Here’s what happened during Trump’s 11th week in office
President Donald Trump made headlines this week by unveiling a groundbreaking wave of tariffs on imports to the U.S., in line with his longstanding belief that other countries have taken advantage of the U.S. in trade. The announcement was made during a ceremony at the White House’s Rose Garden for a “Make America Wealthy Again” event. Trump emphasized that these new tariffs would create new jobs for American workers.
During the event, Trump stated, “For nations that treat us badly, we will calculate the combined rate of all their tariffs, nonmonetary barriers, and other forms of cheating. And because we are being very kind, we will charge them approximately half of what they are and have been charging us.” He added, “So, the tariffs will not be a full reciprocal. I could have done that. Yes. But it would have been tough for a lot of countries.”
The tariff plan introduced a baseline tax of 10% on all imports to the U.S., along with customized tariffs for countries that impose higher tariffs on American goods. The baseline tariffs of 10% took effect on Saturday, with the additional tariffs taking effect on Wednesday. Previous tariffs imposed on imported vehicles, goods from Mexico, Canada, and China remain unaffected, with the new tariffs on China being added on top of the existing duties.
The tariffs have sparked criticism from both parties in Congress and U.S. allies, including Canada and Australia. In response, a bipartisan group of senators introduced the Trade Review Act of 2025, which would require the executive branch to provide Congress with a 48-hour notice before imposing tariffs. The legislation would also allow tariffs to expire after 60 days unless Congress approves a joint resolution codifying the duties.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged countries not to impose retaliatory tariffs against the U.S., warning of potential escalation if they do so. Meanwhile, Trump confirmed the firing of several members of the National Security Council, led by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. The dismissals came amid scrutiny over Waltz’s use of an encrypted messaging service to discuss strikes in Yemen, with classified information inadvertently shared in the group chat.
Additionally, the White House confirmed that Elon Musk would be stepping down from his role spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) later this spring. Musk, a special government employee, is expected to complete his work at DOGE within the allowable timeframe before departing. Trump and Musk have both publicly stated their intention for Musk to leave once his work at DOGE is complete.
In conclusion, President Trump’s unveiling of unprecedented tariffs, along with other significant events this week, demonstrates the administration’s commitment to reshaping trade policies and government efficiency. The impact of these decisions will undoubtedly be closely watched in the coming weeks and months.
