The Latest: Trump says he could live in New York City under Mamdani after meeting

President Donald Trump and New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met Friday at the White House and focused more on their shared goals rather than their combustible differences.

The president has previously said Mamdani is a “100% Communist Lunatic” and a “total nut job.” Mamdani has called Trump’s administration “authoritarian” and described himself as “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare.”

At their first-ever meeting they discussed housing affordability and the cost of groceries and utilities, as Mamdani successfully used frustration over inflation to get elected, just as the president did in the 2024 election.

“I think he is going to surprise some conservative people, actually,” said Trump. Asked if he’d be comfortable living in the city under the incoming mayor, the president said: “I really would, especially after the meeting.”

Here’s the latest:

US Supreme Court blocks order that found Texas congressional map is likely racially biased

The high court temporarily blocked the lower-court court ruling, which held that the state’s 2026 congressional redistricting plan likely discriminates on the basis of race.

The order signed by Justice Samuel Alito will remain in place at least for the next few days while the court considers whether to allow the new map favorable to Republicans to be used in the midterm elections.

The court’s conservative majority has blocked similar lower court rulings because they have come too close to elections.

Alito handles emergency appeals from Texas.

Coast Guard reverses course on policy to call swastikas and nooses ‘potentially divisive’

The U.S. Coast Guard has released a new, firmer policy addressing the display of hate symbols like swastikas and nooses just hours after it was publicly revealed that it made plans to describe them as “potentially divisive” — a term that prompted outcry from lawmakers and advocates.

“Divisive or hate symbols and flags are prohibited,” the latest Coast Guard policy, released late Thursday, declared before adding that this category included “a noose, a swastika, and any symbols or flags co-opted or adopted by hate-based groups.”

“This is not an updated policy but a new policy to combat any misinformation and double down that the U.S. Coast Guard forbids these symbols,” an accompanying Coast Guard statement said.

The late-night change came the same day that media outlets, led by The Washington Post, discovered that the Coast Guard had written a policy earlier this month that called those same symbols “potentially divisive.”

Brazil hails Trump’s tariff rollback on some farm products as ‘significant progress’ and seeks more exemptions

“We want to exclude more products and move forward in the negotiation,” Vice President Geraldo Alckmin told journalists in Brasilia. Alckmin, who also serves as Trade minister, led the negotiations with the U.S. along with Brazilian diplomats and business leaders.

Cecafé, Brazil’s coffee exporters council, also celebrated Trump’s order and called the tariff hike “a complete loss of competitiveness.”

“The tariff reversal comes after months of intense work representing the interests of Brazilian coffee. It is a historic victory for the entire coffee agribusiness production chain,” the council said in a statement.

Brazil has long been a key supplier of beef and coffee to the United States. On Thursday, Trump lifted tariffs on Brazilian goods as part of an effort to lower consumer costs. The decision affected coffee, fruit and beef, among other products.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he directed CDC’s new guidance on vaccines and autism

The health secretary, a longtime vaccine critic, told The New York Times that he personally directed the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to update its website to contradict its longtime guidance that vaccines don’t cause autism.

The CDC’s “vaccine safety” page now claims that the statement “vaccines do not cause autism” is not based on evidence because it doesn’t rule out the possibility that infant vaccines are linked to the disorder. The page also was updated to suggest that health officials have ignored studies showing a potential link.

Public health researchers and advocates strongly rebutted the updated website, saying it misleads the public by exploiting the fact that the scientific method cannot satisfy a demand to prove a negative. They noted that scientists have thoroughly explored potential links between vaccines and autism in rigorous research spanning decades, all pointing to the same conclusion that vaccines don’t cause autism.

▶ Read more about RFK Jr. and the website change

Texas seeks Supreme Court order to use a congressional map judges held is likely racially biased

The state is asking the Supreme Court for an emergency order to be allowed to use a congressional redistricting plan favorable to Republicans in the 2026 elections despite a lower-court ruling saying the map likely discriminates on the basis of race.

Texas called on the high court Friday to intervene to avoid confusion as congressional primary elections approach in March. The justices have blocked past lower-court rulings in congressional redistricting cases, most recently in Alabama and Louisiana, that came several months before elections.

Texas redrew its congressional map in the summer as part of President Trump’s efforts to preserve a slim Republican majority in the House next year, touching off a nationwide redistricting battle.

Key senators say Trump’s Ukraine plan rewards Putin and weakens America

“This deal will not create a just and lasting peace,” Democratic Sens. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Mark Warner of Virginia, Patty Murray of Washington, Chris Coons of Delaware, Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said in a statement.

“It will leave Ukraine vulnerable, Europe unstable, and America weaker.”

The lawmakers added that Trump must work with Congress alongside partners in Ukraine and NATO allies “to find a lasting solution that will make Americans and the world safer.”

“Let us be clear: this is a war of Russian aggression, led by a dictator who has commanded his troops to commit war crimes, steal children from their families, and torture civilians,” the senators said.

“President Trump is rewarding President Putin for these crimes while cutting out the Ukrainians who have fought and died for the cause of democracy and our European allies who have stepped up to support them.”

Takeaways from Trump and Mamdani visit: Both men get something they want, GOP loses a punching bag

The two had called each other “fascist” and “communist,” but when the president and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani faced reporters in the Oval Office on Friday, they were just two iconoclastic New York politicians who were all smiles.

The much-anticipated face-to-face showed how the politicians’ shared love of the city — and no doubt some political calculus — could paper over months of insults. Both men used a plainspoken, wry approach tailor-made for the age of social media to make their points, and each left the meeting with something he needed.

▶ Read more about takeaways from the encounter

Sen. Mitch McConnell suggests Trump should dump his Ukraine advisers

“Putin has spent the entire year trying to play President Trump for a fool,” the former GOP leader said in a statement.

“If administration officials are more concerned with appeasing Putin than securing real peace, then the president ought to find new advisors,” he added.

“Rewarding Russian butchery would be disastrous to America’s interests.”

FAA warns all pilots of risks of flying over Venezuela due to ‘worsening security situation’

The agency said to “exercise caution” in the country’s airspace “due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity.”

The message said unspecified threats “could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes” as well as planes taking off and landing in the country and even aircraft on the ground.

The warning comes as Washington ramps up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. has conducted bomber flights up to the Venezuelan coast and sent an aircraft carrier to the region.

A former inspector general for the Department of Transportation said the FAA puts out this kind of notice anytime there is a military conflict.

“I wouldn’t take it as necessarily there’s any kind of attack is imminent, because I’ve seen these issued many times before. But as a pilot myself, I’d certainly heed it,” Mary Schiavo said.

Schiavo said the U.S. may be anticipating Venezuelan military action or it could be planning additional action against drug boats, and it’s hard to read into this notice and know what is behind it.

ConEd stock drops on heels of Trump and Mamdani meeting

The big loser in the meeting between Trump and New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani might be Consolidated Edison Inc., the New York City energy and utility company.

ConEd stock fell from $102.28, when the two began taking reporters’ questions, to close at $100.16. That was a 2% drop in roughly 15 minutes.

What spooked investors? Probably what Trump said.

“Remember, we talked about Con Edison,” the president said. “We’ve gotten fuel prices way down, but it hasn’t shown up in Con Edison. And we’re going to have to talk to them.”

Trump said ConEd has to lower its rates.

“Absolutely,” Mamdani said.

HHS to invest up to $100 million in mental health initiative

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday that it will spend those funds on data testing the effects of innovative mental and behavioral health interventions.

The new initiative, Evidence-Based Validation & Innovation for Rapid Therapeutics in Behavioral Health, or EVIDENT, aims to use data to better predict which treatments will work best for individuals, the agency said.

“With robust data and novel therapies, we are paving the way for understanding the best uses of groundbreaking treatments and demystifying the field of mental health,” said Alicia Jackson, director of ARPA-H.

