United States: The White House remained resolute on Thursday in its endorsement of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff imposition, unfazed by the stock market’s downward spiral, corporate apprehension, and the mounting chorus of international leaders cautioning retaliatory measures.   

Despite a day devoid of public engagements following his momentous Rose Garden declaration, Trump’s administration dispatched White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Vice President JD Vance to manage the reverberations across the morning news circuit, even as financial markets commenced their precipitous descent.   

Vance conceded that Trump’s formidable tariff strategy—cast over nearly all US trading affiliates—signifies a profound shift for American consumers, who Trump himself acknowledged would bear initial economic discomfort, according to ABC News. 

“President Trump is steering the economy on an entirely divergent trajectory. This is what he campaigned on, what he pledged, and what he is now executing. And yes, this is an immense transformation. I won’t shy away from that. But an overhaul of this magnitude was imperative,” Vance articulated on “Fox & Friends.”   

Leavitt, too, staunchly championed the policy, presenting it as the fulfillment of Trump’s vow to instate reciprocal tariffs, during her discourse on CNN.   

“To those fretting on Wall Street this morning, I would say: place your faith in President Trump. This is a leader who is fortifying his proven economic strategy from his first tenure,” she asserted.   

However, neither Vance nor Leavitt directly confronted the imminent cost surges that economists universally predict will burden American consumers, nor did they delineate how immediate relief would be furnished, as reported by ABC News.  

“What I urge people to grasp is that these issues aren’t remedied overnight,” Vance remarked. “We are striving at full speed to rectify what has been inherited, but the resolution will not be instantaneous.”   

US equities plummeted early Thursday, mere hours after Trump’s declaration of a baseline 10% tariff on all imports, alongside more specific “measured reciprocal” tariffs targeting nations he accused of exploiting the US within global trade dynamics.   

When queried about the corporate sector’s discontent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick later contended on CNN that critics were neglecting the prospective surge in domestic manufacturing facilities, which he claimed would sprout as a consequence.   

Meanwhile, global leaders deliberate their countermeasures to Trump’s landmark tariffs, some of which are slated for activation on April 5, with others following on April 9.   

China, which faces an astonishing 54 percent tariff rate, implored the US to “immediately rescind its unilateral tariff enactments and engage in equitable discourse with its trade partners to resolve disparities amicably.”   

The White House, however, signaled that the tariff agenda was non-negotiable.   

“The president was unequivocal yesterday—this is not a bargaining chip. This is a national emergency. He is always available for dialogue, but the rationale behind this initiative was laid out, and for seven decades, these nations had the opportunity to engage fairly with the American people but deliberately refrained,” Leavitt emphasized on CNN.   

“They have systematically drained American labor. They have funneled our jobs abroad. The president is terminating that exploitation,” she declared, according to ABC News. 

“I don’t foresee any scenario where President Trump retreats from these tariffs,” Lutnick added.   

Addressing the intended recipients of the policy while speaking from the White House Rose Garden, Trump issued a pointed ultimatum.   

“If they object—if they seek a tariff rate of zero—then they must manufacture their products right here in America. There is no tariff when your factories and goods are produced on American soil,” Trump proclaimed. 

United States: The judge overseeing the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams has officially dismissed the charges against him. Furthermore, in a break from the stance taken by the Trump administration’s Justice Department, the judge ruled that these charges cannot be refiled. 

Judge Dale Ho stated that while he harbored concerns about the Justice Department’s reasoning for dropping the case, his legal authority did not allow him to compel federal prosecutors to move forward with the charges. 

In his ruling, Judge Ho criticized the Trump administration’s motives, pointing out that the decision to drop the case coincided with efforts by the White House to strengthen its influence over the Justice Department and federal prosecutors, according to reports by CNN. 

Judge dismisses corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams and, in a split with the DOJ, orders that charges can't be refiledhttps://t.co/vjtVj4ZjSP

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) April 2, 2025

The Justice Department’s handling of the case led to a wave of resignations, including that of the acting US attorney for the Southern District of New York, as well as key officials overseeing public corruption cases. 

In a strongly worded 78-page opinion, Ho firmly rejected the Justice Department’s argument that the prosecution was politically motivated and interfering with the mayor’s ability to implement Trump’s immigration policies. 

