Back on topic, please, guys.

HMMMM, Schroedinger's Ayatolah?

https://www.theepochtimes.com/...RJ5DO827GLI0sIAVg%3D

Trump Puts China Visit on Hold Amid Iran War

The president’s visit to Beijing for a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping was initially scheduled for March 31 to April 2.

WASHINGTON—As the Iran war continues, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would delay his long-awaited trip to Beijing, originally set for the end of this month.

“I have to be here, I feel. And so we’ve requested that we delay it a month or so,” Trump told reporters on March 16.

Trump’s visit to China for a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping was initially scheduled for March 31 to April 2.

Trump indicated earlier that he might postpone his trip to China. He has also urged China to support U.S. efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transit corridor currently closed by Iran, but Beijing has so far remained unresponsive.

After the U.S.–Israeli strikes, Tehran closed the strait to most maritime traffic, raising concerns about a global oil price shock. On March 16, Brent oil settled at about $100 a barrel, nearly 40 percent higher than on Feb. 27, before the war.

On March 16, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that any delay in the trip would be “because of logistics” rather than the president’s request for assistance to reopen the strait.

“It would be a decision the president made as commander in chief to stay in the White House or to stay in the United States while this war is being prosecuted,” he told CNBC.

The comments came after Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer held a new round of trade talks with their Chinese counterparts in Paris.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed Bessent’s remarks.

“The dates may be moved,” Leavitt told reporters on March 16. “As commander-in-chief, it’s his No. 1 priority right now to ensure the continued success of this Operation Epic Fury.”

Gordon Chang, political commentator and China expert, said the president has a valid reason to postpone the trip.

“China is an enemy combatant, and it would not be appropriate for President Trump to go to its capital at the time of war. So I’m not surprised,” he told The Epoch Times.

During a lunch with the Trump Kennedy Center board members at the White House, Trump said China gets 90 percent of its oil from the region. He reiterated his calls for support to reopen the strait.

“Numerous countries have told me they’re on the way. Some are very enthusiastic about it,” Trump told reporters, referring to the countries that agreed to send warships to help escort commercial ships through the strait.

“I think we’re going to have some good help. And I think we’re going to be disappointed in some nations, too. I'll let you know who those nations are.”

In a Truth Social post on March 15, Trump named China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK as nations he hoped would deploy ships to assist U.S. forces in the region.
But China is unlikely to help Trump, according to Chang.

“Until Trump imposes real costs on China, they’re not going to help the United States on Iran,” he said.
China Silent About Trump’s Request

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian did not directly address Trump’s call for assistance.

Lin acknowledged the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and called on “all parties to immediately cease military operations,” but did not mention sending warships to the strait.

When pressed if China had received any request from Trump to send ships to the waters around the strait, the spokesman again sidestepped the question, reiterating that Beijing is maintaining communication with “all parties” on the situation in Iran.

Yeh Yao-Yuan, professor of political science and international studies at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, told The Epoch Times that “China is unsure how much Iran will change once the war is over.”

As a result, China is still hoping that Iran will remain pro-China rather than shift toward the United States.

Asked about Trump’s comments on the potential delay of the meeting with Xi, Lin said that Beijing has been “maintaining communication” with Washington regarding the U.S. president’s visit.
“If they think Trump is winning the war, they probably don’t want him parading around their capital,” Chang said. “So I think there’s hesitation there.”

Speculation swirled this month that the summit could be disrupted by the joint U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran, which killed the regime’s leader, Ali Khamenei.

This marked the second time in less than two months that a regime friendly to Beijing was targeted, following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January.
At an annual press conference on March 1, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi signaled that the Iran war would not affect the upcoming summit, while highlighting the importance of maintaining high-level engagement between Beijing and Washington.

Although Wang described the war in Iran as something that “should not have happened,” he avoided mentioning Washington by name, a cautious tone that analysts have interpreted as Beijing’s effort to prevent further strain in U.S.–China relations.
According to Chinese insiders who previously spoke to The Epoch Times, the Chinese regime had underestimated the likelihood of a U.S. military offensive in Iran.

“China is already being chased out of the Middle East by Trump, so it doesn’t look good for them,” Chang said. “Iran was their No. 1 proxy, and Trump is taking that proxy down.”

https://www.theepochtimes.com/...2B7wL%2FAQMJn50oc%3D

Trump Signs Order Assigning Vance to Head Anti-Fraud Task Force

The president’s deputy chief of staff said this effort is the first of its kind—and could balance the federal budget if all fraud is shut down.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 16, officially creating an anti-fraud task force headed by Vice President JD Vance, a job that could be one of the most important in the country, the president said during an Oval Office signing ceremony.

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson will serve as co-chair of the task force alongside Vance, Trump said, calling both men “extremely brilliant and just very talented.”

Their work could return hundreds of billions of dollars to American taxpayers, Trump said.

Officials have estimated that fraudsters steal up to $300 billion per year from government programs across the nation.
“This is a very big thing that we’re doing,” the president said.

