Month: May 2025

President Donald Trump unveiled a new trade agreement with the United Kingdom on Thursday, announcing at a news conference that his administration has struck the trade deal with the U.K., marking the first agreement the U.S. has reached since the president imposed sweeping tariffs on trading partners. Although the United Kingdom was not subjected to the direct retaliatory tariffs included in Trump’s initial announcement, it was still affected by a general 10% tariff, along with additional 25% duties targeting imported cars, steel, and aluminum.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: “Today is an incredible day for America as we deliver our first Fair, Open, and Reciprocal Trade Deal — Something our past Presidents never cared about. Together with our strong Ally, the United Kingdom, we have reached the first, historic Trade Deal since Liberation Day. As part of this Deal, America will raise $6 BILLION DOLLARS in External Revenue from 10% Tariffs, $5 BILLION DOLLARS in new Export Opportunities for our Great Ranchers, Farmers, and Producers, and enhance the National Security of both the U.S. and the UK through the creation of an Aluminum and Steel Trading Zone, and a secure Pharmaceutical Supply Chain. This Deal shows that if you respect America, and bring serious proposals to the table, America is OPEN FOR BUSINESS. Many more to come — STAY TUNED!”

Speaking from the Oval Office at the White House, Trump said “I’m thrilled to announce that we have reached a breakthrough trade deal with the United Kingdom,” noting that the agreement happened to fall on “Victory Day” in celebration of the end of World War II in Europe: “there could be no more perfect morning to reach this historic agreement. this partnership marks a mutual commitment between the U.S. and the U.K. to ensure that fairness and reciprocity are central to global trade. The agreement opens up billions of dollars in new opportunities for American exporters, particularly in the agriculture sector. It significantly expands access for U.S. products like beef and ethanol, benefiting American farmers across the board.”

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer was put on a speaker phone for the announcement and called it a “really fantastic, historic day. This is going to boost trade between and across our countries.” Surrounded by U.S. and UK officials who helped broker the agreement, Trump promised that their efforts would provide billions of dollars in access for U.S. agricultural products: “They’re opening up their country .. Their country is a little closed and we appreciate it.”  The President highlighted that British customs procedures will now expedite the processing of American goods, allowing exports to move through more efficiently. He noted that the final version of the agreement is still being finalized and is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

Under the deal, the U.K. will reduce non-tariff barriers to U.S. products, including beef, ethanol fuel, machinery and chemicals. The 10% baseline tariff that the U.S. has placed on dozens of countries will remain in place, while duties on British vehicles will fall from 25% to 10% to match that baseline.  President Trump said he also plans to negotiate a trade deal with the European Union and is open to reducing 145% tariffs on Chinese goods.

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In a historic decision on Thursday, American Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. His papal name is Pope Leo XIV — the first pontiff in history to hail from the United States. The College of Cardinals selected the American cleric to lead the Catholic Church, becoming the spiritual leader of over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.

The announcement came roughly an hour after white smoke billowed from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City on Thursday afternoon, a traditional sign that a new pope had been successfully chosen by the 133 cardinal electors during their conclave, which began on May 7, lasted two days. A short time later, protodeacon of the College of Cardinals came out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and announced “habemus papum,” which means “we have a pope.”

Shortly thereafter, Pope Leo XIV made his first public appearance, stepping onto the balcony to address the world. He began in Italian: “Peace be with you. Here is the face of the risen Christ — humble, disarming. A God who loves each of us without condition. We still hear the gentle, brave voice of Pope Francis, who blessed not only Rome, but the entire world that Easter morning. I wish to continue in that blessing. God loves us — all of us. Evil shall not triumph; we are in God’s care. Let us walk forward with courage, together, as followers of Christ. The world needs His light now more than ever. Humanity longs for that light.”

Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1955, earning his bachelor’s in mathematics from Villanova University in Pennsylvania and went on to receive his diploma in theology from the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago. He was later sent to Rome to study canon law at the Pontifical Saint Thomas Aquinas University and was ordained as a priest in June 1982. Later in his career, he taught canon law in the seminary in Trujillo, Peru, and also holds Peruvian citizenship. Before his election, Prevost led the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, a department responsible for selecting new bishops throughout the Church.

Pope Leo is generally viewed as a moderate within the Church hierarch, and is considered progressive on many social issues — echoing Pope Francis’ focus on outreach to the poor and marginalized communities, including migrants. However, when it comes to doctrinal matters, he holds more traditional views, i.e, he does not support the ordination of women as deacons.

President Donald Trump congratulated the new pope in a social media post, writing: “It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”

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