WASHINGTON (AP) â President-elect Donald Trump is going to issue a series of orders aimed at remaking Americaâs immigration policies, ending asylum access, sending troops to the southern border and ending birthright citizenship, an incoming White House official said.
But itâs unclear how Trump would carry out some of his executive orders, including ending automatic citizenship for everyone born in the country, while others were expected to be immediately challenged in the courts.
The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview some of the orders expected later Monday.
Immigrant communities were bracing for the crackdown that Trump, a Republican, had been promising throughout his campaign and again at a rally Sunday just ahead of his inauguration.
The official previewed a sweeping update of what was to come as the Trump administration gears up to make due on a campaign promise to crack down on illegal immigration and carry out mass deportations. The measures seemed designed to bolster border security including sending an undetermined amount of troops to the southern border.
One of the key announcements is the effort to end birthright citizenship â one of Trumpâs most sweeping immigration efforts yet to redefine what it means to be American.
Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen. Itâs been in place for over a century and applies to children born to someone in the country illegally or in the U.S. on a tourist or student visa who plans to return to their home country. Trump’s effort to end it is certain to face legal challenges.
Trump also intends to suspend refugee resettlement for four months, the official said. That’s a program that for decades has allowed hundreds of thousands of people from around the world fleeing war and persecution to come to the United States.
Trump similarly suspended the refugee program at the beginning of his first term, and then after reinstating it, cut the numbers of refugees admitted into the country every year.
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) â The mother of American journalist Austin Tice made her first visit to Syria in almost a decade Monday and said that the administration of President-elect Donald Trump had offered support to help find her son, who disappeared in 2012.
Debra Tice made the remarks at a news conference in Damascus in her first visit to the country since insurgents toppled President Bashar Assad last month. She did not present any new findings in the ongoing search.
Austin Tice disappeared near the Syrian capital in 2012, and has not been heard from since other than a video released weeks later that showed him blindfolded and held by armed men. Tens of thousands are believed to have gone missing in Syria since 2011, when countrywide protests against Assad spiraled into a devastating civil war.
Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters at the White House in December that he believes Washington can bring Tice back, while admitting that âwe have no direct evidenceâ of his well-being.
âI have great hope that the Trump administration will sincerely engage in diligent work to bring Austin home.â Tice said. âHis people have already reached out to me. I havenât experienced that for the last four years.â
âAustin, if you can somehow hear this, I love you. I know youâre not giving up, and neither am I,â she said.
Tice said she had a productive meeting with Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of Syriaâs new administration, who she said was âdedicated and determinedâ to bring back Austin and the others missing in the country.
She also visited two military intelligence prisons in Syria, known for their mass incarceration and systematic use of torture, which she described as an âunbelievably, horrible nightmare.â
Tice, who is from Houston, has had his work published by The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers and other outlets.
(WASHINGTON) -- At noon today, Donald Trump took the presidential oath for a second time, capping a historic political comeback to the White House.
As he did on the campaign trail, Trump painted a dark picture of America and took aim at President Joe Biden's leadership as his predecessor sat just steps away.
"My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal, and all of these many betrayals that have taken place, and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy, and indeed their freedom," Trump said, promising a "golden age of America."
White House confirms Vivek Ramaswamy is leaving DOGE
The White House confirmed to ABC News that Vivek Ramaswamy, who Trump had picked to help lead his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Elon Musk, will now step aside to focus on running for governor of Ohio.
"Vivek Ramaswamy played a critical role in helping us create DOGE," Trump-Vance transition spokesperson Anna Kelly told ABC News in a statement. "He intends to run for elected office soon, which requires him to remain outside of DOGE based on the structure that we announced today. We thank him immensely for his contributions over the last 2 months and expect him to play a vital role in making America great again!"
An Ohio operative told ABC News last week that Ramaswamy would announce his gubernatorial run soon.
"Vivek's base plan remains [the] same: to get accomplishments at DOGE and then announce a run for governor shortly," the operative said.
-ABC News' Hannah Demissie
Trump enters arena to boisterous applause
Trump and Melania Trump walked into Capital One Arena together as "Hail to the Chief" was played by a military band.
The atmosphere is similar to that of Trump's campaign rallies, with attendees clad in red "Make America Great Again" hats.
Trump shook hands with supporters in the crowd, many of whom held up their cellphones to film his entrance.
DeSantis refers to Gulf as 'Gulf of America' in executive order
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order on an approaching winter storm on Monday that refers to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America."
Among the first executive orders set to be signed by Trump is one that would rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America."
Amy Klobuchar discusses Trump and Biden limo ride to the Capitol
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, chair of the congressional inaugural committee, called into ABC News and spoke with anchor David Muir after the ceremonies on Capitol Hill.
Klobuchar was in the motorcade with Trump and Biden as they rode together from the White House to the swearing-in the Capitol Rotunda.
"I'm not going to reveal every detail, except to say maybe we did discuss football just a little bit, and some of the games yesterday," she said about what was discussed on the short trip. "And we also talked about the now-president's upcoming trip to Los Angeles, and I talked to him privately about that with the Olympics coming, and how important that is."
Kash Patel, Trump's FBI director nominee, addresses crowd
Kash Patel, Trumpâs nominee for FBI director, which is a non-partisan position, addressed Trump supporters at Capital One Arena ahead of his arrival.
"It's pretty cool to be speaking in Capital One Arena right before the boss," Patel said, as the crowd cheered.
"We are not only the beacon of hope, but we are the land of constitutional justice. We are the land under Donald J. Trump and JD Vance where we are going to end the two-tier system of justice. We are going to remove the weaponization of the intelligence community for political purposes, and we are going to put the men and women of America first."
Inaugural parade taking place at Capital One Arena
Normally, the president and his entourage would walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House after taking the oath of office.
But because of frigid temperatures in Washington, the events have been moved indoors to Capital One Arena.
The venue has the capacity to hold roughly 20,000 people. A desk has been set up on stage for Trump to sign some of the first executive orders of his administration.
Brian Driscoll named acting FBI director
Brian Driscoll has been named acting director of the FBI by the incoming administration, days after Driscoll was tapped as the new head of the FBIâs Newark field office.
FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate resigned this morning, as did most of the executive staff, according to sources.
-ABC Newsâ Luke Barr
Focus will soon shift to Capital One Arena
The inaugural luncheon has ended and Trump is about to participate in the First Honors Ceremony at the Capitol.
His next stop will be Capital One Arena for remarks to a waiting crowd and the signing of executive orders.
Some Trump allies and officials have already spoken ahead of his arrival, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Also speaking was Kash Patel, Trump's pick for FBI director.
Milley's official portrait was removed from Pentagon hallway
Gen. Mark Milleyâs official portrait as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was taken down this afternoon from the hallway where it hung along with those of previous chairmen.
Two U.S. officials confirmed that Milleyâs portrait was taken down from that hallway and referred questions to the White House.
One official told ABC News that the whereabouts of the portrait is unknown.
The portrait was officially unveiled on Friday, Jan. 10, at a ceremony in that hallway where both Milley and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin were present.
The portraitâs disappearance was first noted by reporters at the Pentagon who have posted uncleared photos of the empty space where the portrait was hung.
-ABC Newsâ Luis Martinez and Matt Seyler
Acting leaders named for Homeland Security, Defense departments
While awaiting the Senate confirmation hearing for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Trump's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, Benjamine Carry Huffman has been appointed acting secretary.
Huffman is currently the director of the Federal Law Enforcement Centers, the training arm for federal law enforcement.
Department of Defense official Robert Salesses was also named acting defense secretary until the Senate confirmation hearing is held for Trump's pick, Pete Hegseth.
Salesses is the current deputy director of the Washington Headquarters Service.
-ABC News' Luke Barr and Luis Martinez
Plans for Rubio's 1st day at the State Department
The State Department is charging full steam ahead with preparations for Sen. Marco Rubio's first full day as America's top diplomat.
