Key Events (10)
Trump said he spoke with Russian President Putin and that Putin is ready to begin talks to end the war in Ukraine. Trump also stated he is "OK with" keeping Ukraine out of NATO, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said "everything is on the table" to end the war, suggesting potential cuts to US troops in Europe.
Trump stated the U.S. will "own" Gaza, a proposal criticized by over 350 rabbis and Jewish activists who signed an advertisement opposing the plan as ethnic cleansing. Ukraine's President Zelenskyy also expressed concern about Trump's approach to peace negotiations without Ukrainian involvement.
Trump announced plans for "reciprocal" tariffs on trade partners, with advisers to devise new tariff levels reflecting countries' tariffs, taxes, subsidies and other policies. Trump acknowledged that U.S. prices "could go up" but no specific new tariffs were announced on this date.
Trump and Elon Musk launched mass layoffs at federal agencies, with termination notices sent to the Department of Education and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) as part of efforts to downsize the federal government.
A federal judge temporarily blocked Trump's plan to end federal funding for transgender youth health providers. The order was placed on hold after families and medical providers sued over access to gender-affirming care.
Pentagon schools suspended library operations for a "compliance review" of books related to gender and discriminatory equity ideology topics, per a memo sent under Trump orders.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, was sworn in as health secretary after Senate confirmation. Kennedy gained backing of key Republican senators despite controversy over his views on vaccines.
Denver's public school system sued the Trump administration over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to schools, arguing that expanded immigration enforcement diverts resources and causes decreased attendance.
Trump's freeze on USAID funding is causing global disruptions, with a 90-day stop-work order affecting clinics worldwide and halting vital healthcare services for millions of women and girls. The cuts have drawn criticism from global health experts regarding threats to U.S. soft power.
Trump proposed a nuclear arms reduction deal with Russia and China aimed at halving defense budgets, stating "We're all spending a lot of money that we could be spending on other things."