Trump holds first Cabinet meeting: talks tariffs, mineral deal and ‘small government’

President Donald Trump held his first Cabinet meeting of his second term on 26 February local time, Golden Finance reports. Elon Musk, the head of the government's efficiency department, attended the meeting even though he is not a member of the cabinet. Trump said that the cuts in the State Department must be carefully chosen, and that the US will cut the government and reduce its size. Regarding the upcoming U.S.-Ukraine mineral agreement, Trump described that the U.S. ‘will work with Ukraine on rare earths.’ The U.S. hopes to recover the $350 billion allocated to Ukraine by reaching a mineral agreement. Trump said, ‘The United States will not provide security for Ukraine in an agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but Europe will.’ He also said Ukraine ‘can forget’ about joining NATO. He plans to host Ukrainian President Zelensky on a visit to the United States on the 28th and wants more talks between the United States and Russia. Trump said most of the tariffs will remain in place. The US will impose 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and non-energy imports from Canada from 2 April (originally scheduled for 4 March). A 25 per cent tariff on Europe, covering cars and other goods, is expected soon.