Assuming all goes to plan, two State Department officials say that Rubio -- Trump's nominee to be secretary of state -- will give a speech to mark his arrival on Tuesday. He will also meet both one-on-one and as a group with the foreign ministers of India, Australia, and Japan -- the three countries that, along with the U.S., make up the Quad, a diplomatic partnership seen as critical to countering China's influence in the Pacific.
The Senate is expected to begin working to formally install as many of Trump's nominees as possible and Rubio is expected to come up first. He could be confirmed as soon as this evening.
-ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston
White House raises flag to full staff after Trump signs proclamation
The flag at the White House has been raised after Trump signed a proclamation for flags to be flown at full staff on all inauguration days.
The flag had been at half-staff following President Jimmy Carterâs death on Dec. 29. Trump is ordering the flag to return to half-staff on Tuesday for the remainder of the 30-day period, which began the day of 100-year-old Carterâs death.
Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson ordered that the flags at the Capitol be raised for the inauguration.
-ABC Newsâ Justin Ryan Gomez
Trump advisers, DOJ prepare for legal challenges
With a flurry of executive orders expected today, President Donald Trump's top advisers, including his incoming Department of Justice leadership, are preparing for a storm of legal challenges to some of the most controversial ones.
"We're going to get sued on all of these things," one top Trump adviser said, adding that the volume of litigation is expected to be a full-time job for Trump's DOJ.
Trump has privately told advisers that he believes flooding the zone with executive orders will lead to lawsuits that may be less effective given the volume of actions he plans to take.
During Trump's first administration, he faced upwards of 400 lawsuits challenging his actions. His advisers anticipate more than that this time.
There will be a team inside the Justice Department that is dedicated just to defending Trump's actions in court, sources said.
The transition from the Biden White House to the Trump White House is well underway and crews are working quickly to make the changes before Trump arrives later this afternoon, but the choices are nearly identical to his first term.
In the Oval Office, gold curtains have returned behind the Resolute Desk, as well as the red-and-beige carpet with green leaves that covered the wood floor.
As Trump sits at his desk, the portrait of President Andrew Jackson returned to the wall on his left side, just as it was during his first term. Biden had a portrait of Benjamin Franklin.
To Trumpâs right, where Biden hung a 1917 flag-decorated Childe Hassam painting, President Abraham Lincoln is now back on display.
Other areas of the West Wing still need to be unboxed. In the Cabinet Room is a cardboard box with "DJT Office Bibles" written on the side.
-ABC Newsâ Justin Ryan Gomez
Politicians attend inauguration luncheon
Members of Congress, officials joining the new administration and tech leaders including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg have congregated for an inauguration luncheon at the Capitol.
Pelosi criticizes Trumpâs inaugural speech
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was critical of Trump's inaugural speech, pointing out that he didn't mention his plan to cut taxes on the wealthy.
"In the Presidentâs first term, his only accomplishment was enacting tax cuts that gave eighty-three percent of the benefits to the top one percent while increasing the national debt by $2 trillion," she said in a statement.
"While he didnât say it in his speech, the President campaigned on an extension of those tax cuts being his first priority in the new Congress," Pelosi said. "The American people want us to build an economy from the middle out -- not from the top down."
Pelosi's statement came as Trump slammed the former speaker in remarks to his supporters at Emancipation Hall.
"She's guilty as hell," Trump said of Pelosi over her response to the attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Trump again airs grievances against Nancy Pelosi, Liz Cheney after pledging 'unity'
After promising 'unity' in his inaugural address, Trump is reverting back to bulldozing political opponents like Nancy Pelosi and Liz Cheney.
"She's guilty as hell," he said of Pelosi over her response to the attack on the U.S. Capitol -- where he was speaking -- buy a pro-Trump mob.
He called Liz Cheney, a Republican who endorsed Kamala Harris over Trump because of his actions after the 2020 election, a "disaster."
"She's a crying lunatic and crying, crying Adam Kinzinger, he's a super crier," Trump said.
Trump talks about Jan. 6 'hostages'
In more off-the-cuff remarks inside the Capitol's Emancipation Hall after his address, Trump spoke about people who have been convicted for their roles in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol as "hostages."
"I was going to talk about the J6 hostages," Trump said. "But you'll be happy because, you know, it's action not words that count."
Trump previously promised to pardon some Jan. 6 rioters on Day 1.
He also went after former Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, two Republican members of the House Jan. 6 Committee who are outspoken critics of Trump because of his actions after the 2020 election.
"And I was going to talk about the things that Joe did today with the pardons of people that were, very, very guilty of very bad crimes, like the Unselect Committee of political thugs," Trump said.
Biden's legacy: How will he be remembered?
Surveys show Americans have mixed views on Biden's four years at the pinnacle of power.
Historians told ABC News it will take years to fully assess his stamp on American politics, but that likely to be included are his legislative achievements while leading the country out of the COVID-19 pandemic and his foreign policy footprint.
But many said his 2024 campaign decisions -- first to run for reelection and later to drop out -- may overshadow his record while in office.
Biden departs the Capitol
Joe Biden, now the former president, left the Capitol on a Marine helicopter that will bring him to Joint Base Andrews for a final farewell to Washington.
The Bidens and Trumps walked together to the helicopter. Both couples were holding hands.
Biden smiled and appeared to laugh as he spoke to Trump. Jill Biden and Melania Trump hugged as they said goodbye.
This is an exit for Biden after five decades in politics.
Just before he left, Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff entered their own motorcade. She is traveling home to Los Angeles, her office confirmed to ABC News.
Inaugural ceremony comes to an end
After Trump's speech, there were remarks from Rabbi Ari Berman, Pastor Lorenzo Sewell and Reverend Frank Mann. Christopher Macchio performed the national anthem.
Trump and Melania Trump left the Capitol Rotunda together.
Next, the Trumps will see off President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Room joins in as Carrie Underwood sings 'America the Beautiful'
In a unifying moment, Carrie Underwood sang "America the Beautiful" after Trumpâs defiant inauguration speech.
The country star, who was standing in front of Biden, performed a capella after technical difficulties, and the crowd joined in. Biden, Hillary Clinton and Doug Emhoff were among those singing with her.
Trump celebrates his comeback: 'Here I am'
"Many people thought it was impossible for me to stage such a historic political comeback. But as you see today, here I am," he said. "The American people have spoken."
Trump's long road back to the White House included four indictments, one conviction, two assassination attempts and a campaign of ups and downs.
Trump references legal troubles: 'Never again'
Trump, who has been convicted by a jury of his peers and was indicted four times after his first term, again contended he was politically prosecuted.
"Never again will the immense power of the state be weaponized to persecute political opponents," he said. "Something I know something about. We will not allow that to happen. It will not happen again. Under my leadership, we will restore fair, equal and impartial justice under the constitutional rule of law."
The two cases against him were dropped after he won reelection, with prosecutors citing longstanding Justice Department policy that a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime.
Trump lays out Day 1 executive actions
Trump is now highlighting some of the executive actions he will take.
They include declaring a national emergency at the southern border and a national energy emergency.
He said he would send troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, reinstate "Remain in Mexico" policy and other immigration policies.
Trump takes aim at Biden in address: 'A horrible betrayal'
Trump is taking aim at Biden's leadership these past four years, specifically on immigration and on recent natural disasters, though he didn't mention his predecessor by name.
"My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal, and all of these many betrayals that have taken place, and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy, and indeed their freedom," Trump said.
Like he did on the 2024 campaign trail, Trump's painting a dark picture of America.
"From this moment on, America's decline is over," he said. "Our liberties and our nation's glorious destiny will no longer be denied, and we will immediately restore the integrity, competency, and loyalty of America's government."
Trump: 'The golden age of America begins right now'
Trump began his inaugural remarks with a line he's said repeatedly since his election.
"The golden age of America begins right now," he said.
"Our sovereignty will be reclaimed, our safety will be restored, the scales of justice will be rebalanced."
Cheers erupted in the freezing cold in the line outside the Capital One Arena as Trump supporters huddled together, glued to their phones watching Trump take the oath of office.
Trump is sworn into office for a 2nd term, capping historic comeback
Trump just took the oath for a second time. Melania Trump and their children surrounded him as he did so.
Trump and Biden shook hands after he took the oath. Kamala Harris, who was standing next to Biden, clapped quietly.
JD Vance takes oath of office
JD Vance just took the oath of office with his wife, Usha, and their three children by his side.
Theme for inauguration is 'our enduring democracy' Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Republican Sen. Deb Fischer, who sit on the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, are speaking on the importance of democracy.
"Our theme this year is our enduring democracy, the presence of so many presidents and vice presidents here today is truly a testament to that endurance," Klobuchar said in her opening remarks.
Fischer noted the past several years have been a "trying" time for the nation but today's events marks its 60th inauguration ceremony.
"Endurance through the years is the ultimate test," she said. "To persevere through time is the truest measure of an idea."
Biden announces preemptive pardons of family members minutes before Trump takes oath
President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons to his siblings and their spouses in the final minutes of his presidency.
"My family has been subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me -- the worst kind of partisan politics. Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end," Biden said in a statement.
He pardoned his siblings, Valerie Biden Owens, Francis Biden and James Biden, as well as Owensâ husband, John Owens, and James Bidenâs wife, Sara Jones Biden.
"The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that they engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense," Biden said.
Trump enters Capitol Rotunda for transfer of power Trump walked into the Capitol Rotunda solo as he prepares to be sworn in for another four years.
It is a historic moment, as he is the first president in more than a century to win non-consecutive terms. He will also be the first convicted felon to serve as president.
Trump's children at his side but won't join his administration
Trump's five children were seen entering the Capitol, moments before he is set to be sworn in for a second term.
Unlike his first term, none will serve in his administration.
Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, were advisers in the West Wing during his first presidency. But neither are returning this time around. Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are currently leading the Trump Organization.
Omar rips Dems for attending Trumpâs inauguration after calling him a 'threat to democracy'
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. sent out a blistering X post criticizing fellow Democrats who called Trump a threat to democracy and are now "willing to be there and clap for him."
"People are more upset at performers/artists attending Trump's inaugural events but not upset at all the politicians who told them he was a 'threat to democracy' going to these events are not serious," she wrote.
"Performers at least know they are there to perform and get paid, but these politicians who ran their mouth for 4 yrs and are now willing to be there and clap for him, that's who they should be mad at," she added. "They lied to you and your criticism/anger should be rightfully directed at them.
-- ABC News' Benjamin Siegel
Clintons, Bushes, Obama arrive at Capitol
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who lost the 2016 election to President-elect Donald Trump, have arrived at Trump's second inauguration. Trump supporters gathered at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., booed as the Clintons walked in.
Former Vice President Mike Pence was also not accompanied by his wife, Karen Pence.
Trump's Cabinet picks are in the Capitol. One could be confirmed tonight
Hundreds of people are gathered inside the Capitol Rotunda, including several of Trump's Cabinet picks: Tulsi Gabbard, tapped for director of national intelligence; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., chosen to lead Health and Human Services; and Pete Hegseth, his pick to lead the Pentagon.
His pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, could be confirmed as soon as Monday night. Rubio is considered one of Trump's least controversial picks.
A number of Senate committees that will vote on different nominees have scheduled meetings for later this week.
Chants, music, and a watch party inside Capital One Arena
With a sea of red hats and the campaign soundtrack blasting, Capital One Arena emulates the environment of a campaign rally.
Notably, a desk sits at the end of the stage across the podium. Trump is expected to sign executive orders from here.
There is a feed of Trump's movements being streamed live on the Jumbotrons as well. As the president-elect departed St. John's church, the crowd here burst into applause and chanted "USA."
There were also chants of "JD-48" as they watched the vice president-elect and his wife arrived at the White House.
ABC News Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott spoke to one couple from Alabama who arrived at 2:30 a.m. and said there were still âthousandsâ of people ahead of them.
EMS first responders from Butler, Pennsylvania -- the site of that first assassination attempt -- are expected to be present as well.
-- ABC Newsâ Rachel Scott and Benjamin Siegel
What happens when Trump and Biden get to Capitol
According to the presidential inauguration committee, here is what will happen when Trump gets to the Capitol:
First, he will be sworn in around noon.
After, Trump will bid farewell to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden is leaving the Capitol via helicopter to go to Joint Base Andrews, where he will hold a farewell event with his staff.
Trump will then visit the overflow crowd gathered at Emancipation Hall to watch the swearing in and later participate in a ceremony in the presidents signing room. He will eventually return to Emancipation Hall for a review of the troops.
Biden and Trump depart White House together for Capitol
President Joe Biden and President-elect Trump are riding together to the U.S. Capitol for Trump's swearing-in.
Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who chairs the congressional inaugural committee, walked them out of the White House.
First lady Jill Biden and Melania Trump rode to the ceremony separately, as did Vice President Kamala Harris and Vice President-elect JD Vance.
Biden sees to peaceful transition of power Trump denied him four years ago
The peaceful transition of power is a hallmark of American democracy.
It's currently on display as Biden hosts Trump at the White House before they attend the inauguration together.
But four years ago, Trump denied Biden such a welcome. Instead, he bitterly left Washington hours before the inauguration while still refusing to concede he lost the 2020 election.
"The only president ever to avoid an inauguration is the guy that's about to be inaugurated," Biden had said when he confirmed he would be in attendance for Monday's events.
Biden leaves letter for Trump
As President Joe Biden prepared to pass the baton to President-elect Donald Trump, he's followed the tradition of leaving his successor a note.
While Biden confirmed that he wrote Trump a letter, he did not say what his message was.
President Ronald Reagan started the ritual of leaving his successor a letter in 1989. Every president since has taken part in the tradition. But since Reagan's letter to Bush, each handover has been from a Democrat to a Republican or vice versa.
Mike Pence to attend inauguration
Former Vice President Mike Pence announced his plans to attend the inauguration.
"Today, I will attend the Inauguration of President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance at the U. S. Capitol," Pence wrote on X. "This is a day when every American does well to celebrate our democracy and the peaceful transfer of power under the Constitution of the United States."
Pence was seen arriving at the U.S. Capitol at around 9:30 a.m.
Trump and Vance have had a contentious relationship and did not interact publicly for four years after Pence broke with Trump by refusing to reject the 2020 election results.
Biden tells Trump: 'Welcome home'
As Trump exited his limousine, Biden said to him: "Welcome home."
Trump walked up the steps with Melania Trump and they shook hands with the Bidens.
Trump is now at the White House
Trump has arrived at the White House, where he will have tea with President Biden.
The two men will later ride together to the U.S. Capitol for Trump's swearing in.
Trump's return caps what has been a remarkable political comeback unlike anything in American history.
This isn't Trump's first time back at the White House. Biden invited him for an Oval Office meeting days after his victory in November.
Hundreds available to attend inauguration from inside the Capitol Rotunda
Guests will attend the inauguration from the Capitol Rotunda and overflow areas, with 800 able to attend from inside the Rotunda.
About 1,300 can attend in the Emancipation Hall, and 500 can watch from the theater in the Capitol Visitor Center.
-- ABC Newsâ Justin Gomez and Allison Pecorin
Trump will rename Gulf of Mexico the 'Gulf of America' among 1st actions
Among the first executive orders set to be signed by President-elect Donald Trump will be an order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America."
During his January press conference at Mar-A-Lago, Trump declared he would change the name, saying itâs currently run by cartels and that "itâs ours."
"We're going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring that covers a lot of territory, the Gulf of America," Trump said. "What a beautiful name. And it's appropriate. It's appropriate. And Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country."
