Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Billionaire banker receives presidential pardon after hiring Trump's former lawyer — Julio Herrera Velutini, a billionaire banker who faced felony bribery charges, struck a plea deal and sought a presidential pardon. His family hired Alina Habba, one of Trump's former personal lawyers, and guaranteed her compensation of "more than $50 million over four years." Weeks after Habba began her position, President Trump granted Herrera a full and unconditional pardon. The sequence suggests a direct connection between the hiring of Trump's lawyer and the subsequent pardon.

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• Trump administration uses nonprofit to conceal ballroom renovation donations — The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration has concealed the sources of donations for a $330 million ballroom renovation project by channeling funds through a nonprofit organization into a White House account directly controlled by the president. The Post obtained a list of 57 donors committed to giving $100,000 or more. The vast majority of funds came from companies and wealthy individuals with federal interests, including Nvidia and Apple ($25 million each), Microsoft, Palantir, and Lockheed Martin ($10 million each). Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's son Brandon contributed stock worth $2.5 million; U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands Joseph Popolo Jr. and his wife gave $1 million. Trump, who claimed he would help pay for the project, does not appear on the donor list.

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• Eric Deters files defamation lawsuit against Kimberly Guilfoyle and announces plans to depose Don Jr. — Eric Deters, the donor at the center of the Guilfoyle controversy, filed a defamation lawsuit against Guilfoyle and announced plans to depose her and Don Jr. In a video released on October 15, Deters claimed he would present a 16-minute phone conversation that contains information that "might just bring down the entire Trump administration." Deters stated he had supported Trump from the beginning and framed his legal action as an effort to clear his name.
• Eric Deters files defamation lawsuit against Kimberly Guilfoyle; announces recording release — Attorney Eric Deters filed a defamation lawsuit against Kimberly Guilfoyle in circuit court in Kentucky and announced he will release a 16-minute phone recording tomorrow that he claims will damage the Trump administration and potentially end the 2028 Vance-Rubio ticket. Deters is seeking a public apology and $1 million in damages. He stated the recording involves a conversation he had with Guilfoyle from Greece and compared the expected fallout to a major scandal in the Trump administration.

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• White House press secretary Katie Zacharia repeatedly claims to be a licensed attorney without evidence of bar admission — Katie Zacharia, appointed as Trump's press secretary, has publicly identified herself as a lawyer in multiple media appearances (Fox News, CNN, podcasts) since at least February 2026. Popular Information searched all 50 states and D.C. and found no evidence she has ever been admitted to practice law or passed a bar exam. She is not listed with the State Bar of California (where she claims to have worked as General Counsel), Texas, or D.C. When asked by Popular Information, the White House declined to provide evidence of her legal credentials, referring only to a Trump social media post calling her an attorney. In California, falsely holding oneself out as a lawyer while not admitted to the bar is a misdemeanor.
• White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia's false claims about legal credentials exposed — Popular Information reported that White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia, appointed by President Trump, has publicly claimed for years to be a lawyer and held positions as "outside counsel" to the World Bank and "general counsel" to a California non-profit, but has no evidence of ever being licensed to practice law in any U.S. state. When confronted by reporters on the White House South Lawn on October 13, Zacharia gave incoherent responses about passing a bar exam in China—a jurisdiction where U.S. citizens cannot take bar exams and where states do not administer exams. Georgetown Law professor Mark Jia confirmed that even her claimed work as a "foreign legal consultant" at a Chinese law firm from 2011–2013 would not constitute being a licensed attorney, and questioned whether she held that position at all.
• White House declines to provide evidence of press secretary's legal credentials — Popular Information sent detailed questions to White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly asking whether Katie Zacharia was ever admitted to practice law in any state. The White House declined to answer substantively, responding only: "Refer you to the President's TRUTH on Katie," directing the inquiry to a Trump social media post that calls Zacharia an attorney. The White House provided no documentation, bar admission records, or other evidence supporting her claimed legal credentials.
• Katie Zacharia's bar exam failure revealed; investigation requested — White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia, whom Trump has described as an "attorney," failed the California bar exam and is not licensed to practice law in any state. After Judd Legum of Popular Information noted the absence of evidence that Zacharia had passed the bar, the Wall Street Journal confirmed she failed the California bar exam. Democracy Defenders Fund, a nonpartisan organization led by attorney Norm Eisen, requested that the California State Bar and California Attorney General Rob Bonta investigate whether Zacharia practiced law without a license, which is a crime in California.

