Closing summary
This concludes our live coverage of the second session for the week, with updates to resume on Monday. Key developments include:
Donald Trump acknowledged directing aides to post a racist video on his social media platform depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, but claimed he did not view the segment containing the offensive imagery within the 62-second clip.
While coverage captured the booing of JD Vance, the US vice-president, at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan, the crowd’s reaction to his presence was not audible or mentioned in the US television broadcast streamed live on Peacock, NBC Sports’ platform.
After President Trump asserted that the proposal to rename New York’s Penn Station as Trump Station originated not from him but from Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, Schumer labeled this claim an “absolute lie.”
A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration cannot continue withholding funds for a critical infrastructure project serving New York and New Jersey. Trump reportedly froze the funds to leverage Schumer’s support for naming both Penn Station and Washington’s Dulles Airport after himself.
Pete Hegseth, former Fox weekend host and current US defense secretary, announced that the Pentagon will cease sending active-duty service members to Harvard University, criticizing the institution as “woke.”
Judge stops effort to end asylum claim by family of 5-year-old Minneapolis boy, Liam Conejo Ramos
At an asylum hearing in Minneapolis on Friday, the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old boy whose detention by immigration agents sparked outrage over efforts to deport non-violent asylum seekers, was granted additional time to present their case, according to Kristen Stenvik, superintendent of Columbia Heights Public Schools, where Liam is enrolled.
Paschal Nwokocha, the family’s attorney, stated:
“The government was bent on removing this family from the United States. We were able to get additional time to do what we need to do in court.”
The federal government had filed a motion on Wednesday seeking to terminate the family’s asylum claims. Liam had been detained with his father on January 20 and transferred to a detention center in Texas earlier this week.
Judge orders Trump administration to unfreeze funds for New York-New Jersey rail project
A New York federal judge on Friday ordered the release of funds withheld by the Trump administration for a $16 billion project to upgrade essential rail infrastructure connecting New York and New Jersey, reported.
The Gateway Project aims to construct a new commuter rail tunnel between Manhattan and New Jersey and to repair a century-old tunnel used daily by over 200,000 travelers and 425 trains. The existing Hudson Tunnel sustained significant damage from Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and requires frequent emergency repairs that disrupt travel on the nation’s busiest passenger rail line.
US District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan issued the ruling hours after New York and New Jersey warned that construction would halt without funding. New Jersey’s acting attorney general, Jennifer Davenport, and New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, praised the decision.
James stated:
“The Trump Administration must drop this campaign of political retribution immediately and must allow work on this vital infrastructure project to continue.”
Davenport added:
“We won a court order and blocked the Trump administration from freezing funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project. We will continue our lawsuit and fight to protect our good-paying union jobs and ensure one of the most important infrastructure projects in the nation can resume.”
The states’ January lawsuit accused the Trump administration of freezing funds as a “brazen act of political retribution” against Democratic leaders.
The administration withheld $205 million in reimbursements for the project since October 1. Echoing Trump’s 2019 attempt to extract a political favor from Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy by withholding weapons funds, Trump reportedly demanded Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer agree to rename both Washington Dulles Airport and New York’s Penn Station after him in exchange for releasing the funds.
Trump claims Schumer suggested renaming Penn Station Trump Station; Schumer calls that an 'absolute lie'
On a flight to Florida Friday night, Trump was asked about reports that he told Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer he would unfreeze funds for a major New York infrastructure project if Schumer supported renaming Penn Station after Trump.
Trump responded:
“Chuck Schumer suggested that to me, about changing the name of Penn Station to Trump Station.”
Schumer rebutted:
“Absolute lie. He knows it. Everyone knows it. Only one man can restart the project and he can restart it with the snap of his fingers.”
Trump says he directed posting of racist video that depicted Obamas as apes but claims not to have seen offensive images
Donald Trump admitted Friday night that he instructed aides to post a racist video on his social media account depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes but claimed he did not see the offensive segment near the end of the 62-second clip, which otherwise reiterated conspiracy theories about his 2020 election loss.
Initially, the White House defended the video in a statement from the press secretary, but the clip was later deleted, with reporters told it had been posted without the president’s knowledge by an aide.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump contradicted his aides’ explanations by confirming he approved posting the video. He said:
“I looked at it, I saw it and I just looked at the first part. I didn’t see the whole thing; I guess during the end of it there was some kind of a picture that people don’t like. I wouldn’t like it either. But I didn’t see it, I just, I looked at the first part … then I gave it to the people. Generally they look at the whole thing, but I guess somebody didn’t and they posted – and we took it down.”
