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Tag: Donald Trump
April 23, 2025
News

Michelle Obama Admits Putting Her Feelings Before the Country in Missing Trump’s Inauguration.

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❓What Happened: Former First Lady Michelle Obama discussed her choice to skip President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration and the ensuing rumors.

👥 Who’s Involved: Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and several past U.S. presidents, including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

📍 Where & When: The discussion was held during an episode of the podcast IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, released recently.

💬 Key Quote: “My decision to skip the inauguration, what people don’t realize, or my decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me were met with such ridicule and criticism,” Michelle Obama complained.

⚠️ Impact: Mrs. Obama’s absence led to public speculation about her personal life and sparked rumors of marital issues with Barack Obama.

IN FULL:

Former First Lady Michelle Obama has spoken publicly about her voluntary absence from President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration in January, explaining her reasons during a recent episode of the low-rated IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. The decision sparked rumors about her personal life with former President Barack Obama, who once wrote that he “make[s] love to men daily… in the imagination.”

During a discussion with actress Taraji P. Henson, Mrs. Obama elaborated on her reasoning, emphasizing it as a personal choice. “My decision to skip the inauguration, what people don’t realize, or my decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me, were met with such ridicule and criticism,” she stated. “People couldn’t believe that I was saying ‘no’ for any other reason, that they had to assume that my marriage was falling apart, you know.”

Speculation of possible marital discord was widespread after Mrs. Obama no-showed at the inauguration, particularly after former President Obama also appeared at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral alone.

“I’m here really trying to own my life and intentionally practice making the choice that was right for me,” Mrs. Obama insisted, adding that it “took everything in my power to not do the thing that was right, or that was perceived as right, but do the thing that was right for me. That was a hard thing for me to do.”

On April 3, former President Obama admitted he was “in a deep deficit with my wife” during his time in office. Speaking at Hamilton College, he revealed he has “been trying to dig myself out of that hole” since then by doing “fun things.”

In 2022, Mrs. Obama admitted “there were 10 years where I couldn’t stand my husband”—roughly a third of their marriage.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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April 22, 2025
Education
Lawfare

Harvard Launches Lawfare Suit Against Trump Over $2.2 Billion Funding Freeze.

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❓What Happened: Harvard University has initiated legal action against the Trump administration after a $2.2 billion grant freeze following the university’s refusal to adhere to certain conditions set by the White House.

👥 Who’s Involved: Participants include Harvard University, represented by its president, Alan M. Garber, and the Trump administration.

📍 Where & When: Cambridge, Massachusetts, with developments since last week’s White House announcement.

💬 Key Quote: “The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” said Alan M. Garber, Harvard’s president.

⚠️ Impact: The freeze could significantly affect research, according to Harvard.

IN FULL:

Harvard University has filed a lawsuit in response to the Trump administration’s decision to suspend $2.2 billion in grants following the university’s rejection of White House demands. The Ivy League institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts, accuses the administration of overreaching, challenging its independence, and attempting to influence academic decisions by requiring it to screen foreign students for extremist views.

The conflict arose after Harvard opted not to implement measures required by the administration, which included vetting foreign students for anti-Semitism and hostility toward American values, and shutting down diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. These conditions were closely linked to allegations of ideological bias and the university’s purported failure to safeguard Jewish students on campus. In response, President Alan M. Garber argued that the demands interfere with academic freedom and decision-making.

The situation escalated when the White House announced the freeze, suggesting that Harvard was not meeting the necessary conditions for receiving taxpayer money. “Taxpayer funds are a privilege, and Harvard fails to meet the basic conditions required to access that privilege,” remarked Harrison Fields, a White House spokesman.

Garber claims that the funding halt could jeopardize research initiatives, including studies on serious diseases like pediatric cancer, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. He argued in court documents that the administration has not established any meaningful link between anti-Semitism concerns and the research projects put on hold—failing to take responsibility for the funding freeze by refusing the administration’s conditions.

