In The News

The White House Daily Chronicle, March 19, 2018

The news behind the news on the president, administration and everything White House is always in …  The White House Daily Chronicles.

note: this post is updated throughout the day as events warrant

See all of the daily White House Daily Chronicles HERE.

Presidential Itinerary – the details

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will head to Manchester, New Hampshire where the president will deliver a speech on the opioid crisis in America and reveal his strategy to combat it.

Trip to New Hampshire

The president and first lady were followed to the Marine One by aides including Kellyanne Conway, Jordan Karem, Stephen Miller and Dr. Ronny Jackson. The helicopter lifted off at 12:15 p.m. on its way to Joint Base Andrews for a link-up with Air Force One.

President Trump, wearing a dark suit and characteristically long red tie, boarded Air Force One at 12:26 after a brief wave and thumbs up to the assembled press. He was accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, who wore a long navy blue coat and sunglasses.

During the flight, White House Deputy Press Secretary J. Hogan Gidley and Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway held an informal briefing.

Gidley said that there no conversations or discussions about firing Special Counsel Robert Mueller despite the president believing that the Russia probe is the biggest witch hunt in history.

The president is aware of President Putin’s re-election win, but has not scheduled a call to congratulate him. While Gidley did not answer the question of if the Russian election was free and fair, he offered that the White House was “not surprised” by the outcome.

Someone asked Hogan if it was true that all White House staff were required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to which he answered that he never seen one, been asked to sign one or ever signed one. He said that the report was “completely false.”

Conway spoke on the president’s plan to combat the opioid crisis. She said that the administration is seeking $13 billion, that the epidemic is likely to get worse before it gets better.

Surprise Stop

The motorcade stopped at a Manchester fire station around 2 p.m. EDT, a stop that was not on the schedule this morning. The president greeted firefighters, Governor Sununu and the Mayor of Manchester. The fire chief gave Trump a fire helmet. The visit concluded at 2:09 p.m. [video]

The Speech

The president delivered a roughly 45-minute speech unveiling his plan to combat the opioid crisis. [video]

The president’s summarized daily schedules can be found HERE.

The return trip

The return to the White House was entirely uneventful. The president did not take any questions at the New Hampshire departure, Joint Base Andrews arrival/departure or Marine One landing on the South Lawn despite members of the press yelling the same questions about firing Mueller or the investigation being called a witch hunt.

Lid

End of the day was called at 6:00 p.m. the only thing that will be added to today’s chronicle is Trump’s tweets and any statements/actions that are released after the end of the day.

Trump’s Tweets

Official Statements

Donald J. Trump on Nowruz

I wish a beautiful and blessed Nowruz to the millions of people around the world who are celebrating the arrival of spring.

The history of Nowruz is rooted in Iran, where for millennia a proud nation has overcome great challenges by the strength of its culture and the resilience of its people. Today, the Iranian people face another challenge: rulers who serve themselves instead of serving the people.

Twenty-five centuries ago, Darius the Great asked God to protect Iran from three dangers: hostile armies, drought, and falsehood. Today, the Iranian regimes Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) represents all three.

First, the IRGC is not Iranian in name or deed. It is a hostile army that brutalizes and steals from the Iranian people to fund terrorism abroad. Since 2012, the IRGC has spent more than $16 billion of Irans wealth to prop up the Assad regime and support militants and terrorists in Syria, Iraq, andYemen. Meanwhile, the average Iranian family is 15 percent poorer today than it was 10 years ago, and nearly 30 percent of Irans youth are unemployed. Ordinary Iranians struggle economically and find it difficult to celebrate holidays like Nowruz.

Second, the IRGCs corruption and mismanagement have exacerbated the effects of an on-going drought and created an ecological crisis. Unregulated dam construction by its companies like Khatam al-Anbia has dried rivers and lakes and helped create unprecedented dust storms that threaten Iranians jobs and lives.

Third, deceit has become official state policy. The IRGC employs propaganda and censorship to hide the fact that the Iranian regime plunders Irans wealth and abuses its people. To hide the truth, Irans rulers suppress their own citizens rights to free assembly, access to information, and equal opportunity.

