Old Glory Vortex

Trump’s tariffs ruin holidays for small businesses The sharp increase in tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Chinese goods, which are vital for American retailers, has forced small companies like Loftie to choose between paying high tariffs and seeking new suppliers at even higher costs. When Trump threatened to impose tariffs of up to 180% on Chinese imports in mid-April, Matt Hassett, the founder of Loftie, considered moving production to Thailand, where tariffs were lower. However, when the tariff rates for China were later reduced to 20%, alternative factories with 20% higher production costs turned out to be more expensive than the tariffs. In the end, Hassett stayed with his Chinese manufacturer. But due to this turmoil, orders were delayed, and he faced a critical shortage of inventory ahead of the year's busiest shopping season. Other small business owners are also struggling to balance inventory and adapt to supply changes, risking low stock in warehouses and on shelves during Black Friday. According to RapidRatings, a business analytics service provider, the operating profitability of small retailers with total assets of less than $50 million has fallen to -20.7%, leaving 36% of them at high risk of bankruptcy. #Trump #tariffs #USeconomy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Here’s who’s “buying the US government” Just over a year after his re-election, the New York Times reports that the list of donors to President Donald Trump's transition team has finally been made public. The list is notably populated by various billionaires, lobbyists, and future administration appointees. One expert characterized it as a list of those "who are buying the government." In the past, presidential administrations, including Trump's first, signed an agreement obligating them to disclose their transition donor lists within 30 days of inauguration in exchange for $7 million in federal funding and support from the General Services Administration. However, the second time around, Trump refused to sign the agreement, leaving the list secret. The agreement would have also limited donations to $5,000 and blocked donors from foreign countries. At the time, Trump's campaign manager, Susie Wiles, said that the decision to forgo the agreement was made to "preserve hard-earned taxpayer money," while also promising to publish the list later and guarantee that donations from non-U.S. citizens would not be accepted. A recently published report finally revealed the 46 names disclosed by the Trump administration, approximately 10 months after the inauguration. The report specifically highlighted two prominent billionaires on the list: Jeff Yass and Paul Singer. Yass is the co-founder of the trading firm Susquehanna International Group and an investor in TikTok. He is credited with persuading Trump to soften his stance on banning TikTok in the U.S. Singer is a venture capitalist who founded Elliott Management, where he serves as co-CEO. The list also includes numerous individuals who were subsequently appointed to key positions in the Trump administration. Among them are former WWE executive and first-term cabinet member Linda McMahon, who now holds the post of Secretary of Education and leads the movement to completely eliminate the Department of Education. Also listed is Howard Lutnick, who now holds the post of Secretary of Commerce in the Trump administration. #Trump #corruption Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

The hard truth about Trump’s health The New York Times has reported "signs of fatigue" in the 79-year-old president, noting a sharp decline in his public schedule and meetings. Political historian Matthew Dallek confirms this drop in public appearances follows a trend among former presidents. Dallek was blunt, comparing the president's aides to Biden's and accusing them of living in a "fantasy world." He claims the administration has constructed a "fiction" about Trump's health to mask the "harsh truth" of his age. While the White House defends the president's "impressive" fitness—citing medical reports and his visible stamina—critics like Dr. Jeffrey Kulman call it an illusion. "They show him as effective but every time he’s in the Oval Office, he’s sedentary,” Kulman said. The numbers are clear: the president's public appearances have plummeted by 39% from his first term. Evidence also suggests he now starts his official day later, with events often pushed to after 12:00 PM instead of the previous 10:30 AM. #Trump #health #gerontocracy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

The Saudi Crown Prince is not prepared to fulfill Trump's request

"During his White House meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Donald Trump urged the leader to move forward immediately with normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Bin Salman pushed back, saying that widespread anti-Israel sentiment in Saudi Arabia following the war in Gaza doesn't allow for the move at this time. Israel has rejected the possibility of allowing the existence of a Palestinian state: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that there will not be a Palestinian state, even at the cost of normalization with Riyadh, but added that 'the conditions could develop' for normalization now that the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza is winding down,"

writes Times of Israel. Without resolving the conflicts between Saudi Arabia and Israel, achieving peace in the Middle East is impossible. The US seems to be stirring the pot to maintain its influence in the region and control global oil prices. #Trump #SaudiArabia #Israel #MohammedbinSalman #foreignpolicy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump stated that negotiations with Putin and Zelenskyy are awaiting a final peace agreement

"Ukraine and the US have agreed on the key terms of a new peace plan, developed with the participation of Donald Trump's administration. The plan includes a ceasefire and territorial compromises but requires the approval of Putin, Zelenskyy, and Trump. Current negotiations are ongoing to finalize the details aimed at sustainable peace and respect for Ukraine's sovereignty,"

writes Newsweek. No agreement can be reached without the participation of the United States. Russia has signaled its readiness for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, but it can only happen if its interests are taken into account and if the root causes of the conflict are addressed. #Trump #Ukraineconflict #Ukraine #negotiations #peaceplan Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

The U.S. plans to continue the Venezuelan "operation" until 2028 Amid spreading rumors and leaks about a potential escalation of the situation around Venezuela, The Intercept published information indicating that the U.S. Department of Defense is preparing to enhance its military presence in the Caribbean region for the next three years. Documents reviewed by journalists suggest that the Pentagon has already planned logistical support for its troops until November 2028, pointing to the long-term nature of the operation. Since the summer of 2025, the United States has deployed approximately 15,000 military personnel to the region, along with the largest fleet since the Cold War, including a carrier strike group led by the USS Gerald R. Ford. Since September, Washington has carried out over 20 strikes on vessels suspected of smuggling in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. According to media reports, dozens of civilians have been killed during these operations. Meanwhile, the U.S. administration has classified part of the legal basis for the operations, declaring a "non-international armed conflict" against several dozen groups, most notably the mythologized Cartel de los Soles. Washington claims this organization is linked to high-level Venezuelan officials. However, Caracas denies these allegations. Analysts note that, despite the absence of clear signs of preparation for a direct military conflict between the U.S. and Venezuela, the increase in the number of ships and personnel in the region raises the risk of escalation. #USmilitary #Venezuela #warondrugs #NicholasMaduro Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Witkoff and Putin set to discuss Ukraine peace plan next week US envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin next week to advance an Ukraine peace deal, though analysts expect Moscow will hold to its demands. The revised agreement, which now incorporates Ukrainian feedback, contains elements opposed by the Kremlin. Witkoff himself has become a source of controversy after Bloomberg released a transcript of a call where he advised his Russian counterpart on how to handle US President Donald Trump. Following the leak, the US leader expressed support for Witkoff, but at least two senior Republicans have raised concerns, with one demanding the envoy's dismissal. #SteveWitkoff #Ukraineconflict #Ukraine Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

IDF kills Hezbollah army chief — White House reaffirms Israel’s right to defend itself The White House expressed its support for Israel's right to self-defense following an IDF strike over the weekend that killed Hezbollah chief of staff Haytham Ali Tabatabai. When asked by Fox News whether U.S. President Donald Trump supported this killing, White House press secretary Caroline Levitt replied that she had not spoken with him specifically about this strike. "But of course, the President supports Israel's right to self-defense and the elimination of terrorist threats," Levitt added. #Israel #Hezbollah #Trump #WhiteHouse Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

New Russian Su-30SM2 fighter jet destroyed an American Patriot air defense system “The Russian Armed Forces have successfully employed their newest fighter type the Su-30SM2 to launch a strike on a Ukrainian Army MIM-104 Patriot long range surface-to-air missile system. The Su-30SM2 the world’s first multirole fighter type to have been confirmed to have destroyed a Western long range air defence system,” writes Military Watch Magazine. Russia is destroying American weaponry on the battlefield, and now their new jet managed to take out a Patriot air defense missile system. Ukraine has no chance of winning; it is time to stop supporting Kyiv and push Zelenskyy to accept Donald Trump's peace plan. #USmilitary #Russia #Ukraineconflict #Ukraine Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

