Trump Action Archive

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• Trump attacked CBS journalist Norah O'Donnell on 60 Minutes — During a 60 Minutes interview, President Trump lashed out at journalist Norah O'Donnell, calling her "a disgrace" and saying she "should be ashamed" after she read an excerpt from an alleged gunman's manifesto. The interview underwent significant edits, which is notable given CBS's prior settlement with Trump over editing a 2024 Kamala Harris interview. The incident reflects continued pressure on media outlets covering the administration.

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• Trump drained Reflecting Pool and altered historical photograph to make Obama-era conditions appear worse. — Trump drained the Reflecting Pool and had workers paint the ground underneath it blue to make it look more like a swimming pool. Trump made a post claiming the pool was a mess when Obama was president, accompanied by a photograph. The post received a Community Note fact-check stating: "These images are identical, note the clouds and floating birds are the exact same, except the left image has been altered to make the water appear dirtier than in the original image. The original image was also taken in 2004, when George W. Bush was president."

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• Trump administration issued guidance disqualifying pro-Palestine immigrants from green cards — The Trump administration released new guidance stating that criticizing Israel or participating in pro-Palestine campus protests could disqualify applicants for green cards. The guidance also discourages approval for applicants with a history of "endorsing, promoting, or supporting anti-American views," including holding signs advocating overthrow of the U.S. government. The policy effectively weaponizes immigration status against political speech and protest activity.

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• NBC News reported Iran inflicted far worse damage on U.S. military bases than administration disclosed — On April 25, 2026, NBC News reporters Gordon Lubold, Courtney Kube, Mosheh Gains, and Natasha Lebedeva reported that damage Iran inflicted on American military bases, radar systems, aircraft, warehouses, and infrastructure in the Gulf region was significantly worse than the administration had publicly disclosed, with repair costs estimated at up to $5 billion.
• Iranian military strikes on U.S. bases in Middle East cause extensive damage far worse than publicly acknowledged. — U.S. military bases and equipment in the Persian Gulf region suffered extensive damage from Iranian strikes that is far worse than publicly acknowledged and is expected to cost billions of dollars to repair. The Iranian regime retaliated after the Trump administration attacked, hitting dozens of targets across U.S. military bases in seven Middle East countries. Attacks struck warehouses, command headquarters, aircraft hangars, satellite communications infrastructure, runways, high-end radar systems, and dozens of aircraft. An Iranian F-5 fighter jet bombed Camp Buehring in Kuwait, marking the first time an enemy fixed-wing aircraft has struck an American military base in years. The bases are home to thousands of American troops and in some cases their families.

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• Media outlets report inaccurate information about shooter's status during WHCA dinner coverage. — Multiple news organizations, including CNN, TMZ, CBS, and others, initially reported that the gunman was "confirmed dead" when in fact he was alive and had not been shot, only shot at. Journalist David Shuster noted that at a dinner honoring White House reporting, the rush to be first instead of being accurate was on full display, highlighting a failure of journalistic standards during a critical national security event.

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• White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made cryptic statement about "shots fired" before WHCA shooting. — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared on Fox right before the WHCA dinner started and stated: "This speech tonight will be classic Donald J. Trump. There will be some shots fired tonight in the room, so everyone should tune in." Minutes later, an actual shooting occurred at the event. The statement's timing and phrasing raised questions about foreknowledge or the use of inflammatory rhetoric.

