President Trump on Monday lauded the new trade deal with Canada and Mexico as the most important ever for the U.S. and “a historic win” for American farmers, manufacturers and auto workers.

The House voted Friday to make permanent the temporary individual tax cuts that took effect in January, a move that also locks in a new limit on state and local tax deductions that hits many residents hard in California and several other Democratic states.

In a surprise turnaround, Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) joined Democrats in calling for a one-week delay in final voting on President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, to allow for an FBI probe into the sexual assault allegations against him.

“I think it would be proper to delay the floor vote for up to but no more than one week,” Flake said at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, after huddling with Democrats. Murkowski, who had previously called for an FBI probe, quickly joined him.

The concerns of the two key Republicans likely ends hopes by GOP leaders to confirm Kavanaugh by next week.

Moments after Sen. Jeff Flake announced his support for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, he was confronted with some of the consequences.

Two women cornered him as he got on an elevator Friday, pleading for him to reconsider his support for Kavanaugh, who is accused of sexual assault. The raw, emotional moment was caught on television, capturing the charged atmosphere in the Capitol as senators prepare to vote.

"Look at me and tell me that it doesn't matter what happened to me," said 23-year-old Maria Gallagher.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has agreed to speak privately with lawmakers following reports he'd discussed secretly recording President Trump.

A person familiar with the situation says Rosenstein agreed to the meeting during a call Thursday evening with the House Judiciary Committee chairman, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va.

GOP Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, who leads the conservative House Freedom Caucus, tweeted Friday that Republican leaders agreed to ask Rosenstein for a private meeting and said lawmakers would subpoena Rosenstein if he refused to answer questions.

More Kavanaugh coverage

Key undecided senator, Republican Jeff Flake of Arizona, announces he will vote yes on Kavanaugh »

Here's what experts who study sexual violence say about the credibility of Christine Blasey Ford's testimony »

Two days after Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein appeared to be on the verge of getting fired, President Trump said he would like to keep him as the Justice Department’s second-in-command. 

"My preference would be to keep him and let him finish up,” Trump said during a news conference on Wednesday in New York. 

Rosenstein, who oversees the Russia investigation led by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, has been at the center of controversy over news reports that he suggested secretly recording the president or removing him from office under the 25th Amendment. He has denied the reports.

Despite President Trump's unusual public criticism of their monetary policy, Federal Reserve officials inched up their key interest rate again on Wednesday — and indicated they would be undaunted to do so again in the face of strong economic growth.