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President Donald Trump concluded with a return to week 29 in his oval office. This focused on the US economy and international diplomacy that have been unveiled at this week’s breakneck pace, completing the White House’s revamping to Rose Garden.
“In just 200 days, President Trump has transformed America into the hottest country in the world,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told Fox News Digital on Thursday, reflecting on Trump’s 200th day inauguration. “Under the failure of Joe Biden’s leadership, families and businesses struggled, and America was dead. But President Trump quickly restored America’s greatness. Historic trade and peace deals secured on behalf of the Americans made President Trump’s second 100 days as successful as the first.”
The first 100 days of the new administration have generally been considered an iconic benchmark for measuring the president’s early success. White House officials told Fox Digital that Trump’s success measures were seen not only in the first 100 days, but also in the 200th day between the 100th and August 7th.
Trump White House celebrates the latest chapter of victory with the 200-day mark
Economy and tariffs
Trump’s 29th week inauguration included a continuous focus on new business investments in the US and new tariffs on foreign countries as the administration aims to equalize historic trade deficits with other countries. The White House teased Trump’s massive announcement on Wednesday, revealing that Apple has finally increased its US investment commitment by $100 billion to $600 billion.
“Today, Apple announces it will invest $600 billion (b) in the US over the next four years. This is $100 billion more than they originally invested. This is the biggest investment Apple has made in the US and anywhere else.”
Trump’s announcement regarding the deal was one aspect of this week’s focus on the US economy. The president signed a pair of executive orders on Thursday, allowing Americans to invest 401(k) retirement plans in cryptocurrency, private equity and real estate, and another EO that would prevent banks from denying or restricting services based on political beliefs, religious beliefs, or legitimate business activities.
Trump launched the week by announcing it would increase Indian tariffs in countries that are continuously purchasing Russian oil as goods from India are currently facing 50% tariffs. The tariff hike, which appears to have been largely solidified in July, continued several months after the US and India negotiating trade negotiations that appear to have been violated by August.
“While India is our friend, we have been doing relatively little business with them over the years as their tariffs are the highest in the world.
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“They have always bought the majority of military equipment from Russia and are Russia’s biggest energy buyers at a time when they hope to stop the killings in Ukraine in Russia. So India will start from the top from the beginning of August, in addition to paying a 25% tariff. He continued.
Trump’s tariff plan aims to increase the amount of US-built products and US-based companies, and the president also said it would impose a 100% tariff on semiconductor and chip imports. However, companies that “build in the US” will be exempt from tariffs, he said.
“There’s 100% tariffs on all chips and semiconductors in the United States, but there’s no tariffs, as many people do if you promise to build, or if you’re in the process of building,” he said Wednesday.
President Trump announced he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, August 15th (Reuters)
International Diplomacy
Trump concluded the week by holding a trilateral meeting with Armenia and Azerbaijani leaders to sign a peace deal after fighting each other over territorial disputes since the 1980s.
The White House said on Friday that the two countries agreed to build an autonomous enclave, currently separated by roads linking Azerbaijan and Armenian territory. According to the White House, the roads are called “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.”
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“The roadmap they agree to will build a collaborative future that benefits both the South Caucasus and beyond,” White House spokesman Anna Kelly said on Friday about peace cooperation.
The peace deal comes as Trump continues to work to reach a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine as the war that broke out in 2022 continues to rage among nations. Armenia and Azerbaijan are both formerly composed republics of the Soviet Union.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodimia Zelenky. (vyacheslav prokofyev/sputnik/kremlin pool photo/efrem lukatsky/ap)
Earlier this week, Trump said he was open to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“As President Trump said yesterday, Russians have expressed their desire to meet President Trump, and the president is open to this meeting. President Trump wants to meet both Putin and President Zelensky because he wants to end this brutal war.
Trump hit India with a 25% tariff on Russian oil purchases
Trump confirmed on Friday that he will meet with Putin in Alaska on August 15th.
“The highly anticipated meeting between me as President of the United States and myself as President of Russia Vladimir Putin will be held on Friday, August 15th, 2025 in the Great State of Alaska. He posted on Truth Social on Friday.
Trump gestures from the roof of the West Wing of the White House, who toured in Washington, DC on August 5, 2025 (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Rose Garden Update and Trump’s Surprising Roof Exterior
Trump announced in March that he planned to renovate his historic garden with pavement, describing the grass as “not working” and cited how difficult it was for some visitors to navigate.
“We’ve got great reviews of Rose Garden, and we had to do that,” Trump told reporters for the update on Sunday.
The area was officially paved, with a bright white patio boasting the White House coat of arms on its border.
“When there was a press conference, you’d sink into the mud. It was grass and if it was very wet and wet and wet all the time, if it rained, it took three, four or five days to dry out and wet, and wet, and wet, and wet, and we couldn’t actually use it for the intended purpose,” he added.
Trump appears on the roof of the White House in a story of historic renovations
Tables and chairs at the Rose Garden in Washington, DC on Friday, August 8, 2025. Trump ordered the Rose Garden to be renewed in March. (Getty Images)
“It’s a beautiful white stone, a stone of the same colour as the White House itself,” Trump said. “And it’s very white so it’s going to reflect the heat, and it won’t be too hot. Yeah, we have a great review of Rose Garden.”
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On Tuesday, the president made a surprising appearance on the White House roof, inspecting the area from the West Wing roof and the media briefing room. Reporters on the ground gathered near the president, screaming questions at him.
The appearance comes days after Trump announced that he and his private donors will cover the estimated $200 million costs for the new ballroom at the White House.
Diana Stancy, Caitlin McFall and Anders Hagstrom of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
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