Category Blogger C0nservative Tree House

Jun 18 2025

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander Attempts to Block ICE Apprehension, Promptly Arrested


Posted originally on CTH on June 17, 2025 | Sundance

Hopefully these are the political stunts that will force the reluctant hand of Attorney General Pam Bondi to intervene.  Criminal arrests and federal prosecutions of politicians pulling these stunts are needed.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander locked arms with an illegal alien as immigrations officials were removing the target for deportation.  Lander purposefully interfered in a federal apprehension of a criminal alien, and should be prosecuted.

The media are selectively showing a portion of the video after Lander is handcuffed by police.  However, in the earlier segment below you can clearly see Mr Lander intentionally locking arms with the target in an effort to stop ICE enforcement from taking custody.  WATCH:

Judicial warrants are not required to apprehend and deport illegal aliens.

NEW YORK — New York City mayoral candidate Brad Lander was handcuffed and detained by federal agents Tuesday afternoon while escorting migrants from immigration hearings in Lower Manhattan.

Footage and video of the hectic incident is firing up the third-place candidate’s suddenly energetic campaign, as he shows himself taking on an issue that’s central to President Donald Trump’s political agenda.

“I’m not obstructing, I’m standing right here in the hallway. I asked to see the judicial warrant,” the candidate says in the video.

Lander, the New York City comptroller, was at 26 Federal Plaza in downtown Manhattan on Tuesday morning to observe an immigration hearing when he walked out of the courtroom locking arms with a Yoruba-speaking immigrant, according to Lander’s wife, Meg Barnette. (more)

Jun 18 2025

JD Vance Delivers Message About Iran


Posted originally on CTH on June 17, 2025 | Sundance 

I cannot give all the particulars to backstop my perspective, however, Vice President JD Vance has traditional training and perspective on leadership within massive organizations, enhanced by his military service. Essentially, ‘never compromise your leadership‘.

Vice President JD Vance would not publish the following message on social media, without previously approving the entire statement through President Donald Trump. If Vance did not discuss this with Trump, Vance would stay quiet. That said, here is the message from JD Vance:

“Look, I’m seeing this from the inside, and am admittedly biased towards our president (and my friend), but there’s a lot of crazy stuff on social media, so I wanted to address some things directly on the Iran issue:

First, POTUS has been amazingly consistent, over 10 years, that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Over the last few months, he encouraged his foreign policy team to reach a deal with the Iranians to accomplish this goal. The president has made clear that Iran cannot have uranium enrichment. And he said repeatedly that this would happen one of two ways–the easy way or the “other” way.

Second, I’ve seen a lot of confusion over the issue of “civilian nuclear power” and “uranium enrichment.” These are distinct issues. Iran could have civilian nuclear power without enrichment, but Iran rejected that. Meanwhile, they’ve enriched uranium far above the level necessary for any civilian purpose. They’ve been found in violation of their non-proliferation obligations by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is hardly a rightwing organization.

It’s one thing to want civilian nuclear energy. It’s another thing to demand sophisticated enrichment capacity. And it’s still another to cling to enrichment while simultaneously violating basic non-proliferation obligations and enriching right to the point of weapons-grade uranium.

I have yet to see a single good argument for why Iran needed to enrich uranium well above the threshold for civilian use. I’ve yet to see a single good argument for why Iran was justified in violating its non-proliferation obligations. I’ve yet to see a single good pushback against the IAEA’s findings.

Meanwhile, the president has shown remarkable restraint in keeping our military’s focus on protecting our troops and protecting our citizens.

He may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment. That decision ultimately belongs to the president. And of course, people are right to be worried about foreign entanglement after the last 25 years of idiotic foreign policy.

But I believe the president has earned some trust on this issue. And having seen this up close and personal, I can assure you that he is only interested in using the American military to accomplish the American people’s goals. Whatever he does, that is his focus.” (source)

Accepting what JD Vance is saying here (emphasis mine) the most Occam’s razor implication is that President Trump is going to authorize U.S. bunker busting bombs, the 30,000/lb deep penetrating bombs [GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)] that only the USA has in the arsenal.

This approach takes the USA activity from “support”, to active operational engagement.   Hence Vance saying “take further action,” and the following message from President Trump, “nobody does it better.”

Jun 18 2025

Director Tulsi Gabbard and Director John Ratcliffe Testify to -Closed Door- Senate Appropriations Committee


Posted originally on CTH on June 17, 2025 | Sundance

With the unusual conflicting information coming from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, about the lower confidence level in Iran’s weaponized nuclear weapons program; and contrast against the weird video she recently posted about Japan and the use of nuclear weapons; and considering that CIA Director John Ratcliffe has remained completely silent (although not surprising for him) about the Iranian nuclear program; there is the potential for this otherwise ordinary senate hearing to deliver some surprises.

