Following a torrid first week in office, President Donald Trump does not have a very busy public schedule on Monday. That does not mean there won’t be plenty of action. The 47th president is known to spring major actions and announcements without much notice.
The president starts off the week by attending a House GOP Conference meeting at Trump National Doral Miami at a time to be determined. The GOP January retreat is an opportunity for Republicans to game-plan their approach to implementing their shared agenda with President Trump. Major policy initiatives that are likely to be addressed are the president’s sweeping border security and ongoing deportation initiatives, increasing domestic energy production and advancing a new tax plan.
House Speaker Mike Johnson told Politico that he expects to have a ‘blueprint’ for a massive reconciliation package in place after the retreat. The House Budget Committee, which is tasked with writing the instructions on the bill, is set to meet next week.
Johnson sent a letter to the president to address a joint session of Congress on March 4, 2025. In the letter, Johnson wrote, ‘Your administration and the 119th Congress working together have the chance to make these next four years some of the most consequential in our nation’s history.’
He went on to write, ‘To that end, it is my distinct honor and great privilege to invite you to address a Joint Session of Congress on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives, to share your America First vision for our legislative future. I eagerly await your response.’
Another event that is key to an early Trump priority will be a hearing at the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation titled ‘Fees and Foreign Influence: Examining the Panama Canal and Its Impact on U.S. Trade and National Security.’ The committee is headed by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
In his inaugural address, Trump said, ‘China is operating the Panama Canal. And we didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back.’
Newly confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Panama this week. According to the State Department, the trip will include visits to the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador.
Confirmation hearings continue in the Senate this week with Tulsi Gabbard, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kelly Loeffler and Kash Patel all appearing.
Continued immigration and deportation activities are expected to continue with border czar Tom Homan and the acting deputy attorney general, Emil Bove, traveling to Chicago on Sunday to witness the stepped-up enforcement actions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
