Trump Action Archive

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• Federal judge orders White House to restore press credentials for CNN, MS Now, and Politico — District Court Judge Timothy Kelly issued a preliminary injunction on October 14, 2026, ordering the Trump White House to restore and maintain White House press access for journalists from CNN, MS Now, and Politico. The three outlets had been banned on September 18, 2026, by presidential order citing "fake news." Judge Kelly found the plaintiffs likely to succeed on due process and First Amendment claims, noting that Trump's own public statements admitted the ban was retaliatory for editorial content rather than based on legitimate security concerns.

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• Department of Justice announced investigation of major television networks for antitrust violations — After ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC rallied together in response to Trump's ban of CNN from the White House, the Department of Justice announced it is investigating the five major television networks for breaking antitrust laws. The announcement followed the networks' coordinated public opposition to the journalist ban.

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• Trump banned journalists from White House press room; court ruled violation of free speech and due process — U.S. District Court Judge Timothy J. Kelly, a Trump appointee, ruled that Trump had banned more than 70 journalists from CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from the White House press room because he wanted more favorable coverage. Kelly ruled the ban violated both free speech and due process protections under the Bill of Rights and that Trump could not ban the organizations from the White House, though he did not address whether the administration could bar reporters from Air Force One or the Oval Office. The Justice Department announced it will appeal the ruling.
• Stay pending appeal decided — Cable News Network, Inc. v. Trump (D.D.C.) 1:26-cv-03287 — Judge Kelly issued an opinion and order granting Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction, which keeps in place, while the case proceeds, the relief from the court's earlier temporary restraining order: Defendants other than the President, must restore the White House “hard pass” press credentials of CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO employees. The court held that Plaintiffs are likely to succeed on their Fifth Amendment due process claim because they were not told in advance what conduct could cost them their passes or that revocation was a possible sanction. The court also found Plaintiffs likely to succeed on their First Amendment retaliation and viewpoint discrimination claims. The court concluded that the president likely revoked the passes “because he believes that their reporting is generally inaccurate and biased against him,” rejected Defendants' national security rationale as likely “a post-hoc justification” without support in the record, and denied Defendants' request for a stay pending appeal.
• Federal judge orders White House to restore press credentials for CNN, MS Now, and Politico — District Court Judge Timothy Kelly issued a preliminary injunction on October 14, 2026, ordering the Trump White House to restore and maintain White House press access for journalists from CNN, MS Now, and Politico. The three outlets had been banned on September 18, 2026, by presidential order citing "fake news." Judge Kelly found the plaintiffs likely to succeed on due process and First Amendment claims, noting that Trump's own public statements admitted the ban was retaliatory for editorial content rather than based on legitimate security concerns.

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• Preliminary injunction ruling — Democracy for the Arab World Now, Inc. d/b/a DAWN v. Trump (S.D.N.Y.) 1:26-cv-05957 — Judge Jesse Furman granted in substantial part Plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction. The injunction bars all Defendants except President Trump from enforcing IEEPA's civil or criminal penalties against Plaintiffs for the conduct described in their complaint, to the extent that conduct allegedly violates EO 14203's prohibition on providing “services” to or for the benefit of sanctioned persons. Following his earlier ruling in Rona v. Trump , Judge Furman held that Plaintiffs are likely to succeed on their First Amendment claim. He found that the prohibition is a content-based regulation of their speech-based activities, meaning it restricts speech based on its function or purpose. He also found that it fails strict scrutiny, which requires the government to show a restriction is narrowly tailored to serve a compelling interest. He did not reach Plaintiffs' statutory or APA claims. The court denied Plaintiffs' requests to enjoin the president, declare the order facially unconstitutional, and enter a universal injunction barring enforcement against anyone.
• Federal judge blocks Trump administration sanctions on human rights groups assisting ICC Gaza investigation — US District Judge Jesse M Furman issued a preliminary injunction on October 14, 2026, temporarily blocking the Trump administration from sanctioning two human rights organizations, Democracy for the Arab World Now (Dawn) and Taxpayer Alliance Against Genocide (Taag), for assisting the International Criminal Court's investigation into alleged war crimes in Gaza. The groups had challenged a February 2025 executive order imposing sanctions on entities supporting ICC investigations deemed threatening to US or Israeli national security. Furman ruled the order likely violated the groups' First Amendment rights as a content-based speech regulation that cannot survive strict scrutiny.

