White House says some employees were fired by mistake

After taking the recent buyout offer, some employees were fired, a source said.

Last Updated: February 16, 2025, 11:07 PM EST

President Donald Trump's administration, including Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, is continuing its sweeping effort to cut much of the federal government -- but it's being met with legal challenges.

Trump is also making his second administration's first forays on the diplomatic front with calls to Russia's Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy on ending the 3-year-old war that began in February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine.

And a day after Hamas released more hostages taken when it attacked Israel in October 2023, Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the militant organization needs to be "eliminated."

Feb 12, 2025, 1:41 PM EST

'Real constitutional crisis is taking place within our judicial branch,' White House press secretary says

During a briefing on Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed what she called an "extremely dishonest narrative" that there is a "constitutional crisis taking place here at the White House."

Instead, she said, "the real constitutional crisis is taking place within our judicial branch, where district court judges in liberal districts across the country are abusing their power to unilaterally block President Trump's basic executive authority."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Feb. 5, 2025 in Washington.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

"As the President clearly stated in the Oval Office yesterday, we will comply with the law in the courts, but we will also continue to seek every legal remedy to ultimately overturn these radical injunctions and ensure President Trump's policies can be enacted," she added.

Feb 12, 2025, 1:38 PM EST

Zelenskyy says he and Trump talked about 'opportunities to achieve peace'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he talked with Trump about "opportunities to achieve peace" during a phone call between the two leaders on Wednesday.

The two spoke "about opportunities to achieve peace, discussed our readiness to work together at the team level, and Ukraine’s technological capabilities -- including drones and other advanced industries," Zelenskyy said.

President Donald J. Trump, Feb. 11, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Feb. 10, 2025 and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Feb. 7, 2025.
AP/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Zelenskyy added that he and Trump also discussed "the preparation of a new document on security, economic cooperation and resource partnerships," the readout said.

"President Trump shared details of his conversation with Putin," Zelenskyy said in the readout.

During a press briefing Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump's conversation with Putin went "very well."

-ABC News' Nataliia Popova

Feb 12, 2025, 1:25 PM EST

Japan requests exemption from Trump steel and aluminum tariffs

Japan has requested an exemption from President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on aluminum and steel, according to Japan's top spokesperson.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba barely had time to unpack from his trip to Washington before having to deal with the shock of Trump's new steel and aluminum tariffs. Japan is an export-driven nation. Tariffs send a shock through industries, markets and the people whose jobs depend on global trade.

Japan, for now, is in Trump’s crosshairs once again. The tariffs could impact sectors where this country is a dominant player such as automobiles, tech and steel. During Trump’s first term, businesses spent years adapting to his unpredictable policies. Now, they may have to do it all over again. Wash, rinse, repeat, Trump style.

-ABC News' Anthony Trotter

Feb 12, 2025, 1:03 PM EST

White House announces American detainee released

The White House announced on CNN that one American and two others detained in Belarus have been released.

In this phase of the release, one American and two Belarusians have been released from Belarus, according to a U.S. official.

The North Lawn of the White House is seen covered by snow in Washington, DC, on Feb, 11, 2025.
Ting Shen/AFP via Getty Images

According to RFE/Radio Liberty, the U.S.-funded news agency, their journalist in Belarus was freed after more than three years of imprisonment in Belarus.

White House officials were adamant that there was no exchange or swap -- they were purely released as a show of good faith. The detainees will be released from Belarus.

Adam Boheler, the White House special envoy for hostages, made the announcement in an interview on CNN. He signaled that they will stop at no cost to get Americans home.

Boehler said the American “at this point needs to remain private.”-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh, Hannah Demissie and Michelle Stoddart

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