Finally, A President Is Standing Up To Woke Banks
The American people deserve financial institutions that serve all law-abiding citizens, not just those who align with the ruling class’s preferred ideology.The American people deserve financial institutions that serve all law-abiding citizens, not just those who align with the ruling class’s preferred ideology.A brutal wake-up call from America’s most powerful banker
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase — one of the most powerful financial institutions on earth — issued a warning the other day. But it wasn’t about interest rates, crypto, or monetary policy.
Speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum in California, Dimon pivoted from economic talking points to something far more urgent: the fragile state of America’s physical preparedness.
We are living in a moment of stunning fragility — culturally, economically, and militarily. It means we can no longer afford to confuse digital distractions with real resilience.
“We shouldn’t be stockpiling Bitcoin,” Dimon said. “We should be stockpiling guns, tanks, planes, drones, and rare earths. We know we need to do it. It’s not a mystery.”
He cited internal Pentagon assessments showing that if war were to break out in the South China Sea, the United States has only enough precision-guided missiles for seven days of sustained conflict.
Seven days — that’s the gap between deterrence and desperation.
This wasn’t a forecast about inflation or a hedge against market volatility. It was a blunt assessment from a man whose words typically move markets.
“America is the global hegemon,” Dimon continued, “and the free world wants us to be strong.” But he warned that Americans have been lulled into “a false sense of security,” made complacent by years of peacetime prosperity, outsourcing, and digital convenience:
We need to build a permanent, long-term, realistic strategy for the future of America — economic growth, fiscal policy, industrial policy, foreign policy. We need to educate our citizens. We need to take control of our economic destiny.
This isn’t a partisan appeal — it’s a sobering wake-up call. Because our economy and military readiness are not separate issues. They are deeply intertwined.
Dimon isn’t alone in raising concerns. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has warned that China has already overtaken the U.S. in key defense technologies — hypersonic missiles, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence to mention a few. Retired military leaders continue to highlight our shrinking shipyards and dwindling defense manufacturing base.
Even the dollar, once assumed untouchable, is under pressure as BRICS nations work to undermine its global dominance. Dimon, notably, has said this effort could succeed if the U.S. continues down its current path.
So what does this all mean?
RELATED: Is Fort Knox still secure?
It means we are living in a moment of stunning fragility — culturally, economically, and militarily. It means we can no longer afford to confuse digital distractions with real resilience.
It means the future belongs to nations that understand something we’ve forgotten: Strength isn’t built on slogans or algorithms. It’s built on steel, energy, sovereignty, and trust.
And at the core of that trust is you, the citizen. Not the influencer. Not the bureaucrat. Not the lobbyist. At the core is the ordinary man or woman who understands that freedom, safety, and prosperity require more than passive consumption. They require courage, clarity, and conviction.
We need to stop assuming someone else will fix it. The next crisis — whether military, economic, or cyber — will not politely pause for our political dysfunction to sort itself out. It will demand leadership, unity, and grit.
And that begins with looking reality in the eye. We need to stop talking about things that don’t matter and cut to the chase: The U.S. is in a dangerously fragile position, and it’s time to rebuild and refortify — from the inside out.
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JPMorgan CEO delivers brutal reality check straight to the heart of Democrats for attacking Trump supporters: 'Grow up'
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is trying to offer Democrats and the media political wisdom about Donald Trump.
Speaking on CBNC's "Squawk Box," Dimon warned on Wednesday that constantly attacking Trump, his supporters, and the "Make America Great Again" agenda will ultimately backfire on President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party.
"I think this negative talk about MAGA is going to hurt Biden's election campaign," Dimon predicted. "I wish the Democrats would think a little more carefully when they talk about MAGA."
The billionaire banker was referring to the Democratic Party's habit of mocking Trump supporters as "deplorable" or simple-minded Americans who hug "their Bibles and their beer and their guns."
"Can we stop that stuff and actually grow up and treat other people respectfully and listen to them a little bit?" Dimon said. "I think people should be a little more respectful of our fellow citizens."
In fact, Dimon suggested those in the media need to be more introspective and they need try to understand why so many Americans support Trump.
For Dimon — who personally identifies as someone with a "Democrat heart and a Republican brain" — the reasons why Americans support Trump are clear: Trump "wasn't wrong" about some of the most pressing issues impacting America and the world today.
"When people say MAGA, they're actually looking at people voting for Trump and they're basically scapegoating them — that you are like him — but I don't think they're voting for Trump because of his family values," Dimon said.
"If you just take a step back, be honest: He's kind of right about NATO. Kind of right about immigration. He grew the economy quite well," he explained. "Tax reform worked. He was right about some with China. I don't like how he said things about Mexico— but he wasn't wrong about some of these critical issues. And that's why they're voting for him."
During his interview, Dimon also provided his economic forecast and warned against wearing rose-colored glasses.
"I think it is a mistake to assume that everything is hunky-dory," he said.
