Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Ben & Jerry’s Co-Founder Arrested for Protest at US Senate Hearing — Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, was arrested during a US Senate hearing for protesting against the Gaza blockade and Medicaid cuts. The protest occurred while Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was addressing the health, education, labor, and pensions committee. Cohen, along with other activists, interrupted the hearing, leading to his arrest on charges of "crowding and obstructing." The protest highlighted the ongoing blockade in Gaza and its humanitarian impact, as well as domestic issues related to Medicaid. Cohen faces potential penalties of up to 90 days in jail or a $500 fine.

Supporting reports

• National Intelligence Council chair and deputy fired — On May 8, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard fired acting National Intelligence Council chair Michael Collins and deputy Maria Langan-Reikhof after the NIC produced a report contradicting President Trump's claims about Venezuela's involvement with the Tren de Aragua gang. This action was part of the administration's broader strategy to consolidate power and control narratives regarding intelligence.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge in New Jersey to rule on Mahmoud Khalil's release — A federal judge in New Jersey is expected to rule soon on the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian permanent resident and Columbia University student, who remains in detention. Khalil was detained by the Trump administration for his pro-Palestinian activism. His case is part of a broader legal battle over the government's authority to detain and deport noncitizens for political speech. Khalil's attorneys are optimistic, given recent releases of other detained students.
• Federal judge orders release of Badar Khan Suri from custody — On May 14, 2025, a federal judge in Virginia ordered the release of Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown University postdoctoral fellow, from immigration custody. Suri, an Indian scholar, was detained by the Trump administration as part of a campaign to deport international students over pro-Palestinian speech. The administration claims their presence harms U.S. foreign policy. This ruling follows the release of other students, Rümeysa Öztürk and Mohsen Mahdawi, who were also detained under similar circumstances.
• Federal judge orders release of Indian academic from ICE detention — On May 14, 2025, a federal judge in Virginia ordered the immediate release of Badar Khan Suri, an Indian academic detained by ICE. Suri, a Georgetown postdoctoral fellow, had been held for two months after his visa was revoked due to alleged pro-Palestinian activism. The judge ruled that the government failed to provide sufficient evidence for its claims and emphasized the public interest in protecting free speech. Suri, who faces deportation proceedings, was released without conditions or bond and returned to his family in Virginia.
• Federal judge orders release of Rümeysa Öztürk and Mohsen Mahdawi — On May 14, 2025, a federal judge ordered the release of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University student, and Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University student, from immigration custody. Both were detained by the Trump administration for their pro-Palestinian activism, which the government claims is harmful to U.S. foreign policy. The judge's decision reflects skepticism about the administration's use of immigration laws to suppress political dissent.

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• US Transportation Secretary Changes Wife’s Flight from Newark — Sean Duffy, the US Transportation Secretary, admitted to changing his wife's flight from Newark Liberty International Airport to LaGuardia Airport due to ongoing issues at Newark. This decision came despite his public assurances that Newark was safe to fly from, following a series of radar system outages and staff shortages at the airport. A spokesperson for the Department of Transportation stated the change was for scheduling reasons, not safety concerns. The airport has faced technical glitches and a shortage of air traffic controllers, leading to significant flight delays.

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• Soon-Shiong Suppresses Critical Editorials at LA Times — Patrick Soon-Shiong, owner of the Los Angeles Times, intervened to prevent the editorial board from endorsing Kamala Harris and spiked an op-ed that was mildly critical of Trump's cabinet picks. This action reflects a broader trend of media owners influencing editorial content to align with their political preferences, particularly in the context of the Trump administration.

Supporting reports

• Investigation into James Comey for alleged threat — DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced an investigation into former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly calling for the assassination of President Trump. The investigation was prompted by a social media post from Donald Trump Jr., which claimed Comey made the threat. The situation highlights tensions between political figures and the use of social media in political discourse.
• Trump calls for arrest of James Comey — Trump and senior members of his administration called for the arrest of former FBI Director James Comey after he posted a photo interpreted as a threat against Trump. The FBI is in communication with the Secret Service regarding the matter.
• Secret Service Investigates James Comey's Instagram Post — The U.S. Secret Service has launched an investigation into a now-deleted Instagram post by former FBI Director James Comey. The post featured seashells arranged in the formation "8647," which some interpreted as a coded threat against former President Donald Trump. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other Trump supporters have claimed the post was a call for violence. Comey has since removed the post, stating he was unaware of any violent connotations and does not condone violence. The FBI has pledged support for the investigation led by the Secret Service.

