Story perspectives

Trump Praises Power-Boost, Secures $500M Deal, Freeze Blocked

6/30/2026

Center

Trump Expands Power

President Donald Trump praised the Supreme Court ruling as the most significant expansion of presidential power in a century.
The Supreme Court’s Slaughter decision allows President Donald Trump to remove a Federal Trade Commission commissioner, now effective.
The administration awarded a $500 million no-bid contract to Clark Construction for ballroom renovations, bypassing competition.
Judge Jeannette Vargas blocked the Department’s freeze on billions in infrastructure funding, deeming justification insufficient.

Left

Obama Warns

Barack Obama warned that President Donald Trump’s repeated references to him expose an obsession that distracts from governing.
President Donald Trump hailed the Supreme Court ruling as the greatest expansion of presidential power in a century.
Obama told the All the Smoke podcast that a president should prioritize challenges over rivalries.
Republicans Against Trump mocked Trump’s photo of himself with Obama, calling it “Obama Derangement Syndrome.”

History

Historical Context

In 1936 the Hughes Court issued United States v. Curtiss-Wright, a 7-1 ruling that declared the president the primary actor in foreign affairs. The decision became a cornerstone for later claims of executive supremacy, influencing the 2024 Slaughter case that let Donald Trump remove an FTC commissioner directly. Though partially curtailed by Zivotofsky v. Kerry (2015), the precedent continues to shape debates over presidential power.

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Trump Expands Power

President Donald Trump praised the Supreme Court ruling as the most significant expansion of presidential power in a century.
The Supreme Court’s Slaughter decision allows President Donald Trump to remove a Federal Trade Commission commissioner, now effective.
The administration awarded a $500 million no-bid contract to Clark Construction for ballroom renovations, bypassing competition.
Judge Jeannette Vargas blocked the Department’s freeze on billions in infrastructure funding, deeming justification insufficient.

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