Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• White House Office of Administration begins preparations to paint Eisenhower Executive Office Building white — Deputy Assistant to the President Heather Martin filed a declaration on Monday stating that the White House Office of Administration was beginning preparations to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building white. The administration is asserting that the White House Office of Administration has taken control of the building from the General Services Administration (GSA), which normally handles federal building maintenance and is subject to the National Historic Preservation Act and National Environmental Policy Act review requirements. More than two dozen experts have sued to stop the plan, arguing the paint could irreversibly damage the stone and create ongoing maintenance costs.

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• Advisory Council on Historic Preservation votes to advance revisions to Section 106 of National Historic Preservation Act — On July 25, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, composed of 21 Trump appointees on a 24-member board, voted to move forward with dramatic revisions to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Section 106 currently requires federal agencies to "take into account" the impact of their actions on historic properties and mandates consultation with the public, local, state, and tribal governments. The proposed revisions would eliminate these requirements, allowing federal agencies to proceed with projects affecting historic sites without mandatory public input or review.

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• Trump administration releases executive order directing warning signs at Smithsonian's National Museum of American History — President Trump released an executive order on July 25, 2026, directing federal officials to install signs outside the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History informing visitors that the museum presents history inaccurately. The order cites a 162-page White House report released July 4 that accuses the museum of "extreme political activism," "anti-White activism," "transgender activism," and supporting illegal immigration. The signs are to direct visitors to "locations and resources for accurate information regarding America's history" without specifying where those resources are located.
• Executive Order on Smithsonian Institution — On July 24, 2026, President Trump issued Executive Order 14415, titled "Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution." The order directed the National Park Service to place temporary signage outside the Smithsonian to correct what the administration deemed inaccurate information presented inside the museum. This action follows the release of a critical report on the museum's portrayal of American history.

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• Trump orders Interior Department to display signs outside Smithsonian Museum of American History — President Trump issued an order directing Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to coordinate with the National Park Service and White House domestic policy staff to install temporary signs outside the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The signs are to notify visitors that museum exhibits require renovation and direct them to alternative sources for American history information. A separate directive requires signs criticizing the museum's commemoration of the Declaration of Independence during its 250th anniversary. The order follows Trump's broader campaign against the Smithsonian, which he accuses of politicizing history by emphasizing American injustices rather than triumphant moments.
• Trump signs executive order directing federal agencies to install signage at Smithsonian's National Museum of American History warning visitors of alleged "ideological capture" and mandating exhibit corrections. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14416 on July 24, 2026, directing the Secretary of the Interior, OMB Director, GSA Administrator, and Domestic Policy Assistant to use all available authorities to "restore trust" in the Smithsonian Institution. The order mandates installation of temporary signage on National Park Service–maintained sidewalks and walkways warning visitors that Museum exhibits reflect "ideological capture" and directing them to alternative sources for "accurate" American history. The order also requires temporary exhibits or signage correcting what the administration deems inaccurate information, citing the Museum's alleged failure to honor the Declaration of Independence signers during the 250th anniversary year.
• Trump issues executive order directing federal agencies to "restore trust" in Smithsonian Institution and install signage criticizing its exhibits — President Trump issued Executive Order 14254 on July 24, 2026, directing the Secretary of the Interior, OMB Director, GSA Administrator, and Domestic Policy Assistant to use all available authorities to address findings in a Domestic Policy Council report alleging "ideological capture" at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. The order mandates installation of temporary signage on National Park Service-maintained walkways warning visitors of alleged bias in museum exhibits and directing them to alternative historical resources. The order frames the Smithsonian's approach to American history as advancing "social justice" rather than presenting history as "shared national inheritance."
• Trump signed executive order directing federal agencies to install signage at Smithsonian museum warning of "ideological capture" — President Trump signed Executive Order 14416 on July 24, 2026, directing the Secretary of the Interior, OMB Director, GSA Administrator, and Domestic Policy Assistant to use all available authorities to "restore trust" in the Smithsonian Institution and its National Museum of American History. The order mandates installation of temporary signage on National Park Service-maintained walkways informing visitors of findings from a Domestic Policy Council report titled "Saving America's Story," which claims the museum presents American history as a tool for "social justice" rather than as "shared national inheritance." The order also directs installation of corrective exhibits or signage on NPS land.
• White House issued fact sheet promoting executive order on Smithsonian Institution governance — The White House published a fact sheet on July 24, 2026, describing an executive order signed by President Trump directing the Secretary of the Interior, OMB Director, GSA Administrator, and Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy to "restore trust" in the Smithsonian Institution. The order directs installation of temporary signage and exhibits correcting what the administration characterizes as "inaccurate information" in the National Museum of American History. The fact sheet claims the Smithsonian has been captured by "extreme political activism, rooted in Marxism" and asserts the order aims to restore "truth" to the nation's historical narrative.
• White House issues "What They Are Saying" compilation on Ratepayer Protection Pledge expansion — The White House published a compilation of statements from utility executives, state governors, federal officials, and industry groups endorsing an expansion of the administration's Ratepayer Protection Pledge announced at EPA Headquarters on July 24, 2026. The pledge commits signatories to ensure that data center and AI infrastructure costs do not increase electricity rates for existing residential and business customers. The document presents no new policy instrument but aggregates third-party endorsements of the pledge previously announced.

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• Stephen Miller Launches Global Campaign Against "Radical Left Terrorism" — White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller delivered a speech launching the Trump administration's global campaign against so-called "radical left terrorism." The speech was characterized as "characteristically apocalyptic and authoritarian" and served to advance Miller's ideological agenda against perceived political opponents.
• Deputy White House Chief of Staff Miller delivered speech dehumanizing political opponents based on appearance — Stephen Miller addressed State Department attendees and claimed that antifa demonstrators are uniformly "deformed" in appearance, dress, and mannerism, stating "not one of the people that is demonstrating looks like a normal person" and attributing their appearance to inner hatred. Miller's rhetoric directly paralleled language from the "Unhumans" book introduction, which describes left-wing opponents as "ugly deformed freaks."

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• Senator Blackburn releases anti-China campaign ad destroying fortune cookies — Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), campaigning for Tennessee governor, released a campaign advertisement in which she destroys fortune cookies in a Chinese restaurant to demonstrate her anti-communist credentials. The ad's narrator states: "Marsha Blackburn worked with President Trump to take on Communist China. As Governor, Marsha will fight to protect TN land from Chinese front companies, close loopholes, and hunt down every communist who tries to defy us." Blackburn states: "It doesn't take a fortune cookie to figure it out. Here in TN, we're going to stop Communist China and protect TN land." The bulletin notes that fortune cookies were invented in California.

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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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• Trump posted video depicting himself on Mt. Rushmore sculpture — Before his trip to South Dakota, Trump posted a video showing his own likeness on a golden sculpture of Mt. Rushmore, alongside images of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, with voiceover stating "I will be the greatest president for many, many years to come." The video opened with text reading "Art of the vision" over an American flag.

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• White House releases 162-page report attacking Smithsonian Institution's historical interpretation — The White House Domestic Policy Council released a 162-page report on July 4, 2026, arguing that the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum of American History "cannot be trusted to tell America's story honestly." The report criticizes the museum for "extreme political activism," "anti-White activism," "transgender activism," and supporting illegal immigration. It accuses the museum of presenting slavery too negatively and failing to adequately credit Christian moral philosophy in the founding. The report recommends exhibits be altered to reflect its findings.

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• Trump delivers campaign-style speech at 250th anniversary celebration in Washington DC — President Trump delivered a late-night speech on the National Mall during the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations on July 4, 2026. The event was delayed by severe weather, including a dangerous heatwave and thunderstorm that forced evacuation of attendees for over two hours. Trump used the occasion to promote his "golden age of America" message, attack progressives as "communists," repeat unfounded election fraud allegations, and claim the accompanying fireworks display would be the largest in world history. His living predecessors notably did not attend.
• President delivered campaign speech at July 4 National Mall event, first presidential July 4 address there since 1951 — President Trump delivered a campaign-style speech on the National Mall during the July 4 celebration, calling for voting restrictions, proof-of-citizenship requirements, limiting mail ballots, and warnings about communism. No president had given a July 4 speech on the National Mall since 1951. Trump claimed 422,000 people attended before a storm and 150,000 returned for the speech, though no independent confirmation was provided. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found many Americans felt the 250th anniversary events had become too political.

