The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence voted today to approve Rep. John Ratcliffe to be the next US intelligence director. Senators approved Ratcliffe in an 8 to 7 vote along party lines during a closed-door meeting. The previous SSCI vote to approve Dan Coats in 2017 was 14 to 2. DNI Coats turned out to be a disappointment protecting the swamp.
Mr. Ratcliffe now moves to be confirmed by the full Senate before replacing acting Director of National Intelligence Richard “Ric” Grenell, who also is US ambassador to Germany. As acting DNI Grenell built a strong foundation for Ratcliffe to build upon; and there is a strong likelihood Grenell will stay close to the administration and lead President Trump’s Intelligence Advisory Board.
The ODNI position is important within the intelligence apparatus as the DNI is the hub for all intelligence agencies and the director controls the overall intelligence community. The DNI also coordinates the declassification and release of executive branch documents.
Politico reports Ratcliffe is expected to be confirmed by the full Senate in a vote likely to be held after Memorial Day, according to Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo).
Chopper pressers are the best pressers. President Trump delivers remarks to the press pool as he departs the White House for Camp David. [Video and Transcript Below]
A curious group accompanies President Trump to Camp David this weekend along with chief of staff Mark Meadows. POTUS is bringing House Leader Kevin McCarthy, GOP Reps. Dan Crenshaw, Matt Gaetz, Devin Nunes, Jim Jordan, Elise Stefanik and Lee Zeldin.
The House group represents a team well versed in the Obamagate and Spygate issues. Along with the need to organize a political effort against Pelosi’s $3 trillion spending fiasco; perhaps the team is doing some big ugly political planning.
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[Transcript] – THE PRESIDENT: So we’ll be going to Camp David. We have a lot of meetings scheduled. I think they’ll be very successful meetings. We’re getting a lot of gear out. We’re getting a lot of gowns out — protective equipment. And the governors have all been very thankful. We received a lot of calls today from governors. They’re very thankful for the job we’re doing. And that’s good.
Do you have any questions? Please.
Q Yeah, what’s the topic of the discussion at Camp David this weekend?
THE PRESIDENT: Go ahead.
Q What’s the topic of the discussion at Camp David this weekend?
THE PRESIDENT: So we have a lot of discussions going on at Camp David, some military and some other than military. We’ll probably report back on it on Monday.
Q Why are you not wanting to talk to President Xi right now, of China?
THE PRESIDENT: I just don’t want to talk to him right now. We’ll — we’ll see what happens over the next little while. They’re buying a lot of our material. They’re spending a lot on the trade deal, but the trade deal — I don’t know, somehow I lost a little flavor for it. You can understand.
Go ahead.
Q Sir, how many ventilators are you sending to India?
THE PRESIDENT: We’re sending a lot of ventilators to India. I spoke to Prime Minister Modi, and we’re sending quite a few ventilators to India. We have a tremendous supply of ventilators . So —
Q Mr. President? Mr. President, right here.
Q Sir, who do you think should go to jail, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: Go ahead. Go ahead.
Q Mr. President, what do you make of the images of people with guns, weapons showing up at the Michigan capitol?
THE PRESIDENT: Say it?
Q What do you make of the images of people with weapons showing up at the Michigan capitol to protest? Are you okay with that?
THE PRESIDENT: I haven’t seen it.
Q You haven’t seen those pictures?
THE PRESIDENT: You’ll have to — you’ll have to tell me.
Yeah, go ahead.
Q Should a vaccine be free?
THE PRESIDENT: We’re looking at that, actually. But we’re making a lot of progress on vaccines. But we’ll be speaking to you very soon, and I think we’re going to have a very good couple of meetings at Camp David.
Earlier today President Trump Participated in the Presentation of the United States Space Force Flag, during a ceremony in the oval office. Additionally President Trump signed an Armed Forces Day Proclamation. [Video and Transcript Below]
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[Transcript] – THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much. This is a very special moment because this is the presentation of the Space Force flag. So we’ve worked very hard on this. And it’s so important from a defensive standpoint, from an offensive standpoint, from every standpoint there is.
As you know, China and Russia, perhaps others, started off a lot sooner than us. We should have started this a long time ago, but we’ve made up for it in spades. We have developed some of the most incredible weapons anyone has ever seen, and it’s moving along very rapidly. And we have tremendous people in charge.
And I — what I’d like to do is I’d like to just start by asking some of those folks to say a few words. And the importance strategically, militarily, and even from a pure civilian standpoint, and from bringing our economy back — everything — it’s going to help so much. All made right here in the USA. And it’s going to be very special, very important. Space Force.
First time in 72 years-plus that we’ve opened up a new branch of the United States military.
And, Mark, maybe I’ll start with you. You’ll saw a few words. Please.
