Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Pentagon reported first week of Iran War cost approximately $6 billion — Pentagon officials told Congress that the first week of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran cost approximately $6 billion. Republicans are expecting the administration to seek additional funding from Congress for continued military operations.
• Pentagon briefs Congress on Iran war costs exceeding $11.3bn in first six days — Pentagon officials conducted a classified briefing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, March 12, 2026, informing top lawmakers that US military expenditures in the Iran conflict have already surpassed $11.3 billion in the first six days. The estimate, presented to Congress, focuses primarily on munitions costs and excludes additional expenses such as force deployment, medical care, and aircraft replacement. The Trump administration initiated the military conflict against Iran, and lawmakers are now seeking clarity on campaign scale and force positioning as scrutiny mounts.
• Pentagon reported first week of Iran war cost $11.3 billion — The Pentagon reported that the first week of military operations in the Iran war cost $11.3 billion. The figure represented the direct financial cost of the conflict to the US military.
• Pentagon reports high costs of military operations — Pentagon officials informed Congress that the military has expended $5.6 billion worth of munitions in the first two days of the war against Iran, with total costs exceeding $11.3 billion in the first six days. Lawmakers are concerned about the impact of these expenditures on U.S. military readiness for future conflicts.
• — Pentagon officials informed Congress that the military has expended $5.6 billion worth of munitions in the first two days of the war against Iran, with total costs exceeding $11.3 billion in the first six days, raising concerns about military readiness for future conflicts.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration eased oil sanctions to benefit Russia during Iran War — The Trump administration eased sanctions on Russian oil, allowing millions of barrels sitting on ships to go to India, with the financial benefit flowing to Russia as it wages war in Ukraine. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz acknowledged the policy but framed it as "common sense," while Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated the U.S. is "temporarily suspending some sanctions on Russia to make Russian oil available."
• Trump administration temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian oil shipments — The Trump administration temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian oil shipments in an effort to stabilize oil markets and reduce economic fallout from the Iran war. The move allows Russia to sell approximately 128 million barrels of oil previously loaded onto tankers facing U.S. restrictions. Brent crude futures closed above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022. Experts estimate Russia has already received approximately $150 million per day from increased oil sales since the U.S. attacked Iran two weeks prior, with Moscow earning an estimated $1.9 billion windfall in taxes on oil exports.
• Trump administration lifted sanctions on Russian oil shipments — Late on March 13, the Trump administration lifted sanctions on Russian oil shipments, permitting sales to buyers worldwide until April 11. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cited the need to ease skyrocketing oil prices caused by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The move contradicts G7 consensus; German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated G7 heads had urged Trump not to ease sanctions, noting there was a price problem but not a supply problem, and questioned the U.S. government's additional motives.

Supporting reports

• Trump posted demands to condition legislation on passage of voting restrictions bill — Trump posted on social media that he will not sign other bills until the "SAVE AMERICA ACT" is passed, demanding voter ID requirements, proof of citizenship, elimination of mail-in ballots except for military/illness/disability, prohibition of transgender athletes in women's sports, and bans on gender-affirming care for minors. He stated the bill "supersedes everything else" and "MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE."
• Trump threatens legislative veto unless Congress passes strict voter ID act — On Sunday, President Trump posted on Truth Social that he will not sign any bills until Congress passes the Save America Act, a voting restriction measure. On Monday, he reiterated this demand at a Republican event in Miami, calling for proof of citizenship, elimination of mail-in ballots except in narrow cases, and unrelated provisions banning transgender participation in women's sports. The bill has passed the House but faces steep odds in the Senate due to the filibuster rule. Trump's threat represents an attempt to leverage executive power to force legislative action on a measure voting rights advocates say would disenfranchise millions of Americans.
• Trump announced refusal to sign legislation until Congress passes SAVE America Act — On Sunday, President Trump announced he would not sign any other legislation until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, which passed the House on February 11, 2026, by a vote of 218 to 213. The bill requires documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. A Center for American Progress analysis estimated that approximately 69 million American women and 4 million men lack birth certificates matching their current legal names due to marriage or name changes, and would be blocked from voting under the bill. The measure would also apply to routine voter registration updates and threatens election officials with civil and criminal penalties for noncompliance.
• Trump threatened to withhold bill signatures unless Senate passes SAVE Act — Trump posted on social media threatening that unless the Senate weakens the filibuster to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act over Democratic objections, he will not sign other bills. His message demanded voter ID and proof of citizenship requirements, elimination of mail-in ballots except for military and disability cases, and other restrictions. The message also included demands unrelated to voting, including bans on transgender medical care for minors and transgender athletes in women's sports.
• Trump threatens Congress over voting legislation — Donald Trump threatened Republican senators on social media, stating he would not sign any bills unless they passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, which includes strict voter ID requirements and limits on mail-in ballots. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer criticized the act as a modern form of Jim Crow that would disenfranchise millions.
• 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.
• Trump demands Senate majority leader alter filibuster rules to force vote on Save America act — Donald Trump publicly pressured Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune to change Senate filibuster rules to force a vote on the Save America act, a bill that would impose strict voter ID and citizenship documentation requirements, ban mail voting, and restrict transgender medical care and sports participation. Trump declared he would not sign any other legislation until the bill reached his desk. Thune refused, citing lack of votes, but some Republicans including John Cornyn reversed prior positions to support rule changes to advance the bill.
• Trump escalated pressure on Congress to pass SAVE America Act — Trump escalated pressure on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. Court records indicate that approximately 69 million American women do not have a birth certificate matching their current legal name, often due to marriage, making compliance with such a requirement difficult for a large eligible voter population.
• Save America act introduced with expansive voting restrictions and election worker liability provisions — The Save America act, a rebranded expansion of last year's failed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility act, includes four major provisions: mandatory documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration and any registration changes; strict photo ID requirements for all voting methods including mail ballots; criminal penalties and private right of action against election officials who register voters without citizenship proof; and mandatory transfer of state voter rolls to the Department of Homeland Security for comparison against federal benefit eligibility databases. The bill would take immediate effect upon signature, requiring states to overhaul voter registration systems mid-election cycle.
• Trump vows to block all legislation until Senate votes on Save America voting restrictions bill — Donald Trump announced he will not sign any other legislation until Republicans pass the Save America act, a sweeping voting restrictions bill that would impose documentary proof of citizenship requirements, strict voter ID mandates for mail and in-person voting, criminal liability for election officials, and mandatory transfer of state voter rolls to the Department of Homeland Security. The Senate is scheduled to vote next week but lacks the 60 votes needed to overcome the filibuster, making passage unlikely. The bill would take effect immediately upon presidential signature and would affect all American voters.

Supporting reports

• Trump launches military campaign against Iran without congressional authorization — President Trump initiated air and naval military operations against Iran in coordination with Israel without requesting congressional authorization, departing from precedent established during the 2003 Iraq War when President Bush sought legislative approval. Republican congressional leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, stated the president possessed inherent constitutional authority to conduct the campaign. The conflict has resulted in six U.S. military deaths and approximately 1,230 Iranian casualties, with costs estimated at $891.4 million per day.

Supporting reports

• Trump demanded unconditional surrender from Iran via social media post — At 8:50 a.m. on March 7, President Trump posted on social media demanding Iran's "unconditional surrender" as a condition for any future negotiations. The demand represented a shift from his earlier stated goals of eliminating Iran's nuclear facilities or offering Iranians a better future. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that unconditional surrender means whatever Trump decides it means once he determines Iran no longer poses a threat and Operation Epic Fury's goals are met. The statement came as ships stopped transiting the Strait of Hormuz, American citizens were stranded in the Middle East, the conflict spread regionally, and U.S. military personnel had died.
• Trump demands unconditional surrender from Iran — On March 7, 2026, President Donald J. Trump posted on social media demanding "unconditional surrender" from Iran, stating that the U.S. and its allies would work to bring Iran back from destruction. This marked a significant shift from his earlier promises to the Iranian people. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that the definition of unconditional surrender would be determined by Trump as commander in chief. The situation escalated as U.S. military personnel faced casualties and American citizens were stranded in the Middle East.

Supporting reports

• House rejects war powers resolution on Iran conflict — The US House of Representatives voted 212–219 to reject a bipartisan war powers resolution that would have forced withdrawal of US troops from hostilities with Iran pending congressional authorization. The measure, proposed by Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna, failed largely along party lines, with two Republicans and four Democrats crossing over. The vote came after the Senate GOP rejected a similar resolution on Wednesday. The underlying conflict, initiated by the Trump administration without formal congressional authorization, has killed six US troops and over 1,200 people in Iran.

