Former President Trump Responds To President Biden's January 6th Speech

FOX News: Jan. 6: Trump hits back, saying Biden trying to 'further divide America' to distract from failures 

Trump called Biden's Jan. 6 speech 'political theater' that is a 'distraction for the fact Biden has completely and totally failed' Former President Donald Trump responded to President Biden's sharp criticism in a Jan. 6 speech, saying his Democratic successor is trying to distract from his record.

Biden "used my name today to try to further divide America," Trump said in a statement. "This political theater is all just a distraction for the fact Biden has completely and totally failed."  

Read more ....  

Update: Trump lashes out after Biden speech: 'Used my name today to try to further divide America' (The Hill)  

WNU Editor: Trump said that Biden “used my name today to try to further divide America.” 

Trump’s entire statement is as follows: 

“Biden, who is destroying our Nation with insane policies of open Borders, corrupt Elections, disastrous energy policies, unconstitutional mandates, and devastating school closures, used my name today to try to further divide America. This political theater is all just a distraction for the fact Biden has completely and totally failed. Our Country no longer has Borders, has totally and completely lost control of Covid (record numbers!), is no longer Energy Independent, Inflation is rampant, our Military is in chaos, and our exit, or surrender, from Afghanistan was perhaps the most embarrassing day in the long and distinguished history of the United States—and so much more. Why is it that the Unselect Committee of totally partisan political hacks, whose judgment has long ago been made, not discussing the rigged Presidential Election of 2020? It’s because they don’t have the answers or justifications for what happened. They got away with something, and it is leading to our Country’s destruction. They want all conversation concerning the Election “Canceled.” Just look at the numbers, they speak for themselves. They are not justifiable, so the complicit media just calls it the Big Lie, when in actuality the Big Lie was the Election itself. The Democrats want to own this day of January 6th so they can stoke fears and divide America.

I say, let them have it because America sees through theirs lies and polarizations.”

CIA Book Says The US Intelligence Community 'Struggled' To Brief President Trump In 2016

Clapper, who served under Barack Obama and resigned in 2016, made the claims in a new CIA-sanctioned book, Getting to Know the President, which chronicles the relationships between US presidents and the intelligence community (IC) since 1952 

Daily Mail: Trump was 'fact free' during intelligence briefings and prone to flying off the handle, says former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper 

* Clapper said Trump was prone to 'fly off on tangents' during briefings 

* Ex-Director of Intelligence worked with Trump during the transition period 

* He said hour-long meetings may contain just 'eight minutes of real intelligence' 

* Clapper said Trump 'was fact-free — evidence doesn't cut it with him' 

Donald Trump was 'fact free' during intelligence briefings and prone to 'fly off on tangents,' according to former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. 

Clapper, who served under Barack Obama and briefly under Trump during the transition, made the claims in a new CIA-sanctioned history, Getting to Know the President, written by retired spy John L. Helgerson. 

Clapper noted that he found the president 'could be courteous, affable and complimentary of the IC [intelligence community]' but claims he was loose on substance.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: I remember the leaked criticisms to the press that President Trump was difficult to be briefed when it came to intelligence reports. This blog covered it extensively. 

The number one reason why they had a problem was that the former President was always questioning their intelligence and analysis. IMHO that is a good thing, and what all leaders should do. But a position that the former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper clearly did not appreciate, nor this CIA analysis/book.  

Update: The CIA book "Getting to Know the President" and the chapter on President Trump can be read here .... Getting To Know The President: Chapter 9: Donald J. Trump—a unique challenge by John L. Helgerson (CIA).

CIA Book Says The US Intelligence Community 'Struggled' To Brief President Trump In 2016  

US intelligence community 'struggled' to brief Trump in 2016, CIA review shows -- The Hill 

It's no secret: A CIA book looks at fraught relations with Trump -- NPR  

US intelligence community 'struggled' to brief Trump, CIA study says -- CNN  

Trump was unprepared for the 2016 transition because his team didn't think they'd win the election, CIA-published book says -- Business Insider  

Trump’s ‘fact-free’ approach caused briefing challenges, CIA report says -- The Guardian  

Trump's 'Fact-Free' Approach Posed Great Challenge to Presidential Intel Briefings, CIA Says -- Sputnik  

Trump didn’t receive an intelligence briefing after 6 January, book claims -- The Independent

IG Report Says Clearing Of Protesters From Lafayette Park Wasn't For A Presidient Trump Photo Op In Front Of St. John's Church

 

CBS: Watchdog finds clearing of protesters from Lafayette Park wasn't for Trump photo op 

Washington — The Interior Department's inspector general said in a report released Wednesday that evidence it obtained "did not support a finding" that federal authorities forcibly cleared protesters from Lafayette Park last year so then-President Trump could walk from the White House and pose for a photo outside the historic St. John's Church. 

The watchdog, which examined the incident that occurred June 1, 2020, during protests against racial injustice and police brutality in Washington, D.C., instead found the U.S. Park Police had the authority to clear the park and surrounding areas, and did so to allow a contractor to install anti-scale fencing after several nights of violent clashes. 

U.S. Park Police also did not know that Mr. Trump would potentially be leaving the White House and crossing Lafayette Park until "mid-to late afternoon" on June 1, hours after the contractor had arrived to begin installation, according to the report.  

Read more .... 

Update #1: Police did not clear D.C.'s Lafayette Square of protesters so Trump could hold a photo op, new report says (NBC)  

Update #2: Police did not clear Lafayette Square so Trump could hold 'Bible' photo op: Watchdog (ABC News)  

WNU Editor: There was wide-spread rioting and destruction days before these "protesters" were forced out from Lafayette Park. Destruction that included fire-bombing the historic St. John's Church. As I had commented at the time. I was surprised that it took authorities that long to clear the park. 

As to the reaction of this IG report. President Trump is claiming (justifiably) exoneration .... Trump claims exoneration in Lafayette Square clearing out (The Hill). His opponents are not (see Glenn Greenwald tweets below).

This is why liberals refuse to believe it didn't happen. Their political leaders and favorite media corporations told them it did. That the IG compiled a huge mountain of documentary proof showing it didn't happen won't matter to them at all: https://t.co/lt5suYtlUk

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) June 9, 2021

More below:

There's a good reason Joe Scarborough is the anchor of the liberal-left's favorite cable outlet. Shown a *mountain of conclusive, documentary proof* that the Park Police's use of tear gas had nothing to do with Trump - was planned well before - he still insists it happened: https://t.co/hKzPszKLom

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) June 10, 2021

CNN and @Acosta attacking and maligning the reputation of a well-respected career civil servant who has served in multiple administrations because his investigation proved that CNN and Acosta peddled outright fabrications (yet again) for weeks. Rather than admit it, they smear: https://t.co/iL73yWlSL4

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) June 10, 2021

At least the New York Times is giving a straightforward report.

The NYT headline is pretty straightforward: "Park Police Had Planned to Clear Area Before Trump’s Walk to Church, Watchdog Says." It does a decent job of describing what the IG proved.

But it never mentions how the NYT told its readers the false story.https://t.co/95E4J2A2S6 pic.twitter.com/FaIBzvvr2i

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) June 10, 2021

Who Misses Trump On Twitter?

 

The Hill: Psaki: We don't miss Trump on Twitter 

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Monday that President Biden and his administration don’t spend a lot of time thinking about former President Trump and they don’t “miss” him on Twitter. 

Speaking at the press briefing, Psaki was asked if Trump’s absence from the social media platforms made Biden’s life easier because the former president is not able to rile up GOP lawmakers to oppose the new administration’s initiatives, such as a COVID-19 relief package that is in limbo. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Not surprised by White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki's remarks. Former President Trump’s absence from the social media platforms has serious hurt the political opposition to President Biden's policies and agenda, and made her job easier. 

