Trump 2nd term updates: Trump says USAID is run by 'radical lunatics'

The comments came amid turmoil as DOGE took over USAID offices last week.

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira, Emily Chang, Andrea Pineda-Salgado, Meredith Deliso, and Julia Reinstein
Last Updated: February 2, 2025, 11:11 PM EST

President Donald Trump made good on his threats to impose tariffs on some of the U.S.'s trading partners, announcing Saturday that he will levy 25% tariffs on some goods from Canada and Mexico and 10% on Chinese goods.

Experts have warned that tariffs of this magnitude will likely increase prices paid by U.S. and Trump appeared to acknowledge that “some pain” might be possible in the U.S.

Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee announced it will meet Tuesday, when it is expected to vote on the controversial nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of Health and Human Services.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing:
Feb 01, 2025, 4:15 PM EST

USAID website is down

The U.S. Agency for International Development's website is down, fueling rumors the Trump administration intends to shut down the agency that oversees foreign assistance.

A former USAID official told ABC News the website was pulled down, but it is unclear at this time if it is permanent or if it is being scrubbed for policies that don't align with the new administration. Some USAID signage has also been removed from its offices.

A view of the USAID building in Washington, D.C., Feb. 1, 2025.
Annabelle Gordon/Reuters

It is also unclear if USAID can still be folded into the State Department as opposed to remaining an independent agency. A 90-day pause on foreign aid was ordered last week by President Donald Trump in order to ensure all disbursements are aligned with his foreign policy.

-ABC News' Cindy Smith and Shannon Kingston

Feb 01, 2025, 2:33 PM EST

FBI press office releases statement regarding the acting director

The FBI National Press Office released an unsigned statement concerning acting Director Brian Driscoll assuring the public he "continues to serve in his role as Acting Director and remains committed to supporting the administration and ensuring a smooth transition to the incoming Director."

-ABC News' Pierre Thomas

Feb 01, 2025, 1:47 PM EST

Egyptian president speaks with Trump

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi spoke with President Donald Trump on Saturday.

Sisi said the international community "is counting on Trump's ability to reach a permanent peace agreement" that would end the decadeslong conflict in the region, Egyptian presidency spokesman Mohamed el Shenawy said in a statement.

The two leaders also discussed the "importance of continuing the implementation of the first and second phases of the ceasefire agreement and consolidating the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip … and intensifying the delivery of aid to the people of Gaza," the statement said.

The White House said in a readout of the call that the leaders "discussed Egypt's important role in the release of hostages from Gaza and President el-Sisi expressed his confidence that President Trump’s leadership could usher in a golden age of Middle East peace."

-ABC News' Victoria Beaulé and Kelsey Walsh

Feb 01, 2025, 12:42 PM EST

Trump says he ordered strikes on ISIS terrorists in Somalia

Trump said he ordered a successful airstrike on the senior Islamic State attack planner in Somalia.

He claimed no civilians were harmed and blamed former President Joe Biden for not executing the strikes during his administration.

-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh