massive tent shelters now under construction. >> david: let's get right to rachel scott, live from florida tonight. rachel, the administration making it very clear, this is a massive multiagency effort. what did i.c.e. officials tell you today about what's still coming? >> reporter: yeah. well, david, i.c.e. officials say they are targeting the most violent criminals first, but after that, they say no one who is in the country illegally is off the table. and it is not just i.c.e. they are getting resources from every corner of the federal government. all with the goal of helping president donald trump axhooef his campaign promise of mass deportations. those officials telling me tonight, expect these operations to start ramping up, david. >> david: rachel scott leading us off, thank you. >>> now, to the pentagon, and sweeping changes coming. president trump moving quickly, expected to sign new executive actions. one calling for an iron dome, missile defense system for the u.s., similar to what israel has. and it comes as pete hegseth arrives at the pentagon for the first time. greeted by am

elizabeth schulze, rachel scott, thank you both for joining us. we turn now to the middle east, where a ceasefire is moving forward with the exchange of hostages and prisoners between israel and hamas. let's go to abc's chief foreign correspondent, ian pannell, with the very latest from tel aviv. good morning ian. >> yeah. good morning john. incredible scenes here in hostages square in central tel aviv. this in some senses, has been ground zero since the terrible attacks on october the 7th, 2023. it's where the families, the friends, the supporters of the more than 250 people who were kidnaped by hamas and islamic jihad and others are on that october, the seventh day, have gathered. they've gathered to pray. they've eaten together. they've taken shabbat together. they've come here to watch live what is happening now. and we can confirm the israeli defense forces have said that the hostages are now on their way there. the first three who are going to be released of 33 in phase one. remember, phase one is a six week period. so we'll see some more re

tonight, what he told our rachel scott. and the moment our reporter was outside this detention center as supporter office the january 6th defendants called into the jail, telling prisoners they were about to go free. tonight, some republicans saying they don't agree with this, and the democratic leader asking, what happened to backing the blue? >>> president trump's sweeping executive actions, including declaring an emergency on the border, and tonight, at least 22 states now suing to block his attempt to limit birthright citizenship. and the news on investigating artificial intelligence, coming in moments ago. >>> the horrific fire at a popular resort while hundreds of guests were sleeping. dozens killed. some using bed sheets, trying to escape the flames. >>> tonight, amid multiple burglaries targeting pro athletes, the arerestarrests. who they were, and where they were from. >>> the new prisoner swap between the u.s. and the taliban. what we've learned. >>> tonight, a u.s. border agent shot and killed in the northeast. o

rachel scott in the fire zone. >>> the late-night confirmation vote for president trump's pick to run the defense department. former fox news host pete will he have enough support? >>> tonight, four israeli soldiers seen on video being taken hostage by hamas during the october 7th attack now hours away from being released. in exchange, israel expected to free about 200 palestinian prisoners. >>> news tonight about an arrest in connection with the killing of a border agent in vermont. what we're now learning about the suspects. why authorities had them under surveillance before the shooting. >>> the freighter trapped in the ice on lake erie. the coast guard trying to help break it free. >>> nearly two years after her death -- ♪ -- the lost song by tina turner heard for the first time in more than 40 years. >>> and the giant pandas go public at the smithsonian national zoo. >> announcer: from abc news world headquarters in new york, this is "world news tonight" with david muir. >> whit: good evening. thanks for joining us on this friday night. i'm whit johnson in for david. >>> we begin

convicted and sentenced for attacking them are now being released from prison, david. >> david: rachel scott live up on the hill tonight. rachel, thank you. >>> president trump taking a record number of executive actions, among them, his declaring an emergency on the southern border. some of his actions already being challenged in court. at least 22 states suing to block his attempt to limit birthright citizenship. and just moments ago, the president making news on investing in artificial intelligence. here's our chief white house correspondent mary bruce tonight. >> reporter: tonight, the new trump administration says targeted enforcement operations are now under way to crack down on violent undocumented immigrants. >> and we're getting them out of the country. we just started that. we're getting them out of the country, and they're going to be gotten out of the country first. >> reporter: the president signing a series of executive orders targeting immigration, declaring an emergency at the southern border, allowing him to deploy the military. moving to shut down asylum admissions. even or

