Videos of the Day: Trump Says ‘Not Inclined’ to Let Deadline for China Trade Deal Slide

President Donald Trump said on Feb. 12 that if the United States and China are close to a trade deal, he might extend the March 1 deadline, but that he’s not inclined to do that.

President Donald Trump talks to reporters during a meeting of his cabinet in the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington on Feb. 12, 2019. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Trump responded to reporter’s question whether the March 1 deadline will slide, saying: “If we’re close to a deal where we think we can make a real deal and it’s going to get done, I could see myself letting that slide for a little while. But generally speaking, I’m not inclined to do that.”

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and trade representative Robert Lighthizer are in Beijing this week in talks to resolve the trade war.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks to the media at the White House in Washington, U.S. on Feb. 6, 2019. Jim Young/Reuters

Trump said: “And I think we’re gonna have some good answers. I think, either way, I’m happy. I’m happy either way. I could live receiving billions and billions of dollars a month from China. China never gave us 10 cents. It was always the opposite way. Now they’re paying billions of dollars a month for the privilege of coming into the United States and honestly taking advantage of our country. So we'll see how it works out.”

The United States plans to further boost tariffs on $200 billion in goods barring a deal before the March 1 deadline, which marks the end of a 90-day tariffs truce.

A Hawaiian Snowstorm Brought Winds, Flood, Snow to the Tropical Paradise

Winds reaching speeds of up to 190 mph uprooted trees, leaving them across roadways and power lines.

At Kapiolani Park in Honolulu, winds took down kiawe trees believed to be nearly a century old, reported local station KNHL. Snowfall is not unheard of in Hawaii and often blankets the state’s highest mountains.

But snow in the Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area on the island of Maui might be a first.

Snow is seen on the ground in Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area in Kula, Hawaii on the island of Maui. Feb.11, 2019Lance Endo/AP

Sam Lemmo, Administrator of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources, said that “We rarely, if ever, have seen the combination of record high on-shore waves, coupled with gale force winds.”

National Weather Service Meteorologist Matt Foster told the Star-Advertiser that “the immediate threat from this strong, low-pressure system is about over.”

Flooding is also affecting some areas in Hawaii after a strong winter storm hit the area. Feb. 11, 2019 U.S. Coast Guard

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Chefs Create King Kong Sculpture Made Entirely Out of Chocolate

Chefs Amaury Guichon and Christophe Morel can do some serious “chest-thumping” over their recent creation—a 6-foot tall, edible milk chocolate sculpture recreating the image of “King Kong” atop the Empire State Building.

A time-lapse video shows the two with 135 pounds of milk chocolate, using various sculpting tools in almost a building-and-trades fashion to make the superstructure. Then creating the intricate side details with carving tools, before hand-fashioning the angry “Kong” and placing him atop the building, complete with bi-plane in hand.

The project took 26 hours to complete. There is no word yet on when and how the marvelous creation was or will be consumed.