Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• White House press secretary announces end of WHCA role in managing press pool — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced in February 2025 that the Trump administration would no longer recognize the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) in managing the White House press pool. Instead, the "White House press team" would control access to the White House. WHCA President Eugene Daniels responded that the change "tears at the independence of a free press in the United States" and suggested the government would choose which journalists cover the president.

Supporting reports

• White House to control press pool access — The White House announced it will decide which news organizations and reporters are allowed into the presidential press pool covering Donald Trump. This decision follows a temporary court ruling allowing the administration to bar the Associated Press (AP) from the Oval Office and Air Force One. The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) traditionally coordinates press access, but the administration claims it will now include new voices. The AP's access was revoked after it refused to comply with Trump's demand to rename the Gulf of Mexico, leading to accusations of violating First Amendment rights.
• White House takes control of press pool access — The Trump administration announced it will take control of the White House press pool, removing the White House Correspondents’ Association's (WHCA) role in deciding which journalists have access to the president. This decision was announced by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who framed it as democratizing access. The move has been criticized by media members, including a Fox News correspondent, as an attack on press independence. The administration has already barred the Associated Press from official events and removed Reuters from its traditional spot in the press pool.
• Trump administration to control press pool access — The White House announced it will control which reporters are allowed into the presidential press pool to cover Trump, taking over a role traditionally managed by the White House Correspondents’ Association. This decision follows a temporary ruling allowing the administration to bar the Associated Press over a naming dispute.
• — The Trump administration announced it would break precedent by choosing which media outlets are allowed to participate in the presidential press pool, a decision traditionally made by the White House Correspondents' Association. This move could limit press freedom and access to information.

Supporting reports

• Elon Musk uses X platform to urge impeachment of judges — Elon Musk, using his social media platform X where he has over 200 million followers, has repeatedly urged the impeachment of judges whose rulings he dislikes. On February 25, Musk stated: "The only way to restore rule of the people in America is to impeach judges." These posts target judges who have blocked or delayed Trump administration actions and Musk's "department of government efficiency" initiatives.

Supporting reports

• Trump shares AI-generated video on Truth Social — President Trump shared an AI-generated video on Truth Social depicting a fictional "Trump Gaza" resort. The video included a golden statue of Trump and other controversial imagery, raising concerns about the use of AI for political propaganda.
• Trump posts music video promoting Gaza redevelopment plan — On February 26, 2025, President Trump posted a music video on social media platforms promoting his plan to ethnically cleanse Gaza of Palestinians and redevelop the area into a luxury resort. The video, featuring AI-generated imagery, was shared with millions of followers and depicts a transformation of Gaza into a luxury destination. Trump's plan involves removing Palestinians and redeveloping the area, with support from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The video is part of Trump's broader strategy to promote this controversial redevelopment plan.

Supporting reports

• Judge blocks Musk agency access to personal data — U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman issued a temporary restraining order preventing Elon Musk's "department of government efficiency" (Doge) from accessing sensitive personal information of millions of Americans. The ruling stops the Department of Education and the Office of Personnel Management from sharing federal employees' and student borrowers' data with Doge, citing potential violations of federal privacy laws. This decision follows a lawsuit by federal employee unions, student loan recipients, and veterans, and represents a significant judicial check on Doge's activities since its establishment by a January executive order.
• Federal court issues injunction against DOGE — On February 24, 2025, a federal court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), preventing it from disclosing personally identifiable information of federal employees to the DOGE team. This decision followed a lawsuit filed by a coalition of labor unions, which cited a report by Popular Information and Musk Watch. The court found that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in their claim that OPM's actions violated the Privacy Act. The TRO is set to expire on March 10, 2025, pending further court determination.
• Judge blocks data sharing with Musk's department — A federal judge temporarily blocked the Department of Education and Office of Personnel Management from sharing sensitive data with Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. This decision addresses concerns about data privacy and security.
• Federal judge blocks Doge from accessing personal data — A federal judge temporarily blocked Elon Musk's "department of government efficiency" (Doge) from accessing sensitive personal information of millions of Americans. This decision challenges the Trump administration's efforts to downsize the federal government by limiting Doge's access to data maintained by the US education department and the US office of personnel management.