North Carolina governor presses Noem on immigration crackdown

North Carolina Democratic Gov. Josh Stein wants more answers from the Department of Homeland Security about the crackdown based in Charlotte over the past week that the department said has resulted in hundreds of arrests.

Stein wrote Secretary Kristi Noem on Friday criticizing what he called the “lack of transparency from federal officials regarding the actions and plans” of U.S. Customs and Border Protection since the effort began roughly a week ago.

The governor provided a dozen questions for Noem, including how long “Operation Charlotte’s Web” was expected to last. Local law enforcement in Charlotte said Thursday the operation appeared to be over, but a Homeland Security spokesperson said later that it would not end anytime soon.

Stein also wanted a list of all people arrested and or detained, including why they were picked up and any criminal histories they may have.

DHS didn’t immediately respond to an email Friday seeking a response.

No remarks from Mamdani in park near White House

Following his Oval Office meeting with Trump, Mamdani had been headed to talk to reporters in the park across the street from the White House.

But an official with his team told those gathered that the space was “not secure enough,” and canceled the gaggle.

It had been a scrum being organized on the fly, as teams of journalists hurried from the White House driveway space where many visitors speak with reporters after their meetings inside.

Curious onlookers had also clung around the fringes, hoping for a glimpse of the mayor-elect. As there are many days outside the White House, there were also several people — one in a hot pink, inflatable amphibious costume — waving signs bearing messages about a variety of unrelated issues including immigration enforcement and vaccination.

NYC’s outgoing mayor is a world away from White House meeting

As much of New York’s political class was glued to Mamdani and Trump, the city’s outgoing mayor, Eric Adams, had his focus on another matter: improving trade relations with the nation of Uzbekistan, where he is currently in the middle of a five-day trip.

At around 2 p.m. on Friday (1 a.m. Uzbek time), Adams shared a photo of himself beside the country’s trade minister in Tashkent. That visit is just the latest overseas trip for Adams, who spent four days in Israel last week and traveled to Albania last month. Adams says he is promoting economic and cultural ties.

His critics say he is shirking his mayoral responsibilities while taking advantage of taxpayer-funded globe-trotting. A self-described travel lover, Adams was indicted last year on corruption charges that included allegations he accepted flight upgrades from foreign interests. Those charges were ordered dismissed by Trump’s Justice Department.

Major political differences, but a lot of agreement in Trump-Mamdani meeting

It had been posited that Trump’s meeting with the mayor-elect could be a fiery display of opposites, but the president was full of praise — and pledges of cooperation — for Mamdani.

There were the jovial pats on the arm, as Mamdani stood alongside Trump seated at the desk, facing reporters.

There were smiles and a handshake. Color rose in Mamdani’s cheeks when he was asked if he still thought Trump was a fascist, as he’s previously referenced him — and Trump told him it was “OK” to just say “yes,” which Mamdani did.

Trump, a New York City native who despite now being a Florida resident, voiced his enduring love for the city. He also said he would be “very, very comfortable” returning there, especially now that he’s met with Mamdani, and that he would help the incoming mayor be successful.

“Ultimately, it’s for the good of New York,” Trump said, of the two men’s goals. “I don’t care about affiliations or parties or anything else. … If he could be a spectacular success, I’d be very happy.”

Trump dismisses US Rep. Elise Stefanik’s criticisms of Mamdani

Trump played down Stefanik’s criticisms of Mamdani, saying the congresswoman is just “out there campaigning” as she runs for governor of New York.

“And you know, you say things sometimes in a campaign,” Trump said.

He continued, calling Mamdani “a very rational person” and said “I met with a man who really wants New York to be great again.”

Senate Armed Services chair says Trump’s Ukraine peace plan has ‘real problems’

The statement from Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, a strong supporter of Ukraine, represented high-profile pushback to Trump from within his own party as he advances a plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine by offering favorable terms to Moscow.

