President Trump returned to the White House on February 19 after spending several days in Florida. As the Trump administration completes its first month, a significant amount of information continues to emerge from the White House, featuring a variety of developments this week.
The administration has been reshaping its stance towards Ukraine, involving further firings in the civil service and several resignations linked to allegations of a quid pro quo between Trump’s Justice Department and New York Mayor Eric Adams. Additionally, Kash Patel was confirmed as the FBI director this week, and several executive orders were issued. Meanwhile, the courts have presented challenges to some of the administration’s actions, and the White House posted a mock Time magazine cover of Trump with a crown with the caption, “LONG LIVE THE KING.”
Key themes of the week include President Trump’s position on Ukraine, which centers around him blaming Ukraine for the Russian invasion, despite historical events indicating Russia initiated the conflict. Tensions arose following Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s expressions of frustration about being excluded from U.S. negotiations with Russia, prompting Trump to label Zelenskyy a “dictator” and accuse Ukraine of instigating the war.
Moreover, a controversy emerged surrounding Elon Musk’s role in an informal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Trump indicated Musk was in charge of, despite formal filings not recognizing him as the department’s head. DOGE is reportedly responsible for significant firings and restructuring, seeking drastic government efficiency improvements.
The ongoing saga with New York Mayor Eric Adams also gained attention this week, with the Justice Department indicating his legal challenges related to illegal immigration control and crime may delay prosecution. This stance led to resignations within the department and Adams’ office. New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated she would not remove Adams from his position but would work toward legislation limiting the mayor’s powers.
Throughout the week, developments also included President Trump’s public appearances and policy decisions, including a House budget endorsement affecting Medicaid, the signing of an executive order affecting IVF treatment costs, dismissals within federal agencies, and evolving immigration measures. Meanwhile, some impacted federal agencies saw staffing reinstatements amid reported inaccuracies regarding claimed savings and staff adjustments within the national parks.
In a political move, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. discontinued the CDC’s flu vaccine campaign amidst a severe flu season. President Trump also enacted an executive order that aims to exert more control over independent regulatory agencies, attempting to consolidate executive influence over organizations like the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Lastly, layoffs at the IRS commenced, affecting over 6,000 jobs during tax season, and CNN reported declining approval ratings for Trump, influenced by concerns over economic management among various demographic groups.
