Free Republic

As I write this column, the GOP has won the most brutal political battle in history. Brett Kavanaugh has been confirmed to the Supreme Court. President Trump wins again. Here are the lessons and winners of this epic, historic battle. First, America always does the right thing…but only after exhausting every other option.

In July, China imposed import tariffs on a list of U.S. goods, including soybeans, as part of the trade dispute with the United States. China is the world’s largest soybean importer and has been seeking alternative supplies, especially in South America, where supplies available for export are down. “China has to resume purchases of U.S. soybeans,” Oil World said in its latest newsletter. “The South American supply shortage will make it necessary for China, in our opinion, to import 15 million tonnes of U.S. soybeans in October 2018/March 2019, even if the current trade war is not resolved.” Chinese purchases...

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump and European Union leaders announced Wednesday they have agreed to work toward "zero tariffs" and "zero subsidies" on non-automobile goods and would work to resolve U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports that have roiled European markets. The president, in a hastily called Rose Garden statement with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, said the EU had agreed to buy "a lot of soybeans" and increase its imports of liquefied natural gas from the U.S. Juncker, meanwhile, said the U.S. and EU had agreed to hold off on further tariffs as part of trade talks aimed...

President Donald Trump on Wednesday secured concessions from Europe, averting a trade war, Dow Jones reported, citing a European Union official. The report came shortly before Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker were scheduled to brief the press at a joint conference in the White House Rose Garden.

Live soon: President Trump suddenly announces a press event, likely making a statement about the European Union.

The recent G-7 Summit has been largely described a contentious event, and, according to CBS News senior global affairs contributor Ian Bremmer, it included a moment in which President Trump reportedly “threw” Starburst on the table. Bremmer told CBS News on Wednesday that during a discussion about the joint G-7 statement, the U.S. president “stood up, he put his hand in his pocket, his suit jacket pocket, and he took two Starburst candies out, threw them on the table and said to Merkel, ‘Here Angela, don’t say I never give you anything.’” Days later, Trump took another swipe at the...

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday that he says will keep migrant families together during detention on the U.S.-Mexico border. The president will not abandon his "zero tolerance" policy of criminally prosecuting all adults who cross U.S. borders illegally. Earlier, he signaled he would sign a measure to stop his administration's splitting of migrant families. "I'll be signing something in a little while that's going to do that," he told reporters during a White House event after saying he wanted families to be kept together. "I'll be doing something that's somewhat pre-emptive and ultimately will be matched by...

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he would sign a “preemptive” effort to keep illegal immigrant families together, previewing executive action on the issue. “We have compassion, we want to keep families together. It’s very important,” Trump said. “I’ll be signing something in a little while that’s going to do that and the people in this room want to do that and they’re working on various pieces of legislation to get it done.” Trump spoke about his plans during a White House meeting with Republican members of Congress about trade and immigration enforcement. His tone was markedly different from comments...

President Trump on Wednesday said he will sign "something" intended to end his administration's controversial practice of separating children from their parents who illegally cross the southern border."I’ll be signing something in a little while that’s going to do that," Trump told reporters at the White House. "I’ll be doing something that’s somewhat preemptive and ultimately will be matched by legislation I’m sure."Details about the order remain unknown. The move would be a major reversal for Trump and comes after the president and his top aides insisted for days that only Congress could halt family separations at the border. Trump...

President Trump is planning to sign an executive order to allow children to stay with parents caught crossing the border illegally -- a step that could avoid the family separations that have triggered a national outcry and political crisis for Republicans. The action under consideration would allow children to stay in detention with parents for an extended period of time, Fox News has learned. This comes as congressional Republicans scramble to draft legislation to address the same issue, but face challenges mustering the votes. Trump previewed the new measure, while holding out hope for legislation, during remarks to reporters during...

President Trump will reportedly meet with the entire Republican caucus on Capitol Hill Tuesday to push the caucus toward passing two immigration bills in the coming days. A House leadership aide confirmed to the Washington Examiner the meeting will take place at 5:30 Tuesday evening and comes on the heels of a tumultuous end of the week for the White House's messaging on immigration reform. The official House schedule for next week lists immigration votes as possible, but not definite.

Friday morning Donald Trump said in an interview on Fox News that he would not support a "moderate" GOP immigration bill that would allow most DREAMers to stay in the U.S. and reduce the number of children separated from their parents at the border. The conservative alternative was heavy on border security and enforcement.But later, the White House walked back that rejection, saying the president was "confused" and would sign the bill.The chaos only added to GOP worries about the issue of immigration, which has split the party in two in the House.Associated Press: Earlier this week, House Speaker...

Thousands of brave lives and billions of pounds have been lost since prime minister Tony Blair, president George W Bush and their followers thought the best way to make the world a better place was to get rid of tyrants by military force. To everyone’s cost we now know that was wrong. Instead, in an off-the-cuff remark, US President Donald Trump said this week that North Korea could swap its missile launch bases for beachside condominiums – what we’d call luxury apartments. It revealed one of the strongest motives behind the North Korean tyrant’s U-turn on nuclear weaponry. Looking across...

Basking in the afterglow of his apparently constructive meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, President Donald Trump said that he'd soon like a "real deal" with the U.S.' other long-time enemy Iran. Speaking to reporters following a historic meeting with Kim, at which the regime's leader signed an agreement that appeared to commit to the "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Trump said he hoped relations could also improve, in time, with Iran. "I hope that, at the appropriate time, after the sanctions kick in — and they are brutal what we've put on Iran — I hope...

Looking forward to straightening out unfair Trade Deals with the G-7 countries. If it doesn’t happen, we come out even better!

As if anybody thought it was not going to happen!.................

President Trump is making good on his promise to make America great again as the nation roared back to reclaim the title of the world’s most competitive economy. The U.S. beat Hong Kong for the top spot, retaking the position for the first time since 2015, according to Switzerland-based IMD World Competitiveness Center’s annual rankings, Bloomberg reported. Faster economic growth as well as scientific and technological innovation launched the U.S. up from 4th place last year, as the nation scored best in international investment, domestic economy and scientific infrastructure sub-categories. “The renewed top ranking aligns with the positive U.S. growth...

Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un hold surprise second summit: Blue House Leaders met at Panmunjom for the second time, Seoul says, with results to be announced tomorrow South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a surprise meeting at Panmunjom on the inter-Korean border on Saturday, according to a statement issued by the Blue House. The meeting is the second between the two leaders, with the first having taken place at the same location and resulting in the signing of the Panmunjom Declaration. “President Moon Jae-in held a second summit meeting with Kim Jong...

China has agreed to “meaningful increases” in its purchase of U.S. agriculture and energy exports to help reduce the U.S. trade deficit, both countries said Saturday after wrapping up two days of high-stakes trade talks in Washington. A joint statement released by the White House said negotiators from both sides found “consensus on taking effective measures to substantially reduce the United States trade deficit in goods with China.” “To meet the growing consumption needs of the Chinese people and the need for high-quality economic development, China will significantly increase purchases of United States goods and services,” the statement said. “This...

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has agreed to further open its auto market to the United States as the two countries prepare to amend their 6-year-old trade agreement following complaints by President Donald Trump. ...It marks the first successful renegotiation of a trade deal for the Trump administration — which used the threat of 25 percent steel tariffs at the bargaining table — and comes as the allies sought to resolve disputes before planned meetings with Kim Jong Un.