Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump baselessly claimed CNN and New York Times coordinated against him — On June 24, Trump baselessly claimed on Truth Social that CNN and the New York Times "TEAMED UP IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEMEAN ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MILITARY STRIKES IN HISTORY," and continued to say Iran's nuclear sites were "COMPLETELY DESTROYED!"

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• White House Press Secretary Leavitt claimed Iranian nuclear sites were completely obliterated — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on ABC that the administration is confident that Iran's nuclear sites were "completely and totally obliterated" and that Iran no longer has the capability to build nuclear weapons and threaten the world. The bulletin notes that every military and nuclear expert, including Trump's own Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine, said it is impossible to know what was destroyed at this early stage.

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• Case update — D.V.D. v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-10676 — The Supreme Court stopped a lower court's order which has prevented the administration from removing immigrants to third countries without an opportunity to present their claims of potential torture first. The Supreme Court's order is now in place while the litigation proceeds. Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson dissented.
• CDC presentation included nonexistent vaccine study — On June 24, a presentation scheduled for Thursday's meeting of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was found to have included a study that does not appear to exist after it was published on the agency's website. The presentation by Lyn Redwood, a former leader of an anti-vaccine group, claimed that the nonexistent study found that the vaccine preservative thimerosal can have "long-term consequences in the brain."
• ACIP agenda cites study that author says was not conducted or published — The ACIP panel's new agenda cited a study that the cited author stated he did not conduct or publish, according to Reuters reporting. This continues a pattern of Kennedy's health department producing references to garbled or nonexistent studies while Kennedy repeatedly touts "gold-standard" science.

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• Denial of entry and deportation of work visa holder "Jonathan" — A man with a US work visa provided an anonymous account of being denied entry to the US after a trip to Australia to scatter his sister's ashes. He was pulled aside on arrival in Houston, Texas, and accused of selling drugs and having improper paperwork. After detention for over a day, he was put on a flight back to Australia despite having worked on the US east coast for five years and living with his girlfriend.
• Denial of entry and detention of UK Subs band members — Members of the punk rock band UK Subs were denied entry and detained in the US on their way to play a gig in Los Angeles after being questioned about visas. Bassist Alvin Gibbs stated he wondered whether his frequent and critical public comments about Trump and his administration played a role. The three band members were kept in harsh conditions for 24 hours then deported back to the UK.
• Denial of entry to French scientist for criticizing Trump administration — A French scientist was denied entry to the US after immigration officers at an airport searched his phone and found messages in which he had expressed criticism of the Trump administration. The researcher was on his way to a conference in Texas. France's minister of higher education and research, Philippe Baptiste, stated that "freedom of opinion, free research, and academic freedom are values that we will continue to proudly uphold."
• Detention and alleged abuse of German green-card holder Fabian Schmidt — Fabian Schmidt, a 34-year-old German national and US green-card holder, was apprehended by border officials as he returned to New Hampshire from a trip to Luxembourg. His family stated he was held for hours at Boston's Logan airport, stripped naked and put in a cold shower, then deprived of food and medicine, and collapsed. His case is being investigated. He was released from ICE detention in Rhode Island in mid-May.
• Detention and deportation of British graphic artist Rebecca Burke — British graphic artist Rebecca Burke was arrested at the border while traveling from Seattle to Canada as a backpacker due to a visa mix-up. She became one of 32,809 people arrested by ICE during the first 50 days of Trump's presidency. After nearly three weeks of grueling detention conditions, she smuggled out poignant drawings of fellow detainees when released.
• Detention and deportation of German tourist Jessica Brösche — German tourist and tattoo artist Jessica Brösche, 29, from Berlin was detained by US immigration authorities and deported back to Germany after more than six weeks in US detention, including eight days in solitary confinement. Her family compared her ordeal to "a horror film."
• Detention and questioning of US citizen attorney Amir Makled at airport — Amir Makled, a Detroit-born attorney, was questioned at the airport upon returning from vacation and flagged to a terrorism response team. He was kept behind and pressured to hand over his phone and some of its contents. Makled represents a pro-Palestinian student protester arrested at the University of Michigan. Experts said the incident was evidence of a weakening of Fourth Amendment constitutional protections at the border against unreasonable search and seizure.
• Detention of Canadian visitor Jasmine Mooney in ICE facilities — Canadian Jasmine Mooney was shackled and detained in ICE facilities for two weeks over an alleged work visa irregularity while visiting California. She spoke out about harsh detention conditions, information blackouts, and her outrage that many other detainees she met remain stranded without access to resources that helped her secure release.

