Trump confirms he will be signing order to ban trans people from military

President Donald Trump told Republican House members that he will be signing an order to ban transgender people from serving openly in the military.

Trump said he wanted to get "transgender ideology the hell out of military," and claimed the executive order would ensure that the U.S. has "the most lethal fighting force in the world."

He said he will also sign an order to end the military's DEI programs and reinstate service members who refused to get the Covid vaccine.

Trump says rollout of Chinese AI company DeepSeek is a 'wake up call'

Donald Trump has said that the rollout of Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek is a "wake-up call for our industries that we need to be laser-focused on competing to win."

DeepSeek AI, an open-source AI chatbot, is a rapidly emerging player in the artificial intelligence industry which is already beginning to challenge U.S. control over the AI industry. Its models were trained at a cost of $5.6 million, - a fraction of the cost of its U.S. counterparts, and it offers its platform for free.

Trump said that while it should be a "wake-up" call for American companies not to get complacent, he said there could be a silver lining.

"When you hear somebody come up with something, we always have the ideas," he said. "We're always first. So, I would say that's a positive. That could be very much a positive development.

"So instead of spending billions and billions, you'll spend less and you'll come up with, hopefully, the same solution."

Trump floats deporting American criminals

President Donald Trump, speaking at the House Republican Retreat in Doral, Florida, suggested Monday that he wanted to fly American criminals to other countries who will incarcerate them for "a small fee."

"I don't want these violent repeat offenders in our country anymore. If they've been arrested many, many times, I want them out of our country," Trump said.

"Let them be brought to a foreign land and maintained by others for a very small fee as opposed to be maintained in our jails for massive amounts of money including the private prison companies that charge us a fortune. Let them be brought out of our country and let them live there for a while and see how they like it. You'll see crime all over the country dry up."

Trump's remarks come amid a massive crackdown on illegal immigration, signing a slew of executive orders that have paved the way for mass deportations and the return of some of his first-term policies. The president has long said that he believes that migrants fuel violent crime in America.

A New York Times/Ipsos poll carried out from January 2 to 10 found that 55 percent of voters strongly or somewhat supported such plans. Eighty-eight percent supported "deporting immigrants who are here illegally and have criminal records." Both Democrats and Republicans agreed that the country's immigration system was broken.

Trump complains about China 'taking over' Panama Canal

President Donald Trump once again complained about China's alleged control over the Panama Canal.

"China has essentially taken it over, and we're not going to let that happen," he told House Republicans, at the annual retreat at his National Doral golf resort Monday,

Trump, who called the canal "one of the most profitable things ever built," complained about Jimmy Carter's U.S.-Panama treaty that gave Panama control of the canal.

The president has stated he hopes to bring several territories and locations under U.S. control including the Panama Canal and Greenland.

He has even called for Canada to become the 51st state.

Trump once again jokes about running for a third term

Donald Trump has once again quipped that he may 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 percent sure," he said at the Doral GOP retreat, referring to all the money he made during the 2024 election campaign and in the inaugural fund.

"I think I'm not allowed to run again. I'm not sure. Am I allowed to run again, Mike?" he added, turning to Speaker Mike Johnson.

The 22nd Constitutional Amendment bars all U.S. presidents from running for more than two terms. It was passed in 1947 in response to Franklin Roosevelt winning four terms.

But Trump has repeatedly referenced the idea he may run for another term.

Republican representative Andy Ogles has even introduced a resolution that would allow Trump to run for a third term.

Trump claims birthright citizenship meant for children of slaves at Doral GOP retreat

President Donald Trump has claimed that birthright citizenship, which is enshrined in law under the 14th Amendment, was meant for the "children of slaves."

Trump was addressing House Republicans at the annual policy retreat at his National Doral golf resort, near Miami.

The president, who has signed an executive order to end birthright citizenship, argued that the constitutional right was never meant for the children of immigrants.

"If you look, it was really meant for children of slaves," he said during the address on Monday night.

"It was not meant for everyone to come into our country by airplane, or charging across the borders from all over the world and think they're going to become citizens. It's not meant for that.

"And hopefully at some point the courts will understand that without having to go through a whole big deal."

Trump's executive order is currently being challenged in court under the 14th Amendment.

NIH stops new research as part of health communications pause

The National Institutes of Health has stopped all new research as part of the Trump administration's pause on health services external communications, the Washington Post reports.

"At this time, no procurements or contracting should be made for new studies, new equipment, or research services unrelated to the studies that were started prior to Jan. 20, 2025," acting NIH director Matthew J. Memoli wrote in a memo to staff, the Post reports.

Memoli, a noted critic of the Covi-19 vaccine mandate, was appointed to his position last week.

Existing clinical studies and trials will be allowed to continue.