Supporting reports

• Judge denies AP's request to restore access — A federal judge, Trevor McFadden, denied the Associated Press's request for a temporary injunction to restore its access to the Oval Office and other presidential events. The Trump administration had barred the AP for not using the term "Gulf of America" instead of "Gulf of Mexico" in its coverage. The judge, a Trump appointee, found the restriction on access to "more private areas" used by Trump to be different from previous cases where courts blocked revocation of journalists' access. The case will have another hearing next month.
• Judge denies AP's request for TRO against WH — A judge denied the Associated Press's request for a temporary restraining order after they were banned from White House briefings for refusing to use the term "Gulf of America." The judge noted the case's problematic nature but denied the TRO due to lack of "irreparable harm."
• Judge declines to issue restraining order for AP — A federal judge declined to issue a temporary restraining order to allow the Associated Press to regain access to presidential events, urging the Trump administration to reconsider its ban on the news organization. This decision highlights ongoing tensions between the administration and the press.

Supporting reports

• White House issues fact sheet citing poll data on public support for Trump administration policies — The White House published a fact sheet on February 24, 2025, presenting results from a Harvard CAPS-Harris poll. The document claims majority or plurality support for various Trump administration actions, including deportation of criminal immigrants (81%), government fraud reduction (76%), border closure (76%), exclusion of transgender athletes from women's sports (69%), and gender binary declaration (68%). The fact sheet also reports approval of Trump's job performance and economic optimism among respondents.

Supporting reports

• Musk accuses USAID of supporting terrorism — Elon Musk baselessly accused USAID of supporting terrorism by funding organizations like the Palestine Children's Relief Fund. This accusation could undermine the agency's credibility and impact its operations.

Supporting reports

• White House issues promotional release on Sunday show appearances — The White House published a release compiling statements made by administration officials (Steve Witkoff, Scott Bessent, Pete Hegseth, Lee Zeldin, Mike Waltz) during Sunday television appearances on February 23, 2025. The release presents these officials' remarks on Ukraine negotiations, tariff policy, Pentagon leadership, EPA priorities, Gaza, and claims of peace efforts. No new executive actions or policy directives are announced; the document is a curated collection of media appearances framed as evidence of administrative transparency and achievement.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration seeks IRS access for DOGE — The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) sought access to sensitive IRS systems containing taxpayer information. This request raises concerns about privacy and the potential misuse of financial data for political purposes.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration blocks AP from White House events — The Trump administration has barred the Associated Press from covering White House events, a move criticized as a violation of press freedom. This action is part of a broader pattern of restricting media access and controlling the narrative around the administration.

Supporting reports

• Attorney General Bondi indicates Epstein files under review on her desk — On February 21, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News that Epstein case files were "sitting on my desk right now to review" in response to a question about whether the DOJ would release a list of Epstein's clients. Bondi later suggested she was referring to case files rather than a client list, but the statement signaled potential control over the release of materials potentially implicating the president.
• Attorney General Bondi states Epstein client list is on her desk — In February 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News Channel that the Epstein client list was "sitting on my desk right now," suggesting the administration would release it. This statement was made to MAGA audiences who had been promised transparency on Epstein files as a key campaign commitment, with senators like Marsha Blackburn supporting Kash Patel's FBI directorship partly on the expectation he would release Epstein information.

Supporting reports

• White House issues release claiming border enforcement has reduced migrant arrivals and shelter demand — The White House published a release titled "When There Are No Illegal Immigrants, There Is No Need for Shelters" asserting that President Trump's border enforcement has reduced daily migrant encounters in the El Paso sector from 1,500 to roughly 80, and citing reports that migrant shelters across multiple states and Mexico have closed or reduced capacity due to decreased arrivals. The release attributes these changes to Trump's "unprecedented effort to secure the homeland."

Supporting reports

• AP sues Trump administration over press access — The Associated Press filed a lawsuit against three officials in the Trump administration for blocking its journalists from presidential events. The lawsuit claims this action violates the freedom of speech protected by the First Amendment.
• AP sues over press access restrictions — The Associated Press filed a lawsuit against administrative officials after being denied press access for refusing to rename the "Gulf of Mexico" as directed by Trump. The lawsuit argues that the press and the public have the right to use their own language without government retaliation. This legal action highlights ongoing tensions between the press and the administration over freedom of expression and access to information.

Supporting reports

• State department orders media subscriptions cancelled — The State Department has reportedly ordered its global outposts to cancel all subscriptions to news and media outlets deemed "non-mission critical." This directive is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to control information channels, raising concerns about transparency and access to diverse information sources.

