TARIFF SOCIAL

US-Denmark-Greenland security pact grants permanent US control.
Trump announced an agreement with Denmark and Greenland giving the US permanent control over Greenland's security, barring adversary bases or investments without US approval and initiating a large US military buildup on the island.

US strikes Iranian targets near Strait of Hormuz.
Trump announced ongoing US military strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, retaliating for Iran's attempted sea-mine placement and missile launches at a US base in Jordan.

White House bans CNN, MSNBC, and Politico.
Trump imposed an immediate ban on CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from the White House, framing it as an assault on 'fake news'; the outlets sued to regain access, with more bans threatened.

EV mandate terminated under new fuel economy standards.
Trump approved new fuel economy standards eliminating the Biden-era EV mandate, aimed at lowering car prices for American families.

Escalating trade pressure on Canada.
Trump moved to bar Bombardier from selling products in the US unless it builds domestically, directed the GSA to strip Canadian-origin products from federal procurement schedules, and pursued a potash purchase deal with Belarus to replace Canadian supply, all citing Canada's failure to restore trade reciprocity.

US strikes Venezuela, captures Maduro, seizes oil reserves.
US forces attacked Venezuela and captured Nicolas Maduro, and by month's end Trump announced an agreement giving the US majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil reserves, with the crude slated to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Iran campaign: Hormuz blockade and economic warfare.
Trump canceled a planned military strike on Iran but imposed a naval blockade giving the US control of the Strait of Hormuz, cleared the strait of mines under a zero-tolerance policy, and launched a sweeping sanctions and economic-isolation campaign including secondary penalties on Iran's financial partners.

50% tariffs set on Canadian cars and steel.
After briefly pausing threatened 50% tariffs on Canada amid trade talks, Trump announced that beginning January 1, 2027, all Canadian cars, trucks, auto parts, and steel would face 50% tariffs, with exemptions for goods produced in the US or companies relocating operations there.

Medicaid to end gender transition care for minors.
At Trump's direction, CMS announced that Medicaid would no longer fund gender transition surgeries or hormones for minors.

US ends Iran ceasefire, imposes naval blockade of Iran.
Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran over and launched a sweeping military and economic campaign, ordering a full naval blockade of Iranian ports while keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, threatening to bomb Iranian infrastructure over attacks on shipping, and warning of retaliation for any killing of US soldiers or Houthi proxy strikes.

Gaza disarmament agreement under Trump 20-Point Plan.
Trump announced a historic agreement for the complete disarmament of Hamas and all armed groups in Gaza, featuring a phased Israeli withdrawal, an International Stabilization Force, and a new Palestinian police force under his 20-Point Plan.

Escalating tariff schedule on imported generic drugs.
Trump unveiled a plan to reshore pharmaceutical manufacturing by setting a 0% tariff on imported generic drugs for two years starting August 2026, rising to 100% for one year and 200% thereafter.

Section 301 investigation and threatened tariffs on the EU.
Trump opened a Section 301 investigation into EU fines against American companies and signaled retaliatory tariffs on the European Union.

US-Saudi civil nuclear deal tied to Abraham Accords.
Trump announced approval of a US-Saudi civil nuclear deal with no enrichment, conditioned on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords.

Iran nuclear deal ends naval blockade of Strait of Hormuz.
After maintaining a naval blockade and exchanging strikes with Iran—including a downed US Apache and later attacks on missile, drone, and radar sites—Trump announced a deal barring Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon in exchange for long-term inspections, reopening the Strait of Hormuz toll-free under a 60-day ceasefire, with escrowed Iranian funds released only to buy US food and medical supplies.

Trump brokers Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.
Trump said he persuaded PM Netanyahu to turn back Israeli troops headed for a raid on Beirut and negotiated a mutual ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, later pressing for a complete cessation of hostilities across all regional fronts.

100% tariff threatened over foreign digital services taxes.
Trump announced that any country imposing a Digital Services Tax on American companies would immediately face a 100% tariff on all goods sent to the US, superseding existing trade agreements.

