Trump 2nd term updates: Trump attends the Super Bowl

Trump becomes the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl.

Last Updated: February 9, 2025, 7:18 PM EST

President Donald Trump's second administration continued its swift recasting of the federal government, prompting pushback from Democrats and legal challenges.

The president said Sunday that he will announce tariffs on all imported steel and aluminum on Monday but didn't say when they'll take effect.

Trump, meanwhile, is at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday night to take in the Super Bowl. Trump picked the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in an interview aired before the game on Fox.

Key headlines:

Here's how the news is developing:
Feb 04, 2025, 10:45 AM EST

Bill Cassidy will back RFK Jr nomination

Sen. Bill Cassidy R-La., in a post on X, said he would support Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS Secretary.

"I've had very intense conversations with Bobby and the White House over the weekend and even this morning. I want to thank VP JD specifically for his honest counsel. With the serious commitments I've received from the administration and the opportunity to make progress on the issues we agree on like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes," he posted.

Cassidy, a physician who is up for re-election next year, was a closely watched senator on the Senate Finance Committee as he vocally questioned Kenendy's anti-vaccination stances.

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin

Feb 04, 2025, 10:18 AM EST

Sen. Whitehouse will not support RFK Jr nomination

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., announced Tuesday that he would not support Robert Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to lead the U.S. Health and Human Services office.

"Mr. Kennedy has not come remotely close to providing adequate assurances that he will follow the well-established science on vaccines, nor remedy the ways CMS hurts Rhode Island, so I cannot support his nomination," Whitehouse, a long-time friend of Kennedy, said in a statement.

Feb 04, 2025, 10:15 AM EST

Call with China will happen 'very soon,' WH press secretary says

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt promised that President Donald Trump’s phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping about tariffs is being scheduled and will “happen very soon.” However, she did not provide updates on timing.

“The president made it very clear with the 10% tariff on China that he is not going to allow China to continue to source and distribute deadly fentanyl into our country,” she told reporters Tuesday morning, emphasizing that it is a "retaliatory tariff on China."

Leavitt added that the White House would attempt to make U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff available to the press, telling reporters, "I think you’ll be hearing from him out here today."

“She also expressed confidence ahead of RFK Jr.'s confirmation vote scheduled Tuesday to become Health and Human Services Secretary. "There's tens of millions of Americans who are hopeful that RFK Jr will be the next HHS secretary, and we expect all Senate Republicans to stand tough and strong and vote for him," she said.

Feb 04, 2025, 10:08 AM EST

1st flights carrying migrants to Guantanamo underway: Leavitt

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the first flights carrying migrants from the U.S. to Guantanamo Bay are underway.

"So President Trump, Pete Hegseth and Kristi Noem are already delivering on this promise to utilize that capacity at Gitmo for illegal criminals who have broken our nation's immigration laws," Leavitt told Fox News Tuesday.

-ABC News' Oren Oppenheim and Michelle Stoddart

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