Trump gives Super Bowl message, pledges Musk will probe Education

President Donald Trump gave the nation on Sunday a report of his first 100 days in office, using the Super Bowl pregame show to tout some of his priorities and make predictions – not just about the championship game but also what’s ahead for the nation.

In an interview with Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier that was taped at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, the president picked the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Philadelphia Eagles. He also said that he expects the changes that he’s implemented since taking over the White House three weeks ago to continue.

Trump told Baier in the seven-minute clip that he plans to direct tech billionaire Elon Musk, who is leading Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency, to review the military and the Department of Education “very soon.”

“We’re going to find hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse,” he said.

Trump will also attend the Super Bowl in New Orleans, becoming the first sitting president to attend the National Football League’s title game.

The game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will begin at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Trump arrives at Super Bowl

President Donald Trump arrived at the Super Bowl, but reporters accompanying him said it wasn’t clear how many fans knew he was on the field because Philadelphia Eagles players were on Caesars Superdome’s large screens.

Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s nominee to become director of national intelligence, was seated in the front row wearing an Eagles cap. She said she was fan of running back Saquon Barkley. But she had “no comment” about her confirmation.

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, asked about Trump’s reception, said: “Good, right?”

– Bart Jansen

Trump’s Super Bowl pick

President Donald Trump told Fox News he thinks both Super Bowl teams are great, but he picked the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Philadelphia Eagles because of quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“I’m a big fan of both teams,” Trump told Bret Baier. “They’re sort of different.”

Trump praised Saquon Barkley of the Eagles as “one of the greatest running backs.”

Trump said he hated to pick a winner. But without naming Mahomes, he said after seeing him win as many games as he has, Trump had to pick Kansas City.

“The quarterback really knows how to win,” Trump said. “He’s a great, great quarterback.”

– Bart Jansen

What did Travis Kelce say about Trump before Super Bowl? 

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce told reporters this week that it is “pretty cool” that Trump will attend the game on Sunday.

“That’s awesome. It’s a great honor,” he said, according to videos posted by multiple media outlets Wednesday. “I think, you know, no matter who the president is, I know I’m excited because it’s the biggest game of my life, you know, and having the president there, you know, it’s the best country in the world. So, that’d be pretty cool.”

Kelce is the boyfriend of pop star Taylor Swift, whom Trump slammed late last year, even writing “I hate Taylor Swift” on Truth Social in September.

– Riley Beggin

Trump declares ‘Gulf of America Day’ on his way to Super Bowl

Aboard Air Force One on his way to New Orleans, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation declaring Feb. 9 as the inaugural “Gulf of America Day,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Sunday.

Trump signed the proclamation as he flew over the Gulf of Mexico, which Trump required the federal government in a day one executive order to rename the  “Gulf of America” on official maps.

However, the change could take months to enact and may or may not be immediately reflected on the digital maps Americans use daily.

– Joey Garrison 

Trump steel tariffs: President to impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports

President Donald Trump said Sunday he will impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports on Monday and announce “reciprocal” tariffs the next day.

Trump made the remarks aboard Air Force One on his way to New Orleans to attend the Super Bowl.

The moves come after Trump had previously promised tariffs on metals and other goods such as microchips and pharmaceuticals. Trump on Friday said he would impose “reciprocal” tariffs that would affect all countries.

Trump described the “reciprocal” approach as tariffs that would be applied to imports from other countries if they place tariffs on U.S. exports. “If they charge us, we charge them,” Trump said.

Last week, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, only to hold off on the tariffs after leaders of both countries agreed on efforts to reenforce their borders with the U.S.

– Joey Garrison 

CBS poll finds 53% approval rating for Trump

Less than one month into Trump’s second presidency, 7 in 10 Americans say he is following through on his campaign promises, according to a new CBS News/YouGov survey.

With a 53% job approval rating, the poll of 2,175 U.S. adults found Trump draws overall majority support for some of his actions on immigration and the war in Gaza. But 66% say he hasn’t focused enough on lowering prices, and most Americans don’t approve of new tariffs except on goods from China.

About 60% agree with Trump’s program to deport unauthorized immigrants and with sending troops to the southern border, the poll found. But a slight majority of respondents oppose holding people in mass detention centers while authorities determine who should be deported. 

Trump’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency, which he has tapped tech billionaire Elon Musk to head, draws mixed support. Nearly a third of respondents say Musk and DOGE should have zero influence on government operations and spending, while 23% say they should have “a lot” of influence. Support for DOGE is driven by Republicans, the poll found.

– Minnah Arshad

Trump says he trusts Elon Musk to cut spending

Trump told Fox News in an interview that aired Sunday that he trusts Elon Musk, his head of the Department of Government Efficiency, to find ways to cut federal spending and will turn the spotlight on the Education Department and the Pentagon next.

Musk has been criticized for sending staffers to gather sensitive information at government agencies and he blocked temporarily in court from gaining access to secure systems at the Treasury Department. But Trump said he asked Musk for the help and will ask him to review Education and Defense next.

