Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump leaked private messages from Emmanuel Macron and Mark Rutte at World Economic Forum in Davos — Trump's administration leaked private text messages from French President Emmanuel Macron questioning Trump's fixation on Greenland, and also posted private messages from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Macron subsequently refused to meet with Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The leaks signaled to allies that confidential conversations with Trump are not secure, undermining diplomatic trust and triggering international rebuke.
• Trump posted maps depicting U.S. territorial expansion and attacked allied nations — Trump posted maps showing U.S. control over Canada, Greenland, Cuba, and Venezuela, and shared images placing American flags over Greenland alongside JD Vance and Marco Rubio. He also attacked the United Kingdom over the Diego Garcia agreement despite his own administration previously endorsing it. These actions escalated tensions with multiple allied nations and signaled territorial ambitions contrary to international law and established agreements.
• Trump posted map depicting Canada and Greenland as U.S. territory — Trump posted an image on Truth Social showing Canada and Greenland as part of the United States. The post was part of an escalating series of statements in which Trump threatened to acquire Greenland and criticized Denmark and Canada for resisting. The map was designed to visually assert territorial claims that contradict international law and the sovereignty of both nations.
• Trump's social media account posts AI images depicting territorial expansion to include Greenland, Canada, and Venezuela — Trump's social media account posted AI-generated images depicting Greenland, Canada, and Venezuela as U.S. territory, including one showing world leaders in the Oval Office with North America covered in American flags and another showing Trump on an arctic landscape with a sign reading "GREENLAND—US TERRITORY EST. 2026." The posts accompanied claims that Trump had agreed to a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Davos concerning Greenland, framing it as "imperative for National and World Security."

Supporting reports

• ICE agents conduct racial profiling stops of US citizens and legal residents across multiple states — Following the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, ICE and US Customs and Border Protection agents have conducted stops and surveillance of US citizens and lawful permanent residents in California, Nebraska, Florida, Minnesota, and other states, with multiple individuals reporting that the encounters were based on racial profiling. Incidents include stops in parks, traffic stops, and sustained surveillance. The administration deployed approximately 2,000 ICE officers and 800 CBP agents to Minneapolis, focused enforcement on Somali communities, and announced plans to end temporary protected status for Somalis. A September 2025 Supreme Court ruling permitted agents to consider race or ethnicity as a factor in enforcement decisions.
• Racial profiling stop of Joaquin and Gloria Espinoza by ICE agents in Minneapolis suburbs — On Monday, January 20, 2026, ICE agents stopped a vehicle driven by Joaquin with passenger Gloria Espinoza on a quiet street in Minneapolis suburbs. Both are U.S. citizens for more than 30 years. Espinoza reported that agents appeared to have no cause for the stop other than the color of their skin and that officers taunted them while conducting background checks. Civilian observers arrived in seven vehicles, honking horns and documenting the interaction on video. The agents eventually released the couple without arrest.

