Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• DOJ official recorded discussing selective redaction of Epstein files — Joseph Schnitt, Acting Deputy Chief at the DOJ, was recorded on hidden camera by an operative associated with James O'Keefe discussing the handling of Epstein files. According to the video, Schnitt stated that files would be redacted to remove names of Republicans and conservatives while leaving Democratic names visible, suggesting partisan manipulation of sensitive investigative materials.

Supporting reports

• Louisiana reopens Angola prison unit as ICE immigration detention facility — Governor Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency in late July 2025 to rapidly refurbish Camp J, a shuttered, notorious solitary-confinement unit at Louisiana State Penitentiary Angola. Initially framed as addressing state prison overcrowding, the facility was revealed in early September to be designated for federal ICE immigration detention. Renamed "Camp 57," it will house over 400 immigration detainees. The Trump administration and DHS officials, including Secretary Kristi Noem, promoted the facility as housing "the worst of the worst" immigrant detainees, leveraging Angola's reputation for brutality and its plantation-era history to associate undocumented immigrants with criminals.

Supporting reports

• ICE extends job offer to anti-Trump journalist with minimal vetting and incomplete paperwork — Slate journalist Laura Jedeed, an openly anti-Trump, anti-ICE reporter, attended an ICE Career Expo in Arlington, Texas in August 2025 seeking to document the hiring process. After a six-minute interview requiring only basic biographical questions, she received a tentative offer on 3 September 2025. Despite never completing required background check forms, domestic violence affidavits, or identification documents, ICE issued her a final job offer with an onboarding date. Jedeed declined the position but published an article highlighting the security vulnerabilities in ICE's recruitment vetting. DHS denied the claim on 14 January 2026, but Jedeed provided video evidence of the final offer stage.

Supporting reports

• DHS launches massive recruitment drive for 10,000 ICE officers and 3,000 CBP agents with lowered standards and condensed training — The Department of Homeland Security, backed by $170 billion in funding, is recruiting 10,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and 3,000 Customs and Border Protection agents by year-end to meet Trump's goal of 3,000 daily immigration arrests. The DHS has expanded age eligibility from 21–40 to 18+, condensed training from 13 weeks to 8 weeks, reduced Spanish and firearms instruction, and launched recruitment campaigns featuring language critics say echoes white supremacist ideology. Former DHS officials and human rights advocates warn that lowered standards, accelerated hiring, and gutted oversight will increase officer misconduct, abuse, and civil rights violations.

Supporting reports

• DOJ sues pro-Palestinian protesters under FACE Act for 2024 synagogue demonstration — In September 2025, the Department of Justice sued pro-Palestinian activists who had protested a January 2024 event at a New Jersey synagogue promoting property sales in Israel and occupied West Bank settlements. This marked the first time the FACE Act was deployed against a demonstration at a place of worship. In late January 2026, the DOJ requested a federal judge indefinitely pause the civil lawsuit pending resolution of a related criminal investigation, while defense attorneys sought dismissal or case closure.

Supporting reports

• Federal grand jury indicts James Comey — A federal grand jury indicted former FBI Director James Comey in September 2025 for making a false statement and obstructing a congressional proceeding related to his 2020 testimony about the Russia inquiry. Career prosecutors objected to the indictment. Senate Democrats characterized it as part of a broader campaign to weaponize the justice system against the president's critics.

Supporting reports

• ICE deported man to Costa Rica in vegetative state; he died weeks later — Randall Gamboa Esquivel, a 52-year-old Costa Rican national, was detained by ICE in December 2024 after unlawfully re-entering the U.S. He was held at Webb County and Port Isabel detention centers in Texas for nearly 10 months. Medical records show he was hospitalized in June 2025 with "altered mental status," diagnosed with sepsis, rhabdomyolysis, protein malnutrition, and toxic encephalopathy. In September 2025, the Trump administration deported him via air ambulance to Costa Rica in a vegetative state. He died five weeks later on October 26, 2025. His family reports he left the U.S. in good health but returned with ulcers, severe deterioration, and no explanation from ICE or consular authorities.

Supporting reports

• Operation Midway Blitz launched in Chicago — The Trump administration launched "Operation Midway Blitz" in early September, deploying hundreds of federal agents to Chicago to crack down on immigrants characterized as criminal and to intimidate the largely Democratic-voting population. The operation has included aggressive raids in neighborhoods like Rogers Park, targeting individuals such as street vendors.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration pledges crackdown on left-wing activists following Charlie Kirk assassination — Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk in September 2025, President Trump and top White House officials including JD Vance and Stephen Miller publicly vowed a "no-holds barred crackdown" on left-wing activists. Trump stated "We have radical left lunatics out there and we just have to beat the hell out of them." The government subsequently focused enforcement on "antifa," which prosecutors and officials characterized as a terrorist organization despite it being an ideology rather than a formal organization.

