Trump Action Archive

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• Trump posted demands to imprison political opponents over 2020 election — Trump posted demands that political opponents be imprisoned over the 2020 election, shared fabricated electoral maps to claim a victory that did not occur, amplified calls to prosecute investigators like Jack Smith, and circulated communications suggesting federal regulators should pressure private companies like Apple to alter its News app in ways favorable to him.

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• Brady Tkachuk denied authenticity of White House deepfake video — Brady Tkachuk publicly stated that the White House's AI-doctored video was "clearly fake, because it's not my voice, not my lips moving." Tkachuk emphasized "I'm not in control of any of those accounts. I know that those words would never come out of my mouth... It's not my voice. It's not what I was saying. I would never say that. That's not who I am."
• White House released AI-doctored video of Brady Tkachuk disparaging Canadians — The White House's official TikTok account released an AI-doctored video on Sunday that made it appear Ottawa Senators captain and Team USA gold medalist Brady Tkachuk was disparaging Canadians. The fabricated video featured doctored footage from a Tkachuk brothers' news conference at the 4 Nations Face-Off, with Tkachuk made to appear to say "They booed our national anthem, so I had to come out and teach those maple syrup eating fuckers a lesson" while "Free Bird," Team USA's goal song, played in the background. The video accumulated 11.1 million views on TikTok and spread widely across social media platforms.

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• Trump circulated communications directing federal regulators to pressure Apple News app — Trump circulated communications suggesting federal regulators should pressure private companies like Apple to alter its News app in ways favorable to him. This reflects a broader pattern of using government authority to reshape media environments and influence public perception.