Supporting reports

• DOJ indicts 39 protesters and journalists under FACE Act for church disruption in St. Paul — The Trump administration's Department of Justice indicted 39 people, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon (covering as a reporter), on conspiracy and first-amendment-interference charges following a January 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Protesters had interrupted a service to demand the resignation of a pastor leading a local ICE field office. Legal scholars argue the administration misapplied the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act—originally designed to protect abortion clinics—to prosecute political protesters and journalists at houses of worship, marking a novel and expansive use of the statute.
• Demonstrators disrupt service at Cities Church to protest pastor's alleged ICE role — On January 18, demonstrators disrupted a service at Cities Church in St. Paul to draw attention to Pastor David Easterwood, who was allegedly serving as acting field director of the St. Paul ICE office. Civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong stated the protest aimed to inform congregants that their pastor was "doubling as the director for the ICE field office in Minnesota." The demonstration occurred amid sweeping immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota that resulted in deaths of at least two people, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, killed by federal agents.
• Protest at St. Paul church disrupts service; pastor reportedly works for ICE — Dozens of protesters entered St. Paul's Cities church on January 18 during services to draw attention to a pastor who reportedly serves as an acting field director for ICE. Organizers including Nekima Levy Armstrong chanted "ICE out" and explained their presence was in response to ICE enforcement actions in the Twin Cities. The protest disrupted the service; the church asked protesters to leave but they remained. Journalists Georgia Fort and Don Lemon covered the event. The government later charged nearly 40 people involved in the protest under the FACE Act and conspiracy statutes.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon ordered 1,500 active-duty soldiers to prepare for possible deployment to Minnesota — The Pentagon ordered approximately 1,500 active-duty soldiers from the Army's 11th Airborne Division to prepare for potential deployment to Minnesota after Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to unrest there. The soldiers are assigned to two infantry battalions specializing in cold-weather operations. Invoking the Insurrection Act would mark the first time a commander in chief has done so since President Bush during the 1992 LA riots.
• Pentagon orders 1,500 active-duty soldiers in Alaska to prepare for Minnesota deployment — The Pentagon ordered approximately 1,500 active-duty soldiers stationed in Alaska to prepare for potential deployment to Minnesota, days after Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy military forces to the state. The Trump administration had already sent 3,000 federal agents to Minnesota as part of what the Department of Homeland Security described as its "largest enforcement operation" ever.
• Pentagon orders 1,500 active-duty soldiers in Alaska to prepare for potential Minnesota deployment

Supporting reports

• ICE agents arrest and pepper-spray peaceful protesters in Minnesota — Federal ICE agents arrested and pepper-sprayed peaceful protesters in Minnesota on January 17, 2026, prompting Judge Katherine Menendez to issue a preliminary injunction prohibiting such tactics. The enforcement actions followed the killing of Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman, by a federal agent, which sparked large-scale protests statewide and nationally. DHS defended the tactics as constitutional measures to uphold law and order, while state officials condemned the deployment as an unconstitutional "federal invasion" and retaliatory campaign.

Supporting reports

• Democratic Congress members hold field hearing on ICE enforcement surge and deadly use of force in Minnesota — On Friday, January 17, Democratic Congress members, senators, and state officials held an "accountability" field hearing in St Paul, Minnesota, titled "Kidnapped and Disappeared: Trump's deadly assault on Minnesota," condemning ICE enforcement actions and federal agents' use of force. The hearing followed the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer on January 8, ongoing protests, and escalating ICE raids and traffic stops. Congresswoman Betty McCollum warned Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to preserve records for future investigation and subpoena.

Supporting reports

• Trump expressed regret over not seizing voting machines in 2020 — In an interview with the New York Times, Trump said he regretted not ordering the National Guard to seize voting machines in swing states after losing the 2020 election to search for evidence of fraud. He also claimed that "white people were very badly treated" due to civil rights-era protections and characterized this as "reverse discrimination."

Supporting reports

• Trump calls Somali immigrants "garbage" and threatens to strip citizenship — In December, after a cabinet meeting, President Trump called Somali immigrants "garbage" and denounced a fraud scandal in Minneapolis involving social services run by Somalis. Subsequently, he stated his administration intended to strip some naturalized Somali Americans of their US citizenship.

Supporting reports

• Trump threatens to invoke Insurrection Act and deploy troops to Minneapolis — According to reporting in the article, Donald Trump recently threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act and send troops to Minneapolis in response to the ICE shooting and subsequent protests. A journalism professor quoted in the article noted that Trump's threat signals Minneapolis will remain an epicenter of ICE activity and counter-protests.
• Trump claims authority to deploy troops to Minneapolis and Saint Paul — President Trump claimed authority to send federal troops into Minneapolis and Saint Paul amid protests against ICE operations. The White House is openly floating the use of military force against Americans exercising their constitutional rights. Federal agents have already deployed heavily armed personnel, deployed chemical agents, and targeted peaceful protesters in these operations.

Supporting reports

• ICE mass enforcement operation in Minnesota arrests 2,400+ immigrants, including legal residents and refugees — The Trump administration deployed approximately 3,000 federal immigration agents to Minnesota in what it described as its largest enforcement operation to date. More than 2,400 people were arrested in recent weeks, many swiftly transferred to out-of-state detention centers or removed from the country. The Guardian confirmed that several refugees with legal status and individuals with valid visas were arrested. Families were separated during arrests at homes, workplaces, schools, and public spaces. Two documented cases involved Paulo Sosa Garcia and Ramona Cecilia Silva, arrested while driving to work after their legal residency case had been approved five days prior, and Tomas Martinez Gregorio, detained while being driven to his son's medical appointment.
• ICE worksite raids result in mass arrests without due process — Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted worksite raids in major US cities including Los Angeles, Portland, and Chicago, resulting in the arrest of thousands of immigrants. The article characterizes these arrests as occurring "without due process" and notes they triggered massive protests demanding federal agents leave communities and be held accountable for alleged human rights abuses. These raids occurred in the context of Trump's 2025 immigration crackdown and contributed to the broader outcry that followed Good's death.

Supporting reports

• Trump claims he has ended eight wars and deserves Nobel Peace Prize — When asked why he accepted another person's Nobel Peace Prize, Trump stated that Machado told him "you've ended eight wars and nobody deserves this prize more than—in history—than you do." Trump repeated this claim multiple times in subsequent interviews, asserting that he has ended eight wars but "didn't get the Nobel Peace Prize," despite no independent verification of this claim.
• Trump accepts Nobel Peace Prize medal from Venezuelan opposition leader Machado — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who received the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize from the Norwegian Nobel Committee, presented the medal to President Trump at the White House on January 16, 2026. Trump accepted the medal despite the Norwegian Nobel Institute's explicit statement that Nobel Prizes "cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others." Trump claimed Machado offered it to him and praised her as "a very fine woman," framing the transfer as a personal gesture recognizing his claimed role in ending wars.

Supporting reports

• ACLU and attorneys file class-action lawsuit against Trump administration for alleged racial profiling by ICE in Minneapolis — On 15 January 2026, the ACLU and other attorneys filed a class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration alleging that ICE agents engaged in racial profiling and unlawful arrest of three Minnesotans and others in the Minneapolis area. The lawsuit was filed amid a broader pattern of reported targeting of Latino and Somali communities by federal agents deployed to the region. One plaintiff, a US citizen, reported being stopped by masked ICE agents while walking to lunch; in another incident, ICE officers asked people of color for documentation of legal status while they charged electric vehicles.
• Minnesota, Minneapolis, and Saint Paul sue to halt Operation Metro Surge — The states of Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul filed lawsuits seeking to halt Operation Metro Surge, the federal ICE deployment of approximately 2,000 agents to the Twin Cities area. The legal action challenged the scope and conduct of the federal enforcement operation. The ACLU filed a separate federal case alleging unconstitutional stops, detentions, and racial profiling by ICE agents conducting the operation.
• ACLU files lawsuit against Trump administration alleging racial profiling and unlawful arrests by ICE in Minnesota — The American Civil Liberties Union filed a 72-page lawsuit on January 16, 2026, against the Trump administration, naming the Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Kristi Noem as defendants. The suit alleges that federal immigration agents in Minnesota have engaged in systematic racial profiling and unlawful arrests targeting Somali and Latino communities, including U.S. citizens. The lawsuit documents cases of detained citizens who were not asked about their citizenship status, were denied basic rights, and were subjected to violence, including pepper-spraying of a plaintiff recording from a public sidewalk.

Supporting reports

• Pete Hegseth announced Pentagon takeover of Stars and Stripes editorial content — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of War is taking over editorial content decision-making for Stars and Stripes, the military publication. Hegseth stated the publication would be refocused away from "woke distractions" and toward warfighting, weapons systems, and military lethality. The Pentagon's statement challenged the editorial independence of Stars and Stripes, which has long retained independence under a congressional mandate governed by First Amendment principles.
• Stars and Stripes Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin defended editorial independence — Stars and Stripes Editor-in-Chief Erik Slavin responded to the Pentagon's takeover announcement by reaffirming the publication's commitment to First Amendment principles and editorial independence. Slavin stated that military personnel who risk their lives in defense of the Constitution have earned the right to press freedoms and accurate, balanced coverage with accountability for military officials.
• Pentagon strikes policy protecting Stars and Stripes editorial independence, seizes control of military newspaper — The Trump administration's Department of Defense published a final rule in the Federal Register on Thursday striking previous policy that required Stars and Stripes to have a civilian editor and independent ombudsman. Pentagon officials will now control content "custom tailored to our warfighters," with the outlet directed to avoid "woke distractions" and focus exclusively on military topics. The action eliminates protections mandated by Congress and a defense department directive guaranteeing "free flow of news and information" without censorship.

Supporting reports

• DHS Secretary Noem endorses Insurrection Act option and confirms discussions with Trump — DHS Secretary Kristi Noem appeared on television endorsing increased ICE and Border Patrol presence in Minnesota and stated that she has discussed the Insurrection Act directly with Trump. Noem affirmed that the president "certainly has the constitutional authority" to invoke the act and that it remains an option under consideration.
• Secretary Kristi Noem affirmed Trump's constitutional authority for Insurrection Act — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated during a press gaggle in Minnesota that Trump's threat to invoke the Insurrection Act is within his constitutional authority. Noem said she spoke to Trump that morning and affirmed that the president has the constitutional right to use the Insurrection Act if he deems it necessary, characterizing it as an opportunity available to him in the future.

Supporting reports

• Trump suggests canceling 2026 midterm elections — In an Oval Office interview with Reuters on January 14, President Trump suggested the U.S. should not hold midterm elections as required by the Constitution because Republicans risk losing their majorities in the House and Senate. Trump stated that when a party wins the presidency, it typically loses the midterms, and claimed his accomplishments were so significant that "we shouldn't even have an election." The White House later claimed Trump was joking.
• Trump claims he should not face midterm election losses — In an interview with Reuters, President Trump complained about the historical pattern in which the party of a newly elected president loses seats in the midterms. Trump suggested he did not want to experience this pattern and stated that given his accomplishments, "when you think of it, we shouldn't even have an election."
• Trump stated elections should not occur — A Reuters article quoted Trump saying "When you think of it, we shouldn't even have an election." The statement was buried within the piece and represents a direct challenge to the constitutional requirement for periodic elections.
• Trump threatens to invoke Insurrection Act — President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to protests in Minnesota, claiming that if local politicians do not control the situation, he will take action. This statement raises concerns about the potential militarization of law enforcement in domestic matters.
• Trump threatens to retaliate against political opponents — Trump stated that if politicians in Minnesota do not control protests against ICE, he will invoke the Insurrection Act, framing the situation as an attack on federal law enforcement.

Supporting reports

• US Supreme Court hears oral arguments on state bans of trans athletes in youth sports — The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Tuesday in two cases challenging Republican-backed laws in West Virginia and Idaho that ban transgender girls from participating in girls' athletic programs. The cases involve 15-year-old Becky Pepper-Jackson (West Virginia v BPJ) and college student Lindsay Hecox (Little v Hecox). Both plaintiffs argue the bans violate the equal protection clause and Title IX. Civil rights advocates warn that if the conservative supermajority upholds the bans, the ruling could establish a precedent allowing broader anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in bathrooms, dress codes, name/pronoun use, and access to identification documents.
• US Supreme Court oral arguments on transgender athlete bans in West Virginia and Idaho — The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on January 13, 2026, in two consolidated cases challenging state laws that ban transgender girls and women from competing in female sports. Conservative justices signaled skepticism toward the plaintiffs' equal protection and Title IX arguments, while the states argued the bans protect fairness in women's sports. The Court appeared poised to uphold the bans, potentially setting a precedent that anti-trans laws are "presumptively constitutional" and affecting LGBTQ+ protections nationwide.
• US Supreme Court hears West Virginia v. BPJ case on transgender student athletes' sports participation — The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on January 14, 2026, in West Virginia v. BPJ, a case challenging state laws that prohibit transgender youth from participating in school sports aligned with their gender identity. The case centers on Becky Pepper-Jackson, a track and field athlete from West Virginia. Large competing protest groups gathered outside the Court, with trans rights advocates on one side and opponents of trans participation in sports on the other. Tensions escalated, with reports of physical confrontations and aggressive behavior between protesters.

Supporting reports

• Senator Mark Kelly sued Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for military censure in retaliation for protected speech — Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona filed a lawsuit against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Defense Department, Navy Secretary John Phelan, and the Navy Department, alleging violations of his First Amendment rights, the Speech and Debate Clause, separation of powers, due process, federal law governing retired officer ranks (10 USC 1370), and the Administrative Procedure Act. The suit challenges Hegseth's January 5 formal censure of Kelly, which followed Kelly's November 18 participation in a video with five other Democratic veterans in Congress warning military and intelligence personnel that they have a legal duty to refuse unlawful orders. The lawsuit seeks to declare the censure and related actions unlawful and unconstitutional, vacate them, and enjoin their enforcement.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Kelly v. Hegseth (D.D.C.) 1:26-cv-00081 — Plaintiff moved for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.
• Sen. Kelly sued Secretary Hegseth to block reduction of his Navy rank and retirement pay for protected speech — Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) filed a lawsuit against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth seeking an injunction to prevent unilateral reduction of Kelly's Navy rank and retirement pay in retaliation for a video urging service members not to follow unlawful orders. Kelly's complaint alleges First Amendment violation, retaliation for protected legislative speech, and an unprecedented executive attack on congressional independence and military oversight authority.
• Senator Kelly sued Defense Secretary Hegseth over military retaliation — Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) sued Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Pentagon to block their efforts to punish him for a video he participated in last year with other Democratic lawmakers calling on military members to refuse illegal orders, asking a federal judge to find the move "unlawful and unconstitutional."
• Mark Kelly sues Hegseth over military rank reduction and pension censure — Democratic Senator Mark Kelly filed a lawsuit in Washington DC federal court challenging Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's formal censure and threatened demotion/pension reduction. The censure targeted Kelly and five other military-veteran lawmakers for a November video urging service members to resist unlawful orders. Kelly argues the action violates free speech, legislative independence, and separation of powers. The lawsuit names Hegseth, the Department of Defense, the Navy, and Navy Secretary John Phelan as defendants and seeks to vacate the censure and all related actions.
• Senator Mark Kelly files lawsuit against Defense Secretary Hegseth over retaliation for protected speech — Senator Mark Kelly filed a lawsuit seeking to nullify Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's attempt to reduce his rank and pension as punishment for the video urging troops to refuse illegal orders. Kelly characterized Hegseth's actions as an "unconstitutional crusade" that sends a chilling message to retired military members that speaking against the administration will result in loss of rank and pay. Kelly argued that such retaliation violates constitutional protections and sets a dangerous precedent for suppressing military veterans' free speech.
• Pentagon censures Senator Mark Kelly and launches administrative proceedings — Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth formally censured Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, in January and initiated administrative proceedings that could result in rank reduction and pension cuts. Kelly participated in the same November video about military duty to illegal orders. Kelly has responded with litigation arguing the Pentagon's actions violate constitutional protections.

