Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Tulsi Gabbard claimed U.S. intelligence community supports NATO/EU viewpoint on Russia — Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, spoke at the TPUSA event and stated: "Deep State warmongers and their Propaganda Media are again trying to undermine Trump's efforts to bring peace to Ukraine—and indeed Europe—by falsely claiming that the 'US intelligence community' agrees to and supports EU/NATO viewpoint that Russia's aim is to invade/conquer Europe in order to gin up support for their pro-war policies." Gabbard characterized the intelligence community's assessment of Russian intentions as false propaganda designed to support war.

Supporting reports

• US Justice Department temporarily removes then restores Trump photo from Epstein files release — The US Justice Department removed a photograph containing images of Donald Trump from the public Epstein investigative files on Saturday, citing potential victim exposure concerns flagged by federal prosecutors in New York. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated the removal was precautionary and unrelated to Trump. After review, the department determined no Epstein victims were depicted and restored the image on Sunday without redaction. Democrats accused the administration of political interference, while the department defended the action as necessary to protect victims during ongoing document review.
• Deputy Attorney General Blanche provides inconsistent explanations for removal of Trump photographs from Epstein files — When NBC's Kristen Welker pressed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche about photographs showing Trump in Epstein-related materials that were removed from the DOJ website, Blanche's explanations shifted repeatedly. He insisted the removal had nothing to do with Trump while conceding that no victim had been identified in the images that prompted their takedown, creating an apparent contradiction in his account.

Supporting reports

• Deputy Attorney General Blanche provides inconsistent explanations for removal of Trump photographs from Epstein files — When NBC's Kristen Welker pressed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche about photographs showing Trump in Epstein-related materials that were removed from the DOJ website, Blanche's explanations shifted repeatedly. He insisted the removal had nothing to do with Trump while conceding that no victim had been identified in the images that prompted their takedown, creating an apparent contradiction in his account.

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• Trump administration suspends offshore wind leases citing national security — Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced that the Trump administration is suspending leases for five large offshore wind projects under construction, citing national security concerns and alleged radar interference. Burgum stated the Department of Defense concluded the wind programs create radar clutter that impairs military ability to distinguish friend from foe in airspace. Critics, including foreign policy journalist Kevin Baron and energy policy experts, characterized the stated rationale as false and attributed the action to Trump's long-standing ideological opposition to wind energy stemming from disputes over turbines near his Scottish golf course.
• Trump administration suspends offshore wind project leases citing national security concerns — The administration suspended leases for major offshore wind projects, citing "national security concerns." The stated rationale was framed as protecting radar systems, though the underlying motivation was to protect fossil fuel interests and prevent lower energy prices for consumers.
• Department of the Interior suspends offshore wind projects — The Department of the Interior announced the suspension of five offshore wind projects, citing national security concerns. The decision affects billions in investments and thousands of jobs, with the projects intended to provide electricity to millions of households. The justification referenced the "Department of War," a defunct entity, raising questions about the validity of the reasoning. A federal judge had previously ruled a related suspension effort as "arbitrary and capricious."
• Department of Interior suspends five offshore wind projects citing national security — The Department of Interior announced suspension of five offshore wind projects, citing national security concerns and referencing a non-existent "Department of War." The projects represent billions in investment, thousands of jobs, and electricity generation capacity for millions of households. A federal judge had previously ruled a related suspension effort "arbitrary and capricious" and contrary to law. The suspension was announced three days before Christmas.
• Interior Department suspended offshore wind projects on national security grounds — The Interior Department suspended five offshore wind projects, citing national security concerns and referencing "the Department of War," an agency that has not existed since 1947. A federal judge had recently declared a similar suspension "arbitrary and capricious."

Supporting reports

• Trump administration resists Epstein file disclosures despite campaign promise — President Trump signed legislation mandating Epstein file disclosures after months of hesitation, despite having promised on the campaign trail to release the files. The White House and DOJ repeatedly delayed and obstructed the release, with the DOJ claiming in July that no further disclosure was warranted. Trump's name appeared multiple times in the withheld files, according to reporting. The administration's resistance to transparency, combined with the incomplete release, suggests deliberate obstruction of accountability.

Supporting reports

• White House and Justice Department officials circulate Clinton images from Epstein files — Justice Department and White House officials posted images of Bill Clinton from the released Epstein files on social media, with redacted faces of other individuals. Gates McGavick, a Justice Department spokesperson, posted a photo of Clinton in a hot tub with a redacted figure. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung posted another Clinton image with a redacted companion and a Drake/Future lyric. The strategy appeared designed to shift public focus from Trump's Epstein connections to Clinton's associations.
• White House officials mock Clinton on social media over released Epstein photographs — White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted a swimming pool photograph of Bill Clinton from the released Epstein files on social media with the caption "Oh my!" and a red-faced emoji. Communications director Steven Cheung posted separately with the caption "Slick Willy! @BillClinton just chillin, without a care in the world." These posts represent official White House use of released government materials for partisan mockery of a political opponent.

