First rule in geopolitics, it’s always about the economics.  Second rule in geopolitics: refer to rule #1.    Understanding this basic truism is the key to understand how President Trump is able to be so effective.  There are trillions at stake, and infinite interests.

“Economic security is national security.” ~President Trump

All politics circles back to the underlying economics; whether it is an individual financial self-interest for a specific politician, or whether it is a larger financial interest for a group or even a nation.  Everything is always about the money, and that essential truth is why Donald Trump is so uniquely qualified, influential and stunningly effective. Today:

(VIA CBC) The United States would “enthusiastically” support a no-deal Brexit if that is what the British government decided to do, U.S. national security adviser John Bolton told reporters on Monday.

[…]  As the United Kingdom prepares to leave the European Union on Oct. 31, its biggest geopolitical shift since the Second World War, many diplomats expect London to become increasingly reliant on the United States.

“If that’s the decision of the British government we will support it enthusiastically, and that’s what I’m trying to convey. We’re with you, we’re with you,” said Bolton, in London for two days of talks with British officials. The U.S. administration is seeking an improved U.S.-British relationship with Prime Minister Boris Johnson after sometimes tense ties between Donald Trump and Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May.

A central message Bolton was making is that the United States will help cushion Britain’s exit from the EU with a free trade agreement that is being negotiated by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and his British counterpart, Liz Truss.  (read more)

Also today from New Jersey:

(WH Link)

Notice how President Trump doesn’t rely on John Bolton to deliver his message. President Trump builds inherent checks into the process when others deliver his messages about economic deals, strategies and trade proposals.  Classic CEO Executive Trump.

It is not that President Trump doesn’t trust Bolton, but rather Trump understands a difference in political priority exists.  Donald Trump isn’t a politician, he’s working through a plan for what he views (we agree) is bigger than any ideological aspects.

The economics of all things is the priority for President Trump…. step into that lane, or bring forth a policy directive that crosses into that economic lane, and you step into an administration agenda item completely controlled and directed by Donald Trump.

Every policy engagement from the big to the small goes through the prism of economics first and last.  Essentially this is the foundation of the Trump doctrine.  Brexit, Huawei, Iran, the larger EU etc. all cross paths with President Trump’s primary focus, U.S. economic wealth, influence and security.

Donald Trump isn’t leaving anything to chance or misinterpretation…. He’s full bore economic Obsessive Compulsive!  …And unapologetic about it.

President Trump has single-handily, and purposefully, stalled the global economy and is forcing massive amounts of wealth back into the United States.  In essence Titan Trump is engaged in a process of: (a) repatriating wealth (trade policy); (b) blocking exfiltration (main street policy); (c) creating new and modern economic alliances based on reciprocity; and (d) dismantling the post WWII Marshall plan for global trade and one-way tariffs.

Every minute element within this process, no matter how seemingly small, has President Trump’s full attention.  He has assignments to many, but he relies upon none.

(Reuters) – The United States overtook Germany as the biggest supplier of imports into Britain for the first time since the early 2000s in the last financial year, the UK government said on Friday.

British trade minister Liz Truss has said the United States tops her priority list for post-Brexit trade deals and has been in Washington this week, along with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, to promote UK-US ties.

Imports from the United States increased by 14% to 78.27 billion pounds ($94.43 billion) in the year to April, the Department for Trade said, while imports from Germany fell by 0.1% to 78.26 billion pounds.

While Germany has long been Britain’s biggest source of imports, the United States was already Britain’s largest export market, with exports reaching a record high of 121.6 billion pounds in the last financial year.

“Now that the U.S. is our largest market for both exports and imports, there has never been a better time for us to make the most of this golden opportunity and deliver a free trade agreement with the US,” Truss said in a statement.  (more)

The White House has announced the Trump administration will enforce long-standing immigration laws that require entrants to be economically self-sufficient and limits public welfare benefits.   An entry alien who is -or becomes- dependent on public welfare assistance, is known as a “public charge”.   Aliens will be barred from entering the United States if they are deemed likely to become public charges, or welfare dependent.

These immigration rules have been in place for over 100 years, and generally were strictly enforced until the last 25 years.  The Trump administration is re-enforcing the rules.

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The enforcement action will have a direct bearing on the current immigration process as most border arrivals are economic migrants manipulating asylum claims.  Immigration based on self-sufficiency has been U.S. law for generations.

[White House] – The Trump Administration is taking action to help ensure that non-citizens in this country are self-sufficient and not a strain on public resources.

* The Trump Administration is releasing a final rule that will protect American taxpayers, preserve our social safety net for vulnerable Americans, and uphold the rule of law.

* This action will help ensure that if aliens want to enter or remain in the United States they must support themselves, and not rely on public benefits.

* An alien who receives public benefits above a certain threshold is known as a “public charge.”

• Aliens will be barred from entering the United States if they are found likely to become public charges.
• Aliens in the United States who are found likely to become public charges will also be barred from adjusting their
  immigration status.

* President Trump is enforcing this longstanding law to prevent aliens from depending on public benefit programs.

• The Immigration and Nationality Act makes clear that those seeking to come to the United States cannot be a public charge.

* For many years, this clear legal requirement went largely unenforced, imposing vast burdens on American taxpayers. Now, public charge law will finally be utilized.

ENCOURAGING SELF-SUFFICIENCY: Self-sufficiency has long been a basic principle of our Nation’s immigration laws that has enjoyed widespread support.

* Public charge has been a part of United States immigration law for more than 100 years as a ground of inadmissibility.

* Congress passed and President Bill Clinton signed two bipartisan bills in 1996 to help stop aliens from exploiting public benefits.

• This included the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act.
• As Congress made clear at the time, it is our national policy that aliens should “not depend on public resources to meet their needs.”

* Americans widely agree that individuals coming to our country should be self-sufficient, with 73 percent in favor of requiring immigrants to be able to support themselves financially.

