is in the fifth day of his second term in office, striving to remake the traditional boundaries of Washington by asserting .
The president also took his first trip of his second administration on Friday, touring areas where . He first traveled to western North Carolina, where he described FEMA as 鈥渁 very big disappointment.鈥� Later Friday, Trump arrived in Los Angeles, and he greeted political rival California Gov. Gavin Newsom with a handshake.
Meanwhile, in Washington, the Senate confirmed as the nation鈥檚 defense secretary in a dramatic late-night vote. Vice President JD Vance was on hand to cast a tiebreaking vote, unusual in the Senate for Cabinet nominees, who typically win wider support.
Here's the latest:
Trump鈥檚 first week in office signals what鈥檚 ahead
Trump鈥檚 first week in office isn鈥檛 over yet, but already it offers signals about how his next four years in the White House may unfold.
The early days of his second first week indicate that Trump is still Trump, just emboldened like never before.
He鈥檚 much more organized this time. And he鈥檚 betting he can fix everything.
鈥楾he consequences are big,鈥� Democratic senator says of Hegseth鈥檚 confirmation
Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he doesn鈥檛 have the 鈥渋ndulgence to be disappointed鈥� after Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth was narrowly confirmed, but he believes 鈥渨e just have to work harder and to do all we can to ensure that there鈥檚 no fundamental harms鈥� to the military.
鈥淲hat we鈥檙e seeing between the president and potentially Hegseth are just a complete undermining of the principles that govern our militaries 鈥� honesty, loyalty, and character,鈥� Reed said.
Sen. Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, said after Hegseth was confirmed that 鈥渢he consequences are big on this one.鈥�
鈥淚 find it hard to believe, given the allegations and affidavits that there won鈥檛 be some issues or challenges鈥� with Hegseth, Coons said, referring to reports about his personal behavior. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 not in the best interest of the United States.鈥�
Trump departs Los Angeles
Speaking briefly to reporters before boarding Air Force One in Los Angeles, Trump said he had a 鈥渧ery good talk鈥� with California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Trump and Newsom have never been shy about criticizing one another. But with fires still burning in Southern California, both men set aside their differences when the governor greeted the president as he arrived at Los Angeles International Airport.
Trump now heads to Las Vegas for the night. He鈥檚 scheduled to hold a rally there tomorrow.
Trump praises Hegseth ahead of confirmation
Trump talked up Hegseth moments before Vance cast the tiebreaking vote to confirm him.
鈥淲e have a great secretary of defense and we鈥檙e very happy,鈥� Trump said as he boarded Air Force One after surveying fire devastation in California.
He said he didn鈥檛 care that McConnell voted against confirming him because the 鈥渋mportant thing is winning.鈥�
McConnell blasts Hegseth, says nominee 鈥榙id not reckon鈥� with reality of job
After voting no for Hegseth, McConnell issued a scathing statement on his decision to go against one of Trump鈥檚 nominees.
鈥淢ere desire to be a 鈥榗hange agent鈥� is not enough to fill these shoes. And 鈥榙ust on boots鈥� fails even to distinguish this nominee from multiple predecessors of the last decade,鈥� the Kentucky Republican said. 鈥淣or is it a precondition for success. Secretaries with distinguished combat experience and time in the trenches have failed at the job.鈥�
McConnell went on to detail the various international crises plaguing the U.S. from the Indo-Pacific to Eastern Europe.
鈥淚n public comments and testimony before the Armed Services Committee, Mr. Hegseth did not reckon with this reality,鈥� he added.
Senate confirms Hegseth as defense secretary
The Senate confirmed as the nation鈥檚 defense secretary in a dramatic late-night vote, swatting back questions about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon amid toward women.
Vice President JD Vance was on hand to cast a tiebreaking vote, unusual in the Senate for Cabinet nominees, who typically win wider support. Hegseth himself was at the Capitol with his family.
McConnell votes no on Hegseth鈥檚 nomination
Former Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is the third GOP senator to oppose Trump鈥檚 nominee for defense secretary.
McConnell, who is hawkish on U.S. defense and foreign policy, had voted earlier this week to advance the nomination to the floor.
Given Republicans鈥� three-seat majority, Vice President JD Vance is now expected to come to break the tie vote. It would be his first since being sworn into office Monday.
Republican senator on the fence flips for Hegseth
Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina announced that he will be supporting Hegseth鈥檚 nomination, throwing his support behind Trump鈥檚 nominee at the eleventh hour.
Tillis had concerns about various allegations made against Hegseth up until Friday afternoon, when he sent a series of questions for the nominee to fill out.
鈥淥nce Pete Hegseth鈥檚 nomination was sent to the floor by my colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee, I conducted my own due diligence, including asking tough questions of Pete and I appreciated his candor and openness in answering them,鈥� he said in a post on the social media site X.
Hegseth awaits Senate vote outcome in the Capitol
As the vote began for his nomination, Hegseth was in a waiting room in the Capitol with his family as Republican senators visited with him.
It is unusual for a nominee to be present while his confirmation is being voted on and adds to the drama that has circled Hegseth鈥檚 nomination from the beginning.
C-Span shares a historical fact
If Vice President Vance is forced to be the tie breaker on the Hegseth nomination, it would be only the second time in U.S. history a vice president would have to break a tie for a nominee.
First time? For Trump鈥檚 education nominee in his first term, Betsy DeVos.
Hegseth confirmation vote is underway
Trump鈥檚 pick for defense secretary can lose three Republican votes and still be confirmed on Friday with Vice President JD Vance鈥檚 tiebreaking vote.
Two Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, have already signaled they will vote no.
Hegseth works the phones to shore up support before vote
His confirmation at stake, worked the phones ahead of a Senate vote to shore up support to become the nation鈥檚 defense secretary amid new questions and mounting toward women.
The Republican-led Senate was determined to confirm Hegseth to round out Trump鈥檚 top national security Cabinet officials, prioritizing his commitment to bring a 鈥渨arrior culture鈥� to the Pentagon.
But last-minute questions among senators raised fresh uncertainty hours before the vote.
Vice President JD Vance was expected in the Senate in the likely event he would be needed to break a tie, and Hegseth himself was at the Capitol with his family to watch the vote.
鈻� Read more about
Trump says LA residents who lost homes should be allowed back on their properties immediately
He says many homeowners want to bring dumpsters to take care of waste themselves.
Mayor Karen Bass says residents should be able to return home within the week, but that keeping people safe is a top priority.
Experts have warned that the burning of things like paint, furniture, electronics and cars can release toxic ash and other chemicals that may require safety gear to handle.
Resettlement agencies directed to 鈥榮uspend all work鈥� under the foreign aid they were receiving
The Department of State鈥檚 Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration sent guidance late Friday to resettlement agencies that it works with saying they had to immediately 鈥渟uspend all work鈥� under the foreign assistance they were receiving.
The new guidance is another implication of the Trump administration鈥檚 decision to halt foreign aid while it conducts a review.
While there was little clarity, the notification suggests resettlement agencies that work with refugees, including Afghans who arrived on special immigrant visas, might have to at least temporarily halt their work.
Trump picks chairman of Australian venture capital firm to be ambassador to New Zealand
Trump has named Jared Novelly as his pick for ambassador to New Zealand and the Pacific nation of Samoa.
Novelly is 鈥渁 highly respected philanthropist鈥� and chairman of Crest Sports & Entertainment and Crest Management, Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Crest Sports & Entertainment is a Sydney-based venture capital firm and the parent company of the Australian professional men鈥檚 basketball team the Illawarra Hawks, according to online companies listings.
Priorities for the relationship between the U.S. and New Zealand include advancing Pacific priorities, growing bilateral trade and increasing collaboration in important sectors for New Zealand, such as space, New Zealand鈥檚 foreign minister Winston Peters said.
Rubio speaks to New Zealand foreign minister
New Zealand鈥檚 foreign minister Winston Peters says he has spoken to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and was 鈥渃onfident that the New Zealand-United States relationship can go from strength to strength in the years ahead.鈥�
While New Zealand is geographically remote from the U.S., it is a significant regional player in the South Pacific Ocean, where Washington has increasingly sought to counter the growing influence of China among small island nations. The country is also a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partnership, along with the U.S., Britain, Canada and Australia.鈥�
Our strategic partnership matters a great deal to the security and prosperity of New Zealand and the Indo-Pacific region,鈥� Peters wrote on X.
