Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump warns military leaders of "enemy within" and suggests using Democratic cities as training grounds — On September 30, 2025, President Trump addressed hundreds of top military officials and warned darkly about the need to counter "the enemy within," declaring that "America is under invasion from within" and that "Democrats run most of the cities that are in bad shape." Trump suggested the military could be useful in his drive against crime in Democratic cities and could use these cities as military "training grounds," raising concerns about violations of the Posse Comitatus Act.
• Trump addressed military commanders on deploying troops in U.S. cities — President Trump spoke to assembled military commanders at Quantico, framing domestic civil unrest as an "invasion from within" equivalent to foreign military threats. He stated he had signed an executive order establishing a quick reaction force for quelling civil disturbances and indicated that deploying combat troops to major U.S. cities including San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles would be "a major part" of military operations. He referenced the constitutional oath to defend against "all enemies foreign and domestic" and characterized inner cities as a "war" requiring military intervention.
• Trump told military leaders to confront "enemy from within" — Speaking to hundreds of senior US military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico on September 30, President Trump warned of an unspecified "enemy from within," stating "We're under invasion from within, no different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in many ways, because they don't wear uniforms." He also suggested that cities like San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles could be used "as training grounds for our military," language echoing authoritarian rhetoric about internal enemies and military deployment against civilian populations.
• Trump deploys National Guard troops to Chicago in October — In October, President Trump deployed National Guard troops to Chicago, continuing the pattern of using military forces for domestic law enforcement and immigration enforcement purposes.

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• Trump questioned First Amendment protections for protesters — Trump told reporters he was "not so sure" whether protesters are protected by First Amendment rights. He also stated he has been discussing with Attorney General Pam Bondi the possibility of bringing RICO charges against protesters, including pro-Palestinian demonstrators who protested against him at a DC restaurant, saying "they should be put in jail."

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• Kayleigh McEnany suggests scrapping Bill of Rights due to Kirk shooting — Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany suggested that constitutional rights should be abandoned because Charlie Kirk was shot, stating "what about all the amendments that Charlie Kirk lost? Because Charlie Kirk has no amendments right now. None." The comment implied willingness to sacrifice constitutional protections in response to political violence.

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• Senator Cynthia Lummis states First Amendment should not be ultimate right — Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) stated that she no longer believes the First Amendment should be the ultimate right, departing from her previous position. Lummis made the statement in the context of the killing of Charlie Kirk, suggesting that extraordinary circumstances justify limiting constitutional protections.
• Senator Cynthia Lummis rejected absolute First Amendment protections — Senator Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming, stated that she no longer believes the First Amendment should be the "ultimate right" with "almost no checks and balances," reversing her previous position. She argued that cultural changes justify limiting speech rights and cited concerns about insults leading to violence against politicians.

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• Man arrested for vandalizing Charlie Kirk memorial in Phoenix — Ryder Corral, 19, was arrested at 9:50 a.m. on Sunday in Phoenix, Arizona, after witnesses reported him damaging a memorial to Charlie Kirk outside Turning Point USA headquarters. Corral faces criminal damage and disorderly conduct charges. Videos showed a man walking through the memorial, damaging flowers and mementos, before being restrained and arrested by nearby officers. Police have not confirmed whether Corral's actions were politically motivated.

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• Secretary of State Rubio threatens visa revocation for Kirk critics — Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Jerusalem on Monday, reiterated threats to revoke visas for foreign nationals who "celebrate" Charlie Kirk's killing or engage in "negative and destructive behavior." Rubio's deputy, Chris Landau, previously instructed consular officers to undertake "appropriate action" when assessing visas for anyone "praising, rationalizing, or making light of" Kirk's death.

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• Deputy Secretary of State suggested stripping visas from Kirk death celebrants — Christopher Landau, deputy secretary of state, suggested the administration would strip visas from individuals who celebrated Charlie Kirk's death, signaling use of immigration enforcement as a tool for political retaliation.
• Secretary of State Rubio threatens visa revocation for Kirk critics — Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Jerusalem on Monday, reiterated threats to revoke visas for foreign nationals who "celebrate" Charlie Kirk's killing or engage in "negative and destructive behavior." Rubio's deputy, Chris Landau, previously instructed consular officers to undertake "appropriate action" when assessing visas for anyone "praising, rationalizing, or making light of" Kirk's death.

