Donald J. Trump wins Presidency

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-latest-saudi-arabia-billions-arms-deal-military-sales-a7746601.html

Donald Trump signs $110bn arms deal hours after landing in Saudi Arabia
The White House says the agreement is a 'significant expansion' of the security relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia

The US and Saudi Arabia have reached a $110bn-plus arms deal, significantly expanding the longstanding security relationship between the two countries, the White House has said.

Hours after landing in Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, the President’s first stop on his foreign trip, Donald Trump and Saudi King Salman signed a series of agreements that included a military sales agreement of about $110bn, effective immediately, plus another $350bn over the next decade.





READ MORE
Donald Trump awarded with Saudi Arabia's highest civilian honour
The White House said this package of defence equipment and services supports the long-term security of Saudi Arabia in the face of Iranian threats.



There goes the neighbourhood.....

Trump's Former Ally Roger Stone Slams President Over Saudi Visit.

President Donald Trump's one time campaign adviser and longtime confidante Roger Stone criticized the president's meeting with the Saudi leaders Saturday and said the royal reception Trump received in Riyadh, including the country's highest civilian honor as vomit inducing.

As Trump left the tense atmosphere in Washington D.C. and landed in Saudi Arabia, he received a regal welcome from the Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Trump was presented with the kingdom's highest civilian honor, a gold medal, during a ceremony at the grand Saudi Royal Court, the Washington Post reported. The nation's highest civilian honor, was also bestowed in the past upon former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush.

However, Stone expressed his aversion over Trump receiving the award and also said instead of meeting the Saudi leaders, Trump should demand they pay for the 9/11 attacks, which they allegedly, financed.

Stone also said Trump accepted the award only at the suggestion of his son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner. He did not however say why Kushner did so,

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-apos-former-ally-roger-070824543.html

I have a fair amount of sympathy with that, LL, as Saudis undeniably WERE responsible for 9/11; how far up the chain that went, we don't know, and elements in KSA undeniably HAVE been exporting the appalling Wahhabist cult.


And the US has been letting them do it as part of their proxy war against Iran. I've no time for stupid conspiracy theories about 9/11, from idiots that claim 'jet fuel can't melt steel beams' - hint, go and read up on ancient metal forging techniques and it will become clear that yes, it can.

But I have little doubt that some in the Bush administration knew something involving airplanes was going to happen on 9/11, as there was odd movement in airline stocks, not to mention Cheney's strange reaction.

I don't think us plebs will ever know the whole truth about 9/11 - because the truth would destroy Washington - but ironically, the cover-up is also destroying Washington, slowly.

Invading the wrong country? Throwing away blood and treasure on unwinnable wars? Making deals with terrorists? Bin Laden won, and the 'war on terror' has been a total failure.

The current Saudi king seems be slightly less awful than his predecessors, so maybe he can see the advantages of winding extremist necks in? It will be interesting to see what happens next, in Israel.....

http://news.sky.com/story/live-trump-urges-muslim-leaders-to-combat-extremism-10886892

LIVE: Trump urges Muslim leaders to combat extremism
Follow the latest as the President casts the fight against Islamic extremism as "good versus evil" during a speech in Saudi Arabia

Well, it's not the worst speech ever, especially considering the multitude of awful things that could have happened...is it me, or is there a rather subtle note of blackmail in there? Do something about your nutjobs and crazies and we'll support you...

No, I have absolutely NO idea why Trump and the Saudis appear to be using a Palantir to communicate with Sauron....

Palantir to communicate with Sauron

I assume this reference is is something to do with maybe Games of Thrones? I think I'll stay confused .... LL

Other one, LL - Lord of the Rings:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/22/one-orb-to-rule-them-all-image-of-trump-and-glowing-globe-perplexes-internet

One orb to rule them all': image of Trump and glowing globe perplexes internet



Sample:

chrisError @chrisError
I am gone from Twitter for like a few hours, and now Trump is a holding a Palantír! WHAT ELSE HAVE I MISSED?! IS BANNON A WRAITH NOW?! #ORB

Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner reportedly focus of FBI's Russia investigation.

