➔ CABINET & WHITE HOUSE: Divisions inside the administration: (The Hill) — Political fractures and bitter battles among those supposedly on the same team have been a hallmark of the Trump White House and reach into the rest of the administration — and to K Street as well. CIA/Gina Haspel nomination: (The Hill) – Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), announced his support for Trump's nominee to lead the spy agency, moving her closer to Senate confirmation. Donnelly became the second Democrat to back the career CIA officer, joining West Virginia's Manchin. Both men are seeking reelection this year in states Trump won by wide margins in 2016. >The Hill: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) says his opposition to Haspel's nomination is not solely based on his objections to her use of torture for interrogation. > The Hill: Former Secretary of Defense Gates says he doesn't believe Haspel's ties to an enhanced interrogation program disqualifies her from serving as CIA director. State/Pompeo: (The Hill) – Secretary of State Pompeo joked Sunday on Fox News that after two weeks in his new Cabinet post, he hoped he hadn't peaked. As it is, lawmakers from both parties and international policy specialists are giving the former CIA director high marks for reinvigorating U.S. diplomacy early in his tenure. Pentagon/Justice/John Doe: (The Hill) — The Trump administration is weighing how to proceed with a U.S. citizen held as an enemy combatant since September in a unusual case that could threaten the legal underpinnings of the war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). WHITE HOUSE: The president's top communicators in the West Wing continued to refuse to publicly apologize about a barbed remark last week by a White House aide during a meeting among colleagues. The West Wing's no-apology posture propelled negative headlines into a second week, involving White House aide Kelly Sadler, who on Thursday mocked "dying" Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) at a staff meeting. McCain is opposed to Haspel's CIA nomination. The exchange was first reported by The Hill, and confirmed by multiple news organizations. Some senior officials confirmed the remarks, while others attempted to create a smidgen of ambiguity. Handling of the fallout compounded criticisms of a self-injurious West Wing team. Axios: White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders expresses her anger to staff about leaks more than regrets about Sadler's original remarks. The Hill: White House tried to dodge Sadler's McCain comments on Sunday. The Hill: Budget Director Mick Mulvaney corroborated Sadler's remarks, while defending the comments as a "joke." The Hill: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said the White House owes everyone an apology. The senator, who is close to McCain, added, "If it was a joke, it was a terrible joke. I just wish somebody from the White House would tell the country that was inappropriate, that's not who we are in the Trump administration." The Hill: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said, "it is beyond my comprehension" that the White House would not apologize. The Hill: Utah Senate candidate and former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney weighed in, arguing that those who mock the Arizona senator humiliate themselves. ➔ INTERNATIONAL: The three Americans freed from captivity in North Korea last week have reunited with their families after being discharged from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Sunday. Meanwhile, anticipation is building ahead of the Trump-Kim meeting, scheduled for June 12 in Singapore. - Pompeo: U.S. is still far from achieving its goals in North Korea.
- National security adviser John Bolton: Denuclearization is non-negotiable.
- Sen. Graham: Trump should get Senate approval on any agreement with North Korea.
- Gates: Trump's tough talk got North Korea's attention.
- Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen: Chance of military conflict increases if talks fail.
Trump's decision on Iran is still reverberating around the world. - The Hill: Trump roils the globe with Iran nuclear deal withdrawal.
- Bolton: European nations will see it's in their interests to follow the U.S. and withdraw.
- Pompeo: U.S. withdrawal did not spark Iran-Israel tensions.
- Reuters: Iranian diplomat kicks off tour to save nuclear deal.
- The New York Times: Iran's foes see opportunity as deal ends. Others see a risk for war.
Other global hotspots… The Hill: Questions linger over deadly Niger mission. Middle East: The Associated Press — Thousands of Gaza residents headed toward the border with Israel today for a showdown as Israel prepared for the inauguration of a new U.S. Embassy in contested Jerusalem. Reuters: Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinians Monday during Gaza protests. China and trade: Trump is rethinking trade impacts, saying on Sunday via Twitter he's working with Chinese President Xi Jinping to ensure telecommunications equipment-maker ZTE can do business with the U.S. again. The Commerce Department banned U.S. companies from doing business with ZTE after determining the company had shipped goods to Iran. Reuters: In concession, Trump will help China's ZTE "get back into business." Reuters: China says it appreciates U.S. position on ZTE Corp. 
© Twitter
© Twitter
White House statement Sunday: "The president's tweet underscores the importance of a free, fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial economic, trade and investment relationship between the United States and China. The administration is in contact with China on this issue, among others in the bilateral relationship. President Trump expects [Commerce] Secretary [Wilbur] Ross to exercise his independent judgment, consistent with applicable laws and regulations, to resolve the regulatory action involving ZTE based on its facts." The New York Times: Disarray plagues U.S. companies' efforts to win tariff exemptions on steel and aluminum from Trump administration. | 
