Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened broadcast licenses of media stations — Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr posted a threat to the broadcast licenses of media stations, stating that "Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions—also known as the fake news—have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up." Carr claimed "The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not." Carr also falsely claimed Trump won "a landslide election victory" when Trump received less than 50% of the vote.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth complained about war coverage at press briefing — On March 14, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a press briefing at the Defense Department in which he spent significant time complaining about headlines reporting that the war is widening and that the administration underestimated Iran's ability to close the Strait of Hormuz. He called for a "patriotic press" that would report Iran is weakening, criticized CNN's reporting, and stated "The sooner [right-wing Trump ally] David Ellison takes over that network, the better." He claimed the Strait of Hormuz is open and that Iran can "barely communicate, let alone coordinate."

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• Trump declares war completion based on personal feeling rather than military assessment — When asked by Fox News personality Brian Kilmeade when the war will end, Trump replied "When I feel it, when I feel it in my bones." This statement reflects Trump's pattern of basing major military decisions on personal intuition rather than intelligence, strategy, or military counsel. It mirrors his earlier justification for initiating the war based on a "feeling" that Iran was planning attack, contradicted by Pentagon officials' private briefings to Congress that no such intelligence exists.
• Trump stated war would end when he "felt it in his bones" without military strategy or objectives — When asked how long the war would last, Trump responded that it would end when he felt it in his bones. The statement provided no military strategy, defined objectives, or timeline. Military analysts and former officials noted that wars are decided by logistics, strategy, alliances, and political resolve, not gut feelings or social media posts. The response demonstrated a lack of coherent war planning.

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• FCC chair threatens to revoke broadcast licenses over Iran war coverage — FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, warned on Saturday that broadcasters could lose their licenses if they air what the agency deems "fake news" or "hoaxes" about the Iran conflict. Carr stated on X that broadcasters must operate in the public interest or "will lose their licenses." He doubled down in a CBS News interview, claiming licenses are not a property right and broadcasters must avoid "news distortion." The threat drew immediate criticism from both Democrats and a Republican senator.

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• Trump posted social media message about destroying Iran — President Trump posted on social media stating: "We are totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically, and otherwise" while claiming the war is already "won" despite also saying the U.S. still needs to "finish the job." Trump asserted he has "unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time" and stated "I, as the 47th President of the USA, am killing them. What a great honor it is to do so!"
• Trump posted social media message declaring total destruction of Iran — Late on March 13, Trump posted on social media declaring "We are totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically, and otherwise" and claiming Iran's military capabilities have been "decimated" and leaders "wiped from the face of the earth." He stated "I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them" and promised to "Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today," framing the war as a personal achievement and honor.

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• Senator Tim Sheehy physically confronts protester at Senate hearing — Senator Tim Sheehy joined Capitol Police officers in ejecting a protester opposed to the Iran War from a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. During the confrontation, Sheehy's arm became stuck behind a door as he threw his weight against it, resulting in an audible crack of Brian McGinnis's arm breaking. McGinnis is a Marine Corps veteran wearing his dress uniform. When a spectator called Sheehy a coward, the senator appeared to respond with profanity. Sheehy later claimed he was attempting to "de-escalate the situation" and blamed McGinnis for "causing…violence."
• Senator Tim Sheehy Involved in Controversial Incident — Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT) faced backlash after physically confronting a protester during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, resulting in the protester's arm breaking. Sheehy later claimed he was attempting to de-escalate the situation, but his actions raised questions about his conduct and the treatment of dissent in legislative settings.

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• Americans withhold federal income taxes in protest against Trump administration policies — Multiple U.S. taxpayers, including lawyer Rachel Cohen and activist Christina Thompson, are refusing to pay some or all of their federal income taxes to protest Trump administration policies including ICE immigration enforcement, wars in Iran and Gaza, and military spending. The National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee reported record attendance at training sessions (nearly 500 participants in January 2026, up from a dozen a few years prior), indicating a surge in tax resistance as a form of civil disobedience. Participants acknowledge legal risks including wage garnishment and home seizure but frame non-payment as moral opposition to government spending priorities.

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• Trump claims ignorance of military investigation findings on school strike — When confronted by a reporter on Tuesday, March 11, who stated "A new report says that the military investigation has found that the United States struck the school in Iran," Trump responded: "I don't know about it." This response came after the New York Times had published the military investigation's preliminary findings that the U.S. was responsible for the strike that killed at least 175 people, mostly children.