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• Bill Clinton testified in Epstein deposition — Bill Clinton appeared for a closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee regarding his knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein. The deposition was interrupted when Rep. Lauren Boebert photographed Hillary Clinton's testimony and leaked it to media. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam noted that no Republicans were present to question Les Wexner, who bankrolled Epstein's fortune.
• Clinton depositions held before House Oversight Committee amid photo leak and transparency dispute — Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were scheduled for depositions before the House Oversight Committee in Chappaqua, New York. During Hillary Clinton's closed-door deposition, Rep. Lauren Boebert shared an unauthorized photograph from the hearing with Benny Johnson, who posted it on social media. The deposition was paused following the leak. Hillary Clinton subsequently demanded press access for the remainder of the proceeding, but House Oversight Chair James Comer refused, despite Boebert's unauthorized photography. The central focus of the depositions concerned missing FBI 302 interview memos related to a survivor who accused Donald Trump of sexual assault as a minor.
• Hillary Clinton testified in Epstein deposition — Hillary Clinton appeared for a closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee regarding her knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein. Clinton maintained that she did not recall meeting Epstein, never visited his island, and never visited his homes or offices. She also reported being asked questions about UFOs and the "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory, which she characterized as "one of the most vile bogus conspiracy theories that was propagated on the internet." Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) noted the absence of Republicans who could have questioned Les Wexner, who bankrolled Epstein's fortune.
• Representative Lauren Boebert shared closed deposition photo with right-wing podcaster — Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) shared a photograph from the closed Hillary Clinton deposition with right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson, who posted it on social media with the caption: "This is the first time Hillary has had to answer real questions about Epstein. Clinton does not look happy." The sharing of material from a closed proceeding violated the confidentiality of the deposition and appeared designed to generate partisan social media content rather than advance the stated investigative purpose.
• Rep. Lauren Boebert leaked unauthorized photograph from House deposition — During Hillary Clinton's deposition before the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Lauren Boebert photographed the closed-door hearing and shared the unauthorized image with Benny Johnson, a right-wing media figure, who subsequently posted it on social media. The leak prompted a pause in the deposition proceedings.
• Lauren Boebert photographed Hillary Clinton testimony and leaked to media — During a closed-door House Oversight Committee deposition of Bill and Hillary Clinton regarding Jeffrey Epstein, Rep. Lauren Boebert photographed Hillary Clinton testifying and sent the image to right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson, who posted it on social media. The deposition rules strictly prohibited photography. Clinton's legal team halted the deposition to address the breach. The deposition resumed later. The incident violated the explicit terms governing the confidential proceeding.
• Committee Chair Comer mischaracterizes Clinton testimony to reporters — During a break in Clinton's deposition, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer told reporters that Clinton said Trump had never said anything to make him think Trump was involved with Epstein. However, Ranking Democrat Robert Garcia later told reporters that Comer's characterization did not accurately reflect Clinton's actual answer. Garcia called for release of the full transcript so the public could see what Clinton actually said, noting that Republicans have repeatedly broken the rules regarding disclosure of closed-door hearing content.
• Hillary Clinton testifies before House Oversight Committee — Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified via video before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee regarding her knowledge of investigations into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Clinton criticized the committee for its lack of transparency and for not hearing from key witnesses involved in the investigation, asserting that her testimony was a distraction from President Trump's actions.
• House Oversight Committee compels Hillary Clinton to testify on Epstein — The Republican majority on the House Oversight Committee, led by Chair James Comer (R-KY), required former first lady Hillary Clinton to testify before the committee regarding the Epstein investigation. Clinton testified under oath that she had never met Epstein and knew Maxwell only as an acquaintance. Clinton is not mentioned in the Epstein files. The compelled testimony occurred despite Clinton's prior sworn statements denying knowledge of Epstein's crimes.
• House Oversight Republicans held closed-door deposition of former President Bill Clinton on Epstein investigation — House Oversight Republicans convened a closed-door deposition of former President Bill Clinton related to the Epstein investigation. Democrats participated and questioned why Trump, whose name appears repeatedly in released materials, was not being sought for testimony. Large portions of the Epstein files remain withheld or heavily redacted, and some survivor accounts have not been fully released. Republicans characterized the deposition as a political spectacle rather than a genuine accountability exercise.
• Representative James Comer spoke to press to ensure Trump not implicated in Epstein crimes — Representative James Comer left the Bill Clinton deposition during a break to speak with the press, with the stated goal of ensuring everyone that Trump is not implicated in Epstein's crimes. This action characterized the Republican investigation as functioning as Trump's personal crisis law firm rather than a legitimate fact-seeking inquiry.
• DOJ removed and restored Epstein-related photograph from public website — The Department of Justice removed a photograph from its Epstein files website showing Trump appointee Howard Lutnick with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Epstein's island. The photo had been archived by the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine on January 31 and was later removed, returning a "Page not found" error. Within hours of CBS News publishing a story about the removal, DOJ restored the photograph. DOJ later stated the removal was due to the image being "part of a batch of files that had been flagged for nudity."
• James Comer mischaracterized Clinton deposition testimony on Trump-Epstein relationship — House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer told media that former President Bill Clinton had exonerated Trump regarding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, stating Clinton said Trump "has never said anything to me to make me think he was involved." Democratic oversight members immediately contradicted this account, releasing the full deposition context showing Clinton had confirmed Trump and Epstein had a "close relationship" and that Trump reported having "great times" with Epstein. Rep. Maxwell Frost clarified that Clinton said Trump cited a land dispute as the reason for their falling out.

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• Representative Lauren Boebert shared closed deposition photo with right-wing podcaster — Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) shared a photograph from the closed Hillary Clinton deposition with right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson, who posted it on social media with the caption: "This is the first time Hillary has had to answer real questions about Epstein. Clinton does not look happy." The sharing of material from a closed proceeding violated the confidentiality of the deposition and appeared designed to generate partisan social media content rather than advance the stated investigative purpose.
• Rep. Lauren Boebert leaked unauthorized photograph from House deposition — During Hillary Clinton's deposition before the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Lauren Boebert photographed the closed-door hearing and shared the unauthorized image with Benny Johnson, a right-wing media figure, who subsequently posted it on social media. The leak prompted a pause in the deposition proceedings.
• Lauren Boebert photographed Hillary Clinton testimony and leaked to media — During a closed-door House Oversight Committee deposition of Bill and Hillary Clinton regarding Jeffrey Epstein, Rep. Lauren Boebert photographed Hillary Clinton testifying and sent the image to right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson, who posted it on social media. The deposition rules strictly prohibited photography. Clinton's legal team halted the deposition to address the breach. The deposition resumed later. The incident violated the explicit terms governing the confidential proceeding.

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• Senate Democrats launch investigation into CBS/FCC over blocked Colbert interview — Senator Richard Blumenthal, ranking Democrat on the Senate's permanent subcommittee on investigations, initiated a formal inquiry into whether the FCC and CBS parent company Paramount suppressed a Stephen Colbert interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. Blumenthal sent letters to the FCC's enforcement bureau and Paramount CEO David Ellison demanding documents and communications with the Trump White House, alleging a "partisan censorship scheme" by FCC Chair Brendan Carr and suggesting Paramount silenced speech to secure federal approval for its $108 billion Warner Brothers Discovery acquisition.

