Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• 60 Minutes investigates Trump crypto empire and Binance pardon — According to Zach Guzman of Coinage Media, CBS's 60 Minutes is planning to release an investigation into the Trump family's growing cryptocurrency empire and Trump's controversial pardon of Binance founder CZ. The investigation focuses on World Liberty Financial, the Trump family's crypto project that launched a digital dollar (USD1) and is shopping it around to various entities. Binance inked a deal to accept $2 billion in USD1, which would allow the Trump company to collect interest payments potentially worth billions of dollars annually. The timing of the Binance deal and Trump's subsequent pardon of CZ raises questions about potential quid pro quo arrangements.

Supporting reports

• Trump pardons Changpeng Zhao, Binance founder, amid crypto business ties — Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao, founder and largest shareholder of Binance cryptocurrency exchange, who pleaded guilty in 2023 to violating anti-money-laundering laws and served a four-month sentence. Binance had inked a $2 billion investment deal with Trump family crypto firm World Liberty Financial, expected to yield tens of millions yearly to the Trump family. Trump admitted in a 60 Minutes interview he did not know who Zhao was, claiming he heard it was a "Biden witch-hunt." Legal experts characterized the pardon as pay-to-play and corrupt.
• 60 Minutes investigates Trump crypto empire and Binance pardon — According to Zach Guzman of Coinage Media, CBS's 60 Minutes is planning to release an investigation into the Trump family's growing cryptocurrency empire and Trump's controversial pardon of Binance founder CZ. The investigation focuses on World Liberty Financial, the Trump family's crypto project that launched a digital dollar (USD1) and is shopping it around to various entities. Binance inked a deal to accept $2 billion in USD1, which would allow the Trump company to collect interest payments potentially worth billions of dollars annually. The timing of the Binance deal and Trump's subsequent pardon of CZ raises questions about potential quid pro quo arrangements.

Supporting reports

• Binance enables trading of Trump-linked cryptocurrencies days after CZ pardon — On October 29, 2025, Binance's U.S. exchange announced it would begin allowing trading of USD1 and WLFI, two cryptocurrencies issued by World Liberty Financial, a company co-founded by Trump and his sons. Trump reportedly owns 15.7 billion WLFI tokens (over 15% of total supply). USD1 is a stablecoin whose reserve assets generate profit for Trump and other owners. The move expands the pool of American investors and directly benefits Trump financially by increasing demand and token value.
• Binance invested $2 billion in Trump-owned stablecoin — Earlier in 2025, Binance accepted a $2 billion investment from an Abu Dhabi investment fund in USD1, a stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial and owned in part by Trump. The transaction immediately gave USD1 legitimacy and liquidity, and has likely already generated tens of millions for Trump and other World Liberty Financial owners. Binance also wrote the basic code to power USD1 for World Liberty Financial, further deepening the financial relationship.

Supporting reports

• Trump solicits corporate donations for $300m White House ballroom project — Donald Trump announced a $300m ballroom project at the White House, funded by corporate and billionaire donors including Apple, Google, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Palantir, and others. Demolition of the entire East Wing began without prior public announcement or approval from the National Capital Planning Commission. Trump initially stated the project would cost $200m but increased the figure to $300m on Wednesday. House Democrats condemned the lack of transparency and secretive decision-making process.
• Trump raised $350 million in corporate donations for White House ballroom — Trump announced he has raised $350 million from corporate donors to fund the White House ballroom renovation, up from his initial estimate of $200 million, then $250 million, then $300 million. When asked how much he personally would contribute, Trump declined to provide a specific number. The project cost estimates have escalated repeatedly.
• White House releases list of donors to Trump ballroom project — The White House released a list of major corporations and individuals donating to Trump's ballroom project intended to replace the demolished East Wing of the White House. Donors include Google (whose CEO thanked Trump for resolving an antitrust case), Palantir (which holds lucrative ICE contracts), Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Coinbase, Ripple, and numerous others. Economist Robert Reich characterized the arrangement as "pay-to-play," noting that donors include companies with direct regulatory or contractual interests in Trump administration decisions.

