Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Conservative journalist Pedro Gonzalez criticized Vice President JD Vance's defense of the ad — Conservative journalist Pedro Gonzalez published a statement characterizing Vice President JD Vance's willingness to downplay child sexual abuse as a betrayal of principle. Gonzalez recounted his earlier interactions with Vance and described Vance's evolution from a "softer populist" attempting to "humanize" Trumpism to someone willing to defend content that could discourage abuse victims from coming forward. Gonzalez concluded that Vance would be remembered as a footnote in MAGA history as someone who "sold his soul for a crumb of power."

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• Trump endorsed Ramaswamy's ad attacking Acton using estranged mother's allegations — Trump publicly endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy's Ohio gubernatorial campaign ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother making negative claims about her. At an Iowa rally, Trump stated he wished he could have run such an ad. When confronted by NBC reporter Monica Alba about the ad's use of allegations involving Acton's stepfather's rape charges and 50-year estrangement, Trump dismissed the context, refused to acknowledge the abuse allegations' relevance, and called Alba "a horrible little reporter." Ramaswamy defended the ad as addressing "lying" rather than abuse. The exchange highlighted Trump's willingness to amplify personal attacks regardless of underlying trauma or factual complexity.

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• Vice President JD Vance made inflammatory statement at Nebraska campaign rally — Vice President JD Vance stated at a campaign rally in Nebraska that "This Democrat Party needs an ass kicking." The remark represents escalated partisan rhetoric during the final weeks of the midterm election campaign.

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• Corporate PACs and executives funded Ramaswamy campaign ad attacking abuse survivor — Popular Information's analysis of campaign finance records reveals that Ramaswamy's campaign, which produced and aired the attack ad featuring abuse survivor Amy Acton's mother, received funding from corporate PACs and top executives of major American corporations including Bank of America, Deloitte, DraftKings, Kroger, and Nationwide. When contacted, DraftKings declined comment and other companies did not respond to inquiries about whether they found the ad acceptable.

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• Trump attacks Ohio governor DeWine over criticism of Ramaswamy campaign ad — Donald Trump issued a public rebuke of Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine on Truth Social after DeWine called on gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to withdraw an ad featuring the estranged mother of Democratic rival Amy Acton. DeWine said the ad was "deeply, deeply troubling" and violated the norm that family members should be "off limits" in campaigns. Trump accused DeWine of disloyalty to the Republican Party and urged Ramaswamy to continue airing the ad, characterizing Acton as a "DISASTER."

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• Vivek Ramaswamy launches attack ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother — Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican candidate for Ohio governor, released a campaign advertisement featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother claiming Acton is a liar about her childhood. Acton has publicly documented severe childhood trauma, including living in a tent during winter while her stepfather—who had prior accusations of molestation—sexually abused her between ages 9 and 12. Her mother lost custody as a result. The ad drew immediate condemnation from Republicans, Democrats, strategists, and commentators across the political spectrum as exploitative and cruel.
• Ramaswamy campaign airs attack ad featuring abuse survivor's mother, funded partly by corporate PAC contributions — Vivek Ramaswamy's Ohio gubernatorial campaign aired a television advertisement featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, attacking Acton's account of childhood sexual abuse. The ad, which began circulating Monday and was aired statewide Tuesday after $4 million spending commitment, has been condemned by Democratic and Republican officials as exploitative and morally indefensible. A Popular Information analysis of campaign finance records shows the ad was funded in part by corporate PAC contributions and executive donations from Bank of America, Deloitte, DraftKings, Kroger, and Nationwide.
• Vivek Ramaswamy releases attack ad using opponent's childhood trauma — Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy released a political advertisement featuring the biological mother of his opponent, Dr. Amy Acton, claiming Acton lied about living in a tent as a child. Acton, who has not seen her biological mother since age 12 after being removed from her home following her mother's husband's indictment for rape, has documented evidence of her childhood homelessness. Court records confirm Acton's account. Vice President J.D. Vance defended the ad, while others, including former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, condemned it as morally corrupt.

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• Trump administration proposed relocating White House press briefing room — According to New York Times reporting, Trump has expressed interest in moving the press out of the White House. Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Boris Epshteyn, a lawyer who has championed lawsuits against journalists, are among those pushing to restore the press briefing room to its original form as a swimming pool. The reporters note that such a move would be "highly symbolic," as the proximity of media to executive power has long represented an acknowledgment of the free press's importance in constitutional democracy.