The lawsuit comes amid a broader review by the administration into universities’ handling of anti-Semitism and other forms of extremism, with at least 60 institutions under scrutiny.

Image by Adam Fagen.

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April 22, 2025
Jack Montgomery
News

Al Gore Compares Trump Administration to Nazi Germany.

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❓What Happened: Al Gore compared the Trump administration to Nazi Germany and called Trump a “threat” to the Constitution.

👥 Who’s Involved: Al Gore, former U.S. Vice President; Donald J. Trump, 45th and 47th U.S. President.

📍 Where & When: The comments were made during an event in San Francisco at the start of “Climate Week.”

💬 Key Quote: “Our constitution, written by our founders, is intended to protect us against a threat identical to Donald Trump.” — Al Gore.

⚠️ Impact: Gore’s histrionic remarks may drive a further wedge between the Democrats and independent voters who do not believe President Trump’s energy policies warrant comparisons to the Nazis.

IN FULL:

Former Vice President Al Gore, speaking at a “Climate Week” event on Monday, drew parallels between the Trump administration and the National Socialist regime of Adolf Hitler in Germany. Gore, the failed 2000 Democratic presidential candidate, made the remarks at a San Francisco science museum to an audience of only around 150.

Gore alleged that, like the Nazis, the Trump administration is “trying to create their own preferred version of reality.”

“I understand very well why it is wrong to compare Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich to any other movement,” Gore continued, despite having just done precisely that. “It was uniquely evil, full stop. I get it. But there are important lessons from the history of that emergent evil.” He added: “Our constitution, written by our founders, is intended to protect us against a threat identical to Donald Trump.”

The 77-year-old complained of the Trump administration, “They say the climate crisis is a hoax invented by the Chinese to destroy American manufacturing, they say coal is clean, they say wind turbines cause cancer, they say sea level rise just creates more beachfront property,” alleging that America is “under attack.”

With high energy prices contributing significantly to the decline of American manufacturing and the cost of living crisis for American households, and China’s construction of new coal plants at a ten-year high, President Trump has made energy independence a priority for his second administration.

Earlier this month, he signed four executive orders to save coal miners’ jobs and revitalize their industry, saying, “[W]e’re taking historic action to help American workers, miners, families, and consumers. We’re ending Joe Biden’s war on beautiful, clean coal once and for all. We’re going to put the miners back to work.”

Image by World Economic Forum / Chris Heeney.

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April 22, 2025
News
Politics

Elon Musk Didn’t Contribute to Trump’s Inauguration.

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❓What Happened: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk did not contribute financially to Donald Trump’s inauguration events, despite being a vocal supporter during his campaign.

👥 Who’s Involved: Elon Musk, President Donald J. Trump, Trump’s inaugural committee, and companies such as Meta, Amazon, and Nvidia.

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C., during Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025; FEC filing released on Sunday, April 20, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Donations to an inaugural committee are not subject to any contribution amount limitations. In addition, an inaugural committee may accept donations from corporations and labor organizations,” state FEC rules.

⚠️ Impact: Trump’s inauguration raised $239 million from donors, exceeding previous records, highlighting potential Silicon Valley support for Trump’s presidency.

IN FULL:

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, notably abstained from making financial contributions toward the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump, as shown in recent documentation by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). This reveals a departure from Musk‘s previous backing of Trump’s campaign, during which he reportedly expended over $250 million in support of the America First leader. According to the FEC filing, which was released by the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, donations exceeded $239 million, setting a new record for inaugural fundraising in January.

Several major technology companies, including Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram), Nvidia, and Amazon, contributed substantially, each offering at least $1 million toward the inaugural events. However, the reason for Musk’s absence from the list of inaugural donors is not yet known.

While Musk did attend the inauguration ceremony on January 20, 2025, and delivered an address at a major rally later that evening, his financial absence is noteworthy given his prior involvement in the presidential campaign. Notably, a number of major Silicon Valley firms contributed to the second Trump inauguration despite the tech industry’s hostility—and in some cases outright opposition—to Trump’s agenda in the past.

The inaugural committee is not obligated to disclose expenditure specifics or remaining funds until it submits its tax return in 2026. Also of note, the FEC rules state: “Donations to an inaugural committee are not subject to any contribution amount limitations. In addition, an inaugural committee may accept donations from corporations and labor organizations.”

Image by Wcamp9. 

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April 21, 2025
Sports

Illinois Refuses to Comply With Key Trump Order.

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❓What Happened: The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has decided not to comply with an executive order from President Trump barring the participation of biological male athletes in female sports.

👥 Who’s Involved: The IHSA, President Donald J. Trump, IHSA President Dan Tully, Illinois state lawmakers, and State Representative Blaine Wilhour.

📍 Where & When: Illinois, United States. Current ongoing issue.

💬 Key Quote: IHSA President Dan Tully: “The Illinois Human Rights Act requires that transgender athletes be permitted to participate in events and programs aligning with the gender they identify.”

⚠️ Impact: The IHSA seeks clarity from state lawmakers and the Trump administration to resolve conflicting policies, while potential federal funding cuts loom over the state.

IN FULL:

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) says it will continue to ignore a federal directive barring the participation of biological male athletes in high school girls’ sports. Previously, the State of Maine announced it would not comply with the directive, issued as an Executive Order by President Donald J. Trump in February, and now faces a federal lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

ISHA’s president, Dan Tully, claims that state law preempts the federal restriction and requires Illinois high schools to accommodate so-called transgender athletes, who are biological males, by allowing their participation in girls’ sporting events. “The Illinois Human Rights Act requires that transgender athletes be permitted to participate in events and programs aligning with the gender they identify,” Tully states in a letter to Illinois Republican lawmakers. He argues that the ISHA, “simply desires to comply with the law and takes no position as to which of the foregoing is correct or whether there can be alignment between claimed federal and state law.”

According to the ISHA—which represents 809 schools and neither receives state nor federal funding—the participation of biological males in women’s sports is determined on a case-by-case basis, suggesting it is not a blanket policy. The association claims it considers whether the gender identity change is “bona fide and/or for the purpose of gaining competitive advantage.”

However, Republican lawmakers in Springfield aren’t sold on the ISHA’s decision, and are encouraging the federal government to launch a similar Title IX investigation to the one seen in Maine. “The whole policy is sick,” State Representative Blaine Wilhour said during a recent media appearance. He continued: “Either you believe in fair competition or you don’t. The Democrat Party today… does not believe in fair competition. They put their woke ideology over protecting girls in sports.”

“[The Trump administration is] going to have to engage here, and the leverage that they’ve got is federal funding,” he added.

In 2011, Democrat lawmakers in Illinois enshrined protections for biological males who choose to identify as female to participate in women’s sporting events. Notably, Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL)’s cousin is billionaire James Pritzker, who identifies as “Jennifer.”

Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian. 

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April 21, 2025
Economy

Trump Blasts ‘Loser’ Powell for Delay in Interest Rate Cuts.

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❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, calling for reduced interest rates amid claims of low inflation.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Trump and Jerome Powell.

📍 Where & When: On Truth Social, the morning of Monday, April 21.

💬 Key Quote: Trump remarked, “Powell has always been ‘Too Late,’ except when it came to the Election period when he lowered in order to help Sleepy Joe Biden, later Kamala, get elected. How did that work out?”

⚠️ Impact: The U.S. economy has sent mixed signals that have left the Federal Reserve to adopt an overly cautious stance. However, recent indicators have suggested deflation could now be occurring, which may finally push Powell to reduce rates.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump is continuing his criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, urging for immediate cuts to interest rates. Trump reiterated his position on Truth Social on Monday, stating, without providing evidence, that “preemptive cuts” to rates are being advocated by many as the economy faces what he described as “virtually No Inflation.”

