The Latest: Trump at NATO wants allies – not US – to hike spending to 5%

Winnipeg Free Press

24-06-2025

President Donald Trump, aboard Air Force One to the NATO conference, has sought to maintain a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, and said he's not seeking regime change in Tehran. U.S. intelligence leaders will provide classified briefings as Congress prepares to debate whether to invoke the War Powers Act restraining Trump.
The Supreme Court, without explanation, is allowing President Donald Trump to deport migrants away from home countries. The dissenting liberal justices warned that the court's action exposes ' thousands to the risk of torture or death.'
Here's the Latest:
NATO leaders are expected to endorse a new defense spending pledge
Trump heads to a two-day NATO summit in Europe laden with uncertainty. Iran's response to U.S. air strikes, the fate of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the future of U.S. troops based in NATO countries are all up in the air.
President Donald Trump's first appearance at NATO since returning to the White House was supposed to center on how the U.S. secured a historic military spending pledge of 5% GDP from each nation in the defensive alliance — with some exceptions.
But the spotlight is now on Trump's attempts to broker a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. The sharp U-turn in hostilities just hours before he departed for the summit is sure to dominate the discussions in The Hague, Netherlands.
▶ Read updates about the Israel-Iran war
Exiled Belarusian opposition leader visits NATO summit
Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has visited the NATO summit, days after her husband was released from five years of solitary confinement following a meeting between President Alexander Lukashenko and Trump's envoy for Ukraine in Minsk.
Keith Kellogg became the highest-ranking U.S. official in years to visit Belarus, Moscow's close and dependent ally.
Siarhei Tsihanouski, a popular blogger and activist who was imprisoned in 2020, was freed along with 13 other political prisoners over the weekend. Known for his anti-Lukashenko slogan 'stop the cockroach,' the 46-year-old was arrested after announcing plans to challenge the strongman in the 2020 election and shortly before the campaign began.
Tsikhanouskaya met with Dutch caretaker Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp on the sidelines of the two-day meeting in the Netherlands. Veldkamp called for the release of the 'countless other political prisoners' still in captivity.
NATO leaders to agree on historic spending pledge, but the hike won't apply to all
The head of the NATO military alliance warned Monday that no country could have an opt-out from a massive new hike in defense spending, and that progress they make toward reaching the new target will be reviewed in four years.
At a summit in the Netherlands on Wednesday, NATO leaders are expected to endorse a goal of spending 5% of their gross domestic product on their security, to be able to fulfil the alliance's plans for defending against outside attack.
'NATO has no opt-out, and NATO does no side deals,' NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told reporters in The Hague. 'It is critical that each ally carries their fair share of the burden.'
However, Spain said that it has reached a deal with NATO to be excluded from the 5% target, while President Donald Trump said the figure shouldn't apply to the United States, only its allies.
US Secret Service is maintaining a greater presence near White House
The Secret Service said it has taken an enhanced security posture on 17th Street near the White House following the strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
The roving patrols that were already in effect now have a more visible presence with vehicles being kept in place, said a Secret Service spokesperson who insisted on anonymity to discuss the decision.
The greater public visibility on the streets surrounding the White House began Monday before Iran retaliated for the strikes by attacking a U.S. base in Qatar.
— Associated Press Reporter Joshua Boak.
What cases are left on the Supreme Court's emergency docket?
Trump administration lawyers have filed emergency appeals with the nation's highest court a little less than once a week on average since the president began his second term, though the pace of new filings has slowed recently.
The court is not being asked to render a final decision but rather to set the rules of the road while the case makes its way through the courts.
The justices have issued orders in 14 cases so far. The Trump administration has won more than it has lost, including on Monday when the high court allowed the resumption of swift removals of migrants to countries other than their homelands.
Justices allow Trump to restart swift deportation of migrants away from home countries
A divided Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to restart swift removals of migrants to countries other than their homelands, as Trump continues his sweeping immigration crackdown that has sparked widespread protests, high-profile detentions and various court challenges.
The majority's action, issued without explanation, lifts for now a court order requiring they get a chance to challenge the deportations. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Boston had found the administration had violated his order by sending eight people to South Sudan in May.
The migrants had been convicted of serious crimes in the U.S. and immigration officials have said they were unable to return them quickly to their home countries. Authorities instead landed the plane at a U.S. naval base in Djibouti.
All three liberal justices dissented, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor writing that the court's action exposes ' thousands to the risk of torture or death.'
House Speaker opposes War Powers resolution
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said there would be a classified briefing for House members Tuesday afternoon.
Johnson, who said he had a classified briefing Monday morning about Iran, said he is opposed to a debate and vote on a use-of-force resolution.
'I don't think this is an appropriate time for a War Powers resolution. And I don't think it's necessary,' Johnson told reporters Monday.
He said Democratic presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama exercised their authority as commander-in-chief in ordering operations in the Middle East. He said Democratic lawmakers didn't object then.
'Suddenly, now, they are just up in arms,' Johnson said. 'It's all politics. This is not a time for politics.'
Trump will soon face a congressional vote over his military powers
While the president has authority as the commander in chief of the U.S. armed forces to order specific military actions, any prolonged war-time footing would traditionally need authorization from Congress.
The House and Senate authorized actions in Iraq, Afghanistan and beyond after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack.
Trump faces a vote in Congress as soon as this week on a war powers resolution from Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., that would 'direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.'
Another resolution has been introduced by lawmakers from both parties in the U.S. House.
At least one Democrat, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, said Trump's actions are 'clearly grounds for impeachment.'