Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Texas appeals court reduces Sandy Hook judgment against Alex Jones from $50m to $1.5m — A Texas third court of appeals unanimously ruled to slash the $50 million judgment against Alex Jones and Free Speech Systems to $1.5 million over false Sandy Hook shooting hoax claims. The court found that Sandy Hook parents Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis failed to demonstrate sufficient evidence that harassment from Jones's conspiracy theories exceeded the state's $750,000 damages cap. The ruling does not affect a separate $1.4 billion Connecticut judgment. Jones remains in bankruptcy proceedings while fighting to retain control of Infowars.

Supporting reports

• DHS drastically downgrades non-citizen voter claims in Nevada after public allegations — On 16 July, Trump claimed DHS had found approximately 278,000 non-citizens registered to vote across four states. In follow-up letters, DHS softened this to a "ceiling" of potential non-citizens. After meeting with Nevada election officials on 21 August, DHS admitted it had manually confirmed only 185 non-citizens on Nevada's voter rolls—a dramatic reduction from the initially claimed 15,903. DHS acknowledged the larger figure was "preliminary" and lacked full manual review. Nevada's Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar stated the state would not disenfranchise eligible voters without the highest confidence of ineligibility.

Supporting reports

• Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promoted alternative health approaches over vaccines — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promoted the belief that health depends on strong immune systems fortified through "healthy living, clean water, and good nutrition" rather than reliance on vaccines proven to prevent infectious diseases. Kennedy has made unsubstantiated claims about measles deaths in Texas being caused by malnutrition and has associated with anti-vaccine movements, while promising to explore alternative treatments for measles including vitamins rather than promoting vaccination.

Supporting reports

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced elimination of shell company ownership disclosure requirements — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the Treasury Department will no longer require shell companies to disclose the name, address, and identification of people who own an interest of more than 25% or who exercise "significant control" over the company, reversing requirements established in the 2021 Corporate Transparency Act. Bessent justified the elimination by characterizing the disclosure requirements as an undue burden on businesses, despite Congress designing the law to combat money laundering.

Supporting reports

• Trump's lawyer threatens $5bn lawsuit against Center for American Progress over National Guard report — Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Alejandro Brito, sent a letter to the Center for American Progress (CAP) threatening a $5 billion lawsuit unless the think tank retracts a July 2026 report concluding that National Guard deployments in Washington DC, Memphis, and Los Angeles failed to measurably reduce crime despite costing $1.7 billion. CAP released a statement defending its research as factual analysis protected by the First Amendment and refusing to retract. The threat targets the organization's publication of policy analysis critical of the Trump administration's military deployment strategy.

Supporting reports

• DOJ defends prosecution of James Comey over Instagram seashell post — The US Department of Justice filed court documents defending its prosecution of former FBI director James Comey, arguing that his May 2025 Instagram post featuring seashells arranged to read "8647" could reasonably be interpreted as a threat against President Trump. Prosecutors claimed there is "no serious dispute" that the image constituted a coded message meaning "kill" or "get rid of" the president. Comey was indicted in April 2026 on charges of making a threat against the US president and transmitting it across state lines. Comey's legal team argues the post is protected speech and seeks dismissal on grounds of vindictive and selective prosecution.

Supporting reports

• Senator Jon Ossoff criticized White House dysfunction and military decisions — Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) appeared on MSNBC to criticize the White House, stating that staffers are adults and public officials paid by taxpayers with immense power in positions of public trust. Ossoff criticized Natalie Harp for printing Trump's "daily dose of delusion and flattery," Peter Navarro for steering taxpayer-funded loans to Trump family investments, and Pete Hegseth for "deluding the president daily into deepening this quagmire in the Middle East." Ossoff stated that sailors on the USS Lincoln are fighting a war based on lies while Trump plays with his ballroom and retreats into a circle of sycophantic aides.

Supporting reports

• Trump insults senator with derisive nicknames following campaign criticism — President Trump responded to Senator Ossoff's criticism at a Georgia rally by calling him a "Pee-wee Herman lookalike" and also referring to him as "Pinky Herman." The insults came after Ossoff had publicly questioned Trump's fitness for office, noting the president sleeps through meetings and golfs while overseeing military operations.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed: Knight First Amendment Institute v. Office of Management and Budget — The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University filed a FOIA lawsuit in federal court challenging the Office of Management and Budget's failure to release records concerning decisions by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs to approve or disapprove four proposed policies requiring foreign travelers and immigrants to disclose their social media identifiers to the government. The complaint alleges unlawful withholding of responsive records and failure to act on fee waiver requests, seeking an order compelling disclosure and barring assessment of search and review fees.

