Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Death of Geraldo Lunas Campos at Camp East Montana ICE detention facility — Geraldo Lunas Campos, 55, a Cuban immigrant, died at Camp East Montana on 3 January during what ICE described as a medical emergency while he was "disruptive while in line for medication." A medical examiner determined preliminary cause of death was asphyxia from neck and chest compression. A detained witness reported seeing five guards choking Campos and hearing him repeatedly say he could not breathe. DHS later claimed Campos attempted suicide and "violently resisted" officers, an allegation not in ICE's initial statement.
• Medical examiner finds asphyxia in ICE detainee death; homicide investigation possible — Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban migrant held at Camp East Montana (Fort Bliss, Texas) under ICE custody since July 2025, died on January 3, 2026. The El Paso county medical examiner reportedly determined the preliminary cause of death was "asphyxia due to neck and chest compression" and indicated the death would be classified as a homicide pending toxicology results. ICE initially claimed he died from "medical distress"; DHS later claimed he attempted suicide and "violently resisted" officers. Witness accounts describe guards choking Lunas Campos as he stated he could not breathe.
• Texas ICE detainee dies in custody ruled likely homicide — On January 3, 2026, a Texas detainee died in ICE custody in what a medical examiner is likely to rule a homicide, according to The Washington Post. The death occurred during ongoing ICE enforcement operations across American cities.
• Geraldo Lunas Campos died in ICE custody following restraint — On January 3, 2026, Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban national legally admitted to the U.S. in 1996, died at Camp East Montana detention facility in El Paso, Texas. ICE initially attributed his death to "medical distress," but the Washington Post reported that El Paso County's Medical Examiner indicated the death would likely be classified as homicide, with preliminary cause listed as asphyxia due to neck and chest compression. An eyewitness detainee reported observing at least five guards restraining Lunas Campos and heard him repeatedly state "No puedo respirar" (I can't breathe). DHS subsequently claimed Lunas Campos attempted self-harm and violently resisted staff.

Supporting reports

• Alina Habba resigns as New Jersey U.S. attorney after appeals court disqualification — Alina Habba became the first of Trump's unlawful appointments to resign after an appeals court disqualified her from serving as New Jersey's top federal prosecutor. Her resignation clears the way for judges in the federal district to select a new U.S. attorney. Habba's departure follows successful legal challenges to other Trump appointees who were placed in office through temporary appointments that bypassed Senate confirmation.
• Challenges to Trump's unlawful U.S. attorney appointments succeed; Lindsey Halligan defeated — Defendants successfully challenged several of Trump's temporary U.S. attorney appointments made to circumvent Senate confirmation. Most notably, former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James succeeded in challenging Lindsey Halligan, whom Trump had appointed to bring criminal cases against them. These legal victories demonstrate that courts are willing to invalidate Trump's unlawful appointments of loyalists to key federal prosecutor positions.
• Judge ruled Trump's acting U.S. attorney holds office unlawfully — U.S. District Judge Lorna Schofield ruled that John Sarcone, Trump's temporary nominee as acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York, does not hold that position lawfully. Trump ignored the law to keep his loyalists in control of key Department of Justice offices. Although judges have said five of Trump-appointed U.S. attorneys are in office illegally, at least three have refused to step down.
• Federal judge removes Trump-appointed U.S. attorney for unlawful appointment — Ex-Trump campaign lawyer John Sarcone has been disqualified from investigating New York Attorney General Letitia James because he was unlawfully appointed. Sarcone is the fifth Trump-installed U.S. attorney to be removed by a federal judge for similar appointment violations.

Supporting reports

• D.C. Circuit Appeals Court pauses Boasberg contempt probe and questions judicial authority — Trump appointees on the D.C. Circuit Appeals Court paused Judge Boasberg's contempt investigation last month and introduced a question about whether he has the power to investigate potential contempt or whether he must refer it to the DOJ. Former DOJ officials and legal experts have warned that this line of questioning could create a loophole through which the president and his subordinates can ignore court orders without fear of being held in contempt, as the DOJ would almost certainly ignore such referrals.
• Judge Boasberg investigates Trump officials for contempt of court — U.S. District Judge James Boasberg is investigating whether Trump officials deliberately ignored court orders blocking flights of hundreds of people to a notorious Salvadoran megaprison. This is the first criminal contempt inquiry against the second Trump administration. The investigation is significant because it tests courts' inherent authority to investigate and punish contempt of court orders.

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• Supreme Court considers Trump's dismissal of FTC Democratic commissioner — The Supreme Court is considering whether to formally uphold Trump's arbitrary dismissal of the last remaining Democratic commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission. In oral arguments last month, the Court's Republican-appointed majority appeared poised to side with Trump. However, the conservative justices raised questions about "limits" on executive control without articulating a clear vision of what those limits might be. At stake is a 90-year-old landmark Supreme Court case that allowed Congress to protect certain federal officials from arbitrary dismissals.

Supporting reports

• Wisconsin judge resigns following impeachment threats — Wisconsin circuit judge Hannah Dugan resigned from her post on January 3 following threats from state Republicans to impeach her after she was found guilty last month of obstruction after being accused of misdirecting federal agents to help an immigrant evade arrest in her courthouse. In her resignation letter to Governor Tony Evers, Dugan warned that the "unprecedented federal legal proceedings" against her "threaten the independence of our judiciary."
• Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan resigns after federal obstruction conviction — Judge Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee county circuit court judge, resigned on January 4, 2026, following her conviction on December 19, 2026, for obstruction of justice. She was convicted for directing ICE and FBI agents away from her courtroom while an undocumented immigrant defendant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, escaped via a private jury door. State Republicans had threatened impeachment if she did not resign. Dugan cited the need to remove the judiciary from partisan political conflict and allow Milwaukee County Branch 31 to have a permanent judge.

