Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump administration negotiates oil development deal with Venezuela through Pentagon office — The Trump administration announced a deal to develop Venezuela's oil resources through the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital, partnering with Venezuelan businessman Alejandro Betancourt López. The U.S. government would back development of a significant portion of Venezuela's proven oil reserves, with Betancourt's company leading operations. Trump claimed the arrangement gives the U.S. "majority control" over a large portion of the country's reserves, though details remain unclear and expected to evolve. Production timelines extend years into the future with minimal immediate impact on global commodity prices.
• Trump announced oil deal with Venezuela granting U.S. control of 65 billion barrels of proven reserves — Trump announced an agreement with Venezuela giving the United States majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of proven oil reserves "at no cost to the American Taxpayer." The deal involves a partnership between the U.S. government and private operator Alejandro Betancourt López, whose family controls Venezuela's second-largest private oil producer, North American Blue Energy Partners. The U.S. would control 55% of the venture's output. The administration has not disclosed the final terms, legal basis, or how proceeds will be distributed. An oil industry executive noted the deal is "built on a legal environment that does not exist," as Venezuela's constitution prohibits private ownership of oil and gas rights.

Supporting reports

• Trump threatens to block Gordie Howe Bridge opening pending US "compensation" — President Trump posted on his social media platform threatening to block the opening of the $4.6 billion Gordie Howe international bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan, unless the United States is "fully compensated" and Canada treats the US with "Fairness and Respect." The bridge, a binational project approved during the Obama administration and endorsed by Trump in 2017, is nearing completion. Trump blamed Obama for approving it while omitting his own prior endorsement. The threat appears connected to Trump's escalating trade dispute with Canada over tariffs and a potential Canadian trade deal with China.
• Trump threatens to block Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Windsor — Donald Trump posted on social media falsely claiming the $4.6 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge had "virtually no US content" and threatened to block its opening, claiming Canada owns both ends and that the US gets "absolutely nothing." Canadian Finance Minister Mark Carney responded by reminding Trump that Canada paid for construction, ownership is shared with Michigan, and both Canadian and US materials and workers were involved. The bridge was due to open in early 2026.
• Trump threatened to block opening of Gordie Howe International Bridge — Trump threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, claiming Canada is trying to "take advantage of America" and calling for compensation. The six-lane bridge, financed by the Canadian government and publicly owned by Canada and Michigan, has cost approximately $4.7 billion and was due to open early in 2026. The threat came hours after Matthew Moroun, the billionaire owner of the only privately owned bridge in the area, met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Supporting reports

• Jared Kushner, a private citizen, sat in on critical U.S.-Ukraine negotiations — During a critical meeting between Ukrainian officials and U.S. representatives, Jared Kushner, a private citizen with significant foreign financial entanglements, was present in the room. The text describes his presence as "inappropriate" and "alarming," noting that Ukrainians appeared to be facing individuals pushing a Russian surrender plan with Kushner seated beside them as if he were still a government official.
• Kushner conducted high-level Ukraine peace negotiations with Putin without formal government appointment — Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law, traveled to Moscow on December 2, 2025, and participated in direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine. Kushner was accompanied only by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and an interpreter. According to Popular Information's analysis, Kushner's participation in these negotiations—and similar involvement in Gaza negotiations—likely violates federal law by functioning as an undesignated Special Government Employee without formal appointment, thereby circumventing conflict-of-interest statutes and emoluments restrictions.
• Kushner broke public pledge to avoid foreign policy role in second Trump administration — In a February 2024 interview with Axios, Kushner pledged he would not resume a foreign policy or advisory role in a second Trump administration, stating his commitment was to his private equity firm and investors. When pressed about whether his billions in foreign government investments would make foreign policy work "very difficult," Kushner replied: "I'm an investor now. I served in government, and I think my track record is pretty impeccable. Now I'm a private investor." Despite this explicit public commitment, Kushner has since conducted high-level foreign policy negotiations with Russia and participated in Gaza negotiations on behalf of the Trump administration.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Steve Witkoff is in Moscow attempting to negotiate with Putin. — During the Cabinet meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated "Even as we sit here right now, Steve Witkoff is in Moscow trying to save lives. The war never would've happened if you had been president." This revealed that a White House official was conducting diplomatic negotiations in Moscow while the Secretary of State remained in Washington attending the Cabinet meeting.
• Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner photographed in Moscow — Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner (the latter not a government official) were photographed walking the streets of Moscow while a cabinet meeting was occurring in Washington. The timing coincided with Vladimir Putin issuing a statement blaming Europe for hindering Trump's foreign policy and stating Russia is ready for war.

Supporting reports

• Wall Street Journal reports Witkoff, Kushner, and Dmitriev designed plan to create multibillion-dollar business opportunities in Russia and Ukraine — The Wall Street Journal reported that special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Kirill Dmitriev designed their peace plan to bypass U.S. national security officials and create opportunities for U.S. businessmen to win multibillion-dollar deals to develop energy and rare-earth minerals in Russia, Ukraine, and the Arctic. The plan would allow Moscow to reshape Europe's economic map while driving a wedge between America and its traditional allies.
• Ukraine peace negotiators met with US delegation led by Rubio, Witkoff, and Kushner — Ukraine's peace negotiators met with a US delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner. The meeting followed Wall Street Journal reporting that Witkoff and Kushner had been privately meeting with Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's sovereign-wealth fund and Putin's negotiator, to chart plans for bringing Russia's economy back into the global system and enabling US companies to access frozen Russian assets and Arctic resources, with no explicit focus on Ukrainian sovereignty or security.
• Wall Street Journal exposed Witkoff and Kushner's private negotiations with Russian officials — The Wall Street Journal reported that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met privately with Kirill Dmitriev, Putin's handpicked negotiator and head of Russia's sovereign-wealth fund, at Witkoff's Miami Beach estate to chart plans for reintegrating Russia's $2 trillion economy into global markets. The plan included US companies accessing roughly $300 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets, joint US-Russian Arctic mineral exploitation, and reconstruction contracts in Ukraine, with no apparent constraint on Russian military objectives.
• Trump administration negotiates Ukraine peace plan centered on U.S.-Russia business deals — The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration's approach to Ukraine peace involves a Russian-led blueprint for joint U.S.-Russia economic cooperation, with contracts for rebuilding Ukraine, Arctic mineral extraction, and space exploration directed to favored U.S. and Russian businessmen, many with White House ties. Trump envoy Steve Witkoff stated the plan aims to create prosperity and prevent future conflicts through shared economic benefit.