elizabeth schulze, rachel scott, thank you both for joining us. >>> we turn to the middle east where a ceasefire is moving forward with the expected exchange of hostages and prisoners between israel and hamas. let's go to abc's chief foreign correspondent, ian pannell with the very latest from tel aviv. good morning, ian. >> reporter: good morning, jon. incredible scenes here. this has been grounds zero since october the 7th, 2023, where the family, the friends and supporters and others are on that october 7th day have gathered. they've gathered to pray. they've eaten together. they're come here to watch live what is happening now. we can confirm the israeli defense forces have said that the hostages are now on their way, the first three who are going to be released of 33 in phase one. remember, phase one is a six-week period. so we'll see some more releases probably around this time next week. and the reaction of the crowd has been fascinating. a huge relief from everyone. people have been crying. people have been clapping, they've been cheering, but i think it's relief, above all.

>> david: rachel scott live up on the hill. rachel, thank you. >>> now, to new orleans tonight, and that deadly truck attack, and this evening, just moments ago, abc news obtaining never before seen images of what authorities say were the explosive devices hidden in coolers by the suspect. surveillance video showing the suspect placing the coolers near bourbon street, and what those images now show. and it comes just as president biden and the first lady arrived to pay tribute at a memorial to the victims, meeting with the families. we are now seeing the faces of all 14 victims who died. abc's trevor ault in new orleans again tonight. >> reporter: tonight, abc news has obtained never before seen images of the homemade explosive devices authorities say shamsud din jabbar brought to bourbon street the night of the new year's terror attack. surveillance video shows the suspect planting a pair of coolers there on the street early that morning. authorities say inside, they discovered a steel galvanized pipe with two end caps surroun

rachel scott on the hill. >> reporter: tonight, in a tense, often explosive hearing, defense secretary nominee pete hegseth, a veteran and former fox news host, defending his qualifications to lead the world's most powerful fighting force. >> we will re-establish trust in our military. addressing the recruiting crisis, the retention crisis, and readiness crisis in our ranks. >> reporter: from the outset, democrats making their objections clear. >> i do not believe that you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job. >> reporter: hegseth casting himself as the victim of false and anonymous smears, but often finding himself on the defensive, particularly concerning the role of women in the military. >> in ways direct, indirect, overt, and subtle, standards have been changed inside infantry training units, ranger school, infantry battalions to ensure that -- >> give me one example. please give me an example. i get you're making these generalized statements. >> commanders meet quotas to have a certain number of female infantry officers or infantry enlisted and that disparag

>> david: rachel scott leading us off on the hill. a very busy week for you and our whole team there. rachel, thank you. >>> now, to president trump's immigration crackdown, and the breaking news tonight. the president is now planning to send tens of thousands of undocumented migrants to guantanamo bay. it comes as our pierre thomas witnessed a raid that began just before dawn this morning, in fact, raids from baltimore to aurora, colorado, tonight. and what our chief justice correspondent pierre thomas has just learned tonight about where those undocumented migrants will be held at guantanamo bay. we took you to the prison holding terrorists there right here on this broadcast. tonight, there are still terrorists there, and now undocumented migrants soon on the way. here's pierre. >> reporter: tonight, abc news given access to an immigration raid -- >> we'll shut it down, we'll collapse on them. >> reporter: played out just before dawn near baltimore. we're riding along with a tactical team led by i.c.e. officers, along with atf and t

rachel scott is live on the hill tonight with late reporting, how this will work, and what the president-elect is saying about this tonight. >>> also that dangerous cold sweeping through not just washington, d.c. but much of the country. the coldest air in two years for the eastern half of the nation. what to expect from minnesota all the way to new york next week. lee goldberg standing by with the forecast. >>> tonight, by unanimous decision, the supreme court upholding the tiktok ban passed by republicans and democrats in the house and senate. the new law set to take effect sunday amid concerns china could have access to millions of americans and their personal information. tonight, many american users now turning to another chinese-owned app. is there anything president-elect trump can do? what he's signaling this evening. >>> tonight, there is breaking news involving the mideast cease-fire between israel and hamas. the israeli government, its final vote just moments ago. the families of 33 hostages, including americans, waiting for this vote. >>> back in the u.s. tonight, firefighters raci