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• Trump petitions Supreme Court to revive racketeering suit and overturn sanctions — President Donald Trump filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to revive a racketeering lawsuit against Marc Elias, Hillary Clinton, and others, and to overturn sanctions imposed by lower courts. The case was originally filed in 2022 as a private citizen between Trump's two terms. A federal judge dismissed it and sanctioned Trump and his lawyers for nearly $1 million. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld both the dismissal and sanctions. Trump's petition argues he deserves extra time to sue because he set the case aside while serving as president and claims the Court must protect the presidency from judges who punish its lawyers.

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• Arlington County filed lawsuit against Trump's triumphal arch project — Arlington County Board in Virginia filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to block the construction of the President's proposed triumphal arch in Washington, DC. Lawyers for the county cited concerns about the project's impact on the county and its residents, as well as on tourists. Arlington County is home to the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery. The lawsuit stated that "The Trump-Vance Administration has made it a priority to remake the physical landscape of the Nation's Capital in President Trump's image and based on his whims, destroying treasured public spaces in the process."

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• Trump endorsed presidential retreat development at his golf club — Trump endorsed a proposal to develop a Camp David-style presidential retreat at his golf club in West Palm Beach. The proposal involves county-owned land leased to the Trump Organization, with the company offering to finance construction and provide presidential facilities without charging the government for use. Trump stated the facility would serve future presidents.

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• Democratic National Committee sues Trump administration over taxpayer-funded campaign ads — The Democratic National Committee filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Wednesday, October 8, 2026, challenging the Trump administration's use of taxpayer funds to broadcast campaign ads promoting President Trump. The ads, costing over $12 million, allegedly violate federal law prohibiting use of congressionally appropriated money for "publicity or propaganda." The complaint names Trump, the White House office, the Office of Management and Budget, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection as defendants, alleging they violated the Administrative Procedure Act and misused public funds for self-aggrandizement during the midterm campaign season.

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• Complaint filed — Common Cause v. Department of Homeland Security, et al. (S.D.N.Y. 1:26-cv-08882) — Common Cause, Alabama House candidate Robert Hunter, SEIU Local 32BJ, and its PAC filed suit in the Southern District of New York challenging a $20 million Department of Homeland Security contract with a marketing firm to produce and air national television advertisements featuring President Trump. The ads, funded through an Office of Management and Budget reapportionment of Customs and Border Protection appropriations, began airing Sept. 23, 2026, and are labeled "Paid for by the U.S. Government." Plaintiffs allege the ads violate the Purpose Statute and the publicity-or-propaganda ban, constitute arbitrary and capricious agency action, and violate the Fifth Amendment's equal protection guarantee by providing competitive advantage to Trump-aligned candidates in the 2026 midterm elections. Plaintiffs seek declaratory relief, vacatur of the apportionment and contract, a temporary restraining order, preliminary and permanent injunctions, and recovery of expended funds.

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• Trump states he could have prosecuted political opponents but chose restraint, then asserts presidential power is absolute — From the Oval Office on October 7, 2026, Trump told reporters he could have taken "very bad things" against Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama but refrained out of respect for the presidency. He then stated "I can do whatever I want, if I want," asserting that despite two impeachments and actions by political opponents, he views the presidency as a "very sacred position" and retains unlimited executive authority.

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• Trump accepted $400 million aircraft from Qatar — Trump announced acceptance of a $400 million plane from Qatar, which he stated he would use in place of the existing Air Force One. The disclosure raised concerns among ethics experts about foreign gifts to the president and potential conflicts of interest, particularly given the scale and nature of the gift.