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• Secretary of State Rubio dismisses intelligence assessment as irrelevant to Iran nuclear decision — On June 22, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared on CBS Face the Nation and, when asked whether the United States had intelligence that the Supreme Leader had ordered weaponization of Iran's nuclear program, declared the question "irrelevant." When pressed by interviewer Margaret Brennan that this is "the key point in U.S. intelligence assessments," Rubio contradicted her, stating "No, it's not." This represents an explicit rejection of the foundational criterion—whether Iran's leadership has decided to weaponize—that defines the U.S. Intelligence Community's assessment of the nuclear threat.
• Vice President Vance mischaracterizes intelligence testimony to justify Iran strikes — On June 22, 2025, Vice President JD Vance appeared on Meet the Press and claimed that Director of National Intelligence Gabbard had said in March that Iran was "producing highly-enriched Uranium that was only consistent with them wanting to build a nuclear weapon." However, the transcript of Gabbard's Congressional hearing reveals this characterization is false and misleading. Gabbard stated that Iran was enriching uranium (a fact true for many years) and had a higher stockpile than other non-nuclear nations, but she was explicit that Iran had not taken steps to build a nuclear weapon nor had such a program been authorized. Vance's misrepresentation was used to justify military strikes.

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• Trump claimed Republican unity — Trump posted on Truth Social that there is "Great unity in the Republican Party, perhaps unity like we have never seen before," despite significant divisions within the MAGA base over the bombing.

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• Trump posted about potential Iranian regime change — After administration officials spent the day on Sunday talk shows assuring the public that the U.S. sought only to stop Iran's nuclear ambitions and not regime change, Trump posted on social media: "It's not politically correct to use the term 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!" This contradicted Vice President Vance's explicit statement on ABC's This Week that "We don't want to achieve regime change."
• Trump endorses regime change in Iran after administration denies such goal — On Sunday, June 22, 2025, Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Rubio repeatedly insisted on television that the Trump administration's goal was not regime change in Iran. Vance stated on Meet the Press: "[W]e don't want a regime change." However, on Sunday afternoon of the same day, President Trump publicly endorsed regime change in Iran. This reversal contradicts the administration's stated position and suggests the bombing campaign may have objectives beyond the stated nuclear justification.
• Trump called for illegal regime change in Iran — On June 22, Trump posted on Truth Social calling for an illegal "Regime Change" in Iran if the current government is "unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN," contradicting Vice President JD Vance's statement on Meet the Press that the US does not seek regime change in Iran.

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• DHS falsely claims U.S. citizen assaulted border patrol agents after being detained outside car repair shop — Border Patrol agents detained a 29-year-old U.S. citizen outside his car repair shop. In video footage, the man repeatedly stated he was an American citizen while an agent pushed him into a metal gate. He was eventually released. After the Los Angeles Times published a story documenting rising "fears of racial profiling," DHS issued a press release calling the reporting "fake news" and claiming the man "ASSAULTED US Customs and Border Protection Agents," contradicting the video evidence.

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• CNN Investigation Finds Fewer Than 10% of ICE Detainees Convicted of Violent Crimes — An investigation by CNN reporters published on Monday found that fewer than 10% of those taken into custody by ICE since October have been convicted of violent crimes. This contradicts public statements by Trump administration supporters that deportations would target only undocumented immigrants who had committed violent crimes.

