President Trump has announced a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled for Friday, Aug. 15 in Alaska.
The Trump administration is also once again escalating its clash with Harvard University, with Commerce Secretary Lutnick sending a letter Friday to Harvard President Alan Garber that accuses Harvard of violating its legal and contractual obligations related to federally funded research programs and patents.
Lutnick said the Commerce Department is launching an "immediate comprehensive review" of Harvard’s federally funded research programs.
President Donald Trump in Turnberry, Scotland, July 28, 2025 and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk region, Russia, July 24, 2025.
AP
"We are going to have a meeting with Russia. We'll start off with Russia and we'll announce a location. I think the location will be a very popular one for a lot of reasons. But we'll be announcing that a little bit later. I just don't want to do it now because of the importance of what we just did," Trump said as he hosted the leaders of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan at the White House.
Aug 08, 2025, 4:20 PM EDT
Trump holds peace summit with leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan
Trump on Friday hosted the prime minister of the Republic of Armenia and the president of the Republic of Azerbaijan for a peace summit at the White House.
"It's a big, beautiful honor to welcome everyone to the White House for this very historic peace summit between Armenia and Azerbaijan. It's really a great thrill for me," Trump said at an event in the East Room.
President Donald Trump holds the hands of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as they shake hands between each other during a trilateral signing event, at the White House, in Washington, August 8, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Trump said the leaders signed documents in the Oval Office committing to stop fighting, open commerce and respect each other's sovereignty. The president said the U.S. was also signing a bilateral agreement with both countries to expand cooperation in energy, trade and technology, including AI.
"This declaration establishes what they are calling -- a great honor for me, I didn't ask for this -- the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, which is a special transit area that will allow Azerbaijan to get full access to its territory of Nakhchivan while fully respecting Armenia's sovereignty. So they're going to be able to really live and work together," Trump said.
Both leaders expressed their belief that President Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize and would advocate for it, as several leaders have prompted, touting Trump's ego. The Prime Minister of Armenia jokingly mentioned that he hopes to receive an invitation, to which Trump responded that they would have a front-row seat.
“I'm not politicking for it,” Trump claimed when a reporter mentioned the date of the nominations.
-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh and Michelle Stoddart
Aug 08, 2025, 4:04 PM EDT
Trump set to replace IRS Commissioner Billy Long
President Trump is set to remove IRS Commissioner Billy Long, a former GOP congressman confirmed by the Senate earlier this summer, multiple sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
Former Rep. Billy Long President Donald Trump's nominee to be Internal Revenue Service Commissioner, speaks during a Senate Finance Committee nomination hearing on Capitol Hill, May 20, 2025 in Washington.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Long confirmed the move in an X post Friday afternoon, revealing that Trump tapped him to be the ambassador to Iceland.
"I am thrilled to answer his call to service and deeply committed to advancing his bold agenda. Exciting times ahead!" he posted.
In an email Thursday with the subject line "It's Almost FriYay," Long encouraged staffers to leave work early on Friday.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is slated to lead the agency in an interim capacity, sources told ABC News. He would be the sixth leader of the tax-collecting agency in the first eight months of the Trump administration.
Long, a former GOP congressman and auctioneer, supported disbanding the agency as a member of Congress. The agency has been brought into the Trump administration's efforts to use government records and data to help identify and deport undocumented immigrants working and living in the country.
A spokesperson for the Treasury Department thanked Long for his services in a statement, adding that "a new candidate for Commissioner will be announced at the appropriate time."
The New York Times first reported on Trump's plans to replace Long.
-ABC News' Benjamin Siegel, Katherine Faulders and Olivia Rubin
Aug 08, 2025, 3:31 PM EDT
Trump greets leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia ahead of meeting
President Trump welcomed the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia outside the West Wing on Friday afternoon.
President Donald Trump greets Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House in Washington, August 8, 2025.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
President Donald Trump and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev react outside the White House in Washington, August 8, 2025.
Jessica Koscielniak/Reuters
"Very confident," Trump responded when asked if there would be a deal between the two nations.