Island dripping with GOLD could be Trump's next win if he seizes chance for 'deal of the century'

19 Apr 2025, By ALEXA CIMINO1/2

Trump's love of gold is no secret. From the gilded splendor of Trump Tower to Mar-a-lago's gleaming ballroom, the president is known to revel in all that glitters.

But has a golden opportunity just arisen for Trump to take control of a tropical island complete with its own gold mine?

Bougainville, which is currently part of Papua New Guinea, voted overwhelmingly for independence in 2019, but the poll wasn't binding. Now a local leader says he is open to a deal for it to become part of the United States.

Given the island's strategic significance in any future war with China, it could be well worth its weight!

Bougainville's president, former rebel commander Ishmael Toroama, says: 'If the US comes and says, "Yes, we support Bougainville independence," then, I can say, "Well, the Panguna mine is here. It's up to you."'

'Bougainville is for independence. It is only a matter of time,' he told The World in October, setting 2027 as the target for full statehood.

At the center of the battle for independence lies Bougainville's immense natural wealth — particularly the dormant Panguna mine, once one of the world's biggest sources of copper and gold.

It's estimated to still hold 5.84 million tons of copper and nearly 20 million ounces of gold — worth around $60 billion today.

With its mineral riches and location just north of Australia, Bougainville is seen as a potential prize in the growing power struggle between the U.S. and China.

Australia's former High Commissioner to PNG, Ian Kemish, however, isn't convinced. 'I don't really believe that it's going to be of much interest,' he told The Sun. 'But from a geopolitical point of view, an independent Bougainville could be useful to either the U.S. or China.'

Despite 98 percent of voters backing the split, the path to full statehood remains stalled in political limbo, with PNG's parliament showing little appetite to let the mineral-rich region go.

'The simple fact is that the national parliament has no wish at all to see Bougainville go,' Kemish added. 'Both sides have been avoiding confrontation, but there's a lot of tension left in this.'

That tension is rooted in a bloody past. Bougainville declared independence once before in 1975 — but was absorbed by PNG a year later, sparking a civil war that raged from 1988 to 1997, claiming thousands of lives.

A 2001 peace deal promised a future vote — delivered in 2019 — but legal independence still requires PNG's approval.

With PNG missing a 2023 ratification deadline set in the Era Kone Covenant, doubts are growing. 'They feel the territorial integrity of the nation is at stake,' said Kemish. 'If they let one bit go, other bits will want to follow.'

Though shuttered since the civil war, the Panguna mine remains the cornerstone of Bougainville's dream for economic independence.

'We have to unlock the economic potential of Bougainville,' Toroama added. 'No one will stop our people.'

Home to just over 300,000 people, Bougainville would be among the world's smallest nations, roughly the size of Cyprus.

Its closest neighbor, the Solomon Islands, has already leaned toward Beijing—adding further intrigue to Bougainville's fate.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14628017/how-trump-win-bougainville-america-deal.html

>>22934326

2/2

If it succeeds in gaining recognition, Bougainville would be the first new country admitted to the UN since South Sudan in 2011.

This is not the first time Trump has floated bold territorial ambitions.

Shortly after taking office, the former real estate mogul turned president stunned global leaders by expressing interest in purchasing Greenland, the vast Arctic island governed by Denmark.

In 2019, Trump confirmed reports that the U.S. was considering buying the territory, citing its strategic value, abundant natural resources, and potential for military expansion.

'Essentially, it's a large real estate deal,' he told reporters at the time, calling the proposal 'a great deal for the United States.'

The idea was swiftly rejected by Danish officials, who called the notion 'absurd.' Greenland's government also issued a firm statement: 'Greenland is not for sale.'

The diplomatic fallout escalated to the point where Trump canceled a planned state visit to Denmarkafter Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rebuffed the offer.

Still, Trump never walked back the proposal—suggesting instead that it was a savvy move overlooked by other leaders. 'I just looked at it strategically. It would be nice,' he later said.

His Greenland bid marked one of the most audacious foreign policy suggestions of his presidency — until now.

Trump has also toyed with the idea of making Canada the 51st state.

He reportedly joked about former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau becoming a U.S. governor and questioned why the two countries weren’t just one, citing shared culture and trade ties.

Though likely tongue-in-cheek, he mentioned the idea more than once — hinting at using tariffs as leverage.

Canadian officials and the public have firmly rejected the notion, but it fits Trump’s pattern of viewing geopolitics through the lens of a dealmaker.

The DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House for comment.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14628017/how-trump-win-bougainville-america-deal.html

WATCH: Kassam Explains How Senator Van Hollen Walked Into Bukele’s MS-13 Trap.

The National Pulse’s Editor in Chief, Raheem Kassam, joined former Congressman andOne America News host Matt Gaetz on Friday night to explainhow El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele tricked Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen into posing, with margaritas, with an alleged MS-13 gang member.

Kassam also discusses his latest article in the Spectator, about the Kennedy Center, and how truth and beauty are “inextricably linked.”

https://thenationalpulse.com/

https://youtu.be/FCh4Y1XOm7M

Supreme Court BLOCKS More Deportations Under Alien Enemies Act.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The Supreme Court issued an emergency ruling stopping the deportation of more than 50 Venezuelan illegal immigrants by the Trump administration, pending further order.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Supreme Court, Trump administration, approximately 50 Venezuelan illegal immigrants, ACLU, Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. NEWSLETTER Need to Know. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.

📍 Where & When: Anson, Texas; ruling issued around 1 am.

💬 Key Quote: “The government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this court.”

⚠️Impact: The ruling halts deportation proceedings for the detainees and invites the Solicitor General to respond, with the matter pending before the Fifth Circuit.

IN FULL:The U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency ruling early Saturday, temporarily halting the Trump administration’s effort to deport more than 50 Venezuelan illegal immigrants. These individuals, detained in Anson, Texas, are awaiting the outcome of several court challenges initiated by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The Supreme Court ruling emergedshortly after 1 am and remains unsigned.

The Court’s instruction stated, “The government is directed not to remove any member of the putative classof detainees from the United States until further order of this court.”

This directive prevents deportations until legal proceedings advance. The ACLU originally approached the Northern District of Texas with a petition against the application of the Alien Enemies Act, which allows the deportation of individuals deemed threats. This petition was denied, prompting appeals to the Fifth Circuit and an emergency filing with the Supreme Court.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the decision, although the significance and direct impact of their objection remain to be detailed. Meanwhile, Justice Alito is expected to release a statement.

The legal challenge hinges on the application of the Alien Enemies Act.The Supreme Court previously affirmed the use of the Act, while also ensuringthat individuals targeted for deportation are afforded the right to contest it where they are held.

While the dispute is pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the latest decision requires the Solicitor General to offer a formal response to the detainees’ injunction application.

Elsewhere, the ACLU is actively working to shield Venezuelan immigrantsfrom deportation in multiple cities, including New York City, Denver, and Brownsville, Texas. ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt disclosed plans to file proactive lawsuits nationwide, insisting the federal government provide a 30-day notice before any similar deportations under the Alien Enemies Act.

The Supreme Court ruling suspends immediate deportations, ensuring comprehensive review and additional layers of legal scrutiny. Meanwhile, figures estimate that over ten million illegal immigrants entered the U.S. during the Biden administration, many pending asylum hearings or possessing various forms of temporary status.

https://thenationalpulse.com/2025/04/19/supreme-court-blocks-more-deportations-under-alien-enemies-act/

Why does SC release so many unsigned orders when it comes to PDJT? Odd really?

GOOD FRIDAY. Good Friday, the sixth day of Holy Week, brought the bitter fruit of Judas’s betrayal.

Following his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, dragged before priests and rulers, and enduring the Cross to fulfill His mission,Jesus faced a whirlwind of trials, mockery, and torment.