FISA reauthorization tied to SAVE Act election overhaul.
Trump conditioned his approval of FISA Section 702 reauthorization on passage of the SAVE America Act—mandating voter photo ID, proof of citizenship, mail-in ballot restrictions, and bans on transgender sports and minors' surgeries—which he also folded into a proposed $350 billion military reconciliation bill.

US strike kills Tren de Aragua leader Niño Guerrero.
Trump announced that US Southern Command executed a kinetic strike killing Niño Guerrero, leader of the Tren de Aragua gang, in coordination with Venezuela.

US blockades Iran in Strait of Hormuz, then negotiates peace deal.
Trump launched 'Project Freedom,' a naval blockade and escort operation in the Strait of Hormuz that saw US destroyers destroy Iranian boats, drones, and missiles. After repeatedly threatening and twice calling off large-scale strikes, he secured a tentative agreement to reopen the strait, destroy Iran's enriched uranium under IAEA oversight, and pressed regional powers to join the Abraham Accords.

EU auto tariffs hiked to 25% with July deadline for zero tariffs.
Trump raised tariffs on EU cars and trucks to 25%, exempting US-built vehicles, and gave the EU until July 4, 2026 to fully implement the Turnberry trade deal or face sharply higher tariffs across the board.

Major European force realignment: troops out of Germany, into Poland.
The administration announced the withdrawal of thousands of US troops from Germany, with possible further drawdowns in Spain and Italy, while deploying an additional 5,000 troops to Poland.

Three-day Russia-Ukraine ceasefire and prisoner swap.
Trump announced a May 9-11 ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, suspending hostilities and exchanging 1,000 prisoners from each side.

Gabbard to depart as Director of National Intelligence.
Trump announced DNI Tulsi Gabbard would leave the administration on June 30, with Principal Deputy Aaron Lukas serving as Acting Director.

U.S. air campaign, blockade, and deal with Iran over Strait of Hormuz.
Trump prosecuted a month-long military campaign against Iran, striking bridges, power plants, and military leadership in Tehran, imposing a U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports, and intercepting the cargo ship TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman. After Pakistani-mediated talks and a 50% tariff threat on any country arming Iran, the confrontation ended with an agreement in which Iran pledged to keep the Strait of Hormuz permanently open, halt uranium enrichment, and surrender nuclear material recovered from U.S. B-2 strikes, with the blockade to remain until full compliance.

Israel-Lebanon ceasefire brokered, first leader contact since 1983.
Trump facilitated the first direct communication between Israeli and Lebanese leaders in over three decades, producing a ceasefire that was subsequently extended by three weeks following an Oval Office meeting with representatives of both countries. The administration also prohibited further Israeli bombing of Lebanon and committed U.S. assistance in countering Hezbollah.

EPA greenhouse gas endangerment finding revoked.
Trump executed an action canceling the Obama-era EPA endangerment finding, the legal foundation underpinning federal greenhouse gas regulation and a cornerstone of U.S. climate policy for more than a decade.

Bondi out as Attorney General; Blanche named acting AG.
Attorney General Pam Bondi departed the administration for the private sector, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche — Trump's former personal defense lawyer — elevated to Acting Attorney General.

U.S. Wages Sustained Military Campaign Against Iran.
Trump directed a month-long air and naval offensive against Iran, sinking roughly 19 Iranian naval and mine-laying vessels, destroying Iran's naval headquarters, bombing military targets on Kharg Island and along Iran's Hormuz shoreline, and reporting the killing of a top Iranian leader. He demanded Iran's unconditional surrender, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ordered the Development Finance Corporation to insure Gulf maritime trade, called for a multinational naval coalition to escort tankers, and by month's end paused strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure through April 6 while negotiating an end to hostilities with what he described as a new Iranian regime.

Major Defense Contractors to Quadruple Weapons Production.
After a White House meeting with the CEOs of Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, BAE Systems, Honeywell Aerospace, and L3Harris, Trump announced the firms agreed to quadruple output of top-tier ("Exquisite Class") weaponry and sharply increase medium-grade munitions production, with new plants already breaking ground across multiple states.

