Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Palantir awarded Golden Dome software contract following Peter Thiel's Trump support and J.D. Vance connection — Palantir, founded by Trump-supporting billionaire Peter Thiel, is expected to develop software for the Golden Dome missile defense system, serving as the "glue layer" connecting radars and sensors. Vice President J.D. Vance previously worked for Thiel, who donated $15 million to Vance's Senate campaign. Palantir is partnering with Anduril, founded by Palmer Luckey, who donated over $1.1 million to Trump's 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns and hosted high-dollar fundraisers for Trump. Anduril has already received a $10 million Golden Dome-related contract as of November 2025.

Supporting reports

• SpaceX awarded $2 billion Golden Dome satellite contract following Elon Musk's $250 million Trump campaign support — SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk—who spent over $250 million supporting Trump in the 2024 election—is expected to receive $2 billion to develop satellites for the Golden Dome missile defense system. This is described as likely the first of many payments to SpaceX for building and deploying hundreds or thousands of satellites required by the system. SpaceX is slated to go public later in 2026, with much of its valuation tied to its $22 billion in federal government contracts. The contract award follows Musk's substantial financial support for Trump's 2024 campaign.

Supporting reports

• Robinhood designated as brokerage for Trump Accounts investment vehicles — On Monday (April 7, 2026), Robinhood announced that it had been selected as the brokerage and initial trustee for Trump Accounts, a new investment account product for children expected to launch in summer 2026. Robinhood, which is also a prediction market platform subject to state cease-and-desist letters, donated $2 million to Trump's inaugural fund.

Supporting reports

• Analyst reported suspicious oil futures trading before ceasefire announcement — National security analyst Shanaka Perera reported that someone sold $950 million worth of oil futures hours before Trump announced the ceasefire on April 7, with oil prices subsequently falling 16%. Reuters confirmed approximately 8,600 lots of Brent and WTI crude were sold at 19:45 GMT on April 7, with Trump announcing the ceasefire at 22:30 GMT. Perera noted a similar $500 million trade occurred on March 23, 15 minutes before a separate Trump announcement on Iran. The CFTC did not respond to Reuters or congressional letters from Rep. Torres and Sen. Murphy.

Supporting reports

• Trump Mobile changed deposit terms, disclaiming company involvement in phone design and manufacture — On April 6, 2026, Trump Mobile updated its terms of service to recharacterize the $100 customer deposit as "a conditional opportunity" rather than a binding pre-order deposit, stating the company retained sole discretion to offer the device for sale. The terms further specified that the deposit did not lock in pricing, promotions, service plans, taxes, fees, or shipping costs, and that all estimated ship dates and production schedules were non-binding. The phone, announced in June 2025 as "proudly designed and built in the United States" for $499, had never shipped and its marketing had shifted from "MADE IN THE USA" to "designed with American values in mind" within two weeks of launch.
• Trump Mobile retroactively reclassifies customer deposits as non-binding conditional opportunity — On April 6, 2026, Trump Mobile unilaterally amended its terms of service to redefine the $100 customer deposits collected since June 2025 as a "conditional opportunity if Trump Mobile later elects, in its sole discretion, to offer the Device for sale," rather than a binding pre-order. The new terms state that deposits do not lock in pricing, promotions, service plans, taxes, fees, or shipping costs, and that all estimated ship dates and production schedules are "non-binding estimates only." Customers may request refunds through customer service, which the company states will "take several business days to process."