Despite the oppression they face, Iranians are fighting to reclaim their rights. They long for a springtime of hope, and the United States stands with the Iranian people in their aspirations to connect to the wider world and have a responsible and accountable government that truly serves their nations interests.

For this reason, the Department of Treasury today is issuing guidance reaffirming Americas support for the free flow of information to the citizens of Iran. We also pledge to continue holding the IRGC and the Iranian regime accountable for conducting cyber-attacks abroad and for suppressing Iranian citizens who are protesting the oppression of their government at home.

On behalf of the American people, may light prevail over darkness in this New Year, and may the Iranian people soon enjoy a new day of peace, prosperity, and joy.

Nowruz Pirouz (Happy Nowruz).

Trump’s initiative to stop opioid abuse

The White House released Monday afternoon, “President Donald J. Trump’s Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand

On Christopher Liddell as Deputy Chief of Staff

From the office of the White House Press Secretary:

Christopher Liddell has been named Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Coordination, under Chief of Staff John Kelly, and will work closely with Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Joe Hagin. He has extensive experience managing large organizations and has already overseen a number of interagency processes in the White House. In his new role Chris will manage the policy process as we continue to enact the Presidents agenda.

Chris is widely respected across the administration and is highly qualified to oversee and coordinate our policy process. We look forward to having him in this new role. Chief of Staff John Kelly

On Background:

-Chris was CFO of Microsoft, International Paper, and General Motors

-He joined the administration during the transition

-He has managed the administrations efforts to modernize the governments IT systems and was also involved in the administrations deregulation efforts.

-Chriss current work in the Office of American Innovation will continue and he will oversee the policy process for that office as well

Executive Actions

Proclamation of March 20, 2018 as National Agriculture Day

On National Agriculture Day, we acknowledge the tremendous work ethic, ingenuity, determination, and perseverance that define generations of American farmers. Because of their efforts, the United States produces an abundant supply of food, feed, and fuel for a growing global population. Our rich and abundant soil provides for more than just sustenance — it provides a beautiful and bountiful way of life for millions of Americans.

America’s strong agricultural sector is a key component ofour Nation’s robust economy and trade. Every $1* *of UnitedStates agricultural and food exports creates another $1.27 in business activity. Our country’s agriculture exports are valued at more than $100 billion, and every $1 billion in exports supports approximately 8,000 American jobs. Moreover, agriculture contributes to at least 8.6 percent of our gross domestic product. The economic boost from our agriculture reaches beyond the fields our farmers tend, with unrivaled skill and diligence, to communities all across America.

America’s farmers, growers, ranchers, foresters, and agricultural scientists and engineers are world-leading innovators, exploring new research and technologies like advancements in biotechnology and the use of automated vehicles that enable precision agriculture to maximize yields and minimize environmental impacts. My Administration proudly supports them in their pioneering endeavors. In this new era of American agriculture, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing in rural broadband access, roads, and bridges, and is supplying affordable, reliable power to those living on the outskirts of larger cities and towns. These investments in American infrastructure will improve the quality of life in rural America for years to come.

To help the American agricultural economy succeed in an increasingly competitive global market, I signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the largest tax cut and reform legislation in American history. This legislation is providing much needed relief to America’s farmers, who can now expense 100 percent of their capital investments, including expenditures for farm equipment, over the next 4 years. Additionally, under this new legislation, the vast majority of family farms will now be exempt from the death tax.

American agriculture is an integral part of our success as a Nation, uniquely tied to both our country’s culture and economy. Today, and every day, we cherish our Nation’s rich agricultural history and celebrate the greatness of the American farmer.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the UnitedStates of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 20, 2018, as National Agriculture Day. Iencourage all Americans to observe this day by recognizing the preeminent role that agriculture plays in our daily lives, acknowledging agriculture’s continuing importance to rural America and our country’s economy, and expressing our deep appreciation of farmers, growers, ranchers, producers, national forest system stewards, private agricultural stewards, and those who work in the agriculture sector across the Nation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord twothousandeighteen, and of the Independence of the UnitedStates ofAmerica the twohundred and forty-second.