Trump says the federal government is behind California 鈥�100%鈥�
Trump also says he had a 鈥渧ery positive talk鈥� with California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Trump鈥檚 comments came after he took an aerial and walking tour of Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood destroyed by one of the recent fires.
He says it鈥檚 impossible to understand the scale of devastation from images.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think you can realize how rough it is, how devastating it is, until you see it,鈥� Trump said.
He hasn鈥檛 yet mentioned putting conditions on federal aid, as he鈥檚 previously indicated he would do.
Trump pulls back on aid to foreign groups involved in abortion
Trump has signed an order reinstating a policy that requires foreign nongovernmental agencies to certify that they don鈥檛 provide or promote abortion if they receive U.S. federal funds for family planning assistance.
The position, sometimes called the 鈥淢exico City Policy鈥� and referred to by opponents as the 鈥済lobal gag rule,鈥� was introduced more than 40 years ago. Every GOP president has put it in effect, and .
Eight years ago, Trump鈥檚 administration not only brought back the prohibition .
Advocates say the policy, coupled with a law that bars U.S. money from paying for abortion around the globe, has a major impact on abortion availability worldwide 鈥� and blocks aid money from flowing to groups for purposes other than abortion.
Trump also signed an executive order Friday requiring the enforcement of the Hyde Amendment, which restricts government funding for most abortions. The amendment was already the law of the land under President Joe Biden鈥檚 administration, but the Trump administration argued 鈥渢he previous administration disregarded this established, commonsense policy.鈥�
LA resident who lost her home says it鈥檚 important for leaders to see the wildfires鈥� aftermath
Leah Berman and her best friend had spent all day sifting through the rubble of their childhood home when Trump arrived for his visit to the Palisades.
Berman said it was important for political leaders to come see the aftermath of the disaster in person.
鈥淛ust having more people who make decisions see the reality of things that happen, and literally just driving through the wreckage is all it takes to say, 鈥極h wow, this was a big deal,鈥欌�� Berman said.
Her friend, Alexandra Zornizer, said it was 鈥渄eplorable鈥� for Trump to attach conditions to the aid.
鈥淚 think it was wonderful that Biden wanted to cover 100% of the cost,鈥� Zornizer said. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 what victims of this fire deserve. Unconditionally.鈥�
White House weighs in on 鈥楾he Apprentice鈥� Oscar nominations
The Trump White House has weighed in on the pair of Oscar nominations for 鈥淭he Apprentice,鈥� the film that dramatizes the formative years of Trump under the tutelage of attorney Roy Cohn.
Let鈥檚 just say the review was not kind.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked whether Trump had seen the film and told reporters aboard Air Force One: 鈥淭hat movie is trash and it wouldn鈥檛 be worth the president鈥檚 time to watch it. It belongs in a dumpster fire. It does not deserve Oscars. Lots of fake news in that movie.鈥�
A look at false and misleading claims made by Trump during his first week
Trump has wasted no time setting a new agenda, relying on false and misleading information to support several of his initiatives.
He told attendees at the World Economic in Davos he had a massive mandate from the American people because he had millions of votes. While the electoral vote was 312 for Trump and 226 for former Vice President Kamala Harris, he won the popular vote by only about 2.3 million votes, 49.9% to 48.4%.
Pardoning Jan. 6 rioters, he falsely claimed there were only a few minor incidents with police.
He has also continued to greatly inflate the number of people who entered the country illegally during President Joe Biden鈥檚 administration, and has misrepresented water issues in California while discussing recent wildfires.
鈻� Read more about
Newsom and Trump exchange kind words before touring Los Angeles wildfire damage
Newsom says California will need the federal government鈥檚 help and support.
鈥淚 have all the expectations we鈥檙e going to be able to work together,鈥� Newsom said.
Trump responded: 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to get it fixed.鈥�
It might seem like odd messaging for the two rivals. But it鈥檚 similar to the approach Newsom took toward Trump during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic
Newsom and Trump greet each other with a handshake
Trump says he appreciates the California governor greeting him on the tarmac in Los Angeles.
