Trump Action Archive

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

• Trump Retaliates Against Republicans Over Epstein Files — Former President Trump is reportedly retaliating against Republican figures, including Thomas Massie, who advocated for the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. This action suggests internal party conflicts and potential misuse of influence to suppress information.
• Trump posts social media message about Iranian surrender amid collapsed negotiations — President Trump posted a social media message containing what the source characterizes as a "delusional fantasy" about Iranian surrender while actual diplomatic negotiations with Iran were collapsing. The post represents a disconnect between Trump's public rhetoric and the deteriorating state of real diplomatic engagement with Iran.
• Trump posts violent and racist imagery on Truth Social — President Trump posted approximately 35 messages on Truth Social overnight, including AI-generated and manipulated images depicting violence against political opponents and racist stereotypes. The posts included AI-generated videos of Trump directing military action against Iran, images of political figures in violent or degrading scenarios, racist caricatures of House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and other inflammatory content. The posts represent a pattern of using the social media platform to disseminate violent and racist imagery targeting political opponents and Democratic leaders.

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• 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.

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• Trump's Activity on Truth Social — President Donald Trump has resumed posting on Truth Social, sharing a series of rants and conspiracy theories. His activity on the platform continues to draw attention and controversy, raising concerns about the spread of misinformation.

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• Major media outlets report Pentagon's low-ball Iran War cost estimate without scrutiny or context — Popular Information reviewed coverage of the Pentagon's $29 billion Iran War cost estimate in eleven major news outlets (New York Times, USA Today, NPR, Wall Street Journal, NOTUS, Stars and Stripes, New York Post, CNN, Politico, and Reuters). All eleven publications placed the $29 billion figure in their headlines. Most did not mention that independent estimates place the cost at $40–72 billion. Four articles did not even mention that the estimate excluded damage to U.S. military bases. Only CNN and Politico noted that outside projections were significantly higher, and neither emphasized the discrepancy or questioned the Pentagon's methodology.

Supporting reports

• Major news outlets failed to report Trump's May 14 financial disclosure and stock trading pattern — Multiple major media outlets—including Business Insider, CBS, CNN, Fox News, NPR, PBS, Politico, and Semafor—did not report on Trump's May 14, 2026 financial disclosure or his pattern of stock trades in companies he publicly praised. The disclosure revealed at least $220 million in financial transactions in the first three months of 2026. Popular Information notes that the decision by outlets employing hundreds of journalists to skip coverage of a sitting president trading hundreds of millions of dollars in individual stocks is "inexplicable" and represents a failure of basic newsworthiness judgment.
• Reuters and other outlets published Trump stock trading story without noting absence of blind trust safeguard — Reuters published the most widely distributed article about Trump's stock trades, reporting $220 million in financial transactions and including the Trump Organization's statement that assets are "independently managed" by third-party institutions. However, Reuters and other outlets (Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Hill, Variety) failed to note that Trump did not establish a Qualified Blind Trust—the federal mechanism specifically designed to ensure true independence and prevent conflicts of interest. Forbes published Eric Trump's false claims that assets were "in a blind trust" without noting they were false. By contrast, NOTUS, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and Fortune reported that Trump failed to establish a blind trust.

Supporting reports

• Signs thanking Trump appeared throughout Washington, D.C. — Philip Kennicott of the Washington Post reported that signs have appeared around Washington, D.C., showing Trump in a hard hat near construction scaffolding with the caption "Thank you, PRESIDENT TRUMP." Kennicott noted that Trump appears determined to convince Americans that all is going well and is "putting words in our mouths" through these signs, which appear designed to create a false impression of public gratitude and support.