As a blogger who enjoys reading people's points of view, I do miss former President Trump's presence on social media. He always provided a different perspective to the main stream media message, and he is a far more effective spokesmen than most (if not all) Republican officials. 

With the passage of time I for one would not be surprised if historians will see this ban as a terrible stain on American history, and an indictment on how politicized and politically corrupt social media and tech companies have become in America. 

Former KGB Spy Says Russia Has Been Cultivating President Trump As An Asset For 40 Years

Image: American Kompromat How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery by Craig Unger is out January 26 

Daily Mail: EXCLUSIVE: Explosive new book claims the KGB began grooming 'young and vain' Donald Trump 40 years ago by saving him from financial ruin and turned him into a Russian asset who gave Putin 'everything he wanted' as president 

 * American Kompromat How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery by Craig Unger is out January 26 

 * The author claims Trump's association with Russia began in 1976 when he decided to make his move from developing real estate in Queens to Manhattan 

 * Trump was rescued multiple times from multiple bankruptcies by boatloads of Russian cash laundered through his real estate in the 1980s and 1990s

 * When Trump became President, it was time to pay the piper and Trump gave Putin everything he wanted, Unger writes 

 * The author claims Trump was connected to Russians through friend Jeffrey Epstein, who was supplying the Russians and Silicon Valley with underage girls 

 * Trump also appealed to the KGB because he was 'vain, narcissistic, highly susceptible to flattery and greedy,' the author writes 

 * The author interviewed high-level sources, Soviets who defected, former CIA officers, FBI counter-intelligent agents, lawyers and more for the book 

Donald Trump was cultivated as a Russian asset more than 40 years ago which exploded into a decades-long 'relationship' of mutual benefit to both Russia and Trump, a shocking new book claims. 

Trump was rescued multiple times from multiple bankruptcies by boatloads of Russian cash laundered through his real estate in the 80s and 90s, the author asserts. 

Russian money also picked up the tab for buildings franchised under Trump's name. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: If this book's claims are true, then former President Trump is the worst asset that Russia has ever had. This is President Trump's actions and policies against Russia.

1) Armed Ukraine. 

2) Armed Poland. 

3) Extended NATO operations and exercises in ways that even the Obama administration had not done.

4) Did not only maintained Russian sanctions, but increased them. 

5) Bombed Syria, Russia’s main client, and unleashed the U.S. military in Syria, including against Russian mercenaries. 

6) Ended the Iran deal. A close ally to Russia. 

7) Forced NATO to increase their defense budgets. 

8) Making the U.S. energy dependent that damaged Russia's oil industry. 

 More News On An Author's Claim That President Trump Is A Russian Asset 

Russia has been cultivating Trump as an asset for 40 years, former KGB spy says -- Business Insider ‘The perfect target’: Russia cultivated Trump as asset for 40 years – ex-KGB spy -- The Guardian 

New book claims KGB started grooming 'vain and greedy' Trump forty years ago -- National Post 

KGB groomed Trump as an asset for 40 years, former Russian spy says -- Times Of Israel

He Is Gone (Maybe?)

U.S. Presidents And Their Wars

WNU Editor: It has been quite sight to see TV political pundits this morning trying to explain President Trump's success in not starting and/or escalating a war.

In Farewell Address President Trump Touts Record Of 'No New Wars'

 

France 24: Trump touts record of ‘no new wars’, standing up to China in farewell address 

US President Donald Trump said in a farewell address Tuesday, his last full day in office, that he was the first president in many years to have left office without starting a war. 

“I am especially proud to be the first president in decades who has started no new wars,” Trump said, according to excerpts from the address that the White House released shortly before its broadcast on Tuesday. 

The outgoing Republican president also touted his toughness against China, saying he had brought unprecedented international pressure on the communist US rival. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: I have said it more than once in this blog. President Trump is the first US President since 1941 who has not started a new war, or escalated one. That by itself is quite an accomplishment.

 More News On President Trump's Farewell Address 

Trump wishes new administration luck in farewell video -- AP 

Donald Trump's farewell: We did what we came to do -- BBC 

In farewell address, Trump wishes luck to next administration without mentioning Biden -- Reuters 

Donald Trump says 'the movement we started is just beginning' and boasts he 'started no wars' in farewell address to the nation - and says he will 'pray' for new administration but does NOT mention Joe Biden -- Daily Mail 

Trump takes victory lap, does not mention Biden in farewell video message -- The Hill 

Trump, in farewell address, says movement ‘only just beginning’ -- Al Jazeera

Read the full text of Donald Trump's 20-minute final farewell message listing his achievements and saying 'good luck' to the 'next administration' -- Daily Mail

Report: President Trump Went 'Ballistic' After His Twitter Account Was Suspended

Politico: Trump went 'ballistic' after being tossed off Twitter 

The 'Hemingway of 140 characters' has lost his favorite bullhorn.

President Donald Trump has many prized possessions. But few seemed to inspire as much personal joy as his Twitter feed. Trump routinely boasted of the social media bullhorn he possessed. He credited it with launching his political trajectory. And he used it as a tool to lacerate his foes. 

On Friday night, he lost it. And, then, he lost his mind. 

The president is “ballistic,” a senior administration official said after Twitter permanently took down his account, citing the possibility that it would be used in the final 12 days of Trump’s presidency to incite violence. The official said Trump was “scrambling to figure out what his options are.” 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor:  I do not know the accuracy of the above post. Politico has a long history of not being accurate when it comes to Trump. But I do know how President Trump must have felt when he learned that his account was closed.

 About five years ago I woke up in the morning and with a cup of coffee in my hand I sat down to log onto WNU and start posting some stuff. I then discovered that WNU was closed/suspended/cancelled/gone by Google Blogger. 

To say that I was furious and upset is an understatement. 

At the time I had done about 70,000 posts over 8 years, and I had a lot of info on the blog that was useful and valuable to me. Spent the next few hours scrambling around trying to find out what happened, looking at my options, and swearing at the computer screen. 

After 6 hours I got an email from Google saying that it was a mistake, and my account was restored within a few minutes. 

So yes. I know how President Trump feels.

Since yesterday I have received a few emails and inquiries on what would I do if Google Blogger should decide to close down WNU. I do have a backup set up that I set up last summer when I learned about this .... It Appears That Google Has A Black List Of Conservative Sites (War News Updates Is On The List) (July 22, 2020). 

In the event that WNU is shut down, check out my Facebook or Twitter page and there will be a link on where to go.

My goal is to eventually activate this back-up site and make it WNU's permanent home page independent from the whims of Google and others. My goal is to have this done around March or April.

President Trump Vows Orderly Transition Of Power

 

Yahoo News: Trump finally admits defeat: 'A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20' 

Two months after the 2020 presidential election, less than a day after Congress certified the Electoral College results, and facing increasing pressure to resign, Donald Trump finally admitted on Thursday that he had lost and would not serve a second term. 

“Now Congress has certified the results. A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20th,” Trump said in a two-minute video posted to his Twitter feed. “My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power.” 

Read more .... 

 More News On President Trump Vowing An Orderly Transition Of Power 

Donald Trump acknowledges Biden election win: Full transcript -- Al Jazeera 

Trump vows orderly transition of power as pressure mounts to remove him from office -- France 24 Trump condemns riots, says he will focus on transition in taped remarks -- The Hill 

Capitol riot: Trump commits to 'orderly' transition of power -- BBC 

Donald Trump condemns US Capitol riot as calls grow for his removal -- DW 

Donald Trump 'outraged' by 'violence, lawlessness and mayhem' of US Capitol riots -- ABC News (Australia)

Trump Tweets For The First Time Since Suspension, Says "New Administration Will Be Inaugurated On Jan 20" -- Zero Hedge

U.S. Attorney General William Barr Has Resigned, Effective Dec. 23

 

Daily Mail: BREAKING NEWS: Donald Trump OUSTS Bill Barr after 'very nice meeting' in wake of revelation AG intervened to keep Hunter Biden probe secret and slapped down claims of voter fraud 

