BBCThe third week of Donald Trump’s second term has been characterized by significant action from the US president and his team. This week, Trump, along with his advisor Elon Musk and the rest of his team, made several major moves that have shaped the direction of his administration.
Here are 15 key actions taken by the Trump administration this week:
1. Trump proposed the US ‘take over’ Gaza, suggesting resettling its Palestinian population and developing it into the ‘Riviera of the Middle East’ after the conclusion of fighting between Israel and Hamas.
2. Thousands of USAID staff are set to be placed on leave as part of proposed cuts to the agency, affecting the majority of its workforce.
3. Trump imposed tariffs on Chinese imports and pulled back threats of tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico for 30 days after agreements were made to strengthen border security.
4. The administration pressed ahead with a plan to incentivize federal workers to resign, which was temporarily halted by a US judge pending further review.
5. Trump signed an order imposing sanctions on some staff of the International Criminal Court, targeting individuals assisting in ICC investigations of American citizens or allies.
6. Military air strikes were ordered against the Islamic State group in Somalia, targeting a senior attack planner and others.
7. The US withdrew from several UN institutions, including the main UN agency for Palestinian refugees, the UN Human Rights Council, and UNESCO.
8. The first group of migrants was sent to Guantanamo Bay as part of plans to expand migrant detention at the US Navy base in Cuba.
9. Trump demanded Ukraine provide rare earth resources in exchange for support in its fight against Russia.
10. An executive order was signed banning transgender women from competing in female sports categories, including the 2028 Olympic Games.
11. Water was released from dams in California following deadly wildfires in Los Angeles in January, which Trump claimed California had withheld supplies that could have helped fight the fires.
12. A taskforce was announced to tackle ‘anti-Christian bias’ and protect the religious freedoms of Americans.
These actions reflect the ongoing agenda of the Trump administration and have sparked debate and controversy both domestically and internationally.