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Tag: Donald Trump
June 13, 2025
Economy
War

Oil Prices Spike, Stocks Fall After Israeli Strikes on Iran.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Oil prices surged while global stocks fell after Israel conducted strikes on Iran’s military officials and nuclear facilities.

👥 Who’s Involved: Israel, Iran, U.S. President Donald J. Trump, and global financial markets.

📍 Where & When: Strikes occurred early Friday local time in Iran; market reactions followed globally.

💬 Key Quote: “The IEA is actively monitoring the impact on oil markets from the Israel-Iran situation. Markets are well supplied today, but we’re ready to act if needed,” said Fatih Birol, director of the IEA.

⚠️ Impact: Brent crude oil prices rose over eight percent, stocks dropped by more than one percent in premarket trading, and gold reached its highest price in a month.

IN FULL:

Oil prices surged on Friday following Israeli strikes targeting Iranian military officials and nuclear facilities. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, jumped over eight percent, reaching nearly $74 per barrel, its highest level since early April.

Global stock markets reacted sharply, with major indexes falling over one percent in premarket trading before recovering slightly as investors gauged the broader implications of the conflict. Gold prices also climbed more than one percent, hitting a monthly high of $3,440 an ounce, while Bitcoin slipped nearly one percent to below $105,000. U.S. bond prices showed minimal movement.

The strikes, which occurred early Friday local time in Iran, were described by Israeli officials as part of a “lengthy operation.” President Donald J. Trump warned there was “much more to come” and urged Iran to negotiate a deal. Iran responded by launching drones toward Israel and issuing threats against U.S. assets in the region.

The sudden spike in oil prices has raised concerns about potential impacts on consumer gasoline costs, especially given the possibility of a broader Middle East conflict, which could disrupt global energy supplies. However, the International Energy Agency (IEA)—created to counteract global oil supply disruptions—stated on Friday that it has over 1.2 billion barrels in its emergency stocks.

“The IEA is actively monitoring the impact on oil markets from the Israel-Iran situation. Markets are well supplied today, but we’re ready to act if needed,” said Fatih Birol, director of the IEA, in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Image via Chatham House.

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June 13, 2025
News
War

Trump to Hold Meeting on Israel-Iran Crisis in Situation Room.

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❓What Happened: Israel launched significant military strikes on Iran, targeting nuclear sites and key officials.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iranian leadership.

📍 Where & When: Strikes occurred Thursday evening in Iran; Trump responded Friday morning from the White House.

💬 Key Quote: “We gave them a chance and they didn’t take it… They got hit about as hard as you’re going to get hit. And there’s more to come. A lot more,” said President Trump.

⚠️ Impact: High-ranking Iranian officials and nuclear scientists killed; Iran refuses further nuclear peace talks and blames the U.S. for Israel’s actions.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump responded Friday morning to Israel’s military strikes on Iran, calling the operation a success and warning of potential further action. Speaking to the media, Trump stated, “We gave them a chance and they didn’t take it. They got hit hard, very hard… And there’s more to come. A lot more.” He is expected to convene a meeting of the National Security Council in the White House Situation Room at around 11 AM to discuss the situation.

The strikes, which occurred Thursday evening, targeted Iran’s Natanz nuclear site and reportedly killed several high-ranking Iranian officials, including military commanders Mohammad Bagheri, Hossein Salami, Gholamali Rashid, and Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Two prominent Iranian nuclear scientists, Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranji, are also believed to have been killed.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, serving as Trump’s point man on the conflict, clarified that the strikes were “unilateral” actions by Israel and that the U.S. was not directly involved. Rubio emphasized, “Our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” while warning Iran against targeting U.S. personnel.

Iranian state media condemned the strikes, accusing the United States of coordinating with Israel. “The Zionist regime’s aggressive actions against Iran cannot have been carried out without the coordination and authorization of the United States,” stated Iran’s Foreign Ministry.

Trump, who monitored the strikes overnight from the White House, told Fox News he had prior knowledge of Israel’s plans but chose not to intervene. He reiterated his stance that “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb” and expressed hope for renewed negotiations, despite Iran’s announcement that it would not participate in future peace talks.

