Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made cryptic statement about "shots fired" before WHCA shooting. — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared on Fox right before the WHCA dinner started and stated: "This speech tonight will be classic Donald J. Trump. There will be some shots fired tonight in the room, so everyone should tune in." Minutes later, an actual shooting occurred at the event. The statement's timing and phrasing raised questions about foreknowledge or the use of inflammatory rhetoric.

Supporting reports

• DOJ Inspector General launches audit of Epstein Files Transparency Act compliance — The Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General announced an audit of the DOJ's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandates release of all files related to Jeffrey Epstein with limited exceptions. The audit will examine the department's processes for identifying, redacting, and releasing records. This follows criticism over missed deadlines (the DOJ failed to meet a December 19 deadline, releasing files on January 31), improper exposure of victims' personal information, and excessive redactions. The OIG will evaluate identification, collection, production, redaction guidance, and post-release publication processes.

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• House Oversight Committee subpoena of former AG Bondi withdrawn after her removal from office — The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee subpoenaed former Attorney General Pam Bondi in March to testify about the DOJ's handling of the Epstein investigation and compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. After Trump ousted Bondi from her role in April, the DOJ's assistant attorney general Patrick Davis sent a letter arguing the subpoena no longer applies because Bondi no longer holds the office to which it was issued. The DOJ requested the committee withdraw the subpoena. As of April 8, the committee had not formally withdrawn it, but the DOJ's position effectively blocked her appearance scheduled for April 14.

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• Pentagon fired Stars and Stripes ombudsman Jacqueline Smith — The Pentagon terminated Jacqueline Smith, the ombudsman for Stars and Stripes, the independent military newspaper. Smith had publicly criticized Defense Secretary Hegseth's restrictions on press freedom within the military. Congress had established the ombudsman position specifically to protect the newspaper's editorial independence from Pentagon control. Smith's farewell column warned that Pentagon leadership has placed "more and more restrictions on the mainstream media" and urged Americans to prevent Stars and Stripes from being "controlled by Pentagon brass."
• Stars and Stripes editor fired for warning about Pentagon editorial control — Tim Richardson with PEN America reported that Jacqueline Smith, an editor at Stars and Stripes (the official Department of Defense newspaper), has been fired after spending months warning readers, the public, and Congress about Pentagon efforts to shift editorial decision-making away from the newsroom and into the hands of political appointees. Smith was terminated for raising these concerns publicly.

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• American Library Association reports record 5,668 books banned from US libraries in 2025 — The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom documented 5,668 books banned from US libraries in 2025, with an additional 920 censored through access restrictions. Challenges targeted 4,235 unique titles. The report found that 92% of challenges came from pressure groups, decision-makers, or government officials—a significant increase from 72% in 2024—and that 40% of challenged materials involved LGBTQ+ people or people of color. The most-banned book was Sold by Patricia McCormick.

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• House reauthorized Section 702 FISA surveillance powers for three years — The House of Representatives passed a three-year reauthorization of Section 702 of FISA on Wednesday by a vote of 235–191. The program permits U.S. intelligence agencies to intercept communications of foreign nationals abroad without a warrant, but data of Americans communicating with those targets is swept up incidentally, and the FBI can search that data without a court order. Civil liberties advocates have sought a warrant requirement for nearly two decades, which was not included in the bill. House leaders attached an unrelated ban on central bank digital currency to secure conservative votes; Senate Majority Leader Thune has called this provision a nonstarter.
• Congress passes a 10-day extension of Section 702 — Congress has passed a short-term 10-day extension of Section 702, a surveillance law that allows the government to collect communications. The extension is set to expire on April 30, 2026. The debate continues over whether to renew the law with reforms, such as a warrant requirement for searches involving Americans' data and closing the data broker loophole. The Senate is also considering a separate three-year FISA extension bill, keeping the issue active this week.
• Senate Republicans proposed three-year extension of Section 702 surveillance authority without reforms — Senate Majority Leader John Thune scheduled a vote on a bill to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for three years, until April 2029, without substantive reforms. Both Democrats and Republicans have expressed concern that the system for collecting information on foreign threats can sweep in U.S. citizens and enable warrantless government surveillance. The House has attempted to negotiate cosmetic reforms, but if those negotiations fail, Thune plans to pass a three-year extension with no reforms, removing Congress's ability to revisit and strengthen constitutional safeguards for three years.