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• Rep. Al Green removed from House chamber for holding protest sign during SOTU — Rep. Al Green of Texas stood and held up a sign reading "Black People Aren't Apes" during the State of the Union address and was escorted out by the Sergeant at Arms. Multiple Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Markwayne Mullin, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and Rep. Troy Nehls, physically attempted to grab and pull the sign from Green's hands. The sign was a direct response to a video Trump had shared on social media earlier in February depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. This was the second consecutive year Green had been removed during a Trump address to Congress.
• Rep. Al Green ejected from State of the Union for protest sign — During Trump's State of the Union address on February 24, Democratic Rep. Al Green was removed from the chamber for holding a sign reading "BLACK PEOPLE AREN'T APES" in protest of Trump's remarks. The ejection occurred as Trump made false claims about election fraud and border security.
• Al Green ejected from State of the Union for holding protest sign — During President Trump's State of the Union address on February 25, 2026, Texas Democratic Congressman Al Green was removed from the House chamber by Speaker Mike Johnson after holding a sign reading "Black people aren't apes!" — a reference to Trump sharing racist video depictions of Barack and Michelle Obama. Green was escorted out as Republican representatives attempted to block the sign from cameras. This marked the second consecutive year Green has been ejected from the annual event.
• Representative Al Green escorted out of State of the Union for protest sign — Representative Al Green (D-TX) was escorted out of the State of the Union address after holding up a sign reading "BLACK PEOPLE AREN'T APES" in reference to Trump's posting of an image depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. The removal occurred during the address.
• Representative Al Green physically removed from State of the Union after displaying sign — During the State of the Union, Rep. Al Green displayed a sign responding to a video the President had shared depicting the Obamas as primates. Multiple lawmakers attempted to seize the sign from his hands, and Green was physically removed from the chamber. The sign conveyed a message affirming basic human dignity and stating that Black people are not apes.
• Representative Al Green escorted out during State of the Union — Representative Al Green was escorted out of the State of the Union address after holding up a sign that read "BLACK PEOPLE AREN’T APES," referencing President Trump's past derogatory comments about the Obamas. This incident highlighted tensions and protests against Trump's rhetoric during the event.

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• Trump demanded Netflix fire Susan Rice — Trump posted on Truth Social demanding that Netflix immediately fire Susan Rice, calling her a "racist, Trump Deranged" political hack with "no talent or skills" and threatening consequences if the company did not comply. Trump questioned her compensation and role at the company.
• Trump threatens Netflix over Susan Rice board membership — On Truth Social, Trump warned Netflix that if it does not fire board member and former Obama national security adviser Susan Rice—who had cautioned corporations and news organizations against capitulating to the current administration—the streaming service will "pay the consequences." The threat came as Netflix was negotiating to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal requiring FCC approval. Netflix subsequently withdrew from the acquisition.

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• Judge declares mistrial in Texas ICE protest terrorism case over defense attorney's civil rights shirt — US District Judge Mark Pittman, a Trump appointee, declared a mistrial in a federal case against nine protesters charged with terrorism for a July 4 demonstration at an ICE detention facility near Fort Worth. Pittam halted jury selection after defense attorney MarQuetta Clayton wore a shirt displaying civil rights movement imagery, claiming it could bias jurors. Clayton had been visible in court all day before Pittman intervened only when she began questioning potential jurors. The mistrial requires a complete restart with a new jury panel.