First, Jesus was hauled before Caiaphas, the high priest, for what amounted to a show trial. Silent before His accusers, Jesus spoke only when Caiaphas demanded, “I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.”

“Thou hast said,”Jesus replied, “nevertheless I say unto you,Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven”—a clear declaration, as Caiphas and the priests saw it, of His divinity.

Enraged, Caiaphas rent his robes, crying, “He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses?” The priests set their minds on His execution, but they lacked the authority to pass the sentence themselves.

PILATE AND HEROD. Caiaphas first turned Jesus over to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. The priests branded Jesus a rebel, claiming He declared Himself king, and called for a death sentence. But Jesus told the Roman, “My kingdom is not of this world.”

An uneasy Pilate attempted to pass the decision on to the Romans’ client king, Herod Antipas, hoping to sidestep the situation.Herod—son of the bloodthirsty Herod the Great—was thrilled to meet the famed preacher at first when He was brought before him, but lost interest when Jesus maintained the same silence He had kept at his trial before Caiaphas.

Herod only mocked Him, draping Him in a kingly robe and returning Him to Pilate, no more keen to pass a sentence of death than the governor had been.Hoping to placate the temple leaders, Pilate had Jesus scourged, with his soldiers pressing a crown of thorns on His head to mock His kingship. But Caiphas would not relent. Finally, Pilate offered a choice—he would pardon one criminal in a special act of clemency, either Jesus or Barabbas, a notorious robber and murderer.

Even then, the priests preferred to put Jesus to death, and spare the killer.“

I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it,”Pilate proclaimed, washing his hands of the matter. Yet he still yielded to Caiphas and the mob in sentencing Jesus to crucifixion.

THE PLACE OF THE SKULL. Jesus, already weakened by his scourging, was forced to carry His cross to Golgotha, the Place of the Skull—albeit with some help from St. Simon of Cyrene.

Arriving, the Roman soldiers nailed Him to the Cross, affixinga sign in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin: “JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS”—to the priests’ chagrin.

At the cross stood His mother Mary, His aunt, Mary the wife of Cleophas, Mary Magdalene, and the apostle John. Jesus first entrusted His mother to St. John’s care, then prayed for His tormentors, saying, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34, KJV).

The priests scoffed: “He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.”

Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

But He was not lamenting that the Father had abandoned Him, he was quoting Psalm 22, where King David speaks of being forsaken, of having his hands and his feet—like Jesus—pierced through, and keeping his faith regardless.

With a final breath, Jesus declared, “It is finished.” His mission of atonement fulfilled, He commended His spirit to the Father and, at last, “gave up the ghost.”

The reaction was immediate: “Then the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent,” the Gospels record, describing a terrible earthquake which tore the cloth concealing the Holy of Holies, the innermost sanctuary of the temple where God’s presence was believed to dwell.

Even the Roman centurion and soldiers, trembling, confessed, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

In a rare gesture, Pilate allowed St. Joseph of Arimathea, believed to be Jesus’s uncle, to take His body for burial instead of leaving it for the carrion birds. St. Joseph wrapped Him in linen and laid Him in a tomb sealed with a great stone.

But it would not stay sealed for long.

https://thenationalpulse.com/analysis-post/good-friday/

EU Prez Von der Leyen Hits Out at Trump’s Inner Circle.

April 18, 2025

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the state of transatlantic relations, criticizing the unpredictability of the US administration under President Donald Trump and likening key figures to oligarchs.

👥 Who’s Involved: Ursula von der Leyen, Donald Trump, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, US Vice-President JD Vance.

📍 Where & When: Comments were published in German newspaper Die Zeit, ongoing developments with trade talks involving the EU and US.

💬 Key Quote: “We don’t have bros or oligarchs making the rules.”

⚠️Impact: The statement reflects tensions in US-EU relations, with discussions ongoing about tariffs and trade agreements. Trump has recently been noted for easing tariffs on European imports.