$300 Billion Reliance Refinery Deal in Brownsville, Texas.
Trump announced a $300 billion agreement with India's Reliance to build the first new U.S. oil refinery in 50 years at the Port of Brownsville, calling it the largest deal in U.S. history.

Mullin Replaces Noem as Homeland Security Secretary.
Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) was named Secretary of Homeland Security effective March 31, with Kristi Noem reassigned as Special Envoy for a new Western Hemisphere security initiative, the "Shield of the Americas." Mullin's first directives included deploying ICE agents to airports to supplement TSA during the shutdown.

U.S. Launches War on Iran, Kills Supreme Leader Khamenei.
The United States, in coordination with Israel, began large-scale combat operations against Iran targeting its missile infrastructure, navy, nuclear program, and proxy networks, and confirmed the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei along with other senior Iranian leaders. The administration said operations would continue indefinitely until objectives were achieved.

New Global Tariff Regime Imposed Under Section 122.
Trump signed an executive order imposing a baseline tariff on all U.S. imports under Section 122, initially set at 10% and raised to 15% the following day in response to a Supreme Court ruling constraining his prior tariff authorities. Existing Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs remained in place, and the administration opened new Section 301 investigations into foreign trading practices.

Trade Deals with India and Japan, Purchase Commitments from China.
Trump announced a trade agreement with India cutting the U.S. reciprocal tariff from 25% to 18% in exchange for India zeroing its tariffs, halting Russian oil purchases, and buying over $500 billion in U.S. energy, tech, and agricultural goods. A parallel deal with Japan launched its $550 billion U.S. investment commitment with LNG, power, and critical minerals projects, while a call with Xi Jinping produced Chinese pledges to buy 25 million tons of soybeans and additional U.S. oil, gas, and aircraft engines.

U.S. Military Strike Captures Venezuelan President Maduro.
U.S. forces conducted a military strike on Venezuela that captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were transported to the USS Iwo Jima. The operation, coordinated with U.S. law enforcement, effectively ended Maduro's rule and marked the most consequential U.S. military action in Latin America in decades.

Carrier Strike Group Deployed Toward Iran.
A naval armada led by the USS Abraham Lincoln was ordered toward Iran, with Trump demanding Tehran negotiate a deal barring nuclear weapons and warning of military action if it refused. The deployment opened a new confrontation with Iran over its nuclear program.

Greenland/Arctic Framework Reached with NATO at Davos.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced a framework agreement on Greenland and the Arctic, with Vice President Vance, Secretary Rubio, and Envoy Witkoff tasked to lead negotiations. In exchange, tariffs scheduled for February 1 were suspended.

Gaza Board of Peace Established; All U.S. Hostages Recovered.
Trump and world leaders signed the Gaza Board of Peace charter at Davos, creating a new international governance framework for postwar Gaza. The administration also announced the recovery of all 20 living American hostages and the remains of all deceased American hostages held in Gaza.

Kevin Warsh Nominated as Federal Reserve Chairman.
Trump nominated former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh to chair the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, a selection expected to reshape U.S. monetary policy for years. The same week, Trump fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner and nominated economist Brett Matsumoto to replace him.

$200 Billion Mortgage Bond Purchase Ordered Through Fannie and Freddie.
Trump directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to deploy $200 billion in cash reserves to purchase mortgage bonds, an unusual intervention aimed at lowering mortgage rates and monthly housing payments.

Trade Escalations Against South Korea and Canada.
Trump raised reciprocal tariffs on South Korean autos, lumber, pharmaceuticals and other goods from 15% to 25% after Seoul's legislature failed to ratify a July 2025 trade deal. He also threatened a 100% tariff on all Canadian goods if Canada concluded a trade deal with China and decertified all Canadian-made aircraft in a dispute over Gulfstream certification.

Total blockade ordered on sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers.
Trump ordered a complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, citing the Maduro regime's designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The order marked a sharp escalation of U.S. pressure on Caracas.

