Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Supreme Court upholds state laws excluding transgender girls and women from female sports — Earlier in 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling upholding laws in two conservative states that exclude transgender girls and women from competing in female sports. The decision was characterized as a "culture war" victory for Trump and provided legal foundation for Republican anti-trans messaging in the 2026 midterm elections.

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• Senate Democrats signal they will not confirm Trump Supreme Court nominees if they win control — Sen. Chuck Schumer put Trump on notice that if Democrats win control of the Senate, they do not intend to put MAGA judges on the courts. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) said he does not think a Democratic-led Senate would confirm a Trump pick for the Supreme Court, stating: "Given the history of Trump nominees, I think it is slim to none that we would support a nominee from this admin. Because we've seen this movie, we know how it ends, which is a politician in robes who is following Trump's orders on most major questions." Some Democrats argue there should be no question of confirming a Trump pick after Sen. Mitch McConnell held a seat open for 10 months under Obama to let a Republican president fill it instead. Sen. Ruben Gallego stated: "No, we've got to do exactly what McConnell did to us. To even the scales." However, Gallego said he does not want to see the practice continue after Democrats even things out.

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• Ketanji Brown Jackson criticizes Supreme Court's emergency docket practices in public speech — Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson delivered remarks at the University of the District of Columbia's law school, expressing concern that the Supreme Court's use of the "shadow docket" or emergency docket undermines public faith in the judiciary. She stated the practice risks becoming "an end-run around the standard review process" and noted that while the Court has begun providing more explanation for emergency rulings, it still falls short of full merit-docket review. Her comments came hours after the Trump administration filed another emergency request seeking to allow deportations to countries other than immigrants' home nations.

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• James Clyburn expresses regret over supporting Clarence Thomas for Supreme Court — Representative James Clyburn stated on NBC's Meet the Press that his 1991 support for Clarence Thomas's Supreme Court confirmation was "a mistake." Clyburn, who had vouched for Thomas as a friend who would advance civil rights, said Thomas instead abandoned his principles to become an extremist. Clyburn cited Thomas's role in overturning abortion protections and ending affirmative action as evidence of this departure. Clyburn also expressed support for expanding the Supreme Court from nine to thirteen justices, echoing a proposal by former Vice President Kamala Harris.

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• Clarence Thomas sat for 9.5 hours of podcast interviews with Republican Senator Ted Cruz — Sitting Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas agreed to approximately 9.5 hours of one-on-one podcast interviews with Republican Senator Ted Cruz. The interviews represent a departure from institutional norms of judicial independence from partisan politics.

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• Trump appealed to Supreme Court to override lower courts' rulings on ballroom construction authority — Trump appealed to the Supreme Court seeking to override lower courts' rulings that he lacks the authority to build a ballroom structure without congressional permission. The ballroom project has become a point of controversy, with Trump spending significant time and resources on Washington, D.C. renovation and beautification projects while the administration faces other pressing issues.
• Supreme Court deadline set for Trump ballroom construction intervention — Tomorrow (August 21, 2026) is the deadline for the Supreme Court to intervene on Trump's ballroom construction project. If the Court chooses not to take the case, construction must be halted based on a prior court order.
• Supreme Court temporarily halts lower court order blocking White House ballroom construction — Chief Justice John Roberts signed a temporary order on Friday permitting construction of Trump's controversial White House ballroom to continue while the Supreme Court considers an emergency appeal from the administration. An appeals court had ordered work to stop pending legal review, concluding the project likely requires congressional approval. The administration argued the 90,000-square-foot ballroom and underground military facility are critical to presidential security. Democrats criticized the decision as "rubber stamping Trump's vanity-driven, gilded corruption." The project, already 65% complete after 10 months, is expected to cost over $400 million.

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• Department of Justice refuses to comply with court order to release unredacted Epstein files — Judge Emmet Sullivan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia held a status conference in Phang v. Blanche on Thursday, August 14. The lawsuit, filed by independent journalist Katie Phang, seeks unredacted versions of Epstein investigation documents that the Department of Justice has withheld in violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which Congress mandated be released by December 19, 2025. Sullivan had granted Phang's request in late June and ordered the DOJ to produce unredacted documents in July; the DOJ refused both times. When Sullivan asked if he would learn anything more from the government, DOJ lawyer Andrew Block answered affirmatively. Sullivan warned he had held prosecutors in contempt in the past and gave Phang's lawyers ten days to propose an order.

