Trump 2nd term updates: Trump excludes low-value shipments from looming tariffs

The amendment exempts imports valued at less than $800 from Canada and Mexico.

ByKevin Shalvey, Alexandra Hutzler, Emily Chang, Ivan Pereira, William Mansell, Sarah Beth Hensley, Jon Haworth, and Nadine El-Bawab
Last Updated: March 2, 2025, 11:08 PM EST

President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape the federal government to his liking suffered a loss in court when a federal judge blocked his administration from firing the head of a federal watchdog agency without cause, likely triggering a lengthy appeal that could end at the Supreme Court.

U.S. District Justice Amy Berman Jackson determined the move was unlawful and issued a permanent injunction that reinstated special counsel Hampton Dellinger to his position.

Meanwhile, the Social Security Administration said it will cut 7,000 jobs and six of its 10 regional centers as part of the president’s downsizing of the federal workforce.

And Trump’s physician announced the president will have his annual physical next month, days after reporters raised questions about a bruise they saw on the back of his hand.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing:
Feb 28, 2025, 6:20 PM EST

Trump doesn't 'trust or distrust anybody' in Ukraine-Russia negotiations

When asked by ABC News whether he trusts Russian President Vladimir Putin or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy more, President Donald Trump said he doesn't "trust or distrust anybody."

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he prepares to depart the White House in Washington, Feb. 28, 2025, to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

"Look, I don't trust or distrust anybody," he said. "I just want to get a deal done, and if the deal happens, good, but you can't embolden somebody that does not have the cards, and all of a sudden that person says, oh, well, now I can keep fighting. We're not going to keep fighting. You're going to get the war done, or let them go and see what happens. Let them fight it out."

-ABC News' Selina Wang

Feb 28, 2025, 6:19 PM EST

Trump criticizes Zelenskyy for the 'negative things' he says of Putin

President Donald Trump continued to criticize Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after their spat this afternoon, expressing frustration over Zelenskyy's harsh words for Putin.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he prepares to depart the White House in Washington, Feb. 28, 2025, to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

"What he's got to say, I want to make peace. He doesn't have to stand there and say about Putin this, Putin that, all negative things. He's got to say, I want to make peace," Trump said when asked what Zelenskyy needs to do to restart talks with him. "I don't want to fight a war any longer. His people are dying. He doesn't have the cards, just so you understand."

Trump was also asked how long it would take for Zelenskyy to "want peace" and come back to the White House.

"Well, he says he wants it now. He wants to come back right now, but I can't do that," Trump said.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle and Fritz Farrow

Feb 28, 2025, 5:56 PM EST

Trump administration considering cutting off military aid shipments to Ukraine: Official

The Trump administration is now strongly considering cutting off shipments of military aid to Ukraine in the wake of Friday's Oval Office meeting, a senior U.S. official told ABC News.

President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House in Washington, Feb. 28, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

The official said no final decision has been made but that this is not the first time the administration has contemplated such a move.

"A lot is on the table after the sh*t show we saw today," a source familiar with the matter said.

-ABC News' Shannon Kingston and Selina Wang

Feb 28, 2025, 5:40 PM EST

FBI returns unclassified 'property' taken during Mar-a-Lago raid

The White House said the FBI "is giving the President his property back that was taken during the unlawful and illegal raids."

"We are taking possession of the boxes today and loading them onto Air Force One," Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, said in a statement.

Boxes of documents, returned from FBI, are loaded onto Air Force One President Donald Trump departs to Florida from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Feb. 28, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

The boxes did not include classified documents. The classified documents were removed and put in a sensitive compartmented information facility under lock and key.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle and Katherine Faulders

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