Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump announces Kirk arrest on Fox & Friends and minimizes gravity — President Trump announced the arrest of Charlie Kirk's killer on Fox & Friends, framing the announcement as breaking news and making light of the moment by joking about host Ainsley Earhardt's fiancé Sean Hannity being disappointed he wasn't given the exclusive. Trump then complained that due process takes too long in the U.S. and suggested China's rapid trial system as a model.
• Trump criticizes constitutional due process, praises Chinese trials — Trump complained that due process in the United States takes too long because of "our pesky Constitution" and expressed admiration for China's rapid trial system, stating that trials should occur "the following day" rather than taking years.

Supporting reports

• Trump blames "radical left" for Kirk shooting and vows investigation — President Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office, blaming "the radical left" for the Kirk shooting without evidence. He vowed that his administration "will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity, and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials and everyone else who brings order to our country." Trump listed incidents of what he characterized as "radical left political violence" while omitting violence against Democrats, including the June murder of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband by a man with a hit list of 45 Democratic officials.
• Trump blamed shooting on "radical left" and vowed to prosecute contributors to political violence — From the Oval Office, President Trump blamed the Charlie Kirk shooting on "the radical left" and vowed to "find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity, and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials, and everyone else who brings order to our country." The statement preceded any confirmed information about the shooter's identity or motive.

Supporting reports

• Trump posts threat to Chicago referencing "Department of War" and deportations — Trump posted on Truth Social that Chicago was about to discover "why it's called the Department of War," referencing a recent executive order renaming the Department of Defense. The post also stated "I love the smell of deportations in the morning," alluding to the film Apocalypse Now. Governor Pritzker responded by stating the president was "threatening to go to war with an American city" and that "This is not a joke. This is not normal." The rhetoric escalates the administration's framing of immigration enforcement as military action against a domestic city.
• Trump posted AI-generated image threatening military action against Chicago — President Trump's social media account posted an AI-generated image depicting him as a Vietnam War character in front of Chicago's skyline with military helicopters and flames, captioned "Chipocalypse Now" with text reading "I love the smell of deportations in the morning… Chicago about to find out why it's called the Department of WAR." The post included helicopter emojis associated with Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet's extrajudicial killings. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker responded by calling the threat abnormal and warning against intimidation.
• Trump shared "Chipocalypse Now" meme threatening deportations and war on Chicago — On Truth Social, Trump posted a meme depicting himself as an officer from "Apocalypse Now" with the caption "I love the smell of deportations in the morning" and "Chicago about to find out why it's called the Department of War." Illinois Governor JB Pritzker responded by calling Trump a "wannabe dictator" and stating he is "threatening to go to war with an American city," characterizing the rhetoric as abnormal and dangerous.
• Trump posted apocalyptic threat against Chicago on Truth Social — Trump posted on Truth Social depicting himself as the character from Apocalypse Now with the caption "I love the smell of deportations in the morning. Chicago about to find out why it's called the Department of WAR." The post threatened military action against a major U.S. city. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, and California Governor Gavin Newsom responded by characterizing the threat as authoritarian and unconstitutional. Senator Tammy Duckworth called it a declaration of war on an American city.

Supporting reports

• Trump announced federal law enforcement deployment to Chicago and Baltimore — Speaking to reporters, Trump said he will be sending federal law enforcement to both Chicago and Baltimore, but didn't specify a timeline for the deployment. Trump also said that many of the people arrested as part of his DC crackdown on crime were "born to be criminals."
• Trump suggested National Guard deployment to New Orleans — Trump suggested that he may deploy National Guard troops to New Orleans, a blue city in the red state of Louisiana.