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• Federal grant funded "Freedom Trucks" with sanitized history exhibits — Six traveling "Freedom Trucks" fanned out for the 250th anniversary with exhibits created by conservative groups including Hillsdale College and PragerU, featuring AI-generated historical figures and messaging that rights are a "gift from God." The trucks received a $14 million federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services paired with $10 million from Freedom 250. The exhibits omit slavery, Native removal, labor history, and civil rights, presenting a narrow, sanitized version of American history using public funds.

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• House Democratic subcommittee releases report alleging Trump administration hijacked US 250th anniversary celebration for corruption, partisan gain, and ideological purposes — A House Democratic natural resources subcommittee released an interim report titled "From Vanity to Insanity" alleging that the Trump administration orchestrated a hostile takeover of the US semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) celebration. The report documents alleged corruption, wire fraud, pay-to-play schemes, and misuse of the National Park Foundation (NPF) through a shadow corporation called Freedom 250. The administration allegedly diverted resources from the non-partisan America250 Foundation, installed campaign operatives on the NPF board, misled donors, steered federal contracts to Trump loyalists, harvested voter data through event registration, and replaced civic programming with Christian nationalist content while erasing historical narratives about slavery and Indigenous removal from national parks.

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• Congressional investigation found Trump administration misused 250th anniversary celebration — A congressional investigation titled "From Vanity to Insanity: How the WH Cheated the American People Out of Their 250th Birthday" found that Trump staged a hostile takeover of the United States' 250th anniversary celebration to enrich political allies, harvest voter data, and promote Christian nationalist ideology. The report outlined a web of alleged corruption, wire fraud, and pay-to-play schemes orchestrated through a shadow corporation embedded within the National Park Service.
• House Democratic subcommittee releases report alleging Trump administration hijacked US 250th anniversary celebration for corruption, partisan gain, and ideological purposes — A House Democratic natural resources subcommittee released an interim report titled "From Vanity to Insanity" alleging that the Trump administration orchestrated a hostile takeover of the US semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) celebration. The report documents alleged corruption, wire fraud, pay-to-play schemes, and misuse of the National Park Foundation (NPF) through a shadow corporation called Freedom 250. The administration allegedly diverted resources from the non-partisan America250 Foundation, installed campaign operatives on the NPF board, misled donors, steered federal contracts to Trump loyalists, harvested voter data through event registration, and replaced civic programming with Christian nationalist content while erasing historical narratives about slavery and Indigenous removal from national parks.
• House Democrats released report on Freedom 250 corruption allegations — Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee, led by Rep. Jared Huffman, released a report titled "From Vanity to Insanity" accusing Trump's allies of turning the nation's 250th birthday into a "hotbed of corruption and self-enrichment." The report alleges that when the bipartisan America250 commission would not bend to Trump, the White House created a rival group, Freedom 250, and placed it inside the National Park Foundation to avoid transparency rules. The report describes alleged wire fraud (donors directed to Freedom 250 instead of America250), selling presidential access through sponsorship packages, soliciting foreign money, and steering contracts to Trump allies. Freedom 250 denies the allegations.

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• Trump announced July 4th rally at Lincoln Memorial, converting national holiday to campaign event — Trump announced a July 4th rally at the Lincoln Memorial that will replace the traditional nonpartisan Capitol celebration. The event will feature more than 300 military band members, what Trump called "the largest fireworks show in history," and Trump as the keynote speaker. The traditional July 4th celebration at the Capitol has been moved to July 3 to accommodate Trump's rally. The national holiday has been converted into a Trump campaign event, with the algae-filled Reflecting Pool as a backdrop.
• Trump announced July 4 rally at Lincoln Memorial — Early on June 16, Trump posted on social media announcing plans to host "the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all, a 'TRIBUTE TO AMERICA'" on July 4 at the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

Supporting reports

• 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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• Federal judge orders Trump administration to restore removed national park historical displays — US District Judge Angel Kelley ruled that the Trump administration must reinstate history and science materials removed from national monuments and parks pursuant to a March 2025 executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." The order had directed removal of exhibits referencing slavery, civil rights, Indigenous history, and climate change, which Kelley found constituted "censorship and sanitization" and told "half-truths." The administration was given 21 days to comply.
• Federal judge struck down Trump administration's removal of slavery and civil rights history from national parks — Federal Judge Angel Kelley in Massachusetts issued a ruling Friday striking down the Trump administration's effort to remove historical markers from national parks under the March 2025 "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" executive order. The order had directed the Interior Department to remove content deemed to "inappropriately disparage" Americans, resulting in park rangers being ordered to discard educational materials about slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, harm to Indigenous people, and climate change. Targeted items included an 1863 image of enslaved man Peter Gordon at Fort Pulaski National Park, an exhibit about enslaved people at George Washington's home, Indigenous history displays at Golden Gate National Park, and a climate change marker at Fort Sumter. Judge Kelley ruled the government's stewardship of park sites "carries a responsibility to present history in full rather than in favored fragments." The Trump administration announced it will appeal.

