President Donald Trump arrived in France on Monday for the annual G7 summit after an eventful weekend that showcased both his political influence at home and his administration’s growing diplomatic ambitions abroad.

The president’s trip comes just one day after thousands gathered on the White House South Lawn for UFC Freedom 250, a high-profile event celebrating America’s upcoming 250th anniversary and Trump’s 80th birthday. It also comes as the administration moves forward with what officials describe as a potentially historic agreement aimed at ending tensions with Iran and preventing the regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Senior administration officials confirmed Monday that a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran was electronically signed Sunday by both President Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf signed on behalf of Tehran.

Officials described the memorandum as a framework agreement that establishes the foundation for broader negotiations in the coming weeks. The full text is expected to be released publicly within days.

Administration officials emphasized that the agreement represents the beginning of a larger diplomatic process rather than a final resolution.

“This is the first step,” one senior official told reporters, noting that more detailed technical negotiations are scheduled to begin later this week.

Vice President Vance is expected to take a leading role in those discussions, reflecting the administration’s confidence in his growing influence on foreign policy matters.

The next major milestone is expected Friday in Geneva, Switzerland, where Vance and presidential adviser Jared Kushner are scheduled to represent the United States during a formal signing ceremony.

Trump indicated Monday that he may not attend the event personally due to his ongoing schedule and international commitments.

Speaking before meetings with world leaders at the G7 summit, Trump expressed confidence that the agreement could usher in greater stability throughout the Middle East.

“I think a lot of great things are going to happen in the Middle East right now,” Trump said.

“And very importantly, the oil is plummeting down and the stock market is shooting up like a rocket today.”

The president also pointed to renewed activity through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important shipping corridors and a key artery for global energy markets.

A major point of discussion surrounding the agreement has centered on whether Iran will receive immediate sanctions relief or access to frozen financial assets.

Administration officials sought to reassure critics that any economic benefits would be strictly tied to Iranian compliance with the agreement.

“We are prepared to release frozen funds, and we are prepared to release sanctions,” one official said.

“And we’ll do some small gestures of that in the beginning, if they make some small gestures to us that show that they’re willing to meet their commitments as well.”

Vice President Vance reinforced that message during a television interview Monday morning.

“We’ll be releasing the text this week, and what everybody will see is that Iran doesn’t get a dime of money unless they perform their obligations,” Vance said.

“The money that we’re talking about is fundamentally sanctions relief.”

Vance also rejected claims that the administration was preparing to hand Iran a massive financial windfall or provide unrestricted access to international funding.

“If the Iranians are willing to give a long-term commitment, along with proper verification, to giving up that nuclear weapon, we’re willing to welcome them into the world economy, to lift some sanctions, and to turn over a new leaf in that relationship,” Vance said.

Administration officials likewise dismissed speculation that Gulf nations could quietly funnel money to Iran outside the framework of the agreement.

One senior official described such claims as “not just unlikely, but preposterous.”

Officials also clarified that the agreement does not require Israel to withdraw from Lebanon or limit its ability to defend itself against attacks from Iranian-backed terrorist groups.

“The deal is a ceasefire, and it will not be a one-way ceasefire,” one official said.

“If Iran is not able to control Hezbollah, and if they attack Israeli positions or Israeli towns, Israel will have the right to defend themselves and respond.”

Despite ongoing challenges throughout the region, administration officials expressed optimism that the framework could serve as the foundation for a broader realignment in the Middle East.

“We can find a way to create a new framework for the region based on modern times, modern aspirations,” one official said.

The diplomatic breakthrough comes as Trump enters the G7 summit from a position of renewed political strength. The president spent the weekend hosting UFC Freedom 250, which drew approximately 4,300 attendees to the White House grounds, including more than 1,200 active-duty military personnel.

The unprecedented event combined patriotism, entertainment, and celebration of America’s approaching 250th anniversary while further highlighting Trump’s unique ability to blend politics and popular culture in a way few modern presidents have attempted.

Now, as he meets with world leaders in France, Trump is seeking to build on that momentum by pursuing what his administration hopes will become one of the most significant foreign policy achievements of his second term.

If successful, the agreement could not only reduce tensions with Iran but also reshape economic and security dynamics across the Middle East for years to come.

MSNBC personality Stephanie Ruhle became emotional during her final broadcast of *The 11th Hour*, signing off from the late-night program as the struggling network continues a broader programming shakeup amid declining ratings and changing viewer habits.

Ruhle, who has hosted the show for several years, is leaving the 11 p.m. time slot to anchor a new weekday morning program titled *Money, Power, Politics with Stephanie Ruhle*. The move comes as MSNBC executives continue reshuffling key parts of the network’s lineup in an effort to strengthen viewership and redefine its programming strategy.

Beginning Monday, veteran MSNBC anchor Ali Velshi will take over hosting duties for *The 11th Hour*.

During her farewell monologue, Ruhle appeared visibly emotional as she reflected on her time with the program, the staff behind the scenes, and the audience that tuned in each night.

“All right, it is time,” she said.

“Now. I’m going to have to take a deep breath for my MVP. And my MVP is all things ‘The 11th Hour.’ This show. Our team. And especially you, our audience,” she began.

Ruhle thanked viewers for making the show part of their nightly routines and emphasized the connection she felt with the audience throughout her tenure.

“You don’t have this program on in the background,” she said.

“Instead, you are choosing to invite us into your home every night — sometimes giving me the privilege of being the last voice you hear before you go to sleep,” she said.

“And I take that privilege seriously. So to you, I say thank you,” she continued.

Following the remarks, MSNBC aired a video montage highlighting memorable moments from Ruhle’s years behind the desk. The retrospective featured clips from major political events, election coverage, economic reporting, and breaking news stories that defined her run as host.

