Trump admin updates: Trump at Charlie Kirk memorial service

The president and several of his Cabinet officials will speak at the service.

Last Updated: September 21, 2025, 4:09 PM EDT

President Donald Trump is among those who will speak Sunday at the memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Cook, who was assassinated last week.

On his way out of the White House Sunday morning, Trump defended Attorney General Pam Bondi for doing a "great job" after appearing to criticize her the day before over the lack of prosecutions against his political opponents.

On Friday, Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi about a variety of topics, including trade and the TikTok deal.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Sep 19, 2025, 5:03 PM EDT

Trump warns that could end up with a 'closed' country if funding bill isn't signed

During an Oval Office executive signing, President Donald Trump spoke about the ongoing funding bill that has stalled in the Senate.

Trump admonished the Democrats for not signing on and warned of a shutdown.

President Donald Trump speaks before signing executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, September 19, 2025.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

"I think you could very well end up with a closed, closed country for a period of time, and we'll take care of the military. We'll take care of Social Security. We'll take care of the things," Trump said.

Sep 19, 2025, 3:21 PM EDT

Mike Walz, Trump adviser at center of 'Signalgate', confirmed as US ambassador

The Senate on Friday confirmed Mike Waltz to be the Ambassador to the United Nations by a vote of 47-43 – just days before the UN General Assembly is scheduled to start in New York.

Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire were the only Democrats to support the confirmation. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul was the only Republican to vote no.

Walz previously served as national security adviser for the president, however, he came under fire in the spring for inadvertently adding a reporter to a Signal chat with top Trump officials discussing a U.S. military strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Trump announced in May that Walz was leaving his adviser position and nominated to be the U.N. ambassador role that was originally offered to U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik. Her nomination was withdrawn over concerns about the House's slim majority.

-ABC News' Lauren Peller

Sep 19, 2025, 2:15 PM EDT

Trump says he’ll meet with Turkish president at White House next week

Trump said in a social media post Friday he will meet with Turkish President Erdoğan at the White House on Thursday, Sept. 25, as they work on trade deals, including for Boeing aircraft and military jets.

Trump said he’s “always had a very good relationship” with Erdoğan.

This announcement comes just a few days after Trump conditioned his threat of secondary sanctions on Russia on NATO allies agreeing to forgo purchasing Russian oil. Turkey is one of the largest importers of Russian oil.

-ABC News' Fritz Farrow

Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One on September 18, 2025 during a flight to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Sep 19, 2025, 11:37 AM EDT

Trump says he will meet with Xi at APEC, travel to China in 2026

President Donald Trump, following a "very productive" phone call with Chinese President Xi, said in a social media post that he would meet with the Chinese leader at the APEC summit in South Korea that starts next month.

Trump added that he will travel to China "in the early part of next year." Trump said Xi would visit the U.S. himself "at an appropriate time."

PHOTO: Donald Trump | Xi Jinping
Donald Trump attending a joint press conference with Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer following their meeting at Chequers, in Aylesbury, central England, on September 18, 2025. Chinese President Xi jinping delivering a speech during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre in Tianjin on September 1, 2025.
Andrew Caballero-reynolds/AFP/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The president did not announce major updates about a potential deal on TikTok, only saying the two "made progress" on that topic and others, including trade.

-ABC News Fritz Farrow

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