Supporting reports

• Department of Justice inserted unrelated photograph suggesting false association with Epstein — On December 20, 2025, observers discovered that the Department of Justice had inserted into the Epstein files release a photograph from a 2003 fundraiser showing former President Bill Clinton, pop music star Michael Jackson, and music legend Diana Ross with children, presented in a manner suggesting association with Epstein's crimes. The photograph was not from Epstein's files but was a publicly available image, and the children were Jackson's and Ross's own children, not Epstein victims. The image was quickly identified and flagged by social media users.
• Trump administration inserted false photograph into Epstein files — The Trump administration inserted a decades-old, publicly available photograph of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross into the Epstein materials with faces redacted to imply the presence of underage victims. The photograph actually showed Ross with her own children at a fundraiser, entirely unrelated to Epstein. One of Ross's children publicly identified themselves in the image, confirming the misrepresentation.

Supporting reports

• Trump delivered economic speech containing numerous false claims — President Trump delivered a speech on Wednesday night intended to address poor public approval of his economic handling. The speech, lasting just under twenty minutes, was filled with false claims. Economist Paul Krugman stated he could not find a single factual assertion Trump made that was true. The speech included false claims about immigration, crime, and transgender policy.

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• Trump posted on social media suggesting Rob Reiner's death resulted from political opposition to Trump — Following the deaths of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner from knife wounds, President Trump posted on social media suggesting their deaths were a result of Reiner's political opposition to Trump. The backlash was immediate and bipartisan. Trump rejected calls to delete the post and instead doubled down on his criticism of Reiner before reporters.

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• CBS News spiked 60 Minutes segment on Venezuelan migrants in El Salvador prison — CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, newly appointed after David Ellison acquired her independent news site The Free Press, blocked a planned 60 Minutes segment by correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi investigating an El Salvador maximum-security prison where the Trump administration sent hundreds of Venezuelan migrants. Alfonsi stated the story had been screened five times, cleared by CBS attorneys and Standards and Practices, and was factually correct. Weiss requested additional material including a fresh interview with Stephen Miller and questioned terminology. Alfonsi characterized the decision as political censorship that handed the administration a "kill switch" over reporting.

Supporting reports

• Trump restricted press access and retreated from public accountability — President Trump shut down press access, retreated to Mar-a-Lago after a brief appearance at a rally in North Carolina, took no questions, offered no accountability, and disappeared from public view. The retreat occurred as his administration faced mounting scrutiny over its handling of the Epstein files.

Supporting reports

• Justice department removes Epstein files from public website without explanation — On Saturday, December 21, the Trump justice department removed at least 16 files from its public Epstein webpage without notification or explanation. The removed documents included images of paintings and photographs, notably one containing a photograph of Trump alongside Epstein, Melania Trump, and Ghislaine Maxwell. The unexplained removal fueled speculation about selective suppression and prompted Democratic lawmakers to question what was being concealed from the public.
• Justice Department removes Epstein files from website, then reposts image — The Justice Department removed at least 16 Epstein-related files from its website, including a photo showing Trump alongside Melania, Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell. The DOJ later reposted the image after "further review," raising questions about selective disclosure and potential obstruction of mandated transparency.

