US President Donald Trump took out Washington from the Trans-Pacific Partnership - a trade agreement among 12 of the Pacific Rim countries, one of former prez Barack Obama's most significant trade deals, on the very first day of office. Trump opened 'Day One' of his presidency by meeting with business leaders at the White House. He hosted breakfast with a dozen of leaders in the Roosevelt Room. Among those present were Kevin Plank of Under Armour, Elon Musk of Tesla, Marilyn Hewson of Lockheed Martin, and Mario Longhi of US Steel.
He said there would be "advantages" to companies that make their products in the United States and suggested he would impose a "substantial border tax" on foreign goods entering the country. The President also repeated a campaign promise to cut regulations "by 75 per cent, maybe more." Trump also convened a meeting of about a dozen labour leaders, later noting that he had signed a memorandum announcing the US' intention to withdraw from the multi-nation trade agreement - the Trans-Pacific Partnership. He also said he would renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement "at the appropriate time" and said he wanted future deals to be between just two countries. Trump also repeated his criticism of existing agreements, saying it was "inconceivable this was allowed to happen" and blamed the deals for a decline in American manufacturing jobs.
Withdrawing from the TPP is seen as abandoning American interests in Asia-PAcific and ceding influence to China. Foreign police Maven Richard Haas tweeted, "TPP withdrawal will slow US economic growth, cost American jobs, & weaken US standing in Asia world. China would well be principal beneficiary." Experts remain wary of Trump's isolationist approach.
Agenda for his day included visiting Defense Department for ISIS police meeting, backing off a campaign promise to immediately end Obama’s program to protect young immigrants from deportation, talks to partner with Moscow to combat the Islamic State group, and stating intentions to never lie.
Trump's inauguration
Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on the 20th of January. A day that will go down in history as the day majority of the country voice their protest against the man who would serve as their leader. The inauguration ceremony was rather drab and saw a visible lack of turnout as opposed to his predecessor's.
It isn't easy being The Donald. Instantly anointed 'Liar-in-Chief' by the media, after his team tried to sell falsified facts to present his inauguration as bigger than it was, tensions between the press and Trump's team reached new heights after the President challenged the media about the size of his inauguration rally. One would think, a world leader with zero experience holding a political office would have better things to do. But if you are as touchy as Don, how can you go the slightest of media flak pass unnoticed. It all began when Trump spokesman Sean Spicer presented false information seeking to boost the inauguration crowd size at his very first briefing at the CIA headquarters. In mere minutes of fact-checking, the data given by him was known to be so bogus, Spicer's associate Kellyanne Conway had to tell the media that he was only presenting "alternative facts".
In his inauguration speech, Trump pledged to end what he called an "American carnage" of rusted factories and crime. An address largely tagged as populist and nationalist, the President said American workers have been devastated by the outsourcing of jobs abroad. "From this day forward, it's going to be only America first," he told thousands of people gathered on the National Mall. With Obama and three other former presidents sitting near him, Trump chose to accuse previous US administrations of enriching Washington at the expense of the struggling middle class.
He said the US has enriched foreign industry at the expense of American companies, subsidized the armies of other countries, while letting the US military become depleted. "The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed across the entire world," he said. "This American carnage stops right here and stops right now. Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families."
Meanwhile, the much-touted Women's March that took place during President Donald Trump's Inauguration, saw a massive turn out and was a much bigger success than the Prez's oath-taking. Celebrities like Scarlet Johansson, Ian McKellen, Emma Watson, Alec Baldwin, Katy Perry, and Robert DeNiro, took to the streets to show up at the anti-Trump march.
The protests were peaceful, yet sent out a powerful message: a clear view of how divided the country remains as the baton exchanged hands. 'Ugly Betty' actress America Ferrera delivered a powerful speech saying, "The President is not America. Congress is not America. We are America, and we are here to stay." Emma Watson interacted with fellow protesters, putting up short videos on her Instagram. Singer Madonna performed a version of 'Express Yourself,' attracting more attention of unsavoury comments regarding "blowing up the White House".
Katy Perry snoozed throughout Trump's speech, waking up just in time to make it to the march. She took to her social media accounts to say, "Marching with so many sisters today but my heart is most proud to march with my blood sister, Angela, who has always been my guardian angel... I march today because I am not afraid any more and I hope I can be an example of fearlessness and resilience. I will not let anyone suppress me, silence me or clip my wings... I am here today to break the cycle of suppression and inequality. I stand with you all."
However, it was Sir Ian McKellen who won over the internet with an apt signboard clutched in his hand. Always outspoken about politics, it wasn't surprising that he took part in the anti-Trump London Women's March. Standing on the streets with a signboard flashing the Captain Picard facepalm Meme, Sir McKellen won the sign competition hands down.
