Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• EPA rescinds endangerment finding and eliminates human health cost consideration in pollution regulations — The EPA under administrator Lee Zeldin announced it would rescind the 2009 "endangerment finding"—a Supreme Court-affirmed determination that greenhouse gases harm human health—effectively demolishing federal climate regulations. Separately, the EPA said it would no longer assign monetary value to human health costs from air pollutants when setting standards, while still weighing industry compliance costs. The agency has initiated 66 environmental rollbacks in its first year, including paring back pollution limits, cancelling renewable grants, and deleting climate references from its website.

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• Trump increased tariffs on South Korea — President Trump announced he is increasing tariff rates on South Korean "Autos, Lumber, Pharma, and all other Reciprocal TARIFFS, from 15% to 25%." The announcement came as the administration faced mounting criticism over Minneapolis enforcement operations.

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• Trump grants clemency to dozens convicted of fraud, including billionaires and political allies — President Trump has pardoned or commuted sentences for dozens of people convicted of white-collar crimes, particularly fraud offenses. Notable recipients include former Puerto Rico governor Wanda Vázquez Garced (campaign finance violation), Venezuelan businessman Julio Herrera Velutini (wire fraud, whose daughter donated $2.5m to pro-Trump PAC), and others convicted of money laundering, bank fraud, and wire fraud. An analysis by House Democrats found Trump's pardons have deprived victims of $1.3bn in restitution and fines. The pardons occur as Trump simultaneously accuses Democratic-run states of fraud and has attempted to cut federal funding to those states.
• No civil rights investigation initiated by DOJ into fatal shooting of Alex Pretti — Despite the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents during immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, the U.S. Justice Department has not initiated a civil rights investigation, a departure from recent standard practice in federal officer-involved shootings. Trump stated he was awaiting results of an internal DHS investigation, which is conducted by the parent agency of the agents involved, raising questions about independent oversight and accountability.

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• Trump attended private screening of Melania Trump documentary funded by Amazon — President Trump attended a black-tie private screening at the White House of a documentary about First Lady Melania Trump. Amazon paid $40 million for the rights to the film shortly after Amazon executive chair Jeff Bezos dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago following Trump's 2024 reelection, and is spending an additional $35 million to promote the film.
• Amazon CEO attended White House screening while company profits from ICE surveillance infrastructure — Amazon CEO Andy Jassy attended a White House screening of "Melania," a documentary produced by First Lady Melania Trump, on the same day federal officers killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Amazon paid $59 million for rights to the film and is spending an additional $35 million on promotion. The article notes that while the film will likely lose tens of millions of dollars, Amazon maintains the investment to stay in good standing with the Trump administration. Amazon Web Services hosts the Investigative Case Management database that ICE uses to target and deport immigrants, and also hosts the Department of Homeland Security's $6 billion Homeland Advanced Recognition Technology System biometric surveillance database.
• Film industry figures question Amazon's Melania film spending — Ted Hope, who started the film division at Amazon, questioned whether Amazon's spending on the Melania documentary could be equated with "currying favor or an outright bribe," noting that the $35 million marketing budget is 10 times what some other high-profile documentaries have received. Director Julie Cohen stated she would not want to work with Amazon in the future due to concerns about the amount paid for the film, saying "I think that would suggest that Amazon is buying something else for their money. That's a big problem."
• Melania Trump promotes film with $40 million Amazon deal — Amazon paid Trump's production company $40 million for the rights to the documentary "Melania," approximately $26 million more than the next closest bidder, Disney. The film, directed by Brett Ratner (who has not made a movie since 2017 when multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct), is receiving a $35 million marketing campaign including TV commercials during NFL playoff games and a premiere simulcast in 25 theaters. The film will be released in 3,300 theaters worldwide starting Friday, with a related docuseries scheduled to air later in the year.

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• Trump approves Nvidia chip sale to China and signs AI deregulation executive order after CEO donates to ballroom project — Trump approved Nvidia's sale of powerful chips to China (a stated U.S. tech rival) and indicated the U.S. would impose a 25% tariff on some Nvidia chips. In December 2025, Trump signed an executive order targeting state AI regulations he deemed "onerous," a priority for AI industry interests. These actions followed Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's donation of approximately $1 million to Trump's White House ballroom project after a White House dinner in mid-October 2025. The timing and sequence raise concerns about policy decisions benefiting major donors.

