President Trump Still Holding Off on Additional Attacks Against Iran

Summary

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Episode Overview

Title: President Trump Still Holding Off on Additional Attacks Against Iran
Date: May 19, 2026
Host: Tom Graham (FOX News)
Theme: The episode delivers an hourly news update focused on President Trump's latest decisions regarding Iran, White House renovations, a Justice Department budget increase, political endorsements, an NAACP campaign, wildfire evacuations in California, and severe weather across the U.S.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.–Iran Tensions: Negotiations Over Military Action

• President Trump has decided to hold off on new military attacks against Iran in favor of more negotiation time, despite continuing tensions and threats.
• [00:13] Arab partners report a potential breakthrough for a new nuclear deal with Iran.
• Memorable quote:

  "We may have to give him another big hit. We may have to give him another big hit. I'm not sure yet. You'll know very soon."
  — President Donald Trump [00:20]

2. White House Ballroom Construction & Funding

• President Trump discussed ongoing renovation, specifically a new ballroom being built at the White House East Wing.
• He boasted about its potential:

  "I think it's going to be potentially the most beautiful building in all of Washington."
  — President Donald Trump [00:34]

• Security measures and funding:
  • Congress is reviewing a $1 billion budget request from the Secret Service relating to East Wing construction security.
  • President Trump asserts ballroom construction is funded through private donations, not tax dollars.
• Additional detail:

  "The roof is dead flat with absolutely nothing but strength on it. It's very strong steel. It's drone proof and it's meant for our military to be able to stay on it."
  — President Donald Trump [02:10]

• The project is promoted as tax-free and fully funded by Trump and donors.
• Democratic critics call the project an "eyesore" at the historic White House, sparking controversy.

3. Justice Department Budget Request

• The Trump administration is seeking a 13% budget increase for the Justice Department.
• Key priorities:
  • Reducing violent crime
  • Combating the fentanyl crisis
  • Strengthening immigration enforcement
  • Expanding fraud prevention
  • Enhancing law enforcement resources
• Acting Attorney General Todd Blanch stated:

  "This is underscores our department's renewed focus on reducing violent crime, combating the fentanyl crisis, strengthening border and immigration enforcement, expanding fraud prevention and ensuring our law enforcement agencies have the resources they need."
  — Todd Blanch [00:56]

4. Primary Race Endorsements & Political Clashes

• President Trump is endorsing GOP Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against Republican incumbent Senator John Cornyn.
• Vice President J.D. Vance explained Trump's choice:

  "When it really counted, Ken Paxton was there for the country, was there for the president. And that's why he ultimately earned the president's endorsement."
  — J.D. Vance [01:27]

• Senator Cornyn criticized Paxton as a "weak nominee on Wall Street".
• The episode also quickly updates on stock market declines:
  • Dow down 322 points, Nasdaq off by 220, S&P 500 dipped about 49 points.
    [01:39]

5. NAACP "Out of Bounds" Campaign Against Voting Rights Restrictions

• The NAACP urges top black athlete recruits to boycott public universities in eight Southern states where voting rights are perceived to be threatened by new or proposed district maps.
• NAACP President Derek Johnson emphasized:

  "Black athletes should not be asked to generate wealth, prestige, and power for state institutions while those same states strip political power from black communities."
  — Derek Johnson, paraphrased by Chris Foster [02:48]

• The campaign encourages current athletes to consider transferring and for fans to withhold financial support (tickets, merchandise).
• Targeted states: Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Georgia.

6. California Wildfire and National Weather

• More than 17,000 people have evacuation orders as the Sandy fire encroaches on Simi Valley, California.
  • The wildfire has burned over 2 square miles of dry brush and is at zero containment.
    [03:26]
• The episode notes severe weather across the U.S., with powerful winds and tornadoes affecting Kansas and Nebraska.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on Iran:

  "We may have to give him another big hit. We may have to give him another big hit. I'm not sure yet. You'll know very soon."
  [00:20]

• President Trump on White House construction:

  "I think it's going to be potentially the most beautiful building in all of Washington."
  [00:34]

  "The roof is dead flat with absolutely nothing but strength on it. It's very strong steel. It's drone proof and it's meant for our military to be able to stay on it."
  [02:10]

• J.D. Vance on presidential endorsement:

  "When it really counted, Ken Paxton was there for the country, was there for the president. And that's why he ultimately earned the president's endorsement."
  [01:27]

