Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Oral arguments in Chiles v Salazar on Colorado's conversion therapy ban — The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on 7 October in Chiles v Salazar, a case challenging the constitutionality of Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for minors. Kaley Chiles, a therapist in Colorado Springs, argues the law violates free speech rights by censoring conversations between counselors and clients. The case will determine whether states can prohibit practices widely condemned by medical and mental health organizations as harmful to transgender and LGBTQ+ youth.
• US Supreme Court oral arguments in Chiles v. Salazar on Colorado conversion therapy ban — The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on October 7, 2025, in Chiles v. Salazar, a case challenging Colorado's 2019 law banning conversion therapy for minors under 18. The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a Christian legal group, represents Kaley Chiles, a licensed counselor who claims the ban violates her First Amendment rights. Conservative justices repeatedly questioned whether the law constitutes an unconstitutional restriction on speech and whether conversion practices are sufficiently harmful to justify a ban. The Court appeared poised to rule against Colorado's law, which could undermine similar bans in more than 20 other states.
• Oral arguments in Bost v Illinois on mail-in ballot counting — The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on 8 October in Bost v Illinois State Board of Elections, examining whether members of Congress and other litigants have standing to challenge state laws governing the counting of mail-in ballots. The case will determine the scope of federal oversight and individual rights to contest state election administration procedures.
• Supreme Court oral arguments on Illinois mail-in ballot standing challenge — The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Wednesday in a case brought by Republican congressman Mike Bost challenging Illinois's law allowing mail-in ballots postmarked by election day to be counted for up to two weeks after election day. The justices appeared sympathetic to the challenge, questioning whether a federal candidate has standing to sue. The case centers on standing doctrine rather than the constitutionality of the voting practice itself, though conservatives view it as an avenue to attack mail-in voting broadly.
• Supreme Court heard arguments on state conversion-therapy ban — The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case challenging Colorado's ban on licensed providers performing conversion therapy on minors. The article reports that most justices sounded skeptical of the state's authority during arguments. If the Court rules against Colorado, 20+ states would lose similar protections. The case raises broader questions about whether states retain power to set healthcare standards or whether federal/central authority can override state regulation.

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• Federal appeals court hears arguments on Trump's control of Oregon national guard troops — A federal appeals court heard arguments on whether Trump had constitutional authority to take control of 200 Oregon national guard troops for deployment to Portland. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut granted a temporary restraining order on Saturday blocking the Oregon deployment and on Sunday blocked deployment of any national guard troops to Portland. The case centers on the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits military involvement in domestic law enforcement.
• Federal appeals court paused order on Oregon National Guard — A federal appeals court paused an order prohibiting Trump from federalizing 200 members of the Oregon National Guard, but left in place a second order barring them from being deployed to Portland.

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• California Governor Newsom announces lawsuit against Trump over national guard deployment — California Governor Gavin Newsom announced he would sue President Trump over the deployment of California national guard troops to Portland without state authorization. Newsom characterized the action as "attacking the rule of law itself" and "reckless and authoritarian conduct," stating the administration was "ignoring court orders and treating judges, even those appointed by the president himself, as political opponents."

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• US Supreme Court assembles for new term with cases on tariffs, voting rights, conversion therapy, and presidential removal power — The US Supreme Court began its 2025 term on 6 October with a docket including several high-stakes cases where Donald Trump has expressed strong views. Cases scheduled include Chiles v Salazar (Colorado's conversion therapy ban), Bost v Illinois (mail-in ballot counting), Louisiana v Callais (Voting Rights Act Section 2 and racial gerrymandering), Learning Solutions Inc v Trump and Trump v VOS Selections (tariff authority under IEEPA), and Trump v Cook (presidential removal of Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook). The court's rulings on these matters will significantly shape US political and legal landscape.
• US Supreme Court begins new term amid Trump's expansive executive assertions — The US Supreme Court commenced its 2025 term on October 6 amid heightened scrutiny over its role in constraining or enabling Trump's executive power. The court has sided with Trump approximately 20 times this year after administration officials sought relief from lower court rulings. Key cases on the docket include challenges to the Voting Rights Act, transgender surgery rights, mail-in ballot counting, and tariff authority. Legal experts warn the court's pattern of granting emergency relief without full briefing—a 16-case winning streak for the administration—signals potential erosion of democratic checks and constitutional protections.

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• Multiple lawsuits filed challenging constitutionality of Missouri redistricting law — Multiple lawsuits have been filed arguing that Missouri's HB 1 redistricting law violates the state constitution on two grounds: (1) mid-decade redistricting is not permitted without a triggering event such as a new census, and (2) the resulting districts are neither contiguous nor compact, violating state constitutional requirements. These suits proceed independently of the referendum effort and represent a separate legal avenue to block or overturn the gerrymander.
• People Not Politicians files court challenge to referendum petition rejection — The pro-voting coalition People Not Politicians filed a lawsuit challenging Secretary of State Hoskins' rejection of the redistricting referendum petition. The coalition argues that Hoskins misapplied Missouri's constitution by citing a section governing citizen-initiated amendments rather than referenda, and that state officials may only reject referendum petitions "as to form" (procedural defects), not on substantive grounds like premature filing. The outcome will determine whether the 20,000+ signatures already gathered can count toward the required 106,000 valid signatures by December 11.
• Illinois files lawsuit to block national guard deployment — Illinois Governor JB Pritzker filed a lawsuit on Monday to stop Trump from sending federal troops to the state, joining California and Oregon in court challenges. Federal Judge April M. Perry said she needed time to review the case before ruling on the state's request for a temporary restraining order in an emergency court hearing.
• Illinois sued Trump administration over National Guard deployment — Illinois sued the Trump administration to block the deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago, arguing the move is illegal and violates the Constitution. The filing notes, "The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a president's favor."
• Illinois Attorney General files lawsuit to block federalization of state National Guard and deployment of out-of-state troops — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a lawsuit seeking to immediately and permanently stop President Trump from federalizing the state's National Guard or deploying troops from other states to Illinois. The lawsuit argues that such actions infringe on state sovereignty and self-governance, and will cause unrest, harm community relations, increase mistrust of police, and depress business and tourism. Raoul contends the American people should not live under threat of military occupation based on political disagreement with state leadership.
• Illinois and Chicago file lawsuit to block National Guard deployment — Illinois and Chicago filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the Trump administration's deployment of National Guard troops to the city, characterizing it as "Trump's long-declared 'War'" on Chicago and Illinois and calling it "unlawful and dangerous." A court hearing on the lawsuit was scheduled for Thursday. The lawsuit represents an official state and municipal challenge to the federal deployment order.
• Case update — Illinois v. Trump (N.D. Ill.) 1:25-cv-12174 — State Attorney General of California submitted an amicus brief in support of Plaintiffs.
• Appeal filed — Illinois v. Trump (N.D. Ill.) 1:25-cv-12174 — State Attorneys General submitted an amicus brief in support of Defendants. Oct. 9-10, 2025: Judge Perry granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) enjoining the “federalization and deployment of the National Guard of the United States within Illinois.” In an accompanying opinion , the court found Plaintiffs likely to succeed on their claim that the deployment exceeded the President's authority under 10 U.S.C § 12406, because neither the “rebellion” predicate of 10 U.S.C. § 12406(2) nor the “unable with the regular forces” predicate of § 12406(3) had been met. The court also found that the unlawful federalization likely violated the Tenth Amendment by usurping Illinois's control over its own National Guard, but declined to reach Plaintiffs' Posse Comitatus Act claim. Defendants appealed to the Seventh Circuit, Case No. 25-2798 .
• Illinois governor files lawsuit against federal National Guard deployment — Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that the state has filed a lawsuit to prevent the federal government from sending National Guard troops from any state to Illinois, arguing that such actions are unconstitutional. Pritzker emphasized the need to push back against what he described as the Trump administration's disregard for laws.
• Illinois Governor Pritzker announced Illinois is suing to stop federalized National Guard deployment — Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that Illinois has sued to stop the administration from sending federalized National Guard troops from any state to Illinois, arguing the deployment is unconstitutional. Pritzker stated that the Trump administration does not respect laws and will continue acting unlawfully unless stopped.

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• DOJ Office of Legal Counsel justified lethal strikes on drug boats — CNN reported that the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel's classified memo justifying the Trump administration's lethal strikes against suspected drug trafficking boats argues that the president has the power to designate drug traffickers as enemy combatants and have them summarily killed without legal review. One former associate general counsel at the Defense Department noted that if the opinion is as broad as it seems, "it would mean the DOJ has interpreted the president to have such extraordinary powers that he alone can decide to prosecute a war far broader than what Congress authorized after the attacks on 9/11."

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• Stephen Miller announced alternative federal deployment options — Stephen Miller stated that the administration would abide by the court ruling insofar as it affects the covered parties, but asserted that the president has "many options" to deploy federal resources and U.S. military to Portland. This statement suggested the administration would seek alternative legal pathways to deploy military or federal forces despite the court order.
• Trump officials discussed invoking Insurrection Act — NBC News reported that Trump administration officials have engaged in increasingly serious discussions about the president invoking the Insurrection Act, though a decision to do so wasn't expected to happen imminently.
• Stephen Miller claims president has plenary authority to use military against citizens — White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller stated in a CNN interview that the president possesses "plenary authority"—complete, unchecked power—to use the military to suppress what he characterized as an "insurrection." Miller abruptly stopped speaking mid-sentence after making this claim. The statement echoes arguments that exceptions to the rule of law reveal where true power rests in a society, a concept central to Carl Schmitt's political philosophy.
• Trump declared at least eight national emergencies since January 2025 — Since taking office in January 2025, the Trump administration has declared at least eight national emergencies, which it has used to justify the invocation of emergency powers for various policy objectives.
• White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller asserted "plenary" presidential authority under Title 10 — White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller claimed that the president's power under Title 10 to federalize National Guard troops is "plenary," or absolute. This assertion of unlimited executive authority was made in the context of the National Guard deployment to Illinois for ICE enforcement operations.
• White House officials discussed invoking the Insurrection Act to deploy military troops — White House officials, led by White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, have been having increasingly serious discussions about having Trump invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy military troops to suppress domestic unrest. The Insurrection Act permits the president to deploy troops to suppress insurrection, domestic violence, or unlawful combinations that obstruct the execution of federal law.
• Senate authorized executive deadly-force authority against drug cartels without congressional approval — The U.S. Senate voted 48–51 to permit the president to order deadly force against drug cartels without requiring congressional authorization. Two Republicans (Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski) opposed; one Democrat (John Fetterman) voted in favor. The article notes the authority has already been used in Caribbean boat strikes resulting in at least 21 deaths, and Congress has not been provided evidence that the targeted boats carried narcotics. The vote grants this power to all future presidents regardless of party.

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• Trump said he would consider invoking Insurrection Act — Trump told reporters he would consider invoking the Insurrection Act to deploy the military to US cities, saying, "If I had to enact it, I'd do it, if people were being killed and courts were holding us up, or governors or mayors were holding us up."
• Trump threatens Insurrection Act invocation against Portland anti-ICE protesters — Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act against anti-ICE protesters in Portland, signaling willingness to use federal military or emergency powers to suppress domestic dissent against immigration enforcement operations.
• Trump again suggested invoking Insurrection Act — Trump once again suggested he would invoke the Insurrection Act, saying, "It's been invoked before," and adding, "Chicago is a great city where there's a lot of crime, and if the governor can't do the job, we'll do the job." The last time the Insurrection Act was invoked was more than three decades ago, and it hasn't been used against a state's wishes since the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.

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• Treasury Department moved to mint Trump dollar coin — The White House announced plans to mint a dollar coin bearing Trump's face, despite federal law prohibiting living presidents from appearing on U.S. currency. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett defended the plan on CNN, claiming "There have been times in the past where commemorative coins have been printed with the faces of living people." The statute prohibiting living presidents on currency was specifically adopted because such practice is characteristic of monarchs and autocrats. No living president has appeared on currency since the statute was passed.

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• Federal judge blocks national guard deployment to Portland — US District Judge Karin Immergut issued a restraining order on Saturday blocking the Trump administration from deploying federalized national guard troops to Portland, Oregon. The judge, nominated by Trump, agreed with Oregon's assertion that deploying national guard troops would likely inflame rather than calm protests, similar to effects observed in 2020.
• Judge Immergut blocks Oregon National Guard deployment — U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut issued a ruling blocking the deployment of federalized Oregon National Guard troops to Portland. She declared that "the President's determination" that law enforcement could not execute the laws of the United States "was simply untethered to the facts." Immergut wrote that the nation is "a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law" and warned that the administration's arguments "risk blurring the line between civil and military federal power—to the detriment of this nation."
• Temporary restraining order ruling — Oregon v. Trump (D. Or.) 3:25-cv-01756 — District Court Judge Karin J. Immergut granted a temporary restraining order blocking the Sept. 28 memorandum ordering the federalization and deployment of Oregon National Guard service members to Portland. In granting the TRO, the court found that the administration likely exceeded its authority under 10 U.S.C. § 12406 and violated the Tenth Amendment. On Oct. 5, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding the State of California and moved for a second temporary restraining order after the administration ordered the deployment of the California National Guard to Oregon under the same authority, seeking to circumvent the initial order. Judge Immergut quickly granted the second TRO, extending her order to prohibit the deployment of any federalized members of the National Guard in Oregon, regardless of their state origin. The administration has announced it intends to appeal both decisions.
• Federal judge temporarily blocked National Guard deployment to Oregon — Federal Judge Karin Immergut temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops to Oregon, writing that the president and his officials "have made a range of arguments that, if accepted, risk blurring the line between civil and military federal power—to the detriment of this nation." In response, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller tweeted that the decision amounted to "legal insurrection" and claimed that the refusal of Portland and Oregon law enforcement to cooperate with ICE officials is "an organized terrorist attack on the federal government and its officers."
• Federal judge blocks Trump administration national guard deployment to Portland — US District Judge Karin Immergut issued a restraining order blocking the Trump administration from deploying 200 federalized Oregon National Guard members to Portland. Trump had announced the deployment on September 27, citing unrest at an ICE office. Oregon's attorney general filed suit, arguing the deployment would violate the Constitution and federal law prohibiting military enforcement of domestic law. The judge agreed the deployment would likely inflame rather than calm protests, contradicting the administration's characterization of Portland as a war zone when recent protests had been "sedate" with fewer than a dozen participants.
• Judge Immergut issues emergency order blocking federalized National Guard deployment — Both California and Oregon requested that Judge Immergut stop the Trump administration from circumventing her initial ruling by deploying California National Guard troops to Oregon. On Sunday evening, Judge Immergut held an emergency hearing on the deployment and issued an order forbidding the deployment of any federalized National Guard troops from any state to Oregon for 14 days.
• Federal judge blocked military deployment to Portland — U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut ruled that the Trump administration failed to satisfy legal requirements to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon. The judge wrote that the order was necessary to preserve America's "longstanding and foundational tradition of resistance to government overreach, especially in the form of military intrusion into civil affairs." The judge found the President's determination "simply untethered to the facts" and "not conceived in good faith," noting the administration risked blurring the line between civil and military federal power.
• Judge Immergut broadened order blocking National Guard deployments nationwide — Judge Immergut broadened her order to block the Trump administration from sending National Guard troops from any state or DC to Oregon, and told Justice Department lawyers that Trump's effort to do so was "in direct contravention" of her decision. The ruling came after Trump tried to send hundreds of California National Guard troops to Oregon, and another 400 members of the Texas National Guard to cities including Portland and Chicago.
• Federal judge blocks Trump administration deployment of national guard to Oregon — US District Judge Karin Immergut issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from deploying federalized California national guard troops to Portland, Oregon. The order, effective until at least October 19, came hours after California Governor Gavin Newsom announced he would sue President Trump over the planned deployment. The judge found no evidence that recent protests necessitated the deployment and questioned how federalizing out-of-state guard units would not violate her prior day's order blocking Oregon's own guard deployment to Portland.
• — The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted an administrative stay of District Court Judge Karin J. Immergut's Oct. 4 Temporary Restraining Order blocking the Sept. 28 memorandum authorizing the federalization of the Oregon National Guard. Because the Oregon National Guard had already been federalized, the court said, the “administrative stay will best preserve the status quo” while the appeal is pending. Today's order does not address the underlying merits or Judge Immergut's further Oct. 5 order , which prevents the deployment of out-of-state National Guard troops to Oregon.

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• NYC Bar Association issued statement on Comey indictment — The New York City Bar Association issued a statement on September 29 about the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, writing, "We are at a turning point in our history," and adding that "the Supreme Court has long recognized that prosecutions animated by impermissible motives are unconstitutional." The statement signals concern that the prosecution may be politically motivated.
• New York City Bar Association condemns administration's military actions — The New York City Bar Association issued a statement condemning the Trump administration's military actions against Venezuelan boats, labeling them as illegal summary executions prohibited by U.S. and international law. They called for Congress to intervene and remind the President of his lack of authority for such actions.
• New York City Bar Association warned Trump administration that attacks on Venezuelan vessels violate law and called them illegal summary execution — The New York City Bar Association issued a warning that whatever legal advice officials are using to justify attacks on Venezuelan boats will not protect them in court. The bar association called the strikes "illegal summary execution" that are "prohibited by both U.S. and international law," or "murders." It called for Trump to stop such attacks and for Congress to remind the President that he lacks authority to continue misusing military forces for unlawful attacks on foreign vessels and their civilian crews.