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• Disney and ABC challenged FCC's early broadcast license review — Disney and ABC filed a federal court challenge to the Federal Communications Commission's decision to initiate an early review of broadcast licenses for eight ABC-owned television stations, despite the licenses not being due for renewal until 2028–2031. Disney argued the review constitutes retaliation for programming and editorial decisions disfavored by the Trump administration. The FCC stated the review was routine regulatory oversight linked to investigations of the company's practices.

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• FBI Director Kash Patel testified before Senate on bureau policies and investigations — FBI Director Kash Patel appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee and responded to questions from Democratic and Republican senators regarding FBI hiring standards, election integrity operations, investigations into Trump-related matters, and allegations of misuse of agency resources. Patel defended the removal of bestiality as a disqualification for FBI agent hires, stated the FBI maintains election crisis coordinators at all 56 field offices, declined to comment on ongoing investigations into the 2020 election, and denied knowledge of allegations that agents interviewed a reporter's source in connection with reporting on his personal security detail.

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• Federal judge declines to block Pentagon from firing Stars and Stripes journalists — US District Judge Trevor McFadden ruled that the Pentagon may proceed with firing Stars and Stripes journalists Max Lederer, Erik Slavin, and Lara Korte without legal impediment. The journalists had sued to challenge their terminations, arguing the Pentagon violated their First Amendment rights after they spoke about the publication's need for editorial independence. McFadden concluded the firings were lawful because the journalists gave pre-approved interviews in their official capacity, not as private citizens, and found no clear First Amendment violation.

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• US House passes bill penalizing universities participating in Israel boycotts — The US House of Representatives passed the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act on a 237-169 vote, with 33 Democrats crossing party lines. The bill mandates that colleges and universities receiving federal student aid and international study funding certify annually that they do not participate in boycotts of Israel and do not restrict students from participating in Israeli programs or Israeli students from campus programs. The measure now proceeds to the Senate.

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• Stars and Stripes staff sue Pentagon for First Amendment violation — Erik Slavin, Lara Korte, and Max Lederer sued Defense Secretary Hegseth, the Defense Department, Principal Deputy Assistant Andrew Brey, and Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, alleging they were fired in retaliation for speaking as private citizens in support of press freedom and for the publication's reporting on deteriorating conditions aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln. The suit alleges a "blatant violation" of the First Amendment and "extraordinary censorship efforts."