Supporting reports

• World Liberty Financial crypto token launches to public trading — Trump's World Liberty Financial crypto token began public trading on September 1 at $0.30 per share, declining 24.2% to $0.212 within the first 24 hours. Eric Trump announced the launch in Japan, describing it as setting "a new standard for financial freedom." The bulletin characterizes the venture as Trump's "biggest grift of all-time," with Trump positioned to profit several billion dollars regardless of investor outcomes.
• Trump launches World Liberty Financial token trading with regulatory favoritism and undisclosed conflicts of interest — On September 1, 2025, the World Liberty Financial (WLFI) cryptocurrency token began public trading, marking the culmination of a scheme by Trump and his sons to monetize the presidency. Trump personally owns 15.75 billion WLFI tokens and receives 75% of initial sales proceeds. The token was structured to evade SEC securities laws by restricting resale and claiming governance voting rights held exclusively by insiders. Trump's administration has dismantled crypto enforcement units, nominated a crypto-industry advocate (Paul Atkins) as SEC chair, and halted prosecution of crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun—who invested $75 million in WLFI—in exchange for a settlement. Trading platforms including Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken listed WLFI after Trump dropped prosecutions against them.
• Justice Department disbands crypto crimes investigation unit — The Trump administration disbanded the Justice Department unit responsible for investigating cryptocurrency crimes. According to an internal memo, the unit will henceforth focus exclusively on protecting crypto investors and companies from hackers and other threats, rather than investigating criminal activity by crypto actors. This elimination of federal crypto crime investigation capacity removes a key enforcement mechanism that could constrain illegal activity in the sector where Trump holds massive personal financial interests.
• Trump administration drops prosecutions against major crypto exchanges in exchange for WLFI listings — Trump dropped prosecutions against three major cryptocurrency exchanges—Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken—enabling them to list the World Liberty Financial token on its first day of trading. The article states: "Trump, however, ingratiated himself with these platforms by dropping prosecutions against companies like Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken. All three of these companies listed WLFI on its first day of trading." This quid pro quo arrangement—prosecutorial leniency in exchange for preferential treatment of the president's personal financial asset—directly links law enforcement discretion to the president's financial interests.
• Trump's cryptocurrency holdings valued at $5 billion, creating conflict of interest — Trump's interest in a cryptocurrency venture was valued at approximately $5 billion on paper, exceeding the combined value of all his other assets. Fox Business host Stuart Varney characterized the arrangement as a "clear conflict of interest," noting that crypto-friendly legislation from the president would directly benefit his personal and family financial interests. The deal would not be occurring absent Trump's presidential position.
• SEC drastically cuts crypto enforcement unit staffing — Following Paul Atkins's confirmation as SEC chairman in April 2025, the agency drastically reduced staffing in its crypto enforcement unit. This reduction in enforcement capacity directly correlates with the launch of World Liberty Financial and the removal of regulatory obstacles to Trump's cryptocurrency scheme. The staffing cuts eliminate the agency's ability to investigate or prosecute crypto-related securities violations.
• Eric Trump launches American Bitcoin cryptocurrency mining company — Eric Trump launched American Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency mining company, on September 3, 2025. According to reporting by Kyle Khan-Mullins and Dan Alexander of Forbes, Eric Trump is now worth at least $3.2 billion as a result of this venture and related Trump family cryptocurrency activities, including the Monday launch of WLFI cryptocurrency which netted the family approximately $5 billion on paper.
• Trump meets with tech executives including Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg at White House — Trump held a White House meeting with multiple technology executives including Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, ostensibly tied to Melania Trump's AI safety initiative. The meeting focused on securing electricity and water resources from the government for tech companies' AI infrastructure development. The gathering prompted significant backlash from MAGA influencers and conservative figures who view Gates and Zuckerberg as enemies of Trump and the MAGA movement.

