Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Wedgewood Polls admits to fabricating survey data in national media outlets — Wedgewood Polls, a polling firm that emerged in June 2026, admitted on Tuesday to deliberately fabricating survey data that were republished by major media outlets including Newsweek, the Hill, Breitbart, the Daily Beast, and the Washington Examiner, and included in polling databases by the New York Times, Nate Silver, VoteHub, and FiftyPlusOne. The firm claimed the project was a "social experiment" to expose lack of scrutiny in the polling industry. Following the admission, Decision Desk HQ removed 17 polls from its averages and the New York Times removed all Wedgewood polls from its tracking project.

Supporting reports

• Phony transgender rights leaflets circulated in Texas to inflame voters — A company formed in Wyoming has been circulating phony leaflets and text messages in Texas, falsely purporting to be from a trans rights group. The materials, addressed to "students," claim to provide resources for transgender and LGBTQ+ youth but are deliberately inflammatory, purporting to instruct children on separating from parents and replacing them with other adults or organizations. Right-wing groups have shared the mailers and linked them to Democrats.

Supporting reports

• TikTok permanently bans ads for Musk documentary — On October 18, 2026, TikTok permanently banned advertising for "Musk," a critical documentary about Elon Musk. TikTok cited policies prohibiting ads "referencing, promoting, or opposing" current or past public officials and ads advocating for or against elections. However, Musk is a private CEO with no current public position, and the ads promote a film rather than a candidate. This action occurs as Musk has become a major Republican donor and Trump ally.

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• MAGA influencers spread false conspiracy theory about Democratic candidate James Talarico — MAGA influencers, including prominent accounts amplified by Elon Musk, spread a false conspiracy theory that Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico was hospitalized in an Ohio mental facility rather than recovering from the flu as he claimed. MAGA influencer Nick Sortor posted that an "Ohio mental hospital CONFIRMS James Talarico was discharged from the facility earlier this week," but the hospital later confirmed Talarico had never received treatment there. Talarico's opponent, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, seeded doubt about Talarico's illness. Talarico's spokesperson JT Ennis called the claim "a lie designed to promote a pathetic conspiracy theory." Texas journalist Tony Ortiz reported that the source of the false audio initially shopped the story to Sara Gonzales of The Blaze and Daily Mail, but it "didn't pass legal so they declined," after which the source gave it to an influencer "because they have lower standards than journalists."

Supporting reports

• Elon Musk amplifies false conspiracy theory about James Talarico — Elon Musk used his X platform to elevate a false conspiracy theory about Texas Democratic candidate James Talarico, claiming the Talarico campaign was "hiding something big" regarding alleged mental health facility admission. Musk's post garnered over 870,000 views, more than double the impression count of the original post. The episode demonstrates Musk's use of his platform and financial resources—he has spent at least $276 million on midterm Republican efforts since July—to influence the 2026 midterm elections through the spread of falsehoods about Democratic opponents.
• Elon Musk amplifies false conspiracy theory about Democratic candidate — Elon Musk was identified as the most prominent amplifier of the false conspiracy theory about Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, using his own posts and his X algorithm to spread the disinformation. The bulletin notes that Musk continued to amplify the lies despite the hospital confirming Talarico had never been treated there.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration aired taxpayer-funded campaign ad — New York Times reporter Bayliss Wagner reported that the Trump administration is airing another taxpayer-funded political advertisement, this time from his 2024 campaign. In the ad, Trump states: "We will demolish the deep state, expel the warmongers from our government... We will rout the fake news media." The bulletin notes this represents use of public funds for campaign promotion during the midterms.
• Trump administration airs government-funded political advertisement — The Trump administration aired a black-and-white political advertisement on television stations nationwide, including Fox News Sunday, Saturday Night Live, and college and NFL football games, funded with taxpayer dollars. The ad features Trump walking down a hallway while audio from a rally speech plays, with Trump declaring "This is the final battle" and vowing to "demolish the deep state" and "expel the warmongers." The White House defended the ads as "public service announcements," but ethics experts and lawmakers have argued the use of federal funds for political advertising violates federal law banning taxpayer-funded propaganda. The ad cost approximately $319,000. This is the second such government-funded pro-Trump political ad in recent days; the first used a song by artist JMSN without his permission.
• Trump administration aired political advertisement funded by U.S. government during NFL and college football broadcasts — The Trump administration aired an advertisement during NFL games, Fox News Sunday, Saturday Night Live, and college football games that was labeled "Paid for by the U.S. Government." The ad featured Trump's "Final Battle" rhetoric attacking the deep state, warmongers, globalists, communists, and the media. The White House characterized it as a "public service announcement," but ethics experts and lawmakers questioned the legality of using federal funds for what appeared to be campaign propaganda.

