Trump in turbo mode: What the new U.S. president has accomplished and announced in just one week.
The new President of the United States, Donald Trump, has been in office for a week and is not wasting any time. He has signed a significant number of executive orders and made numerous statements regarding the end of Russia's war against Ukraine and other global events.
RBK-Ukraine highlights Trump's key activities during his first week in office.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Ending the War between Russia and Ukraine
In his inauguration speech, Donald Trump did not mention Russian aggression against Ukraine, but stated that the strength of the USA "will stop all wars and bring a spirit of unity to the world".
On January 21, while signing his first executive orders, Trump communicated with journalists, specifically stating that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "wants to make a deal". Trump expressed hope that Putin should also be ready for it because "he is destroying Russia by not making a deal".
The President of the USA tasked his special representative for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, with ending the war within 100 days, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. According to the publication, Kellogg's activity is a preliminary step in peace negotiations that Trump intends to oversee personally. However, it is still unclear when he will visit Ukraine.
On January 22, the President of the USA made another statement on the topic of the "deal regarding Ukraine" on the social network Truth Social. Trump wrote that he "loves the Russian people" and has always had very good relations with Putin. However, he also urged the Russian dictator to engage in negotiations now to end the war before it worsens.
"If we do not reach an agreement, especially soon, I will have no choice but to impose high tariffs, duties, and sanctions on everything that Russia sells to the United States and other countries," Trump wrote.
During his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 23, the President of the USA stated that he hopes for China's assistance in ending the war with Russia. Additionally, Trump will seek to lower oil prices, which, according to him, could lead to the end of the war in Ukraine. This can be achieved by increasing American production and engaging other countries.
"I will also ask Saudi Arabia and OPEC to lower oil prices – they need to be lowered. If these prices drop, Russia's war with Ukraine will end instantly," Trump declared.
Subsequently, Trump's special representative for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, clarified that the target price is $45 per barrel.
A phone call between Trump and Putin is also expected soon.
At the same time, Trump does not rule out the possibility of purchasing American weapons for Ukraine using funds from frozen Russian assets. This was reported by Kellogg in an interview with Fox News. He noted that "this is a topic for discussion." However, according to Kellogg, "this is not the item that will solve the problem".
Thus, overall, for Ukraine, Trump's first week, as expected, did not bring any significant shifts, but made it even more evident that Trump is focused on concluding a "deal" regarding the war – although its parameters remain unclear.
Global Politics
In an interview with Fox News on January 23, Trump noted that he will have to "do a lot of work" since many things should not have happened during Biden's presidency.
Audit of Affairs
One of Trump's first orders was to suspend aid to other countries for 90 days. During this time, an audit should take place, and the relevant divisions of the State Department will assess the effectiveness of aid programs and their alignment with US foreign policy. The suspension mainly concerns aid provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and does not affect military aid to Ukraine.
Trump's national security advisor, Mike Waltz, sanctioned a "full review" of several dozen personnel officials working in the White House. This is intended to ensure that employees are loyal and will carry out Trump's directives rather than sabotage them. According to the Washington Post, during a brief call from Waltz's chief of staff, Brian McCormack, officials were informed that they had to leave the building. They were instructed to return only at the order of their supervisors – senior directors appointed by the Trump administration.
It is worth noting that the appointment of new people to Trump's team is in full swing. The President can appoint some staff unilaterally. For others, Senate approval is required.
China
At a press conference in the Oval Office on January 21, Trump stated that he is considering imposing a 10% tariff on all Chinese goods starting February 1. This step is one he mentioned during his election campaign. On the eve of his inauguration, Trump spoke on the phone with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
"The call was very good for both China and the USA. I hope we will solve many problems together and start immediately. We discussed trade balance, fentanyl, TikTok, and many other topics. President Xi and I will do everything possible to make the world more peaceful and secure!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The new U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, also spoke on the phone with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. Among other things, Rubio emphasized the USA's commitment to allies in the region and serious concern about China's pressure on Taiwan and in the South China Sea.
WHO
Trump withdrew the USA from the World Health Organization; however, legally, the USA will exit the WHO only in 2026 – according to the organization's charter, notice of exit must be given a year in advance. Trump has criticized the organization since 2020, blaming it for being under China's control during the coronavirus pandemic.
The politician initiated the USA's exit from the WHO back then, but Joe Biden reversed that decision.
The USA is the largest financial donor to the WHO, contributing 18% of its budget.
Latin America
Trump returned Cuba to the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
The decision to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism was made by Biden shortly before the end of his term – on January 15. It should be noted that Cuba has been under the influence of the Soviet Union since the late 1950s, and later had close ties with Russia and China.
The new President of the USA also issued an order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the American Gulf. As he explained, the gulf plays a key role in the economy of the USA.
Domestic Policy in the USA
Struggle against the "Deep State"
Trump signed an order to create the "Department of Government Efficiency" headed by billionaire Elon Musk. According to Trump, Musk will have an office in the White House, with around 20 people working there. The department will help ensure the implementation of executive decisions. Initially, it was planned for the department to be co-headed by Elon Musk and another entrepreneur – Vivek Ramaswamy, but the latter decided to focus on other matters. According to the Washington Post, the reason for this is a conflict between Musk and Ramaswamy.
At the same time, Elon Musk was not allowed to have an office in the center of the White House. This decision was made by the head of the U.S. President's administration, Susan Wiles. She indicated that she does not welcome "people who want to work independently or be a star".
Energy
With his first executive orders, Trump declared a state of emergency in the energy sector of the USA. This "unleashes the hands" of American companies in fossil fuel extraction. The federal leasing program for oil and gas extraction sites has also been restored, the ban on the export of liquefied gas has been lifted, and the ban on drilling, including in U.S. coastal waters, has been canceled.
Furthermore, Trump, through his order, withdrew the USA from the Paris Climate Agreement, whose goal is to reduce carbon emissions to combat climate change. This move will cancel environmental protection measures and slow down the implementation of projects in the green energy sector, but it will provide a boost to certain industries right here and now.
Moreover, the President of the USA suspended the leasing of new federal wind energy installations until environmental and economic assessments are conducted. According to him, wind turbines are ugly