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PULSE POINTS:
What Happened: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized Greenland’s strategic importance to the U.S., warning against growing Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence after Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt expressed interest in deeper ties with Beijing.
Who’s Involved: Karoline Leavitt, Vivian Motzfeldt, The National Pulse’s political editor Will Upton, President Donald J. Trump, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
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Where & When: White House press briefing, Washington, D.C., on April 29, 2025.
Key Quote: Leavitt stated, “Greenland needs the United States of America; we subsidize their national security and their defense,” highlighting the strategic risks of Chinese or Russian influence in the region.
Impact: Leavitt’s remarks signal a firm U.S. stance against CCP expansion in Greenland, reinforcing Trump’s focus on securing strategic territories to protect national and global security interests.
IN FULL:
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated Greenland’s importance to U.S. strategic interests at a press briefing on Tuesday, warning the U.S. cannot allow the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to gain influence over the Danish territory after the Greenlandic foreign minister suggested her government was looking to increase its collaboration with Beijing.
Quizzed by Will Upton, The National Pulse’s political editor, on the Greenlandic Foreign Minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, saying that “China is very important to us, and we are eager to strengthen our cooperation,” Leavitt said it was “certainly an interesting strategy to cozy up to Communist China.”
“Greenland needs the United States of America; we subsidize their national security and their defense,” Leavitt continued, noting that President Donald J. Trump has “rightfuly pointed out the great strategic importance that Greenland serves for not just our national security and economic interests, but for our country and for the world as a whole.”
She added: “We can’t allow Chinese or Russian influence to continue to infiltrate places like Greenland—or the Panama Canal, I may add.”
Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief at The National Pulse, recently accompanied Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on a visit to Panama, where initiatives to deter Chinese encroachments at the canal were announced.
WATCH:
Important questions from @wupton, political editor at @TheNatPulse, on the Ukraine war, the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal, and Greenland at the White House: pic.twitter.com/RmSrW0VFNo
— Jack Montgomery (@JackBMontgomery) April 29, 2025
PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Walmart has announced new programs, including “Grow with US” and the 2025 Open Call, to expand support for American-made products and American small businesses, as President Donald J. Trump pursues a policy of supporting American producers through tariffs on foreign goods.
👥 Who’s Involved: Walmart U.S., led by President and CEO John Furner and CFO John David Rainey, alongside U.S. small businesses and entrepreneurs.
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📍 Where & When: Announced on April 29, 2025, with Open Call events starting May 1 in Orlando, Florida, and the main event on October 7-8 in Bentonville, Arkansas.
💬 Key Quote: John Furner stated, “We’ve seen firsthand how investing in small businesses results in better assortment, better meeting the needs of our customer base, and supporting jobs and growth in communities.”
⚠️ Impact: Walmart’s initiatives showcase the success of Trump’s tariffs in encouraging domestic production, fostering job growth and economic resilience.
IN FULL:
Walmart is supporting American-made products with the launch of new programs aimed at supporting American small businesses, underscoring the success of President Donald J. Trump’s tariff policies. On April 29, 2025, the retail giant shared its plans to expand initiatives like the “Grow with US” program and the 2025 Open Call, designed to help American entrepreneurs thrive. This strategic shift highlights how Trump’s tariffs are driving companies to prioritize domestic production, protecting both businesses and consumers from global trade disruptions.
The “Grow with US” program offers a four-step framework to provide U.S. small businesses with training, mentorship, and resources to grow alongside Walmart. John Furner, Walmart U.S. president and CEO, emphasized the benefits, stating, “We’ve seen firsthand how investing in small businesses results in better assortment, better meeting the needs of our customer base, and supporting jobs and growth in communities.” Furner also noted that over 60 percent of Walmart’s U.S. suppliers last year were small businesses, with the company anticipating thousands more will utilize its free resources in the coming years.
CFO John David Rainey recently revealed that more than two-thirds of products in Walmart U.S. stores are already domestically sourced, adding, “The third that we import comes from all over the world, but China and Mexico are the most significant.” Trump’s tariffs, including a 10 percent duty on imports and much higher rates on Chinese goods, are likely to incentivize a further shift in favor of American products, bolstering economic independence.
The 2025 Open Call, with applications opening June 24, will allow U.S.-based small and medium-sized businesses to pitch shelf-ready products directly to Walmart and Sam’s Club merchants. The main event, set for October 7-8 in Bentonville, Arkansas, follows several Road to Open Call events during Small Business Month in May, starting with Orlando on May 1, followed by Kansas City on May 9, Baltimore on May 13, and Austin on May 21, with additional events in Columbus on June 18 and Atlanta on June 24. Furner highlighted that participants at these pop-up events could “potentially score a fast pass to our main event in Bentonville,” offering a direct path to getting products on Walmart’s shelves.
Tech companies including Nvidia and IBM have already announced major investments in the U.S. since President Trump implemented his tariff policy, suggesting that, despite market grumblings, his overall strategy is working.
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