Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdés killed fleeing ICE raid at Home Depot in California — Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdés, 52, a Guatemalan national, was killed in August after fleeing an ICE raid at a Home Depot in Monrovia, California, approximately 20 miles northeast of Los Angeles. He died on the freeway while attempting to escape federal agents. The Home Depot location has been a traditional gathering place for day laborers and was deliberately targeted by the Trump administration for ICE operations.
• Carlos Roberto Montoya Valdez killed after fleeing ICE sweep near Home Depot — In August 2025, after an immigration enforcement sweep near a Home Depot in Monrovia, California, Carlos Roberto Montoya Valdez, a 52-year-old Guatemalan day laborer, fled in fear and was struck and killed on the 210 Freeway. The Department of Homeland Security later denied that its agents were actively pursuing him at that moment, but local witnesses and organizers say the enforcement operation triggered the panic that sent him running. The incident prompted the National Day Laborer Organizing Network to organize the ice-scraper buy-and-return protest at the same Home Depot location.

Supporting reports

• Oklahoma schools chief announces MAGA loyalty test for teachers from other states — Oklahoma Schools Chief Ryan Walters announced that Oklahoma will be the first state to require teachers from "liberal-leaning states" to pass an "America First Test" developed in partnership with conservative think tank PragerU. The test will cover American history, civics, and "common sense" to ensure teachers do not "indoctrinate" students with a "liberal agenda." Walters stated that teachers from "woke states" will not be allowed to teach in Oklahoma without passing the test.

Supporting reports

• White House announced construction of 90,000-square-foot event space at White House — The Trump administration announced plans to construct a 90,000-square-foot ballroom and event space on the White House complex, replacing the East Wing. Groundbreaking is scheduled for September 2025. The project, estimated to cost approximately $200 million, will be funded by Trump and private donors. The administration stated that presidents and staff have sought such a space for 150 years, though the selection of architects and design process is unclear.
• White House announced $200 million ballroom construction project — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that construction of a new White House ballroom will begin. The project will add 90,000 square feet to the White House complex at a cost of $200 million. Leavitt stated that presidents and administrations have "longed for" such a large event space for 150 years.
• Trump announces $200 million ballroom construction at White House — Donald Trump announced plans to construct a new $200 million, 90,000 square-foot ballroom at the White House, to be completed before his term ends in early 2029. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the facility will seat up to 650 people. Trump cited the current 200-person capacity of the East Room and weather-related logistical challenges with tent events on the South Lawn as justification. Funding will come from Trump and "patriot donors." McCrery Architects, Clark Construction, and AECOM have been selected for design and construction. The ballroom will replace the current East Wing and represents the first structural addition to the executive mansion since the Truman Balcony in 1948.

Supporting reports

• Trump characterizes Virginia Giuffre as employee "stolen" by Epstein from Mar-a-Lago — President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that Jeffrey Epstein "stole" Virginia Giuffre and other young female staffers from Mar-a-Lago, claiming they worked in the spa. Trump stated Giuffre "had no complaints about us." The account contradicts his earlier claim that he broke with Epstein over inappropriate sexual behavior, instead framing the split as motivated by employee poaching. Giuffre, an Epstein accuser, died in April 2025.
• Trump acknowledged personal connection to Virginia Giuffre and Epstein recruitment from his properties — On Air Force One returning from Scotland, Trump stated that Jeffrey Epstein had recruited employees from his spa, including Virginia Giuffre, whom Trump said Epstein "stole" from his property. Trump claimed he had told Epstein to stop taking his employees and ended their friendship over this conduct. This marks the first time Trump has publicly acknowledged a direct connection between Giuffre, his properties, and Epstein's recruitment activities, contradicting his earlier denials of involvement.
• Trump offers new explanation for Epstein rift citing alleged recruitment of young women from Mar-a-Lago spa — President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on July 29, 2025, that he ended his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein because Epstein "stole" young women, including Virginia Giuffre, who worked at Trump's Mar-a-Lago spa. Trump stated Epstein recruited spa workers and that when Trump learned of this, he told Epstein to stop; when it happened again, Trump said he expelled him. Giuffre, one of Epstein's most prominent trafficking victims, died by suicide in April 2025. Trump's account contradicts his prior public statements praising Epstein in 2002 and 2003, and his attorney's 2019 claim that Epstein was not banned until 2007 in response to criminal charges.
• Trump claimed Epstein fell out over "stolen" female employees — Aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters that his falling out with Epstein happened after the sex trafficker "stole" young female employees from the Mar-a-Lago spa, including the late Virginia Giuffre. In response, Giuffre's family issued a statement saying Trump's comments were "shocking," and adding that "Ghislaine Maxwell is a monster who deserves to rot in prison for the rest of her life."
• Trump claims Epstein "stole" young women employees from Mar-a-Lago spa — Trump attempted to cast himself as a protector of women by claiming he turned against Epstein because Epstein "stole people that worked for me." When asked if those employees were young women, Trump answered "yes" and stated they were hired "out of the spa" he ran. Trump identified one of those girls as Virginia Giuffre, who was sex trafficked as a teenager by Ghislaine Maxwell and died by suicide earlier in 2025. Trump's timeline did not align with documented facts—Giuffre left her job at Mar-a-Lago in 2000 and Trump's friendship with Epstein continued for several more years afterward.
• Trump invoked Virginia Giuffre in connection with Jeffrey Epstein — Trump stated that he was aware Virginia Giuffre had been "stolen" from Mar-a-Lago by Jeffrey Epstein around 2000, positioning himself as a protector of girls from Epstein. However, public records show Trump told New York Magazine in 2002 that Epstein was a "terrific guy" who "likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side." Giuffre's family issued a statement questioning whether Trump was aware of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's criminal actions and calling for answers.

Supporting reports

• White House issues press release attacking Star Tribune coverage of immigration enforcement — The White House published a press release on its official website attacking the Minnesota Star Tribune for its reporting on immigration enforcement cases. The release characterizes the newspaper's coverage as "shameful interference" for illegal immigrants, citing a specific case of a Honduran national charged with drunk driving that resulted in deaths. The release accuses the Star Tribune of defending "criminal illegal immigrants" and sympathizes with Governor Tim Walz's sanctuary policies, framing the newspaper's editorial approach as enabling dangerous criminals.

Supporting reports

• Nancy Mace endorses ICE courthouse detentions and proposes defunding sanctuary cities — Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace stated on Fox Report Weekend that she watches YouTube videos of ICE agents detaining immigrants and called such enforcement "nothing more American." She characterized detainees as "violent criminals" despite data showing most had no violent convictions. Mace also announced support for legislation to defund and remove tax breaks from cities that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, citing ICE's increased detainer activity in New York City under Trump's second presidency.