Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump signs executive order requiring citizenship documentation for voter registration — President Trump signed an executive order earlier this year requiring documented proof of citizenship to register to vote, along with other voting-related changes. Much of the order has been blocked by courts. The order represents an attempt to impose new voter registration requirements that courts have found to exceed executive authority and to suppress voter participation.

Supporting reports

• Trump attempts to remove Federal Reserve governor and other non-appointed officials — Trump is attempting to remove dozens of personnel he did not appoint, including a Federal Reserve governor, a top official at the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, prosecutors who investigated him, and leaders across the government including the National Archivist.
• Trump installs second deputy at FBI after souring on first — The White House installed a second deputy at the FBI after becoming dissatisfied with the first, continuing a pattern of rapid personnel changes across agencies.
• Trump pressures Treasury secretary to fire agency's second-in-command — Trump pushed his Treasury secretary to fire the agency's second-in-command, demonstrating continued pressure on cabinet officials to remove personnel who may not align with administration priorities.
• Trump removes acting FEMA administrator over disagreement on agency's continued existence — The White House removed the acting FEMA administrator after he stated the agency should continue to exist, contradicting others in the administration.
• Trump removes IRS director after two months over Treasury Department clash — Trump replaced the head of the IRS less than two months into the job because appointee Billy Long clashed with officials at the Treasury Department. This removal is part of a broader pattern of Trump firing appointees and career officials across multiple agencies.
• Trump removes two DOJ antitrust officials over alleged deal-making with lobbyists — Two top DOJ antitrust officials were removed from their roles after clashing with senior officials at the agency. They accused their colleagues of cutting deals with favored lobbyists. One of the removed officials has publicly questioned the integrity of other DOJ officials.
• Department of Justice launched criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — The Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation into Lisa Cook, a governor of the U.S. Federal Reserve, for allegedly committing mortgage fraud by claiming two separate properties as her primary residence. Pro Publica reported that three Trump Cabinet members—Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin—have engaged in the same conduct but face no investigation.
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired CDC director Susan Monarez — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired newly confirmed CDC Director Susan Monarez after she refused to preapprove recommendations from a vaccine advisory panel that Kennedy had stacked with anti-vaccine advocates. This action followed Kennedy's earlier purges of thousands of CDC advisors and staffers who did not share his opposition to vaccines.
• Trump fires Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — President Trump removed Lisa Cook from her position as a Federal Reserve governor. This action raised concerns about central bank independence, as it represents part of a broader pattern of Trump's attacks on the Federal Reserve's autonomy. Trump's nominee to replace Cook stated he would respect Fed independence, but the removal itself signals potential politicization of monetary policy.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration plans to rebrand Department of Defense as Department of War — The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration is drawing up plans to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War. The change could be accomplished through an act of Congress, but the White House is considering other avenues to make the change.
• Trump signed executive order renaming Department of Defense to Department of War — In September 2025, President Trump signed an executive order changing the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War. At the signing ceremony, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the department would focus on "maximum lethality, not tepid legality" and would pursue "violent effect, not politically correct" operations, emphasizing "restoring the warrior ethos" and "raising up warriors, not just defenders."
• Trump signed Executive Order 14347 authorizing secondary titles "Department of War" and "Secretary of War" for Defense Department officials, with recommendation for permanent statutory renaming within 60 days. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14347 on September 5, 2025, authorizing the Secretary of Defense and subordinate officials to use secondary titles "Secretary of War" and "Department of War" in official correspondence, public communications, and ceremonial contexts. The order invokes historical precedent (the original 1789 Department of War) and frames the renaming as signaling strength and resolve. It directs the Secretary to submit within 60 days a recommendation for permanent legislative and executive actions to formally rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War. Statutory references remain controlling until changed by law.
• Trump signs executive order rebranding Pentagon as Department of War — Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday rebranding the Department of Defense as the Department of War, using a secondary title to circumvent congressional approval requirements. The administration redirected the Pentagon's website from defense.gov to war.gov. Trump justified the move as reverting to the department's original 1789–1947 name, claiming it better reflects military victories. Congressional approval would be required for a permanent name change, though Republican legislators introduced legislation to formalize the switch.
• Trump signs executive order renaming Department of Defense to "Department of War" — Trump signed an executive order on Friday authorizing the renaming of the Department of Defense to the "Department of War." The order was referenced in Trump's subsequent Truth Social post threatening Chicago. The renaming represents a symbolic shift in framing military and enforcement operations and was invoked in the context of immigration enforcement against a domestic city.
• Trump signs executive order to rebrand Department of Defense as "Department of War" — Donald Trump signed an executive order authorizing the U.S. Department of Defense to rebrand itself as the "Department of War," designating it as a "secondary title" to circumvent the need for congressional approval. The order instructs the executive branch to use "Department of War" in communications and permits Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to use the title "Secretary of War." The order also directs Hegseth to recommend legislative measures for permanent renaming. Trump claimed the change would project military aggression and referenced historical victory under the old name.
• Trump issues executive order authorizing secondary titles renaming Department of Defense as Department of War — President Trump issued Executive Order "Restoring the United States Department of War" on September 5, 2025, authorizing the Secretary of Defense to use the secondary title "Secretary of War" and permitting the Department of Defense to be referred to as the "Department of War" in official correspondence, communications, and non-statutory documents. The order directs the Secretary to submit recommendations within 60 days on permanent legislative and executive actions needed to formally rename the department. Statutory references remain unchanged pending future legislation.
• White House issued executive order renaming Department of Defense to Department of War — The White House issued Executive Order 14347 on September 5, 2025, authorizing the Secretary of Defense to use the secondary title "Secretary of War" and permitting the Department of Defense to be referred to as the Department of War in official communications, ceremonial contexts, and non-statutory documents. The order directs the Secretary to submit recommendations within 60 days on permanent legislative and executive actions required to formally rename the department. Statutory references remain unchanged pending future law.
• White House issues fact sheet on executive order restoring "Department of War" as secondary title for Department of Defense — The White House published a fact sheet on September 5, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump authorizing the Secretary of Defense and subordinate officials to use secondary titles including "Secretary of War" and "Department of War" in official communications. The order directs all executive departments and agencies to recognize these titles and instructs the Secretary of War to recommend legislative and executive actions for a permanent rename of the Department of Defense to the Department of War. The fact sheet frames the change as projecting strength and deterrence.