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• Federal judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit against Harvard over alleged antisemitism — US District Judge Richard Stearns in Boston dismissed the Trump administration's lawsuit claiming Harvard University failed to protect Jewish and Israeli students from harassment following the October 2023 Hamas attacks. The judge ruled the administration failed to plausibly demonstrate an ongoing violation of Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, finding the alleged incidents "too isolated and episodic" and noting the complaint lacked factual allegations of noncompliance after Harvard was put on notice in June 2025. The ruling represents a setback for the Trump administration's broader campaign to force Harvard to comply on antisemitism, DEI, and race-in-admissions issues.

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• Senator Paul bypasses Senate to refer Fauci contempt to U.S. Attorney Pirro — According to Wall Street Journal reporting by Sabrina Siddiqui and Sadie Gurman, Senator Rand Paul, knowing that a contempt measure would not secure the 60 votes required in the full Senate, is bypassing the Senate and asking Vice President J.D. Vance to certify the contempt report and refer it directly to U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro for potential prosecution.

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• Trump announces intention to appeal ballroom ruling to Supreme Court — President Trump announced via social media that he will appeal the Court of Appeals decision to the Supreme Court. The court stayed its decision to enable the appeal. Trump posted that the ruling is "horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful" and claimed it poses a "National Security threat" because the complex is being built for national protection.

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• Kansas voters rejected constitutional amendment to directly elect state Supreme Court justices — Approximately 61% of Kansas voters rejected a constitutional amendment on August 5, 2026, that would have abolished the state's Supreme Court Nominating Commission and replaced the current selection system with direct elections for six-year terms. Kansas Republicans, who hold supermajorities in both legislative chambers, placed the amendment on the August primary ballot when turnout is typically lower and the electorate leans more Republican. This was the second Republican-backed attempt to weaken judicial protections; voters also rejected a similar amendment in August 2022.
• Kansas Voters Reject GOP Push for Elected Judges — In Kansas, voters rejected a Republican initiative to change the judicial selection process from appointments to elections. This decision maintains the current system and reflects public sentiment against politicizing the judiciary.

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• Trump legal team seeks to block court order requiring financial disclosure to BBC — Donald Trump's legal team filed an emergency motion on Wednesday to temporarily halt a Miami court order requiring the president to disclose detailed financial records to the BBC by August 6, 2026. The disclosure was ordered as part of Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the broadcaster over a 2024 documentary on the January 6 Capitol attack. Trump's attorneys argued the BBC's document demands were "shockingly broad" and politically motivated, and requested the lawsuit be narrowed to focus only on "reputation harm" rather than financial impact.
• Trump pursues $10 billion defamation suit against Wall Street Journal — On Wednesday, Trump's legal team moved to advance a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal to trial. The suit stems from the Journal's reporting on a letter Trump allegedly included in a birthday book for Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, which the president characterized as "bawdy." The action is part of a broader pattern of Trump litigation against media outlets publishing critical coverage.
• Emergency Motion Filed in Trump's Suit Against BBC — Trump's family trust has filed an emergency motion to block a court order requiring the disclosure of financial records in his $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC. The motion comes after months of delays in the case, with a Trump-appointed judge pausing the order for financial disclosure.
• Federal Judge Freezes Discovery in Trump's Defamation Suit — A federal judge has frozen discovery in former President Trump's defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal. This decision prevents Trump from deposing Rupert Murdoch while the court considers dismissing the case. The lawsuit stems from the Journal's reporting on a letter allegedly linked to Trump in Jeffrey Epstein's birthday album.
• Federal judge temporarily halts financial records disclosure order in Trump v. BBC libel case — US District Judge Roy Altman issued a temporary stay of a discovery order requiring Donald Trump to produce detailed financial records to the BBC in an ongoing libel lawsuit. Trump's legal team sought the suspension, arguing the BBC's demand for information about his business empire was "shockingly broad" and politically motivated. The judge indicated that if Trump successfully narrows his claims to reputational harm alone, the BBC's need for financial records might diminish. The BBC countered that Trump's business value remains relevant and that his $10 billion damages claim would be difficult to justify without financial evidence.