The president’s social media posts reflected a mix of warnings and calls for diplomacy. “Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left… JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” he wrote. Trump also blamed Iranian hardliners for failed negotiations, stating, “Certain Iranian hardliners… didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!”

Special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to attend peace talks in Oman on Sunday, though Iran’s refusal to engage casts doubt on potential progress.

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June 12, 2025
Economy
TECH

Trump Tariffs Spur Major Semiconductor Maker to Invest $200 Billion in U.S.

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❓What Happened: The Trump Administration announced a $200 billion investment by Micron Technology to expand U.S. chip manufacturing.

👥 Who’s Involved: Micron Technology, President Donald J. Trump, and American workers.

📍 Where & When: Boise, Idaho, and Manassas, Virginia; announced Thursday, June 12, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “It’s all part of President Trump’s commitment to revitalizing American manufacturing and establishing the country as the global leader in technology—particularly in artificial intelligence,” the Trump White House said in a statement, adding: “It’s another big win for American workers, national security, and leadership in the world—and the best is yet to come.”

⚠️ Impact: Almost 100,000 jobs will be created, and advanced DRAM production will be onshored from Taiwan, bolstering U.S. technological leadership and national security.

IN FULL:

The Trump Administration has unveiled a $200 billion investment by Micron Technology, aimed at bolstering the United States’ semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. Micron, the only U.S.-based producer of advanced memory chips, will direct the funds toward constructing a second chip fabrication plant in Boise, Idaho, while also modernizing its existing facility in Manassas, Virginia.

This initiative will mark the first time Micron’s advanced DRAM technology is produced domestically, as production is being relocated from Taiwan. The move is expected to create approximately 90,000 direct and indirect jobs, further strengthening the U.S. economy and workforce.

“It’s all part of President Trump’s commitment to revitalizing American manufacturing and establishing the country as the global leader in technology—particularly in artificial intelligence,” the Trump White House said in a statement, adding: “It’s another big win for American workers, national security, and leadership in the world—and the best is yet to come.”

Since taking office, the Trump Administration has secured significant commitments from leading technology firms, including Apple, IBM, NVIDIA, TSMC, and others, resulting in trillions of dollars pledged toward U.S.-based manufacturing and production. The National Pulse reported in February that Apple committed to a $500 billion investment in the U.S. over the next five years, aimed at boosting its artificial intelligence data server needs. Additionally, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed to a $1.4 trillion U.S. investment framework in March that will focus on developing artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and energy technologies.

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June 12, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Immigration

TRUMP: Illegals Are ‘Very Good’ Farm, Hotel Workers, ‘We’ll Have an Order On That.’

PULSE POINTS:

❓ What Happened: President Donald J. Trump hinted at an executive order to shield illegal aliens working on farms and in hotels from deportation, sparking backlash from his America First base.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, farmers, hotel/leisure industry leaders, and MAGA supporters.

📍 Where & When: Announced on Truth Social and in press comments on June 12, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “We can’t take farmers and take all their people and send them back because they don’t have, maybe, what they’re supposed to have [in terms of documentation],” Trump said.

⚠️ Impact: Trump’s potential amnesty move risks fracturing his America First coalition, clashing with promises of mass deportation.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has hinted that an executive order is in the works to protect illegal aliens working in the agriculture and leisure sectors from deportation, causing disquiet among the America First base. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump argued, “Our great Farmers and people in the Hotel and Leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace… This is not good. We must protect our Farmers, but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA. Changes are coming!”

The President subsequently doubled down on these sentiments in comments to the press, saying, “Our farmers are being hurt badly… You know, they have very good workers; they’ve worked for them for 20 years. They’re not citizens, but they’ve turned out to be, you know, great. And we’re going to have to do something about that.”

He insisted, “We can’t take farmers and take all their people and send them back because they don’t have, maybe, what they’re supposed to have [in terms of documentation], maybe not.”

