{"id":2616291,"date":"2026-06-19T12:24:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T16:24:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-report-card-two-fs-and-an-mou\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T12:26:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T16:26:10","slug":"white-house-report-card-two-fs-and-an-mou","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-report-card-two-fs-and-an-mou\/","title":{"rendered":"White House report card: Two F&#8217;s and an MOU"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhite-house-report-card-two-fs-and-an-mou%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2616291&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article provides a critical overview of President Trump&#8217;s recent week, highlighting several controversial events and decisions. It begins with a reference to September\u2019s White House UFC cage fighting event, which law enforcement thwarted from a drone attack. Trump then attended the G7 summit in France, where he announced an agreement with iran on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nato-demands-russia-explain-large-and-unusual-concentration-of-forces-near-ukraine\/\" title=\"NATO Demands Russia Explain &#039;Large and Unusual Concentration&#039; of Forces near Ukraine\">de-escalating tensions<\/a> and extending a ceasefire, tho critics argue it offers Iran notable concessions without enforcing nuclear restrictions. The deal has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/majority-oppose-cmts-decision-to-pull-try-that-in-a-small-town-from-network\/\" title=\"Most people disagree with CMT&#039;s choice to remove &#039;Try That In A Small Town&#039; from their network.\">sparked sharp criticism<\/a> from political strategists Jed Babbin and John Zogby, who both give the MOU failing grades, citing it as a flawed deal that favors Iran while neglecting U.S. and Israeli security interests.<\/p>\n<p>Back home, Trump stirred controversy by delaying the nomination of Jay Clayton for DNI amid demands to link it with voting reforms. He also held a Medal of Honor ceremony and defended the Iran agreement, with Vice President Vance publicly supporting the deal and warning Israel to accept the terms or face consequences. Meanwhile, reports emerge of internal disagreements and questions about the administration&#8217;s foreign policy effectiveness, including dismissals and reshuffling in intelligence leadership.<\/p>\n<p>The week also saw unflattering revelations about Trump&#8217;s personal life, including new Epstein files suggesting inappropriate behavior, and coverage of a controversial UFC event at the White House, which was criticized for its conduct and expenditure. the week was marked by significant political tensions, questionable diplomacy, and ongoing scrutiny of Trump&#8217;s leadership, leaving his approval ratings around 39%.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Welcome to Friday\u2019s <\/em>Washington Secrets<em>, where we are ready for another weekend filled with World Cup soccer. Once again, we unleash our two strategists to review the president\u2019s week, and \u2014 spoiler alert \u2014 it\u2019s not good. Where can I get a copy of <\/em>The Mayor of Casterbridge<em>?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What a week that was. Even by the extraordinary standards of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>, that was an all-timer.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/columnists\/4616400\/bank-of-america-free-world-cup-tickets\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Bank of America scores with free World Cup tickets for military and first responders<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/columnists\/4616260\/on-this-day-washington-900-men-defenses-new-york\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>On This Day: Washington orders \u2018a parade of 900\u2019 men to build defenses<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/columnists\/4615279\/trump-mack-truck-production-pennsylvania\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>EXCLUSIVE: Trump highlighting what he\u2019s done for American workers<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It began on Sunday with cage fighting on the South Lawn of the White House to mark the president\u2019s birthday, or maybe to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation. Fighters warmed up in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, and some emerged from the Oval Office for their bouts. We later learned that law enforcement agencies thwarted a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4610648\/thwarted-attack-plot-ufc-fight-drone-threat\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4610648\/thwarted-attack-plot-ufc-fight-drone-threat\/\">plot to attack the event with drones.<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump arrived Monday in the French Alps to meet fellow world leaders at the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/g7\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/g7\/\">G7 summit<\/a>. He arrived with the wind at his back after announcing that a deal had been reached with Iran about the next phase of talks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through the week, details emerged of a memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire with Iran and set a course for 60 days of negotiations to end the war completely. On Monday, an official said the MOU had been electronically signed a day earlier.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In France, G7 leaders worked to put Ukraine back on the agenda and even managed to get Trump\u2019s sign-off on a new push for peace there, even if he said it was a European problem rather than an American one.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The president then stirred up a hornet\u2019s nest back home with an overnight social media post Wednesday that he was delaying Jay Clayton\u2019s nomination to become director of national intelligence, just hours before his confirmation hearing. It was all part of a complicated game that is driving a wedge between the White House and Senate Republicans, as Trump said that he would not \u201capprove\u201d the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act unless\u00a0the SAVE America Act, mandating photo ID and proof of citizenship to vote, was included.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the meantime, the text of the MOU was released, raising more questions than it answered. It came out at the same time as Trump was giving a meandering press conference at the G7. The president seemed enthused by his time with world leaders, who praised the MOU. \u201cWe found a great deal of unity here at the G7,\u201d\u00a0Trump said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump was back at the White House on Thursday for a Medal of Honor ceremony. He left it to his vice president to defend the deal with Iran. JD Vance said consumers were already seeing the benefits, with gas prices falling and oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The biggest losers? Is it the Israelis? Vance sent them a warning to get on board with the MOU and fast, saying, \u201cYou can\u2019t just kill your way out of solving every <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >single national security problem<\/a> that you have.