SECRETARY ESPER: Yes, sir. Let me just say it’s a very historic moment. The United States has been a spacefaring nation for decades, but we know that our adversaries in the last several years have weaponized space. They’ve made it a warfighting domain. And so with the establishment of Space Force and the establishment of Space Command, the United States is now doing what it needs to do to protect our assets in space and ensure that space remains the heavens by which we not only protect America, but we sustain our economy, we sustain our commercial capabilities, we sustain Americans’ way of life.
So again, another very historic moment. I’m confident that both the Space Force and the Space Command will do what is necessary to defend us in space and to keep America great.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Great job you’re doing, too.
General Milley? Please.
GENERAL MILLEY: Sir. Thank you, Mr. President. And as the Secretary said, this is a historic day. Some time ago, we made a decision to establish the Space Force, and that’s because we’re undergoing a changing character of war, which is of historic importance for all nations.
And as part of that, the space part of our universe opened up as a domain of warfare. And it’s critical that if we are going to sustain our way of life, if we’re going to defend our nation, that we’re going to have to defend ourselves in space and therefore the need for Space Force.
And it’s a great day for the nation, it’s a great day, really, for the world that the United States of America establishes its first Space Force.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much.
Please.
GENERAL RAYMOND: Mr. President, thank you for your leadership.
THE PRESIDENT: Congratulations, by the way.
GENERAL RAYMOND: Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Number one.
GENERAL RAYMOND: Yes, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: That’s great.
GENERAL RAYMOND: I appreciate the honor.
Sixteen thousand space professionals assigned to the Space Force. We’re proud of this flag. They come to work every day focusing on providing space capabilities for our nation, for our joint coalition forces, and for the world. We’re proud of this flag. We’re proud to have an opportunity to present it to you here for display in the White House.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you.
GENERAL RAYMOND: Thank you for your leadership —
THE PRESIDENT: Appreciate it.
GENERAL RAYMOND: — very much.
Secretary, please.
SECRETARY BARRETT: Thank you, Mr. President. You’ve really demonstrated leadership in establishing the Space Force. This is an important moment and an important month, actually.
Most of the Americans, before their first cup of coffee in the morning, have used space, but very few people realize how important space is —
THE PRESIDENT: That’s right.
SECRETARY BARRETT: — to everything that we do, and that it’s vulnerable, because we need to up our game in space. And you’ve recognized that and built a force that will help to protect our assets in space and deter aggressive action in space and, if deterrence doesn’t work, to be able to defend our assets in space and those of our allies.
So we thank you very much for the leadership you’ve demonstrated and we’re excited for this breakthrough moment.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much. I appreciate it. We’re building, right now, incredible military equipment at a level that nobody has ever seen before. We have no choice. We have to do it — with the adversaries we have out there.
We have a — I call it the “super-duper missile.” And I heard the other night, 17 times faster than what they have right now.
SECRETARY ESPER: Yes, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: And you take the fastest missile we have right now — you’ve heard Russia has five times, and China is working on five or six times. We have one 17 times. And it’s just gotten the go-ahead. Seventeen times faster, if you can believe that, General. That’s something, right? Seventeen times faster than what we have right now. Fastest in the world by a factor of almost three.
So I just want to congratulate everybody and thank everybody. Space is going to be — it’s going to be the future, both in terms of defense and offense and so many other things.
And already, from what I’m hearing and based on reports, we’re now the leader in space, and that took place. Don’t forget, we’re having a meeting today. This is really to unfurl the flag. But we’ve been doing this now for quite a while. I have to say that from my standpoint, having a force — a space force, in this case, but to be adding to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which I’ve known about and read about and heard about all my life — just like General Milley to be the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is something that’s a very special thing.
Well, to add another force into the Joint Chiefs and — and we’re getting a four star. In this case, we’re getting a four-star general on your board. So we’re doing something — right here. So we’re doing something that is such a monumental task.
So it’s been more than 72 years. The Air Force, I believe, was the last one. And so we have Air Force. And not since the Air Force has anything like this happened, and now we have Space Force added on with — with full honors, I must add. With full honors.
So today, we’re here for a very important — it’s really an important occasion because we’re unfurling the flag. And with us is Chief Master Sergeant Roger Towberman. And he is — I’d like you to say exactly, because his rank is a very special rank. Tell us about that rank.
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT TOWBERMAN: Yes, sir. I’m the senior enlisted advisor for the United States Space Force.
THE PRESIDENT: And the highest — highest sergeant by far, right?
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT TOWBERMAN: Yes, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: There’s no —
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT TOWBERMAN: And at the moment, the only one. So I give counsel to the Secretary and to the Chief —
THE PRESIDENT: That’s — that’s pretty good.
GENERAL RAYMOND: Mr. President, this rank is custom designed.
THE PRESIDENT: Wow. That’s beautiful. Wow. That’s it.
GENERAL RAYMOND: And he’s the only — the only Airman —
THE PRESIDENT: That’s beautiful.
GENERAL RAYMOND: — the only Airman that wears that rank and will be the only Airman that wears that rank. He’s the senior enlisted leader.
