Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• DHS agents arrest Columbia student using false pretenses — DHS agents arrested Columbia University student Ellie Aghayeva after misrepresenting themselves as police searching for a missing child to gain access to an off-campus residence building, according to the university's president. Aghayeva was released from federal custody hours later following an apparent intervention by Trump after he met with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who raised concerns about the detention.
• Mamdani meets Trump in Oval Office; secures housing funding pitch and immigration detainee release — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with President Trump in an unannounced Oval Office visit on Thursday. Mamdani pitched a $21 billion federal grant proposal for 12,000 affordable housing units, including construction over a rail yard in Sunnyside, Queens. During the meeting, Trump appeared "enthusiastic" about the housing plan. Mamdani also secured the release of a Columbia University student from federal immigration detention who had been arrested that morning, and requested Trump consider dismissing cases against four other detained students, including Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil.
• Trump agreed to release detained Columbia student following mayor's intervention — NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with President Trump and raised concerns about Elmina Aghayeva's detention by ICE. Trump agreed to release her "imminently." Aghayeva confirmed her release via Instagram the same day, stating she was "safe and okay." The intervention bypassed normal legal processes and demonstrated executive discretion over immigration enforcement outcomes based on political access.
• ICE detained Columbia student Elmina Aghayeva using misrepresentation to gain apartment access — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered an off-campus Columbia University residential building on February 27, 2026, by falsely claiming to search for a missing child. They detained student Elmina Aghayeva without a warrant. Columbia's acting president confirmed agents misrepresented themselves and lacked proper legal authorization. Following a meeting between NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and President Trump, Aghayeva was released the same day. The incident sparked campus protests and criticism from state officials over ICE's tactics.

Supporting reports

• Students and faculty at over 100 US universities stage coordinated day of action against Trump administration's higher education policies — On November 7, 2025, students, faculty, and staff at more than 100 US campuses organized a nationwide day of protest against the Trump administration's assault on higher education. Protesters opposed the administration's "compact" offering federal funding in exchange for ideological alignment, called for protection of transgender and international students, demanded fair wages and divestment from weapons manufacturers, and targeted billionaire Marc Rowan's influence over education policy. Organizers announced plans for escalating strikes culminating in May Day 2026 and a general strike in May 2028.

Supporting reports

• Trump demands Harvard lose tax-exempt status — After Harvard defied the Trump administration's attempt to take over the school, Trump posted on social media demanding Harvard lose its tax-exempt status, calling it a "Political Entity" pushing "political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting 'Sickness.'" Trump stated that "Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST."
• IRS plans to revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status — The Internal Revenue Service is planning to revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status following Trump's public demand. Law professor Sam Brunson noted this action is illegal, citing a 1998 law explicitly prohibiting the President from directly or indirectly requesting the IRS start or end an audit or investigation of a taxpayer. Brunson stated Harvard has not violated its tax-exempt status requirements. The Wall Street Journal editorial board noted the Supreme Court has repeatedly held the government may not use federal benefits or funds to coerce parties to surrender constitutional rights.
• IRS Plans to Revoke Harvard's Tax-Exempt Status — The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is reportedly planning to revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status following the institution's defiance of the Trump administration's directives. Legal experts have noted that this action would be illegal, as the President cannot direct the IRS to initiate such investigations.

