‘IT’S VERY, VERY SERIOUS WHAT I HAVE IN MIND’: Despite being rebuffed at every turn, President Donald Trump is still holding out hope that Russia will come to the table to negotiate an end to the more than three-and-a-half-year war in Ukraine.
At a marathon broadcast Cabinet meeting that ran more than three hours, Trump indicated that despite his frustration, he’s ready to wage economic warfare against Russia to increase the pressure on Vladimir Putin. “It’s very, very serious what I have in mind, if I have to do it. But I want to see it end,” Trump said. “We have economic sanctions. I’m talking about economic. Because we’re not going to get into a world war.”
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“Over the last couple of weeks, over 12,000 people died in, like, in two weeks,” Trump said. “They were Russian, they were Ukrainian, they weren’t American. So, a lot of people would say, ‘What do you care? They’re not American.’ I care. They’re 12,000.”
“I want to get it to stop. And it will not be a world war, but it will be an economic war. And an economic war is going to be bad, and it’s going to be bad for Russia,” he said while again stating his unique relationship with Putin. “If I can stop it because I have a certain power or a certain relationship. I had a very good relationship with President Putin. Very, very good. That’s a positive thing.”
‘I HAVE NO EGO WHEN IT COMES TO THIS STUFF’: Trump, who claims to have settled seven conflicts since he took office in January, says the Ukraine war is the most difficult to end, but insists he’s up to the job. “The one that I thought would be the easiest is turning out to be the hardest,” he said, “But I think I’ll get it done.”
“Steve Witkoff would tell you, I’m the only one that can solve it. I don’t know. He’s told me that a few times. Unless he was saying that just to build up my ego,” Trump said, “But it’s not, really. I have no ego when it comes to this stuff.”
As for Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statements that Putin is not ready to sit down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and may never be, Trump brushed that aside. “It doesn’t matter what they say. Everybody’s posturing. It’s all bullshit. OK? Everybody’s posturing.”
Trump also indicated he would keep the flow of arms and ammunition going because the U.S. is making a healthy profit on the sales of weapons paid for by NATO countries.
“We’re not spending any money; we’re making money,” Trump said. “We are selling missiles and military equipment, millions and millions, and ultimately, billions of dollars to the NATO people. We’re very friendly and we have a great relationship.”
“We will continue to do that, and we’re trying to get as much as we can from them. They want the American product,” he added. “The factories are doubling up and tripling up where they make the Patriots and other, really, you could say defense and offensive weapons.”
TRUMP DISMISSES RUSSIAN COMMENTS THAT ZELENSKY IS ILLEGITIMATE: ‘IT’S ALL BULL****’
‘ZELENSKY IS NOT EXACTLY INNOCENT’: Trump has consistently refused to blame Putin for his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and continues to fault Zelensky for defending his country instead of surrendering and cutting a deal with Russia.
“Zelensky is not exactly innocent either. OK? You know, it takes two people to tango. And I say it all the time,” Trump said. “I get along with Zelensky now, but we have a much different relationship, because now we’re not paying any money to Ukraine, you know, I stopped that.”
“People go into war, think they’re going to win the war, and then they get their asses kicked and they lose their country and they lose millions of lives. Nobody goes into a war thinking they’re going to lose,” Trump said as if Ukraine chose to take on Russia. “They go in, I’m sure that Ukraine thought they were going to win. It’s going to be, you know, we’re going to win. You’re going to beat somebody that’s 15 times your size.”
“But you don’t go into a war that’s 15 times your size,” Trump concluded.
“We did…it was called the American Revolution…and we won,” retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, former commanding general of the U.S. Army Europe, retorted on X.
UKRAINE PEACE DEAL ON UNCERTAIN TRAJECTORY AFTER ALASKA SUMMIT
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HAPPENING TODAY, INDIA TARIFFS: Today’s the day 50% tariffs take effect on more than half of India’s exports to the United States, its largest trading partner. It’s the price President Donald Trump has imposed to punish India for continuing to purchase Russian oil, and thereby propping up Russia’s sagging economy.
India says the tariffs will impact roughly $48 billion worth of exports, essentially making shipments to the U.S. commercially unviable and triggering job losses and slower economic growth.
Former national security adviser John Bolton, under investigation by the Trump Justice Department, signaled his resistance to being muzzled with an op-ed in the Washington Examiner in which he sharply criticized Trump for singling out India for harsh tariffs.
“India, in particular, feels deeply aggrieved by Trump. It is the only victim of his threat to impose tariffs and sanctions, either directly on Russia or secondarily on countries purchasing Russian oil and gas,” Bolton wrote. “Moscow has not been sanctioned in any way, essentially ignoring White House threats. China, a considerably larger purchaser of hydrocarbons from Russia than India, also remains untouched.”
“The longer India hangs out to dry, the worse the New Delhi-Washington relationship gets,” he said.
Friday, the day the FBI raided Bolton’s home and office, Trump called him “a sleazebag,” who is suffering from “major Trump derangement syndrome.”
