Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump pardons Binance founder Changpeng Zhao — Trump granted a pardon to Changpeng Zhao, Binance's ex-CEO and founder, who had pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to violating the Bank Secrecy Act and failing to maintain an effective anti-money-laundering program. Zhao served a four-month jail term in 2024 before receiving the pardon in 2025. Zhao still owns 90 percent of Binance, which has been plagued by money-laundering violations and internal findings of $1.7 billion in crypto moving to Iranian entities linked to terrorism.
• Trump settles $10 billion IRS lawsuit with immunity provision — Trump used the Department of Justice to forge a settlement of his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS regarding a leak of his tax returns. The settlement grants Trump and his family immunity from IRS audits of prior tax returns and could save him approximately $100 million. A federal judge later found that because Trump controlled both sides of the case, there was no genuine adversity of parties to provide the court with jurisdiction, characterizing the arrangement as essentially a gift to Trump at taxpayer expense.
• Trump uses presidency to amass $2.2bn in personal revenue through crypto, Truth Social, and foreign deals — Donald Trump has generated approximately $2.2 billion in personal revenue during his second presidency through multiple ventures: $1.4 billion from cryptocurrency holdings (including $799 million from World Liberty Financial and $636 million from his $Trump memecoin), a $100,000-per-month Truth Social scheme offering wealthy buyers early access to presidential posts, a $10 billion IRS settlement providing tax immunity, and a $400 million plane gift from Qatar. Ethics experts and congressional Democrats have raised corruption concerns, noting that Trump has declined to place assets in a blind trust and has dismantled regulatory guardrails that previously constrained presidential conflicts of interest.
• Trump's World Liberty Financial receives $2 billion UAE investment in Binance deal — Trump's World Liberty Financial (WLF), co-founded by Trump and his sons with Steve Witkoff's family in fall 2024, received a central role in a $2 billion investment by Abu Dhabi's MGX fund (backed by the United Arab Emirates) into Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange. The deal involved MGX purchasing $2 billion of WLF's USD1 stablecoin for investment in Binance. This arrangement occurred despite Binance's 2023 guilty plea to money-laundering violations, a $4.3 billion DOJ fine, and internal findings that $1.7 billion in crypto moved through Binance to Iranian entities linked to terrorism.
• Truth Social launches $100,000-per-month early-access scheme for wealthy investors — Trump's Truth Social media business announced a new scheme offering wealthy buyers special early access to Trump's posts for a fee of $100,000 per month, dubbed Truth API. The product would provide institutional investors with high-speed access to non-public presidential communications before public release. Democratic senators Mark Warner, Elizabeth Warren, and Adam Schiff, along with ethics watchdog groups, have raised serious conflict-of-interest and corruption concerns, characterizing the arrangement as insider trading and a step toward normalizing public corruption.
• Trump accepts $400 million plane gift from Qatar — Trump circumvented the Constitution's prohibition on foreign emoluments by accepting a $400 million plane as a gift from Qatar. This arrangement, along with other wealthy foreign backing of Trump family hotel and golf deals abroad, has raised concerns among critics about violations of the Foreign Emoluments Clause.
• Businessman under UK money-laundering investigation invested $100 million in Trump crypto — The New York Times reported that a businessman once under investigation in the UK for money laundering became one of the biggest buyers of tokens from Trump's cryptocurrency company, spending $100 million through a newly formed firm. As much as three-quarters of the money ultimately went to a company controlled by Trump and his sons.

Supporting reports

• Truth Social launches $100,000-per-month early-access scheme for wealthy investors — Trump's Truth Social media business announced a new scheme offering wealthy buyers special early access to Trump's posts for a fee of $100,000 per month, dubbed Truth API. The product would provide institutional investors with high-speed access to non-public presidential communications before public release. Democratic senators Mark Warner, Elizabeth Warren, and Adam Schiff, along with ethics watchdog groups, have raised serious conflict-of-interest and corruption concerns, characterizing the arrangement as insider trading and a step toward normalizing public corruption.

Supporting reports

• FDA sends serious enforcement letter to pharmaceutical company; CEO donates $1 million to Trump super PAC days later — On May 26, the FDA sent a letter to pharmaceutical company QOL Medical containing serious allegations that could threaten the company's existence. Days later, QOL Medical CEO Frederick Cooper donated $1 million to MAGA Inc., Trump's super PAC. The timing and sequence raise questions about whether the donation was made in response to the regulatory threat or as an attempt to influence the agency's enforcement action.
• FDA sends warning letter to QOL Medical for false drug advertising — On May 26, 2026, the FDA sent a warning letter to QOL Medical accusing the pharmaceutical company of using "false or misleading" advertising to promote Sucraid, a drug for treating congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency (CSID). The FDA alleged that QOL Medical's marketing materials encouraged doctors to prescribe Sucraid for patients with IBS-like symptoms (gas, bloating, diarrhea, nausea), despite the drug being unable to treat IBS or its symptoms. The FDA determined QOL Medical violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act's prohibition on drug misbranding. The letter required QOL Medical to respond within 15 working days.

