As expected, no one in the media pool asked the key question.  If Ukraine is not a NATO member, and Russia is not a NATO member, then why is NATO even involved?  Not a single media outlet cared enough to even ask the brutally obvious.

LET US NOT PRETEND.  There is good news and there is bad news within the outlined strategy.  More good than bad, despite the spin room narrative engineering being immediately spread by U.S. media.

First, President Trump is giving Russian President Vladimir Putin 50 days to finish his strategic military operations in Ukraine, before a 100% tariff rate is executed against the Russian economy.  With direct U.S. trade with Russia already not happening, the tariff would likely be applied toward any country purchasing any goods or resources from Russia (specifically India, China, Iran, etc.).

Second, despite Lindsey Graham and the EU leaders discussing the confiscation of Russian assets held in EU/USA bonds, neither President Trump nor NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte mentioned it.  Again, the media never asked that question.  Thankfully, President Trump seems to realize if such a confiscation took place, the financial credibility of the entire western finance system would be compromised.  No nation would want to put their national wealth at risk by buying U.S. and EU treasury bonds.

Third, the part the MSM will focus on.  In the interim of the 50 days, NATO will be both purchasing and moving offensive and defensive weapons systems into Ukraine.  On the defensive weapon side, Germany will likely send Patriot missile batteries, and NATO will replace them with new U.S. purchases.  In addition all NATO states will provide increased offensive weapons and purchases will be made from U.S. stockpiles.  Those new offensive weapons will likely be held back until the end of the 50 days, giving Putin something to think about to bring him to the table.

Summary.  Putin has 50 days. In the interim NATO is approved by Trump to ship offensive and defensive weapons into Ukraine.  The Senate sanctions package will continue to be assembled, perhaps approved, but not deployed until after the 100% tariffs are executed if Russia is non compliant in getting to the table.

The carrot is the 50 days to get finished. The stick is all hell will break loose on Russia, including new and powerful offensive weapons, if Putin doesn’t end the conflict prior to the 50-day deadline.

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On the anniversary of his attempted assassination, President Donald Trump takes questions from the media after arriving at Joint Base Andrews.

Thoughts on the anniversary: ““God was protecting me. Maybe because God wanted to see our country do better, or do really well. Make America great again.”

Thoughts on Russia: “I am very disappointed with President Putin. I thought he was somebody that meant what he said — and he’ll talk so beautifully, then he’ll bomb people at night. We don’t like that.”

Thoughts on Patriot Missiles: I haven’t agreed on the number yet, but they’re going to have some because they do need protection, but the European Union is paying for it. We’re not paying anything for it, but we will send it. … we will send them Patriots which they desperately need.”

Thoughts on Bongino Staying: “”Oh I think so. I did, I spoke to him today. Dan Bongino, very good guy. I’ve known him a long time. I’ve done his show many many times. He sounded terrific, actually. No, I think he’s in good shape.”  WATCH:

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Earlier today, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended the FIFA Club World Club final in New Jersey. Attendees in the Presidential Box included: Pam Bondi, Sean Duffy, Kristi Noem, Tom Brady, Rupert Murdoch and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.  Video segments below:

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President Donald Trump sits down with daughter-in-law Lara Trump on Fox News. President Trump talked about the deportation operation, trade, tariffs, Elon Musk & what comes now with the Big, Beautiful Bill signed into law. WATCH:

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Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Richard Blumental appear on CBS with the always dramatic Margaret Brennan to discuss what President Trump is going to do against Russia and President Vladimir Putin tomorrow.  Senator Lindsey Graham is very happy with the plans President Trump will outline tomorrow; very happy.

The action appears to center around the confiscation of Russian assets, Russian central bank reserves held in European bonds. The money belongs to the people of Russia in the form of bonds previously purchased by Russia using a system that many nations follow, including all those nations who buy U.S. treasuries.

If the USA or Europe end up confiscating those funds, the only thing this action would prove is that the western financial system cannot be trusted. Many Nations are already reluctant, some fleeing from EU/U.S treasuries as a result of this threat, and we are seeing changes in the bond rates as a result.  Senator Graham doesn’t care about the strategic financial interests of the USA, he’s more concerned about fighting Russia regardless of long-term ramifications.  WATCH:

[TRANSCRIPT] – MARGARET BRENNAN: Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation. We have a lot to get to this morning. So, let’s begin with Senator Lindsey Graham in Clemson, South Carolina, and Senator Richard Blumenthal in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They both just returned from Europe, where they met with Ukrainian President Zelensky. Good morning to you both, Senators.

SENATOR RICHARD BLUMENTHAL: Good morning.

SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Good Morning.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Graham, I want to start with you. Russia is escalating. They’re not ending this war in Ukraine. NATO’s Secretary General is going to be here, in Washington, this week and will be meeting with President Trump, who is, according to our reporting, considering fresh funding for Ukraine. That would be the first time since he’s taken office. What do you know about what is coming?

