ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - Jan. 24, 2025

Tonight, for the first time ever, the U.S. using military planes for deporting migrants. President Trump touring disaster zones, signaling. he's open to eliminating FEMA, and the Israeli. hostages held by Hamas just hours away from being released. First four days after President Trump signed his executive. order, the Trump administration now using military C-17s. to airlift migrants out of the country, new. images from inside the aircraft of migrants. in restraints. And 1,500 U.S. troops begin their deployment.

to the southern border. More than 500 undocumented migrants are arrested. in multiple cities over the last 24 hours, including New York and Boston. Arthur Raddatz, one-on-one with borders are Tom Holman, his. blunt warning about what's to come. Also tonight, President Trump touring disaster areas in North. Carolina and California, meeting with hurricane and. wildfire victims. Governor Gavin Newsom, a frequent target of. the president, greeting him on the tarmac. Trump saying he's open, possibly getting rid of FEMA,

while threatening to withhold aid to millions in California, Rachel Scott in the fire zone. The late night confirmation vote for President Trump's pick. to run the defense department. Former Fox News host Pete Hagseth, will he. have enough support? Tonight, four Israeli soldiers seen on video being taken. hostage by Hamas during the October 7th attack now hours. away from being released. In exchange, Israel expected to free about. 200 Palestinian prisoners.

Do tonight about an arrest and connection with the killing. of a border agent in Vermont, what we're now learning. about the suspects, why authorities had them. under surveillance before the shooting. The freighter trapped in the ice on Lake Erie, the Coast. Guard, trying to help break it free. Nearly two years after her death. The lost song by Tina Turner, called for the first time. in more than 40 years. And the giant pandas go public at the Smithsonian National Zoo.

From ABC News, World Headquarters in New York, this is World News Tonight with David New York. Good evening. Thanks for joining us on this Friday night. I'm Whit Johnson in for David. And we begin with major developments on immigration. These days after President Trump declared an emergency at the. southern border, a military buildup underway, the. first of some 1,500 active duty troops have arrived. Marines from Camp Pendleton arriving with heavy equipment.

and Osprey aircraft. And for the first time, military planes are making. deportation flights. This C-17 at Fort Bliss, Texas. Migrants in restraints seen boarding a flight to Guatemala. A new image from inside another flight, taking. off from Tucson, Arizona. And time the administration saying that arrests. are ramping up. More than 500 undocumented migrants are arrested. in multiple cities over the last 24 hours. And tonight, the president's new borders are, Tom Homan saying.

this is only the beginning. ABC's Chief Global Affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz. leads us off tonight. Tonight for the first time, US military aircraft. flying undocumented migrants out of the country. as President Donald Trump launches his. deportation campaign. The White House releasing these pictures, dozens of migrants in. chains boarding C-17 aircraft. The flights landing in Guatemala carrying roughly.

160 people, men and women. "Equations are going very well.". Today the Trump administration's new borders. are, Tom Homan telling me it's only the beginning. Is that going to be a constant commitment from the. US military every single day to take deportees out? Yes. This as the military. build up on the border escalates, 1500 active duty. personnel, Army and Marines deploying their mission. to support enhanced detection and monitoring.

efforts and repair and replace physical barriers. ABC's Matt Rivers on the ground in San Diego. "Right now these Marines are offloading concertina. wirely and are bringing it right down to the. border to reinforce it. It's clearly meant to be a deterrent against. huge remigration. And these kinds of supply blights, you might. see a lot more of them over the coming months.". Far from the border, ICE raids and arrests in cities across. the country in the day since the president was sworn in, some. of them likely long planned but a clear sign of what's to.

come, Boston, New York and Newark, New Jersey, Newark's mayor, saying agents rated a small. business without a warrant, detaining American. citizens in the process. "People were a fingerprint, you know, pictures of their. IDs and face were taken there. When I got this information, I was appalled.". The Trump administration releasing numbers showing 538.

arrests over the past 24 hours. The White House saying they're initially targeting undocumented. immigrants who have committed violent crimes, but home and. acknowledges not everyone swept up in the raids fits that. profile. And he has a stark warning. to anyone who's in the country illegally. "So is this what we will see every single day ending in. what the president has promised is millions and millions. being deported?". "Yes, but you can see the numbers steadily.

increased and the number of arrests and nationwide. as we open up the aperture right now is constantly. public safety threats, national security threats, that's a smaller population.". "So after you do that, then you go after everybody. who is there illegally.". "If you're in the country illegally, you're on. the tape because it's not okay to, you know, violate law's this country. So, if you're in the country illegally, you've got a problem. And that's why I'm hoping those who are in the country illegally. who have not been ordered removed by the federal.

judge should leave.". Home and it was very clear that those committing violent. crimes will be deported first and acknowledges. that the show of force, these strong warnings. to all undocumented immigrants are meant to send. a message that they should self-deport since it would take. a very long time and massive amounts of manpower and money. to deport an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants. Whit? >> Martha Raddatz, thank you and. Martha will have much more of her one-on-one interview with.

