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Trump admin live updates: Judge releases Venezuelan couple accused of being gang members, rips government evidence
He headed to the new military immigration enforcement area without reporters.
A federal judge ordered a Venezuelan couple, accused by the Trump administration of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang, to be released, delivering a stinging rebuke of the government's evidence in the case.
Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday was making an announced trip to the southern border -- without reporters -- as he faces new scrutiny in Washington.
ABC News has confirmed that, in at least two separate meetings, Hegseth accused top-ranking military officers of leaking to the news media and threatened to polygraph them.
Hegseth also used the Signal app on a personal computer in his office that was connected to the internet on an unsecured commercial line, what's known as a "dirty line," two sources confirmed to ABC News Thursday. A Pentagon spokesman called that report "fake news."
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Trump signs executive order on school accreditation process
Among the group of educational executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on Wednesday was one that charged the Department of Education with reviewing school accreditation processes
"I think that gets to your policy, sir, of meritocracy -- that we should be looking at those who have real merit to get in," Education Secretary Linda McMahon said before Trump signed the order.
Trump’s patience ‘running very thin’ with Ukraine-Russia negotiations, press secretary says
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that President Donald Trump's patience with Ukraine-Russia negotiations is "running very thin."
"And unfortunately, President Zelenskyy has been trying to litigate this peace … negotiation in the press, and that's unacceptable to the president. These should be closed door negotiations," Leavitt continued.
Responding to Trump's earlier criticism over Ukraine refusing to legally recognize the occupation of Crimea, Zelenskyy said in a statement that "Ukraine will always act in accordance with its Constitution and we are absolutely sure that our partners in particular the USA will act in line with its strong decisions."
– ABC News' Kelsey Walsh, Hannah Demissie, and Selina Wang
Trump will sign 7 executive orders related to education, press secretary says
While speaking to reporters on the White House driveway Wednesday afternoon, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump will sign seven executive orders related to education later Wednesday.
Leavitt also responded to Trump’s earlier announcement of two new flagpoles on the White House North Lawn, saying the president is a “real estate developer at heart” and that he is always looking for ways to improve the White House.
Trump administration looking at $5,000 'baby bonus' to incentivize Americans to have more kids
The White House has been fielding proposals aimed at convincing Americans to marry and have children, an effort being pushed by outside groups focused on increasing the birth rate, with one proposal being a $5,000 "baby bonus" to every American mother after she gives birth.
"Sounds like a good idea to me," Trump said Tuesday when asked about the incentive.
When asked by ABC News about the proposals the administration has been fielding, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president is "proudly implementing policies to uplift American families."
-- ABC News' Katherine Faulders and Hannah Demissie