Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump told advisors Iran would capitulate if struck — According to reporting by Alexander Ward, Lara Seligman, Alex Leary, and Vera Bergengruen of the Wall Street Journal on March 14, Trump's advisors, including Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, warned Trump that if the U.S. struck Iran, its leaders could well respond by closing the Strait of Hormuz. Trump rejected this assessment, saying that Iran's leaders would capitulate and that even if they tried to close the strait, the U.S. military could handle it. The advisors' warnings proved accurate; Iran did close the strait, and the administration was unprepared for the consequences.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed: Service Employees International Union v. Scott (D. Mass.) — SEIU and four individual airport workers filed a complaint in federal district court challenging U.S. Customs and Border Protection's revocation of Customs seals held by immigrant workers since February 2025. CBP reinterpreted "authorized residency" to exclude workers holding only Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), affecting at least 80 Logan Airport workers. Plaintiffs allege the policy change is arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act, violates the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause by permitting emergency revocations without pre-deprivation hearings, and seek vacatur, declaratory relief, and reinstatement of seals.

Supporting reports

• Commerce Department reported slower-than-expected economic growth and rising inflation — The Commerce Department reported that economic growth in the final three months of 2025 was much slower than expected, with GDP rising at a seasonally and inflation-adjusted annual rate of just 0.7% in Q4. The first revision of the GDP reading was a sharp step down from the previous estimate of 1.4% and well below the Dow Jones consensus forecast of 1.5%. Core inflation rose to start 2026.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon reported rapid depletion of advanced munitions in Iran war — The Financial Times reported that the U.S. has burned through years' worth of munitions since the start of the Iran war, with concerns mounting about rising costs and the ability to replenish stockpiles. The rapid depletion includes advanced long-range Tomahawk missiles. The Pentagon is set to request $50 billion in additional spending for military operations.

Supporting reports

• White House signed Executive Order 14393 directing regulatory review of mortgage lending rules — President Trump signed Executive Order 14393 on March 13, 2026, directing federal financial regulators to review and revise rules governing mortgage origination, servicing, disclosure, capital requirements, and appraisal standards. The order states that regulatory burdens adopted under the Dodd-Frank Act have reduced community bank participation in mortgage lending and limited access to credit for creditworthy borrowers. It instructs the CFPB, Federal Reserve, FDIC, NCUA, FHFA, HUD, VA, and other agencies to consider tailoring requirements for smaller banks, modernizing disclosure and appraisal processes, and revising supervisory guidance to emphasize borrower outcomes over technical compliance.
• Trump issued executive order reducing mortgage lending regulations for community banks — President Trump signed an executive order on March 13, 2026, directing federal financial regulators to reduce compliance burdens on community banks and smaller lenders in mortgage origination and servicing. The order instructs the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Reserve, FDIC, NCUA, and other agencies to consider tailoring ability-to-repay and qualified mortgage rules, modernizing appraisal standards, streamlining disclosure requirements, and revising capital regulations to encourage community bank participation in mortgage lending. The stated rationale is that post-Dodd-Frank regulations have reduced access to credit for creditworthy borrowers, particularly in rural and low-to-moderate-income areas.
• White House issued fact sheet on executive order directing regulatory changes to mortgage lending — The White House published a fact sheet on March 13, 2026, describing an executive order signed by President Trump that directs the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal banking regulators to reduce regulatory burdens on mortgage lending. The order calls for streamlined documentation, revised supervisory guidance, modernized appraisal rules, digital mortgage modernization, and capital/liquidity reforms. The fact sheet states the order aims to increase community bank participation in lending and reduce mortgage costs for creditworthy borrowers, particularly rural, low- and moderate-income, and first-time homebuyers.

Supporting reports

• Senate scheduled to vote on Save America act despite lacking filibuster-proof majority — Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced he will bring the Save America act to a vote next week, despite Senate Republicans lacking the 60 votes required to overcome the Democratic filibuster. Thune's decision to schedule the vote is expected to result in the bill's failure. Conservative supporters have called for Thune to invoke a "talking filibuster" rule change to force Democrats to physically hold the floor, but Thune has not agreed to this procedural change. The bill would require a return to the House for an additional vote if any Senate amendments were made.