Supporting reports

• White House Cancels $4.9 Billion in Foreign Aid — The White House announced the unilateral cancellation of $4.9 billion in foreign aid funding that had been approved by Congress. This decision, made by the Office of Management and Budget under director Russell Vought, is seen as a violation of the Constitution, which grants Congress the exclusive power to allocate funds.

Supporting reports

• Trump announced mandatory voter ID executive order without congressional authority — On Truth Social, Trump said he will sign an executive order to make voter ID mandatory for elections, a move he cannot legally make without Congress changing election laws. He also repeated calls to ban mail-in voting for most Americans and for the use of "PAPER BALLOTS ONLY!!!" The announcement represents an attempt to unilaterally alter election administration procedures that require legislative authorization.
• Trump announces executive order to end mail-in voting — President Trump announced that lawyers were drafting an executive order to eliminate mail-in balloting, a voting method used by nearly one in three Americans. He also threatened to do away with voting machines entirely. Trump claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin told him mail-in voting was responsible for his 2020 election loss, providing a false rationale for the proposed order.
• Trump announces plan for executive order mandating voter ID for all US elections — President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that he will issue an executive order requiring identification for all US elections, with no exceptions, and stated he wants to ban most mail-in voting except for the severely ill or military personnel. Legal experts and the article note the Constitution grants primary election authority to states and Congress, not the president, making such an order likely unconstitutional. Trump's push stems from baseless claims about the 2020 election being stolen.
• Trump declares intent to take over all voting via executive order — Trump posted on social media: "Voter I.D. Must Be Part of Every Single Vote. NO EXCEPTIONS! I Will Be Doing An Executive Order To That End!!! Also, No Mail-In Voting, Except For Those That Are Very Ill, And The Far Away Military. USE PAPER BALLOTS ONLY!!!" This declaration signals intent to unilaterally impose voting restrictions via executive order.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon plans National Guard deployment to Chicago — The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has spent weeks planning to send thousands of National Guard troops to Chicago as soon as next month, with active-duty troop deployment also discussed but considered less likely. The move represents a significant escalation of federal military presence in domestic law enforcement operations.
• Trump administration plans federal takeover of Chicago for immigration enforcement — The Trump administration is preparing a federally led immigration crackdown targeting Chicago, a Democratic "sanctuary city," including a request for a military base on the city's outskirts to assist operations. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called on citizens to "stand up" against the plan, stating that deploying troops without coordination with local officials would constitute an invasion. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order directing city police to refuse cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and to protect residents' constitutional rights during the anticipated crackdown.