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• Trump posts racist AI-generated memes on social media — Former President Trump posted AI-generated racist memes targeting Representative Hakeem Jeffries and obesity jokes about Governor J.B. Pritzker on social media. The posts occurred while major geopolitical and economic crises were unfolding.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon estimated Iran war cost at $25–50 billion — The White House is expected to request a supplemental spending package to cover the cost of the war with Iran. A Pentagon official stated at congressional hearings that the war's cost was approximately $25 billion, but U.S. officials familiar with internal assessments suggested the actual price tag could be closer to $50 billion.
• Pentagon comptroller testified that Iran war costs have reached $29 billion — Pentagon comptroller Jay Hurst testified before the Senate that the cost of the war in Iran has reached $29 billion, citing updated repair and replacement of equipment costs and general operational costs to keep personnel in theater. This testimony was part of a broader hearing on a request for a massive increase in the military budget to $1.5 trillion.
• Pete Hegseth testifies on Iran military operation costs before House Appropriations Committee — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testified before the House Appropriations Committee regarding costs of the U.S. military operation in Iran. The stated cost increased from $25 billion to $29 billion within ten minutes during testimony, raising questions about accuracy and transparency of budget figures.
• Pentagon uses outdated munitions costs in war accounting, understating replacement expenses — The Pentagon's accounting system registers the cost of expended munitions based on their original unit cost rather than the cost of their more expensive replacements. For example, SM-2 interceptors fired in the Iran War are recorded at their 2010 unit cost of $1.2 million, though they will be replaced by SM-6 interceptors budgeted at $6.3 million in 2027. This accounting method means firing 50 SM-2s is recorded as $60 million in Pentagon ledgers but costs U.S. taxpayers $315 million in actual replacement costs. Munitions spending accounts for $24 billion of the Pentagon's $29 billion estimate, making this accounting flaw material to the overall cost calculation.
• Pentagon cost estimate excludes documented military damage from Iran airstrikes — Acting Undersecretary Jules Hurst acknowledged under questioning that the Pentagon's $29 billion Iran War cost estimate excluded damage to U.S. military sites caused by Iranian airstrikes. According to the Washington Post, Iranian strikes have damaged or destroyed at least 228 structures or pieces of equipment at U.S. military sites across the Middle East. Independent analysis estimates the cost of damaged or destroyed military assets at $11.9 billion. Hurst stated the Pentagon had "a lot of unknowns" regarding future military posture and base reconstruction costs.
• Pentagon official uncertain whether arms transfers to Israel included in war cost estimate — Acting Undersecretary Jules Hurst testified that he would need to "double check" whether arms transfers to other countries were included in the Pentagon's $29 billion Iran War cost estimate. According to independent analysis, arms transfers to Israel—which is waging the war in concert with the U.S.—cost approximately $2.9 billion in the first 60 days of the conflict. The uncertainty about what is and is not included in the official estimate further undermines its credibility and completeness.
• Pentagon officials testify to Congress with undocumented $29 billion Iran War cost estimate — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Acting Undersecretary Jules Hurst testified before House and Senate committees on the cost of the Iran War, presenting a $29 billion estimate without documentation, methodology, or explanation. The estimate excluded damage to U.S. military bases (at least $11.9 billion according to independent analysis) and potentially excluded arms transfers to Israel. Independent analysts estimate the actual cost at $50–72 billion for the first 60 days. Hurst declined to commit to providing formal accounting to Congress, stating he would share information "when it's relevant and required."
• Pentagon comptroller reports Iran War cost at $29 billion; Popular Information estimates $72 billion — Acting Pentagon comptroller Jules Hurst told legislators that the Iran War has cost an estimated $29 billion so far. However, other estimates, including one by Popular Information, have found the actual cost to be significantly higher—approximately $72 billion in the first 60 days alone. Despite the discrepancy, many major media outlets repeated the Pentagon's $29 billion estimate without scrutiny, amplifying what may be a substantially understated figure.

Supporting reports

• Trump posted images of renovated Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool — President Trump's social media account posted five images of the Washington, D.C., reflecting pool colored electric blue over the weekend of May 10-11, 2026, with one post claiming Trump had renovated it in a week for just $2 million. The account also posted multiple images of a proposed ballroom on the site where Trump bulldozed the East Wing of the White House, championing the project as part of his legacy.
• Trump posted self-promotional content on social media — Over the weekend of May 10-11, 2026, President Trump's social media account posted extensive self-promotional content, including posts declaring "Excellent Poll Numbers. Thank you!" and reposting stories claiming he had delivered "remarkable leadership," is "Master of the Deal," ranks among the top three presidents in U.S. history, or is "WITHOUT A DOUBT THE GREATEST PRESIDENT WE HAVE EVER KNOWN." Multiple posts called him "The Greatest of All Time." By far the most frequent postings on the president's social media account over the weekend were praise for Trump himself.

