A reminder of some of the actions undermining the US credibility and world order.
Terminating DEI
We all knew this one was coming… Trump signed an order to end diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) programs in federal departments and agencies. His order also details plans to compile a list targeting all federal contractors and grantees with DEI programs, according to the White House.
Recognising Only Two Genders
Trump has officially directed all federal agencies to only recognize two genders, male and female, which are not changeable. According to the White House, this executive order will be reflected on government documents like passports, visas, Global Entry cards, and federal personnel records. This also rescinded Biden’s transgender rights efforts.
Withdrawing From WHO
During the pandemic, Trump expressed his repeated frustration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and disappointment with their handling of COVID-19. Now, according to the White House, Trump is back with a vengeance and wants to completely withdraw the country from WHO.
The order won’t take affect for a full year, according to NPR, but in response to Trump, Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University and director of WHO’s Center on Global Health Law, said “This is the most cataclysmic decision.” He continued saying “[This is] a grave wound to American national interests and our national security.”
Calling for the End of Birthright Citizenship
Trump is calling for the federal government to not grant U.S. citizenship for people born in the U.S. but have parents who aren’t citizens or permanent residents— also known as birthright citizenship. According to the White House, the proclamation will take effect 30 days from Jan. 20, 2025, for individuals born on or after that date. Critics of Trump’s order say it directly contradicts the Constitution, which protects birthright citizenship
Pardoning Capitol Insurrectionists
Trump celebrated his second term doing exactly what he promised he would do. Among a series of executive orders signed by the president, Trump most notably either pardoned, commuted the prison sentences, or vowed to dismiss the cases of all roughly 1,500 people charged with crimes connected to the infamous Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, according to the White House.
Enacting Mass Deportations
It seems the president is making good of yet another one of his controversial campaign promises to perform mass deportations of undocumented immigrants across the nation. According to his executive order, Trump has enlisted “all available resources and authorities” to help detain unlawful immigrants and further secure the Mexico-U.S. border.
Withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate agreements
The United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement would join them with a small handful of countries, including Libya, Iran, and Yemen, as the only defectors from this international agreement. The U.S. currently contributes 13% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and its withdrawal would leave behind nearly 200 countries that are working together to address climate change at a global level.
Signaled support for far-right parties
VP JD Vance and Elon Musk indicated support for far right parties while visiting Europe while elections were underway in Germany.
Tariffs
Tariffs have been placed on steel and aluminium and cars (25%).
On 2/4/25 The US announced tariffs on all countries at a 10% rate and additional reciprocal tariffs that vary from country to country.
Restored the death penalty
The death penalty had been in decline over previous administrations. The drugs necessary had stoppped being sold to the US so they are now reverting to killing people via nitrogen and firing squad.
‘Pauses’ Foreign Aid
The United States has paused most of its foreign aid, effective immediately, as part of a sweeping executive order issued by President Trump in January 2025. This pause covers nearly all foreign assistance programs, including development assistance and military aid, except for emergency food aid and military funding for Israel and Egypt.
The pause has led to significant disruptions in aid programs worldwide, with organizations beginning to fire staff and prepare to shut down their operations.
Withdrawn from OECD Global Tax Deal
Withdraws the U.S. from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s global tax deal, which was pursued by Biden Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to impose a global minimum tax of 15% on businesses.
No Tariffs
The only countries to escape global tariffs are Russia, North Korea and Belarus!
Truly a dictators club.
Ending the Ukrainian Invasion
Trump said he would sort it out in a day (like bringing down prices day 1).
Trump has been pressuring Ukraine, which is in a fight for its existence. Really just trying to extort a minerals deal.
Putin has not conceded anything and is just delaying while running rings around Trump.
There has been no meaningful progress. A weak ceasefire lasted a few hours before Putin bombed Ukraine again.
Putin will continue to delay, everyone knows this except the Trump team.
If a weak peace is negotiated, Putin will rearm, rebuild and re-invade as he has done countless times before.
That Oval Office Meeting
On February 28, 2025, President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine held a contentious meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C. The meeting, which was expected to conclude with the signing of the Ukraine–United States Mineral Resources Agreement, ended abruptly without a resolution. Trump and Vice President JD Vance repeatedly criticised Zelenskyy, drowning out his voice during the last ten minutes of the discussion, leading to an unprecedented public confrontation between an American president and a foreign head of state.
