Wednesday Briefing

Trump says he’s ‘just getting started’

In an address to Congress last night, President Trump pitched his flurry of early actions, including deportations of migrants and the use of tariffs against major trading partners, as necessary to restore the strength of the U.S. His administration, he said, is “just getting started.” Recap the speech.

Trump railed against the Biden administration, seeking to blame his predecessor for high prices and other ills, and he hit culture war points, including an attack on schools that he said were “indoctrinating” children with “transgender ideology.” Read our fact-check of his claims.

Earlier that day, Trump’s sweeping new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China took effect, setting off a trade war that could undermine the U.S. economy. His actions have upended diplomatic relations with America’s largest trading partners and provoked retaliation against U.S. products — puzzling businesses, investors and economists. The tariffs prompted a sell-off in global markets.

Retaliation: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada would put 25 percent tariffs on $20.5 billion worth of unspecified U.S. goods, and President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico said she, too, would announce countermeasures if Trump’s tariffs were still in place on Sunday. “You’re a very smart guy,” Trudeau said, addressing Trump. “But this is a very dumb thing to do.”