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President JOE BIDEN has had a fair number of individuals from the foreign policy establishment defend his handling of the Israel-Hamas war.

Still, it was a mild shock to the system on Sunday when one of the more esteemed members of that class offered his own supportive voice, if only because that person had fileted Biden as a lightweight, in over his head, in his 2014 memoir.

Appearing on CBS’ “Face The Nation,” former Defense Secretary ROBERT GATES said he agreed with the administration’s decision to withhold 2,000-pound bombs from Israel as Prime Minister BENJAMIN NETANYAHU contemplates a large-scale Rafah invasion.

“One of the things that has struck me has been the degree to which the Netanyahu government has essentially ignored the views — and requests of its closest ally,” Gates said. “I think that there are ways that we can pressure Israel. The truth of the matter is 2,000-pound bombs that are not precision guided, inevitably lead to a lot of collateral damage. They basically collapse buildings.”

A Gates confidante noted that his interview touched on a wide variety of topics and included some criticism of Biden, too (among them, that the president had failed to communicate key national security interests to the U.S. public).

But Sunday’s discussion was also not a one-off. Two months earlier, during an interview with the Washington Post’s DAVID IGNATIUS, Gates largely commended the administration’s approach to the conflict, stressing that it reflected the underappreciated trauma suffered by the Israeli populace on Oct. 7 — but also guarded against the excesses.

“The administration was correct after Oct. 7 in the very strong support they provided for Israel under those circumstances,” he said. “I think the administration has also taken the right position in terms of pressing harder for more humanitarian relief, more food, more medicine and so on and more effort… to prevent the killing of innocent Palestinians.”

That the 80-year-old Gates has, in these rare public moments, argued for the U.S. to push Israel to moderate its Gaza campaign has been treated by progressives as almost ecclesiastical — a man of the defense industrial complex warning about its misuse.

And there is certainly something to that.

But the political subtext is remarkable too. In his memoir, “Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War,” Gates was unsparing in his assessment of Biden, famously writing: “I think he has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.”

The line was shocking when it came out in the midst of the second Obama-Biden term. And it hung over the then vice president like a spray from a skunk. In fact, it has lingered to this day, with Republicans recycling it to go after Biden on virtually any foreign policy front. House Majority Whip TOM EMMER used it in a tweet just last week.

But, as the Gates confidante noted, the foreign policy landscape has changed dramatically since Gates wrote that, with DONALD TRUMP scrambling traditional ideological alignments. And as those tectonic plates shift, you can start to see nuance if you squint hard enough.

In Oct. 2021, Gates did another round of media interviews, this time discussing the withdrawal from Afghanistan that precipitated the polling dive from which Biden has not recovered. Gates and Biden bickered heavily over Afghanistan during the BARACK OBAMA years, with the defense secretary arguing for a surge in forces and the vice president warning his boss that the military brass was trying to run him over. Just months earlier, U.S. forces had vacated the country in disastrous fashion. And Gates, appearing on 60 Minutes, said Biden had made a mistake. But, he added, he bore some responsibility too.

“I think that we created an Afghan military in our own image,” said Gates. “And one that required a lot more sophisticated logistics and maintenance and support than say the Taliban.”

On Sunday, Gates was asked once more about the Afghanistan withdrawal and, specifically, whether Biden had “been able to repair that damage?”

“I think that he gained a lot of credibility with the speed with which he assembled the coalition of- of partner countries, allies and friends before, during, and after the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” he replied.

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POTUS PUZZLER

What was RONALD REAGAN and MIKHAIL GORBACHEV’s only condition to pause the Cold War?

(Answer at bottom.)

The Oval

HITTING THE GAS ON THE TRUMP-PROOFING: The Biden administration is racing to issue dozens of federal rules this spring in an effort to cement the president’s legacy — and avoid making the same mistake as former President Obama, who left several rules unfinished until the tail end of his presidency. As the number of days that Congress is in session dwindles, the administration only has another week or so to wrap up regulations. Our MARCIA BROWN and several of our colleagues break down key areas where Biden is attempting to Trump-proof his legacy, from corporate America’s climate footprint to keeping beef American-raised.

SOMETHING IS NOT REICH: On Monday, Donald Trump posted a video on Truth Social suggesting there will be a “Unified Reich” if he wins the election this November. The term “reich” is widely associated with ADOLF HITLER’s Nazi Germany, after he designated the country a “Third Reich” during World War II. A Trump campaign spokesman said a staffer didn’t notice that problematic reference and re-posted the video, which was deleted 19 hours later.

But Biden campaign spokesperson JAMES SINGER quickly laid into the former president. He noted that the tweet was “part of a pattern” of Trump’s past praise for dictators — including Hitler — and his embrace of antisemitic tropes. “America, stop scrolling and pay attention,” Singer said. “Donald Trump is not playing games; he is telling America exactly what he intends to do if he regains power: rule as a dictator over a ‘unified reich.’”

After initially telling reporters “it would take too long” for him to respond (the implication being he had much to say), Biden then addressed it at a Boston fundraiser. He denounced the remarks as “Hitler’s language — not America’s," then had a video cut where he laced into Trump once more. His campaign also put out a fundraising solicitation on it. Expect to hear more.

HANDS OFF THE CAMERA: Press secretary KARINE JEAN-PIERRE on Tuesday said the White House is “looking into” reports that Israeli officials seized equipment from the Associated Press in southern Israel, Lauren reports. “Obviously, this is concerning. And so we want to look into it. But we’ve always been clear the importance of the work that you all do, the work that journalists do,” Jean-Pierre told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Israeli officials shut down an AP broadcast feed showing Gaza because it was in violation of their new foreign broadcaster law. Israel’s communications minister later ordered the government to return AP’s camera equipment.

SO THIS IS A HAARVAD BAR, HUH? President Biden swung through New England on Tuesday, stopping first in New Hampshire to tout how the PACT Act “has delivered lifesaving health care and benefits to more than 888,000 veterans and survivors.” He then traveled to Boston for a slate of campaign receptions.

WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS YOU TO READ: This story by WaPo’s AMY WANG about Trump saying that he’s considering allowing states to restrict birth control. During a remote interview with Pittsburgh’s KDKA News on Tuesday, Trump was asked whether he supports any limits on a person’s access to contraception. “We’re looking at that, and I’m going to have a policy on that very shortly, and I think it’s something that you’ll find interesting,” Trump said. “I think it’s a smart decision. But we’ll be releasing it very soon.”

As most Trump observers know, “we’re looking at that” usually means he’s not, actually, looking at that but was caught off guard and doesn’t have a clear answer in mind. JIM MESSINA, an informal adviser to Biden’s campaign, called the situation a “five alarm fire” on X.

Trump seemed to appreciate the political rake he’d stepped on and clarified his position hours later in a Truth Social post: “I HAVE NEVER, AND WILL NEVER ADVOCATE IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON BIRTH CONTROL, or other contraceptives,” he wrote, dismissing the reaction to his own comments as a “Democrat fabricated lie.”

WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO READ: NYT’s ANDREW E. KRAMER’s interview with Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, who challenged the Biden administration’s ban against Ukraine firing American missiles and other weaponry at Russian forces. That policy gives Russia a “huge advantage,” said Zelenskyy. He also called on NATO forces outside Ukrainian airspace to shoot down Russian missiles in flight over his country.

“My question is, what’s the problem? Why can’t we shoot them down? Is it defense? Yes. Is it an attack on Russia? No. Are you shooting down Russian planes and killing Russian pilots? No. So what’s the issue with involving NATO countries in the war? There is no such issue,” Zelenskyy said.

VEEP KNOWS HER SAMMYS: Vice President KAMALA HARRIS was in Philadelphia on Tuesday to deliver a keynote speech at the Service Employees International Union’s convention. While there, she stopped by Jim West’s, ordering a Philly cheesesteak with provolone, fried onions and hot peppers on the side. “I’ve got to take it with me, so if I put the peppers in, it’s going to get soggy and I want to really appreciate that bread,” Harris reasoned.

When asked by a reporter behind the deli counter about Gaza, Harris said the administration is working to ensure more aid is getting in. When pressed further about Israel allowing the flow of aid, she countered: “I’m here to support a small business — that is why I’m ordering pickles and peppers on the side — so don’t confuse it with the conversation about what’s happening in Gaza.”

