Trump After NATO, Abrego Garcia Latest, Senate Trump Agenda

Summary

Up First from NPR: Trump After NATO, Abrego Garcia Latest, Senate Trump Agenda

Release Date: June 26, 2025
Hosts: Leila Fadel, Steve Inskeep, Michel Martin, Amir Martinez, Ayesha Rascoe, Scott Simon

---

1. President Trump's NATO Summit and Shifting Alliances

The episode opens with a focus on President Donald Trump's recent NATO summit, highlighting a significant shift in his stance toward the alliance. After years of criticizing NATO as a "ripoff," Trump returned from the summit with a notably warmer tone.

Key Highlights:

• NATO Defense Spending Commitment: NATO leaders, responding to Trump's long-standing demands, agreed to increase their defense spending to 5% of their GDP. Trump hailed this agreement as a "monumental win for the United States" (03:00).

  "NATO countries did agree to committing to increasing defense spending to 5% of their GDP, which is something Trump has wanted. And he called it a monumental win for the United States," explained White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram (04:52).

• Improved Relations with NATO Leaders: The summit was marked by unexpected camaraderie between Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. This included public praise and personal exchanges that painted a more cooperative image of the U.S. within the alliance.

  "Ruta called Trump 'Daddy,' which turned into a news cycle of its own," Shivaram noted, referencing private texts shared by Trump on social media (04:16).

• Controversial Remarks on U.S. Strikes in Iran: Despite the positive interactions, Trump also addressed U.S. military actions against Iran's nuclear sites with a mix of assertion and ambiguity.

  "Trump was focused on that the whole time. At NATO, he said that the leaked report was inconclusive," Shivaram detailed, referring to the mixed messages surrounding the effectiveness of the strikes (03:01).

• Lingering Skepticism Among Allies: While the summit showcased a more cooperative Trump, there remain underlying tensions. For instance, Spain's refusal to increase defense spending led Trump to threaten tariffs, indicating that not all relationships have warmed.

  "Trump was pretty fed up with Spain at the summit because Spain has said they won't be acting on the increase in defense spending that all the allies agreed to," Shivaram explained (05:31).

---

2. The Legal Saga of Kilmar Abrego Garcia

The episode delves into the complicated legal case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, shedding light on the broader implications of U.S. immigration policies under the Trump administration.

Key Highlights:

• Background of the Case: Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran native, was deported illegally to El Salvador, incarcerated in a mega-prison despite a U.S. Supreme Court order against his deportation. He was later returned to the U.S. to face charges related to human smuggling.

  "The government wrongly deported Abrego Garcia three months ago to that infamous prison in El Salvador, despite a court order against his deportation to his home country," reported Mariana Bucqulau of WPLN Nashville (07:02).

• Judge's Order for Release Pending Trial: Federal Judge Barbara Holmes in Nashville has ordered Abrego Garcia's release while awaiting his federal trial, stipulating several conditions. However, the likelihood of his permanent release remains slim due to the imminent threat of deportation by ICE.

  "The prosecution has pointed out that ICE could deport Abrego Garcia before he has a chance to stand trial," Bucqulau stated, highlighting the precariousness of his release (07:43).

• Public and Legal Reactions: The case has sparked outrage among protesters and the defense, who argue that Abrego Garcia is being denied due process. The government's aggressive stance underscores the contentious nature of Trump's immigration policies.

  "The defense says they're suspicious of the timing of the investigation, given how Abrego Garcia's case has galvanized critics of Trump's immigration policy," Bucqulau added (08:45).

• Current Status and Next Steps: While the judge has set conditions for his release, ICE officials are poised to reclaim custody, ensuring that Abrego Garcia remains in detention pending his trial.

  "Once that order comes down, he'll quietly be transferred to ICE custody away from the public eye," Bucqulau informed (09:39).

---

3. Senate Republicans and the Push for President Trump's Domestic Policy Bill

The episode transitions to the legislative arena, where Senate Republicans are under pressure to pass President Trump's flagship domestic policy bill amidst various challenges.

Key Highlights:

• Urgent Deadline: Republicans have set a self-imposed July 4th deadline to pass the bill, which includes key elements of Trump's agenda such as tax cuts, enhanced border security, and increased defense spending. However, internal disagreements threaten to derail this timeline.

