Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• State Department fires press officer over Israel-Gaza policy language — AP reported that the State Department fired its top press officer who drafted Trump administration talking points on US policy on Israel and Gaza after complaints from the US Embassy in Jerusalem. The press officer, Shahed Ghoreishi, wrote a draft response to a media request that initially included a line noting that the US doesn't support the forced relocations of Palestinians in Gaza, which was struck from the response by the US Embassy in Jerusalem. Ghoreishi also said he questioned a statement from the embassy that referred to the occupied West Bank as "Judea and Samaria," the Biblical names for the region that is often used by Israelis, especially among the far right, to describe the West Bank.

Supporting reports

• Trump attacks MSNBC anchor Nicole Wallace on Truth Social — Trump reposted a meme of MSNBC anchor Nicole Wallace on Truth Social, calling her a "loser, with bad ratings," and claimed without evidence that she "will be fired soon!"

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• Melania Trump's lawyer demanded Hunter Biden retract Epstein claim — A lawyer for Melania Trump sent a letter to Hunter Biden demanding he immediately retract his "false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory" claim from a recent interview that Epstein introduced her to Donald Trump and issue an apology, or face a $1 billion defamation lawsuit. Hunter Biden responded, "Fuck that, that's not going to happen."

Supporting reports

• VP Vance attacked media coverage of Trump-Epstein connection — Vice President JD Vance criticized the Wall Street Journal for publishing a "hit piece" about Trump's connection to Epstein without showing the letter or book in question. Vance claimed the media is attempting to "assassinate the president's character" by "dribbling little details out for days or weeks" and accused the WSJ of acting like a "Democrat SuperPAC."

Supporting reports

• Trump's name reported in DOJ Epstein files; Congress subpoenas Maxwell — The Wall Street Journal reported that Donald Trump's name appears multiple times in Department of Justice files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Attorney General Pam Bondi informed Trump in May that he was named in the files, though she stated the findings warranted no further investigation. The House Oversight Committee voted 8–2 to subpoena DOJ for Epstein-related files and subpoenaed Ghislaine Maxwell for a deposition on August 11. Trump subsequently filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Journal and banned one of its reporters from Air Force One.
• Wall Street Journal reported Trump's name in Epstein files — The Wall Street Journal reported that AG Bondi told Trump in May that his name was in the Epstein files, following a review by Justice Department officials who discovered his name "multiple times" in the "truckload" of documents. The bombshell report comes one week after Trump told reporters that Bondi told him he wasn't in the files.
• Trump informed months ago that his name in Epstein files — The New York Times reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche, both former Trump lawyers, informed the president months ago that his name, along with those of other high-profile figures, had appeared in documents connected to the Epstein case that had not previously been made public. This contradicts Trump's denials of prior knowledge. The White House responded by characterizing the report as "fake news" concocted by Democrats and the liberal media.

Supporting reports

• White House removes Wall Street Journal reporter from Trump's Scotland trip — The White House removed Tarini Parti, a Wall Street Journal reporter scheduled to serve as print pooler for the final two days of Trump's four-day trip to his golf courses in Turnberry and Aberdeen, Scotland, from the trip manifest. The White House took control of pool rotations earlier in 2025, removing that authority from the White House Correspondents' Association. The removal follows the WSJ's recent story connecting Trump to Jeffrey Epstein via a signed birthday card.
• Press Secretary Leavitt defends exclusion of Wall Street Journal from coverage — Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the Wall Street Journal and other news outlets are not guaranteed special access to cover President Trump in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, or in private workspaces. She cited the WSJ's "fake and defamatory conduct" as the reason for excluding them from the 13 outlets on board Trump's trip, while claiming the White House has "taken significant steps to include as many voices as possible."
• White House removed Wall Street Journal from Trump's press pool — The White House pulled the Wall Street Journal off the reporters' pool covering Trump's Friday trip to Scotland after the Journal published an article about a "bawdy" letter the president wrote to Epstein in 2003. In response, the New York Times released a statement in solidarity, calling the move "an attack on the core constitutional principles underpinning free speech and a free press" and "simple retribution by a president against a news organization for doing reporting he doesn't like."
• White House assumes direct control of press pool assignments — The Trump administration has assumed direct control of press pool assignments, a role traditionally managed by the White House Correspondents' Association. This shift enables selective inclusion and exclusion of media outlets from official access, representing a departure from established norms of independent press pool management.
• White House bars Wall Street Journal from press pool over Epstein reporting — The Trump administration excluded the Wall Street Journal from the White House press pool following the publication of investigative reporting about alleged ties between Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, specifically a story claiming Trump sent a "bawdy" birthday letter to Epstein in 2003. The New York Times and White House Correspondents' Association condemned the exclusion as retribution and an attack on press freedom. Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the WSJ; the paper stands by its reporting.
• Trump administration sues Wall Street Journal over Epstein story — The Trump administration sued the Wall Street Journal and its owner Rupert Murdoch in response to reporting that Trump had sent Epstein a lewd drawing and suggestive dialogue. The lawsuit represents a direct legal action against press coverage of Trump's personal connections to Epstein during a period of heightened scrutiny over the administration's handling of Epstein files.
• Trump files defamation lawsuits against major media companies — Trump has filed lawsuits against several major media companies, including CBS/Paramount, ABC News, Meta, and the Wall Street Journal. The article notes that all companies have settled their cases for millions of dollars. These lawsuits follow unfavorable reporting and represent a pattern of legal action against press outlets.
• Trump sues Wall Street Journal and bans outlet from press pool over Epstein letter report — After the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump allegedly sent a "bawdy" letter to Epstein in 2003, Trump sued the Journal and its owners. In retaliation, the paper was subsequently banned from participating in the press pool during Trump's upcoming trip to Scotland. The action reflects Trump's use of legal threats and access restrictions to punish media coverage of his ties to Epstein.

