launched , drawing immediate retaliation from Mexico, Canada and China and sending financial markets into a tailspin.
Also, Trump will stand before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday to give an accounting of his turbulent first weeks in office as a with some Americans fearing for the country鈥檚 future while others are cheering him on.
Here's the latest:
Ahead of his address to Congress, Trump hosted a customary lunch with prominent news anchors
N小蓝视频鈥檚 Lester Holt and A小蓝视频鈥檚 David Muir were among those seen on the White House campus ahead of the session. It鈥檚 a decades-long tradition by presidents as they seek to shape news coverage of their annual addresses to the country.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer expects 鈥榙eluge of mistruths鈥� from Trump鈥檚 address
Schumer, a New York Democrat, told reporters at the Capitol that Trump was 鈥渋ncapable of being straight with the American people about the mess he鈥檚 created in his short time in office.鈥�
Democrats are spotlighting the people who鈥檝e been affected by the way the Trump administration has tried to dismantle parts of the federal government in the weeks since Trump took office. They鈥檙e also slamming Trump for the economic effects of the president鈥檚 tariff plans.
In the aftermath of their election losses, Democrats had struggled to coalesce around a plan to counter Trump. But as the impact of his early actions becomes clear, congressional Democrats have become enlivened in their responses.
鈥淚 get that people wanted change,鈥� said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. 鈥淚 get that they wanted someone to shake things up, to work on bringing health care costs down and doing something about housing, but they didn鈥檛 want this.鈥�
Trump administration official to brief Congress on massive foreign aid cuts
Peter Marocco, the Trump administration official who鈥檚 been leading the dismantling of USAID, is expected to brief members of Congress on Wednesday about the president鈥檚 reorganization of U.S. foreign aid, according to a person familiar with the plan.
Marocco will come face-to-face with Republicans and Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee for the first time since the administration issued wide-ranging cuts that would effectively eliminate the majority of U.S. development and humanitarian help abroad.
Democrats and even some Republican lawmakers have since called for saving a number of widely successful USAID programs credited with containing outbreaks of Ebola and saving more than 20 million lives in Africa through HIV and AIDS treatment.
The latest actions by the Trump administration have reflected a stark departure from decades of U.S. policy that foreign aid helps U.S. interests by stabilizing other countries and economies and building alliances.
鈥� Farnoush Amiri
Senate GOP leader willing to give Trump tariffs a chance
John Thune says trade is important to his home state of South Dakota, but he鈥檚 ready to give Trump鈥檚 tariffs a chance.
鈥淲hat I鈥檓 willing to do is give the president some latitude to try and accomplish the objective he seeks to get done here,鈥� Thune said about the administration鈥檚 goal of reducing the flow of fentanyl at the borders.
The Republican leader acknowledged he鈥檚 in a 鈥渄ifferent place on tariffs鈥� than some of his colleagues and even the White House. 鈥淏ut at the end of the day, it鈥檚 really about, trying to achieve the desired result.鈥�
Senate GOP leader sees Trump鈥檚 halting of Ukraine aid as a pause, not a stop
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a part of a negotiation,鈥� John Thune said at the Capitol.
鈥淎nd I鈥檓 hopeful that in the end, we鈥檒l get folks to the table and be able to negotiate a deal that will bring a peaceful resolution to this three-years-long conflict and, and one, hopefully they鈥檒l respect the sovereignty of Ukrainian people and make the world more safe,鈥� he said.
CDC sends team to Texas to help with measles outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying that the state had requested the agency鈥檚 assistance in investigating and controlling an outbreak that emerged in January.
Federal health officials have limited statutory authority to open disease investigations. As a policy, the CDC dispatches investigators only after state or local health authorities ask them in.
The outbreak has sickened more than 140 people, including .
House Democrats introduce resolutions seeking to probe Musk, DOGE firings
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are introducing a pair of resolutions demanding the Trump administration turn over documents and information about Musk鈥檚 potential conflicts of interest and the firings of federal workers, the AP has learned.
It鈥檚 the most aggressive move yet by Democrats trying to confront Trump鈥檚 actions.
The resolutions of inquiry would launch investigations into the Trump administration and Musk through the Oversight panel. If the Republican-led committee fails to act, which is likely, the Democrats could push the resolutions to a House floor vote in a matter of weeks.
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Democratic lawmaker introduces bill to end tax-free clause for packages from China
Many products are flowing from China to the United States under a tariff exception called the de-minimis clause, which allows small packages valued under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free.
