Trump announces reprieve for Rolling Thunder veterans motorcycle ride

President Trump announced Sunday the annual Rolling Thunder veterans gathering would go on past this year, which was expected to be its last ride. Since 1988, veterans and supporters have ridden motorcycles through Washington to show support and solidarity for prisoners of war and those missing in action. Organizers said there have been financial and logistical reasons for pulling the plug on the event after this year. But Trump tweeted Sunday that they would be returning.

“The Great Patriots of Rolling Thunder WILL be coming back to Washington, D.C. next year, & hopefully for many years to come. It is where they want to be, & where they should be. Have a wonderful time today. Thank you to our great men & women of the Pentagon for working it out!” he said.

Trump did not offer details about how permitting and other problems would get worked out with the Defense Department. The cost of the national event is a significant factor in ending it, according to Rolling Thunder's executive director, Artie Muller. He also cited what he said is a lack of support from Pentagon officials, manifested in the diversion of bikers away from Pentagon parking lots, which, Muller says, they used in the past without problems.

Rolling Thunder has 90 chapters in 29 states. It began with about 3,000 riders and has now grown to up to 70,000 participants.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-announces-reprieve-for-rolling-thunder-veterans-motorcycle-ride

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1132630743321055232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Trump channels North Korea propaganda as he mocks Biden in Far East

President Trump is brushing off concerns about North Korea’s ballistic missile testing this month, while joining the dictatorship's mocking of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

“North Korea fired off some small weapons, which disturbed some of my people, and others, but not me,” Trump tweeted from Japan on Sunday, local time. “I have confidence that Chairman Kim will keep his promise to me, & also smiled when he called Swampman Joe Biden a low IQ individual, & worse. Perhaps that’s sending me a signal?”

The remarks appeared to be at odds with those of White House national security adviser John Bolton, who said Saturday there is “no doubt” the short-range ballistic missile tests violated United Nations Security Council resolutions. Trump and Kim met in February in Hanoi, Vietnam, to discuss denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the second confab between leaders of countries without diplomatic relations. But Trump walked away from the meeting without securing a deal. Trump's comments about Biden come after North Korean state media last mocked Biden, vice president to President Barack Obama for eight years. The North Korean propaganda arm labeled the 36-year Delaware senator, who now leading Democratic White House polls, by labeling him “reckless” and “senseless.” Biden at a recent campaign rally called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a “tyrant” and “dictator.”

“It is by no means accidental that there is nonstop comment over his bid for candidacy that he is not worth pinning hope on, backed by the jeer that he is a fool of low IQ,” Korean Central News Agency wrote.

Trump is in Tokyo and met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, who said last week the missile tests “are a breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions and extremely regrettable.” The two played golf on Sunday and attended a sumo match in Tokyo. They later dined at a hibachi restaurant. According to Trump, Japanese officials also weighed in on Democrats’ opposition to his administration and the Republican party.

“Great fun and meeting with Prime Minister @AbeShinzo,” Trump tweeted. “Numerous Japanese officials told me that the Democrats would rather see the United States fail than see me or the Republican Party succeed - Death Wish!” Trump also indicated that discussions surrounding trade were successful so far but signaled progress would be made later in the summer. Great progress being made in our Trade Negotiations with Japan. Agriculture and beef heavily in play. Much will wait until after their July elections where I anticipate big numbers!

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https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1132459370816708608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1132506111884636160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1132506435848495104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

GOP Sen. Joni Ernst splits from President Trump on North Korea, says US needs to take a ‘very strong stance’

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst on Sunday pushed back on President Trump’s claim that he isn’t worried about North Korea’s ballistic missile testing this month. Speaking on CNN's "Late Edition," the Iowa senator said that while she understood Trump’s desire to continue to negotiate with the rogue nation, she also worried about the launches, noting that Japan has a reason to be worried as well.

“I find them very disturbing and certainly wouldn't trust Kim Jong Un. I think we need to keep our eyes on North Korea,” she said. “I understand the president wants to maintain a relationship with North Korea so that we can work with them. However, those strikes are disturbing.” “I think Japan does have reason to be concerned and I am concerned as well. We need to see North Korea back off of those activities and we need to take a very strong stance on that. Understanding the president has a job to do in negotiating but we do need to push back on north Korea,” “I think Japan does have reason to be concerned and I am concerned as well. We need to see North Korea back off of those activities and we need to take a very strong stance on that. Understanding the president has a job to do in negotiating but we do need to push back on north Korea,” Ernst added. Ernst added.

The comments come after Trump brushed off ballistic missile testing by North Korea while in Japan on Sunday. The president tweeted that the testing didn’t disturb him and used North Korean propaganda to knock former Vice President Joe Biden, the leading Democratic presidential candidate. “North Korea fired off some small weapons, which disturbed some of my people, and others, but not me. I have confidence that Chairman Kim will keep his promise to me, & also smiled when he called Swampman Joe Biden a low IQ individual, & worse. Perhaps that’s sending me a signal?” he said.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California, also took to Twitter to condemn the president’s remarks on North Korea. The frequent Trump critic said that the president was being used and manipulated by North Korea. “The signal is this: If I flatter Trump and criticize his opponents, I can launch missiles and advance my nuclear program and he won’t do anything about it. How dangerous when a President can be so easily manipulated,” he said. Indeed it is. The signal is this: If I flatter Trump and criticize his opponents, I can launch missiles and advance my nuclear program and he won’t do anything about it.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/gop-sen-joni-ernst-splits-from-president-trump-on-north-korea-says-us-needs-to-take-a-very-strong-stance

https://twitter.com/RepAdamSchiff/status/1132638624716120065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw