Live updates: India braces for new Trump tariffs; FEMA dissenters put on leave
President Trump’s 50 percent tariff on imports from India went into effect Wednesday morning, weeks after the president threatened “severe consequences” on trading partners that purchase Russian oil and gas.
The steep import tax comes as Trump continues to push Russia and Ukraine to come to a ceasefire agreement after meeting with the leaders of both nations earlier this month. The president, in his second term, has also soured on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Trump administration also placed several employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on leave late Tuesday after they attached their name to a dissent letter against the agency’s policies earlier this week. More than 180 current and former staffers signed onto the letter, but the majority of those signing on did so anonymously.
The president also escalated his rhetoric around combatting crime in the nation’s capital, telling reporters Tuesday that he would push for the death penalty in murder cases and suggested early Wednesday he could work with Congress on a “comprehensive” crime bill.
Trump and Vice President Vance are expected to meet for lunch later Wednesday.
Catch up:
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- Parks and museums emerge as new culture war battlegrounds
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