Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump claimed military requested conversion of Triumphal Arch to military complex for drones and sniper ammunition — Trump announced plans to convert a planned Triumphal Arch near Arlington Memorial Bridge into a military complex to house drones and sniper ammunition, claiming the military made a "strong request" for the conversion. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) criticized the plan as dangerous and suggested Trump was creating a pretext to defend against a lawsuit by falsely linking the arch to national security. Democratic lawmakers indicated they could subpoena Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine to verify whether the military actually requested this use.
• Trump announces plan to convert Arlington Memorial Bridge area into military complex and triumphal arch — Trump announced on social media that he has agreed to convert the area at the Receptive Circle adjoining the Arlington Memorial Bridge into a military complex and triumphal arch, citing national security purposes and a request from the U.S. Military. The structure would house drones, snipers, and ammunition storage. Trump claimed Washington, D.C. is the only major capital without a triumphal arch and that this would be "by far, the greatest of them all."

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• Thousands protest Trump's takeover of Kennedy Center and threat to demolish or rename it — Thousands gathered outside the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday evening to protest Trump's takeover of the building and his threat to shut it down or demolish it unless his name is added to the facade. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper of the District of Columbia had previously ordered the Kennedy Center board to provide 30 days' notice before making any major physical changes to the building.
• Kennedy Center ceiling collapse and Trump-ordered closure — A 5-foot piece of ceiling plaster fell at the Kennedy Center in mid-September. Rather than repair the damage immediately, staff documented it extensively for a 55-page board briefing. Trump claimed online that a security guard narrowly avoided "certain death." Within two hours, Trump-allied board members voted to close the center, citing safety concerns. Trump, who serves as the center's chairman, had previously announced in February a two-year closure for renovations. Democratic board members alleged the closure was a pretext to avoid humiliation from plummeting ticket sales and fleeing artists.

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• Trump and Hegseth use 9/11 memorial ceremony to defend unpopular Iran war — At a Pentagon ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11, President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used memorial remarks to defend the US-Israel war on Iran launched six months prior. Trump linked the Iran conflict to the 9/11 legacy, stating "That's why we fight today." Hegseth delivered a bellicose speech claiming Iran's defenses "are gone" despite contrary evidence, and warned of threats from "Islamic terrorists abroad and at home." The remarks repurposed a solemn commemoration of 2,606 victims to justify an unpopular military campaign.

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• Trump calls for renaming New Mexico to "New America" — President Trump posted on social media calling for New Mexico to be renamed "New America," citing the state's name as having problematic connotations. The proposal drew widespread outrage from New Mexican residents, particularly Latinos and Native Americans, who viewed it as an attack on their state's identity and history. Some Republicans dismissed it as satire. The call came 10 days after the Trump administration sued New Mexico over in-state tuition for undocumented immigrant students, intensifying perceptions of targeting communities of color.

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• Trump posts AI-generated video mocking Lake Ontario sign and dancing to YMCA — On Saturday, President Trump posted AI-generated video content depicting himself kicking over a Lake Ontario sign, replacing it with a Lake America sign, and dancing to the Village People's "YMCA." He also posted another AI video showing an army of Canada geese with Trump-like blond hair firing rifles in protection of Lake America. These posts escalated the rhetorical conflict with Canada over the lake's name during an ongoing trade dispute.

Supporting reports

• Trump issues executive order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America — President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday directing US federal agencies to refer to Lake Ontario as "Lake America," effective immediately. The order affected the US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), which sets the standard for official US maps. Google Maps complied, changing the lake's name for US users. The renaming escalated an existing trade dispute between the US and Canada involving 50% US tariffs on Canadian steel and Canadian retaliatory tariffs. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected the renaming, citing the lake's Indigenous Wendat origin meaning "the lake is beautiful, the lake is great."

Supporting reports

• Google Maps changes Lake Ontario to Lake America — Google Maps changed the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America" on its app. Apple Maps has not made the same change.

Supporting reports

• Trump signs executive order to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America — President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday directing federal agencies to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America" on US maps, documents, and databases. The order follows a similar action renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" on his second term's first day. Trump lacks authority to rename Canada's portion of the lake or compel international adoption of the name. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected the move, citing the lake's Indigenous Wendat origin and historical precedence. Several US governors in the Great Lakes region also dismissed the renaming.
• Trump signs executive order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America — Trump signed an executive order in the Oval Office designating Lake Ontario as "Lake America," effective immediately. He stated the administration is "changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America" and suggested potentially renaming the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Trump also suggested canceling subscriptions to media companies that refer to the lake by its original name, with an exception for Fox News.
• Trump issues executive order renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America — President Donald Trump issued an executive order on August 27, 2026, directing the Secretary of the Interior to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America" within 30 days. The order asserts that the United States is the "greatest protector" of the Great Lakes, citing U.S. Coast Guard ice-breaking operations and $4 billion in ecosystem investments. The Secretary must coordinate with the Board on Geographic Names to update all federal references, maps, contracts, and the Geographic Names Information System to reflect the new name.
• Honoring the American History of the Great Lakes and Renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America — The White House published this executive order on 2026-08-27 through its executive-orders channel.
• Trump signed executive order renaming Lake Ontario — On Thursday, Trump signed an executive order directing the federal government to refer to Lake Ontario as "Lake America." The change applies only to the U.S. federal geographic naming system; Trump cannot force Canada to use the name, as the United States and Canada share the lake. The action occurred during an escalating trade dispute in which the United States imposed 50 percent tariffs on $20 billion in Canadian goods and Canada responded with retaliatory tariffs. Trump displayed a map with "LAKE AMERICA" printed across the lake and floated the possibility of renaming an ocean, suggesting the Atlantic or Pacific could be next. The original name derives from the Huron word "oniatarí:io," meaning "lake of shining waters."
• Trump signed executive order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America — Trump signed an executive order directing Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to change the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America" in all official U.S. government documents, communications, and the Geographic Names Information System. Trump framed the action as part of a broader effort to rename geographic features, referencing his earlier change of the Gulf of Mexico's name and suggesting future changes to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The order appears designed to assert U.S. dominance over shared geography and pressure Canada.
• Trump signed executive order to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America" during trade war — President Trump signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America" amid an ongoing trade war between the U.S. and Canada. The action appears to be a symbolic gesture during heightened trade tensions with Canada, which shares sovereignty over the Great Lake.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration issues executive order targeting Smithsonian Institution — The Trump administration has escalated its conflict with the Smithsonian Institution, resulting in a report accusing the National Museum of American History of "extreme political activism" and an executive order mandating warning signs outside the museum. Popular Information's investigation identified the influence of David Barton, a figure described as a fake historian, and his son Tim on the administration's anti-Smithsonian campaign.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration proposes triumphal arch at Memorial Circle near Arlington National Cemetery — The Trump administration is pursuing construction of a triumphal arch at Memorial Circle near Arlington National Cemetery. Congressional ranking members from both chambers with jurisdiction over monuments in Washington, D.C., have opposed the project, stating it would "deface one of the most deliberate and historic sightlines in America" and would violate at least three federal laws. The Section 106 review process for the project fell short of legal requirements, including a comment period of only ten days. Revisions to Section 106 would eliminate legal obstacles to the project's construction.
• Lawmakers Oppose Proposed Triumph Arch Project Near Arlington National Cemetery — On June 15, 2026, a group of lawmakers, including Senators Angus King and Martin Heinrich, expressed strong opposition to a proposed triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, citing concerns that the project violates multiple laws and lacks adequate public comment time. They warned that officials proceeding with the project could face legal consequences.

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• White House Office of Administration begins preparations to paint Eisenhower Executive Office Building white — Deputy Assistant to the President Heather Martin filed a declaration on Monday stating that the White House Office of Administration was beginning preparations to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building white. The administration is asserting that the White House Office of Administration has taken control of the building from the General Services Administration (GSA), which normally handles federal building maintenance and is subject to the National Historic Preservation Act and National Environmental Policy Act review requirements. More than two dozen experts have sued to stop the plan, arguing the paint could irreversibly damage the stone and create ongoing maintenance costs.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration releases executive order directing warning signs at Smithsonian's National Museum of American History — President Trump released an executive order on July 25, 2026, directing federal officials to install signs outside the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History informing visitors that the museum presents history inaccurately. The order cites a 162-page White House report released July 4 that accuses the museum of "extreme political activism," "anti-White activism," "transgender activism," and supporting illegal immigration. The signs are to direct visitors to "locations and resources for accurate information regarding America's history" without specifying where those resources are located.
• Executive Order on Smithsonian Institution — On July 24, 2026, President Trump issued Executive Order 14415, titled "Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution." The order directed the National Park Service to place temporary signage outside the Smithsonian to correct what the administration deemed inaccurate information presented inside the museum. This action follows the release of a critical report on the museum's portrayal of American history.

