President Donald Trump marked his first 100 days in office with a campaign-style speech to a crowd of fired-up supporters at a rally in Macomb County, Michigan, after recording a tense interview with ABC News.
At the rally, he touched on many of his greatest hits from the 2024 campaign and touted what he deems his successes from the past three months, dismissing abysmal approval rating polls as “fake” and “not legit.”
In a particularly dark moment, a propaganda-style video of deportees being taken into an El Salvador mega prison and having their heads shaved before being locked up, drew chants of “USA! USA!” from the crowd.
In the confrontational interview with reporter Terry Moran, the president doubled down on his China trade war plan, claiming the Chinese will “eat those tariffs,” when it is widely acknowledged that price hikes will be passed on to American consumers.
In the pre-recorded interview, broadcast by ABC on Tuesday evening, there were testy moments regarding the legality of deportations, the work of DOGE, whether Trump 100 percent trusted Pete Hegseth, and the weaponization of the Justice Department.
A flustered and angry president lashed out at both the network and Moran.
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Key points
- Trump marks first 100 days with 2024 campaign hits and El Salvador prison propaganda video
- Trump says Americans ‘signed up' for his trade war with China
- Trump slams polling practices as not ‘legit’ - then says his 44% approval rating is ‘not bad’
- President Trump's first 100 days marred by worst approval rating in eight decades
- Trump tells ABC interviewer he has ‘never heard of him’ in testy White House exchange
Thank you for joining us this evening
03:00
,
Oliver O'Connell
Thank you for following along throughout the day.
We are now pausing our live coverage for the night.
Want to catch up with what you missed?
Here’s some of our key reporting as President Donald Trump marks his 100th day in office.
Full story: Trump tells ABC interviewer he has ‘never heard of him’ in testy White House exchange
02:57
,
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump told ABC journalist Terry Moran he had “never heard of him” and that he was “not being very nice” in a testy exchange during a sit down to mark the president’s first 100 days back in office.
The pair clashed a number of times during the interview, notably over a discussion of deported El Salvador native and Maryland father Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and evidence — or lack thereof — that he was a member of the MS-13 gang.
Mike Bedigan reports.
Stephen A Smith claims Trump’s poor approval rating actually hurts Dems
02:53
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Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump’s low approval rating may not be great for the president — but it’s also not great for the Democrats, commentator Stephen A. Smith argues.
A recent Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll captured that more than half of Americans — 55 percent — disapprove of Trump’s policies while just 39 percent approve. But the survey offered little relief for Democrats; 7 in 10 Americans said the party was “out of touch” compared to 6 in 10 who said the same about Trump.
Kelly Rissman looks at the numbers.
Watch: Moment protester removed from Trump rally in Michigan
02:49
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Oliver O'Connell
Protester removed during Pres. Trump's 100 Days in office speech in Macomb County, Michigan pic.twitter.com/WLMNkBhk5m
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) April 30, 2025
White House calls ABC 'openly hostile' after 100th day interview broadcast
02:46
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Oliver O'Connell
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called ABC “openly hostile” after the network aired its tense interview with President Donald Trump to mark his 100th day in office.
Leavitt praised the president for not being afraid about “taking them to task.”
Thank God we have a President again who isn’t afraid of sitting down for interviews with openly hostile networks like @ABC and taking them to task. https://t.co/McxdEaNueh
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) April 30, 2025
Trump purges Holocaust Memorial Museum board – including Doug Emhoff
02:30
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Oliver O'Connell
Former second gentleman Doug Emhoff has been removed by the Trump administration from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, he announced in a statement Tuesday.
The museum welcomed Emhoff, who is Jewish, and 11 other President Joe Biden appointees just months ago in January. They were all supposed to serve five-year terms.
“Let me be clear: Holocaust remembrance and education should never be politicized,” Emhoff, the husband of former Vice President Kamala Harris, wrote in a statement announcing his removal.
Michelle Del Rey reports.
Full story: Trump says Americans ‘signed up' for his trade war with China
02:15
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Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump doubled down on his economic policies after being challenged over his ongoing trade war with China, insisting that voters “signed up for it.”
The president also denied that there would be tough economic periods for Americans, saying instead that he believed “great times” were ahead.
Speaking to ABC News for an interview to mark his first 100 days back in office, Trump was questioned about the economy, one of the biggest issues that he had campaigned on.
Mike Bedigan reports.
ABC interview: Trump responds to accusation he is 'an authoritarian president'
02:11
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Oliver O'Connell
As the tense ABC interview with the president reached its conclusion, Terry Moran asked Donald Trump what he would say to people who think he is seizing too much power and becoming an authoritarian president like we haven't had before.
The president said he would hate for people to think that, adding: “I'm doing one thing: I'm making America great again.”
MORAN: What do you say to people who think you are seizing too much power and becoming an authoritarian president like we haven't had before
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
TRUMP: I'm doing one thing: I'm making America great again pic.twitter.com/eFO44GiwZV
ABC interview: Trump pressed on weaponizing DOJ
02:08
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Oliver O'Connell
Moran asked President Trump whether he was using his powers as president to get personal revenge against law firms — specifically those who have settled with him.
The president responded: “There has never been a president in this country, in the history, that was persecuted like I was persecuted by really crooked people… when you say I’m treating people rough, I was treated rough.”
MORAN: You've gone after law firms because they've employed people you don't like or they have represented people you don't like
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
TRUMP: Well they obviously agreed because they paid me a lot of money
MORAN: They reason they agreed is because you were threatening to destroy their… pic.twitter.com/aittLxPll3
Trump continued to say that he was not going after people because he didn’t like them, but because he believes they are dishonest.
Trump admits that weaponizing the DOJ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
MORAN: You are the president now and I'm asking the justification for going after people you don't like.
TRUMP: No no. People that I think are dishonest. pic.twitter.com/cT7LhW72qN
Watch: Trump claims tourism is 'way up' as travelers boycott U.S.
02:03
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Oliver O'Connell
TRUMP: Tourism is way up
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
MORAN: Not now
TRUMP: Tourism is doing very well. We're doing very well. Wait until you see the real numbers come out in about six months from now pic.twitter.com/tAzvBiOfYA
Full story: Trump marks first 100 days by reliving 2024 campaign hits and screening El Salvador prison propaganda video
01:53
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Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump’s last campaign ended nearly six months ago, but that isn’t stopping him from finding solace in the raucous crowds and predictable routines of his old campaign trail.
One hundred days into his second term as America’s chief executive, and 176 days since he closed out his days as a candidate with a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Trump returned to the Wolverine State to mark the end of the traditional period historians have often used to judge how well a president handles the challenges presented him at the outset of his time in the White House.
Andrew Feinberg reports on what the president told his supporters.
ABC interview: Trump claims 'fraud' uncovered by DOGE but no charges have been filed
01:52
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Oliver O'Connell
In another tense moment, President Donald Trump pushed back when asked by ABC’s Moran about his claim that DOGE had uncovered fraud in the federal government when no charges have been filed. Fraud is a crime.
TRUMP: We've saved hundreds of billions of dollars.
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
MORAN: Well, the original promise was $2 trillion. It went to $1 trillion, now it's $150 billion and heading south. pic.twitter.com/vR6npM2BlB
Trump asked about his 'talk' with embattled Hegseth
01:48
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Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump was asked about his reported “talk” with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and whether he had 100% confidence in him.
MORAN: You have 100% confidence in Pete Hegseth?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
TRUMP: I don't have 100% confidence in anything pic.twitter.com/K3LDRgxpS3
ABC interview: Trump asked if Putin wants peace in Ukraine
01:45
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Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump says he believes Vladimir Putin wants peace in Ukraine, even as he continues to attack the country.
Asked if he trusts the Russian leader, Trump says to Moran: I don’t trust you, I don’t trust a lot of people.”
Trump on Putin: "He would like to stop the war. I think that if it weren't for me, I think he'd want to take over the whole country, personally." pic.twitter.com/XuDiV3T8m8
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
ABC interview: Trump has contentious exchange on deportations
01:32
,
Oliver O'Connell
Moving on to immigration, Moran begins: “It is an undeniable fact that illegal crossings at the southern border have plummeted, a staggering decline, but there are questions about your methods…”
Trump responds: “Well, they seem to work.”
Moran pressed, “Even bad guys get due process, right?”