  "Their self-imposed July 4th deadline is just over a week away, and they're struggling to resolve some sticking points in this Tax and spending bill," reported political correspondent Elena Moore (10:41).

• Funding the Agenda: The primary contention lies in funding the proposed measures. While there is consensus on advancing tax cuts and defense spending, senators are divided on the future of Medicaid and the potential removal of clean energy tax credits.

  "The bill contains a lot of Trump's agenda... they're divided on how to pay for it," Moore explained (11:01).

• Medicaid Concerns: A significant debate revolves around modifying Medicaid's funding formula, which could potentially reduce federal spending but at the risk of harming rural hospitals.

  "There's a proposal that would require states to decrease the amount they can tax Medicaid providers, which could save the government cash but hurt rural hospitals," Moore detailed (11:59).

• Clean Energy Tax Credits: Fiscal conservatives aim to eliminate clean energy incentives established under the Biden administration, fearing these could lead to job losses and increased consumer prices.

  "Fiscal hawks in the Senate want these to go, but others are pushing back and say that immediately taking away some of these investments could cause Americans to lose jobs and face higher prices," Moore noted (12:03).

• Procedural Hurdles: The Senate's use of budget reconciliation allows the bill to pass with a simple majority, bypassing the need for bipartisan support. However, this process introduces additional procedural complexities that slow progress.

  "The Senate is also dealing with procedural issues that come with the budget tool they're using... which is slowing things down," Moore added (12:44).

• Path Forward and Potential Outcomes: Should Republicans navigate these challenges, the bill will move to the House of Representatives, where further negotiations may be necessary. President Trump is set to further pressure senators by highlighting the bill's benefits to everyday Americans during an upcoming event.

  "The president may play a key role in that. He's hosting a big event this afternoon... and he'll be putting more pressure on Republicans to just get this done," Moore concluded (13:43).

---

Conclusion

Today's episode of Up First from NPR provided a comprehensive overview of critical national and political developments:

• President Trump's evolving relationship with NATO and his administration's international policies, especially concerning Iran.
• The contentious legal case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, highlighting issues within U.S. immigration enforcement.
• The legislative struggles within the Republican Senate to pass President Trump's domestic policy agenda amidst internal divisions and looming deadlines.

Each segment was enriched with direct quotes and insights from NPR correspondents, ensuring listeners receive a nuanced understanding of these complex issues.

---

Notable Quotes:

• "This is a really good start moving us all in the right direction. But all of us have some concerns with the bill." — Deepa Shivaram (01:01)
• "NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte... called Trump 'Daddy,'— Deepa Shivaram (04:16)
• "The defense says they're suspicious of the timing of the investigation..." — Mariana Bucqulau (08:45)
• "The president may play a key role in... putting more pressure on Republicans to just get this done." — Elena Moore (13:43)

---

For more detailed discussions and stories, subscribe to Up First on your preferred podcast platform and stay informed with NPR's trusted reporting.

Transcript

[Steve Inskeep]

Good morning.

[Amir Martinez]

I heard something. I heard. Is that you? Hey.

[Steve Inskeep]

Hey. Good morning. Low, though.

[Amir Martinez]

1, 2, 3, 1, 2.

[Steve Inskeep]

I was feeling kind of low. How did you. Oh, you're talking about volume on the headphones.

[Amir Martinez]

President Trump left a summit talking differently about NATO.

[Deepa Shivaram]

These people really love their countries. It's not a ripoff. And we're here to help them protect their country.

[Steve Inskeep]

What changed for a president who once said it was a ripoff?

[Amir Martinez]

Amir Martinez with Steve Insight. This is up first from NPR News. What happens next to Kilmar Abrego Garcia? The US Mistakenly deported him, then brought him back only to indict him. A judge ordered his release while awaiting federal trial, and now the US May deport him again before trial.

[Steve Inskeep]

Also, Senate Republicans have questions about the budget their leaders want to pass.

[Deepa Shivaram]

This is a really good start moving us all in the right direction. But all of us have some concerns with the bill.

[Steve Inskeep]

Some of those concerns involve ending clean energy subsidies. Stay with us. We've got the news you need to start your day.