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• ICE Director Claims Increased Assaults Against Officers — Todd Lyons, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, justified the use of plainclothes, unidentified agents by citing a 413% increase in assaults against ICE officers. Philip Bump of the Washington Post investigated the claim and found ICE conflated "threatening to assault" with actual assault, avoided disclosing absolute numbers, and refused to provide evidence. Bump concluded ICE's representations should not be taken at face value. The Department of Homeland Security subsequently posted on social media claiming a 500% increase in assaults.
• Department of Homeland Security Attributes ICE Officer Assaults to Democratic Opposition — After Philip Bump's Washington Post article questioned ICE's assault statistics, the Department of Homeland Security posted on social media claiming a 500% increase in assaults and stating: "Make no mistake, sanctuary politicians are contributing to the surge in assaults of our ICE officers through their repeated vilification and demonization of ICE." The statement blamed Democratic legislators for violence against ICE officers.
• ICE Director Lyons defended masked agents and claimed doxxing threat — ICE Director Todd Lyons was asked on Newsmax about calls from Democrats for ICE agents to stop wearing masks. Lyons stated that ICE agents did not have to wear masks before or after January 20, that he personally does not want officers wearing masks because it is hot and dangerous, but that ICE agents are being doxxed at a horrible rate. The bulletin notes that there have not been any incidents of anyone going to the homes of ICE agents and threatening them or their families.

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• JD Vance misidentifies Senator Alex Padilla in public remarks — During his Los Angeles press conference, Vice-president Vance made a joke about "Jose Padilla" in response to a question about Democrats detained by federal officers. He was referring to California Senator Alex Padilla, who had been forcibly detained by the FBI the previous week. Vance conflated Padilla with Jose Padilla, an American citizen accused of planning a radioactive dirty bomb for al-Qaida in 2002. Padilla's spokesperson called the remark inappropriate and noted Vance and Padilla were former Senate colleagues.
• Vice President Vance Misidentifies Senator Padilla as Convicted Terrorist — At a news conference in Los Angeles, Vice President J.D. Vance was asked if Trump's administration is "cracking down on Democrats." Vance, who served with Alex Padilla in the Senate, called his former colleague by the wrong name, referring to him as "José Padilla," the name of a man convicted in 2007 of conspiring to commit murder and fund terrorism. Vance's press secretary stated the vice president "must have mixed up two people who have broken the law."

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• Trump attributed bombing success to God — Trump posted a statement thanking God for the bombing operation, stating "I just want to thank everyone—in particular, God. We love you God."
• Trump declared total victory on social media — Trump posted an all-caps message on Truth Social declaring the bombing a historic moment and demanding that Iran end the war, without acknowledging uncertainty about the operation's actual effectiveness or the diplomatic negotiations that had been underway.
• Trump declares Iran nuclear sites "completely and totally obliterated" after bombing campaign — President Trump addressed the nation on June 21, 2025, declaring the bombing of Iran a "spectacular military success" and claiming all key nuclear sites were "completely and totally obliterated." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed these claims, stating Iran's nuclear ambitions had been obliterated. However, within hours, senior military officials contradicted these assertions, with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine stating it was "way too early" to assess the bombing's impact and that battle damage assessment was still ongoing.

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• Fox correspondent reported uncertainty about Isfahan tunnel destruction — Fox News Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin reported that experts told her the underground tunnel at Isfahan is a much harder target than Fordo and it is unclear whether Tomahawk missiles were able to destroy it. A source told Fox the tunnel is deeper than Qom and made of harder rock, making penetration unlikely.
• International Atomic Energy Agency reported no radiation increase — The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that no increase in off-site radiation levels had been reported following the attacks on the three Iranian nuclear sites and stated it would provide further assessments as more information became available.
• Joint Chiefs Chair acknowledged uncertainty about bombing effectiveness — Joint Chiefs Chair Dan Caine admitted that bomb damage assessments were still pending and stated it would be "way too early" to comment on what may or may not remain of Iran's nuclear program, contradicting Trump and Hegseth's claims of total destruction.
• Satellite imagery analyst assessed bombing penetration uncertainty — Satellite imagery analyst Ben Macales stated that while the bombing targeted specific corridors at Fordo where uranium enrichment occurs, it is not yet possible to determine whether the bombs penetrated the dozens of meters of rock to reach their intended targets.
• Science and technology expert questioned bombing effectiveness — Sky News Science & Tech Editor Tom Clarke stated that Iran has spent two decades developing the ability to shape uranium metal and create shaped explosive charges for nuclear weapons, and that these capabilities can be conducted in laboratory-sized facilities that are easier to hide. He noted that Iran had already moved enriched uranium out of Fordo before the strike and questioned whether Iran had actually lost its ability to make a bomb.
• Administration officials walked back Trump's damage assessment — Within hours of Trump's announcement, administration officials began contradicting his claims about the bombing's success. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine told the Wall Street Journal it was "way too early" to assess damage. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi stated that no one could determine how much damage had been inflicted. New York Times reporter David Sanger reported evidence suggesting Iran had moved uranium and equipment from the Fordo site before the strikes occurred.
• IAEA Director General contradicted Trump and Netanyahu — Director General of the IAEA Rafael Grossi stated on CNN that the IAEA did not have elements to prove that Iran had a plan or systematic effort toward building a nuclear weapon, directly contradicting Trump and Netanyahu's claims that Iran was building a bomb.
• General Dan Caine states assessment of Iran bombing damage is premature — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine appeared at the Pentagon on June 22, 2025, and stated it was "way too early" to assess the impact of the bombing campaign on Iran's nuclear capabilities. Caine noted that battle damage assessment was still in progress and that many critical facilities are located deep underground, making assessment difficult. This directly contradicted Trump's claims made hours earlier that Iran's nuclear sites had been "completely and totally obliterated."
• Experts questioned whether Trump achieved stated goal of stopping nuclear threat — Experts raised questions about whether Trump achieved his stated goal of "a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's No. 1 state sponsor of terror" given that the Isfahan facility, which houses a significant portion of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile, appears to have survived the strike with only aboveground damage. Even if the US was successful in destroying Iran's facility at Fordow, the survival of Isfahan raised doubts about the operation's success.
• NYT reported US may not know location of Iran's highly enriched uranium — The New York Times reported that the US may not know the whereabouts of Iran's roughly 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, which is small enough to fit in the trunks of about 10 cars.
• Experts assess Iran's nuclear enterprise "far from destroyed" — Experts who reviewed satellite imagery of the three US-targeted sites concluded that Iran's "long-running nuclear enterprise is far from destroyed." Rafael Grossi of the IAEA noted that while damage to underground facilities could be significant, "no one… neither us nor anybody else could be able to tell you how much it has been damaged." Additionally, satellite imagery showed 16 cargo trucks positioned near the Fordo facility before the attack, suggesting Iran may have relocated equipment or materials before the strikes.
• IAEA reports Iran moved enriched uranium stockpile before US strikes — Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stated that Iran moved its stockpile of enriched uranium from targeted sites before the US bombing campaign. The stockpile includes approximately 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, stored in portable casks. Vice President Vance acknowledged on ABC's This Week that Iran retained this stockpile and said the administration would have "conversations with the Iranians" about it, effectively conceding that a key objective of the bombing—eliminating enriched uranium—was not achieved.
• Vice President Vance declines to confirm Iran nuclear sites destroyed — Vice President JD Vance appeared on Meet the Press and refused to confirm Trump's claim that Iran's nuclear sites were "completely and totally obliterated," citing sensitivity of intelligence. Vance stated only that the strikes "pushed [Iran's] program back by a very long time" and acknowledged that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon would require future diplomatic conversations with Iran and regional allies. This represented a significant retreat from Trump's categorical assertions.

