Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem imposed $100,000 expenditure approval requirement delaying disaster recovery aid — Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem implemented a policy requiring her personal sign-off on all expenditures over $100,000. The requirement has badly delayed recovery aid to North Carolina after Hurricane Helene that Congress approved in December. Republican Senator Ted Budd announced he will place holds on all Department of Homeland Security nominees until the approval process speeds up.

Supporting reports

• Trump blames "radical left" for Kirk shooting and vows investigation — President Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office, blaming "the radical left" for the Kirk shooting without evidence. He vowed that his administration "will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity, and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials and everyone else who brings order to our country." Trump listed incidents of what he characterized as "radical left political violence" while omitting violence against Democrats, including the June murder of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband by a man with a hit list of 45 Democratic officials.
• Trump blamed shooting on "radical left" and vowed to prosecute contributors to political violence — From the Oval Office, President Trump blamed the Charlie Kirk shooting on "the radical left" and vowed to "find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity, and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials, and everyone else who brings order to our country." The statement preceded any confirmed information about the shooter's identity or motive.

Supporting reports

• ICE agents physically assault and wrongfully detain US citizen car wash owner — On September 9, 2025, ICE agents conducted a raid at a Los Angeles car wash owned by Rafie Ollah Shouhed, a 79-year-old US citizen. Surveillance footage shows agents pushing Shouhed to the ground, and according to his attorney, agents violently body-slammed him onto pavement, jumped on his back, and handcuffed him despite his protests about recent heart surgery. Shouhed sustained broken ribs, traumatic brain injury, and elbow injuries. He was detained for nearly 12 hours without being charged with a crime, even after agents confirmed his citizenship status. On September 26, 2025, Shouhed filed a $50 million civil lawsuit against DHS, CBP, ICE, and Border Patrol alleging assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
• Rafie Ollah Shouhed, 79-year-old U.S. citizen, tackled by ICE agents and detained without charges — On September 9, 2025, Rafie Ollah Shouhed, a 79-year-old U.S. citizen who owns a car wash in the Los Angeles area, was detained during an ICE raid. Video evidence shows ICE agents tackling Shouhed. He was held for 12 hours, denied medical treatment, and suffered broken ribs, an injured elbow, and post-concussive symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Federal officials claimed Shouhed was impeding the raid but he was never charged.

Supporting reports

• Irish citizen held in ICE detention despite valid work permit; conditions described as torture — Seamus Culleton, an Irish national with a valid work permit and no criminal record, has been held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in El Paso, Texas for five months following his arrest on 9 September 2025. Despite obtaining a statutory exemption allowing him to work after marrying a US citizen and applying for lawful permanent residence, Culleton remains detained and unable to attend his October green card interview. He reports severe conditions including overcrowding (71 detainees in one room), inadequate food, filthy facilities, and staff-related safety concerns. His lawyer states US authorities are threatening deportation "any day."
• Irish man detained by ICE for five months despite valid work permit and US citizen spouse — Seamus Culleton, an Irish national with a valid work permit and married to a US citizen, was arrested by ICE agents on September 9, 2025, outside a Home Depot in Massachusetts and has been held in ICE detention facilities for five months under conditions he describes as torture-like. Despite having obtained a statutory exemption allowing him to work while his application for lawful permanent residence is pending, he remains in custody and faces potential removal. His wife, a US citizen, and his attorney are calling for his immediate release to allow him to complete his status adjustment process.
• Irish national held in ICE detention despite valid work permit and pending green card application — Seamus Culleton, an Irish national with a valid work permit tied to a pending green card application, was arrested by ICE on September 9, 2025, during a random immigration sweep at a hardware store in Massachusetts. Despite being married to a US citizen, having no criminal record, and possessing documentation of lawful work authorization, Culleton was detained for five months across multiple facilities, ultimately transferred to El Paso, Texas. A judge approved his release on bond in November, but ICE continued detaining him. ICE agents later claimed Culleton had signed deportation documents, which he disputes; a federal judge noted irregularities in ICE's court filings but sided with the agency.

