“Nominations Sent to the Senate” (Nov. 18, 2025)

This presidential action lists several key nominees President Trump has formally sent to the Senate for confirmation:

• Robert Cekada (Florida) – To be Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
• Carter Crow (Texas) – To be General Counsel of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for a 4‑year term.
• Stuart Levenbach (Maryland) – To be Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection for a 5‑year term.
• David Clay Fowlkes (Arkansas) – To be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas.
• Nicholas Jon Ganjei (Texas) – To be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Texas, filling the seat of Lynn N. Hughes (retired).
• Aaron Christian Peterson (Alaska) – To be U.S. District Judge for the District of Alaska.

U.S.–Saudi Economic and Defense Partnership Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Solidifies Economic and Defense Partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Date: November 18, 2025

The fact sheet announces a package of major economic, energy, technology, and defense agreements between the United States and Saudi Arabia, presented as a major win for Trump’s “America First” agenda.

• Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman finalize “landmark agreements” to:
• These deals build on Trump’s May visit to Riyadh, where Saudi Arabia committed $600 billion in U.S. investment.
• The Crown Prince now raises that to nearly $1 trillion in investment into U.S. infrastructure, technology, and industry.

• Civil Nuclear Cooperation:

  • A Joint Declaration on completion of negotiations for civil nuclear energy cooperation:

• Critical Minerals Framework:

  • A new framework to diversify and secure critical mineral supply chains.
  • Builds on similar agreements with other partners to protect U.S. supply chain resilience for essential minerals.

• AI Memorandum of Understanding:

  • Gives Saudi Arabia access to world‑leading American AI systems.
  • Claims to protect U.S. technology from foreign influence, ensuring U.S. innovators shape global AI.

• U.S.–Saudi Strategic Defense Agreement (SDA):

  • Described as a historic agreement strengthening an 80‑year defense partnership.
  • Aims to:

• Defense Sales & Industrial Base:

  • Trump approves a major defense sale package, including future F‑35 deliveries, to:
  • Saudi Arabia agrees to purchase nearly 300 American tanks, building its capabilities and supporting hundreds of U.S. jobs.

• Trade & Market Access:

  • U.S. and Saudi Arabia will intensify engagement on:
  • Example: A new agreement for Saudi Arabia to recognize U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) for vehicles and parts, easing U.S. auto exports.

• Financial Cooperation:

  • U.S. Treasury and the Saudi Ministry of Finance sign agreements to:

• Jobs & Long‑Term Gains:

  • The administration argues that, taken together—critical minerals, nuclear, AI, and defense deals plus investments—these agreements will:

1. Strategic Partnership & Investment2. Energy, Critical Minerals, and AI Technology3. Defense Cooperation & Regional Security4. Trade, Finance, and Economic Benefits

ICYMI: President Trump Talks Economy in McDonald’s Speech

This article recaps President Trump’s remarks at the McDonald’s Impact Summit, where he framed his economic agenda as reversing “Biden-era” damage and restoring affordability and opportunity.

Core themes and claims:

• Personal story & symbolism

  • Trump opens by calling himself the first former McDonald’s fry cook to become President, using it as a populist connection to frontline workers.

• Affordability and the “American Dream”

  • He pledges not to rest until families and small businesses are “richer, stronger, more successful, happier” and have “a piece of the American Dream.”
  • He ties this to “making America affordable.”

• Jobs and wages

  • Claims 1.9 million more American‑born workers are employed than when he took office.
  • Says wages for hourly workers are rising at the fastest pace in 60 years.

• Support for small businesses & franchise model

  • Emphasizes fighting daily for small businesses and workers, from:
  • Highlights slashing over $1 trillion in regulations, claiming that combined tax and regulatory cuts have reduced the effective burden on franchisees by over 37%.
  • Notes he terminated Obama’s “joint employer rule,” calling it a “mortal threat” to the franchise model and promising to defend owners’ right to run their own small businesses.

• Inflation and prices

  • Blames the Biden Administration for starting the “affordability crisis” and says his administration is ending it.
  • Cites recent price declines:

• Taxes and “One Big Beautiful Bill”

  • Contrasts Democrats wanting the “largest tax hike in history” with his “largest tax cuts in American history” via the One Big Beautiful Bill.
  • Highlights:

• Populist branding & McDonald’s loyalty

  • Ends with a light line branding himself as one of McDonald’s “all-time most loyal customers,” saying that on Trump Force One they serve only McDonald’s instead of expensive catering.

