Following a major tariff announcement that triggered market instability and inflation fears, President Trump spent the weekend at Mar-a-Lago promoting his agenda and posting on Truth Social that it was a “GREAT TIME TO GET RICH,” drawing criticism for being out of touch with public anxiety. Economists, lawmakers, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned of inflation and recession risks, but Trump instead pressured Powell to cut interest rates, undermining the Fed’s independence while spreading misinformation—including a false Warren Buffett quote—to defend his policies.
Trump’s tariffs also derailed a nearly finalized deal to restructure TikTok’s U.S. operations, after China withdrew support in response to the trade escalation. Though Trump portrayed this as strategic leverage, the collapse blurred lines between trade policy and digital regulation.
Meanwhile, a federal judge ordered the administration to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident wrongfully deported to El Salvador despite legal protections, calling the deportation unconstitutional and based on flimsy claims. In another legal setback, a judge ruled FEMA violated a court order by withholding disaster grants as part of a covert campaign against sanctuary jurisdictions.
Trump scored a narrow Supreme Court win allowing his administration to cut $65 million in teacher training grants tied to DEI programs. Critics called it ideologically driven and legally unjustified. Separately, a judge blocked Trump’s attempt to dismantle the Inter-American Foundation, ruling that only its bipartisan board—not the president—had authority over its leadership.
Collectively, these events highlight Trump’s second-term approach: centralized power, disregard for legal norms, and the use of economic and executive tools to advance political goals at the expense of institutional integrity and public trust.
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