"When stock markets are up, it's kind of like this little drug we all feel, like it's just great," he continued. "But remember, we've had so much fiscal monetary stimulation so I'm a little more on the cautious side that we are facing a lot of things in '24 or '25 and we mentioned Ukraine, the terrorist activity in Israel, the Red Sea, quantitative tightening ... and obviously the politics."
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JPMorgan Chase's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein comes back to haunt bank to the tune of $290 million
JPMorgan Chase has agreed to pay Jeffrey Epstein's victims nearly $300 million.
Last November, a victim of Epstein filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of victims whom Epstein sexually abused. Many of the victims — a total that may number more than 100 — were teenagers and young adults when the abuse happened.
The bank, the largest in America, provided services to Epstein from 1998 to 2013. The lawsuit claims that JPMorgan Chase maintained its relationship with Epstein, whom the bank designated as a "high risk client," despite rumors that he engaged in human trafficking teenagers and young women for sex. The bank overlooked numerous red flags, the lawsuit alleged, because of Epstein's wealth and his access to powerful people.
In a statement, JPMorgan Chase said:
We all now understand that Epstein’s behavior was monstrous, and we believe this settlement is in the best interest of all parties, especially the survivors, who suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of this man.
Any association with him was a mistake and we regret it. We would never have continued to do business with him if we believed he was using our bank in any way to help commit heinous crimes," the spokesperson added.
JPMorgan agreed to pay the victims $290 million, disclosed David Boies, one of the attorneys representing the victims. The settlement must still be approved by the court.
News of the settlement comes weeks after Deutsche Bank, which succeeded JPMorgan Chase as Epstein's primary banking institution, agreed to pay Epstein victims $75 million.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon sat for a deposition in the case last month. During the interview, he denied knowing about Epstein until his arrest for sex trafficking in 2019. JPMorgan Chase officially blames former executive Jes Staley for ignoring Epstein's red flags and maintaining the bank's relationship with Epstein.
The bank has sued Staley, demanding a return of his compensation from 2006 to 2013, which amounts to as much as $80 million. JPMorgan Chase also wants to make Staley financially liable for damages to which the bank may be liable over its relationship with Epstein.
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JPMorgan downgrades Target's stock, cites 'consumer pressures and recent company controversies'
JPMorgan Chase, the largest bank in the United States, has downgraded Target's stock.
Analysts at the bank downgraded the retailer's stock from "overweight" to "neutral." This means that financial analysts were bullish on Target's stock, meaning they thought its share price was a good value compared to other stocks in its market. Generally speaking, "overweight" stocks are considered strong buys with valuable returns.
A "neutral" stock, then, is one that analysts believe is neither of good nor poor value.
JPMorgan analyst Christopher Horvers attributed the stock downgrade to market shifts and "recent company controversies."
"We continue to believe that the consumer is broadly weakening while the share of wallet shift away from goods (51% of [Target’s] sales) is ongoing," Horvers said, Market Watch reported.
"While still positive on a [three-year] basis, [Target] has been giving back share on a [one-year] view and we believe this share loss could accelerate into back to school and linger into holiday given consumer pressures and recent company controversies," Horvers explained. "This could turn [Target’s] traffic negative after an impressive run of 12 consecutive positive quarters."
Target became the target of backlash last month over an assortment of controversial products, including LGBTQ onesies, "tuck-friendly" bathing suits, drag queen books for children, and clothing promoting satanism.
Target eventually pulled some of the controversial products from its shelves and moved other controversial items to the rear of stores.
The retail giant's stock tumbled for nearly two weeks straight over the backlash. Some observers suggested Target may have faced the same fate as Bud Light. But on Thursday, Target finally snapped the streak of consecutive losing days on Wall Street.
Still, Target's stock has dropped 12% in 2023 despite the S&P 500 index making healthy gains.
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'Say hi to Snow White': Jeffrey Epstein offered 'Disney princesses' to top JPMorgan exec, trafficking victims paid over $1 million from accounts at megabank, unsealed docs say
Newly unsealed court documents show Jeffrey Epstein had a very chummy relationship with a former top JPMorgan Chase executive and would email photos of young girls. The U.S. Virgin Islands' lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase also said that at least 20 trafficking victims of Epstein were paid more than $1 million through accounts at the megabank.
JPMorgan flags Jeffrey Epstein as a 'high-risk' client
In 2006, JPMorgan Chase flagged Epstein as a "high-risk" client after he was being investigated by the Palm Beach Police Department and the FBI over sex assault accusations by at least 40 victims, including 34 confirmed minors and a girl as young as 14.
According to the lawsuit, JPMorgan's Global Corporate Security Division flagged “several newspaper articles ... that detail the indictment of Jeffrey Epstein in Florida on felony charges of soliciting underage prostitutes."
In 2011, Epstein confidante Ghislaine Maxwell was also flagged by the bank.
Court documents say, "Maxwell wanted to set up an account for her ‘personal recruitment consulting business.'"
