What to know Wednesday
- President Donald Trump addressed a crowd at the Future Investment Initiative Institute's PRIORITY Summit in Miami Beach, Florida. He went through an itemized list of funds purportedly recovered by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency and suggested returning 20% of the savings to American citizens.
- Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Trump's labor secretary nominee, appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee at her confirmation hearing.
- Chavez-DeRemer, a Republican former congresswoman from Oregon, has drawn some skepticism from the party because of her pro-union record. She was asked about her thoughts on unions and workers' rights, as well as her brief work at a Planned Parenthood facility in her early 20s.
- Trump escalated a public spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today, calling him “a dictator without elections,” after Zelenskyy said Trump was getting “disinformation" from Russia amid discussions on ending the war in Ukraine. Vice President JD Vance piled on, saying Zelenskyy 's comments were "disgraceful." Later, during his Miami Beach remarks, Trump minimized the extent of Russian meddling in U.S. elections.
Trump downplays extent of Russian interference in U.S. elections
Trump minimized the extent of Russian interference in U.S. elections in remarks at a tech summit in Miami Beach, suggesting Moscow's involvement was limited to "internet ads."
He made the remark as he bemoaned an alleged finding by the Department of Government Efficiency of a $21 million pending investment in voter turnout efforts in India by the United States.
"Wow. $21 million. I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected," Trump said. "We ought to tell the Indian government, because when we hear that Russia spent about $2 in our country, it was a big deal, right? It took internet ads for $2,000."
Before the November election, the Biden administration announced new sanctions and charges against Russia over an alleged plot to manipulate U.S. public opinion by disseminating pro-Russia content and bolstering Trump's campaign.
Russia was also accused of aiding Trump's 2016 election victory, but a special counsel report found no proof that Trump himself criminally colluded with Russia.
Trump says losing the 2024 election would have been 'dangerous' for him
Trump said tonight that losing the 2024 presidential election would have been "very dangerous in so many different ways," casting himself as being treated unfairly by the media.
"Nobody was treated like me, nobody," Trump said during the Q&A part of a tech summit in Miami Beach after having spoken for about an hour. "If I lost, it would have been very, very dangerous, actually, very dangerous in so many different ways. And I decided to do it. And said I have to win."
Trump hit the golf course before taking the stage in Miami Beach
Trumo hit the links at his golf course in Florida today before his address at the FIII Institute.
Trump flew to his Doral club in the morning after he left Mar-a-Lago, where he stayed over his extended holiday weekend and golfed numerous times at his Trump International golf club. Guests at Doral posted video of his rare mid-week golf trip to that club on social media.
Trump, who was expected to sign some executive orders on Air Force One as he returns to Washington, delivered a speech in Miami Beach after his golf outing touting his efforts to get federal workers back into the office.
We’ve "required that all federal employees must once again show up to work," Trump said. "I watched some of the big business leaders saying we absolutely are going back. You can’t work at home. They’re not working, they’re playing tennis, they’re playing golf, or they have other jobs, but they’re not working, or they’re certainly not working hard. You could never build a company or a country with that."
Trump’s frequent outings to his golf properties during and after his first term attracted attention because as a candidate he had frequently criticized President Barack Obama for playing golf.
He said in 2020 that his time on the course was different because Obama played “much longer rounds.”
"My ‘exercise’ is playing, almost never during the week, a quick round of golf,” he tweeted that year.
Trump continues his attacks on Zelenskyy
Trump went after Zelenskyy again this evening, referring to him as a "modestly successful comedian" and suggesting he misled the United States into supporting him after Russia invaded Ukraine.
"President Zelenskyy talked the United States of America into spending $350 billion to go into a war that basically couldn't be won," Trump said. "The only thing he was really good at was playing Joe Biden like a fiddle. He played him like a fiddle."
Trump repeated his characterization of Zelenskyy as a "dictator" and asserted without clear evidence that Zelenskyy is refusing to hold an election because he is losing the support of his citizens.
Trump also defended his administration's efforts to negotiate peace talks directly with Russia, without Zelenskyy's involvement.
"I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job. His country is shattered, and millions and millions of people have unnecessarily died, and you can't bring a war to an end if you don't talk to both sides," Trump said.
Democratic New Jersey governor praises Trump for ending NYC congestion pricing
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, applauded Trump for ending federal approval of a congestion pricing plan in New York City, arguing the short-lived policy unfairly affected New Jerseyans.
"I want to thank President Trump and Secretary [of Transportation Sean] Duffy for their efforts to halt the current congestion pricing program in Manhattan's Central Business District," he wrote today on X.
"While I have consistently expressed openness to a form of congestion pricing that meaningfully protects the environment and does not unfairly burden hardworking New Jersey commuters, the current program lines the MTA's pockets at the expense of New Jerseyans," he continued.
Murphy had long opposed the plan charging a $9 toll on most vehicles entering central Manhattan during peak hours, saying it amounted to an unfair financial strain on New Jersey commuters crossing through the borders of the congestion pricing zone into New York City.
