The Latest: Trump meets with UK's prime minister about drifting US support for Ukraine

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the White House on Thursday to try to convince U.S. President Donald Trump that a lasting peace in Ukraine will endure only if Kyiv and European leaders are at the table as negotiations move forward with Moscow.

Meanwhile, Trump says he plans to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting Tuesday, in addition to doubling the 10% universal tariff charged on imports from China.

Federal agencies also must develop plans to eliminate employee positions, according to a memo distributed by Trump’s administration. Thousands of probationary employees have already been fired, and now his administration is turning its attention to career officials with civil service protection.

Here's the latest:

No big revelations in Epstein document release despite showy rollout with internet influencers

The rollout of the documents — which were first given to political commentators at the White House hours earlier in binders that read “The Epstein Files: Phase I” — showed the administration’s penchant for showmanship and preference for conservative influencers with large social media followings.

The Justice Department didn’t post them on its website until hours later, along with a note downplaying their significance.

“The first phase of declassified files largely contains documents that have been previously leaked but never released in a formal capacity by the U.S. Government,” the note said.

The lack of new information drew criticism even from some conservatives. “GET US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR!” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., wrote on social media, calling the rollout a “complete disappointment.”

▶ Read more about the Epstein document release

Judge finds mass firings of probationary workers were likely unlawful

A federal judge in San Francisco has found that the mass firings of probationary employees were likely unlawful, granting some relief to a coalition of labor unions and organizations that has sued to stop the Trump administration’s massive dismantling of the federal workforce.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup ordered the Office of Personnel Management to inform certain federal agencies that it had no authority to order the firings of probationary employees, including the Department of Defense.

“OPM does not have any authority whatsoever, under any statute in the history of the universe,” to hire or fire any employees but its own, he said.

Alsup also ordered the acting head of the personnel office, Charles Ezell, to testify in court in two weeks. Alsup did not buy Ezell’s written declaration that his office merely offered guidance to federal agencies about what to do with probationary employees.

▶ Read more about the judge’s orders

House Democratic leader says Trump is unleashing ‘parade of horribles’

The House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the Trump administration is unleashing a “parade of horribles” on the country.

“We have to continue to push back aggressively in every way possible in defense of the American people,” Jeffries said at a press conference at the Capitol.

He said the Democrats will continue to aggressively push back in Congress and the courts, noting some 100 lawsuits that have been filed challenging the Trump administration’s actions.

Lumber company leader named head of US Forest Service

A former land manager and lumber producer in Idaho has been appointed to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service.

Tom Shultz will be the 21st chief of the Forest Service, replacing Randy Moore, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced Thursday.

Moore announced his retirement Tuesday amid widespread firings orchestrated by the Trump administration to shrink federal agencies. In a message sent to all Forest Service employees, Moore said the past several weeks have been “incredibly difficult” and urged his colleagues to take care of each other.

Schultz is the former director of the Idaho Department of Lands and worked for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Most recently he was a vice president of Idaho Forest Group, a lumber production company headquartered in Coeur d’Alene.

“Tom is the right person to lead the Forest Service right now, and I know he will fight every day to restore America’s national forests,” Rollins said in a press release. “Together, Tom and the incredible employees at the Forest Service will work to execute the agenda of President Donald J. Trump to make America’s forests healthy and productive again.”

Former defense chiefs call for hearings on Trump’s firing of Pentagon leaders

Five former secretaries of defense are calling on Congress to hold immediate hearings on President Donald Trump’s recent firings of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and several other senior military leaders, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press.

The five — who represented Republican and Democratic administrations over the past three decades — said the dismissals were alarming, raised “troubling questions about the administration’s desire to politicize the military” and removed legal constraints on the president’s power.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has defended the firing of Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr. as chairman of the Joint Chiefs, saying that other presidents made changes in military personnel and that Trump deserves to pick his own team.

The letter was signed by William Perry, Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel, Jim Mattis and Lloyd Austin.

Trump ‘receptive’ to not imposing tariffs on the UK

Trump said he was “very receptive” to reaching a trade deal with the United Kingdom after being asked whether British Prime Minister Keir Starmer tried during their White House meeting to persuade him not to impose tariffs on the nation.

“He tried. He was working hard. I would tell you that he earned whatever the hell they pay him over there,” Trump said. “I think we could very well end up with a real trade deal and where the tariffs wouldn’t be necessary. We’ll see.”

