Earlier this afternoon President Trump announced an initiative to provide federal grants to assist communities with drug abuse and prevention. Marking the 20 year anniversary of the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s (ONDCP) Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program grant awards, today President Trump announced $90.9 million in grants to 731 local drug prevention coalitions.
Continuing the tradition of transparency in government; during the media availability for the round-table President Trump answered numerous questions. The round-table discussion begins the video below. The impromptu presser begins around 14:40 of the video:
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*Asked about Don McGahn* – President Trump called him a really good guy, added that he has a lot of affection for Don; said McGahn is likely headed to the private sector. Asked if he was concerned about McGahn’s cooperation with Mueller. POTUS replied: No, adding that he had approved of McGahn speaking to the special counsel.
*Asked about trade negotiations with Canada* – President Trump said negotiations were going really well. Noted that White House and Canadian officials “negotiated late into the evening” last night. A lot of trade deals are working out well.
*Asked about Ron DeSantis remarks today* – President Trump said he didn’t hear DeSantis remarks, but continued to praise him, calling him extraordinary. Hes an extreme talent.
*Asked about the governments response to Puerto Rico following last years hurricanes* – I think we did a fantastic job in Puerto Rico. We’ve put a lot of money and a lot of effort into Puerto Rico. Said Puerto Rico had previously been grappling with electric plant issues before last Hurricane season.
*Asked if he wants to further regulate Google* – We just want fairness. You know what we want? Not regulation…fairness. Reiterated that he thinks Google and Facebook treat conservatives unfairly.
During analysis of the U.S-Mexico trade agreement terms it became obvious that *if* Canada was going to join the pact they would have to almost completely acquiesce and reverse on their former positions. It now is entirely plausible that just might happen.
When entering the meeting with U.S.T.R. Robert Lighthizer, Canadian Minister Chrystia Freeland spoke specifically about “Canadian workers”. Justin from Canada has been very cautious in his word choices also speaking about “Canadian workers”. As Freeland exited the first meeting with Lighthizer the reasoning for their collective word choice is becoming apparent. Canada is preparing to take a knee, and they are positioning for the least amount of political damage possible. WATCH the exit of first meeting:
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Team Trump has positioned this perfectly. By using NAFTA section 2202, to construct a modification of the original 1993 agreement, Lighthizer is intending to send a 90-day notification letter to congress informing them the U.S. and Mexico have agreed to modifications of their bilateral trade agreement.
This approach allowed Trump/Lighthizer to positioned Canada with a take it or leave it option. If Canada didn’t accept, Lighthizer files a simultaneous section 2205 notificationwithdrawing the U.S. from a NAFTA partnership with Canada. If Canada did accept Lighthizer adds them to the 2202 (modification) notification.
A 2205 withdrawal meant Canada and the U.S. would need to enter a bilateral trade deal entirely separate from the U.S-Mexico deal. President Trump already publicly said what the terms of that bilateral would entail. In the interim he would initiate a 25% tariff on Canadian made automobiles (massive leverage).
However, in order for Canada to accept or join, via 2202 modification, they would need to agree to the modification terms. For Canada they would have to: drop their protectionist tariffs on the dairy sector, open their telecommunications and banking sectors and eliminate the subsidies on aeronautics and soft-wood Lumber sectors. In essence open their economy to fair market competition and agree to intellectual property protections.
Canada had to choose between taking on Trump individually, a NAFTA withdrawal, or accepting the terms of modification. The prism for Canadian decision-making is entirely about politics. Justin and Chrystia have to make a political decision, or change their perspective and look at the economics. Incredibly, it now appears Canada is going to accept the modification route.
Today the Bureau of Economic Analysis presented the second estimate for the second quarter GDP growth. The second review increased the growth upward to 4.2%.
(1) The upward revision to nonresidential fixed investment was mostly accounted for by investment in software. (2) Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, were revised down. Within goods, the downward revision was widespread, the largest contributor was petroleum.
In addition to presenting revised estimates for the second quarter, today’s release presents revised estimates of first-quarter wages and salaries, personal taxes, and contributions for government social insurance. Wages and salaries are now estimated to have increased $122.5 billion in the first quarter of 2018, an upward revision of $0.4 billion. (source data)
For more than three decades all U.S. economic policy was elevating Wall Street and diminishing Main Street. As a result the middle America blue-collar workers have not had wage gains keeping up with inflation for over 30 years…. Then came the era of Trump.