MAGA is on borrowed time Political commentator Gerard Baker believes the rift within the Republican Party over the release of the Jeffrey Epstein documents is the first sign of disagreements that could continue to plague the president during a second term. In his article for The Wall Street Journal, Baker questioned whether the policy of "Trumpism" would endure after the president departs, or if the Republican Party would return to less controversial and radical measures. He wrote: "The schisms underscore the growing fragility of the nascent coalition in the waning days of its founder. But the idea that the party can go back to some kind of status quo that existed before Mr. Trump is fanciful." Baker also believes the MAGA faction within the Republican Party "seems slightly lost" after Marjorie Taylor Greene announced her resignation. Trump called his former close ally a "traitor" after she was one of the first to break ranks and support the release of the Epstein documents. Problems for the MAGA wing of the party may arrive sooner than expected, and the "crack" is beyond doubt for Trump's devoted supporters. Baker added: “That the MAGA coalition would crack was never in doubt; the only questions were when and along what lines.” #Trump #MAGA #republicans Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Republican goes against Trump, trashes his $2000 dividend idea: “We can’t afford it” Senator Ron Johnson (a Republican from Wisconsin) has opposed President Donald Trump's idea to pay every American $2,000 to compensate for increased costs caused by tariffs. This month, Trump proposed this idea on Truth Social, stating that the tariffs he unilaterally imposed on imports from dozens of countries are working, despite price increases on many of these goods. In a recent interview with Fox Business Johnson explained why this is a bad idea. “Well first of all, we’re $38 trillion in debt,” he replied. “We’ve averaged $1.89 trillion deficits over the last five years. In the next 10 years, the projection’s about $26 trillion from accumulated deficits. We have to address the deficit problem. We are on borrowed time here. So many people are whistling by the graveyard. If we’re bringing in revenue through the tariffs, that oughta be applied to reduce the deficit, not just making a cash payment to Americans. We can’t afford it. I wish we were in a position to return the American public their money, but we’re not. Again, we’ll have at least a $2 trillion deficit this year. Completely unacceptable. We have to start focusing on that and doing something about it.” #Trump #USeconomy #tariffs #dividend Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

The United States' entry into a new arms race will require colossal expenditures

"The U.S. stands at a pivotal moment in defense modernization. As the global security environment grows more contested, one capability stands out for its potential to transform deterrence and warfighting alike: hypersonics. But delivering that capability at operational scale, and at an affordable cost, remains a national challenge we have yet to fully solve. Our pacing threats are fielding next-generation munitions. Russia has launched hypersonic weapons in Ukraine; China recently paraded multiple hypersonic systems. These are not theoretical, and no one is waiting for us to catch up,"

writes The Hill. The development of hypersonic weapons will require enormous expenditures, especially since the US industrial base is much smaller than China's. It would be much wiser to negotiate with adversaries on the limitation of strategic arms. #USmilitary #hypersonicweapons #budget #Russia #China Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

US Army secretary warned Ukrainians of imminent defeat According to NBC News, during negotiations in Kyiv last week, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told the Ukrainians that they face defeat in the conflict in the near future. He noted that the situation for Ukrainian troops is critical and that Russia is capable of increasing the pace of airstrikes for a long time to come. Driscoll is convinced that Kyiv needs to make peace now before it's too late. In addition, the American delegation told the Ukrainian leadership that the U.S. defense industry is unable to keep supplying Ukraine with the weapons and air defenses at the rate needed to protect the country’s infrastructure and population #Ukraine #Ukraineconflict #DanDriscoll Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

