‘IT’S SIGNED’: As President Donald Trump walked out of the Palace at Versailles last night, escorted by French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, Trump answered a shouted question from French TV. “It’s signed, yeah. We signed it in Versailles. We signed it,” Trump shouted back.
A video released by the White House showed Trump seated in an ornate ballroom affixing his famous scrawl to a copy of the memorandum of understanding, which has yet to be publicly available, as Macron and Secretary of State Marco Rubio looked on.
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A short time later, Iran posted pictures of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, holding up a copy with his signature next to Trump’s, with the caption, “The document was signed digitally and remotely by the presidents of Iran and the U.S. in the early hours of Thursday, June 18, 2026.”
The unexpected impromptu second signing capped a day in which Trump poured out his feelings about the deal, including an explanation of why he felt he had no choice but to stop the war to “avoid an economic catastrophe.”
It’s not clear if the signing ceremony, originally set for Friday in Geneva with Vice President JD Vance will still take place, but the White House says the agreement is now in effect.
US AND IRAN DIGITALLY RE-SIGN DEAL TO END WAR AND OPEN STRAIT OF HORMUZ
TRUMP POURS OUT HIS INNER FEARS: In a remarkably revealing hourlong post-G7 summit news conference in Evian, France, President Trump made quite a few startling confessions, beginning with the admission that, despite his bellicose public threats, he concluded he was boxed in, with no good options. “But no matter what I do, I’m going to get bad press. I know that.”
With rapidly dwindling global oil supplies, the world was hurtling toward a 1920s-style depression, and he didn’t want to end up like President Herbert Hoover. “If we didn’t do this deal, we could have dropped more bombs for another three weeks, two weeks, four weeks, two years. You would never have the Hormuz Strait open,” Trump said. “Your market would’ve, instead of going up at levels that nobody’s ever seen before, would go down at levels that nobody ever saw before, maybe except for 1929 or whatever.”
“We run out of reserves in about four weeks. You know, there are reserves all over the world, and we would really run out. And there’ll be a time when you wouldn’t be able to get it and — you want to see bedlam?” Trump said, concluding that more bombing would only make things worse.
“The Strait will never be opened because people that own billion-dollar ships — these ships cost $1 billion. They don’t like sailing ships or having their ships participate when you go up the coast, and you go through the Strait, and there are rockets flying over your head,” he said.
“Who knows what would have happened?” Trump mused. “So the one thing I didn’t want to see is I didn’t want to see economic catastrophe. If you kept this going, that could’ve happened.”
“The one president I did not want to be was the late, great Herbert Hoover.”
FOR TRUMP, ONLY ONE PARAGRAPH REALLY COUNTS: There are 14 points in the MOU, but Trump made clear that in his mind, only one is truly important — Paragraph 8, which states “The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons.”
“Preventing Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon. That’s what it was all about,” Trump said. “That was about 99%. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. They can’t develop it, buy it. They can never have a nuclear weapon.”
The nuclear dust? Trump said it can just stay in the ground as far as he’s concerned.” We have Space Force cameras on every single door … Nobody’s going to get that for a long time unless we want to get it,” Trump said. “And it’s actually not valuable. Not a lot of value, but we’d like to get it psychologically, but nobody’s touching it.”
Iran’s ballistic missiles? No big deal. “Missiles aren’t the problem. Missiles, they hurt a little location, but they don’t blow up the planet,” Trump explained, saying it wouldn’t be “fair” to take away all of Iran’s missiles.
“They have to have some because other people have some,” Trump said. “Somebody said you shouldn’t give them one … ‘Sir, you shouldn’t let them have any missiles.’ I said, ‘Well, what am I going to do? We’re going to let Saudi Arabia have missiles, but they can’t have them?’ ‘Yes, sir.” It doesn’t work that way, you know? It doesn’t work that way.”
Democrats could scarcely believe their ears. “He took America to war – killing 13 soldiers, thousands of Iranian civilians and costing taxpayers $60 billion – to get rid of Iran’s missile program. And now that he’s lost the war, he pretends like it’s no big deal,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) posted on X. “Just unforgivable. What a charlatan.”
TRUMP LEAVES DOOR OPEN TO IRAN KEEPING BALLISTIC WEAPONS
A NOT-SO-PERMANENT PEACE: While the MOU, in its first paragraph, states unequivocally that the parties agree to an “immediate and permanent termination of military operations,” Trump’s comments signal he sees the understanding as a temporary pause in the “current war” as the MOU refers to the hostilities. “I say permanently, it should be permanently. But if it’s not permanently, we will bomb them. They will be bombed.”
Despite his long colloquy on the disastrous downside of continuing the major combat operations, Trump threatened to restart the war if Iran fails to make a deal that verifiably gives up its nuclear weapons program.
“I let them know. I said, look, if you don’t adhere to the agreement, I don’t want to do that, but we’re going to bomb the hell out of you,” Trump said. “What else am I going to do? Am I going to say, I’m going to take you to court? Let me take you to court. Let me just sue you. No, we’re going to bomb the hell out of them if they violate the agreement.”
At the same time, Trump said he’s OK with Iran having nuclear reactions for energy generation. “You need nuclear for some electricity. So, I’ve always felt that way,” Trump said. “It is a little hard, though, when you say that somebody wants it. Other people have it, other adjoining states have it, and you’re not letting them have it for purposes of electricity and things like that. It’s always a little tough. You have to use a little common sense, please.”
CRUDE OIL PRICES DROP TO THREE-MONTH LOW AFTER TRUMP ANNOUNCES IRAN DEAL
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HAPPENING TODAY: HEGSETH LECTURES NATO: War Secretary Pete Hegseth was greeted with words of praise from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte upon his arrival at NATO headquarters for his first return visit since February of last year, when he berated allies for not spending enough on defense.
“So, thank you for your guidance last year and your spirited speech, but also thank you for what you were doing when it comes to the defense industrial base. It’s crucial,” Rutte said. “We need to produce more, both in the U.S. and in Europe, to keep ourselves safe.”
Hegseth was still preaching from the same hymnal, calling for more progress for “NATO 3.0,” a “real hard-line military alliance that is capable of deterring right here on the continent and taking the lead for the conventional defense of Europe.”
Hegseth announced the Pentagon is reviewing troop deployments and other commitments in Europe, and threatened to withhold some U.S. dues to NATO if “free riding” allies did not step up defense spending.
“Make no mistake about it, this will be a real review. It will be designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defense of Europe,” Hegseth said.
HEGSETH ANNOUNCES ‘NATO 3.0’ REVIEW OF US FORCE POSTURE IN EUROPE
‘WORST FOREIGN POLICY BLUNDER IN DECADES’: While Trump’s Iran deal is winning plaudits from America’s European allies, it’s landing with a thud here at home. It’s rare that you hear a Trump policy denounced with the same language from both Democrats and Republicans.
“Reagan is rolling over in his grave. Iran’s nuclear ambitions were not curbed, and they have learned that threatening the Strait of Hormuz works and will undoubtedly leverage it in the future. Now, Iran gets to build brand-new infrastructure under this deal,” Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) posted on X. “Before the war, the Strait was open, Iran was being crushed by sanctions, and 13 service members were still alive. Now, 13 Americans are dead, families have paid billions at the pump, sanctions will be lifted, and the bombing has stopped.”
“This is the worst foreign policy blunder in decades,” Cassidy said.
On CNN, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) also invoked the B-word. “This just shows what a huge blunder this illegal war against Iran has been from the very start. There’s no doubt that we are worse off today than when the war started. And this agreement essentially says Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which was, of course, opened before the war started, in exchange for waiving some of the sanctions and other things that benefit Iran.”
“Every American should recognize what a blunder this has been,” Van Hollen said. “What Iran has been able to show is how they can use the Strait of Hormuz as a choke point to extract concessions. Many of us understood that before they started this stupid war. Unfortunately, Donald Trump and Netanyahu apparently are just learning that now.”
Over on Fox, former Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC), who is now a Fox News host, said he thought somebody was spoofing him when he saw the text of the agreement.
“They’re better off than they were before the hostilities began, and that should not be the consequence of war,” Gowdy said in an exchange with Fox News Host Sandra Smith.
“When you lose a war — I mean, think about it, Sandra. We went into Iran and rescued a downed pilot. We had total control over that country. We were winning militarily and economically. And when you are in that position, you negotiate from strength. You don’t give people money. You don’t give them access. What are they going to do with the money, Sandra? You know that Iran is going to use this for nefarious purposes. We all know that. The regime has not changed.”
