USA under Donald Trump Pentagon orders partial withdrawal of National Guard from LA +++ Attacks on Democrats: Suspect charged

Donald Trump has been President of the United States again since January 20, 2025. All developments in his second presidency can be found here in the ticker.

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11.38 pm

Stricter penalties in the USA for trafficking in the drug fentanyl

The illegal possession of large quantities of the drug fentanyl and trafficking in it will be punished more severely in the USA in future. Possession or distribution of as little as 100 grams of fentanyl now carries a prison sentence of at least ten years. This is the result of a new law that US President Donald Trump signed into law. "Anyone caught trafficking these illegal poisons will face a mandatory prison sentence of at least ten years," he said in the White House.

The Republican Trump accused the administration of his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden of flooding the USA with fentanyl under his leadership due to open borders. However, Biden's government had also tried to get to grips with the fentanyl crisis.

Trump's government had previously tried to tackle the fentanyl flood with extended visa restrictions. In addition to drug traffickers, the restrictions also target their family members and business partners.

10.30 p.m.

Canada wants to protect steel industry with tariffs - USA exempted

In the tariff dispute with the USA, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wants to better protect his country's steel industry with his own tariffs, among other things. For example, Carney announced that imports from countries with which a free trade agreement exists will be subject to tariffs of 50 percent as soon as they exceed the volume of 2024.

Steel imports that include steel melted and cast in China are to be subject to additional tariffs of 25 percent. However, the USA is excluded from all of this.

4.18 am

Pentagon orders partial withdrawal of National Guard from LA

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of around half of the 4,000 National Guardsmen deployed to Los Angeles in June. "Thanks to the reinforcement of our troops, the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding," explained the Pentagon spokesman. "For this reason, the Secretary has ordered the release of 2,000 California National Guard soldiers from the federal protective mission," the statement from Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said on Tuesday (local time). more.

US President Donald Trump had requested the National Guard in the state for 60 days at the beginning of June against the will of Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom and deployed them to Los Angeles to restore order after clashes during protests against his administration's harsh immigration policy.

Mayor Karen Bass attributed the partial "withdrawal" of the National Guard to the peaceful nature of the protests in her city. "This happened because the people of Los Angeles remained united and strong. We have organized peaceful protests, we have come together for rallies, we have taken the Trump administration to court - all of this has led to today's withdrawal," the Democratic mayor said on Tuesday.

This retreat happened because the people of Los Angeles stood united and stood strong.

My message today to Angelenos is clear — I will never stop fighting for this city. We will not stop making our voices heard until this ends, not just here in LA, but throughout our country. https://t.co/4kHMuZcsRQ

— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) July 15, 2025

Newsom, for his part, called on Trump to "end the theater and send the remaining soldiers still on the ground home as well." Thousands of National Guard members are "still under federal orders in Los Angeles for no reason and are unable to fulfill their important duties across the state," Newsom wrote on X, referring to, for example, helping the National Guard fight wildfires.

NEW: @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom:

“For more than a month, @TheCalGuard has been pulled away from their families, communities and civilian work to serve as political pawns for the President in Los Angeles."

"While nearly 2,000 of them are starting to demobilize, the remaining… https://t.co/WOkcPFQw7k

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) July 15, 2025

3:35 a.m.

Trump announces billion-dollar expansion of the power grid for AI

US President Donald Trump has announced investments by private companies amounting to 92 billion dollars in the areas of energy and infrastructure. They are intended to cover the steadily increasing demand for electricity in the USA due to the boom in artificial intelligence (AI). "We are here today because we believe that America's destiny is to dominate all industries and lead in all technologies", including AI, Trump explained at an energy and innovation summit in Pittsburgh in the eastern US state of Pennsylvania on Tuesday (local time). "The factories are coming, the construction is starting," said the US President, emphasizing that the USA is "way ahead of China". Several companies are to invest 36 billion dollars in projects for data centers and 56 billion dollars in power generation plants.

The technology sector in the US has thrown itself full throttle into the development of generative AI, but fears that the infrastructure currently in place will not be sufficient for the massive power consumption that will accompany it. The US authorities estimate that by 2028, tech companies' power requirements for AI will be equivalent to those of five million households.

Google, which was present at the summit, announced investments of 25 billion dollars over two years in data centers and AI infrastructure in the northeastern states as well as three billion dollars for the modernization of two hydroelectric power plants in Pennsylvania.

Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 0:05 a.m.

Attacks on Democrats in Minnesota - suspect charged

One month after the attacks on Democratic Party politicians in the US state of Minnesota, a grand jury has cleared the way for the federal trial of the suspect. The jury indicted the suspect on Tuesday. He is charged with two counts of murder, stalking and weapons violations. He could face the death penalty under federal law for the charge of two counts of murder.

According to prosecutors, the 57-year-old drove in a fake patrol car to the home of Minnesota Senate member John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in a Minneapolis suburb on June 14. The suspect wore a deceptively real rubber mask and a police uniform to impersonate an officer. According to the indictment, he fired nine shots at the senator and eight at his wife. Both survived.

The man then drove to the homes of two other deputies. He did not meet one of them, and the presence of a police officer in front of the other's house may have deterred him. The man eventually made his way to the home of Democrat Melissa Hortman, the former Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, and her husband Mark, in Brooklyn Park. He shot them both dead, according to the indictment. Their dog was also so badly injured that it had to be euthanized.

Police launched a manhunt and apprehended the suspect about two days later near his home in Green Isle. A list with dozens of names of MPs, celebrities and abortion advocates was later found in the suspect's vehicle. Hortman had also campaigned for an expansion of abortion rights in 2023.

8:37 p.m.

Trump on tariff conflict: We are talking to the EU and making progress

According to US President Donald Trump, progress is being made in the tariff conflict between the USA and the EU. He told journalists when asked whether negotiations were still being held with the EU: "We are talking to the EU and making progress." The US President did not give any details. At the same time, he added that there was already a "deal" - and made it clear that he was referring to the tariffs of 30 percent on imports of EU products from August 1 that he had announced on Saturday. Trump added: "But at the same time, we are talking to each other."

5.41 pm

Trump announces "deal" with Indonesia

US President Donald Trump has announced a "deal" with Indonesia. He has concluded a "great agreement" with Indonesia, Trump wrote on his online platform Truth Social, without giving details. Last week, Trump had threatened the country with tariffs of 32 percent, which were to come into force on August 1.

He had negotiated directly with Indonesia's "highly respected president" Prabowo Subianto, Trump added. Details of the agreement would follow.

In April, Trump imposed a basic tariff of ten percent on almost all trading partners. Last week, he sent more than 20 letters to the European Union and a number of countries announcing massive surcharges from August 1. For the EU, it is to be 30 percent on most goods. An EU negotiating team was expected in Washington on Tuesday in order to avert the tariffs.

3.22 pm

US inflation rises to 2.7 percent in June

Inflation is on the rise in the USA: Consumer prices rose by 2.7 percent in June, according to government figures. This was 0.3 percent more than in the previous month, according to the Department of Labor, citing the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Experts had expected an increase against the backdrop of President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff policy.

In May, inflation was still 2.4 percent compared to the same month last year. According to the ministry, furniture, clothing and leisure items in particular became more expensive between May and June. Many of these goods are imported into the USA. Certain foodstuffs such as meat, poultry and eggs also became more expensive than average. In contrast, used cars, new vehicles and airline tickets became cheaper.

In April, Trump imposed a basic tariff of ten percent on almost all trading partners. From August 1, he is threatening the European Union and many other countries with high surcharges - for the EU it is set to be 30 percent on most goods.

Trump has been claiming for months that there is "no inflation" in the US thanks to his policies. He is putting pressure on the US Federal Reserve (Fed) and its chairman Jerome Powell to lower key interest rates. The Fed has so far been cautious, pointing to the risk of inflation and rising unemployment figures.

2.41 pm

EU sends trade experts to Washington

The EU is pressing for swift progress in the negotiations in the tariff conflict with the USA. According to the European Commission, a team of trade experts has now been sent to Washington for technical talks.

There should also be a telephone call between EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer this Tuesday.

According to a spokesperson, Sefcovic had already spoken with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on Monday. However, nothing was revealed about the course and exact topics of the exchange. For tactical reasons, the EU is not commenting on the status of the negotiations.

The EU's aim is to prevent the USA from imposing a 30 percent tariff on imports from the EU from August 1. US President Donald Trump announced a similar approach at the weekend in the event that the EU does not make sufficient concessions for him.