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• ICE agents physically assault and wrongfully detain US citizen car wash owner — On September 9, 2025, ICE agents conducted a raid at a Los Angeles car wash owned by Rafie Ollah Shouhed, a 79-year-old US citizen. Surveillance footage shows agents pushing Shouhed to the ground, and according to his attorney, agents violently body-slammed him onto pavement, jumped on his back, and handcuffed him despite his protests about recent heart surgery. Shouhed sustained broken ribs, traumatic brain injury, and elbow injuries. He was detained for nearly 12 hours without being charged with a crime, even after agents confirmed his citizenship status. On September 26, 2025, Shouhed filed a $50 million civil lawsuit against DHS, CBP, ICE, and Border Patrol alleging assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
• Rafie Ollah Shouhed, 79-year-old U.S. citizen, tackled by ICE agents and detained without charges — On September 9, 2025, Rafie Ollah Shouhed, a 79-year-old U.S. citizen who owns a car wash in the Los Angeles area, was detained during an ICE raid. Video evidence shows ICE agents tackling Shouhed. He was held for 12 hours, denied medical treatment, and suffered broken ribs, an injured elbow, and post-concussive symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Federal officials claimed Shouhed was impeding the raid but he was never charged.

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• DOJ considering ban on trans firearm ownership — Multiple outlets reported that the Justice Department is considering banning trans people from owning firearms by designating being trans as a mental illness that could disqualify someone from possessing a firearm under existing regulations.

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• Supreme Court ruling permits race and ethnicity as enforcement factors in immigration stops — In September 2025, the Supreme Court issued a ruling allowing immigration enforcement agents in southern California to interrogate anyone they suspected of being in the country illegally, explicitly noting that perceived race or ethnicity can be a relevant factor in such determinations. Legal experts note this ruling may complicate challenges to racial profiling under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

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• George Mason University demands removal of pro-Palestinian student video citing IHRA antisemitism definition — George Mason University ordered Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) to remove a social media video describing Israel as a "genocidal Zionist state" and the US as "the belly of the beast," citing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism the university recently adopted. The university claimed the video violated the definition by implying all Jews are genocidal and by using phrases it interpreted as antisemitic. SJP has threatened to sue, arguing the removal constitutes unconstitutional censorship of protected political speech on a matter of public concern.

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• Trump administration pledges crackdown on left-wing activists following Charlie Kirk assassination — Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk in September 2025, President Trump and top White House officials including JD Vance and Stephen Miller publicly vowed a "no-holds barred crackdown" on left-wing activists. Trump stated "We have radical left lunatics out there and we just have to beat the hell out of them." The government subsequently focused enforcement on "antifa," which prosecutors and officials characterized as a terrorist organization despite it being an ideology rather than a formal organization.

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• Complaint filed — Bangstad v. Noem (W.D. Wis.) — A Wisconsin resident filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of Wisconsin residents challenging U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's policy of conducting civil immigration enforcement operations using masked officers without visible identification. The complaint alleges violations of the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments and claims the policy was adopted in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. Plaintiff seeks a court order declaring the DHS and ICE policies unconstitutional and blocking masked enforcement operations without identifying insignia.

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• Secret Service arrested flag-burning protester near White House — The Secret Service arrested a man who burned an American flag near the White House in protest of Trump's executive order criminalizing flag burning. The arrest occurred despite the Supreme Court's established protection of flag-burning as constitutionally protected speech under the First Amendment.