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The president is due to spend the weekend at Camp David.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So what do our two strategists make of it all?<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-jed-babbin-grade-f\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Jed Babbin: Grade F<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The big news of the week is, of course, the \u201cmemorandum of understanding\u201d that supposedly ends the war with Iran. It is, like someone else wrote recently, all carrot and no stick. It ends the war not with Iran\u2019s \u201cunconditional surrender,\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4483182\/trump-no-deal-until-iran-unconditional-surrender\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4483182\/trump-no-deal-until-iran-unconditional-surrender\/\">as the president put it<\/a> when the war started, but almost purely on Iran\u2019s terms.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u201cdeal\u201d puts pretty much every one of Trump\u2019s objectives in the war on hold or gives them up entirely. There\u2019s no enforceable agreement with Iran to end its nuclear weapons development. Iran has lied before about it, and those lies will continue. Iran is already stalling on the 60 days that were supposed to limit further talks that were to end Iran\u2019s nuclear program. It doesn\u2019t end Iran\u2019s production of ballistic missiles. The MOU only says that the Strait of Hormuz is open for as long as Iran wants it to be, and Israel, not Iran, is pressured to stop the war in Lebanon. (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that, however long attacks on Israel are committed by Hezbollah, Israel will counterattack. As it should.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In return for these false and partial promises, Iran gets sanctions relief and pretty much everything else it wants. It also gets the $300 billion in relief money, presumably from nations other than the United States. We have to expect the Iranians to rebuild their nuclear program as fast as they can.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In short, the MOU is a disaster.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump has also messed around with the nomination of Jay Clayton to be director of national intelligence. The DNI vote was going to go ahead quickly, but the president upended that with his desire to combine it with the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a key to the government\u2019s ability to fight terrorism and espionage, which expired last week. Now both are delayed indefinitely.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump seems to be losing a lot of support because of the Iran agreement. Will that harm the Republicans in the midterm elections coming this fall? It sure could.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong><em>Jed Babbin\u00a0is a <\/em>Washington Examiner<em> contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in the administration of President George H.W. Bush. Follow him on X <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/jedbabbin\">@jedbabbin<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-john-zogby-grade-f\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">John Zogby: Grade F<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There was no nuance this past week. For the president, it stunk like a landfill.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 14-point MOU with Iran is a humiliating loss of face for the president and the U.S., which gains nothing except a vague promise that Iran will not develop a nuclear weapon and will reopen the Strait of Hormuz \u2014 both of which take things back to status quo antebellum.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In return, the U.S. will end sanctions, engineer a development fund of $300 billion through Qatar, and watch the mullahs stay in power.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump is getting excoriated by Right, Left, and center. The more hawkish MAGA wing feels he has sold out Israel, while the \u201cAmerica First\u201d flank wonders why a man who promised no foreign interventions allowed himself to be bullied into a war by Netanyahu. Israel is the biggest loser because the main focus now will be on whether or not the MOU means Israel abandons its military operation in Lebanon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Israeli prime minister says he won\u2019t put an end to it and declares victory. The ayatollah says that this is a sine qua non for signing the agreement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, at the very least, most of the deal is a nothingburger, except it allowed me to use some Latin in the report.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At his press conference during the G7 summit, Trump was rambling and incoherent in describing the deal before going on to lash out at world leaders and tee up his very own Sancho Panza \u2014 translated: Vance \u2014 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4612945\/trump-jd-vance-iran-peace-deal\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4612945\/trump-jd-vance-iran-peace-deal\/\">for any failures in the deal.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Closer to home, news reports suggest that many in Venezuela and most in Greenland are angry with Trump because, in the former, they feel nothing has improved post-Maduro, and in the latter because it was all so stupid and gratuitous.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even closer to home, as in home itself, the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the White House was embarrassing and tawdry, especially some of the horrible comments made by the fighters. The same president who created the Department of Government Efficiency allowed for spending $60 million of taxpayers\u2019 money to turn the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial into a sick, algae-colored green \u2014 because it is now an algae-infested invasion.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And new Epstein files have been released this week with testimony, uncorroborated, that the former-just-Donald Trump may have been a nipple nibbler. This doesn\u2019t help his cause.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His job performance average for the three polls this week is 39%. Note to readers: Your assignment is to read Thomas Hardy\u2019s <em>The<\/em> <em>Mayor of Casterbridge<\/em>, a classic story of when things go wrong.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>John Zogby\u00a0is the founder of the Zogby Survey and senior partner at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/johnzogbystrategies.com\/\">John Zogby Strategies.<\/a> His latest book is <\/strong><\/em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Beyond-Horse-Race-Polls-Should\/dp\/1538197146\"><strong>Beyond the Horse Race: How to Read Polls and Why We Should<\/strong><\/a><em><strong>. His podcast with son, managing partner, and pollster Jeremy Zogby, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/johnzogbystrategies.com\/the-zogby-report\/\">can be heard here.<\/a> Follow him on X <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/zogbystrategies\">@ZogbyStrategies<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-vance-tries-to-make-sure-nothing-is-lost-in-translation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vance tries to make sure nothing is lost in translation<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can always tell when the White House knows it has a problem, when its allies are turning against it, and it has an awkward proposition to sell: It sends out the vice president.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAll right. Good morning, everybody. Nothing to talk about,\u201d a beaming\u00a0JD Vance\u00a0said as he hopped onto the podium of the briefing room with the hopeful demeanor of a punt returner looking at the ball rather than the ton of meat bearing down on him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marco Rubio, Donald Trump\u2019s secretary of state and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-president-trump-to-pardon-gen-michael-flynn-per-report\/\" title=\"BREAKING: President ... to Pardon Gen. Michael Flynn, Per Report\">national security adviser<\/a>, was no doubt too busy to discuss <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\">Iran<\/a>. And Karoline Leavitt, the press secretary, is far too sharp an operator to end her maternity leave while the administration is trying to pretend a memo signed at a Versailles dining table is going to rewrite the geopolitics of the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And so it fell to the man <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4513517\/jd-vance-catholic-memoir-2028\/\">promoting a book about Catholicism<\/a> with an image of a Methodist church on the cover to do the honors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4614676\/hoarse-jd-vance-deployed-nothing-lost-translation-iran-deal\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4614676\/hoarse-jd-vance-deployed-nothing-lost-translation-iran-deal\/\"><strong><em>Secrets <\/em>was in the briefing room, and you can read our sketch here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the briefing, Vance confirmed he would be leading the next phase of negotiations, which had been slated to start Friday in Switzerland. But he hedged, saying he wasn\u2019t sure when he would travel there.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, a pool of reporters due to make the trip with him was finally told on Thursday evening that they would not be flying that night.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since then, Iran has said it doesn\u2019t want the talks to be in Europe. So we are off to a fine start with the 60-day countdown already running for more than 24 hours.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-lunchtime-reading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lunchtime reading<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/06\/19\/trump-is-shaking-up-intel-leadership-his-cia-director-is-coming-out-on-top-00968684\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/06\/19\/trump-is-shaking-up-intel-leadership-his-cia-director-is-coming-out-on-top-00968684\"><strong>How Pulte\u2019s new role is a win for CIA\u2019s John Ratcliffe<\/strong><\/a>: The CIA director had clashed repeatedly with Tulsi Gabbard when she was the director of national intelligence. Bill Pulte, who takes up the post of acting director on Friday, is expected to slash jobs, leaving the floor to the CIA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/news\/article-15907865\/donald-melania-white-house-bedrooms.html\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.com\/news\/article-15907865\/donald-melania-white-house-bedrooms.html\"><strong>Behind Trump and Melania\u2019s separate White House bedroom doors<\/strong><\/a>: Excerpts from Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan\u2019s new book are dropping. <em>Secrets<\/em> enjoyed this one about life in the presidential residence, particularly how the president is a fan of carpeted bathrooms. A reminder that his tastes are fixed firmly in the \u201970s and \u201980s.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>You are reading <\/em>Washington Secrets<em>, a guide to power and politics in D.C. and beyond. It is written by Rob Crilly, who you can reach at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/mailto:secrets@washingtonexaminer.com\">secrets@washingtonexaminer.com<\/a> with your comments, story tips, and suggestions. If a friend sent you this and you\u2019d like to sign up, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/click1.trk-washingtonexaminer.com\/xprvgynrhhctscghtpnrptnqlrtypjmjlkrlcnpvhgpdcr_jtjrvfbrrsmwbqmnsbmvsv.html?a=Washington+Secrets+Lara+Trump&#038;b=01%2F21%2F2026&#038;c=WEX_Washington+Secrets&#038;d=25812206&#038;e=da31c45955c9411a6c40ecd0e967fa8def1f0fc08362faaa0dee09386ff5c41b\">click here<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington Secrets: President\u2019s Week Review and World Cup Weekend<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4136,"featured_media":2616292,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26169016448800.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[51418,10475,4326,33296,32127],"class_list":["post-2616291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-governance-2","tag-grades","tag-policy","tag-report-card","tag-white-house"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26169016448800.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2616291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2616291"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2616291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2616295,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2616291\/revisions\/2616295"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2616292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2616291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2616291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2616291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}