Welcome to the online version of Political officeAn evening newsletter that brings you the latest report and analysis of the NBC News Policy team from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign campaign.
In today’s edition, Jonathan Allen is committed to the way Team Trump transforms his message on commercial transactions because they were slow to materialize. In addition, Andrea Mitchell examines a potential crossroads in the relationship between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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– Adam Wollner
The beginning of the agreement: why Trump stopped emphasizing the speed on commercial transactions
By Jonathan Allen
Barely a few weeks ago, President Donald Trump and the white house aid boasted that his prices would force a legion of foreign nations to rush into new commercial transactions – and that Trump’s prowess would give more favorable terms for the United States.
“I tell you, these countries call us, kissing my A—,” said Trump last month before his reciprocal rates had to come into force. “They die from wanting to conclude an agreement.” Please, please, sir, will conclude an agreement. I will do anything. I will do anything, sir! “”
After Trump has paused for some of his prices and declared a three -month negotiation window, his sales advisor Peter Navarro said a few days later, “Meet the Press” by NBC News, “we have 90 agreements in 90 days possibly pending here”.
But Trump has changed his tone and air in recent days, because it has become clear that trade agreements do not materialize as quickly as he wishes and that there are no dozens in the queue. Its change also comes in the midst of strong criticisms that its prices will increase consumer prices and harm an American economy which experienced its first negative growth in the first quarter.
“You continue to write on the offers, the offers. When are we going to sign one? It’s very simple. We will say that, in some cases, we want your country. In some cases, we want you to drop your prices,” the journalists told Trump obviously frustrated on Tuesday.
“So I want them to hold, you know, stop asking:” How many offers are you signing this week? ” Because one day we will come and we will give you 100 offers.
Beyond the ambitious sweep to try to haggle with dozens of nations at the same time, the United States has not yet opened discussions with its largest trading partner – China – since Trump applied a 145% rate on its products.
The Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent planned meeting With Chinese officials in Switzerland, this weekend is equivalent to a first phase of negotiations which is not as far as talks with less crucial nations.
Stable holding: The federal reserve said it was Leave unchanged interest rates As he warned that the chances of higher unemployment and higher inflation had climbed following Trump’s pricing plan.
The first signs of a Trump-Netanyahu division?
By Andrea Mitchell
When President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the Yemeni Houthis agreed to stop shooting American ships in the Red Sea and that the United States had stopped its air strikes against the militia supported by Iran, the ally closest to America in the Middle East was taken to date.
Israel did not even know that a cease-fire was in preparation, and its ships are not covered by the truce. In fact, on the same day, Israel had hammered the airport in the capital of Yemen, rippling for a houthi strike almost hit Israel’s airport Ben Gurion. The Houthis did not say if they also extended the safe passage to other international expeditions so that they could resume navigation through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, a much cheaper road than the longer trip around the horn of Africa.
The first public index of a possible violation between us and the Israeli leaders came when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went to the White House last month, hoping that the United States would provide air support to a possible Israeli operation against Iran’s nuclear installations. Instead, Trump announced that he would agree to direct talks with Iran.
And now, the administration puts pressure on Israel and Hamas to accept a version of ceasefire and hostages in a few days. This is because Trump wants to announce an agreement before leaving next week for Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar for the first foreign trip of his second term. His impatience is rooted in his hope of progressing towards the conclusion of the Abraham agreements, which he initiated into his first mandate, forcing Saudi Arabia to take the first steps towards the recognition of Israel. The effort continued under President Joe Biden, but he collapsed when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, triggering war in Gaza. And the Saudis will not consider him while the war continues.
But Hamas is rooted, Israel has reproduced two thirds of Gaza, and Netanyahu’s cabinet called for reserves to extend the fights. This week, the special envoy of the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, in Keyned Israel Israel Independence Day Celebration in Washington, DC, gently suppressing the Israelis to overcome their political divisions. On Wednesday, the closest political advisor to Netanyahu, Ron Dermer, the former United States ambassador, arrived in Washington for cease-fire talks with the Secretary of State / National Security Advisor Marco Rubio and Witkoff.
The question is: Netanyahu reverses the course in Gaza to achieve an even more important common goal with the United States – an economic and security agreement with Saudi Arabia, completing its dream of peace and prosperity with the Arab world?
The best stories of today
- 💨 Watch white smoke: The conclave to select the next pope began, with 133 cardinals nestling at home to select the next chief of the Catholic church. Black smoke emanated from the chimney to the top of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday evening, indicating that no new pope had been elected during the first voting round. Follow the live updates →
- 🇱🇾 Deportation agenda: The United States plans to send a group of undocumented immigrants to Libya this week. Learn more →
- 🇷🇺 Russia-Ukraine Last: Vice-president JD Vance said that Trump administration thought Russia “asks too much” in talks to end his war in Ukraine. Learn more →
- 🗣️ He’s back: Former President Joe Biden participated in his first interview since he left office with the BBC, calling Trump’s relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin “silly” and “modern appeasement”. Learn more →
- 🗳️ Everything in the family: The half-brother of Vance, Cory Bowman, qualified for the general elections of the race at the town hall of Cincinnati. Learn more →
- ⏪ On the second thought: The White House withdrew the appointment of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat to be a general surgeon, a few days after the right -wing provocateur Laura Loomer accused her of pleading for covored vaccines and promoted “initiatives focused on Dei”. Learn more →
- 💉 The new HHS: The Federal Advisory Committee which issues advice on the prevention of the propagation of infections in health establishments was terminated . Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration appointed Dr. Vinay Prasad – a frank critic of its decision to approve the co -vored photos for children – like its new vaccine chief.
- 🍑 Backup plan: The Governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, has transmitted an offer for the Senate, the Republicans are increasingly concerned about the fact that the representative Marjorie Taylor Greene can enter the race and endanger their chances of defeating the Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff. Learn more →
- 🔵 Three is a crowd: Representative Raja Krishnamoorthhi became the third Grand Democrat to participate in the race for the Illinois Senate. He told NBC News that the “economic chaos” of the first 100 days of Trump’s second mandate prompted him to present himself for the retirement of Senator Dick Durbin’s headquarters. Learn more →
- 🍎 New York state of mind: Trump approved representative Mike Lawler, RN.Y., to be re -elected to the House while the Republican leaders tried to persuade Lawler to give up a race for the governor so that they have a better chance of hanging on his battlefield seat. Learn more →
- ✅ The last 2024 race: The race of the Supreme Court of North Carolina finally ended, the candidate of the GOP conceding after months of legal battles. Learn more →
- Follow the political coverage live on our blog →
It’s all of the political bureau for the moment. Today’s newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner and Bridget Bowman.
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