With all eyes currently fixed on the war in Ukraine, Paralympians competing in Beijing can show us the bright side of international cooperation.
What Donald Trump did in his first month as President
I primi 38 giorni di Donald Trump alla Casa Bianca sono stati contraddistinti da un turbinio di decreti, annunci, decisioni (anche clamorose) e polemiche.
38 days have passed since Donald Trump was sworn in as President of the United States. They’ve been days full of announcements, decrees, commitments, and twists that have further divided US citizens and the whole world. They’ve been days that changed the minds of those believing that the promises made during the electoral campaign would have been softened during presidency. Instead, Donald Trump can’t be accused of being overly contradictory.
“I inherited a mess”
“I don’t think there’s ever been a president elected who in this short period of time has done what we’ve done,” said the tycoon during a press conference on 16 February. “To be honest, I inherited a mess”. He also added that his “approval rating is at 55 per cent”, that companies are returning to the country, and that his administration “already begun enormously productive talks with many foreign leaders to move forward toward stability, security and peace”.
Those statements shocked even broadcaster Fox News, traditionally close to Republicans. Trump also made a controversial phone call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (a traditional ally of the United States), and was protagonist of a dispute with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto over the issue of a wall to be built on the US-Mexican border. In an interview with two European newspapers, Trump attacked the policies of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and said he supports the disintegration of the European Union. On the other hand, “U.S.-Israeli relations have never been better,” as Netanyahu said, especially after the White House declared its opposition to a two-state solution – emphasising a clear change the United States’ stance on the issue.
Donald Trump signed 23 decrees in 31 days
As for internal politics, in just a month Donald Trump has signed 23 decrees and 5 draft laws, posted 189 tweets, demanded the resignation of one of his closest advisors, fired the acting General Attorney, and two other advisors resigned even before being confirmed by the Senate.
President Trump aimed at rolling back the Obama Care since the very beginning. He vowed “health coverage for all”, but he hasn’t presented any real projects to replace it. Instead, he ordered a hiring freeze for some federal workers, and declared a war on media.
15,000 new border agents
On 25 January, Trump declared a plan to increase the number of border and immigration agents, with 15,000 new employees. Two days later, US President signed one of the most debated decrees, the so-called Muslim Ban. The decree has been blocked by US law, but Trump promised new regulations aimed at fighting terrorism.
Yemen abandoned the United States
Militarily, the first airstrike ordered by Trump in Yemen was anything but successful. One US soldier died along with several civilians. Subsequently, Yemen withdrew the authorisation granted to the United States to intervene in the territory. Also, the position on Russia has resulted particularly unclear. During a summit in Munich, Germany, vice President Mike Pence said the US “holds Russia accountable” for the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria. He then reminded the “unwavering” commitment of the US in the NATO, despite Trump defined it as an “obsolete” alliance.
Mining companies are no longer forced not to dump coal mining debris into water courses
As far as the environment is concerned, Trump’s choices seem to move in the opposite direction than those made by Obama. After the revival of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, President Trump waited for the Senate to confirm (on 17 February) climate change sceptic Scott Pruitt as head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Another decree almost went unnoticed despite its importance. President Donald Trump has overturned a regulation blocking coal mining debris from being dumped into nearby streams.
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