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• White House authorizes deployment of 300 Illinois National Guard members — On Saturday afternoon, a White House spokesperson announced that Trump has "authorized" the deployment of 300 Illinois National Guard members. Governor Pritzker later stated he had been informed that members of the Texas National Guard would also be deployed to Illinois, further expanding federal military presence in the state without state consent.
• Trump issued presidential memorandum calling 300+ Illinois National Guard into federal service to protect federal personnel and property in Illinois — President Trump issued a presidential memorandum on October 4, 2025, directing the Secretary of War to call at least 300 members of the Illinois National Guard into federal service. The memorandum states that federal facilities in Illinois, particularly those supporting ICE and Federal Protective Services, have faced "coordinated assault by violent groups" seeking to obstruct federal law enforcement and impede deportations. Trump determined that regular U.S. forces are insufficient and that the situation warrants mobilization. The National Guard personnel are authorized to perform protective activities the Secretary of War deems necessary to ensure federal law execution, with a 60-day duration or at the Secretary's discretion.
• Trump authorized deployment of 300 Illinois National Guard troops to Chicago — Trump authorized the deployment of 300 Illinois National Guard troops to Chicago. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called the move unnecessary and a "manufactured performance—not a serious effort to protect public safety," signaling state-level resistance to the federal deployment order.
• Trump administration deploys 300 California National Guard troops to Portland — On Sunday, October 5, blocked from deploying Oregon National Guard troops in Portland by Judge Immergut's ruling, the Trump administration deployed 300 California National Guard troops to Portland instead. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the deployment, characterizing it as "a breathtaking abuse of the law and power" and stating the Trump administration is "unapologetically attacking the rule of law itself and putting into action their dangerous words—ignoring court orders and treating judges, even those appointed by the President himself, as political opponents."
• Trump administration deploys national guard troops to Portland despite judicial order — The Pentagon deployed 200 national guard members from California to Oregon on Sunday, and the Trump administration announced plans to send additional troops from Texas, directly after Judge Immergut's temporary restraining order. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek reported that 101 California national guard members arrived by plane on Saturday night with no formal federal communication and unverified locations. The administration proceeded without state authorization or coordination.
• Trump administration orders Texas national guard deployment to Illinois without state authorization — The Trump administration ordered 400 members of the Texas national guard to deploy to Illinois, Oregon, and other states without communicating with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated he "fully authorized" Trump to deploy the troops. Chicago could see Texas troops deployed by Tuesday or Wednesday as the administration moves to federalize the Illinois national guard.
• Trump authorizes national guard deployment to Chicago — President Trump authorized deployment of 300 Illinois national guard troops to Chicago, citing "violent riots and lawlessness." The deployment follows a border patrol shooting of a woman on Chicago's southwest side during an operation where agents reported being rammed by vehicles. Governor JB Pritzker opposed the move, calling it unnecessary and stating the Pentagon issued an ultimatum to deploy troops or face federal deployment. The action occurs amid an intensified immigration enforcement crackdown by ICE in the city.
• Trump Authorizes Deployment of Illinois National Guard — President Trump authorized the deployment of 300 Illinois National Guard members to assist in protecting federal facilities, following a demand for the state to call up its troops. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker criticized this action as an overreach of federal power.
• Trump administration announces deployment of California national guard to Portland — Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced that approximately 200 federalized members of the California national guard were being reassigned from Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon at the direction of President Trump to support ICE and other federal personnel and protect federal property. This deployment occurred despite prior court orders and without state authorization, following Trump's September 27 announcement of plans to deploy guard troops to Portland.
• Illinois Governor Pritzker called Trump's National Guard deployment an "invasion" — Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stated that Trump ordered 400 Texas National Guard members for deployment to Illinois and other locations without any federal officials contacting him directly to discuss or coordinate the action. Pritzker characterized the deployment as "Trump's Invasion," noting it began with federal agents and would include federalized National Guard members against the state's wishes, and called on Texas Governor Abbott to withdraw support and refuse to coordinate.
• Texas Governor Abbott authorized National Guard deployment — Texas Governor Greg Abbott responded to Illinois Governor Pritzker's criticism by stating he fully authorized the President to call up 400 members of the Texas National Guard to ensure safety for federal officials, and argued that either other states must fully enforce protection for federal employees or allow Texas Guard to do so. Abbott asserted the superiority of Texas National Guard training and expertise.
• Trump administration federalized Texas National Guard for deployment to Portland and Chicago — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the federalization of 2,000 Texas National Guard members, with 400 being deployed to Portland, Oregon and Chicago, Illinois. This action came immediately after a federal judge blocked the federalization of the Oregon National Guard, appearing to circumvent the court order by using troops from another state. The administration characterized this as a response to unrest in those cities.
• National Guard deployment to Chicago area begins — National Guard troops from Texas began arriving at Elwood Army Reserve Center, approximately 50 miles outside Chicago, as part of a Trump administration deployment. By Wednesday, 200 Texas National Guard troops had arrived with another 300 Illinois National Guard troops preparing to deploy. The FAA issued flight restrictions over the center until December 6. Trump administration officials stated troops would protect federal immigration agents and facilities, not assume law enforcement duties, though the deployment proceeded despite objections from Illinois Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson.
• Trump administration deploys national guard troops to Chicago area for immigration enforcement — The Trump administration deployed approximately 500 national guard troops (200 from Texas, 300 from Illinois) to the Chicago area to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities and federal property. The deployment occurred without coordination with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker or Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. A federal judge held a hearing on whether to declare the deployment illegal, with state and city attorneys arguing it violates the Constitution. Trump attacked both officials on social media, saying they "should be in jail."