Letter in full from Acting Attorney General James McHenry to DOJ officials

This letter provides official notice that you are being removed from your position at the Department of Justice, and from the federal service, effective immediately

As President Trump declares on his first day back in office, "The American people have witnessed the previous administration engage in a systematic campaign against its perceived political opponents, weaponizing the legal force of numerous federal law enforcement agencies against these perceived political opponents in the form of investigations, prosecutions, civil enforcement actions and other related actions."

Never was that effort more salient than in the unprecedented prosecutions the Department of Justice vigorously pursed against President Trump himself.

You played a significant role in prosecuting President Trump. The proper functioning of government critically depends on the trust superior officials place in their subordinates.

Given your significant role in prosecuting the President, I do not believe that the leadership of the Department can trust you to assist in implementing the President's agenda faithfully.

As a result, pursuant to Article Il of the Constitution and the laws of the United States, your employment with the Department of Justice is hereby terminated, and you are removed from federal service effective immediately.

If applicable, you may have a right to file an appeal of this removal with the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) within 30 days of the effective date of the removal action. For more information on how to file an appeal with the MSPB, please

Trump administration fires DOJ officials who investigated him

The Trump administration has fired several career lawyers from the Justice Department who were involved in the investigation and prosecution of Donald Trump.

Acting Attorney General James McHenry informed the officials today they were fired with immediate effect, claiming they cannot be "trusted" to "faithfully" implement Trump's agenda.

The employees were all part of special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election results after he lost, and his handling of classified documents.

Executive orders: Backlash

Ahead of Monday's expected announcement, President Trump was sued over another executive order that rolled back protections for transgender people.

The complaint was filed on behalf of a plaintiff using the pseudonym Maria Moe. It alleges the order violates Moe's constitutional and statutory rights and that if transferred to a men's facility, "she will be at an extremely high risk of harassment, abuse, violence and sexual assault."

The president is already facing at least half a dozen lawsuits in response to executive orders he signed and many more legal challenges are likely to be filed as federal agencies start working to carry out the president's directives.

He has also faced veiled criticism for his attitude toward the transgender community. Last week, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde confronted Trump about immigration and LGBTQ+ issues during an inaugural prayer service.

"There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families, some who fear for their lives," Buddes said.

Trump later criticized the prayer service on Truth Social, his social media platform, calling the bishop a "radical Left hard line Trump hater," "very ungracious" and "not very good at her job."

Speaker Mike Johnson defends firing of inspectors general

House Speaker Mike Johnson has defended President Trump's decision to fire 18 inspectors general.

Speaking from Trump's golf club in Doral, Florida, Johnson told reporters that the administration want to have a "new start" as they want to purge of Biden-era officials who don't "align" with them.

"We want to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse in every way possible. The president is committed to that and we are as well," he said.

"But sometimes you have to begin a new page and and start with a fresh start."

How many transgender personnel serve in US military?

President Donald Trump is set to unveil a new executive order that would prohibit transgender citizens from serving in the United States military, an echo of legislation he enforced during his last term in the White House.

While the Biden administration attempted to encourage personnel to serve openly, there is limited data on how many members of the combined U.S. Armed Forces are transgender. It is not data that the Department of Defense routinely surveys; what information is available is based on survey data gathered by organizations outside the U.S. military.

A Congressional Research Service paper from January 2024 referred to a 2016 RAND Corporation report which estimated that of the 1.3 million active duty service members, 1,320 to 6,630 personnel serving in the active component and 830 to 4,160 in the selected reserve identified as transgender.

The Department of Defense, according to the same Congressional Research Service paper, had provided gender-affirming care (surgical and non-surgical) to 1,892 service members between January 2016 and May 2021.

A 2021 Department of Defence Office of People Analytics report on Workplace and Gender Relations of Military Members which surveyed 98,690 members, found that 0.4 percent identified as transgender, and 1.2 percent whose sex as birth did not match their current gender identity.

A 2015 Department of Defense Health Related Behaviors Survey for Active-Duty Service Members identified that 0.6 percent of service members described themselves as transgender. This question was not asked in the follow-up 2018 survey.

Research from the UCLA School of Law Williams Institute from 2014, based on the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, estimated that 15,500 transgender individuals were serving in the armed forces. It also estimated there were more than 134,000 transgender individuals who were veterans or had retired from Guard or Reserve service. This, it said, implied that an estimated 0.6 percent of adults who reported service in the armed forces were transgender.

Senate Confirmation Battles Are About More Than Individual Nominees | Opinion

Pete Hegseth was narrowly confirmed as defense secretary amid swirling questions about his competence and character, and despite GOP Senators Murkowski and Collins standing up and opposing him. Others who had expressed reservations, like Iowa's Senator Joni Ernst, were targets of pressure campaigns and primary threats and voted for him in the end.

There is much more at stake in this and upcoming Senate confirmation votes than whether unqualified or unsuitable nominees get key positions in our government, monumentally important as that is. Our entire constitutional system hinges on senators not being rolled by the president or his proxies into ceding their power to the Executive.

