Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• White House bars Politico from Air Force One press pool; CNN also repeatedly excluded — The White House refused to allow Politico on Air Force One on Monday, preventing the news organization from fulfilling its press corps pool responsibilities. This follows a pattern: news outlets filed a lawsuit on September 21 alleging the ban violates the First and Fifth Amendments. Judge Timothy Kelly sided with the plaintiffs and issued a temporary restraining order requiring the Trump administration to reinstate journalists' press badges. Since then, the White House has repeatedly barred CNN from traveling on Air Force One on days when it was CNN's turn to be the TV pool representative. The Trump administration appears to be justifying these restrictions by claiming access to the White House complex differs from access to tight spaces like Air Force One. Judge Kelly is scheduled to hold a hearing on Thursday over the news outlets' request for a preliminary injunction.
• White House blocks Politico from Air Force One pool rotation — The White House decided to block Politico from riding on Air Force One and called numerous other outlets to ask one to fill the primary print slot for the out-of-town pool rotation. Each of those outlets declined to step in, leaving the pool slot unfilled.
• Trump administration defended restrictions on news organizations' press access — The Trump administration continued to defend its decision to restrict press access for reporters from CNN, MSNBC, and Politico on journalistic conduct grounds. CNN, MSNBC, and Politico filed a federal court challenge, asking a judge to continue blocking the restrictions and to rule on long-term protections. The judge previously ordered temporary relief and is expected to rule on permanent protections.

Supporting reports

• White House blocks CNN and MS Now from state dinner coverage — Hours after CNN, MS Now, and Politico journalists were granted delayed entry to the White House on Thursday morning (after being initially denied entry), CNN's editorial team and an MS Now reporter were blocked from covering a state dinner commemorating Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit. This occurred after the federal court order mandating restoration of their White House access.
• White House blocks CNN from Air Force One travel — The Trump White House excluded CNN from traveling aboard Air Force One on Saturday, preventing the network from fulfilling its rotating TV press pool duties covering the president's trip to Tennessee for a college football game. This followed the administration's revocation of White House access for CNN, Politico, and MS Now a week earlier, citing unfavorable coverage. A federal judge had ordered restoration of access after the outlets sued on First Amendment grounds, but CNN and MS Now were later blocked from covering a state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping.
• White House excludes CNN from Air Force One press pool — The White House barred CNN from the presidential press pool covering Trump's travel to Tennessee for a college football game on September 26, despite CNN being a member of the five-major-network pool and scheduled to provide television footage. Trump posted on social media that outlets perpetrating "FAKE NEWS" should not be allowed in the White House, later telling reporters he supports a free press but opposes "fake news."
• White House reimposed ban on CNN from Air Force One pool coverage — On 27 September, despite the federal court's temporary restraining order, the White House barred CNN from joining the press pool traveling with the president on Air Force One. Attorney General Blanche claimed this was routine practice and not a denial of access. The action defied the judicial order and reignited the dispute after other outlets had briefly refused pool coverage in solidarity with the three banned outlets.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge orders Trump administration to restore White House press credentials to banned outlets — U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued an early-morning order on Thursday requiring the Trump administration to restore press credentials to journalists from CNN, MS Now, and Politico for a 14-day period. The judge found the administration likely violated due process and First Amendment protections when it revoked the outlets' hard passes on Saturday without advance notice or opportunity to be heard. Kelly ruled the standards cited by the White House were "so vague" as to be constitutionally inadequate and expressed skepticism that national security was the actual motivation, noting Trump's content-based statements about the ban. A hearing on a preliminary injunction was scheduled during the 14-day restoration period.
• Federal judge ordered White House to restore press credentials for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico reporters — U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a 14-day restraining order requiring the White House to immediately restore press credentials for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico reporters after Trump banned them. The judge found the news organizations were likely to succeed on their claim that their passes were revoked without due process. When reporters attempted to cover Trump's event with Chinese President Xi, they were initially denied access in defiance of the court order, prompting attorneys to file an emergency motion. The White House eventually admitted the reporters after other media outlets joined a boycott.
• U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly granted media outlets' request to block Trump's White House ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico — After a hearing on Trump's Friday ban of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House campus, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly (appointed by Trump in 2017) granted the media outlets' request for a temporary restraining order, finding that the administration's national security justification was pretextual. Kelly noted that the stories the White House objected to were "routine" and that one was based on a White House press call. Kelly ordered the credentials of 78 journalists restored immediately.