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• Trump called for removal of New York Attorney General Letitia James on Truth Social — On Truth Social, Trump called for the removal of New York Attorney General Letitia James, whom he called "SCUM" and a "Complete and Total Disaster." He also baselessly accused James of "costing New York State Hundreds of Billions of Dollars in lost business." This follows months of pressure from Trump against James, who brought a business fraud case against him in 2023.
• Trump called for jailing of Illinois Governor and Chicago Mayor — On Truth Social, Trump called for the jailing of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, accusing them of "failing to protect" ICE officers. In response, Pritzker called Trump "unhinged," "insecure," and a "wannabe dictator," adding, "If you come for my people, you come through me. So come and get me."
• Trump calls for arrest of Chicago mayor and Illinois governor — On October 8, President Trump called for the arrest of Chicago's Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, both Democrats, accusing them of failing to safeguard immigration officers. The statement escalated Trump's rhetoric regarding the National Guard deployment dispute and represented a direct attack on state and local Democratic officials who had opposed the federal military deployment to their jurisdiction.
• Trump calls for jailing Chicago mayor and Illinois governor; National Guard deploys to Chicago area — President Trump called for the imprisonment of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker on Truth Social, accusing them of failing to protect ICE officers. Simultaneously, National Guard troops from Texas began arriving at an army reserve center near Chicago at Trump administration order, despite objections from Illinois officials. Illinois and Chicago filed a lawsuit seeking to block the deployment, with a court hearing scheduled. Mayor Johnson signed an executive order barring federal immigration agents from using city property for enforcement operations.
• Trump calls for Spanberger withdrawal on Truth Social — President Trump posted on Truth Social calling Spanberger "weak and ineffective" and echoing Republican demands that she withdraw from the Virginia gubernatorial race over her continued support for Jay Jones despite the violent texts controversy.
• Trump calls for jailing Chicago mayor and Illinois governor over National Guard deployment objections — On October 8, 2025, as hundreds of National Guard troops were poised to enter Chicago against the objections of the city's Democratic mayor and Illinois governor, President Trump called for jailing both officials despite neither having been charged with crimes. The deployment was part of Trump's militarized immigration crackdown, which the Democratic leaders had criticized.
• Trump attacks Chicago and Illinois officials, calls for their imprisonment — President Trump sent social media posts attacking Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, both Democrats, saying they "should be in jail" for failing to protect federal agents during immigration enforcement operations. The attacks came as the administration escalated its presence in Chicago and announced plans to purchase additional buildings for ICE operations.
• President Trump posted that Chicago Mayor and Governor Pritzker should be in jail — President Trump posted on his social media account that the Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect ICE officers and that Governor Pritzker should also be in jail. The posts appeared to be retaliation for the officials' resistance to the National Guard deployment.

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• Federal court rejects administration's attempt to end birthright citizenship as unconstitutional — A second federal court rejected the Trump administration's attempt to end birthright citizenship, ruling that such action would be unconstitutional. This represents judicial rejection of a major administration policy initiative targeting the 14th Amendment's guarantee of citizenship to those born in the United States.

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• Homeland Security Secretary Noem accuses IceBlock founder of obstructing justice; Attorney General Bondi threatens legal action — In June 2025, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly stated that IceBlock and its founder Joshua Aaron were "obstructing justice" and suggested prosecuting CNN for reporting on the app. In July, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated on Fox News that crowdsourced apps tracking law enforcement locations are "not allowed" and warned Aaron to "watch out" because "that's not a protected speech," implying legal consequences.