Biden-era autopen documents declared null and void.
Trump declared that all executive orders, pardons, commutations, and other documents signed by autopen during the Biden administration are terminated and have no legal effect, a sweeping claim that teed up extensive legal challenges over thousands of prior actions.

US strikes ISIS in Syria and Nigeria.
After an ISIS attack in Syria killed two U.S. soldiers and an interpreter, Trump ordered retaliatory strikes on ISIS strongholds in Syria carried out with the Syrian government's cooperation. Days later, he directed additional U.S. military strikes against ISIS fighters in northwest Nigeria, framed as a response to attacks on Christians.

NVIDIA H200 chip sales to China approved with 25% US cut.
Trump authorized NVIDIA to export H200 AI chips to approved customers in China and elsewhere, with the U.S. government collecting a 25% fee on sales. The same framework was extended to AMD, Intel, and other American chipmakers, reversing a prior hardline posture on advanced-chip exports.

Executive order preempting state AI regulations.
Trump announced a 'One Rule' executive order establishing a single federal rulebook for artificial intelligence and overriding state-level AI laws and approval regimes, a major centralization of authority over the fast-moving sector.

National Guard withdrawn from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland.
Trump ordered the removal of National Guard troops that had been deployed to Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland under his domestic crime and immigration enforcement push, while reserving the option to redeploy them.

Sweeping immigration crackdown: Third World migration paused.
Trump announced a permanent pause on migration from all 'Third World' countries, terminated Temporary Protected Status for Somalis, moved to revoke legal status for Afghans admitted to the U.S., ended federal benefits and subsidies for noncitizens, and pledged to denaturalize and deport migrants deemed security risks or 'non-compatible with Western Civilization.'

Resumption of U.S. nuclear weapons testing ordered.
Trump directed the Department of War to begin testing U.S. nuclear weapons for the first time since 1992, citing testing programs by other countries — a dramatic reversal of three decades of U.S. nuclear policy.

Venezuela airspace declared closed amid military pressure.
Trump declared the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela closed in its entirety, warning airlines, pilots, and alleged traffickers, marking a sharp escalation of the administration's military posture against the Maduro government.

Push to end Russia-Ukraine war with 28-point peace plan.
Trump dispatched Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow to meet with Putin and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to meet with Ukrainian officials, launching a high-level effort to finalize a 28-point framework to end the war.

Central Asia summit and Abraham Accords expansion.
Trump hosted the first C5+1 summit at the White House with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan, securing a $100+ billion, ten-year Uzbek investment commitment and announcing that Kazakhstan will join the Abraham Accords.

Epstein files release signed into law; DOJ probe ordered.
After directing the DOJ and FBI to investigate Jeffrey Epstein's ties to Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, and JPMorgan Chase, Trump signed bipartisan legislation compelling the release of the Epstein files.

Biden autopen-signed orders declared void.
Trump declared that all documents signed by Joe Biden via autopen — which he claimed accounted for roughly 92% of Biden's signatures, including executive orders and immigration admissions — are terminated and of no further force or effect, setting up major legal challenges.

Gaza war ends under Trump peace plan; hostages released.
Israel and Hamas signed Phase One of Trump's peace plan, triggering a ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal to an agreed line, and the return of all 20 living hostages. Trump traveled to the region to sign the agreement at a Gaza Peace Summit, with Phase Two focused on returning deceased hostages' remains amid repeated US threats of military action if Hamas broke the deal.

US-China trade confrontation ends in sweeping deal with Xi.
After Beijing announced rare earth export controls, Trump threatened an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods and export controls on critical software effective November 1, and briefly cancelled his planned APEC meeting with Xi. The standoff culminated in a late-month agreement under which China resumed purchases of US soybeans and farm products, maintained rare earth flows, cooperated on fentanyl interdiction, and committed to buying American energy.

