Protests erupt across all 50 US states ahead of Trump address to Congress
As Donald Trump prepared Tuesday to address a joint session of Congress, protest groups gathered at parks, statehouses and other public grounds across the country to assail his presidency as dangerous and un-American.
The rallies and marches — set in motion by the fledgling 50501 Movement, a volunteer-driven group organized in the weeks after Trump’s inauguration — mark the latest attempt at national resistance to the hardened support of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” base and the success it has had in reshaping the Republican Party in the president’s populist image.
Trump was called a fascist, a “Russian asset,” “Putin’s Puppet” and “Wannabe King,” among other, more profane monikers. One signed implored “Punch Nazis,” reflecting an increasingly common effort to compare Trump’s presidency to Nazi Germany. Musk was a frequent target of mockery and ire. But there were also appeals for transgender rights, abortion rights and diversity. One understated sign appealed simply, “Save Our Parks.”
Events were scheduled throughout the day in all 50 states, including later gatherings on the West Coast and in Hawaii.
Mexico plans to impose retaliatory tariffs on US goods
Mexico’s president said Tuesday the country will respond to the 25% tariffs imposed by the United States with retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. Mexico will announce the targeted products and other measures Sunday at an event in Mexico City’s central plaza, a delay that suggests Mexico hopes to de-escalate the trade war set off by US President Donald Trump.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said the government is “going to wait” because she had planted to speak to Trump this week. Mexico’s government has said since January it had a plan ready for this scenario. “There is no motive or reason, nor justification that supports this decision that will affect our people and our nations,” Sheinbaum added.
Some 80% of Mexico’s exports go to the United States, part of more than $800 billion in trade between the countries last year.
Sheinbaum called “offensive, defamatory and without support” the White House allegations that Mexican drug traffickers persist because of “an intolerable relationship” with the Mexican government.
US could dial down Mexico, Canada tariffs this week
The US commerce secretary on Tuesday said President Donald Trump could dial down huge tariffs on Canada and Mexico this week while maintaining pressure on China, hours after Canada’s premier attacked the United States’ “dumb” trade war.
“I think he’s going to work something out with them,” Howard Lutnick told Fox Business, adding the announcement would probably come on Wednesday.
“Somewhere in the middle will likely be the outcome, the president moving with the Canadians and Mexicans, but not all the way.”
Fears that the tariff spat is rapidly devolving into the most brutal trade war of modern times sent global markets lower, with major Wall Street indexes tumbling for a second straight day.
Trump hoping to announce Ukraine minerals deal in Congress speech
President Donald Trump hopes to announce a minerals agreement with Ukraine on Tuesday night when he addresses Congress on his first six weeks in office, three sources said, a period in which he has stretched the limits of the presidency and upended U.S. foreign policy.
Trump appeared to be preparing for another dramatic flourish: the signing of a rare minerals deal between the U.S. and Ukraine that the president has made the cornerstone of his proposed peace plan to end the Ukraine conflict. The signing of the deal was aborted last week after a shouting match between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House.
Four sources told Reuters the Trump administration and Ukraine planned to sign the deal on Tuesday. Three of the sources said Trump has told his advisers he wants to announce the agreement in his address to Congress. They cautioned that the deal had yet to be signed and the situation could change.
Trump to tout “renewal of the American dream” in address to Congress
President Donald Trump will tout radical plans to reshape the US government and end the Ukraine war Tuesday as he addresses Congress for the first time since his blistering return to power six weeks ago. Trump’s theme will be the “renewal of the American dream” but it promises to be a divisive evening, with the high-octane start to his second term causing huge upheaval at home and abroad.
The Republican is expected to set out what he views as his key achievements, including a record blitz of executive orders and an assault on the federal bureaucracy led by Elon Musk, the world’s richest man. Trump will also set out his vision on the economy — even as the trade war he launched against Canada, China and Mexico roils world markets and threatens to raise prices at home.
Despite a bitter row in the Oval Office with Ukraine’s leader just days ago and a pivot to Moscow that has stunned allies, Trump will then lay out his plans to end the grueling three-year conflict.
“He’s going to dive into foreign policy, talk about his intention to end the war in Ukraine,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Tuesday.
Welcome to our liveblog, where we post the latest news ahead of US President Donald Trump’s address to congress on Tuesday. For more coverage on the US, click here.
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