Trump reverses on Epstein Files, pledges Sudan peace talks, tariff Politics
Sultanul Arefin 
President Donald Trump has again dominated global headlines this week.
From a dramatic shift on the Jeffrey Epstein documents to a new pledge on Sudan and a bold tariff cash plan, his presidency continues to shape politics at home and abroad.
Epstein files bill: Trump backs full document release
Trump now says he has signed a bipartisan bill ordering the US Department of Justice to release most government records tied to Jeffrey Epstein.
Congress passed the measure with overwhelming support after survivors and lawmakers demanded transparency about Epstein’s crimes and his powerful associates.
The law gives the DOJ 30 days to publish unclassified material, with redactions allowed only to protect victims or active investigations, not reputations.
Trump had previously opposed the bill and urged Republicans to block it; however, he reversed course once it was certain to pass and now insists he has “nothing to hide.”
Sudan conflict: Trump pledges new US role in peace effort
On foreign policy, Trump has pledged “cooperation and coordination” with Saudi Arabia and other Middle East partners to help end Sudan’s brutal civil war.
He announced the move at a Saudi investment forum in Washington and repeated the promise on his social media platform.
Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces recently signalled support for a US- and Arab-backed humanitarian ceasefire proposal.
However, aid workers warn that previous truce efforts collapsed quickly, leaving civilians trapped by fighting and hunger, so observers are waiting to see whether Trump’s announcement leads to sustained diplomacy or mainly symbolic statements.
New York politics: Trump to meet Mayor-elect Mamdani
In US domestic politics, Trump is preparing for a closely watched White House meeting with New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
During the campaign, Trump endorsed Andrew Cuomo and attacked Mamdani repeatedly, calling him a “Communist mayor” and warning of funding cuts.
Friday’s Oval Office meeting is expected to focus on public safety, economic security and housing costs in America’s largest city.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist and New York’s first Muslim mayor, says he will cooperate with Trump when it helps residents but resist federal policies he believes hurt them, turning the session into an early test of their ability to work together.
Tariff dividend plan: Trump sells $2,000 checks to voters
On the economy, Trump is promoting a proposed “tariff dividend” of at least $2,000 per person, funded from revenue raised by his import duties.
He argues that higher tariffs protect US factories, boost federal income and can be partly returned to households through one-off payments.
Economists, however, warn that tariffs act like a tax on consumers by lifting prices on many everyday goods.
Independent analysis suggests Trump’s trade duties already cost the average household about $1,200 a year, so critics question whether the promised cheques would truly compensate families or simply deepen the risks from his trade war.
Legal and policy front: Georgia case and Education shake-up
Trump’s legal and policy agenda has also moved forward.
In Georgia, a new special prosecutor has taken over the state election-interference case after the original district attorney was removed, keeping alive charges that Trump and allies tried to overturn his 2020 loss there.
At the same time, the White House has confirmed steps toward dismantling the US Department of Education and shifting more power over schools to individual states.
Supporters say the plan cuts bureaucracy and empowers local communities; however, critics fear deeper inequality between rich and poor areas and weaker national civil-rights protections for students.
Taken together, this week’s moves underline how Trump’s presidency continues to blend disruptive economic ideas, contentious foreign policy and sweeping domestic changes, while major investigations and court cases still hang over his future.
Image: Getty Images
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Suzan Seherin 