>> david: rachel scott, thank you. >>> there's also news tonight involving elon musk. he's been at president trump's side for months, even seen in the west wing before president trump had arrived. but tonight, musk is now speaking out against trump's new plan. the president announced it just 24 hours ago, announcing a $500 billion artificial intelligence project. well, tonight, musk saying the money isn't there. the white house saying, listen to trump, not musk. here's jon karl. >> reporter: elon musk is already a fixture in the trump white house. he was actually spotted inside the west wing even before president trump got there on day one. but now, musk is publicly attacking the big initiative trump just announced with great fanfare. a $500 billion a.i. project with tech ceos. >> this is, to me, a very big thing. $500 billion stargate project. i think it's going to be something that's very special. >> reporter: trump declared it would create 100,000 jobs, almost immediately. but hours later, musk dismissed the whole thing. saying the tech investors trump stood with do

tonight, rachel scott asking rfk jr. if he has a response. >> reporter: tonight, in a scathing letter, caroline kennedy, daughter of president john f. kennedy and former u.s. ambassador, urging the senate to reject her cousin robert kennedy jr. as the next secretary of health and human services. calling him a predator. >> i've known bobby my whole life, we grew up together. it's no surprise that he keeps birds of prey as pets, because bobby himself is a predator. >> reporter: caroline kennedy calls her cousin unqualified, with dangerous and misinformed views on vaccines, but says his personal qualities pose even greater concern. >> i watched his younger brothers and cousins follow him down the path of drug addiction. his basement, his garage, his dorm room were always the center of the action, where drugs were available and he enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in a blender to feed to his hawks. >> reporter: she called it a perverse scene of despair and violence. >> siblings and cousins who bobby encou

rachel scott speaks to him by phone over the weekend as she said he prepares to take more than 200 executive actions to kick off his second administration with a big focus on immigration. >> robin: extreme cold warning. at least 40 states on alert after a snowstorm slams the northeast. while parts of the south are on alert for the most snow in decades. and the new fire danger. the new particularly dangerous situation red flag warning for southern california with winds near 100 miles an hour expected this afternoon. >> george: reunited. the first phase of the cease fire deal under way. three israeli hostages and dozens of palestinian prisoners released. >> rebecca: tik tok whiplash. >> y'all, are we back? are we back? >> rebecca: after trump vowed to take executive action to delay the ban, what comes next for its more than 100 million u.s. users? ♪ looks like we made it ♪ >> robin: they made it. >> there goes saquon barkley saquon barkley all the way home. >> robin: the eagles sliding through the showdown in the show. and overnight -- >> the ball was dropped. >> robin: the bills setting up a

>> david: rachel scott back with us as always, thank you, rachel. >>> tonight, the major move from the fda banning red dye number 3 from food, years after it was banned from cosmetics and topical drugs. here's erielle reshef. >> reporter: it's the artificial food dye giving hundreds of products their bright red color. from candy and cakes to drinks and medication. but tonight, the fda is moving to ban red dye 3, because of a potential cancer risk, after a petition from food safety advocates. >> decades after fda admitted that this chemical is, indeed, a carcinogen in animals, it has taken the product off the market. >> reporter: red dye 3 was banned from cosmetics and topical drugs in 1990. today, the fda saying the dye has not been linked to cancer in humans, only in rats, but the fda noting, it is required by law to remove any additive found to cause cancer in people or animals. >> these products have been banned in europe for many, many years, so -- i wonder why the fda approved them in the first place. >> reporter: tonight, some in the food color industry pushing back on the ban, p

rachel scott tweeting out some of the snippets of the inaugural address. one more tweet, this from mike pence, noting he will attend the inauguration. saying this is a date when every american does well to celebrate our democracy and the peaceful transfer of power under the constitution. pedro, you showed vivek ramaswamy in the rotunda there, the coleader of d.o.g.e. though not excited to be part of the department of government efficiency for much longer. this is the headline from politico, noting that ramaswamy is set to leave d.o.g.e., cbs news noting he is excited to step away from the task force. he intends to announce a campaign for ohio governor as soon as the end of january, according to multiple sources and multiple outlets, reporting vivek ramaswamy, 39 years old, he will be in attendance today. host: let's hear from dakota in new york, republican line. caller: hello. i just wanted to say happy martin luther king day, and i think, for a lot of us, this is a very good day. it is a historic date. i want to wish president trump and everyone else invo

