Donald Trump signed two executive orders on Monday imposing 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, regardless of country of origin, with no product exemptions.
The president’s move is the latest escalation in his growing trade war as he attempts to reset America’s trading relations with its international allies and partners.
The countries most directly impacted – Canada, Mexico and Brazil – are believed to be weighing up their responses.
The president meanwhile indicated in an interview with Bret Baier of Fox News last night that he does not view Vice President JD Vance as his likely successor in 2028.
“So far, I think he's doing a fantastic job. It’s too early, we’re just starting,” said Trump, damning his deputy with faint praise.
He also discussed the Ukraine war and Canada and hailed himself as “the Great Weaver.”
Also on Monday, while signing executive orders in the Oval Office, the president said that if Hamas does not release hostages at the weekend per its ceasefire agreement with Israel, “all hell will break out.”
Trump further moved to pardon ex-Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich and to have the Justice Department drop all charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Key Points
- Trump signs blanket tariff orders on steel and aluminum imports
- Trump orders DOJ to stop enforcing foreign anti-bribery law
- How Trump could slow investigations into Musk
- Judge blocks Trump from sending Venezuelan immigrants to Guantanamo
Donald Trump signs blanket tariff orders on steel and aluminum imports
09:00
,
Joe Sommerlad
Good morning!
Donald Trump signed two executive orders on Monday imposing a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum imports, regardless of country of origin, with no product exemptions.
The president’s move is the latest escalation in his growing trade war as he attempts to reset America’s trading relations with its international allies and partners.
The countries most directly impacted – Canada, Mexico and Brazil – are believed to be weighing up their responses.
Report: Steve Bannon reaches guilty plea deal to avoid jail in border wall fraud case
08:40
,
Oliver O'Connell
Former Donald Trump adviser and far-right media personality Steve Bannon is expected to plead guilty after he was criminally charged with fraud stemming from fundraising for construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall.
A plea deal with New York prosecutors, reached roughly three weeks before a trial was set to begin in Manhattan, will allow him to avoid jail time, a defense attorney told Law360.
A hearing in Manhattan criminal court is scheduled Tuesday.
Alex Woodward has the story.
USAID staffers turned away from offices even after court suspends leave order
08:10
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AP
Officials and federal officers turned away scores of U.S. Agency for International staffers who showed up for work Monday at its Washington headquarters, after a court temporarily blocked a Trump administration order that would have pulled all but a fraction of workers off the job worldwide.
A front desk officer turned away a steady stream of agency staffers— dressed in business clothes or USAID sweatshirts or T-shirts—saying he had a list of no more than 10 names of people allowed to enter the building. Tarps hung over USAID's interior signs.
A man who earlier identified himself as a USAID official took a harsher tone, telling arriving staffers “just go" and "why are you here?”
Continue reading...
Judge blocks Trump from sending Venezuelan immigrants to Guantanamo
07:40
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Oliver O'Connell
A federal judge blocked Donald Trump’s administration from sending three Venezuelan immigrants to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba, which the president has turned into a detention facility for deported immigrants.
The president’s decision to keep up to 30,000 immigrants inside tents and camps at the military prison — which opened in 2002 to hold terrorism suspects during the War on Terror — has drawn international scrutiny from civil rights and humanitarian groups.
Alex Woodward reports.
As Musk and Vance question judges’ authority, experts warn of potential system ‘breakdown’
06:40
,
Oliver O'Connell
Legal experts are concerned that a constitutional “crisis” may be forthcoming after Vice President JD Vance suggested that he believes judges don’t have authority over President Donald Trump’s power.
“If a judge tried to tell a general how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal,” Vance wrote on X on Sunday. “If a judge tried to command the attorney general in how to use her discretion as a prosecutor, that's also illegal. Judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power.”
Experts warned NBC News that the U.S. may be headed for a “breakdown of the system.”
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Trump gives full pardon to former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
05:40
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump has issued a full pardon to former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.
The ex-governor served eight years behind bars for an array of corruption charges, including trying to sell Barack Obama’s Senate seat following the former president’s 2008 election victory. In 2020, Trump commuted Blagojevich’s 14-year sentence.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
ICYMI: Kristi Noem warns the public that they can’t trust the government — that she is part of...
04:40
,
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump’s new secretary of Homeland Security forgot which side she was on.
Kristi Noem was grilled Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union about Elon Musk’s role in the federal government and his access to sensitive systems at DHS housing data collected by FEMA as part of its efforts to help disaster victims.
Host Dana Bash pressed the secretary about whether Americans could be comfortable with Musk, whose DOGE group was not authorized by Congress and exists as a White House initiative, potentially accessing private data Americans authorized the federal government to collect.
