Trump admin live updates: Judge releases Venezuelan couple accused of being gang members, rips government evidence

President Donald Trump signed multiple executive orders related to education Wednesday afternoon in the Oval Office, including one that charges departments with enforcing laws that require that American colleges and universities disclose when they receive foreign gifts.

"There are currently laws on the books requiring certain disclosures of universities when they accept large foreign gifts," White House staff secretary Will Scharf said while presenting the president with the executive order. "We believe that certain universities, including, for example, Harvard, have routinely violated this law and this law has not been effectively enforced."

Among the group of educational executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on Wednesday was one that charged the Department of Education with reviewing school accreditation processes

"I think that gets to your policy, sir, of meritocracy -- that we should be looking at those who have real merit to get in," Education Secretary Linda McMahon said before Trump signed the order.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that President Donald Trump's patience with Ukraine-Russia negotiations is "running very thin."

"And unfortunately, President Zelenskyy has been trying to litigate this peace … negotiation in the press, and that's unacceptable to the president. These should be closed door negotiations," Leavitt continued.

Responding to Trump's earlier criticism over Ukraine refusing to legally recognize the occupation of Crimea, Zelenskyy said in a statement that "Ukraine will always act in accordance with its Constitution and we are absolutely sure that our partners in particular the USA will act in line with its strong decisions."

– ABC News' Kelsey Walsh, Hannah Demissie, and Selina Wang

While speaking to reporters on the White House driveway Wednesday afternoon, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump will sign seven executive orders related to education later Wednesday.

Leavitt also responded to Trump’s earlier announcement of two new flagpoles on the White House North Lawn, saying the president is a “real estate developer at heart” and that he is always looking for ways to improve the White House.