Supporting reports

• World Liberty Financial crypto token launches to public trading — Trump's World Liberty Financial crypto token began public trading on September 1 at $0.30 per share, declining 24.2% to $0.212 within the first 24 hours. Eric Trump announced the launch in Japan, describing it as setting "a new standard for financial freedom." The bulletin characterizes the venture as Trump's "biggest grift of all-time," with Trump positioned to profit several billion dollars regardless of investor outcomes.
• Trump launches World Liberty Financial token trading with regulatory favoritism and undisclosed conflicts of interest — On September 1, 2025, the World Liberty Financial (WLFI) cryptocurrency token began public trading, marking the culmination of a scheme by Trump and his sons to monetize the presidency. Trump personally owns 15.75 billion WLFI tokens and receives 75% of initial sales proceeds. The token was structured to evade SEC securities laws by restricting resale and claiming governance voting rights held exclusively by insiders. Trump's administration has dismantled crypto enforcement units, nominated a crypto-industry advocate (Paul Atkins) as SEC chair, and halted prosecution of crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun—who invested $75 million in WLFI—in exchange for a settlement. Trading platforms including Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken listed WLFI after Trump dropped prosecutions against them.
• Justice Department disbands crypto crimes investigation unit — The Trump administration disbanded the Justice Department unit responsible for investigating cryptocurrency crimes. According to an internal memo, the unit will henceforth focus exclusively on protecting crypto investors and companies from hackers and other threats, rather than investigating criminal activity by crypto actors. This elimination of federal crypto crime investigation capacity removes a key enforcement mechanism that could constrain illegal activity in the sector where Trump holds massive personal financial interests.
• Trump administration drops prosecutions against major crypto exchanges in exchange for WLFI listings — Trump dropped prosecutions against three major cryptocurrency exchanges—Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken—enabling them to list the World Liberty Financial token on its first day of trading. The article states: "Trump, however, ingratiated himself with these platforms by dropping prosecutions against companies like Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken. All three of these companies listed WLFI on its first day of trading." This quid pro quo arrangement—prosecutorial leniency in exchange for preferential treatment of the president's personal financial asset—directly links law enforcement discretion to the president's financial interests.
• Trump's cryptocurrency holdings valued at $5 billion, creating conflict of interest — Trump's interest in a cryptocurrency venture was valued at approximately $5 billion on paper, exceeding the combined value of all his other assets. Fox Business host Stuart Varney characterized the arrangement as a "clear conflict of interest," noting that crypto-friendly legislation from the president would directly benefit his personal and family financial interests. The deal would not be occurring absent Trump's presidential position.
• SEC drastically cuts crypto enforcement unit staffing — Following Paul Atkins's confirmation as SEC chairman in April 2025, the agency drastically reduced staffing in its crypto enforcement unit. This reduction in enforcement capacity directly correlates with the launch of World Liberty Financial and the removal of regulatory obstacles to Trump's cryptocurrency scheme. The staffing cuts eliminate the agency's ability to investigate or prosecute crypto-related securities violations.
• Eric Trump launches American Bitcoin cryptocurrency mining company — Eric Trump launched American Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency mining company, on September 3, 2025. According to reporting by Kyle Khan-Mullins and Dan Alexander of Forbes, Eric Trump is now worth at least $3.2 billion as a result of this venture and related Trump family cryptocurrency activities, including the Monday launch of WLFI cryptocurrency which netted the family approximately $5 billion on paper.
• Trump meets with tech executives including Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg at White House — Trump held a White House meeting with multiple technology executives including Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, ostensibly tied to Melania Trump's AI safety initiative. The meeting focused on securing electricity and water resources from the government for tech companies' AI infrastructure development. The gathering prompted significant backlash from MAGA influencers and conservative figures who view Gates and Zuckerberg as enemies of Trump and the MAGA movement.

Supporting reports

• Trump exempts fossil fuel products from universal tariff package — On Wednesday, President Trump announced a 10% universal tariff package that explicitly exempts many fossil fuel products, including liquefied natural gas imports, crude oil from Canada, and petrochemical materials. The exemption follows $96 million in campaign contributions from the fossil fuel industry to Trump's re-election effort. Environmental advocates characterized the carveout as evidence of Trump's prioritization of major oil donors over broader economic and climate interests, while the American Petroleum Institute publicly welcomed the decision.

