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Will Trump’s Foreign Film Tariffs Crush Streaming Stocks? What You Need To Know Now

Stock 6 Mins Read

Trump’s latest Hollywood “hit” isn’t the kind you stream.

Threatening to slap a 100% tariff on films produced in foreign countries, the president’s announcement rattled several media stocks like Netflix, Inc. (NFLX), Walt Disney Co. (DIS), and others.

What makes the whole thing complicated is this:

  • No clear-cut definition of “foreign”: Many “American” films are shot abroad with foreign crews, locations, and studios.
  • Tax breaks abroad: Studios rely on international incentives to cut costs—think Marvel in the UK or Netflix in Korea (Squid Game).
  • Global revenues: Delivering content overseas boosts subscriptions.
  • Disruption to current projects: In-progress shoots and cross-border production deals could face sudden delays, cancellations, or financial penalties.
  • And last but not least, retaliation risk. Countries may hit back with tariffs or restrictions on U.S. films, hurting global revenues.

The result? A policy that aims to protect American film could end up undercutting it from every angle.

Which Media Stocks Are Still Worth Holding?

With Trump’s proposed 100% tariff and the looming threat of retaliation, you’re probably wondering: Which media stocks are still investable—and which ones are caught in the crossfire?

Let’s focus on the platforms that most Americans stream at home.

  • Netflix (NFLX) is the most exposed to Trump’s tariffs due to its heavy investment in international productions.
  • Disney (DIS) is most vulnerable both ways—to the U.S. tariff and international retaliation—in that over 60% of its box office revenue is international; plus, it operates theme parks in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Europe.
  • Roku (ROKU) appears to be the least exposed, as it’s a content aggregator and not a producer. The bulk of its revenue comes from advertising, subscriptions, and platform fees, not from producing or exporting content.

NOTE: I’m excluding Amazon (AMZN) in favor of pure-play media entertainment stocks. While Amazon is not as exposed to foreign film tariffs, it’s exposed to the other tariffs.

First, how are these stocks performing relative to each other and the broader market (S&P 500)?

FIGURE 1. PERFCHARTS DISPLAYING THE RELATIVE PERFORMANCE OF ALL THREE STOCKS VS THE S&P. Netflix is far outpacing its two media peers.

Among these three, which stocks are currently the most investable—that is, which ones are showing favorable price action that could support a viable trading setup?

Netflix Technical Analysis: Uptrend Intact, But Caution Ahead

Let’s start with NFLX—the company most fundamentally exposed to the proposed tariffs on foreign-made films. Check out this daily chart.

FIGURE 2. DAILY CHART OF NFLX STOCK. No tariff fears are evident here as the stock continues its uptrend.

NFLX stock remains in a strong uptrend, with a StockCharts Technical Rank (SCTR) well above the 90-line, making it one of the top-performing large-cap stocks from a technical perspective. However, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) suggests the stock may be overbought, raising the possibility of a short-term pullback.

The  20-day Price Channel can help identify potential turning points since it highlights recent tops and bottoms. The green-shaded zone marks the first area of support, where a bounce may occur if the stock retreats in the coming sessions. If that level fails to hold, the red-shaded zone identifies a secondary support area aligned with the 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA). A drop below this level without a strong rebound could signal a weakening of the current bullish trend.

Caution: Among the three stocks analyzed, Netflix appears to be most exposed to potential downside from Trump’s proposed tariffs on foreign-made films. Investors should remain cautious, as shifting geopolitical dynamics could alter the stock’s fundamental outlook and technical setup.

Now let’s take a look at Disney, a stock vulnerable to Trump’s proposed 100% tariffs on foreign-made films and the added threat of retaliatory tariffs from international markets.

Disney’s Recovery Potential Faces Global Headwinds

With a significant portion of its revenue coming from global box office sales and international theme parks, DIS stock is particularly sensitive to shifts in global trade policy. Take a look at this daily chart.

FIGURE 3. DAILY CHART OF DISNEY STOCK PRICE. Oof. Even if it recovers, will we see a breakout beyond the top range?

Disney is underperforming, and the key question is whether the stock is entering a potential recovery phase. The Full Stochastics Oscillator tends to mirror the stock’s cyclical movements well and suggests a possible short-term pullback.