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• White House press secretary defends Trump's false Tomahawk claim — On Tuesday, March 10, when a reporter asked why Trump said Iran had Tomahawks when only three other U.S. allies and the U.S. possess them, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt answered: "The president has a right to share his opinions with the American public, but he has said he'll accept the conclusion of that investigation, and frankly, we're not going to be harassed by the New York Times, who's been putting out a lot of articles on this making claims that have just not been verified by the Department of War, to quickly wrap up this investigation because the New York Times is calling on us to do so."
• White House Press Secretary Leavitt defended Trump's false claim as "opinion" — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump's factually false claim that Iran may possess Tomahawk missiles by characterizing it as the president's right to "share his opinions with the American public." She also attacked the New York Times for reporting on the school bombing and accused the outlet of harassment.

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• Energy Secretary Wright falsely claimed Navy escorted oil tanker, then deleted tweet — Energy Secretary Chris Wright tweeted that the U.S. Navy escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, a claim that was widely distributed across wire services. Wright subsequently deleted the tweet after Fox News national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin reported from military sources that no such escort had occurred.
• Energy Secretary Chris Wright falsely claimed U.S. Navy escorted tanker through Strait of Hormuz — On March 10, 2026, Energy Secretary Chris Wright posted on social media that "the U.S. Navy had successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz." Wright later admitted this claim was false. As of one week after the false statement, there were no documented cases of a tanker traversing the strait with a military escort, despite Trump's March 3 promise that the U.S. Navy would begin escorting tankers "as soon as possible."

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• Pentagon revises upward casualty estimate for U.S. troops in Iran conflict — After Reuters reporter Phil Stewart reported that as many as 150 U.S. troops had been wounded in the Iran conflict, the Pentagon publicly revised its estimate upward from fewer than a dozen to approximately 140 wounded service members. The revised figure includes brain trauma, shrapnel wounds, and burns. Seven service members have been killed. Congressional aides expressed frustration that the Pentagon had not voluntarily disclosed accurate casualty numbers, with one aide telling the Washington Post: "Just own it and be transparent. You owe it to the service members."
• Reuters reported 150 U.S. troops wounded in Iran War, far exceeding Pentagon disclosure — Reuters reported that as many as 150 U.S. troops have been wounded in the Iran War according to two sources familiar with the matter, a figure far exceeding the Pentagon's prior public disclosure of only 8 injuries. The discrepancy suggests significant underreporting of casualty figures to the public.

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• Trump administration expands investigation into 2020 election results in Arizona — The Trump administration expanded its investigation into the 2020 presidential election. Arizona's Republican state Senate leader confirmed he turned over records to the FBI related to an audit of Maricopa County—which had concluded Trump lost the state—pursuant to a federal grand jury subpoena. The Department of Homeland Security's ICE investigative branch is also conducting its own investigation into Arizona's 2020 election results.
• Federal grand jury subpoenas Arizona legislature for 2020 election audit records — A federal grand jury subpoenaed Arizona's state legislature for records related to its 2020 election review in Maricopa County, according to state senate president Warren Petersen. The subpoena appears connected to the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to promote false claims about the 2020 election. Trump publicly celebrated the subpoena on social media. The specific information sought and records provided remain unclear. Arizona's Democratic attorney general characterized the action as weaponization of federal law enforcement to legitimize debunked conspiracy theories.

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• Trump claims Iran possesses Tomahawk missiles — On Monday, March 9, when a reporter noted that a Tomahawk missile likely hit the school and asked if the U.S. would accept responsibility, Trump responded that "the Tomahawk…is sold and used by other countries" and suggested that Iran "also has some Tomahawks." Trump's claim contradicts the fact that only three U.S. allies and the U.S. possess Tomahawk missiles, a point raised by a reporter on Tuesday.
• Trump deflects responsibility for girls school strike — When asked whether the U.S. would accept responsibility for the girls school bombing, Trump stated that Tomahawk missiles are "sold and used by other countries" and suggested Iran or "somebody else" may have fired the weapon, despite the U.S. being the only party to the conflict known to possess Tomahawks. He characterized the matter as "being investigated" without acknowledging U.S. responsibility or committing to accountability.
• Trump urged oil tankers to transit Strait of Hormuz despite military threat — Trump stated there is "no reason why oil tankers shouldn't try to run the Straits of Hormuz," claiming "There's nothing to be afraid of! They have no Navy, we sunk all their ships!" Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade echoed the message, urging tanker captains to "show some guts and go through that Strait" to diminish the Iranian threat. The statements encourage commercial shipping to navigate a militarily contested waterway during active conflict.
• Trump claimed Iran may possess Tomahawk missiles despite limited distribution — When asked about video evidence showing a U.S. Tomahawk missile destroyed an Iranian girls school, President Trump claimed that Tomahawk missiles are "very generic" and that Iran may possess them, despite only three U.S. allies plus the U.S. having access to the weapon system. Trump stated the matter was "being investigated" without accepting responsibility.

