Month: April 2025

President Mulino and Secretary Hegseth: the joint statement from Panama and the US covers all the Donald J. Trump administration priorities.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Panama yesterday, in the first visit by a top US official in decades – and the results so far appear to be quite satisfactory.

In the forceful speech he made on the pier the US and Panama restored, Hegseth was incisive about the need to curtail Chinese influence on the Canal.

He said ‘Together, we will take back the Panama Canal from China’s influence’, and also that ‘China did not build this canal. China does not operate this canal, and China will not weaponize this canal’.

In a US-Panama joint statement, it was announced several courses of action: Panama breaks with Communist China and aligns itself with the US; having abandoned Beijing’s ‘Silk Road and the Belt And Road Initiative’, the Central-American country will restart military exercises with Washington; and will work to curb illegal migration though its territory to the US.

Panama also announces to be joining forces with the US to secure the Canal from Chinese influence, containing Communist China and its proxies’ growing influence in the region.

Panama canal.

MENAFN reported:

“U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrived at the Palacio de Las Garzas on Tuesday to meet with President José Raúl Mulino. Hegseth was received by his counterpart, Security Minister Frank Ábrego. Among the main topics discussed at the meeting were the fight against organized crime, cyber-security, technical assistance, advances in border security, and migration management.

[…] Washington Attempts to Stake its Claim in Panama: ‘The Era of Capitulation to Communist China is over’. ‘President Trump has clearly stated that the Panama Canal and the Canal Zone cannot and will not be controlled by China. We are working closely with our partners to secure the Canal’, Pete Hegseth the U.S. Secretary of Defense stated. Hegseth also said the United States will not allow China to jeopardize the operation of the Canal.

[…] U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized the importance of border security and international cooperation during his speech at the Central American Security Conference (Centsec). ‘Border security in this region is a shared challenge and must be a priority for all’, Hegseth stated. He emphasized the commitment of the United States and its allies to defending their borders against transnational cartels and gangs, which he described as terrorist organizations.”

WATCH: Hegseth – US military ships will pass through canal ‘first and free’.

US & PANAMA SIGN DEAL ON FIRST, FREE PASSAGE OF US WARSHIPS THROUGH PANAMA CANAL – HEGSETH pic.twitter.com/XEuJjSPkkO

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) April 9, 2025

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Read the full Joint Statement by the US and Panama:

“President José Raúl Mulino and Panama Canal Authority Administrator Ricaurte Vazquez welcomed U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to Panama on April 8, 2025.

During this visit, the leaders reaffirmed the historic security relationship between the Republic of Panama and the United States of America.

They agreed our two nations must stand shoulder-to-shoulder in their mutual commitment to address shared security challenges. The leaders recognized the robust foundation and legacy of bilateral security cooperation, including over $230 million in U.S. Department of Defense and Department of State security assistance to Panama in the past five years.

Secretary Hegseth strongly welcomed President Mulino’s commitment to make Panama the first country in our hemisphere to exit the Belt and Road Initiative, and to reduce China’s problematic presence in other areas.

Secretary Hegseth also congratulated President Mulino for Panama’s efforts to reduce illegal immigration and for closing the border in the Darién.

Mindful of these bilateral obligations, President Mulino, Administrator Vazquez and Secretary Hegseth committed their joint resolve to strengthen bilateral Canal security cooperation.

In coordination with the Panama Canal Authority and in recognition of the constitutional framework of the Panamanian state, the statutory relationship with the Panama Canal Authority, and the obligations of the Treaty, the expedited transit of warships and auxiliary vessels of the Republic of Panama and the United States is guaranteed.

• Additionally, in recognition of the Treaty obligation regarding the payment of tolls and other charges under the Neutrality framework, the Republic of Panama and the United States of America will work, as established, on a mechanism to compensate for the payment of tolls and charges, in accordance with the legal and constitutional frameworks of both countries: First and Free.