IN FULL:

In a candid evaluation of European and American relations, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, voiced concerns about the current dynamics,noting that traditional alliances are shifting. In an interview with Die Zeit, she criticized the US administration’s approach andcompared influential figures to Russian oligarchs. This marks a significant moment in transatlantic discussions as von der Leyen emphasized Europe’s commitment to global trade principles, contrasting it with tactics she attributes to Washington.

Her comments come at a time when trade agreements between the US and EU are a point of contention. Trump recently retracted tariffs impacting European imports valued at £328 billion, a move following financial market instability.Nonetheless, Vice-President JD Vance has been critical of the EU, labeling it as undemocratic and suppressive towards right-wing populism.

“We don’t have bros or oligarchs making the rules,”von der Leyen said, adding, “[t]he West as we knew it no longer exists.”

Despite these challenges, von der Leyen claims Europe as a model of stability and predictability, stressing the region’s position in global economics. She highlighted that only a small portion of Europe’s trade is with the US, causing concern that as with prior decades,the European Union is inclined to move further towards the Chinese Communist Party and its brutal regime.

“In Europe, children can go to good schools however wealthy their parents are. We have lower CO2 emissions and higher life expectancy,’ she said, addingthat “controversial debates are allowed at our universities,”in a clear dig at Trump’s policy of removing anti-American and anti-Israel students from college campuses.

https://thenationalpulse.com/2025/04/18/eu-prez-von-der-leyen-hits-out-at-trumps-inner-circle/

(Von der Leyen will regret her ignorance and betrayal of the USA, but it will be too late!)

>>22934639

That explains exactly who she is

20 Apr, 2025 00:47

Trump understands root causes of Ukraine conflict – Putin aide

The general anti-Russian mood in the West hinders progress toward a ceasefire, Yuri Ushakov says

The Trump administration understands the key causes of the Ukraine conflict, President Vladimir Putin’s top aide has said. Yuri Ushakov emphasized, however, that a major obstacle to a peace deal is the widespread anti-Russian sentiment in the West.

Ushakov made the remarks in an interview with Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin, which was recorded on Thursday and released on Saturday.

Zarubin asked Ushakov whether he believed the US understood “the nuances” of Russian views on a potential peace deal.

“It seems to me that the American leadership, including the president, understands the root causes of the conflict,”Ushakov said.

The diplomat noted, however, that “an anti-Russian climate has been created in America and Europe over the past years and even decades.”

“This climate hinders the advancement of quite reasonable ideas, which some leaders, including in Washington, agree with,”he said.

President Vladimir Putin has announced that Russian troops would observe a 30-hour Easter truce starting at 6 pm local time on Saturday. Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky said shortly afterward that Kiev would “act in a reciprocal way.”

Trump and his team have stated that their goal is to broker a comprehensive ceasefire as soon as possible. Moscow has said that a lasting peace is only possible if Ukraine drops its plans to join NATO and renounces its claims on Crimea and four other former Ukrainian regions that voted to become part of Russia.

Putin said last month that, for a workable ceasefire, Ukraine must stop receiving Western military aid and withdraw its troops from parts of Russian territory it currently controls.

Both sides have accused each other of violating the 30-day moratorium on attacks on energy infrastructure brokered by the US last month. Moscow recorded around 100 violations since the agreement took effect on March 18.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Friday that time is running out for diplomacy. He said the Trump administration is prepared to “throw in the towel soon” if talks do not progress.

https://www.rt.com/russia/616009-trump-understands-cause-of-ukraine-conflict/

18 Apr, 2025 10:26

Moscow responds to Trump’s Ukraine conflict timeline

Russia is committed to resolving the crisis, the Kremlin has said, after the US president stated he wanted an answer about a peace agreement this week

The ongoing negotiations to secure peace in the Ukraine conflict are “difficult,” but Russia remains committed to achieving a resolution, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

Peskov's comments follow US President Donald Trump’s statement that he expects a response from Moscow on a proposed peace agreement with Kiev later this week.

Speaking to reporters, the Kremlin spokesman was asked whether Trump’s remarks suggested any behind-the-scenes agreements between Washington and Moscow.

