The Trump administration is reducing the number of immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota after state and local officials agreed to cooperate by turning over arrested immigrants, border czar Tom Homan said Wednesday.
But Homan did not give a timeline when the operation might end in Minnesota after weeks of turmoil in the Twin Cities and escalated protests, especially since the killing of protester Alex Pretti, the second fatal shooting by federal officers in Minneapolis.
A widespread withdrawal will only occur after people stop interfering with federal agents carrying out arrests and setting up roadblocks to impede the operations, Homan said.
The border czar has pushed for jails to alert Immigration and Customs Enforcement to inmates who could be deported, saying transferring such inmates to ICE is safer because it means fewer officers have to be out looking for people in the country illegally.
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Trump suggests he’s bothered that Bill Clinton has been pressured to testify in Epstein probe
“It bothers me that somebody is going after Bill Clinton. Actually, I like Bill Clinton,” Trump told NBC News. “I like his behavior toward me.”
Trump also said that the former president “understood” him.
The president’s comments were a major departure from Republican members of Congress.
The former president and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have finalized an agreement with House Republicans to testify in an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, bowing to the threat of a contempt of Congress vote against them.
Trump says his policies need better PR
The president said his administration needs to do a better job of selling his policies.
Recent polling shows that his approval ratings are dropping on immigration and the economy, the very issues that helped him win the election in 2024.
“What happens is I think we do a phenomenal job, but we’re bad at public relations,” he told NBC News.
Trump on Vance and Rubio: ‘One is slightly more diplomatic than the other’
Trump declined to take sides in a potential future Republican presidential primary between Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He called both men “fantastic” and said both are “doing a great job.”
“I don’t want to get into this,” Trump told NBC News. “We have three years to go.”
Asked to compare them, Trump said they’re different in style and said a GOP ticket with both of them would be formidable, a claim he’s made before.
“I would say one is slightly more diplomatic than the other,” Trump said without naming them. “I think they’re both of very high intelligence.”
Vance is off to Italy for the Olympics
The vice president, second lady Usha Vance and their children are heading to Milan for the Winter Olympics.
On Thursday, Vance is expected to greet U.S. athletes after he lands, and later plans to watch the U.S. women’s hockey team take on Czechia.
Vance is following in the footsteps of former vice presidents. Joe Biden attended the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010 and Mike Pence traveled to Pyeongchang, South Korea, in 2018. Former Vice President Kamala Harris did not attend the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing because the Biden administration did not send any diplomatic officials as a boycott over human rights concerns.
Trump rejects the notion that AI will cost the US jobs
Despite cutbacks at major tech firms, the president pushed back on assertions that artificial intelligence was causing U.S. employers to reduce jobs, scoffing that “they said the internet was going to” do the same thing.
“Everything was going to,” Trump said during an interview with NBC News.
“Robots are going to kill jobs,” he added. “Everything is going to kill jobs, and you end up, if you’re smart, doing great.”
Trump also said that he personally doesn’t use AI tools like ChatGPT very often, but repeated his frequent assertions that the U.S. is working to make advancements in such fields faster than China.
Trump declines to weigh in on competing bids for Warner Bros. Discovery
“I’ve decided I shouldn’t be involved,” Trump told NBC News on Wednesday.
Warner Bros. has accepted a partial takeover bid from Netflix and has rebuffed a competing offer from Paramount Skydance, which is led by David Ellison with backing from his billionaire father, Trump ally Larry Ellison.
Trump said he’s fielded calls from both sides.
Trump says he ‘heard’ Iran may be restarting its nuclear program
Also during the NBC interview, the president was asked if Iran had restarted its nuclear program and responded, “I heard that they are.”
He provided no further details.
Trump warns Iran’s supreme leader ahead of nuclear talks
The Factbook proved so useful that other federal agencies began using it and within a decade an unclassified version was released to the public.
After going online in 1997, the Factbook quickly became a popular reference site for journalists, trivia aficionados and the writers of college essays, racking up millions of visits per year.
A White House official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that several Arab and Muslim leaders urged the Trump administration not to walk away from talks even as Iranian officials pressed to narrow their scope and change the venue for the negotiations.
The first lady recounted for reporters her meeting with the wife of Keith Siegel, an American Israeli who was held in Gaza for 484 days before he was freed a year ago. She included Siegel’s story in her documentary that opened in theaters last week.
Trump says shootings of Good and Pretti should not have happened
A reporter asked the first lady if it was appropriate to use an official White House event to promote the film. She said she wasn’t doing that.
She said the Siegels were in Washington and called her to say they wanted to come thank her, “and that’s why we are here. It’s nothing to do with promotion.”
“I’m not happy with what happened there,” Trump said. “Nobody could be happy, and ICE wasn’t happy either, but I’m going to always be with our great people of law enforcement, ICE, police. We have to back them.”