“You go into a farm and you look… [The illegal alien workers have] been here for 20, 25 years, and they’ve worked great, and the owner of the farm loves them and everything else, and then you’re supposed to throw them out, and you know what happens? They end up hiring… the criminals that have come in, the murderers from prisons and everything else,” Trump continued.

“So, we’re going to have an order on that pretty soon, I think. We can’t do that to our farmers—and lesirue too, hotels; we’re going to have to use a lot of common sense on that.”

The announcement of what sounds like a potential amnesty is drawing backlash from the MAGA faithful, who expected a second Trump administration to at least attempt the mass deportations of all illegal aliens.

Many argue that bosses’ hunger for cheap, illegal workers has been one of the primary pull factors for illegal aliens, and they should not be rewarded by having their illegal labor forces regularized. Notably, data shows that easy access to such workers has reduced productivity by providing an unlimited pool of low-wage labor, making investment in automation and other efficiency measures unnecessary.

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June 12, 2025
William Upton
Economy
Immigration

Globalist WSJ Frets About Trump Deportations’ Impact on Multinational Corporations.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The Wall Street Journal is rushing to the aid of multinational corporations who say their bottom lines are being hurt by President Donald J. Trump’s efforts to deport illegal immigrants from the United States. However, the newspaper, which specializes in economic coverage, ignores entirely the reasonable possibility that declining Hispanic consumption is more likely the result of deflationary pressure and an ongoing credit crunch.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Wall Street Journal, President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Hispanic consumers, and illegal immigrants.

📍 Where & When: The sprawling Journal story was published late Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “ICE’s tactics have had a chilling effect on some retailers, store owners and company executives said,” the WSJ story declares.

⚠️ Impact: This isn’t the first time the WSJ has rushed to the defense of illegal immigrants or multinational globalist corporations, with the newspaper attacking President Trump’s move to crack down on visa overstays in February. Additionally, despite once being known for its rigorous economic news coverage, the WSJ appears to completely ignore the impact that declining credit access and deflationary pressure are having on major retailers.

IN FULL:

The globalist Wall Street Journal is fretting that the deportation of illegal immigrants is impacting the bottom line of some of the largest multinational corporations. In a sprawling feature story, the Murdoch-owned newspaper attempts to conflate an overall consumer demand decline across all ethnic groups with President Donald J. Trump‘s efforts to deport violent and dangerous criminal illegal immigrants, arguing that it is the deportations and not other factors that are resulting in falling consumption. Additionally, the Journal appears ambivalent to the positive impacts the deportations are having on native-born American workers, focusing instead on the loss of cheap foreign labor used by corporations.

“ICE’s tactics have had a chilling effect on some retailers, store owners and company executives said,” the Wall Street Journal story declares, before directly blaming White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller for said “chilling effect.”

“Hispanic shoppers reduced visits to physical stores more than non-Hispanic ones in the first quarter of the year, compared with the same period in 2024,” the Journal contends. “Walgreens experienced a 10.5 percentage point decline in Hispanic shoppers in the first quarter, while Home Depot had an 8.7 percentage point drop and Dollar General a 6.1 percentage point decrease.”

However, what the Wall Street Journal ignores is that elevated interest rates, decreased lending, and an increasingly deflationary environment (which usually presents as falling consumer demand) are statistically shown to impact Hispanics and other minority groups at higher rates than America’s white population. Data shows that credit card delinquency rates, for instance, are at a 13-year high, with the total number of consumers who are 90 days or more past due hitting 12.3 percent in Q1 of 2025.

While some individuals interviewed by the Journal claim they’ve cut back on eating out or shopping for fear of ICE raids, the more reasonable—and likely—explanation for the decline is the lack of credit (and overall liquidity) among American consumers as a whole.

In another instance, the Journal claims that big box stores, like Walmart and Target, are offering steep discounts of 50 percent or more to lure Hispanic consumers back to their stores. However, again, in Target’s own earnings report, the company says it has rolled out $1 price point items not to appeal to Hispanics, but rather to attract all consumers, as falling credit and left-wing boycotts over the company’s decision to scrap some of its DEI policies have depressed its sales numbers.

