Trump's week in review: Lindsey Graham's death; American released from Iran; speech on election infrastructure

By Ryan Foley, Christian Post Reporter Friday, July 17, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he leaves the stage after delivering remarks during the Faith & Freedom Coalition's 2026 Policy Conference at the Washington Hilton on June 26, 2026, in Washington, D.C. The conservative Christian group is hosting a series of politicians to speak on the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. | Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

President Donald Trump used a primetime address this week to declassify intelligence he says exposes major holes in America's election system, pairing it with a fresh push for Congress to pass the SAVE America Act. Overseas, an American citizen detained in Iran since 2024 was released even as Trump escalated his rhetoric toward Tehran, including a blockade on ships tied to Iranian ports.

Closer to home, Washington paused to remember Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who died over the weekend, while also gearing up for more 250th-anniversary festivities and beginning repairs on the Lincoln Memorial's Reflecting Pool after a vandalism attack.

Here are five stories that defined the past week in Washington.

Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com

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