What to know today
- The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to overturn U.S. District Judge James Boasberg's order in the Alien Enemies Act case, which paused deportation flights under the rarely used wartime law.
- Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance visited Greenland today as part of a U.S. delegation that included national security adviser Michael Waltz, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.
- In a change to their itinerary, the Vances visited Pituffik Space Base rather than the country's capital, Nuuk, after President Donald Trump's stated desire for the U.S. to take ownership of the Danish territory for U.S. national security purposes sparked controversy abroad.
- Trump participated in a swearing-in ceremony this afternoon for his White House counselor and former lawyer Alina Habba as the interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey.
FDA’s top vaccine scientist, Dr. Peter Marks, is out
Dr. Peter Marks, the Food and Drug Administration’s top vaccine regulator, has resigned, an official at the Department of Health and Human Services said today.
“If Peter Marks does not want to get behind restoring science to its golden standard and promoting radical transparency, then he has no place at FDA under the strong leadership of Secretary Kennedy,†Andrew Nixon, a senior spokesperson at HHS, said.
A person familiar with the matter told NBC News that Marks was forced out of his position.
In a resignation letter to acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner, Marks wrote that undermining confidence in vaccines is “irresponsible, detrimental to public health, and a clear danger to our nation’s health, safety, and security.â€
The White House’s Barstool problem
One of the most viral responses to the Trump administration’s Signal chat debacle this week came not from a lawmaker or military expert, but from a man who rates pizza slices after taking a single bite.
“We are lucky it didn’t cause the death of American military members,†Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, said Wednesday in a video on X in which he called for the firing of national security adviser Michael Waltz. “Somebody has to go down for this.â€
Portnoy interviewed Trump ahead of the 2020 election and publicly supported him in last year’s campaign. Portnoy’s irreverent persona and knack for connecting with sports fans, gamblers and other “bros†allowed him to serve as a conduit for Trump’s message between the president and a key segment of the electorate he was laser-focused on.
But his six-minute, direct-to-camera video on X eviscerated Trump officials for inadvertently adding a prominent journalist, The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg, to a Signal app group chat in which they discussed plans to attack Houthi rebels in Yemen in the hours before launching strikes on March 16.
Taxpayer-funded staffers for Ron DeSantis solicit lobbyist cash as his wife considers a 2026 run
Reporting from Tallahassee, Florida
Taxpayer-funded staffers in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office have been making fundraising calls to state lobbyists, asking them to commit to raise money for a DeSantis-aligned political committee as Casey DeSantis considers a campaign for governor, according to five sources who either received the calls or have direct knowledge of them.
The governor’s office and the staffers said to have been on the calls denied that they happened. And Casey DeSantis, the governor’s wife, has not yet decided if she will run to succeed him in 2026. But she has openly hinted at the idea, which has increasingly become a point of political intrigue in the state — and prompted DeSantis’ political operation to try to slow the fundraising pace of Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., who has already announced his bid for governor and received Trump’s endorsement.
“It’s kind of a no-brainer for most of us. Of course we will give. He’s the governor,†said one person who said they received a call. Like the others who received or were told about the calls, the person spoke to NBC News on the condition of anonymity in order to freely discuss the conversations without fear of retribution.
“I mean, my kid has to eat,†the person continued.
Judge limits Trump order targeting law firm WilmerHale
A federal judge tonight blocked the Trump administration from enforcing multiple parts of an executive order targeting the law firm WilmerHale.
Judge Richard Leon blocked Trump from an enforcing two provisions of the order: terminating all government contracts with the law firm and limiting its employees from accessing federal buildings.
During a hearing earlier today, conservative attorney Paul Clemente, who is representing WilmerHale, outlined the immediate harm he said the firm has faced due to Trump's order, including two canceled meetings with government agencies and security clearances that are beginning to be revoked.
The judge's order did not affect a provision of Trump's order directing federal agency heads "to suspend any active security clearances held by individuals at WilmerHale" pending review.
Wilmer Hale previously employed Robert Mueller, a special counsel who led the Russia investigation after the 2016 presidential election.
The judge said at today's hearing that Trump's executive order was “avowedly based on retaliation for core protected activity.â€
Federal judge blocks firing of Voice of America staff
A federal judge today temporarily blocked the Trump administration from efforts to fire Voice of America staff.
U.S. District Judge James Paul Oetken granted a temporary restraining order after a group of journalists and labor groups asked the court to return the U.S. Global Media Agency, which oversees outlets including Voice of America and its employees, contractors and grantees, to its status before Trump signed an order this month to dismantle the federal agency.
The plaintiffs said in a court filing that roughly 1,300 VOA journalists and other employees "had to stop working immediately" because they were placed on administrative leave after Trump's order.
Ecuadorian president announces plans to meet with Trump this weekend
Daniel Noboa, the president of Ecuador, announced today that he will meet with Trump this weekend in Florida.
Noboa said in an interview with Ecuador’s Radio Centro said that he will head to the U.S. this evening to “personally speak†with Trump about “topics related to migration in benefit to [Ecuador’s] migrants†and a “fair trade deal on both sides.â€
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Noboa’s announcement.
Noboa’s government yesterday announced a two-day trip to Miami and Fort Lauderdale for this weekend to “perform official activities.†Trump is scheduled to be at Mar-a-Lago this weekend.
Noboa, who is seeking re-election, recently hired the lobbying firm Mercury for $165,000, according to U.S. Justice Department records.
The contract is to “bolster the political-diplomatic strategies and initiatives pertaining to migration, trade, and security with the U.S. administration†and the specifics include arranging high-level meetings with the White House and other administration officials.
Tulsi Gabbard revokes access to classified info for Trump's political foes
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said on social media tonight that she had revoked security clearances from several of Trump's political foes.
"Per @POTUS directive, I have revoked former President Joe Biden’s security clearance, and revoked clearances and access to classified information for Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, Fiona Hill, and Alexander Vindman," Gabbard wrote on X.
Trump previously announced that he would “immediately†terminate Biden's access to intelligence information and had issued a memo last week that said it was “no longer in the national interest†for Harris, Clinton, Cheney and Kinzinger to have to access to classified information.
Cheney and Kinzinger were the two Republican members of the House Jan.6 Committee. Vindman and Hill gave testimony during Trump's first impeachment inquiry, with Vindman detailing Trump's 2019 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
During his first months in office, Trump has pulled numerous security clearances, including for dozens of former national security officials who signed a letter more than four years ago suggesting that Russia might have promoted allegations about Hunter Biden as part of a broader 2020 election interference effort.
Judge orders reinstatement of fired CFPB employees
A federal judge tonight issued a sweeping order affecting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered the reinstatement of all employees fired since Feb. 10 and the reinstatement of office space to ensure statutory functions can be completed.
The judge also ordered the rescinding of any contract cancellations with vendors.
Judge says he is 'inclined' to temporarily block Trump's order targeting WilmerHale law firm
A federal judge today said he was “inclined†to grant a temporary restraining order that would block Trump's executive order against the law firm WilmerHale.
Judge Richard Leon said the executive order, which suspends the security clearances of employees at the firm, was “avowedly based on retaliation for core protected activity.â€
The firm previously employed Robert Mueller, a special counsel who led the Russia investigation after the 2016 presidential election.
“The president could have done this a different way, couldn’t he?†Leon asked Justice Department attorney Richard Lawson.
No ruling was issued by the judge.
WilmerHale chose influential conservative attorney Paul Clemente to represent the firm. Clemente detailed the immediate harm facing the firm, including two meetings with government agencies that were canceled today, and security clearances that are beginning to be revoked.
On that point, he brought up an issue related to two attorneys at WilmerHale who are also reservists in the military: they were told to report for duty next week but are unsure if they will now be able to due to potential clearance issues.
“This is designed to chill law firms,†Clemente said.
“Some of them are standing tall, and some are making deals,†he said of other firms facing similar executive orders.
The judge was incredulous when discussing a section of the executive order that bans WilmerHale employees from entering federal buildings.
“What possible threat do they pose from having access to government buildings?" he asked.
“This is a government building,†the judge noted, referring to the E. Barrett Prettyman federal courthouse in Washington, D.C.The courtroom gallery was at capacity, filled mostly with partners and associates of the law firm.
Judge blocks Trump order targeting law firm Jenner & Block, calls it unconstitutional
In a rare Friday night hearing, Judge John Bates blocked the Trump administration from enforcing the president's executive order targeting Jenner & Block, the former law firm of MSNBC legal analyst Andrew Weissmann who was once a prosecutor in Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.
In granting the temporary restraining order, the judge said the executive order violates the First, Fifth and Sixth amendments of the Constitution.
Trump has targeted other law firms with executive orders, with mixed results.
Republican congresswoman hit with jeers after saying she won't demand Hegseth or Waltz resign
Audience members at a town hall for Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., this evening heckled the congresswoman for her defense of Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz after they discussed U.S. military plans in a group chat that inadvertently included a journalist.
Spartz was asked by one woman if she'd demand the resignation of the two officials, a remark that elicited loud cheers from the crowd.
"No, I will not demand their resignation," Spartz said bluntly, drawing jeers.
The congresswoman said the leaked Signal chat was indicative of a larger issue regarding outdated government communication channels for sensitive information, arguing that both Democrats and Republicans have complained about the issue.
"The government needs to do a better job giving us tools where we can communicate with each other," she said. "A lot of Democrats and Republicans are using Signal because we don't have any other tools."
Among the solutions for the issue? Spartz said Elon Musk has a role to play.
"With all the technology happening in the real world, it's sad that government is so behind on every single technology. And actually that's what Elon is trying to do — he's trying to bring technology into government," Spartz said among boos from the crowd.
Trump commutes sentence of Ozy Media founder Carlos Watson
Trump commuted the criminal sentence of Ozy Media founder Carlos Watson today, just hours before Watson was due to begin serving a 116-month prison term for a multi-million-dollar scheme that included falsely claiming the start-up had deals with Google and Oprah Winfrey, a senior White House official said.
Watson had expected to surrender this afternoon to the Federal Correctional Institution in Lompoc, California, before he received word of Trump granting him executive clemency, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Trump also commuted the sentence of one year of probation imposed on Ozy Media for the defunct news and entertainment company’s conviction in the same case.
Trump’s actions remove the criminal penalty imposed on Watson and Ozy.
Rep. Victoria Spartz concedes tariffs aren't 'sustainable' at raucous town hall
Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., conceded that tariffs are not "a sustainable solution" when asked about Trump's current policies regarding foreign imports.
While Spartz defended the tariffs Trump has placed on goods from China, Mexico, Canada and Europe, the congresswoman said that judging their effectiveness will depend on “the end result."
“He wants to make sure that we protect we bring American job back to us,†Spartz said before adding. “As a long-term solution it is not a sustainable solution.â€
Spartz made the remark in response to a question about whether the tariffs could double as an "indirect tax on Americans," which she said depends on how they're implemented.
"As a CPA and economist, I will tell you it depends," she said. "Every policy, it depends on the end result you're trying to achieve."
While attendees in the first several rows of the town hall idly listened to Spartz as she defended Trump’s tariffs and his broader agenda, those in the back of the room could be heard jeering and booing the congresswoman as she spoke.
Musk says his companies are 'suffering' because of his work with the government
Billionaire Elon Musk said that his companies are suffering from his involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency.
“It’s actually disadvantageous for me to be in the government, not advantageous. If I wasn’t in the government, I could lobby and I could push for things that are advantageous to my companies, and probably get it, probably receive it," Musk said in a taped one-on-one interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier that aired tonight. "My companies are suffering because I’m in the government."
Musk’s Tesla has faced a wave of attacks and his net worth has taken a significant hit amid stock sell-off in shares of the automobile company. Still, he remains the richest person in the world by more than $100 billion, according to Forbes’ real time list of billionaires.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor defends ‘fearlessly independent’ judiciary amid Trump attacks
Reporting from Washington
Liberal Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor today stressed the importance of an independent judiciary and fealty to the rule of law amid harsh rhetoric from the Trump administration against judges who have impeded its policies.
Sotomayor, speaking to students at Georgetown Law Center in Washington, said it was vital that everyone “ensure that the courts are fearlessly independent, that we understand that our obligation is to protect the rights given to us under the Constitution.â€
“More than ever, we have to get up and explain and repeat and explain again why judicial independence is critical to everyone’s freedom, because arbitrary power is just that, and it means that anyone is going to be subject to unfairness at someone else’s whim,†she added.
Sotomayor did not directly address the aggressive executive actions taken by the Trump administration and angry criticism of judges, including calls for impeachment.
Musk to meet CIA director to discuss 'government efficiency'
Elon Musk is due to meet CIA Director John Ratcliffe, an agency spokesperson said.
“Director Ratcliffe has invited Elon Musk to meet with him at the Agency to discuss government efficiency," the spokesperson said in an email.
The meeting is expected to take place Monday, a U.S. official said.
Republican congressman calls Signal chat leak 'more than a mistake'
Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., said this afternoon that the Trump administration's use of a Signal chat to discuss imminent military plans was "more than a mistake," but not enough to cost the jobs of the top U.S. officials involved.
"It needs to be dealt with very seriously," Flood told NBC News’ “Meet the Press†moderator Kristen Welker. "The White House together with all of these different agencies have to do everything in their power to make sure this never happens again and restore the confidence of anybody that is concerned about the use of the Signal app to do anything like that."
