Doha, Qatar—I’ve been in the Middle East all week on assignment, a welcome relief from the swamp, culminating with this weekend’s 18th annual Doha Economic Forum.
This is the biggest Doha forum ever, as it brings together top government officials, senior diplomats, and business leaders from around the world, including our very own Sean Spicer who was President Trump’s first Press Secretary.
I didn’t see Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS) on the guest list, though. I guess he wasn’t invited.
But I did see the new President of Ecuador Lenin Moreno and Prime Minister of Somalia Hassan Ali Khayre, both on the attendee list.
The Forum organizers invited more press outlets this year to cover the event including Al-Jazeera News Network, CNN, Buzzfeed and others.
As a senior contributor with Al Jazeera Network, I get the unique opportunity to defend the President around the globe, specifically in the Arabic speaking countries. I get to debate top foreign government officials and policy analysts and explain Trump’s America First foreign policy. What could be more fun?
Sean Spicer Featured Speaker
Who needs MBS anyway when you have my good friend Sean Spicer, who is a featured speaker on the international media symposium. So, I get to hang with Spicey halfway around the globe. I gave him one piece of advice: don’t wander off and mistakenly drop by the Saudi consulate to use the men’s room.
TI Groupies
After two years of the Trump Presidency, Trump International Hotel – or “TI” as the regulars call it–is still the place to be seen in the District if you are a Trump supporter.
On any given night the lobby is teaming with familiar faces and Trump supporters, having a drink, conducting meetings and hob-nobbing.
A fascinating phenomenon has developed at the hotel: TI groupies!
There’s anywhere from 50-60 people who hang out in TI hotel lobby every single night of the week.
Every time I go, I see the same people. They hover around chairs, sipping drinks, hoping to get their picture taken with the various dignitaries who stop by. Then they post it on social media. What’s the point?
Trump’s critics, who have complained to the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the emoluments clause, need not worry because the real profit comes from these groupies.
What’s In A Name?
I love the passion of D.C. sports fans. Locals who follow the Redskins, Nats and Caps are very loyal to their home teams. A pall drops over the entire city on Monday when the Redskins lose a tough game–everybody’s grumpy.
When the Redskins win, the whole city gains a spring in their step. Service at coffee shops is crisper and even D.C. parking meter cops are nicer, which is an event unto itself.
However, very few in this town give a hoot about their NBA team, the Washington Wizards. They get no love from the locals.
I’ve asked about 100 legit D.C. sports fans about it and the common theme is: they hate the name: “Wizards.”
In an odd twist of fate, even the anti-gun liberals want to bring the “Bullets” name back (from the old Baltimore Bullets of Wes Unseld and Earl the Pearl days).
The Trump-Bossie White House Luncheon
David Bossie, who I told you earlier this week is the front-runner to replace Gen. Kelly as President Trump’s White House Chief of Staff, is having lunch with POTUS today. We’d love to be a fly on the wall. Stay tuned.
I Never Knew Soybeans Could Save The World
You’ve got to hand it to the hopeless free traders and open borders cheap labor crowd in the White House. They’re a relentless bunch. Every time they meet with any Chinese official they reflexively claim trade victory. “No need for any more tariffs,” they chortle. “Take the Trump tariffs off and go home—nothing to see here.”
Case in point, Chief White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow was on a conference call with reporters after the G-20 Summit meeting and declared how the Chi-coms were going to buy up all our soybeans and somehow Make America Even Greater Again. And all this in 60 days, no less.
And remember during the mid-terms we were told if some framers couldn’t sell soybeans we’d face a zombie apocalypse?
Silly me, I never knew soybean sales were the silver bullet to American economic prosperity, solving the national debt, global warming, sea levels rising and space exploration.
According to the cheap labor crowd, if 30 farmers in Iowa just sell more soybeans to the Chinese, we will have world peace.
Have you ever heard in your entire life more about soybean sales then you have in the last six months?
When was the last time you even ate a soybean?