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• RFK Jr orders FDA review of mifepristone regulations — On Wednesday, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directed the FDA to review the regulations surrounding the abortion pill mifepristone. This decision follows pressure from anti-abortion groups and is based on "new data" from a flawed analysis by a right-wing think tank. The analysis claims higher complication rates from mifepristone, although it has not been peer-reviewed. The review could lead to reinstating previous restrictions on the drug, such as banning telemedicine prescriptions and limiting its use to the first seven weeks of pregnancy.

Supporting reports

• Trump fires head of US copyright office after AI report — The Trump administration reportedly dismissed Shira Perlmutter, the head of the US Copyright Office, shortly after she published a report on the potential legal issues of using AI technology with copyrighted material. The report suggested that government intervention was premature, but Perlmutter's firing is seen as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to remove officials who might oppose its agenda. This action follows the recent firing of the librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, who was dismissed for her involvement in diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

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• Customs and Border Patrol's Use of Hacked Communication App — Customs and Border Patrol confirmed its use of TeleMessage, a communication app that was hacked, raising national security concerns. Senator Ron Wyden has called for an investigation into the government's use of this app.

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• White House Launches "White House Wire" Website
• White House Posts AI-Generated Image with Political Message
• White House Posts Video of Deportation Flights

Supporting reports

• US Involvement in India-Pakistan Ceasefire Disputed — President Trump claimed credit for mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, but reports indicate that the ceasefire was negotiated directly between the two countries without US involvement. The ceasefire was short-lived, with India accusing Pakistan of violations shortly after it was announced.
• Trump administration brokers ceasefire between India and Pakistan — The Trump administration announced that it had brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan amidst escalating military conflict. While India acknowledged the ceasefire, it denied that the U.S. played a role in brokering the agreement. Subsequent reports indicated that the ceasefire had been violated shortly after its announcement.

Supporting reports

• Cardinal Prevost supports Pope Francis's letter on immigration — Cardinal Robert Prevost, shortly after J.D. Vance's comments and before Pope Francis's response, publicly stated that Vance was wrong in his interpretation of love and immigration. After the Pope's letter was published, Prevost reposted it, reinforcing the message of universal love and the Church's stance on the dignity of migrants.

Supporting reports

• Tom Homan criticizes Pope Francis's stance on immigration — Following Pope Francis's letter addressing J.D. Vance's comments, Tom Homan, a former border czar, publicly criticized the Pope, stating he should focus on church issues rather than border enforcement. Homan's remarks reflect a tension between political figures and the Church's teachings on immigration.

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• Rescission of Nondiscrimination Clarification in Federal Workplace — The General Services Administration (GSA) rescinded the Federal Management Regulation bulletin on Nondiscrimination Clarification in the Federal Workplace. This action aligns with Executive Order 14168, which mandates the removal of policies supporting gender identity recognition, reverting to a binary understanding of sex. The rescission affects guidance on sex discrimination under federal civil rights laws, including Title VII and Title IX.

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• US House approves legislation to rename Gulf of Mexico — On May 8, 2025, the US House of Representatives passed a bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America." The legislation, sponsored by Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, passed nearly along party lines, with all Democrats opposing and most Republicans supporting it. The bill aims to make the name change official for federal agencies, although it is unlikely to pass the Senate due to lack of Democratic support. The measure reflects a continuation of Donald Trump's policy announced during his inaugural speech.

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• Lawsuits Filed Against Department of Government Efficiency for Privacy Violations — At least eleven lawsuits have been filed against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), claiming violations of the 1974 Privacy Act. These lawsuits allege that DOGE has improperly consolidated personal data about millions of U.S. citizens and residents, bypassing established protections and security clearances. The actions taken by DOGE have raised significant concerns regarding the privacy and security of American citizens' information.