Supporting reports

• Sentinel Action Fund uses Musk's votesafe.org infrastructure to operate white-labeled voter registration site — Sentinel Action Fund, the super PAC affiliated with the Heritage Foundation, created register.sentinelactionfund.com using votesafe.org's white-labeled platform, which transmits collected voter data to America PAC's servers. Sentinel Action Fund then spent $650,000 advertising the site during Fox News' State of the Union coverage. The organization claimed the site made registration "easier" and prevented voter information from going to "extremist Democrat organizations," but the connection to Musk's surveillance infrastructure had not been previously disclosed to the public.

Supporting reports

• Trump posts AI-generated video mocking Lake Ontario sign and dancing to YMCA — On Saturday, President Trump posted AI-generated video content depicting himself kicking over a Lake Ontario sign, replacing it with a Lake America sign, and dancing to the Village People's "YMCA." He also posted another AI video showing an army of Canada geese with Trump-like blond hair firing rifles in protection of Lake America. These posts escalated the rhetorical conflict with Canada over the lake's name during an ongoing trade dispute.

Supporting reports

• Polymarket promoted false vaccine injection claim on X — On August 10, Polymarket's official X account posted a graphic falsely claiming U.S. babies receive 72 injections, attributing this to Trump policy. Fact-checkers including PolitiFact, FactCheck.org, STAT News, and CNN determined the claim false; babies actually receive 12–30 shots by age two depending on vaccine combinations. The White House had previously posted the same false graphic in January 2026. Polymarket did not respond to requests for comment.
• New York Times documented hundreds of false Polymarket posts — In a March 2026 review, the New York Times identified hundreds of posts on Polymarket's social media accounts (which have millions of combined followers) containing false or misleading information. The review documented a pattern of misinformation, frequently targeting opponents of the Trump administration. Polymarket is connected to Trump through Donald Trump Jr., who has invested in the company and serves as an unpaid advisor.
• Polymarket falsely attributed quote to Jeff Bezos — In January 2026, Polymarket posted on X that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos advised young people to work at McDonald's or Palantir before starting their own companies. Bezos replied directly, stating "Nope. Not sure why [P]olymarket made this up." The claim distorted an earlier interview answer in which Bezos advised working at "best-practices companies" to learn fundamentals; he did not mention McDonald's or Palantir.
• Polymarket posted false claim about Ilhan Omar's net worth — In December 2025, Polymarket posted conspiracy theories about how Congresswoman Ilhan Omar's net worth increased since 2019, without disclosing that her net worth now includes assets of her husband, whom she married in 2020. The omission was material to understanding the increase and fueled unfounded speculation about financial impropriety.

Supporting reports

• One Nation nonprofit spent $1.7 million on false attack ad against Senator Ossoff in Georgia — One Nation, an opaque nonprofit affiliated with Senate Republicans, spent $1.7 million in five days to deliver 78 million impressions of an attack ad against Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) across Georgia. The ad falsely claims Ossoff voted to "gut" the child tax credit, supported a "$2,100 tax increase," and voted for higher taxes on Social Security recipients earning under $75,000. In fact, Ossoff voted to expand the child tax credit to its largest level in history and voted against the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" that Republicans supported. One Nation does not disclose its donors, making the funding source opaque.
• One Nation spent $1.7 million on dishonest attack ad against Senator Ossoff — One Nation, an opaque nonprofit affiliated with Senate Republicans, spent $1.7 million in less than a week on an attack ad against Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA). The ad received 78 million impressions across Georgia but contained false claims, attacking Ossoff for positions actually pursued by Republicans, including cutting the child tax credit, according to Popular Information's analysis.

