Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe presented President TrumpDonald John TrumpDemocrats and Trump are all in on immigration for the 2020 election Trump to allow US companies to sell products to Huawei Trump says he brought up Khashoggi murder with Saudi crown prince MORE with a colorful map Friday meant to explain Japanese investments in the U.S., Axios reported Friday.

Trump and Abe met this week at the Group of 20 summit in Osaka, Japan, to discuss an array of topics, including the president’s gripes about an imbalance in the trade relationship between Washington and Tokyo.

New York Times chief White House correspondent Peter Baker tweeted a photo of the map Thursday.

The chart, titled “Japan has five additional investments in just one month” in big red letters, underscores how foreign leaders approach negotiations with Trump, believing that visual aids could help further their causes.

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The tactic appeared to work, with the president referring to the map when speaking to reporters after the meeting with Abe. 

“I appreciate the fact that you’re sending many automobile companies into Michigan and Ohio and Pennsylvania and North Carolina — a lot of our states,” Trump said. “They’re building magnificent plants.”

Reports have emerged that Trump is not inclined to read long briefing documents before meetings and instead prefers to visualize policies. 

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker reportedly used colorful cards with simple explanations last year to discuss trade policies with Trump.

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Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisDemocrats and Trump are all in on immigration for the 2020 election Trump: Harris ‘given too much credit’ for attack on Biden The Memo: Debates reshape Democratic race MORE (D-Calif.) dominated buzz surrounding the first Democratic presidential debate Thursday night after battling rivals on stage, but as the debate played out, a series of Twitter bots worked to amplify a far-right conspiracy about her online.

During the debate in Miami, apparent bots online amplified conspiracy theories on social media falsely claiming that the California Democrat, who is of Indian and Jamaican descent, is not black and is not a U.S. citizen.

“Kamala Harris is *not* an American Black. She is half Indian and half Jamaican.  I’m so sick of people robbing American Blacks (like myself) of our history. It’s disgusting. Now using it for debate time at #DemDebate2? These are my people not her people. Freaking disgusting,” Ali Alexander, a Trump-world personality, tweeted. 

The tweet was retweeted by Donald TrumpDonald John TrumpDemocrats and Trump are all in on immigration for the 2020 election Trump to allow US companies to sell products to Huawei Trump says he brought up Khashoggi murder with Saudi crown prince MORE Jr., who ultimately removed the message from his page. However, Alexander’s tweet was soon copied word for word by a network of bot accounts researcher Josh Russell had previously identified.

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Social media researcher Caroline Orr noted that a number of “suspect accounts” highlighted similar claims after Harris’s debate appearance.

“A lot of suspect accounts are pushing the ‘Kamala Harris is not Black’ narrative tonight. It’s everywhere and it has all the signs of being a coordinated/artificial operation,” she tweeted after the debate. 

The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill about the Thursday night tweets.

Former President Obama was subjected to racist conspiracy theories throughout his White House tenure that he was born in Kenya, instead of Hawaii. The White House released his long-form birth certificate in 2011 in an effort to combat the conspiracy theories.

“Seeing the tweets declaring that Kamala isn’t black enough because her parents are from Jamaica and India, I had an immediate flashback to the 2008 campaign,” Shauna Daly, a former Obama campaign staffer who led the fight against birtherism claims against him on his campaign, told BuzzFeed News.

Harris has herself acknowledged such conspiracies targeting her in the past, saying in a February radio interview, “This is the same thing they did to Barack, this is not new to us.”

The Senate late Thursday night approved a Trump Interior Department nominee that has proven popular with Democrats and Republicans.

Rob Wallace is the first assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks since 2011, a position that oversees both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service.

Wallace stood out in his confirmation process after a long line of controversial picks to a department that has faced numerous ethics controversies since President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate rejects attempt to curb Trump’s Iran war powers Sarah Sanders: I will walk out of the White House ‘with my head held high’ Atlanta mayor endorses Biden for president MORE took office. 

“Rob has the right experience and real commitment to serve in this important role,” Sen. John BarrassoJohn Anthony BarrassoTrump proposal nixes review of long-term climate impacts Bipartisan senators propose forcing EPA to set drinking water standard for ‘forever chemicals’ Trump hails D-Day veterans in Normandy: ‘You are the pride of our nation’ MORE (R-Wyo.) said of the Wyoming native. “He will do an outstanding job. He has worked to conserve wildlife and protect our national parks in both Wyoming and Washington.”

