Beltway Insider: Trump/Zelensky, Ukraine/Minerals, Putin/China, NYC Mayor Race, Measles, Oscars

Details: Category: Beltway Insider; Published on Sunday, 02 March 2025 08:11; Written by Janet Walker

President Trump shocked the world this week over his breakdown of decorum during the visit with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, which dissolved into a jarring, belittling, diatribe, aided by the vice president as they attempted to demean the dignitary.

The President's job approval rating, according to the website Fivethirtyeight.com for the period ending March 2, 2025, decreased by 0.6% to 47.9% of those polled who those polled approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness increased by 0.3% to 47.2% of those polled. A slight 3% of the population polled have no opinion. Ratings are calculated weekly.

Beltway Insider: Trump/DOGE, Pentagon Cuts, Trump/Putin, Ukraine/Russia, Pope Francis

Trump, Vance, Bully Ukraine President

In what was supposed to be an historic deal that would grant the United States access to critical Rare Earth Elements in Russian controlled Ukraine, and bolsters Ukraine's defenses against Putin dissolve into a demeaning verbal melee.

The embarrassing display by both President Trump, and Vice-President Vance, who became abusively forceful and demanding with the visiting European President, accusing the visiting President of disrespect to the president and attempting to, "Litigate this in front of the American media." His outburst, tone, and demeanor were antagonistic and misplaced.

A ten-minute video was available to screen online, and each minute was worse than the previous. Words and meanings were lost in a translation vacuum of pro-Russian rhetoric. What did crystallize during this lack of restraint was that Vance sees himself having greater authority than his position allows, for unknown reasons Trump has a loyalty toward Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, and Ukraine President managed, even in the double-teamed effort by the United States leaders, to keep his cool, and president himself as emotionally stable.

Of course, and what the American people can expect for the next four years, is a constant message, meant for mind control, to ensure reelection and further constituent support for this style of Republican leadership: bullying, demeaning, abusive to secure the agenda.

Dispute over Aid

Throughout the diatribe, Trump maintained the U.S. has given the Ukraine more than $350bn in foreign aid, either humanitarian, military, or financial.

"According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which tracks military, financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the war began, the United States has donated 114 billion euros ($118bn)," Aljazeera.com.

Through December 31, 2024, Europe has provided 132.3bn and allocated an additional 115.1, the United States has allocated 114.2 euros/$118bn. The United States leads all nations in providing military support, with 64.1 percent of the aid to Ukraine coming in the form of munitions, and 46.6 percent in financial, with a small percentage in humanitarian.

During this discourse, Trump's repeated error of $350 bn in aid was incorrect, although it is a tactic to inflame the American people. DOGE Leader Elon Musk uses the same tactic when providing details of the amount of money they have saved the American people. This inflated total, while incorrect, is the first they will correct it in private, but the damage is done publicly.

World News: A New World Diplomacy

Ukraine Mineral Rights are Critical to U.S.

So, what caused this breakdown in decorum and further embarrassed the nation on a global scale? Mineral rights. More specifically, Rare Earth Elements, (REE) of which the U.S. has a limited supply, and other areas of the world, particularly China, has an unlimited supply.

To further reduce the United States dependence on foreign Rare Earth Elements, much like in the days of reducing the dependency on foreign oil, the mineral deal which imploded, would have provided the United States access to the Ukraine's estimated 5 percent of critical minerals.

These critical elements are needed for the expanding tech industry and can be easier understood when considering the screen effect, if it has a screen, it needs Rare Earth Elements to make. Which translates to everything from defense, aerospace, to cellphones, laptops, and tablets. The screen effect is not all that Rare Earth Elements are used to produce.

"China refines more than 90% of the global supply of so-called "rare earth elements," which include neodymium and dysprosium. Not actually rare, these 17 elements are difficult to mine and refine because they're not often found in concentrated deposits. Some elements, like lithium, are usually mentioned along with rare earth elements, because they are also critical for the tech sector," FastCompany.com reported.

As the world moves into harnessing other forms of energy, such as wind, solar, and electric, Rare Earth Elements are critical in the manufacturing of these tools to harness other forms of energy to reduce our dependency on traditional fossil fuel and other forms of energy. To even utilize wind energy, Rare Earth Elements are critical in the manufacturing of the turbine engine; to manufacture an energy efficient lightbulb, RRE are critical in the manufacturing.

Lithium, which is critical to the manufacturing of electronic devices, is not one of the 17 RRE, meaning deposits of lithium, which are in an abundance in the Ukraine, is critical to resurrecting the U.S. Automobile industry and as Trump has placed tariff on Chinese imports having access to lithium is highly valuable.

Rare Earth Elements Elevate Putin in New Arena

Chinese President Xi-Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who have already formed an alliance to provide military aid to enhance and replenish Russia's diminishing military munitions, each have substantial RRE deposits in their nations.

For Putin, access to Ukraine's rich mineral deposits especially in the Russian controlled Donetsk and Luhansk regions, elevate his control in the EU, and aid in the creation of a monopoly with the already developed relationship between China's Xi Jinping and Russia, which forces a dependence by democratic nations on the whim of dictators.

Once the deal imploded with Ukraine, Putin announced "US President Donald Trump earlier said that "major economic development transactions with Russia" would take place. Within two hours of Trump's statement, Putin chaired a meeting with his ministers and economic advisers on rare earth metals," reported Mining.com. Putin further stated, Russia has significantly higher amounts of RRE than Ukraine.

World News: Trump and Putin Seek to Resurrect the Iron Curtain

Zelensky Meets with Brits

With the U.S. deal with Ukraine dead, Zelensky met with British Prime Minister Kier Starmer.

"Well, let me just say that you're very, very welcome here in Downing Street, and as you heard from the cheers on the street outside, you have full backing across the United Kingdom," Starmer told Zelenskyy. And we stand with you and Ukraine for as long as it may take, and I hope you heard some of that cheering in the street," the prime minister continued as Zelenskyy grew teary at the show of support," People Magazine reported.

Putin and The Circumvent

With a Ukraine mineral right deal on the table, could it be possible, that Putin, knowing Trump has strong positive feelings for him, simply pulled a circumvent, initiating a deal behind closed doors, which could only move forward if the president derailed the Ukraine deal?

It certainly has the appearance of interference. Which resulted in a grand show for the American media to be used in soundbites around the world. Trump's antagonistic manner, and the use of the double-team smack down, was so acrimonious that foreign leaders will seek aid from others, which may be the motivation behind the breakdown in decorum.

Coronavirus Total

At the order of the President of the United States, the U.S. no longer recognizes the value of The World Health Organization. The CDC has recommended every person from age six months, including senior citizens should receive at least one shot of an updated COVID-19 vaccine, annually. The death toll from Covid-19 has dramatically decreased, as has transmission of the virus. Even as confirmed new cases continue each week, fewer are dying from the newer variants. A recent outbreak of the virus across the European continent has caused the World Health Organization to issue a warning.

For the seven days ending March 2, 2025, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases reported by the World Health Organization increased by 119,432 confirmed cases totaling 777,504,802. The total worldwide death toll increased by 1,222 to 7,089,979 deaths. The United States has stopped providing Covid data to the World Health Organization. (Data updated February 15, 2025, from the World Health Organization).

Ten Entertainment Leaders Shaping Show Biz

Former New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, Enters NYC Mayor Race

Former New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, has entered the burgeoning poll of candidates, announcing a run in the upcoming New York City Mayor race.

"Former governor Andrew M. Cuomo — who navigated a difficult relationship with Trump during his last term, often challenging him during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic — announced his run for mayor Saturday. Incumbent Eric Adams has been widely accused of cutting a deal with the president to keep himself out of prison, potentially fatally wounding his political fortunes in the deeply blue city. Adams has denied a quid pro quo," The Washington Post reported.

Notwithstanding Cuomo's own baggage, name recognition catapults him to the top of the contenders to unseat incumbent Mayor Adams. In a city that is tried of Trump, is deeply democratic, and wants to be rid of any semblance of the current administration and its apparent loyalty to the Trump Administration, Cuomo represents a lifelong political dynasty and in a city of second chances may just receive the endorsement of the people.

Of the current pool of nine candidates, Adams, the incumbent, Cuomo, and former Comptroller Scott Stringer have the most name recognition. Cuomo is already moving ahead of Adams in early polling. Trump decision to interfere with the Justice Department investigation backfired and caused New Yorkers to change their opinions, resulting in nearly 50% of potential voters polled saying the decision was wrong.

New York local news station Pix 11, reported, "In the same poll, 49% of voters said they would oppose the Justice Department dropping the federal corruption case against Adams. The mayor was charged in September with bribery, wire fraud and solicitation of contribution by a foreign government."

Deadly Measles Outbreak Spreads in Southwest

A deadly measles outbreak, originating in Texas, the worst in three decades, has claimed the life of one child, and has now spread to three states.

"Officials have reported 124 cases in Texas, mostly in west Texas, since late January, and nine cases in a neighboring New Mexico county. Nearly 80 percent are children, who are more susceptible to the vaccine-preventable disease. "It's heartbreaking," said Katherine Wells, Lubbock's director of public health. "My heart just goes out to the family. And I hope this will help people reconsider getting children vaccinated,"' reported The Washington Post.

Hollywood Week: Academy Awards, Media News, Gene Hackman, Wife, Dead, Roberta Flack, Michelle Trachtenberg

Academy Awards

It is Oscar Sunday, the final stop in the annual Awards season which began officially began during the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, in France. From then on, it has been parties and prayers, as the pool of potential films, talents, and crew rose to the top as critics and peers became smitten by mesmerizing storytelling.

Of course, this year's fairy tale awards season was derailed by reality of the most devastating wildfire season in California's history. The often-mystical Santa Ana winds became an epic disaster film, in and of itself, leaving much of the pristine Pacific Palisades coastline and interior regions of Altadena reduced to piles of ash, followed by torrential rains producing mudslides. If it weren't reality, it would be a box office smash.

While the show must go on, just as life does, a subdued and scaled back awards season seemed to bolster resilience. And today, the big show, the 97^th Academy Awards, will turn the page on the brutalities of the past two months, and will with all its finery, glam, glitz, and magnificent invites viewers around the world to join in for the biggest party of the year.

For more information on President Donald Trump: Whitehouse.gov.

Janet Walker is the publisher, founder, and sole owner of Haute-Lifestyle.com. A graduate of New York University, she has been covering international news through the Beltway Insider, a weekly review of the nation's top stories, for more than a decade. A general beat writer/reporter and entertainment/film critic, she is also an accomplished news/investigative news/crime reporter and submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration "Cops Conspire to Deep Six Sex Assaults" in the Breaking News Category and was persuaded to withdraw the submission. Ms. Walker has completed five screenplays, "The Six Sides of Truth," "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," "The Wednesday Killer," "The Manhattan Project," and the sci-fi thriller "Project 13: The Last Day." She is completing the non-fiction narrative, "Unholy Alliances: A True Crime Story," which is expected to be released in early 2025. She is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club, the National Writers Union, and a former member of the International Federation of Journalists.