This week at the White House, several key initiatives in tech, STEM, and sustainability are taking center stage. Here’s a look at the major developments taking place in Washington with President Trump. No opinions—just facts.
Trump’s Global Tariffs Take Effect, Hitting China With 104% Rate
A sweeping new round of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump went into effect early Wednesday, targeting imports from 86 countries and escalating trade tensions worldwide.
The tariffs—branded by the administration as “reciprocal”—start at a base rate of 10% and increase significantly depending on the country of origin. China faces the steepest penalty, with a combined tariff rate of 104% on its exports to the U.S. This includes a previously imposed 20% duty, a 34% surcharge, and a newly signed 50% hike finalized late Tuesday.
Judge Rules White House Can’t Ban AP From Oval Office, Air Force One
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the White House violated the First Amendment by barring Associated Press reporters and photographers from the Oval Office, Air Force One, and other restricted press areas.
The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, came after the AP filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s decision to restrict access. The ban was enacted after the AP declined to adopt President Donald Trump’s preferred name for the Gulf of Mexico—the “Gulf of America”—in its coverage.
McFadden, a Trump appointee, said the White House’s actions were unconstitutional and ordered access to be restored. However, he paused his ruling until Sunday to give the administration time to appeal.
Trump Not Trying to Crash Market with Tariffs, Says Economic Adviser
White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett emphasized on Sunday that President Donald Trump is not intentionally causing a market crash. Hassett’s comments came after Trump shared a video on his Truth Social platform, suggesting that his tariffs were purposefully driving the markets down as part of a broader economic strategy.
The video, which originally appeared on TikTok, claimed that Trump’s actions would lead to a stock market drop of 20%, ultimately benefiting U.S. Treasury securities, forcing the Federal Reserve to reduce interest rates, and weakening the dollar.
Supreme Court Allows Trump to End Teacher Training Grants as Part of Anti-DEI Policy
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Trump administration, allowing the termination of Education Department grants for teacher training programs that were deemed to violate the administration’s new policy against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The 5-4 ruling blocked a lower court’s decision, which had argued that the administration failed to follow proper legal procedures when cutting the grants.
The decision impacts approximately $65 million in outstanding grant payments. This marks the first win for President Trump at the Supreme Court in his second term. The ruling was split along ideological lines, with the conservative justices in the majority and Chief Justice John Roberts siding with the liberal justices in dissent.