Supporting reports

• CBS News New York republished false petition claims without verification — On July 27, CBS News New York published an article stating "Thousands of 9/11 victims' families are asking New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend this year's solemn remembrance ceremony," directly echoing the New York Post's unverified claims. After Popular Information contacted the author, the headline and opening were changed that evening to "Petition asking NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend 9/11 remembrance ceremony purportedly draws thousands of signatures," then changed again on July 28 to "Petition from 9/11 families asks NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend remembrance ceremony"—a version that falsely suggests the petition represents 9/11 families as a group. No editor's note disclosed the corrections.
• CBS News initially reports false claim, then corrects after inquiry — CBS News New York initially reported that "thousands of 9/11 victims' families are asking New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend" the 9/11 ceremony, directly echoing the false New York Post headline. After Popular Information contacted CBS for comment, the network removed the false claim and revised the article to state the petition had "purportedly drawn thousands of signatures, including some victims' families"—a more cautious formulation that acknowledged the unverified nature of the claim.
• CBS News removed social media posts about petition without public explanation — On July 28 at 3:08 p.m., the CBS News main Instagram account (3.3 million followers) posted the CBS News New York story about the petition. On the evening of July 29, the video was removed without explanation. CBS News also removed an X post from CBS News New York linking to the story. A CBS News source told Popular Information that the posts were removed after being told "CBS News New York's reporting was inaccurate," but the underlying article remained online. CBS News cited organizational separation between CBS News and CBS News New York to explain why the article was not corrected or removed.

Supporting reports

• Fox Business falsely reported petition signature count as 15,000 — On the July 27 edition of The Evening Edit on Fox Business, anchor Elizabeth MacDonald reported that "9/11 families, more than 15,000 want Mamdani banned from 9/11 ceremonies." This figure was not supported by any version of the petition's actual signature count (which ranged from 1,100 to 3,515 depending on the source's claim) and represented a further distortion of already-inflated numbers as the story spread through right-wing media outlets.
• Fox News amplifies unsubstantiated petition story with editorial commentary — Fox News, owned by Rupert Murdoch (same owner as the New York Post), featured the petition story on air within hours of publication. Fox News pundits Tomi Lahren and Rich Edson offered editorial commentary suggesting Mamdani should not attend the 9/11 ceremony, while Fox Business host Cheryl Casone made unsubstantiated claims that Mamdani "does not have much sorrow about 9/11" and would have supported the 9/11 attackers. These statements were made without verification of the petition's claims or Mamdani's actual positions.

Supporting reports

• New York Post published false headline about 9/11 families petition against Mayor Mamdani — On July 26, the New York Post published a front-page headline claiming "Thousands of 9/11 families demand Mamdani be banned from 25th-Anniversary," reporting 3,515 signatures "most from victims' family members." The online version stated 1,100 signatures "including from at least 300 victims' families." Petition organizer Giovanni Galante later admitted to Popular Information that he maintained no list of victims' families and the 300 figure was an unsubstantiated estimate. The New York Post did not issue a correction but instead quietly edited the article a third time on July 28, attributing inflated estimates (3,000–7,500) to Galante rather than reporting them as fact.
• New York Post publishes unsubstantiated claim about 9/11 families petition against Mamdani — The New York Post ran a front-page story claiming "thousands of 9/11 families" demanded that New York City Council Member Zohran Mamdani be banned from the 25th-anniversary 9/11 commemoration. The article cited a Change.org petition with 1,100+ signatures, claiming "at least 300" were from victims' families. Upon investigation by Popular Information, petition organizer Giovanni Galante admitted there was no verified list of family members and the "300" figure was an unsubstantiated estimate based on assumed social-network spread. As of reporting, nearly 16,000 people had signed; Change.org verified only that signatures came from "real people," not that signatories were 9/11 family members. The story went viral on right-wing media and was amplified by Fox News before being partially corrected by CBS News.
• New York Post concealed correction through silent article edits — After Popular Information revealed the falsity of the petition numbers on July 28, the New York Post did not issue a public correction. Instead, on July 28 at 3:20 PM, the article was altered to attribute inflated estimates (3,000–7,500 victims' family signers) to Galante as his "estimate" rather than presenting them as verified fact. This edit occurred less than 24 hours after Galante admitted to Popular Information that he had no list and his original 300 figure was speculative. The New York Post did not respond to requests for comment about the silent edits.

