Vice President JD Vance joins Theo Von to talk about the Elon Musk fallout, the debate over what’s actually in the “Big Beautiful Bill” and the night he watched Gladiator 2 in the White House movie theater.
The interview was happening on Thursday as President Trump and Elon Musk were having a very visible public conflict. At 18:30 Vance notes how this interview will air after the public is much more aware of the backstory. WATCH:
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President Trump was traveling from Washington, DC to New Jersey aboard Airforce One and took the time to walk back in the plane to the assembled press pool. President Trump took numerous questions on the topics of Kilmar Garcia, the Chinese trade negotiations, Elon Musk and current economic conditions.
President Trump also notes the Big Beautiful Bill is gaining support in the Senate and he is optimistic it will pass without too much issue. Additionally, President Trump responded to a question about Ukraine by noting the drone attack against the bomber installations ends up giving President Putin the motive to continue more aggressive bombing of Ukraine, “here we go”… WATCH:
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As we have watched things unfold, we have noticed that Tulsi Gabbard and Marco Rubio seem to be the most effective at delivering results despite the efforts of the entrenched control mechanisms of the deep state intelligence community. Actions speak louder than words, and while the words of many are strong, it is the actions of Gabbard and Rubio that show focus.
Previously Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard removed the National Intelligence Council from the CIA and removed the heads. In the latest development, the intelligence apparatus is in a state of apoplexy because DNI Gabbard has experienced the politicization of the Intelligence Community Inspector General’s network (ICIG), and she is now taking bold actions around the silo control mechanism.
Before getting to the substance, it is worth reminding everyone of clear politicization within the ICIG when Michael Atkinson changed the CIA whistleblower rules in order to facilitate a false accusation against President Trump using CIA operative Eric Ciaramella and Alexander Vindman. Atkinson worked with his former boss in the DOJ, Mary McCord, to frame the construct of an impeachment against President Trump.
Also remember, Atkinson’s testimony to the House impeachment committee was sealed and classified by co-chairs Adam Schiff and Jerry Nadler who were part of the framing. That transcript has NEVER been released.
In the latest development, DNI Tulsi Gabbard has installed a key ally, Dennis Kirk, into the ICIG apparatus. Kirk is in place to monitor the political operations of the Intelligence Community and report to DNI Gabbard so that she can eliminate the bad actors. To say the Deep State IC embeds are apoplectic would be an understatement. The Inspector General system within the Intelligence Community is a critical control mechanism for politicization of intelligence.
The leaks to the media are to the Washington Post, because this core part of the IC is a CIA element. The CIA uses the Washington Post as their public relations and narrative distribution network.
Appearing on Fox News to provide color over the issue, Peter Doocy reveals what he has learned about the latest developments in the Trump -v- Musk conflict. WATCH:
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Senior White House official Taylor Budowich, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, and James Braid discuss the details of President Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill.
The legislation is described by Stephen Miller as the culmination of all President Trump’s campaign promises.
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Phone calls from the Tesla Board, Peter Thiel and especially Larry Ellison, tend to change things.
Remember, Bill Ackman is the billionaire who constructed the SPARC (special purpose acquisition rights company) to save Elon Musk and Twitter financially, before Larry Ellison (Oracle) stepped in.
Elon Musk also walked back from his threat to decommission the Dragon spacecraft {link}.
Sea Island hit the MAGA anvil, but it didn’t split.
They’ll be back.
Current Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, Marco Rubio, was chair of the senate select committee on intelligence (SSCI) and a Gang of Eight member since day one of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Due to his role in the Gang of Eight Senator Rubio was briefed on all the covert activities being carried out in Ukraine by the CIA and Pentagon.
That is why when Secretary of State Marco Rubio told media months ago that “Ukraine was a proxy war for the United States against Russia,” it was a jaw-dropping statement. If anyone would know the receipts, it’s the former Chair of the SSCI, who became the Secretary of State. However, to say the truth so openly and publicly was something entirely unexpected, especially from Rubio.