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• Trump requests congressional resolution to symbolically expunge his two impeachments — President Trump is pressing Congress to pass a resolution that would symbolically nullify his two impeachments from his first term—one in 2019 over abuse of power regarding Ukraine, the second in 2021 following the January 6 Capitol attack. Constitutional scholars note the Constitution contains no mechanism to reverse an impeachment, making any resolution largely a political statement. Democrats argue the effort will only resurrect the original allegations during the midterm election cycle.
• Trump seeks to expunge impeachments — The Wall Street Journal reported on June 11 that Trump and his allies have discussed urging Republican lawmakers to pass a resolution "expunging" Trump's two first-term impeachments. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the move a "priority," though it would be purely symbolic with no legal weight. A measure is unlikely to be considered until after the midterm elections.

Supporting reports

• Trump rescinded off-road vehicle restrictions on federal lands — President Trump issued an executive order rescinding Executive Orders 11644 (1972) and 11989 (1977), which had imposed criteria for designating off-road vehicle use on federal lands. The order directs the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture, the Secretary of War, the TVA Board, and other relevant agencies to initiate rulemakings to rescind or revise regulations implementing those prior orders. Trump's order characterizes the prior restrictions as vague, outdated, and barriers to energy production, timber harvesting, utility maintenance, and recreational access.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14408 rescinding off-road vehicle restrictions on federal lands — President Trump signed Executive Order 14408 on May 29, 2026, rescinding Executive Orders 11644 (1972) and 11989 (1977), which had established criteria for off-road vehicle use on federal lands. The order directs the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture, the Secretary of War, the TVA Board, and other relevant agencies to initiate rulemakings to rescind or revise regulations implementing those prior orders. The administration characterizes the prior orders as imposing "vague, subjective criteria" that create "barriers to energy and timber production" and "permit delays," and states the rescission will "facilitate" greater access and "multiple use benefits."
• White House issues fact sheet on executive order rescinding federal land access restrictions — The White House published a fact sheet on May 29, 2026, describing an executive order signed by President Trump that rescinds Executive Orders 11644 and 11989, which had imposed restrictions on off-road vehicle use on federal lands. The order directs federal agencies to rescind or revise regulations implementing those prior orders. The fact sheet states the rescission will "restore balanced land management" and increase access to federal lands for recreation, energy development, timber production, and infrastructure maintenance.
• Trump rescinded off-road vehicle restrictions on federal lands via Executive Order 14408 — President Trump signed Executive Order 14408 on May 29, 2026, rescinding Executive Orders 11644 (1972) and 11989 (1977), which had restricted off-road vehicle use on federal lands to minimize environmental and wildlife impacts. The order directs federal agencies to initiate rulemakings to replace the prior regulations with a framework permitting greater access and recreational use. The administration argues the prior orders imposed vague, subjective criteria that created barriers to energy production, timber harvesting, and utility maintenance while limiting public recreation.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration proposes triumphal arch at Arlington Memorial Bridge — The Trump administration has proposed constructing a triumphal arch at a rotary on the Virginia side of the Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C., positioned between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. The arch's placement would obscure the Lincoln Memorial while framing Arlington House, the mansion built by enslaved Americans and formerly owned by Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The structure does not frame the nation's honored dead but instead frames the home of the Confederate general whose armies killed them.

Supporting reports

• Trump announced plans for "National Garden of American Heroes" in West Potomac Park — Trump announced via social media that he intends to place his "National Garden of American Heroes" in West Potomac Park. He referenced a 22-foot gold statue of himself at his Doral golf club and compared the project to China's Ballroom, stating the U.S. facility would be "the finest facility of its kind anywhere in the U.S.A." with a scheduled opening around September 2028. The announcement came hours after his return from China.
• Freedom 250 planned events showcasing Trump rather than historical themes for 250th anniversary — Freedom 250 planned anniversary celebration events that prioritized showcasing President Trump over significant historical events and themes. Planned events included an IndyCar race around the National Mall, construction of a triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial, an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the White House lawn on Trump's 80th birthday in June, and the "Rededicate 250" evangelical worship event.
• Trump administration created Freedom 250 organization to oversee 250th anniversary celebrations outside congressional oversight — In December 2025, President Trump created Freedom 250, a new organization to manage the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations, bypassing the bipartisan America250 commission established by Congress in 2016. The Trump administration allocated $100 million in federal appropriations to Freedom 250 compared to $50 million to America250. Freedom 250 solicited corporate donations in exchange for access to Trump from sponsors including ExxonMobil, Mastercard, Deloitte, Palantir, and IndyCar, with donors permitted to request anonymity.