“The kind of money we’re talking about is country-changing.”

Referring to Ferguson and Vance, Trump said, “If you guys can’t do it, we’ve got a problem—because nobody else will be able to do it.”

The executive order formalizes an announcement that Trump made during his Feb. 24 State of the Union address, when he announced that Vance, who is a lawyer, would spearhead a “war on fraud” for the White House.
Trump said fraud would be targeted “wherever it’s taking place” and denied critics’ accusation of political motivations for the fraud crackdown. However, he said, the problem seems to be dominant in Democrat-controlled states such as Minnesota. Trump said he believes that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) are both “complicit” in that state’s fraud problem.

The Epoch Times sought comment from Walz and Omar but did not immediately receive a response.

Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, said illegal immigrants are using benefits from government programs, and he believes that this is the “first-ever effort in American history” to reclaim trillions of dollars in government benefits that were taken improperly.

“If all of it were stopped, it would be enough to balance the budget. The extraction of wealth from American taxpayers to people who don’t belong here is the primary cause of the national debt,” Miller said.

As soon as he started looking into fraud, Vance said, it became apparent that “one big hold that existed is that the agencies of the government weren’t actually talking to each other.” He said the president’s order will fix one major issue: how agencies share information.

Ferguson said millions of Americans pay into these programs for “completely fake businesses,” robbing people who ought to receive that help.

About three weeks ago, Vance and Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, temporarily withheld $259 million in Medicaid from the state of Minnesota, following reports of rampant fraud in that state.
Although billions of dollars’ worth of fraud also has surfaced in California, Minnesota’s fraud problems have been a focal point for months, leading to multiple federal investigations and congressional hearings.

On March 4, Walz and the state’s attorney general, Keith Ellison, testified to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

During the hearing, both men defended their work, but congressmen pointed out that payments kept flowing to recipients who were suspected of fraud dating back to 2020.
Walz, in written testimony filed with the committee, said, “In Minnesota, if you defraud public programs, if you steal taxpayer money, we will find you, we will prosecute you, we will convict you, and we will throw you in jail.”

He acknowledged that the governor has an important role in fighting fraud and that “the buck ultimately stops” with him.
“I do not shy away from that responsibility, and I am prepared—as I have always been—to have a serious conversation with our federal partners about how to ensure fraudsters cannot take advantage of Minnesota taxpayers,” Walz wrote.

In addition to federal actions, numerous states are trying to clamp down on fraud.

The State Financial Officers Foundation—which includes members from 28 mostly conservative states—has been working to root out fraud. It found $5.7 billion in waste and returned $22.3 billion to taxpayers, according to that group’s 2025 report, released in February.

https://www.newsmax.com/politi...dkt_nbr=010102lez263

Report: Trump Eyes $1 Billion Deal to Halt Offshore Wind

The Trump administration reportedly is weighing a new strategy to halt offshore wind development after repeated court setbacks, including a proposal to pay nearly $1 billion to cancel major projects backed by a foreign energy company.

Administration officials are drafting settlement agreements that would terminate two offshore wind leases held by French energy giant TotalEnergies, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

In exchange, the federal government would reimburse the company more than $928 million for its Biden-era lease purchases.

The projects — Attentive Energy off New York and Carolina Long Bay off North Carolina — would be scrapped before construction begins.

Under the proposal, TotalEnergies would also shift investment toward natural gas infrastructure in Texas, aligning with President Donald Trump's push to prioritize reliable domestic energy sources.

The move marks a strategic shift after federal judges blocked five earlier attempts by the administration to halt wind projects already under construction.

Courts repeatedly rejected claims that offshore wind posed national security risks, allowing the projects to proceed.

Rather than continuing to fight losing legal battles, the administration now appears to be targeting projects still in the planning phase and redirecting resources toward fossil fuels that supporters say provide more consistent and affordable energy.

Trump has long criticized offshore wind, calling it inefficient and harmful to the environment and coastal communities.

His administration has emphasized energy independence and grid stability, particularly as global tensions and Middle East conflicts have driven oil and gas prices higher.

According to internal documents cited by the Times, the settlements would require TotalEnergies to abandon the leases entirely, preventing the projects from being revived after Trump leaves office.

In return, the company would receive hundreds of millions of dollars — $795 million for the New York project and more than $133 million for the North Carolina site.

Supporters of the administration's approach argue the pivot is necessary to address what Trump has declared a national energy emergency, prioritizing dependable energy sources over what critics describe as costly, unreliable green initiatives.

Meanwhile, some offshore wind projects are still advancing despite the administration's opposition.

Projects such as Vineyard Wind in Massachusetts and Revolution Wind in Rhode Island have reached major milestones, highlighting the ongoing clash between federal policy and state-backed renewable energy goals, NBC News reported.

Still, Trump officials maintain that strengthening domestic oil and gas production is key to lowering energy costs and protecting national security, especially as Iran-linked instability threatens global supply chains.