Supporting reports

• Senate votes down war powers resolution to prevent Trump from continuing Iran conflict — The Senate voted 47-53 to reject a war powers resolution introduced by Senator Tim Kaine that would have required President Trump to obtain Congressional approval before continuing military operations against Iran. The measure broke largely along party lines, with only one Democrat (John Fetterman) voting against it and one Republican (Rand Paul) supporting it. The resolution would have forced an end to ongoing US air and naval campaigns and required Congressional authorization for any resumption of hostilities. Six US service members and an estimated 1,045–1,500 Iranian civilians have died since the conflict began.
• Senate Republicans block war powers resolution on Iran conflict — Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic-backed war powers resolution on Wednesday that would have required congressional approval for continued U.S. military operations against Iran. House Republicans voted down an identical measure the following day. President Trump launched air and naval operations against Iran without seeking congressional authorization, and Republican leaders stated the president possessed sufficient constitutional authority to conduct the campaign independently. The conflict has killed six U.S. service members and over 1,200 Iranian civilians, with estimated costs of $3.7 billion in the first 100 hours.
• — Senate Republicans refused to pass a war powers resolution to end or limit the military campaign against Iran. Some senators expressed concern about the lack of planning and clear objectives, but others argued that supporting the troops required backing the war regardless of how it began. The war remains unpopular with the American public, with only 34 percent supporting the attack on Iran.

Supporting reports

• Trump explicitly called for Iranian regime change during military campaign — Trump explicitly urged Iranians to "take over" their government in a video announcement, stating: "When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations." Netanyahu described the stated objectives as overthrow of the Iranian regime, elimination of the nuclear program, and elimination of the missile threat. The Atlantic Council, in expert analysis, noted this was not a preventive strike against an imminent threat but rather an exploitation of perceived regime weakness to generate political change inside Iran. They described it as an "enormous gamble with questionable legal justification."
• U.S. launches Operation Epic Fury against Iran without congressional authorization — On February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched a joint military offensive called Operation Epic Fury targeting Iranian military infrastructure, leadership compounds, and air defense systems. CENTCOM reported strikes began at 1:15 a.m. ET from regional bases and the USS Abraham Lincoln, with over 1,000 strikes on Iranian targets within two days. The operation killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and 40 senior Iranian commanders. President Trump stated combat operations would continue "in full force" until objectives are achieved, without defining those objectives to Congress or the public. No congressional authorization was sought or obtained.
• Trump announced "major combat operations in Iran" via social media video from Mar-a-Lago — President Trump posted an 8-minute video on social media from Mar-a-Lago announcing "major combat operations in Iran." He warned that American lives and casualties may be lost, framed the mission as noble and forward-looking, and cited decades of U.S.-Iran tensions. Trump referenced the June 2025 strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and claimed the U.S. had "completely obliterated" Iran's nuclear program. He did not mention the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal that he withdrew from in 2018, after which Iran resumed ignoring nuclear limits within a year.
• Trump initiated military strikes against Iran on February 28, 2026, closing the Strait of Hormuz and triggering oil price surge — On February 28, 2026, President Trump unilaterally began military operations against Iran without consulting Congress, presenting evidence of an immediate threat, or heeding military and intelligence experts' warnings. The strikes closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of global oil passes. As of April 30, 2026, the blockade remains in place, oil prices have surged to $114 per barrel (highest since June 2022), and 13 service members have been killed with over 400 wounded. Gas prices are rising globally, costing American consumers approximately $700 million daily.
• Trump launched military strikes on Iran without congressional consultation or declaration of war — President Trump initiated military strikes against Iran in February 2026, reportedly at the urging of Saudi Arabia's Mohammad bin Salman and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, despite U.S. intelligence assessments that Iran posed no imminent threat for at least a decade. Trump avoided using the word "war" in public statements, instead calling it a "military operation," and administration officials refused to appear at congressional hearings, briefing Congress only behind closed doors. The strikes proceeded without formal congressional authorization or consultation with lawmakers.
• Trump launched war without congressional authorization — Trump launched a military war against Iran without seeking or obtaining congressional authorization. The Constitution grants Congress, not the president, the power to declare war. The article notes that the Framers, having fought for independence against a king they considered a tyrant, deliberately withheld the power to raise an army from a single executive. Trump assumed the powers of a dictator by unilaterally initiating major combat operations.
• Trump launches Iran War without congressional authorization and exceeds 60-day limit — The administration did not consult Congress about launching the war, as the Constitution requires, and has blown through the 60-day time limit for the use of U.S. military to counter an "imminent threat" without obtaining congressional approval. The War Powers Resolution requires congressional authorization or notification within 60 days; the Iran War began February 28, 2026, and continues without formal declaration or approval.
• Trump posted that Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in strikes — Trump posted on social media that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader since 1989, was killed in the strikes. Iran later confirmed Khamenei's death. Trump celebrated the death and posted that this represented "the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country." He claimed without evidence that many of Iran's soldiers and police "no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us," and expressed hope they would "peacefully merge with the Iranian Patriots" to restore the country to "Greatness it deserves."
• Trump posted that bombing would continue throughout the week to achieve "PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST" — Trump posted that the coordinated bombing campaign had "very much destroyed and, even, obliterated" much of Iran and that "heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!" The statement framed ongoing military destruction as a path to peace, without specifying concrete objectives or end conditions for the military campaign.
• Trump told Washington Post reporters his real goal is regime change in Iran — Hours after posting his video announcement, Trump told Washington Post reporters Natalie Allison and Tara Copp in a phone call shortly after 4 A.M. Eastern Time that his real goal is regime change for Iran. He stated "All I want is freedom for the people." In his video, Trump had told Iran's armed forces and police to lay down weapons and accept immunity or face death, and told the Iranian people that "the hour of your freedom is at hand" and to take over their government after the bombing concludes, calling it "probably your only chance for generations."
• Trump administration provides 17 conflicting justifications for Iran war without clear casus belli — Nine days after announcing major combat operations in Iran on February 28, President Trump and senior officials (Secretary of State Rubio, Defense Secretary Hegseth, Press Secretary Leavitt) have publicly offered at least 17 contradictory rationales for the war, ranging from Iran's nuclear program and missile threats to personal retaliation for assassination plots and election interference. The war has killed over 1,500 people and costs approximately $1 billion daily. Officials simultaneously claim the war's objectives are "very clear" and "laser-focused," despite the absence of a consistent, publicly stated justification.
• US and Israel launched coordinated military strikes on Iran, killing senior Iranian military and security officials — The US and Israel conducted a coordinated military operation against Iran, with strikes beginning around 9:40 AM Tehran time on Saturday. The operation targeted a leadership compound in Tehran where senior Iranian officials were gathered, including Ayatollah Khamenei (Iran's supreme leader), IRGC Commander Mohammad Pakpour, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, and other top military and security leaders. US Central Command reported 3 American service members killed in action and 5 seriously wounded. Trump announced the strikes on Truth Social and stated combat operations would continue until objectives were achieved. Israel executed the operation using US intelligence and its own capabilities with long-range, highly accurate munitions.
• U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes across Iran — On February 28, 2026, U.S. and Israeli warplanes conducted a broad, coordinated military campaign against Iran, striking targets in Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah, Tabriz, Bushehr, and other cities. CENTCOM confirmed strikes on IRGC command-and-control facilities, air defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields using air-, land-, and sea-based capabilities, including Tomahawk cruise missiles and low-cost one-way attack drones. Israel's military reported approximately 200 fighter jets hit roughly 500 targets across western and central Iran, described as the Israeli Air Force's largest-ever strike sortie. Iranian state media confirmed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, age 86, was killed in the strikes. CBS News reported as many as 40 Iranian officials were killed, though verification was unclear. The operation was launched without Congressional authorization.
• Operation Epic Fury military offensive against Iran commenced — On February 28, 2026, the United States launched Operation Epic Fury, a coordinated military offensive against Iran alongside Israel. Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, notified deployed troops they were "embarking on a mission of profound consequence," moving "from deterrence into active combat." The operation involves approximately 50,000 military personnel, 200 fighter jets, two aircraft carriers, and bombers. Central Command reported six American service members killed and eighteen wounded. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth refused to rule out sending ground troops to Iran.
• Trump launched U.S. attacks on Iran — Trump launched U.S. military attacks on Iran on February 28, 2026. He notified Congress of the action on March 2, 2026, invoking the War Powers Act's provision allowing presidential action in response to an "imminent threat" without prior congressional approval. Trump claimed the Iranian threat was imminent, though his own advisors testified that Iran lacked the capacity to build a nuclear weapon in less than ten years.
• Trump launched U.S. attacks on Iran alongside Israeli attacks — On February 28, 2026, President Trump launched U.S. military attacks on Iran in coordination with Israeli attacks. Trump notified Congress of these actions on March 2, 2026, triggering the 60-day War Powers Act clock. The article notes that Trump's war of aggression violated the Constitution by sidestepping Congress, which holds sole authority to declare war, and that Trump claimed an "imminent threat" despite his own advisors testifying Iran lacked capacity to build a nuclear weapon in less than ten years. The action also violated the United Nations Charter, which prohibits use of force except in defense against actual attack or legitimate imminent threat.
• U.S. and Israel launched coordinated military assault on Iran, named "Operation Epic Fury" — Early on February 28, 2026, the U.S. and Israel conducted a major coordinated military assault on Iran. Israel targeted senior Iranian government officials while the U.S. attacked military targets. Iran state media reported at least 200 people killed, including 118 students from a girls' school, and over 700 wounded. Iran retaliated with strikes on Israel (1 killed, 121 injured) and on U.S. bases across the Middle East and Gulf region. U.S. Central Command reported no American casualties and minimal facility damage.
• Trump ordered additional airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities — In late February 2026, President Trump ordered new military strikes against Iran targeting nuclear facilities. The author notes these strikes were more significant than prior June 2025 attacks, particularly because they resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader and other top officials. The strikes were ostensibly justified as necessary to destroy Iranian nuclear capabilities, contradicting the White House's earlier claim that such facilities had already been destroyed.
• Trump administration justifies Iran war with false claims about nuclear weapons timeline — Between February 22 and March 17, 2026, President Trump and his proxies made repeated public statements claiming Iran was weeks away from acquiring nuclear weapons, with Trump stating Iran was "two weeks away" from a nuclear weapon on multiple occasions and Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff claiming Iran was "a week away from having industrial-grade bomb-making material." These claims formed the public justification for launching major combat operations against Iran on March 1, 2026. However, according to the testimony of Trump's own Director of National Intelligence and prior intelligence community assessments from March 2025, Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and posed no imminent nuclear threat.
• Trump launched military operations against Iran following private lobbying by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — President Trump announced "major combat operations in Iran" on Saturday, March 1, 2026, despite U.S. intelligence assessments that Iran posed no imminent threat. The military action followed private calls in which Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged Trump to attack Iran over concerns about Iran's military capabilities. Trump had previously declared in June 2025 that limited strikes had "completely obliterated Iran's nuclear capability." By Sunday, the conflict had resulted in three U.S. service member deaths and hundreds of Iranian casualties, with Iran launching retaliatory attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
• Trump announced war via edited video from Mar-a-Lago rather than formal Oval Office address — President Trump announced the initiation of "major combat operations in Iran" through a short, edited video rather than a traditional live address from the Oval Office. The video was recorded at his Florida home and private club, Mar-a-Lago, with Trump wearing a baseball cap, and was posted on his social network Truth Social. On the same evening, Trump attended a $1 million-per-plate fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago for MAGA Inc., the primary pro-Trump Super PAC.
• Trump announces military operation against Iran via social media video — President Trump released an eight-minute video on Truth Social at 2:30 a.m. Saturday announcing a major military operation ("Operation Epic Fury") against Iran. He declared Iran a threat to US national security, referenced its nuclear program and alleged support for terrorism, and called for regime change, explicitly urging the Iranian people to overthrow their government once US bombing concludes. Trump acknowledged potential American casualties and stated the operation would be "massive and ongoing," signaling a long-term military commitment without prior congressional authorization or public explanation.
• United States launched military strikes on Iran without congressional authorization — The United States conducted Operation Epic Fury, striking Iranian targets including military installations and civilian areas, killing approximately 40 senior Iranian commanders including Iran's Chief of Staff. The operation resulted in the first American combat deaths from a war Congress never voted to authorize. Iran retaliated with strikes on Israel and seven other countries hosting U.S. forces, opening a multi-front regional conflict. The Strait of Hormuz was disrupted, affecting global shipping and oil prices.
• U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — The U.S. and Israel conducted military strikes against Iran in late February 2026, with Israeli forces killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top Iranian leaders. The author characterizes this as a significant escalation from prior June 2025 strikes, noting that the removal of Iran's head of state represents a crossing of a geopolitical threshold with potential long-term consequences. The strikes targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, which the author notes contradicts a White House statement from June 2025 claiming Iran's nuclear facilities had been "obliterated."
• Trump and Israel launched illegal war against Iran with massive airstrikes — On February 28, 2026, Trump, in coordination with Israel, launched military operations against Iran, conducting massive airstrikes across the country that killed hundreds of people and resulted in the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Trump posted a video to Truth Social claiming Iran posed an imminent threat, despite previously stating the U.S. had destroyed Iran's nuclear program. He also called on the Iranian people to "take over your government" after the war concludes, framing it as a generational opportunity.

