Venezuela Seeks UN Security Council Meeting Over U.S. Oil Tanker Blockade 
U.S. House Advances GOP Healthcare Bill as ACA Subsidies Near Expiration 
Trump Signals Progress in Ukraine Peace Talks Ahead of U.S.–Russia Meeting 
Trump Administration Reviews Nvidia H200 Chip Sales to China, Marking Major Shift in U.S. AI Export Policy 
Union-Aligned Investors Question Amazon, Walmart and Alphabet on Trump Immigration Policies 
Zelenskiy Urges Allies to Use Frozen Russian Assets as EU Summit Nears 
UN Warns Gaza Humanitarian Aid at Risk as Israel Registration Rules Threaten NGO Operations 
Canada Signals Delay in US Tariff Deal as Talks Shift to USMCA Review 
Pakistan’s Army Chief Faces Gaza Troop Dilemma Amid US Pressure 
NSW to Recall Parliament for Urgent Gun and Protest Law Reforms After Bondi Beach Shooting 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
U.S. Initiates $11.1 Billion Arms Sale to Taiwan Amid Rising China Tensions 
Argentina Unions Rally Against Milei’s Labor Reform as Congress Debates Key Bill 
Trump Signs Order to Ease Federal Marijuana Rules, Signaling Major Policy Shift 
Republicans Raise National Security Concerns Over Intel’s Testing of China-Linked Chipmaking Tools 
Trump Attends Dover Ceremony Honoring U.S. Personnel Killed in Syria 
Honduras Election Recount Delayed Amid Protests and Political Tensions 
A few months after leaving the White House and establishing his post-White House office, former President Donald Trump is set on furthering his administration’s agenda. A group of his former aides has now put together a policy group that would promote Trump’s “America First” policy.
A group of Trump’s former senior aides established the “America First Policy Institute” in an effort to permanently incorporate the former president’s approach to foreign policy in the Republican Party.
Made up of 35 former aides, including former Cabinet officials, national security advisers, and members of Trump’s evangelical advisory board, the group is also well-funded with a $20 million initial budget. Trump’s daughter and son-in-law, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, are serving as informal advisers to the institute.
“We’re all great friends and they helped us with this,” said Larry Kudlow, Trump’s former economic adviser and the vice president of the America First Policy Institute board. Trump has already endorsed the formation of the group in a statement and added that he looks forward to working with them to promote his administration’s agenda even outside Washington.
The group joins several other Trump-affiliated groups that have been established since the former president left Washington in January. The institute plans to double its already hefty budget by 2022. The institute plans on establishing its headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, and maintain proximity to Trump’s Republican allies in Congress, who are still keen on Trump’s MAGA movement.
With this establishment of a new policy group, it is a sign that Trump intends to keep his control over the Republican party. This is despite some Republican lawmakers and leaders already expressing concerns over the former president’s influence, especially as the party seeks to regain majorities in both chambers.
While it remains unclear if Trump plans on running again for another term as president, a number of Republican lawmakers have already signaled that they would not be supporting him. Speaking on Fox News, the number three House Republican, Liz Cheney, said she would not be supporting Trump on a second presidential bid.
Cheney is one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump following the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol.
