Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump claimed ignorance of Starshield restrictions and refused accountability — When pressed by reporters about who ordered the restriction of Ukraine's Starlink access, Trump stated "I have no idea" and refused to provide information, saying "I wouldn't tell you if I did know." When asked whether it was appropriate for the world's richest person to have such power over a Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump defended Musk, calling him "a very good person" and asserting "Elon will never do anything wrong." This response came despite reporting that Trump had ordered the change and despite ongoing Ukrainian reports that Starshield remained non-functional.

Supporting reports

• White House press secretary Katie Zacharia repeatedly claims to be a licensed attorney without evidence of bar admission — Katie Zacharia, appointed as Trump's press secretary, has publicly identified herself as a lawyer in multiple media appearances (Fox News, CNN, podcasts) since at least February 2026. Popular Information searched all 50 states and D.C. and found no evidence she has ever been admitted to practice law or passed a bar exam. She is not listed with the State Bar of California (where she claims to have worked as General Counsel), Texas, or D.C. When asked by Popular Information, the White House declined to provide evidence of her legal credentials, referring only to a Trump social media post calling her an attorney. In California, falsely holding oneself out as a lawyer while not admitted to the bar is a misdemeanor.
• White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia's false claims about legal credentials exposed — Popular Information reported that White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia, appointed by President Trump, has publicly claimed for years to be a lawyer and held positions as "outside counsel" to the World Bank and "general counsel" to a California non-profit, but has no evidence of ever being licensed to practice law in any U.S. state. When confronted by reporters on the White House South Lawn on October 13, Zacharia gave incoherent responses about passing a bar exam in China—a jurisdiction where U.S. citizens cannot take bar exams and where states do not administer exams. Georgetown Law professor Mark Jia confirmed that even her claimed work as a "foreign legal consultant" at a Chinese law firm from 2011–2013 would not constitute being a licensed attorney, and questioned whether she held that position at all.
• White House declines to provide evidence of press secretary's legal credentials — Popular Information sent detailed questions to White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly asking whether Katie Zacharia was ever admitted to practice law in any state. The White House declined to answer substantively, responding only: "Refer you to the President's TRUTH on Katie," directing the inquiry to a Trump social media post that calls Zacharia an attorney. The White House provided no documentation, bar admission records, or other evidence supporting her claimed legal credentials.
• Katie Zacharia's bar exam failure revealed; investigation requested — White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia, whom Trump has described as an "attorney," failed the California bar exam and is not licensed to practice law in any state. After Judd Legum of Popular Information noted the absence of evidence that Zacharia had passed the bar, the Wall Street Journal confirmed she failed the California bar exam. Democracy Defenders Fund, a nonpartisan organization led by attorney Norm Eisen, requested that the California State Bar and California Attorney General Rob Bonta investigate whether Zacharia practiced law without a license, which is a crime in California.

Supporting reports

• White House declines to provide evidence of press secretary's legal credentials — Popular Information sent detailed questions to White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly asking whether Katie Zacharia was ever admitted to practice law in any state. The White House declined to answer substantively, responding only: "Refer you to the President's TRUTH on Katie," directing the inquiry to a Trump social media post that calls Zacharia an attorney. The White House provided no documentation, bar admission records, or other evidence supporting her claimed legal credentials.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon quietly updates casualty figures from Iran war — On Friday evening before the long weekend, the Pentagon quietly raised the number of U.S. service members killed in the Iran war from 18 to 21, and the number of wounded from 767 to 865, updating the numbers that had been on the Defense Casualty Analysis System website since August. When the Washington Post reported in September that the Pentagon was hiding the true numbers of those killed in the Iran war, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on social media: "This is DISGUSTING and FAKE. A complete LIE."

Supporting reports

• ICE deleted internal reviews of in-custody deaths from website — The Intercept reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement posted and then deleted internal reviews from its website documenting deaths in ICE custody. The reviews showed that poor medical care—including failure to provide CPR, ignoring lab orders, and delaying treatment—was a factor in at least six detainee deaths. The deletions occurred as the death toll in ICE custody reached at least 56 during Trump's second term.

