Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump claims only his own morality constrains his power — In a January 7, 2026 interview with New York Times reporters, when asked if there are any checks on his power on the world stage, Trump answered: "Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It's the only thing that can stop me, and that's very good." When asked about international law, Trump stated "I don't need international law" and later said international law compliance "depends what your definition of international law is."
• Trump claimed only his morality limits his power — President Trump told New York Times reporters that as commander-in-chief, he has only one limit on his power: "My own morality. My own mind. It's the only thing that can stop me." He claimed he gets to determine what is legal under international law and seemed to stretch that authority to domestic affairs, saying he was considering getting around a possible Supreme Court decision on tariffs by calling them licensing fees and that he could invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy troops in the U.S. if he "felt the need to do it."
• Trump declares power constrained only by personal morality, dismisses international law — In a New York Times interview, President Trump stated that his presidential power is limited only by "my own morality, my own mind" and declared "I don't need international law." He acknowledged international law exists but questioned its definition and applicability. Trump emphasized the importance of "ownership" over treaties or leases, referenced ongoing efforts to gain control of Greenland, and dismissed concerns that ousting Venezuela's Maduro would set precedents for Chinese action on Taiwan or Russian control of Ukraine. He expressed confidence Xi Jinping would not seize Taiwan while he is president.

Supporting reports

• Trump speech to House Republicans on elections and Democratic policy — President Trump delivered a rambling speech to House Republicans in which he questioned why Republicans should "run against" Democrats, suggested Democrats should "cancel the election," and characterized Democratic voters and policies as fundamentally illegitimate. He stated that Democratic policies are "horrible" while Republicans "have the right policy," and implied that electoral competition is unnecessary when one party possesses correct ideology.

Supporting reports

• DOJ Office of Legal Counsel approves military seizure of Maduro without addressing international law compliance — The Trump administration's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), led by T Elliot Gaiser, issued a 22-page memo approving the use of military force to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The memo explicitly declined to determine whether the operation violated the UN Charter or international law, arguing such analysis was "unnecessary" if domestic constitutional authority existed. The memo cited a controversial 1989 precedent (signed by William Barr) asserting presidential power to override international treaties. Maduro was arrested on January 5, 2026, and the memo was released publicly ahead of a Senate vote on a war powers resolution.

Supporting reports

• Trump disclosed oil companies were informed of Venezuela operation before Congress — During an Air Force One press gaggle, Trump stated that oil companies were informed about military operations in Venezuela before Congress was notified. When asked if he tipped off oil companies before the operation, Trump responded "Before and after. They want to go in and they're going to do a great job." Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) characterized this as authoritarian governance by oligarchs, noting that oil companies received advance notice while Congress did not.
• Rep. Pat Ryan stated oil executives informed before Congress on Venezuela strike — Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) stated on CNN that the fact that oil executives were informed of the Venezuela operation before Congress represents a dangerous breach of democratic accountability. Ryan stated "The fact that the president admitted that oil executives were informed of this before the Congress that represents the people is incredibly dangerous. I mean, the fact that folks who clearly didn't have a clearance knew about this, and yet the representatives of the people weren't given a voice is outrageous."

Supporting reports

• Trump pardoned former Honduras president convicted of drug trafficking — Trump issued a pardon to the former president of Honduras who was serving a 45-year sentence for trafficking more than 500 tons of cocaine. This pardon directly contradicts Trump's stated justification for invading Venezuela—removing a drug trafficker from power—and was issued without explanation from Trump or his administration.

Supporting reports

• Trump played golf 13 out of 16 days — Trump played golf 13 out of his last 16 days while serving as President, including golfing again on the day of the Venezuela invasion announcement.
• Trump spent 14 consecutive days at Mar-a-Lago conducting government business — Trump spent his 14th consecutive day at Mar-a-Lago, his private residence and club, conducting government business including hosting foreign leaders and advisers. During this period, Trump visited his nearby golf club 12 times in two weeks, maintained his social calendar, and hosted a New Year's Eve party where guests bid $2.75 million on a live-painted portrait of Jesus. Trump also visited a private tile and marble shop in an industrial shopping center while Secret Service sealed off the parking lot.

