Trump 2nd term updates: Trump says USAID is run by 'radical lunatics'

The comments came amid turmoil as DOGE took over USAID offices last week.

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira, Emily Chang, Andrea Pineda-Salgado, Meredith Deliso, and Julia Reinstein
Last Updated: February 2, 2025, 11:11 PM EST

President Donald Trump made good on his threats to impose tariffs on some of the U.S.'s trading partners, announcing Saturday that he will levy 25% tariffs on some goods from Canada and Mexico and 10% on Chinese goods.

Experts have warned that tariffs of this magnitude will likely increase prices paid by U.S. and Trump appeared to acknowledge that “some pain” might be possible in the U.S.

Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee announced it will meet Tuesday, when it is expected to vote on the controversial nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of Health and Human Services.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing:
Jan 25, 2025, 4:13 PM EST

Trump pushes 'no tax on tips' bill

Trump said he would push Congress to pass a bill that changes the tax code that would end taxes on tips.

The president pushed that policy during the campaign trail.

"So if you're a restaurant worker server, a valet, a bellhop, a bartender, one of my caddies ... your tips will be 100% yours," he said.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks on his policy to end tax on tips in Las Vegas, Jan. 25, 2025.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Trump also reiterated his plan to issue tariffs on foreign countries and even floated a proposal to end income tax in favor of tariffs for revenue.

Jan 25, 2025, 4:04 PM EST

Trump boasts getting rid of 'woke crap'

Trump boasted his executive orders ending Diversity, Equity and Inclusion requirements within the federal government claiming he "got rid of the woke crap."

Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, top row at second left, listens as President Donald Trump speaks about the economy during an event at the Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Jan. 25, 2025.
John Locher/AP

The president claimed that no companies wanted to impose those policies.

"I don't think they believed it," he claimed.

Jan 25, 2025, 3:57 PM EST

Trump quips about rolling back environmental funding

Trump spoke to a crowd at the Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas to tout his "no tax on tips" proposal and other economic policies.

The president spent the early parts of the rally repeating his claims from the campaign trail and on inauguration day that the U.S. was in decline and prices were too high.

President Donald Trump attends an event about the economy at the Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Jan. 25, 2025.
Leah Millis/Reuters

He also boasted many of his executive orders including having the U.S. leave the Paris Climate Agreement.

"Wasn't the environment supposed to eat us up like in 12 years? But that was like 13 years ago. What happened? We're still here," said Trump, who spent Friday visiting areas of North Carolina and California ravaged by recent natural disasters.

Jan 25, 2025, 3:19 PM EST

Oath Keeper founder on stage at Trump rally days after release

Just days after Trump commuted his 18-year sentence for his role in the Jan. 6 riot, Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes was on stage for Trump’s Saturday speech at a Las Vegas casino.

Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes appears at the venue where President Trump will be speaking, in Las Vegas, Jan. 25, 2025.
ABC News

Rhodes, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy for helping to organize the riot, has VIP seating on the stage where Trump is about to take the stage to promote his “no tax on tips” proposal.

Several Trump supporters at this event told ABC News they believe Trump has been carrying out his campaign promises, pointing out that he pardoned the Jan. 6 rioters.

-ABC News' Selina Wang and Kelsey Walsh

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