Hours after the Senate approved a spending framework, President Donald Trump said in a Fox News interview that he鈥檚 open to approving the spending plan in multiple bills 鈥渁s long as we get to the same point.鈥
Here's the latest:
Maine governor says funding fight is about 鈥榳hether a President can force compliance with his will鈥
Maine Gov. Janet Mills says Trump does not have the right to withhold funding appropriated by Congress and paid for by taxpayers 鈥渋n an attempt to coerce someone into compliance with his will.鈥
The Democratic governor made the statement Friday after the U.S. Department of Education told Maine鈥檚 Department of Education that it had been instructed to begin an investigation into the state for allowing transgender athletes to compete.
Trump has threatened to cut the state鈥檚 federal funding unless it backs down.
Mills says she thinks 鈥渢he outcome of this politically directed investigation is all but predetermined鈥 but said she would work with the attorney general to fight for Maine in court.
鈥淏ut do not be misled: this is not just about who can compete on the athletic field, this is about whether a President can force compliance with his will, without regard for the rule of law that governs our nation,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 believe he cannot.鈥
The Supreme Court won鈥檛 allow Trump to immediately fire head of whistleblower office
The Supreme Court on Friday temporarily kept on the job at that protects government whistleblowers, in its first word on the many legal fights over Trump鈥檚 second-term agenda.
The justices said in an unsigned order that Hampton Dellinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel, could remain in his job at least until Feb. 26. That鈥檚 when a lower-court order temporarily protecting him expires.
The high court neither granted nor rejected the administration鈥檚 plea to immediately remove him. Instead, the court held the request in abeyance, noting that the order expires in just a few days.
鈻 Read more about
Park service restores jobs and adds more seasonal workers
The Trump administration is restoring jobs for dozens of 好色tv Park Service employees fired amid government-wide reductions and hiring nearly 3,000 additional seasonal workers, following an uproar over
At least 50 jobs are being restored to help maintain and clean parks, educate visitors and collect admission fees, according to two people familiar with the agency鈥檚 plans who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
The moves come as the park service said in a new memo that it will hire up to 7,700 seasonal positions this year, up from about 5,000 promised earlier this week and higher than the three-year average of 6,350 seasonal workers. The park service has about 20,000 employees.
Lawmakers and advocacy groups have criticized the as unnecessary and a threat to public safety and the parks themselves.
鈻 Read more about
___
Associated Press reporter Matthew Daly contributed reporting.
US Department of Education announces investigation of Maine agency over transgender athletes
The U.S. Department of Education says it is initiating an investigation into the Maine Department of Education over the inclusion of transgender athletes.
The announcement Friday came the same day that Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills sparred at the White House over the issue after Trump singled her out at a governor鈥檚 event.
Trump has threatened Maine鈥檚 federal funding if the state continues to allow transgender athletes to play in women鈥檚 and girls sports. Mills, a Democrat, told the Republican president, 鈥淲e鈥檒l see you in court.鈥
State officials had no immediate comment on the planned investigation.
鈻 Read more about
Justice Department files complaint against judge weighing challenge to Trump鈥檚 transgender troop ban
The complaint accuses U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes of inappropriately questioning a government lawyer about his religious beliefs and trying to 鈥渆mbarrass鈥 the attorney with a rhetorical exercise during an exchange about discrimination.
During the rhetorical exercise, Reyes told the attorney that she changed the rules in her courtroom to bar graduates of the University of Virginia law school from appearing before her because they are all 鈥渓iars and lack integrity.鈥 She instructed the government attorney, a graduate of the school, to sit down.
In another exchange cited in the complaint, the judge asked the attorney what 鈥淛esus would say to telling a group of people that they are so worthless, so worthless that we鈥檙e鈥 we鈥檙e not going to allow them into homeless shelters?鈥
The complaint calls for an investigation, saying 鈥渁ppropriate action鈥 should be taken to ensure that future hearings are conducted with the 鈥渄ignity and impartiality the public has a right to expect.鈥
鈻 Read more about
Trump plans to retaliate against taxes on digital services
Trump says he plans to sign an action as soon as Friday to put tariffs on countries that tax digital services.
鈥淲hat they鈥檙e doing to us and other countries is terrible with digital,鈥 Trump told reporters.
