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, 5:36 PM EDT

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And Trump signed an executive order on Saturday that rescinded 19 executive actions issued by former President Joe Biden's administration on gender, labor policies and industry regulations, bringing the number of Biden's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 11, 2025, 4:41 PM EDT

Trump on whether there will be a recession: 'I don't see it at all'

ABC News White House correspondent Karen Travers asked President Donald Trump further about his comments over the weekend about not ruling out a recession and how that played into market volatility these past few days.

"Do you think there will be a recession?" she asked him directly.

"I don’t see it at all. I think this country is going to boom," Trump said. "But as I said, I can do it the easy way or the hard way. The hard way to do it is exactly what I'm doing. But the results are going to be 20 times greater."

"Remember: Trump is always right," he added.

President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speak to the press as they stand next to a Tesla vehicle on the South Portico of the White House, on March 11, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Mar 11, 2025, 4:24 PM EDT

White House says 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum will still go into effect

Even though Ontario backed off on its tariffs on electricity exports, the Trump administration said it is still going forward with its 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum at midnight.

"President Trump has once again used the leverage of the American economy, which is the best and biggest in the world, to deliver a win for the American people. Pursuant to his previous executive orders, a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum with no exceptions or exemptions will go into effect for Canada and all of our other trading partners at midnight, March 12th," White House spokesman Kush Desai said.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie

Mar 11, 2025, 4:20 PM EDT

'Our country had to do this': Trump said of tariffs

During his photo op, President Donald Trump was asked about the images of him with expensive Teslas as the stock market continues to see rapid declines.

Trump claimed that other countries needed to pay, which is why the tariffs are necessary.

"I think our country had to do this. We had to go and do this," he said, adding that he wants to get more jobs back in the country.

Mar 11, 2025, 4:08 PM EDT

Dept. of Education buildings to be closed for 'security reasons'

U.S. Department of Education employees have been notified their offices in the National Capital Region and regional buildings will be closed for "security reasons" beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, a source with knowldge of the letter told ABC News.

"You must vacate the building by that time," a department email to employees reads in part, adding, "All ED offices in the NCR and the regions will be closed to employees and contractor employees on Wednesday, March 12th."

The email also said employees with approved telework agreements may work from home as the department will reopen on Thursday. But some Education Department employees tell ABC News such telework agreements are largely no longer in place. The department’s total workforce returned to its offices in D.C. and regional stations late last month.

A 'we miss you' sign is taped to a window at the Department of Education as fired employees, along with other civil servants, rally in support of the department in Washington, Mar. 11, 2025
Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

"Please take your laptop with you when you depart on Tuesday. Employees will not be permitted in any ED facility on Wednesday March 12th for any reason. All offices will reopen on Thursday, March 13th, at which time in-person presence will resume," the email said.

The notice comes as President Donald Trump weighs an executive order to shutter the agency. Last week, ABC News reported the executive order signing was pulled due to concerns over questions the administration might get about vital programs that could potentially be gutted by such an order.

-ABC News' Arthur Jones II

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