White House adviser and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is considered a focus for the FBI's investigation into alleged Russian attempts to influence 2016's presidential election, according to reports.

A number of officials told NBC news that they believe Kushner has important information related to the investigation. The Washington Post reported that it was "the extent and nature" of Kushner's meetings with Russian officials that has interested the agency.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/donald-trump-apos-son-law-001605988.html

'What do you feed him?' Pope Francis risked a joke about Trump's size.

It could have caused a diplomatic incident but a culinary quip from Pope Francis seemed to have gone down well with Donald Trump and his wife Melania.

In one of the lighter moments of his meeting with the US president at the Vatican on Wednesday, Francis made an apparent allusion to Trump's imposing physical size.

"What do you feed him on? Potica?" Francis asked Melania, in a reference to a calorie-laden cake that comes from her native Slovenia and is pronounced "potteezza".

Reporters in the room thought initially that the First Lady had replied "Pizza!" But her staff confirmed later to AFP that she had appreciated Francis had produced a custom-made joke for her benefit.

Trump, famed for his love of fast food and his use of "fat" as an insult for his enemies, took the quip in good part, beaming broadly, as he did throughout the public parts of an encounter that lasted barely 30 minutes.

Both sides had been determined that the meeting would emphasize areas of agreement between the new administration and the Vatican, after some pointed exchanges between the two leaders over the last year.

These have included Francis calling Trump's border wall plans "not Christian" and the billionaire tycoon suggesting the pope might be glad to have him in charge if the Islamic State group attacked the Vatican.

Against that backdrop, Francis's diplomatic advisors would no doubt have counselled the outspoken pontiff against any reference to Trump's size, which came under considerable scrutiny during the US election campaign.

According to an interview he gave last year, Trump is 1.88 metres tall (six foot two inches) and weighs 107 kilos (235 pounds).

That makes him overweight but not obese in the most common measurement used by doctors - but many observers are sceptical, believing his true weight does take him into obese territory.

Well, I am 6'7" and weigh around 14.5st (92k) ....   LL

I don't think Trump's eating habits are awfully good, LL, he seems to scoff an awful lot of junk food, and he's rumoured to dislike exercise because he thinks you only have a certain amount of energy in your lifetime and exercise wastes it.....

Meanwhile......

carla ciccone‏
@cciccone

Follow
More
Dress for the job you want. #widow

Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner reportedly focus of FBI's Russia investigation.

Nothing Kushner did would surprise me, and Trump needs to get rid - his son-in-law is dragging him down.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/27/jared-kushner-wanted-secret-channel-kremlinrussian-ambassador/

Jared Kushner, the senior adviser to the president and the his son-in-law, reportedly discussed with the Russian ambassador the possibility of creating a secret communication channel between Donald Trump's transition team and the Kremlin.

The move, which was apparently intended to make the confidential talks more difficult to monitor, was reportedly discussed during a meeting on December 1 or 2 at Trump Tower.

While the White House confirmed that encounter in March, it was reported on Friday that Mr Kushner had at least three previously undisclosed contacts with Sergei Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the United States, during and after the 2016 presidential campaign.

Mr Kislyak told his superiors in Moscow that Mr Kushner proposed using Russian diplomatic facilities for their discussions, the Washington Post reported, citing US officials briefed on intelligence reports.

The envoy was reportedly "taken aback" by the suggestion, according to Post, which cited anonymous US officials who were briefed on intelligence reports on intercepted Russian communications.

The White House declined to comment, the newspaper said. The Russian Embassy did not respond to requests for comment...etc

That sounds entirely possible, and explains the puzzle. Thing is, I really cannot see Trump as being involved in complicated sneaky plots, it just doesn't fit what we known of his character.

Kushner, on the other hand, buttering his father-in-law up while stabbing him in the back - it's an old, old story.

