Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump imposed tariffs under Section 301 of Trade Act of 1974 — When the 150-day deadline for Section 122 tariffs expired on Friday, July 25, 2026, Trump announced he was imposing tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which permits the president to impose tariffs on countries using forced labor. A senior administration official stated the tariffs address forced labor, a focus Trump has maintained for years. Law professor Barry Appleton noted that Section 301 allows permanent tariffs without congressional approval, suggesting the administration is seeking to bypass Congress entirely.
• Trump imposed tariffs under Section 122 of Trade Act of 1974 — After the Supreme Court invalidated the IEEPA-based tariffs, the Trump administration invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the president to impose tariffs in the case of an international financial emergency. These tariffs were limited to 150 days.
• Trump imposes new tariffs under emergency powers — President Trump announced the imposition of new tariffs on products from over 60 countries, claiming authority under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows tariffs in cases of forced labor. This follows a previous Supreme Court ruling that struck down earlier tariffs as unconstitutional. The administration's approach is seen as an attempt to bypass Congress's authority to raise revenue, which is constitutionally reserved for the legislative branch.
• Supreme Court struck down Trump tariffs as unconstitutional — The Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were unconstitutional. Following the ruling, Trump announced he would find alternative legal mechanisms to reimpose tariffs, stating "We have alternatives. Great alternatives."

Supporting reports

• DOJ Submits First-Ever Application to 'Zombie' Alien Terrorist Removal Court — Trump's Justice Department filed an application to the Alien Terrorist Removal Court, a decades-old tribunal established in 1996 but never previously used, seeking to expedite deportations of noncitizens deemed "alien terrorists." The court's procedures permit use of secret evidence that targets never see, raising constitutional concerns among legal scholars. The Secretary of State can unilaterally label someone an "alien terrorist" based on intent to engage in activities that "could endanger" U.S. welfare or security.

Supporting reports

• US military fires attack drones on Iranian naval base at Bandar Abbas — The US military conducted a strike on Iran's Bandar Abbas naval base using one-way attack surface drones on July 12, 2026, according to video released by US Central Command. The strike resulted in explosions at the facility. This action represents an escalation in the exchange of fire between the US and Iran that prompted Senate Democrats to block the NDAA.
• Trump ordered airstrikes on Iran — In response to Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump ordered airstrikes against Iran. The strikes followed Iran's closure of the strait and attacks on commercial vessels near the Oman shoreline. Additional U.S. military strikes against Iran were launched on the night of July 12, 2026.
• US and Iranian forces exchanged heavy missile and drone assaults — US and Iranian forces conducted heavy exchanges of missiles and drone attacks over several days. Iran targeted US facilities across the Gulf and declared the Strait of Hormuz closed. Trump declared an end to a ceasefire but left the door open for negotiations. CENTCOM reported US forces struck 140 Iranian military targets on Saturday out of more than 300 during three nights of strikes to degrade Iran's ability to attack civilian mariners. Iran's Revolutionary Guards reported destroying a command center and drone hangars in Jordan, targeting a radar site in Kuwait, and attacking US aircraft carrier support platforms in Oman and a jet maintenance center in Qatar.
• Trump announced blockade of Iranian shipping and claimed U.S. will charge fees for Strait of Hormuz passage — At 10:16 a.m., Trump announced via social media that the U.S. is reinstating a blockade of Iranian ships and customers while keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to all other nations. Trump declared the U.S. will be "the Guardian of the Hormuz Strait" and will charge a 20% fee on all cargo shipped through the waterway to reimburse costs of providing security. This represents a resumption of hostilities against Iran following a June 17 memorandum of understanding that Trump now considers void.
• Trump Declares US Control Over Strait of Hormuz — Former President Donald Trump announced that the United States will take control of the Strait of Hormuz and impose a 20% cargo fee on vessels passing through. This declaration has significant implications for international trade and maritime law, potentially escalating tensions in the region and affecting global oil prices.
• Trump Reverses Strait of Hormuz Fee — President Donald Trump reversed his decision to impose a 20% "reimbursement fee" on the Strait of Hormuz less than a day after announcing it. The fee was intended to be levied on countries using the strategic waterway, but the quick reversal suggests significant backlash or reconsideration of the policy's implications.
• Trump administration announces blockade and cargo fee plan — The Trump administration announced a plan to reinstate a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz for Iranian ships and impose a 20% fee on all cargo passing through. This announcement, made by Trump on Truth Social, has led to a spike in energy prices. The plan's effectiveness in reopening the strait or reducing energy costs remains unclear. The administration's approach has not resolved the ongoing disruption in maritime traffic, which has been severely affected since the conflict began.
• U.S. offers insurance for tankers in the Strait of Hormuz — The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation announced it would insure losses up to $40 billion for tankers willing to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Despite this offer, most shippers remain unwilling to risk passage due to the ongoing threat from Iran's military tactics. The insurance initiative has not succeeded in restoring normal maritime traffic through the strait, which remains severely disrupted.
• Trump walked back military takeover of Strait of Hormuz, replacing toll fee with investment deals — Trump announced he was reversing his previous day's declaration that the U.S. military would seize the Strait of Hormuz and impose a 20% toll on cargo vessels. He stated he had decided instead to pursue trade and investment deals with Gulf States, claiming these would be "massive" but beneficial to those nations. Trump cited conversations with Middle Eastern leaders as the reason for the reversal, acknowledging the original plan was impractical and faced universal international opposition.
• Trump announced Iran blockade and Strait of Hormuz control — On July 15, Trump announced he was reimposing a blockade on Iran and that the United States would become "THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT." Later the same day, he reversed course, claiming that Gulf allies had told him they would prefer to invest directly in the U.S. rather than pay tolls for strait passage.
• Trump announces blockade on Iran — President Trump announced the reimposition of a blockade on Iran, declaring the U.S. would act as the "guardian of the Hormuz Strait." This announcement follows a reversal of a previous proposal to charge Gulf allies for tolls, indicating a shift in U.S. foreign policy towards Iran.

Supporting reports

• Trump formally notified Congress of resumed strikes on Iran — Trump formally notified Congress that the U.S. has resumed strikes on Iran, claiming the Pentagon has another 60 days to conduct strikes before the timeline specified by the War Powers Act expires. This notification follows Trump's earlier claim that hostilities had ended on April 7 with a ceasefire declaration, despite continued military operations and the maintenance of a blockade on Iranian ports.
• Trump notifies Congress of resumed strikes on Iran — On July 13, 2026, President Trump formally notified Congress that the U.S. has resumed military strikes against Iran, claiming that the Pentagon has another 60 days to conduct operations before needing congressional approval under the War Powers Act. This notification follows a pattern of circumventing congressional authority regarding military engagements.

Supporting reports

• White House considered invoking Insurrection Act against protest — According to Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and Vice President J.D. Vance pushed the idea of invoking the Insurrection Act to put down protests by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. They did so even after federal agents had shot and killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota. Vance argued that using troops to suppress Americans in the streets would be painful short-term but would send a message that protesters would never again disrupt ICE operations. While the act was not invoked at the time, the reporters note it "would remain a loaded weapon in a West Wing eager to test the limits of presidential power."

Supporting reports

• U.S. military conducted strike on boat in Eastern Pacific, killing three people — U.S. Southern Command announced that at the direction of Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, the U.S. military conducted a strike on a boat in the Eastern Pacific, killing three people. This followed a strike the previous day that also killed three people, bringing the total number of people killed by the Trump administration's boat strikes to more than 200.

