Amouranth Situation is Crazy, Trump's "Corruption Tour" Even Has Allies Weirded Out, & Today's News
PDS Published 05/12/2025
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Police showed up to Amouranth’s home after she and her husband were in an hours-long screaming match on Kick.
This fight lasted a long, long time, and most of it was streamed, so we can only really touch on the most viral moments.
Because they talked about everything under the sun, often discussing the potential of divorce and the logistics around that.
At one point, her husband accused her of cheating:
“Can we talk about you kissing black men while we were married?...That is not even true! I was, oh my god…oh, we don’t want to talk about that…we can talk about that, sure…okay, let’s talk about it… you had me go on Tinder dates I didn’t want to go on, and then you started calling me when we were at the karaoke bar a lot…and then you asked me if you could have an open relationship…that is, no!” (19:47:21-19:47:42)
Right, she denies it, but he continues to say she hooked up with someone and that he caught them.
At other points, they argued about the fact that this fight was happening on stream, with Amouranth saying that he knew she was on stream when this all started, so it should be on him to get out, not on her to stop streaming:
“I am telling you I don’t want to be streamed. I am telling you I don’t want to be streamed…then you can leave…and you are streaming, you’re saying it is consensual because you are here…it is, you don’t have to be here, I can stream in my house…I am a member of this household…yeah but you don’t have to be in this room.” (21:40:05-21:40:23)
“I’m not unokay with being observed. I’m unokay with you pointing the camera at me… Well then leave, I am not going to follow you.”(21:41:51-21:41:57)
There is then a quick cut or pause in the stream, with it picking back up from a new angle where we see this happen:
[he runs up from behind her and grabs stuff in front of her] what the fuck is wrong with you bro, you can leave, you can move…I wasn’t in camera view, you moved the camera view to me…what the fuck bruh, what is wrong with you, you have problems, man.” (21:42:03-21:42:19)
They continue arguing, and then all of a sudden we hear a knock at the door.
“Who is that…I don’t know…it’s not alarming to you that…no because we have police as our security guards and (name?) is….POLICE, come out.” (21:54:00-21:54:14)
It’s then pretty hard to hear what the officers are saying as they stay in the background, but they eventually call over Amouranth to talk, too, seemingly asking if she is okay, what is happening.
But again, most of it is pretty hard to hear since they are removed from the camera setup.
And that is not where talk of police ended, because at another point later, she accused her husband of doxxing her:
“What’s up? What are you doing?...Calling the police…why?...because you are doxxing me at this point…what the fuck…you have reached Houston PD. You call will be answered by the next available call taker. Houston 911, do you need medical, police, or fire?..Police.” (23:18:38-23:19:03)
The rest of the 911 call then got muted after the operator asked for her address, and the stream stayed muted for a few minutes.
Another clip making the rounds is one where her husband complains about their financial situation, noting her content creation is making less than it used to in prior years.
Though, once you hear the monthly take-home, uh, you may lose some sympathy.
“We have Kick contract, and we still do OnlyFans, she does. The amount of money we made from both, with the exception of the last two months, has always been less than what OnlyFans alone in 22 and 23. 2022 and 2023, and 2021. Back then, OnlyFans often hit a monthly of $2 million. Currently, last month did over two, but this month, and every other month on the Kick contract, Kick plus OnlyFans did about 1.2, sometimes 1.5.” (3:56:30-3:57:11)
And reactions to all of this are all over the place, right, depending on where you look or what clip people specifically are reacting to.
Some people noting that a few years ago, Amouranth had accused her husband of emotional abuse, which makes them more concerned about this livestreamed argument, with some writing things like:
“Kick genuinely not intervening with the whole @Amouranth situation should be the final nail in the coffin for them tbh, if it’s rage bait or not how are you going to continue to allow a channel that has an active DV case unfolding while people watch, ban the account, shut it down.”[]
Then you have some thinking this is all staged for clicks. []
Others thinking that if this fight was real, it points to greater issues in our culture, saying:
But I would love to know your thoughts on any of this, right, random clips keep popping up online and going viral, but like I said, this was like, over ten hours of arguing livestreamed.