THANK YOU TO XI AND PUTIN: At his news conference yesterday, Trump gave a special shout out to two of his close friends.
“I want to thank China, President Xi. I was with him. And he stayed neutral, totally neutral, and I appreciate it. And I want to thank Vladimir Putin. He was very neutral. They could have made it much more difficult for us.”
That didn’t sit well with Beth Sanner, a former deputy director of National Intelligence, who pointed out China and Russia weren’t exactly neutral.
“They did not send fighter jets and air defense systems to Iran. What they did send and what they both provided were means of Iran to better target Americans, potentially to kill Americans, to fire exactly on our bases. Many of our bases and our embassies in the region are destroyed to the point where it’s going to cost billions of dollars to rebuild them,” Sanner said on CNN, where she is now an analyst. “The pinpoint accuracy of that was almost certainly from help from Russia and China. And I don’t know whether the lives that were lost in Kuwait were as a result of this targeting, but I suspect that they got some help.”
Anticipating the criticism Trump said, “Somebody would say, ‘Oh, that’s terrible, He’s thanking President Xi of China.’ Well, let me tell you, I had a long talk with him. Do you know, they have shoulder weapons to knock down airplanes, that it’s not like the real deal, but they’re accurate — they’re fairly accurate. I said, ‘I would really appreciate your not giving or selling any of that stuff to Iran.’ And you know what? For the most part, he didn’t.”
GOP SEN. ROGER MARSHALL SAYS IRAN ‘HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES’
THE RUNDOWN:
Washington Examiner: US and Iran digitally re-sign deal to end war and open Strait of Hormuz
Washington Examiner: Trump leaves door open to Iran keeping ballistic weapons
Washington Examiner: Crude oil prices drop to three-month low after Trump announces Iran deal
Washington Examiner: Cassidy calls Trump’s deal with Iran ‘worst foreign policy blunder in decades’
Washington Examiner: Top five hot mic moments at G7 summit
Washington Examiner: Hegseth announces ‘NATO 3.0’ review of US force posture in Europe
Washington Examiner: GOP Sen. Roger Marshall says Iran ‘have to be able to defend themselves’
Washington Examiner: Trump’s chaos theory of PR leaves Vance exposed as he sells Iran deal
Washington Examiner: Finland’s parliament passes law to lift long-standing ban on nuclear weapons
Washington Examiner: UAE aims to reduce reliance on Strait of Hormuz to ‘zero’ after war serves as wake-up call to Gulf countries
Washington Examiner: Trump sends Senate GOP reeling with intelligence chief chaos
Washington Examiner: Netanyahu’s relationship with Trump becomes baggage in reelection campaign
Washington Examiner: Trump blames previous ‘stupid presidents’ for Taiwan stealing ‘our semiconductor factories’
Washington Examiner: Thwarted UFC drone plot underscores ‘warfare literally has come to our streets’
Washington Examiner: Air Force base releases names of people killed in B-52 crash
Washington Examiner: Canadian tourism to US begins to rebound after 51st state, tariffs debacle
Washington Examiner: Opinion: Poland is the NATO ally America needs
Washington Examiner: Opinion: Iran and Turkey want the Middle East. One country stands in their way
AP: Senior US Officials Dictate Memorandum with Iran to Journalists
Wall Street Journal: Trump’s Frustration Grows as Senate GOP Leader Keeps Saying ‘No’
Politico: Senate Threatens to Freeze Hegseth’s Travel in Bid for Boat Strike Videos, Iran School Strike Probe
Military Times: Fair Winds, INDOPACOM: Pentagon Returns Command Name to US Pacific Command
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Where Things Stand with the Pentagon’s $350 Billion Reconciliation Request
Breaking Defense: NATO Secretary General Says US Not ‘Pulling Away’ from Allies
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Lawmakers Move to Replace MC-130s Destroyed in Iran Without Supplemental
The War Zone: Senators Want Answers on USAF Plans to Cut E-11 BACN Combat Communications Jets
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force Selects Both General Atomics and Anduril for CCA Production
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Lawmakers Push for More New Sensors to Track Hypersonic and Ballistic Missiles
Military Times: Air Force Updates Chaplain, Maternity Uniform Guidance
THE CALENDAR:
THURSDAY | JUNE 18