Rep. Linda Sanchez, the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, introduced a bill Tuesday to end the exception for packages from China, a move she said would help 鈥渓evel the playing field for American workers, keep families safe from fentanyl, and prevent other dangerous products from entering our communities undetected.鈥�
Trump last month ended the exception only to restore it a few days later, apparently to allow more time for the federal government to sort out how to collect tariffs on the millions of such shipments that come through the U.S. border every day.
Trump鈥檚 education chief rallies staff for one 鈥榝inal mission鈥�
Education Secretary is urging her agency鈥檚 employees to cut administrative bloat.
In a Monday memo after by the Senate, McMahon said she plans to fulfill President Donald Trump鈥檚 promise to slash red tape at the Education Department and return its power to states.
She described her task as 鈥渁ccomplishing the elimination of bureaucratic bloat here at the Department of Education 鈥� a momentous final mission 鈥� quickly and responsibly.鈥�
It will 鈥減rofoundly impact鈥� budgets and staff at the department, McMahon said, adding that all workers 鈥渟hould be enthusiastic about any change that will benefit students.鈥�
Trump campaigned on a promise to , and his administration has moved to cut dozens of contracts and fire or suspend more than 100 workers.
French president speaks separately with Trump and Zelenskyy
Emmanuel Macron鈥檚 office confirmed the successive phone calls on Tuesday.
Macron 鈥渨elcomes鈥� Zelenskyy鈥檚 鈥渨illingness to re-engage in dialogue with the U.S.鈥� and 鈥渞eiterates France鈥檚 determination to work with all the parties to achieve a solid and lasting peace in Ukraine,鈥� his office said.
Zelenskyy said Tuesday the Oval Office blowup with Trump last week was 鈥渞egrettable,鈥� adding that he stands ready to work under Trump鈥檚 鈥渟trong leadership鈥� to get a lasting peace.
No details were disclosed about the discussion with Trump.
Poland鈥檚 president backs Ukraine against Russia
Andrzej Duda said in a farewell address to the U.N. General Assembly that he has promoted closer relations with the United States during his nearly 10 years in office and recently in talks with President Donald Trump.
He says that if not for the initiatives bolstering the Polish-American alliance and European security against 鈥渞esurging Russian imperialism,鈥� the Kremlin could have conquered Ukraine鈥檚 capital long ago and set its sights on Warsaw and the Baltic states.
Duda says Poland was one of the first countries to support neighboring Ukraine after Russia鈥檚 invasion in February 2022 against Moscow鈥檚 鈥渂latant and brutal violation of international law.鈥�
Duda, who cannot run for a third term in elections in May, says Poland has continuously supported Ukraine 鈥渨hich is defending itself against Russia鈥檚 neo-colonial ambitions.鈥�
Trump鈥檚 nominee for the top policy job at the Pentagon faces questions on past Iran comments
On Tuesday, in response to questions from Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, and other Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Elbridge Colby said a nuclear-armed Iran 鈥渨ould pose an existential threat鈥� to the U.S. and that 鈥渨e should deny Iran to have a nuclear weapon.鈥�
He downplayed his previous comments over the years on Iran, saying, 鈥渨as my wording always appropriate? Was my precise framing always perfect? No.鈥�
Vice President JD Vance made a quick stop at the committee hearing to urge Colby鈥檚 confirmation, saying the nominee has said things in the past that alienated Republicans and Democrats and also said things that both sides would agree on.
Secretary of state reaffirms US support for Israel
Marco Rubio told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it鈥檚 a 鈥渢op priority鈥� for the Trump administration amid uncertainty over the future of a ceasefire in Gaza.
The State Department said Tuesday that Rubio had spoken with Netanyahu to thank him for cooperating with Trump administration鈥檚 proposal for an extension of the ceasefire with Hamas that expired on Saturday. It also said Rubio told Netanyahu that 鈥渉e anticipates close coordination in addressing the threats posed by Iran and pursuing opportunities for a stable region.鈥�
The call came after an announcement by Rubio on Saturday that he had signed off on emergency determinations to expedite military assistance, including 2,000-pound bunker buster bombs, to Israel without congressional review. The actual approvals were done on Friday.
Key Pentagon nominee calls Russia a threat
Trump鈥檚 nominee for the top policy job at the Pentagon told senators after persistent questioning that Russia presents a significant military threat to Europe and the U.S. homeland and that Moscow鈥檚 forces did invade Ukraine.
On multiple occasions Tuesday, Elbridge Colby declined to answer directly whether Russia invaded Ukraine, saying it鈥檚 a sensitive topic and he didn鈥檛 want to say anything that might hurt the chances for peace.