So any thoughts you have on this, let me know.
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Donald Trump wants to make drugs way cheaper for Americans, and way more expensive for everyone else.
With him taking the lectern Monday and announcing an executive order that’s meant to bring pharmaceutical prices down in the U.S. [Lead B roll into clip]
[Clip, 32:33 - 32:38, 32:50 - 33:05]
Right, what he’s supposedly angry about is the fact that on average, brand name drugs are three times as expensive as those in peer nations. [Quote, find “three times”]
This even though the United States leads the world in the pharmaceutical r&D that creates new drugs.
So the executive order does a few different things, starting with a directive to HHS to set targets for drug price reductions for publicly insured health programs and private markets in the United States within 30 days. [Quote, find “30 days”]
Which should kick off a round of negotiations between the federal government and drug makers.
Next, the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission are directed to stop anti-competitive practices. [Quote same link, find “competitive”]
And finally, HHS will facilitate direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical sales at Most Favored Nation prices. [Quote same link, find “also facilitate”]
With Trump also continuing Biden’s policy of negotiating lower drug prices for Medicare, something which Trump criticized in the briefing, though he didn’t say what he’d do differently.
Anyway, the numbers he promised are huge, though take it with a grain of salt — this is Donald Trump. [Lead B roll into clip]
Now you might be surprised to hear that pharmaceutical stock prices actually rose after this announcement.
And the apparent reason for that is that the industry was expecting something much harsher from the administration, such as Congressional legislation or regulations changing how the government pays for certain drugs. [Quote, find “more teeth”]
Also, Trump claims that this will actually increase revenue for the industry, because it’ll raise prices abroad.
So for example, the order directs the U.S. Trade Representative and the Commerce Department to take action against "unreasonable and discriminatory policies" in other countries that keep their own prices lower. [Quote]
With officials saying they’ll focus on lowering prices for drugs with the highest cost disparities between the U.S. and other developed nations, whose government-run healthcare systems Trump doesn’t like.
[Clip, 39:46 - 39:58]
Though it’s unclear how much leverage the U.S. actually has over other countries, since they’re already locked into contracts with American drug makers and they can decline to cover the drugs at all if prices go up.
But in response to this, while there’s been some criticism that the move doesn’t go far enough, or it’s not the right kind of action, or that U.S. patients get quicker access to drugs because of the higher prices, the general reaction seems to be mostly positive.
Right, because lowering drug prices is one of those issues that’s popular among both Democrats and Republicans, or at least Republican voters.
So for example, you had Mark Cubin, a Democrat, just firing off praise on social media for this move.
Saying, “Gotta be honest. The Trump EO on healthcare and in particular, drug pricing could save hundreds of billions.” [Post]
With him then listing a ton of different ways the Trump administration could get drug prices down, notably by regulating the industry and targeting pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. [Scroll through post]
Right, they’re basically these middlemen who negotiate between insurance companies and pharmacies, and critics argue they profit off artificially inflating prices.
So Cuban claims, “The level of opacity that the big PBMs create is why the price of brand drugs are outrageous.” [Post]
And he took the opportunity to promote Cost Plus Drugs, the company he founded a few years ago to offer lower-priced generics by cutting out the PBMs.
But of course, we’ve gotta see what comes from this executive order, whether it’s actually effective, and whether it’s followed by any durable legislation.
Because right now the House Republicans’ budget plan would cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid, throwing millions of Americans off their insurance, and it contains nothing about lowering drug prices.
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The U.S. and China have reached a deal to temporarily slash tariffs for 90 days as the world’s two largest economies work to de-escalate a trade war that has the potential to cause a global recession.
In an announcement today following weekend negotiations in Geneva, U.S. officials said that American tariffs on Chinese goods would be reduced from 145% to 30%.
And Beijing said it would cut its tariffs on U.S. products from 125% to 10%.
With both of these reductions set to take effect this Wednesday.
Though, notably here, some key trade restrictions will remain in place.
Including the 20% tariff Trump issued in February over what he claims was China’s failure to stop the trafficking of chemicals used to make fentanyl to the U.S.