John Bowden reports on what happened next...
Justice Department moves to drop charges against New York mayor Eric Adams
04:35
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Josh Marcus
The Justice Department will move to drop its corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, it has been announced.
On Monday, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove directed that the US District Court in the Southern District of New York drop the federal case against Adams and dismiss it without prejudice.
"You are directed, as authorized by the Attorney General, to dismiss the pending charges in United States v. Adams… as soon as is practicable, subject to the following conditions,” Bove wrote in a memo, obtained by The Independent.
"The Justice Department has reached this conclusion without assessing the strength of the evidence or the legal theories on which the case is based, which are issues on which we defer to the U.S. Attorney’s Office at this time.”
Ariana Baio and Mike Bedigan have the story.
How Trump administration’s purge of agencies and inspectors could slow investigations into Elon Musk
04:33
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Josh Marcus
Democrats are raising alarms that the Trump administration is eliminating government watchdogs and allowing White House adviser Elon Musk to blatantly enter into potential conflicts of interest through his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) spending cuts operation.
On Monday, Senator Adam Schiff of California sent a letter to the White House Office of Government Ethics, arguing that Musk, as a government employee, is now “subject to the federal criminal conflict of interest statute” and warning that Musk “may seek to use his new position to shield his companies from federal scrutiny.”
Later that day, the White House removed David Huitema, the head of the ethics office.
The warning from Schiff is just the latest sign of concern over Musk’s unprecedented role within the government as both a White House employee and a businessman with billions of dollars in federal contracts and potential regulation costs on the line.
More details in our full story.
Vatican concerned about USAID cuts, U.S. migrant crackdown
03:40
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AP
Pope Francis’ point-man on migration and development has urged the Trump administration to remember Christian principles about caring for others, saying people are being “terrorized” by the U.S. crackdown on migrants and vital church-run aid programs are being jeopardized by the planned gutting of USAID.
Cardinal Michael Czerny, a Czech-born Canadian Jesuit, is one of the cardinals most closely associated with Francis’ pontificate and heads the Vatican office responsible for migrants, the environment, the church’s Caritas Internationalis charity and development.
Continue reading...
Federal workers fear ‘blackmail’ in wake of DOGE access to their personal info
02:40
,
Oliver O'Connell
Billionaire Elon Musk and his hand-picked team of “young, inexperienced engineers” wrested control over the past several days of highly sensitive systems within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, reportedly gaining access to nonpublic bank examination and enforcement records, raising broad concerns about how the world’s richest man may use the confidential information.
Justin Rohrlich reports for The Independent.
Megyn Kelly rages over reports she’s ‘back in the Murdoch fold’ after Fox deal
01:40
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Oliver O'Connell
Former Fox News star Megyn Kelly is very upset over the way several media outlets have framed Fox Corporation’s recent purchase of Red Seat Ventures, a media company that produces and markets podcasts by a number of conservative personalities — including Kelly.
“We are 100% INDEPENDENT,” Kelly raged in one tweet, while lashing out in another post about the “misleading BS” that her show’s “home” was acquired by Fox.
Justin Baragona has the story.
Will Trump invite Super Bowl champion Eagles to the White House?
01:10
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Oliver O'Connell
Every year the Super Bowl champions are given the honor of an invitation to the White House to meet the president and celebrate their victory.
However, Donald Trump has prior issues with this year’s winners, the Philadelphia Eagles, who also won in 2018 during his first presidency but ultimately did not make the trip to Washington D.C.
After Sunday night's 40-22 trouncing of the Kansas City Chiefs, some fans are now wondering if the team will get a second chance to visit 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Mike Bedigan has the story.
A father of five was detained by ICE on his way to work. Now his family is losing their home
00:40
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Oliver O'Connell
Richard Hall reports:
Jose Luis had stopped to pump gas on his way to work in southern Texas when his family’s whole life changed.
ICE agents pulled up out of nowhere and demanded to know his immigration status. The father of five, who came to the United States from Mexico in 2010 when he was 19, was quickly placed in handcuffs and taken away.
Now, he is facing deportation and permanent separation from his wife and kids — and the family’s sole income is gone.
“His little girls ask every day ‘Where’s Dad? What time is he coming home?’” his wife, Rosa, who doesn’t want to break her children’s heart by revealing the truth just yet, tells The Independent. “I have to tell them he’s out working.”
“I’m really stressed right now, like really, really stressed. I don’t know what’s next,” she says.
Continue reading...