 * Trump tweets that Barr is leaving and presents it as his own decision 

 * But he had raged against his AG for not revealing Hunter Biden probe before election and had tried to rebuke Barr for not endorsing claims of voter fraud 

 * In resignation letter Barr hinted at tensions with Trump over voter fraud 

 * Barr sought to uphold existing DOJ policy against interfering in an election 

 * Cautioned against any moves that could go public such as a subpoena 

 * Came despite Trump and GOP lawmakers demanding Hunter probe 

 * Hunter Biden revealed last week his taxes were under investigation 

 * Democrats have accused Barr of acting like Trump's 'personal lawyer' 

Donald Trump ousted Bill Barr as attorney general Monday after a face-to-face White House meeting - having raged at the chief law enforcement officer keeping the Hunter Biden probe secret. 

Trump announced the departure in a tweet which presented Barr's decision to go as his own.

'Our relationship has been a very good one, he has done an outstanding job!' Trump said, then said Barr would 'spend the holidays with his family.' 

Read more .... 

 More News On The Resignation Of U.S. Attorney General William Barr 

Trump says Barr resigning, will leave before Christmas -- AP 

U.S. Attorney General Barr steps down as Trump election defeat confirmed -- Reuters 

Attorney General William Barr announces resignation -- FOX News 

Attorney General William Barr resigns, effective Dec. 23 -- MSNBC 

Attorney General William Barr resigns -- CNN 

Attorney General William Barr resigns after recent clashes with Trump, still defends president -- USA Today

President Trump Set To Veto Defense Bill Over Renaming Bases

NBC: Trump set on veto of defense bill over renaming bases honoring Confederates 

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is threatening to veto legislation to fund the military as one of his final acts in office unless a widely supported, bipartisan provision to rename military bases honoring Confederate military leaders is removed, according to White House, defense and congressional sources.

Since the Nov. 3 election, Trump has privately told Republican lawmakers that he won't back down from his position during the campaign that he would veto the annual National Defense Authorization Act if it includes an amendment to rename the bases. 

A senior administration official confirmed Trump's conversations with Republicans and his veto threat. 

"He's said that," the official said. 

Trump's stance has put in doubt legislation that had been agreed to by Republicans and Democrats in the House and the Senate. It has sent members of Trump's party scrambling to find a path for the defense bill, which outlines military policy and funding, and put them on a collision course with Democrats. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Clearly President Trump does not want his signature on the bill to make this  name change happen. But this will happen anyway in the next administration.

President Trump Says He Will Leave White House If The US Electoral College Votes For Biden

 

Daily Mail: Donald Trump says it's a 'very hard thing to concede' election but admits he WILL leave the White House when the time comes although he won't say if he'll attend Joe Biden's inauguration 

 * President Donald Trump said it's 'very hard thing to concede' but admitted he would leave the White House when the time came 

 * He wouldn't say if he would attend Joe Biden's inauguration 

 * 'It's going to be a very hard thing to concede because we know there was massive fraud,' Trump said   * 'Certainly I will. And you know that,' Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if he'll leave on Inauguration Day in peaceful transition of power. 

 * He took his first questions from the media since the election was held. 

President Donald Trump on Thursday said it's 'very hard thing to concede' the election but admitted he would leave the White House for Joe Biden when the time came. 

He wouldn't say if he would attend his rival's inauguration. 'It's going to be a very hard thing to concede because we know there was massive fraud,' Trump said at the White House. 

Read more .... 

