The Guardian is monitoring the latest actions of Donald Trump and his administration with multiple articles, features, and analyses each day. Below are some of the key developments in US politics that occurred on Wednesday, 19 February.
Trump labels Zelenskyy a ‘dictator’
Tensions between the US and Ukraine seem to be escalating as Donald Trump intensifies his criticism of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, labeling the Ukrainian president a “dictator” and cautioning that he “better move quickly” lest he “lose his country.”
These comments from the US leader on Wednesday were filled with inaccuracies and came shortly after Zelenskyy remarked that Trump was ensnared in a Russian “disinformation bubble,” following Trump’s assertion that Ukraine was responsible for Russia’s 2022 invasion—statements that align with the Kremlin’s narrative.
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Additionally, Guardian reporters fact-checked Trump’s assertions regarding the war in Ukraine, including his accusations against Zelenskyy.
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Trump backs House budget proposal
Donald Trump has disrupted Senate Republicans’ budget strategy by supporting an alternative House plan, leading GOP leaders to scramble to maintain their agenda just weeks before a possible government shutdown.
The president’s unexpected move came shortly after Senate Republicans sought to advance their own dual-track proposal, with Trump declaring he preferred “ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL” through the House’s reconciliation process.
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Trump instructs DoJ to dismiss Biden-era US attorneys
Donald Trump announced that he has directed the Justice Department to fire any remaining US attorneys appointed by the previous administration, in what seems to be an effort to eliminate potential political appointees of Joe Biden who could obstruct Trump’s agenda in prosecutorial decisions. On Truth Social, Trump stated: “We must ‘clean house’ IMMEDIATELY, and restore confidence.”
While dismissing US attorneys after a change in administration is standard, the Trump administration has been notably aggressive in seeking widespread terminations.
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Trump enhances power of independent regulators
Donald Trump has expanded his control over independent regulatory agencies by signing an executive order that holds agencies established by Congress accountable to the White House. Some experts have suggested that this move contradicts mainstream constitutional interpretations.
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Trump’s group sues Brazilian justice involved in Bolsonaro case
Trump’s media organization and the video platform Rumble have filed a lawsuit against a Brazilian Supreme Court justice, alleging that he infringed upon the free speech rights of a far-right Brazilian influencer residing in the US.
The lawsuit against justice Alexandre de Moraes was submitted in Florida hours following the indictment of Brazil’s ex-president Jair Bolsonaro for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to retain power after his defeat in the 2022 election.
Previously, Moraes was involved in a prolonged confrontation with Elon Musk after he ordered Musk’s social platform X to block accounts spreading far-right disinformation and anti-democratic content.
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Judge denies request to restrict Doge’s access to US data
A federal judge has declined to immediately bar Elon Musk and the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (Doge) from accessing government data systems or being involved in workforce layoffs. US District Judge Tanya Chutkan acknowledged there were legitimate questions regarding the billionaire’s authority but concluded that there wasn’t sufficient evidence of significant legal harm to warrant a temporary restraining order.
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Trump accelerates fossil fuel project approvals
Environmental advocates expressed outrage on Wednesday as the Trump administration advanced plans to expedite fossil fuel projects through the permitting process, which activists claim seeks to bypass environmental regulations that protect waterways and wetlands.
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Reports indicate that the state department has directed its global offices to terminate all subscriptions to news and media outlets deemed “non-mission critical” as part of an extraordinary clampdown on routine information channels by the Trump administration.
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Trump refers to himself as king, provoking widespread criticism
Trump faced significant backlash from Democrats after he compared himself to a “king” on social media following the administration’s decision to repeal New York City’s congestion pricing program. On Wednesday, Trump stated on Truth Social: “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!” The White House subsequently shared Trump’s quote on social media, featuring a computer-generated image of Trump beaming on a fake Time magazine cover while wearing a golden crown, with the New York City skyline in the background.
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Additional events from today:
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At the Future Investment Initiative, a global finance conference in Miami organized by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, Trump proclaimed that the United States is “back and open for business” and that the “dark days of high taxes, oppressive regulations, rampant inflation, flagrant corruption, government weaponization … and total incompetence will be gone forever.”
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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker delivered a poignant state-of-the-state address, comparing Trump’s controversial power grabs to the rise of Nazism in 1930s Germany.
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In a scathing statement following a request to a federal judge to dismiss the corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove urged justice department officials and attorneys who disagreed with the decision to resign.
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The Internal Revenue Service is set to lay off 6,700 employees as early as Thursday, initiating mass layoffs right as tax season begins. Further cuts to the agency’s workforce are anticipated.