Supporting reports

• Trump delivered speech claiming foreign election interference while releasing heavily redacted documents — Trump held a major speech claiming Venezuela and China tampered with U.S. elections, citing declassified intelligence documents. The documents showed Russia attempted to help Trump in 2020—information Trump omitted from his remarks. Trump announced immediate declassification of election-related intelligence and called on DNI, DOJ, FBI, and CIA to investigate alleged coverups and file criminal charges. Trump also called for revocation of NBC and ABC broadcast licenses, claiming they refused to cover the speech and were "part of a plot."
• Trump releases declassified intelligence documents during primetime address — During a primetime address, the Trump administration released a batch of declassified intelligence documents. According to reporting, the documents appear to prove the opposite of what Trump intended them to demonstrate, raising questions about the selective declassification and use of intelligence for political purposes.
• White House issues "What They Are Saying" release on Trump's declassification address regarding election interference — The White House published a compilation of statements from administration officials, Republican lawmakers, and conservative commentators responding to President Trump's primetime address in which he released newly declassified documents. The release claims the documents reveal foreign election interference (specifically Chinese hacking of 220 million voter files), vulnerabilities in U.S. election infrastructure, and alleged suppression of this information by intelligence officials. The statements promote passage of the SAVE America Act, which the release characterizes as requiring voter ID and proof of citizenship.
• White House issues fact sheet on declassified election intelligence and foreign interference claims — The White House published a fact sheet titled "Setting the Record Straight" asserting that President Trump declassified intelligence revealing foreign adversaries (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea) compromised U.S. voter data and election infrastructure. The document claims China obtained personal data on 220 million American voters in 2020, that intelligence officials deliberately withheld this information from the President, and that the Biden administration covered up the breach while responding to similar incidents involving other nations. The fact sheet also references alleged voter registration fraud in Michigan and non-citizen voter registrations. Trump directed the Director of National Intelligence, DOJ, FBI, and CIA to investigate how the intelligence was hidden and to pursue potential criminal charges.

Supporting reports

• Kalshi sponsors and removes some election misinformation — Kalshi, a competitor of Polymarket, has also sponsored posts by right-wing influencers spreading misinformation about the Los Angeles mayoral election. While Kalshi has asked creators to remove some posts that violate its affiliate marketing policies, other posts casting doubt on the California electoral system remain. This includes posts suggesting voter fraud and questioning the legitimacy of the election process without evidence. Kalshi's actions demonstrate the challenges in controlling misinformation in prediction markets.
• Polymarket sponsors election misinformation — Polymarket, a major player in the prediction market industry, has been found sponsoring posts from far-right influencers on the social media platform X that spread election conspiracies and disinformation. These posts, which were labeled as paid partnerships with Polymarket, falsely claim fraud in the Los Angeles mayoral primary election. Influencers involved have a collective audience of 13 million and include figures like Owen Shroyer and Benny Johnson, who have histories of spreading misinformation. Polymarket did not respond to requests for comment on these sponsorships.
• George Santos under investigation for suspicious trades — Former Congressman George Santos is under investigation by the Department of Justice for suspicious trades related to prediction markets. Santos reportedly made trades based on insider knowledge about his attendance at a Trump State of the Union address, which he ultimately did not attend. This incident highlights the potential for manipulation within prediction markets. In response, Polymarket announced that Santos would no longer be a paid content creator for the company.
• Polymarket ends sponsorship of election misinformation — Polymarket, an online prediction market, has ended its sponsorship of posts on X that spread misinformation about the Los Angeles mayoral election. The posts, which falsely claimed the election was rigged against Republican candidate Spencer Pratt, were promoted by influencers with a combined audience of 13 million. Following an investigation by Popular Information, Polymarket acknowledged that these posts violated its marketing guidelines and requested the removal of the "Paid Partnership" label. As of Wednesday, seven posts were deleted, six had the label removed, and three remained unchanged.
• — Popular Information revealed that Polymarket, a prediction market company, sponsored social media posts from 16 far-right influencers who spread election conspiracy theories. These influencers, with a combined audience of 13 million, include notable figures like Benny Johnson and a former InfoWars host. Following the exposure, Polymarket acknowledged the violation of its marketing guidelines and requested the removal of the "paid partnership" label from the posts. Some posts were deleted or had the label removed.

Supporting reports

• Trump and GOP allies promote baseless election fraud claims about California primary results — President Trump and Republican allies used California's ongoing primary ballot count to falsify claims of election fraud after Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt (R) slipped to third place. Trump posted on Truth Social that Pratt's loss was "not possible" and called California a "3rd World Nation" with "Rigged Elections." The article explains California's extended count results from pro-voting policies requiring ballot verification and mail-in ballot processing, not fraud.
• Conservative commentators promote unsubstantiated voter-fraud allegations in California primary — As vote-counting continued in California's governor's primary, some conservative commentators promoted unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud, specifically targeting mail-in ballots that tend to skew Democratic. Trump had previously issued a national executive order aimed at curbing mail-in ballot use. The California secretary of state urged patience and reaffirmed the state's commitment to balancing voting rights with election security.
• Ron DeSantis amplified unsubstantiated claims about California vote counting — Ron DeSantis, seeking a position in the Trump administration, posted on social media suggesting that California's vote counting process was fraudulent, stating "California keeps dumping votes. Odds are shifting because the vote dumps always seem to go one way. Count until you get the result you want?" His remarks echoed Trump's earlier unsubstantiated claims about election fraud in California.
• Trump posted unsubstantiated claims about California election fraud at 1:00 AM — Trump posted multiple messages on Truth Social claiming widespread fraud in California's primary elections, alleging that vote counting was being delayed and that Democrats were "stealing" races for governor and Los Angeles mayor. He claimed the situation was "under investigation by the US Attorney's Office in Los Angeles." The posts were made during a 1:00 AM posting rampage while Trump had fallen asleep earlier that day during an EPA Administrator's remarks at a press event in the Oval Office.
• Trump declares election rigging in California without evidence — President Trump publicly accused California of "cheating" and election "rigging" on Thursday and Friday, claiming mail-in ballots were being found "shockingly" and stating the DOJ would open an investigation. He congratulated his favored candidate Steve Hilton despite ongoing ballot counting. State officials and Democratic lawmakers rejected the allegations as baseless and characterized Trump's statements as deliberate election misinformation designed to undermine voter confidence in democratic processes.

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.

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• Trump reposted Russian propaganda about Ukraine and Biden — On March 27, President Trump reposted Russian propaganda claiming that Ukraine discussed funneling money to President Biden's reelection campaign. The repost amplified disinformation originating from a foreign adversary currently engaged in war against Ukraine.

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• Trump falsely claims Iran wants to surrender — Trump stated that Iran wants to make a deal and is seeking negotiations, claiming "They want to make a deal badly." However, Drop Site News reported that Iranian officials say the opposite is occurring behind the scenes: Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff privately contacted Iran's Foreign Minister seeking talks, but Tehran ignored the messages and stated it will not negotiate for now. Trump's public claim contradicts the actual diplomatic posture.

Supporting reports

• Trump posts about pardons and ballroom project while war escalates — While military operations escalate in the Middle East and economic conditions deteriorate, President Trump spent much of the day posting on social media about pardons for former NFL players, promoting his ballroom project, and sharing weeks-old articles claiming economic success. One article celebrating falling mortgage rates was from February 19, more than two weeks old. Another post promoted a supposed $18 trillion wave of foreign investment into the United States, described as a completely fabricated figure.

Supporting reports

• Rep. Randy Fine falsely attributes dog-ban statement to AOC and calls for Muslim deportation — Representative Randy Fine (R-FL) took a comment from an unidentified Muslim activist in New York City regarding a ban on dogs as pets and used it to argue that Muslims in the United States should be deported. Fine later repeated the claim on Newsmax, stating that "Democrats like AOC are saying 'we are going to get rid of your dogs'" and urged Americans to remember this when voting in November. AOC made no such statement. Fine attributed the position of one unknown individual to the entire Democratic Party.

Supporting reports

• Trump social media account posts conspiracy theory about Italian military satellites and Chinese election interference — Trump's social media account amplified a post claiming that Italian officials used military satellites to hack U.S. voting machines in an operation coordinated by China "all to install Biden as a puppet." The post was made as part of ongoing promotion of debunked 2020 election fraud claims.