From Wikipedia:

Jared Kushner had been a lifelong Democrat and had made major donations to its candidates for years before reportedly undergoing an "ideological conversion" and supporting the 2015–16 Trump campaign.    Kushner has had no prior involvement in campaign politics or in government before his father-in-law, Trump's, campaign.

No comment.   LL

I doubt if it's a coincidence that every time that Trump has done something jaw-droppingly awful, Ivanka and Kushner have been close at hand, LL.

His biggest weak spot seems to be his family, but he needs to get rid of Kushner and tell Ivanka to stick to designing frocks and handbags.

Trump's 'home run' tour leaves allies bewildered.

Taormina (Italy) (AFP) - Donald Trump's first trip overseas was supposed to be about building bridges and clarifying his administration's intentions to friends and foes alike.

And the US president flew home Saturday boasting he had "scored a home run" everywhere he'd been, saying he had forged bonds with friends old and new in the fight against terrorism.

But behind him he left some of Washington's allies as bewildered as ever over his abrasive, unpredictable style and the substance of his policy plans.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trumps-home-run-tour-leaves-allies-bewildered-165654057.html

Rolled eyeballs were the order of the day among senior EU aides who couldn't decide whether Trump was badly briefed, incapable of mastering a complex brief or consciously engaging in megaphone diplomacy in order to show he is serious about his America First agenda.

Brussels also provided one of the abiding images of the trip when the leader of the free world was filmed muscling Montenegro's Prime Minister, Dusko Markovic, out of his way to get to the front of a photo opportunity.

The short grinning man with the bright pink/red tie behind Trump's right shoulder is Viktor Orban.   LL

consciously engaging in megaphone diplomacy in order to show he is serious about his America First agenda.

There's your answer, LL. It's all gone down pretty well with places like Breitbart - the only bit they didn't like was Saudi Arabian, and photo-ops involving palantirs and sword dances.

Trump was playing to his domestic audience, not us.

He's back, and he's found his phone.....

onald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump 5h5 hours ago
More
It is my opinion that many of the leaks coming out of the White House are fabricated lies made up by the #FakeNews media.

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump 5h5 hours ago
More
Just returned from Europe. Trip was a great success for America. Hard work but big results!

Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
We have a MASSIVE trade deficit with Germany, plus they pay FAR LESS than they should on NATO & military. Very bad for U.S. This will change
11:40 AM - 30 May 2017


He's not far wrong. Especially as Germany's 'strong economy' comes at the expense of southern European nations. If the Deutschmark had to compete on a level playing field, it would be a very different story.

And no, Ma Merkel is NOT the 'leader of the free world'. She may think she's Empress of Europe, but a great many Europeans see her in a somewhat different light....

Donald Trump Jr leads campaign to overturn restrictions on gun silencers despite mass shooting fears.

Donald Trump’s eldest son is spearheading a campaign to overturn restrictions on gun silencers - legislation gun safety activists say has existed for decades for reasons of public security.

The country’s largest gun rights lobbying group, the National Rifle Association (NRA), is backing legislation that would make it easier for people to buy silencers, or suppressors. Restrictions on their sale were first introduced during the administration of Franklin D Roosevelt, and advocates say the sound of a gun being fired acts as a loud, obvious safety signal for people to take cover, run the way other way or simply be alert.

They say that while there is little evidence that gun crimes are committed with weapons fitted with silencers, they fear that if suppressors were easier to obtain, so might their use in armed crimes. They also say that the bill’s sponsor's justification for the measure - that it is to protect people from suffering hearing damage - is countered by the simple use of ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones. More at link.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/donald-trump-jr-leads-campaign-145200332.html

Thankfully, that isn't one of my worries, though I confess, I don't actually see how something that stops firearms from making a noise makes people safer. Whatever, I wouldn't have thought it was a high priority...

Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his "no reason to be alarmed" statement. MSM is working hard to sell it!
2:49 PM - 5 Jun 2017

Has Trump finally totally lost the plot? Any fool can see Khan was talking about armed police officers - as we aren't used to seeing them on our streets:

TRUMP: "At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is 'no reason to be alarmed!' " - tweet Saturday night.
THE FACTS: A look at the fuller context of remarks by London Mayor Sadiq Khan to the BBC on Sunday shows that he was telling Londoners there was "no need to be alarmed" at the heavier police presence they will see in the days ahead. He was not playing down the danger. "The threat level remains at severe," the mayor said. "Severe means an attack across the country is still highly likely."


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-4572784/AP-FACT-CHECK-Attack-draws-visceral-Trump-tweets-not-facts.html#ixzz4j8cy6odj
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Trump attacks London mayor for a second day.

President Trump continued for a second day to attack London's mayor, Sadiq Khan, as that city dealt with a weekend terror strike, prompting Britain's prime minister among others to come to Khan's defense.

On Monday morning Trump took to his preferred medium, Twitter, just as he had the day before, to criticize Khan for telling Londoners -- in Trump's words-- that they had "no reason to be alarmed." But Trump took Khan's remarks out of context, suggesting the mayor -- a Muslim -- was being dismissive of terrorism when in fact Khan was reassuring his constituents about the expanded police presence in London.

For all the chatter in the media about Trump's uncharitable response to the terrorist attack, what spoke loudest was the blowback against Trump from British politicians of both parties -- and the acting American ambassador.

Prime Minister Theresa May, asked about the president's barbs, said, "I think Sadiq Khan is doing a good job and it’s wrong to say anything else - he’s doing a good job."

May, who is campaigning for Conservative Party candidates for British elections Thursday, is of a different party than Khan.

In a remarkable counter to Trump's tweets, the acting United States ambassador to the United Kingdom, Lewis Lukens, tweeted praise for Khan on behalf of the embassy in London.

Trump's criticism of the mayor revived a spat with Khan from the 2016 campaign, when Khan responded to questions about candidate Trump's proposed ban on Muslim visitors to the United States. Later on Monday, Trump aides admonished reporters to quit focusing on the president's tweets.

To see actual tweets, use link - I couldn't copy them over.   LL

http://www.latimes.com/politics/washington/la-na-essential-washington-updates-trump-attacks-london-mayor-post-attacks-1496693099-htmlstory.html
______________________________________________________

A spokesman for Khan responded to the Trump Twitter barbs on Sunday, stating the mayor himself had “more important things to do” aiding the city’s response and recovery.

“The mayor is busy working with the police, emergency services and the government to coordinate the response to this horrific and cowardly terrorist attack and provide leadership and reassurance to Londoners and visitors to our city,” the spokesman said.

“He has more important things to do than respond to Donald Trump’s ill-informed tweet that deliberately takes out of context his remarks urging Londoners not to be alarmed when they saw more police — including armed officers — on the streets.”

The president’s Sunday morning tweets on London appear to echo comments made on “Fox & Friends.”

Khan, a Muslim, called Trump’s view of Islam “ignorant” in a May 2016 interview.

“I think they’re very rude statements,” said Trump in response, “and frankly, tell him, I will remember those statements. They’re very nasty statements.”

As police were responding to the attack Saturday night, Trump tweeted that the incident was a reason that the United States needed a “travel ban.” The White House and its lawyers have previously said that their executive order was not a “ban.” Trump’s tweet could come into play if the case reaches the Supreme Court.

The relationship between British and United States intelligence was strained in the wake of last month’s attack in Manchester, after U.S. officials leaked information about the investigation that reportedly left their British counterparts “furious.”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-attacks-london-mayors-words-deride-terror-attack-142423373.html
_________________________________________________
White House: Trump not 'picking a fight' with London mayor

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-london-mayor-sadiq-khan-terrorist-attack/story?id=47837703
_____________________________________
US Embassy In London Publicly DEFIES Trump In Epic Message To City Mayor.

Trump publicly attacked London’s mayor after the recent London terror attacks, but the US embassy in London has the mayor’s back. US embassy officials defied Trump and issued a message of support for the London mayor.

http://vote.us.org/memo/thread/12507/breaking-us-embassy-in-london-publicly-defies-trump-in-epic-message-to-city/