Supporting reports

• Kennedy Center board votes to rename center after Trump — On December 18, 2025, the Kennedy Center board voted unanimously to add Donald Trump's name to the institution, rebranding it as the "Donald J Trump and the John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts." Trump had assumed the board chair in February and appointed supporters including Ric Grenell as president. The vote occurred under the new bylaws that excluded ex-officio members. The name change has prompted artist cancellations, congressional opposition, and a lawsuit by Representative Joyce Beatty challenging whether the change requires an act of Congress.
• Trump administration announced renaming of Kennedy Center to Trump-Kennedy Center — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the Board of the Kennedy Center voted unanimously to rename the facility the "Trump-Kennedy Center" due to Trump's work in saving the building through reconstruction and financial support. The board members who voted for the change include Maria Bartiromo, Pam Bondi, Sergio Gor, Laura Ingraham, Lee Greenwood, Dan Scavino, Usha Vance, and Susie Wiles—all Trump loyalists or administration officials.
• Trump-aligned board votes to rename Kennedy Center to "Trump Kennedy Center" — Trump's hand-picked board at the Kennedy Center voted to rename the facility to the "Trump Kennedy Center," despite lacking Congressional authority to do so. The action represents an attempt to use a federal cultural institution for personal branding without proper legislative authorization.
• Trump announced plan to rename Kennedy Center — Trump announced a plan to rename the Kennedy Center, prompting questions from Senate Majority Leader John Thune about whether the proposal would pass Capitol Hill. Thune indicated uncertainty about the process and acknowledged that both Democrats and some Republicans would likely oppose renaming a historic monument. Trump's crew changed the name on the building's exterior the same day.
• Maria Shriver issued statement opposing Kennedy Center renaming — Maria Shriver, niece of President John F. Kennedy, issued a statement opposing Trump's plan to rename the Kennedy Center. She stated that the center was named in honor of her uncle, who championed the arts and culture, and that renaming it or adding Trump's name is "beyond comprehension" and "beyond wild." She warned that the precedent could lead to renaming other historic monuments like JFK Airport and the Lincoln Memorial.
• Rep. Joyce Beattie disputed unanimous vote claim on Kennedy Center renaming — Representative Joyce Beattie, a Democrat on the Kennedy Center board, disputed White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's claim that the board voted unanimously to rename the center. Beattie stated she was muted on the call and not allowed to speak or voice her opposition, and that the renaming was not on the agenda and was not consensus. She characterized the action as censorship.

Supporting reports

• Trump claimed $18 trillion in tariff revenue, contradicted by fact-checkers — President Trump claimed to reporters at the White House that the government had collected more than $18 trillion in tariff revenue in ten months. Fact-checkers at Reason magazine determined the claim was wildly exaggerated. The government actually collected $236 billion in tariffs over the first eleven months of the year. Trump's figure appears to conflate tariff revenue with private investment pledges from businesses and foreign governments that are not government revenue and may not materialize. CNBC host Andrew Sorkin challenged the math, noting that $18 trillion exceeds the entire GDP of many countries.

Supporting reports

• Trump claims housing inflation dropped to zero based on flawed data — Trump seized on newly released inflation data to claim that housing and rent inflation had effectively dropped to zero. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics lacked updated data due to the government shutdown and relied on placeholder assumptions, including zero values for key housing components. Other figures were disproportionately influenced by Black Friday sales. The claim misrepresented the actual state of housing inflation and presented a distortion as economic success.