A JPMorgan director with the bank's anti-money-laundering program reportedly asked in an email, "What does she mean by personal recruitment?? Are you sure this will have nothing to do with Jeffrey? If you want to proceed, I suggest that we flag this as a High-Risk Client."
Epstein reportedly used JPMorgan accounts to pay trafficking victims
Despite being flagged as a "high-risk" client, Epstein was reportedly able to pay trafficking victims through JPMorgan Chase accounts.
"These women were trafficked and abused during different intervals between at least 2003 and July 2019, when Epstein was arrested and jailed, and these women received payments, typically multiple payments, between 2003 and 2013 in excess of $1 million collectively," court documents stated. "Epstein also withdrew more than $775,000 in cash over that time frame from JPMorgan accounts, especially significant as Epstein was known to pay for 'massages,' or sexual encounters, in cash."
The lawsuit claims that Epstein sent money to the MC2 Modeling Company – a French modeling agency owned by Jean Luc Brunel. Epstein accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre claimed that Brunel procured women – including minors – for the disgraced financier.
According to court documents, "Financial information also reflects payments drawn from JP Morgan accounts of nearly $1.5 million to known recruiters, including to the MC2 modeling agency, and another $150,000 to a private investigative firm."
Brunel was arrested in December 2020 at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris as he was attempting to board a flight to Dakar, Senegal.
Paris Prosecutor Remy Heitz said Brunel was "suspected of having committed acts of rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment on various minor or major victims and of having, in particular, organized the transport and accommodation of young girls or young women on behalf of Jeffrey Epstein."
Brunel committed suicide in a French prison cell while awaiting trial in February 2022.
Epstein allegedly offered 'Disney princesses' to top JPMorgan exec
Epstein was also apparently close friends with a top JPMorgan executive. Jes Staley worked at JPMorgan Chase for more than 30 years until he left the financial institution in 2013. Staley was named the chief executive of the investment bank in 2009. Staley became the CEO of Barclays. However, he stepped down from the position in 2021 following a probe into his ties with Epstein.
In August 2009, Staley emailed the convicted pedophile to let him know that he'd be in London in a week. Epstein allegedly asked Staley if he needed anything, and the banking exec replied, "Yep."
Staley told Epstein in December 2009, "I realize the danger in sending this email. But it was great to be able, today, to give you, in New York City, a long heartfelt, hug."
Court docs alleged that Epstein "emailed Staley photos of young women in seductive poses."
Staley sailed his yacht to Epstein's private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands in January 2010, according to the lawsuit.
Staley allegedly said to Epstein, "Arrived at your harbor. Someday, we have to do this together."
In a memorandum filed on Wednesday, attorneys for the Virgin Islands said Staley’s JPMorgan email account contained messages about "women who they referred to by the names of Disney princesses that Epstein procured for Staley" and "discussions of sex with young women."
The lawsuit says Staley emailed Epstein in July 2010: "Maybe they’re tracking u? That was fun. Say hi to Snow White."
Epstein reportedly replied, "What character would you like next?"
Staley responded by naming the Disney princess movie "Beauty and the Beast."
Epstein allegedly replied, "Well one side is available."
The lawsuit claims, "Between 2008 and 2012, Staley exchanged approximately 1,200 emails with Epstein from his JP Morgan email account. These communications show a close personal relationship and ‘profound’ friendship between the two men and even suggest that Staley may have been involved in Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation."
The lawsuit hints that JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon knew about Epstein's involvement with the megabank.
"JP Morgan's banking relationship with Epstein was known at the highest levels of the bank," the lawsuit states. "For instance, an August 2008 internal email states, 'I would count Epstein's assets as a probable outflow for '08 ($120mm or so?) as I can't imagine it will stay (pending Dimon review).'"
JPMorgan calls Virgin Islands lawsuit 'meritless'
The documents were revealed in the U.S. Virgin Islands government lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase that was filed in December. The lawsuit accuses JPMorgan Chase of "complicity" in Epstein's crimes.
JPMorgan Chase called the lawsuit "meritless."
"Having sought and obtained more than $100 million from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate and businesses for damages caused by his sex-trafficking crimes, the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) now casts farther afield for deeper pockets," JPMorgan declared.
"USVI’s lawsuit is a masterclass in deflection that seeks to hold JPMC responsible for not sleuthing out Epstein’s crimes over a decade ago," attorneys for the bank said. "Yet USVI had access at the time to the same information, allegations, and rumors about Epstein on which it alleges JPMC should have acted. Indeed, as a law-enforcement agency, USVI had access to much more, along with the investigative advantage of physical proximity to Epstein’s crimes."
"To the contrary, during the same period, USVI granted Epstein and his businesses lucrative privileges and massive tax incentives," the bank proclaimed. "Nonetheless, USVI’s suit proceeds on the untenable theory that JPMC was a participant in an Epstein sex-trafficking venture and was somehow uniquely situated to bring it to a halt."
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