ante

Trump upped the ante by declaring that “all hell is going to break out” if all of the remaining hostages — not only those slated to be released Saturday — were not freed.

Trump quickly stopped the threatened tariffs on Mexico and Canada by claiming “victory” when in fact the outcome was very much a return to the status quo ante.

Trump has upped the ante recently with repeated comments about annexing Canada.

"And when you think you know where it is going, it turns away from its trajectory, upping the ante and finding its feet. What a shame it takes so long to get there though."

I walked across to an ante room where Assad would grant 10 or 15 minutes of private conversation before the interview.