[NPR Sponsor]

This message comes from T Mobile for Business. Lights, Camera, innovation. Walt Disney Studios chose advanced 5G solutions from T Mobile for Business to transform the movie making process. Together, they kept a remote production hub in Hawaii in sync with a team in California to bring Lilo and Stitch to theaters this summer. This is picture perfect collaboration. This is Walt Disney Studios with T Mobile for Business. Take your business further@t mobile.com now.

This message comes from Data IQ. AI is raw power. It's alive in every agent, every decision, every workflow. So do you let it take over or do you become the force behind it? Take control with DataIQ, the universal AI platform for business teams and AI experts designed for trust and engineered to scale. Make AI flow through your enterprise. Don't just keep up with AI. Control it with Data IQ, the universal AI platform. Find out [e-mail] NPR this message comes from the Nature Conservancy. Nature is common ground for everyone, and uniting to protect nature can help solve today's challenges and create a thriving tomorrow for future generations. Discover [e-mail] NPR President Trump is back.

[Steve Inskeep]

In the Capitol after meeting with European leaders at a NATO summit.

[Amir Martinez]

NATO leaders committed to more defense spending, something the president wanted. And the president spoke with surprising warmth about an alliance he often disparaged. Trump also spoke with some heat about US Strikes on Iran's nuclear sites.

[Steve Inskeep]

Let's work through all this with NPR White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, who traveled with the president to the Hague and back. Welcome back, Deepa.

[Deepa Shivaram]

Hey there.

[Steve Inskeep]

So how did Iran take so much attention?

[Deepa Shivaram]

Yeah, I mean, right from the moment Trump announced these strikes on Iran, he's been saying that they, quote, obliterated the nuclear sites that held these enriched materials. Right. But on the way to the Hague, news broke about this leaked intelligence assessment that undercut what Trump was saying, that said that the damage was less than the president had described. So Trump was focused on that the whole time. At NATO, he said that the leaked report was inconclusive. But while we were on Air Force One coming back to Washington yesterday, the CIA released a really unusual statement. Director John Ratcliffe said there's, quote, a body of credible evidence that the damage caused is actually severe. And that more closely mirrors what Trump has been saying. Like I said, it's unusual for the CIA to make any kind of public statement, especially an assessment that's released this close to the event that happened. And Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is holding another press conference on the topic this morning. So this is really something that's not going away. And senators are supposed to get a briefing on this later today as well.

[Steve Inskeep]

We should pause for a moment just to be real. This is an argument about which exact words to describe a strike in which we know some things were blown up, some other things may or may not have blown up, and we probably have to wait to find out for sure. But we're arguing over the exact words to use. What are NATO leaders saying about this?

[Deepa Shivaram]

Well, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was talking about the Iran strike even before the NATO summit started. I mean, he was praising Trump left and right about a lot of things. Trump posted on social media a private text message he got from Ruta, where Ruta is calling him Dear Donald. On stage yesterday at NATO, Ruta called Trump Daddy, which turned into a news cycle of its own. And yesterday, the White House released a video of Trump at NATO to the tune of Usher's Hey, Daddy. So there was a lot of love between those two.

[Steve Inskeep]

Okay. Didn't see that one coming. So a lot of compliments for the president. Did that help the NATO allies in dealing with the President?

[Deepa Shivaram]

Yeah, I mean, there was definitely a reason behind all of this hype over Trump. NATO countries did agree agree to committing to increasing defense spending to 5% of their GDP, which is something Trump has wanted. And he called it a monumental win for the United States. You'll remember, as you mentioned, Trump has been complaining for years about the alliance not spending enough money. So they really tailored the summit to him this year, keeping it short and focused, even on the plane Ride over to the Netherlands. You know, Trump was non committal about Article 5 of NATO. That's the mutual defense agreement between allies. Right. But after getting this win yesterday at the summit and getting all the love from NATO leaders who praised him and praised the United States. United States, Trump really shifted his tone on the alliance.

I left here differently. I left here saying that these people really love their countries. It's not a ripoff, and we're here to help them protect their country.

[Steve Inskeep]

That is a big shift from the way the president has spoken for the past decade about NATO.