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• WIRED published investigation of AI-generated "Emily Hart" influencer operation — On April 23, 2026, WIRED magazine published an investigation by reporter EJ Dickson exposing "Emily Hart," a fake Instagram influencer account operated by a 22-year-old medical student in northern India using the pseudonym "Sam." The account presented itself as a registered nurse and posted AI-generated lifestyle imagery with pro-MAGA political messaging. The creator used Google's Gemini AI tool, which reportedly identified the conservative audience as a "cheat code" for monetization. The account generated millions of views and thousands of dollars monthly before removal.
• AI-generated fake social-media personas used to spread disinformation and generate revenue — A 22-year-old medical student in India used Google's Gemini to create fake AI-generated social-media personas targeting MAGA audiences, including "Emily Hart," a fake nurse who accumulated 10,000 followers and millions of views before being banned by Instagram in February for fraud. A second fake persona, "Jessica Foster," an AI-generated Army soldier and Trump supporter, reached one million followers in four months before removal. The creator generated backstories, imagery, and daily rage-bait content, earning thousands in merchandise and subscription revenue. When the creator attempted a liberal version of the same tactic, it failed, suggesting differential vulnerability to AI disinformation by political audience.
• Facebook removes AI-generated influencer page
• Instagram bans AI-generated pro-MAGA influencer account
• TikTok network spreads AI-generated Iranian military propaganda

Supporting reports

• Major news outlets omit Kushner conflict of interest from 97% of Iran diplomacy coverage — Analysis by Popular Information found that of 202 articles published by major news outlets (New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, CNN Wire, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times) covering Kushner's diplomatic role in Iran negotiations from February 28 to April 19, 2026, only six mentioned his financial conflict of interest with Saudi Arabia. This represents 97% of coverage omitting the conflict. Five of the six articles mentioning the conflict appeared in the New York Times; one appeared in Foreign Policy and was republished by the Washington Post. The Wall Street Journal, AP, CNN Wire, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, and Los Angeles Times collectively published dozens of articles on Kushner's diplomatic role without mentioning the conflict.
• Kushner leads Iran diplomacy while receiving millions from Saudi government — Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law, is leading U.S. diplomatic negotiations with Iran while simultaneously receiving over $110 million in management fees from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) for his private equity fund, Affinity Partners. Kushner raised $2 billion from the Saudi PIF in 2021 and has reportedly sought billions more. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly lobbied Trump to initiate and continue the Iran war. This arrangement presents a direct financial conflict of interest, as Kushner's Saudi payments create incentive to prolong the conflict benefiting his Saudi investors.
• Media coverage analysis reveals 97% of outlets omitted Kushner's Saudi financial conflicts during Iran negotiations — A Popular Information analysis of media coverage from February 28 to April 19, 2026, found that 97% of coverage from major media outlets failed to mention Jared Kushner's multi-billion-dollar business relationship with the Saudi government while he represented the U.S. in Iran negotiations. Kushner's simultaneous diplomatic role and substantial financial interests in a key regional actor constitute a significant undisclosed conflict of interest that received minimal journalistic scrutiny.
• Jared Kushner's financial ties to Persian Gulf governments not widely reported — Major news outlets have not prominently reported that Jared Kushner, the administration's de facto Iran negotiator, has received billions of dollars from Persian Gulf governments. The lack of coverage represents a gap in media scrutiny of potential conflicts of interest in high-stakes diplomatic negotiations.

