REPUBLICANS ARE PLEADING FOR PATIENCE at President Trump’s 100 day mark, as voters express deep concern over tariffs and the economy.
“In any new administration, it’s a roller coaster, right?” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters Tuesday. “When you come in and make dramatic change… there’s some bumps along the road. We’re changing everything…and when you’re doing that it’s disruptive in a way. People…have an emotional reaction sometimes to the big changes, but what we’re seeing…is that they’re understanding that we’re headed somewhere.”
Trump will look to highlight his economic achievements in a speech marking his 100th day in office this evening in Michigan, where he’s expected to tout new corporate investments in the U.S., his de-regulatory policies, lower inflation and the creation of new jobs outside of the government.
Watch Trump’s speech at 6 p.m. EDT here.
The Trump administration did not have any trade deals to announce at the beginning of his 100th day in office, and polls show his tariffs and the trade war with China have created deep uncertainty around the economy.
A new CNN poll finds that about 60 percent say Trump’s polices are making the economy worse. Tariff fears have driven consumer confidence levels to a five-year low.
Detroit-based General Motors (GM) said Tuesday it would delay its first quarter earnings conference call until later in the week “based on recent reports regarding updates to trade policy.” GM said its 2025 financial guidance “does not contemplate the potential impact of tariffs.”
The Trump administration later said it would scale back its 25 percent tariffs on imported automobiles and auto parts so that carmakers are not hit twice for tariffs that were already imposed on foreign metals.
Meanwhile, the White House lashed out at Amazon over a report they planned to display how much tariffs add to the cost of some items.
“This is a hostile and political act by Amazon,” said press secretary Karoline Leavitt. “Why did Amazon not do this when the Biden administration hiked inflation to the highest level in 40 years?”
Amazon later denied the report, saying it was only under consideration for its “ultra low cost Amazon Haul store” but never intended for its main website.
“This was never approved and is not going to happen,” said spokesman Tim Doyle.
BESSENT TAKES THE LONG VIEW
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged investors and consumers to take the long view during a press briefing Tuesday, saying the impacts of Trump’s strategy will come to fruition later this year.
Bessent said China is ill-equipped for a standoff with the U.S., though he declined to say whether talks are underway with Beijing.
“The Chinese could lose 10 million jobs very quickly,” he said.“Remember, we are the deficit country, they sell almost 5 times more goods to us than we sell to them, so the onus will be on them to take off these tariffs. They’re unsustainable for them.”
He said tariff revenue could provide income tax relief next year and that “consumers will feel the deregulation impact by the 3rd or 4th quarters.”
In addition, Johnson argued that once the GOP-controlled Congress passes Trump’s agenda, it will “turbo-boost” the economy.
“It will be very powerful for domestic investment,” Bessent added.
The Hill’s Liz Crisp compares the first 100 days from Trump’s second term to the first 100 days of his first term.
💡Perspectives:
• The Free Press: Trump’s 100 days of revolution.
• The Wall Street Journal: At 100 days, Trump 2.0 is in trouble.
• The American Prospect: The markets as master.
• The Nation: Consumer debt has reached an all-time high.
• Foreign Affairs: How strategic deal making can fortify American firepower.
Read more:
• 5 ways Trump reshaped the government in the first 100 days.
• Trump’s 5 biggest mistakes of his first 100 days
• Trump’s next 100 days: Trade deals, foreign policy and reconciliation.
• Trump dismantles, cuts and shakes up world of health in first 100 days.
• GOP blames tariffs, economic uncertainty for low Trump approval rating.
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CATCH UP QUICK
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party won the federal election, a stunning turnaround that began with President Trump’s tariffs and threats of annexation. Carney’s rival, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, not only lost the federal election, but also lost the seat in Parliament he’s held for 20 years. “President Trump is trying to break us so he can own us,” Carney said. “That will never happen.”
- A new Zillow analysis finds that $1 million is only enough to buy a starter home in more than 230 cities across the U.S. Gallup finds that satisfaction with quality, affordable housing has plunged in wealthy economies around the world.