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• Trump suggested allowing Iran to destroy Los Angeles and San Diego — At a rally in Nebraska on October 6, Trump stated that high oil prices were "a small price to pay" for keeping the country safe and suggested allowing Iran to attack U.S. cities: "They can take out a city, let 'em take out Los Angeles. Let 'em take out San Diego." He characterized destruction of these cities as acceptable and "a very small price to pay." The statement generated rapid and widespread outcry from Democratic officials and scholars of authoritarianism.
• Trump suggests Iran could attack Los Angeles and San Diego — Speaking at a rally in Nebraska, Trump appeared to suggest that Iran could "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego if it develops a nuclear weapon. Trump stated: "They could take out a city. Let them take - Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego." California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned Trump's comments as "deranged and dangerous," noting that Trump had previously sent the National Guard and Marines to occupy California. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria stated that "SD is not collateral damage. We are not expendable." Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Trump's statements were dangerous and could compromise city safety. GOP congressional nominee Jim Desmond, running in San Diego, disagreed with Trump's comments, stating that no American city is expendable.
• Trump suggested Iran could attack Los Angeles or San Diego — Trump made public statements suggesting Iran could "take out" Los Angeles or San Diego while discussing the economic costs of war. He subsequently clarified that his administration intends to prevent such attacks. The remarks drew significant criticism for appearing to acknowledge or speculate about foreign military threats to U.S. cities without clear strategic context.

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• Trump ordered OMB director to divert DHS funds for campaign ads — According to reporting by Maggie Haberman, Hamed Aleaziz, Shane Goldmacher, and Jonathan Swan of the New York Times, Trump personally ordered Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought to allocate $20 million for television advertisements praising Trump. The journalists reported that Vought obtained the funds by redirecting money Congress had appropriated for the Department of Homeland Security. The diversion of congressionally appropriated funds for campaign purposes raised questions about proper use of federal resources.
• Trump acknowledged using $20 million in taxpayer funds for self-promotional ads — Trump acknowledged bipartisan outcry over his use of $20 million in taxpayer money to run ads boosting himself. He initially defended the practice as "a rather standard thing to do" but then stated he would pay for future ads with money raised for MAGA, Inc. However, the White House later clarified that Trump would not reimburse the American public for the ads already run, and the reimbursement promise would only apply "moving forward."
• Trump administration used $11 million in taxpayer funds for political advertising — The Trump administration spent at least $11 million in taxpayer funds broadcasting advertisements through a Department of Homeland Security contract to promote the president. Trump announced his allied super PAC (MAGA Inc.) would assume financing going forward, and the White House stated it does not plan to reimburse taxpayers for the expenditure.
• White House uses taxpayer funds for pro-Trump ads without reimbursement from super PAC — Approximately $11.6 million in taxpayer-funded advertisements promoting Trump have aired, according to an AdImpact estimate. Trump initially claimed the ads would be paid for by his super PAC, but the White House later clarified that the PAC would not be reimbursing the government for ads that had already aired. The use of federal funds for partisan political advertising without reimbursement raises questions about the misuse of public resources for campaign purposes and potential violations of appropriations law.

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• Big Tech executives donated $227 million to Trump while meeting on AI regulation — Public Citizen analysis revealed that the CEOs who gathered for a White House meeting with Trump about AI threats donated more than $227 million to Trump's SuperPAC and various Trump pet projects over the past two years. The meeting produced a nonbinding agreement among tech leaders to adopt unenforceable, self-regulatory standards. Public Citizen president Robert Weissman stated: "Big Tech executives have effectively bought themselves a seat at the AI regulatory table. Actually, they have bought the table." The $227 million total includes campaign contributions, White House ballroom and inaugural donations, and settlements agreed that benefit Trump, including donations by individuals, spouses, and affiliated corporations.

Supporting reports

• Judge dismisses reflecting pool case against David Hearn with prejudice — Judge Todd Edelman of DC Superior Court dismissed charges against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn over alleged damage to the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, ruling the case could not be refiled. The US Attorney's office, led by Trump ally Jeanine Pirro, had already conceded the damage resulted from flawed installation, not Hearn's actions. Trump had publicly pressured for prosecution in August, calling Pirro's decision to drop charges a failure. The court found prosecutors lacked factual support and acted under political pressure.
• Judge dismisses DOJ vandalism case against David Hearn with prejudice — A judge dismissed with prejudice the Department of Justice's Reflecting Pool vandalism case against former Olympian David Hearn. The judge warned that leaving the door open could expose Hearn to a "meritless, politically motivated prosecution" and what would "objectively" be harassment.
• Judge dismisses case against David Hearn with prejudice — Judge Todd E. Edelman dismissed the government's case against Olympian David Hearn with prejudice, meaning it cannot be resurrected. The government had accused Hearn of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, although the contractors themselves acknowledged they were responsible for its torn lining. After the government acknowledged there was no merit in the prosecution, Trump continued to insist Hearn should be prosecuted. The judge stated the dismissal was necessary to protect Hearn from "what, objectively, would be harassment" from his own government and from the "extraordinary possibility that Mr. Hearn will nonetheless face a meritless, politically motivated prosecution."