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• Judge Orders Release of Tufts Student Rümeysa Öztürk — Judge William Sessions ordered the release of Tufts University student Rümeysa Öztürk from ICE custody. Öztürk, a Turkish national, was detained after her visa was revoked by Marco Rubio for co-authoring an op-ed advocating for divestment from Israeli companies. The judge cited First Amendment and due process violations in her detention.
• Case update — Ozturk v. Hyde (D. Vt.) 1:25-cv-12334 — Following a hearing, Judge William Sessions ordered Ozturk's immediate release.

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• Administration Halts Review of Air Traffic Control Oversight — Following a deadly collision involving an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army helicopter, the administration has stopped the work of an outside panel of experts examining the air traffic control system. This decision raises concerns about the commitment to improving aviation safety and oversight.

Supporting reports

• White House Removes Vice Chair of National Transportation Safety Board — The White House has removed Alvin Brown, the Black vice chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), marking a significant and unprecedented action in modern history. This removal raises questions about the independence of the NTSB and the potential politicization of safety oversight in aviation.

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• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent avoids tariff question — During a hearing before the House Appropriations Committee, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was evasive in response to a question from Representative Mark Pocan about who ultimately pays tariffs, suggesting consumers are the ones affected.
• Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent avoids answering tariff question — At a House Appropriations Committee hearing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was evasive when asked by Representative Mark Pocan about who ultimately pays tariffs, indicating a reluctance to acknowledge the impact of tariffs on consumers.

Supporting reports

• Federal appeals court orders return of detained student Rümeysa Öztürk to Vermont — A federal appeals court has upheld a district court's order to transfer Rümeysa Öztürk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, from an immigration detention center in Louisiana to Vermont. Öztürk was detained for six weeks following her co-authorship of an op-ed criticizing Tufts University's response to the Israel-Gaza conflict. Her lawyers argue that her detention violates her constitutional rights, including free speech and due process. The court's decision mandates her transfer to Vermont by May 14 for hearings on the legality of her detention.
• Case update — Ozturk v. Hyde (D. Vt.) 1:25-cv-12334 — The Second Circuit rejected the Defendants' appeal and held that Ozturk must be transferred to Vermont by May 14.

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• Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem refuses to acknowledge due process rights — During a meeting of the House Committee on Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem declined to answer a question from Representative Lauren Underwood regarding whether she believes the Constitution grants everyone the right to due process. This refusal follows a similar stance taken by former President Trump in a recent interview.

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• Voice of America Contracts with One America News for Newsfeed — Voice of America (VoA), a government-funded organization, has contracted with One America News (OAN), a hard-right news network, to provide newsfeed and video services. This decision was announced by Kari Lake, a special adviser to VoA's parent company, who emphasized cost-saving measures. The move has sparked concerns about press freedom and the neutrality of VoA, traditionally a politically neutral news source. VoA journalists, who have been restricted from their newsroom since a March executive order, are challenging these changes in court.

Supporting reports

• Executive Order Shuts Down VoA Operations — An executive order signed by Donald Trump in mid-March has effectively shut down Voice of America (VoA) operations, taking them off the air and offline. This order has resulted in approximately 1,300 VoA employees being placed on leave. The order is part of a broader effort to dismantle the agency overseeing VoA, which has historically been a pro-democracy voice. A federal judge blocked the order to shutter VoA, but the ruling is currently under government appeal.
• Trump Administration's Executive Order Shuts Down Voice of America — In March, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), effectively shutting down Voice of America (VoA) and placing 1,300 employees on administrative leave. The order also canceled federal grants for sister outlets like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia. This move has been criticized as a crackdown on press freedom, with VoA's broadcasts going dark for the first time since World War II. A federal judge temporarily blocked the dismantling, but the situation remains unresolved as legal challenges continue.

Supporting reports

• Trump Administration Blocks Grant Funding for Harvard — The Trump administration, through Education Secretary Linda McMahon, has informed Harvard University that it will no longer receive federal research grants and aid unless it complies with a list of demands. This decision follows Harvard's rejection of demands from the administration's antisemitism taskforce, which were prompted by campus protests against Israel's military actions in Gaza. The administration has already frozen $2.2 billion in funding and threatened to freeze an additional $1 billion, while also considering revoking Harvard's tax-exempt status. Harvard has filed a lawsuit against the government, citing severe impacts on research and education.