The Nebraska Republican added that despite the incident he remains confident in national security adviser Michael Walz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Waltz created the Signal group chat where a journalist was inadvertently added and Hegseth outlined plans for a U.S. strike on Houthi militants in Yemen.
"I’ve worked with Michael Waltz," Flood said of the former Florida congressman. "I think the defense secretary is off to a good start. In fact, I think the entire Trump administration is off to a good start."
"Speaking very bluntly, everybody that I ran into in my district has concerns about the way that was done on Signal, and I think at the end of the day, I’m sure the president is addressing this," he added.
Vances head back to Washington after trip to Greenland
Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance have departed Greenland for Washington, spending just hours on the ground in a territory Trump has more aggressively pursued U.S. ownership of in recent months.
The Vances toured Pituffik Space Base, the Pentagon's northernmost installation which supports missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance operations for the U.S. and NATO.
Usha Vance was initially set to embark on a cultural tour of Greenland, including through a visit to a popular dogsled race and several cultural heritage sites. That itinerary was ultimately scaled back in part because of pushback from Danish and Greenlandic leaders.
Inside Trump’s shock decision to pull the plug on Elise Stefanik’s nomination
At a White House event honoring Women’s History Month Wednesday afternoon, President Donald Trump took six minutes out of his speech to personally recognize many of the Republican women who were gathered in the audience.Â
But one person in attendance that he did not mention was Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who was, at the time, Trump’s nominee to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.Â
The omission, which several GOP lawmakers took notice of at the time, was all the more conspicuous given that Stefanik’s name was included on the list of women in Trump’s prepared remarks, according to a White House official.Â
While it’s unclear whether Trump purposely chose to skip Stefanik’s name, less than 24 hours later, the president delivered another public blow to the congresswoman. He announced that he was withdrawing Stefanik’s nomination for the ambassadorship, citing concerns over Republicans’ razor-thin House majority and the prospect of a special election to fill her seat.
Trump pardoned six people yesterday
Trump pardoned six people yesterday, according to a White House official.
Among those receiving pardons included three co-founders of BitMEX crypto exchange, Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed.
Trump also confirmed to reporters at the White House today that he pardoned former Nikola founder Trevor Milton who had been convicted on three counts tied to fraud after a jury said Milton had effectively made up the driving capability of its EV truck.
Asked why he had pardoned Milton, Trump said: “I don’t know him, they say it was very unfair, and they say the thing that he did wrong was he was one of the first people who supported a gentleman named Donald Trump for president."
The White House has declined to disclose the names of the two remaining people who Trump pardoned yesterday.
Leaked Signal chat messages referenced sensitive intelligence provided by Israel
National security adviser Michael Walz referenced sensitive intelligence provided by Israel in the leaked Signal group chat used by senior Trump administration officials to discuss plans to launch airstrikes against Houthi militants in Yemen, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter. Â
Israel provided the U.S. officials sensitive intelligence on a Houthi militant that was targeted in the U.S. airstrike, the sources said.
In the group chat, after the initial U.S. air raids were launched on March 15, Waltz texted that a “top missile guy†had been successfully targeted as he had been spotted entering a building with his girlfriend.
“The first target—their top missile guy—we had positive ID of him walking into his girlfriend’s building and it is now collapsed,†Waltz wrote in the text.
The Trump administration has maintained that no intelligence sources or methods or other classified information were disclosed in the leaked group chat. But the revelation that Israel supplied intelligence about an intended target that was referred to in the chat raised new questions about whether the Signal text chain potentially put at risk sensitive intelligence from an ally on a commercially available app.
The impetus for the military strikes on the Houthis came in part from new Israeli intelligence that had emerged in recent months, which was passed on to the Biden administration, according to a military official and two sources with knowledge of the matter.
The Wall Street Journal first reported on Israel supplying the intelligence related to the Houthi militant who was targeted in an air strike.
Vance says Denmark has ‘not done a good job’ at keeping Greenland secure as Trump pushes for U.S. ownership
Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized Denmark and other European allies during his visit to Greenland today, as the Trump administration continues to push U.S. ownership of the semi-autonomous territory.
Speaking to service members at Pituffik Space Base, a U.S. Space Force base on the northwestern coast of Greenland, Vance argued that Greenlanders would be better off being under the protection of the U.S. than Denmark.
“Our message to Denmark is very simple — you have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,†Vance said. “You have underinvested in the people of Greenland and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful land mass.â€
Days after President Donald Trump said that the U.S. “would go as far as we have to†to take ownership of territory, Vance made a pitch to the people of Greenland: “I think that you’d be a lot better coming under the United States security umbrella than you have been under Denmark’s security umbrella.â€
Vances tour Greenland space base
Vice President JD Vance, right, and second lady Usha Vance leave headquarters at Pituffik Space Base today. The base, the Department of Defense’s northernmost installation, supports missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance operations for the U.S. and NATO.
