Trump Action Archive

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• Republican leaders unite behind Paxton; attack Talarico with false and inflammatory rhetoric — Following Paxton's primary victory, Republican Senate leaders including John Barrasso, Bernie Moreno, Ted Cruz, and Tim Sheehy issued statements attacking Democratic nominee James Talarico with inflammatory language ("far-left extremist," "far-left freak," "commie"). Republican surrogates on the campaign trail made insinuations about Talarico based on a 2023 statement in which he expressed support for trans youth advocacy, with one representative asking "What kind of grown man daydreams about trans kids?" and another suggesting voters "check his hard drive."

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• OMB proposes rule placing federal research grants under political appointee control — On May 29, 2026, OMB Director Russ Vought proposed a rule that would place all federal research and discretionary grants under the control of political appointees rather than scientific experts. The rule would prohibit grants that "promote anti-American values" and require awards to "demonstrably advance the president's policy priorities." Stand Up for Science estimates nearly half of approximately 10,000 NIH-funded clinical trials could be discontinued, including over 1,000 cancer trials, pediatric studies, and trials addressing veterans' health, suicide, heart disease, and diabetes. The public comment period closes July 13, 2026.
• Trump administration proposed merit-based federal research grant system be replaced with political appointee approval — On May 29, 2026, the Trump administration proposed dramatic changes to federal research grant awards. Rather than continuing the merit-based system established through rigorous peer review, grants would be awarded based on approval by political appointees. The Office of Management and Budget, directed by Christian nationalist Russell Vought, would control grant allocation. The proposal limits foreign collaboration and allows the OMB to revoke grants deemed to fail "program goals, Federal agency priorities, or the national interest."
• Russell Vought proposes political control over research grants — Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget and co-author of Project 2025, proposed on May 28 that political appointees in his office should have final say over research grants, including those for the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and other governmental science agencies. The proposal aims to root out what it characterizes as a "woke" policy agenda and would also require approval by political appointees for international research collaboration.

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• DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin denies hunger strike and abuse allegations on Fox News — DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin appeared on Fox News on May 28, 2026, and denied the hunger strike and abuse allegations at Delaney Hall, characterizing the protests as "political theater." Mullin claimed ICE was "providing them a safe place to stay, and food, and a place to sleep" and "going above and beyond" by offering a convenience store.

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• Sharyn Alfonsi departed 60 Minutes over editorial independence — Sharyn Alfonsi, along with Tanya Simon, Draggan Mihailovich, and Cecilia Vega, departed from 60 Minutes as part of changes implemented by new leadership. Before her departure became official, Alfonsi released a statement refusing to sanitize a factually accurate report on CECOT, stating that network leadership chose to penalize her for maintaining editorial integrity. She stated the wall between editorial independence and corporate interest is being "methodically torn down" and urged colleagues to hold the line.

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• Artists withdrew from Trump America 250 anniversary concert — Artists booked for Trump's America 250 anniversary concert withdrew after learning the event was backed by Trump. Young MC, known for the song "Bust a Move," stated clearly he was never told about the political involvement and is not performing. The withdrawals indicate artists' refusal to participate in events they perceive as political propaganda.
• Multiple artists withdraw from Trump's Great American State Fair — Several artists announced they would not perform at Trump's "Great American State Fair" scheduled for June 25–July 10 on the National Mall after learning the event was politically affiliated despite organizers' claims of non-partisanship. Young MC stated he was never informed of political involvement and withdrew. Morris Day and The Time, Milli Vanilli, and The Commodores all declined to perform, with The Commodores stating they "choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party." Martina McBride withdrew after discovering the event was "misleading" about its non-partisan nature. Only Vanilla Ice confirmed attendance among the announced performers.
• Multiple artists withdrew from Trump's Freedom 250 concert citing misleading nonpartisan description — Multiple musical artists withdrew from Trump's Freedom 250 concert on May 29, 2026, including Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, Young MC, Morris Day and the Time, and the Commodores. Each cited the same reason: they were told the event was nonpartisan but discovered it had political involvement. McBride stated she was "presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading." Michaels said it was described as "a celebration of our country through music." Young MC said artists were "never told about any political involvement." The Commodores stated their music has "always been their voice" and they choose not to affiliate publicly with any single political party.
• Multiple artists canceled performances at Trump's 250th birthday event — More than a dozen artists announced cancellations of performances scheduled for President Trump's 250th birthday celebration event in Washington, D.C., scheduled for next month. Bret Michaels stated the event had evolved into something "much more divisive" than the celebration of country and veterans he had agreed to. By late May, only three performers remained committed: C+C Music Factory, Flo Rida, and Vanilla Ice. Kennedy Center Director Ric Grenell responded to artist Martina McBride's withdrawal by calling her a "woke lefty."