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• Trump hosts UFC event on White House South Lawn for 80th birthday — President Trump organized and hosted UFC Freedom 250, a professional mixed martial arts event, on the White House South Lawn on June 13, 2026, featuring seven fights including a lightweight championship unification bout. The event drew approximately 4,300 attendees, including 1,200 active-duty military personnel selected under strict fitness criteria. A watchdog group's legal challenge to block the event was denied by a judge. Trump had purchased up to $50,000 in stock in TKO Group Holdings, the UFC's parent company, earlier in 2026.
• Stunt performer performs backflip over UFC octagon on White House South Lawn — Stunt performer Travis Pastrana performed a backflip on a dirt bike over the UFC octagon fight arena positioned on the South Lawn of the White House. Other riders performed additional stunts, with all activities filmed against the facade of the White House building.
• 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.
• Judge Mehta rejected lawsuit challenging UFC White House event — Judge Amit P. Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia rejected a lawsuit filed by a political activist and military veteran from Virginia seeking to stop the White House cage fight event. The plaintiff challenged the event as "deeply corrupt," arguing it uses national monuments to promote private businesses in which Trump holds financial interests and that the administration improperly invoked the 250th anniversary to bypass environmental review and congressional approval. Judge Mehta ruled that the plaintiff lacked standing to challenge the event and that the time and money invested in the event outweighed any temporary harm the plaintiff suffered.
• Federal agencies and UFC invested $60 million in White House cage fight event — Federal agencies and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) are investing at least $60 million toward a White House cage fight event scheduled for Trump's 80th birthday on Sunday, June 14, 2026. The funding has paid for a fighting arena on the South Lawn of the White House and approximately 900 workers since May 20, 2026. Trump owns significant stock in TKO Holding Group, the parent company of UFC.
• Trump holds $60 million UFC fight on White House South Lawn funded by corporate entity — Trump marked his 80th birthday by holding a UFC fight on the White House's South Lawn, an event that cost at least $60 million paid for by UFC's parent company TKO and required assistance from more than seven federal agencies. Some fighters received bonuses paid in cryptocurrency from the Trump family's World Liberty Financial. The event blurred the line between private entertainment and official use of federal resources and presidential facilities.
• UFC announces fighter bonuses in Trump family cryptocurrency at White House event — The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced it will pay performance bonuses to fighters in USD1 stablecoins issued by World Liberty Financial, a Trump family cryptocurrency venture co-founded by Donald Trump and his sons in 2024. The event, UFC Freedom 250, is scheduled for June 14 on the White House south lawn on Trump's birthday. World Liberty Financial is listed as the "Presenting Partner" of a $250,000 bonus pool. The arrangement directly connects Trump family financial interests to a high-profile government property event, raising conflict-of-interest concerns despite White House claims that Trump's assets are held in a trust managed by his children.
• White House hosts UFC fight event with corporate sponsors and Trump family business involvement — The White House hosted a professional UFC fight card on Trump's 80th birthday, featuring seven matches on the South Lawn. The event included sponsor logos from crypto platforms (Stake, Polymarket, Crypto.com), a Trump family stablecoin (World Liberty Financial), and other corporate entities. Fighter Josh Hokit made a false conspiracy claim about Michelle Obama during a post-fight interview. A legal challenge to block the event failed on Friday. The broadcast aired on Paramount+, controlled by billionaire Larry Ellison, a Trump ally.
• UFC event held on White House grounds using Bicentennial exemption — Trump held Ultimate Fighting Championship matches on the South Lawn of the White House on June 15, circumventing restrictions on using White House grounds for such events by claiming the event honored the nation's 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, for which Congress had suspended normal regulations. The event was sponsored by World Liberty Financial, the Trump family's cryptocurrency company.
• UFC fighter Josh Hokit makes sexist, racist, transphobic statement about Michelle Obama at White House event; Trump does not condemn — At a UFC event on the White House south lawn on Sunday, June 15, 2026, fighter Josh Hokit shouted a false, sexist, racist conspiracy theory about former first lady Michelle Obama into a microphone in front of President Trump. Trump appeared to half-smile in response while some audience members laughed. The White House did not respond to requests for comment. Despite calls from Trump allies, media figures, and civil society for the president to condemn the statement, Trump remained silent on the matter.
• Allegations of Cheating in White House UFC Fights — President’s son says screenshots that appeared to show him asking analyst Daniel Cormier for information were ‘fake’
• World Liberty Financial became UFC event sponsor and received cash payments — On June 15 at 9:30 p.m., the UFC issued a press release announcing that World Liberty Financial, the Trump family's cryptocurrency company overseen by Zach Witkoff, would be the "Presenting Partner" of a new $250,000 Performance of the Night bonus pool. Under this arrangement, UFC gives cash to World Liberty Financial, which distributes cryptocurrency to fighters and invests the cash in U.S. Treasury bonds while keeping the interest.

