In his first week as president, Donald Trump has taken a series of controversial actions that could have significant domestic and global repercussions.
According to Trump’s own statements, his administration plans to shut down FEMA, dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, and abolish the Department of Education. Additionally, he aims to revoke birthright citizenship, a right enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. has also withdrawn from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Further, two senior officials at USAID were dismissed yesterday, and the agency’s website is currently down. According to Elon Musk, USAID is set to be completely shut down. Meanwhile, the administration is reportedly seeking a list of over a thousand Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors who worked on cases related to the January 6 insurrection, with the intention of terminating them.
On February 1st, Trump announced sweeping tariffs, imposing a 25% levy on Mexican and Canadian imports and a 10% tariff on Chinese goods. These actions are expected to provoke retaliatory measures from these nations, which could lead to rising prices and job losses for American workers.
Would anyone characterize these moves as those of a leader who genuinely cares for his country? This question was central to last night’s discussion on Radio AG, where some Gambians defended Trump’s actions, despite the clear economic and institutional damage his policies are causing the U.S.
In response to Trump’s tariffs, Canada announced yesterday that it will retaliate with $155 billion in countermeasures starting February 4th. Mexico and China have also confirmed reciprocal tariffs on U.S. goods, which will likely impact hundreds of thousands of American jobs, particularly in the auto industry. When asked about potential tariffs on European imports, Trump responded, “It’s also coming soon.”
His approval rating has already declined by 10%, yet the upheaval continues.
By Saul Jawara
