Trump 2nd term updates: Trump excludes low-value shipments from looming tariffs

Members of the Senate DOGE caucus gathered with Elon Musk at the White House Thursday during a meeting that seemed tooled toward facilitating greater cooperation between Senate Republicans and Musk's efforts.

Senators who attended the meeting said Musk offered them assurance that DOGE does not have the independent authority to implement layoffs or slash congressionally appropriated spending.

"They don't have any independent firing authority. They can't do any of that nor do they have the ability to cancel any payment," Republican Sen. Mike Lee, who attended the meeting, said.

Republican Sen. John Hoeven said he got assurances that there would be greater communication with DOGE, especially as constituents raise concerns about DOGE cuts.

Hoeven said there have been instances in which he's received calls from constituents who were "let go, or something like that, but they need to be there."

-ABC News' Allison Pecorin

Trump repeated false claims about U.S. funding to Ukraine since the war began and that the British and EU were getting their money back as part of the deal to end the war.

Starmer immediately interjected and said this was not the case.

"We're not getting all of ours," the prime minister said. "Quite a bit of ours ... was gifted actually," he said.

After previously saying it was unrealistic for Ukraine to get its pre-war borders back in a peace deal, Trump said he will "try" to return land seized by Russia.

"Well, they fought long and hard on the land ... We're going to certainly try and get as much as we can back. But on the NATO -- it's just that, that's not going to happen," Trump said.

Trump was asked by a reporter about recent comments from Blackwater CEO Erik Prince who called on privatizing deportations.

"I don't think it's necessary. Our people are doing a phenomenal job. I wouldn't be opposed to it necessarily," Trump said.

"I mean, the level of effectiveness has been incredible," he added.