BordersR Tom Homan Sunday on this week. Meantime President Trump at the scenes of two. American disasters, as ABC News has learned. he has expected to sign an executive order on FEMA reform. The president, touching down in Los Angeles late today, met. by California Governor Gavin Newsom, then touring. the devastation of the Palisades Fire, threatening. to place conditions on providing federal aid. ABC's senior political correspondent Rachel Scott is. traveling with the president. "Tonight, President Donald Trump touring the destruction.

from the Palisades Fire, on a cross-country swing through. the disaster zones, raising the possibility of eliminating. FEMA altogether. The president promising immediate aid for North. Carolina's recovery from Hurricane Helene, but creating conditions for California, insisting. there needs to be changes to water management. in the wake of the devastating fires. And for the first time, demanding state voter ID laws. in exchange for disaster relief. "In California, we want them to have voter ID so the people.

have a voice because right now the people don't. have a voice because you don't know who's voting. and it's very corrupt. And we also want them to release the water. If they released the water, they wouldn't have had a problem.". Today, California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, greeting Trump on the tarmac. "I have all the confidence the world will work that out.". The president has blasted Newsom's response. to the wildfires, repeatedly pushing a false. claim that all they had to do was turn on a valve to keep.

fire hydrants from running dry. Officials have said the water supply wasn't the issue, but. the volume required to battle a once in a. generation fire event. Newsom today pushing back, saying conditioning aid for. American citizens is wrong. Adding California pumps as much water now as it could. under prior Trump era policies, and noting California. residents already must show ID to register to vote. The president and first lady on their first.

domestic trip of Trump's second term also visiting. North Carolina, still reeling from Hurricane Helene. "They supported us in record numbers, and I'm supporting. them in record numbers too.". The president suggesting he may move to get rid of FEMA. and have the states exclusively handle their own emergency. response, though it would take an act of Congress to dismantle. or reform the agency. "FEMA has really let us down, let the country. down, and I don't know if that's Biden's fault. or who's fault it is, but we're going to take over and.

we're going to do a good job.". And, which is moment to go, we saw President Donald Trump. fly overhead in a chopper. This is just some of the damage the president will be seeing as. he surveys these disaster zones. Sources tell me the president is expected to take executive. action to establish a task force that will be charged. with reviewing FEMA and making any recommended changes. But again, what the bottom line here is that President Trump. does not have the authority to eliminate FEMA, that would. require an act of Congress. Whit. >>> Rachel Scott, thank you.

And tonight, President Trump's controversial nominee for. defense secretary, former Fox news host Pete Hegseth, is. facing a critical Senate vote. ABC's J.O. Brian is on Capitol Hill. Tonight Pete Hegseth, president, Trump's controversial pick. to run the Pentagon, hoping to be confirmed by the. Senate, but by one of the narrowest margins. for any defense secretary in modern history. "Pete's a very, very good man. I hope he makes it.". Hegseth, a former Fox news host and veteran.

We will reestablish trust in our military. All Democrats expected to vote against him and two. Republicans publicly saying no. Senator Lisa Murkowski, saying on top of allegations. of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct, which Hegseth has denied, she questions his management. skills and is troubled by his admission of multiple. infidelities. Murkowski, saying, "I believe. that characters, the defining trait required of the Secretary. of Defense, and must be prioritized without compromise.".

Also, at issue, Hegseth's comments that women shouldn't. be allowed to serve in combat. A position he walked back in his confirmation hearing. "Yes, women will have access to ground combat roles, combat. roles, given the standards remain high.". But Senator Susan Collins, saying she's not convinced. his views have changed. "I was going to be tight, 51 is tight, and that's. what it was yesterday. It could even be 50 who knows.". In that vote ending in dramatic fashion tonight,

ultimately three Republican defections, including. Mitch McConnell with an 11th-hour no vote, Vice. President J.D. Vance having to come in, break. the tie, and ultimately, Hegseth confirmed as the. next Secretary of Defense. Whit. Jay O'Brian, thank you. Overseas tonight, we're just hours away from a new. hostage and prisoner exchange. Hamas set to release four Israeli soldiers. Israel expected to free about 200 Palestinian prisoners. And tonight the difficult images from both sides of the divide.

And we see his Tom Sufi Burj in Jerusalem tonight. This is the chilling video. Bloodied female Israeli soldiers taken hostage by Hamas. during the October 7 attack. And tonight four of them are just hours. away from coming home. Hamas, saying it will free. Karina Ariyav, Daniella Gibboa, and Neymar Levy, all 20 years. old, as well as 19-year-old Liri Albag tomorrow. Neymar's mother pleading for this moment. They just want to be back home and have now my back home.

