Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Multiple international tourists detained by ICE under expanded enforcement — Between January and July 2025, at least six international tourists were detained by ICE: German tourist Jessica Brösche (45 days, including 8 days solitary confinement, 25 January); Germans Lucas Sielaff and Fabian Schmidt (early February); British backpacker Rebecca Burke (19 days, late February); Canadian actor Jasmine Mooney (two weeks, March); and New Zealander Sarah Shaw and her six-year-old son (three weeks, July). Most were detained on suspicion of working without proper visas, though several had valid documentation. These cases represent a pattern of ICE detaining tourists and travelers under Trump's expanded enforcement directives.
• US tourism revenue declines $12.5 billion due to ICE detention crackdown — International tourism to the US declined sharply in 2025 following Trump's immigration enforcement crackdown. The US experienced 4.5 million fewer visits from international travelers; visits from Canada dropped 22%, from Germany 11%, and from the UK 15%. The World Travel & Tourism Council estimated the decline cost the US $12.5 billion in lost revenue. The decline reflects both the direct impact of high-profile detentions of tourists and the broader chilling effect of ICE's aggressive enforcement posture on international travel decisions.

Supporting reports

• 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

• Fifth Circuit lifts injunction on Louisiana Ten Commandments classroom display law — The US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals voted 12-6 to lift a preliminary injunction blocking Louisiana's law requiring poster-sized displays of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. The majority found it premature to decide constitutionality before implementation, citing insufficient facts about display prominence and classroom context. The law, passed in 2024, now proceeds to enforcement despite ongoing constitutional challenges from parents and civil rights groups arguing it violates First Amendment protections against government establishment of religion.

Supporting reports

• Trump demanded Netflix fire Susan Rice — Trump posted on Truth Social demanding that Netflix immediately fire Susan Rice, calling her a "racist, Trump Deranged" political hack with "no talent or skills" and threatening consequences if the company did not comply. Trump questioned her compensation and role at the company.
• Trump threatens Netflix over Susan Rice board membership — On Truth Social, Trump warned Netflix that if it does not fire board member and former Obama national security adviser Susan Rice—who had cautioned corporations and news organizations against capitulating to the current administration—the streaming service will "pay the consequences." The threat came as Netflix was negotiating to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal requiring FCC approval. Netflix subsequently withdrew from the acquisition.

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

• ICE detention of toddler during traffic stop in Shoreline, Washington — Federal ICE agents conducted an enforcement operation in Shoreline, Washington, detaining Ivan Guzman, a Mexican immigrant father and cook, during a routine drive to drop his two-year-old son at daycare. Armed and masked agents surrounded Guzman's vehicle with four unmarked cars at a busy intersection. The child remained in an ICE vehicle for more than thirty minutes while agents waited for the mother to arrive, causing the toddler to panic and cry. Community advocates documented the incident and gathered evidence while attempting to support the separated child.
• Trump administration expands immigration enforcement crackdown across US cities and towns — The Trump administration has expanded its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations nationwide, conducting raids in major cities including Los Angeles and Chicago during summer 2025 and continuing enforcement actions into early 2026. The crackdown has prompted grassroots community organizing, including the distribution of whistles as alert systems to warn neighbors of ICE presence. Documented incidents include the detention of a Mexican immigrant father during a traffic stop in Washington state, with his toddler left in an ICE vehicle, and multiple arrests at busy intersections and during routine activities.

Supporting reports

• House Republicans passed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act restricting voting — Republicans in the House passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which dramatically restricts voting under the guise of election security. Trump promoted the legislation in Georgia, claiming it would ensure Republicans "never lose a race" for 50 years. The law addresses a nonexistent problem of voter fraud while substantially narrowing voting access and eligibility.