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• White House posted QAnon-aligned image with caption "PATRIOTS ARE IN CONTROL" — The White House posted an image appearing to show a pilot in an aircraft under the caption "PATRIOTS ARE IN CONTROL." According to the Steady State, a group of former national security officials, this phrase in QAnon circles refers to the long-standing conspiracy theory belief that Trump and a hidden network inside government have been secretly running things the entire time.

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• Kari Lake announced partnership between Voice of America and One America News — While serving as de facto head of Voice of America, Kari Lake announced a partnership between the government-funded international broadcaster and One America News, a pro-Trump outlet known for spreading misinformation. Press freedom advocates characterized the move as an attempt to replace independent journalism with political programming within an institution specifically created to provide fact-based reporting to audiences in countries with state-controlled media. This partnership was announced before the federal court ruling that voided Lake's authority.

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• White House social media portrayed Iran military operations as entertainment — The official White House social media account depicted U.S. military strikes against Iran using imagery spliced with clips from entertainment media including the video game Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto. White House communications director Steven Cheung encouraged supporters to express enthusiasm for the videos in comments. The portrayal drew criticism for trivializing military conflict and loss of life.

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• Secretary Hegseth refuses to answer questions about girls school strike — During a 60 Minutes interview, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was asked directly whether the U.S. bombed the Iranian girls school. He declined to provide a substantive answer, stating only that the matter "is being investigated, which is the only answer I'm prepared to give." Fox host Laura Ingraham subsequently criticized the response, calling for the administration to "wrap up its investigation and address head-on" the "horrible unintended tragedy."
• Secretary Hegseth held press conference avoiding questions on Iranian school bombing — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth conducted a press conference where he called exclusively on right-wing media outlets (Gateway Pundit, OAN) and avoided all questions about the bombing of an Iranian girls school that killed at least 175 people, mostly children. Neither Hegseth nor Joint Chiefs Chair Dan Caine commented on any investigation into the bombing. A reporter attempting to ask about it was ignored.

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• Department of Justice released Epstein documents concerning Trump rape allegation — Under pressure regarding the Epstein files, the Department of Justice released documents concerning an allegation from an Epstein survivor that Trump raped her when she was thirteen or fourteen. The release included four separate FBI interview summaries (FD-302 forms). The DOJ's initial document drop included only the interview discussing abuse at Epstein's hands; the other three interviews discuss Trump. Some files related to the accusation and interviews remain missing.
• DOJ releases Epstein documents related to Trump — The Department of Justice released documents concerning an allegation from an Epstein survivor that Donald Trump raped her when she was a minor. The documents included four FBI interview summaries, known as 302 reports, detailing the survivor's accounts of abuse, including interactions with Trump. Some files related to the accusation remain missing.
• DOJ continues to withhold 37 pages of documents related to Trump sexual assault allegations — According to NPR reporting cited in the article, 53 pages of materials related to Trump's alleged sexual assault of a minor were excluded from the DOJ's January 30, 2026 release of Epstein documents. As of March 10, only 16 pages have been disclosed, leaving 37 pages still withheld by the Trump administration. The missing documents include notes from interviews, a law enforcement report, and license records. The DOJ has not provided an explanation for the continued withholding.

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• White House blocked intelligence agencies from warning public about Iran-related threats — The FBI, DHS, and National Counterterrorism Center prepared a joint intelligence bulletin to alert state and local law enforcement about elevated threats to the homeland tied to the Iran War, including threats to military personnel, government facilities, Jewish and Israeli institutions, and Iranian dissidents. The White House ordered the bulletin placed on "hold" before release, blocking the public safety warning.

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• White House launched propaganda campaign targeting young men with war videos — The White House and Trump administration officials shared a series of hype videos on social media mixing combat footage from strikes on Iran with clips from action movies and video game footage, designed to appeal to young right-wing men. One video captioned "JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY" mixed footage from Braveheart, Gladiator, and Iron Man with real footage of American ordnance striking Iranian targets, set to electronic dance music.
• White House social media portrayed Iran military operations as entertainment — The official White House social media account depicted U.S. military strikes against Iran using imagery spliced with clips from entertainment media including the video game Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto. White House communications director Steven Cheung encouraged supporters to express enthusiasm for the videos in comments. The portrayal drew criticism for trivializing military conflict and loss of life.

Supporting reports

• Trump denies U.S. responsibility for school strike, blames Iran — On Saturday, March 8, when asked about the possibility the U.S. was responsible for the strike on the Shajarah Tayyebeh girls elementary school, Trump answered: "No. In my opinion and based on what I've seen, that was done by Iran…. We think it was done by Iran. Because they're very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever. It was done by Iran." Trump's denial contradicted the preliminary military investigation findings released days later.
• Trump made false claims about Iran bombing elementary school — At a press conference before the dignified transfer ceremony, Trump claimed that Iran, not the U.S., was responsible for bombing an elementary school that killed 175 people. When asked directly, Defense Secretary Hegseth refused to endorse Trump's claim, stating only "We're investigating." CNN fact-checkers and other outlets found the U.S. was likely responsible for the strike.

