Axios

A small but growing number of Democrats are embracing their own version of "America First" in response to Donald Trump's ongoing war with Iran in partnership with Israel.

Why it matters: Trump's war is scrambling the politics of a slogan he once owned, fracturing the right even as some Democrats — including potential 2028 presidential candidates — embrace it.

The top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, Adm. Brad Cooper, recommended stopping the bombing campaign around the Strait of Hormuz because it has reached the limit of its effectiveness, according to two sources with knowledge of his position.

Why it matters: The recommendation by Cooper, the commander of the U.S. Military Central Command (CENTCOM), together with other advisers impacted President Trump's decision on Friday to pause U.S. strikes against Iran, the sources said.

President Trump will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Tuesday, a White House official confirmed to Axios.

The big picture: The visit gives Zelensky a chance to shore up support in Washington after the death of one of Ukraine's congressional champions.

President Trump directed the U.S. military not to conduct new strikes in Iran on Friday, breaking a nearly two-week streak of daily attacks, two sources with knowledge of the decision said.

Why it matters: The president's directive came after he approved daily strikes over the previous 13 days. It is unclear if Trump's order on Friday was a one-off or whether the lull will continue.

LONDON — It was national-security concerns, not commercial aircraft buys, driving the conversation at the Farnborough International Airshow this year.

Why it matters: It's a sign of the (increasingly prickly) times.

• Russia continues to bombard Ukraine. The U.S. and Iran are exchanging deadly salvos. NATO has pledged more spending and more munitions. And industrial players are elbows out on some of the flashiest contracts.

Driving the news: Several people Axios chatted with said this year's defense-contractor presence and announcement cadence were the most they had experienced at the airshow.

• "Based on the world right now and where the money's being spent, it's no surprise," Doug Martens with Honeywell Aerospace said.
• "The defense sector is booming right now."

Zoom in: Even the commute — by train or by car or by foot — was cluttered with defense-tech ads: drones at the train station, satellites at the bus stop, radars in the roundabout.

Follow the money: Here are some of the latest deals and technologies that have people talking:

BAE Systems revealed Brontanax, a loyal-wingman drone that's roughly the same size as the company's Hawk trainer aircraft. It's a product of FalconWorks and is expected to fly for the first time next year.

General Atomics and MBDA will work together to outfit the former's unmanned aircraft, like MQ-9B and Gambit 6, with the latter's miniature cruise missile, Spear.

Beta debuted its MV250, a hybrid-electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft. Others involved in the project include GE Aerospace (propulsion) and Sikorsky (autonomy).

QinetiQ said it's investing £20 million, or nearly $27 million, into the development of laser weapons and associated products. The company is part of the U.K.'s DragonFire consortium, alongside MBDA and Leonardo.

Venus Aerospace and Lockheed Martin are teaming up on rotating detonation rocket engines. The two are interested in applying RDREs to long-range precision fires.

Rolls-Royce, Avio Aero and IHI Corporation said they are one step closer to ground-testing an engine for the Global Combat Air Program, which Canada recently joined as an observer.

Tekever unveiled AR6, a line of heavy-lift drones. Both military and civilian markets are being targeted, the company said.

What's next: Many more defense bazaars and summits, including Paris Air Show in 2027.

More from Axios:

X-Bow's new drone killer costs less than $100,000

Boeing teases production of hundreds more Patriot seekers

Anduril uncloaks Thunder, an attack aircraft built alongside Archer