Friday, 30 May 2025

Trump pledged to double tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum to 50% during an announcement at a U.S. Steel factory outside Pittsburgh. The announcement came amid ongoing legal challenges to his tariff authority, with courts issuing conflicting rulings that led to a temporary stay of a tariff-blocking decision.

Trump accused China of 'totally violating' its trade agreement with the United States and warned of further confrontation, marking an escalation in his tariff war with Beijing. The administration stated that US-China trade talks have 'stalled'.

Trump won a temporary reprieve as an appeals court granted a stay on a lower court ruling that blocked his tariffs, allowing tariffs to remain in place while the administration fights the legal challenge. This followed conflicting court decisions that created uncertainty over Trump's tariff authority.

The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to end Biden-era protections for more than 500,000 migrants facing humanitarian crises, reversing a hold on the administration's effort to revoke temporary protected status and deportation protections. The ruling enables the administration to proceed with its immigration enforcement agenda.

The State Department announced plans for a new 'remigration' office that would convert an existing bureau focused on settling people in the US into an agency overseeing deportations, escalating Trump's anti-immigration agenda. The move comes as the administration also cancelled student visa interviews at all US embassies worldwide.

Trump claimed he fired National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet, though experts suggest the president does not have legal grounds to remove her from the position. The firing continues Trump's conflicts with cultural institutions.

Elon Musk ended his tenure as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with Trump presenting him a golden key in an Oval Office send-off. Reports emerged that Musk had used ketamine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms while serving as a Trump adviser, sometimes dosing himself daily.

On the anniversary of his hush money conviction, Trump continues to fight his criminal case. A House Democrat pressed for more details on Trump's pardons, alleging the president has used them to reward political supporters.

The president of Somaliland stated that recognition of the breakaway territory as an independent state is 'on the horizon' following recent talks with Trump. Somaliland's independence has never been internationally recognized, and US overtures could have inflammatory consequences in the region.

The FBI is investigating efforts to impersonate White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, whose personal cellphone contacts were purportedly hacked and used with AI to communicate with lawmakers. The investigation reveals potential security breaches within the administration.