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• ABC files First Amendment lawsuit against FCC, alleging retaliatory campaign by Trump administration — ABC filed an unprecedented First Amendment lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday against the FCC, alleging that the agency and its chairman Brendan Carr are conducting a retaliatory campaign to curb the network's free speech. The lawsuit seeks to halt an FCC proceeding demanding that ABC put its eight stations up for early license renewal. The action follows Trump's public attacks on the network, including criticism of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, and ABC News coverage the administration disapproved of.
• ABC sues FCC over early license renewal demand, alleging content-based retaliation — ABC filed a federal lawsuit in the District of Columbia against the FCC, challenging an order by FCC Chair Brendan Carr requiring the network to apply early to renew licenses for eight local television stations it owns. ABC alleges the demand is retaliatory punishment for editorial content the Trump administration disapproves of, and warns the action threatens press independence. The network faces potential license denial or prolonged costly litigation, and conservative groups have filed petitions urging the FCC to deny renewals based on alleged political bias in ABC's journalism.
• ABC and Disney sued the FCC alleging First Amendment violations and government censorship — ABC and its parent corporation The Walt Disney Company launched a federal lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission, alleging that the Trump administration violated their free speech rights. The lawsuit claims that administration officials attempted to launch investigations and challenge broadcast licenses because Trump objected to the network's talk show opinions, news coverage, and late-night comedians. The lawsuit begins with the statement: "Government censorship is deeply un-American."
• Complaint filed — American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission — ABC, The Walt Disney Company, and eight ABC-owned television stations filed a federal complaint in D.D.C. challenging an April 28, 2026 FCC order requiring early broadcast license renewal applications. The plaintiffs allege the order and related investigations constitute First Amendment retaliation for editorial decisions, including coverage of a presidential address and personnel decisions regarding late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. The complaint cites over 600 document requests and 13,000 pages of production demands, and alleges the regulatory pressure has chilled editorial discretion, including candidate bookings on The View. Plaintiffs seek declaratory judgment, preliminary injunction, and permanent injunction barring further FCC action on the renewal applications and any coercive conduct aimed at altering editorial decisions.
• ABC sues Trump administration over FCC retaliation — ABC News filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration alleging that the Federal Communications Commission retaliated against the network. The lawsuit represents a legal challenge to alleged government action targeting a news organization.
• Disney and ABC sued Trump's FCC over license renewal — Disney and ABC sued the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday to stop an early review of broadcast licenses for eight ABC-owned television stations. Disney alleged that the government is attempting to punish the network over its programming and editorial decisions. Reuters reported this is the first time in more than 50 years that a major television broadcaster has been ordered into early license-renewal process.

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• Judges rule against Trump administration in 75 First Amendment cases — Reuters analysis found that federal judges ruled against the Trump administration on First Amendment grounds in 75 of 93 cases where such arguments were raised, compared to 13 rulings against the Biden administration in 27 cases. The rulings covered retaliation against law firms, journalist restrictions, university funding cuts, actions against pro-Palestinian students and faculty, and excessive force at protests. Ten decisions came from Republican-appointed judges. The administration appealed approximately two-thirds of the rulings and persuaded appeals courts to pause or overturn 15 decisions.

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• Federal judge temporarily halts financial records disclosure order in Trump v. BBC libel case — US District Judge Roy Altman issued a temporary stay of a discovery order requiring Donald Trump to produce detailed financial records to the BBC in an ongoing libel lawsuit. Trump's legal team sought the suspension, arguing the BBC's demand for information about his business empire was "shockingly broad" and politically motivated. The judge indicated that if Trump successfully narrows his claims to reputational harm alone, the BBC's need for financial records might diminish. The BBC countered that Trump's business value remains relevant and that his $10 billion damages claim would be difficult to justify without financial evidence.

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• Human rights groups file federal lawsuit challenging Trump ICC sanctions executive order — Four prominent US human rights organizations—American Friends Service Committee, Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Watch, and Open Society Institute—filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday challenging Trump's February 2025 executive order imposing sanctions on ICC officials, judges, and affiliates investigating Israeli crimes in Palestine. The groups argue the sanctions regime violates First Amendment protections, criminalizes legitimate advocacy work, and undermines access to justice for victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