Judge extends order barring administration from using the Alien Enemies Act for deportations
Judge James Boasberg has extended his temporary restraining order, blocking the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Venezuelan members of the Tren de Aragua gang from the U.S. through April 12. Boasberg will hear arguments on a preliminary injunction in this case on April 8. Â
Just this morning, the government asked the Supreme Court to vacate Boasberg’s order. It's also asking for an immediate administrative stay of the order while it out in court.
Musk to travel to Wisconsin ahead of critical court election
Tech billionaire and White House adviser Elon Musk will head to Wisconsin days before the pivotal state Supreme Court election there, a race he’s sunk millions of dollars into on behalf of the conservative candidate, becoming a central figure in the race himself.
Musk made the announcement early Friday on his social media platform X. Initially, he posted that he would “personally hand over two checks for a million dollars each in appreciation for you taking the time to vote.†But he deleted that post midday, replacing it with a similar message that declared the $1 million winners would instead be “spokesmen†for his petition to oppose “activist judges.â€
Trump on pulling Stefanik's nomination to be U.N. ambassador: 'I didn't want to take a chance'
In the Oval Office, Trump addressed his decision yesterday to ask Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., to remain in Congress after he had nominated her to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
"She's very popular in her district, and I didn't want to take a chance," the president told reporters.
He added, “We cannot take a chance. We have a slim margin. We don’t want to take any chances. We don’t want to experiment.â€
If Stefanik had left the House, Republicans' already razor-thin majority would have been at risk if a Democrat won a special election to serve the rest of Stefanik's term.
Trump's decision on Thursday came less than a week before two special elections are set to take place in Florida to fill the seats of former Reps. Michael Waltz and Matt Gaetz. Gaetz was selected to be Trump's nominee for attorney general before he withdrew from consideration, and Waltz now serves as Trump's national security adviser.
Trump says his administration made a deal with another major law firm for free legal work
Trump said the elite law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP has reached an agreement with his administration to commit at least $100 million in pro bono legal services to jointly supported causes such as support for veterans and other public servants, including members of the military.Â
Skadden has agreed to provide pro bono legal services, “merit-based†hiring, promotion and retention, and to fund at least five legal fellows, Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday.Â
“This was essentially a settlement,†Trump said of the agreement. “We appreciate Skadden coming to the table.†He added that his administration will soon issue more details.Â
The announcement follows a decision by another law firm, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Garrison & Wharton, to commit $40 million in free legal work for causes the president supports, prompting Trump to rescind an executive order that targeted the firm (one of several that Trump has signed targeting private law firms and lawyers.)
Shortly after the Paul Weiss development, a Skadden associate, Rachel Cohen, sent an email to her firm saying that she would resign unless the company agreed to take several steps to challenge the Trump administration. She told NBC News that she believes “a coup†is happening in America.
"The big law firms are not going to save us, but we are a brick in a wall, and we’re pretty close to the bottom," she said.
Wyoming Republican announces she will cease in-person town halls, citing 'Democrat threats of violence'
Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., announced she will stop holding in-person town halls in her home state of Wyoming for the short-term future due to “Democrat threats of violence,†according to a statement from her office.Â
Hageman had several in-person events scheduled over the next few weeks that will now take place virtually instead. The first was a town hall originally set to be held in Laramie County at 6:30 p.m. ET tonight. A town hall scheduled for tomorrow evening in Goshen County has also been moved online.Â
The announcement comes on the heels of a contentious town hall last week, during which Hageman was booed and heckled by her constituents in deep red Laramie County as they expressed their discontent with the Trump administration’s policies, including its sweeping cuts to the federal government and its services through the Department of Government Efficiency.Â
“It’s no secret that I am willing to engage with citizens on any topic, in any place. But I draw the line when organized protestors intentionally create confrontation and chaos, escalating tensions to a point where violence seems inevitable," Hageman said in a statement, echoing baseless claims from Trump and Republican leaders that disgruntled constituents at GOP town halls are being paid by Democrats to show up.Â
Hageman was one of the only congressional conservatives that continued to hold town halls despite House GOP leadership urging their members against speaking to their constituents in-person after the town halls caused a series of negative headlines.Â
Judge says she will not hear all three 'Big Law' cases against the Trump administration
After being assigned all three cases where "Big Law" firms are suing the Trump administration over his executive orders, Judge Beryl Howell this afternoon has released a paperless order explaining why she believes the three cases are in fact not closely enough related, and therefore she will not be hearing all three.