Supporting reports

• White House Office of Management and Budget unilaterally cancelled $4.9 billion in foreign aid — The White House Office of Management and Budget, overseen by director Russell Vought, announced it was unilaterally cancelling $4.9 billion in foreign aid funding that had been passed by Congress. The Constitution grants Congress alone the power of spending money, and the executive branch has no authority to refuse to spend appropriated funds. Vought has argued that because the law permits the president to request Congress stop spending on certain items with 45 days to consider, Trump can send a request with fewer than 45 days remaining in the fiscal year and consider it rubber-stamped. Both Republican Susan Collins and Democratic Patty Murray, the top two lawmakers on the Senate Appropriations Committee, rejected the move. Collins called it "a clear violation of the law" and Murray called it a "brazen attempt to usurp" the power of Congress.

Supporting reports

• 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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• Trump pressured Illinois Governor Pritzker to request federal troops for Chicago — President Trump complained in the Oval Office that Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker was not requesting federal troops to be deployed in Chicago and called Pritzker "an incompetent Governor" on social media, urging him to call for help. Pritzker had previously taken a stand against the deployment of troops in Chicago. The administration has been discussing dispatching soldiers to combat crime.

Supporting reports

• Trump normalizes dictatorship rhetoric — While claiming he is "not a dictator," Trump told reporters that there are a lot of people saying, "Maybe we like a dictator," and stated, "The line is that I'm a dictator, but I stop crime. So a lot of people say, 'You know, if that's the case, I'd rather have a dictator.'"
• Trump stated preference for dictatorship over crime — Trump stated: "The line is that I'm a dictator, but I stop crime. So a lot of people say, 'You know, if that's the case, I'd rather have a dictator.'" The statement was made in the context of defending the military occupation of Washington, D.C.

Supporting reports

• Trump directs FHFA head Pulte to publicly accuse Democratic opponents of mortgage fraud and demand Cook's resignation from Federal Reserve — Bill Pulte, appointed by Trump to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency, has publicly accused New York Attorney General Letitia James, California Senator Adam Schiff, and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook of owner-occupancy mortgage fraud via social media and referrals to the Department of Justice. Trump has demanded Cook resign and threatened to fire her if she does not step down. Cook, the first Black woman appointed to the Fed, denies the allegations and states she will not be "bullied" into resigning. The accusations remain unverified.
• Sen. Adam Schiff accused Trump administration of mortgage-based political persecution — Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), who is being criminally investigated after a referral from Bill Pulte, stated that the Trump administration's use of mortgage investigations against political opponents is "patently false" and that Pulte is "essentially doing the president's bidding." Schiff stated that "Mortgage is their new weapon to go after their critics" and that the administration will "manufacture anything to go after their critics."
• Trump administration weaponized Federal Housing Finance Agency against political opponents — The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration weaponized the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to investigate mortgage records of political opponents. Bill Pulte, a homebuilder heir appointed to lead the agency overseeing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, initiated probes into mortgages of prominent Democrats and a Biden-appointed Federal Reserve official. Pulte partnered Fannie Mae with Palantir, a data analysis firm co-founded by Peter Thiel, and took an unusually active role at both firms.
• Bill Pulte weaponized Federal Housing Finance Agency to investigate Democrats for mortgage fraud — Bill Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, weaponized the typically low-key, non-political agency to open investigations of Democrats for alleged mortgage fraud. Pulte made a criminal referral against Senator Adam Schiff and others, and provided the justification for Trump's attempted firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, citing mortgage fraud concerns. Pulte posted on social media that "fraud will not be tolerated in President Trump's housing market."

Supporting reports

• Trump demands Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook resign and threatens termination over unverified mortgage fraud allegations — President Trump publicly demanded that Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook resign, threatening to fire her if she does not step down voluntarily. The demand follows unverified allegations of mortgage fraud leveled by FHFA head Bill Pulte. Cook, appointed in 2022 for a 14-year term, has not been singled out as a Trump antagonist but her role on the Fed board that sets interest rates—which Trump has pressured to cut—appears to have made her a target. Cook stated she has "no intention of being bullied" and will gather information to address questions about her financial history.
• Trump fires Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — Trump fired Lisa Cook, the first Black woman to serve as a governor of the Federal Reserve, accusing her of committing mortgage fraud. Cook said she will not resign, pointing out that Trump can only legally fire her "for cause" and that "no cause exists under the law." Her lawyer said Trump's "reflex to bully is flawed" and his demands lack legal authority.
• Trump announced removal of Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook "for cause" — President Trump announced via social media that he was removing Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook from her position "for cause," citing allegations from William Pulte (head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency) that Cook had made false statements on a mortgage years ago. Cook has not been charged with any crime. Trump has been pressuring the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates and has mused about taking control of the Fed himself. Cook responded stating Trump has no authority to remove her and she will not resign.
• Trump attempted to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — Trump attempted to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, claiming cause under the Federal Reserve Act. Cook, appointed by President Biden to a term ending in 2038, refused to resign and stated she would challenge the firing in court. Cook's attorney Abbe Lowell stated that Trump's action lacked proper process, basis, or legal authority. Under the Federal Reserve Act, Fed governors can only be removed "for cause," and Cook has not been charged with any crime. The justification came from Bill Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, who cited alleged mortgage fraud investigations.
• Trump fired Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook without stated cause — President Trump removed Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook from office, citing mortgage fraud allegations that legal analysts suggest may not withstand court scrutiny. Trump justified the removal as addressing what his administration characterized as an unqualified diversity hire. The firing demonstrates presidential power over the Fed and signals intent to pressure the institution into adopting monetary policies aligned with Trump's preferences, undermining the Fed's institutional independence.

Supporting reports

• Trump threatens investigation of Chris Christie — Trump threatened to investigate former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie over the 2013 "Bridgegate" scandal after Christie criticized Trump's views on separation of powers during an ABC News interview. The threat represents potential retaliation for political criticism.

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.

Supporting reports

• Trump announced government stake in Intel — Trump announced that the federal government has taken a 10% stake in Intel, which manufactures semiconductors and chips. Trump stated he intends to take similar stakes in other companies. The action represents direct government equity ownership in private corporations.
• Trump announced U.S. acquisition of 10% stake in Intel following pressure on CEO — President Trump announced on social media that the United States now owns and controls 10% of Intel. Trump had called for CEO Lip-Bu Tan's removal on August 7, met with Tan on August 11, and stated he told Tan the U.S. "should be given 10% of Intel." Tan agreed to the arrangement. Trump publicly characterized the transaction as a major corporate acquisition achieved through direct presidential intervention in private business operations.
• Trump Announces U.S. Ownership of 10% of Intel — President Donald Trump announced that the United States now owns 10% of Intel after a meeting with the company's CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, on August 11, where Trump demanded the stake. This announcement marks a significant government intervention in a private company, contrasting with traditional Republican values of free markets.
• Conservative economists and commentators criticized Trump's Intel stake acquisition — Multiple conservative figures criticized Trump's acquisition of a 10% government stake in Intel as socialism and government overreach. National Review's Pradheep Shanker warned it sets a precedent Democrats will exploit; Editor Charles Cooke called it "preposterous"; Sen. Rand Paul questioned whether it constitutes socialism; talk show host Erick Erickson called it "socialism with an R"; former House Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good suggested canceling Intel subsidies instead; former Trump economic advisor Stephen Moore called it "terrible"; and Fox Business host Larry Kudlow expressed discomfort with the move.
• Trump announced U.S. government acquisition of 10% stake in Intel — President Trump announced that the U.S. government now owns and controls 10% of Intel, stating he negotiated the deal with Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan and that "the US paid nothing for these Shares" valued at approximately $11 billion. Trump characterized it as "a great Deal for America." The announcement followed Trump's previous threats against Intel's leadership.
• Trump administration announced government equity stake in Intel and discussed nationalizing defense contractors — Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced that the Trump administration took an ownership stake in Intel and discussed potentially taking equity positions in major defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, which derives 97% of revenue from U.S. government contracts. Lutnick justified the policy as necessary for the government to benefit from taxpayer-funded research and patents. The announcement drew criticism from labor analysts and economists who noted the government received no governance rights or board seats despite taking equity.