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• Freezing of federal funding to universities — Trump froze billions in federal funding for universities including Harvard and Columbia, forcing changes in curricula and leadership by exploiting controversies over antisemitism and DEI policies.

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• Trump threatens lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase and Wall Street Journal — President Trump attacked the Wall Street Journal and threatened to sue JPMorgan Chase over its decision to stop banking him after January 6. Trump falsely claimed he had been vindicated by the insurrection and ranted about supposed job offers to Jamie Dimon that never happened, presenting himself as a victim while attacking the bank and media outlet.
• Trump announced lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase — Trump announced he will sue JPMorgan Chase over the next two weeks, claiming the Wall Street Journal falsely reported that he offered CEO Jamie Dimon the position of Federal Reserve Chairman. Trump stated the offer was never made and characterized the Journal's reporting as lacking verification. He also stated he will sue JPMorgan Chase for "debanking" him after January 6.
• Trump threatens lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase over alleged debanking — President Trump announced on social media his intention to sue JPMorgan Chase within two weeks, alleging the bank improperly cut off his banking access following the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Trump tied the threat to criticism of a Wall Street Journal report claiming he had offered CEO Jamie Dimon the Federal Reserve chair position—an offer Dimon and the bank deny occurred. JPMorgan Chase stated it does not close accounts based on political beliefs and supports administration efforts against political debanking.
• Trump sued JPMorgan Chase and Jamie Dimon for account closure — Trump filed a lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase and CEO Jamie Dimon, claiming the bank broke the law by closing his accounts in April 2021 after two months' notice, following the January 6 Capitol attack. The lawsuit alleges the bank placed the Trump family on a "blacklist" and "debanked" them for "political and social motivations," seeking at least $5 billion in damages plus attorney fees. JPMorgan Chase responded that it closes accounts for legal or regulatory risk, not political reasons.
• Trump sues JPMorgan Chase and Jamie Dimon for $5 billion over alleged debanking — Donald Trump, as US president, filed a lawsuit in Miami against JPMorgan Chase and CEO Jamie Dimon, seeking at least $5 billion in damages. Trump alleges the bank "debanked" him—stopped offering banking services—in the wake of the January 6 Capitol riot. The lawsuit, filed by Trump's personal lawyer Alejandro Brito, claims the bank placed Trump, the Trump Organization, affiliated entities, and family members on a blacklist for political and ideological reasons. JPMorgan denied the allegations, stating it closes accounts due to legal or regulatory risk, not political beliefs.

Supporting reports

• United States sells Venezuelan oil and holds proceeds in Qatar — The United States has sold $500 million worth of Venezuelan oil and is holding the proceeds in a Qatar account rather than in U.S. banks. Trump claims he has the power to manage this money and is attempting to prevent its capture by oil companies with prior claims against Venezuela. Senator Elizabeth Warren stated there is no legal basis for a president to set up an offshore account to control assets seized by the American military.
• Trump administration completed first Venezuelan oil sale valued at $500 million — The Trump administration executed its first sale of Venezuelan oil valued at $500 million following the ouster of Nicolás Maduro. Trump signed an executive order detailing how the U.S. plans to block courts and creditors from accessing revenue from oil sales. Revenue is being held in bank accounts controlled by the U.S. government, with the main account located in Qatar and additional funds held in U.S. Treasury accounts. Trump indicated the U.S. would effectively run Venezuela and take control of up to 50 million barrels of oil.
• Trump discusses Venezuelan oil sales — Trump revealed that the U.S. has sold $500 million worth of Venezuelan oil and is keeping the proceeds in Qatar, claiming he has the authority to manage these funds.