White House confirms Trump to sign order tonight aimed at undocumented immigrants accessing federal benefits
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt this evening confirmed reporting from Fox News that Trump will sign an executive order tonight aimed at undocumented immigrants accessing federal benefits.
"Can confirm! No more federal benefits to illegal aliens," Leavitt wrote on X in response to a post from a Fox News correspondent that said “later tonight, President Trump will sign an executive order designed to terminate any & all federal taxpayer benefits going to illegal aliens."
According to the Fox News correspondent, the order "will direct every federal agency & department to identify all federally funded programs currently providing any financial benefits to illegal aliens, and 'take corrective action', ensuring that any federal funds to states and localities 'will not be used to support sanctuary policies or assist illegal immigration.'"
‘Long live the king’: Trump adds rhetoric to actions that critics say exceed his authority
Trump is branding himself a monarch.
The president of the United States made an unprecedented declaration today while applauding his administration’s decision to terminate federal approval of New York’s congestion pricing program.
“CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED,” Trump wrote on his social platform Truth Social. “LONG LIVE THE KING!”
JB Pritzker swipes at Trump: 'I'm watching with a foreboding sense of dread'
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker referred in remarks this afternoon to the emergence of dictatorship in Germany in the 20th century and warned that authoritarianism is on the rise.
"The seed that grew into a dictatorship in Europe a lifetime ago didn’t arrive overnight. It started with everyday Germans mad about inflation and looking for someone to blame. I’m watching with a foreboding dread what is happening in our country right now," Pritzker said in a budget address today.
"It took the Nazis one month, three weeks, two days, eight hours, and 40 minutes to dismantle a constitutional republic. And all I'm saying is that when the five-alarm fire starts to burn, every good person better be ready to man a post with a bucket of water if you want to stop it from raging out of control," he added.
Pritzker, a Democrat, has been a prominent critic of Trump.
"We don't have kings in America, and I don't intend to bend the knee to one," he said.
Last month, Pritzker announced he would block those involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol from working in state jobs.
Illinois joined a coalition of states last month that sued the Trump administration over a federal funding freeze that was subsequently rescinded.
Despite judge's order, Trump says he 'virtually shut down' the CFPB
Trump said he "virtually shut down" the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, despite a judge's order last week that temporarily prevents the administration from carrying out mass firings at the agency or deleting its data.
"We virtually shut down the out-of-control CFPB, escorting radical left bureaucrats out of the building and locking the doors behind them. What they were doing was so terrible," Trump said today at a tech summit in Miami Beach, Florida.
Almost immediately after being sworn in, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought moved to dismantle the CFPB, directing employees to cease investigations and "enforcement actions," notifying the Federal Reserve that the agency would reject its next draw of funding and firing several of the agencies' employees.
A federal judge ruled last week that the administration could not terminate employees without cause and ordered Vought not to "take steps to reduce the amount of money available to CFPB."
Trump floats idea of returning some DOGE savings to citizens
As he praised DOGE’s work, Trump floated the idea of returning some of the savings brought in by DOGE cuts to American citizens.
“There’s even under consideration a new concept where we give 20% of the DOGE savings to American citizens and 20% goes to paying down debt, because the numbers are incredible," Trump said at a tech summit in Miami Beach, Florida.
Trump suggested the idea would give people incentived to report “waste” on their own.
“By doing this, Americans will tell us where there is waste. They’ll be reporting it themselves. They participate in the process of saving money," he said.
Top DOJ official offers new and different explanation for dropping charges against Eric Adams
The Justice Department today offered a striking and contradictory new explanation for why it is seeking to drop corruption charges against New York City Eric Adams, with a top official arguing that the charges are not well supported in law.
In a thread on X, Chad Mizelle, chief of staff to Attorney General Pam Bondi, criticized the basis of the charges and suggested that the case might not be winnable.
His comments — made shortly before acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove appeared before a federal judge to justify dropping the case — are at odds with what Bove has said previously: that the decision to drop the charges was not based on the evidence or the legal theories in the case. Bove repeated that claim in court today.
Elon Musk, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff attend Trump's speech at tech summit
As Trump walked onstage today, with "God Bless the U.S.A." playing, he pointed and gave a thumbs up to Musk, who was seated in the front row of the audience.
“Elon Musk, he’s been making a little news lately, hasn’t he? Though very positive news. Stand up, Elon. He’s a great guy,” Trump said at the FII Institute Priority Summit in Miami Beach, Florida.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and national security adviser Mike Waltz are seated behind Musk. Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, is also in attendance, as is Trump's son-in law Jared Kushner.
Trump gave all of them shoutouts during his remarks.
Judge holds off on ruling in DEI executive orders case
A federal judge did not rule today on a motion to temporarily block implementation of Trump's executive orders targeting DEI.
U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson instead said he will endeavor to get a written ruling out as quickly as possible.
During nearly three hours of oral argument in downtown Baltimore, lawyers for the Justice Department and organizations affected by Trump’s DEI executive orders presented two broadly different versions of the orders’ current impact.
The vague language used in the executive orders is causing widespread confusion and forcing organizations that receive federal grants to “self-censor” for fear that their funds will be cut off, a lawyer representing DEI-focused organizations and Baltimore officials said.