Supporting reports

• Trump announced ban of CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from White House — Trump announced that CNN, MSNBC, and Politico are banned from the White House "effective immediately," accusing them of reporting what he calls "fake news." Reuters reported that Trump said the ban could extend to additional news organizations. Trump told reporters "I don't want them here" and said he would take the ban "as far as you can." The administration has not explained how the restriction would work, and the Associated Press reported that journalists from the affected outlets remained on White House grounds Friday afternoon.
• Trump bans MS Now, CNN, and Politico reporters from White House grounds — President Trump ordered the removal of reporters from MS Now, CNN, and Politico from White House grounds, effective immediately, citing what he claimed was constant "fake news" reporting. On Saturday morning, journalists from these outlets were denied access and had their press passes confiscated by the Secret Service at security gates. Trump stated the decision was "cumulative" over two years and said he was considering banning additional outlets. The White House Correspondents' Association and press freedom advocates condemned the action as unconstitutional.
• Secret Service confiscates press badges and denies White House access — On September 19, reporters from CNN, MSNBC, and Politico attempting to enter the White House press complex were denied entry by security personnel, and Secret Service agents confiscated their press credentials. This enforcement action followed Trump's announcement the previous day banning the three outlets from White House facilities.
• Trump banned CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from White House — Trump issued a directive banning CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from the White House. The ban surprised many senior Trump staffers, who learned of it only through Trump's Truth Social post while Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was out of town. The press shop was initially blindsided and unsure how to respond. A source close to the White House confirmed the ban is "real and permanent as far as POTUS is concerned." Discussions were already underway about adding more news organizations, with Trump specifically citing the New York Times and Washington Post as possible additions.

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• Pentagon fires Stars and Stripes staff — Defense Secretary Hegseth oversaw the firing of three staffers at the military publication Stars and Stripes: Erik Slavin (editor-in-chief), Lara Korte (Middle East reporter), and Max Lederer (publisher, who was pushed out immediately after announcing his end-of-September retirement). The firings followed the publication's coverage of deteriorating conditions aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln during extended deployment.

Supporting reports

• Trump Administration Sought Phone Records of NYT Reporters and Relatives — The Trump administration issued subpoenas seeking phone records of New York Times reporters dating back to January 1, as well as records of their relatives, in connection with an investigation into the Times's reporting on security concerns regarding Trump's new Air Force One, donated by Qatar. The Times characterized the move as a "bad-faith effort to intimidate the journalists and chill their ability to report on the administration." The DOJ later withdrew the subpoenas.

Supporting reports

• Department of Justice subpoenaed New York Times reporters over Air Force One security reporting — The Department of Justice, through U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton, issued subpoenas to New York Times reporters Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt. The subpoenas order the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday regarding an alleged violation of federal criminal law related to leaking national security information. The reporters had published a story on Wednesday reporting that the Secret Service had security concerns about the new Air Force One Boeing 747-8 and recommended the president use an older plane during his return from the NATO summit in Türkiye due to escalating Iran tensions. FBI Director Kash Patel conducted an 8-hour investigation from the White House to identify the anonymous sources.
• DOJ subpoenaed New York Times journalists over Air Force One reporting — The Trump administration issued subpoenas on Friday to several journalists at the New York Times after the outlet reported on security concerns involving Trump's new Qatari-donated Air Force One. The subpoenas seek to force the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday. NYT General Counsel David McCraw called the action "an attempt to prevent the public from knowing what is happening in their country by intimidating journalists from doing their jobs." Fox chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin posted that the action "should alarm every American."
• New York Times Journalists Subpoenaed Over Trump Air Force One Coverage — The Trump administration subpoenaed several New York Times journalists to testify before a federal grand jury about their reporting on security concerns surrounding Trump's new Air Force One, which was donated by Qatar. The subpoenas followed a White House meeting where FBI Director Kash Patel was directed to lead a leak investigation into the newspaper's reporting. The Times' top newsroom lawyer called the move a violation of press freedom protections in the Constitution.
• DOJ subpoenas New York Times reporters — The Department of Justice issued subpoenas to reporters from the New York Times regarding a story about security concerns related to the new Air Force One plane. The subpoenas require the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury about an alleged violation of federal criminal law concerning the leaking of national security information. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, nominated by Trump to be the next director of national intelligence, is overseeing the subpoenas. The DOJ stated that the reporters are not targets, but the act of subpoenaing journalists raises concerns about press freedom.
• DOJ issues subpoenas to New York Times journalists — The Trump administration, through the Department of Justice, issued subpoenas to multiple New York Times journalists seeking to compel their testimony before a federal grand jury in Manhattan. The subpoenas followed the Times' reporting on security concerns regarding Trump's new Qatari-gifted aircraft, which cited anonymous sources. An FBI official had previously contacted the Times requesting the article be withheld on national security grounds and demanded disclosure of sources, which the Times refused. The Times' legal counsel condemned the subpoenas as threatening constitutional press freedom.
• DOJ issued subpoenas to New York Times journalists — The Department of Justice issued subpoenas to four New York Times journalists—Julian Barnes, Eric Lipton, and Eric Schmitt—demanding they appear before a grand jury and disclose confidential sources. The subpoenas relate to the Times' reporting on security concerns surrounding the new Air Force One aircraft. The New York Times filed a motion to quash the subpoenas, arguing they were intended to punish the newspaper for its coverage and violated journalists' constitutional rights.