Trump has threatened a variety of tariffs, including the so-called reciprocal tariffs, that could affect countries around the world including those producing steel.

Earlier this month, Trump told reporters that the import taxes will “definitely happen” with the European Union and possibly with the United Kingdom as well.

Groups that help refugees say Trump administration seems to be trying to circumvent court order

Earlier this week, a federal judge in Seattle blocked President Donald Trump’s suspension of the nation’s refugee admissions system.

But on Thursday, the aid groups — including Church World Service and the Jewish refugee resettlement organization HIAS — say they later received notifications that their contracts with the State Department were being canceled effective immediately.

The groups are asking the judge for an emergency hearing to discuss the impact of the termination notices, or to make clear that Tuesday’s ruling also applies to these new notices.

The State Department acknowledged receipt of an email from The Associated Press but did not otherwise respond to questions about the matter.

Hundreds to be cut from NOAA in two rounds, former chief scientist at administration says

Cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration appear to be happening in two rounds, one of 500 and one of 800, said Craig McLean, a former NOAA chief scientist who said he got the information from someone with first-hand knowledge. That’s about 10% of NOAA’s workforce.

The first round of cuts were probationary employees, McLean said.

There are about 375 probationary employees in the National Weather Service — where day-to-day forecasting and hazard warning is done — and employees there so far don’t know of any of them who have been spared the layoff knife yet, though some might be.

Many probationary employees with NOAA have been fired, sources tell AP

Dozens and perhaps hundreds of weather forecasters and other federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees on probationary status were fired Thursday, multiple sources told The Associated Press.

Federal workers not let go said the afternoon layoffs were in the tens or dozens so far, with people just getting their notices and no firm number available. They include meteorologists who do crucial local forecasts in National Weather Service offices across the country.

U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, a California Democrat who is the ranking minority member in the House Natural Resources Committee, put out a statement saying it was “hundreds of scientists and experts at NOAA.”

Trump says he has ‘respect’ for Zelenskyy, does not say if he’ll apologize for ‘dictator’ comment

Trump praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his defense against Russia’s invasion and said they would have a “very good meeting” Friday at 11 a.m. But he did not answer a question on whether he’ll apologize for calling him a dictator earlier this month.

“We have a lot of respect. I have a lot of respect for him. We’ve given him a lot of equipment and a lot of money, but they have fought very bravely,” Trump said in a press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Trump says deal to end Russia-Ukraine war must happen quickly

President Donald Trump says a peace deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war is possible but that it must be concluded quickly or else it may fail.

“If it doesn’t happen quickly, it may not happen at all,” Trump told reporters at a White House news conference with visiting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Trump has already spoken by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about his ideas for an agreement to end the 3-year-old conflict. He will meet Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday to further discuss prospects.

Starmer bats away questions about Trump’s Canada comments

Starmer said he and Trump did not discuss the president’s repeated remarks that Canada should become a 51st U.S. state and ignored a question about whether King Charles III, the monarch of Canada, was concerned about the comments.

“I think you’re trying to find a divide between us that doesn’t exist,” Starmer said in response to a question from a reporter.

Canada is a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies.

Starmer tells Trump to side with peacemaker, ‘not the invader’

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is appealing to Trump to reach a “historic peace deal” to support Ukraine in the war with Russia, while cautioning they need to side with the peacemaker and “not the invader.”

“There can’t be peace that rewards the aggressor,” Starmer said.

Trump hopes minerals deal with Ukraine will be foundation for long-term peace agreement

Trump says the deal between the United States and Ukraine that he expects to be signed this week will contribute to both Ukraine’s security and that of Europe more broadly.

Speaking at a White House news conference with visiting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump said the deal will “build the basis for a more sustainable future relationship between the United States and Ukraine” and help rebuild Ukraine’s prosperity. He added that he it would become the foundation of a “long-term peace agreement that will return stability to eastern Europe.”

Trump also said the mineral deal will effectively reimburse U.S. taxpayers for the money spent helping Ukraine defend itself, “which by and of itself is a very worthy thing to do.”

Trump will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday to witness the signing of the agreement under which Ukraine will give the U.S. access to rare earths and critical minerals in part to pay for past and continued U.S. military support in its war with Russia.