From funding cuts to immigration crackdowns, Trump’s agenda broadens at home and abroad.
Trump’s 31st week ended with updates on Washington, D.C., immigration, legislation, and the ongoing trade war. As Trump’s unprecedented takeover of D.C. continues, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the National Guard to carry weapons, raising implications as the Guard was mobilized in 19 states to assist in immigration raids. The Trump administration later announced plans to take over Chicago and New York City, with the Pentagon preparing to deploy troops to Chicago.
As anti-immigrant sentiment continues, the Trump administration announced that all 55 million visa holders would be reviewed for any violations that could lead to deportation. At the same time, following the arrest of permanent resident Kilmar Abrego Gracia in March, Abrego Gracia was released on Friday to await trial in Maryland. However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said he would be deported to Uganda. Later, a federal judge ruled that Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center cannot accept new detainees, following a previous report from The Introspective highlighting a judge halting further construction of the center, citing environmental concerns. Meanwhile, as backlash to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) continues, the Trump administration announced it would not defend grants for Hispanic-serving universities in court, declaring them unconstitutional.
Former National Security Advisor John Bolton—who served during Trump’s first term—had his home raided Friday as part of a “national security investigation in search of classified records,” raising implications as previous reports from The Introspective detailed Trump launching investigations into other people who criticized him, such as former Special Counsel Jack Smith—known for investigating Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection—alleging Smith violated the Hatch Act and revoking security clearances for former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and several Biden administration officials. At the same time, the Supreme Court cut nearly $800 million in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), sparking backlash as the impacted cuts include research for the study of diseases in minority and LGBTQ+ communities.
As the trade war continues, Canada removed some retaliatory tariffs against the United States. However, tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum remain. That same day, postal services in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, France, Austria, the United Kingdom and India announced they will suspend shipments to the United States. Meanwhile, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced that the U.S. government bought a 10% stake in California-based chipmaker Intel, raising implications as Intel is the only American company capable of making advanced computer chips domestically.
D.C. Takeover and National Guard
As the D.C. takeover continues, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the National Guard to carry weapons.
“At the direction of the secretary of defense, JTF-DC members supporting the mission to lower the crime rate in our nation’s capital will soon be on mission with their service-issued weapons, consistent with their mission and training,” the Pentagon said in a statement, with JTF referring to D.C.’s Joint Task Force.
“The interim commanding general of the D.C. National Guard retains the authority to make any necessary force posture adjustments in coordination with the D.C. Metropolitan Police and federal law enforcement partners.”
The move comes after Trump met with law enforcement and National Guard troops on Thursday, praising officers as the president claimed their presence was making people feel “very safe,” despite crime being down 26% from last year.
“You people are winners, and I just think it’s such an honor to be with you. We’re going to make Washington, D.C., great again,” Trump said.
In a Truth Social post, Trump further celebrated the troops.
“Washington, D.C. is SAFE AGAIN!” he wrote.
“The crowds are coming back, the spirit is high, and our D.C. National Guard and police are doing a fantastic job,” he continued.
“They are out in force, and are NOT PLAYING GAMES!!!”
At the same time, the National Guard was mobilized in 19 states—Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming—to assist in raids with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“The in-and-out processing may include personal data collection, fingerprinting, DNA swabbing and photographing of personnel in ICE custody,” an official told Fox News.
“We understood ICE’s needs at that time to be more administrative in nature … as planning continued, working with our partners, it became clear more that ICE needed something different.”
The Trump administration later announced plans to deploy the National Guard to Chicago and New York City, with the Pentagon preparing to deploy troops to Chicago.
“Chicago’s a mess. You have an incompetent mayor. Grossly incompetent,” Trump said, referring to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
“And we’ll straighten that one out probably next. That’ll be our next one after this. And it won’t even be tough.”
He previously criticized other major cities such as Baltimore and Oakland, California, despite Baltimore experiencing a sharp decline in crime and homicides throughout the 2020s.
“We have other cities that are very bad. New York has a problem. And then you have, of course, Baltimore and Oakland. We don’t even mention that anymore. They’re so, so far gone. We’re not going to let it happen,” he said.