Supporting reports

• Trump stated intention to acquire Greenland for U.S. control — President Trump told Michael Scherer of The Atlantic that the U.S. needs to acquire Greenland, stating "we do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense." Greenland is part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and is already integrated into U.S. national defense arrangements.
• Trump stated U.S. needs to acquire Greenland for national security — Trump stated during the press gaggle that the U.S. needs to acquire Greenland, citing national security concerns about Russian and Chinese naval presence. Trump stated "We need Greenland from a national security situation. It's so strategic. Right now, Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security. And Denmark is not gonna be able to do it."
• Greenland's prime minister warned Trump's threats against the country must be taken seriously — Greenland's prime minister issued a warning that Trump's threats against the country must be taken seriously and stated that if the United States attacks another NATO country, "everything stops." The statement came in response to Trump's repeated threats and rhetoric regarding Greenland, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, a NATO ally.
• White House issued statement on Greenland as national security priority — The White House released a formal statement declaring that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority for the United States and vital to deter adversaries in the Arctic region. The statement indicated the president and his team are discussing "a range of options" to pursue this goal, explicitly noting that utilizing U.S. military force remains available to the commander in chief.
• Marco Rubio privately briefed lawmakers on Greenland acquisition preference — Secretary of State Marco Rubio conducted a private briefing on Capitol Hill on Monday, January 6, 2026, in which he told lawmakers that the Trump administration would prefer to purchase Greenland from Denmark rather than invade it, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The briefing indicated that acquisition of Greenland remains an active policy objective under serious consideration by the administration, with purchase being the stated preference over military seizure.
• Stephen Miller suggests Denmark lacks sovereignty over Greenland — White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, in a CNN interview conducted on January 6, 2026, suggested that Denmark does not have a right to Arctic territory Greenland, which remains part of the Danish kingdom. Miller claimed military intervention would not be necessary because "nobody is going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland." His comments directly contradicted Denmark's and Greenland's assertions of sovereignty and came after his wife, Katie Miller, posted a US flag draped over a Greenland map captioned "SOON."
• Danish Prime Minister warned NATO dissolution if U.S. attacks Greenland — Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated that if the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, "everything stops. That is, including NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War." Her statement was a direct response to Trump's renewed interest in acquiring Greenland.
• European leaders issued joint statement defending Greenland sovereignty — European leaders issued a collective statement reaffirming that Denmark, including Greenland, is part of NATO and that Arctic security must be achieved collectively through NATO and the UN Charter. The statement emphasized that sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders are universal principles that will be defended, and that Greenland's future is for Denmark and Greenland alone to decide.
• German Bundestag member warned of Trump's imperial territorial expansion — German Bundestag Member Roderich Kiesewetter characterized Trump's interest in Greenland as part of a broader pattern of territorial expansion and imperial sphere-building. He warned that Trump interprets "Make America Great Again" literally—territorially—and cited recent U.S. actions toward Venezuela as evidence. Kiesewetter called for European military independence and geoeconomic strength to defend liberal democracy against great-power imperial competition.
• Stephen Miller stated U.S. military superiority makes Greenland acquisition feasible — White House adviser Stephen Miller told CNN that the U.S. is using its military to secure interests in the hemisphere "unapologetically" as a superpower. When asked whether military action against Greenland could be ruled out, Miller questioned Denmark's territorial claim and stated that "there's no need to even think or talk about this in the context that you're asking of a military operation. Nobody's going to fight the US militarily over the future of Greenland."
• Trump administration briefed Congress on plans to acquire Greenland through purchase or military options — Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers from armed services and foreign policy committees that Trump plans to buy Greenland rather than invade it, while Trump has asked aides for an updated acquisition plan. The White House issued a statement declaring that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority and that "utilizing the US military is always an option at the commander in chief's disposal." Stephen Miller stated the U.S. should possess Greenland as part of its security apparatus and questioned Denmark's territorial claim.
• White House states military force is "always an option" for acquiring Greenland — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement on Tuesday, January 7, 2026, declaring that the Trump administration is exploring "a range of options" to acquire Greenland and that utilizing US military force remains "always an option at the commander-in-chief's disposal." The statement framed Greenland acquisition as a national security priority. European leaders, including the prime ministers of France, Germany, and Britain, immediately issued a joint statement with Denmark's PM Mette Frederiksen asserting Greenland's sovereignty and warning that a US attack on a NATO ally would constitute the "end" of post-WWII security architecture.
• Trump reiterates desire to acquire Greenland as U.S. territory — Trump announced his intention to acquire Greenland, a resource-rich autonomous territory of Denmark, as U.S. property. In a January 7, 2026 interview with New York Times reporters, Trump stated that "ownership is very important" and that he wants to own Greenland rather than merely cooperate with it as the U.S. has done for decades. He framed the acquisition as psychologically necessary for his success and compared it to a real-estate transaction.