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• Judge Reviews Epstein Files Redactions — U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan is reviewing documents related to the Epstein Files Transparency Act to determine if the Department of Justice's redactions were appropriate. This review follows allegations that Todd Blanche violated the law by not addressing claims made by journalist Katie Phang regarding access to these documents.

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• US District Judge Kathleen Williams voided DOJ's $1.776 billion settlement with Trump — US District Judge Kathleen Williams voided the Department of Justice's $1.776 billion settlement with Trump, finding the litigation constitutionally defective under Article III because Trump, as head of the Executive Branch, controlled both the plaintiff and defendant agencies (Treasury and IRS), making them never genuinely adverse. The judge found no actual case or controversy occurred, no meaningful litigation preceded the settlement, and government lawyers never filed a response or defended the agencies. Williams imposed Rule 11 sanctions and referred one of Trump's attorneys for possible professional discipline.
• Federal Judge Voids Trump's $1.8 Billion IRS Settlement — A federal judge voided Trump's $1.8 billion settlement with the IRS that included an "anti-weaponization fund" and immunity from tax audits, ruling that the president's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS was filed "to manipulate the judicial process." The judge sanctioned two of Trump's personal attorneys, banning one from practicing in the Southern District of Florida for at least one year, and suggested that acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and associate Attorney General Stan Woodward could face state bar investigations.
• Federal judge nullifies Trump tax-return settlement and sanctions president's lawyers — US District Judge Kathleen Williams in the Southern District of Florida voided a settlement agreement between the Trump administration and the president over a $10 billion lawsuit regarding leaked tax returns. The judge found the lawsuit was filed in bad faith and the settlement was collusive, designed to confer immunity on Trump and his family and create an $1.8 billion slush fund. Williams sanctioned Trump's lawyers, referred two to bar disciplinary proceedings, and blocked one from practicing in the district for one year.
• Federal judge ruled Trump's IRS lawsuit settlement was improper and manufactured — U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams for the Southern District of Florida ruled that Trump, his lawyers, and Department of Justice lawyers had manufactured a fraudulent settlement of Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. Williams found the lawsuit was brought "for an improper purpose—to gain the imprimatur of judicial legitimacy for a 'settlement' that had no viable basis in law or fact." The settlement was designed to establish a $1.776 billion slush fund for Trump loyalists and to grant Trump, his family, businesses, and associates immunity from prosecution for any tax crimes revealed by audits of tax returns filed before May 19, 2026.
• Federal judge rules against Trump's IRS lawsuit — On July 13, 2026, U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams ruled that Trump and his legal team improperly manufactured a settlement in his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS, which aimed to create a slush fund for Trump loyalists and grant immunity from prosecution for tax crimes. The judge found the lawsuit lacked a legitimate basis and recommended sanctions against some lawyers involved.
• Judge Williams recommended sanctions against lawyers involved in fraudulent settlement — Judge Kathleen Williams recommended legal sanctions against some of the lawyers involved in the fraudulent IRS settlement and expressed that she was "extremely troubled" by the testimony of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, which she characterized as "at best, misleading and, at worst, disingenuous."
• E. Jean Carroll Receives Payment from Trump — E. Jean Carroll has received a $5.6 million payment from Donald Trump, confirmed by a court filing. This payment is part of a legal settlement related to a defamation case brought by Carroll against Trump.

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• Stay pending appeal decided — Beatty v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-04480 — The D.C. Circuit denied the government's motion for a stay pending appeal, finding that they had failed to show irreparable harm from compliance with the district court's order requiring removal of President Trump's name from the Kennedy Center's facade, website title, and trademark applications.
• Federal appeals court ruled Trump name must remain on Kennedy Center — A federal appeals court ruled that Trump's name must remain on the Kennedy Center while his administration appeals the order that forced its removal. The three-judge panel found the administration offered no specific facts or evidence for its claim that losing the Trump name would harm the center's finances.
• Federal appeals court rejects Trump administration request to pause Kennedy Center name removal — A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously rejected the Trump administration's emergency request to pause a lower court order requiring removal of Trump's name from the Kennedy Center's facade. The administration had argued the removal would harm fundraising and the institution's finances. The court found the administration provided no specific facts or evidence to support its claims and barred assertions that a newly created Trump Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Foundation would need to return money if the name remained removed.

