Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• ICE agents shoot and kill Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez during traffic stop in Franklin Park, Illinois — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents initiated a traffic stop of Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, a Mexican national and cook, in Franklin Park, Illinois on Friday. During the encounter near a school, agents shot and killed Villegas-Gonzalez. DHS claimed he resisted arrest and dragged an officer with his car; surveillance video shows him backing up and driving forward as agents pulled on his door. After the shooting, agents broke the car window and removed his body. Illinois lawmakers, including US Representative Delia Ramirez and Governor JB Pritzker, called for a full investigation, stating the incident exemplifies violence from Trump's deportation campaign.

Supporting reports

• ICE detains William Alberto Gimenez Gonzalez at barber shop during Operation Midway Blitz — ICE agents detained William Alberto Gimenez Gonzalez at a barber shop in Chicago on Friday as part of Operation Midway Blitz, an ICE enforcement campaign. The Latino Union of Chicago expressed concern that Gimenez may have been targeted for his involvement in a lawsuit against Home Depot and off-duty Chicago police officers over physical assaults and detention of recently arrived immigrants documented in a 2024 City Bureau investigation.

Supporting reports

• Immigration judge orders deportation of pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil — An immigration judge in Louisiana ordered the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian protest leader and legal permanent resident, citing alleged misrepresentation of facts on his green card application. The judge found willful misrepresentation rather than oversight. Khalil's lawyers announced they would appeal and noted that a separate federal district court order prohibits his immediate removal while his civil rights case proceeds. Khalil characterized the order as retaliation for his exercise of free speech.

Supporting reports

• Judge Cannon interrupts and cuts off Ryan Routh's opening statement in Trump assassination attempt trial — Ryan Routh, 59, representing himself without legal training, began his opening statement in his trial for attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Florida golf resort in September 2024. Judge Aileen Cannon interrupted him three times within five minutes, citing improper procedure and accusing him of making "a mockery of the court" after he discussed evolution, global conflicts, and Hitler rather than mounting a defense. Cannon excused the jury to reprimand him, then suspended his remarks entirely. The trial proceeded with prosecution witnesses including Secret Service agent Robert Fercano, who testified he spotted a rifle near Trump and fired at the armed person.

Supporting reports

• Rear Admiral questioned legal basis for boat strike — Rear Admiral Donald J. Guter, a retired top judge advocate general for the Navy from 2000 to 2002, questioned the legal basis for the boat strike, noting that if the men on the boat were retreating, there was no "imminent threat" to justify the use of force under the laws of war.

Supporting reports

• Iowa county official defies governor's half-staff flag order for Charlie Kirk — Jon Green, chair of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors in Iowa, publicly announced he would not comply with Governor Kim Reynolds's directive to lower flags at half-staff in honor of Charlie Kirk, a rightwing activist fatally shot on September 11. Green cited Reynolds's failure to issue similar orders after other prominent gun violence cases, including the killing of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman. Reynolds responded by criticizing Green's decision as "disgraceful" and putting "politics above human decency." Green stated he would accept any legal or electoral consequences for his refusal.

Supporting reports

• US Deputy Secretary of State threatens visa revocation against Mexican officials over Charlie Kirk comments — Christopher Landau, US Deputy Secretary of State and former ambassador to Mexico, publicly warned on X (formerly Twitter) that "foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country" and invited Americans to report foreign nationals making critical comments about Charlie Kirk's death. After a Mexican congressional staffer's televised remarks criticizing Kirk were flagged, Landau responded with an image reading "El Quitavisas" (visa remover) and directly attacked the Mexican news network Milenio, threatening visa consequences. The staffer resigned and Milenio issued a public apology.

Supporting reports

• Russia sent drones into Polish airspace — On the day of Kirk's murder, Russia sent 19 drones into Poland—some armed and some unarmed—testing the strength of the neighboring country. With the help of allies, Poland shot down four of them. Poland belongs to NATO, with which the U.S. shares a mutual defense agreement. After the attack, Poland called an emergency meeting of the North Atlantic Council. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker apparently did not attend.
• Trump characterized Russian drone incursion as possible mistake — Although Kaja Kallas, the European Union's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, called Russia's violation of Polish airspace "intentional, not accidental," Trump told reporters that Russia's sending of drones into Poland "could've been a mistake."
• Polish officials contradict Trump on Russian drone attack — Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk, and Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski all publicly contradicted President Trump's characterization of the Russian drone incursion as a potential mistake, with Tusk stating "We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasn't. And we know it." Tomczyk called it "a deliberate Russian attack" and Sikorski simply stated "No, that wasn't a mistake."
• Trump dismisses Russian drone incursion into Poland as "mistake" — When asked about Russian drones flying deep into Poland's airspace before being shot down, President Trump responded "It could have been a mistake." Polish officials, including Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk, and Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, all contradicted Trump, stating the drone attack was deliberate and not a mistake.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration officials accused Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud based on documents later shown to be inaccurate — President Trump sought to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook by alleging she committed mortgage fraud by claiming two homes as primary residences to obtain lower interest rates. Reuters reported that documents show Cook actually designated the Georgia property as a "vacation home" to her lender, and standardized forms were overridden by her personal application specifying it as a second home. Cook never claimed a primary residence tax exemption for the Georgia property and referred to it officially as a "2nd home." The allegations appear to be false.

