Trump news live updates: Canada and EU strike back at tariffs as trade war escalates
The European Commission and Canada have both issued retaliatory tariffs in response to Trump’s trade war
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Your support makes all the difference.President Donald Trump’s increased tariffs on all U.S. steel and aluminum imports are now in effect, intensifying a campaign to reshape global trade that has already prompted quick retaliation from Europe.
The European Commission responded immediately, saying it would impose counter-tariffs on $28 billion worth of American goods from next month.
The countries most affected by the levies are Canada – the biggest foreign supplier to the U.S. – Brazil, Mexico and South Korea. On Wednesday morning, Canada responded with C$29.8 million ($20 billion) in retaliatory duties on U.S. products.
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are refusing to back the GOP spending bill that could fund the government through September, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday.
This means a government shutdown could be imminent as this weekend’s funding deadline approaches. Schumer has instead endorsed a shorter-term measure proposed by Democrats that could also avoid a shutdown.
“Funding the government should be a bipartisan effort, but Republicans chose a partisan path, drafting their continuing resolution without any input — any input — from congressional Democrats,” Schumer said.
Earlier this week, House Republicans voted to advance the funding measure to the Senate. Representative Thomas Massie was the sole Republican to vote against it.
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DOGE suffers biggest loss yet as thousands of probationary USDA employees ordered back to work
The chair of a quiet government agency secured the re-employment of nearly 6,000 fired federal workers for the next month and a half on Wednesday, just a day after her own firing was ruled illegal by a federal judge.
Cathy Harris struck what is likely the biggest blow so far to DOGE’s firing campaign on Wednesday, ruling that 5,600 probationary employees at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) were terminated in a move that may have violated federal procedures. Her ruling halts the firings for 45 days, while the Merit Systems Protection Board, which she chairs, reviews the firings.
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DOGE suffers big loss as thousands of probationary USDA staff ordered back to work
Trump attacks Schumer as ‘not Jewish anymore’ and says he’s ‘Palestinian’ now
President Donald Trump on Wednesday launched into a bizarre attack on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — the highest-ranking Jewish person in the American government — by inexplicably claiming that the New York Democrat was no longer Jewish during a marathon media availability alongside Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin.
Trump was speaking to reporters in the Oval Office about his plans for tax cuts when he suddenly pivoted to recounting how, in his view, Democrats hadn’t stood and applauded sufficiently at different parts of the speech he delivered to a joint session of Congress last week.
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Trump attacks Schumer as ‘not Jewish anymore’ and says he’s ‘Palestinian’ now
Trump discusses next steps for Putin after Ukraine accepts 30 day ceasefire
JD Vance’s cousin is fighting for Ukraine – this is what he thinks of Trump, Putin and the VP
In the mafia-like world of the White House where loyalty tests are routine and macho threats the norm, JD Vance might have hoped for omertà from his actual family. Instead, both the vice president and the president himself find themselves described by one of JD’s close relatives as “useful idiots” serving Vladimir Putin.
But this is not just a family member who backs the Democrats. This is his first cousin who has spent much of the last two years fighting, and killing, Russians in Ukraine for what he thought were the ideals America stands for.
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JD Vance’s cousin says Trump and his VP can’t bully Putin - so turned on Zelensky
Trump whines about who signed deal to allow Canada to supply energy to the US – it was him
President Donald Trump took to social media to whine about who negotiated a deal allowing Canada to supply energy to the U.S. — but, it turns out, he made the deal.
Amidst the trade tariffs back-and-forth with Canada and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who suspended the province’s 25 percent electricity surcharge on three U.S. states Tuesday, Trump fumed on Truth Social: “Why would our Country allow another Country to supply us with electricity, even for a small area?”
“Who made these decisions, and why?” the president demanded.
Read more:
Trump asked who signed deal to allow Canada to supply energy to the US – it was him
King Charles conveys ‘deepest affection’ for Canada amid Trump’s 51st state threat
King Charles has reportedly expressed his “deep affection” for Canada as Donald Trump has threatened to annex the nation and has engaged in a trade war with his northern neighbour.
His Majesty, who is also King of Canada, delivered a warm exchange of greetings in French and English to Gregory Peters, the Usher of the Black Rod of the Senate of Canada and Senate Speaker Raymonde Gagne ahead of a private meeting on Wednesday.
In the 30-minute meeting, they are thought to have discussed topics “of great concern to all parties, both nationally and internationally”.
Keep reading:
King Charles conveys ‘deepest affection’ for Canada amid Trump’s 51st state threat
Trump to give 'law and order' speech at DOJ after purging dozens of staffers
President Donald Trump is set to give a speech about his plans to restore “law and order” at the Justice Department after purging dozens of staffers he perceived as disloyal or political enemies, Axios reports.
Those removed from the department included attorneys involved in criminally prosecuting Trump.
This comes after the Trump administration dismissed a Justice Department lawyer after she refused a request to restore gun rights to Hollywood actor and Donald Trump ally Mel Gibson, according to a report.
Read the full story from The Independent’s Josh Marcus:
DOJ official axed after she nixed reinstating gun rights for Mel Gibson: Report
What is a recession, and how can you prepare for one?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost almost 900 points at closing Monday, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Donald Trump’s world-rattling tariffs would be “worth it” even if they led to a downturn.
"These policies are the most important thing America has ever had," Lutnick told CBS News when asked whether the tariffs would be worth it if they lead to a recession. "It's worth it!”
Here’s what you need to know about a recession — and what experts say you can do to prepare:
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Trump administration lawyers tie themselves in knots trying to defend trans military ban to judge
A federal judge is considering whether to strike down President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender service members in the U.S. military as defense officials begin removing trans troops from all branches.
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Trump administration lawyers tie themselves in knots defending trans military ban
ICE returns migrants from Guantánamo Bay
All remaining migrants being held at Guantánamo Bay have been returned to facilities in Louisiana over the last two days, The New York Times and CBS News report.
This comes after Trump announced he’d be signing an executive order “to instruct the departments of Defense and Homeland Security to begin preparing the 30,000-person migrant facility at Guantanamo Bay."
Last week, reports indicated the administration was rethinking the move amid financial, legal and organizational challenges.
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