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• US Supreme Court rules TPS determinations largely exempt from judicial review — The US Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision holding that the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Temporary Protected Status (TPS) determinations and processes are generally not subject to judicial review, except for constitutional claims. The ruling affects approximately 1.3 million immigrants, with immediate consequences for over 300,000 Haitian and several thousand Syrian TPS holders who are expected to lose protections and work authorization. Justice Kagan's dissent warned the decision enables arbitrary termination without evaluation of country conditions.

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• US Supreme Court upholds state bans on transgender athletes in female sports — The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that states may exclude transgender girls and women from competing in female sports, overturning lower court judgments favoring two trans students—Lindsay Hecox in Idaho and Becky Pepper-Jackson in West Virginia. The court determined that such bans do not violate Title IX civil rights protections. The ruling is expected to embolden at least 25 other states with similar laws and represents a significant victory for the Trump administration's "culture war" agenda.
• US Supreme Court upholds trans athlete bans in West Virginia and Idaho — The US Supreme Court ruled that West Virginia and Idaho may constitutionally bar transgender girls from competing on girls' sports teams. The decision is legally narrow—it does not mandate bans nationwide or strip trans students of all Title IX protections—but advocates warn it will be weaponized to expand exclusionary policies across the 25 other states with similar restrictions and to erode trans rights in education, employment, and healthcare more broadly.
• Supreme Court upholds state bans on transgender athletes in school sports — The Supreme Court upheld state laws that ban transgender athletes from competing in school sports consistent with their gender identity. The ruling allows states to enforce restrictions on transgender participation in athletics, affecting access and equal treatment in school sports.
• Court rules that states can exclude transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports teams — The Supreme Court ruled that states have the authority to exclude transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports teams. This decision allows states to implement policies that restrict transgender athletes' participation based on their gender identity. The ruling has significant implications for the rights of transgender individuals and the ongoing debate over gender and sports. The decision may lead to further legislative and legal actions at the state level as states decide how to implement or challenge this ruling.
• Supreme Court releases opinion in West Virginia v. B. P. J. (24-43) — The Supreme Court released an official slip opinion in West Virginia v. B. P. J. Docket number(s): 24-43.
• White House issues release celebrating Supreme Court ruling on transgender athletes and detailing administration actions — The White House issued a release on June 30, 2026, responding to a Supreme Court decision permitting states to reserve female athletic competition for biological females. The release characterizes this as a "landmark victory" and lists executive actions the administration claims to have taken, including barring transgender individuals from military service, defunding gender-affirming medical care, eliminating "gender ideology" curricula, and requiring biological sex markers on federal documents.
• US Supreme Court rejects transgender girls' participation in female sports — In a Trump-friendly ruling issued on the same day as the birthright citizenship verdict, the Supreme Court effectively dismissed the rights of transgender girls and women to participate in female sports. The decision removes protections previously afforded to transgender athletes.