Supporting reports

• Texas judge blocks Onion's purchase of Infowars; leasing deal proposed instead — A Texas court initially blocked the Onion's (via parent company Global Tetrahedron) outright purchase of Alex Jones's Infowars misinformation platform. Judge Maya Guerra Gamble ruled she was not convinced the Onion's bid had more value than competing offers from Jones-associated bidders. In response, the Onion proposed a six-month lease at $81,000 monthly, with creative director Tim Heidecker planning to parody the platform. The deal requires Gamble's final approval, expected within two weeks. Jones continues operating Infowars and may appeal any ruling.

Supporting reports

• Major news outlets omit Kushner conflict of interest from 97% of Iran diplomacy coverage — Analysis by Popular Information found that of 202 articles published by major news outlets (New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, CNN Wire, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times) covering Kushner's diplomatic role in Iran negotiations from February 28 to April 19, 2026, only six mentioned his financial conflict of interest with Saudi Arabia. This represents 97% of coverage omitting the conflict. Five of the six articles mentioning the conflict appeared in the New York Times; one appeared in Foreign Policy and was republished by the Washington Post. The Wall Street Journal, AP, CNN Wire, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, and Los Angeles Times collectively published dozens of articles on Kushner's diplomatic role without mentioning the conflict.
• Media coverage analysis reveals 97% of outlets omitted Kushner's Saudi financial conflicts during Iran negotiations — A Popular Information analysis of media coverage from February 28 to April 19, 2026, found that 97% of coverage from major media outlets failed to mention Jared Kushner's multi-billion-dollar business relationship with the Saudi government while he represented the U.S. in Iran negotiations. Kushner's simultaneous diplomatic role and substantial financial interests in a key regional actor constitute a significant undisclosed conflict of interest that received minimal journalistic scrutiny.
• Jared Kushner's financial ties to Persian Gulf governments not widely reported — Major news outlets have not prominently reported that Jared Kushner, the administration's de facto Iran negotiator, has received billions of dollars from Persian Gulf governments. The lack of coverage represents a gap in media scrutiny of potential conflicts of interest in high-stakes diplomatic negotiations.

Supporting reports

• Dhillon directs civil rights division to investigate Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for alleged race discrimination — After Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who is Black, spoke about hiring Black people in his administration to ensure they "look out for the interest of Black folks," the civil rights division's official account posted a letter from Dhillon informing Johnson he was under investigation for violating the 1964 Civil Rights Act's prohibition on race discrimination. The investigation was announced publicly on social media the day after Johnson's remarks, a highly unusual practice that alarmed former civil rights lawyers and signals the weaponization of civil rights law against efforts to address racial equity.
• Dhillon directs investigation into Cassidy Hutchinson, January 6 committee witness — The civil rights division, under Dhillon's oversight, is investigating Cassidy Hutchinson, the former Trump aide who gave vivid testimony to the January 6 committee about the president's actions on that day. The source notes it is unclear what civil rights violation, if any, Hutchinson committed. The investigation appears retaliatory against a witness who testified against Trump.
• Dhillon directs investigation into Pennsylvania school bus driver firing over "English only" sign — In December 2025, after a local news outlet published a story about a Pennsylvania school bus driver being fired for posting an "English only" sign on her bus, Dhillon posted that she had directed the civil rights division to open an investigation into "this situation implicating DEI wokeness." The investigation was announced on social media days after learning of the incident, departing sharply from standard practice in which the civil rights division does not publicly announce investigations or release letters informing targets they are under investigation.
• Dhillon posts on social media about ongoing DOJ investigations in early stages — Harmeet Dhillon, with 1.3 million followers on her personal X account, has posted official department letters on X announcing civil rights investigations, a highly unusual practice that has alarmed former civil rights division lawyers. The practice violates longstanding norms that investigations remain confidential until formal notice is provided. Dhillon has also posted about investigations in early stages, departing from standard practice in which the civil rights division does not publicly announce investigations.

Supporting reports

• US Congress passes 10-day extension of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act section 702 — Both chambers of Congress voted on April 18 to pass a brief 10-day extension of section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa), a warrantless surveillance law, after Republican infighting blocked attempts at a longer reauthorization. The law allows national security agencies to collect texts and emails sent to and from foreigners outside the US without a warrant, with Americans' communications potentially swept up incidentally. A rare coalition of progressive Democrats and hardline Republicans opposed an unchanged extension, demanding a warrant requirement for Americans' communications. The House vote occurred after midnight following two failed procedural votes.
• Became Law: FISA Amendments Act Extension — Congress passed and the President signed legislation extending Title VII surveillance authorities of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act through April 30, 2026. The measure amends the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, preserving federal intelligence-gathering powers on foreign targets and their communications. The law became Public Law 119-84, authorizing continued bulk collection and monitoring frameworks.

Supporting reports

• Trump holds Oval Office press conference with Joe Rogan, bans press questions — Trump held a press conference in the Oval Office alongside Joe Rogan focused on psychedelic drugs. He then kicked the press out before questions could be asked, preventing journalists from questioning him about the Strait of Hormuz closure, collapsed talks, and other major developments.
• Trump ejects reporters from Oval Office when asked about Iran claims — Trump kicked reporters out of the Oval Office on Saturday when they attempted to ask questions about his Iran peace claims, including a question from CBS reporter Olivia Rinaldi about vessels allegedly fired upon by Iranian gunboats. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) criticized the action, stating "The Strait of Hormuz just closed again today, and the press are demanding answers on behalf of the American people. Trump kicks them out of the Oval Office. Shameful."

Supporting reports

• Pete Hegseth attacked press for insufficient patriotism in war coverage — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held a press conference attacking the press for what he characterized as relentlessly negative coverage and insufficient patriotism in reporting on the war. He compared journalists to Pharisees in a biblical analogy, stating they were "there to witness, to write everything down, and to report" with "hardened hearts" and "politically motivated animus" that blinded them to "the brilliance of our American warriors." He accused the media of peddling "garbage" and questioned which side some journalists were on.
• Pete Hegseth compares press to Biblical Pharisees at Pentagon briefing — At an 8 AM press briefing at the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth compared the American press corps to the Biblical Pharisees, stating that the media, like the Pharisees, witness miracles but have hardened hearts. This came after Trump faced significant backlash for posting an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus. The article notes this represents an escalation of religious comparisons rather than a retreat from the controversy.
• Pete Hegseth quoted non-biblical text as scripture at Pentagon prayer service — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth incorporated what he claimed was a Bible verse at his monthly Pentagon Christian prayer and worship service, attributing it to Ezekiel 25:17. The verse he quoted—"And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to capture and destroy my brother"—was actually written by screenwriter Quentin Tarantino for the 1994 film Pulp Fiction and recited by a character before committing murder. The text does not appear in the actual Bible.
• Hegseth took questions only from conservative and far-right media outlets — During his press conference, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth took questions exclusively from OAN (One America News Network), Real America's Voice, Daily Wire, and Just the News—all conservative or far-right media outlets. He did not take questions from mainstream or independent news organizations.
• Hegseth claims China assurances on Iran weapons shipments — When asked about intelligence reports suggesting China is preparing weapons shipments to Iran during the ceasefire, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth responded that "China has assured us that is not going to happen." The article notes the irony of relying on China's assurances while the Trump administration is in the middle of a catastrophic trade war with China.

Supporting reports

• Justice Department settles lawsuit alleging Biden State Department social media censorship — The Department of Justice announced settlement of litigation alleging the Biden State Department censored disfavored speech through its Global Engagement Center by funding private companies' development of technologies to suppress protected speech online. The settlement implements President Trump's Executive Order on "Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship." The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas had denied the government's motions to dismiss and transfer venue, finding good cause for discovery. The settlement avoids continued litigation.