Supporting reports

• Trump proclamation imposes 25% tariff on advanced computing chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment under Section 232 national security authority. — President Trump signed Proclamation 11002 on January 14, 2026, invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act to impose a 25 percent ad valorem tariff on advanced computing chips and derivative semiconductor products effective January 15, 2026. The proclamation, based on a Commerce Department investigation, finds that semiconductor imports threaten U.S. national security due to dependence on foreign supply chains and insufficient domestic manufacturing capacity. Exemptions apply to chips for U.S. data centers, R&D, startups, repairs, and public-sector use. The Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative are directed to pursue trade negotiations within 90 days, with potential for broader tariffs in a second phase.
• Trump issued proclamation imposing 25 percent tariff on advanced computing chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment — President Trump signed a proclamation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, imposing a 25 percent ad valorem tariff on certain advanced computing chips and derivative semiconductor products effective January 15, 2026. The proclamation states the Secretary of Commerce found that semiconductor imports threaten U.S. national security due to insufficient domestic production capacity and reliance on foreign supply chains. The tariff exempts chips for U.S. data centers, R&D, startups, consumer applications, civil industrial uses, and public sector applications. The proclamation directs the Secretary and U.S. Trade Representative to pursue trade negotiations within 90 days and reserves the President's authority to impose broader tariffs on semiconductors after negotiations conclude.
• Trump signed proclamation imposing 25% tariff on advanced computing chips under Section 232 — President Trump signed a proclamation invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, imposing a 25% tariff on certain advanced computing chips including NVIDIA H200 and AMD MI325X. The proclamation directs the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate agreements addressing semiconductor imports. The fact sheet states the tariff aims to incentivize domestic semiconductor production and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains, with potential for broader tariffs on semiconductors and derivative products in the future.

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• Trump Organization sought to hire foreign workers at below-market wages after administration lowered H-2A minimum wages — Weeks after the Trump administration lowered minimum wages for some temporary farmworkers, the Trump Organization sought approval to hire 36 foreign workers for its Virginia winery at a pay rate of $13.90 per hour—nearly $2 per hour below what it previously offered. In October 2025, Trump's Department of Labor enacted a rule changing how wages are calculated for some temporary foreign farmworkers on H-2A visas, lowering pay rates for certain jobs. Two months later, the Trump Organization filed paperwork seeking approval to hire 36 foreign workers via H-2A visas for its winery, claiming it could not find enough U.S. workers. The $13.90 hourly rate is $1.91 less than what the winery paid in 2025 and below what it has offered for similar roles since 2021. The Trump Organization has sought to bring at least 2,069 foreign workers into the U.S. since 2008.

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• Eric Adams removed liquidity from memecoin, allegedly scamming investors of $2.5 million — Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams removed liquidity from a newly launched memecoin called $NYC, allegedly scamming investors of over $2.5 million. Adams launched the memecoin approximately 30 minutes before removing its liquidity after promoting it on his personal social media. The scheme reportedly more than doubled his net worth in less than an hour. Adams was able to engage in this conduct because the Trump administration dropped many fraud charges against him last year for political reasons.

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• Trump administration deliberately reduced ICE and Border Patrol training to 47 days — Senator Mark Warner revealed that Trump administration deliberately slashed ICE and Border Patrol training periods from five months to 47 days, with the number 47 chosen because Trump is the 47th president. This deliberate undertraining of law enforcement personnel creates public safety risks and reflects prioritization of symbolic messaging over operational competence.

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• Trump administration cuts all federal funding to Minnesota USDA programs — Trump's USDA cut off all federal funding to Minnesota, following earlier efforts to cut childcare funding to multiple blue states before a federal judge blocked that action. The funding cut is described as a deliberate act of economic punishment targeting a state that did not vote for Trump.

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• Trump administration gives $40 billion to Argentina — Trump administration provided $40 billion to Argentina, while simultaneously failing to deliver promised economic relief to American families and cutting federal funding to states that did not vote for him.
• Trump administration pushes for $100 billion in oil company subsidies — The Trump administration pushed for $100 billion in subsidies to oil companies while failing to deliver promised economic relief to American families and cutting federal funding to states that did not vote for him.