DONALD J. TRUMP

TAKING ADDITIONAL STEPS TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION IN VENEZUELA

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50U.S.C. 1701 “et seq.”) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act(50 U.S.C. 1601 “et seq.”), and section 301 of title 3, UnitedStates Code,

I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, in order to take additional steps with respect to thenational emergency declared in Executive Order 13692 of March 8, 2015, and relied upon for additional steps taken inExecutive Order 13808 of August 24, 2017, and in light of recent actions taken by the Maduro regime to attempt to circumvent U.S. sanctions by issuing a digital currency in a process that Venezuela’s democratically elected National Assembly has denounced as unlawful, hereby order as follows:

_Section_ _1_. (a) All transactions related to, provision of financing for, and other dealings in, by a United States person or within the United States, any digital currency, digital coin, or digital token, that was issued by, for, or on behalf of the Government of Venezuela on or after January 9, 2018, are prohibited as of the effective date of this order.

(b) The prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section apply except to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted before the effective date of this order.

_Sec_. _2_. (a) Any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.

(b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.

_Sec_. _3_. For the purposes of this order:

(a) the term “person” means an individual or entity;

(b) the term “entity” means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization;

(c) the term “United States person” means any UnitedStates citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches of such entities), or any person within the UnitedStates; and

(d) the term “Government of Venezuela” means the Government of Venezuela, any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including the Central Bank of Venezuela and Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), and any person owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, the Government of Venezuela.

_Sec_. _4_. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including promulgating rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to implement this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may, consistent with applicable law, redelegate any of these functions to other officers and executive departments and agencies of the United States Government. All agencies of the United States Government shall take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order.

_Sec_. _5_. For those persons whose property and interests inproperty are affected by this order who might have a constitutional presence in the United States, I find that because of the ability to transfer funds or other assets instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures taken pursuant to this order would render those measures ineffectual. I therefore determine that for these measures to be effective inaddressing the national emergency declared in Executive Order13692, there need be no prior notice given for implementation of this order.

_Sec_. _6_. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the UnitedStates, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

_Sec_. _7_. This order is effective at 12:15 p.m. eastern daylight time on March 19, 2018.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

March 19, 2018.

Executive Branch Nominations/Designations

  • Designations
    • Ann Begeman of South Dakota Chair of the Surface Transportation Board
  • Nominations
    • Joseph N. Mondello of New York, to be Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
    • Stephen Akard of Indiana, to be Director of the Office of Foreign Missions (with the Rank of Ambassador), Department of State
    • Sharon Fast Gustafson of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a term of four years
  • Sent to Senate for confirmation
    • Elizabeth Darling, of Texas, to be Commissioner on Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Health and Human Services
    • Edward W. Felten, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board for the remainder of the term expiring January 29, 2019
    • Aimee Kathryn Jorjani, of Wisconsin, to be Chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation for a term expiring January 19, 2021
    • Joseph N. Mondello, of New York, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
    • Jane Nitze, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board for a term expiring January 29, 2023
    • Mark Schultz, of Nebraska, to be Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration, Department of Education

Communications with Heads of State (readouts often come the day after the conversation)

H.R. McMaster’s Meeting with National Security Office Director Chung Eui-yong of the Republic of Korea and Secretary General of the National Security Secretariat Shotaro Yachi of Japan

National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster of the United States, National Security Office Director Chung Eui-yong of the Republic of Korea, and Secretary General of the National Security Secretariat Shotaro Yachi of Japan held a trilateral meeting on March 17 and 18 in San Francisco to discuss the permanent denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the planned inter-Korean summit and United States-Democratic People’s Republic of Korea summit. The three national security advisors committed to avoiding mistakes of the past and to continue coordinating closely in the weeks ahead.

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Rich Mitchell

Rich Mitchell is the editor-in-chief of Conservative Daily News and the president of Bald Eagle Media, LLC. His posts may contain opinions that are his own and are not necessarily shared by Bald Eagle Media, CDN, staff or .. much of anyone else. Find him on twitter, facebook and

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