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• DOJ official encouraged prosecutors to "go big" and "go loud" in prosecuting protesters — A top Justice Department official encouraged prosecutors to "go big" and "go loud" when pursuing criminal charges against people who protested against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, according to reporting. The Minneapolis case is one of several the DOJ has brought across the U.S. leveling charges against wide swaths of protesters, including cases in Texas where prosecutors secured decades-long sentences for nine people protesting outside an ICE facility.
• Law enforcement provided false information in criminal case against journalist Georgia Fort — Federal law enforcement officials, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), provided false information to federal judges in at least 15 search warrant applications and to a grand jury in the case against independent journalist Georgia Fort, who was charged alongside nearly 40 others after interrupting a Minnesota church service to protest an ICE official serving as a pastor. The Justice Department later conceded the false claims. Fort's lawyers filed motions on Thursday seeking dismissal, arguing the prosecution violates the First Amendment, fails to state an actual crime, and is vindictive retaliation against her journalism.
• Prosecutors charged journalist Georgia Fort with conspiracy to interfere with religious rights for documenting anti-ICE protest — Journalist Georgia Fort was charged with conspiracy to interfere with the religious rights of parishioners after she entered and documented a protest at Cities church in St Paul, Minnesota, where demonstrators interrupted a service upon learning an ICE official was a pastor. Fort's lawyers argue the prosecution is vindictive retaliation targeting her for her journalism and for amplifying a message the government opposes, violating the First Amendment.
• Prosecutors made false claims in search warrant applications regarding protest conduct — In search warrant applications, prosecutors claimed a congregant had broken her arm during the protest when she had not, and made other false characterizations of Fort's conduct, including claims she conspired with others in advance when evidence showed she arrived late and was not present for planning discussions. Prosecutors also claimed Fort blocked a van from leaving when her own livestream showed the van left easily.
• Journalist Georgia Fort indicted for covering anti-ICE protest; seeks dismissal on First Amendment grounds — Attorneys for Twin Cities journalist Georgia Fort asked a federal judge to dismiss charges against her for covering an anti-ICE protest at a St. Paul church, arguing the indictment violates her First Amendment rights. Fort was indicted alongside former CNN host Don Lemon and dozens of protesters on charges of conspiring against the right of religious freedom at a place of worship. Her attorneys argue the 19-page indictment contains no allegation of physical force, threats, or blocking the church entrance, and that her role was to observe and document. Magistrate Judge John Docherty twice refused to sign search warrants for Fort's and Lemon's YouTube accounts, finding they violated the Privacy Protection Act of 1980. A government attorney acknowledged a mischaracterization in an affidavit at a July hearing.

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• Trump legal team seeks to block court order requiring financial disclosure to BBC — Donald Trump's legal team filed an emergency motion on Wednesday to temporarily halt a Miami court order requiring the president to disclose detailed financial records to the BBC by August 6, 2026. The disclosure was ordered as part of Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the broadcaster over a 2024 documentary on the January 6 Capitol attack. Trump's attorneys argued the BBC's document demands were "shockingly broad" and politically motivated, and requested the lawsuit be narrowed to focus only on "reputation harm" rather than financial impact.
• Trump pursues $10 billion defamation suit against Wall Street Journal — On Wednesday, Trump's legal team moved to advance a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal to trial. The suit stems from the Journal's reporting on a letter Trump allegedly included in a birthday book for Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, which the president characterized as "bawdy." The action is part of a broader pattern of Trump litigation against media outlets publishing critical coverage.
• Emergency Motion Filed in Trump's Suit Against BBC — Trump's family trust has filed an emergency motion to block a court order requiring the disclosure of financial records in his $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC. The motion comes after months of delays in the case, with a Trump-appointed judge pausing the order for financial disclosure.
• Federal Judge Freezes Discovery in Trump's Defamation Suit — A federal judge has frozen discovery in former President Trump's defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal. This decision prevents Trump from deposing Rupert Murdoch while the court considers dismissing the case. The lawsuit stems from the Journal's reporting on a letter allegedly linked to Trump in Jeffrey Epstein's birthday album.
• Federal judge temporarily halts financial records disclosure order in Trump v. BBC libel case — US District Judge Roy Altman issued a temporary stay of a discovery order requiring Donald Trump to produce detailed financial records to the BBC in an ongoing libel lawsuit. Trump's legal team sought the suspension, arguing the BBC's demand for information about his business empire was "shockingly broad" and politically motivated. The judge indicated that if Trump successfully narrows his claims to reputational harm alone, the BBC's need for financial records might diminish. The BBC countered that Trump's business value remains relevant and that his $10 billion damages claim would be difficult to justify without financial evidence.