Supporting reports

• Scott Pelley criticized Bari Weiss's editorial direction at 60 Minutes — In his first interview since being fired from 60 Minutes, Scott Pelley discussed his departure and criticized Bari Weiss's leadership. Pelley alleged that Weiss sent emails to his boss requesting that protesters be made to "look more violent" and that a shooting victim's car be described as "driving towards the officer," contrary to video evidence. Pelley stated Weiss's characterization matched Trump's account. When asked if Weiss should be removed, Pelley said yes, comparing her appointment to asking someone unfamiliar with aviation to pilot a 747.
• CBS News director Bari Weiss requested changes to story about ICE protests to favor Trump's narrative — Scott Pelley, a 37-year CBS News correspondent fired last week, revealed in a New York Times interview that CBS News director Bari Weiss (appointed after Trump loyalist David Ellison took over the network) sent an email hours before airing asking him to make anti-ICE protesters look more violent and to falsely claim that Renee Good was driving her car toward an officer before he shot her. Video evidence showed Good's wheels were turned away from the officer and he was not in front of the car. Pelley said this represented "a level of political influence that I had never seen in 37 years at CBS News."

Supporting reports

• New York Times files second lawsuit challenging Pentagon press escort requirement — The New York Times filed a lawsuit in US District Court in Washington on May 19, 2026, challenging a Pentagon policy requiring journalists to have official escorts when accessing the building. The policy, adopted in March 2026, requires reporters to schedule appointments, obtain escorts, and exit the building between each source interview—a departure from decades of unescorted corridor access. The Times argues the requirement is unconstitutional, retaliatory, and impedes effective reporting. The Pentagon maintains the policy protects classified information and is lawful.

Supporting reports

• DHS maintains combative relationship with journalists covering ICE operations — The Department of Homeland Security has been accused of maintaining a combative relationship with journalists attempting to document ICE activities. The agency has accused reporters of "demonizing DHS law enforcement" and has intimidated and arrested members of the media for documenting ICE enforcement operations. This pattern of media obstruction limits public transparency regarding ICE's conduct and operations.

Supporting reports

• FCC accelerates ABC license renewal review following White House attack on Jimmy Kimmel — The Federal Communications Commission, led by Trump-appointed chair Brendan Carr, announced an accelerated review of eight ABC-owned local broadcasting licenses (WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KTRK-TV Houston, KGO-TV San Francisco, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham, and KFSN-TV Fresno). The licenses were not scheduled for renewal until 2028–2031 but now must be filed by May 28, 2026. The action follows the White House's attack on late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over a joke about Melania Trump. The FCC cited an ongoing investigation into Disney's diversity practices as justification, though critics characterize the move as political retribution and regulatory intimidation.
• Federal Communications Commission announced review of ABC's broadcast licenses — On April 28, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission announced it is reviewing ABC's broadcast licenses following a joke made by late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel about First Lady Melania Trump on April 24, 2026. FCC chair Brendan Carr, a Trump loyalist who frequently attacks media organizations, leads the agency.
• FCC orders Disney/ABC license renewal in retaliation for Kimmel criticism — FCC Chair Brendan Carr issued an order directing Disney's ABC to file license renewals for all licensed TV stations within 30 days (by May 28, 2026). The order is widely viewed as retaliation for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel's criticisms of Trump and the network's resistance to Trump administration pressure to fire Kimmel. The FCC asserts the review relates to an ongoing probe into Disney's diversity initiatives, but the timing and context suggest political retaliation. The order initiates a protracted legal process, though ABC has broad legal protections.
• FCC accelerates review of ABC broadcast licenses following Kimmel joke — On Monday, following Melania Trump's public criticism of ABC host Jimmy Kimmel for a joke about her appearance, FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced the agency was expediting its review of eight ABC local broadcasting licenses. Carr denied the action was related to Kimmel's monologue, but the timing and context suggest regulatory retaliation for constitutionally protected speech critical of the Trump family.

