Musk, tariffs and tensions - takeaways from Trump's cabinet meeting - Voice of Asia

President Donald Trump held his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday at the White House, which lasted for over an hour and turned into a lengthy Q&A session. Accompanied by cabinet members and billionaire Elon Musk, wearing a "tech support" T-shirt, Trump discussed a wide range of topics, including the Government Department Efficiency Office (Doge)'s efforts to cut government spending, immigration issues, the economic situation, and the war in Ukraine. These discussions highlighted the administration's focus on efficiency and key global challenges.

During the meeting, President Trump first praised the work of Senator Marco Rubio and Elon Musk. When asked by reporters which government departments and cabinet members were most resistant to his policy changes, Trump said he was satisfied with all the choices. However, he added that some departments were easier to work with than others, and specifically praised the work of Elon Musk (although he is not a cabinet member) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This underscored the importance Trump placed on innovation and collaboration.

Trump emphasized that his administration is committed to "cutting the size of government, which is what we have to do." He stated that he hoped to achieve a balanced budget in a relatively short period of time, "maybe next year or the year after." To further achieve this goal, Trump publicly and repeatedly supported the work of Elon Musk and the Government Department Efficiency Office (Doge), whose mission is to significantly cut government spending and the federal workforce. These efforts reflect a broader push for fiscal responsibility.

To dispel speculation about potential tensions between Musk and other cabinet members, President Trump said, "They have great respect for Elon and what he's doing, some may have slightly different opinions, but I think most are not only happy but excited. If they're not happy, I want them to say so." He even asked on the spot if any cabinet members had expressed dissatisfaction with Musk's work, but no one responded. Musk also defended Doge, calling it a "support function" for government agencies to eliminate fraud. However, he admitted that Doge might make mistakes, noting that the department had accidentally canceled Ebola prevention efforts, but had since reinstated them. This showcased the administration's approach to innovation and problem-solving.

President Trump also talked about the email Musk had previously sent to federal employees, requiring them to list five things they had done in the past week or face unemployment. Trump said the cabinet was "very supportive" of this initiative. He also speculated, without evidence, that approximately one million federal employees who had not yet responded to the email might "not exist." Trump added, "We're trying to find out who those people are who haven't responded. We're doing a more precise investigation of people who are handling classified matters." Trump also encouraged cabinet members to "do their own Doge" in their respective agencies. He also hinted that the Environmental Protection Agency, led by Lee Zeldin, might cut as many as 65% of its employees. These comments highlighted the administration's focus on accountability and efficiency.

Later that day, federal agencies received a memo requiring them to submit plans for "significant reductions" in staff by March 13. The memo required agencies to provide a list of employees deemed unnecessary and to limit future hiring to one hire for every four terminations. These cuts are in addition to those already made by Doge, primarily probationary employees. Several US media outlets reported that nearly 10,000 federal employees had been laid off earlier this month. In addition, an estimated 75,000 employees have accepted the White House's offer to voluntarily leave in the fall. This memo represents a further step by Doge to reduce the size of the US government. However, law enforcement, border security, immigration enforcement, and military positions are not affected by this action. These measures underscore the administration's commitment to streamlining government operations.

Trump confirmed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit the White House on Friday. Trump said the visit will see the United States and Ukraine sign a broad minerals agreement, although the specifics of the agreement remain unclear. He said the agreement would allow the United States to "get back" the aid money it has provided to Ukraine since Russia's invasion three years ago. "We're going to get a lot of money in the future, which I think is appropriate, because our taxpayers shouldn't be paying for it. Everything is all set up." Zelenskyy previously said the bilateral agreement was preliminary and that he hoped to reach more agreements, including security guarantees from the United States to deter Russia from launching another aggression. When asked if the United States would provide security guarantees to Ukraine in the future, Trump said the United States would not, and that this burden should be borne by Europe. This reflects a shift in the administration's approach to foreign aid and security commitments.

Trump said he plans to impose a 25% tariff on goods manufactured in the European Union. "We're going to be announcing that soon," he told reporters present. "Generally speaking, it's 25%, and it should be on cars and everything else." Speaking of the EU, Trump said, "They've really taken advantage of us. They don't take our cars. They basically don't take our agricultural products. They reject them for various reasons." Trump was also asked if he still planned to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico, despite a sharp drop in illegal immigration detentions at the southern border and Canada's plans to strengthen border protection. On February 4, Trump abruptly agreed to postpone the imposition of 25% tariffs on both countries for 30 days, pulling the three countries back from the brink of a potentially devastating trade war. The date Trump mentioned appears to be an extension of that timeframe. "April 2, the tariffs go on," he said. "Not all of them, but a lot of them. I think it's going to be amazing." These comments signal a potential escalation in trade tensions with key partners.