Some 1,300 presidential appointments—Cabinet secretaries, federal judges, officers of the armed forces, U.S. attorneys, ambassadors—require the advice and consent of the Senate. That's a constitutional duty all senators have. If they fail to use their power in deference to something else—a president, a political party or religious affiliation—they neglect their sworn duty, the Constitution loses, and the system fails.

Read in full from Jonathan Granoff, President of the Global Security Institute, on Newsweek.

Trump's AI czar highlights China's advances, criticizes Biden-era AI order

Trump's artificial intelligence czar, David Sacks, has called recent developments by the Chinese AI company DeepSeek a wake-up call for the U.S. to remain vigilant in the rapidly evolving industry.

Sacks, a former PayPal executive, emphasized the competitive nature of the global AI race, asserting that Trump was right to revoke a Biden-era executive order (EO) that he claimed hindered American AI companies.

Elon Musk's platform labels his argument 'objectively false'

Elon Musk's social media platform labeled his own argument "objectively false" over the weekend.

A community note added to an X, formerly Twitter, post that Musk penned on Sunday blasted the X owner's remarks about subways being more efficient than cars "objectively false."

Musk, who purchased Twitter in October 2022, replaced the platform's previous efforts to combat misinformation with "community notes," which X's site says "aims to create a better-informed world, by empowering people on X to collaboratively add helpful notes to posts that might be misleading."

On Saturday, venture capitalist Shaun Maguire snubbed Musk on X, criticizing not only the social media platform, but also Grok, Tesla's Roadster, Space X's Falcon 1 rocket and Neuralink, Musks' brain-chip company. Musk also owns Tesla and Space X. Grok is X's proprietary AI bot. In his post, Maguire wrote, "Subways >>> cars."

Responding to Maguire, Musk fired back, "The throughout in the Vegas tunnels is already better than an average subway btw. It's a myth that subways are super efficient."

Read the full story by Katherine Fung on Newsweek.

Sen. John Fetterman defends meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., addressed criticism over his recent meeting with former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, calling it a "positive experience" during an appearance on ABC's The View.

Fetterman described Trump as "kind" and "cordial" during the meeting, which took place earlier this month at Trump's Florida property. "I'd like more bipartisan kinds of things," Fetterman said. "You are going to agree with things, and you're going to disagree on things ... I'm going to pick my fights."

Ron DeSantis criticizes Republican leaders over voter registration for undocumented immigrants

Ron DeSantis took to social media to speak a legislative proposal addressing voter registration for undocumented immigrants.

"Our anti-illegal alien proposal calls for making it a crime for illegal aliens to register to vote," DeSantis wrote. He criticized the current bill backed by legislative leaders, stating it "gives illegals a pass on this — no criminal offense if illegals register to vote."

How many transgender personnel serve In U.S. military?

Trump is set to unveil a new executive order that would prohibit transgender citizens from serving in the United States military, an echo of legislation he enforced during his last term in the White House.

Trump, who criticized pro-transgender policy throughout his presidential campaign, was due to announce the new order on Monday, among his executive actions that have targeted gender identity.

During Trump's first term, he prevented trans people from joining the military but allowed those already serving to continue. The new orders aim to clarify the initial directives Trump issued shortly after his inauguration last week, which revoked protections for transgender troops established by former President Joe Biden.

Read the full story by Tom Norton on Newsweek.

Judge lifts restrictions on Oath Keepers following Trump clemency

A federal judge has rescinded restrictions barring members of the right-wing Oath Keepers from entering Washington, DC, or the Capitol grounds without court permission. The decision follows interim US Attorney Edward Martin's recommendation to lift the limitations.

The restrictions were initially imposed on eight group members, including founder Stewart Rhodes, after their convictions for seditious conspiracy linked to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Trump commuted their sentences last week, sparking legal reconsideration.

In his ruling, Judge Amit Mehta stated, "It would be improper for the court post-commutation to modify the original sentences" by imposing additional conditions. He emphasized that Trump's clemency did not alter the original sentences but rendered further location restrictions unnecessary.

The defendants, including Rhodes, are no longer subject to supervised release conditions. Rhodes, who attended Trump's recent Las Vegas event, has expressed gratitude to the president and maintained his belief in 2020 election fraud.

Trump signs order to boost California water resources for firefighting

Trump signed an executive order seeking to bypass federal and state laws governing California's water system to provide Southern California with resources to combat wildfires.

The order cited inadequate water infrastructure, including dry hydrants and empty reservoirs, as hindrances to firefighting efforts during recent wildfires in Los Angeles. It declared the disaster a national concern, emphasizing the need to ensure California has sufficient water to prevent future fires.

The order directs federal departments, including Defense, Homeland Security, and Interior, to override policies that limit water deliveries and proposes federal control of the Central Valley Project, a system critical to California's water management. It also calls for a review of federal funding for California's land and water management programs.