It鈥檚 not clear if the Democratic governor will join Trump to tour a fire-ravaged neighborhood or for a fire-related briefing. He鈥檚 not listed as a participant in those events.
Newsom鈥檚 office says the governor is 鈥渃ommitted to advocating for the needs of Californians in partnership with the federal administration.鈥�
Newsom has a fine political tightrope to walk. He鈥檚 pushed back against some of Trump鈥檚 criticism of the state鈥檚 handling of the wildfires but also needs the federal government to approve wildfire assistance.
One Pacific Palisades resident who lost homes in LA fires says he is unfazed by Trump鈥檚 threat to withhold federal aid
Ron Flury, who has lived in the Pacific Palisades for 25 years, said he was glad Trump was in office because 鈥渁t least something will happen now.鈥�
Flury was driving through the neighborhood Friday and surveying the remnants of the four homes he lost, two of which were occupied by him and his daughter. His only surviving property is a partially built home that recently resumed construction.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping he will help us build back, and I think it will be better than ever but will take awhile,鈥� Flury said.
He鈥檚 unfazed by Trump鈥檚 threat to withhold federal aid unless California changes its water policy 鈥� in fact, he supports it.
鈥淪omeone needs to force (Newsom) to actually follow through and do the things he should be doing,鈥� Flury said. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 what Trump is doing, it鈥檚 a negotiation point.鈥�
Supreme Court will weigh approval for US鈥� 1st publicly funded religious charter school, in Oklahoma
The agreed Friday to take on a new culture war dispute: whether the nation鈥檚 first publicly funded should be allowed to open in Oklahoma.
The justices said they would review an Oklahoma Supreme Court decision that invalidated a state board鈥檚 approval of an application by the Catholic Church in Oklahoma to open a charter school.
The conservative-dominated high court has issued several in recent years signaling a willingness to allow public funds to flow to religious entities. At the same time, conservative-led states have sought to insert religion into public schools, including Louisiana鈥檚 requirement that be posted in classrooms.
Rubio tells Chinese FM the US will put America first in relations with China
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told China鈥檚 foreign minister that the Trump administration will put U.S. interests and the American people first in its relationship and competition with China.
It was the first phone call Rubio has had with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi since Rubio took office.
In the call, Rubio also expressed 鈥渟erious concern over China鈥檚 coercive actions against Taiwan and in the South China Sea.鈥�
Earlier Friday, the Chinese foreign ministry had issued its own description of the call, saying that Wang had told Rubio the two sides should push for the steady, healthy and sustainable development of the China-U.S. relations and find the correct way for the two countries to cope with each other.
Rubio, according to the Chinese foreign ministry, told Wang the U.S. doesn鈥檛 support Taiwan independence but hopes the issue can be peacefully solved in a way acceptable to both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The U.S. statement made no mention of Rubio saying that.
Indiana man arrested on charges he threatened Trump on TikTok
An Indiana man accused of using TikTok to urge attacks on the government and death to Trump has been arrested.
The FBI said 23-year-old Douglas Thrams of Goshen made a series of threats in videos posted to the social media site this week.
In one TikTok video, Thrams said Trump needed to be killed 鈥渁nd this time don鈥檛 ... miss,鈥� an FBI agent wrote in a court filing.
He is charged with using interstate commerce to make threats.
Thrams is in custody awaiting an appearance Monday in federal court in South Bend. He does not have an attorney yet.
鈻禦ead more about
Five economic forces that could shape the first year of Trump鈥檚 presidency
Like most presidents, Trump faces an economy that seldom bends to political ambitions.
The Republican has promised strong growth, high tariffs, income tax cuts and booming oilfields. But despite the solid job market and low 4.1% unemployment rate, he has to contend with headwinds like inflation, a budget deficit, increased tensions over trade, the fallout from his plans to curtail immigration and a persistent wealth gap.
Each of these issues could help to shape how voters feel about a president they returned to the White House with the specific goal of fixing the economy.
鈻禦ead more about the
Senate confirmation vote for Hegseth set for Friday night
The Senate is muscling Pete Hegseth鈥檚 nomination as defense secretary toward confirmation.
The Republican senators are prioritizing the former Fox News host and combat veteran鈥檚 vow to create a 鈥渨arrior culture鈥� at the Pentagon over allegations of heavy drinking and aggressive behavior toward women.