THE PRESIDENT: That’s fantastic. And I heard tremendous things about you, Roger.
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT TOWBERMAN: Thanks.
THE PRESIDENT: It’s a very important position. And you’re with all these generals. But you know what? He’s an important guy, right?
So why don’t we go ahead and do it? Let’s do it. Yes, please.
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT TOWBERMAN: Thank you.
Thank you.
(The flag is unfurled.) (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: That’s fantastic, Roger. I’ll walk over there. That is great. You stay right there.
That’s fantastic. Isn’t that great? Please, get in the picture. That’s beautiful.
SECRETARY ESPER: And, Mr. President, it will stand in your office alongside the other service flags.
THE PRESIDENT: Very, very great honor. It’s a great honor. That’s a beautiful flag, too. Roger, hold that up so they can see. That’s really beautiful. Wow.
It’s a big — that’s a big day.
Q Can somebody explain the logo?
SECRETARY ESPER: General Raymond?
THE PRESIDENT: Please. Go ahead.
GENERAL RAYMOND: So the delta in the middle is a symbol that the space community has used for years and years and years. The North Star signifies our core value — our guiding light, if you will. And the orbit around the globe signifies the space capabilities that fuel our American way of life and our American way of war.
THE PRESIDENT: That’s great. I’m going to do this for Roger. Here, Roger. Please don’t put this on eBay tonight. (Laughter.) Here, Roger. Come here a minute.
And we’re going to sign. Okay, Roger, that’s for you.
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT TOWBERMAN: Thank you so much.
THE PRESIDENT: That’s for you.
SECRETARY BARRETT: Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Okay. So let’s do it. This is great stuff.
(The proclamation is signed.)
Okay. Let’s see, I have — I think we have no choice, right? General, come on over here.
GENERAL RAYMOND: Absolutely.
THE PRESIDENT: Good luck.
GENERAL RAYMOND: Mr. President, thanks you, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Good luck. Okay?
GENERAL RAYMOND: Thanks for your — thanks for the honor.
THE PRESIDENT: Fantastic. And these are going for everybody, please. Okay?
(Pens are distributed.)
SECRETARY BARRETT: Thank you very much.
THE PRESIDENT: Roger. Thank you very much. Mark, you’re all set? General, come on over here. General Kellogg has been fantastic. Done a great job. He’s working on a special project now, aren’t you?
LIEUTENANT GENERAL KELLOGG: I am, sir. And we’re going to get it done.
THE PRESIDENT: It’s a very special project. (Applause.)
Okay? Got it? Thank you all very much. Thank you.
I’ll be going to Camp David tonight with a lot of different people. We have some big things happening. So I’ll be at Camp David tonight with various people.
Q Who’s going?
THE PRESIDENT: Various people, including some of the folks on the Hill and some of our great leaders.
Q To talk about what exactly?
THE PRESIDENT: Different things. Different things.
Q Phase four?
THE PRESIDENT: Uh, no, not so much phase four. Phase four could happen, but it will happen the right way. We have all the cards because we have the cards for the American people. I know what they want. And I’ve always known what they want. That’s why I’m sitting here.
No, phase four is going to happen, but it’s going to happen in a much better way for the American people.
President Trump delivers remarks at a Presidential Recognition Ceremony: Hard Work, Heroism, and Hope. Anticipated start time 4:00pm ET.
UPDATE: Video and Transcript Added:
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[Transcript] – THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Please. Those are friendly truckers. They’re on our side. It’s almost a celebration in a way. Please sit down. Please.
The First Lady and I are thrilled to welcome you this afternoon for our second event recognizing extraordinary Americans who have responded to the invisible enemy — we know what the invisible enemy is; we’ve learned a lot — with exceptional bravery and commitment and love. And we appreciate it very much. Great job, fantastic job.
In the midst of this pandemic, our nation has been united in grief and in prayer for the precious lives that have been lost. We’ve also come together in awe and admiration for the heroism and patriotism that we’re witnessing all across our country.
Here with us today is Amy Ford, a nurse of 17 years, from Williamson, West Virginia — a great state. Where is Amy? Hi, Amy.
Weeks ago, after telling her children she loved them, Amy got on a plane for the first time in her life and traveled to New York to help. For the past 42 days, she’s been working 12-hour shifts in the intensive care units of Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn. I know it well; I know that building well. I passed it many, many times. And Amy has been serving the coronavirus patients around the clock. She once held the hand of an elderly patient all night long, just so the woman would not feel alone. Boy, that’s something. Thank you, Amy. That’s incredible.
I want to thank you for what you’ve done. What a great story. I’ve heard about this story. Please come up and say a few words. Please, Amy. That’s great.
MS. FORD: Hello. I want to thank you for having me here today. Being able to serve our country as a frontline worker during this pandemic has truly been an honor.