Asia trip yields trillion-dollar investment and security pacts.
On a swing through Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, Trump brokered a signed Thailand-Cambodia peace treaty, secured a South Korea deal bringing $350 billion in payments and $600+ billion in corporate investment in exchange for lower tariffs, approved South Korean construction of a nuclear-powered submarine at Philadelphia Shipyards, and announced a Toyota commitment exceeding $10 billion in new US auto plants alongside rare earth and trade agreements with Malaysia.

US launches lethal strikes on drug vessels; breaks with Colombia.
The Department of War carried out repeated lethal strikes on alleged narco-trafficking boats and a submarine off Venezuela and in the Eastern Pacific, killing more than 20 people designated as narco-terrorists. Trump simultaneously cut off all US payments and subsidies to Colombia, accusing President Petro of complicity in drug production and threatening direct US action against Colombian drug operations.

US to resume nuclear weapons testing.
Trump directed the Department of War to begin testing US nuclear weapons immediately, ending a decades-long American moratorium and framing the move as matching the activities of other nuclear powers.

Trade talks with Canada terminated and tariffs raised.
Trump ended all US-Canada trade negotiations and imposed an additional 10% tariff on Canadian goods, citing an Ontario ad campaign using edited Ronald Reagan footage that he said was designed to influence pending Supreme Court tariff litigation.

Military launches lethal strike campaign on alleged drug vessels.
Trump ordered a series of U.S. military kinetic strikes on vessels in international waters in the SOUTHCOM area of operations that the administration tied to Tren de Aragua and other designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations, killing at least 17 people across three strikes and opening a new direct-action military campaign against Latin American narcotics networks.

Sweeping new October 1 tariff wave on pharma, trucks, furniture, film.
Trump announced a broad set of sectoral tariffs taking effect October 1, including a 100% tariff on branded and patented pharmaceuticals, a 25% tariff on imported heavy trucks, 50% on kitchen cabinets and vanities, 30% on upholstered furniture, and a 100% tariff on films produced abroad, significantly expanding the administration's tariff regime beyond steel, autos, and country-specific rates.

Antifa designated terrorist organization after Kirk killing.
Following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Trump designated Antifa as a major terrorist organization, called for investigations of its funders, and announced a forthcoming executive order directing federal agencies to dismantle domestic terrorism networks.

Federal troops and task forces deployed to Democratic-run cities.
Trump escalated federal law-enforcement operations inside U.S. cities, establishing the Memphis Safe Task Force by presidential memorandum, confirming ongoing FBI-led operations in Chicago and Los Angeles, threatening to federalize Washington, D.C., and ordering Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to deploy troops to Portland to protect ICE facilities with authorization to use 'full force.'

Trump reverses Ukraine stance, backs full territorial recovery.
After months of pressuring Kyiv toward concessions, Trump publicly declared Ukraine capable of winning back all its original territory with European and NATO support and pledged continued U.S. weapons supply to the alliance, while conditioning new Russia sanctions and tariffs on NATO members halting Russian energy purchases.

TikTok divestiture deal finalized with China.
Following trade talks in Europe and a call with President Xi Jinping, Trump announced agreement on a deal to keep TikTok operating in the U.S. under restructured ownership and signed an accompanying presidential action on the app's national-security framework.

Federal takeover of DC policing and National Guard deployment.
Trump declared a public safety emergency in Washington, D.C., federalizing the city's police force and deploying the National Guard to address crime and homeless encampments. He later signed additional actions expanding the crackdown and threatened a complete federal takeover if Mayor Bowser continued disputing crime statistics, alongside companion executive orders ending cashless bail and directing prosecution for flag burning.

Alaska summit with Putin and push for Ukraine peace deal.
Trump met Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15, then hosted Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House to frame security guarantees for Ukraine and began arranging a Putin-Zelenskyy bilateral followed by a trilateral with Trump. The administration shifted its objective from a ceasefire to a direct peace agreement, with Vance, Rubio, and Witkoff leading shuttle diplomacy.

Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty signed at White House.
Trump hosted Azerbaijani President Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan for a White House signing ceremony ending a conflict of more than 35 years, paired with bilateral economic agreements between the U.S. and each country.

U.S. takes 10% equity stake in Intel.
Trump announced the federal government acquired roughly $11 billion in Intel stock — about 10% of the company — at no cost to taxpayers, and signaled intent to pursue similar equity arrangements with other firms, marking an unusual expansion of direct government ownership in a major U.S. corporation.

Tariff escalation on India, reciprocal tariffs, and digital-tax threats.
Reciprocal tariffs on multiple trading partners took effect August 6, Trump substantially raised tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil, extended the China tariff suspension for 90 days, launched a furniture import tariff probe, and threatened additional tariffs and chip export restrictions on any country imposing digital taxes or regulations on U.S. tech companies.

BLS commissioner fired after jobs report.
Trump fired Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, alleging manipulation of employment data, and nominated conservative economist E.J. Antoni to replace her — an unprecedented dismissal that raised concerns over the independence of federal economic statistics.

Executive order planned to end mail-in voting and voting machines.
Trump announced he would sign an executive order before the 2026 midterms banning mail-in ballots (except for the seriously ill and overseas military) and voting machines, mandating watermarked paper ballots and voter ID nationwide — a sweeping federal intervention into election administration traditionally run by states.

Sweeping tariff regime and trade deals take shape ahead of August 1.
Trump locked in an August 1 deadline for a new global tariff architecture, concluding framework deals with Japan (15% tariff, $550B Japanese investment), the European Union, South Korea (15% tariff, $350B investment), Vietnam (20%), Indonesia (19%), and the Philippines (19%), while announcing a 25% tariff-plus-penalty on India, a 50% tariff on copper imports, an additional 10% surcharge on countries aligning with BRICS, and a 90-day tariff extension for Mexico. Australia also agreed to lift its ban on U.S. beef and Pakistan entered an oil-development partnership, marking the most consequential reshaping of U.S. trade policy of the administration to date.

Federal crackdown on elite universities yields major settlements.
The administration extracted a landmark settlement from Columbia University requiring a $200 million federal penalty, $20 million-plus in payments to Jewish employees, an end to DEI programs, and merit-based admissions, followed by a similar settlement with Brown University. Trump simultaneously moved to halt billions in federal funding to Harvard, signaling a durable new posture toward higher education.

GENIUS Act signed, creating federal stablecoin framework.
Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law, establishing the first comprehensive U.S. regulatory regime for dollar-backed stablecoins and marking the administration's signature move to position the United States as the global hub for cryptocurrency.

Executive orders set national AI policy direction.
Trump signed a trio of executive orders promoting exports of the American AI technology stack, accelerating federal permitting for data center infrastructure, and barring 'woke AI' from federal use, laying out the administration's industrial and ideological framework for artificial intelligence.

US strikes Iranian nuclear sites, brokers Israel-Iran ceasefire.
The United States conducted military strikes on Iran's Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear facilities, marking a direct US entry into the Israel-Iran conflict. Within days Trump announced and enforced a ceasefire ending what he dubbed the '12 Day War,' while dropping planned sanctions relief after Ayatollah Khamenei's response and signaling China could continue buying Iranian oil.

National Guard and military deployed to Los Angeles over immigration protests.
Over the objections of California Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Bass, Trump federalized the National Guard and sent active-duty troops into Los Angeles to suppress protests against ICE deportation operations, while threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act. He paired the deployment with directives to arrest masked protesters and an expansion of ICE enforcement into Chicago, New York, and other sanctuary cities.

US-China trade deal reached at 55% tariff level.
Following a Trump-Xi call and negotiations in London led by Treasury Secretary Bessent, Commerce Secretary Lutnick, and USTR Greer, the administration announced a finalized framework under which the US maintains 55% tariffs on Chinese goods versus 10% the other way, with China resuming rare earth and magnet exports and the US reopening access for Chinese university students.

Trade talks with Canada terminated over digital services tax.
Trump abruptly ended all trade negotiations with Canada in response to its Digital Services Tax on US technology companies and said new tariffs on Canadian goods would be announced within a week, reopening a major front in his tariff regime with a top US trading partner.

