• Air Force One remarks: President Donald Trump suggested his plan for the Gaza Strip is to move more than 1 million Palestinians to other countries and “clean out the whole thing.” In wide-ranging remarks aboard Air Force One, Trump also discussed his visit with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, weighed in on the location of his first trip abroad as president, and said he’s talking to “numerous people” to get a TikTok deal.
• Government watchdogs fired: Trump fired the inspectors general from over a dozen federal agencies in a Friday night purge, according to an administration official, paving the way for him to install his own picks for what are intended to be independent watchdog roles. Some GOP lawmakers are questioning the lack of explanation for the firings, while the move prompted swift outcry from Democrats.
Rubio threatens "very big bounty" on Taliban leaders if they are holding more American detainees than known
From CNN's Jennifer Hansler
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday threatened a “very big bounty” on Taliban leaders if they are holding more American detainees than was known.
The specifics Rubio references are not clear, but the rhetoric seems to signal that the Trump administration will be taking a more bellicose approach to hostage negotiations.
There are at least two Americans who remain detained in Afghanistan — George Glezmann and Mahmoud Habibi. The Taliban has acknowledged detaining Glezmann but has never acknowledged detaining Habibi. There are often additional Americans who are held abroad but are not publicly identified. Many times this is due to a family’s desire for privacy.
Under the Biden administration, the US quietly negotiated for the release of Americans held by the de-facto Afghan government, including securing the release of two Americans in a prisoner swap earlier this week.
The State Department already has a bounty of up to $10 million on Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the Haqqani Network, a US-designated terrorist organization, who serves in the Taliban government.
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"We’ll be changing the colors" of Air Force One, Trump says
From CNN's Betsy Klein aboard Air Force One
Two officers, alongside Protocol Specialist Christine Flessner and Col. Angela Ochoa, commander of the 89th Airlift Wing, salute as Air Force One takes off with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump aboard at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on Friday.
Jess Rapfogel/AP
President Donald Trump said Saturday that he would like to change the colors of Air Force One after plans made during his first term were scrapped under the Biden administration.
Changing the exterior colors, Trump told reporters aboard the presidential aircraft, would be “very much more appropriate.”
Some background: The US Air Force unveiled a new color scheme for the Air Force One jets under construction in 2023, doing away with the darker red, white and blue chosen by Trump and opting for a modernized version of the classic design of the president’s aircraft.
The color scheme also scrapped the design Trump wanted for Air Force One, which featured a deep red stripe down the middle of the aircraft and a dark blue underbelly. It was confirmed that Trump’s preferred color scheme had been rejected because it would require additional engineering, increasing the time it would take to build and the cost of the aircraft. The dark blue paint threatened to overheat sophisticated electronic components and would have required additional Federal Aviation Administration qualification testing, the Air Force said.
It’s unclear how or whether those issues will be resolved with Trump’s return to the plan.
CNN’s Oren Liebermann contributed to reporting to this post.
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Trump suggests he will invoke emergency powers on AI
The US, he told reporters aboard Air Force One, is “going to be leading” in AI.
Trump did not provide a timeline for the emergency powers.
This is the second time Trump has mentioned such plan this week.
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Trump says he is talking to "numerous people" to get a TikTok deal
From CNN's Betsy Klein aboard Air Force One
President Donald Trump dismissed reports that the White House is in talks with Oracle to obtain TikTok as the clock ticks on an extension to sell the popular app to US ownership.
Trump told reporters there are “numerous people talking to me — very substantial people — about buying it,” and he would be making a decision “probably over the next 30 days.”
CNN has reached out to Oracle and TikTok for comment.
Some background: Trump issued an executive action Monday delaying enforcement of the federal ban on TikTok for 75 days. The action directs the Justice Department not to enforce the law, which passed with broad bipartisan support in Congress and was signed in April by former President Joe Biden. The law required that starting January 19, TikTok be banned in the United States unless it sells to a buyer from America or one of its allies.
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Trump suggests first trip abroad "could be Saudi Arabia, could be UK"
From CNN's Betsy Klein aboard Air Force One
President Donald Trump weighed in on the location of his first foreign trip of his second term, suggesting that Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom are on the table.
Trump also said he intends to speak with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer “over the next 24 hours” and offered praise to his counterpart.
First term: Trump’s first stop abroad as president in 2017 was to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, part of a nine-day, five-country swing across the Middle East and Europe.
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Trump weighs in on Newsom visit: "I decided to be nice"
From CNN's Betsy Klein aboard Air Force One
President Donald Trump shakes hands with California Gov. Gavin Newsom upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles on Friday.
Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
President Donald Trump offered a message of bipartisanship following his Friday tarmac greeting with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat.
“I actually always got along with him well until fairly recently,” Trump said of Newsom, whom he has referred to as “Gavin Newscum” on social media.