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• Supreme Court declines to hear Trump's final appeal in E. Jean Carroll defamation case — The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Trump's final appeal of the $5 million jury verdict against him in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case, allowing the lower court judgment to stand.
• US Supreme Court declines to review Trump's $5m E Jean Carroll verdict — The US Supreme Court declined Donald Trump's petition to review a 2023 New York jury verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E Jean Carroll. The justices provided no explanation or reasoning. The decision leaves intact the $5m civil judgment. A three-judge appellate panel had previously upheld the verdict in 2024, rejecting Trump's claims the trial was unfair due to evidence of his alleged past sexual misconduct being admitted.
• Supreme Court declines to review $5 million verdict against Trump — The Supreme Court has decided not to review a $5 million verdict against former President Donald Trump. This decision leaves in place the lower court's ruling, which found Trump liable for damages. The refusal to hear the case means that the verdict stands as is, without further appeal to the nation's highest court. This outcome is significant as it upholds the accountability of a former president in a legal matter involving substantial financial penalties.
• Supreme Court denies certiorari in Trump v. Carroll (defamation case) — The Supreme Court denied the petition for a writ of certiorari in Trump, President of U.S. v. Carroll, E. Jean (Docket 25-573). This case involved a defamation suit brought by E. Jean Carroll against former President Trump. The denial allows the lower court judgment to stand.
• U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear Trump's appeal in Carroll civil case — The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Donald Trump's appeal of the 2023 civil jury verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming E Jean Carroll. The decision came after a three-judge appellate panel upheld the verdict in 2024 and rejected Trump's arguments that the trial was unfair. Trump had asked the Supreme Court in 2025 to review and overturn the verdict. The Court's refusal to hear the case leaves the $5 million judgment (now $5.8 million with interest) intact.
• Supreme Court declines to hear Trump's appeal in Carroll defamation case — On June 30, 2026, the United States Supreme Court declined to hear Donald Trump's appeal of a 2023 jury verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll. This decision upholds the jury's award of $5 million in damages to Carroll. Trump's appeal argued against the admission of testimony from other women and the Access Hollywood tape as evidence, but the Supreme Court found these arguments unworthy of consideration. This marks a significant legal defeat for Trump, concluding a lengthy legal battle and smear campaign against Carroll.
• Supreme Court releases opinion in Trump v. Barbara (25-365) — The Supreme Court released an official slip opinion in Trump v. Barbara. Docket number(s): 25-365.
• E Jean Carroll files motion for expedited enforcement of $5m judgment against Trump — E Jean Carroll's legal team filed papers in federal court in Manhattan requesting that Judge Lewis Kaplan order Donald Trump to pay the $5 million judgment from a 2023 jury verdict finding Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The filing came one day after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Trump's appeal of the civil case. Judge Kaplan agreed to expedite the motion, with Trump's response due by July 7, 2026. Carroll's lawyers argued Trump has repeatedly delayed payment and continued making defamatory remarks about Carroll.
• Supreme Court declines to hear Trump's appeal in E. Jean Carroll case — The United States Supreme Court declined to hear former President Trump's appeal of a 2023 jury verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll. This decision upholds the lower court's ruling, requiring Trump to pay Carroll $5 million. The case has been ongoing since 2019, with Trump repeatedly mocking and insulting Carroll. The Supreme Court's refusal to hear the appeal marks the end of Trump's legal options in this matter, solidifying the jury's decision against him.

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• Federal judge orders Trump administration to explain tarp obscuring Kennedy Center facade — US District Judge Christopher Cooper ordered the Trump administration to report by 31 July on the purpose and status of a tarp and scaffolding installed at the Kennedy Center after workers removed Donald Trump's name from the building's facade in a predawn operation. The tarp was placed following Cooper's court order requiring removal of Trump's name, which had been unlawfully added in December. The administration faces scrutiny for what critics characterize as obstruction of the restoration of the Kennedy Center's original name.

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• Kennedy Center board defied court order to remove Trump's name — The board of the Kennedy Center, packed with Trump loyalists who made him chair, changed the building's name despite a court order requiring removal of Trump's name and specific congressional language prohibiting additional memorials in the center's public areas. The board missed the court deadline by twelve hours, then certified compliance while covering the portico facade with a tarp to obscure whether Trump's name remained visible.