This skewed and disingenuous reasoning is nothing new for the Journal. The National Pulse’s Editor-in-Chief Raheem Kassam has noted in the past that The Wall Street Journal has opposed almost any attempt to deport illegal immigrants. For instance, in February, the newspaper threw a fit that President Trump was removing illegal immigrants who had overstayed their visas from the country.

Notably, visa overstays are one of the primary methods for individuals to immigrate to the United States illegally.

Image by John Wisniewski.

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June 11, 2025
Lawfare

Trump Appeals Bogus ‘Hush Money’ Conviction.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump’s attorneys are appealing his conviction in a so-called hush money case in New York, seeking to move it to federal court following last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, Manhattan District Attorney (DA) Alvin Bragg, the U.S. Supreme Court, and a three-judge panel from the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

📍 Where & When: New York, with oral arguments occurring on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “President Trump had good cause to pursue a post-trial removal for a simple reason: he could not have raised any of the arguments set forth herein until well after his trial began,” Trump’s attorneys stated.

⚠️ Impact: A successful appeal could overturn Trump’s conviction and potentially set new precedents for cases involving presidential immunity.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump’s legal team is set to present arguments on Monday in an effort to move his state-level “hush money” conviction for supposedly falsifying business records to federal court. The appeal comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last July that presidents are immune from federal prosecution for certain official acts, although not for unofficial acts.

Trump’s attorneys argue that his conviction stems from actions tied to his official duties as President, making the case eligible for federal jurisdiction. The America First leader was convicted last year on 34 counts related to a 2016 payment made by his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting the case is politically motivated.

In January, just days before his inauguration, Trump received an unconditional discharge in the case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The sentence included no jail time, probation, or fines, but Trump remains a convicted felon under state law and cannot pardon himself in the matter.

Trump’s legal team is now leveraging the Supreme Court’s July decision to argue for a post-trial removal of the case to federal court. They claim the ruling provides “good cause” for the renewed appeal, as the decision was issued after Trump’s conviction in May. “President Trump had good cause to pursue a post-trial removal for a simple reason: he could not have raised any of the arguments set forth herein until well after his trial began,” his attorneys wrote in court filings.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed an amicus brief earlier this year in support of Trump’s effort, but Bragg’s office opposes the move. Prosecutors argue that the Supreme Court ruling does not apply in this case, accusing Trump of showing a “lack of diligence” by waiting two months after the decision to renew his efforts. They also contend that the unconditional discharge makes the appeal moot.

A ruling in Trump’s favor could overturn his conviction and reshape the legal landscape surrounding presidential immunity claims.

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June 11, 2025
William Upton
Immigration
Politics

WATCH: Mexican Senate Prez Alludes to ‘Reconquista’ of Southwest U.S.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Mexico’s Senate President Gerardo Fernández Noroña made reference to the idea of the ‘reconquista’ of territories the country lost after the Mexican-American War while insisting Mexican illegal immigrants in the U.S. have an ancestral right to reside in the southwestern United States. 

👥 Who’s Involved: Mexican Senate President Gerardo Fernández Noroña, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, U.S. President Donald J. Trump, and Mexican illegal immigrants. 

📍 Where & When: Fernández Noroña’s comments were made on Monday, June 9, 2025. 

💬 Key Quote: “We’ll build the wall and pay for it. But we’ll do it according to the 1830 map of Mexico. Mexicans were settled in these territories before the U.S. The Mexicans living there are in what has always been their homeland,” Fernández Noroña said, recalling an alleged 2017 conversation with President Trump. 

⚠️ Impact: Fernández Noroña’s comments come amid heightened diplomatic tensions between the United States and Mexico over President Trump’s imposition of trade tariffs and his administration’s efforts to remove dangerous and criminal illegal immigrants, including Mexicans, from the U.S. 