Some background: Trump visited Los Angeles on Friday to tour damage from the wildfires that have ripped through the region in recent weeks. “We’re going to need your support, we’re going to need your help,” Newsom said after greeting Trump on the tarmac. “You were there for us during Covid. I have all the expectations that we’re going to be able to work together for a speedy recovery.”
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Trump suggests his plan for Gaza Strip is to "clean out the whole thing"
From CNN's Betsy Klein aboard Air Force One
President Donald Trump speaks with the reporters alongside White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, right, on board Air Force One after departing Las Vegas en route to Miami on Saturday.
Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
President Donald Trump indicated that he spoke with the king of Jordan about a potential plan to construct housing and move more than 1 million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to other countries, a remarkable and unusual proposal from a sitting US president.
Asked about a Saturday call with Jordan’s Abdullah II, Trump said he asked the king to take additional Palestinians into his country.
“I said to him that I’d love you to take on more because I’m looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now and it’s a mess, it’s a real mess,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One.
He said he would like both Jordan and Egypt to house people and that he would speak to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi about the matter on Sunday.
“You’re talking about a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing,” Trump said, adding that there have been centuries-long conflicts in the region.
The president said the potential housing “could be temporary” or “could be long term.”
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Trump comments on firings of inspectors general: "Some were unfair or were not doing the job"
From CNN's Betsy Klein aboard Air Force One
President Donald Trump commented Saturday evening on the firing of roughly a dozen inspectors general of government agencies, claiming that the Friday night shake-up was a “very common thing to do.”
“I did it because it’s a very common thing to do,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, adding that “not all of them” were removed.
He added, without providing evidence, “I don’t know them, but some people thought that some were unfair or were not doing the job. It’s a very standard thing to do.”
Agency inspectors general received an email late Friday from Sergio Gor, the head of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, informing them that “changing priorities” had led to their positions being “terminated” effective immediately, according to a person familiar with the matter. The firings affected a broad swath of the federal government, including the departments of State, Energy, the Interior, Defense and Transportation.
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Trump suggests sending IRS agents hired under Biden administration “to the border”
From CNN's Aaron Pellish
Border Patrol vehicles drive along two border walls separating Mexico from the United States in San Diego on Thursday.
Gregory Bull/AP
President Donald Trump suggested Saturday he may redirect some Internal Revenue Service employees “to the border” after freezing the hiring of IRS workers through an executive order earlier this week.
Trump, speaking to supporters in Las Vegas, touted the hiring freeze while attacking the Biden administration for approving additional hiring within the IRS.
Trump then suggested the proposed increase in IRS employees should be redirected toward aiding his immigration plans at the US-Mexico border.
Some context: Trump has repeatedly claimed the government hired 88,000 IRS agents.
The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act provided a roughly $80 billion, 10-year investment to the IRS. The agency planned to hire tens of thousands of IRS employees with that money — but only some would be agents who conduct audits and investigations. Many people would be hired for non-agent roles, such as customer service representatives. And a significant number of the hires were expected to fill the vacant posts left by retirements and other attrition.
CNN’s Katie Lobosco contributed reporting to this post.
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Trump backs Florida state Sen. Randy Fine for Mike Waltz's seat in Congress
From CNN's Alejandra Jaramillo
Then-Florida State House Rep. Randy Fine listens to Donald Trump speak to supporters at the Florida Freedom Summit in Kissimmee, Florida, in 2023.
Octavio Jones/Reuters/File
President Donald Trump on Saturday expressed support for Randy Fine to fill national security adviser Mike Waltz’s House seat representing Florida’s 6th Congressional District.
Trump encouraged Florida voters to support Fine, a Florida state senator, in the January 28 Republican primary, offering his “complete and total endorsement.”
Waltz represented the 6th District, which is on Florida’s east coast and includes Daytona Beach, from 2019 until this year, when he resigned to serve in the Trump administration.
Trump previously backed Fine, saying in November that he would endorse the Florida politician should he decide to run for Waltz’s seat.
Some background: Fine, who is Jewish, flipped his allegiance in the 2024 GOP presidential primary from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to Trump, asserting DeSantis hadn’t done enough to stop antisemitism.
This post has been updated with additional information.
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Noem is sworn in as secretary of the Homeland Security Department
From CNN's Morgan Rimmer
Kristi Noem is sworn in as secretary of the Homeland Security Department on Saturday afternoon.
From Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry/X
Kristi Noem was sworn in as secretary of the Homeland Security Department on Saturday afternoon.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry posted photos on X of Noem being sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Vice President JD Vance’s office told reporters that Vance did not participate “due to a scheduling conflict.”
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Trump takes a victory lap and pledges "no tax on tips" in Vegas remarks
From CNN's Alejandra Jaramillo and Kevin Liptak in Las Vegas
President Donald Trump took a victory lap Saturday in Las Vegas, basking both in his electoral college victory in the state last year and the rapid action of his first week in office.
The advertised theme of Trump’s address was his pledge to eliminate taxes on tips. But Trump’s speech went far beyond tax policy, including a period lambasting former President Joe Biden, bragging that he is stripping “woke crap” from the federal government, and repeating his pledge to enlarge the US’ territories.
Twenty-five minutes into his speech, Trump arrived at its ostensible subject, the promise of eliminating taxes on tipped wages. He didn’t offer great detail of his vision, though he did say he would begin work with lawmakers over the coming weeks to write new tax laws, including renewing the tax cuts he signed into law in 2017.
The idea of removing federal income or payroll taxes on tips has been popular with voters and received bipartisan support, but economic experts say there are thorny issues involved that could result in such a change not helping many low-income employees.
More from the speech: Trump was quick to congratulate Pete Hegseth, who was sworn in Saturday morning, saying he’ll do a “great job” leading the Department of Defense. Hegseth was narrowly confirmed by the Senate despite facing a slew of allegations against him.
Toward the end of his remarks, Trump teased the possibility of serving multiple terms in office, further fueling speculation about his political future. “It will be the greatest honor of my life to serve not once, but twice or three times,” he said.
After his remarks, Trump made his way to the lower casino floor, where he greeted supporters before heading to the craps table.
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Trump to address Congress on March 4
From CNN's Manu Raju
House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks during a press conference following a House Republican Caucus meeting at the Capitol on January 14, in Washington, DC.
Samuel Corum/Getty Images
House Speaker Mike Johnson on Saturday invited President Donald Trump to address a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, March 4, according to an open letter Johnson sent to Trump and posted on X.
“America’s Golden Age has begun. Thanks to your strong leadership and bold action in the first days of your presidency, the United States is already experiencing a resurgence of patriotism, unity, and hope for the future,” Johnson wrote. “Your administration and the 119th Congress working together have the chance to make these next four years some of the most consequential to our nation’s history.
Trump has accepted the invitation, a White House official told CNN.
Some context: Since this will be the first address of Trump’s new term, it will not technically be called a “State of the Union” speech.
Since 1977, new presidents have not called their first speech before a joint session of Congress a State of the Union. These speeches are often referred to as an “annual message” or an address on a particular topic.
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Trump speaks with Jordan's King Abdullah
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
President Donald Trump spoke Saturday with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, who congratulated Trump on his inauguration, according to a White House readout of the call.
The White House said Trump “thanked King Abdullah for his longtime friendship, and the two leaders discussed the importance of regional peace, security, and stability.”
Remember: Jordan’s geography places it at the center of the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The small kingdom sits between Israel and the occupied West Bank on one side, and Iran’s neighbor Iraq on the other, where pro-Iran militias reign supreme. To its north lies Syria, a failing state that is also in Iran’s orbit.
Jordan became the second Arab country to sign a peace deal with Israel in 1994. In the eyes of Israel’s Western allies, it has been vital to regional security. It has close intelligence and security cooperation with Israel, hosts American troops and is reliant on United States military aid.
CNN’s Jomana Kardsheh contributed reporting to this post.
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Trump is speaking at a Las Vegas event where he's expected to outline plans to eliminate tax on tips
From CNN's Alejandra Jaramillo
President Donald Trump arrives to speak on his policy to end tax on tips in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday.
Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
President Donald Trump is on stage delivering remarks during his first visit to Nevada since re-election, where he’s expected to address his promise to eliminate payroll taxes on tips.
Signs reading “No Tax on Tips” are prominently displayed throughout the Galaxy Room at the Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, where Trump is now speaking to supporters.
“No taxes on tips” was one of Trump’s campaign promises — a pitch he first made on the campaign trail during a rally in Nevada, which became a major talking point.
The president announced his trip to the Silver State during a White House press conference earlier this week, expressing his gratitude to Nevada voters.
Some context: Tax cut promises were among the biggest economic reasons why some communities voted for Trump. With many Americans worn down by inflation, a flurry of pledges including on overtime pay and Social Security benefits also struck a chord.
But critics say there are thorny issues involved and that such a change wouldn’t help that many low-income employees.
This post has been updated to note the start of Trump’s remarks.
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Video of Tuskegee Airmen included in Air Force basic training curriculum removed amid DEI review
From CNN’s Haley Britzky
The Air Force removed basic military training curriculum that included video of the famed Tuskegee Airmen amid a review of the course for any diversity-related content, an Air Force official said Saturday.
The move comes after President Donald Trump issued an executive action this week terminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs within the federal government. The Air Force took “immediate steps” to remove curriculum at basic military training, which is now being reviewed “to ensure compliance with Executive Orders issued by the President,” the official said.
But the official said video of the Tuskegee Airmen, the groundbreaking Black American pilots who fought in World War II, was not why the curriculum was removed.
“The Department of the Air Force will fully execute and implement all directives outlined in the Executive Orders issued by the President, ensuring that they are carried out with utmost professionalism, efficiency and in alignment with national security objectives,” an Air Force spokesperson said in a statement.
Some background: The Tuskegee Airmen were the US military’s first Black aviators and their support personnel. The airmen included roughly 1,000 Black pilots who trained between 1941 and 1946 at a segregated air base in Alabama, according to the National World War II Museum. The airmen flew “hundreds of patrol and attack missions” during the war before being reassigned to escort US bombers and other aircraft, according to the museum.
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Trump administration lifts hold on heavy bomb deliveries to Israel
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
President Donald Trump’s administration lifted a hold on heavy bomb deliveries to Israel, an administration official said Saturday, rolling back one of the few Biden-era policies meant to exert leverage on Israel amid its war in Gaza.
“A lot of things that were ordered and paid for by Israel, but have not been sent by Biden, are now on their way!” Trump posted on Truth Social on Saturday evening, in an apparent allusion to the move.
That move, which was reported earlier by Axios, was widely expected and had been signaled to Israeli officials by incoming Trump officials, people familiar with the matter said.
Some background: Former President Joe Biden had restricted the delivery of the 2,000-pound bombs out of concern they could be used indiscriminately by Israel’s military in densely populated areas of Gaza.
“Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers,” he told CNN’s Erin Burnett last year.
At the time, the president’s announcement that he was prepared to condition American weaponry on Israel’s actions amounted to a turning point in the seven-month conflict between Israel and Hamas.
It caused tensions to deepen between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accused the US of hampering his ability to go after Hamas terrorists.
But it did not ultimately portend any major changes in the war, which stretched on for months until Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire-for-hostages deal early this year.
Nor did it significant improve Biden’s standing among progressives, who argued for significantly tighter restrictions on American arms sales to Israel.
Thune says it was "very important" for Noem and Hegseth to get confirmed
From CNN’s Shania Shelton
President Donald Trump is briefed on the effects of Hurricane Helene at Asheville Regional Airport in Fletcher, North Carolina, on Friday.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on Saturday it was “very important” for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to get confirmed.
“Two big ones. Very important that they get done. They’re the national security, obviously, border security with Gov. Noem, now Secretary Noem. And of course with Secretary Hegseth, a lot going on in the world. We needed a defense secretary in place. Glad to get those done. We’re working on a couple more and just going to keep grinding through and get the president’s team in place and ready to implement his agenda,” Thune said on Fox News.
The Republican from South Dakota said Hegseth’s confirmation was a “team effort” and went how he expected.
Thune earlier told CNN he was not surprised by former GOP Leader Mitch McConnell’s opposition to Hegseth’s confirmation. McConnell joined Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins in opposing Hegseth, whose nomination was surrounded by questions on his experience level and allegations of past wrongdoing.
The Senate majority leader praised Hegseth and how he articulated what he wants to do in the Department of Defense, including getting the department “to be about the war fighter, not about DEI or some sort of woke agenda.”
Thune said he hopes the votes for Scott Bessent, who is nominated to be treasury secretary, and Sean Duffy, who is President Donald Trump’s pick to serve as transportation secretary, will be “big votes,” as the two are set to have Senate confirmation votes next week.
CNN’s Morgan Rimmer contributed reporting to this post.
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Noem says securing the border is one of her top priorities following homeland security secretary confirmation
From CNN's Shania Shelton
Kristi Noem said securing the southern border and fixing “our broken immigration system” are among her top priorities after the Senate voted on Saturday to confirm her as President Donald Trump’s homeland security secretary.
Noem said in a statement that Trump received a “mandate from the American people” to address these priorities.
“The Trump Administration will once-again empower our brave men and women in law enforcement to do their jobs and remove criminal aliens and illegal gangs from our country. We will fully equip our intelligence and law enforcement to detect and prevent terror threats and will deliver rapid assistance and disaster relief to Americans in crisis,” Noem wrote.
Noem thanked Trump and the Senate for their trust in her and said her department will ensure America “is a beacon of freedom, safety, and security for generations to come.”
Some background: Noem has served as governor of South Dakota since 2019 and is a former state legislator and four-term congresswoman.
She is a longtime Trump loyalist who rose to prominence resisting Covid-19 public health restrictions in her state. She now figures to play a central role in Trump’s vow to orchestrate a widespread immigration crackdown, which has already begun in the opening days of his presidency.
She will be tasked with leading the Department of Homeland Security, a sprawling agency that oversees everything from US Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the US Secret Service.
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Oath Keepers founder attends Trump event in Las Vegas
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes attends an event where President Donald Trump will speak at the Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers militia whose lengthy prison sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump this week, is in attendance at a Trump event in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Rhodes was seen entering the event a few hours ahead of Trump’s scheduled remarks, which have been previewed as focusing on his pledge to eliminate taxes on tips.
Rhodes was serving an 18-year sentence for seditious conspiracy when Trump issued the commutation hours after taking office. He was released shortly after.
