Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• J. Michael Luttig criticizes Chief Justice Roberts for insufficient public opposition to Trump — Conservative former federal judge J. Michael Luttig, speaking on the "Court of History" podcast, publicly criticized Chief Justice John Roberts for what he called "unforgivable reticence" in failing to take a robust stand against President Trump's attacks on courts and judges. Luttig, a Trump critic who testified before Congress about January 6, argued that Roberts knows of the threats to judicial independence and the court's reputation but has chosen selective, muted responses rather than direct condemnation of the president's conduct toward the judiciary.

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• Paramount settled Trump lawsuit for $16 million — Paramount announced it will settle Trump's lawsuit related to the 2024 '60 Minutes' interview with Kamala Harris for $16 million. A portion of the funds will pay for Trump's fees and costs, and the remainder will be donated to his future presidential library. The settlement did not include an apology but included a provision requiring release of future '60 Minutes' interview transcripts. The settlement represents a major payment to Trump from a media company.
• CBS ends Stephen Colbert's late-night show — CBS announced in July that it would end Stephen Colbert's late-night show in May 2026. Colbert is an outspoken Trump critic who had criticized Paramount for settling with Trump days before the announcement, calling it a "big fat bribe." CBS attributed the cancellation to financial reasons and stated it was unrelated to the show's content. Trump celebrated the decision on Truth Social, writing "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired."
• Paramount settles Trump lawsuit; CBS News hires Trump loyalist ombudsman — In July 2025, CBS News' parent company Paramount paid $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Trump, described in the article as "frivolous." In September 2025, CBS News hired a Trump loyalist to serve as ombudsman, tasked with reviewing news coverage for alleged "bias." These moves signal a shift in editorial direction at a historically fact-based news organization.
• Paramount settles Trump defamation lawsuit over CBS News 60 Minutes interview — Paramount agreed to a $16 million settlement with Trump after he sued CBS News over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris that aired in October 2024. Trump claimed the interview was edited to make Harris look better and constituted "election interference," though editing interviews for clarity and length is standard journalistic practice. The settlement occurred as part of Paramount's broader effort to secure Trump administration approval for its merger with Skydance.

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• Trump threatens deportation and subsidy cuts against Musk amid tax bill dispute — Donald Trump and Elon Musk's political alliance fractured over Trump's signature tax bill moving through Congress. Musk publicly opposed the legislation, calling it "insane" and threatening to form a new political party if it passed. Trump responded with threats to deport Musk (citing his South African birth), cut government subsidies to his companies, and deploy the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) against him. The feud centers on Musk's concerns that the bill would nullify federal spending cuts and add trillions to national debt, while Trump alleges Musk's opposition stems from the bill's termination of EV tax credits.
• Trump attacked Musk on Truth Social over EV subsidies and threatened DOGE investigation — President Trump posted on Truth Social after midnight on July 1, attacking Elon Musk for receiving subsidies while claiming to oppose EV mandates. Trump stated that without subsidies Musk would "probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa" and suggested that DOGE (the Department of Government Efficiency) should investigate Musk's subsidies. Trump framed this as potential "big money to be saved."
• Trump suggested deporting Elon Musk — When asked by a reporter whether he would deport Elon Musk, Trump said, "We'll have to take a look," adding that "We might have to put DOGE on Elon … the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon." The statement represents a threat of deportation against a major political figure based on personal conflict.
• Trump suggested deporting Musk in response to subsidy criticism — When a reporter asked Trump on the morning of July 1 whether he might consider deporting Elon Musk, Trump responded: "We'll have to take a look. We might have to put DOGE on Elon. You know what DOGE is? The monster that might have to go back and eat Elon. Wouldn't that be terrible? He gets a lot of subsidies." The statement appeared to reference potential deportation as a consequence of Musk's political opposition.

