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, 4:26 PM EST

Trump says he's 'open' to meeting with pardoned Jan. 6 rioters

President Donald Trump was asked by a reporter if he plans to meet at the White House with any of the Jan. 6 rioters he pardoned.

"I don't know. I'm sure that they probably would like to," he replied.

Trump argued he "did something important" with the pardons and contended those convicted were "treated very badly."

"So, I'd be open to it, certainly. I don't know of anything like that, but I think they're going to meet in some of the Congress people, congressmen, women, want to -- want to meet," he said.

Trump said he hasn't spoken with any of them yet.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters as he signs an executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Jan. 23, 2025, in Washington.
President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters as he signs an executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Jan. 23, 2025, in Washington.
Ben Curtis/AP

Jan 23, 2025, 4:21 PM EST

Trump vows to appeal judge's temporary blocking of birthright citizenship order

President Donald Trump was asked by a reporter if he had a reaction to a federal judge blocking his attempt to end birthright citizenship.

"No, obviously, we'll appeal it," Trump responded. "They put it before a certain judge in Seattle, I guess, right. And there's no surprises with that judge."

The judge, John Coughenour, was nominated to the federal bench in 1981 by then-President Ronald Reagan.

Jan 23, 2025, 4:05 PM EST

Trump signs executive order to declassify JFK, RFK and MLK assassination files

President Donald Trump just signed an executive order to declassify files relating to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"That's a big one," Trump said. He added that people have "been waiting for this for years."

Trump said to give the pen he used to sign the order to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

President Donald Trump sits in the Oval Office of the White House, as he signs executive orders, in Washington, Jan. 23, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Jan 23, 2025, 3:40 PM EST

Hegseth advances to final vote despite allegations, some GOP opposition

Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary, got 51 votes to advance his nomination on Thursday.

The final vote on his confirmation is expected to occur around 9 p.m. on Friday, though the timing could change.

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth meets with Sen. John Cornyn in Washington, Dec. 10, 2024.
Benoit Tessier/Reuters

Hegseth is Trump's most embattled Cabinet pick so far.

He's faced a slew of allegations, including sexual misconduct and excessive drinking -- which he's denied. Two Republican senators, both women, voted against advancing his nomination and released lengthy statements on why they are not supporting him.

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