Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment and refuses to testify at Senate Covid hearing — Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and declined to answer questions at a Senate committee hearing on Covid-19 origins called by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul. Fauci stated Paul's goal was to embarrass, intimidate, and land him "behind bars." Paul responded by threatening a contempt vote and removing one of Fauci's attorneys from the room. The hearing became contentious, with Republican senators demanding apologies and attacking Fauci's credibility while Democrats defended him as a victim of harassment.
• Rand Paul announces intent to pursue contempt of Congress vote against Fauci — Following Fauci's invocation of the Fifth Amendment during the Senate hearing, Senator Rand Paul told reporters he intends to call a vote for contempt of Congress the following week in the committee on homeland security and governmental affairs. Paul stated there would be "repercussions" for Fauci's refusal to testify. Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri joined in, asserting Fauci has no Fifth Amendment rights in this context and accused him of contempt for Congress and the American people.
• Rand Paul chairs Senate hearing on Covid origins; Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment and declines testimony — Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared before a Republican-led Senate committee hearing chaired by Senator Rand Paul, ostensibly to investigate Covid-19 origins. Fauci, citing his attorneys' advice and invoking the Fifth Amendment, declined to answer questions throughout the hearing. Paul had asserted that Fauci could bear responsibility for the pandemic due to NIH funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Fauci characterized Paul's investigation as an "unhinged obsession." Paul indicated he intends to call a vote for contempt of Congress the following week.
• Republican senators attack Fauci's pandemic record and scientific credibility — Multiple Republican senators used the hearing to criticize Fauci on various grounds. Senator Ron Johnson accused Fauci of covering up unfavorable vaccine information, calling vaccines "experimental gene therapy." Senator Bernie Moreno demanded Fauci apologize for military vaccine mandates, pandemic business closures, and a mask-enforcement arrest, calling him a "total and complete disgrace." Senator Joni Ernst criticized use of aborted fetal tissue in research. Democratic Senator Gary Peters warned the hearing was scapegoating one official for a crisis involving hundreds of officials across administrations.
• Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment during Senate testimony — Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right during a Senate hearing led by Senator Rand Paul, where he faced aggressive questioning regarding his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci stated that he believed the hearing was aimed at vindicating Paul's public claims for his imprisonment, and he refrained from answering questions over 100 times.
• Senator Rand Paul subpoenas Fauci to testify — Senator Rand Paul, now chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, subpoenaed Dr. Anthony Fauci to appear before the committee. Fauci's lawyers noted Paul's history of calling for Fauci's imprisonment, which influenced Fauci's decision to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights during the testimony.
• Republicans continue to target Fauci amid political tensions — Republicans, including Senator Rand Paul, have intensified their attacks on Dr. Anthony Fauci, accusing him of lying about the origins of COVID-19 and calling for his arrest. This campaign has been fueled by the release of Fauci's private diary, which Republicans have used to further their narrative against him, despite a lack of evidence of wrongdoing.

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• DOJ dismisses charges against California union leader David Huerta — The U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss charges against David Huerta, president of SEIU-USWW California, who was arrested while protesting an ICE immigration raid in Los Angeles in June 2025. Huerta was initially charged with conspiracy to impede an officer (a felony) but charges were downgraded to a misdemeanor of obstruction. The DOJ's motion seeks dismissal "with prejudice" by end of August, preventing refiling. The case had drawn widespread criticism, including from LA Mayor Karen Bass, for targeting a prominent labor leader exercising First Amendment rights.

Supporting reports

• ICE arrests immigrants at airports with expired visas, including spouses of U.S. citizens — The New York Times reported that ICE has started arresting immigrants at airports whose visas have expired, including spouses of U.S. citizens, despite many of them having active applications to stay in the country. Some individuals had done nothing wrong; their visas expired only because of government processing delays.

