Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• French First Lady sued podcaster Candace Owens for defamatory conspiracy claims — French First Lady Brigitte Macron filed a lawsuit against right-wing podcaster Candace Owens for defamatory statements. The lawsuit alleges that Owens falsely accused Macron of being transgender and claimed the Macrons were part of "a very small group of elite oligarchs who routinely practice homosexuality and pedophilia and worship a transgender deity that controls the world."

Supporting reports

• Republican congressman denied starvation in Gaza — Representative Randy Fine (R-Tel Aviv) was asked about multiple reports of starvation in Gaza and responded: "There is no starvation. Everything about the Palestinian cause is a lie."

Supporting reports

• Trump accused Black entertainers and Democratic figures of illegal campaign payments — Trump posted accusations that Democratic figures and Black entertainers—including Beyoncé, Oprah, and Al Sharpton—broke the law by receiving payments for campaign endorsements. He claimed Beyoncé received $11 million for an endorsement without performing, Oprah received $3 million for "expenses," and Sharpton received $600,000. Trump called for prosecution of all recipients, stating "They should all be prosecuted." The bulletin notes these claims are false.
• Trump calls for prosecution of Beyoncé and Harris over alleged $11 million endorsement payment — President Trump called for musician Beyoncé to be prosecuted for breaking the law by accepting $11 million from Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign for a Democratic endorsement in October 2024, and demanded Harris also face prosecution. CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale reported the claim originated from social media and is false; the Harris campaign covered only $165,000 in appearance costs as required by law and did not pay celebrity endorsers.

Supporting reports

• Trump denied writing letter to Epstein despite documented evidence — When asked whether he wrote a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein, Trump responded "Somebody could've written a letter and used my name," despite the New York Times publishing a photograph of Trump's 1997 book inscribed to Epstein with "To Jeff — You are the greatest!"
• Bill Clinton reportedly sent Jeffrey Epstein note for birthday album — Bill Clinton's letter to Jeffrey Epstein was included in a birthday album compiled by Epstein's former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, for his 50th birthday in 2003. The Wall Street Journal reported that Clinton's note was among nearly 50 letters from various prominent figures. Clinton's spokesperson stated he had severed ties with Epstein over a decade before Epstein's arrest and was unaware of his crimes. The report also highlighted other notable letters, including one from Donald Trump.

Supporting reports

• VP Vance attacked media coverage of Trump-Epstein connection — Vice President JD Vance criticized the Wall Street Journal for publishing a "hit piece" about Trump's connection to Epstein without showing the letter or book in question. Vance claimed the media is attempting to "assassinate the president's character" by "dribbling little details out for days or weeks" and accused the WSJ of acting like a "Democrat SuperPAC."

Supporting reports

• Columbia University disciplines approximately 80 students for pro-Palestinian protest activities — Columbia University imposed disciplinary sanctions on approximately 80 students involved in a pro-Palestinian protest at a campus library in May 2025, including probation, one-year to three-year suspensions, degree revocations, and expulsions. University officials characterized this as the largest mass suspension in Columbia's history and the harshest mass disciplinary action by any school since the Gaza war began. The disciplinary action followed the university's adoption of a controversial antisemitism definition that conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism and the removal of disciplinary authority from the university senate to the provost's office.

Supporting reports

• FCC approved Skydance-Paramount merger — The FCC voted to approve the merger of Skydance Media and Paramount Global. This approval came less than a day after Paramount fired Stephen Colbert and settled lawsuits with Trump, according to the bulletin's reporting.
• Skydance Media agrees to eliminate civil rights and DEI programs as condition of FCC merger approval — To obtain Federal Communications Commission approval of an $8 billion merger between CBS parent company Paramount and Skydance Media, Skydance agreed to eliminate programs related to civil rights, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to produce "unbiased" journalism. FCC Chair Brendan Carr approved the merger and subsequently bragged on right-wing media that CBS agreed to install an internal political "bias monitor" reporting to Paramount's president to ensure news coverage favorable to Trump and the right wing.
• FCC approves Paramount and Skydance Media merger — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, which is valued at $8 billion. This approval comes after Skydance Media promised to eliminate Paramount's diversity, equity, and inclusion practices and to address perceived bias at CBS News to gain support from the administration. The merger is significant as it reflects the influence of political considerations on corporate practices in media.
• FCC approved Paramount-Skydance merger — The Federal Communications Commission approved the $8 billion merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media on July 25, 2025, after Skydance committed to eliminating Paramount's diversity, equity, and inclusion practices and addressing alleged bias at CBS News.
• Skydance Media promised to eliminate diversity and inclusion practices at Paramount to secure FCC merger approval — Skydance Media, in merger negotiations with Paramount Global requiring Federal Communications Commission approval, publicly committed to eliminating Paramount's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices and rooting out alleged "bias" at CBS News. The commitment was made to win administration support for the $8 billion merger. The FCC approved the merger the same day.

Supporting reports

• Columbia University agrees to eliminate race and sex-based hiring in exchange for restored federal funding — After Columbia University agreed to pay $221 million and to promise it will not use "race, color, sex, or national origin" in hiring decisions, the Trump administration restored $1.3 billion in congressionally appropriated funding it had withheld over charges of antisemitism. Education Secretary Linda McMahon characterized the settlement as a "monumental victory for conservatives" seeking to reshape elite campuses by removing "far left leaning professors."
• Columbia University accepts federal funding restoration deal with Trump administration, agreeing to speech restrictions and disciplinary measures — Columbia University reached an agreement with the Trump administration to restore $400 million in federal funds that had been withheld over accusations of antisemitism. The deal requires Columbia to pay $221 million in settlements, codify restrictions on pro-Palestinian speech (including adoption of a controversial antisemitism definition conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism), place an academic department under receivership, restrict protest activities, release admissions data, and submit to federal monitoring. The agreement follows the university's disciplining of approximately 80 students involved in pro-Palestinian protests and sparked divided reactions from faculty, students, and alumni.
• White House issues fact sheet on Columbia University settlement — The White House issued a fact sheet on July 24, 2025, announcing that President Trump secured a settlement with Columbia University to address alleged violations of federal civil rights laws. The settlement includes a $200 million payment to the United States, over $20 million to resolve alleged discrimination against Jewish employees, restrictions on racial discrimination in hiring and admissions, enhanced campus safety measures, reduced reliance on international student enrollment, and establishment of an independent monitor to ensure compliance.

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• Skydance Media agrees to eliminate civil rights and DEI programs as condition of FCC merger approval — To obtain Federal Communications Commission approval of an $8 billion merger between CBS parent company Paramount and Skydance Media, Skydance agreed to eliminate programs related to civil rights, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to produce "unbiased" journalism. FCC Chair Brendan Carr approved the merger and subsequently bragged on right-wing media that CBS agreed to install an internal political "bias monitor" reporting to Paramount's president to ensure news coverage favorable to Trump and the right wing.
• Skydance Media promised to eliminate diversity and inclusion practices at Paramount to secure FCC merger approval — Skydance Media, in merger negotiations with Paramount Global requiring Federal Communications Commission approval, publicly committed to eliminating Paramount's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices and rooting out alleged "bias" at CBS News. The commitment was made to win administration support for the $8 billion merger. The FCC approved the merger the same day.
• FCC approves Paramount and Skydance Media merger — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media, which is valued at $8 billion. This approval comes after Skydance Media promised to eliminate Paramount's diversity, equity, and inclusion practices and to address perceived bias at CBS News to gain support from the administration. The merger is significant as it reflects the influence of political considerations on corporate practices in media.

Supporting reports

• Trump directed Republican congressmembers to deflect questions about Epstein files by claiming Obama cheated in 2016 election — During a morning meeting with Republican members of Congress, President Trump stated his popularity is rising and instructed them to redirect questions away from the Epstein files by repeatedly claiming that former president Barack Obama cheated in the 2016 election. Trump requested that cameramen cut cameras during the accusation, though the recording continued uninterrupted. He told congressmembers to use the Obama claim as a deflection tactic for any "inappropriate" questions.

Supporting reports

• Trump's name reported in DOJ Epstein files; Congress subpoenas Maxwell — The Wall Street Journal reported that Donald Trump's name appears multiple times in Department of Justice files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Attorney General Pam Bondi informed Trump in May that he was named in the files, though she stated the findings warranted no further investigation. The House Oversight Committee voted 8–2 to subpoena DOJ for Epstein-related files and subpoenaed Ghislaine Maxwell for a deposition on August 11. Trump subsequently filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Journal and banned one of its reporters from Air Force One.
• Wall Street Journal reported Trump's name in Epstein files — The Wall Street Journal reported that AG Bondi told Trump in May that his name was in the Epstein files, following a review by Justice Department officials who discovered his name "multiple times" in the "truckload" of documents. The bombshell report comes one week after Trump told reporters that Bondi told him he wasn't in the files.
• Trump informed months ago that his name in Epstein files — The New York Times reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche, both former Trump lawyers, informed the president months ago that his name, along with those of other high-profile figures, had appeared in documents connected to the Epstein case that had not previously been made public. This contradicts Trump's denials of prior knowledge. The White House responded by characterizing the report as "fake news" concocted by Democrats and the liberal media.

Supporting reports

• Trump signed Executive Order 14318 accelerating federal permitting for AI data center infrastructure and revoking prior EO 14141. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14318 on July 23, 2025, establishing expedited federal permitting procedures for AI data center projects and related infrastructure exceeding 100 megawatts. The order directs agencies to streamline environmental reviews under NEPA through categorical exclusions, expedite Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act permitting, facilitate programmatic consultation under the Endangered Species Act, and identify federal lands for data center development. It revokes Executive Order 14141 from January 2025 and authorizes financial support including loans, grants, and tax incentives for qualifying projects.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14319 restricting federal AI procurement to models meeting "Unbiased AI Principles" excluding diversity, equity, and inclusion frameworks. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14319 on July 23, 2025, directing federal agencies to procure only large language models (LLMs) that comply with "Unbiased AI Principles" emphasizing truth-seeking and ideological neutrality. The order defines DEI as suppression of factual information, manipulation of representation, and incorporation of concepts like critical race theory and intersectionality. OMB must issue implementation guidance within 120 days. Agencies must include compliance terms in new LLM contracts and revise existing ones where practicable, with vendor decommissioning costs charged for noncompliance.
• Trump administration unveils plan to fast-track AI infrastructure by dismantling environmental regulations — The Trump administration rolled out a 28-page scheme on Wednesday to accelerate AI sector development by removing environmental and land-use regulations, streamlining permitting for datacenters and semiconductor facilities, rolling back Biden-era climate-linked subsidy requirements, and seeking exclusions for datacenters from the National Environmental Policy Act and Clean Water Act. Trump is expected to sign three AI-related executive orders during a DC summit keynote address. The plan explicitly rejects "radical climate dogma" and pledges to review state AI laws for interference with federal authority, threatening to withhold federal funding from states with protective AI regulations.
• Trump signs three executive orders on AI, targeting "woke" models and removing environmental protections for datacentres — On Wednesday at an AI summit in Washington, Trump signed three executive orders aimed at advancing U.S. AI development. One order requires AI companies receiving federal funding to maintain "politically neutral" models free of "ideological dogmas such as DEI." A second order deregulates AI development and removes environmental protections for datacentre construction. A third expedites federal permitting for datacentre infrastructure. The orders accompany a 24-page "AI action plan" titled "Winning the Race" that repeals Biden-era AI safeguards and emphasizes speed over regulation.
