Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• State Department displays mislabeled map of Africa at global health summit — The State Department displayed a map at a global health summit in Brazil with every African country mislabeled. The error represents a significant diplomatic embarrassment and raises questions about the competence and attention to detail of the State Department.
• State Department presented Africa map with all countries mislabeled at international AIDS conference in Brazil. — During a State Department presentation at the AIDS 2026 conference in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, a map of Africa was displayed with every country mislabeled. Nigeria, where the U.S. has several hundred troops deployed, was shown as landlocked in the Sahara Desert. Mozambique was relocated to the Horn of Africa, and Ivory Coast was placed on the opposite side of the continent. The map contained an OpenAI watermark, indicating it was generated using AI tools. Attendees photographed and posted the errant map online, drawing international attention to the error during a global health conference.
• U.S. State Department Map Error at Global Conference — A U.S. government map of Africa, presented at a global conference in Brazil, mislabeled every country, causing a stir among attendees. The map, created with OpenAI tools, incorrectly placed several African countries, leading to embarrassment for the State Department. The error occurred during a presentation on new health agreements.

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• Mayor Rhodes-Conway orders removal of Corey Ruiz memorial encampment — On 29 July 2026, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway ordered police to dismantle a community memorial and encampment at the intersection where Corey Ruiz was killed, citing resident complaints. During the removal, 16 people were arrested, 10 given citations, and others pepper-sprayed. Protesters took to the streets that night, resulting in six additional arrests. The independent police monitor nearly came to blows with officers during the operation.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration threatens to withhold federal funding from Smithsonian Institution — As part of a broader campaign against the Smithsonian Institution, the Trump administration has threatened to withhold federal funding from the institution, which operates 21 museums and the National Zoo. This threat follows Trump's March 2025 executive order "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" and a comprehensive review of eight museums ordered by the administration. The administration has also released a list of exhibits it does not agree with.

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• Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment and refuses to testify at Senate Covid hearing — Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and declined to answer questions at a Senate committee hearing on Covid-19 origins called by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul. Fauci stated Paul's goal was to embarrass, intimidate, and land him "behind bars." Paul responded by threatening a contempt vote and removing one of Fauci's attorneys from the room. The hearing became contentious, with Republican senators demanding apologies and attacking Fauci's credibility while Democrats defended him as a victim of harassment.
• Rand Paul announces intent to pursue contempt of Congress vote against Fauci — Following Fauci's invocation of the Fifth Amendment during the Senate hearing, Senator Rand Paul told reporters he intends to call a vote for contempt of Congress the following week in the committee on homeland security and governmental affairs. Paul stated there would be "repercussions" for Fauci's refusal to testify. Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri joined in, asserting Fauci has no Fifth Amendment rights in this context and accused him of contempt for Congress and the American people.
• Rand Paul chairs Senate hearing on Covid origins; Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment and declines testimony — Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared before a Republican-led Senate committee hearing chaired by Senator Rand Paul, ostensibly to investigate Covid-19 origins. Fauci, citing his attorneys' advice and invoking the Fifth Amendment, declined to answer questions throughout the hearing. Paul had asserted that Fauci could bear responsibility for the pandemic due to NIH funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Fauci characterized Paul's investigation as an "unhinged obsession." Paul indicated he intends to call a vote for contempt of Congress the following week.
• Republican senators attack Fauci's pandemic record and scientific credibility — Multiple Republican senators used the hearing to criticize Fauci on various grounds. Senator Ron Johnson accused Fauci of covering up unfavorable vaccine information, calling vaccines "experimental gene therapy." Senator Bernie Moreno demanded Fauci apologize for military vaccine mandates, pandemic business closures, and a mask-enforcement arrest, calling him a "total and complete disgrace." Senator Joni Ernst criticized use of aborted fetal tissue in research. Democratic Senator Gary Peters warned the hearing was scapegoating one official for a crisis involving hundreds of officials across administrations.
• Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment during Senate testimony — Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right during a Senate hearing led by Senator Rand Paul, where he faced aggressive questioning regarding his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci stated that he believed the hearing was aimed at vindicating Paul's public claims for his imprisonment, and he refrained from answering questions over 100 times.
• Senator Rand Paul subpoenas Fauci to testify — Senator Rand Paul, now chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, subpoenaed Dr. Anthony Fauci to appear before the committee. Fauci's lawyers noted Paul's history of calling for Fauci's imprisonment, which influenced Fauci's decision to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights during the testimony.
• Republicans continue to target Fauci amid political tensions — Republicans, including Senator Rand Paul, have intensified their attacks on Dr. Anthony Fauci, accusing him of lying about the origins of COVID-19 and calling for his arrest. This campaign has been fueled by the release of Fauci's private diary, which Republicans have used to further their narrative against him, despite a lack of evidence of wrongdoing.