Supporting reports

• Department of Justice missed deadline for Epstein files justification submission to Congress — The Department of Justice failed to meet the January 3, 2026 legal deadline to submit written justification to Congress for redacted or withheld documents from the Epstein files. This deadline was established by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed overwhelmingly by Congress on November 19, 2025. The DOJ had previously missed the December 19 deadline for releasing the files themselves.
• DOJ fails to submit congressionally mandated redaction report on Epstein files — The Department of Justice failed to submit a required report to Congress detailing all redactions made to Epstein-related documents and the legal justification for each redaction. The Epstein Files Transparency Act mandated this report be submitted no later than January 3, 2026. Additionally, the DOJ has released heavily redacted documents without providing written justifications for any redactions, as required by the law and the Federal Register publication mandate.
• DOJ files court statement on Epstein Files compliance status — Justice Department attorneys filed a statement in Manhattan federal court disclosing that DOJ had posted approximately 12,285 documents (125,575 pages) to its website pursuant to the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The same filing acknowledged that DOJ staff had identified "more than 2 million documents potentially responsive to the Act that are in various phases of review," indicating the released materials represent less than 1% of potentially responsive records.
• DOJ releases less than 1% of Epstein files despite federal deadline — The Department of Justice released only 12,285 documents (125,575 pages) of more than two million potentially responsive documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, missing a federal law deadline of December 19, 2025. Attorney General Pam Bondi cited victim-protection efforts and resource constraints, stating 400 DOJ lawyers and 100 FBI analysts were working on the review. Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, accused the Trump DOJ of "lawlessness" and deliberate obstruction, noting the department had released nothing for 14 days and heavily redacted materials contained no key documents or information on alleged co-conspirators.
• Trump administration ignored deadline to release Epstein files — When Congress required the Department of Justice to release the Epstein files, the Trump administration largely ignored the law. More than two weeks after the deadline, the administration had released less than 1% of the required files.
• DOJ admits non-compliance with Epstein Files Transparency Act, 99% of files unreleased — Attorney General Pam Bondi admitted in a letter to a federal judge on January 6, 2026, that the Department of Justice has released only approximately 12,285 documents (125,575 pages) out of more than 2 million Epstein-related documents, violating the Epstein Files Transparency Act signed into law on November 19, 2025. The law required full disclosure by December 19, 2025. The DOJ has also failed to submit a congressionally mandated report detailing redactions and legal justifications, due January 3, 2026. This contradicts prior DOJ claims that a review was completed in July 2025.
• DOJ contradicts prior claim that Epstein files review was completed in July 2025 — The Department of Justice previously claimed in an unsigned July 7, 2025 memo that it had completed an "exhaustive review" of all Epstein-related investigative materials and stated "no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted." However, in January 2026, Attorney General Bondi admitted that over 2 million documents remain in various phases of review, contradicting the July assertion that the review was finished. The number of unreviewed documents has nearly doubled since December 24, 2025, when the DOJ announced discovery of an additional million documents.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration conducted military strikes on Venezuela without congressional authorization — President Trump announced on January 3 that U.S. forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and stated the administration would run Venezuela and control its oil fields. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared on Sunday talk shows to defend the strikes, characterizing them as a law enforcement operation rather than military action. However, reporting indicates at least 80 people were killed in the operation, and Trump explicitly told media the U.S. intends to take control of Venezuela's government and resources.
• Trump administration ordered U.S. Military to abduct Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro without Congressional authorization — On January 3, 2026, President Trump ordered the U.S. Military to conduct a raid that resulted in the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from Venezuelan territory without seeking Congressional authorization. Trump initially claimed the action was based on Maduro's alleged membership in a drug cartel called "Cartel de los Soles," but later admitted no such cartel exists. Trump subsequently announced that Venezuela would transfer 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, suggesting resource seizure as a motivation. The raid violated established international norms governing state sovereignty and the treatment of foreign heads of state.
• Trump administration conducts military raid capturing Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro — Top Trump officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen Dan Caine briefed all 100 US senators on Operation Absolute Resolve, a special forces raid that captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife from Caracas on January 3 and transported them to a New York jail. Rubio outlined a three-phase plan involving stabilization, oil market access for US companies, and extracting 30–50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil at market rates. Republicans defended the operation as law enforcement against an indicted drug trafficker; Democrats condemned it as an illegal act of war undertaken without congressional consultation, with Senator Chris Murphy stating the administration plans to "steal Venezuelan oil at gunpoint."
• Military captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife — On January 3, 2026, the military captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Trump had previously suggested he was determined to end what he called "narco-terrorist" activity in Venezuela. Upon Maduro's capture, Trump made clear his intent to control Venezuela's oil resources.
• Trump administration launched military strike on Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro — In the early hours of Saturday, January 3, 2026, the Trump administration ordered the military to conduct a strike against Venezuela, seize President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, and fly them to New York City to face federal charges announced by the Southern District of New York. The operation, called "Operation Absolute Resolve," was conducted without consulting Congress and in apparent violation of international law. At least 40 civilians and military personnel were killed in the strike, which hit a three-story apartment building.