Supporting reports

• Trump Organization announced $10 billion in Saudi Arabian developments — Trump's family business announced $10 billion in luxury real estate developments in Saudi Arabia, expanding its footprint in the Gulf. Real estate developer DarGlobal, which has partnered with the Trump Organization in the past, announced a $7 billion project including a Trump-branded hotel and golf course as part of the Diriyah development backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. The two businesses are also working on a $3 billion Trump Plaza tower in Jeddah that will include offices, high-end apartments, and townhouses. The announcement comes weeks after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Trump at the White House and agreed to a series of deals in defense, AI, and nuclear energy.
• Trump Organization announces $3 billion Saudi development deal in Jeddah — The Trump Organization announced a separate $3 billion deal with Dar Global to construct Trump Plaza in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Like the Diriyah project, this development is part of Saudi Arabia's broader investment initiatives and involves licensing the Trump name to a developer closely tied to the Saudi government. The deal follows Trump's November 2025 grant of major non-NATO ally status to Saudi Arabia and represents a second major Trump Organization project in the kingdom announced simultaneously.
• Trump Organization announces $7 billion Saudi development deal while holding presidency — The Trump Organization announced a partnership with Dar Global to build a $7 billion "Trump-branded hotel and golf course" in Saudi Arabia's Diriyah development. The project, which includes 500 mansions priced between $6.7 million and $24 million, is funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to Forbes reporting on similar deals, approximately 80% of the money will flow directly to Trump through licensing fees. The Diriyah Company, which is implementing the master plan, is a wholly owned subsidiary of PIF, making the deal effectively with the Saudi government.
• Lauder donated to Trump's campaign and subsequently received favorable policy treatment on Ukraine minerals — Ronald Lauder donated $100,000 to Trump's 2016 campaign and $5 million to Maga Inc in March 2025. A November 2023 leaked letter revealed Lauder was part of a mining consortium seeking to exploit Ukrainian lithium deposits. After Lauder's 2025 donations, the US and Ukraine signed a minerals-exploitation deal in April 2025, and Lauder's consortium reportedly won the first lithium tender under that agreement, suggesting a direct correlation between financial support and policy outcomes favoring his business interests.
• Ronald Lauder encouraged Trump to acquire Greenland and subsequently acquired business interests there — Ronald Lauder, a billionaire cosmetics heir and longtime Trump associate, first proposed in 2018 that the US purchase Greenland. Trump's national security adviser John Bolton confirmed Lauder made this suggestion, after which the White House explored increasing US influence in the Arctic territory. Years later, as Trump threatened military seizure of Greenland during his second term, Lauder acquired commercial holdings there, including ventures in luxury springwater export and hydroelectric power generation for an aluminium smelter.

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• Trump administration uses False Claims Act to investigate DEI initiatives — The Wall Street Journal reported on December 28 that the Trump administration is using a novel interpretation of the False Claims Act, which is normally used to probe government contractors committing fraud, to investigate US companies over the use of DEI initiatives in hiring and promotion, including Google and Verizon.

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• Energy Secretary announced U.S. will seize Venezuelan oil — Energy Secretary Chris Wright told an audience at a Goldman Sachs energy industry event in Miami, Florida, that the United States will take control of all oil from Venezuela for the foreseeable future. Trump administration officials told lawmakers that they plan to deposit money raised from the seizure of Venezuelan oil into bank accounts outside the U.S. Treasury, described by sources as "off-shore" accounts. Trump had announced the previous day that, as president, he would control the money from the sale of Venezuelan oil.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration claims US oil companies will invest billions in Venezuelan oil production; industry expresses skepticism — President Trump predicted that major US oil firms (ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Chevron) will rapidly invest tens of billions of dollars to rebuild Venezuelan oil infrastructure and increase production following the rendition of President Nicolás Maduro. Trump claimed production could be "up and running" in less than 18 months. However, industry experts and the oil companies themselves have expressed caution, citing lack of government guarantees for reimbursement and uncertainty about Venezuela's political future. Analysts estimate actual timelines of 2–3 years minimum, with total costs potentially reaching $80–90 billion.
• Trump told NBC U.S. taxpayers will fund Venezuelan oil extraction — Trump told NBC that the U.S. oil industry could have Venezuelan oil exploitation "up and running" in less than 18 months, but that U.S. taxpayers will have to pay a substantial amount to make it happen. Trump stated that oil companies will spend money on extraction and upgrading, "and then they'll get reimbursed by us."

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• Trump announced $1.5 trillion military budget for 2027 — Trump announced on social media that the military budget for 2027 should be $1.5 trillion instead of $1 trillion, claiming this would allow the United States to build a "Dream Military." Trump attributed the increase to revenue from tariffs on other countries and stated the budget would allow the military to be strengthened while simultaneously paying down debt and providing a "substantial Dividend to moderate income Patriots."
• Republicans increase defense budget to $1 trillion, plan further increase to $1.5 trillion — Republicans increased the defense budget from $850 billion to $1 trillion in the current year, an unprecedented increase during a year when the country was not at war. Trump has now announced he wants the budget increased again to $1.5 trillion to fund his "many new foreign adventures."

