Donald Trump-related activity tracking.
2026
Jan23
An economic research institute forecasts that during a potential Trump presidency, TSMC's advanced process capacity located in the United States will remain below 15%. This is despite US pressure and incentives for reshoring, including building multiple fabs in Arizona. TSMC's second US fab is set to begin production in the second half of 2027. Meanwhile, the company faces a severe capacity crunch for advanced AI chips, with demand reportedly triple its supply, forcing it to turn away major customers like Nvidia and Broadcom. To manage this, TSMC is increasing its capital expenditure and focusing on advanced nodes while shifting some mature process production.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy stated that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration are beginning to increase prices for goods on its platform. This is occurring as sellers' pre-purchased inventory, which had buffered the initial impact, is now being depleted. Jassy, speaking at the World Economic Forum, noted that some sellers are passing these higher import costs to consumers, while others are absorbing them. This has started to affect consumer behavior, with shoppers seeking lower-priced alternatives and discounts more frequently.
Jan22
President Trump has announced he has arranged a meeting with health insurance companies and stated the need to secure Democratic support for his healthcare plan. This follows earlier statements about meeting with 14 insurers. To gain bipartisan backing, Trump has hinted at being 'flexible' on the Hyde Amendment, a long-standing provision that bars federal funds for most abortions.
Trump announced he will conduct extensive campaign activities, framing the 2026 midterm elections around "pricing" and cost of living issues. His recent focus includes publicly pressuring the Federal Reserve for rate cuts, threatening to sue Chairman Powell, and indicating he has already chosen a successor to be announced soon, with Kevin Warsh being a potential candidate. He also plans to meet with oil and health insurance companies to address prices. His campaign rallies have resumed in states like Florida and Nevada, focusing on his economic agenda.
Following his proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10% for one year to alleviate living cost pressures, President Trump has now stated he will ask Congress to approve the measure through legislation. This initiative, aimed at helping Americans save for home purchases, has faced strong opposition from the banking industry, which warns it could severely restrict credit access for millions of consumers. The move to involve Congress follows earlier considerations of an executive order and shifts the proposal into a legislative process, which analysts had previously noted would be required for such a cap.
President Trump has expressed a negative view on down payments, blaming them for the slowdown in home purchases. To address this, his administration plans to announce a policy allowing withdrawals from 401(k) retirement funds to be used for home down payments. The plan is expected to be unveiled by National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett in Davos next week. This comes amidst Trump's ongoing pressure on the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, a stance that some bond managers warn could actually push rates higher by undermining the Fed's credibility.
President Trump stated he is "not keen on the 401K plan". This contradicts a statement from January 14 where he called increasing 401(k) contributions "crucial", as well as a plan announced by his economic advisor on January 16 to allow 401(k) funds to be used for home down payments.
US President Trump stated in Davos that the US is negotiating for 'full access' to Greenland with no time limit and without payment . This access would reportedly allow the US to deploy necessary assets, including a missile defense system . Trump confirmed the talks involve Denmark and framed it as getting 'everything we want' for free . Earlier in the week, he had ruled out military intervention in Greenland, which caused a brief drop in gold prices .
At the Davos forum, former President Trump proposed policies to lower interest rates and address living costs, including a one-year 10% cap on credit card interest rates and restricting large investors from purchasing single-family homes. He has already signed an executive order to limit institutional home buying and intends to pursue legislation. These measures, which also include using Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy mortgage bonds, are being rolled out ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Trump stated that if he wins the tariff lawsuit, a dividend might be distributed. This comes as the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the legality of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. A loss for the administration could trigger up to $150 billion in refund claims from importers. However, the Treasury Secretary has indicated that even if they lose the case, the government has alternative legal authorizations to continue levying tariffs.
President Trump stated he hopes to see another reconciliation bill . This comes amid various policy discussions, including preparing alternative legal authorities to maintain tariffs if the Supreme Court rules against the current measures . Trump has also expressed a desire to sign a cryptocurrency regulation bill soon, noting its political popularity , even as a stablecoin bill remains stalled in the Senate . Other topics of his recent focus include seeking a compromise on Greenland , calling for lower interest rates from the Fed , and proposing a cap on credit card interest rates .