Supporting reports

• House GOP cancels War Powers Resolution vote on Iran — House Republican leaders abruptly canceled a vote on an Iran War Powers Resolution that was likely to pass due to absences of Republican members and others who signaled support for the measure. The cancellation came after the Senate advanced a similar resolution earlier in the week to limit Trump's military action against Iran without congressional approval.
• House Republican leaders delayed Iran war-powers vote past Memorial Day recess — House Republican leaders delayed a vote on the Iran war-powers resolution into June, after appearing to lack the votes to defeat it. The measure's sponsor, Rep. Gregory Meeks, stated he believed it would have passed. A similar House resolution had fallen on a tie vote the week before. The delay postpones a constitutional confrontation over congressional war-declaration authority.
• House Republicans cancel scheduled war powers resolution vote on Iran conflict — House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled a scheduled Thursday vote on a war powers resolution that would have required President Trump to end the US war with Iran. The measure likely would have passed with bipartisan support. Democrats criticized the cancellation as cowardly avoidance of political embarrassment for Trump. The vote has been postponed until June. Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick stated the resolution would pass when brought to a vote again.
• House Republicans adjourned without voting on War Powers resolution — Rep. Johnny Olszewski (D-MD) reported that House Republicans did not have the votes to continue the war and decided to adjourn for the holiday instead of stopping the war. While the war continues, American taxpayers are paying tens of billions of dollars, service members are being lost, and gas prices are rising. The House closed up shop without addressing the War Powers resolution.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration claims War Powers Resolution compliance by declaring Iran war "terminated" despite ongoing blockade — The Trump administration argued on Friday that it did not require congressional approval under the 1973 War Powers Resolution at the 60-day mark because the war with Iran had "terminated" on April 7, despite the U.S. continuing to enforce a blockade of Iranian ports—an act of war. When asked how the war could be terminated while the military enforced the blockade, Trump told reporters it was a "very friendly blockade" that "nobody's even challenging." Senator Tammy Duckworth challenged the claim as false, noting that U.S. and Iranian ships were exchanging missile fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
• Secretary of State announces shift in military operations against Iran — Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the military operation known as Epic Fury against Iran has concluded, transitioning to a new phase called Project Freedom, which aims to open the Strait of Hormuz. This announcement comes after the deadline set by the War Powers Act for congressional approval of military action.
• Secretary of State Rubio announced end of Operation Epic Fury and transition to Project Freedom — Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that Operation Epic Fury, the military campaign against Iran, is concluded and the administration is transitioning to Project Freedom, an effort to open the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement came after the May 1 deadline imposed by the 1973 War Powers Act, which required either congressional approval or withdrawal of troops within 60 days of notifying Congress of military action.
• Trump claims war has "terminated" to avoid War Powers Act compliance — The Trump administration insists the war with Iran has "terminated," a characterization that would exempt the president from the requirement under the 1973 War Powers Act to either withdraw troops or obtain congressional approval for continuing military actions. This claim is made despite ongoing military exchanges in the Strait of Hormuz.

Supporting reports

• President exempts Air Force jet fighter training from Clean Water Act requirements in Idaho, Oregon, Nevada — The President issued Presidential Determination No. 2026-07, exempting U.S. Air Force jet fighter training operations in Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada from Federal, State, interstate, and local water pollution control requirements under the Clean Water Act for one year (April 20, 2026–April 20, 2027). The exemption applies to operations subject to ongoing litigation in Oregon Natural Desert Ass'n v. Meink. The determination invokes section 313 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, citing paramount national interest. Certain statutory provisions (33 U.S.C. 1316 and 1317) remain applicable.
• President invokes Defense Production Act Section 303 to declare coal supply chains and baseload power generation essential to national defense, waiving procedural requirements. — On April 20, 2026, the President issued Presidential Determination No. 2026-08, invoking Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 to declare coal supply chains, mining, logistics, terminals, and baseload power generation capacity essential to national defense. The determination cites a prior national energy emergency declaration and asserts that without presidential action, U.S. industry cannot timely provide these capabilities due to financing constraints and regulatory delays. The President waives procedural requirements under Section 303(a)(1)-(a)(6) and directs the Secretary of Energy to implement the determination through purchases, commitments, and financial instruments.
• President invokes Defense Production Act Section 303 to expand domestic grid infrastructure manufacturing capacity — The President issued Presidential Determination No. 2026-10 on April 20, 2026, invoking Section 303 of the Defense Production Act to declare grid infrastructure and supply chains (transformers, transmission lines, substations, power electronics, and related materials) essential to national defense. The determination finds that domestic production capacity is dangerously limited and foreign-dependent, posing a threat to defense readiness. The President waives procedural requirements under Section 303(a)(1)-(a)(6) and authorizes the Secretary of Energy to make purchases, commitments, and provide financial support to expand domestic manufacturing capability.
• President invokes Defense Production Act Section 303 to expand domestic petroleum production, refining, and logistics capacity as national defense priority. — The President issued Presidential Determination No. 2026-11 on April 20, 2026, invoking Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 to declare domestic petroleum production, refining, and logistics capacity essential to national defense. The determination, published April 23, 2026, finds that without federal action, U.S. industry cannot provide these capabilities in a timely manner due to financing constraints, permitting bottlenecks, and supply chain limitations. The President waives certain procedural requirements under Section 303(a)(1)-(a)(6) and authorizes the Secretary of Energy to implement the determination through purchases, commitments, and financial instruments to expand domestic petroleum capacity.
• President invokes Defense Production Act Section 303 to expand natural gas and LNG capacity as national defense priority — The President issued Presidential Determination No. 2026-12 on April 20, 2026, invoking Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 to declare natural gas transmission, processing, storage, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity essential to national defense. The determination finds that without presidential action, U.S. industry cannot timely provide these capabilities due to financing constraints, permitting delays, and infrastructure bottlenecks. The President waives standard procedural requirements under Section 303(a)(1)-(a)(6) and authorizes the Secretary of Energy to make purchases, commitments, and provide financial support to expand domestic natural gas and LNG infrastructure.
• President invokes Defense Production Act Section 303 to prioritize large-scale energy infrastructure development, manufacturing, and deployment as essential to national defense. — On April 20, 2026, the President issued Presidential Determination No. 2026-09, invoking Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 to declare that development, manufacturing, and deployment of large-scale energy and energy-related infrastructure are essential to national defense. The determination, made pursuant to Executive Order 14156 (declaring a national energy emergency), finds that domestic capability cannot be met under existing market conditions due to financing risks, regulatory delays, and market barriers. The President waives certain procedural requirements under Section 303(a)(1)-(a)(6) and authorizes the Secretary of Energy to implement the determination through purchases, commitments, and financial instruments.
• Trump invokes Defense Production Act Section 303 to authorize federal purchases and financial support for domestic petroleum production, refining, and logistics capacity — President Trump issued a presidential memorandum determining that domestic petroleum production, refining, and logistics capacity constitute industrial resources essential to national defense under Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950. The memorandum, issued pursuant to a January 2025 national energy emergency declaration, authorizes the Secretary of Energy to make purchases, commitments, and provide financial support to expand petroleum infrastructure, citing constrained financing, permitting bottlenecks, and supply chain limitations as barriers. The determination waives standard procedural requirements under Section 303(a)(1)-(a)(6) of the Act.
• Trump issues Presidential Determination exempting Air Force jet fighter training from Clean Water Act regulations — President Trump signed a Presidential Determination on April 20, 2026, granting U.S. Air Force jet fighter training operations in Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada a one-year exemption from certain Clean Water Act regulations. The fact sheet states the exemption prioritizes national security and military readiness while claiming compliance with "toughest Federal standards." The determination removes what the administration characterizes as "unnecessary obstacles" to pilot training and operational effectiveness.
• Trump issues presidential determination invoking Defense Production Act Section 303 to authorize federal action on large-scale energy infrastructure development and financing — President Trump issued a presidential memorandum on April 20, 2026, invoking Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 to declare that development, manufacturing, and deployment of large-scale energy and energy-related infrastructure are essential to national defense. The determination, issued pursuant to a prior national energy emergency declaration (Executive Order 14156), authorizes the Secretary of Energy to make purchases, commitments, and provide financial support to expand domestic energy infrastructure capability, citing financing risks, regulatory delays, and market barriers as obstacles. The memorandum waives standard procedural requirements under Section 303(a)(1)-(a)(6) of the Act.
• Trump issues presidential determination invoking Defense Production Act Section 303 to expand domestic grid infrastructure manufacturing capacity — President Trump issued a presidential memorandum determining that grid infrastructure and supply chains—including transformers, transmission lines, substations, and related equipment—are essential to national defense under Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950. The determination, issued pursuant to the January 20, 2025 National Energy Emergency declaration, authorizes the Secretary of Energy to make purchases, commitments, and provide financial support to expand domestic production capacity. The memorandum waives procedural requirements of Section 303(a)(1)-(a)(6) to expedite implementation.
• Trump issues Presidential Determination invoking Defense Production Act Section 303 to expand natural gas and LNG capacity — President Trump issued a Presidential Determination under Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, declaring natural gas transmission, processing, storage, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity to be industrial resources essential to national defense. The determination, issued pursuant to the national energy emergency declared in Executive Order 14156 (January 20, 2025), authorizes the Secretary of Energy to make purchases, financial commitments, and provide financial support to expand domestic natural gas and LNG infrastructure, waiving standard procedural requirements under the Act.
• Trump issues presidential determination invoking Defense Production Act to expand coal supply chains and baseload power generation — President Trump issued a presidential memorandum on April 20, 2026, invoking Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 to declare coal supply chains and baseload power generation capacity essential to national defense. The determination finds that without presidential action, U.S. industry cannot provide these capabilities in a timely manner due to financing constraints and regulatory delays. The memorandum directs the Secretary of Energy to implement the determination, including making purchases, commitments, and financial instruments to expand coal supply chain capacity and baseload generation availability, and waives certain procedural requirements of the Act.
• White House issues presidential memorandum exempting Air Force jet fighter training from Clean Water Act requirements — President Trump issued a presidential memorandum on April 20, 2026, exempting the U.S. Air Force's jet fighter training operations in Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada from federal, state, interstate, and local water pollution control requirements under the Clean Water Act for a one-year period (April 20, 2026 to April 20, 2027). The memorandum cites section 313 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and notes that some operations are subject to ongoing litigation in Oregon Natural Desert Association v. Meink. The exemption does not apply to certain specific statutory provisions (33 U.S.C. 1316 and 1317).
• Trump signs memos invoking Defense Production Act to expand domestic fossil fuel production — On Monday, President Trump released multiple memoranda citing his January 2025 national energy emergency declaration, directing the energy secretary to expand US oil, coal, and natural gas production under the Defense Production Act. Trump claimed inadequate domestic energy supply poses a national security threat and ordered federal action to ensure "resilient domestic petroleum production, refining, and logistics capacity." The memos authorized the energy secretary to make purchases, commitments, and financial instruments to enable fossil fuel projects.

