Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump administration cancels $400 million in Columbia University funding — In March 2025, the Trump administration canceled $400 million in federal funding for Columbia University, the epicenter of pro-Palestinian campus protests in 2024. Columbia subsequently agreed to significant administrative changes demanded by the administration, including placing its Middle Eastern studies department under new supervision, banning face masks on campus, expanding police powers, and staffing up its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies.
• Trump administration withholds federal funding from Columbia University over antisemitism allegations — The Trump administration pulled $400 million in federal grants and contracts from Columbia University, alleging the institution failed to protect students from antisemitic harassment tied to pro-Palestinian campus protests. Columbia subsequently agreed to changes demanded by the administration as a condition for restoring funding. The administration has also warned at least 60 other universities of possible action and announced a review of $9 billion in federal contracts and grants to Harvard University over similar allegations.
• DOJ, HHS, ED, and GSA announce cancellation of $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University — The Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education, and General Services Administration announced the immediate cancellation of approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University, citing the university's alleged failure to protect Jewish students from harassment and anti-Semitic conduct. The agencies stated the action was taken under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act following a March 3rd notice to the university's acting president. Columbia University holds more than $5 billion in total federal grant commitments. The announcement characterizes the cancellation as the first round of action, with additional cancellations expected.

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• Trump issued executive order suspending Jenner & Block security clearances — In March 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled "Addressing Risks from Jenner & Block" that suspended security clearances for lawyers at the firm and restricted their access to government buildings, officials, and federal contracting work. Trump accused the firm of engaging in activities that "undermine justice and the interests of the United States" and specifically criticized it for employing Andrew Weissmann, who had worked on the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 campaign.

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• TASS reporter removed from Oval Office meeting — A reporter from the Russian state news agency TASS was removed from an Oval Office meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky after complaints about their presence. The Associated Press and Reuters were reportedly excluded from the event, raising concerns about media access and transparency in covering significant diplomatic interactions.

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• VOA journalist placed on extended absence — Veteran Voice of America journalist Steven Herman was placed on an extended "excused absence," pending an HR investigation into his social media posts on DOGE and USAID. This action follows criticism from senior Trump administration official Richard Grenell and raises concerns about press freedom.

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• Trump administration denies Reuters reporters access to cabinet meeting — The Trump administration denied reporters from Reuters news agency access to a cabinet meeting in February 2025. This represents another instance of restricting major news organizations' ability to cover government proceedings.
• Trump administration ejects HuffPost reporter from White House press pool — In February 2025, the Trump administration ejected a HuffPost reporter from the White House press pool, which is a rotating group of reporters allowed close access to the president and key administration officials. This action restricts a news organization's ability to cover the administration.

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• Editor of WaPo’s Opinion Page resigns over Bezos's control — The Editor of The Washington Post's Opinion Page, along with several writers, resigned in protest against Jeff Bezos's decision to dictate editorial topics. This move has been criticized as an example of oligarchic control over media, with concerns about the independence and objectivity of the press.
• Washington Post shifts opinion section focus — Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos announced that the paper's opinion section would focus on supporting "personal liberties" and "free markets," prompting the resignation of Opinion Editor David Shipley and the loss of subscribers. This shift raises concerns about editorial independence and media diversity.

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• White House press secretary announces end of WHCA role in managing press pool — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced in February 2025 that the Trump administration would no longer recognize the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) in managing the White House press pool. Instead, the "White House press team" would control access to the White House. WHCA President Eugene Daniels responded that the change "tears at the independence of a free press in the United States" and suggested the government would choose which journalists cover the president.

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• White House to control press pool access — The White House announced it will decide which news organizations and reporters are allowed into the presidential press pool covering Donald Trump. This decision follows a temporary court ruling allowing the administration to bar the Associated Press (AP) from the Oval Office and Air Force One. The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) traditionally coordinates press access, but the administration claims it will now include new voices. The AP's access was revoked after it refused to comply with Trump's demand to rename the Gulf of Mexico, leading to accusations of violating First Amendment rights.
• White House takes control of press pool access — The Trump administration announced it will take control of the White House press pool, removing the White House Correspondents’ Association's (WHCA) role in deciding which journalists have access to the president. This decision was announced by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who framed it as democratizing access. The move has been criticized by media members, including a Fox News correspondent, as an attack on press independence. The administration has already barred the Associated Press from official events and removed Reuters from its traditional spot in the press pool.
• Trump administration to control press pool access — The White House announced it will control which reporters are allowed into the presidential press pool to cover Trump, taking over a role traditionally managed by the White House Correspondents’ Association. This decision follows a temporary ruling allowing the administration to bar the Associated Press over a naming dispute.
• — The Trump administration announced it would break precedent by choosing which media outlets are allowed to participate in the presidential press pool, a decision traditionally made by the White House Correspondents' Association. This move could limit press freedom and access to information.