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• Trump press conference statement on White House Correspondents' Dinner security incident — President Trump held a press conference from the White House Press Briefing Room after 10:30 p.m. on April 25, 2026, following evacuation from the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. He stated that law enforcement had requested the premises be evacuated per protocol and announced the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days. Trump characterized the incident as "another attempt on his life" and used it to justify enhanced security infrastructure at the White House, including drone-proof and bulletproof measures in the ballroom.
• White House Correspondents' Association dinner security incident and Trump press conference — The White House Correspondents' Association held its annual dinner on April 25, 2026, with President Trump in attendance—a departure from his prior refusals. During the event, law enforcement stopped an armed man outside the venue, prompting Secret Service evacuation of Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and other officials. Trump posted updates on social media, then held a press conference from the White House Press Briefing Room after 10:30 p.m., stating the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days. He used the incident to justify enhanced security measures at the White House, including a "drone proof" and "bulletproof" ballroom.
• Trump Addresses Security Incident at WHCA Dinner — During the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, President Donald J. Trump was evacuated due to a security threat involving an armed individual outside the event. Following the incident, Trump communicated via social media that law enforcement had requested the evacuation and announced plans for a press conference. He later addressed the situation, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures at the White House. The dinner, which he agreed to attend for the first time, was marked by heightened tensions and speculation regarding his remarks about the press.
• Trump Announces Rescheduling of WHCA Dinner — Following the evacuation from the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner due to a security threat, President Trump announced that the event would be rescheduled within 30 days. He stated that law enforcement had requested the evacuation and confirmed that all attendees, including the First Lady and Vice President, were safe.
• Trump Criticizes Security at the White House — In his remarks following the evacuation from the WHCA dinner, President Trump criticized the security of the White House, suggesting that it was not adequately secure and advocating for improvements such as a larger, more secure ballroom. He claimed that the military and Secret Service had long desired these changes for security reasons.

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• CDC blocked publication of report demonstrating COVID-19 vaccine efficacy — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention blocked publication of a scientific report in its own journal showing the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to reporting by The Washington Post. The blocked report found that the COVID-19 vaccine reduced hospitalizations and emergency room visits among healthy adults during winter 2025–2026. The suppression of peer-reviewed vaccine efficacy data represents a departure from standard scientific publication practices and raises questions about political interference in public health communication.

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• Kristi Noem falsely claimed protester Alex Pretti was brandishing gun before killing by immigration officers — Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wrongly claimed that protester Alex Pretti was "brandishing" his gun before he was killed by immigration officers in Minnesota. She called him a domestic terrorist. Markwayne Mullin, her replacement, initially called Pretti "deranged" at his confirmation hearing but later said he regretted the comment. The false characterization of a killed protester by a cabinet secretary represents a weaponization of official authority to justify lethal force.

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• Howard Lutnick admits only one person approved for Gold Card visa program — Howard Lutnick, a Trump administration official, admitted that only one person has been approved for the Gold Card visa program he promised to sell 200,000 of. The admission reveals that a major promised initiative has failed to materialize, representing either fraud or gross incompetence in program administration.
• Trump administration's "Gold Card" visa program approved only one applicant — Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced that only one person has been approved for Trump's "Gold Card" visa program, which grants U.S. residency to foreigners for a $1 million fee. At a February 2025 press conference, Lutnick stated the administration planned to sell 200,000 gold cards and Trump claimed the program would help balance the budget.

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• Trump reposts racist segment calling for ban on birthright citizenship — Trump reposted on Truth Social a transcript of a racist segment from right-wing Newsmax that referred to China and India as "hellhole[s]" and immigrants from those countries as "gangsters with laptops" who have "stepped on our flag." The segment called for a national referendum on banning birthright citizenship rather than leaving the matter to the Supreme Court.

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• Trump orders Navy to shoot Iranian boats near Strait of Hormuz based on nonexistent minesweeping operation — President Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to shoot Iranian boats near the Strait of Hormuz, citing a minesweeping operation that does not exist. The order represents a direct military command based on a false premise, escalating tensions in a critical international waterway and potentially violating rules of engagement and international law governing naval operations in contested waters.

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• American Library Association reports record 5,668 books banned from US libraries in 2025 — The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom documented 5,668 books banned from US libraries in 2025, with an additional 920 censored through access restrictions. Challenges targeted 4,235 unique titles. The report found that 92% of challenges came from pressure groups, decision-makers, or government officials—a significant increase from 72% in 2024—and that 40% of challenged materials involved LGBTQ+ people or people of color. The most-banned book was Sold by Patricia McCormick.

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• Trump attacked Virginia redistricting election on social media, claiming rigging and unintelligible referendum language — President Trump posted on social media attacking the Virginia redistricting referendum, repeating claims that the election was rigged through mail-in ballots and asserting that the referendum language was "purposefully unintelligible and deceptive." He stated that despite being "an extraordinarily brilliant person," he could not understand the referendum language, and called on courts to "fix this travesty of 'Justice.'"