Supporting reports

• FBI executes search warrant at Fulton County elections office, seizes ballots and voter data — FBI agents executed a criminal search warrant at the Fulton County elections office in Union City, Georgia, on January 28, 2026, seizing approximately 700 boxes of election materials including all ballots, tabulator tapes, electronic ballot images, and voter rolls. The raid was conducted at the behest of the Trump administration as part of efforts to relitigate the 2020 presidential election. Election integrity experts have confirmed the 2020 election was the most secure to date, and dozens of legal challenges to Trump's defeat have failed.
• FBI raid on Fulton County election office based on debunked election-denial claims — On 28 January 2026, the FBI raided the Fulton County election office in Georgia, seizing nearly 700 boxes of election materials. The search warrant affidavit, unsealed on 11 February, reveals the raid's rationale was based on debunked claims from election deniers and originated from a referral by Kurt Olsen, a White House lawyer who previously sought to overturn the 2020 election. Witnesses included conservative activists and Trump-aligned Georgia state election board members. Claims cited in the affidavit—regarding ballot image discrepancies, tabulator tape handling, and "pristine" ballots—had been previously investigated and debunked by state officials.
• FBI seized 2020 election records from Fulton County in January raid — On January 28, 2026, FBI agents executed a criminal search warrant at Fulton County's election offices in Georgia, seizing approximately 700 boxes of 2020 election documents. In a federal court hearing on March 27, Fulton County's lawyers argued the FBI's affidavit contained misrepresentations and relied on debunked claims from witnesses, some of whom had been sanctioned for lying or convicted of other crimes. The county contends the seizure was part of the Trump administration's campaign to delegitimize the 2020 election results and that the statute of limitations for any alleged crimes has expired.
• Trump directs national intelligence investigation into voting machines — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard launched an investigation into voting machines at Trump's direction. Simultaneously, the FBI conducted an unprecedented search of the Fulton County, Georgia election office in late January 2026, seizing ballots related to the 2020 election. The basis for the raid relied on recycled and debunked claims about the 2020 election. These actions are part of a broader administration effort to undermine confidence in election integrity ahead of November 2026 midterms.
• Tulsi Gabbard present at FBI search warrant execution at Fulton County elections office — On January 28, FBI agents executed a search warrant at the Fulton County elections hub in Union City, Georgia, seeking 2020 election records including ballots, tabulator tapes, ballot images, and voter rolls. Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, was present at the scene. An unnamed administration official cited election security and foreign interference concerns; Gabbard has not publicly explained her presence. Democratic lawmakers questioned whether her attendance violated protocols or represented a politicization of the intelligence community.
• FBI agents raided Fulton County, Georgia election office and seized 2020 election materials — FBI agents, operating under a warrant issued by U.S. Attorney Thomas Albus (appointed by Trump to the Eastern District of Missouri), raided an election office in Fulton County, Georgia and removed 700 boxes of ballots, tabulation tapes, and other election-related materials from the 2020 election. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was present at the raid, met with some of the FBI agents, and connected Trump to the agents by phone, allowing Trump to speak directly to them during the operation.
• FBI raided Fulton County election office under Trump administration direction — On January 28, 2026, FBI agents executed a warrant to seize records from the Fulton County, Georgia election office related to the 2020 election. The warrant authorized seizure of physical ballots, voting machine tabulator tapes, voter rolls, and electronic data. Trump administration officials claimed the materials constituted evidence of crime. Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's Director of National Intelligence, was on site despite the DNI having no domestic law enforcement role and being tasked with foreign intelligence.
• FBI executes search warrant at Fulton County election office for 2020 election records — The FBI executed a search warrant at the Fulton County, Georgia election office on January 29, 2026, seeking ballots, tabulator tapes, ballot images, and voter rolls from the 2020 election. County Commissioner Mo Ivory stated the initial warrant was "legally incorrect" and was challenged by county officials before the FBI obtained a corrected version. Democratic officials expressed concern that chain of custody protections were inadequate, fearing the Trump Administration could modify seized materials. The warrant was issued by interim U.S. Attorney Thomas Albus (Eastern District of Missouri) and suggests alleged criminal conduct involved retaining records and tabulating false ballots.
• FBI executes search warrant at Fulton County election office, seizing 2020 ballots and records — FBI agents executed a search warrant at the Fulton County, Georgia election office on Wednesday afternoon, seizing all 2020 election ballots, tabulator tapes, ballot images, and voter rolls. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was present during the raid. The action follows the Trump administration's nationwide push to obtain voter rolls and investigate alleged election fraud, despite courts dismissing three of nearly two dozen related DOJ lawsuits. Election officials and experts contend the raid has little legal basis and serves to undermine public confidence in election integrity ahead of the 2026 midterms.
• FBI executes search warrant at Fulton County elections warehouse — The Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant at the elections warehouse in Fulton County, Georgia, to seize ballots from the 2020 presidential election, including all tabulator tapes and ballot images from the original ballot count. The seizure also included all voter rolls from Fulton County. The action breaks the chain of custody and contaminates the files. This action occurs as President Trump continues to assert that the 2020 election was stolen despite zero evidence, five years of debunked claims, and dismissal of dozens of court cases.
• FBI seizes 2020 election ballots from Fulton County, Georgia warehouse — The FBI executed a search warrant at the elections warehouse in Fulton County, Georgia, to seize ballots from the 2020 presidential election. This action is part of ongoing efforts by Trump and his allies to promote unfounded claims of voter fraud despite a lack of evidence.
