After Netanyahu meeting, Trump says there will be 'hell to pay' if Hamas doesn't disarm in Gaza

A federal judge in California ruled today that the federal government is allowed to share basic information about Medicaid participants with Immigration and Customs Enforcement amid a government push to locate those it believes are in the country unlawfully.

The plan to share information from the federally backed program had been blocked by a preliminary injunction that applied to 20 states that sued, including California.

U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria partly denied the preliminary injunction, writing that “basic biographical, location, and contact information” is legal under the law.

But he also granted the injunction as it pertains to any information beyond that.

Read the full story here.

More musicians have canceled their upcoming concerts at the Kennedy Center after its board voted to rename the performing arts venue to include Trump’s name.

The canceled performances to date include shows previously promoted for Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and Jan. 14.

The Cookers, a jazz band that was scheduled to perform Wednesday night, did not cite a specific reason in announcing their decision, but their statement hinted at politics.

“Jazz was born from struggle and from a relentless insistence on freedom: freedom of thought, of expression, and of the full human voice. Some of us have been making this music for many decades, and that history still shapes us,” the statement read. “Our hope is that this moment will leave space for reflection, not resentment.”

Read the full story here.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told House Democrats in a letter today that they would hold a "special hearing" on the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Jeffries said the hearing will “examine ongoing threats to free and fair elections posed by an out-of-control Trump administration, expose the election deniers who hold high-level positions of significance in the executive branch and detail the threats to public safety posed by the hundreds of violent felons who were pardoned on the President’s first day in office."

He added, "We will also present a panel of Members who wish to share their personal experiences from that horrific day.”

Since Republicans are in the majority, Democrats cannot hold a full committee hearing on their own. That means the hearing will consist of just Democrats.

The FBI went into overdrive to investigate suspected fraud involving more than a dozen Minnesota social services, according to FBI Director Kash Patel, who posted a statement on X after a YouTube video purporting to show day care facilities that aren’t operational but received state and federal funding went viral over the weekend.

Patel said on X that he was aware of the video, created by right-wing influencer Nick Shirley, 23, but insisted the FBI had already “surged” investigative resources and personnel to Minnesota as part of its ongoing fraud investigation that has largely targeted Somali immigrants.

“The FBI believes this is just the tip of a very large iceberg,” Patel posted yesterday on X.

Meanwhile, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s office defended its ongoing efforts to crack down on fraud when it was asked about the video.

Read the full story here.

U.S. Southern Command announced on X today that the military carried out a new strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing two people.

The post said that the vessel was "operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations" and that intelligence "confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes" and "engaged in narco-trafficking operations."

It would be at least the 30th known strike on vessels in the region, bringing the total number of people killed to about 106.

Zelenskyy said today that the U.S. Congress could help ratify any U.S. security guarantee proposals to end Ukraine's war with Russia.

“We respect President Trump, and his decision is powerful. But of course, we need Congress for this,” Zelenskyy said in an interview that aired on Fox News Channel’s "Special Report," expressing hope for a “legally binding” set of guarantees.

Zelenskyy said he spoke to Trump today and proposed security guarantees for 15 years, with the possibility for continuation. He said he had been open with Trump about his desire for that time to be longer and to have Congress’ backing.

Zelenskyy said the remaining issue not agreed to in a Russia-Ukraine peace plan is about territory.

“This is a difficult question,” Zelenskyy said in an interview that aired on Fox News Channel’s “Special Report.”

“On this one point, we have different views with Russians,” he said.

Russia has demanded that Ukraine cede the Donbas region of the country. The U.S. has proposed a compromise of a free economic zone; Zelenskyy had said there was no detailed concept of how it would work.

In his interview with Baier, Zelenskyy said that such a zone would require both countries to withdraw some kilometers back and that the zone would operate with specific rules.

A judge ruled today that transcript and audio be released from a previously sealed hearing in the murder case against the man accused of killing political activist Charlie Kirk this year.

Tyler Robinson, 22, is charged with aggravated murder in the shooting of Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus, where he was holding an event, in September. Kirk was killed in broad daylight while he was speaking to a crowd when a shot rang out and he began bleeding profusely, according to video and witness accounts.

