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   Nonilex (nonilex@masto.ai)'s status on Saturday, 14-Sep-2024 08:05:22 JST Nonilex

   #Trump Company CEO’s Unexplained Meeting With #Balkans Leader Raises Specter of New Conflict

   #DevinNunes, the fmr congressman who runs the company behind Truth Social, traveled to #NorthMacedonia as #Trump vies to once again shape US #ForeignPolicy.

   Earlier this summer, Devin Nunes, the CEO of #TrumpMedia & a fmr California congressman, touched down just outside Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia.

   #law #FARA #ethics #NationalSecurity #compromised #Kleptocracy
   https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-media-ceo-devin-nunes-north-macedonia-truthsocial-hristijan-mickoski

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     Nonilex (nonilex@masto.ai)'s status on Saturday, 14-Sep-2024 08:05:20 JST Nonilex

     in reply to

     In a recent earnings call, Chris #Pavlovski, who accompanied #Nunes on the trip & who is the CEO of #Rumble, a video streaming company & close partner of #TrumpMedia, revealed that he had discussed a cloud technology services deal w/the Macedonian government.

     The meeting is the first known instance of #Trump’s media company dealing directly w/a foreign government — & in this case one that is eager for a future Trump admin’s assistance on a wide range of #security, #economic & diplomatic issues.

     Bill repeated this.
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     Nonilex (nonilex@masto.ai)'s status on Saturday, 14-Sep-2024 08:05:20 JST Nonilex

     in reply to

     In his public comments, the prime minister boasted about the visiting delegation’s #political connections. He described #DevinNunes‘ another attendee as “two of the closest associates of fmr president of the #UnitedStates Donald Trump.”

     As #Trump runs for a 2nd term, #ethics experts have warned that his valuable stake in #TrumpMedia & its Twitter-like platform Truth Social presents opportunities for #influence.

     #law #FARA #NationalSecurity #Kleptocracy #Balkans #NorthMacedonia #ForeignPolicy

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     Nonilex (nonilex@masto.ai)'s status on Saturday, 14-Sep-2024 08:05:21 JST Nonilex

     in reply to

     #DevinNunes & a small group of other North American execs were there to talk business. But they weren’t there to meet w/representatives from another company. A high-ranking ofcl from the Macedonian government greeted them on the tarmac outside their private jet. Then a police escort ferried them from the airport. They were there to meet w/the #Balkan nation’s newly elected #PrimeMinister.

     #law #FARA #NationalSecurity #Kleptocracy #Trump #Balkans #NorthMacedonia #ForeignPolicy #TrumpMedia

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     Nonilex (nonilex@masto.ai)'s status on Saturday, 14-Sep-2024 08:05:21 JST Nonilex

     in reply to

     At the time, Prime Minister #HristijanMickoski, the leader of the country’s #conservative #nationalist party, offered littlein the way of specifics about the meeting’s purpose: “For now, I would not reveal this type of details,” he told local reporters in the #Balkans who covered the meeting at the time.

     #law #FARA #ethics #NationalSecurity #compromised #Kleptocracy #Trump #TrumpMedia #DevinNunes #NorthMacedonia #ForeignPolicy

     Bill repeated this.
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     Nonilex (nonilex@masto.ai)'s status on Saturday, 14-Sep-2024 09:24:56 JST Nonilex

     in reply to

     The #Balkans have become a focal point of activity in the dealings of fmr top #Trump ofcls since out of office.

     Trump’s son-in-law #JaredKushner is pursuing a pair of real estate development deals—1 in #Albania & 1 in #Serbia —for his new investment firm, which is funded by the govts of #SaudiArabia & other #Mideast nations. Both deals have drawn criticism because of the involvement of foreign govts & perception that helping Kushner’s business could be a way to gain favor w/a 2nd Trump admin.

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     Nonilex (nonilex@masto.ai)'s status on Saturday, 14-Sep-2024 09:24:57 JST Nonilex

     in reply to

     #Mickoski’s party has been able to rely on #Republicans in the US before. In 2017 #VMRO members blamed unrest in the country on the American embassy in Skopje meddling in internal #politics & favoring left-leaning groups.The party’s allies successfully lobbied several #Republican members of #Congress… The lawmakers demanded answers from the State Dept, which denied allegations, then called for an investigation from the Govt Accountability Office, which found aid was properly distributed.

     #Trump

     Bill repeated this.
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     Nonilex (nonilex@masto.ai)'s status on Saturday, 14-Sep-2024 09:24:58 JST Nonilex

     in reply to

     …Scenes from the group’s trip to #NorthMacedonia show the #TrumpMedia executives being greeted almost as visiting heads of state, beginning w/what #Pavlovski described in an Instagram post as a “pretty cool … legit police escort” from the airport.

     #law #FARA #LoganAct #ethics #NationalSecurity #compromised #Kleptocracy #Trump #Balkans #DevinNunes #NorthMacedonia #ForeignPolicy

     https://www.instagram.com/chrispavlovski/reel/C9vFez2Sthd/

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     Nonilex (nonilex@masto.ai)'s status on Saturday, 14-Sep-2024 09:24:58 JST Nonilex

     in reply to

     Images posted by the Macedonian govt, members of the #nationalist party…, show #DevinNunes seated across from the PM 1 day & beside the country’s president the next…. The govt minister in charge of “digital transformation” also hinted in a LinkedIn post at potential business dealings, saying that the “investment potential that these world-leading companies offer can revolutionize our digital infrastructure.”

