Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Trump imposed a 50% tariff on India, citing its purchase of Russian oil as indirectly funding the Ukraine war. The move is being described as an 'own goal' by experts concerned about alienating a key ally, and countries from Brazil to India are exploring collective resistance to Trump's trade policies.

Former Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook faced potential firing by the Trump administration, prompting criticism from Treasury Secretary Yellen who called it 'unlawful.' Trump appointees are poised to control the Federal Reserve for decades, raising concerns about the institution's independence.

Trump administration withdrew an additional $175 million in federal funding from California's high-speed rail project, following an earlier cancellation of $4 billion in grants this summer.

The Trump administration placed FEMA staff who signed an open letter criticizing the agency on administrative leave, with organizers alleging retaliation against all public signers for raising concerns about capacity to respond to disasters.

National Guard troops deployed in Washington DC by the Trump administration are being used for non-military activities including raking leaves and clearing homeless camps as part of a broader effort to increase federal control over the capital.

The White House threatened to withhold sex education funds from states unless they remove references to transgender people from curricula, demanding states 'remove all references to gender ideology.'

Denmark summoned a U.S. diplomat after Danish media reported that three men with ties to Donald Trump allegedly attempted to infiltrate Greenlandic society in an influence campaign.

A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from deporting Kilmar Ábrego García, a man previously wrongfully deported to El Salvador, preventing his expulsion until October as his asylum case proceeds.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair attended a White House meeting with Trump on postwar Gaza, which reportedly also included Jared Kushner. The meeting focused on the future of the Gaza Strip, where Trump has previously mused about removing Palestinian residents.

Trump called for the death penalty in all murder cases in Washington DC as part of his broader crime agenda, though it is unclear how he would carry out this directive as the Supreme Court ruled mandatory death sentences unconstitutional nearly 50 years ago.