On Friday, a judge said Rhodes and several other members of the Oath Keepers could not enter Washington, DC, or the grounds of the US Capitol without first receiving court permission.
Remember: Trump on Monday pardoned more than 1,000 people charged in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, and commuted the sentences of leaders of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.
The commutations cover the sentences for 14 far-right extremists from the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys who were convicted or charged with seditious conspiracy.
With the pardons, Trump granted full clemency to hundreds of people already convicted of felony crimes like assaulting police and destroying property as part of the effort to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.
CNN’s Marshall Cohen, Evan Perez, Paula Reid, Hannah Rabinowitz and Alayna Treene contributed reporting.
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Senate breaks a filibuster on Scott Bessent’s nomination to be treasury secretary
From CNN's Morgan Rimmer
US investor and hedge fund manager Scott Bessent testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on his nomination to be Secretary of the Treasury, on Thursday.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
The Senate voted to break a filibuster on Scott Bessent’s nomination to be treasury secretary, 67-23, marking a key step toward final confirmation of another member of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet.
Bessent is expected to be confirmed in a final vote Monday evening.
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Trump ally Elon Musk addresses rally for far-right German party as foray into European politics continues
From CNN’s Seb Shukla in Halle, Germany
Elon Musk arrives to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump in the Rotunda of the Capitol on January 20, in Washington, DC.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Elon Musk made a surprise live video address at the campaign launch for Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in a show of support ahead of next month’s election in the country.
In a conversation with AfD’s candidate for chancellor, Alice Weidel, he reiterated previous statements that he believes the AFD is Germany’s “best hope” in the upcoming election on February 23, where the AfD is riding high in polls.
His appearance on screen was met with huge cheers inside the hall in the German city of Halle.
Musk addressed the issue of immigration, a key topic in the German election and in particular with the AfD. He urged Wiedel and her supporters not to lose their national pridein “some kind of multiculturalism that dilutes everything.”
Key context: Musk, who has emerged as one of US President Donald Trump’s closest confidantes at the start of his second term, has recently been dipping into European politics. The mogul has cast himself as kingmaker in the populist wave that is submerging multiple centrist leaders there.
Several European Union leaders have accused him of interfering in their affairs and promoting dangerous figures, including in his backing of AfD, which has a staunchly nationalist platform and a string of scandals relating to some of its members’ views on the Nazi era.
Trump has fired government watchdogs from over a dozen federal agencies. Here's what we know
From CNN's Adrienne Vogt, Annie Grayer, Morgan Rimmer, Katherine Dautrich and Manu Raju
President Donald Trump fired the inspectors general from over a dozen federal agencies in a Friday night purge, according to a Trump administration official, paving the way for him to install his own picks overseeing the agencies.
The firings have prompted concern from some GOP senators, who said Congress wasn’t given the requisite 30 days notice from the White House.
CNN has reached out to the White House for comment.
Here’s the latest:
Top agencies affected: The inspectors general were terminated from the State Department, Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Defense Department, Interior Department, and Environmental Protection Agency, among others.
What Republicans are saying: Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, a longtime proponent of inspectors general, said he is seeking “further explanation” from Trump. Grassley said there was no notice provided to Congress on the firings — which is required by law.
Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville told CNN he does not question Trump’s decision, even though it was made without informing Congress.
Senate Homeland Security Chair Rand Paul told CNN he has not looked at Trump’s decision but believes the president has the power to dismiss the watchdogs.
“If there’s a process that has to happen, maybe the process, you know, needs to be done correctly. But as far as having the power, I think he ultimately does have the power to replace many of the inspector generals, and think some do need to be replaced,” Paul said.
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski noted the dismissals were “pretty broad, widespread across many agencies.”
Maine Sen. Susan Collins also expressed concern with the firings, arguing that the act of dismissing inspectors general does not match Trump’s stated goal of ending corruption.
“I don’t understand why one would fire individuals whose mission is to root out waste, fraud and abuse,” she said.
What Democrats are saying: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it a “chilling purge,” warning that the firings could kick off “a golden age for abuse in government, and even corruption.”
His Democratic colleague Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Trump “is dismantling checks on his power.”
Protections: Congress has guardrails intended to protect inspectors general, with a law requiring the White House to provide substantive rationale for terminating any IG.
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Pete Hegseth lays out mission for Defense Department in a message to the force
From CNN's Shania Shelton
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth laid out his priorities with the Department of Defense on Saturday after he was officially sworn in at the White House.
Hegseth said he would revive “warrior ethos and restore trust in our military,” while having “high, uncompromising, and clear” standards. He went on to detail his plan to rebuild the military “by matching threats to capabilities.”
“This means reviving our defense industrial base, reforming our acquisition process, passing a financial audit, and rapidly fielding emerging technologies. We will remain the strongest and most lethal force in the world,” he said in the statement.
“We will work with allies and partners to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific by Communist China, as well as supporting the President’s priority to end wars responsibly and reorient to key threats,” he added.