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

• Supreme Court strikes down IEEPA tariffs as unconstitutional — The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the President to impose tariffs without explicit congressional approval. Chief Justice Roberts wrote that the statute contains no mention of tariffs or duties and that the Constitution assigns taxing power to Congress. The decision invoked the major questions doctrine, holding that powers of vast economic significance require clear statutory language. Justices Gorsuch and Barrett joined Roberts's lead opinion; Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson joined the core holding, with Kagan writing separately on statutory interpretation grounds.
• Media Invitation Announced for United States v. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad et al. Pre-Trial Hearing — The Department of War published an advisory on 2026-02-20 through its advisories channel. The department's own account of it reads: "The War Department invites media to cover pretrial proceedings in the case of United States v. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarek Bin 'Attash, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, scheduled for May 4 - 29, 2026."
• Supreme Court strikes down Trump tariffs; CBP ordered to process $166bn in refunds — The Supreme Court invalidated Trump's "liberation day" tariffs issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, ruling he lacked legal authority. A federal judge ordered US Customs and Border Protection to process refunds to approximately 330,000 importers totaling an estimated $166 billion without requiring lawsuits. CBP filed notice it would establish a refund system within 45 days using existing liquidation procedures. The ruling resolved a core constitutional question about executive power but left implementation details to lower courts and agency discretion.
• US Supreme Court strikes down Trump's "liberation day" tariffs as illegal — On 20 February 2026, the US Supreme Court ruled that President Trump's sweeping tariffs imposed in April 2025 were illegal. The decision opened the door to an estimated $175 billion in refund claims from businesses across the country. Major companies including FedEx, L'Oreal, and Dyson have already filed lawsuits seeking refunds. The ruling has triggered a surge in demand for trade lawyers and created opportunities for hedge funds and AI firms to profit from the refund process.
• US Supreme Court strikes down Trump's global tariffs — The US Supreme Court ruled on 20 February 2026 that President Trump exceeded his authority in imposing far-reaching global tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The court found the tariffs unlawful but did not address whether the Trump administration must repay an estimated $133 billion in collected tariffs, leaving the refund question to lower courts. Trump immediately signaled intent to reintroduce tariffs via alternative legal authority.
• Former South Korean President Sentenced to Life in Prison — The Seoul Central District Court sentenced former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to life in prison for leading an insurrection against the government. Yoon had declared martial law in December 2024, attempting to block the National Assembly and arrest opposition politicians. His actions were deemed unconstitutional, leading to his impeachment and removal from office. The court considered his age and lack of lethal force in its sentencing.
• Supreme Court ruled Trump's tariffs unconstitutional — On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court declared President Trump's tariffs unconstitutional. Following this ruling, Trump claimed the right to impose tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which authorizes tariffs to address "large and serious balance-of-payments deficits." Trump was the first president to invoke this provision, and his use of it has already been challenged in court.
• U.S. Supreme Court strikes down Trump's IEEPA tariffs as unconstitutional in 6–3 decision — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that President Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, imposed under emergency declarations citing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), violated the Constitution. Trump had declared national emergencies regarding drug influx and trade deficits to justify sweeping tariff increases that upended post-World War II free trade principles. The Court found that Congress alone holds constitutional authority to tax Americans, and that Trump's tariff authority under IEEPA did not extend to the broad economic restructuring he imposed. The ruling invalidated tariffs that had cost American households an estimated $1,000–$1,700 in 2025 and slowed economic growth to 1.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
