Trump gives Super Bowl message, pledges Musk will probe Education
President Donald Trump gave the nation on Sunday a report of his first weeks in office, using his attendance at the Super Bowl to tout some of his priorities and make predictions – not just about the championship game but also what’s ahead for the nation.
In an interview with Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier that was taped at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, the president picked the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Philadelphia Eagles. He also said that he expects the changes that he’s implemented since taking over the White House three weeks ago to continue.
Before 8 p.m. and the start of the third quarter, Trump had left, with the Chiefs trailing by 24 points.
Trump told Baier in the seven-minute clip that he plans to direct tech billionaire Elon Musk, who is leading Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency, to review the military and the Department of Education “very soon.”
“We’re going to find hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse,” he said.
Trump became the first sitting president to attend the National Football League’s title game.
Trump arrives at Super Bowl
President Donald Trump arrived at the Super Bowl, but reporters accompanying him said it wasn’t clear how many fans knew he was on the field because Philadelphia Eagles players were on Caesars Superdome’s large screens.
Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s nominee to become director of national intelligence, was seated in the front row wearing an Eagles cap. She said she was fan of running back Saquon Barkley. But she had “no comment” about her confirmation.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, asked about Trump’s reception, said: “Good, right?”
– Bart Jansen
Trump salutes, gets cheers during national anthem
Trump stood and saluted during the performance of the national anthem and he was cheered loudly when he was shown briefly on the jumbotron.
Jon Batiste sang The Star-Spangled Banner and accompanied himself on piano in a jazzy rendition of the song.
Trump was seated in the third deck, near the O in Caesars Superdome, according to reporters accompanying him. His daughter Ivanka stood next to him for the anthem.
– Bart Jansen
Trump’s Super Bowl pick
President Donald Trump told Fox News he thinks both Super Bowl teams are great, but he picked the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Philadelphia Eagles because of quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“I’m a big fan of both teams,” Trump told Bret Baier. “They’re sort of different.”
Trump praised Saquon Barkley of the Eagles as “one of the greatest running backs.”
Trump said he hated to pick a winner. But without naming Mahomes, he said after seeing him win as many games as he has, Trump had to pick Kansas City.
“The quarterback really knows how to win,” Trump said. “He’s a great, great quarterback.”
– Bart Jansen
A blowout, and Trump has left the building
President Donald Trump left the stadium a little before 8 p.m., according to reporters traveling with him. The Eagles were leading the Chiefs, the team Trump picked to win, by a wide margin.
A man with the Palestinian flag got onto the field at Caesars Superdome during halftime but was tackled by security, according to reporters.
Trump spent the first half of the game mainly seated in the front row of his box next to his daughter, Ivanka, according to reporters who accompanied him. Visitors would stop by and chat with him and sometimes take pictures, according to the reporters.
– Bart Jansen
What did Travis Kelce say about Trump before Super Bowl?
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce told reporters this week that it is “pretty cool” that Trump will attend the game on Sunday.
“That’s awesome. It’s a great honor,” he said, according to videos posted by multiple media outlets Wednesday. “I think, you know, no matter who the president is, I know I’m excited because it’s the biggest game of my life, you know, and having the president there, you know, it’s the best country in the world. So, that’d be pretty cool.”
Kelce is the boyfriend of pop star Taylor Swift, whom Trump slammed late last year, even writing “I hate Taylor Swift” on Truth Social in September.
– Riley Beggin
Trump declares ‘Gulf of America Day’ on his way to Super Bowl
Aboard Air Force One on his way to New Orleans, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation declaring Feb. 9 as the inaugural “Gulf of America Day,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Sunday.
Trump signed the proclamation as he flew over the Gulf of Mexico, which Trump required the federal government in a day one executive order to rename the “Gulf of America” on official maps.