Supporting reports

• Democrats release new Epstein photos ahead of DoJ transparency deadline — Democrats on the House oversight committee released a new batch of photos from Jeffrey Epstein's estate as the Department of Justice faces a deadline to release its files related to Epstein under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The images, which include undated photos of prominent figures and text from Vladimir Nabokov’s novel "Lolita" written on a woman's body, aim to maintain pressure on the Trump administration. The Justice Department has less than 48 hours to comply with the law, which was signed by Trump after bipartisan support ensured its passage.
• Ghislaine Maxwell files habeas petition to vacate conviction — Ghislaine Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence for sex-trafficking crimes, filed a habeas petition in federal court to vacate her conviction, citing "substantial new evidence" from various sources that she claims supports her argument of an unfair trial. The petition alleges that exculpatory information was withheld and false testimony was presented during her trial. This filing is Maxwell's latest attempt to overturn her conviction following several unsuccessful appeals since her 2021 conviction.
• Trump administration faces Epstein Files Transparency Act deadline with incomplete DOJ redaction process — The Trump administration's Department of Justice faces a less-than-48-hour deadline to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law on November 19, 2025. Internal sources report that DOJ attorneys have been processing over 1,000 documents each since Thanksgiving with only four pages of redaction guidance, raising concerns about over-redaction, errors, and potential exposure of sensitive information. Legal experts warn the rushed review could compromise the transparency mandate.
• Senate Majority Leader Schumer called DOJ Epstein release a cover-up — Senator Chuck Schumer stated that the Trump administration violated the law by releasing only partial Epstein files instead of all documents within the 30-day statutory window. He accused the DOJ, Trump, and Bondi of hiding the truth and covering up Trump's past, and announced Senate Democrats are working with victim attorneys and legal experts to assess what documents are being withheld.
• DOJ released partial Epstein files in violation of federal law — Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche released only a portion of the Epstein documents on the statutory deadline, with heavy redactions, violating federal law requiring full release with minimal redactions to protect victim identity only. The law mandated all documents be released within 30 days of enactment; DOJ interpreted this as permission to release documents over several weeks. Senate Democrats and House Judiciary members announced they are examining legal options to compel full compliance.
• DOJ released Epstein files with initial photo removal and restoration — The Department of Justice met a court-ordered deadline on December 19 to release Jeffrey Epstein investigation materials, including a searchable photo database. Officials initially removed a widely-circulated photograph showing Trump with Epstein from the database; after immediate public criticism, the department restored the photo on Saturday, attributing the removal to technical issues. Documents were released with heavy redactions that victim advocates said protected prominent names inconsistently.
• DOJ Releases Redacted Epstein Files, Restores Trump Photo — The Department of Justice released heavily redacted materials related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, meeting a court-ordered deadline. Initially, a photograph of Trump with Epstein was removed from the database but was restored after public criticism, with officials citing technical issues. The redactions have been criticized for inconsistently protecting prominent names, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
• Department of Justice releases heavily redacted Epstein files under court-ordered deadline — The Department of Justice released a large tranche of documents from its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday, December 19, 2025, in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act signed by President Trump on November 19. The release included photographs and investigative materials dating back to 2006, though significant portions were redacted, including identifying details of over 1,200 victims and family members. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche acknowledged the redactions and indicated additional documents would be released on a rolling basis. Congressional Democrats and some Republicans criticized the release as failing to fully comply with the law's requirement to disclose all unclassified materials.
• Department of Justice releases partial Epstein files in violation of congressional mandate — The Department of Justice released several hundred thousand documents related to Jeffrey Epstein on Friday, but Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the release would not include the full set of files held by DOJ, contrary to the Epstein Files Transparency Act signed into law on November 19, 2025. The law required release of all unclassified materials within 30 days. Congressional Democrats and legal experts immediately threatened legal action, accusing the administration of violating federal law and obstructing transparency.
• DOJ partially releases Epstein investigative files, missing statutory deadline — The Department of Justice released investigative documents on Jeffrey Epstein on December 19, 2025, under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandated full disclosure by that date. However, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the release was incomplete and stated additional documents would be released over subsequent weeks. Lawyers representing Epstein survivors condemned the partial release, arguing the DOJ had "dragged its feet" for 18 years and repeatedly failed victims, while some survivors expressed mixed emotions—validation that obstruction was now public, but also devastation over the incomplete accounting.
• House Democrats release Epstein estate photos ahead of DOJ transparency deadline — House Oversight Committee Democrats released a batch of photographs from Jeffrey Epstein's estate on Thursday, including images with Lolita passages written on women's bodies, photos of Bill Gates, Noam Chomsky, and other public figures. The release occurs as the Trump administration faces a 48-hour deadline under the Epstein Files Transparency Act to release DOJ files. The administration had initially refused to release additional files despite campaign promises, then reversed course when bipartisan support became evident.
• Justice Department misses congressionally mandated deadline for Epstein files release — The Trump administration's Justice Department failed to meet the December 19, 2025 deadline mandated by the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act to release all investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Although some files were disclosed by the deadline, subsequent releases represented only a fraction of the estimated 2+ million documents in the department's possession. Victims' advocates and the act's co-sponsors have called for a special master to oversee compliance; the Justice Department opposed the request in court filings.
• Trump administration fails to fully release Epstein files by congressional deadline — The Trump administration released only partial Epstein investigative documents on Friday, falling short of the congressionally mandated full release required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act deadline of December 19. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Representative Ro Khanna criticized the incomplete release, with Khanna calling for impeachment proceedings against Attorney General Pam Bondi. The administration cited the need for additional victim-protection redactions, while Democrats argued the law required written explanation for withheld documents within 15 days.
• Trump DOJ fails to comply with Congressional deadline for Epstein Files Transparency Act — The Trump Department of Justice missed the December 19, 2025 statutory deadline mandated by Congress's Epstein Files Transparency Act to disclose all investigative files on Jeffrey Epstein. One month after the deadline, DOJ has released only approximately 12,285 documents (125,575 pages) while acknowledging over 2 million additional documents remain under review. Congressmen Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie requested a federal judge appoint a special master to compel compliance; DOJ opposed the request.
• Trump justice department releases limited, heavily redacted Epstein files in apparent violation of transparency law — The Trump justice department released a limited, heavily redacted trove of Jeffrey Epstein investigative files on Friday, December 19, falling short of the Epstein Files Transparency Act's requirement for near-complete disclosure by that date. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the department would release documents in tranches over weeks rather than all at once. Subsequently, at least 16 files disappeared from the department's public webpage without explanation, including an image containing a photograph of Trump with Epstein. Lawmakers from both parties condemned the release as non-compliant with law.
• Trump's DOJ missed December 19 deadline for releasing Epstein files under EFTA — Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA) in 2025, which Trump signed into law, mandating the Department of Justice release investigative files by December 19, 2025. The deadline passed with the DOJ releasing only a fraction of required disclosures. Legal experts including Mitchell Garabedian, Spencer Kuvin, and Neama Rahmani told the Guardian that enforcement mechanisms are weak, the special master route has failed, and future options include court intervention, FOIA litigation, and congressional oversight, though complications abound given the DOJ itself is the target of enforcement.
• Department of Justice released only a fraction of Epstein files required by law on December 19, 2025 — On December 19, 2025, the deadline established by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the Department of Justice released only a partial set of materials despite the law's requirement to release all unclassified records. Missing from the release were FBI interviews with survivors and internal Justice Department memos about charging decisions. The release was heavily redacted, with entire pages blacked out, and focused disproportionately on former President Bill Clinton rather than other named individuals.
• Trump administration fails to meet December 19 deadline for releasing Epstein files — The Trump administration failed to meet the legal deadline of December 19 established by Congress for releasing the Epstein files. The failure to comply with the congressional mandate represented a violation of the law and an assertion of executive power over legislative authority.
• Trump Justice Department fails to comply with Epstein Files Transparency Act deadline — The Trump Justice Department, led by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, announced it will not release all unclassified Epstein-related records by the statutory 30-day deadline mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Instead, officials stated they will release "several hundred thousand" documents today with additional materials possibly arriving weeks or months later. The statute explicitly requires all unclassified records related to Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and their trafficking operation be made publicly available in searchable and downloadable form within 30 days of enactment. The staggered disclosure approach violates the law's clear mandate.

