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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.

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 09, 2025, 1:37 PM EDT

White House: Trump 'determined' to keep 10% baseline tariff even after trade deals

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked if the 10% baseline tariff is going to remain in place after the deal announced with the United Kingdom on Thursday.

"The president is committed to the 10% baseline tariff, not just for the United Kingdom, but for his trade negotiations with all other countries as well," Leavitt said.

Asked to clarify if that tariff will remain in place after deals are done, Leavitt indicated yes.

"The president is determined to continue with that 10% baseline tariff," she said. "I just spoke to him about it earlier."

May 09, 2025, 1:35 PM EDT

Leavitt pushes back about questions over Trump family businesses

Reporters asked White House press secretary Leavitt if President Donald Trump's family members would accompany him on his trip to the Middle East.

Many of them have business interests in the region.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, May 9, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP

Leavitt fired back and claimed that "it's frankly ridiculous that anyone in this room would even suggest that President Trump is doing anything for his own benefit.

"This White House holds ourselves to the highest of ethical standards," she said.

May 09, 2025, 1:30 PM EDT

Adams requested meeting with Trump, Leavitt says

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that New York City Mayor Eric Adams requested a meeting with President Donald Trump,

"The president was willing to take it. If the president wishes to discuss his private meeting afterwards, I will let him do that himself," she said.

New York Mayor Eric Adams attends a mass in memory of late Pope Francis at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York on April 22, 2025.
Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images

May 09, 2025, 1:29 PM EDT

WH: Trump won't 'unilaterally' bring down China tariffs, Beijing needs to make concessions

ABC News Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott asked White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt about Trump's post on Friday morning signaling an openness to lowering the China tariffs to 80%.

"The president still remains with his position that he is not going to unilaterally bring down tariffs on China. We need to see concessions from them as well. Again, that's part of the reason Secretary Bessent is going to talk to the Chinese counterparts this weekend to start those discussions in person," Leavitt said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, May 9, 2025, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP

"As for the 80% number, that was a number the president threw out there and we'll see what happens this weekend, and always in the effort of transparency, I'm sure you'll hear directly from the treasury secretary or the president after those negotiations conclude," she said.

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