Supporting reports

• Senator Slotkin said she is under federal investigation — Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) said in an interview that federal prosecutors are investigating her for participating in a video with other Democratic lawmakers calling on military members to refuse illegal orders.
• DOJ threatens Federal Reserve with criminal indictment over interest rate policy — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell publicly stated that the Department of Justice threatened criminal charges against the Fed related to a multi-year renovation project of Federal Reserve office buildings. Powell characterized the threat as retaliation for the Fed's decision to set interest rates based on economic conditions rather than presidential preference, stating the threat was "a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President."
• Federal investigation opened against Michigan senator Elissa Slotkin for video urging troops to refuse illegal orders — Michigan senator Elissa Slotkin announced she is under federal investigation by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia for her participation in a video released in 2025 in which she and five other Democratic lawmakers with military backgrounds urged U.S. troops to refuse unlawful orders. The video's message aligns with established military law and constitutional principle. President Trump called the video "seditious behavior by traitors" punishable by death; the White House later clarified he did not seek execution but wanted them "held accountable." Slotkin characterized the investigation as weaponization of federal government to intimidate political opponents.
• Senator Elissa Slotkin faces federal criminal investigation for oath video — Senator Elissa Slotkin is now under federal criminal investigation for appearing in a video urging service members to remember their oath and refuse illegal orders. The investigation represents potential criminalization of speech encouraging military personnel to uphold constitutional obligations and refuse unlawful commands.
• Four additional Democratic lawmakers said they are under investigation — Four additional Democratic lawmakers said they are being investigated by the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia over their participation in a viral video calling on military members to refuse illegal orders.
• Trump DOJ investigates Democratic lawmakers over military video on illegal orders — Three House Democrats—Jason Crow (Colorado), Maggie Goodlander (New Hampshire), and Chrissy Houlahan (Pennsylvania)—confirmed that the U.S. Attorney's Office for D.C., led by Jeanine Pirro, requested interviews regarding their participation in a November video instructing troops they need not comply with illegal orders. The investigation expands to five lawmakers total; the Pentagon also formally censured Senator Mark Kelly and launched administrative proceedings. Trump called the video "seditious" and threatened capital punishment, later walking back but maintaining the lawmakers face "serious jeopardy."

Supporting reports

• Trump ordered military to prepare invasion plan for Greenland — According to reporting, President Trump ordered special forces commanders (JSOC) to draw up a plan for the invasion of Greenland. The order was reportedly motivated by policy hawks around the president, including Stephen Miller, who were emboldened by the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and sought to seize the island before Russia or China could. The Joint Chiefs of Staff resisted the order on grounds that it would be illegal and would not be supported by Congress. Trump was reportedly motivated in part by a desire to distract American voters from poor economic performance before mid-term elections.
• Trump orders Special Forces to prepare invasion plan for Greenland — Reports indicate Trump ordered Special Forces to prepare an invasion plan for Greenland. In response, NATO is openly discussing sending troops to Greenland. European leaders are contemplating sanctions against American corporations if Trump moves ahead with the plan. The situation is described as severe and reckless.
• Trump threatened to invade Greenland, prompting NATO allies to prepare defensive measures — Trump made threats to invade Greenland, forcing NATO allies to consider placing military forces on the island to deter potential U.S. aggression. British and German forces are moving into Greenland in response to Trump's threats. Trump simultaneously bragged online that he "saved NATO" while his invasion threats destabilized the alliance and forced member states to prepare defenses against the United States.
• DHS Secretary Noem endorses Insurrection Act option and confirms discussions with Trump — DHS Secretary Kristi Noem appeared on television endorsing increased ICE and Border Patrol presence in Minnesota and stated that she has discussed the Insurrection Act directly with Trump. Noem affirmed that the president "certainly has the constitutional authority" to invoke the act and that it remains an option under consideration.
• Secretary Kristi Noem affirmed Trump's constitutional authority for Insurrection Act — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated during a press gaggle in Minnesota that Trump's threat to invoke the Insurrection Act is within his constitutional authority. Noem said she spoke to Trump that morning and affirmed that the president has the constitutional right to use the Insurrection Act if he deems it necessary, characterizing it as an opportunity available to him in the future.
• Trump threatens to invoke Insurrection Act in response to Minnesota protests — Trump posted a threat to invoke the Insurrection Act if Minnesota officials do not stop "professional agitators and insurrectionists" attacking ICE agents. The post framed ICE and Border Patrol deployments in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and other cities as responses to attacks on federal agents. Trump stated he would institute the Insurrection Act if state politicians did not comply with his demands to suppress protest activity.
• Trump threatens to invoke Insurrection Act in Minnesota — President Trump posted on his social media account threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act if Minnesota's "corrupt politicians" do not stop "professional agitators and insurrectionists" from attacking ICE agents. The threat came after federal agents shot and wounded a man in Minneapolis, triggering clashes between agents using tear gas and flash-bang grenades and approximately 200 protesters. A family with six children, including a six-month-old infant, was struck by tear gas and flash-bang grenades during the clash; three children were hospitalized.
• Trump threatens to invoke Insurrection Act in Minnesota over ICE protests — Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he would invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota to "quickly put an end" to protests against federal immigration enforcement operations, characterizing demonstrators as "professional agitators and insurrectionists." The threat came after federal ICE agents shot a man in the leg during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis, sparking protests. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urged de-escalation and called on Trump to "turn the temperature down" and end what he described as a "campaign of retribution."
• Trump threatens to invoke Insurrection Act — President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to protests in Minnesota, claiming that if local politicians do not control the situation, he will take action. This statement raises concerns about the potential militarization of law enforcement in domestic matters.

