Asma Khalid

Waltz had come under pressure the last several weeks after he accidentally invited a journalist to a private text chat among Trump administration officials about military strikes on the Houthis in Yemen. In public, the president defended Waltz and downplayed the incident. Even in making this announcement, the president praised Waltz for putting the nation's interests first.

Waltz had come under pressure the last several weeks after he accidentally invited a journalist to a private text chat among Trump administration officials about military strikes on the Houthis in Yemen. In public, the president defended Waltz and downplayed the incident. Even in making this announcement, the president praised Waltz for putting the nation's interests first.

This is the first major personnel shakeup of Trump's second term. The president made the announcement on his social media site, saying that in the interim, Marco Rubio will be national security advisor, in addition to his existing job as the secretary of state. Asma Khalid, NPR News, the White House.

This is the first major personnel shakeup of Trump's second term. The president made the announcement on his social media site, saying that in the interim, Marco Rubio will be national security advisor, in addition to his existing job as the secretary of state. Asma Khalid, NPR News, the White House.

Thank you very much. President Trump also questioned whether Putin was indeed really serious about wanting to end the war and suggested maybe he ought to put sanctions on Russia.

Thank you very much. President Trump also questioned whether Putin was indeed really serious about wanting to end the war and suggested maybe he ought to put sanctions on Russia.

The president has said his administration is actively discussing the trade war with China, but China's foreign ministry and commerce ministry deny that claim. They've said there are no talks underway with the U.S. about trade. A reporter asked the president to clarify the contradiction.

The president has said his administration is actively discussing the trade war with China, but China's foreign ministry and commerce ministry deny that claim. They've said there are no talks underway with the U.S. about trade. A reporter asked the president to clarify the contradiction.

The president's comments come as he has subtly softened his tone following stock market turmoil and economic uncertainty over his tariffs. Asma Khalid, NPR News.

The president's comments come as he has subtly softened his tone following stock market turmoil and economic uncertainty over his tariffs. Asma Khalid, NPR News.

Well, this week, we've heard the president and some of his top economic advisors acknowledge that the high tariff rates are not a sustainable long-term dynamic. And, you know, just to remind folks where we are at this point, Beijing has a 125% tariff on American goods. This was, of course, in response to a 145% tariff rate that the Trump administration put on Chinese goods.

Well, this week, we've heard the president and some of his top economic advisors acknowledge that the high tariff rates are not a sustainable long-term dynamic. And, you know, just to remind folks where we are at this point, Beijing has a 125% tariff on American goods. This was, of course, in response to a 145% tariff rate that the Trump administration put on Chinese goods.

Well, this week, we've heard the president and some of his top economic advisors acknowledge that the high tariff rates are not a sustainable long-term dynamic. And, you know, just to remind folks where we are at this point, Beijing has a 125% tariff on American goods. This was, of course, in response to a 145% tariff rate that the Trump administration put on Chinese goods.

On Tuesday, the president told reporters that that rate is going to come down substantially.

On Tuesday, the president told reporters that that rate is going to come down substantially.

On Tuesday, the president told reporters that that rate is going to come down substantially.

No, he did not give an actual number. And frankly, even if the tariff rate comes down by double digits, you're still looking at rates that are unprecedented in our lifetime.

No, he did not give an actual number. And frankly, even if the tariff rate comes down by double digits, you're still looking at rates that are unprecedented in our lifetime.

No, he did not give an actual number. And frankly, even if the tariff rate comes down by double digits, you're still looking at rates that are unprecedented in our lifetime.

Yeah, I mean, it is. And there's really two main reasons for the shift. This tariff rate, you know, if they remain in place, they would virtually bring trade between China and the U.S. to a halt. But this is also fundamentally, Michelle, about the stock market and the economic uncertainty that Trump's tariffs have created.