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• Trump announced U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites — President Trump announced that the United States had bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordo, Natanz, and Esfahan—using twelve 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) for the first time in history. Trump declared the strikes "a spectacular military success" and stated Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities had been "completely and totally obliterated." He called on Iran to "make peace." The announcement came one week after a military parade and amid five million Americans protesting his administration.
• Trump ordered military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites — On June 21, 2025, President Trump ordered U.S. military strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities, deploying 12 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs. According to New York Times reporting, Trump initially warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against striking Iran but reversed course after observing Israel's military operation receive favorable television coverage, particularly on Fox News. Trump had decided on the strike by June 17, following a military parade that drew large protests. The actual damage and effectiveness of the strikes remain unclear despite Trump's claims of "obliteration."
• Trump administration conducts airstrikes on Iran's nuclear sites — The U.S. military conducted surprise airstrikes on Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities on Saturday evening, targeting sites related to nuclear development. The strikes were announced by President Trump in a national address and were reportedly based on Israeli intelligence indicating Iran was close to developing a nuclear weapon. The administration stated the raids targeted only nuclear enrichment infrastructure and avoided population centers, economic assets, and oil terminals. Vice President JD Vance later praised the precision of the B-2 bombers involved.
• Trump announces U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities — At 7:50 p.m. Eastern Time, President Trump posted on social media announcing that the U.S. military had completed attacks on three Iranian nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. He stated all aircraft had exited Iranian airspace and a full payload of bombs was dropped on Fordow. At 10:00 p.m., Trump addressed the nation from the White House, flanked by Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, and Defense Secretary Hegseth, declaring the strikes a "spectacular military success" and stating Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity had been "completely and totally obliterated." He warned of further attacks if Iran did not pursue peace.
• Trump administration bombs Iranian nuclear sites based on intelligence assessment contradicting U.S. Intelligence Community consensus — On June 21, 2025, the Trump administration announced bombing of Iranian nuclear sites, justifying the action with claims that Iran is actively pursuing nuclear weapons. However, the U.S. Intelligence Community's official assessment, stated publicly by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on March 25, 2025, concluded that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorized such a program. Trump publicly dismissed Gabbard's assessment, stating "my intelligence community is wrong" and "She's wrong." Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Rubio mischaracterized or dismissed the March intelligence findings to justify the strikes, while Defense Secretary Hegseth avoided confirming whether intelligence had changed since March. Congressional briefings and the International Atomic Energy Agency corroborated the IC's March assessment that no decision to weaponize had been made.
• President Trump ordered coordinated airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities without congressional authorization — On June 21, 2025, President Trump ordered U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—using B-2 stealth bombers and possibly bunker-buster ordnance. No congressional resolution, debate, or formal declaration of war preceded the action. Trump described the strikes as "very successful" and claimed all aircraft had exited Iranian airspace. The strikes followed rapid regional escalation beginning mid-June, including Israeli operations and Iranian missile responses. Trump stated diplomatic avenues had been exhausted and cited the goal of denying Iran nuclear capability.
• U.S. Airstrikes on Iranian Nuclear Facilities Ordered by President Trump — On June 21, 2025, President Trump ordered airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. This marks the first U.S. bombing of Iranian soil in decades. The strikes were carried out using B-2 stealth bombers and possibly GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators. The action was taken without a congressional resolution or debate, bypassing the War Powers Resolution, which requires legislative approval for military engagements of this magnitude. The decision has sparked a constitutional crisis, as it represents a unilateral escalation into a regional conflict without democratic oversight.
• Trump administration launched military strikes against Iran without congressional authorization — On June 21, the Trump administration conducted military strikes against Iran without seeking prior authorization from Congress or making a public case for the operation's necessity or timing. Trump subsequently claimed on Truth Social that "NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!" and warned that any Iranian retaliation would be met with "FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later admitted that congressional leaders were notified only after the planes had safely departed.
• Trump authorizes airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities without congressional approval — President Trump authorized airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday night without prior congressional approval or consultation. Congressional leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, were not adequately informed before the operation commenced. Schumer received a call from Trump officials but was not told which country would be targeted; Jeffries could not be reached until after the strikes had begun. The action prompted immediate calls for impeachment from Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and accusations of executive overreach and constitutional violation from Democratic leadership.
• U.S. conducts airstrikes on Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities — The United States bombed Iran's three nuclear enrichment facilities. President Trump announced the strikes on social media. The strikes targeted Iran's nuclear program narrowly after Israel had already degraded Iran's long-range strike capability. Iran responded with threats but had limited retaliatory capacity. The strikes did not trigger a broader military escalation or "boots on the ground" invasion, and Trump indicated he would back off after the nuclear facilities were destroyed, leaving further conflict to Israel.