Supporting reports

• Judge James Boasberg quashes grand jury subpoena for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell — U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued a 37-page ruling on March 13, 2026, quashing a grand jury subpoena for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Boasberg found "abundant evidence that the subpoenas' dominant (if not sole) purpose is to harass and pressure Powell either to yield to the president or to resign and make way for a Fed chair who will." The judge noted the government offered no evidence that Powell committed any crime "other than displeasing the president." Trump had been waging a public campaign against Powell to lower interest rates faster and attacked Boasberg on Truth Social following the ruling.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge rules ICE warrantless arrests in Oregon unconstitutional — U.S. District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai issued a ruling halting ICE's warrantless arrest practices in Oregon, finding that the agency detained people without probable cause or warrants in violation of the Fourth Amendment. The judge criticized ICE's use of the Elite app for generating inaccurate targeting data and noted that officers arrested an "extraordinary" number of Oregonians in October 2025 with "little regard for conducting lawful arrests" to meet the administration's demand for 3,000 daily immigration arrests nationally.

Supporting reports

• FCC chair threatens to revoke broadcast licenses over Iran war coverage — FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, warned on Saturday that broadcasters could lose their licenses if they air what the agency deems "fake news" or "hoaxes" about the Iran conflict. Carr stated on X that broadcasters must operate in the public interest or "will lose their licenses." He doubled down in a CBS News interview, claiming licenses are not a property right and broadcasters must avoid "news distortion." The threat drew immediate criticism from both Democrats and a Republican senator.

Supporting reports

• Trump posted social media message about destroying Iran — President Trump posted on social media stating: "We are totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically, and otherwise" while claiming the war is already "won" despite also saying the U.S. still needs to "finish the job." Trump asserted he has "unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time" and stated "I, as the 47th President of the USA, am killing them. What a great honor it is to do so!"
• Trump posted social media message declaring total destruction of Iran — Late on March 13, Trump posted on social media declaring "We are totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically, and otherwise" and claiming Iran's military capabilities have been "decimated" and leaders "wiped from the face of the earth." He stated "I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them" and promised to "Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today," framing the war as a personal achievement and honor.

Supporting reports

• Trump signs executive order removing regulatory barriers to affordable housing construction — President Trump signed Executive Order 14394 directing federal agencies to review and revise environmental, housing, transportation, and energy regulations that impede residential development. The order targets Clean Water Act permitting, stormwater requirements, energy-efficiency standards, and historic preservation burdens. It instructs HUD to develop best practices for state and local governments to streamline permitting, eliminate green-building mandates, and remove urban growth restrictions. Treasury and HUD are directed to align Opportunity Zone incentives with single-family home construction.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14394 directing federal agencies to reduce regulatory barriers to residential housing construction — President Trump signed Executive Order 14394 on March 13, 2026, directing the Secretaries of the Army, EPA, Commerce, HUD, Transportation, Agriculture, Energy, and other officials to review and revise federal regulations affecting housing development. The order instructs agencies to streamline permitting for stormwater, wetlands, and Clean Water Act compliance; eliminate energy-efficiency and water-use requirements for housing; provide guidance on categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act; and develop best practices for state and local governments to reduce permitting timelines, eliminate green-energy mandates, and remove urban growth boundaries. The order also directs coordination between Treasury and HUD on Opportunity Zone incentives for single-family home construction.
• White House issues fact sheet promoting executive order on housing regulatory reform — The White House published a fact sheet on March 13, 2026, describing an executive order signed by President Trump directing multiple federal agencies to review and revise environmental, energy, and housing-related regulations. The order instructs the EPA, Army Corps of Engineers, Commerce, HUD, Transportation, FHFA, Agriculture, Energy, and Council on Environmental Quality to streamline permitting, reduce "green" building code requirements, and eliminate what the fact sheet characterizes as "unduly burdensome" rules. The fact sheet claims regulatory barriers add over $90,000 to home construction costs and that green energy mandates can add $30,000 per home.
• Trump issued executive order removing regulatory barriers to affordable home construction — President Trump signed an executive order on March 13, 2026, directing federal agencies to review and revise regulatory requirements related to environmental permitting, stormwater management, wetlands protection, and energy-efficiency standards that affect residential construction costs. The order instructs the Secretaries of Army, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Agriculture, and Energy, along with EPA and FHFA leadership, to streamline permitting processes, eliminate burdensome rules, and develop best practices for state and local governments to reduce housing construction timelines and costs while promoting single-family home development and affordability.

Supporting reports

• Senator Tim Sheehy physically confronts protester at Senate hearing — Senator Tim Sheehy joined Capitol Police officers in ejecting a protester opposed to the Iran War from a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. During the confrontation, Sheehy's arm became stuck behind a door as he threw his weight against it, resulting in an audible crack of Brian McGinnis's arm breaking. McGinnis is a Marine Corps veteran wearing his dress uniform. When a spectator called Sheehy a coward, the senator appeared to respond with profanity. Sheehy later claimed he was attempting to "de-escalate the situation" and blamed McGinnis for "causing…violence."
• Senator Tim Sheehy Involved in Controversial Incident — Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT) faced backlash after physically confronting a protester during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, resulting in the protester's arm breaking. Sheehy later claimed he was attempting to de-escalate the situation, but his actions raised questions about his conduct and the treatment of dissent in legislative settings.

Supporting reports

• Republican farm bill includes pesticide liability shields and EPA veto provisions — The Republican-led farm bill proposes multiple provisions weakening pesticide regulation, including granting the USDA veto power over EPA health safeguards, creating a private-sector work group to shape endangered-species protections, delaying safety reviews for hundreds of pesticides by five years, and shielding pesticide manufacturers from state-level lawsuits alleging failure to warn about health risks including cancer. Critics characterize it as an industry giveaway that undermines environmental and public-health protections.

Supporting reports

• House passes Save America act with restrictive voting provisions — The House approved the Save America act, legislation requiring documented proof of U.S. citizenship to register and vote, voter ID requirements, prohibitions on mail voting, bans on gender-affirming care for minors, and restrictions on transgender women in sports. The bill would allow private parties to sue election officials and impose criminal penalties for registration without citizenship documentation. Voting rights advocates warned the measure would prevent millions of Americans from voting, particularly affecting married women whose documents may not match current names.

Supporting reports

• White House issues fact sheet promoting SAVE America Act as popular election reform — The White House issued a fact sheet on March 12, 2026, promoting the SAVE America Act and calling on Congress to pass it immediately. The document assembles polling data and academic studies to argue that voter ID requirements, proof of citizenship, and restrictions on mail-in voting enjoy broad public support and do not suppress turnout. The White House characterizes the legislation as "straightforward protections" and claims it has "overwhelming bipartisan support."

Supporting reports

• Americans withhold federal income taxes in protest against Trump administration policies — Multiple U.S. taxpayers, including lawyer Rachel Cohen and activist Christina Thompson, are refusing to pay some or all of their federal income taxes to protest Trump administration policies including ICE immigration enforcement, wars in Iran and Gaza, and military spending. The National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee reported record attendance at training sessions (nearly 500 participants in January 2026, up from a dozen a few years prior), indicating a surge in tax resistance as a form of civil disobedience. Participants acknowledge legal risks including wage garnishment and home seizure but frame non-payment as moral opposition to government spending priorities.

Supporting reports

• Mike Johnson declines to condemn anti-Muslim comments by Republican lawmakers — House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to condemn Islamophobic statements made by Republican congressmen Andy Ogles (Tennessee) and Randy Fine (Florida), who claimed Muslims do not belong in America and compared Muslims to dogs. When pressed at a House GOP retreat press conference, Johnson said he had spoken to the members about their "tone" but did not discipline them. Instead, Johnson characterized concerns about "sharia law" as a "serious problem" animating the comments, without specifying who was calling for it. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for Johnson to hold the members accountable.

Supporting reports

• Trump purchased Apple stock the same day he publicly praised the company in a Kentucky speech — On March 11, 2026, President Trump delivered a speech in Kentucky in which he singled out Apple and CEO Tim Cook for extensive praise, highlighting Apple's $2.5 billion investment in glass manufacturing and $650 billion in U.S. plant expansion. The same day, Trump purchased between $250,000 and $500,000 of Apple stock in an "unsolicited" transaction. Trump had also purchased between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000 of Apple stock on March 2 in an unsolicited purchase. In total, Trump purchased between $2 million and $7.2 million in Apple stock during March 2026, including five unsolicited purchases. These transactions were not publicly disclosed until May 14.
• Trump purchased stock in Thermo Fisher the same day he publicly praised the company at a facility tour — On March 11, 2026, President Trump toured a Thermo Fisher Scientific manufacturing facility in Reading, Ohio, where he publicly praised the company and its CEO Marc Casper, encouraging pharmaceutical companies to contract with Thermo Fisher for U.S. manufacturing. The same day, Trump purchased between $15,000 and $50,000 of Thermo Fisher stock in an "unsolicited" transaction (initiated by the customer, not recommended by a broker). Trump had also purchased between $51,000 and $115,000 of Thermo Fisher stock on February 12 and another $15,000–$50,000 on March 2, totaling as much as $215,000 in the month prior to the tour. Trump did not publicly disclose these purchases until May 14, when they appeared on page 38 of his financial disclosure form.

Supporting reports

• Trump claims ignorance of military investigation findings on school strike — When confronted by a reporter on Tuesday, March 11, who stated "A new report says that the military investigation has found that the United States struck the school in Iran," Trump responded: "I don't know about it." This response came after the New York Times had published the military investigation's preliminary findings that the U.S. was responsible for the strike that killed at least 175 people, mostly children.

Supporting reports

• ICE targets immigrant truck drivers with English proficiency enforcement and commercial driving school closures — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has intensified enforcement against immigrant truck drivers, removing an estimated 9,500 drivers from roads for failing English language proficiency requirements. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the closure of 550 commercial driving schools and mandated that commercial driving license tests be conducted in English as of February 20, 2026. The crackdown has disrupted freight operations across the Midwest, increased shipping costs, and forced immigrant-owned trucking businesses to close or pivot to other industries.

Supporting reports

• ICE releases teenage mariachi musicians from detention after bipartisan backlash — Two teenage brothers, Antonio (18) and Caleb (14) Gámez-Cuéllar, were released from ICE custody on March 10 after their detention sparked widespread outcry. The family—parents Luis and Emma, plus younger brother Joshua (12)—had been detained on February 25 after reporting to an ICE appointment, despite having been granted asylum, attending all court dates, and performing at the U.S. Capitol at their congresswoman's invitation. Their release followed pressure from Democratic and Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX).

Supporting reports

• Federal judge rules three New Jersey prosecutors appointed by Pam Bondi were illegally installed without Senate confirmation — Federal judge Matthew Brann ruled that three prosecutors handpicked by US Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead New Jersey's attorney general office were illegally appointed, repeating the same constitutional violation that disqualified Alina Habba in December 2025. Bondi had split the position into three roles (Jordan Fox, Ari Fontecchio, Philip Lamparello) to circumvent Senate confirmation requirements. Judge Brann found no legal authority for this maneuver and warned that continued reliance on unconfirmed leadership could result in dismissal of pending criminal cases.

Supporting reports

• Utah Governor Spencer Cox signs bill expanding state supreme court from five to seven justices — In late January 2026, Utah's Republican-controlled legislature passed legislation adding two seats to the state's supreme court. Governor Spencer Cox quickly signed the bill into law, expanding the court from five to seven justices. Critics argue the move amounts to court-packing aimed at blunting the impact of judicial rulings related to Proposition 4, the anti-gerrymandering law.

Supporting reports

• Utah Republican members of Congress file federal lawsuit challenging redistricting court order — In early February 2026, two Utah Republican members of Congress, representatives Celeste Maloy and Burgess Owens, filed a federal lawsuit challenging the state court's order to reinstate the district court-approved congressional map. They argued that the ruling violated the U.S. Constitution and asked the U.S. District Court for Utah to restore the map passed by the Republican-controlled legislature in 2021.

Supporting reports

• Administration officials conducted classified briefing on Iran war to Senate Armed Services Committee — Administration officials provided a classified briefing to the Senate Armed Services Committee regarding ongoing military operations in Iran. Democratic senators emerged expressing significant frustration with the lack of transparency and unanswered questions about war costs, troop deployment risks, foreign adversary involvement, and strategic objectives. Senators called for declassification of information to enable public and constituent communication about the conflict.
• Senator Blumenthal expressed dissatisfaction with Iran war briefing and demanded transparency — Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) told reporters he was deeply dissatisfied with the classified briefing, stating he had more questions than answers, particularly regarding war costs. He expressed concern about potential ground troop deployment in Iran, Russian and Chinese military aid to Iran, and characterized the conflict as a "war of choice" made by the president without American public consent, demanding the administration provide answers to the American people.
• Senator Murphy criticized administration's lack of war strategy — Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) posted on social media that the administration appears to have no objectives for the war beyond continued bombing and no plan for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, indicating a lack of coherent strategic planning for military operations.
• Senator Rosen called for declassification of Iran war information — Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) expressed frustration that the administration restricts war information to classified briefings, preventing elected officials from communicating with constituents about the conflict. She asserted that Trump uses the word "war" publicly while the administration avoids formal war declaration, and called on Trump to seek congressional authorization and public debate before further escalation. She stated the administration has provided no post-conflict plan.
• Senator Blumenthal warned of potential ground troop deployment and Russian aid to Iran — Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), after receiving an intelligence briefing on Iran, stated that the U.S. appears to be on a path toward deploying American troops on the ground in Iran. He also warned of the specter of active Russian aid to Iran and potential Chinese assistance, both of which could endanger American lives.