 More News On President Trump Saying He Will Leave The White House If The US Electoral College Votes For Biden 

Trump says he will leave White House if Biden wins Electoral College vote -- Reuters 

Trump says he will leave White House if US Electoral College votes for Biden -- France 24 

Trump says he'll leave White House if Biden declared winner of Electoral College -- The Hill 

Trump Says He’ll Give Up Power if Electoral College Backs Biden -- Bloomberg 

Donald Trump says he will leave the White House if Joe Biden is confirmed by electoral college -- ABC News (Australia) 

Trump Says Will Vacate White House if Electoral College Votes for Biden -- Sputnik

Nearly Half of Americans Support Trump Running In 2024

President Donald Trump departs after placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as he attends a Veterans Day observance in the rain at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, November 11, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Barria 

Newsweek: Nearly Half of Americans Support Trump Running in 2024 As His Campaign Lawsuits Unravel: Poll 

While President Donald Trump's legal efforts to remain in the White House appear to be failing, a poll released Monday indicates that more than half of Americans are in favor of Trump running for president again in 2024. 

Trump has claimed victory in the 2020 election although many media outlets have projected a win for President-elect Joe Biden. Trump has thus far refused to concede the election and has filed lawsuits in some battleground states alleging widespread electoral manipulation. For the most part, those lawsuits have been dismissed by judges. Some observers believe that Trump could mount another presidential campaign in 2024. 

According to a Hill-HarrisX daily poll published Monday, many Americans think Trump should follow through with those alleged plans. According to the poll, 47 percent of registered voters support Trump running again in 2024. Republicans comprised a majority of that number with 75 percent backing a second Trump campaign. While only 24 percent of Democrats supported the idea, 47 percent of Independent voters gave the idea their support. 

Read more .... 

Update: Poll: Majority of Republicans would support Trump in 2024 (Politico) 

Update #2: Four more years: 66% GOP wants Trump to run in 2024, 79% say election ‘stolen’ (Washington Examiner)

 

WNU Editor: A lot can happen between now and 2024. I am also sure President Trump will be keeping all of his options open from now until then.

Will President Trump Disclose National Security Secrets When He Leaves Office?

President Trump speaks at the White House on Nov. 5, 2020.Washington Post photo by Jabin Botsford.

Washington Post: Officials fear Trump could reveal secrets 

WASHINGTON - As president, Donald Trump selectively revealed highly classified information to attack his adversaries, gain political advantage and to impress or intimidate foreign governments, in some cases jeopardizing U.S. intelligence capabilities. As an ex-president, there's every reason to worry he will do the same, thus posing a unique national security dilemma for the Biden administration, current and former officials and analysts said. 

All presidents exit the office with valuable national secrets in their heads, including the procedures for launching nuclear weapons, intelligence-gathering capabilities - including assets deep inside foreign governments - and the development of new and advanced weapon systems. 

But no new president has ever had to fear that his predecessor might expose the nation's secrets as President-elect Joe Biden must with Trump, current and former officials said. Not only does Trump have a history of disclosures, he checks the boxes of a classic counterintelligence risk: He is deeply in debt and angry at the U.S. government, particularly what he describes as the "deep state" conspiracy that he believes tried to stop him from winning the White House in 2016 and what he falsely claims is an illegal effort to rob him of reelection. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Will President Trump "spill the beans" when he leaves office thereby risking American lives and committing treason? I see zero evidence of that. But according to the above Washington Post columnist there is proof that he may just do that ....

.... Not only does Trump have a history of disclosures, he checks the boxes of a classic counterintelligence risk: He is deeply in debt and angry at the U.S. government, particularly what he describes as the "deep state" conspiracy that he believes tried to stop him from winning the White House in 2016 and what he falsely claims is an illegal effort to rob him of reelection. 

As I explained in this post, money is not President Trump's weakness .... Is President Trump Facing Bankruptcy? (October 27, 2020), President Trump's assets are multiple times more than his debts.  Money is not a factor here.

And as for revealing national security secrets. I have been doing this blog for 13 years, and following U.S. politics even longer. When I compare security leaks in this administration to others .... even with all the leakers in this White House, this was one of the best when it came to keeping national secrets to itself, and doubly so when it came to keeping military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan (and elsewhere) on a need to know basis.

