Donald Trump’s spectacular return to the White House. Equally impressive, he’s now implementing a series of big policies changes. On Tuesday, Trump released his new plan to use tariffs and other measures to retaliate against Russia. He threatened to act if there was no movement toward ending the war in Ukraine within ten days. His administration has been very vocal pushing for the release of grand jury testimonies. These testimonies run parallel to high-profile sex trafficking cases against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
During a brief media availability aboard Air Force One, Trump punctuated the news by taking aim at those policies, saying, “They’ve got some really horrible policies. Much more than a foreign policy gaffe. His comments reveal a possible grander strategy as he aims to position himself on the home front and world stage.
Earlier in the day Trump signed a Republican budget tattoo. This new law will make that a $1 trillion cut from Medicaid starting in 2026. Advocates for equity in healthcare are scratching their heads with disappointment over this retreat. Critics counter that the cuts are deliberately aimed at increasing barriers for the most vulnerable populations. National Senior Citizens Law Center attorney David Lipschutz explained what these cuts will mean. He reinforced the burdens they place on lawfully present immigrants and Medicaid beneficiaries.
Will Trump really declare martial law and put U.S. citizens through such formidable violence? We expect that during his speech he will provide details on his recent decisions, as well as some overarching ideas or blueprints for America’s future.
Trump’s administration is equally moving to address regulation within the cryptocurrency industry. To help get started, he has ordered that a working group be formed to develop new guidelines for this fast-changing industry. This effort is a sign that Trump is aware of the increasing importance of digital currencies in the global economy.
He may have done the most by scaring India away from diversification. He warned that tariffs could target 20-25% if negotiations are not able to reach an end. He noted that although negotiations are still underway, no final operating levy has been agreed upon. This position is taken in the wake of increased United States government scrutiny of nations such as China, India and others regarding unfair trade practices.
Trump has now called on two federal judges, Richard Berman and Paul Engelmayer. He wants them to unseal the grand jury testimony that led to Epstein’s and Maxwell’s indictments. This move for transparency is a perfect illustration of Trump’s overall governance philosophy. He’s hoping to advance outcomes on issues he sees as critical to the American promise and justice.
Shortly thereafter, President Vladimir Putin’s chief spokesman Dmitry Peskov shot back at Trump’s tariff threats. He brought attention to the fact that Russia has been under sanctions for years and in effect, before that. He noted, “We have been living under a huge number of sanctions for quite a long time. Our economy operates under a huge number of restrictions.” Peskov indicated that Russia has developed resilience in facing these challenges and is closely monitoring statements from international leaders, including Trump.