady, ceasefire, war powers and NFL.
NATO
President Trump reignited his criticism of NATO, lambasting the alliance for not doing more to support his war on Iran and seemingly setting his sights on Greenland again.
"NATO WASN'T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON'T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN," he wrote on social media Wednesday night. "REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!"
"None of these people, including our own, very disappointing, NATO, understood anything unless they have pressure placed upon them!!!" he followed up Thursday morning.
His public derision came after a Wednesday meeting at the White House with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who sought to reassure the president of the alliance's importance and dissuade him from attempting to withdraw the U.S.
"He is clearly disappointed with many NATO allies, and I can see his point," Mr. Rutte told CNN after the meeting. "But at the same time, I was also able to point to the fact that the large majority of European nations has been helpful with basing, with logistics, with overflights, with making sure that they live up to the commitments."
Speaking Thursday at the Reagan Institute, Mr. Rutte acknowledged strain within the 77-year-old alliance but said European members are stepping up by taking on a greater share of the defense burden.
"This alliance is not whistling past the graveyard," he said. "Allies recognize and I recognize we are in a period of profound change in the transatlantic alliance."
Mr. Rutte said Europe is beginning to assume a "greater and fairer" share of responsibility for its conventional defense and praised President Trump for pushing allies to boost defense spending.
"And from that, there will be no going back — and nor should there be," he said. "This is a move from unhealthy codependence to a transatlantic alliance grounded in true partnership."
The secretary general acknowledged some allies were "a bit slow, to the say the least" in providing logistical and other support for the war against Iran, many of whom argued the war was unnecessary and illegal.
"In fairness, they were also a bit surprised," he added. "To maintain the element of surprise for the initial strikes, President Trump opted not to inform allies ahead of time, and I understand that."
President Trump has long criticized NATO — characterizing it as a "paper tiger" that derives its power from the U.S. — but has intensified those attacks in recent months and is reportedly considering shifting U.S. troops out of Europe as punishment over Iran.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) slammed the president for his attacks on America's allies, saying he "doesn't know what the hell he's talking about."
"Donald Trump has failed America, failed the NATO alliance and failed the free world, and he seems to confuse friend with foe," he said at a press conference in New York. "Something is really wrong with this guy, and that's becoming increasingly obvious to the American people."
Rep. Jeffries called NATO the "most successful military and diplomatic alliance in the history of the world" and noted that the only time its collective defense clause has been invoked was on behalf of the U.S. following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
"More than a thousand NATO troops either lost their lives or were seriously injured fighting for us in Afghanistan," he said. "Donald Trump doesn't know what the hell he's talking about when he says that the relationship with NATO has been only one way."
First lady Melania Trumpdenied ever having a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and called claims to the contrary defamatory in a rare public statement from the White House. "The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," she said. The first lady said she was never friends with Mr. Epstein or his close associate Ghislaine Maxwell, with whom she said she only had a "casual correspondence." "I am not Epstein's victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump," she said. The first lady also called on Congress to provide the women victimized by Mr. Epstein a platform to testify in public. "Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress with the power of sworn testimony," she said. "Then, and only then, we will have the truth." It's unclear why she chose this moment to make a statement.
The two-week ceasefireremains on shaky footing, with Iran effectively keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed, U.S. crude oil surging above $100 a barrel, and strikes in Lebanon escalating. Israel agreed to talks with its neighbor but launched its deadliest barrage of attacks on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, killing more than 300 people. Iran insists that Lebanon was included in the ceasefire deal while some NATO leaders argue it should be. On Saturday, Vice President JD Vance will lead talks between U.S. and Iranian negotiators in Pakistan, joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Democrats were not recognized during a House pro forma session as they tried to call a voice vote on an Iran war powers resolution. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), presiding over the session, forcefully gaveled out as Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD) sought recognition. The effort was a long shot, but Democrats say they will try again when the House returns to legislative business next week. At least three Republicans would need to join Democrats for the resolution to pass. Senate Democrats also plan to call a vote on a similar measure next week.
The Justice Department is investigating the NFL for potential anticompetitive practices in its broadcasting deals, the Wall Street Journal reported. While the league has limited protection from antitrust lawsuits under the 1961 Sports Broadcasting Act, the scope of the DOJ investigation remains unclear. Earlier this year, the FCC launched a review of NFL agreements with broadcasters to examine their impact on consumers. The NFL said in a statement that its broadcast deals are fan-friendly: "With over 87% of our games on free, broadcast television, including 100% of games in the markets of the competing teams, the NFL has for decades put our fans front and center in how we distribute our content."
For your radar…
Former VP Kamala Harris and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are among the speakers at the National Action Network Convention in New York on Friday. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN at 10:30am ET.
The Artemis II crew return to Earth and splash down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, concluding the historic first-crewed mission around the moon since the end of the Apollo program in 1972. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN beginning at 6:45pm ET.
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