The U.S. president didn鈥檛 flesh out the details of the action or how the tariffs would necessarily apply.
About half of European countries have announced, proposed or implemented taxes on digital services, which largely hit U.S. tech companies, according to the , a center-right think tank.
Pentagon is cutting 5,400 probationary jobs
The Pentagon says it鈥檚 laying off 5,400 probationary workers starting next week and will put a hiring freeze in place.
It comes as Trump鈥檚 administration is firing thousands of federal workers who have less civil service protections.
At the Defense Department, 鈥渨e anticipate reducing the Department鈥檚 civilian workforce by 5-8% to produce efficiencies and refocus the Department on the President鈥檚 priorities and restoring readiness in the force,鈥 said Darin Selnick, who is acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also has directed the military services to identify $50 billion in programs that could be cut next year to redirect those savings to fund Trump鈥檚 priorities.
Trump says he鈥檚 not going to visit Moscow
The president dismissed reports that he might be going to Moscow, saying, 鈥淣o, no I鈥檓 not.鈥
Trump made the comment as he spoke to reporters while swearing in new Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Ex-Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio arrested near Capitol on assault charge
Former Proud Boys national leader Enrique Tarrio was arrested Friday near the U.S. Capitol on a charge that he assaulted a woman protesting a gathering attended by Tarrio and others who received presidential pardons for crimes stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot in the nation鈥檚 capital.
Capitol police said officers saw Tarrio strike the protester鈥檚 cellphone and arm after the woman placed the phone close to his face as they walked near the Capitol. Tarrio had just left a news conference that had ended 鈥渨ithout incident,鈥 police said.
鈥淭he woman told our officers that she wanted to be a complainant, and the man was arrested for the simple assault,鈥 police said in a statement.
Tarrio, of Miami, was serving a 22-year sentence 鈥 the longest among hundreds of Capitol riot cases 鈥 when President Donald Trump granted clemency last month to all 1,500-plus people charged in the attack.
鈻 Read more about
AP sues 3 Trump administration officials, citing freedom of speech
The Associated Press sued three Trump administration officials Friday over access to presidential events, citing freedom of speech in asking a federal judge to stop the 10-day blocking of its journalists.
The lawsuit was filed Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
The AP says its case is about an unconstitutional effort by the White House to control speech 鈥 in this case refusing to change its style from the Gulf of Mexico to the 鈥淕ulf of America,鈥 as President Donald Trump did last month with an executive order.
鈥淭he press and all people in the United States have the right to choose their own words and not be retaliated against by the government,鈥 the AP said in its lawsuit, which names White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
鈥淭his targeted attack on the AP鈥檚 editorial independence and ability to gather and report the news strikes at the very core of the First Amendment,鈥 the news agency said. 鈥淭his court should remedy it immediately.鈥
鈻 Read more about and
Lutnick takes oath to be commerce secretary
Howard Lutnick has been officially sworn in as commerce secretary, a cabinet post that the Wall Street investor plans to use to impose Trump鈥檚 planned tariffs.
鈥淲e are going to balance the budget of the United States of America, because Donald Trump understands global business,鈥 Lutnick said while in the Oval Office with the president.
Lutnick is a supporter of cryptocurrency and led the financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald.
US stocks tumble as businesses and consumers worry about tariffs and Washington
U.S. stocks fell sharply after reports showed worries about how Trump鈥檚 policies may be hitting the economy.
The S&P 500 sank 1.7% Friday for its worst day in two months. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.7%, and the Nasdaq composite tumbled 2.2%.
The losses accelerated through the day following several weaker-than-expected reports on the economy.
One report suggested U.S. business activity is close to stalling, with optimism slumping because of worries about tariffs and other potential policies from Washington. Reports on consumer sentiment and home sales also came in weaker than expected.
Akamai Technologies weighed on the market after giving financial forecasts that fell short of expectations. Treasury yields fell in the bond market.
鈻 Read more about
ICE鈥檚 acting director has been reassigned
The top official in charge of carrying out Trump鈥檚 mass deportations agenda has been reassigned after the administration voiced concerns that the deportation effort isn鈥檛 moving fast enough.
Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that Caleb Vitello, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was 鈥渘o longer in an administrative role, but is instead overseeing all field and enforcement operations.鈥
The statement didn鈥檛 give a reason for the move. Vitello is a career ICE official with more than two decades on the job. But White House officials have expressed frustration with the pace of deportations of people in the country illegally.
Judge clears way for Trump administration remove thousands of USAID staffers
A federal judge has cleared the way for the Trump administration to pull thousands of U.S. Agency for International Development staffers off the job.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols removed his temporary block on the effort to pull all but a small fraction of USAID staffers from their posts and give those abroad a 30-day deadline to move back to the U.S. at government expense.
His ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by unions on behalf of workers. They say the rush to dismantle the agency had cut off some staffers overseas from emergency communications systems, including some in danger of political violence in Congo.
The Trump administration and the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency tied to billionaire Elon Musk have moved swiftly to shutter USAID, asserting that its work is wasteful and out of line with the president鈥檚 agenda.
鈻 Read more about
Lawmakers ask about list of possible military firings
A group of lawmakers, all of whom served in the U.S. military, have asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to provide the criteria he is using to evaluate military officers for possible dismissal.
In the last two days, a list of seven three- and four-star military officers identified to be fired, including Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown, has circulated among some lawmakers.
It was not clear who sent the list to Capitol Hill, and the office of the secretary for defense did not immediately respond to questions about it.
A U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, described the list as potentially just socializing those names to gauge how much pushback there would be in firing them.
Notably, neither Republican leaders of the House or Senate armed services committees said they have been notified or provided an official list from the Pentagon.
鈥淢ost if not all of the three and four star General and Flag officers were general officers under the first Trump administration and have served honorably under many administrations of both parties,鈥 said the seven lawmakers 鈥 six Democrats and one Republican.
Three-and four-star officers鈥 ranks are all tied to their position, and the president has the authority to relieve them at will.
___
Associated Press reporter Tara Copp contributed reporting.
Trump promotes mail voting fraud falsehoods despite past inconsistencies
Trump several times parroted conspiracy theories about mail voting fraud at a White House meeting Friday with a bipartisan group of governors, falsely declaring, 鈥淎ny time you have mail-in ballots, you鈥檙e going to have fraud 鈥 without question.鈥
Leading up to the 2024 election, however, Trump and other Republican officials to cast their ballots by mail in a presidential race projected to be decided by razor-thin margins. The Republican 好色tv Committee also embraced early and mail voting in 2024, and Trump has promoted these voting methods on recordings played during the convention and at rallies.
This is despite false narratives about mail voting forming much of the bedrock of Trump鈥檚 unfounded claims of a stolen 2020 election.
Trump also leaned heavily into the election misinformation playbook in the days before the 2024 election, laying the groundwork to claim voter fraud if he lost. As the election tipped in his favor, Trump鈥檚 complaints .
Trump repeats plan to shift FEMA responsibilities to the states
Trump told governors that he wants states to have 鈥渟kin in the game鈥 when it comes to disaster response, but that the federal government should continue picking up most of the cost.
He repeated his desire to for responding to hurricanes, tornadoes, fires and other disasters from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to states.
鈥淚鈥檇 rather have you do it,鈥 Trump said, predicting it would it would save money to put the onus on states. He suggested splitting the costs, with the federal government picking up 75%.
Trump has been , with some of his criticisms rooted in .
鈻 For more on the
Trump invites governors to tour Fort Knox with him
Trump brought up his plan to have Elon Musk鈥檚 DOGE team verify that the U.S. gold reserves are indeed locked away at the 鈥 and he invited the nation鈥檚 governors to come along.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to go in there pretty soon,鈥 Trump told the governors during a meeting at the White House. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to open the doors to Fort Knox. And if any governor would like to go with us, we鈥檒l go.鈥
Reflecting on the lore surrounding the gold reserves and the intense security measures that protect them, Trump joked that it would be terrible to discover the precious metal was missing. But he predicted it would all be there.
It was the third straight day that Trump brought up the .
Trump has tense exchange with Maine Gov. Janet Mills
Trump had a tense exchange with the Maine Gov. Janet Mills over the state鈥檚 policies toward transgender youth.
While speaking to governors who were meeting at the White House, Trump asked Mills whether Maine would comply with his executive order barring transgender girls from playing on girls sports teams.
鈥淚鈥檓 complying with state and federal laws,鈥 Mills responded.