Some background: Trump’s choice in Hegseth to head his Defense Department signals a new political era at the Pentagon, with an immediate focus on the president’s immigration aims and the culture wars.
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Senate confirms Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary
From CNN's Clare Foran, Morgan Rimmer and Annie Grayer
The Senate voted to confirm Kristi Noem as President Donald Trump’s secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on Saturday morning, installing a long-time Trump ally at the helm of an agency poised to play a central role in the president’s promised immigration crackdown.
The vote was bipartisan, 59-34.
Noem has served as governor of South Dakota since 2019 and is a former state legislator and four-term congresswoman. She will now be tasked with leading the Department of Homeland Security, a sprawling agency that oversees everything from US Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the US Secret Service.
Noem’s pitch: “The mission and the success of DHS is more critical than ever,” Noem told senators during her confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill. “We must secure our borders against illegal trafficking and immigration. We must safeguard our critical infrastructure to make sure that we’re protected against cyberattacks, respond to natural disasters, and also terrorism.”
Noem called border security a “top priority” and said Trump was elected with “a clear mandate” on immigration.
In response to questions from Democrats, Noem vowed that under her leadership “there will be no political bias” when it comes to disaster relief and that there will be a focus on domestic terrorism, saying that “homegrown terrorism is on the rise.”
More background: Noem’s national profile grew during the Covid-19 pandemic, when she rejected mask mandates and social distancing.
She found herself caught up in controversy last year following publication of an excerpt of a book in which she revealed she’d shot and killed a family dog because it was “untrainable” and “dangerous to anyone she came in contact with.”
Noem has defended her actions and argued that those anecdotes were meant to show how capable she is of doing some of the more gruesome jobs in life when necessary.
CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, Eric Bradner and Kaitlan Collins contributed to this report.
This post has been updated with more background on Noem.
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HUD confirms inspector general was fired amid reported watchdog purge
From CNN's Katherine Dautrich
The Housing and Urban Development inspector general was fired on Friday night, an agency spokesperson told CNN on Saturday.
“Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis received notice last night that her position as HUD Inspector General was terminated,” according to the spokesperson.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley said he is seeking “further explanation” from Trump on the reported terminations, which prompted immediate outcry from top Democrats.
Federal law requires Congress to get 30 days notice of the president’s intent to dismiss the independent watchdogs.
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White House celebrates release of Israeli hostages
From CNN's Alejandra Jaramillo
Liri Albag embraces her family in Re'im, Israel on Saturday.
“Today the world celebrates as President Trump secured the release of four more Israeli hostages who were, for far too long, held against their will by Hamas in horrific conditions. The United States will continue with its great partner Israel to push for the release of all remaining hostages and the pursuit of peace throughout the region,” the White House said in a statement Saturday.
Former President Joe Biden and his administration worked on the framework of the Israel-Hamas deal for months, and coordinated closely with Trump’s transition team to secure the ceasefire shortly before his inauguration this month.
Four female Israeli soldiers have been freed in the latest round of releases under the ceasefire agreement.
The four hostages freed Saturday — 20-year-olds Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa and Naama Levy, and Liri Albag, 19 — had been held in Gaza since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. They have now been reunited with their families.
Following their release, Israel has freed 200 Palestinian prisoners from detention centers.
Senate Judiciary chair looks for "further explanation" from Trump after reported firings of inspectors general
From CNN's Adrienne Vogt and Manu Raju
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley said he is seeking “further explanation” from President Donald Trump after at least a dozen inspectors general from multiple federal agencies were fired in a late-night purge, according to reporting from the Washington Post and The New York Times.
Grassley, a Republican and longtime proponent of inspectors general, said there was no notice provided to Congress on the reported firings. Federal law requires the president give Congress 30 days notice of his intent to dismiss IGs.
Sources told the news outlets that the independent watchdogs were informed of their immediate termination over email from the White House personnel director.
Some of the government’s largest agencies were affected, including defense, state and transportation, according to the Post.
CNN has reached out to the White House, Defense Department, State Department and other federal agencies about the reported moves.
Democratic reaction: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it a “chilling purge,” warning that the firings could kick off “a golden age for abuse in government, and even corruption.”
“These firings are Donald Trump’s way of telling us he is terrified of accountability and hostile to facts and transparency,” Schumer said Saturday.
In 2020:CNN reported that Trump had done a number of late-night inspector general firings, as he sought to rid his administration of government watchdogs he viewed as loyalists to former President Barack Obama.
Partly in reaction to those firings, Congress built new guardrails intended to protect inspectors general. A law now requires the White House to provide substantive rationale for terminating any inspector general.
CNN’s Morgan Rimmer contributed reporting.
This post has been updated with statements from Grassley and Schumer.
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Vance swears in Pete Hegseth as Trump's defense secretary
From CNN's Matt Meyer
Vice President JD Vance sworn in Pete Hegseth as the defense secretary.
