Trump announces reciprocal tariffs and doubles down on Canadian statehood at Oval Office press conference: Live

Donald Trump has announced a broad swathe of reciprocal tariffs, targeting every country that charges duties on U.S. imports.

The president teased the announcement on Truth Social this morning, posting: “Today is the big one: reciprocal tariffs.”

In an Oval Office press conference as he signed a memorandum laying out his plan, Trump said: “We want a level playing field.”

Trump also hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House. The U.S. and India have reached agreements on trade, energy and defense, the president said.

On Capitol Hill, the president’s controversial nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has been confirmed by the Senate and was sworn in at an Oval Office ceremony.

Trump’s choice for Education Secretary, Linda McMahon, was questioned by senators at her confirmation hearing a day after he ranted about closing that very department.

Kash Patel’s nomination to lead the FBI has advanced out of committee and will soon face a vote in the full Senate.

In other news, Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk have begun initiating the mass layoff of federal employees. Musk says he wants to “delete entire agencies” to reduce bureaucracy.

Key points

• Trumps says U.S. and India have reached agreements on trade, energy and defense

• Trump announces sweeping ‘reciprocal’ tariffs that could kick off global trade war

• Robert F Kennedy Jr confirmed to lead health department

• Kash Patel nomination to lead FBI advanced by Senate panel

• Trump criticizes Canada on defense spending, reiterates wish for country to become 51st state

Trump says one plotter of the 2008 Mumbai attacks will be extradited to India

23:26 , AP

Trump says his administration has approved the extradition to India of one of the plotters of the 2008 attacks in Mumbai.

Standing alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump appeared to be referencing Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who was convicted in 2011 in the U.S. for plotting an attack on a Danish newspaper.

“He’s going to be going back to India to face justice,” Trump said.

Trumps says U.S. and India have reached agreements on trade, energy and defense

23:16 , Oliver O’Connell

In his press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Donald Trump said that the U.S. will increase military sales to India, including F-35 Stealth Fighters.

The president noted that strong cooperation with India, Australia, and Japan, is crucial to peace.

India, meanwhile, has announced it will reduce tariffs on U.S. goods and Trump and Modi will begin talks on disparities in trade with a goal of signing an agreement between the two nations.

The president reiterated his earlier statement that the U.S. is entitled to a level playing field in international trade. He added that the trade deficit with India can be made up with sales of oil and gas having reached an agreement on energy. Trump says the U.S. hopes to be the number one supplier to India.

The two countries will also join forces on AI development.

Further, Trump says the U.S. has agreed to work with India on a trade route including undersea cables and train routes in cooperation with Italy and Israel.

With reporting from Reuters

Watch LIVE: Trump holds press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

23:06 , Oliver O’Connell

ANALYSIS: Mitch McConnell takes another feeble swing at Trump — when it doesn’t really matter

23:04 , Oliver O’Connell

John Bowden writes:

On Thursday, Mitch McConnell did what just one year ago would have been unthinkable: He completed a four-step condemnation of Donald Trump, and voted against Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the nation’s health secretary.

But it was an almost completely meaningless gesture. McConnell, 82, is going by the same playbook he did during Donald Trump’s first presidency and his ensuing political resurrection — offering token resistance to the man who took over his party while providing political cover for his allies in the GOP Senate caucus.

Continue reading…

Mitch McConnell takes another feeble swing at Trump — when it doesn’t really matter

‘He’s not equipped mentally’: Trump lays into Mitch McConnell after Senator continues rebellion

22:51 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump tore into longtime GOP leader Mitch McConnell after he was the sole Republican senator to vote no on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

Trump said McConnell, who served as leader of the Senate Republican Conference for almost two decades before stepping down in November, is “not equipped mentally” and accused him of letting “the Republican party go to hell.”

Katie Hawkinson has the story.

Trump lays into McConnell after Senator continues rebellion: ‘Not equipped mentally’

Layoffs hit researchers working in military veterans’ health

22:53 , AP

Some researchers at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs working on cancer treatment, opioid addiction, prosthetics and burn pit exposure have been laid off, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington state Democrat, said Thursday.

Murray said the Trump administration is not honoring a standard practice of extending the researchers’ three-year terms for their work.

“I’m hearing from longtime VA researchers in my home state of Washington who are right now being told to immediately stop their research and pack their bags,” Murray said in a statement, “not because their work isn’t desperately needed, but because Trump and Elon have decided to fire these researchers on a whim.”

There are more than 100 active VA research sites nationwide.

Fourth federal judge blocks Trump birthright citizenship ban

22:16 , Oliver O’Connell

On Thursday, a fourth federal judge blocked President Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship, adding to a growing number of courts that have prevented the president from enforcing his directive amid ongoing legal challenges.

U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin, who serves on the federal district court in Massachusetts, stated that a coalition of 19 states and the District of Columbia, along with two nonprofit organizations, are likely to succeed in their claims.

The challengers contend that Mr. Trump’s executive order, issued on his first day in office, infringes upon the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment Amendment.

“The Constitution confers birthright citizenship broadly, including to persons within the categories described in the EO,” Sorokin wrote in his decision.

Sorokin, an Obama appointee, joins federal judges in Maryland, Washington, and New Hampshire that have issued preliminary injunctions blocking the Trump administration from enforcing the birthright citizenship executive order.

The Justice Department has appealed two of those decisions to federal appeals courts in San Francisco and Richmond, Virginia.

Read the full decision here

Trump plans tariffs on Canada and France over digital services taxes

22:11 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump announced his intention to impose tariffs on Canada and France in response to their digital services taxes on U.S. technology giants, a long-standing issue.

Canada began implementing the tax in June last year, aiming to tackle the challenge of taxing digital giants like Google’s parent company Alphabet, and Amazon, which can allocate their profits to low-tax countries.

On Thursday, Trump directed his economic team to develop a plan to impose reciprocal tariffs on every nation that imposes duties on U.S. imports. A White House fact sheet claiming that “only America should be allowed to tax American firms” stated that Canada and France have used digital services taxes to collect over $500 million annually from U.S. companies.

“In total, these non-reciprocal taxes cost American firms over $2 billion each year. Reciprocal tariffs will restore fairness and prosperity to the distorted international trade system and prevent Americans from being exploited,” the fact sheet asserted, though it provided no additional details.

Last year, during the previous Biden administration, Washington sought trade dispute settlement consultations with Canada regarding the tax, labeling it discriminatory.

With reporting from Reuters

Behind the scenes: Big hug between Trump and Modi

21:54 , Oliver O’Connell

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino gives us a sneak peek behind the scenes as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives to meet with President Donald Trump.

