In a hypothetical scenario where Donald Trump is in his second term at the White House, the third week of his presidency (February 2–8, 2025) could be marked by bold and controversial decisions impacting both the United States and the world.
- 1. Proposed That the U.S. “Take Control” of Gaza
- 2. Imposed Tariffs on China and Suspended Those on Mexico and Canada
- 3. Ended TPS Protection for Thousands of Venezuelans
- 4. Sanctioned the International Criminal Court
- 5. Sent the First Plane of Deportees to Guantánamo
- 6. Withdrew from United Nations Institutions and Took New Steps to Reduce Foreign Aid
- 7. Requested Rare Earth Resources from Ukraine
- 8. Banned Transgender Women from Competing in Women’s Sports and Called to Eradicate “Anti-Christian Bias”
- 9. Increased Access for Musk’s Department to Federal Institutions
- 10. Revoked Biden’s Security Clearances
Here is a list of 10 possible decisions that could align with his governing style and previous policies, including issues like Guantánamo and Gaza:
1. Proposed That the U.S. “Take Control” of Gaza
At a press conference held Tuesday at the White House alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump stated that the United States would “take control” and “take over” Gaza, while also resettling its Palestinian population.
Trump proposed turning the territory, devastated after 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas, into what he called the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
“The Gaza Strip would be handed over to the United States by Israel at the end of the fighting,” Trump repeated on social media Thursday, reiterating that the idea would involve resettling the Palestinians currently living there.
Trump suggested the displacement would be permanent, but administration officials later indicated that any relocation would be only temporary.
Any forced deportation of civilians would violate international law.
2. Imposed Tariffs on China and Suspended Those on Mexico and Canada
Trump imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese imports on Tuesday but delayed for 30 days his threat to apply 25% tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico after the leaders of those countries committed to strengthening border security.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to bolster the U.S.-Canada border to curb migration and the flow of the deadly drug fentanyl.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to reinforce her country’s northern border with troops, and in exchange, the U.S. would limit the flow of weapons into Mexico.
The tariffs, which some experts say could exacerbate inflation, were part of Trump’s campaign agenda ahead of the November elections.
3. Ended TPS Protection for Thousands of Venezuelans
The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) that shielded hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans from deportation in the United States officially expired on Friday, April 7.
The order, which exclusively affects the 348,202 Venezuelans who received that status in 2023, was published Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the Federal Register.
According to the document, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem determined that it is “contrary to the national interest” for citizens of that country to remain temporarily in the United States.
This decision, it adds, “does not apply” to those who received that status in 2021, for whom TPS remains in effect until September 10.
4. Sanctioned the International Criminal Court
On Thursday, Trump signed an order to impose sanctions on part of the staff of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The sanctions establish financial and visa restrictions on individuals and their families who collaborate in the ICC’s investigations against U.S. citizens or their allies.
The court, based in The Hague, pursues genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes worldwide. Recently, it issued arrest warrants for a Hamas commander and Israeli President Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza, which Israel denies.
Trump’s announcement came as Netanyahu was visiting Washington, D.C.
Over 120 countries, including the United Kingdom, are members of the ICC, though the United States and Israel are not.
5. Sent the First Plane of Deportees to Guantánamo
The United States sent the first group of migrants to Guantánamo on Tuesday after Trump announced plans to expand migrant detention at the U.S. naval base in Cuba.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the detainees were part of the Tren de Aragua, a gang that originated in Venezuelan prisons. Ten detainees were transferred there, CBS reported, citing several U.S. officials.
The move came after Trump ordered the existing migrant detention center at the base to be expanded to hold about 30,000 people.
The naval base has been used to hold a small number of migrants—just a few dozen at a time—in recent years for decades.
Additionally, nearly 800 people—mostly detained on terrorism suspicions—have been imprisoned at the base’s detention center since its opening in 2002. Around 15 people remain detained there today, according to U.S. media.
Deportation flights also transported migrants back to India this week.
6. Withdrew from United Nations Institutions and Took New Steps to Reduce Foreign Aid
Trump also took steps to end U.S. participation in several UN institutions.
On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the U.S. from the UN’s main agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, which Israel has heavily criticized.
The same order stated that the U.S. would cease participation in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and that the country would review its involvement in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) within 90 days.
Regarding his desire to dismantle the main U.S. international development aid agency, USAID, and merge it with the State Department, which handles foreign policy, Trump took another step this week.
It was announced that thousands of agency employees would be placed on furlough by midnight Friday, though this was temporarily halted at the last minute by a U.S. judge.
Trump plans to place nearly all 10,000 agency employees on administrative leave, except for 611 workers.
The cuts to the agency have upended the global aid system, with hundreds of programs already frozen in countries worldwide.
7. Requested Rare Earth Resources from Ukraine
On Monday, Donald Trump said he wanted Ukraine to guarantee the supply of more rare earth metals in exchange for $300 billion to support its fight against Russia.
“We want what we’re putting in to serve as collateral… we’re looking to make a deal with Ukraine where we’ll guarantee what we’re giving them with their rare earth minerals and other things,” Trump said.
Ukraine has large deposits of uranium, lithium, and titanium, which can be used for defense and electronics manufacturing.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country was open to investment from U.S. companies.
8. Banned Transgender Women from Competing in Women’s Sports and Called to Eradicate “Anti-Christian Bias”
Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports categories.
The order outlines guidelines, regulations, and legal interpretations primarily around high school, college, and grassroots sports.
However, Trump said the order would include the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, adding that he would deny visas to transgender Olympic athletes trying to visit the U.S. to compete.
Additionally, and following measures that concern part of his base, Trump signed an executive order Thursday with the goal of “protecting the religious freedoms of Americans and ending the anti-Christian instrumentalization of the government.”
He appointed newly confirmed Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead a task force to eradicate what he called “anti-Christian bias” in the federal government.
Trump signed the order after delivering a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C.
9. Increased Access for Musk’s Department to Federal Institutions
President Donald Trump said Friday that he had ordered the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk—a cost-cutting initiative to reduce the federal government—to “review” spending at the Department of Defense, among other agencies.
“Pentagon, education, almost everything,” Trump said during a press conference with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
The Trump administration also gave DOGE members access to a U.S. Treasury Department payment system that controls the flow of trillions of dollars in funds each year, U.S. media reported.
However, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Saturday to prevent the Musk-led department from accessing the personal financial data of millions of Americans in Treasury Department records, according to court documents.
Judge Paul A. Engelmayer ordered Musk and his team to immediately destroy any copies of the records.
The measure comes after 19 state attorneys general sued the Trump administration, arguing that Musk’s access, as a “special government employee,” and DOGE, which is not an official government department, violated federal law.
10. Revoked Biden’s Security Clearances
Trump revoked Joe Biden’s security clearance and his access to daily intelligence briefings on Friday, something Biden did to Trump four years ago.
“There’s no need for Joe Biden to continue receiving access to classified information,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.
“JOE, YOU’RE FIRED,” the Republican added, referencing his catchphrase from the reality TV show The Apprentice.
The announcement came amid a flurry of Friday announcements, including an executive order to freeze financial aid to South Africa and the announcement that he would fire the board of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and appoint himself as president.
Image: Opinion
