Pardoned a drug dealer and argued with a bishop. What the media says about Trump
On his first full day in office, US President Donald Trump continued to fulfill his campaign promises. He reiterated his intention to impose tariffs on Chinese goods, pardoned the founder of a drug-trafficking website and began firing government employees. Trump also got into an altercation with a bishop who addressed him at a service. What the media write about the first steps of the head of the White House - in the digest of "Izvestia".
Bloomberg: Trump determined tariffs on goods from China
Trump said that his threat to impose duties on all imports of goods from China remains in force. According to him, he will set a 10 percent tariff as early as February 1. At the same time, a day earlier he claimed that he did not intend to apply any measures to China in the near future.
Bloomberg
"We're talking about a 10 percent tariff on China based on the fact that they're sending fentanyl (a narcotic substance. - Ed.) to Mexico and Canada," Trump said during a White House event. - February 1 is probably the date we're looking at."
During the campaign, Trump allowed for the imposition of 60 percent duties. The U.S. president's new statement, while looking less radical, still sent China and Hong Kong stock exchanges tumbling. Trump also criticized the policy of the European Union. According to him, the U.S. trade deficit with Europe reaches $350 billion, and therefore he also intends to impose duties on its imports.
Reuters: Trump pardons internet drug dealer
Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road darknet drug store. He was sentenced to life in prison for running an underground online marketplace where drug traffickers conducted more than $200 million in illegal trade using bitcoins. Ulbricht was arrested in 2013 and convicted in 2015.
Reuters
"The scum who worked to convict him were the same lunatics who participated in the modern day transformation of government into a weapon against me," Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth Social. Trump said the pardon was "full and unconditional," adding that he called Ulbricht's mother on Tuesday to tell her the news.
Ulbricht has acknowledged that he created Silk Road, while claiming he intended it as a "free market website." His lawyers said during the trial that he had turned the site over to others and became a "scapegoat" for its current operators. Trump promised to commute Ulbricht's sentence during the campaign.
The New York Times: bishop addressed Trump directly during service
Bishop Marianne Edgar Badde of Washington addressed Trump during a Jan. 21 prayer service that the politician attended accompanied by Vice President J.D. Vance. The clergywoman called for mercy for people who may be affected by Trump's latest executive orders.
The New York Times
"The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals," Bishop Budde said. - I ask that you show mercy, Mr. President, to those in our communities whose children fear their parents will be taken away, and that you help those fleeing war zones and persecution in their homelands find compassion and welcome here."
After the service, Trump criticized Badde. He called her statements inappropriate and called on her to apologize on behalf of herself and the church. Trump noted that "her tone was disgusting, she was not persuasive or intelligent."
NBC: Trump put government employees responsible for diversity policy on vacation
The Trump administration has ordered all federal employees in charge of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to be placed on paid leave by the evening of Jan. 22. The memo sent to department and agency heads said the responsible offices would soon be shut down. Management was also required to provide a written plan for laying off employees.
NBC
"President Trump campaigned on ending the scourge of DEI by our federal government and returning America to a merit-based society where people are hired based on their skills, not the color of their skin," said White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt <...>. - This is another victory for Americans of all races, religions and creeds. Promises made, promises kept."
The executive order under which the cuts will take place was signed by Trump on Jan. 20. At the end of his first term, he had already eliminated federal DEI programs. In response, the next US president, Joe Biden, signed an executive order on measures to strengthen racial equality in public service.
Financial Times: Trump will cut $300 billion in funding for green economy
Trump's return to the White House has jeopardized more than $300bn in federal funding for green infrastructure. Those funds were allocated during Biden's presidency and include nearly $50 billion in already-negotiated Energy Department loans and another $280 billion in loan applications that remain pending. Trump signed an executive order halting the payments shortly after his inauguration.
Financial Times
Trump's decision to cut off funding sent shockwaves through the clean energy sector and signaled his intention to undermine Biden's industrial policies, especially his programs to accelerate the [green] energy transition.
Trump's executive order requires all federal agencies to stop making payments to manufacturers and developers of green infrastructure. The president has previously said he wants to stop the construction of wind farms on federal lands and end "unfair subsidies" for electric cars.
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