President Trump stated, 'We will make a budget,' following a series of major policy proposals. These include a plan to increase the 2027 military budget by 50% to $1.5 trillion, funded by tariffs, while asking defense firms to halt buybacks. He also concurrently pushed for a $200 billion tax cut, bank deregulation, and intense pressure on the Federal Reserve for rate cuts. Other proposals floated include allowing 401(k) withdrawals for home down payments, a 10% cap on credit card interest rates, and a potential ban on stock buybacks for builders. This aggressive stimulus is expected to boost short-term growth but raises concerns about long-term debt, financial risk, and the erosion of Fed independence.
On January 22, 2026, President Trump stated that his administration is actively negotiating healthcare, adding that he does not want insurance companies to profit excessively and is considering another reconciliation bill. This follows earlier announcements about upcoming meetings with as many as 14 health insurance companies to discuss lowering costs. This focus on healthcare pricing is part of a broader theme for the 2026 midterm elections, which Trump has framed as being about 'pricing' and reducing costs for Americans. At a rural healthcare event on January 18, he touted his efforts as the 'most significant change' in U.S. healthcare history.
Donald Trump has stated that his policies to reduce the cost of living for citizens will yield rapid results. These policies reportedly involve an unprecedented combination of fiscal, monetary, and credit stimuli, including $200 billion in tax relief, pressure on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, and eased banking regulations. Specific measures include capping credit card interest rates at 10% for a year, talks with oil companies to lower prices, and proposals for tech companies to cover data center electricity costs. While analysts predict this could boost GDP growth in the first half of 2026, they also warn of long-term risks such as uncontrolled debt and potential market instability.
In response to speculation that Europe might sell off US assets, President Trump stated it 'won't happen'. This comes amid escalating US-EU trade tensions, with the Trump administration threatening tariffs on eight European nations and the European Parliament freezing a trade deal. Analysts note that while a large-scale sell-off is considered unlikely, the tensions, combined with US pressure on the Federal Reserve, have increased market volatility and spurred discussions about de-dollarization and capital flight to assets like gold.
In a speech at the Davos Forum, Donald Trump outlined a range of policy proposals, including developing nuclear energy while criticizing wind power, dismissing stock market declines, and stating a deal on the Ukraine issue is near. He also discussed lowering drug prices, preventing the U.S. from becoming a "nation of renters," and nearing a decision on the next Fed chair. Other floated ideas included allowing 401(k) withdrawals for home down payments, banning institutional investors from buying single-family homes, capping credit card interest rates, and signing a crypto-friendly regulation bill. The speech also touched on trade, with Trump defending tariffs but also expressing readiness for bilateral deals.
In Davos, US President Trump signed documents to formally establish a 'Board of Peace' . The US-initiated meeting, focused on the Gaza situation, was held on January 21 local time, where Trump and leaders from other nations were to sign the committee's charter . Approximately 35 of the 50 invited leaders had accepted the invitation to the signing ceremony .
President Trump is nearing a decision on a new Federal Reserve Chair, aiming to install a figure who will pursue a more dovish, pro-growth monetary policy. This move has sparked significant concern among global central bankers and bond investors about the Fed's future independence. Analysts and fund managers warn that political pressure could paradoxically lead to higher long-term interest rates by eroding the Fed's inflation-fighting credibility, creating new market risks. Former officials like ECB President Trichet have cautioned this could threaten global financial stability.
On January 22, 2026, former US President Trump praised Apple and CEO Tim Cook for the company's investments in the United States . This praise is linked to Apple's commitment to invest heavily in the US, a move seen as setting an example for other global companies [26, 31]. This event occurs amidst ongoing discussions about Cook's potential departure and succession, with hardware engineering head John Ternus being a top candidate [4, 5, 14, 15].
Jan21
Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan was the only major Wall Street CEO not invited to a White House reception hosted by President Trump at Davos, marking the second time he has been excluded from such an event. The snub reportedly stems from Trump's anger over "de-banking" issues, where he accuses Moynihan of personally denying him a bank account after his JPMorgan Chase account was closed in 2021. This occurs against a backdrop of Moynihan publicly defending the Federal Reserve's independence, a stance contrary to Trump's views.
