Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Judge Michael Luttig warned Republicans are planning to steal midterm elections. — Judge Michael Luttig wrote an opinion piece in The New Republic warning that Republicans are planning to steal the midterm elections. Luttig stated that congressional Republicans "took a blood oath 6 years ago not just to put their party before their country, but to put Trump before their country." He warned that "only weeks before the midterm elections, House Republicans have already sworn their allegiance to Trump and doomed the US to another January 6 next January 3." Luttig asserted that House Republicans are "poised to claim that the midterm elections were stolen from them when they meet on January 3 to decide which members-elect will be seated in the 120th Congress." He stated that Trump has "exploited every conceivable unlawful means possible to rig the midterm elections in favor of the Republicans, and the federal courts have struck down as unconstitutional every one of these unlawful attempts." Luttig concluded: "Everyone knows that the greatest threat to the upcoming midterm elections is not the Democrats or the Chinese, noncitizen voting, or electronic voting machines, but the president of the United States and his servile Republican Congress."

Supporting reports

• Judge J. Michael Luttig published warning of Republican plan to refuse seating elected Democrats — Conservative judge J. Michael Luttig published an article in The New Republic warning that House Speaker Mike Johnson could remove the House clerk and replace him with a MAGA loyalist who would refuse to list elected Democrats on the roll for the 120th Congress. Luttig outlined how this scenario could paralyze the United States government and create a constitutional crisis, comparing it to Trump's 2021 attempt to overturn the election that was thwarted by Vice President Mike Pence.

Supporting reports

• Trump asked supporters to pledge allegiance to him instead of the nation — At the conclusion of his RNC convention speech, Trump asked the crowd to raise their right hands and recite a pledge of allegiance to him personally rather than to the United States. The pledge stated: "I pledge to the greatest president in the history of the US that loves us so much he can't even breathe, that I will go out with my family, my friends, I'll do it any way - I don't care if I'm registered or not, I'm going to try to cheat like hell just like they do."
• Trump told supporters voting is a religious obligation — During his RNC convention speech, Trump told the crowd: "You know what happens if you don't vote? You go to hell." He framed voting as a religious duty with eternal consequences.

Supporting reports

• Trump campaign promises $5,000 dividend checks to every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans win midterm elections — At a Republican midterm convention in Dallas on September 9, Trump promised to distribute $5,000 checks to every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans win control of Congress, calling it the "Trump Dividend." The payout would cost approximately $1.2–1.3 trillion and would require congressional approval. Trump did not explain funding mechanisms. Multiple Republican lawmakers and observers noted the promise contradicts constitutional authority and echoes unfulfilled prior pledges (DOGE dividend, tariff rebates, stimulus checks).
• Trump suggests renaming geographic features after himself at convention speech — During the Dallas convention speech on September 9, Trump proposed renaming the Hormuz Strait the "Trump Strait," Lake Michigan "Lake America," and New Mexico "New America." He stated "I should get something out of it" regarding the strait naming and joked about personal financial benefit from geographic rebranding.
• VP Vance interviewed on Fox about $5,000 dividend promise — Fox host Bret Baier interviewed VP JD Vance after Trump's convention speech on September 9. When asked how a $1.3 trillion dividend payout would be funded without bankrupting the country, Vance claimed tariffs had generated substantial revenue and that the president was offering to share wealth created by his policies. A Community Note fact-check on X noted that annual tariff revenue (under $300 billion) cannot fund a $1.3 trillion payout and that previous cash dividend promises were never delivered.
• Trump claimed Iran war will end after midterm elections — Trump told reporters that Iran is prolonging the war to influence U.S. midterm elections and that he expects the conflict to end and gas prices to decline once the elections conclude. He stated, "They can't hold out any longer" and characterized Iran as "desperate to try and affect the election." However, Wall Street Journal reporting revealed that Trump's top advisors, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have warned him the Iran war could continue through the remainder of his term. Hegseth has already extended troop deployments in the Middle East and planned additional extensions.
• Trump promised $5,000 checks to all adults if Republicans win midterms — At the "Trumpapaloosa" midterm convention in Dallas, Trump promised that if Republicans win the midterm elections, his administration will distribute $5,000 checks to all adult Americans. Trump branded the proposal the "Trump Dividend" and attributed it to "our tremendous strength and success economically." The plan would cost more than a trillion dollars and would require congressional approval, which Trump did not acknowledge.
• Trump pledges $5,000 payment to voters if Republicans win midterms — At the Republican National Convention in Dallas on September 10, President Trump promised a $5,000 check to every U.S. adult citizen if Republicans win the midterm elections. The pledge is widely understood within Trump's own circle as non-credible; no similar payments have been distributed during his second term despite prior promises. The announcement occurred during a lengthy speech that included incoherent remarks and calls for audience loyalty pledges.
• Trump Dividend: America Is Winning — and Americans Should Win With It — The White House published this release on 2026-09-10 through its releases channel.
• FDA announces priority review voucher fee rate for fiscal year 2027 — The Food and Drug Administration published a notice establishing the fiscal year 2027 fee rate for using priority review vouchers at $1,798,596. This fee applies to applications for tropical disease, rare pediatric disease, or material threat medical countermeasure products submitted with a priority review voucher, in addition to standard Prescription Drug User Fee Act fees. The rate is effective October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, and was calculated based on the difference between average costs of priority and standard drug application reviews in fiscal year 2025, adjusted for cost increases.
• Trump gave cash gifts to executive assistant and staff — Trump gave his executive assistant Natalie Harp and two other young female employees gifts totaling $45,000 in cash last year, approximately one-third of their $150,000 annual salary. He also gave $20,000 to Walt Nauta, his co-defendant in the classified documents case. Richard Painter, chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, stated the gifts appear to violate federal law prohibiting federal employees from receiving salary supplements from outside sources. Don Fox, acting director of the Office of Government Ethics under Obama, said the legality was unclear because such payments were not previously envisioned by OGE.
• Trump claimed he may not need congressional approval for $5,000 checks — During a backstage Fox News interview at the RNC convention, Trump was asked about the $5,000 dividend proposal. He responded that "there are a lot of people who think I don't even need congressional approval because we've made so much money," suggesting he might implement the policy unilaterally without legislative authorization.
• Trump claimed oil prices would drop after military conflict — Trump told reporters at the RNC convention that oil prices would drop "very rapidly" once the U.S. wins "the military conflict or war," and that he was "pretty sure" this would happen shortly after the election. The bulletin notes he has made similar claims for seven months while oil prices have continued to rise.
• Ron DeSantis criticized Trump's $5,000 check proposal — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis publicly denounced Trump's proposal to deliver $5,000 checks to Americans if Republicans hold their ground in the midterm elections. DeSantis warned that the infusion of cash would stir more inflation and expressed concern about borrowing an additional $1.5 trillion and flooding it into the economy.
• Trump claimed $5,000 checks would be funded by growth — During a press availability at the RNC convention in Dallas on September 11, Trump was asked how he would pay for proposed $5,000 checks to Americans. He responded that the checks would be funded by economic growth, and when asked about deficit impact, he said he was not worried about it. Economic data cited in the bulletin indicates GDP growth is weak.

