Week three of President Donald Trump’s second time period is already shaping as much as be a doozy. With a looming commerce battle and uncertainty concerning Black Historical past Month, The Root wants all people to concentrate to those key points affecting Individuals in all places.
1. Are Individuals Prepared for Trump’s Commerce Warfare Fallout?
The president has taken govt motion to impose new tariffs on Canadian, Chinese language, and Mexican imports similar to he promised he would do, in line with AP Information. However right here’s the factor: Trump going after the nation’s three greatest buying and selling companions could have penalties for all people.
Canada and Mexico have since responded with their very own tariffs on American items, and tensions proceed to rise as Canadian sports activities followers have been heard booing the Nationwide Anthem throughout Toronto Raptors and Ottawa Senators sports.
Trump’s tariffs will have an effect on oil and lumber coming in from Canada; produce, clothes, liquor, and auto components from Mexico; and plastics, textiles and pc chips imported from China, AP Information reviews. This implies Individuals can count on a rise on the value for a number of the most wanted imports.
“Will there be some ache? Sure, possibly (and possibly not),” Trump mentioned in response. “However we’ll make America nice once more, and it’ll all be definitely worth the value that have to be paid.”
2. The Inventory Market Takes a Hit
With Trump forcing the nation into a large commerce battle, the inventory market has taken successful. Based on ABC Information, the Dow Jones Industrial Common dropped nearly 600 factors early Monday (Feb. 3), the S&P 500 dropped 1.5 %, and the Nasdaq fell 2 %.
This implies main firms are getting anxious over Trump’s tariffs. Based on NPR, economists from the worldwide financial institution BNP Paribas mentioned “the introduced improve in tariffs had been even bigger and got here quicker than we had pencilled in.” The economists continued saying American client costs “ought to rise sharply over the approaching months.”
3. Mass Deportation Sparks Protests Throughout the Nation
Trump is set to meet one other marketing campaign promise to invoke mass deportations nation-wide. In response, numerous protests in Washington, D.C., New York Metropolis, California, and plenty of extra have damaged out.
On Sunday (Feb. 2), hundreds of individuals in downtown Los Angeles marched in protest of deliberate mass deportations. Based on the Los Angeles Police Division, the disruptions have precipitated “main gridlock” as protestors took over the 101 Freeway and blocked a number of main streets.
“The actions coming from the White Home are rooted in xenophobic, nativist and racist lies. We should maintain the road and push again each single time,” Sick. Rep. Jesús García mentioned in line with Fox Information. “Persons are exercising their rights.”
4. What Will Shutting Down USAID Do?
Trump lately introduced the suspension of overseas help, however now, it appears he and Tesla CEO Elon Musk have their eyes on destroying a key growth company.
In an audio clip posted on X, Musk introduced he and the president are shutting down america Company for Worldwide Growth (USAID). The company serves as the federal government’s primary worldwide humanitarian and growth arm, in line with NBC Information.
“It grew to become obvious that it’s not an apple with a worm it in,” Musk mentioned. “What we’ve got is only a ball of worms. You’ve obtained to principally eliminate the entire thing. It’s past restore.”
The U.S. is the world’s largest donor of humanitarian help, in line with TIME Journal. So the tip of USAID would additionally imply the tip of billions of {dollars} in humanitarian, growth, and safety help to greater than 100 nations across the globe.
5. Black Historical past Month
With the rolling again DEI (range, fairness, and inclusion) on the federal stage, all eyes have been on the brand new administration to see how they’d deal with Black Historical past Month (BHM).
The Division of Protection issued a memo on Friday (Jan. 31) saying they are going to now not “use official assets” to mark a number of observances, together with BHM, within the office.
It appears, nonetheless, that Trump is celebrating the month with the remainder of us. He wrote he’s “honored to acknowledge February 2025 as Nationwide Black Historical past Month,” in line with The Impartial.