Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Whistles deployed in nationwide protests against Trump ICE enforcement operations — Activists across the United States have adopted whistles as a coordinated protest tool to alert communities to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agent presence during Trump's immigration crackdown. Protesters use short bursts to signal ICE sightings and sustained patterns when witnessing detentions. Over 150,000 whistles have been distributed nationwide by advocacy groups. The tactic has spread to major cities including Chicago, New York, Portland, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis, with lawmakers and public figures including musician Justin Vernon and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib publicly endorsing the practice.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge orders release of Venezuelan migrant after seven months of ICE detention — Joswar Torres, a 29-year-old Venezuelan with a pending asylum application and humanitarian parole status, was detained by ICE in June 2025 following a routine DHS check-in in Spokane, Washington. After nearly 2,000 people protested his detention and 30 were arrested, U.S. District Judge James Robart ruled that DHS violated Torres's Fifth Amendment due process rights by failing to consider his individualized circumstances before detaining him. Torres was released after seven months in custody.

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• Trump administration officials embrace Great Replacement theory in immigration policy — The article traces the historical lineage of conspiracy theories used to consolidate political power, from Senator Joe McCarthy's 1950 anticommunist accusations through the modern Great Replacement theory. It documents how Trump and his team—including Vice President J.D. Vance, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem—have adopted rhetoric defining non-white Americans as a threat and are making the purging of Brown and Black people central to federal policy. The piece notes Trump's September address to the UN General Assembly warning European nations that immigration is "destroying your heritage" and his 2024 campaign's false claims about migrant crime and Venezuelan gangs.

Supporting reports

• Administration plans national detention warehouse system with seven mega facilities — The Trump administration is working to establish a national detention system that would book newly arrested detainees into processing sites before sending them to one of seven warehouses designed to hold 5,000 to 10,000 people each. Sixteen smaller warehouses would hold up to 1,500 people each. From these facilities, people would be deported. A DHS spokesperson stated the facilities would meet "regular detention standards."
• ICE Plans for New Detention Facilities Announced — The Department of Homeland Security has secured funding for new detention facilities, including a $87.4 million facility outside Philadelphia and a $37 million facility near San Antonio. These facilities are part of a broader plan to expand the capacity for immigrant detention across the United States.
• Increase in Immigrant Detention Numbers Reported — Following the implementation of the new mass detention policy, the number of immigrants held in U.S. detention facilities has surged from approximately 40,000 to over 70,000. This increase is attributed to the policy's expansion of the categories of noncitizens subject to detention, with facilities now numbering 224, which is 104 more than before the Trump administration took office.

Supporting reports

• Termination of VA Agreement with ICE Reported — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) terminated its agreement with ICE to provide medical care for detainees on September 30, 2025, following political pressure and misinformation regarding the funding of veterans' care. This abrupt termination has left detainees without access to prescribed medications and necessary off-site medical care.
• ICE detention population expands to over 70,000 across 224 facilities — The United States is currently holding more than 70,000 immigrants in 224 detention facilities across the nation, an increase of 104 facilities from before Trump took office. This represents an increase from approximately 40,000 people held on any given day before the new detention policy. The detainees include children. Private prison companies operate these facilities under contract with the U.S. government.
• ICE Stops Paying for Detainee Medical Care — The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency ceased payments to third-party medical providers for detainee care as of October 3, 2025, and will not process claims until at least April 30, 2026. This decision has led to some medical providers denying care to detainees, exacerbating health risks for those in detention.
• Reports of Violations at Camp East Montana — Reports indicate that Camp East Montana, a detention facility at Fort Bliss, Texas, has violated at least 60 federal standards for immigrant detention, raising concerns about the conditions and treatment of detainees. The facility is part of a larger system of detention centers operated by private prison companies under government contracts.