Supporting reports

• Trump attacked multiple media figures and political allies on Truth Social — President Trump posted a lengthy tirade on Truth Social personally attacking Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, Alex Jones, and Marjorie Greene, calling them "stupid," "NUT JOBS," and "LOSERS." He criticized their media presence, questioned their intelligence, and suggested they were disloyal to MAGA. The post came hours after Melania's Epstein statement and Trump's claim he was unaware of it beforehand.
• Trump attacked former allies over Iran war opposition — At 4:28 p.m., President Trump's social media account posted attacks on former allies Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones, who do not support Trump's war in Iran. Trump called them "stupid people" and claimed their families and everyone else knows it. He reiterated his false claim of winning in a "LANDSLIDE" and suggested MAGA voters love him, while characterizing those opposing his Iran adventure as "not 'MAGA'" and "losers, just trying to latch on to MAGA."

Supporting reports

• Federal judge expresses skepticism of Pentagon's revised press policy restricting journalist access — Federal Judge Paul Friedman held a hearing on the Pentagon's newly implemented press restrictions, calling aspects "weird" and "Kafkaesque." The policy requires journalists to be escorted by Pentagon staff, closes the Correspondents' Corridor, and penalizes reporters for offering anonymity to sources—measures Friedman suggested violate First Amendment rights. The judge had previously struck down key aspects of an earlier Pentagon media policy on March 20 but stopped short of ruling on the New York Times' motion to force compliance with his decision.

Supporting reports

• Pete Hegseth held press conference attacking media and refusing mainstream journalists — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held a press conference where he attacked the media while refusing to call on any mainstream journalists in the room. He only took questions from right-wing media outlets, stating "A dishonest and anti-Trump press will stop at nothing to downplay progress, amplify every cost, and call into question every step" and claiming "TDS is in their DNA. They want President Trump to fail."

Supporting reports

• Laura Loomer accused Tucker Carlson of being Iranian asset; created list of alleged foreign agents — Laura Loomer posted that Tucker Carlson is an Iranian asset and should be jailed, questioning why he would oppose the U.S. killing the Ayatollah. Loomer stated she created a list of conservative influencers she believes are taking money from Iran, Russia, and Qatar and provided supporting evidence to the DOJ. Loomer accused all listed individuals of violating FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) and stated they deserve jail time.

Supporting reports

• Trump and FCC Chair Carr threatened media companies covering the war — Trump posted that the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and other media outlets "want us to lose the War" and that their reporting is "the exact opposite of the actual facts." FCC Chair Brendan Carr responded by threatening broadcasters, stating that those "running hoaxes and news distortions" have a chance to "correct course before their license renewals come up" or they will lose their licenses. Carr stated the law requires broadcasters to operate in the public interest.

Supporting reports

• Trump berates and silences ABC News reporter on Air Force One — On March 15, Trump shushed ABC News journalist Mariam Khan during a press gaggle aboard Air Force One, calling her a "very obnoxious person" after she asked about the deployment of thousands of marines and sailors to the Middle East. Earlier in the same gaggle, Trump called ABC News "one of the worst, most fake, most corrupt news organizations on the planet" and announced he would not take further questions from the network after Khan asked about the appropriateness of using a dignified transfer photo in a fundraising email.
• Trump refuses ABC News questions on Air Force One — During a press availability on Air Force One, Trump was asked by an ABC News reporter about his PAC sending a fundraising email using a photo from a dignified transfer ceremony. Trump responded that he thought it was appropriate, then asked who the reporter worked for. Upon learning the reporter was from ABC, Trump declared ABC "maybe the most corrupt news organizations on the planet" and stated "I don't want any more questions from ABC," refusing further questions from that outlet.

Supporting reports

• FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatens broadcaster license revocation over Iran war coverage — FCC Chair Brendan Carr warned broadcasters on March 14 that they could lose their licenses if they continue "running hoaxes and news distortions," specifically referencing coverage of Trump's Iran war policy. Carr stated broadcasters "have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up." Senator Elizabeth Warren responded by calling the threat "straight out of the authoritarian playbook" and noting it violates constitutional protections for free speech.

