Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump states he could have prosecuted political opponents but chose restraint, then asserts presidential power is absolute — From the Oval Office on October 7, 2026, Trump told reporters he could have taken "very bad things" against Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama but refrained out of respect for the presidency. He then stated "I can do whatever I want, if I want," asserting that despite two impeachments and actions by political opponents, he views the presidency as a "very sacred position" and retains unlimited executive authority.

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• Todd Blanche declines to pledge DOJ independence from White House — US Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, declined on NBC's Meet the Press to pledge that the Department of Justice would act independently of the White House, stating "no attorney general should ever pledge that." Blanche asserted Trump would never ask him to do something unethical or illegal, dismissing concerns about politicization as a "false narrative." His comments came days after his narrow 50-49 Senate confirmation and amid Trump's dismissal of his predecessor Pam Bondi over insufficient action against Trump's political opponents.
• Attorney General Todd Blanche refused to pledge DOJ independence from White House — On NBC's Meet the Press, Attorney General Todd Blanche refused to pledge that the DOJ will always act independently of the White House, stating "No, I'm not going to pledge that, and no AG ever should." When asked if he would comply with a presidential directive that crosses ethical or legal lines, Blanche responded that the president "would never do that" and "never has" and "never will," without committing to refuse unlawful orders.

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• Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general — The US Senate voted 50-49 to confirm Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal attorney, as attorney general. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana cast the deciding vote after two Republicans (Collins, Murkowski) opposed the nomination. Blanche had been serving in an acting capacity and faced pushback over a proposed $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" and tax immunity provisions for Trump, his sons, and businesses. Cornyn and Tillis secured written assurances the fund would not proceed, enabling narrow confirmation.
• Todd Blanche confirmed as US Attorney General — The Republican-controlled Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as US Attorney General. Legal scholar Sherrilyn Ifill characterized the confirmation as signaling the collapse of the rule of law and the beginning of an accelerated program to suppress dissent. The confirmation occurred amid ongoing concerns about the use of the Justice Department as a political instrument.
• Senate confirmed Trump's former criminal defense lawyer Todd Blanche as attorney general — The Senate narrowly voted to confirm Todd Blanche, Trump's former criminal defense lawyer, as attorney general on August 8. As acting attorney general, Blanche greenlit the second indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, reauthorized the use of firing squads for death penalty executions, and signed off on a $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization fund" (now supposedly rescinded). The confirmation marks a significant shift in DOJ leadership toward Trump's personal interests.
• Senate Republicans confirm Todd Blanche as Attorney General — At 4:00 a.m. on August 9, 2026, just before a five-week recess, Senate Republicans confirmed Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to the permanent position of Attorney General of the United States. Blanche, who served as President Trump's personal criminal lawyer, becomes the top law enforcement officer of the country. Some Republicans, including 92-year-old Senate Judiciary Committee chair Chuck Grassley, expressed enthusiasm for the nomination. Others expressed skepticism but stated they believed confirming Blanche was preferable to allowing Trump to select an alternative candidate.
• Todd Blanche sworn in as attorney general by Trump defense lawyer Emil Bove — On August 10, Todd Blanche took the oath of office as attorney general, administered by federal appeals court judge Emil Bove, a Trump defense lawyer who later became deputy at the Department of Justice. The ceremony excluded the press but included FBI director Kash Patel and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. Retired conservative judge J. Michael Luttig characterized Blanche as "the symbol of Donald Trump's corruption of the rule of law" and called his confirmation "a shameful act of acquiescence" by Senate Republicans.
• Todd Blanche sworn in as US attorney general — Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal criminal defense lawyer, was sworn in as US attorney general on Monday following a narrow 50-49 Senate confirmation vote on Saturday. Blanche had been serving as acting attorney general since April. He previously represented Trump in criminal cases before joining the administration as deputy attorney general in early 2025. His tenure has included the departure of over 200 prosecutors and agents who worked on Trump-related investigations.

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• Trump threatened to withdraw Blanche's nomination and resubmit it after Cornyn and Tillis leave office. — After the Blanche vote was canceled, Trump posted on Truth Social that he would "temporarily withdraw" Blanche's nomination if Cornyn and Tillis did not "do the right thing," with the intention to resubmit it after the two senators leave office. Trump attacked both senators, claiming his prior refusal to endorse them had "ended" their political careers. He praised Blanche as a potential "Greatest AG of All Time" and stated Blanche would "remain, in any event, as Acting." The post signaled Trump's intent to circumvent Senate opposition through procedural delay and attrition.
• Trump threatens to withdraw Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination — Trump threatened to withdraw his nomination of Todd Blanche as attorney general after Senators Cornyn and Tillis refused to confirm him without a written revocation of Trump's tax audit immunity and January 6th slush fund. The senators' conditional refusal to confirm created a standoff over Trump's demand to retain immunity protections and control of discretionary funds related to January 6th.
• Trump refuses to narrow tax immunity agreement despite Republican senators' written limits request — Donald Trump declined a request from Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis to formally limit the scope of a controversial tax immunity agreement that grants him, his family, and related entities broad protection from IRS audits. The agreement, part of a settlement ending a lawsuit over unauthorized disclosure of Trump's tax records, includes a $1.8 billion slush fund. Trump's refusal to narrow the deal jeopardized confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general, though Blanche can continue serving as acting AG indefinitely under federal law.
• Trump reverses position on $1.8bn "anti-weaponization" fund and vows to revive it despite Senate opposition — Donald Trump, after initially declaring a controversial $1.8bn "anti-weaponization" fund "dead," reversed course and promised to revive it through legislation or executive action. The fund, part of a legal settlement with the DOJ over Trump's IRS lawsuit, is intended to compensate individuals Trump claims were wrongfully targeted by government. Senate Republicans John Cornyn and Thom Tillis are blocking Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination over the fund dispute, demanding written assurance the DOJ will not establish it. Trump threatened to withdraw Blanche's nomination, keep him as acting attorney general, and "push hard" for the fund anyway.
• Trump threatens to withdraw Blanche AG nomination temporarily, keep him as acting attorney general — Donald Trump announced he may "temporarily" withdraw Todd Blanche's nomination as attorney general to circumvent Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who are blocking confirmation over objections to a $1.8 billion political-weaponization compensation fund and tax immunity provisions. Trump stated he would keep Blanche as acting attorney general indefinitely under federal law until the two senators leave office in January 2027. The Senate Judiciary Committee canceled a scheduled confirmation vote on Thursday.

