Six days ago, in Marsberg, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the U.S. approach to Iran, saying Washington was being “humiliated by the Iranian leadership” and demanding the conflict end “as quickly as possible.”
Three days ago, President Trump responded with an announcement that U.S. troops in Germany would be drawn down, and there would be a 25% tariff on all imported European autos. {GO DEEP}
In order to deal with a UniParty congress that is always seeking to disrupt his policies and frame processes against his office, President Trump recently notified the House and Senate the hostilities against Iran had ended and negotiations were underway.
In doing so, President Trump changed the dynamic and the Iranian regime now views President Trump as legally less empowered to trigger military strikes against the regime. To counteract that issue, President Trump either needs congress to authorize further military action against Iran, or a triggering action that would justify such renewed strikes. Iran attacking a ‘humanitarian effort” is one such triggering action.
Via Truth Social – “Countries from all over the World, almost all of which are not involved in the Middle Eastern dispute going on so visibly, and violently, for all to see, have asked the United States if we could help free up their Ships, which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz, on something which they have absolutely nothing to do with — They are merely neutral and innocent bystanders!
For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business. Again, these are Ships from areas of the World that are not in any way involved with that which is currently taking place in the Middle East. I have told my Representatives to inform them that we will use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait. In all cases, they said they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation, and everything else.
This process, Project Freedom, will begin Monday morning, Middle East time. I am fully aware that my Representatives are having very positive discussions with the Country of Iran, and that these discussions could lead to something very positive for all. The Ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong — They are victims of circumstance.
This is a Humanitarian gesture on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran. Many of these Ships are running low on food, and everything else necessary for largescale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner. I think it would go a long way in showing Goodwill on behalf of all of those who have been fighting so strenuously over the last number of months. If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” ~ DONALD J. TRUMP
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appears on NBC News to discuss the legal framework for the Iran conflict and push back against the media’s defense of James Comey.
[Transcript] – KRISTEN WELKER: And joining me now is acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Mr. Blanche, welcome back to Meet the Press.
ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD BLANCHE: Good morning.
KRISTEN WELKER: Good morning. Thank you for being here in person.
ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD BLANCHE: Of course.
KRISTEN WELKER: We really appreciate it. Let’s start right there with the war. As you know, the War Powers Act requires Congress to authorize military action beyond 60 days, which the U.S. passed on Friday. The president did send a letter to Congress, just to recap, saying that hostilities have been terminated, given the ceasefire that was put in place on April 7th. And yet, the U.S. is actively engaged in a naval blockade of Iranian ports as part of this conflict. Is the United States at war with Iran?
ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD BLANCHE: No. I mean, what President Trump said this weekend is absolutely true. My job as the acting attorney general is to make sure that the president, that we all are doing the right thing legally. And we absolutely are. As we said to Congress last week, there has been nothing going on, no hostilities, no exchange of fire since – in almost a month, in almost a month. And how do you end a conflict? How do you end this? You have a ceasefire. And that’s exactly what we have, and Congress knows that and the leadership knows that. And there’s a lot of drama. I’m sure that Senator Schiff will come on here and say something different. This has been done repeatedly for many, many years, with many, many presidents. And there’s nothing inconsistent about what we’re doing and what’s been done in the past.
Jim Hoft and Joe Hoft are twin brothers. Jim Hoft is the founder of Gateway Pundit and preparing for heart surgery in Florida on Tuesday. Then, last night, Joe Hoft suffered a stroke while preparing to go to Florida to support his brother Jim. Terrible news. Prayers for both.
Heavenly Father, we have need for You today. Please provide Your healing power and grace upon Jim and Joe Hoft.
Lord of mercy guide those who tend their afflictions. We accept Your works through those You guide and love powerfully, completely and unconditionally. Our first, last and final healing is always found in You. We come to You today with our prayers for Joe and Jim, and we know You hear our prayers just as You understand our faith. We ask for Your embrace of Joe and Jim Hoft and those they love.
God that holds the stars, we ask for Your healing and grace to cover them; every affliction; every wound; every trepidation and consequence. Thank You for Your mighty power that works through all things. We reach out to You knowing through every struggle Your glory is in command. We ask that You pull our prayers close and extend Your healing power. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
White House National Economic Council Director, Kevin Hassett, appears on CBS news to dispatch the narrative engineering of Margaret Brennan.
I completely understand why the White House appears to have finally had enough of Ms. Brennan’s dramatic performances and has chosen not to send most representatives into this nonsense pantomime any longer. She’s even more insufferable than Jake Tapper. That said, Kevin Hassett is likely the only member of the administration kindhearted enough to deal with the snark and lack of substance.
What I don’t understand is why the White House just doesn’t tell her in brutally honest terms: Margaret, your dramatic performances are tiresome, and your intellectual vigor is running at a continual deficit. Regards.