Votes are expected by Friday evening.
鈻禦ead more about the
Justice Department curtails prosecutions for blocking reproductive health care facilities
President Donald Trump鈥檚 new Justice Department leadership is curtailing prosecutions against people accused of blocking reproductive health care facilities, calling the cases an example of the 鈥渨eaponization鈥� of law enforcement.
Justice Department chief of staff Chad Mizelle said in a memo obtained Friday by The Associated Press that prosecutions and civil actions under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act or 鈥淔ACE Act鈥� will now be permitted only in 鈥渆xtraordinary circumstances鈥� or in cases presenting 鈥漵ignificant aggravating factors.鈥�
Mizelle also ordered the immediate dismissal of three FACE Act cases related to 2021 blockades of clinics in , and . One man was accused of obtaining 鈥渋llegal access to a secure patient space at a Planned Parenthood facility in Philadelphia without staff permission or knowledge鈥� and barricading himself in a restroom, according to court papers.
Putin echoes Trump鈥檚 claim that conflict in Ukraine could have been avoided had he been in office
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday echoed U.S. the conflict in Ukraine could have been prevented had he been in the White House in 2022. He also said Moscow is ready for talks with the U.S. on a broad range of issues.
In an interview with Russian state television, Putin praised Trump as a 鈥渃lever and pragmatic man鈥� who is focused on U.S. interests.
鈥淲e always had a business-like, pragmatic but also trusting relationship with the current U.S. president,鈥� Putin said. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 disagree with him that if he had been president, if they hadn鈥檛 stolen victory from him in 2020, the crisis that emerged in Ukraine in 2022 could have been avoided.鈥�
Putin鈥檚 statement was his bluntest endorsement yet of in the 2020 election.
Trump also has said repeatedly he wouldn鈥檛 have allowed the conflict to start if he鈥檇 been in office, even though he was president as fighting grew in the east of the country between Kyiv鈥檚 forces and separatists aligned with Moscow, ahead of Putin sending in tens of thousands of troops in 2022.
鈻� Read more about
Trump administration has withdrawn a federal rule which would have phased out menthol cigarettes
The cigarettes are disproportionately used by young and minority smokers.
The action was widely expected by anti-smoking advocates, who鈥檝e spent years pushing for a ban on menthol, the only flavor still allowed in cigarettes. Tobacco companies have typically faced lighter regulation under Republican administrations.
The Food and Drug Administration spent years studying the issue and concluded menthol鈥檚 cooling sensation makes it easier to start and harder to quit cigarettes.
The FDA was widely expected to finalize the regulation last year, but President Joe Biden鈥檚 White House delayed its release, kicking a potential political controversy out past the election. At the time, both Biden and Trump were aggressively courting Black voters in swing states.
The persistence of menthol has long infuriated health experts, who鈥檝e been pushing for a ban since the FDA gained authority over tobacco products in 2009.
Vice President JD Vance celebrated Trump鈥檚 previous actions on abortion
Speaking at the March for Life in Washington, Vance said the president 鈥渄elivered on his promise of ending Roe,鈥� appointed hundreds of anti-abortion judges and pardoned anti-abortion activists he says were 鈥渦njustly imprisoned.鈥�
鈥淥ur country faces the return of the most pro-family, most pro-life American president of our lifetimes,鈥� Vance told the crowd of protesters who cheered and chanted 鈥淛D鈥� as he took the stage.
President Trump speaks to March for Life crowd in a video address
In the video address to March for Life crowds, Trump vowed 鈥渨e will again stand proudly for families and for life鈥� in his second term and once again boasted about nominating three Supreme Court justices who helped strike down Roe v. Wade.
鈥淚 was so proud to be a participant,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ix courageous justices of the Supreme Court of the United States returned the issue to the state legislatures and to the people where it belongs.鈥�
Crowds cheered as Trump celebrated convicted of blockading abortion clinic entrances and thanked protesters for gathering at March for Life to 鈥渟tand up for precious little babies who can鈥檛 stand up for themselves.鈥�
鈥淭hank you for turning out once again to show your extraordinary love and compassion for the unborn,鈥� he said.
