Good morning, everyone. Another day in paradise. There are a lot of major stories I’m tracking today. First, the “Trump curse” is dominating headlines after Belgium defeated the United States in the World Cup. Belgian fans are relentlessly mocking Trump with his signature dance, and many are also reviving his 2016 comments describing Brussels as a “hellhole.” Meanwhile, Trump is in Turkey for the NATO summit, where he is once again raising the possibility of pulling the United States out of NATO and making new comments about Greenland. We’ll also cover another death in ICE custody, Planned Parenthood regaining Medicaid funding, and much more.
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Here’s the news:
NATO Summit:
Trump is considering abandoning NATO. At the alliance’s summit in Turkey, Trump said he has been “very disappointed” with NATO and suggested he might not have attended the meeting if it were not hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He criticized allies for not supporting the United States after its military operation against Iran and questioned why the U.S. has spent trillions defending Europe. Trump also declined to directly answer whether he is considering reducing U.S. troops in Europe, fueling fresh concerns about America’s commitment to the alliance.
Trump on Greenland: “That’s what hurt my relationship with NATO. Because Greenland doesn’t help Denmark. Denmark doesn’t spend money to really help Greenland, but it’s an important part for the United States. And it’s surrounded by China ships and Russian ships. Greenland should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark. We could remove all our soldiers out of Europe. They better be careful.”
Ukraine and Russia remain a major focus of the summit. Trump said he believes both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy want to negotiate an end to the war, pointing to recent phone calls with both leaders. At the same time, Ukraine launched more than 400 drones toward the Moscow region overnight, while Russian attacks recently killed dozens of people in the Kyiv region. NATO leaders are expected to discuss continued military support for Ukraine and broader European security.
Defense spending is taking center stage. Trump is again demanding that NATO members dramatically increase their military spending, while NATO leaders unveiled billions of dollars in new defense projects to demonstrate that allies are investing more in collective security. The alliance announced new surveillance aircraft, refueling planes, and drone programs as part of an effort to reassure Washington that Europe is strengthening its defenses. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also launched a review of U.S. troop deployments in Europe, increasing pressure on allies to shoulder more of the burden.
Trump is also navigating diplomatic tensions with several allies. He is meeting with Belgian leaders after the U.S. men’s soccer team was eliminated from the World Cup by Belgium following the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun’s overturned suspension. Trump is also expected to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after a public dispute over his claim that she had “begged” him for a photo, which she strongly denied. Meanwhile, Trump signaled he is open to resuming U.S. sales of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, calling the country a more loyal ally than many others.
Ahead of the NATO summit, Trump urged Congress to pass a massive spending package for the military:
The “Trump Curse”:
Belgium got its revenge after Trump personally intervened to help the U.S. before the biggest match of the tournament. Trump publicly acknowledged calling FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of U.S. star Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension, and FIFA controversially reversed the ban, allowing him to play against Belgium. The unprecedented decision sparked accusations of political interference from Belgium, UEFA, and former FIFA President Sepp Blatter, with critics arguing that football should never be influenced by world leaders. But despite the intervention, Belgium dominated the U.S. 4-1, eliminating the Americans from the World Cup.
After the victory, Belgium openly mocked Trump and framed the win as payback. Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku and his teammates celebrated the fourth goal by performing Trump’s signature dance on the sideline, while Belgium’s national team social media account posted a photo of Lukaku celebrating with the caption, “Overturn this.” Belgian officials had spent the previous day blasting FIFA’s decision to reinstate Balogun, saying it undermined fair play and raised serious questions about the integrity of the tournament. The celebration was widely viewed as Belgium sending a message that even with political intervention, the better team still won.
The match carried extra political symbolism beyond soccer. Many in Belgium viewed the game as an opportunity for revenge not only over the Balogun controversy but also after years of criticism from Trump dating back to his 2016 description of Brussels as a “hellhole.” Following the loss, social media exploded with jokes about the “Trump curse,” while commentators mocked the failed intervention and pointed out that Trump’s effort to influence the outcome ultimately ended in a lopsided defeat. Instead of becoming a story about Trump’s successful intervention, the match became a global embarrassment that fueled even more criticism and ridicule.