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• FCC Chairman Brendan Carr signals enforcement of equal-time rule against talk shows — FCC Chairman Brendan Carr issued new guidance signaling that late-night and daytime talk shows can no longer assume they fall under the "bonafide news" exemption from the equal-time rule. Carr indicated that exemption determinations would depend on multiple factors, including whether there was "partisan motivation" in featuring political candidates as guests. The guidance prompted stations to seek pre-approval before booking candidates, effectively making the FCC a de facto guest-booking authority.
• FCC Chair Carr opened investigation of The View — FCC chair Brendan Carr opened an investigation of the morning talk show The View after Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico appeared on the show earlier this month. Carr changed the FCC's enforcement of the Equal Time Rule to apply to non-news talk shows that appear to be "motivated by partisan purposes," requiring networks to give equal time to all candidates for an office if they interview one candidate.
• FCC chair investigates talk show for Equal Time Rule violation — FCC chair Brendan Carr opened an investigation into the talk show "The View" after it featured Democratic candidate James Talarico, suggesting that the show may have violated the Equal Time Rule by not providing equal airtime to other candidates.
• FCC launches investigation into ABC's interview with Democratic candidate — After ABC's The View interviewed Texas State Representative James Talarico on February 2, 2026, an anonymous FCC source leaked to Fox News that the Commission had launched an investigation into the interview. The FCC source stated, "Fake news is not getting a free pass anymore," signaling that the investigation was retaliatory and politically motivated.
• FCC investigated San Francisco radio station over ICE coverage — Early in Trump's second term, the FCC launched an investigation into San Francisco radio station KCBS over its coverage of ICE operations in San Jose. According to the Associated Press, the station's news directors told employees to ensure that the station's coverage did not anger the FCC, demonstrating that regulatory threat had a chilling effect on editorial independence.

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• Stephen Colbert reports CBS blocked Talarico interview — The Trump administration issued new guidance in January 2026 reinterpreting the "equal-time rule" to apply to daytime and late-night talk shows, reversing the longstanding assumption that interviews with politicians conducted by talk show hosts would be exempt from the rule. This guidance became the legal basis cited by CBS for blocking the Colbert-Talarico interview.
• Texas Democratic Senate primary between Talarico and Crockett — James Talarico and Jasmine Crockett are competing in the Texas Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat scheduled for March 3, 2026. On February 16, CBS refused to air Stephen Colbert's interview with Talarico, citing Trump administration FCC guidance concerns. The incident generated widespread censorship allegations and boosted Talarico's campaign through viral YouTube views and fundraising. Both candidates present contrasting strategies: Crockett emphasizes partisan confrontation of Trump; Talarico pursues cross-partisan economic messaging to appeal to disaffected Trump voters and independents.
• Stephen Colbert reports network legal censorship of Texas state representative — Late-night host Stephen Colbert announced on air that his network's legal team had prohibited him from interviewing Texas state Representative James Talarico, who was scheduled as a guest. Colbert stated he was told "in no uncertain terms" that he could not have Talarico on the broadcast and was further instructed not to mention the prohibition itself. Colbert then proceeded to discuss the censorship on air, citing the network's apparent unwillingness to address the matter.
• CBS refused to air Colbert interview with Democratic candidate over FCC equal-time rule — Late-night host Stephen Colbert reported that CBS refused to broadcast an interview he conducted with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, citing legal concerns about FCC chair Brendan Carr's regulatory guidance issued in January requiring equal airtime for political candidates on daytime and late-night talk shows. CBS claimed the broadcast "could trigger" the equal-time rule, though the network stated the program was not prohibited. Colbert's team found no historical enforcement of the rule on late-night shows dating to the 1960s. The interview was uploaded to YouTube instead.
• CBS Blocks Stephen Colbert Interview with Texas State Representative — CBS network legal counsel blocked Stephen Colbert from airing an interview with Texas State Representative James Talarico and instructed him not to mention the cancellation. The network cited concerns about retaliation from FCC Chair Brendan Carr. Colbert disclosed the censorship on-air and subsequently released the interview independently online, revealing the chilling effect of government pressure on editorial decisions.
• CBS prohibits Colbert interview with Democratic candidate under FCC pressure — CBS forbade Late Show host Stephen Colbert from interviewing Texas State Representative James Talarico, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate, citing the FCC's January 21 "equal time rule" reinterpretation. The FCC declared that talk-show interviews with political candidates would no longer have blanket news exemptions and would be evaluated case-by-case for "bona fide" news purposes versus "partisan purposes." CBS also instructed Colbert's lawyers to prevent him from discussing the censorship decision. Colbert aired the incident anyway on his February 17 show, calling it an effort to silence Trump critics on television.
• Colbert's interview with Talarico received 3.8 million YouTube views — As of 10:00 p.m. on February 18, Colbert's 15-minute interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico had been viewed on YouTube 3.8 million times. Forbes reported it is Colbert's most watched interview in months, indicating significant public interest in Talarico's message criticizing Republican use of Christianity as a political weapon.
• CBS blocked interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico — Late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert told viewers he had been unable to air an interview he did with Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Texas James Talarico. Colbert stated: "I was told…that not only could I not have him on, I could not mention me not having him on." CBS chose not to challenge the FCC's reinterpreted Equal Time Rule, which FCC chair Brendan Carr had changed to apply to non-news talk shows deemed "motivated by partisan purposes."