Illinois leaders criticized Trump’s remarks, including Gov. JB Pritzker in a statement.
“The state of Illinois at this time has received no requests or outreach from the federal government asking if we need assistance, and we have made no requests for federal intervention,” he wrote.
“The safety of the people of Illinois is always my top priority. There is no emergency that warrants the president of the United States federalizing the Illinois National Guard, deploying the National Guard from other states, or sending active duty military within our own borders,” he continued.
“Donald Trump is attempting to manufacture a crisis, politicize Americans who serve in uniform, and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he is causing working families. We will continue to follow the law, stand up for the sovereignty of our state, and protect the people of Illinois.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson also criticized Trump’s comments during a block party on Saturday, emphasizing community.
“One shooting, one homicide is one too many, and that’s why this block club today is so powerful, because it’s a reminder of how much work we have to do,” he said.
“Look at all of these young people and these families that are here today. This is who Chicago really is. What’s being painted by the federal government is false. We love one another, we support one another,” he continued.
“We put our arms around one another, we invest in one another, because we know that we are our best keepers of one another.”
Immigration and DEI
With anti-immigrant sentiment ongoing, the Trump administration announced that it would be reviewing all 55 million people who hold visas for violations that could lead to deportation.
“We review all available information as part of our vetting, including law enforcement or immigration records or any other information that comes to light after visa issuance indicating a potential ineligibility,” the State Department said, highlighting that it is looking for indicators of ineligibility such as criminal history, threats to public safety and engaging in terrorist activity.
The Trump administration also announced that it would stop issuing visas for truck drivers. This comes following a previous Introspective report that detailed an executive order, Enforcing Commonsense Rules of the Road for America’s Truck Drivers, which requires commercial truck drivers to be fluent in English.
“The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X.
At the same time, U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams ruled that Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center cannot accept new detainees, following a previous report from The Introspective highlighting the same judge halting any further construction of the center, citing environmental concerns.
In a statement, DHS spokesperson Trica McLaughlin criticized the ruling.
“This ruling from an activist judge ignores the fact that this land has already been developed for a decade. It is another attempt to prevent the president from fulfilling the American people’s mandate to remove the worst of the worst including gang members, murderers, pedophiles, terrorists and rapists from our country,” she said.
The state of Florida has since appealed the ruling.
That same day, as backlash to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) continues, the Trump administration announced it would not defend grants for Hispanic-serving universities in court, declaring them unconstitutional.
In a memo obtained by ABC News, the Department of Justice (DOJ) agreed with a lawsuit aiming to end grant funding for universities where at least a quarter of undergraduates are Hispanic. The program was originally created in 1998 by Congress.
Meanwhile, following the arrest of Maryland permanent resident Kilmar Abrego Gracia in March, Abrego Gracia was released from custody as he awaits trial for allegations of human trafficking, despite no evidence being provided.
“For the first time since March, our client Kilmar Abrego Garcia is reunited with his loving family,” said one of his attorneys, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg.
“While his release brings some relief, we all know that he is far from safe. ICE detention or deportation to an unknown third country still threatens to tear his family apart. A measure of justice has been done, but the government must stop pursuing actions that would once again separate this family.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem criticized his release, calling the judge’s ruling a “new low,” despite him being granted permanent status in 2019 after entering the U.S. from El Salvador in 2011.
“We will not stop fighting till this Salvadoran man faces justice and is OUT of our country,” she said, echoing anti-immigrant sentiment.
The Trump administration later announced that Abrego Gracia may be deported to Uganda, following a previous report from The Introspective highlighting the administration reaching deals to send undocumented immigrants to the East African country, along with Honduras.
In a filing, Abrego Gracia’s lawyers stated that the Trump administration offered a deal that would have him deported to Costa Rica after the completion of his criminal sentence. However, he refused the deal and was told that he would be sent to Uganda instead.
“There can be only one interpretation of these events: the DOJ, DHS and ICE are using their collective powers to force Mr. Abrego to choose between a guilty plea followed by relative safety, or rendition to Uganda, where his safety and liberty would be under threat,” his attorneys wrote in the filing, accusing the administration of being vindictive.