Supporting reports

• Governor Bill Lee sought to redirect National Guard deployment — Governor Bill Lee released a statement saying he was set to speak with Trump about a "strategic mission" to use state law enforcement more effectively with an already established FBI mission in Memphis, apparently attempting to redirect the federal deployment toward state control.
• Memphis Mayor Paul Young disputes Trump's characterization of National Guard deployment — Memphis Mayor Paul Young stated he was informed the Governor and President were considering deploying the National Guard and other resources to Memphis, but clarified that what the city needs most are "financial resources for intervention and prevention, additional patrol officers, and case support," not military troops. Young emphasized Memphis is already making measurable progress in reducing crime through existing law enforcement partnerships.
• White House announces federal deployment to Memphis for crime reduction — The White House issued a release announcing President Trump's plan to deploy federal resources to Memphis, Tennessee, citing the city's violent crime statistics and characterizing the action as part of an "aggressive push to dismantle" crime attributed to "failed Democrat governance." The release cites 2024 crime data showing Memphis had the highest violent crime rate nationally and presents bail reform as a contributing factor, citing specific cases of defendants released without bail.
• Trump announced National Guard deployment to Memphis — Trump announced he was sending the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee, despite the Memphis Police Department reporting that "Overall crime is at a 25-year low, with robbery, burglary, and larceny also reaching 25-year lows. Murder is at a six-year low, aggravated assault at a five-year low, and sexual assault at a twenty-year low." Although Trump said he had the support of the mayor and governor, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris asked Republican Governor Bill Lee to "please reconsider," stating that local government would welcome more state troopers but that "to have individuals with military fatigues, semi-automatic weapons and armored vehicles patrolling our streets is way too far, anti-democratic and anti-American."
• Trump announces National Guard deployment to Memphis instead of Chicago — President Trump announced he is deploying the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee instead of Chicago, stating Memphis is "deeply troubled" and that the Democratic mayor and Republican governor are "happy" with the deployment. Trump said he would prefer to go to Chicago but that they "don't want us" and he doesn't want to go into a "hostile area."

Supporting reports

• Trump announces Kirk arrest on Fox & Friends and minimizes gravity — President Trump announced the arrest of Charlie Kirk's killer on Fox & Friends, framing the announcement as breaking news and making light of the moment by joking about host Ainsley Earhardt's fiancé Sean Hannity being disappointed he wasn't given the exclusive. Trump then complained that due process takes too long in the U.S. and suggested China's rapid trial system as a model.
• Trump criticizes constitutional due process, praises Chinese trials — Trump complained that due process in the United States takes too long because of "our pesky Constitution" and expressed admiration for China's rapid trial system, stating that trials should occur "the following day" rather than taking years.

Supporting reports

• Florida teacher removed from classroom for calling Kirk "racist" and "neo-Nazi" — Matthew Theobald, a social studies teacher in Florida, was removed from the classroom for a post on his personal social media account describing Charlie Kirk as "not a good guy" and "a racist, misogynistic, fear-mongering neo-Nazi." On September 11, Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas sent a letter to all Florida schools announcing the state would investigate every teacher who makes "vile" comments about Kirk. The removal occurred as part of the broader coordinated pressure campaign.

Supporting reports

• Larry Bushart sues Tennessee county over arrest and 37-day jailing for Facebook meme — Larry Bushart, a former law enforcement officer, filed a lawsuit against Perry County, Tennessee, Sheriff Nick Weems, and investigator Jason Morrow after being arrested and jailed for 37 days in September 2025 for posting a Facebook meme. The meme, shared in comments on a vigil post for assassinated activist Charlie Kirk, showed Trump with a quote from a 2024 Iowa school shooting ("We have to get over it"), captioned "This seems relevant today." Police arrested Bushart the next day, charging him with "threatening mass violence at a school," though the meme referenced a shooting in Iowa, not the local Tennessee school. The criminal charge was dropped in late October. Bushart alleges violations of his First and Fourth Amendment rights and seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

