What Did Donald Trump Do Today
May 6, 2025 Recap
Donald Trump’s bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was emblematic of the president’s now-familiar style of off-the-cuff commentary, boastful digressions, and a transactional approach to diplomacy that undermined the seriousness of the occasion. Throughout the appearance, Trump repeatedly claimed partial credit for Carney’s recent election victory and referred to it as “one of the greatest comebacks in the history of politics,” even implying it may have been greater than his own, framing the event around himself rather than the shared interests of two allied nations. His tone was highly informal, at times bordering on flippant, as he described redecorating the Oval Office with “24 karat gold” and “love,” and recounted anecdotes with questionable relevance, which diminished the sense of diplomatic gravity the moment required.
Policy discussion during the meeting lacked coherence and consistency. Trump praised the USMCA agreement as an improvement over NAFTA but also referred to it as “transitional” and suggested it may soon be renegotiated or even irrelevant. He oscillated between declaring it successful and threatening its termination, a contradiction that creates instability and uncertainty for one of America’s largest trading relationships. On trade generally, Trump reiterated his belief that tariffs are both punitive and profitable, describing the United States as a “luxury store” where other countries must pay for the privilege of accessing the American market. This metaphor distorts how international trade functions and ignores the mutual dependencies between the U.S. and Canada, particularly in sectors like autos and agriculture.
One of the more diplomatically reckless moments came when Trump once again floated the idea that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state. He framed the proposal in a real estate metaphor and aesthetic reflection about the straightness of the U.S.-Canada border, but the suggestion—however unserious or facetious—was an insult to Canadian sovereignty. Prime Minister Carney handled the provocation with poise, reaffirming that “Canada is not for sale” and redirecting the conversation toward mutual cooperation and shared values. Trump's apparent indifference to Canadian objections on the matter and his offhand remark that “never say never” further demonstrated his disregard for the norms of respectful diplomacy.
Throughout the meeting, Trump derided former U.S. presidents, lambasted U.S. government programs like the CHIPS Act, and mocked infrastructure projects in California, using them as segues to praise his own perceived economic achievements. He also offered a number of highly questionable claims, such as asserting that U.S. tariffs had already generated $9 trillion in investment, that 11,888 violent criminals were released into the country under President Biden, and that the U.S. trade deficit with China had been eliminated due to his tariff policies. These statements were presented without evidence and often contradicted established data or policy mechanics.
Furthermore, Trump’s meandering responses and constant pivoting to unrelated topics—ranging from the Obama Presidential Library’s construction delays to forest fires in Los Angeles and alleged incompetence in Gavin Newsom’s rail projects—detracted from the core purpose of the meeting. The president’s remarks lacked message discipline and left the audience with little sense of any structured bilateral agenda. Even the announcement regarding the Houthis’ alleged agreement to cease attacks on shipping, which should have been a serious policy matter, was casually introduced without clear verification or context, and immediately buried under unrelated tangents.
The meeting revealed more about Trump’s performative political style and his fixation on dominance, tariffs, and nationalist self-congratulation than it did about the future of U.S.–Canada relations. Prime Minister Carney attempted to steer the conversation toward mutual economic and security interests, but Trump’s rhetoric suggested a preference for unilateral advantage over bilateral cooperation. Rather than bolstering North American unity, the event highlighted a vision of the U.S. as a global storefront, demanding tribute from its neighbors while ignoring the long-term benefits of collaborative governance.
A federal judge in Manhattan issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from revoking over $1.1 billion in unspent COVID-19 relief funds intended for U.S. elementary and high schools. The funds, authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act, were meant to address long-term pandemic impacts such as learning loss and infrastructure needs. The lawsuit, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James and supported by 14 other Democratic-led states, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, challenges Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s March 28 decision to reclaim the funds. McMahon argued the pandemic emergency had passed, and the funds were no longer necessary. The Biden administration had previously extended the spending deadline to 2026. Judge Edgardo Ramos sided with the plaintiffs for now, keeping the funds available during litigation. The ruling is seen as a win for public education advocates, especially in states with large amounts of unspent aid like Maryland and New York.
A federal judge in New York blocked the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport Venezuelan migrants, ruling that President Trump’s March proclamation invoking the wartime law exceeded its legal bounds. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein concluded that the administration failed to establish a state of war, invasion, or predatory incursion, conditions required under the Act. The ruling protects noncitizens in the Southern District of New York from being deported under this authority, though they may still be removed under normal immigration laws.
The Trump administration had claimed that Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) posed an imminent threat directed by Venezuela’s government and justified mass deportations, including to El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison. However, an intelligence report revealed no credible evidence linking the Maduro regime to the gang’s operations in the U.S.
Hellerstein criticized the administration’s lack of due process, calling the removal notices vague and insufficient. He noted that at least two migrants were wrongfully deported, including a Maryland resident, and warned that others faced abuse and inhumane treatment if deported. His decision follows a similar ruling in Texas and aligns with the Supreme Court's requirement that migrants must have the opportunity to contest their detention through habeas corpus.
The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to enforce a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military while ongoing legal challenges proceed. The 5-4 decision lifted lower court injunctions, enabling the policy to take effect. The ban, championed by Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, presumes transgender identity is incompatible with military service and could lead to discharges of decorated service members.
Defense officials have yet to begin enforcement, but the ruling was celebrated by Hegseth, who publicly condemned "wokeness" in the military. The policy was blocked by multiple lower court rulings, including one by U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle in Washington, who noted that the administration failed to justify the sudden reversal of a policy that allowed open service since 2016 under President Obama.
Several transgender service members brought the case, including Navy Commander Emily Shilling, a combat pilot. Advocacy groups condemned the Supreme Court’s decision, calling it discriminatory and unrelated to military readiness. They pledged to continue fighting the ban in court, arguing it violates equal protection rights. While the policy remains in place during litigation, appeals will continue in multiple federal courts. Thousands of transgender individuals currently serve, but they represent less than 1% of the total U.S. military force.