California officials pushed back, with Governor Gavin Newsom's office rejecting the order's premise. Deputy Communications Director Tara Gallegos stated, "Attempts to connect water management in Northern California to local wildfire fighting in Los Angeles have zero factual basis."

Critics, including Rep. Jared Huffman, labeled the order as ineffective, arguing it fails to address immediate firefighting needs and instead undermines environmental protections.

Trump to sign order for next-generation missile defense system

Trump is set to sign an executive order on Monday to initiate the development of a "next generation" missile defense shield for the United States, according to a fact sheet obtained by CNN.

Dubbed an "Iron Dome for America," the plan draws inspiration from Israel's renowned missile defense system, which the U.S. has funded for years. The system aims to protect against ballistic, hypersonic, and advanced cruise missiles, as well as other aerial threats, which the fact sheet describes as a "catastrophic threat."

The proposal includes advanced space-based systems to detect and intercept attacks, but details on cost or timelines have not been disclosed.

On the campaign trail, Trump pledged to create an "impenetrable dome" to safeguard Americans. However, challenges remain, as Israel's own defenses have shown vulnerabilities despite their advanced technology and smaller area of coverage.

OPINION: Screw around and find out: how Colombia proved that tariffs work

Gustavo Petro, a former teenage Marxist revolutionary who became Colombia's president in 2022, just got beat by the final boss: President Donald J. Trump. And he got beat because Trump's tariff threats, a cornerstone of his America First policy platform, worked.

The story began when Petro refused to repatriate Colombian aliens who have committed crimes in the U.S. and had been released by Democrat district attorneys and blue city police departments. Upon learning about Colombia's refusal to take their own criminals back, Trump posted to social media that he was imposing an immediate 25 percent tariff on Colombia, along with assorted other sanctions—whereupon Petro backed down not 47 minutes later, promising to send his own plane to Washington to pick up the migrants.

What's next? Mexico building the wall? Don't discount it! Mexico and Canada are facing similar threats of tariffs which might go into effect this weekend.

The weekend kerfuffle proved how effective tariffs can be: We give you access to our markets at a cost to our workers, and in exchange, we get to make demands—in the case of Colombia, to repatriate criminals. As a negotiation tool, tariffs might not be permanent. They can be removed quickly when a country strikes a deal with the U.S. To wit, Colombia's 25 percent tariff came and went in 24 hours.

But tariffs as a negotiation tool will be just one of the three ways the Trump administration will use America's economy to its advantage. Other tariffs will be permanent. Scott Bessent, Trump's Treasury Secretary should be confirmed on Monday said using tariffs to replace some tax revenue, and using tariffs to rebalance trade with certain countries or in certain product lines like steel, are all part of the plan.

Trump's already using them as a negotiation tool. You can bet he will use them for the other two purposes.

Read the full story by industry analyst at The Coalition for a Prosperous America Kenneth Rapoza.

ICE reports 956 arrests in nationwide raids

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials announced that 956 individuals were arrested during nationwide raids on Sunday. Since President Trump's inauguration, a total of 2,681 arrests have been made.

Border czar Tom Homan confirmed to NBC News that some of those arrested were "collaterals," meaning they were not the initial targets of the raids and had no criminal records.

ICE has made 2,600 immigration arrests since Trump took office

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has made more than 2,500 arrests in the week since Donald Trump took office.

ICE officials said that 2,681 arrests had been made, with 956 of those made during mass raids across the country on a single day, on Sunday.

Border czar Tom Homan told NBC News that several people convicted of serious crimes, but he admitted that some of those arrests had been "collaterals."

50K voice helpfor Bishop Budde amid backlash

A MoveOn petition supporting Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde has garnered nearly 50,000 signatures, showing widespread solidarity after her bold remarks urging President Trump and Vice President JD Vance to demonstrate compassion on immigration and LGBTQ+ issues.

The petition, nearing 50,000 signatures, underscores public appreciation for Budde's courage.

Budde faced backlash from Trump and conservative groups, including death threats, after her plea for mercy and protection of marginalized Americans. Despite calls for an apology, Budde stood firm, stating, "I don't feel there's a need to apologize for a request for mercy." She encouraged respectful dialogue, asking, "Could we, as Americans and fellow children of God, speak to one another with respect?"

MoveOn spokesperson Britt Jacovich praised Budde's leadership, calling her a voice of courage against divisive politics. "Her message resonates with thousands who are tired of the hateful, divisive rhetoric coming from this administration," Jacovich said.

US ally has 'first dibs' on Greenland, former envoy says

The United Kingdom would have "first dibs" on Greenland, before the U.S, according to Greenland's last Danish minister.

Tom Høyem, Copenhagen's last permanent representative in Greenland, said Trump would have to get approval to buy the island from U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer—because of an agreement made in 1917.