Supporting reports

• White House removed Wall Street Journal from Trump's press pool — The White House pulled the Wall Street Journal off the reporters' pool covering Trump's Friday trip to Scotland after the Journal published an article about a "bawdy" letter the president wrote to Epstein in 2003. In response, the New York Times released a statement in solidarity, calling the move "an attack on the core constitutional principles underpinning free speech and a free press" and "simple retribution by a president against a news organization for doing reporting he doesn't like."
• White House bans Wall Street Journal from Trump Scotland trip — The White House confirmed that President Trump will visit his golf courses in Scotland from July 25-29 and has banned the Wall Street Journal from the trip. Media Matters' Matthew Gertz noted that the bigger scandal is that the president and his entourage are flying to Scotland on the public's dime to open a new 18-hole golf course at his resort.

Supporting reports

• Atlanta reporter detained by ICE — A reporter from Atlanta remains in detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The article cites this as an example of ICE's "immoral and unconstitutional" actions and notes ongoing detention of individuals in for-profit detention centers.
• ICE continues detention of journalist Guevara despite dropped charges — Mario Guevara remains detained by ICE in a south Georgia immigration detention center despite all criminal charges being dropped. First Amendment rights groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, stated at a press conference that Guevara is being "punished for his journalism." Guevara, a Salvadoran native with 20+ years in the US, has a work permit and pending green card application. He is now held in isolation at the Folkston immigration center. His family was forced to make an extortion payment after another inmate threatened him while briefly in general population at a federal Atlanta prison.

Supporting reports

• Trump sued Wall Street Journal for ten billion dollars over Epstein letter publication — After the Wall Street Journal revealed the existence of a 2003 birthday letter from Trump to Jeffrey Epstein in July 2025, Trump sued the Journal, its reporters, and its parent company for ten billion dollars. Trump claimed the letter was "nonexistent," despite the paper's documented possession and publication of the document. The lawsuit represents an attempt to suppress press coverage through financial intimidation and legal action.
• Trump sues Wall Street Journal for $10 billion over Epstein letter story — President Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, its owner Rupert Murdoch, and the two reporters who authored the story about the alleged 2003 birthday message to Epstein. Trump claimed the letter is "fake" and "not the way I talk," seeking damages for what he characterized as false reporting. The lawsuit represents an attempt to use legal action to suppress or punish journalism about the alleged communication.
• Trump sues Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over Epstein story — Trump filed a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and owner Rupert Murdoch (who also owns Fox News) in response to the WSJ's story connecting Trump to Jeffrey Epstein via a signed birthday card message. The lawsuit was assigned to Judge Darrin Gayles, appointed by Barack Obama. The White House subsequently banned the WSJ from covering Trump in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and in private workspaces.
• Trump sues Wall Street Journal over Epstein-Maxwell letter story — After the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Trump contributed a letter with a doodle of a nude woman to a 2003 Festschrift compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell for Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday, Trump denied the story and announced on Friday that he was suing the Wall Street Journal's publisher for libel. The lawsuit represents an attempt to suppress or punish press reporting on Trump's documented connections to Epstein.
• Wall Street Journal publishes alleged 2003 birthday message from Trump to Epstein — The Wall Street Journal reported on July 18, 2025, that materials collected during the Department of Justice's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein included a 2003 birthday message allegedly from Trump to Epstein. The message, described as typewritten text framed by a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman, contains a dialogue between Trump and Epstein discussing shared secrets and enigmas. Trump denied authenticity, calling it "fake" and sued the Journal, its owner Rupert Murdoch, and the two reporters for $10 billion, claiming the letter does not reflect how he speaks or writes.