Supporting reports

• FDA suppresses publication of vaccine safety research — FDA officials stopped publication of research on the safety of shingles and Covid vaccines. Research on Covid vaccine safety was withdrawn by authors after being accepted by the journal Vaccine following intervention by Vinay Prasad, then the top US vaccines regulator, who decided to pull the study showing that "the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks." This represents top-level interference with peer-reviewed scientific publication.
• FDA halts publication of vaccine safety research — The FDA reportedly stopped the publication of research on the safety of vaccines against shingles and Covid, according to former acting FDA commissioner Janet Woodcock, who characterized this as part of a "pattern" of "not letting information out that might support the general safety of vaccines." The Trump administration has also avoided discussing unpopular changes to routine vaccine recommendations before midterm elections.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration released classified government files on unidentified aerial phenomena and extraterrestrial life — President Trump announced the "Department of War" was releasing government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena, and unidentified flying objects, with the president posting "Have Fun and Enjoy!" The timing and framing of the release occurred amid multiple negative news stories about the administration, leading observers to characterize it as a distraction from unfavorable coverage.

Supporting reports

• CIA delivers confidential analysis contradicting Trump's Iran war claims — The Central Intelligence Agency delivered a confidential analysis of conditions in Iran that contradicts the Trump administration's public statements about the war. While Trump has claimed the war was an overwhelming military victory and that Iran's economy is "crashing" with only 18–19% of its former missile stocks remaining, the CIA assessment concludes Iran can survive for three to four more months before severe economic hardship and still possesses approximately 75% of its mobile missile launchers and 70% of its missiles.
• CIA analysis contradicts Trump and Hegseth claims about Iran's economic vulnerability — A confidential CIA analysis delivered to policymakers this week concludes that Iran can survive the U.S. naval blockade for at least 3 to 4 months before facing more severe economic hardship. This finding contradicts statements by Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hailing an imminent Iranian collapse. U.S. intelligence also indicates that Iran retains approximately 75% of its pre-war inventories of mobile launchers and about 70% of its pre-war stockpiles of missiles. The regime has recovered underground storage facilities and repaired damaged missiles. One U.S. official assessed that Iran's capacity to sustain prolonged economic hardship is far greater than the current CIA estimate.
• CIA Leaks Assessment Contradicting Trump's Claims on Iran — The CIA has leaked an assessment that contradicts former President Trump's claims regarding Iran. The assessment reportedly undermines Trump's narrative about Iran's activities and intentions, presenting a different picture than what he has publicly stated. This leak adds to the ongoing scrutiny of Trump's foreign policy decisions and statements during his presidency.
• CIA assessment contradicts Trump's Iran claims — Trump's own CIA leaked a classified assessment that contradicts statements the President has made about Iran. The leak represents a significant breach of internal intelligence consensus and public messaging alignment, with the agency's findings at odds with the administration's public position on Iran policy.

Supporting reports

• Howard Lutnick testifies before House oversight committee on Jeffrey Epstein ties — US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick appeared before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on May 6 to answer questions about his past associations with Jeffrey Epstein. Lutnick answered approximately 400 questions in a closed-door, transcribed session. Democrats criticized his testimony as evasive and dishonest, with some calling for his resignation, while Republicans defended his voluntary appearance and claimed he was transparent. The hearing followed the Justice Department's release of documents showing Lutnick maintained contact with Epstein after Epstein's 2008 conviction.
• Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before House Oversight Committee on Epstein ties — Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick appeared for a closed-door interview before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee regarding his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Lutnick testified without being under oath, a practice Democrats oppose and committee chair James Comer (R-KY) does not require. Lutnick had previously claimed he severed ties with Epstein in 2005, but evidence emerged showing the two maintained contact until at least 2018, years after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution for a minor. When asked why he took his wife and four young children to Epstein's private island in 2012, Lutnick said he did not remember and called it "inexplicable."
• Commerce Secretary Testifies on Relationship with Jeffrey Epstein — Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee regarding his past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Lutnick, who was not under oath during his testimony, faced scrutiny over his claims of severing ties with Epstein in 2005, as evidence emerged indicating continued contact until 2018.