• Collaborating to enhance and strengthen Panama’s security capabilities, including through a Memorandum of Understanding that will enable increased bilateral activities between the U.S. military and Panamanian security forces and will support mission needs at joint-use locations;

• Reinvigorating the High-Level Security Dialogue toward achieving a robust agenda of bilateral planning and preparedness that prioritizes Canal security and defense, to include discussion of issues related to commercial shipping;

• Signing of a Joint Statement of Understanding between Minister Abrego and Admiral Holsey for enhanced security cooperation through professional education and capacity-building between Panamanian security forces and the U.S. military;

• Reconcentrating bilateral training and exercises in Panama, including through commitments to resume regular joint jungle operations training and to reestablish the 2026 PANAMAX exercise for Canal defense in Panama;

• Leveraging Department of Defense expertise and resources to advise the Government of Panama to strengthen its strategic, cyber security, and maritime security planning;

• Advancing arrangements between the United States and the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) toward the continued safe, secure, and neutral operation of the Panama Canal, including through the recent signing of a Cyber Cooperation Arrangement between U.S. Southern Command and the ACP to identify areas for enhanced bilateral cyber cooperation; and through a recent U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memorandum of Understanding with the ACP that will continue to provide its expertise and technical support to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Canal.”

Read more:

SecDef Pete Hegseth Vows the US Will Take Back the Panama Canal from China’s Influence

The post After Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s Visit, Panama’s President Mulino Aligns With the US, Vows to Curb Migration, Secure the Canal From Chinese Influence appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Francis meets Charles and Camilla on their 20th wedding anniversary.

The ailing Pope meets the ailing British King – with his Queen – in a very special day for the Monarchs.

Pope Francis held today (9) an unannounced meeting at the Vatican on Wednesday afternoon with Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla, as the Royal couple makes a state visit to Italy.

Reuters reported:

“Charles and Camilla had been due to make a formal state visit to the Vatican, but postponed their plans after doctors prescribed Francis two months of rest after the pontiff experienced a serious bout of double pneumonia.

The pope met the royal couple privately and offered his best wishes for their 20th wedding anniversary, which they celebrated on Wednesday, said a Vatican statement.

Buckingham Palace said Charles and Camilla ‘were delighted The Pope was well enough to host them – and to have had the opportunity to share their best wishes in person’.”

Charles and Camilla’s state visit to Italy coincided with his prodigal son Harry’s presence in the UK for a court case.

Associated Press reported:

“It was the first known meeting since the pope’s return to the Vatican after five weeks in the hospital for life-threatening double pneumonia. Francis had planned to have an audience with Charles, but the official state visit to the Vatican was postponed due to the pope’s health.

The pope issued a new invitation for a private audience, but it was subject to his health and only confirmed Wednesday morning. The mid-afternoon visit lasted about 20 minutes and included a private exchange of gifts. Discussions continue about a future visit by the monarch to the Vatican.”

The Pope wished Charles and Camilla a happy anniversary, and the King and Queen wished the pope a speedy recovery.

Earlier today, Charles made a historic speech in the Italian parliament, calling for unity in defense of common values at a time of war in Europe.

“Charles, the first British monarch and fourth foreign leader to address a joint session of the Italian parliament, highlighted the long history between the U.K. and Italy and their shared culture, going back to the ancient Romans.”

Read more:

ALIVE: Pope Francis Makes Surprise First Public Appearance During Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square After Long Hospital Stay

The post King Charles and Queen Camilla Make Unannounced Visit To Ailing Pope Francis on Their 20th Wedding Anniversary appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Kash Patel

FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi have confirmed the seizure of half a billion dollars worth of drugs.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Bondi confirmed that the Coast intercepted almost 45,000 pounds of cocaine and 3,800 pounds of marijuana worth over $509 million.

The seized cocaine is equivalent to 20 million lethal doses.

The shipments are believed to have come from the Jalisco Nueva Generación and Sinaloa drug cartels.