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• DOJ sends federal prosecutor to observe California ballot processing — The US Department of Justice sent a federal prosecutor to observe ballot processing in Los Angeles County during the ongoing count of California's gubernatorial primary. A Trump-appointed assistant US attorney stated that his office was conducting "multiple election fraud investigations" related to the primary.
• DOJ sends federal prosecutor to observe California ballot processing amid Trump election-fraud claims — The U.S. Justice Department deployed a federal prosecutor to Los Angeles County's Ballot Processing Center on Friday to observe ballot-counting operations, as President Trump made baseless claims that California Democrats were "rigging" primary election results. Bill Essayli, the Trump-appointed first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, simultaneously announced "multiple election fraud investigations" and alleged "serious structural vulnerabilities" in the state's election systems. State officials rejected the allegations, and California Secretary of State Shirley Weber affirmed the integrity of the counting process.

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• Department of Justice sues four states over undercover license plate policies — The Department of Justice filed lawsuits against Maine, Washington, Oregon, and Massachusetts on May 28, 2026, challenging state policies that deny confidential license plates to federal law enforcement agents. The DOJ alleged the policies are unconstitutional, threaten agent safety, and undermine federal operations including immigration enforcement. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated the policies are discriminatory and obstructionist. The Civil Division was instructed to identify additional state and local laws impeding federal operations.

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• Judge dismisses Trump's IRS lawsuit — Judge Kathleen Williams dismissed Donald Trump's lawsuit against the IRS, noting that the withdrawal of the case did not reference any settlement and that there was no legal basis for the claims. The judge emphasized the importance of transparency and the public's interest in government conduct, highlighting the lack of settlement documents submitted by the Department of Justice.
• Judge Kathleen Williams dismisses Trump's IRS lawsuit, finding no legal settlement — Judge Kathleen Williams issued an order dismissing Trump's lawsuit against the IRS, ruling that because Trump's withdrawal of the suit "does not reference any settlement or include a stipulation of settlement, there is no settlement of record." The judge noted that federal agencies represented by the DOJ neither submitted settlement documents nor filed documents ensuring settlement was appropriate where an outstanding question existed as to whether an actual case or controversy existed. The judge emphasized the public's strong interest in knowing about government conduct and fair administration of justice.

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• Stanley Woodward Jr. signs settlement agreement on behalf of the United States — Stanley E. Woodward Jr., a defense attorney who has represented Trump associates including FBI Director Kash Patel, Trump trade advisor Peter Navarro, Walt Nauta, and numerous January 6 defendants, signed the settlement agreement on behalf of the United States rather than Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Woodward's representation of Trump's orbit creates a conflict of interest in negotiating an agreement purportedly on behalf of the government.
• Treasury Department's top lawyer Brian Morrissey resigns — Brian Morrissey, the Treasury Department's top lawyer, resigned following the announcement of the Trump administration's agreement with the IRS regarding the $1.776 billion fund.
• Treasury Department general counsel resigned amid Trump settlement announcement — Brian Morrissey, the Treasury Department's general counsel and a former clerk for Justice Clarence Thomas, resigned as the government announced a controversial settlement with Trump. Morrissey, who joined the Trump administration last year as the president's pick for the position after previously serving at the agency and DOJ during Trump's first term, did not respond to requests for comment. The Treasury Department holds responsibility for approving use of the government's judgment fund, an uncapped pot of money used to settle lawsuits.

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• DOJ issued order permanently barring federal government from pursuing tax claims against Trump and affiliated entities — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order stating that the federal government is permanently barred from pursuing tax-related claims, reviews, examinations, and appeals against Trump, his family members, and affiliated companies. The order uses language stating the US "RELEASES, WAIVES, ACQUITS, and FOREVER DISCHARGES" Trump and is "FOREVER BARRED and PRECLUDED" from pursuing monetary relief or other actions against Trump and related individuals, including family members, trusts, and subsidiaries.
• Trump granted permanent immunity from IRS tax investigations and prosecution — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed off on a provision in Trump's settlement that permanently prohibits the IRS from investigating or prosecuting the president, his family, or his businesses for pending tax claims, including a current audit that could have cost Trump more than $100 million. Former IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel stated he was unaware of any precedent where the IRS agreed in advance to permanently forgo examination of previously filed tax returns for a specific person or business.
• Department of Justice amends agreement to release Trump from all IRS prosecution and audits — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an amended agreement that declares the United States "RELEASES, WAIVES, ACQUITS, and FOREVER DISCHARGES" Trump, his sons, the Trump Organization, and "related or affiliated individuals" or companies from all IRS claims. The amendment asserts a blanket promise to cease all IRS audits of Trump's taxes and not to prosecute any crimes Trump, his family, businesses, or associates may have committed involving the IRS. This effectively grants Trump immunity from tax prosecution.
• Justice Department amends settlement agreement to permanently bar IRS from auditing Trump's tax returns — The Department of Justice, through acting attorney general Todd Blanche, added an addendum to a settlement agreement on May 20, 2026, permanently barring the IRS from auditing Donald Trump's past tax returns, as well as those of his family, company, and related entities for all filings prior to the agreement. This amendment was appended to a controversial $1.776 billion compensation fund created to settle Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and other government claims. The provision was posted quietly to the DOJ website the day after the fund's announcement and drew immediate criticism from Senate Democrats during Blanche's testimony.

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• Trump administration considers settling $10bn IRS lawsuit with $1.7bn compensation fund for allies including January 6 rioters — The Trump administration is reportedly negotiating to settle Trump's $10bn lawsuit against the IRS by establishing a $1.7bn compensation fund using the Treasury Department's Judgment Fund. The fund would compensate individuals Trump claims were wrongfully targeted by the Biden administration, including over 1,500 January 6 rioters. The settlement would also include a public IRS apology and waiver of audits on Trump, his family, and businesses. A federal judge has appointed attorneys to examine whether a genuine legal controversy exists, raising concerns about self-dealing and potential DOJ manipulation.
• Trump withdrew IRS lawsuit; DOJ established $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" from Judgment Fund — Attorneys for President Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization filed notice voluntarily dismissing a $10 billion IRS lawsuit in federal court in Miami with prejudice. In exchange, the Justice Department announced creation of a $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" drawn from the federal Judgment Fund to issue apologies and monetary relief to people claiming government "weaponization" or "lawfare." A five-member commission appointed by the Attorney General will decide beneficiaries; the President can remove any member. Quarterly reports go to the Attorney General, not the public. The fund must cease processing claims by December 2028.
• Trump settles IRS lawsuit and establishes $1.8bn anti-weaponization fund — Trump settled his lawsuit against the IRS over the leaking of his tax information by a whistleblower, abandoning his $10bn damages claim in exchange for a financial agreement that allowed him to establish a $1.776bn "anti-weaponization fund." Federal Judge Kathleen Williams approved the settlement on May 18. Critics and Democrats argue the fund functions as a "slush fund" designed to distribute taxpayer dollars to Trump's political allies, including those convicted of violence during the January 6 Capitol riot, whom Trump subsequently pardoned.
• Justice Department announces Anti-Weaponization Fund settlement with Trump entities — The Department of Justice announced establishment of "The Anti-Weaponization Fund" as part of a settlement agreement in President Donald J. Trump v. Internal Revenue Service. The fund, capitalized at $1.776 billion from the judgment fund, will process claims from individuals alleging weaponization or lawfare by government. Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization agreed to drop their lawsuit with prejudice and withdraw administrative claims related to tax-return leaks, the Mar-a-Lago raid, and Russia-collusion investigations in exchange for a formal apology (but no monetary damages to them personally) and creation of the fund. The fund will cease operations by December 1, 2028.
• DOJ establishes $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" for January 6 defendants and MAGA loyalists — The Department of Justice created a $1.776 billion taxpayer-funded "Anti-Weaponization Fund" designated to provide financial support to January 6th insurrectionists and MAGA loyalists. The fund represents a direct allocation of federal resources to individuals convicted or charged in connection with the Capitol attack, effectively using public money to benefit political allies and those involved in the assault on the Capitol.
• DOJ establishes $1.776 billion fund for January 6 defendants and Trump allies — The Department of Justice, under Attorney General Todd Blanche, announced the creation of a $1.776 billion fund designated "for victims of lawfare and weaponization" to provide monetary relief and formal apologies to claimants. The fund will be administered by a five-member Commission appointed by the Attorney General, with one member chosen in consultation with congressional leadership. The President retains authority to remove any Commission member. The fund is expected to provide payouts to individuals convicted or charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol breach and Trump administration officials.
• DOJ announced Anti-Weaponization Fund eligibility may include January 6 defendants — ABC News and TIME reported before the fund announcement that the proposed $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund could include people charged in connection with January 6. Reuters notes that "weaponization" and "lawfare" are terms the President and allies have used to describe criminal cases arising from the Capitol attack. The Hill reports that several convicted January 6 defendants have pending civil suits. DOJ has not publicly released eligibility criteria or named beneficiaries.
• DOJ announces $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" as Trump settlement — Trump's Justice Department officially announced the $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" as part of a settlement with Trump in his lawsuit against the Treasury Department and IRS over the leaking of his tax returns. The fund will be overseen by a commission appointed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, whose members Trump can fire without cause, and will be made available in secret to those claiming wrongful government targeting, potentially including those Trump pardoned for January 6 involvement.
• Trump administration dismisses $10bn IRS lawsuit and establishes $1.776bn secretive compensation fund — The Justice Department announced creation of a $1.776bn "Anti-Weaponization Fund" as part of an agreement in which Trump and his sons dropped a $10bn lawsuit against the IRS. The fund, overseen by five commissioners (four appointed by the attorney general and removable by Trump), will compensate Trump allies with minimal transparency—quarterly reports go only to the attorney general and are confidential. Trump and his sons receive formal apologies but no monetary compensation. Democrats and watchdog groups condemned the arrangement as a slush fund funneling taxpayer dollars to political allies.
• Department of Justice announces $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" to compensate Trump and associates — The Department of Justice, under Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, announced the creation of a $1.776 billion fund purportedly to compensate victims of alleged "weaponization" of the Justice Department under former President Biden. The fund was established following Trump's withdrawal of a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS after a contractor leaked his tax information. Judge Kathleen Williams dismissed the suit, noting no legal settlement existed. The fund is controlled by five administrators, four chosen by Blanche and one in consultation with Congress, all removable by Trump without cause. Distributions are confidential and overseen only by the DOJ. Remaining funds after December 2028 revert to Trump's chosen federal account.
• Creation of $1.776 billion compensation fund for Trump allies with minimal oversight — The Department of Justice announced creation of a $1.776 billion compensation fund on May 19–20, 2026, to settle Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and other government claims. The fund is administered by five officials subject to at-will removal by the president, operates with minimal transparency requirements, and is not obligated to publicly disclose recipients or justifications for awards. Senate Democrats criticized the arrangement as an "outrageous, unprecedented slush fund." Acting attorney general Blanche testified that no limitations exist on who may seek compensation, including those convicted of assaulting police on January 6, though he stated Trump and his sons would not receive direct compensation.
• DOJ announces creation of Anti-Weaponization Fund — The Department of Justice announced the establishment of a $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" aimed at compensating individuals it describes as victims of lawfare under former President Joe Biden. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the fund is a lawful process for victims to seek redress. However, the fund is not a legal settlement related to Trump's dropped lawsuit against the IRS, and it grants Trump significant control over the distribution of taxpayer money without oversight.
• Justice Department announced $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund from Trump IRS lawsuit settlement — The Justice Department announced a $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" created as part of a settlement of President Trump's lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. Trump, his two adult sons, and the Trump Organization dropped the suit and received a formal apology but no direct monetary payment. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal defense attorney, established the fund and will handpick the five-member commission deciding eligibility and payouts. The process is largely shielded from court review, and eligibility criteria remain undefined, with Blanche stating "anybody can apply."