Supporting reports

• Trump threatened renewed military action if ceasefire terms not met — By Wednesday night, Trump backed away from celebratory statements about the ceasefire and posted a lengthy threat that all U.S. military assets would remain in place around Iran until the "REAL AGREEMENT" was fully complied with. He threatened that if compliance did not occur, "the 'Shootin' Starts,' bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before," and reiterated demands that Iran have no nuclear weapons and the Strait of Hormuz remain open.
• Trump threatens military action against Iran while contradicting his own deal claims — Trump posted threats on Truth Social declaring that all U.S. ships, aircraft, and military personnel will remain positioned around Iran until the "REAL AGREEMENT" is fully complied with. He threatened that if compliance does not occur, "Shootin' Starts, bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before." Trump also announced that Iran agreed to no nuclear weapons and an open Strait of Hormuz—terms that directly contradict his simultaneous claim that the ten-point framework is a fake hoax, since those terms originate from that framework. He stated the U.S. military is "Loading Up and Resting, looking forward, actually, to its next Conquest."
• Trump threatened renewed military action against Iran — Trump posted on Truth Social that all U.S. ships, aircraft, and military personnel will remain in place around Iran with additional ammunition and weaponry for the "lethal prosecution and destruction" of Iran until the ceasefire agreement is fully complied with. He stated that if compliance does not occur, "the 'Shootin' Starts," bigger and stronger than ever before. He also reiterated that no nuclear weapons and an open Strait of Hormuz were agreed terms.

Supporting reports

• Trump threatens journalist and demands source disclosure under threat of prosecution — Trump stated his administration will contact and potentially jail the reporter who published an article revealing that a second U.S. F-15E pilot was missing, unless the journalist discloses the name of the person who leaked the information. Trump characterized the disclosure as "leaking" and threatened prosecution.
• Trump threatens to jail journalists for revealing military information — During a White House press conference, President Trump threatened to jail journalists from an unnamed media outlet if they do not identify their source who revealed that a second U.S. airman was missing after Iran shot down a U.S. fighter jet. Trump stated the administration would tell the media company "national security, give it up or go to jail."

Supporting reports

• Trump signs executive order directing DHS to immediately pay TSA agents during partial shutdown — President Trump signed an executive order on Friday, March 28, 2026, instructing the Department of Homeland Security to immediately pay Transportation Security Administration agents who had gone without pay for over 42 days due to a partial government shutdown. The order came after House Republicans rejected a Senate-passed funding deal for key DHS subagencies. Trump blamed Democrats for prioritizing "criminal illegal aliens" over American citizens. DHS confirmed TSA began paying its workforce immediately, with officers potentially receiving paychecks by March 30. The shutdown had caused nationwide staffing shortages, record airport wait times, and nearly 500 TSA resignations.
• Trump signs presidential memorandum directing DHS to pay TSA employees from available funds — Trump signed a presidential memorandum late Friday, March 28, directing DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to restore pay to TSA employees who had missed two paychecks. The memo instructed the secretary to redirect funds "that have a reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations" to cover accrued pay and benefits. White House border czar Tom Homan stated the measure was "a start" but acknowledged thousands of other DHS employees remained unpaid and that ICE deployment at airports would continue pending TSA staffing recovery.
• Trump announces emergency order to pay TSA agents — President Trump announced he would sign an emergency order to pay TSA agents who have gone unpaid for over a month, although the legality and source of the funding remain unclear. This announcement came amid growing airport congestion and dissatisfaction with the handling of TSA funding.
• Trump issued executive order to pay TSA employees during 44-day DHS funding impasse — During a record-breaking 44-day Department of Homeland Security funding impasse, Trump issued an executive order to authorize payment of TSA employees. The shutdown resulted from Republican infighting between the House and Senate over DHS funding, with House Republicans rejecting a Senate proposal. House Speaker Johnson sided with House Republicans against Senate Majority Leader Thune's approach. TSA agents reported receiving only partial paychecks despite the executive order authorization.
• Trump declared national emergency to pay TSA officers during DHS shutdown — The White House issued a fact sheet stating that President Trump declared a national emergency to authorize payment of TSA officers who had gone unpaid during a Department of Homeland Security shutdown. The document claims Trump also deployed ICE officers to major airports to assist with crowd control and security. The fact sheet cites media reports indicating that TSA wait times improved after workers received back pay and absenteeism declined.
• Trump signs executive order directing TSA back pay during DHS partial shutdown — Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Transportation Security Administration to pay employees back pay during an ongoing partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. TSA employees received retroactive paychecks covering at least two full pay periods on Monday. The order instructed DHS to use funds with "reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations" to cover salaries. Airport security lines reportedly shortened following the payment. Congress remains deadlocked over DHS funding, with Democrats and Republicans disagreeing over guardrails on immigration enforcement operations.