The president replies: “Well, they get a process where we have to get them out.”
MORAN: In our country even bad guys get due process right?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
TRUMP: Well they get a process where we have to get them out pic.twitter.com/GS1xsunMB9
Things began to devolve in a tense back-and-forth about Kilman Abrego Garcia, the man mistakenly deported to El Salvador, and whether tattoos that were pictured on his knuckles linking him to MS-13 were photoshopped.
TRUMP: He had MS-13 on his knuckles, tattooed!
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
MORAN: That was photoshopped
TRUMP: Terry, they're giving you the big break of a lifetime. I picked you. But you're not being very nice. pic.twitter.com/NgCpEB8o1S
Watch: Trump claims China 'probably will eat those tariffs'
01:16
,
Oliver O'Connell
MORAN: 145% tariffs on China--
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
TRUMP: Yeah. That's good. They deserve it
MORAN: It'll raise prices on everything from electronics to clothing to building houses
TRUMP: China probably will eat those tariffs pic.twitter.com/mgubqxh7gs
The tariffs are a tax on imports that will be passed on to American consumers and businesses.
ABC interview: Trump says voters signed up for his agenda
01:12
,
Oliver O'Connell
ABC News reporter Terry Moran asks President Donald Trump about how some Trump voters feel like they didn't sign up for the tariffs and the impact they will have on the U.S. economy.“They did sign up for it, actually,” the president replies, “And this is what I campaigned on.”
MORAN: Even some people who voted for you are saying, 'I didn't sign up for this.' So how do you answer those concerns?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 30, 2025
TRUMP: Well, they did sign up for it actually pic.twitter.com/PqfmqlmSeJ
He returned to the point later in the interview, saying he had told Americans there would be a period of transition.
Asked if there are “hard times ahead,” the president replied: “I don't think so, I think great times are ahead.”
DNC slams Trump's 100-day speech calling out his 'dangerous, chaotic, and economy-destroying agenda'
01:02
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Oliver O'Connell
In response to Donald Trump’s Michigan rally marking his first 100 days in office, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:
“While Donald Trump lives in his delusions, Michigan families – along with millions of working families across this country – are forced to live with the consequences of his dangerous, chaotic, and economy-destroying agenda. Trump promised to keep auto plants open. They closed. Trump promised to bring down prices. They’re spiking. Trump promised a ‘golden age.’ Instead we got the Dark Ages. Thanks to Trump, Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security are on the chopping block so his billionaire friends can get a tax break. Trump’s pathetic display tonight will do nothing to help the families he started screwing over 100 days ago. Michiganders and the rest of the country see right through Trump, and as a result, he has the lowest 100-day approval rating in generations. If he’s not already terrified of what the ballot box will bring between now and the midterm elections, he should be.”
Canadian company turns to Trump for permission to mine international waters
Wednesday 30 April 2025 00:55
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AP
A Canadian company announced Tuesday that its U.S. subsidiary submitted applications to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to mine the seafloor, sparking outrage by bypassing a U.N. agency that regulates deep international waters.
The Metals Company said it was seeking two exploration licenses and a commercial recovery permit, marking the first time a company applies to commercially mine the seabed.
Read on...
As Musk prepares to exit administration, Trump looking to end the one thing that kept Tesla profitable
Wednesday 30 April 2025 00:50
,
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump is looking to end a major regulatory policy that has helped keep Elon Musk’s electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla afloat for years, as the self-proclaimed “First Buddy” prepares to step back from the administration.
So far, the president has been protective and even promotional of his advisor’s brand, having staged a strange photo-op and sales pitch outside the White House, and even branding those who vandalized the vehicles as “domestic terrorists.”
However, according to CNN, the Trump administration is now mulling over axing both federal emissions regulations and the stricter standards in states, including California, that are set to ban the sale of traditional gas vehicles by 2035.
Mike Bedigan reports.
Watch: Trump concludes 100-day rally speech in his favorite way
Wednesday 30 April 2025 00:38
,
Oliver O'Connell
TFW when you close out the best 100 days in the history of the United States pic.twitter.com/PCTXc2I08C
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 29, 2025
Trump slams polling practices as not ‘legit’ - then says his 44% approval rating is ‘not bad’
Wednesday 30 April 2025 00:21
,
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump slammed media polling practices as not “legit” before going on to describe his 44 percent approval rating as “actually not bad.”