Overall the MAGAnomic policy of the Trump administration is working on multiple sectors of the Main Street U.S. economy simultaneously. Keep in mind, all of this is happening BEFORE the trade policies and renegotiated trade deals kick in.
As the Main Street economy continues to expand, wages are increasing. It is noted that all wage measures are continually being revised upward as the value of labor within the economy continues to thrive. Due to increased labor value, in combination with decreased tax burdens, workers, specifically middle-class workers, are seeing large increases in actual take-home pay. This means more spending power, more disposable income, which also fuels the expanding economy. It’s an upward growth spiral.
More money into the U.S Treasury and less dependence on welfare/social service programs have a combined exponential impact. You gain a dollar, and have no need to spend a dollar – the saved sum is doubled. That is how the SSI and safety net programs are saved under President Trump.
When you elevate your economic thinking you begin to see that all of the “entitlements” or expenditures become more affordable with an economy that is fully functional and expanding. Growth-Growth-Growth. Jobs-Jobs-Jobs.
As the GDP of the U.S. expands, so does our ability to meet the growing need of the retiring U.S. worker. We stop thinking about how to best divide a limited economic pie, and begin thinking about how many more economic pies we can create.
The economic models of the entire last generation+ are based on the assumptions of continuing globalist economics which advances, and has advanced, the interest of Wall Street over Main Street. They were driving a “service-driven economy” message.
Simultaneous to domestic capital investment inside the U.S., the ability of our nation to provide goods and services to meet the economic expansion, means less reliance on imported materials, goods and/or services. We are making more of our own stuff; exporting at a larger rate; and importing less – specifically due to the energy independence strategy within the larger Trump policy.
Every granular policy is like a small part in a larger machine. Each individual part of the MAGAnomic policy is working to compliment the larger objective.
A few months ago we highlighted a discussion between Ezra Levant and Manny Montenegrino when they first began to notice the direction of Trump strategy and the duplicitous political agenda of Justin from Canada. After the announcement of the U.S./Mexico trade agreement yesterday, Levant and Montenegrino revisit the discussion.
While both Canadians seem to overlook the importance of President-elect Lopez-Obrador, Jesus Seade, and the mutually beneficial alignment with U.S.T.R. Lighthizer, their perspective on the motives of Justin from Canada and President Trump circle close to the target.
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Meanwhile Chrystia from Canada has now arrived in Washington DC:
Today President Trump welcomed FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro to the White House for a meeting and discussion of the 2026 World Cup.
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[Transcript] Oval Office – THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much. We very much appreciate the fact that we have won a very important event: the World Cup in 2026. And we’ll be hosting it along with Mexico and Canada. And it’s a very special event. I think it’s probably certainly one of the biggest, and maybe the biggest sporting event in the world.
And soccer has come such a long way. Soccer is a game — I guess you call it “football.” But, over here, maybe at some point, they’ll change the name. I’m not sure, but we’ll see.
MR. INFANTINO: Lets see. Let’s see. We can negotiate that.
THE PRESIDENT: But it’s working very well either way. But I just want to thank Gianni Infantino for being here. He’s the president of FIFA and a highly respected man. In fact, when my son heard he was going to be here, he said, “Dad, I’d like to meet him.” So you’re pretty famous, right? Pretty important and pretty famous.
MR. INFANTINO: Yeah, it looks like it.
THE PRESIDENT: He likes — my son, Barron, loves soccer. And soccer has to be one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. And the job you’ve done is really fantastic, Gianni. So thank you very much.
And I want to also pay my respect to Carlos Cordeiro, who — as president, in this country, of soccer — has been incredibly instrumental in helping us to get the World Cup. And he’s worked so hard, so long. And they were calling me constantly to try to get me to come onboard, but it only took one call because when I heard “World Cup,” I wanted to do it.
And again, we want to thank you. It’s all signed up. It’s all set to go. And it’ll be a special event. I think it’s going to be something, really, very special.
And, Gianni, maybe I’d ask you to say a few words, and then Carlos.
MR. INFANTINO: Definitely. Well, thanks. Thanks, President, for welcoming us here. It’s a great honor to be here. And thanks for everything you are doing to support our sport as well. Obviously, 2026, the World Cup — biggest event — sporting event for sure, but probably even social event in the world.
We just had the World Cup in Russia. More than 4 billion viewers. The final only — over 1 billion viewers. It’s massive. It’s huge. So, in Russia, President, we said that you would organize the best World Cup ever. Right?
THE PRESIDENT: Right. Right.
MR. INFANTINO: And we did organize the best World Cup ever.
THE PRESIDENT: Right.
MR. INFANTINO: In the U.S., together with Canada and Mexico, we want to organize the greatest World Cup ever, if you agree.
THE PRESIDENT: Right, okay. Well, we’ll do it.
MR. INFANTINO: And for this, we will work together and do whatever we can to make sure that this be a fantastic event. But I’m looking very, very much forward — and the world is looking that much forward to that.
THE PRESIDENT: It’s very exciting. Everybody is talking about it, and it’s very exciting.
And Carlos.
MR. CORDEIRO: Well, Mr. President, thank you for hosting us today. For my part, for my federation — the U.S. Soccer Federation for the United Bid representing the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — we are really very honored. Very honored. Deeply honored to be hosting this event in 2026. It’s right around the corner. We have a lot for work to do, but we look forward to working with you and your administration.
Let me also thank you, Mr. President, for your help and support throughout the campaign — your written assurances and warranties. I think without out that we wouldn’t have won quite such a convincing victory. So thank you very much for that.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you, Carlos. And I have to also thank Bob Kraft, who I know that you were working very hard with. Bob originally called me and he said, “What do you think of the idea of trying to get the World Cup to the United States?” And I said, “I think we really like it.” And then we got Canada, we got Mexico involved, and we’re going to have a great partnership. And it’s going to be very special. I look forward to it.
So let’s see, 2026 — I won’t be here. I won’t be here. Maybe they’ll extend the term because I know they’d love to see some — (laughter.) Because if they don’t extend —
MR. INFANTINO: With good reason.
THE PRESIDENT: — the media is going to be very boring. It’s going to be very boring. They’ll all be out of business, I guess.
But we will — we will be there and it will be a very, very important and a very special event.
And I think, also, having it in the United States is very important for soccer.
MR. INFANTINO: It is. It is.
THE PRESIDENT: Especially in light of the fact that soccer has done so well.
MR. INFANTINO: Yeah, and it’s growing.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, my friend. I appreciate it very much.
MR. CORDEIRO: Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. I appreciate it.
MR. INFANTINO: Mr. President, I have a little —
Q Mr. President, do you think Google should be investigated?
MR. INFANTINO: — I have a little thing for you. Can I give it to you first?
THE PRESIDENT: Sure. I’d love that. Thank you.
MR. INFANTINO: Before the questions come.
Q I have a question for you, too.
MR. INFANTINO: Thank you.
Q Can I ask him a question?
MR. INFANTINO: Yeah.
Q So I want to know if you guys are discussing —
PRESIDENT TRUMP: What — excuse me. Excuse me.
MR. INFANTINO: One second.
THE PRESIDENT: Can you just hold it. Where are you from?
Q Brazil.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Okay.
MR. INFANTINO: Soccer country.
Q We have the best team in the world. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Except it had a little problem last time.
Q A little bit.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Okay.
Q No fair. It wasn’t fair.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Let me stand up, Gianni.
MR. INFANTINO: And you are part of the FIFA team now.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: That’s good. That’s good. Great. Thank you very much. That’s very nice.
MR. CORDEIRO: And if I could get the U.S. jersey.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yes. Wow, look at that.
MR. INFANTINO: And no less with the President’s name.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: That’s pretty good. Thank you. Thank you, fellas. That’s really very nice.
MR. INFANTINO: And one more thing that could be useful for you. You know, in soccer, we have referees, right?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Right.
MR. INFANTINO: And they have cards. Yellow cards and red cards. Yellow card is a warning. And when you want to kick out someone — (inaudible). (Laughter.) Like this.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: That’s true. That’s true. Right? That’s very good.
MR. INFANTINO: So this could be useful. I don’t know.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: I like that.
MR. INFANTINO: That’s for you.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: I like that.
