A federal judge ordered a Venezuelan couple, accused by the Trump administration of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang, to be released, delivering a stinging rebuke of the government's evidence in the case.
Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday was making an announced trip to the southern border -- without reporters -- as he faces new scrutiny in Washington.
ABC News has confirmed that, in at least two separate meetings, Hegseth accused top-ranking military officers of leaking to the news media and threatened to polygraph them.
Hegseth also used the Signal app on a personal computer in his office that was connected to the internet on an unsecured commercial line, what's known as a "dirty line," two sources confirmed to ABC News Thursday. A Pentagon spokesman called that report "fake news."
President Donald Trump will be departing Friday and returning Saturday for Pope Francis' funeral service at St. Peter's Basilica.
He will also be visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from May 13 -16.
"The president looks to strengthen the ties between the United States and these countries in which he will be visiting. He'll be having many bilateral meetings and talks and we look forward to the trip," said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday.
During his first term, the president's first overseas trip was to Saudi Arabia
President Donald Trump speaks to the media during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, April 21, 2025.
Samuel Corum/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
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Apr 22, 2025, 1:37 PM EDT
White House defends Hegseth, alleges leakers are mounting a 'smear campaign'
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after it was revealed he had a second Signal group chat with family members where he discussed Yemen airstrikes.
"They were Pentagon employees who leaked against their boss, to news agencies in this room," Leavitt said. "And it's been clear since Day 1 from this administration that we are not going to tolerate individuals who leaked to the mainstream media, particularly when it comes to sensitive information."
"And the secretary of Defense is doing a tremendous job, and he is bringing the monumental change to the Pentagon. And there's a lot of people in this city who reject monumental change. And I think, frankly, that's why we've seen a smear campaign against the secretary of defense since the moment that President Trump announced his nomination before the United States Senate."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a press briefing at the White House in Washington, April 22, 2025.
Alex Brandon/AP
Leavitt reiterated that Trump stands behind Hegseth. Trump defended his defense secretary on Monday, saying he still had confidence in him.
Apr 22, 2025, 1:11 PM EDT
Nearly 700 State Dept jobs to be cut under Rubio reorganization plan: Officials
Rubio’s reorganization of the State Department would involve shuttering 132 agency offices and ultimately lead to the elimination of roughly 700 of the department’s D.C.-based civil and foreign service workforce positions, officials familiar with the proposal told ABC News.
Offices on the chopping block include those under the department’s Energy Resources and Conflict and Stabilization Operations wings, the Office of the Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary, the Office of Global Criminal Justice, the Office of International Religious Freedoms, the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, the Office of Global Women’s Issues, and the Office of Global Partnerships.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives at the Quai d'Orsay, France's Minister of Foreign Affairs for high-level talks to discuss Ukraine and its security in Paris, April 17, 2025.
Julien De Rosa/Pool via Reuters
Additionally, the department’s Arms Control, Deterrence and Stability bureau will be merged with its International Security and Nonproliferation Bureau (and now branded Arms Control, Nonproliferation and Stability).
Plus, what was the department’s Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism bureau will see significant reductions and now be known just as the Counterterrorism bureau. Several special envoys and their offices are also expected to be eliminated.
A senior State Department official told ABC News that no layoffs are expected to happen immediately, and that department leaders will have 30 days to analyze and implement the plan.
The official also claimed that the elimination of roles within the department does not necessarily directly translate to the number of employees that will eventually be let go, and that many in eliminated offices will likely be moved to other areas.
-ABC News' Shannon Kingston
Apr 22, 2025, 11:29 AM EDT
Trump says he spoke with Netanyahu on trade and Iran
President Donald Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on trade and Iran on Tuesday morning.
"The call went very well -- We are on the same side of every issue," Trump wrote on social media.
President Donald Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, April 7, 2025.
Yuri Gripas/Pool/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The conversation between the two leaders comes as Trump touted "very good meetings" on Russia, Ukraine and Iran.
“So I will be giving you a full detail over the next three days, but we have very good meetings on Ukraine, Russia. We had very good meetings actually on Iran, too. We'll see how that works,” Trump teased on Monday.