• Trump ordered military invasion of Venezuela to capture President Maduro and seize oil assets — Trump ordered a military invasion of Venezuela using special forces to capture President Nicolás Maduro, who is under criminal indictment in the U.S. Trump explicitly stated the primary objective was to seize control of Venezuela's government and oil assets. Trump announced the U.S. would directly run Venezuela's government and oil infrastructure, with American oil companies investing billions in exchange for reimbursement from extracted oil revenues. Trump stated U.S. military personnel would remain on the ground and threatened Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez with severe consequences if she did not comply with U.S. directives.
• Trump authorized strikes in Venezuela and abduction of Maduro — In the middle of the night on January 3, Trump authorized a series of strikes in Venezuela, as well as the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by the US military. The illegal strikes took place without congressional authority. Maduro and Flores were transported to New York, where they face drug and weapons charges. Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was subsequently sworn in as interim president following Maduro's kidnapping.
• United States military operation in Venezuela captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife — The U.S. carried out a large-scale military operation in and around Caracas, Venezuela, and seized Nicolás Maduro and his wife. They were transported to the United States to face charges related to narco-terrorism and drug trafficking allegations. The President publicly celebrated the operation and spoke in terms suggesting temporary U.S. control of Venezuela. Multiple governments have condemned the action as a violation of international law, and the U.N. Security Council is scheduled to meet Monday to address the matter.
• Trump administration conducted airstrikes in Venezuela and captured Maduro — On January 3, 2026, the Trump administration conducted nighttime airstrikes in Venezuela and removed President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, transporting them to New York to face federal narcoterrorism and drug-trafficking charges. This action followed months of strikes against small boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that Trump claimed, without evidence, were operated by narcoterrorists from Venezuela, and seizures of vessels allegedly carrying sanctioned Venezuelan oil.
• Trump administration conducts lethal military strikes against Venezuelan targets without congressional authorization — Since September 2025, the Trump administration has conducted approximately 35 lethal strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats off Venezuela's coast, resulting in at least 115 deaths. Additionally, a massive military deployment off Venezuela's shores, including the largest U.S. aircraft carrier, was carried out without seeking congressional authorization. These actions were justified through executive orders declaring Venezuelan leaders "narco-terrorists" and invoking post-2001 war-on-terror legal frameworks.
• Trump administration detains Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without prior congressional notification — The Trump administration conducted a military operation to detain Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia, without alerting Congress in advance. Senior congressional leaders, including the "gang of eight," were informed only after the operation had begun. The administration justified the withholding of information by citing security concerns and the need for operational secrecy. The action bypassed the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which requires presidential notification to Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops into hostilities.
• US special forces capture Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in military raid ordered by Trump — US special forces conducted a pre-dawn military operation in Caracas on Saturday, capturing Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. The raid resulted in at least 40 deaths, including civilians and Venezuelan and Cuban security personnel. Maduro was transported to Manhattan and arraigned in federal court on Monday on drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges. He pleaded not guilty. The operation sparked international condemnation at an emergency UN Security Council meeting, with multiple countries calling it a "crime of aggression" and a breach of international law.
• Trump orders military raid capturing Venezuelan President Maduro — President Trump ordered a Saturday morning military raid in which U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro was transported to New York to face criminal charges. Trump subsequently announced the U.S. would "run" Venezuela indefinitely. Legal experts stated the action violated U.S. and international law. The raid occurred without prior congressional authorization or public debate.
• US military forces capture and extract Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela; Maduro arraigned in New York federal court on drug trafficking and weapons charges — US military forces conducted an operation that resulted in the forcible removal and capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela. Maduro was transported to New York and arraigned in federal court on charges related to international drug trafficking and weapons trafficking. The operation involved a US military attack on Venezuelan territory. Maduro pleaded not guilty to the charges. The arraignment drew dozens of protesters outside the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan, divided between those celebrating Maduro's detention and those opposing US intervention in Venezuela.
• Barry Pollack retained as counsel for Nicolás Maduro in US federal court — Nicolás Maduro, the captured Venezuelan president, appeared in federal court in New York on Monday and pleaded not guilty to charges of drug-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine-importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. He was represented by Barry Pollack, a prominent US trial lawyer previously known for securing Julian Assange's release from UK prison in 2024. Pollack questioned the legality of Maduro's abduction by US forces in a raid on Caracas and argued Maduro is entitled to immunity as a sovereign head of state.
• Maduro arraigned in Manhattan federal court on drug and narco-terrorism charges — Nicolás Maduro appeared before federal judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan on Monday for arraignment on four federal criminal counts including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Maduro, who was first indicted in 2020, pleaded not guilty and claimed he remained the legitimate president of Venezuela and was being held as a prisoner of war. His wife Cilia Flores also pleaded not guilty to related charges.
• Nicolás Maduro arraigned in Manhattan federal court on narco-terrorism charges following US military capture in Caracas — Nicolás Maduro, Venezuelan president, was captured in Caracas on January 3 and arraigned in Manhattan federal court on January 6 on narco-terrorism charges brought by the Trump Justice Department. Maduro entered a not guilty plea while making defiant statements about his legitimacy and characterizing his capture as a kidnapping. His wife, Cilia Flores, also appeared and pleaded not guilty. Judge Alvin Hellerstein scheduled a case conference for March 17. Neither defendant requested bail at this stage but reserved the right to do so later.
