Goodbye Elon, Hello Tariffs, and Maybe... a Third Term?
What has President Trump said this week?
〰️
What has President Trump said this week? 〰️
1.Running for a Third Time?
In a recent interview with NBC News, President Trump stated he is “not joking” about the possibility of running for a third term. When pressed for details, he replied that “there are methods to do it,” though he did not elaborate on what those methods might be.
Trump claimed that “a lot of people want me to do it,” but public opinion appears mixed. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll puts his approval rating at 43%—the lowest since his return to office.
Beyond political appetite, a third presidential run would face significant constitutional hurdles. The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1951, clearly states that “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” Amending the Constitution would require either a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress or a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of the states, followed by ratification from 38 of the 50 state legislatures (Reuters, 2025).
While the prospect remains highly unlikely under current legal frameworks, Trump's comments have already sparked debate about the limits of executive power and the durability of long-standing constitutional norms.
2. What is “Liberation Day”?
On April 2, 2025, President Donald Trump declared "Liberation Day" to mark the introduction of a new tariff policy aimed at enforcing trade reciprocity. The administration announced that the U.S. will begin imposing tariffs that match the duties placed on American exports by other countries, with an initial baseline of 10%.
The steepest increases target Cambodia and Vietnam, with tariffs set at 49% and 46%, respectively. Mexico and Canada, however, have been exempted from the new measures.
Critics warn that the tariffs could raise consumer prices, strain global supply chains, and risk triggering a broader economic slowdown (CNN, 2025). The White House, on the other hand, argues that the move will strengthen domestic industries, reduce the trade deficit, and correct what it sees as decades of unfair trade practices that have disadvantaged American workers and businesses (The Guardian, 2025).
3. Thank You, Elon
According to NBC News, President Trump informed his inner circle on March 24, 2025, that Elon Musk will soon be stepping back from his role in the administration. The decision comes amid growing concerns over Musk’s unpredictability and perceptions among officials that his presence had become a political liability (Politico, 2025). Musk is expected to return full-time to his private business ventures.
“Elon, I want to thank you,” said President Trump, referencing the recent death threats and acts of vandalism targeting Tesla vehicles in recent weeks (The Economic Times, 2025). He praised Musk as both “a patriot” and “a friend,” crediting him for playing a key role in advancing the administration’s priorities, particularly through his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) (Politico, 2025).