• Trump threatens military action against Greenland and NATO ally Denmark — Trump declared that the U.S. needs Greenland for national defense and threatened military action against the self-governing Danish territory. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated that attacking a NATO ally would end NATO and the security guarantee that has existed since World War II. France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Denmark issued a joint statement supporting Greenland and NATO.
• Congressman Ogles calls U.S. a predator and demands seizure of Greenland — MAGA Congressman Andy Ogles declared the United States a "predator" that must act like a predator and seize Greenland. He spoke of America's supposed dominance in the Western Hemisphere and insisted the nation must assert control over the region.
• Secretary of State threatens military action against Greenland — Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States "retains the option" of military action against Greenland and said the administration "prefers to buy Greenland" but reserves the right to seize it if Denmark refuses to sell. Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to rule out military strikes on a NATO ally. The statements followed Trump's public statements about acquiring Greenland.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration conducted military strikes on Venezuela without congressional authorization — President Trump announced on January 3 that U.S. forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and stated the administration would run Venezuela and control its oil fields. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared on Sunday talk shows to defend the strikes, characterizing them as a law enforcement operation rather than military action. However, reporting indicates at least 80 people were killed in the operation, and Trump explicitly told media the U.S. intends to take control of Venezuela's government and resources.
• Trump administration ordered U.S. Military to abduct Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro without Congressional authorization — On January 3, 2026, President Trump ordered the U.S. Military to conduct a raid that resulted in the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from Venezuelan territory without seeking Congressional authorization. Trump initially claimed the action was based on Maduro's alleged membership in a drug cartel called "Cartel de los Soles," but later admitted no such cartel exists. Trump subsequently announced that Venezuela would transfer 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, suggesting resource seizure as a motivation. The raid violated established international norms governing state sovereignty and the treatment of foreign heads of state.
• Trump administration conducts military raid capturing Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro — Top Trump officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen Dan Caine briefed all 100 US senators on Operation Absolute Resolve, a special forces raid that captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife from Caracas on January 3 and transported them to a New York jail. Rubio outlined a three-phase plan involving stabilization, oil market access for US companies, and extracting 30–50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil at market rates. Republicans defended the operation as law enforcement against an indicted drug trafficker; Democrats condemned it as an illegal act of war undertaken without congressional consultation, with Senator Chris Murphy stating the administration plans to "steal Venezuelan oil at gunpoint."
• Military captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife — On January 3, 2026, the military captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Trump had previously suggested he was determined to end what he called "narco-terrorist" activity in Venezuela. Upon Maduro's capture, Trump made clear his intent to control Venezuela's oil resources.
• Trump administration launched military strike on Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro — In the early hours of Saturday, January 3, 2026, the Trump administration ordered the military to conduct a strike against Venezuela, seize President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, and fly them to New York City to face federal charges announced by the Southern District of New York. The operation, called "Operation Absolute Resolve," was conducted without consulting Congress and in apparent violation of international law. At least 40 civilians and military personnel were killed in the strike, which hit a three-story apartment building.
• Trump ordered military invasion of Venezuela to capture President Maduro and seize oil assets — Trump ordered a military invasion of Venezuela using special forces to capture President Nicolás Maduro, who is under criminal indictment in the U.S. Trump explicitly stated the primary objective was to seize control of Venezuela's government and oil assets. Trump announced the U.S. would directly run Venezuela's government and oil infrastructure, with American oil companies investing billions in exchange for reimbursement from extracted oil revenues. Trump stated U.S. military personnel would remain on the ground and threatened Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez with severe consequences if she did not comply with U.S. directives.
• Trump authorized strikes in Venezuela and abduction of Maduro — In the middle of the night on January 3, Trump authorized a series of strikes in Venezuela, as well as the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by the US military. The illegal strikes took place without congressional authority. Maduro and Flores were transported to New York, where they face drug and weapons charges. Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was subsequently sworn in as interim president following Maduro's kidnapping.
• United States military operation in Venezuela captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife — The U.S. carried out a large-scale military operation in and around Caracas, Venezuela, and seized Nicolás Maduro and his wife. They were transported to the United States to face charges related to narco-terrorism and drug trafficking allegations. The President publicly celebrated the operation and spoke in terms suggesting temporary U.S. control of Venezuela. Multiple governments have condemned the action as a violation of international law, and the U.N. Security Council is scheduled to meet Monday to address the matter.
