Trump admin updates: EU will buy $750 billion worth of U.S. energy under deal

President Donald Trump, in a post on his social media platform on Thursday night, officially endorsed Republican National Committee co-chair Michael Whatley for the Senate race in North Carolina in 2026.

"Mike would make an unbelievable Senator from North Carolina. He is fantastic at everything he does, and he was certainly great at the RNC where, in the Presidential Election, we won every Swing State, the Popular Vote, and the Electoral College by a landslide!" Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that he has a “mission” for allies in North Carolina to get Whatley to run for the seat.

Trump also endorsed RNC treasurer and Florida state Sen. Joe Gruters to become the new chair of the RNC if Whatley runs.

Whatley has not yet weighed in openly or formally launched a bid.

-ABC News' Oren Oppenheim

President Donald Trump’s attempt to ensure his pick remains in charge of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey took a new twist on Thursday.

One day before Alina Habba’s tenure as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey was set to expire, the White House withdrew her nomination for the post.

Habba then announced on social media that she is now the acting United States Attorney, seemingly restarting the clock on what is usually a 120-day temporary term.

“I don’t cower to pressure. I don’t answer to politics. This is a fight for justice. And I’m all in,” Habba wrote on social media.

The unorthodox legal maneuver appears to end a stalemate that began when federal judges in New Jersey selected Desiree Leigh Grace, an experienced federal prosecutor, over Habba, the president’s former personal attorney and choice to lead the office.

The Department of Justice quickly stated that it fired Grace, leaving unclear who would take over the office.

In a social media post, Grace stated that she would still be willing to lead the office “in accordance with the law.”

The Trump administration’s move to pull Habba’s nomination and then install her in an acting capacity appears to take advantage of a section of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, which allows an acting officer to serve in a position for no more than 210 days if no one is nominated to the position.

-ABC News' Peter Charalambous and Alexander Mallin

Trump signed an executive order Thursday that is aimed at making it easier for cities and states to remove homeless people from the streets.

The order is aimed at removing "vagrant individuals from our streets" and redirects federal funds toward "programs that tackle substance abuse," according to a fact sheet about the action.

The order directs the attorney general to to "reverse judicial precedents and end consent decrees" that limit the ability of local governments to remove people from the streets and to "prioritize grants for states and municipalities that enforce prohibitions on open illicit drug use, urban camping and loitering, and urban squatting, and track the location of sex offenders."

It also redirects federal funds to help homeless people get moved into treatment facilites.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart

Lara Trump, President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, announced Thursday she will not run for Senate in North Carolina.

"After much consideration and heartfelt discussions with my family, friends, and supporters, I have decided not to pursue the United States Senate seat in North Carolina at this time," she said in a statement. "I am deeply grateful for the encouragement and support I have received from the people of my home state whom I love so much. While I am not running in this election, my passion for Making America Great Again burns brightly, and I look forward to the future, wherever that leads."

Lara Trump, who previously served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee, will instead support current RNC chair Michael Whatley, two sources confirmed to ABC News.

A GOP consultant confirmed to ABC News that Whatley will run for Senate in the battleground state. Whatley's formal announcement is expected to take place in North Carolina within the next week to 10 days, the consultant said. Another source familiar with the matter told ABC News that President Trump called Whatley earlier this week to ask him to run.

-ABC News' John Santucci, Hannah Demissie and Oren Oppenheim