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• Two teens charged with attempted bombing outside NYC Mayor Mamdani's home during anti-Islam protest — Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were arrested on March 7 after allegedly throwing explosive devices containing TATP near Gracie Mansion during dueling protests—a far-right "Stop the Islamic Takeover" rally led by pardoned January 6 rioter Jake Lang and a counter-demonstration. Federal authorities allege the teens are Islamic State supporters who confessed to the plot. They face charges including attempted material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, use of a weapon of mass destruction, and unlawful possession of destructive devices. If convicted, they could face decades in prison.
• DOJ announces charges against two ISIS supporters for attempted detonation of explosive devices at Gracie Mansion protest — The Department of Justice announced charges against Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, alleging they attempted to detonate two improvised explosive devices during a protest outside Gracie Mansion in Manhattan on March 7, 2026. According to the complaint, Balat threw one device into a crowd of protesters and dropped a second device near NYPD officers. Both men allegedly stated support for ISIS after arrest. The devices contained TATP explosive with metal shrapnel attached. Charges include attempted provision of material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, use of a weapon of mass destruction, and unlawful possession of destructive devices.
• Two teenagers charged with terrorism for throwing explosives at Gracie Mansion — Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were charged in federal court with terrorism and weapons of mass destruction offenses after allegedly throwing improvised explosive devices during an anti-Islam demonstration outside Mayor Zohran Mamdani's residence on Saturday. According to a criminal complaint, both declared allegiance to ISIS. Neither device exploded; both were made safe by the NYPD bomb squad. The men allegedly traveled from Pennsylvania to carry out the attack.
• Two teenagers charged with terrorism over explosive devices at anti-Islam protest outside NYC mayor's home — Two teenagers, Emir Balat (18) and Ibrahim Kayumi (19), were charged in federal court with five counts each including terrorism, use of weapons of mass destruction, and possession of explosive devices. On Saturday, March 8, they allegedly threw improvised explosive devices containing TATP during an anti-Islam protest outside Gracie Mansion, the residence of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Neither device exploded; both were neutralized by the NYPD bomb squad. The defendants, from Pennsylvania, admitted involvement and pledged allegiance to ISIS. They were arrested within an hour of arriving in New York.
• Explosive device thrown at anti-Islam protest outside NYC mayor's residence — Counter-protesters threw improvised explosive devices (IEDs) outside New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's official residence during a clash with far-right anti-Islam demonstrators led by Jake Lang on Saturday. Police confirmed the devices contained nuts, bolts, screws, and hobby fuses and could have caused serious injury or death. Two men, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, were arrested at the scene. A third suspicious device was found in a vehicle nearby. Six people total were arrested during the confrontation.

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• Trump falsely claims Iran surrendered on social media — Trump posted on social media falsely claiming that Iran had "surrendered" and apologized to the region, contradicting the actual situation on the ground. Iranian missile launches and drone strikes continued despite Iran's earlier signaling that it did not intend to attack neighboring countries unless those countries joined the conflict. Trump's posts also included threats suggesting additional Iranian targets could be considered for destruction, including areas not previously discussed as potential targets.

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• Senator Blumenthal initiates perjury investigation into former DHS Secretary Noem — Senator Richard Blumenthal announced he would push the Senate's permanent subcommittee on investigations to examine whether ousted DHS Secretary Kristi Noem committed perjury during congressional testimony. Noem denied that her senior adviser Corey Lewandowski had involvement in approving DHS contracts; Blumenthal claims DHS records and federal procurement data show Lewandowski personally signed off on contracts, including a $250,000 award to American Made Media Company with partisan requirements. Blumenthal stated Democrats possess evidence contradicting her testimony and noted criminal penalties apply to false statements to Congress.

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• Trump characterized Iran military performance as entertainment in media interview — In an interview with ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl on March 5, President Trump described the military operation against Iran as a "performance," asking Karl to evaluate how he "liked the performance" and comparing it favorably to military action in Venezuela. When Karl raised concerns about post-conflict planning, Trump dismissed the question, stating adversaries would be "decimated for a 10-year period."

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• Spain's foreign minister denied White House claim that Spain reversed position on Iran military operations — Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Luis Albares categorically denied a claim made by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt that Spain had reversed its position and agreed to allow the U.S. to use Spanish military bases to launch attacks against Iran. Albares stated that Spain's position on the Middle East war, attacks on Iran, and use of Spanish bases "has not changed." Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez separately stated opposition to war and violations of international law.