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• Energy Department slashes climate funding and freezes construction projects during shutdown — The U.S. Energy Department is cutting nearly $8 billion in climate-related funding for projects across 16 states and freezing $18 billion allocated for two New York City construction projects. Trump stated he would meet with Russell Vought, head of the Office of Management and Budget, to determine which agencies aligned with his political priorities should face cuts, describing the shutdown as an "unprecedented opportunity" to eliminate what he called "Democrat Agencies."
• OMB Director Vought impounded $8 billion in climate funding targeting Democratic states — Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, announced on October 2 that he was canceling $8 billion in congressionally approved funding for programs he claimed "fuel the Left's climate agenda." The targeted states were California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington—all states with Democratic senators. Vought stated the impoundments were illegal and used them selectively against Democratic-led states during the government shutdown.
• OMB Director Vought vowed to cut $26 billion from New York City projects — Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought vowed to cut $26 billion from projects in New York City that Congress had previously approved. Legal experts note that such impoundments lack lawful basis, as a government shutdown does not grant the OMB director additional authority to unilaterally rescind congressionally appropriated funds. Vought also vowed to slash the federal government broadly without legal justification.
• Vought announced $18 billion hold on New York City infrastructure projects — Russell Vought announced on October 2 that approximately $18 billion in New York City infrastructure projects had been placed on hold. He stated the action was to ensure funding was not flowing based on "unconstitutional DEI principles" and specifically cited the Hudson River Tunnel Project (Gateway) and the Second Avenue Subway project. The announcement came during the government shutdown and targeted infrastructure in a state with Democratic senators.
• Maine Family Planning announces primary care closure due to Medicaid defunding — Maine Family Planning announced on October 2, 2025, that it will cease offering primary care at its clinics by October 31, 2025, due to loss of Medicaid reimbursements under Trump's tax and spending bill. The organization will continue offering STI screenings and contraception to all patients regardless of insurance status "for as long as we are able." Approximately 70% of Maine Family Planning patients receive all healthcare from the organization, making the closure a significant access loss.
• White House pauses infrastructure and clean energy funding to Democratic states — OMB Director Russ Vought announced on social media that approximately $18 billion in New York City infrastructure projects have been placed on hold to prevent funding flowing to "unconstitutional DEI principles." Vought also announced cancellation of nearly $8 billion in clean energy funding, characterizing it as fueling "the Left's climate agenda." The actions target Democratic-leaning states during the government shutdown impasse.
• Energy Department terminated 321 awards for 223 projects — Hours after Russ Vought pledged to revoke climate-related funding, the Energy Department announced it had terminated 321 awards for more than 223 projects, claiming the investments did not "advance the nation's energy needs" and were not "economically viable." The agency provided scant details about the cuts.
• Vought announced cancellation of $8 billion in climate funding — OMB Director Russ Vought posted that nearly $8 billion in "Green New Scam" funding was being cancelled to halt the "Left's climate agenda." He listed projects in 16 states, all of which are blue states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.
• Vought announced freeze on $18 billion in NYC infrastructure projects — OMB Director Russ Vought announced that roughly $18 billion in New York City infrastructure projects, specifically the Hudson Tunnel Project and the Second Avenue Subway, had been put on hold. Vought claimed the freeze was to ensure funding was not flowing based on "unconstitutional DEI principles."
• Russ Vought froze federal infrastructure funding in blue states — Russ Vought, acting in his federal role, placed a hold on $2.1 billion in Chicago infrastructure projects, specifically the Red Line Extension and the Red and Purple Modernization Project, citing concerns about race-based contracting. The action represents a continuation of Vought's pattern of freezing federal funding on infrastructure projects in Democratic-led states.
• Trump administration freezes $2.1bn in Chicago transit funding, citing diversity concerns — OMB Director Russ Vought announced a freeze of $2.1 billion in federal funding for Chicago infrastructure projects, including Red Line extensions and modernizations of the city's mass transit system. Vought justified the hold as ensuring "funding is not flowing via race-based contracting," citing a new Transportation Department rule effective Wednesday. The move targets a Democratic-led city during a federal government shutdown and follows a similar $18 billion freeze on New York transit projects announced the previous day.
• Trump administration withholds $2.1 billion in Chicago transit funding citing race-based contracting concerns — Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought announced that $2.1 billion in federal funding for two transit infrastructure projects in Chicago had been placed on hold, citing concerns about "race-based contracting." The action occurred during the ongoing federal shutdown and was characterized as part of the Trump administration's strategy to retaliate against Democratic-led areas by canceling federal dollars for projects in those jurisdictions.

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• Trump administration declared formal armed conflict with drug cartels — The Trump administration informed congressional committees that the president has declared the U.S. is in a formal "armed conflict" with drug cartels labeled as terrorist organizations. Under this declaration, individuals suspected of smuggling drugs for cartels are classified as "unlawful combatants." The administration cited this justification retroactively for strikes on three boats in the Caribbean in September that killed 17 people. Legal experts, including retired Army JAG lawyer Geoffrey S. Corn, characterized the declaration as an "abuse" that "shreds" established law of war principles, noting that drug trafficking does not constitute armed conflict under international law.

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• Trump administration demolishes White House East Wing without prior oversight review, then submits ballroom renderings to NCPC — In October 2025, the Trump administration abruptly began demolishing the White House East Wing to clear space for a $400 million ballroom before submitting construction plans to oversight bodies. White House officials claimed demolition did not require commission approval. In December, the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a federal lawsuit challenging the demolition as a violation of law. On 11 February 2026, renderings were submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission ahead of a 5 March hearing. The renderings were briefly posted then removed from the NCPC website without explanation.
• Trump bulldozed White House East Wing without required reviews or approvals — In October 2025, President Trump bulldozed the East Wing of the White House without securing any of the legally required reviews, environmental studies, public input, or congressional approval. The White House subsequently issued a press release dismissing public concerns as manufactured outrage by "unhinged leftists and their Fake News allies."
• Trump fired Commission of Fine Arts members and replaced with loyalists — In October 2025, Trump dismissed all six members of the independent U.S. Commission of Fine Arts responsible for reviewing the ballroom plan and replaced them with handpicked designees who unanimously approved the project in February 2026. This action removed independent oversight of the White House renovation and substituted it with loyalist approval.

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• 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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• Federal judge rules Trump administration's pro-Palestinian student deportation policy unconstitutional — Federal Judge William G. Young issued a 161-page ruling striking down the Trump administration's policy of detaining and deporting foreign scholars and students based on pro-Palestinian speech. The case, brought by the American Association of University Professors and allied organizations, challenged two January executive orders targeting non-citizens with "hateful ideology." Young ruled that non-citizens have the same First Amendment free speech protections as U.S. citizens and that the policy was designed to "intentionally" chill speech rights. The government had denied the policy existed, claiming case-by-case determinations, but trial testimony revealed reliance on dossiers from the pro-Israel group Canary Mission.
• Federal judge ruled Trump's deportations of legal residents for pro-Palestinian speech violated First Amendment — Judge William G. Young of the U.S. District Court in Boston issued a decision on September 30 finding that Trump's attempted deportations of legal residents based on their pro-Palestinian speech violated the First Amendment. The judge responded to an anonymous correspondent who had written a postcard stating "TRUMP HAS PARDONS AND TANKS…. WHAT DO YOU HAVE?" by explaining that the Constitution and the American people's commitment to it constitute the nation's true strength. Judge Young found that Trump's officers were using fear—including masked ICE agents—to "terrorize Americans" and suppress opposition to the president's policies. The judge concluded by questioning whether Trump believed Americans were so divided they would not defend constitutional values.
• Federal judge issued 161-page rebuke of Trump's First Amendment assault — On September 30, a Reagan-appointed federal judge issued a scathing 161-page opinion against the Trump administration, finding its effort to deport pro-Palestinian academics "continues unconstitutionally to chill freedom of speech to this day." The judge wrote, "The President's palpable misunderstanding that the government simply cannot seek retribution for speech he disdains poses a great threat to Americans' freedom of speech." The judge added, "I fear President Trump believes the American people are so divided that today they will not stand up for, fight for, and defend our most precious constitutional values so long as they are lulled into thinking their own personal interests are not affected."
• Judge Rules Against Trump's Deportation Attempts — On September 30, 2025, Judge William G. Young issued a ruling stating that President Trump's attempts to deport legal residents for their pro-Palestinian speech violated the First Amendment. The judge criticized the use of fear tactics by Trump's administration to silence opposition and emphasized the importance of constitutional rights for all citizens.

