Trump admits conflicts of interest at Musk

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Lerato Khumalo

US President Donald Trump has signed a decree to destroy the Ministry of Education. The aim is to eliminate the department “once and for all”, said the Republican at a ceremony in the White House. In the decree, Education Minister Linda McMahon instructs to take all the necessary steps to reduce the functions of the ministry to a minimum. Read more about the plans of the US President.

In view of financial incisions in research in the United States under President Donald Trump, Ulrike Malmendier is calling for top researchers from there for Germany. Trump “triggered great concern about scientific freedom and reliable financial support,” said the economy professor at the University of California to the newspapers of the Funke Mediengruppe. “Development in the United States is a huge opportunity for Germany and Europe. I know that a lot of people are thinking about going away.”

Malmendier made a comparison to the times of National Socialism: “I feel reminded of the 1930s in which Germany was leading in essential research areas. Then many scientists flew from the Nazis. That was the beginning of the rise of the USA as a science. Now we can reverse.” Read more about the economists’ suggestions here.

US President Donald Trump has called for a reduction in the key interest rate from the US Federal Reserve. “The FED would be much better off if it would lower interest because the US tariffs find their way into the economy (easier!). Do the right thing. April 2 is the day of liberation in America,” he wrote on his Truth social network. In view of the economic uncertainty, the US Federal Reserve had again suspended further interest rate cuts on Wednesday and, against the background of Trump’s aggressive customs policy, decided to leave the interest rate between 4.25 percent and 4.5 percent. Read more about the central bank here.

An employee of Elon Musk’s Department for Government Efficiency, Doge, will take a top position at the USA-Agency for International Development USA. Pete Marocco, who was instrumental in the dismantling of the agency, is said to return to the Foreign Ministry, according to an email that is Reuters. At a press conference, the spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, Tammy Bruce, confirmed that Marocco, as director of foreign aid, will return to the Foreign Ministry full -time.

In January, US President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day suspension of foreign aid to check whether the programs match his “America First” foreign policy. USAID has managed civil aid and development aid for decades.