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• Trump amplified false petition narrative to national audience — On July 29, Washington Times reporter Kerry Picket asked Trump about the petition, stating that "a good number of 9-11 families have called on New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani to not attend a number of these memorial services." Trump responded that "anybody having to do with 9-11 right now on the victim side, and there are a lot of them. They're very unhappy with what's going on in New York, and they're very unhappy with the mayor." Trump's response was featured on CBS News' X account, which has 9.7 million followers, amplifying the false narrative to a national audience.

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• Vice President Vance delays board nominations to allow Trump to substitute conservative candidates — Vice President JD Vance, a member of the Smithsonian's Board of Regents, has delayed action on board nominations because President Trump hoped to substitute more ideologically aligned candidates. Three board vacancies currently exist, with three more opening in October. The board nominates its own members and sends names to Congress for approval. Trump and Congressional Republicans are focused on stacking the board with conservatives to gain control over museum leadership.

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• Congressional Hearings on Smithsonian Report — On July 21 and 22, 2026, Dr. Anthea M. Hartig testified before the House Delivering on Government Efficiency Subcommittee and the House Administration Committee regarding the White House report on the National Museum of American History. During the hearings, Hartig defended the museum's work against accusations of political bias and misrepresentation of American history.
• House Administration Committee member coordinates with Christian nationalist figures on hearing strategy — Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), a member of the House Committee on Administration, coordinated with David and Tim Barton—founders of the Christian nationalist organization WallBuilders—on questions to pose during a July 2026 hearing about the Smithsonian. Tim Barton stated on a podcast that committee members had called the Bartons for advice, and Loudermilk confirmed on a separate podcast that he had spoken with the Bartons on the day of the hearing. Loudermilk also stated he was working with the White House to stack the Smithsonian's Board of Regents with conservatives.
• House subcommittee questions Smithsonian National Museum of American History director on ideological bias — Anthea Hartig, director of the National Museum of American History, was questioned by a House subcommittee in late July 2026, during which Republican members accused the Smithsonian of being "infected by a woke ideology." Hartig testified that examining difficult chapters of American history is not hostility toward America and that the museum honors founding documents while telling the truth about times the country fell short of its ideals. The hearing was part of the Trump administration's broader campaign against the institution.

Supporting reports

• Washington Times conflated total petition signatures with family members — In a July 28 editorial, the Washington Times claimed that "[m]ore than 1,100 family members of 9/11 victims have asked organizers of a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the World Trade Center attack to exclude New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani." The publication appears to have conflated the total number of petition signatures with the unverified claim that those signers were family members, perpetuating the false narrative despite the lack of evidence for the family-member count.

Supporting reports

• Trump falsely claims tariffs stopped eight wars — President Trump claimed that his tariffs have "stopped eight wars," including a conflict between India and Pakistan. The claim was made without evidence and misrepresented the causes of international disputes and the effects of trade policy.
• Trump claimed he stopped multiple wars through tariff threats — Trump claimed during a Fox & Friends interview that he "stopped 8 wars" and attributed five of them to tariff threats, including a claim that tariff threats prevented a nuclear war between India and Pakistan. The claim lacks substantiation and contradicts the timeline of actual geopolitical events.

