Trump 2nd term updates: Trump excludes low-value shipments from looming tariffs
The amendment exempts imports valued at less than $800 from Canada and Mexico.
President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape the federal government to his liking suffered a loss in court when a federal judge blocked his administration from firing the head of a federal watchdog agency without cause, likely triggering a lengthy appeal that could end at the Supreme Court.
U.S. District Justice Amy Berman Jackson determined the move was unlawful and issued a permanent injunction that reinstated special counsel Hampton Dellinger to his position.
Meanwhile, the Social Security Administration said it will cut 7,000 jobs and six of its 10 regional centers as part of the president’s downsizing of the federal workforce.
And Trump’s physician announced the president will have his annual physical next month, days after reporters raised questions about a bruise they saw on the back of his hand.
Latest headlines:
- White House excludes low-value shipments from looming Canada, Mexico tariffs
- Kennedy stops short of calling for vaccines amid measles outbreak
- Intel community has concerns Russia, China could target fired employees
- Trump's doctor says he'll have annual physical exam 'next month'
- White House backs Israel blocking aid to Gaza
Fact-check: Trump claims 'tens of billions' in military equipment left in Afghanistan
As he continued to criticize the Biden administration's handling of the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, Trump said they left "tens of billions" of dollars worth of new military equipment there.
The number is not that large. The Defense Department's inspector general estimates $7.12 billion worth of U.S.-funded equipment was seized by the Taliban when the U.S. withdrew.
"I think we should get a lot of that equipment back," Trump said with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seated next to him.
Trump claims 'we're not going to touch' Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security
ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce asked Trump about the current budget bill that passed in the House Tuesday night and its pending cuts and whether Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security would be cut.
"I mean, I have said it so many times. You shouldn't be asking me that question. OK? This will not be read my lips, it won't be read my lips anymore. We're not going to touch it," Trump responded.
While the budget blueprint itself does not mention Medicaid or Medicare directly, it sets a goal of at least $2 trillion in cuts to mandatory federal spending, which includes funding for entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare.
The president claimed that there would be a reduction in fraud in those programs.
Musk shows off 'TECH SUPPORT' t-shirt
Musk flashed a black t-shirt reading "TECH SUPPORT" to the cameras.
This aligns with his earlier remarks arguing that DOGE is "actually tech support," particularly as they "fix the government computer systems" that he claims are old and make mistakes.
Trump says deal will create 'automatic security' for Ukraine
Trump suggests that U.S. investment in the Ukraine deal will serve as a barrier to Russia.
"It's a great deal for Ukraine, too, because they get us over there and we're going to be working over there … And you know, in that way, it's this sort of automatic security because nobody's going to be messing around with people when we're there," Trump said. "And so we'll be there in that way."