Both organizations were recently designated by President Trump as foreign terrorist organizations.

“This is a major blow to their financial operations and their efforts to distribute drugs throughout our country,” Bondi said.

”It’s an example of a prosecutor-led, intelligent, driven approach to stopping these criminal enterprises in their tracks.”

BREAKING NEWS: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel announced that the U.S. Coast Guard seized over $509 million in illegal drugs during 13 interdictions by cutters James and Mohawk. pic.twitter.com/boQ1GfCOon

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) April 9, 2025

At least eleven people have been arrested in connection with the shipment.

“This cocaine would have been distributed throughout our country and perhaps throughout our world,” she added.

“These defendants will be held accountable for bringing this poison into our country.”

”I always say, if we can save one life, one life, we have done amazing work, and today we have saved thousands and thousands of lives as a result of this incredible cooperation.”

Committed to Preserving National Security, Trump Designates Cartels as Terrorist Organizations

Meanwhile, FBI director Kash Patel said that drug cartels would “no longer going to be free to roam” across the country.

“We are going to dismantle the next-man-up theory that has been breeding in these Mexican cartels for generations,” Patel said.

“There is no lethal force on planet Earth that is responsible for an overdose death of an American citizen every seven minutes, more so than these federal terrorist organizations, foreign terrorist organizations,” he continued.

Today we’re announcing yet another major narcotics seizure, this time in Port Everglades, Florida.

48,400 pounds of illicit narcotics worth over $509 million — now OFF American streets, thanks to the leadership of @AGPamBondi and our PANEX Task Force.

This is what happens when… pic.twitter.com/EvD3I6Qme5

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) April 9, 2025

The Trump administration has not ruled out the possibility of using military force to take out the Mexican drug cartels.

The post FBI Director Kash Patel and AG Pam Bondi Announce $500 Million Drug Bust Linked to Mexican Drug Cartels (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

An explosive new book set for release this July by Simon & Schuster could force a national reckoning with the truth behind the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and the brutal prison murder of Kenneth Trentadue, long suspected to be tied to a mistaken identity cover-up by the FBI, and likely murdered by federal authorities.

For Kenneth’s brother Jesse, a Utah Attorney who has spent the last 30 years filing lawsuits to try and force the facts of the case to come forward, it has been a long time coming.

The book, Blowback, is authored by Margaret Roberts, a veteran investigative journalist and former news director for America’s Most Wanted. Roberts asserts that her investigation “will destroy the cover story of lone-wolf terror by Timothy McVeigh and expose a guilty secret about the bombing that federal government insiders have kept for 30 years.”

“Blowback exposes the FBI’s heretofore undisclosed role in both Kenney’s murder and the Oklahoma City Bombing,” wrote Kenneth’s brother, Jesse Trentadue, in a message to friends and family. “They are connected due to the FBI’s mistaken belief that he was the John Doe No. 2 who allegedly helped Timothy McVeigh.”

GOVERNMENT SAYS SUICIDE, PHOTOS SAY MURDER

Kenneth Trentadue, a 44-year-old construction worker, was arrested in August 1995 on a parole violation after a traffic stop near the Mexican border. He was transferred to the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City, where within days he was found dead in his cell. The Bureau of Prisons claimed it was a suicide by hanging.

When his body was released to the family, they say, he was covered in makeup to hide the bruising and lacerations to his face. It was evident, they say, that Kenneth Trentadue was murdered.

His cell was also covered in blood, leading his brother to suspect he was beaten to death while in federal custody.

The photos have been put online here by the family, and are graphic.

Photos later obtained by the family showed extensive bruises, deep head wounds, and a bloodied cell. Prison records conflicted with timelines. A medical examiner ruled the cause of death “unknown.” A later congressional inquiry, based on documents pried loose by Jesse’s relentless FOIA litigation, noted evidence consistent with homicide.

“His body looked like he had been in a fight with Mike Tyson,” Jesse said in court filings.

