LATEST DEVELOPMENTS - Trump's second term: Trump presents Audi investments before the midterms

Trump's Second Term: Trump Presents Audi Investments Ahead of Midterms Donald Trump is serving a second term as American President—with far-reaching domestic and foreign policy consequences. An overview of the latest developments. Latest Developments: - Donald Trump is campaigning with German automaker Volkswagen. On Saturday (Oct. 24), during a speech to supporters in the state of Georgia, the American President announced the construction of the premium brand Audi's first own US plant. 200,000 vehicles are to be produced annually in Macon. Additionally, the Scout Motors plant currently under construction in South Carolina is to be expanded. Trump called Audi CEO Gernot Döllner onto the stage, who thanked the President for his support ahead of the US congressional elections. - Trump's new press secretary Katie Zacharia is stepping down after only a few days. Several media outlets reported this on Friday (Oct. 16), citing sources from the White House. Trump himself hinted at Zacharia's possible departure when he told journalists on Friday that he had suggested she "rethink" her role. Trump emphasized that the decision regarding her future as press secretary rested with Zacharia herself. Zacharia had only assumed office a few days prior and failed to make a good impression at her first press conference on Tuesday. Furthermore, she presented herself publicly as an attorney, although she is merely a lawyer. - The planned execution by firing squad of a death-row assassin at a military base in the state of Texas will no longer be broadcast via livestream. Many "very good and well-meaning people" did not want to watch the man die, President Donald Trump explained on Thursday (Oct. 15) on his Truth Social platform, justifying the reversal. According to Trump, a public broadcast could have had a strong deterrent effect. However, the execution of Nidal Hasan, who carried out a massacre at a military base in 2009, will not be shown on the internet. Trump stated that the closest relatives of the victims may be present in person upon request. Hasan is scheduled to be executed by a firing squad on December 3 at Fort Hood military base. - In the dispute over the exclusion of several media outlets from the White House, a federal judge has reportedly once again set limits for President Donald Trump's administration. On Tuesday (Oct. 13), the judge extended judicial protection for CNN, Politico, and the news channel MS NOW, preventing their journalists from being completely 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; they sued against the decision. - The US Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, must vacate her post. A spokesperson announced on Tuesday (Oct. 13) that the White House had asked her to resign. Previously, 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 one million dollars if she provided him access to the American government for personal tax and legal matters. The former fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., the American President's eldest son, denies the reports. Newsletter "International – Midterms Special" Our Midterms newsletter provides you with a concise overview of the most important developments, backgrounds, and facts regarding the American midterm elections from mid-October to mid-November. Table of Contents What has President Donald Trump achieved domestically? Donald Trump has pushed forward his domestic agenda through both presidential decrees and legislation. "Executive Orders" served as a means for him to intervene quickly in the operations of the American government and implement political priorities without the consent of Congress. Already in the first week of office, he terminated the Paris Climate Agreement and pardoned numerous convicts in connection with the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Taxes, Budget, and Economy: With Republican support, Congress passed a comprehensive tax and budget law (Big Beautiful Bill) on July 4, 2025. It permanently extends key tax cuts from 2017, increases spending on the military and border security, and provides tax relief for certain types of income—such as tips and overtime. Simultaneously, the law provides for cuts to social programs such as Medicaid and food assistance. According to the responsible parliamentary authority, the package will increase the deficit by several trillion dollars over the next ten years. To finance this, the government is relying partly on revenues from import tariffs, though economists warn of potential growth-dampening and inflationary effects. Migration: In migration policy, Trump has relied heavily on restrictive measures and repeatedly on emergency powers. The number of irregular border crossings decreased significantly, while arrests and deportations increased. Entry restrictions for nationals of certain countries as well as extensive restrictions 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 were weakened or restructured, including development aid (USAID) and parts of the education system. Independent regulatory agencies came under political pressure. Critics see this as an erosion of institutional checks and balances, while supporters speak of a more efficient and politically clearly aligned administration. Justice: Trump's influence on the judiciary is shaping things in the long term. Through numerous appointments of conservative judges to American federal courts, he has strengthened their ideological alignment beyond his term in office. This shift affects central socio-political issues. Conflicts with Institutions and Society: Several government measures have been stopped or restricted by courts. Simultaneously, political polarization in the country intensified. The confrontational