IN FULL:

One of Mexico’s top political leaders has alluded to his country retaking territories ceded to the United States over 175 years ago while making remarks condemning President Donald J. Trump‘s efforts to remove dangerous and criminal illegal immigrants from the United States. Gerardo Fernández Noroña, the president of Mexico’s Senate, during a press conference on Monday, insisted that illegal Mexican immigrants residing in the southwestern United States have an ancestral right to be there. 

“Names don’t lie. The most spoken language in Los Angeles is Spanish,” Fernández Noroña, an avowed socialist, said. He continued: “The United States government has the right to implement whatever immigration measures it deems appropriate, certainly, but they have no right to violate the dignity of immigrants. They have no right to separate families.”

During the press event, Fernández Noroña—a close political ally of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum—produced a map of the North American continent with the borders of the United States and Mexico redrawn to reflect the two countries’ territories at their extent in 1830. “We’ll build the wall and pay for it. But we’ll do it according to the 1830 map of Mexico,” the Mexican Senate leader said, recalling a 2017 conversation he allegedly had with President Trump.

“Mexicans were settled in these territories before the U.S. The Mexicans living there are in what has always been their homeland.”

The comments appear to allude to the wistful goal of some Mexican political figures to engage in a ‘Reconquista’ of their lost territories. Following the Mexican-American War’s conclusion in 1848, the United States annexed a large portion of what is today the southwestern U.S. and California.

Despite Mexico’s assertion that the land was taken from them, it was Mexican caudillo Antonio López de Santa Anna who started the conflict after violating the Treaties of Velasco and attacking American troops along the Rio Grande.

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June 11, 2025
William Upton
Economy

Trump Tariffs Spur General Motors to Shift Production From Mexico, Commit $4 Billion to U.S.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: General Motors (GM) plans to invest $4 billion in U.S. plants over the next two years, while also shifting production of two vehicle lines away from Mexico in response to President Donald J. Trump’s tariff policies.

👥 Who’s Involved: GM and its U.S.-based manufacturing plants, GM Chairwoman and CEO Mary Barra, GM President Mark Reuss, U.S. President Donald J. Trump, and Mexico.

📍 Where & When: GM announced the investment and production shift on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “We believe the future of transportation will be driven by American innovation and manufacturing expertise,” GM CEO and Chairwoman Mary Barra said in a statement.

⚠️ Impact: Increased U.S. vehicle production, thousands of new jobs, and a shift of manufacturing from Mexico to the U.S.

IN FULL:

General Motors (GM) has announced a $4 billion investment plan to expand its U.S. manufacturing operations over the next two years. The move comes in response to President Donald J. Trump’s tariff policies, including a 25 percent Section 232 tariff on autos.

“We believe the future of transportation will be driven by American innovation and manufacturing expertise,” GM CEO and Chairwoman Mary Barra said in a statement. Meanwhile, the company’s president, Mark Reuss, added: “Today’s news goes well beyond the investment numbers—this is about hardworking Americans making vehicles they are proud to build and that customers are proud to own.”

The investment is expected to increase GM’s annual vehicle production capacity to over two million units and create between 3,000 and 4,000 jobs. Notably, as part of the U.S. production plan, GM will shift its production of the gas-powered Chevy Blazer and Chevy Equinox to new U.S. facilities. Additionally, some full-size SUVs and light-duty pickups, such as the Silverado, will be moved to pre-existing Michigan-based plants. All of these vehicles are currently manufactured in Mexico.

While GM has framed this as a long-term strategy, it clarified that this investment is separate from its immediate efforts to mitigate the estimated $4 to $5 billion in tariff costs expected this year.

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June 11, 2025
William Upton
Economy

Inflation Continues to Cool, Proving Trump Tariff Critics Wrong.

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❓What Happened: U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for May showed a modest increase, with headline and core inflation both below expectations.

👥 Who’s Involved: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, President Donald J. Trump, and market analysts.

📍 Where & When: United States, May 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “CPI JUST OUT. GREAT NUMBERS! FED SHOULD LOWER ONE FULL POINT. WOULD PAY MUCH LESS INTEREST ON DEBT COMING DUE. SO IMPORTANT!!!” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

⚠️ Impact: Despite corporate media and Wall Street fearmongering that President Trump’s tariffs would reignite inflation, prices have held steady with no evidence of a spike in inflationary pressure.