Supporting reports

• Major news outlets omit Kushner conflict of interest from 97% of Iran diplomacy coverage — Analysis by Popular Information found that of 202 articles published by major news outlets (New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, CNN Wire, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times) covering Kushner's diplomatic role in Iran negotiations from February 28 to April 19, 2026, only six mentioned his financial conflict of interest with Saudi Arabia. This represents 97% of coverage omitting the conflict. Five of the six articles mentioning the conflict appeared in the New York Times; one appeared in Foreign Policy and was republished by the Washington Post. The Wall Street Journal, AP, CNN Wire, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, and Los Angeles Times collectively published dozens of articles on Kushner's diplomatic role without mentioning the conflict.
• Kushner leads Iran diplomacy while receiving millions from Saudi government — Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law, is leading U.S. diplomatic negotiations with Iran while simultaneously receiving over $110 million in management fees from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) for his private equity fund, Affinity Partners. Kushner raised $2 billion from the Saudi PIF in 2021 and has reportedly sought billions more. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly lobbied Trump to initiate and continue the Iran war. This arrangement presents a direct financial conflict of interest, as Kushner's Saudi payments create incentive to prolong the conflict benefiting his Saudi investors.
• Media coverage analysis reveals 97% of outlets omitted Kushner's Saudi financial conflicts during Iran negotiations — A Popular Information analysis of media coverage from February 28 to April 19, 2026, found that 97% of coverage from major media outlets failed to mention Jared Kushner's multi-billion-dollar business relationship with the Saudi government while he represented the U.S. in Iran negotiations. Kushner's simultaneous diplomatic role and substantial financial interests in a key regional actor constitute a significant undisclosed conflict of interest that received minimal journalistic scrutiny.
• Jared Kushner's financial ties to Persian Gulf governments not widely reported — Major news outlets have not prominently reported that Jared Kushner, the administration's de facto Iran negotiator, has received billions of dollars from Persian Gulf governments. The lack of coverage represents a gap in media scrutiny of potential conflicts of interest in high-stakes diplomatic negotiations.

Supporting reports

• Trump's Truth Social post about Iran negotiations preceded unusual market activity and volume spikes. — At approximately 6:50 AM ET, before Trump's 7:05 AM Truth Social post claiming productive Iran negotiations, S&P 500 futures and West Texas Intermediate oil futures recorded sharp, isolated volume spikes during thin premarket trading. Trump's announcement at 7:05 AM triggered an immediate 2.5% surge in S&P 500 futures and a nearly 6% drop in oil futures. Within 56 minutes, the market swung $3 trillion in total market capitalization as Iran denied the claims. CNBC reported the unusual volume activity preceded the announcement.
• Evidence emerged of potential market manipulation tied to Trump's Iran announcements — Reporters including Yun Li at CNBC documented that approximately fifteen minutes before Trump's announcement of "triumphal progress" in Iran negotiations, there was a sudden and sharp jump in S&P 500 futures and oil futures. Economist Paul Krugman noted that someone with insider knowledge could have profited substantially by selling crude oil futures at high prices (Brent crude over $112 on the weekend) and buying them back immediately after Trump's announcement but before Iran's denial, realizing large profits.
• Economist alleges insider trading on false Iran war announcement — Economist Paul Krugman reported that trading volume in S&P 500 and oil futures spiked approximately 15 minutes before Trump announced false U.S.-Iran war negotiations, with oil futures alone worth roughly $580 million. Krugman characterized the pattern as potential "insider trading" and "treason," suggesting that confidential national security information was exploited for private financial gain. The Financial Times estimated the scale of the trades; Krugman called for investigation into the identities of traders and whether they had direct access to classified information or paid intermediaries for tips.
• Suspicious trading in S&P 500 and oil futures preceded Iran announcement — Trading in S&P 500 and oil futures occurred approximately fifteen minutes before Trump announced his team had been negotiating with Iran, despite the announcement later being revealed as false. The timing raised public accusations of insider trading on national security information, potentially endangering Americans by compromising classified information.
• Trader profited nearly $1 million from prescient Polymarket bets on US-Israeli military actions — A trader made nearly $1 million since 2024 from dozens of well-timed Polymarket bets predicting US and Israeli military actions against Iran, winning 93% of their 5-figure wagers on unannounced military operations. The trader placed prescient bets hours before Israeli strikes in October 2024, US airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, and the joint US-Israeli surprise strikes on February 28, 2026.

