On 2025-04-05, Donald Trump's 10% tariff on imports from many countries, including the UK, took effect. Higher tariffs, ranging from 11% to 50%, are scheduled to follow, with EU imports facing 20% and Chinese goods 34%. Trump initially announced these sweeping tariffs on April 3, 2025.

On 2025-04-04, China announced a 34% tariff on all imports from the United States in retaliation to President Trump's tariffs. China also suspended imports from six US companies, added 27 companies to trade restriction lists, launched an antitrust investigation into DuPont China Group Co., indicated it would impose more controls on the export of rare earths, and added 16 US companies to the export control list and 11 to the unreliable entities list.

On 2025-04-05, a bulletin provided a 51-day grace period for cargoes already en route to the US. Goods loaded before 12:01 am ET on Saturday and arriving by 12:01 am ET on May 27 will avoid the 10% duty.

On April 4 and 5, 2025, Downing Street announced that Donald Trump’s tariffs signal a new global economic era. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to discuss the tariffs with European and Commonwealth leaders, following calls with the Australian and Italian prime ministers.

On 2025-04-05, Ralph Goodale, the Canadian High Commissioner to the UK, stated that the US needed to “feel the pain” of the tariffs. He affirmed that Canada would stand firm in response.

Published on 2025-04-05, reports indicate UK officials monitored Trump's trade war, initially expecting a 20% tariff but receiving 10%. Concerns arose over tariff levels, with Starmer hosting business leaders and Reynolds addressing the media, hinting at retaliation if a UK-US deal isn't reached. On April 4, 2025, Starmer called the tariffs “the beginning of a new era,” while Lammy regretted the US's “return to protectionism,” and various committee chairs cautioned against excessive concessions to the US in trade talks.

Just after 2:30 a.m. on 2025-04-05, the Senate approved the Republican budget blueprint by a 51-to-48 vote. This clears the path for President Trump's domestic agenda, with Senators Rand Paul and Susan Collins being the only Republicans to oppose the measure. Senator John Thune stated this is the first step toward making the 2017 tax relief permanent and investing in border, national, and energy security.

On April 5, 2025, President Trump announced a 75-day extension for TikTok to operate in the US while negotiating its US ownership. On April 4, 2025, Trump extended the deadline on Truth Social.

On 2025-04-04, Lt Gen William J Hartman became acting director and Sheila Thomas became deputy director of the NSA. This followed the dismissal of Gen Tim Haugh and Wendy Noble.

On 2025-04-04, Donald Trump declared "Liberation Day" in a speech to union auto workers in the Rose Garden. He presented a 397-page report on "foreign trade barriers," advocating for US economic dominance.

On 2025-04-04, Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Kentucky as the central US braces for potentially 'generational' flooding. FEMA is providing disaster assistance to all 120 Kentucky counties, while nearly half of the National Weather Service forecast offices have 20% vacancy rates due to Trump administration job cuts.

On 2025-04-04, US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. admitted that around a fifth of the 10,000 jobs cut from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) were done in error and will be corrected. Mass layoffs began this week amid a push by Donald Trump’s administration to shrink the federal government workforce, with some research work and programs mistakenly affected.

On April 4, 2025, the Department of Energy identified over 8,500 positions for potential elimination to meet President Trump's workforce reduction order. Senators Murray and Representative Kaptur opposed the dismantling, while Energy Secretary Wright stated the department had grown too large and needed adjustment, acknowledging a previous dismissal of nuclear security agency workers was a mistake.

Trump administration officials are reportedly working to overturn state-level bans on toxic 'forever chemicals' (PFAS) and other harmful substances in consumer products. This effort involves altering the EPA's chemical risk evaluation process.

On 2025-04-04, immigrant groups and Democratic states opposed the Trump administration's request to lift the ban on ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. Three federal courts have blocked the order, and the court is also reviewing the deportation of Venezuelan migrants and the cancellation of teacher-training grants.

On 2025-04-04, the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) and state humanities councils received notice that their NEH funding was terminated due to a change in the Administration’s funding priorities. This occurred one day after Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency visited NEH headquarters; the California Humanities council, for example, gets 90% of its budget from the NEH.

On 2025-04-04, Assembly Bill 628, introduced by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, proposes to require California landlords to provide working refrigerators and stoves in rental units starting January 1, 2026.

Wall Street experienced its worst week in five years due to investor reactions to Donald Trump's new tariffs. The S&P 500 fell 6%, the Dow Jones fell 5.2%, and the Nasdaq fell 5.8%, entering bear market territory, despite warnings from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

On 2025-04-04, a North Carolina appeals court ruled that around 65,000 ballots could be thrown out. This could potentially alter the results of the November 2024 state supreme court election where Republican Jefferson Griffin lost to Democrat Allison Riggs by 734 votes; Riggs plans to appeal.

Prosecutors are seeking more than seven years in prison for former congressman George Santos after he pleaded guilty to federal fraud and identity theft charges. A federal judge on Long Island is scheduled to hear arguments and decide on Santos’ sentence on 2025-04-25.

On April 4, 2025, Democratic candidates Josh Weil and Gay Valimont faced significant losses in Florida's special elections, despite raising $25 million with Key Lime Strategies. The firm's CEO, Jackson McMillan, is under scrutiny for taking a 25% cut of 'true profits' from donations, with Valimont having spent over half of her $1.58 million raised in 2024 on the firm and still losing by a large margin.

On April 5, 2025, it was reported that Lt. Oscar Martinez announced his candidacy on April 4, 2025, to challenge Sheriff Robert Luna in the 2026 primary election.

Published on 2025-04-04, European NATO allies and Canada announced increased defense spending. However, they expressed reservations about US demands for significantly higher budgets, especially given President Trump's relationship with Vladimir Putin and the potential impact of US tariffs.

A poll released in April 2025 shows that most Americans have an unfavorable view of Elon Musk. Democrats are increasingly making him the face of the administration to capitalize on this sentiment.