If DIS holds above its most recent swing low support range (highlighted in red), the stock may attempt to retest the resistance area (highlighted in green), which aligns with the 200-day SMA and the most recent swing high.

One bullish signal to note: the Accumulation/Distribution Line (ADL) (shown in orange) is significantly above current price levels, suggesting that buying interest may be quietly building even while the stock trades near its lows. Is DIS a solid buy? Probably not at these levels. You will want to see a stronger indication (or confirmation) that DIS is recovering.

Also, note that DIS has been cycling the $80 to $125 range over the last three years. Unless you’re holding it as a dividend stock, there’s little indication yet that there’s going to be growth beyond this exceedingly wide range.

Is Roku Ready to Break Out, or Break Down?

Let’s analyze the daily chart of Roku.

FIGURE 4. DAILY CHART OF ROKU STOCK. It’s gearing for a breakout, but driven by what?

ROKU may be the least exposed to the proposed foreign film tariffs, but what’s going to drive it higher? Remember, the stock plunged in 2022–2024 due to falling ad revenue, widening losses, and a high-profile cybersecurity breach that shook investor confidence. Without a clear reason for a rebound, the stock may remain stuck.

The Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) is probably the most telling indicator here: buying and selling pressure are at a virtual standstill. There has to be a compelling catalyst to move the stock higher or lower. Still, ROKU appears to be rebounding from a technical standpoint, with overhead resistance levels at $71 and $82.

However, there needs to be something fundamental to validate this technical setup, especially if it turns bullish (like a break above resistance). So if for any reason you’re bullish on ROKU, monitor the fundamental side of this stock play. Right now, it doesn’t look very promising.

At the Close

Trump’s proposed tariff on foreign-made films has stirred up more than just Hollywood headlines; it’s forcing Wall Street to reassess risk across streaming and media stocks. Keep monitoring the technical, fundamental, and geopolitical factors. Don’t make any decisions until you see clear technical confirmation backed by a viable fundamental catalyst. And remember, geopolitical dynamics can still shift the conditions in an instant.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

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Investing

Triumph Gold: Multi-million-ounce, District-scale Gold Assets in the Yukon Territory

Investing 2 Mins Read

Triumph Gold (TSXV:TIG,OTC:TIGCF) is a Canadian gold exploration company well-positioned to benefit from a strengthening gold market. The company’s primary focus is advancing its 100 percent-owned Freegold Mountain Project, a district-scale property located in Yukon’s highly prospective Dawson Range gold-copper belt.

With defined multi-million ounce gold resources, significant potential for expansion, and promising discovery targets, Triumph Gold provides investors with exposure to a large, consolidated land package in one of Canada’s most mining-friendly jurisdictions.

The Freegold Mountain Project is Triumph Gold’s flagship asset — a district-scale property extending 34 kilometers along the highly mineralized Big Creek Fault system in Yukon. What sets this project apart is the widespread presence of mineralization across all major rock types on the property, including Paleozoic metamorphics, Jurassic intrusives, and Cretaceous intrusives. Each of these hosts distinct styles of precious and base metal mineralization, underscoring the project’s exceptional geological potential.

Company Highlights

  • Resource Base: Combined indicated resources of 1 million ounces and inferred resources of 1.08 million ounces gold equivalent across the Freegold Mountain project
  • Strategic Location: Positioned in the mineral-rich Dawson Range, home to major deposits including Newmont’s Coffee, Western Copper’s Casino, and Pembridge’s Minto mine
  • Multiple Deposit Types: Mineralization found in various forms (porphyry, epithermal, skarn) providing diversified exploration targets
  • Expansion Potential: All deposits remain open in multiple directions with numerous untested satellite targets
  • Fully Permitted: Exploration permits in place until 2025-2026 allowing for extensive drilling programs
  • Experienced Leadership: Management team with proven track records in mineral exploration, mine development and capital markets

This Triumph Gold profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*

Click here to connect with Triumph Gold (TSXV:TIG) to receive an Investor Presentation

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Joe Cavatoni: Gold’s Record Run No Surprise, Here’s What’s Driving Demand

Investing 1 Min Read

Joe Cavatoni, senior market strategist, Americas, at the World Gold Council, discusses the organization’s latest report on gold demand trends, highlight key data points from Q1.

He also shares his thoughts on gold’s record-setting rise, saying fundamentals remain strong.

Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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5 Biggest Pharmaceutical ETFs in 2025

Investing 4 Mins Read

The global pharmaceutical market reached a total value of US$1.38 trillion in 2024, according to Research and Markets, up significantly from the US$888 billion seen just over a decade earlier in 2010.

Experienced and novice investors alike may want to consider pharmaceutical exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as a way to gain exposure to the top pharma companies. Like all ETFs, pharmaceutical ETFs are a good option for those who want to trade a set of assets in the pharmaceutical industry instead of focusing solely on individual pharmaceutical stocks.

The main advantage of a pharmaceutical ETF is the fact that it can provide exposure to an overarching sector, but still trades like a stock. Pharma ETFs also offer less market volatility and lower fees and expenses.

Big pharma ETFs

Many of these funds have diverse holdings across some of the most important sectors in the pharmaceutical industry, including pain therapeutics, oncology, vaccines and biotechnology. Data was gathered on May 6, 2025.

1. VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (NASDAQ:PPH)

Total assets under management: US$653.61 million

Established in late 2011, the VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF tracks the MVIS US Listed Pharmaceutical 25 Index. It has the capacity to provide big returns, even though there are some risks attached to the ETF. An analyst report indicates that investors looking for ‘tactical exposure’ to the pharma sector might consider this ETF as an investment option.

The ETF has 25 holdings, with the top five being Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) at a weight of 12.17 percent, AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) at 6.48 percent, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) at 6.45 percent, Novartis (NYSE:NVS) at 5.43 percent and Cencora (NYSE:COR) at 5.34 percent.

2. iShares US Pharmaceuticals ETF (ARCA:IHE)

Total assets under management: US$571.51 million

Created on May 5, 2006, this iShares ETF tracks some of the top US pharma companies. In total, the iShares US Pharmaceuticals ETF has 41 holdings, with the vast majority being large-cap stocks.

Of its holdings, Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson are by far the largest portions in its portfolio, coming in at weightings of 24.55 percent and 23.38 percent, respectively. The next highest are Royalty Pharma (NASDAQ:RPRX) at 4.93 percent, Zoetis (NYSE:ZTS) at 4.80 percent and Viatris (NASDAQ:VTRS) at 4.57 percent.

3. Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (ARCA:PJP)

Total assets under management: US$240.1 million

The Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF is primarily focused on providing exposure to US-based pharma companies. An analyst report states that this ETF chooses individual securities based on certain investment criteria, namely stock valuation and risk factors. Invesco changed the fund’s name from the Invesco Dynamic Pharmaceuticals ETF in August 2023.

This ETF was started on June 23, 2005, and currently tracks 31 companies. Its top holdings are Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) with a weight of 5.2 percent, AbbVie at 5.17 percent, Johnson & Johnson at 5 percent, Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) at 4.94 percent and Eli Lilly at 4.86 percent.

4. SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (ARCA:XPH)

Total assets under management: US$139.14 million

The SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF came into the market on June 19, 2006, and represents the pharmaceutical sub-industry sector of the S&P Total Markets Index. An analyst report for the ETF suggests that due to its narrow focus — which includes pharma giants that post ‘big returns’ during times of consolidation — it should not be considered for a long-term portfolio.

This pharma ETF tracks 43 holdings, with relatively close weighting among its holdings. XPH’s top five holdings are Corcept Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CORT) with a weight of 5.26 percent, Eli Lilly at 3.99 percent, Royalty Pharma (NASDAQ:RPRX) at 3.98 percent, Zoetis at 3.87 percent and Johnson & Johnson at 3.81 percent.

5. KraneShares MSCI All China Health Care Index ETF (ARCA:KURE)

Total assets under management: US$82.86 million

The KraneShares MSCI All China Health Care Index ETF was launched in February 2018 and tracks an index of large- and mid-cap Chinese stocks in the healthcare sector, all weighted by market capitalization. According to an analyst report, the fund provides investors with ‘exposure to a relatively small slice of the Chinese economy.’

The ETF tracks 46 holdings, and its top five are Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine (SHA:600276) at 8.33 percent, BeiGene (OTC Pink:BEIGF,HKEX:6160) at 7.88 percent, Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics (SZSE:300760) at 6.79 percent, Wuxi Biologics (OTC Pink:WXIBF,HKEX:2269) at 6.67 percent and Innovent Biologics (OTC Pink:IVBXF,HKEX:1801) at 5.51 percent .

Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no investment interest in any of the companies mentioned in this article.

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Copper Crunch: China’s Stockpiles Depleting, US Demand Rising

Investing 4 Mins Read

Copper prices are being pushed skyward as China’s stockpiles sit on the verge of depletion and as US demand for the red metal surges, fueled by looming trade restrictions under the Trump administration.

According to Mercuria, the market is undergoing “one of the greatest tightening shocks” in its history.

“At the current pace of draws, those Chinese inventories could deplete (to zero) by the middle of June,” Nicholas Snowdon, head of metals and mining research at the commodities trading house, told the Financial Times.

“Beijing had a razor-thin inventory buffer” to meet its soaring domestic demand, he added.

Copper inventories held in Chinese warehouses fell by a record 55,000 metric tons last week alone, sinking to just 116,800 metric tons. The sudden drawdown has placed further stress on a market that is already being strained by geopolitical tensions and a shift in long-term demand driven by clean energy initiatives and electrification.

The copper squeeze is being exacerbated by US buyers rushing to secure supply ahead of potential new tariffs.

US President Donald Trump has signaled that his administration is investigating “dumping and state-sponsored overproduction” of copper, echoing the rationale used for the imposition of 25 percent levies on steel and aluminum.

Copper futures prices on the Comex in New York have soared, rising 16.35 percent year-to-date to trade for US$4.69 per pound. The rally has been further buoyed by signs that China’s Ministry of Commerce is open to trade talks with the US — it has reportedly “taken note” of Washington’s signals and is evaluating the possibility of engagement.

As a result, inventories in Comex warehouses have surged to their highest levels since 2018.

The copper crunch is not confined to refined metal.

Analysts warn that Chinese access to copper scrap — a vital feedstock for its smelting industry — is also under threat from retaliatory trade measures and possible US export controls.

China relies heavily on imported scrap, and the US remains a key supplier. In 2024, the US exported 960,000 metric tons of copper scrap, nearly half of which went to China, according to data from Fastmarkets.

This year, exports are already trending lower: 142,000 metric tons were shipped in January and February, down from 149,000 metric tons in the same period last year. If the US imposes a ban on scrap exports or China imposes retaliatory import duties, the shortage in Asia’s largest economy could become even more acute.

Copper’s strategic role in the energy transition

Beyond short-term trade politics, copper is at the heart of a deeper structural transformation.

As the global economy pivots toward electrification and decarbonization, demand for the base metal is set to soar — despite advances in material efficiency and substitution.

During a recent webinar, Michael J. Finch, head of strategic initiatives at commodities price and data firm Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, noted that the accelerating deployment of electric vehicles (EVs), EV charging infrastructure and renewable energy sources is rapidly driving up copper intensity across energy systems.

“What … we can’t forget is, what are the requirements on the grid network? What are the requirements on power generation because of EVs, because of the charging infrastructure?” Finch said. He emphasized to attendees that while copper usage per EV has declined from around 100 kilograms in 2015 to about 68 to 70 kilograms today due to design optimizations and thrifting, total copper demand from the EV sector is still expected to rise sharply.

“We’re still looking at a market here … (of) over 5 million tonnes by 2040,” he said.

“That’s going to need a lot of charging infrastructure. That’s going to need a lot of grid upgrades. That’s going to need a lot of renewable power to be put in place,’ Finch added.

The overlapping dynamics of geopolitical uncertainty, rising protectionism and shifting energy priorities have created a volatile cocktail that could reshape global copper trade flows.

Efforts are underway in the US to take advantage of this shift. European copper producer Aurubis is investing 740 million euros in a new recycling facility in Richmond, Georgia, aimed at bolstering domestic supply. The plant, which is expected to be operational by the end of the fiscal year, will rely primarily on scrap sourced within the US.

Meanwhile, analysts are watching closely to see if the US and China can defuse trade tensions before they further destabilize a market that is already stretched thin.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Politics

State Department to merge Palestinian Affairs Office with US Embassy in Jerusalem

Politics 2 Mins Read

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is planning to merge the responsibilities of the Palestinian Affairs Office into the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem in an effort to continue a diplomatic mission in Israel’s capital that was put in place by President Donald Trump during his first term in office.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce announced Rubio’s decision during a press briefing Tuesday.