Supporting reports

• House Judiciary Committee expands investigation into Jack Smith — CNN reported that the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee is expanding its investigation into former Special Counsel Jack Smith by demanding interviews with four current and former Justice Department officials involved in subpoenaing phone records for several members of Congress around the January 6 insurrection.
• Jack Smith testifies to House Judiciary Committee on federal prosecutions of Trump — Former special counsel Jack Smith testified in a closed-door deposition before the House Judiciary Committee on December 17, 2025, defending his federal cases against Donald Trump for classified-documents possession and election interference. Smith stated he had "proof beyond reasonable doubt" in both cases, denied any political motivation or interference from President Biden or Attorney General Merrick Garland, and warned that unpunished election meddling would become "the new norm" with "catastrophic" consequences for democracy. The testimony transcript was released on December 31, 2025.
• Jack Smith testified before House Judiciary Committee on Trump's 2020 election overturn scheme — Former special counsel Jack Smith testified behind closed doors before the House Judiciary Committee regarding his investigation into Trump's attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. According to Smith's opening statement obtained by NBC News, Smith stated he and his team found "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" that Trump engaged in a "criminal scheme" to overturn the election. Smith testified that phone records of nine congressional Republicans were "lawfully subpoenaed and were relevant to complete a comprehensive" investigation, and that Trump and his associates "tried to call Members of Congress in furtherance of their criminal scheme, urging them to further delay certification of the 2020 election." Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) had subpoenaed Smith and rejected his offer to testify publicly.
• Representative Ocasio-Cortez criticizes intelligence briefing as inadequate — Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) called the briefing "a joke," stating that no intelligence shared rose to the level of briefings on Ukraine or China, and characterized it as "a communication of an opinion" rather than a serious intelligence briefing.
• Senator Andy Kim states Trump's blockade contradicts military briefing — Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) noted that Trump's threatened military action directly contradicts what Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth told Senate colleagues that day about the mission and goals of operations in the Caribbean. Kim called it a dangerous escalation and stated the administration must come before Congress for public hearings to explain why they are risking pulling the nation into another forever war.
• Senator Chris Murphy states administration lacks legal justification for strikes — After the briefing, Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) stated that the administration had no legal justification for the strikes and no national security justification. He noted that officers admitted the drugs transiting Venezuela were primarily cocaine headed for Europe, not fentanyl as the administration had suggested.
• Senator Schumer states administration came to briefing "empty handed" — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said after the briefing that the administration came "empty handed" and questioned how senators could trust the administration's transparency on other Caribbean issues if they could not be transparent on the strikes. He stated that every senator was entitled to see the video.
• Special Counsel Jack Smith offered to testify publicly before Congress without time limits; Republicans declined and opted for closed-door deposition instead. — Special Counsel Jack Smith offered to testify publicly before Congress without time limits to answer questions about investigations into Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his retention of classified documents. Republicans declined the public testimony offer and instead opted for a closed-door deposition while continuing to attack Smith on partisan media outlets. Smith's opening statement established that Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the election and obstruct the lawful transfer of power, and willfully retained highly classified documents in unsecured locations.
• Jack Smith tells House Judiciary Committee Trump engaged in criminal scheme — Former Special Counsel Jack Smith told lawmakers during a closed-door hearing before the House Judiciary Committee that his team "developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt" that Trump "engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power." He also said he would prosecute a former president again "based on the same facts today," no matter which party the president belongs to.
• Jack Smith testified under oath about Trump's criminal conduct in 2020 election and classified documents — On December 17, 2025, former Special Counsel Jack Smith testified under oath in a closed-door hearing before the House Judiciary Committee. Smith stated that his office had "developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power" and had developed "powerful evidence" that Trump "willfully retained highly classified documents after he left office in January of 2021, storing them at his social club, including in a ballroom and a bathroom," and "repeatedly tried to obstruct justice to conceal his continued retention of those documents."
• House Judiciary members announced legal action against DOJ over Epstein files — Ranking members Robert Garcia and Jamie Raskin issued a joint statement announcing they are examining all legal options to compel the DOJ to comply with the federal law requiring full release of Epstein documents. They stated that survivors deserve justice, co-conspirators must be held accountable, and the American people deserve complete transparency.
• Jack Smith requested public hearing before House Judiciary Committee — Attorneys for former Special Counsel Jack Smith requested a public hearing before the House Judiciary Committee to defend his prosecutorial decisions against Republican attacks. Smith had previously testified in a closed-door deposition spanning over 8 hours. His attorneys also requested release of the full videotape of his testimony so he could speak directly to the public rather than through second-hand accounts.
• Court Filing Claims Discrimination in Federal Grant Distribution — Lawyers for the government filed a court document asserting that it is legal to distribute federal funds only to Republican-led states, withholding them from Democratic-led states. This admission suggests a discriminatory policy based on political affiliation, which the government claims is constitutionally permissible.
• Jack Smith Testifies on Trump's Criminal Scheme to Overturn Election — Special counsel Jack Smith testified before the House Judiciary Committee, presenting evidence that Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Smith's testimony included details about phone records of congressional Republicans related to the investigation.