Wallace currently works as president of the Upper Green River Conservancy and as a partner at the investment firm i2Capital.

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Some environmental groups raised questions about Wallace’s nearly two decades as a lobbyist for General Electric Energy and income from stock in the oil industry, but many conservation groups offered letters in support of his nomination. 

The Senate also confirmed Aimee Jorjani to a post on the the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Like Wallace, Jorjani received words of praise from Democrats on the Environment and Public Works Committee

Her husband, Daniel Jorjani, has also been nominated to a position at Interior reviewed by that committee, but he does not enjoy bipartisan support.

Daniel Jorjani, currently the top lawyer for Interior, has been nominated to fill the vacant role as solicitor for the department.  

But he has been criticized by Democrats for his role in Interior’s controversial public records review process and responses to questions about it they said lacked candor.

“The solicitor must uphold the law above all else about, above party politics and ideology. That was not the sense I got” about Jorjani, said Sen. Joe ManchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinGOP sen: Democrats talking about ‘Medicare for All’ shows they’re unhappy with ObamaCare Overnight Health Care — Sponsored by Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids — Senate panel advances bipartisan package on health costs | Grassley, Wyden in talks on deal to limit drug price increases | Court asks if blue states have standing in ObamaCare suit Manchin on ‘Medicare for All’: ‘We can’t even pay for Medicare for some’ MORE (D-W.Va.), the committee’s ranking Democrat.

Daniel Jorjani was voted out of the committee Thursday after the committee re-did the vote to cover procedural grounds. It’s not yet clear when his nomination may reach the Senate floor.

Also advanced out of committee was Mark Lee Greenblatt, who has been nominated to take over Interior’s Office of Inspector General and would take over investigations that likely involve Jorjani. 

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The Supreme Court on Friday declined to hear a case on a 2015 Alabama abortion law that bans a common form of the procedure during the second trimester of pregnancy.

Alabama had sought to overturn lower court rulings that struck down the law, but the justices rejected that bid in their order.

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Justice Clarence ThomasClarence ThomasSupreme Court rejects bid to restore Alabama abortion law Supreme Court rules against Trump on census citizenship question Supreme Court finds that courts can’t rule on partisan gerrymandering cases MORE wrote in a concurring opinion that he agreed the court should not hear the case, but called it a “stark reminder that our abortion jurisprudence has spiraled out of control.”

“Although this case does not present the opportunity to address our demonstrably erroneous ‘undue burden’ standard, we cannot continue blinking the reality of what this court has wrought,” Thomas wrote.

The 2015 law blocked doctors from using the “dilation and evacuation” method of abortion, a common abortion procedure used during the second trimester of a pregnancy.

A lower court had struck down the Alabama rule in 2016, finding that it was in violation of the precedent set by Roe v. Wade.

Friday’s move by the Supreme Court means the justices will once again duck on having to rule on abortion and potentially on the 1973 decision that established a woman’s right to the procedure.

The Supreme Court earlier this year also declined to hear arguments on an Indiana abortion law, instead choosing to uphold part of the statute that involved fetal remains while sending the rest of it back down to a lower court. They declined to hear a challenge to a provision of the law that blocked abortions on the basis of sex, race or disability.

GOP-controlled state legislatures have increasingly passed restrictive abortion bans in an attempt to get the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, or at least whittle away at the precedent protecting a woman’s right to abortion.

One of those laws was recently passed in Alabama, and it effectively outlaws abortions as soon a pregnancy is detected. However, state officials have said they cannot enforce the measure.

Legal experts have said that it’s unlikely that the court will take up abortion, a highly divisive and inflammatory topic, any time soon.

In the concurring opinion, Thomas indicated that he would have ruled in favor of upholding the 2015 Alabama law, writing that the “notion that anything the in the Constitution prevents states from passing laws prohibiting the dismembering of a living child is implausible.” Alabama lawmakers behind the law had referred to the procedure as “dismemberment.”

But he repeated his assertions from earlier in the term that the court will soon have to revisit abortion rights.

Updated at 11:11 a.m.

Happy Friday and welcome to Overnight Defense. I’m Ellen Mitchell, and here’s your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. CLICK HERE to subscribe to the newsletter.

 

THE TOPLINE: Senators blocked an effort on Friday to restrict President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate rejects attempt to curb Trump’s Iran war powers Sarah Sanders: I will walk out of the White House ‘with my head held high’ Atlanta mayor endorses Biden for president MORE‘s ability to go to war with Iran, handing a victory to Republicans and the White House.  

Senators voted 50-40 on the proposal from Democratic Sens. Tim KaineTimothy (Tim) Michael KaineSenate rejects attempt to curb Trump’s Iran war powers The Hill’s Morning Report — Harris brings her A game to Miami debate Overnight Defense: Senate passes 0B defense bill | Iran vote left for Friday | Democratic candidates talk Iran, Afghanistan at first debate | Congress moves toward tougher North Korea sanctions MORE (Va.) and Tom UdallThomas (Tom) Stewart UdallSenate rejects attempt to curb Trump’s Iran war powers The Hill’s Morning Report — Harris brings her A game to Miami debate Overnight Defense: Senate passes 0B defense bill | Iran vote left for Friday | Democratic candidates talk Iran, Afghanistan at first debate | Congress moves toward tougher North Korea sanctions MORE (N.M.) to block the president from using funding to carry out military action without congressional authorization. 

Sixty yes votes would have been required to get the amendment added to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In a round of unusual procedural maneuvering, senators passed the mammoth defense bill on Thursday, but agreed to add the Kaine-Udall proposal retroactively if they could secure the votes. 

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Republicans, however, had appeared confident that they would be able to block it from getting added to the bill. If every Democrat supported the amendment they would still need to pick up 13 GOP senators, a heavy lift with the opposition from leadership. GOP Sens. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsSenate rejects attempt to curb Trump’s Iran war powers Democrats plot strategy to win back Senate Trump says he’s ‘very happy’ some GOP senators have ‘gone on to greener pastures’ MORE (Maine), Mike LeeMichael (Mike) Shumway LeeSenate rejects attempt to curb Trump’s Iran war powers Senate set to vote on Trump’s power to attack Iran Senate passes .5B border bill, setting up fight with House MORE (Utah), Jerry MoranGerald (Jerry) MoranSenate rejects attempt to curb Trump’s Iran war powers Overnight Defense: Officials brief Congress after Iran shoots down drone | Lawmakers fear ‘grave situation’ | Trump warns Iran | Senate votes to block Saudi arms sales | Bombshell confession at Navy SEAL’s murder trial The 7 GOP senators who voted to block all or part of Trump’s Saudi arms sale MORE (Kan.) and Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard PaulSenate rejects attempt to curb Trump’s Iran war powers Overnight Defense: Senate passes 0B defense bill | Iran vote left for Friday | Democratic candidates talk Iran, Afghanistan at first debate | Congress moves toward tougher North Korea sanctions Senate set to vote on Trump’s power to attack Iran MORE (Ky.) broke ranks and supported the amendment. 

McConnell’s argument: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate rejects attempt to curb Trump’s Iran war powers Sanders: My views on working with GOP ‘a little bit different’ from Biden’s Supreme Court to hear cases on Trump efforts to end DACA MORE (R-Ky.) argued that Democrats were playing politics because of their opposition to Trump’s administration, and predicted it would be defeated.  

“None of our Democratic friends would be supporting this if there was a Democratic president,” McConnell said. “This is clearly within the bounds of measured response that have not been micromanaged by Congress in the past.” 

He added that he “would love to have some Democratic support, but I think this is an example of the affliction with Trump derangement syndrome.”

Timing: The vote comes amid growing tensions between the United States and Iran. Trump warned earlier this week that if Iran attacked “anything American” that he would respond with “great and overwhelming force,” including “in some areas … obliteration.” 

Trump’s tweet comes days after he acknowledged that he called off strikes late last week because he believed they were “not proportionate” to Iran’s downing of a U.S. surveillance drone. 

The volatile situation sparked new red flags from Democrats who worry that Trump will get into a war with Iran, without a clear strategy or endgame. 

“It’s just so important that everybody be on the record on this, and we could not let the NDAA go by, when we were 10 minutes away from a war, without having the discussion or the troops and the public would have said ‘what the hell were you guys doing?’ ” Kaine said.

Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerHouse holds moment of silence for drowned migrant father and daughter Schiff calls viral photo of drowned immigrants product of Trump’s policies Trump goes after Democrats over photo of drowned migrants MORE (D-N.Y.) touted the vote, saying it showed a majority believe Trump “should come to Congress before bogging the country down in an endless war.”

Over in the House: Despite the Senate’s defeat of the measure, it’s likely to crop back up when the House and Senate have to reconcile their competing defense bills. House Democrats are offering an amendment to their NDAA that would prohibit funding for U.S. military action against Iran unless Congress has declared war or enacted another specific authorization. It’s expected to be adopted into their bill.

A record breaking vote: The Senate’s Friday vote set a new record for the longest vote in modern history.

The Senate is normally out of town on Friday, but stuck around to give 2020 Democratic candidates a chance to vote on the amendment.

The vote clocked in at 10 hours when it wrapped up just after 3 p.m.

In an effort to balance the 2020 demands and senators who had already planned trips, the Senate came into session at 5 a.m., several hours earlier than a normal week day. 

The previous record for the longest vote in modern history was in December, when senators kept a vote open for more than five hours as they made a failed attempt to avoid a partial government shutdown. 

 

STATE: WAR AUTHORIZATIONS DON’T APPLY TO IRAN (WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS): The State Department told lawmakers Friday that, with few exceptions, the Trump administration does not believe the 2001 and 2002 war authorizations apply to Iran.

“The administration has not, to date, interpreted either AUMF [authorization for the use of military force] as authorization for military force against Iran, except as may be necessary to defend U.S. or partner forces engaged in counterterrorism operations or operations to establish a stable, democratic Iraq,” Mary Elizabeth Taylor, assistant secretary of State for legislative affairs, wrote in a letter Friday.

Friday’s State Department response, released by the Foreign Affairs Committee, is a three-paragraph letter insisting the goal of the administration’s so-called maximum pressure campaign is to bring Iran to the negotiating table.

“As Secretary [of State Mike] Pompeo has noted, the administration’s goal is to find a diplomatic solution to Iran’s activities, not to engage in conflict with Iran,” Taylor wrote. “President Trump has expressed the U.S. willingness to negotiate with Iran. No one should be uncertain about the United States’ desire for peace or a readiness to normalize relations in the event the United States and Iran reach a comprehensive deal.”

Why the letter: Taylor’s letter is in response to one sent Wednesday by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot EngelEliot Lance EngelTrump, Congress set for new showdown on Saudi Arabia Overnight Defense: Senate sets Friday vote on Iran war authority measure | Trump heads to Japan for G-20 summit | Two US troops killed in Afghanistan Top Democrats demand State Department’s legal analysis on potential Iran military action MORE (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Ted DeutchTheodore (Ted) Eliot DeutchOvernight Defense: Senate sets Friday vote on Iran war authority measure | Trump heads to Japan for G-20 summit | Two US troops killed in Afghanistan Top Democrats demand State Department’s legal analysis on potential Iran military action Lawmakers spar at testy Mueller hearing MORE (D-Fla.), the chairman of the subcommittee with oversight of the Middle East.

Engel and Deutch demanded the State Department’s legal adviser provide by Friday the department’s legal analysis on whether the 2001 or 2002 AUMF are applicable to military action against Iran.

The response: In a statement Friday, Engel and Deutch pledged to push for more information, saying the exception laid out in the letter is “a loophole wide enough to drive a tank through.”

“The administration claims that the president could use these authorizations to attack Iran in defense of any third party he designates as a partner,” they said. “These war authorizations have already been stretched farther than Congress ever intended, and we reject this attempt to stretch them further.”

“To repeat what we said in our letter, Congress has not authorized the use of force against Iran under any legal theory,” they added. “We are also concerned that the administration opened the door to reinterpreting its position in the future.”

The background: U.S.-Iran tensions have skyrocketed in recent weeks to the point where President Trump was on the verge of striking Iran last week after it shot down a U.S. drone. Trump said he called the strike off at the last minute because the estimated 150-person death toll was not proportional.

The 2001 AUMF was passed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to authorize military action against al Qaeda and other perpetrators of the attacks. An AUMF was also passed in 2002 to authorize the Iraq War.

