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Trump admin live updates: Dems react to Hegseth discussing Yemen strike in 2nd chat

The Signal chat included Hegseth's wife, brother and lawyer, sources said.

Last Updated: April 20, 2025, 10:28 PM EDT

President Donald Trump continues to take sweeping executive actions in his second term, including an order this week targeting a senior official from his first administration who became one of his critics.

Focus continues on the legal battle regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a migrant who was living in Maryland when he was wrongfully deported by the administration.

Apr 16, 2025, 12:13 PM EDT

Federal judge finds probable cause to hold Trump administration in criminal contempt

Judge James Boasberg has found probable cause that the Trump administration acted in contempt of court when officials last month defied his order to turn two planes around carrying alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador.

James Boasberg, chief judge of the US District Court for the District of Columbia, attends a panel discussion at the annual American Board Association Spring Antitrust Meeting at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, April 2, 2025.
Drew Angerer/AFP via Getty Images

"As this Opinion will detail, the Court ultimately determines that the Government’s actions on that day demonstrate a willful disregard for its Order, sufficient for the Court to conclude that probable cause exists to find the Government in criminal contempt," he wrote.

-ABC News' Katherine Faulders, Alexander Mallin and Peter Charalambous

Apr 16, 2025, 12:12 PM EDT

State Department to shutter office aimed at countering foreign disinformation campaigns

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced he will close the State Department's Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) hub, formerly known as the Global Engagement Center,a small office within the department that tracks and counters foreign disinformation campaigns.

Rubio said he was doing so because the hub, he alleged, "spent millions of dollars to actively silence and censor the voices of Americans they were supposed to be serving."

Shuttering FIMI will eliminate the only office inside the agency dedicated to thwarting disinformation campaigns spawned by U.S. adversaries such as Iran, China and Russia.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono at the State Department in Washington, April 16, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Critics of the initiative have long claimed that it silenced conservative voices. Rubio's claims of protecting free speech also come as the State Department targets some on visitor visas who participate in protests that agency leaders have deemed to be "pro-Hamas."

-ABC News' Shannon Kingston

Apr 16, 2025, 9:35 AM EDT

Rubio, Witkoff to travel to Paris for Russia-Ukraine talks

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's special envoy and lead negotiator tasked with ending the war in Ukraine, will travel to Paris on Wednesday for talks with European counterparts on how to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The two will be in France until April 18, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement.

Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 18, 2025 and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, March 18, 2025.
AFP via Getty Images

"While in Paris, he will also discuss ways to advance shared interests in the region," Bruce said of Rubio.

-ABC News' Shannon Kingston

Apr 16, 2025, 9:20 AM EDT

Trump again insults Harvard, says it should lose federal funds

President Donald Trump again insulted Harvard University, saying in a social media post on Wednesday that the university has "lost its way."

His daily jabs continue as the university said it would not comply with his administration's series of demands, including relating to actions on antisemitism and the use of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on campus. In turn, the administration froze over $2.2 billion in federal funding to the university on Monday.

Trump echoed that Harvard should lose its federal funds, writing: "Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the World’s Great Universities or Colleges. Harvard is a JOKE, teaches Hate and Stupidity, and should no longer receive Federal Funds."

President Donald Trump arrives at a ceremony to present the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the US Naval Academy football team, the Navy Midshipmen, in the East Room of the White House, April 15, 2025 in Washington.
Win McNamee/Getty Images

-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh

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