Supporting reports

• Alexander Acosta testifies to House oversight committee on Epstein plea deal rationale — Former U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta testified before the House oversight committee in September 2025 (transcript released October 17) defending the 2008 non-prosecution agreement with Jeffrey Epstein. Acosta argued that a federal trial would have been a "crapshoot" due to victim reluctance to testify and inconsistencies in their accounts. He stated prosecutors prioritized securing Epstein's incarceration and sex-offender registration over risking acquittal. Acosta denied Trump involvement in the deal. Separately, Rep. Robert Garcia demanded Attorney General Pam Bondi end obstruction of the committee's Epstein investigation.

Supporting reports

• American Oversight files lawsuit to compel Epstein files disclosure — The non-partisan watchdog organization American Oversight filed suit in September 2025 to compel the Trump administration's disclosure of records related to its review of Epstein files. The organization sought an emergency order to force the release of these records in advance of Bondi's congressional testimony, citing the Justice Department's repeated failure to meet EFTA deadlines and allegations of document withholding.

Supporting reports

• IRS granted tax-exempt status to Trump Mount Rushmore memorial charity — In September 2025, the IRS granted tax-exempt status to the Donald Trump Mount Rushmore Memorial Legacy, designating it as a charity that can accept tax-free donations. The move allows the creation of a tax-advantaged vehicle for raising funds ostensibly for a memorial to Trump on Mount Rushmore, while Trump controls the IRS.

Supporting reports

• Trump publicly demands prosecution of political rivals including Letitia James — In a September post on Truth Social addressed to US Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump wrote: "What about Comey, Adam 'Shifty' Schiff, Leticia [sic]??? They're all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done. We can't delay any longer, it's killing our reputation and credibility." The statement explicitly demands prosecution of named political opponents and reflects Trump's stated intent to use the Department of Justice to punish rivals.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration demands voting data from 19 states — Trump's appointees at the Department of Justice demanded voting data from at least 19 states in an apparent attempt to identify ineligible voters. This action follows Trump's earlier executive order requiring documented proof of citizenship to register to vote, much of which has been blocked by courts. The demand represents a coordinated federal effort to scrutinize voter rolls ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Supporting reports

• Appeals court judges stay closure order for Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention facility — Two Trump-appointed judges on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay of Miami District Judge Kathleen Williams's preliminary injunction ordering closure of "Alligator Alcatraz," a 3,000-capacity immigration detention camp in the Florida Everglades. Williams had ruled the facility's hasty construction breached federal environmental laws. The appeals panel found 2-1 that because Florida initially funded construction with state money, no environmental impact study was required. The stay allowed the facility to resume operations and rapidly refill with detainees after a brief shutdown period in late August.
• Appeals court judge stays closure of "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention facility — Barbara Lagoa, a judge on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, authored a 2-1 majority ruling in September 2025 that stayed (paused) a Miami district judge's order to close "Alligator Alcatraz," a state-run detention camp for undocumented migrants in the Florida Everglades. The ruling reversed the lower court's finding that the DeSantis administration must comply with federal environmental regulations. The facility, criticized for harsh conditions, remains operational. Lagoa's husband, Paul Huck, is a senior attorney at a law firm that has received over $10 million in state contracts from the DeSantis administration, raising conflict-of-interest concerns.
• Eleventh Circuit stays federal judge's order to close "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention facility — A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit voted 2–1 on September 4, 2025, to stay (suspend) a federal district judge's order requiring closure of the "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration detention center in Florida's Everglades within 60 days. The stay allows construction and operation to continue while Florida's appeal proceeds. The facility, built by Florida at a cost of approximately $250 million and operated on behalf of ICE, has faced criticism for harsh conditions, abuse allegations, denial of due process, and environmental damage.