president-elect donald trump telling abc's rachel scott he will most likely put the ban on hold for 90 he takes office, saying, i'll do that until we figure something out. tiktok's ceo, who will be in a prime receipt at trump's inauguration monday, is pinning his hopes on the future president who, back in 2020, wanted the app outlawed. >> i want to thank president trump for his commitment to work with us. >> reporter: under the law trump's options are limited. he could try to broker a deal for tiktok to cut ties with its chinese parent company bytedance and hope that china's government signs off. the law says tiktok's chinese ownership is a national security threat. it passed in congress with broad bipartisan support and was unanimously upheld by the u.s. supreme court. >> letting their local representatives know what tiktok means to them. >> reporter: this woman says she found financial success posting viral videos of her family on tiktok. >> it gave me financial freedom, independence, and it changed my career. >> reporter: she told her 2.4 million followers to find her on instagram a

rachel scott tonight at the capital one arena. >> reporter: tonight just hours after he was sworn in,rump getting right down to business, signing a record number of executive orders. at capital one arena in front of a crowd of supporters, trump putting into motion his day one actions. >> i'm about to sign some very important executive orders of our new administration. >> reporter: signing orders on the economy, gender, and immigration, declaring that national emergency at the southern border, reinstating the remain in mexico policy, and designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. >> as commander in chief, i have no higher responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions, and that is exactly what i am going to do. we will do it at a level that nobody's ever seen before. >> reporter: the president vowing to remain the gulf of mexico the gulf of america. >> we are going to be changing the name of the gulf of mexico to the gulf of america. >> reporter: trump also declaring a national emergency on energy. >> we will drill, baby, drill. america will be a manu

the president elect spoke with abc's rachel scott on the phone about a number of topics, including his inaugural address, and said the themes will be unity, strength and fairness. amid the preparation for monday's inaugural events. protesters took to the streets in the nation's capital. >> i'm here to protest the trump administration. we still get a say as to what's going on in this country, and this is the day to do that. >> the people's march took place saturday, a rebranding of the 2017 women's march, a progressive movement aiming to bring attention to issues around lgbtq and reproductive rights, as well as environmental protection. >> we need to promote equality for all, and we're not there yet and we need to get there. >> maryalice parks, abc news, washington. >> now in our area, hundreds turned out for the people's march in san francisco. rally goers gathered at 24th and bryant streets, then marched to dolores park, where they briefly blocked an intersection. organizers billed it as a day to support progressive rights, with a focus on immigration, the economy, women's rights and

eastern with a few moments left, rachel scott, who covered donald trump's campaign every step of the way, and because of that and her work, she's now our senior political correspondent. new title, same dogged reporter out there, still doing it. and rachel, the mood, the feeling inside that arena. >> reporter: yeah, and it's fitting that this is the campaign soundtrack that we heard on the campaign trail. president donald trump known as a showman. today, he signed those executive orders passing out those pens. but even his allies acknowledge that most of the work that he wants to get done will have to happen through congress. david, one note of bipartisanship tonight, we are learning that senator marco rubio has officially been confirmed by the united states senate to become the next secretary of state. it was unanimous. >> just a few second left. terry, i want to give you the last word. this is not just a victory of the man but the movement. the maga movement, and the democrats have to do serious soul searching about how they lost key constituencies in this election. >> one thing tha

the president elect spoke with abc's rachel scott on the phone about a number of topics, including hisugural address, and said the themes will be unity, strength and fairness. amid the preparation for monday's inaugural events. protesters took to the streets in the nation's capital. >> i'm here to protest the trump administration. we still get a say as to what's going on in this country, and this is the day to do that. >> the people's march took place saturday, a rebranding of the 2017 women's march, a progressive movement aiming to bring attention to issues around lgbtq and reproductive rights, as well as environmental protection. >> we need to promote equality for all, and we're not there yet and we need to get there. >> maryalice parks, abc news, washington. >> now, speaking of, in our area, hundreds turned out for the people's march in san francisco. rally goers gathered at 24th and bryant streets, then marched to dolores park, where they briefly blocked an intersection. organizers billed it as a day to support progressive rights, with a focus on immigration, the economy, women's r