Supporting reports

• Trump cancels housing bill signing event — President Trump canceled a scheduled signing event for the housing bill, citing the need for Congress to pass the SAVE America Act first. This cancellation reflects his prioritization of voter eligibility legislation over housing reform, which could impact public perception and support for his administration.
• Trump threatens to withhold housing bill signature — President Trump announced he will not sign a bipartisan housing bill into law until Congress passes the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which requires proof of citizenship to vote. This announcement came after the Senate and House passed the housing measure aimed at increasing housing supply and affordability.
• Trump withholds signature on bipartisan housing bill pending passage of voter ID legislation — After the Senate and House overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan housing affordability bill designed to increase housing supply and prevent private equity from purchasing single-family homes, Trump announced he would not sign it into law until Congress passes the SAVE Act, which requires proof of citizenship to vote and mandates states surrender voting rolls to the federal government. Trump cancelled a scheduled housing bill signing ceremony, declaring the voter ID measure a "National Emergency."
• Trump refuses to sign housing bill pending Senate passage of voting restrictions measure — President Trump refused to sign a major housing bill that had passed with bipartisan majorities in Congress, conditioning its approval on the Senate advancing the Save America Act, a voting restrictions measure. This represents a continuation of Trump's linkage of unrelated legislative priorities, previously connecting the housing bill's passage to renewal of a foreign surveillance law. The standoff has created a legislative logjam and prompted House Republican leadership to cancel scheduled votes.
• Trump canceled bipartisan housing bill signing hours before ceremony — Roughly an hour before Trump was scheduled to sign bipartisan housing legislation on Capitol Hill alongside Republican leaders, he canceled the signing via social media post, calling the bill "of minor importance" and demanding Congress pass the SAVE Act first. The presidential seal-emblazoned table sat waiting in Statuary Hall as some top Republicans were mid-speech or press conference touting the bill, unaware the president had canceled.
• White House Press Secretary contradicted housing bill signing announcement — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted hours before Trump's refusal to sign the housing bill, announcing that "Trump will sign into law the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, one of the most significant pieces of housing affordability legislation in American history," touting it as a bipartisan achievement and "promise made, promise kept." Trump then canceled the signing.
• Interior Department transferred taxpayer funds to Freedom 250 events — The Department of Interior transferred taxpayer money to the National Park Foundation for use in Freedom 250 events, and the National Park Service funded the Fourth of July fireworks display. Michael Scherer of The Atlantic reported this fact-check in response to Alexis Wilkins' claim that the celebration was not taxpayer-funded.
• Trump's construction projects carry over $1 billion in taxpayer costs — A New York Times analysis revealed that Trump's 18 major construction projects undertaken during his second term—including an East Wing ballroom, Kennedy Center renovations, National Garden of American Heroes, Lafayette Park, Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, and others—carry a potential cost exceeding $1 billion, with significant taxpayer expense despite Trump's claims of private funding.
• Trump demanded Senate pass SAVE Act before signing legislation — Trump announced he would not sign any additional legislation until the Senate passed the SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act), designed to restrict voting before the 2026 election. This conditional demand effectively halted all legislative activity and prompted House MAGA members to vote against procedural measures, leading Speaker Johnson to adjourn the House.
• Trump refused to sign bipartisan housing bill into law — President Trump declined to sign a landmark bipartisan housing bill after a midday confrontation with senators. The refusal followed Trump's demand that the Senate pass the SAVE Act to restrict voting before the 2026 election. Trump announced he would not sign any additional legislation until this voting-restriction measure advanced, effectively halting legislative activity and prompting Speaker Johnson to adjourn the House.
• House Freedom Caucus voted against procedural measures — Members of the far-right Freedom Caucus voted against procedural measures necessary for the House to conduct business, citing Trump's refusal to sign legislation as justification. Their obstruction rendered the House unable to accomplish any legislative work, prompting Speaker Johnson to adjourn members on Thursday.
• Senate Republicans voted against war powers resolution — Senate Republicans voted to reject advancing a war powers resolution that the Senate had passed the day before. The vote occurred after Trump's refusal to sign the housing bill and his confrontation with senators, appearing as an attempt to mollify the president following their brief assertion of independence.
• Trump canceled housing bill signing to leverage proof-of-citizenship voting requirement — President Trump canceled his scheduled signing of the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act on Wednesday, June 25, stating he would not approve it until Congress passed his SAVE America Act, which includes a proof-of-citizenship voting requirement. The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support (85–5 in Senate, 358–32 in House). Under the ten-day pocket-veto rule, the bill becomes law without Trump's signature if Congress remains in session and he does not veto it; Speaker Johnson indicated Trump will ultimately sign.
• Rep. Luna refused to reopen House floor pending Senate return — Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) announced she would not vote to reopen the House floor until the Senate returned to Washington to act on the SAVE Act. Luna criticized Senate Majority Leader Thune for obtaining unanimous consent to adjourn, saying "Thune is running and hiding."
• Rep. Luna shut down House floor over SAVE Act demand — Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) shut down the House floor, preventing any legislation from being brought up, because the Senate had not acted on the SAVE Act. Luna froze the House despite the fact that shutting down the floor does not accomplish anything in the Senate. Speaker Mike Johnson was unable to pass a rule or bring any legislation to a vote.
• Sen. Murkowski criticized Trump's housing bill obstruction — Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) told CNN's Manu Raju that Trump's decision to hold up his own agenda by demanding action on the SAVE Act was "not helpful to him" and "not helpful to the country." She noted that "If you don't have the votes, sir, you don't have the votes" and said Trump's actions do not help chances of keeping the GOP majority, as people want Congress to focus on issues affecting them at home.
• Sen. Whitehouse warned of Republican dissension and Trump's destructive intent — Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) warned that Thune may be growing fed up with Trump and that dissension in the Republican Caucus may be growing. Whitehouse suggested that "The realization may be dawning that Trump prefers to take them all down with him than fail alone."
• Senate Majority Leader Thune adjourned Senate for 19 days — Senate Majority Leader John Thune obtained unanimous consent to adjourn the Senate for 19 days after Trump's last-minute cancellation of the housing bill signing. Thune declined to comment on Trump's reversal, saying "I guess I would say at this point I don't have any observations."