• Supreme Court invalidates tariff authority under IEEPA — The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the President to impose tariffs. Chief Justice Roberts wrote that IEEPA contains no reference to tariffs or duties and that no prior president had claimed such power. Justices Barrett, Gorsuch, Jackson, Kagan, and Sotomayor joined the majority. Justices Kavanaugh, Alito, and Thomas dissented, arguing that IEEPA's language and historical practice supported tariff authority.
• Supreme Court invalidates tariff authority under International Emergency Economic Powers Act — The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the President to impose tariffs. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that IEEPA contains no reference to tariffs or duties and that no prior president had interpreted it to confer such power. The majority (Roberts, Barrett, Gorsuch, Jackson, Kagan, Sotomayor) rejected the government's tariff authority. Justices Kavanaugh, Alito, and Thomas dissented, arguing IEEPA clearly authorizes tariff imposition as a means of regulating importation.
• Supreme Court ruled against Trump's use of IEEPA to impose tariffs — The Supreme Court issued a decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump on February 20, 2026, ruling 6–3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the President to impose tariffs. Chief Justice Roberts wrote that IEEPA contains no reference to tariffs or duties and that no prior president had interpreted it to confer such power. Justices Kavanaugh, Alito, and Thomas dissented, arguing IEEPA clearly authorized tariff authority.
• Supreme Court rules IEEPA does not authorize presidential tariff authority — On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, ruling 6–3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not grant the President authority to impose tariffs. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that "IEEPA contains no reference to tariffs or duties" and that no President had previously read IEEPA to confer such power. Justices Kavanaugh, Alito, and Thomas dissented. The majority included Roberts, Barrett, Gorsuch, Jackson, Kagan, and Sotomayor.
• Supreme Court rules IEEPA does not authorize presidential tariff power — On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6–3 decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, holding that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not grant the President authority to impose tariffs or duties. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that IEEPA contains no reference to tariffs and that no President had previously claimed such power under the statute. Justices Barrett, Gorsuch, Jackson, Kagan, and Sotomayor joined the majority. Justices Kavanaugh, Alito, and Thomas dissented, arguing that IEEPA's language and historical practice supported presidential tariff authority.
• Supreme Court rules IEEPA does not authorize tariff authority — The Supreme Court issued a decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump on February 20, 2026, ruling 6–3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not grant the President authority to impose tariffs or duties. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that "IEEPA contains no reference to tariffs or duties" and that no President had previously interpreted the statute to confer such power. Justices Kavanaugh, Alito, and Thomas dissented, arguing a long tradition of presidential tariff authority supported the opposite reading.
• Supreme Court rules IEEPA does not authorize tariff power — The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not grant the President authority to impose tariffs. Chief Justice Roberts wrote that IEEPA contains no reference to tariffs or duties and that no President had previously claimed such power under the statute. Justices Kavanaugh, Alito, and Thomas dissented, arguing a long tradition of presidential tariff authority and that IEEPA clearly authorized the power. The ruling invalidated tariffs imposed under IEEPA authority.
• Supreme Court rules IEEPA does not authorize tariffs — On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6–3 decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, holding that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not grant the President authority to impose tariffs. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that "IEEPA contains no reference to tariffs or duties" and that no President had previously interpreted the statute to confer such power. Justices Barrett, Gorsuch, Jackson, Kagan, and Sotomayor joined Roberts. Justices Kavanaugh, Alito, and Thomas dissented, with Kavanaugh arguing that IEEPA's language and historical practice supported presidential tariff authority.
• Supreme Court ruled Trump cannot use emergency powers to impose tariffs — The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not grant the President authority to impose tariffs. Chief Justice Roberts wrote that IEEPA contains no reference to tariffs or duties and that no prior president had claimed such power. Justices Barrett, Gorsuch, Jackson, Kagan, and Sotomayor joined the majority. Justices Kavanaugh, Alito, and Thomas dissented, arguing IEEPA's language and historical practice supported tariff authority.