Publicly and, lawmakers say, privately, administration officials have asserted a link between Iran and al Qaeda. As such, Democrats fear the Trump administration is building a case to use the 2001 AUMF for military action against Iran.

Trump told The Hill on Monday he does not believe he needs congressional authorization to strike Iran.

 

NATIONAL SECURITY TALK AT DEBATE: Talk of international conflicts and foreign policy was more muted in the second night of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary debate.

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Late in the evening, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete ButtigiegPeter (Pete) Paul ButtigiegAndrew Yang says microphone was ‘not on’ at times during Democratic debate Marianne Williamson most searched on Google for night two of the Democratic debate The Hill’s Morning Report — Harris brings her A game to Miami debate MORE said the U.S. relationship with “the entire world” will need to change following President Trump’s tenure.

“We have no idea which of our most important allies he will have pissed off worst between now and then,” Buttigieg quipped Thursday. “What we know is that our relationship with the entire world needs to change. It starts by modeling American values at home.”

Buttigieg was responding to a question posed to all 10 candidates on stage about which U.S. relationship they would repair first if elected, one of the few foreign policy questions in the two-hour debate.

A focus on NATO: Several candidates on Thursday cited NATO as the issue they would focus on first, including former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenAtlanta mayor endorses Biden for president Harris claims Iowa momentum after first Democratic debates Sanders: My views on working with GOP ‘a little bit different’ from Biden’s MORE, Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisAtlanta mayor endorses Biden for president Harris claims Iowa momentum after first Democratic debates Booker: Biden can’t ‘fall into a defensive crouch and shift blame’ MORE (D-Calif.) and Rep. Eric SwalwellEric Michael SwalwellAndrew Yang says microphone was ‘not on’ at times during Democratic debate Marianne Williamson most searched on Google for night two of the Democratic debate Chris Christie on Chuck Todd: ‘The most pretentious know-it-all on network news’ MORE (D-Calif.).

“We know NATO will fall apart if [Trump is] elected four more years,” Biden said. 

Other responses: Author Marianne WilliamsonMarianne WilliamsonAndrew Yang says microphone was ‘not on’ at times during Democratic debate Marianne Williamson most searched on Google for night two of the Democratic debate Chris Christie on Chuck Todd: ‘The most pretentious know-it-all on network news’ MORE said she would call up European leaders and tell them, “We’re back.”
Sen. Michael BennetMichael Farrand BennetSanders: My views on working with GOP ‘a little bit different’ from Biden’s The Hill’s Morning Report — Harris brings her A game to Miami debate Winners and losers from two nights of Democratic debates MORE (D-Colo.) also said he would repair relationships with European allies, as well as Latin American countries “willing to have a conversation about how to deal with the refugee crisis.”

Sen. Kirsten GillibrandKirsten Elizabeth GillibrandThe Hill’s Morning Report — Harris brings her A game to Miami debate Biden falters in Democratic debate Buttigieg: We don’t know what allies Trump ‘will have pissed off worst’ MORE (D-N.Y.) highlighted Iran, saying Trump is “hell-bent” on starting a war there and that she would make sure “we do not start an unwanted, never-ending war.”

Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersSanders: My views on working with GOP ‘a little bit different’ from Biden’s Scarborough apologizes for ‘disaster’ of 2020 Democratic debate on MSNBC Harris clarifies private insurance stance: ‘No, no’ I don’t think it should be eliminated MORE (I-Vt.) said he would “rebuild trust in the entire United Nations.”

Former Colorado Gov. John HickenlooperJohn Wright HickenlooperThe Hill’s Morning Report — Harris brings her A game to Miami debate Winners and losers from two nights of Democratic debates Second Democratic debate largely steers clear of climate change MORE and tech entrepreneur Andrew YangAndrew YangAndrew Yang says microphone was ‘not on’ at times during Democratic debate Marianne Williamson most searched on Google for night two of the Democratic debate Chris Christie on Chuck Todd: ‘The most pretentious know-it-all on network news’ MORE both said China, with Yang adding Beijing will be important to work with on climate change, artificial intelligence and North Korea.

Biden defends Iraq War vote: In one of the other few foreign policy questions, Biden also defended his record of voting for the Iraq War, highlighting that the Obama administration withdrew troops from Iraq.

