January 27, 2025: Donald Trump presidency news

Our live coverage of Donald Trump’s presidency has ended for the day. Follow the latest updates or read through the posts below.

During a gaggle with reporters aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump said he signed four executive orders Monday night that will reshape the management and composition of the military, with provisions addressing diversity measures, transgender service members and troops who were discharged for refusing Covid-19 vaccinations.

Trump also said he signed an executive order to create a process for developing what the administration refers to as an “American Iron Dome,” a missile defense system aimed at protecting the homeland.

Trump said he signed the executive orders on his return flight to Washington from Florida.

CNN had previously reported Trump was expected to sign the orders, according to two White House officials.

The executive orders come as Trump’s nominee to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, was sworn in as secretary of defense on Saturday. Hegseth has long stated he planned to implement major cultural changes to the military, including ending DEI practices and removing “woke” service members, as CNN reported.

The White House budget office has ordered a pause on all federal grants and loans, according to an internal memorandum sent Monday.

Federal agencies “must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance,” White House Office of Management and Budget acting director Matthew Vaeth said in the memorandum, a copy of which was obtained by CNN. The pause also blocks the issuance of new grants.

The freeze on federal assistance is slated to take effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday and could impact trillions of dollars. It marks the latest move by the Trump administration to exert control over federal funding, even that which has already been allocated by Congress.

The memo suggests that the pause is in line with President Donald Trump’s executive orders last week.

The pause also applies to “other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal,” according to the memo.

“Career and political appointees in the Executive Branch have a duty to align Federal spending and action with the will of the American people as expressed through Presidential priorities,” Vaeth wrote.

According to the memo, the budget office “may grant exceptions allowing Federal agencies to issue new awards or take other actions on a case-by-case basis.”

The memo calls on agencies to submit to OMB “detailed information on any programs, projects or activities subject to this pause” by February 10.

President Donald Trump said Monday that he believes Microsoft is in discussion to acquire social media company TikTok, telling reporters traveling with him on Air Force One he hopes to see a bidding war from companies that would allow the Chinese-owned platform to continue operating in the US.

Hours after his inauguration last week, Trump issued an executive order delaying the enforcement of a controversial law for 75 days. The law requires that TikTok be banned in the US unless it sells to a buyer from America or one of its allies.

The executive action followed a pledge from Trump last weekend that he would delay enforcement. TikTok said that assurance allowed it to come back online after going dark for more than 12 hours.

Asked Monday directly if Microsoft was in discussion to acquire the app, Trump said, “I would say yes.”

“There’s a lot of interest in TikTok — there’s great interest in TikTok,” he said.

Microsoft declined to comment.

This post has been updated with Microsoft declining to comment.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt aboard Air Force One before arriving at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on Monday.

President Donald Trump elaborated Monday on remarks over the weekend that he’d like to “clean out” Gaza, saying of the more than 1 million Palestinians living in the enclave, “I’d like to get them living in an area where they can live without disruption and revolution and violence so much.”

Over the weekend, the president sparked headlines when he told reporters he’d spoken with the king of Jordan about potentially building housing and moving Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries, a remarkable proposal from a sitting US president. Approximately 90% of Gaza residents have been displaced, and many have been forced to move repeatedly, some more than 10 times, according to the United Nations.

Trump also said that he’d spoken with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, but declined to say directly if the president had an opinion on taking additional Palestinian refugees.

“I’d love to do that — I wish he would take some, we help them a lot, and I’m sure he can help us, he’s a friend of mine,” Trump said. “He’s in a very rough part of the world, to be honest, as they say, it’s a rough neighborhood, but I think he can do it.”

Trump also said that he planned to speak “in the not-too distant future” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who he said is “coming here to meet with me.”

Pressed when Netanyahu will visit Washington, Trump said, “very soon.”

A general view of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta, on September 30, 2014.

Staff at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been ordered to stop communicating with the World Health Organization (WHO), according to a new memo, dealing a significant blow to global health efforts.

The directive was made in accordance with President Donald Trump’s January 20 executive order withdrawing the US from WHO, according to a memo sent late Sunday from CDC Deputy Director of Global Health Dr. John Nkengasong to senior agency leadership, a copy of which was obtained by CNN. It was first reported by the Associated Press.

The US is one of the largest funders of WHO, and federal law requires one year of notice before US support for the organization can be withdrawn.

Trump’s order claims that legal notice of withdrawal was given during his first term, in 2020, so the withdrawal can happen immediately.