Supporting reports

• Trump announces executive order directing DHS to pay TSA agents immediately amid funding standoff — President Trump announced he will sign an executive order instructing DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to immediately pay Transportation Security Administration agents who have gone without pay for over a month due to a partial DHS shutdown. TSA staffing shortages have caused record airport delays and nearly 500 agents have quit. The order addresses an impasse where Democrats have refused to fund DHS without ICE accountability reforms, while Trump has demanded Democratic support for the Save America Act, which would tighten voter registration and identification requirements.
• Trump signs executive order to pay TSA agents during shutdown — President Trump announced via Truth Social that he would sign an executive order directing DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to immediately pay 50,000 TSA agents during the ongoing DHS shutdown. Trump invoked a national emergency to justify the action. Senate Majority Leader Thune acknowledged the order as a "short-term solution" that takes "immediate pressure off" Congress to reach a funding deal.
• Trump signs executive order to pay TSA workers during shutdown — President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to immediately pay 60,000 airport security workers, declaring an "unprecedented emergency situation." The order came as TSA officers went weeks without pay during the ongoing partial government shutdown. Trump blamed Democrats for the shutdown, accusing them of prioritizing "criminal illegal aliens over American citizens." Acting TSA Chief Ha Nguyen McNeill reported that 40% of officers had stopped reporting to work and nearly 500 had quit since the previous month.
• Trump announced emergency order to pay TSA agents — President Trump announced he would sign an emergency executive order to pay TSA agents who had been without paychecks for over a month. The announcement came after the contrast of unpaid TSA workers and paid ICE agents created public pressure on the administration. It remained unclear where the funding would come from or whether the executive action to appropriate funds—a power constitutionally vested in Congress—was legally permissible.
• White House issued memorandum directing DHS and OMB to pay TSA employees during government shutdown — The White House issued a presidential memorandum on March 27, 2026, directing the Secretary of Homeland Security and Director of the Office of Management and Budget to use funds with "reasonable and logical nexus" to TSA operations to compensate approximately 60,000 TSA employees, including 50,000 security officers, who had not been paid during an ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown. The memorandum characterizes the situation as an emergency compromising national security due to security wait times and staff attrition.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration claimed Iran posed "imminent threat" without supporting intelligence — Trump framed the military campaign as necessary to eliminate "imminent threats" from Iran, destroy its missile capability, and prevent nuclear weapons, claiming Iran had been developing missiles that could "soon reach the American homeland." However, three sources familiar with intelligence reports told Reuters the claim is exaggerated. CNN reported separately that there is no intelligence to suggest Iran is pursuing an ICBM program to hit the U.S. at this time. An unclassified 2025 Defense Intelligence Agency assessment, which multiple sources confirmed has not been updated, said Iran could potentially develop a "militarily viable" ICBM by 2035, using existing space-launch vehicles, if it decided to pursue one. Even with assistance from China or North Korea, one source told Reuters, Iran would likely need at least eight years to produce something operationally viable at ICBM level. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to address the DIA assessment directly and did not give a timeline.
• U.S. intelligence assessed Iran threat was not imminent — Washington Post reporters Michael Birnbaum, John Hudson, Karen DeYoung, Natalie Allison, and Souad Mekhennet reported that U.S. intelligence officers assessed that a threat from Iran was not "imminent," with assessments that Iran would be unlikely to pose a threat to the U.S. mainland for at least ten years. The International Atomic Energy Agency stated there is no evidence Iran has an active plan for creating nuclear weapons. The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency assessed that if Iran attempts to build an intercontinental ballistic missile, it will take at least a decade.
• Trump administration justifies Iran war with false claims about nuclear weapons timeline — Between February 22 and March 17, 2026, President Trump and his proxies made repeated public statements claiming Iran was weeks away from acquiring nuclear weapons, with Trump stating Iran was "two weeks away" from a nuclear weapon on multiple occasions and Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff claiming Iran was "a week away from having industrial-grade bomb-making material." These claims formed the public justification for launching major combat operations against Iran on March 1, 2026. However, according to the testimony of Trump's own Director of National Intelligence and prior intelligence community assessments from March 2025, Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and posed no imminent nuclear threat.
• Pentagon admitted no intelligence supported imminent Iranian threat — During closed-door congressional briefings on March 1, 2026, the Pentagon disclosed that it possessed no intelligence indicating Iran was planning to attack U.S. forces first. This admission directly contradicted Trump's public justification for the military campaign. Trump separately told the New York Times the war could last "four to five weeks" and acknowledged there would "likely be more" deaths of U.S. troops before it concludes.
• Pentagon briefers contradict claims of imminent Iranian threat — Pentagon briefers informed congressional staff that Iran had not planned to attack U.S. forces unless provoked by Israel, contradicting earlier claims from Trump administration officials that Iran posed an imminent threat.
• Wall Street Journal reports government assertions about Iran conflict are incomplete or unsubstantiated — Journalists Dustin Volz, Alexander Ward, and Lara Seligman of the Wall Street Journal reported that lawmakers and experts characterize official government assertions justifying the Iran military campaign as "incomplete, unsubstantiated, or flat-out wrong." This scrutiny emerged three days into the bombing campaign as the administration's stated rationales for military action faced increasing challenge.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration defined tariffs and deportations as national security policy — Since taking office in his second term, Trump has defined tariffs, deportations, and other policies as part of national security policy, expanding the scope of executive authority claimed under national security justifications. This pattern of defining domestic and economic policies as national security matters has enabled the president to bypass normal congressional and regulatory processes.

