Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump posts cognitive examination results and claims — At 6:56 a.m. on January 2, President Trump posted on social media that White House doctors reported he is in "PERFECT HEALTH" and that he "ACED" his cognitive examination for the third consecutive time, claiming no other president or vice president was willing to take such an examination. He called for mandatory cognitive examinations for all presidential and vice-presidential candidates and criticized potential opponents as "STUPID" or "INCOMPETENT PEOPLE."
• Trump posted claims of perfect health and cognitive exam performance — Trump posted on social media claiming he is in "perfect health" and that he "aced" a cognitive exam (MoCA test), asserting he answered 100 percent of questions correctly. He stated he has taken the test three times and claimed no other president or vice president was willing to do so, calling for cognitive exams to be mandatory for those seeking office. Medical experts note the MoCA is designed to screen for cognitive decline and is not typically administered repeatedly.
• Trump claimed perfect health and cognitive exam performance — Trump posted that White House doctors reported he is in "PERFECT HEALTH" and "ACED" his cognitive examination for the third straight time, claiming no other president or vice president was willing to take such an exam. The bulletin notes that three cognitive exams in quick succession is unusual and that the exams were dementia tests, not standard cognitive exams.

Supporting reports

• Trump posts misleading images of birds and windmills — President Trump posted two images on social media with captions about birds being killed by windmills. MeidasTouch identified the first image as a 2010 photograph of a red kite in Spain and the second as a 2006 image from Taiwan, neither of which depicted current events or supported Trump's claims about windmill-related bird deaths.
• Trump shared false images of bird deaths attributed to wind turbines — Trump posted images on social media claiming to show bald eagles killed by wind turbines in the United States, captioning them with claims about turbines "killing birds by the millions." Fact-checking revealed the images were false: one photo was taken in Spain in 2010 and depicted a red kite, not a bald eagle; another came from Taiwan in 2006, when the wind turbines shown were not yet operational.

Supporting reports

• CBS News announces new editorial philosophy de-emphasizing expert analysis — New CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil posted a video declaring CBS's new editorial philosophy under Bari Weiss, stating that the press has "taken into account the perspective of advocates and not the average American" and put "too much weight in the analysis of academics or elites." The announcement prompted criticism from media figures and analysts who argued that journalism requires expert knowledge and context, not just aggregation of public opinion.

Supporting reports

• Curtis Yarvin warned Trump administration faces failure and midterm wipeout — Curtis Yarvin, a key figure behind authoritarian ideas that influenced Project 2025 and figures in Trump's orbit, published a warning that the second Trump administration already looks like a "failure" and a "tragedy" that has lost momentum. Yarvin cautioned that without a manufactured crisis, Republicans could face a wipeout in the midterms and legal consequences down the line. Yarvin is a figure many MAGA faithful, including VP JD Vance, look to for guidance.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration falsely claims job creation benefits for American-born workers — Trump and White House leaders claimed that American workers are winning because of immigration crackdowns, stating that 100% of net job creation since Trump took office went to American-born citizens and that 2.5 million U.S.-born workers gained jobs in 2025 while 1 million immigrants left the workforce. However, economists across the political spectrum found no evidence supporting these claims. Data shows U.S.-born workers are doing moderately worse under Trump than under Biden because the labor market has weakened, with unemployment rising for both native-born and foreign-born adults.

Supporting reports

• DHS launched "Operation Puppet Master" to surveil leftwing groups and anti-ICE protesters — The Department of Homeland Security conducted extensive surveillance of progressive organizations and anti-ICE protesters in Minneapolis and New York City in early 2026. Internal DHS reports, disclosed in a criminal case against 15 Minneapolis protesters, reveal the agency sent undercover agents to community meetings, infiltrated encrypted Signal chats, obtained financial records of unions and nonprofits including AFL-CIO and SEIU, and made audio recordings of activist gatherings. The operation, titled "Operation Puppet Master," targeted groups opposing the Trump administration's immigration enforcement surge following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Supporting reports