Supporting reports

• Stephen Colbert reports CBS blocked Talarico interview — The Trump administration issued new guidance in January 2026 reinterpreting the "equal-time rule" to apply to daytime and late-night talk shows, reversing the longstanding assumption that interviews with politicians conducted by talk show hosts would be exempt from the rule. This guidance became the legal basis cited by CBS for blocking the Colbert-Talarico interview.
• Texas Democratic Senate primary between Talarico and Crockett — James Talarico and Jasmine Crockett are competing in the Texas Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat scheduled for March 3, 2026. On February 16, CBS refused to air Stephen Colbert's interview with Talarico, citing Trump administration FCC guidance concerns. The incident generated widespread censorship allegations and boosted Talarico's campaign through viral YouTube views and fundraising. Both candidates present contrasting strategies: Crockett emphasizes partisan confrontation of Trump; Talarico pursues cross-partisan economic messaging to appeal to disaffected Trump voters and independents.
• Stephen Colbert reports network legal censorship of Texas state representative — Late-night host Stephen Colbert announced on air that his network's legal team had prohibited him from interviewing Texas state Representative James Talarico, who was scheduled as a guest. Colbert stated he was told "in no uncertain terms" that he could not have Talarico on the broadcast and was further instructed not to mention the prohibition itself. Colbert then proceeded to discuss the censorship on air, citing the network's apparent unwillingness to address the matter.
• CBS refused to air Colbert interview with Democratic candidate over FCC equal-time rule — Late-night host Stephen Colbert reported that CBS refused to broadcast an interview he conducted with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, citing legal concerns about FCC chair Brendan Carr's regulatory guidance issued in January requiring equal airtime for political candidates on daytime and late-night talk shows. CBS claimed the broadcast "could trigger" the equal-time rule, though the network stated the program was not prohibited. Colbert's team found no historical enforcement of the rule on late-night shows dating to the 1960s. The interview was uploaded to YouTube instead.
• CBS Blocks Stephen Colbert Interview with Texas State Representative — CBS network legal counsel blocked Stephen Colbert from airing an interview with Texas State Representative James Talarico and instructed him not to mention the cancellation. The network cited concerns about retaliation from FCC Chair Brendan Carr. Colbert disclosed the censorship on-air and subsequently released the interview independently online, revealing the chilling effect of government pressure on editorial decisions.
• CBS prohibits Colbert interview with Democratic candidate under FCC pressure — CBS forbade Late Show host Stephen Colbert from interviewing Texas State Representative James Talarico, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate, citing the FCC's January 21 "equal time rule" reinterpretation. The FCC declared that talk-show interviews with political candidates would no longer have blanket news exemptions and would be evaluated case-by-case for "bona fide" news purposes versus "partisan purposes." CBS also instructed Colbert's lawyers to prevent him from discussing the censorship decision. Colbert aired the incident anyway on his February 17 show, calling it an effort to silence Trump critics on television.
• Colbert's interview with Talarico received 3.8 million YouTube views — As of 10:00 p.m. on February 18, Colbert's 15-minute interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico had been viewed on YouTube 3.8 million times. Forbes reported it is Colbert's most watched interview in months, indicating significant public interest in Talarico's message criticizing Republican use of Christianity as a political weapon.
• CBS blocked interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico — Late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert told viewers he had been unable to air an interview he did with Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Texas James Talarico. Colbert stated: "I was told…that not only could I not have him on, I could not mention me not having him on." CBS chose not to challenge the FCC's reinterpreted Equal Time Rule, which FCC chair Brendan Carr had changed to apply to non-news talk shows deemed "motivated by partisan purposes."

Supporting reports

• Department of Homeland Security issued hundreds of subpoenas to tech companies for social media account data — The Department of Homeland Security sent Google, Meta, and other tech companies hundreds of administrative subpoenas seeking names, emails, phone numbers, and identifying data for social media accounts that criticize ICE or monitor its operations. Google, Meta, Reddit, and Discord reportedly complied with some subpoenas. These were administrative subpoenas not signed by a judge but issued directly by DHS.

Supporting reports

• FCC launches investigation into ABC's The View — The Federal Communications Commission is launching an investigation into ABC's "The View" amid the agency's crackdown on equal time for political candidates. The FCC announced it will require broadcast networks to adhere to the "statutory equal opportunities requirement" under the Communications Act of 1934, including their airing of late-night and daytime talk shows. An FCC source stated that Monday's appearance by Senate candidate James Talarico triggered the probe, and noted that equal airtime would be required for Republican candidates on the ballot as well as lesser-known Democratic primary candidates.

