MNI POLITICAL RISK - Trump To Address Congress Amid Trade War

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Executive summary:

• 21:10 ET 02:10 GMT: US President Donald Trump will deliver his first address to Congress of his second term. He will tout the successes of his administration to the largest television audience since his return to office after following through on a threat to impose sweeping tariffs on the United States’ closest regional partners.
• Trump’s rationale for the tariff regime flipped. He dropped his initial premise – the flow of fentanyl and migrants: Instead, highlighting manufacturing, leaving few obvious options for Canada and Mexico to negotiate a way out of the tariffs.
• Republican leaders are expected to release the final text of a government funding stopgap this weekend, with Democrats considering using a shutdown as leverage to slow Trump's federal government reform programme.
• Senate Republicans are escalating a drive to strongarm their House counterparts into making Trump's 2017 tax cuts permanent.
• Trump suspended all military aid to Ukraine. However, there is some optimism that the door remains ajar for a mineral deal the Trump administration believes should satisfy Kyiv’s desire for security assurances.
• Vice President JD Vance will introduce Pentagon nominee Elbridge Colby at his Senate hearing.
• Rep Frank Lucas (R-OK) will open the first session of a new House task force on monetary policy.
• TSMC CEO CC Wei became the latest tech leader to join Trump at a press conference to announce a major investment.
• Poll of the Day: Canadians are more likely than Americans to say tariffs would harm both countries.

Please find the full article attached below: US DAILY BRIEF