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• GOP senators Cornyn and Tillis held firm on conditions for Blanche confirmation — Republican Senators John Cornyn and Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, whose votes are needed for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to advance out of committee, maintained their demands that the DOJ formally eliminate the "anti-weaponization" fund and curtail an IRS audit immunity deal for Trump. Cornyn stated that DOJ has "not sufficiently" addressed his concerns but noted they are "still talking."
• Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled vote on Blanche AG confirmation for Thursday — The Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled a vote on Todd Blanche's confirmation as Attorney General for Thursday, with the standoff between Blanche and Republican swing votes Cornyn and Tillis coming down to the wire. The two senators demanded that DOJ formally kill the anti-weaponization fund and restrict Trump's audit immunity deal before advancing him in committee.
• Senate Judiciary Committee postponed Blanche attorney general vote — Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley postponed Thursday's scheduled vote on Todd Blanche's nomination as attorney general. The postponement followed the delivery of Epstein files to Senate offices by survivors and came as two Republican senators, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, stalled the nomination pending written assurance that Trump's $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund from an IRS settlement would be terminated.
• Senate Judiciary Committee postpones Todd Blanche AG nomination vote over DOJ settlement assurances — The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a scheduled vote on Todd Blanche's nomination as US attorney general after the Department of Justice failed to provide written assurances that a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund created under a Trump-IRS settlement agreement would be terminated. Republican Senator John Cornyn, a swing vote, refused to support Blanche without written confirmation and clarification that tax immunity provisions could not apply to future matters or non-parties to the settlement. Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer and current acting AG, needs every Republican committee vote to advance his nomination.
• Republican senators blocked Blanche nomination pending IRS fund assurance — Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis stalled the Todd Blanche attorney general nomination, demanding written assurance that Trump's $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund—derived from Trump's IRS settlement—would be terminated. By Thursday, Trump posted he had "no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd's name" until January, effectively pausing the nomination.

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• Mitch McConnell remains medically uncleared to resume Senate duties following hospitalization — Senator Mitch McConnell's office confirmed on Monday that the Kentucky Republican remains unable to return to work six weeks after being hospitalized on June 14 following a fall at his home that left him briefly unconscious. McConnell is undergoing intensive physical therapy at a rehabilitation facility and has missed 38 Senate votes. The Office of the Attending Physician stated he is not yet medically cleared to leave the rehab facility and return to the office, citing ongoing recovery needs and the impact of childhood polio on his mobility.
• Governor Beshear demanded McConnell demonstrate fitness to serve or resign — Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear sent a letter to Senator Mitch McConnell demanding that he publicly address constituents and demonstrate his ability to serve, or resign his seat. Beshear also sent the letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, urging him to investigate McConnell's capacity to serve. Beshear cited McConnell's missed votes and lack of transparency about his condition.
• Beshear noted August 3 deadline for special election if McConnell vacates seat — Governor Beshear told Bloomberg that there is an August 3 deadline after which he could not call a special election to fill McConnell's seat if it became vacant. Beshear noted that some observers pushing this deadline may believe a Democrat could win such an election, though Kentucky has not elected a Democratic senator since 1992.

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• FCC receives petitions to deny ABC license renewals; ex-officials warn of constitutional violation — The FCC, led by Chairman Brendan Carr, received petitions from conservative groups (Media Research Center and Center for American Rights) to deny license renewals for eight ABC-owned television stations. The petitions followed an "extremely unusual" early renewal order issued by the FCC in late April after criticism of ABC by Donald Trump. A coalition of former FCC chairs and senior officials from both parties filed a response warning the proceeding is "unprecedented" and violates the Communications Act and Constitution by seeking to censor speech and send a "chilling message" to broadcasters based on editorial content the administration dislikes.