Supporting reports

• Saudi Crown Prince overrode investment committee recommendation to approve $2 billion Kushner fund investment — The Public Investment Fund (PIF) committee that screens investments recommended rejecting Kushner's Affinity Partners proposal, citing "the inexperience of the Affinity Fund management" and "excessive" fees. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who heads PIF's Board of Directors and with whom Kushner had developed a close relationship, overrode the committee's recommendation and approved the $2 billion investment. This investment represents the largest single source of capital for Affinity Partners since its 2021 founding.

Supporting reports

• GREAT Trust plan circulates at White House proposing forced Palestinian relocation and Gaza privatization — A nearly 40-page document outlining the Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration and Transformation (GREAT) Trust plan has been circulating around the White House. The plan proposes turning Gaza into AI-controlled urban centers surrounded by luxury hotels, data centers, solar power plants, and electric vehicle factories, funded through a multilateral "custodianship" involving the U.S., Israel, and foreign investors. The plan emphasizes that Palestinians would be relocated either to other countries or designated areas within Gaza, with financial incentives structured so that each Palestinian who leaves generates $23,000 in savings and every 1% of population departure generates $500 million in savings for investors.

Supporting reports

• Alabama petitions Supreme Court to reverse private right of action in Milligan v. Allen — Alabama filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to consider new arguments to reverse the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals' determination that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act provides a private right of action. The petition, filed in the case Milligan v. Allen, also raises the constitutional questions at stake in Louisiana v. Callais regarding whether majority-minority districts violate the Fourteenth Amendment.
• Alabama requests stay in redistricting lawsuit pending Callais decision — Alabama filed a request with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals for a stay of a lower court's decision ordering the state to draw new congressional maps. The stay request seeks to pause the redistricting order until the Supreme Court issues its decision in Louisiana v. Callais, signaling that the outcome of that VRA case will determine Alabama's redistricting obligations.

Supporting reports

• Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals rules Section 2 contains no private right of action in Arkansas case — The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act does not provide a private right of action, meaning only the Attorney General—not private plaintiffs such as voters or voting-rights organizations—can enforce the provision. This decision effectively gutted Section 2 enforcement in Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The plaintiffs in that case declined to appeal to the Supreme Court, fearing it would entrench the decision nationwide.
• Eighth Circuit rules Section 208 of VRA contains no private right of action — The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act, which ensures that voters with disabilities or limited English proficiency can receive assistance casting their ballots, does not explicitly provide a private right of action. The decision upheld an Arkansas law that makes it a crime for anyone other than a poll worker to assist more than six people in casting their ballots.

Supporting reports

• Louisiana reverses legal position in Callais, joins conservative plaintiffs in attacking VRA Section 2 — After the Supreme Court's reargument order in Louisiana v. Callais, Louisiana reversed its legal strategy. Previously, the state had argued its congressional map was drawn with political rather than racial considerations. The state now joined the conservative plaintiffs in directly attacking Section 2's remedy—the creation of a second majority-Black congressional district—as unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment.

Supporting reports

• Mississippi petitions Supreme Court to rule on Section 2 private right of action — Mississippi filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to rule on whether Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act provides a private right of action. The petition appeals a 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision that had determined private plaintiffs do have a right to sue under Section 2.

Supporting reports

• Republican National Committee urges Fifth Circuit to adopt no-private-right-of-action interpretation for Section 208 — The Republican National Committee filed a brief with the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals urging it to adopt the same interpretation as the 8th Circuit—that Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act does not provide a private right of action. This follows the 8th Circuit's decision upholding an Arkansas law criminalizing assistance to more than six voters per person.

Supporting reports

• Supreme Court schedules reargument in Louisiana v. Callais on VRA Section 2 remedy — The U.S. Supreme Court delayed issuing an opinion in Louisiana v. Callais during summer 2025 and announced a reargument scheduled for October on whether Louisiana's creation of a second majority-minority congressional district violates the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Amendments. The case originated after Louisiana was ordered in 2024 to redraw maps with an additional majority-Black district following a successful Section 2 challenge. The reargument signals the Court may be preparing a sweeping ruling that could substantially narrow or eliminate the VRA's most powerful remaining provision.