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• White House airs taxpayer-funded campaign ad celebrating Trump's war on Iran — The Trump administration aired a one-minute television advertisement on Fox News using federal funds to promote the president's February 2026 declaration of war against Iran. The ad features Trump's audio declaring major combat operations and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's statements about killing adversaries, interspersed with images of Iranian Americans celebrating U.S. strikes in New York on March 1, 2026. The ad explicitly states "Paid for by the US Government" and was purchased by Medium Buying, a Republican ad firm. Critics argue that using taxpayer money for campaign ads violates federal law.

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• Jack Smith testifies before Senate Judiciary Committee; Republicans attack his prosecutorial record — Former special counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on 29 September 2026 regarding his two federal investigations into Donald Trump. Republican senators, including Eric Schmitt, John Kennedy, and Ted Cruz, launched aggressive attacks on Smith's conduct, making accusations of perjury (based on a false claim about an Atlanta Hawks game), bias, and targeting of Republicans. Smith defended his prosecutorial decisions and denied allegations that he was politically motivated. Democratic senators defended Smith and highlighted the January 6 Capitol attack.
• Jack Smith testified before Senate Judiciary Committee on Trump investigations — Special Counsel Jack Smith testified under oath before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding his investigations into Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his retention of classified documents. Smith defended the independence and factual basis of his prosecutions, stating that grand juries in two separate districts had found sufficient evidence of criminal activity. He emphasized that his decisions were based solely on facts and law, not political affiliation, and warned that the rule of law faces unprecedented challenges, including threats of prosecution against individuals perceived as opposing the President and vilification of career prosecutors and FBI agents on his team.
• Jack Smith testified before Senate Judiciary Committee on DOJ investigation of Trump — Special Counsel Jack Smith appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 29, 2026, to testify about the DOJ's investigation into former President Trump. In his opening remarks, Smith stated that the investigation had developed "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" that Trump engaged in serious crimes, including a criminal scheme to overturn the 2020 election results and prevent the lawful transfer of power. Smith also noted that since January 2025, there had been attacks on the institutions and public servants involved in the investigation, and that he himself had been threatened with jail by the sitting president.

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• Trump announces $15bn Iowa steel plant financed by Export-Import Bank — President Trump announced a $15 billion steel plant to be built in eastern Iowa by Indian-owned Mesabi Metallics, claiming it will be the largest in American history. The Export-Import Bank will provide up to $10 billion in federal financing. Trump credited his tariff policies for attracting the investment and projected 6,000 construction jobs and 2,000 manufacturing jobs, with production expected to begin in 2030. The announcement was made in the Oval Office with Iowa Republicans present, including Senate candidate Ashley Hinson.
• Trump announced Iowa steel plant project — Trump announced plans for a massive steel plant in Iowa as part of an $18 billion investment from Mesabi Metallics, a company owned by India's Essar Group. The project is valued at $15 billion and Trump claimed it would create construction jobs in a state hit hard by his policies. However, the plant would not come online until 2030. The project has been supported by the U.S. Export-Import Bank with loans worth up to $10 billion. Trump hired Jason Miller, a longtime Trump adviser, as Mesabi's lobbyist, paying him at least $240,000. The Indian government also hired Miller's company for $150,000 per month for strategic counsel.
• ICYMI: President Trump Announces Largest-Ever Steel Plant Coming to Iowa — The White House published this release on 2026-09-30 through its releases channel.
• Trump announces $15 billion Iowa steel plant deal without completed financial or permitting details — Trump announced a deal to build a $15 billion steel plant in Lee County, Iowa, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick crediting Trump's tariffs and stating the deal was done. However, local reporting found no major property purchases tied to the project, company officials said they lack details about plans, no permits have been filed, and financial arrangements remain unsettled. The Iowa legislature was scheduled to meet in special session to debate incentives, and the exact location in Lee County had not been disclosed.

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• Trump banned CNN, MSNBC, and Politico reporters from White House campus — The Trump administration banned reporters from CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from the White House campus, leaving Trump without television coverage for a day. The action prompted the creation of the Trump-branded "TRUMP TV" streaming channel as an alternative media outlet.

