Trump’s fifth week: Bold moves, global clashes, and a reshaped government

DDM News

US President Donald Trump’s addresses Republican Governors Association meeting in Washington, DC, on February 20, 2025

Donald Trump has been back in the White House for a month.

His fifth week in office saw more dramatic moves as the president continued his plan to remake the federal government, implement sweeping cuts, and reshape American foreign policy.

This week, he called Ukraine’s wartime president a “dictator,” pledged to make IVF more affordable, and dismissed his highest-ranking military officer.

If you’re after a catch-up, here is a reminder of  major moves from the Trump administration this week, Diaspora digital media (DDM) reports.

1. Called Ukraine’s Zelensky a ‘dictator’
   Trump on Tuesday called Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator”—part of a heated back-and-forth between the two leaders that also saw the US president appear to blame Ukraine for Russia’s invasion.His attacks came after Zelensky reacted to US-Russia talks about the war, from which Kyiv was excluded.

   Zelensky said Trump was “living in a disinformation space” governed by Moscow after Trump claimed the Ukrainian leader had a 4% approval rating among the Ukrainian public—a figure Zelensky said was being spread by Russia.

   Zelensky’s term was due to end in May 2024, but his country has been under martial law since Russia launched its full-scale invasion three years ago, and elections are suspended.

   The “dictator” remark prompted criticism from European leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who said it was “simply wrong and dangerous.”

   Watch: Trump repeats ‘dictator’ comments concerning President Zelensky

2. Met Russian officials for peace talks without Kyiv
   On Tuesday, US and Russian officials held their first high-level, face-to-face talks since the war started—but Ukraine was not invited.Top US officials met Moscow counterparts in Saudi Arabia, prompting fears in Kyiv that the country invaded by Russia was being sidelined.

   On Friday, Trump told Fox News it was not important for Zelensky to be at peace talks but that he would “of course” take a call from him.

   US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said talks with Russia were a first step toward negotiating a peace deal and that nothing would be imposed on Ukraine.

3. Swapped prisoners with Russia
   Russian authorities released a US national who was arrested at a Moscow airport this month for cannabis possession.Kalob Byers, 28, was freed hours before the talks between US and Russian officials over the war in Ukraine were set to begin.

   The US also said it would release a Russian national—Alexander Vinnik, who was arrested in 2017 on charges related to the laundering of billions of dollars using Bitcoin—as part of a prisoner exchange that brought home American schoolteacher Marc Fogel last week.

4. Ended New York congestion charge
   The Trump administration is moving to end New York City’s congestion pricing plan, which charges vehicles entering the city in certain areas, then uses tolls to upgrade its aging transit systems. The plan was launched last month.“CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD,” Trump said on social media. “Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!”

   In response, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said: “We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king. We’ll see you in court.”

5. Told not to interfere in Andrew Tate’s case by alleged victims
   Four women who allege they were sexually abused by social media influencer Andrew Tate said they were “extremely concerned” by reports that US officials had asked Romania to relax travel restrictions against Tate and his brother, Tristan Tate, who have dual UK-US nationality.The Financial Times first reported that US officials had brought up the case with the Romanian government last week, and it was then followed up by Trump’s envoy Richard Grenell at the weekend.

   One source told the paper that a request had been made by the US to return the brothers’ passports so they could travel while waiting for the criminal case against them to finish.

   The US State Department has been approached by the BBC for comment.

6. Touted drop in border arrests
   The US Border Patrol said there was a decrease in migrants illegally crossing the US-Mexico border in January.It recorded 29,000 arrests—the lowest since May 2020 and down from 47,000 in December, according to department figures.

   Trump took office on January 20, replacing predecessor Joe Biden.

   The Trump administration has promised to clamp down on undocumented migration into the US, which has also included declaring an emergency at the southern border and expanding processes that allow for rapid expulsions.

   Trump reassigned the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement this week, US media reported. The move came after Trump and border tsar Tom Homan expressed anger that deportation numbers weren’t higher.

   Watch: A look at the US-Mexico border on Trump’s first week in office

7. Fired thousands more federal workers
   The Trump administration—and his Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) leader Elon Musk—are continuing a cost-cutting drive that aims to drastically reduce the federal workforce.More than 6,000 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees are expected to be fired, and on Friday, the Pentagon said it planned to “release” 5,400 probationary workers starting early next week.

   Around 1,000 employees in the US National Park Service were let go last weekend—roughly 5% of the workforce—according to CBS News.

   It has also begun firing hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration employees, and the head of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union, David Spero, called the firings “shameful.”

   Polling suggests there is public support for less government spending but also concern that Musk’s efficiency drive could go too far.

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