During her briefing on January 31, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed several major topics. Here are the six key points she highlighted:
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Washington Visit
Leavitt confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Washington on Tuesday, February 4, for a working meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. “I can confirm that Prime Minister Netanyahu will be here on Tuesday of February 4th for a working meeting and visit with the president,” she stated, noting that media coverage of the visit is expected to be extensive.
Tariff and Trade Measures
When questioned about tariffs on the European Union, Leavitt explained that President Trump has not yet established a timeline for such measures nor decided whether any future tariffs will be uniformly applied or differentiated among EU members. However, she did confirm that new tariffs are set to be implemented soon:
25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico
10% tariffs on China
These measures reflect ongoing efforts to adjust U.S. trade policy with key global partners.
Transgender Policies and Gender Identity Directives
Leavitt detailed the administration’s recent actions on transgender issues, noting that President Trump has signed several executive orders. These orders:
Establish the federal government’s policy to recognize only two biological sexes—male and female—and direct all federal agencies to adhere to this definition.
Include measures affecting military policy by removing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) directives from the armed forces, reinstating troops dismissed over COVID-19 vaccine refusals, and redefining military standards regarding gender identity.
Signal support for congressional efforts to end practices that the administration characterizes as harmful, such as “the mutilation” or “chemical castration” of young children.
Hostage Releases and Regional Security Initiatives
In a significant update on international security, Leavitt announced the release of eight hostages—three Israeli and five Thai nationals—from Hamas captivity. “The White House applauds the release of eight additional hostages from Hamas captivity,” she said, adding that President Trump remains committed to securing the return of all remaining hostages. She also underscored the importance of the upcoming meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu in reinforcing U.S. support for Israel and holding terror groups accountable.
Reaffirming the President’s Stance on COVID-19 Origins
Leavitt revisited a contentious topic from earlier briefings. Recalling that President Trump had suggested COVID-19 might have originated from a lab in Wuhan, China, she emphasized that early warnings—though initially dismissed as conspiracy theories—are now seen as validated by new evidence. “It took many years for it to come out, but the president was right in this instance again,” Leavitt remarked.
Ric Grenell’s Mission in Venezuela
In another international development, Leavitt confirmed that special U.S. envoy Ric Grenell is currently in Venezuela with two primary directives from the President:
Repatriation of Venezuelan Nationals: Grenell has been tasked with identifying a location to ensure that repatriation flights carrying members of the Venezuelan group Tren de Aragua—alleged to have broken U.S. laws—land safely in Venezuela.
Return of U.S. Detainees: He is also charged with overseeing the return of all U.S. detainees held in Venezuela.
“Ric Grenell is in Venezuela to ensure that repatriation flights of Tren de Aragua members will land in Venezuela, and to ensure that all U.S. detainees in Venezuela are returned home,” Leavitt explained. She noted that a full readout would be provided following Grenell’s trip.
The 4-person crew in the Orion capsule on NASA's Artemis II space shuttle carried out a key thruster firing on Thursday, sending the ship ...
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz by tele...
The United Nations Security Council is to vote on a Bahraini resolution to protect commercial shipping in ...
Iran has rejected claims it has been weakened, vowing instead “more crushing” attacks against the United States and ...
Fears of wider escalation grow despite President Donald Trump saying U.S. strikes on Iran could end within weeks. Meanwhile ...
The 4-person crew in the Orion capsule on NASA's Artemis II space shuttle carried out a key thruster firing on Thursday, sending the ship past the main orbit of the Earth towards the moon, in the hope of beating Apollo 13's distance in 1970, as they took pictures using phones and cameras.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz by telephone with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday, the Russian foreign ministry said. A statement on the ministry website said the call had taken place at the initiative of Iran.
The United Nations Security Council is to vote on a Bahraini resolution to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, diplomats said on Friday, but veto-wielding China made clear its opposition to authorising any use of force.
Iran has rejected claims it has been weakened, vowing instead “more crushing” attacks against the United States and Israel. President Masoud Pezeshkian also warned that Israel is fabricating threats about Iran, as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed affecting the global energy market.
Fears of wider escalation grow despite President Donald Trump saying U.S. strikes on Iran could end within weeks. Meanwhile missile attacks, tanker incidents and rising casualties across Israel, Lebanon and the Gulf heighten risks to regional stability and energy routes.
There are fears of an oil spill after a drone strike hit a Kuwaiti oil tanker near Dubai on Tuesday, while U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran reportedly killed at least two people. A loud explosion was heard in Beirut in southern Lebanon early Wednesday, as oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel.
Russian-flagged tanker carrying approximately 700,000 barrels of crude oil docked at Cuba's Matanzas oil terminal on Tuesday, shipping data confirmed, marking a vital and controversial delivery to an island paralysed by severe energy shortages and a suffocating U.S. blockade.
Four astronauts blasted off from Florida on Wednesday on NASA's Artemis II mission, a high-stakes voyage around the moon that marks the United States' boldest step yet toward returning humans to the lunar surface later this decade in a race with China.
Explosions were heard in the Syrian capital Damascus as Israeli air defences intercepted Iranian missiles, Syrian state television reported on Tuesday.
In a dramatic shake-up at the top of the U.S. Justice Department, President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post, a White House official confirmed on Thursday.
American President Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to pull the United States out of NATO after European nations refused to join a U.S.-led naval mission to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
France has unveiled a delayed wave of renewable energy tenders to boost energy independence and strengthen domestic and European industry.
China is emerging as one of the more stable economies amid the latest global oil shock, thanks to years of planning, diversified energy sources and a steady shift towards renewable power.
In a major policy reversal, the U.S. Treasury has removed Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, from its sanctions list, signalling a sharp shift in Washington’s approach to Caracas.
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