Supporting reports

• Trump attempts to remove Federal Reserve governor and other non-appointed officials — Trump is attempting to remove dozens of personnel he did not appoint, including a Federal Reserve governor, a top official at the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, prosecutors who investigated him, and leaders across the government including the National Archivist.
• Trump installs second deputy at FBI after souring on first — The White House installed a second deputy at the FBI after becoming dissatisfied with the first, continuing a pattern of rapid personnel changes across agencies.
• Trump pressures Treasury secretary to fire agency's second-in-command — Trump pushed his Treasury secretary to fire the agency's second-in-command, demonstrating continued pressure on cabinet officials to remove personnel who may not align with administration priorities.
• Trump removes acting FEMA administrator over disagreement on agency's continued existence — The White House removed the acting FEMA administrator after he stated the agency should continue to exist, contradicting others in the administration.
• Trump removes IRS director after two months over Treasury Department clash — Trump replaced the head of the IRS less than two months into the job because appointee Billy Long clashed with officials at the Treasury Department. This removal is part of a broader pattern of Trump firing appointees and career officials across multiple agencies.
• Trump removes two DOJ antitrust officials over alleged deal-making with lobbyists — Two top DOJ antitrust officials were removed from their roles after clashing with senior officials at the agency. They accused their colleagues of cutting deals with favored lobbyists. One of the removed officials has publicly questioned the integrity of other DOJ officials.
• Department of Justice launched criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — The Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation into Lisa Cook, a governor of the U.S. Federal Reserve, for allegedly committing mortgage fraud by claiming two separate properties as her primary residence. Pro Publica reported that three Trump Cabinet members—Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin—have engaged in the same conduct but face no investigation.
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired CDC director Susan Monarez — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired newly confirmed CDC Director Susan Monarez after she refused to preapprove recommendations from a vaccine advisory panel that Kennedy had stacked with anti-vaccine advocates. This action followed Kennedy's earlier purges of thousands of CDC advisors and staffers who did not share his opposition to vaccines.
• Trump fires Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — President Trump removed Lisa Cook from her position as a Federal Reserve governor. This action raised concerns about central bank independence, as it represents part of a broader pattern of Trump's attacks on the Federal Reserve's autonomy. Trump's nominee to replace Cook stated he would respect Fed independence, but the removal itself signals potential politicization of monetary policy.

Supporting reports

• Trump directs DOJ to investigate ActBlue, Democratic fundraising platform — President Trump ordered the Department of Justice to investigate ActBlue, an online portal that has raised hundreds of millions in small-dollar donations for Democratic candidates over two decades. The investigation targets a Democratic fundraising tool while Trump's appointees have not similarly investigated WinRed, the Republican equivalent. This action represents a direct use of federal prosecutorial power to disadvantage the opposing party ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Supporting reports

• DOJ accused of coercing guilty plea with deportation threats — In a court filing, lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia accused the Justice Department of attempting to coerce him into entering a guilty plea on human smuggling charges by threatening deportation to Uganda if he refused, while offering deportation to Costa Rica (where he wouldn't face prosecution) if he pleaded guilty. The filing alleges prosecutorial misconduct and abuse of immigration enforcement as a coercive tool.

Supporting reports

• Alleged uprising and use of force at Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention facility — Detainees at Florida's Alligator Alcatraz immigration jail reported that guards deployed teargas and beat detainees with batons during an alleged uprising on an unspecified date. The incident reportedly began after a migrant received news of a relative's death and detainees shouted for "freedom." At least three detainees called Miami's Noticias 23 describing indiscriminate beatings and teargas use. Florida's Division of Emergency Management denied the reports, calling them "manufactured." The facility operates under a federal judge's order to close within 60 days for environmental violations.

Supporting reports

• Alleged denial of medical care and due process at Alligator Alcatraz — Luis Manuel Rivas Velásquez collapsed unconscious at Florida's Alligator Alcatraz detention facility in mid-August and was hospitalized with a respiratory infection. Guards were reportedly slow to respond; a Cuban nurse detainee provided CPR. His family and attorneys lost contact for an extended period, leading family to believe he had died. The facility has been criticized for harsh conditions by design, alleged abuse, and denial of due process to detainees awaiting deportation.
• ICE moves detainee without notice to family or attorneys — Luis Manuel Rivas Velásquez, a Venezuelan national detained at Florida's Alligator Alcatraz immigration facility, collapsed and was hospitalized with a respiratory infection in mid-August. After his family believed him dead due to communication blackout, ICE secretly transferred him to Camp East Montana at Fort Bliss, Texas, without notifying his lawyers or family. He was subsequently moved again to an ICE processing center in El Paso. His attorney characterizes the transfers as "enforced disappearance" and potential retaliation for denouncing detention conditions.