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• DOJ attorneys report political pressure in UC antisemitism investigation — Nine attorneys at the U.S. Department of Justice told the Los Angeles Times they felt pressured by Trump administration political appointees to conclude that the University of California had violated civil rights law by discriminating against Jewish students and faculty, before the investigation's facts were determined. The attorneys described the inquiry as a "hit job" with predetermined outcomes. All nine eventually resigned. A federal judge had previously blocked the administration from withholding UC funding, ruling it had a "playbook" of investigations to force ideological change.

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• Trump filed $10 billion lawsuit against BBC over January 6 documentary — Trump filed a lawsuit in Florida seeking $10 billion from the BBC over alleged deceptive editing of a January 6 documentary. The BBC had previously apologized for an "error of judgment" but stated there is no legal basis for a defamation claim. AP reported that legal experts have raised major obstacles for Trump's case in U.S. court, including the high bar for public figures and complications around where and how the documentary was shown.
• Trump files $10bn lawsuit against BBC over January 6 speech editing — Donald Trump filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on December 16, 2025, seeking up to $10 billion in damages from the BBC. Trump alleged the broadcaster "intentionally, maliciously, and deceptively" edited his January 6, 2021 speech in a Panorama episode aired a week before the 2024 election. The complaint asserts defamation and violations of Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. The BBC previously acknowledged the editing as an "error of judgment" and apologized but denied legal liability.
• Trump files $10 billion defamation lawsuit against BBC — Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, accusing it of broadcasting a "false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious depiction" of him when it edited parts of his January 6 speech at the Ellipse during a recent documentary that the lawsuit claims was meant to "intentionally misrepresent the meaning" of what Trump said.

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• Trump administration pauses NIH grants on health equity and structural racism — The Trump administration announced it will pause new funding for National Institutes of Health grants focused on terms like "health equity" and "structural racism" while it conducts a review to determine whether the grants "may potentially be associated with misalignment with the administration's priorities."

