Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump takes control of Kennedy Center and bans drag shows — Trump took control of the Kennedy Center in February and announced he would stop the performing arts center from hosting drag shows. This action prompted Free DC and allied groups to organize a drag show nearby in response, asserting the right to cultural expression against federal censorship.
• Trump attends Les Misérables at Kennedy Center after seizing control of the institution — President Trump attended a production of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center on June 12, 2025, his first production there since taking control of the institution in February. He had previously pushed out the center's former chair, fired its longtime president, and pledged to overhaul the institution, which he criticized as "too woke." Trump was greeted with mixed cheers and boos. Ticket sales have fallen since his takeover and some performers have cancelled shows. The president's appearance was intended to boost fundraising, with donors reportedly raising over $10 million.
• Trump takes control of Kennedy Center, fires board chair and appoints himself — In February 2025, Trump took control of the Kennedy Center by firing board chair David Rubenstein and appointing himself to preside over the institution. Following the shake-up, ticket sales for the Kennedy Center's three largest performance spaces fell to their lowest levels in years, indicating significant disruption to the cultural institution's operations and public engagement.

Supporting reports

• Jared Kushner's business ties with Saudi Arabia — Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, has raised $2 billion from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund for his private equity company, Affinity Partners. This funding was secured despite initial recommendations to reject his bid due to the company's inexperience and high fees. The financial relationship raises concerns about potential foreign influence, especially as Kushner has no formal role in Trump's second administration but maintains significant business ties with Middle Eastern countries.

Supporting reports

• Texas representative files impeachment articles against Trump — Texas Representative Al Green announced he is filing articles of impeachment against former President Donald Trump. Green's action is in response to Trump's proposal to "take over Gaza," which Green described as a "dastardly deed" amounting to ethnic cleansing. This move is part of a broader Democratic resistance to Trump's policies during his second term. Green's impeachment effort is unlikely to gain significant traction, as other Democratic leaders have indicated that impeachment is not an immediate focus.

Supporting reports

• Senate Democrats protest against Russell Vought's nomination — Senate Democrats held an all-night protest against Russell Vought, Trump's nominee to lead the White House budget office, due to his role in Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump's second term. Despite their efforts, Vought was confirmed along party lines. The protest was part of a broader Democratic strategy to oppose Trump's agenda, which includes a now-rescinded order freezing federal loans and grants. Activists were pleased with the Democrats' increased resolve to challenge the administration's actions.
• Senate urged to block Russell Vought's OMB appointment — There is a concerted effort to pressure the Senate to block the appointment of Russell Vought as Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Vought, associated with Project 2025, is accused of planning to staff the government with loyalists and undermine agencies by withholding congressionally-allocated resources. His refusal to testify that he would prioritize the Constitution over Trump's demands has intensified opposition. The Senate is expected to vote on his confirmation soon, and public campaigns are urging Senators to reject his nomination.
• Senate filibuster against Russell Vought — Democratic senators, led by Chuck Schumer, initiated a filibuster to block the confirmation of Russell Vought as the director of the Office of Management and Budget. The senators expressed concerns that Vought's proposals would threaten critical federal funding for programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
• Legislation introduced to counter Musk's actions — Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Hakeem Jeffries announced the introduction of legislation aimed at stopping Elon Musk's actions regarding the Treasury's payment systems. The proposed legislation, titled "Stop the Steal," seeks to protect Americans from potential abuses stemming from Musk's control over government financial operations.
• Senate to vote on Russell Vought's confirmation — The Senate is scheduled to vote on the confirmation of Russell Vought as the head of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought is criticized for his role in the Project 2025 agenda, which opponents argue could lead to policies detrimental to working families and democratic governance.
• Judge Griffin's Attempt to Overturn Supreme Court Election — Judge Griffin is reportedly attempting to overturn the results of a Supreme Court election in North Carolina by seeking to discard 65,000 votes. This action has been characterized as an outrageous power grab by the NC Supreme Court. The situation has prompted a campaign by Common Cause NC to raise awareness and ensure that affected voters are informed. The campaign highlights the importance of public vigilance and participation in safeguarding electoral integrity.
• Judge Griffins attempts to alter NC Supreme Court election — Judge Griffins is reportedly attempting to alter the outcome of the North Carolina Supreme Court election by targeting 60,000 votes, potentially affecting the election of Justice Alison Riggs. This action has prompted calls for public engagement and court attendance to ensure the integrity of the election process.
• Protests against government actions held nationwide — Nationwide protests have been held in response to recent government actions, including the seizure of the US Treasury and the potential confirmation of Russell Vought. These protests are described as peaceful expressions of First Amendment rights, with significant public participation.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration moves to place USAid under State Department control — The Trump administration is reportedly moving to strip the US Agency for International Development (USAid) of its independence and place it under the control of the State Department. This move is part of a broader effort to align foreign aid with Trump's "America First" policies. The administration has already frozen foreign aid while conducting a review, and plaques with USAid's seal have been removed, signaling the merger's progress. The potential executive order to dissolve USAid's independence has raised legal and national interest concerns.
• USAID officials placed on leave — Two top security officials from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) were placed on administrative leave after refusing to grant system access to officials from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This action is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to consolidate control over federal agencies and limit their independence.
• USAID officials placed on leave over Musk access dispute — Senior officials at USAID were placed on leave after attempting to prevent Elon Musk's team from accessing the agency's computer systems. Musk's team reportedly threatened to call the police when access was denied. The incident has raised concerns about security and the influence of private interests on government operations.
• Elon Musk locks USAID staff out of building — Elon Musk locked USAID staffers out of their building, with police tape and officers blocking entry. Musk announced the shutdown on X, claiming the agency was beyond repair. USAID's website and computer systems were also inaccessible. Musk stated he had Trump's approval for the action. Congressional Democrats held a press conference denouncing the move, and USAID officials expressed concerns about safety and surveillance.
• USAID placed under State Department supervision — Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that USAID would not be shut down but placed under State Department supervision. Rubio stated that USAID must align with U.S. national interests and foreign policy. The decision followed Elon Musk's attempt to shut down USAID, which was met with backlash from Congress and international observers.
• Marco Rubio declares himself head of USAid — On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared himself the acting administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAid), as staffers were locked out of its Washington DC headquarters. This move is part of an effort to align USAid with President Trump's priorities. The White House confirmed plans to merge USAid into the State Department, aiming to reduce the workforce and align spending with the president's agenda. This action has sparked criticism from Democrats and other opponents who view it as an authoritarian move.
• USAID headquarters closed — USAID's headquarters in Washington was closed, and employees were instructed to stay home via a late-night email. This closure is part of the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the agency and consolidate control over foreign aid.
• Rubio to lead USAID — Senator Marco Rubio announced he will act as the administrator of USAID, despite the agency's historical independence. He also named Pete Marocco, linked to the Jan. 6 insurrection, to run the agency, raising concerns about the agency's future direction.