senior political correspondent rachel scott is in miami, where trump is meeting with republican lawmakersning, rachel. >> reporter: george, good morning to you. this was a tense standoff. a tit for tat between the united states and one of its important allies. but a senior administration tells me all of it was designed to send a very clear message, accepting deportation flights or face the consequences. with the u.s. and colombia on the brink of a trade war over president trump's deportation flights, overnight the white house announcing an agreement has been reached. for hours the two locked in a tense standoff after colombia refused to accept two military deportation flights, turning them away when the planes were in route. president trump responding. vowing to impose 25% tariffs on all colombia imports which would have devastated their economy and raised the price of everything from coffee, crude oil, bananas and flowers for u.s. consumers just before valentine's day. the united states is colombia's largest trading partner. colombia's president fired back with tariffs of his own, insist

rachel scott has the story. >> reporter: george, good morning. the officers that defended this capitol january 6th said they started receiving automatic courtesy phone calls from the department of justice letting them know the rioters who they testified against, the ones convicted for assaulting and attacking them were now being released from prison. this morning hundreds of rioters including those who assaulted police officers on january 6th released from prison. president trump asked why he commuted the sentences of people like stewart rose, founder of the oathkeepers militia, charged with sedition and sentenced to eight years. >> i thought their sentences were excessive. >> reporter: trump previously said he would look at individual cases but he pardoned nearly all of the 1,600 people charged in the attack. 140 officers were injured as the mob stormed the capitol. one officer screaming for help, crushed by surging rioters. >> help! >> reporter: those rioters pardoned or their sentences were commuted by trump. in an interview officer hodges, wh

rachel scott on the hill. >> reporter: tonight, the man president-elect donald trump has chosen to guide the american economy and tackle inflation taking center stage on capitol hill. treasury secretary nominee scott bessent, a billionaire investor and hedge fund manager. >> today, i believe that president trump has a generational opportunity to unleash a new economic golden age that will create more jobs, wealth, and prosperity for all americans. >> reporter: republican senators asking bessent to outline the stakes if congress fails to achieve one of trump's top priorities, extending his signature 2017 tax cuts. >> if we do not renew and extend, then we will be facing an economic calamity. >> reporter: democrats pushing back, insisting the trump tax cuts have only benefited the rich. >> now these wealthy people have more money than they know what to do with, and it's certainly not doing anything to lower prices for working families. >> i believe that president trump and, if confirmed, myself, are committed to addressing this affordability crisis, and part of the affordability crisis ste

. >> reporter: in a phone interview with rachel scott, trump calling the raids a big priority. >> we will stop illegal immigration once and for all. we will not be invaded. we will not be occupied. we will not be overrun. we will not be conquered. we will be a free and proud nation once again, and that will take place tomorrow at 12:00. >> we know homeland security agents will be sent here to strike fear in the hearts of our students and their families. and we are not standing for it. >> reporter: tonight, the news stoking deportation fears. lines wrapping around a federal immigration building in charlotte as people try to get their cases heard. and in chicago, nonprofit groups say people are terrified to leave their homes. >> with all the rhetoric that's coming out, and i feel the anxiety is more the fear of the unknown. >> reporter: linsey, border communities are preparing for what might happen, but so far, no word yet on any raids here. that said, cities like el paso, they have been through things like this before. so whether it's an influx of migrants or whether it's raids locall

here's rachel scott. >> reporter: tonight, democrats on the senate judiciary committee pressing attorney general nominee pam bondi. >> do you swear -- >> reporter: on whether she will truly be independent from president-elect donald trump. >> i need to know that you would tell the president no if you were asked to do something that is wrong, illegal, or unconstitutional. >> reporter: today, bondi, a former state attorney general from florida, who represented trump in his first impeachment trial, and pushed his false claims of voter fraud in 2020, still refused to say that he lost that election. >> are you prepared to say today under oath without reservation that donald trump lost the presidential contest to joe biden in 2020? >> ranking member durbin, president biden is the president of the united states. he was sworn in, and he is the president of the united states. >> reporter: bondi insisting she will be independent and enforce the law fairly. >> politics will not play a part. >> reporter: democrats also asking about fbi director nominee kash patel, who has vowed to go after trump's f

