Former President Donald Trump has no shortage of controversies he’s created. Notably, he grabbed national headlines with his incendiary threats and demands surrounding federal infrastructure funding and tariffs. His remarks arrive amid ongoing tensions over the ongoing trade war and competitive tensions over federal contracts.
That’s when Trump dropped his biggest bombshell. He threatened to pull federal money from California because of a law protecting transgender athletes. Along with the NCAA, this action reaffirms his administration’s commitment to address discriminatory policies embedded in athletics. For one thing, he deeply believes that change is needed. Trump acted to cancel the last federal contracts with Harvard University. He points to his frustration over the way the institution has implemented some policies.
Public broadcasting institution National Public Radio (NPR) has been bold enough to follow suit, suing Trump. This action follows an executive order attempting to eliminate federal funding for the group. The lawsuit underscores the growing divide between media enterprises and the previous White House. Yet this conflict has largely been framed as a free speech and funding dispute.
On the trade front, Trump has put EU on notice. He first threatened to begin slapping on these tariffs in the amount of 50% beginning June 1. It looks like European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asked for an extension. In response, he decided to push the implementation of these tariffs back until July 9. Trump claims that this delay is indicative of successful negotiations, stating, “After I did what I did, they said, ‘We’ll meet anytime you want.’”
Critics have pointed out that Trump’s tactics are nothing short of an on-again, off-again approach to tariffs. Even so, Trump has already defended himself from such criticism, claiming that his hardball approach has forcefully reignited trade negotiations. He is undaunted and continues to argue that these kinds of negotiations are essential to getting the right deals for the U.S.
Trump says he intends to pardon a three dozen or more reality TV shows. These stars have allegedly committed fraud and tax evasion. This announcement has drawn mixed reactions from the public and political analysts alike, as it raises questions about justice and accountability.
A judge just invalidated one of Trump’s executive orders, which attacked one of the country’s preeminent law firms. This decision highlights the wave of legal attacks that his administration has yet not stopped swimming against.
“It’s called negotiation,” – Trump
As that story continues to develop, we’ll all hopefully be able to gauge soon how these moves will proceed to shape Trump’s political future. His legacy will be judged by friends and foes. Federal funding, tariffs, and ongoing legal challenges add to a very complex landscape. Despite this unfolding chaos, the prior president has a strong hand when it comes to steering policy debates.