• Solicitor General granted amicus participation and divided argument in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II — On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, ruling 6–3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not grant the President authority to impose tariffs. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that "IEEPA contains no reference to tariffs or duties" and that no President had previously interpreted the statute to confer such power. Justices Kavanaugh, Alito, and Thomas dissented, arguing that IEEPA clearly authorizes tariff imposition as a means of regulating importation and commerce.
• Supreme Court releases opinion in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump (24-1287) — On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, holding that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not grant the President authority to impose tariffs. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that IEEPA contains no reference to tariffs or duties and that no President had previously claimed such power. Justices Kavanaugh, Alito, and Thomas dissented, arguing a long tradition of presidential tariff authority. The ruling invalidated tariffs imposed under IEEPA authority.
• — On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a 6–3 decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, ruling that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the President to impose tariffs or duties. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that "IEEPA contains no reference to tariffs or duties" and that "until now, no President has read IEEPA to confer such power." Justices Barrett, Gorsuch, Jackson, Kagan, and Sotomayor joined Roberts; Justices Kavanaugh, Alito, and Thomas dissented.
• — The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump on February 20, 2026, ruling that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not grant the President authority to impose tariffs. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that IEEPA contains no reference to tariffs or duties and that no prior president had interpreted the statute to confer such power. Justices Barrett, Gorsuch, Jackson, Kagan, and Sotomayor joined the majority. Justices Kavanaugh, Alito, and Thomas dissented, arguing that IEEPA's language and historical practice supported tariff authority.
• — The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump (February 20, 2026) that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not grant the President authority to impose tariffs. Chief Justice Roberts wrote that IEEPA contains no reference to tariffs and no President had previously read it to confer such power. Justices Barrett, Gorsuch, Jackson, Kagan, and Sotomayor joined the majority; Kavanaugh, Alito, and Thomas dissented.
• — In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump cannot use emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs. Justices Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, and Clarence Thomas dissented, arguing that the statute grants sufficient authority for tariff imposition. The ruling represents the Court's most significant rebuke of the Trump administration since his return to office.
• — The Supreme Court granted the Solicitor General's motion to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and to conduct divided argument in the pending case Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, et al. (Docket 24-1238). This procedural grant permits the federal government to present oral argument alongside the parties and allows argument time to be divided among multiple speakers.
• — The Supreme Court released an official slip opinion in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump. Docket number(s): 24-1287.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed: City of Fresno v. Noem (N.D. Cal.) — A coalition of eleven California and Oregon cities and counties filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California challenging executive orders and departmental memoranda that condition federal grants on certifications that recipients do not operate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) or "gender ideology" programs and will cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Plaintiffs allege the conditions are unauthorized, vague, and force an impossible choice between forfeiting millions in disaster mitigation and victim-services funding or accepting legal jeopardy. The complaint asserts violations of the Separation of Powers Doctrine, Spending Clause, Tenth Amendment, Fifth Amendment void-for-vagueness doctrine, and the Administrative Procedure Act, and seeks declaratory and injunctive relief.