Supporting reports

• Three former FBI agents filed lawsuit against Kash Patel — Three former FBI agents filed a lawsuit against FBI Director Kash Patel portraying him as a "partisan neophyte more interested in social media and swag" than professional law enforcement, occurring on the same day Patel mishandled the Kirk shooting investigation.
• Three former FBI officials sue Kash Patel for wrongful termination over Trump investigations — Three senior FBI officials—Brian Driscoll Jr., Steven Jensen, and Spencer Evans—filed a federal lawsuit in Washington DC against FBI Director Kash Patel and the federal government, alleging wrongful termination and unlawful political influence. The complaint alleges Patel stated he was instructed by the White House to fire agents who worked on Trump investigations, and that Emil Bove pressured officials to compile lists of agents involved in January 6 investigations. The officials seek reinstatement, backpay, and a declaration that their firings were illegal.
• Three former FBI officials sued Patel and DOJ for politicizing the FBI — Three former top officials at the FBI filed a lawsuit against FBI Director Patel, the FBI, Attorney General Bondi, the Department of Justice, and the president, accusing them of unlawfully politicizing the FBI and purging anyone who had ever worked on a criminal investigation of Trump. The lawsuit suggests Bongino had an "intense focus on [using] his social media profiles to change his followers' perceptions of the FBI."
• FBI director and deputy director focused on social media rather than investigation — FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, both MAGA influencers without law enforcement experience, appeared to prioritize social media activity over the investigation into Kirk's shooting. Hours after the shooting, Patel's personal social media account posted a picture of himself and Kirk; minutes later, Patel's official FBI account posted conflicting updates about the suspect's custody status. Both officials appeared focused more on posting than conducting investigative work.

Supporting reports

• House passes Stop Illegal Entry Act imposing mandatory 10-year sentences for migrants re-entering after removal — The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed HR3486, the Stop Illegal Entry Act, on 11 September 2025, imposing mandatory minimum sentences of 5–10 years for migrants convicted of illegal re-entry combined with other crimes. The bill passed largely along party lines with 11 Democratic votes and White House support. Criminal justice groups warn it would incarcerate thousands for non-violent offenses, cost approximately $440,000 per person, paralyze federal courts by eliminating plea incentives, and disproportionately affect migrants fleeing violence or seeking family reunification. Senator Ted Cruz is advancing the measure in the Senate, where it requires 60 votes to proceed.

Supporting reports

• Trump issued statement blaming "radical left" for Charlie Kirk assassination — Following the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, Trump posted a video statement attributing the killing to "radical left" rhetoric and "radical left political violence," while making no mention of violent attacks against Democratic figures or his own decade of inflammatory rhetoric demonizing political opponents as Marxists, communists, and enemies of America.
• Trump called out radical leftists for violent rhetoric — Former President Donald Trump issued a statement calling out radical leftists for poisonous rhetoric, arguing that years of comparing conservatives like Charlie Kirk to Nazis and mass murderers was directly responsible for terrorism in the country. Trump attributed the assassination to leftist rhetoric without waiting for the investigation to identify the killer's actual motive or affiliation.

Supporting reports

• Texas Redistricting Lawsuit Filed — A lawsuit has been filed challenging the newly drawn congressional maps in Texas, alleging that the maps are a partisan gerrymander favoring the Republican Party. The plaintiffs argue that the redistricting process violates the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution by diluting the voting power of minority communities. The case has been filed in federal court, and the plaintiffs are seeking a court order to block the use of the maps in upcoming elections.
• Missouri Republicans approve mid-decade congressional redistricting eliminating Democratic seat — Missouri Republicans approved a new congressional map on September 12, 2025, that eliminates a district currently held by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver in Kansas City and redistributes voters into GOP-friendly districts, increasing Republican seats from six to seven of eight. The map now goes to Republican Governor Mike Kehoe for signature. Opponents plan to gather signatures for a statewide referendum within 90 days to force a voter decision on the maps in 2026.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration walked back Guatemalan deportation claims — The Trump administration walked back its claims that hundreds of Guatemalan children it tried to deport back to their home country last month had been requested to return by their parents after a Justice Department attorney acknowledged that the claims had no factual basis and had been contradicted by a Guatemalan government review, which concluded that most of the parents couldn't be located and the majority who were had wanted their children to remain in the US.

Supporting reports

• Trump blamed left for Kirk killing without evidence — Trump issued a video message from the Oval Office in which he said "For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world's worst mass murderers and criminals … My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity, and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it." Trump's warning came despite the fact that the shooter hadn't yet been identified and their motive remained unclear.

Supporting reports

• Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem imposed $100,000 expenditure approval requirement delaying disaster recovery aid — Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem implemented a policy requiring her personal sign-off on all expenditures over $100,000. The requirement has badly delayed recovery aid to North Carolina after Hurricane Helene that Congress approved in December. Republican Senator Ted Budd announced he will place holds on all Department of Homeland Security nominees until the approval process speeds up.