Presidents have the authority to rename geographic regions and features via executive order.
-ABC Newsâ John Santucci and Kelsey Walsh
Biden takes selfie with first lady at White House
President Joe Biden snapped a selfie with first lady Jill Biden outside the White House, documenting their final morning in office.
The Bidens will soon host the Trumps for tea and coffee at the White House.
Bidens greet Harris at the White House Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff have arrived at the White House.
They exchanged handshakes with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden.
The Trumps will soon join Biden at the White House for tea. They have just exited St. John's Episcopal Church.
Supporters line up outside Capital One Arena before dawn, despite sub-freezing temps
Temperatures in the high teens and low 20s did little to stop Trump supporters from lining up early to attend inauguration events at Capital One Arena.
Those at the front of the line arrived at 3 a.m., despite the fact that Trump was eight hours away from taking the oath, and doors were four hours away from opening.
Thousands were lined up by the time doors opened at 7 a.m.
ABC News spoke with supporters from all over the nation including southern California, Florida, and New York. Many arrived with family members that spanned generations.
ABC Newsâ Meghan Mistry
Trumps arrive for church service
Donald Trump and Melania Trump have arrived for a church service at St. John's in Washington, a tradition for presidential inaugurations.
Trump said he's feeling "great."
After church, President Biden and first lady Jill Biden will welcome the Trumps to the White House -- an invitation that Trump did not offer the Bidens four years ago when he skipped the inaugural events entirely.
First to ABC: Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Tom Homan and Kellyanne Conway to speak at Capital One Arena, per sources
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, "border czar" Tom Homan and Kellyanne Conway will speak at Capital One Arena, per sources familiar with the planning.
Elon Musk will join the speakers list as well.
The president will also swing by the Capital One Arena for the 60th Presidential Inaugural Ceremony Viewing & Parade.
The evening will include the Oval Office Signing Ceremony, followed by the Commander and Chief Ball, Liberty Ball, and Starlight Ball.
-- ABC Newsâ Kelsey Walsh
Members of Trump's family arrive at St. John's
Trump is about to leave Blair House for the first event of the day: a service at St. John's Episcopal Church.
Members of his family, including his children Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump, were seen arriving for the service.
Senior Trump adviser dismisses significance of Biden pardons
Jason Miller, a senior adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, dismissed the significance of President Joe Biden's preemptive pardons for prominent political figures in an interview with "Good Morning America" on Monday.
"Today is about President Trump and starting to undo some of the disasters from the past four years," Miller said shortly after the news of Biden's inauguration day pardons broke.
"I really don't care about Joe Biden anymore," Miller added. "This is about the plan of action President Trump is going to start implementing, starting today."
A preview of Trump's inaugural address
Excerpts of Trump's inaugural address, obtained by ABC News, show Trump will call for a "revolution of common sense."
"I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country," he will say.
Trump will also hint at the sweeping executive action he will take, with as many as 200 orders prepared for Day 1.
"Today, I will sign a series of historic executive orders," he'll say. "With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense."
"My message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor, and the vitality of historyâs greatest civilization."
What Trump has said he'll do on Day 1
Mass deportations, Jan. 6 pardons and tariffs on trade partners. That's just some of what Trump repeatedly vowed to do immediately after he is sworn into office.
Sources told ABC News Trump is likely to sign executive orders at the U.S. Capitol after his swearing-in and then additional ones later at Capital One Arena.
Separately, top Trump officials told ABC News he is preparing to take more than 200 executive actions on his first day in office.
While plans are still being finalized, sources said they could include declaring a national emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border, rescinding any DEI directives from the Biden administration and offsetting limits for offshore drilling on federal land.
Biden's attendance restores hallmark of American democracy
After a bitter 2024 campaign, Biden will put politics aside and stand near his successor as he takes the presidential oath spelled out in the Constitution.
The gesture is a tradition of American democracy, but especially notable given that Trump skipped Biden's inauguration four years ago after refusing to concede.
Still, Biden made sure to issue a final warning to Americans before he left office to be vigilant against potential abuses of power ahead.
"Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power, and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead," he said in his farewell address. "We see the consequences all across America."
How to watch Trump's inauguration
ABC News will have comprehensive coverage of the inauguration throughout the day.
Trump is expected to begin his day with a service at St. John's Episcopal Church and a private tea at the White House before his swearing-in ceremony at noon in the Capitol Rotunda.
The network's coverage will begin with a special edition of "Good Morning America" at 7 a.m. EST, followed by a day-long special report beginning at 9 a.m. EST and led by "World News Tonight" anchor and managing editor David Muir from Washington.
Inauguration coincides with MLK Day
Trump's second swearing in is occurring on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The last time that happened was former President Barack Obama's second inauguration in 2013. Obama, the nation's first Black president, took the oath of office that year using two Bibles, one that belonged to King and one that belonged to Abraham Lincoln.
The overlap isn't expected to happen again until 2053.
Fauci, Milley react to preemptive pardons from Biden
Following Bidenâs announcement of preemptive pardons to potential targets of the incoming Trump administration, the recipients express their gratitude to the outgoing president.
"I really truly appreciate the action President Biden has taken today on my behalf," Dr. Anthony Fauci told ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl. "Let me be perfectly clear, Jon, I have committed no crime, you know that, and there are no possible grounds for any allegation or threat of criminal investigation or prosecution of me.â
Retired Gen. Mark Milley also expressed that he was âdeeply grateful for the Presidentâs action.â
"After forty-three years of faithful service in uniform to our Nation, protecting and defending the Constitution, I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights. I do not want to put my family, my friends, and those with whom I served through the resulting distraction, expense, and anxiety."
"I wish this pardon weren't necessary, but unfortunately, the political climate we are in now has made the need for one somewhat of a reality,â said Harry Dunn, former Capitol Police officer. âI, like all of the other public servants, was just doing my job and upholding my oath, and I will always honor that.â
(LONDON) -- A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza went into effect on Sunday morning. Hostages held in the strip and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails will be freed in the first phase of the deal.
Meanwhile, the November ceasefire in Lebanon is holding despite ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets, which Israeli officials say are responses to ceasefire violations by the Iranian-backed militant group. Israeli forces also remain active inside the Syrian border region as victorious rebels there build a transitional government.
Tensions remain high between Israel and Iran after tit-for-tat long-range strikes in recent months and threats of further military action from both sides. The IDF and the Yemeni Houthis also continue to exchange attacks.
Houthis say attacks on Israeli shipping will continue
Yemen's Houthi rebels announced that they will limit their attacks in the Red Sea to only Israel-affiliated ships, signaling a temporary easing of their broader assault on commercial vessels.
The decision coincided with the ceasefire and hostage-release deal agreed between Israel and Hamas that went into effect on Sunday.
The announcement was made via an email sent to shipping companies by the Houthi Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center, the Associated Press reported.
Attacks on Israeli-linked vessels will end "upon the full implementation of all phases" of the ceasefire, the Houthis said, adding that attacks on U.S.- or U.K.-linked shipping may resume if the two nations continue airstrikes in Yemen.
The Houthis have targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip started in October 2023, significantly affecting global shipping, particularly through Egypt's Suez Canal.
The Houthis have also attacked American and allied military shipping in the region, plus launched drone and ballistic missile strikes into Israel.
-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian
10,000 bodies may be under Gaza rubble, Civil Defense says
The Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza said there could be as many as 10,000 bodies buried under rubble all across the strip, as many displaced Gazans try to return to their homes under a nascent ceasefire agreement.
The Civil Defense said in a post to Telegram that 10,000 missing people are believed to be "under the rubble of destroyed homes, buildings and facilities." They are not counted in the 38,300 fatalities listed by the Civil Defense since Oct. 7, 2023.
The Gaza Ministry of Health -- which has separately tracked deaths during the conflict -- said on Sunday that 46,913 people had been killed in the Hamas-run territory during the war with Israel.
