Celebrating a close and mutually beneficial relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, President Trump delivers remarks to an audience of both American and Saudi business leaders.  WATCH:

WHITE HOUSE – Today in Saudi Arabia, President Donald J. Trump announced Saudi Arabia’s $600-billion commitment to invest in the United States, building economic ties that will endure for generations to come. The first deals under the announcement strengthen our energy security, defense industry, technology leadership, and access to global infrastructure and critical minerals.

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Saudi Arabia is the first of three stops President Donald Trump will make on his four-day tour. He’ll also visit the lavish wealthy nations of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

In all three countries Trump will aim to announce economic deals – with hopes that progress can be made on some complicated geopolitical issues as well. First, Trump will spend the day today in various engagements with Mohammed Bin Salman.

A Saudi official close to the defense ministry said Riyadh will push for securing the latest US F-35 fighter jets along with state-of-the-art air defense systems worth billions of dollars. ‘We will condition that the deliveries take place during Trump’s term,’ the official told AFP.

The long-term goal for the United States is to have Saudi Arabia join the Abraham Accords – one of the biggest foreign policy achievements of Trump’s first administration.

Traveling with President Trump are White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Elon Musk.

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President Donald J Trump arrives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for his first official U.S. foreign visit and his second visit to the kingdom.

President Trump was greeted by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. MBS put on the show for the president from the moment Trump crossed into Saudi airspace.

Air Force One was escorted to its landing by Saudi F-15 fighter jets, an honor guard awaited, and the crown prince welcomed Trump himself, leading him to cool refreshment and small talk in elaborate navy-and-gold armchairs.

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Earlier today President Trump was questioned about the current status of Ukraine-Russia peace talks, as contrast against the upcoming meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin in Turkey this Thursday.

President Trump said he was optimistic about the meeting which is the first direct face-to-face discussion between the leaders of the two warring nations since the beginning of the conflict. “I would fly there if I thought it would be helpful,” Trump said. “Thursday’s meeting with Russia and Ukraine is really important. I was really insistent that that meeting take place. I think good things can come out of that meeting. Stop the bloodshed, it’s a bloodbath.” WATCH:

President Trump is traveling to the Middle East right now for a series of meetings in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. President Zelenskyy quickly responded via Twitter, “all of us in Ukraine would appreciate it if President Trump could be there with us at this meeting in Türkiye.”

There is a precedent for President Trump to make quick scheduling changes.  You might remember he ditched the press conference in Canada at the conclusion of the G7 events, and shocked the world by showing up at the DMZ in North Korea to meet with Chairman Kim Jong-un.  President Trump famously walked into North Korea without any security detail.  It was one of the most bold and stunning events in recent political history.

Can you imagine if President Trump showed up at the meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin.  lol

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Appearing on CNBC this morning, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent gives an outline of the discussions between the USA and China.  Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer held meetings with the Chinese delegation in Geneva, Switzerland this past weekend.

Pay attention to Secretary Bessent describing [05:40] how Chinese ‘overproduction’ is now reaching the shores of partnered nations, that is the element CTH previously outlined {SEE HERE}, which is a rather significant issue right now.  The goods themselves are not ‘generic’ in nature, they are branded high-end products awaiting labeling and distribution once their component part of the global tariff is determined.  This is part of the ‘urgency’ motive for Beijing to seek some understanding of the timeline.

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President Donald Trump is going to sign an executive order today aiming to dramatically lower prescription drug prices in the U.S. by tying them to the lowest price paid by any country in the world. The order is based on a “most favored nation” pricing model.

Anticipated Start Time 9:30am to 10:00am ET – Livestream Links Below.

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CTH suspected we were going to see this…. and it might just work. President Trump has announced via Truth Social that he will sign an executive order to structurally create a “most favored nation” (MFN) policy toward USA drug manufacturing prices.

Americans must receive a matching price to the lowest cost sold.

President Trump – “For many years the World has wondered why Prescription Drugs and Pharmaceuticals in the United States of America were SO MUCH HIGHER IN PRICE THAN THEY WERE IN ANY OTHER NATION, SOMETIMES BEING FIVE TO TEN TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE SAME DRUG, MANUFACTURED IN THE EXACT SAME LABORATORY OR PLANT, BY THE SAME COMPANY??? It was always difficult to explain and very embarrassing because, in fact, there was no correct or rightful answer.

The Pharmaceutical/Drug Companies would say, for years, that it was Research and Development Costs, and that all of these costs were, and would be, for no reason whatsoever, borne by the “suckers” of America, ALONE. Campaign Contributions can do wonders, but not with me, and not with the Republican Party. We are going to do the right thing, something that the Democrats have fought for many years.

Therefore, I am pleased to announce that Tomorrow morning, in the White House, at 9:00 A.M., I will be signing one of the most consequential Executive Orders in our Country’s history. Prescription Drug and Pharmaceutical prices will be REDUCED, almost immediately, by 30% to 80%. They will rise throughout the World in order to equalize and, for the first time in many years, bring FAIRNESS TO AMERICA!

I will be instituting a MOST FAVORED NATION’S POLICY whereby the United States will pay the same price as the Nation that pays the lowest price anywhere in the World. Our Country will finally be treated fairly, and our citizens Healthcare Costs will be reduced by numbers never even thought of before. Additionally, on top of everything else, the United States will save TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” [source]

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As expected by anyone with common sense, the statement by Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng is considerably different from the U.S. media interpretation of the White House statement.

According to He Lifeng: […] “The atmosphere of the meeting was candid, in-depth and constructive. The meeting reached substantial progress and achieved important consensus. The two sides agreed on establishing a consultation mechanism for trade and economic issues, identified the lead persons on each side, and will carry on further consultations relating to trade and economic issues of their respective concerns. The two sides will finalize relevant details as soon as possible and will issue a joint statement reached on May 12.”

[…] “China’s position towards this trade war has been clear and consistent; that is, China doesn’t want to fight a trade war, because trade wars produce no winners.  But if the U.S. insists on forcing this war upon us, China will not be afraid of it and will fight to the end.” 

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This ‘clarification‘ of sorts by Big Panda should not come as a surprise, despite the White House press release and the wording of the title.

Neither Secretary Bessent nor USTR Greer would make an announcement of a “trade deal” in advance of President Trump’s personal announcement. PERIOD!

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White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett always does a good job of framing the current status without impeding the negotiating strategy of the White House trade delegation.

In this morning’s interview, happy Hassett outlines the motivation for China to quickly get to an agreement on principle about their U.S. trade position, and the structure of the personnel who are present on Beijing’s behalf to organize the discussion.  As noted earlier, Bessent and Greer were very careful in their language to promote positive advancement of agreement to the framework but avoid calling the outcome of the discussions a completed deal.

Hassett encapsulates the current trade status with China and other nations.  WATCH:

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No doubt President Trump is leaning back a little following the White House statement.  The Chinese announcements are not as forcefully positive as the White House ‘headline’ press release.  There’s a disconnect afoot that needs to be reconciled quickly or it makes the White House look weak while cunning panda smiles.

It would be surprising to see an actual “trade agreement” with China, before the commitments from ASEAN countries to stop transnational shipping exploitation are in place.

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The White House has released a statement headlining: “U.S. Announces China Trade Deal in Geneva.” However, the use of the wording “trade deal” is being disputed by China who prefer to say, a “consensus was reached.”

Indeed, if you listen to the wording from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Rep Jamieson Greer, there is no talk of an actual deal in their language. Methinks whoever wrote the White House headline, that is (not accidentally) currently manipulating the markets, will be soon given the exit. Here’s the remarks from Bessent and Greer:

The White House statement is below:

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