Live

Trump admin live updates: Trump says Hamas will release hostage Edan Alexander

Trump did not provide any timing on when Alexander is expected to be released.

ByDavid Brennan, Alexandra Hutzler, and Ivan Pereira
Last Updated: May 11, 2025, 7:01 PM EDT

The White House said on Sunday that it reached a trade deal with China as the two countries negotiated for a second day in Switzerland. China has yet to comment on Sunday's talks.

"We’re confident that the deal we struck with our Chinese partners will help us to work toward resolving that national emergency,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told reporters in Geneva. But Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said "substantial progress" had been made but stopped short of touting a full deal.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with the United Kingdom -- the first in what the White House said it hopes will be a flurry of agreements while the reciprocal tariff pause is in effect. With UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on speaker phone in the Oval Office, the leaders conceded that they are still working out the details of the agreement.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
May 08, 2025, 6:22 PM EDT

Hegseth announces deadline for transgender service members to separate from military

Following the Supreme Court ruling that allowed the Pentagon to proceed with the dismissal of transgender service members while legal challenges continue, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued a memo laying out a timeline for it to begin happening.

According to the memo, transgender service members who do not voluntarily separate from active-duty military service by June 6 will be dismissed after that date and transgender service members serving in the reserve forces have until July 7 to voluntarily separate.

Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesman and senior adviser, said in a statement that Hegseth is "encouraged" by the Supreme Court's decision.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

May 08, 2025, 5:10 PM EDT

Zelenskyy says he told Trump he is ready for ceasefire

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a readout of his call with President Donald Trump on his Telegram channel.

"President Trump inquired about the situation on the battlefield, and I gave him a brief update. I also informed him that Ukraine is ready for a 30-day ceasefire starting today," he posted.

"We are awaiting Russia's agreement to this proposal. I also confirmed that Ukraine is ready for negotiations in any format," Zelenskyy added.

President Donald Trump looks on as he gives remarks outside the West Wing at the White House in Washington, D.C., May 8, 2025.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters

"President Trump confirmed that he wants this war to end, is ready to help, and supports the need for a ceasefire. We agreed to maintain further contact," he added.

-ABC News' Oleksiy Pshemyskiy and Ellie Kaufman

May 08, 2025, 5:09 PM EDT

Trump, in social media post, calls for 30-day ceasefire in Urkaine-Russia conflict

Trump did not make a specific mention of his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Wednesday afternoon, but he did call for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in a Truth Social post.

President Donald Trump looks on as he gives remarks outside the West Wing at the White House in Washington, D.C., May 8, 2025.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters

"As President, I will stay committed to securing Peace between Russia and Ukraine, together with the Europeans, and a Lasting Peace it will be! This ceasefire must ultimately build toward a Peace Agreement. It can all be done very quickly, and I will be available on a moment’s notice if my services are needed," he wrote.

The comments come after members of the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance, have said Trump is running out of patience and is prepared to move on from negotiations.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie

May 08, 2025, 4:36 PM EDT

Schiff likens possible Pirro nomination to Hegseth

Sen. Adam Schiff responded to ABC News' reporting that Fox News Host Jeanine Pirro could be tapped to replace Ed Martin as US Attorney for DC after saying earlier on Thursday that he was "watching closely" who Trump would pick next.

The California Democrat, using sarcasm, suggested that Pirro's selection could be like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's, another Fox News host who has been embroiled in controversy since being named nominee by the president.

"Because the other Fox News host in this administration is doing such a stellar job," Schiff said in a post on X, including a link to the ABC reporting.

-ABC News' Isabella Murray

Sponsored Content by Taboola