As well as the 10% “base line” tariff he imposed on nearly every U.S. trading partner.
And, as a result, China will also keep its tariffs on U.S. agricultural products — which it imposed in retaliation for Trump’s fentanyl-related duties
With Beijing also agreeing to suspend or cancel some non-tariff retaliatory measures, like certain export restrictions and the practice of blacklisting dozens of U.S. companies.
And in a joint statement released by the White House and China’s Ministry of Commerce, the two governments said they had agreed on the 90-day pause, quote:
“in the spirit of mutual opening, continued communication, cooperation, and mutual respect.”
And in order to recognize “the importance of their bilateral economic and trade relationship to both countries and the global economy.”
With the statement noting that this pause will remain in place as the two sides continue trade talks to resolve their differences.
And that optimism was also echoed by top officials on both sides.
With Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying that the mutual tariffs would have amounted to a near-total blockade of goods from both countries — which neither side wants — arguing:
“We do want trade. We want more balanced trade and I think both sides are committed to achieving that.”
And adding that the administration will push for China to open up more to U.S. goods, which would help narrow the U.S. trade deficit with China.
With him also telling reporters that the two countries had substantive discussions regarding American demands that China crack down on fentanyl-related chemicals entering the U.S.
Claiming that the Chinese government “understood the magnitude” of the fentanyl crisis in the U.S. and asserting that there is a “positive path forward.”
Now, notably, in their remarks, China’s Ministry of Commerce was careful not to frame the negotiations as a concession to Trump, but rather a necessary step forward to avoid further escalation.
Reiterating that the talks this weekend were an “important first step” to resolve differences, urging the U.S. to, quote:
“completely rectify the mistake of unilateral tariffs [and] work together to inject more certainty and stability into the global economy.”
Right, so this is absolutely massive — as The Washington Post explains, the agreement “marks the first tangible move to de-escalate tensions that have been rising since Trump took office in January.”
But experts say that despite the substantial de-escalation, this is by no means a permanent solution.
It’s just a starting place, but there are still major underlying issues, and this temporary agreement does little to actually change the deteriorating relations between the two economic superpowers.
Additionally, you also had Harvard economist Dani Rodrik noting that while the countries have taken a step back “from a needless trade war,’’ the U.S. tariffs on China are still high and “will mainly hurt U.S. consumers.’’
And adding that Trump “has obtained absolutely nothing from China for all the chaos he generated. Zilch.”
But, at the same time, you also have right-leaning media outlets portraying the talks as a massive win for the U.S. and Trump’s tariff policies, highlighting the positive response from the stock market.
Which did see massive rallies following the announcement.
With the S&P 500 opening almost 3% higher, the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumping 2.5%, and the Nasdaq soaring to nearly 4% as trading opened this morning.
And it wasn’t just the U.S. market — international markets, particularly in Asia, also rose significantly in anticipation of the deal.
But, as far as whether there will actually be long-term, lasting impacts, we’re just going to have to wait and see if a more permanent solution can be reached in the next 90 days or so.
Or if it’s just going to be this on-again-off-again chaos that continues to rattle global markets and the U.S. economy.
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Republicans want to pay for Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” by making cuts to Medicaid that will cause millions of poor Americans to lose their health insurance and force millions more to face higher healthcare costs.
Right, as we’ve talked about before, Trump has asked Republicans in Congress to pass much of his domestic agenda in one massive, sweeping bill.[]
And one of the centerpieces of that bill is $4.5 trillion in tax breaks.
With much of that going to finance an extension of tax cuts that Trump put in place during his first term, but that are now set to expire this year.
And so to pay for that, House Republicans are working to slash at least $1.5 trillion in other spending areas, directing 11 different committees to come up with cuts.
And the panel asked to make the biggest cuts by far is the Energy and Commerce Committee, which was directed to find at least $880 billion to slash.
So, as a result, it was widely expected that the committee would be proposing cuts to Medicaid and/or Medicare, which make up the VAST majority of the spending that the panel oversees.
