Trump 2nd term updates: Trump says USAID is run by 'radical lunatics'
The comments came amid turmoil as DOGE took over USAID offices last week.
President Donald Trump made good on his threats to impose tariffs on some of the U.S.'s trading partners, announcing Saturday that he will levy 25% tariffs on some goods from Canada and Mexico and 10% on Chinese goods.
Experts have warned that tariffs of this magnitude will likely increase prices paid by U.S. and Trump appeared to acknowledge that “some pain” might be possible in the U.S.
Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee announced it will meet Tuesday, when it is expected to vote on the controversial nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of Health and Human Services.
Key Headlines
- Trump says USAID is run by 'radical lunatics' amid agency's uncertainty
- Trump says he will cut 'all future funding' to South Africa
- 500 Marines arrive at Guantanamo to set up migrant facilities: DOD
- FBI employees asked to explain their role in Jan. 6 cases: Sources
- Trump acknowledges ‘some pain’ possible from tariffs
Inside the White House on Day 1
While the Trump team had a flurry of executive actions ready to go within minutes of the president being sworn in, behind the scenes staff are still unpacking and getting accustomed to their new surroundings.
Staffers are buzzing about, unpacking, and trying to get their email up and running. The press email system is still a work in progress.
While the Oval Office was quickly transformed back to Trump's liking, members of his administration are now moving around their own office furniture and pondering what to put in the empty frames that sit askew on their walls.
One thing that was quick to turn over -- the "jumbos," the large glossy official photographs of the president that line the west wing hallways.The Trump team has already put up framed images of yesterday's inauguration.
– ABC's Mary Bruce, Karen Travers, and Molly Nagle
Trump's 1st sit-down interview will air on Wednesday
President Donald Trump's first sit-down interview of his second term will be with Fox's Sean Hannity in the Oval Office.
It will air on Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, the network announced.
During the interview, Trump will "discuss the executive orders he's signed thus far, his first 100 days in office and news of the day," according to the release from the news channel.
During his first term, Trump sat down with ABC News' David Muir for his first interview. That interview took place just five days after he was sworn into office in 2017.
-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart
Trump's tariff plans are still taking shape, despite pledges for Day 1 action
Tariffs were not in the executive orders Trump signed on Monday night and he suggested he’s still undecided on how far they might go -- which investors are reading as a good sign, reflected by the rallying market on Tuesday.
Trump said he was now targeting Feb. 1 as a potential target date for tariffs to take effect against Mexico and Canada, which he said could be as high as 25%. He said any plans for blanket tariffs are “not ready” just yet.
Trump has a history of using the threat of tariffs as a governing style.
Urging Mexico to crack down on border crossings in 2019, Trump threatened to slap a tariff on the country within 10 days through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) but relented after Mexico committed to specific measures.
-ABC's Cheyenne Haslett and Elizabeth Schulze
Trump talks about Biden's farewell letter
Trump said Biden gave a "very nice letter" before he left office and that he appreciated it.
"It was an inspirational-type letter," he said. "Do a good job. Important, very important how important the job is."