Supporting reports

• ICE stopped publicly revealing locations of detainees subject to deportation orders — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has stopped publicly revealing where it is holding thousands of detainees who are subject to final deportation orders, according to the Associated Press. The policy change makes it harder for families and lawyers to locate detainees or file additional legal challenges.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon undisclosed military fatalities in Iran war — According to six U.S. officials familiar with Department of Defense internal casualty accounting data, more American service members have died in the Middle East during the ongoing Iran war than the Pentagon has publicly disclosed. Five officials reported at least 22 military fatalities—four more than the Pentagon's public database shows. A sixth official stated 23 service members have died. The discrepancy indicates incomplete public reporting of war casualties.

Supporting reports

• Severe undisclosed damage to U.S. bases from Iranian attacks — Satellite imagery and recently obtained images show severe damage to U.S. military bases in the Middle East from Iranian attacks. Bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan have sustained significant structural damage. The Pentagon has not publicly disclosed the extent of damage. A senior U.S. service member stated that bases have been "irreparably damaged" and that rebuilding would require "years and years of construction," not months. MeidasTouch obtained exclusive images showing complete destruction of several structures at a U.S. base in Kuwait.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon rescinded testosterone screening guidance — The Pentagon temporarily rescinded recently published guidance on "Clinical Guidance for Health and Human Performance Optimization" that had been posted to its website. By Thursday, the memo and an accompanying statement from Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell had been removed, with "Page Not Found" appearing on the links.

Supporting reports

• ATP tax filings do not yet disclose Florida law enforcement funding ahead of 2026 election — ATP provided at least $210,000 to Leon County and $132,050 annually to Wakulla County, plus equipment donations to Gainesville police valued at $223,733, and funded Guardian Retreats for law enforcement officers. These payments fall in the 2025 financial year. ATP's 2025 tax return is not due until November 15, 2026, twelve days after the November 3, 2026 election. This timing means voters will not have access to documented evidence of the scale and nature of ATP's law enforcement funding operations before casting ballots in Marx's gubernatorial race.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon secretly hired military veterans as paid right-wing influencers to promote Pete Hegseth — The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has secretly hired military veterans with large social media followings to act as paid right-wing influencers to push Pete Hegseth's propaganda. Although these individuals are now government employees, the Pentagon refuses to provide details on their assignments. Their taxpayer-funded job is to "amplify Pete Hegseth's" messaging.
• Pentagon hires right-wing social media influencers as government employees — The Pentagon has hired right-wing social media influencers as special government employees using taxpayer money to amplify Defense Secretary Hegseth's viewpoints and attack critics of the Trump administration. Reported hires include Rob Maness, Kurt Schlichter, and Thomas Anderson. A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on their job content, salaries, or employment duration.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hired right-wing social media influencers as Pentagon employees — Washington Post Pentagon reporter Dan Lamothe reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hired right-wing social media influencers to work at the Department of Defense as Special Government Employees (SGEs) to promote him on social media platform X. Retired Colonels Rob Maness, Kurt Schlichter, and Tom Anderson acknowledged being SGE employees for the Pentagon after the article's publication. The Pentagon had previously declined to comment on the issue and withheld information about the SGEs' status for days, including after speculation on social media.

Supporting reports

• Trump's DOJ signaled an appeal in Katie Phang's Epstein case rather than complying with judge's disclosure order — Trump's Department of Justice signaled plans to appeal a federal judge's order requiring additional information in the Epstein Files to be unredacted. Rather than comply with the judge's order and an existing Epstein transparency law, the DOJ chose to continue litigation to keep information sealed.

Supporting reports

• Trump disclosed 1,051 financial transactions in June — CNBC reported that Trump disclosed 1,051 financial transactions for the month of June in what appears to be a broad reshuffling of his portfolio. The president rotated in and out of stocks, bonds, and exchange-traded funds throughout the month. The transactions totaled between $78-263 million, with securities purchases topping $49 million and sales totaling at least $28.5 million. The filing provides only a window into Trump's investment moves and does not give a clear picture of his total portfolio holdings, as amounts bought or sold are not specific and there is no indication of how much Trump owns of any particular security.

Supporting reports

• Trump refuses to disclose countries involved in beef trade deal — When asked by reporters which countries were involved in a beef trade deal, Trump refused to provide the information, stating "I don't want to say." The refusal to disclose the terms or parties to a trade agreement prevents public and congressional scrutiny of the deal's terms and beneficiaries.

