Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump promised $5,000 to all adult citizens if Republicans win midterm elections — Trump posted a campaign promise that "If Republicans win the House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2026 Midterm Elections, I'm going to give all Adult Citizens in the United States of America, $5,000." The promise was made without specification of funding source or mechanism.

Supporting reports

• Trump issues Executive Order 14435 deferring diesel fuel excise taxes through December 31, 2026 — President Trump signed Executive Order 14435 on October 5, 2026, directing the Secretary of the Treasury to defer diesel fuel excise tax payments and provide penalty relief for farmers, truckers, and related workers through December 31, 2026, citing restricted global diesel supply and rising prices. The order instructs the Treasury Secretary to determine eligibility under 26 U.S.C. 7508A, directs the IRS to waive penalties for dyed diesel fuel use on highways, and tasks the Secretaries of Agriculture and Transportation with facilitating implementation. The order also directs the Treasury to explore legislative avenues for permanent tax forgiveness of deferred amounts.

Supporting reports

• Army announced armored vehicle "excess," but Congress continued funding; defense contractor employees donated to key appropriators — The U.S. Army announced last year that it had enough of a specific model of armored vehicle and that further deliveries would be "excess." Despite this, Congress continued funding the vehicle. In the weeks after the appropriations bill passed, employees of AM General or its parent company donated tens of thousands to key appropriations committee members, including Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA). After the Army's "excess" announcement, employees and the company's PAC donated over $58,000 to committees associated with Collins. The Intercept notes there is no indication this was part of a formal pay-to-play scheme, but it demonstrates how Collins's campaign account has grown with help from defense contractors doing business with the government.
• Congress funds armored vehicle despite Army rejection; manufacturer floods Congress with donations — After the U.S. Army announced it did not need additional units of a specific armored vehicle, Congress passed funding for the vehicle anyway. In the weeks following the funding passage, executives at the manufacturing company donated heavily to key members of Congress, including Senator Susan Collins (R-ME). The sequence suggests potential quid pro quo dynamics between defense contractors and congressional appropriators, raising concerns about whether defense spending decisions are driven by military need or corporate influence.

Supporting reports

• Iowa steel mill project costs state $777,000 per job, far exceeding typical incentives — Iowa's $1.36 billion incentive package for a new steel plant announced by Trump will cost the state at least $777,000 per job created—32 times more per full-time job than Iowa officials have provided other projects over the last two years through standard incentive programs. The deal was promoted as part of Trump's effort to influence the Iowa election.

Supporting reports

• US Supreme Court hears arguments in Suncor Energy v. Boulder County climate liability case — The US Supreme Court began oral arguments on October 5, 2026, in Suncor Energy Inc v County Commissioners of Boulder County, a case in which fossil fuel companies Suncor Energy and ExxonMobil seek to block state-level climate damage lawsuits. Boulder County officials sued the companies in Colorado state court in 2018 to recover costs of climate-related disasters. The oil companies argue federal law pre-empts state court jurisdiction; Boulder argues the Constitution permits state climate litigation. A ruling is expected in summer 2027. The case could affect dozens of similar climate suits nationwide.