Supporting reports

• Camp East Montana detention facility violates 60 federal detention standards — According to ICE's own oversight unit, Camp East Montana at Fort Bliss, Texas, has violated at least 60 federal standards for immigrant detention. The $1.24 billion contract was awarded to a small business that operates out of a residential address and has little to no publicly available record of managing immigration facilities.
• Death ruled homicide at Camp East Montana detention facility — A medical examiner ruled the death of detainee Geraldo Lunas Campos at Camp East Montana, a $1.2 billion detention facility located at Fort Bliss Army base in Texas, a homicide. The death occurred in January 2026. Two other detainees have also died at the facility: Victor Manuel Díaz, whose death in January remains unclear though officials claim it was "presumed suicide," and Francisco Gaspar Andrés, who died in December after being transported to an El Paso hospital for treatment of a serious medical condition.

Supporting reports

• Congress allocates $45 billion for ICE detention expansion — In the Republicans' July 2025 budget reconciliation bill, called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Congress allocated $45 billion in additional funding for ICE detention. This funding supports the expansion of detention capacity and facilities.

Supporting reports

• DHS purchases three major detention facilities for $194.4 million — The Department of Homeland Security has secured at least three facilities for the detention warehouse system. DHS paid $87.4 million for one facility outside Philadelphia, $37 million for another outside San Antonio (a warehouse of nearly 640,000 square feet), and $70 million for a building the size of seven football fields in Surprise, Arizona, outside Phoenix. The total expenditure for these three facilities is $194.4 million.
• ICE purchased multiple warehouses nationwide to convert into large-scale detention camps with minimal oversight — Immigration and Customs Enforcement has spent over half a billion dollars purchasing warehouses across the country to convert into detention camps. The planned facilities would hold between 8,500 and 10,000 people each in buildings not originally designed for human habitation, making them larger than Rikers Island, the physically largest jail in the United States. ICE has purchased at least six warehouses at costs of $70–$110 million each, with billions more required for retrofitting and staffing. Recent purchases include warehouses in multiple states. Immigration attorney Aaron Reichlin-Melnick noted these mega-camps would operate with little to no real oversight.
• DHS and ICE acquire multiple large warehouse properties across six states for immigration detention expansion — The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have purchased or are planning to acquire approximately 23 warehouse-style properties nationwide, with confirmed acquisitions documented in Arizona (418,000 sq ft, $70M), Pennsylvania (520,000 sq ft, $87.4M), Texas (640,000 sq ft, $66.1M), Maryland (825,000+ sq ft, $102.4M), Texas near El Paso (over $122M), and Georgia. Additional proposals include a Mississippi facility designed to hold 8,500+ beds and a Texas site in Hutchins. The acquisitions bypass traditional approval processes by utilizing already-zoned industrial properties, enabling rapid expansion of detention and processing capacity.
• DHS and ICE Acquire Large Warehouses for Detention Expansion — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been acquiring large industrial warehouse properties across multiple states to expand immigration detention and processing capacity. Confirmed purchases include a 418,000-square-foot warehouse in Surprise, Arizona, a 520,000-square-foot facility in Upper Bern Township, Pennsylvania, a 640,000-square-foot site in San Antonio, Texas, an 825,000-square-foot warehouse in Washington County, Maryland, and a property in Socorro, Texas. These acquisitions are part of a broader strategy involving approximately 23 warehouse-style properties nationwide, as reported by the Washington Post.
• Oklahoma City warehouse owner terminates DHS detention facility negotiations following public opposition — A warehouse owner in Oklahoma City ended negotiations with the Department of Homeland Security for use as an ICE detention facility after public opposition and community scrutiny. The outcome demonstrates that local engagement and documentation can alter federal acquisition outcomes.
• DHS purchased six warehouse properties for detention infrastructure — Public records confirm that the Department of Homeland Security has purchased at least six massive warehouse properties across multiple states totaling hundreds of millions of dollars: Arizona (418,000 sq ft, $70M), Pennsylvania (520,000 sq ft, $87.4M), Texas (640,000 sq ft, $66.1M), Maryland (825,000+ sq ft, $102.4M), another Texas site ($122M+), and Georgia. Internal DHS planning documents describe a strategy involving approximately 23 warehouse-style properties nationwide. These industrial structures near highways, freight corridors, and airports are selected for logistical efficiency and rapid conversion into processing centers capable of handling large numbers of individuals simultaneously.