Supporting reports

• Trump denies authorship and threatens lawsuit against Wall Street Journal — When contacted by Wall Street Journal reporters about the Epstein letter story, Trump denied writing the letter or drawing the picture and threatened to sue the newspaper. Trump later told reporters that Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden had fabricated the story, despite neither being in office during the FBI's Epstein investigation. Trump personally called the Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief to attempt to stop publication.
• Wall Street Journal published article reporting Trump sent birthday card to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 — The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump sent a birthday card to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003, compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell from Epstein's friends. The card contained a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman with Trump's signature and a typewritten conversation between Trump and Epstein discussing shared secrets. Trump denied the report, claiming it was fake, and stated he would sue the Journal, Rupert Murdoch, and NewsCorp. The Journal stood by the story after Trump's denials.

Supporting reports

• Spanish-language journalist Mario Guevara remains in ICE custody despite bond order — AP reported that Spanish-language journalist Mario Guevara is still in ICE custody despite a judge ordering his release on bond last week. Guevara, who was arrested last month while covering the "No Kings" protest, continues to face deportation proceedings.

Supporting reports

• Border czar encouraged DOJ to investigate CNN over ICEBlock reporting — Border czar Tom Homan encouraged the Department of Justice to investigate CNN over its reporting on the ICEBlock app, which notifies users when ICE agents are nearby. The request represents an attempt to use law enforcement to retaliate against press coverage of government operations.
• Trump administration threatens to prosecute CNN over IceBlock app reporting — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and border czar Tom Homan announced that the Department of Justice is investigating whether to prosecute CNN for reporting on the IceBlock app, which allows users to track ICE agents. Noem stated the reporting "actively encourages people to avoid law enforcement" and constitutes illegal conduct. Trump added that CNN should also be prosecuted for reporting on Iran strikes. CNN defended its coverage as factual reporting on a publicly available app.
• Homeland Security Secretary said DOJ will prosecute CNN for ICEBlock coverage — Speaking at the new immigration detention facility in the Everglades dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said her department is working with the DOJ to potentially prosecute CNN for its coverage of the ICEBlock app. Trump added that CNN may also be prosecuted "for false reports on the attack on Iran." The statements represent threats of criminal prosecution against a news organization.

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.

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.

Supporting reports

• Journalist Mario Guevara Arrested and Transferred to ICE — Mario Guevara, a Spanish-language journalist, was arrested by police in metro Atlanta while covering the "No Kings" protest. He was charged with pedestrian improperly entering a roadway, obstruction of a law enforcement officer, and unlawful assembly. After being released on a recognizance bond, Guevara was transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. Guevara, originally from El Salvador, has been in the U.S. for over 20 years and is known for his coverage of immigration enforcement. The circumstances of his arrest and transfer to ICE have raised concerns about press freedom and the treatment of journalists.
• Journalist Mario Guevara Transferred to ICE Custody — Spanish-language journalist Mario Guevara was transferred to ICE custody after being arrested while covering a protest. Despite having a valid work permit, he was charged with multiple offenses. Reports indicate he was complying with officer orders before his detention.

Supporting reports

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Restricts Press Access at the Pentagon — On May 23, 2025, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo significantly restricting press access within the Pentagon. The new rules confine credentialed reporters to a specific area and require them to request permission and be escorted to access other parts of the building. The memo also bans reporters from the Pentagon athletic center and mandates new press credentials with more prominent labeling. These measures are reportedly in response to recent leaks of classified and unclassified information, although they have been criticized as punitive actions against the media.

Supporting reports

• Arrests at Columbia University Protests — On Wednesday, Ramona Sarsgaard, daughter of actors Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard, was arrested at Columbia University during protests against Israel's war in Gaza. She received a desk appearance ticket for criminal trespassing. The protests involved students occupying the Butler library in solidarity with Palestinian liberation, leading to police intervention and multiple arrests. Columbia University officials stated that disruptions to academic activities would not be tolerated. Additionally, four student journalists were temporarily suspended for reporting on the protests, though these suspensions were later lifted.

Supporting reports

• Attorney General Pam Bondi rolls back press protections — Following critical reporting by the New York Times and Washington Post regarding the Trump administration's claims about Venezuela, Attorney General Pam Bondi used this coverage as justification to roll back protections for the press in investigations of leaks, indicating a shift towards greater government control over media narratives.

