Trump Action Archive

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 issues executive order imposing 40% tariffs on Brazilian imports, citing threats to U.S. national security and economy — President Trump signed an executive order on July 30, 2025, declaring a national emergency regarding the Government of Brazil and imposing a 40% ad valorem tariff on Brazilian imports effective seven days after the order. The order cites Brazilian judicial actions—particularly those of Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes—that allegedly compelled U.S. social media platforms to censor American citizens' constitutionally protected speech, froze accounts, and extracted user data. The order also references Brazil's prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the National Emergencies Act as authority.
• Trump signed executive order imposing 40% tariffs on Brazilian imports, citing national emergency over alleged censorship and political persecution — President Trump signed Executive Order 14323 declaring a national emergency based on alleged actions by the Brazilian government, including censorship demands on U.S. social media platforms, targeting of political opponents, and persecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro. The order imposes an additional 40% ad valorem tariff on most Brazilian products effective seven days after signing, with exceptions for certain goods including civil aircraft, energy products, and agricultural commodities. The order authorizes the Secretary of State to monitor the situation and recommend further action, and permits escalation if Brazil retaliates.
• Trump declares national emergency over Brazil government actions, imposes 40% tariff on Brazilian imports — President Trump signed Executive Order 14323 declaring a national emergency based on alleged threats from the Brazilian government, specifically citing judicial actions by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes targeting U.S. citizens and companies, censorship demands on U.S. social media platforms, and political persecution of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The order imposes an additional 40% ad valorem duty on Brazilian products effective seven days after signing, with exceptions for certain goods. The order authorizes the Secretary of State to employ powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and directs monitoring and potential escalation if Brazil retaliates.
• White House issues fact sheet on tariffs against Brazil over alleged censorship and human rights violations — The White House issued a fact sheet stating that President Trump signed an executive order on July 30, 2025, imposing an additional 40% tariff on Brazil (bringing the total to 50%) under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The order declares a national emergency, citing Brazil's alleged censorship of U.S. companies, persecution of former President Bolsonaro and supporters, and actions by Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The fact sheet claims these actions constitute threats to U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economy, and states that Trump also directed Secretary Rubio to revoke visas for Justice de Moraes and allies.
• Trump uses tariff authority to punish Brazil for prosecuting Bolsonaro — Trump has used emergency tariff authority to wage a tariff war, including using that power to punish countries like Brazil for its prosecution of Trump's political ally, former president Jair Bolsonaro. This represents weaponization of trade policy for personal and political purposes rather than legitimate national economic interest.

Supporting reports

• Freedom of the Press Foundation v. U.S. Department of Justice, complaint filed (D.D.C. 1:25-cv-02432) — Freedom of the Press Foundation filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on July 28, 2025, alleging that the Department of Justice failed to respond to a FOIA request submitted on May 15, 2025, seeking a memorandum from Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding the Trump Administration's acceptance of a $400 million aircraft from Qatar. FPF seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to compel DOJ compliance with FOIA's statutory response deadlines.
• Freedom of the Press Foundation sues DOJ over Qatar jet gift legal memo — The Freedom of the Press Foundation, represented by American Oversight, filed a federal FOIA lawsuit in Washington DC district court against the Department of Justice for refusing to release a legal memorandum signed by Attorney General Pam Bondi in May 2025 that cleared Trump's acceptance of a $400 million luxury Boeing 747-8 aircraft from Qatar's government. The DOJ granted expedited processing but estimated over 600 days to fulfill the request, with no documents released after more than two months. The memo's contents and the gift itself have drawn criticism from Republican senators and Democratic lawmakers over constitutional emoluments concerns and national security risks.

Supporting reports

• Trump suggests he may pardon Ghislaine Maxwell — President Trump told reporters that he is "allowed" to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for conspiring with Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse children. This statement came amid the administration's refusal to release the Epstein files and ongoing DOJ meetings with Maxwell.
• Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche meets with Ghislaine Maxwell — Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, over two days in the week prior to July 27, 2025. The meetings occurred amid pressure on the Trump administration to disclose more information about Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and raised questions about the purpose and nature of the meetings, particularly given Maxwell's potential value as a witness or source of information.

Supporting reports

• $934 million transferred from nuclear modernization fund to Trump's presidential aircraft — The New York Times reported that $934 million was transferred from funds designated for modernizing the aging U.S. ground-based nuclear weapons stockpile to an account used to refurbish Trump's new "Palace in the Sky" aircraft, described as a "gift" from Qatar. The aircraft will serve as Air Force One for only one year before reverting to Trump's Presidential Library.
• Air Force transfers $934 million from nuclear modernization program to classified aircraft upgrade project — The New York Times reported that the Air Force transferred approximately $934 million from a program to modernize ground-based nuclear missiles to an unnamed classified project. Air Force officials privately confirmed to reporters that the transfer funds upgrades to a Boeing 747-8 aircraft accepted by President Trump from Qatar for use as Air Force One, effectively using taxpayer funds to finance a personal gift.