DNI Tulsi Gabbard is the only administration official who has said publicly she did not think Iran was trying to develop a nuclear weapon.  President Trump dismissed a question about the intelligence conflict last night, saying “I don’t care what she said, I think they were very close to getting one.”

As DNI, Gabbard has made some strong moves over the past three months in support of President Donald Trump, including the interception of an impeachment construct within the National Intelligence Council inside the CIA, and the beginning deconstruction of the Obama era Intel Community Inspector General (ICIG) construct.

DNI Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director Ratcliffe will testify together in front of the Senate Appropriations Committee at 10:30am today. It will be interesting to see if the subject of Iran and Israel is brought up by the Senators.  [Livestream Links Below]  WATCH: The senate just changed the hearing to “closed” status.

FUBAR!

I was hoping we would see Ratcliffe and Gabbard questioned together about the same issue.

Jun 17 2025

President Trump Holds Press Gaggle Aboard Air Force One Returning to White House


Posted originally on CTH on June 17, 2025 | Sundance

After departing the G7 in Canada, President Trump held a press availability aboard Airforce One at approximately 1:00am.  President Trump and Secretary Rubio were returning to the White House early to address issues of concern in the Iran-Israel conflict.   WATCH (prompted):

The president’s entire national security apparatus are assembled in the White House today (Tuesday) as the principals review events from the situation room.

Jennifer Jacobs (Bloomberg) provides a solid recap of the AF1 presser. “Trump wants “a real end” to the nuclear problem with Iran and this morning will find him in the White House Situation Room, monitoring developments in Middle East, he told us during his midnight departure from Canada.

“I didn’t say I was looking for a ceasefire,” he said on AF1. He said he wants “a real end,” with Iran “giving up entirely” on nukes.

The Israelis aren’t slowing up their barrage on Iran, he predicted. “You’re going to find out over the next two days. You’re going to find out. Nobody’s slowed up so far.”

Asked his thinking on calling for Tehran to evacuate, he told me he wants “people to be safe.”

He needs to be present at the White House, not Canada, where he can be “well versed” and not have to rely on phones to know what’s happening, he said.

Trump sounded undecided about sending Witkoff and/or VP Vance to meet with Iran. “I may,” he said. But “it depends what happens when I get back,” he said.

On any threat to US interests, he said Iran knows not to touch our troops. US would “come down so hard if they do anything to our people,” he said.

Trump declined to say if the chairman of joint chiefs and SecDef have provided him with planning options should Iran attack U.S. bases in Middle East. “I can’t tell you that,” he told me.

Trump told me “we’ll be talking to them” when asked if the Gang of Eight was briefed on anything yet. But “it’s not necessary,” he said.

Asked if US involvement would destroy Iran nuclear program, hope their program “is wiped out long before that.”

Iran is “very close” to a nuclear weapon, he said. “I don’t care what she said I think they were very close to having them,” Trump told us on AF1 when asked about Tulsi Gabbard testimony in March.

I asked him about efforts to help Americans leave the region, with commercial airspace closed, and he said admin “working on that. We’re doing the best we can.”

“I haven’t seen it,” he told me when I asked if any signs North Korea or Russia more involved in aiding Iran.

I asked him about his strategy for Senate confirmations, given only 3 of 6 defense undersecretaries confirmed so far. He said Thune is doing a very good job, but Dems “hold up our nominations.” He’d like the process to go faster, he said.

Scott Bessent and a couple others stayed behind to meet with G7 leaders, he told me. (Rubio is on AF1 with us.)

But he did all he needed at the gathering, he said.

He said he hadn’t seen the G7 statement yet but he “authorized them go say certain things.” Carney did a good job hosting, he said. {LINK}

Jun 17 2025

President Trump and Secretary Rubio Depart G7 Early – Return to White House Situation Room to Focus on Iran Conflict


Posted originally on CTH on June 17, 2025 | Sundance 

President Trump and Secretary of State/Nat Sec Advisor Marco Rubio left the G7 in Canada late last night following dinner with the G7 leaders.  When asked by reporters about his early departure President Trump said, “for obvious reasons.”

President Trump is quickly assembling his national security, defense and intelligence apparatus to work throughout the day Tuesday from the situation room of the White House where real-time video feeds and interfaces with regional players are immediate.   President Trump announces his departure during the G7 group photo session.

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President Trump left behind Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to represent our U.S. interests as the G7 completes without him.

L-R European Council President Antonio Costa, Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, U.S. President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Jun 17 2025

Report: Trump Relays to Mid-East Allies, U.S Will Not Engage Iran Unless They Target Americans


Posted originally on CTH on June 16, 2025 | Sundance

Sometimes a media report from “sources familiar with the matter” does actually track with the way President Trump’s doctrine is seen.  This is one of those times.