President Obama finished withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq in 2011, but had to send the U.S. military back a few years later with the rise of ISIS.

Biden also said it is “long overdue” to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Afghanistan and that he would make sure the 2001 war authorization that’s still in use “is only used for what its intent was, and that is to go after terrorists.”

Sanders stepped in to tout his own record, retorting that he “helped lead the opposition” to the Iraq War and highlighted his recent efforts to end U.S. military support for the Saudi-led coalition operating in Yemen’s civil war.

“I will do everything I can to prevent a war with Iran, which would be far worse than disastrous war with Iraq,” Sanders added.

 

ICYMI

— The Hill: Senate confirms chief of new Space Command

— The Hill: Joint Chiefs chairman confirmation hearing set for July 11

— The Hill: US envoy ready for ‘constructive’ talks with North Korea

— The Hill: Iran, nuclear pact partners to meet as tensions rise in Persian Gulf

— The Hill: Trump poses next to Saudi crown prince in G-20 group photo

— The Hill: Mother of ISIS hostage praises Trump for making American captor return a ‘priority’

President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate rejects attempt to curb Trump’s Iran war powers Sarah Sanders: I will walk out of the White House ‘with my head held high’ Atlanta mayor endorses Biden for president MORE’s “Salute to America” Fourth of July event in Washington, D.C., is primed to be one of the longest fireworks shows and will feature a flyover by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

New details released by the Interior Department on Friday show that the annual spectacle that has been amped up due to requests by the president and will include a 35-minute fireworks display and more expanded access to viewing areas on the National Mall.

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“This is going to be a fantastic Fourth of July with increased access across the National Mall for the public to enjoy music, flyovers, a spectacular fireworks display, and an address by our Commander-in-Chief,” said Interior Secretary David Bernhardt in a statement.

“We received an extraordinary donation for a phenomenal fireworks display, and our colleagues from the Department of Defense will be providing a one-of-a-kind music and air power experience including a flight demonstration from the Blue Angels.”

Other offerings include musical performances by the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the U.S. Army Band, the Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Team.

The agency announced the extended fireworks display will partially be offset by donations valued at $750,000.

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The administration has come under fire for the expanded Fourth plans by some critics, who argue the display and flyover will amount to unnecessary tax-payer costs.

Apple has moved production of the Mac Pro, one of the few devices it manufactured in the U.S., to China amid the ongoing trade war between the world’s two biggest economies, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The Journal, citing people familiar with the plan, reported on Friday that Apple would be using the Quanta Computer Inc. as a contractor to carry out the manufacturing at a plant near Shanghai.

The $6,000 desktop computer had been manufactured in an Austin, Texas, plant since 2013, but has seen demand fade for the device in the years since.

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A spokesman for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill, but the company told the Journal that the new Mac Pro model is designed in the U.S. and some of its parts are manufactured here as well.

“Final assembly is only one part of the manufacturing process,” the spokesman said.

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Apple has been under increasing pressure from the Trump administration to expand its U.S. manufacturing and create more domestic jobs.

In 2017, Trump told the Journal that Apple CEO Tim Cook had promised to build three major factories, which the company did not confirm. Apple has not announced any new U.S. manufacturing centers in the years since.

“Apple prices may increase because of the massive Tariffs we may be imposing on China — but there is an easy solution where there would be ZERO tax, and indeed a tax incentive. Make your products in the United States instead of China. Start building new plants now,” the president tweeted last year.

The State Department told lawmakers Friday that, with few exceptions, the Trump administration does not believe the 2001 and 2002 war authorizations apply to Iran.

“The administration has not, to date, interpreted either AUMF [authorization for the use of military force] as authorization for military force against Iran, except as may be necessary to defend U.S. or partner forces engaged in counterterrorism operations or operations to establish a stable, democratic Iraq,” Mary Elizabeth Taylor, assistant secretary of State for legislative affairs, wrote in a letter Friday.