Supporting reports

• Musk's campaign contributions raise concerns — Elon Musk has contributed over $20 million to the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election, which has national significance due to its potential impact on voting rights and redistricting.
• Musk's Financial Contributions to Republican Candidates — Elon Musk has contributed over $20 million to the April 1 election for a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, where his support is seen as an effort to influence the court's composition. His financial backing is part of a broader strategy to support Republican candidates in key elections.
• Wisconsin supreme court election featuring record spending by Elon Musk and allies — Wisconsin held a supreme court election on March 30, 2025, to fill a retiring liberal justice's seat. Liberal judge Susan Crawford faced conservative judge Brad Schimel. The race became the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history, with over $80 million spent. Elon Musk's Super PAC spent more than $20 million supporting Schimel, including a controversial $1 million giveaway offer that Wisconsin's Democratic attorney general sued to stop. The election will determine control of a court ruling on abortion, voting rights, and congressional redistricting in the swing state.
• Elon Musk distributed $2 million to Wisconsin voters in exchange for petition signatures — On March 30, billionaire Elon Musk gave away two checks for $1 million each to individuals who attended his rally for Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel and signed a petition against "activist judges." Musk circumvented Wisconsin law prohibiting exchange of items of value for voting by claiming the checks were for "spokesperson agreements." Video evidence linked one recipient's vote directly to Musk's payment, with the recipient stating she did "exactly what Elon Musk told everyone to do: sign the petition, refer friends and family, vote, and now I have a million dollars." The second $1 million check went to the chair of the Wisconsin College Republicans, who has worked for Republican campaigns.
• Elon Musk spent nearly $20 million on Wisconsin Supreme Court race and held rally — Billionaire Elon Musk invested approximately $20 million in support of Brad Schimel's Wisconsin Supreme Court candidacy. On March 30, Musk traveled to Wisconsin and held a rally for Schimel, where he stated the election could determine "the future of America and Western Civilization" and warned that a court with opponent Susan Crawford would redraw gerrymandered districts and "add seats for Democrats." Musk's spending and rhetoric framed a state judicial election as a national existential contest.
• Appellate court declined to block Musk's million-dollar giveaways in Wisconsin election — An appellate court declined to hear an emergency request filed by Wisconsin AG Josh Kaul to block Elon Musk from handing out million-dollar giveaways in an attempt to buy votes in the state's key Supreme Court election scheduled for Tuesday. The court stated that Kaul had not filed or supported his motion properly, forcing them to deny the request.
• Brad Schimel distanced himself from Musk's election interference — Republican candidate Brad Schimel, facing backlash over Musk's vote-buying scheme in Wisconsin's Supreme Court election, suddenly decided to distance himself from Musk. When asked if he would be at Musk's rally where he was handing out two separate million-dollar checks, Schimel responded: "We have no plans to be there. We have a very aggressive campaign calendar. I have no idea what he's doing. I have no idea what this rally is."
• Kid Rock endorsed Brad Schimel in Wisconsin Supreme Court election — Kid Rock endorsed Republican candidate Brad Schimel in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election this weekend.
• Elon Musk distributes $1 million checks to petition signers opposing judges — After the Wisconsin State Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to Elon Musk's lottery, Musk handed out two $1 million checks to voters who signed a petition opposing "activist" judges. The distribution occurred on March 30 and appears designed to reward political opposition to judicial decisions.
• Elon Musk held rally for Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel — Elon Musk held a rally in Wisconsin supporting Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel, where he made hyperbolic claims about the stakes of the election and responded to protesters by claiming George Soros paid them to attend. Musk stated that if his candidate did not win, human civilization would end. The rally featured paid attendees, each compensated $100 by Musk to be present.
• Musk announced $1 million payment scheme for Wisconsin Supreme Court election — Elon Musk announced a vote-buying scheme offering $1 million payments to individuals who help mobilize voters for Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel. The first recipient was identified as the President of the Wisconsin College Republicans. Musk claimed winners were selected randomly by lottery, though no independent observers were present during the selection process.
• Musk announced $20 payment scheme for Wisconsin Supreme Court election — At 3:25 AM, Elon Musk announced a new payment scheme offering $20 per person to individuals who could recruit Wisconsin voters to hold pictures of Brad Schimel and give a thumbs-up gesture, with participants potentially earning over $1,000 per day. The scheme did not require participants to be Wisconsin residents, only to recruit people within the state.