Supporting reports

• Trump circulated communications directing federal regulators to pressure Apple News app — Trump circulated communications suggesting federal regulators should pressure private companies like Apple to alter its News app in ways favorable to him. This reflects a broader pattern of using government authority to reshape media environments and influence public perception.

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• DHS agents arrest Columbia student using false pretenses — DHS agents arrested Columbia University student Ellie Aghayeva after misrepresenting themselves as police searching for a missing child to gain access to an off-campus residence building, according to the university's president. Aghayeva was released from federal custody hours later following an apparent intervention by Trump after he met with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who raised concerns about the detention.
• Mamdani meets Trump in Oval Office; secures housing funding pitch and immigration detainee release — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with President Trump in an unannounced Oval Office visit on Thursday. Mamdani pitched a $21 billion federal grant proposal for 12,000 affordable housing units, including construction over a rail yard in Sunnyside, Queens. During the meeting, Trump appeared "enthusiastic" about the housing plan. Mamdani also secured the release of a Columbia University student from federal immigration detention who had been arrested that morning, and requested Trump consider dismissing cases against four other detained students, including Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil.
• Trump agreed to release detained Columbia student following mayor's intervention — NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with President Trump and raised concerns about Elmina Aghayeva's detention by ICE. Trump agreed to release her "imminently." Aghayeva confirmed her release via Instagram the same day, stating she was "safe and okay." The intervention bypassed normal legal processes and demonstrated executive discretion over immigration enforcement outcomes based on political access.
• ICE detained Columbia student Elmina Aghayeva using misrepresentation to gain apartment access — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered an off-campus Columbia University residential building on February 27, 2026, by falsely claiming to search for a missing child. They detained student Elmina Aghayeva without a warrant. Columbia's acting president confirmed agents misrepresented themselves and lacked proper legal authorization. Following a meeting between NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and President Trump, Aghayeva was released the same day. The incident sparked campus protests and criticism from state officials over ICE's tactics.

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• Trump claimed he does not need Congressional approval for tariffs — Fifteen minutes after his threat post, at 9:49 a.m. on February 24, 2026, Trump posted that "As President, I do not have to go back to Congress to get approval of Tariffs. It has already been gotten, in many forms, a long time ago!" He claimed tariffs were "reaffirmed by the ridiculous and poorly crafted supreme court decision."
• Trump posted that Supreme Court ruling granted him unchecked tariff power — At 7:06 a.m. on February 24, 2026, Trump posted on social media that the Supreme Court had "accidentally and unwittingly" given him "far more powers and strength" than he had before. He claimed he could use tariffs "in a much more powerful and obnoxious way, with legal certainty" and attacked the court with contemptuous language, writing "supreme court (will be using lower case letters for a while based on a complete lack of respect!)."
• Trump threatened higher tariffs against countries "playing games" — At 9:34 a.m. on February 24, 2026, Trump posted a threat that any country wanting to "play games" with the Supreme Court decision, especially those that have "ripped off" the U.S., would face "much higher Tariff, and worse" than recently agreed tariffs. The post ended with "BUYER BEWARE!!!"
• House Speaker Johnson acknowledged Congress lacks appetite for Trump's tariffs — House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told reporters on February 24, 2026, that Congress has no appetite for levying the tariffs Trump and his MAGA supporters want. Johnson stated: "It's going to be, I think, a challenge to find consensus on any path forward on the tariffs, on the legislative side. And so that is why, I think, you see so much of the attention on the executive side, the executive branch, and what they're doing and how they're reacting to the ruling."