Supporting reports

• Trump purchased Nvidia and AMD stock before Commerce Department approved chip sales to China — According to reporting by NOTUS, on January 6, 2026, President Trump purchased between $500,000 and $1 million worth of Nvidia stock. One week later, on January 13, the Commerce Department officially approved the sale of some Nvidia chips to China. Similarly, on January 6, Trump purchased between $50,000 and $100,000 of AMD stock, another chip-maker that was approved to do business with China on January 13. The timing of these purchases immediately before regulatory approvals that would benefit the companies suggests potential coordination between Trump's investment decisions and administration policy actions. These transactions were disclosed on May 14.

Supporting reports

• Trump announced indefinite U.S. control of Venezuela — Following the capture of Maduro, President Trump announced that the United States would "run" Venezuela for an indefinite period. Trump stated on Fox News that the U.S. would be "very strongly involved" with the Venezuelan oil industry going forward. Industry analysts anticipate rapid rerouting of Venezuelan oil exports to the U.S., with refiners benefiting substantially from access to Venezuela's heavy crude reserves—the world's largest proven oil reserves.
• Singer funded think tanks producing advocacy for Venezuelan regime change — Paul Singer donated over $10 million to the Manhattan Institute since 2011 (including $2 million in 2024 and $1.8 million in 2023) and served as chairman of its board from 2008 to 2025. The Institute produced multiple reports and articles calling for Maduro's ouster and defending Trump's aggressive Venezuela policies. Singer is also a major donor to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, which in November 2025 published a report calling for U.S. military strikes in Venezuela. Singer additionally supported AEI and the Heritage Foundation on Venezuela policy.
• Venezuela raid enriches MAGA billionaire — An investigation by Popular Information revealed that a raid in Venezuela has financially benefited a billionaire with ties to the MAGA movement. The details of the raid and the specific financial gains were not disclosed in the summary, but the implication is that the event has significant political and economic ramifications, particularly concerning the influence of wealthy individuals with political connections. The report suggests a potential conflict of interest or misuse of power that could affect international relations and economic policies.
• Energy Secretary Wright declares indefinite U.S. control of Venezuelan oil sales — Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that the U.S. will control the sale of Venezuelan oil "indefinitely," signaling a sustained policy of directing Venezuelan crude to American markets. This declaration follows Trump's announcement of the oil transfer and suggests the flow will continue beyond an initial shipment. Prior to the U.S. embargo, Citgo was the largest buyer of Venezuelan oil, positioning it to resume that role under the new arrangement.
• Paul Singer's Amber Energy completes purchase of Citgo at discounted price pending regulatory approval — Paul Singer, through his company Amber Energy, purchased Citgo, the U.S. subsidiary of Venezuela's state-run oil company, for $5.9 billion—a substantial discount from an estimated $13 billion valuation. The sale was forced by creditors after Venezuela defaulted on government-issued bonds. Citgo owns significant Gulf Coast oil refining capacity optimized for Venezuelan heavy crude. The purchase remains subject to U.S. regulatory approval. The discount reflected the refinery's dependence on Venezuelan crude, which was unavailable under the U.S. embargo.
• Energy Secretary announced U.S. will seize Venezuelan oil — Energy Secretary Chris Wright told an audience at a Goldman Sachs energy industry event in Miami, Florida, that the United States will take control of all oil from Venezuela for the foreseeable future. Trump administration officials told lawmakers that they plan to deposit money raised from the seizure of Venezuelan oil into bank accounts outside the U.S. Treasury, described by sources as "off-shore" accounts. Trump had announced the previous day that, as president, he would control the money from the sale of Venezuelan oil.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration reduced tariffs on Italian pasta after lobbying — The U.S. Commerce Department stepped back from imposing 92% antidumping duties on Italian pasta makers, instead dramatically reducing the threatened tariffs after weeks of lobbying by Italy's government and affected companies. La Molisana and Garofalo, the two biggest pasta exporters to the U.S., will now face duties of 2.3% and 13.9%, respectively, while 11 other Italian pasta makers will face a 9.1% tariff. The original 92% duties would have forced Italian pasta makers to exit the U.S. market.