• Federal immigration agents fatally shoot US citizens in Minneapolis — Federal immigration agents fatally shot two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti (both 37), in separate incidents on the streets of Minneapolis in January. These shootings prompted Senate Democrats to refuse DHS funding without immigration enforcement reforms, triggering the current budget standoff and shutdown.
• ICE agents kill Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good during enforcement operations in Minneapolis — Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents killed two people—Alex Pretti, 37, and Renee Nicole Good—while conducting deportation operations in Minneapolis in January 2026. Pretti was fatally shot while filming ICE agents. The killings sparked widespread outrage, prompted the removal of border patrol agent Gregory Bovino from his post, and triggered a Department of Justice civil rights investigation into Pretti's death. Despite these developments, deportations and detentions have continued in suburbs and rural areas.
• Immigration officers kill two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis ICE raids — In January 2026, during intensified immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, federal immigration officers shot and killed two U.S. citizens: 37-year-old Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good. Both victims had been protesting ICE raids. DHS Secretary Noem defended the officers and accused the two killed Americans of "domestic terrorism," remarks that drew immediate bipartisan backlash. Independent analyses and state officials stated the footage did not support Noem's characterization.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration froze $10 billion in federal childcare and family assistance funds — In January 2026, the Trump administration froze over $10 billion in federal funds for California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York, affecting three programs: the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the Social Service Block Grant (SSBG). The freeze was justified by unsubstantiated fraud allegations against Somali childcare providers, based on a December 2025 viral social media video that local reporters and state investigators subsequently debunked. The states sued to block the freeze, and a federal judge granted a court order stopping it on January 9, 2026. The administration later withdrew the freeze after being ordered to produce unredacted emails.

Supporting reports

• DOJ releases Epstein records in batches but survivors report missing files — Since Trump signed the Epstein Records Act into law on 19 November 2025, the Department of Justice has released multiple batches of records, including approximately 3 million records in January 2026. However, survivors and lawmakers report that critical materials remain withheld or redacted, including FBI interview files of survivors themselves. DOJ has stated that all responsive documents have been produced unless they are duplicates, privileged, or part of ongoing investigations, but survivors and lawmakers dispute this claim and have raised concerns about unlawful withholding and exposure of survivor personal information.

Supporting reports

• Interior Department restricted disclosure of deaths and injuries on public lands — Early in 2026, the Department of the Interior issued an instruction prohibiting employees from sharing information about serious injuries or deaths on public lands. All such information was redirected through the Department of the Interior's Office of Communications, centralizing control over incident reporting. Previously, National Park Service employees could identify deaths or injuries from unsafe conditions to warn other visitors.

Supporting reports

• National Park Service removed displays about enslavement at George Washington's Philadelphia home — In January 2026, the National Park Service took down displays about the enslavement of nine Black Americans at the home of President George Washington and First Lady Martha Washington in Philadelphia. The removal prompted the city of Philadelphia to file a lawsuit challenging the action.

Supporting reports

• Wall Street Journal publishes report on Trump's declining health and contradictory medical statements — The Wall Street Journal published an investigative report detailing concerns among Trump's associates about visible signs of aging and health decline. The report documented Trump's contradictory explanations for bruising and bandages on his hands, his claims about excessive aspirin use, and conflicting statements about advanced medical imaging (MRI vs. CT scan). When the Journal requested an interview with Trump's physician Sean Barbabella, the White House refused to grant access.
• Wall Street Journal publishes article on Trump's signs of aging — The Wall Street Journal published an article by Annie Linskey, Josh Dawsey, and Meridith McGraw documenting signs of aging in President Donald Trump, who at 79 is the oldest man to assume the presidency. The article reports that Trump gets little sleep, has been recorded falling asleep at public events, appears to have trouble hearing, does not exercise regularly, and maintains a diet heavy on salty and fatty foods. Trump called the authors to express irritation about the public debate over his health.
• Wall Street Journal reports Trump health concerns and medication regimen — The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump takes more aspirin than doctors recommend, briefly tried compression socks for ankle swelling but stopped because he disliked them, and regrets undergoing advanced imaging because it generated health scrutiny. The report documented that Trump gets little sleep, has struggled to keep his eyes open during televised events, strains to hear in meetings, lacks regular exercise, and consumes a diet heavy on salty and fatty foods. Trump has covered bruising with makeup and concealed other health ailments. A cardiologist dismissed Trump's aspirin regimen as medically unsound.

