Weekly Roundup: Domestic & Foreign Policy Developments

Presidential Approval Ratings

Multiple polls from late May report President Donald Trump's approval rating at 37%.

• A CBS News/YouGov poll shows disapproval at 63%
• A New York Times/Siena poll reports 59% disapproval
• A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos survey reports approval on specific issues:
  • Cost of living: 23%
  • Inflation: 27%
  • Iran conflict: 33%
  • Economy: 34%
  • Immigration: 40%

Key takeaway: The president's approval remains below 40% across multiple major polling organizations, with disapproval ratings exceeding 59% in all surveys.

Foreign Policy Developments

Strait of Hormuz

President Trump proposed guiding neutral ships out of the Strait of Hormuz, offering Iran a "humanitarian gesture." Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned it would attack any US attempt to enter. An incident early Monday is disputed: Iran claims to have fired on a US destroyer; US Central Command denies this.

President Trump posted on Truth Social: "For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won't be anything left of them."

The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has increased global demand for U.S. oil and gas, leading to rising prices for American consumers. Domestic stocks are being depleted as exports hit record highs.

Venezuela

Following an American military operation in Caracas that led to the apprehension of Nicolás Maduro and his wife for arraignment in New York, President Trump stated that the United States would "run" Venezuela and that "we're in charge" of the country.

"We are going to be taking a tremendous amount of wealth out of the ground." — President Trump

The President indicated that large U.S. oil companies would invest billions to repair Venezuela's oil infrastructure, with these investments to be reimbursed. When questioned about oversight of U.S. actions in Venezuela, the President gestured toward a group of senior advisers, implying collective responsibility.

President Trump stated that his administration's involvement in Venezuela is driven by perceived business opportunities. He asserted, "The oil business in Venezuela has been a bust, a total bust," noting that for a "long period of time, they were pumping almost nothing" compared to potential output.

Joe Scarborough, co-host of "Morning Joe," reported that in a phone call, President Trump drew a distinction between the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and current operations in Venezuela. Scarborough quoted Trump as saying that President George W. Bush "didn't keep the oil" in Iraq, whereas, for Venezuela, "We're going to keep the oil."

The U.S. oil industry has demonstrated less immediate eagerness to commit significant investment in Venezuela. Factors cited include the relatively low quality and high extraction/refinement costs of Venezuelan oil, challenges posed by low global oil prices, and concerns regarding political instability.

Specific entities have been identified as potential financial beneficiaries:

• A trader on the crypto-based betting platform Polymarket placed a $32,000 wager predicting the removal of President Maduro by the end of January, reportedly yielding a $400,000 profit. The trader's identity remains undisclosed.
• Elliott Investment Management, a hedge fund, secured a bid in November for Citgo, an oil refiner owned by Venezuela's state-run petroleum company. A judge approved Elliott's bid of approximately $6 billion for Citgo assets. Paul Singer, the founder of Elliott Investment Management, has contributed at least $5 million to President Trump's reelection campaign.

President Trump commented that Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado would find it "very tough" to become the country's leader, citing a perceived lack of internal support or respect. Reports from sources close to the White House indicated that the President's view was influenced by Machado's acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Greenland and European Relations

President Trump stated, "We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security" and "We need it for defense," expressing an intention to acquire the territory.

"We need Complete and Total Control of Greenland" — President Trump, in a letter to European leaders

The President reportedly imposed a tariff on Denmark and other European countries that had criticized his interest in acquiring Greenland. This tariff was stated to be removable only upon Greenland's transfer to U.S. control. A letter from President Trump to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and other European leaders conveyed a message linking the lack of a Nobel Peace Prize award to a shift in focus toward U.S. interests, and asserted the U.S. need for "Complete and Total Control of Greenland" for global security, questioning Denmark's ownership rights.

This situation led to a small European military exercise in Greenland as a show of support for Denmark. European officials, including Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, expressed concern regarding the U.S. actions and statements toward European allies.

Other Threats and Actions

The President threatened military action against Colombia and Mexico. The FAA issued seven alerts warning civilian aviation of potential increased military activity in the Eastern Pacific off Latin America.

Russia and Ukraine

Russian officials claimed that 91 Ukrainian drones were targeting President Vladimir Putin's residence near Valdai; U.S. intelligence reportedly dismissed this claim. The previously reported death of Denis Kapustin, a commander of a pro-Ukraine Russian volunteer force, was revealed by Ukrainian intelligence to have been a staged event designed to thwart a Russian assassination attempt. This operation reportedly resulted in the Russian government paying a $500,000 bounty for Kapustin's presumed death.

Alliance Dynamics

Canada announced a new strategic partnership with China, aimed at reducing trade and travel barriers. European leaders have faced a strategic choice in engaging with the U.S. administration: to confront or to accommodate. Past accommodation efforts by NATO allies, including praising the administration, appeared to yield some results, such as a perceived reduction in U.S. efforts to undermine Ukraine.