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• Department of Homeland Security issued hundreds of subpoenas to tech companies for social media account data — The Department of Homeland Security sent Google, Meta, and other tech companies hundreds of administrative subpoenas seeking names, emails, phone numbers, and identifying data for social media accounts that criticize ICE or monitor its operations. Google, Meta, Reddit, and Discord reportedly complied with some subpoenas. These were administrative subpoenas not signed by a judge but issued directly by DHS.

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• Don Lemon arraigned on federal civil rights charges related to Minnesota church protest coverage — Former CNN host and independent journalist Don Lemon pleaded not guilty in federal court in St. Paul, Minnesota, to charges of conspiracy and interfering with congregants' constitutional rights to freely exercise religion. Lemon was arrested while covering a January 18 anti-ICE protest at a Southern Baptist church. His attorney raised First Amendment issues and requested return of Lemon's phone, seized during arrest. Four other defendants, including civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong, also pleaded not guilty. Nine people total have been charged under the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

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• Federal agents arrested protesters and journalists; White House mocked arrested protester with digitally altered photo — During the Minnesota ICE surge, federal agents arrested protesters and journalists documenting the operations. Following at least one arrest, the White House created and circulated a digitally altered photograph mocking the arrested protester. The action represents use of government resources to ridicule and intimidate dissent.

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• Senator Kelly files lawsuit against Defense Secretary Hegseth — Senator Mark Kelly filed a lawsuit against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth challenging the censure and attempted rank reduction as unconstitutional retaliation for protected free speech. Kelly argued that the video he and other Democrats made was constitutionally protected and that Hegseth had undertaken an "unconstitutional crusade" against him.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth censures and attempts to demote Senator Kelly over video — Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary, formally censured Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain and sitting U.S. Senator, and attempted to reduce his rank and pension in retaliation for Kelly's participation in a video urging troops to refuse illegal orders. Kelly filed a lawsuit against Hegseth arguing the video was protected free speech and that Hegseth undertook an "unconstitutional crusade" against him.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth censures Senator Kelly and attempts rank reduction — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth formally censured Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain and NASA astronaut, over his participation in the video urging troops to resist unlawful orders. Hegseth attempted to reduce Kelly's rank and pension. Kelly subsequently filed a lawsuit against Hegseth, arguing the video constituted protected free speech and that the secretary had undertaken an "unconstitutional crusade" against him.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Kelly v. Hegseth (D.D.C.) 1:26-cv-00081 — Judge Leon granted Plaintiff's motion for a preliminary injunction, enjoining the administration from censuring Senator Mark Kelly or initiating proceedings to reduce his retirement rank and pay, finding that such actions likely violated the Senator's First Amendment rights by retaliating against him in response to a video message in which he warned U.S troops not to follow illegal orders.
• Federal judge blocks Pentagon retaliation against Senator Mark Kelly — Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, ruled that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth cannot penalize Senator Mark Kelly over a video in which Kelly reminded service members of their oath to the Constitution and duty to refuse illegal orders. The judge blocked the Pentagon from pursuing disciplinary action against Kelly, finding that an effort to cut his retirement benefits was likely unconstitutional.
• Judge Richard Leon blocked Hegseth disciplinary proceedings against Sen. Mark Kelly — Bush appointee Judge Richard Leon issued an order blocking Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth from proceeding with disciplinary action against Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a retired naval officer, for voicing opinions on military actions and policy. The judge ruled that retired servicemembers serving in Congress and exercising oversight responsibility over the military are not subject to reduced First Amendment protections, and that Hegseth had trampled on Kelly's First Amendment freedoms.
• Judge Leon blocks Pentagon's attempt to reduce Mark Kelly's military rank and pension — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a censure letter on January 5, 2026, seeking to reduce Senator Mark Kelly's retired military rank and pension after Kelly appeared in a November video urging service members to reject unlawful orders. Judge Richard Leon issued a preliminary injunction on February 13, blocking the Pentagon's action and ruling that Hegseth had violated Kelly's First Amendment rights and threatened the constitutional liberties of military retirees. The ruling rebuked the Trump administration's attempt to criminalize dissent.