He acknowledged some progress in efforts to resolve the conflict but stressed that numerous challenging issues remain on the table.

“We believe that certain progress can already be stated. This progress is related to the temporary moratorium that Russia adhered to — a moratorium on not striking energy infrastructure facilities,” Peskov said. He added that while Moscow has honored this moratorium, “the same cannot be said for the Ukrainian side.”

At a press conference at the White House on Thursday, Trump reiterated that he expects a swift end to the Ukraine conflict and indicated thathe expects to hear from Moscow “very shortly” regarding a ceasefire proposal. “We’ll see what that will be. We’re going to be hearing from them this week. Very shortly, actually, and we’ll see. But we want the death and the killing to stop,” Trump said.

Peskov was also asked to comment on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s statement that the US could abandon its efforts to reach a peace deal between Moscow and Kiev if it feels that no progress is being made on the issue.

The spokesman stated that whether or not the US would actually withdraw from the settlement process is a question that should be asked in Washington.

In a statement to journalists on Friday, Rubio indicated that the US expects to see some progress on a peace deal in Ukraine in the coming days and stressed that Washington will not pursue the issue indefinitely.

“No one is saying that this is going to get done in 12 hours,” Rubio admitted, but stated that Washington expects to figure out “within a matter of days whether this is doable in the short term.” If not, the US is “just going to move on,”he said.

https://www.rt.com/russia/615942-peskov-comments-on-trump-ukraine-conflict-timeline/

This is funny and interesting how foreign policy matters are being communicated through media and social media.

19 Apr, 2025 20:17

Trump administration plans to send envoy to Russia again – CNN

Steve Witkoff, who has already met with President Putin three times this year, has reportedly been tasked with getting Moscow to agree to a Ukraine peace framework

US President Donald Trump’s administration is planning one more meeting between special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior Russian officials to get Moscow on board with its vision for peace in the Ukraine conflict, CNN has claimed, citing an anonymous source.

Witkoff has already met with Russian President Vladimir Putin three times this year as the US president tries to broker a ceasefire between Kiev and Moscow.

In its article on Saturday, CNN further quoted its source as saying that Washington’s plan, which was reportedly presented to Ukrainian officials and several European leaders during a top-level meeting in Paris on Thursday, envisages a ceasefire along the current front line. The US government also supposedly signaled a willingness to recognize Crimea as Russian territory.

Commenting on his meeting with Putin in Moscow last Friday, Witkoff told Fox News on Monday that the nearly five-hour talks were “compelling” and that the Kremlin is seeking a lasting solution to the Ukraine conflict.

Trump’s special envoy claimed that Moscow and Kiev “might be on the verge of something that would be very, very important for the world at large.”

According to the US official, any potential peace deal would include the recognition of Crimea, the Donetsk, and Lugansk People’s Republics, and Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions as part of Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday that while there were “no clear outlines of any agreement yet,”Moscow values the “constructive and substantive”contact with the US.

Witkoff’s remarks did not sit well with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, who on Thursday accused Trump’s envoy of “wittingly or unwittingly spreading Russian narratives.”

He reiterated that Kiev will “never recognize any temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory as Russian.”

Russia has maintained that it is open to peace talks with Ukraine in principle, as long as its key security concerns are addressed. Moscow demands among other things that Kiev renounce its NATO aspirations and recognize the territorial “realities on the ground.”

The Kremlin has insisted it will not accept a mere freeze of the conflict.

On Saturday, President Putin announced a temporary Easter truce effective from 18:00 Moscow time through midnight on Sunday night.

While he expressed hope that Ukraine would reciprocate, he also stated that the “Kiev regime has violated the agreement on pausing energy infrastructure strikes more than a hundred times.”

Putin argued that Ukraine’s reaction to the ceasefire would be a clear indicator of whether Kiev is serious about wanting to achieve peace.

https://www.rt.com/news/616006-cnn-witkoff-another-meeting-russians-ukraine-peace/