Trump has threatened to take control of Greenland with military force or economic action, declaring the autonomous territory of Denmark an "absolute necessity." Greenland's Prime Minister Múte Egede has insisted it is "not for sale" and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the idea "absurd" in 2019, when Trump made the suggestion during his first term.

Høyem told The Sunday Times: "If Trump tried to buy Greenland, he would have to ask London first. The United Kingdom demanded in 1917 that if Greenland were to be sold then the U.K. should have the first right to buy it."

Read in full from Jordan King on Newsweek.

House GOP to use Miami retreat to 'discuss how to get Trump agenda through Congress' budget process'

House Republicans gathering in Miami for their annual retreat will use the time to discuss how to get Trump's agenda through Congress' budget process, CNN reports.

A schedule for the retreat, shows that members will hear from Richard Hudson about the House GOP 2026 midterm strategy, there will be a session on budget process, and lawmakers will meet with committee chairman to discuss what policy provisions to include in the budget bill.

In the new Trump era, DEI will still be part of profitable strategies

For an HR or diversity leader, or any manager who values inclusive workplaces, the headlines over the last few months may be disheartening, even gaining momentum since Inauguration Day.

On Day 1 of his presidency, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to "terminate" the government's DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) mandates. In the corporate world, some of the other potentially concerning reports include the push to eliminate corporate DEI efforts, the CEO of Meta saying the corporate world needs more "masculine energy" and a banker telling the Financial Times that it's great to be able to say certain expletives again and not be worried about offending anyone.

Additionally, Trump has tapped the outspoken tech billionaire Elon Musk to be part of his administration.

Observers will also note Amazon's $40 million documentary deal with Melania Trump, donations from myriad CEOs to Trump's inauguration fund, Meta's change in content moderation policy and The Washington Post, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, not only abandoning a long-held practice by opting not to publish an editorial endorsement in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, but also, more recently, changing its slogan from "Democracy Dies in Darkness" to "Riveting Storytelling for All of America."

Read in full from Aman Kidwai on Newsweek.

Trump to sign executive order to create missile defense shield based on Israel's Iron Dome

President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order to create a missile defense shield, based on Israel's 'Iron Dome', for the U.S.

"The Executive Order directs implementation of a next generation missile defense shield for the United States against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next generation aerial attacks," the White House fact sheet reads.

This order will call for a space-based series of systems to detect and shoot down potential missile launches.

The fact sheet does not say how much the shield would cost.

Israel's Iron Dome, which is financially supported by the U.S., is a short-range missile defense system used to intercept launches from Gaza.

DOJ public integrity head Corey Amundson resigns

Corey Amundson, chief of the public integrity unit at the Department of Justice, has stepped down, NBC News confirmed.

Amundson was reportedly among DOJ officials informed of plans to reassign them to focus on legal actions targeting sanctuary cities. This move has drawn scrutiny as it shifts resources within the department.

Under DOJ policy, Amundson would have been required to approve certain aspects of Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation, adding weight to his resignation. The DOJ has not commented on the development.

Trump's new military executive orders set for Pete Hegseth's first day

Trump is expected to sign a series of new executive orders focused on the military on Monday. These orders include reinstating troops who were dismissed for refusing COVID-19 vaccines, evaluating the status of transgender personnel, and providing more details on the rollback of diversity programs.

This comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth started his first day in office.

The new orders aim to clarify the initial directives Trump issued shortly after his inauguration last week, which revoked protections for transgender troops established by former President Joe Biden and prohibited DEI initiatives at federal agencies.

Read the full story by Gabe Whisnant and Jesus Mesa on Newsweek.

Elon Musk responds to reports about limited access to Trump

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has reacted to reports suggesting that Susie Wiles, Trump's chief of staff, has restricted his direct access to the president.

Following a report by The Times on Friday, political analyst Dominic Michael Tripi tweeted on X that Wiles had reportedly limited Musk's access to Trump. On Monday, Musk, who owns the X platform, responded with two laughing emojis, offering a lighthearted take on the news.

Pete Hegseth says Air Force restoring Tuskegee Airmen videos amid backlash

The Air Force has reinstated training materials that reference the legendary Tuskegee Airmen following a brief suspension to align the courses with the Trump administration's rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, the service announced.

This resolution came just as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth began his tenure at the Pentagon.

On Sunday, Hegseth stated on X, formerly Twitter, that any decisions to eliminate the training were "immediately reversed." However, the confusion underscores the ongoing challenge for leaders across the Defense Department as they attempt to remove diversity references from their websites and training programs.

Read the developing story by Gabe Whisnant and Shamim Chowdhury on Newsweek.

Petition calling on leaders to oppose Trump's birthright citizenship order garners 33K signatures

A new petition on MoveOn, urging elected leaders and courts to challenge President Trump's executive order to revoke birthright citizenship, has gained over 33,000 signatures in just a few days. The order, signed shortly after Trump's inauguration, aims to undermine the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which grants birthright citizenship to those born in the United States.