When asked if he would apologize, despite Republican officials suggesting he should, Trump replied:
“No, I didn’t make a mistake. I mean you give, I look at a lot of, thousands of things.”He appeared to imply that his posts, which serve as official presidential statements, are not something he scrutinizes closely.
Trump offered an explanation similar to that of his press secretary, who earlier described the meme as a harmless reference to The Lion King. Trump added:
“But nobody knew that was at the end. Certainly if they had looked, they would’ve seen it, and probably they would’ve had the sense to take it down.”
Trump’s claim that the clip was removed promptly after the racist depiction was discovered is inaccurate, as the post remained online for hours after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the outrage.
Leavitt stated on Friday morning:
“This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King. Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”
The video was removed hours after this dismissive statement.
Trump did not specify who posted the video, but Natalie Harp, an aide to Trump and former anchor for the conspiratorial One America News, has access to the president’s Truth Social account.
Trump also told a reporter pressing him on the wisdom of posting a racist video:
“I am, by the way, the least racist president you’ve had in a long time.”
Hegseth says US defense department will no longer support 'woke' Harvard
Pete Hegseth, former Fox weekend host and current US defense secretary, announced on Friday that the Pentagon is discontinuing all graduate-level professional military education (PME), fellowships, and certificate programs between Harvard University and the Department of Defense for active-duty service members.
Hegseth, who did not mention his own master’s degree from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, criticized the university as “one of the red-hot centers of Hate America activism.”
He said:
“Too many faculty members openly loathe our military; they cast our armed forces in a negative light and squelch anyone who challenges their leftist political leanings.”
He further claimed:
“University leadership encouraged a campus environment that celebrated Hamas, allowed attacks on Jews, and still promotes discrimination based on race in violation of supreme court decisions. DEI was literally founded at Harvard.”
Hegseth added:
“With some exceptions, the Ivy League as a whole has pervasive institutional bias and a lack of viewpoint diversity, including the coddling of toxic ideologies that undercuts our mission.”
He announced that in two weeks, all military departments—Army, Navy, and Air Force—will evaluate existing graduate programs for active-duty service members at Ivy League and other civilian universities to assess whether they provide cost-effective, strategic education for future senior leaders.
Hegseth emphasized the Pentagon’s focus on “building lethality” and stated:
“No longer includes spending millions of dollars on expensive universities that actively undercut our mission and undercut our country. We train warriors, not wokesters.”
He concluded his video message with:
“Harvard: good riddance.”
Although Hegseth did not explicitly reference his own Harvard experience, his remarks were likely understood by Fox News viewers, including President Trump, as a continuation of his longstanding criticism of the university. Hegseth has disparaged Harvard in books and television appearances, including a 2022 Fox & Friends segment where he defaced his diploma with “Return to sender” written across it, while acknowledging he retained the degree.
Trump raises import limit on Argentinian beef amid rising US prices
Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Friday increasing imports of Argentinian beef, although economists suggest this move will have minimal impact on consumer prices, reports.
Initially, US cattle ranchers expressed outrage at the White House’s announcement to raise the quota for low-tariff beef imports from Argentina.
Trump has faced pressure to address affordability issues, which he has previously dismissed as “a hoax,” even as rising costs contributed to Democratic electoral gains in 2025.
US beef prices reached record highs last year, benefiting ranchers who largely supported Trump. This was due to strong consumer demand and reduced cattle supplies.
Ranchers reduced the herd to its lowest level in 75 years as of January, following a persistent drought that damaged grazing pastures and increased feeding costs, according to US data.
Trump’s proclamation raises the tariff rate quota on Argentine beef by 80,000 metric tons, allowing Argentina to export more beef to the US at a lower duty rate. The increase applies only to lean beef trimmings, which are blended with domestic supplies to produce hamburger meat.
Senator Deb Fischer, a Republican from Nebraska, commented:
“Instead of imports that sideline American ranchers, we should be focused on solutions that cut red tape, lower production costs, and support growing our cattle herd.”
Economists predict that increased Argentinian beef imports will likely be too small to significantly reduce grocery prices but may improve margins for food companies.
In 2024, the US imported approximately 33,000 metric tons of Argentinian beef, representing 2% of total imports, according to government data.
Boos for JD Vance heard at Olympics opening ceremony, but not by US viewers
As the United States team, led by speedskater Erin Jackson, entered the stadium, they were loudly applauded, according to journalist Sean Ingle reporting from Milan. However, when US Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha appeared, the cheers turned to loud boos.
Canadian broadcaster CBC’s coverage captured the boos, with a commentator noting:
“There is the vice-president JD Vance and his wife Usha – oop, those are not … uh … those are a lot of boos for him. Whistling, jeering, some applause.”
