The best week of Donald Trump’s second presidency just got even better

There’s no denying it – Donald Trump just had the best week of his second presidency, by a big margin. A combination of daring, good fortune and the brute wielding of American power combined to deliver a momentous week in global affairs and a number of stunning wins for the president himself.

It began with the US bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites, an operation contemplated by previous administrations but never executed. A flurry of 30,000-pound bombs, fired for the first time outside of testing, was deposited right into the ventilation shafts of a facility deep underneath a mountain.

Donald Trump would rightly claim this as the best week of his presidency thus far.Credit: Getty Images

Two days later, Trump was on the phone piecing together a ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran, which, after some teething problems, appears to have held. Now he’s involved in a potential resolution in Gaza, saying on Saturday (AEST) that it could come as soon as next week.

The president flew to the Netherlands for a whirlwind visit to the NATO summit, where he confirmed a pledge from members to lift their core defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP – a long-standing US goal – and spend another 1.5 per cent on defence-adjacent infrastructure and projects.

Trump, who casually admitted he considered his attendance something he ought to do, not something he really wanted to do, nonetheless charmed his audience with his usual brand of impulsive banter, especially after a sycophantic reception from NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte, who called him “daddy”.

Back at home, Trump was still doing his victory lap when the Supreme Court handed him a thumping victory courtesy of a majority ruling that limited the ability of lower court judges to issue “universal injunctions” when federal government policies face a legal challenge.

Federal judges have been a thorn in Trump’s side – or more accurately, a brick wall blocking his path – since his return to power, issuing temporary injunctions that apply nationwide, rather than just in their state or for the plaintiff bringing the case.

The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 split decision along ideological lines, ruled that this was a modern phenomenon lacking historical precedent and a legal basis. It paves the way for Trump to resume a range of controversial measures held up by the courts, and at a hastily convened press conference on Friday, local time, he said he intended to do exactly that.

If that weren’t enough, the S&P500 and Nasdaq closed at record highs on Friday, US eastern time, restoring all the gains lost during the trade wars of Trump’s first three months. Not even Trump’s cancellation of trade talks with Canada on Friday afternoon was enough to deter investors.

And he even slotted in a peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, mediated by the US and signed earlier at the State Department.

Donald Trump (centre) speaks with NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte (left). Credit: AP

In the Oval Office, Trump conducted a ceremony with top diplomats from both nations and declared it “a tremendous breakthrough”. The deal includes access to critical minerals for the US government and American companies.

Of course, there are caveats to all these achievements. Questions linger over the extent of the destruction at Fordow and Iran’s other nuclear facilities. Trump and his allies went overboard – not only by claiming “total obliteration” before the evidence was in, but also by their extreme overreaction to a preliminary intelligence report that suggested the damage could be limited.

Clearly, the mission was impressive and successful, and that won’t change if we learn later that the Iranians did manage to move some of their uranium or other materials. Trump says they did not.

The ceasefire between Israel and Iran could end at any moment, and in any case, Israel said it had already achieved its objectives, which undercuts the feat a little.

The NATO pledge is just that – a pledge. Trump has railed against Spain for being the lone refusenik, but in reality, few countries are expected to get to the full 5 per cent by the due date, 2035, if ever. Many of them now spend less than 2 per cent. Trump will be long out of office by then anyway. He won’t even be around when the spending plans are reviewed in 2029.

And the Supreme Court ruling, while a “giant win”, as Trump put it, does not determine the constitutionality of any policies. Indeed, the matter that triggered the decision on injunctions, an executive order to end birthright citizenship, is set for determination in October.

But all things considered, Trump had a blinder of a week. At home and abroad, he demonstrated the power he wields – not just as the officeholder but as a muscular, unpredictable and unapologetic user of that office. He showcased American military might to the world and incurred not a scratch in return. And he put his best case forward for the accolade he has long coveted – the Nobel Peace Prize.

Following the Supreme Court ruling, Fox News anchor and Trump cheerleader Jesse Watters said: “Donald Trump’s best week ever just got even better.”

For once, it wasn’t hyperbole.

Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.