Supporting reports

• Trump issues executive order deferring diesel fuel excise taxes through December 31, 2026 — President Trump issued an executive order directing the Secretary of the Treasury to defer diesel fuel excise tax payment obligations and provide penalty relief for farmers, truckers, and related workers through December 31, 2026. The order cites restricted global diesel supply and rising prices as justification. The Secretary is instructed to determine within five days whether relief is authorized under 26 U.S.C. 7508A, defer applicable taxes incurred October 5–December 31, 2026, waive penalties and interest, and direct the IRS to announce it will not impose penalties for dyed diesel fuel sold for highway use during that period. The order also directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and Transportation to facilitate implementation and explore avenues for permanent tax forgiveness.
• Emergency Tax Relief on Diesel Fuel — The White House published this executive order on 2026-10-05 through its executive-orders channel.
• Trump issues Executive Order 14435 deferring diesel fuel excise taxes through December 31, 2026 — President Trump signed Executive Order 14435 on October 5, 2026, directing the Secretary of the Treasury to defer diesel fuel excise tax payments and provide penalty relief for farmers, truckers, and related workers through December 31, 2026, citing restricted global diesel supply and rising prices. The order instructs the Treasury Secretary to determine eligibility under 26 U.S.C. 7508A, directs the IRS to waive penalties for dyed diesel fuel use on highways, and tasks the Secretaries of Agriculture and Transportation with facilitating implementation. The order also directs the Treasury to explore legislative avenues for permanent tax forgiveness of deferred amounts.
• Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Promotes Diesel Affordability — The White House published this fact sheet on 2026-10-05 through its fact-sheets channel.
• President Trump and Republicans Are Delivering Real Results for Nebraska — The White House published this release on 2026-10-05 through its releases channel.
• President Trump Takes Decisive Action to Lower Diesel Costs for American Truckers, Farmers — Trump signed an executive order that temporarily allows tax-exempt dyed (red) diesel to be used on roads and highways. Trump stated at a rally: "For many years, farm vehicles, construction equipment, and other off road vehicles have used what is know as red dye diesel. Do you know what that is? I don't know what the hell it is! But whatever it is, it's supposed to be very good." Gas analyst Patrick De Haan noted that while the executive order sounds significant on paper, it has limited practical effect because dyed diesel is already used by farmers and is essentially the same fuel as truck stop diesel, with only red dye added for identification. De Haan explained that states have their own motor fuel taxes and laws banning dyed fuel on public roads, and a presidential order cannot override state tax law. Unless states act to relax enforcement, running dyed diesel on roads remains illegal under state law.
• Trump signs executive order allowing red dye diesel on roads — The White House published this release on 2026-10-06 through its releases channel.
• WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: President Trump Delivers Immediate Diesel Relief, Saving Americans Up to $100 Per Fill

Supporting reports

• Trump suggested allowing Iran to destroy Los Angeles and San Diego — At a rally in Nebraska on October 6, Trump stated that high oil prices were "a small price to pay" for keeping the country safe and suggested allowing Iran to attack U.S. cities: "They can take out a city, let 'em take out Los Angeles. Let 'em take out San Diego." He characterized destruction of these cities as acceptable and "a very small price to pay." The statement generated rapid and widespread outcry from Democratic officials and scholars of authoritarianism.
• Trump suggests Iran could attack Los Angeles and San Diego — Speaking at a rally in Nebraska, Trump appeared to suggest that Iran could "take out" Los Angeles and San Diego if it develops a nuclear weapon. Trump stated: "They could take out a city. Let them take - Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego." California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned Trump's comments as "deranged and dangerous," noting that Trump had previously sent the National Guard and Marines to occupy California. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria stated that "SD is not collateral damage. We are not expendable." Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Trump's statements were dangerous and could compromise city safety. GOP congressional nominee Jim Desmond, running in San Diego, disagreed with Trump's comments, stating that no American city is expendable.
• Trump suggested Iran could attack Los Angeles or San Diego — Trump made public statements suggesting Iran could "take out" Los Angeles or San Diego while discussing the economic costs of war. He subsequently clarified that his administration intends to prevent such attacks. The remarks drew significant criticism for appearing to acknowledge or speculate about foreign military threats to U.S. cities without clear strategic context.

Supporting reports

• White House bars Politico from Air Force One press pool; CNN also repeatedly excluded — The White House refused to allow Politico on Air Force One on Monday, preventing the news organization from fulfilling its press corps pool responsibilities. This follows a pattern: news outlets filed a lawsuit on September 21 alleging the ban violates the First and Fifth Amendments. Judge Timothy Kelly sided with the plaintiffs and issued a temporary restraining order requiring the Trump administration to reinstate journalists' press badges. Since then, the White House has repeatedly barred CNN from traveling on Air Force One on days when it was CNN's turn to be the TV pool representative. The Trump administration appears to be justifying these restrictions by claiming access to the White House complex differs from access to tight spaces like Air Force One. Judge Kelly is scheduled to hold a hearing on Thursday over the news outlets' request for a preliminary injunction.
• White House blocks Politico from Air Force One pool rotation — The White House decided to block Politico from riding on Air Force One and called numerous other outlets to ask one to fill the primary print slot for the out-of-town pool rotation. Each of those outlets declined to step in, leaving the pool slot unfilled.
• Trump administration defended restrictions on news organizations' press access — The Trump administration continued to defend its decision to restrict press access for reporters from CNN, MSNBC, and Politico on journalistic conduct grounds. CNN, MSNBC, and Politico filed a federal court challenge, asking a judge to continue blocking the restrictions and to rule on long-term protections. The judge previously ordered temporary relief and is expected to rule on permanent protections.