The White House, the CDC, WHO and the US Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to requests for comment.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detain a person, on Monday, in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Monday reported making 1,179 arrests and lodging 853 detainers.

The arrests are part of a broader effort to amass a larger enforcement apparatus by pulling in a range of federal agencies that have been extended immigration authority under the Trump administration.

In sweeps that largely started on Sunday in several cities across the nation, ICE reported 956 arrests that day.

The numbers are updated daily with the count starting at midnight, according to ICE’s post.

ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted 113,431 administrative arrests in the fiscal year that ended October 2024, according to an agency report. That’s about 310 arrests a day, as CNN previously reported.

The Trump administration launched an immigration enforcement blitz nationwide over the weekend. It included multiple federal agencies and resulted in the arrest of nearly 1,000 people, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

It’s part of President Donald Trump’s push to enact his priorities in his first week in office.

Here’s the latest:

Jennifer Jimenez speaks with CNN's Eirn Burnett on Monday.

Jennifer Jimenez, whose cousin was detained by federal agents in Newark, New Jersey, last week, said her cousin was not in the US to “create any harm” — he just wanted to provide for his family.

While undocumented, Jimenez told CNN on Monday her cousin, David, is a “hard working man” and does not have a criminal record. He has been in the US for about four years, she said.

Federal agents detained multiple people Thursday during what ICE called “a targeted enforcement operation.” Jimenez described agents coming into the business where David worked and asking for his identification before they took him to a detention center.

The agents “raided” the local business and detained “undocumented residents as well as citizens, without producing a warrant,” Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said in a statement at the time.

Jimenez said her cousin came to the US to take care of his family and pay medical bills. She said his younger sister, who has since died, was battling cancer and had a young daughter. Now, her cousin is raising that little girl, Jimenez said.

The new Trump administration is moving to clamp down on immigration. A law enforcement source briefed on the investigation in Newark told CNN the enforcement action was in response to a tip reporting unauthorized workers at a place of business.

Correction: A previous version of this post misidentified the federal agency that detained Jennifer Jimenez’s cousin.

The Trump administration has placed dozens of the most senior career officials at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on leave, according to multiple sources.

In a stunning move, roughly 60 career officials were notified Monday that they would be placed on immediate leave. Sources said there seemed to have been particular focus on USAID’s general counsel’s office.

An internal statement from acting Administrator Jason Gray tied the action to President Donald Trump’s recent executive order that immediately suspended almost all foreign assistance.

“We have identified several actions within USAID that appeared designed to circumvent the President’s Executive Orders and the mandate from the American people,” Gray said in a message to the USAID workforce, which was seen by CNN.

Gray said staffers were being put on leave with full benefits “while we complete our analysis of these actions.”

On Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed diplomatic posts worldwide that all foreign aid, with a few exceptions, was immediately on hold, pending further review.

CNN has reached out to USAID for comment. Politico first reported on the officials being placed on leave.

The Congress is working to conduct confirmation hearings and votes for a slate of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees. The House Oversight Committee also launched a sanctuary cities investigation.

Here’s a rundown of what’s happening on the Hill:

Fillibuster break: The Senate voted unanimously on Monday night to break a filibuster on Sean Duffy’s nomination to lead the Department of Transportation. A final vote on his confirmation is expected on Tuesday. Duffy has been one of the least controversial of Trump’s nominees and was approved unanimously by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Technology. Senate Majority Leader John Thune Monday filed procedural motions to break filibusters on the nominations and set up confirmation votes for several other Tump picks: Lee Zeldin for EPA, Doug Burgum for interior, Christopher Wright for energy and Douglas Collins for veteran affairs.

About Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s upcoming hearing: Ahead of his hearing to become Health and Human Services Secretary, some Republican senators, like Sen. Lisa Murkowski, said they want him to address concerns about his views on vaccines. Some indicated they haven’t made up their minds yet and others expressed hope that he would get across the finish line.

Investigation into sanctuary cities: The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee announced an investigation into the policies of sanctuary cities Monday and invited the mayors of four sanctuary city jurisdictions to testify before congress next month. House Committee Chair James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, sent letters to the mayors of Boston, Chicago, Denver and New York City and requested documents and information related to those cities’ policies. CNN has reached out to the offices of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

President Donald Trump gestures during a House Republican members conference meeting at Trump National Doral resort, in Miami, on Monday.

President Donald Trump reiterated his eagerness to work with Congress to pass “the largest package of tax cuts and reforms in American history” during remarks at the House Republican Members Conference dinner. He also reaffirmed his openness to passing more than one bill to achieve his legislative goals.

