Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Proud Boy Enrique Tarrio stated January 6 defendants would use Trump fund for political takeover — Enrique Tarrio, a Proud Boy leader, stated that he expected Trump supporters convicted of crimes for their actions around the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol would use money Trump has promised them from a $1.776 billion slush fund to spread "conservative culture" and to run for office to take over the system.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration redirected national park entrance fees to White House projects — The Trump administration is using $7 million in entrance fees collected from visitors to national parks across the country to pay for repairs to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The administration is also using nearly $60 million in national park fees to repair nine ornamental fountains in the capital. The reflecting pool contractor was awarded a no-bid contract and is being paid an inflated and excessive profit margin; the government is paying $13.1 million for the work, seven times Trump's initial stated cost.
• National park entrance fees diverted to Trump D.C. renovation projects — The New York Times reported that the Trump administration has diverted at least $67 million in entrance fees paid by the American people to national parks to fund Trump's renovation projects in Washington, D.C. The diverted funds include a multi-million dollar contract to repaint the Reflecting Pool, awarded to a MAGA-connected contractor. The diversion represents a misappropriation of public funds collected for park maintenance and operations.
• National Park Service diverts $67 million in entrance fees for DC beautification — The National Park Service is using at least $67 million in park entrance fees to fund beautification projects in Washington, D.C., ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration. The projects were directed by Trump and include a $7 million paint job on the Reflecting Pool. The Interior Department is spending at least $95 million in total taxpayer funds on DC beautification projects, all initiated between December 2025 and April 2026. The funds come from entrance fees that would normally support park operations and maintenance nationwide.
• Interior Department contracts $5 million to gild Lincoln Memorial horses — The Interior Department awarded a $5 million contract to a Maryland gilding studio to restore and cover four bronze horse statues surrounding the Lincoln Memorial with 23.75-karat gold leaf in preparation for the nation's 250th anniversary on July 4. The horses, which have retained their original patina since restoration in the 1970s, will be gilded at Trump's direction. The project is part of the broader $95 million DC beautification initiative.

Supporting reports

• Trump states he does not care about midterm elections — Trump made a public statement to reporters during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday stating "I don't care about the midterms" when asked about the Iran war. The statement signals the president's focus on other priorities and potential indifference to electoral consequences of his foreign policy decisions. Political analysts noted that Trump's poll numbers on the economy—the top voter concern—have collapsed to under 30% in some recent polls, alarming Republican leadership.

Supporting reports

• Governor Abbott designates CAIR a foreign terrorist organization under Texas law — Texas Governor Greg Abbott designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a major Muslim civil rights organization, as a foreign terrorist organization under Texas state law. CAIR has challenged the designation in court. Abbott also sent letters to sheriffs and district attorneys in two north Texas counties urging them to work with Attorney General Paxton to "investigate efforts by entities purporting to illegally enforce sharia law in Texas." A gubernatorial spokesperson claimed the actions target "radical groups who support terrorism and seek to forcibly impose sharia law on Texans."

Supporting reports

• ICE pepper-sprayed Senator Andy Kim and demonstrators at Delaney Hall detention facility — Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents deployed pepper spray and pepper balls against Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), Representative Rob Menendez Jr., Representatives Nellie Pou and LaMonica McIver, and approximately 150 protesters outside Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey. The protest was organized in response to a hunger strike by detainees protesting conditions, including inadequate medical care, overcrowding, and pressure to self-deport. The Department of Homeland Security subsequently denied the pepper spray deployment occurred and characterized the protesters as "dangerous rioters," though video evidence showed Kim had been present.

