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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."

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, 3:33 PM EST

Federal judge issues nationwide injunction blocking change to NIH funding cap

A federal judge issued a nationwide order blocking the National Institutes of Health from making cuts to funding that scientists warned could catastrophically harm medical research and treatments in the United States.

U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley issued a nationwide preliminary injunction this afternoon that prohibits the Trump administration from attempting to drastically lower some of the funding that universities and research institutions receive from medical and scientific grants.

Medical researchers from various universities and the National Institutes of Health rally at Health and Human Services headquarters to protest federal budget cuts, Feb. 19, 2025, in Washington.
John Mcdonnell/AP

"As made clear by the declarations in support of a preliminary injunction against the implementation of the Rate Change Notice, the risk of harm to research institutions and beyond is immediate, devastating, and irreparable," Kelley, a Biden appointee, wrote about the attempt to cap indirect costs at 15%.

Kelley noted that the attempt to cut funding not only violated federal law and the regulations governing research funding but said the change would also significantly harm patients by halting clinical trials, slowing research, and shuttering medical facilities.

A group of 22 attorneys general and five medical associations filed a lawsuit last month challenging the rate change, and Kelley had already issued a temporary order blocking the rate change from taking effect.

-ABC News' Peter Charalambous

Mar 05, 2025, 3:14 PM EST

Trump administration deletes initial list of federal buildings for sale

The Trump administration revised and then deleted its public list of more than 400 federal buildings that were listed for sale or closure on Tuesday, confusing federal workers in Washington and across the country about the status of their offices.

The American Red Cross National Headquarters building is pictured, June 19, 2015, in Washington.
Andrew Harnik/AP

The webpage now states that its list on "non-core" government properties is "coming soon."

A General Services Administration spokesperson did not directly answer questions about why the list was taken down, how the list was generated and if any buildings were posted by mistake in a statement to ABC News Wednesday afternoon.

"We anticipate the list will be republished in the near future after we evaluate this initial input and determine how we can make it easier for stakeholders to understand the nuances of the assets listed," the spokesperson said in a statement. "As we stated in our press release, 'GSA will continuously review and update the list of non-core assets.'"

At least one agency, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, told employees it was "not aware" that its buildings would be listed and that it "didn't submit or approve any of our current office locations being on this list," according to an email obtained by ABC News.

-ABC News' Ben Siegel, Will Steakin and Kelsey Walsh

Mar 05, 2025, 3:12 PM EST

White House confirms direct talks with Hamas over hostages in Gaza

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt seemed to confirm that Adam Boehler, President Donald Trump's envoy for hostages, met with Hamas officials in Doha in past weeks, telling reporters that negotiations are ongoing.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, March 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Alex Brandon/AP

Leavitt was asked about the United States' long-standing position of not negotiating with terrorists and why the administration is now directly talking with Hamas. Axios reported that Boehler was in Doha to discuss with Hamas releasing the remaining American hostages and the possibility of a broader deal to end the war.

"Well, when it comes to the negotiations that you're referring to, first of all, the special envoy who's engaged in those negotiations does have the authority to talk to anyone. Israel was consulted on this matter. And look, dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what's in the best interest of the American people is something that the president has proven is what he believes is good-faith effort to do what's right for the American people," Leavitt said.

-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh

Mar 05, 2025, 2:38 PM EST

Macron warns French residents to prepare for US 'not to be by our side'

In a nationwide address, French President Emmanuel Macron said the French need to be prepared for the United States not to be by their side.

"I want to believe that the U.S. will stand by our side, but we have to be ready for that not to be the case," he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump in the East Room to the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 24, 2025.
Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

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