In only one instance 鈥� when Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, pressed him, asking, 鈥淚n February 2022, did Russian forces cross the border and invade Ukraine? Yes or no?鈥� 鈥� he told the Senate Armed Services Committee that she was 鈥渄escribing a factual reality鈥� that is 鈥渄emonstrably true.鈥�
When asked about Trump鈥檚 decision Monday to to Kyiv, Colby said the president has a plan to end the war and ensure a secure and sovereign Ukraine.
Scores of fired federal workers will be in the audience for Trump鈥檚 speech
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said he would bring two such constituents.
Alissa Ellman, is a disabled Army veteran diagnosed with a rare cancer associated with burn pit exposure. She was fired from her job in Buffalo helping fellow veterans obtain benefits.
Tiffany Ramos was fired from her job in Syracuse helping farms and rural businesses get financial support.
They demonstrate 鈥渢he real and devastating human impact of Trump鈥檚 cruel and shortsighted policies and the destructive cuts,鈥� Schumer said.
A few former park rangers will be in the audience as well as former VA workers.
Rep. Eric Sorensen of Illinois invited James Diaz, a disabled veteran who worked as a fuel compliance officer at the IRS.
Speaker Johnson says Elon Musk will meet with House Republicans to answer questions about DOGE
Asked about a potential visit by Musk on Wednesday, Johnson said he was 鈥渃oming to give everyone an update.鈥�
鈥淭he closer we coordinate with what DOGE is doing and with the House, the better off the country is because we鈥檒l be able again to make these big savings from fraud, waste and abuse permanent in the budgeting process,鈥� Johnson said.
Some Democratic lawmakers will be boycotting Trump鈥檚 address to Congress
Among them, Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., said: 鈥淒onald Trump and Elon Musk are destroying the state of the union. I don鈥檛 need to be there to watch him claim otherwise.鈥�
Two lawmakers representing districts in the Washington, D.C., suburbs of Northern Virginia also won鈥檛 be there. Rep. Gerry Connolly said he鈥檚 never missed the address before, but the chaos unleashed on his constituents demands more. Meanwhile, Rep. Don Beyer, said he鈥檇 be rallying this week with federal workers and contractors.
鈥淚 will choose our community over President Donald Trump every single day,鈥� Beyer said.
Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. tweeted 鈥淚鈥檒l start attending when he starts following the law.鈥�
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, also says she won鈥檛 be attending.
鈥淚nstead, I鈥檓 meeting with constituents who have been harmed by this administration鈥檚 reckless firings and its illegal and ongoing funding freeze across government,鈥� Murry said.
Speaker encourages House GOP to skip town halls after protests
is encouraging Republicans to skip town halls that have been filled with protesters decrying the slashing of federal government.
The GOP speaker is echoing the president鈥檚 claims that the demonstrations are fueled by professional protesters.
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen this movie before,鈥� Johnson said at a press conference.
Republicans are finding themselves at a loss to explain the DOGE cuts that are leaving federal workers suddenly out of jobs from coast to coast.
It鈥檚 all reminiscent of Trump鈥檚 first term when Democrats badgered Republicans for trying to do away with the Affordable Care Act -- and ended up winning back control of the House in the midterm elections.
Trudeau says Canada鈥檚 counter tariffs will impact more than $100B of US goods
The Canadian prime minister says the country鈥檚 tariffs will be rolled out over the course of 21 days.
鈥淭oday the United States launched a trade war against Canada, their closest partner and ally, their closest friend,鈥� he said. 鈥淎t the same, they are talking about working positively with Russia, appeasing Vladimir Putin, a lying murderous dictator. Make that make sense.鈥�
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Trump鈥檚 NATO ambassador nominee says he鈥檚 confident allies will pay more
Matt Whitaker, a former acting attorney general in Trump鈥檚 first term, was speaking Tuesday to lawmakers at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on his nomination.
Whitaker spoke more positively of NATO than have Trump and ally Elon Musk, who鈥檝e questioned the value of the alliance to the U.S.
Whitaker told senators a big part of his job would be ensuring each NATO ally reaches Trump鈥檚 call to invest the equivalent of at least 5% of its gross domestic product in their militaries.
鈥淚 have no concern that our European allies and Canada can do more and want to do more,鈥� Whitaker said. 鈥淚 fully expect they will do what鈥檚 necessary to continue to make NATO the strongest alliance ever in the history of the planet.鈥�
Many Democrats plan to wear blue and yellow ties during Trump鈥檚 speech
The move is meant as a show of support for Ukraine.
