Trump admin live updates: Trump, Schumer trade barbs over Senate nominations

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked to clarify what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent meant when he said the new so-called Trump savings accounts for newborns could be a "back door" to start privatizing Social Security.

Bessent has since tried to walk the comments back.

"What the secretary of treasury was saying, and what this administration believes, is that these Trump newborn accounts, which is an incredibly creative and great provision that was in the one big, beautiful bill for newborn babies and families and future generations of Americans, will help supplement not substitute Social Security," Leavitt said.

"The Trump administration is wholeheartedly committed to protecting Social Security. The president did it in his first term. He's doing it again in this term. But these newborn accounts are another revenue stream for young people, to watch their money grow throughout their lives and to one day be able to access those funds so they can hopefully build a home and live the American dream," she added.

Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal addressed Indian Parliament Thursday over President Donald Trump's tariffs and vowed to "take all necessary steps to secure and advance our national interest."

"In an increasingly protectionist world, India has done mutually beneficial trade agreements with UAE, UK , Australia and AFTA countries. We are also committed to similar trade agreements with other countries. We are consistently working for the welfare of the farmers and Indian agriculture to promote prosperity and ensure food security," he added.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

The White House press secretary announced Thursday that construction will begin soon on the White House ballroom.

The addition will be 90,000 square feet.

Karoline Leavitt said construction will be done "long before" Trump's term is done.

Leavitt said Trump and unidentified donors would be paying for the $200 million addition.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared details of special envoy Steve Witkoff's trip to Israel on Thursday.

"Special envoy Witkoff and Ambassador [Mike] Huckabee had a very productive meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials today in Israel on the topic of delivering much-needed food and aid to Gaza," Leavitt said. "President Trump is a humanitarian with a big heart, and that's why he sent special envoy Witkoff to the region in an effort to save lives and end this crisis."

Leavitt said Witkoff and Huckabee will travel into Gaza on Friday "to inspect the current distribution sites and secure a plan to deliver more food" and hear "firsthand about this dire situation on the ground."

The two men will "brief the president immediately after their visit to approve a final plan for food and aid distribution into the region, and we will provide more details for all of you once that plan is approved and agreed on by the president of the United States," Leavitt said.