His comments underscore his continued emphasis on tax policy as a central priority for his administration’s legislative agenda.

A key focus for Trump this year is extending the provisions of his signature Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — a 2017 law that lowered tax rates for most Americans — before they are set to expire at the end of 2025.

What Trump has said before: Trump had initially advocated for “one big, beautiful bill” to finance his agenda, but he later acknowledged resistance from some Republicans to his ambitious plan and indicated he was open to alternative approaches, as CNN reported.

“I would prefer one, but I will do whatever needs to be done to get it passed,” Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt during an appearance on his show.

Acting on one of President Donald Trump’s initial executive orders, the Office of Personnel Management sent a memo on Monday to the heads of federal departments and agencies requesting that they identify policy-oriented positions to be recommended to shift to a new category with less job security.

Agencies have 90 days to preliminarily review positions and submit petitions to OPM and then have another 120 days to finalize the process, the memo said. The president will issue a new executive order that will effectuate the transfer.

The positions include those that have “substantive participation in the advocacy for or development or formulation of policy,” including:

They also could affect positions whose duties include:

The memo also reiterates that Trump’s executive order supersedes a 2024 Biden administration rule aimed at bolstering protections for civil service workers. Overturning a rule typically does not happen via executive order and involves a longer process.

The initial order, one of many targeting the federal workforce, has struck fear into many staffers who spoke to CNN.

What moving into the new category could mean: Employees moved into the new category — called Schedule Policy/Career — would be stripped of their civil service protections, making them easier to fire. Trump’s order revived a similar directive from late 2020 that created a category called Schedule F, though it was quickly rescinded by former President Joe Biden.

US Secret Service Director Sean Curran is announcing leadership changes, according to a statement obtained by CNN, following other Trump administration agency heads who have reshuffled or in some cases fired top leaders.

Agency heads across government are often eager to bring in their own teams. However, sources were quick to point out that the Secret Service rarely sees a major shuffle at the top of the agency when a new administration changes over.

Multiple sources have expressed concern about the loss of institutional knowledge. Since July 13, when Donald Trump was shot in Butler, Pennsylvania, multiple assistant directors and deputy assistant directors have left.

Curran’s statement thanked former acting Director Ron Rowe for his service to the agency.

“Mr. Rowe navigated the past six months with grace, resilience, and a profound sense of responsibility,” Curran wrote.

A memo from Rowe last week was signed “deputy director Rowe.” Curran’s statement did not say Rowe will go back to his old spot. Instead, the statement says, Darryl Volpicelli will remain as the acting Deputy Director. It is not clear where Rowe will go next.

Here’s a look at more of the changes, according to Curran’s statement:

A blue-ribbon panel commissioned by the Department of Homeland Security issued a scathing report in October that recommended leadership at the agency be replaced with outside individuals who could change the culture of the Secret Service, including the “present sense of complacency within the Service.”

President Donald Trump attends a House Republican members conference meeting in Trump National Doral resort in Miami, Florida, on Monday.

President Donald Trump said he wasn’t “100% sure” that he cannot run for a third term as president.

“I’ve raised a lot of money for the next race, that I assume I can’t use for myself, but I’m not 100% sure,” Trump said Monday at the House Republican Members Conference dinner in Doral, Florida.

He added a moment of lighthearted uncertainty, asking Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, “I’m not sure, am I allowed to run again, Mike? I better not get you involved in that.”

This is not the first time Trump has hinted at the possibility of seeking three terms in office. In an appearance last Sunday in Las Vegas, Nevada, he remarked, “It will be the greatest honor of my life to serve not once, but twice or three times,” further stoking speculation about his future political plans.

Some context: Republican Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee has spoken about amending the US Constitution to permit Trump to run for a third term. But it’s difficult to amend the Constitution, which hasn’t been changed since the 27th Amendment was ratified in 1992. Formally proposing an amendment requires either a two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives and Senate — Republicans do not hold enough seats to pass it — or via a constitutional convention, which hasn’t been held since the 18th century. Then, to ratify a new amendment, three-fourths of state legislatures (so 38 states) would need to approve it.

Here’s what else Trump spoke about at the conference dinner:

On TikTok: At the conference dinner, Trump reiterated his fondness for the app and his preference that it be sold by its Chinese-based parent company, ByteDance. “China won’t be involved,” he said while insisting “a lot of people” are seeking to purchase the platform.

On Medicare and Social Security: The president said he will not sign a bill that includes “even a single penny” of cuts to Medicare or Social Security benefits, reiterating a commitment he made during his campaign.

On Colombia: In his first comments on the mass deportation effort launched under his administration, Trump took a victory lap on immigration, saying Colombia, “agreed with us almost immediately after I got involved,” following a dispute over deportation flights over the weekend that threatened to spiral into a damaging trade war between the two nations.

On DeepSeek: After the Chinese artificial intelligence company unveiled a ChatGPT-like AI model operating at a fraction of the cost of comparable US models, Trump said the announcement “should be a wake-up call” for US tech companies.

Scott Bessent testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on his nomination to be Secretary of the Treasury, on January 16.

The Senate confirmed Scott Bessent to lead the Treasury Department in a 68-29 vote on Monday night.

Bessent is the fifth of President Donald Trump’s nominees confirmed by the Senate and received bipartisan support.

As secretary, Bessent will play a key role in enacting Trump’s agenda, as the GOP-led Congress works to extend the 2017 tax cuts before they expire at the end of the year and grapples with the debt limit. That comes on the back of strong growth and a low, 4.1% unemployment rate, although inflation continues to hover above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.

A steady US economy makes Bessent’s work a bit easier. His “3-3-3” economic plan includes bringing the federal budget deficit down to 3%, achieving 3% GDP and producing 3 million more barrels of oil a day by the end of Trump’s second term.

Trump has also emphasized his desire to levy tariffs on some of the country’s top trading partners, particularly China, Canada and Mexico, as soon as this week – a move that experts warn could spark inflation as American consumers pick up the tab for those higher prices.

US Vice President JD Vance steps off Air Force Two upon arrival at Tri-Cities Airport in Blountville, Tennessee, on his way to Damascus, Virginia on Monday.

Vice President JD Vance is working to set his priorities for the next four years.

On Monday, he visited Damascus, Virginia, where recovery efforts are underway after Hurricane Helene. He also announced new hires on his staff.

Here’s the latest:

President Donald Trump is expected to sign the Laken Riley Act into law Wednesday, a White House official confirms.

The White House signing is likely to be the first piece of legislation to cross Trump’s desk for a signature and marks his first major win for a top priority for Congressional Republicans.

The official did not respond to CNN’s inquiry about who would be in attendance at the signing, which was first reported by CBS News.

Trump told reporters last Friday in North Carolina he would be “honored” to be signing the bill at a ceremony “very shortly.”

The Senate passed the bill early last week, and the House followed suit on Wednesday, passing the law 263 to 156, with 46 Democrats voting in favor.

CNN has reported the bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented migrants who are in the US unlawfully or without legal status if they have been charged with, arrested for, convicted of, or have admitted to certain criminal offenses, including theft and burglary. The Senate adopted amendments to expand the list of criminal offenses covered under the bill to include assault on law enforcement officers and crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could visit the White House as soon as early next week, people familiar with the matter said, putting him on track to become the first foreign leader to meet with President Donald Trump since he was sworn in.

The planning for a visit was still not finalized, and no date has officially been selected for a visit. US and Israeli officials described the plans for a visit as preliminary.

However, the two leaders discussed Netanyahu visiting Washington during a telephone call in the days before last week’s inauguration. And Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, was traveling in the region this week, including to Israel, where arrangements for a visit could be finalized.

A spokesman for Netanyahu wrote on social media that no official invitation had been extended for a visit.

Talks with another world leader: Elsewhere, Trump held a “productive” call with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, the White House said. The leaders addressed key regional issues, including security in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and Europe.

Trump emphasized the need for India to increase procurement of American-made security equipment and move toward a fair-trade relationship, according to a readout of the call. Plans for a White House visit by Modi were also discussed.

Laila Ireland, a transgender army veteran, speaks with CNN.

President Donald Trump on Monday is expected to sign four executive orders that would reshape the military, including banning transgender service members from serving in the US armed forces. A transgender army veteran warns that this could could result in significant operational issues.

Thousands of transgender service members currently serve in the military, many of them in specialized positions “requiring years of training and expertise,” Laila Ireland told CNN on Monday. Removing them would result in significant “operational gaps, weakening the effectiveness of our armed forces and our national security,” she said.

Some context: In 2018, there were an estimated 14,000 transgender service members in the US military, according to the Palm Center, an independent research institute that has conducted extensive research on sexual minorities in the military.

Ireland and her husband are both transgender. While she is retired, her husband is an active duty service member. She said transgender service members are fully capable deployable even as they transition.

“So after transition, transgender service members are capable, effective, and lethal, like every qualified service member,” Ireland added.