“Everything about this situation suggests a trade-off: the dismissal of an indictment in return for concessions on immigration policy,” Ho wrote. He further stated that the Justice Department’s actions were troubling because they implied that public officials could receive special treatment if they aligned with certain political agendas. “Such an idea contradicts the core principle of equal justice under the law.” 

A spokesperson for the Justice Department defended its decision, stating, “This case was a clear example of political manipulation and an unnecessary use of resources. Our priority remains on prosecuting criminals and ensuring the safety of Americans.” 

Eric Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, welcomed the ruling, saying, “This case should never have been brought forward in the first place, and today, it is permanently closed. From the beginning, Mayor Adams has insisted on his innocence, and now justice has been served for him and the people of New York,” as per CNN. 

Judge Ho emphasized that dismissing the case without prejudice would have created the impression that Adams’ freedom depended on his willingness to enforce federal immigration policies, potentially making him more accountable to Washington than to his constituents. 

Adams, who faces re-election this year, was indicted in September on charges of bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy, and illegally soliciting campaign donations from foreign nationals in exchange for political favors. He pleaded not guilty. 

Prosecutors alleged that Adams’ misconduct dated back to 2014, during his tenure as Brooklyn Borough President. According to the indictment, he accepted luxury benefits such as hotel upgrades, fine dining, and other perks from a Turkish official. In return, he allegedly pressured a New York City Fire Department official to approve permits for a Turkish consular building that had previously failed inspection. 

In February, the Trump Justice Department recommended dropping the case following a meeting with Adams’ legal team in Washington. Then-acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove justified the decision by stating, “The ongoing prosecution has unfairly hindered Mayor Adams’ ability to focus fully on addressing illegal immigration and violent crime, which escalated under the previous administration’s policies.” 

This decision led to a series of resignations among Justice Department prosecutors. In her resignation letter, former acting US attorney for the Southern District of New York, Danielle Sassoon, stated that Adams’ attorneys had repeatedly suggested a quid pro quo arrangement—implying that the mayor would assist with federal enforcement priorities only if the charges were dropped, according to CNN. 

Both Adams and Bove denied any such agreement took place. 

Judge Ho sought external legal insight and consulted conservative attorney Paul Clement for an evaluation of the Justice Department’s request. Clement recommended full dismissal, arguing that leaving the charges open would create the impression that the case could be revived at any time, placing undue pressure on the mayor. 

“A dismissal without prejudice would leave the specter of prosecution hanging over the accused, akin to the Sword of Damocles,” Clement wrote. “A complete dismissal eliminates that concern and upholds the fundamental principle of accountability within the separation of powers.” 

Ultimately, Ho ruled to permanently dismiss the charges against Adams, ensuring they could not be used as political leverage in the future. 

“This decision prevents any scenario where the indictment could be used as a tool to control the mayor or the city,” Ho stated, as per CNN. 

Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton, who previously met with New York Governor Kathy Hochul during deliberations over Adams’ future, remarked that the ruling should eliminate any perception that the mayor was under federal influence. 

“This takes away the idea that he was under the president’s control,” Sharpton told CNN. “Now, whatever he does will be judged on its own merits.” 

Judge Ho clarified that his ruling should not be interpreted as a statement on the validity of the allegations against Adams. He emphasized that public opinion—not his own—would ultimately determine the mayor’s fate. 

“Transparency in decisions like this allows the public to engage with these issues through democratic channels,” Ho concluded. 

United States: The Trump administration has implemented measures to guarantee that an incident akin to the inadvertent inclusion of The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, in a Signal group chat will never recur, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Monday.   

Why It Matters   

Bipartisan concern over the Signal controversy has intensified, prompting lawmakers from both political spectrums to demand an inquiry. The latest push comes from Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee, who on Monday formally urged Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to initiate an independent investigation through an official letter, according to AXIOS. 

HPSCI Democrats are calling on the intelligence community, led by DNI Tulsi Gabbard, to conduct an independent investigation into the Signal chat in which participants discussed plans for an impending US military attack in Yemen. pic.twitter.com/RiXzESIX93

— House Intelligence Committee (@HouseIntelDems) March 31, 2025

Official Remarks   

“As the president has unequivocally conveyed, Mike Waltz remains a vital figure within his national security apparatus, and from the administration’s perspective, this matter is now fully resolved,” Leavitt informed reporters on Monday.   

As reported by AXIOS, “Necessary precautions have been instituted to preclude the recurrence of such an event, and we are now progressing forward,” she added, declining to specify the precise nature of the measures enacted.