Russia to launch Trump Vodka

November 13, 2024

A St. Petersburg-based technology company, RAU IT, has filed a trademark application in Russia for a new vodka brandnamed “Trumpovka” in honour of re-elected US President Donald Trump.

The application, submitted to Rospatent, includes a distinctive label featuring Trump’s silhouette holding an accordion.

RAU IT provides digital solutions and software development for Russian giants such as Gazprom, Rosatom, and Lukoil, yet it has no background in the beverage industry.The company states it has no immediate plans to release "Trumpovka" but aims to protect the brand name from competitorswho might capitalise on Trump’s name in the Russian market. The company also intends to extend the brand to non-alcoholic products, such as mineral water and isotonic drinks aimed at office workers.

RAU IT, co-owned by Yuri Pavlov and Commercial Director Eduard Przhibysh, generated revenue of over RUB157mn ($1.6mn) last year, with net profits of around RUB5mn ($50,900), reported Russian news outlet RBK.

“We thought that, amid the hype around the US presidential elections, some alcohol manufacturers might start producing vodka with a namesimilar to Donald Trump’s,” the company told RBK. “To prevent this, we preemptively applied for the ‘Trumpovka’ trademark, ensuring that the news story wouldn’t be exploited by companies aiming to boost alcohol sales through sensational headlines.”

RAU IT's move reflects a trend in Russia of using high-profile political figures in branding. It follows the precedent set by "Putinka," an iconic vodka brandlaunched in 2003 as a tribute to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Created by marketerStanislav Kaufman, "Putinka" rapidly became one of Russia’s top-selling vodkas, benefiting from Putin’s popularity. Another brand, “Volodya and the Bears,” which alludes to Medvedev and Putin, famously faced legal hurdles before it secured trademark approval.

Trump, who is teetotal, has himself previously ventured into the vodka market with Trump Vodka in 2005. Production of Trump-branded vodka ceased in 2011 due to low sales and contractual disputes, though the product continues to be sold in Israel around Passover as a kosher, potato-based drink.

https://www.intellinews.com/russia-to-launch-trump-vodka-352997/

(It's always the British news, like MSDNC that are negative)

‘This is odd’: Elon Musk compared to ‘guest who wouldn’t leave’ after lengthy Mar-a-Lago stay

Unnerved Trump staffers claimed that Musk had been sitting in on Trump’s calls with world leaders and weighing in on staffing decisions

Tuesday 12 November 2024 05:45

Elon Musk is spending "nearly every day" with Donald Trump at his Florida estate and sitting in on calls with world leaders, according to reports.

Sources told CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins that the world's richest person has been constantly at the President-elect's side at Mar-a-Lago since the election, dining with him on the patio and joining him on the golf course.

"Musk has been in the room when world leaders called Trump, and tonight we've learned he's also weighing in on staffing decisions – making clear his preference for certain roles, even," Collins said on Sunday night.

"While Musk himself is still not expected to take any kind of formal position, given how complicated it would be with his companies, what's becoming clearer tonight is that he doesn't really need to – with one source telling me Elon Musk is having just as much influence from the outside."

In a separate CNN broadcast on Sunday morning, veteran tech journalist Kara Swisher said that Trump insiders were confused and unnerved by the extent of Musk's influence.(more gossip)

"He definitely inserts himself all the time; that's his style. That's why he's just suddenly shown up there like the guest that wouldn't leave," she said.

"I've heard from Trump people calling me saying 'oh wow, this is odd.' And I'm like yeah it is, you'll see much more of it.(lie, Trump people wouldn't call her, its politicians)

"But he's not going anywhere until Trump throws him out. Which could happen, because they're both really strong personalities who like to be at the centre of attention."

Over the past year, Musk – who owns the social network X and is the head of multiple companies including Tesla and Space X – appears to have become one of Trump's closest allies, not only donating at least $132m to him and other Republicans but regularly appearing at rallies.

He has also appeared in multiple Trump family photos, standing alongside the Trump clan – excluding Trump’s wife Melania – in a post-election group picture as well as posing with Trump’s granddaughter Kai on the golf course on Sunday.

In her interview, Swisher said Trump was attracted to Musk's prodigious wealth and "nerd glamour", but has a history of falling out with even his most loyal associates, and "goes through people like tissues".

"He wants influence," Swisher said in reference to Musk. "And since he can't run for president, because he comes from South Africa, he's going to try to exert as much influence as possible in these first critical days to get what he wants.

"It's always about what Elon Musk wants, just remember that."

WOW the jealousy is of the charts! KEK

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-elon-musk-maralago-florida-b2645385.html

Trump picks Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran Pete Hegseth for defense secretary

In his announcement, Trump called Hegseth “tough, smart and a true believer in America First.”

Nov. 12, 2024, 7:28 PM EST / Updated Nov. 12, 2024, 10:19 PM EST

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday named Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and military veteran, as his pick for defense secretary.

In a statement, Trump described Hegseth as "tough, smart and a true believer in America First."

"With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice — Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down," Trump said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., applauded Trump’s selection, calling Hegseth a “great choice.”

“Pete brings a lot to the table. He’s got experience, and I think he’ll be reform-minded in the areas that need reform. So I’m excited about the pick,” Johnson told reporters on Capitol Hill, without elaborating on what programs he thinks need changing.

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash, the top Democraton the House Armed Services Committee, said he was caught off guard by Trump's announcement.

"I confess, I did not know who Pete Hegseth was until about 20 minutes ago," Smith told reporters.

"He does not seem to have much of a detailed background in [Department of Defense] policy. To the extent he’s worked on any of that stuff, it has been on veterans policy, not on DoD issues. So the lack of experience is concerning," Smith said.

“Now I have not heard what his plans are, so we will see what his plans are,” he added. “But it was surprising and is concerning, just given that lack of experience. You know, the Pentagon, biggest bureaucracy in the world. It’s a hard thing to run, so I think it’s going to be a challenge."

During an interview on the podcast "The Shawn Ryan Show" released last week, Hegseth denounced what he called diversity, equity and inclusion “woke s—” in the military and outlined a plan to “course correct it.”

“Well, first of all, you gotta fire — you’ve got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and obviously, you’re going to bring in a new secretary of defense. But any general that was involved — general, admiral, whatever that was involved — in any of the DEI woke s— has got to go,” Hegseth said.

During his first administration, Trump nominated James Mattis and later Mark Esper to lead the Defense Department.

Mattis resigned in December 2018 and suggested in a resignation letter that he and Trump differed in their views on “treating our allies with respect” and being “clear-eyed” about U.S. adversaries and competitors.

Trump fired Esper in 2020 after disagreements that included the use of active-duty troops to quell nationwide racial justice protests that year after the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.

Amid a flurry of picks for his second administration, Trump earlier Tuesday said he would nominate former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to be CIA director.

On Monday, he tapped Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., as his pick for U.N. ambassador and said he would nominate Lee Zeldin, a former House Republican from New York, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.

Sunday, he named immigration hard-liner Tom Homan as his “border czar.”

Trump's first major administration announcement came last week, when he said Susie Wiles, his campaign manager, would be White House chief of staff.

(The media is mad because there won't be leakers this time)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-picks-fox-news-host-pete-hegseth-defense-secretary-rcna179895