Supporting reports

• ICE agents beat unarmed U.S. citizen in Arkansas — Video evidence documented ICE agents in Arkansas beating an unarmed U.S. citizen during an enforcement action.
• ICE agents stormed private home without warrant — Video evidence documented ICE agents entering a private home without a warrant.

Supporting reports

• Trump Organization announced $10 billion in Saudi Arabian developments — Trump's family business announced $10 billion in luxury real estate developments in Saudi Arabia, expanding its footprint in the Gulf. Real estate developer DarGlobal, which has partnered with the Trump Organization in the past, announced a $7 billion project including a Trump-branded hotel and golf course as part of the Diriyah development backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. The two businesses are also working on a $3 billion Trump Plaza tower in Jeddah that will include offices, high-end apartments, and townhouses. The announcement comes weeks after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Trump at the White House and agreed to a series of deals in defense, AI, and nuclear energy.
• Trump Organization announces $3 billion Saudi development deal in Jeddah — The Trump Organization announced a separate $3 billion deal with Dar Global to construct Trump Plaza in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Like the Diriyah project, this development is part of Saudi Arabia's broader investment initiatives and involves licensing the Trump name to a developer closely tied to the Saudi government. The deal follows Trump's November 2025 grant of major non-NATO ally status to Saudi Arabia and represents a second major Trump Organization project in the kingdom announced simultaneously.
• Trump Organization announces $7 billion Saudi development deal while holding presidency — The Trump Organization announced a partnership with Dar Global to build a $7 billion "Trump-branded hotel and golf course" in Saudi Arabia's Diriyah development. The project, which includes 500 mansions priced between $6.7 million and $24 million, is funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to Forbes reporting on similar deals, approximately 80% of the money will flow directly to Trump through licensing fees. The Diriyah Company, which is implementing the master plan, is a wholly owned subsidiary of PIF, making the deal effectively with the Saudi government.
• Lauder donated to Trump's campaign and subsequently received favorable policy treatment on Ukraine minerals — Ronald Lauder donated $100,000 to Trump's 2016 campaign and $5 million to Maga Inc in March 2025. A November 2023 leaked letter revealed Lauder was part of a mining consortium seeking to exploit Ukrainian lithium deposits. After Lauder's 2025 donations, the US and Ukraine signed a minerals-exploitation deal in April 2025, and Lauder's consortium reportedly won the first lithium tender under that agreement, suggesting a direct correlation between financial support and policy outcomes favoring his business interests.
• Ronald Lauder encouraged Trump to acquire Greenland and subsequently acquired business interests there — Ronald Lauder, a billionaire cosmetics heir and longtime Trump associate, first proposed in 2018 that the US purchase Greenland. Trump's national security adviser John Bolton confirmed Lauder made this suggestion, after which the White House explored increasing US influence in the Arctic territory. Years later, as Trump threatened military seizure of Greenland during his second term, Lauder acquired commercial holdings there, including ventures in luxury springwater export and hydroelectric power generation for an aluminium smelter.