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Taylor’s letter is in response to one sent Wednesday by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot EngelEliot Lance EngelTrump, Congress set for new showdown on Saudi Arabia Overnight Defense: Senate sets Friday vote on Iran war authority measure | Trump heads to Japan for G-20 summit | Two US troops killed in Afghanistan Top Democrats demand State Department’s legal analysis on potential Iran military action MORE (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Ted DeutchTheodore (Ted) Eliot DeutchOvernight Defense: Senate sets Friday vote on Iran war authority measure | Trump heads to Japan for G-20 summit | Two US troops killed in Afghanistan Top Democrats demand State Department’s legal analysis on potential Iran military action Lawmakers spar at testy Mueller hearing MORE (D-Fla.), the chairman of the subcommittee with oversight of the Middle East.

Engel and Deutch demanded the State Department’s legal adviser provide by Friday the department’s legal analysis on whether the 2001 or 2002 AUMF are applicable to military action against Iran.

In a statement Friday, Engel and Deutch pledged to push for more information, saying the exception laid out in the letter is “a loophole wide enough to drive a tank through.”

“The administration claims that the president could use these authorizations to attack Iran in defense of any third party he designates as a partner,” they said. “These war authorizations have already been stretched farther than Congress ever intended, and we reject this attempt to stretch them further.”

“To repeat what we said in our letter, Congress has not authorized the use of force against Iran under any legal theory,” they added. “We are also concerned that the administration opened the door to reinterpreting its position in the future.”

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U.S.-Iran tensions have skyrocketed in recent weeks to the point where President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate rejects attempt to curb Trump’s Iran war powers Sarah Sanders: I will walk out of the White House ‘with my head held high’ Atlanta mayor endorses Biden for president MORE was on the verge of striking Iran last week after it shot down a U.S. drone. Trump said he called the strike off at the last minute because the estimated 150-person death toll was not proportional.

Friday’s State Department response, released by the Foreign Affairs Committee, is a three-paragraph letter insisting the goal of the administration’s so-called maximum pressure campaign is to bring Iran to the negotiating table.

“As Secretary [of State Mike] Pompeo has noted, the administration’s goal is to find a diplomatic solution to Iran’s activities, not to engage in conflict with Iran,” Taylor wrote. “President Trump has expressed the U.S. willingness to negotiate with Iran. No one should be uncertain about the United States’ desire for peace or a readiness to normalize relations in the event the United States and Iran reach a comprehensive deal.”

The 2001 AUMF was passed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to authorize military action against al Qaeda and other perpetrators of the attacks. An AUMF was also passed in 2002 to authorize the Iraq War.

Publicly and, lawmakers say, privately, administration officials have asserted a link between Iran and al Qaeda. As such, Democrats fear the Trump administration is building a case to use the 2001 AUMF for military action against Iran.

Trump told The Hill on Monday he does not believe he needs congressional authorization to strike Iran.

The letter was released as the Senate is on track to reject a Democratic attempt to constrain Trump’s ability to strike Iran. The Senate is voting Friday on an amendment to the annual defense policy bill that would block funding for military action against Iran without congressional authorization.

House lawmakers, including Trump ally Rep. Matt GaetzMatthew (Matt) GaetzMatt Gaetz says he will press charges against woman who threw drink at him Top Democrats demand State Department’s legal analysis on potential Iran military action Overnight Defense: Trump says he doesn’t need exit strategy with Iran | McConnell open to vote on Iran war authorization | Senate panel advances bill to restrict emergency arms sales MORE (R-Fla.), introduced a similar amendment for the House’s version of the defense bill. The House amendment is expected to pass when the chamber takes up the bill in July.

The French-American Foundation on Thursday unveiled the winners of their annual Young Leaders Program, a diverse group of government officials, business leaders, public advocates and educators.

The program, now in its 38th year, brings together “a vibrant group of rising stars … from a vast array of sectors,” according to the foundation. The participants’ “common link is their passion for forging bonds in a globalized world and using their influence for the common good.”

This year’s French and American winners represent a number of major organizations, including the United Nations, the U.S. State Department, city governments and major health companies and hospitals.

Emeline Foster, the executive director of the French-American Foundation, said the two-year program is an opportunity for leaders in both countries to form meaningful bonds.

“The idea is to go beyond networking and make sure that a greater connection are created between the French and American leaders,” she said. 

The program’s Young Leaders from 2018 and 2019 will meet in Chicago for five days this October, the foundation said, “discussing issues of common concern, meeting with local and global specialists, and getting to know one another.”

