Live

Trump 2nd term live updates: Trump defends tariffs, declines to comment on Ukraine aid

Trump said tariffs will be the "greatest thing we've ever done as a country."

Last Updated: March 9, 2025, 8:31 PM EDT

President Donald Trump is defending his decision to pause some tariffs to Canada and Mexico for another month -- a notable reversal after imposing historic levies on the key U.S. trading partners earlier this week, causing markets to tumble.

On Friday, Trump signed more executive orders at the White House before he convened a first-ever cryptocurrency summit with industry leaders.

Mar 05, 2025, 9:31 AM EST

Ukraine officials confirm US has partially halted intelligence support

Ukrainian officials have confirmed the U.S. has partially suspended intelligence support to the country.

A Ukrainian intelligence official said the pause included a halt in sharing U.S. satellite imagery through the Defense Intelligence Agency.

A Ukrainian member of parliament closely involved in talks on U.S. defense cooperation also said the U.S. had stopped sharing intelligence data that could be used to launch attacks into Russia. It appears for now not all intelligence sharing has been halted.

The Ukrainian intelligence official said that Ukraine was still able to receive satellite imagery from European allies, which have their own capabilities. Another Ukrainian member of parliament and former senior defense official said they hoped the pause would be temporary.

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell

Mar 05, 2025, 9:29 AM EST

White House official appears to confirm US has paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine

CIA Director John Ratcliffe seemingly confirmed on Wednesday morning that the U.S. has paused sharing intelligence with Ukraine, while national security advisor Mike Waltz later framed all aspects of U.S.-Ukraine relations as "paused" without mentioning intelligence specifically.

Fox Business Network anchor Maria Bartiromo said to Ratcliffe that she had spoken with Polish President Andrzej Duda and that Duda had indicated that the U.S. had cut off both aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz speaks during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md., on Feb. 21, 2025.
Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images

Ratcliffe effectively confirmed that, although he indicated the pause could be temporary. Ratcliffe said that Trump had asked for a "pause" and is committed to peace.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie and Oren Oppenheim

Mar 04, 2025, 6:42 PM EST

Trump might reduce tariffs on Canada and Mexico, Lutnick says

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested Trump might reduce tariffs on Mexico and Canada tomorrow during an interview on Fox News Tuesday evening. Lutnick said Trump is looking at a way to "meet" Canada and Mexico "in the middle" but added it is not a pause on the tariffs.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick looks on as President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Mar. 3, 2025.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

"It's not going to be a pause -- that pause stuff, but I think he's going to figure out, you do more, and I'll meet you in the middle some way, and we're going to probably be announcing that tomorrow," he said, noting that he spoke with both Mexican and Canadian officials Tuesday. "So somewhere in the middle will likely be the outcome, the president moving with the Canadians and Mexicans, but not all the way."

Lutnick added that the issue at hand is still fentanyl coming into the United States through the borders with Mexico and Canada.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle and Michelle Stoddart

Mar 04, 2025, 6:40 PM EST

IRS drafting plans to cut up to half its workforce

The IRS is preparing to cut as much as half of its staff as part of the Trump administration’s latest round of cuts to the federal workforce, multiple sources told ABC News.

The agency, which has roughly 100,000 employees, has not finalized its plans, which will be submitted as part of the Treasury Department “reduction in force” plan to the Trump administration later this month.

A sign stands outside the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) building in Washington, D.C., Feb. 20, 2025.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters

It’s unclear how or when the next round of layoffs will take place at the IRS amid the tax season. The agency has continued to lay off workers but has said it will not remove staffers who directly process tax returns this spring.

-ABC News' Benjamin Siegel, Olivia Rubin and Will Steakin

Related Topics

Sponsored Content by Taboola