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• House reauthorized Section 702 FISA surveillance powers for three years — The House of Representatives passed a three-year reauthorization of Section 702 of FISA on Wednesday by a vote of 235–191. The program permits U.S. intelligence agencies to intercept communications of foreign nationals abroad without a warrant, but data of Americans communicating with those targets is swept up incidentally, and the FBI can search that data without a court order. Civil liberties advocates have sought a warrant requirement for nearly two decades, which was not included in the bill. House leaders attached an unrelated ban on central bank digital currency to secure conservative votes; Senate Majority Leader Thune has called this provision a nonstarter.
• Congress passes a 10-day extension of Section 702 — Congress has passed a short-term 10-day extension of Section 702, a surveillance law that allows the government to collect communications. The extension is set to expire on April 30, 2026. The debate continues over whether to renew the law with reforms, such as a warrant requirement for searches involving Americans' data and closing the data broker loophole. The Senate is also considering a separate three-year FISA extension bill, keeping the issue active this week.
• Senate Republicans proposed three-year extension of Section 702 surveillance authority without reforms — Senate Majority Leader John Thune scheduled a vote on a bill to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for three years, until April 2029, without substantive reforms. Both Democrats and Republicans have expressed concern that the system for collecting information on foreign threats can sweep in U.S. citizens and enable warrantless government surveillance. The House has attempted to negotiate cosmetic reforms, but if those negotiations fail, Thune plans to pass a three-year extension with no reforms, removing Congress's ability to revisit and strengthen constitutional safeguards for three years.

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• Federal grand jury indicts Southern Poverty Law Center for wire fraud, false statements, and money laundering conspiracy — A federal grand jury in Montgomery, Alabama, returned an indictment charging the Southern Poverty Law Center with 11 counts of wire fraud, false statements to a federally insured bank, and conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering. The indictment alleges that between 2014 and 2023, the SPLC funneled more than $3 million in donated funds to individuals associated with violent extremist groups including the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations, and National Socialist Party of America, while publicly claiming to oppose those groups. The DOJ alleges the organization used fictitious bank accounts to conceal the scheme and made false statements to financial institutions.
• Acting Attorney General Blanche announces 11-count indictment of Southern Poverty Law Center — Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche held a press conference announcing an 11-count federal indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center, charging the civil rights organization with wire fraud, making false statements to a bank, and conspiracy to launder money. The charges relate to a now-defunct program in which the SPLC paid informants to infiltrate extremist groups and shared information with law enforcement. Legal experts have characterized the charges as weak, and the SPLC has denied all wrongdoing. The indictment was widely viewed as an effort by Blanche to demonstrate to Trump his willingness to use the DOJ against political rivals.
• DOJ pressured prosecutors to indict Southern Poverty Law Center despite case-strength concerns, whistleblower alleges — A Department of Justice lawyer, Aakash Singh, reportedly pressured federal prosecutors in Alabama to rush an 11-count indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center despite serious concerns about the case's strength, according to a whistleblower account shared with House Democrats. Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the indictment on April 21, accusing the civil rights organization of wire fraud and money laundering related to an informant program. Democrats Jamie Raskin and Mary Gay Scanlon opened an investigation into the matter, citing Singh's directive to prosecutors to expedite charges. Legal experts have characterized the charges as weak, and the SPLC has denied all wrongdoing.
• Justice Department indicts Southern Poverty Law Center on federal fraud charges — Trump's Justice Department indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center on federal fraud charges, alleging the civil rights organization defrauded donors by secretly paying informants more than $3 million to infiltrate white supremacist and extremist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan. The tactic of using paid informants has been used by the FBI and other federal agencies for decades. Critics characterized the indictment as "nakedly political."
• DOJ indicts Southern Poverty Law Center on federal fraud charges — The Department of Justice, through Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, announced an 11-count federal indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) by an Alabama grand jury. The charges include wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, alleging the SPLC funneled over $3 million to confidential informants within extremist groups between 2014 and 2023 using fictitious entities, and misrepresented to donors and banks how funds were being used. The SPLC's CEO Bryan Fair disputed the allegations and stated the informant program "saved lives."
• Southern Poverty Law Center indicted on federal fraud charges by Trump administration DOJ — The Southern Poverty Law Center was indicted on federal fraud charges by acting attorney general Todd Blanche, alleging the organization improperly paid informants to infiltrate extremist groups without disclosing payments to donors. The indictment claims at least $3 million went to informants affiliated with the KKK, Aryan Nations, and other groups between 2014 and 2023. SPLC CEO Bryan Fair stated the payments were necessary to monitor violence threats and that information was shared with the FBI and law enforcement. Charges include wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
• DOJ indicted Southern Poverty Law Center for fraud — The Department of Justice indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center, alleging that SPLC used donor money to pay informants to infiltrate right-wing hate groups, but claiming the purpose was to create false flags to instigate violence and racist demonstrations. The indictment has refueled conspiracy theories that the January 6 insurrection was instigated by infiltrators paid by left-wing groups. Rep. Dan Goldman criticized the indictment as legally baseless, comparing it to prosecuting the FBI for funding drug trafficking through informants.

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• WIRED published investigation of AI-generated "Emily Hart" influencer operation — On April 23, 2026, WIRED magazine published an investigation by reporter EJ Dickson exposing "Emily Hart," a fake Instagram influencer account operated by a 22-year-old medical student in northern India using the pseudonym "Sam." The account presented itself as a registered nurse and posted AI-generated lifestyle imagery with pro-MAGA political messaging. The creator used Google's Gemini AI tool, which reportedly identified the conservative audience as a "cheat code" for monetization. The account generated millions of views and thousands of dollars monthly before removal.
• AI-generated fake social-media personas used to spread disinformation and generate revenue — A 22-year-old medical student in India used Google's Gemini to create fake AI-generated social-media personas targeting MAGA audiences, including "Emily Hart," a fake nurse who accumulated 10,000 followers and millions of views before being banned by Instagram in February for fraud. A second fake persona, "Jessica Foster," an AI-generated Army soldier and Trump supporter, reached one million followers in four months before removal. The creator generated backstories, imagery, and daily rage-bait content, earning thousands in merchandise and subscription revenue. When the creator attempted a liberal version of the same tactic, it failed, suggesting differential vulnerability to AI disinformation by political audience.
• Facebook removes AI-generated influencer page
• Instagram bans AI-generated pro-MAGA influencer account
• TikTok network spreads AI-generated Iranian military propaganda

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• Trump energy secretary acknowledges gas prices unlikely to fall below $3 per gallon until 2027 — Chris Wright, US Secretary of Energy, told CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday that gasoline prices might not return below $3 per gallon until 2027, contradicting earlier statements and Trump's campaign promise of sub-$2 gas. Wright acknowledged uncertainty about timing while maintaining prices have "likely peaked." Gas prices had climbed to $3.98 in late March and stabilized above $4 in April following US-Iran military escalation, with 67–68% of the public disapproving of Trump's handling of the war and inflation.
• Trump criticized Energy Secretary Chris Wright over gas price statements — President Trump publicly disagreed with Energy Secretary Chris Wright's CNN statement that gas prices may not return below $3 per gallon until next year—after the November midterm elections. Trump told The Hill he believes Wright is "totally wrong" on the assessment. Wright had previously told Semafor that prices would remain "high and maybe even rising" until meaningful ship traffic returns to the Strait of Hormuz. Trump had earlier promised gas prices would quickly normalize once the Iran conflict ended.
• Trump Energy Secretary states gas prices may not recover until 2027 — Trump's Energy Secretary publicly stated that gas prices may not recover until 2027. Trump responded by calling the Energy Secretary "totally wrong," contradicting his own cabinet member's assessment. The public disagreement signals internal discord over economic forecasting and energy policy.

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• 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.