And yesterday, the committee rolled out a proposal that would cut an estimated $912 billion over the decade.
With most of those cuts — $715 billion — coming from changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.
And, among other things the legislation would:
Add a work requirement to Medicaid for poor, childless adults, requiring that they prove they are working 80 hours every month to stay enrolled.
Require Medicaid beneficiaries who earn more than the federal poverty limit — about $15,650 for a single person — to pay higher fees for doctor visits.
Impose stricter eligibility verification and paperwork requirements by allowing states to check the income and residency of enrollees more often and terminate coverage for those who don’t respond in time.
Freeze a tax that some states impose on providers to obtain more federal funding and pay for large portions of their Medicaid programs.
And make a number of smaller changes that touch on hot-button social issues, like barring coverage of gender-affirming care for trans minors, purging rolls of ineligible immigrants, and reducing federal funding for providers that also offer abortion services.
Though, notably, no federal funds go towards providing abortions, so that move would just cut funding for other essential services provided by places like Planned Parenthood, like contraceptive access, cancer screenings, and more.
Right, and Republicans — who have long pushed for many of these measures unsuccessfully — they argue that they are necessary to generate savings and root out “waste, fraud and abuse.”
But Democrats say these efforts will hurt millions of the most vulnerable Americans.
With the party circulating an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office that estimated the move would cost 8.6 MILLION their health insurance over a decade.
And, beyond that, Democrats also argue that the proposal will increase premiums for at-risk folks, force hospitals to shut down, and prevent seniors from accessing care.
But, very notably here, it’s not just Democrats who have opposed this effort.
Right, some Republicans have voiced opposition to the move — including Sen. Josh Hawley, who wrote a New York Times op-ed literally titled “Don’t Cut Medicaid” where he argued:
“If Congress cuts funding for Medicaid benefits, Missouri workers and their children will lose their health care. And hospitals will close. It’s that simple. And that pattern will replicate in states across the country.”
And that is also significant because the proposed cuts are ALREADY a pared-down version of what many hard-right Republicans were initially pushing for.
Right, the ultraconservative flank of the party called for much deeper, structural changes.
But many moderate Republicans in vulnerable or swing districts pushed against deep Medicaid cuts, arguing it could endanger their seats in the House and thus the GOP’s razor-thin majority.
But even with the more limited approach, it’s unclear if Republican leadership will get enough members on board to pass these proposed cuts.
With The Associated Press reporting that “more than a dozen House Republicans” have told leadership they will not support cuts to health care safety net programs.
And meanwhile, Trump has given some very contradictory and conflicting messages here.
Right, he has repeatedly promised that he will not let Congress cut Medicare or Medicaid, even going as far as to chastize the media for continuing to ask him about it a few months ago:
REPORTER: “The spending bill aims to cut $2 trillion, Can you guarantee that Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security will not be touched?”
TRUMP: “Yeah, I mean, I have said it so many times, you shouldn’t be asking me that question, okay? This will not be ‘read my lips.’ It won’t be ‘read my lips’ anymore. We're not gonna touch it. Now we are gonna look for fraud.” 00:01 - 00:21
But you also had The Times reporting that he has “endorsed” the Republican proposal, even as he has remained “adamant that he did not want to do anything that could be characterized as a Medicaid cut.”
So for now, we’ll just have to wait and see how this plays out and if Republicans can actually get enough movement from their own party to get this plan passed.
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Zelensky just dropped the mic and walked away – telling Vladimir Putin he’ll be “waiting for him” in Turkey to start direct talks on ending the war in Ukraine.
Notably, this after Donald Trump seemingly pulled the rug out from underneath the county and its allies by abandoning a demand it had endorsed less than twenty-four hours earlier.
Right, on Saturday, you had leaders (1, 2, 3, 4) from the UK, France, Germany and Poland meeting with Zelensky in Kyiv –
Notably, with these European leaders also claiming that their proposal had the backing of Donald Trump and the US.