• Georgia State Board of Elections subpoenas 2020 election records from Fulton County — The Federal Bureau of Investigation seized ballots from the 2020 presidential election stored in a warehouse in Fulton County, Georgia. The seizure occurred as Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has been reassigned to investigate Trump's claims that the 2020 election was stolen, focusing on allegations of foreign government involvement.
• FBI raids Fulton County election office for 2020 materials — The Georgia State Board of Elections, which has a Trump-aligned majority, issued a subpoena for 2020 election records from Fulton County at the urging of Trump and election denialists. Fulton County initially sought to quash the subpoena in court. In December, a Fulton County superior court judge ruled in the state board's favor, ordering the county to turn over records. County officials estimated the cost of producing the documents at $376,800 and had scheduled a February 9 meeting to discuss the transfer process before the FBI raid occurred.
• DHS warns of prosecution for doxing ICE agents — FBI agents conducted a raid on the Fulton County election office to seize materials related to the 2020 presidential election. The action is characterized as part of the Trump Administration's broader effort to challenge the legitimacy of the 2020 election results and to support claims of election fraud.
• FBI Atlanta field office chief removed after questioning DOJ's 2020 election investigation — The Department of Homeland Security, through Secretary Kristi Noem, issued a public warning that it would prosecute individuals who identify ICE agents online to "the fullest extent of the law." The statement characterized those engaged in identifying agents as criminals "taking the side of vicious cartels and human traffickers." The warning was issued in response to antifa groups in Portland identifying ICE officers.
• Trump administration pursues nationwide voter roll seizures via DOJ lawsuits — Paul W Brown, special agent in charge of the FBI's Atlanta field office, was reportedly removed from his post after expressing concerns about unsubstantiated voter fraud allegations in Fulton County, Georgia, and refusing to carry out searches and seizures of election records. The removal occurred one week before the DOJ executed a search warrant seizing 700 boxes of 2020 election records from the county elections office. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard was present during the raid, prompting Democratic concern about partisan overreach.
• Attorney General Bondi linked voter roll demands to immigration enforcement — The Trump administration has launched a nationwide effort to obtain voter rolls containing sensitive information from nearly every U.S. state, including Georgia, through Department of Justice lawsuits. Experts report little legal basis for the move; three of nearly two dozen DOJ lawsuits have already been dismissed by courts. Election security experts characterize the effort as designed to fuel false claims of fraud and weaken confidence in election results, particularly ahead of the 2026 and 2028 election cycles.
• Tulsi Gabbard, DNI, appears at Fulton County election raid — Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter this week to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz linking the Department of Justice's voter roll data demands to the administration's immigration enforcement operations in the state. The letter connected federal voter registration record requests to recent immigration raids, a linkage that had already been cited in one active DOJ voter roll lawsuit.
• — Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, was spotted on site at the Fulton County election office during the FBI raid on Wednesday evening. Her presence prompted widespread outrage and questions about why an intelligence official was involved in a domestic election matter. The Wall Street Journal reported that Gabbard is leading the Trump administration's effort to investigate voter fraud nationwide, raising concerns about the politicization of the intelligence community.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration officials make false claims about Alex Pretti's actions on day of killing — Trump administration officials initially claimed that Alex Pretti was "brandishing" a gun and intended to "massacre" federal officers on January 24, 2026, the day he was fatally shot. Video evidence contradicted these claims, showing Pretti holding a phone, not a gun. The false statements were made in the immediate aftermath of the shooting and were later contradicted by multiple video recordings of the incident.
• Department of Homeland Security issued false statement about shooting — The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement falsely asserting that Alex Pretti "approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun" and "violently resisted" as officers attempted to disarm him. The statement claimed an agent fired "defensive shots" and characterized Pretti as someone "who wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement." Video evidence verified by the New York Times contradicted this account, showing Pretti holding a phone, not a gun, when federal agents took him to the ground and shot him.
• Kristi Noem doubled down on false narrative about Pretti — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reiterated the false characterization of Alex Pretti, stating: "This looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement." This statement contradicted video evidence showing Pretti holding a phone and attempting to help another person.
• DHS issues misleading statement about Pretti's shooting — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a statement claiming that Alex Pretti approached Border Patrol agents with a handgun and violently resisted arrest, which contradicted video evidence showing he was holding a phone. The statement suggested that the agents acted in self-defense, despite the lack of credible evidence supporting this narrative.
• DHS issued a statement falsely characterizing Pretti as having "approached" officers with a loaded handgun and "violently resisted" disarmament. — The Department of Homeland Security released an official statement claiming Pretti "approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun" and "violently resisted" when officers attempted to disarm him. The statement suggested he carried two additional magazines and had no ID, implying premeditation for a "massacre." A community fact-check note on the DHS post corrected the record: video shows Pretti holding a phone and approaching a woman who had been shoved by an officer when an officer threw him to the ground. At no point does video show him approaching officers while holding a gun.