Supporting reports

• Musk offers federal workers pay to resign — Elon Musk offered all 2 million federal workers eight months' pay if they resign, a move that has been criticized as potentially illegal and disruptive. The offer has raised concerns about the impact on government operations and the potential loss of experienced personnel.
• Treasury Secretary grants Musk access to payment systems — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent approved access to the Treasury's payments system for Elon Musk's team, following the administrative leave and subsequent retirement of Acting Secretary David Lebryk, who had refused the access. The payments system controls disbursement of over $6 trillion annually, and the decision to grant access to Musk's team has raised concerns about political influence and security.
• Attempt to Access Payment Systems — Elon Musk's team forced the resignation of David A. Lebryk, the highest-ranking career official at the Treasury Department, amid concerns that Musk's associates sought access to the U.S. government's payment systems. This access could allow for politically motivated interference in federal payments.
• Musk's team takes control of Treasury payment system — Elon Musk's team gained control of the Treasury's payment system, which manages approximately $6 trillion annually, allowing them access to sensitive financial information of Americans and businesses. This takeover was facilitated by the Trump administration, which placed two USAID security officials on leave when they attempted to prevent Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing classified information. The implications of this action raise significant concerns about the security and integrity of U.S. government operations.
• Elon Musk gains access to US Treasury payment system — Elon Musk has reportedly gained access to the US Treasury payment system, which is responsible for funding government operations. This access has raised concerns about bypassing traditional government oversight, as Musk is neither a federal employee nor appointed by the President. The situation has been described as a potential coup, with Musk and his team allegedly circumventing Congress and the executive branch. This development has sparked significant public outcry and calls for action to prevent further unauthorized control over government functions.
• Musk's Team Takes Control of U.S. Treasury Payment Systems — Elon Musk's team, operating under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has taken control of the U.S. Treasury payment systems, which manage approximately $6 trillion in annual transactions. This action allows them access to sensitive personal information and enables Musk to cancel transactions he deems wasteful, including the IRS Direct File system that allowed free online tax filing. This move raises concerns about the legality and security of government operations.
• Musk's team takes control of U.S. Treasury systems — Elon Musk's team, operating under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has taken control of the U.S. Treasury payment systems, which manage approximately $6 trillion in annual transactions. This action allows them access to sensitive personal information and enables Musk to cancel transactions he deems wasteful, including the IRS Direct File system. This move raises significant concerns about the security and integrity of government operations.
• Musk's DOGE given access to federal payment systems — Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been granted access to federal payment systems, allowing them to review government payments for waste. Although their access is described as "read only," this move is highly irregular and raises concerns about data privacy and the influence of private entities on government operations.
• Treasury grants Musk's team access to payment systems — The U.S. Department of the Treasury granted Elon Musk's team "read-only" access to coded data of the government's payment systems, which handle transactions such as social security payments and tax refunds. This access has sparked protests and concerns among Democratic lawmakers and the public about the potential misuse of sensitive financial data. Treasury officials assured that the system remains robust and effective, with no valid payment requests rejected, but the decision has been met with skepticism and fear of data exploitation.
• Elon Musk seizes control of US Treasury — Elon Musk, a private citizen, has reportedly seized control of the US Treasury, leading to significant financial disruptions. This action has resulted in the loss of funds for organizations such as the Haw River Assembly and World Relief, affecting grants and refugee resettlement money. The seizure is part of broader concerns about the potential confirmation of Russell Vought to the Office of Management and Budget, who is expected to support such actions if confirmed.