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Trump 2nd term live updates: Trump defends tariffs, declines to comment on Ukraine aid

Trump said tariffs will be the "greatest thing we've ever done as a country."

Last Updated: March 9, 2025, 8:31 PM EDT

President Donald Trump is defending his decision to pause some tariffs to Canada and Mexico for another month -- a notable reversal after imposing historic levies on the key U.S. trading partners earlier this week, causing markets to tumble.

On Friday, Trump signed more executive orders at the White House before he convened a first-ever cryptocurrency summit with industry leaders.

Mar 04, 2025, 9:52 AM EST

Mexican president to announce retaliatory tariffs if no deal reached with US

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday that if no deal can be reached with the U.S., she will announce retaliatory tariffs at a rally on Sunday.

Yesterday, the government of the United States, after 30 days of pause, unilaterally decided to impose 25% of tariffs on exports from Mexico, despite the Trade Agreement signed by President Trump himself," Sheinbaum said Tuesday.

Sheinbaum said she has a phone call with President Donald Trump on Thursday and if no deal can be reached, she'll announce the tariff and non-tariff measures at a rally.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum holds a press conference to announce response to U.S. tariffs, at National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico Mar. 4, 2025.
Raquel Cunha/Reuters

On the night of March 3rd, last night, the White House released an offensive, defamatory and unlawful statement on the Government of Mexico that we deny emphatically and condemn categorically," Sheinbaum said Tuesday.

Trump set March 4 as the start date for 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, as well as a 20% tariff on Chinese goods.

--ABC News' Anne Laurent

Mar 04, 2025, 9:02 AM EST

Linda McMahon says she'll direct 'historic overhaul' and dismantling of Department of Education

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said her final mission is to do a "historic overhaul" of the Department of Education that cuts red tape and restores the American education system.

"Our job is to respect the will of the American people and the President they elected, who has tasked us with accomplishing the elimination of bureaucratic bloat here at the Department of Education—a momentous final mission—quickly and responsibly," McMahon wrote in an internal Department of Education email obtained by ABC News.

Stressing her commitment to deliver President Donald Trump's vision, McMahon said her mission is to change the status quo and dismantle the federal agency she was confirmed to lead.

Secretary of Education nominee Linda McMahon listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, Feb. 26, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

"The Department of Education's role in this new era of accountability is to restore the rightful role of state oversight in education and to end the overreach from Washington," McMahon said.

--ABC News' Arthur Jones

Mar 04, 2025, 8:09 AM EST

Trump says federal funding for colleges and schools will stop if they allow 'illegal protests'

President Donald Trump took to his social media platform Tuesday morning to say that federal funding will stop for any "College, School, or University that allows illegal protests."

"All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter."

--ABC News' Hannah Demissie

President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 3, 2025.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

Mar 04, 2025, 6:19 AM EST

Kremlin lauds Trump's move to pause Ukraine military aid

Moscow on Tuesday voiced approval for President Donald Trump’s decision to "pause" military aid to Ukraine.

"I’ve yet to learn the details, but if it corresponds to reality, this is a decision that may indeed encourage the Kyiv regime to the peace process," Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, told reporters. "If the U.S. suspends these supplies, it will probably be the best contribution to peace."

-ABC News’ Joe Simonetti

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