I — like you said, I’ve been an RN for 20 — or for 17 years. Under normal circumstances, as a nurse, I would have an idea of a treatment plan. And unfortunately, I was not afforded that comfort in the beginning of this pandemic. These were not normal circumstances. There were times of trial and error and a whole lot of prayer.
I had to adapt to a new way of nursing — one where treatment was still unknown; one where families had to trust my word, and I had to prove that my word was trustworthy; one where I could only provide comfort by holding my patient’s hand because I could no longer give comfort with numbers and statistics of success rates. Those were unavailable in the beginning. I provided families comfort through FaceTime calls — holding my phone up to a patient’s ear, hoping that, by hearing their loved one’s voice, it would in turn give them comfort as well.
This experience has been one of the most emotionally challenging things that I’ve ever been through, but it has made me a better person in the end.
There is a light at the tunnel. We are beginning to see progress, and we’re starting to see stories of success. This virus may have initially caught our great nation off guard, but we will overcome this and we will prevail.
Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Amy, did you ever catch the virus? Did you ever —
MS. FORD: No.
THE PRESIDENT: You never got it. So with all of that long hours and with very, very sick people, you never caught the virus.
MS. FORD: No, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: What do you attribute that to?
MS. FORD: PPE.
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, really? Good. Good protection.
MS. FORD: We have had protection.
THE PRESIDENT: So you feel — so you’ve had great protection?
MS. FORD: I have.
THE PRESIDENT: So you feel that if you have the protection, you won’t catch it. You feel that?
MS. FORD: Yeah, I feel that’s what protected me.
THE PRESIDENT: That is fantastic.
MS. FORD: Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: Good. Wow.
MS. FORD: And I have not had short- — me, personally, I have not had any shortage of PPE.
THE PRESIDENT: And your coworkers, are they — do they —
MS. FORD: Not at the hospital that I’m at. No, we haven’t.
THE PRESIDENT: That’s incredible.
MS. FORD: They have provided excellent —
THE PRESIDENT: So you all have very good equipment —
MS. FORD: Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: — as the expression goes, right?
MS. FORD: Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: The gowns and the masks. Everything.
Thank you very much, Amy.
MS. FORD: Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: That’s great. Amazing. (Applause.) It’s a great story.
Also with us is Ben Ross, the cofounder of a small, custom tie business called Brackish Bow Ties in Charleston, South Carolina. A great place.
Ben has also — with his team — has shifted to producing protective masks for medical workers, and he’s done it completely free of charge. That’s fantastic. As Ben says, “We’ve pushed the gas pedal down, and we haven’t let up.”
So Brackish Bow Ties has donated more than 2,000 masks to 31 medical facilities in 10 states. And Ben’s also been able to keep all 48 of his employees on the payroll thanks to the Paycheck Protection Program. Great, Ben.
Could you come up and say a few words? I can tell it’s you by the tie. I assume that’s — yes, that’s the man I’m talking about. Thanks, Ben.
MR. ROSS: Thank you so much, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
MR. ROSS: It is truly an honor to be here.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Ben.
MR. ROSS: It is because of Jeff Plotner’s guiding hand, the passion of the entire Brackish team, and the leadership of this country that we are being recognized here today. I am humbled to be in this garden today with such an amazing group of individuals making such a difference during these unprecedented times. Congratulations to you all, and thanks so much for all y’all are doing.
I have no doubt that the United States of America will soar above this, and come out stronger and more grateful for family, friends, community, and this nation. Because we all know we’re all in this together, and only together will we be able to curb coronavirus.
Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Great job. Thank you very much.
MR. ROSS: Thank you, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Fantastic. And I like that tie very much, by the way.
Today we also honor Sergeant Spencer Garrett, an officer with the New York PD — that’s New York’s finest, that’s for sure — right? — who contracted the coronavirus. After four weeks of fighting a painful battle against the virus, Spencer recovered and immediately returned to the frontlines. Grateful for all of the support of his family, friends, colleagues, and time — all of the people and the work he’s done, Sergeant Garrett wanted to provide that same kindness to others.
And I know so many of the people on — members of New York’s finest, and we love them. And say hello to them. Okay?
With the aid of his union, Spencer has made it his mission to support these fellow New Yorkers. So, if you would, I’d love to have you come on up and say a few words. Thank you.
SERGEANT GARRETT: Good afternoon. First, I’d like to start by thanking President Trump and the First Lady for their unwavering support of the NYPD.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
SERGEANT GARRETT: As one of your hometown cops, I thank you for your leadership during these uncertain times.
On March 29th, I tested positive for COVID-19. Breaking the news to my parents, Janet and James; my brothers, Lee and Sam; and to my eight-year-old daughter Leanna (ph) was downright scary. I saw the fear in their eyes. I looked at my daughter and I assured her Daddy wasn’t going anywhere.
After a vigorous one-month fight, I returned to duty in late April. After the experience with the virus, I felt compelled to help the residents of the housing development start patrolling in East Harlem, New York. We are all in this fight together.