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• US Attorney General Bondi issues threats to 30 Democratic-led cities and states over sanctuary policies — US Attorney General Pam Bondi issued letters to 30 Democratic-led cities and states, including governors of California, Illinois, and Minnesota, and mayors of New York, Denver, and Boston, demanding they drop sanctuary policies. Bondi stated their jurisdictions engage in "sanctuary policies and practices that thwart federal immigration enforcement" and declared "This ends now." The letters represent escalating federal pressure on local governments to abandon policies limiting cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Supporting reports

• Trump threatens federal crackdown expansion to Chicago and New York — President Trump announced plans to expand federal crime-control operations to Chicago and New York, targeting Democratic-led cities with Black mayors. Simultaneously, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered that approximately 2,000 National Guard troops already deployed and patrolling Washington DC streets under federal control be armed with service weapons, reversing earlier Pentagon assurances that troops would remain unarmed. The armed deployment represents an escalation of federal intervention into DC policing.
• Trump threatens federal intervention in Chicago — Trump threatened to take over Chicago, claiming that he would send federal forces to address crime in the city. This statement was met with criticism from local officials, who labeled it an illegal abuse of power.
• Pentagon confirms planning for national guard deployment to Chicago; Jeffries accuses Trump of manufacturing crisis — Pentagon officials confirmed to ABC News that planning is underway to send national guard troops to Chicago. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused Trump of "manufacturing a crisis" to justify the deployment, stating the president was "playing games with the lives of Americans." Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called any such deployment "the most flagrant violation of our constitution in the 21st century." Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stated the state had received no federal requests for assistance and that Trump was "abusing his power." The deployment would override state authority, as national guard is normally under state control and only federalized in national emergencies at a governor's request.
• Trump floats military deployment to Baltimore — Trump suggested sending military troops to Baltimore and threatened to "rethink" federal funding for bridge repair in the city, escalating rhetoric about using military force in domestic cities.
• Trump threatens to send troops to Baltimore — President Trump threatened to send troops to Baltimore after Maryland Governor Wes Moore invited him to walk through the city, which Trump interpreted as a provocation.
• Trump threatens to deploy national guard to Chicago; Illinois Democrats condemn as unconstitutional — Pentagon sources confirmed planning for national guard deployment to Chicago, though no final decision has been announced. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and state Attorney General Kwame Raoul held a news conference condemning the threat as unconstitutional and an abuse of presidential power. Trump, at an Oval Office event, referred to Chicago as a "killing field" and signed executive orders on cashless bail and flag burning. Pritzker stated neither he nor the mayor had been contacted by the White House but said they were prepared to pursue legal action to prevent deployment.
• Trump announced plan to deploy military to Chicago — Trump announced plans to deploy armed military personnel to Chicago, framing the action as a response to crime. The deployment was not coordinated with Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker or Chicago's mayor, who learned of the plan through media reports rather than official communication from the White House.
• Trump threatens unilateral national guard deployment to Chicago against state objections — President Trump publicly considered deploying the national guard to Chicago without the governor's consent, citing crime concerns. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago leaders opposed the move as unnecessary overreach. Trump stated he might act unilaterally using emergency powers, framing it as a response to what he called a "killing field." Pritzker characterized the threatened action as a "dangerous power-grab" and military occupation to punish dissidents. Trump has already deployed the national guard to Los Angeles and Washington DC.

Supporting reports

• Trump threatened federal takeover of Chicago — Trump warned that he would take over Chicago "with the federal government," calling the city a "mess." He stated that "African American ladies, beautiful ladies, are saying, 'Please, President Trump, come to Chicago, please.'" The threat followed similar rhetoric about controlling Washington, D.C., and represents an escalation of threats to deploy federal forces in major cities.

Supporting reports

• Trump stated no deadline for keeping troops in DC — When asked if there is a limit to how long he will keep troops in the nation's capital, Trump responded: "I don't know if there is a deadline. If I have a national emergency, I can keep the troops there as long as I want. People aren't going to want to have the troops out in 30 days." The statement indicates indefinite military occupation of the capital.
• Trump suggested Gaza-like depopulation of DC — During the same press conference, Trump suggested a potential Gaza-like depopulation strategy for Washington, D.C., stating: "We could take everybody out and you have a great capital" and warning visitors "they're not going to go home in a body bag." The statement implied forced removal of DC residents as a crime-reduction strategy.