Supporting reports

• Trump negotiates $1.7 billion fund to compensate allies for alleged DOJ weaponization — Trump is in talks to drop his $10 billion IRS lawsuit in exchange for the government establishing a $1.7 billion taxpayer-funded account to compensate Trump's allies who claim they were harmed by the Biden administration's alleged weaponization of the Department of Justice. Eligible recipients would include nearly 1,600 people convicted of crimes related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, whom Trump pardoned or commuted shortly after taking office in January 2025. While Trump himself will likely be barred from direct payments, entities associated with him will not be.
• Trump DOJ creates $1.7 billion compensation fund for January 6 defendants and Trump allies — The Trump administration is expected to settle Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS by creating a $1.7 billion taxpayer-funded compensation fund to pay individuals and entities claiming wrongful targeting by the Biden administration. The fund would compensate approximately 1,600 January 6 Capitol attack defendants and potentially Trump-associated entities. Trump would retain authority to remove commission members without cause, and the commission would operate with minimal disclosure requirements or oversight of its decision-making process for distributing over $1 billion in public funds.
• Trump administration considers $1.7 billion compensation fund for allies investigated under Biden — The Trump administration is reportedly considering a $1.7 billion fund to compensate President Trump's allies and others who claim they were harmed by Justice Department investigations during the Biden administration. The fund could cover legal costs for people in Trump's orbit and potentially extend to some of the nearly 1,600 people charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack. The administration has discussed modeling the program on past federal settlement funds, with possible payments through the Treasury Department's Judgment Fund. The proposal has not been finalized or approved.
• White House and DOJ explore settlement of Trump's $10 billion IRS lawsuit — The New York Times reported that the White House and Justice Department are exploring a settlement in Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS for releasing his tax returns. ABC News reported that Trump is expected to settle in exchange for launching a $1.7 billion compensation fund for his allies, including those pardoned for Jan. 6 involvement, with a Trump-controlled commission overseeing distribution and recipient identities potentially kept private. The settlement would use taxpayer funds to reward political allies.

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• Fired judges file suit challenging terminations; Merit Systems Protection Board denies jurisdiction — A group of fired immigration judges filed suit against the Department of Justice challenging the administration's authority to terminate immigration judges without cause or explanation. The Merit Systems Protection Board, an independent federal agency created to protect federal employees from political termination, ruled it had no jurisdiction to review the removals. The fired judges are appealing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, arguing the decision departs from more than a century of civil service precedent protecting judges from at-will removal.

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• Fired judges file suit challenging terminations; Merit Systems Protection Board denies jurisdiction — A group of fired immigration judges filed suit against the Department of Justice challenging the administration's authority to terminate immigration judges without cause or explanation. The Merit Systems Protection Board, an independent federal agency created to protect federal employees from political termination, ruled it had no jurisdiction to review the removals. The fired judges are appealing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, arguing the decision departs from more than a century of civil service precedent protecting judges from at-will removal.

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• DOJ prosecutors demoted after Comey indictment push — The Washington Post reported that prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia have been demoted or pushed out following the push to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey. The fallout has disrupted major cases, including one involving a deadly attack in Afghanistan. The action reflects apparent retaliation against prosecutors perceived as insufficiently loyal to the Trump administration's priorities.