Supporting reports

• ICE and Border Patrol arrest foreign students and undocumented immigrants during deportation raids — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol agents conducted sweeping deportation raids that contradicted Trump's stated goal of deporting only "the worst of the worst" criminal undocumented immigrants. Masked agents arrested foreign students who had spoken out against U.S. policy on Israel/Palestine and all undocumented immigrants they could find, including people well integrated into communities. Few of those arrested had been charged or convicted of crimes.

Supporting reports

• Off-duty ICE agent Brian Palacios fatally shoots Keith Porter Jr in Los Angeles on New Year's Eve; family demands charges — Keith Porter Jr, a 43-year-old father of two, was shot and killed by off-duty ICE officer Brian Palacios outside his apartment complex in Los Angeles on New Year's Eve. Official accounts differ sharply: DHS claimed Palacios acted in self-defense against an "active shooter"; Porter's family and attorney argue Porter was celebrating the new year and posed no threat. No video footage exists. The LA District Attorney's office is investigating whether the officer acted lawfully. Community activists, politicians, and celebrities have mobilized demanding Palacios's arrest and prosecution, citing DHS's documented history of false claims about people killed by federal agents.

Supporting reports

• Trump delays wood-product tariff increases, extends trade negotiations to January 2027 — President Trump issued Proclamation 11000 amending his prior wood-products tariff proclamation (10976 of September 29, 2025). The amendment delays the scheduled January 1, 2026 increases in duty rates for upholstered furniture (from 25% to 30%), kitchen cabinets, and vanities (from 25% to 50%) until January 1, 2027, to allow continued trade negotiations with multiple countries. Existing 10% tariffs on softwood timber and lumber and 25% tariffs on certain upholstered and cabinet products remain in effect. The Trade Representative is directed to provide a status update 180 days after the original proclamation.
• Trump delayed tariff increases on furniture and cabinets — Trump signed a proclamation hours before the end of 2025 postponing tariff hikes on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities for one year, pushing their implementation to 2027. In September, Trump had ordered 25% new tariffs on kitchen cabinets and upholstered furniture, which took effect in October with rates slated to rise to 50% and 30%, respectively, by 2026. The delay represents a reversal of the previously announced escalation schedule.
• Trump issued proclamation amending wood products tariff schedule, delaying duty increases to January 1, 2027 — President Trump signed Proclamation 10977 on December 31, 2025, amending his prior September 29, 2025 proclamation on wood product imports. The amendment delays scheduled tariff increases on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2027, citing ongoing trade negotiations. The 10 percent tariff on softwood timber and lumber remains in effect; the Trade Representative is directed to continue negotiations with multiple countries and provide status updates within 180 days.
• White House issued fact sheet on timber and lumber tariff proclamation — The White House published a fact sheet on December 31, 2025, describing President Trump's signing of a proclamation invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The proclamation delays for one year the scheduled January 1, 2026 increase in tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities, maintaining the current 25% tariff rate. The fact sheet states the delay allows continued negotiations with trade partners on wood product imports, which the administration characterizes as a national security concern.
• Trump administration reduced tariffs on Italian pasta after lobbying — The U.S. Commerce Department stepped back from imposing 92% antidumping duties on Italian pasta makers, instead dramatically reducing the threatened tariffs after weeks of lobbying by Italy's government and affected companies. La Molisana and Garofalo, the two biggest pasta exporters to the U.S., will now face duties of 2.3% and 13.9%, respectively, while 11 other Italian pasta makers will face a 9.1% tariff. The original 92% duties would have forced Italian pasta makers to exit the U.S. market.
• Trump announced delays on higher tariffs — Trump announced delays on higher tariffs for items including upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities. This announcement came one day after his administration backed off proposed tariffs on Italian pasta after exporters warned they might pull out of the U.S. market entirely. Trump simultaneously claimed tariffs have been "the greatest success" for the United States.
• Wall Street Journal editorial criticized Trump's tariff policy — The Wall Street Journal editorial board published a scathing piece on Trump's tariff policy, pointing out what it called a "striking contradiction": Trump and his allies loudly claim tariffs are a roaring success, even as he quietly carves out hundreds of exceptions. The editorial noted that rarely has a president worked so hard to cover up the damage from his own policies without admitting it.