• Trump administration conducted airstrikes in Venezuela and captured Maduro — On January 3, 2026, the Trump administration conducted nighttime airstrikes in Venezuela and removed President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, transporting them to New York to face federal narcoterrorism and drug-trafficking charges. This action followed months of strikes against small boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that Trump claimed, without evidence, were operated by narcoterrorists from Venezuela, and seizures of vessels allegedly carrying sanctioned Venezuelan oil.
• Trump administration conducts lethal military strikes against Venezuelan targets without congressional authorization — Since September 2025, the Trump administration has conducted approximately 35 lethal strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats off Venezuela's coast, resulting in at least 115 deaths. Additionally, a massive military deployment off Venezuela's shores, including the largest U.S. aircraft carrier, was carried out without seeking congressional authorization. These actions were justified through executive orders declaring Venezuelan leaders "narco-terrorists" and invoking post-2001 war-on-terror legal frameworks.
• Trump administration detains Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without prior congressional notification — The Trump administration conducted a military operation to detain Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia, without alerting Congress in advance. Senior congressional leaders, including the "gang of eight," were informed only after the operation had begun. The administration justified the withholding of information by citing security concerns and the need for operational secrecy. The action bypassed the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which requires presidential notification to Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops into hostilities.
• US special forces capture Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in military raid ordered by Trump — US special forces conducted a pre-dawn military operation in Caracas on Saturday, capturing Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. The raid resulted in at least 40 deaths, including civilians and Venezuelan and Cuban security personnel. Maduro was transported to Manhattan and arraigned in federal court on Monday on drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges. He pleaded not guilty. The operation sparked international condemnation at an emergency UN Security Council meeting, with multiple countries calling it a "crime of aggression" and a breach of international law.
• Trump orders military raid capturing Venezuelan President Maduro — President Trump ordered a Saturday morning military raid in which U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro was transported to New York to face criminal charges. Trump subsequently announced the U.S. would "run" Venezuela indefinitely. Legal experts stated the action violated U.S. and international law. The raid occurred without prior congressional authorization or public debate.
• US military forces capture and extract Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela; Maduro arraigned in New York federal court on drug trafficking and weapons charges — US military forces conducted an operation that resulted in the forcible removal and capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela. Maduro was transported to New York and arraigned in federal court on charges related to international drug trafficking and weapons trafficking. The operation involved a US military attack on Venezuelan territory. Maduro pleaded not guilty to the charges. The arraignment drew dozens of protesters outside the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan, divided between those celebrating Maduro's detention and those opposing US intervention in Venezuela.
• Barry Pollack retained as counsel for Nicolás Maduro in US federal court — Nicolás Maduro, the captured Venezuelan president, appeared in federal court in New York on Monday and pleaded not guilty to charges of drug-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine-importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. He was represented by Barry Pollack, a prominent US trial lawyer previously known for securing Julian Assange's release from UK prison in 2024. Pollack questioned the legality of Maduro's abduction by US forces in a raid on Caracas and argued Maduro is entitled to immunity as a sovereign head of state.
• Maduro arraigned in Manhattan federal court on drug and narco-terrorism charges — Nicolás Maduro appeared before federal judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan on Monday for arraignment on four federal criminal counts including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Maduro, who was first indicted in 2020, pleaded not guilty and claimed he remained the legitimate president of Venezuela and was being held as a prisoner of war. His wife Cilia Flores also pleaded not guilty to related charges.
• Nicolás Maduro arraigned in Manhattan federal court on narco-terrorism charges following US military capture in Caracas — Nicolás Maduro, Venezuelan president, was captured in Caracas on January 3 and arraigned in Manhattan federal court on January 6 on narco-terrorism charges brought by the Trump Justice Department. Maduro entered a not guilty plea while making defiant statements about his legitimacy and characterizing his capture as a kidnapping. His wife, Cilia Flores, also appeared and pleaded not guilty. Judge Alvin Hellerstein scheduled a case conference for March 17. Neither defendant requested bail at this stage but reserved the right to do so later.
• Nicolás Maduro pleads not guilty in US court after capture — Nicolás Maduro, the deposed president of Venezuela, pleaded not guilty to charges of drugs, weapons, and "narco-terrorism" in a US federal court in Manhattan. His capture was part of a US special forces operation ordered by Donald Trump, which has been condemned by several countries as a "crime of aggression." The operation has raised concerns about breaches of international law and has led to an emergency UN Security Council meeting. Maduro's arraignment follows his indictment in 2020 for drug trafficking-related charges.
