President Donald Trump on Monday signed executive orders in the Oval Office targeting cashless bail and flag-burning.
Trump later said he is removing Lisa Cook, a Federal Reserve Board Governor, from her position. Cook pushed back, saying the president doesn’t have the authority to fire her and that she is not resigning.
On Tuesday, Trump held a meeting of his Cabinet at the White House.
Latest Developments
Aug 28, 9:46 AM
Lisa Cook sues Trump over attempt to fire her from the Fed
Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook on Thursday sued President Donald Trump over his attempt to fire her from the Board of Governors, challenging the effort and asking a judge to block it.
The suit, filed in the D.C. district court, also names Chairman Jerome Powell, and the Board of Governors as defendants.
-ABC News’ Olivia Rubin
Aug 28, 9:44 AM
RFK Jr says Trump has ‘ambitious hopes’ for CDC
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would not comment Thursday on the situation over CDC Director Susan Monarez’s job but said that President Donald Trump has “ambitious hopes” for the CDC, signaling the president’s alignment with him.
“I will say is President Trump has very, very ambitious hopes for what for the CDC right now. CDC has problems,” Kennedy said in a “Fox and Friends” interview, before he made unproven claims about the pandemic.
Kennedy, who has no formal medical training or experience, also said that the priorities of the CDC need to be reexamined.
“If there’s really a deeply, deeply embedded, I would say, malaise at the agency, and we need strong leadership that will go in there, and that will be able to execute on President Trump’s broad ambitions,” he said.
-ABC News’ Hannah Demissie and Cheyenne Haslett
Aug 27, 6:31 PM
Trump says Utah redistricting ruling is ‘absolutely Unconstitutional’
Trump says Utah redistricting ruling is ‘absolutely Unconstitutional’
Trump claimed on his social media platform that the ruling by a Utah judge Monday that the state legislature will have to redraw its congressional map is “absolutely Unconstitutional.”
“All Citizens of Utah should be outraged at their activist Judiciary, which wants to take away our Congressional advantage, and will do everything possible to do so,” Trump said.
The judge’s decision could benefit Democrats heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
Currently, Salt Lake City is split between the state’s four congressional districts, dividing Democratic votes among the districts that back Republicans.
But the judge determined that the map was drawn in violation of an independent redistricting commission approved by voters in 2018.
-ABC News’ Michelle Stoddart and Oren Oppenheim
Aug 27, 4:02 PM
Bowser cites crime drop under Trump surge but warns of damage to community trust
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser on Wednesday talked about the benefits of a federal law enforcement surge in the nation’s capital, while warning of broken trust with residents and renewed risks to the city’s autonomy.
Bowser confirmed she had a “courtesy meeting” with Trump after a more substantive discussion with Attorney General Pam Bondi and the president’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles.
The mayor credited the surge with driving down crime but warned it has strained community trust. Bowser said there’s been an 87% reduction in carjackings during the federal takeover and praised efforts to get guns off the streets, but said what is “not working” is masked ICE agents or National Guard troops.
Bowser also reiterated her push to rebuild the Metropolitan Police Department, which has struggled with retirements, budget cuts and recruitment. She said on Wednesday, the force needs at least 500 new officers.
-ABC News’ Beatrice Peterson
Aug 27, 2:31 PM
Ukrainian delegation heading to the US this week
Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, and First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Sergiy Kyslytsya will take part in negotiations with White House special envoy Steve Witkoff in the United States this week, according to a source familiar with the plans.
The visit is being described as a follow-up meeting to Gen. Keith Kellogg’s visit to Kyiv earlier this week. Kellog is President Donald Trump’s Ukraine envoy.
The focus of the talks will be security guarantees progress and the Russians seemingly not committing to another meeting.
Zelenskyy said Ukrainian officials will meet with members of Trump’s team on Friday in New York.
“Everyone who is working on the content of the security guarantees will be involved — the military, political, and economic components of security guarantees. The task is to accelerate as much as possible so that this too becomes a lever – a lever of influence: the Russians must see how seriously the world is determined and how dire the consequences will be for Russia if the war continues,” Zelenskyy said.
Aug 27, 2:28 PM
Trump orders flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Minneapolis shooting victims
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation honoring the victims of the Minneapolis shooting on Wednesday, according to the White House.
The proclamation orders that the United States flag at the White House, public buildings, grounds, military posts and naval stations and vessels be flown at half-staff until Sunday at sunset. He also ordered American flags to fly at half-staff at American embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad.
“I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, August 31, 2025,” Trump wrote.
-ABC News’ Michelle Stoddart and Isabella Murray
Aug 27, 12:31 PM
Trump and Walz have spoken about Minneapolis shooting: Official
President Donald Trump and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz have spoken over the phone about the shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school, a White House official confirmed.
Trump called to offer his condolences to the people of Minnesota and Gov. Walz thanked him for the support, a source familiar with the call told ABC News. Trump didn’t call after Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman was assassinated in June, the source said.
-ABC News’ Hannah Demissie and Isabella Murray
Aug 27, 11:02 AM
Trump briefed on shooting at Minneapolis Catholic school
President Donald Trump said he’s been briefed on a shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis.
“I have been fully briefed on the tragic shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The FBI quickly responded and they are on the scene. The White House will continue to monitor this terrible situation. Please join me in praying for everyone involved!” Trump wrote on his social media platform.
There are multiple victims from the shooting, which unfolded during morning drop-off at Annunciation Catholic School, sources told ABC News.
Aug 27, 10:58 AM
Trump says George Soros should be charged with RICO
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said billionaire George Soros and his son should be charged under the RICO Act.
“George Soros, and his wonderful Radical Left son, should be charged with RICO because of their support of Violent Protests, and much more, all throughout the United States of America,” Trump wrote on his social media platform.
“Soros, and his group of psychopaths, have caused great damage to our Country! That includes his Crazy, West Coast friends. Be careful, we’re watching you!” Trump added.
Soros’ Open Society Foundations said Trump’s accusations are “outrageous and false.”
“The Open Society Foundations do not support or fund violent protests. Our mission is to advance human rights, justice, and democratic principles at home and around the world,” the statement read. “We stand for fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, including the rights to free speech and peaceful protest that are hallmarks of any vibrant democracy.”
Aug 27, 10:44 AM
Hassett defends Trump’s attempt to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook
The White House’s top economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, defended President Donald Trump’s firing of Lisa Cook, telling reporters Wednesday morning that the president has the authority to do so.
“The president absolutely has authority to fire a Fed governor for cause. And I think the accusations are serious, and I look forward to seeing the outcomes of the dispute. I think that you know, and if it were me and I had made the mistakes on the mortgage forms that are accused, and I would either deny it because it was not true, or I would go on leave until people resolved the matter,” Hassett said.
“And the fact that she’s not doing that now suggests that she’s being partisan, trying to make a partisan stance, which is contrary to the independence of the Fed,” he continued.
Hassett said if he were in Cook’s situation, he would take a leave of absence from the job.
Hassett was asked if there is an actual investigation into Cook and said that the case has been given to the Department of Justice. “My understanding is it’s been handed off to the Justice Department for investigation,” he responded.
Cook denies wrongdoing and said she will not resign. She also said Trump does not have the authority to fire her, and her attorney, Abbe Lowell, said they will be filing a lawsuit.
“His attempt to fire her, based solely on a referral letter, lacks any factual or legal basis. We will be filing a lawsuit challenging this illegal action,” Lowell said on Tuesday.
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