In comparison to the Obama administration of which Joe Biden was an integral part of it, I lost count over the years on how many times sensitive intel was being leaked to the press that was done to make  the administration look good. But as bad as that was, it paled to its lack of secrecy on US military operations against ISIS in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan ..... from publicizing troop and equipment deployments, to even telling the press on what their military goals were for a certain time. Thank God Defense Secretary Mattis put a stop to that. 

And speaking of Joe Biden and national security leaks. His son's lap top exposed how vulnerable Joe Biden is to being blackmailed and compromised when it comes to national security. No mention of that by the above Washington Post commentator. But that is the point of this article. To accuse President Trump of being a risk, while hiding the fact that it is Joe Biden who is the real risk.

Is President Trump Facing Bankruptcy?

Donald Trump's $1.1 billion mountain of debt is wrapped up in office space, hotels and golf courses, with $900 million of it due within the next four years while coronavirus hammers the real estate market

Daily Mail: Trump's $1.1BILLION debt mountain: How the President owes huge sums linked to his towers and golf courses with $900m due to be repaid within the next four years as Covid hammers the real estate market 

 * He has a $1.1 billion mountain of debt, according to the Financial Times, $900 million of it due in next 4 years 

 * The President has an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion but most of that is made up of real estate 

 * Trump's TV checks were his major source of cash before he entered the White House in 2016 

 * Analysis shows how some of his debts are due to be paid within the next two years 

 * Trump owes as much as $340 million to Deutsche Bank – his biggest single banking backer 

 * Refusal to publish his tax returns means that his finances remain opaque 

Donald Trump's $1.1 billion mountain of debt is wrapped up in skyscrapers and golf courses, with $900 million of it due within the next four years while coronavirus hammers the real estate market, the Financial Times has revealed. 

The president has an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion but the economy has plunged off a cliff since the pandemic struck. 

He has loans due within the next two years on his Avenue of the Americas tower in New York ($285 million) and his California Street colossus in San Francisco ($162 million), the FT reports. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: My family's business is real-estate. And while I am no longer involved in the operations of the family business, I an knowledgeable on how all of this works. Looking at President Trump's portfolio I have to give him credit. He owns and/or partially owns some really nice properties. Especially his interests in 1290 Avenue of the Americas in New York City, and 555 California Street in San Francisco. Those two buildings alone are huge money makers, and can easily be used to refinance all of his debt obligations (and at historic low interest rates) if he and his partners decide to go down that road. I am not knowledgeable about the business behind golf courses. But I will not be surprised if the pandemic has hurt the bottom line. The biggest weakness that I see in President Trump's real-estate empire is The International Hotel in Washington, D.C. and Trump International Hotel at Central Park West. Hotels are empty right now, and I suspect that these hotels are bleeding an enormous amount of money right now. As for his other properties. Like Trump Tower. I would rate them as prime real-estate. Should President Trump decide to sell them, he will be laughing to the bank. Bottom line. President Trump owes a lot of money, but his assets dwarfs his obligations. 

New York Times Examines President Trump's Dealings In China Before He Became President

DNYUZ: Trump Records Shed New Light on Chinese Business Pursuits 

President Trump and his allies have tried to paint the Democratic nominee, Joseph R. Biden Jr., as soft on China, in part by pointing to his son’s business dealings there. 

Senate Republicans produced a report asserting, among other things, that Mr. Biden’s son Hunter “opened a bank account” with a Chinese businessman, part of what it said were his numerous connections to “foreign nationals and foreign governments across the globe.” 

But Mr. Trump’s own business history is filled with overseas financial deals, and some have involved the Chinese state. He spent a decade unsuccessfully pursuing projects in China, operating an office there during his first run for president and forging a partnership with a major government-controlled company. 