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• RFK Jr. removed language from CDC website stating vaccines do not cause autism — As HHS Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed language from the CDC website that stated vaccines did not cause autism. This action occurred amid a measles outbreak in South Carolina affecting 111 people, mostly in Spartanburg County. The removal of this public health messaging undermines vaccine confidence at a critical moment when higher vaccination rates are needed to control disease spread. The CDC had previously stated that vaccines do not cause autism, a claim supported by extensive scientific evidence.
• RFK Jr. appointed anti-vaccine activist Vicky Pebsworth to ACIP — HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed Vicky Pebsworth, research director of the National Vaccine Information Center (an anti-vaccine advocacy group), to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. For decades, Pebsworth has argued that the MMR vaccine caused her son to develop autism, a claim contradicted by extensive scientific evidence. Her appointment to the federal committee that develops vaccine recommendations represents a significant shift in the composition of the committee toward vaccine skepticism.
• RFK Jr. appointed Robert Malone as vice-chair of ACIP — HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed Robert Malone as vice-chair of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Malone, dubbed a "COVID misinformation star" by the New York Times, has promoted false claims about vaccine safety. When a child died after contracting measles in 2025, Malone published a newsletter claiming the child died from other causes, contradicted by the hospital's statement that the child was receiving treatment for measles complications and had no underlying health conditions.

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• White House added partisan descriptions of previous presidents to Presidential Walk of Fame — In mid-December 2025, the White House revealed that Trump had attached partisan descriptions of previous presidents on the "Presidential Walk of Fame" at the White House. The descriptions called Democratic president Barack Obama "one of the most divisive figures in American History" and Joe Biden "by far, the worst President in American History," claiming Biden took office "as a result of the most corrupt Election ever seen in the United States" and "oversaw a series of unprecedented disasters that brought our Nation to the brink of destruction." Trump described himself as the architect of "the Greatest Economy in the History of the World."
• Trump installs partisan plaques on White House presidential portraits — White House officials installed new plaques beneath presidential portraits in the "Presidential Walk of Fame" featuring Trump's personal assessments of former presidents. Biden's plaque calls him "by far, the worst President in American History" and falsely claims his election was "the most corrupt Election ever seen." Obama is branded "one of the most divisive political figures." Clinton's accomplishments are minimized and his wife's 2016 loss to Trump is highlighted. Reagan receives praise. Biden's portrait was replaced with an image of an autopen. The plaques adopt opinionated language resembling Trump's Truth Social posts rather than neutral historical summaries.
• White House installed plaques mocking former presidents Obama and Biden in presidential portrait hall — The White House installed plaques beneath portraits of former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden in the hall of presidential portraits. The plaque under Obama's portrait describes him as "one of the most divisive political figures in American History" who "passed the highly ineffective 'Unaffordable' Care Act." The plaque under an autopen replacing Biden's portrait states: "Sleepy Joe Biden was, by far, the worst President in American History. Taking office as a result of the most corrupt Election ever seen in the United States, Biden oversaw a series of unprecedented disasters that brought our Nation to the brink of destruction."
• White House installs plaques criticizing former presidents — The White House installed plaques criticizing former presidents under Trump's new "Presidential Walk of Fame." Joe Biden's plaque reads that he was "by far, the worst President," and Barack Obama's reads, "One of the most divisive political figures in American History," and blamed him for creating the "Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax."
• Senator Murkowski criticized Trump's presidential plaques as inappropriate — Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) told NBC that the plaques are inappropriate, stating that the individuals featured were elected presidents of the country and that Trump should not attempt to redefine their contributions or lack thereof. She expressed concern that the plaques represent an improper use of the presidential residence to attack predecessors.
• Trump installed plaques attacking former presidents in White House — The Trump administration installed plaques featuring biographical write-ups of former presidents along the West Wing colonnade as part of Trump's "Walk of Fame." The plaques for Trump's Democratic opponents read like Truth Social attacks, with harsh language and emphasis capitalization. Biden's plaque calls him "by far, the worst President in American history" and features an autopen signature instead of Biden's actual signature. Obama's plaque refers to him as "Barack Hussein Obama" and calls him "one of the most divisive political figures in American History," attacking his healthcare and foreign policy. Clinton's plaque ends by noting his wife lost the 2016 presidency to Trump. Jackson's plaque compares Trump's treatment by the press to Jackson's and Lincoln's.

