Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Defense Secretary Hegseth held press conference defending Iran strike claims — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a press conference on June 26, 2025, defending the Trump administration's characterization of recent military strikes against Iran. Hegseth stated that "President Trump directed the most complex and secretive military operation in history, and it was a resounding success resulting in a ceasefire agreement and the end of the 12-day war." He appeared to rebuke media outlets for contradicting the administration's narrative that the strikes had "completely obliterated" Iran's nuclear weapons program.
• Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin challenged Hegseth on Iran uranium claims — Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin asked Secretary Hegseth whether he was certain that highly enriched uranium had not been moved prior to the strikes. Hegseth responded angrily, telling Griffin she had been "the worst" and "misrepresents the most, intentionally, what the president says." Griffin defended her reporting record. Fox analyst Brit Hume subsequently defended Griffin on air, stating the attack on her was unfair and praising her professionalism and Pentagon expertise.
• Secretary of Defense Hegseth conducted press conference attacking media over Iran nuclear assessment — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held a press conference with Joint Chiefs Chair Dan Caine to defend the Trump administration's claims about the Iran bombing campaign. Hegseth angrily attacked the press for publishing a leaked Defense Intelligence Agency report contradicting Trump's assertion that Iran's nuclear program had been "completely obliterated." Hegseth interrupted Caine, ranted about media bias, and accused journalists of cheering against Trump. The briefing appeared designed to pressure the intelligence community into supporting the administration's narrative rather than presenting independent assessment.

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• DOD social media account posted attack on press — Secretary of Defense Hegseth hired a right-wing social media influencer to run the official Department of Defense social media account. The account posted a screenshot of Trump's praise for Hegseth's press conference with the caption: "SecDef just called out the Fake News: 'I mean specifically you, the press core, because you cheer against Trump so hard…'" The post used the official DOD account to amplify attacks on the press and promote partisan messaging.

Supporting reports

• ICE and CoreCivic Plan to Open California's Largest Immigration Jail — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has partnered with CoreCivic, a private prison contractor, to convert a shuttered 2,500-bed prison in California City into the state's largest immigrant detention center. This move is part of the Trump administration's efforts to increase detention capacity amid a crackdown on immigration. CoreCivic has received $10 million in initial funding for a six-month contract to transform the facility. The plan has sparked significant opposition from advocacy groups and local residents, who argue it will lead to long-term harm and economic detriment to the community.
• Gavin Newsom sues Fox News for defamation over edited Trump call footage — California Governor Gavin Newsom filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News on Friday, demanding $787 million in damages. The suit alleges that Fox host Jesse Watters aired a deceptively edited clip of Donald Trump to falsely claim Newsom lied about the timing of a phone call with Trump regarding military deployment to Los Angeles. Records show the call occurred on June 7, not immediately before the June 10 deployment announcement. The lawsuit also invokes California's Unfair Competition Law and mirrors the $787.5 million Dominion settlement Fox paid in 2023.
• Gov. Newsom filed defamation lawsuit against Fox News and Jesse Watters — California Governor Gavin Newsom filed a $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News and host Jesse Watters after Watters aired a deceptively edited clip and made false claims about Newsom's communications with Trump. Newsom's legal team stated they would drop the suit if Fox issues a public retraction and Watters apologizes on air. The damages figure matches Fox's 2023 Dominion settlement.

Supporting reports

• Kari Lake testified VOA should be eliminated as independent agency — Kari Lake, Trump's appointee to oversee the US Agency for Global Media, testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee that President Trump wants to completely eliminate VOA as an independent agency. Lake argued the agency "does not know how to manage" and is disrespectful to taxpayers. She made unsubstantiated claims about security screening failures and suggested folding VOA's remaining functions into the State Department, referencing the 1940s-1950s as "glory days" when there were "guardrails on what the story of America was being told."

Supporting reports

• Trump baselessly claimed CNN and New York Times coordinated against him — On June 24, Trump baselessly claimed on Truth Social that CNN and the New York Times "TEAMED UP IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEMEAN ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MILITARY STRIKES IN HISTORY," and continued to say Iran's nuclear sites were "COMPLETELY DESTROYED!"

Supporting reports

• White House issued compilation of congressional statements supporting military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities — The White House published a compilation of statements from Republican lawmakers in Congress expressing support for military strikes conducted against Iranian nuclear facilities. The document presents statements from Senate and House Republicans characterizing the strikes as necessary action against Iran's nuclear program, with lawmakers framing the operation as "peace through strength" and emphasizing Iran's status as a state sponsor of terrorism. The statements do not constitute new policy announcements but rather curate existing public statements of support.
• White House releases statement on precision strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities — The White House issued a press release compiling statements from Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio from Sunday morning television appearances. The officials stated that the Trump administration conducted precision strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, claiming to have destroyed Iran's nuclear program without civilian casualties. They characterized the strikes as a response to failed diplomacy and stated the administration remains open to negotiated settlement if Iran chooses diplomacy, while warning of "overwhelming force" if Iran retaliates.

Supporting reports

• JD Vance conducts Los Angeles press conference excluding local reporters — Vice-president JD Vance visited Los Angeles on June 21 to tour federal immigration enforcement operations and held a 14-minute press conference. The White House selected only national reporters; local Los Angeles journalists were barred from attending. Vance blamed California Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass for encouraging violent protests against federal immigration raids, claiming sanctuary city policies enabled rioters. He made a joke misidentifying Senator Alex Padilla as "Jose Padilla," conflating him with a 2002 terrorism suspect.