Overall, the piece is a curated highlight reel of pro‑Trump economic talking points from the McDonald’s speech, emphasizing affordability, deregulation, tax cuts, small business support, and his personal affinity with McDonald’s.

National Adoption Month, 2025 Proclamation

The proclamation celebrates adoption as a way to give children in need safe, stable, and loving homes and calls on the nation to support children still waiting for permanent families.

Key points:

• Value of Adoption & Families

  • Every child deserves a safe, nurturing home and the chance to reach their full potential.
  • Adoption is described as reflecting America’s commitment to family and abundant life.
  • The proclamation honors adoptive parents and children whose lives and families have been transformed through adoption.

• Policy Actions to Support Adoption

  • Trump highlights the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which:
  • References the Family First Prevention Services Act (signed in his first term) as:

• Foster Care and Youth Transitioning Out

  • Acknowledges that many children in foster care still lack permanent homes.
  • Cites a recent Executive Order on “Fostering the Future for American Children and Families” to:
  • Credits First Lady Melania Trump for leadership in efforts that uplift and protect the well‑being of children.

• Moral and Spiritual Framing

  • States that all children are a gift from God, worthy of love, care, and family.
  • Emphasizes protecting children, supporting caregivers, and strengthening families as a national priority.

• Formal Proclamation

  • Trump officially proclaims November 2025 as National Adoption Month throughout the United States.
  • He encourages Americans to:
  • The proclamation closes with the traditional “In witness whereof…” language, dating the document in “the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred fiftieth.”

Presidential Message on American Education Week

Date: November 17, 2025

The message argues that a great America requires a great education system and claims that, for decades, the federal Department of Education has failed students, despite spending over $3 trillion since 1979.

Key points:

• Failure of the Department of Education:

  • 7 in 10 eighth graders supposedly can’t read proficiently.
  • Math scores for 13‑year‑olds are said to be at their lowest level in decades.
  • Federal bureaucrats are accused of turning classrooms into “laboratories” for social experiments, socialist agendas, and divisive ideologies, instead of focusing on learning.
  • Trump says this “national disgrace” ended on January 20, 2025, when his administration dismantled the Department of Education.

• Return of Control to Parents and States:

  • By eliminating the Department, Trump claims to have returned education control to states, local communities, and parents.
  • The administration emphasizes school choice and parental authority.
  • It says it is “rooting out” gender ideology, Critical Race Theory, and DEI from schools, replacing them with truth, merit, and patriotism.

• Focus on AI and the Future:

  • With First Lady Melania Trump’s support, the administration is promoting artificial intelligence (AI) education through the Nationwide Presidential AI Challenge.
  • Students and teachers are expected to gain skills to use and build next‑generation technologies.
  • Businesses, nonprofits, and educational institutions are said to be committing billions of dollars to AI education programs.

• Vision for American Education:

  • Every student is said to deserve a high‑quality education.
  • The administration frames its reforms as restoring common sense, returning real authority to parents, and building a generation of thinkers, builders, and leaders.
  • It concludes that “America’s Golden Age begins in the classroom”, and that rebuilding “the greatest education system in the world” will strengthen the nation’s culture, children, and country.

Where Is Democrats’ Transparency on Epstein?

This article amplifies President Trump’s call to release the “Epstein files” and attacks Democrats for allegedly lacking transparency about their own ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

It opens with a Trump quote urging House Republicans to vote to release the files, claiming Republicans have “nothing to hide” and that Democrats are using the issue as a “hoax” to distract from GOP successes.

The piece then lists a series of pointed questions, each highlighting alleged or reported connections between prominent Democrats (or Democratic-aligned figures) and Epstein, including:

• Del. Stacey Plaskett (D–U.S. Virgin Islands):

  • Allegedly solicited and received $30,000 from Epstein for the DCCC after he was a convicted sex offender.
  • Allegedly accepted maxed-out donations from Epstein for her own campaign.
  • The wife of a former Democratic governor reportedly told Epstein they would “have a friend in Stacey” if he donated.
  • Plaskett is said to have been texting Epstein during a committee hearing.

• Bill Clinton:

  • Allegedly traveled on Epstein’s plane 26 times.
  • One of Epstein’s victims reportedly wrote that she saw Clinton on Epstein’s island with two young women.
  • A former top aide allegedly corroborated Clinton’s presence on the island.

• Larry Summers:

  • Described as having a “long relationship” and “storied friendship” with Epstein.
  • Epstein reportedly called himself Summers’ “wing man.”