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• Trump made false statements about Somali Americans in Minnesota — President Trump falsely claimed that ethnic Somalis in Minnesota, almost all of whom are American citizens, are "all crooks." The statement was made without factual basis and appears designed to inflame racial divisions.

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• White House proposes NDAs for federal workers to suppress leaks to journalists — The Office of Personnel Management released a draft nondisclosure agreement for federal agencies to impose on new and existing employees, designed to prevent them from sharing information with journalists. The agreement would allow the administration to pursue civil and criminal penalties against violators and claim "royalties" from any disclosures. Former employees would need written permission from agency officials to speak to journalists about information deemed "confidential." The move is part of a broader Trump administration campaign to control information flow and suppress dissent within the federal workforce.

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• ICE pepper-sprayed Senator Andy Kim and demonstrators at Delaney Hall detention facility — Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents deployed pepper spray and pepper balls against Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), Representative Rob Menendez Jr., Representatives Nellie Pou and LaMonica McIver, and approximately 150 protesters outside Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey. The protest was organized in response to a hunger strike by detainees protesting conditions, including inadequate medical care, overcrowding, and pressure to self-deport. The Department of Homeland Security subsequently denied the pepper spray deployment occurred and characterized the protesters as "dangerous rioters," though video evidence showed Kim had been present.

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• 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.

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• Federal appeals court temporarily blocks re-detention of Mahmoud Khalil — The Third Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay blocking the re-detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a 31-year-old Palestinian-American activist and US green card holder, pending supreme court review. Khalil was detained by ICE in March 2025 for 104 days; the government argued his pro-Palestinian activism constituted a threat to US foreign policy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited concerns about antisemitism and Jewish student safety. The temporary block gives Khalil reprieve as his legal team prepares a supreme court petition.

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• DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin denies hunger strike and poor conditions at Delaney Hall — DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin posted on X denying that a hunger strike was occurring at Delaney Hall ICE detention center and asserting "There are no sub-prime conditions" at the facility. This contradicted claims by detainees who released a letter asserting they were on hunger and work strike, and by advocates documenting allegations of rotten food, lack of medical care, and non-functioning air conditioning.

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• Trump posted Memorial Day message attacking Democrats — On Memorial Day, President Trump posted a message on Truth Social that attacked Democrats, calling them "Dumocrats" and claiming they "disrespect our Military." The post stated: "Happy Memorial Day to all, including the Dumocrats, who disrespect our Military and all of the tremendous success that it has had over the last year." Trump followed this with multiple AI-generated memes attacking former Presidents Obama and Biden, including a false claim that Obama funded Iran and caused the current war.

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• White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett dismissed consumer spending concerns — White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett stated on Fox News that despite higher gas prices, consumers remain optimistic because they are spending more money on everything, not just gas. When asked about grocery prices, Hassett blamed energy-efficient refrigerator regulations. He reiterated expectations of GDP growth exceeding 6% once the Iran conflict concludes, a forecast he has repeated monthly for 17 months.
• Kevin Hassett claims Iran war has not hurt the economy — White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett appeared on television claiming that Trump's Iran war has not hurt the economy at all. When presented with consumer sentiment data that has cratered to its lowest levels ever, Hassett suggested that consumer sentiment should no longer be called "consumer sentiment" but rather "political sentiment," characterizing it as a "political variable" rather than an economic indicator. He argued that when Americans report feeling terrible about the economy, they are expressing partisanship rather than genuine economic concern.

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• Kevin Hassett claims Iran war has not hurt the economy — White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett appeared on television claiming that Trump's Iran war has not hurt the economy at all. When presented with consumer sentiment data that has cratered to its lowest levels ever, Hassett suggested that consumer sentiment should no longer be called "consumer sentiment" but rather "political sentiment," characterizing it as a "political variable" rather than an economic indicator. He argued that when Americans report feeling terrible about the economy, they are expressing partisanship rather than genuine economic concern.