Trump taking steps toward installing a Columbus statue near the White House
“This doesn’t preclude any sort of coordination or task force-related work; it doesn’t preclude any federal agency coming with a judicial warrant and requesting assistance,” Spanberger said at a news conference, adding: “But taking Virginia law enforcement, state agency personnel, and basically giving them over to ice is something that ends today.”
The news comes after former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order last year directing state law enforcement and corrections officers to enter pacts for federal immigration enforcement, also known as 287(g) agreements after a section of a 1996 immigration law.
Spanberger said she had not heard from the Trump administration in response to her directive.
For Trump, it would be another move to reshape the telling of U.S. history as the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Government lawyer yanked from immigration detail in Minnesota after telling judge ‘this job sucks’
His announcement on Wednesday came after hours of indications that plans for the talks might be faltering over changes in the format and content of the talks.
”I’m grateful to our Omani brothers for making all necessary arrangements,” Araghchi wrote on X on Wednesday evening.
“What do you want me to do? The system sucks. This job sucks. And I am trying every breath that I have so that I can get you what you need,” Le said, according to a transcript.
The Trump administration said findings by the Human Rights Watch that President Trump’s actions have had a negative impact on democracy in the country and human rights here and abroad are not grounded in fact.
The CIA World Factbook is no more
“President Trump has done more for human rights than this Soros-funded, left-wing group ever could by ending eight wars, saving countless lives, protecting religious freedom, ending Biden’s weaponization of government, and more.”
The announcement posted to the CIA’s website offered no reason for the decision, but it comes after Trump’s pick to lead the agency, Director John Ratcliffe, has vowed to end programs that don’t advance the agency’s core missions.
The Homeland Security secretary touted fewer border arrests at a news conference in Nogales, Arizona.
She spoke shortly after White House border czar Tom Homan commanded headlines with his own news conference in Minneapolis, saying the department was lowering its presence in the Twin Cities. Noem has been a less frequent voice in Minnesota since President Donald Trump dispatched Homan to the state last week to de-escalate tensions.
Noem initially defended the Jan. 24 fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, saying he impeded a law enforcement operation despite video that cast doubt on that version of events.
Melania Trump plugs her new film at meeting with freed Hamas hostage whose story she featured in the documentary
The preliminary arrest tally for illegal border crossings from Mexico was 6,073, a fourth straight decline from the previous month. Border arrests peaked at 250,000 in December 2023.
Melania Trump said meeting with Aviva Siegel was emotional and “it is captured on camera and available to see in my film, ‘Melania.’”
The United States is among several high-income nations where younger people are unusually likely to prioritize economic issues, according to a new global survey of national priorities by Gallup.
About one-third of Americans under 35 cited economics and affordability as the top issue facing the country, compared to only 13% of those 55 and older.
Virginia state police no longer deputized to enforce immigration laws
On Wednesday, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed an executive direction ending an agreement with the federal government to deputize state police in enforcing immigration laws.
Asked during an interview with NBC News if border czar Tom Homan’s announcement that roughly a quarter of federal immigration officers deployed to Minnesota would be pulled out came from him, Trump responded, “Yes it did.”
“But it didn’t come from me because I just wanted to do it,” the president added.
Asked about lessons going forward based on what happened in Minnesota, Trump responded, “I learned that maybe we can use a little bit of a softer touch. But you still have to be tough.”
Americans’ political anxiety stands out in new world poll
New international polling from Gallup shows that Americans are particularly anxious about politics and governance, compared to the residents of more than 100 other countries worldwide.
About one-third of Americans rated politics and government as the top issue facing their nation, behind only Taiwan — which faces the prospect of an invasion from China — and on par with Slovenia, Spain and South Korea.
Older Americans are especially likely to say politics is the country’s most important problem, while younger adults are more focused on economic issues.
White House responds to Human Rights Watch report
The justices had previously allowed Texas’ Republican-friendly map to be used in 2026, despite a lower court ruling that it likely discriminates on the basis of race.
Conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote in December that it appeared both states had adopted new maps for political advantage, which the high court has previously ruled cannot be a basis for a federal lawsuit.
Republicans, joined by the administration, claimed the California map improperly relied on race, as well. But a lower court disagreed by a 2-1 vote.
Kristi Noem visits border to highlight fewer illegal crossings
She spoke shortly after White House border czar Tom Homan commanded headlines with his own news conference in Minneapolis, saying the department was lowering its presence in the Twin Cities. Noem has been a less frequent voice in Minnesota since President Donald Trump dispatched Homan to the state last week to de-escalate tensions.
In an interview with “The Megyn Kelly Show,” Vice President JD Vance said the agents being sent home were largely in Minneapolis to protect the ones who were carrying out the arrests.
Now, Vance said, many of them are no longer needed because the administration has gained the cooperation of local police.
“We’re not drawing down the immigration enforcement,” Vance. “We’re drawing down some of the federal officers that were helping the guys do immigration enforcement.”