Supporting reports

• Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians appeals to Supreme Court on Section 2 private right of action — Native American plaintiffs led by the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians are appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court after the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that private plaintiffs cannot bring Section 2 claims via Section 1983. The tribes had successfully challenged North Dakota's state legislative maps under both Section 2 and Section 1983, resulting in a VRA-compliant map used in 2024. The Supreme Court agreed to pause the 8th Circuit's ruling while it deliberates the appeal.

Supporting reports

• Department of Justice reverses position on voting rights cases under Attorney General Pam Bondi — Under Attorney General Pam Bondi, the U.S. Department of Justice has reversed its position on numerous voting rights cases, including Louisiana v. Callais. The reversal signals a shift away from federal enforcement of voting-rights protections and aligns the DOJ with conservative legal arguments attacking the Voting Rights Act.

Supporting reports

• Supreme Court uses shadow docket to overturn lower court rulings without explanation — The Supreme Court has dramatically expanded its use of the "shadow docket"—unsigned, unexplained decisions traditionally reserved for emergencies—to overturn lower court rulings in favor of Trump. The court, three of whose justices Trump appointed, has sided with him in shadow docket decisions more than 70% of the time. These decisions lack hearings, briefs, or written justification, undermining judicial transparency and the rule of law while supporting the administration's narrative that courts are subverting Trump's presidency.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed — Driscoll v. Patel (D.D.C. 1:25-cv-03109) — Three senior FBI officials, including former FBI Acting Director Brian J. Driscoll, Jr., filed suit in federal district court challenging their summary dismissal by FBI Director Kash Patel on August 8, 2025. The plaintiffs claim they were entitled to statutory protections under the FBI Senior Executive Service (5 U.S.C. § 3151), which permits removal only for specified causes such as misconduct or neglect of duty. They allege their terminations violated the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause and the First Amendment, arguing the dismissals were retaliatory and based on perceived political disloyalty rather than lawful cause. Plaintiffs seek reinstatement and an injunction against further adverse action without due process.

Supporting reports

• Republicans block release of Epstein files in Rules Committee vote — All eight Republicans on the House Rules Committee voted to block the release of the Epstein files after Trump warned them it would be a "hostile act" to vote for release. The Republicans who voted to block were Virginia Foxx (NC), Michelle Fischbach (MN), Ralph Norman (SC), Chip Roy (TX), Nick Langworthy (NY), Austin Scott (GA), Morgan Griffith (VA), and Brian Jack (GA). Democrats have secured 216 signatures on a discharge petition and expect two special election victories to provide the votes needed to force a floor vote on release.

Supporting reports

• Michigan judge dismissed fake elector charges — A Michigan state judge dismissed charges against a group of fake electors who signed certificates that falsely stated Trump won the state in the 2020 presidential election, ruling that there wasn't sufficient evidence to prove their intent to commit fraud. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel called the dismissal "the most dangerous slippery slope for American democracy" and expressed terror about the 2026 elections.
• Michigan judge dismisses charges against 15 Trump fake electors — Judge Kristen Simmons in Michigan dismissed felony charges against 15 of 16 people accused of falsely signing documents claiming Trump won the 2020 election. The judge ruled the state had not provided sufficient evidence of intent to prove fraud, characterizing the defendants' actions as exercising their constitutional right to seek redress. The dismissal represents a significant setback for efforts to hold Trump and allies accountable for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results.

Supporting reports

• DNI Gabbard directs NSA to recall classified Venezuela report — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard directed the NSA to recall a classified report about Venezuela despite agency staff affirming it was accurate and complied with all NSA policies. The report related to Trump special envoy Richard Grenell and included conversations Grenell had with Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, as well as NSA-collected information about Grenell. An unclassified addendum directed staff to remove the original report from all manual and computer files.