The petition calls on Congress, state and local leaders, and the judicial system to protect the constitutional rights of Americans. It criticizes the order as unconstitutional and accuses Trump of using immigration policy to create division and distract from his administration's priorities.

Polls have shown that Trump's push to eliminate birthright citizenship is not only unpopular but lacks legal standing. The executive order, scheduled to take effect on February 19, would deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. if their parents are not legal citizens or permanent residents. Attorneys general from 22 states have already filed a lawsuit to block the measure, with a federal judge temporarily halting its implementation, calling it "blatantly unconstitutional."

Fired inspector general warns of threat to democracy after Trump's terminations

Hannibal "Mike" Ware, one of the 18 inspectors general fired by Trump last week, has expressed deep concern over the dismissals, calling them a "threat to democracy." In an interview on MSNBC, Ware criticized the rationale for his firing, which was described as a shift in the "changing priorities of the administration."

Ware emphasized that inspectors general are meant to operate independently, overseeing government actions to ensure transparency, prevent fraud, waste, and abuse, and safeguard taxpayer funds. He warned that the terminations threaten the integrity of government oversight and the transparency necessary for a functioning democracy. Ware, who previously served as the inspector general for the Small Business Administration, also chaired the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency.

Trump administration's immigration sweep followed by media-focused raid images

The Trump administration's weekend immigration sweep, which resulted in nearly 1,000 arrests, has left many immigrant communities feeling uneasy. Following the operation, the federal government released a series of videos and photos showing agents in tactical gear, including vests labeled "Police ICE" and "Homeland Security," as they took suspects into custody.

This media-savvy approach to the arrests was no accident. Sources familiar with the operations told CNN that at least two agencies assisting in the raids instructed personnel to ensure their agency insignia was visible in case they were filmed by media outlets. The visuals were part of a broader effort to project a strong, law-enforcement presence during the operation.

Trump congratulates Chiefs on AFC Championship win, touts his own support

The Kansas City Chiefs narrowly defeated the Buffalo Bills 32-29 to claim the AFC Championship and secure a spot in the Super Bowl. Trump quickly took to his Truth Social platform to congratulate the Chiefs, praising their team, coach, and quarterback. He also added a personal touch, claiming that many of the Chiefs' fans "voted for me (MAGA!) in record numbers."

Trump also gave credit to the Buffalo Bills for their "tremendous season" but did not mention the Philadelphia Eagles' dominant 55-23 NFC Championship victory. His post seemed more focused on promoting his political brand, despite admitting that he hadn't watched much of the game. Instead, he was busy promoting a Fox News show, noting his enjoyment of a segment featuring Katie Pavlich and Congressman Jim Jordan.

While Trump's remarks about the Chiefs' fans' support for him are debatable—given that the Kansas City metro area swung for Harris in the 2020 election—the president used the moment to inject politics into the sporting event. His statements were somewhat at odds with the political neutrality of Chiefs players like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, whose personal opinions remain unspoken.

Hegseth stands by Gen. C.Q. Brown amid threats of firing

On his first day as secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth expressed strong support for Gen. C.Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who had previously been under threat of being dismissed by President Trump.

"I'm standing with him right now, I look forward to working with him," Hegseth told reporters upon arriving at the Pentagon.

While Trump had initially considered firing Brown due to concerns over the general's focus on diversity initiatives, a meeting between the two led to a change of heart. Brown's term is set to end in 2027.

What does Fafo mean? Trump's message to Colombia goes viral

Donald Trump garnered attention on Sunday with a Truth Social post that appeared to be a message to Colombia featuring the acronym "FAFO".

The post, which also featured an image of Trump wearing a fedora, was made after Colombia's initial refusal to allow U.S. military planes carrying deported migrants to land on its territory.

The President's use of "FAFO"—which stands for "F*** Around, Find Out"—quickly went viral, underscoring his no-nonsense approach to foreign policy disputes.

Elon Musk amplified the viral nature of Trump's post by posting it on X, formerly Twitter, and commenting: "This is awesome."

Newsweek approached the White House for comment via email on Monday.

Read the full story by Daniel Cody on Newsweek.

Pete Hegseth signals more executive orders coming on Pentagon policies

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that more executive orders are on the way, including measures to remove Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the Pentagon and reinstate troops dismissed due to COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Trump's border czar rails against Pope—'they have a wall'

President Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan has railed against Pope Francis for his criticism of the Trump administration's mass-deportation policy.

Homan, who is overseeing the policy, accused the Catholic leader of hypocrisy for supporting a wall around the Vatican while opposing the Trump administration's intention to control American borders.

Newsweek has contacted the Vatican and the White House via email for comment.

