The Senate on Saturday considered some of President Donald Trump's nominations before the August recess.
Earlier this week, Trump issued an executive order slapping tariffs on many of America's trading partners but the new duties are set to go into effect in seven days.
Trump also continues to face questions over his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and his relationship with the accused sex trafficker.
Trump orders nuclear submarines in response to Russian statements
President Donald Trump said Friday he has ordered two nuclear submarines "in the appropriate regions" in response to threats made by Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chair of Russia's Security Council, "just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that."
"Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances," Trump posted on social media.
President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the White House in Washington, July 31, 2025.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters
He did not specify in the post where the submarines would be going.
It comes as Medvedev posted on X earlier this week, warning Trump not to play "the ultimatum game."
"Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country," Medvedev said.
-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa and Michelle Stoddart
Aug 01, 2025, 1:10 PM EDT
22 lawmakers call on Gabbard to resign over 2016 election remarks
A growing number of lawmakers, including 22 members of Congress and several key figures in the Congressional Black Caucus, called on Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to resign.
The letter, sent this week and spearheaded by Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif, urges Gabbard "to resign immediately so that new leadership can begin the urgent work of restoring integrity, rebuilding trust, and upholding the nonpartisan mission of the Intelligence Community before even more damage is done."
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, July 23, 2025.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
The group criticized Gabbard’s remarks about former President Barack Obama and her claims that "his cabinet 'manufactured and politicized' evidence against President Trump related to Russia’s proven interference in the 2016 election."
"This is not only categorically false; it is a dangerous and deliberate distortion of reality," they wrote.
The group also criticized Gabbard for misusing her position as Director of National Intelligence, stating her "job is to safeguard truth, not spread propaganda. Instead, you have abused your position to promote a partisan narrative rooted in conspiracy and discredited claims."
-ABC News' Beatrice Peterson
Aug 01, 2025, 9:07 AM EDT
Trump says if Powell refuses to cut interest rates, the Federal Reserve Board should 'assume control'
President Donald Trump is escalating his attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell after the Fed held interest rates steady this week.
Trump posted that the Federal Reserve Board "should assume control" if Powell continues to refuse to cut rates.
Donald Trump delivers remarks in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., July 31, 2025.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters
"Jerome 'Too Late' Powell, a stubborn MORON, must substantially lower interest rates, NOW. IF HE CONTINUES TO REFUSE, THE BOARD SHOULD ASSUME CONTROL, AND DO WHAT EVERYONE KNOWS HAS TO BE DONE!" the president wrote in a post on his conservative social media platform.
"STRONG DISSENTS ON FED BOARD. IT WILL ONLY GET STRONGER! "TOO LATE!" he wrote in another one ahead of the July jobs report release.
-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa
Jul 31, 2025, 6:37 PM EDT
Trump promises to follow through on sanctions against Russia
Asked about Russia's recent deadly drone attack on Kyiv, Trump immediately launched into criticizing Russia’s war on Ukraine, calling it a “disgrace,” and pointing out how many Russians have died as a result of Putin’s continued violence.
“I think it's disgusting. Russia? I think it's disgusting what they're doing. I think it's disgusting. This is Biden's war. It's not my war. But I said if I get in, I'll try and get the thing stopped. But I think what Russia is doing is very sad. A lot of Russians are dying,” Trump said.
“But I will tell you this, it should be stopped. It's a -- it's a disgrace,” Trump added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a ceremony of exchange of documents following his meeting with Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, July 31, 2025.
Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool via AP
While Trump said he was going to follow through on his promise of slapping sanctions on Russia if it didn’t broker a ceasefire in Ukraine by the deadline coming in eight days; however, he was unsure that those actions would have an impact on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Yeah, we're going to put sanctions. I don't know that sanctions bother him. You know, they -- they know about sanctions. I know better than anybody about sanctions and tariffs and everything else,” Trump said.
“I don't know if that has any effect, but we're going to do it. Europe is extremely upset, but this is a war that should have never happened,” Trump added.
Trump also said that special envoy Steve Witkoff is going to visit Russia. Witkoff is visiting Gaza on Friday, the White House said, and Trump said that after that "he's going to Russia, believe it or not."