If finalized, the proposed settlements would represent one of the most aggressive steps yet in the administration's effort to unwind the previous administration's green energy agenda and reorient U.S. policy toward traditional energy dominance.

US intel hid Chinese 2020 election meddling from Trump because they opposed his policies, memo says

https://justthenews.com/govern..._campaign=newsletter

Dr. Barry A. Zulauf, a member of the Senior National Intelligence Service reported that others in the intelligence community said “I don’t want my intelligence going to the White House where it will be used by that vulgarian in the Oval Office to support policies against China with which I personally disagree.”

Analysts inside the U.S. intelligence community sought to conceal evidence of Chinese influence efforts from President Donald Trump during the 2020 election, with analysts saying they didn’t want their intel used by “that vulgarian in the Oval Office” to pursue policies toward China they personally disagreed with.

The revelation is found within a January 2021 report written by — and never before reported upon comments by — analytic ombudsman Barry Zulauf, who conducted a review of the spy community’s handling of Russian versus Chinese meddling efforts during the 2020 election. Among his conclusions was that intelligence analysts downplayed China’s actions because they had disdain for the “vulgarian” Trump and did not want to support the policies and priorities of the Trump administration toward China with which they “personally disagree.”

Just the News reported this week that the U.S. intelligence community has known since early 2020 that Beijing also gained access to American voter registration data and used that information to conduct opinion analysis related to the presidential election between Trump and then-former Vice President Joe Biden.

More at link

quote:

Originally posted by wcb6092:

Dr. Barry A. Zulauf, a member of the Senior National Intelligence Service reported that others in the intelligence community said “I don’t want my intelligence going to the White House where it will be used by that vulgarian in the Oval Office to support policies against China with which I personally disagree.”

We have so much open treason now, no one in our Justice Department or National Intelligence is even concerned about getting caught, or facing any justice.


.

As much as Iran is a threat to many things, JMO that the bigger threat to the US's ability to survive is the insurrection from within the federal and state/local government employees

And the lack of prosecution of said people, Treason should be reinstated by the DOJ

And Bondi needs to go....

I had to pop into this thread just to say this:

Trump was hosting the Japanese minister in the White House today. During the press conference, a Japanese reporter asked why Trump didn't notify allies before the attack on Iran. He said the Japanese people are very confused about this.

Trump said, "We wanted to come in hard. We wanted to surprise Iran. And who knows better than Japan about surprise attacks? Why didn't you tell us about Pearl Harbor in advance?"

Man, I thought that was a funny line. The guy thinks faster than any comedian out there. The Japanese' PM's face and eyes were priceless to watch as he said that.

He's sure not wrong!

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
I had to pop into this thread just to say this:

Trump was hosting the Japanese minister in the White House today. During the press conference, a Japanese reporter asked why Trump didn't notify allies before the attack on Iran. He said the Japanese people are very confused about this.

Trump said, "We wanted to come in hard. We wanted to surprise Iran. And who knows better than Japan about surprise attacks? Why didn't you tell us about Pearl Harbor in advance?"

I thought it was out of line and rather stupid of him. I love the guy but sometimes his brashness is misplaced.

I saw the exchange on Fox News, and enjoyed Trump slapping the little pup down! Made my day!

Do the Japanese have any military assets to offer us in the battle with Iran?

That's what I thought. Reporter needs to STFU. Japanese are only worried about their oil.

quote:

Originally posted by yanici:

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
I had to pop into this thread just to say this:

Trump was hosting the Japanese minister in the White House today. During the press conference, a Japanese reporter asked why Trump didn't notify allies before the attack on Iran. He said the Japanese people are very confused about this.

Trump said, "We wanted to come in hard. We wanted to surprise Iran. And who knows better than Japan about surprise attacks? Why didn't you tell us about Pearl Harbor in advance?"

I thought it was out of line and rather stupid of him. I love the guy but sometimes his brashness is misplaced.

Stupid?? Sorry dude, you're just wrong! The VAST Majority of us (somehow it's apparently not everyone though) voted for this...ALL of it!

Since we pretty much built Japan back up after WWII, despite the Pearl Harbor attack, the Japanese need to just shut up!

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
Since we pretty much built Japan back up after WWII, despite the Pearl Harbor attack, the Japanese need to just shut up!

I laughed out loud when Trump said "who likes surprises better than Japan". You could hear a pin drop in the room after that. All of the sudden, Japan had nothing to say.

What Trump told that Japanese reporter was not just funny, imo, but it was nail-meet-hammer moment. I am Oriental Redneck and I approve that message.

quote:

Originally posted by yanici:
I thought it was out of line and rather stupid of him. I love the guy but sometimes his brashness is misplaced.

I watched it and thought it was not out of line, he made his point crystal clear using a perfect example of taking out an opponent with a surprise attack. I though the P.M. handled it well, and at the end with them posing for pics and such, there is still very much a mutual admiration between the two.