Supporting reports

• ICE director calls for treating deportation like Amazon Prime business model — In April 2025, Todd Lyons, acting director of ICE, told attendees at the Border Security Expo in Phoenix, Arizona, that "We need to get better at treating this like a business." He called for a deportation process "like [Amazon] Prime, but with human beings," framing the removal of immigrants as a commercial operation rather than a legal process.

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• ICE conducts rapid "smash and grab" immigration arrests across multiple US cities with shifting tactics to evade documentation — ICE has intensified immigration enforcement operations across the US with evolving tactics designed to avoid public scrutiny. In Los Angeles, arrests have accelerated from extended operations to rapid five-minute sweeps. San Diego saw a Home Depot detention in late December lasting approximately five minutes. Portland experienced a 1,500% detention surge during October–December operations, with ongoing check-ins at ICE facilities. Charlotte saw increased detentions at immigration check-in locations post-CBP withdrawal. Washington DC arrests remain elevated following Trump's August deployment order, with federal agents continuing patrols assisted by local police despite a preliminary injunction limiting warrantless arrests. San Diego courthouse arrests have shifted from public hallways to private check-in rooms.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration seeks deportation order for five-year-old boy after judge ordered release — The Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security announced it is seeking a deportation order for Liam Conejo Ramos, a five-year-old Ecuadorian boy who entered the US legally as an asylum applicant. Liam and his father were detained by ICE in Minneapolis in January, transferred to a family detention facility in Texas, and ordered released by a judge on January 31. The government is now seeking to end their asylum claims despite the judicial release order. Family lawyers characterized the move as "extraordinary" and potentially "retaliatory."

Supporting reports

• ICE conducted racial profiling and raids on Hispanic-owned businesses — Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted raids involving racial profiling and targeting of Hispanic-owned businesses as part of Trump's deportation crackdown. The enforcement pattern, consistent with prior U.S. deportation efforts since 1930, involves agents detaining individuals based on appearance rather than legal status, driving away Hispanic voters who were part of Trump's 2024 coalition.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration attempts to deploy National Guard to Portland ICE facility; federal judge blocks deployment — Trump attempted to deploy the National Guard to quell demonstrations outside an ICE facility in Portland, Oregon. A federal judge ultimately blocked the deployment. However, protests have persisted as federal agents continue regular immigration check-ins at the facility. Tensions escalated in recent weeks after border patrol agents shot two people outside a medical facility in January, ICE agents arrested a seven-year-old and her parents seeking emergency medical care, and federal agents deployed tear gas against thousands of people at a daytime march, including many children.

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• Texas Governor Greg Abbott stopped public universities and state government from hiring H-1B workers — Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a directive stopping public universities and the state government from hiring H-1B visa workers, most of whom are Indian nationals. The action reflects anti-Indian sentiment among online Trump supporters that has spilled into real-world policy, and is expected to harm the state economy's reliance on Indian doctors and other professionals for essential services.

Supporting reports

• SAVE Act Threatens Voter Disenfranchisement — The SAVE Act, currently under consideration, would require all voters to prove their citizenship, potentially disenfranchising women who have changed their names due to marriage, transgender individuals, and others. While the act may face challenges in the Senate, its passage could lead to significant barriers to voting for many citizens. Advocacy groups are urging the public to contact elected officials to oppose this legislation.
• Congressional Republicans advance restrictive voter eligibility bill — Congressional Republicans have fast-tracked the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a restrictive anti-voting bill based on Trump's baseless claims of widespread voter fraud by noncitizens. The bill would instantly disenfranchise millions of eligible voters by imposing citizenship verification requirements that exceed constitutional and statutory protections.
• Republicans advancing Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act — Republicans are advancing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and to vote. Only five states—Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington—have "enhanced" driver's licenses meeting the requirement; in all other states, voters would need either a passport or a birth certificate. Approximately half of Americans lack a passport, others lack birth certificates, and the names of married women who took their husband's last name and transgender Americans would not match their birth certificates. The Brennan Center for Justice found that if the measure passes, approximately 21 million Americans could lose their votes. The bill also calls for state officials to purge voter rolls.
• Republicans propose voter suppression legislation — The Republican Party is advancing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register and vote. This legislation could disenfranchise approximately 21 million Americans who lack the necessary documentation.
• White House issued fact sheet promoting the SAVE America Act and voter ID requirements — The White House issued a fact sheet asserting that voter ID requirements are "overwhelmingly popular" across all demographics and calling on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which the document states requires photo ID and implements "critical measures to protect federal elections from fraud and abuse." The fact sheet cites polling data from Pew Research Center (83% support), Gallup (84% support), and quotes from CNN and NBC anchors, and characterizes Democratic opposition as "placing partisan politics above the clear will of the American people."
• SAVE America Act passed House with narrow margin — The SAVE America Act passed the House of Representatives on February 11, 2026, by a vote of 218 to 213. The bill requires documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote and would affect not only first-time registration but also routine voter registration updates. Evidence from Kansas, which implemented a similar proof-of-citizenship law, showed that the documentary requirement prevented approximately 31,000 eligible citizens (12 percent of all applicants) from registering to vote, blocking far more citizens than noncitizens. Noncitizen voting in federal elections is already illegal and documented to be exceedingly rare.
• House Passes Restrictive Election Bill — The Republican-controlled House passed the SAVE America Act, which imposes strict voter ID requirements and mandates frequent voter roll purges. Critics argue it disenfranchises millions, particularly women and minorities, by requiring proof of citizenship that many lack. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it faces opposition.
• House Passes SAVE Act Requiring Citizenship Proof for Voting — The Republican-controlled House passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, legislation requiring proof of citizenship—such as passports or birth certificates—for voters to cast ballots. The Center for American Progress notes that approximately half of Americans lack a valid passport, and 69 million women cannot use birth certificates to prove citizenship due to name changes upon marriage. The bill also eliminates mail-only registration, mandates photo ID in all states, and requires states to conduct voter roll purges every 30 days. The measure now moves to the Senate.
• House passes SAVE America Act — The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act passed the House on Wednesday. The measure would require voters to show either a passport or birth certificate with matching names to register and would require states to purge their voting rolls every month. The bill must overcome a filibuster to pass the Senate.
• House passes SAVE America Act restricting voting for Americans abroad — The House of Representatives passed the SAVE America Act, which imposes in-person citizenship verification, proof of state residency, and repeated photo ID and citizenship document submission requirements at registration, ballot request, and voting stages. The bill would effectively prevent millions of eligible Americans living abroad—including military service members, diplomats, and expatriates—from voting. The measure centralizes voter eligibility authority in the federal executive, departing from two centuries of state election administration.
• House passes Save America Act, restricting voting access nationwide — The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Save America Act on February 12, 2026, by a vote of 218–213, with one Democratic defection. The bill requires proof of citizenship at voter registration, imposes a strict nationwide photo ID requirement (excluding student IDs), and significantly curtails mail-in voting. Implementation would be immediate, forcing states to rapidly realign voting systems. The bill faces a difficult path in the Senate and is expected to face federal court challenges.
• House passed SAVE America Act requiring use of flawed voter-verification system — The House passed the GOP's SAVE America Act this week, which would require states to use a federal voter-verification tool that ProPublica documented as consistently misidentifying U.S. citizens as noncitizens. The tool has a documented error rate that results in approximately 775 legal voters being disenfranchised for every 1 ineligible voter prevented from registering.