Supporting reports

• White House posted AI-altered image of arrested protester — The White House posted an image of arrested protester Nekima Levy-Armstrong on social media following her arrest. The image was altered using artificial intelligence to show her crying hysterically, whereas the original photograph from the scene showed her appearing defiant. The discrepancy was quickly noticed by observers.
• White House posted AI-generated images of arrested Minneapolis protesters — The White House posted what appear to be AI-generated images connected to ongoing arrests of protesters in Minneapolis, including an AI-altered image depicting a protest organizer with tears streaming down her face. The original image shows no such thing. This represents a deeply unethical abuse of federal government power, effectively manufacturing visual narratives to intimidate, discredit, or prejudice individuals before they have had their day in court.
• White House posts digitally altered image of arrested activist on social media — The White House posted a digitally altered photograph of activist Nekima Levy Armstrong on social media, manipulating the image to falsely portray her as crying and darkening her skin. The caption falsely described her as an "arrested far-left agitator" who "orchestrated church riots." The deception was uncovered by the Guardian and other news outlets after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had posted the original, unaltered image showing Armstrong composed and dignified.
• White House posts digitally altered image of arrested protester — The White House posted a digitally altered photograph of Nekima Levy Armstrong, arrested during an ICE protest disruption in St. Paul, Minnesota on January 23, 2026. The altered image depicted her crying, whereas the original showed her composed. Guardian analysis confirmed the images were identical except for digital manipulation of her facial expression and apparent skin tone. The White House did not deny the alteration when questioned, instead responding with a statement defending law enforcement.
• White House posts doctored photo of arrested Minneapolis activist — The White House posted a digitally altered photograph of Nekima Levy Armstrong, a Black woman arrested during a protest at a Minneapolis church on January 23, 2026. The image darkened her skin tone and added tears to her face. Armstrong is one of three people arrested in connection with the disruptive protest. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had posted unaltered images of the other two defendants, but only Armstrong's image was manipulated by the White House. Legal experts say the act may be raised in court but is unlikely to derail the case entirely.