Supporting reports

• Trump proclamation imposes 100% tariffs on patented pharmaceuticals and APIs, with reduced rates for companies committing to domestic production and MFN pricing agreements. — President Trump issued Proclamation 11020 invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, determining that imports of patented pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients threaten U.S. national security due to heavy reliance on foreign production (53% of patented drugs, 85% of APIs). The proclamation imposes a 100% ad valorem duty on patented pharmaceuticals and APIs effective July 31, 2026, with reduced rates (20% declining to 100% over four years, or zero) for companies with approved onshoring plans or MFN pricing agreements. Generic pharmaceuticals are exempted. The Secretaries of Commerce and Health and Human Services are directed to negotiate agreements addressing the supply chain vulnerability.
• Trump proclamation strengthens metal tariffs, expands scope to full customs value, raises rates to 50 percent for aluminum and steel. — President Trump issued Proclamation 11021 on April 2, 2026, modifying tariff regimes on aluminum, steel, and copper imports established under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The proclamation expands tariffs to apply to the full customs value of metal articles and derivatives, regardless of metal content. Primary tariff rates are set at 50 percent for most aluminum and steel articles and certain copper articles, with 25 percent rates for other copper and derivative articles. Reduced rates of 10–15 percent apply to products from the United Kingdom and articles made entirely from U.S.-origin metals. The proclamation terminates prior derivative-inclusion processes and authorizes the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to add derivative articles on a rolling basis. Effective April 6, 2026.
• Trump threatens 100% tariff on pharmaceutical companies refusing pricing deals — Donald Trump announced an executive order threatening 100% tariffs on branded pharmaceutical drugs and active ingredients from companies that do not strike pricing agreements with the White House or increase domestic manufacturing. Generic drugs are exempted for at least one year. Large companies have 120 days and smaller companies 180 days to negotiate deals; 17 drugmakers have already secured exemptions. The policy aims to pressure drugmakers to lower US prices to levels comparable with other high-income countries.
• Trump issues executive order imposing tariffs on pharmaceutical imports under Section 232 national security authority — President Trump issued an executive order on April 2, 2026, imposing a 100 percent ad valorem tariff on imported patented pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), effective July 31, 2026 for listed companies and September 29, 2026 for others. The order provides reduced tariff rates (20 percent, 15 percent, or zero) for companies with approved onshoring plans, those in trade agreements with specific countries (EU, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, UK), or those entering MFN pricing agreements. Generic pharmaceuticals are excluded from tariffs. The Secretary of Commerce and HHS are directed to negotiate agreements to address alleged national security threats from pharmaceutical import dependence.
• President Trump issued proclamation modifying tariff regimes on aluminum, steel, and copper imports — President Trump signed Proclamation 10963 on April 2, 2026, modifying tariffs on aluminum, steel, and copper imports under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The proclamation directs that ad valorem tariffs apply to the full customs value of metal articles and derivatives, effective April 6, 2026. Primary rates are set at 50 percent for most aluminum and steel articles and certain copper articles, with 25 percent rates for other copper and derivative articles. Reduced rates of 25 percent and 15 percent apply to United Kingdom products, and 10 percent rates apply to articles made entirely from U.S.-origin metals. The proclamation terminates prior derivative-inclusion processes and authorizes the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to add derivative articles on a rolling basis. Russia-origin aluminum remains subject to 200 percent duties. The order directs monitoring and a 90-day status update.
• Trump issued proclamation imposing tariffs on patented pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients under Section 232 national security authority — President Trump signed a proclamation on April 2, 2026, invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to impose tariffs on patented pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients. The proclamation imposes a 100 percent ad valorem duty on most patented drugs and APIs, with reduced rates (20 percent, 15 percent, or zero) for companies meeting onshoring, pricing agreement, or trade framework conditions. The order directs the Secretaries of Commerce and Health and Human Services to negotiate agreements within 90 days and exempts generic pharmaceuticals, orphan drugs, and certain specialty products from tariffs.
• White House issued fact sheet on strengthened tariffs for steel, aluminum, and copper imports — The White House published a fact sheet on April 2, 2026, describing a proclamation signed by President Trump that restructures tariffs on imported steel, aluminum, and copper. The fact sheet states the proclamation establishes tiered tariff rates: 50% on articles made entirely or almost entirely of these metals; 25% on derivative articles substantially composed of them; 15% on certain industrial and electrical grid equipment through 2027; 10% on products made abroad entirely with American metals; and exempts products containing 15% or less of these metals. The fact sheet claims the tariffs protect national security and domestic manufacturing, citing new steelmaking capacity and smelting operations announced or underway.
• White House issued fact sheet promoting pharmaceutical tariffs under Section 232 — The White House issued a fact sheet on April 2, 2026, promoting tariffs imposed by President Trump on patented pharmaceutical products and ingredients under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The fact sheet states a 100% base tariff applies, with reduced rates (15%) for trade-deal countries, 0% for companies entering onshoring and MFN pricing agreements with HHS and Commerce, and 20% for onshoring-only agreements. Generic drugs and certain specialty products are exempt. The fact sheet claims the tariffs have already spurred approximately $400 billion in investment commitments.

