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Trump admin live updates: Trump pardons former entertainment exec indicted by own DOJ

Tim Leiweke was indicted for allegedly orchestrating a bid-rigging scheme.

Last Updated: December 4, 2025, 6:23 AM EST

President Donald Trump answered questions about a controversial Sept. 2 boat strike while in the Oval Office Wednesday afternoon. Trump, who said Tuesday that he "didn't know" about a second strike on an alleged drug boat in September that reports say killed two survivors of an initial strike, said Wednesday that he would be open to releasing more video of the boat strike.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that he didn't see the second strike and didn't see survivors from the initial strike. Hegseth has backed Adm. Mitch Bradley, who the White House said made the decision for the second strike. Bradley is set to brief the Senate and House Armed Services committees on the strikes on Thursday.

Dec 01, 2025, 2:11 PM EST

Leavitt defends Trump's pardon of former Honduras president

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to questions about Trump's pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was sentenced to 45 years in U.S. prison for helping drug traffickers move cocaine through his country to the U.S.

Asked about Trump's pardon and how it's different than the administration's dealing with Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, Leavitt said Hernandez "was set up."

"This was a clear Biden over-prosecution. He was the president of this country. He was in the opposition party. He was opposed to the values of the previous administration, and they charged him because he was president of Honduras," Leavitt said during Monday's press briefing.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Dec. 1, 2025, in Washington.
Evan Vucci/AP
Dec 01, 2025, 1:48 PM EST

White House says 'mass deportation operation' must continue after DC National Guard shooting

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the White House is "praying" for the family of Andrew Wolfe, the National Guardsmen who was injured during a shooting in Washington, D.C., last week.

Leavitt said the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, will be "prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

She also said "in the wake of last week's atrocity, it is more important than ever to finish carrying out the president's mass-deportation operation."

"America cannot allow millions upon millions of unvetted illegal aliens to be rewarded with amnesty," Leavitt said.

She added that it is "essential to immediately address the massive fraud and corruption that has been going on for decades."

Dec 01, 2025, 12:28 PM EST

Sen. Kelly to hold news conference to address Trump and Hegseth's 'efforts to intimidate' him

Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly will hold a news conference in the Capitol at 3:30 p.m. on Monday to address what he calls Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's "effort to intimidate" him.

Kelly was one of the six lawmakers who appeared in a video last month telling military members that they could refuse illegal orders.

Sen. Mark Kelly speaks during the Harris-Walz Campaign Election Eve rally and concert in Phoenix, Arizona, November 4, 2024.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

The Department of Defense last week said it would launch a "thorough review" into Kelly, citing "serious allegations of misconduct."

In the video, the group says, "The threats to our Constitution aren't just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution."

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin

Dec 01, 2025, 12:01 PM EST

Trump said he would 'absolutely' release results of his MRI

During a gaggle with reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, Trump said he would release the results of his MRI and said he didn't know what part of the body the scan was targeting.

Trump was asked about calls from Democrats for him to release the results of the MRI that he revealed he got during an appointment at Walter Reed Medical Center in October.

Donald Trump speaks to the press aboard Air Force One en-route to Washington, DC on November 30, 2025.
Pete Marovich/Getty Images

"But if you want to have it released, I'll release it, absolutely," Trump said Sunday.

A reporter than asked what the MRI was looking at, to which Trump replied he didn't know.

"I have no idea. It was just an MRI. What part of the body? It wasn't the brain. Because I took a cognitive test and I aced it," Trump said.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart

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