Supporting reports

• ICE body camera policy allows agency discretion to withhold footage of officer-involved deaths — ICE announced that every field officer nationwide will have a body camera by the end of September. However, the agency's policy states that video of shootings and encounters where officers cause death or serious injury is released "promptly" only after ICE determines that doing so "is in the best interests of the agency." The ICE director can block or indefinitely delay release if "specific and compelling circumstances" justify withholding. Released footage will have officers' faces, names, and badge numbers redacted. ICE spent $30.9 million on body camera equipment in July, one day after an ICE officer fatally shot a 25-year-old motorist in Maine; days later, another officer shot and killed a Houston homebuilder, neither shooting recorded on body camera.
• ICE adopts body-camera policy with director discretion to withhold footage — US Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced deployment of body cameras to officers by end of August 2026, following deaths and serious injuries in encounters with immigration agents. However, the policy grants the ICE director authority to restrict public release of footage unless "it is in the best interests of the agency." A review committee including ICE officials and lawyers will determine whether to release video of shootings and serious confrontations, with the director able to indefinitely delay release if "specific and compelling circumstances" justify withholding. The policy was first established in February 2025 but funding was delayed by government shutdown.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon updates casualty database with revised Iran war figures and new classification scheme — The Pentagon updated its Defense Casualty Analysis System over the weekend, adding more than 140 wounded service members and introducing a new "Overseas Operations" casualty category for personnel killed and wounded starting July 7. The official toll for Operation Epic Fury now stands at 14 killed and over 400 wounded, though figures had been reduced from 18 deaths and 482 wounded recorded days earlier. The Trump administration is classifying renewed military operations beginning July 6 as separate from Operation Epic Fury to comply with the War Powers Act's 60-day requirement, a move that has drawn bipartisan criticism.
• DOD released revised casualty figures from Iran war with reclassification scheme — The Pentagon released updated casualty figures showing 624 troops wounded in the Iran conflict, more than 200 higher than previously disclosed. The DOD simultaneously implemented a new casualty reporting system that splits the war into two periods, moving most July casualties and four killed troops from "Operation Epic Fury" into a new category called "Overseas Operations." This reclassification allows the administration to reset a legally mandated 60-day clock for military force without Congressional approval, as the Pentagon claims Epic Fury ended July 7 with a ceasefire announcement.
• Pentagon updates military casualty figures in Iran war — The Pentagon revised its accounting of military personnel injured in the Iran war, adding over 140 soldiers to the Defense Casualty Analysis System and restoring four service members previously removed. This update brings the total casualties to 18 dead and 624 wounded since February 28, when military strikes against Iran began. The change follows public outcry over perceived lack of transparency regarding the human toll of the conflict.

Supporting reports

• House Appropriations Committee reports administration has not disclosed Iran War funding allocation — Representative Joe Morelle, top-ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, testified that the Trump administration has refused to provide Congress with an accounting of where Iran War funds are being spent. Morelle stated that Defense Secretary Hegseth appeared before the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee but could not or would not provide the required accounting. The administration is distributing war funding across three separate mechanisms—standard appropriations, budget reconciliation measures, and supplemental requests—without clear justification for the allocation.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon removes four recently killed service members from official casualty list — The Pentagon's official Defense Casualty Analysis System website reduced its count of US military personnel killed in Operation Epic Fury (the Iran war) from 18 to 14 on Thursday, removing four soldiers killed over the weekend despite their names appearing in a Pentagon press release on Wednesday announcing the transfer of their remains. Military officials told the New York Times the Trump administration removed them because their deaths occurred after Trump declared a ceasefire in April; a Pentagon spokesperson attributed the change to "temporary data disruptions."
• Pentagon altered casualty figures to exclude deaths after declared ceasefire — The Pentagon reported 18 American service members killed in the Iran war on Wednesday, then reduced the figure to 14 on Thursday. Military officials stated the Trump administration removed four service members killed the previous weekend—three in Jordan and one in northern Iraq—from official casualty counts because their deaths occurred after Trump declared a ceasefire in April. The alteration raised questions about the accuracy of casualty reporting and the administration's characterization of the conflict's status.
• Pentagon removes four service members from Iran conflict death toll — The Pentagon removed the names of four Americans killed in Jordan and Iraq from its official count of personnel killed in the Iran conflict, reducing the total from 18 to 14. Three military officials told reporters the revision occurred because the four deaths happened after Trump announced a ceasefire in April 2026. Pentagon acting press secretary Joel Valdez attributed the removal to "temporary data disruptions." The revision supports the administration's argument that congressional approval is not required for continued operations against Iran because the April ceasefire declaration ended the initial operation.
• Pentagon revises U.S. death toll downward — The Pentagon quietly reduced the reported U.S. death toll from military operations from 18 to 14. The bulletin does not explain the reason for the revision or provide context on when the original figure was released.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon provides minimal information on Iran war strategy after nearly five months of conflict — The Pentagon has provided little information about American military strategy in the Iran conflict after nearly five months of war. The last major Pentagon briefing on the war was in early May. The Trump administration has failed to disclose how the Iran war has drained U.S. supplies of critical, costly weapons and how Iran retained and rebuilt substantial missile capabilities.
• Pentagon Transparency Questions — Questions have arisen regarding the Pentagon's transparency about the true scope of U.S. casualties in the Middle East. This follows reports of increased military activity and direct hits in the region, including in Kuwait and Bahrain. The lack of clear information from the Pentagon has led to concerns about the accountability and oversight of military operations abroad.