Supporting reports

• White House helped craft Pakistani PM's social media statements about ceasefire — The New York Times reported that the White House actively helped craft Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif's social media statements announcing the ceasefire terms. This suggested Trump was "actively looking for a way out of the crisis" as his own imposed deadline approached on Tuesday evening, indicating the administration's desperation to exit the conflict.

Supporting reports

• Trump posted graphic video of woman's murder with anti-immigrant rhetoric — At 7:49 p.m., President Trump's social media account posted a graphic video depicting a man killing a woman with a hammer. The accompanying text attacked Haitian immigrants, former President Joe Biden, and "the Radical Democrats in Congress," echoing what the article describes as "vicious racism" used to feed his base. The post came hours after the First Lady's unexpected press conference about Jeffrey Epstein.
• Trump Posts Graphic Video on Social Media — On April 9, 2026, President Trump shared a graphic video depicting violence, accompanied by a message targeting Haitian immigrants and former President Joe Biden. The post was seen as an attempt to rally his base through provocative imagery and rhetoric.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed: National Health Law Program v. Department of Health and Human Services (D.D.C.) — The National Health Law Program filed a FOIA lawsuit against HHS and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for failure to respond to requests submitted February 17, 2026, seeking records on data-sharing practices with DHS and ICE, including policies governing transfer of Medicaid enrollee information to ICE for immigration enforcement. The plaintiff alleges HHS and CMS departed from prior policy in summer 2025 and began sharing Medicaid data with ICE without full disclosure, and have failed to conduct adequate searches or respond to five sets of paired FOIA requests. The complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, production of non-exempt records, Vaughn indexes for withheld materials, and attorneys' fees.

Supporting reports

• Melania Trump issued public statement addressing Epstein allegations — Melania Trump held an unannounced media appearance to deny any connection to Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, stating she had never been friends with Epstein, never visited his island or plane, and was not a witness to his crimes. She claimed to have filed lawsuits against individuals making false statements about her on social media and television. The statement came without advance notice to White House press corps and without taking questions from reporters.
• Melania Trump held unexpected press conference denying Epstein connections — First Lady Melania Trump unexpectedly called the White House press pool and delivered a six-minute statement at a podium bearing the presidential seal, denying she had ever been friends with or had a relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. She called for Congress to hold hearings for Epstein's victims and stated that "Epstein was not alone" and that several prominent male executives had resigned after the matter became politicized. The statement appeared to have been written by someone else, as she mispronounced words and used incorrect vocabulary.
• Trump denied advance knowledge of Melania's Epstein statement — President Trump told a reporter he did not know the First Lady was preparing to give a speech about her Epstein connections. However, a source told CNN's Betsy Klein that Trump had been alerted in advance that she was going to make the statement. Trump's subsequent actions suggested he was not pleased with the statement.

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

• Trump reversed position and attacked Iran over Strait of Hormuz tolls — Hours after suggesting the U.S. might join Iran in charging tolls through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump posted contradictory statements attacking Iran for allegedly charging fees to tankers and demanding they stop. He then claimed Iran was violating "the agreement we have" by not allowing oil to flow freely through the strait, contradicting his earlier joint-venture proposal.
• Trump suggested U.S. join Iran in charging tolls through Strait of Hormuz — President Trump suggested to journalist Jonathan Karl that the U.S. was considering joining Iran in demanding tolls for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as "a joint venture" and "a way of securing it." This represented a dramatic shift in U.S. policy toward a critical global shipping route and suggested potential coordination with a hostile nation on economic extraction.
• Trump warned Iran against charging fees for Strait passage — Trump posted on Truth Social that there are reports Iran is charging fees to tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz and warned them to stop. The post came after reports that Iran intends to require cryptocurrency payments from shipping companies for passage and will monitor all vessels transiting the strait.