[Deepa Shivaram]

Yeah, really is. Although the caveat here is that Trump is someone who tends to change his mind a lot. And there are still some lingering questions from allies about how reliable the US Is. For example, Trump was pretty fed up with speech Spain at the summit because Spain has said they won't be acting on the increase in defense spending that all the allies agreed to. And Trump said Spain was terrible and unfair, and he would essentially punish Spain for that decision by making them pay more in tariffs. So there's still ways that Trump is complicating these relationships with allies.

[Steve Inskeep]

NPR's Deepa Shivaram. Thanks for the coverage. Really appreciate it.

[Deepa Shivaram]

Thank you.

[Steve Inskeep]

A judge has ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia released from jail pending his criminal trial. Abrego Garcia, you'll recall, is the Salvadoran native the government illegally deported to a mega prison in El Salvador. The government claimed it could not bring him back, then did bring him back, then indicted him, which is why he's awaiting trial. The judge is now discussing the exact conditions under which he would be released. Mariana Bucqulau of WPLN Nashville is covering this case. Good morning.

[Mariana Bucqulau]

Morning.

[Steve Inskeep]

Okay, so the judge has ruled fundamentally that Abrego Garcia should be released awaiting trial. Has he been released?

[Mariana Bucqulau]

He has not been released. Federal Judge Barbara Holmes in Nashville delayed his release at least a few days to clear up some of those conditions. But everyone in this case is aware that immigration officials are standing by to detain Abrego Garcia once he's out of jail. Yesterday at his hearing, I counted at least six Homeland Security vehicles parked outside the courthouse, several agents milling about the street. So the judge has stressed that a lot of her conditions for his release really only come into play if he's able to leave ICE custody before the trial.

[Steve Inskeep]

Oh, okay. So how likely is that? That he could ever be released from ICE custody?

[Mariana Bucqulau]

Not very. The prosecution has pointed out that ICE could deport Abrego Garcia before he has a chance to stand trial. You know, that was Part of the prosecution's argument for keeping him in jail, that the threat of that possible deportation could make him more likely to flee. All of this has caused outrage from protesters and the defense, who say this could be another case in which Abrego Garcia doesn't get due process. Like you said, the government wrongly deported Abrego Garcia three months ago to that infamous prison in El Salvador, despite a court order against his deportation to his home country. The U.S. supreme Court demanded his return to the U.S. and he was eventually brought back earlier this month to face human smuggling charges. Prosecutors allege he's transported people without legal status throughout the U.S. the defense says they're suspicious of the timing of the investigation, given how Abrego Garcia's case has galvanized critics of Trump's immigration policy.

[Steve Inskeep]

Can I just ask, why go through all of these proceedings about exactly how Abrego Garcia would be released if he's just going to be taken into custody again?

[Mariana Bucqulau]

Well, that. That is a question at the heart of this case, you know, especially given the prosecution saying that he may eventually be deported. During yesterday's hearing, the judge asked federal prosecutors, which is the Department of Justice, to work with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that Abrego Garcia can make his court dates. Really what she seems to be asking is that if they can work with DHS to keep him here long enough for him to stand trial. And prosecutors responded saying essentially it's out of their hands. They can't tell DHS what to do. Ultimately, whether he remains free once he's released isn't up to the judge. It's up to ice.

[Steve Inskeep]

So what happens now?

[Mariana Bucqulau]

Sometime tomorrow or this weekend, the judge is expected to give the official order to release him. I spoke with a U.S. marshal who said there's not going to be an another hearing. Once that order comes down, he'll quietly be transferred to ICE custody away from the public eye. As for the conditions, Judge Holmes did outline some standard things, like limiting his travel to Maryland, where his family lives, and here in Tennessee, where his trial is being held. She also mandated anger management counseling based on the government's case, citing protective orders his wife filed. His wife has since said things have improved. Approved. She withdrew those orders, and now she says she just wants him home.

[Steve Inskeep]

Mariana Bacallau of WPLN in Nashville, thanks so much.

[Mariana Bucqulau]

Thanks.

[Amir Martinez]

Senate Republicans are racing against the clock to pass President Trump's signature domestic policy bill.

[Steve Inskeep]

Their self imposed July 4th deadline is just over a week away, and they're struggling to resolve some sticking points in this Tax and spending bill. The debate has made their schedule a little bit uncertain.