Trump shot back: 鈥淲e are the federal law.鈥
鈥淵ou better do it because you鈥檙e not going to get any federal funding at all if you don鈥檛,鈥 he said, adding that Maine may be a Democratic state, but its residents largely agree with him on the issue.
鈥淚鈥檒l see you in court,鈥 Mills responded.
鈥淕ood. I鈥檒l see you in court,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 look forward to that. That should be a real easy one. And enjoy your life after, governor, because I don鈥檛 think you鈥檒l be in elected politics.鈥
Ric Grenell says he would run for California governor if Harris enters race
Ric Grenell, who is Trump鈥檚 envoy for special missions, said he 鈥渕ay not be able to resist鈥 running for governor of California if he gets to race against former Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
Grenell announced he may be interested in the Republican gubernatorial nomination in an interview with Politico鈥檚 Dasha Burns on stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference outside Washington.
Harris was in last year鈥檚 presidential election, and had previously been a U.S. senator from California and the state鈥檚 attorney general.
鈥淲e spent hundreds of millions of dollars to define who Kamala Harris is. If she thinks that she鈥檚 going to run for governor of California, a Republican is going to win, and I may not be able to resist trying to run against her.鈥
鈻 For more on and
Judge adjourns trial for New York City Mayor Eric Adams but appoints counsel to advise on next steps
A federal judge has adjourned the corruption trial for New York City Mayor Eric Adams and appointed counsel to advise him on how to handle the Justice Department鈥檚 request to drop charges against the Democrat.
The ruling Friday by Judge Dale E. Ho will delay by at least a couple weeks when he will decide whether to grant the request to drop charges against the embattled mayor of the country鈥檚 largest city.
A government lawyer cited an executive order by President Donald Trump as he defended the request to drop charges during a hearing Wednesday.
Adams confirmed at the hearing that he accepted that charges could later be reinstated.
鈻 For
Mayor sidesteps Trump鈥檚 talk of a Washington, DC, federal 鈥榯akeover鈥
Mayor Muriel Bowser is keeping things diplomatic regarding President Donald Trump鈥檚 call for a federal 鈥渢akeover鈥 of the District of Columbia.
Earlier this week, Trump repeated his longstanding call for a federal takeover 鈥 citing crime rates, homelessness and graffiti among the city鈥檚 failings.
In an extended Q&A at the 好色tv Press Club Friday, Bowser sidestepped chances to push back and focused on common ground.
鈥淭he president is very focused on making our nation鈥檚 capital the most beautiful capital in the world,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t turns out that鈥檚 our focus as well.鈥
When asked about threats to the , Bowser focused on 鈥渟ome people in the Congress鈥 as the most imminent danger.
鈻 For more on Trump鈥檚
There are currently no migrants being held at Guantanamo Bay, US official says
There were no immigrants being held at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station as of Friday morning, U.S. military authorities said a day after 177 Venezuelan migrants were flown from the U.S. military base to their home country.
The naval base on the eastern end of Cuba has served as a way station for Venezuelan immigrants with final orders of deportation from the U.S. since military transport flights began arriving with migrants on a near-daily basis from Texas on Feb. 4.
鈥淎t the moment, there are no illegal migrants being held at Guantanamo Bay,鈥 the U.S. Southern Command of the Department of Defense said Friday in an email.
Juan Agudelo, an emergency removal operations supervisor in Miami for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said Guantanamo Bay is being used as a temporary staging facility for immigrants as they are repatriated abroad.
Immigrants rights groups are suing U.S. authorities to establish direct access to immigrant detainees at Guantanamo.
鈻禦ead more about to Venezuela
Trump tells governors he鈥檚 had 鈥榲ery good talks with Putin鈥 and praises North Carolina鈥檚 Stein
Trump continued speaking about Russia and Ukraine as he addressed Republican and Democratic governors gathered at the White House for a meeting Friday morning.
The president told the governors that he has 鈥渉ad very good talks with Putin鈥 and 鈥渘ot such good talks with Ukraine.鈥
He also had some rare praise for a Democrat, telling the room that he鈥檚 been working well with North Carolina鈥檚 new Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, whose state is still recovering from Hurricane Helene.