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Timeline of Key Segments

• 00:03–00:38: Iran negotiations and White House ballroom update
• 00:39–01:11: Justice Department budget increase
• 01:12–01:39: Trump’s political endorsements and Wall Street commentary
• 02:10–02:20: Security and purpose of the White House ballroom
• 02:48–03:26: NAACP campaign against voting restrictions
• 03:26–end: California wildfire update and severe national weather

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Conclusion

This Fox News Hourly Update delivers a rapid-fire summary of major political, social, and environmental developments. President Trump’s approach to Iran, a controversial White House construction project, pressing justice and political contests, NAACP activism, and urgent disaster news all underscore the range and intensity of current events as of May 19, 2026.

Transcript

[Tom Graham]

Holding back for now. I'm Tom Graham, Fox News. President Trump once again pulling back on a threat and holding off on fresh military attacks on Iran, allowing more time for negotiations.

[Fox News Reporter]

The president says planned strikes on Iran for today were called off as Arab partners say a nuclear deal could be close.

[President Donald Trump]

We may have to give him another big hit. We may have to give him another big hit. I'm not sure yet. You'll know very soon.

[Fox News Reporter]

President Trump speaking with reporters outside the White House where construction is underway for a new ballroom in East Wing.

[President Donald Trump]

I think it's going to be potentially the most beautiful building in all of Washington.

[Fox News Reporter]

Congress is considering a $1 billion budget request from the Secret Service as part of the East Wing construction. President Trump says funding for the actual ballroom is coming from private donations. At the White House, Jared Halpern, FOX News.

[Tom Graham]

The Trump administration is asking for a 13% increase in the Justice Department's budget.

[Acting Attorney General Todd Blanch]

This is underscores our departments renewed focus on reducing violent crime, combating the fentanyl crisis, strengthening border and immigration enforcement, expanding fraud prevention and ensuring our law enforcement agencies have the resources they need.

[Tom Graham]

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanch speaking before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee. President Trump is wading into several primary races. He's now throwing his support behind GOP Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who's running against Republican incumbent Senator John cornyn. Vice President J.D. vance reacting.

[Vice President J.D. Vance]

I've known John Cornyn for a but unfortunately, you know, when, when it really counted, Ken Paxton was there for the country, was there for the president. And that's why he ultimately earned the president's endorsement.

[Tom Graham]

Following the president's endorsement, Senator Cornyn said Paxton would be a, quote, weak nominee on Wall Street. Stocks finishing in the red with A Dow falling 322 points. The Nasdaq off 220, while the S&P 500 dipped about 49 points. America is listening to Fox News. President Trump speaking outside a construction zone for his planned White House ballroom, saying the roof will be sturdy enough for military forces to keep a watch on events.

[President Donald Trump]

The roof is dead flat with absolutely nothing but strength on it. It's very strong steel. It's drone proof and it's meant for our military to be able to stay on it.

[Tom Graham]

President Trump also claims the project will be tax free and will be fully paid for by himself and donors. The Republicans have sought roughly a billion dollars in taxpayer money related to the security the project. Many Democrats are fuming over the planned ballroom for various reasons. Some critics of the president. Let's say he's building an eyesore at the historic White House site. Hell, there's a call for a college sports boycott in states accused of trying to restrict black voting rights.

[Chris Foster]

The NAACP is asking top black basketball and football recruits to avoid public universities in states with redrawn or proposed congressional maps that are expected to weaken black voting representation. And it's asking fans to stop supporting those schools financially with ticket and merchandise purchases. The civil rights organization's out of bounds campaign targets eight states, Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and Georgia. It also suggests that current black athletes at those schools consider transferring. NAACP President Derek Johnson says black athletes should not be asked to generate wealth, prestige and power for state institutions while those same states strip political power from black communities. Chris Foster, FOX News.

[Tom Graham]

More than 17,000 people in California facing evacuation orders as the so called Sandy fire threatens suburban homes in Simi Valley, northwest of Los Angeles. Wildfire consuming more than 2 square miles of dry brush with zero containment. Cause remains the cause. The fire remains under investigation. Evacuation orders warnings staying in place for several neighborhoods. And speaking of Mother Nature, severe weather threatening a large swath of the country today from Texas to New England. Extreme conditions Monday unleashing powerful wind gusts and tornadoes in Kansas and Nebraska. I'm Tom Graham of this.