Supporting reports

• AI industry funds Innovation Council led by January 6 operative to boost MAGA candidates — The AI industry has hired Taylor Budowich, a key operative in efforts to overturn the 2020 election, to lead the Innovation Council, a new group planning to spend $100 million to boost Republican candidates in the 2026 midterms. Budowich previously directed over $200,000 in advertisements to build crowds for the January 6, 2021 attack and founded MAGA Inc., Trump's main Super PAC. The Innovation Council is organized as a nonprofit to avoid disclosing donors or filing with the Federal Election Commission, maintaining donor anonymity through complex organizational structures.
• Leading the Future PAC spent more on attacking Democrat than supporting Democrats — Leading the Future, a pro-AI PAC that raised over $125 million and claims to be bipartisan, has spent approximately $2.9 million supporting Republicans and $2.5 million supporting Democrats. However, the PAC's Democratic affiliate, Think Big, spent $2.3 million attacking Democrat Alex Bores running for Congress in New York. The Democrats supported by the PAC, Jesse Jackson Jr. and Melissa Bean, are running in historically blue Illinois districts where Republican candidates are unlikely to win.
• Leading the Future pledged $5 million to support Byron Donalds' gubernatorial campaign — Leading the Future, the pro-AI PAC claiming bipartisan support, pledged to spend $5 million in support of Representative Byron Donalds' (R-FL) campaign for Florida Governor. This spending was reportedly an effort to solidify the PAC's relationship with the White House, demonstrating how corporate political spending is used to maintain access and influence with the Trump administration.
• Innovation Council created pages describing AI concerns as "hoaxes" — The Innovation Council, led by Taylor Budowich, created a series of web pages that describe concerns about AI job displacement, data center energy use, and safety as "hoaxes." The pages were later taken offline but were indexed by the Bing search engine. The group's public website features materials created by the Trump White House.
• Meta created multiple Super PACs with $65 million in funding — Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, created multiple new pro-AI Super PACs: Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across (Meta) California, which received $20 million, and the American Technology Excellence Project (ATEP), which received $45 million. While Meta indicated the PACs would support bipartisan candidates, the ATEP appears to favor Republicans, with spending concentrated in Illinois and Texas. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was appointed to Trump's President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, and Meta donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund.
• Andreessen appointed to Trump's science advisory council after major political donations — Marc Andreessen, a cofounder of Andreessen Horowitz, was appointed to Trump's President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Andreessen and his partner Ben Horowitz each donated $12.5 million to Leading the Future, a pro-AI PAC, and both had previously donated millions to a Super PAC supporting Trump in the 2024 election. Andreessen's appointment follows this pattern of corporate political investment followed by executive branch access.

Supporting reports

• Trump purchased Micron stock before publicly touting the company on Fox News — On March 25, 2026, President Trump purchased between $50,000 and $100,000 in Micron stock in an "unsolicited" transaction. The next day, March 26, Trump called into Fox News' "The Five" and publicly praised Micron as "one of the hottest companies," stating he had recently met with Micron's top executive. Between March 2 and March 25, Trump purchased between $217,000 and $530,000 in Micron stock, including four unsolicited transactions. These purchases and the timing of Trump's public remarks about Micron had not previously been reported. The transactions were disclosed on May 14.

