One hundred days into his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump has reasserted his leadership with sweeping domestic crackdowns and disruptive foreign policies, reshaping America’s direction at home and abroad.
From border security to global diplomacy, the administration has reignited old battles and launched new ones, ushering in a turbulent chapter in U.S. governance and international relations.
IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY
On his first day back in office, Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border. U.S. forces were deployed for enforcement operations, and the Guantanamo Bay migrant facility was expanded to accommodate up to 30,000 detainees. The administration’s message was clear: a more aggressive immigration stance had returned.
FOREIGN POLICY: RISKS, REWARDS, AND RIFTS
Trump’s foreign policy has focused on conflict resolution — but through controversial means.
In the Middle East, his proposal to permanently displace Palestinians from Gaza and assume U.S. control over the territory drew condemnation. “We’ll own it,” Trump said during a White House meeting, pledging to clear unexploded munitions and rebuild infrastructure.
His peace push in Ukraine also made headlines, including a fiery exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“You’re gambling with World War Three,” Trump told Zelenskyy, rebuking Kyiv’s resistance to U.S.-proposed concessions.
Trump’s softened stance toward Russia included backchannel negotiations and a rare mineral deal with Ukraine that bypassed NATO and EU frameworks — exacerbating tensions with allies. His rebuke of NATO countries for "cheating" the U.S. on defense spending soon transitioned into economic action.
TRUMP'S TARIFF OFFENSIVE
A sweeping 20% tariff was imposed on a wide range of imports — from cars to electronics.
“Reciprocal. That means they do it to us, and we do it to them,” Trump said during the signing of a new executive order.
Markets were rattled. China retaliated swiftly, while the UK and Israel negotiated exemptions in return for enhanced cooperation in defense and tech.
DOMESTIC POLICY AND GOVERNANCE
Domestically, Trump responded to pro-Gaza campus protests with mass arrests and crackdowns on elite universities, accusing them of promoting “anti-American ideology.” Federal funding was slashed for non-compliant institutions.
Trump also created the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), appointing Elon Musk to lead federal reform efforts. Among its early targets: USAID and foreign assistance programs not directly benefiting American taxpayers.
INTERNAL DIVISIONS AND RESIGNATIONS
While Trump presses forward with his agenda, internal divisions have plagued the White House. Disagreements over trade policy and Ukraine strategy have led to mixed messaging and high-profile resignations, including at the Pentagon.
Former defense officials cited a “lack of coordination” and conflicting directives as reasons for their departure.
OUTLOOK: A DEFINING SECOND TERM
As President Trump marks his first 100 days, his administration remains as polarizing as ever. His rapid-fire policymaking and combative style have shifted U.S. priorities and rattled international alliances.
Whether his bold approach yields long-term gains or global instability remains to be seen — but Trump’s second term is already reshaping the political and geopolitical landscape at breakneck speed.
The Middle East crisis intensifies after the deadly attack on the compound of the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei on Saturday t...
The U.S.-Iran crisis has entered its third day, with further strikes reported across the Middle East and the death toll rising. Oil prices have sur...
Israel carried out heavy airstrikes on the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut on Monday (2 March), af...
Türkiye and Iran have suspended day-trip passenger crossings at their shared border, Türkiye's trade minister said Monday, as a ...
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov following recent mil...
The Middle East crisis intensifies after the deadly attack on the compound of the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei on Saturday that killed him, other family members and senior figures. Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on U.S. targets in the region.
The U.S.-Iran crisis has entered its third day, with further strikes reported across the Middle East and the death toll rising. Oil prices have surged to levels last seen during the Covid-19 pandemic, raising fears of economic disruption and higher prices worldwide.
Türkiye and Iran have suspended day-trip passenger crossings at their shared border, Türkiye's trade minister said Monday, as a U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran entered its third day.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov following recent military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on targets in Iran, as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise.
Follow the latest developments and global reaction after the U.S. and Israel launched “major combat operations” in Iran, prompting retaliation from Tehran.
Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Saudi Aramco closed its Ras Tanura refinery on Monday following an Iranian drone strike, an industry source told Reuters as Tehran retaliated across the Gulf after a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iranian targets over the weekend.
The Kremlin is utilising the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran to validate its ongoing war in Ukraine. Russian officials are pointing to the escalation in the Middle East as evidence that Western nations do not adhere to international rules.
The Middle East crisis intensifies after the deadly attack on the compound of the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei on Saturday that killed him, other family members and senior figures. Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on U.S. targets in the region.
Ayatollah Alireza Arafi has moved into a pivotal constitutional role following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, becoming the clerical member of Iran’s temporary leadership council under Article 111 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The U.S.-Iran crisis has entered its third day, with further strikes reported across the Middle East and the death toll rising. Oil prices have surged to levels last seen during the Covid-19 pandemic, raising fears of economic disruption and higher prices worldwide.
The UK said it's allowing the U.S. to use its bases for defensive strikes against Iran amid escalating missile attacks, after a suspected drone strike hit a British airbase in southern Cyprus, causing limited damage.
The Kremlin is utilising the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran to validate its ongoing war in Ukraine. Russian officials are pointing to the escalation in the Middle East as evidence that Western nations do not adhere to international rules.
European Union stands with its member states in the face of any threat, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in response to the drone strike that hit Britain's Royal Air Force base of Akrotiri in southern Cyprus overnight.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 27th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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