The president used a rally in Michigan to celebrate his first 100 days in office to revisit some of his greatest campaign trail hits, including immigration, Joe Biden, complaints of the “crooked” media and negative stories about him.
Mike Bedigan reports.
Trump attacks federal workers for working from home
Wednesday 30 April 2025 00:18
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump renewed his attacks on federal workers who worked from home during his Michigan rally, wondering how they do it.
“You know some of these guys got their golf handicap way down during the so-called time where they are supposed to be working at home. They weren't working at home. Who the hell would work at home. How do you work at home?”
Trump: You know some of these guys got their golf handicap way down during the so-called time where they are supposed to be working at home. They weren't working at home. Who the hell would work at home. How do you work at home? pic.twitter.com/HYjI8okXrZ
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 29, 2025
Watch: Trump assistant riles up crowd with 2028 tease
Wednesday 30 April 2025 00:10
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Oliver O'Connell
“She's both beautiful and shy,” President Donald Trump says about his aide, Margo Martin. “I'm not allowed to say this.. she's the most beautiful photographer in the world, I don't know if she's the best.”
“Trump 2028, anybody?” Martin says.
Trump assistant Margo Martin gets on stage and says, "Trump 2028, anybody?" pic.twitter.com/cDuiCBKHZP
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 29, 2025
Trump gives shout-out to embattled Sec Def Hegseth
Wednesday 30 April 2025 00:07
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump gave a public show of support to his embattled Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at his 100-day Michigan rally this evening.
“We're pleased to be joined by some great people. A person that I, number one, I have so much confidence in them. They, the fake news, is after him ... but he's a tough cookie. They don't know how tough he is. Secretary Hegseth.”
Amid cheering, Trump added: “How are the Houthis doing? Not too good.”
Thank you, Mr. President. https://t.co/54U7aw7sMo
— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) April 29, 2025
Tuesday 29 April 2025 23:54
,
Oliver O'Connell
Tell me we’re in his head without telling me we’re in his head https://t.co/UqHuwhmaPf
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) April 29, 2025
Trump again criticizes Fed Chair Powell
Tuesday 29 April 2025 23:53
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Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump said at his 100-day Michigan rally that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell was not doing a good job, in his latest criticism of the central banker.
“I know much more than he does about interest rates. Believe me.”
Trump on Jerome Powell: "I know much more than he does about interest rates. Believe me." pic.twitter.com/nCAiF6nnze
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 29, 2025
Trump thanks crowd as they chant 'three' — meaning three terms
Tuesday 29 April 2025 23:45
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Oliver O'Connell
“Thank you,” President Donald Trump said when the crowd chanted three [terms].
“We actually already served three—if you count. I like the victories, I like the three victories that we absolutely had. I just don’t like the results of the middle term.”
Trump: So now we're going to serve two terms.
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 29, 2025
Crowd: *chanting three* pic.twitter.com/eRAosRXDVT
Trump claims polls are fake and his approval rating should be above 60 percent
Tuesday 29 April 2025 23:40
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump claims that the abysmal poll numbers he has received this week are fake and more Democrats are interviewed than Republicans.
“They do these polls where they interview far more Democrats. I saw them over the past few days. I had them checked out. They interview far more Democrats ... They say Trump has only a 44% approval rating... if it was legit, it would be 60 or 70.”
Trump: lThey do these polls where they interview far more Democrats. I saw them over the past few days. I had them checked out. They interview far more Democrats more the polls.. They say Trump has only a 44% approval rating.. if it was legit it would be 60 or 70 pic.twitter.com/wive2Iis2r
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 29, 2025
Trump claims judges trying to take away presidential power
Tuesday 29 April 2025 23:37
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Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump claims “radical left judges” are trying to take away presidential power.
It’s called the separation of powers and checks and balances.
Trump told the crowd: “We cannot allow a handful of communist radical left judges to obstruct the enforcement of our laws and assume the duties that belong solely to the president. Judges are trying to take away the power given to the president.”