Supporting reports

• Trump claims personal control of Strait of Hormuz — President Trump called into Fox News and falsely claimed he personally controls the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping chokepoint. The claim was made during a period of escalating tensions with Iran and Saudi refinery attacks, and contradicted established international law and geopolitical reality.
• Iran's IRGC threatens to bar countries from Strait of Hormuz — Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a warning that any country that touches Iran's frozen assets will be barred from access to the Strait of Hormuz. The threat was made during escalating tensions and represented a potential blockade of global shipping.
• Saudi refineries burning; Jazan refinery shut down — Saudi Arabian refineries were reported burning on July 28, 2026, including a total shutdown of the Jazan refinery. The damage to critical energy infrastructure occurred during the escalating Iran conflict and threatened global oil supply.
• Trump posts "head for an eye" quote on Iran policy — President Trump posted a message quoting Secretary of State Rubio stating Iran is "begging" for a deal, while using the phrase "head for an eye" in reference to Iran policy. The post occurred during escalating military tensions with Iran and signaled an aggressive posture toward potential Iranian retaliation or negotiation.
• Trump threatened destruction of Iranian infrastructure including bridges and power plants — Trump stated in a Fox & Friends interview that if Iran does not make a deal, he will destroy Iranian bridges and power plants, claiming he could eliminate "most of the major bridges" in less than two hours and power plants in one day. He also threatened to destroy a site called "Pickaxe Mountain," claiming he had already destroyed Iranian nuclear sites previously.
• Trump threatens to level Iran's bridges and power plants — President Trump reiterated threats to destroy Iran's bridges and power plants during the escalating conflict. The threat targeted civilian infrastructure and was made publicly, signaling intent to conduct strikes that would harm non-combatants and critical services.
• White House issues release on Trump's Fox & Friends remarks on Iran strategy — The White House published a release documenting President Trump's July 28, 2026 appearance on Fox & Friends, in which he described U.S. military posture toward Iran. Trump stated the U.S. maintains naval control of the Strait of Hormuz, possesses intelligence on Iranian nuclear sites including "Pickaxe Mountain," and has imposed a blockade preventing Iranian shipping. He asserted readiness to conduct strikes on Iranian infrastructure if negotiations fail, stating he could destroy bridges and power plants, and contrasted his approach with prior administrations' policies.

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• Trump pressures RFK Jr to accelerate vaccine schedule cuts despite court halt and electoral unpopularity — Donald Trump reportedly pressured Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to make more aggressive cuts to the US childhood vaccination schedule, according to Wall Street Journal reporting. Kennedy had previously reduced routine immunizations from 17 to 11 recommendations in an unprecedented move, but a federal judge halted further changes in March following an American Academy of Pediatrics lawsuit. Trump, citing a desire to make "alleviating autism" part of his legacy, issued a May executive order directing HHS to change vaccine recommendations despite decades of research showing no link between vaccines and autism. The White House had previously paused vaccine changes due to polling showing such moves were electorally damaging.

Supporting reports

• CBS News New York republished false petition claims without verification — On July 27, CBS News New York published an article stating "Thousands of 9/11 victims' families are asking New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend this year's solemn remembrance ceremony," directly echoing the New York Post's unverified claims. After Popular Information contacted the author, the headline and opening were changed that evening to "Petition asking NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend 9/11 remembrance ceremony purportedly draws thousands of signatures," then changed again on July 28 to "Petition from 9/11 families asks NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend remembrance ceremony"—a version that falsely suggests the petition represents 9/11 families as a group. No editor's note disclosed the corrections.
• CBS News initially reports false claim, then corrects after inquiry — CBS News New York initially reported that "thousands of 9/11 victims' families are asking New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend" the 9/11 ceremony, directly echoing the false New York Post headline. After Popular Information contacted CBS for comment, the network removed the false claim and revised the article to state the petition had "purportedly drawn thousands of signatures, including some victims' families"—a more cautious formulation that acknowledged the unverified nature of the claim.
• CBS News removed social media posts about petition without public explanation — On July 28 at 3:08 p.m., the CBS News main Instagram account (3.3 million followers) posted the CBS News New York story about the petition. On the evening of July 29, the video was removed without explanation. CBS News also removed an X post from CBS News New York linking to the story. A CBS News source told Popular Information that the posts were removed after being told "CBS News New York's reporting was inaccurate," but the underlying article remained online. CBS News cited organizational separation between CBS News and CBS News New York to explain why the article was not corrected or removed.