Which seemed to be confirmed by the Trump administration’s own envoy to Russia and Ukraine, a guy by the name of Keith Kellogg, reposting a picture of all those European leaders apparently on a call with Trump, with adding:
“A comprehensive (air, land, sea, infrastructure) cease fire for 30 days will start the process for ending the largest and longest war in Europe since World War II.” []
And with that, he actually further shared and commented on posts from the French President and Prime Minister of New Zealand expressing support for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.
But less than twenty-four hours later, you had Trump instead backing Putin’s counterproposal – which was to start direct talks in Istanbul next week without any ceasefire in place.
With Trump writing:
“President Putin of Russia doesn’t want to have a Cease Fire Agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the BLOODBATH.”
“Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY.” []
Which, of course, you had Kellogg then sharing and claiming:
“President Trump has been consistently clear. The killing needs to stop-now.” []
But with all that, you had Zelensky quickly responding, reiterating his call for a ceasefire but also adding:
“...I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally. I hope that this time the Russians will not look for excuses.” []
And with that, given doubts about how serious Russia is about making a deal, you have some wondering if Putin will actually follow through, describing this situation as Zelensky “calling his bluff.”
But ultimately, we’ll have to wait and see.
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We seem to have avoided a full-blown war from two nuclear powers – at least for now.
And there, I’m talking about India and Pakistan, which are now both claiming victory after agreeing to a US-brokered ceasefire –
And this after coming the closest they’ve been to an all-out conflict in decades.
Right, because of course, tensions have always been high between the two – largely because both claim ownership over the area known as Kashmir.
With the latest flare-up in violence being triggered by a horrific attack late last month in the Indian side of the territory in which militants killed 25 Hindu tourists and a tour guide.
Right, India blamed the attack on groups that it said were receiving support from Pakistan, which Pakistan denied, but Indian PM Modi still vowed retaliation.
With that coming last Wednesday, when missiles struck nine sites in Pakistan that India claimed were “terrorist infrastructure and terrorist training camps” – reportedly killing 31 people.
Also, notably, with last week’s airstrikes hitting deeper into mainland Pakistan than India has in at least half a century. []
Pakistan, of course, launched counter-attacks, but then out of nowhere on Saturday night, you had Trump announcing that the two countries had agreed to a “FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE” –
Which was later confirmed by Indian and Pakistani officials, and which was reportedly brokered by secretary of state Marco Rubio and vice-president JD Vance, as well as with direct involvement from Trump himself.
Though, notably, Vance had initially said the US wouldn’t get involved because it was “none of our business”.
But then, according to sources, the administration’s attitude shifted after concerns were raised by US intelligence that the conflict posed a risk of escalating into a full nuclear threat. []
And with that, within hours of the announcement, there were fears it had fallen apart after firing restarted along the border in Kashmir.
But a couple days in, even as we’ve still seen each side accusing the other of violations, the truce seems to be holding, with both sides trying to play it off as a win.
In India, for example, minutes after a ceasefire came into force, television news channels reportedly described it as Pakistan surrendering. []
While on the other side, crowds gathered in the streets of the capital to celebrate what the Prime Minister described as “military history” achieved by “[the country’s] brave army in a spectacular fashion.” []
But ultimately, in reality, there's no clear winner.
At best, the situation is returning to a status quo that was already not all that great.
With one resident living close to the border telling The Guardian:
“The core issue remains unresolved – soldiers still face each other with weapons and tanks,
“Today it was one dispute, tomorrow it will be another, and the guns will roar again, trapping civilians like me in the crossfire.” []
But of course, for now at least, it’s definitely good news that this didn’t spiral into a full-on war.
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A militant group that has waged a deadly, decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state is now laying down its arms and disbanding.
Right, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, better known as the PKK?
It started out as a group aiming to create an independent state for Turkey’s Kurdish minority but has increasingly shifted toward simply seeking greater rights for Kurds inside Turkey.
And in doing so, it has in the past especially employed controversial tactics including bombings, assassinations, and attacks on civilian, government, and military targets – which is partly why the group is classified as a terrorist group in Turkey, the EU, UK and US.
Although, notably, that label, especially over the past few years as the group has evolved, has been heavily in dispute.