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• Grand Jury Unanimously Rejects DOJ Indictment of Six Democratic Lawmakers — A federal grand jury unanimously rejected the Trump administration's effort to indict six Democratic lawmakers over their involvement in a viral video urging military members to refuse illegal orders. According to NBC News, not a single grand juror found that the Justice Department met the probable cause threshold. The rejection represents a rare judicial check on the administration's use of law enforcement to target political opponents, though Senator Mark Kelly characterized the attempt itself as a "master alarm flashing for our democracy."
• Grand jury refuses to indict six Democratic members of Congress for military loyalty video — A Washington, D.C. grand jury refused to indict six Democratic members of Congress—Senators Mark Kelly (AZ), Elissa Slotkin (MI), and Representatives Jason Crow (CO), Chris Deluzio (PA), Maggie Goodlander (NH), and Chrissy Houlahan (PA)—all military veterans or former intelligence officials, for violating a federal statute criminalizing interference with military loyalty, morale, or discipline. The members had recorded a video in November reminding service members they must refuse illegal orders. Trump characterized the conduct as "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" The New York Times called the grand jury's refusal "a remarkable rebuke" of the administration's attempts to harass perceived opponents.
• Grand jury declined to indict Democratic senators for military refusal statement — On 11 February 2026, a grand jury failed to indict Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona and five other Democrats for releasing a video statement encouraging military members to "refuse illegal orders." The DOJ's prosecution attempt was abandoned after the grand jury declined to indict, despite Trump labeling the Democrats' message "seditious behavior punishable by death."
• Grand jury declines to indict six Democratic lawmakers over military dissent video — A Washington DC grand jury declined to indict six Democratic lawmakers—Elissa Slotkin, Mark Kelly, Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, and Chrissy Houlahan—who created a video urging troops to refuse illegal orders. Federal prosecutors, acting at Trump's direction, had sought indictment. Trump called the video "seditious" and "punishable by death." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth censured Kelly and attempted to reduce his rank and pension. Kelly filed a lawsuit against Hegseth claiming the video was protected speech.
• Grand jury declines to indict six Democratic lawmakers over military video — A federal grand jury in Washington DC declined to indict six Democratic members of Congress—Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, and House members Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan, and Chris Deluzio—who posted a video urging service members to resist unlawful orders. The Trump administration, through U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, had sought indictment on charges the lawmakers characterized as politically motivated. Kelly and Slotkin held a press conference condemning the prosecution attempt as weaponization of the Justice Department and an authoritarian tactic to silence dissent.
• Federal grand jury refuses to indict Democratic lawmakers for speech — A federal grand jury refused to indict Senator Mark Kelly and other Democratic lawmakers for their speech regarding constitutional obligations and illegal orders. Senator Elissa Slotkin warned that the DOJ may attempt to indict them again.
• DOJ attempted to indict six Democratic lawmakers; grand jury rejected indictment — The Department of Justice attempted to secure an indictment against six Democratic lawmakers over a military video urging members of the military and intelligence communities to uphold their oaths. A federal grand jury unanimously rejected the prosecution's case, finding the government had not met the threshold of probable cause. The DOJ lawyers who brought the case were political appointees without prior federal prosecution experience. Former federal prosecutors noted this outcome was extraordinarily rare.

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• FCC launches investigation into ABC's The View — The Federal Communications Commission is launching an investigation into ABC's "The View" amid the agency's crackdown on equal time for political candidates. The FCC announced it will require broadcast networks to adhere to the "statutory equal opportunities requirement" under the Communications Act of 1934, including their airing of late-night and daytime talk shows. An FCC source stated that Monday's appearance by Senate candidate James Talarico triggered the probe, and noted that equal airtime would be required for Republican candidates on the ballot as well as lesser-known Democratic primary candidates.