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• FCC receives petitions to deny ABC license renewals; ex-officials warn of constitutional violation — The FCC, led by Chairman Brendan Carr, received petitions from conservative groups (Media Research Center and Center for American Rights) to deny license renewals for eight ABC-owned television stations. The petitions followed an "extremely unusual" early renewal order issued by the FCC in late April after criticism of ABC by Donald Trump. A coalition of former FCC chairs and senior officials from both parties filed a response warning the proceeding is "unprecedented" and violates the Communications Act and Constitution by seeking to censor speech and send a "chilling message" to broadcasters based on editorial content the administration dislikes.

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• US appeals court rejects Trump administration bid to redetain Georgetown scholar Badar Khan Suri — The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Trump administration's attempt to redetain Badar Khan Suri, an Indian postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University arrested by ICE in March 2025 for pro-Palestinian social media speech. The 2-1 decision upheld a lower court's bail release and rejected the government's motion to move the case from Virginia to Texas, affirming that detained immigrants retain habeas corpus rights to challenge detention in federal court even during pending removal proceedings.

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• Federal judge orders Trump to divulge financial details in BBC defamation lawsuit discovery — US magistrate judge Enjoliqué Lett ruled during a discovery hearing that Donald Trump must disclose detailed financial information from his businesses as part of his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC. The ruling stems from Trump's 2025 lawsuit over a 2024 BBC documentary that edited footage of his January 6 speech. The judge also authorized the BBC to subpoena dozens of Trump associates, including family members and advisers like Donald Trump Jr., Steve Bannon, and Stephen Miller, to investigate Trump's intentions on January 6. Trump's legal team indicated it will appeal the decision and attempt to amend the complaint to narrow the scope.

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• Twelve US states obtain temporary restraining order blocking Paramount-Warner Bros merger for 28 days — A coalition of 12 US states, led by California, obtained a temporary restraining order this week blocking Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery from closing for 28 days pending a preliminary injunction ruling. The states allege the merger reduces competition in cable and theatrical markets. Paramount and Skydance agreed to pause the deal until a court ruling or 1 June 2027. The delay could cost Paramount Skydance approximately $7 million daily in fees owed to Warner Bros shareholders if the merger does not close by 30 September.
• Paramount-Warner Bros Merger Paused — The merger between Paramount and Warner Bros has been paused, raising questions about the future of media consolidation. This pause may affect the media landscape, competition, and content distribution. The reasons for the pause have not been fully disclosed, leading to speculation about regulatory or financial challenges.

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• The New York Times Company files answer and counterclaims in EEOC employment discrimination suit — The New York Times Company filed an answer, affirmative defenses, and counterclaims against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and two of its commissioners on July 10, 2026, in response to an EEOC Title VII complaint alleging discrimination in a 2025 promotion decision. The Times alleges the EEOC's lawsuit constitutes First Amendment retaliation for the newspaper's reporting on the Commission's case prioritization aligned with the administration's agenda, and contends the enforcement action violates the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause and the Administrative Procedure Act as arbitrary and capricious. The Times seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, vacatur of the EEOC's decision to initiate or terminate conciliation, and attorney's fees.

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• Pentagon and DOJ establish joint taskforce to identify and prosecute press leaks — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the creation of a joint Pentagon-DOJ taskforce to identify and prosecute unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information to the press. Hegseth delegated tasking authority to the Pentagon's Office of General Counsel to request records and support across the department for media leak investigations. The announcement follows the Trump administration's issuance of subpoenas to New York Times journalists who reported on security concerns regarding Trump's new Qatari-gifted aircraft. The taskforce represents an escalation in the administration's crackdown on leaks and press freedom.

