Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Supreme Court hears TPS protections case — The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on April 29 in cases challenging the Trump administration's attempt to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians and Syrians. The outcome could impact the broader TPS program and other immigrant communities. TPS holders have lived in the U.S. lawfully due to dangerous conditions in their home countries. The cases focus on due process and existing legal protections for these immigrants.
• Supreme Court oral arguments on Temporary Protected Status termination — The Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Mullin v. Doe and Trump v. Miot, consolidated cases challenging the Trump administration's termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syria and Haiti. The ruling could affect approximately 350,000 Haitian and 6,000 Syrian TPS holders, as well as the future of TPS protections for 1.3 million people from all 17 TPS-designated countries. The administration is asking the Court to make TPS decision-making entirely unreviewable by the judicial system.
• US Supreme Court hears oral arguments on Trump administration's bid to strip TPS for Haitians and Syrians — The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether the Trump administration can terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Haitians and 6,100 Syrians. The conservative-leaning majority appeared sympathetic to the administration's position that the executive branch has discretionary authority to strip TPS without judicial review. The case challenges DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's termination decisions; liberal justices raised concerns about potential racial animus, citing Trump's derogatory statements about Haiti. A ruling is expected in late June or early July.

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• Tennessee abortion ban lawsuit halted by last-minute appeal — Rachel Fulton, a Tennessee woman who was forced to travel out of state for a medically necessary abortion after her wanted pregnancy was diagnosed with a lethal fetal condition that endangered her life, joined a lawsuit filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights in 2023 against Tennessee's abortion ban. The trial was set to begin on April 28, 2026, but a last-minute appeal by the state halted proceedings indefinitely. The case involves six patient plaintiffs and medical organizations challenging the state's ban as applied to life-threatening pregnancies.

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• FCC accelerates ABC license renewal review following White House attack on Jimmy Kimmel — The Federal Communications Commission, led by Trump-appointed chair Brendan Carr, announced an accelerated review of eight ABC-owned local broadcasting licenses (WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KTRK-TV Houston, KGO-TV San Francisco, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham, and KFSN-TV Fresno). The licenses were not scheduled for renewal until 2028–2031 but now must be filed by May 28, 2026. The action follows the White House's attack on late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over a joke about Melania Trump. The FCC cited an ongoing investigation into Disney's diversity practices as justification, though critics characterize the move as political retribution and regulatory intimidation.
• Federal Communications Commission announced review of ABC's broadcast licenses — On April 28, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission announced it is reviewing ABC's broadcast licenses following a joke made by late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel about First Lady Melania Trump on April 24, 2026. FCC chair Brendan Carr, a Trump loyalist who frequently attacks media organizations, leads the agency.
• FCC orders Disney/ABC license renewal in retaliation for Kimmel criticism — FCC Chair Brendan Carr issued an order directing Disney's ABC to file license renewals for all licensed TV stations within 30 days (by May 28, 2026). The order is widely viewed as retaliation for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel's criticisms of Trump and the network's resistance to Trump administration pressure to fire Kimmel. The FCC asserts the review relates to an ongoing probe into Disney's diversity initiatives, but the timing and context suggest political retaliation. The order initiates a protracted legal process, though ABC has broad legal protections.
• FCC accelerates review of ABC broadcast licenses following Kimmel joke — On Monday, following Melania Trump's public criticism of ABC host Jimmy Kimmel for a joke about her appearance, FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced the agency was expediting its review of eight ABC local broadcasting licenses. Carr denied the action was related to Kimmel's monologue, but the timing and context suggest regulatory retaliation for constitutionally protected speech critical of the Trump family.

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• White House social media posted image of Trump and King Charles with "TWO KINGS" caption — On the afternoon of April 28, 2026, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the official White House social media account posted a photograph of President Trump and King Charles III, who was visiting the United States on a state visit, with the caption "TWO KINGS."
• White House social media posts caption "TWO KINGS" alongside Trump and King Charles photograph — The official White House social media account posted a photograph of President Trump and King Charles III with the caption "TWO KINGS" at approximately the time King Charles finished his address to Congress. The article characterizes this as appearing to miss the substantive point of King Charles's speech, which emphasized democratic principles, rule of law, and diversity over nationalist bloodline ideology.

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• White House press secretary blamed Democrats and media for White House Correspondents' Dinner security incident — White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement blaming Democrats and the media for a security incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 26, 2026, when Secret Service agents apprehended an armed intruder carrying a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives on a floor above the dinner venue. Leavitt characterized opponents of Trump as a "left-wing cult of hatred" and blamed "the entire Democrat party" for the event, despite the incident involving an individual actor and occurring in a secure area separate from attendees.

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• Became Law: Congressional Disapproval of BLM Withdrawal Rule for Minnesota Federal Lands — Congress enacted H.J. Res. 140, disapproving the Bureau of Land Management's rule withdrawing federal lands in Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, Minnesota under the Congressional Review Act. The measure became Public Law 119-85, reversing the BLM's withdrawal order and restoring those lands to potential development or resource extraction.

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• Representative Chip Roy pushed for taxpayer funding of White House ballroom — According to reporting by Meidas reporter Pablo Manriquez, Representative Chip Roy advocated for using taxpayer funds to pay for the White House ballroom construction. When Manriquez asked Senator Ron Johnson if he would support Roy's push for public funding, Johnson responded affirmatively, stating "Sure" when asked if he would vote for public funds to be used for the ballroom.
• House Republicans propose $400 million taxpayer funding for Trump ballroom — Senate Republicans, led by Sen. Lindsey Graham, announced plans to introduce legislation authorizing $400 million in taxpayer funding to build a ballroom at the White House, to be offset by customs fees. Trump originally claimed in February 2025 the ballroom would be paid entirely from his own pocket, then shifted to donor funding, and now seeks public money. Rep. Lauren Boebert cited national security as justification. Multiple Democratic representatives criticized the proposal as grift and misplaced priorities given infrastructure and healthcare needs. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene sarcastically criticized the spending in the context of broader foreign policy and budget priorities.
• Senate Republicans introduced legislation to fund Trump ballroom with $400 million — A group of Senate Republicans introduced legislation authorizing $400 million in federal spending to build a ballroom at a Trump property. The proposal uses public funds for a private commercial facility, exemplifying the blending of public resources and private business interests.

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• EPA dismantles environmental protections and regulatory enforcement — EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has pursued a deregulatory agenda including rolling back drinking water standards for PFAS ("forever chemicals"), weakening protections against air pollutants such as mercury and arsenic, greenlighting pesticides with known health risks, proposing safe exposure levels for the carcinogen formaldehyde, declining to regulate endocrine-disrupting chemicals in consumer products, and canceling millions of dollars in research grants on chemical and pollutant health effects. The agency has also invited companies to email for exemptions from air pollution standards. One major beneficiary is Bayer, which received an executive order exemption from lawsuits for endangering public health after making large campaign contributions to Trump.
• Trump administration declares glyphosate production a national security issue via executive order — The Trump administration issued an executive order declaring protection of glyphosate production a national security issue. This action was cited by protesters and lawmakers as evidence of executive support for Monsanto/Bayer and against consumer protection. The order was announced in the context of the Supreme Court hearing on glyphosate liability.

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• House Rules Committee takes up Farm Bill HR 7567 with provisions shielding chemical manufacturers from liability — The US House Rules Committee began consideration of the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 (HR 7567), which includes provisions to shield chemical manufacturers like Bayer from lawsuits and preempt state and local warning label laws. Representatives Pingree (D-Maine) and Massie (R-Kentucky) announced an amendment to remove these liability-shield provisions.
• Pingree and Massie announce amendment to remove liability-shield provisions from Farm Bill — Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) announced a bipartisan amendment to the Farm Bill that would remove provisions shielding chemical manufacturers from lawsuits and preempting state and local warning label laws for potentially harmful products.

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• Katie Phang files federal lawsuit against DOJ over Epstein files — MeidasTouch host and legal analyst Katie Phang filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Justice regarding Epstein files. No further details on the suit's claims, jurisdiction, or filing date are provided in the source text.
• Journalist Katie Phang sues acting attorney general Todd Blanche over Epstein files non-compliance — Investigative journalist Katie Phang filed a federal lawsuit in Washington DC on Monday against acting attorney general Todd Blanche, alleging the Department of Justice violated the Epstein Files Transparency Act by withholding documents and over-redacting disclosures. The act, passed by Congress in November, mandated full release of Epstein-related records by December 19, 2025. Phang seeks a court declaration of DOJ violation, release of all required documents without unlawful redactions, and appointment of an independent special master to oversee compliance.

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• Complaint filed — State of Arizona v. Mullin (D. Ariz. 2:26-cv-02857) — The State of Arizona filed a complaint challenging the Department of Homeland Security's purchase of a 418,400-square-foot warehouse in Surprise, Arizona for approximately $70 million and a subsequent $704 million contract to renovate and operate it as a mass immigration detention facility with capacity for up to 1,500 detainees. Arizona alleges DHS violated the National Environmental Policy Act by conducting no environmental review before purchasing the facility, violated the Immigration and Nationality Act by failing to demonstrate the warehouse is an "appropriate" place of detention and by not considering existing detention alternatives, and acted arbitrarily and capriciously. Arizona seeks declaratory judgments, vacatur of the detention facility decision, and preliminary and permanent injunctions barring operation and further construction.

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• Ron DeSantis unveils redistricting proposal for Florida congressional maps — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled a proposal to redraw the state's congressional maps, which he claims is necessary to reflect population changes and fair representation following the 2020 census. The plan, to be debated in a special legislative session beginning April 28, could net Republicans up to four additional House seats and reduce Democratic representation from seven to four seats. If approved by the Republican-controlled legislature, the maps would take effect for the 2026 midterm elections, subject to legal challenges.
• Florida legislature passed new congressional map expanding Republican seats — Florida's legislature passed a new congressional map on the same day as the Louisiana v. Callais ruling, with the state Senate voting 21–17 to send the map to Governor Ron DeSantis, who proposed it and is expected to sign it. Pre-ruling analyses warned that gutting Section 2 protections could help Republican-led states flip as many as 19 majority-minority congressional seats nationwide. The map could give Republicans up to four additional seats in Florida. Litigation is expected to challenge the map.
• Mississippi governor called special legislative session to redraw state Supreme Court election maps — Mississippi's governor called a special legislative session for May 20 to redraw state Supreme Court election maps in light of the Louisiana v. Callais ruling. The action reflects the immediate cascade of redistricting efforts across states following the narrowed Section 2 standard.
• Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn called for special legislative session to redraw congressional map — Within hours of the Louisiana v. Callais ruling, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, who is running for governor, called on Tennessee lawmakers to reconvene and redraw the state's congressional map. Blackburn explicitly called for a 9–0 Republican map that would eliminate Tennessee's only remaining Democratic district, TN-9, a Memphis-based district historically preserved as Black-majority under the Voting Rights Act. She framed the elimination as partisan strategy while openly targeting a historically Black-majority district. Rep. Steve Cohen, the only Democrat in Tennessee's congressional delegation representing TN-9, announced a press conference the same day to address the ruling's impact.
• Alabama attorney general signals rapid application of weakened Voting Rights Act — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced on or before April 30, 2026, that the state "will act as quickly as possible to apply this ruling to Alabama's redistricting efforts." Alabama had been sued after the 2020 redistricting cycle for violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The state currently has two majority-Black districts, including one created only two years prior.
• Florida legislature passes partisan redistricting map expanding Republican seats — Florida's Republican-controlled legislature, recalled into special session by Governor Ron DeSantis, passed new congressional maps on or shortly before April 30, 2026, designed to deliver four additional seats to the Republican Party. The new map gives Republicans advantage in 24 of the state's 28 House seats. Democratic officials characterized the map as an "extreme gerrymander" drawn in closed sessions to silence millions of voters and advance Donald Trump's agenda in the 2026 midterm elections.
• Mississippi announces special legislative session for redistricting — Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves announced that 21 days after the Supreme Court's April 28 ruling, the state legislature would reconvene for a special session to redraw congressional districts. The redistricting had previously been held pending the Court's decision. Reeves celebrated the ruling on social media. Civil rights leaders warned that Mississippi, the nation's Blackest state, would use the opportunity to suppress Black voting power.
• Tennessee Republican senator targets majority-Black district for elimination — Tennessee Republican Senator and gubernatorial candidate Marsha Blackburn posted on social media shortly after the Supreme Court's April 28 ruling, explicitly urging the state legislature to "reconvene to redistrict another Republican seat in Memphis," targeting the state's lone majority-Black district. She framed the redistricting as essential to "cement @realDonaldTrump's agenda and the Golden Age of America."
• Ron DeSantis signs gerrymandered congressional map into law — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a new congressional district map into law on Monday that restructures districts around Miami, Orlando, and Tampa Bay to provide Republicans an electoral advantage in four additional races for the November 2026 midterm elections. The map packs Democratic voters into fewer districts, forces Democratic representatives Darren Soto and Maxwell Frost to compete for the same voters, weakens Democratic congresswoman Kathy Castor's district, and eliminates the seat of Democratic Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. Opponents immediately filed a lawsuit in Leon County challenging the map as an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander.

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• Supreme Court set to hear arguments on glyphosate pesticide pre-emption case — The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on April 27, 2026, in a case examining whether federal pesticide law pre-empts state labeling requirements for glyphosate products. Monsanto argues the EPA's determination that glyphosate does not cause cancer shields it from liability for failure-to-warn claims. Opponents contend the ruling could immunize manufacturers from accountability and strip consumers of rights to sue. Over 100 organizations have filed briefs on both sides; the Make America Healthy Again movement plans a "People v Poison" rally outside the courthouse.
• US Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Monsanto v. Durnell on federal preemption of state-law product liability claims for glyphosate warnings — The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether federal pesticide law (FIFRA) preempts state lawsuits against Monsanto/Bayer for failing to warn consumers that glyphosate (Roundup) causes cancer. Monsanto argued the EPA's approval process bars state-level liability; plaintiffs' counsel countered that FIFRA does not provide blanket preemption and that the EPA's review process has significant flaws. The Department of Justice sided with Monsanto. A ruling is expected in summer 2026.

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• Trump and Melania called for Jimmy Kimmel to be fired over a joke — On April 23, Jimmy Kimmel aired a joke about First Lady Melania Trump's appearance on his ABC late-night show. Two days later, after an assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Trump and Melania publicly called for Kimmel's firing on April 27, characterizing the joke as "hateful," "violent rhetoric," and a "call to violence." FCC Chairman Brendan Carr also pressured ABC to take action. Kimmel denied the joke was a call to assassination.
• Melania Trump issued statement attacking Jimmy Kimmel and demanding ABC take action against him — Melania Trump issued a social media statement attacking late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for a joke made at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner two days prior. Kimmel had joked that Melania had "a glow like an expectant widow." Melania characterized Kimmel's monologue as "hateful and violent rhetoric," called him a "coward," and demanded that ABC network take action to prevent him from broadcasting, stating "People like Kimmel shouldn't have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate."
• FCC Chair Carr threatened ABC affiliates over Jimmy Kimmel — FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened ABC affiliates with enforcement action regarding Jimmy Kimmel's comments about Melania Trump, stating "We can do this the easy way or the hard way." The FCC subsequently launched a review of Disney's broadcast licenses years ahead of the normal schedule. The threat and accelerated review appear coordinated with the president's demand for Kimmel's firing.
• Trump and Melania called for Jimmy Kimmel to be fired — President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump called on Disney and ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel over a video in which Kimmel jokingly called Melania an "expectant widow." Trump characterized the joke as a "despicable call to violence." The incident prompted FCC Chair Brendan Carr to threaten ABC affiliates with enforcement action, stating "We can do this the easy way or the hard way," and the FCC subsequently launched a review of Disney's broadcast licenses ahead of schedule.
• Trump called for Jimmy Kimmel to be fired over joke — Trump and Melania called for late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to be fired over a joke, according to reporting covered in the briefing's Wednesday section on buried political stories.

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• Trump administration and Republican Congress members launched coordinated media campaign to justify White House ballroom construction following WHCA dinner incident — Following an incident at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, Trump, administration officials, and Republican members of Congress conducted a coordinated media blitz across Fox News, Newsmax, and other outlets to justify construction of a proposed White House ballroom. Trump appeared on 60 Minutes to blame Democrats for "hate speech" while downplaying his fall during the incident. Republican lawmakers introduced multiple bills to authorize ballroom construction, with Senator Lindsey Graham proposing $400 million in federal funding offset by customs fees. Speaker Mike Johnson falsely characterized Democratic rhetoric about midterm strategy as calls for violence to support the ballroom project.

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• Rep. Jamie Raskin questioned on heated Democratic rhetoric; CNN host suggests Democrats bear responsibility for shooting. — Rep. Jamie Raskin appeared on CNN where host Dana Bash asked: "You and your fellow Democrats have used some heated rhetoric against the president. Do you think twice about that when something like that happens?" When Raskin asked what rhetoric she was referring to, Bash responded: "That he's terrible for this country and so on and so forth." The exchange suggested that Democratic criticism of the President bore responsibility for the shooting.
• Trump administration officials and Republican lawmakers blamed Democrats for political violence — Multiple Trump administration officials and Republican members of Congress made public statements blaming Democrats and Democratic rhetoric for inspiring political violence and assassination attempts against Trump. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that "the entire Democrat Party has made their pitch to voters across the country that Trump poses an existential threat to democracy" and that "the left-wing cult of hatred against the president... has gotten multiple people hurt and killed." Senator Rick Scott claimed "Democrats want Trump and Republicans murdered all across this country." Representative Scott Perry attributed violence to "rhetoric from the left, the Democrat Party in particular, that calls Trump a threat to democracy."