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• Musk's previous unfulfilled pledge to World Food Programme — In 2021, Elon Musk told the United Nations' World Food Programme that if they developed a $6 billion plan to address world hunger, he would sell Tesla stock to fund it. The WFP quickly produced a plan, but Musk did not donate the $6 billion as promised. Musk later donated $5.7 billion in Tesla stock to his own foundation instead, fulfilling a different charitable obligation rather than the original pledge.

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• Trump held campaign rally in Kentucky — Trump held a campaign rally in Kentucky over the weekend. Remarks included claims that Google executives now defer to him ("Google wouldn't have taken my call in the first term, now they kiss my ass"), mockery of a political opponent for being vegetarian, selective use of stock market performance for political messaging, and commentary on federal workforce reductions.

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• White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia removed after false attorney credentials revealed — On October 13, 2026, White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia held her first press briefing. On October 15, Popular Information published reporting that Zacharia had falsely claimed for years to be a practicing attorney despite lacking a law license. After days of scrutiny, including combative interviews on Fox News where hosts questioned her legal credentials, President Trump decided on October 18 that Zacharia could not remain in the role. She was "transitioned out" after five days in the position, becoming a damaging development for Republicans ahead of midterm elections.

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• Trump administration planned televised execution of Nidal Malik Hasan — The Trump administration announced a plan to stage a public televised execution by firing squad of Nidal Malik Hasan, the 2009 Fort Hood shooter. The proposal drew opposition from all segments of American society except MAGA Republican men. Facing poor polling, Trump cancelled the idea, declaring the execution would not be livestreamed. The episode revealed the premodern and barbaric values of the men now ruling America.

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• JD Vance campaigns against Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan — Vice President JD Vance campaigned in Michigan against Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed, calling him "a little weasel who should shut his mouth and show a little gratitude to the country that gave him everything." El-Sayed responded by defending his commitment to America, noting he was born in the country and criticizing Republican policies on healthcare, unions, and election integrity.

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• Eric Deters files defamation lawsuit against Kimberly Guilfoyle and announces plans to depose Don Jr. — Eric Deters, the donor at the center of the Guilfoyle controversy, filed a defamation lawsuit against Guilfoyle and announced plans to depose her and Don Jr. In a video released on October 15, Deters claimed he would present a 16-minute phone conversation that contains information that "might just bring down the entire Trump administration." Deters stated he had supported Trump from the beginning and framed his legal action as an effort to clear his name.
• Eric Deters files defamation lawsuit against Kimberly Guilfoyle; announces recording release — Attorney Eric Deters filed a defamation lawsuit against Kimberly Guilfoyle in circuit court in Kentucky and announced he will release a 16-minute phone recording tomorrow that he claims will damage the Trump administration and potentially end the 2028 Vance-Rubio ticket. Deters is seeking a public apology and $1 million in damages. He stated the recording involves a conversation he had with Guilfoyle from Greece and compared the expected fallout to a major scandal in the Trump administration.

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• University of Maryland club tennis team suspended over distribution of KKK imagery — The University of Maryland indefinitely suspended its club tennis team after members distributed a graphic featuring altered Maryland state flag imagery incorporating Ku Klux Klan hoods to other universities participating in a regional tennis tournament. The offensive material was discovered by Howard University's club tennis team president in a shared Google document sent to tournament participants. UMD's president stated the team "distributed programming material with a graphic containing racist imagery directed at people who are Black or African American." The university's recreation and wellness department suspended the entire club pending investigation by the office of student conduct, with additional investigations launched by campus police and the office of civil rights and sexual misconduct.

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• Republicans express concern about post-election congressional attendance — Politico reported on October 14, 2026, that Republicans are worried not only about the volume of work Congress must complete after the midterm elections, but also about whether Republican members will even return to vote after the election. Representative Austin Scott (R-GA) told reporters: "Attendance is an issue right now."

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• Trump posted AI video of himself dominating a tiger — Trump posted an AI-generated video depicting himself warning off a tiger, chasing it, tackling it, dominating it, and playing with the now docile animal. The post came after he had posted two videos of people being mauled by lions and tigers. The imagery echoed strongman authoritarian messaging.