Supporting reports

• Trump announced Medicare Part B premium payments funded from Medicare Improvement Fund — On October 4, Trump announced his administration would immediately distribute checks of nearly $100 to over 20 million seniors to help pay Medicare Part B premiums, funded from the Medicare Improvement Fund. Congress established the fund in 2008 to enable program improvements and adjust healthcare provider payments. Republican congressional aides indicated lawmakers had planned to use the fund for several health programs that year and were surprised by the announcement. Trump linked the distribution to the upcoming midterm elections, stating a "$5,000 Trump Dividend" would follow if Republicans won.

Supporting reports

• U.S. Southern Command conducted 70th strike on Caribbean boat, killing four people — U.S. Southern Command reported on October 4 that it struck another small boat in the Caribbean, killing four people it characterized as "narco-terrorists." This strike brings the total to more than 70 strikes over the past year, resulting in more than 230 deaths. The administration has justified the strikes by claiming, without public evidence, that those on the boats were drug traffickers, though such charges would normally be handled through the legal system. The Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel issued an opinion providing legal justification for the strikes.
• Federal judge ordered disclosure of boat-strike legal memo — On an unspecified date before October 6, U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ordered the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice to produce the Office of Legal Counsel memo justifying the boat strikes and to disclose who else has reviewed it. The judge's order was issued to evaluate whether the memo should be released to the public.

Supporting reports

• Governor Bill Lee suspends Tennessee executions and orders independent inquiry — In a November 2025 deposition, Frank Strada acknowledged that he had not followed several key recommendations from a 2022 Tennessee-commissioned independent report on lethal injection procedures. Specifically, he failed to hire a full-time employee or consultant with pharmaceutical expertise to provide guidance on lethal injection processes and failed to hire a full-time employee or consultant to assist with locating lethal injection drug sources. These omissions left critical gaps in oversight and expertise.

Supporting reports

• Trump ordered OMB director to divert DHS funds for campaign ads — According to reporting by Maggie Haberman, Hamed Aleaziz, Shane Goldmacher, and Jonathan Swan of the New York Times, Trump personally ordered Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought to allocate $20 million for television advertisements praising Trump. The journalists reported that Vought obtained the funds by redirecting money Congress had appropriated for the Department of Homeland Security. The diversion of congressionally appropriated funds for campaign purposes raised questions about proper use of federal resources.
• Trump acknowledged using $20 million in taxpayer funds for self-promotional ads — Trump acknowledged bipartisan outcry over his use of $20 million in taxpayer money to run ads boosting himself. He initially defended the practice as "a rather standard thing to do" but then stated he would pay for future ads with money raised for MAGA, Inc. However, the White House later clarified that Trump would not reimburse the American public for the ads already run, and the reimbursement promise would only apply "moving forward."
• Trump administration used $11 million in taxpayer funds for political advertising — The Trump administration spent at least $11 million in taxpayer funds broadcasting advertisements through a Department of Homeland Security contract to promote the president. Trump announced his allied super PAC (MAGA Inc.) would assume financing going forward, and the White House stated it does not plan to reimburse taxpayers for the expenditure.
• White House uses taxpayer funds for pro-Trump ads without reimbursement from super PAC — Approximately $11.6 million in taxpayer-funded advertisements promoting Trump have aired, according to an AdImpact estimate. Trump initially claimed the ads would be paid for by his super PAC, but the White House later clarified that the PAC would not be reimbursing the government for ads that had already aired. The use of federal funds for partisan political advertising without reimbursement raises questions about the misuse of public resources for campaign purposes and potential violations of appropriations law.

Supporting reports

• New York Times reported Trump administration negotiations for Lukoil asset purchase — On October 3, the New York Times reported that Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff—neither diplomats—have been negotiating with Russian President Vladimir Putin about a multibillion-dollar deal to purchase assets of Russian oil giant Lukoil at depressed prices due to U.S. sanctions. The sale would remove those assets from sanctions, making them far more valuable. Beneficiaries would include a major Trump donor and Middle Eastern investors tied to the Trump family and Witkoffs. The U.S. government would take a stake through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. Putin allegedly suggested the deal on September 5, after Senator Lindsey Graham's death on July 11. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would need to approve the deal.