Key Announcements on Ukraine, Government Spending, and Immigration On February 26, 2025, President Donald Trump held a Cabinet meeting at the White House, addressing a wide range of policy issues, international affairs, and economic reforms . The meeting featured Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, key Cabinet members, and high-ranking officials. The session opened with HUD Secretary Scott Turner leading a prayer, emphasizing faith in leadership and service. Turner thanked God for allowing them to serve the country, asked for wisdom and clarity in decision- making, and prayed for President Trump and Vice President Vance. The invocation set a tone of humility and responsibility, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to guiding the nation with faith and integrity. Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks & Economic Agreements A major highlight of the meeting was Trump’s confirmation that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Washington on Friday to sign a rare earth minerals agreement with the U.S. This deal is expected to strengthen America’s access to crucial resources, needed for advanced manufacturing, technology, and defense industries. Trump also discussed his administration’s active role in negotiating a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, stating that the conflict had been ignored by the previous administration and that no serious diplomatic engagement had taken place for two years before his presidency . He emphasized his desire to stop the loss of life, particularly among young Russian and Ukrainian soldiers, and called for European nations to increase their financial contributions . The President pointed out a stark contrast in international aid: The U.S. has provided $350 billion to Ukraine. Europe has only contributed $100 billion. Trump argued that Europe, being geographically closer to the conflict, should take on more financial responsibility. He also claimed that under his leadership, the U.S. has renegotiated terms to ensure that the money spent will be recovered . Regarding security guarantees for Ukraine, Trump stated that the U.S. will not take a primary role in ensuring Ukraine’s future security, instead suggesting that Europe should step up and take more responsibility. However, he acknowledged that the U.S. would maintain a strategic presence in Ukraine through economic and industrial partnerships, especially in the rare earth mining sector. Additionally, Trump noted that the UK and France have volunteered to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine, a move he welcomed. He expressed optimism that a ceasefire could be reached soon but did not provide specific details on the potential terms of a deal. As the meeting progressed, Trump reiterated his administration’s commitment to resolving the war quicklyand criticized the previous administration’s handling of the conflict, claiming that if he had not been elected, Russia would have likely taken control of all of Ukraine.

President Trump introduced the Gold Card President Trump introduced the Gold Card immigration initiative, a program designed to attract top global talent, investors, and skilled professionals to the United States. The initiative offers a direct pathway to U.S. citizenship for individuals who invest $5 million, ensuring that immigration strengthens the economy rather than burdening taxpayers. The Gold Card program replaces the outdated EB-5 visa, which Trump criticized for lack of oversight and minimal economic impact. Unlike its predecessor, this initiative requires a direct financial contribution to the U.S. government, ensuring that every participant helps reduce the national debt and boost job creation. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick estimated that 200,000 Gold Cards could generate $1 trillion, while 1 million applicants could produce $5 trillion, an amount that could eliminate the national debt entirely. Trump emphasized that U.S. companies struggle to retain top foreign graduates due to restrictive visa policies, causing highly skilled professionals to take their expertise elsewhere. Under the Gold Card system, businesses like Apple, Google, and Tesla could sponsor high-value employees, ensuring that the brightest minds remain in the U.S. rather than fueling economic growth abroad. The program will feature a strict vetting process to ensure that only qualified individuals who contribute to the U.S. economy are accepted. While details are still being finalized, Trump reassured that there would be no blanket bans on applicants from specific countries, focusing instead on economic impact and professional merit. Trump described the Gold Card as a transformative shift in U.S. immigration policy, aligning economic incentives with national priorities. The program is set to launch within two weeks, with Trump expressing confidence that demand will be overwhelming. By tying citizenship opportunities to financial investment, he argued that the initiative would modernize immigration, generate massive revenue, and reinforce America’s status as a global economic leader.

