The Morning: America’s flex

Plus, military aid to Ukraine, Mardi Gras and what children saved from the fires.

View in browser|nytimes.com March 4, 2025 By German Lopez Good morning. We're covering President Trump's new tariffs — as well as military aid to Ukraine, Mardi Gras and what children saved from the fires. President Trump  Doug Mills/The New York Times America's flex President Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China took effect at midnight. By now, you've probably heard about the risks: higher prices, slower economic growth, a trade war. Trump acknowledges the potential for economic pain. Yet he signed off on the levies anyway — 25 percent for Canada and Mexico, another 10 percent for China. Why? He believes he can't advance his "America First" agenda without rebalancing trade with other countries. This, he says, will make them do things that are in the United States' interest. With these latest tariffs, he has demanded that Canada, Mexico and China do more to stop drug trafficking. But the tariffs could also harm American interests. If Canada and Mexico decide that America is no longer a reliable partner — one that keeps its word and prizes stability over chaos — they may seek other customers for their goods. They could even turn to U.S. adversaries like China. America would end up more isolated on the world stage. This issue isn't just about trade; it's about America's alliances in general. To bend other countries to his will, Trump has suspended military aid to Ukraine, publicly hectored world leaders, threatened to withdraw U.S. troops from Europe and pulled out of international groups like the World Health Organization. Trump might succeed. But he also might scare off would-be friends. Today's newsletter will look at two potential outcomes for Trump's policy: one in which tariffs and pushy diplomacy accrue advantages for the United States and another in which the nation stands weaker and alone. America first? Trump's America First approach has produced policy wins. When the president threatened Canada and Mexico with tariffs last month, both countries made limited concessions to appease him. Canada promised to name a "fentanyl czar." Mexico said it would move troops to its northern border. Those countries are still trying to curry Trump's favor to avoid tariffs. Few migrants now come through the U.S.-Mexico border, my colleague Annie Correal reported. And Mexico has stepped up efforts against organized crime. For the first time in years, cartel operatives say they fear arrest, my colleagues Natalie Kitroeff and Paulina Villegas explained. Trump's friendlier stance toward Russia has also led European countries to commit to more spending on their militaries. They plan to defend the continent themselves — exactly what Trump wanted. And Trump's impatience with Ukraine moved its president to offer some of the country's mineral wealth to the United States. Russia, too, has dangled economic opportunities to get in Trump's good graces. Trump's critics do not like the abrasive, chaotic approach he has used to get some of these wins. But the means matter less to Trump than the ends. In his view, he pushed other countries to take U.S. interests more seriously. Or America alone? The counterargument is that it's still early. Foreign leaders may appease Trump for now, but eventually they may shift away from working with America because it's too fickle. Consider Australia's example. Over the past few years, it worked with America to confront China. But what if Trump makes his own deal with China, as some Australian officials fear he might? Then Australia would suffer China's wrath alone while America reaped benefits, Fareed Zakaria, the CNN journalist, told Ezra Klein. After that, it would be unlikely to trust Washington again. Meanwhile, European countries are building up their militaries so they won't need America's protective umbrella. They're crafting a "coalition of the willing" to help Ukraine, Mark Landler and Jeanna Smialek reported. They could use their newfound independence to, say, more aggressively help each other with trade and block American goods. Canada and Mexico, too, could look for more buyers of their goods in Europe and China. If Trump spurs shifts like those, an America First strategy may create new rivals, instead of stronger allies, for U.S. power worldwide. Some of these outcomes might seem unthinkable. After all, Canada, Mexico and European countries have been close allies with the United States for generations. But those friendships endured because foreign leaders saw Washington as reliable; the president, no matter who he was, had their backs. If American allegiances shift wildly from election to election, the foundation for these friendships may crumble. There are already signs that Trump's approach is backfiring. Some European officials warn that America is no longer a friend, Steven Erlanger reported. Canadians are more nationalistic and anti-American since Trump took office, Vjosa Isai wrote. Down south, "government and businesses have rekindled a 'Made in Mexico' campaign," James Wagner explained. Even in the short term, the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal collapsed after Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky's shouting match in the Oval Office last week. In that moment, Trump's style actually pushed Ukraine to not put American interests over its own. More on tariffs China imposed retaliatory tariffs on many foods imported from the U.S., including chicken and corn, minutes after Trump's tariffs took effect. It also essentially halted sales to 15 American companies. Canada also responded this morning. It will apply 25 percent tariffs on $30 billion worth of American goods and extend them to $125 billion worth in 21 days. Mexico is expected to respond today. Stocks fell after Trump confirmed that his tariffs would take effect. Failed business ventures? Personal vendettas? No one's quite sure what Trump has against Canada, but there are theories. THE LATEST NEWS War in Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump in the Oval Office. Doug Mills/The New York Times Trump halted military aid to