In pictures: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Trump at White House

21:52 , Oliver O’Connell

Full story: Another judge steps in to serve as a roadblock to Trump – this time with his transgender order

21:50 , Oliver O’Connell

A federal judge blocked President Donald Trump’s sweeping executive order restricting health care for transgender youth in the latest example of the judiciary halting the president’s actions.

Trump’s order signed last month states: “It is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called ‘transition’ of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures.”

Families of transgender children and PFLAG sued the Trump administration on February 4, calling the executive order “unlawful and unconstitutional.” The plaintiffs asked for an injunction to block enforcement of the order.

U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson blocked it from taking effect during a hearing Thursday.

Kelly Rissman has the latest.

Another judge serves as a roadblock to Trump – this time with his transgender order

Probationary staff to be fired at Department of Energy, report says

21:42 , Oliver O’Connell

Politico reports that probationary employees at the Department of Energy will be fired today:

Energy Department officials have told the agency’s program leaders to inform probationary employees they will be fired on Thursday, a move that could include up to 2,000 people, according to DOE officials who were granted anonymity to avoid retaliation.

The orders have been communicated verbally, one of the officials said, which appeared to be part of a strategy that aligns with a pattern of leaving no paper trail described by a second DOE employee. Two other DOE officials said they were also informed probationary hires will be laid off on Thursday, though they said the exact timing and whether any exceptions would be made was unclear.

Watch: Linda McMahon brought some WWE friends to confirmation hearing

21:40 , Oliver O’Connell

WWE stars surround Trump education secretary at confirmation hearing

Read: Trump’s full statement on reciprocal tariffs

21:35 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump posted the following statement on Truth Social after signing an executive order on reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trading partners.

On Trade, I have decided, for purposes of Fairness, that I will charge a RECIPROCAL Tariff meaning, whatever Countries charge the United States of America, we will charge them – No more, no less!

For purposes of this United States Policy, we will consider Countries that use the VAT System, which is far more punitive than a Tariff, to be similar to that of a Tariff. Sending merchandise, product, or anything by any other name through another Country, for purposes of unfairly harming America, will not be accepted. In addition, we will make provision for subsidies provided by Countries in order to take Economic advantage of the United States. Likewise, provisions will be made for Nonmonetary Tariffs and Trade Barriers that some Countries charge in order to keep our product out of their domain or, if they do not even let U.S. businesses operate. We are able to accurately determine the cost of these Nonmonetary Trade Barriers. It is fair to all, no other Country can complain and, in some cases, if a Country feels that the United States would be getting too high a Tariff, all they have to do is reduce or terminate their Tariff against us. There are no Tariffs if you manufacture or build your product in the United States.

For many years, the U.S. has been treated unfairly by other Countries, both friend and foe. This System will immediately bring Fairness and Prosperity back into the previously complex and unfair System of Trade. America has helped many Countries throughout the years, at great financial cost. It is now time that these Countries remember this, and treat us fairly – A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR AMERICAN WORKERS. I have instructed my Secretary of State, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of the Treasury, and United States Trade Representative (USTR) to do all work necessary to deliver RECIPROCITY to our System of Trade!

Watch: Secretary Turner announces Housing DOGE taskforce

21:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump says TikTok deadline could be extended

21:27 , Reuters

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that his 75-day delay in enforcing a ban on the popular short-video app TikTok could be extended, but said he doesn’t think that will be necessary.

In remarks to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said he still hopes to make a deal on TikTok to keep the app alive in the U.S., crediting it with helping him win the 2024 presidential election.

The app’s fate has been up in the air since a law requiring its Chinese owner ByteDance to either sell it on national security grounds or face a ban took effect on January 19.

Trump, after taking office on January 20, signed an executive order seeking to delay by 75 days enforcement of the law.

Asked if the deadline was running out, Trump said, “Well, I have 90 days from about two weeks ago, and I’m sure it can be extended. But let’s see. I don’t think you’ll need to.”

It wasn’t immediately clear what the 90-day reference meant.

Trump said there were a lot of people interested in acquiring the social media company, and said its image had changed since the 2024 election. He said he found the app to be fair and useful in appealing to young voters.

Trump said he believed Chinese President Xi Jinping would agree to approve the sale of TikTok to a U.S. buyer as it would also be in China’s interest.

“I’m going to make it worthwhile for China to do,” he said, without giving any details. “I think it would be to China’s advantage to have the deal be made.”

Watch LIVE: Trump welcomes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to White House

21:22 , Oliver O’Connell

Despite mission to slash spening, DOGE has more than doubled its budget already, report claims

21:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) effort to cut trillions in federal spending has doubled its own spending budget in recent days.

The initiative said in late January it had spent $6.75 million, a figure updated to $14.4 million by February 8, according to government records obtained by Fortune.

Josh Marcus looks at the numbers.

DOGE – charged with slashing trillions in spending – already doubled its budget

OPM staffers fired en masse by conference call in Musk purge

21:14 , Oliver O’Connell

Reuters reports that all probationary staff at the Office of Personnel Management were dismissed during a conference call on Thursday and were given less than an hour to leave the building in Washington, according to two sources familiar with the situation.

Approximately 100 participants were on the call at OPM, the U.S. government’s human resources agency. Staff under probation were informed that, due to not accepting the Trump administration’s buyout offer, they would be let go, as stated by a union source and an OPM employee.

Read Ariana Baio’s report on the chaotic dismissal of federal employees:

Federal firings are so chaotic workers are being let go ‘in error’ — then axed again

Transportation secretary asks Boeing CEO to D.C. to discuss safety

21:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a post on X on Thursday he has asked the CEO of Boeing to come to Washington, D.C., “as soon as possible” to discuss quality and safety issues at the company.

I’ve requested that the Boeing CEO come to D.C. as soon as possible to provide a full accounting of the steps the company is taking to address its quality and safety issues. Following that, I will visit Boeing myself to evaluate firsthand the measures being implemented to ensure its planes meet the highest safety standards.

Trump claims Musk has already found ‘tens of billions’ in savings, but even DOGE seems to disagree

21:00 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump has claimed that Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency have found billions of dollars in savings, but even DOGE’s own social media accounts state otherwise.

Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, D.C.

Trump claims Musk has already found ‘tens of billions’ in savings

Judge blocks Trump’s transgender youth executive order

20:43 , Oliver O’Connell

A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s recent executive order intended to restrict gender-affirming health care for transgender individuals under age 19.

The judge’s ruling came after a lawsuit was filed earlier this month on behalf of families with transgender or nonbinary children who allege that their healthcare has already been compromised by the president’s order. A national group for families of LGBTQ+ individuals and a doctors’ organization are also plaintiffs in the court challenge, which is one of many lawsuits opposing several executive orders Trump has issued as he seeks to reverse the policies of former President Joe Biden.

Judge Brendan Hurson, nominated by Biden, granted the plaintiffs’ request for a temporary restraining order following a hearing in federal court in Baltimore. The ruling essentially puts Trump’s directive on hold while the case proceeds.

Trump’s executive order “seems to deny that this population even exists, or deserves to exist,” Hurson said.

“This is a population with an extremely higher rate for suicide, poverty, unemployment, drug addiction,” the judge said during the hearing.

Abruptly stopping treatments, he added, would be “horribly dangerous for anyone, for any care, but particularly for this extremely vulnerable population.”

Here’s Alex Woodward’s earlier reporting on Trump’s order:

Trump targets affirming care for trans Americans under 19 in latest executive order

With reporting from the AP

USAID workers sue Musk and DOGE over ‘unconstitutional power grab’

20:40 , Oliver O’Connell

A group of 26 current and former USAID employees have filed a lawsuit against South African billionaire Elon Musk and his co-called Department of Government Efficiency, or “DOGE,” seeking a court injunction to stop the world’s richest man from dismantling their agency without formal Senate confirmation.

The hurried, slipshod hatchet that Musk and the band of young sidekicks he hired for the task — one of them, a recent high school graduate who goes by the nickname “Big Balls” — have taken to USAID, in particular, has not only put crucial foreign aid initiatives and the lives of the less fortunate in jeopardy, it has put people’s careers, as well as their personal safety, at risk, according to the complaint.

Justin Rohrlich has the details.

USAID workers sue Musk and DOGE over ‘unconstitutional power grab’

Republican federal prosecutor for Manhattan quits after being ordered to drop charges against Mayor Eric Adams

20:35 , Oliver O’Connell

The acting U.S. attorney for Manhattan resigned from her job on Thursday after she was ordered to drop the corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, according to a report.

Danielle Sassoon, a Republican who was appointed to lead the Southern District of New York by President Donald Trump weeks ago, notified her office of her decision just days after it was revealed the Justice Department would move to drop the charges.

Ariana Baio reports.

Manhattan prosecutor quits after being ordered to drop charges against Eric Adams

A day after call with Putin, Trump says Russia should be readmitted to G7

20:30 , Oliver O’Connell

A decade after Russia was expelled from the Group of Eight for invading and illegally annexing Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, President Donald Trump wants to reverse the decision and permit Russia to rejoin the group of the world’s major industrialized democracies.

“I’d love to have them back I think it was a mistake to throw them out,” said Trump, who blamed then-president Barack Obama for the collective decision by the world’s largest industrialized economies to exclude Russia from what had become the Group of Eight after the fall of the Soviet Union, when Russia was invited to join in an attempt to integrate it more tightly with the global economy.

The American president made the shocking declaration in the Oval Office during a marathon question-and-answer session with reporters.

Andrew Feinberg reports from the White House.

Trump says Russia should be readmitted to G7 a day after phone call with Putin

State Department tells U.S. embassies to prepare for staff cuts

20:25 , Oliver O’Connell

Per ABC News:

The State Department instructed United States embassies around the world to start planning for staff reductions on Wednesday, sources told ABC News.

Senior embassy officials were asked to provide comprehensive lists of all employees and their employment status as part of the process, sources said, explaining that the request includes tenured, untenured and temporary duty assignments.

Embassies will be required to cut both American staff and employees hired from the location in which the embassy is based, sources added.

Trump says his delay on enforcement of a TikTok ban could be extended

20:23 , AP

Asked by reporters for any updates on negotiations to keep TikTok alive in the U.S., Trump said the deadline for a sale that he imposed could be pushed further.

“I have 90 days from about two weeks ago and I’m sure it can be extended but let’s see, I don’t think you’ll need to,” he said.

A law passed with bipartisan support and signed by President Joe Biden last year required TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to find an approved buyer for its U.S. platform by Jan. 19 or face a ban. The Supreme Court upheld the law a few days before Trump was inaugurated.

An executive order Trump signed shortly after being sworn in as president enabled the app to continue operating for 75 days, or until early April.

Musk agrees to pay Trump $10m to settle lawsuit over his Twitter ban

20:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Elon Musk‘s X has agreed to pay Donald Trump about $10 million to settle a lawsuit after the social media giant banned the president over inflammatory tweets sent during the Jan 6. riots, sources say.

Trump’s legal team filed the suit against the company, which was then called Twitter, and its CEO Jack Dorsey in July 2021 after permanently suspending his account on January 8 that year “due to the risk of further incitement of violence”.

James Liddell has the details.

Musk’s X agrees to pay Trump $10m to settle lawsuit over ban after January 6 riot

20:11 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump criticizes Canada on defense spending, reiterates wish for country to become 51st state

20:08 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump on Thursday repeated his criticism of Canada’s defense spending, saying Ottawa was not paying enough and that Canada did not have enough military protection.

He also again said that Canada should become the 51st state.

Trump made the comment to reporters in the Oval Office as he unveiled a roadmap for charging reciprocal tariffs on every country that puts duties on U.S. imports.

“Canada has been very bad to us on trade, but now Canada is going to have to start paying up,” the president said.

“They think we’re going to, you know, protect them with our military, which is unfair. So Canada is going to be a very interesting situation, because, you know, we just don’t need their product. And yet, they survive off the fact that we’re, you know, we do 95% of what they do.”

He continued “And Canada is just absolutely — I say it, and sometimes people smile, and sometimes they say, great idea — but Canada would their taxes would come down greatly, their security would go up greatly, amazing things happen to Canada … Why would we pay $200 billion a year in subsidies to Canada when they’re not a state. You do that for a state, but you don’t do that for somebody else’s country. So I think Canada is going to be a very serious contender to be our 51st state.”

EXCLUSIVE: Bill Cassidy’s message to autistic families after his vote for RFK Jr.

20:00 , Eric Garcia

Sen. Bill Cassidy, the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, spoke to The Independent after his vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy to Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Cassidy, a Republican physician from Louisiana, is up for re-election and was considered the swing vote for Kennedy’s confirmation. Kennedy has long promoted the debunked link between vaccines and autism.

But shortly before the vote to refer Kennedy’s nomination out of the Senate Finance Committee, Cassidy announced his vote to confirm him. In the end, only Sen. Mitch McConnell joining the Democrats against confirming him.

The Independent spoke to Cassidy after the vote about what he would say to families of autistic kids and referred to his floor speech where he defended

“So my floor speech, my floor statement, if you will, regarding my relationship with Mr. Kennedy, I think stands for itself,” he said. “And I look forward to a collaborative relationship in which, people, whatever their medical needs, will have those needs addressed and our research into it.”

Cassidy reiterated that he still disagrees with Kennedy on the efficacy of vaccines.

“That’s settled science. So I guess I would say to the parents of such children, your children are special. The degree that it’s brought a tragedy or something less than tragedy, but still not good to your life, of course, as a parent, I feel for that.”

Cassidy, who voted to convict Donald Trump for his actions on January 6, is up for re-election in 2026. He has already fielded a Republican primary challenger.

“It’s my goal that the research that is done on these topics be directed towards finding solutions for the etiology of autism and the best ways to mitigate its effects and for other medical conditions as well,” he said. “Be it diabetes or cancer or Alzheimer’s. So I guess that’s what I would say.”

Full story: Trump announces sweeping ‘reciprocal’ tariffs that could kick off global trade war

19:49 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump on Thursday has instructed his government to prepare to levy significant import taxes on any country that imposes its own taxes on American imports, stopping short of immediately imposing the massive tax hikes on American importers but starting a process that experts say could portend a global trade war of the sort not seen in the modern era.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said the plan would treat all countries the same based on their own individual trade laws.

Andrew Feinberg reports from the White House.

Trump announces sweeping ‘reciprocal’ tariffs that could kick off global trade war

Watch: Trump signs reciprocal tariffs in escalating trade war

19:44 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump sees massive drop in young people support after riding them to an election win

19:44 , Oliver O’Connell

A new poll shows President Donald Trump’s much-vaunted success with younger voters seems to have stalled, as his approval rating among that demographic continues to fall.

Just 39 percent of adults under 30-years-old who responded to the latest Economist/YouGov poll reported a favorable opinion of Trump. That number stood at 50 percent just two weeks ago. Adults in the 30- to 44-years-old bracket who view him favorably also dropped from 45 percent to 42 percent.

Katie Hawkinson looks at the numbers.

Trump sees massive drop in young people support after riding them to an election win

Trump would love Russia to return to G7

19:41 , Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said he would love to have Russia return to the Group of Seven nations, telling reporters at the White House it was a mistake for them to be expelled.Russia had been a member of the G7 club of industrialized democracies, then known as the G8, until Moscow was excluded following its annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region in 2014.

ANALYSIS: Does Trump really have the power to get rid of the penny – and should he?

19:31 , Oliver O’Connell

In the middle of Super Bowl LIX, President Donald Trump posted on social media that he was getting rid of the penny.

Since the lowly penny in 2024 cost about 3.7 cents to make – meaning the government loses money on every coin – the announcement might seem practical at first glance.

But does the president have the power to kill off the penny?

Jay L. Zagorsky takes a look.

Does Trump really have the power to get rid of the penny – and should he?

Trump admits prices could up in the short-term because of tariff plan

19:22 , Oliver O’Connell

In remarks to reporters, Donald Trump noted that India, which has a long history of protectionism, has more tariffs than nearly any other country. He will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in just a couple of hours.

Asked if American consumers can expect high prices, the president said, “Not necessarily.”

He added that Americans can expect jobs to go up and prices could go up somewhat in the short term.

The president also claimed that interest rates are going to be going down.

Trump also reiterated his opposition to the EU’s 20 percent VAT on goods, saying it hurts U.S. companies, including big names such as Apple.

The president also said he expects many countries’ tariffs to remain the same and added that we should not expect any exemptions or waivers.

With reporting from Reuters

AP reporter again clocked from Oval Office event

19:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Tariffs could be imposed within weeks

19:13 , Oliver O’Connell

A White House official said the Trump administration could begin imposing some of the reciprocal tariffs within weeks. Earlier reporting by CNBC suggested an April 1 start date.

The most egregious cases in which U.S. goods are taxed by trading partners will be examined first, as well as those countries with the biggest trade surpluses with the U.S.

The Trump memorandum says that the annual trade deficit threatens U.S. economic and national security.

The president says he will no longer tolerate the European Union’s value-added tax, which he says nearly triples the tariff rate on U.S. exports.

A White House official says they are hoping to have discussions with other countries about lowering tariffs on each other.

The tariffs memo says that a lack of reciprocity is one source of the large and persistent U.S. trade deficit.

With reporting from Reuters

19:06 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump signs memorandum introducing reciprocal tariff plan

19:03 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump confirms he has decided to charge reciprocal tariffs on trading partners who charge tariffs on U.S. goods.

The president says he will also consider countries that use a value-added tax system as tariffs. He says sending merchandise through another country to avoid paying will not be permitted.

Provisions will be made for non-monetary tariffs, such as tests on cars and limitations on trade.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will come up with a number equivalent to those limitations and other non-tariff barriers.

Trump says it is up to other countries whether they reduce their own tariffs or eliminate them, adding that the European Union lowered its tariff rate to 2.5 percent, calling it a “big win.”

The president said this will bring fairness back, adding: “We want a level playing field.”

He adds that this will be in addition to steel tariffs and those on cars and pharmaceuticals — tariffs on cars will be coming soon.

The president then signed the memorandum introducing the tariffs plan.

With reporting from Reuters

CFPB sets up X tipline for companies to report on agency’s employees who violate stoppage

18:40

The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau has set up an X account for companies to report CFPB employees who violate the agency’s work stoppage order.

Among the first followers of the account is OMB director Russ Vought, who confirmed the observation of Brendan Pedersen of Punchbowl News.

The account’s bio reads: “Are you being pursued by CFPB enforcement or supervision staff, in violation of Acting Director Russ Vought’s stand down order? If so, DM us or send an email.”

Graig Graziosi explains why the CFPB is so important to American consumers:

Elon Musk is killing the agency protecting Americans from bad banking

Ahead of meeting with Trump, Modi met with Musk

18:24 , Oliver O’Connell

Make of that what you will…

Bessent suggests American help for Ukraine depends on ‘economic cooperation’

18:21 , AP

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters in Kyiv that President Donald Trump “would like an economic cooperation agreement, in exchange the U.S. will continue to provide material support to Ukraine.”

Ukraine has offered to strike a deal including developing mining of rare earth elements essential for many kinds of technology.

Bessent also said during a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Trump will do “whatever it takes” to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Trump names new board members for Kennedy Center

18:09 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump has named new board members for the Kennedy Center.

• Dan Scavino, White House deputy chief of staff

• Sergio Gor, White House director of personnel office

• Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff

• Allison Lutnick, director of disaster relief at Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund and wife of commerce nominee Howard Lutnick

Modi brings tariff ‘gift’ to Trump

17:57 , Oliver O’Connell

Per Reuters:

Ahead of his White House meeting on Thursday, Modi has readied promises including increased liquefied natural gas, combat vehicle and jet enginepurchases, according to Indian government officials who declined to be named.

Indian officials are also looking at possible deals on U.S. agriculture exports to India and investment in nuclear energy, along with tariff cuts in at least a dozen sectors, including electronics, medical and surgical equipment, and chemicals.

Those are areas Trump’s team believes India needs to make improvements, according to another person familiar with their thinking.

