Trump Report: June 2-4, 2025
The Jack Hopkins Now Newsletter #347
**The Trump Report is not a reflection of my position or opinion on the Trump-related stories. It is simply to catch you up on the most recent stories in one place, as reported by the various outlets.**
Trump Report: June 2–4, 2025
“One Big Beautiful Bill” Sparks Controversy
The Congressional Budget Office projects that Trump's sweeping tax and spending bill would add $2.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade and leave 10.9 million more Americans uninsured by 2034.
Elon Musk intensified his criticism, labeling the bill a “disgusting abomination” and urging lawmakers to “KILL the BILL.”
Trump advocates for scrapping the debt ceiling entirely, adding complexity to ongoing Senate negotiations.washingtonpost.com+4apnews.com+4latimes.com+4latimes.com+3washingtonpost.com+3apnews.com+3theguardian.com
Tariffs and Trade Tensions Escalate
On June 4, Trump doubled tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum to 50%, citing national security concerns. The UK is temporarily exempt.
Trump criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping as “extremely hard to make a deal with,” amid stalled trade talks and mutual accusations of agreement violations.barrons.com+3barrons.com+3theguardian.com+3investopedia.com+4nypost.com+4timesofindia.indiatimes.com+4
Budget Cuts Target Public Media and Global Aid
The administration requested Congress to rescind over $9 billion in funding, including $1 billion from NPR and PBS and $8.3 billion from global health initiatives, citing deficit concerns. washingtonpost.com
Oval Office Confrontations Gain Attention
Trump's confrontational style in Oval Office meetings drew scrutiny after tense exchanges with leaders like Ukraine's Zelensky and South Africa's Ramaphosa, raising concerns about diplomatic norms. washingtonpost.com
No Official Recognition of Pride Month
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump will not issue a proclamation for Pride Month, continuing his administration's trend of not formally recognizing the occasion.welt.de+5thedailybeast.com+5whitehouse.gov+5
New Official Portrait Released
The White House unveiled a new official portrait of Trump, featuring a more relaxed expression and his signature red tie, replacing the previous image criticized for appearing too stern. cbsnews.com+1indiatimes.com+1
Birthright Citizenship Order Faces Legal Challenges
A federal appeals court expressed skepticism about the constitutionality of Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship, with a decision pending further review. reuters.com
Upcoming NATO Summit Participation
Trump confirmed his attendance at the NATO summit in The Hague on June 24–25, where he is expected to push for member nations to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP. welt.de
Trump-Putin Call Yields No Immediate Peace
On June 4, President Trump held a 75-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing escalating attacks in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Trump acknowledged that the conversation would not immediately lead to peace. Topics included Ukraine’s weekend drone strike targeting 40 Russian strategic bombers and its bombing of the Kerch bridge connecting Crimea to Russia.
Putin strongly indicated Russia would retaliate for the airfield attacks. Additionally, the two leaders discussed Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Putin expressed willingness to assist in reviving nuclear deal negotiations with Tehran, a key Russian ally that has supplied Russia with drones for use in Ukraine.
Trump reaffirmed his opposition to allowing Iran nuclear weapons and emphasized the urgency of resolving the matter. Iran rejected a recent U.S. proposal permitting limited uranium enrichment for civilian purposes.
Trump has appointed envoy Steve Witkoff to negotiate a diplomatic solution but warned of potential military action if diplomacy fails.nypost.com+1theguardian.com+1
This concludes the Trump Report for June 2-4, 2025.
Warmly,
Jack