Live

Trump admin live updates: Judge blocks IRS sharing taxpayer data with ICE

In April, the IRS agreed to begin sharing information with ICE.

Last Updated: November 23, 2025, 7:49 AM EST

President Donald Trump on Thursday called several Democratic veterans and national security specialists "traitors" who should face the death penalty for releasing a joint video in which they said that U.S. service members could refuse illegal orders.

This week, the House and Senate overwhelmingly approved a measure to force the Department of Justice to release all files related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump signed the legislation on Wednesday night, starting the clock on the 30 days the DOJ has to release the documents.

Nov 20, 2025, 6:34 PM EST

Trump slashes Brazil food tariffs in latest effort to lower grocery prices

President Donald Trump eliminated tariffs on agricultural products from Brazil with an executive order Thursday, his latest move to try to lower grocery prices.

This means key food imports from Brazil like coffee and beef, which were subject to 40% tariff rates, will now enter the U.S. tariff-free.

"After considering the information and recommendations these officials have provided to me and the status of negotiations with the Government of Brazil, among other things, I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate to modify the scope of products subject to the additional ad valorem rate of duty imposed under Executive Order 14323," the order said.

Earlier this year, the president slapped hefty tariffs on Brazilian imports over qualms with its government, specifically charges against former Brazilian president and Trump ally Jair Bolsonaro that the White House said were "politically motivated."

-ABC News' Elizabeth Schulze and Michelle Stoddart

Nov 20, 2025, 3:36 PM EST

Dem Sen. Gallego says Trump doesn't understand military after POTUS attacks Dems over new video

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a Marine combat veteran, slammed President Donald Trump on Thursday for his attacks against Democratic veterans who called for servicemembers to "refuse illegal orders," suggesting Trump was trying to distract from the Epstein files fallout and "doesn't understand" the military.

"He thinks the military is one of his personal little play toys ... he, for some reason, thinks that men and women upholding their oath is a contradiction to him as commander in chief - which, again, tells you he doesn't really understand his role," Gallego told ABC News.

Gallego, who did not take part in the video, said the Democrats were "trying to put out into the atmosphere to military personnel that, if you feel that there's something illegal, that you have a right to object. There's nothing that crazy. It's something that is entirely taught within all military forces."

Gallego said he is hearing "unease" from servicemembers about "what could happen" with future orders from the Trump administration, "not what's happening now."

--ABC News' Benjamin Siegel

President Donald Trump meets Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House, Nov. 18, 2025, in Washington.
Win McNamee/Getty Images

Nov 20, 2025, 3:13 PM EST

White House says Trump-backed peace plan 'good' for Russia and Ukraine

The White House on Thursday expressed optimism after Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to talk about a potential peace plan.

"I'm not going to litigate the details of this plan as it's ongoing and it's in flux. But the president supports this plan. It's a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine. And we believe that it should be acceptable to both sides. And we're working very hard to get it done," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at her briefing.

Leavitt was asked about reports that the plan is more favorable to the Russians than Ukrainians.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a press briefing at the White House in Washington, November 20, 2025.
Evan Vucci/AP

"You've read reporting from one side of the war. And so I want you to understand that the administration has talked equally with both sides. You have seen President Trump engage directly with both President Putin and President Zelenskyy. Likewise, his national security team has as well. In fact, special envoy Witkoff and Secretary Rubio met with some of the Ukrainians just in the past week to discuss this very plan," Leavitt said.

Nov 20, 2025, 2:31 PM EST

White House says Trump posts on Democrats not political violence

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the idea that President Donald Trump's social media posts calling Democratic lawmakers "traitors" who should face the death penalty amounts to the political violence he's accused the "radical left" of partaking in.

"The president and the vice president, for that matter, have accused the other side of encouraging political violence. Isn't that exactly what the president is doing when he says that members of Congress should be killed?" a reporter asked Leavitt during Thursday's briefing.

"Why aren't you talking about what these members of Congress are doing to encourage and incite violence?" Leavitt responded. They are literally saying to 1.3 million active duty service members not to -- to defy the chain of command, not to follow lawful orders," Leavitt said.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a press briefing at the White House in Washington, November 20, 2025.
Evan Vucci/AP

Leavitt added, "To suggest and encourage that active-duty service members defy the chain of command is a very dangerous thing for sitting members of Congress to do, and they should be held accountable. And that's what the president wants to see."

When the reporter followed up that the video that prompted Trump's posts was about illegal orders, Leavitt said they're "suggesting" that Trump "has given illegal orders, which he has not."

Related Topics

Sponsored Content by Taboola