Merrick Garland, former U.S. Attorney General, played a pivotal role in shaping the official narrative of the Oklahoma City bombing during his time as a senior Justice Department official in the 1990s. As the lead prosecutor overseeing key aspects of the McVeigh and Nichols cases, Garland was instrumental in advancing the government’s lone-wolf theory and sidelining any alternative explanations—including the identity of “John Doe No. 2” and allegations of FBI foreknowledge or involvement.

Jesse Trentadue and other critics have argued that Garland’s oversight helped cement a false narrative while suppressing evidence that contradicted it. His later tenure as Attorney General has only deepened concern among watchdogs who say the DOJ under Garland remained unwilling to release long-withheld documents tied to both the bombing and the suspicious death of Kenneth Trentadue.

Garland was nominated by then-President Barack Obama on March 16, 2016 for the position on the Supreme Court caused by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. The Republican-controlled Senate refused to confirm Garland and the position was eventually filled by Neil Gorsuch. Garland was then appointed by Joe Biden to be the Attorney General in March 2021.

A GENERATION SPENT FIGHTING FOR DOCUMENTS IN FEDERAL COURT

Jesse Trentadue, a practicing attorney in Utah, has filed more than two dozen lawsuits against the Department of Justice, FBI, CIA, and Bureau of Prisons in pursuit of documents and accountability. His litigation has forced the release of thousands of pages of government documents, including heavily redacted FBI memos that suggest foreknowledge of the bombing and informant operations tied to militia groups.

Among the most significant revelations from his lawsuits:

The FBI’s “Patriot Conspiracy” (PATCON) Program: Documents litigated to release by Trentadue revealed the FBI had informants extensively embedded in far-right militia groups in the early 1990s, some of whom had interactions with McVeigh and others later connected to the bombing.

Secret Videotapes of the Murrah Building Bombing: Jesse uncovered evidence that surveillance tapes from federal buildings, which could show who exited McVeigh’s Ryder truck, John Doe #2 included, were seized and never released, despite being referenced in FBI internal documents.

The FBI’s Misidentification of Kenneth as “John Doe No. 2”: Multiple internal memos indicate federal agents believed Kenneth matched descriptions of the second man seen with McVeigh. This, Jesse alleges, led to an off-the-books interrogation and ultimately his death.

DOJ “Sensitive Informant” Files: Through court battles, Jesse obtained documents suggesting the FBI had informants who warned of the bombing in advance — warnings that were either ignored or buried. The FBI had informants and agents in every major newsrooms across the country for the purpose of spiking stories when needed, and circulate preferred government narratives. Subsequent documentation also indicated they had these informants on legal teams and among defense attorneys in political trials.

This matches other documents obtained by Trentadue discussing a Los Angeles FBI Agent who tried to sell video footage of the second bomber at Oklahoma City exiting the vehicle. The planned sale for $1 million was stopped due to a senior-level FBI informant who worked in CBS News management, who was part of the “Sensitive Informant” program.

PATCON, short for “Patriot Conspiracy,” which may still be ongoing, was a clandestine FBI operation in the early 1990s aimed at infiltrating and surveilling right-wing extremist groups, militias, and so-called “patriot” movements across the United States. While initially justified as a counterterrorism measure, PATCON has since come under scrutiny due to its secretive nature, questionable informant practices, and potential connections to the events surrounding the Oklahoma City bombing. As well, PATCON operatives have been accused of using violence as a way of furthering the government’s desire to grow its power: if there is more violence, the thinking goes, there is more funding, agents assigned, and powers given to the FBI.

Kenneth Trentadue was beaten to death by federal officials, the family and others believe, because they thought he was the second bomber along with McVeigh, Richard Lee Guthrie, Jr. – Guthrie was arrested in 1996 and also died in custody, in a death authorities also labeled a suicide.

Timothy McVeigh is alleged to have been involved with this FBI effort, this ongoing PATCON operation, and those involved with the bombing are all linked to these operations in a variety of ways.