In his first week since returning to office, Trump has followed through on his 2024 campaign promise to launch the "largest deportation program" in U.S. history, signing a series of executive orders that showcase his administration's commitment to implement his immigration agenda.

While Trump is a dominant political force among evangelical and conservative Christians, the mass-deportation policy has faced heavy criticism from Catholic and mainline Protestant leaders. A New York Times poll found 55 percent of Americans support deporting all immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, while 42 percent oppose doing so.

Read the full story by Flynn Nicholls on Newsweek.

Senate to vote on Trump's treasury secretary nominee Scott Bessent

The Senate is scheduled to vote later today on Trump's nomination of Scott Bessent for treasury secretary.

The final vote is set for 5:30 p.m.

Experts caution potential downsides of Trump's energy plans

As President Trump prepares to re-enter office, his energy policies have come under scrutiny. Nathan Schluter, Energy Expert at Home Energy Club, shared with Newsweek via email the expected outcomes of Trump's focus on promoting fossil fuel industries.

Trump's first-day actions signal a return to policies favoring domestic oil, gas, and coal production. The plan includes easing restrictions on these industries, opening federal lands for exploration, and declaring a national energy emergency to support fossil fuels. This approach contrasts sharply with President Biden's push for clean energy, including electric vehicles and offshore wind projects.

"Trump's intentions are to ease restrictions on coal and natural gas industries and open federal lands for energy exploration, scrapping Biden's actions towards encouraging a transition away from fossil fuels such as electric vehicles and offshore wind energy projects. Instead, he declared a national energy emergency in efforts to further support the fossil fuel industries," he said.

In the short term, these measures could help alleviate rising energy costs, benefiting consumers and creating jobs in oil and gas-producing regions. However, Schluter highlights long-term risks, such as the cancellation of environmental regulations and reduced investment in clean energy, which could hinder efforts to address climate change and sustainability.

While fossil fuels provide reliability in energy supply, Schluter argues that relying solely on them may undermine the benefits of a diverse energy mix, as seen in Texas's response to the 2021 winter storm. The integration of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, helped improve energy stability. A failure to invest in renewables could limit long-term energy resilience and innovation.

Donald Trump's 100 day' Ukraine peace plan leaked: Report

A news outlet has leaked U.S. President Donald Trump's alleged plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war in 100 days, which the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said is false.

On Sunday, Strana, a Ukrainian outlet, published details of the purported plan to end the war in a few months, writing that it had been discussed in "political and diplomatic circles" in Ukraine. Newsweek was unable to independently verify whether the details of the plan were accurate.

Newsweek has contacted the White House, outside business hours, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine for comment via email.

Read the full story by Maya Mehrara on Newsweek.

Anti-abortion groups urge Trump administration to clamp down on abortion pill access

Anti-abortion groups are urging the Trump administration to take swift action against abortion pill access, calling for the reversal of policies set by the Biden administration, Axios reported. A coalition of 30 anti-abortion organizations has specifically targeted the Justice Department and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), pushing for a crackdown that includes using the 19th-century Comstock Act to prevent the mailing of abortion drugs.

This law, passed in 1873, originally aimed to restrict the distribution of obscene materials, and the groups argue it should now be interpreted to block the delivery of both abortion medications and contraception. The activists are also advocating for the FDA to reverse its relaxed policies on the abortion pill mifepristone, including extending its use window and allowing prescriptions via telehealth. These changes, they argue, are essential to protect what they consider the rights of women and children.

Medication abortions have become increasingly common since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, with the pills now accounting for about two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S. The Biden administration's stance on abortion pills has sparked debate, with opponents expressing concerns over the drug's safety and the FDA's approval processes. Abortion rights supporters fear that restricting access to these pills could lead to a broader de facto national ban on abortion services.

While the Trump administration has yet to formally respond, the pressure from these groups highlights a growing effort to further limit abortion access in the U.S., with implications for both legal and medical practices surrounding reproductive rights.

Trump to sign executive orders reshaping military, including transgender ban and reinstatement of vaccine-refusing service members

Trump is expected to sign three executive orders aimed at reshaping the U.S. military, according to two Trump White House officials, per a reporter on X.

The orders are set to include a ban on transgender service members, the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the military, and the reinstatement of service members who were discharged for refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Matt Gaetz denies allegations of sex with underage girl, responds to Bill Maher questioning

Former Republican Representative Matt Gaetz has denied accusations related to sex trafficking and engaging in sexual activity with an "underage girl" during a recent interview with Bill Maher. Gaetz, who resigned from Congress in November 2024 after being nominated by President Donald Trump for U.S. attorney general—a position he later withdrew from—faced a series of allegations stemming from a federal investigation. These allegations, detailed in a December House Ethics Committee report, include claims of Gaetz paying women for sex, engaging in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl, and using illegal drugs.