33 hostages, including two Americans, are expected to be. freed in the first phase of the deal during a six-week truce. In exchange, Israel is to release another 200. Palestinian prisoners tomorrow. With the ceasefire holding, families inside Gaza returning. home to staggering destruction. Mahmoud Abel-Dalfa says the bodies of his wife and all five. of his young children are still under the rubble of.

his bombed out home. "I hope I can bring them out," he says, and bury them. "Wait, if all goes to plan, those four hostages. could be freed as early as tomorrow morning, and then the Palestinian prisoners should be released.". And so much hope this plan holds, Tom. Thank you. Back here tonight, new developments in the deadly. shooting of a border patrol agent in Vermont. The agent shot and killed during a traffic stop. near the Canadian border.

One suspect was killed in the shootout. A second suspect wounded and now facing charges. Court records showing authorities had them. under surveillance nearly a week before the. shooting. Here's ABC's Chief Justice. Correspondent, Pierre Thomas. Tonight, a Washington State woman is facing charges in the. first killing of a border patrol agent in more than a decade. She said 21-year-old Theresa Youngblood and Felix Buckholt, a German citizen on an expired visa, engaged police and a hail. of gunfire, along Interstate 91, in Covertree, Vermont, about.

20 miles from the Canadian border. 44-year-old border patrol agent David Chris Malent died. later at a local hospital. "I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to agent Malent's. family, friends and colleagues.". According to a federal affidavit, investigators. had been conducting periodic surveillance of. the pair for more than a week. After an employee at a nearby hotel reported them checking in, dressed in all black tactical style clothing.

With Youngblood carrying an apparent firearm and. an exposed carry holster. When authorities made contact, they say the pair told them. they were in the vicinity to look at purchasing property. Buckholt was killed. Youngblood wounded. Inside the vehicle, police say they found a cache of weapons, body armor and two-way radios. "Tonight, this case is a mystery. Why did that traffic stop end in such a violent confrontation?". Whit. >>> Still a lot of. questions, Pierre Thomas. Thank you. Next tonight, President Trump has revoked the security detail.

assigned to Dr. Anthony Fauci, according to sources. Dr. Fauci was the president's top COVID advisor during his. first term and his face regular threats on his life for years. Trump has also revoked security for three other former advisors. who face threats from Iran. In North Carolina, today, Trump said they all. have made a lot of money. They can hire their own security, too. And in Washington, today, thousands of people turned out. for the annual March for Life Rally.

The first March since Republicans won the White House. in both houses of Congress. And 24 hours after President Trump issued full pardons to 23. anti-abortion rights activists convicted of blockading. abortion clinics. ICE President Vance and congressional leaders. addressed the crowd in a pre-recorded message. President Trump pledged to push for further. restrictions on abortion. When we come back, the freighter trapped in the ice, the. Coast Guard trying to break it free, and nearly two years. after her death, the lost song from Tina Turner, now revealed.

Tonight, a Coast Guard cutter now trying to free a cargo. ship trapped in the ice on Lake Eury. The 663-foot freighter surrounded by ice, unable to move, it's been stuck near Buffalo for. more than 48 hours. The crew of 17 is reportedly fine, and the. ship has not been damaged. The freighter will be there at least another day. When we come back, Tina Turner's lost song and the. giant pandas meet the public.

To the index now, nearly two years after her death, a lost. Tina Turner song is now being heard for the first time. Hot for you baby was originally recorded more. than four decades ago. It was cut from her hit album Private Dancer. The master discovered as producers prepare to release a. 40th anniversary edition of the album, The Lost Song, will be included. When we come back, the pandas make their.

long-awaited debut in DC. ABC World News Tonight with David Mjor, sponsored by QE. Finally tonight, the giant pandas meet the public. at the National Zoo. Tonight the remarkable site, the pandas from China making. their long-awaited public debut at the Smithsonian National. Zoo in Washington, DC. Three-year-old BOW Lee now in his new home. Ching BOW also three years old eating an apple.

today, a carrot too. And of course both munching on lots of bamboo, 100. pounds of it every day. The bamboo grown and harvested about 70 miles away. Local kindergarteners welcoming the pandas early this morning. Ching BOW climbing a tree, the children calling. out BOW Lee's name. Fans of visitors expected this weekend with many more watching. on the zoo's Panda Camp, 40 cameras giving people around.

the world an up close look. It's all part of a revival of the so-called Panda diplomacy. between China and America after a pause in 2023. Pandas were sent home to China, but tonight they're back. The pandas arriving from China last October, touching down. at Dillis International Airport in a Boeing aircraft they call. the FedEx Panda Express, the Panda picture right on the side. The two in these custom crates, a police escort right to the.

zoo in Washington, crowds lining the streets. In quarantine and closely monitored by their care. teams, but now they are ready. The zoo calling this a celebration and a new. chapter of their more than five decade long. Panda conservation program. They're adorable, but they're also rare. It's a success story. We are winning the Conservation War with giant pandas. Like, they're more of them in the wild because of this. And so people come here and they're part of our success.

And we're all cheering on that success, great. to see the pandas back. Thanks so much for watching tonight. I'm Whit Johnson in New York for David and all of us. here have a great night. Thank you for making World News Tonight with David Muir. America's most watch newscasr.