Supporting reports

• DOJ settled with pardoned Michael Flynn for $1.2 million — The Justice Department reached a settlement with pardoned former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, awarding him $1.2 million in taxpayer funds. Flynn had previously pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with Russia's ambassador to the United States and was later pardoned by Trump. The settlement represents a reversal of the government's position against Flynn.
• Justice Department Settles with Michael Flynn — The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a settlement with Michael Flynn, a former national security advisor to Donald Trump. This settlement is part of a series of financial agreements that have resulted in Trump allies receiving substantial sums of taxpayer money. The details of the settlement have not been disclosed, but it continues a pattern of financial dealings involving individuals close to the former president. This development raises questions about the use of public funds and the accountability of government financial settlements.
• Michael Flynn and DOJ settled political targeting lawsuit — Michael Flynn and the Department of Justice agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by Flynn over his claims of political targeting in a 2017 case in which he initially pleaded guilty. A judge had previously tossed Flynn's lawsuit in 2024. His attorneys filed an amended complaint last June after Trump took office. Flynn served as National Security Advisor during Trump's first term before resigning after less than a month.
• DOJ announced settlement with Michael Flynn — The Department of Justice announced a settlement with Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security advisor who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about conversations with Russian operative Sergey Kislyak before Trump took office. Trump later pardoned Flynn, who subsequently worked to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Flynn had sued the DOJ for $50 million in damages in 2023, claiming wrongful prosecution due to his association with Trump. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit in 2024, but Flynn's lawyers renewed the case after Trump's reelection, leading to DOJ negotiations. The settlement amount was approximately $1.2 million.
• DOJ announces settlement with Michael Flynn — The Department of Justice announced a settlement with Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security advisor, who had previously pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. Flynn's lawsuit against the DOJ for $50 million was dismissed, but negotiations led to a settlement, reportedly amounting to approximately $1.2 million.

Supporting reports

• Trump's Truth Social post about Iran negotiations preceded unusual market activity and volume spikes. — At approximately 6:50 AM ET, before Trump's 7:05 AM Truth Social post claiming productive Iran negotiations, S&P 500 futures and West Texas Intermediate oil futures recorded sharp, isolated volume spikes during thin premarket trading. Trump's announcement at 7:05 AM triggered an immediate 2.5% surge in S&P 500 futures and a nearly 6% drop in oil futures. Within 56 minutes, the market swung $3 trillion in total market capitalization as Iran denied the claims. CNBC reported the unusual volume activity preceded the announcement.
• Evidence emerged of potential market manipulation tied to Trump's Iran announcements — Reporters including Yun Li at CNBC documented that approximately fifteen minutes before Trump's announcement of "triumphal progress" in Iran negotiations, there was a sudden and sharp jump in S&P 500 futures and oil futures. Economist Paul Krugman noted that someone with insider knowledge could have profited substantially by selling crude oil futures at high prices (Brent crude over $112 on the weekend) and buying them back immediately after Trump's announcement but before Iran's denial, realizing large profits.
• Economist alleges insider trading on false Iran war announcement — Economist Paul Krugman reported that trading volume in S&P 500 and oil futures spiked approximately 15 minutes before Trump announced false U.S.-Iran war negotiations, with oil futures alone worth roughly $580 million. Krugman characterized the pattern as potential "insider trading" and "treason," suggesting that confidential national security information was exploited for private financial gain. The Financial Times estimated the scale of the trades; Krugman called for investigation into the identities of traders and whether they had direct access to classified information or paid intermediaries for tips.
• Suspicious trading in S&P 500 and oil futures preceded Iran announcement — Trading in S&P 500 and oil futures occurred approximately fifteen minutes before Trump announced his team had been negotiating with Iran, despite the announcement later being revealed as false. The timing raised public accusations of insider trading on national security information, potentially endangering Americans by compromising classified information.
• Trader profited nearly $1 million from prescient Polymarket bets on US-Israeli military actions — A trader made nearly $1 million since 2024 from dozens of well-timed Polymarket bets predicting US and Israeli military actions against Iran, winning 93% of their 5-figure wagers on unannounced military operations. The trader placed prescient bets hours before Israeli strikes in October 2024, US airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, and the joint US-Israeli surprise strikes on February 28, 2026.

Supporting reports

• Elon Musk offered to pay TSA salaries during funding impasse — Elon Musk posted: "I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country." NBC senior politics reporter Jonathan Allen responded that this would "almost certainly violate anti-bribery laws" and noted there is "a reason that federal workers are banned from accepting salaries from sources other than the federal govt."