PRESERVING THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET: We must ensure that non-citizens do not abuse our public benefit programs and jeopardize the social safety net needed by vulnerable Americans.

* Large numbers of non-citizens and their families have taken advantage of our generous public benefits, limited resources that could otherwise go to vulnerable Americans.

* 78 percent of households headed by a non-citizen with no more than a high school education use at least one welfare program.

* 58 percent of all households headed by a non-citizen use at least one welfare program.

* Half of all non-citizen headed households include at least one person who uses Medicaid. (White House Link)

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon appears on Fox News with Maria Bartiromo for a wide-ranging discussion on current political and geopolitical events.

Topics include the U.S-Mexico border security and immigration; the 2020 democrat candidates (announced and unannounced); the bigger geopolitical issues behind the U.S-China trade conflict; Joe and Hunter Biden’s direct financial relationship to the Chinese communist government; the USMCA trade agreement; Trump’s leverage to increase an EU free economic alliance against China; and radical action by dems.

White House Manufacturing and Trade Policy Advisor Peter Navarro appears on CNBC to discuss the turbulent week on Wall Street and the current status of the U.S. trade position with China.  Pundits are starting to accept that bigger tariffs are on the horizon.  Team Trump is not backing down; and our U.S. position is much stronger.

On one hand, Wall Street loves cheap money (low fed rates). However, on the other hand 51% of all Chinese manufacturing is done by U.S. owned multinationals; and those corporations don’t want to see the retention efforts of China undermined with a lower dollar value (lower fed rate). As a consequence Wall Street is schizophrenic.

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On the issue of manufacturers leaving China, Forbes has this outlook: “American businesses now have a month to prepare their supply chains for the impending tariff changes. Companies that do well will be the ones who have taken Trump at his word, rather than to doubt the Disruptor-in-Chief’s position on China. Further disruptions are coming to the U.S. supplier network, impacting how equity analysts view companies, recommend their stocks, and — in a broader sense — impacting the business cycle, already long in the tooth.” (link)

Chopper pressers are the best pressers. President Trump was leaving the White House at 9:48am for travel to New York and New Jersey when he conducted a full press conference that lasted more than 30 minutes.  The journalists were melting.

Topics and questions included: China and status of trade conflict, background checks, the Federal Reserve and interest rates, a new “very beautiful letter” from Kim Jong Un, the Mississippi ICE enforcement actions, Colin Kaepernick’s prospects for NFL employment and Joe Biden’s defects as a candidate.  [Video below – Transcript ADDED]

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[Transcript] – THE PRESIDENT: So, we’re doing very well with China. We’re talking to China. We’re not ready to make a deal, but we’ll see what happens. But, you know, we’ve been hurt by China for 25, 30 years. Nobody has done anything about it. And we have no choice but to do what we’re doing.

It’s working out very well, as you know. We called them on manipulation and they brought their numbers back, and they brought them back rapidly. And they were able to do that because they manipulate. But that’s — so it’s called “monetary manipulation.” Not good.

But what happened and what’s happening with China now — we have an open dialogue. We’ll see whether or not we keep our meeting in September. If we do, that’s fine. If we don’t, that’s fine. But it’s time that somebody does what we’re doing.

And I said, the American taxpayer is not paying for it. We had a big day in stock market yesterday, but the American taxpayer is not paying for it.

What China is doing is, by depressing their currency and by pouring tremendous amounts of money into their system, they’re paying for it. The prices have not gone up. So when the Amer- — in fact, in some cases, they’ve gone down because the devaluation, plus the money supply — the amount of money that they pour in, which is a form of manipulation — has more than compensated for an increase in price.

So, as I said — and everybody questioned it — in the case of China, the tariffs have been amazing. We’re taking in billions and billions of dollars. Now, China has had their worst year in 35 years now. It was in 26 years, but now it’s in 35 years. I want them to do well. But as of this moment, they’re having the worst year that they’ve had in many, many years — in decades. And really, we’re just bringing the system back into order.

We have all the cards. We’re doing well. Our country is doing fantastically well. You look at Europe; they’ve got problems. In fact, the biggest problem we have is the fact that a lot of other — continents, frankly — but a lot of other countries are not doing well. But we’re doing great, and we continue to do great. Our companies are poised. They have a lot of cash. Our system is beautiful.

Q Mr. President, the NRA has been a strong supporter and ally of yours, going all the way back to the campaign. Can you take a position at odds with the NRA on background checks?

THE PRESIDENT: I think I could, but I don’t think I’ll be there. I have a great relationship with the NRA. They supported me very early, and that’s been a great decision they made. We have Justice Kavanaugh. We have Justice Gorsuch. And they feel very strongly about the Second Amendment.

The NRA has made a great decision in supporting me, and nobody else would have won, aside from everything else. I have a very good relationship. I’ll change it: I have a great relationship with the NRA. I have a lot of respect for the people at the NRA. And I have already spoken to them on numerous occasions. Numerous occasions.

And, frankly, we need intelligent background checks, okay? This isn’t a question of NRA, Republican, or Democrat. I will tell you, I spoke to Mitch McConnell yesterday. He’s totally onboard. He said, “I’ve been waiting for your call.” He is totally onboard. I spoke to senators that, in some cases, people — friends of mine — but pretty hardline senators. Hardline. And when I say that, I say that in a positive way. Hardline on the Second Amendment. And they understand.

We don’t want insane people, mentally ill people, bad people, dangerous people — we don’t want guns in the hands of the wrong people. I think that the Republicans are going to be great and lead the charge along with the Democrats.

I spoke yesterday to Nancy Pelosi. We had a great talk. I spoke to Chuck Schumer. We had a great talk. And Chuck Schumer, in particular, loves my China policy, as you probably know. I said, “I can’t believe it. You actually like something that I’m doing.” He said, “Not ‘like.’ Love.”