• Trump issued executive order establishing American AI Exports Program to promote global deployment of U.S. AI technology packages. — President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 23, 2025, directing the Secretary of Commerce to establish the American AI Exports Program within 90 days. The program supports development and deployment of full-stack U.S. AI technology packages—including hardware, data pipelines, AI models, security measures, and applications—to allied and partner nations. The order mobilizes federal financing tools through the Economic Diplomacy Action Group to provide loans, guarantees, equity investments, and technical assistance for selected industry consortia. The initiative aims to extend American technological dominance and reduce international dependence on adversary-developed AI systems.
• Trump issues executive order accelerating federal permitting for AI data center infrastructure — President Trump issued an executive order on July 23, 2025, directing federal agencies to streamline permitting and environmental reviews for large-scale data center projects (>100 MW) and related infrastructure. The order establishes expedited review processes under NEPA, creates categorical exclusions for environmental assessment, authorizes use of federal lands for data center development, and revokes a prior Biden-era AI infrastructure order. Agencies must identify financial support mechanisms and coordinate permitting timelines.
• Trump issues executive order requiring federal AI procurement to prioritize "truth-seeking" and "ideological neutrality" over diversity and inclusion principles. — President Donald Trump signed Executive Order "Preventing Woke AI in the Federal Government" on July 23, 2025, directing federal agencies to procure only large language models (LLMs) that comply with two principles: truth-seeking (prioritizing historical accuracy and scientific objectivity) and ideological neutrality (rejecting DEI-influenced outputs). The order defines DEI in AI as suppression of factual information about race or sex, manipulation of representation, and incorporation of concepts like critical race theory and intersectionality. Within 120 days, the Office of Management and Budget must issue guidance to agencies; agencies must include compliance terms in new LLM contracts and revise existing ones within 90 days of guidance issuance.
• Trump signed Executive Order 14319 directing federal agencies to procure only large language models compliant with "Unbiased AI Principles" excluding diversity, equity, and inclusion frameworks. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14319 on July 23, 2025, directing federal agencies to procure large language models (LLMs) that comply with two stated principles: "truth-seeking" and "ideological neutrality." The order defines "DEI" as including suppression of factual information about race or sex, manipulation of representation, and incorporation of concepts like critical race theory and systemic racism. OMB must issue implementation guidance within 120 days. Agencies must include compliance terms in new LLM contracts and revise existing ones where practicable, with vendor decommissioning costs charged for noncompliance.
• White House issued fact sheet promoting executive order on AI procurement standards — The White House published a fact sheet on July 23, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump directing federal agencies to procure artificial intelligence models that adhere to "Unbiased AI Principles" emphasizing truthfulness and ideological neutrality. The order instructs the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidance for agency implementation and mandates that federal contracts for large language models include compliance terms and vendor accountability provisions. The fact sheet frames the order as preventing "woke AI" and DEI-driven bias in federal AI systems.
• White House issues fact sheet on executive order accelerating federal permitting for data center infrastructure — The White House published a fact sheet on July 23, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump to accelerate federal permitting of data center infrastructure. The order directs the Secretary of Commerce to provide financial support (loans, grants, tax incentives) for qualifying projects exceeding 100 megawatts of new load, including data centers, semiconductors, and related infrastructure. The order revokes a Biden-era executive order, streamlines environmental reviews, designates projects for expedited permitting under FAST-41, promotes use of Brownfield and Superfund sites, and authorizes data center construction on federal lands.
• White House releases "America's AI Action Plan" outlining 90+ federal policy actions — The White House issued "Winning the AI Race: America's AI Action Plan" on July 23, 2025, pursuant to President Trump's January executive order on AI leadership. The plan identifies over 90 federal policy actions across three pillars: accelerating innovation, building AI infrastructure, and leading in international diplomacy. Key policies include exporting American AI to allies, expediting data center permits, removing federal regulations hindering AI development, and updating procurement guidelines to ensure frontier AI models are "objective and free from top-down ideological bias."