• Nicolás Maduro pleads not guilty in US court after capture — Nicolás Maduro, the deposed president of Venezuela, pleaded not guilty to charges of drugs, weapons, and "narco-terrorism" in a US federal court in Manhattan. His capture was part of a US special forces operation ordered by Donald Trump, which has been condemned by several countries as a "crime of aggression." The operation has raised concerns about breaches of international law and has led to an emergency UN Security Council meeting. Maduro's arraignment follows his indictment in 2020 for drug trafficking-related charges.
• US military operation captures Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela — US special forces captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in a pre-dawn raid in Caracas, ordered by Donald Trump. The operation resulted in at least 40 deaths, including civilians and security personnel. The US justified the intervention as necessary to combat drug trafficking, but it has been widely condemned as a breach of international law. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting to address the situation, with several countries condemning the US action as a "crime of aggression."
• Trump administration launches military operation to abduct Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro — The U.S. military, under President Trump's direction, conducted a night-time operation that forcibly abducted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, resulting in dozens of deaths. Trump subsequently backed Maduro's former vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez, to lead the country. The operation, termed "Operation Absolute Resolve," represents a significant military intervention in Latin America and a departure from Trump's stated 2024 campaign pledge to avoid foreign wars and "put America first."
• Trump announces U.S. control over Venezuelan oil — President Trump declared that the interim authorities in Venezuela would turn over between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, stating that the proceeds would be controlled by him to benefit both Venezuela and the U.S. This announcement indicates a shift towards direct U.S. control over Venezuelan resources.
• Trump threatens Greenland with military action — President Trump stated that the U.S. needs Greenland for national defense, implying potential military action against the self-governing territory, which is part of Denmark. This statement contradicts established NATO agreements and raises concerns about U.S. military intentions.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration lacked detailed post-invasion governance plan for Venezuela — According to reporting by the Wall Street Journal on January 3, 2026, the Trump administration was "racing to assemble an interim governing structure for Venezuela" but had no detailed plan in place before deposing Maduro. Trump told reporters that officials were "designating various people" to "run" Venezuela without specifying who they were. U.S. officials questioned why there was no detailed plan before the operation, and experts noted that Venezuela is twice the size of California with 28 million people, millions of whom support Maduro, an intact government, and an army of over 100,000 soldiers.
• Trump announced U.S. intent to control Venezuela's oil industry and govern the country — During a press conference on January 3, 2026, Trump announced that the U.S. will "run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition" and stated that large U.S. oil companies will "go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure, and start making money for the country." Trump claimed Venezuela had "stolen" American oil and property worth "billions and billions of dollars" through nationalization, and introduced the "Donroe Document" as a replacement for the Monroe Doctrine, asserting American dominance in the Western Hemisphere.
• Trump administration pursues oil-focused Venezuela policy, sidelining democratic opposition — Trump held a press conference in which he repeatedly stated his administration's primary interest in Venezuela is securing access to the country's oil reserves. The administration reportedly favors working with Delcy Rodríguez, Nicolás Maduro's vice president, over supporting María Corina Machado, the leading democratic opposition figure. Trump dismissed Machado as lacking public support despite her central role in backing Edmundo González in the July 2024 election, which international observers believe González won decisively. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the policy on television and did not deny that Cuba might be targeted next.
• Trump stated primary objective in Venezuela is oil access, not democracy — Trump explicitly stated that the focus of U.S. operations in Venezuela is securing oil access rather than supporting democracy or freeing political prisoners. When asked about demanding Venezuelan VP Delcy Rodriguez allow opposition figures to return or free political prisoners, Trump responded "We haven't gotten to that. Right now, we want to do is fix up the oil." He later stated the goal is "Total access. We need access to the oil and other things."
• Trump announced indefinite U.S. control of Venezuela — Following the capture of Maduro, President Trump announced that the United States would "run" Venezuela for an indefinite period. Trump stated on Fox News that the U.S. would be "very strongly involved" with the Venezuelan oil industry going forward. Industry analysts anticipate rapid rerouting of Venezuelan oil exports to the U.S., with refiners benefiting substantially from access to Venezuela's heavy crude reserves—the world's largest proven oil reserves.
• Trump administration recognized Delcy Rodríguez as Venezuela's head of state — On January 5, 2026, the Trump administration formally recognized Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's vice president, as Venezuela's head of state, despite Venezuela's high court ruling that Rodríguez could only serve as acting president for 90 days (extendable to 180 days), after which elections would be constitutionally required. The administration's recognition of Rodríguez as head of state rather than acting president signaled Trump's intention for her to remain in power beyond the constitutional limits.
• Trump administration ordered military operation to seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife — The Trump administration conducted a large-scale military operation that forcibly seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, removing them from the country. Trump's UN Ambassador Mike Waltz characterized the operation as a "law enforcement" action targeting "indicted fugitives," but justified it by stating the United States views the Western Hemisphere as its domain and cannot allow Venezuela's energy reserves to remain outside U.S. control. The operation prompted an emergency UN Security Council meeting where multiple nations condemned the action as a violation of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty.

