Key Events (10)
Trump announced 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to be introduced this week, part of an escalating trade policy. The announcement came as Chinese counter-tariffs on US goods took effect, with the president threatening additional tariffs to come.
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to immediately restore billions of dollars in frozen federal funding, ruling that the administration had defied an earlier court order to resume disbursement. The administration faced the second ruling in as many days on the funding freeze issue.
Trump stated that Palestinians will have no right of return to Gaza under his plan, saying people will have no alternative but to leave the territory after the destruction left by Israel. He proposed the US involvement in rebuilding Gaza and resettling its population.
Trump revoked the security clearance of former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, calling him a 'bad guy,' and announced plans to remove clearances for New York officials Letitia James and Alvin Bragg, who had prosecuted him.
Trump directed the Treasury Department to end the production of pennies, claiming the minting of the one-cent coins costs more than their face value. The directive echoed earlier statements from Elon Musk on the same issue.
A federal judge maintained a block on Trump's mass buyout program for federal workers, with federal employees claiming in a lawsuit that the 'deferred resignation' program is illegal because Congress has not approved it.
Law professors and constitutional scholars have concluded that the nation faces a constitutional crisis as President Trump tests the boundaries of executive power through his actions, raising significant questions about the separation of powers.
Trump named a loyalist as interim leader of the Kennedy Center and purged 18 board members appointed by President Biden, who were removed from the center's official roster along with the former chairman David M. Rubenstein.
The EU announced it would retaliate immediately if Trump imposes the new tariffs, with bloc leaders promising to protect EU interests after the US president escalated his aggressive trade policy.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth filed a memo stating that the US military will no longer accept transgender troops, implementing an executive order signed by Trump.
Pardons & Commutations (2)
Crime: Corruption; previously convicted in relation to federal charges
Sentence: 14-year prison sentence
Source ↗Crime: Wire fraud under color of official right (eight counts); conspiracy/attempted extortion under color of official right; conspiracy to solicit and solicitation of bribe (three counts); making false statements
Sentence: 168 months' imprisonment (as amended); 24 months' supervised release; $20,000 fine (December 7, 2011)
Source ↗