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• Vice President Vance defended ICE agent Ross and made false claims about shooting — Vice President JD Vance publicly defended ICE agent Jonathan Ross and vilified Renee Good. Vance claimed the shots were fired from the front of the car, a claim contradicted by video evidence showing the agent fired from the side of the vehicle. Vance also discussed ICE agents "going door to door" to deport immigrants, language that ignored Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Supporting reports

• Philadelphia Police Commissioner clarifies jurisdictional separation from Sheriff's Department — Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J Bethel issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on January 9 clarifying that the Philadelphia Police Department is the city's primary law enforcement agency, separate from the Sheriff's Department. The statement outlined the Police Department's responsibilities for patrol, investigations, emergency response, and law enforcement, and noted that Bethel serves by mayoral appointment within the city's executive structure.
• Portland mayor and city officials call for ICE operations pause — Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Democratic Representative Maxine Dexter publicly called for ICE to pause all operations in the city pending a full investigation into the shooting. Wilson stated that "constitutional protections erode and bloodshed mounts" and that Portland is not a "training ground" for militarized agents. Dexter, a physician, demanded a comprehensive local police investigation without Trump administration interference. Oregon State Senator Kayse Jama also called for federal agents to leave the community.
• Portland police arrest six protesters outside ICE facility — Police used force to clear protesters from the street outside the ICE facility in south Portland on the evening of January 9, 2026, arresting six people, including a young man known for wearing an inflatable frog costume to protests. About one hundred protesters had gathered outside city hall chanting "Abolish ICE," and a smaller group returned to the ICE facility, many in animal costumes used to defuse tensions in recent months.
• Six protesters arrested in Portland after ICE shooting — Portland police arrested six protesters late Thursday evening outside an ICE facility following the shooting of two undocumented immigrants. Protesters had gathered to demonstrate against ICE operations, with some wearing animal costumes. Police used force to clear protesters from the street. Local leaders, including Mayor Keith Wilson and Representative Maxine Dexter, had appealed for calm and peaceful protest, which largely held despite the shooting and growing outrage over federal immigration enforcement.

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• US Border Patrol agents shoot two people outside Portland hospital — US Border Patrol agents shot two people outside Adventist Hospital in east Portland, Oregon on January 8, 2026. According to DHS, agents stopped a vehicle to search for a suspected undocumented immigrant connected to a Venezuelan gang and opened fire when the driver allegedly attempted to run them over. Emergency dispatch audio indicated a man was shot twice in the arm and a woman shot in the chest. Both were hospitalized; conditions unknown. The shooting occurred one day after an ICE officer fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis.
• Border Patrol agents shoot two undocumented immigrants in Portland — US Border Patrol agents shot two undocumented Venezuelan immigrants, Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras and Luis David Nico Moncada, outside a Portland hospital on Thursday afternoon during a vehicle stop. The agents claimed the driver attempted to run them over; a witness account suggests the driver backed up and moved forward multiple times before fleeing. Both victims were hospitalized in stable condition. The shooting triggered protests and arrests, with local officials demanding investigations and calling for ICE to cease operations in the city.
• Border Patrol agents shoot Venezuelan immigrants in Portland, Oregon — On January 9, US Border Patrol agents shot two Venezuelan immigrants, Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras and Luis David Nico Moncada, outside a hospital in Portland, Oregon. The shooting occurred as tensions escalated nationwide following the Minneapolis ICE killing. Protests in Portland and across the country continued to swell in response; six protesters were arrested in Portland.

Supporting reports

• ICE agents detain two Target workers at Richfield store with force — On January 8, 2026, ICE agents forcefully detained two workers at a Target store in Richfield, Minnesota. Video shows agents pinning workers to the ground, with one agent jamming his knee into a worker's head. One worker stated he was a U.S. citizen. ICE did not charge the workers but relocated at least one to a different parking lot. The incident occurred the day after ICE agent shot and killed Minneapolis resident Renee Good.
• ICE agents detain two US citizens at Target store in Richfield, Minnesota without warrant — On January 8, ICE agents led by US Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino entered a Target store in Richfield, Minnesota without a warrant and forcibly detained two US citizen employees, forcing them to the ground and placing them in an SUV. One detainee was later found in a distressed state at a different parking lot. Both were released but reported injuries and trauma. State Representative Michael Howard and Attorney General Keith Ellison condemned the incident as unlawful and excessive.