Kirk was in Utah as part of a tour of college campuses with Turning Point USA, a conservative political organization he co-founded. High-profile politicians, including Trump, described the killing as a political assassination.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Robinson, who has not yet entered a plea.

Read the full story here.

Trump said the U.S. and Israel are not on the same page regarding Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Asked by a reporter whether settler violence could be undermining the peace plan, Trump said: “We have had a discussion, big discussion for a long time, on the West Bank. And I wouldn’t say we agree on the West Bank 100%.”

Asked what the disagreements are, Trump declined to elaborate but said he knows Netanyahu “very well” and that “he will do the right thing.”

Trump: 'Iran may be behaving badly'

01:19

Trump, suggesting it is trying to “build up again,” warned Iran that the U.S. would eradicate any such efforts.

While he said it has not been confirmed, Trump said that “Iran may be behaving badly.”

“If it’s confirmed, look, there will be consequences. Consequences will be very powerful, maybe more powerful than last time,” he said.

The U.S. launched strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran in July.

Trump said Iran should have made a deal, adding he “gave them the option.” Asked by a reporter whether the U.S. would be open to engaging in bilateral discussions with Tehran, he said yes.

Trump said that Israel has “lived up” to the peace plan with Hamas and that his concern is not with Israel.

“I’m concerned about what other people are doing or maybe aren’t doing, but I’m not concerned they’ve lived up to the plan,” Trump said.

“Israel’s lived up to the plan 100%,” he added.

Israel accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire last week after an explosive device detonated in Gaza. Netanyahu vowed to retaliate. On Friday, Israeli troops fired over the ceasefire line, killing at least five Palestinians, The Associated Press reported.

Trump said he and Netanyahu talked about Hamas disarmament.

Hamas will be given a “very short period of time to disarm,” Trump said.

He added that there will be “hell to pay” if it doesn’t disarm, arguing it's a necessary component of peace in the region.

Asked by a reporter what consequences of failing to disarm could look like, Trump said it would be "horrible," adding that other countries that wanted the deal to be made "will go in and wipe them out."

Trump reiterated U.S. support for Israel after today's meeting with Netanyahu.

“I think we came to a lot of conclusion, a lot of conclusion and conclusions, and there’s very little difference," Trump said. "And what we’re looking at, and where we want to be where we want to go. And so I just want to thank you for spending time. I know you’re going to be over here for a couple of days, and maybe we’ll be surprising us on New Year’s Eve, that’ll be fine.”

Netanyahu announced that his government will award the Israel Prize to Trump, which he said has never been given to a non-Israeli.

"President Trump has broken so many conventions to the surprise of people, and then they figure out, 'Oh, well, maybe you know, he was right after all.' So we decided to break a convention to, or create a new one, and that is to award the Israel Prize, which, in almost our 80 years, we've never awarded it to a non-Israeli, and we're going to award it this year to President Trump," Netanyahu said at a media availability session with Trump after their meeting.

"This was announced formally over lunch by our minister of education, who's responsible for the Israel Prize. It's going to be awarded to President Donald J. Trump for his tremendous contributions to Israel and the Jewish people," he said.

Trump and Netanyahu are now making statements to the media after their meeting at Mar-a-Lago.

A judge has ordered the release of the transcript and audio from a closed-door hearing in the case of Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk. NBC News’ Morgan Chesky has details about the ruling and the discussions around media access to the proceedings.

Judge orders release of closed-door hearing transcript in Kirk shooting case

02:59

Trump addressed his remarks in a radio interview late last week that the U.S. took out a "big facility" in Venezuela.

Asked by a reporter at Mar-a-Lago ahead of a meeting with Netanyahu whether the military conducted the attack and whether he could provide further details, Trump said, "Well, it doesn't matter, but there was a major explosion in the dock area, where they load the boats up with drugs."

"They load the boats up with drugs, so we hit all the boats, and now we hit the area, it's the implementation area, that's where they implement," he continued. "And that is no longer around."

NBC News has not independently confirmed details of the reported strike.

Asked whether the attack was the only U.S. strike inside the country, Trump said he did not want to comment.