Trump: "We cannot allow a handful of communist radical left judges to obstruct the enforcement of our laws and assume the duties that belong solely to the president. Judges are trying to take away the power given to the president." pic.twitter.com/X9IOfdPIqT
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 29, 2025
Crowd chants 'USA! USA!' after Trump shows video of El Salvador mega prison
Tuesday 29 April 2025 23:27
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Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump tells the crowd: “For years, Joe Biden and the media told us that stopping the flood of illegal immigration was absolutely impossible... But it turned out that all we needed was a new president.”
.@POTUS: "For years, Joe Biden and the media told us that stopping the flood of illegal immigration was absolutely impossible... But it turned out, that all we needed was a new president." pic.twitter.com/lHhAGKa3lS
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 29, 2025
“We are delivering mass deportation, and it's happening right now. And the worst of the worst are being sent to a maximum security prison in El Salvador,” the president says, before playing a video of clips of deportees being manhandled off planes and buses, having their heads shaved, and then being herded into cells.
The crowd cheers wildly before chanting: “USA! USA!”
Crowd chants USA after being shown a video of migrants being imprisoned in El Salvador pic.twitter.com/zlkdJN0rIc
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 29, 2025
Tuesday 29 April 2025 23:25
,
Oliver O'Connell
In a throwback to the 2024 campaign trail, President Donald Trump plays his greatest hits, attacking Democrats from Bernie Sanders to AOC, and others, but also bringing up President Joe Biden’s debate performance in June 2024, Kamala Harris taking over as candidate, and his conspiracy about the White House autopen.
The president said: “Biden, we found out whoever operated the autopen was the real president and Biden knew nothing about it. He had a group of radical left guys and a woman in particular, a woman, very smart people… these are sick people, they’re not stupid people.”
Trump attacks politicians 'who destroyed Detroit to build up Beijing'
Tuesday 29 April 2025 23:17
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Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump takes aim at the “sick political class” who “destroyed Detroit to build up Beijing.”
He said: “We're taking back our country from a sick political class that got rich selling America out and bleeding America dry... After decades of politicians who destroyed Detroit to build up Beijing, you finally have a champion for workers in the White House—and instead of putting China First, I am putting Michigan first and I'm putting America First.”
.@POTUS: "We're taking back our country from a sick political class that got rich selling America out and bleeding America dry... After decades of politicians who destroyed Detroit to build up Beijing, you finally have a champion for workers in the White House—and instead of… pic.twitter.com/O7woru1qrf
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 29, 2025
Watch LIVE: President Trump holds a rally in Michigan to celebrate his first 100 days in office
Tuesday 29 April 2025 23:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
Trump takes the stage at Michigan rally
Tuesday 29 April 2025 23:12
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump entered today’s campaign-style rally to his favorite song from the campaign, Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.”
He stood on stage, basking in cheers and mouthing some of the lyrics at the end of the song.
When the president began speaking, he claimed to have won the state of Michigan three times.
“We're here tonight in the heartland of our nation to celebrate the most successful first 100 days of any administration in the history of our country, and that's according to many, many people. This is the best, they say, 100-day start of any president in history, and everyone is saying it. We've just gotten started. You haven't even seen anything yet.”
Watch that moment here:
Trump: This is the best they say 100-day start of any president in history and everyone is saying it… we've just gotten started. You haven't even seen anything yet pic.twitter.com/ROTc4BFsCb
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 29, 2025
Poll: Most Americans believe Trump’s threats over Canada, deporting citizens and a third term but don’t approve
Tuesday 29 April 2025 23:10
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Oliver O'Connell
A new poll has found that most Americans believe President Donald Trump when he says that he wants to take control of Canada and Greenland, deport and imprison U.S. citizens, and run for an unconstitutional third term.
The poll also shows that they don't like what they're hearing.
Graig Graziosi breaks down the numbers.
Judge orders Trump administration to restore funding to pro-democracy Radio Free Europe
Tuesday 29 April 2025 23:03
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Oliver O'Connell
Judge Royce Lamberth has ordered the Trump administration to restore $12 million of funding to Radio Free Europe in a major blow to Kari Lake’s efforts to dismantle U.S. soft power overseas.
“When money has been appropriated by Congress … [the] Executive has no residual constitutional power to refuse to spend these appropriations,” the judge wrote.