So Chuck Schumer is — he’s great on the China situation, which we are winning and winning big. And China wants to do something, but I’m not ready to do anything yet. Twenty-five years of abuse. I’m not ready so fast. So we’ll see how that works out.

But on the background checks — on background checks, we have tremendous support for really commonsense, sensible, important background checks.

Q Mr. President, you expressed support for background checks after Parkland. Why is now different?

THE PRESIDENT: Time goes by. I don’t think I’m different, but I think the Senate is different. I think other people in the House are different. I think that people that maybe had their arm up a couple of years ago, maybe they feel differently. I don’t think I feel any differently.

I think with a lot of success that we have, I think I have a greater influence now over the Senate and over the House.

Q Can it get done now? Can it get done now?

THE PRESIDENT: I think we can get something really good done. I think we can have some really meaningful background checks. We don’t want people that are mentally ill, people that are sick — we don’t want them having guns. Who does?

Q Mr. President, but if the NRA does not support that effort, will you fight them on it?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we’ll see where the NRA will be. But we have to have meaningful background checks. You know, in the case of — in both cases, it’s possible they wouldn’t have been caught.

But in the one case, we also have to talk about age, because he did things that were very, very bad in Ohio, in Dayton. He did some things that were really bad. His school knew about it. When he turned 18, everything was expunged. We’re going to have to get rid of that because you can’t have that barrier. If they would have had that barrier, they would have been able to see. But because he was a minor, it was expunged. We’re going to have to get rid of that barrier.

I think this: I think a lot of really meaningful things on background checks will take place, including red flags, including a lot of other very, very important items. And the Republicans are looking at it very seriously. And I really believe that the NRA — I’ve spoken to them numerous times — they’re really good people. They’re great patriots. They love our country. They love our country so much. And, frankly, I really think they’re going to get there also.

Q Mr. President, when you talked to Wayne LaPierre — you talked to him several times — did he warn you that background checks could cost you, politically? And did you say to him, “Forget politics, we have to do something now”?

THE PRESIDENT: No. No. I had a good talk with Wayne. And I like Wayne. And, you know — as you know, they supported me very early — far earlier than anybody thought possible, especially me not being a politician. And that support has paid off. We now have two Supreme Court justices that are phenomenal — Kavanaugh and Gorsuch. And, I mean, they’re phenomenal people, and they’re big believers in the Second Amendment, which Wayne is also and which I am.

I mean, there’s been — there’s been no President that feels more strongly about the Second Amendment than I do. However, we need meaningful background checks so that sick people don’t get guns.

Q Will he support you? Will Wayne support you?

THE PRESIDENT: I think, in the end — I think, in the end, Wayne and the NRA will either be there or maybe will be a little bit more neutral, and that would be okay, too.

Look — look, the NRA has, over the years, taken a very, very tough stance on everything, and I understand it. You know, it’s a slippery slope. They think you’ll prove one thing, and that leads to a lot of bad things. I don’t agree with that.

I think we can do meaningful — very meaningful background checks. I want to see it happen.

So I’ve got a lot of support. And I also have the support of other people on the other side. And I think the Democrats and Republicans have a chance to really come together.

Q On Mississippi, why wasn’t there a better plan in place to deal with the migrant children in Mississippi? Why was there family separation?

THE PRESIDENT: The reason is because you have to go in; you can’t let anybody know. Otherwise, when you get there, nobody will be there. But a big factor is to let people outside of the country that want to come in legally — illegally into our country, where they come in in caravans where they surge the border — which, by the way, we have the numbers way down right now, if you see, because Mexico has done a fantastic job.

Mexico has 26,000 soldiers, right now, on the border. They have been fantastic — because of tariffs. But I don’t care what it is, because Mexico — in fact, I’ll be calling the President at a certain point. I just hope they keep it up. Because if the Democrats will change the laws — which I was thinking about putting together, as you know, with the gun situation. So we have immigration and we have, let’s say, some of the things we’re talking about right now — you have them together.

But I want people to know that if they come into the United States illegally, they’re getting out; they’re going to be brought out. And this serves as a very good deterrent. If people come into our country illegally, they’re going out. They’re not coming in illegally and staying. We have bad laws. They may get in — although we’re being very tough — but they may get in, but it doesn’t matter because they’re going out. And when people see what they saw yesterday, and like they will see for a long time, they know that they’re not staying here.

Q (Inaudible) black Americans give you another chance in 2020?

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I think they really like — you know, it’s really amazing because African American unemployment just came out very recently — the lowest in history. It’s the best — the best numbers in history. African American employment — and Hispanic and Asian, too — have more people working today than ever worked in the history of our country.
Plus, I did criminal justice reform, which President Obama could not get approved — which the media never talks about. If President Obama got criminal justice reform done, it would be front-page stories all over the place. I got it done. I think that African Americans appreciate it.

So I got that. I have the best unemployment numbers. I have the best employment numbers for a lot of people. But for African Americans: number one that we’ve ever had.

One other thing we did, aside from criminal justice reform: Opportunity Zones. And they are doing unbelievably well. And you’ll see that, and you’ve already seen it. But Opportunity Zones. And the biggest beneficiary there is African Americans.

Q (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: I think so. Yeah. I do.

Q Mr. President, do you plan invite your Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House? And what would be your advice for him —

THE PRESIDENT: Who are you talking about?

Q The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

Q Do you plan to invite him to the White House? And what would be your advice for him on how to communicate with Vladimir Putin to stop the conflict in Eastern Ukraine?

THE PRESIDENT: I think he’s going to make a deal with President Putin, and he will be invited to the White House. And we look forward to seeing him. He’s already been invited to the White House, and he wants to come. And I think he will. He’s a very reasonable guy. He wants to see peace in Ukraine. And I think he will be coming very soon, actually.

