APPLENEWS - STORY ADD

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

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

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.


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Trump to host Cabinet meeting, make 'Trump accounts' announcement

President Donald Trump is scheduled on Tuesday to host a Cabinet meeting at 11:30 a.m. ET, according to the White House.

The president is then scheduled at 2 p.m. ET to make an announcement in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, according to his official schedule.

During a White House press briefing on Monday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that announcement would be about the president's initiative to create "Trump accounts" that would "give the next generation of Americans a jumpstart on savings."

"It will be a very exciting announcement indeed, especially for all of the parents across the country, with young children and babies," Leavitt said.

-ABC News’ Isabella Murray


Trump admin fires 8 immigration judges in New York City

The Trump administration fired eight immigration judges on Monday, according to an official with the National Association of Immigration Judges.

The judges who were dismissed worked at 26 Federal Plaza.

Earlier on Monday, an immigration judge who was fired by the Trump administration in February filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice, alleging she is a victim of discrimination.

More than 100 immigration judges have been fired, resigned through the Department of Government Efficiency's "Fork in the Road" offer, or transferred out of immigration adjudication, according to the union.

The latest firings come as the Department of Homeland Security is actively hiring "deportation judges."

In a post on X last week, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the jobs offer potential full-time remote work with salaries ranging from $159,951 to $207,500.

Immigrant advocates have called out the Trump administration for dismissing immigration judges who have experience in immigration law.

There is also a backlog of more than 3.7 million immigration cases.

-ABC News' Laura Romero


Noem wants ban on ‘killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies’

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


WH 'very optimistic' about Ukraine peace deal, Leavitt says

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