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Trump admin live updates: Trump calls Tesla dealership vandals terrorists

"You didn't have anything like that on Jan. 6, which is sort of amazing.

Last Updated: March 21, 2025, 10:17 PM GMT

Billionaire Elon Musk visited the Pentagon on Friday for an 80-minute meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

A U.S. official told ABC News that Musk would attend a meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff that, among its topics, would touch on China. However, instead of meeting with the Joint Chiefs, Musk met with Hegseth and staffers. Trump and Hegseth denied that Musk was going to be briefed on China war plans after a report from the New York Times.

Meanwhile, fallout continued after Trump signed an executive order to begin dismantling the Department of Education. Plus, the legal battle continues over the administration's use of the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans allegedly linked to organized crime.

Mar 20, 2025, 4:13 PM GMT

European Union delays tariffs on US to mid-April

The European Union will delay planned tariffs on the U.S. in response to the U.S. tariffs on the EU President Donald Trump has previously announced, the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic said during a joint hearing of the Committee on International Trade on Thursday.

The EU tariffs are now planned to take effect in mid-April, Sefcovic said.

This photograph taken on March 19, 2025 shows European flags outside the EU headquarters in Brussels.
Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images

"In the light of the recent announcement that the US is planning to introduce additional tariffs on 2 April, we are now considering to align the timing of the two sets of EU countermeasures, so we can consult with member states on both lists simultaneously. It also gives us extra time for negotiations to try to find a mutually agreeable resolution," he said.

-ABC News' Clark Bentson

Mar 20, 2025, 1:57 PM GMT

Trump says the Fed should cut rates

As the Federal Reserve holds rates steady, Trump is pressing the central bank to cut rates.

"The Fed would be MUCH better off CUTTING RATES as U.S. Tariffs start to transition (ease!) their way into the economy," Trump posted on Truth Social Wednesday night. "Do the right thing. April 2nd is Liberation Day in America!!!"

April 2 is when Trump's reciprocal tariffs go into effect. Trump says this means what other countries "charge us, we charge them." Trump officials are currently undertaking the massive task of trying to sort through how to determine the tariff rates for hundreds of countries and territories that the U.S. trades with.

-ABC News' Selina Wang

Mar 20, 2025, 1:48 PM GMT

Trump administration targeting Georgetown University fellow: Lawsuit

The Trump administration appears to be targeting a Georgetown University fellow due to his wife's identity as a Palestinian and her constitutionally protected speech, a lawsuit alleges.

On March 17, Badar Khan Suri, a visiting scholar with lawful status, was arrested outside of his apartment building and charged with removability and detained, according to a complaint obtained by ABC News.

"This was done pursuant to a policy to retaliate against and punish noncitizens like Mr. Suri solely for their family ties to those who may have either expressed criticism of U.S. foreign policy as it relates to Israel," attorneys representing Suri said in the complaint.

On Monday, according to the complaint, law enforcement agents who identified themselves as members of the Department of Homeland Security, told Suri that the government had revoked his visa and did not permit Suri's wife to hand over his passport and other documents.

The complaint likened Suri's treatment to that of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist who was recently arrested by federal immigration agents at Columbia University.

-ABC News' Laura Romero

Mar 20, 2025, 12:47 PM GMT

Trump expected to sign EO to dissolve the Department of Education

Trump at 4 p.m. ET today is holding an education event at the White House and will sign an executive order.

The president's order will direct Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps permitted by law to dissolve the Department of Education, sources told ABC News.

President Donald Trump attends a board meeting at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, March 17, 2025.
AP

The move has been months in the making and will help the president fulfill his campaign promise of returning education power and decisions to the states.

Read more here.

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