Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Concerns Over U.S. Inflation Data Accuracy — Economists are questioning the accuracy of recent U.S. inflation data after the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported staffing shortages affecting its monthly survey. The April inflation report showed a reliance on less precise methods for estimating price changes, raising concerns about the reliability of the data.

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• Arrest of international student for political speech — In recent weeks, masked officers arrested an international student, Rümeysa Öztürk, who had co-authored a campus newspaper op-ed about Gaza. The arrest took place on the street and was conducted by immigration agents who concealed their identities. This incident has raised concerns about the suppression of political speech and the treatment of immigrants in the United States.

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• Defense Department removes Jackie Robinson’s biography — The Defense Department temporarily removed Jackie Robinson’s biography from its website. This action is part of a broader pattern of altering or censoring historical content, which has implications for public memory and the integrity of historical records.

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• NPR and Public Radio Stations File Lawsuit Against Trump's Executive Order — NPR, along with three Colorado-based public radio stations, has filed a lawsuit challenging an executive order by President Trump that cuts federal funding to media outlets he deems "biased." The lawsuit argues that the order violates the First Amendment by targeting NPR and PBS for their news coverage, which the president considers biased. The executive order, signed on May 1, aims to strip direct and indirect funding from these public media organizations. NPR and its partners seek to have the order permanently blocked and declared unconstitutional.

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• US Veterans Affairs restricts publication without clearance — Senior officials at the US Department of Veterans Affairs have mandated that VA physicians and scientists must seek clearance from political appointees before publishing in medical journals or speaking publicly. This directive was communicated via emails from Curt Cashour, the VA’s assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs, and John Bartrum, a senior adviser to the VA secretary. The move follows the publication of a perspective piece by VA pulmonologists in the New England Journal of Medicine, which criticized the impact of staff reductions on veterans' health care.

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• Pentagon Press Access Restricted — Gabrielle Cuccia, a correspondent for OAN, reported being fired after criticizing Pete Hegseth's restrictions on press access at the Pentagon. Cuccia claimed that the Pentagon briefing room doors were locked, a protocol not previously in place. Hegseth has not conducted any press briefings as Secretary.

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• Trump Shares Conspiracy Theory About Biden — President Trump shared a conspiracy theory on social media claiming that Joe Biden was assassinated in 2020 and replaced with a clone. The post, which aligns with QAnon narratives, was widely criticized, including by Fox News. This incident reflects ongoing misinformation and conspiracy theories promoted by Trump.
• Trump shares conspiracy theory on social media — On May 31, 2025, President Trump reposted a conspiracy theory on social media claiming that former President Joe Biden was executed in 2020 and that the current figures are clones or robotic entities. This post was accompanied by hashtags promoting his political agenda.

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• Temporary restraining order ruling — RFE/RL, Inc. v. Lake (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00799 — The district court granted a temporary restraining order requiring the government to immediately disburse $12,174,979 to cover RFE/RL's expenditures for the month of May 2025.
• Federal Judge Orders Release of Funds to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty — A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to release over $12 million in previously allocated funding to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The decision supports the broadcaster's mission to provide independent news in regions with restricted press freedom.

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• FBI investigates impersonation of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles — The FBI is investigating an impersonation incident involving Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff. An impersonator reportedly hacked Wiles' personal cellphone and used AI to mimic her voice, contacting her associates, including prominent Republicans. The impersonator made requests for pardons and cash transfers, which were initially believed to be genuine. The FBI director, Kash Patel, emphasized the seriousness of the investigation, highlighting the importance of secure communication for administration officials.

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• Trump Administration Orders Social Media Screening for Harvard Visitors — The Trump administration has mandated that US consulates worldwide conduct mandatory social media screenings for all visa applicants intending to visit Harvard University. This directive, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, requires enhanced vetting of students, faculty, staff, and other visitors to Harvard, viewing private social media accounts as potential signs of evasiveness. The policy, part of a pilot program, is linked to concerns about antisemitism on campus and aims to identify applicants with histories of antisemitic behavior. The directive is part of broader actions against elite universities, including stripping Harvard of research funding.

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• NPR files lawsuit against Trump administration — NPR filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over an executive order that bars the use of congressionally appropriated funds for NPR and PBS, claiming it violates the First Amendment.
• NPR files lawsuit against Trump administration over funding cuts — National Public Radio (NPR) has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging an executive order that cuts federal funding to NPR and PBS. The lawsuit, filed in Washington, argues that the executive order violates the First Amendment by targeting NPR for news coverage that President Trump considers biased. NPR, joined by three Colorado public radio stations, seeks to have the order permanently blocked and declared unconstitutional. The executive order instructs federal agencies to cease funding NPR and PBS, claiming they promote partisanship and left-wing propaganda.
• NPR and Colorado public radio stations sue Trump administration — NPR and three Colorado public radio stations filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over an executive order that seeks to withhold congressionally appropriated funds for public media. The lawsuit claims the order constitutes retaliation against media outlets for their coverage.

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• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Restricts Press Access at the Pentagon — On May 23, 2025, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo significantly restricting press access within the Pentagon. The new rules confine credentialed reporters to a specific area and require them to request permission and be escorted to access other parts of the building. The memo also bans reporters from the Pentagon athletic center and mandates new press credentials with more prominent labeling. These measures are reportedly in response to recent leaks of classified and unclassified information, although they have been criticized as punitive actions against the media.

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• ICE Detains Columbia Student Mahmoud Khalil — Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and green card holder, remains detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Louisiana. Khalil was arrested in March, allegedly in retaliation for his advocacy for Palestinian rights. Surveillance footage released contradicts claims that Khalil attempted to flee during his arrest. Khalil's detention has sparked protests, including at Columbia's graduation ceremony, where students chanted "Free Mahmoud." An immigration hearing is scheduled for May 22, and Khalil awaits a ruling from a New Jersey judge on his case.

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• Chicago Sun-Times Confirms AI-Generated Reading List — The Chicago Sun-Times confirmed that a summer reading list, which included several non-existent book titles, was created using artificial intelligence by a freelancer working with one of their content partners. The list, part of a special section syndicated to the Sun-Times and other newspapers, included fake titles attributed to real authors. The newspaper stated that the content was not editorially approved and promised to update their policies to prevent similar incidents. The AI-generated content has sparked criticism regarding journalistic integrity and the use of AI in newsrooms.

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• Senators question Paramount over Trump lawsuit settlement efforts — Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, and Bernie Sanders have sent a letter to Paramount chair Shari Redstone, expressing concerns that the media company may be engaging in improper conduct with the Trump administration. The senators are investigating whether Paramount's efforts to settle a lawsuit filed by Donald Trump against CBS News's 60 Minutes could involve violations of federal bribery statutes. The lawsuit, filed in November 2024, claims deceitful editing of an interview with Kamala Harris. Paramount is seeking to settle the case as it pursues a merger with Skydance Media, which requires FCC approval.

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• Verizon Scrubs DEI References from Website — Verizon has removed multiple webpages related to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from its website. These pages previously highlighted Verizon's commitment to DEI and celebrated related awards. The removal of these pages is part of a broader effort to erase the company's past DEI commitments, following its decision to end DEI policies. The scrubbing of these pages was confirmed through the Internet Archive, which shows the previous content that has since been deleted.

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• Secret Service launches investigation into James Comey's social media post — The Secret Service has initiated an investigation into a social media post by former FBI Director James Comey. The post featured a photograph of seashells arranged to spell the numbers "8647," which some interpreted as a coded threat against former President Donald Trump. The number "86" is slang for getting rid of something, while "47" could refer to Trump as the 47th president. Comey removed the post, stating he did not intend any threat. The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are involved in the investigation.
• Investigation initiated into James Comey’s Instagram post — The Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service are investigating former FBI director James Comey following his Instagram post that some interpreted as a threat against President Donald Trump. Comey voluntarily appeared at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., for an interview regarding the matter. This investigation follows Trump's public comments suggesting that Comey's post implied a call for assassination.

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• Trump administration fires nearly 600 contractors at Voice of America — The Trump administration has terminated nearly 600 contractors at Voice of America (VOA), a US-funded international news network. The firings, announced on Thursday, affected mostly journalists and some administrative staff, representing more than one-third of VOA’s workforce. This move defies a recent court order requiring the government to maintain strong news operations at VOA. Many of the dismissed journalists, who are from authoritarian countries, now face deportation as their visas are tied to their jobs. The administration cited "the government’s convenience" as the reason for the firings.

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• FBI opens inquiry into 764, an online group exploiting minors — The FBI has launched an investigation into 250 individuals associated with the online group 764, which is accused of coercing minors into creating sexually explicit content and engaging in self-harm. This group, which has been under scrutiny since at least 2023, operates through networks that manipulate and threaten young victims. The FBI's 55 field offices are involved in the investigation, highlighting the national scope of the issue. The group originated from a Discord server created by Bradley Cadenhead, who was arrested in 2023, but has since splintered into various subgroups.

