Fired inspector general Mark Greenblatt says he was informed he was terminated in a 'very short' email
Mark Greenblatt, who was the Interior Department’s inspector general until Trump fired him and 17 other IGs, said in an interview that he was informed of his dismissal in a "very short" email at around 7:30 p.m. Friday.
"The email was very short," Greenblatt said. "It just said, 'On behalf of President Trump, we are writing to note a change of priorities, and therefore, your position as the inspector general of the Department of the Interior has been terminated effective immediately. Thank you for your service.'"
Greenblatt said his email access has been cut off.
Marco Rubio says the U.S. will no longer be 'taken advantage of' after Trump's Colombia sanctions
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States would no longer be "taken advantage of" in a post on X responding to Trump's announcement of tariffs and other retaliatory measures against Colombia for rejecting two U.S. deportation flights.
"President Trump has made it clear that under his administration, America will no longer be lied to nor taken advantage of. It is the responsibility of each nation to take back their citizens who are illegally present in the United States in a serious and expeditious manner," Rubio wrote.
The Colombian Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Rubio's post.
Sen. Ruben Gallego blasts Trump for his handling of Colombia deportation flights
In a post on X, Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., slammed Trump's handling of today's situation in Colombia after Trump threatened tariffs and other retaliatory measures when Colombia refused to accept two military deportation flights.
"Trump’s strategy of antagonizing our allies is not smart policy—it just endangers decades of partnership with Colombia. We can’t act like this is some sort of 3D chess," Gallego wrote, adding: "This could’ve been handled with a simple phone call."
Trump administration swiftly enacts retribution against political enemies
For those who may have crossed Trump, the message is sinking in: Payback is coming, and coming fast.
John Bolton, a former White House national security adviser who wrote a damning book about Trump’s first term, lost the Secret Service detail assigned to protect him from assassination threats from Iran.
Also losing his detail was Anthony Fauci, the public health scientist whom Trump called a “disaster” over his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and who has been a target of far-right anger ever since. (Fauci has hired his own private security team in response.)
A portrait of Mark Milley, the former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman who broke with Trump over a photo-op at a church during the George Floyd racial justice protests, was abruptly removed from the walls of the Pentagon. Defense officials said they have no idea who ordered it taken down or why.
And Trump yanked the security clearances of dozens of former national security officials who signed a letter during the 2020 campaign opining that emails from a laptop belonging to Joe Biden’s son Hunter had the “classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.”
All that happened within days of Trump’s inauguration — and in some cases, hours.
Witkoff heads to Israel this week
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, is expected to visit Israel this week to discuss the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and other regional issues, a Middle Eastern official, a Middle Eastern diplomat and a Gulf diplomatic official told NBC News.
Witkoff has also said publicly that he intends to enter the Gaza Strip during his next trip to the region. It will be his first visit to the Middle East since the Trump administration took office. Witkoff last met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on Jan. 11, just days before the ceasefire deal was finalized in Qatar.
El Paso residents react to active-duty troops in Texas enforcing border policy
Active-duty troops in Texas will be building permanent and temporary physical barriers to stop illegal border crossings, using intelligence analysts to monitor and detect migrants, and military aircraft to take detainees back to their countries of origin. NBC News’ Priya Sridhar reports on how people are reacting to the increased presence in El Paso, Texas.
Marines assist near Imperial Beach, Calif., during deployment to southern border Friday
Marines helped set up concertina wire near Imperial Beach, California, during a deployment to the southern border Friday.
U.S. Northern Command and the Department of Homeland Security are deploying 1,500 additional active-duty military personnel to support Customs and Border Protection at the southern border, increasing the total military presence to nearly 4,000.
Trump threatens tariffs after Colombia rejects deportation flights
Trump announced on Truth Social today sweeping retaliatory measures after Colombia denied entry to two U.S. military deportation flights.
Trump accused Colombian President Gustavo Petro of "jeopardizing" U.S. national security by rejecting the flights and outlined measures including 25% tariffs on Colombian imports, with plans to raise them to 50% within a week. Additional actions include visa sanctions targeting Colombian government officials and allies, enhanced customs inspections and financial penalties as the United States claims Colombia violated its obligations to accept deported nationals.
DEA say Venezuelan gang members found in Colorado drug raid
A raid in Colorado led agents to seize drugs, weapons and apprehend international gang members, the Drug Enforcement Administration said today.
According to the DEA, its local division conducted an operation targeting a drug trafficking ring that uncovered members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Agents with ICE and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also on scene.
Nearly 50 undocumented immigrants were taken into custody, the DEA said.
Chicago Public Schools CEO says Secret Service agent mistaken for ICE was a ‘misunderstanding’
Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez said it was all a “misunderstanding” after U.S. Secret Service agents showed up at Hamline Elementary School and were mistaken for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.