‘Secretary Rubio has decided to merge the responsibilities of the office of the Palestinian Affairs Office fully into other sections of the United States Embassy in Jerusalem,’ Bruce said. ‘This decision will restore the first Trump-term framework of a unified U.S. diplomatic mission in Israel’s capital that reports to the U.S. ambassador to Israel.’

She added that U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee will begin to make the necessary changes to implement the merger over the coming weeks.

‘The United States remains committed to its historic relationship with Israel, bolstering Israel’s security and securing peace to create a better life for the entire region,’ Bruce said.

The Biden administration established the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs in 2022 after reversing Trump’s closure of the consulate to the Palestinians in Jerusalem during his first administration.

Biden’s move was viewed by some as rewarding the Palestinian leadership after a wave of terrorism during which two Palestinians wielding an ax and knife murdered three Israelis in the town of Elad in May 2022.

The first Trump administration helped to negotiate groundbreaking agreements, called the Abraham Accords, in 2020 to normalize diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.

The Israeli government vehemently opposed a reopening of the Palestinian consulate in Jerusalem because it would undercut the holy city as the undivided capital of Israel.

The U.S. Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and calls for it to remain an undivided city. 

Trump, in 2017, recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017 and moved the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem the following year.

Fox News’ Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report.

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Trump expresses ‘absolute confidence’ as Steve Witkoff is sworn in as special Middle East envoy

Politics 4 Mins Read

President Donald Trump’s new special envoy to the Middle East was sworn in by Secretary of State Marco Rubio Tuesday in an Oval Office ceremony.

Speaking before the swearing-in, Trump praised Witkoff, who was instrumental in securing an extended ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the return of 33 hostages, including two Americans, who were being held by Hamas. 

Trump said Witkoff has ‘been with me, more or less, one way or the other, every step of the way,’ adding that he has ‘absolute confidence and support and trust’ in his Middle East envoy’s ability to secure key deals in the realm of foreign diplomacy, such as ceasefire agreements between Israel and Hamas and between Ukraine and Russia. 

Though Witkoff is a real estate businessman by trade, Trump said he ‘quickly established himself as one of the toughest, smartest and best negotiators in the business,’ which is why he chose him for the important role of special envoy to the Middle East.

‘As a businessman, he’s admired and respected by all, and now Steve is putting his talents to work for America’s special envoy to the United States and making a lot of progress. Our country is blessed to have a negotiator of such skill and experience who really selflessly steps up to the plate, puts himself forward all the time,’ the president said.

Trump did note there was somewhat of a learning curve for Witkoff when it came to foreign government relations but said he has been ‘figuring it out’ at a lightning pace. 

‘It takes him about an hour to figure it out,’ Trump said. ‘After that, he’s brutal. He does a great job.’ 

Trump noted Witkoff has already been active over the last several months, meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leaders from Iran. 

‘He’s working tirelessly to end the bloody and destructive conflicts,’ said Trump, touting Witkoff’s success so far in negotiations with various world leaders.

After the ceremony, Trump took questions from reporters, addressing a range of topics, including the just-announced ceasefire between the U.S. and the Houthis. When asked about conflicting reports indicating the Houthis do not plan to stop attacking Israel, Trump said that the terror group’s surrogates have indicated ‘very strongly’ that ‘they want nothing to do with [the United States].’  

Trump was also asked questions about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and, in particular, about the release of the remaining 21 living hostages. 

‘This is a terrible situation. We’re trying to get the hostages out. We’ve gotten a lot of them out,’ Trump told reporters, noting it is also just important to find and return the bodies of those already killed by Hamas. 

He shared that two weeks ago a couple whose son died as a hostage came to him and said, ‘Please, sir, my son is dead. Please get us back his body.’ 

‘They wanted his body. He’s dead,’ Trump said from the Oval Office after Witkoff’s confirmation. ‘They know. He said they wanted his body as much as you would want the boy if he was alive. It’s a very sad thing.’

Trump also commented on Iran and its potential development of nuclear weaponry. The president said definitively that ‘they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon.’

‘This is really crunch time. I would tell you, for Iran and for their country, this is a very important time for Iran. This is the most important time in the history of Iran, for Iran, and I hope they do what’s right,’ Trump told reporters. 

‘I’d love to see a peace deal, a strong peace deal. … We want it to be a successful country,’ he added. ‘We don’t want to do anything that’s going to get in the way of that. But they can’t have a nuclear weapon. And if they choose to go a different route, it’s going to be a very sad thing. And it’s something we don’t want to have to do, but we have no choice.’ 

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GORDON CHANG: Trump can reshape the Middle East and outfox China with one stunning move

Politics 5 Mins Read
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Israeli and Turkish warplanes skirmished over Syria this past weekend. 

Israel, in northern Syria, has been bombing militias affiliated with the government of Turkey. According to Turkish media sources, Ankara’s F-16s sent ‘warning messages’ to the Israeli planes. 

Israel denied the reports of the aerial confrontation.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s president, said that the ‘Israeli attacks compromise the balance in the region since the fall of the Syrian regime.’ Bashar al-Assad fled Syria to Russia as his totalitarian government fell in early December. He has since been granted asylum there.   

The recent aerial confrontation could spark a wider war and put an end to attempts by the former militant and Syria’s current president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, to reestablish stability and move his country closer to the United States. 

Disruptive actors want to take over Damascus. Erdogan, for instance, helped bring down Assad and now hopes to pull Syria into his orbit. China, which supported the horrific Assad regime until the end, is now trying to influence the new government in Damascus so it can eventually dominate that country.

Sharaa is resisting Beijing’s attempts. ‘Syria is now led by a true reformer,’ Jonathan Bass, who had extensive discussions with Sharaa in Damascus last week about religious freedom and other topics, told me. 

‘This is a critical moment in Syria’s transition,’ Dr. Sharvan Ibesh of the Bahar Organization, a humanitarian NGO active in Syria, told me last week.

Ibesh’s assessment is certainly correct. Before Sharaa can achieve anything, he will need to end the conflict in his skies. There is only one person who can separate Israel, America’s long-term partner in the region, and Turkey, an increasingly troublesome NATO ally. That person, of course, is President Donald Trump.

Why would Trump get involved? 

There are two principal reasons. First, Sharaa wants trade and investment. This is an historic opportunity for American business, which has been shut out of that portion of the region. Syria is devastated after decades of misrule and war, and Americans can build, sell, and provide just about everything.

The second reason involves China. ‘Syria is up for grabs,’ Mouaz Moustafa of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, a humanitarian group active in that country, said to me. ‘The Chinese continue to push hard to fill a vacuum, knowing that the longer the U.S. takes to come along the higher the chances are that China will economically occupy Syria.’

‘We do not want to be stuck with China being the only choice for Syria when it comes to rebuilding our liberated country,’ says the Bahar Organization’s Ibesh.

Dr. Haytham Albizem of Global Justice, a U.S.-based NGO, told me that President Sharaa has not accepted Beijing’s persistent offers but ‘eventually he will shake the hand that wants to help him rebuild the country he leads if he does not have any alternative.’

Bass, CEO of Argent LNG, confirms that Beijing has pressured Syrian officials to take its money but the Syrians have held out because of concerns about the long-term effects of Chinese presence. Sharaa in fact told Bass he wants to build a ‘pluralistic society,’ in other words, a nation not like China but like America.

Washington’s sanctions, put in place during the Assad years, prevent American involvement. Trump can lift them.

Trump will be in Saudi Arabia next week. He will visit Riyadh on May 13. Syrian officials are trying to schedule a meeting between the American president and Sharaa in the Saudi capital to discuss U.S. companies entering Syria. 

‘I want to make a deal with Donald Trump,’ Sharaa told Bass. ‘He’s the only man I trust.’ 

‘He is the only man capable of fixing this region, bringing us together, one brick at a time,’ Sharaa added.

‘This is a moment when the United States can, for the first time in decades, establish vibrant commercial and investment ties with Syria and thereby bring peace to the Middle East as a whole,’ Bass says.

If, however, China takes over Syria, which borders Israel in the Golan Heights, there will be no peace. Beijing fully backed Iran’s October 7 assault on the Jewish state with economic, diplomatic, propaganda, and weapons support. China will similarly disrupt the region from Syria if it gains control of Damascus.

