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In an appearance on Fox News, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told host Jesse Watters that President Donald Trump has a very simple goal: to abolish the IRS.
“Donald Trump announced the External Revenue Service and his goal is simple: to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and let all the outsiders pay,” said Lutnick, explaining that they intend to use a combination of tariffs and Elon Musk’s DOGE purges of waste and fraud to cut spending and try to eliminate the IRS.
On Air Force One on Wednesday evening, the president signed more executive orders including one terminating any federal taxpayer-funded benefits from going to or incentivizing migrants in the U.S. illegally.
Earlier Trump spoke at the Saudi-backed FII Priority Summit at which he doubled down on his attack on President Volodymyr Zelensky after the Ukrainian leader accused him of living in a Russian “disinformation space.”
The president again called Zelensky a “dictator” who has done a “terrible job” in leading his country through the war on his country while receiving billions of dollars in aid.
That row erupted after Trump said at a Mar-a-Lago press conference that Ukraine “should never have started” the conflict, even though its territory was invaded by Vladimir Putin’s troops.
Amid Boeing delays, will Trump replace Air Force One with… used planes?
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is considering buying used Boeing aircraft — perhaps from an overseas seller — to use as Air Force One when he’s aboard, as he fumes over the U.S. plane-maker’s delays in producing two specially modified ones for presidential use.
Speaking to reporters aboard one of the two nearly 35-year-old Boeing 747-200 aircraft in current use, Trump said, “We’re looking at alternatives, because it’s taking Boeing too long.”
“We may go and buy a plane,” Trump said, adding that he could then “convert it.”
Maria Bartiromo stopped in her tracks for peddling Trump’s false claim about Zelensky
Kremlin critic Bill Browder immediately corrected MAGA-boosting Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo on Wednesday after she trumpeted President Donald Trump’s false claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky only holds a 4 percent approval rating in his country.
“That number comes out of thin air,” Browder told the Fox anchor during an interview.
Justin Baragona has the story.
Oliver O’Connell20 February 2025 06:00
What do GOP senators think about Trump’s ‘dictator’ comment about Zelensky?
In short, they’re not fans…
Oliver O’Connell20 February 2025 05:30
What would a Ukraine election look like after Trump labels Zelensky ‘dictator’?
Regardless, the agreement made between Russia and the US this week may well force Ukraine’s hand and set the stage for elections in the country at some point in 2025. Here’s what that could mean:
Oliver O’Connell20 February 2025 05:00
Trump gets a temporary desk
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social upon his return to the White House this evening:
A President, after election, gets a choice of 1 in 7 desks. This desk, the “C&O,” which is also very well-known and was used by President George H.W. Bush and others, has been temporarily installed in the White House while the Resolute Desk is being lightly refinished—a very important job. This is a beautiful, but temporary replacement!
Oliver O’Connell20 February 2025 04:45
Trump signs more executive orders targeting funding for migrants, nixing regulations
President Donald Trump signed a raft of new executive orders on Wednesday, including one aimed at preventing taxpayer dollars from supporting illegal immigration and one designed to get rid of regulations the administration considers “overreach.”
The immigration order bars the use of federal money to help migrants in the country illegally and directs all agencies to identify any federally funded programs that do so.
The executive action also ensures that federal funds cannot be used by state or local “sanctuary” jurisdictions. Sanctuary cities prevent local law enforcement from assisting federal civil immigration officers.
In another order, Trump instructed the heads of every agency to review all regulations, working with members of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. The order said any regulations that are deemed inconsistent with the administration’s policies will be rescinded or modified.
The action aims to bolster Musk’s sweeping government-slashing effort, the legality of which is being challenged in numerous courts.
Trump also targeted several advisory committees and agencies for elimination as part of his broader campaign to assert control over independent executive agencies.
Among the agencies set to be disbanded are the United States Institute for Peace, which promotes conflict resolution worldwide; the Inter-American Foundation, which funds community development programs in Latin America and the Caribbean; and the U.S. African Development Foundation, which invests in community development efforts in Africa.
Trump signed the new orders on Air Force One, returning to Washington, D.C., after a five-day trip to Florida.
With reporting by Reuters
Oliver O’Connell20 February 2025 04:30
Australia says Ukraine conflict must be resolved on Ukraine’s terms
U.S. security ally Australia, which has provided A$1.5 billion ($954 million) in support to Ukraine in its war with Russia, said on Thursday that Moscow was the aggressor in the conflict and it must be resolved on Kyiv’s terms.
U.S. President Donald Trump denounced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as a “dictator” on Wednesday and warned Zelenskiy had to move quickly to secure peace or risk losing his country.
The extraordinary attacks – a day after Trump claimed Ukraine was to blame for Russia’s 2022 invasion – heightened concerns among U.S. allies in Europe that Trump’s approach to ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict could benefit Moscow.
Reuters20 February 2025 04:20
Watch: Trump says federal government should run District of Columbia
Oliver O’Connell20 February 2025 04:15
Full story: Trump can’t end birthright citizenship, appeals court rules
A U.S. appeals court has denied Donald Trump’s bid to end automatic birthright citizenship for the children of immigrants born in the nation.
The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday rejected the Trump administration’s request to pause a lower court judge’s order halting the president’s executive order, which he signed when he took office a month ago.
Oliver O’Connell20 February 2025 04:00
Watch: Trump talks ‘DOGE dividend’ on Air Force One
Oliver O’Connell20 February 2025 03:45