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• Trump posts racist imagery depicting Obama as apes — President Trump posted content on Truth Social depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, described as a "laundry list of debunked claims concerning the 2020 election." The post was later removed after drawing backlash from both Democrats and Republicans. The White House initially defended the post as an "internet meme video" and characterized criticism as "fake outrage."
• Trump posts racist video on social media — President Donald J. Trump’s social media account posted a video containing debunked claims about the 2020 presidential election, featuring an altered image of Barack and Michelle Obama. After backlash from Republican senators regarding the racism of the post, Trump deleted it but later claimed he had posted it himself and refused to apologize. This incident reflects ongoing racial tensions and attempts to fracture coalitions against him.
• Trump refuses to apologize for racist Obama image — President Trump was asked directly whether he would apologize for posting a racist image depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama with their faces photoshopped onto apes. Trump refused to apologize and instead attempted to justify the post by claiming it was a "takeoff on The Lion King" and describing it as "very strong in terms of voter fraud."
• Trump's Truth Social account posted racist video depicting Obamas as apes — Trump's Truth Social account posted a video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. After public outcry, the video was removed. A White House official stated, and Trump later confirmed, that the video was posted by a staffer rather than Trump himself. Trump refused to apologize for the post.
• Thomas Massie condemns Trump's racist Obama posts — Republican Congressman Thomas Massie condemned President Trump for posting racist content depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. Massie stated that Trump should apologize and that attacks on spouses and racist tropes cross basic lines of decency.
• Trump attacked Bad Bunny halftime show on Truth Social, calling performance unintelligible — President Trump posted criticism of the Super Bowl halftime show featuring Bad Bunny on Truth Social, stating "nobody understands a word this guy is saying" and other insults. The performance centered Puerto Rican identity and Spanish-language music. Trump's public attack characterized multilingual American culture as something to ridicule rather than celebrate, drawing bipartisan concern about presidential rhetoric toward cultural expression.
• Trump posted racist video depicting Obamas as apes to Truth Social account — A video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes—a racist trope—was posted to Trump's Truth Social account. Reuters reported Trump refused to apologize and suggested an aide posted it without him watching the full clip. The post was later removed. Trump's response treated the official presidential channel as something that could be disowned on technicalities, eroding accountability and normalizing extremism through ambiguity.
• Racist video of Obamas posted on Trump's Truth Social account — A racist video depicting the Obamas as apes appeared on President Trump's official Truth Social account. The video was removed, but Trump refused to apologize and claimed a staffer posted it without review. The incident occurred on an official presidential account.

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• Trump posted racist video depicting Obamas as apes — Trump posted a video clip depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes on social media. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt initially dismissed criticism as "fake outrage," claiming it was a Lion King meme, without apologizing or confirming removal. Republican senators Tim Scott, Susan Collins, Roger Wicker, and Pete Ricketts publicly called for the video's removal and an apology. Following their pressure, Trump removed the video. The White House then blamed the post on "a staffer" with access to Trump's account, still offering no apology.
• Trump removed racist video following Republican pressure — Following public statements from Republican senators calling for removal, Trump took down the racist video. The White House then issued a second statement blaming the post on "a staffer" who had access to Trump's personal account, still offering no apology.
• White House Press Secretary issued statement on racist video — Karoline Leavitt issued a statement characterizing the racist video as a Lion King meme depicting Trump as "King of the Jungle" and Democrats as characters, dismissing public outrage as "fake outrage." She did not deny Trump posted it, did not confirm its removal, and did not apologize.
• Trump delivered racist tirade against immigrants at National Prayer Breakfast — On Thursday morning, Trump delivered a racist tirade against immigrants while speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast. The remarks represent part of a broader pattern of inflammatory rhetoric from the president targeting immigrant communities.
• Trump posted AI-generated racist video of Obamas on Truth Social — On Thursday evening, Trump posted an AI-generated video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes on Truth Social. The White House initially blamed a "staffer" for the post, though reporting indicates Trump's posts typically undergo approval processes including from the president himself. The incident represents an escalation in racist rhetoric from the White House.
• Trump posts racist video depicting Obamas as apes, refuses apology — Donald Trump posted a video to his Truth Social account on Thursday evening showing Barack and Michelle Obama's faces superimposed on ape bodies in a jungle setting, set to "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." The video was part of a longer clip promoting false 2020 election claims. Trump initially claimed he had not seen the offensive portion, then contradicted himself by saying he approved posting it. When asked to apologize, Trump refused, stating "No, I didn't make a mistake." The post was later deleted after White House claims it was posted by a staffer without authorization.
• Trump posted racist video depicting Obamas as apes on social media account — Late on February 6, President Trump's social media account posted a video containing debunked claims about the 2020 election and an image depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama with their heads attached to ape bodies. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt initially dismissed criticism as "fake outrage." After Republican senators Tim Scott, Pete Ricketts, and Roger Wicker called out the racism, the White House claimed a staffer had made the post erroneously. Trump later stated on Air Force One that he had posted it himself and refused to apologize, saying "No, I didn't make a mistake."
• Republican senators publicly called for removal of racist video — Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Susan Collins (R-ME), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) issued public statements condemning the racist video and calling on Trump to remove it and apologize. Scott called it "the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House." Wicker called it "totally unacceptable." Ricketts noted the "racist context" and urged the White House to "remove this and apologize."