[Amir Martinez]

NPR political reporter Elena Moore is following all of this. All right, so the president wants this bill passed as soon as possible. What's stalling that?

[Elena Moore]

Well, so the bill contains a lot of Trump's agenda, like those tax cuts and more money for border security and defense. And senators are united in delivering on all those things. They're divided on how to pay for it. You know, one big issue is over the future of Medicaid, the federal program that provides health coverage for low income and disabled Americans in partnership with states. And, you know, in particular, there's a proposal on the table that would require states to decrease the amount that they can tax Medicaid providers. And that would in turn affect the formula that calculates how much federal spending a state gets as part of this joint program. And so that could end up saving the government cash. But some senators are not happy with this idea and worry it will particularly hurt rural hospitals. You know, talks to get those senators on board are ongoing. And remember, Republicans can only afford to lose three votes in the Senate.

[Amir Martinez]

Yeah, and Medicaid is just one of several disagreements.

[Elena Moore]

Yeah, exactly. You know, there's also a debate about whether to scrap a bunch of clean energy tax credits that were implemented during former President Joe Biden's administration. You know, fiscal hawks in the Senate want these to go, but others are pushing back and say that immediately taking away some of these investments could cause Americans to lose, lose jobs and face higher prices. And, you know, outside of just policy issues, the Senate is also dealing with procedural issues that come with the budget tool they're using in order to pass this bill on a simple majority vote, which allows them to potentially get the bill through without Democrats. And, you know, that process is slowing things down, too.

[Amir Martinez]

Okay, policy issues, procedural issues, lots of issues. It sounds like. Let's just say for a second that the Senate is able to pass this bill. Then what happens?

[Elena Moore]

Well, then it would go back to the House of Representatives, and they have to vote on it, too. The House narrowly passed its own version of the bill last month. And big picture, these two bills are just not expected to be super different. But when we pull back the curtain, there may be aspects that anger some House Republicans. And that could be a problem for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has very tight margins in the House. You know, Oklahoma Senator Mark Wayne Mullen has been trying to work with some House members who have concerns, but he's hoping Republican can ultimately solve their differences given they agree on the main parts of this bill.

[Deepa Shivaram]

This is a really good start moving us all in the right direction. But all of us have some concerns with the bill. But that's what happens when, you know, you're negotiating any bill in here and you get 535 opinions. All right.

[Amir Martinez]

So how are they going to get past all this before the end of next week?

[Elena Moore]

Well, the president may play a key role in that. He's hosting a big event this afternoon with what the White House calls everyday Americans, like a doordash driver who wants to see no tax on tips. And he'll be putting more pressure on Republicans to just get this done.

[Amir Martinez]

That's NPR political reporter Elena Moore. Thanks.

[Elena Moore]

Thanks. A.

[Steve Inskeep]

And that's a first for this Thursday, June 26th. I'm Steve Inskeep and I May Martinez.

[Amir Martinez]

How about giving CONSIDER THIS from NPR a try? We hear it up first, give you the three big stories of the day. Our CONSIDER this colleagues take a different approach. They dive into a single news story and what it means to you. And underwater 15 minutes. Listen now on the NPR app or wherever you get those podcasts.

[Steve Inskeep]

Today's UP first was edited by Roberta Rampton, Gigi Dubon, Kelsey Snell, Jason Breslow, Janaya Williams and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Buch, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacy Abbott, who is so supportive. And our technical director is Carly Strange, who's very direct. Join us tomorrow.

[NPR Sponsor]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Breast cancer cells multiply faster because of CDK4.6 proteins. But what if blocking those proteins and stopping runaway cell division was possible? DANA Farber Scientists laid The foundation for CDK46 inhibitors, new drugs that are increasing the survival rate for many advanced breast cancers. Dana Farber's momentum of discovery keeps finding new ways to outmaneuver cancer. [e-mail] everywhere. This message comes from Bombus. Nearly 30% of marathoners end their race blistered. Bombus running socks are strategically cushioned to help. Say bye to blisters. Run to bombus.com NPR and use code NPR for 20% off your first purchase. This message comes from Warby Parker. What makes a great pair of glasses at Warby Parker? It's all the invisible extras without the extra cost, like free adjustments for life. Find your [e-mail] or visit one of their hundreds of stores around the country.