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• Trump administration aired taxpayer-funded campaign ad — New York Times reporter Bayliss Wagner reported that the Trump administration is airing another taxpayer-funded political advertisement, this time from his 2024 campaign. In the ad, Trump states: "We will demolish the deep state, expel the warmongers from our government... We will rout the fake news media." The bulletin notes this represents use of public funds for campaign promotion during the midterms.
• Trump administration airs government-funded political advertisement — The Trump administration aired a black-and-white political advertisement on television stations nationwide, including Fox News Sunday, Saturday Night Live, and college and NFL football games, funded with taxpayer dollars. The ad features Trump walking down a hallway while audio from a rally speech plays, with Trump declaring "This is the final battle" and vowing to "demolish the deep state" and "expel the warmongers." The White House defended the ads as "public service announcements," but ethics experts and lawmakers have argued the use of federal funds for political advertising violates federal law banning taxpayer-funded propaganda. The ad cost approximately $319,000. This is the second such government-funded pro-Trump political ad in recent days; the first used a song by artist JMSN without his permission.
• Trump administration aired political advertisement funded by U.S. government during NFL and college football broadcasts — The Trump administration aired an advertisement during NFL games, Fox News Sunday, Saturday Night Live, and college football games that was labeled "Paid for by the U.S. Government." The ad featured Trump's "Final Battle" rhetoric attacking the deep state, warmongers, globalists, communists, and the media. The White House characterized it as a "public service announcement," but ethics experts and lawmakers questioned the legality of using federal funds for what appeared to be campaign propaganda.

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• Trump-appointed director pursued plan to replace Kennedy Center art collection with Trump-patron selections — Richard Grenell, Trump's first appointed director of the Kennedy Center, pursued a plan to replace works in the center's art collection—including gifts from foreign nations honoring Kennedy—with art selected by Trump patrons. The plan had not been previously reported.

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• Trump claimed military requested conversion of Triumphal Arch to military complex for drones and sniper ammunition — Trump announced plans to convert a planned Triumphal Arch near Arlington Memorial Bridge into a military complex to house drones and sniper ammunition, claiming the military made a "strong request" for the conversion. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) criticized the plan as dangerous and suggested Trump was creating a pretext to defend against a lawsuit by falsely linking the arch to national security. Democratic lawmakers indicated they could subpoena Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine to verify whether the military actually requested this use.
• Trump announces plan to convert Arlington Memorial Bridge area into military complex and triumphal arch — Trump announced on social media that he has agreed to convert the area at the Receptive Circle adjoining the Arlington Memorial Bridge into a military complex and triumphal arch, citing national security purposes and a request from the U.S. Military. The structure would house drones, snipers, and ammunition storage. Trump claimed Washington, D.C. is the only major capital without a triumphal arch and that this would be "by far, the greatest of them all."

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• Thousands protest Trump's takeover of Kennedy Center and threat to demolish or rename it — Thousands gathered outside the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday evening to protest Trump's takeover of the building and his threat to shut it down or demolish it unless his name is added to the facade. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper of the District of Columbia had previously ordered the Kennedy Center board to provide 30 days' notice before making any major physical changes to the building.
• Kennedy Center ceiling collapse and Trump-ordered closure — A 5-foot piece of ceiling plaster fell at the Kennedy Center in mid-September. Rather than repair the damage immediately, staff documented it extensively for a 55-page board briefing. Trump claimed online that a security guard narrowly avoided "certain death." Within two hours, Trump-allied board members voted to close the center, citing safety concerns. Trump, who serves as the center's chairman, had previously announced in February a two-year closure for renovations. Democratic board members alleged the closure was a pretext to avoid humiliation from plummeting ticket sales and fleeing artists.

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• Trump pressures South Dakota governor on Mount Rushmore — During a press gaggle in the Oval Office with the governor of South Dakota, Trump told the governor to work on placing Trump's face on Mount Rushmore, stating: "Maybe he'll get my face on that beautiful wall that I've been looking at. Come on, let's get going. You got to get going on it." The statement was made in a public setting with media present.

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• Trump trade advisor Navarro attacks Fed Chair Warsh as "Make Recessions Great Again" — White House trade advisor Peter Navarro publicly criticized Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh on Steve Bannon's podcast while standing in front of the White House. Navarro stated he is "not a Warsh guy," accused him of being "not MAGA," and claimed Warsh represents "Make Recessions Great Again" or "Make Stagflation Great Again." Navarro alleged Warsh is "selling us out" and called the appointment "a monumental mistake" that will "come back to haunt us."