“The legal issues involved in all three cases appear to be substantially similar, making the instinct to keep and decide the cases together understandable and even tempting for preservation of judicial resources by allowing a single judge to become familiar with applicable legal principles in these cases,†Howell wrote. But, she wrote, “The cases involve different issues of fact and arise from different events.â€
“Strict adherence to the process of random case assignment is crucial to ensure “fair and equal distribution of cases to all judges, avoid public perception or appearance of favoritism in assignments, and reduce opportunities for judge-shopping,†she wrote.
Howell will continue with the Perkins Coie case, while Judge John Bates will now be hearing the Jenner & Block case and Judge Richard Leon the WilmerHale case.Â
Trump pardons Nikola founder Trevor Milton in securities fraud case
President Donald Trump pardoned Nikola Corp. founder Trevor Milton for his October 2022 conviction of federal crimes related to defrauding investors with false claims about the success of the electric and hydrogen-powered truck maker.
Milton, 42, was sentenced in December 2023 to four years in prison, but he has been free since then pending an appeal of the former CEO’s criminal conviction on securities and wire fraud charges in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.
The pardon came two weeks after federal prosecutors urged District Court Judge Edgardo Ramos to order Milton to pay restitution of $680 million to Nikola shareholders, and another $15.2 million to Peter Hicks, a victim of his wire fraud.
Because of the pardon, Ramos could not order restitution of any kind.
Vice President Vance and second lady Usha Vance arrive in Greenland
Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance have arrived in Greenland at Pituffik Space Base where they were greeted by military personnel.
WilmerHale, Robert Mueller's former law firm, sues Trump administration over executive order
WilmerHale is the latest law firm to sue the Trump administration over executive orders targeting their work with the federal government by suspending their security clearances and reviewing their contracts.
The firm filed the complaint today in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, alleging that “the President’s sweeping attack on WilmerHale (and other firms) is unprecedented and unconstitutional.â€
“The First Amendment protects the rights of WilmerHale, its employees, and its clients to speak freely, petition the courts and other government institutions, and associate with the counsel of their choice without facing retaliation and discrimination by federal officials,†WilmerHale wrote.
Trump’s executive order, which is titled “Addressing Risks from WilmerHale†and was issued yesterday, said his administration is going after “Big Law†firms that “engage in conduct detrimental to critical American interests.â€
The order cited WilmerHale’s previous ties to Robert Mueller, the former special counsel who oversaw the Trump-Russia investigation, who worked for the firm. It said the firm “has abandoned the profession’s highest ideals and abused its pro bono practice to engage in activities that undermine justice and the interests of the United States."
Jenner & Block also filed a lawsuit this morning over a similar executive order targeting that law firm.
Trump calls on House to immediately vote on legislative 'fix' to D.C. funding
Trump called on the House this morning to immediately consider Senate-passed legislation that would "fix" language in the recently passed government spending measure that addresses funding for Washington, D.C.
"Washington, D.C., must become CLEAN and SAFE again! We need our Great Police back on the street, with no excuses from the Mayor, or anyone else. The House should take up the D.C. funding “fix†that the Senate has passed, and get it done IMMEDIATELY," Trump wrote.
"We need to clean up our once beautiful Capital City, and make it beautiful again. We will be TOUGH ON CRIME, like never before. I will work with the Mayor on this and, if it does not happen, will have no choice but to do it myself. Washington, D.C., will be better, safer, and more beautiful than ever before!" he continued.
The Senate passed the bill earlier this month and if the House doesn't pass it, the government spending measure would limit how D.C. can spend tax dollars.
China’s Xi calls on top executives to help ‘uphold global order’ as trade tensions with U.S. rise
BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday met with global executives and made a case for investing in the country, as Beijing focuses on reaching out to businesses amid escalating trade tensions with the U.S.
He said that multinational companies had a big responsibility to “uphold global order†and that they needed to work hand in hand with China.
Trump calls conversation with Canadian prime minister 'productive'
Trump had his first phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney this morning, calling it "productive" in a post on Truth Social.
"It was an extremely productive call, we agree on many things, and will be meeting immediately after Canada’s upcoming Election to work on elements of Politics, Business, and all other factors, that will end up being great for both the United States of America and Canada," the president wrote.
Carney, who replaced Justin Trudeau atop Canada’s Liberal Party, has been in his post for just two weeks and has been an outspoken critic of the president’s tariff posture toward Canada.
Yesterday, Carney blasted Trump's decision to impose 25% tariffs on automobile imports into the United States.