Supporting reports

• Trump announces 10% global baseline tariff under Section 122 of Trade Act — Following the Supreme Court's ruling striking down his IEEPA-based tariffs, President Trump announced a new 10% global baseline tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which permits tariffs for 150 days. Trump stated the administration would initiate investigations into unfair trading practices that could lead to permanent tariffs. Trump framed the court's decision as actually strengthening presidential tariff authority and vowed to enact "very powerful alternatives" to the struck-down tariffs.
• Trump announces 10% global tariff under Section 122 — Following the Supreme Court's invalidation of his national emergency tariffs, Trump announced a 10% blanket global tariff "over and above our normal tariffs already being charged" under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, which permits temporary tariffs to address balance-of-payments deficits. This action circumvents the Court's ruling by invoking alternative statutory authority, though Section 122 requires congressional approval to extend beyond 150 days and prohibits country-specific discrimination.
• Trump announces new 10% global tariff under Trade Act of 1974 — Hours after the Supreme Court ruling, President Trump held a press conference announcing he would continue his tariff war using Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 instead of the IEEPA. He announced a new 10% global tariff and directed his administration to conduct investigations into unfair trading practices under other sections of the 1974 Act. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the new tariffs would result in "virtually unchanged tariff revenue in 2026" and acknowledged the process would be more complicated but ultimately achieve the same outcome.
• Trump announces new 10% global tariff, increases to 15% within 24 hours — After the Supreme Court ruled his tariffs unconstitutional, President Trump announced a new 10% global tariff using different statutory authority and increased it to 15% less than 24 hours later. Trump stated "The policy hasn't changed. The legal tools that implement that may change but the policy hasn't changed," signaling intent to circumvent the court's constitutional ruling through alternative legal mechanisms. Top trade negotiator Jamieson Greer defended the shift as providing US business "leverage" in world trade.
• Trump signals intent to reimpose tariffs via alternative legal authority — At a news conference on 21 February 2026, President Trump stated he would attempt to reintroduce 10 percent tariffs on all countries using a different legal mechanism after the Supreme Court struck down his IEEPA-based tariffs. Trump characterized the court's failure to address refunds as "crazy" and predicted years of litigation. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent similarly suggested refunds could be delayed indefinitely.
• Trump announced 10% tariff on foreign imports following Supreme Court ruling — On Friday, February 21, 2026, immediately after the Supreme Court's decision striking down his IEEPA tariffs, Trump announced he was imposing a 10% tariff on foreign imports, directly contradicting the court's constitutional finding.
• Supreme Court ruled Trump's tariff regime unlawful; Trump announced new tariffs under Section 122 of Trade Act — The Supreme Court struck down Trump's sweeping tariff regime as lacking statutory authority. Within hours, Trump announced a new 10 percent worldwide tariff, raising it to 15 percent by the following morning, claiming authority under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. Legal analysis indicates Section 122 permits only temporary import surcharges of up to 15 percent for no more than 150 days, and only when the United States faces a serious international balance-of-payments crisis. The current U.S. balance-of-payments deficit is zero, and no such crisis exists. Trump's new tariff announcement appears to be an attempt to circumvent the Court's ruling through a different legal theory.
• Supreme Court rules Trump tariffs illegal under emergency powers law — The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling on Friday declaring that most of Trump's tariffs lacked legal justification under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The court held that tariff authority belongs to Congress during peacetime, not the president. Trump responded by announcing a 15% global tariff under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act. Trade chief Jamieson Greer stated the administration would persist with tariff policy despite the ruling and would not seek congressional authorization for the new tariffs.
• Trump signs global 10% tariff proclamation under Section 122 after Supreme Court blocks tariff authority — President Trump signed a proclamation on February 21, 2026, imposing a temporary 10% tariff on all countries effective February 24, invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The action followed a Supreme Court ruling blocking his use of tariffs. Trump claimed authority under existing statutes without congressional approval. Canada, Mexico, certain food products, and critical minerals were exempted. Trump publicly attacked six justices as a "disgrace to the nation" while praising three dissenters.
• Trump increased proposed global tariff rate from 10% to 15% via social media post — Trump announced via Truth Social that he was raising worldwide tariffs from the initially announced 10% to 15%, invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The announcement claimed the tariffs would take effect "effective immediately," though it remained unclear whether official documents had been signed. This followed Trump's earlier press conference announcement of 10% tariffs and came after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff actions as illegal on Friday.
• Trump imposed 10% global tariff under Section 122 of Trade Act of 1974, then raised it to 15% — On February 21, 2026, President Trump announced a 10% global tariff citing Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, then raised it to 15% the following day. Trump invoked this authority immediately after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. According to Popular Information's analysis, Trump's invocation of Section 122 is legally defective because the statute authorizes tariffs only in response to "large and serious" balance-of-payments deficits, not trade deficits; the U.S. currently has a zero balance-of-payments deficit, making the tariff legally unsupported.
• Trump announces 15% global tariff under alternative legal framework — Following the Supreme Court's ruling, Trump announced a 15% global tariff on all foreign imports (increased from 10% announced Friday) under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, a different legal framework than the one struck down by the court. Trade chief Greer indicated the administration would not automatically seek congressional authorization for these tariffs, which are set to expire within five months without it.
• Trump escalated tariffs to 15% and claimed court ruling expanded his powers — On Saturday, February 22, 2026, Trump posted that he was raising tariffs from 10% to 15% worldwide, effective immediately. He claimed the Supreme Court's decision "accidentally and unwittingly" gave him "far more powers and strength" than before and that he could "do absolutely 'terrible' things to foreign countries" using tariffs the court had approved.
• Trump administration announced plans to scale back tariffs on steel and aluminum — The Trump administration announced it would review and scale back tariffs on steel and aluminum goods—which had been set at up to 50 percent the previous summer—and exempt some items while halting expansion of the tariff lists. The administration also planned to launch more targeted national security probes into specific goods instead of maintaining broad tariffs. This move was undertaken in response to an affordability crisis damaging Trump's approval ratings.
• Trump invoked Section 122 authority to impose 10% tariff on all imports — Following the Supreme Court's IEEPA ruling, Trump immediately invoked Section 122 of the Tariff Act—an older statutory authority requiring no investigation but limited to 15 percent for 150 days—to impose a 10 percent tariff on all imports from all countries. This action circumvented the Court's restriction on unilateral IEEPA tariffs by relying on a different legal basis Congress had previously authorized.
• Trump raised Section 122 tariff from 10% to 15% — One day after imposing a 10 percent tariff under Section 122, Trump raised the rate to 15 percent—the statutory maximum under that authority. This escalation occurred within the same legal framework but pushed the temporary tariff to its ceiling.
• Trump imposed 15% tariff invoking Section 122 of Trade Act of 1974 — President Trump announced a 15% tariff by invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, days after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down his prior tariff regime as unconstitutional. The administration's trade representative Jamieson Greer defended the move on Sunday shows, claiming the legal tool might change but policy remains consistent. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declined to commit to refunding approximately $134 billion collected under the now-invalidated tariffs, stating only that the administration would follow the court's direction.
• Administration announces pipeline of tariff investigations to rebuild tariff wall — Treasury Secretary Bessent announced on Sunday that Section 122 tariffs could expire after five months as Section 301 investigations into unfair trade practices and additional Section 232 national security tariffs are lined up to replace them. The administration is using procedural investigations as a mechanism to rebuild the same tariff structure that the Supreme Court struck down, using different legal authorities.
• Trade chief states tariff policy unchanged despite court ruling — On Sunday, U.S. trade negotiator Jamieson Greer told ABC News that the Trump administration would maintain its tariff policy and continue in the same direction, stating "the policy hasn't changed. The legal tools that implement that may change but the policy hasn't changed." Greer also confirmed the U.S. would not back out of bilateral tariff deals with the UK, EU, Japan, Switzerland, and others, despite the court ruling declaring those tariffs illegal.
• Trump delivered longest State of the Union address on record during partial DHS shutdown — President Trump delivered what multiple news outlets reported as the longest State of the Union address in U.S. history on February 24, 2026, while the Department of Homeland Security remained partially shut down since February 14. The address occurred during an active government funding lapse affecting federal workers' paychecks and DHS operations including TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, border security, airport screening, and the Coast Guard. Federal News Network reported it was the first SOTU ever delivered during an active partial government shutdown.
• Trump vowed to continue imposing tariffs despite Supreme Court ruling — During the State of the Union address, President Trump responded to the Supreme Court's striking down of his tariff authority by calling the ruling "unfortunate" and vowing to pursue "alternative" legal authorities to continue imposing tariffs without congressional approval. He also repeated the claim that tariffs are paid by foreign countries, contrary to evidence showing costs are borne primarily by American importers and consumers.
• Trump claimed he does not need Congressional approval for tariffs — Fifteen minutes after his threat post, at 9:49 a.m. on February 24, 2026, Trump posted that "As President, I do not have to go back to Congress to get approval of Tariffs. It has already been gotten, in many forms, a long time ago!" He claimed tariffs were "reaffirmed by the ridiculous and poorly crafted supreme court decision."
• Trump claims he has unchecked power after Supreme Court ruling — Trump publicly stated that the Supreme Court's ruling has given him "far more powers and strength" than before, suggesting he could use tariffs in a more aggressive manner. His comments reflect a disregard for the Court's authority and the principles of checks and balances.
• Trump posted that Supreme Court ruling granted him unchecked tariff power — At 7:06 a.m. on February 24, 2026, Trump posted on social media that the Supreme Court had "accidentally and unwittingly" given him "far more powers and strength" than he had before. He claimed he could use tariffs "in a much more powerful and obnoxious way, with legal certainty" and attacked the court with contemptuous language, writing "supreme court (will be using lower case letters for a while based on a complete lack of respect!)."
• Trump threatened higher tariffs against countries "playing games" — At 9:34 a.m. on February 24, 2026, Trump posted a threat that any country wanting to "play games" with the Supreme Court decision, especially those that have "ripped off" the U.S., would face "much higher Tariff, and worse" than recently agreed tariffs. The post ended with "BUYER BEWARE!!!"
• Trump threatens higher tariffs on foreign countries — Following the Supreme Court's ruling, Trump threatened that any country that "plays games" with the decision would face significantly higher tariffs. He asserted that he does not need Congressional approval for tariffs, claiming that previous approvals were sufficient. This statement reflects his intention to bypass legislative oversight in tariff implementation.
• Trump announced but did not sign 15 percent global tariff order — Trump announced plans to raise global tariffs to 15 percent under the 1974 Trade Act after his IEEPA tariffs were struck down by the Supreme Court. However, he never actually signed the order, meaning the effective tariff rate remained at 10 percent. The announcement was made publicly or on social media but was not formalized through executive action.
• Trump proclaims 10% temporary import surcharge on most goods for 150 days to address balance-of-payments deficit — President Trump issued Proclamation 11012 on February 20, 2026, imposing a temporary 10 percent ad valorem import surcharge effective February 24, 2026, for 150 days under section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The proclamation cites large U.S. balance-of-payments deficits ($1.2 trillion goods trade deficit in 2024, current account deficit of 4.0% of GDP, and negative net international-investment position of -90% of GDP) as justification. Broad exemptions apply to critical minerals, energy, agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, vehicles, aerospace goods, and articles from Canada, Mexico, and Central American trade partners. The surcharge is in addition to existing tariffs and will be administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
• Trump administration imposes 10% global tariff after Supreme Court strikes down "liberation day" tariffs — Following a Supreme Court decision that struck down Trump's sweeping "liberation day" tariffs imposed the previous year, the Trump administration announced a 10% global tariff on imported articles from every country for 150 days, effective Tuesday. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated the rate would rise to 15% or higher for some countries. The move represents a recalibration of tariff policy in response to the court's rejection of the earlier tariff regime.
• Trump sought Supreme Court rehearing on tariff decision — Trump posted on social media requesting that the Supreme Court reconsider its recent tariff decision, arguing that the ruling "could allow for Hundreds of Billions of Dollars to be returned to Countries and Companies that have been 'ripping off' the USA for many years." Trump asked "Is a Rehearing or Readjudication of this case possible???" Legal experts confirmed that no such rehearing mechanism exists under Supreme Court rules.

