Donald Trump accused Iran of trying to delay a peace agreement until after the November US midterm elections, saying Tehran hoped to “outwait” him and secure better terms later. Speaking at a cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said the strategy would fail and insisted Iran was still interested in a deal, even as negotiations over ending the nearly three-month conflict remained unresolved and at a critical stage. He argued that Iran’s worsening economic situation, including severe inflation and a weakened currency, would force it to compromise.
Trump dismissed concerns that the midterms would affect his negotiating stance, saying he was not focused on the election calendar. He pointed to the previous night’s political developments as evidence that he was unconcerned, referring to his endorsed candidate Ken Paxton’s victory over incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate primary. Trump said the talks had not advanced because the United States was not satisfied with the current terms.
The developments came as Republican leaders quickly rallied around Paxton after his primary win, despite internal party unease about his prospects in the general election. Trump also used social media to attack Paxton’s Democratic opponent, underscoring his continued influence in the race and the broader fight for control of the Senate.
Elsewhere, protests intensified outside a New Jersey immigration detention facility where detainees are taking part in a hunger and labor strike. Tensions escalated late Tuesday outside Delaney Hall, where federal officers used chemical spray and charged demonstrators after a period of relative calm. The unrest followed earlier clashes involving masked and armored Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel, including an incident in which US Senator Andy Kim was pepper-sprayed.
The Trump administration also signaled a tougher response to protests against immigration enforcement by threatening to stop processing international flights in major sanctuary cities. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the administration was drawing up plans to take action in response to the confrontation in New Jersey. The move would represent another escalation in the administration’s immigration crackdown and could affect travel operations in key urban centers.
Separately, Trump criticized state efforts to regulate prediction markets, saying the federal government should retain control over the rapidly expanding multibillion-dollar industry. His comments added to a growing debate over whether states should be allowed to impose their own restrictions on financial products tied to event outcomes.
In another development highlighting scrutiny around Trump-era allies, a company led by Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy won a $106 million federal contract from the Justice Department. Broidy had been pardoned by Trump at the end of his first term after pleading guilty to illegal lobbying-related conduct. The contract renewed attention on the network of figures with ties to Trump who continue to benefit from government business.
Taken together, the day’s events reflected Trump’s continued dominance over Republican politics, his hard line on immigration, and the broader geopolitical and domestic pressures shaping his second term.