TRUMP RAISES INDIA TARIFFS TO 50% OVER RUSSIAN OIL PURCHASES
TRUMP EYEING STAKE IN U.S. DEFENSE CONTRACTORS: Fresh from its success in securing a 10% stake in chipmaker Intel, the Trump administration is considering obtaining similar stakes in private defense contractors. Lockheed Martin was mentioned specifically.
“I mean, Lockheed Martin makes 97% of their revenue from the U.S. government. They are basically an arm of the U.S. government,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on the CNBC show “Squawk Box.”
Lutnick, who structured the deal to gain an ownership stake in Intel in exchange for government grants awarded from the CHIPS Act, says it only makes sense for taxpayers to benefit.
“To say, OK, we — the Biden administration gave you $11 billion, come on, let’s take care of the American taxpayer, how about you give us the equity equal to that amount of money, that just sounds fair and smart,” Lutnick said on “The Ingraham Angle” on Fox Monday night. “That is not socialism. I will tell you what that is. That’s the best businessman in the United States of America in the Oval Office.”
On CNBC yesterday, Lutnick said there was a “monstrous discussion” about using the same playbook to gain shares of other defense companies vital to U.S. national security, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg leading the effort. “These guys are on it, and they’re thinking about it,” Lutnick said.
“Last week was the most fun,” Lutnick said at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting. “In one week, Intel came in, right? The Biden administration had given $11 billion to Intel. Given it to them, done. Corporate just gift, and you turn that into — really, you know, it was like less than five minutes of conversation. And Intel agreed to give us 10% of their company which, of course, was worth $11 billion.”
“So, it’s not socialism. This is capitalism,” he said.
THE TRUMP CABINET SHOW: Trump marathon cabinet meeting, not only set records for length, it also showcased Trump’s role as impresario-in-chief as he turns the conventional dry bureaucratic business session into a made-for-TV reality show.
Trump kicked off the meeting with long extemporaneous discourse on what he feels are his numerous historic accomplishments, exactly the kind speech he’s given at numerous rallies in the past, before going to his favorite part, turning to his Cabinet officials to solicit more praise and adulation.
“So what I’d like to do is I’d like to go around the table,” Trump said smiling. “You seem to like it. Your audience seems to like it, based on ratings.”
If it was a competition to see who could flatter Trump the most, his special envoy Steve Witkoff would definitely be in the running. “There’s only one thing I wish for, that the Nobel committee finally gets its act together and realizes that you are the single finest candidate since the Nobel Peace Prize, this Nobel award was ever talked about to receive that reward,” Witkoff said. “Your success is game-changing out in the world today, and I hope everybody one day wakes up and realizes that.”
The session also featured a firsthand account from a victim of a vicious assault, when Trump called on a reporter to come forward and tell her story.
“My name’s Iris Tao. I’m a White House correspondent for NTD, the sister media of the Epoch Times. More than two years ago, it was a Saturday morning in broad daylight. I was on my way to work, and a young man with a black ski mask pointed a gun in my face and threatened me to hand over my phone, my wallet, my laptop, and everything else. And when I refused, he used the butt of his handgun to strike me across the face, in the teeth, or some people call it pistol-whip me, before running away.”
“I was deeply traumatized, myself and my family. Ever since, I’ve never dared to walk in the street of D.C. at night ever, and my family was extremely worried. So Mr. President, thank you so much for what you’re doing right now,” Tao said. “I’m very blessed, and that’s why having this opportunity to stand here to share my story today, one I’m very grateful that God allowed me to still survive to this day. But also to Mr. President, thank you for now making D.C. safer.”
OPINION: AS DEMS TOUT ‘LOWER CRIME RATES,’ DC’S HOMICIDES ARE STILL MUCH HIGHER THAN BEFORE
THE RUNDOWN:
Washington Examiner: Trump dismisses Russian comments that Zelensky is illegitimate: ‘It’s all bull****’
Washington Examiner: French prime minister gambles government collapse with confidence vote and budget proposal
Washington Examiner: Trump administration begins building border wall in Rio Grande Valley of Texas
Washington Examiner: Trump DOT to punish states that do not enforce English requirements for truck drivers
Washington Examiner: Trump says he has a ‘right’ to send Guard to fight crime in cities ‘in danger’
Washington Examiner: Opinion: As Dems tout ‘lower crime rates,’ DC’s homicides are still much higher than before
Washington Examiner: Nigel Farage promises mass deportation of asylum-seekers if Reform UK elected
Washington Examiner: Israel says hospital strike that killed journalists was targeting Hamas camera
Washington Examiner: Afghanistan commander Alex Pelbath launches bid to replace Nancy Mace in House
Washington Examiner: Australia ends diplomatic relations with Iran after accusations it backed antisemitic arson attacks
Breaking Defense: Can Congress Pass a FY26 Defense Budget This Year? Here Are 12 Key Issues for Lawmakers.