Rwanda-DRC peace agreement brokered by the US.
Trump announced a peace treaty between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, negotiated under Secretary of State Rubio, with both governments dispatching representatives to Washington to sign the accord aimed at ending years of conflict in eastern Congo.

Sweeping tariff moves: UK deal, EU threat, steel doubled to 50%.
Trump announced a comprehensive US-UK trade deal with 10% tariffs, threatened a 50% tariff on the European Union (later extended to July 9), doubled steel and aluminum tariffs from 25% to 50%, approved the US Steel-Nippon Steel partnership, authorized a 100% tariff on foreign-produced films, and declared China in violation of its recent trade agreement after a 'total reset' negotiated in Switzerland.

Executive order tying US drug prices to lowest global prices.
Trump signed a 'Most Favored Nation' executive order directing that US prescription drug prices be tied to the lowest prices paid in other developed nations, with direct-to-consumer sales bypassing middlemen, which he projected would cut US drug prices by 30% to 80%.

Middle East trip: Syria sanctions lifted, hostage freed, ceasefires.
During a Middle East trip, Trump announced the lifting of all US sanctions on Syria and named Tom Barrack as envoy, secured the release of Edan Alexander—the last living American hostage held by Hamas—brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and launched direct Russia-Ukraine ceasefire negotiations following a two-hour call with Putin.

Nuclear energy overhaul via three executive orders.
Trump signed three executive orders to reform nuclear reactor testing at the Department of Energy, restructure the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and reinvigorate the US nuclear industrial base, marking the most significant federal push to expand nuclear power in decades.

Escalating federal campaign against Harvard.
Trump moved to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status, demanded the university turn over names and countries of origin of all foreign students, called for ending federal grant funding, and floated redirecting $3 billion in grants to trade schools.

Sweeping tariff regime: China hit with 125%, 90-day pause for others.
After China refused to withdraw retaliatory tariffs, Trump escalated duties on Chinese imports to 125% while authorizing a 90-day pause with a reduced 10% reciprocal tariff for over 75 countries that opened negotiations, triggering active trade talks with Japan, South Korea, and others. He also launched national security tariff investigations into semiconductors and the electronics supply chain and pledged federal aid to farmers caught in the trade war.

Coercive deals with major law firms yield $1B+ in pro bono work.
Trump secured agreements with six major law firms—Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Simpson Thacher, Allen Overy Shearman Sterling, Willkie Farr, and Cadwalader—committing over $1 billion in pro bono services for administration-aligned causes, ending DEI hiring practices, and foregoing political viewpoint screening, in exchange for withdrawal of EEOC investigations.

Schedule Policy/Career rule reclassifies federal workforce.
The Office of Personnel Management issued new civil service regulations reclassifying career federal employees in policy-related roles as 'Schedule Policy/Career,' stripping civil service protections and allowing removal of those deemed insufficiently aligned with the president's agenda—a revival and expansion of the first-term Schedule F concept.

Executive order revives coal industry.
Trump signed an executive order rolling back Biden-era restrictions on coal production and directing agencies to reinvigorate the domestic coal industry, part of a broader energy push that also included expanded offshore critical minerals access and new Gulf drilling expected to add 100,000 barrels per day.

TikTok deadline extended another 75 days.
Trump signed an executive order extending the deadline for TikTok's divestiture by 75 days to allow continued negotiations over a US ownership deal, keeping the app operational.

Tariff escalation: autos, Canada metals, and Venezuela oil buyers.
Trump imposed a 25% tariff on all imported automobiles and auto parts, doubled tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50% in response to Ontario's electricity surcharge, and announced a 25% secondary tariff on any country buying Venezuelan oil or gas. He also threatened a 200% tariff on EU wine and alcohol and set April 2 as the start date for broader reciprocal and agricultural tariffs.

US military campaign against the Houthis.
Trump ordered sustained aerial strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen to reopen Red Sea shipping lanes, declared that further Houthi attacks would be treated as attacks by Iran, and warned Tehran of 'dire' consequences if it continued supplying the group.