Almost 6,000 uniformed and civilian members of the NYPD contracted COVID-19. Unfortunately, some of those members didn’t make it home to their loved ones. Handing out N95 masks and engaging in important dialogue by educating the residents that are only — do not have support and access to PPE hit close to home for me — excuse me.
I’m honored to be here. I’m honored to be an NYPD sergeant. And most of all, I’m honored to be an American. God bless police officers, first responders, and all of the frontline workers around the country. Thank you. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: So how was that? You went through that process, and it took quite a while. It took longer than you would have thought.
SERGEANT GARRETT: It took almost four weeks, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: And what was it? Just complications?
SERGEANT GARRETT: Complications. I’m an asthmatic, so it was a little more difficult for me.
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I see. I see.
SERGEANT GARRETT: And I took a little extra care, but my daughter was there for me. She helped me out a lot. And she’s my hero.
THE PRESIDENT: That’s fantastic.
SERGEANT GARRETT: Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: You’re my hero. Okay?
SERGEANT GARRETT: Thank you, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Say hello to everybody.
SERGEANT GARRETT: I will.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) That’s great.
We’re also joined by three terrific Girl Scouts. We are also joined by three terrific Girl Scouts — Lauren, Sravya, and Laila of Girl Scout Troop 744 from Elkridge, Maryland — along with their troop leader, Megan Langley. Thank you very much. That’s great. That’s really great. These amazing 10-year-olds have donated 100 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to local firefighters, doctors, and nurses and have [DEL: spent :DEL] [sent] approximately 200 personalized cards to healthcare workers all over. And they’re going to do a lot more. Their ambition is to do a lot more.
And I think, Laila, you’re going to come up and you’re going to speak? Why don’t you all go up and stand, and maybe, Laila, you say a few words? That’d be great. Thank you very much. Please. (Applause.) That’s great. Thank you.
MS. KHAN: Hello. My name is Laila Khan, with Troop — Girl Scout Troop 744. I just wanted to say thank you, Mr. President. It is an honor to have been invited to the White House, and it has been a very exciting day.
We’d like to first thank you and your staffers for ensuring our safety today. We appreciate all the safety measures that were put into place.
In the middle of March, when everything began to shut down, we, like many Americans, felt compelled to support our healthcare and other essential workers and show our appreciation. We donated cases of cookies to our local firehouses and hospitals, and we made cards to mail to hospitals in our community.
Our troop has a number of parents that are healthcare workers, so one of the parents helped to take our personalized cards and place them on the lockers of doctors, nurses, and other essential workers throughout Children’s National Hospital.
While we are honored that the troop was invited to be here today, we know we are just part of the millions of other children out there that are doing amazing things to support their community, their friends, and their family.
It is a privilege to be here representing all of them. They’ve made cards, painted pictures, held virtual parties, and have demonstrated how we are all in this together. Our message is that everyone can do something, whether it is donating cookies, adjusting to distance learning, or help- — or just helping out our parents.
We have come together to support each other during this uncertain time. Thank you for the opportunity to serve our community, our essential workers, and our country. Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Thanks, Laila. What a great job. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
MS. KHAN: Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you very much, all three. Great job.
Also with us today is Clay Young, a real estate developer and landlord from Jonesboro, Arkansas. That’s a fantastic place. In March, one of Clay’s small-business tenants informed him that they were concerned that they would be unable to afford the rent. He immediately took the tenant’s rent check, ripped it up, and then waived April’s rent as well.
Clay had only one condition. He said to his tenant: “Take care of your family and pay your employees. Just take care of those employees, please. We’ll get through this together.” And that’s what’s happening. Clay then told 11 more small-business tenants that he’d waived their rent payments as well.
With the help of PPP loans, many reopened the doors this week — they just reopened. So, Clay, I want to thank you very much on behalf of all of us in this country. And if you’d come up and say a few words. That’s a great thing. Thank you, Clay.
MR. YOUNG: Thank you, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
MR. YOUNG: Thank you so much for having my wife Pam and I here. And the First Lady, thank you. It’s truly an honor. I also want to say how proud I am to be part of a community and a great nation — that we’ve all gathered together to help one another through this trying time.
You know, the — the work that I’ve done in my hometown of Jonesboro, Arkansas — the focus of that has been on making my community better. As I saw what the virus was doing and saw what the virus would be doing to the small business and to the employees of the small business, I realized that I needed to work with my tenants, and forgiving the rent was the — the only option.
And I remembered thinking, “You don’t kick people when they’re down.” And that over the last 20 years of being a small business myself and a developer and also a landlord, there’s been tough times. And in those tough times, I remember those people that came and they helped me and my family. And so, in that moment, I thought this is my chance to maybe just have some gratitude and some humility and pay that forward. And I’ll always remember those people.
So then, after that, we — I helped my tenants with the PPP loans. And I helped them — helped to participate in this amazing program that — what has really served as an invaluable bridge for us all and which brings us to where we are this week.
So as we work towards reopening the economy and maybe returning our lives to some sense of normalcy, I just want to say thank you so much, again, for having me here today.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I want to say to you also — and being a landlord is a pretty good business and I heard you’ve done really well. And it’s nice what you’ve done, Clay. We appreciate it very much.
MR. YOUNG: Thank you, sir. Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Say hello to the people of your state. Your state is wonderful.
MR. YOUNG: Yes, sir. Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: I like it. You know that. Thank you, Clay. (Applause.)
So during this difficult time, our citizens are rising to the challenge, just as generations of Americans have done before us. America has never faced a trial like this. We’ve never had anything like this happen. But we’re going to endure, and we’re going to thrive, and we’re going to do better than ever before.
The men and women we honor today remind us that the bonds that unite us in times of hardship can also raise us to new heights as we reopen and recover and rebuild. In the months ahead, we will harness our love and all of the things that we hold so dear to our heart for our family, for our community, and for the country, and we’ll make America greater and stronger than ever before.
And we’re going to transition into greatness. We’re going to be seeing it, and you’re going to be seeing it very soon. There’s a pent-up demand, and there’s a pent-up love, and there’s so many things happening, and you’re going to see the fruits of all of the work that we’ve all been doing — working 24 hours a day, in some cases.
So, I’d like to thank everybody for being here, especially our great, great heroes. Because that’s what you are — heroines and heroes. That’s exactly what you are. And I’d now like to ask these wonderful and courageous Americans to come forward as I present them with a letter of recognition.
And I want to thank our First Lady. This was a very important event for First Lady Melania. Thank you very much. Great job you’re doing. Thank you. Thank you, honey. (Applause.)
Okay, please.
(The Presidential Letters of Recognition are presented.)
White House trade and manufacturing policy advisor Peter Navarro appears on Fox News to discuss the administration’s outlook toward China and the intense focus to bring critical manufacturing back to the U.S.
Earlier in the day a visibly angered President Trump told Maria Bartiromo he “doesn’t want to talk to China right now”, and Navarro highlights exactly why. All administration policy and economic influence is targeted to remove Chinese manufacturing from the U.S. supply chain. President Trump officials openly discussing an intentional U.S. effort to decouple from China is a significant shift…. WATCH:
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has been in discussions for several years with both TSMC and Intel to build advanced chip manufacturing plants in the U.S. and extract U.S. supply chain needs from China and southeast Asia. It appears his efforts, and the emphasis on global supply-chain shifts from President Trump, are getting results.
According to numerous media reports Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) is likely to announce this week they will build an advanced chip manufacturing facility in Arizona. A manufacturing facility for advanced 5 nanometer chip manufacturing is a steep investment decision costing around $10 billion.
This shift in a high-tech supply chain will align with President Trump’s prior discussions with Tim Cook the CEO of Apple which led to a decision to invest in Texas. TSMC is a chip supplier for Apple products; and Apple is moving to the 5nm processors in new devices. It looks like the movement of advanced industrial products away from China is underway.
(Via Appleinsider) – Apple supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is set to announce that it plans to build an advanced chip factory in Arizona.
Taiwan-based TSMC is the world’s largest contract manufacturer of silicon chipsets and has long been Apple’s primary supplier of A-series chips.
Now, TSMC is said to be on the verge of announcing new plans to build out an advanced 5-nanometer facility in Arizona, The Wall Street Journalreported on Thursday. The decision, reached by TSMC executives at a board meeting in Taiwan on Tuesday, could be announced as soon as Friday. (link)
This move is a direct result of President Trump playing the economic long-game with an assembly of interests… one result within a much bigger picture.
President Trump has been creating a dual position for several years; this is very unique because it is the same strategy used by China. By expressing a panda mask, yet concealing the underlying dragon, President Trump’s policy to China is a mirror of themselves.
Historic Chinese geopolitical policy, vis-a-vis their totalitarian control over political sentiment (action) and diplomacy through silence, is evident in the strategic use of the space between carefully chosen words, not just the words themselves.
Each time China takes aggressive action (red dragon) China projects a panda face through silence and non-response to opinion of that action;…. and the action continues. The red dragon has a tendency to say one necessary thing publicly, while manipulating another necessary thing privately. The Art of War.
President Trump is the first U.S. President to understand how the red dragon hides behind the panda mask.
First he got their attention with tariffs. Then… On one hand President Trump has engaged in very public and friendly trade negotiations with China (panda approach); yet on the other hand, long before the Wuhan virus, Trump fractured their global supply chains, influenced the movement of industrial goods to alternate nations, and incentivized an exodus of manufacturing (dragon result).
It is specifically because he understands that Panda is a mask that President Trump messages warmth toward the Chinese people, and pours vociferous praise upon Xi Jinping, while simultaneously confronting the geopolitical doctrine of the Xi regime.
In essence Trump is mirroring the behavior of China while confronting their economic duplicity.
There is no doubt in my mind that President Trump has a very well thought out long-term strategy regarding China. President Trump takes strategic messaging toward the people of china very importantly. President Trump has, very publicly, complimented the friendship he feels toward President Xi Jinping; and praises Chairman Xi for his character, strength and purposeful leadership.
To build upon that projected and strategic message – President Trump seeded the background by appointing Ambassador Terry Branstad, a 30-year personal friend of President Xi Jinping.
To enhance and amplify the message – and broadcast cultural respect – President Trump used Mar-a-Lago as the venue for their first visit, not the White House. And President Trump’s beautiful granddaughter, Arabella, sweetly serenaded the Chinese First Familytwice in Mandarin Chinese song showing the utmost respect for the guests and later for the hosts.
All of this activity mirrors the duplicity of China. From the November 2017 tour of Asia to the January 2020 China phase-1 trade deal, President Trump has been positioning, for an economic decoupling and a complete realignment of global trade and manufacturing.
This announcement by TSMC today is one small part of a much bigger economic reset currently underway. Beijing isn’t stupid, they can see themselves being outwitted and outplayed. President Trump is winning.
Earlier tonight President Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Treasury Steven Munchin and Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell met with the Joint Chiefs’ and National Security Team. [Video and Transcript Below]
Mark Meadows (Chief of Staff), Robert O’Brien (NSA), LTG Keith Kellogg (National Security Advisor to the Vice President), Secretary Mike Pompeo (State), Secretary Steven Mnuchin (Treasury), Secretary Mark Esper (Defense), Director Richard Grenell (ODNI).
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[Transcript] – THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. This is the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and we’ve had a very productive meeting. It’s going to continue after you leave. But we’ve had a very, very productive meeting.
Our military is very strong, more — more so than it’s been in many, many years. I think I can say “in many, many decades.” We’ve spent one and half trillion dollars rebuilding our military, and it shows it. And we are discussing various things.
And, with that, thank you very much.
Thank you.
General Mark A. Milley, USA, 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
General John E. Hyten, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
General David L. Goldfein, USAF, Chief of Staff of the Air Force
General David H. Berger, USMC, Commandant of the Marine Corps
General James C. McConville, USA, Chief of Staff of the Army
Admiral Karl L. Schultz, USCG, Commandant of the Coast Guard
General John W. Raymond, USSF, Chief of Space Operations
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.K. Secretary of State for International Trade Elizabeth Truss announced today [joint statement] the beginning of a series of fast-tracked trade negotiations toward a new free trade agreement. [USTR Release]
In the foreground is a trade agreement between the U.S. and the United Kingdom. However, in the more strategic background context these negotiations create leverage for the U.K. in their post-Brexit negotiations with the European Union. First from today:
LIGHTHIZER – […] The US negotiating team will be led by Dan Mullaney, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East; and the UK negotiating team will be led by Oliver Griffiths, Director for US Negotiations at the Department for International Trade. Over 200 staff from U.S. and UK government agencies and departments are expected to take part in the negotiations.
An opening plenary today will kick off the detailed discussions, followed by multiple virtual meetings from Wednesday 6 May to Friday 15 May. The negotiations build on the work conducted through the U.S.-UK Trade and Investment Working Group, which was established in July 2017, partly to lay the ground work for these negotiations.
A comprehensive U.S-U.K trade agreement will further deepen the already very strong trade and investment ties between the United States and UK by creating new opportunities for American and UK families, workers, businesses and farmers through increased access to the other’s market.
The United States and the United Kingdom are the first and fifth largest economies in the world, respectively. Total two-way trade between the two countries is already worth about $269 billion a year. Each country is the other’s largest source of foreign direct investment, with about $1 trillion invested in each other’s economies. Every day, around one million Americans go to work for UK firms, while around one million Britons go to work for American firms. (more)
An important geopolitical overlay helps to better understand the specifics of this dynamic.
The United States is essentially a self-sustaining economy. Meaning, if you think about a nation as an independent construct able to sustain itself; our imports are enhancements not priorities. Our domestic resources, energy development, food production and essential internal needs are capable of sustaining our population. The import of products is valuable, but in the bigger picture not fundamentally necessary for survival.
The United Kingdom is very similar in this regard. The U.K. has abundant energy resources, food and agricultural development, and is positioned as an independent economy absent the dynamic of internal politics regulating those functions. Domestic politics surrounding left-wing climate change (energy development etc), to restrict internal development, are a function of ability, not necessity. The U.K. has abundant coal, oil and natural gas; it also has abundant agriculture. [The U.K weakness is military defense.]
Because both nations are similar in their ability to be non-dependent on trade, a free trade agreement is essentially a second-tier negotiation on products and services that enhance the independence. This is a unique dynamic not found in all trade discussions. Two independent economic systems negotiating on trade enhancements to each-other.
This is a much different dynamic than negotiation with a dependent country like China. China cannot feed itself, it needs to import raw materials to sustain itself; thus the importance of the One-Belt/One-Road Beijing initiative. China is a massive economy, but China is also a dependent economy; subject to damage from external dynamics.