Pool
Vice President JD Vance swore in Pete Hegseth as President Donald Trump’s defense secretary Saturday after he was narrowly confirmed in a Senate vote the night prior.
In a ceremony at the White House, Vance said in introductory remarks that the Trump administration will be “sparing” in deploying US military forces around the world under Hegseth’s leadership of the Defense Department.
Hegseth, surrounded by his family, then raised his right hand and took his oath, guided by the vice president.
Newly sworn-in as defense secretary, Hegseth stepped up to the microphone and thanked his wife and family for their support, before thanking Trump, saying the US “could not have a better commander-in-chief.”
He vowed the US would project “peace through strength” under his leadership at the Pentagon.
Hegseth, who previously said that women shouldn’t serve in combat roles, was asked by a reporter why women in the military should trust him. Vance stepped in.
Remember: Vance himself cast the 51-50 tie-breaking vote last night, marking the end of a confirmation process marred by allegations of wrongdoing against Hegseth, including claims of sexual assault, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement.
Former GOP Leader Mitch McConnell and GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine joined Democrats to oppose Hegseth’s nomination, forcing Vance to become just the second vice president to break a tie in order to confirm a Cabinet nominee.
CNN’s Morgan Rimmer, Ted Barrett and Manu Raju contributed reporting to this post.
This post has been updated with details from the ceremony.
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Trump administration halts aid for refugees who have already arrived in US
From CNN's Priscilla Alvarez
Refugees board a bus at Dulles International Airport that will take them to a refugee processing center after being evacuated from Kabul following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan on August 31, 2021 in Dulles, Virginia.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
The Trump administration on Friday abruptly halted services for refugees in the United States, including Afghans, according to a memo obtained by CNN, stunning agencies that provide critical support to recent arrivals.
It’s a sweeping move that prompted a scramble as refugee advocates tried to interpret the order. The memo stands to affect tens of thousands of refugees — including Afghans who aided the US during the war — by seemingly barring them from assistance, ranging from caseworker support to housing, that is afforded to arrivals in their first three months in the United States.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order this week suspending refugee admissions as part of a broader effort by the administration to limit entry to the US on the basis of public safety and national security. As a result, approximately 10,000 refugees who had travel booked following a yearslong and often cumbersome process had those flights canceled.
But Friday’s memo goes a step further, according to multiple sources.
Resettlement agencies receive federal funding from the State Department. Those funds are authorized and appropriated by Congress for the purpose of aiding refugee arrivals. The State Department notified partners that all work under those awards must end, according to the memo obtained by CNN.
CNN has reached out to the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migrationfor comment.
US seeks to rejoin international declaration that denounces right to abortion
From CNN's Adrienne Vogt
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US is looking to rejoin a group of largely repressive countries in a declaration that challenges the right to an abortion.
The Geneva Consensus Declaration states that countries are committed to reaffirming that there is “no international right to abortion, nor any international obligation on the part of States to finance or facilitate abortion.”
It includes countries with poor human rights records, such as Egypt, Russia, Belarus, Hungary, Iraq, Cameroon, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Uganda.
“Investing in women’s health and well-being saves lives, allows women and girls more opportunities, and protects the family as the fundamental unit of society,” according to the statement.
During his campaign, President Donald Trump promised to rejoin the declaration to “reject the globalist claim of an international right to abortion.”
The current move comes as, in a pair of executive actions Friday, Trump revived the so-called Mexico City Policy banning US government funding for foreign nonprofits that perform or promote abortions, and he reinstituted enforcement of the Hyde Amendment, which imposes similar restrictions on groups within the US.
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Guatemala is coordinating with US on deportations and is prepared for 18 flights each week, official says
From CNN’s Rafael Romo
The Guatemalan foreign ministry is in “permanent” communication with the White House and stands ready to handle around 18 weekly flights of its citizens deported from the United States, a top official with the Central American country told CNN Saturday morning.
Santiago Palomo, a secretary in the Guatemalan President’s Office, confirmed 264 Guatemalan nationals have been deported from the US to his country on US military flights.
The return of the Guatemalan nationals comes as the Trump administration this week moved with lightning speed to roll out the US president’s immigration agenda, laying the groundwork to swiftly deport migrants already in the country.
Palomo said those returning to Guatemala are being treated in a dignified way through a government assistance program spearheaded by President Bernardo Arévalo called “Returning Home.”
Images published by the Guatemalan government Friday show Guatemalan Vice President Karin Herrera welcoming the migrants at a Guatemalan Air Force base.
The Guatemalan Migration Institute previously said the 264 Guatemalan citizens were deported on three separate flights from El Paso, Texas; Tucson, Arizona; and a third unspecified city.
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Trump revives Mexico City Policy and enforcement of Hyde Amendment in boon for anti-abortion advocates
From CNN's Donald Judd
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
In a pair of executive actions Friday, President Donald Trump revived the so-called Mexico City Policy banning US government funding for foreign nonprofits that perform or promote abortions, and he reinstituted enforcement of the Hyde Amendment, which imposes similar restrictions on groups within the US.
Originally put in place in 1985, the Mexico City Policy has been enforced off and on since it first took effect. Democratic administrations have traditionally rescinded the policy, while Republican administrations have reinstated it.
Trump himself previously reinstated it in 2017, while former President Joe Biden rescinded it — along with the Hyde Amendment — after taking office in 2021.
Trump’s abortion moves: The two actions are just the latest in a slew of anti-abortion steps Trump has taken since returning to office earlier this week.
In a pre-recorded video message played at the March for Life in Washington, DC, on Friday, he touted 2022’s Dobbs decision, in which Supreme Court justices he appointed overturned Roe v. Wade. He also repeated a widely debunked claim that Democrats have sought to allow abortion “after birth.”
And on Thursday, he announced he was pardoning 23 anti-abortion activists charged under Biden’s administration, telling reporters gathered in the Oval Office the activists “should not have been prosecuted” in the first place.
The activists had been charged under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, which makes it a federal crime to use “threats of force, obstruction or inflict property damage intended to interfere with reproductive health care services.”
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Senate schedules treasury and transportation confirmation votes for early next week
From CNN’s Morgan Rimmer
The Senate has scheduled confirmation votes for Scott Bessent, who is nominated to be treasury secretary, as well as Sean Duffy, President Donald Trump’s choice to serve as transportation secretary.
The vote on Bessent’s nomination is set for Monday at 5:30 p.m. ET, and the vote on Duffy is scheduled for noon on Tuesday.
Both had bipartisan support coming out of committee — with Duffy advanced unanimously — and are expected to receive bipartisan support on the Senate floor.
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Senate will vote on Kristi Noem's confirmation later this morning
From CNN's Morgan Rimmer
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem speaks during her confirmation hearing before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill on January 17, in Washington, DC.
Eric Thayer/Getty Images
The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and is expected to vote to confirm Kristi Noem as President Donald Trump’s secretary of homeland security at 11:30 a.m.
After this vote, senators are expected to take a procedural vote to break a filibuster on Scott Bessent’s nomination to be treasury secretary.
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Newly confirmed Hegseth will be sworn in as defense secretary Saturday morning
From CNN's Kaitlan Collins
Pete Hegseth will be sworn in as the secretary of defense Saturday morning by the vice president at the White House, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The Senate narrowly voted to confirm the embattled Hegseth, who faced a slew of allegations of past wrongdoing. Vice President JD Vance cast the 51-50 tie-breaking vote last night after former GOP Leader Mitch McConnell and GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine joined Democrats to oppose Hegseth’s nomination.
That marked only the second time in history that a vice president has broken a tie for a Cabinet nominee. The other was Mike Pence, who did so in 2017 for Betsy DeVos to head the education department.
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Trump takes politics to disaster zones during North Carolina and California visits
From CNN's Eric Bradner
President Donald Trump speaks while visiting a neighborhood in Swannanoa, North Carolina that had been affected by Hurricane Helene, on Friday.
Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
President Donald Trump suggested he might eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday during a trip to tour damage from Hurricane Helene flooding in North Carolina.
“This is probably one of the best examples of it not working,” Trump told reporters of FEMA’s efforts in North Carolina, where he sought to contrast his leadership with what he’s said was Democrats’ mismanagement.
He then said he may soon abolish the agency and instead send money directly to states to manage their own disaster relief efforts.
He also said he was tapping a political ally — Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, who is from North Carolina — to lead the state’s recovery effort along with Democratic Gov. Josh Stein.
Trump talks with California Gov. Gavin Newsom at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Threats to the Golden State: Trump’s North Carolina trip came on the same day he traveled to California, which he suggested might only receive more federal aid for the wildfires that have ravaged the Los Angeles area if the state meets his demands.
Trump said he wants California to pass voter ID laws and for “water to be released,” echoing his previous claim that hydrants that ran dry during the wildfires in Pacific Palisades were due to the state’s management of water policy in Northern California, which experts have said is not the case.
“You want to have proof of citizenship. Ideally, you have one-day voting. But I just want voter ID as a start. And I want the water to be released, and they’re going to get a lot of help from the US,” Trump told reporters while he was in North Carolina.
Several Republicans who won close House races in California have pushed back, including Rep. Young Kim, who represents a battleground district in Orange County.
“We cannot play politics with Americans’ livelihoods,” Kim said Thursday on X.
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Tracking Trump's executive actions: Where things stand entering the weekend
From cnn's Curt Merrill and Amy O'Kruk
President Donald Trump’s second term is off and running with a cascade of executive actions signed in his first week and more promised in the days and weeks to come.
Trump has vowed to enact a sweeping agenda and reshape the federalgovernment, saying in his inaugural address that “the golden age of America” was starting and naming priorities such as immigration, trade and national security.