MR. CORDEIRO: The next media session.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you very much. Thank you, Carlos. Congratulations.
Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you.
Q (Inaudible) with Mexico about paying for the wall?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah. The wall will be paid for very easily by Mexico. It will ultimately be paid for by Mexico.
Q Do you think that Google should be investigated?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah, I think Google has really taken advantage of a lot of people. And I think that’s a very serious thing, and it’s a very serious charge. I think what Google and what others are doing — if you look at what’s going on at Twitter, if you look at what’s going on in Facebook, they better be careful, because you can’t do that to people. You can’t do it.
We have tremendous — we have literally thousands and thousands of complaints coming in. And you just can’t do that. And so I think that Google and Twitter and Facebook, they’re really treading on very, very troubled territory. And they have to be careful. It’s not fair to large portions of the population.
As Foreign Minister Chrystia from Canada arrives in Washington DC to meet with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is interviewed by CNBC.
Triple Play: Finalize NAFTA (or two bilats); fill in the details on previously agreed EU deal; then face-down red dragon (China).
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Additionally, Mnuchin had some impromptu remarks (below):
National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow holds an impromptu press gaggle at the White House to field questions about trade and related MAGAnomic matters.
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Additionally Kudlow had some scheduled media appearances (below).
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross appears on Fox News to discuss the U.S-Mexico trade agreement and the unlikely possibility of Canada to join the agreement. In order for Canada to join the agreement they would need to remove protectionist tariffs (dairy); remove subsidies to several sectors (lumber, aeronautics); and in large measure open their economy to free, fair and reciprocal trade.
Additionally, The Wall Street corporations who have exploited NAFTA for strategic financial advantage are unhappy with the removal of the NAFTA loopholes.
[Transcript] State Dining Room – 6:54 P.M. EDT – THE PRESIDENT: What a nice group. Thank you very much. Please.
Melania and I are thrilled to welcome you. And these are very special friends of mine, Evangelical pastors and leaders from all across the nation. We welcome you to the White House. Its a special place. Its a place we love. Were having a lot of fun, were having a lot of success.
Today we reached the highest level in the history of the stock market. We broke 26,000 — (applause) — so I assume you have some stock. And I view that differently. Were respected all over the world again, and it means jobs. So its a lot of good things happening.
I also want to thank a family of faith that is truly a blessing to our nation. I want to thank Vice President Mike Pence and Karen Pence. Where are you, Mike? (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you, Mike.
And our incredible First Lady for hosting this evening. Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.)
America is a nation of believers. And tonight were joined by faith leaders from across the country who believe in the dignity of life, the glory of God, and the power of prayer. Everybody agree with that?
AUDIENCE: Yes! (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: If you didn’t, wed have a big story, wouldn’t we? (Laughter.)
I want to say a special thank you to Paula White, Alveda King, Franklin Graham, Jerry Falwell, Darrell Scott, Robert Jeffress, Ralph Reed, Tony Perkins, Lester Warner, and everyone here tonight. So many great, great leaders. Incredible leaders. I know you, I watch you, I see you. Yours are the words we want to hear.
I also understand that tonight is the 58th wedding anniversary. So we have a very big wedding — where is he? Dr. James and Shirley Dobson. Where are they? (Applause.) Where are they? Thats great. Congratulations. That’s something.
MRS. DOBSON: Thank you for throwing a party of us tonight. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: That’s right. This is a party for you. We can look at it that way, actually. (Laughter.) Thank you. Congratulations.
Were also joined by Secretary Alex Azar, Secretary Ben Carson – hello, Ben – (applause) — and Ambassador Sam Brownback. (Applause.)
Before going any further, I want to extend our prayers and condolences to the victims of the tragic shooting in Jacksonville, Florida. That was a terrible thing indeed. And how it happens, nobody really knows. But they’ve done an incredible job down in Jacksonville, as they always do in Florida and throughout the country. But condolences.
Also, our hearts and prayers are going to the family of Senator John McCain. There’s going to be a lot of activity over the next number of days. And we very much appreciate everything that Senator McCain has done for our country. So thank you very much. (Applause.)
Were here this evening to celebrate Americas heritage of faith, family, and freedom. As you know, in recent years, the government tried to undermine religious freedom. But the attacks on communities of faith are over. We’ve ended it. We’ve ended it. (Applause.) Unlike some before us, we are protecting your religious liberty.