And they will join an illustrious group of alumni, numbering more than 500 members. Past program members include French President Emanuel Macron, former President Bill ClintonWilliam (Bill) Jefferson ClintonFrench-American Foundation celebrates 2019 ‘Young Leaders’ Political interference at DOJ threatens the rule of law, and Congress needs to act The Hill’s Morning Report – Warren cements front-runner status in first Dem debate MORE and former Secretary of State Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonHarris claims Iowa momentum after first Democratic debates Scarborough apologizes for ‘disaster’ of 2020 Democratic debate on MSNBC French-American Foundation celebrates 2019 ‘Young Leaders’ MORE. 

Even amid tensions between the Trump administration and U.S. allies over a host of issues, Foster said the program highlights the enduring strength of those ties.

Foster said this year the foundation received the highest number of applications ever.

“It shows that there is an important interest in the French-American relationship,” she said.

 

The U.S. winners for this year are:

Geoffrey Chepiga, Partner, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

Chloe Demrovsky, President and CEO, Disaster Recovery Institute International

Shaun Gordon, Founder and CEO, Pristine Environments; Managing Partner, AGI Partners LLC

Christina Grant, Assistant Superintendent, The School District of Philadelphia

Barkha Gvalani, Partner, GV

Adam Hodge, Senior Vice President, SKDKnickerbocker

Leen Kawas, President and CEO, Athira Pharma, Inc.

Bhama Ramkhelawon, Assistant Professor of Surgery and Cell Biology; Director of Vascular Research Program, New York University Langone Medical Center

Kabir Sehgal, Founder and CEO, MFT Productions

Adam Sotomayor, Foreign Affairs Officer, Bureau of Counterterrorism & Countering Violent Extremism, US Department of State

 

This year’s French winners are:

Rania Belkahia, President and Co-Founder, Afrimarket

Nicolas de Bellefonds, Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group; Leader, BCG GAMMA France

Erwin Bruder, Lieutenant-Colonel, Armée de Terre

Félicie Burelle, Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Strategy and Development Director; Plastic Omnium

Pierre-Yves Frouin, President, BioSerenity

Nicole Karam, Associate Professor in Interventional Cardiology, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, Paris-Descartes University

Laurence Lascary, Producer, DE L’AUTRE COTÉ DU PÉRIPH’  

Arnaud Mentré, Consul General of France in Boston

Delphine O, Ambassador and Secretary General, UN Women’s Global Forum

Tony Pinville, Chief Executive Officer, Heuritech

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The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold its confirmation hearing for President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate rejects attempt to curb Trump’s Iran war powers Sarah Sanders: I will walk out of the White House ‘with my head held high’ Atlanta mayor endorses Biden for president MORE’s nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff after the July 4 recess, the panel announced Friday.

Gen. Mark Milley will appear before the committee the morning of July 11, according to a schedule released Friday.

If confirmed, Milley would succeed Gen. Joseph Dunford, whose term finishes at the end of September.

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Trump first announced in December he would nominate Milley, who has been the Army chief of staff since 2015. His nomination was officially sent to the Senate in April.

The same day in April, the Pentagon announced Trump nominated Gen. John Hyten, head of Strategic Command, to be vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The current vice chairman, Gen. Paul Selva, finishes his term at the end of July, but Hyten’s confirmation hearing has not yet been announced.

The regular rotation in military leadership comes as the Pentagon is recovering from turmoil in its civilian leadership.

Mark Esper, who had been the Army secretary, took over as acting Defense secretary this week after Patrick ShanahanPatrick Michael ShanahanTrump pick brings scrutiny to ‘revolving door’ between Pentagon, industry New Defense chief: Our ‘priorities remain unchanged’ The Hill’s Morning Report – Crunch time arrives for 2020 Dems with debates on deck MORE abruptly resigned and ended his bid to be permanent Defense secretary when reports of years-old domestic violence incidents surfaced.

Shanahan had been acting Defense secretary since January after Secretary James MattisJames Norman MattisTrump directs Pentagon to develop policy allowing service academy athletes to go pro right away New Defense chief: Our ‘priorities remain unchanged’ The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Trump targets Iran with new sanctions MORE resigned in protest over Trump’s since-reversed decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria. 

The White House announced last week Trump intends to nominate Esper to be permanent Defense secretary, but has not officially sent the nomination to the Senate yet.