Today President Trump will be traveling to NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, to join Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a celebratory event. India is a key geopolitical ally in President Trump’s Indo-Pacific strategy. [Economics, Trade and Security]
Update: Video Added
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and U.S. President Donald Trump will meet up again on Sunday in Ohio as both leaders continue to emphasize the relationship. Today, PM Morrison laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier, and then delivered remarks to diplomats during a celebration at the official residence of the Australian Ambassador.
Prime Minister Morrison shares his, and his wife Jennifer’s, experience yesterday with President Trump and First Lady Melania. The official state dinner was apparently an overwhelming hit with the Australian leadership…. Good Stuff:
Last week U.S. economic data included the Labor Department’s report on initial filings for unemployment benefits, at historically low levels. Also last week, the Commerce Department reported the U.S. housing market (new homes and permits) was the strongest since 2007. Then came the Philadelphia Fed’s index of manufacturing business activity in September, more than doubling estimates as factories continue to expand. And if that wasn’t too much winning, the Commerce Department then announced August retail sales growth was double expectations. Main Street USA is very strong.
None of the economic data supports the almost month-long ‘recession narrative’ pushed by financial pundits and media narrative engineers; and next week the second estimate of Q2 GDP growth will be released. Attempting to retain the smallest remaining whiff of credibility, the Bloomberg economists now announce they’re cancelling the recession.
Yes, in a piece titled “Hold That Recession – U.S. Indicators are Trouncing Forecasts“, Bloomberg admits the economy doesn’t match their gloomy narrative:
(Bloomberg) — The U.S. economy is outperforming expectations by the most this year, offering a fresh rebuttal to last month’s resurgent recession fears fueled by the trade war and a manufacturing slump.
The Bloomberg Economic Surprise Index has reached an 11-month high after four indicators released Thursday, including existing home sales and jobless claims, each surpassed expectations.
A highlight video of the state visit by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Mrs. Jennifer Morrison. Following video, the delayed transcript of the joint press conference.
Well, well, well… the media cannot say President Trump didn’t try to warn them about throwing fake-news rakes in front of their narrative parade – then wondering why they keep getting black-eyes. Here we go, the details begin to surface.
With more reporting by John Solomon, cited and attributed to on-the-record officials in the State Department and Ukraine, a much more clear picture emerges. In reality, and unfortunately as expected, the fulsome picture is 180° divergent from the media narrative.
The government of Ukraine under both Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, and now President Volodymyr Zelensky, had been trying to deliver information about Obama officials and Democrat party officials (DNC on behalf of Hillary Clinton) requesting the government of Ukraine to interfere in the 2016 election.
Both Poroshenko and Zelensky administrations had tried, unsuccessfully, to get information to current U.S. officials. U.S. State Department officials in Ukraine were refusing to give visa’s to Ukrainian emissaries because they did not want the damaging information sent to the President Trump administration.
Failing to get help from the U.S. State Department, the Ukranians tried a workaround, and hired a respected U.S. lawyer to hand deliver the documentary evidence directly to the U.S. Department of Justice. The contracted American lawyer hand-delivered the information to the U.S. Department of Justice in New York.
(more…)
Tonight the White House Rose Garden was transformed into an incredible dinner under the stars. Guests were seated under the warm glow of decorative lights as President Trump, First Lady Melania, Prime Minister Morrison and Mrs. Morrison celebrated the special bond between the United States and Australia. The weather was perfect and the temperature was a very comfortable 70°.
Tables were arranged in circles and in rectangles, covered in a pale yellow tablecloth and adorned with with elaborate white and yellow floral arrangements. The President and First Lady, together with the Morrisons’, walked through the colonnade as “Hail to the Chief” played and guests applauded. The two couples made their way along the colonnade to just outside the Oval Office, flanked by the two countries’ flags, then walked through the assembled tables and greeted guests along the way.
President Trump and Prime Minister Morrison then began their remarks and toasts. Included in his remarks, President Trump recited a stanza from a poem of great significance to the Australian people that has specific personal meaning to Prime Minister Morrison. The prime minister was visibly touched by the unanticipated attention to detail and personal meaning.
The Prime Minister then delivered reciprocal remarks (before his toast) that were pitch perfect for the occasion. Thanking First Lady Melania for presenting an incredible evening, Mr. Morrison highlighted the unique and rebellious national spirit that binds both countries, and perhaps even both leaders. At the conclusion of their toasts President Trump invited a “very special person” to lead the group in a blessing; Rev. Franklin Graham.
After the prayer the leaders returned to the head table to join their guests for dinner. [Video Below]
This is interesting. CNN’s Martin Savage traveled to the democrat stronghold in Minnesota to talk about the 2020 election. Much to the angst of the production unit they discover thousands of Minnesota voters have switched to support President Trump.
“Thousands of people switching and changing their politics?” ….Yes, why yes they are.
The two key issues highlighted in the interviews surround President Trump’s economic policies: “he’s the party for jobs”; and President Trump’s immigration policies: “Ilhan Omar is not popular here.” WATCH:
For the past several weeks China has been hoping to divide the trade dispute into two tracks thereby separating trade issues related to U.S. national security. Beijing wants, heck needs, the simple agricultural trade because they are food dependent and need that uninterrupted. However, they are strongly opposed to a comprehensive trade reset.
Beijing wants to wait-out President Trump on the more substantive issues surrounding: intellectual property rights; forced transfer of IP and manufacturing secrets; non tariff barriers including limited access to China’s controlled markets; and state run company subsidies that lead to market dumping and saturation.
Along with avoiding legal compliance issues, China wants to carve-out the complex stuff from a simple trade agreement.
However, when asked today about the possibility of carving out a partial deal President Trump emphatically said: “NO”. During a press conference with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, President Trump said:
“We’re looking for a complete deal, I’m not looking for a partial deal. China has been starting to buy our agricultural product; if you noticed over the last week, and actually some very big purchases. But that’s not what I’m looking for, we’re looking for the big deal.
Earlier today President Trump and First Lady Melania welcomed Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Mrs. Jenny Morrison to the White House. Prior to delegation meetings the President and Prime Minister held a press availability in the oval office.
As part of the breaking news discussion, President Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced new sanctions on Iran. [Video and FULL Transcript Below]
President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will be holding a joint press conference from the East Room at approximately Noon ET.
[UPDATE: Video Added, Transcript will follow]