President Donald Trump announces a 25% tariff on foreign car imports. Also, the fallout from a Signal chat continues as demands increase for Trump officials to resign after a reporter received sensitive U.S. military info via text messages. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, March 27, 2025.
Trump announces 25% tariffs on foreign-made cars
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday, March 26, that he’s levying 25% tariffs on foreign-made autos.
The president signed an executive order, saying it would spur growth within the U.S. and could generate between $600 billion and $1 trillion in tax revenue for the country over the next two years.
Japan’s prime minister informed lawmakers that he is “considering all options” in response to the tariffs and is not ruling out countermeasures.
Autos accounted for over 28% of Japan’s total exports to the U.S. in 2024. The country’s auto industry comprises approximately 3% of Japan’s gross domestic product.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the new tariffs a “direct attack” on his country.
“We have anticipated this possibility,” Carney said. “We have put in place the mechanisms so that if it is appropriate for retaliatory tariffs … we need to see the details of the executive order, but we will take the steps that are in the interests of Canadian workers, of Canada.”
The tariffs take effect Wednesday, April 2. Trump said the U.S. will begin collecting duties the following day.
Automakers with plants in the U.S. still depend on Canada, Mexico and other nations to produce parts and finished vehicles.
Experts said ramping up manufacturing facilities will take time. This will likely raise domestic auto prices and decrease sales.
The tariffs have already affected a couple of big names.
This week, Hyundai announced it is investing $21 billion in the U.S., including a $6 billion steel plant in Louisiana.
Earlier this month, Honda announced it is changing its plans and will produce the popular Civic vehicle in Indiana instead of Mexico.
Trump allies call for Mike Waltz’s termination amid ‘Signalgate’
The fallout continues from what is now termed “Signalgate.” An increasing number of Trump allies have demanded the dismissal of National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.
It follows the inclusion of a journalist in a group chat with the nation’s top defense officials, who discussed sensitive military operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Screenshots published by The Atlantic showed a user named “Michael Waltz” inviting the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, into the conversation on the app “Signal.”
According to The Atlantic, the group also included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and several other cabinet members.
Trump and his allies maintained that the conversation didn’t compromise sensitive information.
However, Congressional Democrats rejected the assertions made by National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe during a hearing on Wednesday. They argued that details from the chat could have jeopardized the mission’s success or endangered U.S. service members’ lives.
The Atlantic’s reporting quoted messages in which Hegseth specified types of U.S. military aircraft and the timing of recent airstrikes.
As Waltz faces calls to resign from within his own party, Democrats have also called for Hegseth to resign.
In the Oval Office on Wednesday night, Trump addressed the matter when questioned by reporters:
“Well, I don’t know about downplaying. The press upplays it. I think it’s all a witch hunt, that’s all. It’s a witch hunt. I wasn’t involved with it, I don’t, I wasn’t there, but I can tell you the result is unbelievable because the Houthis are looking to do something, they want to know how do we stop? How do we stop? Can we have peace? The Houthis want peace because they’re getting the hell knocked out of them.”
Trump also said he believes Hegseth is doing a great job and that Hegseth had nothing to do with this.
Social Security Administration delays, walks back some new ID requirements
The Social Security Administration quickly backtracked on some of its plans to combat fraud and waste after widespread outcry over changes mandated by the Trump administration.
People applying for Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare or Supplemental Security Income, unable to use the agency’s online portal, can complete their claim entirely over the phone instead of in person.
Last week, the Trump administration announced a plan to require in-person identity checks for millions of new and existing recipients.
However, this announcement coincided with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency’s plan to close 47 Social Security field offices across 18 states. It raised concerns for those forced to travel long distances to reach their nearest office.
The changes will go into effect on April 14.
Search continues for US soldiers missing in Lithuania
The search continues for four U.S. Army soldiers who went missing during a training exercise in Lithuania.
Straight Arrow News originally reported Wednesday that the soldiers were dead after NATO’s secretary general told reporters they had died.
However, NATO later made a post on X saying the secretary general was “referring to emerging news reports & was not confirming the fate of the missing—which is still unknown.”
The soldiers were last seen in a training area just six miles from Lithuania’s border with Belarus.
Army officials said the missing Americans were riding in their M-88 recovery vehicle, which was “discovered submerged in a body of water in a training area.”
The Army had trained with the Lithuanian armed forces and law enforcement.
A search and recovery effort is underway for the soldiers, all of whom are from the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.
Measles outbreak appears to spread with new cases in Kansas, Ohio and Washington, DC
The measles outbreak affecting West Texas and Eastern New Mexico nears 400 cases and appears to be spreading.
The state health department in Kansas reported that cases in that state doubled last week to nearly two dozen. Now, there is a possible link to Texas and New Mexico.
This week, Kansas health officials put doctors on high alert and recommended early vaccination for babies aged 6 to 11 months in outbreak counties.
In Ohio, the situation has escalated from a single case in one county to a total of nine.
On the East Coast, health officials in Washington, D.C., confirmed that a person who rode the Amtrak train contracted the illness.
A press release indicated a person visited various locations while contagious between last Wednesday, March 19, and Saturday, March 22.
Health officials are now trying to inform people who traveled in the same circles that they may have been exposed.
MLB’s 125th season kicks off Thursday with Opening Day
Major League Baseball’s 125th season kicks off Thursday, March 27, with several Opening Day games taking place across the U.S.
Opening Day has become somewhat of a national holiday for baseball fans across the U.S.
The Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees will get the season going in the Bronx at 3 p.m. EST.
Several other teams will play throughout the night, with the latest games starting at 10:10 p.m. EST.
Straight Arrow News sports reporter Chris Francis discussed what to watch for this season here.