It’s a “gift” for Trump, said one of the sources, who declined to be named as they previewed a private meeting.

U.S. and Indian officials were also moving forward with talks on a bilateral trade deal, with a Trump administration official saying they hoped to have a deal in place this year.

Democrat leader says Trump admin intends to keep New York mayor ‘on a short leash’

17:53 , Oliver O’Connell

House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries says concerns voiced by New York Democrats that Mayor Eric Adams has been “compromised” and is on a “short leash” are “all legitimately held concerns.”

Jeffries says that the Department of Justice dropping corruption and bribery charges against Adams without prejudice shows it is the Trump admin’s intention “to keep the current Mayor on a short leash.”

“How the mayor responds to the White House’s intentions will determine a lot about the political future of the current mayor of New York City.”

Watch that moment here:

And here’s Ariana Baio and Mike Bedigan with the background on the case:

Justice Department moves to drop charges against New York mayor Eric Adams

First-year federal workers are easier to fire

17:50 , AP

Now that the window has closed on the Trump administration’s offer to pay federal workers to resign, more sweeping layoffs could be coming. Most vulnerable are “probationary” employees who have less civil service protection for their first year on the job.

The full scope of the firings remains unclear. Some probationary employees have already been fired at the Department of Education and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Agencies were told by the Office of Personnel Management earlier this week that any probationary employees who aren’t meeting high performance standards should be let go. The guidance was shared by a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Like Biden before him, high prices are Trump’s major economic challenge

17:47 , Oliver O’Connell

As a candidate last year, Donald Trump suggested he could easily conquer inflation and ease voters’ fears about the economy.

“I will very quickly deflate,” he promised at a California rally. “We are going to take inflation, and we are going to deflate it. We are going to deflate inflation. We are going to defeat inflation. We’re going to knock the hell out of inflation.”

Wednesday’s consumer price index report showed that inflation is punching back — and President Trump could end up facing the same challenges that dragged down his predecessor, President Joe Biden.

Continue reading…

The latest inflation report shows that high prices are Trump’s major economic challenge

Wrestler Triple H sitting behind Linda McMahon at hearing delights social media

17:41 , Oliver O’Connell

Social media users were quick to react after spotting a familiar face at Linda McMahon’s Senate confirmation hearing for Secretary of Education – pro-wrestling star Triple H.

Some joked that McMahon, estranged wife of WWE mogul Vince McMahon, had “brought her own security,” while others remarked on the sheer absurdity of the moment on Thursday.

Mike Bedigan has the story.

Wrestler Triple H sitting behind Linda McMahon at hearing delights social media

Linda McMahon may be asked to dismantle the Education Department. Here’s what it does…

17:34 , Oliver O’Connell

If Linda McMahon is confirmed as education secretary, President Donald Trump has said he wants her to “put herself out of a job.”

A plan being considered by the White House would direct the education secretary to dismantle the department as much as legally possible while asking Congress to abolish it completely. At her confirmation hearing Thursday, McMahon indicated she would seek “a better functioning Department of Education,” with more efficient programs that might be better implemented by different federal agencies.

Continue reading…

Trump’s education secretary may be asked to dismantle the Education Department. Here’s what it does

British military chiefs rage over fears of Trump sell out of Ukraine

17:28 , Oliver O’Connell

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces a possible diplomatic breach with Donald Trump over the president’s shock talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine war.

After learning of Mr Trump’s plan to meet Putin in Saudi Arabia to discuss the issue, defence secretary John Healey said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky must have a say.

And British defence figures are said to reacted furiously to claims Ukraine will be forced to give up land to Russia in a peace deal, saying of the US administration’s stance: “The bastards are going to do this”.

The robust British response could mark the first major test in relations between the Labour government and Mr Trump’s White House.

Mille Cooke and Kate Devlin report.

British military chiefs rage over fears of Trump sell out of Ukraine

Brooke Rollins confirmed as Trump’s secretary of agriculture

17:21 , Oliver O’Connell

Brooke Rollins is confirmed as Donald Trump’s secretary of agriculture, taking a key post amid growing fights over tariffs, of which we will hear more from the president in under an hour.

Full story: Senate confirms anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr

17:11 , Oliver O’Connell

The Senate has voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the conspiracy-promoting environmental lawyer-turned-anti-vaccine activist, to run the nation’s largest public health agency.

In a 52-48 vote, Kennedy was approved as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, with only Sen. Mitch McConnell breaking from his Republican colleagues to reject the confirmation. McConnell, a polio survivor, has stressed the importance for vaccinations.

Eric Garcia reports from Capitol Hill.

Anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr confirmed as HHS secretary

McConnell votes against RFK Jr, releases blistering statement

17:01 , Oliver O’Connell

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky issued the following statement today on the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to serve as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

I’m a survivor of childhood polio. In my lifetime, I’ve watched vaccines save millions of lives from devastating diseases across America and around the world. I will not condone the re-litigation of proven cures, and neither will millions of Americans who credit their survival and quality of life to scientific miracles.

Individuals, parents, and families have a right to push for a healthier nation and demand the best possible scientific guidance on preventing and treating illness. But a record of trafficking in dangerous conspiracy theories and eroding trust in public health institutions does not entitle Mr. Kennedy to lead these important efforts.

This Administration – led by the same President who delivered a medical miracle with Project Warp Speed – deserves a leader who is willing to acknowledge without qualification the efficacy of life-saving vaccines and who can demonstrate an understanding of basic elements of the U.S. healthcare system. Mr. Kennedy failed to prove he is the best possible person to lead America’s largest health agency. As he takes office, I sincerely hope Mr. Kennedy will choose not to sow further doubt and division but to restore trust in our public health institutions.

Full story: Kash Patel nomination to lead FBI advanced by Senate panel

16:50 , Oliver O’Connell

The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted along party lines to approve Kash Patel’s nomination to lead the FBI and send it to a vote of the full Senate.

Patel moved on to the Senate floor with a vote of 12-10.

This comes after the ranking Democrat on the committee, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, accused Patel of orchestrating a purge of the agents at the FBI.

Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, D.C.

Kash Patel nomination to lead FBI advanced by Senate panel

What would it take for Canada to become the 51st US state?

16:36 , Oliver O’Connell

Playing purely in hypotheticals…

What it would take for Canada to become the 51st US state

Patel nomination advances to full Senate vote

16:31 , Oliver O’Connell

The Senate Judiciary Committee just voted to advance Kash Patel’s nomination to be FBI Director to the full Senate, 12-10.

The vote was along party lines, with all Republicans voting to advance the nomination and all Democrats voting against it.

RFK Jr confirmed to lead Trump’s health department

16:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Robert F Kennedy Jr is confirmed as Health and Human Services Secretary and will be sworn in at the White House this afternoon.