Supporting reports

• Fox Business falsely reported petition signature count as 15,000 — On the July 27 edition of The Evening Edit on Fox Business, anchor Elizabeth MacDonald reported that "9/11 families, more than 15,000 want Mamdani banned from 9/11 ceremonies." This figure was not supported by any version of the petition's actual signature count (which ranged from 1,100 to 3,515 depending on the source's claim) and represented a further distortion of already-inflated numbers as the story spread through right-wing media outlets.
• Fox News amplifies unsubstantiated petition story with editorial commentary — Fox News, owned by Rupert Murdoch (same owner as the New York Post), featured the petition story on air within hours of publication. Fox News pundits Tomi Lahren and Rich Edson offered editorial commentary suggesting Mamdani should not attend the 9/11 ceremony, while Fox Business host Cheryl Casone made unsubstantiated claims that Mamdani "does not have much sorrow about 9/11" and would have supported the 9/11 attackers. These statements were made without verification of the petition's claims or Mamdani's actual positions.

Supporting reports

• Trump made false claim about attending G20 summit — During his Michigan rally speech, Trump stated "America is respected again, I think like we've never been respected before—you saw that when I went to the G20. I went to the G7." The bulletin notes that Trump did not attend the G20; he boycotted it. This is a factually false public statement made during an official campaign event.
• Trump made false claims about U.S. ammunition stockpiles on Air Force One — Trump stated that the U.S. has "a lot" of ammunition and blamed the Biden administration for depleting stockpiles by providing weapons to Ukraine. The claim contradicts the factual record: the Republican House authorized Biden to sell Ukraine ATACMS and Patriot interceptors, not Tomahawks, which Trump has used extensively against Iran. The statement misrepresents both the source of any depletion and current inventory levels.
• Trump posted AI-generated images and false claims on Truth Social — In a social media spree that ended at 1:27 AM, Trump posted AI-generated images including a fake movie poster showing himself saving George Washington at Mt. Rushmore with the tagline "The past was about to change. History was about to be saved," and a mock-up of a border wall with Canada. The posts also included hints that he might run again in 2028 and an AI-generated poster for a fictional sci-fi movie called "Cosmic Commander." The bulletin characterizes the posting spree as "bizarre."

Supporting reports

• Taylor Farms contacts White House seeking delay of cyclospora recall announcement — Taylor Farms representatives contacted the White House requesting a delay in the government's public announcement linking the company to a multi-state cyclospora outbreak affecting thousands. The company argued that federal investigators lacked positive laboratory evidence and expressed concerns about overstated responsibility. Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb stated this was "not standard operating procedure," contrasting it with his tenure when the White House was only briefed informally on outbreak investigations, not asked to intervene.

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• Rep. Ted Lieu contradicted UN Ambassador Waltz's claims about weapons transfers to Ukraine — Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) publicly stated that the U.S. provided zero THAAD missiles to Ukraine and far fewer Patriot missiles to Ukraine than the massive amount used in less than five months of the Iran war. Lieu accused Waltz of falsely blaming the Biden administration and called for responsibility for the Iran war.