“‘Preemptive Cuts’ in Interest Rates are being called for by many. With Energy Costs way down, food prices (including Biden’s egg disaster!) substantially lower, and most other ‘things’ trending down, there is virtually No Inflation,” Trump wrote, continuing: “With these costs trending so nicely downward, just what I predicted they would do, there can almost be no inflation, but there can be a SLOWING of the economy unless Mr. Too Late, a major loser, lowers interest rates, NOW. Europe has already ‘lowered’ seven times.”

“Powell has always been ‘Too Late,’ except when it came to the Election period when he lowered in order to help Sleepy Joe Biden, later Kamala, get elected. How did that work out?” the America First leader added.

President Trump has increased pressure on the Federal Reserve chairman in recent weeks. Last week, Trump suggested Powell’s removal as the head of the U.S. central bank could be imminent, writing on Truth Social that, “Powell’s termination cannot come fast enough!” However, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Powell is likely to be replaced as Fed chair later this year, with the target date being “sometime in the fall.”

The Federal Reserve has been slow to reduce interest rates, fixating on concerns that inflation could accelerate. However, a Consumer Price Index (CPI) print from early April had SuperCore CPI—a key indicator monitored by the central bank—showing possibly deflation. A deflationary cycle is far more of an economic concern than reigniting inflation, and may suggest a lack of liquidity in the market, meaning an interest rate cut may need to occur, whether Powell is ready for rate reductions or not.

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April 21, 2025
Politics

Trump Backs Hegseth Despite New Signal Chat Leak Allegations.

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❓What Happened: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly shared details about a military strike in Yemen through Signal chat groups with family and friends.

👥 Who’s Involved: Pete Hegseth, Karoline Leavitt, Jeffrey Goldberg, Mike Waltz, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍 Where & When: The incident surrounding the March strike was reported by various outlets in Washington, D.C., over Easter weekend 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “The president stands strongly behind Secretary Hegseth, who is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon,” Karoline Leavitt stated.

⚠️ Impact: Questions have arisen about information security policies within the Pentagon. However, President Trump and his White House communications team stress that the media allegations are part of a broad effort by career Pentagon bureaucrats to undermine the America First Agenda.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump continues to “strongly” stand behind Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth despite a series of corporate media stories alleging that the Pentagon chief communicated details regarding military operations in Yemen through private messaging groups. Late Sunday, the New York Times reported that Hegseeth had sent details about a March strike against the Houthis via Signal chat to a group that included his family and personal attorney.

“The President stands strongly behind Secretary Hegseth, who is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said early Monday. She added: “This is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you and against the monumental change that you are trying to implement.”

Later in the day, during the White House Easter Egg Roll, President Trump also addressed the corporate media allegations, calling them a “waste of time” and—addressing Hesgesth specifically—stating, “He’s doing a great job.” The America First leader added: “Ask the Houthis how he’s doing.”

The controversy over the use of encrypted Signal messaging chats involving groups of administration officials began in March after The Atlantic’s editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently added to a group. That specific instance involved a Signal group dedicated to situational awareness and messaging cohesion regarding strikes against the Houthi rebel group in Yemen.

A forensic investigation shows Godlberg’s contact information was saved under the wrong contact on National Security Advisor Mike Waltz‘s phone. However, the White House has stressed that no war plans or classified materials were shared in the chat to which Goldbeg was inadvertently made privy.

DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Madelyn Keech.

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April 17, 2025
Lawfare
Politics

Letitia James Faces Potential Jail Time Amid Fraud Allegations.

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❓What Happened: New York Attorney General Letitia James, a key figure in Democratic Party lawfare efforts against President Donald J. Trump, could face jail time stemming from allegations she engaged in multiple instances of mortgage fraud and falsification of records. The allegations were made in a criminal referral submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) by Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte.

👥 Who’s Involved: The claims involve Letitia James, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Bill Pulte of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

📍 Where & When: The alleged fraud involved properties in New York and Virginia in 2023, and the criminal referral was sent to the DOJ earlier this week.

💬 Key Quote: Kyle Welch, a George Washington University School of Business professor specializing in financial fraud, remarked on the allegations’ potential legal consequences, saying they “could carry jail time” and lead to disbarment.