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• Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard responds to media report — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard criticized the Wall Street Journal for allegedly politicizing and leaking classified information regarding intelligence-gathering efforts about Greenland, claiming it undermines national security and democracy.

Supporting reports

• FCC Investigation into CBS News for "News Distortion" — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by Chairman Brendan Carr, has launched an investigation into CBS News for alleged "news distortion" following a 60 Minutes interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. This investigation mirrors a lawsuit filed by President Trump against CBS, claiming the network's editing decisions constituted "election interference." The FCC's actions mark a departure from its longstanding policy on news distortion, which typically involves gross misrepresentation of significant events. Carr has suggested that CBS's actions could lead to the revocation of its broadcast license.

Supporting reports

• DOJ Rescinds Policy Protecting Journalists from Subpoenas — Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the rescission of policies that previously protected journalists from being compelled to reveal sources in leak investigations. This change allows the Department of Justice to subpoena reporters and potentially jail them for contempt if they refuse to disclose their sources. The policy shift is expected to lead to significant First Amendment legal challenges against the administration.
• Bondi revokes journalists' free-speech protections — Attorney General Pam Bondi has reversed a recent Department of Justice policy by allowing authorities to compel journalists to reveal confidential sources in leak investigations. This move is seen as part of a broader effort to suppress critical reporting on the Trump administration, raising alarms about press freedom and government transparency.

Supporting reports

• FCC Chair Carr threatens action against Comcast over coverage of Kilmar Garcia story — FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened to take action against Comcast, the parent company of MSNBC and CNN, over what he characterized as biased coverage of the Kilmar Abrego Garcia story. Carr stated that Comcast outlets "spent days misleading the American public—implying that Abrego Garcia was merely a law abiding US citizen, just a regular 'Maryland man'" and claimed that when the truth emerged, they ignored it. Carr asserted that Comcast knows federal law requires its licensed operations to serve the public interest and that "news distortion doesn't cut it."
• FCC Chair Carr launched investigations of ABC and NBC at Trump's direction — FCC Chair Brendan Carr, demonstrating his MAGA credentials, launched FCC investigations of media outlets ABC and NBC that Trump had derided, as part of a pattern of Trump encouraging his appointees to apply government pressure against his critics.

Supporting reports

• White House issues release attacking NPR and PBS editorial content and bias — The White House published a release titled "The NPR, PBS Grift Has Ripped Us Off for Too Long" on April 14, 2025, characterizing NPR and PBS as spreading "radical, woke propaganda" and listing editorial decisions and coverage patterns it claims demonstrate liberal bias. The release cites specific stories from both networks spanning 2015–2024, alleges newsroom partisan imbalance, and references studies claiming negative coverage of Republicans and positive coverage of Democrats. No new policy action or directive is announced in the document itself.
• White House published article attacking NPR and PBS as "radical, woke propaganda" — The White House website published an article titled "The NPR, PBS Grift Has Ripped Us Off for Too Long," accusing the public broadcasters of spreading "radical, woke propaganda disguised as 'news.'" The article cited examples including a 2024 documentary about reparations, a 2020 Sesame Street town hall on racism, and a 2020 podcast on fat-phobia. The attack represents government hostility toward public media.

Supporting reports

• Associated Press blocked from White House despite court order restoring press access — The Associated Press reported that despite winning an injunction hearing and obtaining a court order to regain press access to the White House after being banned for refusing to print "Gulf of America," the organization's journalists were still blocked from the Oval Office when the order took effect. AP stated: "Our journalists were blocked from the Oval Office today. We expect the WH to restore AP's participation in the pool as of today, as provided in the injunction order."
• AP reporter and photographer denied access to Oval Office press pool — An AP reporter and photographer attempted to join the press pool in the Oval Office but were denied access, despite a court order prohibiting the Trump administration from blocking AP reporters from covering White House events. The denial violates the prior judicial order.
• White House banned Associated Press from Oval Office event despite court order — The White House barred an Associated Press reporter and photographer from attending a news conference with President Trump and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, violating a U.S. District Court order issued the previous week that found the White House had violated the Constitution by blocking the AP's access to press events.

Supporting reports

• Trump called for CBS to lose broadcasting license over 60 Minutes segments — After CBS broadcast segments on Ukraine and Greenland, Trump called for the network to lose its broadcasting license, baselessly referring to the news program as "a dishonest Political Operative" and urging FCC chairman Brendan Carr to "impose the maximum fines and punishment" for the network's "unlawful and illegal behavior." The demand represents direct presidential pressure on media outlets for unfavorable coverage.