Politico: Lutnick Says Administration Considering Taking Stakes in Defense Companies
Bloomberg: Air Force, Navy Seek $1 Billion To Buy Secret Lockheed Missile
New York Times: Israeli Security Cabinet Meets Amid Growing Protests Over Gaza War
Real Clear World: Tariffs Threaten to Undermine U.S.-Iraqi Relations
Oilprice.com: India Tilts Toward BRICS as Pakistan Stays Close to Washington
DefenseScoop: Pentagon CTO Emil Michael Becomes Acting Director of DIU
Defense One: Navy ‘Looking Forward’ to F/A-XX Builder Decision, Air Boss Says
National Defense Magazine: Air Force Acquiring Autonomous, FAA-Certifiable Cargo Plane
Military.com: Air Guard Transfers to Space Force Appear Likely as Senators Backtrack on Effort to Stop It
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Contaminated Hydraulic Fluid, Ice Led to Fiery F-35 Crash in Alaska
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force Working on Major Renovations to Run-Down Dorms on Guam
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Disconnected by Design: A New Way to Employ 5th-Gen Jets
National Security Journal: The Tragedy Of Interwar Thinking
THE CALENDAR:
WEDNESDAY | AUGUST 27
8 a.m. 801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW — National Defense Industrial Association Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition, with Emil Michael, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering; Janet Wolfson, deputy assistant Air Force secretary for science, technology and engineering; Jeremy Andrews, director of science, technology and engineering, Space Force; Gillian Bussey, deputy chief science officer, Space Force; John Garstka, director of cyber warfare at the Office of the Principal Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Industrial Base Policy, and Navy Adm. Christopher Grady, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff https://www.ndiatechexpo.org/
9 a.m. 11493 Sunset Hills Dr., Reston, Virginia — Government Executive Media Group’s NextGov/Federal Computer Week Defense One and Route Fifty “Quantum Summit.” with Edward Mays, deputy assistant commissioner for infrastructure and support services at U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Information Technology; Charles Tahan, former assistant director of quantum information science in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; Garfield Jones, associate chief of strategic technology at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency https://events.nextgov.com/quantum-summit/
9:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “What Happened at the Trump-Lee Summit?” with retired Army Gen. Vincent Brooks, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, United Nations Command, and ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command; Victor Cha, Korea chair and president of the CSIS Foreign Policy Department; Mark Lippert, CSIS non-resident senior adviser and Korea chair; and Philip Luck, international business chair and director, CSIS Economics Program http://www.csis.org
10 a.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies virtual discussion: “Nuclear Deterrence,” with Air Force Lt. Gen. Andrew Gebara, deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/events/lt-gen-andrew-gebara/
8 p.m. — Jews United for Democracy and Justice virtual discussion: “War, Peace and the American Future: Insights From a Former Chair, Joint Chiefs of Staff,” with retired Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, former Joint Chiefs chairman; and Warren Olney, former host and executive producer, “To The Point” https://www.jewsunitedfordemocracy.org/blog/event/august-27-mike-mullen
THURSDAY | AUGUST 28
8 a.m. Washington Convention Center — National Defense Industrial Association Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition, August 27-29, with Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine; Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, commander, U.S. European Command; Casey Deering, acting deputy assistant Defense secretary for nuclear matters; Air Force Lt. Col. Jared Bindi, chief of science, tech and innovation at the U.S. Africa Command; and Michael Duffey, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment https://www.ndiatechexpo.org/
8 a.m 2401 M St., NW — George Washington University Project for Media and National Security Defense Writers Group breakfast conversation: “Assessing China’s Upcoming Parade-Extravaganza for the People’s Liberation Army,” with Mark Cozad and Timothy Heath, senior international defense researchers at RAND [email protected]
FRIDAY | AUGUST 29
8 a.m. Washington Convention Center — National Defense Industrial Association Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition, with former Rep. William “Mac” Thornberry (R-TX), chairman of the Emerging Technologies Institute Advisory Board; Michael Holthe, acting assistant secretary of defense for science and technology at the Office of Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering; Julia Torrence, acting director, Joint Production Accelerator Cell at the Office of the Defense Undersecretary for Acquisition and Sustainment https://www.ndiatechexpo.org/
10 a.m. — National Institute for Deterrence Studies virtual seminar, 10 a.m., on “Nuclear Crossroads: Iran, Deterrence, and the Future of Nonproliferation,” with Chris Ford, professor of international relations and strategic studies at Missouri State University https://thinkdeterrence.com/events/nuclear-crossroads-iran-deterrence
10:30 a.m. — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies event to release a policy paper: “Disconnected by Design: Fifth- and Sixth-Generation Aircraft in Disaggregated Collaborative Air Operations,” with retired Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula, dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies; J. Michael Dahm, senior fellow for aerospace and China studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies; and retired Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters, former commander, U.S. European Command and NATO’s supreme allied commander Europe https://afa-org.zoom.us/webinar/register
TUESDAY | SEPTEMBER 2
3 p.m. Senate Chamber — Senate meets to resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.2296, the “National Defense Authorization Act.” At approximately 5:30 p.m., the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2296. http://www.senate.gov