America wins bigly               

                                                    

"Two major wins define this week," began a new White House briefing document. "First, jobless levels fell to their lowest level since 1969, a 57-year record that puts the full force of the Trump economic agenda on display."

Further gilding that success is the Trump administration's determination to ensure employment opportunities are exclusively available to American citizens. That's how it should be.

Paychecks legitimately earned by American citizens benefit our economy not only through taxes paid, but by healthy consumer spending. It's what made American businesses thrive, and is a major factor in securing this nation's rank above other world powers. 

The president has steadfastly endorsed e-verify. The practice of verifying job applicants' legal rights to be in this nation -- let alone enjoy employment and profit thereby -- is one Trump supports, as well as levying stiff penalties against unscrupulous employers who would flout American laws and encourage illegality by cultivating lower-paid scofflaw workforces.

(Iowa's elected congressional officials -- all Republicans -- also back e-verify.) 

The White House briefing document also noted: "President Trump secured the Ratepayer Protection Pledge -- a landmark agreement guaranteeing that America's AI dominance is built without sticking consumers with the bill."

By that crucial exercise, our president did away with a major kvetch voiced by AI critics: that related costs would burden tax-payers. Trump now guarantees they won't.

As important as protecting jobs for real Americans and ensuring technological advancement are, the two are hardly lonely on the list of positive moves forward realized by the Trump White House. 

Other wins have been pocketed in police and fire departments' hiring; military recruitment; foreign investments now totaling astronomically; and new factories being built here by formerly internationally located corporations that have returned to these shores.

In concluding his White House Correspondents' Dinner speech, President Trump noted both the progress our country has so far made as a result of America First policies, and world leaders' awestruck recognition: "The King of Saudi Arabia said it. Everyone said almost the same words. 'We thought you were a dead country. We never thought you had a chance. You were never gonna make it back.'

"'And in a period of a year, a period of one year, you made it the hottest country anywhere in the world!'

"We did that together," Trump proclaimed. "It's not just me. We all did it together. We have made America great again, and it's gonna get a lot greater!"