Young people in the US and other wealthy English-speaking countries show high economic worries
The United States is among several high-income nations where younger people are unusually likely to prioritize economic issues, according to a new global survey of national priorities by Gallup.
Despite a turn away from democratic norms in Donald Trumps’ first year, the United States is still a functioning democracy, the Human Rights Watch said in a report.
“People power remains an engine for change. In the US, “No Kings” marches have drawn millions, protesters in Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and around the country have stood up against the deployment of the National Guard and ICE abuses, and students are still organizing for Palestine on university campuses despite draconian crackdowns and visa revocations,” the report said.
Trump says he ordered immigration officials ranks’ reduced in Minnesota and that ‘a softer touch’ may be needed
He cited the free press, political opposition and a vibrant society being evidence.
“You could not say that of many, many other countries around the world,”
Bolopian said. “Almost 75% of the world population is living in autocracy.”
Human Rights Watch says middle-size countries must ban together
People around the world are fighting for their rights, from Minneapolis to people risking their lives protesting in Iran but with the U.S. seemingly going in another direction and China and Russia taking illegal actions, governments need to step up, according to a Human Rights Watch report released Wednesday.
The three countries have weakened the infrastructure of human rights.
“We think that democratic country middle powers around the world should band together,” said HRW executive director Philippe Bolopian. He said it has to be a long-term alliance built around a common respect of democracy and human rights. He cited Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carneys speech at the World Economic Forum as a guide.
Supreme Court refuses to block new California congressional districts that favor Democrats
The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed California to use a new voter-approved congressional map that is favorable to Democrats in this year’s elections, rejecting a last-ditch plea from state Republicans and the Trump administration.
President Donald Trump’s first year in office deteriorated democracy and human rights and combined with aggressive actions by Russia and China, have wreaked havoc on human rights protections globally, according to the annual report by the Human Rights Watch.
”The U.S took significant steps backward on immigration, health, environment, labor, disability, gender, criminal justice, and freedom of speech rights, among others,” the 536-page report said.
Among the actions, it said, was the use of National Guard units in America cities and the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Compounding the administration’s moves were the acquiescence of the establishment, including Congress, the report said.
“It’sactually incredible to see how the Trump Administration has really undermined all the pillars of US democracy, all the checks and balances on power,” HRW executive director Philippe Bolopian said.
The White House wasn’t immediately available for comment.
GOP senator resists plans for immigration detention center in his state
Sen. Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, is sending a letter to Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem to voice his opposition to plans that would turn a warehouse facility in a town in the northwest part of his state near Memphis into an immigration detention center.
Wicker notes that he supports “the enforcement of immigration law,” but that he is concerned the center would disrupt a site planned for “job creation, private investment, and long-term economic growth.” He also raised concerns that the local resources and infrastructure could not support a facility planned to hold over 8,500 people at a time.
Wicker’s position is some of the highest-profile pushback to the Trump administration’s plans to dramatically scale up immigration detention capacity. Local officials have been raising similar concerns across several states.
In the same interview, Vance said he wants to deport anyone who has entered the country illegally, not just the ones with criminal convictions.
Human Rights Watch report celebrates the power of everyday people
U.S. Central Command said in a statement Wednesday that U.S. aircraft conducted the attacks between Jan. 27 and Monday, destroying targets that included a communication site and weapons storage facilities.
“Striking these targets demonstrates our continued focus and resolve for preventing an ISIS resurgence in Syria,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM’s commander.
The U.S. military said its multiple rounds of strikes since December have killed or captured more than 50 Islamic State members, including “an experienced terrorist leader who plotted attacks and was directly connected” to the ambush.
He cited the free press, political opposition and a vibrant society being evidence.
A bipartisan group of senators met with Colombian President Gustavo Petro to discuss ways to partner economically and address drug trafficking.
Petro’s visit to Capitol Hill comes a day after he met with President Donald Trump, and the pair emerged describing their meeting as friendly. Petro’s visit comes amid an intense focus on the Western Hemisphere by the Trump Administration.
Human Rights Watch says middle-size countries must ban together
“I think he understands that there is a lot of potential that we could be working together,” Gallego added.
The three countries have weakened the infrastructure of human rights.
A man convicted of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump on a Florida golf course in 2024 was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon pronounced Ryan Routh’s fate in the same Fort Pierce courtroom that erupted into chaos in September when he tried to stab himself shortly after jurors found him guilty on all counts.
Trump’s first year marked by deterioration of democracy and human rights, report says
Routh also received a consecutive seven-year sentence for one of his gun convictions.
Among the actions, it said, was the use of National Guard units in America cities and the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Compounding the administration’s moves were the acquiescence of the establishment, including Congress, the report said.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats aim to submit proposed legislation concerning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement “within the next 24 hours.”
Democrats are demanding changes at ICE as part of a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security.