Supporting reports

• Palantir's Maven AI system became official Pentagon program of record — Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg announced in a letter to Pentagon leaders that Palantir's Maven AI system will become an official program of record, locking in long-term use of Palantir's weapons-targeting technology across the U.S. military.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration lifted sanctions on Iranian oil at sea — On Friday, the Trump administration lifted sanctions on Iranian oil currently at sea in an attempt to lower global oil prices following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran after the February 28 U.S. attack. The action enables Iran to sell approximately 140 million barrels of oil worth about $14 billion, including to the United States and China. Iranian oil has been under sanctions since 1979.
• Treasury Department lifts sanctions on Iranian oil at sea to lower energy prices — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on March 21 that the Treasury Department was temporarily lifting sanctions on Iranian oil already loaded onto ships as of that date, through April 19. The license allows most countries to purchase the Iranian oil. According to NBC, at current prices the oil would be worth more than $14 billion for Tehran. The administration argued Iran would have difficulty accessing the revenue, but the mechanism for preventing access was unclear. The move occurred during active U.S. military conflict with Iran.
• U.S. temporarily waives sanctions on Iranian oil — The United States temporarily waived sanctions on Iranian oil at sea, allowing it to flow despite escalating military tensions with Iran. This decision has been criticized as contradictory, as it effectively funds a conflict against U.S. interests. The waiver reflects the administration's prioritization of economic factors over strategic military objectives, raising concerns about the coherence of U.S. foreign policy.
• Treasury Secretary Bessent stated U.S. lifted sanctions on Iranian oil as part of strategy — When asked on NBC why the U.S. lifted sanctions on Iranian oil, helping Iran obtain $14 billion in oil revenue while at war with the U.S., Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent responded: "We have always planned for this contingency. In essence, we are jujitsuing the Iranians." Sen. Chris Murphy countered that Trump is "suspending sanctions on Iran and Russia, which will put over $15 billion in their treasuries to help them fund the wars against us."
• Russia increased crude oil sales due to eased sanctions — Ukrainian President Zelensky stated: "Over the past week, Russia launched nearly 1,550 attack drones against Ukraine, more than 1,260 guided aerial bombs, and two missiles. Over that same week, due to the easing of sanctions, Russia increased its crude oil sales to finance its war. Revenues give Russia a sense of impunity and the ability to continue the war. That is why pressure must continue and sanctions must work."
• Trump lifted Treasury sanctions on Iranian oil while claiming to oppose sanctions relief. — Trump announced that Treasury had lifted sanctions on Iranian oil. When asked about this in light of his past criticism of President Obama for providing Iran $1.7 billion, Trump stated he wanted "as much oil in the system as possible" and claimed "We don't even know that Iran gets that money." The statement appeared to contradict his earlier public opposition to sanctions relief for Iran.

Supporting reports

• ProPublica report detailed $220 million DHS ad contract to cronies — A November 2025 ProPublica report by Justin Elliott, Joshua Kaplan, and Alex Mierjeski documented that the Department of Homeland Security awarded a $220 million contract for a taxpayer-funded advertising campaign to cronies. The contract circumvented transparency laws by being awarded to a small company that then subcontracted the work to associates of Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski. Trump allegedly commented on the arrangement: "Corey made out on that one."

Supporting reports

• Sergey Brin donates $45m total to Super PACs opposing California billionaire wealth tax — Google co-founder Sergey Brin contributed $25m to the Super PAC "Building a Better California," adding to a prior $20m donation, for a total of $45m aimed at blocking California's proposed 5% wealth tax on billionaires. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt added $1.02m to his previous $2m contribution. The tax would apply to California residents worth over $1bn and would generate revenue for education, food assistance, and healthcare. Brin relocated to Nevada in late 2025, potentially to avoid the tax's residency requirement.