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One year ago today, an assassin opened fire on President Donald J. Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. The bullet hit — but by the grace of God, he stood up. Bloodied. Unbowed. And he fought harder.  WATCH:

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President Trump releases this seemingly frustrated lengthy statement via Truth Social:

PRESIDENT TRUMP – What’s going on with my “boys” and, in some cases, “gals?” They’re all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! We’re on one Team, MAGA, and I don’t like what’s happening.

We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and “selfish people” are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein. For years, it’s Epstein, over and over again. Why are we giving publicity to Files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration, who conned the World with the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, 51 “Intelligence” Agents, “THE LAPTOP FROM HELL,” and more?

They created the Epstein Files, just like they created the FAKE Hillary Clinton/Christopher Steele Dossier that they used on me, and now my so-called “friends” are playing right into their hands. Why didn’t these Radical Left Lunatics release the Epstein Files? If there was ANYTHING in there that could have hurt the MAGA Movement, why didn’t they use it?

They haven’t even given up on the John F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King, Jr. Files. No matter how much success we have had, securing the Border, deporting Criminals, fixing the Economy, Energy Dominance, a Safer World where Iran will not have Nuclear Weapons, it’s never enough for some people. We are about to achieve more in 6 months than any other Administration has achieved in over 100 years, and we have so much more to do.

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President Trump announced on Truth Social a baseline tariff rate of 30% for both the European Union and Mexico.  Other sector specific tariffs still apply.

The EU rate is interesting in that the 30% rate is lower than the Canadian rate of 35%, yet the EU rate exceeds the current ‘chicken tax’ rate historically applied to imported SUVs and Trucks.  Strategically, the 30% tariff rate on Europe is a major incentive for various EU sectors to shift manufacturing into the USA.

Without a formal declaration of the end of the Marshall Plan, the reciprocity rate of 30% for all EU imports also equalizes the transatlantic trade benefit.  It will be interesting to see how the EU responds, given any retaliation could be added to the existing baseline.

Canada is currently trying to organize a trade agreement with the EU, in the hopes of positioning themselves toward the transatlantic group as they were toward the transpacific group (vis-a-vis China).

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President Donald Trump has announced a 35% baseline tariff rate for Canada on all imported goods not currently covered under the soon-to-expire USMCA trade agreement.

“Instead of working with the United States, Canada retaliated with its own Tariffs,” President Trump shared on Truth Social. “Starting August 1, 2025, we will charge Canada a Tariff of 35% on Canadian products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs.”

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As noted by President Trump in his remarks during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to the White House, Trump plans to renegotiate the USMCA and end the trilateral agreement in favor of two bilateral trade deals.

During the oval office meeting President Trump said, “as you know [USMCA] terminates fairly shortly. It gets renegotiated fairly shortly.” Then the biggest statement, “this was a transitional deal, and we’ll see what happens, we’re going to start renegotiating that”… “I don’t know if it serves a purpose anymore.”  …. “And the biggest purpose it served was, we got rid of NAFTA.” 

President Trump is going to exit the trilateral USMCA in favor of two distinctly different bilateral trade agreements between the U.S and Mexico; and the U.S and Canada.  The only consideration now is the timing.  President Trump is 100% focused on the BIG ECONOMIC PICTURE; it’s not about the politics, it’s all about the economics.

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Julie Kelly is personally very close to Dan Bongino and a significant advocate for him.  According to Julie Kelly and various other media sources, Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino is threatening to quit over issues surrounding how the DOJ has handled the Jeffrey Epstein information.

Julie Kelly writes, “Sources confirm to me the blow up between Dan Bongino and Pam Bondi is very real. This has been brewing for four months and came to a head at the White House on Wednesday. He has not been in the office since. Most of the frustration at FBI relates to her handling of Epstein disclosures and disputes between FBI and Bondi about how to proceed. Bongino appears ready to resign imminently if Bondi remains in office.”

Axios, CNN and various other outlets have essentially confirmed the same story.

Mary Margaret Olohan from the Daily Wire writes, “Bongino in particular, one source said, is frustrated that the DOJ, at the start of this week, declared the Epstein case effectively closed and determined that the accused sex trafficker died by suicide while awaiting trial, with few further details shared. He wants more documents unsealed, the source added.”  Olohan also said, “Source close to Dan Bongino tells me it’s either him or Pam Bondi, and that he won’t stay at FBI if she stays at DOJ.

If this is all true is doesn’t bode well for Dan Bongino and he will likely be asked to depart from his position, if he has not already resigned.  This type of emotional response is considered a significant sign of instability amid executive level office holders.  The either/or threat never works at this level.

Apparently no one could see this coming.

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