WEST WING MHI Daily

President Trump Praises ‘Special Relationship’ with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un at Start of Hanoi Summit “President Trump praised his ‘special relationship’ with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and said ‘a lot of things will be solved’ during the two leaders’ second summit in Vietnam as they prepare for a full day of formal talks,” Fox News reports. “Trump and Kim kicked off their second summit on Wednesday by exchanging handshakes and laughs at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. They briefly spoke to reporters, where Trump said the biggest progress since the historic Singapore summit was the two countries’ relationship.” “It’s really a good one,” he added. “It’s an honor to be with Chairman Kim,” Trump said after exchanging handshakes with Kim. “I thought the first summit was a great success and I think this one, hopefully, will be equal or greater than the first.” The president told Kim that he believes North Korea “has tremendous economic potential, unbelievable, unlimited.” “I look forward to watching it happen and to helping it to happen and we will help it to happen,” he added. When asked if he would formally declare an end to the Korean War, Trump simply said, “We will see.” Kim also echoed Trump’s sentiment. “Those 261 days [since we met in Singapore] were the days during which a lot of painstaking efforts were necessary and a lot of patience was needed. As I see you here today…that gives us a hope that we will be successful this time…” Kim said, according to his personal translator, to which Trump replied, “That’s nice, that’s really nice, thank you.” Trump and Kim met briefly before attending a “social dinner” where Trump teased a “very busy day” Thursday that hopefully “a lot things are going to be resolved.” “I hope and I think it’ll lead to wonderful it’ll lead to really a wonderful situation long term. And our relationship is a very special relationship,” Trump said. Trump and Kim arrived in Hanoi Tuesday just hours apart for their second summit — eight months after the leaders made history for their first meeting in Singapore. Prior to Wednesday evening’s meeting, the president said he “will try very hard to work something out on Denuclearization.” He also mentioned making North Korea an “Economic Powerhouse,” but did not elaborate on what the U.S. plans to do to help the country. KIM JONG UN’S AIDE FRANTICALLY DASHES TO NORTH KOREAN LEADER’S SIDE AFTER ARRIVING IN VEITNAM FOR SECOND SUMMIT The second summit comes amid a stalemate on denuclearization talks between North Korea and the U.S. Trump has signaled some flexibility on his previous demands that North Korea denuclearize before it sees some relief from crushing U.S. and international sanctions. North Korea, however, has ramped up its rhetoric in recent months and said it will never give up its nuclear weapons unless the U.S. removed its nuclear threat first and lift sanctions cripplings its economy. Several other topics are expected to come up during the two-day summit, including bringing back the rest of the remains of U.S. soldiers killed in the Korean War. North Korea turned over 55 boxes of presumed remains of U.S. soldiers killed in the Korean War as part of the agreement from the June summit. There’s also growing speculation that Trump may offer an announcement of peace and a formal end to the Korean War if he can convince Kim to commit to denuclearization. The Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice, essentially a cease-fire signed by North Korea, China and the 17-nation, U.S.-led United Nations Command that was supposed to be replaced by a formal peace treaty. But both sides instead settled ever deeper into Cold War hostilities marked by occasional outbreaks of violence.Trump has already met with Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong for the signing of several commercial trade deals affecting the airline industries of their two countries.

President Trump thanks Fiat Chrysler for ‘coming back to the USA’ Yesterday, Fiat Chrysler announced that Detroit, Michigan, “will get a Jeep factory, the Motor City’s first new auto assembly plant in a generation, as part of a $4.5 billion manufacturing expansion that will mean nearly 6,500 new jobs,” Amy Huschka reports for the Detroit Free Press. With jobs coming back to the upper Midwest thanks to the promise of the new U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement, President Trump praised the move: “Thank you Fiat Chrysler. They are all coming back to the USA, it’s where the action is!” Trump tweeted at 4:20 a.m. Fiat Chrysler announced on Tuesday that Detroit will get a Jeep factory, the Motor City’s first new auto assembly plant in a generation, as part of a $4.5 billion manufacturing expansion that will mean nearly 6,500 new jobs. FCA said it would convert the Mack Avenue Engine factory to an assembly plant for the next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee and a new, large Jeep SUV. In all, the company said it will add production at five factories in metro Detroit. The plan is, without question, a huge win for U.S. and Michigan manufacturing, and for the blue-collar workers Trump has courted. Nothing is “coming back” to the United States, though. In January 2018, FCA said it would shift Ram Heavy Duty truck production from Mexicoto its Warren Truck Assembly Plant. Reports emerged last fall that the move may not occur, and CEO Mike Manley indicated at the Detroit auto show this year that FCA was working on a plan that might be even better for U.S. workers. That’s what was unveiled Tuesday.

Protected by a Sanctuary City: Previously Deported Illegal Alien Who Raped a Child Has Been Sentenced “A previously deported illegal alien from Honduras, Juan Ramon-Vasquez, has been sentenced in Philadelphia after being convicted of repeatedly raping a child. Philadelphia is a sanctuary city and he will serve just 21 months in jail,” Katie Pavlich writes in Townhall. In March 2014, Ramon-Vasquez was found back in the U.S. by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, but the City of Philadelphia ignored an ICE detainer and released him. Upon release, the criminal alien “proceeded to repeatedly rape a young child,” the Department of Justice said.“ The facts of this case illustrate all too well the direct threat to public safety caused by the City of Philadelphia’s sanctuary city policies,” U.S. Attorney William McSwain said.  “After the City let this criminal loose on the streets of Philadelphia, he repeatedly raped a young child.  If the ICE detainer had been honored by local law enforcement, this crime never would have happened, and the victim would have been spared horrendous physical and mental trauma.  Criminals like Ramon-Vasquez take note: my Office will do everything in its power to find you, to protect our community, and to seek justice for your victims.  Unlike the Philadelphia government, we are not on your side.” ICE Philadelphia Field Office Director for Enformcement and Removal Simone Flores echoed McSwain’s statement and further detailed federal efforts to detain Ramon-Vasquez. “ICE attempted to remove Ramon-Vasquez once before in March 2014, but the City of Philadelphia refused to honor our detainer and he was released back into the community,” Flores said. “Today’s sentencing is a testament to ICE and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania’s resolve to seek out, arrest, charge and remove dangerous criminals like Ramon-Vasquez who pose a serious threat to our community.” Democrats across the country continue to support sanctuary city policies.

‘They’re Willing to Sacrifice Lives Like Mine’: Abortion Survivor Slams Dems for Blocking Pro-Life Bill “An abortion survivor is slamming Senate Democrats for blocking a bill that would have protected babies born alive in failed abortions. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act on Monday was voted down 53-44, with only Democrats voting against it,” Fox News Insider reports. “They’re willing to sacrifice lives like mine,” Melissa Ohden said yesterday. Ms. Ohden, who survived a failed abortion in 1977, said that despite what Democrats say, legislation like the Born-Alive law is necessary—and she’s living proof. “No child should have their [lives] left in the hands of their abortionist or a medical professional to somehow decide to provide them medical care,” Ohden said. “We need this bill not only to ensure we’re provided medical care, but that that there’s penalty when there’s failure to do so.”

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