Supporting reports

• Trump purchased Apple stock the same day he publicly praised the company in a Kentucky speech — On March 11, 2026, President Trump delivered a speech in Kentucky in which he singled out Apple and CEO Tim Cook for extensive praise, highlighting Apple's $2.5 billion investment in glass manufacturing and $650 billion in U.S. plant expansion. The same day, Trump purchased between $250,000 and $500,000 of Apple stock in an "unsolicited" transaction. Trump had also purchased between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000 of Apple stock on March 2 in an unsolicited purchase. In total, Trump purchased between $2 million and $7.2 million in Apple stock during March 2026, including five unsolicited purchases. These transactions were not publicly disclosed until May 14.
• Trump purchased stock in Thermo Fisher the same day he publicly praised the company at a facility tour — On March 11, 2026, President Trump toured a Thermo Fisher Scientific manufacturing facility in Reading, Ohio, where he publicly praised the company and its CEO Marc Casper, encouraging pharmaceutical companies to contract with Thermo Fisher for U.S. manufacturing. The same day, Trump purchased between $15,000 and $50,000 of Thermo Fisher stock in an "unsolicited" transaction (initiated by the customer, not recommended by a broker). Trump had also purchased between $51,000 and $115,000 of Thermo Fisher stock on February 12 and another $15,000–$50,000 on March 2, totaling as much as $215,000 in the month prior to the tour. Trump did not publicly disclose these purchases until May 14, when they appeared on page 38 of his financial disclosure form.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration eased oil sanctions to benefit Russia during Iran War — The Trump administration eased sanctions on Russian oil, allowing millions of barrels sitting on ships to go to India, with the financial benefit flowing to Russia as it wages war in Ukraine. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz acknowledged the policy but framed it as "common sense," while Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated the U.S. is "temporarily suspending some sanctions on Russia to make Russian oil available."
• Trump administration temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian oil shipments — The Trump administration temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian oil shipments in an effort to stabilize oil markets and reduce economic fallout from the Iran war. The move allows Russia to sell approximately 128 million barrels of oil previously loaded onto tankers facing U.S. restrictions. Brent crude futures closed above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022. Experts estimate Russia has already received approximately $150 million per day from increased oil sales since the U.S. attacked Iran two weeks prior, with Moscow earning an estimated $1.9 billion windfall in taxes on oil exports.
• Trump administration lifted sanctions on Russian oil shipments — Late on March 13, the Trump administration lifted sanctions on Russian oil shipments, permitting sales to buyers worldwide until April 11. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cited the need to ease skyrocketing oil prices caused by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The move contradicts G7 consensus; German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated G7 heads had urged Trump not to ease sanctions, noting there was a price problem but not a supply problem, and questioned the U.S. government's additional motives.

Supporting reports

• Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation donated $2 million to MAGA Inc. while DOI reconsidered rival tribe's casino eligibility — On March 5, 2026, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, a 41-member California tribe, donated $2 million to MAGA Inc., President Trump's Super PAC. The donation occurred while the Department of the Interior was reconsidering a January 2025 decision that had approved a rival tribe's (Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians) casino project on restored lands. The Yocha Dehe, which operates a competing casino, had tripled its lobbying payments to Miller Strategies after Trump's election and engaged multiple lobbyists with Trump administration connections to pressure the DOI to reverse the Scotts Valley approval.

Supporting reports

• Securities and Exchange Commission settled lawsuit against Chinese billionaire Justin Sun for $10 million — The Securities and Exchange Commission settled a lawsuit against Chinese billionaire Justin Sun for securities and market manipulation, which had been filed in 2023, for a payment of $10 million in March 2026. Sun had been a major investor in World Liberty Financial, the cryptocurrency venture founded by Trump's sons, and had poured as much as $90 million into Trump family cryptocurrency ventures. The settlement occurred quietly and at a fraction of typical penalties for such violations.

Supporting reports

• Trump hosts Mar-a-Lago fundraiser while military operation begins — Trump hosted a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago on Friday as the U.S. offensive against Iran began. According to the New York Times, tickets for the dinner dance were priced at $1 million each. The event occurred on the same day that three service members were killed in action.

Supporting reports

• Trump redirected National Park Service funds to West Colonnade renovation — In March 2026, Trump ordered the replacement of Tennessee flagstone in the West Colonnade walkway connecting the White House residence to the Oval Office with polished black African granite. Trump claimed he paid for the $689,232 project, but National Park Service budget documents examined by The Atlantic's Michael Scherer revealed taxpayers funded the entire cost. The project was part of a $1.3 million initiative including new door hardware. In the prior year, the NPS spent $347,503 replacing colonnade stucco so Trump could display presidential portraits with his own written opinions.