Notably, Senator Mitch McConnell voted against Kennedy’s confirmation.

Trump demands ‘Radical Left Reuters’ return a $9 million government contract. He’s the one who paid it out in the first place

16:24 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump is raging about the $9 million that “Radical Left Reuters” received to supposedly study “large scale social deception,” demanding that it immediately “give the money back” even though it was awarded during his first administration and was given to a company that operates seperately from the news agency.

The president’s Thursday morning social media tirade comes hours after DOGE chief Elon Musk peddled a misleading claim on X (formerly Twitter) that Reuters engaged in a “total scam,” sharing a post that alleged the news organization had been paid millions of dollars from the government for a “social engineering” program.

Justin Baragona has all the details.

Trump demands ‘Radical Left Reuters’ return the $9 million that he first paid out

Musk denies claim government buying $400m worth of Tesla Cybertrucks

16:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Elon Musk has denied that the U.S. government will purchase $400m worth of Tesla Cybertrucks.

The billionaire jumped on X to deny the allegations, as it was widely reported on Wednesday that the Trump administration intended to spend $400m on “armored” Tesla electric vehicles in one of the State Department’s biggest contracts of 2025.

Madeline Sherratt reports.

Elon Musk denies that State Dept is buying $400M worth of Tesla Cybertrucks

Watch: Hegseth asked if peace deal will be forced on Ukraine

16:16 , Oliver O’Connell

Watch: Hegseth rejects idea negotiations are concession to Putin

16:12 , Oliver O’Connell

For context, here’s The Independent’s world affairs editor, Sam Kiley, on how the Trump administration has left Ukraine with little room to negotiate.

Trump’s just sabotaged Ukraine’s bargaining power with Russia – whose side is he on?

Watch: Democratic Senator Tina Smith decides not to run for re-election

16:08 , Oliver O’Connell

Only 75,000 workers have accepted Trump’s buyout

16:05 , Oliver O’Connell

About 75,000 federal workers have accepted President Donald Trump’s buyout program, which is far short of the White House’s goals for the effort to cull the federal workforce.

On Wednesday, a federal judge lifted a pause on the program, which allowed federal employees to be paid until September 30 if they resign by a specific date. While the original deadline was February 6, that was pushed back as the legal wrangling continued. The White House closed the offer Wednesday evening.

Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, D.C.

75,000 workers have accepted Trump’s buyout — far short of White House projections

Federal firings are so chaotic workers are being let go ‘in error’ — then axed again

15:50 , Oliver O’Connell

The Trump administration’s attempts to drastically and rapidly reduce the federal workforce have led to internal chaos with some workers being informed they were mistakenly sent a termination email only to be then told they were actually fired.

Ariana Baio reports.

Federal firings are so chaotic workers are being let go ‘in error’ — then axed again

Today’s tariffs will not go into immediate effect, report says

15:45 , Oliver O’Connell

McMahon ‘ready to enact’ Trump’s vision for Education Department

15:42 , Oliver O’Connell

Education Secretary nominee Linda McMahon, the first-term Trump cabinet secretary and WWE founder, is answering questions from senators as part of her confirmation process to lead the Department of Education.

Asked about Donald Trump’s calls for her to shut down the department, she told lawmakers “I am ready to enact” the president’s vision on education.

McMahon says the Trump plans to downsize of the department “will certainly require congressional action.”

She adds that it is “not the president’s goal to defund the programs, it only to have it operate more efficiently.”

Former Trump advisor accused president of ‘surrendering’ to Putin

15:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump’s former national security advisor and foe, John Bolton, has accused the president of “surrendering” to Vladimir Putin.

Experts warn Trump’s onslaught on checks and balances is ushering in a new age of political corruption

15:25 , Oliver O’Connell

Andrew Feinberg writes:

In just a few days, Donald Trump appeared to lay waste to decades-long American efforts to crack down on public and private corruption within the U.S. and abroad with a series of actions that experts are calling a clear signal that malfeasance by politicians and corporate actors will be tolerated if not encouraged.

Continue reading…

Trump is ushering in a new age of political corruption, experts warn

15:18 , Oliver O’Connell

Zelensky ‘will not accept’ peace agreement without Ukraine at talks

15:15 , Athena Stavrou

Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will not accept any peace agreement that does not include Ukraine in talks.

The Ukrainian president spoke to journalists on Thursday, following a call between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.

“We cannot accept it, as an independent country, any agreements (made) without us,” Mr Zelensky said as he visited a nuclear power station in western Ukraine.

“I articulate this very clearly to our partners. Any bilateral negotiations about Ukraine, not on other topics, but any bilateral talks about Ukraine without us, we will not accept.”

US and India moving toward new defense framework

15:10 , Andrew Feinberg

A senior administration official says the US and India are “moving towards signing a new defense framework” that will include “a number of new procurements” that could bring down the trade deficit between the two countries.

“Those talks are ongoing and are moving in a positive direction,” the official added.

Modi and Trump to discuss boosting India’s imports of U.S. tech and energy exports

14:57 , Andrew Feinberg

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to be the fourth foreign leader hosted by Donald Trump at the White House since he returned to office last month.

He’ll arrive this afternoon for a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office, followed by a joint press conference alongside Trump in the East Room and a private dinner for the two leaders.

According to a senior White House official, Trump and Modi will discuss “key areas of defense, trade, energy, infrastructure and regional partnerships,” including ways to boost India’s purchase of American-made military technology and American energy exports.

Trump, the official said, is “focused on unleashing American energy to the rest of the world, and will prioritize India as a key importer of America’s natural resources to power their economy.”

14:54 , Oliver O’Connell

NYC Mayor Eric Adams ‘considered running for reelection as Republican’

14:50 , Joe Sommerlad

The Democrat finally decided to stick with his party after talking to Bronx Republican Party chairman Mike Rendino about his options on Monday, according to reports.

Those conversations had ramped up after Trump’s Justice Department announced it was dropping its corruption case against Adams.

Here’s more from Rhian Lubin.

New York Mayor Eric Adams considered running for reelection as a Republican: Report

Trump to hold news conference on reciprocal tariffs at 1 p.m.

14:48 , Oliver O’Connell

President Donald Trump will host an Oval Office news conference on reciprocal tariffs at 1 p.m.

He wrote on Truth Social:

NEWS CONFERENCE ON RECIPROCAL TARIFFS TODAY, 1:00 P.M., THE OVAL OFFICE. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

Clearly excited, the president earlier wrote:

THREE GREAT WEEKS, PERHAPS THE BEST EVER, BUT TODAY IS THE BIG ONE: RECIPROCAL TARIFFS!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

What you missed on Truth Social this morning…

14:39 , Oliver O’Connell

Politico and The New York Times have once again been the subject of Donald Trump’s ire this morning, and Reuters was also mentioned in a pair of Truth Social posts from the president.