⚠️ Impact: If charges are brought against James, the New York Attorney General could face a prosecution based on paperwork errors and falsified records similar to the one that she brought against President Donald J. Trump last year.

IN FULL:

New York Attorney General Letitia James faces allegations of mortgage fraud, sparking the potential for federal prosecution. Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), alleged in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche that James falsified a mortgage application in 2023 by stating her primary residence was in Norfolk, Virginia, despite her official position requiring her to reside in New York.

James, a Democrat who took office as attorney general in 2019, is accused of indicating on a 2023 mortgage document that a Norfolk property was her primary residence. The single-family home, built in 1947, was acquired for $240,000, with James securing a $219,780 mortgage. Pulte also highlighted discrepancies in James’ ownership of a Brooklyn property, where she allegedly misstated the number of housing units in 2021. Furthermore, he raised concerns about a property purchased with her father listed as a spouse in previous transactions.

Kyle Welch, a financial fraud specialist and professor at George Washington University’s School of Business, noted in a recent interview the gravity of the allegations, suggesting a conviction could “carry jail time” and result in James’s disbarment as an attorney.

The New York Democratic Attorney General had sought similar legal actions against President Donald J. Trump in 2024 as part of a broader partisan lawfare effort to derail the America First leader’s presidential campaign. Last year, she sued Trump, leading to a civil judgment ordering him to pay $454 million for alleged business records fraud.

“Letitia James built her ‘nobody is above the law’ brand by prosecuting Trump for inflating his financial condition—statements that came with disclaimers, involved banks that said they weren’t harmed, and still resulted in a half-billion-dollar fraud conviction,” Welch said before continuing: “Was Trump’s case a 100 percent political prosecution? Yes. Now, James is under scrutiny for allegedly misrepresenting her own finances to get a mortgage. No disclaimers. No ambiguity.”

“James and her defenders can’t seem to see the carbon-copy nature of these cases. And unfortunately, New York Democrats and the DNC helped normalize this tit-for-tat legal targeting under the banner of ‘accountability.’ Well, the shoe’s on the other foot now,” the business professor added.

Image: Maryland GovPics.

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April 17, 2025
Economy
Politics

Trump Slams Fed Chair Over Lack of Rate Cuts: ‘Powell’s Termination Cannot Come Fast Enough!’

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❓What Happened: As equity markets decline, President Donald J. Trump is ramping up criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for not reducing interest rates. The increased pressure on the U.S. central bank comes a day after its reverse repo operations fell to their lowest level since April 2021.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, the European Central Bank (ECB), and the People’s Bank of China.

📍 Where & When: Trump posted his criticism of Powell to TruthSocial on April 17, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “The ECB is expected to cut interest rates for the 7th time, and yet, ‘Too Late’ Jerome Powell of the Fed, who is always TOO LATE AND WRONG, yesterday issued a report which was another, and typical, complete ‘mess!'” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding: “Powell’s termination cannot come fast enough!”

⚠️ Impact: Trump’s remarks underline tensions over the Federal Reserve’s policy decisions, drawing attention to the central bank’s independence and lack of accountability, and renewed legal arguments over whether the president can remove its chairman.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump blasted Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Thursday morning, arguing that the U.S. central bank chief is too slow to reduce interest rates. Trump’s criticism, posted to Truth Social, comes as U.S. equity markets continue their downward trajectory and the Federal Reserve’s reverse repo operations hit their lowest level since April 2021. Mounting concerns of a liquidity crisis and actions by China’s central bank to prop up its national economy in the face of U.S. tariffs have caused increasing strain between Powell and Trump.

“The ECB is expected to cut interest rates for the 7th time, and yet, ‘Too Late’ Jerome Powell of the Fed, who is always TOO LATE AND WRONG, yesterday issued a report which was another, and typical, complete ‘mess!'” President Trump wrote, continuing: “Oil prices are down, groceries (even eggs!) are down, and the USA is getting RICH ON TARIFFS. Too Late should have lowered Interest Rates, like the ECB, long ago, but he should certainly lower them now.”

