Trump admin updates: White House asks court to stay deportation flights TRO

Video shows deportees in El Salvador after a judge ordered flights to stop.

Last Updated: March 16, 2025, 9:36 PM GMT

The White House has asked a federal circuit court to stay a district court's temporary restraining orderthat blocked President Donald Trump from using the Alien Enemies act to deport noncitizens, including alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

Meanwhile, the fallout over Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats voting with Republicans to avert a government shutdown continued, with some in Schumer's party calling for new leadership while others defended him, but said the party needed to use new tactics and new messaging.

And Trump signed an executive order on Saturday that rescinded 19 executive actions issued by former President Joe Biden's administration on gender, labor policies and industry regulations, bringing the number of Biden's actions reversed by Trump to nearly 100.

Mar 16, 2025, 6:33 PM GMT

Democrats reject questions about new leadership

As Democrats struggle to navigate the Trump administration with no unifying messaging and some begin to sour on party leaders such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrats appearing on Sunday talk shows said the party needs to change its tactics and message rather than its leaders.

Asked if he would consider replacing Schumer, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy said, “I don't think anybody is having that conversation right now.”

“Senator Schumer certainly can lead this caucus. He can lead this caucus. But we need to have a conversation inside the caucus about whether we are willing to stand up to Republicans,” Murphy said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer leaves the Democratic caucus lunch at the U.S. Capitol, Mar. 13, 2025 in Washington.
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

“I admit that it would take some risk-tolerant behavior in order to effectively stand up to this president,” Murphy said. “And so, the question really is, for my party writ large, are we willing to do the very difficult things necessary to meet this moment?”

Asked if the problem with his party was the age of its leaders or a lack of vision, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a rising star in the party, said, “I think we need to be very clear about who we're fighting for, and I think we need to be very clear about the vision that we are offering.”

On the continuing resolution that some in the Senate Democratic caucus voted with Republicans on to avert a government shutdown, Moore said told CBS’ “Face the Nation,” “One thing we did not do was offer an alternative. One thing we did not do was articulate the terms for the American people. And so, I think when what, when the American people, when they do not have an option, or they're not seeing people fighting on their behalf, then yes, there is going to be a measurement of frustration.”

Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said he’s not engaging in questions about Schumer’s leadership.

"That is not my agenda,” he said on ABC News’ “This Week.” “That is not a helpful narrative right now.”

-ABC News’ Hannah Demissie

Mar 16, 2025, 6:05 PM GMT

Bessent says he can’t guarantee there will be no recession

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he could not guarantee that there would be no recession as Trump’s trade policies go into effect.

“You know that there are no guarantees, like, who would have predicted COVID, right?” he said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “So, I can predict that we are putting in robust policies that will be durable. And could there be an adjustment, because I tell you, this massive government spending that we'd had that if that had kept going, we have to wean our country off of that, and on the other side, we are going to invigorate the private sector.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House, Mar. 12, 2025 in Washington.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

“I had a meeting with small bankers last week, and they are ready to start lending, and I can tell you that Main Street is going to do well,” Bessent said.

-ABC News’ Hannah Demissie

Mar 15, 2025, 11:51 PM GMT

Judge blocks Trump from deporting citizens using Alien Enemies Act

A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from deporting any noncitizens pursuant to his recent proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act.

Less than two hours after the president attempted to invoke the 18th century law to deport alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order that blocks the Trump administration from deporting noncitizens currently in custody pursuant to the president's recent proclamation.

-ABC News' Katherine Faulders, Armando Garcia, Emily Chang and Peter Charalambous

Mar 15, 2025, 9:12 PM GMT

Trump invokes Alien Enemies Act despite court order

Despite a federal judge halting the administration from invoking the Alien Enemies Act to deport five migrants, the White House announced Saturday that it had done so in order to deport Venezuelan migrants.

Trump alleged this was done to target alleged members of the Tren De Aragua gang.

-ABC News' Katherine Faulders

Related Topics

Sponsored Content by Taboola