In the last 18 months alone, we have stopped the Johnson Amendment from interfering with your First Amendment rights. (Applause.) A big deal. Its a big deal.
We’ve taken action to defend the religious conscience of doctors, nurses, teachers, students, preachers, faith groups, and religious employers.
We sent the entire executive branch guidance on protecting religious liberty. Big deal. Brought the Faith and Opportunity Initiative to the White House.
Reinstated the Mexico City Policy we first put into place. And if you know, if you study it – and most of you know about this – first under President Ronald Reagan, not since then – the Mexico City Policy. (Applause.)
We proposed regulations to prevent Title 10 taxpayer funding from subsidizing abortion. I was the first President to stand in the Rose Garden to address the March for Life. First one. (Applause.)
My administration has strongly spoken out against religious persecution around the world, including the persecution of Christians. All over the world, whats going on. (Applause.) And for that, we’ve become not only a strong voice but a very, very powerful force. Were stopping a lot of bad things from happening.
We brought home hostages from North Korea, including an American pastor. And were fighting to release Pastor Brunson from Turkey. (Applause.) And we’ve made (inaudible).
We’ve recognized the capital of Israel and opened the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. (Applause.)
Were restoring opportunity for all Americans. African American, Hispanic American, Asian American unemployment have all recently achieved their lowest rates ever recorded in the history of our country. (Applause.) And women’s unemployment recently achieved its lowest rate in 65 years. (Applause.)
Very important to me, youth unemployment has reached its lowest rate in nearly 50 years. And unemployment for Americans without a high school diploma – think of that — has reached its lowest rate ever. (Applause.)
Were advancing prison reform to give former inmates a second chance. And these incredible unemployment numbers are probably the greatest thing that ever happened to people getting out and wanting a second, and sometimes a third, chance. But they’d come out of prison, and they were not hired, and bad things would happen, and they’d go back. Now they’re coming out of prison, they’re getting jobs. Were working with them. And they are very, very thankful.
Ill tell you who else is thankful: the employers. I have a friend who hired numerous people coming out of prison — something he never thought he’d do — and in a way, he was forced to do it, frankly. He was forced to do it by the fact that he couldn’t get people; he needed people. The numbers are so low in that community. He is so happy. Hes hired some people that he said he hopes he never loses them. They’re happy, and he is thrilled. So that’s a great story. A great story. (Applause.)
Every day, were standing for religious believers, because we know that faith and family, not government and bureaucracy, are the center of American life. (Applause.) And we know that freedom is a gift from our Creator.
Here in the State Dining Room, carved into this fireplace, is the famous prayer of John Adams. It says, I pray Heaven to bestow the best of Blessings on this House. And that’s really what it is. This is an incredible house. Means so much. It means so much to our country. It means so much to the world. And it means, really, so much to religion and to Christians. So its an honor to have you.
Together, we will uplift our nation in prayer, defend the sanctity of life, and forever proudly remain one nation under God. (Applause.)
So thank you again to all of my friends and faith leaders for being here tonight. You are really special people. The support you’ve given me has been incredible. But I really don’t feel guilty because I have given you a lot back, just about everything I promised. (Applause.) And as one of our great pastors just said, Actually, you’ve given us much more, sir, than you promised. And I think that’s true, in many respects. (Applause.)
And now I would like to ask a tremendous friend of all of ours, Pastor Paula White, to come up and bless our meal. Paula, please. (Applause.)
PASTOR WHITE: Its an honor to be here. And before we pray the prayer, this group would like to present to you and First Lady a Bible that is signed by over a hundred Christians, Evangelicals that love you, pray for you. And Id just love to read the inscription for you and First Lady. Its very important for – I have to put on my glasses, so — sorry.
It says: First Lady and President, you are in our prayers always. Thank you for your courageous and bold stand for religious liberty, and for your timeless service to all Americans. We appreciate the price that you have paid to walk in the high calling. History will record the greatness that you have brought for generations.
We pray this prayer. And if all of you agree with that, say Amen.
I have created this site to help people have fun in the kitchen. I write about enjoying life both in and out of my kitchen. Life is short! Make the most of it and enjoy!
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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