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• Department of Homeland Security issued interim final rule restricting immigration appeals — The Department of Homeland Security issued a new interim final rule making sweeping changes to Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) procedures. The rule reduces the time for immigrants to file appeals after receiving a deportation order from 30 days to 10 days and mandates dismissal of all cases within 15 days unless a majority of BIA members vote to accept the appeal. Immigration lawyer Craig Relles warned the rule will "flood the federal courts" and result in more immigrants being detained by ICE.

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• Florida mandates English-only driver's license testing — As of February 6, 2026, Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles eliminated multilingual driver's license examinations, requiring all knowledge and skills tests to be conducted in English only. Previously, noncommercial exams were offered in Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Portuguese. Translation services and printed exams in other languages are now prohibited. Critics argue the policy disproportionately affects immigrant communities and non-English speakers, including U.S. citizens, and creates barriers to essential services.

Supporting reports

• Trump signed Executive Order 14385 authorizing DHS to access DOJ criminal history records and share felony conviction data with foreign governments for border security and immigration screening. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14385 on February 6, 2026, directing the Attorney General to provide the Department of Homeland Security maximum access to criminal history record information (CHRI) maintained by the Department of Justice. The order further authorizes DHS to exchange felony conviction records with Visa Waiver Program countries, countries with serious crime agreements with the U.S., and other trusted allies, on a reciprocal basis under bilateral or multilateral agreements with privacy safeguards. The stated purpose is to enhance border security and immigration screening by identifying foreign nationals with criminal histories.
• Trump issues executive order on criminal alien screening and felony record sharing with foreign governments — President Trump issued an executive order on February 6, 2026, directing the Department of Homeland Security to access criminal history records maintained by the Department of Justice for immigration screening purposes, and authorizing DHS to exchange felony conviction records with Visa Waiver Program countries and other trusted allies under bilateral or multilateral agreements with privacy safeguards. The order frames the policy as protecting national security and public safety from criminal actors, including foreign nationals with criminal histories who have entered or remained in the United States in violation of immigration law.
• Executive Order 14385: Criminal History Record Information Sharing with DHS and Foreign Governments — The White House issued Executive Order 14385 on February 6, 2026, directing the Attorney General to provide the Department of Homeland Security with access to criminal history record information (CHRI) maintained by the Department of Justice to the maximum extent permitted by law. The order also authorizes DHS to exchange felony conviction records with Visa Waiver Program countries, countries with serious crime agreements with the U.S., and other trusted allies, on a reciprocal basis under bilateral or multilateral agreements with privacy safeguards.

Supporting reports

• Measles outbreak confirmed at Dilley family detention center in Texas — At least two confirmed measles cases were reported at the Dilley family detention center in south Texas, a major ICE facility holding children and parents. The outbreak occurs amid a broader national measles surge, with 588 confirmed US cases in 2026 and vaccination rates declining. Democratic congressman Joaquin Castro called for the facility to be "shut down immediately," citing inadequate conditions and the risk of exponential spread in close quarters. ICE and HHS did not respond to inquiries about vaccination campaigns or containment measures.