The release of this information, and the documentation to support what might be otherwise dismissed as speculation, has been a major effort by Jesse Trentadue over decades.

Trentadue’s litigation has also showed incredible patterns of misconduct by federal authorities, including witness intimidation and tampering where federal authorities stopped witnesses from testifying under oath.

Despite obtaining court victories and FOIA penalties against federal agencies, Jesse’s pursuit has faced massive resistance: sealed files, deleted evidence, missing audio logs, and retaliation.

“They’ve stonewalled, lied, and destroyed records,” he said in a 2011 deposition. “It’s not incompetence. It’s a cover-up.”

FAMILY’S WEBSITE TO GIVE THE PUBLIC THE EVIDENCE

To accompany the upcoming release of Blowback, Jesse Trentadue has launched a comprehensive website — kennethtrentadue.com — cataloging documents, court filings, and photographs from the case. He says the evidence there has already begun “causing quite a stir.”

In his email, Jesse warned that “the DOJ and FBI will push back hard when that book goes into print,” expressing concern for the anticipated damage control, blowback, and attacks on credibility that are likely to come to himself and the book’s author. Simon & Schuster lists the book for a July 2025 release:
Blowback by Margaret Roberts

If Roberts’ book delivers on its promise to tear down the official story of the Oklahoma City bombing, the political and legal ramifications could be significant not just for the surviving victims’ families, but for a government that has long insisted McVeigh acted alone.

The historic election of President Trump for re-election in 2024 gave many hope that major reforms at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Justice were finally happening. So far, however, many activists in older scandals like these, such as the flawed release of the Epstein files, the still-withheld and redacted JFK assassination files, the refusal to disclose about UFO/Drones, have caused disappointed in the leadership of Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, as demonstrating that they are unable or unwilling to tell the truth about these matters and do so through a major release of unredacted documents.

The 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, and the subsequent death and likely murder of Kenneth Trentadue while in federal custody, offers Trump, Bondi, Patel, and Bongino another opportunity to show the public the extent of their commitment to transparency, truth, and accountability.

The post Upcoming Book Poised to Expose FBI’s Hidden Role in OKC Bombing on 30th Anniversary, Reveal Prison Murder Cover-Up, Says Victim’s Brother appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Earlier today, US Army combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient Joe Biggs was suspended by X.

Mr. Biggs served several years in federal prison after being convicted on charges relating to January 6th, with President Trump securing his release with a presidential commutation a few months ago.

Joe Biggs Sentenced to 17 Years

Biggs simply walked inside the US Capitol and received a staggering 17-year prison sentence.

While Biggs is known for his combative style on social media, during protests, and on broadcast interviews, no actual reason or violation of X’s rules has been given to him following the suspension.

According to former Proud Boys Chairman and regular Biggs collaborator Enrique Tarrio, it still remains unclear what lead to Biggs’ suspension on X.

”Elon Musk has undoubtedly fixed many, if not most of the censorship problems on the platform. However, it still appears that there are some ghosts in the machine that lead to accounts like Biggs’ getting suspended or even earning permanent bans. Here’s to hoping this suspension gets lifted, as we still have so much work to do in terms of restoring the promise of America. X is a big part of that process in terms of elevating dissident voices,” Tarrio told this Gateway Pundit journalist.

Tarrio, who is in the process of launching an online shop for right-leaning apparel and a new podcast network, said on X that his plans to pay for X’s Gold verification (that costs over $2,000.00 monthly) has put those plans on hold until Biggs’ account is restored.

I was about to pay for Gold verification on both my shop account and our new Podcast network. That would be $2000 a month not including the affiliate badges and blue checks

I’m suspending those plans until we get @RealJoeBiggs acct restored.@X @Support @elonmusk what’s up man? https://t.co/KCOmKR7RxG

— Enrique Tarrio (@NobleOne) April 9, 2025

Since Musk’s takeover of Twitter (now called X), there have been instances of coordinated efforts by the alt-left, where they mass report America First and free speech absolutists accounts.

