U.S. and world news for Feb. 3

Trump backs down on Mexico tariffs, expected to talk again with Canada’s Trudea

The president of Mexico announced this morning that Donald Trump backed down on imposing a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico at the deadline he set just after midnight tonight while negotiations between the countries continue. The new 25% tariffs against Mexico and Canada were due to go into effect just after midnight tonight. Also due to go into effect is a 10% tariff on goods imported from China. Canada has announced it will impose a 25% tariff on everything imported from the U.S. The U.S. National Anthem was booed by fans at NBA and NHL games in Canada over the weekend as Canadian citizens reacted to Trump’s tariff plan. Trump and Canada’s Trudeau talked once today and were expected to talk again later in the day.

NTSB pushes back on Trump Administration effort that would cripple it

The Trump Administration tried to induce all 400 employees at the National Transportation Safety Board to quit. The NTSB is the global gold standard agency for accident investigations and is lead investigation agency for the midair collision over the Potomac and the crash of a medical jet after takeoff from the Philadelphia Northeast Airport. CNN reported that NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy sent out a memo to all employees that the NTSB is exempt from the administration’s effort to induce federal employees to quit and the agency especially needs its entire staff in view of the ongoing accident investigations. The NTSB is an independent agency established by Congress and is not under the control of the executive branch of government.

 Effort by Musk and Trump to shut down US Agency for International Development

The Washington headquarters of the US Agency for International Development was closed today with employees told to stay home following a successful effort by personnel directed by billionaire Elon Musk to enter the building and gain access to the agency’s computer systems. Two USAID security employees were put on administrative leave over the weekend after trying to keep Musk’s people from taking over and accessing classified material. Musk said he convinced Donald Trump to join him in getting rid of USAID, an independent agency established by Congress.

Musk’s people gain access to Treasury Department computers and files

Billionaire Elon Musk’s people over the weekend gained access to U.S. Treasury Department computer files containing Social Security, Medicare, federal contracting and other information on US citizens and businesses. Musk said on a post on his website X that his people in his unofficial Department of Government Efficiency will shut down payments to some government contractors. The Treasury Department computers control payments to government contractors, including Musk’s companies, as well as payments for Social Security, Medicare and other government benefits to citizens. In theory, if they can control the computers, Musk’s people could block payments to companies that compete with Musk while allowing payments to his companies to be processed and also cut government payments to Americans who receive Social Security, Medicare and other government benefits.

Trump pledges to cut aid to South Africa alleging discrimination against whites

Donald Trump claims that the government of South Africa is discriminating against white people through a new law it has passed governing land holdings. South Africa for years had been ruled by a white minority and strictly enforced racial segregation. The new law that Trump finds objectionable is an attempt to make up for past practices that stole land from the black people. Trump’ $250 million campaign contributor Elon Musk was born and grew up in South Africa. He has accused South Africa’s government of being anti-white.

Protest against Trump deportation policies shuts down LA freeway

A demonstration in Los Angeles yesterday against Donald Trump’s plan to deport millions of people spread from the city streets to the major 101 Freeway, shutting it down for most of the day. The protest lasted from about 8 in the morning until after 10 p.m. Some of the thousands of demonstrators carried Mexican and Salvadoran flags. Los Angeles Police and California Highway Patrol officers were deployed to try to disperse the demonstrators but were largely unsuccessful. There were no reports of arrests or injuries.