Supporting reports

• CENTCOM statement omits disclosure of service members injured in prior Iranian attacks — In a statement on Saturday, July 19, CENTCOM said that four American service members wounded in Friday's attack were taken to Jordanian hospitals and had been discharged. The statement noted that more American troops received minor injuries and returned to duty but did not specify how many. Critically, the statement did not mention service members injured in the three previous attacks in Jordan the prior week.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon failed to disclose three prior Iranian strikes on U.S. forces in Jordan — In the week leading up to the Iranian attack on Friday, July 18, that killed two U.S. soldiers and left one service member missing in Jordan, Iran carried out three other strikes against U.S. forces in the country. Those attacks injured dozens of U.S. service members and damaged several helicopters. However, the Pentagon did not disclose the earlier strikes, nor the casualties and damage they inflicted, citing operational security concerns.

Supporting reports

• White House conducted leak investigation with FBI director and chief of staff — White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and FBI Director Kash Patel personally orchestrated a sprawling investigation aimed at identifying who leaked information about security deficiencies in a Qatari-gifted airplane intended as Air Force One. Investigators asked officials to turn over their phones on White House grounds. Patel was diverted from travel to Chicago to take a hands-on role, establishing a "war room" with Wiles in the West Wing for approximately seven hours. The investigation reflects significant breach of DOJ's historic independence.

Supporting reports

• Blanche accused of withholding additional Epstein-related information — Todd Blanche is accused of illegally withholding various categories of information related to Jeffrey Epstein. These include redacted identities in emails, names of co-conspirators, non-English documents, and a log of redactions. Judge Emmet Sullivan sided with journalist Katie Phang, who argues Blanche's actions violate the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Blanche claims privacy concerns and impracticality as reasons for withholding information, but Phang contends these reasons are unfounded and defy court orders.
• Todd Blanche accused of withholding Epstein-related documents — Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche is accused of failing to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act by withholding documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Journalist Katie Phang sued Blanche, alleging he withheld FBI interview notes with a victim who claimed Epstein introduced her to Trump, who then assaulted her. Judge Emmet Sullivan ruled against Blanche, ordering him to release the documents by July 2. Blanche did not comply, arguing the notes were duplicative and complicated to redact. Phang is now seeking daily fines until compliance is achieved.
• Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche withholds documents required under Epstein Files Transparency Act — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who is seeking Senate confirmation, is under scrutiny for withholding documents he is required to release under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, according to a lawsuit by journalist Katie Phang. Even after a federal judge ruled in Phang's favor, Blanche has not released the additional material. Blanche testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday regarding his confirmation, but the document withholding remains unresolved.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration secretly influences Merit Systems Protection Board ruling on presidential power — In June 2026, the New York Times reported that the Trump administration secretly swayed the Merit Systems Protection Board to rule in its favor on a constitutional argument regarding presidential power—a position that contradicts the agency's statutory mission to protect merit-based civil service from partisan interference. The report illustrates how the removal ruling enables direct White House interference in agency decisions without transparency or adversarial process.

Supporting reports

• Kennedy's financial ties to Scientology-linked law firm — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, has a financial relationship with Wisner Baum, a law firm connected to Scientology. The firm has led numerous lawsuits against antidepressant manufacturers, aligning with Scientology's anti-psychiatry stance. Kennedy has a contingency fee agreement with the firm, earning over $850,000 in fees. Despite criticism during his nomination process, Kennedy chose to assign most of his payouts to a family member rather than relinquish them. This financial connection raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest in his role as Health Secretary.