Supporting reports

• DHS misrepresents assault statistics against ICE officers — When asked by the Guardian about journalist-safety letters, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin claimed a 1,150% increase in assaults against ICE officers. The Los Angeles Times and National Public Radio independently fact-checked the claim and found the actual increase was approximately 25%, not 1,150%. McLaughlin's statement also characterized immigration protests as "violent riots" and suggested journalists covering such events assume inherent risks.
• DHS makes unsubstantiated claims of massive increases in assaults and threats against immigration officers — The Department of Homeland Security claimed in a press release that immigration enforcement agents face a "1,300% increase in assaults," a "3,200% increase in vehicular attacks," and an "8,000% increase in death threats." The agency provided no evidence to support these claims. Court records reviewed by the Los Angeles Times showed agents left most alleged attacks uninjured, and immigration officers made false and misleading statements about protesters in Los Angeles.

Supporting reports

• DHS and Trump administration frame shooting as self-defense and label victim as domestic terrorist — Within hours of the shooting, DHS and ICE officials characterized the incident as lawful self-defense. Trump amplified the narrative by posting that Good "violently, willfully, and viciously ran over" an ICE officer and that the agent "almost died." DHS leadership immediately began using the phrase "domestic terrorism" to describe Good's actions, establishing a federal narrative before full evidence was released to the public.
• DOJ civil rights division leader amplifies false claim about Renee Good shooting — Harmeet Dhillon, the Republican activist now leading the Justice Department's civil rights division, shared on X (formerly Twitter) Trump's false claim that Renee Good "violently, willfully and viciously ran over the ICE officer." Forensic analysis by the New York Times, Bellingcat, and other outlets has demonstrated this characterization is false. Dhillon's amplification of disproven claims while heading the civil rights division signals politicization of the office responsible for investigating police and federal law enforcement misconduct.
• Homeland Security Secretary Noem characterized Renee Good's actions as domestic terrorism — Following the fatal shooting of Renee Good on January 7, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly stated that Good had committed an act of "domestic terrorism," claiming she disobeyed officers' commands and attempted to "run a law enforcement officer over." This characterization preceded detailed video analysis that contradicted the account of the shooting.
• DHS Secretary Noem falsely labels Renee Good's death an "act of domestic terrorism" — Hours after the January 7 shooting, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed that Renee Good "attempt[ed] to kill or to cause bodily harm to agents" and described the incident as an "act of domestic terrorism." White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller also described the incident as "domestic terrorism" on X. Domestic terrorism is legally defined as a violent act intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or affect government conduct by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping. Good was driving home after taking her 6-year-old son to school, had no criminal record beyond a speeding ticket, and no known links to any terrorist group.
• Trump falsely claims Renee Good ran over ICE agent — On January 7, President Trump posted on Truth Social that Renee Good "violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer." Witness videos contradict this claim, showing the first shot occurred while Ross stood in front of Good's vehicle as she turned to avoid him, and subsequent shots while he stood to the side. Trump repeated the false claim to New York Times reporters the same day, claiming Good "ran him over," and showed reporters a video he said supported his narrative. When reporters noted the video did not show Good running over Ross, Trump called it a "terrible scene."
• ICE agent shoots and kills Minneapolis resident; Trump administration launches coordinated disinformation campaign — An ICE agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and poet, during a Minneapolis raid on January 8, 2026. Within hours, the Trump administration—including President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem—issued a coordinated series of false and misleading statements characterizing Good as a "domestic terrorist" and "violent rioter" who attempted to run over the officer. Video evidence contradicts these claims. Democratic officials, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, publicly denounced the falsehoods as "verifiably false" and "bullshit."
• Republican Randy Fine justifies killing of civilian by ICE — Republican Randy Fine appeared on television and justified the killing of Renee Good by stating that if Americans "get in the way of the government repelling a foreign invasion" they will "end up just like that lady did yesterday." The statement framed civilian death as an acceptable consequence of federal enforcement actions.
• Department of Homeland Security issued false statement about ICE shooting — The Department of Homeland Security posted a statement on social media claiming that Renee Nicole Good had "weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers" and that the shooting was an act of "domestic terrorism." The statement falsely claimed ICE officers were injured and recovering in the hospital. Video evidence contradicts these claims, showing the vehicle moving away from the officer and no evidence of officers being struck or injured. The statement also blamed "sanctuary politicians" for assaults on law enforcement.
• DHS and administration officials made false public statements about Minneapolis shooting — The Department of Homeland Security, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and President Trump made public statements claiming that federal agent Renee Nicole Good was shot in self-defense, contradicting video evidence from multiple witnesses. The administration's narrative was amplified by Fox News Channel, which shifted its coverage to align with official talking points as video evidence emerged.