In the interview on Maher's podcast, Gaetz firmly denied the accusations, stating, "No," when asked if he had ever been with an underage girl or hired prostitutes. Maher, who expressed support for Gaetz's denial, noted that if there had been evidence, the Justice Department would have acted. "The Justice Department, this is Biden's Justice Department, declined... They had nothing," Maher said.

Despite the allegations, Gaetz remains defiant. He responded to the committee's findings by asserting that he had been fully exonerated, noting he had been under investigation for years but was never charged. He also downplayed the claims of relationships with women in their 20s, saying these were not transactional.

The release of the House Ethics Committee report, which typically refrains from releasing findings after a resignation, was criticized by some, including committee Chairman Michael Guest, who suggested it was a politically motivated action.

Trump pushes NATO allies as Lithuania and Estonia commit to 5% defense spending

Lithuania and Estonia have become the first NATO countries to commit to increasing their defense spending to 5% of GDP, responding to pressure from the United States, according to the Financial Times. Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys confirmed the country would allocate between 5% and 6% of its GDP to defense from 2026 to 2030. Estonia's Prime Minister Kristan Michal echoed similar commitments, citing the clear message from NATO's largest member, under President Donald Trump, to boost defense spending.

While both countries plan to meet these targets through government borrowing and public sector cuts, there is skepticism in Lithuania about the feasibility of this goal. Some opposition politicians questioned the credibility of the plan. However, both leaders emphasized the importance of the U.S. call for increased defense spending, a sentiment shared by Trump in a January 21 press conference, where he reaffirmed his push for NATO allies to meet the 5% threshold.

Russia has voiced concerns over NATO's expanding defense budgets, warning that these moves could escalate tensions and raise the risk of direct confrontation with the alliance.

WATCH: JD Vance speak on grocery prices

In an interview on CBS's Face The Nation, JD Vance was questioned on rising grocery prices. He said, "Prices are gonna come down. But it's gonna take a little bit of time."

U.S. government could own up to 50% of perplexity AI and tiktok's U.S. business as part of new deal

The U.S. government could own up to 50% of Perplexity AI and TikTok's U.S. business as part of a new deal, a source familiar with the matter has said.

Perplexity AI recently presented a revised proposal to ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, aiming to address national security concerns over TikTok's Chinese ownership. This new plan builds on a prior proposal made before the Jan. 19 enforcement of a TikTok ban.

The updated structure would merge Perplexity AI with TikTok's U.S. business, allowing the U.S. government to acquire up to a 50% nonvoting stake after a $300 billion public offering. ByteDance would retain equity but relinquish control to a U.S.-based board.

The proposal seeks to balance security concerns with TikTok's continued operation, aligning with feedback from the Trump administration and similar strategies previously suggested by former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

TikTok and ByteDance have not commented on the revised proposal.

The ban on TikTok, enacted by Congress, stemmed from fears of data misuse and Chinese influence over the app's algorithm. While the Biden administration championed the law, President Donald Trump delayed its enforcement by 75 days, allowing time for a resolution.

If successful, the deal could secure TikTok's future in the U.S., but Oracle and other investors are reportedly exploring a global acquisition of TikTok.

DeSantis proposal could impact Trump casino ambitions in Florida

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing for significant changes to the state's citizen-led ballot initiative process, which could unintentionally complicate former President Donald Trump's long-standing goal of opening a casino in Miami, CNN reported.

DeSantis' plan would add restrictions to constitutional amendments initiated by voters, including outlawing traditional signature-gathering methods. Critics argue this would effectively end the citizens' initiative process. Florida's constitution currently requires voter approval for gambling expansion through these amendments.

If enacted, the proposal could secure a gambling monopoly for the Seminole Tribe, which already holds exclusive rights to most casino operations in the state, while blocking new competitors, including Trump.

Gaming experts believe the legislation would make it nearly impossible for non-tribal casinos to establish themselves in Florida. However, Trump's influence and unique ability to mobilize support might offer him a path forward.

The Seminole Tribe, a major donor to DeSantis, has not commented on the proposed legislation. Meanwhile, Trump has not responded publicly to the potential implications for his business interests.

Trump Colombia tariff announcement had major spelling mistake

A press release from the administration of President Donald Trump misspelled the country Colombia as "Columbia," quickly sparking ridicule online.

Newsweek has reached out to a representative for Trump via email outside of normal working hours for comment.

A press release containing the spelling mistake announced Trump's declaration of tariffs against Colombia, and critics were quick to jump on the error. Although Trump's policy is popular, the eyes of the world are on its execution, and simple mistakes such as misspelling a nation will not help promote the reputation of the administration.

The White House and Colombia reached a key agreement on Sunday, over the deportation of undocumented Colombia nationals.

The release with the spelling mistake no longer appears to be live, but it was quickly shared on social media with users mocking the error.

Read the full story by Marni Rose McFall on Newsweek.