Trump 2.0: A Closer Look at His Controversial Moves

1. Reciprocal Tariffs & “Liberation Day” (April 2025)

On April 2, 2025, President Trump unveiled a sweeping tariff regime—nicknamed “Liberation Day”—imposing a 10% baseline tariff on virtually all imports, and steeper country-specific tariffs of up to 30% on Chinese goods, 20% on Vietnam, 50% on India, 19% on Thailand. Certain goods—like autos, steel, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors—were exempted.
These tariffs went into effect on April 5 (baseline) and April 9 (reciprocal). The policy relies on emergency powers under the IEEPA and NEA. Amid legal fallout, the U.S. Court of International Trade blocked these tariffs in May, ruling the national‑emergency justification improper.

2. Massive Purge of Inspectors General (Jan 2025)

On January 24, Trump carried out an abrupt dismissal of at least 17 federal inspectors general, stripping oversight across key agencies. Critics decried the move as a “Friday night purge” and a threat to government accountability.

Read ALSO: Trump’s “I Don’t Know Anything” Moment Puts Spotlight on U.S.–Russia Trade

3. Executive Order Reasserts Hyde Amendment (Jan 2025)

On January 24, Executive Order 14182 reaffirmed the Hyde Amendment, rescinding Biden-era directives that expanded federal funding for reproductive services—including abortion.

4. DEI Programs Ban & Legal Pushback (Jan–Feb 2025)

Between January 20–21, Trump issued executive orders to terminate all federal DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) programs, dismantling offices and terminating employees involved.
In response, civil rights groups filed National Urban League v. Trump on February 19, challenging these orders as violations of free speech and due process.

Why It Matters

From economic shockwaves to institutional dismantling, Trump’s second term has unleashed sweeping changes—upending international trade norms, endangering internal checks and balances, and igniting urgent legal, political, and economic consequences.

Let me know if you’d like a summary formatted for social media, a timeline chart, or a breakdown by impact sectors (legal, economic, civic).

Neha

Recent Posts

STI’s Sudden Slowdown: What Singapore’s Market Pullback Reveals About Global Risk Mood

A​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Market Catching Its Breath The Singapore market turned noticeably quieter after the Straits Times Index (STI) went down, reflecting…

December 6, 2025

Waves of Power: Decoding China’s Bold Fleet Deployment Across East Asian Seas

In​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ response to a sudden and highly visible spike in strategic naval operations, the attention of the world has been…

December 5, 2025

Rising Regional Tensions: How Naval Build-Up Near Taiwan and Japan Is Reshaping East Asian Security

The fast naval build-up in the area of Taiwan and Japan is causing the tension of East Asia to be…

December 5, 2025

Shifting Investment Tides: Asia’s IPO Boom and the AI-Bubble Warning for 2026

The future of Asia in 2026 has an excellent combination of both opportunities and risks: a fresh wave of IPO…

December 5, 2025

When Hunger Has a Gender: Unpacking the Global Food Access Gap Women Face

On​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ a dining table, food from many different cultures may look the same, but that is not the case. After…

December 5, 2025

Asia Power Index 2025: Unmasking the Power Shifts in a US–China Dominated Region — And India’s Strategic Rise

Asia​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Power Index 2025 reveals a significant change of the region of Asia, transforming the entire continent. While the struggle…

December 5, 2025

This website uses cookies.

Read More