CAMPAIGN HQ

LESS MONEY, MORE PROBLEMS: Fundraising across President Biden’s political operation dropped in April, and even though Donald Trump’s side picked up steam after taking over the Republican National Committee, he’s still spending heavily on legal bills. Our JESSICA PIPER and Lauren report that Biden raised $51 million across his campaign, joint fundraising committees and the Democratic National Committee — down significantly from March’s $90 million haul.

Trump’s haul, on the other hand, was reportedly $76 million in April — though we can’t verify that until official reports come out in July.

THE BUREAUCRATS

FIRST IN WEST WING PLAYBOOK: VIET TRAN has been promoted to deputy communications director at the Office of Personnel Management, our DANIEL LIPPMAN has learned. He was previously press secretary for the agency.

FLIRTING WITH IT: Health and Human Services Secretary XAVIER BECERRA has been weighing a run for California governor in 2028. On Monday, Becerra toured UCSF Fresno with Rep. JIM COSTA, where he kept a tight lip but said he would talk to the president before making any moves, GVWire’s DAVID TAUB reports.

“What I can say there is I am thrilled that the president gave me a chance to be HHS Secretary,” Becerra said. “I’m going to do it as well as I can. And then, chatting with the boss, I’ll see what I do after that.”

Agenda Setting

TOUCHING BASE: On Tuesday, Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN’s testimony in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was interrupted by several pro-Palestinian protestors accusing him of abetting a “genocide” in Gaza, the Guardian’s LAUREN GAMBINO reports. Blinken spent today making the case for Biden’s $64 billion foreign affairs budget — and he’ll be back on the Hill for three more congressional hearings this week.

Blinken told senators that the Biden administration is happy to work with Congress on an “appropriate response” to the International Criminal Court prosecutor's decision to seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister YOAV GALLANT.

JOINING FORCES: Treasury Secretary JANET YELLEN said Tuesday the United States and Europe need to work together to counter China’s excess industrial capacity, NYT’s ALAN RAPPEPORT and LIZ ALDERMAN report. “China’s industrial policy may seem remote as we sit here in this room, but if we do not respond strategically and in a united way, the viability of businesses in both our countries and around the world could be at risk,” Yellen said while in Germany, ahead of a meeting of the Group of 7 finance ministers in Italy next week.

THE FEDS STEP IN: The Biden administration announced on Tuesday that patients who believe they were denied emergency abortions and other emergency care can now directly file a complaint with the federal government, WaPo’s DAN DIAMOND reports. Administration officials argue the process — which has typically been led by state agencies — would help the government investigate patients’ cases quickly and provide more transparency into emergency care access.

Officials launched a new web portal for patients to send their complaints directly to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which enforces federal emergency care law.

What We're Reading

A Finance Guru on What the Inflation Debate Gets Wrong (POLITICO’s Alexander Burns)

Social Security chief Martin O’Malley races to rebuild troubled agency (WaPo’s Lisa Rein)

The Voters Who Don’t Really Know Donald Trump (The Atlantic’s Russell Berman)

Meloni’s Cultural Revolution (Rachel Donadio for NYRB)

The Oppo Book

CY BRINK, staff assistant for speechwriting at the White House, is the brother of Los Angeles Sparks rookie phenom and 2024 2nd overall pick CAMERON BRINK. It’s widely known that Cameron is STEPH CURRY’s godsister — so we can only assume this means Cy is also the godbrother of the 4x NBA champion and 2x MVP. During last month’s draft, moments after getting picked by the Sparks, Cameron shouted out Steph and her godmother SONYA CURRY. But Cameron made sure to give Cy his flowers, too. “I have to shout out my mom, dad, and my brother, Cy.”

In a 2023 interview, she credits Cy for how much she loves to learn and said her older brother made it “cool to be smart.” Cameron also recalled that her brother had a “photographic memory” which “earned him the nickname ‘Google.’”

And so we must ask: Cy, how badly does your sister beat you one-on-one?

POTUS PUZZLER ANSWER

In a 2009 interview with Gorbachev, the former Soviet Union president said that Reagan asked him point-blank during the 1985 Geneva Summit if they could pause the war in case the world was invaded by aliens. And the two agreed that yes, if aliens were to invade Earth, the Cold War would take a backseat.

Good to know!

A CALL OUT! Do you think you have a harder trivia question? Send us your best one about the presidents, with a citation or sourcing, and we may feature it!

Edited by Sam Stein and Rishika Dugyala.