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• Iran state media publicly contradicts Trump's claims about Strait of Hormuz passage — Iran's Fars News Agency issued a statement contradicting Trump's characterization of the proposed arrangement, clarifying that passage through the Strait of Hormuz would not constitute "free passage" but rather passage under Iranian management, permits, and terms. Fars also reported that American officials have privately told Iran to disregard Trump's social media posts as domestic political performance. Tasnim News Agency reported that U.S. obstruction of asset-release clauses remains ongoing and the agreement could be canceled entirely.

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• DOJ Removes Jan. 6 Press Releases from Website — Trump's Justice Department admitted to scrubbing press releases from its government website concerning criminal cases related to the Jan. 6 insurrection, including cases involving individuals sentenced to multiple years in prison for assaulting police officers. The DOJ Rapid Response account characterized the removal as an effort to strip the website of "partisan propaganda," marking an effort to erase official records of prosecutions tied to the Capitol attack.

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• Trump posts AI-generated memes instead of attending son's wedding — While the Iran deal was collapsing and his administration faced criticism, Trump posted dozens of times on social media, including AI-generated images of American aircraft bombing Iranian ships captioned "Adios," photos with Chinese President Xi Jinping captioned "China Loves Trump" and "President Trump Gets Younger," and a Brady Bunch-style grid of AI-generated mugshots of Obama, Comey, Clapper, Jarrett, Rice, Power, and others labeled "The Shady Bunch." Trump skipped his own son Don Jr.'s wedding to post these images.

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• Trump administration announces Iran memorandum, then reverses course after backlash from Netanyahu and Republican allies — The Trump administration announced a proposed memorandum with Iran involving release of $25 billion in frozen assets, lifting of the U.S. naval blockade, and deferral of nuclear negotiations. Iran's state media contradicted Trump's characterization, stating passage through the Strait of Hormuz would remain under Iranian control and management. Netanyahu called Trump directly; Republican figures including Pompeo, Cruz, Graham, and Wicker publicly criticized the terms. Trump subsequently told ABC he "can't talk about the deal" and that the blockade remains in full force pending certification and signing.
• Trump administration negotiated Iran agreement — Trump announced via social media that an agreement with Iran had been "largely negotiated" following calls with leaders from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. The deal reportedly included unfreezing Iranian funds, lifting the U.S. blockade, withdrawing U.S. forces, reopening the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian tolls, and allowing Iran to retain enriched uranium. Iran's state media immediately disputed Trump's claims, noting that American officials had told Iran that Trump's tweets are "primarily for promotional purposes" and should not be taken seriously.
• Trump Claims Progress on Iran Deal Amidst Controversy — President Trump announced via social media that a largely negotiated agreement with Iran is in the final stages, which includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and unfreezing Iranian funds. However, Iranian state media refuted Trump's claims, stating that they are primarily for U.S. media consumption. The deal has drawn criticism from Republican Senator Roger Wicker, who warned it could undermine U.S. military efforts in the region.

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• Trump dismisses economic impact of Iran War as "peanuts" despite $43.6 billion in additional fuel costs — President Trump stated that high gas prices caused by the Iran War amount to "peanuts" and said he does not consider Americans' financial situations when negotiating with Iran. According to The Iran War Energy Cost Tracker at Brown University, the conflict has caused Americans to spend an additional $43.6 billion on fuel costs, with the average U.S. household paying an extra $331 in combined gasoline and diesel expenses. Trump doubled down on earlier comments dismissing the economic burden, saying it was worth paying "a little more" for gasoline to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
• Trump minimized Iran War fuel-cost impact despite $43.6 billion in household expenses — President Trump compared high gas prices caused by the Iran War to "peanuts," downplaying their economic impact. However, according to Brown University's Iran War Energy Cost Tracker, Americans have spent an extra $43.6 billion on fuel costs due to the Iran War, with each U.S. household paying over $330 in additional costs across gasoline and diesel.
• Trump delays military assault on Iran at request of Saudi, Emirati, and Qatari leaders — Trump stated that the U.S. military was ready to launch a "full, large scale assault" on Iran on short notice but delayed the attack at the request of leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. The article notes that Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law involved in Iran negotiations, receives tens of millions of dollars annually from a Saudi investment fund controlled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This raises questions about potential conflicts of interest influencing Trump's conduct of the war.

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• New York Times files second lawsuit challenging Pentagon press escort requirement — The New York Times filed a lawsuit in US District Court in Washington on May 19, 2026, challenging a Pentagon policy requiring journalists to have official escorts when accessing the building. The policy, adopted in March 2026, requires reporters to schedule appointments, obtain escorts, and exit the building between each source interview—a departure from decades of unescorted corridor access. The Times argues the requirement is unconstitutional, retaliatory, and impedes effective reporting. The Pentagon maintains the policy protects classified information and is lawful.