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• ICE re-arrests El Gamal family hours after federal judge's release order — An Egyptian mother and five children were released from ICE detention in Dilley, Texas on April 23 following a federal judge's order, but were re-arrested on April 25 hours after arriving home in Colorado. The Trump administration accused them of being "associates" to the father's alleged hate crime attack. ICE placed them on a deportation flight to Michigan, but a Colorado federal judge ordered the plane to turn around. The family was released again on April 29. Their attorney characterized the re-arrest as "kidnapping" in violation of the Texas judge's order.
• Egyptian family of six re-detained by ICE days after court-ordered release — Hayam El Gamal and her five children were released from ICE custody at the Dilley detention center in Texas on Thursday, April 24, 2026, but were taken back into custody on Saturday, April 26, and placed on a private jet to Egypt. Their attorney Eric Lee stated the re-detention violated a court order and constituted "an absolutely brazen violation of separation of powers." US District Judge Fred Biery granted an emergency motion to block the deportation on Saturday. The family had been detained for 10 months; El Gamal's husband was arrested in June 2025 in connection with a firebombing attack that injured over a dozen people and killed an 82-year-old woman.

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• FBI investigates New York Times reporter after critical coverage of FBI Director Patel — The New York Times reported that Trump's FBI launched an investigation into reporter Elizabeth Williamson last month after she published an article detailing FBI Director Kash Patel's use of an agency SWAT team to escort his girlfriend. Times executive editor Joseph Kahn called the probe "alarming" and "unconstitutional," characterizing it as an attempt to "criminalize routine reporting" and to "prevent journalists from scrutinizing" the Trump administration.
• FBI investigated New York Times reporter for article about Kash Patel — The FBI opened an investigation into New York Times reporter Elizabeth Williamson after she published an article about FBI Director Kash Patel using bureau personnel to provide his girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, with government security and transportation. Agents interviewed Wilkins, queried databases for information on Williamson, and recommended determining whether Williamson violated federal stalking laws. DOJ officials expressed concern the inquiry was retaliation for the article. The FBI later stated investigators were concerned the reporter's "aggressive reporting techniques crossed lines of stalking." NYT Executive Editor Joseph Kahn called the action "a blatant violation of Elizabeth's First Amendment rights" and "unconstitutional."
• Kash Patel denied using FBI to retaliate against reporter — FBI Director Kash Patel appeared on Sean Hannity's Fox News program and denied allegations that he used the FBI to investigate reporter Elizabeth Williamson in retaliation for her article about his girlfriend receiving government security. Patel claimed the reporter's story posed "a direct threat of life" to his girlfriend and characterized himself and his associates as "tough."

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• Justice Department appoints Trump loyalist Joe diGenova to lead probe into officials who investigated Trump — The Justice Department announced the appointment of Joe diGenova, a Trump loyalist and 2020 election denier, to lead a Florida-based federal probe into intelligence and law enforcement officials who investigated Trump. DiGenova previously worked with Rudy Giuliani on efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and to obtain damaging information on then-candidate Joe Biden from Ukrainian officials. The appointment signals the administration's intent to investigate and potentially prosecute those who conducted prior investigations into Trump.
• Joe DiGenova sworn in to lead "Russia hoax investigation" — On April 20, 2026, Joe DiGenova, an 81-year-old former Trump election lawyer and conspiracy theorist, was sworn in to oversee a multi-year "grand conspiracy" investigation against Trump's perceived enemies, including former CIA director John Brennan. DiGenova stated that Trump "personally asked" him to lead the investigation and publicly sketched a grand conspiracy narrative framing investigations into Trump as a coordinated plot to deny him civil rights.

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• Justice Department sues Connecticut and New Haven over sanctuary immigration policies — The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in the District of Connecticut against the State of Connecticut, Governor Ned Lamont, Attorney General William Tong, the City of New Haven, and Mayor Justin Elicker, challenging state and local sanctuary policies that restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The complaint alleges that Connecticut's "Trust Act" and related policies obstruct federal immigration law enforcement and have resulted in the release of individuals the department characterizes as dangerous criminals. The department invokes the Supremacy Clause as the constitutional basis for preemption.

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• DOJ opinion claims Presidential Records Act unconstitutional — Assistant Attorney General T. Elliot Gaiser published an opinion stating that the Presidential Records Act is unconstitutional, arguing it infringes on presidential autonomy. This opinion could significantly impact the handling of presidential records and accountability.
• Office of Legal Counsel published opinion declaring Presidential Records Act unconstitutional — Assistant Attorney General T. Elliot Gaiser of the Office of Legal Counsel published a legal opinion for the White House arguing that the Presidential Records Act (PRA), which requires presidents to keep records of official business and transfer them at the end of their term, is unconstitutional. The memo claims the PRA "unconstitutionally intrudes on the independence and autonomy of the President guaranteed by Article II" and states "the President need not further comply with its dictates."

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• Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi; Todd Blanche becomes acting AG and affirms Trump's "right" to direct DOJ investigations — Donald Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi on April 2, 2026, after months of pressure to prosecute political rivals including James Comey, Letitia James, and Adam Schiff. Though the DOJ secured indictments against Comey and James, the cases collapsed. Trump was reportedly angered by the department's lack of progress in pursuing enemies. Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, subsequently stated Trump has the "right" to direct investigations at the justice department, signaling the administration's intent to weaponize law enforcement for political retribution.