Supporting reports

• Trump weighed in on SPLC indictment with election conspiracy claim — Trump posted that the SPLC indictment proved the organization was "one of the greatest political scams in American History" and grouped it with other alleged "Democrat Hoaxes" including Act Blue. Trump then made an extraordinary claim that if the SPLC allegations were true, the 2020 Presidential Election should be "permanently wiped from the books and be of no further force or effect."

Supporting reports

• Trump posted demands to condition legislation on passage of voting restrictions bill — Trump posted on social media that he will not sign other bills until the "SAVE AMERICA ACT" is passed, demanding voter ID requirements, proof of citizenship, elimination of mail-in ballots except for military/illness/disability, prohibition of transgender athletes in women's sports, and bans on gender-affirming care for minors. He stated the bill "supersedes everything else" and "MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE."
• Trump threatens legislative veto unless Congress passes strict voter ID act — On Sunday, President Trump posted on Truth Social that he will not sign any bills until Congress passes the Save America Act, a voting restriction measure. On Monday, he reiterated this demand at a Republican event in Miami, calling for proof of citizenship, elimination of mail-in ballots except in narrow cases, and unrelated provisions banning transgender participation in women's sports. The bill has passed the House but faces steep odds in the Senate due to the filibuster rule. Trump's threat represents an attempt to leverage executive power to force legislative action on a measure voting rights advocates say would disenfranchise millions of Americans.
• Trump announced refusal to sign legislation until Congress passes SAVE America Act — On Sunday, President Trump announced he would not sign any other legislation until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, which passed the House on February 11, 2026, by a vote of 218 to 213. The bill requires documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. A Center for American Progress analysis estimated that approximately 69 million American women and 4 million men lack birth certificates matching their current legal names due to marriage or name changes, and would be blocked from voting under the bill. The measure would also apply to routine voter registration updates and threatens election officials with civil and criminal penalties for noncompliance.
• Trump threatened to withhold bill signatures unless Senate passes SAVE Act — Trump posted on social media threatening that unless the Senate weakens the filibuster to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act over Democratic objections, he will not sign other bills. His message demanded voter ID and proof of citizenship requirements, elimination of mail-in ballots except for military and disability cases, and other restrictions. The message also included demands unrelated to voting, including bans on transgender medical care for minors and transgender athletes in women's sports.
• Trump threatens Congress over voting legislation — Donald Trump threatened Republican senators on social media, stating he would not sign any bills unless they passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which includes strict voter ID requirements and limits on mail-in ballots. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer criticized the act as a modern form of Jim Crow that would disenfranchise millions.
• House passes Save America act with restrictive voting provisions — The House approved the Save America act, legislation requiring documented proof of U.S. citizenship to register and vote, voter ID requirements, prohibitions on mail voting, bans on gender-affirming care for minors, and restrictions on transgender women in sports. The bill would allow private parties to sue election officials and impose criminal penalties for registration without citizenship documentation. Voting rights advocates warned the measure would prevent millions of Americans from voting, particularly affecting married women whose documents may not match current names.
• Trump demands Senate majority leader alter filibuster rules to force vote on Save America act — Donald Trump publicly pressured Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune to change Senate filibuster rules to force a vote on the Save America act, a bill that would impose strict voter ID and citizenship documentation requirements, ban mail voting, and restrict transgender medical care and sports participation. Trump declared he would not sign any other legislation until the bill reached his desk. Thune refused, citing lack of votes, but some Republicans including John Cornyn reversed prior positions to support rule changes to advance the bill.
• Trump escalated pressure on Congress to pass SAVE America Act — Trump escalated pressure on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. Court records indicate that approximately 69 million American women do not have a birth certificate matching their current legal name, often due to marriage, making compliance with such a requirement difficult for a large eligible voter population.
• Save America act introduced with expansive voting restrictions and election worker liability provisions — The Save America act, a rebranded expansion of last year's failed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility act, includes four major provisions: mandatory documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration and any registration changes; strict photo ID requirements for all voting methods including mail ballots; criminal penalties and private right of action against election officials who register voters without citizenship proof; and mandatory transfer of state voter rolls to the Department of Homeland Security for comparison against federal benefit eligibility databases. The bill would take immediate effect upon signature, requiring states to overhaul voter registration systems mid-election cycle.
• Trump vows to block all legislation until Senate votes on Save America voting restrictions bill — Donald Trump announced he will not sign any other legislation until Republicans pass the Save America act, a sweeping voting restrictions bill that would impose documentary proof of citizenship requirements, strict voter ID mandates for mail and in-person voting, criminal liability for election officials, and mandatory transfer of state voter rolls to the Department of Homeland Security. The Senate is scheduled to vote next week but lacks the 60 votes needed to overcome the filibuster, making passage unlikely. The bill would take effect immediately upon presidential signature and would affect all American voters.