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• Trump signs executive order directing prosecution of flag burning as incitement or fighting words — President Trump signed Executive Order 14341 on August 25, 2025, directing the Attorney General to prioritize enforcement of federal, state, and local criminal laws against flag desecration, framing such acts as potential incitement to violence or fighting words. The order instructs the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to deny or revoke immigration benefits for foreign nationals engaged in flag desecration. The order acknowledges Supreme Court precedent (Texas v. Johnson) protecting flag burning as speech but asserts the administration will prosecute flag desecration under content-neutral laws and pursue litigation to clarify First Amendment exceptions.
• Trump ordered DOJ to prosecute flag burning — Trump ordered the Department of Justice to prosecute anyone who burns an American flag, claiming such individuals would automatically face one year in prison. This order contradicts the 1989 Supreme Court ruling in Texas v. Johnson, which established flag burning as protected First Amendment speech.
• Trump announced executive order directing DOJ to prosecute flag burning — Trump held a press event in the Oval Office and announced an executive order instructing the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute instances of flag burning. Trump claimed burning a flag would result in one year in jail and a criminal record. White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf clarified that the order directs DOJ to prosecute flag burning only where it constitutes criminal activity (such as burning someone else's property) and does not violate First Amendment protections, since the Supreme Court previously ruled flag burning as political speech is constitutionally protected.
• Trump issues executive order directing prosecution of flag burning — President Trump issued an executive order on August 25, 2025, directing the Attorney General to prioritize enforcement of federal, state, and local laws against flag desecration. The order instructs the DOJ to prosecute flag burning as a crime where it violates content-neutral laws (disorderly conduct, open burning, property destruction) and authorizes the State Department, Attorney General, and DHS to deny or revoke visas, residence permits, and immigration benefits for foreign nationals engaged in flag desecration. The order acknowledges Supreme Court precedent in Texas v. Johnson but asserts authority to prosecute flag burning that incites imminent lawless action or constitutes "fighting words."
• White House signed executive order directing prosecution of flag desecration — The White House signed Executive Order 14341 on August 25, 2025, directing the Attorney General to prioritize enforcement of criminal and civil laws against flag desecration, including violent crimes, hate crimes, and property crimes. The order instructs the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Secretary of Homeland Security to deny or revoke visas, residence permits, and immigration benefits for foreign nationals engaged in flag desecration. The order acknowledges Supreme Court precedent in Texas v. Johnson but asserts authority to prosecute flag burning that incites imminent lawless action or constitutes "fighting words."
• Trump signs flag-burning criminalization order — Trump signed an executive order to criminalize the burning of a US flag, an action the Supreme Court ruled was protected under the First Amendment in 1989. The order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to prioritize prosecuting flag desecration cases and allows officials to deny or revoke visas and residence permits for immigrants who burn flags.
• White House issues fact sheet on executive order prosecuting flag desecration — The White House published a fact sheet on August 25, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump directing the Attorney General to prosecute flag desecration "to the fullest extent permissible" and to "pursue litigation to clarify the scope of First Amendment in this area." The order also directs the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security and the Attorney General to deny, prohibit, terminate, or revoke visas, residence permits, naturalization proceedings, and other immigration benefits for foreign nationals determined to have desecrated the flag, or to seek their removal from the United States.
• Trump signs executive order directing prosecution of flag burning as protest — On Monday, August 26, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue criminal charges against individuals who burn American flags during protests. The order directs prosecutors to explore alternative charges such as disturbing the peace or environmental violations. This action attempts to circumvent the 1989 Supreme Court ruling in Texas v. Johnson, which established that flag burning constitutes protected political speech under the First Amendment.
• Trump signed executive order banning flag burning — Trump issued an executive order criminalizing flag burning. The order drew immediate criticism from conservative legal scholars and right-wing media figures who noted that the Supreme Court had settled in Texas v. Johnson that flag burning constitutes protected free speech under the First Amendment. Multiple conservative commentators, including Justice Antonin Scalia's son, cited the constitutional prohibition on such restrictions.
• Trump issued executive order criminalizing flag burning — President Trump issued an executive order directing arrest and prosecution of Americans for burning the American flag, despite a standing Supreme Court ruling protecting flag-burning as free speech under the First Amendment. Although Trump's order acknowledged the SCOTUS ruling, the Secret Service arrested one man who burned a flag near the White House in protest of the order.

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• DHS erected largest immigrant detention site at Fort Bliss, drawing Japanese American internment parallels — The Department of Homeland Security, using U.S. military and private contractors, erected the nation's largest immigrant detention site at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. Japanese Americans noted historical parallels: 80 years ago, Fort Bliss housed dozens of people labeled "alien enemies" in a detention camp with double barbed-wire fences before they were sent to other holding areas. At least 113 first-generation Japanese Americans were shipped to the base before being transferred to other camps in what preceded the internment of over 125,000 Japanese Americans.

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• Immigration authorities deported three US citizen children — NBC News reported that immigration authorities deported three children who are US citizens, including a 4-year-old boy with Stage 4 kidney cancer, to Honduras. According to a lawsuit filed on behalf of the children's families, the parents "were never given a choice as to whether their children should be deported with them and were prohibited from contacting their counsel or having meaningful contact with their families to arrange for the care of their children."

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• Immigration officers detained 15-year-old US citizen with disabilities at gunpoint — A 15-year-old boy living with disabilities in Los Angeles was pulled from a car, handcuffed, and detained by federal immigration officers outside a school at gunpoint. The boy is a US citizen and was released after school staff and LA police intervened. The school district superintendent called the incident "unacceptable."