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• Arrests at Columbia University Protests — On Wednesday, Ramona Sarsgaard, daughter of actors Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard, was arrested at Columbia University during protests against Israel's war in Gaza. She received a desk appearance ticket for criminal trespassing. The protests involved students occupying the Butler library in solidarity with Palestinian liberation, leading to police intervention and multiple arrests. Columbia University officials stated that disruptions to academic activities would not be tolerated. Additionally, four student journalists were temporarily suspended for reporting on the protests, though these suspensions were later lifted.

Supporting reports

• White House Launches "White House Wire" Website
• White House Posts AI-Generated Image with Political Message
• White House Posts Video of Deportation Flights

Supporting reports

• Pentagon memo alters military academy admissions criteria — On May 9, 2025, the Pentagon sent a memo to military training academies instructing them to disregard race, ethnicity, or sex in their admissions process, focusing solely on merit. However, the memo allows consideration for students with unique athletic talent. The academies are required to certify these standards by mid-June. This directive is part of a broader effort to eliminate DEI considerations within the military, as emphasized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's commitment to purging DEI from the Pentagon.
• Pentagon orders removal of DEI and gender ideology books — On May 9, 2025, the Pentagon issued a directive to military leaders to review and remove books related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and gender ideology from their libraries. The memo instructed leaders to identify materials promoting divisive concepts incompatible with the department's mission, with a deadline of May 21 for removal. This action follows a similar order affecting military academies, resulting in the removal of nearly 400 books. The directive also impacts K-12 school libraries on military bases worldwide, with a list of banned books issued by the Department of Defense Education Activity.

Supporting reports

• Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Efforts to Dismantle VoA — A federal judge, Royce Lamberth, blocked the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle Voice of America (VoA) and other USAGM outlets. However, the ruling was paused on appeal, leaving VoA staff on administrative leave. The legal battle continues as VoA journalists challenge the administration's authority to dismantle the agency. The court's decision is crucial in determining the future of these media outlets, which play a vital role in providing independent news in regions with restricted press freedom.
• Appeal filed — Abramowitz v. Lake (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00887 — The D.C. Circuit en banc stayed the panel's May 3 order, but not on matters involving VOA. The D.C. Circuit en banc stayed the panel's order on the Global Media entities, restoring the district courts' orders across those cases, except for provision (1) on VOA staffing. The D.C. Circuit en banc restored Provision 2 of the district court order, which relates to grantees Networks Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks. Provision 3 - on the statutory mandate that VOA "serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news" - was not appealed by the government.
• Appeal filed — Widakuswara v. Kari Lake (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-01015 — The D.C. Circuit en banc stayed the panel's order, restoring the district court's order.
• Case update — Middle East Broadcasting Networks v. United States (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00966 — The D.C. Circuit en banc administratively stayed the panel's order, restoring the district court's order.
• Case update — Radio Free Asia v. United States (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00907
• Case update — RFE/RL, Inc. v. Lake (D.D.C.) 1:25-cv-00799

Supporting reports

• Voice of America Contracts with One America News for Newsfeed — Voice of America (VoA), a government-funded organization, has contracted with One America News (OAN), a hard-right news network, to provide newsfeed and video services. This decision was announced by Kari Lake, a special adviser to VoA's parent company, who emphasized cost-saving measures. The move has sparked concerns about press freedom and the neutrality of VoA, traditionally a politically neutral news source. VoA journalists, who have been restricted from their newsroom since a March executive order, are challenging these changes in court.

Supporting reports

• Executive Order Shuts Down VoA Operations — An executive order signed by Donald Trump in mid-March has effectively shut down Voice of America (VoA) operations, taking them off the air and offline. This order has resulted in approximately 1,300 VoA employees being placed on leave. The order is part of a broader effort to dismantle the agency overseeing VoA, which has historically been a pro-democracy voice. A federal judge blocked the order to shutter VoA, but the ruling is currently under government appeal.
• Trump Administration's Executive Order Shuts Down Voice of America — In March, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), effectively shutting down Voice of America (VoA) and placing 1,300 employees on administrative leave. The order also canceled federal grants for sister outlets like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia. This move has been criticized as a crackdown on press freedom, with VoA's broadcasts going dark for the first time since World War II. A federal judge temporarily blocked the dismantling, but the situation remains unresolved as legal challenges continue.