On his 79th birthday, there are few birthday wishes left that President Donald Trump hasn’t been granted in life or politics.
Just this week, he celebrated a trade framework with China, beat back a bid to stop deploying troops to help riot police in Los Angeles, received another tame inflation report, and Saturday will witness his wish for a Bastille Day-styled military parade, the last of which Washington, D.C., experienced in 1991.
Interrupting the trend was Israel’s attack on Iran’s military leadership and nuclear preparations, which the Jewish State said was an 11th-hour effort to stop the terrorist nation from finally building a nuclear weapon. That blew up Trump’s hope of negotiating a nuclear-free deal with Iran, which few ever saw happening.
For grader Jed Babbin, a foreign policy analyst, Israel’s move was wise and the full Trump week worthy of an “A.”
For grader John Zogby, a longtime pollster and observer of America, the week was a disaster worthy of an “F” due to the Middle East crisis, skirmishes over deporting illegal migrants in Los Angeles, and the $45 million price tag to celebrate the Army’s 250th birthday.
Jed Babbin
Grade: A
President Donald Trump had a very good week because of his announced trade deal with China, the riots in Los Angeles and the Israeli strikes against Iran.
The China trade deal details are sketchy so far and may not include the rare earth metals we had bought from China and that they had embargoed against us. Nevertheless, it relieves the stock markets and eases trade with one of our major trading partners.
After 250 years, it still comes down to three words.
THIS. WE’LL. DEFEND.
#Army250 pic.twitter.com/4V3faxVa96— U.S. Army (@USArmy) June 14, 2025
The riots in Los Angeles have caused Trump to nationalize about 2,000 California National Guard troops, with perhaps another 2,000 to follow. The riots — called “mostly peaceful” demonstrations by some, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom — were so bad that Trump also sent about 700 Marines from their base at Twenty Nine Palms into the city to watch over federal facilities.
Lawyers always say that free advice is worth what you pay for it, but I can’t resist. To the “mostly peaceful” rioters, I’d say: (a) don’t bother yelling at the Marines. They were yelled at by experts for 13 weeks at boot camp before they became Marines; and (b) the Marines are mostly peaceful too. But if you throw a brick at a Marine, you should expect a not-at-all peaceful reaction.
The Israeli strikes on Iran are still going on. Trump has said that he knew of the strikes. He almost certainly assented to them. The Israelis can do a lot of good, but if they don’t knock out the ayatollahs, it will all be in vain. There cannot be peace in the Middle East or anywhere else while the ayatollahs rule Iran.
John Zogby
Grade: F
Once again, I am faced with the dilemma of separating my personal beliefs from President Donald Trump’s actual performance and its impact.
There are many things I find abhorrent about his behavior, but in the past, I have given him credit for any positive outcomes. Let’s just look at the picture that emerges this week.
Israel and Iran are at war and it is only getting worse. Gazans are victims of a macabre Matrix-like situation whereby they are forced into enclaves where some food and supplies are available, then bombed by Israel Defense Forces. The stock markets have plummeted. The president is going over the top in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army by spending $45 million for a show, while Americans in over 2,000 cities will protest. Los Angeles is an armed camp with both the U.S. Marines Corps and the federalized National Guard on duty to face hundreds of protesters in a small piece of real estate downtown. ICE raids continue, and tension is deep.
Bad week for the people and the president.
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Jed Babbin is a Washington Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in the administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him on X @jedbabbin.
John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Survey and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies. His latest book is Beyond the Horse Race: How to Read Polls and Why We Should. His podcast with son and managing partner and pollster Jeremy Zogby can be heard here. Follow him on X @ZogbyStrategies.