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• Kash Patel prematurely claims FBI detained shooting suspect who was released hours later — FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X that his agency had helped detain a "person of interest" in the Brown University shooting in a Coventry, Rhode Island hotel room. The person of interest was released hours later; the actual shooter remained at large. Rhode Island's attorney general stated there was only a "quantum of evidence" justifying the detention. This marks the second time Patel has publicly touted law enforcement success prematurely, previously claiming a shooter was in custody when apprehension had not yet occurred.
• FBI Director Kash Patel announces detention of person of interest in Brown University shooting — FBI Director Kash Patel announced on social media that the FBI had detained a person of interest in Saturday's mass shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, that killed two and injured nine others. The individual was released hours later. The article notes this is not the first time Patel has rushed to make an announcement that later proved incorrect.
• FBI detained wrong suspect in Brown University shooting investigation — The FBI detained a 24-year-old Army sniper as a person of interest in the Brown University mass shooting after receiving a tip. FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest on social media, claiming the agency had used advanced cell phone tracking technology to locate the suspect at a hotel in Rhode Island. However, approximately 48 hours later, the FBI released the individual without charges and returned to the beginning of their investigation. The premature announcement and wrongful detention drew criticism and comparisons to Patel's previous false claims of capturing suspects in other cases, earning him the nickname "Keystone Kash."
• FBI under Trump and Kash Patel botched Brown University shooting investigation — The FBI, operating under Trump and FBI Director Kash Patel, botched a major investigation related to a shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island by initially identifying the wrong suspect. The mishandling was revealed amid mounting scrutiny of the administration.

Supporting reports

• Trump attacked Rob Reiner after his death, drawing bipartisan condemnation — Filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner were found stabbed to death at their Los Angeles home on December 14, and authorities arrested their son Nick Reiner in connection with the killings. Trump responded by posting a political attack, claiming without evidence that Reiner's opposition to him was connected to the tragedy. Multiple outlets reported the post as an injection of politics into a family killing. The post triggered swift backlash, including from Republicans who called it inappropriate and disrespectful in the context of a murder.
• Trump disparaged Rob Reiner's political views in social media post following Reiner's death — On December 14, 2025, actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead in their Los Angeles home; their son Nick was charged with murder. President Trump posted on Truth Social that Reiner died "due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME." Trump later told reporters Reiner was "a deranged person." The post drew widespread criticism from conservative figures, evangelical leaders, and media commentators, with many calling it classless and inappropriate. Even Trump's most ardent supporters on Truth Social responded negatively, with approximately 80% of replies critical of the statement.
• Trump published mocking post about Rob Reiner's death — Donald Trump published a post on social media mocking filmmaker Rob Reiner following Reiner's murder, claiming Reiner died "due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME." The White House amplified the post across official accounts. The post was widely condemned by political figures and commentators as a violation of basic decency and presidential norms during a moment of national mourning.
• White House amplified Trump's mocking post across official accounts — The White House officially amplified Trump's mocking post about Rob Reiner's death across official White House social media accounts, signaling institutional endorsement of the remarks. The article notes the White House was "proud of the remarks."
• President Trump attacked Rob Reiner hours after his death on Truth Social — Hours after actor and activist Rob Reiner was found dead at his Los Angeles home on December 15, President Trump posted on Truth Social attacking Reiner's legacy. Trump attributed Reiner's death to "Trump Derangement Syndrome," claiming Reiner had "driven people CRAZY" through his "raging obsession" with Trump and that his activism was rooted in "paranoia." The post appeared to weaponize Reiner's death for political purposes, attacking his character and motivations rather than acknowledging his substantial contributions to public policy and civil rights.
• Trump attacks Rob Reiner after his murder — On Truth Social, Trump wrote that Rob Reiner, who was stabbed to death alongside his wife on Sunday, was killed "due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME." Later, in the Oval Office, Trump said he was "not a fan" of Reiner, whom he called "deranged" and claimed "was very bad for our country." The Reiners' son has since been charged with murdering his parents.
• Trump blames Rob Reiner's death on "Trump Derangement Syndrome" and mocks deceased director — After Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele, 68, were found dead at their Los Angeles home on Sunday, President Trump posted on social media claiming Reiner died "due to the anger he caused others" through alleged "Trump Derangement Syndrome." Trump praised his own accomplishments and mocked Reiner as "deranged." On Monday, Trump doubled down, telling reporters he "wasn't a fan" and that Reiner had hurt himself "career-wise." Their son Nick was arrested on suspicion of murder. Lawmakers and celebrities condemned Trump's statements as "disgusting," "vile," and inappropriate.
• Trump posted political attack after Rob Reiner and wife murdered — Following the murder of actor Rob Reiner and his wife, Trump posted a political attack implying a connection to Reiner's opposition to the administration. The post drew rare bipartisan condemnation for weaponizing a tragedy for political purposes.

Supporting reports

• Trump called the affordability crisis "a hoax." — Trump dismissed concerns about rising costs and affordability as "a hoax," despite widespread public concern about the cost of living and declining consumer sentiment. This dismissal occurred while the administration's tariff policies were contributing to inflation and Trump was telling Americans to "be satisfied with fewer toys for your kids."