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• Kash Patel files $250 million defamation lawsuit against the Atlantic and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick — FBI Director Kash Patel filed a defamation lawsuit in US District Court for the District of Columbia seeking $250 million in damages against the Atlantic magazine and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick over an article published April 17 alleging excessive drinking and unexplained absences during his tenure. Patel's legal team claimed the article was a "malicious hit piece" relying on anonymous sources and accused the magazine of acting with actual malice. The Atlantic and Fitzpatrick have stated they stand by the reporting and will vigorously defend the lawsuit.
• Kash Patel filed $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic — FBI Director Kash Patel filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit in DC federal court against The Atlantic magazine over an article documenting multiple incidents of alleged intoxication while serving as FBI Director. The lawsuit challenges the article's use of anonymous sources and claims the publication engaged in a "deliberate and malicious smear." The article cited dozens of sources including current and former FBI officials, law-enforcement and intelligence agency staff, hospitality workers, members of Congress, and political operatives.
• FBI Director Kash Patel files $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic — FBI Director Kash Patel filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic magazine. The Atlantic stated it stands by its reporting. The lawsuit represents a high-stakes legal action by a law enforcement leader against a news organization over published reporting.
• Patel sues The Atlantic for $250 million defamation — FBI Director Kash Patel sued The Atlantic magazine and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick on Monday for defamation, seeking $250 million in damages over a story published Friday alleging Patel engaged in excessive drinking, unexplained absences, and conduct that alarmed colleagues. The Atlantic's story was based on interviews with more than two dozen sources including current and former FBI officials, intelligence agency staff, and members of Congress, all speaking anonymously. Patel's complaint claims the article is "replete with false and obviously fabricated allegations" published with "actual malice," but legal analysis suggests his case faces significant obstacles under defamation law for public figures.
• FBI Director Kash Patel filed $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic — On April 21, Kash Patel sued The Atlantic and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick for $250 million for publishing "a sweeping, malicious, and defamatory hit piece" full of "obviously fabricated allegations." The suit denies that Patel drinks to excess and claims this has never been a source of concern across government. The Atlantic stated it stands by its reporting and will vigorously defend against the lawsuit.
• — FBI Director Kash Patel filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic on April 21, 2026, in response to an article alleging he has alarmed colleagues with excessive drinking. Patel's complaint characterizes the article as "a sweeping, malicious, and defamatory hit piece." According to Popular Information, the complaint itself actually confirms several key aspects of The Atlantic's reporting, suggesting the lawsuit may be a strategic effort to intimidate press coverage of the FBI Director.

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• Texas judge blocks Onion's purchase of Infowars; leasing deal proposed instead — A Texas court initially blocked the Onion's (via parent company Global Tetrahedron) outright purchase of Alex Jones's Infowars misinformation platform. Judge Maya Guerra Gamble ruled she was not convinced the Onion's bid had more value than competing offers from Jones-associated bidders. In response, the Onion proposed a six-month lease at $81,000 monthly, with creative director Tim Heidecker planning to parody the platform. The deal requires Gamble's final approval, expected within two weeks. Jones continues operating Infowars and may appeal any ruling.

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• 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.
• 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.

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• Tucker Carlson apologized for supporting Trump — Tucker Carlson and his brother Buckley appeared on a podcast where they apologized for their past support of Trump. Tucker stated: "I do think it's like a moment to wrestle with our own consciences. You know, we'll be tormented by it for a long time. I will be. And I want to say I'm sorry for misleading people, and it was not intentional." Buckley, who wrote speeches for Trump, agreed with his brother's assessment of their complicity in Trump's rise.
• Tucker Carlson publicly distances from Trump, expresses regret over 2024 support — Conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson stated on Tuesday that he will be "tormented" by his support for Trump in the 2024 presidential election and apologized for "misleading people." Carlson cited Trump's war in Iran as a betrayal of his "America first" ideology and alleged undue Israeli influence on Trump's foreign policy. The statement marks a significant rupture in their long political relationship and has prompted speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run by Carlson himself.