Target is ending its DEI goals as workplace inclusion gets a strong opponent in the White House
Discount store chain said Friday it would join rival Walmart and a number of other prominent American brands in scaling back initiatives that have come under attack from conservative activists and, as of this week, .
The Minneapolis-based retailer said the changes to its 鈥淏elonging at the Bulleye鈥� strategy would include ending a to help Black employees build meaningful careers, improve the experience of Black shoppers and to promote following the in 2020.
Target, which nationwide and employs more than 400,000 people, said it also would conclude the diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, goals it previously set .
The goals included hiring and promoting more women and members of racial minority groups, and recruiting more diverse suppliers, including businesses owned by people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, veterans and people with disabilities.
鈻� Read more about
Ontario leader will call election to fight Trump鈥檚 threatened tariffs
The leader of Ontario, Canada鈥檚 most populous province, said Friday that he would call an early election, because he says he needs a mandate to fight President Trump鈥檚 .
Premier Doug Ford of the Progressive Conservative Party said that he planned to make the announcement on Wednesday. The move would send Ontarians to the polls on Feb. 27, more than a year before the June 2026 fixed election date. Ford already has a large majority government.
Ford, who is the equivalent of a U.S. state governor, said that Ontario could lose upwards of 500,000 jobs should Trump follow through on his 25% tariff threat.
鈻� Read more about how
Defense Department is expected to put out its own temporary social media ban Friday, U.S. officials say
The 10-day ban, however, carves out exceptions for military bases around the world that rely on social media posts to inform them of security incidents, school matters and normal base activities.
Other federal agencies are doing the same thing, with guidance from the Trump administration suggesting that federal agencies shouldn鈥檛 put out information unless it鈥檚 been approved by the new leadership. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning.
鈥� Lolita C. Baldor
鈥榊ou can鈥檛 have a security detail for the rest of your life because you worked for government鈥�
President Donald Trump says he won鈥檛 feel partially responsible if harm befalls former government officials whose security details were cut by his administration after he took office this week.
Trump revoked the security detail of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the infectious disease expert who advised Trump on the COVID-19 pandemic but turned critical of Trump once he tried to undermine public health guidance. He faced regular threats to his life and has received federal protection for years, but it was ended this week according to a person familiar with the matter.
鈥淭hey all made a lot of money, they can hire their own security too,鈥� Trump told reporters in North Carolina.
Trump earlier this week revoked protection details for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his top aide, Brian Hook, as well his own former national security adviser John Bolton, who have since they took hardline stances on the Islamic Republic during Trump鈥檚 first administration. All three have fallen out with Trump in the years since he left office.
Their security details had been repeatedly renewed by the Biden administration because of credible and ongoing threats from Iran.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 have a security detail for the rest of your life because you worked for government,鈥� Trump said.
Asheville artist, who lost business in Hurricane Helene, wary about Trump鈥檚 visit
Sarah Wells Rolland, co-owner of The Village Potters Clay Center in Asheville鈥檚 now-destroyed River Arts District, said she鈥檚 鈥渟eriously concerned鈥� about her city鈥檚 future recovery from under President Donald Trump鈥檚 administration. Rolland noted Asheville鈥檚 Democratic lean as a reason Trump may not prioritize its rebuilding process.
鈥淚鈥檓 not overly optimistic that the Trump administration is going to do anything long-term,鈥� Rolland said Friday ahead of Trump鈥檚 visit to the area. 鈥淔rankly, I鈥檒l tell you, I think him coming today is to look presidential.鈥�
Rolland lost hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment when her ceramics center鈥檚 roofing caved and water rose 26 feet inside her facility during Helene. She鈥檚 operated a temporary clay supply site for the past few months, and Rolland said she鈥檚 hoping to reopen the full center 鈥� which had classes and galleries 鈥� at a new location this summer.
Rolland鈥檚 interactions with Federal Emergency Management Agency workers in the storm鈥檚 aftermath were 鈥渨onderful,鈥� she said. Criticism against the agency has been largely unwarranted, she said, because workers were in the region 鈥渁lmost on day one.鈥�
Anti-abortion protesters gather for the annual March for Life in Washington
Despite frigid weather, thousands of anti-abortion protesters gathered to celebrate a new Republican trifecta in the presidency and both chambers of Congress as they returned to the nation鈥檚 capital Friday for the annual March for Life.