Tesla sales plunging worldwide amid Musk’s new role in Trump White House
00:25
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Oliver O'Connell
Elon Musk’s post-election honeymoon at Tesla appears to be over.
In the weeks after Musk went all-in on Donald Trump and came out on the winning side, the billionaire’s net worth jumped an estimated $170 billion as Tesla stock soared.
But now the EV maker is struggling with declining global sales, tariff fears, and potential backlash to its CEO’s political views.
Josh Marcus reports from San Francisco.
UK PM urged to spell out plan to fight Trump’s tariff trade war
00:10
,
Oliver O'Connell
Labour has insisted it has a plan to deal with Donald Trump’s tariffs, as the latest threat to British steel production prompts demands for Sir Keir Starmer to set out his strategy.
The US president on Monday announced a worldwide 25 percent tariff on steel, triggering panic over the future of Britain’s fragile industry and raising fears that more trade fees could deepen problems for the UK economy, which is already teetering on the brink of a recession.
As well as hitting UK exports to the US, a global trade war could see an influx of cheaper imports that would put British suppliers out of business.
David Maddox reports from London.
Watch: Trump asked about tariffs hitting American consumers
00:05
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Oliver O'Connell
BAIER: You're not worried that any of the tariff is going to go back to the consumer?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 10, 2025
TRUMP: It might, but ... pic.twitter.com/rHfD1aRCFi
Trump says he does not view Vance as his successor
Monday 10 February 2025 23:55
,
Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump says that he doesn’t necessarily see Vice President JD Vance as his automatic successor in the 2028 presidential election.
Trump revealed his thoughts on his vice president in an interview with Fox News’s Bret Baier filmed ahead of Super Bowl Sunday.
Katie Hawkinson reports on what the president had to say.
Tulsi Gabbard's nomination clears Senate hurdle
Monday 10 February 2025 23:50
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Oliver O'Connell
52-46: Senate ended a filibuster and advanced President Trump’s nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to serve as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) along party lines. Senators Fetterman and Tillis did not vote. pic.twitter.com/TM1zqjhFF1
— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) February 10, 2025
Watch: Trump says knock down Gaza as part of his 'ownership'
Monday 10 February 2025 23:45
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Oliver O'Connell
Trump on Gaza: "There's practically no building that's livable in the whole thing, in the whole Gaza strip. I say we go in, we knock 'em all down ... in the meantime, I would own this." pic.twitter.com/sZs2TnUqHV
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 10, 2025
Watch: Trump delivers ultimatum to Hamas over hostages
Monday 10 February 2025 23:42
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Oliver O'Connell
PRESIDENT TRUMP: "If all of the hostages are not returned by Saturday at 12 o'clock, I would say cancel it and all bets are off... All of them. Not in drips and drabs." pic.twitter.com/MozJATMKRy
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 10, 2025
Disney appears to walk back DEI policies
Monday 10 February 2025 23:40
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Oliver O'Connell
Disney appears to be rethinking some of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies, after subtly dropping one of its initiatives from a recent company investor report.
In an SEC report filed in November of last year, the Walt Disney Company did not mention its “Reimagine Tomorrow” program, which aims, among other things, to amplify “ underrepresented voices and untold stories.”
Mike Bedigan has the story.
Trump: ‘All hell is going to break out’ if Hamas doesn't free hostages at weekend
Monday 10 February 2025 23:24
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Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump on Monday explicitly threatened Hamas after the militant group paused plans to release more of the Israeli hostages it holds this weekend, telling reporters that “all hell is going to break loose” if all of the Israeli hostages held by the group aren’t freed by noon on Saturday.
Andrew Feinberg reports on this breaking news...
USAID inspector general warns food assistance at risk of spoiling
Monday 10 February 2025 23:19
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Alex Woodward
Nearly half a billion dollars in food assistance was at risk of dissolving, and more than 500,000 metric tons of food was sitting out, waiting to be shipped, and is now at risk of spoiling, according to the USAID inspector general’s report.
USAID staff also reported that counter-terrorism vetting units supporting humanitarian assistance programming had been “told not to report to work ... and thus cannot conduct any partner vetting.”
Trump’s sledgehammer approach to USAID and the “uncertainty about the scope of foreign
assistance waivers and permissible communications with implementers” has “degraded USAID’s ability to distribute and safeguard taxpayer-funded humanitarian assistance,” the report says.
Trump orders DOJ to stop enforcing foreign anti-bribery law
Monday 10 February 2025 23:09
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Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump has directed the Department of Justice to stop enforcing a nearly century-old law that prohibits American corporations from bribing foreign government officials to advance their own financial interests.