Partial Russia-Ukraine ceasefire brokered.
After calls with Putin and Zelenskyy, Trump announced a US-brokered immediate ceasefire on energy and infrastructure targets in the Russia-Ukraine war, with negotiations continuing toward a full ceasefire. He appointed Gen. Keith Kellogg as Special Envoy to Ukraine and threatened large-scale banking sanctions and tariffs on Russia absent a final settlement.

Executive order to dismantle the Department of Education.
Trump signed an executive order directing the wind-down of the Department of Education and the transfer of authority over schools to states and local communities, one of the most significant federal restructuring efforts of his second term.

Pressure campaign against universities and major law firms.
The administration cancelled $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University over antisemitism concerns and threatened to cut all federal funding to schools that permit 'illegal protests.' Paul, Weiss and Skadden Arps agreed to provide $40 million and $100 million respectively in pro bono work for administration priorities and to end DEI practices, in exchange for withdrawal or avoidance of punitive executive orders.

Tariffs launched on Mexico, Canada, and China; reciprocal regime unveiled.
Trump invoked IEEPA to impose 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada (10% on Canadian energy) and an additional 10% on China, citing fentanyl and migration. The Mexico and Canada tariffs were paused for 30 days after border concessions, then re-confirmed to take effect March 4 alongside a further China hike. Mid-month, Trump signed a sweeping 'Fair and Reciprocal Plan' directing matching tariffs on all trading partners — treating VATs, subsidies, and nonmonetary barriers as equivalent to tariffs — and ordered a Section 232 investigation into copper imports.

Ukraine peace push opens, then collapses in Oval Office rupture.
Trump launched direct negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war after calls with Putin and Zelenskyy, dispatching Bessent to Kyiv and a Vance-Rubio delegation to Munich, and advancing a US-Ukraine critical minerals deal framed as recouping prior US aid. The effort unraveled February 28 after a contentious Oval Office meeting with Zelenskyy, after which Trump suspended talks and said Zelenskyy was 'not ready for peace.'

Executive order curbing independent agencies.
Trump signed an executive order placing independent federal regulatory agencies under direct presidential oversight, a sweeping assertion of unitary executive authority with broad implications for the SEC, FTC, FCC, and similar bodies.

Purge of Pentagon and DOJ leadership.
Trump fired Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown and nominated Lt. Gen. Dan 'Razin' Caine as his replacement, ordered Hegseth to solicit nominees for five other top military posts, and dismissed the service academies' Boards of Visitors. He also terminated all remaining Biden-era US Attorneys and installed Dan Bongino as FBI Deputy Director under Kash Patel.

Executive order barring transgender athletes from women's sports.
Trump signed an order reserving women's sports for biological women, directing Title IX investigations and potential loss of federal funding for schools that allow transgender participation on women's teams or in women's facilities.

Inauguration Day executive order blitz reshapes federal policy.
On his first day back in office, Trump signed a sweeping set of executive actions: withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization, declaring national emergencies at the southern border and on energy (with accompanying orders to expand production and tighten border security), creating the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and launching a major reform of the federal workforce. Additional Day One orders kept TikTok operational pending a sale and targeted former officials over unlawful disclosures.

Mass pardons for January 6 defendants and Ross Ulbricht.
Trump issued sweeping pardons for January 6 Capitol riot defendants, with the first prisoners walking out of the DC Jail within hours of his inauguration. The following day he granted a full and unconditional pardon to Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, who had been serving two life sentences plus 40 years.

Colombia tariff showdown establishes deportation leverage.
After Colombia refused US military deportation flights, Trump imposed emergency 25% tariffs (set to double in a week), visa revocations and a travel ban on Colombian officials, enhanced CBP inspections, and IEEPA financial sanctions. Colombia relented within hours, setting an early template for using tariff threats as immigration enforcement leverage.

Executive order bans gender-affirming care for minors.
Trump signed an executive order prohibiting federally supported gender-affirming medical treatment for people under 19, directing agencies to cut off federal funding to hospitals and institutions that provide such care to minors.