Supporting reports

• FDA blocked publication of vaccine safety studies, HHS official confirms — The FDA blocked publication of multiple peer-reviewed studies funded by U.S. taxpayer money that found COVID-19 and shingles vaccines to be safe, according to HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon. Studies analyzing millions of patient records found serious side effects were rare. One COVID-19 study examined 7.5 million Medicare beneficiaries over 65; another reviewed 4.2 million people aged six months to 64. Both had been accepted by peer-reviewed journals. The FDA also prevented submission of two Shingrix studies to a drug safety conference in February. Nixon cited methodological concerns; former FDA official Janet Woodcock alleged a pattern of suppressing information supporting vaccine safety.

Supporting reports

• Washington Post reports U.S. government concealed extent of Iranian military damage to Middle East bases — Journalists Evan Hill, Jarrett Ley, Alex Horton, Tara Copp, and Dan Lamothe reported that Iranian strikes since February 28 caused far more damage to U.S. military sites than Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the U.S. government publicly acknowledged. The U.S. government requested that commercial satellite imagery providers Vantor and Planet limit or withhold publication of Middle East imagery while the war was ongoing; both companies complied, forcing journalists to rely on Iranian state media and European Union satellite systems to verify the true scale of damage.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed — Doe v. Mullin (N.D. Cal.) — A Canadian citizen residing outside the United States filed suit in federal court challenging a Department of Homeland Security administrative summons issued February 4, 2026, demanding comprehensive Gmail records, location data, and activity logs from Google LLC. The plaintiff, who posts political commentary critical of the Trump administration pseudonymously online, alleges DHS issued the summons to unmask his identity and suppress protected speech rather than to investigate any customs violation. The complaint asserts the summons exceeds DHS's statutory authority under 19 U.S.C. § 1509 and violates the Stored Communications Act, and seeks a declaration of invalidity and an injunction barring enforcement.

Supporting reports

• VA official made false statement about processing ICE medical claims during transition — VA spokesperson Pete Kasperowicz told KFF Health News in February 2026 that the VA was "supporting this transition until May to ensure claims are processed appropriately" while DHS onboarded a new vendor. However, a VA source with direct knowledge told Popular Information that this statement was false: "No claims are being processed. We've done zero work to support [ICE] since they couldn't pay us." The VA source spoke on condition of anonymity. This false statement contradicts the IHSC website, which instructed providers on April 24 to "continue to hold all claim submissions."

Supporting reports

• Section 702 FISA reauthorization deadline — Thursday, April 30 is the deadline for the short-term extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Trump signed a temporary extension through April 30 after longer renewal efforts collapsed, setting up another congressional fight over surveillance powers. Critics seek warrant requirements before authorities can access Americans' emails, calls, or texts. Advocacy groups including 5 Calls and the Brennan Center are mobilizing public contact to members of Congress opposing extension without warrant protections.
• House Votes to Reauthorize FISA Section 702 — The U.S. House of Representatives voted to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). This section allows the government to conduct surveillance on foreign targets outside the United States. The reauthorization is a significant legislative action concerning national security and privacy rights.
• Became Law: FISA Amendments Act Extension (Public Law 119-87) — Congress enacted Public Law 119-87, amending the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend Title VII authorities of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. The law reauthorizes surveillance powers governing bulk collection and targeting of foreign intelligence subjects. The extension preserves existing legal frameworks for electronic surveillance without stated modifications to oversight or transparency mechanisms.

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

• Katie Phang files federal lawsuit against DOJ over Epstein files — MeidasTouch host and legal analyst Katie Phang filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Justice regarding Epstein files. No further details on the suit's claims, jurisdiction, or filing date are provided in the source text.
• Journalist Katie Phang sues acting attorney general Todd Blanche over Epstein files non-compliance — Investigative journalist Katie Phang filed a federal lawsuit in Washington DC on Monday against acting attorney general Todd Blanche, alleging the Department of Justice violated the Epstein Files Transparency Act by withholding documents and over-redacting disclosures. The act, passed by Congress in November, mandated full release of Epstein-related records by December 19, 2025. Phang seeks a court declaration of DOJ violation, release of all required documents without unlawful redactions, and appointment of an independent special master to oversee compliance.

