Welcome to the online version of From the political officean evening newsletter that brings you the latest reporting and analysis from the NBC News Politics team from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.
In today’s edition, Jonathan Allen looks at what will likely be a major aspect of the Trump presidency: the legal battles over his executive orders. Plus, our Capitol Hill team provides the latest on the status of the Cabinet confirmation battles, with Pete Hegseth clearing a key hurdle in the Senate.
Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.
—Adam Wollner
Trump’s attempt to expand presidential power hits first problem
By Jonathan Allen
It took three days for a judge to rule that one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders is “patently unconstitutional.”
THE order in question seeks to deny citizenship to children born in the United States whose parents are not citizens or legal residents. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution states in part: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. »
U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour, appointed by President Ronald Reagan, left no doubt about his thoughts on a president’s unilateral redefinition of the Constitution. issue a temporary restraining order prevent the policy from taking effect.
“I’ve been on the bench for over four decades,” Coughenour said. “I can’t remember another case where the question asked was as clear as this one. This is a blatantly unconstitutional order.
The case appears likely to end up in the Supreme Court, which is neither new nor unexpected for Trump. During his first term, he had to try his luck three times before the High Court upheld a travel ban intended to prevent people from five majority-Muslim countries, Venezuela and North Korea, from enter the United States.
Even though Trump appointed a third of the Supreme Court, current justices have shown some willingness to limit his powers. If he is allowed to reinterpret the 14th Amendment, it logically follows that he could reinterpret any line of the Constitution that he considers an obstacle to his agenda. And whether you’re a fan of Trump or a critic, that’s the important thing.
It could end up serving as a test of the extent to which the Supreme Court is willing to cede to the executive branch Congress’s powers to amend the Constitution and write the nation’s laws, as well as the courts’ powers to interpret them. In his argument that the order is patently unconstitutional, Coughenour implies that the text Trump seeks to redefine is about as clear as any text in the Constitution.
But Trump doesn’t need to win every fight — just some of them — to claim sweeping new powers. Russell Vought, his nominee to head the White House budget office, told senators during his confirmation hearing last week he thought the Impoundment Control Act was unconstitutional. If Vought is correct, Trump could refuse to spend money that Congress has appropriated for various federal programs. This issue also appears destined to go to the Supreme Court.
Whether he can rewrite the 14th Amendment remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the stakes are high in terms of presidential powers.
What you need to know about day four of the Trump presidency
Despite the legal setback over one of his executive orders, Trump continued by signing several others Thursday after delivering his first major economic remarks of his term. Here are the first lines:
- Asset signed a decree declassify documents relating to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
- He signed another decree pardoning 23 anti-abortion activists.
- He announced that his administration would evaluate the creation of a “national stock of digital assets“- keeping its promise to support the use of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin.
- A day after speaking to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump pushed the kingdom to increase its U.S. investments. » saying in virtual remarks to the World Economic Forum he would ask the Saudis to “round up” the promised $600 billion “to around $1 trillion.”
- Administration removed security details the federal government provided for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and State Department adviser Brian Hook, both of whom served during Trump’s first term.
- Asset said it was open for pardoning the January 6 defendants at the White House.
- Federal employees I received emails warning that they could face repercussions if they do not report colleagues in diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility positions that may have gone unnoticed by government supervisors.
- Asset revoked a decree aimed at prohibiting discrimination by federal contractors and subcontractors.
- And he said he would choose Media Research Center founder L. Brent Bozell III — who wrote a letter on behalf of his son, a convicted Jan. 6 rioter — head the US Agency for Global Media.
Pete Hegseth clears key Senate hurdle, despite some GOP opposition
Donald Trump also scored a big victory on Capitol Hill on Thursday, with his choice to lead the Defense Department, Pete Hegseth, clearing a key hurdle in the Senate, Scott Wong, Julie Tsirkin, Frank Thorp V and Kate Santaliz report.
Senators narrowly voted, 51-49, in favor of Hegseth’s nomination for defense secretary, which has been mired in controversy and appeared on the verge of collapse last month. He lost the support of two Republicans, moderate Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, and no Democrats crossed party lines Thursday.
But Hegseth, a former Fox News anchor and Army combat veteran, managed to win over other Republicans considered key throughout the process, including Senators Joni Ernst of Iowa and Thom Tillis of North Carolina , both likely to be re-elected. in 2026, as well as former GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Hegseth is now on track to be confirmed by the Senate by Friday evening.
The Senate also confirmed a less controversial nominee on Thursday: John Ratcliffe as CIA director, as well as Report by Sahil Kapur and Frank Thorp V. He is the second choice, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to receive full Senate approval.
The vote was bipartisan, 74 to 25, with 21 Democrats joining all Republicans in supporting it. And it was a change from when Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman, faced the Senate in 2020 as Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence. He was later confirmed by a much closer vote, 49 to 44.
Several major ministerial battles are still looming. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health and Human Services nominee, and Tulsi Gabbard, the DNI nominee, are expected to have confirmation hearings next week.
🗞️ Other news of the day
- 🚫 ‘No regrets’: The Jan. 6 offenders who were pardoned this week expressed gratitude for Trump’s decision, but signs of remorse were rare. Read more →
- ✅ Fact Check: In his promise to take back the Panama Canal, Trump singled out China for “exploiting” this crucial waterway. But China and Panama deny any interference in the operation of the canal. Read more →
- ⌚ TikTok on the counter: YouTuber MrBeast, X owner Elon Musk and Oracle chairman Larry Ellison are names that have been circulating as potential US buyers for TikTok. Read more →
- 🎤 On the stump: Vice President JD Vance will speak Friday at the March for Life rally in Washington, his first major address since taking office. Read more →
- 👀 We don’t see this every day: A Mississippi state lawmaker has introduced a bill that would appear to prohibit men from engaging in sexual acts when they do not “intend to fertilize an embryo.” This is called the “Contraception Starts at Erection Act”. Read more →
That’s all that’s coming from the politburo for now. Today’s newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner and Faith Wardwell.
If you have any comments (like or dislike), please email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com
And if you’re a fan, share it with everyone. They can register here.