Trump signals he鈥檚 open to multiple budget bills, backing away from preference for 'one big beautiful bill'
Hours after the Senate approved a spending framework, the president said in a Fox News interview that he鈥檚 open to approving the spending plan in multiple bills 鈥渁s long as we get to the same point.鈥
Trump temporarily derailed the Senate鈥檚 spending push this week when he publicly bashed the approach from the Senate Budget Committee chairman, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Trump said he favored the 鈥渂ig beautiful bill鈥 from a more politically fraught package that includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts but slashes government programs and services.
Senators want to address those priorities later, in a second package.
鈥淣ow, what they approved yesterday is one part of it and then they approve another part of it,鈥 Trump said Friday.
鈥淚 guess you could make the case you could do three. You could do 10,鈥 he added. 鈥淎s long as we get along, you know as long as we get them all added up and it鈥檚 the same thing.鈥
He said it鈥檚 鈥渁 very good signal鈥 that senators got the first bill passed and that Republicans have 鈥渇antastic鈥 unity.
Maine Democrats vow to fight Trump on pulling funding over trans athletes
High-ranking Democrats in Maine said Friday they will fight back against Trump鈥檚 vow to deny the state federal funding due to the participation of transgender athletes in girls鈥 sports.
Trump addressed a group of governors on Thursday and said he 鈥渉eard men are still playing in Maine鈥 and that he would pull funding because of it under the terms of an executive order he signed this month.
鈥淪o we鈥檙e not going to give them any federal funding. None, whatsoever, until they clean that up,鈥 Trump said.
Maine鈥檚 Attorney General Aaron Frey said he will 鈥渄efend Maine鈥檚 laws and block efforts by the president to bully and threaten us.鈥
Gov. Janet Mills also said the state 鈥渨ill not be intimidated鈥 by Trump鈥檚 threats.
鈥淚f the president attempts to unilaterally deprive Maine school children of the benefit of federal funding, my administration and the attorney general will take all appropriate and necessary legal action to restore that funding and the academic opportunity it provides,鈥 Mills said.
Trump adviser says he expects Ukraine to agree to deal allowing US access to the country鈥檚 rare earth minerals
Trump鈥檚 national security adviser says he believes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will accept a deal letting the U.S. access his country鈥檚 rare earth minerals.
Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Mike Waltz said, 鈥淗ere鈥檚 the bottom line. President Zelenskyy is going to sign that deal,鈥 though it wasn鈥檛 clear on what timeline he meant.
Trump said this week that he believed the U.S. had a deal on accessing Ukraine鈥檚 critical minerals when Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent traveled to Kyiv last week.
Zelenskyy said previously that he鈥檇 directed his ministers not to sign off on a proposed agreement.
Vice President JD Vance also discussed the deal with Zelenskyy in Munich days after the Bessent meeting.
Trump said Bessent鈥檚 visit to Ukraine was 鈥榓 wasted trip,鈥 continues criticism of Zelenskyy
Trump continued his criticism of Zelenskyy on Friday and said that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent鈥檚 trip to Kyiv last week to try to secure a deal to access Ukraine鈥檚 minerals was 鈥渁 wasted trip.鈥
鈥淔rankly I wish he didn鈥檛 go there, waste all of his time like that,鈥 Trump said on an interview on 鈥淭he Brian Kilmeade Show鈥 on Fox Radio.
He started to criticize Zelenskyy for his leadership as his country was destroyed by war. Host Brian Kilmeade said, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 Putin鈥檚 fault,鈥 and Trump said. 鈥淚 get tired of listening to it, I鈥檒l tell you what.鈥
Trump continued complaining about Zelenskyy and said he 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 think he鈥檚 very important to be at meetings鈥 and that he鈥檚 been negotiating 鈥渨ith no cards, and you get sick of it.鈥
He said Putin wants to make a deal and added, 鈥淗e doesn鈥檛 have to make a deal. Because if he wanted, he would get the whole country.鈥
Social Security Administration ends cooperative agreements with researchers focused on equity in benefits
The Social Security Administration terminated its cooperative agreements with its Retirement and Disability Research Consortium 鈥 which includes research relationships with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Brandeis University, University of Baltimore, and Westat.
The agency cites President Trump鈥檚 executive order titled 鈥淓nding Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.鈥
鈥淭erminating our RDRC cooperative agreements aligns with President Trump鈥檚 priorities to end fraudulent and wasteful initiatives and contracts,鈥 said Social Security鈥檚 Acting Commissioner Lee Dudek.
