Donald Trump returned to Washington from a weekend at Camp David on Sunday evening, with advice ringing in his ear. He has been subtly—or subtly for him—dropping hints about his expectations for the Iran peace talks, and according to sources, he appears pessimistic. He keeps discussing what will happen if the talks collapse, with one potential option dominating his thoughts: charging a toll for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, framing it as payment for the US acting as the "guardian angels" of the Middle East. This proposal would likely be unacceptable to nearly every country worldwide.
Lindsey Graham's influence and the Strait of Hormuz toll idea
The toll idea reportedly originates from Senator Lindsey Graham, who has been advising Trump throughout the conflict. Graham is said to have encouraged Trump to drop bombs initially and later suggested invading Kharg Island—advice Trump thankfully did not follow. On Friday, Graham claimed to have spent four and a half hours on the phone with Trump, telling CBS News' Face The Nation that he expects the peace talks to fail. His plan: impose a toll on the strait, and if Iran resists, "obliterate" them. This advice seems to misunderstand the situation: the US blockade wasn't the only factor stopping ships; Iranian mines and missiles created a stalemate.
Trump pre-announces Keir Starmer's resignation
Earlier in the day, while at Camp David, Trump posted on social media: "Keir Starmer will resign." The post appeared to stem from a phone call or news item about the UK Prime Minister, but Trump over-interpreted the information without verifying it. Some in Washington were affronted, assuming inside knowledge, but it was likely a hasty, unsubstantiated claim.
Trump threatens to invade Iran again
In a telephone interview with Fox News, Trump responded to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's declaration that Iran would "never back down from the right to enrich uranium." Trump warned Pezeshkian to watch his words and threatened to take over Iran. Vice President JD Vance, tasked with managing the situation, said he planned to spend only "a day or two" in Switzerland for the talks, leaving detailed negotiations to Witkoff and Kushner. This limited involvement may not shield him from the war's political fallout in the 2028 primaries.
Trump's meltdown over New York Times Iran coverage
Trump continued his feud with the New York Times, which he called "corrupt, failing" despite the paper reporting an adjusted operating profit of $550 million in 2025, a 21% increase. He objected to an article titled "What Changed After Almost Four Months of War? Analysts Say Not Much," which noted that key threats like nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles remained, and the Strait of Hormuz's opening times were erratic. On Truth Social, Trump listed his perceived achievements: Iran's military, navy, air force, launch pads, missiles, drones, and manufacturing are "almost GONE," leaders are gone, inflation at 250%, economy broken, soldiers unpaid, the strait open, oil flowing, and US stocks and jobs at record highs. He ended with "MORE!!! President DJT."
Sad news from the Lincoln Reflecting Pool
Returning to the Lincoln Reflecting Pool, which remains green in places but clearer near the edges, the peeling of the pool lining is worse than initially seen. Cracking along the north side is significant, where a segment had detached. No foul play was evident. Additionally, a duck from a family that had been living there was found deceased; cause unknown—possibly algae, hydrogen peroxide, or the 35°C heat.
Trump's preferred candidate leads in Colombia
In Colombia's presidential runoff, political outsider Abelardo de la Espriella held a razor-thin lead with 99.9% of votes counted. De la Espriella, endorsed by Trump, led progressive lawmaker Iván Cepeda 49.7% to 48.7%. The election reflected fears of renewed internal conflict. Trump celebrated on social media: "He won, BIG!"—though the margin was narrow, not big.