• Katie Couric:

  • Called a Democrat “so‑called journalist” who had dinner at Epstein’s home after he was already a convicted sex offender.

• Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn cofounder, major Democratic donor):

  • Allegedly visited Epstein’s island, attended a dinner with him, and planned to stay at his New York mansion.

• Democratic National Committee (DNC):

  • Allegedly refused to return about $32,000 in Epstein donations.

• Michael Wolff (author):

  • Allegedly encouraged Epstein to blackmail Trump, suggesting Epstein could “generate a debt” from him.

The article ends by asserting that it is “time for Democrats to answer for their longstanding ties to Epstein”, arguing only then can the country “get back to what matters to the American people.”

Overall, it’s a sharply partisan, accusatory piece focused on pressuring Democrats over Epstein-related disclosures rather than presenting new policy or legal developments.

Fact Sheet – Tariff Changes after Trade Deal Announcements

This fact sheet explains why, after a series of new trade deals and investment agreements, President Trump has narrowed his previously announced reciprocal tariffs, especially for certain agricultural products.

• In April 2025, Trump imposed global reciprocal tariffs to respond to:
• Some products (e.g., certain critical minerals and energy products) were originally exempt from these tariffs.
• In September 2025, the scope was adjusted again:

Now, after:

• 9 framework deals,
• 2 final reciprocal trade agreements, and
• 2 investment agreements,
  plus changes in domestic demand and U.S. production capacity, Trump has decided to further narrow the tariffs, especially for some agricultural goods.

The new Executive Order removes certain qualifying agricultural products from the reciprocal tariffs, especially items not grown in the U.S. or not produced in sufficient quantities.

Products listed include:

• Coffee and tea
• Tropical fruits and fruit juices
• Cocoa and spices
• Bananas, oranges, and tomatoes
• Beef
• Additional fertilizers (some fertilizer products were never subject to the tariffs)

Mechanically:

• These products are added to Annex II of Executive Order 14257 (meaning they are exempt from reciprocal tariffs).
• Where applicable, they are removed from the “Potential Tariff Adjustments for Aligned Partners” (PTAAP) Annex.
• The PTAAP Annex still includes:
• Trump signals he may later remove tariffs from remaining PTAAP items when reciprocal trade and security deals are concluded.
• The modified Annex II and PTAAP Annex take effect on November 13, 2025.

The fact sheet places this move within a wider pattern of “historic wins”:

• Agreements on Reciprocal Trade with:
• Joint Statements on Frameworks with:
• Investment deals with Japan and Korea.
• Ongoing progress on reciprocal trade with many other countries.

The administration frames Trump’s tariff policies as:

• Incentivizing manufacturing in the U.S. and defending American industries.
• Using tariffs as leverage to:

Key examples cited:

• EU deal:
• Asia trip (October):
• Latin America:
• The administration says “billions in reshoring investments” are:

Finally, it states the administration will keep using all available tools to:

• Protect national security
• Advance economic interests
• Maintain a system of trade based on fairness and reciprocity.

1. Why Modify the Reciprocal Tariffs Now?2. Agricultural Products No Longer Subject to Reciprocal Tariffs3. Broader Trade Strategy: Achieving Reciprocal Trade4. “Delivering for the American People”

Executive Order – Modifying the Scope of the Reciprocal Tariff with Respect to Certain Agricultural Products

This executive order updates how the United States applies “reciprocal tariffs” on imports, specifically removing certain agricultural products from the extra duties that were imposed as part of Trump’s broader response to large and persistent U.S. goods trade deficits.

• The order relies on:
• In Executive Order 14257 (April 2, 2025), Trump:
• In Executive Order 14346 (September 5, 2025), he:

After receiving new information from officials monitoring the situation—including trade negotiations, domestic demand, and U.S. production capacity—Trump decides further changes are needed.

• The order determines that some agricultural products should no longer be subject to the reciprocal tariff imposed under Executive Order 14257 (as amended).
• It:
• Trump states these modifications are “necessary and appropriate” to address the national emergency related to the trade deficit.

• The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is modified as specified in Annex I to this order.
• Effective for goods entered or withdrawn for consumption on or after 12:01 a.m. EST, November 13, 2025.
• If this implementation requires refunds of duties already collected, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will process those under existing law and standard procedures.

• The Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR):
• The Secretaries of Commerce and Homeland Security, and the USTR:
• All federal agencies must take appropriate measures within their authority to implement the order.