Supporting reports

• New York Post published false headline about 9/11 families petition against Mayor Mamdani — On July 26, the New York Post published a front-page headline claiming "Thousands of 9/11 families demand Mamdani be banned from 25th-Anniversary," reporting 3,515 signatures "most from victims' family members." The online version stated 1,100 signatures "including from at least 300 victims' families." Petition organizer Giovanni Galante later admitted to Popular Information that he maintained no list of victims' families and the 300 figure was an unsubstantiated estimate. The New York Post did not issue a correction but instead quietly edited the article a third time on July 28, attributing inflated estimates (3,000–7,500) to Galante rather than reporting them as fact.
• New York Post publishes unsubstantiated claim about 9/11 families petition against Mamdani — The New York Post ran a front-page story claiming "thousands of 9/11 families" demanded that New York City Council Member Zohran Mamdani be banned from the 25th-anniversary 9/11 commemoration. The article cited a Change.org petition with 1,100+ signatures, claiming "at least 300" were from victims' families. Upon investigation by Popular Information, petition organizer Giovanni Galante admitted there was no verified list of family members and the "300" figure was an unsubstantiated estimate based on assumed social-network spread. As of reporting, nearly 16,000 people had signed; Change.org verified only that signatures came from "real people," not that signatories were 9/11 family members. The story went viral on right-wing media and was amplified by Fox News before being partially corrected by CBS News.
• New York Post concealed correction through silent article edits — After Popular Information revealed the falsity of the petition numbers on July 28, the New York Post did not issue a public correction. Instead, on July 28 at 3:20 PM, the article was altered to attribute inflated estimates (3,000–7,500 victims' family signers) to Galante as his "estimate" rather than presenting them as verified fact. This edit occurred less than 24 hours after Galante admitted to Popular Information that he had no list and his original 300 figure was speculative. The New York Post did not respond to requests for comment about the silent edits.

Supporting reports

• Peter Baker criticized White House Correspondents' Association dinner — New York Times reporter Peter Baker, a member of the White House Correspondents' Association since the 1990s, stated that the recent WHCA dinner with Trump "did not advance" the association's mission to defend First Amendment rights of White House correspondents to report on the president without fear or favor. Baker called for the organization to "rethink the dinner."

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• UN Ambassador Mike Waltz denied interceptor stockpile depletion and attacked leakers — UN Ambassador Mike Waltz appeared on Meet the Press and, when confronted with reporting that U.S. interceptor stockpiles have been depleted due to the Iran war, initially denied the depletion occurred. He then blamed the Biden administration for prior stockpile reductions and stated that "people leaking this nonsense deserve to be in jail," suggesting criminal prosecution of those disclosing information about military readiness constraints.

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• Sen. Bill Cassidy stated CDC vaccine page contains misinformation — Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) stated on CNN that the CDC's vaccine webpage, which states "the claim vaccines do not cause autism is not an evidence-based claim," does not represent a good-faith attempt to stop spreading misinformation. Cassidy had previously pledged support for Dr. Schwartz and cited the CDC's agreement to modify its website as a sign of good faith, but stated the current language fails that standard.

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• Pentagon updates casualty database with revised Iran war figures and new classification scheme — The Pentagon updated its Defense Casualty Analysis System over the weekend, adding more than 140 wounded service members and introducing a new "Overseas Operations" casualty category for personnel killed and wounded starting July 7. The official toll for Operation Epic Fury now stands at 14 killed and over 400 wounded, though figures had been reduced from 18 deaths and 482 wounded recorded days earlier. The Trump administration is classifying renewed military operations beginning July 6 as separate from Operation Epic Fury to comply with the War Powers Act's 60-day requirement, a move that has drawn bipartisan criticism.
• DOD released revised casualty figures from Iran war with reclassification scheme — The Pentagon released updated casualty figures showing 624 troops wounded in the Iran conflict, more than 200 higher than previously disclosed. The DOD simultaneously implemented a new casualty reporting system that splits the war into two periods, moving most July casualties and four killed troops from "Operation Epic Fury" into a new category called "Overseas Operations." This reclassification allows the administration to reset a legally mandated 60-day clock for military force without Congressional approval, as the Pentagon claims Epic Fury ended July 7 with a ceasefire announcement.
• Pentagon updates military casualty figures in Iran war — The Pentagon revised its accounting of military personnel injured in the Iran war, adding over 140 soldiers to the Defense Casualty Analysis System and restoring four service members previously removed. This update brings the total casualties to 18 dead and 624 wounded since February 28, when military strikes against Iran began. The change follows public outcry over perceived lack of transparency regarding the human toll of the conflict.

Supporting reports

• GDP growth slowed to 1.5% in Q2, below economist expectations of 2.1%, attributed to Iran war disruptions and elevated energy costs. — The Commerce Department reported Thursday that U.S. GDP grew at an annualized rate of 1.5% in the second quarter, falling short of the 2.1% rate economists had predicted. The slowdown reflects economic strain from the Iran conflict, which has disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and driven global energy costs higher. U.S. gas prices surged from $2.98 per gallon before the war to over $4 during the quarter. The first quarter had shown 2.1% growth.
• Trump administration campaign to rewrite pandemic history and restrict scientific funding — The article documents a broader Trump administration effort to rewrite the history of the Covid-19 pandemic and restrict scientific research funding. The administration has invoked the "lab leak" theory to criticize past pandemic policies while simultaneously cutting $11.4 billion in state and local health department funding. Disruptions to cancer and Alzheimer's research funding are justified as eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. A proposed rule would place the entire $1 trillion federal grant-making apparatus under control of political appointees, based on trials at the National Institutes of Health in 2025.
• Q2 GDP growth falls to 1.5%, below forecast — Second-quarter GDP growth came in at 1.5%, significantly below the 2.1% estimate. Trump administration officials have continued to promise 4–6% growth, creating a gap between official projections and actual economic performance.
• Treasury bond selloff follows Fed decision to hold rates steady — A selloff in Treasury bonds occurred after the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady for a seventh consecutive month. The bond market reaction suggests investor concern about inflation or economic conditions despite the Fed's decision to maintain current rates.
• U.S. GDP Growth Slows Amid Iran Conflict — The U.S. GDP grew at an annual rate of 1.5% in the second quarter, falling short of the expected 2.1% growth. The Commerce Department attributes the slowdown to the ongoing conflict in Iran, which has disrupted shipping and increased global energy costs. The economic impact is evident in rising gas prices and concerns over future growth.
• US GDP Growth Slows in Q2 2026 — The US GDP grew at an annual rate of 1.5% in the second quarter of 2026, below expectations. The slowdown is attributed to the economic impact of the conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted shipping and increased energy costs.

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• Trump stated he trusts Putin's denial of Russian assistance to Iran despite contrary intelligence — When asked about Russian and Chinese assistance to Iran, Trump stated that he trusts assurances from President Putin and President Xi that they are not participating, despite earlier statements from his own officials (Pete Hegseth) that they are enabling Iranian operations. Trump said, "I trust them. I don't think they would want to have me disappointed," directly contradicting intelligence from U.S. and Ukrainian sources documenting Russian satellite surveillance being shared with Iran.

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• Trump administration releases executive order directing warning signs at Smithsonian's National Museum of American History — President Trump released an executive order on July 25, 2026, directing federal officials to install signs outside the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History informing visitors that the museum presents history inaccurately. The order cites a 162-page White House report released July 4 that accuses the museum of "extreme political activism," "anti-White activism," "transgender activism," and supporting illegal immigration. The signs are to direct visitors to "locations and resources for accurate information regarding America's history" without specifying where those resources are located.
• Executive Order on Smithsonian Institution — On July 24, 2026, President Trump issued Executive Order 14415, titled "Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution." The order directed the National Park Service to place temporary signage outside the Smithsonian to correct what the administration deemed inaccurate information presented inside the museum. This action follows the release of a critical report on the museum's portrayal of American history.