• US military operation captures Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela — US special forces captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in a pre-dawn raid in Caracas, ordered by Donald Trump. The operation resulted in at least 40 deaths, including civilians and security personnel. The US justified the intervention as necessary to combat drug trafficking, but it has been widely condemned as a breach of international law. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting to address the situation, with several countries condemning the US action as a "crime of aggression."
• Trump administration launches military operation to abduct Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro — The U.S. military, under President Trump's direction, conducted a night-time operation that forcibly abducted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, resulting in dozens of deaths. Trump subsequently backed Maduro's former vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez, to lead the country. The operation, termed "Operation Absolute Resolve," represents a significant military intervention in Latin America and a departure from Trump's stated 2024 campaign pledge to avoid foreign wars and "put America first."
• Trump announces U.S. control over Venezuelan oil — President Trump declared that the interim authorities in Venezuela would turn over between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, stating that the proceeds would be controlled by him to benefit both Venezuela and the U.S. This announcement indicates a shift towards direct U.S. control over Venezuelan resources.
• Trump threatens Greenland with military action — President Trump stated that the U.S. needs Greenland for national defense, implying potential military action against the self-governing territory, which is part of Denmark. This statement contradicts established NATO agreements and raises concerns about U.S. military intentions.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration lacked detailed post-invasion governance plan for Venezuela — According to reporting by the Wall Street Journal on January 3, 2026, the Trump administration was "racing to assemble an interim governing structure for Venezuela" but had no detailed plan in place before deposing Maduro. Trump told reporters that officials were "designating various people" to "run" Venezuela without specifying who they were. U.S. officials questioned why there was no detailed plan before the operation, and experts noted that Venezuela is twice the size of California with 28 million people, millions of whom support Maduro, an intact government, and an army of over 100,000 soldiers.
• Trump announced U.S. intent to control Venezuela's oil industry and govern the country — During a press conference on January 3, 2026, Trump announced that the U.S. will "run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition" and stated that large U.S. oil companies will "go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country." Trump claimed Venezuela had "stolen" American oil and property worth "billions and billions of dollars" through nationalization, and introduced the "Donroe Document" as a replacement for the Monroe Doctrine, asserting American dominance in the Western Hemisphere.
• Trump administration pursues oil-focused Venezuela policy, sidelining democratic opposition — Trump held a press conference in which he repeatedly stated his administration's primary interest in Venezuela is securing access to the country's oil reserves. The administration reportedly favors working with Delcy Rodríguez, Nicolás Maduro's vice president, over supporting María Corina Machado, the leading democratic opposition figure. Trump dismissed Machado as lacking public support despite her central role in backing Edmundo González in the July 2024 election, which international observers believe González won decisively. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the policy on television and did not deny that Cuba might be targeted next.
• Trump stated primary objective in Venezuela is oil access, not democracy — Trump explicitly stated that the focus of U.S. operations in Venezuela is securing oil access rather than supporting democracy or freeing political prisoners. When asked about demanding Venezuelan VP Delcy Rodriguez allow opposition figures to return or free political prisoners, Trump responded "We haven't gotten to that. Right now, we want to do is fix up the oil." He later stated the goal is "Total access. We need access to the oil and other things."
• Trump announced indefinite U.S. control of Venezuela — Following the capture of Maduro, President Trump announced that the United States would "run" Venezuela for an indefinite period. Trump stated on Fox News that the U.S. would be "very strongly involved" with the Venezuelan oil industry going forward. Industry analysts anticipate rapid rerouting of Venezuelan oil exports to the U.S., with refiners benefiting substantially from access to Venezuela's heavy crude reserves—the world's largest proven oil reserves.
• Trump administration recognized Delcy Rodríguez as Venezuela's head of state — On January 5, 2026, the Trump administration formally recognized Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's vice president, as Venezuela's head of state, despite Venezuela's high court ruling that Rodríguez could only serve as acting president for 90 days (extendable to 180 days), after which elections would be constitutionally required. The administration's recognition of Rodríguez as head of state rather than acting president signaled Trump's intention for her to remain in power beyond the constitutional limits.
• Trump administration ordered military operation to seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife — The Trump administration conducted a large-scale military operation that forcibly seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, removing them from the country. Trump's UN Ambassador Mike Waltz characterized the operation as a "law enforcement" action targeting "indicted fugitives," but justified it by stating the United States views the Western Hemisphere as its domain and cannot allow Venezuela's energy reserves to remain outside U.S. control. The operation prompted an emergency UN Security Council meeting where multiple nations condemned the action as a violation of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty.