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• Oversight Chair James Comer declined to hold hearings on Trump-Epstein connection — House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer appeared on Fox News and stated there is no need for his committee to hold hearings on Trump's connection to Jeffrey Epstein, claiming that "millions of documents that have been released" show that "Trump is completely exonerated in the whole Epstein saga." Democratic members of the Oversight Committee responded that "the cover up continues, this couldn't be farther from the truth."

Supporting reports

• Trump illegally previewed GDP data before official release — Before the official release of GDP data, Trump illegally previewed the numbers and attempted to shift blame for disappointing results. Senior economic adviser Kevin Hassett later attributed the slowdown to Democrats, claiming the government shutdown shaved two points off growth and suggesting the true trajectory was closer to 3 percent.

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

• DHS memo authorizes ICE detention of legal refugees for "rescreening" — The Department of Homeland Security issued a memo authorizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest and indefinitely detain legal refugees already admitted to the US who have not yet obtained permanent residence (green cards), subjecting them to intensive interviews and background checks while in custody. The policy reverses a 2010 Obama-era guidance and directly contradicts a federal judge's recent order blocking such arrests in Minnesota. The memo claims conditional admission and mandatory one-year review compel detention authority.

Supporting reports

• Border Patrol abandonment and death of Rohingya refugee Nurul Shah Alam ruled homicide — Nurul Shah Alam, a nearly blind 56-year-old Rohingya refugee, was arrested on 15 February after wandering into a residential backyard in Buffalo, New York. After pleading guilty to reduced charges on 9 February 2026, he was released from Erie County custody on 19 February. US Customs and Border Protection agents assumed custody without notifying his family or attorneys, then dropped him alone at a closed Tim Hortons at 8:18 pm in below-freezing temperatures wearing only detention booties. His body was found four miles away on 24 February. On 1 April, the Erie County medical examiner ruled his death a homicide, citing complications from a perforated duodenal ulcer precipitated by hypothermia and dehydration.
• Border patrol agents abandoned nearly blind refugee, found dead days later — Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a 56-year-old nearly blind Burmese refugee, was dropped off by US border patrol agents at a Tim Hortons approximately five miles from his home on February 19, 2026, following his release from Erie County holding center. Neither his attorney nor family were notified of his release or location. Shah Alam was found dead in Buffalo on February 25. Homicide detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death and the events leading to his abandonment.
• Border Patrol dropped blind refugee miles from home without notification — On February 19, Border Patrol agents dropped Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a nearly blind legal refugee from genocide in Myanmar who spoke no English and could not read, write, or use electronic devices, miles from his home in Buffalo, New York. Agents did not notify his lawyer or family of the drop-off. When his family filed a missing persons report, police believed Shah Alam was still with Border Patrol and closed the file. He was found dead on the street on February 24. A Customs and Border Protection spokesperson claimed agents had offered Shah Alam a "courtesy ride" to a coffee shop near his last known address and that he "showed no signs of distress, mobility issues or disabilities requiring special assistance."

Supporting reports

• Judge Provinzino held government attorney in civil contempt — U.S. District Judge Laura Provinzino held a military lawyer on special assignment with the Department of Justice in civil contempt for failing to comply with her court order in a habeas case. ICE had released a detainee in Texas without returning identification documents, including a Minnesota driver's license and Mexican consular ID. The attorney acknowledged the office was overwhelmed and "the ball was dropped." The contempt finding carried a $500-per-day enforcement mechanism until compliance, which was lifted after documents were returned.
• U.S. Attorney called contempt ruling "lawless abuse of judicial power" — Following Judge Provinzino's contempt finding against a government attorney, the U.S. Attorney's office responded by characterizing the ruling as "a lawless abuse of judicial power," representing an executive branch rejection of judicial authority and enforcement mechanisms.

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

• DOJ intervenes in lawsuit challenging LA school district's race-conscious resource allocation — The Trump administration's Department of Justice, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, filed to intervene in a lawsuit brought by the conservative 1776 Project Foundation against the Los Angeles Unified School District. The suit challenges LAUSD's decades-old practice of designating schools with 70%+ non-white enrollment as PHBAO schools and providing them additional resources including smaller class sizes and enhanced parent engagement. The DOJ's civil rights division argued the policy constitutes racial discrimination against white students and violates equal protection principles.
• Justice Department intervened in lawsuit challenging LAUSD racial classification program — The Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division announced it sought intervention in a federal lawsuit against the Los Angeles Unified School District, challenging the PHBAO (Predominately Hispanic, Black, Asian, and Other) Program. The program classifies students by race and neighborhood racial composition to determine school funding and magnet school admissions. The DOJ complaint alleges the program provides extra funding and admissions preferences to schools serving predominantly non-White populations, treating attendance at such schools as equivalent to attending an overcrowded school. The case was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

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

• EPA Rescission of 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding and Repeal of Motor Vehicle GHG Emission Standards — The Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule rescinding the 2009 Endangerment Finding for greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles and engines and repealing all associated GHG emission standards for light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicles and engines under Clean Air Act section 202(a)(1). The EPA concluded that the statute does not authorize regulation of GHG emissions based on global climate change concerns, that the major questions doctrine bars such authority, and that GHG standards are futile in addressing identified climate risks. The rule eliminates all GHG measurement, reporting, and compliance obligations for manufacturers of model years 2012 and beyond, effective April 20, 2026.

