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

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she is recommending the U.S. implement a "a full travel ban on every damn country that's been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies."

It is unclear what countries she is referring to, but the U.S. did recently identify 19 "countries of concern" -- which includes Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Venezuela, and Afghanistan -- that will have their citizens' U.S green cards "re-examined."

"Our forefathers built this nation on blood, sweat, and the unyielding love of freedom--not for foreign invaders to slaughter our heroes, suck dry our hard-earned tax dollars, or snatch the benefits owed to AMERICANS," Noem wrote. "WE DON'T WANT THEM. NOT ONE."

-ABC News' Luke Barr

One day after Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff met with a Ukrainian delegation in Florida, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed optimism about being close to a Russia-Ukraine peace agreement.

"I think the administration feels very optimistic," she said during a press briefing Monday afternoon. "They had very good talks with the Ukrainians in Florida. And now, of course, special envoy Witkoff is on his way to Russia," Leavitt said.

Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow on Monday and plans to meet with Russian President Vladamir Putin on Tuesday.

Leavitt emphasized the administration’s strong desire to end the war before touting its diplomacy efforts which include "speak[ing] equally with both sides," she said.

However, she remained tight-lipped on details of the ongoing negotiation, instead deferring to the negotiators.

"We've put points on paper. Those points have been very much refined. But as for the details, I will let the negotiators negotiate. But we do feel quite good, and we're hopeful that this work can finally come to an end," Leavitt said.

-ABC News' Emily Chang

When asked about two survivors who were allegedly killed after a second strike was authorized on a boat suspected of ferrying drugs in the Caribbean Sea in September, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dodged the question, deferring to the Department of Defense.

"I think you guys are sort of not listening fully to the statement I provided. Adm. Bradley worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was totally destroyed and the threat to the narco-terrorists to the United States was eliminated," Leavitt said in response to the question from ABC News Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott about the administration's inability to confirm or deny whether there were any survivors.

"For any questions about his thinking, I would defer you to the Department of War," Leavitt said.

One person familiar with details of the Sept. 2 incident confirmed to ABC News that there were survivors from an initial strike on the boat and that those survivors were killed in subsequent strikes.

Asked if there were a "change in policy" regarding survivors of these attacks, Leavitt said, "Not to my knowledge, no."

President Donald Trump's MRI conducted back in October "confirms that he remains in excellent overall health," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing on Monday.

Leavitt, who announced the president's MRI results, said the imaging was performed to "identify any issues early, confirm overall health and ensure the president maintains longterm vitality and function."

Trump's cardiovascular and abdominal imaging was "perfectly normal," Leavitt said.