The center鈥檚 website states that its research agenda focuses on equity in access to Social Security retirement for under-recognized and underserved segments of society, the intersection of health and access to healthcare and equitable disability program participation and disparities in disability program access and participation.
Social Security says ending the cooperative agreements will bring about $15 million dollars in cost savings.
US envoy praises Zelenskyy after Trump鈥檚 censure of the Ukrainian leader
President Donald Trump鈥檚 envoy to Ukraine and Russia said on Friday that he held 鈥渆xtensive and positive discussions鈥 with Ukraine鈥檚 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the and praised the Ukrainian leader as an 鈥渆mbattled and courageous leader of a nation at war.鈥
Retired U.S. Lt. Gen. 鈥 who traveled to Kyiv on Wednesday and whose planned at the last minute to a simple photo opportunity 鈥 struck a positive tone after what he said on the social platform X was 鈥渁 long and intense day鈥 of talks with Ukraine鈥檚 senior leadership.
His comments marked a departure from by Trump and other senior U.S. officials that appeared to indicate an abrupt deterioration of relations.
Economic vibes not looking so great for Trump
Consumer confidence fell nearly 10% on a monthly basis in February, a sharp plunge that suggests President Donald Trump鈥檚 tariff plans have given his administration a potentially short honeymoon with voters.
The University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment came in Friday at a reading of 64.7, down 9.8% on a monthly basis and 15.9% on a yearly basis. The Trump administration has touted other measures of confidence such as the 好色tv Federation of Independent Business鈥 index to suggest there is newfound optimism because of Trump鈥檚 return to the White House.
But during President Joe Biden鈥檚 tenure, the Michigan numbers often tracked with his loss of public approval. The latest Michigan figures have people expecting on average that inflation will increase 4.3% over the next year, a sharp increase from the January reading. Tariffs are taxes on imports that can raise prices for consumers.
Confidence among Republicans has held steady in the index, but it has fallen sharply among Democrats and political independents.
White House defends DOGE cuts amid complaints about 鈥榗hainsaw鈥 approach
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the Trump administration鈥檚 sweeping measures when asked about complaints Friday that DOGE is using a 鈥渃hainsaw鈥 approach to cutting the government鈥檚 size and spending, Leavitt told reporters at the White House that there is public support for the administration, and it is 鈥渃ommitted to cutting waste, fraud and abuse.鈥
鈥淭he president campaigned on that promise. Americans elected him on that promise, and he鈥檚 actually delivering on it. And this is something that Democrats promised they would do for decades. President Trump is just the first president to get it done,鈥 she said.
Treasury raises concerns with China鈥檚 Vice Premier over fentanyl
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed concerns about China鈥檚 counternarcotics efforts, according to a Treasury readout of his first call Friday with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.
President Donald Trump, who signed an order imposing 10% tariffs against China earlier this month, is aiming at combating the illicit flow of fentanyl into the U.S., where the opioid is blamed for some 70,000 overdose deaths annually.
China is a major supplier of precursor chemicals used for the manufacturing of fentanyl.
The Treasury said the finance ministers also spoke about 鈥渆conomic imbalances, and unfair policies, and stressed the Administration鈥檚 commitment to pursue trade and economic policies that protect the American economy, the American worker, and our national security.鈥
The pair agreed to remain in communication.
鈻禦ead more about
Sinn F茅in leaders won鈥檛 attend St. Patrick鈥檚 event at White House to protest US stance on Gaza
Sinn F茅in鈥檚 President Mary Lou McDonald addresses the media in Dublin, as Sinn F茅in鈥檚 David Cullinane looks on, in Dublin, Ireland, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. Ireland braced for weeks of political uncertainty Monday after an earth-shaking election that saw the Irish Republican Army-linked party Sinn Fein 鈥 long shunned by its bigger rivals 鈥 take the largest share of votes. (Niall Carson/PA via AP)
The Irish party鈥檚 leader Mary Lou McDonald said the Trump鈥檚 administration鈥檚 position was 鈥渃atastrophically鈥 wrong and she was taking 鈥渁 principled stance against the threat of mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from Gaza.鈥
removing about 2 million Palestinians from Gaza so the U.S. can own and rebuild what he called the 鈥淩iviera of the Middle East.鈥 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed the idea, but it鈥檚 been universally rejected by Palestinians and Arab countries, caused concern from other world leaders and thrown a ceasefire into doubt.
She was joined in the boycott by Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O鈥橬eill, the party鈥檚 vice president, who said she was standing 鈥渙n the side of humanity.鈥
鈻 Read more
Chinese Vice Premier expresses 鈥榮olemn concern鈥 over tariffs in video call with US Treasury Secretary
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng has expressed 鈥渟olemn concerns鈥 to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about the Trump administration鈥檚 imposition of on imports from China.
The comments came in a video call that was Bessent鈥檚 first contact with a senior Chinese official since assuming his post. Trump said he imposed the tariff because China needs to do more to control the fentanyl trade. China on select American products and other targeted measures.
Ahead of the call, Bessent told Bloomberg that the first thing he wanted to talk about was curbing fentanyl precursor chemicals coming from China
Federal judge will consider further blocking Trump administration from freezing funds
The judge will consider a request to further block the Trump administration from of grants and loans that fund everything from clean energy programs to bridge repairs to emergency shelters.
U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island, who already approved a temporary restraining order on the funding freeze, is hearing a request for a permanent injunction from nearly two dozen Democrat states. If approved, it would be the first order since the Trump administration announced a sweeping pause on federal aid, stirring up a wave of across the United States.
A second lawsuit over the funding freeze by groups representing thousands of nonprofits and small businesses is being heard by U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan in Washington, D.C. AliKhan is also considering a request to issue a preliminary injunction.
鈻 Read more
Macron says he plans to tell Trump not to 鈥渂e weak鈥 in the face of Putin amid negotiation talks
Macron is to travel to Washington to meet with Trump on Monday, the White House said.
In a one-hour question and answer session on his social media Thursday, Macron said he鈥檒l tell Trump: 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 be weak in the face of President Putin. It鈥檚 not you, it鈥檚 not your trademark, it鈥檚 not in your interest. How can you then be credible in the face of China if you鈥檙e weak in the face of Putin?鈥
Trump鈥檚 recent statements that and plans to have with Moscow have left . But Macron suggested Trump鈥檚 strategy to create 鈥渦ncertainty鈥 in talks with Russia could actually make Western allies stronger in these talks.
Macron added he would seek to persuade Trump that U.S. interests and Europeans鈥 interests are the same, telling him: 鈥淚f you let Russia take over Ukraine, it would be unstoppable.鈥
That means any peace deal must be negotiated with Ukrainians and Europeans around the table, Macron reaffirmed.
鈻 Read more
Trump holds Black History Month event as some agencies skip recognition after anti-DEI order
President Donald Trump speaks as golfer Tiger Woods listens during a reception for Black History Month in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Washington. (Pool via AP)
Trump marked Black History Month at the White House on Thursday by making an appearance at a celebratory reception with a surprise guest, golf legend Tiger Woods, while calling out other athletes in attendance and marveling at the size of the crowd.
Trump also announced he planned to bring Alice Johnson, a prison reform advocate whom he pardoned in 2020, into his administration to work on clemency issues.
The White House鈥檚 Black History Month reception preserved a tradition, but it comes in the wake of Trump issuing a wide-ranging ending the federal government鈥檚 diversity, equity and inclusion programs has disrupted its observance elsewhere.
Trump didn鈥檛 mention his anti-DEI crusade as he addressed hundreds of guests in a reception in the East Room, though he did make a brief reference to the The New York Times鈥 鈥1619 Project,鈥 which highlights the lasting consequences of slavery in America.
鈻 Read more
How Trump鈥檚 mass layoffs raise the risk of wildfires in the US West, according to fired workers
The Forest Service firings 鈥 on the heels of deadly last month 鈥 are part of a wave of federal worker layoffs, as Trump鈥檚 cost-cutting measures reverberate nationwide.
Workers who maintained trails, removed combustible debris from forests, supported firefighters and secured funds for wildfire mitigation say staffing cuts threaten public safety, especially in the West, where drier and have increased the intensity of wildfires.
鈥淭his is 100% a safety thing,鈥 said Tanya Torst, who was fired from her position as a U.S. Forest Service partnership coordinator in Chico, California. She recalled the that killed 85 people east of Chico in 2018. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I鈥檓 speaking out.鈥
鈻 Read more about
