A judge has found that the mass layoffs of probationary government employees were likely unlawful. Newsweek's live blog is closed.

President Trump hosted United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House on Thursday for discussions focused on the Russia-Ukraine war.

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers is re-introducing a bill on Thursday that would authorize comprehensive trade talks with the UK, an effort to revive negotiations between the two allies as Prime Minister Keir Starmer was about to visit the White House.

The two leaders are due to discuss the war in Ukraine and a deal that would give the US access to its deposits of rare earth minerals.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit the White House on Thursday to try and persuade President Donald Trump to maintain support for Ukraine as officials push to end the war. His visit follows French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron's trip to see the president Monday.

After a meeting in the White House, Trump calls Starmer a "tough negotiator", adding: "He earned whatever the hell they pay him over there."

The stream is slated to start at 2 p.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are holding a joint press conference at the White House on Thursday.