Supporting reports

• Harvard University refused to comply with Trump administration demands; government froze $2.3 billion in funding — After Harvard University said it would not comply with a list of demands from the Trump administration, the government announced it was freezing $2.3 billion in federal funding to the school. The funding freeze represents retaliation for the university's refusal to comply with the administration's directives.
• Trump administration retaliates against Harvard by freezing $2.2bn in federal grants and $60m contract — Within hours of Harvard University's rejection of the administration's demand letter, the Trump administration froze $2.2bn in federal grants and a $60m contract to the university. The action was characterized as retaliation for Harvard's refusal to comply with the administration's conditions regarding faculty diversity, DEI programs, and antisemitism policy.
• Education Department freezes $2.3 billion in federal funds to Harvard University — The U.S. Education Department announced a freeze of approximately $2.3 billion in federal funds to Harvard University after the university rejected Trump administration demands to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, restrict student protests, and implement "merit-based" admissions policies. Harvard President Alan Garber characterized the demands as a political ploy and stated the university would not comply. The freeze prompted legal challenges and protests from the academic community.
• Trump administration freezes $2.2 billion in Harvard grant funding — The Trump administration froze $2.2 billion in grant money to Harvard University as part of a broader effort to take over and reshape elite American universities. The administration also canceled a research contract worth over $100 million, threatened to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status, and demanded records on foreign students.

Supporting reports

• Harvard University rejected Trump administration's demands for control over university governance — Harvard University rejected the Trump administration's demand to regulate the "intellectual and civil rights conditions" at Harvard, including its governance, admissions, programs, and extracurricular activities, in exchange for continuation of $2.2 billion in multiyear grants and a $60 million contract. Harvard's lawyers stated that the university would not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights and that neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government. Harvard refused to accept the government's terms as an agreement in principle.
• Harvard University rejects Trump administration demands and asserts constitutional limits on executive authority — Harvard University president Alan Garber and the university's legal counsel (William Burck and Robert Hur) formally rejected the Trump administration's 11 April demand letter, asserting that the government's conditions violated the First Amendment and exceeded lawful executive authority. Garber stated the demands represented "direct governmental regulation of the 'intellectual conditions' at Harvard" and that "no government – regardless of which party is in power – should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue."
• Harvard University launched public defense of federally funded medical research — Harvard University converted its website into a defense of medical research funded by federal grants that the Trump administration is threatening to withhold. The website explains advances Harvard researchers have made in cancer research, heart disease, neurodegenerative diseases, obesity and diabetes, infectious diseases, and organs and transplantation, highlighting researchers, labs, and scientific breakthroughs. Harvard President Alan Garber issued a statement defending "the promise of higher education" and the freedom of thought and inquiry that has enabled universities to contribute to a free society.
• Harvard University Rejects Administration's Demands — Harvard University publicly rejected the Trump administration's demands to regulate its governance and programs in exchange for federal funding. The university's legal team stated that it would not surrender its independence or constitutional rights, emphasizing the importance of academic freedom.