Supporting reports

• Trump issued threats against Colombia, Cuba, and Mexico regarding Western Hemisphere dominance — During his January 3 press conference, Trump warned Colombia's President Gustavo Petro to "watch his ass," stated "Cuba is going to be something we'll end up talking about," and warned that "something will have to be done about Mexico." He declared that "American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again."
• Venezuelan Vice President Rodríguez rejected U.S. occupation and reaffirmed Maduro as rightful president — Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, whom Trump claimed had been sworn into the presidency, delivered a televised address on January 3, 2026 insisting that Maduro is the rightful president of Venezuela and must be released. She characterized the U.S. action as "an unprecedented military aggression" and declared that "the Venezuelan people and this country are clear about" their refusal to "be slaves" or "a colony of any empire."
• Trump threatened Venezuelan President Rodríguez with consequences for non-compliance — In a phone call with Michael Scherer of The Atlantic, President Trump threatened Venezuela's new president Delcy Rodríguez, stating that "if she doesn't do what's right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro." Trump later told reporters on Air Force One that the U.S., not Rodríguez, is in charge of Venezuela.
• Rubio indicated Cuba is a potential military target — Secretary of State Rubio stated on NBC that the Cuban government is "a huge problem" and when asked directly if Cuba is the next target, responded affirmatively that "they are in a lot of trouble. Yes," signaling potential military action against Cuba following the Venezuela operation.
• Secretary of State Rubio declines to rule out military action against Cuba — Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared on television to defend the administration's Venezuela policy. When asked whether Cuba might be the target of similar operations, Rubio did not deny the possibility and characterized the Cuban government as a "huge problem," suggesting additional action could follow. Rubio also stated that no congressional authorization was required for Venezuela operations because they constituted a "precise operation" rather than a war.
• Sen. Lindsey Graham expressed support for military action against Iran and Cuba — Sen. Lindsey Graham, appearing with Trump on Air Force One, stated "You just wait for Cuba. Their days are numbered!" and later appeared on Fox News wearing a "Make Iran Great Again" hat, saying "I pray and hope that 2026 will be the year we make Iran great again" and adding Cuba to his target list: "To our Cuban friends in FL, the liberation of your homeland is close."
• Trump indicated U.S. military operations planned for Colombia — During the press gaggle, Trump responded affirmatively when asked if there would be a U.S. operation in Colombia, stating "Sounds good to me" in response to a reporter's question about whether operations would extend to Colombia. This followed Trump's characterization of Colombia as "very sick."
• Trump threatened military action against Mexico — Trump stated that cartels are running Mexico and that President Claudia Sheinbaum is not in control. Trump said he has repeatedly asked Sheinbaum whether the U.S. should "take out the cartels" and indicated that "something is gonna have to be done with Mexico," implying potential military intervention similar to the Venezuela operation.
• US Invasion of Venezuela — The United States has initiated a military invasion of Venezuela, an action that has been described as a significant breach of international law. This move has been characterized as an authoritarian act by the U.S. government, bypassing traditional diplomatic and coalition-building processes. The invasion has sparked widespread criticism and is expected to lead to increased global instability. The U.S. House of Representatives has been urged to respond with impeachment proceedings, although no immediate action has been taken.
• Colombian President Gustavo Petro rejected Trump's threats — Colombian President Gustavo Petro responded to Trump's threats by challenging him to come to Colombia in person, stating "Come get me! I'm waiting for you here." Petro rejected invasions, missiles, and assassinations, and called for dialogue based on facts rather than lies spread by "Colombian political mafias."
• Trump threatens Mexico and Cuba — Trump threatened Colombian President Gustavo Petro, declared that "Cuba is ready to fall," and warned Mexico to "get their act together," signaling potential military or coercive action against multiple Western Hemisphere nations without diplomatic process.
• Trump threatens military action against Iran — Trump warned that if Iran continues "killing people like they have in the past," Iran "is going to get hit very hard by the United States," signaling potential military escalation without congressional authorization or diplomatic process.
• Rick Scott advocates regime change in Western Hemisphere — Senator Rick Scott openly fantasized about regime-changing every country in the Western Hemisphere, expressing support for U.S. intervention to alter governments in the region.
• Trump attacks NATO alliance and questions member loyalty — Trump issued an all-caps statement claiming he "single handedly ended eight wars," complained that Norway "foolishly" did not award him the Nobel Peace Prize, and warned that NATO might not support the United States because he doubts member nations' loyalty. He attacked the alliance as a stabilizing institution.