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• Trump called for a special prosecutor to investigate 2020 election claims — On June 20, 2025, former President Donald Trump announced his call for a special prosecutor to investigate claims of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election, despite the lack of evidence supporting these claims. This announcement comes amid a politically charged environment and aims to distract from other issues facing his administration.
• Trump Calls for Special Prosecutor to Investigate 2020 Election Claims — President Donald Trump announced he is calling for a special prosecutor to investigate claims that Democrats stole the 2020 presidential election. No evidence of election fraud has ever been produced, and courts dismissed numerous cases brought over the claim. Trump's announcement follows a week of embarrassing news and occurs amid deep MAGA division over U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict.

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• Tulsi Gabbard responded to Trump's comments on Iran — Tulsi Gabbard posted on social media that the media misrepresented her testimony regarding Iran's nuclear capabilities, asserting that the US has intelligence indicating Iran could produce a nuclear weapon soon.

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• Trump claimed he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize — Trump stated in a media interview that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his alleged contributions to peace in various global conflicts, including those in Rwanda and between India and Pakistan.

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• Trump called for a Special Prosecutor to investigate the 2020 election — Donald Trump publicly demanded the appointment of a Special Prosecutor to investigate the 2020 election, claiming it was fraudulent and that Joe Biden lost by a landslide. He emphasized the need for action to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
• Trump Calls for Special Prosecutor for 2020 Election — On Truth Social, President Trump called for a special prosecutor to investigate the 2020 presidential election, claiming it was fraudulent. His statements continue to challenge the legitimacy of the election results.

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• Democrats boycott Senate hearing on Biden's mental decline — On June 18, 2025, Democrats largely boycotted a Republican-led Senate hearing titled "Unfit to Serve: How the Biden Cover-Up Endangered America and Undermined the Constitution," which focused on allegations of President Joe Biden's mental decline and its concealment. Only Senator Peter Welch from Vermont attended the session. The hearing featured testimony from former Trump administration officials and a legal scholar, with discussions on Biden's alleged use of an autopen for signatures. Republican co-chairs John Cornyn and Eric Schmitt framed the hearing as addressing a constitutional crisis, while Welch criticized the focus on Biden and pointed to Congress's broader legislative failures.

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• New US Visa Rules Require Social Media Access for Foreign Students — The US State Department has announced new visa rules requiring foreign students to unlock their social media profiles for review by US diplomats before receiving educational and exchange visas. This directive, aimed at F, M, and J visa categories, mandates an online presence review to identify any hostility towards US citizens, culture, or institutions. The guidance also includes screening for support of foreign terrorists and antisemitic activities. The Trump administration paused new education visas issuance to develop these vetting strategies, which have been criticized as targeting opposition to Israel's actions in Gaza.
• State Department to Review Visa Applicants' Social Media — The State Department will review social media accounts of individuals applying for student and visiting scholar visas, looking for indications of hostility toward the U.S. Applicants must make accounts public for review.