“I’ve had a great help with Elon Musk, who’s been terrific,” Trump told Bret Baier of Fox News. “Trust Elon? Oh, he’s not gaining anything. In fact, I wonder how he can devote the time to it. He’s so into it. But I told him do that.”

– Bart Jansen

Trump disagreed with court blocking Musk access to Treasury

President Donald Trump told Fox News he has to get rid of waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government, so it was a mistake for a federal judge to block Elon Musk’s access to Treasury Department systems looking for problems.

“I disagree with it 100%,” Trump told Bret Baier of the ruling. “I think it’s crazy.”

Trump argued that hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent on the wrong priorities. He said he would move funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development to the State Department, for example.

“I think I’d rather give it to Marco Rubio over at the State Department, let him take care of the few good” programs, Trump said.

– Bart Jansen

Trump doubles down on desire to annex Canada

During an interview with Fox, Baier asked Trump whether his desire to make Canada the 51st state was real.

Trump reaffirmed that, saying: “We lose 200 billion dollars a year with Canada and I’m not gonna let that happen.”

Canada would “be much better off being a 51st state,” he said. “Why are we paying 200 billion dollars a year essentially in subsidy to Canada? Now, if they’re a 51st state I don’t mind doing it.”

– Minnah Arshad

Trump says Canada, Mexico must take action to avoid tariffs

President Donald Trump told Fox News he “got a lot of good action” from Canada and Mexico on border security after ordering 25% tariffs on goods from those countries, which he paused for 30 days, but he said more action was necessary.

“No, it’s not good enough,” Trump told Bret Baier.

Trump complained about a $200 billion U.S. trade deficit with Canada and a $350 billion trade deficit with Mexico that he said he wouldn’t allow to continue.

“Something has to happen,” Trump said. “It’s not sustainable.”

– Bart Jansen

Trump says ‘just something special’ about his dance at rallies

On a lighter note during the Fox News interview, Bret Baier asked President Donald Trump what he thought about UFC fighters and NFL players imitating his swaying and arm-waving dance from his political rallies.

Trump often danced to the Village People’s “YMCA” at the end of his rallies. While perhaps not the same cultural touchstone as John Travolta’s dancing in “Saturday Night Fever,” the dance caught on among Trump’s followers.

“I don’t know what it is,” Trump said. “I try and walk off sometimes without dancing, and I can’t but I have to dance because it’s just that something special about it.”

– Bart Jansen

Department of Homeland Security promotes safety at Super Bowl

The Department of Homeland Security promoted a video on social media about safety measures it is taking to protect 100,000 people visiting New Orleans for the Super Bowl.

Security has been enhanced in the weeks since a follower of ISIS drove a truck through a Bourbon Street crowd on New Year’s Day, killing 14 people and forcing a one-day postponement of the college Sugar Bowl in the same stadium, Caesars Superdome.

“We have a big event coming on Sunday and we are committed to having a safe environment for everyone that attends,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in the video.

– Bart Jansen

Secret Service recruits at Super Bowl

A Secret Service recruitment video to be played on the jumbotron during the big game chronicles how the agency has protected “the most important people and events” since 1901, including Super Bowl LIX.

The one-minute video features inspirational speeches from former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. The video also has darker themes, including the assassination attempts against Reagan and President Donald Trump, and the terrorist hijackings Sept. 11, 2001.

“America’s Secret Service protecting the Super Bowl is asking a few more to step forward,” the video said in closing.

– Bart Jansen

Trump joins Super Bowl for ‘patriotic values’

President Donald Trump issued a statement he was looking forward to joining fans at the Super Bowl for the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles for a sense of national unity and patriotism.

“The coaches, players, and team staff on the field tonight represent the best of the best in professional football, but they also embody the best of the American Dream,” Trump said.

Trump noted the 14 deaths and 35 injuries from the “senseless” truck attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. He said the football game provides an annual opportunity to transcend differences and strengthen communities.

“This annual tradition transcends our differences and personifies our shared patriotic values of family, faith, and freedom heroically defended by our military service members, law enforcement officers, and first responders,” Trump said. “We value their devotion to protecting our great Nation and salute their selfless service.”

– Bart Jansen

Trump golfs with Tiger Woods

Ahead of the Super Bowl Sunday night, the president played golf with professional golfer Tiger Woods, according to pool reports.

The acclaimed golfer was spotted on the green with the president at Trump International Golf Club in Palm Beach, Florida, Sunday morning.

– Riley Beggin

Trump’s travels prevent basketball coach from attending

South Carolina women’s basketball coach and Eagles fan Dawn Staley planned to attend Super Bowl 59, but said she can’t anymore because of flight restrictions due to Trump’s arrival.

The Federal Aviation Administration puts flight restrictions in place when the president is traveling, and on Friday officially confirmed the temporary flight restrictions for New Orleans from 3:45-5 p.m. ET and 10:15-midnight on Sunday.

– Lulu Kesin