Supporting reports

• Trump announces pocket rescission of $4.9bn in foreign aid via notification to House Speaker — Trump informed House Speaker Mike Johnson in late August that he would not spend $4.9bn in congressionally appropriated foreign aid, using a "pocket rescission" mechanism announced shortly before the 30 September fiscal year end. The funds were designated for UN organizations, peacekeeping operations, development assistance, and democracy-promotion projects. Trump characterized the spending as "woke, weaponized and wasteful." This was the first pocket rescission in 50 years, preventing Congress from acting within the required 45-day timeframe.

Supporting reports

• Trump invokes Alien Enemies Act to render Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador prison — Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to justify rendering undocumented Venezuelan immigrants to CECOT, a notorious terrorist prison in El Salvador. The act, designed for wartime use, was applied to justify extrajudicial deportation to a foreign detention facility without due process. This represents an extreme expansion of executive power using a historical statute to bypass normal immigration procedures and constitutional protections.

Supporting reports

• ICE resumes immigration sweeps in Los Angeles following court ruling — Following the Supreme Court's reversal of the restraining order, ICE resumed large-scale immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles on September 8. Greg Bovino, head of U.S. Border Patrol in Los Angeles, announced via social media that operations were "starting back up" and that agents were "going hard in Los Angeles today." The Department of Homeland Security declared the decision a victory and vowed to "flood the zone" in the city, accusing Mayor Karen Bass of "protecting" immigrants.
• Attorney General Pam Bondi celebrated Supreme Court racial profiling decision — Attorney General Pam Bondi characterized the Supreme Court's decision permitting racial profiling in immigration detentions as "another massive victory" and stated that ICE can now continue roving patrols in California "without judicial micromanagement."
• ICE detained Donna Hughes-Brown, lawful permanent resident, for 37-year-old probation — Donna Hughes-Brown, a lawful permanent resident of 37 years, was detained by ICE and separated from her four children and five grandchildren. Her detention was based on a bad check for $25 written in 2015, for which she had already paid restitution and received probation. Under Trump administration policy, this prior conviction classified her as a "criminal illegal alien" eligible for deportation.
• Navy veteran James Brown expressed regret for voting for Trump after wife's ICE detention — U.S. Navy veteran James Brown told Newsweek he "100%" regrets voting for Trump after his wife was taken into ICE detention. Brown stated that Trump had advertised he would deport criminal illegal immigrants, but that the administration is not being truthful about what is actually happening to legal immigrants.

Supporting reports

• Chicago mayor opposes militarized immigration enforcement — Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson released a statement opposing the Trump administration's announced immigration enforcement operation, stating the city received no advance notice of enhanced ICE action. Johnson cited ICE's documented track record of detaining and deporting U.S. citizens and violating detainees' human rights as grounds for opposing militarized enforcement without due process protections.
• Chicago mayor reports lack of federal notice for ICE enforcement operations — Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson posted on X that the city received no advance notice of enhanced immigration enforcement operations by the Trump administration. Johnson stated the city remains opposed to militarized immigration enforcement without due process, citing ICE's documented history of detaining and deporting American citizens and violating detainees' human rights.

Supporting reports

• Rightwing influencer accompanies ICE agents during enforcement raids in Chicago — Ben Bergquam, a far-right internet personality, accompanied Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during raids in Chicago on Sunday, filming content and confronting local residents. ICE arrested four people on the city's southwest side. Bergquam, who has a history of spreading false claims about migrants and federal agencies, was present in vehicles with agents and later yelled at protesters that they were "the enemy within." The Department of Homeland Security did not confirm whether Bergquam was authorized to participate in enforcement operations.

Supporting reports

• ICE detained Donna Hughes-Brown, lawful permanent resident, for 37-year-old probation — Donna Hughes-Brown, a lawful permanent resident of 37 years, was detained by ICE and separated from her four children and five grandchildren. Her detention was based on a bad check for $25 written in 2015, for which she had already paid restitution and received probation. Under Trump administration policy, this prior conviction classified her as a "criminal illegal alien" eligible for deportation.