In contrast, the NBC live stream viewed by Americans omitted the moment; the booing was neither audible nor mentioned in NBC’s broadcast clips.
The White House shared clips of the US team’s entrance and Vance applauding from the boo-free NBC broadcast on social media.
Journalists inside the stadium confirmed the unusual booing during the ceremony.
USA Today correspondent Christine Brennan tweeted from Italy:
“It’s very rare to hear boos at an Olympic opening ceremony. In my 22 Olympics it probably has happened but I sure don’t remember it. Vice President JD Vance just got booed when he appeared on the big screen. The US athletes, on the other hand, received loud cheers.”
’s live blogger Emma Smith also heard the boos:
“The USA team got huge cheers as they entered the arena. Those cheers turned quickly to boos when American vice president JD Vance appeared on the big screen. He is at the stadium tonight with wife Usha.”
Columnist Bruce Arthur noted that Vance was not the only figure booed:
“Israel was definitely booed. Not universally, but there were more boos than cheers in the Milan stadium for the four Israeli athletes who marched.”
Bill Clinton demands public hearing and full release of Epstein files
Former President Bill Clinton renewed his call for the full release of federal investigation files related to Jeffrey Epstein and demanded that his testimony to Congress about his relationship with Epstein be conducted in a public hearing rather than behind closed doors.
Clinton stated in a message:
“I have called for the full release of the Epstein files. I have provided a sworn statement of what I know. And just this week, I’ve agreed to appear in person before the committee. But it’s still not enough for Republicans on the House Oversight Committee.”
He added:
“Now, Chairman Comer says he wants cameras, but only behind closed doors. Who benefits from this arrangement? It’s not Epstein’s victims, who deserve justice. Not the public, who deserve the truth. It serves only partisan interests. This is not fact-finding, it’s pure politics. I will not sit idly as they use me as a prop in a closed-door kangaroo court by a Republican Party running scared. If they want answers, let’s stop the games & do this the right way: in a public hearing, where the American people can see for themselves what this is really about.”
Clinton’s spokesman confirmed that the former president used Epstein’s private jet on four trips in 2002 and 2003—visiting Europe, Asia, and Africa in connection with Clinton Foundation work—but denied any visits to Epstein’s private island and stated there was no contact after Epstein was first charged with sex crimes.
Bill Clinton’s statement echoed a call made by his wife, former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who on Thursday accused House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer of playing “games” by demanding testimony from both Clintons behind closed doors. Hillary Clinton tweeted:
“You love to talk about transparency. There’s nothing more transparent than a public hearing, cameras on.”
DHS inspector general investigates immigration surveillance practices
The Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general announced an audit of federal immigration authorities’ use of surveillance technologies, including the collection of sensitive biometric data and the use of facial recognition systems increasingly employed by DHS and ICE agents to identify immigrants and citizens.
Joseph Cuffari, head of the DHS watchdog, wrote in a letter on Friday that the audit will address concerns raised by Democratic Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. The senators had written to DHS following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, highlighting potential civil liberties violations related to data privacy and unlawful searches.
The senators stated:
“ICE’s new information collection tools potentially enable DHS to circumvent the constitutional protections provided by the Fourth Amendment—protections guaranteed to all Americans and all persons within our borders.”
The letter criticized ICE’s contracts with surveillance and analytics firm Palantir and facial recognition software developer Clearview AI, as well as the use of programs inaccessible to DHS offices, including Flock License Plate Scanning Software.
Senators requested details on how DHS stores and uses sensitive personally identifying data, handles false positives, obtains consent for data collection, and how data may be used to target immigration enforcement activities.
They described the investigation as:
“An important first step in investigating if Americans’ data is being misused.”
Immigration advocates called for greater urgency. Laura Rivera, senior staff attorney at Just Futures Law, stated:
“ICE has been operating like a paramilitary force, using facial recognition tech to suppress dissent and target people of color in blatant racial profiling incidents across the country. An Inspector General investigation into these abuses is far from enough—we need real accountability and a ban on the use of this noxious method of surveillance.”
Congressional Democrats also introduced legislation this week to ban ICE and CBP from using facial recognition technology and other biometric identification systems.
Here's a recap of the day so far
Following intense backlash from Democrats and Republicans, the White House removed Trump’s Truth Social repost of a racist video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. Earlier, press secretary Karoline Leavitt had defended the repost as “an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King.”
Indirect talks between Iran and the US on Iran’s nuclear program concluded on Friday with a broad agreement to maintain a diplomatic path, possibly with further discussions forthcoming, according to statements from Iran and Omani hosts. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the eight-hour meetings as a “good start” conducted in a positive atmosphere. The US dele...
