Wednesday, 16 July 2025

Trump told GOP lawmakers he would likely fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell soon, according to sources and officials. Trump later denied he would dismiss Powell, but reports indicate he has drafted a letter to remove him and showed it to House Republicans.

Trump threatened to impose drug and pharmaceutical tariffs as soon as August 1, indicating a low initial tariff to give firms time to build capacity before making it "very high." He also announced an Indonesia trade deal with a 19% tariff rate, significantly below the 32% previously threatened, in exchange for Indonesia purchasing 50 Boeing jets.

Trump reportedly suggested to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy that Ukraine could target Moscow with weapons, but later publicly stated Ukraine should not bomb Moscow. Congressional concern has been raised about this messaging potentially allowing Putin additional time to seize territory.

Trump criticized his MAGA supporters for demanding more disclosure of the Jeffrey Epstein files, calling the case "sordid but boring" and suggesting some information could be false. House Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP lawmakers have called for the full release, creating a rift within the party.

Trump's attempt to impose tariffs on Brazil as leverage to help rightwing ally Jair Bolsonaro avoid jail backfired, sparking a wave of anger and giving a political boost to rival Luis Inácio Lula. The tariff ultimatum was widely criticized within Brazil.

The Trump administration deported migrants to Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), an African country with a troubling human rights record. Deportees from Vietnam, Jamaica, Laos, Cuba, and Yemen were sent there, following similar deployments to South Sudan earlier in the month.

Most Americans are dissatisfied with Trump's priorities, according to a CNN/SSRS poll released on July 16. The poll reflects public concern about the direction of the administration's policy agenda.

Columbia University adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism as it seeks to restore $400 million in federal funds frozen by the Trump administration over alleged failures to protect Jewish students on campus.

Malaysia and other nations have criticized the Trump administration's nomination of Nick Adams as U.S. ambassador to Malaysia, with Malaysians calling the appointment an "insult" and citing concern over Adams' controversial comments about Israel.

Trump administration officials are considering removing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on grounds that he mismanaged a multibillion-dollar update to the Fed's Washington headquarters, though legal experts say Trump likely lacks a case to remove him.