Other News:
An Afghan man who fought alongside U.S. Special Forces for a decade died from a severe allergic reaction while in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, according to his death certificate. Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, whose asylum case was still pending, was detained for deportation proceedings and died the next day after suffering anaphylaxis that worsened his asthma. His death has sparked outrage from advocates and lawmakers, who are demanding the release of his autopsy report and questioning what substance triggered the reaction and whether authorities have been fully transparent. ICE has defended detaining Paktiawal based on prior arrests, though he had not been convicted, while his family disputes claims that methamphetamine contributed to his death and continues to seek answers.
Planned Parenthood and two smaller abortion providers have resumed billing Medicaid for non-abortion health services after being cut off from the program for most of the past year. The funding restriction, included in President Trump’s tax and policy law, was blamed for forcing multiple clinic closures and reducing access to services such as breast cancer screenings and STI testing. Medicaid reimbursement officially resumed on Sunday, allowing the providers to once again receive payment for eligible healthcare services. The change restores a key source of funding for routine medical care, though the broader restrictions on abortion funding remain in place.
An 18-year-old Mississippi college football player who disappeared during a Fourth of July trip to Horn Island has been found dead after a massive multi-agency search. Authorities recovered a body matching the description of Nolan Wells, an Ocean Springs High School graduate and rising sophomore at Southwest Mississippi Community College, near the western tip of the island where he was last seen. While officials are awaiting DNA confirmation for a positive identification, Wells' family publicly confirmed his death and thanked the community, first responders, and volunteers for their support during the search. Friends, coaches, and school officials remembered Wells as a kind, hardworking young man who was deeply respected, while counselors have been made available to help grieving classmates and teammates.
Blackstone-owned QTS has officially abandoned plans for the massive 2,100-acre Digital Gateway data center project in Virginia after years of lawsuits and community opposition. The proposed AI and cloud computing campus, which would have been the world’s largest, ultimately collapsed after courts ruled that local officials failed to properly notify the public before approving the project’s rezoning. Other developers had already withdrawn, and QTS has now dropped its final appeal, bringing the project to an end. The decision marks a major victory for local residents and preservation groups concerned about the impact on the nearby Manassas National Battlefield Park, while reflecting growing resistance to large AI data center developments over concerns about water use, electricity demand, noise, and environmental impacts.
Explosions struck Damascus on Tuesday, injuring at least 18 people while French President Emmanuel Macron was meeting Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa during the first visit by a major Western leader since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Macron was not injured, and the meeting continued despite the attacks, which came just days after another deadly bombing in the capital; no group immediately claimed responsibility. During the visit, France and Syria agreed to restore diplomatic relations after more than a decade and signed agreements aimed at helping rebuild Syria's infrastructure, reform its financial system, and recover millions in assets tied to the Assad family. The bombings underscored the ongoing security challenges facing Syria's new government as it seeks international recognition, economic investment, and stability after years of civil war.
A French appeals court has ruled that Marine Le Pen can run in France's 2027 presidential election after shortening her ban from holding public office. However, the court upheld her conviction for misusing European Parliament funds and ordered her to serve part of her sentence under home detention with an electronic ankle monitor for one year. Le Pen has said she would not run if the ankle tag prevents her from campaigning freely, leaving her political future uncertain despite being legally eligible to stand. She can still appeal to France's highest court, while her party, National Rally, continues to back her potential candidacy.
Utah has revoked the license of the Provo Canyon School, the boarding school where Paris Hilton says she was abused as a teenager, citing repeated health and safety violations. State officials found the school failed to provide adequate care, pointing to issues including improper staff-to-student ratios, unnecessary physical restraints, neglect, and failures to complete employee background checks. Hilton, who has long alleged she was physically and emotionally abused during her time at the school, called the decision validation for survivors and said children currently at the facility would finally be protected. The school, now under different ownership than when Hilton attended, has 15 days to appeal the decision, and Utah has ordered all services at the campus to end by Aug. 6.
Ukrainian authorities say they have found the body of Anastasiia Berezovska, the woman wanted by Interpol in connection with last month’s bombing in Monaco targeting Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolaiev. Ukraine’s security service says a military intelligence officer confessed to killing Berezovska with help from a former law enforcement officer, claiming he acted without orders from his superiors. Investigators allege the suspects transferred cryptocurrency and money to Berezovska before the bombing and discovered what they described as a torture chamber during searches of one suspect’s property. Both men have been detained on murder charges, while Ukrainian authorities say they are continuing to investigate who organized and ordered the Monaco attack, which injured three people, including a child.
See you soon.
— Aaron