• Trump posted false account of ICE shooting — President Trump posted on social media a false account of the shooting, claiming the officer "seems to have shot at her in self defense" and that "it is hard to believe that he is alive" because the woman "violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer." Video evidence shows the vehicle moving away from the officer and no contact between vehicle and officer. Trump blamed the incident on "the Radical Left" and called for Americans to "stand by and protect our Law Enforcement Officers."
• Vice President Vance made false claims about Minneapolis shooting — Vice President J.D. Vance held a press conference on the shooting and claimed that Renee Nicole Good was part of a "left wing network" and that she "aimed her car at a law enforcement officer and pressed on the accelerator." The New York Times published a slow-motion video analysis the same day demonstrating conclusively that the vehicle was turning away from the officer when he opened fire.
• White House press secretary attacked victim of federal shooting — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good as resulting from a "larger, sinister left-wing movement" and described federal law enforcement as "under organized attack." The statement blamed the victim and a political movement rather than addressing the circumstances of the shooting.
• Vice President Vance repeats false claims about shooting victim at press conference — Vice President JD Vance held a press conference where he repeated the administration's false narrative that Renee Good used her car as a weapon against ICE officers. He reduced her to "that woman," insisted she tried to run down an officer, and made unsubstantiated claims that she was part of "left-wing networks" targeting officers. He also attacked the press for reporting facts about the incident, accusing media of "putting law enforcement at risk."
• Vice President Vance repeats false claims about Renee Good shooting — On January 8, Vice President J.D. Vance repeated Trump's false claims about the shooting, stating "Ramming an ICE officer with your car, that's what justifies being shot." Vance later amplified a 47-second video of the incident that was selectively leaked to Alpha News, a right-wing outlet, before being released by DHS. Vance also claimed Good was "brainwashed" and a "victim of left-wing ideology," and told reporters that Ross has "absolute immunity" for Good's killing.
• White House Press Secretary falsely labels Renee Good an "insurrectionist" — On January 8, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed Renee Good was part of "a large, sinister left-wing movement" and described her as "a leftist insurrectionist who was purposefully and illegally obstructing law enforcement operations." Vice President Vance amplified these claims. Good was affiliated with ICE Watch, a loose coalition of citizens that alerts neighbors to ICE activity using whistles and messaging apps—activity that is legal and constitutionally protected. Good had no association with any violent or extremist group.
• Homeland Security Secretary and Vice President defend ICE shooting and attack victim's character — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Vice President JD Vance publicly defended ICE agent Jonathan E Ross's shooting of Renee Nicole Good, contradicting video evidence of the incident. Noem characterized Ross as "an experienced officer" following his training and noted he had been hospitalized. Vance claimed without evidence that Good was part of a "leftwing network" attempting to incite violence against law enforcement, calling her "a victim of leftwing ideology" who had been "brainwashed." Both officials asserted the agent acted in self-defense, contradicting widely circulated video footage showing Good reversing her car to allow ICE vehicles to pass before being shot multiple times.
• Trump administration justifies Minneapolis shooting as self-defense and labels victim as domestic terrorist — The Trump administration publicly justified the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent as "self-defense" and accused Good of engaging in "an act of domestic terrorism." This narrative contradicts witness video evidence widely shared online, which shows Good had turned her vehicle wheels away from the agent before he shot her three times as she attempted to drive away.
• Trump administration officials accuse shooting victim of domestic terrorism without evidence — President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem publicly accused Renee Nicole Good of "domestic terrorism" in connection with her fatal shooting by ICE, without providing evidence and before the official investigation was complete. Vance further asserted the agent enjoyed "absolute immunity" from prosecution, a claim contradicted by legal experts and state officials.
• Vice President Vance and DHS repost video of ICE shooting of Renee Good — Vice President J.D. Vance and the Department of Homeland Security reposted a cell phone video of the fatal shooting of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis. The video, which Vance claimed exonerated Ross, actually shows Good smiling and telling Ross "I'm not mad at you" before he shot her, then calling her a slur afterward. Vance captioned his repost: "What the press has done in lying about this innocent law enforcement officer is disgusting." The administration's framing contradicted the video's actual content.
• Noem falsely claims ICE agent received hospital treatment — Secretary Noem stated that the ICE agent involved in the shooting "went to the hospital. He was hit by the vehicle. He received treatment, was released, and is spending time with his family now." The bulletin reports this claim was false; the agent had no injuries and received no treatment.
• Trump discusses taking Machado's Nobel Peace Prize — Trump told Sean Hannity he understood Machado was coming to meet with him in the next week and that accepting a Nobel Peace Prize from her "would be a great honor." When asked if receiving her prize would change his view of her running the country, Trump said he would have to speak with her and that "I can't think of anybody in history that should get the Nobel prize more than me."
• Trump endorses Vance's characterization of Renee Good as agitator — When asked about Vance's suggestion that Renee Good was part of a broad left-wing network, Trump stated he had not seen the VP's statement but called him "generally very accurate" and characterized Good as "an agitator. Probably a paid agitator. She was not normal."

