Latest Mitch McConnell News

Hegseth is quickly sworn in as defense secretary after dramatic Senate vote

Jan. 25, 2025 13:27 PM EST

Pete Hegseth was sworn in Saturday as the nation's 29th secretary of defense, quickly joining President Trump's Cabinet after a dramatic late-night vote in the Senate installed him as the Pentagon's leader. Hegseth took the oath from Vice President JD Vance in the Eisenhower...

Alaska Sen. Murkowski has faced Trump's wrath. She was willing to defy him after his return to power

Jan. 25, 2025 09:08 AM EST

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — In the early days of President Donald Trump's second term, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski has openly challenged or rebuked him at least three times — stunning for a congressional Republican who has faced his wrath before and yet remains unbowed by pressure to embrace his...

The Latest: Hegseth confirmed as defense secretary in victory for Trump

Jan. 24, 2025 23:00 PM EST

President Donald Trump is in the fifth day of his second term in office, striving to remake the traditional boundaries of Washington by asserting unprecedented executive power. The president also took his first trip of his second administration on Friday, touring areas where politics...

Hegseth confirmed as Trump's defense secretary in tie-breaking vote despite turmoil over his conduct

Jan. 24, 2025 23:00 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as the nation's defense secretary late Friday in a dramatic tie-breaking vote, swatting back questions about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon amid allegations of heavy drinking and aggressive behavior toward women. Rarely...

FACT FOCUS: A look at false and misleading claims Trump made at inaugural events

Jan. 21, 2025 15:17 PM EST

In his first address after being sworn in on Monday, President Donald Trump repeated several false and misleading statements that he made during his campaign. They included claims about immigration, the economy, electric vehicles and the Panama Canal. In remarks later at the Capitol's Emancipation...

Inauguration Day Latest: Trump becomes the 47th president of the United States

Jan. 20, 2025 12:14 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump, who overcame impeachments, criminal indictments and a pair of assassination attempts to win another term in the White House, will be sworn in Monday as the 47th U.S. president taking charge as Republicans claim unified control of Washington and set out to reshape...

Then and now: What has changed as Trump returns to the White House

Jan. 19, 2025 07:32 AM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — When Donald Trump arrived in Washington in 2017 just before his first inauguration, he was a stranger to most in town. As the only president in history without prior experience in public office or the military, it was unclear how he would govern. Not this time. ...

Merrick Garland exits with his record under scrutiny and the Justice Department bracing for upheaval

Jan. 18, 2025 00:17 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — During hearings on Merrick Garland's nomination to be President Joe Biden's attorney general, the longtime federal appeals court judge told senators in 2021 that he hoped to “turn down the volume” on the public discourse about the Justice Department and return to the days...

With Trump returning to the White House, Brazil displays a judicial path not taken by the US

Jan. 17, 2025 15:34 PM EST

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A polarized nation. A right-wing populist casting doubt on the electoral system then refusing to concede. A riot by his supporters in the capital aiming to keep him in power. This isn’t just the story of Donald Trump, but also that of Brazil’s Jair...

Canadian foreign minister warns of 'Trump tariff tax' on Americans as threat of 25% tariff looms

Jan. 17, 2025 14:08 PM EST

TORONTO (AP) — Canada's foreign minister on Friday warned Americans they will be paying a “Trump tariff tax” if President-elect Donald Trump follows through with a threat to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods. Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said that Canada is ready to...