President Donald Trump is diving headfirst into his 16th week back in office with an ambitious agenda: a face-to-face meeting with Canada’s newly elected prime minister, heightened trade negotiations with China, and renewed efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine.
Fresh off marking his first 100 days in office, Trump is using the momentum to showcase what he describes as “the most successful first 100 days of any administration in U.S. history.”
Speaking at a commencement ceremony at the University of Alabama, the president told graduates and supporters, “We’ve already achieved a lot, but we’re just getting started.”
Canadian PM Visits D.C. as Trade Tensions Loom
One of the week’s most anticipated moments will be Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to the White House on Tuesday. Carney, a former central banker turned political leader, recently led Canada’s Liberal Party to victory in the national election. His first trip to Washington as prime minister is already generating headlines.
The visit comes amid rising tensions over a 25% U.S. tariff imposed on Canadian goods. Trump has also floated the controversial idea of inviting Canada to become the “51st state”—a notion that’s drawn more eye-rolls than applause north of the border.
“We’re meeting as the heads of our governments,” Carney said Friday. “I’m not pretending these talks will be easy.”
Trump, for his part, expressed confidence that the meeting would be productive, telling reporters, “We’re going to have a great relationship.”
Trade War With China Heats Up Again
While Canada prepares for negotiations, the Trump administration is also dealing with the fallout of its aggressive trade stance toward China. With tariffs on Chinese imports spiking as high as 145%, Beijing has retaliated with its own steep levies—up to 125% on U.S. goods.
China’s Ministry of Commerce confirmed it is “evaluating” an offer from Washington to return to the negotiating table. Still, Chinese officials made it clear they won’t be coerced. “Using talks as a pretext for coercion will not work,” the ministry said in a statement.
Trump, appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press, remained firm. “China’s getting killed right now. Their factories are shutting down, their unemployment’s climbing—frankly, I’m not trying to destroy China. But I’m also not going to let them profit off us and build tanks with that money,” he said.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added that any new agreement must reflect China’s failure to fully comply with Trump’s first-term trade deal. “They didn’t stick to Phase One,” Bessent said last week on Fox News. “We’re going to take that into account.”
Hope for Peace in Eastern Europe
Meanwhile, Trump is quietly working on one of the most high-stakes goals of his administration: ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Speaking again on Meet the Press, the president said he feels closer to reaching a deal than ever before.
“I believe we’re getting there with one side,” Trump said, refusing to say whether he meant Ukraine or Russia. “But I’m hopeful. We’re doing this for the American people.”
The comments come just a week after the U.S. signed an agreement granting American companies access to Ukraine’s rare mineral resources—seen by many as a sign of closer cooperation between Washington and Kyiv.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also emphasized the urgency of a peace agreement, calling it “critical” to U.S. interests.
Looking Ahead
As the 90-day pause on Trump’s reciprocal tariffs approaches its July expiration, the clock is ticking for the administration to lock in meaningful trade deals. With global tensions high and economic stakes even higher, Trump’s ability to navigate this complex diplomatic landscape will define the next phase of his presidency.
From suggesting a new U.S. state to confronting China’s trade policies and chasing peace in Eastern Europe, President Trump is signaling one thing clearly: he doesn’t plan on slowing down.
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