According to Axios, White House officials have directly relayed to mid-east friends that President Trump has no intention of using U.S. military resources to target Iran, unless the Iranian regime does something stupid like target Americans.

It is easy to imagine this type of relay was made by President Trump to Saudi Arabia (MbS), Qatar (Muslim Brotherhood) and/or Jordan (King Abdullah II), with the full intention of the message reaching Iranian govt officials.

[AXIOS] The big picture: The U.S. has helped Israel intercept missiles, but made clear Israel is acting alone in attacking Iran. The U.S. message is that if Iran attacks Americans in response, it will be crossing a red line.

The intrigue: The U.S. sent a similar message to the same countries about an hour between Israel launched the war last Thursday, telling them the U.S. would not participate.

In both cases, the U.S. seemed to expect the countries to pass that message to Iran to discourage any retaliation against U.S. forces or interests in the region.

The White House didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Between the lines: While Iranian leaders have accused the U.S. of complicity in Israel’s war effort, and threatened for weeks to respond to any Israeli attack by targeting U.S. bases in the region, no such attacks have taken place. (more)

Overall this type of message from President Trump tracks exactly with the careful geopolitical effort he and Secretary Rubio are working throughout this conflict.

Indeed, if you read the statement from President Trump about his hour-long conversation with Russian President Putin after the Israeli strikes began, you can see a similar pattern.

[SOURCE]

Jun 17 2025

President Trump Delivers Remarks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer – Presser With Questions


Posted originally on CTH on June 16, 2025 | Sundance

U.S. President Trump and U.K Prime Minister Starmer finished signing the details of the U.S-U.K trade agreement on heavy industry, aerospace, car tariffs and automobile trade.   Both Trump and Starmer delivered remarks to the assembled press pool prior to answering questions.

The media were full of questions for President Trump about the latest developments in the Israel-Iran conflict.  President Trump noted he needs to conclude the commitments on his schedule before he can engage in Iranian negotiations.

The British media, maintaining their longstanding history against the Russian Federation, are worried that President Trump might like Russia and or even agree with Russian perspectives.  To the British press this possibility gives them the vapors.  President Trump tries to intercept the U.K fainting by reminding the Brits the goal is to “stop death” at a rate of 5,000 young lives per week.  WATCH:

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Jun 17 2025

President Trump Delivers Remarks With Prime Minister Mark Carney at Beginning of G7 Assembly


Posted originally on CTH on June 16, 2025 | Sundance

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomes President Donald Trump at the beginning of the working sessions for the G7 assembly in Canada.

During the press availability President Trump notes the G7 used to be the G8, however following the Crimea referendum and President Putin’s response to accept the outcome of the vote, the NATO alliance led by President Barack Obama took Russia out of the group.  President Trump says he “agreed” with Putin’s reaction to the decision.

The G7 speak about Russia consistently at almost every meeting, without a willingness to listen to the voice or opinion of Russia in context to their protestations.  Quite simply it is easier for Italy, Canada, the U.K, France, Germany, Japan and the USA to exist inside an echo-chamber without having their multilateral arguments challenged.  President Trump does not fear the debate of ideas with Russia present in the room, another point of distinction between Trump and the assembly.

Wrong is wrong even if everybody does it; and right is right even if nobody does it. It takes strong confidence to assert a position counter to popular opinion, this is what makes President Donald Trump a transformative political influence.

In the background, President Vladimir Putin is undoubtedly paying attention.

Also, read carefully what President of the European Council António Costa said today:

CANADA – […] European Commission boss Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council António Costa on Sunday both urged Trump to stop hurting the global economy with tariffs.

“Let’s keep trade between us fair, predictable and open. All of us need to avoid protectionist measures — this is an important message that the G7 can send to the markets and to the world,” von der Leyen told reporters, speaking alongside Costa at the first press conference of the G7 leaders’ meeting in Canada.

Calling for “a frank discussion among the G7 partners, restoring a sense of stability and predictability among ourselves,” von der Leyen stressed Brussels was still negotiating a trade truce with Washington.

Costa said the EU can’t increase defense spending, as Trump wants it to, if it has to fight a trade war at the same time.” (link)

A parasitic statement if there ever was one.

Put another way, the EU threatens that President Trump will not be able to lessen USA military spending from NATO, if he simultaneously demands reciprocal trade rules from NATO countries.

Insufferable is an understatement.

Jun 17 2025

Ten Years Ago Today


Posted originally on CTH on June 16, 2025 | Sundance 

I know more than a few of us were here on these pages discussing Donald Trump in June of 2015 when he announced his intention to run for the Republican presidential nomination.

Many of you might even remember my initial reaction to Trump’s announcement, “Donald Trump could show up to the GOP debate in 5-inch heels, a Carmen Miranda hat and start twerking the podium of Jeb Bush, and I’d still support him.”