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• White House issues release attacking sanctuary city policies and Democratic officials over immigration enforcement — The White House published a release titled "Sick Politicians Want Killers, Rapists Roaming Our Streets" characterizing sanctuary city policies as shielding violent criminal immigrants. The release lists specific ICE arrests in Saint Paul, Chicago, Washington State, Los Angeles, and New York City, naming Democratic officials (including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Chicago Representatives Delia Ramirez, Chuy García, and Mike Quigley, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) and quoting their statements opposing immigration enforcement cooperation. The release frames these officials' positions as enabling violent crime.

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• Elon Musk uses X platform to urge impeachment of judges — Elon Musk, using his social media platform X where he has over 200 million followers, has repeatedly urged the impeachment of judges whose rulings he dislikes. On February 25, Musk stated: "The only way to restore rule of the people in America is to impeach judges." These posts target judges who have blocked or delayed Trump administration actions and Musk's "department of government efficiency" initiatives.

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• Judge denies AP's request to restore access — A federal judge, Trevor McFadden, denied the Associated Press's request for a temporary injunction to restore its access to the Oval Office and other presidential events. The Trump administration had barred the AP for not using the term "Gulf of America" instead of "Gulf of Mexico" in its coverage. The judge, a Trump appointee, found the restriction on access to "more private areas" used by Trump to be different from previous cases where courts blocked revocation of journalists' access. The case will have another hearing next month.
• Judge denies AP's request for TRO against WH — A judge denied the Associated Press's request for a temporary restraining order after they were banned from White House briefings for refusing to use the term "Gulf of America." The judge noted the case's problematic nature but denied the TRO due to lack of "irreparable harm."
• Judge declines to issue restraining order for AP — A federal judge declined to issue a temporary restraining order to allow the Associated Press to regain access to presidential events, urging the Trump administration to reconsider its ban on the news organization. This decision highlights ongoing tensions between the administration and the press.

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• Investigation launched into US Attorney Ed Martin — Rep. Gerry Connolly announced an investigation into DC US Attorney Ed Martin for potential abuse of public office. Martin is accused of using his position to silence media critics of Elon Musk and DOGE, raising concerns about First Amendment violations.

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• Trump attacks journalist Joy Reid — President Trump attacked journalist Joy Reid on Truth Social, calling her "one of the least talented people in television" and a "mentally obnoxious racist." This attack follows the cancellation of her nightly news show on MSNBC and reflects ongoing tensions between the administration and the media.

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• Trump administration blocks AP from White House events — The Trump administration has barred the Associated Press from covering White House events, a move criticized as a violation of press freedom. This action is part of a broader pattern of restricting media access and controlling the narrative around the administration.

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• Trump calls MSNBC a threat to democracy — During the Conservative Political Action Conference, President Donald Trump labeled MSNBC as a "threat to democracy." This statement is part of a broader pattern of attacks on media outlets that are critical of his administration, potentially undermining press freedom.

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• AP sues Trump administration over press access — The Associated Press filed a lawsuit against three officials in the Trump administration for blocking its journalists from presidential events. The lawsuit claims this action violates the freedom of speech protected by the First Amendment.
• AP sues over press access restrictions — The Associated Press filed a lawsuit against administrative officials after being denied press access for refusing to rename the "Gulf of Mexico" as directed by Trump. The lawsuit argues that the press and the public have the right to use their own language without government retaliation. This legal action highlights ongoing tensions between the press and the administration over freedom of expression and access to information.

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• Kash Patel confirmed as FBI director — The US Senate confirmed Kash Patel as the new FBI director with a narrow 51-49 vote. Patel's confirmation was contentious due to concerns about his potential use of the position to pursue political opponents of Donald Trump. The vote reflects the divisive nature of his nomination and the polarized political climate.
• US Senate confirms Kash Patel as FBI director — The US Senate confirmed Kash Patel as the new FBI director with a narrow 51-49 vote. Patel, a key ally of former President Donald Trump, has been criticized for his perceived alignment with Trump's political agenda and his refusal to commit to keeping the FBI independent from partisan politics. His confirmation raises concerns about the potential politicization of the FBI, as Patel has previously expressed views that align with Trump's vision of a unitary executive. The confirmation reflects the contentious nature of his nomination and the divided opinions in the Senate.
• Republican senators confirm Kash Patel as FBI director — On February 20, 2025, the Senate voted 51-49 to confirm Kash Patel as the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The confirmation saw all but two Republican senators supporting Patel, who has previously labeled numerous officials as part of a "deep state." His confirmation raises concerns about potential political targeting within the FBI.
• Senate confirms Kash Patel as FBI director — The Senate narrowly confirmed Kash Patel, an election denier and Trump ally, as FBI director for a 10-year term. Patel has expressed intentions to target US media organizations, raising concerns about the politicization of the FBI and threats to press freedom.