Supporting reports

• Trump and Melania called for Jimmy Kimmel to be fired over a joke — On April 23, Jimmy Kimmel aired a joke about First Lady Melania Trump's appearance on his ABC late-night show. Two days later, after an assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Trump and Melania publicly called for Kimmel's firing on April 27, characterizing the joke as "hateful," "violent rhetoric," and a "call to violence." FCC Chairman Brendan Carr also pressured ABC to take action. Kimmel denied the joke was a call to assassination.
• Melania Trump issued statement attacking Jimmy Kimmel and demanding ABC take action against him — Melania Trump issued a social media statement attacking late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for a joke made at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner two days prior. Kimmel had joked that Melania had "a glow like an expectant widow." Melania characterized Kimmel's monologue as "hateful and violent rhetoric," called him a "coward," and demanded that ABC network take action to prevent him from broadcasting, stating "People like Kimmel shouldn't have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate."
• FCC Chair Carr threatened ABC affiliates over Jimmy Kimmel — FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened ABC affiliates with enforcement action regarding Jimmy Kimmel's comments about Melania Trump, stating "We can do this the easy way or the hard way." The FCC subsequently launched a review of Disney's broadcast licenses years ahead of the normal schedule. The threat and accelerated review appear coordinated with the president's demand for Kimmel's firing.
• Trump and Melania called for Jimmy Kimmel to be fired — President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump called on Disney and ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over a video in which Kimmel jokingly called Melania an "expectant widow." Trump characterized the joke as a "despicable call to violence." The incident prompted FCC Chair Brendan Carr to threaten ABC affiliates with enforcement action, stating "We can do this the easy way or the hard way," and the FCC subsequently launched a review of Disney's broadcast licenses ahead of schedule.
• Trump called for Jimmy Kimmel to be fired over joke — Trump and Melania called for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to be fired over a joke, according to reporting covered in the briefing's Wednesday section on buried political stories.

Supporting reports

• Polymarket claims it detected and reported insider trading; indictment credits press reports instead — Polymarket's CEO and Chief Legal Officer claimed the company identified Van Dyke's insider trading and referred it to authorities, with the CLO stating the arrest "proved just how easy it is to find & charge criminal insider trading when markets are onchain." However, the indictment credits "reports of unusual trading in Maduro-related contracts on Polymarket [that] appeared in the press and on social media" with bringing scrutiny to Van Dyke's conduct, with no mention of Polymarket's internal systems detecting the activity.

Supporting reports

• Trump drained Reflecting Pool and altered historical photograph to make Obama-era conditions appear worse. — Trump drained the Reflecting Pool and had workers paint the ground underneath it blue to make it look more like a swimming pool. Trump made a post claiming the pool was a mess when Obama was president, accompanied by a photograph. The post received a Community Note fact-check stating: "These images are identical, note the clouds and floating birds are the exact same, except the left image has been altered to make the water appear dirtier than in the original image. The original image was also taken in 2004, when George W. Bush was president."

Supporting reports

• NBC News reported Iran inflicted far worse damage on U.S. military bases than administration disclosed — On April 25, 2026, NBC News reporters Gordon Lubold, Courtney Kube, Mosheh Gains, and Natasha Lebedeva reported that damage Iran inflicted on American military bases, radar systems, aircraft, warehouses, and infrastructure in the Gulf region was significantly worse than the administration had publicly disclosed, with repair costs estimated at up to $5 billion.
• Iranian military strikes on U.S. bases in Middle East cause extensive damage far worse than publicly acknowledged. — U.S. military bases and equipment in the Persian Gulf region suffered extensive damage from Iranian strikes that is far worse than publicly acknowledged and is expected to cost billions of dollars to repair. The Iranian regime retaliated after the Trump administration attacked, hitting dozens of targets across U.S. military bases in seven Middle East countries. Attacks struck warehouses, command headquarters, aircraft hangars, satellite communications infrastructure, runways, high-end radar systems, and dozens of aircraft. An Iranian F-5 fighter jet bombed Camp Buehring in Kuwait, marking the first time an enemy fixed-wing aircraft has struck an American military base in years. The bases are home to thousands of American troops and in some cases their families.