• White House signed Executive Order 14318 accelerating federal permitting for data center infrastructure — The White House issued Executive Order 14318 on July 23, 2025, directing federal agencies to expedite permitting and environmental reviews for data center projects exceeding 100 megawatts of new load dedicated to AI, as well as related energy and component manufacturing infrastructure. The order revokes Executive Order 14141, establishes categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to bypass environmental review, streamlines Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act permitting, authorizes use of federal lands including military installations for data center development, and directs the EPA to expedite Brownfield and Superfund Site reuse. The order defines "Qualifying Projects" to include facilities with $500 million+ capital commitments or national security designation, with authority to designate projects vested in Commerce, Defense, Interior, and Energy secretaries.
• Trump signs Executive Order 14320 establishing American AI Exports Program to promote global deployment of U.S. AI technology packages. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14320 on July 23, 2025, establishing the American AI Exports Program to coordinate federal support for exporting full-stack American AI technologies globally. The order directs the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with State and OSTP, to issue a public call for industry proposals within 90 days. Selected proposals will receive priority access to federal financing tools, including loans, loan guarantees, equity investments, and political risk insurance, coordinated through the Economic Diplomacy Action Group. The program aims to extend U.S. technological dominance and reduce international dependence on adversary AI systems.
• White House issues fact sheet promoting export of American AI technologies via executive order — The White House issued a fact sheet on July 23, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump to establish an American AI Exports Program. The order directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop and deploy full-stack AI technology packages (hardware, data systems, models, cybersecurity, sector applications) to allies and partners. The fact sheet states the initiative aims to strengthen ties with allies, promote U.S. standards, maintain technological dominance, and reduce global reliance on systems from adversarial nations.
• White House issues fact sheet promoting U.S.-Indonesia reciprocal trade deal — The White House published a compilation of industry statements praising a reciprocal trade framework with Indonesia. The document claims the deal eliminates approximately 99% of tariff barriers on U.S. industrial, food, and agricultural exports, unlocks market access, and removes non-tariff barriers. Industry groups representing steel, petroleum, technology, agriculture, dairy, and meat sectors issued statements welcoming the agreement's provisions on digital trade, tariff elimination, and market access.
• White House signed Executive Order 14320 establishing American AI Exports Program — The White House signed Executive Order 14320 on July 23, 2025, directing the Secretary of Commerce to establish the American AI Exports Program within 90 days. The order mandates a coordinated federal effort to promote export of full-stack American AI technology packages (hardware, data pipelines, models, security measures, and applications) to specified target countries. The order mobilizes federal financing tools through the Economic Diplomacy Action Group, including direct loans, loan guarantees, equity investments, and political risk insurance, to support selected priority AI export packages.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration detains foreign scholars based on pro-Palestinian speech; trial reveals reliance on pro-Israel dossiers and ideological targeting — A federal trial in Boston examined the Trump administration's detention and deportation of noncitizen scholars and students for pro-Palestinian activism. The case, brought by the American Association of University Professors, Harvard, Rutgers, NYU, and the Middle East Studies Association, challenged what plaintiffs called an illegal "ideological deportation" policy. Immigration officials testified that they relied on lists compiled by pro-Israel groups Canary Mission and Betar USA, assembled a "Tiger Team" to investigate student protesters, and received orders from high-level administration officials to prioritize arrests of scholars based on their speech. Four arrested scholars—Mahmoud Khalil, Rümeysa Öztürk, Mohsen Mahdawi, and Badar Khan Suri—were released pending legal proceedings. Judge William G Young is expected to rule within weeks.