Supporting reports

• Draft executive order seeks to control voting — Right-wing activists are circulating a draft executive order that would declare a national emergency, allowing President Trump to take control over voting processes. The order claims that China interfered in the 2020 election and seeks to ban mail-in ballots and voting machines. Legal experts have called the plan unconstitutional, as it violates the states' control over elections.
• Right-wing activists circulating draft executive order to control voting — Right-wing activists are circulating a draft executive order that declares a national emergency to give Trump control over voting. The activists state they are working with the White House. The order reiterates a debunked claim that China interfered in the 2020 presidential election and asserts that the president can ban mail-in ballots and voting machines. Matt Cohen of Democracy Docket called the plan "blatantly illegal" and unconstitutional. The U.S. Constitution grants sole control of elections to the states, not the president. Mark R. Warner, top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, refuted the claim of a national emergency and stated: "We've been raising the alarm for weeks about President Trump's attacks on our elections and now we're seeing reports that outline how they may be planning to do it. This is a plot to interfere with the will of voters and undermine both the rule of law and public confidence in our elections."

Supporting reports

• Trump Proposes "Federalizing" Elections in 15 States — Former President Trump has proposed "federalizing" elections in 15 states, a move that is considered unconstitutional and illegal. This proposal has sparked concerns about federal overreach and the potential undermining of state-controlled election processes. Advocacy groups are mobilizing to resist this effort and protect state election autonomy.
• FBI sent email to state election administrators inviting them to federal coordination meeting, triggering concerns about federal election interference — The FBI's Election Executive Kellie Hardiman sent a routine-appearing email to state election administrators inviting them to a call to discuss election cycle preparations. Multiple secretaries of state, both Democratic and Republican, interpreted the outreach as threatening given recent federal actions: the FBI's seizure of 2020 election materials in Georgia and Trump's stated desire to "nationalize" elections, a power reserved to states under the Constitution. Election officials reported destroyed trust in federal election authorities and expressed concern that federal officials may be attempting to rig elections themselves. Several officials indicated they may not attend the scheduled February 25 meeting out of fear their information could be weaponized against them.
• Trump announced desire to "nationalize" elections and created standing White House working group to investigate past elections and reform future processes — Trump has stated his intention to "nationalize" elections, a power constitutionally reserved to states. Inside the White House, he established a standing working group that meets regularly to coordinate federal efforts to investigate past elections and reform future election processes. Trump has also called for greater use of voter identification, a ban on mail voting, and prohibition on certain voting equipment types. He has stated he will accept election results only "if the elections are honest" and mused that "we shouldn't even have an election" given typical midterm losses for the sitting president's party.

