THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS - Trump's second term: The new press secretary Zacharia apparently resigns after a unsuccessful first appearance

Trump's second term: The new press secretary Zacharia apparently resigns after a disappointing first appearance Donald Trump rules for a second time as American president – with far-reaching domestic and foreign policy consequences. The latest developments in overview. Latest developments: - According to his new press secretary Katie Zacharia, American President Donald Trump has advised her to "rethink her role" once again. Trump said this to journalists on Friday (October 16th). Zacharia had only taken office a few days earlier and did not make a good impression at her first press conference on Tuesday. As reported by "Fox News" citing a White House official, it is already established that Zacharia will withdraw from the position of press secretary. Neither the White House nor Zacharia have officially confirmed the resignation so far. - The planned execution of a man sentenced to death for a terrorist act at a military base in the member state of Texas will no longer be broadcast live. Many "very good and well-meaning people" did not want to watch the man die, President Donald Trump explained on Thursday (October 15th) on his Truth Social platform about the change of course. A public broadcast could have had a strongly deterrent effect, according to Trump. The execution of Nidal Hasan, who committed a massacre at a military base in 2009, will no longer be shown on the internet. The closest relatives of the victims are expected to be present personally upon request, explained Trump. Hasan is to be executed by an execution squad at Fort Hood military base on December 3rd. - In the dispute over excluding several media outlets from the White House, a federal judge, according to reports from the government of President Donald Trump, has set boundaries for now. The judge extended the judicial protection for CNN, Politico, and the news station MS NOW on Tuesday (October 13th), thereby preventing their journalists from being excluded from the White House grounds again. A final decision on the constitutionality of the media ban has not yet been reached with the new order. Trump had banned the media from the White House in mid-September, and they sued against the decision. - The US Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, must vacate her post. A spokeswoman stated on Tuesday (October 13th) that the White House had asked her to resign. Earlier, the "Wall Street Journal" reported that Guilfoyle had asked a Trump donor for a transfer of $100,000. This donor, in turn, allegedly promised Guilfoyle up to a million dollars if she granted him access to the American government in personal tax and legal matters. The former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., the oldest son of the American president, disputes these reports. Newsletter "International – Midterms Special" Our Midterms newsletter informs you in brief from mid-October to mid-November about the most important developments, backgrounds, and facts surrounding the US midterm elections. Table of Contents What has President Donald Trump achieved domestically? Donald Trump has pursued his domestic agenda through executive orders as well as legislation. "Executive Orders" served him to quickly intervene in the workings of the American government and implement political priorities without the consent of Congress. In the first week of his term, he suspended the Paris Climate Agreement and pardoned numerous those convicted in connection with the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Taxes, Budget, and Economy: With the support of the Republicans, Congress passed a comprehensive tax and budget bill (Big Beautiful Bill) on July 4, 2025. It permanently extends central tax cuts from 2017, increases spending on the military and border protection, and tax relief for certain incomes – such as tips and overtime. At the same time, the law provides for cuts in social programs such as Medicaid and food assistance. According to the responsible parliamentary authority, the package will increase the deficit over the next ten years by several trillion dollars. The government is relying on revenue from import tariffs for counterfinancing, but economists warn about their potential growth-dampening and inflationary effects. Migration: In migration policy, Trump has strongly resorted to restrictive measures and repeatedly to emergency powers. The number of irregular border crossings has significantly decreased, while arrests and deportations have increased. Restrictions on entry for citizens of certain countries and extensive limitations on the refugee program further tightened the course. State and Administration: Donald Trump has expanded the President's influence over the American administration. Several agencies and programs have been weakened or restructured, including development aid (USAID) and parts of the education system. Independent regulatory agencies have come under political pressure. Critics see this as an erosion of the separation of governmental powers (Checks and Balances), while proponents speak of a more efficient and politically clearer administration. Justice: Trump's influence on the justice system is long-lasting. Through numerous appointments of conservative judges to American federal courts, he has strengthened their ideological orientation beyond his term. This shift affects central socio-political issues. Conflicts with Institutions and Society: Several government measures have been stopped or limited by courts. At the same time, political polarization in the country has intensified. The confrontational course towards the media, universities, and individual states led to ongoing domestic political tensions. Pressure on Universities: The government has pursued universities that it considered politically one-sided. State funding was temporarily frozen or questioned, leading to legal disputes. Courts have set limits on individual measures, thereby strengthening the autonomy of the universities. Attack on Iran: The Role of the US The US and Israel began attacks on targets in Iran on February 28, 2026, together. In early March, President Donald Trump outlined the war objectives: First, Iranian missile systems and their production facilities should be destroyed. Second, according to Trump, the Iranian navy should be eliminated. Third, his government should ensure that Tehran can never develop an atomic bomb. Fourth, it should be prevented from arming and financing foreign militias in the future. Trump's Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also said on March 2nd: "This is not a so-called 'regime change war'. But the regime has certainly changed. And the world is better off with it." Hegseth explained that Tehran's goal was to build a shield with conventional long-range missiles to develop an atomic bomb behind which to seek protection. Therefore, the current war has a clear objective and is not an endless adventure. It is about specifically destroying Iran's military capabilities. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, formulated it as: "Our mission is to take Iran the ability to exert military influence beyond its borders." Are Trump's tariffs legal? Under Donald Trump, extensive tariffs were imposed on goods from China, the European Union, Switzerland, and other trading partners. The goal was to improve the US trade balance and protect domestic industry. However, this measure led to tensions in international trade and was partially deemed unlawful by courts, including the Supreme Court, most recently. What controversies and scandals were there? For his political opponents, Trump's second term is a major affront. Resistance to Trump also takes place in courts. A flood of lawsuits against Trump's "executive orders" led to injunctions, including those related to deportations, arrests, firings of officials, or freezing of development aid. However, the conservative majority in the Supreme Court has largely let Trump off. In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court limited the lower courts. However, hundreds of lawsuits remain pending, including those related to the application of natural law. Trump has purchased corporate, state, and municipal bonds worth over $100 million since taking office. This is from a disclosure that was made public in August 2025. The holdings cover areas that could benefit from changes in his government's political course. Trump's companies are managed by a trust from his children. However, his disclosure form from June showed that the income still goes to the President. This drew criticism from Trump. The White House did not comment on the financial purchases. At the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026, the Epstein scandal was once again explosive. Jeffrey Epstein is suspected of having maintained a network for the sexual abuse of young girls and trafficking in the early 2000s. President Trump had promised voters to publish all relevant documents about the Epstein scandal during his campaign. As president, however, he did not want to implement this. However, the pressure became too great in November 2025, and Trump signed a law to release the documents. The first documents were released in December 2025 and further extensive parts in January 2026, partly redacted and not yet complete. Trump also commented in October 2025 on a possible pardon for Epstein's ex-partner, Ghislaine Maxwell. He must clarify this with the Department of Justice, he replied to a journalist's question. Trump and the Epstein Case In the US, opponents of President Donald Trump have called for nationwide protests. Under the motto "No Kings" – meaning "No Kings" – demonstrations took place in many places in March 2026. The organizers stated that they wanted to send a signal against what they considered Trump's authoritarian politics. In October 2025, they reported that about seven million people peacefully participated in the demonstrations in more than 2700 cities. The White House was unsettled by an uproar on February 28, 2025, when the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was prematurely terminated. Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Zelenskyy among other things. At the end of March 2025, it was revealed that the top officials of the Trump administration had discussed an air strike on Huthi targets in Yemen on the unsecured app Signal. A government-critical journalist was accidentally part of the group and published the conversation. Further criticism comes from the luxurious ballroom that Donald Trump is building. Parts of the White House's east wing are being torn down for this. This concerns parts of the building where the First Lady's offices are traditionally located. Critics of the project accuse Trump of narcissism. Furthermore, it is criticized that Trump's massive addition represents a major intrusion into the historical ensemble of the buildings on the White House grounds. Construction began in October and is scheduled to be completed by January 2029 before the end of Trump's second term. The cost for the ballroom is estimated at $250 million. At the end of March 2026, a federal judge ruled that the construction must be stopped for now. He thus gave legal standing to a non-profit organization that had complained that Trump exceeded his powers with the demolition of the east wing. In mid-August, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Friday to suspend the lower court's decision to allow construction to continue. The government justified this by stating that the construction of "one absolutely safe ballroom" for national security is indispensable. A Look into the Archives How far does Trump go with the use of the National Guard? Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard in various American metropolises meets strong resistance. Orders from the President and decisions by courts make the situation unclear. In early 2026, after several court rulings against the use of National Guardsmen, Trump decided to refrain from further deployments for now and to withdraw the troops from Chicago, Los Angeles, or Portland. However, he did not rule out further deployments. The situation escalated particularly in and around Minneapolis. In December 2025, the ICE, along with Border Patrol authorities, launched a large-scale enforcement operation to arrest and deport people without valid papers. The operation led to strong criticism and protests, especially after federal agents shot two American citizens and dozens of further partly violent operations took place. Many residents and politicians see the action as too aggressive and harmful to the community. In February 2026, a withdrawal of most ICE agents was officially announced after state authorities, courts, and local politicians increased the pressure – a small contingent is to remain for now. Deaths also occurred after ICE operations in Texas and Maine. In mid-July 2026, the migration authority announced that it would change the procedure for vehicle checks. The National Guard is part of the US armed forces. Its troops can be deployed for natural disasters, unrest, or emergencies domestically and are usually under the command of the governors of the states. Trump has also justified their deployment to the capital Washington with allegedly rampant crime on the streets. Many of the cities governed by Democrats are in his sights. Critics accuse Trump of wanting to stage a show and intimidate political opponents with the use of the National Guard. What is Trump doing against drug trafficking? Donald Trump plans a resolute course against drug trafficking. Within a few weeks, the US conducted several raids on suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea. Eleven people were killed in the first operation by the armed forces in early September 2025. In December 2025, Donald Trump classified synthetic opioid Fentanyl as a "weapons of mass destruction." "No bomb" is what he said when signing the corresponding order. According to Trump, hundreds of thousands of people die each year from the consumption of Fentanyl as a drug. It is unclear what effect this classification has on managing the crisis. In Trump's order, it is stated that it should be examined whether the situation requires intervention by the Department of Defense – for example, by the use of the armed forces. How did Trump react to the murder of Charlie Kirk? Charlie Kirk, founder and leader of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was murdered on September 10, 2025. Donald Trump attended the memorial service for Kirk at the football stadium of the Arizona Cardinals. Charlie Kirk was a missionary with a noble spirit and a great goal, according to the American president. "He did not hate his opponents, he wanted the best for them. I differ from Charlie on this. I hate my opponents, and I do not want the best for them." When the American satirist Jimmy Kimmel made jokes about Kirk's murder and Trump's reaction, politics intervened. Specifically: Brendan Carr, the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and a Trump confidant. He criticized Kimmel in a podcast and said: "We can take this the easy or the hard way," Carr said. A few hours later, the television station ABC cut the show. After less than a week, "Jimmy Kimmel Live" was broadcast again. Who is in Donald Trump's Cabinet? Marco Rubio is the Secretary of State. The Republican was a Senator in the state of Florida and is known for his tough stance on China and Iran. Scott Bessent, a hedge fund manager, was chosen as Treasury Secretary. Because Bessent had worked for the financial investor and philanthropist George Soros for a long time, he is not popular among all Trump supporters. However, Bessent consistently defended Trump's controversial economic policies during the campaign. Chris Wright took over the office of Energy Secretary. He became known as the CEO of a fracking company and has previously expressed criticism of measures to combat climate change. Overview of Trump's Cabinet A surprise was the choice of Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth was a moderator for the Fox News television station. As Secretary of Justice, Trump nominated former Attorney General Pam Bondi of Florida. The anti-vaccine Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was temporarily running for president himself, is the Secretary of Health. Who controls the Senate, who controls the House of Representatives? The Republicans regained the majority in the Senate in November 2024. They hold 53 of the 100 seats, Democrats hold 45 (plus 2 Independents). This gives the Republicans a more comfortable majority than the Democrats previously had, who held 51 seats in the small chamber before. This helps Donald Trump in implementing his government plans. However, the Republican faction with John Thune elected a new leader who is not considered a close confidant of Trump. Thune replaced the 82-year-old Mitch McConnell, who had stepped down from his position. In the House of Representatives, the Republicans retained their narrow majority (220 seats compared to 215). This gives them control over all three centers of executive and legislative power: the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. However, since the majorities are extremely narrow, Democrats fear a chance to regain the majority in the midterm elections on November 3, 2026, especially in the House of Representatives.