UPDATE: I’ve added video, a VERY SPECIFIC video, to this post because it is stunningly telling of the dynamic.  Watch Chairman Kim Jong-un closely; he is extremely overwhelmed/intimidated by the scale, scope and intensity of the swarm media and the events that have brought him to this moment.

Kim’s respiration rate is fast and deliberate; he attempts to calm his nerves with breaths while simultaneously is aware that every moment is being captured.  I find myself feeling great empathy for Chairman Kim Jong-un in this video.  Again, watch closely this video captures the essence of the meeting better than all others:

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President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un deliver initial remarks at the beginning of their one-on-one bilateral meeting.  [Transcript Link]

Q Mr. President, how do you feel (inaudible)?

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Dennis Rodman appeared on CNN to discuss North Korea.  A remarkable interview.  Around the 04:00 minute point, Mr. Rodman talks about how dismissive and angry everyone was toward him in years past for his contacts with North Korea.

Rodman gets very emotional as he discusses how President Obama wouldn’t talk to him; and he is optimistic that President Trump can help Kim Jong-un lead into a new future for the country and the North Korean people.  Mr. Rodman also explains how President Trump reached out to Rodman today telling him to feel a sense of pride for his efforts:

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According to a tweet from President Trump National Economic Council Chairman Larry Kudlow has suffered a heart attack and is being treated at Walter Reed Medical Center.

Thoughts and prayers for Mr. Kudlow and his family.   UPDATE – Statement Regarding Larry Kudlow:

Earlier today National Economic Council Director and Assistant to the President Larry Kudlow, experienced what his doctors say, was a very mild heart attack. Larry is currently in good condition at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and his doctors expect he will make a full and speedy recovery. The President and his Administration send their thoughts and prayers to Larry and his family, Sarah Sanders, Press Secretary.  (link)

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President Trump Twitter Feed HERE
Press Secretary Sarah Sanders Twitter Feed HERE
•Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Twitter Feed HERE
•U.S. State Department Twitter Feed HERE
•State Dept Spox Heather Nauert Twitter Feed HERE
•Dan Scavino Twitter Feed HERE
•U.S. Embassy Singapore Twitter Feed HERE

President Trump in Singapore Tuesday, June 12, 2018

♦ 9:00 a.m./9:00 p.m. est Initial Greeting – Following the initial greeting, President Trump and Chairman Kim will participate in •a one-on-one meeting, with translators only, •an expanded bilateral meeting, and a •working lunch.

♦ 9:15 a.m./9:15 p.m. est – One-on-One: President Trump and Chairman Kim

♦ 10:00 a.m./10:00pm est – Expanded BiLat includes: President Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Chief of Staff John Kelly, and National Security Advisor John Bolton.

♦ 11:30 a.m./11:30 p.m. est – Working Lunch includes: President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Chief of Staff John Kelly, National Security Advisor John Bolton, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, Ambassador Sung Kim, and National Security Council Senior Director for Asia Matt Pottinger.

♦ 4:00 p.m./4:00 a.m. est – Media Availability

Straits Times Livestream Link –  Fox10 Livestream Link – GST Livestream Link

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On November 8th, 2017, President Donald Trump delivered a historic speech to the South Korean National Assembly in Seoul. Amid escalating tensions with North Korea, President Trump outlined his views, policy and perspective for the regional partners while calling for North Korea to reevaluate its path.

Against the backdrop of a meeting today June 12th, 2018, between President Trump and North Korea Chairman Kim Jong-un, this speech set the stage for where we are today:

[WHITE HOUSE] PRESIDENT TRUMP: Assembly Speaker Chung, distinguished members of this Assembly, ladies and gentlemen: Thank you for the extraordinary privilege to speak in this great chamber and to address your people on behalf of the people of the United States of America.

In our short time in your country, Melania and I have been awed by its ancient and modern wonders, and we are deeply moved by the warmth of your welcome.

Last night, President and Mrs. Moon showed us incredible hospitality in a beautiful reception at the Blue House. We had productive discussions on increasing military cooperation and improving the trade relationship between our nations on the principle of fairness and reciprocity.

Through this entire visit, it has been both our pleasure and our honor to create and celebrate a long friendship between the United States and the Republic of Korea.

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One of the greatest gifts President Trump provides through his policy discussion(s) is an awakening to how much U.S. voter perspective has been driven by constructed fallacy.

This is especially true in the discussion of domestic economic policy.  There are trillions of dollars at stake; and the stakeholders are growing increasingly angry as President Trump places a spotlight on decades of economic fraud and abuse.

Prior to the 2016 election few people understood that DC politicians don’t actually write legislation, lobbyists do.  Politicians don’t write laws, their role is to sell legislation created by lobbyist groups.  That is the modern legislative model; that’s how it really works.  Unfortunately the same bastardized and manipulated process has happened around trade deals and trade agreements.

In modern trade agreements, before the election of President Donald Trump, corporations would write the actual language within the deal.  Corporate lobby groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, have fully functioning staff that do nothing except write the trade agreement language.

If a multinational corporation wanted to increase its value, it simply needed to pay the indulgency fee to the U.S. CoC and the massive lobbying group would create language inside the agreement to assist their interest.   Note the corporation didn’t need to be U.S. centric, currency is multinational.  The U.S. CoC then pays politicians, both democrats and Republicans, via campaign contributions for the trade controls.  People can debate the nuance and intersections of governmental bureaucracy within the process; however, peel all the skin from the onion and this is how it really was working.

Then came President Trump.

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Singapore is approximately 12 hours ahead of the U.S. eastern time zone.  The scheduled meeting between President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un will take place around 9:00pm (Monday EDT), which will be 9:00am (Tue) in Singapore.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered remarks and took questions earlier today:

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President Trump Twitter Feed HERE
Press Secretary Sarah Sanders Twitter Feed HERE
•Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Twitter Feed HERE
•U.S. State Department Twitter Feed HERE
•State Dept Spox Heather Nauert Twitter Feed HERE
•Dan Scavino Twitter Feed HERE
•U.S. Embassy Singapore Twitter Feed HERE

President Trump in Singapore Monday, June 11, 2018

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In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

President Trump Twitter @POTUS / Vice President Pence Twitter @VP

Sarah H Sanders Twitter @SHSanders45

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †