President Donald Trump will be holding a celebration of his 100 days in office during a stop in Michigan.  It makes sense to pick Michigan as the auto industry is representative of the Trump global trade reset and tariff program.

So far, eleven new or expanded U.S. automotive factories have been announced as major automakers seek to establish production lines in the USA to avoid 25% auto tariffs.  The latest announcement was from Toyota, for expanded facilities in West Virginia.

“Toyota Motor Corporation’s North American manufacturing subsidiary, Toyota North America Inc, announced this week that it plans to invest a further US$88 million in its West Virginia plant in the US to assemble its next generation of hybrid transaxles.” {source}

Additionally, South Korea is on the losing end of negotiation leverage due in large part to their position within the auto sector.  Japan has already had preliminary discussions with the Trump administration on a new free trade agreement. Now we see South Korea coming to the table for the agreement outline today.

(Reuters) – A South Korean delegation will meet U.S. counterparts on Thursday for an opening round of trade talks, with cooperation on shipbuilding and energy expected to be on the agenda, and possibly shared defence costs, as Seoul seeks lower tariffs.

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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.

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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 †

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Wednesday, President Trump held an executive order signing ceremony in the oval office and took questions from the media on current topics.  Video Prompted:

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President Trump notes the economic team have been in contact with 90 countries from around the world who have called to renegotiate trade agreements.  Additionally, Trump notes that 11 new automotive assembly plants have been announced by car companies in order to avoid U.S. tariffs.  That’s a lot of American jobs.

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President Trump’s patience with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is obviously wearing thin.  However, the key for President Trump to change the dynamic; the thing he is inarguably trying to avoid; is a full U.S withdrawal and subsequent isolation for Zelenskyy.

President Trump via Truth Social:

“Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is boasting on the front page of The Wall Street Journal that, “Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea. There’s nothing to talk about here.”

This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion. Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired? The area also houses, for many years before “the Obama handover,” major Russian submarine bases.

It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about! The situation for Ukraine is dire — He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country.

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Earlier today President Trump was spotted personally reviewing the placement for two new 100-foot flagpoles that will be placed on the White House grounds.  President Trump briefly talked to media about the new additions. President Trump is personally paying for the installations. WATCH:

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The media quickly rushed to see what President Trump was doing, and then excitedly began asking questions, that turned into a brief impromptu presser.  SEE BELOW:

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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.

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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 †

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President Trump takes questions from the assembled press pool in the oval office at the conclusion of the ceremony swearing in Paul Atkins as SEC Chairman.  WATCH (prompted):

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Interesting series of events converging.  According to multiple media outlets, a delegation from the U.S, Europe and Ukraine are scheduled to meet again in London tomorrow for further discussions of the peace proposal.

President Trump said Monday they had “very good meetings” about Ukraine and Russia recently as Trump was likely debriefed from the meeting that Secretary Rubio and Envoy Steve Witkoff held in Paris, France with Emmanuel Macron, Ukraine, EU and U.K officials.  However, this was the same Paris meeting that preceded Secretary Rubio saying if progress was not made quickly, the USA would exit their role in negotiating a peace deal.

President Trump and Secretary Rubio are putting pressure on Ukraine, EU, U.K as well as the CIA background players to get to a place of earnest peace discussion, by threatening to pull back from their effort and likely allowing Russian President Putin a lot of implied latitude to increase hostile action.

The belligerent Ukraine officials (harsh Nazi tones on display) feel emboldened to keep fighting with enhanced funding and support from the EU, U.K, NATO and CIA operatives embedded with Ukraine forces.  As an ancillary matter, the potential for Trump to pull back stands as a visible motive for the USA Deep State to keep attacking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

At a certain point President Trump is going to have to make a decision on further support.  If Trump exits the proxy war, that’s when the real internal battle with the CIA will likely surface. This is a very interesting dynamic to keep watching as CIA Director John Ratcliffe appears to be a bystander, incapable of stopping the independent elements of the CIA from operating their own agenda.

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