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• Trump issued executive order granting Qatar NATO-level security guarantee — On September 29, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order describing Qatar as "a steadfast ally" and declaring it "the policy of the United States to guarantee the security and territorial integrity of the State of Qatar against external attack." The order states that the U.S. will regard any armed attack on Qatar's territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure as a threat to U.S. peace and security. This expansive security guarantee was previously extended only to NATO members. The shift in policy followed Qatar's May 2025 gift of a luxury 747 jet to the U.S. government and a $1.5 billion investment in Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners in 2024.
• Trump signed executive order protecting Qatar — Trump signed an executive order on September 29 vowing to protect Qatar, weeks after Israel's attack on the country targeting Hamas leaders, which he reportedly received prior notice about. The order states that the US "shall regard any armed attack on the territory, sovereignty or critical infrastructure of the state of Qatar as a threat to the peace and security of the United States."
• Trump issues executive order guaranteeing U.S. security commitment to Qatar — President Trump signed Executive Order 14353 on September 29, 2025, establishing a formal U.S. security guarantee to the State of Qatar. The order declares that any armed attack on Qatar's territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure will be regarded as a threat to U.S. peace and security, and commits the United States to take diplomatic, economic, and military measures if necessary to defend Qatar and restore stability. The Secretary of War, State, and Director of National Intelligence are directed to maintain joint contingency planning with Qatar.
• Trump signed executive order granting Qatar NATO-like security guarantees — On September 29, President Trump signed an executive order granting Qatar security guarantees comparable to those provided by NATO. The order stated that the United States would regard any armed attack on Qatar's territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure as a threat to U.S. peace and security, and committed the United States to take "all lawful and appropriate measures—including diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military—to defend the interests of the United States and of the State of Qatar." The order was published as a new document on October 2. The agreement appeared to follow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the White House and likely reflected Qatar's demand for guarantees following Israel's recent strike on Doha.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14353 guaranteeing security of Qatar against external attack — President Trump signed Executive Order 14353 on September 29, 2025, establishing a formal U.S. security guarantee for Qatar. The order states the U.S. shall regard any armed attack on Qatar's territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure as a threat to U.S. peace and security, and commits the U.S. to take diplomatic, economic, and military measures if necessary to defend Qatar. The order directs the Secretary of War to maintain joint contingency planning with Qatar and the Secretary of State to reaffirm the assurance to Qatar and coordinate with allies.

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• Trump fires federal prosecutor who declined to prosecute Comey — Trump fired federal prosecutor Erik Siebert after Siebert declined to bring charges against former FBI director James Comey. Trump then appointed Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide with no prosecutorial experience, to pursue the case instead. This action demonstrates selective removal of prosecutors based on their willingness to prosecute the president's political opponents.
• Trump indicts former FBI director James Comey on charges of lying to Congress — Former FBI director James Comey was indicted on charges of allegedly lying to Congress. The indictment was brought by a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney, Lindsey Halligan, after Trump fired the previous federal prosecutor, Erik Siebert, when he declined to bring charges. Ex-Trump lawyer Ty Cobb characterized the indictment as part of a "concerted effort" to "rewrite history" and criticized it as "wholly unconstitutional [and] authoritarian," noting the grand jury approved only two counts by a slim 14-23 margin.
• DOJ indicted former FBI Director James Comey — The Department of Justice indicted former FBI Director James Comey. Fox legal analyst Andy McCarthy stated the indictment "doesn't give you notice of what Comey has actually done" and "factually there's nothing there," characterizing it as "lawfare" designed to put Comey through the legal process. Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe stated that DOJ never contacted him for an interview before the indictment despite his interactions with Comey potentially being central to the prosecution.

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• Justice Clarence Thomas signaled overturning precedents on church-state separation and gay marriage — Justice Clarence Thomas signaled in remarks that more legal precedents standing for decades on matters such as separation of church and state and gay marriage may be overturned in the upcoming Supreme Court term. Thomas stated that precedents should be "respectful of our legal tradition" but suggested they need not be binding if not based on solid legal foundations.

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• Trump posts directive to deploy troops to Portland — On September 27, Trump's social media account posted a directive to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon, to protect ICE facilities from what Trump characterized as attacks by "Antifa" and "domestic terrorists." Trump authorized "Full Force, if necessary." The post was based on Trump's assertion that Portland was a "war ravaged" city plagued by "anarchists" and "crazy people," claims contradicted by local officials and reporting.
• Trump directed troop deployment to Portland, Oregon — On September 27, Trump announced via Truth Social that he directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon, which he baselessly called "War ravaged" and "under siege" by antifa. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson responded that "the number of necessary troops is zero, in Portland and any other American city." The deployment was presented without evidence of the claimed crisis.
• Trump directed military deployment to Portland with authorization for full force — President Trump posted that he was directing Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to provide troops to protect the ICE facility in Portland and "any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists," and authorized "Full Force, if necessary." The order came after Trump claimed the facility was under siege, but Senator Ron Wyden posted a video showing the ICE facility with no people present.
• Trump announced deployment of federal troops to Portland — Trump announced on Truth Social that he is directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to deploy federal troops to Portland, Oregon at the request of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to protect against what he characterized as attacks by "Antifa" and "domestic terrorists." Trump authorized "full force, if necessary." Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson both rejected the deployment, stating there is no insurrection or threat to national security warranting military presence in the city.

