In perhaps the most Trumpish example of "diplomacy" yet—including his first term—President Trump solved the crisis he created. The tariffs of 25% on all products from Canada and Mexico that were to go into effect tonight, were pulled back, after Trump decided Canada and Mexico had capitulated to some of his demands.
The president's imposition of tariffs would have created a food crisis in the United States. And they still might, as Trump has left the hanging threat of tariffs over the heads of Canada and Mexico if they get out of line.
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| The photographer made Trump hold his breath for 25 seconds before snapping this shot. Allegedly. Don't quote me on that. |
Trump declared a "state of national emergency" with the announcement of tariffs on Canada. This order—containing both the tariff and the state of national emergency—has not been retracted. The executive order states unequivocally, " I hereby declare and reiterate a national emergency under the NEA and IEEPA to deal with that threat." The IEEPA gives the president the authority to regulate international commerce. The NEA, however, is vast.
Presidents have been testing the limits of their emergency declaration powers for a long time. Since Wilson in 1917, 86 emergencies have been declared, including the expansion of Trump's declaration from the Southern border to the entire country, and 44 of all the historical national emergencies are still in effect, renewed by the various presidents every year.
President Wilson declared one national emergency; Franklin Roosevelt declared three; Truman one; Nixon two; Carter two; Reagan six; H.W. Bush five; Clinton seventeen; W Bush thirteen; Obama twelve; Trump's first term: eleven; Biden nine; Trump's second term: four in the first 13 days. Presidents have taken a lot of power by invoking the NEA.
In other news today, the President has transferred the US Agency for International Development to the Department of State, and programs are already being slashed. I may look more into this later.
The Senate today voted to confirm Trump's pick for Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, a person with no agricultural, food production, nutrition, or any other experience that qualifies her for managing the country's food supply. Rollins acknowledged that farmers may be short on staff due to Trump's immigration policies, and has said she would fight for a $23 billion bailout package for farmers, which really is beside the point.
Trump issued an order for the Department of Treasury and the Department of State to create a plan for a sovereign wealth fund for the country within 90 days. Sovereign Wealth Funds are used by various nations worldwide to do what American Conservatives have always claimed to hate: Government ownership of industries. Mainstream media, no matter which side, barely covered this. Although the fund hasn't been established yet, I found it interesting that Trump has taken the Republican party from believing ALL Federal ownership of anything is bad, to a party that now supports government ownership of businesses and industries.
Rollins advances through unanimous Senate Ag Committee | AGDAILY
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