Supporting reports

• Democrats issue 10 demands for ICE reforms, threaten to block DHS funding — Following fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued a formal letter to GOP leadership on February 5, 2026, laying out 10 conditions Democrats will require before supporting long-term Department of Homeland Security funding. The demands include judicial warrant requirements for property entry, prohibition on agent masks, mandatory ID display, protection of sensitive locations, racial profiling bans, use-of-force standards, state/local coordination, detention safeguards, body-camera mandates, and restrictions on paramilitary equipment. Democrats signaled intent to introduce legislation codifying these proposals.
• Democrats demand conditions on DHS funding including warrant requirements and agent accountability — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) sent Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) a letter outlining conditions Democrats demand be incorporated into DHS appropriations legislation. Demands include requiring judicial warrants for home entry, visible agent identification, prohibition of racial profiling, restrictions on raids of sensitive sites (schools, churches, polling places, courts), use-of-force policies, body cameras, and state jurisdiction over federal agents who break the law. Republicans called the demands "unrealistic" and "radical."
• Democratic leaders released 10-point DHS funding negotiation list with immigration enforcement safeguards — House and Senate Democratic leaders submitted a formal list of 10 policy demands to Republican leadership for DHS funding negotiations, including judicial warrant requirements, prohibition of enforcement in schools and churches, ban on race-based stops, mandatory body cameras, officer identification requirements, use-of-force standards, detention standards, state investigation authority, and prohibition of officer masks. Republican leaders dismissed the demands as unrealistic and a non-starter, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune and GOP Whip Tom Barrasso claiming the list had expanded and represented radical demands designed to appease left-wing groups.
• Senate Minority Leader Schumer detailed ICE enforcement abuses — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described widespread ICE enforcement abuses across U.S. cities, including warrantless arrests, detention in "dark chambers" without phone access, and two American deaths. Schumer stated that 90% of Americans surveyed had viewed videos of the enforcement operations and rejected them as un-American. He outlined Democratic objectives: stopping roving patrols, prohibiting enforcement in sensitive locations, establishing accountability mechanisms, and requiring officer identification and body cameras.

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• GOP Whip Barrasso claimed Democratic DHS demands numbered 23 items — GOP Whip Tom Barrasso stated he had identified 23 demands in the Democratic list (accounting for subsections), characterizing them as "radical Democrat demands" that continued to grow. Barrasso's statement escalated Republican framing of the Democratic proposals as excessive and unreasonable.
• Senate Majority Leader Thune rejected Democratic DHS demands as unrealistic — Senate Majority Leader John Thune publicly dismissed the Democratic 10-point list as unrealistic, stating the demands had expanded from 3 to 10 items and contained non-starters designed to satisfy left-wing special interest groups like MoveOn. Thune's statement framed the Democratic proposals as evidence of bad-faith negotiation and suggested Republicans would not seriously consider the safeguards.

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• Senate Democrats considered second DHS continuing resolution — Multiple Senate Democrats, including some who voted to end the previous government shutdown, did not rule out another short-term continuing resolution for DHS funding to extend negotiations. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) stated the need to "keep as many options on the table as possible," while Senate Majority Leader Thune suggested a yearlong continuing resolution might be necessary. The approach contrasted with other Democrats who immediately rejected further extensions.

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• Trump posted racist video depicting Obamas as apes — Trump posted a video clip depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes on social media. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt initially dismissed criticism as "fake outrage," claiming it was a Lion King meme, without apologizing or confirming removal. Republican senators Tim Scott, Susan Collins, Roger Wicker, and Pete Ricketts publicly called for the video's removal and an apology. Following their pressure, Trump removed the video. The White House then blamed the post on "a staffer" with access to Trump's account, still offering no apology.
• Trump removed racist video following Republican pressure — Following public statements from Republican senators calling for removal, Trump took down the racist video. The White House then issued a second statement blaming the post on "a staffer" who had access to Trump's personal account, still offering no apology.
• White House Press Secretary issued statement on racist video — Karoline Leavitt issued a statement characterizing the racist video as a Lion King meme depicting Trump as "King of the Jungle" and Democrats as characters, dismissing public outrage as "fake outrage." She did not deny Trump posted it, did not confirm its removal, and did not apologize.
• Trump delivered racist tirade against immigrants at National Prayer Breakfast — On Thursday morning, Trump delivered a racist tirade against immigrants while speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast. The remarks represent part of a broader pattern of inflammatory rhetoric from the president targeting immigrant communities.
• Trump posted AI-generated racist video of Obamas on Truth Social — On Thursday evening, Trump posted an AI-generated video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes on Truth Social. The White House initially blamed a "staffer" for the post, though reporting indicates Trump's posts typically undergo approval processes including from the president himself. The incident represents an escalation in racist rhetoric from the White House.
• Trump posts racist video depicting Obamas as apes, refuses apology — Donald Trump posted a video to his Truth Social account on Thursday evening showing Barack and Michelle Obama's faces superimposed on ape bodies in a jungle setting, set to "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." The video was part of a longer clip promoting false 2020 election claims. Trump initially claimed he had not seen the offensive portion, then contradicted himself by saying he approved posting it. When asked to apologize, Trump refused, stating "No, I didn't make a mistake." The post was later deleted after White House claims it was posted by a staffer without authorization.
• Trump posted racist video depicting Obamas as apes on social media account — Late on February 6, President Trump's social media account posted a video containing debunked claims about the 2020 election and an image depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama with their heads attached to ape bodies. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt initially dismissed criticism as "fake outrage." After Republican senators Tim Scott, Pete Ricketts, and Roger Wicker called out the racism, the White House claimed a staffer had made the post erroneously. Trump later stated on Air Force One that he had posted it himself and refused to apologize, saying "No, I didn't make a mistake."
• Republican senators publicly called for removal of racist video — Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Susan Collins (R-ME), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) issued public statements condemning the racist video and calling on Trump to remove it and apologize. Scott called it "the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House." Wicker called it "totally unacceptable." Ricketts noted the "racist context" and urged the White House to "remove this and apologize."