Supporting reports

• Trump posts about Iranian protests and military readiness — At 2:58 a.m. on January 2, President Trump posted on social media about ongoing Iranian protests sparked by rising cost of living, stating: "If Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go." The post signaled potential U.S. military intervention in response to Iranian government actions against protesters.
• Iran's leadership responded to Trump's military threat — Ali Shamkhani, a top adviser to the Ayatollah, warned that any foreign threat to Iran's national security would be met with a response that would make the aggressor regret it. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the American people should be mindful of their soldiers' safety and accused Trump of starting "dangerous adventurism."
• Trump posted threat of military action against Iran — Trump posted a message on social media threatening military action against Iran, stating that if Iran "shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters," the United States would "come to their rescue," adding "We are locked and loaded and ready to go." The post came amid large-scale protests in Iran fueled by economic collapse and inflation.
• Trump threatens Iran with military intervention over protest crackdown — Trump posted on Truth Social that if Iran "violently kills peaceful protesters," the U.S. "will come to their rescue," stating "We are locked and loaded and ready to go." The threat came as economic protests swept Iran and at least 7 people were killed in violence surrounding demonstrations. Iranian officials, including Ali Larijani and Ali Shamkhani, responded with counter-threats, warning against U.S. intervention and alleging the U.S. was stoking the protests.
• Trump threatens military action against Iran — On Truth Social on January 2, Trump threatened to take military action against Iran if the country "shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters," saying the US "will come to their rescue" and that the military is "locked and loaded and ready to go."

Supporting reports

• Trump regrets not seizing voting machines after 2020 election — In a January 2026 interview with the New York Times, President Trump stated that he "should have" directed the National Guard to take control of voting machines after the 2020 election, expressing regret over not implementing a plan prepared by conspiracy theorists that would have involved ordering federal agents or troops to confiscate voting machines from swing states to search for evidence of fraud.

Supporting reports

• Department of Government Efficiency cuts nearly 10% of federal employees — The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, concluded that while the Department of Government Efficiency did not actually reduce overall federal spending, it did cut approximately 10% of federal employees. This reduction aligned with a key goal of Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought, a principal author of Project 2025. The cuts were achieved through unilateral executive action rather than congressional appropriations processes.

Supporting reports

• Elon Musk posts "Novus Ordo Seclorum" on social media following Trump's 2024 election victory — Following the 2024 election results, billionaire Elon Musk, who had supported Trump's campaign through his purchase of Twitter (now X) and $290 million in cash donations, posted "Novus Ordo Seclorum" (Latin for "New World Order") on social media. The post signaled the beginning of a transformative agenda. Trump subsequently announced he had an "unprecedented and powerful mandate" despite winning with less than 50% of the vote, and Musk was tasked to head a new "Department of Government Efficiency" with a stated goal of cutting at least $2 trillion from the federal budget.
• Musk and DOGE operatives gain access to government computer systems and eliminate federal jobs and programs — Elon Musk and his operatives gained access to computer systems across federal government offices and, using keyboard commands, eliminated jobs and programs. Musk specifically described feeding "into the wood chipper" most of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the government agency responsible for combating disease and malnutrition globally. The dismantling of USAID has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people according to public health assessments.

Supporting reports

• Trump posts that Colorado governor and DA should "rot in hell" — On New Year's Eve morning, Trump posted on social media that Colorado's governor and a Republican district attorney should "rot in hell" for refusing to free Tina Peters, a convicted MAGA election fraudster who tampered with voting machines after the 2020 election. The post represents a direct attack on state officials for exercising their lawful authority and refusing to grant a pardon or release to a convicted criminal.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration announced removal of National Guard troops from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland — Following the Supreme Court's December 23 rejection of its deployment authority, the Trump administration announced on December 31, 2025 that it would remove National Guard troops from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland. Trump claimed the troops had "greatly reduced" crime and vowed to return "in a much different and stronger form" when crime rises again.
• Trump announces end of National Guard deployments in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland — On December 31, 2025, President Trump announced he was ending his National Guard deployment in Los Angeles and his attempted military takeovers in Chicago and Portland. This retreat followed a Supreme Court ruling one week prior that upheld a lower court decision halting his efforts to send hundreds of Guard troops into Chicago. The Court determined Trump lacked authority to invoke an archaic law to federalize Illinois Guard troops. Trump signaled he may return to Democratic-led cities "in a much different and stronger form," hinting at potential invocation of the Insurrection Act.
• Trump administration withdraws national guard deployment orders from Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland — Following a California court ruling that returned national guard troops to state authority and a U.S. Supreme Court block on Illinois deployment, the Trump administration announced withdrawal of federal troops from Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland. The Department of Justice ceased contesting the California court's decision, effectively ending the administration's attempt to maintain federal control over state national guard units in these Democratic-led cities. Trump framed the move as temporary, pledging to redeploy troops later.
• Trump announces withdrawal of National Guard deployments from major cities — Trump announced the withdrawal of National Guard deployments from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, while simultaneously threatening to redeploy them "in a much different and stronger form" if crime allegedly surged. This announcement came after Trump lost multiple court challenges to the deployments, including a 6-3 Supreme Court ruling the previous week that found his justification for sending National Guard to Chicago insufficient.

