Trump Administration's Foreign Policy Shifts and Cuts

US President Donald Trump's tariff team, comprising Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and trade adviser Pete Navarro, presented a mixed message on tariffs, with some experts describing it as a "good cop, bad cop" approach. Bessent played a key role in Trump's decision to pause reciprocal tariffs, and his more measured views on tariffs may have influenced the president. The different messages from the team members caused confusion and market volatility, with some experts suggesting it was a deliberate tactic to "flood the zone with opinion." Bessent is expected to take on a more prominent public role in tariff policy, potentially bringing more stability to the market.

The Trump administration is considering closing nearly 30 overseas diplomatic posts, including 10 embassies and 17 consulates across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, according to an internal State Department document. The proposed closures include embassies in Malta, Luxembourg, and several African countries, and consulates in France, Germany, and other nations. The document recommends that the duties of closed embassies be covered by neighboring diplomatic outposts, as part of a broader overhaul aimed at shrinking the federal government.

The daughter of Jamshid "Jimmy" Sharmahd, a German-American dissident executed by Iran, is calling on the Trump administration to abandon nuclear talks with the country. Sharmahd's body was returned to his family mutilated, with his tongue, larynx, thyroid, and heart missing. His daughter, Gazelle, criticized the US and Germany for considering negotiations with Iran despite its human rights abuses. She is urging the FBI and German authorities to investigate her father's murder and issue arrest warrants for those responsible. The Trump administration began indirect talks with Iran on Saturday in Oman.

The Trump administration is considering cutting the State Department's funding by nearly 50% in the next fiscal year, according to an internal memo. The proposal, dated April 10, suggests eliminating funding for international organizations like the United Nations and NATO, ending support for international peacekeeping operations, and curtailing educational and cultural exchanges. It also proposes cutting funding for humanitarian assistance and global health programs by more than 50%. The memo, prepared by State Department officials Pete Marocco and Douglas Pitkin, outlines a $28.4 billion budget for fiscal year 2026, a significant reduction from the previous year's budget. The plan is part of a broader effort to shrink the federal government and has been met with criticism from Democrats, who argue that the cuts would harm US security and allow China and Russia to fill the vacuum.