Tracking Trump: The trade war, Ukraine and U.S. strikes against Houthis
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President Trump's whirlwind of policy hauls kept spinning this week as he navigated international trade disputes, air strikes in Yemen and a ceasefire proposal for Ukraine.
Here's our recap of major developments.
U.S. economic outlook sours amid trade war
Global investors are becoming wary of the possibility Trump will eventually follow through on his pledge of across-the-board tariffs on many of the largest U.S. trading partners.
- These trade conflicts have triggered worries about stagflation, a combination of stagnant growth and elevated inflation.
Catch up quick: The European Union announced $28 billion in counter tariffs Wednesday in response to Trump's levies on steel and aluminum, escalating the global trade war.
- The EU's move follows Trump's earlier tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China.
- While Trump temporarily paused tariffs for Mexico and Canada, uncertainty looms, leaving businesses and consumers on edge.
Go deeper: Trump threatens 200% wine tariffs as trade war with Europe shifts to alcohol
U.S. conducts air strikes in Yemen
Trump ordered on Saturday the largest wave of air strikes against Houthi targets since he assumed office, marking what a U.S. official said would be the start of "relentless" U.S. strikes, Axios' Barak Ravid writes.
- The strikes aimed at Houthi bases, leaders and missile defenses in Yemen follow Houthi attacks against Israel and commercial ships in the Red Sea, which immobilized vital international commercial shipping lanes.
- "To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY," Trump said on Truth Social Saturday.
- The president added that the strikes are a message to Iran, to which he sent a letter earlier this week proposing negotiations on a new nuclear deal.
Go deeper: U.S. conducts wide-ranging strikes against the Houthis in Yemen
Putin won't commit to ceasefire
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he needs more specifics regarding a U.S.-backed proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine before fully committing.
- Meanwhile, Trump asked Putin to "spare" thousands of Ukrainian soldiers "surrounded" in the Kursk region in Russia on Friday.
- The U.S. military assistance resumed on Tuesday after the U.S. president paused the aid following a public dispute with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- Leaders from both countries negotiated the ceasefire proposal announced on Tuesday.
Columbia protest leader targeted
The Trump administration is moving to revoke the green card of Columbia University protest leader Mahmoud Khalil. Though, federal court action has paused the White House's push to deport him.
- Immigration agents arrested Khalil, on Sunday, setting off free speech protests in New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. One of them ended in dozens of arrests Thursday in Manhattan.
- The White House is arguing Khalil's involvement in pro-Palestinian protests violates Trump's executive order banning antisemitism. Trump hailed Khalil's arrest on Monday and promised more activist arrests.
Context: The Trump administration has warned of funding cuts over its claims of antisemitism at 60 colleges and universities, including Harvard and Yale.
- It earlier pulled $400 million in federal grants and contracts from Columbia over antisemitism allegations, after which the university detailed disciplinary actions for student protesters on Thursday.
Zoom out: The Department of Education announced Tuesday it is cutting its workforce of more than 4,100 people by nearly half in the first step toward Trump's plans for a total shutdown of the agency.
Go deeper: Education secretary says mass layoffs first step toward shutting down DoE
EPA plans to revisits carbon cost
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Wednesday plans to revisit the social cost of carbon and its endangerment finding — this time taking into account the price tag associated with regulation.
- The social cost of carbon, which prices climate pollution per ton, is a metric that influences government regulations. The endangerment finding is the scientific basis for regulating greenhouse gases.
- "Challenging the science would be fraught," Axios' Andrew Freedman writes. Science "has pointed to increasingly obvious and severe present–day and forthcoming climate damages."
Instead, the Trump administration is attempting to introduce new considerations.
Go deeper: EPA's "swing for the fences" attempt to redo climate policy
Trump spikes football at Justice Department
For a president given to making and creating superlatives, Trump's off-the-cuff campaign-style speech was unlike any other ever given by an occupant of the White House at the department, Axios' Mark Caputo and Erin Doherty report.
- Trump paid his first visit to the Department of Justice Friday and denounced the prosecutors who once worked out of this office in public remarks.
- Despite his November victory, he won't let go of his grievances over his federal criminal cases, which have been dismissed. He didn't announce any new policies in a more than hour-long speech.
Go deeper: Trump spikes football at Justice Department
Trump picks who fail to make it to confirmation
The White House withdrew the nomination of Dave Weldon to be director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before a set Senate health committee confirmation hearing on Thursday, Axios' Caitlin Owens scooped.
- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose vaccine stances sparked public concern, said Weldon, also criticized for his anti-vaccine views, wasn't ready.
In other news, Adam Boehler, who oversaw unprecedented U.S. and Hamas negotiations on Trump's behalf, has withdrawn his nomination for the position of special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, Ravid writes Friday.
- A senior Trump administration official told Axios the move was planned to transition Boehler into a broader presidential envoy role.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with news of Boehler's withdrawal and U.S. strikes in Yemen.
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