"The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over," Carney said.
"Our response to these latest tariffs is to fight, is to protect and to build. We will fight the U.S. tariffs with retaliatory trade actions of our own that will have maximum impacts in the United States," the prime minister also said.
DOJ asks Supreme Court to intervene in Alien Enemies Act case
The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to intervene in the Alien Enemies Act case and vacate a judge's ruling barring deportations under the rarely used wartime power.
“This case presents fundamental questions about who decides how to conduct sensitive national-security-related operations in this country — the President, through Article II, or the Judiciary, through TROs. The Constitution supplies a clear answer: the President,†Solicitor General Sarah Harris wrote. “The republic cannot afford a different choice.â€
It also asks the high court for an administrative stay of U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg's temporary restraining order halting the flights while it considers the appeal.Â
Earlier this week, a federal appeals court denied the government’s request to pause Boasberg’s order.Â
The high court asked the plaintiffs in the case to respond to the filing by Tuesday.Â
Federal judge to consider releasing immigration activist who took refuge in churches
DENVER — A federal judge in Denver is set to hear arguments today over whether an immigration and labor activist who took refuge in Colorado churches to avoid deportation during the first Trump administration should be freed from detention.
Jeanette Vizguerra was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on March 17 and is being held at its immigration detention facility in suburban Denver.
Trump administration rejects Putin’s proposal that the U.N. should govern Ukraine
The White House yesterday dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that peace talks in Ukraine should depend on the country being governed by the United Nations while new elections are held.Â
Speaking to reporters during a visit to a Russian nuclear submarine in Murmansk, the largest city north of the Arctic Circle, Putin reiterated his claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s mandate is illegitimate.
Law firm Jenner & Block sues Trump administration
Jenner & Block, the former law firm of former Robert Mueller team prosecutor and current MSNBC legal analyst Andrew Weissmann, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, calling Trump’s executive order targeting the firm “an unconstitutional abuse of power against lawyers, their clients, and the legal system.â€
“The Order threatens not only Jenner, but also its clients and the legal system itself. Our Constitution, top to bottom, forbids attempts by the government to punish citizens and lawyers based on the clients they represent, the positions they advocate, the opinions they voice, and the people with whom they associate,†the lawsuit states.Â
Trump has targeted several law firms that have employed people he believes have targeted him in past years, including Mueller’s former firm WilmerHale, Perkins Coie and Jenner & Block.
“These orders send a clear message to the legal profession: Cease certain representations adverse to the government and renounce the Administration’s critics—or suffer the consequences," attorneys for Jenner & Block wrote in the lawsuit. "The orders also attempt to pressure businesses and individuals to question or even abandon their associations with their chosen counsel, and to chill bringing legal challenges at all."
The firm wants a judge to block the enforcement of Trump’s executive order, and deem it unconstitutional.Â
The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hillary Clinton denounces early Trump administration moves as 'dumb'
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton blasted the policies imposed so far by the Trump administration in a New York Times opinion piece published in the wake of a report in The Atlantic this week that senior officials discussed attack plans in a Signal group chat.
Clinton denounced the administration's efforts to fire federal workers and dismantle key agencies dedicated to international humanitarian aid and diplomacy, writing, "If there’s a grand strategy at work here, I don’t know what it is."
“Today they are not reinventing government; they’re wrecking it. All of this is both dumb and dangerous,†Clinton wrote, calling them “dumb†multiple times
Clinton's name has been invoked this week by Trump administration officials who have sought to compare the Signal scandal to the revelation in 2015 that she used a private email server to communicate sometimes classified information while serving as secretary of state.
Yesterday, Attorney General Pam Bondi told reporters that none of the information shared in the Signal chat, which included weapons used and timing of strikes in Yemen, was classified — something that participants in the chat have also maintained, despite skepticism from Democrats and former national security officials.
"If you want to talk about classified information, talk about what was at Hillary Clinton’s home," Bondi said yesterday.
More than 200 Tesla protests planned this weekend after series of violent incidents
Tesla has become a lightning rod for violent attacks and vandalism in the months since CEO Elon Musk joined the Trump administration. Now, people who disagree with Musk’s role in politics are hoping to channel their emotions into something peaceful: a day of mass nonviolent protests at Tesla locations nationwide.
More than 200 protests are scheduled to take place tomorrow during what organizers are calling a global day of action, part of a campaign called “Tesla Takedown.†The organizers are hoping to damage Musk’s political standing by hurting the sales and stock price of the electric carmaker, the foundation of Musk’s wealth. They’ve set a goal of 500 demonstrations worldwide, although it’s unclear if they’ll meet that.