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• Hegseth testifies before Senate Armed Services Committee on DEI dismissals — At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Defense Secretary Hegseth denied that Trump had instructed him to target Black and female officers for dismissal, but acknowledged that the administration viewed prior leadership's focus on "height, social engineering, race and gender" as "unhealthy." The testimony occurred as part of oversight of the officer purge.
• House Armed Services Committee Hearing with Pete Hegseth — Pete Hegseth, a prominent figure, faced a challenging hearing before the House Armed Services Committee. The hearing was marked by contentious exchanges and scrutiny over his qualifications and past statements. The outcome of this hearing could influence his standing and future involvement in military-related matters.
• Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Pentagon budget and Iran war strategy — Senator Jack Reed, ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, confronted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a Capitol Hill hearing on the Pentagon's $1.45 trillion budget submission. Reed accused Hegseth of providing Trump with "dangerously exaggerated" assessments of US military success in Iran, failing to give the president accurate information while pursuing a personal agenda. The hearing also addressed Hegseth's controversial personnel decisions, including firing senior commanders and inviting Kid Rock to an Army base, amid an eight-week stalemate in the Iran conflict that has closed the Strait of Hormuz and driven up fuel prices.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before House and Senate Armed Services Committees on Iran war and defense budget — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the House Armed Services Committee on April 29 and the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 30 regarding Trump's $1.5 trillion defense budget request and the ongoing Iran military operations. This was the first public administration testimony since the war began. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) detailed the strategic and human costs: 13 service members killed, over 400 wounded, dozens of aircraft lost, significant base damage, depleted missile inventory, and degraded morale and readiness across the force, particularly among overdeployed units.

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• ICE re-arrests El Gamal family hours after federal judge's release order — An Egyptian mother and five children were released from ICE detention in Dilley, Texas on April 23 following a federal judge's order, but were re-arrested on April 25 hours after arriving home in Colorado. The Trump administration accused them of being "associates" to the father's alleged hate crime attack. ICE placed them on a deportation flight to Michigan, but a Colorado federal judge ordered the plane to turn around. The family was released again on April 29. Their attorney characterized the re-arrest as "kidnapping" in violation of the Texas judge's order.
• Egyptian family of six re-detained by ICE days after court-ordered release — Hayam El Gamal and her five children were released from ICE custody at the Dilley detention center in Texas on Thursday, April 24, 2026, but were taken back into custody on Saturday, April 26, and placed on a private jet to Egypt. Their attorney Eric Lee stated the re-detention violated a court order and constituted "an absolutely brazen violation of separation of powers." US District Judge Fred Biery granted an emergency motion to block the deportation on Saturday. The family had been detained for 10 months; El Gamal's husband was arrested in June 2025 in connection with a firebombing attack that injured over a dozen people and killed an 82-year-old woman.

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• Trump administration issued guidance disqualifying pro-Palestine immigrants from green cards — The Trump administration released new guidance stating that criticizing Israel or participating in pro-Palestine campus protests could disqualify applicants for green cards. The guidance also discourages approval for applicants with a history of "endorsing, promoting, or supporting anti-American views," including holding signs advocating overthrow of the U.S. government. The policy effectively weaponizes immigration status against political speech and protest activity.

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• Trump administration awards no-bid contract to ballroom builder for fountain repairs — The Trump administration secretly awarded a no-bid $17.4 million contract to Clark Construction, the company building the White House ballroom, to repair two ornamental fountains in Lafayette Park. The Biden administration had estimated the same work at $3.3 million in 2022. The Trump administration justified the cost increase by adding 27% inflation, then 24% additional inflation, then 50% more for expedited completion. The contract should have been open for competitive bidding, but the administration cited an "urgency" exception meant for war or natural disasters to bypass normal procurement procedures. The government will pay for the repairs while Trump claims private donations will fund the ballroom.

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• Trump administration officials use shooting incident to advance ballroom construction and suppress criticism. — Within hours of the shooting, Trump administration officials and allied Republicans coordinated messaging to use the incident as justification for a contested White House ballroom construction project. Deputy White House Chief of Staff Dan Scavino attempted to lead a "USA! USA!" chant immediately after the shooting. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche sent a letter to the National Trust for Historic Preservation demanding dismissal of their lawsuit against the ballroom, stating the lawsuit "puts the lives of the president, his family, and his staff at grave risk." Multiple Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Chip Roy and Sen. John Fetterman, called for taxpayer funding of the ballroom. Trump held a press conference claiming the incident proved the need for the ballroom's "bulletproof glass" and "much more secure" design.
• Trump invokes shooting incident to press White House ballroom construction project — Following a shooting at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday night, President Trump used the incident to advance his controversial $400 million White House ballroom project. Trump claimed at a Saturday press briefing and in a Sunday Truth Social post that the incident demonstrated the need for a secure on-site ballroom, stating it would be "drone-proof" and "bulletproof." Trump also demanded on Sunday that lawsuits challenging the ballroom construction "must be dropped, immediately."
• DOJ demands National Trust drop White House ballroom lawsuit citing assassination attempt — Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the DOJ Civil Division sent a letter to the National Trust for Historic Preservation demanding the organization withdraw its lawsuit challenging Trump's planned ballroom on the site of the former White House East Wing. Shumate cited a shooting incident the previous night at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents' Dinner, where a man carrying firearms and knives was apprehended by Secret Service. Shumate argued the ballroom is essential for presidential security and threatened to move to dissolve the injunction and dismiss the case if the lawsuit was not voluntarily dismissed by 9 a.m. Monday.
• Trump insisted security incident proved need for proposed ballroom — At a press conference hours after the April 26, 2026 security incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Trump stated that the trouble demonstrated the necessity of his proposed ballroom addition to the White House.
• Department of Justice demanded National Trust for Historic Preservation drop lawsuit against Trump ballroom plans — On April 27, 2026, the Department of Justice sent a letter demanding that the National Trust for Historic Preservation withdraw its lawsuit challenging Trump's plans to construct a ballroom addition to the White House, arguing that the lawsuit "puts the lives of the President, his family, and his staff at grave risk." The National Trust rejected the demand, stating that while the security incident was "awful," Trump must still follow the law and obtain congressional approval for the ballroom.
• DOJ pressures National Trust for Historic Preservation to drop lawsuit against Trump ballroom project — Following a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on April 26, the Department of Justice, through Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate, sent a letter to lawyers representing the National Trust for Historic Preservation demanding the organization voluntarily withdraw its lawsuit challenging Trump's $400 million White House ballroom construction project. The DOJ characterized the lawsuit as "frivolous" and argued the ballroom was essential for presidential security. The trust had previously obtained a preliminary injunction halting the project in March, but a three-judge appeals panel granted a stay allowing construction to resume on April 11.

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• Trump threatens tariffs on UK over digital services tax — President Trump threatened to impose "a big tariff" on the UK if it does not drop its 2% digital services tax on US technology companies. Speaking from the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said the tax unfairly targets American tech giants and that the US would "reciprocate by putting something on that's equal or greater than what they're doing." The UK government responded Friday that it does not intend to scrap the tax, calling it "hugely important" to ensure large businesses pay their fair share.

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• Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation donated $2 million to Trump Super PAC amid Interior Department influence effort — The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, a California tribe, made a $2 million donation to MAGA Inc., Trump's Super PAC, in March 2026. According to internal Trump administration documents obtained by Popular Information, the donation appears designed to influence the Interior Department's regulatory decisions affecting the tribe's casino business. The donation represents a potential quid pro quo arrangement linking tribal financial support to federal policy outcomes.

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• Deputy Defense Secretary Feinberg consolidates control over Pentagon shipbuilding and acquisitions — Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, a private-equity billionaire and close ally of Defense Secretary Hegseth, is consolidating control over shipbuilding and Navy acquisitions—roles traditionally held by the Secretary of the Navy. Feinberg is simultaneously overseeing the newly created Economic Defense Unit (EDU), which directs government investment in private defense contractors and has negotiated deals for the government to take equity stakes in those businesses.

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• Senate Republicans advance $140bn budget resolution for ICE and CBP funding — The Republican-controlled Senate approved a budget resolution on a 50–48 party-line vote (with two Republican defections) to allocate up to $140 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. The measure advances the budget reconciliation process, allowing Republicans to bypass a Democratic filibuster and fund Trump's mass deportation agenda. The resolution now moves to the House before committees can draft legislation formally unlocking the funding for agencies that have operated without appropriations since mid-February.