But whatever the case may be, since 1984, the conflict is estimated to have killed at least 40,000 people – including more than 7,000 since 2015, most of them PKK militants. []
But then just a few months ago, you had the group’s imprisoned leader urging his followers to disarm and disband.
With him arguing the group’s armed struggle had outlived its initial purpose and that continued progress in the fight for Kurdish rights could be won through politics.
And now, the PKK has echoed his words, saying in a statement that it had “carried the Kurdish issue to a level where it can be solved by democratic politics” and that the group “completed its mission in that sense.” []
And with that, the group argued its leader should be in charge of the process of disarming, also calling on Turkey’s Parliament to take part.[]
But it’s not clear how this will actually all play out.
Right, like I said, the PKK’s leader? He’s in prison, and he has been since 1999.
And P.K.K. and pro-Kurdish politicians have long been calling for his release.
So we’ll have to see if the fact that his release would lead to the group’s disarmament will change anything.
The government hasn’t said so far, but a spokesperson for the ruling party did welcome the news in general, saying:
“If the latest PKK decision is fully implemented, shutting down all of its branches and structures, it will be a turning point.” []
And with that, you also reportedly have many Kurds in Turkey hoping that this will all mean there’ll be efforts to expand Kurdish cultural and educational rights, but again, as of now, we haven’t seen anything like that. []
Although, even without that, this could be a huge win for the Turkish President, Erdogan (Air-do-wan)
Right, it might help him drum up support among Kurds, which many analysts reportedly suspect that wants to help him change the Constitution and seek a third presidential term.[]
And then, beyond that, this could have major implications throughout the region.
Right, besides the PKK, there are all sorts of other groups and militia representing the 40 million ethnic Kurds spread across not only Turkey but also Syria, Iran and Iraq.
Right, they were promised their own nation by world powers after World War I but never got it. []
And in nearly every country where they live, they’ve faced state-sponsored suppression of their language and culture. []
So time will tell if what’s happening with the PKK affects what happens with any of these other groups across the region.
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Donald Trump just embarked on what some are calling his “corruption tour of the Middle East.”
With him flying to the Persian Gulf for a four-day trip Monday, his first major international trip since becoming president.
Though last month, he made an impromptu overnight trip to Italy for the funeral of Pope Francis. [Image]
Now this trip is timely, given all that’s happening in the region, from the war in Gaza to the advancing Iranian nuclear program.
Speaking of which, the White House has been trying to negotiate a deal with Iran to stop its uranium enrichment program, something it already did before Trump tore up the nuclear deal Obama signed. [Headline/image]
But according to White House aids, those issues are not the focus of this trip to the Middle East. [Quote, find “central”]
In fact, Trump’s not even visiting Israel, something many see as a snub to Netanyahu.
Instead, he’s going to three Gulf monarchies: Saudi Arabia, Qatar [cut-tar] and the United Arab Emirates. [Image and Image]
This after his son Eric visited Cut-tar and the UAE recently to hash out deals between the Trump Organization and partners in those countries. [Image]
These including six pending deals with a majority Saudi-owned real estate firm, a cryptocurrency deal with an affiliate of the Emirati government, a large hotel in Dubai, and a new golf and luxury villa project overseen by the government of Cut-tar. [Quote, find “six pending” and Quote, find “large hotel”]
This even though the Trump Organization had pledged not to enter into any new agreements with foreign governments while Trump is in office. [Quote same link, find “had pledged”]
But all that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Trump Family’s financial stake in the Persian Gulf.
Right, I mean for example, the Saudi sovereign wealth fund has put two billion dollars into Jared Kushner’s investment firm, making itself the biggest investor by far. [Quote, find “2 billion”]
Meanwhile, that same sovereign wealth fund started LIV Golf, spent millions poaching top P.G.A. golfers, and then held tournaments at Trump’s golf courses for four straight years. [Quote, find “four consecutive”]
And reportedly when Trump was inaugurated, the Saudi crown prince promised to invest at least 600 billion dollars in the U.S. over the next four years. [Quote, find “600”]
With Trump reportedly countering that if they’d just “round out” that promise to a trillion, then he would make Saudi Arabia his first foreign stop as president. [Same quote]
And similarly, the UAE has pledged to invest 1.4 trillion dollars in the U.S. over 10 years. [Quote, find “1.4”]
Though many doubt whether these huge numbers will actually pan out, so reportedly Trump’s hoping to come away from this week’s tour with deals on paper worth more than a trillion dollars. [Quote, find “1 trillion”]
And of course, he’s expected to be treated like a king.