Supporting reports

• Trump vetoes bipartisan clean water bill affecting Colorado — Trump vetoed a bipartisan clean water bill that would have delivered safe drinking water to 50,000 people in Colorado, including residents in Representative Lauren Boebert's district. Boebert was a co-sponsor of the legislation. The veto followed Boebert's role in pushing for the release of Epstein files. The timing and context suggest the veto was retaliatory in nature, punishing a Republican member of Congress for her vote on the Epstein documents.

Supporting reports

• U.S. Southern Command struck small boat in eastern Pacific — U.S. Southern Command posted that it had struck another small boat in the eastern Pacific, killing two men. This strike was part of an operation the administration describes as targeting "narco-terrorists." The operation has resulted in more than 100 deaths and has been widely condemned as illegal.
• U.S. Southern Command strikes five boats in Caribbean operations — Over December 30 and 31, U.S. Southern Command announced it struck five small boats that it claimed were being operated by "narco-terrorists," killing at least 13 people and possibly leaving some survivors. These strikes brought the total number of such operations to at least 35 with at least 115 people killed in the campaign.

Supporting reports

• Trump urges Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster — Donald Trump called on Senate Republicans to scrap the filibuster rule, which allows a minority of senators to block legislation. In an interview with Politico, Trump argued that eliminating the filibuster would prevent government shutdowns, enable passage of his legislative agenda, and allow Republicans to act without Democratic obstruction. Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats, giving them limited margin for defection on simple-majority votes. Trump previously made the same call in October during a shutdown standoff.

Supporting reports

• Trump reposted claims about "double tap strikes" and admitted engaging in them — Trump reposted claims about "double tap strikes" under the Obama administration. In doing so, he effectively admitted to engaging in the same practice himself. He attempted to blur the distinction between actual war and U.S. forces killing people in boats off the coast of Venezuela.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration strips collective bargaining rights from federal workers; House passes restoration bill — President Trump issued executive orders eliminating collective bargaining rights for over 1 million federal government employees. In response, the House of Representatives passed a bill on December 11 to restore those rights. AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler characterized this as "the biggest attack on unions in our history" and announced the labor federation would file lawsuits challenging the administration's efforts to weaken unions and worker protections, with plans to push for Senate passage in January.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration posts Christian nationalist messaging across federal agencies on Christmas — On December 24–25, 2025, multiple federal agencies—including the State Department, Labor Department, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Defense—posted social media messages explicitly promoting Christian religious doctrine and framing the United States as a Christian nation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted about "Eternal Life through Christ"; DHS posted "Christ is Born!" and "We are blessed to share a nation and a Savior"; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted about "the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." These posts violated the Establishment Clause principle that government shall not promote or establish religion.

Supporting reports

• Congressional Budget Office analysis shows tax cuts favor wealthy while cutting nutrition assistance — The Congressional Budget Office analyzed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" and found that resources were reduced for lowest-income households while delivering substantial tax benefits to highest earners, including approximately one trillion dollars in tax cuts for the wealthiest one percent over the coming decade. The largest cuts to nutrition assistance in the program's history were enacted to fund this tax largesse.

Supporting reports

• Nvidia permitted to resume advanced chip sales to China after White House ballroom donations — Multiple wealthy benefactors, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, donated to the President's proposed White House ballroom renovation. Weeks after these donations, Nvidia was permitted to resume certain advanced chip sales to China under an arrangement requiring the company to remit 25 percent of such sales revenue to the United States government. No documented proof of quid pro quo exists in the public record, but the timing and sequence raise concerns about pay-to-play arrangements.
• Nvidia permitted to resume advanced chip sales to China under revenue-sharing arrangement — Weeks after Jensen Huang of Nvidia donated to the proposed White House ballroom, the administration permitted Nvidia to resume advanced chip sales to China under an arrangement requiring the company to remit 25% of sales revenue to the U.S. government.

Supporting reports

• President pardons Juan Orlando Hernández, former Honduras president convicted of drug trafficking — The President pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, former President of Honduras, who was convicted in American courts of drug trafficking and firearms offenses. The pardon occurred while the administration simultaneously conducted military operations ostensibly targeting drug trafficking, creating a contradiction between stated policy objectives and executive action.