Washington, June 27, 2025 – When word leaked late Thursday evening that Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough had deemed central parts of Donald Trump’s ambitious tax and spending package inadmissible, it briefly seemed as though the entire project might collapse. But within that very night, key legislative passages were rewritten, revised, and formally cleaned up – and by Friday morning it was clear: Trump’s multibillion-dollar package was back on track. It was a masterclass in strategic adaptation, a high-wire act between political will and the narrow procedural confines of the U.S. Senate. This time, the resistance came not from the Democratic opposition but from the Senate’s own rulebook – specifically the so-called Byrd Rule, which allows the parliamentarian to strike down any provision in a bill that is not directly related to the budget or taxes. In recent years, this rule has become the main test for large political projects seeking passage through budget reconciliation – bypassing the filibuster. But the Republicans had done their homework. They adjusted the language in such a way that the changes now formally complied. MacDonough approved the revised sections. And Donald Trump wasted no time: “We can now promptly move forward with all the blocked measures,” he declared at the White House, announcing his intent to once again push restrictions on birthright citizenship – one of his most controversial campaign promises.
That same day, a Supreme Court ruling provided further momentum. The justices ruled that individual federal judges can no longer issue nationwide injunctions – a legal instrument that had repeatedly stymied Trump during both his first and second terms. Though the ruling was narrowly written, its impact is far-reaching. Local rulings will no longer carry nationwide blocking power – a de facto weakening of judicial checks on federal actions. Trump called the ruling a “monumental victory.” Critics, on the other hand, see it as an open door for a judiciary increasingly aligned with the political will of the president. Meanwhile, the White House worked to defuse other flashpoints. In trade talks with China, both sides announced they would ease export controls. Beijing said it would resume issuing export permits for controlled goods – especially rare earth elements – in accordance with the law. In return, Washington pledged to roll back recent export restrictions on key technologies. A breakthrough? Not yet. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday that the U.S. hoped to reach agreements with ten to twelve of its most important trading partners by September 1. If that fails, Bessent said, Trump is “happy to go back” to the April 2 tariffs – import duties ranging from 11 to 50 percent – a scenario that had already rattled financial markets in the spring.
At the same time, the Pentagon threw its full support behind the recent airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. While concrete details about the extent of the destruction remained scarce, the military leadership emphasized the precision of the Air Force and praised the courage of the crews. It was less a fact-based assessment than a narrative of heroic self-affirmation – entirely in line with a president who prefers to project strength rather than engage with technical specifics. Donald Trump currently operates with a mix of legal dexterity, political pressure, and strategic self-staging. He is redrawing the boundaries of what seems politically possible. Congress is bypassed, the judiciary bent to fit, and the public overwhelmed with announcements. And yet, step by step, he manages to regain more control – over markets, migration, and power. July 4 is fast approaching, and all signs indicate that Trump’s major legislative package will be passed just in time for Independence Day – a symbolic fireworks display of his reclaimed political force. A president on the rise, whose agenda now faces virtually no institutional obstacles.
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