“What’s unlawful or not is not clear to any of our plaintiffs,” Aleshadye Getachew told the court.
Before the executive orders were issued, the plaintiffs understood that they were in full compliance with the law, Getachew said. Now, she added, organizations, universities and cities are asking themselves: “Is what I was doing yesterday still OK, or has this president redefined what it means to violate anti-discrimination laws?”
To get some clarity on that question, the judge asked a Justice Department lawyer whether she could define “equity-related grants.” The lawyer, Pardis Gheibi, punted on the question several times.
“I don’t believe it’s related to the litigation today,” Gheibi said before the judge eventually dropped the question.
Gheibi went on to argue that because none of the plaintiffs have had grants or contracts canceled yet, they haven’t shown adequate harm worthy of a nationwide injunction.
“Their only harm seems to be that they’re generally fearful of what the executive is going to do when they decide to bring enforcement,” she said.
For the judge to grant a temporary restraining order, he would have to buy into an assumption that the Trump administration’s enforcement of anti-discrimination laws will be conducted unlawfully, Gheibi said.
“Plaintiffs seem to be operating on the understanding that all DEI programs are legal,” Gheibi said, adding that Harvard University was also under the impression that its affirmative action program was legal until the Supreme Court ruled otherwise.
Kathy Hochul fires back at Trump after he nixes NYC congestion pricing
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul fired back today after the Trump administration terminated federal approval of the state’s “congestion pricing” program.
Hochul, standing in Grand Central Terminal in New York City, held up a picture of a Time magazine cover featuring Trump and said, “We are not subservient of a king or anyone out of Washington.”
“The next time you’re stuck in traffic ... I want you to think of this,” she said, gesturing at the photo.
Asked about her strong rhetoric about Trump, Hochul replied with a message for the president: “You went too far, because you messed with New Yorkers.”
National Science Foundation terminates probationary employees
Nearly 170 employees at the National Science Foundation — roughly 10% of its workforce — were abruptly terminated yesterday, according to two sources within NSF. The move is part of a broader effort to slash probationary roles across the federal government.
Probationary employees at the foundation — who may have long scientific careers but are often recent hires — received email notifications yesterday morning inviting them to a hybrid in-person and online meeting, where they learned of their terminations.
Bonnie Green, who until yesterday was an expert for NSF’s Directorate for STEM Education, said she didn’t see the meeting notice right away and learned of her termination through text messages from colleagues. After she checked her email, she discovered an email initiating her departure.
“They have rendered NSF unable to accomplish its mission,” Green said. “Too many highly skilled experts have been cut. We are not interchangeable cogs!”
Employees decried the layoffs yesterday in an email chain titled “We are lead by cowards …” that was sent to the entire agency, including executive leadership. The correspondence, reviewed by NBC News, featured several comments from employees criticizing NSF management for not protecting probationary workers.
“Some have changed their careers and upended their lives to come answer the call to service,” one message read. “Our management has failed! If NSF’s top leadership has any dignity, they should resign immediately! At this point, witnessing the cowardliness at the top, NSF is serving no one!”
Two more staffers quit John Fetterman’s office as the senator carves his own lane with Trump
Two of Sen. John Fetterman’s longest-serving staff members are leaving his team as Fetterman, D-Pa., takes a more open approach to Trump than many of his Democratic colleagues are.
Charlie Hills, Fetterman’s communications director, and Tré Easton, his legislative director, are set to soon depart Fetterman’s office.
Hegseth considering firing generals as early as this week
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is considering firing a slate of military generals and flag officers as early as this week, according to two defense officials and three congressional officials.
Pentagon leadership has shared a list of generals and officers who could be fired with Republican members of the House and the Senate, the defense officials and congressional officials said. The officials said the timing for announcing the decisions could shift.
Most of those on the list have been closely associated with former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who served all four years of the Biden administration, have worked on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives or have voiced opinions that Trump’s allies viewed as politically out of line with his agenda, the officials said.
Senior Democrats have not been formally briefed on the plans, according to a congressional official familiar with conversations.
The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment.
The generals and other officers are expected to be replaced with nominees for their positions who are closer to Hegseth and viewed as more aligned with Trump’s agenda, the defense officials and congressional officials said.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff CQ Brown was viewed as one of the most vulnerable senior military officials once Trump took office, with Trump and his allies vowing to immediately fire him and others who they believe have been too focused on diversity initiatives.
Trump and Brown met briefly in December during the transition in a suite at the Army-Navy football game in Maryland. Two people familiar with their conversation told NBC News at the time that the meeting changed Trump’s mind about firing Brown immediately after having taken office.
It is unclear whether Brown will be fired as part of a purging of generals and flag officers. Already Trump has fired the head of the Coast Guard, one of the few women in a top military position.
Hochul rips the Trump administration for pulling approval of congestion pricing: 'We'll see you in court'
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul denounced Trump for his administration's move to stop congestion pricing in the city.
"Public transit is the lifeblood of New York City and critical to our economic future — as a New Yorker, like President Trump, knows very well," Hochul said in a statement this afternoon.