Supporting reports

• New Jersey federal judge orders Trump administration to explain non-compliance with court orders — US District Judge Michael Farbiarz in New Jersey ordered the Trump administration to explain what procedures are in place to ensure court orders in his district are followed consistently and on time. Farbiarz found that Trump officials failed to meet court-ordered deadlines for bond hearings in immigration court in 12 of roughly 550 cases since December 5, 2025. The judge stated that "Judicial orders should never be violated."
• Federal judge Sykes rules Trump administration violating detention law and contempt of court orders — US District Judge Sunshine Sykes in Riverside, California issued a scathing decision accusing the Trump administration of terrorizing immigrants and recklessly violating federal law through mass deportations and mandatory detention policies. Sykes found the administration had violated her December ruling requiring detainees receive notice of bond eligibility and phone access to attorneys within one hour. She also threw out a September immigration court ruling the administration had cited to justify mandatory detention. The judge noted the administration's failure to comply with multiple court orders nationwide, citing killings of two US citizens (Renée Good and Alex Pretti) by ICE and border patrol during protests in Minnesota.
• Minnesota federal judge finds Trump administration lawyer in contempt of court — A federal judge in Minnesota found a Trump administration lawyer in contempt of court on Wednesday for the government's failure to comply with an order to return identification documents to an immigrant the judge had ordered released. This represents a rare judicial sanction against the administration for non-compliance with court orders in immigration cases.
• Trump administration reverses bond hearing access for detained immigrants — The Trump administration reversed the longstanding practice under past administrations that allowed people with no criminal record to request bond hearings before an immigration judge while their cases proceeded through immigration court. With access to bond hearings cut off, immigrants by the thousands have filed separate petitions in federal court seeking release. More than 20,000 habeas corpus cases have been filed since Trump's inauguration, according to federal court records analyzed by the Associated Press.

Supporting reports

• Judge declares mistrial in Texas ICE protest terrorism case over defense attorney's civil rights shirt — US District Judge Mark Pittman, a Trump appointee, declared a mistrial in a federal case against nine protesters charged with terrorism for a July 4 demonstration at an ICE detention facility near Fort Worth. Pittam halted jury selection after defense attorney MarQuetta Clayton wore a shirt displaying civil rights movement imagery, claiming it could bias jurors. Clayton had been visible in court all day before Pittman intervened only when she began questioning potential jurors. The mistrial requires a complete restart with a new jury panel.

Supporting reports

• Environmental groups sue EPA over revocation of endangerment finding — More than a dozen health and environmental organizations, including the American Public Health Association, American Lung Association, and Sierra Club, filed a lawsuit in Washington DC circuit court challenging the EPA's revocation of the "endangerment finding"—the legal determination that greenhouse gas buildup endangers public health and has underpinned federal climate regulations since 2009. The rollback also eliminated vehicle emission safeguards. Trump called it "the single largest deregulatory action in American history." A separate petition was filed by 18 young people challenging the same rescission on constitutional grounds.

Supporting reports

• Infant Hospitalized at Dilley Detention Facility with Bronchitis — A 2-month-old child held at the Dilley, Texas ICE detention facility was rushed to the hospital Monday night after falling ill. The infant was discharged with a diagnosis of bronchitis and returned to the detention facility. The incident is part of a pattern of medical emergencies and deaths reported in ICE detention facilities in recent years.
• Two-month-old infant detained in ICE private prison facility experiences respiratory illness — A two-month-old boy named Juan Nicolás was held in a CoreCivic private detention facility in Dilley, Texas, where he developed respiratory illness while in ICE custody. The child spent more than three weeks of his two-month life in the private prison, which bills the federal government for detaining infants. Conditions at the facility included recent measles exposure, difficulty obtaining clean water for formula, and limited medical care until the child's condition deteriorated sufficiently to warrant ambulance transport. Juan Nicolás was later discharged from the hospital and returned to ICE detention with a diagnosis of bronchitis.
• Two-month-old infant deported from ICE detention facility after hospitalization — Juan Nicolás, a two-month-old infant, was detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas for approximately three and a half weeks. He was hospitalized for bronchitis and serious respiratory illness, discharged, returned to detention, and deported to Mexico with his family the same day, according to U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro. The family was deported with only $190 from their detention commissary account.
• Two-month-old Juan Nicolás deported from ICE detention after hospitalization — Juan Nicolás, a two-month-old infant, spent approximately 3.5 weeks detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas. He was hospitalized for bronchitis and serious respiratory illness, discharged, returned to detention, and deported to Mexico with his family on the same day of his discharge. According to Rep. Joaquin Castro, the entire family was abandoned across the border with $190 in total funds provided by ICE.