President Donald Trump's administration is continuing its radical effort to cut much of the federal government and crackdown on immigration -- and is being met with dozens of legal challenges.
On the foreign policy front, Trump's press secretary said the White House believes it can reach a deal to end the war in Ukraine this week even as Trump attacks Ukraine's president and blames it for starting the war, which even some in his own party are calling him out over.
Meanwhile, heads of federal government agencies were telling employees not to reply to an email from Elon Musk, Trump's ally who he picked to cut government waste, which asked for them to list their accomplishments for the week or face termination.
New York Post cover takes aim at Trump over Putin: 'This is a dictator'
Friday's New York Post cover features a photo of Russia's Vladimir Putin with the headline: "President Trump: This is a dictator."
The New York Post Feb. 21, 2025 issue cover is seen here.
NY Post
The message comes from the conservative newspaper owned by Rupert Murdoch, who was seen in the Oval Office with Trump a few weeks ago.
Trump lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this week, alleging he's a "dictator without elections." White House national security adviser Michael Waltz notably dodged a question during Thursday's briefing on whether the president considered Putin a dictator.
Feb 20, 2025, 11:00 PM EST
Trump says 'energy dominance' will help bring prices down
During remarks at the Republican Governors Association, President Donald Trump touted his plan to implement reciprocal tariffs on United States trading partners, suggesting that they could be so successful he could do away with income tax.
"You could wipe out your income tax. You could maybe not even have an income tax system when this thing works out,” Trump said of the plan for reciprocal tariffs, which have not yet been implemented.
While the president spent a lot of time talking about the money his administration is saving Americans by targeting federal spending, he didn’t spend a lot of time addressing inflation in his remarks.
Trump railed against former President Joe Biden for the current state of inflation, and he focused on 'energy dominance' as part of his plan to help get prices in check.
"If we can bring energy down, everything's coming down," he said. "You know that the eggs are coming down and the bacon's coming down -- everything is coming down. And that's the biggest thing, the energy."
On the 2024 campaign trail, Trump promised to bring down prices and reduce inflation.
Trump touts DOGE, predicts Republicans will do 'fantastically' in midterms
President Donald Trump addressed the Republican Governors Association meeting in Washington, D.C., touting the work his administration has done in its first month in office.
In front of the friendly crowd, Trump suggested his frenetic pace so far could set his party up for success in the midterms.
"I think we're going to do fantastically. I think the midterms are going to be … a big surprise,” Trump said, adding, "I think so far, we're very popular."
President Donald Trump walks on stage to speak during a meeting of the Republican Governors Association at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., Feb. 20, 2025.
Samuel Corum/AFP via Getty Images
He praised the work of Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, claiming they “could find as much as $1.5 trillion worth of waste, abuse" in their efforts to slash federal spending.
“He attracts very young people with high IQs … They're extraordinary with computers," Trump said. "He said, they make love to their computer. I said, I don't want to hear about that."
Without providing specifics, he rattled off a list of examples of U.S. aid he said has been eliminated.
“$47 million for improving learning outcomes in Asia. What the hell do I care about that?" he said. "We got … enough problems, and all of this is terminated."
-ABC News' Molly Nagle
Feb 20, 2025, 8:22 PM EST
Musk's private security deputized by US Marshals: Sources
Elon Musk's private security detail has been deputized by the U.S. Marshals Service, sources confirmed to ABC News.
The deputization gives his private security team certain authorities that they otherwise wouldn't have -- mainly, the ability to carry weapons on federal property, but the exact authorities granted to Musk's team are unclear.
Billionaire Elon Musk carries an Air Force One plush toy as he arrives back to the White House in Washington, DC, Feb. 19, 2025.
Aaron Schwartz/POOL/EPA via Shutterstock
Several people close to Musk have relayed concerns about his safety and certain threats he's received, according to sources.
The move to deputize private law enforcement is usual. Often other law enforcement agencies are deputized to carry out protective details that the Marshals don't have the ability to.