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• Trump issued threats against Colombia, Cuba, and Mexico regarding Western Hemisphere dominance — During his January 3 press conference, Trump warned Colombia's President Gustavo Petro to "watch his ass," stated "Cuba is going to be something we'll end up talking about," and warned that "something will have to be done about Mexico." He declared that "American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again."
• Venezuelan Vice President Rodríguez rejected U.S. occupation and reaffirmed Maduro as rightful president — Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, whom Trump claimed had been sworn into the presidency, delivered a televised address on January 3, 2026 insisting that Maduro is the rightful president of Venezuela and must be released. She characterized the U.S. action as "an unprecedented military aggression" and declared that "the Venezuelan people and this country are clear about" their refusal to "be slaves" or "a colony of any empire."
• Trump threatened Venezuelan President Rodríguez with consequences for non-compliance — In a phone call with Michael Scherer of The Atlantic, President Trump threatened Venezuela's new president Delcy Rodríguez, stating that "if she doesn't do what's right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro." Trump later told reporters on Air Force One that the U.S., not Rodríguez, is in charge of Venezuela.
• Rubio indicated Cuba is a potential military target — Secretary of State Rubio stated on NBC that the Cuban government is "a huge problem" and when asked directly if Cuba is the next target, responded affirmatively that "they are in a lot of trouble. Yes," signaling potential military action against Cuba following the Venezuela operation.
• Secretary of State Rubio declines to rule out military action against Cuba — Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared on television to defend the administration's Venezuela policy. When asked whether Cuba might be the target of similar operations, Rubio did not deny the possibility and characterized the Cuban government as a "huge problem," suggesting additional action could follow. Rubio also stated that no congressional authorization was required for Venezuela operations because they constituted a "precise operation" rather than a war.
• Sen. Lindsey Graham expressed support for military action against Iran and Cuba — Sen. Lindsey Graham, appearing with Trump on Air Force One, stated "You just wait for Cuba. Their days are numbered!" and later appeared on Fox News wearing a "Make Iran Great Again" hat, saying "I pray and hope that 2026 will be the year we make Iran great again" and adding Cuba to his target list: "To our Cuban friends in FL, the liberation of your homeland is close."
• Trump indicated U.S. military operations planned for Colombia — During the press gaggle, Trump responded affirmatively when asked if there would be a U.S. operation in Colombia, stating "Sounds good to me" in response to a reporter's question about whether operations would extend to Colombia. This followed Trump's characterization of Colombia as "very sick."
• Trump threatened military action against Mexico — Trump stated that cartels are running Mexico and that President Claudia Sheinbaum is not in control. Trump said he has repeatedly asked Sheinbaum whether the U.S. should "take out the cartels" and indicated that "something is gonna have to be done with Mexico," implying potential military intervention similar to the Venezuela operation.
• US Invasion of Venezuela — The United States has initiated a military invasion of Venezuela, an action that has been described as a significant breach of international law. This move has been characterized as an authoritarian act by the U.S. government, bypassing traditional diplomatic and coalition-building processes. The invasion has sparked widespread criticism and is expected to lead to increased global instability. The U.S. House of Representatives has been urged to respond with impeachment proceedings, although no immediate action has been taken.
• Colombian President Gustavo Petro rejected Trump's threats — Colombian President Gustavo Petro responded to Trump's threats by challenging him to come to Colombia in person, stating "Come get me! I'm waiting for you here." Petro rejected invasions, missiles, and assassinations, and called for dialogue based on facts rather than lies spread by "Colombian political mafias."
• Trump threatens Mexico and Cuba — Trump threatened Colombian President Gustavo Petro, declared that "Cuba is ready to fall," and warned Mexico to "get their act together," signaling potential military or coercive action against multiple Western Hemisphere nations without diplomatic process.
• Trump threatens military action against Iran — Trump warned that if Iran continues "killing people like they have in the past," Iran "is going to get hit very hard by the United States," signaling potential military escalation without congressional authorization or diplomatic process.
• Rick Scott advocates regime change in Western Hemisphere — Senator Rick Scott openly fantasized about regime-changing every country in the Western Hemisphere, expressing support for U.S. intervention to alter governments in the region.
• Trump attacks NATO alliance and questions member loyalty — Trump issued an all-caps statement claiming he "single handedly ended eight wars," complained that Norway "foolishly" did not award him the Nobel Peace Prize, and warned that NATO might not support the United States because he doubts member nations' loyalty. He attacked the alliance as a stabilizing institution.

