Trump 2nd term updates: Trump says USAID is run by 'radical lunatics'
The comments came amid turmoil as DOGE took over USAID offices last week.
President Donald Trump made good on his threats to impose tariffs on some of the U.S.'s trading partners, announcing Saturday that he will levy 25% tariffs on some goods from Canada and Mexico and 10% on Chinese goods.
Experts have warned that tariffs of this magnitude will likely increase prices paid by U.S. and Trump appeared to acknowledge that “some pain” might be possible in the U.S.
Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee announced it will meet Tuesday, when it is expected to vote on the controversial nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of Health and Human Services.
Key Headlines
- Trump says USAID is run by 'radical lunatics' amid agency's uncertainty
- Trump says he will cut 'all future funding' to South Africa
- 500 Marines arrive at Guantanamo to set up migrant facilities: DOD
- FBI employees asked to explain their role in Jan. 6 cases: Sources
- Trump acknowledges ‘some pain’ possible from tariffs
Trump admin cancels TPS for Venezuelans
The Trump Administration has canceled the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) extension for Venezuelans under the status, according to a document obtained by ABC News.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem signed off on a memo Tuesday night that ends the extension signed by former Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas just days before he left the job earlier this month.
Those Venezuelans who gained TPS in 2021 will have their protections through September, and those who gained TPS in 2023 will have them through April.
Noem has until Saturday to decide on whether to extend Venezuelans who received status in 2023 can have their protections extended – if she chooses not to, those TPS statuses will automatically extend by six months.
The designation is expected to impact about 600,000 people, according to immigration advocates.
— ABC News’ Luke Barr
Retired US Gen. Mark Milley has security detail removed, clearance suspended
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed retired U.S. Gen. Mark Milley's personal security detail, suspended his security clearance and directed the Pentagon's acting inspector general to carry out an inquiry into Milley's conduct to determine if his military rank should be reduced.
“The Secretary informed General Milley today that he is revoking the authorization for his security detail and suspending his security clearance as well," Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot said in a statement provided to ABC News. "The Secretary has also directed the DoD IG to conduct an inquiry into the facts and circumstances surrounding Gen Milley’s conduct so that the Secretary may determine whether it is appropriate to reopen his military grade review determination."
A senior defense official also said that a portrait of Milley was being removed from the Pentagon, this one from his time as Army chief of staff. On Inauguration Day, Milley's official portrait from when he was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was taken down at the direction of the White House, according to two U.S. officials.
In a statement on Tuesday, DOD Chief of Staff Joe Kasper said: "Undermining the chain of command is corrosive to our national security, and restoring accountability is a priority for the Defense Department under President Trump’s leadership."
Fox News first reported the steps Hegseth planned to take.
A spokesperson for the DOD inspector general earlier confirmed to ABC News that the office had received the request from the defense secretary and was reviewing it.
Milley's security detail had been in place since his retirement in 2023 out of concerns that Iran might retaliate against him and other senior officials following the 2020 killing of Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani.
Trump has sharply criticized Milley over the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and previously accused the retired general of treason.
After the 2020 election, Milley reportedly took secret precautions to try to prevent Trump from taking military action or launching a nuclear weapon after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
In the run-up to the 2024 election, Milley called Trump "fascist to the core" in comments to journalist Bob Woodward.
In the final days of his term former President Joe Biden pre-emptively pardoned Milley, a move that would prevent him from facing civilian criminal prosecution and a military court martial.
-ABC News' Luis Martinez
New DOT secretary signs deal to reduce 'restrictive' fuel standards
The Department of Transportation said in a release Tuesday night that its newly confirmed secretary, Sean Duffy, signed a memorandum as his first act of business that will make fuel standards less "restrictive" and in turn bring down the price of a new car.
“Secretary Duffy’s first act was signing a memorandum directing staff to start the process of resetting Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which will ultimately lower the price of a car for American consumers and eliminate the electric vehicle mandate," the DOT release said.
“The memorandum signed today specifically reduces the burdensome and overly restrictive fuel standards that have needlessly driven up the cost of a car in order to push a radical Green New Deal agenda," it continued. "The American people should not be forced to sacrifice choice and affordability when purchasing a new car.”
Duffy was confirmed as the secretary of the DOT earlier in the day on Tuesday.
-ABC News' Sam Sweeney
Trump says he is sending Musk, SpaceX to get American astronauts stuck at ISS
President Donald Trump said that he has asked Elon Musk and SpaceX to "'go get'" two astronauts whose departure from the International Space Station has been repeatedly delayed.
The two astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams, flew to the ISS on Boeing's Starliner last June. After experiencing issues, Starliner returned to Earth in September, leaving behind the two astronauts. They were expected to return back on a SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon spacecraft in February.
Trump added that "Elon will soon be on his way," and wished the billionaire businessman good luck.
-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart