Duties, bills, and nuclear power between Washington and Rome
If there’s one thing Donald Trump knows how to do, it’s keeping the world on edge. And this week, he didn’t disappoint: from his statements on Gaza to the AI-generated video, and the new tariffs that threaten to spark another trade war.
The 47th President of the United States, recently inaugurated, wasted no time in pushing an aggressive foreign policy with a strong focus on economic nationalism. During a press conference with Netanyahu, he spoke about “relocating” Palestinians and turning Gaza into a tourist destination. To illustrate his vision, he released an AI-generated video depicting a futuristic Gaza with skyscrapers, beaches, and even a golden statue of Trump. The video sparked widespread controversy. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the idea “absurd and dangerous,” while several Arab leaders rejected the notion of forcibly displacing the Palestinian population. Like it or not, everyone is talking about him now.
Not content with stirring tensions in the Middle East, Trump has also launched a new offensive on the trade front. He announced that, starting March 4, the United States will impose a 25% tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico. His justification? “An unacceptable flow of drugs crossing the borders,” he claimed. China is also in the crosshairs, with a 10% increase in existing tariffs. As if that weren’t enough, Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on European products, accusing the EU of “trying to harm the United States.” The world now risks spiraling into a cycle of retaliatory trade measures with severe consequences for the global economy.
While Trump shakes up the world with his first moves as President, the Meloni government in Italy has approved a €3 billion package to help families and businesses cope with rising energy bills in Friday’s Council of Ministers meeting. Households with an ISEE (Equivalent Economic Situation Indicator) below €25,000 will be eligible for up to €200 in aid, which rises to €500 for those already benefiting from the social bonus. For businesses, system charges have been scrapped, leading to a reduction in bills of up to 20%.
But the real game-changer is the return of nuclear power. The government has given the green light to a bill aimed at bringing atomic energy back to Italy, pushing for energy independence. However, the topic deeply divides public opinion. After the 2011 referendum, in which Italians voted against nuclear power, the issue has remained politically sensitive. On one side, some see it as a necessary solution to reduce energy dependence and lower costs—made even more urgent by the outbreak of war in Ukraine—while others fear environmental risks and the challenge of waste management. The government’s decision has reignited the debate between supporters and opponents, and now Parliament will have to weigh in on an issue that could mark a turning point for the country’s energy future.