IN FULL:

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for May 2025 revealed a modest 0.1 percent month-over-month increase, falling short of analysts’ expectations of 0.2 percent. Year-over-year, headline CPI rose to 2.4 percent, up slightly from April’s 2.3 percent, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, also rose 0.1 percent month-over-month, maintaining a 2.8 percent annual increase—its lowest since March 2021. Predictions from Wall Street and corporate media pundits warning of significant inflationary pressures tied to tariffs have failed to materialize, as energy prices notably declined by 1.0 percent in May, driven by falling gasoline costs.

“CPI JUST OUT. GREAT NUMBERS! FED SHOULD LOWER ONE FULL POINT,” President Donald J. Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday. “WOULD PAY MUCH LESS INTEREST ON DEBT COMING DUE. SO IMPORTANT!!!”

The America First leader has repeatedly pushed Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to lower interest rates, though the overly cautious central bank chief has been reluctant to do so. Concerningly, the Federal Reserve’s inaction regarding rates could result in the U.S. economy moving into a deflationary cycle, which would have significant negative impacts. Notably, the data shows deflationary signals when shelter costs are removed from the May CPI report.

Shelter costs, a significant component of the CPI, increased 0.3 percent in May, contributing to the overall rise. The index for rent rose by 0.2 percent, while owners’ equivalent rent also climbed 0.3 percent. However, the lodging away from home index fell slightly, by 0.1 percent.

Food prices rose by 0.3 percent over the month, impacting both the food at home and food away from home categories. Meanwhile, other categories such as medical care, motor vehicle insurance, and personal care saw modest increases. In contrast, airline fares dropped by 2.7 percent, continuing a decline from the previous month, and used car prices fell by 0.5 percent.

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June 11, 2025
Economy
News

Trump Announces ‘Deal With China Is Done’ Following London Tariff Talks.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: A “framework deal” was reached between the U.S. and China during trade talks in London, England, though it awaits final approval by U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump, President Xi, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang.

📍 Where & When: Trade negotiations occurred in London on June 8-9, 2025, with President Trump announcing the deal on June 10, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: President Trump posted on Truth Social, “Deal with China is done, subject to final approval with President Xi and me. Relationship is excellent!”

⚠️ Impact: The agreement aims to ease trade tensions, facilitate rare earth exports, and prevent a potential economic slowdown caused by supply chain disruptions.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump announced on Wednesday that a “framework deal” has been reached between the United States and China after two days of intensive trade talks in London, England. The agreement, which seeks to ease tensions in the ongoing trade war between the two nations, still requires formal approval by both Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The negotiations concluded late Tuesday night, with both sides confirming progress. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described the talks as an effort to “get the negativity out” of the bilateral relationship, adding that the focus is now on fostering “positive trade, growing trade.”

Under the proposed framework, China will maintain a 10 percent tariff on U.S. goods, while the U.S. retains a 55 percent tariff on Chinese imports. The deal also includes commitments for China to resume and increase exports of rare earth minerals critical to U.S. industries. In exchange, the U.S. will provide aerospace parts and semiconductor programming technology to China, along with renewed access for Chinese students to American universities.

President Trump took to Truth Social to declare, “OUR DEAL WITH CHINA IS DONE, SUBJECT TO FINAL APPROVAL WITH PRESIDENT XI AND ME. FULL MAGNETS, AND ANY NECESSARY RARE EARTHS, WILL BE SUPPLIED, UP FRONT, BY CHINA.”

The talks in London follow a preliminary agreement reached in Geneva, Switzerland, in May, which temporarily paused record-high tariffs of well over 100 percent on imports from both nations. The current tariffs, reduced to 30 percent for U.S. imports from China and 10 percent for Chinese imports from the U.S., could spike again if the framework is not finalized before July 9.

China’s state-run media has acknowledged “new progress” in the talks but offered no specifics. Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang confirmed the framework was agreed upon “in principle.”

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