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

House Republicans gathered Tuesday morning for a closed-door conference meeting in which they discussed President Donald Trump's decision to cut off military aid for Ukraine and heard directly from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about his plans to reprioritize spending at the Pentagon.

While some lawmakers grumble that the president is overstepping his executive authority by restricting the distribution of military aid explicitly appropriated by Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., argued that Trump has the constitutional power to act unilaterally -- and that his decision might even pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to succumb to Trump's position.

"It's a temporary pause, and it is to do a reset," Johnson told reporters afterward. "The president has authority to do that, to act as the commander in chief, to use the strategy that he and his team believe is best fit for, that it's not changing or redirecting something that Congress did."

Johnson called on Zelenskyy to return to Washington "to come and make right what happened last week, the shocking developments in the Oval Office."

-ABC News' Lauren Peller and John Parkinson

In an emotional speech, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slammed the U.S. tariffs as counterproductive.

"The U.S. started a trade war last night with their closest ally and friend," Trudeau said Tuesday. "They chose to do this while appeasing Putin. Make that make sense. We will not back down from a fight."

Trudeau said Canada would not back down until the U.S. and President Donald Trump lift the tariffs.

"To the U.S. people, your government has chosen to do this to you," Trudeau said. "Your government has chosen to put American jobs at risk. They've chosen to raise prices and chosen to harm American national security. They are sabotaging their own progress."

He also touted the success the country has had in stopping fentanyl at the northern border.

--ABC News' Will Gretsky

Vice President JD Vance said that both he and President Donald Trump remain optimistic that a mineral deal can be reached with Ukraine despite the seemingly growing rift between the U.S. and Ukraine.

"Yah, I certainly do," Vance said on Capitol Hill Tuesday when asked about whether he believed the mineral deal could still be struck. "And I think the President is still committed to the mineral deal."

His answer comes just days after the tense Oval Office meeting between Vance, Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Last Monday night, the United States paused aid to Ukraine.

Vance said Trump is trying to send a "very explicit message" by withholding aid to Ukraine.

"We think the Ukrainian troops have fought very bravely, but we are at a point here where neither Europe nor the United States nor the Ukrainians can continue this war indefinitely, so it is important that everybody come to the table and the President is trying to send a very explicit message," Vance said Tuesday.

--ABC News' Allison Pecorin

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.

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