Friday morning news: April 4, 2025

Tariffs: Washington, market reaction » President Trump says the stock market’s negative reaction to his tariffs announcement this week … was to be expected. And he told reporters aboard Air Force One … give it time.

TRUMP:  It's gonna be a booming country, a very booming country. It's gonna be amazing actually.

The president announced tariffs on nearly every U.S. trading partner. That, he said, was in response to decades of unfair trade practices.

But the Trump administration says it’s also about bringing manufacturing back to the United States. White House advisor Stephen Miller:

MILLER:  We cannot have a situation where we are dependent on foreign countries for the medicine that heals us, the steel that strengthens us, the industry and commerce that powers us and keeps us safe.

Democrats are blasting the move. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer:

SCHUMER:  He's walking us into the dumbest and most avoidable recession probably in history.

But President Trump says global manufacturers are already pledging trillions of dollars in US investments. He also said the tariffs put the US in the driver’s seat to negotiate new trade agreements.

Rubio NATO » Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reassuring leaders in Brussels … that the United States is in NATO to stay. BUT … President Trump expects allies to pull their weight.

RUBIO:  He's not against nato. He is against a NATO that does not have the capabilities that it needs to fulfill the obligations that the treaty imposes upon each and every member state.

 Rubio said he expects to leave Brussels with a clear commitment from Allies to spend 5% of their GDP on defense and increase from the current 2%.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also said members have to step up … and added that some have begun to do so.

RUTTE:  This is probably the biggest search in defense spending We have seen in Canada and Europe since the Cold War, since the Berlin War came down. 

He said that’s “good news, but we still need to do more.”

SOUND: [Cameras flash]

Netanyahu in Hungary, Hungary rejects ICC » Cameras flashed … as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Hungarian President Tomas Sulyok in Budapest.

Netanyahu made the trip despite a warrant for his arrest issued by the International Criminal Court.

Neither Israel nor the U.S. recognize the court’s authority. Hungary, however, has recognized it for the past two decades … but no longer.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

NETANYAHU: You've just taken a bold and principled position on the ICC. This is not only important for us, it's important for all democracies. It's important to stand up to this corrupt organization.

Upon Netanyahu’s visit, Hungary’s prime minister announced that his government is pulling out of the ICC entirely, saying the court has become too political.

Tel Aviv anti-govt protests » Meanwhile...Netanyahu faces trouble at home.

SOUND: [Police clash with protesters]

Outside Netanyahu’s party headquarters in Tel Aviv … Israeli police clashed with anti-government protesters demonstrating against Israel’s renewed military operation in Gaza.

One of those protesters also keying in on corruption allegations against Netanyahu's government …

PROTESTER: Netanyahu in Hungary? Well, it's one anti-democrat meeting another anti-democrat. Two wannabe dictators meeting each other. It's disgusting.

Some protesters also gathered at the Hungarian embassy in Tel Aviv … to denounce Netanyahu's visit.

Severe weather » Violent storms and tornadoes tore through numerous states during what could be a record-setting period of deadly weather and flooding.

At least seven people were killed in Tennessee, Indiana and Missouri.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee says state officials requested … and President Trump granted an emergency declaration … to begin the federal aid process.

LEE:  Already have widespread flooding across the state, but uh, the river flooding will clearly follow and preparation for that's already underway.

In Indiana, an EF-2 tornado ripped through parts of suburban Indianapolis.

Forecasters say it was the opening act for a week of wild weather that could bring life-threatening flash floods across the nation’s midsection.

Female fencer refused to compete vs man » Some are expressing outrage after the USA Fencing Association disqualified a female fencer from a tournament … because she refused to compete against a man who identifies as a woman. Stefani Turner instead took a knee.

TURNER:  My opponent was a little bit confused, thinking that I was maybe hurt and I said, um, no. I am refusing to fence you because I'm a woman and you are a man. I have much love and respect for you, but I will not compete against you.

Turner said she had made the decision when she learned that she would be competing against a so-called transgender athlete while checking the pool of players.

TURNER:  I just felt like at a loss I'd already committed so much money to it and training hours, and I was literally looking forward to this. I do this tournament every year.

USA Fencing said on Thursday its decision to disqualify Turner was aligned with the rules established by the sport’s governing body.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Culture Friday with Katie McCoy. Plus, this month’s Ask the Editor.

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