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• Mother files $1 million damages claim against DHS/ICE for detention of 15-year-old US citizen at gunpoint — The mother of a 15-year-old US citizen with disabilities filed a $1 million damages claim against the Department of Homeland Security, US Customs and Border Protection, and ICE on August 29, 2025, alleging false imprisonment and unconstitutional racial profiling. On August 11, masked federal immigration agents surrounded a vehicle outside Arleta High School in Los Angeles, pulled the teenager from the car at gunpoint, handcuffed him for several minutes, then released him after realizing they had detained the wrong person. The claim alleges agents had no reasonable suspicion or probable cause, caused physical injury and emotional distress, and left live ammunition at the scene.

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• Trump administration invokes Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants without due process — In March 2025, the Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport more than 200 Venezuelan migrants accused of gang membership to a mega-prison in El Salvador without court hearings or warrants. The Department of Justice claimed the law permits warrantless house raids and deportations. Civil rights groups challenged the authority, and the case is being heard by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, likely heading to the Supreme Court. Experts warn the invocation mirrors the 1941 precedent that enabled Japanese American internment.

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• Trump administration detains foreign scholars based on pro-Palestinian speech; trial reveals reliance on pro-Israel dossiers and ideological targeting — A federal trial in Boston examined the Trump administration's detention and deportation of noncitizen scholars and students for pro-Palestinian activism. The case, brought by the American Association of University Professors, Harvard, Rutgers, NYU, and the Middle East Studies Association, challenged what plaintiffs called an illegal "ideological deportation" policy. Immigration officials testified that they relied on lists compiled by pro-Israel groups Canary Mission and Betar USA, assembled a "Tiger Team" to investigate student protesters, and received orders from high-level administration officials to prioritize arrests of scholars based on their speech. Four arrested scholars—Mahmoud Khalil, Rümeysa Öztürk, Mohsen Mahdawi, and Badar Khan Suri—were released pending legal proceedings. Judge William G Young is expected to rule within weeks.

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• US Army veteran charged with federal conspiracy for participating in ICE protest — Bajun Mavalwalla, a 36-year-old US Army veteran, was arrested in July 2025 and charged with conspiracy to impede federal officers after participating in a June 2025 protest against ICE in Spokane, Washington. He faces six years in prison, three years supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Mavalwalla has pleaded not guilty and refuses to accept a plea deal. The case reflects an escalation in Trump administration prosecutions of anti-ICE protesters, with the DOJ issuing a memo prioritizing such prosecutions.

Supporting reports

• Federal threat to defund states serving undocumented immigrants — The Trump administration has threatened to withdraw federal funding from any state that provides services to undocumented immigrants. This threat places safety-net health systems in a legal bind: federal law requires them to serve all patients regardless of immigration status, while the administration threatens to punish compliance with that law through funding cuts. St. John's Community Health CEO Jim Mangia describes this as a fundamental contradiction in creed that will force clinic closures and staff reductions.
• ICE conducts mass deportation raids under Trump administration with minimal transparency and accountability — Under the Trump administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has conducted widespread raids resulting in mass deportations, including of individuals with legal status and children. The agency operates with minimal transparency, employs plainclothes and masked agents who often refuse to identify themselves, and has expanded beyond traditional immigration enforcement into protest suppression. Border crossings have reached historic lows, crops are rotting due to labor shortages, and a four-year-old U.S. citizen with cancer was deported. Legal scholars and civil rights experts characterize ICE's operations as increasingly authoritarian and outside established legal boundaries.
• ICE raids in Los Angeles causing widespread healthcare avoidance among immigrant residents — Since ICE enforcement operations began in Los Angeles County, immigrant residents have dramatically reduced medical visits out of fear of deportation. St. John's Community Health reports no-show rates jumping from under 10% to over 30%. Patients are avoiding clinics, schools, and work, creating severe health consequences including untreated hypertension and near-diabetic emergencies. The raids have also created financial strain on safety-net clinics, forcing closures and staff layoffs, while health systems face a legal contradiction: required by law to serve all regardless of immigration status, yet threatened with federal funding cuts for doing so.
• Temporary Protected Status for Haitian migrants set to expire — Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian migrants expires on August 3, 2025. Springfield, Ohio, which has integrated a large Haitian population into its workforce and community over recent years, anticipates an enforcement blitz similar to LA raids following the expiration. Health systems and community leaders fear the loss of legal status will result in job loss, loss of health insurance, and continued healthcare needs under threat of deportation, creating unsustainable strain on safety-net providers.
• ICE raids intensify across Los Angeles, triggering widespread fear and economic disruption — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids have escalated in Los Angeles, creating pervasive fear among undocumented immigrants and mixed-status families. The raids, described by residents as resembling "kidnappings," have caused streets to empty, businesses to close or reduce hours, and families to avoid leaving home for work, school, or groceries. Multiple U.S. citizens have reportedly been detained. In response, community organizations, mutual aid networks, and local businesses have mobilized to provide financial support, food delivery, and legal guidance to affected families.

