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:
Jan 24, 2025, 10:00 AM EST

Trump on Hegseth vote: ‘You’ll never know what’s going to happen’

Trump was asked about Friday's pending Senate floor vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, and although he expressed confidence in his pick, he noted, "you'll never know what's going to happen."

GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins have both said they will vote against Hegseth.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he departs the White House for North Carolina, where he is expected to tour hurricane damage, followed by a visit to tour fire damage in Los Angeles, in Washington, Jan. 24, 2025.
Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Although Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell voted for Hegseth in a test vote Thursday on whether to advance his nomination, Trump questioned whether he would do the same today.

"Is Mitch a no vote?" he asked.

Even if he did, Vice President JD Vance could break a 50-50 tie to get Hegseth confirmed.

Jan 24, 2025, 9:51 AM EST

Trump says he didn't invite Schiff to California wildfires tour

Trump refuted reports that he invited Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff to join him to tour the wildfire damage in Los Angeles.

First lady Melania Trump looks on as President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Jan. 24, 2025, in Washington.
Evan Vucci/AP

Schiff told other news outlets that he declined the invitation from the White House because of Senate Cabinet confirmation votes taking place today.

Jan 24, 2025, 9:48 AM EST

Trump talks with reporters before heading to NC

Trump spoke with reporters as he left the White House Friday morning --- heading to North Carolina to tour areas affected by Hurricane Helene.

The president, joined by first lady Melania Trump, said people in the state were still suffering from the September storm.

"North Carolina has been treated very badly, so we're stopping there," he said.

Jan 24, 2025, 9:10 AM EST

White House posts photos of military aircraft being used in deportations

The White House this morning says that military deportation flights have begun as part of its new mission and troop surge along the border.

The Department of Homeland Security has always done deportation flights. What's different now -- they are using military aircraft – in this case C-17s were used, according to a U.S. official.

The photos the White House is circulating were taken Thursday, when about 75-80 recent Guatemalan nationals were repatriated from El Paso, Texas, according to a DHS official.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X: "Just as he promised, President Trump is sending a strong message to the world: those who enter the United States illegally will face serious consequences."

A photo distributed by the White House shows some of the 75-80 Guatemalan nationals who were repatriated from El Paso, Texas on a military transport plane, Jan. 23, 2025.
@PressSec/X

–ABC News’ Mary Bruce, Michelle Stoddart, Luke Barr and Luis Martinez

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