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• Trump makes dehumanizing comments about Minnesota and Somali Americans — At a rally, Trump made dehumanizing comments about Minnesota, stating "Look at what's happening in the once great state of MN. What a mess. Somalia - all they do is kill each other in the streets. They cheat on everything." The crowd then chanted "De-port! De-port!" in response to Trump's remarks, which targeted Somali Americans and immigrants in Minnesota.

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• White House press secretary Katie Zacharia repeatedly claims to be a licensed attorney without evidence of bar admission — Katie Zacharia, appointed as Trump's press secretary, has publicly identified herself as a lawyer in multiple media appearances (Fox News, CNN, podcasts) since at least February 2026. Popular Information searched all 50 states and D.C. and found no evidence she has ever been admitted to practice law or passed a bar exam. She is not listed with the State Bar of California (where she claims to have worked as General Counsel), Texas, or D.C. When asked by Popular Information, the White House declined to provide evidence of her legal credentials, referring only to a Trump social media post calling her an attorney. In California, falsely holding oneself out as a lawyer while not admitted to the bar is a misdemeanor.
• White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia's false claims about legal credentials exposed — Popular Information reported that White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia, appointed by President Trump, has publicly claimed for years to be a lawyer and held positions as "outside counsel" to the World Bank and "general counsel" to a California non-profit, but has no evidence of ever being licensed to practice law in any U.S. state. When confronted by reporters on the White House South Lawn on October 13, Zacharia gave incoherent responses about passing a bar exam in China—a jurisdiction where U.S. citizens cannot take bar exams and where states do not administer exams. Georgetown Law professor Mark Jia confirmed that even her claimed work as a "foreign legal consultant" at a Chinese law firm from 2011–2013 would not constitute being a licensed attorney, and questioned whether she held that position at all.
• White House declines to provide evidence of press secretary's legal credentials — Popular Information sent detailed questions to White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly asking whether Katie Zacharia was ever admitted to practice law in any state. The White House declined to answer substantively, responding only: "Refer you to the President's TRUTH on Katie," directing the inquiry to a Trump social media post that calls Zacharia an attorney. The White House provided no documentation, bar admission records, or other evidence supporting her claimed legal credentials.
• Katie Zacharia's bar exam failure revealed; investigation requested — White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia, whom Trump has described as an "attorney," failed the California bar exam and is not licensed to practice law in any state. After Judd Legum of Popular Information noted the absence of evidence that Zacharia had passed the bar, the Wall Street Journal confirmed she failed the California bar exam. Democracy Defenders Fund, a nonpartisan organization led by attorney Norm Eisen, requested that the California State Bar and California Attorney General Rob Bonta investigate whether Zacharia practiced law without a license, which is a crime in California.

Supporting reports

• White House declines to provide evidence of press secretary's legal credentials — Popular Information sent detailed questions to White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly asking whether Katie Zacharia was ever admitted to practice law in any state. The White House declined to answer substantively, responding only: "Refer you to the President's TRUTH on Katie," directing the inquiry to a Trump social media post that calls Zacharia an attorney. The White House provided no documentation, bar admission records, or other evidence supporting her claimed legal credentials.

Supporting reports

• Trump appoints Katie Zacharia as White House press secretary — Trump appointed Katie Zacharia as White House press secretary on Friday, October 11. Zacharia is a conspiracy theorist who repeatedly promoted the debunked "Pizzagate" conspiracy on social media, which falsely accused leading Democrats and Hollywood figures of sexually trafficking children and engaging in cannibalism in an organization run out of a Washington, D.C., pizza restaurant. Before Trump's appointment, Zacharia was relatively obscure, with her primary qualification being frequent posts on Trump's social media site and work as a senior communications advisor for the site.
• Trump appoints Pizzagate conspiracy theorist as White House press secretary — President Trump appointed Katie Zacharia as White House press secretary on October 11, 2026. Zacharia, a former Newsmax and Fox News pundit and senior communications advisor for Truth Social, repeatedly promoted the debunked Pizzagate conspiracy theory on social media between 2022 and her appointment, posting accusations that Democratic elites and Hollywood figures engaged in child sex trafficking and cannibalism. She also promoted QAnon and "devolution" conspiracy theories. Trump praised her as "outstanding" and "a loyal and brilliant supporter."