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• Pam Bondi fired as Attorney General; Todd Blanche assumes interim role — President Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi on April 1, 2026, shortly before delivering a primetime address on the Iran war. Trump announced her departure via Truth Social, stating she would transition to the private sector. According to reporting, Trump cited Bondi's alleged intervention in matters related to Rep. Eric Swalwell and FBI investigative documents concerning Swalwell's relationship with Christine Fang as a reason for the dismissal. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche was named interim AG. Bondi reportedly pleaded for more time but Trump remained firm.
• Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi; Todd Blanche becomes acting AG and affirms Trump's "right" to direct DOJ investigations — Donald Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi on April 2, 2026, after months of pressure to prosecute political rivals including James Comey, Letitia James, and Adam Schiff. Though the DOJ secured indictments against Comey and James, the cases collapsed. Trump was reportedly angered by the department's lack of progress in pursuing enemies. Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, subsequently stated Trump has the "right" to direct investigations at the justice department, signaling the administration's intent to weaponize law enforcement for political retribution.
• Trump dismisses Attorney General Pam Bondi — President Trump announced on 2 April via Truth Social that Attorney General Pam Bondi was being removed from office. Trump cited her transition to "a much needed and important new job in the private sector" without explicitly naming the Epstein files as the reason, though reporting indicates her mishandling of the Epstein investigation and repeated missed disclosure deadlines under the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA) were a primary motivation for her ouster. Todd Blanche assumed the role of acting attorney general.
• Trump fires attorney general Pam Bondi — Donald Trump dismissed Pam Bondi as US attorney general after 14 months, citing frustration with her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and her failure to prosecute additional political enemies to his satisfaction. Bondi had reshaped the Justice Department through staff purges, shifted prosecutorial focus toward immigration, and complied with Trump's demands to indict former FBI director James Comey and New York attorney general Letitia James. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche assumed acting leadership; Lee Zeldin is reportedly a top contender for permanent replacement.
• Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi via social media — President Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi by posting her dismissal on social media. Trump was reportedly angry that Bondi had not adequately punished his political enemies and that her handling of the Epstein files had failed to contain the story. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, will serve as her replacement.
• Pam Bondi fired as Attorney General — President Trump terminated Pam Bondi as Attorney General on April 2, 2026. According to reporting, Bondi reportedly pleaded with Trump not to fire her during a confrontation at the White House. Trump released a statement describing her as a "Great American Patriot" transitioning to the private sector. Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal attorney and current Deputy Attorney General, assumed the role of Acting Attorney General. Bondi remains subject to a bipartisan congressional subpoena to testify before the Oversight Committee regarding the Epstein files.
• Trump appoints Todd Blanche as acting Attorney General — Trump appointed Deputy AG Todd Blanche, his former criminal defense attorney, to replace fired Attorney General Pam Bondi in an acting capacity on April 2. Blanche's appointment places a personal loyalist with no prior DOJ leadership experience in control of the nation's chief law enforcement agency, raising concerns about politicization of the Justice Department.
• Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi — Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi on April 2 after she failed to prosecute Trump's perceived political enemies and mishandled the release of the Epstein files. CNN reported that Bondi's upcoming deposition about the Epstein files influenced the timing of her firing, as the White House sought to avoid it. Trump appointed Deputy AG Todd Blanche, his former criminal defense attorney, to replace Bondi in an acting capacity. Bondi is the second woman in Trump's Cabinet to be fired.

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• Judge James Boasberg quashes grand jury subpoena for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell — U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued a 37-page ruling on March 13, 2026, quashing a grand jury subpoena for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Boasberg found "abundant evidence that the subpoenas' dominant (if not sole) purpose is to harass and pressure Powell either to yield to the president or to resign and make way for a Fed chair who will." The judge noted the government offered no evidence that Powell committed any crime "other than displeasing the president." Trump had been waging a public campaign against Powell to lower interest rates faster and attacked Boasberg on Truth Social following the ruling.

