Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appears on Sunday Morning Futures now hosted by Larry Kudlow who has replaced Maria Bartiromo.  The primary topic of the conversation is the current state of the economy.

Secretary Bessent notes we have entered the phase of prior policy implementation where the economy now accelerates growth based on former policy changes including, targeted tax reductions, capital investment prioritization and expensing, regulatory changes and direct investment.  GDP growth now looks to achieve 5% or more.  WATCH:

Oil prices are the underlying friction within the economy creating higher gasoline and diesel prices.  However, when you take the energy sector out of the inflation calculation, the current rate of wage growth is exceeding inflation.

Bessent also notes, currently the only oil not coming through the Strait of Hormuz is Iranian oil.  Other than those supplies, oil flows through the Strait are at normal levels.

(more…)

Promethean Action’s Susan Kokinda gives a good recap of Chinese Chairman Xi’s state visit, including the nuanced respect and policy alignment visible between President Trump and Chairman Xi.

In essence, the comments by Marco Rubio about putting USA sovereign policy ahead of prior USA multilateral global policy, are a baseline for Chairman Xi to pivot his own interpretations of Trump’s policy objective.  With U.S policy focused on America’s interests and Beijing policy focused on China’s interests, there is no room for conflict, only terms.

This episode argues that media outrage over a White House “autopen” joke and criticism of Trump’s summit with Xi Jinping obscures a deeper shift: Trump is dismantling a 50-year geopolitical framework associated with Henry Kissinger. It contrasts Chatham House’s “China Rising, America in Decline?” panel and its Thucydides Trap framing—linked to Graham Allison—with Xi’s evolution from posing the trap as an open question to asserting it “can be overcome” after Trump’s UN speech and claimed actions in Iran, Venezuela, the Shield of America, and the Greenland Treaty, alongside a push for reindustrialization.

The script also highlights a UN Board of Peace session on Gaza focused on reconstruction led by Gazans and a new security structure involving Muslim-country troops, presenting it as ending “outside forces” control. It notes Rubio’s permanent dual role as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor and frames his stance as reversing Kissinger’s legacy.  WATCH:

.

Terms of Greenland Deal Here

(more…)

President Donald Trump delivered impromptu remarks to the media as he departs the White House this morning. WATCH:

.

(more…)

President Donald Trump and Chinese Chairman Xi Jinping (Pooh Bear) deliver complimentary remarks during tea at the White House.  Chairman Xi was very appreciative of the attention to details provided by First Lady Melania and President Trump.  Expressions of the highest respect were exchanged.

Chairman Xi notes President Trump will be attending the APEC summit in Beijing in November, and Xi will be returning to the USA for the G20 summit at Doral in Miami in December.

President Trump and First Lady Melania, hosted Mr. Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, for tea at the White House and then the four made a brief trip to the National Archives to view America’s founding documents.  Video Below:

(more…)

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer appears on CNBC to discuss the trade aspect of the U.S-China negotiations against the backdrop of the official state visit by Chinese Chairman Xi Jinping.

USTR Greer notes the tariffs against China remain in place and extended for several months as the U.S. reviews Beijing compliance with pre-existing agreements.  This builds on what Greer previously said about ultimately the U.S. and China are in a managed situation, where the U.S. doesn’t put any focus on what China says, we are looking at what China does.

Stunningly, at 4:25 of the video CNBC pundit Kelly Evans chimes in with a weird talking point about the U.S-China trade deficit not changing. Ambassador Greer quickly corrects Ms Evans, noting her baseline is entirely false. The trade disparity between the U.S and China has reduced by 40% over the past year, in part because the U.S. is leveraging tariffs as enforcement mechanisms to previous purchase agreements.  WATCH:

In typical leftist fashion, Ms Kelly Evans says “if true” to the United States Trade Representative.  Who else, other than the USTR, would know the specifics of accuracy for the data Ms Evans is mis-citing.  Quite silly.

(more…)

President Trump and Chairman Xi Jinping will be delivering remarks this evening during the official state dinner.  Livestream Links Below:

UPDATE: Video Added

.

(more…)

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcome His Excellency Xi Jinping, President of The People’s Republic of China, and Madame Peng Liyuan for a State Dinner in the East Room of the White House this evening.

The First Lady led the preparations for the dinner, which will be attended by the official delegations as well as business leaders and government officials.

MENU

The menu showcases American ingredients with subtle Chinese influence, bringing the culinary traditions of both nations together. The meal begins with a toast of Schramsberg “Blanc De Noir,” honoring the historic “Toast to Peace” shared by President Nixon and Premier Zhou Enlai in Beijing in 1972. The same American sparkling wine served at that historic gathering continues to be enjoyed at White House functions today.

First Course
Yellow Squash Velouté
Wild Mushroom Fricassée
Crispy Pancetta
Scallion Oil

The first course offers a refined and silky-smooth velouté made of sweet yellow squash. This course is gently blended to highlight its delicate seasonal flavors of earthy wild mushrooms, sautéed with fresh herbs. Together, these ingredients create a rich fricassee, complemented by crispy pancetta for a savory and smoky contrast. A finishing drizzle of scallion oil adds vibrance and a subtle allium brightness to the dish.

(more…)

President Trump and Chairman Xi deliver remarks during the welcome ceremony for the official Chinese delegation state visit. The remarks are in both English and Chinese as interpreted within the ceremony.

Chairman Xi announced two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, would arrive at Zoo Atlanta within days, continuing a tradition that began when Beijing sent a pair to Washington after Richard Nixon’s 1972 visit.

Cunning Panda Xi also said that as the world’s leading AI powers, both countries had the ‘capability and responsibility to develop and manage AI for good.’ ‘We do not need to avoid mentioning competition, but our competition should be a healthy one and should be kept within bounds. It should be a race of catching up with one another, not a wrestle in which either wins or loses,’ Xi said.  FYI that’s the code-speak of the person chasing from behind.  WATCH:

.

(more…)

I’ll just highlight some of the events below as they took place earlier today.

First, the official welcome to the White House:

.

Next, the drill platoon event:

(more…)

This should be fun.  President Trump is making history by traveling to Joint Base Andrews to welcome Chinese Chairman Xi Jinping for an official state visit.  First Lady Melania Trump has attended to all the formal details in advance of the two days the Trump’s and Xi’s will spend together.

Livestream links below to the first event; the arrival ceremony for Chairman Xi.

UPDATE: Video Added.

.

There is a genuine warmth between both Xi and Trump and it is visible in their interactions.

(more…)