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President Trump Takes Center Stage at NATO, Hails “Operation Midnight Hammer” and Signals Economic Surge Ahead

In a dramatic and highly watched moment at the NATO Summit in The Hague, President Donald Trump declared that “Operation Midnight Hammer” — a surprise military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities — had successfully rolled back Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, while also ushering in a new era of economic momentum for the United States and its allies. Speaking to a packed room of NATO leaders and international press, Trump’s message was clear: strength equals peace, and peace fuels prosperity.

“Operation Midnight Hammer” Shocks the World

The operation, carried out over the weekend, stunned global observers and adversaries alike. Under the cover of night, U.S. and Israeli forces executed what Trump described as “the most precise and courageous military strike in modern history.” Nuclear development centers in Iran were left in ruins, according to American intelligence reports and, surprisingly, even statements from Iranian officials.

“Everyone said it was impenetrable,” Trump declared. “But our brave men and women went in, and they obliterated it — 400 feet underground. Gone.”

The significance of the strike wasn’t lost on analysts or markets. With Iran’s ability to develop enriched uranium allegedly pushed back by several years, fears of an imminent conflict in the Gulf subsided. Oil prices, which had briefly surged on rumors of war, stabilized and then fell — a move Trump attributed directly to the success of the strike.

Peace and Prosperity: Trump’s Economic Offensive

Joining President Trump in commentary was White House National Economic Director Kevin Hassett, who pointed to immediate and long-term economic benefits from the ceasefire brokered between Israel and Iran. “Markets were bracing for $100-a-barrel oil,” Hassett said. “Instead, energy prices are down, gas prices are going to be down, and that means more disposable income for American families.”

Hassett noted that the military success combined with pending legislation — a new economic reform bill — could turbocharge growth in the second half of 2025. “You get peace in the Middle East, falling gas prices, and a tax reform package ready to pass. That’s a once-in-a-generation alignment for economic expansion.”

He also confirmed expectations that a “big, beautiful bill” — as Trump called it — would pass the Senate and land in the House over the weekend, with President Trump eager to sign before the July 4th recess.

Tax Reform: A New Deal for American Families

The new tax reform bill includes a wide range of provisions aimed at working- and middle-class Americans. Among them:

No federal tax on tips or overtime

No taxation on Social Security benefits

“Trump Accounts” — special investment accounts seeded with $1,000 for every newborn child to promote financial literacy and long-term equity growth

Expanded SALT deductions with ongoing negotiations to find a compromise that satisfies both conservative fiscal hawks and high-tax-state moderates

“These are policies for the people,” Hassett emphasized. “This isn’t about Wall Street. This is about Main Street.”

Foreign Policy Meets Fiscal Discipline

But beyond tax breaks, the administration is pitching the bill as the most fiscally responsible piece of legislation in modern U.S. history. With concerns over ballooning deficits and a $60 trillion debt forecast by 2035, Hassett said Trump’s team is focused on sustained 3% economic growth, which would bring in $4 trillion in additional revenue over the next decade.

He also revealed that the administration plans to use reconciliation rules to rescind “silly” or wasteful spending — citing controversial research grants and niche studies as examples — without needing 60 Senate votes.

“We’re going to cut nearly $2 trillion in useless spending over the next 10 years,” Hassett said. “And that’s not even counting the tariffs.”

Section 899 and the Battle Over Foreign Taxes

A contentious piece of the legislation remains Section 899, a retaliatory measure aimed at foreign countries imposing digital taxes and other levies on U.S. corporations. Banking leaders and foreign investors have expressed concern that the provision might hit unintended targets and discourage investment in the U.S.

Hassett acknowledged the concerns but remained hopeful. “If our trade partners back off their taxes, we may not need Section 899. But we’re negotiating right now. Our position is firm — if they tax us, we respond.”

He also hinted that multiple new trade deals were on the horizon, though many had taken a backseat to the Iran operation. “Once the dust settles, you’re going to see more deals — not just with the UK, but across Asia and Europe.”

The Fed, Inflation, and the Powell Problem

Inevitably, the conversation turned toward Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell, who has remained reluctant to cut interest rates despite growing pressure from the White House and a softening inflation outlook. Trump has criticized Powell in the past for not acting swiftly to lower borrowing costs, a sentiment echoed by Hassett.

“Powell has kept rates too high, too long,” he said. “We have the lowest inflation in four years, yet we’ve got the highest rates on Earth.”

Hassett claimed Powell had voted to raise rates even before Trump’s inauguration and suggested that Powell’s current caution was politically motivated. “He’s doing what Elizabeth Warren wants him to do. That’s not monetary policy. That’s partisanship.”

With markets pricing in a potential rate cut later this year, Hassett urged the Fed to act sooner rather than later. “If they don’t move, long-term rates stay high, and that hurts everything from housing to investment. The Fed needs to follow the data — not the Democrats.”

Looking Ahead: Trump’s 2025 Agenda

Trump’s NATO speech marked more than just a foreign policy victory — it symbolized a shift toward an aggressive second-term agenda. “We’re going to finish what we started,” he told NATO leaders, referring not just to military deterrence, but also to the economic overhaul he promises to deliver.

According to Hassett, Trump’s priorities in the coming months include:

Passing the full tax reform bill by July

Finalizing multiple bilateral trade deals

Pushing forward new deregulation efforts in banking and energy

Further military coordination with NATO on joint cybersecurity and nuclear deterrence programs

The speech in The Hague — broadcast globally — was as much a campaign rallying cry as it was a policy briefing. With both foreign and domestic momentum behind him, Trump is poised to enter the second half of 2025 with a powerful narrative: America is safer, stronger, and wealthier than ever.