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• Trump announces 10% global baseline tariff under Section 122 of Trade Act — Following the Supreme Court's ruling striking down his IEEPA-based tariffs, President Trump announced a new 10% global baseline tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which permits tariffs for 150 days. Trump stated the administration would initiate investigations into unfair trading practices that could lead to permanent tariffs. Trump framed the court's decision as actually strengthening presidential tariff authority and vowed to enact "very powerful alternatives" to the struck-down tariffs.
• Trump announces 10% global tariff under Section 122 — Following the Supreme Court's invalidation of his national emergency tariffs, Trump announced a 10% blanket global tariff "over and above our normal tariffs already being charged" under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, which permits temporary tariffs to address balance-of-payments deficits. This action circumvents the Court's ruling by invoking alternative statutory authority, though Section 122 requires congressional approval to extend beyond 150 days and prohibits country-specific discrimination.
• Trump announces new 10% global tariff under Trade Act of 1974 — Hours after the Supreme Court ruling, President Trump held a press conference announcing he would continue his tariff war using Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 instead of the IEEPA. He announced a new 10% global tariff and directed his administration to conduct investigations into unfair trading practices under other sections of the 1974 Act. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the new tariffs would result in "virtually unchanged tariff revenue in 2026" and acknowledged the process would be more complicated but ultimately achieve the same outcome.
• Trump announces new 10% global tariff, increases to 15% within 24 hours — After the Supreme Court ruled his tariffs unconstitutional, President Trump announced a new 10% global tariff using different statutory authority and increased it to 15% less than 24 hours later. Trump stated "The policy hasn't changed. The legal tools that implement that may change but the policy hasn't changed," signaling intent to circumvent the court's constitutional ruling through alternative legal mechanisms. Top trade negotiator Jamieson Greer defended the shift as providing US business "leverage" in world trade.
• Trump signals intent to reimpose tariffs via alternative legal authority — At a news conference on 21 February 2026, President Trump stated he would attempt to reintroduce 10 percent tariffs on all countries using a different legal mechanism after the Supreme Court struck down his IEEPA-based tariffs. Trump characterized the court's failure to address refunds as "crazy" and predicted years of litigation. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent similarly suggested refunds could be delayed indefinitely.
• Trump announced 10% tariff on foreign imports following Supreme Court ruling — On Friday, February 21, 2026, immediately after the Supreme Court's decision striking down his IEEPA tariffs, Trump announced he was imposing a 10% tariff on foreign imports, directly contradicting the court's constitutional finding.
• Supreme Court ruled Trump's tariff regime unlawful; Trump announced new tariffs under Section 122 of Trade Act — The Supreme Court struck down Trump's sweeping tariff regime as lacking statutory authority. Within hours, Trump announced a new 10 percent worldwide tariff, raising it to 15 percent by the following morning, claiming authority under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. Legal analysis indicates Section 122 permits only temporary import surcharges of up to 15 percent for no more than 150 days, and only when the United States faces a serious international balance-of-payments crisis. The current U.S. balance-of-payments deficit is zero, and no such crisis exists. Trump's new tariff announcement appears to be an attempt to circumvent the Court's ruling through a different legal theory.
• Supreme Court rules Trump tariffs illegal under emergency powers law — The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling on Friday declaring that most of Trump's tariffs lacked legal justification under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The court held that tariff authority belongs to Congress during peacetime, not the president. Trump responded by announcing a 15% global tariff under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act. Trade chief Jamieson Greer stated the administration would persist with tariff policy despite the ruling and would not seek congressional authorization for the new tariffs.
• Trump signs global 10% tariff proclamation under Section 122 after Supreme Court blocks tariff authority — President Trump signed a proclamation on February 21, 2026, imposing a temporary 10% tariff on all countries effective February 24, invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The action followed a Supreme Court ruling blocking his use of tariffs. Trump claimed authority under existing statutes without congressional approval. Canada, Mexico, certain food products, and critical minerals were exempted. Trump publicly attacked six justices as a "disgrace to the nation" while praising three dissenters.
• Trump increased proposed global tariff rate from 10% to 15% via social media post — Trump announced via Truth Social that he was raising worldwide tariffs from the initially announced 10% to 15%, invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The announcement claimed the tariffs would take effect "effective immediately," though it remained unclear whether official documents had been signed. This followed Trump's earlier press conference announcement of 10% tariffs and came after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff actions as illegal on Friday.
• Trump imposed 10% global tariff under Section 122 of Trade Act of 1974, then raised it to 15% — On February 21, 2026, President Trump announced a 10% global tariff citing Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, then raised it to 15% the following day. Trump invoked this authority immediately after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. According to Popular Information's analysis, Trump's invocation of Section 122 is legally defective because the statute authorizes tariffs only in response to "large and serious" balance-of-payments deficits, not trade deficits; the U.S. currently has a zero balance-of-payments deficit, making the tariff legally unsupported.
• Trump announces 15% global tariff under alternative legal framework — Following the Supreme Court's ruling, Trump announced a 15% global tariff on all foreign imports (increased from 10% announced Friday) under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, a different legal framework than the one struck down by the court. Trade chief Greer indicated the administration would not automatically seek congressional authorization for these tariffs, which are set to expire within five months without it.
• Trump escalated tariffs to 15% and claimed court ruling expanded his powers — On Saturday, February 22, 2026, Trump posted that he was raising tariffs from 10% to 15% worldwide, effective immediately. He claimed the Supreme Court's decision "accidentally and unwittingly" gave him "far more powers and strength" than before and that he could "do absolutely 'terrible' things to foreign countries" using tariffs the court had approved.
• Trump administration announced plans to scale back tariffs on steel and aluminum — The Trump administration announced it would review and scale back tariffs on steel and aluminum goods—which had been set at up to 50 percent the previous summer—and exempt some items while halting expansion of the tariff lists. The administration also planned to launch more targeted national security probes into specific goods instead of maintaining broad tariffs. This move was undertaken in response to an affordability crisis damaging Trump's approval ratings.
• Trump invoked Section 122 authority to impose 10% tariff on all imports — Following the Supreme Court's IEEPA ruling, Trump immediately invoked Section 122 of the Tariff Act—an older statutory authority requiring no investigation but limited to 15 percent for 150 days—to impose a 10 percent tariff on all imports from all countries. This action circumvented the Court's restriction on unilateral IEEPA tariffs by relying on a different legal basis Congress had previously authorized.