Q Did you watch Mr. Biden’s comments overnight? And does it make you want to change your own rhetoric?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, he comments — look. Look, Joe is not playing with a full deck. He made that comment. I said, “Whoa.” I saw it because I was on — something; I had a television. I saw his comment. Joe Biden is not playing with a full deck. This is not somebody you can have as your President. But if he got the nomination, I’d be thrilled.

Q What are you going to do, Mr. President, to keep conservatives from being banned on Twitter?

THE PRESIDENT: We’re looking at that right now. We have a lot of these companies coming in a little while, as you know.

Q What are you going to say to them?

THE PRESIDENT: We’re going to be very tough with them. They’re treating conservatives very unfairly.

Hollywood — I don’t call them the “elites”; I think the elites are people they go after, in many cases. But Hollywood is really terrible. You talk about racist — Hollywood is racist. What they’re doing, with the kind of movies they’re putting out — it’s actually very dangerous for our country. What Hollywood is doing is a tremendous disturbance to our country.

We have now, in a little while, all of the heads of the biggest companies coming in, and we’re going to talk to them. They treat conservatives and Republicans totally different than they treat others. And they can’t do that.

Q Will the Trump administration devalue the U.S. dollar?

THE PRESIDENT: No. We don’t have to. We have such a strong dollar. The problem is, our dollar is at a level that it makes it hard. But the advantage to doing what we have is money is pouring in because we have the safest currency in the world. We have the standard of the world.

But because it’s so strong — it’s gotten so strong because other countries have problems — it makes it harder for our manufacturers.

So if we lowered the interest rate by the Federal Reserve, that would automatically bring down the dollar a little bit, and it would make it easier for Caterpillar and these companies.

But we have the greatest currency in the world. No, I wouldn’t do that.

Q Are you thinking of cancelling the trade talk next month with China?

THE PRESIDENT: So, China wants to settle this deal. They’ve had the worst year that they’ve had in many, many decades. And it’s getting only worse. Thousands of companies are leaving China. They would like to make a deal. I’m not ready to make a deal.

Q But are you willing to cancel the talks next month?

THE PRESIDENT: Maybe. We’ll see what happens. Right now — right now the talks are scheduled in September. Whether or not we’re talking about China, whether or not they’re cancelled, we’ll see.

Look, as I said, our people are not paying for these billions and billions of dollars that came in, $16 billion of which I gave to the farmers because they were targeted by China. And that’s just a small fraction of what we’ve taken in.

So they are not — because what China has been doing — they’re a currency manipulator — they’ve manipulated the value of their currency, and that’s where the money comes. And also, they put tremendous money into the system.

So if you look, prices have not risen. Our people have not paid. So all of these guys that say, “Oh, Trump, Trump, Trump…” — they don’t know what they’re talking about.

Now, China is unique. That doesn’t mean it happens with other countries. It probably doesn’t. But the prices have not gone up. In fact, we have virtually no inflation in our country. If the Federal Reserve would bring down interest rates over a period of time —

Q How much?

THE PRESIDENT: I would love to see a point or even a little bit more than that. If they would stop quantitative tightening, we have a rocket ship.

I mean, we’re doing well without it, but we’re being handcuffed by the Federal Reserve. If they would stop that, it would be incredible.

Q Mr. President, do you want to expand South Korea and Japan Military Information Agreement? Will you support them?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I hope that South Korea and I hope that Japan start getting along with each other. You know, they’re supposed to be allies. And it puts us in a very difficult position. South Korea and Japan are fighting all the time. They’ve got to get along because it puts us in a very bad position.

With that being said, I got a very beautiful letter from Kim Jong Un yesterday. It was delivered — hand-delivered from —

Q What did it say?

THE PRESIDENT: It was a very positive letter.

Q What did it say?

THE PRESIDENT: I’d love to give it to you. I really would. Maybe — maybe sometime I will.

Q Kim Jong Un mention of a next meeting and a summit talk?

THE PRESIDENT: I think we’ll have another meeting. He really wrote a beautiful, three-page — I mean, right from top to bottom — a really beautiful letter. And maybe I’ll release the results of the letter, but it was a very positive letter.

Q Any decision on Huawei?

THE PRESIDENT: We’re not going to do business with Huawei. We’re not doing business with them. And I really made the decision. It’s much simpler not to do any business with Huawei. So we’re not doing business with Huawei. That doesn’t mean we won’t agree to something if and when we make a trade deal, but we’re not going to be doing business with Huawei.

Q When will you nominate someone to replace Coats? Are you looking at Maguire, Hoekstra?

THE PRESIDENT: Maguire is excellent. Admiral. Highly respected. A great leader. He’s Acting right now. Sue did a great job. I like Sue Gordon very much.

I think that, over a period of time — I’m in no rush because we have a great Acting.

Q Have you interviewed Hoekstra?

THE PRESIDENT: I like Hoekstra a lot. I spoke to Senator Burr about different people. He’s head of intelligence. And we’re — I’m working together with Senator Burr and the whole committee. I want to get somebody that everybody can really come together with. I like Pete Hoekstra a lot. He’s great. He’s doing a fantastic job in the Netherlands right now.

Q You had mentioned it was down to three. Is it more than two?

THE PRESIDENT: No, I will tell you: That’s a job that everybody wants. DNI. Everybody. But I’m dealing — I’m dealing with the committee. I’m dealing with, really, Senator Burr a lot. And we’ll come up with somebody that’s great. We have a lot of choice. A lot of people want the job.

Q Tension between Japan and South Korea, are you concerned?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, I’m concerned that they’re not getting along with each other. They have to get along with each other. If they don’t get along, what are we doing? They have to get along with each other. It’s very important.

South Korea and Japan have to sit down and get along with each other. Otherwise, what are we all doing?

Q Are you considering moving troops from Germany to Poland?

THE PRESIDENT: So, Poland has been a great, great friend of ours. They’ve offered to build a military base at the cost of many billions of dollars. No money put up by the United States whatsoever. They’ve offered to fund our troops and lots of other things — the way it should be. Not the stupid deals that we made with all these other countries that take advantage of us.

So, Poland has been terrific. And we’re going to be going to Poland very soon. I’m sure you’re going to be going with us. I had a great experience in Poland the last time I went. In fact, some of you actually said the speech was one of the best ever made in Europe by an American President. Hard to believe that you actually said that. When you said that, I was, like, in a state of shock.

Q On the fundraiser tonight, did Stephen Ross say anything about potentially cancelling, given the controversy?

THE PRESIDENT: No. Stephen Ross is a great friend of mine. He’s a very successful guy. We were competitors but friends in real estate, in New York, in the old days. He’s a great guy. He is — by the way, I think he’s probably more inclined to be a liberal, if you want to know the truth. But he likes me, he respects me. We’re doing a fundraiser there. We’re doing another fundraiser with another friend of mine. And I understand the fundraiser was totally sold out, and it’s very successful.

Q Your reaction to the controversy, people boycotting?

THE PRESIDENT: I don’t think — I think it makes Steve much hotter. I explained — I didn’t speak to him yet; I’ll see him in a little while. The controversy makes Steve Ross hotter. He’ll figure that out in about a week. But he’s very happy. He’s got a very successful — a lot of people are going.

We have two fundraisers. One is Steve; one is another gentleman. And I guess they’re going to raise 11 or 12 billion — million dollars. Not billion. Million.

I’m getting used to saying “billion.” We’re talking about a lot of money.

Q When you talked about age restrictions to buy guns, 18 months ago you supported buying long guns at the age of 25, raising the age. Are you considering bringing that back now?

THE PRESIDENT: We’re not talking about anything specific. I can tell you there’s tremendous goodwill for meaningful — I’m talking about “meaningful”; add that word — meaningful background checks so that sick and demented people don’t carry around guns.

You have to remember — and I’ve said it — it’s a big mental illness problem. And the gun doesn’t pull a trigger. A mind — a sick mind pulls a trigger. So we want to take that out of the equation.

Q Do you support the Toomey-Manchin bill or the House bill? Will you lift your veto threat?

THE PRESIDENT: We’re looking at Toomey-Manchin. Actually, if you look, there are many bills that have been put in over a period of four, five years. They went nowhere. But there’s never been a President like President Trump.

Q Mr. President, will you call Congress back into session to pass (inaudible)?

THE PRESIDENT: I don’t think we’ll need to. I may. Leadership is dealing along with me right now. By the time you call them back, they’re going to be back anyway. I don’t think we’ll need to call them back. I think we’ll have a very good package by the time they come back and they can start debating and voting on it then. So I really don’t think, for the extra little time, it matters.

Leadership is doing a really good job — Mitch McConnell, Kevin, Nancy. I spoke with Nancy Pelosi yesterday. I spoke with Chuck Schumer yesterday. There’s a lot of goodwill about this issue.

Q And do you think that — I mean, do you need to give a speech to do something to marshal support for this?

THE PRESIDENT: I don’t think so. No. No.

Q Will you lead the charge?

THE PRESIDENT: I think we have a lot of support. I mean, I’m very fortunate. In the Republican Party, I’m at 94 percent approval rating, so that helps. But I have a great relationship with the Republican senators. And I really think they’re looking for me to make — give them a signal. And we’re going to have great support, and I think we’ll have the support from the Democrats also.

Q Mr. President, you also said this after Parkland. Why should Americans believe you now?

THE PRESIDENT: No, no. I never said what I’m saying now.

Q (Inaudible) background checks after Parkland.

THE PRESIDENT: What I’m saying — what I said, though: You have tremendous opposition from many people on both sides. I see a better feeling right now towards getting something meaningful done. Meaningful. And we did do things after Parkland, but it wasn’t to the same level that I’m talking about now.

You know, we did do the Fix NICS and various other things. So we did do a lot of work after Parkland. But I think we have now a chance to do something, really, much more meaningful —

Q Support among Republicans or —

THE PRESIDENT: — having to do — having to do, as you know, with background checks.

Q Mr. President, it’s almost back-to-school season. What is your message to young children and teenagers who are anxious or nervous about going back to school after these mass shootings?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, my message to young children going back to school is: Go and really study hard, and someday you’ll grow up and maybe be President of the United States or do something else that’s fantastic.

They have nothing to fear. They have nothing to worry about. In addition, we’re in constant contact with states, with state governments. And they are really doing a great job. We have this so much better than it was two and a half years ago. Two and a half years ago, when I came in, it was really not a good situation. I think we have a very, very good system right now. That doesn’t mean that there’s not going to be some crazy person, but that’s what we want to do. We want to take the guns out of the hands of crazy, demented, sick people.

Q (Inaudible) assault weapons ban — will you be telling the NRA to stand down?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, we’re not looking at that right now. We’re really looking at very meaningful background checks. I think it’s going to happen. There’s great, great support. But we’re looking at very, very meaningful background checks.

Q What is the advantage to having Maguire as the head of DNI versus Gordon?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, Admiral — as you know, Maguire — Admiral Maguire is a very talented man. He’s a great leader. As an Admiral, was always a great leader. He is a man who is respected by everybody, and he’s going to be there for a period of time. Who knows? Maybe he gets the job. But he’ll be there for a period of time — maybe a longer period of time than we think. We’ll see.

We’re dealing with Senator Burr. We’re dealing with the committee. We’re dealing with probably 9 or 10 people that want the job very much. You know the name of almost every one of them. They’re truly outstanding. Everybody wants DNI. Everybody wants it.