Supporting reports

• CBS pulled 60 Minutes segment on Trump-era deportations to CECOT hours before air — CBS postponed a completed 60 Minutes investigation into Trump administration deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison, citing need for "additional reporting." Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi publicly objected, characterizing the decision as political rather than editorial, despite the segment having cleared legal and standards review. The episode subsequently aired via Canadian broadcaster distribution and circulated online. The segment included interviews with former detainees, Human Rights Watch leadership, and UC Berkeley's Human Rights Center; DHS declined to participate.
• CBS Pulls 60 Minutes Segment on Trump-Era Deportations — CBS postponed a scheduled 60 Minutes segment investigating the Trump administration's deportation of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison, citing the need for "additional reporting." The segment, which included allegations of abuse and interviews with former detainees and human rights experts, was reportedly pulled for political reasons, according to correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi. Despite the postponement, the segment aired in Canada and circulated online. The delay has been criticized as a form of "soft censorship," potentially diminishing the segment's impact on public accountability.

Supporting reports

• CBS News editor Bari Weiss pulls 60 Minutes segment on immigrant detention — CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss pulled a 60 Minutes segment investigating the Trump administration's practice of sending immigrants to El Salvador's megaprison CECOT, where Human Rights Watch documented inhumane conditions, torture, and sexual violence without due process. The segment's suppression prevented public disclosure of alleged human rights violations.
• 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi stated story was pulled for political reasons — 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi wrote in an email to colleagues that the pulled story had been screened five times and cleared by CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices, and was factually correct. Alfonsi stated that pulling the story after all rigorous internal checks had been met was "not an editorial decision, it is a political one." She noted that journalists had repeatedly requested interviews with administration officials who did not respond, and that allowing government refusal to participate to become a reason to spike stories would effectively give the administration a "kill switch" for inconvenient reporting.
• 60 Minutes segment on CECOT renditions leaked and circulated in United States — The 60 Minutes segment on migrant renditions to CECOT, which had been pulled from broadcast, had already been distributed in Canada and copies appeared in the United States on the afternoon of December 22. Legal analyst Asha Rangappa noted that the segment "debunks the fundamental claim used by [the] Trump admin[istration] that the detainees it sent there are 'terrorists' and corroborates torture using clips from El Salvadorean influencers Bukele uses internally." The leaked segment subsequently went viral.
• Bari Weiss pulled 60 Minutes story on migrant renditions to CECOT prison hours before air — Bari Weiss, the new editor-in-chief of CBS News, pulled a 60 Minutes story about the Trump administration's renditions of 252 migrants to CECOT, a notorious terrorist prison in El Salvador, just hours before it was scheduled to air. The story had undergone standard vetting, fact-checking, and legal review. Weiss stated in an email that she pulled the story because it did not present the administration's justification for the renditions, despite the story focusing on documented torture of prisoners.
• CBS pulled 60 Minutes segment on Trump-era deportations to CECOT hours before air — CBS postponed a completed 60 Minutes investigation into Trump administration deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison, citing need for "additional reporting." Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi publicly objected, characterizing the decision as political rather than editorial, despite the segment having cleared legal and standards review. The episode subsequently aired via Canadian broadcaster distribution and circulated online. The segment included interviews with former detainees, Human Rights Watch leadership, and UC Berkeley's Human Rights Center; DHS declined to participate.
• CBS Pulls 60 Minutes Segment on Trump-Era Deportations — CBS postponed a scheduled 60 Minutes segment investigating the Trump administration's deportation of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison, citing the need for "additional reporting." The segment, which included allegations of abuse and interviews with former detainees and human rights experts, was reportedly pulled for political reasons, according to correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi. Despite the postponement, the segment aired in Canada and circulated online. The delay has been criticized as a form of "soft censorship," potentially diminishing the segment's impact on public accountability.
• CBS pulled 60 Minutes investigation hours before broadcast — CBS pulled a completed 60 Minutes investigation examining Trump-era deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison hours before broadcast. The segment had cleared legal and standards review. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi stated the decision was political, not editorial. CBS cited a need for "additional reporting." The segment later aired through a Canadian broadcaster and circulated online.