The Civil Defense said Israeli forces prevented its crews from accessing large areas of the strip during the fighting, "where there are hundreds of bodies" that have not yet been recovered.
The Civil Defense called for the entry of foreign rescue workers "to support us in carrying out our duty to deal with the catastrophic reality left behind by the war, which exceeds the capacity of the civil defense apparatus in the Gaza Strip."
The organization called on Gazans to assist rescuers "with all necessary capabilities, including rescue, firefighting, and ambulance vehicles and equipment, as well as heavy machinery and equipment that will help us retrieve the bodies of martyrs from under the rubble of thousands of destroyed buildings and homes."
Freed hostage is 'happiest girl in the world,' mother says Mandy Damari, the mother of Emily Damari -- who was among the three Israeli captives freed from Gaza on Sunday -- released a statement thanking all those involved in her daughter's release "from the bottom of my heart."
"Yesterday, I was finally able to give Emily the hug that I have been dreaming of," Mandy said in a statement shared by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters.
"I am relieved to report that after her release, Emily is doing much better than any of us could ever have anticipated," she added.
"In Emily's own words, she is the happiest girl in the world; she has her life back," Mandy said.
"In this incredibly happy moment for our family, we must also remember that 94 other hostages still remain," she added. "The ceasefire must continue and every last hostage must be returned to their families."
-ABC News' Anna Burd
Red Cross details 'complex' hostage release operation
The International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement that Sunday's operation to collect three freed Israeli hostages from Gaza "was complex, requiring rigorous security measures to minimize the risks to those involved."
"Navigating large crowds and heightened emotions posed challenges during the transfers and in Gaza, ICRC teams had to manage the dangers posed by unexploded ordnances and destroyed infrastructure," the ICRC said in a Monday statement.
"More families are waiting anxiously for their loved ones to come home," ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said. "We call on all parties to continue to adhere to their commitments to ensure the next operations can take place safely."
The ICRC also stressed that "urgently needed humanitarian assistance must enter Gaza, where civilians have struggled for months to access food, drinkable water and shelter."
Released Palestinian prisoners arrive in the West Bank amid high tensions
Tensions were high as people waited in Beitunia, in the West Bank, for the arrival of the 90 Palestinian prisoners who were released from Israeli custody just after 1 a.m. local time.
Israeli forces used cars and tear gas to attempt to clear the roads, ABC News reporters on the scene said.
ABC News' team saw flash bangs where people were gathered waiting for the prisonersâ release.
Israeli Police did not immediately respond to ABC Newsâ request for comment on the matter.
The prisoners were released from Ofer Prison in Ramallah, West Bank, as a part of the hostage exchange and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
People were seen on top of the buses waving flags and chanting as the prisoners arrived in Beitunia at approximately 1:42 a.m.
-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman, as well as Tom Soufi Burridge and Hugo Leenhardt in the West Bank
Photos show 3 Israeli former hostages reunited with their mothers
Photos were released by Israeli officials on Sunday showing the three released hostages hugging their mothers as they were reunited.
The images showed former hostages Romi Gonen, 24; Emily Damari, 28; and Doron Steinbrecher, 31, all sharing emotional embraces with their mothers.
(WASHINGTON) -- President Joe Biden on Monday issued preemptive pardons to potential targets of the incoming Trump administration, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley and lawmakers who served on the House Jan. 6 Committee.
"Our nation relies on dedicated, selfless public servants every day. They are the lifeblood of our democracy," Biden said in a statement just hours before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office.
"Yet alarmingly, public servants have been subjected to ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties," Biden added.
Trump in his 2024 campaign repeatedly vowed "retribution" on his political enemies, specifically singling out lawmakers like Liz Cheney who investigated the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump said Cheney and other committee members should be put in jail.
Trump called Biden's action "disgraceful" in a text to NBC News. "Many are guilty of MAJOR CRIMES!" he told the news outlet.
Milley, who retired as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2023, has long been a target of Republican attacks over the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has been a lightning rod for criticism over the federal government's response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Milley put out a statement shortly after Biden's announcement.
"My family and I are deeply grateful for the Presidentâs action today," he said. "After forty-three years of faithful service in uniform to our Nation, protecting and defending the Constitution, I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights. I do not want to put my family, my friends, and those with whom I served through the resulting distraction, expense, and anxiety."
"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve our great country in uniform for over four decades, and I will continue to keep faith and loyalty to our nation and Constitution until my dying breath," Milley added.
Fauci told ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl he accepted the pardon and is grateful for it.
"I really truly appreciate the action President Biden has taken today on my behalf," Fauci said. "Let me be perfectly clear, Jon, I have committed no crime, you know that, and there are no possible grounds for any allegation or threat of criminal investigation or prosecution of me."
But Fauci said the threats and possibility of prosecution "creates immeasurable and intolerable distress on me and my family."
In a joint statement Monday morning, Rep. Bennie Thompson and former Rep. Liz Cheney who served as chair and vice chair of the January 6 Select Committee, expressed gratitude to Biden for recognizing the challenges they and their families face, but asserted that they did not do anything wrong.
"We have been pardoned today not for breaking the law but for upholding it," Thompson and Cheney wrote.
"These are indeed 'extraordinary circumstances' when public servants are pardoned to prevent false prosecution by the government for having worked faithfully as Members of Congress to expose the facts of a months-long criminal effort to override the will of the voters after the 2020 elections, including by inciting a violent insurrection to thwart the peaceful transfer of power," they added.
ABC News reported in early December that Biden was considering such an action, days after he issued a full pardon for his son, Hunter Biden. In an exit interview with USA Today earlier this month, Biden signaled he was still wrestling with the decision.
Some Democrats argued against preemptive pardons, including Sen. Adam Schiff, who served on the House Jan. 6 committee.
"The precedent of giving blanket pardons, preemptive blanket pardons on the way out of an administration, I think is a precedent we don't want to set," Schiff said on ABC's "This Week" in December.
But Biden, in his statement on Monday, expressed concern about attempts to rewrite the violence that unfolded at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
"I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics," Biden said. "But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing. Baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families."
"That is why I am exercising my authority under the Constitution to pardon General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the Members of Congress and staff who served on the Select Committee, and the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the Select Committee," he said. "The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense. Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country."
Harry Dunn, a former Capitol Police officer, said he was "eternally grateful" to Biden for the action but also for his leadership.
"I wish this pardon weren't necessary, but unfortunately, the political climate we are in now has made the need for one somewhat of a reality. I, like all of the other public servants, was just doing my job and upholding my oath, and I will always honor that," Dunn said.
ABC News' Matt Seyler and Pierre Thomas contributed to this report.
(NEW YORK) -- The coldest air of the season is moving into the Northeast and a huge part of the U.S., including the Gulf Coast, after a snowstorm.
At least 40 states, from Oregon to Florida and up to Maine, are on cold alerts on Monday morning.
The inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump in Washington will be a cold one, the coldest since President Ronald Reagan's 1985 inauguration.
That one also had to be pushed indoors due to brutal cold, with the temperature at noon at only 7 degrees with wind chills below zero.
The forecast this year calls for temperature in the mid 20s with wind chills in the mid-teens, which isn't as cold as it was in 1985, but is about 15 degrees colder than normal for Washington, D.C.
The cold expected on the East Coast is nothing compared to what people in the Upper Midwest are dealing with. Wind chills there are dipping as low as 40 to 50 degres below zero.
The bitter cold has reached the Gulf Coast where freeze alerts are issued and temperatures could reach the lower 20s and even teens this week.
The cold alerts follow a quickly moving little snowstorm that is done with, after most major cities from D.C. to NYC got just an inch or two. More fell inland.
Terra Alta, West Virginia, got about a foot of snow, along with 12.5 inches in Grantsville, Maryland. Boston, Massachusetts, had 4 inches so far, while Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, got about 2 inches.
Central Park in New York City saw about 1.6 inches and Washington, D.C., received less than a foot of snow ahead of Monday's inauguration.
Did you miss Ridley Scott's Gladiator sequel in theaters? You're in luck. Gladiator II is set to make its streaming debut on Paramount+ in the U.S. and Canada on Jan. 21. The historical epic, which stars Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington, has grossed over $455 million at the box office and garnered nominations at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. The movie also stars Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger and Connie Nielsen ...
Two new cast members are joining Silo for its third season. The Apple TV+ show has recruited Ashley Zukerman and JessicaHenwick to join its cast as series regulars for season 3, according to Variety. Zukerman will play Daniel, a young congressman, while Henwick has been cast as Helen, a journalist. The Rebecca Ferguson-led sci-fi series follows the story of the last 10,000 people on Earth ...
Bosch star Titus Welliver is taking on a brand-new TV crime drama. He and Juani Feliz will lead a new potential spinoff of TheEqualizer for CBS, Deadline reports. Welliver will play Hudson Reed, a former CIA operative with a secret, while Feliz will play Samantha Reed, a woman trained to be a weapons expert and skilled martial artist. Their new characters will be introduced during an episodes of the Queen Latifah-starring procedural The Equalizer during its current season ...
DALLAS (AP) â Jason Robertson had one of three first-period goals plus a third-period assist and Jake Oettinger made 33 saves as the Dallas Stars beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 on Sunday night.
Wyatt Johnston and rookies Matej Blumel and Mavrik Bourque also scored for the Stars, who are 10-3-1 in their last 14 games.
Simon Edvinsson pulled Detroit within 3-1 with 7:59 to play, but Johnston answered 2:08 later on Robertsonâs assist.
Robertson scored twice in 40 seconds in Dallasâ 6-3 loss at Colorado on Saturday. His goal Sunday came on the power play for the NHLâs worst home unit (8 of 72 for 11.1%).
Alex Lyon stopped 21 shots for the Red Wings, who also lost Saturday ( 5-1 at Tampa Bay ).
Robertson has a season-best five-game points streak, 29 in 24 games, and eight goals in 13 games.
Matt Ducheneâs two assists gave him seven points in four games and a team-high 45 this season.
Takeaways
Red Wings: Detroit has lost three of it last four games. They had won their first seven after Todd McLellan replaced Derek Lalonde as coach on Dec. 26. Lyon played Saturdayâs third period relieving Cam Talbot, playing on consecutive nights for the first time since March 2023.
Stars: Oettinger has won seven of his last eight starts for 23 wins, second in the NHL. The Stars have won eight straight meetings with the Red Wings beginning April 24, 2021.
Key moment
Johnston prevented Moritz Seiderâs wraparound from clearing Dallasâ zone during the possession that resulted in Robertsonâs goal and a 2-0 lead.
Key stat
Dallasâ top-ranked penalty kill (86.2%) went 3 for 3 allowing five shots on goal against Detroitâs power play, best in the league since McLellanâs hiring (41.9%).
Up next
On Tuesday, the Red Wings will end a four-game road trip at Philadelphia while the Stars host Carolina.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) â Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 27 points and 10 assists in three quarters, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Brooklyn Nets 127-101 on Sunday night.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s leading scorer, sat out Fridayâs loss at Dallas with a sprained right wrist. He looked fine against the Nets â he made 8 of 14 field goals and all 10 of his free throw attempts. He also had four steals.
Isaiah Joe scored 24 points and made eight 3-pointers for the Thunder.
The Thunder have the best record in the Western Conference, and the victory clinched Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneaultâs spot as an All-Star head coach. He will coach one of the four All-Star teams and an assistant coach from his staff will be the head coach for another team.
Cam Johnson and Tyrese Johnson each scored 15 points for the Nets, who have lost eight of nine.
Oklahoma City made 9 of 13 3-pointers in the first quarter to take a 39-19 lead. The Thunder continued to roll in the second quarter and led 69-49 at halftime. Gilgeous-Alexander and Joe each had 15 points at the break.
Oklahoma City continued to dominate in the second half, expanding its lead to 29 points in the closing minutes.
Takeaways
Nets: Brooklyn shot just 42.5% against the Thunder, who lead the league in defensive rating.
Thunder: Daigneault, last season’s NBA Coach of the Year, might be doing a better job this year. He once again found a way to manage an injury-riddled roster and not miss a beat. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma Cityâs No. 2 scorer for the season, sat out this game with a strained right hip and center Isaiah Hartenstein was out with a strained left calf.
Key moment
Ousmane Dieng’s one-handed jam on a fast break put Oklahoma City ahead 32-7 in the first quarter. It was the highlight of an 18-0 run.
Key stat
Oklahoma City shot 61.9% from the field and 61.1% from 3-point range (11 of 18) in the first half.
Up next
Nets host the New York Knicks on Tuesday, and Thunder host Utah on Wednesday.
PARIS (AP) â Officially, Indiana will be the home team on the scoreboard when it plays San Antonio in Paris on Thursday.
The Pacers know better. They will not be feeling right at home.
âItâs going to be a big crowd against us, honestly,â Indiana guard Andrew Nembhard said.
Heâs not wrong, for one 7-foot-4 reason. The upcoming NBA Paris Games â Indiana vs. San Antonio on Thursday and Saturday, the Pacers being the designated home team for the first matchup and the Spurs getting that distinction for the second game â are essentially going to be a weeklong celebration of Franceâs own Victor Wembanyama, San Antonioâs reigning NBA rookie of the year who likely will be an All-Star this season for the first time.
In other words, welcome to Wemby Week in Paris.
The teams were arriving in Paris on Monday, with practices and other events scheduled throughout the week and then the games toward the end. There have been single games in Paris in each of the last two seasons â Chicago-Detroit in 2023, Brooklyn-Cleveland last year â but this season, itâs a two-game trip and Wembanyama is surely one of the reasons for that.
Ticket demand was off the charts. The games sold out in a day. Some tickets remain as part of packages; for example, a game ticket for Thursday, including a chance to grab a picture with the Larry OâBrien Trophy, will set you back $730. Flight not included, of course.
Then again, not everyone in attendance will have bought their tickets. Wembanyama arranged a treasure hunt for 10 tickets; there were QR codes hidden in five cities â Paris, Lyon, Lille, Marseille and Bordeaux â and he encouraged fans to start hunting.
âI couldnât come back to the capital without giving you the opportunity to come see me play,â he wrote on social media.
The Spurs are a global brand with deep ties to France that pre-date Wembanyamaâs arrival in San Antonio. Tony Parker and Boris Diaw helped the Spurs establish that relationship with France during their years in Spurs colors, and now the interest can be marked in plenty of ways off the court as well. Last week, the Spurs announced a series of events for this week in collaboration with Paris-Saint Germain, one of the worldâs most-followed soccer teams.
âWe have a long history with France for obvious reasons in many ways. So, itâs just another milestone or opportunity, I think, to probably strengthen that bond or connection,â Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson said. âVery cool for Vic. Obviously, he just got done in the Olympics as well.â
France played host to the Paris Games last summer and Wembanyama helped his home nation get to the gold-medal game against the U.S. He was spectacular in the final, scoring 26 points. It wasnât enough, not with Stephen Curry leading the way with 24 for the Americans â capped by a barrage of four 3-pointers in the final couple of minutes to clinch the gold.
Wembanyama settled for silver that night. The games this week are in the same arena as the Olympic final was. He was asked earlier this season how often he thinks about this trip and getting to play in Paris again.
âAll the time,â he said.
Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton was on that U.S. Olympic team. He knows what that arena felt like and can envision what itâll be like for Wembanyamaâs return this week.
âThe game has never seen anybody like him,â Haliburton said.
The Spurs played in Miami on Sunday and lost, then stuck around for a few hours to have some dinner and get their body clocks right for the 8-hour flight from South Florida to France. The Pacers were also arriving Monday and, like the Spurs, were planning to get at least a light workout in after landing to shake off the effects of the long plane ride.
Paris has been waiting. And Wemby will be welcomed back like a conquering hero.
âI think any time anybody gets to play (or) perform back home, especially when thatâs not something you do consistently or regularly, itâs a pretty cool opportunity,â Johnson said. âIâm sure thereâll be people at the game that havenât seen him play in a long time or typically maybe never have. You know, hometown kids get to see you ⊠maybe theyâve never been to an NBA game. So, I know thereâs a lot of things, not to speak for him, that Iâm sure heâs looking forward to and that are unique in a very, very cool way for him to connect.â
___
AP Sports Writer Michael Marot in Indianapolis contributed.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) â Saquon Barkley blew through a hole and ran untouched in the wintry mix, the Eagles’ 2,000-yard rusher smacking his helmet with his hand on his final snowy steps of a 78-yard touchdown run.
The Rams had braced for gusty winds and a heightened chance of snow on a trip to Philadelphia.
They were blown over by Barkley.
Barkley waved his arms in celebration as he scampered along the back of the end zone before he slid into the snow â Slide, Eagles, Slide! â in the late-game playoff celebration.
Barkley dashed through the snow for touchdown runs of 78 and 62 yards and finished with 205 yards rushing, Jalen Hurts had a 44-yard scoring run and the Eagles held on against the turnover-happy Rams 28-22 on Sunday to reach the NFC championship game for the second time in three years.
âThis is the reason why I came here,â Barkley said. âThis was the best opportunity to play in a game like this.â
Barkley, who left the Giants in free agency to sign a three-year deal for $26 million guaranteed, ran for a 62-yard score in the first half and stretched the lead in the fourth on the 78-yard score that gave him four touchdowns of 60-plus yards in two games this season against the Rams.
Barkley gave Hurts a little heads up before the snap that a special play was about to develop.
âIt was fun, It was a play that I asked for,â Barkley said. âIt’s a beautiful thing when stuff like that happens.â
These Philly Snow Birds had cause for celebration — they will host the NFC championship game Sunday against Washington after the Commanders stunned No. 1 seed Detroit on Saturday.
The Rams kept the upset threat alive â caused in large part by two missed extra points by Philadelphia’s Jake Elliott.
Matthew Stafford, who threw for 324 yards with sore ribs, kept the Rams in it with a 4-yard TD pass to Colby Parkinson that made it 28-22. The Rams got the ball back with two minutes left and Stafford completed consecutive passes of 11 and 37 yards to move the ball into Eagles territory.
But Stafford was sacked by Jalen Carter on third down and threw an incomplete pass on fourth down to end the threat.
That came after the Rams suffered from a flurry of fumbles in the fourth quarter, one by running back Kyren Williams that led to a field goal for the Eagles and a strip-sack of Stafford that led to another kick by Elliott to give Philadelphia a 22-15 lead.
The Eagles are set to host the NFC championship game for the fifth time since Lincoln Financial Field opened in 2003.
Eagles defenders frolicked in the winter mess and made snow angels in the end zone to celebrate the turnovers. Some brave frigid fans went shirtless â and yes, even Santa Claus was in the house, without a report of any snowball throwing.
Stadium workers used snow blowers to clear yard lines and hash marks, while Eagles scooped and kicked away snow to clear a circle for Elliottâs field goal attempts.
Hurts threw for just 128 yards, his mobility hampered in the second half after he was fitted for a knee brace. He didnât miss any snaps, but was easily mauled on the safety. He was sacked seven times.
Hurts suffered a concussion that cost him in two games in a loss at Washington in December. It was the Eaglesâ only loss after they returned from the bye with a 2-2 record.
Hurts said he expected to play against the Commanders.
Barkley had 118 total yards at the break, but the Rams’ defense â coming off a nine-sack effort against Minnesota â sacked Hurts three times in the half. Hurts was sacked on consecutive plays to end the first half, a total loss of 16 yards that knocked the Eagles out of field goal range.
The Eagles borrowed from the playbook used in their November win in Los Angeles when big plays â Barkley had touchdown runs of 70 and 72 yards â helped them cruise to a comfortable win.
Hurts rushed for the longest TD of his career, a 44-yarder on the fifth play of the game that sent a cold crowd still buzzing from the pregame theatrics into a frenzy. Elliott missed an extra point for the second straight playoff game.
After converting a fourth down on the drive, Stafford hit Tyler Higbee for a 4-yard TD that made it 7-6. Only six days earlier, Higbee spit up blood in the playoff win over Minnesota and was taken to the hospital with a chest injury.
Barkley scored on a 62-yard run for a 13-7 lead, but not before the 2,105-yard rusher slowed near the end zone and looked back to clown the trailing Jared Verse. Barkley had has fifth touchdown run of 50-plus yards of the season and was the first player with three TD runs of 60-plus against one team since Baltimoreâs Jamal Lewis did it against the Browns in 2003.
âRain, sleet, or snow, heâs been able to pound, pound, pound, and then take it off,’ Hurts said âThat was fun. That was cute. Just being able to pop it out first for us.â
Verse got trolled by Barkley after the Rams rookie linebacker and Pennsylvania native said he âhates Eagles fans.â The first-round draft pick attended high school in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, which is about 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
Verse egged on fans during pregame warmups and relished the boos that rained him on in the light snow. Once the game started, the Eagles showed on the big screen Verse on the bench and fans booed again.
Verse winked at the camera, stamping his name on the list of Philly sports villains.
âI think Iâm up here pretty shocked because I know a lot of people didnât believe we could come in here, but we had the full expectation to come in here,â and win, Rams coach Sean McVay said. âI donât think anybody ever really expected the end of the season to be right now and the finality of it is tough for me to swallow.â
Injuries
Rams: DE Braden Fiske had a knee injury.
Eagles: CB Quinyon Mitchell suffered a shoulder injury.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) â Josh Allen heard the âMVP! MVP!â chants directed at him from the stands, but Buffalo’s quarterback deflected the credit following the Bills’ hard-fought victory in the divisional playoff round.
This season’s Bills were thought to be thin on both sides of the ball. And it wasn’t one player or one unit that led to Buffalo beating Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens 27-25 on Sunday night, ending its string of three straight losses at this stage of the postseason and moving on to play the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game next Sunday.
It was everyone.
âWhat a complete win,â Allen said. âAll year, this team has heard weâve got no talent, weâre too small, we canât stop the run, weâre not good enough to compete. Weâve just put our head down and worked hard. Iâm so proud of our defense. Iâm so proud of our offense and special teams.â
Allen rushed for touchdowns of 1 and 4 yards, but he threw for only 127 yards and rushed for 20. Buffalo finished with a modest 273 yards of offense that included rookie Ray Davis scoring on a 1-yard run.
How about that often maligned defense, which gave up 271 yards rushing in a 35-10 loss to Baltimore in Week 4?
On Sunday, the Bills allowed 176 yards rushing and 416 overall to the Ravens, but compensated by forcing three turnovers.
âWe were motivated all week, man,â said linebacker Terrel Bernard, who forced and recovered Mark Andrews’ fumble to set up Tyler Bass’ 21-yard field goal with 3:29 left. âWe put a lot of work into it. And to see the results start to pay off right now, I canât say enough about this team.â
The Bills made fewer mistakes than the Ravens on a snow-slicked field and hung on when the usually sure-handed and wide-open Andrews dropped a 2-point conversion pass from Jackson, allowing the ball to bounce off his chest with 1:33 left. Jackson connected with a sliding Isaiah Likely for a 24-yard touchdown to give the Ravens a chance to tie it.
Baltimore tried an onside kick and cornerback Rasul Douglas fielded the ball on two hops.