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• White House issues fact sheet on Trump administration fraud enforcement actions in Minnesota — The White House issued a fact sheet on January 2, 2026, describing enforcement actions by multiple federal agencies targeting alleged fraud in Minnesota state programs. The document states that the Department of Justice has charged 98 defendants (85 of Somali descent, 64 convicted); the FBI is investigating healthcare providers; DHS has arrested over 1,000 individuals and identified over 1,300 fraud findings; HHS has frozen childcare payments and suspended Medicaid reimbursements; SBA halted grant payments and suspended 6,900 borrowers; HUD dispatched investigators; DOL is reviewing unemployment insurance; and USDA demanded SNAP recertification. The fact sheet frames these actions as responses to alleged fraud schemes in state programs.

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• Trump administration reduced tariffs on Italian pasta after lobbying — The U.S. Commerce Department stepped back from imposing 92% antidumping duties on Italian pasta makers, instead dramatically reducing the threatened tariffs after weeks of lobbying by Italy's government and affected companies. La Molisana and Garofalo, the two biggest pasta exporters to the U.S., will now face duties of 2.3% and 13.9%, respectively, while 11 other Italian pasta makers will face a 9.1% tariff. The original 92% duties would have forced Italian pasta makers to exit the U.S. market.

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• Anonymous Polymarket account placed $30,000 bet on Maduro ouster hours before Trump announced his capture, profiting $400,000 — On January 2, 2026, hours before Trump announced the U.S. had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an anonymous Polymarket account bet over $30,000 that Maduro would be ousted. At the time of the bet, Polymarket showed only an 8% probability of this outcome. By the next morning, the account cashed out over $400,000 in winnings. The account, created in December 2025, had placed its first bet on December 27 for $96 predicting a U.S. invasion of Venezuela, followed by several related bets in the following days. Experts on prediction markets and insider trading told news outlets the bets had hallmarks of insider trading, citing the late-night timing, large amount, and unregulated market.

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• Trump administration approved sale of Nvidia H200 chips to China — In December 2025, the Trump administration announced it would permit the sale of Nvidia's H200 chip to China, reversing prior export control restrictions. The H200 is approximately six times more powerful than the previously restricted H20 chip. According to analysis, unrestricted H200 exports would reduce the U.S. AI compute advantage over China from 21–49x to between 6.7x and 1.2x by 2026, substantially narrowing America's technological edge in artificial intelligence development and military applications.

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• DOJ sues Hawaii and Michigan to block climate accountability litigation — The Department of Justice took the unusual step of suing Hawaii and Michigan over their plans to file climate accountability litigation against fossil fuel companies. Hawaii filed its case just hours after the DOJ action, characterizing the federal suit as intimidation. The action represented a direct federal effort to prevent states from pursuing legal remedies against the oil industry.

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• Trump posts about Iranian protests and military readiness — At 2:58 a.m. on January 2, President Trump posted on social media about ongoing Iranian protests sparked by rising cost of living, stating: "If Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go." The post signaled potential U.S. military intervention in response to Iranian government actions against protesters.
• Iran's leadership responded to Trump's military threat — Ali Shamkhani, a top adviser to the Ayatollah, warned that any foreign threat to Iran's national security would be met with a response that would make the aggressor regret it. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the American people should be mindful of their soldiers' safety and accused Trump of starting "dangerous adventurism."
• Trump posted threat of military action against Iran — Trump posted a message on social media threatening military action against Iran, stating that if Iran "shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters," the United States would "come to their rescue," adding "We are locked and loaded and ready to go." The post came amid large-scale protests in Iran fueled by economic collapse and inflation.
• Trump threatens Iran with military intervention over protest crackdown — Trump posted on Truth Social that if Iran "violently kills peaceful protesters," the U.S. "will come to their rescue," stating "We are locked and loaded and ready to go." The threat came as economic protests swept Iran and at least 7 people were killed in violence surrounding demonstrations. Iranian officials, including Ali Larijani and Ali Shamkhani, responded with counter-threats, warning against U.S. intervention and alleging the U.S. was stoking the protests.
• Trump threatens military action against Iran — On Truth Social on January 2, Trump threatened to take military action against Iran if the country "shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters," saying the US "will come to their rescue" and that the military is "locked and loaded and ready to go."

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• Noem attempts to end temporary protected status for Venezuelans — In early 2025, DHS Secretary Noem moved to rescind temporary protected status (TPS) for approximately 600,000 Venezuelan migrants. The action was later blocked by federal courts, preventing the immediate termination of protections for this vulnerable population.

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• Noem revokes legal protections for 500,000 migrants — In early 2025, DHS Secretary Noem revoked legal protections for more than 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who had entered the United States under humanitarian programs. This action followed her earlier attempt to end temporary protected status for approximately 600,000 Venezuelans, which was blocked by courts.

