Trump 2nd term updates: Trump says USAID is run by 'radical lunatics'

The comments came amid turmoil as DOGE took over USAID offices last week.

President Donald Trump made good on his threats to impose tariffs on some of the U.S.'s trading partners, announcing Saturday that he will levy 25% tariffs on some goods from Canada and Mexico and 10% on Chinese goods.

Experts have warned that tariffs of this magnitude will likely increase prices paid by U.S. and Trump appeared to acknowledge that “some pain” might be possible in the U.S.

Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee announced it will meet Tuesday, when it is expected to vote on the controversial nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of Health and Human Services.

Jan 22, 2025, 11:55 PM EST

Trump discusses TikTok, wildfires and pardons in first Oval Office interview

In his first Oval Office interview on Wednesday, President Donald Trump discussed the California wildfires, Jan. 6 pardons and TikTok.

Regarding the emergency funding that Los Angeles needs after wildfires ravaged over 40,000 acres, Trump suggested a tradeoff involving the reconciliation bill he is hoping to get through Congress.

In the Fox News interview Trump repeated claims that California Gov. Gavin Newsom could put a stop to the fires happening in Southern California by releasing water from the north and threatened to withhold aid to California unless they "let water flow."

"I'm going to put a statement out today, I think, maybe it's already written," Trump said. "I said, I don't think we should give California anything until they let water flow down into there."

Trump continued to defend his pardoning of those convicted of assaulting police officers at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, calling the attacks "very minor incidents."

When discussing TikTok, Trump dismissed the security concerns many have regarding the app, while questioning if it's bad that China is spying on kids.

"We have so many things made in China. So why don't they mention that? You know, interesting thing with TikTok, though, is you're dealing with a lot of young people," Trump said. "Is it that important for China to be spying on young people, on young kids watching crazy videos?"

-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh, Fritz Farrow, Hannah Demissie

Jan 22, 2025, 10:17 PM EST

DHS allows US Marshals, other DOJ agencies to carry out immigration enforcement

The Department of Homeland Security is allowing certain law enforcement components from the Department of Justice to carry out the "functions" of an immigration officer, according to a new memo.

The memo, sent by acting DHS Secretary Benjamine Huffman, grants the DOJ agencies the "same authority already granted to the FBI," and says that agents from those agencies can enforce immigration law.

The agencies listed in the memo are the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

DEA and ATF have had little experience historically in carrying out immigration enforcement and the U.S. Marshals have typically only been involved in cases where a migrant is being sought as a fugitive.

-ABC News' Luke Barr

Jan 22, 2025, 8:12 PM EST

Trump officials order freeze at DOJ Civil Rights Division

Officials in the Trump Justice Department have ordered a temporary freeze on any ongoing cases being litigated by the Civil Rights Division, according to a new directive reviewed by ABC News.

The memo to the current acting head of the Civil Rights Division, Kathleen Wolfe, says that current career officials in the division must not file any new civil complaints or other civil rights-related filings in outside ongoing litigation. The memo was first reported by The Washington Post.

In this Jan. 27, 2023, file photo, Harmeet Dhillon, attorney and member of the Republican National Committee, speaks to members of the media during the Republican National Committee winter meeting in Dana Point, Calif.
Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE

The memo does not detail a specific timetable for how long the freeze will last. But it comes as Trump's nominee to lead civil rights enforcement at DOJ -- conservative firebrand Harmeet Dhillon -- awaits a confirmation vote in the Senate.

Dhillon has long been a vocal Trump loyalist who has brought litigation to advance Republican causes, including curtailing COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and opposing transgender-affirming care.

She is expected to reorient the civil rights division's priorities in line with what they were in the first Trump administration, when ongoing investigations into widespread police misconduct were virtually shuttered and the department withdrew from multiple Obama-era challenges to anti-trans state laws around the country.

Wolfe was separately directed to notify Trump-appointed department leaders of any consent decrees the Biden administration reached with cities in the final 90 days leading up to the inauguration.

Following the 2024 election, now-former Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke traveled the country announcing a series of last-minute agreements with several cities' police departments that the DOJ had investigated for potential violations of citizens' constitutional rights.

-ABC News' Alexander Mallin

Jan 22, 2025, 8:25 PM EST

Trump picks new Secret Service director

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday the head of his protective security detail would serve as the new director of the U.S. Secret Service.

Sean Curran, a longtime Secret Service agent, began his career with the agency in 2001 as a special agent in the Newark Field Office, previously served as assistant special agent in charge of the Presidential Protective Division and was part of Trump's personal protective detail on July 13 when a gunman attempted to assassinate him.

"Sean is a Great Patriot, who has protected my family over the past few years, and that is why I trust him to lead the Brave Men and Women of the United States Secret Service," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa.
Evan Vucci/AP, FILE

He added, "He proved his fearless courage when he risked his own life to help save mine from an assassin’s bullet in Butler, Pennsylvania. I have complete and total confidence in Sean to make the United States Secret Service stronger than ever before."

The former director of the agency, Kimberly Cheatle, came under scrutiny over the agency's failure to prevent the assassination attempt and later resigned.

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