President Donald Trump fired the top librarian at the Library of Congress on Thursday, just days after a conservative watchdog group highlighted her promotion of liberal policies. 

Carla Hayden, who has led the Library of Congress since her appointment by President Barack Obama in 2016, received an email on Thursday informing her that she had been fired. Hayden was criticized this week by the American Accountability Foundation, a non-profit government oversight and research organization, for her opposition to restricting minors’ access to sexually-themed books. 

“Carla,” the email from Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel Trent Morse said. “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as the Librarian of Congress is terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service.”

The American Accountability Foundation praised the firing. 

“THANK YOU [President Trump]!!!! Woke & radical Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden has been fired!” the organization posted on X. 

THANK YOU @POTUS!!!!

Woke & radical Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden has been fired!🔥🇺🇸 https://t.co/memq7ApcK8

— American Accountability Foundation (@Theswampmonitor) May 9, 2025

On Tuesday, the organization called for Trump to fire Hayden and the Director of the U.S. Copyright Office, Shira Perlmutter.

“The President and his team have done an admirable and long-needed job cleaning out deep state liberals from the federal government. It is time they show Carla Hayden and Shira Perlmutter the door and return an America First agenda to the nation’s intellectual property regulation,” American Accountability Foundation President Tom Jones told The Daily Mail. 

Hayden, whose term was set to expire in 2016, has a history of donating to Democratic candidates, including $3,000 to Obama’s presidential campaigns. She was also criticized in 2022 after the Library of Congress lent a 200-year-old crystal flute that once belonged to President James Madison to rap artist Lizzo to play at a concert. 

“B****, I just twerked and played James Madison’s flute from the 1800s!” Lizzo said at the time.

Democrats protested the firing, saying it was part of Trump’s “assault on America’s libraries.” 

“While President Trump wants to ban books and tell Americans what to read – or not to read at all, Dr. Hayden has devoted her career to making reading and the pursuit of knowledge available to everyone,” New Mexico Democrat Senator Martin Heinrich said.

Hayden’s termination came the same day that acting FEMA Director Cameron Hamilton was fired after he told lawmakers that he didn’t support dismantling FEMA, as Trump has proposed multiple times.

President Donald Trump on Friday called for China to open up its markets to the United States and floated the possibility of cutting the current tariffs on China nearly in half.

Trump made the comments just one day after telling reporters that he expected tariffs on China to be lowered soon. This weekend, American and Chinese officials are set to meet in Switzerland to discuss trade and other economic matters.

“CHINA SHOULD OPEN UP ITS MARKET TO USA — WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM!!! CLOSED MARKETS DON’T WORK ANYMORE!!!” Trump posted on his Truth Social social media platform early Friday morning.

A few minutes later, he posted, “80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B,” presumably referring to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Tariffs on China have been set at 145% since last month after the communist country moved to retaliate against Trump’s tariffs. At the same time, China imposed a 125% levy on American goods. During an event in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said that tariffs on China would not increase anymore and could “only go down.”

“It’s at 145 so we know it’s coming down,” Trump said. “I think we’re going to have a very good relationship.”

Treasury Secretary Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are poised to meet with Chinese officials on Saturday and Sunday in Geneva to attempt to work out a trade deal.

“At President Trump’s direction, I am negotiating with countries to rebalance our trade relations to achieve reciprocity, open new markets, and protect America’s economic and national security,” Greer said. “I look forward to having productive meetings with some of my counterparts as well as visiting with my team in Geneva who all work diligently to advance U.S. interests on a range of multilateral issues.”

Bessent has said that the current economic situation with China is “unsustainable” and that the United States wants “fair trade” and not to completely decouple from China.

On Thursday, Trump announced his first big trade agreement. Trump said the deal with the United Kingdom would allow the United States to gain increased market access in the U.K. for billions of dollars worth of American exports. The 10% baseline tariff on British goods remains in place with exceptions for exports of Rolls-Royce engines and airplane parts.