Supporting reports

• Six newly-created accounts on Polymarket placed nearly $1 million in bets predicting U.S. strike on Iran hours before it occurred — In the hours before the February 28 U.S. strike on Iran, six newly-created accounts on the prediction market Polymarket placed nearly $1 million in bets that the U.S. would strike Iran by that date. One account, "dicedicedice," wagered nearly $30,000 and recorded a profit of about $120,000 hours later. Analytics sites flagged the trades as suspicious, with many observers suspecting the accounts benefited from insider knowledge. The international version of Polymarket does not require user identification and accepts crypto payments. Overall, $529 million was traded on Iran strike-related contracts. The White House denied anyone in Trump's orbit was involved, though Donald Trump Jr. serves as an advisor to both Polymarket and rival Kalshi.
• Polymarket account made $515,000 betting on Iran strikes before public announcement — A Polymarket account named "Magamyman" made $515,000 in a single day betting on the US strike on Iran, with the first trade placed 71 minutes before the news broke publicly. When the account bought in, the market had the strike at a 17% probability; the account turned roughly $87,000 into over half a million dollars overnight. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) noted that Donald Trump Jr. sits on Polymarket's advisory board and his firm invested double-digit millions into the platform in the previous year. The DOJ and CFTC had active investigations into Polymarket that were dropped after Trump took office.
• DOJ and CFTC dropped investigations into Polymarket after Trump took office — The DOJ and CFTC had active investigations into Polymarket that were dropped after Trump took office. This occurred in the context of the suspicious trading activity on the Iran strikes and Trump Jr.'s financial interest in the platform.

Supporting reports

• Trump meme coins collapse, retail investors lose billions — The Trump and Melania meme coins fell 92 percent and 99 percent respectively from their peaks. Retail investors absorbed overwhelming losses while insiders reportedly extracted significant fees and proceeds. Estimates showed retail losses exceeding $4.3 billion across nearly two million wallets. The collapse occurred amid Trump's promotion of other financial products, including "$100,000 'Fight, Fight, Fight' watches" on Fox News.

Supporting reports

• EPA finalizes repeal of 2024 MATS amendments for coal- and oil-fired power plants — The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule repealing key amendments to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) promulgated in May 2024. The repeal eliminates the revised filterable particulate matter (fPM) emission standard (0.010 lb/MMBtu), the requirement for exclusive use of PM continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS) for compliance demonstration, and the revised mercury emission standard for lignite-fired units (1.2 lb/TBtu). The EPA reverts these standards to the 2012 MATS Rule levels, citing cost-effectiveness concerns and low remaining health risks. The rule becomes effective April 27, 2026, with estimated cost savings of $670 million (3% discount) to $490 million (7% discount) over 2028–2037.
• Trump administration grants blanket pollution exemptions to 71 coal plants — The Trump administration granted pollution exemptions to 71 coal plants across 24 states, allowing them to opt out of mercury pollution rules. All exemption requests were approved without denial, and many were granted for longer periods than operators requested. Exemptions were issued even when operators stated they possessed the technology to comply with pollution limits. The process involved operators simply emailing the president to request exemptions.
• Trump administration scraps mercury and air toxics standards for coal plants — The Trump administration formally reversed the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) that had tightened limits on mercury, lead, arsenic, and other heavy metals from coal plants. The EPA's own analysis showed only 27 of 219 coal plants would need technological upgrades to comply. Despite this, the administration eliminated the standards entirely. Additionally, 71 coal plants across 24 states had previously received pollution exemptions via email requests to the president, all of which were approved without denial.

Supporting reports

• FedEx sues US government for refund of Trump tariffs ruled illegal by Supreme Court — FedEx filed a lawsuit in the US Court of International Trade on Monday, seeking a full refund of tariffs imposed by Donald Trump that the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional last week. The suit names US Customs and Border Protection, its commissioner Rodney Scott, and the United States as defendants. The company did not specify a dollar amount but seeks reimbursement for duties paid. This marks the first major company attempt to recover from an estimated $175 billion in levies after the court found Trump exceeded his authority.
• FedEx sues US government for tariff refund — FedEx filed a lawsuit against the US government on Monday seeking a refund for tariffs paid following the Supreme Court's decision striking down the "liberation day" tariffs. The suit represents a private-sector challenge to the tariff regime and its retroactive application.