     #law #FARA #LoganAct #NationalSecurity #ForeignPolicy #kleptocracy #Trump #TrumpMedia

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     Nonilex (nonilex@masto.ai)'s status on Saturday, 14-Sep-2024 09:24:58 JST Nonilex

     in reply to

     #Mickoski’s party has been able to rely on #Republicans in the US before. In 2017 #VMRO members blamed unrest in the country on the American embassy in Skopje meddling in internal #politics & favoring left-leaning groups.The party’s allies successfully lobbied several #Republican members of #Congress… The lawmakers demanded answers from the State Dept, which denied allegations, then called for an investigation from the Govt Accountability Office, which found aid was properly distributed.
     #Trump

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     Nonilex (nonilex@masto.ai)'s status on Saturday, 14-Sep-2024 09:24:59 JST Nonilex

     in reply to

     #Pavlovski, a Canadian whose parents are from #NorthMacedonia, has long been a booster of the country. He also co-founded an #IT outsourcing firm that employs #software developers in NorthMacedonia & that has provided services to #TrumpMedia. ProPublica previously reported that #Trump Media has contracted w/Pavlovski’s outsourcing firm in the country & secured a special visa for a Macedonian coder who is now chief tech officer of the company.
     #law #FARA #LoganAct #NationalSecurity #ForeignPolicy

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     Nonilex (nonilex@masto.ai)'s status on Saturday, 14-Sep-2024 09:25:00 JST Nonilex

     in reply to

     #TrumpMedia launched just a few yrs ago, in 2021 [after he was banned from Twitter], but #Trump’s nearly 60% stake in the company now represents an important chunk of his personal fortune.

     Trump Media’s stock [a worthless #MemeStock] is trading at about a quarter of the high it hit in March soon after it went public, but the company’s value remains around $3B, based in part on hype & speculation fueled by Trump fans.

     #law #FARA #ethics #NationalSecurity #compromised #Kleptocracy #ForeignPolicy

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     Nonilex (nonilex@masto.ai)'s status on Saturday, 14-Sep-2024 09:25:00 JST Nonilex

     in reply to

     The company has little revenue & TruthSocial has yet to catch on as a threat to other #socialmedia platforms. #Trump’s stake is currently worth ~$2B. In 1 week, he will be able to sell his shares for the first time.

     Joining #DevinNunes on the trip were 2 other figures in Trump’s orbit: #Pavlovski, the #Rumble CEO, & #HowardLutnick, a Trump #donor & #WallStreet exec who helped Rumble go public & was recently named the co-chair of Trump’s #transition team.

     #law #FARA #LoganAct #NationalSecurity

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     Nonilex (nonilex@masto.ai)'s status on Saturday, 14-Sep-2024 09:25:02 JST Nonilex

     in reply to

     The spox provided [an #unserious & #flippant] statement saying only, “The ProPublica geniuses, much to our dismay, have discovered #DevinNunes’ secret plan to reconstitute Alexander the Great’s empire & get Chris #Pavlovski named King of Macedon.”

     Spokespeople for the #Trump campaign, #Rumble & the Macedonian PM didn’t respond to questions.

     #law #FARA #LoganAct #ethics #NationalSecurity #compromised #Kleptocracy #Balkans #NorthMacedonia #ForeignPolicy #TrumpMedia

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     Nonilex (nonilex@masto.ai)'s status on Saturday, 14-Sep-2024 09:25:02 JST Nonilex

     in reply to

     #Trump’s term in office was marked by concerns that foreign govts sought to curry favor by patronizing his businesses, including his DC, hotel [essentially indirectly bribing him]. Trump’s businesses had numerous dealings abroad even after his attorney pledged he would not enter into new foreign deals while he was president.

     #law #FARA #LoganAct #ethics #NationalSecurity #compromised #Kleptocracy #Balkans #DevinNunes #NorthMacedonia #ForeignPolicy #TrumpMedia

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     Nonilex (nonilex@masto.ai)'s status on Saturday, 14-Sep-2024 09:25:02 JST Nonilex

     in reply to

     If the Macedonian govt makes a deal w/ #TrumpMedia or its partners & #Trump is once again elected president, it could be another instance in which his private business interests intersect w/ #US #ForeignPolicy.

     “They want an in w/Trump,” said a US govt ofcl who has been involved in #EasternEuropean issues, noting that #NorthMacedonia seeks US support in diplomatic disputes w/its neighbors.…

     #law #FARA #LoganAct #ethics #NationalSecurity #compromised #Kleptocracy #Balkans #DevinNunes

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     Nonilex (nonilex@masto.ai)'s status on Saturday, 14-Sep-2024 09:25:03 JST Nonilex

     in reply to

     Advertisers, vendors or investors who have #political agendas could use their business relationships w/the #SocialMedia enterprise to seek favorable treatment from a #Trump admin.

     A #TrumpMedia spox didn’t respond to detailed questions, including about what role the company might play in such an agreement or whether one has been reached.

     #law #FARA #LoganAct #ethics #NationalSecurity #compromised #Kleptocracy #Trump #Balkans #DevinNunes #NorthMacedonia #ForeignPolicy #TrumpMedia