Trump first wrote:

DOGE: Looks like Radical Left Reuters was paid $9,000,000 by the Department of Defense to study ‘large scale social deception,” GIVE BACK THE MONEY, NOW!

He then added:

DOGE: Why was Politico paid Millions of Dollars for NOTHING. Buying the press??? PAY BACK THE MONEY TO THE TAXPAYERS! How much has the Failing New York Times paid? Is this the money that is keeping it open??? THEY ARE BUYING THE PRESS!

The payments to Politico and the Times are for subscriptions to their content for government departments and employees.

The Reuters payment is to Thomson Reuters Special Services LLC, a division of the wider company that provides data analysis tailored to client needs. According to a contract summary posted by Elon Musk, the project appears to be a study on large-scale social deception for Active Social Engineering Defense, commissioned by DARPA.

You can read all about DARPA’s preparations to defend the U.S. from malicious cyber attacks from the nation’s adversaries here — but here’s what that scary “social engineering” phrase refers to:

We call attacks on humans “social engineering” because they manipulate or “engineer” users into performing desired actions or divulging sensitive information. The most general social engineering attacks simply attempt to get unsuspecting internet users to click on malicious links.

Trump is disappearing migrants into Gitmo’s ‘black box,’ lawsuit says

14:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Luis Alberto Castillo Rivera’s family didn’t know where he was until government images showed him being loaded into a U.S. military plane bound for Guantanamo Bay.

Tilso Ramon Gomez Lugo’s sister recognized her brother in the same images.

A coalition of attorneys and civil rights groups – including the ACLU and Center for Constitutional Rights – and families of several detained immigrants are now suing the Trump administration for access to offer legal assistance.

Here’s Alex Woodward on Trump’s plans to detain as many as 30,000 immigrants at the notorious military prison drawing international scrutiny from civil rights and humanitarian groups.

Trump is disappearing immigrants into Guantanamo’s ‘legal black hole,’ lawsuit says

14:21 , Oliver O’Connell

Analysis: ‘What do Republican doctors really think of RFK Jr? I asked them’

14:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s Eric Garcia on what the nation’s physicians had to say about the man likely to be directing American public health policy very soon.

What do Republican doctors really think of RFK Jr? I asked them

Five bombshells from Caroline Kennedy’s open letter about RFK Jr

13:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Trump’s health secretary-designate was the subject of a scathing open letter late last month from his cousin, a former U.S. ambassador to Australia and Japan, who accused him of “cheating his way through life”.

Here’s a reminder of what else she had to say from Alex Croft.

‘He cheats his way through life’: Five bombshells from Caroline Kennedy’s open letter

Artists resign from Kennedy Center after Trump elected chairman

13:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Shonda Rhimes and Ben Folds have stepped down from their positions at the Kennedy Center amid a wave of resignations after Trump was elected chair of the iconic institution’s board.

The board of the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted on Wednesday to confirm Trump’s appointment.

“It is a Great Honor to be chairman of The Kennedy Center, especially with this amazing Board of Trustees,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“We will make The Kennedy Center a very special and exciting place!”

Soon after, Grey’s Anatomy showrunner and Shondaland CEO Shonda Rhimes resigned as treasurer to the board.

Singer-songwriter Ben Folds resigned as artistic adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held since 2017.

Here’s more from Shahana Yasmin.

Shonda Rhimes and Ben Folds resign from Kennedy Center after Trump elected chairman

State Department to buy $400m ‘armored’ Teslas from Musk

13:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Elon Musk was blasted on Wednesday following revelations that the Trump administration plans to spend $400 million on “armored” Teslas in what’s reportedly the State Department’s biggest contract of 2025.

The five-year contract, which did not specify the Tesla model to be “armored,” was listed in the government’s procurement forecast for 2025 and was first reported by Drop Site News.

The contract was revealed even as the tech billionaire and Trump “best buddy” is deeply embedded in the same federal government granting the contract as Musk peruses Treasury Department pay systems and can presumably examine information about rival contractors in what would appear to be a glaring conflict of interest.

The contract is due to be finalized in the fourth quarter and is currently in the “planning” phase, according to the document.

Rhian Lubin has more.

State Department to buy $400m ‘armored’ Teslas from Elon Musk

Mass firings start inside agencies as Trump and Musk work to slash federal payroll by thousands

12:55 , Joe Sommerlad

Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk have begun initiating the mass layoff of federal employees as the new administration strives to shrink the government’s workforce, with Musk saying he wants to “delete entire agencies” in the interest of achieving greater efficiency and reducing bureaucracy.

Elon Musk calls for US government to ‘delete entire agencies’

Watch: Jimmy Fallon mocks Musk for bringing son X to Trump’s Oval Office press conference

12:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Jimmy Fallon mocks Musk for bringing son X to Trump’s Oval Office press conference

Pam Bondi says Trump’s Justice Department is suing New York over immigration policies: ‘It stops today’

12:10 , Joe Sommerlad

The new U.S. Attorney General announced yesterday that the Department of Justice is suing the state of New York, Governor Kathy Hochul and state Attorney General Letitia James as Trump’s administration targets so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions in his anti-immigration campaign.

“New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops and it stops today,” Bondi said during a press conference in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.

Bondi announced the action as having “filed charges” against the state’s top officials, though it was not immediately clear what actions the Justice Department is taking, and there were no corresponding court filings in New York or Washington, D.C.

Alex Woodward reports.

Trump’s Justice Department is suing New York over immigration policies

DOGE launches official website

11:50 , Joe Sommerlad

As concerns grow about Elon Musk’s huge power over the federal bureaucracy, potential conflicts of interest and his seeming lack of accountability to anyone other than Donald Trump, his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has officially launched its website, offering at least the appearance of transparency to the American taxpayer who did not vote for Musk.

Judge won’t stop Trump’s federal worker resignation plan

11:40 , Joe Sommerlad

A federal judge has dissolved a restraining order that blocked Trump’s administration from offering “deferred resignations” to tens of thousands of government employees, opening the door for the administration to resume the so-called “buyout” plan in the president’s efforts to gut the federal workforce.

A temporary order from Massachusetts District Judge George O’Toole had blocked the administration from making an offer that officials claimed would place them on paid leave through September 30 with no expectation of working in that time.

A lawsuit from unions representing roughly 800,000 workers argued that they were forced into an “arbitrary, unlawful, short-fused ultimatum,” with a looming deadline to respond to an email blasted to virtually every federal employee.

The American Federation of Government Employees and other unions argued that the Office of Personnel Management lacked authority to implement the program.

On Wednesday, O’Toole lifted his restraining order, arguing that the unions do not have legal standing to challenge the administration’s directive and that his court lacked jurisdiction to act.

Here’s the latest from Alex Woodward.

Judge won’t stop Trump’s federal worker resignation plan

Trump again up early to rage about government ‘waste’

11:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s the latest early morning Truth Social post from the president:

“DOGE: Looks like Radical Left Reuters was paid $9,000,000 by the Department of Defense to study ‘large scale social deception.’ GIVE BACK THE MONEY, NOW!”

He follows that with two more dispatches on random topics:

“THREE GREAT WEEKS, PERHAPS THE BEST EVER, BUT TODAY IS THE BIG ONE: RECIPROCAL TARIFFS!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”

“GREAT TALKS WITH RUSSIA AND UKRAINE YESTERDAY. GOOD POSSIBILITY OF ENDING THAT HORRIBLE, VERY BLOODY WAR!!!”

Watch: U.S. should ‘mind its own business’ in international affairs, says Elon Musk

11:20

US should ‘mind its own business’ in international affairs, says Musk

In pictures: Pete Hegseth visits Nato headquarters in Brussels

11:00 , Joe Sommerlad

The former Fox News weekend presenter has been posing for pictures in Belgium with the North Atlantic military alliance’s secretary general Mark Rutte as the group convenes a meeting of defense secretaries, with Ukraine very much on everbody’s mind.

Vance visiting Dachau concentration camp memorial on eve of big Zelensky meeting

10:40 , Joe Sommerlad

Vice President JD Vance will visit Dachau on Thursday, making a stop at one of the most powerful symbols of the Second World War on the eve of his critical talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about the three-year Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Vance, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is due to sit down on Friday with Zelensky on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference to discuss Trump’s intensifying push for Ukraine and Russia to begin negotiations to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since 1945.

But first Vance is stopping at the solemn memorial that is a powerful reminder of Nazi atrocities.

VP Vance is visiting the Dachau concentration camp memorial on eve of his big meeting with Zelenskyy

Analysis: Trump has just sabotaged Ukraine’s bargaining power with Russia – whose side is he on?

10:20 , Joe Sommerlad

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told Nato defence ministers on Wednesday that the Trump administration won’t support membership of the alliance for Ukraine, or most of its peace talks platform, leaving Volodymr Zelensky little room to negotiate, writes Sam Kiley.

Trump’s just sabotaged Ukraine’s bargaining power with Russia – whose side is he on?

John Bolton: ‘Trump has effectively surrendered to Putin before the negotiations have even begun’

10:10 , Joe Sommerlad

The president’s estranged ex-national security adviser had a brutal assessment to offer of his actions yesterday in conversation with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.

British military chiefs rage over fears Trump will sell out Ukraine

10:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Sir Keir Starmer faces a possible diplomatic breach with Trump over the president’s shock talks with Putin on the Ukraine war.

After learning of Trump’s plan to meet Putin in Saudi Arabia to discuss the issue, U.K. Defence Secretary John Healey said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky must have a say.

And British defence figures are said to have reacted furiously to claims Kyiv will be forced to give up land to Russia in a peace deal, saying of the U.S. administration’s stance: “The bastards are going to do this.”

The robust British response could mark the first major test in relations between the Labour government and Trump’s White House.

Here’s more from Millie Cooke.

British military chiefs rage over fears of Trump sell out of Ukraine

Recap: Trump says he spoke to Putin on ‘immediately’ starting Ukraine talks

09:40 , Joe Sommerlad

The president revealed yesterday that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had spoken and agreed to “immediately” open negotiations on how to end the war on Ukraine, which Putin launched with an unprovoked invasion nearly three years ago.

In a statement posted to his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had had “a lengthy and highly productive phone call” with the Russian leader, during which they discussed “Ukraine, the Middle East, Energy, Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Dollar, and various other subjects.”

Trump said both he and Putin – who ordered the invasion of Ukraine and claimed it was an effort to rid the former Soviet satellite of so-called “Nazis” in its western-aligned government – “want to stop the millions of deaths taking place” as a result of the war the Russian started.

He also said he and Putin had “agreed to work together, very closely” and to host each other for official visits, with another meeting mooted in Saudi Arabia.

He added that he and Putin both agreed to “have our respective teams start negotiations immediately” on talks to end the war.

The president continued by announcing that the U.S. negotiating team for the yet-to-be commenced talks will consist of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, White House National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff.

Trump later added that he had spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky too, saying that he likewise wanted peace and expressing hope for the latter’s upcoming meeting with JD Vance and Rubio.

This answer at the White House was not encouraging, however, given that it was Ukraine that was invaded and left with little choice but to defend itself, a fact Trump blithely brushed over.

Here’s the latest from Andrew Feinberg.

Trump says he spoke to Putin about ‘immediately’ starting talks on ending Ukraine war

Linda McMahon set for first confirmation hearing after Trump rants about shutting Department of Education

09:20 , Joe Sommerlad

The president’s choice for Education Secretary, former WWE boss Linda McMahon, will have her first committee confirmation hearing today, a matter of hours after Trump interrupted Tulsi Gabbard’s swearing-in ceremony to rant about closing that very department.

Here’s Andrew Feinberg on that little episode.

Trump says he wants Education department shuttered ‘immediately’ in Oval Office rant

RFK Jr set to be confirmed by Senate on Thursday

09:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Trump’s controversial nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F Kennedy Jr, looks set to be confirmed by the Senate on Thursday, despite several Republicans expressing deep scepticism about his views on vaccines.

Kennedy’s past comments on chemical additives in food and indulgence of conspiracy theories have also provided grounds for concern but he nevertheless looks set to win the day and assume control over a sprawling department that Trump has invited him to “go wild” with.

Here’s Gustaf Kilander and Katie Hawkinson with a timely reminder of some of the wild anecdotes that have emerged about RFK Jr’s personal life, from brain worms to dead whales and bears.

RFK Jr’s controversies: From dumping a bear in Central Park to a brain-eating worm

Donald Trump to host Indian PM Narendra Modi at White House

08:40 , Joe Sommerlad

Good morning!

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet with his “friend” Donald Trump at the White House today as he prepares to further cut levies on American goods in the hope of escaping the U.S. president’s salvo of tariffs.

Modi’s trip to Washington D.C. comes amid growing anger in India over the humiliating deportation by the Trump administration of over a 100 undocumented Indian migrants last week.

Foreign policy experts believe that Modi and Trump will talk immigration, trade, arms sales and the regional threat posed in Asia by rival superpower China.

Modi got matters off to a warm start by praising Tulsi Gabbard after she was confirmed by the Senate as America’s new Director of National Intelligence yesterday.

Here’s more from Alisha Rahaman Sarkar.

What Modi is looking to get out of his meeting with Trump

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent’s website