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Trump 2nd term live updates: Trump falsely claims Ukraine started war with Russia

White House team meets with delegation from Russia to end the war it started.

ByDavid Brennan, Alexandra Hutzler, and Julia Reinstein
Last Updated: February 18, 2025, 7:08 PM EST

President Donald Trump's administration is continuing its radical effort to cut much of the federal government -- and is being met with dozens of legal challenges.

The Department of Government Efficiency is taking aim at agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration, as the administration argues in court that Elon Musk is not the administrator of the newly-formed entity despite public comments from Trump to the contrary.

Trump, meanwhile, attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while speaking at his Mar-a-Lago home as U.S. officials hold talks with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine that started when Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded its neighbor. Zelenskyy was not invited to the talks with Russia.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Feb 18, 2025, 6:36 PM EST

Trump calls for 'cleaning house' at DOJ

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Tuesday, President Donald Trump again called for "cleaning house" at the Department of Justice.

The logo for the Justice Department is seen before a news conference at the Department of Justice, Aug. 23, 2024, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP

"Over the past four years, the Department of Justice has been politicized like never before. Therefore, I have instructed the termination of ALL remaining 'Biden Era' U.S. Attorneys. We must 'clean house' IMMEDIATELY, and restore confidence. America’s Golden Age must have a fair Justice System - THAT BEGINS TODAY!" Trump posted.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie

Feb 18, 2025, 5:27 PM EST

Layoffs expected to hit IRS as soon as tomorrow: sources

The Trump administration is expected to begin layoffs at the Internal Revenue Service as soon as tomorrow, multiple sources told ABC News.

Management was informed on Tuesday to expect probationary employees to be affected and to prepare to collect ID cards and government-issued equipment, sources said.

A flag waves outside the International Revenue Service Building after it was reported the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is preparing to fire thousands of workers in the coming days, in Washington, Feb. 18, 2025.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters

It is not immediately clear how many probationary employees will be affected. ABC News previously reported that 15,000 IRS employees had been identified as probationary.

-- ABC News' Will Steakin, Olivia Rubin, and Anne Flaherty

Feb 18, 2025, 5:09 PM EST

Trump says federal firings is something ‘we have to do,’ says some people will be ‘put back’

When asked whether he was concerned about the thousands of federal employees fired over the weekend as part of his administration’s desire to cut costs, Trump said, “No, not at all,” telling reporters, “We have to just do what we have to do.”

President Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, Feb. 18, 2025.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Instead, he focused on the “amazing” findings he claims they have uncovered, emphasizing that this is what he was elected to do.

“In some cases, they'll fire people and then they'll put some people back, not all of them, because a lot of people were let go,” he said in regards to the firing and rehiring of certain employees that occurred over the weekend.

Feb 18, 2025, 5:06 PM EST

Trump asked to clarify Elon Musk's role after contradictory statements

Amid contradictory statements about Elon Musk's position at the Department of Government Efficiency, Trump was asked directly what is Musk's role in the administration.

"Elon is to me a patriot," Trump responded. "You can call him an employee, you can call him a consultant, you could call him whatever you want, but he's a patriot."

President Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, Feb. 18, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Trump didn't clarify or elaborate, instead going on to praise Musk for his work. Trump listed examples of government spending he disagrees with, alleging without evidence it's fraudulent or corrupt.

The confusion over Musk came to a head after the administration contended in a court filing late Monday that he was not the DOGE administrator but rather a "special government employee" akin to a senior adviser to Trump.

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