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• Complaint filed — McGonigle v. Curran, U.S. Secret Service, Director of Presidential Advance, Executive Office of the President (D. Me. 1:26-cv-00349) — Amanda McGonigle, operator of the social media account "CatsOnACouch" with nearly 2 million followers posting commentary critical of Vice President JD Vance, filed a complaint in federal district court alleging that she was excluded from two official White House Task Force events in Des Moines (May 5, 2026) and Bangor, Maine (May 14, 2026) in retaliation for her viewpoint. McGonigle alleges Secret Service officers at the Bangor event singled her out by name and turned her away, stating "we know where you stand." She seeks declaratory and injunctive relief barring defendants from excluding her from future vice presidential events based on her past statements, claiming the exclusion violates her First Amendment rights in a limited public forum.
• Amanda McGonigle sues JD Vance and Secret Service for alleged First Amendment violation at Bangor event — Amanda McGonigle, operator of the satirical Instagram account @CatsOnACouch, filed a lawsuit in US District Court in Maine on July 9, 2026, through the ACLU of Maine, alleging that she was denied entry to a vice-presidential event in Bangor on May 14, 2026, because of her online criticism of JD Vance. Court documents state Secret Service officers identified her by name and denied her access, telling her "We know where you stand." The complaint alleges First Amendment violation and retaliation for political speech.

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• Complaint filed — Streever v. Mullin (D.D.C. 1:26-cv-02356) — David Streever, an author and journalist, filed a First Amendment complaint in federal court challenging an ICE "Warning Notice" issued after he emailed then-Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons criticizing the agency's defense of agents involved in the Alex Pretti shooting. The notice, allegedly delivered to his home and followed by agent surveillance and voicemails, asserted his email may violate federal criminal statutes and demanded he cease the conduct. Streever, represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), alleges the notice and agents' conduct constitute unconstitutional coercion, prior restraint, and First Amendment retaliation, and seeks declarations that his speech is protected and injunctions barring further coercive or retaliatory action.

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• Louisiana Supreme Court grants stay in criminal indictment against Attorney General Liz Murrill — Louisiana's Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill was indicted on 16 counts of intimidation and malfeasance by a New Orleans grand jury on Thursday, July 3, 2026, for allegedly intimidating city officials who opposed a Republican-backed law overhauling New Orleans courts. Murrill moved for a stay on Thursday; the Louisiana Supreme Court granted it Friday, finding "compelling argument concerning the disturbing defects in the grand jury proceedings." The court noted the trial court violated state law requiring grand jury returns in open court, and ordered the special prosecutor to recall an arrest warrant.
• New Orleans grand jury indicts Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill on 16 counts — A New Orleans grand jury indicted Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill on July 3, 2026, on 16 counts of intimidation and malfeasance for allegedly threatening to remove eight New Orleans officials—including Mayor Helena Moreno and District Attorney Jason Williams—from office because they opposed a Republican-backed law eliminating a court clerk position won by exoneree Calvin Duncan. The indictment arose from a months-long political conflict between state Republicans and New Orleans Democrats over the law.

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• Trump refiles $10 billion defamation lawsuit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein letter story — Donald Trump's legal team refiled a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, and reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Joe Palazzolo over a July 2025 article alleging Trump sent a "bawdy" letter to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. A Florida judge had dismissed the original case in April without prejudice, finding Trump's team had not adequately demonstrated actual malice. The amended complaint, seven pages longer, reiterates that no authentic letter exists and claims the Journal published despite knowing the story was false or with serious doubts.
• Trump refiles $10 billion defamation lawsuit against Wall Street Journal — Trump refiled a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal over its publication of an article describing a card allegedly from Jeffrey Epstein's estate. Trump claims the article damaged his reputation and that the card is fake, though it originated from Epstein's estate and was later provided by the estate to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles had dismissed the original lawsuit last month, finding Trump came "nowhere close" to establishing actual malice, but permitted amendment and refiling.