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Democrats have condemned these layoffs as an intimidation tactic, accusing the administration of using federal employees as pawns in political games. Critics argue that this is part of a broader pattern of actions aimed at undermining government operations, dating back to Trump’s presidency.
Broader Political and Economic Ramifications
Beyond the domestic shutdown, President Trump has intensified his confrontational stance with China. He canceled an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled for South Korea and announced an additional 100% tariff on Chinese imports, adding to existing duties of 30%. These actions threaten to escalate the ongoing trade war, impacting global markets and U.S. economic interests.