Trump presidency LIVE updates: US president announces $800b AI partnership, continues flurry of announcements; Elon Musk denies performing Nazi salute

On Tuesday AEDT, Trump held off on ordering China-specific tariffs, even as he said that he intended to hit Canada and Mexico – both US neighbours and close allies – with the 25 per cent levies by February 1.

Trump instead told his administration to address unfair trade practices globally and investigate whether Beijing had complied with a deal he signed during his first stint in office, adopting what appeared to be a slower approach to China.

It is unclear under what legal authority Trump could order these tariffs imposed. In that executive order, he told officials to “assess the unlawful migration and fentanyl flows” from Canada, Mexico, and China and report back by April 1. Before his inauguration there were reports he was considering declaring a national economic emergency to allow new tariffs, but such a move hasn’t been announced.

Bloomberg

An attorney for Pete Hegseth vehemently denied the allegations. Tim Parlatore said the affidavit was filled with “belated claims” by an ex-relative with “an axe to grind against the entire Hegseth family.”

In a statement to US broadcaster NBC News, which first reported on the affidavit, Samantha Hegseth said there “was no physical abuse in my marriage. This is the only further statement I will make to you, I have let you know that I am not speaking and will not speak on my marriage to Pete. Please respect this decision.”

Samantha Hegseth and Pete Hegseth both signed a Minnesota court document in 2021 during their divorce saying neither claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse.

Republican leaders said they doubted the new allegations would change the votes of support they are lining up for Hegseth. They marched ahead with the nomination on Wednesday (AEDT), taking a key procedural step needed to confirm him by week’s end.

Hegseth was grilled by senators during a hearing last week about his behaviour, including excessive drinking, extramarital affairs and allegations of sexual assault, which he has denied.

Hegseth has promised not to drink on the job and has denied a 2017 sex assault allegation but acknowledged paying the woman a settlement. He was going through a divorce at the time after having a child with a Fox News producer who became his current wife, according to court records and his social media posts.

AP

“They brutally attacked me and my colleagues. They wanted to stop the peaceful transfer of power. I don’t see why so many of them would deserve a pardon.”

Hodges was granted a pre-emptive pardon by Joe Biden to protect him against retribution for testifying about the riot. Hodges said he is considering declining the protection, as it felt to him like an admission of guilt.

“I haven’t committed any crimes, I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“I have focused very much on articulating why Australia’s economic relationship with the United States is of benefit to the United States as well as to Australia.

“What I can say to Australians is that we will work consistently, confidently, with a very clear focus on Australia’s interests to navigate any trade issues.”

Wong said the AUKUS deal, where Australia receives nuclear submarines as part of a deal with the United States and the United Kingdom, was also brought up in the bilateral meeting, noting the new administration was keen to progress the partnership.

“It’s been really clear that the Trump administration understands the strategic imperative around AUKUS, which is why the government is so committed to it,” she said.

The one-on-one with the secretary of state happened alongside a meeting of Quad foreign ministers, which included Rubio along with ministers from India and Japan.

AAP

“The White Flame will rise again,” a chapter of the white nationalist group White Lives Matter posted on Telegram.

“Maybe woke really is dead,” white nationalist Keith Woods posted on X.

“Did Elon Musk just Heil Hitler ...” right-wing commentator Evan Kilgore posted on X. “We are so back.”

The Anti-Defamation League, an antisemitism and human rights watchdog, called it an “awkward gesture” and urged caution in jumping to conclusions. Other extremism monitors and experts pointed out it was unclear what Musk was trying to convey to the crowd of Trump’s supporters by thrusting his arm out.

“I’m sceptical it was on purpose,” said Jared Holt, a senior research analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, which tracks online hate. “It would be an act of self-sabotage that wouldn’t really make much sense at all.”

Kurt Braddock, a professor of communication at American University who studies extremism, radicalisation and terrorism, said the gesture was a fascist salute and “people shouldn’t doubt what they saw”.

Known as the Roman salute in Italy, the straight-arm greeting officially adopted in 1925 by the dictator Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime is banned in Italy though it is rarely prosecuted.

Musk’s representative in Italy, Andrea Stroppa, published the photo on X with the words: “Roman Empire is back, starting with the Roman salute,” according to the news agency ANSA.

He later deleted the post, writing that Musk “is autistic” and was expressing his emotions but denying he was emulating fascism.

“He does not like extremists,” Stroppa wrote.

AP

“The scum that worked to convict him were some of the same lunatics who were involved in the modern-day weaponisation of government against me. He was given two life sentences plus 40 years. Ridiculous!”

Libertarian activists, who generally oppose criminal drug policies, have long believed that government investigators overreached in building their case against Silk Road. Many held “Free Ross” signs.
“Ross Ulbricht has been a libertarian political prisoner for more than a decade,” said a statement from Libertarian National Committee Chair Angela McArdle. “I’m proud to say that saving his life has been one of our top priorities and that has finally paid off.”

With AP