Supporting reports

• White House announced 700-agent drawdown from Minnesota — White House border czar Tom Homan announced on February 4 that 700 immigration agents would leave Minnesota immediately. However, as of the article date, fewer than 1,000 agents remain in the state, not zero. Court filings confirm thousands of federal agents were assigned to Operation Metro Surge at various points, described by DHS as its largest enforcement operation ever. Legal observers continue reporting enforcement activity in suburbs despite the announced drawdown.
• White House border czar announces partial withdrawal of federal agents from Minnesota — Tom Homan, White House border czar, announced that approximately 700 federal immigration agents would be withdrawn from Minnesota, reducing the surge but leaving roughly 2,000 agents in the state—far above historical levels. The reduction is contingent on county jails agreeing to hold immigrants for up to 48 hours after their release dates to facilitate federal pickup. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey stated the drawdown is insufficient and called for complete withdrawal of Operation Metro Surge, citing two killings of U.S. citizens by federal agents in January and widespread community fear.
• Tom Homan replaces Gregory Bovino as federal immigration enforcement lead in Minnesota — Trump's "border czar" Tom Homan announced a drawdown of 700 federal immigration officers in Minnesota while maintaining roughly 2,000 officers in the state—far above the typical 150. Homan, replacing Gregory Bovino following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and mounting local backlash, stated the operation remains focused on deporting all undocumented immigrants regardless of criminal history. He emphasized "unprecedented collaboration" with county sheriffs to access local jails for ICE notifications, though major Minnesota counties have not confirmed participation.

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• Judge considers temporary restraining order on federal agents' use of force at Portland ICE protests — A federal judge is weighing whether to issue a temporary restraining order restricting federal officers' ability to use force during protests in Portland, Oregon, following weekend demonstrations at an ICE facility. Federal agents deployed teargas, pepper balls, and flash-bang grenades on crowds that included children and elderly people. The ACLU of Oregon filed a class-action lawsuit in November alleging sustained retaliatory violence by federal officers. A judge indicated a ruling would come on Tuesday.
• Federal judge temporarily restricts ICE use of teargas and projectiles against Portland protesters — U.S. District Judge Michael Simon issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting ICE officers from using chemical or projectile munitions against protesters outside the ICE building in Portland, Oregon, unless the targeted person poses an imminent threat of physical harm. The ruling followed a weekend protest on January 31 in which federal agents fired teargas, pepper balls, and rubber bullets at a crowd including children, which local officials described as peaceful. The order also restricts munitions targeting the head, neck, or torso unless deadly force is legally justified. The restraining order remains in effect for 14 days.