“We’re flying right over it right now, so we thought it would be appropriate,” Trump told reporters.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told reporters aboard Air Force One he issued an order directing the U.S. Geological Survey, which holds the database for location name, to change the name of the body of water Sunday. Burgum said staffers at his department are contacting map apps from Google and Apple to have the name changed.
However, the change could take months to enact and may or may not be immediately reflected on the digital maps Americans use daily.
– Joey Garrison
Trump steel tariffs: President to impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports
President Donald Trump said Sunday he will impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports on Monday and announce “reciprocal” tariffs the next day.
Trump made the remarks aboard Air Force One on his way to New Orleans to attend the Super Bowl.
The moves come after Trump had previously promised tariffs on metals and other goods such as microchips and pharmaceuticals. Trump on Friday said he would impose “reciprocal” tariffs that would affect all countries.
Trump described the “reciprocal” approach as tariffs that would be applied to imports from other countries if they place tariffs on U.S. exports. “If they charge us, we charge them,” Trump said.
Last week, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, only to hold off on the tariffs after leaders of both countries agreed on efforts to reenforce their borders with the U.S.
– Joey Garrison
CBS poll finds 53% approval rating for Trump
Less than one month into Trump’s second presidency, 7 in 10 Americans say he is following through on his campaign promises, according to a new CBS News/YouGov survey.
With a 53% job approval rating, the poll of 2,175 U.S. adults found Trump draws overall majority support for some of his actions on immigration and the war in Gaza. But 66% say he hasn’t focused enough on lowering prices, and most Americans don’t approve of new tariffs except on goods from China.
About 60% agree with Trump’s program to deport unauthorized immigrants and with sending troops to the southern border, the poll found. But a slight majority of respondents oppose holding people in mass detention centers while authorities determine who should be deported.
Trump’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency, which he has tapped tech billionaire Elon Musk to head, draws mixed support. Nearly a third of respondents say Musk and DOGE should have zero influence on government operations and spending, while 23% say they should have “a lot” of influence. Support for DOGE is driven by Republicans, the poll found.
– Minnah Arshad
Trump says he trusts Elon Musk to cut spending
Trump told Fox News in an interview that aired Sunday that he trusts Elon Musk, his head of the Department of Government Efficiency, to find ways to cut federal spending and will turn the spotlight on the Education Department and the Pentagon next.
Musk has been criticized for sending staffers to gather sensitive information at government agencies and he blocked temporarily in court from gaining access to secure systems at the Treasury Department. But Trump said he asked Musk for the help and will ask him to review Education and Defense next.
“I’ve had a great help with Elon Musk, who’s been terrific,” Trump told Bret Baier of Fox News. “Trust Elon? Oh, he’s not gaining anything. In fact, I wonder how he can devote the time to it. He’s so into it. But I told him do that.”
– Bart Jansen
Trump disagreed with court blocking Musk access to Treasury
President Donald Trump told Fox News he has to get rid of waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government, so it was a mistake for a federal judge to block Elon Musk’s access to Treasury Department systems looking for problems.
“I disagree with it 100%,” Trump told Bret Baier of the ruling. “I think it’s crazy.”
Trump argued that hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent on the wrong priorities. He said he would move funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development to the State Department, for example.
“I think I’d rather give it to Marco Rubio over at the State Department, let him take care of the few good” programs, Trump said.
– Bart Jansen
Trump doubles down on desire to annex Canada
During an interview with Fox, Baier asked Trump whether his desire to make Canada the 51st state was real.
Trump reaffirmed that, saying: “We lose 200 billion dollars a year with Canada and I’m not gonna let that happen.”
Canada would “be much better off being a 51st state,” he said. “Why are we paying 200 billion dollars a year essentially in subsidy to Canada? Now, if they’re a 51st state I don’t mind doing it.”
– Minnah Arshad
Trump says Canada, Mexico must take action to avoid tariffs
President Donald Trump told Fox News he “got a lot of good action” from Canada and Mexico on border security after ordering 25% tariffs on goods from those countries, which he paused for 30 days, but he said more action was necessary.
“No, it’s not good enough,” Trump told Bret Baier.
Trump complained about a $200 billion U.S. trade deficit with Canada and a $350 billion trade deficit with Mexico that he said he wouldn’t allow to continue.
“Something has to happen,” Trump said. “It’s not sustainable.”
– Bart Jansen
Trump says ‘just something special’ about his dance at rallies
On a lighter note during the Fox News interview, Bret Baier asked President Donald Trump what he thought about UFC fighters and NFL players imitating his swaying and arm-waving dance from his political rallies.
Trump often danced to the Village People’s “YMCA” at the end of his rallies. While perhaps not the same cultural touchstone as John Travolta’s dancing in “Saturday Night Fever,” the dance caught on among Trump’s followers.
“I don’t know what it is,” Trump said. “I try and walk off sometimes without dancing, and I can’t but I have to dance because it’s just that something special about it.”
– Bart Jansen
Department of Homeland Security promotes safety at Super Bowl
The Department of Homeland Security promoted a video on social media about safety measures it is taking to protect 100,000 people visiting New Orleans for the Super Bowl.
Security has been enhanced in the weeks since a follower of ISIS drove a truck through a Bourbon Street crowd on New Year’s Day, killing 14 people and forcing a one-day postponement of the college Sugar Bowl in the same stadium, Caesars Superdome.
“We have a big event coming on Sunday and we are committed to having a safe environment for everyone that attends,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in the video.
– Bart Jansen
Secret Service recruits at Super Bowl
A Secret Service recruitment video to be played on the jumbotron during the big game chronicles how the agency has protected “the most important people and events” since 1901, including Super Bowl LIX.
The one-minute video features inspirational speeches from former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. The video also has darker themes, including the assassination attempts against Reagan and President Donald Trump, and the terrorist hijackings Sept. 11, 2001.
“America’s Secret Service protecting the Super Bowl is asking a few more to step forward,” the video said in closing.
– Bart Jansen
Trump joins Super Bowl for ‘patriotic values’
President Donald Trump issued a statement he was looking forward to joining fans at the Super Bowl for the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles for a sense of national unity and patriotism.
“The coaches, players, and team staff on the field tonight represent the best of the best in professional football, but they also embody the best of the American Dream,” Trump said.
Trump noted the 14 deaths and 35 injuries from the “senseless” truck attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. He said the football game provides an annual opportunity to transcend differences and strengthen communities.
“This annual tradition transcends our differences and personifies our shared patriotic values of family, faith, and freedom heroically defended by our military service members, law enforcement officers, and first responders,” Trump said. “We value their devotion to protecting our great Nation and salute their selfless service.”
– Bart Jansen
Trump is commander in chief but didn’t serve in military
President Donald Trump is commander in chief of the military by virtue of his office, but he never served in the military.
Trump received five deferments from the draft for military service during the Vietnam War. He received four educational deferments while he was a college student and a fifth deferment in 1968 for a medical exemption after he graduated, for a bone spurs in his heel.
During an interview with NBC News in 1999, Trump went into detail about the war and him not serving.
– Bart Jansen
Trump golfs with Tiger Woods
Ahead of the Super Bowl Sunday night, the president played golf with professional golfer Tiger Woods, according to pool reports.
The acclaimed golfer was spotted on the green with the president at Trump International Golf Club in Palm Beach, Florida, Sunday morning.
– Riley Beggin
Trump’s travels prevent basketball coach from attending
South Carolina women’s basketball coach and Eagles fan Dawn Staley planned to attend Super Bowl 59, but said she can’t anymore because of flight restrictions due to Trump’s arrival.
The Federal Aviation Administration puts flight restrictions in place when the president is traveling, and on Friday officially confirmed the temporary flight restrictions for New Orleans from 3:45-5 p.m. ET and 10:15-midnight on Sunday.
– Lulu Kesin
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