Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump blamed Democrats for shutdown and threatened irreversible cuts — Speaking to reporters on September 30, Trump blamed Democratic lawmakers for the impending government shutdown, but added that his administration "can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for them, and irreversible by them. Like cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like." The statement indicates an intent to use the shutdown as an opportunity to make permanent cuts to programs favored by Democrats.
• Trump threatens mass federal worker layoffs during shutdown — President Trump stated that if the government shuts down, the administration will conduct mass layoffs of federal workers, adding that "they're going to be Democrats." The threat was made during negotiations over a funding bill and reflects potential use of shutdown conditions to purge federal employees on partisan grounds.
• Trump told reporters administration will use shutdown to cut healthcare and benefits — On Tuesday, after addressing military leaders, Trump told White House reporters that the administration intends to use the government shutdown to cut programs the American people support, including healthcare access and benefits. Trump stated the administration can use the shutdown to make "irreversible" cuts to programs Democrats favor and to "cut large numbers of people out" of benefits. He cited OMB Director Russell Vought's ability to "trim the budget to a level that you couldn't do any other way" and acknowledged the administration is using the shutdown as an opportunity to implement cuts that would otherwise face opposition.

Supporting reports

• Trump posts directive to deploy troops to Portland — On September 27, Trump's social media account posted a directive to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon, to protect ICE facilities from what Trump characterized as attacks by "Antifa" and "domestic terrorists." Trump authorized "Full Force, if necessary." The post was based on Trump's assertion that Portland was a "war ravaged" city plagued by "anarchists" and "crazy people," claims contradicted by local officials and reporting.
• Trump directed troop deployment to Portland, Oregon — On September 27, Trump announced via Truth Social that he directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon, which he baselessly called "War ravaged" and "under siege" by antifa. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson responded that "the number of necessary troops is zero, in Portland and any other American city." The deployment was presented without evidence of the claimed crisis.
• Trump directed military deployment to Portland with authorization for full force — President Trump posted that he was directing Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to provide troops to protect the ICE facility in Portland and "any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists," and authorized "Full Force, if necessary." The order came after Trump claimed the facility was under siege, but Senator Ron Wyden posted a video showing the ICE facility with no people present.
• Trump announced deployment of federal troops to Portland — Trump announced on Truth Social that he is directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to deploy federal troops to Portland, Oregon at the request of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to protect against what he characterized as attacks by "Antifa" and "domestic terrorists." Trump authorized "full force, if necessary." Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson both rejected the deployment, stating there is no insurrection or threat to national security warranting military presence in the city.