Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Federal appeals court rules most of Trump tariffs illegal under IEEPA — The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington DC ruled 7-4 on Friday that President Trump overstepped his constitutional authority by imposing most of his tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The court found the tariffs "unbounded in scope, amount and duration" and that IEEPA does not explicitly grant tariff-imposition power. The ruling does not take effect until 14 October, allowing time for appeal to the Supreme Court. Trump immediately disputed the decision on social media, claiming the tariffs remain in effect and accusing the court of political bias.
• Federal appeals court struck down Trump's emergency tariffs as illegal — A federal appeals court, by a 7–4 majority, upheld a May decision by a three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of International Trade striking down President Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs as illegal. The court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) has "meaningful limits" and that "an unlimited delegation of tariff authority would be unconstitutional." The court stated "Congress manifestly is not permitted to abdicate or to transfer to other the essential legislative functions with which it is thus vested." The decision concluded Congress did not give the President "wide-ranging authority to impose" sweeping tariffs, noting such authorization would mean "Congress had bestowed on a federal agency the taxing power," a "sharp break with our traditions." The decision will not take effect until October 14 to allow the administration to appeal to the Supreme Court.

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• Trump defied court ruling on tariffs and claimed they remain in effect — Shortly after the federal appeals court decision striking down his tariffs, Trump posted on social media claiming "ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT" and calling the court's decision "Highly Partisan" and incorrect. Trump stated the United States would "win in the end" and that if the tariffs were removed it would be "a total disaster for the Country." Trump asserted that tariffs are "the best tool to help our Workers" and expressed confidence that "with the help of the United States Supreme Court, we will use them to the benefit of our Nation." Trump's statement represents a direct defiance of the court's ruling and an assertion that executive will supersedes judicial authority.

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• August 2025 state court ruling strikes down 2021 Utah congressional maps and reinstates Proposition 4 — On August 25, 2025, third district judge Dianna Gibson ruled that Utah lawmakers had unconstitutionally overridden Proposition 4, the 2018 voter-approved initiative that created an independent redistricting commission. Gibson sided with the League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government, striking down the state's 2021 congressional maps and reinstating Proposition 4 as binding law. The ruling allowed independent bodies to redraw districts.
• Utah judge orders congressional map redraw — A judge in Utah ruled that the state must redraw its congressional maps that carved up the Democratic stronghold of Salt Lake City before the 2026 midterms, using an independent commission. The move could make one of the state's four congressional districts competitive for Democrats. Trump later called the ruling "absolutely Unconstitutional" and questioned how the state could "end up with so many Radical Left Judges," despite the judge being appointed by a Republican governor in 2018.
• Utah district court orders redraw of congressional map for 2026 elections — District court judge Dianna Gibson ruled Monday that Utah's 2021 congressional map is unlawful because the Republican-controlled legislature circumvented a voter-approved independent redistricting commission. The legislature had repealed the 2018 ballot initiative creating the commission, replaced it with an advisory board, and ignored the commission's proposals in 2021. Gibson ordered lawmakers to adopt a compliant map by September 24, 2025. The new boundaries could create a competitive Democratic district in Salt Lake City.
• Utah judge struck down Republican-drawn congressional maps — Utah District Judge Dianna Gibson struck down the state's Republican-drawn congressional maps and ordered the Legislature to redraw boundaries before the 2026 midterm elections. Judge Gibson ruled that the 2021 redistricting plan violated a 2018 ballot initiative that established an independent commission to curb partisan influence. The current map splits Salt Lake City, Utah's Democratic stronghold, across all four congressional districts, diluting its influence and ensuring Republican control of all four seats. The Legislature has until September 24 to adopt new maps.
• Federal appeals court blocks Pennsylvania mail-in ballot law — A federal appeals court ruled that a law to toss out mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania if they arrive in envelopes with a missing or wrong date violates the Constitution, noting that "only in the exceedingly rare circumstance does it contribute to the prosecution of voter fraud."

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• Federal judge orders Kari Lake to answer questions — A federal judge ordered senior adviser to the US Agency for Global Media Kari Lake to answer questions under oath about her efforts to effectively dismantle Voice of America (VOA), giving her "one final opportunity, short of a contempt trial, to provide such explanation" after failing to comply with orders seeking information about whether the Trump administration violated an April ruling to restore VOA programming.
• Federal judge ordered Kari Lake to submit to questioning on Voice of America — U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ordered Trump administration official Kari Lake to submit to questioning under oath regarding her efforts to dismantle Voice of America despite Congressional mandates that it be maintained. Judge Lamberth stated Lake was "verging on contempt of court" for failing to comply with repeated orders to make information available about her intentions for Voice of America and its federal parent, the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Lake and two aides were ordered to testify by September 15 and provide detailed information previously withheld about Voice of America. Lake responded by claiming district court judges are overstepping their authority.
• Federal judge blocks removal of VOA director and orders compliance demonstration — US District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that Kari Lake cannot remove Michael Abramowitz as VOA director without approval from the International Broadcasting Advisory Board, finding such removal would be "plainly contrary to law." Lamberth also ruled separately that the Trump administration had failed to demonstrate compliance with his prior orders to restore VOA operations, giving the administration "one final opportunity, short of a contempt trial" and ordering Lake to sit for deposition by 15 September.

Supporting reports

• Trump attacks blue slip Senate confirmation practice — Trump ranted against the "blue slip" policy, which allows home state senators to effectively veto the president's nominees for their state, calling it an "old and outdated 'custom'" that Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley "refuses to overturn." Grassley pushed back, defending the practice as setting nominees up for success.
• Trump attacked blue slip tradition and demanded Senate Judiciary Committee override it — Trump posted on social media that the blue slip tradition—which allows senators to block federal judicial and U.S. attorney appointments in their home states—has prevented him from appointing judges he wants. He demanded that Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley override the practice and allow Republican candidates to advance, claiming the only candidates he can get confirmed are Democrats.
• Trump attacked blue-slip tradition for judicial appointments — Trump posted on social media that the tradition of blue slips—which allows senators to block federal judge and U.S. attorney appointments in their home states—has prevented him from appointing judges he wants. Trump claimed the only candidates he can get confirmed are Democrats and demanded that Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley override the blue-slip process to allow "strong Republican candidates" to ascend to these positions.