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• Arrest of New York City Comptroller Brad Lander by ICE and FBI Agents — On June 17, 2025, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested by ICE and FBI agents outside a federal immigration court in New York. Lander was detained while questioning officers about a judicial warrant for an immigrant he was accompanying. Despite being accused of assaulting law enforcement, video evidence showed officers aggressively handling Lander. He was released after four hours without charges. The incident is part of a pattern where DHS accuses prominent figures of assault without filing charges, raising concerns about intimidation tactics.
• Arrest of New York City mayoral candidate Brad Lander by ICE agents — Brad Lander, New York City's comptroller and mayoral candidate, was arrested by ICE agents at an immigration court in New York City. Lander was accompanying an immigrant, Edgardo, whose case had been dismissed pending appeal. Lander was charged with assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer, although he denied these charges. The arrest sparked protests and criticism from various political figures, who described the arrest as an abuse of power. The charges against Lander were later dropped, and he was released from custody.
• NYC Comptroller Arrested by ICE — New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested by ICE agents while escorting an individual from immigration court. Lander was accused of assaulting law enforcement, but footage disputes these claims. His arrest raises concerns about the treatment of public officials.
• Arrest of New York City comptroller Brad Lander at federal immigration court — Brad Lander, the New York City comptroller and mayoral candidate, was arrested by federal agents at a federal immigration court. Lander was detained for hours after attempting to accompany a Spanish-speaking immigrant out of the courtroom. The DHS accused him of assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer, charges which Lander denies. Following his release, New York's governor, Kathy Hochul, criticized the arrest, and the charges against Lander were reportedly dropped.
• Arrest of New York City Comptroller Brad Lander by ICE Agents — On June 18, 2025, New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested by ICE agents while attempting to shield an immigrant, Edgardo, from arrest at a courthouse. Lander was detained for a few hours before being released without charges, while Edgardo remained in ICE detention. The arrest, which was captured on video, sparked widespread condemnation and was seen as part of the Trump administration's intensified immigration enforcement efforts targeting outspoken Democratic politicians. Lander's arrest has increased his visibility in the ongoing New York City mayoral race.

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• Federal judge rules trans people can update gender markers on passports — A federal judge in Boston, Julia Kobick, issued a preliminary injunction allowing transgender and intersex individuals to update their gender markers on U.S. passports, countering an executive order from the Trump administration. This order had mandated that passports conform to the sex assigned at birth. The injunction expands a previous order that applied to six individuals, now extending the right to all trans citizens without a valid passport or those needing to renew or change their passport details. The ruling challenges the constitutionality of the executive order, which the Trump administration defended as not violating equal protection guarantees.
• Preliminary injunction ruling — Orr v. Trump (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-10313 — Judge Kobick granted the class certification and preliminary injunction.
• Federal Judge Blocks Passport ID Ban — A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from prohibiting trans or nonbinary individuals from using an "X" gender marker on passports. This ruling protects the rights of transgender and nonbinary people to accurate identification.

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• Rightwing Media Spreads Misinformation After Minnesota Lawmaker Killings — Following the tragic killings of Minnesota Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, rightwing media figures and social media accounts spread misinformation about the suspect, Vance Luther Boelter. They falsely portrayed him as a leftwing assassin and linked him to Democratic Governor Tim Walz. Despite evidence of Boelter's right-leaning politics and support for Trump, figures like Mike Cernovich and Laura Loomer advanced conspiracy theories blaming Democrats for the violence. These narratives were amplified by influential accounts, including Elon Musk's, contributing to a widespread misinformation campaign.
• Senator Mike Lee's Social Media Posts on Assassination — Senator Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, posted misinformation on social media regarding the assassination of Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband. Lee erroneously claimed the assassin was a "Marxist" and blamed the state's governor for the killings. Despite deleting the posts, Lee has not issued an apology. The posts have been widely viewed, with one reaching over 15 million views. Senator Tina Smith, a Democrat from Minnesota, confronted Lee in person about the impact of his words, emphasizing the pain caused to Minnesotans and the responsibility he holds for his statements.

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• Mike Lindell ordered to pay $2.3m in defamation trial — A Colorado jury has ordered MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell to pay $2.3 million to Eric Coomer, a former employee of Dominion Voting Systems, in a defamation lawsuit. Coomer sued Lindell for spreading false conspiracy theories that damaged his reputation and life. The lawsuit was filed in April 2022, and the jury's decision adds to Lindell's legal challenges, as he faces other lawsuits from voting machine companies Dominion and Smartmatic. Lindell, who is in financial distress, has vowed not to settle the lawsuits, claiming they are attempts to silence him.
• Mike Lindell Found Liable for Defamation — A jury found Mike Lindell, a Trump ally and MyPillow founder, liable for defaming a former Dominion Voting Systems employee. Lindell was ordered to pay $2.3 million in damages, highlighting the legal consequences of spreading false election claims.

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• Investigation Announced into Protest Funding Claims — Representative Anna Paulina Luna announced that her committee will investigate claims that the Chinese government is funding the 'No Kings' protests, urging people not to attend.