Musk, tariffs and tensions – takeaways from Trump’s first cabinet meeting

On Wednesday, Donald Trump held his first cabinet meeting at the White House.He turned the event into a lengthy Q&A session that lasted more than an hour. Speaking alongside his cabinet—and billionaire Elon Musk,

who wore a “tech support” T-shirt—Trump discussed a wide range of topics, from Doge’s efforts to cut government spending to immigration, the economy, and the war in Ukraine.
Here are six takeaways from the meeting.

1) Trump praises Rubio and Musk.

Trump was asked reporters of which government departments—and, in detail, the cabinet members were the most resistant to their policy changes.

He said, “So far, I am happy with all those options.” However, he stated that “some groups are much easier than others,” especially Elon Musk’s work, not a cabinet member, and State Secretary Marco Rubio.His administration is “focusing on cutting the size of the government; we have to do,” he said. “We want to have a balanced budget within a short period of time… which means that it may be next year or perhaps years later,” said Trump.

2) … and addresses potential cabinet tensions.

Trump has repeatedly and publicly supported the efforts of the government’s efficiency department, led by Elon Musk and Dogi, which has been tasked with reducing government expenditure and workforce.

The president wanted to remove any rumors that Kasturi and the rest of his team were strugglingTrump stated, However, I will tell you that for the maximum part, I assume all and sundry is pleased.” “If they’re no longer, I need them to speak,” they stated. However, I will tell you that for the most part, I think everyone is thrilled.” “If they are not, I want them to speak,” they said.

At one point, Trump was asked if any cabinet members had expressed dissatisfaction with Kasturi and turned into a room to ask them. Nobody spoke. Musk also defended Dogi, calling it a “support ceremony” for government agencies so that he would get himself rid of fraud. However, he admitted that it would make mistakes and noted that it accidentally canceled the Ebola prevention efforts before resuming.

Musk said, “But when we make mistakes, we will fix it very quickly.”

3) A warning to federal workers.

The President also addressed federal employees to the email of the musk; they asked them to list five items last week or risk their job, pronouncing the alarm “behind the initiative” is a huge deal. Trump guessed without evidence that almost a million federal employees who did not speak back to the email maybe “do not exist.” He continued, “Maybe they will last a long time.” “We are trying to decide who humans have not answered,” Trump said. “We are getting a little more surgical in situations in which people are classified as goods.

” Trump also said that he had encouraged cabinet members to “own a personal component” in their respective agencies. He also advised that the Environmental Defense Agency, which leads Lee Zeldin, may lose up to 65% of employees.

4) Memo instructs further staff reductions.

Later in the day, a memorandum was sent to federal agencies, asking them to submit a plan for “a significant shortage” in their employees by 13 March. It asks agencies to provide a list of employees that are not considered necessary.Additionally, the memo suggests that a situation can only be filled for every four people who go in the future. This layoff will be there in addition to those who have already been mainly done by the dogs of the prevalent workers.

Several American outlets have reported that around 10,000 federal workers were allowed to cross several agencies earlier this month. The figure was in addition to the estimated 75,000 workers, who have accepted a proposal from the White House to leave voluntarily in the autumn. From Wednesday, the memo is another step in Dogi’s efforts to further reduce the size of the US government. Exemption from this action; however, there are law enforcement, border security, immigration enforcement and conditions in the army.

5) Trump confirms Zelensky visit.

Trump confirmed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelansky would visit the White House on Friday—something that was earlier suggested. Trump said that the US and Ukraine would sign a detailed mineral deal in the journey, although the figure of that agreement is not clear. He said that the deal would allow America to “get our money back” for the assistance that Ukraine has been given in three years as it was attacked by Russia. He said, “We are going to get a lot of money in the future, and I think it is appropriate because we have taxpayers who should not stop the bill.”

“All this work has been done.” Zelancesi describes the bilateral deal as an initial and wants to further compromises that include an American security guarantee that prevents renewed Russian aggression. Asked about the safety guarantee for Ukraine in the future, Trump said no one would provide this, arguing that the burden should fall on Europe.

6) And says EU tariffs coming ‘very soon’

Trump said he plans to kill the goods made in the European Union with a tariff of 25%. He informed the assembled reporters, “We will announce it very soon.” “It will usually be 25%, and it will be on cars and everything else.” “He really took advantage of us,” Trump said about the European Union.”They do not accept our cars. They essentially do not accept our agricultural products.

They provide many justifications for their opposition.” Trump was also asked if he still planned to implement tariffs on Canada and Mexico, despite Canada’s plan to significantly decline and increase border security of illegal migrants on the southern border. On 4 February, Trump suddenly agreed to impose 25% tariffs on both countries for 30 days, withdrawing the three countries from the verge of a potentially harmful trade war. It seems that the date that Trump mentioned was the expansion of the period at that time. “April 2, let’s go tariffs,” he said. “Some of them, but not all of them. And I think it will be fantastic.”

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