Hochul said that since the program began last month, "congestion has dropped dramatically and commuters are getting to work faster than ever," adding that school buses are running on time and taxicab and transit ridership figures are up.
Earlier this afternoon, Trump celebrated the move to terminate the program on social media.
“Congestion pricing is dead," Trump wrote in all capital letters. "Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED," he said, adding in an apparent reference to himself, again in all capitals, "Long live the king!"
Hochul shot back in her statement, "We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king."
She added that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has "initiated legal proceedings" in federal court in Manhattan to fight the administration's move.
"We’ll see you in court," Hochul said.
Big swings, big misses: DOGE struggles to back up its outsized claims
Elon Musk’s cost-cutting and fraud-finding apparatus, the Department of Government Efficiency, came out swinging in recent days.
The result? Two stunning strikeouts.
A series of announcements by DOGE, as well as claims by Musk and Trump about the agency’s efforts, have crumbled under scrutiny even as they’re broadly repeated by conservative pundits, sympathetic media and the White House.
Two of the most notable claims — around Social Security fraud and $8 billion in savings found in a Department of Homeland Security contract — have been debunked. Meanwhile, Trump’s agenda is set to add to the federal government’s deficit well in excess of what DOGE is cutting.
Zelenskyy says Trump is influenced by Russian ‘disinformation’
As Trump moves closer to Russia and away from support for Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is being forced to defend his position as the legitimate leader of a country suffering an illegal war of aggression.
Some GOP senators distance themselves from Trump's calling Zelenskyy a 'dictator'
A handful of GOP senators gently distanced themselves from Trump's calling Zelenskyy “a Dictator without Elections” and falsely blaming him for starting the war with Russia. But senators were reluctant to call out Trump by name.
“I wouldn’t use the same word,” said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said she would “certainly not call Zelenskyy a dictator.”
Zelenskyy has been a “key component” of Ukraine’s ability to withstand the Russian attacks, said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said he hadn’t seen Trump’s dictator remarks but said, “It’s not a word I would use.”
“Make no mistake about it. That invasion was the responsibility of one human being on the face of this planet. It was Vladimir Putin in a calculation to go through Ukraine and not stop there, to go through Moldova, to go through the Balkans, to ultimately go to the Baltic states and send the signal to China that now is the time that they can take action in the South China Sea,” Tillis told reporters.
“That’s what this is about, and that’s what we as members have to communicate," he said.
Trump said yesterday that Ukraine “started” the war with Russia, when, in fact, Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., a Trump ally, said he disagreed with that characterization.
“Here’s where I disagree with the White House: To the extent that the White House said that Ukraine started the war, I disagree. I think Vladimir Putin started the war,” Kennedy told reporters today. “I also believe, through bitter experience, that Vladimir Putin is a gangster.”
Other GOP senators said Trump was right to call out Zelenskyy for postponing elections in Ukraine. The country was supposed to hold a presidential election last spring, but it was delayed because of the war.
“He should have elections. He [Trump] is not wrong about that,” said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. “We had elections during the Second World War. Democracies have elections. So I think he’s right to call Zelenskyy on that. He is the elected leader of Ukraine, but he’s also imposed martial law not letting people vote.”
Trump administration reverses approval of New York City congestion pricing
The Trump administration today terminated federal approval of New York’s “congestion pricing” automobile tolls, which were instituted just last month to raise money for the region’s aging mass transit system.
In a letter to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that the federal government has jurisdiction over highways leading to Manhattan and that the additional tolls posed an unfair burden in motorists outside the city.
Duffy called the tolls, targeting Manhattan-bound drivers, “backwards and unfair.”
“New York State’s congestion pricing plan is a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners,” Duffy said in statement.
Mike Pence fires back at Trump's claim that Ukraine started the war against Russia
Former Vice President Mike Pence pushed back against Trump's recent comment that Ukraine is responsible for the war with Russia — a claim that drew condemnation in Ukraine.
“Mr. President, Ukraine did not ‘start’ this war," Pence wrote in a post on X. "Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion claiming hundreds of thousands of lives."
"The Road to Peace must be built on the Truth," Pence wrote.
Trump ripped into Volodymyr Zelenskyy this morning in a Truth Social post that blamed him for the destruction in his country following comments he made to reporters yesterday that claimed the Ukraine "should have never started" the war.
In his post today, Trump's former vice president linked to a Fox News article from February 2022 with the headline, "Russia Invades Ukraine in Largest European Attack Since WWII."
Senate confirms former Sen. Kelly Loeffler as Small Business Administration head
The Senate confirmed former Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., to be administrator of the Small Business Administration by a vote of 52-46 along party lines.
The next Cabinet nominee up in the queue is Kash Patel, whose final confirmation vote to be FBI director is expected tomorrow morning.
Vance calls Zelenskyy's response to Trump 'disgraceful'
In an interview with The National Pulse, Vance called Zelenskyy's recent criticisms of Trump "disgraceful."
“He’s attacking the only reason this country exists, publicly, right now," Vance said, condemning Zelenskyy for saying Trump is trapped in a “disinformation bubble” when it came to the Russia-Ukraine war.