A festive atmosphere marked the early part of the march, as activists gathered with multicolored hats and signs declaring 鈥淟ife is our revolution.鈥�
President Donald Trump is expected to address the crowd in a pre-recorded video as the gathering marks the first time that participants have been to the nation鈥檚 capital with him as the sitting president since the Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 decision, Roe v. Wade, that declared there was a constitutional right to an abortion.
Vice President JD Vance is slated to speak in person.
Kristen Cooper, 21, was among several thousand Students for Life America members attending. She said she was especially excited to be at the march with 鈥減ro-life Republicans鈥� in the White House. She said this march was her fourth but the first with a Republican administration.
鈥淚t鈥檚 surreal actually,鈥� she said.
Federal agencies begin removing DEI guidance from websites in Trump crackdown
Several federal agencies have begun removing resources for underrepresented Americans from their webpages following President Trump鈥檚 cracking down on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Agencies also have been cancelling training and service contacts to comply with the order from Trump, who vowed to across the federal government. He has called for all DEI staff to be put on paid leave and eventually be laid off.
Documents on DEI have been removed from websites at agencies including the Office of Personnel Management, State Department and Department of Homeland Security. Web addresses that once led to DEI pages now display 鈥淧age Not Found 鈥� 404鈥� messages or notes above archived material explaining the change.
鈻� Read more about the impact of
Trump expands use of fast-track deportation, which critics say is prone to mistakes
The Trump administration announced Friday that it is expanding a fast-track nationwide, allowing immigration officers to deport migrants without appearing before a judge.
The administration said in a on Friday that it is expanding the use of 鈥渆xpedited removal鈥� authority so it can be used across the country. 鈥淭he effect of this change will be to enhance national security and public safety 鈥� while reducing government costs 鈥� by facilitating prompt immigration determinations,鈥� the administration said.
鈻� Read more about
Trump says he鈥檚 considering 鈥榞etting rid of FEMA鈥� as he visits hurricane-damaged North Carolina
Speaking to reporters Friday at Asheville Regional Airport where he was meeting with supporters and local officials about the recovery from last year鈥檚 Hurricane Helene, Trump says FEMA 鈥渉as been a very big disappointment.鈥�
Trump said of the agency: 鈥淚t鈥檚 very bureaucratic. And it鈥檚 very slow. Other than that, we鈥檙e very happy with them.鈥�
He did not offer clear details on what he would replace it with, indicated he wants to move more of the disaster management responsibility to the states. That was a key priority of the conservative 鈥橮roject 2025鈥� written by Trump鈥檚 supporters, including some who鈥檝e since joined his administration.
鈥淎 governor can handle something very quickly,鈥� Trump said.
Trump says OPEC+ can end the bloodshed in Ukraine by cutting oil prices
The president continued to make the case that reducing oil revenue is the key finding an endgame in Russian President Vladimir Putin鈥檚 war in Ukraine.
Trump in his first days in office has centered his focus on the OPEC+ alliance of oil exporting countries, making the case that it has kept the price of oil too high for much of the nearly three-year war. Oil revenue is the engine driving the Russian economy.
鈥淥ne way to stop it quickly is for OPEC to stop making so much money. And they drop the price of oil because they have it nice and high,鈥� Trump told reporters during a visit to Western North Carolina on Friday. 鈥淎nd if you have it high, then that war is not going to end so easily. So, OPEC ought to get on the ball and drop the price of oil. And that war will stop right away.鈥�
Trump continues to criticize FEMA
President Trump landed in North Carolina to tour lingering damage from Hurricane Helene and said he would like to see states 鈥渢ake care of disasters鈥� and that he was reviewing 鈥渢he whole concept of 鈥淔EMA鈥� the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which he鈥檚 criticized.
Trump, speaking to reporters after he landed near Asheville, North Carolina, said it would be faster to let states respond to disasters.
鈥淟et the state take care of the tornadoes and the hurricanes and all of the other things that happen,鈥� Trump told reporters.
___
This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Pete Hegseth's last name in the headline.
The Associated Press