“I thought X was a free speech platform. Once again, we are silenced if we speak out against certain groups and organizations,” Biggs texted when asked for comment about his suspension.

The post J6’er & Purple Heart Combat Veteran Joe Biggs Suspended On X appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

President Trump on Wednesday ended Joe Biden and his handlers’ war on high-pressured showers and clean hair.

In December 2021, the Biden regime restored 2013 regulations on how much water can be carried through showerheads. Under the earlier rule, the entire shower was considered under rules restricting flow to 2.5 gallons per minute.

Today Trump brought back the high-powered showers.

White House staff secretary Will Scharf: Next up, sir, we have a series of executive orders and memorandum all relating to deregulation, which has obviously been a major priority of your administration. The first of these is an executive order. The Biden administration launched what you’ve called a ‘War on Showers.’ They had certain regulations that basically killed the water pressure of showers and other water appliances.

President Trump: You can say it. Go ahead. What are the appliances?

Will Scharf: I mean, it’s everything, sir. It’s toilets, and toilettes. Dishwashers, toilettes, sinks. But the shower heads are a huge deal.

President Trump: No water. You don’t get water. It’s ridiculous…

…They used to have a restrictor where you could take it out, but now they weld it in and you take a shower or wash your hands, whatever you do, including dishwashings, where no water comes out. But you wash your hands. And in my case, I like to take a nice shower to take care of my beautiful hair. I have to stand under the shower for 15 minutes until it gets wet. It comes out drip, drip, drip. It’s ridiculous. And what you do is you end up washing your hands five times longer. So it’s the same water. And And we’re going to open it up so that people can live. And we’re going to hopefully have Congress approve it so it’s memorialized.

Via Midnight Rider.

The post High Flow Shower Heads Are Back! Trump Signs Executive Order to End War on Relaxing Showers – Drops His Best Line Yet! (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed Rep. Darrell Issa’s (R-CA) No Rogue Rulings Act, which will place restrictions on federal District Court judges from issuing nationwide injunctions.

One Republican voted to empower activist judges.

The new law will stop a single district court judge, one out of 677 across the nation, from dictating policy for the entire country, as we’ve seen countless times from Trump-hating activist judges.

This comes after the Supreme Court vacated Judge James Boasberg’s orders barring the Trump Administration’s removals of Venezuelan gang members under the Alien Enemies Act. They ruled that Boasberg, as a single district court judge, lacked jurisdiction to dictate the President’s policy.

BREAKING: HUGE WIN: Supreme Court Vacates Judge Boasberg’s Orders Barring Trump From Deporting Venezuelan Gang Members Under Alien Enemies Act

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts on Monday also indefinitely blocked another judge’s order requiring the return of alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

Rep. Issa, the bill’s sponsor, noted that previously, the Supreme Court heard less than 70 cases per year, but now they are needed to intervene “every couple of days in order to handle these activist judges.”

Issa recently discussed his bill and the Democrats’ hypocritical opposition with Fox’s Stuart Varney.

“They don’t like it because it might make life a little more fluid for the Trump administration, but they absolutely wanted it till the last days of the Biden administration,” he said.

WATCH:

Issa: Well, the most important part is that the Supreme Court, which sees about 62 to 66 cases a year, is now seeing a case every couple of days in order to handle these activist judges, and they are consistently slapping down these judges for their overly broad injunctions and, in some cases, just reversing them. But we’ve got to, we’ve got to maintain the nature of the court. The High Court speaks for the nation. District Courts speak for their districts. This bill returns that to where it belongs and where it was for the first almost 200 years of our history.

Varney: The Democrats say you are destroying democracy by challenging the courts like this, and your response is?

