Donald Trump used his seventh day back in the White House to suggest the ethnic cleansing of Gaza and start a spat with Colombia over trade tariffs.
The volatile Republican is under fire after his remarks on the war-torn terriroty, which he branded a “demolition site” before suggesting “we just clean out the whole thing”. His remarks have sparked a worldwide backlash.
Trump also managed to spark a diplomatic crisis after angrily promising to hit Colombia with punishing tariffs after criticism of the way deportees were treated. And trouble is brewing with Brazil in a row over people being shackled on flights out of the US.
And Vice President JD Vance got in on the act, escalating a row with the Catholic Church by implying criticism of immigration policy was motivated by money. Vance also doubled down on the much-criticised decision to pardon hundreds of thugs behind sickening violence on January 6, 2021, after Trump’s election defeat.
Here we look at some of the sinister things happening in the Trump administration.
Global fury over ‘ethnic cleansing’ remark
Donald Trump faces worldwide condemnation after suggesting the “ethnic cleansing” of Gaza.
The US President described the war-torn territory as a “demolition site” and suggested that Egypt and Jordan should take in two million Gazan refugees. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, the US President suggested “we just clean out that whole thing”.
He said: “I would like Egypt to take people. You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing and say: ‘You know, it’s over.’”
And praising Jordan for taking in Palestinian refugees he said: ““I would love for you to take on more, ‘cause I am looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now, and it’s a mess. It’s a real mess.”
The idea has been rejected by both nations – with Egypt warning it “risks expanding the conflict in the region and undermines prospects of peace and coexistence among its people”.
Diplomatic crisis with Colombia
The US President sparked another diplomatic crisis as he fired a warning shot to Colombia.
He angrily ordered visa restrictions, 25% tariffs on all Colombian incoming goods, which would be raised to 50% in one week, and a string of other retaliatory measures. It come after President Gustavo Petro rejected two US military aircraft carrying migrants after Petro accused Trump of not treating people with dignity during deportation.
Trump wrote on social media: “These measures are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later said the tariffs will be “held in reserve, and not signed.” She said the “Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay.”
Fresh threat against Denmark after phone spat
Trump said he is confident the US will gain control of Greenland – issuing a chilling warning to Denmark.
He said: “I think we’re going to have it.” His remarks came despite a furious phone call with Danish PM Mette Frederiksen, who insisted Greenland was not for sale.
Trump said: “I think the people want to be with us. I don’t really know what claim Denmark has to it, but it would be a very unfriendly act if they didn’t allow that to happen because it’s for the protection of the free world.
“I think Greenland we’ll get because it has to do with freedom of the world.”
Brazil fury over ‘degrading’ treatment
The Brazilian government lashed out at the “degrading” treatment of Brazilians during their deportation.
People were handcuffed by their feet and hands – a move the South American nation says “violates the terms of the US agreement.” The Brazilian Federal Police said it discovered 88 handcuffed people on a flight on Friday night.
Brazil’s foreign ministry said the plane was not authorised to continued because of “the use of handcuffs and chains, the poor condition of the aircraft, with a faulty air conditioning system, among other problems.” In a video published by the Brazilian government, one person on board said: ““We were handcuffed there on Wednesday night, and we got to Brazil and we still had handcuffs on, and we told them we were in Brazilian territory and to remove our handcuffs but they didn’t want to take them off.”
The Brazilian foreign ministry said: “The indiscriminate use of handcuffs and chains violates the terms of the US agreement, which provides for the dignified, respectful and humane treatment of returnees.”
Doubling down on January 6 pardons
The Trump administration doubled down on the decision to pardon around 1,500 people involved in the January 6 riots after his 2021 election defeat.
Vice President JD Vance claimed that those convicted were exposed to “incredibly unfair process, to denial of constitutional rights, and frankly, to a double standard that was not applied to many people”.
Trump has been heavily criticised over the move. Vance said: “The pardon power is not just for people who are angels or people who are perfect.”
Feud with Catholic Church
The Vice President also spent his Sunday escalating a feud with the Catholic Church.
Vance claimed that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops have “not been a good partner in common sense immigration enforcement”. He said that as a devout Catholic he is hoping “that they’ll do better.”
The conference hit out at measures announced by Trump, including the decision to allow immigration raids in schools and churches. Vance appeared to suggest the bishops were motivated by money.
He said: “I think that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops needs to actually look in the mirror a little bit and recognize that when they receive over $100 million to help resettle illegal immigrants, are they worried about humanitarian concerns? Or are they actually worried about their bottom line?”
Chilling warning to aid staff over freeze
The Trump administration threatened “disciplinary action” for any workers ignoring his freeze on international aid.
The US President issued the warning to staff from the US Agency for International Development (USAid). Reuters reports that he threatened “disciplinary action” for any staff ignoring his orders.
It came after he announced a 90-day pause in foreign aid on his first day in office. And on Friday the US State Department issued a stop-work order worldwide. This has raised question whether billions of dollars of life-saving aid will actually be delivered.
Allowing raids in churches
Trump has revoked a ban preventing immigration raids in “sensitive” areas – paving the way for people to be seized from churches and schools.
The move was announced by the Department of Homeland Security, removing a policy put in place in 2011. A spokesman said: “This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP (Customs and Border Protection) and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens — including murders and rapists — who have illegally come into our country.”
The statement continued: “Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.”
