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Trump 2nd term live updates: Trump defends tariffs, declines comment on Ukraine aid

Trump said tariffs will be the "greatest thing we've ever done as a country."

Last Updated: March 9, 2025, 8:31 PM EDT

President Donald Trump is defending his decision to pause some tariffs to Canada and Mexico for another month -- a notable reversal after imposing historic levies on the key U.S. trading partners earlier this week, causing markets to tumble.

On Friday, Trump signed more executive orders at the White House before he convened a first-ever cryptocurrency summit with industry leaders.

Mar 03, 2025, 3:06 PM EST

Trump tells ABC that Zelenskyy should be 'more appreciative'

After Friday's blow-up in the Oval Office with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy, ABC News Senior Politics Correspondent Rachel Scott asked Trump: "What do you need to see from President Zelenskyy to restart these negotiations?"

"Well, I just think he should be more appreciative because this country has stuck with them through thick and thin," the president responded.

President Donald Trump makes an announcement about an investment from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company at the White House in Washington, Mar. 3, 2025.
Leah Millis/Reuters

When pressed by another reporter if the mineral resource deal is now dead or if it can be revived, Trump said to tune into his joint address to Congress on Tuesday night.

"Well I'll let you know. We're making a speech. You probably heard about it tomorrow night, so I'll let you know tomorrow night," Trump said. "But no, I don't think so. I think it's, look, it's a great deal for us."

Mar 03, 2025, 3:04 PM EST

Trump announces $100B investment from Taiwan semiconductor manufacturer

At the White House, President Donald Trump announced Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) will be investing at least $100 billion in the U.S. to build semiconductor manufacturing facilities.

Trump was joined by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and C.C. Wei, the company's CEO, as he spoke in the Roosevelt Room.

"The most powerful AI chips in the world will be made right here in America, and it'll be a big percentage of the chips made by his company," Trump said. The president said the investment will go toward the construction of five facilities in Arizona that he said would create thousands of jobs.

President Donald Trump makes an announcement about an investment from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company at the White House in Washington, Mar. 3, 2025.
President Donald Trump makes an announcement about an investment from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company flanked by C.C. Wei, Chairman and CEO of TSMC and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at the White House in Washington, Mar. 3, 2025.
Leah Millis/Reuters

Wei said today's announcement brings the total investment from TSMC in the U.S. to $165 billion.

"We're pleased to have an opportunity to meet with the President and look forward to discussing our shared vision for innovation and growth in the semiconductor industry, as well as exploring ways to bolster the technology sector along with our customers," TSMC said in a statement to ABC News.

Mar 03, 2025, 2:46 PM EST

Trump tells farmers to plan on selling goods within US ahead of tariffs

In a TruthSocial post Monday, President Donald Trump told American farmers that they should "get ready" to sell agricultural products inside the U.S. as his tariffs on "external" products are set to go into effect on April 2.

President Donald Trump makes an announcement about an investment from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company at the White House in Washington, Mar. 3, 2025.
President Donald Trump makes an announcement about an investment from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company flanked by C.C. Wei, Chairman and CEO of TSMC and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at the White House in Washington, Mar. 3, 2025.
Leah Millis/Reuters

"To the Great Farmers of the United States: Get ready to start making a lot of agricultural product to be sold INSIDE of the United States," Trump wrote.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart

Mar 03, 2025, 2:27 PM EST

First lady Melania Trump implores Congress to pass the ‘Take It Down’ Act

First lady Melania Trump made her first public remarks of Trump's second administration Monday afternoon, hosting a roundtable in support of the "Take It Down" Act which is intended to criminalize the publication of deepfake and non-consensual pornography and require platforms to remove such content.

"It's heartbreaking to witness young teens, especially girls, grappling with the overwhelming challenges imposed by malicious online content, like deep fakes," Trump said.

First lady Melania Trump, Senator Ted Cruz, Elliston Berry and other officials attend a roundtable discussion on the "Take it Down Act," a legislation against revenge porn, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., March 3, 2025.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters

Trump called attention to a 15-year-old victim of fake non-consensual images who was present at the roundtable, among other victim advocates.

In imploring Congress to prioritize this Act -- which has passed the Senate but not the House -- the first lady also made a point to call out Democrats.

"I must admit, however, I expected to see more Democrat leaders with us here today to address this serious issue," she said. "Surely as adults, we can prioritize America's children ahead of partisan politics."

Trump was joined by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who is a sponsor of the bill and delivered opening remarks, saying there is "no more important issue for our first lady to lean on than protecting children online."

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson was also present.

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