We begin on Friday, June 26th, the New York Times reports a bombshell story that President Trump was briefed in March 2020 that a Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing U.S. troops and coalition forces in Afghanistan. Trump later denies that he was ever briefed on the matter as well as stipulates that the information was never deemed credible.
Trump also issues an executive order instructing federal law enforcement authorities to prosecute perpetrators of destruction and vandalism of federal monuments and statues. Additionally, the order threatens to withhold funding from state and local governments that provide sanctuary to vandals.
Skipping ahead to Sunday, June 28th, President Trump retweets a controversial video of a Florida man shouting “white power.” Trump soon deletes the video when Sen. Tim Scott says he should take it down.
Then, the Washington Post follows up the New York Times on the Russia-Taliban bounty story, writing that the agreement between the Russian military intelligence unit and Taliban-linked militants resulted in the deaths of several U.S. service members.
Monday, June 29th, President Trump blasts Democrats, in general, for Princeton University changing the name of one of its buildings, named after President Woodrow Wilson, for his “racist thinking and policies.”
Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic of Iran issues an arrest warrant for President Trump and 35 others over the drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, commander of the IRGC’s Quds force, in Iraq in January.
Following confusion over the Russia-Taliban bounty program, the Associated Press reports former National Security Adviser John Bolton verbally briefed President Trump about the program in March 2019, contradicting the president’s denial that he had been briefed.
Tuesday, June 30th, President Trump gets an assist from a New York judge who temporarily blocks the release of the new tell-all book by his niece, Mary Trump.
Wednesday, July 1st, Trump threatens to veto the Defense Authorization Bill if it includes a provision, which he dubbed the “Elizabeth ‘Pocahontas’ Warren Amendment,” essentially requiring the federal government to rename bases that honor Confederate generals.
A New York Supreme Court appellate judge reverses Tuesday’s ruling by a judge blocking Mary Trump’s book, saying it can move forward with release.
Thursday, July 2nd, President Trump gets a big win on the economy as the Labor Department reports that 4.8 million jobs were added in the month of June, lowering the unemployment rate to 11.1%.
After having a nightmare of a month, Trump hits the ground running in July with strong jobs numbers as the economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. With only four months remaining until the 2020 election, a strong economy will be Trump’s saving grace.