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• Trump posted AI images depicting authoritarian iconography — Trump's social media account posted a series of AI-generated images depicting Trump alongside historical figures (George Washington, Mount Rushmore presidents, King Charles, Xi Jinping), as a superhero admiral, dunking over Governor Kathy Hochul, and in 1950s-style Dick and Jane imagery showing an all-white America labeled "AMERICA IS BACK!" He also posted images contrasting "Biden's America" (depicting theft, violence, illegal immigration) with "Trump's solutions" (showing imprisonment, arrest, deportation).

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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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• Artists withdrew from Trump America 250 anniversary concert — Artists booked for Trump's America 250 anniversary concert withdrew after learning the event was backed by Trump. Young MC, known for the song "Bust a Move," stated clearly he was never told about the political involvement and is not performing. The withdrawals indicate artists' refusal to participate in events they perceive as political propaganda.
• Multiple artists withdraw from Trump's Great American State Fair — Several artists announced they would not perform at Trump's "Great American State Fair" scheduled for June 25–July 10 on the National Mall after learning the event was politically affiliated despite organizers' claims of non-partisanship. Young MC stated he was never informed of political involvement and withdrew. Morris Day and The Time, Milli Vanilli, and The Commodores all declined to perform, with The Commodores stating they "choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party." Martina McBride withdrew after discovering the event was "misleading" about its non-partisan nature. Only Vanilla Ice confirmed attendance among the announced performers.
• Multiple artists withdrew from Trump's Freedom 250 concert citing misleading nonpartisan description — Multiple musical artists withdrew from Trump's Freedom 250 concert on May 29, 2026, including Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, Young MC, Morris Day and the Time, and the Commodores. Each cited the same reason: they were told the event was nonpartisan but discovered it had political involvement. McBride stated she was "presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading." Michaels said it was described as "a celebration of our country through music." Young MC said artists were "never told about any political involvement." The Commodores stated their music has "always been their voice" and they choose not to affiliate publicly with any single political party.
• Multiple artists canceled performances at Trump's 250th birthday event — More than a dozen artists announced cancellations of performances scheduled for President Trump's 250th birthday celebration event in Washington, D.C., scheduled for next month. Bret Michaels stated the event had evolved into something "much more divisive" than the celebration of country and veterans he had agreed to. By late May, only three performers remained committed: C+C Music Factory, Flo Rida, and Vanilla Ice. Kennedy Center Director Ric Grenell responded to artist Martina McBride's withdrawal by calling her a "woke lefty."

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• Trump administration proposes triumphal arch at Arlington Memorial Bridge — The Trump administration has proposed constructing a triumphal arch at a rotary on the Virginia side of the Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C., positioned between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. The arch's placement would obscure the Lincoln Memorial while framing Arlington House, the mansion built by enslaved Americans and formerly owned by Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The structure does not frame the nation's honored dead but instead frames the home of the Confederate general whose armies killed them.

