Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Pentagon fires publisher, editor, and reporter of Stars and Stripes military news outlet — The Pentagon terminated Max Lederer (publisher), Erik Slavin (editor), and Lara Korte (reporter) from Stars and Stripes, citing insubordination. The firings followed the outlet's reporting on crew conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and statements by staff defending editorial independence from Pentagon control. Lederer, who had served 19 years, was set to retire in September. All three received termination notices with five-day appeal periods. The dismissals reflect escalating conflict between the Trump administration's Pentagon and the military news outlet over press freedom and editorial autonomy.

Supporting reports

• DOJ defends prosecution of James Comey over Instagram seashell post — The US Department of Justice filed court documents defending its prosecution of former FBI director James Comey, arguing that his May 2025 Instagram post featuring seashells arranged to read "8647" could reasonably be interpreted as a threat against President Trump. Prosecutors claimed there is "no serious dispute" that the image constituted a coded message meaning "kill" or "get rid of" the president. Comey was indicted in April 2026 on charges of making a threat against the US president and transmitting it across state lines. Comey's legal team argues the post is protected speech and seeks dismissal on grounds of vindictive and selective prosecution.

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• FCC chair Brendan Carr coordinated with White House and right-wing media on broadcast license matters — Documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request and lawsuit from Democracy Forward revealed that FCC chair Brendan Carr has been working closely with the White House and right-wing media, including Fox News Channel and the chair of Sinclair Broadcast Group, regarding broadcast license matters. Carr has been talking and meeting with White House officials while overseeing license renewal decisions.

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• Minnesota sues Texas governor to force extradition of ICE agent charged with shooting and perjury — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a federal lawsuit against Texas Governor Greg Abbott seeking to compel the extradition of ICE agent Christian Castro, who was arrested in Texas in May and charged with four counts of second-degree assault and falsely reporting a crime in connection with a January 14 shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant in Minneapolis. Castro allegedly fired through a home's front door, wounding Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg, then falsely accused Sosa-Celis of attacking an officer. Ellison warned that Castro could be released under Texas law within 90 days of detention and posed a flight risk to Mexico.

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• Trump DOJ appeals dismissal of charges against wrongfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García — The Trump administration's Department of Justice filed an appeal with the US Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals seeking to reinstate criminal human smuggling charges against Kilmar Ábrego García. A federal district judge had dismissed the charges in May, finding the prosecution "vindictive in nature" and tainted by statements from Attorney General Todd Blanche and other DOJ officials. The DOJ argues the charges were based on evidence and law, not retaliation, and claims the judge's dismissal represents an unwarranted intrusion into executive power.

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• Complaint filed — Doddamani v. Blanche (D.D.C. 1:26-cv-02885) — Sunita Doddamani, an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Michigan, filed a federal complaint challenging her termination by then-Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on April 13, 2026. Doddamani alleges the stated rationale for her firing—misconduct—was pretextual and that she was actually removed in retaliation for her perceived political affiliation and beliefs. She had served on the prosecution team in a Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act case brought during the Biden administration; the DOJ announced the same day it had terminated personnel "responsible for weaponizing the FACE Act." Doddamani seeks reinstatement, declaratory relief, backpay, and attorney fees under the Civil Service Reform Act, Administrative Procedure Act, and First and Fifth Amendments.

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• ABC files First Amendment lawsuit against FCC, alleging retaliatory campaign by Trump administration — ABC filed an unprecedented First Amendment lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday against the FCC, alleging that the agency and its chairman Brendan Carr are conducting a retaliatory campaign to curb the network's free speech. The lawsuit seeks to halt an FCC proceeding demanding that ABC put its eight stations up for early license renewal. The action follows Trump's public attacks on the network, including criticism of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, and ABC News coverage the administration disapproved of.
• ABC sues FCC over early license renewal demand, alleging content-based retaliation — ABC filed a federal lawsuit in the District of Columbia against the FCC, challenging an order by FCC Chair Brendan Carr requiring the network to apply early to renew licenses for eight local television stations it owns. ABC alleges the demand is retaliatory punishment for editorial content the Trump administration disapproves of, and warns the action threatens press independence. The network faces potential license denial or prolonged costly litigation, and conservative groups have filed petitions urging the FCC to deny renewals based on alleged political bias in ABC's journalism.
• ABC and Disney sued the FCC alleging First Amendment violations and government censorship — ABC and its parent corporation The Walt Disney Company launched a federal lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission, alleging that the Trump administration violated their free speech rights. The lawsuit claims that administration officials attempted to launch investigations and challenge broadcast licenses because Trump objected to the network's talk show opinions, news coverage, and late-night comedians. The lawsuit begins with the statement: "Government censorship is deeply un-American."
• Complaint filed — American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission — ABC, The Walt Disney Company, and eight ABC-owned television stations filed a federal complaint in D.D.C. challenging an April 28, 2026 FCC order requiring early broadcast license renewal applications. The plaintiffs allege the order and related investigations constitute First Amendment retaliation for editorial decisions, including coverage of a presidential address and personnel decisions regarding late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. The complaint cites over 600 document requests and 13,000 pages of production demands, and alleges the regulatory pressure has chilled editorial discretion, including candidate bookings on The View. Plaintiffs seek declaratory judgment, preliminary injunction, and permanent injunction barring further FCC action on the renewal applications and any coercive conduct aimed at altering editorial decisions.
• ABC sues Trump administration over FCC retaliation — ABC News filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration alleging that the Federal Communications Commission retaliated against the network. The lawsuit represents a legal challenge to alleged government action targeting a news organization.
• Disney and ABC sued Trump's FCC over license renewal — Disney and ABC sued the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday to stop an early review of broadcast licenses for eight ABC-owned television stations. Disney alleged that the government is attempting to punish the network over its programming and editorial decisions. Reuters reported this is the first time in more than 50 years that a major television broadcaster has been ordered into early license-renewal process.

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• ICE agents conducting arrests in immigration courthouses despite prior judicial recognition of chilling effect — ICE agents have conducted high-profile mass arrests in immigration courthouses, stalking hallways and detaining immigrants. This practice reverses a shared understanding since at least 1996 between immigration judges and DHS that enforcement presence in courts creates a "chilling effect" on respondents' ability to present their cases. EOIR officials dismissed this concern as "contrary to logic." A federal judge has since blocked the policy, but the arrests have already created fear and distrust, causing many immigrants to avoid attending hearings.

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• Todd Blanche declines to pledge DOJ independence from White House — US Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, declined on NBC's Meet the Press to pledge that the Department of Justice would act independently of the White House, stating "no attorney general should ever pledge that." Blanche asserted Trump would never ask him to do something unethical or illegal, dismissing concerns about politicization as a "false narrative." His comments came days after his narrow 50-49 Senate confirmation and amid Trump's dismissal of his predecessor Pam Bondi over insufficient action against Trump's political opponents.
• Attorney General Todd Blanche refused to pledge DOJ independence from White House — On NBC's Meet the Press, Attorney General Todd Blanche refused to pledge that the DOJ will always act independently of the White House, stating "No, I'm not going to pledge that, and no AG ever should." When asked if he would comply with a presidential directive that crosses ethical or legal lines, Blanche responded that the president "would never do that" and "never has" and "never will," without committing to refuse unlawful orders.