Supporting reports

• Trump sent fraudulent fundraising email with false claims about tariff rebates — Trump sent a fundraising email to supporters claiming that if they did not donate within one hour, Democrats would steal their "tariff rebate checks" and distribute them to undocumented immigrants, that the country was "boiling over," and that only an immediate cash transfer to him could prevent total disaster. The email employed false urgency and fabricated threats to solicit donations.

Supporting reports

• Trump posts false image of dead bird to attack wind energy — On December 30, 2025, President Trump posted an image on social media claiming to show a bald eagle killed by a wind turbine, accompanied by the statement "Windmills are killing all of our beautiful Bald Eagles!" The post was amplified by an official White House account. Fact-checking revealed the image actually depicts a falcon killed at an Israeli wind farm in 2017, not a U.S. bald eagle. The misidentification and false geographic attribution were evident from the bird's markings and Hebrew text visible on the turbine.

Supporting reports

• Trump amplified false Kremlin claims about Ukrainian attack on Putin — Trump publicly amplified unsubstantiated Kremlin talking points alleging that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attempted an attack on Vladimir Putin's residence. French intelligence subsequently confirmed that Putin's claims were fabricated. Trump used these false allegations to further attack Ukraine despite the absence of evidence at the time of his amplification.

Supporting reports

• U.S. Southern Command struck small boat in eastern Pacific — U.S. Southern Command posted that it had struck another small boat in the eastern Pacific, killing two men. This strike was part of an operation the administration describes as targeting "narco-terrorists." The operation has resulted in more than 100 deaths and has been widely condemned as illegal.
• U.S. Southern Command strikes five boats in Caribbean operations — Over December 30 and 31, U.S. Southern Command announced it struck five small boats that it claimed were being operated by "narco-terrorists," killing at least 13 people and possibly leaving some survivors. These strikes brought the total number of such operations to at least 35 with at least 115 people killed in the campaign.

Supporting reports

• HUD officials defended 50-year mortgage proposal without answers — HUD officials were asked to defend Trump's proposal for 50-year mortgages, which would trap generations in permanent debt without solving the housing crisis. HUD Secretary Scott Turner stated that "more research needs to be done." The source characterizes this as officials being put on television to defend Trump's proposals while lacking substantive answers, with loyalty to Trump valued over truth.

Supporting reports

• Trump dismissed Russian interference in 2016 election as a hoax — Trump told reporters that the Russian interference in the 2016 election was a "made-up hoax" created by Hillary Clinton and Adam Schiff. He claimed that he and Putin had discussed the matter and agreed that "they made it all up." Trump stated that despite the alleged hoax, "we didn't get into wars, or we didn't get into problems," and lamented that trade with Russia had been restricted as a result.

Supporting reports

• Trump posted false accusation that Obama funded Iran's nuclear program — Trump posted on social media a false accusation that former President Barack Obama funded Iran's nuclear program. The post was part of a broader pattern of Trump flooding his social media feed with false claims and inflammatory rhetoric.

Supporting reports

• Trump reposted racist propaganda about replacing Americans with Mexicans — Trump reposted vile propaganda claiming Democrats want to replace Americans "with uneducated Mexicans who would be easier to enslave." The text was accompanied by imagery of nuclear annihilation. The post was part of Trump's broader social media activity on the day.

Supporting reports

• Trump claimed Russia wants to help Ukraine reconstruct — When asked by a reporter whether he had spoken to Putin about Ukraine's reconstruction, Trump said he had and claimed that Russia wants to help Ukraine succeed, including by supplying energy and electricity at very low prices. Trump characterized Putin as "very generous in his feeling toward Ukraine succeeding."

Supporting reports

• Trump met with Zelensky and claimed progress on ending the war — At his meeting with Zelensky, Trump told reporters that the negotiating teams "covered—somebody would say 95 percent"—of issues and had made significant progress on ending the war. Trump reiterated his claims of being a peacemaker, stating: "I've settled eight wars, and this is the most difficult one." However, there is no sign that Putin is backing off from his extreme demands, including that Ukraine cede much of its eastern territory to Russia.