The President's Daily Brief
February 3rd, 2025: Trump Launches Purge Of The FBI & US Forces Strike ISIS
03 Feb 2025
In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief: The Department of Justice orders a sweeping purge of FBI officials, targeting agents involved in Trump-related investigations and national security cases. Canada fires back against President Trump’s trade restrictions with retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, escalating economic tensions between the two allies. The U.S. military launches its first airstrikes against ISIS in Somalia under Trump’s second term, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirming coordination with Somalia’s government. And in today’s Back of the Brief: An update on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where North Korean forces appear to have suffered heavy losses, prompting a sudden pullback from the front lines. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Full Episode
It's Monday, 3 February. Well, look at that, a brand new month, just in case you were wondering. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. Let's get briefed. We'll start things off today with reports that the U.S.
Department of Justice, the DOJ, has ordered a sweeping purge of FBI officials targeting agents involved in Trump-related investigations and high-profile national security cases. And honestly, I did not have sweeping purge on my bingo card for the beginning of 2025. Later in the show, Canada and Mexico are hitting back in response to President Trump's new trade restrictions.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, warning that the move will have real economic consequences for Americans. Plus, the U.S. military is back in action against ISIS, launching airstrikes in Somalia. That's the first such operation of President Trump's second term.
And in today's Back of the Brief, an update on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where North Korean forces appear to have been pulled back from the front lines after suffering heavy losses. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. Late Friday night, a number of FBI officials were fired, forced into early retirement, or just flat out told to quit. Some were reportedly escorted out of the building.
Others were left wondering if their names are next on the chopping block. This came after a directive from the Department of Justice, the DOJ, ordering the termination of at least eight FBI employees and demanding an internal review of all agents who played a role in investigations tied to January 6th or Hamas-related cases.
The memo was signed by Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove and was sent to the acting FBI director, making it clear certain officials were out and others were under review. One of the biggest names on the list was David Sundberg. Sundberg ran the D.C. field office, and that's one of the most important FBI outposts in the country.
He was appointed in 2022 under former FBI Director Christopher Wray and oversaw multiple high-profile investigations, including cases involving President Trump. As you might imagine, that makes him a controversial figure in some circles, seen by critics as part of the so-called deep state within the FBI. But Sundberg wasn't the only one who was given his walking papers on Friday.
Reports say this was more than just firing a few top officials. The heads of roughly 20 FBI field offices were removed, along with rank and file agents involved in Trump-related cases. So, you ask yourself, what's really happening here? Well, I suppose that all depends on who you ask.
Trump and his allies see this as a long overdue correction, a way to clean house and remove officials that they argue have weaponized federal law enforcement against conservatives. They point to the years of investigations into Trump, his campaigns, and his presidency as proof of a biased agency.
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