Supporting reports

• Trump blames "radical left" for Kirk shooting and vows investigation — President Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office, blaming "the radical left" for the Kirk shooting without evidence. He vowed that his administration "will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity, and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials and everyone else who brings order to our country." Trump listed incidents of what he characterized as "radical left political violence" while omitting violence against Democrats, including the June murder of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband by a man with a hit list of 45 Democratic officials.
• Trump blamed shooting on "radical left" and vowed to prosecute contributors to political violence — From the Oval Office, President Trump blamed the Charlie Kirk shooting on "the radical left" and vowed to "find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity, and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials, and everyone else who brings order to our country." The statement preceded any confirmed information about the shooter's identity or motive.

Supporting reports

• ICE agents physically assault and wrongfully detain US citizen car wash owner — On September 9, 2025, ICE agents conducted a raid at a Los Angeles car wash owned by Rafie Ollah Shouhed, a 79-year-old US citizen. Surveillance footage shows agents pushing Shouhed to the ground, and according to his attorney, agents violently body-slammed him onto pavement, jumped on his back, and handcuffed him despite his protests about recent heart surgery. Shouhed sustained broken ribs, traumatic brain injury, and elbow injuries. He was detained for nearly 12 hours without being charged with a crime, even after agents confirmed his citizenship status. On September 26, 2025, Shouhed filed a $50 million civil lawsuit against DHS, CBP, ICE, and Border Patrol alleging assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
• Rafie Ollah Shouhed, 79-year-old U.S. citizen, tackled by ICE agents and detained without charges — On September 9, 2025, Rafie Ollah Shouhed, a 79-year-old U.S. citizen who owns a car wash in the Los Angeles area, was detained during an ICE raid. Video evidence shows ICE agents tackling Shouhed. He was held for 12 hours, denied medical treatment, and suffered broken ribs, an injured elbow, and post-concussive symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Federal officials claimed Shouhed was impeding the raid but he was never charged.

Supporting reports

• Irish citizen held in ICE detention despite valid work permit; conditions described as torture — Seamus Culleton, an Irish national with a valid work permit and no criminal record, has been held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in El Paso, Texas for five months following his arrest on 9 September 2025. Despite obtaining a statutory exemption allowing him to work after marrying a US citizen and applying for lawful permanent residence, Culleton remains detained and unable to attend his October green card interview. He reports severe conditions including overcrowding (71 detainees in one room), inadequate food, filthy facilities, and staff-related safety concerns. His lawyer states US authorities are threatening deportation "any day."
• Irish man detained by ICE for five months despite valid work permit and US citizen spouse — Seamus Culleton, an Irish national with a valid work permit and married to a US citizen, was arrested by ICE agents on September 9, 2025, outside a Home Depot in Massachusetts and has been held in ICE detention facilities for five months under conditions he describes as torture-like. Despite having obtained a statutory exemption allowing him to work while his application for lawful permanent residence is pending, he remains in custody and faces potential removal. His wife, a US citizen, and his attorney are calling for his immediate release to allow him to complete his status adjustment process.
• Irish national held in ICE detention despite valid work permit and pending green card application — Seamus Culleton, an Irish national with a valid work permit tied to a pending green card application, was arrested by ICE on September 9, 2025, during a random immigration sweep at a hardware store in Massachusetts. Despite being married to a US citizen, having no criminal record, and possessing documentation of lawful work authorization, Culleton was detained for five months across multiple facilities, ultimately transferred to El Paso, Texas. A judge approved his release on bond in November, but ICE continued detaining him. ICE agents later claimed Culleton had signed deportation documents, which he disputes; a federal judge noted irregularities in ICE's court filings but sided with the agency.

Supporting reports

• Saudi Crown Prince overrode investment committee recommendation to approve $2 billion Kushner fund investment — The Public Investment Fund (PIF) committee that screens investments recommended rejecting Kushner's Affinity Partners proposal, citing "the inexperience of the Affinity Fund management" and "excessive" fees. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who heads PIF's Board of Directors and with whom Kushner had developed a close relationship, overrode the committee's recommendation and approved the $2 billion investment. This investment represents the largest single source of capital for Affinity Partners since its 2021 founding.

Supporting reports

• GREAT Trust plan circulates at White House proposing forced Palestinian relocation and Gaza privatization — A nearly 40-page document outlining the Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration and Transformation (GREAT) Trust plan has been circulating around the White House. The plan proposes turning Gaza into AI-controlled urban centers surrounded by luxury hotels, data centers, solar power plants, and electric vehicle factories, funded through a multilateral "custodianship" involving the U.S., Israel, and foreign investors. The plan emphasizes that Palestinians would be relocated either to other countries or designated areas within Gaza, with financial incentives structured so that each Palestinian who leaves generates $23,000 in savings and every 1% of population departure generates $500 million in savings for investors.