"And it’s disgraceful. And it’s not something that is going to move the President of the United States. In fact, it’s going to have the opposite effect," Vance continued.
Kennedy Center cancels Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., performance
A Kennedy Center concert that was to feature the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., and the National Symphony Orchestra on May 21 has been canceled, adding to a growing list of schedule changes announced since Trump purged the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees and appointed himself chairman earlier this month.
The concert was set to take place in late May to kick off national Pride Month celebrations. The performance was removed last night from the center’s programming schedule and replaced with a National Symphony Orchestra rendition of "The Wizard of Oz" movie score.
“We are deeply disappointed with the news that our upcoming Pride performance with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) has been canceled,” the choral group said in a statement posted to their Instagram account. The chorus was planning to debut a pride piece titled "A Peacock Among Pigeons," it said, noting they had been excited to collaborate with the orchestra.
“We believe in the power of music to educate and uplift, to foster love, understanding, and community, and we regret that this opportunity has been taken away,” the chorus said in the statement.
The chorus added they will still perform "A Peacock Among Pigeons" during their upcoming Choral Festival as part of the WorldPride 2025 tour, in an effort to "seek spaces where our voices, our stories, and our music can be heard," the statement said.
Trump fired multiple Biden-era appointees from the center’s board this month, including former State Secretary Antony Blinken and former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, and appointed longtime loyalist Ric Grennell, who served several positions during Trump’s first term and is currently his envoy for special missions, as interim executive director.
“No more drag shows, or other anti-American propaganda — only the best," Trump wrote in all capital letters in a Truth Social post last week after announcing himself as the center’s chair.
The White House and the Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment.
DOGE is at the Pentagon
Employees of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency arrived at the Pentagon this week and have been seen there since Tuesday. The Pentagon won’t share their names or what they are doing. Trump, in remarks on Feb. 13, suggested cutting the U.S. military budget in half.
Trump Media sues Brazil Supreme Court judge who battled Elon Musk
Trump Media and its fellow conservative-oriented social media company Rumble today sued a Brazil Supreme Court justice whose clash last year with Elon Musk led to the blocking of Musk’s own social media firm, X, in that country.
The Tampa, Florida, federal court lawsuit accuses Justice Alexandre de Moraes of allegedly illegal attempts to censor a “well-known politically outspoken user” of Rumble with orders to suspend that user’s U.S.-based accounts.
The new lawsuit suit notes that Trump Media’s social media site Truth Social “relies on Rumble’s cloud-based hosting and video streaming infrastructure to deliver multimedia content to its user base.”
“If Rumble were to be shut down, that shut down would necessarily interfere with Truth Social’s operations, as well,” the suit says.
The suit was filed a day after Brazil’s prosecutor-general charged the country’s former president, Jair Bolsonaro, with an attempted coup as he tried to remain in office following his 2022 election loss. Bolsonaro — who was invited to Trump’s inauguration last month — is accused of participating in a plot with nearly three dozen other people, which allegedly planned to poison current Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and kill Moraes.
As Trump detonates relationship with Ukraine, Europe has no fast answer
In just days, the Trump administration has torn up Washington’s script on the war in Ukraine and its relationship with Europe. Now, even as the U.S. and Russia press ahead with peace talks that exclude Kyiv, Ukraine’s European neighbors are struggling to unite around a shared response.
French President Emmanuel Macron was preparing to host his second set of emergency talks this week in Paris today, amid mounting pressure to form a clear and cohesive response to Trump’s decision to negotiate directly — and so far exclusively — with Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
Senate hearing on Trump's nominee for labor secretary ends
Senators on the HELP Committee wrapped up their hearing on the nomination of Chavez-DeRemer after a little over two hours. Their questions ranged from what her positions are on pro-labor legislation and the federal minimum wage to whether she'll protect sensitive government data.
Trump endorses House GOP budget strategy and takes a swipe at Graham’s Senate plan
Trump today gave his most emphatic endorsement yet of the House’s strategy of passing one massive bill to advance his legislative agenda and urged the Senate to pump the brakes on its rival two-bill plan.
Trump’s remarks on Truth Social came just a day before the GOP-led Senate planned to vote on a budget resolution that would kick-start the process of pushing Trump’s policy priorities. But the Senate’s blueprint is much narrower than the House’s; it focuses on immigration enforcement and expanding energy production but doesn’t call for an extension of the Trump tax cuts like the House does.
In his post, Trump specifically took a swipe at Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who wrote the upper chamber’s budget resolution and has been advocating for the Senate to move first amid delays in the House.
Chavez-DeRemer dodges questions about fair federal minumum wage
Lori Chavez-DeRemer, President Trump’s labor secretary nominee, deflected when pressed by Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., on whether the $7.25 federal minimum wage is enough for Americans to live on, saying that is a “congressional issue."
“I just want to ask you, do you think that there is a state in this country where someone can live comfortably on their own for $15,000 a year?” Kim asked, noting that’s the yearly total of the $7.25-an-hour federal minimum wage designated by the Fair Labor Standards Act.