• Trump raised Section 122 tariff from 10% to 15% — One day after imposing a 10 percent tariff under Section 122, Trump raised the rate to 15 percent—the statutory maximum under that authority. This escalation occurred within the same legal framework but pushed the temporary tariff to its ceiling.
• Trump imposed 15% tariff invoking Section 122 of Trade Act of 1974 — President Trump announced a 15% tariff by invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, days after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down his prior tariff regime as unconstitutional. The administration's trade representative Jamieson Greer defended the move on Sunday shows, claiming the legal tool might change but policy remains consistent. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declined to commit to refunding approximately $134 billion collected under the now-invalidated tariffs, stating only that the administration would follow the court's direction.
• Administration announces pipeline of tariff investigations to rebuild tariff wall — Treasury Secretary Bessent announced on Sunday that Section 122 tariffs could expire after five months as Section 301 investigations into unfair trade practices and additional Section 232 national security tariffs are lined up to replace them. The administration is using procedural investigations as a mechanism to rebuild the same tariff structure that the Supreme Court struck down, using different legal authorities.
• Trade chief states tariff policy unchanged despite court ruling — On Sunday, U.S. trade negotiator Jamieson Greer told ABC News that the Trump administration would maintain its tariff policy and continue in the same direction, stating "the policy hasn't changed. The legal tools that implement that may change but the policy hasn't changed." Greer also confirmed the U.S. would not back out of bilateral tariff deals with the UK, EU, Japan, Switzerland, and others, despite the court ruling declaring those tariffs illegal.
• Trump delivered longest State of the Union address on record during partial DHS shutdown — President Trump delivered what multiple news outlets reported as the longest State of the Union address in U.S. history on February 24, 2026, while the Department of Homeland Security remained partially shut down since February 14. The address occurred during an active government funding lapse affecting federal workers' paychecks and DHS operations including TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, border security, airport screening, and the Coast Guard. Federal News Network reported it was the first SOTU ever delivered during an active partial government shutdown.
• Trump vowed to continue imposing tariffs despite Supreme Court ruling — During the State of the Union address, President Trump responded to the Supreme Court's striking down of his tariff authority by calling the ruling "unfortunate" and vowing to pursue "alternative" legal authorities to continue imposing tariffs without congressional approval. He also repeated the claim that tariffs are paid by foreign countries, contrary to evidence showing costs are borne primarily by American importers and consumers.
• Trump claimed he does not need Congressional approval for tariffs — Fifteen minutes after his threat post, at 9:49 a.m. on February 24, 2026, Trump posted that "As President, I do not have to go back to Congress to get approval of Tariffs. It has already been gotten, in many forms, a long time ago!" He claimed tariffs were "reaffirmed by the ridiculous and poorly crafted supreme court decision."
• Trump claims he has unchecked power after Supreme Court ruling — Trump publicly stated that the Supreme Court's ruling has given him "far more powers and strength" than before, suggesting he could use tariffs in a more aggressive manner. His comments reflect a disregard for the Court's authority and the principles of checks and balances.
• Trump posted that Supreme Court ruling granted him unchecked tariff power — At 7:06 a.m. on February 24, 2026, Trump posted on social media that the Supreme Court had "accidentally and unwittingly" given him "far more powers and strength" than he had before. He claimed he could use tariffs "in a much more powerful and obnoxious way, with legal certainty" and attacked the court with contemptuous language, writing "supreme court (will be using lower case letters for a while based on a complete lack of respect!)."
• Trump threatened higher tariffs against countries "playing games" — At 9:34 a.m. on February 24, 2026, Trump posted a threat that any country wanting to "play games" with the Supreme Court decision, especially those that have "ripped off" the U.S., would face "much higher Tariff, and worse" than recently agreed tariffs. The post ended with "BUYER BEWARE!!!"
• Trump threatens higher tariffs on foreign countries — Following the Supreme Court's ruling, Trump threatened that any country that "plays games" with the decision would face significantly higher tariffs. He asserted that he does not need Congressional approval for tariffs, claiming that previous approvals were sufficient. This statement reflects his intention to bypass legislative oversight in tariff implementation.
• Trump announced but did not sign 15 percent global tariff order — Trump announced plans to raise global tariffs to 15 percent under the 1974 Trade Act after his IEEPA tariffs were struck down by the Supreme Court. However, he never actually signed the order, meaning the effective tariff rate remained at 10 percent. The announcement was made publicly or on social media but was not formalized through executive action.
• Trump proclaims 10% temporary import surcharge on most goods for 150 days to address balance-of-payments deficit — President Trump issued Proclamation 11012 on February 20, 2026, imposing a temporary 10 percent ad valorem import surcharge effective February 24, 2026, for 150 days under section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The proclamation cites large U.S. balance-of-payments deficits ($1.2 trillion goods trade deficit in 2024, current account deficit of 4.0% of GDP, and negative net international-investment position of -90% of GDP) as justification. Broad exemptions apply to critical minerals, energy, agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, vehicles, aerospace goods, and articles from Canada, Mexico, and Central American trade partners. The surcharge is in addition to existing tariffs and will be administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
• Trump administration imposes 10% global tariff after Supreme Court strikes down "liberation day" tariffs — Following a Supreme Court decision that struck down Trump's sweeping "liberation day" tariffs imposed the previous year, the Trump administration announced a 10% global tariff on imported articles from every country for 150 days, effective Tuesday. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated the rate would rise to 15% or higher for some countries. The move represents a recalibration of tariff policy in response to the court's rejection of the earlier tariff regime.
• Trump sought Supreme Court rehearing on tariff decision — Trump posted on social media requesting that the Supreme Court reconsider its recent tariff decision, arguing that the ruling "could allow for Hundreds of Billions of Dollars to be returned to Countries and Companies that have been 'ripping off' the USA for many years." Trump asked "Is a Rehearing or Readjudication of this case possible???" Legal experts confirmed that no such rehearing mechanism exists under Supreme Court rules.

Supporting reports

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

Supporting reports

• Immigration judges fired without cause under Trump's second term — Approximately 100 of 735 immigration judges nationwide have been fired without cause since Trump's second term began in 2025, including judges with low asylum grant rates. The Justice Department is actively recruiting replacements and has made clear through recruiting materials that "conscientious adjudication of asylum claims is no longer the point," explicitly advertising positions as "deportation judge" roles focused on maximizing deportations rather than fair adjudication.