And I will say that the Admiral is such a great choice from the standpoint of now. And maybe he goes further. We’ll see what happens. But we’re dealing with the committee and Senator Burr. We have people, all of whom you know — highly respected people. We’ll be making a decision in the not-too-distant future.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. Are you still committed to naming Eugene Scalia Secretary of Labor? And when will you send a nomination to the Senate?

THE PRESIDENT: So, Eugene Scalia is a highly respected lawyer in Washington. His father, as you know, was the great, great, great Supreme Court Justice. Even the people with not his views would say he was a great gentleman, a great man.

Eugene Scalia — Gene Scalia — has had a fantastic career. As you know, he’s our appointment for Labor Secretary. I think — so far, it’s been received very well. He is a very — he’s one of the finest minds and lawyers in Washington. And I will say, so far, that’s been received very well.

Q On North Korea, this letter to you, did Kim Jong Un make any promises about stopping the ballistic missile testing that he’s been carrying out?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, he gave me a great letter. I would love to give you, but, I don’t know, I don’t think it would be appropriate. But it was a very personal letter.

Q Talked about missile testing?

THE PRESIDENT: It was a great letter. He talked about what he’s doing. He’s not happy with the testing. It’s a very small testing that we did. But he wasn’t happy with the testing; he put that in the letter. But he also sees a great future for North Korea. And so we’ll see how it all works out.

In the meantime, I say it again: There have been no nuclear tests. The missile tests have all been short-range. No ballistic missile tests. No long-range missiles. We got back, and we’re getting back — as we speak, we’re getting back a lot of our fallen heroes. You know that. They’re coming back into and through Hawaii. And we got back our hostages.

So I thought the letter — I just got it yesterday. It was hand-delivered and it wasn’t touched by anybody. They literally take it from North Korea to my office. We have a system. It’s the old-fashioned system. You don’t have to worry about leaks. Something nice about that system.

Q Mr. President, what do you mean that he wasn’t happy with the missile tests? He carried them out. He ordered them.

THE PRESIDENT: No, he wasn’t. He wasn’t happy with the tests — the war games. The war games on the other side, with the United States. And as you know, I’ve never liked it either. I’ve never liked it. I’ve never been a fan. You know why? I don’t like paying for it. We should be reimbursed for it, and I’ve told that to South Korea. But I don’t like it either. But I said, “Do this,” because this was a big test. This was a turnover of various areas to South Korea. I like that because that’s what should happen.

Q Several countries issued travel warnings to United States. And Japan specifically said gunfire is potentially everywhere in the U.S. What is your reaction to that?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I can’t imagine that. But if they did that, we’d just reciprocate. We are a very reciprocal nation, with me as the head. When somebody does something negative to us in terms of a country, we do it to them.

Look, our country has been taken advantage of by foreign countries, even allies — including allies, and in many cases, more than anybody else. We’ve been taken advantage of for many, many years, and it stops. It stopped.

Q In your view, Mr. President, should Colin Kaepernick get an opportunity to play in the NFL?

THE PRESIDENT: Only if he’s good enough. Yeah, if he’s good enough. Why would he play? If he’s good enough. And I think if he was good enough — I know the owners. I know Bob Kraft. I know so many of the owners. If he’s good enough, they’d sign him. So, if he’s good enough — I know these people — they would sign him in a heartbeat. They will do anything they can to win games.

So I’d like to see it. Frankly, I’d love to see Kaepernick come in if he’s good enough. But I don’t want to see him come in because somebody thinks it’s a good PR move. If he’s good enough, he will be in.

Q Are you worried about global markets pulling back at all?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, the global markets are not as good as our market. Our market has been really good.

Q Are you worried about the effect — the (inaudible) effect to the U.S.?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, it always — it’s never positive. Although, you could say it puts us in an even better position. I view it differently. I mean, most people would say that’s a bad thing. I would say the fact that other countries aren’t doing really well — China, in particular. China is doing horribly. Horribly. First time that anyone can remember. They are having a year like they never had. Almost — you know, go back, 30, 40 years. They’re having one of the worst years ever. The numbers are phony. They’re not doing 6.2; they’re doing a totally different number.

Q What do you think they’re doing?

THE PRESIDENT: Maybe neutral. Maybe even —

Q Does Democrats calling you and your supporters a white nationalist, a white supremacist, help you?

THE PRESIDENT: I don’t think it helps. First of all, I don’t like it when they do it because I am not any of those things. I think it’s a disgrace. And I think it shows how desperate the Democrats are. Look, right now, I’m working with the Democrats on meaningful background checks. That’s a big thing. Hopefully, we can do something. But — so I don’t want to focus too much on that.

I will say this: For them to throw out the race word again — “racist, racist, racist.” That’s all they use — to anybody. They called Nancy Pelosi a racist. She’s not a racist. They call anybody a “racist” when they run out of cards.

I’m winning in the polls. They’re desperate. They’ve got lousy candidates. They’ve got bad candidates. I mean, I watched the debates. I mean, I look —

Q (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: I look — well, I mean, Joe Biden can’t answer a simple question. Something is going wrong with him. I mean, the only — the only thing is — I mean, a lot of people think that he was the one that wanted Bob Mueller to testify because it made Joe look intelligent. Okay?

Q Is your base supporting background checks?

THE PRESIDENT: I think my base relies very much on common sense and they rely on me, in terms of telling them what’s happening. I think meaningful background checks — I don’t just say “background checks.” Because we passed background checks a number of times, meaning the Democr- — but everybody knew they weren’t that strong.

Q Do you want to expand the law?

THE PRESIDENT: I think meaningful background checks are a real positive. Politically, I can’t tell you. You know, I don’t know — good, bad, or indifferent. I don’t care, politically. I don’t want to have crazy people having guns.

TRANSCRIPT END 10:22 A.M. EDT

Good news for those who want accountability.  Bad news for those who were counting on deep state Sue Gordon to hide the corrupt intelligence behavior. As a result we can expect the usurping group and their media allies to go bananas.