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• Trump administration arrests journalist Don Lemon and searches reporter Hannah Natanson's home — The Trump administration arrested former CNN anchor Don Lemon in January 2026 and conducted an FBI search of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson's home, seizing electronic devices. Nancy Pelosi characterized these actions as "an affront to press freedom meant to scare, chill and silence." The arrests and searches occurred amid broader concerns about press freedom and were cited by Pelosi as evidence that the First Amendment is "under siege."

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• Washington Post announces layoff of approximately one-third of staff — The Washington Post announced on February 4, 2026 that it will cut roughly one-third of its staff, with entire departments being gutted. The decision was made by owner Jeff Bezos, who has simultaneously invested tens of millions in projects tied to Trump's orbit, including a reported $75 million for a Melania Trump documentary. The layoffs represent a dismantling of the paper's accountability journalism capacity at a time when Trump and allies demand less scrutiny.
• Jeff Bezos laid off one-third of Washington Post workforce — Jeff Bezos, owner of the Washington Post, laid off approximately one-third of the newspaper's workforce in what was described by critics as a "murder," "absolute bloodbath," and an effort to "ingratiate himself with Donald Trump." The layoffs effectively gutted the Post's sports, local news, and international coverage. Editor-in-chief Matt Murray characterized the decision as a "strategic reset." Former editor Marty Baron called it "among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
• Washington Post conducts mass layoffs of reporters and editors — The Washington Post laid off approximately one-third of its staff, including reporters and editors worldwide, on February 5, 2026. Nancy Pelosi characterized the layoffs as part of a "reprehensible pattern" of corporate decisions hollowing out newsrooms across the country and weakening the press's ability to fulfill its democratic mission.

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• Federal magistrate judge previously rejected arrest warrant for Don Lemon — A federal magistrate judge took the unusual step of declining to sign off on an arrest warrant for Don Lemon, finding there was "no evidence" of criminal behavior in his journalistic work at the Minnesota church protest. The decision reportedly enraged Attorney General Pam Bondi. Despite this judicial rejection, the DOJ proceeded to arrest and charge Lemon anyway.
• Don Lemon Arrested for Violating FACE Act — Federal agents arrested independent journalist Don Lemon in Minneapolis, charging him with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and conspiring to hurt the exercise of rights. The charges stem from Lemon's filming of a protest at a church service. Previous attempts by federal prosecutors to charge him were blocked by a magistrate judge and a federal judge. The administration's actions are seen as an attempt to intimidate independent journalists and suppress coverage of federal authority.
• Don Lemon arrested; Trump had made 10 posts attacking him — Don Lemon was arrested. Deputy AG Todd Blanche claimed the president had "never even thought of Don Lemon" when asked if the arrest was intended to make an example of someone the president had sparred with. However, a search of Trump's Truth Social account revealed Trump made 10 nasty posts about Lemon over the past three years, with several recent posts calling him a "sleazebag."

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• Georgia Fort Arrested Alongside Don Lemon — Federal agents also arrested independent journalist Georgia Fort and two protest participants, Trahern Jeen Crews and Jamael Lydell Lundy, during the same incident in Minneapolis. The arrests are part of a broader crackdown on independent journalism and dissent against the Trump administration's policies, particularly regarding ICE and federal authority.

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• White House posts celebratory message about Don Lemon arrest on social media — The White House official X account posted a celebratory message about Don Lemon's arrest, writing "When life gives you Lemons" with a chain emoji. The post marked an unusual instance of the executive branch publicly celebrating the arrest of a journalist on charges related to news coverage.

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• Three women arrested in Los Angeles for livestreaming ICE agent pursuit and posting address — Federal law enforcement arrested three women in Los Angeles for allegedly livestreaming their pursuit of an ICE agent to his home and posting his address online. The women were charged with publicly disclosing the personal information of a federal agent under a statute requiring prosecutors to prove intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite violence. The women have pleaded not guilty and are expected to argue they were simply identifying a taxpayer-funded state employee.