rachel scott on the hill for it all. >> reporter: tonight, history in the nation's capital. vice president kamala harris marking the milestone in the peaceful transfer of power, presiding over the certification of donald trump's victory and the election she lost. >> what should people take away from today? >> democracy must be upheld by the people. >> reporter: before a joint session of congress, with vice president jd vance looking on, harris declaring trump the winner. >> the votes for president of the united states are as follows. donald j. trump of the state of florida has received 312 votes. kamala d. harris of the state of california has received 226 votes. >> reporter: after the vice president calling it an important moment. >> it is the about what should be the norm and what the american people should be able to take for granted, which is that one of the most important pillars of our democracy is that there will be a peaceful transfer of power. >> reporter: that was not the case four years ago, when joe biden also won a resounding electoral victory, with a 7 million

rachel scott at the white house. >> reporter: tonight, president trump set to implement sweeping tariffs on the country's largest trading partners. a move that would impact prices at the grocery store and the gas pump. >> there could be some temporary short term disruption, and people will understand that. >> reporter: it comes even as the president has acknowledged one of the reasons he won was his promise of lowering grocery prices. but now, he's warning there could be disruption due to the tariffs. the president announcing 25% tariffs on mexico and canada, and 10% tariffs on china. warning the three countries there's nothing they can do to stop him. >> the tariffs are going to make us very rich and very strong. >> reporter: the president saying the majority will go into effect tomorrow. with additional tariffs on oil and gas coming in the next three weeks. experts say the average american family could pay $830 more this year because of these tariffs. with families paying more at the grocery store for fresh produce from mexico like avocados, tomatoes, and limes, and alcohol, beer, tequ

rachel scott is at the white house. >> reporter: just hours after he was sworn in, president donald trumpht down to business, signing a number of executive orders. >> i'm about to sign executive orders for the new administration. >> reporter: sitting in front of the audience, signing orders to undo 78 actions from the biden administration and withdrawing from the paris climate accord for the second time. >> can you imagine biden doing this? i don't think so. >> reporter: then tossing his pens into the crowd. returning to the oval office, desk stacked with dozens of executive orders, on the economy, gender and immigration. declaring a national emergency at the southern border. >> this is a proclamation declaring an emergency at the southern border. >> a lot of big ones. >> designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. >> people have wanted to do this for years. they're now terrorist organizations. >> reporter: and declaring an energy emergency and withdrawing from the world health organization. spending more than an hour, saying it was good to be back. >> what a great feeling. on

senior correspondent rachel scott is tracking the latest. good morning.p has declared a national emergency at our southern border but now he is sending 1500 troops there and senior administration official tells us this is only the beginning. >> up this morning the first 1,500 troops arriving at the southern border as president trp launches his long promised caught them at crackdown on immigration. the active-duty army soldiers and marines deployed to address what trump declared a national emergency. the pentagon says military police units, combat engineers and intelligence officials who will aid with detection and monitoring. the military will construct new barriers on the border and provide airpower for deportations. senior defense official said this is just the start and we anticipate further missions. >> president trump is hitting a very strong message to people around the world. it you are thinking about breaking this clause of the united states of america, you will be returned home, you will be arrested and you will return home. speak of the troops w

senior political correspondent rachel scott tracking it all on capitol hill. ree of president trump's most controversial nominees facing tough questions and not just from democrats, but from republicans, too. robert f. kennedy jr. facing tough questions from bill cassidy about his history spreading misinformation about vaccines. >> your past undermining confidence in vaccines with unfounded or misleading arguments concerns me. >> reporter: cassidy, who was a doctor, repeatedly asked kennedy to outright reject claims that two vaccines cause autism. kennedy would not. >> senator, i am not going into the agency -- >> that's a yes or no question. because the doubt is there. that's kind of a yes or no. i don't mean to cut you off but that's a yes or no. >> if the data is there, i will absolutely do that. >> reporter: cassidy, a key republican vote in the senate, was not satisfied, making it clear by the end of the hearing, he was, quote, struggling with the nomination. across capitol hill, tulsi gabbard defended her 2017 meeting in syria with dictator bashar al-assa

let's go to our senior political correspondent rachel scott who is at the white house.d morning, rachel. >> reporter: good morning. the white house says president trump's plans for mass deportations are wholly under way which means cities and states across this country are seeing a surge in the number of undocumented migrants being arrested. ice says there were nearly 1200 arrests yesterday alone. that is the highest number since president trump was sworn into office. ice officials tell me they're going after what they are calling the worst first. undocumented migrants who have criminal backgrounds or convictions. they also say they are not stopping there acknowledging that anyone who is in the country illegally, even if they do not have a criminal conviction could be detained or apprehended. that is triggering fear in many communities across the country, as the president is promising this is only the start, rebecca. >> rebecca: rachel, we are also learning the new secretary of homeland security, kristi noem, is here in new york city for an ice operation. >> reporter: y

