UJ
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It was the week when reality started to catch up with the White House.
In his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump made it clear that there would be no slowing down in his intense efforts to consolidate executive authority and disrupt the status quo both in the nation and globally.
Every political action elicits a corresponding reaction.
Signs of discord are already emerging, which could hinder the president’s initial aggressive approach to his administration. While these developments may not halt Trump’s bold maneuvers, they indicate that even he is susceptible to political realities.
There’s little indication of immediate and significant opposition from congressional Democrats, whose lackluster protests during the primetime address highlighted their ineffectiveness.
Nevertheless, the challenges posed by a softening economy appear to be impacting Trump’s actions. Congressional Republicans are now calling for involvement as they recognize the potential harm to everyday Americans from Elon Musk’s initiatives aimed at cutting governmental influence. A recent Supreme Court ruling could impede the administration’s efforts to restrict foreign aid, and additional court decisions limiting Trump’s overreach suggest the next few months will be more complex than the initial six weeks of his presidency.
For instance, on Tuesday, Trump, despite his usual stance, made headlines by imposing broad 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico. However, barely 24 hours later, he granted a one-month exemption to the auto sector. By Thursday, he postponed all tariffs in the Western Hemisphere until April. While measures against China remain unchanged, this is not the first instance of Trump prioritizing tariffs and later retracting his stance; both Mexico and Canada have faced a rollercoaster of policy changes from Trump for weeks.
Frequently, his aides promote him as the most exceptional dealmaker in history – yet it remains unclear what specific benefits he secured from this concession on a policy he previously characterized as critical to America’s welfare and national security just days prior.
His decision to reverse course, however, came after significant stock market drops – an indicator Trump uses to evaluate his own performance – and growing anxiety among Republican lawmakers regarding potential consumer price increases stemming from the new tariff policy, along with increasingly disheartening data reflecting declining consumer confidence in the economy.
On Thursday, Republican Senator Rand Paul shared insights into GOP concerns, stating, “Almost every industry in Kentucky has approached me expressing that (tariffs) will harm our industry and increase prices for homes, cars,” adding, “I will continue to advocate against tariffs.”
It seems puzzling that the president was not more aware of the implications of his policies before enacting them. It’s also surprising that the heads of the Big Three auto manufacturers need to make calls to clarify that his actions could jeopardize a vital American industry. Perhaps Trump’s fascination with “beautiful” tariffs clouded his judgment, or maybe the sheer drama of wielding power is so captivating that this was intended as nothing more than a publicity stunt.
“April 2 is slated to be a significant day for America,” Trump remarked on Thursday, creating expectations for yet another impending tariff deadline, surely to introduce more unpredictability, potentially affecting consumer sentiment and infuriating both Mexico and Canada.
Trump’s self-imposed pause indicates a lack of confidence rather than the strength around which he has built his political identity. It appears he retreated after Canada and Mexico – which had threatened to retaliate with their own tariffs – refused to back down. Should he attempt to wield the tariff weapon again, he runs the risk of losing credibility.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s initiatives to streamline the federal government are gaining momentum. Reports reveal ongoing mass layoffs, with contingencies being discussed for major workforce reductions at the Pentagon and the IRS. Trump is preparing an executive order aimed at dissolving the Education Department – a long-standing objective for Republicans – although this will likely incite a legal battle over the scope of executive authority.
Musk’s decision to eliminate the US Agency for International Development was low-hanging political fruit. While the concept of reducing government size enjoys popularity among many Americans, deeper cuts into agencies that directly affect people’s lives could pose significant political risks.
Plans to significantly reduce staffing at the Department of Veterans Affairs have already led to accusations that the president and Musk are neglecting citizens who have served their country and often paid a heavy toll in terms of their health. Everett Kelley, the national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, warned on Wednesday, “[This] reckless plan to undermine the VA’s capacity to fulfill its promises to veterans will have repercussions for millions of service members and their families.”
Administration representatives claim that cuts are intended to make government operations more efficient following perceived excesses during President Joe Biden’s administration. However, they may have an ulterior motive – covertly promoting a plan to privatize the VA. Trump had previously contemplated an expansion of private care for veterans during his first term, raising alarm among veterans’ groups regarding the current cuts.
“They have been chipping away at the VA, bit by bit. And now it appears they are preparing to take a significant chunk out of it,” said Naveed Shah, an Iraq War veteran currently serving as the political director of Common Defense, the nation’s largest veteran-led grassroots organization, during an interview on “UJ This Morning” on Thursday.
The rising sensitivity surrounding Musk’s initiatives is one reason why GOP lawmakers and Cabinet members are now requesting some influence over the direction of his aggressive governmental restructuring.
On Thursday, Trump announced plans to hold bi-weekly meetings with his Cabinet members and Musk regarding the trimming of government operations, signaling that the White House is attempting to mitigate future political backlash.
“As Secretaries become acquainted with employees in various Departments, they can be more precise in determining who will stay and who will go,” Trump expressed on Truth Social on Thursday. “We advocate for a ‘scalpel’ approach instead of a ‘hatchet’ approach,” he added. “In cooperation with Elon, DOGE, and other remarkable individuals, we will achieve historic outcomes.”
Musk recently held discussions with lawmakers from both the House and Senate on Wednesday, amid calls for legislative measures to formalize some of the cuts initiated by his DOGE team. This serves as the first indication that the Republican Congress – which has largely refrained from curbing Trump’s actions – is now seeking to reclaim some of its authority ahead of impending budget discussions.
Increased Congressional involvement also comes in the wake of a recent Supreme Court ruling, where a 5-4 majority indicated that the administration must distribute over $2 billion in foreign aid that Congress had previously appropriated. While this case doesn’t fundamentally redefine the administration’s expansive use of executive power, it does suggest that the Court may challenge the White House’s belief in its unilateral authority to dismantle programs and departments.
On one hand, Republican lawmakers may want to share in the acknowledgment of achieving a goal that has historically united their party – the limitation of government. Yet, their participation is likely to decelerate Musk’s drastic measures. After all, every lawmaker has projects within their districts that they wish to preserve. The ongoing DOGE purge has highlighted that the federal government’s reach extends beyond Washington, D.C. Every state has its federal agencies, and jobs and programs are under threat throughout the nation during this dismantling effort.
Efforts to formalize Musk’s cuts into law would be the appropriate constitutional route and could alleviate the administration from extended legal challenges in certain situations. However, this will add to the burden of a Congress already constrained by the necessity to pass Trump’s proposed substantial tax cuts, his budget, an approaching debt ceiling crisis, and a possible government shutdown. Additionally, compelling Republicans to vote on cuts that could become unpopular may serve the Democrats’ interests.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune mentioned on Thursday that he is collaborating with the Senate Finance Committee to make “good progression” on legislation, but acknowledged that “it will require some time.”
However, taking time contradicts Trump and Musk’s disruptive-first, think-later approach.
The revolution appears likely to unfold, albeit at a more measured pace.