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• Trump claims personal control of Strait of Hormuz — President Trump called into Fox News and falsely claimed he personally controls the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping chokepoint. The claim was made during a period of escalating tensions with Iran and Saudi refinery attacks, and contradicted established international law and geopolitical reality.
• Iran's IRGC threatens to bar countries from Strait of Hormuz — Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a warning that any country that touches Iran's frozen assets will be barred from access to the Strait of Hormuz. The threat was made during escalating tensions and represented a potential blockade of global shipping.
• Saudi refineries burning; Jazan refinery shut down — Saudi Arabian refineries were reported burning on July 28, 2026, including a total shutdown of the Jazan refinery. The damage to critical energy infrastructure occurred during the escalating Iran conflict and threatened global oil supply.
• Trump posts "head for an eye" quote on Iran policy — President Trump posted a message quoting Secretary of State Rubio stating Iran is "begging" for a deal, while using the phrase "head for an eye" in reference to Iran policy. The post occurred during escalating military tensions with Iran and signaled an aggressive posture toward potential Iranian retaliation or negotiation.
• Trump threatened destruction of Iranian infrastructure including bridges and power plants — Trump stated in a Fox & Friends interview that if Iran does not make a deal, he will destroy Iranian bridges and power plants, claiming he could eliminate "most of the major bridges" in less than two hours and power plants in one day. He also threatened to destroy a site called "Pickaxe Mountain," claiming he had already destroyed Iranian nuclear sites previously.
• Trump threatens to level Iran's bridges and power plants — President Trump reiterated threats to destroy Iran's bridges and power plants during the escalating conflict. The threat targeted civilian infrastructure and was made publicly, signaling intent to conduct strikes that would harm non-combatants and critical services.
• White House issues release on Trump's Fox & Friends remarks on Iran strategy — The White House published a release documenting President Trump's July 28, 2026 appearance on Fox & Friends, in which he described U.S. military posture toward Iran. Trump stated the U.S. maintains naval control of the Strait of Hormuz, possesses intelligence on Iranian nuclear sites including "Pickaxe Mountain," and has imposed a blockade preventing Iranian shipping. He asserted readiness to conduct strikes on Iranian infrastructure if negotiations fail, stating he could destroy bridges and power plants, and contrasted his approach with prior administrations' policies.

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• Federal contractors fell three ancient cottonwood trees at US-Mexico border in Arizona; protesters occupy remaining 200-year-old tree to prevent further destruction — On 27 July 2026, federal contractors working for Fisher Sand and Gravel destroyed three large cottonwood trees in Lochiel, Arizona, to make way for a secondary border wall. Environmental activists and local residents have since staged a "tree sit" occupation of the last remaining ancient cottonwood, estimated at over 200 years old. The protest has grown to several dozen people camping on private land, with rotating occupants maintaining a platform in the tree. CBP had promised in a June letter not to fell trees with nesting birds, but contractors proceeded despite documented nesting activity.

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• Trump administration and states urge justices to allow full implementation of executive order on mail-in voting — The Trump administration, along with several states, has petitioned the Supreme Court to permit the complete enforcement of an executive order concerning mail-in voting. This request seeks to implement new restrictions on mail-in voting, which have been contested in lower courts. The administration argues that these measures are necessary to ensure election integrity, while opponents claim they could suppress voter turnout. The Supreme Court's decision on this matter will have significant implications for the upcoming elections and the broader debate over voting rights.
• Trump administration files emergency appeal to restrict mail-in voting — The Trump administration filed an emergency appeal asking the Supreme Court to allow the president's March executive order restricting mail-in voting to move forward ahead of November's midterm elections. The move came two days after a federal appeals court upheld a block on the order, writing that allowing it to take effect for the midterms "would sow confusion and threaten disenfranchisement of many eligible voters."
• Trump administration sought Supreme Court review of mail voting restrictions — The Trump administration petitioned the Supreme Court to allow enforcement of Trump's mail voting order, which directs Homeland Security to compile state citizenship lists and requires Postal Service rules limiting mail ballots to voters on those lists. Twenty-three states and Washington, D.C., had successfully challenged the restrictions, and the First Circuit declined to revive them. The petition seeks to overturn lower court decisions blocking the order's implementation.

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• Trump made unsubstantiated claims about Iran war justification — During his Michigan rally speech, Trump stated that the justification for the Iran war is simply "because we cannot let them have a nuclear weapon" and claimed this is "all you have to say" with "nothing else you have to say." This framing dismisses the need for detailed explanation, evidence, or Congressional deliberation on the rationale for ongoing military operations.

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• Trump refused to disclose destination of $13 billion from Venezuela — When asked where $13 billion taken from Venezuela is going, Trump stated it would "happen with Iran also" and said the money could go to the military but Congress must approve it. He did not answer the direct question about the current location or use of the Venezuelan funds. The bulletin notes that Republicans in Congress have refused to conduct oversight on the matter.

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• Trump claimed Netanyahu disagreed with him on F-35 sales to Turkey — During the press availability, Trump stated that Netanyahu disagrees with him on F-35 fighter jet sales to Turkey. Trump responded that "Nobody tells me what we should be selling" and asserted that "Turkey has been great for me," suggesting personal benefit as a basis for military technology transfer decisions.

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• Taylor Farms contacts White House seeking delay of cyclospora recall announcement — Taylor Farms representatives contacted the White House requesting a delay in the government's public announcement linking the company to a multi-state cyclospora outbreak affecting thousands. The company argued that federal investigators lacked positive laboratory evidence and expressed concerns about overstated responsibility. Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb stated this was "not standard operating procedure," contrasting it with his tenure when the White House was only briefed informally on outbreak investigations, not asked to intervene.

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• ICE paused vehicle stops after fatal shootings, then Trump reversed the pause — Following two fatal ICE shootings of men in vehicles in Texas and Maine in July 2026, ICE paused most vehicle stops as a safety measure. However, Trump swiftly reversed the pause, resuming aggressive vehicle-stop operations despite the documented pattern of shootings and wrongful charges.

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• Tom Homan acknowledged ICE officer with abuse history should not have cleared vetting — Border Czar Tom Homan stated on CNN that an ICE officer connected to a fatal shooting in Maine, who was accused of abuse by two ex-wives, should not have cleared vetting if those facts are accurate. However, when asked whether he knew specifically if officers involved in shooting incidents in Texas and Maine were placed on administrative leave, Homan stated he did not know for certain, despite the policy being to place them on leave.
• Tom Homan comments on ICE vetting failure in Maine officer shooting case — Tom Homan, the Trump administration's "border czar," stated on CNN's State of the Union that an ICE officer involved in the fatal shooting of Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine on July 13 should not have cleared vetting. The officer, identified as David Brouillette, faced accusations from two ex-wives of abuse. Homan acknowledged an ongoing investigation into how the vetting process failed and whether abuse allegations were available during hiring. He also announced ICE would require body cameras during vehicle stops following this and another July shooting involving an ICE officer in Texas.

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• ICE plans to target Haitians as Temporary Protected Status ends for 300,000 — CBS News reported that ICE is planning to expand operations to arrest and deport Haitians as hundreds of thousands of people from Haiti, which is experiencing widespread unrest, are set to lose their legal status following a Supreme Court ruling in June allowing the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status programs for Haitians and Syrians.

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• Pentagon updates casualty database with revised Iran war figures and new classification scheme — The Pentagon updated its Defense Casualty Analysis System over the weekend, adding more than 140 wounded service members and introducing a new "Overseas Operations" casualty category for personnel killed and wounded starting July 7. The official toll for Operation Epic Fury now stands at 14 killed and over 400 wounded, though figures had been reduced from 18 deaths and 482 wounded recorded days earlier. The Trump administration is classifying renewed military operations beginning July 6 as separate from Operation Epic Fury to comply with the War Powers Act's 60-day requirement, a move that has drawn bipartisan criticism.
• DOD released revised casualty figures from Iran war with reclassification scheme — The Pentagon released updated casualty figures showing 624 troops wounded in the Iran conflict, more than 200 higher than previously disclosed. The DOD simultaneously implemented a new casualty reporting system that splits the war into two periods, moving most July casualties and four killed troops from "Operation Epic Fury" into a new category called "Overseas Operations." This reclassification allows the administration to reset a legally mandated 60-day clock for military force without Congressional approval, as the Pentagon claims Epic Fury ended July 7 with a ceasefire announcement.
• Pentagon updates military casualty figures in Iran war — The Pentagon revised its accounting of military personnel injured in the Iran war, adding over 140 soldiers to the Defense Casualty Analysis System and restoring four service members previously removed. This update brings the total casualties to 18 dead and 624 wounded since February 28, when military strikes against Iran began. The change follows public outcry over perceived lack of transparency regarding the human toll of the conflict.

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• 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.

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• Advisory Council on Historic Preservation votes to advance revisions to Section 106 of National Historic Preservation Act — On July 25, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, composed of 21 Trump appointees on a 24-member board, voted to move forward with dramatic revisions to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Section 106 currently requires federal agencies to "take into account" the impact of their actions on historic properties and mandates consultation with the public, local, state, and tribal governments. The proposed revisions would eliminate these requirements, allowing federal agencies to proceed with projects affecting historic sites without mandatory public input or review.

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• Trump imposed tariffs under Section 301 of Trade Act of 1974 — When the 150-day deadline for Section 122 tariffs expired on Friday, July 25, 2026, Trump announced he was imposing tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which permits the president to impose tariffs on countries using forced labor. A senior administration official stated the tariffs address forced labor, a focus Trump has maintained for years. Law professor Barry Appleton noted that Section 301 allows permanent tariffs without congressional approval, suggesting the administration is seeking to bypass Congress entirely.
• Trump imposed tariffs under Section 122 of Trade Act of 1974 — After the Supreme Court invalidated the IEEPA-based tariffs, the Trump administration invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the president to impose tariffs in the case of an international financial emergency. These tariffs were limited to 150 days.
• Trump imposes new tariffs under emergency powers — President Trump announced the imposition of new tariffs on products from over 60 countries, claiming authority under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows tariffs in cases of forced labor. This follows a previous Supreme Court ruling that struck down earlier tariffs as unconstitutional. The administration's approach is seen as an attempt to bypass Congress's authority to raise revenue, which is constitutionally reserved for the legislative branch.
• Supreme Court struck down Trump tariffs as unconstitutional — The Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were unconstitutional. Following the ruling, Trump announced he would find alternative legal mechanisms to reimpose tariffs, stating "We have alternatives. Great alternatives."

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• Trump stated he trusts Putin's denial of Russian assistance to Iran despite contrary intelligence — When asked about Russian and Chinese assistance to Iran, Trump stated that he trusts assurances from President Putin and President Xi that they are not participating, despite earlier statements from his own officials (Pete Hegseth) that they are enabling Iranian operations. Trump said, "I trust them. I don't think they would want to have me disappointed," directly contradicting intelligence from U.S. and Ukrainian sources documenting Russian satellite surveillance being shared with Iran.

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• Trump administration admits clean energy grant cancellations were based on state voting patterns — Federal officials admitted in court filings that $7.5 billion in cuts to clean energy projects initiated under President Biden were "based solely" on whether states voted for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in 2024, contradicting the administration's public claim that cuts targeted waste. Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought had announced the cancellations as eliminating "Green New Scam funding," but a government lawyer told the court no cancellations were based on "programmatic, statutory, cost-reduction or performance-based factor." The administration funded grants for Trump-supporting states despite Energy Department recommendations for cancellation.

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• Crypto investors donate $10 million to MAGA Inc. after Trump administration vacates enforcement action — Crypto investors Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss and their crypto exchange Gemini donated over $10 million to MAGA Inc. The donations were made less than a month after the Trump administration moved to vacate a Biden-era enforcement action against the brothers' crypto exchange. The sequence suggests a potential quid pro quo between regulatory relief and political donations.

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• Senate rejects war powers resolution on Iran conflict — The US Senate rejected a war powers resolution proposed by Democrat Chris Van Hollen in a 47-49 vote, largely along party lines. This occurred the same day the House passed its own war powers resolution. The Senate's rejection contrasts with its June passage of a nearly identical resolution directing Trump to end the Iran conflict, which the Trump administration has refused to comply with.
• Senate declines to advance joint resolution to end Iran War hostilities — The Senate declined to advance Senate Joint Resolution 180, sponsored by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), which would have forced the president to end U.S. hostilities with Iran. The measure failed by a vote of 47 to 49, with four Republican senators not voting. Unlike the House concurrent resolution, a joint resolution is a law requiring presidential signature and is typically used for urgent matters such as declarations of war. Senators used the joint resolution mechanism because such resolutions are privileged in the Senate.