4.54 am

China's economy grows by 5.2 percent despite trade conflict

China's economy grew robustly in the second quarter. According to the Beijing Bureau of Statistics, gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 5.2 percent year-on-year from April to June. This was only just below the 5.4 percent growth recorded in the first quarter, which brought growth in the first half of the year to 5.3 percent. The government had set a growth target of "around five percent" for the year as a whole.

Economists see the result as a sign of the Chinese economy's strong resilience, especially as the trade dispute with the US continues to smoulder. Both sides had initially massively increased their tariffs in the course of the dispute, but then agreed to a three-month truce in May to allow for further negotiations.

According to analysts, many traders took advantage of the current window of opportunity and brought exports forward, which accelerated growth. Stronger consumption, supported by government incentives, was also a key driver.

4.38 pm

An end to the closeness to Putin?

New rhetoric for a U-turnTrump's patience with Putin is breaking - is this the end of the "bromance"?

3.19 pm

US civil rights group: Education shutdown hits millions of Latino students

After the Supreme Court paved the way for US President Donald Trump to dissolve the Department of Education, a civil rights organization has now warned of serious consequences for students of Latin American origin. "Without the Department of Education, more than 18 million Latino students would not only lose financial support, but also their chance to succeed," the organization Voto Latino announced on Monday (local time).

The ministry is an indispensable support for an entire generation of Latino families. It protects the rights of students with disabilities and ensures that civil rights are respected. This is not about bureaucracy, but about the question of whether Latino families in this country "can dream, achieve and belong", the press release continued. This is particularly true in states such as California, Texas and Florida, where Latino students make up more than half of school-age children and young people.

The conservative majority of judges on the Supreme Court had previously suspended a temporary injunction issued by US District Judge Myong Joun in Boston. The judge had halted the planned redundancies and questioned the government's plans to dissolve the company. A federal appeals court had previously refused to stay Joun's injunction. However, following the Supreme Court's decision, Trump can now proceed with the dissolution of the ministry and lay off almost 1,400 employees.

1.30 a.m.

USA imposes 17 percent duty on fresh tomatoes from Mexico

In future, the USA will levy a 17 percent tariff on fresh tomatoes from Mexico. This was announced by the US government on Monday (local time). Negotiations with Mexican exporters to avert the levy had previously failed. According to the government, the measure is intended to help strengthen the shrinking US tomato industry and ensure that a larger proportion of the tomatoes consumed in the USA are also grown domestically.

Supporters of the new import tax welcome the move as a necessary protection for American farmers. Meanwhile, criticism has come from US companies that grow tomatoes in Mexico. They warn that the duty will lead to higher prices for consumers. According to the Florida Tomato Exchange, around 70 percent of fresh tomatoes sold in the USA currently come from Mexico - twenty years ago, the figure was around 30 percent.

Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 1 a.m.

Supreme Court allows layoffs at the Department of Education

The mass redundancies in the Department of Education initiated by the Trump administration can go ahead for the time being. The US Supreme Court lifted an injunction previously imposed by a lower court in May. This emerges from a court document. A final decision in the case is still pending. The media reported that more than 1,300 dismissals are at stake.

In March, Trump signed a decree to dismantle the Ministry of Education. The aim was to eliminate the department "once and for all", the Republican had said at a ceremony in the White House.

3.42 pm

After Trump letter: EU presents new list for counter-tariffs

Following US President Donald Trump's new tariff announcements, the EU is preparing additional counter-tariffs on imports from the USA worth 72 billion euros. This was announced by the responsible EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic after a meeting of trade ministers in Brussels.

The preparations for the countermeasures involve a list of industrial and agricultural products from the USA that are to be affected by new EU tariffs if European efforts to reach an amicable agreement fail. Following a public consultation, the list was recently amended slightly. Originally, it included imports from the USA to the EU worth as much as 95 billion euros. Sefcovic did not initially say which products were removed from the list. The list also included symbolically relevant products such as American airplanes, cars and bourbon whiskey.

The EU Commissioner had previously expressed his disappointment at Trump's announcement that he wanted to impose new import tariffs of 30 percent on imports from the EU from August 1. "We have been negotiating an agreement in principle for weeks and I think we were almost there," he said. Trump's announcement now brings "a completely different dynamic". At the same time, Sefcovic warned that the implementation of Trump's plans would have a drastic impact on transatlantic trade. "Let's be honest: a tariff of 30 percent would be tantamount to a de facto trade ban," he said. If tariffs of 30 percent or more were to come into force, there would be a significant negative impact on both sides of the Atlantic.