Rep. Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat., urged colleagues during a closed-door meeting to join the effort. The move comes one day after President Donald Trump directed a pause in Ukraine assistance and after last week鈥檚 disastrous White House meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Texas Democrat, who was wearing a blue and yellow tie, accused Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance of 鈥渂ullying a statesman last week on behalf of a thug.鈥�
鈥淚 think we need to make a full show of support for Ukraine tonight,鈥� Doggett said.
Warner blasts Trump over Ukraine aid as intel sharing remains uncertain
The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee says President Donald Trump鈥檚 decision to suspend aid to Ukraine will imperil lives and worsen Ukraine鈥檚 position at the negotiating table.
Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia said Tuesday that military assistance for Ukraine鈥檚 defense against Russian invaders has always had bipartisan support. Warner said Trump鈥檚 decision will weaken Ukraine and undercut its position in any peace talks.
Warner has been a staunch supporter of intelligence sharing between the U.S. and Ukraine, a relationship that will be tested by Trump鈥檚 new posture. Intelligence officials didn鈥檛 respond Tuesday to questions about the status of the relationship.
鈥淚 call on President Trump to reverse this short-sighted decision, which weakens the United States鈥� credibility on the global stage,鈥� Warner said.
Hong Kong company agrees to sell shares to a BlackRock consortium over Panama Canal ports
The move comes after President Donald Trump alleged Chinese interference with the operations of the critical shipping lane.
In a filing, CK Hutchison Holding said it would sell all shares in Hutchison Port Holdings and all shares in Hutchison Port Group Holdings.
The two units hold 80% in the Hutchison Ports group that operates 43 ports in 23 countries.
The consortium, comprised of BlackRock, Global Infrastructure Partners and Terminal Investment Limited, will acquire 90% interests in Panama Ports Company, which owns and operates the ports of Balboa and Cristobal in Panama, according to the filing.
House speaker says he wants to frame Trump鈥檚 speech in 鈥榞ilded gold鈥�
Mike Johnson says he won鈥檛 be ripping up Trump鈥檚 speech, the way then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did from the dais during the president鈥檚 first term.
In fact, Johnson said, he鈥檇 like 鈥渢o frame it in gilded gold.鈥�
The Republican speaker said he鈥檚 excited about the speech. 鈥淭here really is so much to celebrate,鈥� he said.
Democrats face a choice over whether to stay or boycott Trump鈥檚 speech
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is telling colleagues it鈥檚 鈥渋mportant to have a strong, determined and dignified Democratic presence鈥� for Trump鈥檚 speech.
鈥淭he House as an institution belongs to the American people,鈥� Jeffries wrote in a letter to colleagues, 鈥渁nd as their representatives we will not be run off the block or bullied.鈥�
Still, some Democrats are simply declining.
Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia, a state hit hard by the federal firings, said he has never missed a speech but that the challenges demand 鈥渕ore than sitting in a chamber鈥� listening as if Trump was not 鈥渦nleashing
chaos and cruelty on their lives.鈥�
鈥淭hese are not normal times,鈥� Connolly said.
Union strategizes on countering Trump actions targeting workers
Thousands of federal workers attending the National Treasury Employees Union Legislative Conference in Washington focused their annual meeting on the impact of Department of Government Efficiency cuts to the federal workforce and attempts to shut down agencies.
NTEU President Doreen Greenwald told attendees 鈥渢o keep the pressure on鈥� members of Congress by contacting their offices repeatedly.
NTEU has filed several lawsuits against the Trump administration over mass layoffs of probationary workers and agency closures.
鈥淭he actions of this administration are causing chaos,鈥� Greenwald said.
Sen. Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat, told the audience, 鈥淒OGE is not about efficiency, its about making it efficient to destroy the government. And when you break the government, people die.鈥�
Trump administration labels Houthis a 鈥榝oreign terrorist organization鈥� again
The State Department has reinstated the designation for Yemen鈥檚 Iran-backed group.
It fulfills an order announced by Trump shortly after he took office in January.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Tuesday that the designation, which carries with it sanctions and penalties for anyone providing 鈥渕aterial support鈥� for the group, had been restored.
Trump鈥檚 first administration had similarly designated the Houthis in its waning days, but that had been revoked by the Biden administration over concerns it would badly affect the delivery of aid to Yemen, which was then considered to be the world鈥檚 worst humanitarian crisis.
Trump administration threatens to cut Columbia University funding over campus antisemitism response
The Education Department and Health and Human Services are considering orders to stop work on $51 million in contracts with Columbia, the agencies said Monday. They鈥檙e also reviewing $5 billion in federal grants.