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• DHS suspended TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs — During the partial DHS shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security announced a suspension of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs. After widespread public backlash, the agency reversed course within 12 hours. A TSA spokesperson later confirmed that "TSA PreCheck remains operational with no change for the traveling public."
• TSA suspended PreCheck and Global Entry programs due to DHS shutdown — DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that TSA was suspending PreCheck and Global Entry programs at airports due to the partial government shutdown. PreCheck allows approved passengers through faster security lanes, while Global Entry expedites customs clearance for international travelers. The suspension was intended to prioritize general traveling populations, though critics noted the programs actually used fewer agents and moved more people through efficiently. DHS reversed the PreCheck suspension the following day but kept Global Entry paused.
• DHS suspends TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs amid government shutdown — The Department of Homeland Security suspended TSA PreCheck and Global Entry airport security programs on February 23, 2026, citing staffing shortages from a partial government shutdown that began February 14. After industry opposition, DHS partially reversed course, restoring TSA PreCheck operations but keeping Global Entry halted. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated the administration was "suspending courtesy and special privilege escorts" to prioritize general travelers. The suspension affected approximately 20 million TSA PreCheck users and 10 million Global Entry users.

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• Supreme Court rules Trump exceeded authority on tariff imposition — The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling that President Trump violated the Constitution by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping tariffs on global imports without congressional approval. Chief Justice John Roberts stated that taxation is a core congressional power. The ruling invalidated most of the administration's tariffs. Democratic lawmakers celebrated the decision as a check on executive overreach, while Trump called it a "disgrace" and indicated he had a backup plan.
• Supreme Court rules Trump tariffs unconstitutional in 6-3 decision — The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 last Friday that President Trump exceeded his constitutional authority by imposing tariffs using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) during peacetime. The court affirmed that Congress alone retains the power to levy taxes under the Constitution and that the IEEPA cannot supersede that authority absent genuine emergency conditions. The ruling marked the first time the Supreme Court overturned Trump policies in his second term and undercut his claims to sweeping executive trade authority.
• Supreme Court rules Trump's tariffs unlawful, striking down invocation of International Emergency Economic Powers Act — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that President Trump lacked authority to impose sweeping global tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Chief Justice John Roberts authored the majority opinion, joined by two Trump-appointed justices (Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett) and the three liberal-leaning justices. The court held that taxation powers are reserved exclusively to Congress. Trump responded with a vitriolic public attack on the justices, calling them "FOOLS" and "LAPDOGS," and immediately announced new tariffs under different legislative authority.
• Supreme Court strikes down Trump's national emergency tariffs — The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision invalidating Trump's tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), ruling that tariffs constitute taxation and fall under Congress's exclusive constitutional authority. The decision reduces the U.S. average trade-weighted tariff from 15.3% to 8.3%, with significant reductions on Chinese (36.8% to 21.2%), Brazilian (26.3% to 6.8%), and Japanese (14.9% to 9.9%) imports. Trump immediately announced a 10% blanket global tariff under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act as an alternative.
• US Supreme Court declares Trump's IEEPA tariffs illegal — The US Supreme Court ruled that President Trump cannot impose tariffs in peacetime using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), declaring his tariffs enacted under that authority unlawful. The White House indicated it will replace the levies using alternative statutory tools, such as the 1974 Trade Act. International businesses and governments expressed uncertainty about future tariff regimes, as the ruling does not constrain Trump's other trade policy options. US business groups celebrated the decision as affirming rule of law and separation of powers.
• US Supreme Court rules Trump's tariffs illegal under IEEPA, Trump announces new 10% global tariff under Section 122 — The US Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling on Friday declaring that Donald Trump's tariffs lacked legal justification under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 1977 law designed for national emergencies. The court held that tariff authority belongs exclusively to Congress under the Constitution's taxing power. Trump responded by calling the justices "a disgrace to the nation" and immediately announced a new 10% global baseline tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which permits 150-day tariffs, while initiating investigations into unfair trading practices for potential permanent tariffs.
• US Supreme Court strikes down Trump's unilateral tariff authority under IEEPA — The US Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that President Trump exceeded his constitutional authority by imposing global tariffs without congressional approval under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The decision affirmed lower court findings that the tariffs—covering dozens of countries and announced on "liberation day" in April 2025—were illegal. Trump immediately vowed to continue tariffs using alternative authority under the Trade Act of 1974, announcing a new 10% global tariff and directing investigations into unfair trading practices.
• Supreme Court ruled Trump's tariffs under IEEPA unconstitutional — The U.S. Supreme Court found that tariffs Trump levied under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are unconstitutional. The decision was announced on Friday, February 21, 2026. Following the ruling, Trump announced a 10% tariff on foreign imports on Friday and escalated to a 15% worldwide tariff on Saturday, claiming the court decision actually granted him broader powers than he previously possessed.
• Supreme Court ruling on tariffs declared unconstitutional — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs imposed by Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are unconstitutional. Following this decision, Trump announced a 10% tariff on foreign imports, which he later raised to 15%. He claimed that the ruling inadvertently granted him more power and threatened higher tariffs on countries he accused of taking advantage of the U.S. This ruling has led to significant uncertainty among U.S. trading partners, prompting the European Parliament to pause trade deal approvals with the U.S.
• Trump claims he has unchecked power after Supreme Court ruling — Trump publicly stated that the Supreme Court's ruling has given him "far more powers and strength" than before, suggesting he could use tariffs in a more aggressive manner. His comments reflect a disregard for the Court's authority and the principles of checks and balances.
• Trump’s tariffs face public disapproval — A poll indicated that 64% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of tariffs, with 82% believing he must obey Supreme Court rulings. This public sentiment reflects widespread dissatisfaction with his economic policies and governance.
• Supreme Court strikes down Trump "liberation day" tariffs — The US Supreme Court struck down Trump's sweeping "liberation day" tariffs that had been imposed the previous year. The decision represented a judicial check on the executive's tariff authority and prompted the administration to announce the alternative 10% global tariff as a replacement policy.
• Supreme Court struck down Trump's broad tariff authority under IEEPA — Days before the State of the Union address, the Supreme Court struck down the President's claimed authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), in what CNBC and CNN reported as one of the most consequential executive power rulings in years. In response, Trump called the ruling "unfortunate" and vowed to pursue "alternative" legal authorities to continue imposing tariffs without congressional approval, signaling his intent to circumvent the Court's decision.

Supporting reports

• Trump announces 10% global baseline tariff under Section 122 of Trade Act — Following the Supreme Court's ruling striking down his IEEPA-based tariffs, President Trump announced a new 10% global baseline tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which permits tariffs for 150 days. Trump stated the administration would initiate investigations into unfair trading practices that could lead to permanent tariffs. Trump framed the court's decision as actually strengthening presidential tariff authority and vowed to enact "very powerful alternatives" to the struck-down tariffs.
• Trump announces 10% global tariff under Section 122 — Following the Supreme Court's invalidation of his national emergency tariffs, Trump announced a 10% blanket global tariff "over and above our normal tariffs already being charged" under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, which permits temporary tariffs to address balance-of-payments deficits. This action circumvents the Court's ruling by invoking alternative statutory authority, though Section 122 requires congressional approval to extend beyond 150 days and prohibits country-specific discrimination.
• Trump announces new 10% global tariff under Trade Act of 1974 — Hours after the Supreme Court ruling, President Trump held a press conference announcing he would continue his tariff war using Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 instead of the IEEPA. He announced a new 10% global tariff and directed his administration to conduct investigations into unfair trading practices under other sections of the 1974 Act. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the new tariffs would result in "virtually unchanged tariff revenue in 2026" and acknowledged the process would be more complicated but ultimately achieve the same outcome.
• Trump announces new 10% global tariff, increases to 15% within 24 hours — After the Supreme Court ruled his tariffs unconstitutional, President Trump announced a new 10% global tariff using different statutory authority and increased it to 15% less than 24 hours later. Trump stated "The policy hasn't changed. The legal tools that implement that may change but the policy hasn't changed," signaling intent to circumvent the court's constitutional ruling through alternative legal mechanisms. Top trade negotiator Jamieson Greer defended the shift as providing US business "leverage" in world trade.
• Trump signals intent to reimpose tariffs via alternative legal authority — At a news conference on 21 February 2026, President Trump stated he would attempt to reintroduce 10 percent tariffs on all countries using a different legal mechanism after the Supreme Court struck down his IEEPA-based tariffs. Trump characterized the court's failure to address refunds as "crazy" and predicted years of litigation. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent similarly suggested refunds could be delayed indefinitely.
• Trump announced 10% tariff on foreign imports following Supreme Court ruling — On Friday, February 21, 2026, immediately after the Supreme Court's decision striking down his IEEPA tariffs, Trump announced he was imposing a 10% tariff on foreign imports, directly contradicting the court's constitutional finding.
• Supreme Court ruled Trump's tariff regime unlawful; Trump announced new tariffs under Section 122 of Trade Act — The Supreme Court struck down Trump's sweeping tariff regime as lacking statutory authority. Within hours, Trump announced a new 10 percent worldwide tariff, raising it to 15 percent by the following morning, claiming authority under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. Legal analysis indicates Section 122 permits only temporary import surcharges of up to 15 percent for no more than 150 days, and only when the United States faces a serious international balance-of-payments crisis. The current U.S. balance-of-payments deficit is zero, and no such crisis exists. Trump's new tariff announcement appears to be an attempt to circumvent the Court's ruling through a different legal theory.
• Supreme Court rules Trump tariffs illegal under emergency powers law — The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling on Friday declaring that most of Trump's tariffs lacked legal justification under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The court held that tariff authority belongs to Congress during peacetime, not the president. Trump responded by announcing a 15% global tariff under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act. Trade chief Jamieson Greer stated the administration would persist with tariff policy despite the ruling and would not seek congressional authorization for the new tariffs.
• Trump signs global 10% tariff proclamation under Section 122 after Supreme Court blocks tariff authority — President Trump signed a proclamation on February 21, 2026, imposing a temporary 10% tariff on all countries effective February 24, invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The action followed a Supreme Court ruling blocking his use of tariffs. Trump claimed authority under existing statutes without congressional approval. Canada, Mexico, certain food products, and critical minerals were exempted. Trump publicly attacked six justices as a "disgrace to the nation" while praising three dissenters.
• Trump increased proposed global tariff rate from 10% to 15% via social media post — Trump announced via Truth Social that he was raising worldwide tariffs from the initially announced 10% to 15%, invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The announcement claimed the tariffs would take effect "effective immediately," though it remained unclear whether official documents had been signed. This followed Trump's earlier press conference announcement of 10% tariffs and came after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff actions as illegal on Friday.
• Trump imposed 10% global tariff under Section 122 of Trade Act of 1974, then raised it to 15% — On February 21, 2026, President Trump announced a 10% global tariff citing Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, then raised it to 15% the following day. Trump invoked this authority immediately after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. According to Popular Information's analysis, Trump's invocation of Section 122 is legally defective because the statute authorizes tariffs only in response to "large and serious" balance-of-payments deficits, not trade deficits; the U.S. currently has a zero balance-of-payments deficit, making the tariff legally unsupported.
• Trump announces 15% global tariff under alternative legal framework — Following the Supreme Court's ruling, Trump announced a 15% global tariff on all foreign imports (increased from 10% announced Friday) under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, a different legal framework than the one struck down by the court. Trade chief Greer indicated the administration would not automatically seek congressional authorization for these tariffs, which are set to expire within five months without it.
• Trump escalated tariffs to 15% and claimed court ruling expanded his powers — On Saturday, February 22, 2026, Trump posted that he was raising tariffs from 10% to 15% worldwide, effective immediately. He claimed the Supreme Court's decision "accidentally and unwittingly" gave him "far more powers and strength" than before and that he could "do absolutely 'terrible' things to foreign countries" using tariffs the court had approved.
• Trump administration announced plans to scale back tariffs on steel and aluminum — The Trump administration announced it would review and scale back tariffs on steel and aluminum goods—which had been set at up to 50 percent the previous summer—and exempt some items while halting expansion of the tariff lists. The administration also planned to launch more targeted national security probes into specific goods instead of maintaining broad tariffs. This move was undertaken in response to an affordability crisis damaging Trump's approval ratings.
• Trump invoked Section 122 authority to impose 10% tariff on all imports — Following the Supreme Court's IEEPA ruling, Trump immediately invoked Section 122 of the Tariff Act—an older statutory authority requiring no investigation but limited to 15 percent for 150 days—to impose a 10 percent tariff on all imports from all countries. This action circumvented the Court's restriction on unilateral IEEPA tariffs by relying on a different legal basis Congress had previously authorized.
• Trump raised Section 122 tariff from 10% to 15% — One day after imposing a 10 percent tariff under Section 122, Trump raised the rate to 15 percent—the statutory maximum under that authority. This escalation occurred within the same legal framework but pushed the temporary tariff to its ceiling.
• Trump imposed 15% tariff invoking Section 122 of Trade Act of 1974 — President Trump announced a 15% tariff by invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, days after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down his prior tariff regime as unconstitutional. The administration's trade representative Jamieson Greer defended the move on Sunday shows, claiming the legal tool might change but policy remains consistent. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declined to commit to refunding approximately $134 billion collected under the now-invalidated tariffs, stating only that the administration would follow the court's direction.
• Administration announces pipeline of tariff investigations to rebuild tariff wall — Treasury Secretary Bessent announced on Sunday that Section 122 tariffs could expire after five months as Section 301 investigations into unfair trade practices and additional Section 232 national security tariffs are lined up to replace them. The administration is using procedural investigations as a mechanism to rebuild the same tariff structure that the Supreme Court struck down, using different legal authorities.
• Trade chief states tariff policy unchanged despite court ruling — On Sunday, U.S. trade negotiator Jamieson Greer told ABC News that the Trump administration would maintain its tariff policy and continue in the same direction, stating "the policy hasn't changed. The legal tools that implement that may change but the policy hasn't changed." Greer also confirmed the U.S. would not back out of bilateral tariff deals with the UK, EU, Japan, Switzerland, and others, despite the court ruling declaring those tariffs illegal.
• Trump delivered longest State of the Union address on record during partial DHS shutdown — President Trump delivered what multiple news outlets reported as the longest State of the Union address in U.S. history on February 24, 2026, while the Department of Homeland Security remained partially shut down since February 14. The address occurred during an active government funding lapse affecting federal workers' paychecks and DHS operations including TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, border security, airport screening, and the Coast Guard. Federal News Network reported it was the first SOTU ever delivered during an active partial government shutdown.
• Trump vowed to continue imposing tariffs despite Supreme Court ruling — During the State of the Union address, President Trump responded to the Supreme Court's striking down of his tariff authority by calling the ruling "unfortunate" and vowing to pursue "alternative" legal authorities to continue imposing tariffs without congressional approval. He also repeated the claim that tariffs are paid by foreign countries, contrary to evidence showing costs are borne primarily by American importers and consumers.
• Trump claimed he does not need Congressional approval for tariffs — Fifteen minutes after his threat post, at 9:49 a.m. on February 24, 2026, Trump posted that "As President, I do not have to go back to Congress to get approval of Tariffs. It has already been gotten, in many forms, a long time ago!" He claimed tariffs were "reaffirmed by the ridiculous and poorly crafted supreme court decision."
• Trump claims he has unchecked power after Supreme Court ruling — Trump publicly stated that the Supreme Court's ruling has given him "far more powers and strength" than before, suggesting he could use tariffs in a more aggressive manner. His comments reflect a disregard for the Court's authority and the principles of checks and balances.
• Trump posted that Supreme Court ruling granted him unchecked tariff power — At 7:06 a.m. on February 24, 2026, Trump posted on social media that the Supreme Court had "accidentally and unwittingly" given him "far more powers and strength" than he had before. He claimed he could use tariffs "in a much more powerful and obnoxious way, with legal certainty" and attacked the court with contemptuous language, writing "supreme court (will be using lower case letters for a while based on a complete lack of respect!)."
• Trump threatened higher tariffs against countries "playing games" — At 9:34 a.m. on February 24, 2026, Trump posted a threat that any country wanting to "play games" with the Supreme Court decision, especially those that have "ripped off" the U.S., would face "much higher Tariff, and worse" than recently agreed tariffs. The post ended with "BUYER BEWARE!!!"
• Trump threatens higher tariffs on foreign countries — Following the Supreme Court's ruling, Trump threatened that any country that "plays games" with the decision would face significantly higher tariffs. He asserted that he does not need Congressional approval for tariffs, claiming that previous approvals were sufficient. This statement reflects his intention to bypass legislative oversight in tariff implementation.
• Trump announced but did not sign 15 percent global tariff order — Trump announced plans to raise global tariffs to 15 percent under the 1974 Trade Act after his IEEPA tariffs were struck down by the Supreme Court. However, he never actually signed the order, meaning the effective tariff rate remained at 10 percent. The announcement was made publicly or on social media but was not formalized through executive action.
• Trump proclaims 10% temporary import surcharge on most goods for 150 days to address balance-of-payments deficit — President Trump issued Proclamation 11012 on February 20, 2026, imposing a temporary 10 percent ad valorem import surcharge effective February 24, 2026, for 150 days under section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The proclamation cites large U.S. balance-of-payments deficits ($1.2 trillion goods trade deficit in 2024, current account deficit of 4.0% of GDP, and negative net international-investment position of -90% of GDP) as justification. Broad exemptions apply to critical minerals, energy, agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, vehicles, aerospace goods, and articles from Canada, Mexico, and Central American trade partners. The surcharge is in addition to existing tariffs and will be administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
• Trump administration imposes 10% global tariff after Supreme Court strikes down "liberation day" tariffs — Following a Supreme Court decision that struck down Trump's sweeping "liberation day" tariffs imposed the previous year, the Trump administration announced a 10% global tariff on imported articles from every country for 150 days, effective Tuesday. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated the rate would rise to 15% or higher for some countries. The move represents a recalibration of tariff policy in response to the court's rejection of the earlier tariff regime.
• Trump sought Supreme Court rehearing on tariff decision — Trump posted on social media requesting that the Supreme Court reconsider its recent tariff decision, arguing that the ruling "could allow for Hundreds of Billions of Dollars to be returned to Countries and Companies that have been 'ripping off' the USA for many years." Trump asked "Is a Rehearing or Readjudication of this case possible???" Legal experts confirmed that no such rehearing mechanism exists under Supreme Court rules.

Supporting reports

• Trump attacks Supreme Court justices by name and threatens future retaliation — During a White House press briefing on February 21, 2026, Trump publicly denounced six Supreme Court justices who voted against his tariff authority, calling them a "disgrace to the nation" and "unpatriotic." He praised the three dissenters (Kavanaugh, Thomas, Alito) and attacked two of his own appointees, Barrett and Gorsuch, describing them as "an embarrassment to their families" and suggesting they would be excluded from the State of the Union. Trump alleged without evidence that the court had been "swayed by foreign interests."

Supporting reports

• Trump continues suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment for all imports, including postal shipments, imposing duties on goods previously exempt under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(C). — President Trump issued Executive Order 14388 on February 20, 2026, continuing the suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment for all countries under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The order revises Executive Order 14324 to maintain duties on all shipments regardless of value or origin, including those sent through the international postal network. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will collect duties on postal shipments at rates specified in a February 20, 2026 proclamation imposing a temporary import surcharge. The order cites national emergencies related to drug trafficking, border security, synthetic opioids, and trade deficits as justification.
• Trump ends tariff actions imposed under emergency powers — President Trump signed Executive Order 14389 on February 20, 2026, terminating additional ad valorem duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) across nine prior executive orders addressing alleged threats from Canada, Mexico, China, Venezuela, Brazil, Russia, Cuba, and Iran. The order directs executive agencies to immediately cease collection of these tariffs, though it preserves other tariff actions under section 232 and section 301 authorities and leaves the underlying national emergency declarations intact.
• Trump suspends duty-free de minimis treatment for all imports, imposing tariffs on small-value shipments via postal network and other entry modes. — Executive Order 14388, signed February 20, 2026, continues the suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(C) for all countries and all shipments regardless of value or origin. The order directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect duties on all qualifying shipments, including those sent through the international postal network, at rates specified in a concurrent temporary import surcharge proclamation. The order amends Executive Order 14324 (July 30, 2025) and becomes effective February 24, 2026. Implementation is delegated to the Secretary of Homeland Security.
• Trump issues executive order continuing suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment for all imports — President Trump issued an executive order on February 20, 2026, continuing the suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(C) for all countries. The order modifies prior tariff directives and establishes that U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall collect duties on all shipments, including those sent through the international postal network, effective February 24, 2026. The duty rate applied equals the temporary import surcharge established by a concurrent proclamation issued the same day.
• Trump revokes tariff duties imposed under emergency powers — President Trump issued an executive order on February 20, 2026, terminating additional ad valorem duties (tariffs) that had been imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) in nine prior executive orders addressing alleged threats from China, Brazil, Russia, Iran, Cuba, and illicit drug flows. The order directs executive agencies to immediately cease collection of these tariffs while preserving the underlying national emergency declarations and all other tariff actions under different statutory authorities (Section 232 and Section 301).
• President Trump signed Executive Order 14389 terminating ad valorem tariff duties imposed under prior emergency declarations. — On February 20, 2026, President Trump signed Executive Order 14389, which terminates the collection of additional ad valorem duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) in nine prior executive orders issued between February 2025 and February 2026. These orders had declared national emergencies related to drug flows, border situations, synthetic opioids, Venezuelan oil imports, reciprocal trade practices, and threats from Brazil, Russia, Cuba, and Iran. The order directs executive agencies to immediately cease collection of these tariffs, though it preserves the underlying national emergency declarations and other non-tariff actions taken under those orders. The order does not affect duties imposed under other statutory authorities, including section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act or section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
• Trump issued proclamation imposing temporary 10 percent import surcharge for 150 days — President Trump issued a proclamation on February 20, 2026, imposing a temporary 10 percent ad valorem import surcharge effective February 24, 2026, for 150 days (through July 24, 2026), citing fundamental international payments problems including large trade deficits and a negative net international investment position. The proclamation exempts certain products including critical minerals, energy, agricultural goods, pharmaceuticals, vehicles, aerospace products, and goods from Canada, Mexico, and Central American trade partners. The surcharge is authorized under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.
• White House issues fact sheet attributing economic growth to Trump agenda and blaming Democratic shutdown for GDP reduction — The White House issued a fact sheet claiming that President Trump's economic policies drove robust 2025 GDP growth despite a 43-day government shutdown attributed to Democrats. The document cites administration officials and external economists estimating the shutdown reduced GDP growth by 1.0–2.0 percentage points, and asserts that without the shutdown, growth would have been higher. The fact sheet frames the shutdown as deliberate Democratic harm and positions Trump's tax cuts, deregulation, tariffs, and energy policies as drivers of recovery.
• White House issues fact sheet on temporary import duty proclamation — The White House published a fact sheet on February 20, 2026, describing President Trump's signing of a proclamation imposing a temporary 10% ad valorem import duty on most articles imported into the United States, effective February 24, 2026, for 150 days. The fact sheet states the duty is authorized under section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 and is intended to address the U.S. balance-of-payments deficit. Specified categories of goods—including critical minerals, energy, certain agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, and USMCA-compliant goods—are exempted. The fact sheet claims the measure will stem dollar outflow, incentivize domestic production, create jobs, and lower consumer costs.
• White House signed executive order continuing suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment for imports — President Trump signed Executive Order 14388 on February 20, 2026, continuing the suspension of duty-free de minimis treatment for all countries under 19 U.S.C. 1321(a)(2)(C). The order directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect duties on all shipments, including those sent through the international postal network, effective February 24, 2026. The order states the suspension is necessary to address national emergencies declared in prior executive orders concerning drug flows, border security, synthetic opioid supply chains, and trade deficits.

Supporting reports

• President attacks justices and invokes Section 122 tariff authority — Within hours of the Supreme Court's ruling, the President issued a proclamation under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 imposing a 10% temporary import surcharge on virtually all imports, effective February 24, then raised it to 15% by Saturday. The President publicly attacked the justices who ruled against him, calling them "fools and lapdogs," praised the three dissenters by name, and alleged foreign influence over the Court. Treasury Secretary Bessent announced the goal is to achieve the same tariff posture through different legal channels with revenue "virtually unchanged."
• Trump responds to tariff ruling with public criticism of justices and announces new tariff order — After learning of the Supreme Court's tariff decision, Trump publicly attacked the justices in the majority, including two he appointed, calling them "fools," "lapdogs," and "unpatriotic." He claimed the Court had been "swayed by foreign interests" and that "obnoxious, ignorant and loud" people had frightened the justices. Trump then announced he would sign an order imposing a 10% global tariff under a different law permitting such action for 150 days, stating he had "the right to do tariffs" and did not need to work with Congress. That evening, he posted on social media confirming he had signed the order, effective "almost immediately."
• Trump held emergency press conference attacking Supreme Court justices — Trump held an unhinged emergency press conference after learning of the tariff ruling during a breakfast meeting with governors. He called the decision a "disgrace," attacked Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett as "fools and lapdogs for the RINOs," and claimed they were "disloyal to our Constitution." Trump alleged without evidence that foreign interests had "undue influence" over the Supreme Court and suggested Democrats should pack the court with 21 justices. He refused to commit to honoring potential refunds of $175 billion in tariffs already collected and claimed he had authority to "destroy the country" through trade actions.
• Trump's angry outburst after tariff ruling — After learning of the Supreme Court's tariff decision during a meeting with governors, Trump abruptly cleared the press from the room and engaged in an angry outburst. Witnesses reported him repeatedly attacking the courts and screaming profanities. Later, in a press conference, Trump called the justices "a disgrace to our nation," "fools," "lapdogs," and "very unpatriotic," with his remarks becoming increasingly unhinged.
• Trump attacked Supreme Court justices and announced plan to circumvent tariff ruling — Following the Supreme Court's decision blocking his emergency tariff authority, President Trump called the justices who ruled against him "very unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution," suggested without evidence that they are being swayed by "foreign interests," and announced he will impose a 10% "global tariff" under a different statute—the International Emergency Economic Powers Act—which limits tariffs to 150 days unless authorized by Congress.
• Trump attacked Supreme Court Justices over IEEPA tariff ruling — After learning of the Supreme Court's IEEPA ruling, Trump publicly attacked the three conservative Justices who voted against him, calling them "fools and lapdogs for the RINOs and the radical left Democrats" and accusing them of being "unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution." He also claimed the Court had been "swayed by foreign interests." These statements constituted a direct assault on the judicial branch's independence and legitimacy.
• President attacks Supreme Court justices by name — The President publicly denounced the six justices who voted to strike down the IEEPA tariffs, calling them "fools and lapdogs," alleged that foreign interests had undue influence over the Court, and praised the three dissenters by name. This public attack on the judiciary followed immediately after the ruling.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration held first meeting of Board of Peace at renamed U.S. Institute of Peace — President Trump held the inaugural meeting of his "Board of Peace" at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), which the Trump administration renamed the "Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace"—a change being legally challenged. Last year, Trump officials seized the USIP building, which housed an independent entity created by Congress in 1984, and fired nearly all employees. Twenty-seven countries participated; none have contributed the $1 billion needed for permanent status. Trump extended invitations to International Criminal Court-indicted leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin. Canada was withdrawn after Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized Trump's foreign policy at Davos. Fourteen countries rejected invitations, citing support for the UN, concerns about Russian influence, and Trump's unilateral decision-making authority over the board.
• Trump announced $10 billion commitment to Board of Peace without congressional appropriation — President Trump announced that the U.S. will commit $10 billion to the Board of Peace. However, under the U.S. constitutional system, only Congress possesses the power to appropriate funds. The mechanism by which Trump intends to fund this commitment remains unclear, raising questions about whether he is attempting to bypass congressional appropriation authority.
• Trump announces $10 billion transfer to "Board of Peace" without congressional approval — Donald Trump announced he will transfer $10 billion from the U.S. government to his "Board of Peace," a gathering that drew limited participation from major democratic allies. The transfer is characterized as requiring congressional approval but proceeding without it. Critics warn the fund operates as a slush fund under Trump's direct control. The Board of Peace event itself drew primarily authoritarian or illiberal regime leaders rather than democratic nations.
• Trump held first meeting of "Board of Peace" at Donald J. Trump Institute for Peace — Trump convened the inaugural meeting of his "Board of Peace" at the newly established Donald J. Trump Institute for Peace. The meeting lasted over three hours, with Trump speaking for more than an hour followed by attendees offering praise. Trump's remarks included rambling anecdotes about receiving a peace prize from FIFA, crediting Hamas for recovering hostages, making comments about foreign leaders' wealth and appearance, and references to his wife Melania's film success. Other speakers included the Kazakhstan dictator, Jared Kushner, and Steve Witkoff. Trump fell asleep at the two-hour mark and concluded the meeting by striking a golden gavel as the Village People's "YMCA" played.
• Trump Announces Funding for Board of Peace — During the meeting of the Board of Peace, President Trump announced that the U.S. would contribute $10 billion to the initiative. However, this funding is legally questionable, as only Congress has the authority to appropriate federal funds. The announcement has raised concerns about the legality and transparency of the board's operations.

Supporting reports

• Trump invokes Defense Production Act to mandate domestic elemental phosphorus and glyphosate production, delegating authority to Secretary of Agriculture. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14387 on February 18, 2026, invoking the Defense Production Act of 1950 to designate elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides as critical to national defense. The order delegates authority to the Secretary of Agriculture to allocate materials, set nationwide priorities, and issue orders ensuring adequate domestic supply. The EO shields domestic producers from corporate viability risk and grants them immunity under the Act. The order cites phosphorus's role in military devices, semiconductors, and batteries, and glyphosate's role in agricultural productivity.
• Trump issued executive order delegating Defense Production Act authority to Secretary of Agriculture to ensure domestic supply of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides — President Donald Trump issued an executive order on February 18, 2026, invoking the Defense Production Act to delegate authority to the Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize and allocate materials, services, and facilities to ensure adequate domestic supply of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides. The order designates these substances as critical to national defense and agricultural productivity, citing their use in military devices, semiconductors, lithium-ion batteries, and crop protection. The Secretary is directed to issue orders and regulations ensuring domestic producers' corporate viability is not jeopardized.
• Trump signed executive order invoking Defense Production Act to ensure domestic supply of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides — President Trump signed an executive order on February 18, 2026, invoking the Defense Production Act of 1950 to designate elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides as critical to national defense. The order delegates authority to the Secretary of Agriculture to allocate materials and prioritize domestic production, stating that the U.S. imports over 6 million kilograms of elemental phosphorus annually and has only one domestic producer. The order directs the Secretary to ensure domestic producer viability and grants immunity to compliant producers under section 707 of the Act.
• White House issued fact sheet on Defense Production Act order for phosphorus and herbicide supply chains — The White House published a fact sheet on February 18, 2026, describing an executive order signed by President Trump that day invoking the Defense Production Act to mobilize domestic production of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides. The order delegates Defense Production Act authority to the Secretary of Agriculture to allocate materials and ensure supply continuity, framing both substances as critical to military readiness and food security. The fact sheet states the order directs the Secretary of Agriculture to issue implementing regulations in consultation with the Secretary of War.
• Trump administration issued executive order to ramp up domestic glyphosate production — The Trump administration announced an executive order aimed at spurring domestic production of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup weedkiller. The move immediately provoked backlash from supporters of RFK Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement, who had been promised health reform. RFK Jr., now Health Secretary, had previously campaigned against glyphosate as a carcinogen and promised to ban its use as a desiccant on wheat. Despite the contradiction, Kennedy issued a statement supporting the president's decision. MAHA activists and advocates expressed outrage, viewing the order as a betrayal of the movement's core health agenda and a gift to the pesticide industry.
• Trump executive order provides legal protections for glyphosate manufacturers — Trump issued an executive order expected to provide legal protections for chemical manufacturers tied to glyphosate-based products as he seeks to increase production of the chemical found in weed killers. The move contradicts RFK Jr.'s stated position one month prior that glyphosate causes cancer. RFK Jr. is now supporting Trump's action despite his earlier public statements on the carcinogenic properties of the chemical.

Supporting reports

• Trump announces intent to change voting laws by executive action — Trump's social media account announced that he intends to change the nation's voting laws unilaterally, stating he will present "an irrefutable" legal argument for voter ID and citizenship requirements and that "There will be Voter I.D. for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not!" He also called for an end to mail-in ballots except for military, disability, illness, or travel.

Supporting reports

• OMB director diverted USAID appropriations to personal security detail — Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought took $15 million in unlawfully impounded money that Congress had appropriated for the U.S. Agency for International Development—funds designated to feed starving children—and redirected it to his own security detail, according to Reuters reporting citing documents.

Supporting reports

• Trump signals potential executive order on voting and voter ID requirements — On February 13, 2026, Trump posted on social media that he would present "irrefutable" legal arguments for an executive order on voting, stating "There will be voter I.D. for the midterm elections whether approved by Congress or not." This statement indicates Trump's willingness to impose voting changes unilaterally, bypassing congressional authority. However, in late February, Trump appeared to cool on the specific draft order Ticktin has been promoting, instead focusing on pressuring the Senate to pass the Save America Act, which mandates proof of citizenship and restricts mail-in voting and machine use.
• Trump threatened executive order to take over elections from states — Trump issued a post threatening to take over elections from the states by executive order if the SAVE Act is not passed by Congress. He stated: "We cannot let the Democrats get away with no voter ID any longer" and "If we can't get it through Congress, there are Legal reasons why this SCAM is not permitted. I will be presenting them shortly., in the form of an Executive Order."

