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, 1:39 PM EST

Photos show troops preparing to deploy to southern border

The Department of Defense has released new images of Marines from Camp Pendleton in California preparing to deploy to the U.S.-Mexico border.

Marine with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, transports concertina wire with an extended boom forklift at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 22, 2025, in preparation to deploy to the southern border.
Lance Cpl. Diego Berumen/DoD

The White House announced Wednesday that Trump was sending 1,500 additional troops to the southern border, building off the executive actions on immigration and border security he signed on Monday.

Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, load concertina wire onto a 7-ton truck at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 22, 2025, in preparation to deploy to the southern border.
Lance Cpl. Diego Berumen/DoD

-ABC News' Nathan Luna

Jan 23, 2025, 12:16 PM EST

Confirmation hearing set for Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's DNI pick

Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard's hearing for director of national intelligence will be held on Thursday, Jan. 30, sources told ABC News.

PHOTO: President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard arrives for a service at St. John's Church on Inauguration Day of Donald Trump's second presidential term in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025.
President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard arrives for a service at St. John's Church on Inauguration Day of Donald Trump's second presidential term in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025.
Jeenah Moon/Reuters

Gabbard's nomination has been scrutinized over her lack of intelligence experience and her echoing of Russian disinformation.

If confirmed, Gabbard would oversee a sprawling network of 18 agencies and a $100 billion budget. She's been making the rounds on Capitol Hill to shore up support among lawmakers.

-ABC News' Beatrice Peterson

Jan 23, 2025, 12:09 PM EST

Secretary of State Marco Rubio's 1st international trip will include Panama

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will take his first international trip in office next week, visiting Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, according to the State Department.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio waits to speak to employees upon arrival at the State Department in Washington, Jan. 21, 2025.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Immigration is expected to be a key focus of the Trump administration. Rubio will encourage leaders to accept more of their deported nationals.

But the stop in Panama is especially notable given President Donald Trump's repeated threats to retake the Panama Canal.

-ABC News' Shannon Kingston

Jan 23, 2025, 11:44 AM EST

Trump warns economic leaders: Make products in America or face tariffs

"My message to every business in the world is very simple," Trump said as he virtually addressed the World Economic Forum.

"Come make your product in America and we will give you among the lowest taxes of any nation on earth ... But if you don't make your product in America, which is your prerogative, then very simply you will have to pay a tariff," Trump said.

"Differing amounts but a tariff which will direct hundreds of billions of dollars and even trillions of dollars into our treasury to strengthen our economy and pay down debt," he added.

While Trump has claimed tariffs won't adversely impact the U.S., economists generally agree that consumers will face higher costs for goods.

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.
Michael Buholzer/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Sponsored Content by Taboola