Issa: The Solicitor General of the Biden administration, as late as mid-October of last year, was asking for what we’re delivering on the floor. It’s only a question of a shoe on the other foot. They don’t like it because it might make life a little more fluid for the Trump administration, but they absolutely wanted it till the last days of the Biden administration.

The post BREAKING: House Passes Rep. Darrell Issa’s No Rogue Rulings Act to Limit Rogue Activist District Court Judges – One Republican Votes “No” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Gwynne Wilcox: screen image YouTube

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts gave Trump another win and allowed him to fire Biden holdovers serving on the Labor Board and Merit Systems Protection Board.

For now.

Justice Roberts granted a stay on the lower court’s order reinstating the Biden holdovers. Robert ordered Gwynne Wilcox and Cathy Harris to respond by next Tuesday.

BOOM. SCOTUS grants stay. https://t.co/SmifE48SZA pic.twitter.com/Gpq6I0btwC

— Margot Cleveland (@ProfMJCleveland) April 9, 2025

President Trump previously fired Cathy Harris, the Democrat chairwoman of the Merit Systems Protection Board, a Biden holdover – she was then rehired by a corrupt Obama judge.

Trump also fired Gwynne Wilcox of the National Labor Relations Board – she was then rehired by a corrupt Obama judge.

In January President Trump fired Biden-appointed Democrat chair of the National Labor Relations Board Gwynne Wilcox and the general counsel of the board.

Trump’s decision to fire pro-union members Gwynne Wilcox and the labor board’s general counsel Jennifer Abruzzo got pushback from the agency and was described as an “unprecedented and illegal” move.

Last month US District Judge Beryl Howell, an Obama appointee, ruled Trump’s firing of Gwynne Wilcox was unlawful.

In a shocking 36-page opinion reviewed by The Gateway Pundit last week, Judge Beryl Howell compared Trump to a “king” or “dictator” and said the president does not have the authority to terminate members of the National Labor Relations Board.

Judge Howell claimed Wilcox’s job falls under “Humphrey’s Executor.”

“The Supreme Court explicitly upheld removal restrictions for such boards when considering removal protections for the commissioners of the FTC in Humphrey’s Executor in 1935, while also recognizing the President’s general authority over removal of executive branch officials,” Beryl Howell wrote.

The Trump DOJ fought back and the DC Circuit Court of Appeals late last month agreed that President Trump indeed has the authority to fire them without cause.

The three judge panel on the DC Circuit Court: Henderson (George W. Bush appointee), Millett (Obama appointee), and Walker (Trump appointee) sided with President Trump on Friday in a 2-1 vote and ordered the DOJ motions for stay be granted.

However, Wilcox asked the court’s entire slate of judges to weigh in (en banc) and the court voted 7-4 to reinstate her.

Although the full Supreme Court did not weigh in on the merits of the Wilcox and Cathy Harris case yet, Justice Clarence Thomas previously blasted the 1935 decision known as Humphrey’s Executor.

“Humphrey’s Executor poses a direct threat to our constitutional structure and, as a result, the liberty of the American people . . . Our tolerance of independent agencies in Humphrey’s Executor is an unfortunate example of the Court’s failure to apply the Constitution as written. That decision has paved the way for an ever-expanding encroachment on the power of the Executive, contrary to our constitutional design,” Justice Thomas wrote.

The post BREAKING: Supreme Court Allows Trump to Fire Biden Holdovers Gwynne Wilcox and Cathy Harris… For Now appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

President Donald J. Trump once again proved why he wrote The Art of the Deal.

Earlier today, Beijing foolishly retaliated against U.S. tariffs by imposing an 84% tariff on all American imports, a desperate move following President Trump’s earlier hike to 104% on Chinese goods.

But China severely miscalculated. Within hours, Trump raised tariffs to 125%, sending a clear message: America will not be bullied.

As expected, China threw a fit. Not content with their punitive 84% tariff, they dragged the U.S. before the World Trade Organization—an intergovernmental organization (IGO) formed by treaties between countries and composed of member states—and slapped 11 American companies, including military suppliers like American Photonics and SYNEXXUS, onto their so-called “unreliable entities” list.

The hypocrisy is staggering. This is the same China that bullies smaller nations like Vietnam and the Philippines over contested territory in the South China Sea, blatantly ignoring a binding ruling from the United Nations, another intergovernmental organization.

But here’s where President Trump flipped the script.

Trump announced a 90-day pause and reduction in tariffs to just 10% for over 75 nations that refused to retaliate and instead opened channels to negotiate.

Trump wrote on Truth Social:

Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the World’s Markets, I am hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%, effective immediately.

At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other Countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable.

Conversely, and based on the fact that more than 75 Countries have called Representatives of the United States, including the Departments of Commerce, Treasury, and the USTR, to negotiate a solution to the subjects being discussed relative to Trade, Trade Barriers, Tariffs, Currency Manipulation, and Non Monetary Tariffs, and that these Countries have not, at my strong suggestion, retaliated in any way, shape, or form against the United States, I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately.

Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Outside the White House, Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent couldn’t hide his admiration.

“We saw the successful negotiating strategy that President Trump implemented a week ago today. It has brought more than 75 countries forward to negotiate,” Bessent told the reporters.

“It took great courage for him to stay the course until this moment. And what we have ended up with here, as I told everyone a week ago, in this very spot, do not retaliate and you will be rewarded. So every country in the world who wants to come and negotiate, we are willing to hear you. We’re going to go down to a 10% baseline tariff for them, and China will be raised to 125 due to their insistence on escalation.”

WATCH:

.@SecScottBessent: “The successful negotiating strategy that President Trump implemented a week ago today, it has brought more than 75 countries forward to negotiate…. Do not retaliate and you will be rewarded. Every country in the world who wants to come and negotiate, we are… pic.twitter.com/gzEW7DDGYC

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 9, 2025

The markets exploded on the news, with the Dow surging 2,963 points (7.87%), the S&P 500 rocketing 9.52% (third-largest one-day gain since World War II), and the Nasdaq soaring 12.16% (largest one-day rise since January 2001 and the second-best performance in its history).

This comes after Trump paused the tariffs and advised everyone to buy the dip, stating, “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT.”

Donald Trump a few minutes ago: “We’re having a good day in the stock market…the record day in the market should continue”

For reference, this was the largest point moves EVER to the upside in the DOW, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 $SPY.

Insane. pic.twitter.com/nuFAILw9vc

— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) April 9, 2025

The post The Art of the Deal: Trump Pauses Tariffs on Countries That Didn’t Retaliate, Causing U.S. Stocks to Skyrocket — China Tariff Now at 125% appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Welcome to The Gateway Pundit’s Week-in-Review with Elijah Schaffer, where he covers the top 5 stories throughout the last 24 hours.

ARTICLE 1: Another Fed Op? Former CIA Officer Says Ryan Routh Was Almost Certainly Speaking with FBI Agent Before Attempted Trump Assassination — There is NO WAY to Justify Him Getting on Golf Course with Rifle

ARTICLE 2:  J.D. Vance Slaps Down RINO Traitor Mitch McConnell After He Tries to Block Another Nominee

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ARTICLE 3: Incoming… DOGE Team Makes Huge Discovery.. to Be Revealed Soon: WH Spox

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ARTICLE 4: Judge Boasberg Makes His Next Move After Supreme Court Vacates His Orders Barring Trump From Deporting Venezuelan Gang Members Under Alien Enemies Act

ARTICLE 5:  NEW: North Carolina Supreme Court Halts Previous Order Requiring Verification of 65,000 Ballots in Hotly Contested Judicial Race

Please leave your opinions / comments on these stories below as Elijah reads every single one and appreciates your perspective.

The post SHOCKING: Former CIA Officer Says FBI KNEW Routh’s Plan to Take Out Trump! | Elijah Schaffer’s Top 5 (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.