• Severability: If any provision or application of the order is held invalid, the rest remains in effect.
• The order:
• The cost of publishing the order will be borne by the U.S. Trade Representative.

Background and Legal BasisKey Change: Certain Agricultural Products ExemptedGlobal Duties and Refunds (Section 2)Implementation and Monitoring (Section 3)Severability & General Provisions (Sections 4–5)

Fact Sheet – The United States, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein Reach a Historic Trade Deal

This fact sheet announces a framework for a historic trade deal between the United States, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, framed as a major step toward lowering the U.S. trade deficit, strengthening national and economic security, and securing large investment flows into the U.S.

• The Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade will:
• Swiss and Liechtenstein companies will invest at least $200 billion in the United States, with at least $67 billion in 2026 alone.
• These investments are expected to create thousands of well-paying jobs across all 50 states in sectors such as:
• Major Swiss companies already tied to the framework include Roche, Novartis, ABB, and Stadler.
• Switzerland also commits to balancing its trade with the United States.
• The partners will pay a cumulative reciprocal tariff rate capped at 15%, similar to the treatment given to the European Union.

The framework is presented as groundbreaking on supply chains, security, and market access, with a special focus on U.S. agricultural exports (poultry, bison, beef).

Key economic and regulatory measures include:

• Tariffs:

  • Switzerland and Liechtenstein will remove tariffs across a broad range of agricultural and industrial goods, including:
  • Switzerland will establish tariff rate quotas for U.S. poultry, beef, and bison.

• Non‑tariff barriers:

  • Address long‑standing restrictive measures that kept U.S. goods out, including:

• Digital trade & supply chains:

  • All three parties commit to robust digital trade principles, including:
  • They will strengthen supply chain resilience, in part by:
  • Expanded cooperation on export controls, sanctions, and investment screening.

• Timeline & deficit goal:

  • They will work quickly to finalize the Agreement, aiming to conclude negotiations in early 2026.
  • The U.S. goods trade deficit with Switzerland and Liechtenstein was $38.5 billion in 2024; this deal is positioned as putting the U.S. “on a path to eliminate that deficit by 2028.”

• The fact sheet ties this deal to Trump’s broader “America First” trade policy:
• The deal is framed as:

1. Big Picture: Trade, Investment, and Jobs2. Promoting Reciprocal Trade & Market Access3. “Liberating America from Unfair Trade Practices”

We’re Making Big Progress on Prices — and We’ll Keep Working to Make Sure Everyone Benefits

The article argues that President Trump inherited a severe inflation and cost‑of‑living problem from President Biden and Democrats, and that his second term is now reversing that damage.

• Under Biden, inflation averaged nearly 5%, peaking at 9.1%, described as the worst in decades and driven by “Radical Left” spending.
• Under Trump’s second term, inflation is said to have fallen to an average of 2.7%, with the first overall price decline since 2020, framed as the key first step in fixing the cost‑of‑living crisis.

• Under Biden, workers allegedly lost over $2,900 in purchasing power because prices rose faster than wages.
• Under Trump’s second term, real wages (after inflation) have grown by nearly $700 and are projected to be up by about $1,200 after his first full year.

• Biden’s term is described as having the highest average gas price ever for a president, even after drawing down the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
• Under Trump’s second term, Americans have:
• The article claims Trump’s “energy dominance” strategy will push energy prices and other prices down further.

• Food: Prices for staples like eggs, butter, ice cream, fresh fruit, cereal, fish, seafood, rice, pasta, and ham are said to be declining under Trump, with “more help on the way.”
• Housing:

• Deregulation: Trump’s deregulatory efforts are claimed to save Americans $180 billion total, or $2,100 per family of four, partly by rolling back Biden-era appliance efficiency rules that raised prices.
• Tax Cuts: Trump signed what is described as the largest tax cuts in American history, including:
• Jobs & Investment: Companies are said to have invested trillions of dollars in U.S. operations since Trump took office, onshoring and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.
• Deficit Reduction: The administration claims that spending cuts, interest savings, economic growth, and tariff revenues will reduce the deficit by trillions, leading to:
• Employment: The article says 1.9 million more American‑born workers are employed now than when Trump took office, and that more people are working now than ever in U.S. history.

The piece closes by emphasizing that Trump will “not rest” until high prices caused by Democrat policies are fully under control, asserting that progress is real and “the best is yet to come.”

1. Inflation2. Wages and Purchasing Power3. Gas Prices4. Groceries and Housing5. Policies Driving Lower Prices & Higher Take‑Home Pay6. Closing Message