Supporting reports

• Texas Senate runoff candidates deploy anti-Muslim rhetoric in campaign ads and legal challenges — In the Texas Senate runoff between incumbent John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton, both candidates have made anti-Muslim messaging central to their campaigns. Paxton-allied groups ran ads accusing Cornyn of supporting "Muslim mass immigration" and having "a special place in his heart for radical Islam," while Cornyn responded by emphasizing his record "fighting radical Islamic extremism" and drafting legislation to "[stop] the spread of Sharia Law in the U.S." Both candidates have pursued legal action against the East Plano Islamic Center's real estate development, with Cornyn urging the DOJ to investigate and Paxton pursuing state-level litigation. Governor Greg Abbott designated CAIR a foreign terrorist organization under Texas law and urged local law enforcement to investigate alleged "sharia law" enforcement efforts.

Supporting reports

• University of Texas at Dallas students sue over alleged police misconduct during pro-Palestine protests — Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at the University of Texas at Dallas filed a lawsuit against the university alleging constitutional rights violations through surveillance, excessive force, retaliatory discipline, and wrongful arrests during pro-Palestine protests. The lawsuit claims university police used chokeholds and other force against protesters during arrests. The suit represents one example of Texans resisting what the article describes as coordinated suppression of pro-Palestine organizing alongside anti-Muslim rhetoric.

Supporting reports

• FDA sends serious enforcement letter to pharmaceutical company; CEO donates $1 million to Trump super PAC days later — On May 26, the FDA sent a letter to pharmaceutical company QOL Medical containing serious allegations that could threaten the company's existence. Days later, QOL Medical CEO Frederick Cooper donated $1 million to MAGA Inc., Trump's super PAC. The timing and sequence raise questions about whether the donation was made in response to the regulatory threat or as an attempt to influence the agency's enforcement action.
• FDA sends warning letter to QOL Medical for false drug advertising — On May 26, 2026, the FDA sent a warning letter to QOL Medical accusing the pharmaceutical company of using "false or misleading" advertising to promote Sucraid, a drug for treating congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency (CSID). The FDA alleged that QOL Medical's marketing materials encouraged doctors to prescribe Sucraid for patients with IBS-like symptoms (gas, bloating, diarrhea, nausea), despite the drug being unable to treat IBS or its symptoms. The FDA determined QOL Medical violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act's prohibition on drug misbranding. The letter required QOL Medical to respond within 15 working days.

Supporting reports

• FDA Commissioner Marty Makary resigns over flavored vape reversal — FDA Commissioner Marty Makary reportedly resigned in protest after Trump directed him to reverse the FDA's prohibition on fruit-flavored vapes. The reversal occurred within a week of Trump's meeting with Reynolds American executives and lobbyist Brian Ballard, who had complained about the ban. The fruit-flavored vape ban had been implemented to protect children from the appeal of flavored nicotine products.

Supporting reports

• Federal appeals court temporarily blocks re-detention of Mahmoud Khalil — The Third Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay blocking the re-detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a 31-year-old Palestinian-American activist and US green card holder, pending supreme court review. Khalil was detained by ICE in March 2025 for 104 days; the government argued his pro-Palestinian activism constituted a threat to US foreign policy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited concerns about antisemitism and Jewish student safety. The temporary block gives Khalil reprieve as his legal team prepares a supreme court petition.

Supporting reports

• Florida court allows new Republican-friendly congressional map to remain in place despite gerrymandering lawsuit — Judge Joshua Hawkes of Florida's Second Judicial Circuit ruled that voting rights groups challenging the state's new congressional map had not sufficiently proven partisan intent, allowing the map to remain in effect during the 2026 midterm elections. The map, drawn by DeSantis aide Jason Poreda, eliminates Democratic-held districts in south Florida, Tampa Bay, and Orlando, reducing Democratic-favored seats from eight to four of Florida's 28 districts. The judge cited election timing and public interest in certainty over judicial intervention.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed — Biden v. Department of Justice (D.D.C. 1:26-cv-01818) — Former President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to block the Department of Justice's planned June 15, 2026 release of audio recordings and transcripts of his private 2016–2017 conversations with ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer, recorded at his home during the writing of his memoir. The Department obtained the materials during Special Counsel Robert K. Hur's 2023 investigation into Biden's handling of classified records. Biden alleges the DOJ's decision to release the materials to the Heritage Foundation and House Judiciary Committee is arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion under the Administrative Procedure Act, and violates the Privacy Act because he did not consent. He seeks declaratory judgment, vacatur of the disclosure decision, and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief barring release.
• Biden sues DOJ to block release of Hur interview audio and transcripts — Former President Joe Biden filed a federal lawsuit in Washington DC on May 27, 2026, seeking to prevent the Department of Justice from releasing audio recordings and transcripts of interviews conducted by Special Counsel Robert Hur. The conversations, from 2016–2017 with Biden's biographer, were obtained during Hur's classified-documents investigation. Biden's attorneys argue the release violates his privacy rights and that the DOJ bears responsibility to protect personal information obtained during criminal investigations. The lawsuit targets disclosure to the Republican-controlled House Judiciary Committee and the Heritage Foundation.

Supporting reports

• New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill denied entry to Delaney Hall — On Monday, May 26, 2026, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, was denied entry to Delaney Hall by facility management. Sherrill stated that the refusal raised "serious questions about what they are trying to hide from public view." A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson characterized Sherrill's visit as "nothing more than a political stunt on Memorial Day when visitation is currently suspended due to riots outside in the facility."
• New Jersey state police assume policing functions outside Delaney Hall ICE detention facility — New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced that state police will take over "public safety operations" from federal immigration officers outside Delaney Hall, a privately run ICE detention center in Newark. The state will establish a "peaceful protected zone" for demonstrators. The announcement coincides with reports of an influx of federal agents arriving to defend the facility and investigate protesters. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced DOJ charges against a protester accused of assaulting an ICE officer.

Supporting reports

• Trump visits Walter Reed for physical examination — President Trump visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for what the White House described as a six-month physical. Trump claimed the examination went "PERFECTLY." He did not appear in public again until June 3, appearing tired and vague.
• Trump underwent third physical examination at Walter Reed Medical Center — President Trump visited Walter Reed Medical Center for a physical examination, his third since the start of his second term. The visit occurred amid public concern about his physical condition, including visible hand bruising, swollen lower legs, and reports of falling asleep during official duties. Medical experts noted the shift from annual to six-month evaluation cycles and raised questions about undisclosed testing and potential cognitive decline.
• Trump completes annual physical examination at Walter Reed — Donald Trump underwent a physical examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on May 26, 2026, lasting three and a half hours. The president, who turns 80 next month, declared the results "PERFECTLY" satisfactory via social media. This was his fourth publicly disclosed checkup since taking office. The exam occurred amid ongoing public scrutiny of his health, including recent photographs showing a neck rash, and prior images from July 2025 of swollen ankles and a bruised hand.

Supporting reports

• Rep. Nicole Malliotakis expressed openness to Trump's fund for supporters convicted of crimes — Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) stated on the record that she is willing to hear the White House's rationale for a fund designed to reward Trump supporters with taxpayer money for committing crimes. Malliotakis argued that people who were "legitimate victims of weaponization under the Biden admin" deserve compensation.

Supporting reports

• ICE Pepper-Sprays Senator Andy Kim and Protesters at Newark Detention Facility — Federal agents deployed pepper spray against anti-ICE protesters outside an immigration detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, where detainees were conducting a hunger strike over poor conditions and denial of medical care. Senator Andy Kim, who had been denied entry despite claiming ICE approval for a congressional oversight visit, was among those pepper-sprayed. Kim reported that detainees had been threatened with retaliation for their protest activities.
• Federal agents pepper-spray US senator and protesters at ICE detention facility in Newark — US Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) joined Governor Mikie Sherrill at a protest outside Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark on May 25, where detainees were staging a hunger strike over poor conditions and denied medical care. ICE agents used batons, pepper spray, and pepper balls against protesters and attempted to move vehicles through the crowd. Kim said he positioned himself between protesters and agents to de-escalate but was pepper-sprayed. The DHS later denied the hunger strike and claimed agents used minimum force against "rioters."

Supporting reports

• USCIS announced sweeping changes to green card application procedures — The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, announced sweeping policy changes requiring most green card applicants to leave the United States and apply through consulates abroad. Previously, approximately 800,000 people annually applied for green cards, with roughly half applying from within the U.S. The new policy will force applicants to leave jobs, homes, and families for weeks or months at their own expense. Consulate decisions are "virtually unchallengeable" in court, and existing backlogs will worsen. The policy affects approximately half of all green card recipients, including spouses and children of U.S. citizens and skilled professionals obtaining green cards through employers.
• USCIS announces green card adjustment must occur outside the United States — The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Friday that foreigners seeking to adjust their immigration status to secure green cards must now do so from outside the country via the State Department, rather than within the US. This marks a significant policy shift, as the green card process had remained unchanged for over 60 years. The rule change is part of the Trump administration's broader immigration policy agenda.
• Trump Administration Announces New Immigration Rule — The Trump administration announced a new immigration rule requiring foreign workers on temporary visas in the U.S. to return to their home countries while applying for green cards. This policy change disrupts the existing "Adjustment of Status" process, which allows high-skilled workers to apply for permanent residency while remaining in the U.S. The rule could significantly impact the tech industry, which relies heavily on immigrant talent. Legal challenges are expected, as the policy may conflict with existing laws passed by Congress.
• USCIS issues policy memo requiring many visa holders to obtain green cards through home countries — US Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a policy memo requiring many foreigners already in the US to leave the country and obtain green cards through their home countries rather than through adjustment of status (AOS). The memo affects hundreds of thousands of visa holders, including H-1B workers, EB-5 investors, and family-based applicants. A USCIS spokesperson later clarified that applicants offering economic benefit or national interest may continue current processes, but widespread confusion and fear persist among affected populations regarding job loss, family separation, and destabilization of long-term plans.

Supporting reports

• ICE agents deploy pepper spray and batons against protesters at New Jersey detention center — On May 24, 2026, ICE agents used pepper spray and batons to disperse approximately 70 protesters gathered outside Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey. Protesters had assembled to block the transfer of Martin Soto, a detainee who had announced a hunger and work strike demanding release of elderly, young, and medically vulnerable detainees. Despite the demonstration, ICE successfully transferred Soto to Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility. At least one protester was pepper-sprayed and another suffered a leg injury. Visitation at the facility was subsequently suspended.
• Law enforcement pepper-spray, tase, and arrest protesters at Delaney Hall during congressional oversight visit and detainee transfer — On May 24, during a congressional oversight visit to Delaney Hall, ICE officers pepper-sprayed protesters attempting to prevent the transfer of detainee Martin Soto, including U.S. Senator Andy Kim. The incident drew additional protesters to the facility. Government officials—ICE, New Jersey state police, and Newark police—have responded to ongoing demonstrations with pepper spray, tasers, tear gas, beatings, and arrests of dozens of protesters over the preceding two weeks.

Supporting reports

• Federal subpoenas issued to political influencer and activist over Cuba travel — Federal officials served subpoenas on political influencer Hasan Piker and CodePink cofounder Susan Medea Benjamin as part of an investigation into whether US organizations and leaders violated US laws and sanctions in supporting Cuba's communist regime. The subpoenas seek financial, logistical, and communications information related to trips the two made to Cuba in March 2026 with delegations of the "Nuestra América Convoy," a global network of activists and influencers who brought supplies to Cuba's ruling Communist Party.
• DOJ Subpoenas Hasan Piker and Medea Benjamin Over Cuba Travel — The Trump administration subpoenaed political influencer Hasan Piker and CODEPINK co-founder Medea Benjamin as part of an investigation into whether U.S. organizations and leaders violated sanctions laws in supporting Cuba's communist regime. The subpoenas targeted individuals who had traveled to Cuba, framing humanitarian aid delivery as potential criminal conduct.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration approves higher-ethanol fuel sales amid Iran war gas price crisis — Following sharp gas price increases triggered by U.S. military action against Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the Trump administration approved the sale of fuel with higher ethanol content as a cost-mitigation measure. The move aims to provide cheaper alternatives but risks increasing smog. Separately, the president floated suspending the federal gas tax. Truck drivers and other consumers report severe financial strain from fuel costs exceeding $5 per gallon for diesel.
• U.S. military action against Iran closes Strait of Hormuz, triggering global energy crisis — The United States, in coordination with Israel, launched military attacks on Iran, resulting in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—a critical chokepoint through which approximately 20% of the world's oil supply travels. The action precipitated a global energy crisis, with gasoline prices rising to four-year highs and diesel reaching $5.72 per gallon at major truck stops. Analysts predict prices could reach record levels if the strait remains closed.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration compensates January 6 defendants with taxpayer funds — The Trump administration approved compensation for individuals convicted or charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol riot. Senator Tommy Tuberville stated that the administration would compensate people "wrongly denied access to a lawyer," contradicting earlier statements that no compensation would go to those who assaulted law enforcement. The compensation package reportedly totals approximately $1.5 billion in taxpayer funds.

Supporting reports

• Delaney Hall detainees initiated work and hunger strike — Approximately 300 detainees at Delaney Hall began a coordinated work and hunger strike on Friday, May 23, 2026, protesting conditions and treatment at the facility. Detainees reported worm-infested food, overcrowding, lack of medical care for those with serious conditions including HIV, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, and pressure to self-deport to third countries including Uganda. They called family members outside to share their accounts before guards restricted phone and tablet access. Detainees demanded immediate release of young detainees, the elderly, and the medically vulnerable, and sought attention to immigration judges ignoring their cases.
• Detainees conduct hunger and labor strike at Delaney Hall over conditions and due process — Between 300 and 400 detainees at the Geo Group-operated Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey initiated a hunger and labor strike on its fifth day as of May 27, 2026, demanding improved food, ventilation, medical care, and expedited immigration case processing. Detainees reported inedible food containing worms, lack of air conditioning, untreated flu outbreaks, delayed medical care, and miscarriages. Released detainees confirmed participation despite Trump administration denials. Detainees are paid as little as $1 per hour for facility work. The strike will continue until Governor Sherrill is permitted to meet with detainees.

Supporting reports

• FDA issues guidance opening door to flavored vape sales after tobacco donation — The Trump Food and Drug Administration issued new guidance opening the door to the sale of flavored vapes after a tobacco company donated $5 million to the Trump-backed super PAC MAGA Inc. Two days after the donation, Trump had lunch with tobacco industry representatives, during which he complained to administration officials about FDA e-cigarette regulations. The new guidance was issued days later.

Supporting reports

• Michael Caputo files first claim under Anti-Weaponization Fund — Michael Caputo, a longtime Trump ally and former administration official, filed the first known claim under the Anti-Weaponization Fund, seeking $2.7 million and claiming the "machinery of government was clearly politically weaponized against my family." The claim demonstrates the fund's immediate use to compensate Trump associates.

Supporting reports

• White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett dismissed consumer spending concerns — White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett stated on Fox News that despite higher gas prices, consumers remain optimistic because they are spending more money on everything, not just gas. When asked about grocery prices, Hassett blamed energy-efficient refrigerator regulations. He reiterated expectations of GDP growth exceeding 6% once the Iran conflict concludes, a forecast he has repeated monthly for 17 months.
• Kevin Hassett claims Iran war has not hurt the economy — White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett appeared on television claiming that Trump's Iran war has not hurt the economy at all. When presented with consumer sentiment data that has cratered to its lowest levels ever, Hassett suggested that consumer sentiment should no longer be called "consumer sentiment" but rather "political sentiment," characterizing it as a "political variable" rather than an economic indicator. He argued that when Americans report feeling terrible about the economy, they are expressing partisanship rather than genuine economic concern.