The Trump administration is navigating a series of controversial initiatives, including the consideration of a ‘quick reaction force’ of National Guard troops. Former President Donald Trump kicked off this politically fraught maneuver. In fact, the mayor of Washington D.C. went so far as to condemn the order to deploy troops in the capital as “unsettling and unprecedented.” This proposed force is a major part of the administration’s overall strategy. Most importantly, it directly addresses public safety issues that have been repeatedly raised by members of the district.
Alongside these domestic security assurances, President Trump’s side-by-side meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday was an unfortunate coincidence. The premise of this meeting has been framed by the administration as an early “listening exercise” for Trump, with particular emphasis on international relations and future partnerships. Following this meeting, the administration expressed a desire for a trilateral meeting with other global leaders to discuss pressing international issues.
Trump’s administration has come under fire for its efforts to put a more conservative cultural gloss over the Smithsonian. The administration plans to extend its control in this area, aiming to ensure that the institution “sparks children’s imagination, celebrates American history and ingenuity, serves as a symbol to the world of American greatness, and makes America proud,” according to statements made by officials.
The tension at George Washington University (GWU) has escalated. The Trump administration has targeted the university under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act for allegedly discriminating against Jewish students and faculty. The Department of Education stated, “The Department finds that despite actual notice of the abuses occurring on its campus, GWU was deliberately indifferent to the complaints it received.” This accusation is the latest chapter in the administration’s misguided obsession with campus policies related to diversity and inclusion.
Since his appointment, Trump has made waves by firing this administration’s former commissioner Erika McEntarfer. He has now nominated EJ Antoni, an anti-environment ideologue currently serving as chief economist at the rightwing Heritage Foundation to replace her. This change, we argue here, signals a broader turn away from establishment policies that are at odds with Trump’s more protectionist economic views.
That’s why Trump’s response to the latest inflation data, focusing on economic governance, is telling. He claimed that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell “needs to lower the rate.” His administration is making the effort to ensure that every piece of economic data that is released is accurate and credible. “We want to ensure that all of the data, the inflation data, the jobs data, any data point that is coming out of the BLS, is trustworthy and is accurate,” stated a White House spokesperson.
The administration’s anti-civil rights approach reaches even into criminal justice. Trump’s commitment to public safety is evident in his declaration that his administration will “relentlessly pursue and arrest every violent criminal in the district who breaks the law undermines public safety and endangers law-abiding Americans.” This position serves to placate today’s residents and future tourists to our nation’s capital, who are rightfully concerned about their safety as crime continues to climb.
In D.C., plans are in the works to address the city’s growing homelessness crisis. They’re looking at ways to transition people currently living on the streets into shelters, which will allow them more easily to access addiction and mental health services. “This option allows them to leave their encampment and access necessary support,” noted a spokesperson.
As these events play out, the Welcome Trump administration has its fair share of allies and opponents, both in the U.S. and internationally. The ripple effects of these policies can profoundly shape local and national landscapes.