Supporting reports

• Denial of entry and deportation of work visa holder "Jonathan" — A man with a US work visa provided an anonymous account of being denied entry to the US after a trip to Australia to scatter his sister's ashes. He was pulled aside on arrival in Houston, Texas, and accused of selling drugs and having improper paperwork. After detention for over a day, he was put on a flight back to Australia despite having worked on the US east coast for five years and living with his girlfriend.
• Denial of entry and detention of UK Subs band members — Members of the punk rock band UK Subs were denied entry and detained in the US on their way to play a gig in Los Angeles after being questioned about visas. Bassist Alvin Gibbs stated he wondered whether his frequent and critical public comments about Trump and his administration played a role. The three band members were kept in harsh conditions for 24 hours then deported back to the UK.
• Denial of entry to French scientist for criticizing Trump administration — A French scientist was denied entry to the US after immigration officers at an airport searched his phone and found messages in which he had expressed criticism of the Trump administration. The researcher was on his way to a conference in Texas. France's minister of higher education and research, Philippe Baptiste, stated that "freedom of opinion, free research, and academic freedom are values that we will continue to proudly uphold."
• Detention and alleged abuse of German green-card holder Fabian Schmidt — Fabian Schmidt, a 34-year-old German national and US green-card holder, was apprehended by border officials as he returned to New Hampshire from a trip to Luxembourg. His family stated he was held for hours at Boston's Logan airport, stripped naked and put in a cold shower, then deprived of food and medicine, and collapsed. His case is being investigated. He was released from ICE detention in Rhode Island in mid-May.
• Detention and deportation of British graphic artist Rebecca Burke — British graphic artist Rebecca Burke was arrested at the border while traveling from Seattle to Canada as a backpacker due to a visa mix-up. She became one of 32,809 people arrested by ICE during the first 50 days of Trump's presidency. After nearly three weeks of grueling detention conditions, she smuggled out poignant drawings of fellow detainees when released.
• Detention and deportation of German tourist Jessica Brösche — German tourist and tattoo artist Jessica Brösche, 29, from Berlin was detained by US immigration authorities and deported back to Germany after more than six weeks in US detention, including eight days in solitary confinement. Her family compared her ordeal to "a horror film."
• Detention and questioning of US citizen attorney Amir Makled at airport — Amir Makled, a Detroit-born attorney, was questioned at the airport upon returning from vacation and flagged to a terrorism response team. He was kept behind and pressured to hand over his phone and some of its contents. Makled represents a pro-Palestinian student protester arrested at the University of Michigan. Experts said the incident was evidence of a weakening of Fourth Amendment constitutional protections at the border against unreasonable search and seizure.
• Detention of Canadian visitor Jasmine Mooney in ICE facilities — Canadian Jasmine Mooney was shackled and detained in ICE facilities for two weeks over an alleged work visa irregularity while visiting California. She spoke out about harsh detention conditions, information blackouts, and her outrage that many other detainees she met remain stranded without access to resources that helped her secure release.

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• US judge overturns Trump order targeting Jenner & Block — A US district judge, John D Bates, overturned an executive order issued by Donald Trump that targeted the law firm Jenner & Block. The order, signed in March, suspended security clearances for the firm's lawyers and restricted their access to government buildings, officials, and federal contracting work. Trump accused the firm of undermining justice due to its employment of Andrew Weissmann, a lawyer involved in the Mueller investigation. Bates ruled the order unconstitutional, citing violations of the First and Fifth Amendments. The administration may appeal the decision to the US court of appeals for the District of Columbia circuit.
• Summary judgment ruling — Jenner & Block v. Department of Justice (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00916 — Judge John Bates issued an order and opinion granting Jenner & Block's motion for summary judgment and denied the government's motion to dismiss, declaring EO 14, 246 unlawful and “null and void” because it violates the First Amendment, and permanently enjoined the government from implementing or enforcing the order, directing agencies to rescind any steps taken under it and to resume ordinary dealings with the firm as if the order had never issued.