Supporting reports

• Trump's National Garden of American Heroes expanded significantly in scope and cost. — The New York Times reported that Trump's vision for the National Garden of American Heroes has grown larger and more expensive than initial estimates, with latest plans calling for reflecting pools, dining facilities, and an amphitheater alongside 250 life-size statues. The plans have expanded to the point that they could require significant redevelopment of West Potomac Park, an area of mostly sports fields near the National Mall. The statues alone could cost more than the $40 million approved by Congress, according to the Trump administration's estimate.

Supporting reports

• Trump drained Reflecting Pool and altered historical photograph to make Obama-era conditions appear worse. — Trump drained the Reflecting Pool and had workers paint the ground underneath it blue to make it look more like a swimming pool. Trump made a post claiming the pool was a mess when Obama was president, accompanied by a photograph. The post received a Community Note fact-check stating: "These images are identical, note the clouds and floating birds are the exact same, except the left image has been altered to make the water appear dirtier than in the original image. The original image was also taken in 2004, when George W. Bush was president."

Supporting reports

• Trump-appointed arts commission head proposed replacing White House Ionic columns with Corinthian columns — The Washington Post reported that the Trump-appointed head of a federal arts commission is proposing to replace the White House's main entrance columns—framed by graceful Ionic columns for nearly two centuries—with more ornate Corinthian columns favored by Trump. Corinthian columns are considered the most luxurious in classical architecture and appear on buildings such as the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court. They have long been deployed on Trump's properties and the president has handpicked them for his planned White House ballroom. Architecture professor Steven Semes from Notre Dame stated that Corinthian columns would be inappropriate for the Executive Residence, as they express "the height of formality and monumentality" rather than the Ionic columns' evocation of "dignity, grace and a kind of intimacy or domesticity."

Supporting reports

• Trump administration removes Pride flag from Stonewall National Monument — The Trump administration removed a large Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument in New York City over the weekend of February 7, following a January 21 Interior Department memorandum restricting non-agency flags at federal parks. The memo limits flagpole displays to U.S. flags, agency flags, and POW/MIA flags, with narrow historical exemptions. The removal sparked immediate backlash from local officials, including Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who called it an "outrageous action" and vowed the flag would return. Protests are planned.
• — On 9 February, the Trump administration removed the rainbow Pride flag flying at Stonewall National Monument in New York City without notice and replaced it with an American flag. The removal was justified by a January Trump administration memo restricting which flags can fly at national parks and historic sites. The Interior Department stated the policy governing flag displays on federal property has been in place for decades and clarifies consistent application across National Park Service sites.

Supporting reports

• CBP initiates easement discussions with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for border wall access — CBP began discussions with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in February to obtain easement rights at three parks, including Big Bend Ranch State Park. The agency later informed TPWD in March that the plans had been put on hold, according to records obtained by Inside Climate News.
• CBP notifies Big Bend landowners of border wall construction plans — In late February/early March 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection sent letters to landowners in the Big Bend region, including Yolanda Alvarado and Raymond Skiles, notifying them that their properties had been identified for border wall construction. Skiles received a detailed 12-page letter outlining plans for a physical barrier across his property in Langtry, Texas. The notifications triggered immediate anxiety and uncertainty among residents, many of whom had received no prior public consultation or opportunity for input.
• CBP updates border wall map to include steel bollard wall through Big Bend parks — Customs and Border Protection updated its online map to show plans for a steel bollard wall through portions of Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. The same month, then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem waived environmental and historic protection laws to accelerate wall construction through CBP's Big Bend sector, a 500-mile stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border in west Texas.
• Trump administration fast-tracks border wall construction through Big Bend National Park and surrounding lands in Texas — The Trump administration is accelerating border wall construction in the Big Bend region of west Texas, including through Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. In February 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) updated its Smart Wall Map to designate a "primary border wall system" within these protected areas. Fisher Sand and Gravel was awarded a $1.2 billion contract to build 70–80 miles of wall. Construction activity has begun: roads are being widened, survey stakes placed, environmental laws waived, and landowners notified. Though CBP quietly changed the national park designation from physical barrier to "detection technology" in early March, construction continues across the region with no formal public statement or congressional approval process.
• DHS waives environmental and historic preservation laws for Big Bend National Park border wall construction — In February 2026, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem waived federal laws related to wildlife protection, historic preservation, and environmental protection to construct a border wall through Big Bend National Park in Texas. The park, larger than Rhode Island, receives only about 1 percent of unauthorized border crossings. The federal government has allotted $1.72 billion for the project, which will include steel walls, hundreds of miles of new roads, and vehicle barriers. Local officials and former park staff have characterized the project as unnecessary and a violation of the agreement under which the park was established.