Brussels, Belgium — The United Kingdom and Germany host a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at NATO Headquarters, ahead of the NATO Defense Ministerial
1:55 a.m. EDT (7:55 a.m. CET) Brussels, Belgium — Defense Secretary Pete Hegeth attends a meeting of defense ministers at NATO Headquarters, with welcoming remarks by Secretary-General Mark Rutte and Hegseth. https://www.nato.int/en/news-and-events/
8 a.m. 1800 Presidents St., Reston, Va. — Potomac Officers Club 2026 Army Summit, with Marc Andersen, assistant Army secretary for financial management and comptroller; Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Jeth Rey; and Jeff Waksman, principal deputy assistant army secretary for installations, energy and environment Jeff Waksman delivers remarks https://www.potomacofficersclub.com/events/2026-army-summit
9 a.m. 1750 Massachusetts Ave. NW — Peterson Institute for International Economics virtual discussion: “Ukraine’s Fiscal and Financial Challenges,” with former Ukrainian Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko, managing director of EY Parthenon; and Nicolas Veron, PIIE senior fellow https://www.piie.com/index%2Ephp/events/2026/ukraines-fiscal-and-financial-challenges
10 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, — Hudson Institute discussion: “Deterring Russia and China: Securing America’s Nuclear Future,” with Brandon Williams, administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration; and Rebeccah Heinrichs, director, Hudson Keystone Defense Initiative https://www.hudson.org/events/deterring-russia-china
10:30 a.m. 616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion: “Modernizing to Meet the Future Threat,” with Lt. Gen. Eric Austin, deputy commandant of combat development and integration for the Marine Corps and portfolio acquisition executive for the Marine Corps; retired Rear Adm. Raymond Spicer; and Seth Jones, president, CSIS Defense and Security Department https://www.csis.org/events/modernizing-meet-future-threat-conversation
2 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion: “The Future of Extended Deterrence: Will Japan and Korea Go Nuclear?” with Will Todman, chief of staff, CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department; Victor Cha, CSIS Korea chair; Kristi Govella, CSIS Japan chair; Michael Green, CSIS Henry A. Kissinger chair; and Heather Williams, director, CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues https://www.csis.org/events/future-extended-deterrence
2 p.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW — Henry L. Stimson Center discussion: “Innovation and Adaption of UN Peace Operations,” with Lt. Gen. Cheryl Peace, acting military adviser for peacekeeping operations at the U.N. Department of Peace Operations Office of Military Affairs; and Lisa Sharland, senior fellow and director, Stimson Center Protecting Civilians and Human Security Program https://www.stimson.org/event/innovation-and-adaption-of-un-peace-operations/
2 p.m. — Middle East Institute virtual discussion: “Iraq’s Domestic Transition and Emerging Regional Role,” with Ben Connable, executive director, Battle Research Group; and Sarhang Hamasaeed, former director for Middle East programs at the U.S. Institute of Peace; and Jason Campbell, MEI senior fellow https://middleeastinstitute.my.site.com/Registration/s/Event/701Uh00000tZvS0/421-mei-panel-lebanon-between-war-and-diplomacy
3:30 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “Nuclear Armed Hypersonic Missiles,” with Heather Williams, director, CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues; Tom Karako, director, CSIS Missile Defense Project; and Kari Bingen, director, CSIS Aerospace Security Project https://www.csis.org/events/nuclear-armed-hypersonic-missiles-htk
FRIDAY | JUNE 19 | JUNETEENTH FEDERAL HOLIDAY
No Daily on Defense
TUESDAY | JUNE 23
6:30 a.m. 2425 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, Va. — Association of the U.S. Army “Coffee Series,” with Gen. Ron Clark, commanding general, U.S. Army Pacific https://www.ausa.org/events/coffee-series/gen-clark
WEDNESDAY | JUNE 24
11 a.m. 2359 Rayburn — House Appropriations Committee markup of the FY2027 Defense bill. http://appropriations.house.gov
THURSDAY | JUNE 25
7 a.m. — Association of the U.S. Army daylong “Hot Topic” on Army acquisition and contracting: “Accelerating Solutions for Today’s Fight,” with Maj. Gen. Douglas Lowrey, commanding general of U.S. Army Contracting Command https://www.ausa.org/events/hot-topic/army-acquisition-and-contracting
