Trump live updates: President’s approval 20 points underwater in new poll with 81% blaming him for Epstein info blackout

He replied that he didn’t know about it and claimed it was “not a very uncommon thing.”

Trump was also asked about Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s meeting with the convicted sex trafficker.

President Donald Trump was asked by a reporter if gaining five additional Republican seats via redistricting in Texas was worth it, considering that Democratic-dominated states such as California, New York, and Illinois would likely do the same to add more seats there.

The president responded that they would have done it anyway.

Asked if he supports having the FBI help Texas Republicans return Texas Democratic lawmakers hunkering down in suburban Chicago to the state, President Trump says: “They may have to. … The governor wants them back.”

President Donald Trump is poised to name his choice for an open seat on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors “very shortly,” after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent withdrew his consideration for the role.

Speaking to CNBC, Trump described Fed Governor Adriana Kugler’s decision to vacate her seat early as a “pleasant surprise.”

Kugler’s departure, which came ahead of her term’s scheduled end on 31 January, appears to have accelerated Trump’s plans for the U.S. central bank, providing an immediate opportunity to appoint an individual who could potentially be elevated to the top policymaking position when Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s term concludes in May.

Trump indicated that his selection would be “one of four people,” identifying current White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett and former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh as “very good” prospects. While he did not disclose the names of the other two individuals, reports suggest current Governor Christopher Waller is under consideration, despite his advocacy for rate cuts not aligning with the pace or extent that Trump desires.

“There are numerous people that are qualified,” Trump stated, reiterating his intention to announce a replacement for Kugler, who was appointed to the Fed’s board by Joe Biden, “very shortly.” Bessent, he clarified, would not be in contention for the position as he wishes to remain in his senior Treasury role.

The nominee would initially serve the remaining months of Kugler’s term. However, Trump could explicitly signal his intention for that individual to be nominated for a full 14-year term and to also be his preferred candidate to succeed Powell when the Fed chief’s term expires next May. This strategy would afford his nominee several months and multiple policy meetings to begin influencing the policy debate.

“A lot of people say, when you do that, why don’t you just pick the person who is going to head up the Fed? That’s a possibility, too,” Trump added.

With reporting from Reuters

President Donald Trump says, “We’ll do anything necessary to keep the Olympics safe,” and said that includes potentially deploying “our National Guard or military.”

His statement comes after he sent National Guard troops to Los Angeles to respond to immigration protests earlier this year.

Los Angeles will host the 2028 Games, beginning on July 14, 2028.

Asked if JD Vance is his heir apparent, President Donald Trump doesn’t definitively say yes: “Certainly he’s doing a good job,” and “probably” would be the next Republican nominee.

Trump adds that Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio could possibly team up and “some other people on this stage” — some of his Cabinet secretaries — could also be future players.

Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein, who, after his death, was convicted of sex trafficking girls and young women as his accomplice, is opposing the government’s requests to unseal the grand jury transcripts in her criminal case.

Kelly Rissman has the full story.

The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg asked President Donald Trump: “Mr. President, would you support Israel reoccupying all of Gaza as has been suggested by some Israeli officials?”

The president responded: “Well, I don’t know what the suggestion is. I know that we have, we are there now, trying to get people fed. As you know, $60 million was given by the United States fairly recently to supply food, and lot of, lot of food, frankly, for the people of Gaza that are obviously not doing too well with the food. And I know Israel is going to help us with that in terms of distribution, and also money. We also have, the Arab states are going to help us with that in terms of the money and possibly distribution. So that’s what I’m focused on. As far as the rest of it, I really, I really can’t say that’s going to be pretty much up to Israel.”

“Can I say I won them athletically?” jokes Trump