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Trump 2nd term live updates: Trump defends tariffs, declines to 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 07, 2025, 12:48 PM EST

Trump admits there could be 'some disturbance' from tariff policy

President Donald Trump was asked on Friday how much economic disturbance he is willing to accept as a result of his tariff policy, and how long Americans should expect things to cost a little more.

"There could be some disturbance, a little bit of disturbance," he said.

President Donald Trump speaks from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Mar. 7, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

After a back-and-forth with his tariff policy in recent days paired with market instability, a reporter asked Trump if he was done with pauses or carveouts.

"There will always be changes and adjustments," Trump said, later adding "but very little."

Mar 07, 2025, 12:36 PM EST

Trump says reciprocal tariffs on Canada could come 'as early as today'

President Donald Trump said he could hit Canada with reciprocal tariffs as early as Friday, according to a feed provided by the White House of his remarks in the Oval Office, as he claimed Canada's been "ripping us off for years on tariffs on lumber and on dairy products."

"They'll be met with the exact same tariff unless they drop it, and that's what reciprocal means," Trump said. "We may do it as early as today, or we'll wait until Monday or Tuesday but that's what we're going to do. We're going to charge the same thing."

President Donald Trump delivers remarks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Mar. 7, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Mar 07, 2025, 11:46 AM EST

White House officials detail strategic Bitcoin reserve

Senior White House officials provided more details about the strategic Bitcoin reserve and U.S. digital assets stockpile that President Donald Trump created Thursday through an executive order.

The officials stressed it is using the digital assets that the United States government already owns and have been obtained through criminal or civil forfeiture proceedings. The White House said the government will not be purchasing additional Bitcoin assets at this time.

President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Mar. 6, 2025.
Al Drago/Pool/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The officials said they believe that the U.S. maintains about 200,000 Bitcoin that "will be placed in the strategic reserves so that we do have a long-term strategy to maximize the value." Those assets will not be sold, officials said.

-ABC News' Elizabeth Schulze and Molly Nagle

Mar 07, 2025, 9:50 AM EST

Trump says he's mulling sanctions, tariffs against Russia

President Donald Trump said he's now considering sanction and tariff actions against Russia until a ceasefire and peace agreement is reached.

President Donald Trump in Washington, Mar. 6, 2025 and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Mar. 7, 2025.
EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/AP

"Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely 'pounding' Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED. To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!" Trump posted on Truth Social Friday morning.

It's not clear what additional sanctions the U.S. could put on Russia after the Biden administration consistently ramped up sanctions on Russia, nor is it clear what tariffs Trump could levy on imports from Russia.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

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