White House says some employees were fired by mistake

After taking the recent buyout offer, some employees were fired, a source said.

Last Updated: February 16, 2025, 11:07 PM EST

President Donald Trump's administration, including Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, is continuing its sweeping effort to cut much of the federal government -- but it's being met with legal challenges.

Trump is also making his second administration's first forays on the diplomatic front with calls to Russia's Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy on ending the 3-year-old war that began in February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine.

And a day after Hamas released more hostages taken when it attacked Israel in October 2023, Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the militant organization needs to be "eliminated."

Feb 12, 2025, 3:51 PM EST

Trump unanimously elected as Kennedy Center Board chairman

President Donald Trump announced he was elected as chairman of the Kennedy Center Board.

"It is a Great Honor to be Chairman of The Kennedy Center, especially with this amazing Board of Trustees. We will make The Kennedy Center a very special and exciting place!" Trump wrote on social media.

ABC News has reached out to the Kennedy Center for comment.

The Kennedy Center Board confirmed it replaced former Chairman David M. Rubenstein with Trump.

It added that it terminated Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter's contract and announced Richard Grenell as interim Kennedy Center president.

Several members of Trump's administration will serve as board members, including his chief of staff Susie Wiles, second lady Usha Vance, deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino and Director of Personnel Sergio Gor.

-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh

Feb 12, 2025, 2:21 PM EST

Jordan's king prefers Palestinians 'stay in place,' but Trump wants them moved to 'safer areas': White House

Following President Donald Trump's meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II on Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shed light on some differences between the two regarding the Palestinians.

"The king would much prefer that the Palestinians stay in place with the additional land to be used for new development, which would greatly create jobs at levels never seen before. But the president feels it would be much better and more majestic if these Palestinians could be moved to safer areas," she said.

Leavitt added that "Arab partners in the region have been tasked with coming up with a peace plan to present to the President" and said such talks are "ongoing."

Feb 12, 2025, 1:56 PM EST

White House defends 'right' to choose who has access to Oval Office following alleged barring of reporter

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the White House's "right" to deny Oval Office entry to reporters, saying, "If we feel that there are lies being pushed by outlets in this room, we are going to hold those lies accountable."

"We reserve the right to decide who gets to go into the Oval Office. And you all have credentials to be here, including the Associated Press, who is in this briefing room today," Leavitt said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a briefing at the White House, Feb. 12, 2025, in Washington.
Evan Vucci/AP

When pressed on whether this was retaliatory for the journalist continuing to use the name "Gulf of Mexico" rather than "Gulf of America," Leavitt doubled down on the president's executive order.

"It is a fact that the body of water off the coast of Louisiana is called the Gulf of America," she said. "And I'm not sure why news outlets don't want to call it that, but that is what it is."

Feb 12, 2025, 1:41 PM EST

'Real constitutional crisis is taking place within our judicial branch,' White House press secretary says

During a briefing on Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed what she called an "extremely dishonest narrative" that there is a "constitutional crisis taking place here at the White House."

Instead, she said, "the real constitutional crisis is taking place within our judicial branch, where district court judges in liberal districts across the country are abusing their power to unilaterally block President Trump's basic executive authority."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Feb. 5, 2025 in Washington.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

"As the President clearly stated in the Oval Office yesterday, we will comply with the law in the courts, but we will also continue to seek every legal remedy to ultimately overturn these radical injunctions and ensure President Trump's policies can be enacted," she added.

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