During a flight to the Middle East, President Trump noted, before he would give authorization for NATO to sell Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, he would discuss the matter with President Putin. Earlier today, President Trump said he and Putin held a productive phone call:

President Trump via Truth Social – “I have just concluded my telephone conversation with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, and it was a very productive one. President Putin congratulated me and the United States on the Great Accomplishment of Peace in the Middle East, something that, he said, has been dreamed of for centuries. I actually believe that the Success in the Middle East will help in our negotiation in attaining an end to the War with Russia/Ukraine.

President Putin thanked the First Lady, Melania, for her involvement with children. He was very appreciative and said that this will continue. We also spent a great deal of time talking about Trade between Russia and the United States when the War with Ukraine is over.

(more…)

The interesting timing of two stories.

Last week the New York Times noted, “Michael Ellis, the deputy director of the C.I.A., has abruptly demoted a career lawyer who had been serving as the agency’s acting general counsel since January and installed himself in that role, according to people familiar with the matter.  […] It was not clear what was behind Mr. Ellis’s taking personal control of making legal judgments for the agency while continuing to help lead it”… (link)

Today the New York Times is reporting, “The Trump administration has secretly authorized the C.I.A. to conduct covert action in Venezuela, according to U.S. officials, stepping up a campaign against Nicolás Maduro, the country’s authoritarian leader.” […] The agency would be able to take covert action against Mr. Maduro or his government either unilaterally or in conjunction with a larger military operation. It is not known whether the C.I.A. is planning any operations in Venezuela or if the authorities are meant as a contingency.”

[…] “The new authorities, known in intelligence jargon as a presidential finding, were described by multiple U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the highly classified document.” (link)

(more…)

President Trump will be holding a press briefing in the oval office today at 3:00pm with FBI Director Kash Patel.

There is speculation about the subject matter of the press briefing, but no one is factually certain of the objective.  Livestream Links are below. The anticipated start time is 3:00pm EDT.  WATCH:

.

(more…)

The government of Israel is smartly leveraging all of their political will and praise to build influence with President Trump as he becomes the fulcrum, the Solomon of sorts, for the future of Gaza and all that follows.

On the other side of this precarious balance, comes the expectations of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Syria, Jordan and the entire Mideast region.

Only President Donald Trump is big enough for this moment of consequence. The geopolitical pressure from both sides of this generational inflection point cannot be overestimated.

Only U.S. President Donald Trump is significant enough to bear the responsibility and pressure of this moment. It is a remarkable testimony to a lifetime of steps that has brought him to this moment.

We are watching history….. And for that reason, the trumpets.

.

(more…)

Vice President JD Vance appears on Fox News with Maria Bartiromo to discuss the Israel/Hamas peace agreement over Gaza and other regional issues.

As noted by Vance, the Gulf Arab states are willing to provide boots on the ground to establish the security parameters for the Gaza area, as well as the vast majority of the funding to rebuild Gaza and monitor the stability therein.  Additionally, Vice President Vance discussed the government shutdown and the ways President Trump and OMB Director Russ Vought are working through the process of funding priority.  Tariff revenue will be a significant offset.

The conversation then goes to the Chinese trade actions and the new tariffs against Beijing.  WATCH:

.

(more…)

Elevate, take the big picture, then understand exactly why the political operatives on the left are doing everything possible to stop the Trump tariff policies.

As President Trump secures a growing Main Street economy through the use of tariffs, the revenue generated becomes part of the financial mechanism to remove the leftist leverage mechanisms with income taxes.

PRESIDENT TRUMP – “Chuck Schumer recently said, “Every day gets better” during their Radical Left Shutdown. I DISAGREE! If nothing is done, because of “Leader” Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th.

That is why I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th. We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS.

I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown. The Radical Left Democrats should OPEN THE GOVERNMENT, and then we can work together to address Healthcare, and many other things that they want to destroy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” (source)

(more…)

President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff speaks to a massive crowd from “Hostage Square” in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Speaking beside Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, Steve Witkoff delivered a message of thanks and appreciation to the people of Israel on the cusp of the release of the Israeli hostages and a historic Mideast peace agreement.

The Israeli crowd erupts in boos when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s name is mentioned, but erupts in applause and chants of “Thank you Trump”, when President Trump’s name is mentioned. Blessed are the peacemakers.  WATCH:

.

(more…)

Finland is slightly smaller than Montana and wedged between Sweden and Russia. Finland, a nation of approximately 5 million people, has a security outlook shaped by its geography, a strategic position within the new NATO/Arctic strategy.

President Trump holds a bilateral discussion with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, as the two leaders complete terms for eleven icebreaker ships valued at $6.1 billion. Under terms of the deal, three of the ships will be built by Davie in Galveston, Texas, and four by Bollinger Shipyards in Houma, Louisiana.

Finland is the world leader in icebreaker ship building, and will help teach U.S. ship building companies the latest advances in the technology. WATCH:

.

(more…)

International politics can be boring at times, but the one constant in an ever-changing universe is the hubris of the European Union.

With President Trump outlining the breakthrough negotiations for a peace agreement in Gaza, Emmanuel Macron (France), Keir Starmer (U.K) and Friedrich Merz (Germany) call an urgent meeting of EU Foreign Ministers to organize their strategy to take over the Gaza “Board of Peace.”

EUROPE – Now that Donald Trump’s peace deal has the green light, European powers want a seat at the table.

As the news broke that Israel and Hamas had agreed the first phase of a ceasefire plan, French President Emmanuel Macron sent a rapid call out to other European allies and Arab nations to meet in Paris.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul both broke away from a U.K.-hosted summit on the Western Balkans to meet fellow ministers in France.

[…] The trio of countries known as the “E3” is likely to argue for a representative on the “Board of Peace,” the body that will oversee the transitional governance of Gaza by a Palestinian committee. (read more)

At a topline review the demands of the EU are pure hubris.  However, when you review the underlying background of the EU state actors, the events are more appropriately considered pathetic.

(more…)

In a remarkable moment of transparent diplomacy, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were simultaneously working on a Gaza peace agreement while conducting a domestic security roundtable event at the White House.

The cameras were rolling when President Trump stated the negotiation team was close to an agreement. WATCH:

Evan Vucci of the Associated Press captured an image of Rubio’s note, which read: “Very close. We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first.” Shortly after the roundtable event, President Trump shared the results of the discussions taking place in Egypt.

“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”

~DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

WASHINGTON DC – […] Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, called it “a great day for Israel” and thanked the Israel Defense Forces and the U.S. president.

(more…)