Supporting reports

• Anonymous Polymarket account placed $30,000 bet on Maduro ouster hours before Trump announced his capture, profiting $400,000 — On January 2, 2026, hours before Trump announced the U.S. had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an anonymous Polymarket account bet over $30,000 that Maduro would be ousted. At the time of the bet, Polymarket showed only an 8% probability of this outcome. By the next morning, the account cashed out over $400,000 in winnings. The account, created in December 2025, had placed its first bet on December 27 for $96 predicting a U.S. invasion of Venezuela, followed by several related bets in the following days. Experts on prediction markets and insider trading told news outlets the bets had hallmarks of insider trading, citing the late-night timing, large amount, and unregulated market.

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• Trump administration approved sale of Nvidia H200 chips to China — In December 2025, the Trump administration announced it would permit the sale of Nvidia's H200 chip to China, reversing prior export control restrictions. The H200 is approximately six times more powerful than the previously restricted H20 chip. According to analysis, unrestricted H200 exports would reduce the U.S. AI compute advantage over China from 21–49x to between 6.7x and 1.2x by 2026, substantially narrowing America's technological edge in artificial intelligence development and military applications.

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• Trump delays wood-product tariff increases, extends trade negotiations to January 2027 — President Trump issued Proclamation 11000 amending his prior wood-products tariff proclamation (10976 of September 29, 2025). The amendment delays the scheduled January 1, 2026 increases in duty rates for upholstered furniture (from 25% to 30%), kitchen cabinets, and vanities (from 25% to 50%) until January 1, 2027, to allow continued trade negotiations with multiple countries. Existing 10% tariffs on softwood timber and lumber and 25% tariffs on certain upholstered and cabinet products remain in effect. The Trade Representative is directed to provide a status update 180 days after the original proclamation.
• Trump delayed tariff increases on furniture and cabinets — Trump signed a proclamation hours before the end of 2025 postponing tariff hikes on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities for one year, pushing their implementation to 2027. In September, Trump had ordered 25% new tariffs on kitchen cabinets and upholstered furniture, which took effect in October with rates slated to rise to 50% and 30%, respectively, by 2026. The delay represents a reversal of the previously announced escalation schedule.
• Trump issued proclamation amending wood products tariff schedule, delaying duty increases to January 1, 2027 — President Trump signed Proclamation 10977 on December 31, 2025, amending his prior September 29, 2025 proclamation on wood product imports. The amendment delays scheduled tariff increases on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2027, citing ongoing trade negotiations. The 10 percent tariff on softwood timber and lumber remains in effect; the Trade Representative is directed to continue negotiations with multiple countries and provide status updates within 180 days.
• White House issued fact sheet on timber and lumber tariff proclamation — The White House published a fact sheet on December 31, 2025, describing President Trump's signing of a proclamation invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The proclamation delays for one year the scheduled January 1, 2026 increase in tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities, maintaining the current 25% tariff rate. The fact sheet states the delay allows continued negotiations with trade partners on wood product imports, which the administration characterizes as a national security concern.
• Trump administration reduced tariffs on Italian pasta after lobbying — The U.S. Commerce Department stepped back from imposing 92% antidumping duties on Italian pasta makers, instead dramatically reducing the threatened tariffs after weeks of lobbying by Italy's government and affected companies. La Molisana and Garofalo, the two biggest pasta exporters to the U.S., will now face duties of 2.3% and 13.9%, respectively, while 11 other Italian pasta makers will face a 9.1% tariff. The original 92% duties would have forced Italian pasta makers to exit the U.S. market.
• Trump announced delays on higher tariffs — Trump announced delays on higher tariffs for items including upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities. This announcement came one day after his administration backed off proposed tariffs on Italian pasta after exporters warned they might pull out of the U.S. market entirely. Trump simultaneously claimed tariffs have been "the greatest success" for the United States.
• Wall Street Journal editorial criticized Trump's tariff policy — The Wall Street Journal editorial board published a scathing piece on Trump's tariff policy, pointing out what it called a "striking contradiction": Trump and his allies loudly claim tariffs are a roaring success, even as he quietly carves out hundreds of exceptions. The editorial noted that rarely has a president worked so hard to cover up the damage from his own policies without admitting it.