Buffalo closed its season 10-0 at home, including a 30-21 win over the previously unbeaten Chiefs in Week 11. Now the Bills head to Kansas City, where they’ve been eliminated twice in the past four years â more recently in an unforgettable finish three years ago, when Buffalo blew a three-point lead in the final 13 seconds of regulation and lost 42-36 in overtime.
âWe know what they are. Theyâre the perennial of what you want to be in the NFL,â Allen said. âYouâve got to beat them to get past them. So, you know, weâre going to enjoy this one tonight.â
The Ravens had one of the NFLâs most productive offenses in the regular season but fell a win short of reaching the conference title game, which they lost to the Chiefs a year ago. Scrutiny of Jacksonâs playoff performances will only increase as he fell to 3-5 in the postseason.
âWe got to get over this, because weâre right there,â said Jackson, who dropped to 1-5 when committing a turnover in the playoffs. âIâm tired of being right there. We need to punch in that ticket.â
Baltimore fell to 5-8 in the divisional round, including 1-4 in its last five.
Jackson finished 18 of 25 for 254 yards and two touchdowns, including a 16-yarder to Rashod Bateman to cap Baltimoreâs first possession.
In a showdown of MVP candidates, Jackson lost the turnover battle with an interception and a fumble, while Allen enjoyed his 11th turnover-free game of the season.
âIt was uncharacteristic to have turnovers like that. There were opportunities for us to not have those, but we had them,â Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. âYou try to bounce back from them in the course of the game. You canât take them back.â
Andrews did not make himself available after his critical drop, but got plenty of support from his teammates.
âOne play doesnât define anybody. Heâs the all-time leading touchdown receiver in Ravens history,â safety Kyle Hamilton said. âHeâs been a consistent beacon of success the whole time heâs been here.â
The Bills leaned on the complementary football that allowed them to match a franchise record with 13 regular-season wins, become the NFLâs first team to score 30 touchdowns passing and rushing, and do so without a receiver gaining 900 yards. Defensively, Buffalo finished the regular season with a league-best plus-24 turnover differential.
âThe mindset is what itâs all about,â coach Sean McDermott said. âThese guys believed, played to win, and you find a way, right?â
The Bills limited Derrick Henry to 84 yards rushing and a touchdown on 16 carries after he had a season-high 199 yards in Week 4.
Allenâs 1-yard touchdown run with 8:49 left in the second quarter gave the Bills the lead for good at 14-7.
That score was set up by Jacksonâs fumble. Facing second-and-10 at the Buffalo 28, Jackson first had to secure a high snap. After gaining control, he attempted to scramble forward, only to lose the ball when safety Damar Hamlin grabbed the quarterback by the ankle.
Von Miller scooped up the fumble and was finally chased down at Baltimoreâs 24.
The Ravens failed on both 2-point conversion attempts, with linebacker Matt Milano batting down Jacksonâs pass attempt after Henry scored to make it 21-19.
Up next
The Bills get a rematch of the AFC championship game after the 2020 season, which Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs won 38-24. That Kansas City team lost the Super Bowl to Tom Brady and Tampa Bay.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) â Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom already has thrown off the mound this offseason and said everything felt normal after missing most of his first two seasons with the Texas Rangers because of elbow surgery.
The three starts deGrom got to make last September were significant for him.
âThat way I could treat it like a normal offseason and not feel like I was in rehab mode the whole time,” he said Saturday during the team’s annual Fan Fest. âSo thatâs what this offseason has been, you know, normal throwing. Been off the mound already and everything feels good.â
The 36-year-old right-hander said he would usually wait until Feb. 1 before throwing, but he started earlier this week so he could ramp up a bit slower going into spring training.
DeGrom has started only nine games for the Rangers since signing a $185 million, five-year contract in free agency two winters ago. They won all six starts he made before the end of April during his 2023 debut with the team before the surgery. After rehabbing most of last year, he was 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 10 2/3 innings in those three September starts.
âOne of the things Iâm most excited about is a healthy season from Jacob, and for our fans to see what that looks like, and how good he is,â Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said. âItâs just electric, and coming to the ballpark every day that heâs pitching, knowing that weâve got a great chance to win the game, itâs an exciting feeling. Our fans truly havenât experienced that over the course of a season. Weâre excited and hopeful that this is the year they get to see that.â
Since his back-to-back Cy Young Awards with the New York Mets in 2018 and 2019, deGrom hasn’t made more than 15 starts in a season. He started 12 times during the COVID-19-shortened 60-game season in 2020.
DeGrom had a career-low 1.08 ERA over 92 innings in 2021 before missing the final three months with right forearm tightness and a sprained elbow, then was shut down late during spring training in 2022 because of a stress reaction in his right scapula. He went 5-4 with a 3.08 ERA in 11 starts over the last two months of that season before becoming a free agent.
His fastball touched 98 mph in the last of his three starts last season, when he pitched four innings of one-run ball against the Los Angeles Angels.
âIn those games, you know, itâs still a thought in the back of your mind, you just came back from a major surgery and you probably donât get another one at my age,” he said. âSo it was, hey, is everything good? And then like I said, was able to check those boxes off in this offseason, treat it normal.â
Now deGrom feels like he can start pitching again without worrying about being injured.
âJust throw the ball to the target and not think about anything,â he said. âSo, yeah, I think I can get back to where I was.â
WACO, Texas (AP) â Brendan Wenzel made a 3-pointer from the left corner with six seconds left and TCU, after overcoming a double-digit deficit in the second half, beat 25th-ranked Baylor 74-71 on Sunday to end the Bears’ 10-game home winning streak.
Ernest Udeh Jr. had a career-high 16 points and season-high 15 rebounds for the Horned Frogs (10-7, 3-3 Big 12), and his fourth blocked shot was on Jayden Nunn’s attempted 3-pointer to end the game. Vasean Allette and Noah Reynolds both had 13 points.
Norchad Omier had 20 points for Baylor (11-6, 3-3). VJ Edgecombe had 18 points and Jeremy Roach 11.
Nunn’s 3 with 25 seconds left tied the game at 71 right after Roach got hurt when forcing a turnover on an inbound pass by TCU. Edgecombe had made three free throws before Roach dove at Allette’s inbound pass and knocked it off Wenzel out of bounds as they collided.
Baylor led by 12 points before halftime and was up 48-38 on a 3 by Omier with 16:42 left.
Takeaways
TCU got its sixth road win against a ranked opponent in the past seven seasons, after only one before that. The Frogs had 11 turnovers in the first half that Baylor converted into 16 points and a 39-32 lead. They finished with 17 turnovers.
Baylor has consecutive losses for the first time this season. The Bears were coming off an 81-70 loss at Arizona after trailing by 23 at halftime.
Key moment
Udeh had a steal and then got the ball back from David Punch for an emphatic two-handed dunk with 8:47 left that capped a 7-0 run and got TCU within 56-54.
Key stat
TCU outrebounded Baylor 41-25.
Up next
TCU is home against No. 9 Kansas on Wednesday night, when Baylor hosts Kansas State.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) â Texas and coach Steve Sarkisian have agreed on a new contract more than a week after the Longhorns were knocked out of the College Football Playoff, according to media reports.
The Action Network first reported the new deal that it said came after Sarkisian declined interviews with two NFL teams for coaching spots. ESPN reported Saturday that the deal for the 50-year-old Sarkisian is for seven years.
Under Sarkisian, the Longhorns reached the Southeastern Conference title game in their first season in the league. The Longhorns lost to Georgia 22-19 in overtime.
Texas advanced to the College Football Playoff and beat Clemson before getting past Arizona State in double overtime in the Peach Bowl. The Longhorns’ season ended in the CFP semifinals with a 28-14 loss to Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.
Last February, the University of Texas System Board of Regents approved a raise and contract for Sarkisian that boosted his guaranteed salary to $10.3 million this season.
Sarkisian is 38-17 in four seasons with the Longhorns and led them to the Big 12 title in 2023.