“Well, I don’t know if there is, but I would look to work with Congress," Chavez-DeRemer answered. This is, this is a congressional issue.”
Kim pressed Chavez-DeRemer on affordable housing, which he said is one of the largest concerns his constituents are facing, asking her what she believes to be the fair percentage of yearly income Americans should have to pay for housing.
Chavez-DeRemer again did not answer, but instead reaffirmed her commitment to working with Congress to address issues like the minimum wage.
“I will come out and visit every state and understand what’s important to them, and tell that story, not only to the president, but also work with members of Congress,” Chavez-DeRemer said. “I will fully and fairly enforce the minimum wage laws that you all see fit.”
Labor nominee addresses her past work for Planned Parenthood
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., raised Chavez-DeRemer's previous work at Planned Parenthood, asking her directly if she's "pro-life or pro-choice" — the first time today that the issue was raised.
"I am supportive of the president's agenda," Chavez-DeRemer answered. "I have a 100% pro-life voting record in Congress, and I will continue to support the America-first agenda, which we know includes life."
In a questionnaire she filled out as part of her confirmation process, Chavez-DeRemer said she worked a part-time job at the front desk of Planned Parenthood in California for just over a year, from 1989 to 1990.
In the questionnaire, the nominee characterized the role as a "brief, part-time job from over three decades [ago] has no bearing on my support for implementing President Trump’s pro-life agenda."
“I personally do not support abortion, and if confirmed, I would not use my position as secretary to facilitate abortion access in Labor Department programs," she added.
Trump calls Zelenskyy 'a Dictator without Elections'
Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a "Dictator without Elections" in a social media post today after Zelenskyy said that Trump was trapped in a “disinformation bubble” when it came to Russia's war against Ukraine.
Yesterday, Trump suggested Ukraine was responsible for Russia's invasion three years ago, saying Zelenskyy "should have never started" the war. Trump again made the claim in his Truth Social post this morning, writing that Zelenskyy "talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the U.S. and 'TRUMP,' will never be able to settle."
"A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left," Trump said in the post, adding, "In the meantime, we are successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia, something all admit only 'TRUMP,' and the Trump Administration, can do."
"I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job, his Country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died — And so it continues ... " Trump wrote.
Chavez-DeRemer dodges on whether Musk should have access to OSHA and labor violation investigations
In response to questions from Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Chavez-DeRemer declined to directly answer questions about whether Trump adviser and tech mogul Elon Musk should have access to information about labor violation investigations at the Department of Labor, including investigations into his own companies.
"I know that for most listening to this, it seems as though, when we're trying to answer these questions, but I have not been in these conversations ... I'm not confirmed," the labor secretary nominee told Murphy. "I have not been read in on any of this, and if confirmed, I commit to taking a deeper look and working with your office and any other office on this issue."
Murphy pressed the nominee again, asking her, "This one feels pretty simple, right?"
Murphy continued that Musk "owns companies that have existing investigations" and that the tech mogul "has a direct interest in getting information about the seriousness of those investigations" and "in getting information about investigations against his competitors."
"It seems like a pretty simple commitment to make to say, 'I am not going to give any private company exclusive access to information about open investigations against them or their competitors,'" Murphy added.
Chavez-DeRemer dodged again, telling Murphy that she would defer to Trump on this issue.
"The president has the executive power to exercise it as he sees fit," she said. "I am not the president of the United States. I work for the president of the United States, if confirmed, and I will serve at the pleasure of the president on this issue."
Chavez-DeRemer says she'd protect data privacy if confirmed as labor secretary
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., pressed Chavez-DeRemer about whether she would protect access to the private and confidential information that she would oversee at the Labor Department.
She didn't immediately answer the question, but after being asked several times, said, "I would protect the private information on this issue. I have been — not been privy to those conversations with the president," she said, referring to DOGE's access to certain government databases.
"I have seen that, and if confirmed, I commit to you that I will always protect the Department of Labor and those issues," she said.
Chavez-DeRemer reverses support for PRO Act provisions on 'right to work'
Chavez-DeRemer ultimately said that she no longer supports a key aspect of the PRO Act bill, which would have weakened "right to work" laws.
She said that she “fully” supported states that “want to protect their right to work.”
“So you no longer support the aspect of the PRO Act that would’ve overturned state right-to-work laws?” asked Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who opposes the bill.
"Yeah," she said quietly before being cut off by Paul.
"That's a yes?" he asked.
"Yes," she confirmed.
Trump’s hiring freeze stalls onboarding process across federal firefighting agencies
There’s concern tonight that the hiring freeze may mean some fire crews have to operate at lower levels next season — and experts warn that could have deadly consequences. Jacob Soboroff takes a closer look.
Chavez-DeRemer deflects questions from top Republican on the PRO Act
Asked by Senate HELP Committee Chair Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., if she still supports the PRO Act, the Democrat-backed piece of legislation that bolsters support for labor unions, Chavez-DeRemer did not provide a direct answer.