And it turns out that China is one of only three foreign nations — the others are Britain and Ireland — where Mr. Trump maintains a bank account, according to an analysis of the president’s tax records, which were obtained by The New York Times. The foreign accounts do not show up on Mr. Trump’s public financial disclosures, where he must list personal assets, because they are held under corporate names. The identities of the financial institutions are not clear. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: The New York Times examination of President Trump's dealings in China before he became President are here. What struck me after I had read it was on how unsuccessful President Trump was in doing business in China. He clearly did not have the right contacts to pursue business ventures. But aside from that, I did not notice any red flags in the report. The fact that he has a bank account in China did not surprise me. I have a bank account in China, which is normal if you want to do something in that country. And as for comparing President Trump personal dealings to Joe Biden's .... the New York Times was not convincing. I learned a long time ago that politicians always scrub their personal financial affairs to look good to the public. The key is to look at their family and their relationships with businessmen to ascertain where their wealth truly is. 

President Trump Details COVID-19 Recovery In First On-Camera Interview Since Diagnosis

 

FOX News: Trump says he's 'medication free,' details COVID-19 recovery in first on-camera interview since diagnosis

'I wanted to leave after the first day,' Trump says of his stint at Walter Reed. President Trump opened up about his ongoing recovery from the novel coronavirus on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” Friday, sitting down for his first on-camera interview since he tested positive last week. 

Speaking to Fox News medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel in a remote interview from the White House, Trump said he was “medication free” as of Friday and feeling "really, really strong." 

The president acknowledged that before he went to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Oct. 2, he “didn't feel very vital" and "didn't feel like the president of the U.S. should feel." 

Read more .... 

Update #1: Trump says he is no longer taking medication, declares he's 'healed' of Covid (NBC News) Update #2: Trump admits he ‘didn’t feel like the president’ and was ‘weak’ after coming down with Covid as he takes TV medical exam (US SUN) 

WNU Editor: A fascinating interview. Bottom line. President Trump got the best care possible, and it shows.

White House Physician Says President Trump Can Return To Public Events This Saturday

Reuters: White House physician says Trump can return to public events Saturday 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s physician said on Thursday that the president had completed his course of therapy for the coronavirus, had remained stable since returning to the White House, and could return to public engagements on Saturday. 

Dr. Sean Conley said in a memo released by the White House that Trump had responded “extremely well” to treatment. Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Doctor's outside the White House are not sure .... Trump still contagious? Experts say it’s impossible to know (AP). One final note. The above memo from Dr. Conley says this Saturday will be day 10 since Thursday's diagnoses. It is actually 9 days.

Update: Below is the latest video from President Trump. Some are commenting that it was done in front of a green screen. I say "so what".

TO MY FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD! pic.twitter.com/38DbQtUxEu

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2020

President Trump Returns To The Oval Office

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT! pic.twitter.com/uhLIcknAjT

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2020

CNBC: Trump returns to Oval Office after doctor says he’s been free of coronavirus symptoms 

 * President Trump has been “symptom-free” for more than 24 hours as he continues to be treated for the coronavirus at the White House, one of his doctors said in a new memo. 

 * Trump has also been “fever-free for more than 4 days” and has not required supplemental oxygen since leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the doctor said. 

 * Dr. Sean Conley’s brief memo did not include any specific updates on the president’s drug regimen. 

President Donald Trump was briefed in the Oval Office on Wednesday after one of the doctors treating him for the coronavirus said the president has been “symptom-free” for more than 24 hours. 

Trump, who had returned to the White House from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center just two days earlier, was briefed in the Oval Office on stimulus talks and Hurricane Delta, a press aide told reporters. 

Read more .... 

Update #1: Trump returns to Oval Office and says coronavirus diagnosis was 'blessing from God' -- CNN Update #2: Trump returns to Oval Office, says it's a "blessing from God" that he got COVID-19 -- CBS

WNU Editor: President Trump just released a new message (see above). He looks good. But he is still infected and he does need to take precautions even though the doctors are saying he is improving .... Trump's doctor releases upbeat 'health report' saying president has COVID antibodies - but Regeneron maker warns it is likely to be sign he is on their antibody drug and NOT of recovery (Daily Mail). Reports are also saying that Melania Trump is feeling better .... How's Melania? First lady 'feels well' and POTUS is feeling 'great!' (USA Today).