Supporting reports

• Trump signed executive order stopping enforcement of state climate laws — On April 8, 2025, Trump signed an executive order instructing the Department of Justice to "stop the enforcement" of state climate laws, which his administration suggested are unconstitutional or unenforceable. The order states "These State laws and policies are fundamentally irreconcilable with my Administration's objective to unleash American energy. They should not stand." The action represents Trump's attempt to preempt state climate initiatives.
• Trump administration freezes $790 million in federal funding to Northwestern University — The Trump administration froze $790 million in federal funding to Northwestern University as part of broader crackdowns on students and faculty members across US colleges who have expressed opposition to Israel's military operations in Gaza. The freeze targeted the university in response to activism and legal representation related to pro-Palestinian causes.
• White House freezes federal funding for Cornell and Northwestern universities — The Trump administration froze over $1 billion in federal funding for Cornell University and $790 million for Northwestern University, citing investigations into alleged "failure to protect Jewish students" following pro-Palestinian campus protests. The freeze includes grants and contracts from federal departments of health, education, agriculture, and defense. Cornell received over 75 stop-work orders from the Department of Defense affecting research in defense, cybersecurity, health, and cancer. The action follows warning letters sent to 60 universities in early March and comes after Cornell's president published a defiant op-ed defending academic freedom and free discourse.
• Princeton University reports suspension of federal research grants — Princeton University announced that dozens of its federal research grants were suspended over allegations that the university promoted antisemitism. This action follows similar defunding threats against Columbia and Harvard, representing a coordinated campaign against major research institutions.
• Trump administration announces cancellation of $400 million in grants and loans to Columbia University — The Trump administration announced the cancellation of $400 million in grants and loans to Columbia University, alleging the school failed to protect students from antisemitic harassment. In response, Columbia officials capitulated to a series of changes demanded by federal officials, sparking outrage from advocates and prompting at least one prominent academic to leave the institution.
• Trump administration announces plan to review $9 billion in Harvard University contracts and grants — The Trump administration announced a plan to review approximately $9 billion in contracts and multiyear grants to Harvard University over accusations that the university failed to protect Jewish students and promoted "divisive ideologies over free inquiry." The action follows the defunding of Columbia University and represents escalating pressure on major research institutions.
• Trump administration considers consent decree to place Columbia University under federal control — The Trump administration is reportedly considering placing Columbia University under a legally binding consent decree, a dramatic escalation following the university's acceptance of administration-demanded changes as a condition for restoring $400 million in suspended federal grants and contracts. The proposal originates from the administration's antisemitism taskforce, composed partly of Justice Department lawyers who question Columbia's good faith compliance. If Columbia resists, the Justice Department would need to present its case in court, risking prolonged litigation and continued funding withholding.
• Trump administration freezes nearly $1 billion in federal funding from Cornell University — During a cabinet meeting, President Trump pressed Education Secretary Linda McMahon on withholding federal funds from universities deemed "not behaving." McMahon confirmed the administration has frozen nearly $1 billion in funding from Cornell University and is investigating multiple institutions while holding back grant money pending compliance discussions with university presidents.
• Trump administration pauses $175 million in federal funding to University of Pennsylvania — The Trump administration paused $175 million in federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania over its inclusion of transgender athletes in women's college sports. This action represents another instance of defunding universities over policies the administration opposes.
• Trump administration demands Harvard surrender academic freedoms; Harvard refuses; administration retaliates by freezing $2.2bn in grants — The Trump administration (Departments of Education, HHS, and GSA) issued an 11 April demand letter to Harvard University president Alan Garber requiring sweeping reforms including installation of "viewpoint-diverse" faculty, elimination of DEI programs, and adoption of specific antisemitism definitions as conditions for continued federal funding. Harvard's legal team, citing First Amendment violations and constitutional limits on executive authority, rejected the demands as governmental overreach into academic freedom. Within hours, the administration froze $2.2bn in grants and a $60m contract in retaliation.
• Trump administration withheld Harvard University federal funding pending government control of admissions and intellectual content — On April 11, the Trump administration announced it would withhold $2.2 billion in grants already awarded and a $60 million contract from Harvard University unless the university permitted the federal government to control its admissions and intellectual content. The administration framed the action as addressing antisemitism. On April 22, Harvard filed suit against the departments of Health and Human Services, Justice, Education, Energy, and Defense, the General Services Administration, the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, NASA, and their leaders, alleging violation of the First Amendment and abuse of legal authority.
• White House claims letter to Harvard withholding federal funds was "unauthorized" — On Friday, April 18, the administration claimed that a letter sent to Harvard University on April 11 withholding federal grants until the university granted administration officials power over the school's students and programs was "unauthorized." However, the White House simultaneously stated it was standing by the letter. The letter was signed by three federal officials, placed on official letterhead, and sent from the email of a senior federal official. Harvard responded by pointing out the letter's official provenance and noting that the government's actions had "real-life consequences."
• Harvard University rejected Trump administration demand for control over university governance — On April 11, 2025, Harvard University rejected the Trump administration's demand to regulate "intellectual and civil rights conditions" at Harvard, including its governance, admissions, programs, and extracurricular activities, in exchange for continuation of $2.2 billion in multiyear grants and a $60 million contract. Harvard's lawyers stated the university would not surrender its independence or relinquish constitutional rights and would not allow itself to be taken over by the federal government.