Supporting reports

• CNN published newly discovered photos of Trump and Epstein together — CNN published newly discovered photographs showing Trump and Jeffrey Epstein together, adding to public documentation of their association during the period when Epstein was engaged in sex trafficking.
• CNN reported previously unpublished Trump-Epstein photos and videos — CNN reported previously unpublished photos and video footage of Trump and Epstein, including pictures of Epstein attending Trump's 1993 wedding to Marla Maples and a video of the two men chatting and laughing at a 1999 Victoria's Secret fashion show. When asked about the newly uncovered photos and videos, Trump responded, "You've got to be kidding me," repeatedly calling the network "fake news" and hanging up.

Supporting reports

• Trump calls for prosecution of Obama and senior officials — President Trump, responding to DNI Gabbard's report, called for the prosecution of former President Obama, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Susan Rice, claiming they committed treason and orchestrated a coup. Trump posted on Truth Social that "Obama himself manufactured the Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX" and called it "THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY" and "Irrefutable EVIDENCE." He demanded severe consequences for those involved.
• Trump baselessly accused Obama of committing treason — Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump baselessly accused Obama of committing treason, falsely claiming the former president and his administration "tried to rig the [2016] election, and they got caught. And there should be very severe consequences for that." Obama's spokesperson responded that the claims are "outrageous" and "ridiculous," noting that documents issued by Gabbard "undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election."
• Trump accused Obama and Clinton of treason and election rigging — When asked about Deputy Attorney General Blanche's meeting with Maxwell, Trump attacked former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, claiming they "tried to rig the [2016] election, and they got caught" and should face "very severe consequences." Trump referenced allegations made by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Friday, in which she called for prosecution of Obama and former senior national security officials for a "treasonous conspiracy" against Trump related to Russian interference in the 2016 election.
• Trump directed Republican congressmembers to deflect questions about Epstein files by claiming Obama cheated in 2016 election — During a morning meeting with Republican members of Congress, President Trump stated his popularity is rising and instructed them to redirect questions away from the Epstein files by repeatedly claiming that former president Barack Obama cheated in the 2016 election. Trump requested that cameramen cut cameras during the accusation, though the recording continued uninterrupted. He told congressmembers to use the Obama claim as a deflection tactic for any "inappropriate" questions.
• Trump publicly calls for prosecution of Obama, alleging "coup" and "treason" — Donald Trump told reporters that Barack Obama attempted to lead a "coup" against him and committed "treason" by allegedly manufacturing evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Trump named Obama as the primary target of a criminal investigation recommended in a report by Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence. Obama's office responded with an emphatic public refutation, breaking precedent to reject the accusations as "outrageous" and "ridiculous," and reaffirmed that Russia's 2016 interference was confirmed by bipartisan Senate investigation and the Mueller report.

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• Trump administration dismisses Epstein file inquiries as "waste of time" — Donald Trump publicly denounced demands for more information on Jeffrey Epstein as a "waste [of] Time and Energy" about "somebody that nobody cares about," seeking to contain a rift with his own supporters over the sex-trafficking scandal. The statement triggered backlash from influential Maga figures, including Tucker Carlson, who criticized the administration's dismissive handling of public questions about Epstein's influence and connections at a Turning Point USA event in Tampa.
• Trump posted that Epstein files release is a "Democrat SCAM" — Trump posted on social media that Democrats have "gone absolutely CRAZY" and are playing a "Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax" but "under the guise of what we will call the Jeffrey Epstein SCAM," calling it a "Democrat CON JOB." He stated he hopes grand jury files will be released quickly but that "people who are innocent should not be hurt," a reference to his earlier statement that AG Pam Bondi should only release materials deemed "credible."

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• US District Judge Wingate pauses enforcement of Mississippi's anti-DEI law — US District Judge Henry Wingate issued a temporary restraining order on July 21, 2025, pausing enforcement of Mississippi House Bill 1193, which prohibits diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in public schools and universities. The order was granted in response to a challenge by the Mississippi Association of Educators, ACLU of Mississippi, and Mississippi Center for Justice, who argue the law violates First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The temporary order remains in effect until the court rules on the plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction.

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• Fox News amplifies Obama-Tulsi Gabbard hoax to divert from Epstein coverage — Fox News continues to promote a hoax that former President Obama committed treason, with the apparent purpose of diverting MAGA attention away from the Epstein story. Media Matters reported that Fox mentions of Epstein totaled 63 over the weekend, while mentions of Obama totaled 129, demonstrating a deliberate editorial choice to amplify the false narrative.