Supporting reports

• Musk's campaign contributions raise concerns — Elon Musk has contributed over $20 million to the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election, which has national significance due to its potential impact on voting rights and redistricting.
• Musk's Financial Contributions to Republican Candidates — Elon Musk has contributed over $20 million to the April 1 election for a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, where his support is seen as an effort to influence the court's composition. His financial backing is part of a broader strategy to support Republican candidates in key elections.
• Wisconsin supreme court election featuring record spending by Elon Musk and allies — Wisconsin held a supreme court election on March 30, 2025, to fill a retiring liberal justice's seat. Liberal judge Susan Crawford faced conservative judge Brad Schimel. The race became the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history, with over $80 million spent. Elon Musk's Super PAC spent more than $20 million supporting Schimel, including a controversial $1 million giveaway offer that Wisconsin's Democratic attorney general sued to stop. The election will determine control of a court ruling on abortion, voting rights, and congressional redistricting in the swing state.
• Elon Musk distributed $2 million to Wisconsin voters in exchange for petition signatures — On March 30, billionaire Elon Musk gave away two checks for $1 million each to individuals who attended his rally for Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel and signed a petition against "activist judges." Musk circumvented Wisconsin law prohibiting exchange of items of value for voting by claiming the checks were for "spokesperson agreements." Video evidence linked one recipient's vote directly to Musk's payment, with the recipient stating she did "exactly what Elon Musk told everyone to do: sign the petition, refer friends and family, vote, and now I have a million dollars." The second $1 million check went to the chair of the Wisconsin College Republicans, who has worked for Republican campaigns.
• Elon Musk spent nearly $20 million on Wisconsin Supreme Court race and held rally — Billionaire Elon Musk invested approximately $20 million in support of Brad Schimel's Wisconsin Supreme Court candidacy. On March 30, Musk traveled to Wisconsin and held a rally for Schimel, where he stated the election could determine "the future of America and Western Civilization" and warned that a court with opponent Susan Crawford would redraw gerrymandered districts and "add seats for Democrats." Musk's spending and rhetoric framed a state judicial election as a national existential contest.
• Appellate court declined to block Musk's million-dollar giveaways in Wisconsin election — An appellate court declined to hear an emergency request filed by Wisconsin AG Josh Kaul to block Elon Musk from handing out million-dollar giveaways in an attempt to buy votes in the state's key Supreme Court election scheduled for Tuesday. The court stated that Kaul had not filed or supported his motion properly, forcing them to deny the request.
• Brad Schimel distanced himself from Musk's election interference — Republican candidate Brad Schimel, facing backlash over Musk's vote-buying scheme in Wisconsin's Supreme Court election, suddenly decided to distance himself from Musk. When asked if he would be at Musk's rally where he was handing out two separate million-dollar checks, Schimel responded: "We have no plans to be there. We have a very aggressive campaign calendar. I have no idea what he's doing. I have no idea what this rally is."
• Kid Rock endorsed Brad Schimel in Wisconsin Supreme Court election — Kid Rock endorsed Republican candidate Brad Schimel in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election this weekend.
• Elon Musk distributes $1 million checks to petition signers opposing judges — After the Wisconsin State Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to Elon Musk's lottery, Musk handed out two $1 million checks to voters who signed a petition opposing "activist" judges. The distribution occurred on March 30 and appears designed to reward political opposition to judicial decisions.
• Elon Musk held rally for Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel — Elon Musk held a rally in Wisconsin supporting Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel, where he made hyperbolic claims about the stakes of the election and responded to protesters by claiming George Soros paid them to attend. Musk stated that if his candidate did not win, human civilization would end. The rally featured paid attendees, each compensated $100 by Musk to be present.
• Musk announced $1 million payment scheme for Wisconsin Supreme Court election — Elon Musk announced a vote-buying scheme offering $1 million payments to individuals who help mobilize voters for Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel. The first recipient was identified as the President of the Wisconsin College Republicans. Musk claimed winners were selected randomly by lottery, though no independent observers were present during the selection process.
• Musk announced $20 payment scheme for Wisconsin Supreme Court election — At 3:25 AM, Elon Musk announced a new payment scheme offering $20 per person to individuals who could recruit Wisconsin voters to hold pictures of Brad Schimel and give a thumbs-up gesture, with participants potentially earning over $1,000 per day. The scheme did not require participants to be Wisconsin residents, only to recruit people within the state.

Supporting reports

• Establishment of Strategic Bitcoin Reserve — President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14233, establishing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the United States Digital Asset Stockpile. The order mandates the creation of custodial accounts for managing government-held Bitcoin and other digital assets, primarily acquired through forfeiture proceedings. The Secretary of the Treasury is tasked with overseeing these reserves and developing strategies for their management, ensuring budget neutrality and compliance with applicable laws.
• Trump issues executive order establishing national bitcoin stockpile — On March 6, Trump issued an executive order establishing a national stockpile of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The order was issued the day before Trump's "crypto summit" and has drawn criticism from watchdogs for its economic risks and for benefiting bitcoin holders while exposing U.S. taxpayers to financial risk.
• Establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and United States Digital Asset Stockpile — President Donald Trump issued an executive order establishing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and the United States Digital Asset Stockpile. The order mandates the Secretary of the Treasury to create offices to manage these reserves, which will include Bitcoin and other digital assets obtained through forfeiture proceedings. The reserves are intended to enhance the strategic position of the U.S. in the global financial system. The order also requires agencies to report on their digital asset holdings and outlines conditions under which these assets can be used or disposed of.
• Trump establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve via executive order — On March 6, 2025, Trump signed an executive order establishing a "Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile," directing the federal government to acquire and hold bitcoin and other cryptocurrency assets. The announcement provided legitimacy to bitcoin by associating it with the world's largest economy. The article notes it is unclear how the American public benefits from such a stockpile, but the announcement boosted bitcoin prices and benefited bitcoin investors, including Trump himself.
• White House issues fact sheet on Strategic Bitcoin Reserve executive order — The White House published a fact sheet on March 6, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile. The order directs the Treasury Department to hold bitcoin seized through criminal and civil asset forfeiture as a non-sale reserve asset, authorizes the Secretaries of Treasury and Commerce to develop budget-neutral strategies for acquiring additional bitcoin, and requires agencies to report their digital asset holdings to Treasury and the President's Working Group on Digital Asset Markets.
• White House signed executive order establishing Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile — The White House signed an executive order on March 6, 2025, directing the Treasury Secretary to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve capitalized with all Bitcoin held by the federal government from asset forfeiture proceedings, and a separate Digital Asset Stockpile for other digital assets. The order requires agencies to inventory and transfer holdings within 30 days, prohibits sale of reserve assets except under specified conditions (victim restitution, law enforcement operations, state/local sharing, or legal requirements), and directs Treasury and Commerce to develop budget-neutral strategies for acquiring additional Bitcoin.