“I do not believe that the secretary of labor should write the laws,” said Chavez-DeRemer, who co-sponsored the PRO Act while serving in Congress in 2021. “It will be up to Congress to write those laws and to work together. What I believe is that the American worker deserves to be paid attention to.”
Chavez-DeRemer said she has spoken about the importance of “supporting the American worker” with Trump.
Pressed again by Cassidy, who voiced his concern over Chavez-DeRemer’s past support for the PRO Act in his opening statement, Chavez-DeRemer deflected the question, but said she “will not be the lawmaker anymore.”
Chavez-DeRemer says PRO Act was 'imperfect' and that she would support Trump's agenda
Chavez-DeRemer said in her opening statement that as a congresswoman, she supported the PRO Act but that the bill was “imperfect.”
“If confirmed, my job will be to implement President Trump’s policy division, and my guiding principle will be President Trump’s guiding principle, ensuring a level playing field for businesses, unions and, most importantly, the American worker,” she said. Chavez-DeRemer's support of the pro-union bill, supported by former President Joe Biden, has earned her criticism from some Republicans.
She said that if confirmed she would support Trump's agenda.
Trump has "united a new coalition of working-class Americans like never before, with 59.6% of Teamsters backing him, historic support for from African American and Latino voters, record-breaking turnout in once solid blue cities and states."
"Americans are speaking loud and clear, they are calling for action, progress and leadership that puts the American worker first," she said.
She said that like Trump, she believes labor laws need to be updated and modernized to "reflect today’s workforce and the business environment."
Sanders says labor nominee must 'make a choice'
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the ranking member of the HELP Committee, used his opening remarks to highlight his views on income and wealth inequality, arguing that a labor secretary should be a "champion of working families."
Sanders listed several of Chavez-DeRemer’s credentials that he approved of, but said she would have to "make a choice."
"Will you be a rubber stamp for the anti-worker agenda of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and other multibillionaires who are blatantly anti-union, they don't make any bones about it, or will you stand with working families all over the country?" he asked.
Cassidy expresses concern with Chavez-DeRemer's past support for pro-union legislation
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., chairman of the HELP Committee, expressed concern with Chavez-DeRemer's past support for pro-union legislation in Congress.
Cassidy said in his opening statement that he questioned "your past support for the Democrats' cornerstone legislation, the PRO Act. Workers should have the freedom to decide if they wish to join a union or not."
He said the legislation "would eliminate this freedom, allowing workers to be coerced and intimidated into unionization."
The Pro Act aims to strengthen collective bargaining protections and safeguard against unfair labor practices.
Trump backs House budget resolution over Senate version
Trump took to Truth Social to offer his endorsement of the House budget resolution, which he said "implements my FULL America First Agenda, EVERYTHING, not just parts of it."
"We need both Chambers to pass the House Budget to 'kickstart' the Reconciliation process, and move all of our priorities to the concept of, 'ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL,'" his post continued.
House Republicans advanced a budget plan last week which called for overall cuts of trillions of dollars in taxes and spending. It conflicts with the Senate budget plan, which doesn't address taxes.
Putin says he would be 'happy' to meet with Trump
Russian President Vladimir Putin told Russian media today that he would be "happy" to meet with Trump, but said he doesn't know when it would take place, according to the Kremlin's Telegram channel.
Putin said that Russia is ready to resume negotiations on Ukraine. Trump administration officials have begun talks with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia aimed at ending Russia's war against Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, has been alarmed over the Trump administration's direction in the talks, in part because Ukraine was not invited to the discussions in Riyadh.
Teamsters emphasizes support for Trump's Labor Department pick ahead of Senate hearing
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters put out a statement of support for former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Trump's nominee for labor secretary, ahead of her Senate confirmation hearing this morning.
The union said in a post on X that it "is proud to strongly support" Chavez-DeRemer's nomination, pointing to her pro-labor record during her time as a House Republican representing a district in Oregon.
"Beginning today with the nomination hearing, the Senate will have an opportunity to put a champion for working people at the head of the Department of Labor," the statement said. "Rep. Chavez-DeRemer should be confirmed swiftly and with strong bipartisan support."
The union has previously announced its support for Chavez-DeRemer's nomination.
DOJ official ordered charges dropped against Mayor Eric Adams to appear at his hearing
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove indicated he will personally appear in court today for a hearing on his order to drop federal criminal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Bove's order to dismiss Adams' prosecution without prejudice prompted more than half a dozen DOJ prosecutors to resign in protest, and the legal saga threw the mayor's office into turmoil after four of his deputies stepped down this week.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement earlier this week that the resignation of the four deputy mayors "raises serious questions about the long-term future of this Mayoral administration," and referred to her power to remove a mayor, saying that "overturning the will of the voters is a serious step that should not be taken lightly."
"That said, the alleged conduct at City Hall that has been reported over the past two weeks is troubling and cannot be ignored," Hochul said. The governor added she would be meeting with "key leaders" for a conversation about a "path forward," which took place yesterday.
Nonprofit that represents unaccompanied migrant children ordered to halt program
The Trump administration has ordered a nonprofit that provides legal representation for unaccompanied migrant children to immediately pause the program.