Abrego Gracia Filing
Abrego Gracia was later directed to go to an ICE facility in downtown Baltimore on Monday morning. He was then taken into custody.
FBI Raid and Funding Cuts
Former National Security Advisor John Bolton had his home in Bethesda, Maryland — a suburb of Washington, D.C.—raided Friday morning as part of a “national security investigation in search of classified records.”
“The FBI is conducting court-authorized activity in the area. There is no threat to public safety,” said a spokesperson for the FBI. Agents also searched Bolton’s office in D.C.
FBI Director Kash Patel acknowledged the raid in a post on X, writing that “NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi responded to Patel’s post, writing that “America’s safety isn’t negotiable. Justice will be pursued. Always.”
In an interview with NBC News, Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed the raid, stating that the Trump administration is “in the very early stages of an ongoing investigation into John Bolton” regarding classified documents. However, he claimed the search was not politically motivated.
“We are investigating Amb. Bolton, but if they ultimately bring a case, it will be because they determine that he has broken the law,” he said.
“We’re going to be careful about that. We’re going to be deliberate about that, because we don’t think that we should throw people—even if they disagree with us politically, maybe especially if they disagree with us politically—you shouldn’t throw people willy-nilly in prison. You should let the law drive these determinations, and that’s what we’re doing.”
At the same time, the Supreme Court cut nearly $800 million in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), impacting research for diseases in minority and LGBTQ+ communities.
In the ruling, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, criticizing it as “an abrupt cancellation of hundreds of millions of dollars allocated to support life-saving biomedical research.”
“This is Calvinball jurisprudence with a twist,” she wrote, referencing the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes.
“Calvinball has only one rule: There are no fixed rules. We seem to have two: that one, and this administration always wins.”
NIH Ruling
The cuts follow a January executive order signed by Trump that required the federal government to recognize only two sexes: male and female. The orders mandate the use of the term “sex” instead of “gender” and state they will “defend women’s rights and protect freedom of conscience by using clear and accurate language and policies that recognize women are biologically female, and men are biologically male,” reversing several Biden-era policies on LGBTQ+ rights.
Trade War and Economy
As the trade war continues, Canada lifted some retaliatory tariffs against the United States. However, taxes on autos, steel and aluminum remain. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney later said during a press conference that the U.S. would not impose tariffs on products compliant with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), created in 2020.
“In this context and consistent with Canada’s commitment to USMCA, I am announcing today that the Canadian government will now match the United States by removing all of Canada’s tariffs on U.S. goods specifically covered under USMCA,” Carney said.
“Canada and the U.S. have now re-established free trade for the vast majority of our goods.”
President Trump responded to Canada’s decision, referring to it as a “nice thing.”
“We are working on something. We want to be very good to Canada. I like Carney a lot,” he said.
That same day, postal services in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, France, Austria, the United Kingdom and India announced they would suspend shipments to the United States.
In a statement, DHL—the largest shipping service in Europe—said it “will no longer be able to accept and transport parcels and postal items containing goods from business customers destined for the U.S.”
“Key questions remain unresolved, particularly regarding how and by whom customs duties will be collected in the future, what additional data will be required, and how the data transmission to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be carried out,” the company said.
Meanwhile, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced that the U.S. government bought a 10% stake in computer chipmaker Intel.
“BIG NEWS: The United States of America now owns 10% of Intel, one of our great American technology companies,” he wrote on X.
“This historic agreement strengthens U.S. leadership in semiconductors, which will both grow our economy and help secure America’s technological edge.”
In a Truth Social post, Trump celebrated the purchase, calling it a “great honor.”
“The United States paid nothing for these shares, and the shares are now valued at approximately $11 billion dollars,” he wrote.
“This is a great deal for America and, also, a great deal for INTEL.”
Intel is the only U.S.-based company capable of making advanced computer chips domestically. The company said in a press release that the government will not have a board seat or any other involvement.
The Introspective 
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