Trump administration pulls Stefanik’s nomination for U.N.
Trump announced that his administration has pulled the nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., for ambassador to the United Nations. NBC’s Garrett Haake reports for "TODAY" on what’s behind the decision.
Lawmakers demand answers about detention and revocation of status of Tufts University student
A group of Democratic lawmakers in the House and the Senate are demanding answers from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's acting director, Todd Lyons, about the arrest of Tufts University grad student Rumeysa Ozturk.
“We write about the disturbing arrest and detention of Rumeysa Ozturk by agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this week. The rationale for this arrest appears to be this student’s expression of her political views,†they wrote in a letter, which was spearheaded by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
The letter also said, "While the Department of Homeland Security has not publicly specified the alleged activities that led to Ozturk’s arrest, this arrest appears to be one of the latest examples in a string of ICE arrests of university students with valid green cards and visas because of their political views."
The lawmakers are calling for Ozturk's release and for her visa to be restored, absent compelling evidence justifying her detention and the revocation of her status.
The members of Congress requested that the administration respond to several questions by April 4, including about the reason for Ozturk's arrest and possible updates to the State Department’s policy governing visa revocations.
As Vance heads for Greenland, Trump’s land grab hopes get Putin thumbs-up
Vance is set to touch down in Greenland today to a chorus of anger and anxiety at White House plans to seize the Arctic territory by any means necessary.
Vance is traveling with the second lady, Usha Vance, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and national security adviser Michael Waltz.
Hours before they set off from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Russian President Vladimir Putin said last night that he had no problem with Trump’s proposed land grab of the world’s largest island.
Musk to travel to Wisconsin to hand out $1M checks to voters in state Supreme Court election
Elon Musk said in a post on X overnight that he's going to hand out million-dollar checks at an event in Wisconsin on Sunday night and only people who voted in the state's Supreme Court election can attend.
"I will also personally hand over two checks for a million dollars each in appreciation for you taking the time to vote," he wrote. "This is super important."
Musk has poured money into the Supreme Court race ahead of the election next week. His super PAC has given $100 to Wisconsin voters to sign a petition to oppose “activist judges†and announced it would also give away $1 million awards to a signatory.
The race is between two state judges, Susan Crawford, a liberal, and state judge Brad Schimel, a conservative who previously served as Wisconsin's attorney general.
Hegseth, facing scandal at home, reaffirms U.S. support for the Philippines against China
MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s “ironclad†commitment to a defense treaty with the Philippines today and pledged to deploy advanced capabilities to its partner to strengthen deterrence against threats, including Chinese “aggression.â€
Hegseth met with his counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and they signaled continued strong cooperation amid growing threats from China, emphasizing a shared commitment to peace in the Indo-Pacific region and in the South China Sea, where Manila accuses Beijing of repeated hostile actions.
How will Vance and U.S. delegation to Greenland be received?
Vance, second lady Usha Vance and a delegation are set to arrive in Greenland for a limited national security focused mission and visit with military personnel stationed in Pituffik Space Base. NBC’s Molly Hunter reports for "TODAY."
How milk is getting caught in the middle of Trump’s policy agenda
Trump’s moves in Washington are being felt in the milking barns of an upstate New York dairy farm. There, AJ Wormuth said he’s already seeing costs go up from Trump’s tariffs while the threat of a wider trade war is driving down the price he gets paid for his cows’ milk.
“We’re getting a double whammy — we’re getting lower prices and higher costs,†said Wormuth, who has 3,600 dairy cattle at his farm, Half Full Diary.
While none of Trump’s policies have specifically targeted the milk industry, dairy farmers say they have been caught in the fray on a number of fronts. Their stories illustrate the fast pace of change across the federal government at the beginning of the second Trump administration, as well as the intersection of two policy areas — immigration and the economy — where voters are giving Trump markedly different grades so far.
GOP ‘anxiety’ persists ahead of Florida special elections in Trump territory
Republicans are looking to add two more seats to their House majority after special elections in Florida next week, giving GOP leaders a little more breathing room in a tightly divided legislative chamber. But they might be holding their breath until the polls close Tuesday.
Voters will cast their ballots next week in Florida’s 1st and 6th Congressional districts, two deep-red seats that Trump won easily in November. While Republicans are still expecting to win both races, they are more competitive thanks to a wave of Democratic money and early votes.
Republicans are wary that closer-than-expected contests could fuel a narrative that voters are reacting negatively to the Trump presidency and that Democrats have the momentum heading into next year’s midterm elections.
Trump himself has made it clear that the stakes are high.