Supporting reports

• Trump proposed 250-foot "Golden Arch" monument in Washington D.C. — Trump administration proposed constructing a 250-foot "Golden Arch" in Washington D.C. to mark America's 250th anniversary. According to the Washington Post, the structure would tower over existing memorials, alter the skyline, and block views of the Lincoln Memorial. Experts warned it is wildly out of scale. The proposed arch would be the second-largest triumphal arch ever designed, surpassed only by a massive arch Adolf Hitler planned for Berlin but never built.
• Trump proposed 250-foot Arc de Triomphe in Washington DC — Trump told reporters he is considering building an arc in Washington DC similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, stating "We're the only major city doesn't have one" and "I'd like it to be the biggest one of all. We're the biggest, most powerful nation. I'd like it to be the biggest one."
• Trump administration pursuing vanity projects while cutting essential services — The Trump administration is pursuing grandiose aesthetic projects including renaming federal properties, adding gold fixtures to the White House, and building a 250-foot "Arc de Trump" near the Lincoln Memorial modeled after the Napoleonic arch in Paris. Republican senators Roger Wicker, Thom Tillis, and Lisa Murkowski expressed concern that these vanity projects distract from addressing the needs of struggling Americans, high prices, and healthcare funding. Senator Ron Johnson defended the projects as appropriate for a "builder."

Supporting reports

• Trump did not issue MLK Day proclamation or recognition. — In a break from past presidential traditions, including his own first term, President Trump did not recognize January 19, 2026 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day through any official statement, proclamation, or activity. Trump spent the day at his Mar-a-Lago estate. The White House did not respond when asked whether Trump planned to acknowledge the day or King's legacy. Trump is the first president not to issue an official proclamation for the federal holiday.
• Trump failed to issue Martin Luther King Jr. Day proclamation — On Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026, Trump issued no official proclamation honoring Dr. King, marking the first time in more than four decades that a sitting president failed to acknowledge the holiday. The omission occurred as Trump was reported to have invited Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to join his "Board of Peace," a shadow institution he is attempting to create parallel to the United Nations.

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• Trump proclaims Anti-Communism Week, November 2–8, 2025 — President Trump issued Proclamation 10988 on November 7, 2025, designating the week of November 2–8, 2025, as Anti-Communism Week. The proclamation characterizes communism as a destructive ideology responsible for over 100 million deaths and frames it as antithetical to American values of liberty, faith, and free enterprise. The document equates contemporary progressive movements ("social justice," "democratic socialism") with communist ideology and asserts that America rejects such doctrines as threats to freedom and individual rights.
• President Trump issued proclamation designating Anti-Communism Week — President Trump signed a proclamation on November 7, 2025, designating the week of November 2–8, 2025, as Anti-Communism Week. The proclamation characterizes communism as a destructive ideology responsible for over 100 million deaths and frames contemporary progressive movements as disguised communism. It calls for national unity against communism and reaffirms commitment to liberty and individual rights as foundational American values.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration demolishes White House East Wing without National Capital Planning Commission approval — The Trump administration completed demolition of the historic White House East Wing to make way for a $300 million privately funded ballroom. The demolition reversed Trump's July promise that no existing infrastructure would be torn down. Construction began without approval from the National Capital Planning Commission, the federal agency with jurisdiction over such projects. The 90,000-square-foot ballroom, designed to accommodate 999 people, is funded by major tech companies, defense contractors, and other corporations seeking government access.
• Trump plans to bulldoze East Wing of the White House for personal use — Trump reportedly plans to bulldoze the East Wing of the White House to construct a personal ballroom, a decision defended by Bessent as a "judgment call" by the president.
• White House demolishes East Wing to construct ballroom — The Trump administration demolished the East Wing of the White House to construct a ballroom. The action was cited as an example of constitutional violations and institutional degradation occurring during the administration's tenure.