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• Trump acknowledged potential involvement in Bolton raid — When asked whether he knew about the FBI raid on John Bolton ahead of time or had involvement, Trump stated: "I could know about it. I could be the one starting it. I'm actually the chief law enforcement officer." The statement suggests potential presidential direction or knowledge of law enforcement action against a political critic.

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• Trump visits DC police station and touts federal takeover of Metropolitan Police Department — President Trump visited the Anacostia park police station in Washington DC on August 21, 2025, to tout his administration's takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department as a crime-fighting success. Flanked by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Interior Secretary Doug Bergum, Trump declared the takeover successful despite restaurants reporting drops in reservations. He also announced plans to re-grass DC parks to resemble his golf courses and referenced his recent legal victory in the New York civil fraud case.

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• Attorney General Bondi orders DC police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement — US Attorney General Pam Bondi issued an order compelling the DC Metropolitan Police Department to cooperate with federal officials focused on immigration and homeless enforcement. This directive tied the Trump administration's immigration enforcement agenda to its crime-reduction efforts in DC, with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents deployed on local patrols to detain immigrants in traffic stops. The surge in federal law enforcement has resulted in higher daily arrest numbers.

Supporting reports

• Trump announces executive order to eliminate mail-in voting following Putin's election-rigging claims — During a US-Russia summit in Anchorage on 15 August, Vladimir Putin told Donald Trump that the 2020 US election was rigged through mail-in voting. Three days later, Trump announced that lawyers were drafting an executive order to eliminate mail-in balloting, a method used by nearly a third of Americans. The order would restrict a voting method that has not been credibly linked to election fraud, following validation from a foreign adversary.
• Trump announced intention to eliminate mail-in voting and voting machines via executive order — Trump's social media account posted that the president would "lead a movement to get rid of" mail-in ballots and voting machines and claimed he would sign an executive order "to help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm Elections." The post falsely claimed the U.S. is the only country using mail-in voting and that it is rife with fraud, and asserted that Democrats "CHEAT AT LEVELS NEVER SEEN BEFORE."
• Trump claimed federal government has authority to dictate state election procedures — Trump's social media post asserted that "the States are merely an 'agent' for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes. They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do." This claim directly contradicts the U.S. Constitution's allocation of election authority to states and Congress.
• Trump announced executive order campaign to eliminate mail-in voting and voting machines — Trump announced plans to sign an executive order to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines, claiming they result in fraud. He stated that states are merely "agents" of the federal government and must follow presidential directives on vote counting. The announcement came after a meeting with Putin, where Putin questioned mail-in ballot legitimacy. Trump falsely claimed the U.S. is the only country using mail-in voting.
• Trump proposes executive order to ban mail-in voting — President Trump announced on Truth Social on August 18 his intention to sign an executive order banning mail-in voting and eliminating voting machines for the 2026 midterm elections. Trump claimed states are merely "agents" of the federal government in counting votes and must follow federal directives. Election experts told WIRED this interpretation is "completely inaccurate and misleading" regarding the U.S. Constitution.
• Trump announces lawyers drafting executive order to eliminate mail-in voting — Donald Trump announced on Monday that his lawyers are drafting an executive order to end mail-in voting, claiming the method is "corrupt." The announcement came days after a meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where Putin allegedly told Trump the 2020 election was rigged due to postal ballots. Trump made false claims about Jimmy Carter's position on mail-in voting and asserted the US is the only country using it, contradictions contradicted by international data and Carter's own 2020 statements urging expansion of vote-by-mail access.

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• Trump administration attorney general threatens Democratic cities with arrest of local leaders — Trump's attorney general sent letters to multiple Democratic cities this week threatening to arrest local leaders if they do not cooperate with federal authorities on immigration enforcement. The letters represent an escalation of pressure on sanctuary cities and Democratic-run municipalities.

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• Trump administration sends National Guard to Los Angeles despite state opposition — Earlier in 2025, the Trump administration sent National Guard troops to Los Angeles amid protests despite California opposing the move. The deployment prompted a lawsuit from California. Governor Gavin Newsom sued Trump for using the military for domestic law enforcement in defiance of the Posse Comitatus Act. A judge heard the case this week.