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• Trump administration held taxpayer-funded evangelical worship event on National Mall as part of 250th anniversary celebration — Thousands gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for an eight-hour taxpayer-funded evangelical worship event called "Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving." President Trump, Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Gabbard, and Defense Secretary Hegseth spoke on video; House Speaker Mike Johnson spoke in person. Nineteen clergy and faith leaders participated, nearly all Christian evangelicals. The event promoted the claim that the United States was founded as a Christian nation, contradicting the 1796 Treaty of Tripoli and the Founders' explicit separation of church and state.
• "Rededicate 250" National Jubilee of Prayer held in Washington, DC — A religious and political event called the "Rededicate 250" National Jubilee of Prayer was held in Washington, DC on May 17, 2026. Speaker Mike Johnson delivered a prayer rejecting what he characterized as "sinister ideologies" and attacks on American history and spiritual identity. Trump submitted a prerecorded message that was widely criticized for poor audio and visual quality. The event featured religious leaders including Franklin Graham and Eric Metaxas speaking on themes of national spiritual renewal and opposition to what they termed cultural degradation.

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• Trump announced plans for "National Garden of American Heroes" in West Potomac Park — Trump announced via social media that he intends to place his "National Garden of American Heroes" in West Potomac Park. He referenced a 22-foot gold statue of himself at his Doral golf club and compared the project to China's Ballroom, stating the U.S. facility would be "the finest facility of its kind anywhere in the U.S.A." with a scheduled opening around September 2028. The announcement came hours after his return from China.
• Freedom 250 planned events showcasing Trump rather than historical themes for 250th anniversary — Freedom 250 planned anniversary celebration events that prioritized showcasing President Trump over significant historical events and themes. Planned events included an IndyCar race around the National Mall, construction of a triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial, an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the White House lawn on Trump's 80th birthday in June, and the "Rededicate 250" evangelical worship event.
• Trump administration created Freedom 250 organization to oversee 250th anniversary celebrations outside congressional oversight — In December 2025, President Trump created Freedom 250, a new organization to manage the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations, bypassing the bipartisan America250 commission established by Congress in 2016. The Trump administration allocated $100 million in federal appropriations to Freedom 250 compared to $50 million to America250. Freedom 250 solicited corporate donations in exchange for access to Trump from sponsors including ExxonMobil, Mastercard, Deloitte, Palantir, and IndyCar, with donors permitted to request anonymity.

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• Knox County Schools removes Alex Haley's Roots from library shelves under Tennessee Age-Appropriate Materials Act — Knox County Schools (KCS) in Tennessee removed Alex Haley's Roots from school library shelves in May 2026, citing Tennessee's 2022 Age-Appropriate Materials Act. The district's review committee determined a passage in the novel's 84th chapter was not "age appropriate" under state law. KCS spokesperson Carly Harrington stated the decision reflected adherence to state law rather than judgment on the book's literary or cultural value. The material remains available for classroom instruction but is no longer accessible on library shelves.

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• Appeal filed — Institute for Applied Ecology v. Burgum (D. Or.) 6:25-cv-02364 — The government appealed the March 12, 2026, preliminary injunction to the Ninth Circuit (Case No. 26-3011 ).
• Complaint filed — Cultural Landscape Foundation v. U.S. Department of the Interior — The Cultural Landscape Foundation and Charles A. Birnbaum filed a complaint in D.D.C. challenging the National Park Service's decision to resurface the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool basin with vivid blue coating without following mandatory consultation and environmental review processes. The NPS awarded a $6.9 million no-bid contract in mid-April 2026 without completing required procedures under the National Historic Preservation Act and National Environmental Policy Act. Plaintiffs allege violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and seek injunctive relief, vacatur of agency decisions, and restoration of the pool's historic elements.
• Federal Lawsuit Filed Over Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool — A federal lawsuit has been filed concerning the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The details of the lawsuit have not been disclosed, but it involves federal oversight and management of the historic site. This legal action could have implications for federal property management and public access to national monuments.
• Former DOJ employees filed emergency lawsuit to halt Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool repainting — A litigation team of former DOJ employees filed an emergency lawsuit seeking to halt and reverse Trump's repainting of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The suit alleged that the administration engaged a swimming pool contractor to resurface the pool with vivid blue coating without following congressionally mandatory Section 106 procedures required for changes to historic properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The lawsuit noted the pool was a character-defining feature of the historic landscape and the site of the 1963 March on Washington. The contract was awarded as a $6.9 million no-bid deal to Atlantic Industrial Coatings, which had performed work at Trump's golf club in Sterling, Virginia.