Supporting reports

• Presidential memorandum directing Attorney General to investigate federal grant funds allegedly used for illegal lobbying and partisan political activity — On August 28, 2025, the President issued a memorandum directing the Attorney General, in consultation with executive department and agency heads, to investigate whether federal grant funds are being used to illegally support lobbying activities in violation of 31 U.S.C. § 1352 and other federal law. The Attorney General is instructed to take appropriate enforcement action and report progress within 180 days. The memorandum characterizes such spending as wasteful, abusive, and potentially fraudulent use of taxpayer money.
• White House issues fact sheet on presidential memorandum directing investigation of federal grant funds allegedly diverted to political lobbying — The White House published a fact sheet on August 28, 2025, announcing that President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the Attorney General to investigate whether federal grant funds are being illegally used to support lobbying activities and to report findings within 180 days. The fact sheet characterizes specific NIH and NSF grants as having "highly political overtones" and asserts that taxpayer funds must not be diverted to political or lobbying activity.
• White House issues memorandum directing Attorney General to investigate federal grant funds for illegal lobbying and partisan political activity — The White House issued a presidential memorandum on August 28, 2025, directing the Attorney General to investigate whether federal grant funds are being used to support illegal lobbying activities or partisan political causes in violation of federal law (31 U.S.C. 1352). The memorandum states that "taxpayer funds are being spent on grants with highly political overtones" and characterizes such use as "wasteful, abusive, and potentially fraudulent." The Attorney General is directed to consult with executive departments and agencies and report progress within 180 days.

Supporting reports

• FBI accessed private Signal group chat of immigration court-watch activists — The FBI gained access to encrypted Signal conversations of New York immigration activists organizing "courtwatch" efforts to monitor public federal immigration court proceedings. An August 2025 joint FBI-NYPD report quoted from the private chat and characterized court watchers as "anarchist violent extremist actors," despite the courtwatch activities being non-violent legal observation of public hearings. The report was distributed to law enforcement agencies nationwide. The method of access to the encrypted platform remains unclear.

Supporting reports

• Grand jury declines to indict Sean Charles Dunn in sandwich-throwing case — A federal grand jury refused to approve an indictment against Sean Charles Dunn, 37, a former DOJ paralegal accused of throwing a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection officer during a protest against Trump's deployment of armed troops in Washington DC on August 13. The incident occurred as Dunn confronted the officer, called him and colleagues "fascists," and shouted "I don't want you in my city" before throwing the sandwich and fleeing. The grand jury's refusal to indict signals public objection to the troop deployment and represents a rare rebuke of federal prosecutors.
• Protester not indicted for throwing sandwich at federal troops in DC — A protester who threw a sandwich at federal troops occupying Washington DC was not indicted. The author notes this outcome as "enormously cheering," suggesting it represents a legal or prosecutorial decision not to pursue charges against the individual for the minor act of protest.

Supporting reports

• ICE detains Kilmar Ábrego García after voluntary reporting to Baltimore field office — Kilmar Ábrego García reported to ICE agents in Baltimore on Monday as required and was immediately taken into detention. His attorney characterized the detention as punitive retaliation for exercising constitutional rights. Ábrego had been released from criminal custody in Tennessee only three days prior and was facing charges related to human smuggling, which his legal team contests as baseless.
• ICE detains Ábrego during scheduled immigration check-in — On Monday 25 August, Kilmar Ábrego García was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a scheduled immigration check-in in Baltimore, which was a condition of his release from criminal custody. He was subsequently held in a detention center in Virginia. His legal team filed a lawsuit the same day challenging both his detention and planned deportation, arguing the government was retaliating against him for exercising constitutional rights.
• Kilmar Abrego Garcia arrested at ICE facility after mandatory check-in — Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an undocumented immigrant previously unlawfully deported to El Salvador and later returned to the U.S. by court order, was arrested on August 25 at an ICE facility in Baltimore, Maryland, during a mandatory check-in. He faces charges in Tennessee stemming from a 2022 traffic stop for which he was not originally charged. The government has offered to send him to Costa Rica if he pleads guilty to human trafficking, but threatened to deport him to Uganda if he does not. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis issued a temporary bar on his deportation.
• Homeland Security Secretary Noem announces ICE arrest and deportation processing of Ábrego — U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on social media that ICE had arrested Kilmar Ábrego García and was processing him for deportation. Noem characterized Ábrego as an "illegal alien," MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator, stating that President Trump would not allow him to "terrorize American citizens any longer."
• Trump administration attempted deportation of El Salvador prison victim to Uganda — The Trump administration initiated deportation proceedings against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who had been illegally sent to a prison in El Salvador and subsequently returned to the United States. The administration attempted to deport him to Uganda, a country with no documented connection to Garcia. A federal judge blocked the deportation.
• Department of Homeland Security posted mocking social media message about Abrego Garcia — The official social media account of the Department of Homeland Security, a cabinet-level department of the U.S. government, posted a mocking message about Kilmar Abrego Garcia, referring to him as "Uganda Man" in reference to threatened deportation to Uganda, after media outlets had identified him as a "Maryland man."