Trump Action Archive

A searchable record of documented actions, compiled weekly from public sources.

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Filtering Category: Information, Memory and Manipulation × Attack target: The Presidency × Trait: Journalists investigating the elite are surveilled or smeared × Clear all ☆ Save this search
Tier 1 carried by a primary record Corroborated 2+ independent news desks Every result is verified and democracy-related.

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Jan 31, 2026 White House posted a celebratory message about journalist Don Lemon's arrest Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation

The executive branch publicly celebrated a journalist's arrest, signaling intent to intimidate press coverage of federal enforcement.

Independently corroborated by8 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone

Supporting reports

  • White House posts celebratory message about Don Lemon arrest on social media — The White House official X account posted a celebratory message about Don Lemon's arrest, writing "When life gives you Lemons" with a chain emoji. The post marked an unusual instance of the executive branch publicly celebrating the arrest of a journalist on charges related to news coverage.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record Week 55 – 2026-01-31–2026-02-06 wk55_IM_001
Nov 15, 2025 Trump called a Bloomberg reporter "piggy" and demanded NBC fire late-night host Seth Meyers Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation

Personal attacks and firing demands directed at journalists and critics illustrate a pattern of executive intimidation aimed at chilling press coverage.

Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone

Supporting reports

  • Trump called Bloomberg reporter "piggy" on Air Force One — A video emerged of President Trump on Air Force One last Friday reacting to a question by Bloomberg's White House Correspondent Catherine Lucey by saying "Quiet. Quiet piggy." The female journalist had asked about the Epstein scandal. The incident represents a demeaning personal attack on a journalist for asking a legitimate question.
  • Trump called for NBC to fire Seth Meyers over alleged "Trump Derangement Syndrome" — On Truth Social, Trump demanded that NBC "IMMEDIATELY" fire late-night host Seth Meyers, claiming Meyers suffers from "an incurable case of Trump Derangement Syndrome." The demand came without specific incident or policy justification, representing an attempt to use presidential influence to pressure a media company into removing a critic from the air.
  • Trump attacked NBC late-night host Seth Meyers — Trump posted an attack on NBC late-night host Seth Meyers, calling him a "suffering from an incurable case of Trump Derangement Syndrome," claiming his show is a "Ratings DISASTER," and calling for NBC to fire him "IMMEDIATELY." Trump's FCC Commissioner Brenden Carr retweeted the post.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record Week 44 – 2025-11-15–2025-11-21 wk44_IM_001
Sep 20, 2025 Brendan Carr pressured ABC to suspend Jimmy Kimmel and threatened broadcast license revocation over his comments Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation

A federal regulator's threat to revoke broadcast licenses over a comedian's editorial content constitutes government coercion of press content.

Independently corroborated by10 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone

Supporting reports

  • FCC chair pressures ABC to suspend Jimmy Kimmel over Kirk comments — Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr pressured ABC to suspend late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over comments Kimmel made about Charlie Kirk's killing. The action drew criticism from some Republicans concerned about government interference in free speech and media editorial decisions. Democratic senators, including Chuck Schumer, called the pressure "government censorship" and demanded Carr's resignation, accusing him of "corrupt abuse of power" and threatening congressional subpoena power.
  • FCC Chairman Carr threatened retaliation against ABC over Jimmy Kimmel — Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr threatened to retaliate against ABC for its handling of comedian Jimmy Kimmel's employment. The threat was characterized as an attempt to pressure the network regarding speech the administration disfavored. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) publicly criticized Carr's threat as "unbelievably dangerous," comparing it to extortion and warning that government should not decide which speech to permit or threaten broadcasters with removal from the air.
  • FCC chair threatened ABC over Jimmy Kimmel comments — FCC Chair Brendan Carr warned ABC that the agency may take regulatory action against the broadcaster, including "the possibility of fines or license revocation," over comments Jimmy Kimmel made on his late-night show about Trump and the response to Charlie Kirk's death. The threat came after Kimmel's monologue criticized the politicization of Kirk's assassination.
  • FCC threatens to revoke ABC broadcast licenses over Kimmel's criticism — FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened to revoke the broadcast licenses of ABC stations after late-night host Jimmy Kimmel criticized the Trump administration's response to Charlie Kirk's death. In response to the regulatory threat, ABC indefinitely pulled Kimmel's show off the air. The action represents regulatory retaliation against media criticism of the administration.
  • FCC chair Brendan Carr threatened ABC broadcast license revocation — Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr threatened that ABC must suspend comedian Jimmy Kimmel's show or lose its broadcast license. The threat was made in response to Kimmel's on-air comments about MAGA Republicans' search for someone to blame. Carr later denied involvement in the suspension after public backlash.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record Week 36 – 2025-09-20–2025-09-26 wk36_IM_001
Sep 19, 2025 Trump threatened to revoke broadcast licenses over "negative" coverage Corroborated Information, Memory and Manipulation

The president explicitly threatened regulatory punishment against news organizations for editorial coverage deemed unfavorable.

Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone

Supporting reports

  • Pentagon issues media restrictions requiring journalists to sign pledge limiting information access — The Pentagon, under Secretary Pete Hegseth, issued a memo Thursday requiring journalists to sign a pledge restricting their movements within the building and prohibiting access to any unauthorized information, including unclassified documents. Journalists who refuse to sign lose their Pentagon press passes. The memo follows May restrictions limiting reporter movement to specific areas and Hegseth's removal of major news organizations from Pentagon offices. The policy has drawn criticism from press advocates as a violation of First Amendment protections.
  • Trump calls for broadcast license revocation over negative coverage — Speaking on Air Force One Thursday, Trump stated without evidence that 97% of major US networks are "against" him and called for broadcasters' licenses to be "taken away" due to negative coverage. The statement followed backlash over ABC's suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's show. Senator Cynthia Lummis endorsed the argument, telling Semafor that broadcast licenses are "a privilege" rather than a right and expressing doubt about the First Amendment as "the ultimate right."
  • Trump criticizes Fox News polling as worst he has received — President Trump responded to Fox News polling showing 52% of Americans believe he has made the economy worse and only 30% saying he has made it better. Trump told Rupert Murdoch to "go get yourself a new pollster because he stinks," characterizing the Fox polling as "the worst polling I've ever had."
  • President Trump suggested revoking broadcast licenses of networks critical of his administration — President Trump suggested that the federal government should revoke FCC licenses of broadcast television networks that are "against" him or provide him with "bad publicity." Trump specifically referenced criticism from late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, stating that networks focused on criticizing him should not be allowed to operate. FCC Chair Carr indicated the matter would be reviewed.
  • Trump called for late-night comedians to be fired for criticizing him — President Trump called for late-night comedians to be fired for criticizing him, despite the fact that some had not made statements specifically about the Charlie Kirk assassination. The calls for termination were based on general political opposition expressed on their shows.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks Week 35 – 2025-09-13–2025-09-19 wk35_IM_048