The U.S. stock market experienced a significant sell-off as concerns grew over President Donald Trump’s trade war and its impact on the global economy. Trump announced a doubling of planned tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50%, citing price increases on electricity sold to the U.S. by the provincial government of Ontario. The market reacted swiftly to this announcement. Amidst the market turmoil, Trump faced pressure to restore trust in his economic plans as his tariff threats raised fears of a potential recession.
In a separate development, a federal judge ruled that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is subject to public records law and must comply with requests from a watchdog group. The judge found that the department likely has independent authority, making it legally subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
Furthermore, Trump’s administration unveiled an overhauled app that allows individuals living illegally in the U.S. to express their intention to leave voluntarily, shifting the focus towards “self-deportations.” Additionally, there were discussions between Ukraine and the U.S. on ending the conflict with Russia, with a massive drone attack by Russia being reported. Rubio announced the completion of a purge of USAID programs, cutting 83% of them and moving the remaining aid programs under the State Department.