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• Trump-appointed Kennedy Center board voted to fight order removing Trump's name — A federal judge previously ruled that Congress named the Kennedy Center and only Congress can rename it, ordered Trump's name removed by June 13, and blocked a planned two-year closure of the building. This week, with the deadline looming, the Trump-appointed board voted to fight the order. The judge refused to pause the order, writing that the public is rarely served by letting the government keep breaking the law.
• Appeals court rejects emergency stay of Trump name removal from Kennedy Center — An appeals court in Washington DC rejected an emergency appeal filed by Justice Department lawyers and Trump's hand-picked Kennedy Center board seeking to pause a federal judge's order to remove Trump's name from the Kennedy Center facade. US District Judge Christopher Cooper had ruled in May that Trump's name was illegally added to the iconic performing arts venue and ordered its removal within two weeks. Workers began removal efforts on June 12, 2026, despite the emergency appeal filed hours before the deadline.
• Federal judge orders removal of Trump's name from Kennedy Center facade; workers comply after emergency appeal denied — US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that Trump's name was illegally added to the Kennedy Center's facade and ordered its removal by Friday, June 13, 2026. Trump's board had renamed the venue in December 2026 after seizing control in February. After Trump's legal team filed emergency appeals on Friday afternoon, both were denied. Workers removed the signage early Saturday morning behind tarps. The judge found that only Congress, which designated the venue as a Kennedy memorial in 1964, could authorize a name change.
• Federal judge permits UFC event at White House despite legal challenge — Attorneys from the Public Integrity Project filed a lawsuit to block a UFC fight scheduled for the White House lawn on Trump's 80th birthday (billed as a 250th anniversary celebration). On Friday, a federal judge ruled the event could proceed. The lawsuit challenged the appropriateness and use of taxpayer funds for the mixed martial arts event, which Dana White said was Trump's idea. Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized the venue but expressed hope the event would be successful.
• Kennedy Center removes Trump signage following court order — Charles M. Floca, Trump-appointed head of the Kennedy Center, certified compliance with a court order requiring removal of all signage renaming the center after Trump. The center removed physical signs from the building and grounds, updated its website, removed Trump references from letterhead and promotional materials, and withdrew trademark applications. Workers installed scaffolding and tarps overnight to conceal the portico wall where Trump's name had been placed, with removal work occurring after 3:00 AM. The facade remained covered throughout the day while the center evaluated further legal options.
• Representative Beatty sued to block Kennedy Center renaming — Representative Joyce Beatty (D-OH), who as an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center board had been sidelined, filed suit to stop the renaming. She won the case, and Judge Cooper ordered Trump's name removed from the building, all signage, stationery, merchandise, and related materials before midnight on June 12, 2026.

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• DOJ argues courts lack authority to block White House ballroom construction — The Trump administration asked the DC Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse a lower court decision blocking construction of a $400 million ballroom and underground bunker at the White House's demolished East Wing. A DOJ lawyer argued that only Congress, not courts, has authority to halt the project, citing national security imperatives. The National Trust for Historic Preservation had sued after Trump ordered demolition without completing required environmental and historic preservation reviews. The Senate had removed $1 billion in Secret Service funding for the project from a spending bill.
• Trump's DOJ argues government can demolish Statue of Liberty without legal recourse — In an appeals court argument over White House ballroom construction, Trump's Department of Justice argued that the federal government has the right to bulldoze the Statue of Liberty and that once demolition is complete, no court would have standing to stop it or provide remedy. When Judge Millett asked if people could obtain an injunction before destruction, the DOJ answered affirmatively that nothing could be done. The DOJ also argued courts cannot stop the ballroom construction even if the administration violated the law, claiming only Congress can intervene.

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• Judge orders removal of Trump's name from Kennedy Center; blocks summer closure — US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts cannot be renamed without an act of Congress, ordering the Trump administration to remove all signage bearing Trump's name within 14 days. Cooper also temporarily blocked the center's proposed two-year closure for renovations, finding the board's decision "ill-informed and seemingly preordained." Trump responded by instructing the Department of Commerce to arrange a full transfer of the institution to Congress.
• Federal judge orders Trump's name removed from Kennedy Center — A federal judge blocked Trump's effort to shut down the Kennedy Center and ordered his name removed from the building. Trump responded with a multi-thousand-word statement on Truth Social blaming the judge, the judge's wife, Barack Obama, Eric Holder, Lisa Page, Russia investigations, E. Jean Carroll, tariffs, birthright citizenship, and the broader court system. Trump declared the Kennedy Center will "probably never open again" and stated he wants to relinquish control of the center entirely.
• Trump posted social media screed attacking Kennedy Center ruling — President Trump responded to Judge Cooper's order to remove his name from the Kennedy Center with a lengthy social media post in which he claimed he alone was "saving a dying Performing Arts Center" and stated he would "transfer this failing Institution back to" Congress. Trump also complained that the New York Times was criticizing the "magnificent restoration of the Reflecting Pool" and asserted that no president had been treated as unfairly by the courts as he had been.
• Trump threatened federal judge over Kennedy Center drone port project — Trump attacked a federal judge who blocked his planned Kennedy Center renovations, which included a drone port to be built in the White House ballroom. The President's threats against the judge occurred as he simultaneously expressed desire to cancel the "Freedom 250" anniversary celebration and replace it with a MAGA rally after several artists declined to participate.
• Kennedy Center begins removing president's name from signage and materials — The Kennedy Center's general counsel directed staff to remove the president's name from signage, letterhead, and materials by June 12, after U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled on May 29 that the board lacked authority to rename the institution and also blocked its planned two-year closure. The center said it is evaluating its legal options. The ruling restored the principle that public institutions are governed by rules that do not bend to a single person.
• Trump's name removed from Kennedy Center — Lawyers for the Trump Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts instructed staff to immediately begin switching the facility's name back to its original title, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The instructions, laid out in a memo sent by the center's general counsel, represent the first official signal that the national arts hub is complying with a federal court order to drop Trump's name and reconsider plans to close for two years of renovations. Changes to interior and exterior signage and furniture carrying Trump's name must be switched back by the following Friday.

