U.S. and Ukraine sign minerals deal
The U.S. and Ukraine have signed a deal that gives the U.S. rights to exploit Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. Rare earth minerals are vital for manufacturing high-tech products. Under the deal, the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund will be established. Ukraine will continue to own the subsoil in which the rare earth minerals are contained, and the fund will be drawn down as the U.S. extracts those minerals. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the agreement sends a message to Russia that the U.S. and Ukraine will work to accelerate Ukraine’s economic recovery.
Trump threatens NY Times
Donald Trump has threatened the New York Times over its reporting about Trump’s lawsuit he brought against CBS because he didn’t like the way it edited a news interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump said the Times is liable for what he called tortious interference and also for election interference. A spokesperson for the Times said that the law protects free speech and the Constitution’s First Amendment protects news reporters’ rights to ask questions. The Times had reported legal experts opinions that Trump would lose the lawsuit he filed against CBS.
New hats at cabinet meeting
Donald Trump’s White House staged a cabinet meeting yesterday at which participants each had a red baseball cap on the table in front of them emblazoned with the saying, “Gulf of America.” Trump has taken the position that the Gulf of Mexico should now be called the Gulf of America because he decided to rename it. During the meeting, the cabinet members heaped praise on Trump and there was little analysis given to the report that had just come out on the U.S. Gross Domestic Product falling, indicating an economy that is shrinking. Tesla’s Elon Musk, who is not in the cabinet and had said he would be stepping back from the Trump Administration in order to concentrate on his business, was at the cabinet meeting.
Trump Administration trying to strike deals to avoid people coming in
CNN reports that the Trump Administration is trying to strike deals with Libya and Rwanda to take people the U.S. deports or takes into custody while trying to seek asylum in the U.S. Although CNN attributed its story to two sources, Secretary of State Marco Rubio at Wednesday’s cabinet meeting said that the U.S. was trying to arrange for other countries to take people the U.S. doesn’t want. Rubio did not identify the countries. Donald Trump signed an executive order for the U.S. to work out deals with other countries so it could divert people trying to come to the U.S.
Trump blames Biden for stock market reaction to Trump tariffs
President Trump has blamed former President Joe Biden for the recent gyrations in the stock market in reaction to Trump’s trade tariffs. Trump said that what’s happening in the U.S. and foreign stock markets has nothing to do with his off-again-on-again tariffs but rather is Biden’s fault. However, actual rises and falls in the market have come after Trump made various tariff announcements. Wall Street analysts tie the fluctuations to the tariffs. Trump had previously taken credit for strong stock market numbers after he took office on Jan. 20.
Columbia University student ordered released
A federal judge in Vermont has ordered Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi released from federal custody. He was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during an interview for American citizenship that was held in Vermont. He already had permanent U.S. residency through his Green Card. The Trump Administration claimed that he was harming U.S. foreign policy because he had expressed support for Palestinians. The American Civil Liberties Union said he will be out on bail while legal action against what the government did continues.