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• Trump claims he should have won the Nobel Peace Prize — Trump made public statements claiming he should have won the Nobel Peace Prize. The article presents this as part of a pattern of symbolic controversies intended to distract from policy failures and activate partisan polarization.

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• Trump made inflammatory statements targeting Somali immigrants in Minnesota — Trump accused Somali immigrants of taking over Minnesota and associated them with crime and violence. He repeatedly urged residents to "fight back" and mentioned that the federal government could intervene if requested by Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey. His statements followed reports of criminal investigations involving Somali American individuals, including an alleged plot against the Mall of America.

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• DHS purchases five aircraft at markup from Kristi Noem donor on her last day as secretary — On Kristi Noem's final day as secretary of homeland security, the Department of Homeland Security purchased five aircraft at a considerable markup from one of Noem's political donors. The most expensive aircraft—a Boeing 737 converted into a private jet featuring marble showers and a manta ray skin-covered table—cost the department $108 million. The timing and pricing of the purchase raise questions about whether the transaction was conducted at fair market value and whether Noem's personal political relationships influenced a major government procurement decision.

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• Pentagon announces livestreamed military execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan — Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Nidal Hasan, an Army psychiatrist convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009, will be executed by firing squad on December 3, 2026, at Fort Hood, Texas. Hegseth stated the execution will be public and livestreamed. A Defense Department official confirmed the livestream plan. This would be the first U.S. military execution in over 60 years. President Trump approved the sentence this week on Hegseth's recommendation after Hasan exhausted his appeals.
• Pentagon announced plan to livestream military execution — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the Pentagon plans to livestream the December 3 execution of former Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, who was convicted of killing 13 people and wounding 32 others in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. The execution would be the first U.S. military execution since 1961, though further legal proceedings could delay it.

Supporting reports

• ICE agents shot man in car with 5-year-old in Manhattan — ICE agents surrounded a vehicle in Marble Hill in northern Manhattan and fired multiple rounds into the vehicle, shooting a man in the neck. The vehicle also contained a 5-year-old child. The man was taken to a hospital, remained conscious, and was in stable condition as of Thursday night.
• ICE agent shoots man in New York City during enforcement operation with child in vehicle — An ICE agent shot and wounded a 28-year-old man during an enforcement operation in the Marble Hill neighborhood of Manhattan on Thursday afternoon. Early reports indicated agents surrounded the man and a five-year-old child in a car before firing multiple rounds. The child was physically unharmed. NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated he negotiated unsuccessfully with President Trump and DHS Secretary Mullin for the man's release and demanded ICE cease enforcement in the city. The shooting sparked immediate protests and clashes between demonstrators and NYPD at a nearby hospital.
• ICE officer shoots man in neck during arrest in Manhattan's Marble Hill neighborhood — On Thursday afternoon, a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot Oscar Belgal, 28, in the neck with an assault-style rifle during an arrest in Manhattan's Marble Hill neighborhood. Belgal's young child was in the back of his car at the time. Residents reported the officers were not clearly identified and expressed fear and anger. Belgal was detained and booked into the federal Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn. A federal judge ordered ICE to keep him in the area after his attorneys filed emergency motions requesting release.
• WIRED reported on ICE agent Brenden Cuni's history of unlawful arrests — WIRED reported that an ICE agent on the scene of the Manhattan shooting, identified as Brenden Cuni, has repeatedly been accused in federal court of unlawful arrests and using force during arrests in New York City and Minneapolis. Cuni was photographed at the scene in a high-visibility yellow construction vest brandishing a modified AR-15-style rifle. Federal court cases, social media, and public records reviewed by WIRED suggest Cuni has repeatedly been at the center of illegal ICE street arrests. Court filings accuse him of using a Taser on a handcuffed man, while activists allege he forced a pregnant woman to the ground during a Minneapolis operation. In recent months, federal judges have repeatedly found arrests involving Cuni unlawful, with one judge calling an arrest warrant he signed "fraudulent," another saying video evidence contradicts his sworn account, and a third case where the government withdrew his sworn statements as inaccurate.