Supporting reports

• Secretary Noem contradicted by ICE and CBP on domestic terrorism designation — During Senate hearings, Border Patrol Commissioner Rodney Scott and ICE Director Lyons both denied that they had provided Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem with an assessment that Alex Pretti was engaged in domestic terrorism. However, Noem had repeatedly stated publicly that she only referred to Pretti as a domestic terrorist because that is what ICE and CBP told her. The contradiction suggests Noem may have misrepresented the basis for her characterization.
• Sen. Gary Peters questioned whether Noem was told Pretti was domestic terrorist — Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) asked Border Patrol Commissioner Rodney Scott and ICE Director Lyons whether they had provided Secretary Noem with an assessment that Alex Pretti was engaged in domestic terrorism. Both officials answered no. Peters then asked how Noem could possibly have come to that conclusion to tell the American public, and Scott responded that he could not speculate on what someone else would say or why.
• Wall Street Journal reports chaos at DHS under Noem and Lewandowski — Wall Street Journal reporters Michelle Hackman, Josh Dawsey, and Tarini Parti published an investigation describing the Department of Homeland Security as in chaos under Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her advisor Corey Lewandowski. The reporters documented that Noem and Lewandowski are using DHS for personal aggrandizement with an eye to elevating Noem to the presidency, including focus on image, firing or demoting 80% of career field leadership, apparent steering of contracts to allies, and excessive demands including a luxury 737 MAX jet for their travel. DHS is currently leasing the $70 million plane and is in the process of buying it.
• Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski misused DHS resources for personal and political purposes — Wall Street Journal reporting revealed that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and her adviser Corey Lewandowski used departmental resources for personal and political benefit, including using a luxury 737 MAX jet (being acquired for approximately $70 million) for travel, firing a U.S. Coast Guard pilot over a blanket left on a plane, and attempting to obtain law-enforcement badges and guns for political appointees without proper training. The reporting also documented their public denial of an alleged affair while showing little effort to hide their relationship within the department.
• Coast Guard pilot fired over Kristi Noem's blanket, later reinstated — According to a Wall Street Journal report, a U.S. Coast Guard pilot was fired by Corey Lewandowski, described as Kristi Noem's close adviser, after Noem's personal blanket was left behind on a plane. The pilot was later reinstated because no one else was available to fly the leadership home. The incident reflects broader politicization and culture of intimidation within the Department of Homeland Security.
• DHS pushes for political appointees to receive federal badges and weapons — According to a Wall Street Journal report, Kristi Noem's close adviser Corey Lewandowski pushed for political appointees to receive federal badges and weapons. The moves alarmed career officials and deepened concerns about the politicization of law enforcement within the Department of Homeland Security.

Supporting reports

• DOJ established controlled in-person review system for congressional Epstein files access — The Department of Justice opened an in-person review facility in Washington on February 9, 2026, allowing members of Congress to search unredacted Epstein records under tight controls on access and note-taking. This was the sole mechanism established for congressional review of unredacted files following passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act in late 2025, which required DOJ to release unclassified Epstein-related records. The DOJ controlled all variables of the review process, including which files could be accessed, how searches were conducted, and what records were kept of congressional activity.
• DOJ tracked congressional searches in Epstein files review system — Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared at a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on February 11, 2026, carrying a printed document labeled "Jayapal Pramila Search History" that detailed Rep. Pramila Jayapal's searches within the DOJ's controlled, members-only review system for unredacted Epstein records. A Reuters photographer captured the document. The DOJ had established the in-person review system on February 9, 2026, as the sole mechanism for congressional access to unredacted Epstein files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The revelation suggests the DOJ monitored lawmakers' investigative activity and used that intelligence during the oversight hearing itself.
• DOJ surveilled House member's access to Epstein files — During Attorney General Bondi's testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, a photograph captured by Reuters showed a page of Bondi's briefing book with a printout titled "Jayapal Pramila Search History," appearing to be files showing what Representative Pramila Jayapal accessed after the DOJ made some Epstein files available at DOJ offices. This represents executive branch surveillance of a legislative branch member's document access. Representative Jamie Raskin, top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said he will ask for an investigation of this "outrageous abuse of power."
• Ranking Member Raskin requested DOJ Inspector General investigation into congressional surveillance — House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin formally requested that the DOJ Inspector General investigate the DOJ's apparent surveillance of lawmakers' searches in the Epstein files review system. Raskin stated he had "reason to believe that it was happening to everyone," not just Rep. Jayapal. He also called for the DOJ to immediately stop tracking member searches, open Epstein file review to senior congressional staff, and publicly release all remaining files with only survivor information properly redacted.
• Rep. Jayapal organized formal congressional letter demanding investigation into surveillance — Rep. Pramila Jayapal organized a formal congressional letter demanding an investigation into what she characterized as improper surveillance of Congress by the DOJ. Jayapal also raised the question of whether the DOJ's decision to open the Epstein files to congressional review two days early was intended to allow the DOJ to surveil members' searches and anticipate their questions for the oversight hearing.
• DOJ tracked congressional members' Epstein files research and displayed search records at hearing — During a House oversight hearing on Wednesday, US Attorney General Pam Bondi displayed a document titled "Jayapal Pramila Search History" showing which Epstein files Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal had accessed. The DOJ confirmed it monitors all Epstein file searches by lawmakers on its systems. Congressional members, including Jamie Raskin and Jayapal, alleged the tracking violates separation of powers and constitutes surveillance designed to anticipate questions and gather intelligence on their investigative activities.
• DOJ surveilled Congress members' search history of Epstein files — Multiple members of Congress confirmed that the Department of Justice tracked and monitored which Epstein documents members of Congress searched, opened, and reviewed, including timestamps. Rep. Pramila Jayapal reported that AG Bondi presented her with a printed search history of her email searches. Rep. Nancy Mace confirmed the DOJ was tagging all documents searched by members and that timestamps were associated with the tracking. Speaker Mike Johnson stated he was investigating the allegations.
• DOJ monitored congressional search history in Epstein files review system — Attorney General Pam Bondi carried a printed document labeled "Jayapal Pramila Search History" into a House Judiciary oversight hearing, revealing that the Department of Justice had tracked which Epstein-related files Rep. Pramila Jayapal searched within DOJ's controlled, members-only review system. The executive branch collected intelligence on the legislative branch's investigation of the executive branch. Rep. Jamie Raskin called the practice Orwellian and requested a DOJ Inspector General investigation; Rep. Jayapal is organizing a congressional letter demanding answers.
• Racist video of Obamas posted on Trump's Truth Social account — A racist video depicting the Obamas as apes appeared on President Trump's official Truth Social account. The video was removed, but Trump refused to apologize and claimed a staffer posted it without review. The incident occurred on an official presidential account.

Supporting reports

• Trump Proposes "Federalizing" Elections in 15 States — Former President Trump has proposed "federalizing" elections in 15 states, a move that is considered unconstitutional and illegal. This proposal has sparked concerns about federal overreach and the potential undermining of state-controlled election processes. Advocacy groups are mobilizing to resist this effort and protect state election autonomy.
• FBI sent email to state election administrators inviting them to federal coordination meeting, triggering concerns about federal election interference — The FBI's Election Executive Kellie Hardiman sent a routine-appearing email to state election administrators inviting them to a call to discuss election cycle preparations. Multiple secretaries of state, both Democratic and Republican, interpreted the outreach as threatening given recent federal actions: the FBI's seizure of 2020 election materials in Georgia and Trump's stated desire to "nationalize" elections, a power reserved to states under the Constitution. Election officials reported destroyed trust in federal election authorities and expressed concern that federal officials may be attempting to rig elections themselves. Several officials indicated they may not attend the scheduled February 25 meeting out of fear their information could be weaponized against them.
• Trump announced desire to "nationalize" elections and created standing White House working group to investigate past elections and reform future processes — Trump has stated his intention to "nationalize" elections, a power constitutionally reserved to states. Inside the White House, he established a standing working group that meets regularly to coordinate federal efforts to investigate past elections and reform future election processes. Trump has also called for greater use of voter identification, a ban on mail voting, and prohibition on certain voting equipment types. He has stated he will accept election results only "if the elections are honest" and mused that "we shouldn't even have an election" given typical midterm losses for the sitting president's party.