Supporting reports

• Elon Musk threatened to finance primary challengers against Republican Congress members — Former Trump adviser and top donor Elon Musk threatened to finance primary challengers against Republican members of Congress who vote for Trump's "big, beautiful bill," calling it "utterly insane." The threat represents use of financial power to coerce legislative votes on a specific bill.
• Elon Musk threatens primary challenges against Republicans who voted for budget — Elon Musk posted multiple messages attacking the budget bill and Republican members of Congress. He declared that every member who campaigned on reducing spending but voted for the bill "should hang their head in shame" and threatened they would "lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth." Musk also announced that if the bill passes, he will form the "America Party" as an alternative to the "Democrat-Republican uniparty."
• Elon Musk announces formation of America Party as alternative political organization — Elon Musk declared in early July 2025 the formation of the America Party, positioning it as a viable alternative to the Democratic and Republican parties. Musk stated the party would challenge what he characterizes as a "one-party system" focused on "bankrupting our country with waste & graft." He proposed running candidates for two to three Senate seats and up to ten House districts, believing such representation could serve as deciding votes on contentious legislation. Political scientists and experts expressed skepticism about the party's viability and impact.
• Elon Musk launched third political party called "The America Party" — Elon Musk, who spent the previous 24 hours criticizing the Senate budget bill and urging House members to vote against it while threatening to back primary opponents, announced the launch of a third political party called "The America Party." Musk's actions included threatening primary challenges to House Republicans and launching this new party as an apparent alternative to existing political structures.
• Elon Musk threatened to form new political party and run primary challengers over budget bill — Billionaire Elon Musk reentered the debate over the budget reconciliation bill, threatening to start a new political party if it passed. Musk also threatened to run primary challengers against lawmakers who voted yes on the measure, creating a counterweight to Trump's threat to run challengers against those who vote no. Musk claimed to be donating to the reelection campaign of Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY), an opponent of the bill.

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• Trump states he authorized Iranian retaliation strike on U.S. base — At a press conference in the Netherlands, President Trump stated he had given Iran permission to conduct a retaliatory bombing of a U.S. air base in Qatar in response to U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear weapons program sites. Trump said he approved the timing and that the base was evacuated except for gunners. The statement has received limited media attention despite its extraordinary nature.

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• Trump administration conducts unilateral bombardment of Iranian nuclear facilities without Congressional authorization — The Trump administration conducted direct military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities without seeking Congressional approval or presenting intelligence justification to Congress or the public. Ansari characterizes this as a violation of constitutional war powers and notes the lack of transparency regarding the rationale for strikes, particularly problematic given U.S. history of military interventions in the Middle East.
• Trump orders strikes on Iranian nuclear sites — President Trump announced via Truth Social that he ordered more than 125 aircraft and 75 weapons, including 14 bunker-busting bombs, to strike three Iranian nuclear targets to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He followed with a White House speech declaring the strikes "a spectacular military success" and claiming Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities were "completely and totally obliterated." A leaked intelligence report later suggested the operation set back Iran's nuclear program by only a few months.

Supporting reports

• Trump attacked Rand Paul and Thom Tillis on Truth Social — Trump posted on Truth Social attacking both senators who voted against the reconciliation bill. He questioned Rand Paul's loyalty ("Did Rand Paul Vote 'NO' again tonight? What's wrong with this guy???") and attacked Thom Tillis for opposing the bill, accusing him of "GRANDSTANDING" and announcing he would back a primary challenger against Tillis. Trump later announced he would meet with potential primary challengers to find someone to "properly represent the Great People of NC."
• Trump threatened primary challenge to Senator Tillis — After Senator Thom Tillis voted against the budget reconciliation bill, Trump announced he would support a primary challenger to Tillis. Trump stated he would be "looking for someone who will properly represent the Great People of North Carolina," signaling retaliation against the senator for his vote opposing the administration's fiscal measure.
• Trump threatens primary challenge against Tillis after Senate vote against spending bill — Senator Thom Tillis voted against Trump's "big beautiful bill" on a procedural Senate vote on Saturday. Trump responded with a barrage of social media attacks, calling Tillis a "talker and complainer" and threatening to support a primary challenger against him in 2026. Tillis announced on Sunday he would not seek re-election, citing the increasingly hostile environment toward independent-minded Republicans in Washington.
• Tillis announces retirement from Senate after Trump pressure — Following Trump's threats and attacks over his vote against the spending bill, Senator Thom Tillis announced on Sunday that he will not seek re-election to the US Senate in 2026. In his statement, Tillis cited the increasingly hostile environment toward bipartisan and independent-minded leaders in Washington, noting that such leaders have become "an endangered species."
• Senator Tillis announces he will not seek reelection — Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced he will not run for reelection in 2026 after Trump attacked him for not supporting the budget reconciliation bill. Tillis stated his desire to exercise "independent thinking" and called leaders willing to embrace bipartisanship "an endangered species." His departure puts the North Carolina Senate seat in play for Democratic pickup.
• Trump threatens primary challenges against Republican fiscal conservatives — After Senator Tillis announced opposition to the reconciliation bill, Trump posted on Truth Social attacking Tillis as "a talker and complainer, NOT A DOER" and pledged to back a primary challenger. When Tillis subsequently announced he would not seek re-election, Trump called it "good news" and threatened primary challenges against other Republican fiscal conservatives blocking the bill's passage.