‘If China is entrenched in Syria, it means Iran will be entrenched there too,’ Bass says. ‘The stakes are high for America because Israel would be pressured by a China-Iran proxy directly on one of its borders.’ 

That’s true, but America’s continued role in the region raises a broader issue. ‘Does the USA want to be the Policeman of the Middle East, getting NOTHING but spending precious lives and trillions of dollars protecting others who, in almost all cases, do not appreciate what we are doing?’ Trump tweeted in December 2018. 

Obviously not. But Sharaa, as he told Bass, wants to make Syria like America, not with the American military but with American goods, investment, and services. 

The opportunity for the U.S. is historic.

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LEE CARTER: The secret sauce of Trump’s success that continues to mystify his most ardent critics

Politics 4 Mins Read
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In the world of President Donald Trump, the constant refrain that he ‘needs to do this’ or ‘must pass that’ in the next 200 days misses the point entirely. Trump doesn’t operate within the usual political playbook, and trying to fit him into conventional expectations is a mistake. Advisers often treat him like a typical politician: pass policies, build alliances, show a unified front. Tone it down.  Stop being so…. Well, Trumpian.  But that’s not who he is. And it certainly isn’t what he should do.

Trump’s power lies in owning the story, controlling the narrative’s chaos, and shaking things up in ways no one else can—or would dare to. 

His actions may seem reckless or absurd to some, but they’re often strategic—designed to grab attention, set the agenda, and keep everyone reacting to him. 

Let’s think about the events over just the last several days. Trump once again seized the digital spotlight, posting AI-generated images of himself as the pope and a ‘Star Wars’ character, musing about reopening Alcatraz, vacillating on tariffs, and even questioning his adherence to the Constitution. 

As expected, the world reacted: some with admiration, others with indignation. His supporters lauded him as a bold disruptor of the status quo, while critics labeled him dangerous, blasphemous, even absurd.

If you take every Donald Trump moment at face value, you’re missing the point.

But here’s the crux: if you take every Trump moment at face value, you’re missing the point.

To truly grasp Donald Trump, you need to step back—not just from the headlines, but from the impulse to interpret every word, post, or proposal literally. 

His approach isn’t straightforward. It’s theatrical, rhetorical, and deeply strategic. Parsing his statements is akin to interpreting religious texts. Some see every word as gospel truth. Others find symbolism, guidance, or metaphor. The same spectrum of interpretation applies to Trump.

If you treat Trump’s words as fixed policy declarations, you’ll find yourself in chaos. But if you view them as part of a broader strategy—to capture attention, steer the conversation, and frame negotiations—you begin to discern the method in the madness.

Consider tariffs. Are they economic policy? Or a pressure tactic? I’d argue they’re the latter—a means to move markets, project toughness, and reset expectations. Or take his musings about running in 2028. Is that a literal campaign launch? Or is he shaping the narrative around leadership, succession, and legacy?

This is Trump’s true power: not in the precision of his plans, but in his ability to control the agenda. He creates noise not to distract, but to dominate. He doesn’t wait to join the conversation—he is the conversation. And in doing so, he forces everyone else to react on his terms.

So, what should Trump do in the next 200 days? The answer is simple: keep doing what he’s doing. The more he challenges conventions, the more he reaffirms his brand as the disruptor who fights for ‘the everyman.’ Policy details don’t necessarily matter as much as the message that he is shaking up the establishment and battling an unfair system. 

Success for him isn’t about passing specific bills; it’s about owning the conversation and proving he’s the only one willing to blow things up to get results.

If Trump can continue this strategy—owning the narrative, showing he’s fighting for the ‘little guy,’ and not over-complicating it—he remains relevant. 

The reality? His core support won’t shift because of policy; it’ll shift if he stops being Trump. So, the next 200 days should be about staying true to his persona, deciding what noise to generate, and letting others scramble to chase his lead.

Ultimately, how you interpret Trump’s actions reveals more about you than about him. If you see him as a menace, every statement becomes a threat. If you see him as a visionary, every statement signals bold change. If you see him as a negotiator, the unpredictability makes perfect sense.

You don’t have to like Trump to understand him. But ignoring the mechanics of how he shapes public discourse is missing the most crucial part of the story.

He’s not just running for office. He’s running the conversation. And in essence, Trump needs to keep doing what he does best—disrupt, distract, and dominate. The rest is just noise.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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