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• Trump signs National Security Presidential Memorandum-7 on domestic terrorism — President Trump signed National Security Presidential Memorandum-7 (NSPM-7), directing law enforcement and regulatory agencies to investigate and disrupt networks, entities, and organizations allegedly responsible for encouraging acts of political violence. The memo directs the IRS commissioner to ensure no tax-exempt groups finance political violence or domestic terrorism, and instructs the IRS chief to refer organizations and their employees to the Department of Justice for investigation and possible prosecution. Legal experts and free speech organizations warn the order conflates protected speech with political violence and could be weaponized against left-leaning nonprofits.
• Trump issues presidential memorandum targeting "domestic terrorism" with focus on left-wing groups — On Thursday, President Trump signed a presidential memorandum aimed at investigating and dismantling what he characterized as a radical left-wing "terror network." The memo directs the FBI's joint terrorism taskforces, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Treasury to pursue an "all-of-government effort" against left-wing political violence and antifa. Trump suggested billionaires George Soros and Reid Hoffman could be targets. Critics, including the ACLU, argue the memo uses the label of "domestic terrorism" to target non-profits, activists, and protected political speech, with potential for broad crackdown on political opponents.
• Trump issued National Security Presidential Memorandum ordering prosecution of protest as federal crime — Three days after the antifa designation, Trump issued National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 (NSPM-7), titled "Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence," which established a National Joint Terrorism Task Force to investigate Americans engaged in protest and ordered the attorney general to prosecute protest as a federal crime to the maximum extent permissible by law.
• Trump signs memorandum targeting activists and nonprofits as "terror network" — President Trump signed a memorandum titled "Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence" that targets activists and nonprofits as part of what he called a "terror network" allegedly fueling violence against Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The memo alleges that "common threads" include anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, anti-Christianity, support for overthrowing the government, and extremism on migration, race, and gender. It grants law enforcement wide latitude to investigate, prosecute, and disrupt entities and individuals engaged in behavior the administration opposes, as well as nonprofit organizations that fund them. The memo also orders law enforcement to interrogate people regarding entities organizing actions and their financial sponsorship prior to adjudication or plea agreement.
• White House issues fact sheet on National Security Presidential Memorandum establishing domestic terrorism strategy — The White House issued a fact sheet on September 25, 2025, describing a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) signed by President Trump that directs federal agencies to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle organized political violence and domestic terrorism. The memorandum instructs the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force to coordinate investigations; directs the Attorney General to prosecute federal crimes related to organized political violence and recommend groups for designation as "domestic terrorist organizations"; instructs Treasury to identify and disrupt funding networks; and designates domestic terrorism a "National Priority Area." The fact sheet cites recent incidents including the assassination of conservative leader Charlie Kirk and attacks on ICE officers.
• Presidential Memorandum directs federal law enforcement to investigate and prosecute domestic terrorism and organized political violence through coordinated task forces, financial tracking, and organizational designation authority. — National Security Presidential Memorandum-7, signed September 25, 2025, directs the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and Homeland Security and the Attorney General to establish a comprehensive federal strategy countering domestic terrorism and organized political violence. The memorandum instructs the National Joint Terrorism Task Force to investigate individuals and organizations engaged in political violence, radicalization, doxing, and intimidation campaigns; directs the Treasury Department to identify and disrupt financial networks funding such activity; authorizes the Attorney General to designate groups meeting the statutory definition of "domestic terrorism" as domestic terrorist organizations; and mandates law enforcement agencies to interrogate suspects regarding organizational structures and funding sources. The memorandum identifies "anti-fascist" movements as a primary focus and cites recent assassinations, ICE facility attacks, and riots as justification for the expanded investigative authority.
• White House issued National Security Presidential Memorandum directing domestic terrorism investigations and prosecutions — The White House issued NSPM-7 on September 25, 2025, directing the National Joint Terrorism Task Force, Department of Justice, Department of Treasury, and Department of Homeland Security to investigate, prosecute, and disrupt entities and individuals engaged in political violence and intimidation. The memorandum directs law enforcement to investigate funding sources, organizational structures, and participants in acts characterized as domestic terrorism, with particular focus on what the document describes as "anti-fascist" movements. It instructs the Attorney General to prosecute federal crimes related to these investigations to the maximum extent permissible by law and authorizes the Treasury to deploy investigative tools to trace funding streams.
• Trump signed memorandum designating antifa as domestic terrorist organization — President Trump signed a separate presidential memorandum claiming to designate antifa, described as a leaderless and decentralized anti-fascist movement, as a "domestic terrorist organization." Legal experts warned that through this memo and the concurrent nonprofit-targeting memo, Trump is less concerned with curbing political violence and more concerned with stamping out an idea and creating a tool to use against any form of left-wing protest activity.
• Trump signed presidential memorandum targeting left-wing nonprofit organizations — President Trump signed a presidential memorandum directing the federal government to investigate and target liberal nonprofit organizations that fund the political left, specifically naming Democratic megadonors George Soros and Reid Hoffman. The memo ordered the Department of Justice and Department of Treasury to use anti-terrorism financial tools against unspecified organizations and directed the IRS commissioner to ensure that no tax-exempt entities finance political violence or domestic terrorism. Legal experts observed that the memo largely targets actions protected by the First Amendment by conflating speech and violence, and violates federal guidelines prohibiting law enforcement from investigating Americans based solely on First Amendment-protected activity.