Trump's 11th Week in Office: Tariffs, 'Liberation Day,' and Talks with Putin

The 11th week of President Donald Trump’s time in office is shaping up to be a whirlwind of activity, with tariffs taking center stage. The president has dubbed April 2 as "Liberation Day," the day his much-promised reciprocal tariffs will be announced. Speaking from the White House, Trump declared, "Liberation Day, I call it Liberation Day in America... You’ll be seeing tariffs. And I think I’ve been very fair to countries that have really abused us economically for many, many decades."

April 2 marks the launch of Trump’s "America First" trade policy, aimed at reducing the U.S.' reliance on foreign-made goods. This policy involves matching other nations' high tariff rates while addressing trade barriers like regulations, subsidies, and exchange rate policies. Trump’s plan also includes negotiating with countries to lower such barriers. In a fiery post on Truth Social earlier in March, Trump wrote, "For DECADES we have been ripped off and abused by every nation in the World, both friend and foe. Now it is finally time for the Good Ol' USA to get some of that MONEY, and RESPECT, BACK. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!"

Already, Trump’s administration has imposed a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports, goods from Canada and Mexico, and a 20% tariff on Chinese products. On Wednesday, a 25% tariff on all cars imported into the U.S. will take effect. Trump has made it clear that he’s unfazed by potential price hikes from foreign automakers, stating, "We have plenty."

Meanwhile, Trump is expected to engage in another conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week. The two leaders are working toward a peace agreement in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, tensions remain high, as Trump expressed his frustration with Putin after the Russian leader criticized Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and ramped up attacks on Ukraine over the weekend. In an interview, Trump warned that if Russia doesn’t cooperate, secondary tariffs on Russian oil could be on the table. "If you buy oil from Russia, you can’t do business in the United States," he stated, threatening tariffs ranging from 25% to 50% on Russian oil exports. Still, he added that his anger would "dissipate quickly" if Putin "does the right thing."

Another key item on Trump’s agenda this week is the assessment of his "Golden Dome" missile-defense project. Described as a next-generation shield against advanced aerial threats, the system takes inspiration from Israel’s "Iron Dome" and is part of an executive order Trump signed in January.

Beyond these major initiatives, Trump’s presidency continues at a breakneck pace. Since taking office on January 20, he has signed over 106 executive orders, surpassing the records of his predecessors within their first years in office going back to the Carter administration.

Trump’s unapologetic approach to tariffs and international diplomacy this week underscores his determination to reshape U.S. trade and defense policies. Whether these policies will win him praise or provoke backlash remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Trump is not slowing down.