3 Jun 2025

US correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben

From Nine To Noon, 9:45 am on 3 June 2025

President Trump's tariffs have been ruled illegal by a federal court, but the Oval Office is appealing.

Meanwhile, Trump announced steel and aluminium tariffs would double to 50 per cent - and the court has not struck these down.

Elon Musk is leaving as questions rise about his drug use, and the President's legislation to enact much of his agenda, the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' is falling foul with fiscal hawks in his party because of the amount of debt it puts on the Government.

Elon Musk gestures to his eye during a news conference with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on 30 May. 2025. Musk, who stormed into US politics as President Trump's chainsaw-brandishing sidekick, announced on May 28 that he is leaving his role in US government, intended to reduce federal spending, shortly after his first major break with the President over Trump's signature spending bill. (Photo by Allison ROBBERT / AFP)

Elon Musk gestures to his eye during a news conference with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on 30 May. 2025. Photo: ALLISON ROBBERT / AFP

Danielle Kurtzleben is a political correspondent assigned to NPR's Washington Desk