President Donald Trump convened his eighth Cabinet meeting on Thursday, addressing a range of issues from US-China trade and agricultural policy to National Guard deployments and budget cuts amid an ongoing government shutdown.
The session, shorter than usual, took place as tensions remained high over domestic and foreign policy developments, including the recent agreement between Israel and Hamas on the first phase of the Trump administration’s peace plan.
Trump to raise soybean sales with China’s Xi Jinping
Speaking to reporters during the meeting, President Trump said he intends to discuss US soybean sales with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their next meeting.
“He’s got things that he wants to discuss with me, and I have things that I want to discuss with him, and one of the things is soybeans,” Trump said.
China has not purchased any US soybeans during this year’s main harvest season, a sharp decline that has weighed heavily on American farmers.
China typically represents the largest export market for US soybeans, and the drop in sales has intensified financial pressure on producers already facing uncertainty due to prolonged trade and policy disruptions.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed last week that soybeans would be among the topics discussed at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit later this month.
The administration has pledged additional financial assistance to US farmers affected by the loss of Chinese demand.
Vaccine and Tylenol comments spark controversy
During the Cabinet session, Trump also made remarks on public health that drew attention.
He suggested, without evidence, that vaccines might be contributing to autism, a claim repeatedly debunked by medical experts.
“Obviously, there’s something that’s artificially, I think, induced — something, whether it’s the vaccines, in terms of these massive vaccines,” Trump said, also mentioning Tylenol as a possible factor.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined Trump in criticizing the use of Tylenol, urging pregnant women to avoid the medicine.
However, medical authorities and prior reports have confirmed that claims linking Tylenol or vaccines to autism are unsubstantiated.
Vaccines remain widely endorsed by the global scientific community as safe and effective tools in preventing infectious diseases.
Plans for spending cuts and National Guard expansion
On the fiscal front, Trump reiterated his intention to make permanent cuts to what he described as “Democrat programs,” though he did not specify which initiatives would be targeted.
“We’ll be cutting some very popular Democrat programs that aren’t popular with Republicans, frankly, because that’s the way it works,” he said.
The comments came amid a prolonged government shutdown, with the administration signaling that spending reductions could be part of a broader effort to reshape federal priorities.
Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said her department is expanding operations in Chicago and Portland, purchasing new buildings to support immigration enforcement.
“We’re purchasing more buildings in Chicago to operate out of. We’re going to not back off,” Noem said, adding that similar expansions are planned for Portland.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson responded earlier in the week, emphasizing that immigration officials are not permitted to use city property for enforcement purposes.
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