Supporting reports

• Electronic Frontier Foundation documented Flock data searches targeting protest activity and abortion-related investigations. — EFF analysis of more than 12 million Flock searches logged by more than 3,900 agencies between December 2024 and October 2025 identified searches tied to February 2025 50501 protests, April 2025 Hands Off protests, and June and October 2025 No Kings protests. In Texas, law enforcement searched 83,345 cameras across 6,809 networks as part of an abortion investigation with the search reason logged as "had an abortion, search for female." In California, cities including Mountain View and Santa Cruz discovered broader out-of-state and federal access than authorized and canceled contracts as a result.

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• Axios publishes and then retracts story of imminent 45-day ceasefire — Axios reporter Barak Ravid published a story claiming the U.S., Iran, and regional mediators were in deep talks over a potential 45-day ceasefire, which moved markets. The story was walked back the following morning after Iran's counter-proposal was announced. Ravid updated the article to characterize the ceasefire as "one of many ideas being discussed" rather than an imminent agreement, and noted the president had not signed off on anything.

Supporting reports

• Trump fabricates Iranian ceasefire request on Truth Social — Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran's president had requested a ceasefire and that the U.S. would consider it once the Strait of Hormuz is open. Iran's Foreign Ministry immediately issued a statement denying the claim as "false and baseless." Trump's post described the Iranian president as "much less radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors," despite no change in Iran's government or leadership.

Supporting reports

• AI industry funds Innovation Council led by January 6 operative to boost MAGA candidates — The AI industry has hired Taylor Budowich, a key operative in efforts to overturn the 2020 election, to lead the Innovation Council, a new group planning to spend $100 million to boost Republican candidates in the 2026 midterms. Budowich previously directed over $200,000 in advertisements to build crowds for the January 6, 2021 attack and founded MAGA Inc., Trump's main Super PAC. The Innovation Council is organized as a nonprofit to avoid disclosing donors or filing with the Federal Election Commission, maintaining donor anonymity through complex organizational structures.
• Leading the Future PAC spent more on attacking Democrat than supporting Democrats — Leading the Future, a pro-AI PAC that raised over $125 million and claims to be bipartisan, has spent approximately $2.9 million supporting Republicans and $2.5 million supporting Democrats. However, the PAC's Democratic affiliate, Think Big, spent $2.3 million attacking Democrat Alex Bores running for Congress in New York. The Democrats supported by the PAC, Jesse Jackson Jr. and Melissa Bean, are running in historically blue Illinois districts where Republican candidates are unlikely to win.
• Leading the Future pledged $5 million to support Byron Donalds' gubernatorial campaign — Leading the Future, the pro-AI PAC claiming bipartisan support, pledged to spend $5 million in support of Representative Byron Donalds' (R-FL) campaign for Florida Governor. This spending was reportedly an effort to solidify the PAC's relationship with the White House, demonstrating how corporate political spending is used to maintain access and influence with the Trump administration.
• Innovation Council created pages describing AI concerns as "hoaxes" — The Innovation Council, led by Taylor Budowich, created a series of web pages that describe concerns about AI job displacement, data center energy use, and safety as "hoaxes." The pages were later taken offline but were indexed by the Bing search engine. The group's public website features materials created by the Trump White House.
• Meta created multiple Super PACs with $65 million in funding — Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, created multiple new pro-AI Super PACs: Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across (Meta) California, which received $20 million, and the American Technology Excellence Project (ATEP), which received $45 million. While Meta indicated the PACs would support bipartisan candidates, the ATEP appears to favor Republicans, with spending concentrated in Illinois and Texas. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was appointed to Trump's President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, and Meta donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund.
• Andreessen appointed to Trump's science advisory council after major political donations — Marc Andreessen, a cofounder of Andreessen Horowitz, was appointed to Trump's President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Andreessen and his partner Ben Horowitz each donated $12.5 million to Leading the Future, a pro-AI PAC, and both had previously donated millions to a Super PAC supporting Trump in the 2024 election. Andreessen's appointment follows this pattern of corporate political investment followed by executive branch access.