Similarly, due to advanced political ideology, Canada cannot sustain itself economically; however, they are dependent by choice. Currently Mexico is not self-sustaining; they too are dependent on both access to the U.S. market and the import of industrial goods. However, unlike Canada our southern trade partner is working toward self-sustenance.
♦ Dependence or Independence is the ultimate context for all trade negotiations.
Dependent countries do not inherently carry negotiation leverage, and must create leverage through access to their economy (China again). The more independent the internal economy is within any nation, the less dependency they have. Less dependency means more leverage… more leverage means better terms (with nationalist negotiators).
A U.S-U.K trade agreement would not be based on “essential” trade products or “vital” trade services. The trade is not essential, but it is complimentary.
A U.S. and U.K. trade agreement is based on mutual enhancements or mutual benefits. This is an important distinction to keep in mind because it plays into the larger geopolitical dynamic.
The U.K. is currently in a post-Brexit negotiation phase after they spit away from the European Union. Strategically, it is smart for the U.K. to enter into trade discussions with the U.S. for needed products and services they might currently be gaining from the EU.
The timing of trade discussion with the U.S. gives Prime Minister Boris Johnson leverage toward the EU. President Trump and Boris Johnson have previously discussed this.
Additionally, the U.S. and E.U will eventually have to work out a new trade agreement because President trump is realigning all existing U.S. trade terms.
The U.S. already carries all of the leverage in any discussion with the EU; both in terms of market size, need for EU to retain access to the U.S. market, and the generous one-way tariff benefit currently maintained by the EU (which Trump is about to confront). Enhancing the U.S. leverage by providing a super-highway for transatlantic trade between the U.S. and U.K. puts the EU at an even further strategic disadvantage with the U.S.
If President Trump told the EU to drop their market restrictions (protectionist tariffs and non tariff barriers); and the EU refused to negotiate…. well, Trump could just shut the EU trade door completely (think German autos) and collapse their economy. The EU needs us more than we need the EU.
Remember the important dynamic: The EU hitched their wagon to China… China cannot purchase from the EU without the dollars from their U.S. trade imbalance…. If Trump shrinks U.S. purchasing from China; Beijing has less money to spend on EU industrial goods…. When we punch China on the nose, the EU gets the nosebleed.
Again, all of this is leverage for the U.S. and vulnerability for the EU.
Thus, the Trump benefit in a complimentary trade discussion with Boris Johnson is really the pending benefit of leverage over the EU.
Not accidentally, a Johnson benefit in a complimentary trade discussion with Trump is really the current benefit of leverage in their post-Brexit negotiations with the EU.
Because most of the trade sectors will be lower tier; and because the bigger goal for President Trump would be the building of leverage to confront the EU; I would expect the biggest trade gain for the U.S. will be helping the U.K. with military purchases.
There will be a lot of small-ball stuff. However, the bigger headline within a fast deal will likely be Boris Johnson purchasing advanced military hardware from us, and in return the U.K. will have preferential access to sell into the United States market based on reciprocal value.
That preferential access will form the basis for a trade hub inside the U.K. which will be the gateway to a transatlantic super-highway. The UK will then negotiate with EU companies based on access to their trade hub. Boris Johnson control the hub.
Once an alternative trade route is established Trump will start negotiating with the EU for new terms based on reciprocity. If the EU balks, Trump reminds them he can just close direct EU trade access while reminding them EU companies can use the hub.
The EU will have no choice except to acquiesce to Trump’s terms, drop their protectionist unilateral tariffs and drop their non-tariff barriers. We finally dissolve the Marshal Plan and enter a new trade era based on actual reciprocity.
One of the unfortunate impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic is the elimination of most ceremonial gatherings for the 2020 graduating class. Despite the inability to celebrate with gatherings of families and friends, President Trump and First Lady Melania send their congratulations to the graduates:
WHITE HOUSE – Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! The First Lady and I are very proud of you.
Over the past weeks and months, you, your classmates, teachers and administrators, and our Nation have experienced times of uncertainty and adversity. Much like our country, you have risen to the challenge with remarkable poise and determination, demonstrating the character traits that define the American spirit—resiliency, responsibility, and a stalwart drive to succeed.
Though this season of celebration has been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, our country and communities need you now more than ever. Your leadership will be essential in the days and weeks to come in helping your fellow Americans recover from this hardship. I remain confident that the future of our Nation will be brighter than ever before.
As you arrive at this important milestone in your life, your heart should be filled with tremendous pride. Your resolve during this unprecedented time will serve you well as you embark on your next chapter. We hope you will continue to use your unique, God-given abilities to strengthen our great Nation.
We wish you the best of luck in all of your future endeavors.
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This is a library of News Events not reported by the Main Stream Media documenting & connecting the dots on How the Obama Marxist Liberal agenda is destroying America
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