No love… Move along… Out. Get Out!

The departure of Sue Gordon (above left) along with Dan Coats (above right) means President Trump will have the opportunity to place a new acting DNI, Joseph Maguire by the end of next week.   Hopefully this will speed up the process toward sunlight.

It’s interesting that Joseph Maguire (pictured above), comes from his current position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). The NCTC was first organized by John Brennan, and we have suspected this part of the intelligence apparatus ties directly into the 2015/2016 use of the FBI and NSA database search issue.

All of that is laid out inside a 99-page opinion from FISC Presiding Judge Rosemary Collyer who also noted that none of this FISA abuse was accidental in a footnote on page 87: “deliberate decisionmaking“:

This specific footnote, if declassified, would be key.  Note the phrase: “([redacted] access to FBI systems was the subject of an interagency memorandum of understanding entered into [redacted])”, this sentence has the potential to expose an internal decision; withheld from congress and the FISA court by the Obama administration; that outlines a process for access and distribution of surveillance data.

Note: “no notice of this practice was given to the FISC until 2016“, that is important.

Here’s the list of material possible for declassification, and the intelligence offices who hold custodial authority over the compartmented documents. This was the original list as outlined in 2018:

• All versions of the Carter Page FISA applications (DOJ) (FBI) (ODNI).
• All of the Bruce Ohr 302’s filled out by the FBI. (FBI) (ODNI)
• All of Bruce Ohr’s emails (FBI) (DOJ) (CIA) (ODNI). All supportive documents and material provided by Bruce Ohr to the FBI. (FBI)
• All relevant documents pertaining to the supportive material within the FISA application. (FBI) (DOJ-NSD ) (DoS) (CIA) (DNI) (NSA) (ODNI);
• All intelligence documents that were presented to the Gang of Eight in 2016 that pertain to the FISA application used against U.S. person Carter Page; including all intelligence documents that may not have been presented to the FISA Court. (CIA) (FBI) (DOJ) (ODNI) (DoS) (NSA)  Presumably this would include the recently revealed State Dept Kavalac email; and the FBI transcripts from wiretaps of George Papadopoulos (also listed in Carter Page FISA). [AKA ‘Bucket Five’]
• All unredacted text messages and email content between Lisa Page and Peter Strzok on all devices. (FBI) (DOJ) (DOJ-NSD) (ODNI)
• The originating CIA “EC” or two-page electronic communication from former CIA Director John Brennan to FBI Director James Comey that started Operation Crossfire Hurricane in July 2016. (CIA) (FBI) (ODNI)

Additionally, since the 2018 list was developed, more information has surfaced about underlying material.  This added to the possibility of documents for declassification:

♦ President Trump can prove the July 31st, 2016, Crossfire Hurricane counterintelligence operation originated from a scheme within the intelligence apparatus by exposing the preceding CIA operation that created the originating “Electronic Communication” memo. Declassify that two-page “EC” document that Brennan gave to Comey.  [The trail is found within the Weissmann report and the use of Alexander Downer – SEE HERE]

♦ Release and declassify all of the Comey memos that document the investigative steps taken by the FBI as an outcome of the operation coordinated by CIA Director John Brennan in early 2016.  [The trail was memorialized by James Comey – SEE HERE]

♦ Reveal the November 2015 through April 2016 FISA-702 search query abuse by declassifying the April 2017 court opinion written by FISC Presiding Judge Rosemary Collyer. Show the FBI contractors behind the 85% fraudulent search queries. [Crowdstrike? Fusion-GPS? Nellie Ohr? Daniel Richman?]  This was a weaponized surveillance and domestic political spying operation. [The trail was laid down in specific detail by Judge Collyer – SEE HERE]

♦ Subpoena former DOJ-NSD (National Security Division) head John Carlin, or haul him in front of a grand jury, and get his testimony about why he hid the abuse from the FISA court in October 2016; why the DOJ-NSD rushed the Carter Page application to beat NSA Director Admiral Mike Rogers to the FISA court; and why Carlin quit immediately thereafter.

♦ Prove the Carter Page FISA application (October 2016) was fraudulent and based on deceptions to the FISA Court. Declassify the entire document, and release the transcripts of those who signed the application(s); and/or depose those who have not yet testified. The creation of the Steele Dossier was the cover-up operation. [SEE HERE]

♦ Release all of the Lisa Page and Peter Strzok text messages without redactions. Let sunlight pour in on the actual conversation(s) that were taking place when Crossfire Hurricane (July ’16) and the FISA Application (Oct ’16) were taking place.  The current redactions were made by the people who weaponized the intelligence system for political surveillance and spy operation.  This is why Page and Strzok texts are redacted!

♦ Release all of Bruce Ohr 302’s, FBI notes from interviews and debriefing sessions, and other relevant documents associated with the interviews of Bruce Ohr and his internal communications. Including exculpatory evidence that Bruce Ohr may have shared with FBI Agent Joseph Pientka. [And get a deposition from this Pientka fella] Bruce Ohr is the courier, carrying information from those outside to those on the inside.

♦ Release the August 2nd, 2017, two-page scope memo provided by DAG Rod Rosenstein to special counsel Robert Mueller to advance the fraudulent Trump investigation, and initiate the more purposeful obstruction of justice investigation. Also Release the October 20th, 2017, second scope memo recently discovered.  The Scope Memos are keys to unlocking the underlying spy/surveillance cover-up. [SEE HERE and SEE HERE]

It is hard to believe but it’s been three years since we first outlined what would happen if candidate Donald Trump’s “America First” policy was implemented.  Specifically how the Federal Reserve would essentially become disconnected and functionally obsolescent for a few years.  As a result of the evidence visible, we are in a unique position to explain.