Supporting reports

• White House removes Wall Street Journal reporter from Trump's Scotland trip — The White House removed Tarini Parti, a Wall Street Journal reporter scheduled to serve as print pooler for the final two days of Trump's four-day trip to his golf courses in Turnberry and Aberdeen, Scotland, from the trip manifest. The White House took control of pool rotations earlier in 2025, removing that authority from the White House Correspondents' Association. The removal follows the WSJ's recent story connecting Trump to Jeffrey Epstein via a signed birthday card.
• Press Secretary Leavitt defends exclusion of Wall Street Journal from coverage — Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the Wall Street Journal and other news outlets are not guaranteed special access to cover President Trump in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, or in private workspaces. She cited the WSJ's "fake and defamatory conduct" as the reason for excluding them from the 13 outlets on board Trump's trip, while claiming the White House has "taken significant steps to include as many voices as possible."
• White House removed Wall Street Journal from Trump's press pool — The White House pulled the Wall Street Journal off the reporters' pool covering Trump's Friday trip to Scotland after the Journal published an article about a "bawdy" letter the president wrote to Epstein in 2003. In response, the New York Times released a statement in solidarity, calling the move "an attack on the core constitutional principles underpinning free speech and a free press" and "simple retribution by a president against a news organization for doing reporting he doesn't like."
• White House assumes direct control of press pool assignments — The Trump administration has assumed direct control of press pool assignments, a role traditionally managed by the White House Correspondents' Association. This shift enables selective inclusion and exclusion of media outlets from official access, representing a departure from established norms of independent press pool management.
• White House bars Wall Street Journal from press pool over Epstein reporting — The Trump administration excluded the Wall Street Journal from the White House press pool following the publication of investigative reporting about alleged ties between Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, specifically a story claiming Trump sent a "bawdy" birthday letter to Epstein in 2003. The New York Times and White House Correspondents' Association condemned the exclusion as retribution and an attack on press freedom. Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the WSJ; the paper stands by its reporting.
• Trump administration sues Wall Street Journal over Epstein story — The Trump administration sued the Wall Street Journal and its owner Rupert Murdoch in response to reporting that Trump had sent Epstein a lewd drawing and suggestive dialogue. The lawsuit represents a direct legal action against press coverage of Trump's personal connections to Epstein during a period of heightened scrutiny over the administration's handling of Epstein files.
• Trump files defamation lawsuits against major media companies — Trump has filed lawsuits against several major media companies, including CBS/Paramount, ABC News, Meta, and the Wall Street Journal. The article notes that all companies have settled their cases for millions of dollars. These lawsuits follow unfavorable reporting and represent a pattern of legal action against press outlets.
• Trump sues Wall Street Journal and bans outlet from press pool over Epstein letter report — After the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump allegedly sent a "bawdy" letter to Epstein in 2003, Trump sued the Journal and its owners. In retaliation, the paper was subsequently banned from participating in the press pool during Trump's upcoming trip to Scotland. The action reflects Trump's use of legal threats and access restrictions to punish media coverage of his ties to Epstein.

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• Department of Justice releases declassified files on Martin Luther King Jr. assassination — Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced the coordinated release of 230,000 pages of documents related to the April 4, 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., executed pursuant to Executive Order 14176. The disclosure resulted from months of collaboration between DOJ, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, CIA, and National Archives and Records Administration. Dr. Alveda King attended the DOJ event and praised the transparency initiative.
• Trump administration published 230,000 MLK assassination documents — The Trump administration published 230,000 documents related to the 1968 assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., a move that his family and supporters publicly opposed. Rev. Al Sharpton called the release "a desperate attempt to distract people from the firestorm engulfing Trump over the Epstein files," while MLK's daughter Bernice King responded on Twitter, "Now, do the Epstein files."
• Trump administration released sealed FBI files on Martin Luther King Jr. — The Trump administration released over 240,000 pages of FBI records on Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that had been sealed since 1977, when the FBI transferred them to the National Archives and Records Administration. The release occurred over objections from King's family. The files were compiled during the FBI's COINTELPRO operations (1956–1971), which illegally surveilled and worked to discredit Americans FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover deemed threats to national security, including King.

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• Wall Street Journal publishes alleged 2003 birthday message from Trump to Epstein — The Wall Street Journal reported on July 18, 2025, that materials collected during the Department of Justice's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein included a 2003 birthday message allegedly from Trump to Epstein. The message, described as typewritten text framed by a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman, contains a dialogue between Trump and Epstein discussing shared secrets and enigmas. Trump denied authenticity, calling it "fake" and sued the Journal, its owner Rupert Murdoch, and the two reporters for $10 billion, claiming the letter does not reflect how he speaks or writes.