Supporting reports

• HSI deploys 2,000 federal agents to Minneapolis–St. Paul area for enforcement surge — Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) deployed approximately 2,000 federal agents to the Minneapolis–St. Paul area in early January 2026. The stated focus includes investigations into fraud, human smuggling and trafficking networks, and unlawful employment, including door-to-door visits to companies. Local reporting and community accounts describe enforcement activity that extends beyond the official scope, including residential door knocks, intimidation, and widespread fear in immigrant communities.

Supporting reports

• Border Patrol officers deployed to interior cities with limited legal authority — Border Patrol officers, who traditionally have less specialist enforcement authority if further than 100 miles from a border, coastline, or maritime boundary, have become heavily involved in anti-immigration operations in US cities. The agency is acquiring a new notoriety for aggressive tactics while conducting urban immigration enforcement or confronting protesters, roles outside its traditional mission. This deployment represents an expansion of authority beyond statutory limits.

Supporting reports

• Coalition sues State Department and Marco Rubio over visa suspension to 75 countries — A coalition of immigration groups, lawyers, and US citizens filed suit in US District Court (New York) challenging a State Department order suspending immigrant visa approvals to nationals of 75 countries, including Somalia, Haiti, Iran, Eritrea, and Cuba. The department justified the suspension on claims that migrants from these countries seek welfare at "unacceptable rates." The lawsuit alleges the ban violates the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Constitution, and decades of settled policy by denying visas based solely on nationality without individualized assessment, and characterizes the justification as "demonstrably false" and discriminatory.

Supporting reports

• DHS launched "Operation Puppet Master" to surveil leftwing groups and anti-ICE protesters — The Department of Homeland Security conducted extensive surveillance of progressive organizations and anti-ICE protesters in Minneapolis and New York City in early 2026. Internal DHS reports, disclosed in a criminal case against 15 Minneapolis protesters, reveal the agency sent undercover agents to community meetings, infiltrated encrypted Signal chats, obtained financial records of unions and nonprofits including AFL-CIO and SEIU, and made audio recordings of activist gatherings. The operation, titled "Operation Puppet Master," targeted groups opposing the Trump administration's immigration enforcement surge following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Supporting reports

• Fatal shooting of Renee Good by ICE agent in Minneapolis — Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot and killed by an ICE agent in early January 2026 while observing ICE activity near her home in Minneapolis. Good was an unarmed civilian engaged in community monitoring of immigration enforcement operations.

Supporting reports

• Federal immigration agents fatally shoot US citizens in Minneapolis — Federal immigration agents fatally shot two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti (both 37), in separate incidents on the streets of Minneapolis in January. These shootings prompted Senate Democrats to refuse DHS funding without immigration enforcement reforms, triggering the current budget standoff and shutdown.
• ICE agents kill Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good during enforcement operations in Minneapolis — Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents killed two people—Alex Pretti, 37, and Renee Nicole Good—while conducting deportation operations in Minneapolis in January 2026. Pretti was fatally shot while filming ICE agents. The killings sparked widespread outrage, prompted the removal of border patrol agent Gregory Bovino from his post, and triggered a Department of Justice civil rights investigation into Pretti's death. Despite these developments, deportations and detentions have continued in suburbs and rural areas.
• Immigration officers kill two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis ICE raids — In January 2026, during intensified immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, federal immigration officers shot and killed two U.S. citizens: 37-year-old Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good. Both victims had been protesting ICE raids. DHS Secretary Noem defended the officers and accused the two killed Americans of "domestic terrorism," remarks that drew immediate bipartisan backlash. Independent analyses and state officials stated the footage did not support Noem's characterization.

Supporting reports

• ICE detention and forced deportation of asylum seeker after months of abusive conditions — Ana María, a 23-year-old asylum seeker from South America with an open case, was arrested by ICE in January 2026 after attempting to cross into Canada. Over three months, she was transferred to at least six detention facilities across multiple states, subjected to painful shackling during transfers, denied adequate food and sleep, mocked by guards, and held in isolation from her family. Facing a deportation order to a third country and unable to endure further abuse, she agreed to voluntary removal and was deported back to her native country, abandoning her asylum claim and the life she had built in the US.

Supporting reports

• Kilmar Ábrego García mistakenly deported to El Salvador mega-prison — In April 2025, the Trump administration deported Kilmar Ábrego García to an El Salvador mega-prison in error. When confronted with the mistake, DHS Secretary Noem stated that if García were returned to the United States, the administration would "immediately deport him again." García subsequently cycled in and out of ICE custody as the administration repeatedly attempted to deport him despite court rulings, demonstrating a pattern of disregard for judicial oversight.