Staying in the big picture, a disconnected Fed was very predictable.  In the past 35 years the Wall Street multinationals gained as cheap money flowed overseas to start global manufacturing operations; Main Street USA suffered.  When you reverse this process by punishing the multinationals (tariffs), shifting the global supply chain, and changing the best location for investment dollars, Main Street USA benefits.  President Trump August 7th tweets statement:

Notice the “we are competing against other countries” part of the statement.  This is key to understanding what is in the future.  The Wall Street ‘multinationals’, corporations making and selling goods, are invested in production within other countries.

On one hand, Wall Street loves cheap money (low fed rates). However, on the other hand Wall Street multinationals are invested in overseas manufacturing; and those corporations don’t want to see the retention efforts of China and the EU undermined with a lower dollar value (lower fed rate).  So Wall Street is schizophrenic (check the stock market).

U.S. tariffs hurt the Wall Street multinationals because they want to keep making cheap goods overseas and they have invested in this process.  To retain the multinationals, the EU and China are devaluing their currency in an attempt to lower the price of goods they produce.

Lowered currency means their stuff costs less when exported to the U.S. market.  They need the U.S. market for their products; AND they don’t want to move their supply chain, or manufacturing into the United States.

Devaluing currency is what competing countries are doing to offset tariffs and try to block Trump’s America-First policies.  China also directly subsidizes their industries with free electricity, free domestic raw materials, and zero cost loans from their central bank.

As the EU and China devalue their currency, the value of the dollar increases.  President Trump responds to this in a Twitter thread today:

One way for the U.S. to respond is for the federal reserve to cut interest rates, which should lower our dollar value and make it easier to export products; but can also raise the price of things we import.  That is why President Trump notes “(there is no inflation)”.

[However, I doubt any action from the Fed will change anything.  All the data looks to me like the Fed is disconnected in this process.]

We are currently importing deflation as the devalued cost of goods from China and the EU is lower than the tariff rate upon them.   The goal is to move those manufacturing jobs out of China.  Thus the incentive is for President Trump to raise the tariff rate on China even higher.  This looks like the most predictable outcome.

Three variables:

(1) The USMCA ratification.  If/when the USMCA is ratified, this will give multinational manufacturers an established and cemented option to evaluate for supply chain moves.  (Watch Canada election; Trudeau loses and the U.S. stock market will bump.)

(2) The Fed’s rate cut.   If/when the Fed cuts the lending rate again; it will only modestly benefit domestic investment.  The rate cut is against the interest of multinational corporations because it undercuts the defensive efforts of China and the EU; though the cheaper money could help offset relocation costs.  [I strongly doubt much impact.]

(3) Timing.  The Chinese delegation is scheduled to visit in September.  There is almost zero possibility for a deal, unless the Chinese economy is in collapse.

President Trump has a quiver filled with deadly arrows; and after labeling China a currency manipulator, he’s now more likely to raise the tariff rate, perhaps as high as 25% across all sectors.  When this happens U.S. multinational corporations with heavy investment in China will see their supply chain and business model completely changed.

After visiting with victims, families and first responders in Dayton, OH, President Trump traveled to El Paso to visit with victims and first responders from Texas. President Trump delivered remarks from the El Paso Regional Emergency Communications Center. [Video and Transcript Below]

.

[Transcript – @2:30 of video] – Q Mr. President, can you tell us about today and what you’ve seen?

THE PRESIDENT: We had an amazing day. As you know, we left Ohio. And the love and the respect for the office of the presidency, it was — I wish you could have been in there to see it. I wish you could have been in there.

And it was no different here. We went to the hospital — just came from the hospital. We were there a lot longer than we were anticipated to be. It was supposed to be just a fairly quick — we met with numerous people. We met with also the doctors, the nurses, the medical staff. They have done an incredible job — both places. Just incredible.

And the enthusiasm, the love, the respect, and also the — telling me, “Let’s see if we can get something done.” And Republicans want to do it and Democrats want to do it.

And, by the way, here is a great hero. This man — the job he did. You all know who it is. Everybody — the whole world knows who you are now, right?

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS OAKLEY: Yes, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: So you’ll be a movie star, the way you look. That’ll be — hey, that’ll be next. Who knows, right?

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS OAKLEY: Yes, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: But what a job. What a job you did.

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS OAKLEY: Thank you, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: There are a lot of heroes. There are a lot of heroes. A lot of people did just incredible work. Now we’re going in, I believe, Chief, and say hello to some of your folks.

POLICE CHIEF ALLEN: Yes, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: This is one of the most respected men in law enforcement, and I want to thank you very much.

POLICE CHIEF ALLEN: Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much.

Q President Trump, you said today was about healing and unity, and you’ve attacked a number of your critics — Vice President Biden, Senator Brown, Mayor Whaley, as well as various members of the media. Can you explain why you chose to take that tone?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, they shouldn’t be politicking. Yeah, they shouldn’t be politicking today. I had it with Sherrod Brown. He and the mayor, Nan Whaley, they asked to go in — “Could we possibly go in and make the tour with you?” I said, “Yeah, let’s do it.”

They couldn’t believe what they saw, and they said it to people. They’ve never seen anything like it. The entire hospital — no different than what we had in El Paso — the entire hospital was — I mean, everybody was so proud of the job they did because they did a great job. They did a great job here.

And then I said goodbye. I took them in, at their request. We made the tour. They couldn’t believe it. She said it to people. He said it to people.

I get on Air Force One, where they do have a lot of televisions. I turn on the television, and there they are, saying, “Well, I don’t know if it was appropriate for the President to be in…” You know, et cetera, et cetera. You know, the same old line. And they’re very dishonest people and that’s probably why he got, I think, about zero percent and he failed as a presidential candidate.

We’re going to go in and see some very brave people. And I wanted to meet this hero before I did anything. And we appreciate it.

END 4:57 P.M. MDT