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• ICE director affirms policy allowing agents to wear masks during arrest operations — Todd Lyons, acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, stated on CBS Face the Nation that he will continue permitting ICE officers to wear masks during arrest raids, citing officer safety and doxxing concerns. Legal advocates, state attorneys general, and civil rights groups have challenged the practice as obscuring accountability, enabling impersonation, and contributing to a climate of fear. The policy has coincided with record deportation enforcement under the Trump administration.

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• Trump reposted AI-generated video depicting Obama's arrest and imprisonment — Trump reposted a video from a TikTok user on Truth Social that included an AI-generated portion showing Trump and Obama in the Oval Office with FBI officers handcuffing Obama, followed by a scene of the former president in a jail cell. The post amplified false imagery suggesting criminal prosecution of a political opponent.
• Trump posted AI-generated video of Obama being arrested by FBI — Trump posted on social media an AI-generated video showing former president Barack Obama being arrested by FBI agents and held in a jail cell. He also posted an image of intelligence agents and politicians in prison garb as mug shots and reposted an image of lawmakers in handcuffs. These posts appeared designed to project fears onto perceived Democratic enemies.

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• White House issues fact sheet claiming six-month record of policy achievements — The White House published a fact sheet asserting accomplishments across economic, border, military, and diplomatic domains during the first six months of the Trump administration. The document claims the largest tax cut in history, record-low border encounters, 671,000 net job additions, egg price declines, tariff revenue collection, military recruitment goals met, and diplomatic agreements including ceasefires and NATO defense spending increases. The fact sheet attributes these outcomes to executive orders, legislation, and administration policy direction.
• White House issues promotional fact sheet claiming fulfillment of campaign promises — The White House published a fact sheet titled "President Trump Has Kept His Promises — and Then Some," asserting that the administration has delivered on 20 core campaign commitments within six months. The document claims achievements across border security, deportations, inflation reduction, energy production, manufacturing, tax cuts, constitutional protections, military modernization, and election integrity. It attributes specific policy actions (executive orders, regulatory changes, enforcement operations) to each claimed promise and frames them as accomplished outcomes.

Supporting reports

• Trump sued Wall Street Journal for ten billion dollars over Epstein letter publication — After the Wall Street Journal revealed the existence of a 2003 birthday letter from Trump to Jeffrey Epstein in July 2025, Trump sued the Journal, its reporters, and its parent company for ten billion dollars. Trump claimed the letter was "nonexistent," despite the paper's documented possession and publication of the document. The lawsuit represents an attempt to suppress press coverage through financial intimidation and legal action.
• Trump sues Wall Street Journal for $10 billion over Epstein letter story — President Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal, its owner Rupert Murdoch, and the two reporters who authored the story about the alleged 2003 birthday message to Epstein. Trump claimed the letter is "fake" and "not the way I talk," seeking damages for what he characterized as false reporting. The lawsuit represents an attempt to use legal action to suppress or punish journalism about the alleged communication.
• Trump sues Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over Epstein story — Trump filed a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and owner Rupert Murdoch (who also owns Fox News) in response to the WSJ's story connecting Trump to Jeffrey Epstein via a signed birthday card message. The lawsuit was assigned to Judge Darrin Gayles, appointed by Barack Obama. The White House subsequently banned the WSJ from covering Trump in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and in private workspaces.
• Trump sues Wall Street Journal over Epstein-Maxwell letter story — After the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Trump contributed a letter with a doodle of a nude woman to a 2003 Festschrift compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell for Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday, Trump denied the story and announced on Friday that he was suing the Wall Street Journal's publisher for libel. The lawsuit represents an attempt to suppress or punish press reporting on Trump's documented connections to Epstein.
• Wall Street Journal publishes alleged 2003 birthday message from Trump to Epstein — The Wall Street Journal reported on July 18, 2025, that materials collected during the Department of Justice's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein included a 2003 birthday message allegedly from Trump to Epstein. The message, described as typewritten text framed by a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman, contains a dialogue between Trump and Epstein discussing shared secrets and enigmas. Trump denied authenticity, calling it "fake" and sued the Journal, its owner Rupert Murdoch, and the two reporters for $10 billion, claiming the letter does not reflect how he speaks or writes.