Ukraine with immediate effect. The order affects more than $1 billion in arms and ammunition. Officials said Trump would rescind it once Ukraine showed a good-faith commitment to peace negotiations. The suspension puts the U.S. in opposition to its NATO allies. Many of the largest European nations are promising to increase aid to Ukraine. Trump's behavior has stoked support for a proposal to use billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets to arm and rebuild Ukraine. Zelensky is back in Ukraine after a diplomatic mission that included humiliation at the hands of Trump and a warm embrace from Europe. Elon Musk Elon Musk Eric Lee/The New York Times Elon Musk's DOGE team removed hundreds more entries from its public ledger of government cuts, erasing $4 billion that the group claimed to have saved. On Joe Rogan's podcast, Musk called Social Security "the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time." Some Tesla owners are selling their cars because they're fed up with Musk, or with being hassled about him by strangers. More on the Trump Administration The Senate confirmed Linda McMahon, a former wrestling executive, as education secretary. Eugene Daniels, the president of the White House Correspondents' Association, is fighting the president's hostility toward the press while he navigates a new job at MSNBC. Trump is set to address a joint session of Congress tonight. Here's what to watch for. More on Politics Democrats blocked a Republican-written bill to bar transgender women and girls from school sports teams. Two Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee launched an investigation into the Justice Department's move to drop charges against Mayor Eric Adams. They accuse the department of covering up a quid pro quo agreement. International Arab leaders plan to meet in Cairo today to discuss the future of Gaza. A 40-year-old man drove a car into a lunch-hour crowd in Mannheim, Germany, killing two and injuring 11. The authorities say the driver appeared not to have a political motive. Pope Francis had two acute respiratory crises yesterday. He has been hospitalized for more than two weeks. New York Andrew Cuomo, who is running for New York City mayor, has cast failed Democratic leadership as the cause of much of the city's problems. As New York State corrections officers strike, some inmates have gone without hot food and mental health care, and at least seven prisoners have died. The operator of a New York City day care where a 1-year-old boy died after ingesting fentanyl was sentenced to 45 years in prison. Other Big Stories In New Orleans.  On its first Mardi Gras since the New Year's Day terrorist attack, New Orleans is filled with merriment and trepidation. Strong winds forced at least one Louisiana parish to cancel parades. TSMC, the world's largest computer chip manufacturer, plans to invest $100 billion over the next four years to expand its operations in the U.S. Opinions Covid changed everything around us, from our faith in public health to the way we protest, David Wallace-Wells writes. C.E.O.s have the influence and the ability to talk to politicians. They should lobby Trump to abandon his tariff agenda, Jeff Sonnenfeld and Stephen Henriques write. Here is a column by Thomas Edsall on presidential power. Today marks the first anniversary of Strands! Celebrate a year of mind-bending Spangrams and deviously clever clues with a special commemorative puzzle from editor Tracy Bennett. Play here. MORNING READS Philip Cheung for The New York Times Priceless: Eight children who fled the Los Angeles wildfires showed us what they saved from their homes. Skin care: Should anti-aging products come with an age minimum? A California bill seeks to prohibit sales to under 18s. Travel: Spend 36 hours in Kathmandu, Nepal. Faith and history: A major initiative aims to preserve Black churches. Check out the photos. The Great Read of the day: A longtime friend of the artist Francis Bacon claims to have a trove of his unpublished artworks. Most clicked yesterday: Try a focus challenge. Spend 10 uninterrupted minutes with this photo. Lives Lived: Laura Sessions Stepp, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, reported on teenage sex and "hookup" culture on college campuses in strikingly intimate detail in The Washington Post and in her best-selling book, "Unhooked." She died at 73. SPORTS N.B.A.: The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Houston Rockets, 137-128. The OKC star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bolstered his M.V.P. case with a 51-point performance. NASCAR: Katherine Legge, a 44-year-old British sports car and open-wheel driver, will become the first woman to race in the Cup Series in over seven years. Chess: The jeans that the world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen wore when he quit a tournament over its dress code have fetched $36,100 on eBay. ARTS AND IDEAS Antoine Doré Gone are the days when travelers had to sneak their pets into their hotel rooms. Hotels are going all out to please four-legged guests, providing custom bedding and freshly cooked food. The Plaza Hotel in New York City even offers a fluffy white bathrobe in five doggy sizes. Read more about how hotels pamper pups. More on culture Timothée Chalamet Nina Westervelt for The New York Times See inside Vanity Fair's Oscars party. Carl Dean, Dolly Parton's husband of nearly 60 years, died at 82. He inspired many of Parton's songs including "Jolene" and "From Here to the Moon and Back." THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Armando Rafael for The New York Times Fill cardamom buns with cream for a delicious Mardi Gras treat. Refresh your old computer. Pick the best smart speaker for your home. GAMES Here is today's Spelling Bee. Yesterday's pangram was vegetable. And here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku, Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — German Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Morning newsletter from The New York Times, or as part of your New York Times account. To stop receiving The Morning, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018