trump telling abc's rachel scott his inaugural address will be about unity, strength and fairness.l day before taking office, trump participating in a ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier at arlington national cemetery. tonight, he will have a campaign style rally at the capital one arena in downtown washington. workers are busy building a stage inside the capitol rotunda after the decision was made to move monday's inaugural events indoors. trump, citing an arctic blast sweeping the country. trump writing online i don't want to see people hurt or injured in any way. therefore, i have ordered the inaugural address, in addition to prayers and other speeches to be delivered in the united states capitol rotunda. the massive outdoor platform where the oath is normally taken can hold more than a thousand people. the rotunda can only hold about 600 guests. president biden, members of congress and other notable guests will be there, but the vast majority of ticketed guests will not be able to attend the ceremonies in person. the swearing in ceremony was last moved indoors 40 years

trump telling abc's rachel scott his inaugural address will be about unity, strength and fairness.ing office, trump participating in a ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier at arlington national cemetery. tonight, he will have a campaign style rally at the capital one arena in downtown washington. workers are busy building a stage inside the capitol rotunda after the decision was made to move monday's inaugural events indoors. trump, citing an arctic blast sweeping the country. trump writing online i don't want to see people hurt or injured in any way. therefore, i have ordered the inaugural address, in addition to prayers and other speeches to be delivered in the united states capitol rotunda. the massive outdoor platform where the oath is normally taken can hold more than a thousand people. the rotunda can only hold about 600 guests. president biden, members of congress and other notable guests will be there, but the vast majority of ticketed guests will not be able to attend the ceremonies in person. the swearing in ceremony was last moved indoors 40 years ago, so help me

. >> trump telling abc's rachel scott his inaugural address will be about unity, strength and fairness. on his final day before taking office, trump participating in a ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier at arlington national cemetery. tonight, he will have a campaign style rally at the capital one arena in downtown washington. workers are busy building a stage inside the capitol rotunda after the decision was made to move monday's inaugural events indoors, trump, citing an arctic blast sweeping the country. trump writing online i don't want to see people hurt or injured in any way. therefore, i have ordered the inaugural address. in addition to prayers and other speeches to be delivered in the united states capitol rotunda, the massive outdoor platform where the oath is normally taken can hold more than 1000 people. the rotund can only hold about 600 guests. president biden, members of congress and other notable guests will be there, but the vast majority of ticketed guests will not be able to attend the ceremonies in person. the swearing in ceremony was last moved indoors 40

senior congressional correspondent rachel scott is there with more. ning, rachel. >> reporter: good morning. it's a snow day for just about everybody in washington, d.c., but not for congress. by federal law, congress must come into session today. they are on track and set to count the electoral votes certifying the election results for president-elect trump. presiding over it all will be vice president kamala harris fulfilling her constitutional duties even though she lost this last e section. it was just four years ago donald trump urged his own supporters to march to the capitol on january 6th pressuring his own vice president, mike pence, to try and overturn the 2020 election that he lost. we were here live reporting that day. we saw hundreds of people storm the united states capitol. more than 1,500 people have been criminally charged. donald trump has vowed to pardon many of them. today i'm told republican leadership has no official plans to address january 6th. today's ceremony expected to run smoothly but local law enforcement, federal official

senior congressional correspondent rachel scott is on capitol hill. morning, rachel. >> reporter: george, good morning. pam bondi, trump's pick for attorney general, does appear to be on a clear path to being confirmed by the united states senate. she still faced tough questions about whether the department of justice can remain independent giving her loyalty to president-elect trump. this morning capitol hill preparing for another marathon day of confirmation hearings after attorney general nominee pam bondi was pressed on her loyalty to president-elect trump. and whether she could act independently. >> i will not politicize that office. i will not target people simply because of their political affiliations. >> reporter: the former florida state attorney general represented trump during his first impeachment trial and she's pushed false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election. grilled by democrats, she still refused to say trump lost that election. >> who won the 2020 presidential election? >> joe biden is the president of the united states. >> m