approach toward media, universities, and individual states led to ongoing domestic tensions. Pressure on Universities: The government moved against universities it accused of political one-sidedness. State funding was temporarily frozen or questioned, leading to legal disputes. Courts set limits on individual measures, thereby strengthening the autonomy of the universities. Attack on Iran: The Role of the USA On February 28, 2026, the USA, together with Israel, began attacks on targets in Iran. In early March, President Donald Trump outlined the war goals: First, Iranian missile systems and their production facilities were to be destroyed. Second, Trump said, the Iranian navy would be wiped out. Third, his government wanted to ensure that Tehran could never develop a nuclear weapon. Fourth, it was to be prevented that the Iranian regime would arm and finance foreign militias in the future. Trump's Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also said on March 2: "This is not a so-called 'regime change war.' But the regime has certainly changed. And the world is better for it." Hegseth explained that Tehran's goal had been to build a shield with conventional long-range missiles to develop a nuclear weapon under its protection. The current war therefore has a clear goal and is not an endless adventure. It is about selectively destroying Iran's military capabilities. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, put it this way: "Our mission is to take away Iran's ability to exert military influence outside its borders." Are Donald 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 American trade balance and protect domestic industry. However, the measure led to tensions in international trade and was partially classified as inadmissible by courts, most recently the Supreme Court. What controversies and scandals were there? For his political opponents, Trump's second term is one long affront. Resistance to Trump also takes place in the courts. A flood of lawsuits against Trump's "executive orders" led to preliminary injunctions, among other things, regarding deportations, arrests, firings of officials, or the freezing of development aid. However, the conservative majority in the Supreme Court has largely let Trump have his way so far. In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court put the lower courts in their place. However, hundreds of lawsuits remain pending, including those concerning the application of emergency powers. Since taking office, Trump has purchased corporate, state, and municipal bonds worth over 100 million dollars. This is evident from a disclosure made public online in August 2025. The holdings cover areas that could benefit from changes in his government's political course. Trump's companies are managed by his children through a trust. However, his disclosure form from June showed that the income continues to flow to the President. This brought Trump criticism. The White House did not comment on the financial purchases. At the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026, the Epstein scandal became explosive again. In the early 2000s, Jeffrey Epstein allegedly maintained a network for the sexual abuse of young girls and engaged in human trafficking. During his campaign, President Trump had promised voters to publish all relevant documents on the Epstein scandal. As President, however, he did not want to implement this. In November 2025, the pressure became too great, and Trump signed a law for the release. The first documents were released in December 2025, and further extensive parts in January 2026, some heavily redacted and not yet complete. In October 2025, Trump also commented on a possible pardon for Epstein's former partner, Ghislaine Maxwell. He answered a journalist's question saying he had to clear that with the Department of Justice. Trump and the Epstein Case In the USA, opponents of President Donald Trump's policies have called for nationwide protests. Under the motto "No Kings," demonstrations took place in numerous locations as recently as March 2026. The organizers stated that they wanted to send a signal against what they viewed as Trump's authoritarian policies. In October 2025, they announced that approximately seven million people participated peacefully in demonstrations in more than 2,700 cities. Internationally, a scandal at the White House caused a stir on February 28, 2025, when the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was cut short. Trump accused Zelenskyy, among other things, of ingratitude. At the end of March 2025, it became public that top personnel in the Trump administration discussed an airstrike on Houthi targets in Yemen on the unsecured app Signal. A journalist critical of the government was accidentally part of the group and subsequently published the conversation. Further criticism centers on the luxurious ballroom that Donald Trump is having built. For this, parts of the East Wing of the White House are being demolished. This affects building sections that traditionally house the First Lady's offices. Critics of the project accuse Trump of attention-seeking. It is also criticized that Trump's massive addition represents a major intervention in the historical ensemble of buildings on the White House grounds. Construction began in October and is expected to be completed before the end of Trump's second term in January 2029. The cost of the ballroom is estimated at 250 million dollars. At the end of March 2026, a federal judge decided that construction must be stopped for the time being. In doing so, he ruled in favor of a non-profit organization that complained Trump was exceeding his authority 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 in order to continue construction on the ballroom. The government argued that the construction of "an absolutely secure ballroom" was indispensable for national security. A Look into the Image Archives How far will Trump go in using the National Guard? Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in various American metropolises is meeting great resistance. Presidential orders and court decisions make the situation confusing. In early 2026, following several court rulings against the use of National Guardsmen, Trump decided to forgo further deployments for the time being and withdraw troops from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland. However, he did not rule out further deployments. The situation escalated particularly in and around Minneapolis. In December 2025, ICE, together with border authorities, started a large-scale enforcement action to arrest and deport people without valid papers. The operation led to strong criticism and protests, especially after federal agents shot and killed two American citizens and dozens of other partly violent operations took place. Many residents and politicians view the approach 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—though a small contingent is to remain for now. Deaths also occurred after ICE operations in Texas and Maine. According to US media, in mid-July 2026, the migration agency announced it would change its procedure for vehicle checks. The National Guard is part of the American armed forces. Its troops can be deployed, for example, during natural disasters, riots, or domestic emergencies, and are normally under the command of state governors. Trump has justified their deployment, including in the capital Washington, by citing allegedly spiraling street crime. Many Democrat-governed cities are in his sights. Critics accuse Trump of primarily putting on a show with the deployment of the National Guard and wanting to intimidate political opponents. What is Trump doing against drug trafficking? Donald Trump plans a determined approach against drug trafficking. Within a few weeks, the USA carried out several attacks on suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea. Eleven people died during the first operation of the armed forces in early September 2025. In December 2025, Donald Trump classified the synthetic opioid fentanyl as a "weapon of mass destruction." "No bomb" does as much damage as fentanyl, he said while signing the corresponding order. According to Trump, hundreds of thousands of people die every year due to the consumption of fentanyl as a drug. It is unclear what effect this classification will have on managing the crisis. Trump's order states that it should be examined whether the situation requires intervention by the Department of Defense—for example, through the use of 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 appeared at the memorial service for Kirk at the Arizona Cardinals' football stadium. The American President said Charlie Kirk had been a missionary with a noble spirit and a great goal. "He did not hate his opponents; he wanted the best for them. That is where I differ from Charlie. I hate my opponents, and I do not want the best for them." When American satirist Jimmy Kimmel made jokes about Kirk's murder and Trump's reaction to it, politicians intervened. Specifically: Brendan Carr, head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and a Trump confidant. He criticized Kimmel in a podcast, saying: "We can do this the easy way or the hard way." A few hours later, the television network ABC cancelled the show. After nearly a week, "Jimmy Kimmel Live" was broadcast again. Who is in Donald Trump's cabinet? Marco Rubio is Secretary of State. The Republican was a Senator in the state of Florida and is known for his hard line toward China and Iran. Hedge fund manager Scott Bessent was selected as Secretary of the Treasury. Because Bessent worked for financial investor and philanthropist George Soros for a long time, he is not popular with all Trump supporters. However, during the campaign, Bessent consistently defended Trump's controversial economic policies. The position of Secretary of Energy was taken over by Chris Wright. He became known as the CEO of a fracking company and has expressed criticism of climate change measures in the past. Trump's Cabinet at a Glance The choice of Secretary of Defense was a surprise: Pete Hegseth was a moderator at the Fox News television channel. For Attorney General, Trump nominated the former Attorney General of Florida, Pam Bondi. Anti-vaccine advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who had briefly run for president himself, is Secretary of Health. Who controls the Senate, and who controls the House of Representatives? The Republicans regained the majority in the Senate in November 2024. They hold 53 of the 100 seats, the Democrats 45 (plus 2 Independents). This gives the Republicans a more comfortable majority than the Democrats previously had, who held 51 seats in the smaller chamber. This helps Donald Trump implement his government plans. However, the Republican caucus elected a new leader, John Thune, who is not considered a close confidant of Trump. Thune replaced 82-year-old Mitch McConnell, who had stepped down from his post. In the House of Representatives, the Republicans maintained their narrow majority (220 seats to 215 seats). Thus, they control all three centers of power in the executive and legislative branches: the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. However, since the majorities are extremely narrow, the Democrats sense a chance to regain the majority in Congress in the midterms on November 3, 2026, especially in the House of Representatives. With agency material. You can find all NZZ news and backgrounds on the topic of the USA here. Click here to go to all NZZ articles about Donald Trump.