Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump pardoned cryptocurrency executive Changpeng Zhao — President Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao, co-founder and former CEO of Binance, on October 23. Zhao had pleaded guilty in 2023 to money laundering, resigned from Binance, paid a $50 million fine, and served a four-month prison sentence. The U.S. government had stated Zhao "caused significant harm to U.S. national security" by allowing terrorist groups like Hamas to move millions of dollars. Trump stated he knew little about Zhao and believed the prosecution was a "Biden witch hunt," citing his support for the cryptocurrency industry.
• Trump pardons Binance founder Changpeng Zhao — Trump announced a full and unconditional pardon for Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance cryptocurrency exchange, who pleaded guilty in 2023 to money laundering, paid a $50 million fine, and served nearly four months in prison. Binance paid a $4.3 billion penalty. In May 2025, Binance accepted USD1 stablecoin from the Trump family's World Liberty Financial crypto venture as payment for a $2 billion investment, enabling World Liberty Financial to retain tens of millions in annual profits. The pardon enables Zhao to return to business operations.
• Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao — Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao, the convicted founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, following months of lobbying efforts by Zhao to boost the Trump family's own crypto company. The DOJ had argued Zhao's company undermined U.S. sanctions against Iran. Zhao hired Teresa Guillen, who also represents special envoy Steve Witkoff's son, and co-counsel Ches McDowell, a hunting companion of Donald Trump Jr. When asked why he pardoned Zhao, Trump said he did not know which person that was and that Zhao was "recommended by a lot of people."
• Trump pardons Binance founder convicted of money laundering — Donald Trump has pardoned Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, who was convicted of laundering money for terrorist organizations. This action raises ethical concerns regarding the influence of personal interests in presidential pardons.
• Trump pardons Binance founder CZ, convicted of anti-money laundering violations — President Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder of Binance, on October 23, 2025. Zhao had pleaded guilty to violating anti-money laundering laws; the Department of Justice stated his conduct "allowed money to flow to terrorists, cybercriminals, and child abusers" through Binance. Zhao served four months in prison and agreed to step down as CEO. The pardon was announced publicly on October 23.
• Binance founder receives pardon after $2 billion transaction with Trump-linked cryptocurrency project — Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Binance founder and CEO, pleaded guilty in November 2023 to willfully failing to maintain anti-money laundering programs, allowing funds to flow to terrorists and cybercriminals. After serving four months in prison, Binance conducted a $2 billion transaction in May 2025 with a UAE investment fund using USD1, a stablecoin created by World Liberty Financial (WLF), in which Trump and family own approximately 38%. Binance provided technical infrastructure and promotion. On October 24, Trump pardoned CZ, who had hired a Trump Jr. associate for $450,000 to lobby for executive relief.

Supporting reports

• House Republicans referred former CIA Director John Brennan for criminal prosecution — House Republicans referred former CIA Director John Brennan to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution, accusing him of lying to Congress about the 2016 Steele dossier. In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, the committee claimed there is "significant evidence" Brennan made "numerous willfully and intentionally false statements" while testifying about the CIA's involvement with the dossier. Brennan called the criminal referral "ludicrous" and accused House Judiciary Chair Rep. Jim Jordan of "trying to get into the action of Trump's revenge tour."

Supporting reports

• Trump offered $230 million settlement in DOJ malicious prosecution lawsuit with conflict of interest — Trump proposed settling his lawsuit against the DOJ for $230 million, claiming malicious prosecution. The DOJ supervisors tasked with approving the settlement are Trump's former lawyers, creating a direct conflict of interest. Trump stated he would need to decide how much to pay himself in damages, acknowledging the unusual nature of the arrangement.
• Trump demanded Justice Department pay him $230 million for federal investigations — The New York Times reported that Trump is demanding that the Justice Department pay him roughly $230 million in compensation for its federal investigations into him. The settlement could ultimately be approved by senior department officials who defended him. The demand represents an unprecedented attempt to use the Justice Department to extract personal financial benefit from the presidency.
• Trump demands DOJ pay $230 million for "pain and suffering" from investigations — Trump demanded that the Department of Justice pay him $230 million in taxpayer money as compensation for his "pain and suffering" from federal investigations. Trump claimed he would donate the money to charity.
• Trump demands DOJ pay him $230 million for investigations and Mar-a-Lago search — President Trump is demanding that the Department of Justice hand over approximately $230 million to compensate him for the investigation into ties between his 2016 campaign and Russian operatives and for the 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago for classified documents. Trump filed the claims in 2023 and 2024. Trump's own appointees will now decide whether American taxpayers should pay the compensation Trump is demanding. When asked about the demand, Trump stated that media outlets had paid him settlements and claimed that any money he received would be given to charity, while acknowledging the unusual nature of deciding how much to pay himself in damages.
• Trump accused of using DOJ funds for personal settlement — Trump is accused of using Department of Justice funds to pay himself a $230 million settlement, raising concerns about the misuse of government resources for personal gain.