The Acacia Center for Justice said it represents more than 26,000 children but received a stop-work order from the Interior Department.
"This decision flies in the face of ensuring children who have been trafficked or are at risk of trafficking have child-friendly legal representatives protecting their legal rights and interests," Shaina Aber, the center's executive director, said in a news release.
"The administration’s decision to suspend this program undermines due process, disproportionately impacts vulnerable children, and puts children who have already experienced severe trauma at risk for further harm or exploitation," she added. "We stand ready to work with the Department of Health and Human Services to review and rapidly restore these essential services so that Acacia and our partners can continue supporting vulnerable children.”
HHS did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment on the stop-work order.
New Immigration and Customs Enforcement data shows administration isn’t just arresting criminals
The Trump administration has promised to prioritize the “worst first” when it comes to arrests and deportations, but the number of detainees in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody without a criminal conviction or pending criminal charges increased by more than 1,800 in the first two weeks of February, representing 41% of the 4,422 total new detainees in that period, according to new data obtained by NBC News.
During federal fiscal year 2024, the Biden administration made 113,431 immigration arrests, and of those, only 28% were of people who had no criminal convictions or pending criminal charges.
Asked for comment on the data, Tricia McLaughlin, a Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman, said immigrants without criminal records are often “far from innocent” but declined to provide further data.
Zelenskyy hits back at Trump’s comments, says Ukraine is not for sale
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hit back at Trump’s accusation overnight that Ukraine started its war with Russia, saying that the American president is trapped in a “disinformation bubble” and adding that his country was not for sale.
The pugnacious response followed Trump’s surprising comments Tuesday that Ukraine was responsible for Russia’s invasion of the country three years ago. Trump also argued that Kyiv could have made a deal to avoid the conflict.
The president added that his Ukrainian counterpart’s approval ratings sat at 4% in Ukraine — despite an opinion poll released today by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology showing that 57% of Ukrainians trust Zelenskyy.
Republican lawmaker questions citizenship status of Latino county official at public meeting
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., questioned the citizenship status of an elected county official in New York during a discussion about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a public meeting yesterday.
The remark by Lawler came after José Alvarado, the vice chair of Westchester County’s Board of Legislators, asked the congressman what documentation people should be expected to produce if they are stopped by ICE.
“I’m speaking to you, Mr. Lawler — somebody that looks like me, right, is approached by ICE. What would your immediate expectation would be for me to do? What should I carry on me to demonstrate that this immigrant is the vice chairman of this board?” Alvarado, a Democrat, asked.
Lawler said he should cooperate if that were to happen, before suggesting Alvarado might not be a citizen.
“Well, like every other person that is engaged by law enforcement, if you are asked for information, cooperate. I wouldn’t expect you as a — I don’t know. I assume you’re a citizen. Maybe you’re not. Maybe you are,” Lawler said during the board’s weekly meeting.
Some attendees laughed, while one person could be heard calling Lawler’s comments “unbelievable,” to which Lawler responded, “Well, you’re telling me about ICE approaching you.”
Trump says cars, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals will face around 25% tariffs
Trump said yesterday that 25% tariffs can be expected for cars, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, marking the latest escalation in tariff threats that could rattle the global industries.
"It'll be in the neighborhood of 25%," Trump said when asked by a reporter if he had decided on the auto tariff rate, adding that he'd probably make a decision on the issue in early April.
When asked about the tariff rate on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, Trump said "it'll be 25% and higher."
"It'll go very substantially higher over course of a year," he added.
The president added that he wants to give companies time to avoid tariffs by relocating factories to the United States," so we want to give them a little bit of a chance."
Economists have cautioned that consumers ultimately end up paying higher prices for increased tariffs.
Resignations and anticipated firings as Trump overhaul of federal government continues
The top official at the Social Security Administration resigned after refusing to give the Department of Government Efficiency access to sensitive information. The head of the Food and Drug Administration’s food division also resigned. NBC News’ Kelly O’Donnell reports Trump defended cuts to federal programs and spending during an event at Mar-a-Lago.
Despite DOGE, Trump’s agenda calls for adding trillions of dollars to U.S debt
Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk have sent shock waves through the federal government by attempting to take a hatchet to certain agencies in the name of reducing the federal deficit.
“BALANCED BUDGET!!!” Trump posted this month on Truth Social. Musk added on X, “Balanced budget is going to happen.”
But the reality is less simple. Budget experts say that even if Trump succeeds at slashing the spending his Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency is targeting — like the U.S. Agency for International Development and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives governmentwide — his policies would still substantially add to the deficit if they come to fruition.
Trump's labor secretary nominee faces some GOP skepticism ahead of her hearing
A Republican-led Senate committee is scheduled to hold a hearing today on President Donald Trump’s nominee for labor secretary, Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
Chavez-DeRemer, a former congresswoman from Oregon who served one term, is an unconventional pick for a GOP president. She supported a bill called the PRO Act, a top priority of labor unions, and is endorsed by the Teamsters Union.
That profile has landed her in hot water with multiple Senate Republicans, who strongly oppose the PRO Act and have cast wary eyes on Trump’s choice.