President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sparred amid negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. (Getty Images )
In response, both Trump and Zelenskyy exchanged barbs. Although Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Trump insinuated that Ukraine started the war and called Zelenskyy a "dictator." Meanwhile, Zelenskyy claimed Trump was dispersing Russian "disinformation."
Even so, the Trump administration has defended its decision to meet with Russia, claiming it’s necessary to advance the negotiations.
"How are you going to end the war unless you're talking to Russia?" Vice President JD Vance said at the Conservative Political Action Conference near the nation's capital Thursday. "You've got to talk to everybody involved in the fighting. If you actually want to bring the conflict to a close."
Here’s what also happened this week at the White House:
Trump signed an executive order Wednesday requiring federal agencies to assess regulations that could violate the Constitution as the administration seeks to cut red tape.
Senior administration officials told Fox News Digital the order is first of its kind and an attempt to ensure the government isn't weaponized against the American people. It will require agencies to submit a list to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) within the next 60 days of all regulations that could be unconstitutional.
OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) and the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will oversee the effort and examine federal agencies’ regulations.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order making IVF more affordable and accessible. (Getty Images)
The assistant to the president for domestic policy will provide policy recommendations with the goal of "protecting IVF access and aggressively reducing out-of-pocket and health plan costs for IVF treatment" within 90 days.
Trump also signed an executive order that ensures taxpayer benefits do not go toward illegal immigrants, in an attempt to better protect the interests of American citizens.
The directive requires federal agencies to determine if any federally funded programs are providing financial benefits to illegal immigrants and immediately take "corrective action" so that these federal funds don’t bolster illegal immigration. Likewise, the order instructs agencies to implement stricter eligibility verification to ensure that these benefits don’t go to those in the U.S. illegally.
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The order did not identify specific benefits, and notes that illegal immigrants are largely barred from qualifying for welfare programs. However, the order states without providing evidence that past administrations have "repeatedly undercut the goals of that law, resulting in the improper expenditure of significant taxpayer resources."
"My Administration will uphold the rule of law, defend against the waste of hard-earned taxpayer resources, and protect benefits for American citizens in need, including individuals with disabilities and veterans," the order states.
"President Trump is committed to safeguarding Federal public benefits for American citizens who are truly in need, including individuals with disabilities and veterans," a White House fact sheet on the executive order said.
Diana Stancy is a politics reporter with Fox News Digital covering the White House.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/heres-what-happened-during-president-donald-trumps-5th-week-office