After strike on Iran, Trump focuses on his megabill

In his first remarks since Iran attack, Trump pushes his 'big, beautiful bill."

ByKevin Shalvey, Alexandra Hutzler, and Ivan Pereira
Last Updated: June 22, 2025, 1:53 PM EDT

President Donald Trump on Sunday pushed Republicans to get behind his taxation bill that will fund his agenda as the self-imposed Fourth of July deadline approaches.

“Great unity in the Republican Party, perhaps unity like we have never seen before. Now let’s get the Great, Big, Beautiful Bill done,” Trump wrote on social media.

Trump addressed the nation on Saturday night after the U.S. carried out airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facility, which he called "a spectacular military success."

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Jun 18, 2025, 2:04 PM EDT

Trump salutes inaugural flag-raising on newly installed flagpole

Trump participated Wednesday in the inaugural flag raising ceremony on the newly installed flagpole on the South Lawn.

As the flag was raised, the president saluted it and surveyed the crowd including his daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, and Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, asking, “How do you like it?”

President Donald Trump salutes as a flag is raised on a newly installed flag pole, on the South Lawn of the White House, June 18, 2025, in Washington.
Evan Vucci/AP

President Donald Trump looks on as a U.S. flag is raised on a newly installed flagpole on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, June 18, 2025.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

A U.S. flag is prepared to be raised on a new flagpole installed on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, June 18, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

A U.S. flag flies on a new flagpole installed on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, June 18, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Trump announced earlier he was having two flagpoles installed and he was paying for them. He told the group that there would be flowers planted around the flagpole soon. A second flagpole was being erected Wednesday afternoon.

Workers reconstruct the Rose Garden from grass to pavement at the White House in Washington, June 18, 2025.
Ken Cedeno/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

A renovation project to replace grass with pavers in the Rose Garden is also underway.

-ABC News’ Kelsey Walsh

Jun 18, 2025, 1:16 PM EDT

Kristi Noem discharged from hospital after suffering allergic reaction

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was discharged last night from George Washington Hospital, according to a spokesperson.

She was taken there Tuesday after suffering an allergic reaction. Details about what cause the reaction weren't immediately revealed.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a news conference at the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles, June 12, 2025.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

-ABC News' Luke Barr

Jun 18, 2025, 11:52 AM EDT

Vance defends Gabbard after Trump rebuke

Vice President JD Vance put out a statement defending Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, saying she's "an essential member of our national security team."

Vance's statement came a day after Trump rebuked Gabbard's testimony in March that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon.

"Tulsi Gabbard is a veteran, a patriot, a loyal supporter of President Trump, and a critical part of the coalition he built in 2024. She’s an essential member of our national security team, and we’re grateful for her tireless work to keep America safe from foreign threats," the vice president said.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard leaves U.S. Capitol after a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on June. 16, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie

Jun 18, 2025, 10:23 AM EDT

Trump to delay TikTok ban for 3rd time

President Donald Trump is giving TikTok another lifeline. He is expected to extend the deadline, which was set to expire on Thursday, requiring China's ByteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. business or face a nationwide ban.

"President Trump will sign an additional Executive Order this week to keep TikTok up and running. As he has said many times, President Trump does not want TikTok to go dark," Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, said in a statement to ABC News.

"This extension will last 90 days, which the Administration will spend working to ensure this deal is closed so that the American people can continue to use TikTok with the assurance that their data is safe and secure."

President Donald Trump speaks to the press on the South Lawn of the White House, June 18, 2025, in Washington.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

This will be Trump's third time pausing the enforcement of the bipartisan law passed in Congress last year that gave ByteDance until Jan. 19 to sell TikTok's U.S. operations or be removed from app stores nationwide.

Upon taking office, Trump delayed the ban's enforcement for 75 days before announcing another 75-day extension in April, after a potential deal to sell the app to American owners was curtailed due to Trump's imposition of steep tariffs on Chinese goods.

--ABC News' Lalee Ibssa

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