Border Security & Immigration Enforcement President Trump highlighted a dramatic drop in illegal border crossings, stating that numbers had plummeted by more than 100% since his administration took office. He credited this success to enhanced enforcement, stricter immigration policies, and cooperation with border security officials. One of the most alarming concerns raised during the meeting was activists doxing federal border agents—publicly exposing their personal information in an attempt to intimidate them. Trump condemned these actions and confirmed that the Attorney General would be investigating those responsible. The President also addressed fraud in government assistance programs, particularly within Social Security, claiming that some benefits were being sent to individuals listed as over 200 years old. He vowed to eliminate fraudulent claims and ensure that only eligible American citizens receive government benefits. Additionally, Trump reiterated his commitment to removing illegal immigrants from the country, emphasizing that his administration was prioritizing national security and economic stability. Economic Policies & Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and the EU A major component of the meeting was Trump’s announcement of new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and the European Union (EU), set to take effect on April 2, 2025. • A 25% tariff will be imposed on imports from these countries, targeting industries such as automobiles, lumber, and agriculture. • Trump criticized Canada’s economic dependence on the U.S., stating that America provides $200 billion in economic support annually to its northern neighbor. • He described Canada as America’s “51st state”, arguing that the U.S. should not be subsidizing a country that contributes little to U.S. security or economic interests. Regarding the European Union, Trump claimed that it was designed to take advantage of U.S. trade policies by blocking American exports while benefiting from U.S. market access. He accused the EU of maintaining unfair trade restrictions on American goods, particularly automobiles and farm products. In response to concerns about potential retaliatory tariffs, Trump remained firm, stating that the U.S. holds the stronger economic position and could withstand any countermeasures by simply halting imports from retaliating countries. He also reaffirmed that tariffs on Mexico and Canada would proceed as planned, with fentanyl-related trade restrictions being reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Trump noted that both Mexico and Canada would need to prove they are taking significant action against fentanyl trafficking to avoid certain penalties. The Bigger Picture Trump’s border security and economic policies are deeply interconnected—with an emphasis on securing American jobs, enforcing stricter immigration laws, and holding international trade partners accountable. The administration believes that reducing illegal immigration and trade deficits will contribute to long-term economic growth and stability.

Doge Program & Elon Musk’s Role in Government Reform One of the key discussions centered around the Doge initiative, a government-wide effort to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse. Trump introduced Elon Musk as the driving force behind the project, praising him for his work in modernizing outdated government systems. Musk, who referred to himself as "humble tech support," explained that his team has been working to fix major inefficiencies in federal agencies. He pointed out several alarming findings, including: • Evidence of widespread fraud in federal payrolls, where individuals were receiving salaries without performing any work. • Government employees with multiple jobs, in some cases collecting paychecks from both private companies and federal agencies. • A significant number of "ghost employees" nonexistent workers receiving government paychecks. Musk emphasized the urgent need for spending cuts, warning that if the U.S. continues to run a $2 trillion deficit, it will face economic collapse. He revealed that interest payments on the national debt now exceed the total spending of the U.S. Defense Department, calling the situation unsustainable. His goal for the Doge initiative is to cut at least $1 trillion in unnecessary spending by the end of fiscal year 2026. This would require reducing government expenses by $4 billion per day. Musk also acknowledged that he has faced strong opposition and even death threats due to the scale of the fraud being exposed. Trump and Musk confirmed that over 1 million government employees had responded to a work inquiry email sent out by the Doge team. However, another 1 million had not responded, leading to speculation that many of these positions might be fraudulent or redundant. Trump stated bluntly that employees who failed to respond were “on the bubble” and at risk of being removed. He reassured the public that classified positions, particularly those in national security, were being reviewed separately.

Israel-Hamas conflict, CBS Lawsuit, Afghanistan Withdrawal President Trump addressed the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, expressing frustration over the return of deceased Israeli hostages rather than living captives. He described Hamas as a vicious group and stated that Israel must decide its next steps, while reaffirming U.S. support. Trump welcomed European peacekeeping efforts but made it clear that the U.S. would not commit troops at this stage. In discussing his lawsuit against CBS News and election integrity, Trump accused CBS of doctoring Kamala Harris’ interview before the 2024 election, making her appear more competent. He confirmed that his administration is pursuing legal action, with the FCC investigating. Trump reiterated his push for paper ballots, voter ID, and same-day voting, calling the current election system one of the most dishonest in the world and pointing to France’s switch to paper ballots as a model. On the Afghanistan withdrawal and military accountability, Trump called the Biden administration’s exit the worst military failure in history, blaming it for China taking control of Bagram Air Base. He questioned why the U.S. still sends aid to Afghanistan despite the Taliban’s control and suggested demanding the return of U.S. military equipment left behind. He hinted at removing military leaders responsible for the withdrawal and praised incoming Joint Chiefs Chairman, General Raisen Kane, for restoring discipline and effectiveness. As the meeting concluded, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to securing the border, cutting spending, and reforming government. He declared that his election victory was proof that Americans support these priorities, emphasizing that his administration is focused on restoring order and economic strength.