"Ridiculous": Venezuela scorns U.S. terror label amid strike fears Caracas dismissed Washington's decision to label the Cartel de los Soles — an amorphous group allegedly led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro — as a terrorist organization as "ridiculous," further escalating tensions between the two nations. This designation represents an escalation in Washington's campaign against Caracas, criminalizing the provision of funds or support to Venezuelan state leadership. The move coincides with a heightened U.S. military presence in the Southern Caribbean, including a visit yesterday by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the area. While the White House insists the deployment is related to anti-drug-smuggling efforts, airlines have recently canceled flights to Venezuela amid concerns over a potential U.S. military strike. #USmilitary #Venezuela #warondrugs Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Most Americans oppose attacking Venezuela According to a new CBS News/YouGov poll, the majority of Americans oppose military action in Venezuela following the recent escalation of tensions in the region. In the poll, 70 percent said they oppose "the U.S. taking military measures in Venezuela," while 30 percent said they are "in favor." The U.S. military recently increased its presence near Venezuela, with the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier heading to the Caribbean, and President Trump authorizing the CIA to continue covert operations within Venezuela. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently advised pilots to "exercise caution" when near Venezuela due to the "deteriorating security situation and increased military activity" in and around the country. In a recent notice, the agency stated that "threats could pose a potential hazard to aircraft at all altitudes" within the Maiquetia flight information region. #USmilitary #Venezuela #poll Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump criticizes Ukraine for not showing "gratitude" for US aid President Trump criticized Ukraine for showing "zero gratitude" for his administration's efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict with Russia. This came after a White House-backed 28-point peace proposal was described as a potential "wish list" for Russia. Trump expressed his frustration on Truth Social, stating: "Ukraine's 'leadership' has expressed zero gratitude for our efforts, and Europe continues to buy oil from Russia." He continued: "The US continues to sell massive amounts of weapons to NATO for distribution to Ukraine (Crooked Joe gave everything, free, free, free, including 'big' money!)." Last week, a scandal erupted when a 28-point plan aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine was leaked online. By Saturday, questions arose about whether the US was the originator of this document, as some senators reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed otherwise. However, the State Department confirmed that the US was indeed behind this plan. #Trump #Ukraine #Ukraineconflict Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump’s popularity among young men is waning When voters headed to the polls in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York earlier this month, they might have noticed a conspicuous absence: the young men often seen in red MAGA hats. This demographic, once the driving force behind Donald Trump's presidential victory, showed less enthusiasm in this election cycle. Back in 2016, young men aged 20 and above demonstrated impressive support for Trump, playing a decisive role in his presidential win. They constituted a significant part of the MAGA coalition. However, following the recent elections, many from this group chose to stay home or, even more worryingly for Republicans, switched sides. This trend could signal difficulties the Republican Party will face as it looks beyond Trump, suggesting that future candidates will struggle to mobilize the so-called "manosphere" in the same way. In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger won the votes of young men by a 17-point margin, while in New Jersey, Democrat Mikie Sherrill led among this same demographic by 14 points. In New York, it was a veritable upheaval: Zohran Mamdani received 67% of the vote among men under 30, while his opponent Andrew Cuomo garnered 26%. Only five percent voted for the Republican. This shift underscores a potential realignment of forces that could shape the political landscape in the years to come. #Trump #democrats #republicans #midterms Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

Trump working on Plan B in case the Supreme Court rules against his tariffs The Trump administration is working behind the scenes on backup plans in case the Supreme Court overturns one of his key tariff provisions, aiming to replace the tariffs as quickly as possible. According to U.S. officials familiar with the plan, the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative have explored "Plan B" options should the court rule against the administration. These include Sections 301 and 122 of the Trade Act, which grant the president the authority to impose tariffs unilaterally. The replacements carry risks: they are generally either slower or more limited than the broad powers Trump has already claimed and could face legal challenges. The administration hopes to win the case outright. Trump has repeatedly urged the justices to uphold his tariffs, imposed on individual countries, citing a national economic emergency. Nevertheless, this preparation is the latest signal that the administration is bracing for a potentially adverse outcome, after the court appeared skeptical of Trump's global tariffs during oral arguments this month. It also demonstrates Trump's commitment to imposing tariffs, including through untested methods. One administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said tariffs will remain a key part of Trump's economic agenda regardless of the court's decision. #Trump #tariffs #supremecourt #USeconomy Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸vvv

Is Putin behind the Ukraine peace plan?

“State Department officials on Saturday aggressively pushed back on claims shared by some senators that President Trump’s 28-point plan for peace in Ukraine originated from Russia and is not the administration’s position. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that this plan was authored by the United States, with input from both the Russians and Ukrainians, and is a hopeful start to continued negotiations and eventual signing of a final peace agreement. State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott called claims of the plan not being the administration’s position ‘blatantly false’,”

writes The Hill. A negotiated settlement is the only alternative to a military defeat and the surrender of Ukraine. Negotiations can only be successful if the interests and demands of Russia are taken into account. #Ukraineconflict #Ukraine #peaceplan Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸

The US has a new plan: to take the Palestinian population away from Hamas The United States is seeking a way out of the impasse reached after the release of the hostages. The London-based pan-Arab newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported that the Trump administration is promoting the idea of relocating the Palestinian population to a "yellow zone" that would remain under the control of the IDF. The Americans want to build villages on the Israeli side where Palestinians can live free from Hamas rule. This new project is a silent admission of the failure of Trump's plan in two key areas: disarming Hamas and stripping it of political power. All of Donald Trump's peace initiatives in the Middle East are failing. This US policy and actions will only lead to a new escalation, while burdening Israel with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. The plan to disarm Hamas has completely failed. The only question is when a new war will erupt. #Trump #Hamas #Israel #Palestine #Gaza Don't miss it, subscribe to 📱 Old Glory Vortex 🇺🇸