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• White House issues promotional fact sheet claiming executive accomplishments in first month — The White House published a fact sheet titled "America Is Back — and President Trump Is Just Getting Started" on February 20, 2025, listing claimed accomplishments across border enforcement, economic policy, energy, military matters, and domestic governance. The document asserts that President Trump has "already accomplished more than most presidents do in their entire term" after one month in office. It attributes specific policy actions including border emergency declarations, tariff implementations, military deployments, regulatory rollbacks, and personnel changes across federal agencies.
• White House issues compilation release touting departmental accomplishments after one month — The White House published a compilation release on February 21, 2025, in which it aggregated statements from eight federal departments (Homeland Security, Interior, Education, Housing and Urban Development, State, Transportation, Defense, and Health and Human Services) describing their claimed accomplishments during President Trump's first month in office. The release does not announce new policy but curates existing departmental messaging around themes including border security, energy development, education policy, military readiness, and what the administration characterizes as reversals of prior policies.

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• Operation Whirlwind launched to prosecute threats — DC US Attorney Ed Martin announced "Operation Whirlwind," an initiative to prosecute threats against government officials. This operation was launched in response to claims by Elon Musk that his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team was "doxxed" by the media. The first inquiry involves sending letters to Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Robert Garcia to clarify past statements perceived as threatening.

Supporting reports

• AP barred from White House coverage — The Associated Press (AP) has been indefinitely barred from covering the White House and other executive branch briefing rooms after refusing to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, as demanded by Trump. This move has been criticized by other media outlets, though none have boycotted press conferences in solidarity with AP.
• Trump bans AP journalists from Oval Office and Air Force One — The Trump administration banned Associated Press journalists from the Oval Office and Air Force One after the AP refused to comply with an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America." The White House justified the ban as a lawful geographic name change, but the AP maintained its stance to use the globally accepted name, citing press freedom.
• White House bans Associated Press — The White House banned the Associated Press from its press briefings because the news agency refused to change its stylebook entry from "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America." This punitive measure is part of a broader strategy to control media narratives and punish outlets that do not align with the administration's language and symbolism changes.

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• Richard Grenell calls for shutdown of US-funded media — Richard Grenell, Trump's envoy for special missions, called for the shutdown of US-funded media organizations Radio Free Europe and Voice of America. This move is part of a broader effort to control media narratives and limit independent journalism.

Supporting reports

• Associated Press barred from Oval Office — The Associated Press (AP) was barred from attending an Oval Office event where President Donald Trump signed an executive order. The exclusion was reportedly a punitive measure against AP for not adhering to Trump's executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. AP maintained its style guide, referring to the Gulf by its historical name. The White House Correspondents’ Association condemned the action as a violation of press freedom, emphasizing the importance of independent journalism.
• White House bars AP reporters from press events — The White House barred two Associated Press (AP) reporters from attending press events after the AP refused to use the term "Gulf of America" instead of "Gulf of Mexico." This decision followed a complaint over AP's editorial choices. The AP's executive editor, Julie Pace, criticized the move as a violation of free speech and the First Amendment, arguing it was intended to punish the AP for its editorial stance. The White House press secretary stated that access to the Oval Office is a privilege and defended the decision.
• Establishment of the National Energy Dominance Council — President Donald Trump issued an executive order establishing the National Energy Dominance Council within the Executive Office of the President. The Council, chaired by the Secretary of the Interior, aims to advise the President on strategies to enhance U.S. energy production and achieve energy dominance. It will focus on improving energy permitting processes, increasing production, and reducing regulatory barriers. The Council will also coordinate with federal agencies and private sector partners to implement a National Energy Dominance Strategy, aiming to boost economic growth and national security through energy initiatives.
• White House bans AP journalists from Oval Office — The White House has announced an indefinite ban on Associated Press (AP) journalists from accessing the Oval Office and Air Force One. This decision is part of an ongoing dispute between the Trump administration and the AP over the naming of the Gulf of Mexico, which the administration has renamed the Gulf of America. The White House accuses the AP of misinformation for not adopting the new name. Despite the ban, AP journalists retain their credentials for the White House complex. The AP and other media outlets have criticized the move as a violation of press freedoms.

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• Steve Wynn petitions SCOTUS to overturn NYT v. Sullivan — Billionaire Steve Wynn filed a petition urging the Supreme Court to overturn the 1964 decision in New York Times v. Sullivan, which protects press freedom to report on public officials. This legal challenge could significantly impact media protections.

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• FCC investigates KCBS reporting — The FCC launched an investigation into the San Francisco-based radio station KCBS for its reporting on immigration enforcement actions in San José. This investigation reflects the administration's scrutiny of media coverage critical of its policies.

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• Musk calls for firing of WSJ reporter — Elon Musk called for the firing of Wall Street Journal reporter Katherine Long after she reported on racist social media posts by a DOGE employee. Musk accused her of "criminal" behavior, reflecting his antagonism towards critical journalism.