The Daily Signal - Trump Slights China via Argentina, Kirk Given Medal of Freedom, Letitia James Harbors Fugitive | Oct. 15, 2025

Starting point is 00:00:00 President Trump hosts Argentine President Javier Millay amid a $20 billion foreign investment against Beijing's escalating trade war. Charlie Kirk is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously, and New York Attorney General Letitia James bank fraud scandal may now include harboring a fugitive from the law. I'm Tony Kennett, host of the Daily Signals Tony Kennett cast, syndicated nationally at 7 p.m. Eastern. It is Wednesday, October 15th, 2025. This is the Daily Signals, top news in 10. After landing from his peace signing trip in the Middle East early early yesterday morning, the president then hosted Javier Malay, president of Argentina,

Starting point is 00:00:43 in order to discuss a few matters on trade, take some questions from the press, and receive a gift from President Malay of Argentina. Here was the president welcoming Javier Malay. It's an honor to have you here, and I just want to tell you that your career is, been an amazing one and it's going to continue with the election. You're going to win the election. We're going to endorse you. I'm going to endorse you today. Fully endorse you on people in Argentina like me. A lot of people like me. I'm even surprised myself, but we had a great

Starting point is 00:01:14 according to Treasury Secretary Scott Besant days before this particular conference on Laura Ingram's show, this $20 billion currency swap is seen essentially as a core investment, yes, to bolster Malay's popularity, but also as a crucial counterweight against the Beijing economy driving soybean trade around the globe, processing and keeping the United States out of certain global trade markets while enriching themselves. Here was his explanation to Laura. We get a lot out of it. Argentina is a beacon in Latin America. President Malay has done the right thing. He is trying to break a hundred years of a bad cycle in Argentina. He is also a great ally for the U.S.

Starting point is 00:02:02 He'll be coming to the Oval Office next Tuesday. And he is committed to getting China out of Argentina. They're all over the place in Latin America. And when people say to me, how is this not America first? I'll tell you why it's not. Do you want to be shooting at more gunboats like in Venezuela? We do not want a failed state. So this isn't a bailout?

Starting point is 00:02:24 Sorry, it's not a bailout at all. There's no money being transferred. The ESF has never lost money. It's not going to lose money here. I've been doing, I was in the investment business, mostly currencies, for 40 years. You're supposed to buy low, sell high. And the Argentine peso is undervalued. We're going to have an election in Argentina.

Starting point is 00:02:48 26 of this month, we think President Melee will do quite well. he is putting the peronist path behind them. And people in the U.S., especially on the left, they were willing to, you know, Senator Warren tried to put a bill in front of the Senate that the Exchange Stabilization Fund could not bail out Argentina, which I think is rich because she's an American peronist. Don't cry for me, Massachusetts. And when Joe Biden was in office, what was their idea of foreign aid?

Starting point is 00:03:22 It was circumcisions in Malawi and drag shows in Central America. So we are going to use Argentina as an example. We back up our allies, and the Obama administration missed a big opportunity in the eight years he was in as many Latin American governments went center-right. So we are seeing Argentina, Paraguay, Ecuador, Bolivia, I think Colombia in the next election. So it is part... This is key for us. China is all over...

Starting point is 00:03:52 Central America, Latin America, Mexico, South America. It's critical that we maintain really good relations and that these are strong economic capitalist systems. Beijing had announced last Thursday that they were stipulating new licenses that would have to be required for the export of technologies used in rare earth mining and processing, as well as the manufacturing of magnets that are used in technological and military applications. Essentially, China had imposed significant restrictions. on more than 90% of the world's processing capacity for rare earth materials, to which the Trump administration responded with a 100% tariff threat beginning in November if China doesn't back down.

Starting point is 00:04:36 The Trump administration is also using this leverage in Argentina in the soybean market, which China really wants to buy soybeans from Argentina to then process and sell to the rest of the world in various oils. the Trump administration appears to be trying to cut China off from markets that it needs in order to encourage China and Beijing to loosen their grip on certain materials and licensing rights that we might need. This is echoed by the president also announcing via a truth social post that he would also be looking into a software embargo that has been done previously by the United States, by Taiwan, by several other Western nations in combating the rampant IP problems that have been common

Starting point is 00:05:28 since back during the Soviet Cold War. And on what would have been Charlie Kirk's 32nd birthday, President Trump, after his meeting with Javier Malay, awarded Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously. Here was the president. He was assassinated in the prime of his life for boldly speaking the truth, for living his faith and relentingly,

Starting point is 00:05:49 fightlessly fighting for a better and stronger America. I love this country. And that's why this afternoon it's my privilege to posthumously award Charles James Kirk, our nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Thank you. As you know, only hours ago, I returned from a very historic trip to secure peace in the Middle East. People said that couldn't be done.

Starting point is 00:06:23 Charlie felt it could be done. Charlie felt it could be done. Thank you. Thank you very much. But I raced back halfway around the globe. I was going to call Erica and say, Erica, could you maybe move it to Friday? And I didn't have the courage to call.

Starting point is 00:06:52 But you know why I didn't call? Because I heard today was Charlie's birthday. And I said, you know, now we, that was a definite. And I said, we're going to have to forget about some of those very big very rich countries that expected me to be there. And I can tell you, based on the length of that flight, I wouldn't want to go back tomorrow. But I would not have missed this moment for anything in the world, nothing.

Starting point is 00:07:17 And it's a very important time. Erica Kirk, Charlie's widow, as well as the new CEO for Turning Point USA, accepted the award. And while she spoke for about 15 minutes saying a lot of wonderful things, a couple of key moments were particularly precious. First, first, Erica's praise at Trump picking the right gift. Honestly, President Trump, I have spent seven and a half years trying to find the perfect birthday gift for Charlie.

Starting point is 00:07:46 And it's so difficult. And those of you that have spouses or loved ones, you know how difficult it is sometimes to buy a gift for someone that you love because he wasn't a materialistic man. So that also did not help. But now I can say with confidence, Mr. President that you have given him the best birthday gift he could ever have. It's such an honor. And lastly, New York Attorney General Letitia James, currently in the middle of a major

Starting point is 00:08:21 bank fraud scandal, may also be involved in a serious situation regarding harboring a fugitive. According to the Daily Mail and then confirmed in additional investigations by the Daily Caller News Foundation, the tenant in New York Attorney General Letitia James Norfolk, folk second or third house, her grandniece, Nikita Thompson, is a fugitive from North Carolina. Thompson, living rent-free with her three children in the $235,000 property since 2020, is listed as an absconder in North Carolina, evading probation after misdemeanor assault and trespassing convictions. Said Keith Eckery of the North Carolina Department of Corrections, quote,

Starting point is 00:09:04 she faces arrest if located in North Carolina, end quote. The Daily Caller News Foundation dispatched a reporter to the scene questioning the resident inside the property reportedly owned by Letitia James to ask a little bit about the connection between she and Letitia and was then accused of trespassing. Hi there. I'm a reporter with the Daily Caller News Foundation. Goodbye. You're trespassing. My kids are out here. I understand. We mean no trouble. We're just curious who the. occupants of the home are because there's not in your business well there are connections there are connections to new york attorney general letitia james are you related to leticia james do you know her your trust passing go in the house do you know leticia james no okay no comment thank you man to my house no more thank you ma'am thank you man you have a good one now of course important to note

Starting point is 00:10:01 standing on the public sidewalk which is obviously visible in the video that's not trespassing that is in fact property that is owned by the city, and that is not approaching the house, though that is what was alleged by the tenant. Before you go, head down to the description and make sure you're subscribed to the Tony Kennedcast. And join us tonight at 7 p.m. for a roundup of the day's news and nonsense in a world where news never seems to stop breaking. I'm Tony Kinnett, and this has been the Daily Signals, top news in 10. Take care.

The Daily Signal - Trump Slights China via Argentina, Kirk Given Medal of Freedom, Letitia James Harbors Fugitive | Oct. 15, 2025

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