Trump said on social media that federal funding will be stopped for schools or colleges that allow 鈥渋llegal protests,鈥� and that agitators 鈥渨ill be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came.鈥�
A statement from Columbia said it鈥檚 working with the administration to fight antisemitism.
The New York City campus has been roiled by protests over the Israel-Hamas War. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said Columbia has failed to protect Jewish students and questioned whether it鈥檚 fit to do business with the government.
Two cases involving the first lady鈥檚 guests became flashpoints in the immigration debate
Allyson and Lauren Phillips of Woodstock, Georgia, are the mother and sister of Laken Riley, the Georgia nursing student who was killed while jogging. Federal authorities have said a Venezuelan man who was sentenced to life in prison for her killing had entered the U.S. illegally. President Trump recently signed a bill into law named after Riley.
Prosecutors in Texas are seeking the death penalty against two Venezuelan men who are accused of killing Alexis Nungaray鈥檚 12-year-old daughter, Jocelyn, after they had entered the U.S. illegally.
Wall Street鈥檚 losing streak deepens as Trump鈥檚 tariffs kick in
Stocks are falling again on Wall Street as companies and investors react to President Trump鈥檚 decision to impose tariffs on the U.S.鈥檚 biggest trading partners.
The S&P 500 dropped 0.7% Tuesday morning, the Nasdaq fell 0.6% and the Dow slid 423 points, or 1%.
The burgeoning trade war between the U.S., China, Canada and Mexico is helping to extend a recent slump for U.S. stocks that was prompted by signs of weakness in the economy. Shares of Target and Best Buy fell after the retailers warned of higher prices for consumers due to tariffs.
Markets in Europe fell sharply while stocks in Asia saw more modest declines.
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Teacher held by Russia, family of man killed in assassination attempt among first lady鈥檚 speech guests
Also sitting with Melania Trump will be Stephanie Diller. She鈥檚 the widow of New York police officer Jonathan Diller, who was killed in the line of duty during a Queens traffic stop in March 2024. Donald Trump attended Diller鈥檚 wake.
Marc Fogel is the American history teacher who returned home last month after years of wrongful detention in Russia. His 95-year-old mother, Malphine, will join him.
The family of Corey Comperatore, the former fire chief who was killed during the assassination attempt on Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally, are also guests.
In response to US tariffs, Mexico will impose retaliatory tariffs on US goods
Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday she鈥檒l announce the products Mexico will target Sunday in a public event in Mexico City鈥檚 central plaza, perhaps indicating Mexico still hopes to de-escalate the trade war set off by President Trump.
鈥淭here is no motive or reason, nor justification that supports this decision that will affect our people and our nations,鈥� Sheinbaum said.
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Prices rise as trade disruption looms along US-Mexican border
President Trump has said 鈥渋t鈥檚 a myth鈥� that U.S. consumers will be paying for the tariffs through higher prices. But businesses dealing with cross-border trade with Mexico swiftly raised prices Tuesday.
One Arizona business that distributes 5 million boxes of Mexican produce a year says that if U.S. consumers won鈥檛 pay, the tomatoes and other perishable vegetables will be left in the fields or stuck in warehouses. Industry-wide, Jaime Chamberlain predicts shorter supplies, and that means price-hikes.
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Vance: US-Ukraine rare earths deal better deterrent against Russia than international peacekeepers
In an interview with Fox News鈥� Sean Hannity, Vice President JD Vance said the pact that would give the U.S. access to Ukraine鈥檚 critical minerals 鈥渋s a way better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn鈥檛 fought a war in 30 or 40 years.鈥�
鈥淭he president knows that, look, if you want real security guarantees, if you want to actually ensure that Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine,鈥� Vance added.
The interview was recorded hours before a White House official confirmed Monday evening that Trump directed a 鈥減ause鈥� of U.S. assistance to Ukraine as he seeks to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia.
China defended its efforts to control the flow of fentanyl to the US
That came as took effect Tuesday on Chinese imports.
The Trump administration鈥檚 stated reason for the tariffs, which hit Canada and Mexico as well as China, is to and illegal immigration.
A Chinese government report said it had exercised strict supervision over fentanyl-related medications and cracked down on the smuggling, manufacturing, and trafficking of fentanyl-related substances and related precursor chemicals.
鈥淐hina has achieved notable successes in in-depth cooperation with countries concerned, including the United States,鈥� the report said.
It said China is willing to cooperate 鈥渂ut firmly opposes illegal sanctions and unreasonable suppression on the grounds of the so-called fentanyl issue.鈥�
The Associated Press