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• Federal judge in Rhode Island dismisses DOJ lawsuit seeking voter records — A federal judge in Rhode Island dismissed the Department of Justice's lawsuit seeking to obtain sensitive records on every voter in the state. The ruling came after an unfavorable hearing for the government. This marks the fifth consecutive case in which the Trump administration's DOJ has lost its attempt to compel states to surrender voter data, with the administration having sued 30 states total on this issue.
• DOJ falsely claimed compliance with Privacy Act in voter roll complaints — The DOJ's complaints assert that the agency has complied with the 1974 Privacy Act, but the DOJ has not yet filed a Statement of Records Notice explaining how it will use the voter data it is demanding, as required by the Privacy Act. Legal experts characterize this as a premature assertion of an affirmative defense and a significant unforced error.
• DOJ filed California voter roll lawsuit in wrong federal court — The DOJ filed its California voter roll case in the Central District of Los Angeles rather than the Eastern District covering Sacramento, where the state capital and all voter registration files are located. This procedural error represents one of several mistakes in the DOJ's complaints that legal experts characterize as significant flaws in the litigation.
• DOJ files four new lawsuits demanding unredacted voter rolls from states — The U.S. Department of Justice filed four new lawsuits last week seeking unredacted voter rolls from states, bringing the total number of similar actions to 18 states, predominantly led by Democrats. The DOJ claims the lawsuits aim to ensure states are removing ineligible voters and to run rolls through Department of Homeland Security databases. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced Georgia, a GOP-led state, will also be sued, framing voter roll maintenance as "a bipartisan problem." Election experts question whether the stated purpose reflects the full scope of the DOJ's intentions.
• DOJ seeks memoranda granting unprecedented power over state list maintenance — Along with demand letters, the DOJ has asked states to sign memoranda that would grant the agency unprecedented power to conduct list maintenance and order states to conduct it in particular ways—not merely requiring general reasonable maintenance programs but directing specific voter removals by name. Legal experts argue the DOJ lacks statutory authority to take such power from states, and Congress has not authorized such delegation.
• DOJ shifts legal strategy from NVRA/HAVA to Civil Rights Act claims — The December lawsuits filed by the DOJ employ a different legal strategy than the September filings, dropping claims based on the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and Help America Votes Act (HAVA) and instead arguing that Title III of the 1960 Civil Rights Act (CRA) empowers the attorney general to demand unredacted voter data. Legal experts note this shift suggests recognition that the earlier statutory claims were weak, and that the CRA's inspection provisions do not authorize production of unredacted records.
• Judge Carter denies DOJ motion for production of voter records in California — In the California voter roll case, Judge David O. Carter, a Bill Clinton appointee, denied the DOJ's motion for an order to produce records in a short order that did not elaborate on his reasoning. The DOJ had filed the motion days before a scheduled hearing, and California responded with an emergency ex parte application arguing the demand was both rushed and improper.

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• Harmeet Dhillon confirmed as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights; dismantles civil rights enforcement — Harmeet Dhillon was confirmed by the Senate in a 52-45 vote in April 2025 as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. Within two weeks, she issued new mission statements abandoning core civil rights laws (Voting Rights Act, Fair Housing Act) in favor of preventing voter fraud, anti-transgender issues, and preventing discrimination against white people. She involuntarily reassigned career lawyers with decades of experience, triggering an exodus of over 100 attorneys. The division has dropped dozens of anti-discrimination cases and reoriented enforcement away from minorities toward white Americans, leaving the division a "shadow of its former self."
• Dhillon served as co-chair of Lawyers for Trump; promoted false 2020 election claims — Before joining the DOJ, Harmeet Dhillon served as co-chair of Lawyers for Trump in 2020, a position from which she worked on lawsuits contesting the 2020 election results and frequently appeared on television promoting the false claim that the election was stolen. During one appearance on Lou Dobbs Tonight on Fox Business, she suggested Trump's Supreme Court appointees would save the election for him, stating "We're waiting for the United States supreme court which the president has nominated three justices to step in and do something and, hopefully, Amy Coney Barrett will come through and pick it up."
• Dhillon's firm defended Trump against 14th Amendment ballot disqualification effort — Before joining the DOJ, Dhillon's law firm successfully defended Trump against an effort to use a novel interpretation of the 14th Amendment to disqualify him from the 2024 presidential ballot. The firm also defended Trump and several close aides in litigation related to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. David Warrington, who now serves as White House counsel, was a managing partner at the firm.