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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• DOJ Office of Legal Counsel approves military seizure of Maduro without addressing international law compliance — The Trump administration's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), led by T Elliot Gaiser, issued a 22-page memo approving the use of military force to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The memo explicitly declined to determine whether the operation violated the UN Charter or international law, arguing such analysis was "unnecessary" if domestic constitutional authority existed. The memo cited a controversial 1989 precedent (signed by William Barr) asserting presidential power to override international treaties. Maduro was arrested on January 5, 2026, and the memo was released publicly ahead of a Senate vote on a war powers resolution.

Supporting reports

• Supreme Court rejected Trump administration's argument to deploy federalized National Guard in Chicago — On December 23, 2025, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's legal argument that it possessed the power to deploy federalized National Guard troops in and around Chicago. The decision limited Trump's authority to use military forces within the United States without explicit congressional authorization or state consent.
• Supreme Court rejected Trump administration's National Guard deployment authority in Chicago — On December 23, 2025, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's argument that it possessed the power to deploy federalized National Guard troops in and around Chicago. The 6-3 decision blocked the administration's attempt to militarize American cities without state consent.
• Supreme Court rejects Trump's National Guard deployment in Illinois as unlawful — The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 preliminary ruling that President Trump's deployment of federalized National Guard troops in the Chicago area beginning in October violated the Posse Comitatus Act. The majority held that a president must first attempt to execute laws using regular U.S. military forces and may deploy the National Guard only if unable to do so with regular forces. The Court found the Government failed to identify statutory or constitutional authority permitting military enforcement of laws in Illinois.
• Supreme Court rejected Trump's National Guard deployment for immigration enforcement in Illinois — The Supreme Court rejected Trump's deployment of the National Guard to aid immigration enforcement in Illinois, ruling that federal law limits use of the National Guard to situations where regular military forces are insufficient. The majority found that the President does not have inherent authority to deploy the military to protect ICE property. Three justices (Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch) dissented.
• Supreme Court blocks Trump administration from deploying National Guard in Illinois — The Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops in Illinois as part of his mass immigration crackdown, ruling that the government "failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois." The decision represents a rare judicial check on executive power in the Trump administration.
• Supreme Court Denies Stay in Trump v. Illinois — On December 23, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the federal government's request for a stay in the case of Trump v. Illinois. This decision upheld a lower court's order that barred the Trump administration from deploying the federalized National Guard in Illinois for immigration enforcement actions. The case arose after the Trump administration federalized the Texas and Illinois National Guard to assist with immigration enforcement in Chicago, which was challenged by the state of Illinois. The Supreme Court's denial means the federal government cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois pending further legal proceedings. Justices Alito, Thomas, and Gorsuch dissented from the decision.
• US Supreme Court blocks Trump national guard deployment to Chicago — The US Supreme Court denied the Trump administration's emergency request to lift a lower court order blocking the deployment of national guard troops to the Chicago area. In a 6-3 decision, the majority ruled that the government failed to meet the legal burden required to show it could not enforce immigration laws without federal military intervention. The decision upholds a ruling by US District Judge April Perry from October and signals potential impact on similar deployments in other Democratic-led cities.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration transfers 760 acres of California public land to US Navy for militarized border defense zone — The Trump administration's Department of Interior announced the transfer of 760 acres of public land in California's San Diego and Imperial counties to the US Navy for a three-year period to establish a "National Defense Area" supporting border security operations. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated the action addresses security gaps and supports the President's border and sovereignty agenda. The region, spanning from the Otay Mountain Wilderness Area to approximately one mile west of the California–Arizona border, is claimed by officials to be among the highest-traffic areas for unlawful crossings.