All of those years taking apart the republican party strategy and their illusion of choice, for me the #1 signal that Donald Trump was a legit outsider came from his placement in the announcement.   President Trump was the last candidate to announce entry; all the other candidates were in place before he announced.  That datapoint told me he was for real.

Donald Trump personifies EVERYTHING the liberal left hate – the media will attack Trump with exponentially greater Alinsky force than they did Sarah Palin; and only Trump has the moxy to win against them: (LINK)

So, when did you join the Trump train?

Jun 17 2025

Have We Forgotten How The Senate Works? – Navigating the BBB


Posted originally on CTH on June 16, 2025 | Sundance

I’m becoming increasingly convinced that people on the ConInc side of the conversation also need to pretend not to know things.

There is an increased sentiment of frustration toward President Donald Trump being espoused, and obviously that will be amplified by those who want to use a narrative of “increased sentiment of frustration toward President Trump.”

The part that surprises me is the part where people seem to have forgotten the purpose of the U.S. Senate.

CONTEXT – Currently there is a Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) in the senate, the culmination of years of work by President Trump and his team together with politicians in congress. There is no smaller BBB, there is no modified BBB, there is only one big comprehensive package of initiatives and priorities for President Trump’s agenda. One Big Beautiful Bill.

That’s it. Just this one legislative priority that has all the stuff Donald Trump promised in the 2024 election. It’s all in one bill; all of it. As a consequence, President Trump needs this bill to pass congress; there is no fallback position; there is no alternative; there is no safer option. The BBB is an all or nothing swing for the fences.

GAINING VOTES – This BBB is the legislative package approach that President Trump accepted. As a consequence whatever it takes to get that BBB legislation passed, is exactly what we should expect to see done. Remember, this is a legislative construct that only targets REPUBLICAN VOTES. Republicans control every element of this BBB discussion.

People not happy about President Trump remarks about illegal-alien farm workers. Well, President Trump is buying gaining the votes of Big Ag state senators.

People not happy about President Trump support for Israel. Well, President Trump is buying gaining the votes of Big War senators.

People not happy about President Trump support for more Ukraine weapons against a peace initiative targeting Vladimir Putin. Again, President Trump is buying gaining the votes of the defense contractor senators.

These are just a few examples of stuff in the background.  The passage of the BBB is a priority for President Trump and every Republican senator knows this.  Every single republican senator is willing to blackmail President Trump to get support for their vote.

People not happy about (____fill in blank___) as a Trump compromise, need to understand there is no alternative to the BBB that contains all of the legislative priorities of Trump. If the bill fails, he fails. Whatever is needed for passage will be done.

If doing ‘whatever it takes‘ hurts our worldview, ideological preferences or even, wait for it, feelings, welcome to politics.

President Donald Trump – “Our Nation’s ICE Officers have shown incredible strength, determination, and courage as they facilitate a very important mission, the largest Mass Deportation Operation of Illegal Aliens in History. Every day, the Brave Men and Women of ICE are subjected to violence, harassment, and even threats from Radical Democrat Politicians, but nothing will stop us from executing our mission, and fulfilling our Mandate to the American People. ICE Officers are herewith ordered, by notice of this TRUTH, to do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.”

“In order to achieve this, we must expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America’s largest Cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside. These, and other such Cities, are the core of the Democrat Power Center, where they use Illegal Aliens to expand their Voter Base, cheat in Elections, and grow the Welfare State, robbing good paying Jobs and Benefits from Hardworking American Citizens.

These Radical Left Democrats are sick of mind, hate our Country, and actually want to destroy our Inner Cities — And they are doing a good job of it! There is something wrong with them. That is why they believe in Open Borders, Transgender for Everybody, and Men playing in Women’s Sports — And that is why I want ICE, Border Patrol, and our Great and Patriotic Law Enforcement Officers, to FOCUS on our crime ridden and deadly Inner Cities, and those places where Sanctuary Cities play such a big role. You don’t hear about Sanctuary Cities in our Heartland!”

“I want our Brave ICE Officers to know that REAL Americans are cheering you on every day. The American People want our Cities, Schools, and Communities to be SAFE and FREE from Illegal Alien Crime, Conflict, and Chaos. That’s why I have directed my entire Administration to put every resource possible behind this effort, and reverse the tide of Mass Destruction Migration that has turned once Idyllic Towns into scenes of Third World Dystopia. Our Federal Government will continue to be focused on the REMIGRATION of Aliens to the places from where they came, and preventing the admission of ANYONE who undermines the domestic tranquility of the United States.

To ICE, FBI, DEA, ATF, the Patriots at Pentagon and the State Department, you have my unwavering support. Now go, GET THE JOB DONE!” DJT