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• Trump administration held taxpayer-funded evangelical worship event on National Mall as part of 250th anniversary celebration — Thousands gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for an eight-hour taxpayer-funded evangelical worship event called "Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving." President Trump, Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Gabbard, and Defense Secretary Hegseth spoke on video; House Speaker Mike Johnson spoke in person. Nineteen clergy and faith leaders participated, nearly all Christian evangelicals. The event promoted the claim that the United States was founded as a Christian nation, contradicting the 1796 Treaty of Tripoli and the Founders' explicit separation of church and state.
• "Rededicate 250" National Jubilee of Prayer held in Washington, DC — A religious and political event called the "Rededicate 250" National Jubilee of Prayer was held in Washington, DC on May 17, 2026. Speaker Mike Johnson delivered a prayer rejecting what he characterized as "sinister ideologies" and attacks on American history and spiritual identity. Trump submitted a prerecorded message that was widely criticized for poor audio and visual quality. The event featured religious leaders including Franklin Graham and Eric Metaxas speaking on themes of national spiritual renewal and opposition to what they termed cultural degradation.

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• Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene disclosed Trump retaliation for Epstein files discharge petition — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stated that Trump has "come after us one by one" since she, Thomas Massie, Lauren Boebert, and Nancy Mace signed a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing Epstein files. Greene said the Epstein files remain unreleased and the "Epstein class remains protected." She stated she would never regret signing the petition and said she is resigning because she wants "nothing to do with a President and a Party that bows to the Epstein class."
• DOJ Focuses on Proving 2020 Election Fraud — Todd Blanche has confirmed that the Department of Justice is intensively focused on proving that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was stolen. This focus continues to fuel ongoing debates and controversies surrounding the legitimacy of the election results.
• Deputy AG Todd Blanche stated investigation into 2020 election ongoing — Todd Blanche, Trump's former criminal defense attorney now serving as Deputy Attorney General, appeared on Fox News to discuss an ongoing investigation into the 2020 election. Blanche stated "There's a ton of evidence that the 2020 election was rigged" and that the DOJ has "multiple investigations" underway. When asked if there would be a "definitive answer" as to whether the election was stolen, Blanche responded "We're looking at it and we hope to get one."
• Acting AG claims DOJ investigating 2020 election with "ton of evidence" of rigging — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche claimed on Fox News that the Justice Department is investigating the 2020 presidential election and that "there's a ton of evidence that the election was rigged," adding that the DOJ is "very focused on finding out whether the right people voted." He stated that "incredibly troubling things" the DOJ is supposedly uncovering will be made public "at some point, at the right time."

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• Trump Retaliates Against Republicans Over Epstein Files — Former President Trump is reportedly retaliating against Republican figures, including Thomas Massie, who advocated for the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. This action suggests internal party conflicts and potential misuse of influence to suppress information.
• Trump posts social media message about Iranian surrender amid collapsed negotiations — President Trump posted a social media message containing what the source characterizes as a "delusional fantasy" about Iranian surrender while actual diplomatic negotiations with Iran were collapsing. The post represents a disconnect between Trump's public rhetoric and the deteriorating state of real diplomatic engagement with Iran.
• Trump posts violent and racist imagery on Truth Social — President Trump posted approximately 35 messages on Truth Social overnight, including AI-generated and manipulated images depicting violence against political opponents and racist stereotypes. The posts included AI-generated videos of Trump directing military action against Iran, images of political figures in violent or degrading scenarios, racist caricatures of House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and other inflammatory content. The posts represent a pattern of using the social media platform to disseminate violent and racist imagery targeting political opponents and Democratic leaders.

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• DHS maintains combative relationship with journalists covering ICE operations — The Department of Homeland Security has been accused of maintaining a combative relationship with journalists attempting to document ICE activities. The agency has accused reporters of "demonizing DHS law enforcement" and has intimidated and arrested members of the media for documenting ICE enforcement operations. This pattern of media obstruction limits public transparency regarding ICE's conduct and operations.

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• Trump's Activity on Truth Social — President Donald Trump has resumed posting on Truth Social, sharing a series of rants and conspiracy theories. His activity on the platform continues to draw attention and controversy, raising concerns about the spread of misinformation.