Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump administration and Republican Congress members launched coordinated media campaign to justify White House ballroom construction following WHCA dinner incident — Following an incident at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, Trump, administration officials, and Republican members of Congress conducted a coordinated media blitz across Fox News, Newsmax, and other outlets to justify construction of a proposed White House ballroom. Trump appeared on 60 Minutes to blame Democrats for "hate speech" while downplaying his fall during the incident. Republican lawmakers introduced multiple bills to authorize ballroom construction, with Senator Lindsey Graham proposing $400 million in federal funding offset by customs fees. Speaker Mike Johnson falsely characterized Democratic rhetoric about midterm strategy as calls for violence to support the ballroom project.

Supporting reports

• NPR and Public Radio Stations File Lawsuit Against Trump's Executive Order — NPR, along with three Colorado-based public radio stations, has filed a lawsuit challenging an executive order by President Trump that cuts federal funding to media outlets he deems "biased." The lawsuit argues that the order violates the First Amendment by targeting NPR and PBS for their news coverage, which the president considers biased. The executive order, signed on May 1, aims to strip direct and indirect funding from these public media organizations. NPR and its partners seek to have the order permanently blocked and declared unconstitutional.

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

• Trump administration fires nearly 600 contractors at Voice of America — The Trump administration has terminated nearly 600 contractors at Voice of America (VOA), a US-funded international news network. The firings, announced on Thursday, affected mostly journalists and some administrative staff, representing more than one-third of VOA’s workforce. This move defies a recent court order requiring the government to maintain strong news operations at VOA. Many of the dismissed journalists, who are from authoritarian countries, now face deportation as their visas are tied to their jobs. The administration cited "the government’s convenience" as the reason for the firings.

Supporting reports

• Executive Order Shuts Down VoA Operations — An executive order signed by Donald Trump in mid-March has effectively shut down Voice of America (VoA) operations, taking them off the air and offline. This order has resulted in approximately 1,300 VoA employees being placed on leave. The order is part of a broader effort to dismantle the agency overseeing VoA, which has historically been a pro-democracy voice. A federal judge blocked the order to shutter VoA, but the ruling is currently under government appeal.
• Trump Administration's Executive Order Shuts Down Voice of America — In March, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), effectively shutting down Voice of America (VoA) and placing 1,300 employees on administrative leave. The order also canceled federal grants for sister outlets like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia. This move has been criticized as a crackdown on press freedom, with VoA's broadcasts going dark for the first time since World War II. A federal judge temporarily blocked the dismantling, but the situation remains unresolved as legal challenges continue.

Supporting reports

• FCC investigates NPR and PBS under new leadership — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), now led by a Project 2025 author appointed by Trump, is investigating National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) with the potential to defund them. This aligns with Project 2025's recommendations to scrutinize and possibly defund public media.

Supporting reports

• Trump Administration Hosts Alternative Press Briefings with Right-Wing Media Figures — The Trump administration, through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, has initiated a series of alternative press briefings featuring right-wing media personalities. These briefings have included figures such as Winston Marshall, Tim Pool, and Dominick McGee, who have posed questions that align with conservative and extremist viewpoints. The briefings have been criticized for promoting propaganda and conspiracy theories, with questions often attacking mainstream media and endorsing controversial policies. The administration has expressed openness to expanding access to these new media figures.
• White House Holds Press Briefing for MAGA Influencers — The White House held its first press briefing for "new media," consisting of MAGA influencers and former press secretary Sean Spicer. The event included racially charged comments and questions about media direction. This reflects the administration's media strategy.

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.