At the top of his meeting with Netanyahu, Trump told reporters that Hamas needs to disarm and Iran is trying to build up its nuclear program again — two issues the two leaders among several are planning to discuss.

"There has to be a disarmament, you know, that we have to disarm with Hamas," said Trump, standing next to Netanyahu.

Speaking about Iran, Trump said, "Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again, and if they are, we're going to have to knock them down. We'll knock them down. We'll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that's not happening. I heard Iran wants to make a deal. If they want to make a deal, that's much smarter."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived at Mar-a-Lago, where he is expected to discuss the ceasefire plan for Gaza and Iran's ballistic missile program with Trump.

Netanyahu also met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ahead of the bilateral meeting with the president.

The man suspected of placing pipe bombs near the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican parties in 2021 felt “extreme acts of violence” were justified because “they were in charge,” federal prosecutors said yesterday.

In a request filed Sunday to keep him behind bars while he awaits trial, the Justice Department unveiled new allegations about the potential motive and actions of defendant Brian Cole, accused of planting the bombs on Jan. 5, 2021.

Cole, 30, who lives with his mother and other family members in Virginia about 25 miles southwest of Capitol Hill, was arrested Dec. 4 and charged with transporting an explosive device and attempted malicious destruction by means of explosive materials, according to charging documents.

Read the full story here.

Trump said a deal to end the war between Russia and Ukraine is “getting a lot closer” after his meeting at Mar-a-Lago with Zelenskyy and phone call with Putin. Meanwhile, Trump is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu as the U.S. aims to push ahead with phase two of the Gaza ceasefire. NBC’s Gabe Gutierrez reports for "TODAY."

Trump says Ukraine peace deal is ‘closer’ after Zelenskyy meeting

02:15

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post to X that Trump "has concluded a positive call with President Putin concerning Ukraine," but she did not provide further details.

The call comes one day after Trump met with Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago. After the meeting, the leaders said they were “very close“ to a deal. Trump spoke with Putin before that meeting as well.

During a call with reporters, Putin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said the Russian president told Trump in the call that after his meeting with Zelenskyy, Ukraine launched an attack on a presidential residence in the Novgorod region.

Putin said that the attack would not go unanswered and that Russia would reconsider its position in talks to end the Ukraine war because of the events, Ushakov said.

NBC News has reached out to the White House for comment on Ushakov's remarks about the call. Trump was asked about the Russian allegations ahead of his meeting with Netanyahu.

The path to peace in Ukraine was still tangled today by the “thorny issues” that Trump said remained despite the optimism of his summit yesterday with Zelenskyy.

Ukraine’s leader offered more clarity about those unresolved questions following his trip to Florida, which ended with no breakthroughs but plenty of positivity from both sides. The Kremlin agreed with Trump’s assessment that talks to end its war were in the final stage even as it stuck to its hardline territorial demands.

After nearly three hours behind closed doors at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, the leaders emerged to say they were “very close” to a deal, and “90%” of the way there. But it’s those remaining “one or two very thorny issues,” as Trump put it, that will decide whether an agreement can be found between Kyiv and Moscow.

Answering questions from reporters in a WhatsApp chat today, Zelenskyy outlined one key area where there does seem to have been progress.

Read the full story here.

Trump will meet with Netanyahu in Florida today hoping to push forward the ceasefire that he brokered in Gaza, while the Israeli leader is expected to make the case for new action against Iran.

Those two issues are expected to be the focus of the discussions at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property, a White House official told NBC News. It comes a day after the president hosted Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy as part of the U.S. bid to negotiate a peace deal with Russia.

While Trump has been working for an end to the war in Europe, progress has stalled in the Middle East.

Read the full story here.

Trump said in an interview with WABC radio in New York that the U.S. had “knocked out” a Venezuelan facility, a move that would be a major escalation in U.S. military strikes to counter alleged drug-trafficking by the South American country.

The apparent attack follows months of U.S. military pressure, including dozens of strikes on boats in international waters. The White House has claimed that the boats carried drugs, though officials have not provided evidence.

In the short phone interview on Friday, Trump responded to a comment about Venezuela by touting the administration’s attacks on alleged drug boats before referring to a strike on a “big plant or big facility” that he said took place two nights earlier.

Read the full story here.