Supporting reports

• Trump suggests canceling 2026 midterm elections — In an Oval Office interview with Reuters on January 14, President Trump suggested the U.S. should not hold midterm elections as required by the Constitution because Republicans risk losing their majorities in the House and Senate. Trump stated that when a party wins the presidency, it typically loses the midterms, and claimed his accomplishments were so significant that "we shouldn't even have an election." The White House later claimed Trump was joking.
• Trump claims he should not face midterm election losses — In an interview with Reuters, President Trump complained about the historical pattern in which the party of a newly elected president loses seats in the midterms. Trump suggested he did not want to experience this pattern and stated that given his accomplishments, "when you think of it, we shouldn't even have an election."
• Trump stated elections should not occur — A Reuters article quoted Trump saying "When you think of it, we shouldn't even have an election." The statement was buried within the piece and represents a direct challenge to the constitutional requirement for periodic elections.
• Trump threatens to invoke Insurrection Act — President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to protests in Minnesota, claiming that if local politicians do not control the situation, he will take action. This statement raises concerns about the potential militarization of law enforcement in domestic matters.
• Trump threatens to retaliate against political opponents — Trump stated that if politicians in Minnesota do not control protests against ICE, he will invoke the Insurrection Act, framing the situation as an attack on federal law enforcement.

Supporting reports

• White House endorses possibility of Trump third term — White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated the US would be "lucky" if Donald Trump remained in office for a constitutionally prohibited third term, following reports that Trump discussed the idea with constitutional scholar Alan Dershowitz. Dershowitz presented Trump with a book arguing the 22nd Amendment is ambiguous on third-term eligibility, a position contradicted by most constitutional experts. The statement represents an official endorsement of exploring constitutional workarounds to term limits.

Supporting reports

• Trump signed pardons for 77 people involved in 2020 election subversion — On November 7, 2025, President Trump signed full pardons for 77 people connected to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Sidney Powell, John Eastman, Kenneth Chesebro, Jenna Ellis, Jeffrey Clark, Boris Epshteyn, Christina Bobb, and fake electors from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The pardon proclamation was announced late Sunday, November 9, at 7:54 PM via social media by Ed Martin, Trump's clemency czar, timing that coincided with Senate shutdown negotiations to minimize media coverage. The pardons are federal only and do not affect pending state prosecutions in Arizona, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Nevada.
• Trump issues proclamation granting pardons for offenses related to 2020 election activities — President Donald Trump issued Proclamation 10989 on November 7, 2025, granting full, complete, and unconditional pardons to all U.S. citizens for conduct relating to advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting, activities, participation in, or advocacy for any slate or proposed slate of Presidential electors in connection with the 2020 Presidential Election, as well as efforts to expose voting fraud and vulnerabilities in that election. The proclamation names 76 individuals by name, including Sidney Powell, Rudolph Giuliani, John Eastman, Jeffrey Clark, and Mark Meadows. The pardon does not apply to Trump himself.
• Trump administration replaces clemency documents with variable signatures after identical-signature controversy — The Justice Department replaced online pardons bearing strikingly similar copies of Trump's signature with new versions showing variable signatures after public scrutiny. Seven clemency orders issued on November 7, 2025, including pardons for Darryl Strawberry, Glen Casada, and Michael McMahon, initially displayed nearly identical signatures. DOJ blamed a "technical error" and staffing issues; White House officials insisted Trump signed each pardon by hand. Handwriting experts noted that identical signatures contradict basic forensic principles.
• Trump issues broad pardon for 2020 election-related conduct, potentially covering voter fraud cases — On November 7, 2025, President Trump issued a pardon for Rudy Giuliani and others involved in the fake elector scheme. The pardon's language is sweeping, covering "any US citizen" for conduct relating to "advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting, activities, participation in, or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of presidential electors" in connection with the 2020 election. Legal experts argue the pardon's broad wording may unintentionally cover citizens who committed voter fraud in 2020, such as Matthew Alan Laiss, accused of voting in both Pennsylvania and Florida. Courts must now determine the pardon's actual scope.