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• Federal judge issues temporary order blocking "anti-weaponization" fund — A federal judge issued a temporary order preventing the Trump administration from establishing the nearly $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund while a lawsuit seeking to stop it is considered. The fund, which originated from a settlement after Trump sued the IRS over disclosure of his tax returns, had been proposed to compensate individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol attack.
• Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump's $1.8bn Anti-Weaponization Fund — US District Judge Leonie Brinkema issued a temporary restraining order on Friday barring the Trump administration from transferring money into or taking further action on a $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund." The fund was created to settle a $10 billion lawsuit filed by Trump and his sons over leaked tax returns, without the government mounting a legal defense. The order preserves the status quo pending legal arguments in a challenge brought by Democracy Forward and other plaintiffs, preventing irreversible disbursement of taxpayer funds.
• Judge Leonie Brinkema temporarily blocked Anti-Weaponization Fund — U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema for the Eastern District of Virginia issued a temporary order halting the Department of Justice from creating, operating, or distributing funds from the so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund, a $1.776 billion slush fund established by the Trump administration to compensate those convicted of crimes related to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The order prohibits the administration from transferring money to the fund, considering claims for payment, or paying out any funds. Brinkema scheduled a hearing on the case for June 12. The plaintiffs challenging the fund are people and entities prosecuted or threatened by the Trump administration who argue they are not being treated equally with Trump loyalists in compensation claims.
• Motion granted — Floyd v. Department of Justice (E.D. Va.) 1:26-cv-01399 — Judge Brinkema enjoined Defendants from taking any action related to the creation or operation of the Anti-Weaponization Fund, including transferring money to the Fund, considering submitted claims, or disbursing any funds. Judge Brinkema also denied the Plaintiffs' motion for expedited briefing and granted the Defendants' request for additional time.
• Federal Judge Brinkema temporarily blocked Trump's $1.776 billion fund for fraudsters and insurrectionists — Federal Judge Brinkema issued a temporary block on any further action involving Trump's $1.776 billion fund, preserving the status quo while litigation moves forward. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for June 12, 2026. The fund was characterized as being for "fraudsters and insurrectionists."
• Federal judge temporarily blocked Trump's $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund — U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Department of Justice from taking further action on the creation or operation of the Anti-Weaponization Fund, a $1.8 billion taxpayer-funded initiative. The order blocks the transfer of money to the fund, consideration of claims, and disbursement of funds while plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction is pending. Judge Brinkema scheduled a hearing for June 12 to hear further arguments on the case.
• Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump's $1.776 Billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" — A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration from creating or operating a planned $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" designed to compensate individuals who claim they were wrongfully targeted by the government, potentially including those Trump pardoned for Jan. 6 involvement. The order prohibits consideration of submitted claims and disbursement of funds pending a June 12 hearing.

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• Supreme Court decision impacts Voting Rights Act — The Supreme Court issued a decision that significantly impacts the Voting Rights Act, altering the legal framework that has protected voting rights for decades. This ruling has broad implications for how elections are conducted and how voting rights are enforced across the United States. The decision reflects a shift in the judicial interpretation of voting rights protections, potentially affecting voter access and election fairness.
• Freedom House and V-DEM release 2026 reports documenting global democratic decline — Freedom House released its 2026 report subtitled "The Growing Shadow of Autocracy," finding that freedom continues to decline across the globe. Simultaneously, V-DEM released its 2026 report subtitled "Unraveling the Democratic Era?," delivering the same message. Both organizations documented rapid deterioration in freedom under Donald Trump's second administration, including attacks on free and fair elections, persecution of critics in the press, and the rise of a violent and unaccountable security state.