Supporting reports

• White House issues promotional fact sheet claiming executive accomplishments in first month — The White House published a fact sheet titled "America Is Back — and President Trump Is Just Getting Started" on February 20, 2025, listing claimed accomplishments across border enforcement, economic policy, energy, military matters, and domestic governance. The document asserts that President Trump has "already accomplished more than most presidents do in their entire term" after one month in office. It attributes specific policy actions including border emergency declarations, tariff implementations, military deployments, regulatory rollbacks, and personnel changes across federal agencies.
• White House issues compilation release touting departmental accomplishments after one month — The White House published a compilation release on February 21, 2025, in which it aggregated statements from eight federal departments (Homeland Security, Interior, Education, Housing and Urban Development, State, Transportation, Defense, and Health and Human Services) describing their claimed accomplishments during President Trump's first month in office. The release does not announce new policy but curates existing departmental messaging around themes including border security, energy development, education policy, military readiness, and what the administration characterizes as reversals of prior policies.

Supporting reports

• Operation Whirlwind launched to prosecute threats — DC US Attorney Ed Martin announced "Operation Whirlwind," an initiative to prosecute threats against government officials. This operation was launched in response to claims by Elon Musk that his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team was "doxxed" by the media. The first inquiry involves sending letters to Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Robert Garcia to clarify past statements perceived as threatening.

Supporting reports

• Senators demand information on DOGE's access to IRS data — Senators Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to the acting IRS commissioner, demanding information about the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) access to taxpayer data. They raised concerns that Musk and his associates might misuse government databases for political purposes.

Supporting reports

• Mentions of Black people scrubbed from federal websites — During Black History Month, mentions of Black people are being removed from some federal websites. This action is part of a broader effort to diminish the visibility and contributions of Black Americans in public records and history. The removal of these mentions is seen as an attempt to undermine the fair access of Black Americans to employment opportunities and to promote a white supremacist narrative. This has raised significant concerns about racial discrimination and the erasure of Black history.

Supporting reports

• National Park Service removes transpeople from webpages — The National Park Service has removed references to transpeople from its official webpages. This action is part of a broader federal effort to erase transpeople from public life, including healthcare, education, and military service. The removal of transpeople from these webpages is seen as a significant step in the systematic exclusion of this group from American history and public recognition. This move has sparked outrage and concern among civil rights advocates who view it as an attack on the rights and visibility of transgender individuals.

Supporting reports

• IRS reportedly preparing to give Musk’s Doge agency access to taxpayer data — The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is reportedly reviewing a request to grant access to its classified systems, which contain sensitive taxpayer data, to a member of Elon Musk's "department of government efficiency" (Doge). This request would allow Doge officials, including software engineer Gavin Kliger, broad access to IRS systems and datasets, including tax returns. The move has sparked controversy and legal challenges, with 19 state attorneys general suing to block similar access to Treasury Department data. The IRS is also preparing to lay off workers hired by the previous administration.

Supporting reports

• Kids Online Safety Act failed to pass in the House — The Kids Online Safety Act (Kosa), which aimed to mandate social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to address online dangers affecting children, passed the Senate with a 91-to-3 vote but failed to pass in the House when Congress adjourned in December. The bill included a "duty of care" clause requiring platforms to act in the best interests of minors. Despite revisions to address concerns about censorship and freedom of speech, the bill faced opposition from civil rights groups and ultimately did not become law.

Supporting reports

• Tesla sues Chinese car owners and media — Tesla has filed lawsuits against at least six car owners in China who reported vehicle malfunctions and against six bloggers and two media companies that published critical articles. Tesla has won over 90% of these cases, leveraging its influence with China's ruling Communist Party.

Supporting reports

• Doge committee gains access to health agency systems — Representatives of the Doge committee, led by Elon Musk, gained access to sensitive systems at health agencies, including the CDC and CMS. This access raises concerns about data security and the potential misuse of sensitive information, as well as the impact on healthcare funding and operations. The access was reportedly part of an effort to identify fraud in Medicare payment systems.

Supporting reports

• AP barred from White House coverage — The Associated Press (AP) has been indefinitely barred from covering the White House and other executive branch briefing rooms after refusing to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, as demanded by Trump. This move has been criticized by other media outlets, though none have boycotted press conferences in solidarity with AP.
• Trump bans AP journalists from Oval Office and Air Force One — The Trump administration banned Associated Press journalists from the Oval Office and Air Force One after the AP refused to comply with an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America." The White House justified the ban as a lawful geographic name change, but the AP maintained its stance to use the globally accepted name, citing press freedom.
• White House bans Associated Press — The White House banned the Associated Press from its press briefings because the news agency refused to change its stylebook entry from "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America." This punitive measure is part of a broader strategy to control media narratives and punish outlets that do not align with the administration's language and symbolism changes.