Supporting reports

• Trump demands Senate end filibuster and restrict voting — On November 6, 2025, President Trump met with Republican senators and, rather than moving toward compromise to end the shutdown, demanded that they eliminate the filibuster and immediately pass legislation ending mail-in voting and imposing strict voter ID requirements. Trump stated that implementing these measures would ensure Democrats "most likely never obtain power because we will have passed every single thing that you can imagine."

Supporting reports

• Trump suggested federal takeover of New York City if Mamdani elected — Speaking to reporters during a Cabinet meeting, Trump suggested he may initiate a federal takeover of New York City if Zohran Mamdani is elected mayor, saying, "We have tremendous power at the White House to run places when we have to." Trump has no authority to run New York City, but "there are ways in which he can make life difficult," one legal expert told Newsday. Trump added that his administration has been "looking at" doing the same in Washington, DC.
• Trump suggested federal takeover of New York City and Washington D.C. — Trump suggested the administration could take over New York City if voters elect Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. He also suggested the administration could take over Washington, D.C., stating "We could run D.C." and "We want a capital that's run flawlessly, and it wouldn't be hard for us to do it."

Supporting reports

• Trump claims "methods" exist to circumvent 22nd Amendment presidential term limits — In an NBC interview aired March 30, 2025, Donald Trump stated there are "methods" to circumvent the constitutional two-term limit on the presidency, explicitly denying he was joking. When pressed, Trump declined to detail the methods but alluded to scenarios involving succession. Trump later said he was "not looking at that" but acknowledged receiving requests for a third term. Constitutional scholars and some Republicans have rejected the premise; a Notre Dame election law professor noted the 12th Amendment bars those ineligible for president from the vice-presidency.
• US attorney general expresses skepticism about Trump third-term possibility — Pam Bondi, US attorney general and Trump loyalist, told Fox News Sunday that Trump is "probably going to be finished" after his current term ends on 20 January 2029, calling any attempt to circumvent the 22nd Amendment "a heavy lift." This came one week after Trump told NBC News he was "not joking" about pursuing a third term and claimed there were "methods" to do so, prompting speculation about constitutional workarounds.
• Trump stated "there are methods" to run for a third term despite constitutional bar — Trump told NBC that he has not publicly agreed the Constitution bars him from running again and that "there are methods" to potentially circumvent the two-term limit. When pressed on whether he was serious, Trump said "I'm not joking" and claimed people have advised him on legal pathways. He stated it is "far too early" to decide but did not rule out attempting a third term.
• Trump claims he is "not joking" about pursuing an unconstitutional third term — During an NBC News interview on March 30, Trump stated he is "not joking" about running for a third presidential term, which would violate the 22nd Amendment. He claimed "there are methods which you could do it," without specifying what those methods might be. This marks an explicit public statement testing the constitutional two-term limit and suggesting potential pathways to circumvent it.
• Trump told NBC News he is considering a third presidential term — Trump told NBC News that he is considering a third presidential term, stating "I'm not joking" and claiming "There are methods which you could do it." This directly contradicts the Twenty-Second Amendment to the Constitution, which explicitly limits presidents to two terms and has been in effect since 1951.
• Trump suggested possibility of running for third term — Trump was asked by Fox News host Pete Doocy whether he would run for a third term if allowed, and responded affirmatively, stating he would "love" to run against Barack Obama if that scenario occurred. Trump also made earlier comments suggesting there may be a way for him to run for a third term. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) responded by noting that Republicans would not accept a third term for Obama, implying the same standard should apply to Trump.