As reporters watched him in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump signed the document, which directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to stop enforcing the 1934 law until she issues new enforcement guidelines.
“It’s going to mean a lot more business for America,” he said.
Andrew Feinberg has the latest from Washington, D.C.
Happening now: Trump signs steel and aluminum tariffs order
Monday 10 February 2025 22:49
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Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing a 25 percent blanket tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, regardless of their country of origin.
This is a developing story...
NEW : Trump has signed an order setting tariffs on steel and aluminum - regardless of source country- at 25%.
— Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) February 10, 2025
It's broader than the first term, when he granted exemptions to friendly countries and set the aluminum tariff at 10%. Trump is speaking in the oval now.
Trump to loosen enforcement of US law banning bribery of foreign officials
Monday 10 February 2025 22:24
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Oliver O'Connell
President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order today directing the Justice Department to pause prosecutions of Americans accused of bribing foreign government officials to gain business in their countries.
According to a copy of a fact sheet reviewed by Reuters, the order aims to restore American economic competitiveness by requiring “revised, reasonable enforcement guidelines for the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) of 1977.”
“American national security depends on America and its companies gaining strategic commercial advantages around the world, and President Trump is stopping excessive, unpredictable FCPA enforcement that makes American companies less competitive,” the fact sheet said.
The order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to suspend enforcement of the FCPA until she provides updated enforcement guidance that encourages American competitiveness, according to the fact sheet.
“Future FCPA investigations and enforcement actions will be governed by this new guidance and must be approved by the attorney general,” the fact sheet said.
The White House argued that U.S. companies are harmed by FCPA “overenforcement because they are prohibited from engaging in practices common among international competitors, creating an uneven playing field,” the fact sheet said.
The order mentions the need for strategic advantages in critical minerals, deep-water ports, and other key infrastructure or assets worldwide to enhance U.S. national security.
According to the fact sheet, in 2024, the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission initiated 26 enforcement actions related to the FCPA, and by the end of the year, at least 31 companies were under investigation.
With reporting from Reuters
What happened the last time Trump imposed steel tariffs?
Monday 10 February 2025 22:20
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Katie Hawkinson
President Donald Trump has announced he will impose tariffs of 25 percent on all imported steel and aluminum — but this isn’t the first time he has done so.
During his first term, he implemented a similar policy, causing imports to drop and several countries to implement retaliatory tariffs.
Here’s why Trump wants to implement the new tariffs — and what happened under the same policy during his last term:
Trump names Ric Grenell as interim head of Kennedy Center
Monday 10 February 2025 22:18
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Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has appointed Ric Grenell, former U.S. ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence, as the interim head of the Kennedy Center.
The president wrote on Truth Social:
I am pleased to announce that Ric Grenell will serve as the Interim Executive Director of The Kennedy Center. Ric shares my Vision for a GOLDEN AGE of American Arts and Culture, and will be overseeing the daily operations of the Center. NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA — ONLY THE BEST. RIC, WELCOME TO SHOW BUSINESS!
Ric Grenell gets the Kennedy Center pic.twitter.com/t8A5skEcYK
— Philip Melanchthon Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) February 10, 2025
Will Trump invite Super Bowl champion Eagles to the White House? They declined his offer in 2018
Monday 10 February 2025 22:10
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Gustaf Kilander
Every year the Super Bowl champions are given the honor of an invitation to the White House to meet the president and celebrate their victory.
However, Donald Trump has prior issues with this year’s winners, the Philadelphia Eagles, who also won in 2018 during his first presidency but ultimately did not make the trip to Washington D.C.
After Sunday night's 40-22 trouncing of the Kansas City Chiefs, some fans are now wondering if the team will get a second chance to visit 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
When Trump extended the invitation back in 2018, multiple members of the Eagles team chose not to accept out of solidarity with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Mike Bedigan reports.
Trump dismisses director of the Office of Government Ethics
Monday 10 February 2025 22:05
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AP
Trump has fired the director of the Office of Government Ethics, which oversees ethics requirements and compliance for 140-plus agencies within the executive branch.
A one-sentence statement on the group’s website read that it “has been notified that the President is removing David Huitema” and that it would revert to its acting director, Shelley K. Finlayson.
Huitema had been confirmed by the then-Democratic-controlled Senate in December for a five-year term.
Full story: Steve Bannon reaches guilty plea deal to avoid jail in border wall fraud case, report says
Monday 10 February 2025 22:00
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Oliver O'Connell
Former Donald Trump adviser and far-right media personality Steve Bannon is expected to plead guilty after he was criminally charged with fraud stemming from fundraising for construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall.