Supporting reports

• Former JAGs declare alleged orders constitute war crimes — The Former JAGs Working Group, composed of former military judge advocate generals, issued a statement unanimously declaring that the giving and execution of the alleged orders to kill survivors "constitute war crimes, murder, or both" and called for prosecution of anyone who issues or follows such orders. The group noted that the military's legal guardrails, which Hegseth had systematically dismantled after purging JAGs from the Army and Air Force in February 2025, would have prevented these alleged crimes had they remained in place.
• Hegseth defended strikes as legal and justified on social media — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth posted on X that the strikes are "specifically intended to be 'lethal, kinetic strikes'" designed to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco-boats, and kill narco-terrorists. He stated "We have only just begun to kill narco-terrorists" but did not directly deny the allegation that he ordered killing of crew members in the water.
• Pete Hegseth allegedly ordered killing of crew members on suspected drug-smuggling vessel — The Washington Post reported that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth gave a spoken order to kill all crew members aboard a vessel suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea. The report triggered bipartisan congressional scrutiny, with Senate Armed Services Committee leaders Roger Wicker and Jack Reed and House Armed Services Committee leaders Mike Rogers and Adam Smith announcing investigations into the alleged strikes.
• White House claimed September 2 boat strike was lawful self-defense — White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the administration believes the September 2 strike on a boat off Venezuela was lawful because it "was conducted in self defense to protect Americans and vital United States interests." This justification would permit the president or those acting in his name to be judge, jury, and executioner without regard to law. Leavitt attributed the orders to Admiral Bradley rather than Defense Secretary Hegseth.
• Senator Angus King stated boat strike would be war crime if facts alleged are true — Senator Angus King, a lawyer who sits on both the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee, told CNN that if the facts alleged about the September 2 boat strike are accurate—specifically that there was a second strike to kill survivors in the water—"that's a stone cold war crime. It's also murder." King stated that Congress would investigate who gave which orders and when.
• Senator Angus King stated September 2 strike was war crime if facts alleged — Senator Angus King (I-ME), a lawyer on the Senate Intelligence Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee, told CNN that if the facts alleged are true—that a second strike was specifically conducted to kill survivors in the water—"that's a stone cold war crime. It's also murder." King stated the law is clear and Congress will investigate who gave which orders and when.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth posted mocking AI image about boat strike — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted an AI-generated fake cover of a children's book featuring Franklin the Turtle in military gear firing a rocket launcher at a burning boat with survivors, titled "Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists" with the caption "For your Christmas wish list…" The post appeared to mock concerns about a September 2 strike on survivors of a boat attack off Venezuela that has been characterized as a potential war crime.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth posted support for Admiral Bradley — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted that "Admiral Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support. I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made—on the September 2 mission and all others since." The post appeared to shift responsibility for the September 2 boat strike to the admiral while maintaining public support, a tactic commentators characterized as "underbussing."
• U.S. military strike on Venezuelan fishing boat alleged as war crime — A U.S. military strike on a Venezuelan fishing boat is characterized as potentially constituting a war crime. Reports indicate a second strike may have been ordered after survivors were observed clinging to life. MAGA Congressman Carlos Gimenez dismissed calls for investigation, insisting that Pete Hegseth and Trump's denial of wrongdoing should be accepted without further inquiry.
• White House Press Secretary contradicts Trump on deadly second strike in military operation — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt held a press conference addressing a controversial second military strike that killed survivors of an initial boat strike. Leavitt admitted the second strike occurred but claimed neither Trump nor Defense Secretary Hegseth ordered it, attributing the decision to Admiral Bradley. She characterized the strike as lawful self-defense. Trump had denied knowledge of the incident the previous night on Air Force One. The contradiction raised questions about command responsibility and adherence to international law and the Geneva Convention.
• Hegseth ordered lethal September 2 Caribbean boat strike — The New York Times reported that five US officials confirmed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the lethal September 2 attack on a vessel in the Caribbean, though officials also claimed that Special Operations commander Admiral Frank Bradley directed the initial missile strike, followed by additional strikes that killed survivors and sank the boat. The narrative matched White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt's briefing statement.
• Pentagon and Congressional officials expressed concern about scapegoating of Admiral Mitch Bradley. — Officials in Congress and the Pentagon stated they are increasingly concerned that the Trump administration intends to scapegoat Admiral Mitch Bradley, the military officer who directed U.S. forces to kill two survivors of a targeted strike on suspected drug smugglers in Latin America. Lawmakers made initial moves to investigate whether the attack constituted a war crime. Pentagon officials described feeling angry at uncertainty over whether Hegseth would take responsibility for his alleged role or leave military and civilian staff to face consequences.
• Rep. Carlos Gimenez changed position on legality of killing survivors. — After initially stating that the story about a second strike killing survivors must be fake news because Hegseth would never do such a thing, Rep. Carlos Gimenez appeared on CNN and changed his position. When asked "If there were survivors clinging for their lives on that boat, was it legal to go ahead and kill them?" Gimenez responded "If the mission was just to have a second strike to kill the survivors, that's questionable."
• Sen. Markwayne Mullin defended the second strike as necessary. — Senator Markwayne Mullin appeared on Fox News and stated "If there was a second strike, it wouldn't be to just simply take out the survivors. It's because there was still a threat or opportunity for them to run." This represents a Republican senator's defense of the lethal strike on survivors.
• Senate Majority Leader John Thune declined to evaluate Hegseth's leadership. — Senate Majority Leader John Thune, when asked about Hegseth's leadership at the Department of Defense, stated "I don't have, at this point, I guess, an evaluation of the secretary. Others can make those evaluations." This represents a refusal to comment on the Defense Secretary's fitness for office during an ongoing investigation into potential war crimes.
• Inspector General report finds Hegseth sent classified information over Signal — Acting Inspector General Steven A. Stebbins released a report on December 2 concluding that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent sensitive, nonpublic, operational information over the non-secure messaging app Signal on his personal cell phone, violating Department of Defense policy. The report detailed that U.S. Central Command sent Hegseth seven emails classified as SECRET/NOFORN before and during strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen on March 14 and 15. Hegseth transmitted information including details about targets, weapons packages, aircraft, and strike times to people on a Signal chat. The report noted that if the information had fallen into adversaries' hands, Houthi forces might have been able to counter U.S. forces or reposition to avoid strikes, creating a risk to operational security and potential harm to U.S. pilots.
• Coast Guard records revealed that 21% of boats interdicted prior to new Trump policy contained no drugs. — Senator Rand Paul requested records from the Coast Guard on boat interdictions for the 12-month period before the Trump/Hegseth policy of striking suspected drug-smuggling vessels went into effect. The Coast Guard responded with data showing that of 212 total vessels interdicted in the year prior to the new policy who were suspected of trafficking drugs, only 55 actually had drugs on board. Additionally, 21% of boats stopped off the coast of Venezuela possessed no drugs at all, indicating a significant false-positive rate in targeting decisions.
• Trump administration lawyers warned of criminal behavior in boat strike — Zeteo reported that Trump administration lawyers have been warning senior colleagues that if the Washington Post's reporting on the second strike is true, it would be blatantly illegal, with one administration official saying, "There's defending the homeland, and then there's criminal behavior."
• CNN National Security Correspondent Barbara Starr responded to Pete Hegseth's criticism of the press. — CNN National Security Correspondent Barbara Starr responded to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's statement that reporters "sit in your air conditioned offices" and plant "fake stories." Starr stated "How dare you sir. Close to every member of the press corps you despise has made multiple reporting trips to combat zones, been under fire, some reporters wounded, some killed. Some today still with PTS. Mr. Hegseth should we indeed finally accept it's just not possible for you to show any basic respect?" This represents a direct rebuke of the Defense Secretary's attack on the press.
• George Will published opinion piece titled "A Sickening Moral Slum of an Administration." — Conservative columnist George Will published an opinion piece in the Washington Post with the title "A Sickening Moral Slum of an Administration." In the piece, Will wrote "Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seems to be a war criminal. Without a war. An interesting achievement." This represents significant criticism from a prominent conservative voice.
• Pete Hegseth posted unauthorized mock children's book cover depicting Franklin the Turtle as a military combatant. — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on social media a mock cover of the children's book series "Franklin the Turtle" titled "Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists," showing the character dressed in military gear, standing in a helicopter, and firing a weapon at boats. Hegseth captioned the image "For your Christmas wish list." The publisher, Kids Can Press, issued a statement condemning the unauthorized use, stating that Franklin the Turtle "stands for kindness, empathy, and inclusivity" and that the depiction "directly contradicts these values."
• White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that Hegseth had authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct the strikes. — White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt made scripted remarks at a news briefing acknowledging that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had authorized Admiral Mitch Bradley to conduct the strikes. She stated that Bradley "worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed." The remarks triggered backlash within the Department of Defense, with officials expressing anger at the uncertainty over whether Hegseth would take responsibility for his role or leave military and civilian staff to face consequences.
• White House Press Secretary defended legality of second strike without substantiation — On Monday following the Washington Post report, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the second strike during the September 2 operation, stating that everything was within the military's legal authority. Leavitt provided no details, evidence, or legal reasoning to substantiate the claim that killing survivors clinging to wreckage complies with law.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied knowledge of a second military strike that killed survivors of a targeted operation. — During the Cabinet meeting, Hegseth stated that he did not know about a second strike that killed survivors in the water following an initial strike on a suspected drug-smuggling boat. He claimed he relied on military commanders for information and had not been involved in the second strike, while simultaneously defending the decision as correct and stating "we have his back" regarding the commander who authorized it. He also attacked the press, claiming reporters sit in "air conditioned offices" and plant "fake stories."
• Pete Hegseth posted statement of support for Admiral Mitch Bradley regarding combat decisions in the September 2 strike. — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X that Admiral Mitch Bradley is "an American hero, a true professional" and stated "I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made - on the Sept 2 mission and all others since." The post came amid reporting that Pentagon officials and Congress were investigating whether the strike that killed survivors constituted a war crime and that military officials believed Hegseth was attempting to scapegoat Bradley.
• Hegseth distanced himself from second boat strike — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continued to distance himself from the second strike carried out on a boat in the Caribbean to kill two survivors in September, saying he watched the first strike he authorized live but "a couple of hours passed" before he was informed of the follow-up strike. Hegseth claimed he "did not personally see survivors" because the vessel was "on fire and was exploded," and attributed the action to "the fog of war."