True to form, Ms. Brennan wanted desperately to pontificate about the terrible state of the U.S. economy blaming the White House for the failure of Spirit Airlines, and demanding Kevin Hassett address the Iran conflict that is not in his portfolio. Director Hassett stayed comfortably in his lane, smiled and took apart the fake news construct as professional as possible given the absurdity of Brennan’s presentation.
[Transcript] – MARGARET BRENNAN: We begin this morning with the director of the White House Economic Council. Kevin Hassett joins us from Los Angeles. Good early morning to you.
KEVIN HASSETT: Oh yeah, good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well Director, President Trump sent a letter to Congress on Friday saying a few things. One that the conflict with Iran, the ceasefire has been extended. He also said the hostilities have been terminated. He also said the threat posed by Iran remains significant, and the force posture will continue to be updated. Then overnight, we saw the President said Iran has not yet paid a big enough price for what they’ve done to humanity. What exactly is the message to the market?
KEVIN HASSETT: Right. Well, I think the market has been pretty consistent. The fact is that what the President is seeing is that the blockade is working. It’s putting an enormous amount of pressure on Iran, and Iran’s threats to put mines in the straits have even made it so that humanitarian aid that, of course, we would let through to Iran, that there are a lot of those ship captains that are wary of going to Iranian ports because they’re worried about where the Iranians have put the mines. And so, you know, I go down to the sit room many times a week and get briefed on what’s going on in Iran, and they’re an economy that’s really on the precipice of extreme calamity. They are having a hyperinflation. They’re starting to have hunger. The bottom line is that the pressure on the great American people, because of these people who are like really intent on American and Israeli destruction with their nuclear weapons, are still in power. One last thing, Margaret, I don’t know if you noticed, but the UN Human Rights folks came out this week condemning Iran because they’re killing people who are trying to stand up to this regime that’s potentially, you know, causing starvation and even famine.
In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.
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Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †
President Trump paused for a brief press gaggle with the assembled pool of reporters. President Trump noted he had just received a proposal from Iran but had not yet had time to read it.
At the end of the remarks President Trump was questioned about pulling troops out of Germany and he replied, “we are going to cut way down, and we are cutting a lot more than the 5,000.” WATCH:
Yury Ushakov is the Senior Aide to Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin. Following a lengthy telephone call between President Trump and President Putin, Ushakov provides the following readout:
MOSCOW – Aide to the President of Russia Yury Ushakov: Colleagues, good evening.
President Vladimir Putin held another telephone conversation with President of the United States Donald Trump. The call lasted for more than an hour and a half. The exchange between the two presidents was conducted in a friendly manner and was frank and businesslike.
Understandably, Vladimir Putin began by expressing his sympathy and support for the President of the United States in connection with the assassination attempt against him on April 25 at the Washington Hilton hotel. Fortunately, neither Donald Trump himself, nor his spouse, nor any members of his entourage were harmed. The secret service was quick to neutralise the assailant. The Russian leader strongly condemned this crime and stressed, in particular, that politically motivated violence was unacceptable in any forms and manifestations.
It was also mentioned during the conversation that this dangerous incident occurred on the eve of the US First Lady’s birthday on April 26. President Vladimir Putin asked to convey his best wishes and noted her contribution to efforts aimed at facilitating the reunification of Russian and Ukrainian children with their families.
When discussing the international agenda, the presidents focused on the developments surrounding Iran and the Persian Gulf.
Last week the DOJ indicted Mexican Governor Ruben Rocha Moya along with nine current and former Mexican officials for participating “in a corrupt and violent drug trafficking conspiracy with the Cartel to import massive amounts of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States.” {GO DEEP} This has put Mexican Governor Claudia Sheinbaum in a precarious position.
Both President Sheinbaum and Governor Rocha Moya are from the Moreno political party in Mexico. Following the indictment, Sheinbaum said she would not assist in any extradition effort of Governor Rocha and denounced the U.S. indictment; however, she said the federal government within Mexico would launch their own independent investigation.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum denounced the U.S. prosecution of a sitting Mexican governor and other officials on drug trafficking charges as “political,” and said Thursday that Mexico would not comply with Washington’s demands that the accused be arrested and extradited to the United States.
“We are not permitting a foreign government to say what is the future of Mexico,” said a defiant Sheinbaum, who repeatedly assailed U.S. “meddling” in the incendiary case. (more)
There is considerable support within Mexico to eliminate the corrupt activity of the Cartels who many admit are in control of large sectors of their regional and federal government. As a consequence, many Mexicans support the position of President Trump and the Dept of Justice in prosecuting Governor Rocha Moya if there is evidence to support it.
Today, Sinaloa Governor Rocha Moya said he would step down from his position as the federal investigation of the claims get underway.