The EU Trade Commissioner emphasized that he would therefore continue the dialogue with the USA in order to reach a negotiated solution by August 1. This is the date for which Trump has announced the entry into force of a 30 percent tariff on imports from the EU.

7.36 am

US Supreme Court clears the way for mass layoffs

The US government under President Donald Trump can continue to pursue its plans for mass layoffs of federal employees for the time being following a decision by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court suspended the ruling of a lower court, which had initially halted the government's plans. However, the court case continues.

In May, a court in California ruled against Trump's dismissal plans. The reason given was that, like previous presidents, he would probably have to secure the approval of Congress for the staff cuts.

Months earlier, the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which is affiliated with the White House and was still under tech billionaire Elon Musk at the time, had pushed ahead with the restructuring of the state apparatus, including mass redundancies. According to earlier reports, tens of thousands of people could be affected. It is unclear how many have actually already been fired. By cutting staff, Trump wants to drastically reduce government spending.

4.50 am

Trump causes irritation on the Club World Cup winners' podium

US President Donald Trump caused astonishment and irritation with his unconventional manner at the award ceremony after the final of the Club World Cup in New York. After presenting the gold medals to the victorious Chelsea FC players following their 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain at the MetLife Stadium, the 79-year-old simply remained standing on the podium when team captain Reece James wanted to celebrate with his team-mates. Normally, this moment belongs to the winners alone.

"We were a bit irritated," reported Cole Palmer, who was named "Man of the Match", in the press conference after the game. Reece then simply raised the trophy in the air - and Trump applauded. So the US President was also in the cheering pictures.

When Trump, accompanied by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, strode onto the pitch of the stadium in New Jersey for the award ceremony, he received mixed reactions from the 80,000-plus spectators. There was applause for him, but also much louder boos. Trump, however, seemed unimpressed. He clearly enjoyed the award ceremony. Trump spent most of the final itself in a stadium box alongside his wife and First Lady Melania Trump and the Infantino couple.

In a year's time, the national team's World Cup finals will also end at the stadium in East Rutherford, not far from New York City. The final will take place on July 19, 2026. Trump's term as president will then still be running.

4.30 a.m.

EU discusses response to Trump letter in customs conflict

The new escalation in the customs dispute with the USA is the top topic at an EU meeting in Brussels this Monday. Member state ministers responsible for trade issues are discussing how to respond to US President Donald Trump's announcement that imports from the EU will be subject to a 30 percent tariff from August 1. After lengthy negotiations between the EU Commission and the USA, they had actually hoped to reach an agreement in principle to defuse the trade conflict. It is now eagerly awaited whether all EU states will support the course taken by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

She announced on Sunday that she would not use the option of allowing the first counter-tariffs on imports from the USA to come into force on Tuesday. This could have been justified by the fact that Trump's tariff increases have so far gone unanswered. The EU had only suspended the countermeasures due to the ongoing negotiations.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has not yet given up hope of reaching an agreement with the USA. The two and a half weeks until the deadline of August 1 must be used to reach a solution, he said in the ARD "summer interview". "I am working really hard to achieve this." Like French President Emmanuel Macron, he is in favor of massive counter-tariffs if it remains that way. "But not before August 1".

EU Commission President von der Leyen wants to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion by the new Trump deadline on August 1 if possible. In his letter published on Saturday, Trump had shown himself to be open to further talks. He wrote that if the EU is prepared to open previously closed trade markets for the United States and remove trade barriers, he may consider adjusting the tariff announcements. At the same time, he threatened even higher US tariffs in the event of countermeasures by the EU.

Monday, July 14, 2025, 1:02 a.m.

Trump to visit King Charles in September

King Charles III will receive US President Donald Trump for his second state visit to the UK at Windsor Castle in September. The President and his wife Melania will be guests in the United Kingdom from September 17 to 19, according to the British news agency PA.

Buckingham Palace did not initially provide any further details about the program. Windsor Castle to the west of London is one of the main residences of the British monarchs.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer presented Trump with an invitation from the King for a state visit during a visit to the White House at the end of February. "This is a great, great honor," Trump said at the time and accepted the invitation. He would be traveling to the UK in the "near future".

Trump had already paid a state visit to the UK during his first term in 2019. The US President is considered a fan of the British royal family. The program back then also included a state banquet at Buckingham Palace with Queen Elizabeth II, who died in 2022.

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