As Secretary of State Rubio represented President Trump’s America-First foreign policy and national security interests very effectively, many people were shocked at the seemingly 180° degree turn Rubio took to represent the MAGA perspectives. Rubio adroitly navigated the media with exceptional support for President Trump’s positions, and diplomatic action to back it up.
While most of us continue watching Rubio closely, obviously President Trump saw the unique perspectives held by the former Senator on intelligence matters. President Trump then appointed Rubio to a dual role as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State.
While the Secretary of State represents the public face of President Trump’s diplomatic policy toward the world, the Nat Sec Advisory represents President Trump’s outward view to the global intelligence network. Marco Rubio now carries both extremely important titles and responsibilities.
Keeping in mind the prior statements by Rubio about Ukraine being a proxy state for U.S. operations against Russia, both Marco Rubio and President Trump have been mostly silent and very measured in their comments about Russia after the Ukraine attack on the Russian nuclear-capable bombers.
Earlier today President Trump held a press availability in the oval office with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The topics of conversation surrounded trade, NATO funding, Ukraine, Russia, President Trump’s conversation with Chairman Xi Jinping, the tax cut and budget bill and Elon Musk’s criticism.
At 04:42 of the video President Trump discusses his conversation with Chairman Xi Jinping of China. President Trump and Chairman Xi agreed to organize their teams for another discussion and President Trump noted he would be sending Scott Bessent, Howard Lutnick and Jamieson Greer to another round of talks to hammer out the details. Additionally, President Trump invited Chairman Xi to the USA, and Chairman Xi invited President Trump to visit China.
At the 10:00 mark, President Trump discusses the autopen controversy around the former Biden administration. At 13:40 President Trump was asked about Elon Musk and his opposition to the Big Beautiful Bill. President Trump and Scott Bessent walk through the benefits inside the bill and President Trump notes the EV subsidy was removed from the bill which seemed to be problematic for Musk. WATCH:
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It was always going to be thus. However, some who do not carry the mental fortitude to withstand the TRUTH, will proclaim they are witnessing some pre-scripted game of chess or something, where the Trump -v- Musk battle is coordinated. It is not.
President Trump delivers some further consideration about Elon Musk from his perspective.
Musk responds by accusing President Trump of being in the “Epstein files” and later calls for his impeachment and replacement with JD Vance.
If you are a long(ish) time reader of CTH, what we are witnessing is exactly what we said we would see unfold. And it is really good to see it happening now. I was not looking forward to this battle as the 2026 midterms came around, and I am thankful to our loving God for delivering it now.
To understand the dynamic, it is necessary to remain elevated and unemotional as the confrontation takes place.
The U.S. Senate currently has two issues of great importance to President Trump within their upper chamber. The first is the Big Beautiful Bill (a reconciliation spending and budget plan). The second is Senate positioning on sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine. Both are of great importance when you consider the domestic and geopolitical ramifications.
President Trump wants the BBB structurally passed and doesn’t care about the nibbling on the edges or customary Christmas Tree decorations (special interest add-ons). Trump wants the Term-1 tax cuts extended and the border security money, these are must haves.
On the Ukraine/Russia stuff, Trump basically wants the Senate to back away from doing anything that influences his leverage positions for a resolution he will construct. However, President Trump knows the Senate fully supports the proxy war aspect to the conflict (he doesn’t).
Trump has remained relatively quiet on Ukraine-Russia because he doesn’t want to antagonize the Senate who will use their affirmative votes for BBB as leverage to maintain the proxy war and support Ukraine. That’s the background on the BBB, Russia, Ukraine and Trump’s position.
Into this foray comes the always self-interested and short-sighted Elon Musk who -despite being an influence asset at times- has the most annoying habit of never considering the downstream consequences for his selfishness.
As Musk rails against the BBB, which took 14 months of work from the House to get across the line he runs the risk of collapsing the BBB in the senate.
The longer the BBB sits in the Senate and/or gets changed so much it will take forever to get through the House again; the longer Trump has to bite his tongue on solving the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Musk in his infinite selfishness, cannot see how he is doing real damage to Trump’s objective around Russia by stirring up opposition to the BBB. Things were getting ugly yesterday and became more so today.