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

President Donald Trump unlawfully removed a member of a federal office that protects government employees from partisan interference, a federal judge ruled earlier Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras granted a permanent injunction reinstating Cathy Harris to the Merit Systems Protection Board, delivering the Trump administration a legal defeat as it attempts to reshape the federal workforce.

"Because the President did not indicate that he sought to remove Harris for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, his attempt to terminate her was unlawful and exceeded the scope of his authority," Judge Contreras wrote.

-ABC News' Peter Charalambous

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