• Classified Inspector General report shows Pete Hegseth shared sensitive war plans over Signal app — A classified Inspector General report set for public release on Thursday documents that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth risked endangering troops' lives by sharing sensitive war plans over the Signal messaging app, a security breach that violated protocols for handling classified information.
• Hegseth claims declassification authority and denies wrongdoing — On Wednesday, December 3, the day after the inspector general report was released, Defense Secretary Hegseth claimed he had declassified the information he shared and therefore had not acted inappropriately. He stated on social media that the report had cleared him, writing "No classified information. Total exoneration." Hegseth asserted that he determined the material he shared did not need to be classified because "there were no details that would endanger our troops or the mission." However, the inspector general's report acknowledged that while Hegseth had the authority to declassify information, his actions created a risk to operational security that could have resulted in failed mission objectives and harm to U.S. pilots.
• Secretary Hegseth claimed total exoneration in IG report response — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth responded to the Pentagon Inspector General's report by claiming "total exoneration" and stating "case closed," asserting that no classified information was shared. His spokesperson Sean Parnell echoed the claim of total exoneration. However, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) contradicted this characterization on CNN, stating that "no one can rationalize that as an exoneration."
• Congressional briefing on boat strike held in closed session — On December 4, Admiral Frank Bradley and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine appeared before House and Senate armed services and intelligence committees in a closed briefing to discuss the September 2 boat strike. Bradley denied receiving a "kill them all" order from Defense Secretary Hegseth, though lawmakers disagreed sharply on what the video showed. Democratic lawmakers expressed deep concern about potential war crimes; Republican lawmakers defended the strikes as justified.
• Representative Himes characterized boat strike video as deeply troubling — Representative Jim Himes (D-CT), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, described a video of the U.S. strike against two survivors of the September 2 boat strike as "one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service." Himes stated the video showed "two individuals in clear distress without any means of locomotion, with a destroyed vessel,... killed by the United States."
• Admiral Bradley briefed Congress on September 2 boat strike — Admiral Frank Bradley, who oversaw the September 2 missile strike on a boat that killed 11 people, met with lawmakers on Thursday to discuss the operation. He is expected to tell them that he considered the survivors viable targets rather than shipwrecked, defenseless mariners. Bradley is expected to testify that U.S. personnel observing the operation believed the survivors possessed communications equipment and may have been capable of calling other drug smugglers for help recovering cargo, though it is unclear if they made contact with anyone.
• Rep. Adam Smith questioned legality of strikes on survivors — Representative Adam Smith, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, characterized the decision to strike two survivors on an incapacitated vessel as "highly questionable." Smith stated that the military's assumption that the survivors were still "in the fight" was based on an "unbelievably broad definition" of what constitutes active combat, given that the vessel was destroyed and the survivors had no means of locomotion.
• Rep. Jim Himes called briefing one of most troubling experiences — Representative Jim Himes, House Intelligence Committee ranking Democrat, stated that the briefing on the boat strikes was "one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service." Himes characterized the killing of two individuals in clear distress, without means of locomotion and with a destroyed vessel, as deeply problematic.
• Rep. Mike Turner expressed concerns about accuracy of military intelligence — Representative Mike Turner (R-OH), who was chair of the House Intelligence Committee until Trump ordered Speaker Mike Johnson to remove him, expressed concerns about whether the accuracy of information being used in military operations meets the standard for informed congressional oversight. Turner stated that members have "very much concerns" about the level of accuracy and noted that if the individuals targeted were captured, tried, and convicted, they would not be subject to capital punishment, yet they are being killed without due process.
• Senator Tom Cotton endorsed boat strikes as lawful — Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton, emerging from the briefing on the September 2 boat strikes, characterized all four strikes that day as "righteous," "entirely lawful and needful," and exactly what military commanders should do. Cotton stated he saw two survivors trying to flip a boat loaded with drugs back over to stay in the fight.
• Inspector General report finds Hegseth violated Pentagon policies on classified information handling — The Department of Defense inspector general released a report concluding that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated Pentagon policies by using the Signal messaging app to share classified details about upcoming airstrikes in Yemen, including aircraft types and strike times, two to four hours before missions on 15 March. The report determined his actions created operational security risks that could have resulted in failed missions and harm to pilots. Hegseth also failed to retain associated messages, violating federal record-keeping requirements.
• Messages from Hegseth's Signal account contained specific strike timing details — CNN reported that messages sent from Secretary Hegseth's Signal account to a group chat offered specific, real-time updates about planned military strikes, including one message that read "This is DEFINITELY when the first bombs will drop." The messages were so specific that they identified exact timing of operations. It remains unclear whether Hegseth properly declassified the information before sharing it with other top Trump officials and a reporter from The Atlantic who was accidentally added to the chat.
• Pentagon may not turn over Strike Bridge communications logs to Congress — The New York Times reported that military officials had used a written texting system known as "Strike Bridge" to communicate during planning and execution of military operations, including communications between Admiral Bradley and SEAL Team 6 operators directing drone strikes. The system automatically saves messages. Several congressional officials stated that lawmakers had requested to review logs related to the operation, along with written documentation including Hegseth's "execute order" and rules of engagement. It remains unclear whether the Pentagon will turn over these records to Congress.
• Senator Jack Reed demanded complete release of strike footage — Senator Jack Reed, ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, stated that the Department of Defense has no choice but to release the complete, unedited footage of the strike, given that the President has agreed to do so. Reed stated that the briefing confirmed his "worst fears" about the nature of the Trump administration's military activities and demonstrated why the Senate Armed Services Committee has repeatedly requested and been denied fundamental information, documents, and facts about the operation.
• Senator Rand Paul called for public release of strike video — Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) stated that the video of distressed, shipwrecked, or incapacitated people on boats being bombed should be shown to every American, calling for public disclosure of the controversial military operation.
• Trump agreed to release video of second strike — When asked whether he would release video of the second strike to the public, President Trump stated: "Whatever they have, we'd certainly release. No problem." This represents a commitment to public disclosure of the controversial military operation.
• Admiral Bradley briefed Congress on September 2 boat strike in Caribbean — Admiral Frank "Mitch" Bradley, Special Operations commander, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine conducted a closed-door briefing for congressional members regarding a U.S. military strike on September 2 against a small boat in the Caribbean. The strike killed nine of eleven people aboard; a second strike 41 minutes later killed the two survivors. Bradley stated the vessel appeared to be afloat due to cocaine packages and survivors could have floated to safety to continue drug trafficking, contradicting earlier claims that survivors were communicating with other vessels. The administration claims the operation targets drug cartels under a formal armed conflict determination, but has not provided legal authority and has ignored War Powers Resolution requirements for congressional approval beyond 60 days.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth responded to social media post about boat strikes — Andrew Kolvet of Turning Point USA posted on social media: "Every new attack aimed at Pete Hegseth makes me want another narco drug boat blown up and sent to the bottom of the ocean." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth quoted Kolvet's post and responded: "Your wish is our command, Andrew. Just sunk another narco boat." U.S. Southern Command confirmed a strike against a small boat in the eastern Pacific, stating that intelligence confirmed the vessel was carrying illicit narcotics and four male individuals aboard were killed.
• U.S. military conducted more than 20 strikes on small boats with at least 87 deaths — As of the date of the article, the U.S. military had carried out more than 20 strikes on small boats that the Trump administration claims are run by "narco-terrorists," resulting in at least 87 deaths. These operations began in September 2025 following the initial September 2 strike and have continued without formal congressional authorization beyond the initial War Powers Resolution notification.
• CNN reports boat was not headed for U.S., contradicting administration claim — CNN reported that the boat struck on September 2 was not headed for the United States, contradicting a claim made by President Trump. Admiral Frank "Mitch" Bradley, overseeing Special Operations that day, told Congress the intelligence indicated the boat was headed to meet a larger vessel bound for Suriname to transfer drugs. Bradley confirmed the military could not locate the second vessel. U.S. drug enforcement officials stated that drugs trafficked through Suriname are generally bound for Europe. Bradley also confirmed that after the people on the boat appeared to see American aircraft, they turned the boat back toward land.
• New York Times reports survivors of first strike were waving before second strike — Journalists Julian E. Barnes and Charlie Savage reported that survivors of the first strike on the boat were waving to something overhead before a second strike killed them. The report notes that the administration had not announced its new policy of striking alleged drug traffickers rather than arresting them, so the men had no way of knowing they were under attack. Some observers believed the men were waving to be rescued; others supporting the administration's position speculated they were signaling other alleged traffickers, though no other vessels or aircraft were in visual range.
• Pentagon announced 22nd airstrike against suspected drug smuggling vessel in eastern Pacific — The Pentagon announced a lethal strike on a boat suspected of carrying illegal narcotics in the eastern Pacific Ocean on 4 December, killing four men. The US Southern Command described the strike as a "lethal kinetic strike on a vessel in international waters operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization" and stated that intelligence confirmed the vessel was carrying illicit narcotics. This was the 22nd attack in the campaign against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, bringing the death toll to at least 87 people. The strike was the first publicly announced operation in nearly three weeks.
• Pentagon announces lethal strike on boat in eastern Pacific, killing four men — The US military, at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel in international waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing four men described as narco-terrorists. The strike, the 22nd such operation since September, was conducted by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and targeted a boat suspected of carrying illegal narcotics. The operation brings the death toll of the campaign to at least 87 people. The strike occurs amid mounting congressional scrutiny over the legal basis for the attacks.
• TPUSA operations head Kolvet called for drug boat destruction; Hegseth confirmed action — Andrew Kolvet, now running operations at The America First PAC (TPUSA) after Charlie Kirk's death, posted on social media: "Every new attack aimed at Pete Hegseth makes me want another narco drug boat blown up and sent to the bottom of the ocean." Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth responded: "Your wish is our command, Andrew. Just sunk another narco boat," and posted a video of what he described as a homicide committed by the Department of Defense.

Supporting reports

• Trump stated he could invoke the Insurrection Act without judicial review — During the 60 Minutes interview, Trump stated that if he needed to send the Army or Marines into cities, he would do so "in a heartbeat" using the Insurrection Act, claiming "no judge can even challenge you on that. If I wanted to I could."
• Trump claims he can invoke Insurrection Act without judicial review — During a 60 Minutes interview, Trump said he would send the Army or Marines into US cities "in a heartbeat" and claimed no judge could challenge his invocation of the Insurrection Act if he did so.