NEWS THIS AFTERNOON
Trump turns focus to getting agenda through Congress
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) says he expects the House to pass President Trump’s fiscal agenda by Memorial Day, while the White House and Senate GOP leader John Thune (R-S.D.) have circled July 4 for final passage.
Trump on Tuesday described passage of passage of the bill as his next top priority.
“The next period of time, I think, my biggest focus will be on Congress, the deal that we’re working on,” he said. “That would be the biggest bill in the history of our country in terms of tax cuts and regulation cuts, and other things.”
House committees will begin their markups this week, putting meat onto the bones of the budget frameworks passed by Congress earlier this year.
It’s a tough assignment, with the GOP’s slim margins in both chambers requiring near-universal Republican support for “one big, beautiful” bill to make Trump’s tax cuts permanent and to reduce the federal deficit by making some painful spending cuts.
Republicans have already received blowback as they kick around ideas for how to reduce spending on Medicaid and other social safety net programs that make up the bulk of the federal budget.
Mehmet Oz, who leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), said Tuesday Trump told him to “love and cherish” Medicare, even as he’s been instructed find waste, fraud and abuse in the nation’s health programs.
Democrats are watching closely and will be documenting all cuts to popular programs.
Top Democratic funding negotiators Tuesday published a tracker Tuesday documenting federal funding blocked under Trump, which they say amounts to $430 billion so far.
ELSEWHERE…
House Republicans on Tuesday used a procedural maneuver to block Democrats from forcing votes on the Trump administration’s use of Signal, potential conflicts of interest involving Elon Musk and other controversial topics.
ELSEWHERE…
Efforts by some Democratic lawmakers to impeach Trump are going nowhere, the chair of the House Democratic Caucus said Tuesday.
“Impeachment is, at times, a tool that can be used. This president is no stranger to that; he’s been impeached twice,” Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) told reporters. “But we don’t have any confidence that House and Senate Republicans would do their jobs. And so this is not an exercise that we’re willing to undertake.”
Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) filed seven articles of impeachment against Trump on Monday, including for the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador and for blocking federal funds approved by Congress.
💡Perspectives:
• The Hill: Why the normies can’t make politics normal.
• The Liberal Patriot: Trump’s poll numbers are falling – but it’s early.
• CNN: Dems take stock of 100 days lessons.
Read more:
• Bill criminalizing deepfake revenge porn heads to Trump’s desk.
• Congressional leaders’ approval ratings underwater in new poll.
• GOP Reps. Stefanik, Lawler eye runs for NY governor.
• Who is Shri Thanedar?
• GOP’s fentanyl bill includes felony murder charges for some dealers.
ON TAP
• President Trump holds a rally at Macomb County Community College in Michigan at 6 p.m. EST. His interview with ABC News will air at 8 p.m. EST.
IN OTHER NEWS
Roundup: Hegseth ‘proudly’ ends women’s program Trump signed into law
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday said he’d shutter a Pentagon program meant to advance women’s participation in global peace-building and conflict prevention, a law that was written by Republicans and signed by President Trump during his first term.
Hegseth “proudly” announced his termination of the program in a post on X, calling the law “yet another woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative that overburdens our commanders and troops.”
The Hill’s Ellen Mitchell writes:
“The 2017 Women, Peace and Security Act was penned by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, then a member of the House representing South Dakota, and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.). The Senate’s version of the law was co-sponsored by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, then a Florida senator. Rubio on April 1 had lauded the Women, Peace and Security Act, saying it was “the first law passed by any country in the world focused on protecting women and promoting their participation in society.”
• Harvard University is revamping its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) office amid its ongoing fight with the Trump administration.
The Hill’s Lexi Lonas writes: “Those changes included eliminating DEI, among other policy reforms. The office will now be called Community and Campus Life and will focus on how to build a culture of belonging at the school, work to have students engage across differences and support first-generation and low-income students, Harvard said.”
But the battles between the Trump administration and Harvard continue.
The Trump administration has opened a new investigation, alleging race-based discrimination at the school and the Harvard Law Review.
💡Perspectives:
• The Hill: Religious colleges and seminaries must stand with Harvard.
• The Wall Street Journal: The high cost of the fed’s mission creep.
• Sean Duffy: How Trump is revolutionizing transportation.
Stay Engaged
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