“This so-called ‘peace plan’ has real problems, and I am highly skeptical it will achieve peace,” Wicker said. “Ukraine should not be forced to give up its lands to one of the world’s most flagrant war criminals in Vladimir Putin.”

Wicker added that Ukraine should be allowed to determine the size of its military, that Putin should not be rewarded with assurances from the U.S., and questioned whether Russia could be trusted to downscale its military.

IRS ordered to stop sharing taxpayer information with ICE

A federal court has barred the IRS from sharing data on millions of taxpayers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the US District Court for the District of Columbia issued a stay on an agreement signed between Treasury and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to share information on taxpayers with ICE.

The Treasury Department has said the agreement will help carry out Trump’s agenda to secure U.S. borders and is part of his larger nationwide immigration crackdown, which has resulted in deportations, workplace raids and the use of an 18th century wartime law to deport Venezuelan migrants.

Trump says Zelenskyy will have to come to terms on new US peace proposal

“We think we have a way of getting peace,” Trump said. “He’s going to have to approve it.”

Zelenskyy suggested earlier on Friday that his country’s relationship with the United States is at a difficult inflection point as Trump said he would like answer from the Ukrainians by Thursday.

“Ukraine may soon find itself before a very difficult choice,” he said. “Either the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner. Either the difficult 28 points, or an extremely hard winter — the hardest one — and further risks.”

Asked about Zelenskyy’s uncertain comments, Trump alluded to his difficult meeting with the Ukrainian president in February that led to a brief rupture in the U.S-Ukraine relationship.

“You remember right in the Oval Office not so long ago?” Trump said. “I said you don’t have the cards.”

Trump says he’d live in Mamdani’s New York

Since the self-described democratic socialist’s election, several conservatives have suggested that middle class and wealthy New Yorkers may want to leave the city. But Trump isn’t one of them.

Asked if he’d be comfortable living in the city under the incoming mayor, the president said: “I really would, especially after the meeting,” Trump said.

He added that he picked up a lot of votes from Sen. Bernie Sanders, another self-described democratic socialist who unsuccessfully competed for the Democratic presidential nominations in 2016 and 2020.

“Bernie Sanders and I agreed on much more than people thought,” Trump said.

Trump predicts he and Mamdani will get along on crime

Trump says he and Mamdani discussed crime in New York City, without getting bogged down in their political differences over ICE.

“What we did is we discussed crime, more than ICE per se, we discussed crime. He doesn’t want to see crime and I don’t want to see crime,” Trump said. “And I have very little doubt that we’re not going to get along on that issue.”

Trump laughs off Mamdani’s calling him a ‘fascist’

There was a moment of levity, even on a topic that could have erupted into a major point of contention between Mamdani and Trump.

Asked by a journalist about his prior reference to Trump as a “fascist,” Mamdani started to respond about how he and the president have differing viewpoints — but Trump interrupted, and said it was OK for him to just acknowledge it.

“That’s OK, you can just say it,” Trump said, smiling and patting Mamdani on the arm.” “It’s easier than explaining it — I don’t mind!”

“Yes,” Mamdani said, smiling, in response to the questions.

Trump predicts Mamdani will change his views, mayor-elect doesn’t indicate he agrees

As Mamdani stood over his right shoulder after their meeting, Trump said he felt Mamdani “is going to change” on some of his views.

The mayor-elect showed no emotion on reaction on his face, even as Trump noted that “some of my views have changed” since he entered public office.

“I think he’s going to surprise some conservative people, actually,” Trump added.

Trump, Mamdani kick off appearance on friendly note

Though the Republican president needled Mamdani repeatedly during the campaign he was full of praise for the mayor-elect.

“We have one thing in common, we want this city of ours that we love to do incredibly well,” Trump said. He also praised Mamdani’s election performance, adding that he’d beaten “a lot of smart people” in the race.

New York City’s mayor-elect told reporters his meeting with President Donald Trump was productive, with the two leaders sharing a love of their shared hometown.

“I look forward to working together to deliver that affordability for New Yorkers,” Mamdani said in the Oval Office.