Domestic Political Developments

Immigration Enforcement

A Washington Post investigation reports a 37% increase in guard use of force in ICE detention centers under President Trump, with 1,330 individuals subjected to force (up 54%). Most detainees have not been accused of crimes.

A "60 Minutes" report on the administration's deportation of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador's CECOT prison aired. The report detailed the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants, some without criminal records, to the prison. Administration officials stated they had the right to deport migrants based on "intelligence reports," that they had no responsibility for their well-being as they were not U.S. citizens, and that focus should be on victims rather than migrants' narratives.

The 60 Minutes segment was broadcast after a delay of nearly a month beyond its advertised air date. The report was reportedly lengthened with additional content after CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss had held up the piece.

Justice Department Activities

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that the Justice Department is not investigating the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good. The decision to suspend the federal investigation, which had initially been reviewed by the FBI with sufficient grounds for a civil rights probe, occurred after Minnesota U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen reportedly excluded state investigators. Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, reportedly decided against a Civil Rights Division investigation, leading to resignations from several career lawyers within the division.

Instead of investigating the shooting, higher-ups at the DOJ ordered an investigation into the political activities of Good's wife, which led to further resignations in the Minnesota U.S. Attorney's Office.

Additionally, a criminal investigation was launched into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for allegedly conspiring to impede federal immigration agents, following statements they made regarding federal deployments in Minneapolis.

Minnesota Developments

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced he would not seek re-election. This announcement occurred amidst a political crisis involving allegations of significant state fraud under his administration. Governor Walz had previously served as his party's vice presidential nominee.

On a recent weekend, President Trump made a social media post accusing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz of having ordered the murder of former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman last year.

The Pentagon issued prepare-to-deploy orders to 1,500 troops from two infantry battalions of the Army's 11th Airborne Division, based in Alaska, for potential deployment in Minnesota. President Trump had threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in the state but later indicated he did not think it was needed at that time.

U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez of Minneapolis issued a ruling barring federal agents from arresting peaceful protesters and from using nonlethal munitions or crowd control tools against them.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) admitted in a social media post that speaking Spanish or having a Mexican accent is considered sufficient grounds for federal agents to demand proof of U.S. citizenship.

Senator Bill Cassidy Defeated

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) finished third in Louisiana's GOP primary with 25% of the vote. Two MAGA challengers, Julia Letlow and John Fleming, advanced to a runoff. President Trump had endorsed Cassidy's opponents due to Cassidy's vote to convict after January 6.

Redistricting

After the Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais, Southern states are moving to redraw congressional maps. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee called a special session; Alabama and Louisiana may reschedule primaries. President Trump urged legislatures to proceed.

White House Expansion Plans

Senate Republicans' plan to allocate $1 billion for a White House ballroom encountered procedural obstacles from the Senate parliamentarian. Plans for a ballroom addition to the White House, proposed to be as tall as the White House itself, were reported by architect Shalom Baranes to the National Capital Planning Commission. The project's approval process is expected to be expedited, with commission members including Trump appointees.

Smithsonian Portrait Label Changes

The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery adjusted the label for Donald Trump's portrait in the "America's Presidents" exhibition. Initially, references to his two impeachments and the January 6th Capitol Hill attack were present, then removed, and subsequently restored.

A new photo of Trump with minimal text (birth year and presidential term dates) was later installed. Other presidential portraits in the exhibition include short biographies, with Bill Clinton's entry mentioning his impeachment.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Observance

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday established on November 2, 1983, by President Reagan, was observed on the third Monday in January. This year, the current administration's only official action concerning the holiday was an announcement in late November to eliminate it from the list of days with free entry to America's national parks.

In contrast, "Flag Day/President Trump's birthday" on June 14, 2026, has been added to the schedule of "resident-only patriotic fee-free" days.

Clemency

President Trump granted clemency for a second time to Adriana Camberos, who was convicted of a new fraud in 2024 after being released from prison by a previous pardon in his first term. She was freed from prison, where she was serving 12 months on the new conviction and additional months for violating probation on an earlier conviction.

Media and Executive Influence

President Trump reportedly conveyed a threat through his press secretary regarding the unedited broadcast of his 13-minute interview with CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil. The interview aired in full, which CBS stated was its original plan.

Commentary on Global Leaders

William Kristol's article compares current US leadership unfavorably with historical and contemporary figures. It references Winston Churchill's 1940 speech and notes that under Trump, the US is no longer leading the "Free World."

The piece highlights three leaders:

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
• Pope Leo XIV
• Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar, who defeated Viktor Orbán in a recent election

...as examples of those defending liberal democracy.

William Kristol criticized the President's rhetoric, describing it as "frantic boasts and foolish words," and cautioned that such language could lead to "reckless actions" or diminish the perception of U.S. strength. Kristol also raised concerns that the President's interest in acquiring Greenland, which he characterized as stemming from "vanity and grandiosity," could destabilize international alliances such as NATO.