As we’ve been reporting, Trump has signed another raft of executive actions.
Here’s a brief round-up of some of those he signed a little while ago:
- Establishing the “Department of Government Efficiency”, which is not an official government department
- “Defending women from gender ideology” and “restoring biological truth to the federal government”
- Beginning the process of withdrawing from the World Health Organization
- Declaring a “national emergency” on the US’s southern border
- An action Trump has said will temporarily prevent a ban on TikTok coming into force
- Pardoning those involved in the 6 January rioters
- Holding “former government officials accountable for election interference”
- Pardoning the 6 January Capitol rioters
These actions have been published on the White House website – we’re working hard to bring you more detail.
Head of US immigration courts fired after Trump takes office
AaThe acting head of the US immigration court system and three other top officials were removed from their posts soon after Donald Trump became president, according to US media reports.
Trump and his political allies have often criticised the immigration court system, which grants asylum to migrants found to have “credible” reasons to fear returning to their home country. Those who do not are deported.
An overloaded system, however, means that migrants often wait years to see an immigration judge, with many thousands paroled into US cities to wait for that date.
Trump has promised to make immigration and border security reforms a top priority of his administration, and earlier declared a “national emergency” on the southern US border.
Canada evades tariffs – at least for now
After bracing for weeks for a trade war with the US, it looks like Canada has – at least for now – evaded the tariffs that President Donald Trump had threatened to impose on the country on day one.
The incoming president had pledged import duties of 25% on Canada, which is highly dependent on trade with the US, with roughly 75% of its exports heading south.
There were multiple reports that Trump was instead asking federal officials to evaluate US trade relationships for unfair practices, including those with Canada, Mexico and China.
“We are very cautious,” Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said.
“It’s really, really important that we continue to roll up our sleeves and make sure that we defend Canadian interests.”
Then Trump suggested on Monday a reprieve may be brief – tariffs on Canada and Mexico could come on 1 February.
Joly said officials will continue with efforts to lobby US counterparts on the benefits of trade between the two nations, which totalled an estimated $909bn (£739bn) in 2022.
Ottawa is preparing significant counter-tariffs in response to the threat.