Donald Trump, former U.S. President, has issued several significant statements and executive orders that are stirring political debate and public interest. On Monday, while addressing House Republicans in Miami, Trump emphasized the release of DeepSeek, a cutting-edge AI model by a Chinese firm, as a "wake-up call" for the U.S. technology sector. Trump has expressed his concern about the pace at which China is advancing in artificial intelligence, urging American companies to rise to the challenge.
In addition, Trump has sparked controversy by questioning whether he could be eligible to run for a third term as U.S. President, despite the constitutional prohibition against it. In a move that has further polarized opinions, he signed a series of executive orders late Monday night. These orders aim to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from the military, reinstate troops dismissed for refusing COVID-19 vaccines, and reassess the military's policy on transgender troops.
The executive orders were signed aboard Air Force One en route from Miami to Washington D.C. Among these directives is an order that mandates the Pentagon to eliminate “any vestiges” of DEI initiatives, which Trump claims foster a “race-based preferences system that subverts meritocracy” and leads to “unconstitutional discrimination.” His actions have drawn criticism, especially concerning the potential reimplementation of a ban on transgender troops—a policy he attempted during his first term but was overturned by President Joe Biden in 2021.
“I’ve been reading about China and some of the companies in China… coming up with a faster method of AI, and [a] much less expensive method,” said Trump, reflecting on the advancements in AI technology.
Trump's remarks about a potential third presidential term have raised eyebrows. The U.S. Constitution explicitly bars anyone from serving more than two terms as president. Despite this, Trump has alluded to uncertainties regarding campaign funding and its potential use.
“I’ve raised a lot of money for the next race that I assume I can’t use for myself, but I’m not 100% sure, because I don’t know,” Trump mused, further fueling speculation about his political ambitions.
Meanwhile, Trump's handling of the recent dismissal of 18 inspectors general from federal agencies has also come under fire. The dismissals have been widely condemned as illegal by various critics and watchdog organizations.
“Because we have the greatest scientists in the world. We always have the ideas. We’re always first. We’re going to unleash our tech companies and we’re going to dominate the future like never before,” Trump asserted confidently, emphasizing American innovation in response to China's technological advancements.
The Pentagon's reassessment of its transgender troops policy follows Trump's controversial attempt to ban transgender personnel during his previous administration. Legal representatives for transgender troops have already pledged to challenge any new ban that might emerge from this reassessment.
Karoline Leavitt, at 27 years old, is poised to make history as she steps into her role as White House press secretary on Tuesday. Her appointment marks her as the youngest individual ever to occupy this pivotal position in the administration.
“If it’s true – and nobody really knows if it is – I view that as a positive. You won’t be spending as much and you’ll get the same result, hopefully,” Trump remarked optimistically about potential cost efficiencies in AI development inspired by Chinese models.