Trump 2nd term updates: Trump excludes low-value shipments from looming tariffs
The amendment exempts imports valued at less than $800 from Canada and Mexico.
President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape the federal government to his liking suffered a loss in court when a federal judge blocked his administration from firing the head of a federal watchdog agency without cause, likely triggering a lengthy appeal that could end at the Supreme Court.
U.S. District Justice Amy Berman Jackson determined the move was unlawful and issued a permanent injunction that reinstated special counsel Hampton Dellinger to his position.
Meanwhile, the Social Security Administration said it will cut 7,000 jobs and six of its 10 regional centers as part of the president’s downsizing of the federal workforce.
And Trump’s physician announced the president will have his annual physical next month, days after reporters raised questions about a bruise they saw on the back of his hand.
Latest headlines:
- White House excludes low-value shipments from looming Canada, Mexico tariffs
- Kennedy stops short of calling for vaccines amid measles outbreak
- Intel community has concerns Russia, China could target fired employees
- Trump's doctor says he'll have annual physical exam 'next month'
- White House backs Israel blocking aid to Gaza
Trump floats selling 'gold card' for $5 million for pathway to citizenship
In the Oval Office, President Donald Trump announced his administration plans to sell a "gold card" -- his version of a green card that will cost $5 million.
"We're going to be selling a gold card. You have a green card. This is a gold card. We're going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million. And that's going to give you green card privileges. Plus, it's going to be a route to citizenship, and wealthy people will be coming into our country by buying this card," Trump said.
"They'll be wealthy and they'll be successful and they'll be spending a lot of money and paying a lot of taxes and employing a lot of people. And we think it's going to be extremely successful and never been done before anything like this," Trump added, saying he expects to roll it out in the next two weeks.
Trump said he doesn't need Congress to act because it is not giving citizenship to those who purchase it, but rather a "strong pathway" to it.
Pressed if a Russian oligarch would be eligible, Trump said "possibly," adding that there are "some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people."
-- ABC News' Molly Nagle
Trump administration to look into imposing tariffs on copper imports
President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to investigate the possibility of imposing tariffs on copper to see if they are necessary to "help build back our American copper industry … and strengthen our national defense."
When reporters asked how copper got on the president's radar during a call previewing the action, one official said Trump "is playing three-dimensional chess in this world, and he sees things far advanced that the rest of us don't."
-ABC News' Molly Nagle
Philadelphia Eagles will 'absolutely' be invited to White House, Trump says
Trump said the White House has not extended an invitation to the Philadelphia Eagles following the team's Super Bowl victory but that it intends to.
"I thought it was a great performance by them. And absolutely they'll be extended that invitation," he said, before turning to ask an aide to do so "right away."
In 2018, the Eagles did not visit the White House after winning the Super Bowl.
Trump suspends top Washington law firm's security clearances as a result of working with Jack Smith
In the Oval Office on Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced the suspension and review of security clearances for Covington and Burling employees who worked with special counsel Jack Smith to be suspended and put under review.
"One law firm that provided pro bono legal services to the special counsel's office under Jack Smith's leadership was Covington and Burling," Trump said. "As a result of those actions, we're now going to be suspending and putting under review the security clearances for the attorneys and employees at that firm who worked with Jack Smith's team."
The president added that he plans to hold "the people who were responsible for the weaponization of government, who supported it, accountable for what they did."
The directive from Trump follows a series of moves to retaliate against Smith and members of his team who aided his dual prosecutions for Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
-ABC News' Alexander Mallin