Right, when he visits traditional American allies, he’s greeted by protesters; when he visits Gulf monarchies, they literally roll out the red carpet. [Image]
So when Trump flew to Riyadh [ree-odd] during his first term, the Saudis projected a multistory image of his face onto a Ritz-Carlton hotel, raised American flags along the highways, organized a Toby Keith concert, and performed a traditional sword dance, all for the president.
So he’s expected to get a similar reception this time around, and while he’s at a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, American business executives will be at a Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum.
With those in attendance including the White House crypto czar David Sacks, and the chief executives of huge firms like BlackRock, Citigroup and IBM. [Quote, find “IBM”]
So you have the president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations remarking to the Washington Post:
“It’s revealing about this administration that it’s the first administration in the modern era to approach the world largely in economic and business terms rather than strategic or diplomatic terms.” [Quote]
And then, you had Senator Chris Murphy putting it in somewhat harsher terms: [Lead B roll into clip]
[Clip, 00:02 - 00:09, 00:15 - 00:32, 00:42 - 00:48, 00:53 - 00:58] Caption: “This is President Trump's corruption tour of the Middle East. He is going to the Gulf in order to collect tribute. … What the president is doing is giving countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE what they want. For Saudi Arabia it’s a civilian nuclear deal with the United States. For the UAE, it is taking some of the restrictions off of the way that semiconductors flow into that country. … He’s asking for cash payments. UAE is giving him that through this deal in cryptocurrency … and of course we just found out this weekend that Qatar is going to be giving Donald Trump a plane.”
Right, what he's referring to there are reports that the White House and the Qatari (Cut-tar-ee) government are talking about Trump potentially accepting a gift of a luxury Boeing 747 to be used for Air Force One. [Headline]
Which, if it happens, would be one of the biggest gifts, if not the biggest gift, ever received by the U.S. government.
Now to be clear, it wouldn’t go straight into Trump’s personal possession.
Rather, the jet would reportedly be donated to the Department of Defense, and then to Trump's presidential library when he leaves office.
Though that means he could continue flying in it even as a private citizen, so critics argue it may as well be a gift to him personally.
With Trump himself lashing out at the allegation on Truth Social, writing:
“So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane. Anybody can do that! The Dems are World Class Losers!!!” [Post]
But again Senator Murphy shot back on X, saying:
“This isn’t a good idea even if the plane was being donated to the U.S. government. But Trump GETS TO KEEP THE PLANE??? It’s simply a cash payment to Trump in exchange for favors. Just wildly illegal.” [Post]
With him adding, “Normally, arms sales go forward without a vote. But any Senator can object and force a full debate and Senate vote. I will do that for any military deal with a nation that is paying off Trump personally. We can't act like this is normal foreign policy.” [Post]
Also, by the way, we had Murphy on the show last week for an interview about Trump’s meme coin, so you should check that out as well.
And actually on that story, the auction to buy face-to-face time with the president just wrapped up today.
Right, because for context, Trump announced last month that the biggest investors in his cryptocurrency would get a private dinner with him and a tour of the White House.
A move that has reportedly made him, his family and his allies a lot of money, drawn business people looking for political influence, and elicited accusations of blatant corruption.
With former regulators arguing that it almost certainly violates federal securities laws, but adding that Trump probably won’t be held accountable. [Quote, find “securities laws”]
Because remember, Trump himself halted crypto enforcement at both the SEC and the DoJ.
And besides, the Supreme Court gave him criminal immunity, and he has the power to pardon anyone he wants.
But the White House press secretary assured us on Friday that all of this is completely within the bounds of the law.