our senior political correspondent rachel scott is on capitol hill with more. morning, rachel. >> reporter: rebecca, good morning. pete hegseth is expected to be confirmed by the senate to become the next defense secretary. in the final hour, two republican senators made it clear they will not be supporting his nomination. this morning president donald trump's embattled nominee for defense secretary inching closer to confirmation. >> the motion passes. >> reporter: former fox news host pete hegseth, set to face his final confirmation vote late tonight, after narrowly surviving a key test vote. but two republicans joining every democrat to vote against him. republican senator lisa murkowski and susan collins said hegseth's limited experience and personal conduct make them not support him. murkowski writing his lack of judgment is unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces. in particular, the four term republican pointing to his admitted infidelity and allegations of drinking and sexual assault, both of which he denies. sources now confirming hegseth p

our senior congressional correspondent rachel scott is on capitol hill with the latest for us. morning, rachel. >> reporter: good morning to you. pete hegseth in the hot seat making his case to senators amid allegations against him. there are 12 confirmation hearings alone. but senators tell me this morning's is perhaps the most consequential. this morning pete hegseth kicking off a whirl wind confirm confirmation hearings. he has spent weeks making the rounds on capitol hill, fending off allegations of sexual misconduct, excess drinking on the job and financially mismanaging two veterans organizations, all of which he strongly denies. >> am i a perfect man? no. was i a perfect man? absolutely not. do i regret those things? yes. is it who i am today? no. >> reporter: hegseth was also accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017. he called the encounter consensual, but his attorney said he settled with the woman in order to keep his job. sources tell abc news the fbi has completed its background investigation into hegseth but never interviewed the woman. it's unclear why. sena

caroline kennedy, speaks out against him in very personal terms op our senior political correspondent rachel scottapitol hill with the latest. good morning, rachel. >> reporter: robin, good morning to you. robert f. kennedy jr. is one of president trump's most controversial nominees. just hours ahead of his confirmation hearing, right as he was making the rounds here, his cousin releasing a letter urging senators to vote against him. this morning as robert f. kennedy jr. prepares to face senators at his confirmation hearing, his cousin caroline kennedy, speaking out against him. >> i've known bobby my whole life. we grew up together. it's no surprise that cheaps birds of prey as pets because bobby himself is a predator. >> reporter: caroline kennedy, daughter of president john f. kennedy, reading the letter she wrote to senators, urging them to reject her cousin as the next secretary of health and human services, calling him unqualified, dangerous and willfully misinformed views on vaccines. >> bobby preys on desperation of parents of sick children, vaccinating his own kids while discouraging othe

senior congressional correspondent rachel scott is on capitol hill with the latest. good morning, rachel. >> reporter: george, good morning to you. just weeks ago it appeared pete hegseth had a tough confirmation battle ahead. after that four-hour contentious hearing, republicans are lining up to make it clear they support his nomination despite the allegations against him. this morning republicans seem mostly united around donald trump's embattled pick to lead the pentagon, pete hegseth, after a contentious and at times combative confirmation hearing. >> excuse me, mr. hegseth. would you stop? would you stop? >> reporter: the former fox news host defending himself against allegations of sexual misconduct, alcohol abuse and financial mismanagement arguing he had been a victim of a smear campaign and that he has changed. >> i'm not a perfect person but redemption is real. god forged me in ways that i know i'm prepared for. >> reporter: right off the bat, democrats arguing the army veteran, with no leadership experience, is not qualified. >> how can we ask people to per

let's turn now to our senior political correspondent rachel scott for more on what president trump mightxt. good morning, rachel. >> reporter: rebecca, good morning to you. president trump campaigned on getting down to business quickly, and that he did, moving forward with a series of executive actions. even his closest allies acknowledge he is going to need the help of congress to get much of his agenda across the finish line. so today on his first full day in office, the president will be meeting one on one with the speaker of the house, mike johnson and also senate majority leader john thune. those meetings will be happening separately inside the oval office later this afternoon. it comes as the president pushes his party to pass one big massive bill that could contain everything from the border to also energy and tax policy as well. republican doss have the majority in both the house and senate but it is a slim majority. the president expected to get an update on where his cabinet nominees stand. it comes after marco rubio was confirmed unanimously by the senate overnight. a rare sho