After the montage concluded, Ruhle shifted her focus to Velshi, the journalist who will now inherit one of the network’s most recognizable time slots.

She spoke warmly about their long professional relationship and praised his abilities as a broadcaster.

“And I’m grateful to be leaving you all in such capable hands,” Ruhle said.

“My good friend and colleague of many years, my partner in crime, Ali Velshi, will be taking over the ‘11th Hour’ anchor chair on Monday.”

Ruhle continued by outlining why she believes Velshi is the right person to lead the program moving forward.

“Ali is smart. He’s insightful. And most importantly, he cares,” she said. “He’s committed to the facts and never stops believing in the promise of this country.”

The outgoing host also shared a personal reflection about the support Velshi has provided her over the years.

“So many times Ali has been my rock,” she said. “And now he can be yours, too.”

She concluded her farewell message with a final note to her successor.

“Ali — I can’t wait to see what you do with the place.”

The departure marks a significant change for MSNBC’s late-night lineup as the network attempts to navigate an increasingly competitive cable news landscape. While MSNBC remains a major player in liberal political media, the network has faced ongoing challenges as audiences continue migrating toward streaming platforms, podcasts, and alternative digital news sources.

Ruhle’s move back to a daytime role also represents something of a return to her roots. Before entering television journalism, she spent years working in the financial sector and built much of her media career around business and economic reporting. Her new program is expected to focus heavily on those topics while also incorporating political coverage.

Meanwhile, Velshi brings decades of experience in broadcast journalism to the position. A familiar face to MSNBC viewers, he has served as both a weekend host and frequent fill-in anchor across the network’s schedule.

Despite leaving the late-night desk, Ruhle made clear that she views the transition as a new beginning rather than a farewell to her audience. By the end of the broadcast, she had thanked viewers, celebrated her colleagues, and officially passed the torch to Velshi.

Her emotional signoff closed a notable chapter for *The 11th Hour* and marked the beginning of MSNBC’s latest programming era as the network continues searching for ways to reconnect with viewers in an increasingly fragmented media environment.

Former President Barack Obama is facing criticism from supporters of President Donald Trump after appearing to dismiss the significance of a newly announced agreement between the United States and Iran that the White House is touting as a major diplomatic achievement.

During an appearance on ABC’s *Good Morning America*, Obama was asked by host Robin Roberts about the current situation involving Iran and the recent developments that have drawn international attention.

“You spent a lot of time wrestling with the threat of a nuclear Iran. How do you think things are being handled right now there?” Roberts asked.

Obama responded by defending the nuclear agreement negotiated during his administration while expressing skepticism about the current negotiations.

“It is doubtful that any agreement that arises is going to be significantly different or a significant improvement from the deal that we had in the first place and had worked for, for a long stretch of time before we, the United States, pulled out of it,” Obama responded.

His comments immediately drew attention given that President Trump has long criticized the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal as one of the worst foreign policy agreements ever negotiated by the United States.

Obama went on to argue that diplomacy should remain the preferred path in dealing with adversarial nations.

“So, I’m hopeful that bombing stops and ordinary people are no longer suffering as a consequence of the war,” Obama added.

“And then in retrospect, it’s a reminder that on a lot of difficult foreign policy problems, the notion that we can just bully our way or bomb our way to solutions may sometimes seem appealing,” he continued.

“But the fact of the matter is that taking the time to explore diplomacy and exhaust the possibilities of coming up with deals that don’t solve 100 percent of the problem but solve 80, 90 percent of the problem while avoiding the necessity of going to war — you’d think we would have learned that lesson by now,” Obama claimed.

“But it seems like every so often we have to relearn that lesson,” Obama concluded.

The remarks came as details continued to emerge regarding a reported agreement between the United States and Iran that supporters say could significantly reduce tensions in the Middle East and reopen critical shipping routes that impact the global economy.

According to multiple reports, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council announced that Tehran and Washington had finalized a memorandum of understanding aimed at formally ending hostilities following months of negotiations.

Iranian officials stated that military operations involving Iranian forces and allied groups would cease under the framework and that negotiations toward a broader long-term agreement would begin once both sides fulfill their initial commitments.

The agreement has been hailed by supporters as a significant diplomatic breakthrough after years of instability, sanctions, military confrontations, and rising tensions throughout the region.

President Trump celebrated the development on Truth Social, emphasizing what he described as a historic achievement.

“The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all!” Trump wrote.

“I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade. Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” he added.

Trump later followed up with another message highlighting the broader significance of the agreement.

“This Great Deal will bring Peace and Security to the whole Region. Many presidents have tried to make Peace with Iran, and all have failed before me.”

“The Leaders of the Region have, for the first time, found a President who can help them achieve real Peace,” Trump said.

“With the opening of the Strait upon the signing of the Deal on Friday, for purposes of mine removal, oil will flow on both ends again for the Region, and the World!” he noted further.

The reported agreement also received praise from international leaders. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly welcomed the development and credited both sides for reaching an understanding.

“I welcome the agreement between the U.S. and Iran and congratulate President Trump and the Iranian side on this diplomatic breakthrough,” Merz said in a post on X.

“This can pave the way for a reinvigorated global economy and a more secure Middle East. It is crucial to implement it with determination,” he added.

For Trump supporters, the contrast between Obama’s skepticism and the administration’s celebration of the agreement highlights a broader debate over foreign policy. While Obama continues to defend the approach taken during his presidency, Trump allies argue that the reported breakthrough demonstrates the effectiveness of the president’s strategy and his ability to secure agreements that previous administrations were unable to achieve.

As additional details emerge and negotiations continue, the reported accord is likely to remain at the center of discussions about America’s role in the Middle East and the legacy of competing approaches to dealing with Iran.