A federal judge ordered a Venezuelan couple, accused by the Trump administration of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang, to be released, delivering a stinging rebuke of the government's evidence in the case.
Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday was making an announced trip to the southern border -- without reporters -- as he faces new scrutiny in Washington.
ABC News has confirmed that, in at least two separate meetings, Hegseth accused top-ranking military officers of leaking to the news media and threatened to polygraph them.
Hegseth also used the Signal app on a personal computer in his office that was connected to the internet on an unsecured commercial line, what's known as a "dirty line," two sources confirmed to ABC News Thursday. A Pentagon spokesman called that report "fake news."
Trump will sign 7 executive orders related to education, press secretary says
While speaking to reporters on the White House driveway Wednesday afternoon, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump will sign seven executive orders related to education later Wednesday.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks to members of the news media outside of the White House, after doing a live TV appearance, in Washington, April 23, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Leavitt also responded to Trump’s earlier announcement of two new flagpoles on the White House North Lawn, saying the president is a “real estate developer at heart” and that he is always looking for ways to improve the White House.
Apr 23, 2025, 1:26 PM EDT
Trump administration looking at $5,000 'baby bonus' to incentivize Americans to have more kids
The White House has been fielding proposals aimed at convincing Americans to marry and have children, an effort being pushed by outside groups focused on increasing the birth rate, with one proposal being a $5,000 "baby bonus" to every American mother after she gives birth.
"Sounds like a good idea to me," Trump said Tuesday when asked about the incentive.
When asked by ABC News about the proposals the administration has been fielding, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president is "proudly implementing policies to uplift American families."
-- ABC News' Katherine Faulders and Hannah Demissie
Apr 23, 2025, 12:58 PM EDT
Trump criticizes Zelenskyy for refusal to recognize occupation of Crimea
President Donald Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, saying it is "inflammatory" of Zelenskyy to assert that Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea. Trump said that such statements will prolong the war.
"This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion," Trump said on his social media platform. "Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn't they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?"
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters at the White House, April 23, 2025, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP
"It's inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy's that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about!" Trump added. "The statement made by Zelenskyy today will do nothing but prolong the 'killing field,' and nobody wants that!"
On Tuesday, Zelenskyy told ABC News that Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea, saying "it is outside our Constitution. It is our territory, the territory of the Ukrainian people."
-- ABC News' Will Gretsky
Apr 23, 2025, 11:57 AM EDT
Trump to install 2 flagpoles on White House North Lawn
President DOnald Trump spent his Wednesday morning with a surprise appearance on the White House North Lawn, strolling around the property and meeting with the head groundskeeper for what he said are plans to install two new flagpoles.
President Donald Trump speaks with Dale Haney, head White House grounds keeper, right, and others, about a new flagpole on the North Lawn of the White House, April 23, 2025, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP
"We're putting up a beautiful, almost 100-foot-tall American flag on this side, and another one on the other side," he told reporters. "Two flags, top of the line."
"Paid for by Trump," the president said, adding that "they arrive in about a week or so."