“Powell’s termination cannot come fast enough!” the President added.

Trump’s post was prompted by the European Central Bank (ECB) announcing a new quarter-point reduction in its deposit rate to 2.25 percent. This was the seventh time the ECB has cut rates since June last year. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve has only enacted one rate cut in the U.S. over the same period, in September. Critics of Chairman Powell argue that the rate cut was a political move intended to boost the economy and aid the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, Kamala Harris.

Last November, following President Trump’s landslide 2024 election victory, Powell was pressed as to whether he’d resign from his Fed chairmanship should he be asked, responding bluntly, “No.” The central bank chief insisted that the White House is “not permitted under the law” to remove him and other senior Fed officials.

Notably, the Federal Reserve Act—the law governing the central bank—does allow the U.S. president to remove the Federal Reserve board members “for cause” in cases of negligence of duty, misconduct, or corruption. However, the law does not allow top Fed officials to be fired over policy differences—a provision intended to ensure the central bank’s independence in managing the country’s monetary policy.

Despite the legal hurdles, Trump’s Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, indicated earlier this week that the White House has decided on a six-month timeline to replace Powell as the Fed chairman, suggesting interviews for his replacement would occur “sometime in the fall.” The Trump administration is pointing to a pending U.S. Supreme Court case that could overturn the legal restrictions on removing top Federal Reserve officials, along with the heads of other independent government agencies, as the justification for Powell’s replacement timeline.

Should the court rule in the Trump administration’s favor, the White House would likely be legally clear to fire and replace the central bank chief.

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April 17, 2025
Economy
World

Italy’s Meloni Set for White House Strategy Session on Tariffs with Trump.

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❓What Happened: Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is traveling to Washington on Thursday to negotiate with President Donald J. Trump regarding European Union (EU) trade tariffs.

👥 Who’s Involved: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.S. President Donald J. Trump.

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C., meeting on Thursday, with the trip concluding on Friday when Meloni returns to Rome.

💬 Key Quote: Meloni stated, “Surely I am aware of what I represent and I am aware of what I am defending.”

⚠️ Impact: Potential impact on EU-U.S. trade dynamics, with current annual trade valued at approximately €1.6 trillion ($1.8 trillion).

IN FULL:

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is visiting the United States on Thursday to engage in trade negotiations with President Donald J. Trump, with the aim of reducing tariffs on European exports. The meeting comes in the wake of Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement imposing reciprocal tariffs on foreign governments with barriers limiting the purchase of American exports, including a 20 percent trade duty on goods from the European Union (EU).

Subsequently, Trump paused the enactment of the reciprocal tariffs last week to allow time for negotiations on bilateral trade agreements with over 70 countries, but a 10 percent tariff remains in place alongside higher tariffs on specific products, such as steel.

Meloni is the first European leader to meet with Trump following the tariff announcement. The Italian Prime Minister’s White House visit underscores an effort by the EU to reach terms with President Trump and avoid the reimposition of the 20 percent tariff on the EU this summer. “We know we’re going through a difficult period, let’s see how it goes in the coming hours. I don’t feel any pressure, as you can imagine, for my next two days, let’s say,” Meloni quipped earlier this week. “Surely I am aware of what I represent and I am aware of what I am defending.”

The rapport between Trump and Meloni could play a key role in the future of economic relations between the United States and Europe. President Trump has referred to Meloni as a “fantastic leader,” and the Italian Prime Minister has pushed EU leaders in Brussels to let her take the lead in working to de-escalate the trade tensions with the White House.

Following the Thursday meeting with President Trump, Meloni will return to Italy and host U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance in Rome, where trade discussions will likely continue. Trade between the EU and the United States is valued at an estimated €1.6 trillion (~$1.8 trillion) annually, with the former holding a trade surplus of €198.2 billion (~$225.3 billion).

Image: European Union, via Wikimedia Commons.

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