Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• 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."

Supporting reports

• 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."

Supporting reports

• 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.

Supporting reports

• 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."

Supporting reports

• 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.

Supporting reports

• 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.