It was a disgusting example of the US publicly pressuring the country in the weakest negotiating position. The US have conceded to all of Putin’s demands so far and their leaders even repeat Russian talking points as if they are true- the ‘art of the deal’!
Annexation Threats to Canada
Trump has threatened the annexation of Canada to become the 51st state of the US. Canada is a fellow member of NATO. Canadians have strongly rebuffed this aggression and the nature of the Canadian American relationship will forever be different.
Annexation of Greenland
The United States, under President Donald Trump, has escalated its rhetoric and actions regarding the potential annexation of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark. Vice President JD Vance recently visited a U.S. military base in Greenland, where he criticised Denmark’s protection of the island and emphasised the strategic importance of Greenland to U.S. national security.
Takeover of Gaza
The United States has proposed a plan to rebuild Gaza, but it has faced significant criticism and skepticism. In mid-February, Donald Trump suggested that the U.S. would “own” Gaza, displace all its citizens, and turn it into a Middle East Riviera. This proposal was met with widespread backlash and disbelief, both internationally and within the United Nations.
Mamoud Khalil Detention
Mahmoud Khalil, a student activist and lead negotiator for the encampment in the 2024 Columbia University pro-Palestinian campus occupations, was taken from his New York City apartment building by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on March 8, 2025. The agents were acting on orders from the State Department to revoke Khalil’s student visa. When the agents were informed that Khalil is a lawful permanent resident, they said this status would be revoked instead. He was transported to LaSalle Detention Center. On March 10, a U.S. district judge ordered that the Trump administration not deport Khalil pending judicial review of the arrest.
There is no criminal charge against Khalil. Instead, the government’s argument depends on the Cold War–era Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which provides that migrants in the U.S. may be removed if the Secretary of State believes their presence will have serious negative consequences for U.S. foreign policy.
Amhmoud Khalil is still in detention April 1st 2025. He has a wife who expecting their first child imminently.
Travel Advisories
Since U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are now detaining lots of people, including visitors from abroad. Some have been held without a reason being provided for weeks. A number of countries now have travel advisories on visiting the US including: Canada, Germany, the U.K., Denmark, Finland, and Portugal who’s citizens have been affected by such actions.
Fancy a holiday in detention? – go to the US!
Judge impeachment calls
Chief Judge James Boasberg has been in the spotlight while overseeing a high-profile case involving the Trump administration’s deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador.
Boasberg imposed a temporary restraining order on the action, but the administration is in the process of appealing.
Trump has criticised Boasberg’s handling of that case, calling him a “Radical Left Lunatic of a Judge” in a post on social media and calling for his impeachment.
The statement raised concern in the legal community and prompted Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to say in a rare statement that “impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision.”
Classic moved to undermine the judiciary and move to a dictatorship.
Kilmar Garcia ‘Mistakenly’ Deported to EL Salvador Yet to Be Returned
A federal judge on Friday afternoon ordered the US to return a Maryland man mistakenly deported to an El Salvador prison after a Trump administration attorney was at a loss to explain what happened.
The wife of the man, who was flown to a notorious Salvadoran prison had earlier joined dozens of supporters at a rally before a court hearing on Friday, where his lawyers had asked the judge – Paula Xinis – to order the Trump administration to return him to the US.
Xinis on Friday called Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation “an illegal act” and pressed US justice department attorney Erez Reuveni for answers. Reuveni had few, if any, to offer, conceding that Abrego Garcia should not have been removed from the US and sent to El Salvador. He could not cite any authority held by the Trump administration to arrest Abrego Garcia in Maryland.
“I’m also frustrated that I have no answers for you for a lot of these questions,” he said.
Reuveni said, “I don’t know,” when asked why Abrego Garcia was sent to El Salvador, which has a history rife with human rights abuses.
Trump Administration Targets Law Firms
President Donald Trump has issued a series of executive orders targeting high-profile law firms, accusing them of working with his political opponents or engaging in diversity initiatives he deems unlawful. These actions have sparked legal challenges and divided the legal community, with some firms suing the administration and others settling to avoid further repercussions.
Constitutional Challenges: The executive orders have been criticised for potentially violating the Fifth Amendment rights to due process and equal protection. Critics argue that the orders are an attack on the independence of the judiciary and the constitutional system of checks and balances.5
Impact on Legal Profession: There is concern that the orders could intimidate law firms into avoiding challenges to the administration’s policies, reducing the number of legal challenges that can be brought against Trump’s policies. This could have broader implications for the rule of law and the ability of citizens to petition their government.