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.

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira, Emily Chang, Andrea Pineda-Salgado, Meredith Deliso, and Julia Reinstein
Last Updated: February 2, 2025, 11:11 PM EST

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.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing:
Jan 23, 2025, 11:22 AM EST

Trump slams Biden at World Economic Forum

Trump, speaking remotely to a group of public and private sector leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, slammed the Biden administration's handling of the U.S. economy.

In what sounded like one of his 2024 campaign speeches, Trump claimed former former President Joe Biden "totally lost control" as inflation and interest rates jumped during his time in office.

Many countries across the globe, however, suffered high inflation amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Inflation in the U.S. peaked at 9% but has since cooled to 2.9%.

President Donald Trump makes a special address remotely to the World Economic Forum attend the 55th annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 23, 2025.
ABC News

Jan 23, 2025, 10:40 AM EST

Trump's schedule includes executive order signing

The White House has released an official schedule for Trump's fourth day in office.

At 11 a.m. ET he will deliver remarks virtually to the World Economic Forum and have a panel discussion with global CEOS.

At 2:30 p.m. ET, he will have an "executive order signing" in the Oval Office. It's not immediately clear what action he will be taking.

Later, at 3:30 p.m. ET, he will hold a call with El Savador's President Nayib Bukele.

Jan 23, 2025, 10:33 AM EST

Lee Zeldin's nomination to lead EPA advanced by Senate panel

Lee Zeldin's nomination to lead the Environmental Protection Agency has been advanced in an 11-8 vote by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Lee Zeldin President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, speaks during his Senate Environment and Public Works confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill, Jan. 16, 2025 in Washington.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Zeldin, a former congressman, emphasized accountability during his confirmation hearing.

He also said he'd potentially "claw back" funds dispersed under the Inflation Reduction Act, one of former President Joe Biden's biggest legislative accomplishments. The law provides billions for renewable energy and combatting climate change.

-ABC News' Kelly Livingston

Jan 23, 2025, 9:58 AM EST

Senate slated to confirm Ratcliffe, could vote on Hegseth as soon as Friday

The Senate will vote today on John Ratcliffe's nomination to serve as director of the CIA.

If senators approve his nomination, he will be the second member of Trump's team to be confirmed after Marco Rubio was sworn in as secretary of state earlier this week.

John Ratcliffe, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to be the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, appears before the Senate Intelligence Committee for his confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 15, 2025.
John Mcdonnell/AP

Later this afternoon, the Senate will take a procedural vote on Pete Hegseth's nomination to serve as defense secretary. Only 50 votes will be needed to advance his nomination. If he gets the votes, a final confirmation vote could occur on Friday or early Saturday.

Hegseth's nomination was advanced out of a Senate committee earlier this week on a party-line vote. New allegations have surfaced since then alleging abusive behavior, which his attorney has denied.

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin

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