From aiming to solve some of the world’s pressing problems like the Ukraine-Russia war or turning Gaza into the 'Riviera of the Middle East’, Donald Trump is busy reshaping America's relationship with the world like never before.
Washington: Since January 20 when he was inaugurated as 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump is right on the path to Make America Great Again (MAGA). The sheer volume of the US President's actions has not only upended domestic policies but also created a world trade order where ‘fairness’ is the ultimate goal. Here is a recap of his whirlwind one month as US President.
Tackling Russia-Ukraine war
The mercurial leader has set his sights on ending the war in Ukraine through talks with Russian President Vladamir Putin. Putin and Trump could meet as early as this month, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"The Western media write a lot, our media write a lot ... Maybe, or maybe not," said Peskov when asked whether Putin and Trump could meet before the end of February. The meeting would require some preparation from the Russian foreign ministry, he said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks with the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff this week.
On the Russian side, senior political, intelligence, and economic officials participated, including Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin's foreign affairs advisor. Putin's foreign affairs advisor Yuri Ushakov said after the meeting that the specific date of the meeting between the leaders of Russia and the US has not yet been finalised.
The US President also said he will "probably" meet Russian President Vladimir Putin this month. Dismissing Ukraine's concern about being left out of US-Russian talks in Saudi Arabia on ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump noted during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida that Ukraine could have made a deal with Russia three years ago.
Trump also said he would not oppose the stationing of European peacekeeping troops in Ukraine. "Having troops over there would be fine, I wouldn't object to it at all," he said. However, he indicated that the United States would not participate, "because we're very far away."
Meanwhile, the US President also threatened Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he called a "dictator", that there could be a deal with Russia to end the three-year Ukraine War without him. Zelenskyy "better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
'Riviera of the Middle East’
The President said he would like to see Gaza developed into lucrative property for resorts and office buildings. Trump, however, rebuffed the idea that the US might purchase the land in question. "We're not gonna have to buy... we're gonna have Gaza, we don't have to buy, there's nothing to buy," he said. "It's a war-torn area. We're going to take it, we're going to hold it, we're going to cherish it, we're going to get it going eventually, where a lot of jobs are going to be created for the people in the Middle East. It's going to be for the people in the Middle East, but I think it could be a diamond."
The President said he believes Egypt and Jordan will agree to contribute "a parcel of land" in each country to resettle displaced Palestinians, but said, "We may have someplace else, but I think when we finish our talks, we'll have a place where they're going to live very happily and very safely.”
'Fair, reciprocal' tariffs
President Trump has unveiled a plan to impose "fair and reciprocal" tariffs on all countries. Besides tariffs, they were also charged with considering government subsidies for exports and manipulated exchange rates to give them advantages.
The 180-day deadline leaves time for negotiations by countries that could be affected by new tariffs. Issuing the memorandum, Trump said, "In almost all cases, they're charging us vastly more than we charge them but those days are over."
"I've decided, for purposes of fairness, that I will charge a reciprocal tariff, meaning whatever countries charge the United States of America," he said. Trump has also threatened additional duties on cars, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals in addition to the reciprocal tariffs.
India is unlikely to experience any major short-term consequences due to the US tariff on semiconductors, as it is not a major exporter of chips to Washington. Moreover, India's import duty on semiconductors is already zero, meaning there are no reciprocal tariff concerns, according to industry experts.
Immigration changes
Since taking office, Trump has announced a flurry of immigration-related executive orders, paving the way for a widespread effort to crack down on undocumented migrants in the US. In more than 21 actions, Trump has moved to overhaul parts of the US immigration system, including how migrants are processed and deported from the country.
He has also suspended the entry of all undocumented migrants to the US, and border patrol agents have been instructed to turn people away without granting them asylum hearings. Before the order, migrants were able to arrive at the US border and had the legal right to seek asylum. Trump has also halted the US refugee resettlement program.
Action on USAID, govt inefficiency
Hours after his inauguration, President Trump signed an executive order freezing nearly all foreign funding, including USAID. His administration also plans to cut about 10,000 USAID workers. Defending his move, Trump says that the money would be better spent on America.
Apart from Trump’s war on USAID, he has also allowed Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on several federal agencies. This has led to mass firings. There have been job cuts instituted at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Education Department, Energy Department, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