Supporting reports

• Trump posts false images claiming Strait of Hormuz as U.S. territory — President Trump claimed the Strait of Hormuz is "open and operating" while simultaneously posting AI-generated fictional images declaring the waterway "NEW U.S. Territory." The contradictory statements and use of fabricated imagery represent a departure from factual representation of the geopolitical situation.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration cancels Alzheimer's research grants targeting discrimination and racism impacts — The Trump administration canceled at least three grants totaling $15 million at Emory University and University of Pittsburgh that studied how discrimination and racism affect brain health and Alzheimer's disease risk. NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya cited misalignment with agency priorities and questioned the scientific validity of self-reported discrimination measures. The cancellations follow a pattern of DEI-related grant terminations, though a federal judge previously ruled similar cancellations illegal; the Supreme Court later allowed $783 million in NIH funding cuts to proceed via shadow docket ruling.

Supporting reports

• Republican newspapers warned of economic collapse if tariffs were lowered — Republican newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, published warnings that lowering tariff rates would destroy industries and throw workers out of work. The Tribune stated that "the working classes of the country need such a lesson," indicating that Republican media outlets viewed economic hardship for workers as a necessary consequence of tariff reduction. These publications amplified Republican claims that Democrats' tariff policies would cause economic catastrophe, creating panic among investors and consumers.

Supporting reports

• ABC files First Amendment lawsuit against FCC, alleging retaliatory campaign by Trump administration — ABC filed an unprecedented First Amendment lawsuit in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday against the FCC, alleging that the agency and its chairman Brendan Carr are conducting a retaliatory campaign to curb the network's free speech. The lawsuit seeks to halt an FCC proceeding demanding that ABC put its eight stations up for early license renewal. The action follows Trump's public attacks on the network, including criticism of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, and ABC News coverage the administration disapproved of.
• ABC sues FCC over early license renewal demand, alleging content-based retaliation — ABC filed a federal lawsuit in the District of Columbia against the FCC, challenging an order by FCC Chair Brendan Carr requiring the network to apply early to renew licenses for eight local television stations it owns. ABC alleges the demand is retaliatory punishment for editorial content the Trump administration disapproves of, and warns the action threatens press independence. The network faces potential license denial or prolonged costly litigation, and conservative groups have filed petitions urging the FCC to deny renewals based on alleged political bias in ABC's journalism.
• ABC and Disney sued the FCC alleging First Amendment violations and government censorship — ABC and its parent corporation The Walt Disney Company launched a federal lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission, alleging that the Trump administration violated their free speech rights. The lawsuit claims that administration officials attempted to launch investigations and challenge broadcast licenses because Trump objected to the network's talk show opinions, news coverage, and late-night comedians. The lawsuit begins with the statement: "Government censorship is deeply un-American."
• Complaint filed — American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission — ABC, The Walt Disney Company, and eight ABC-owned television stations filed a federal complaint in D.D.C. challenging an April 28, 2026 FCC order requiring early broadcast license renewal applications. The plaintiffs allege the order and related investigations constitute First Amendment retaliation for editorial decisions, including coverage of a presidential address and personnel decisions regarding late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. The complaint cites over 600 document requests and 13,000 pages of production demands, and alleges the regulatory pressure has chilled editorial discretion, including candidate bookings on The View. Plaintiffs seek declaratory judgment, preliminary injunction, and permanent injunction barring further FCC action on the renewal applications and any coercive conduct aimed at altering editorial decisions.
• ABC sues Trump administration over FCC retaliation — ABC News filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration alleging that the Federal Communications Commission retaliated against the network. The lawsuit represents a legal challenge to alleged government action targeting a news organization.
• Disney and ABC sued Trump's FCC over license renewal — Disney and ABC sued the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday to stop an early review of broadcast licenses for eight ABC-owned television stations. Disney alleged that the government is attempting to punish the network over its programming and editorial decisions. Reuters reported this is the first time in more than 50 years that a major television broadcaster has been ordered into early license-renewal process.

Supporting reports

• White House launches personal attack on CNN reporter Kristen Holmes — The White House social media account posted attacks on CNN reporter Kristen Holmes after she asked Trump to respond to Senator Jon Ossoff's criticism of the president. The White House called Holmes a "disgraceful, humiliating embarrassment" and posted that her children would be "sickened and embarrassed" by her question. Trump also directly attacked Holmes in the Oval Office, telling her to be quiet and calling her a "fake reporter." CNN defended Holmes as a respected journalist asking a legitimate question.
• White House Rapid Response account attacks CNN reporter, invokes her children — The anonymous White House Rapid Response X account attacked a CNN reporter who had asked Trump about Ossoff, calling her a "disgraceful, humiliating embarrassment to her alleged profession." In a follow-up post, the account invoked the reporter's children, stating they would be "sickened and embarrassed" by her question, framing legitimate journalism as "callous and vindictive."
• White House rapid response team attacked CNN reporter Kristen Holmes on social media, including targeting her children — After CNN reporter Kristen Holmes asked Trump to respond to Senator Jon Ossoff's criticism, the White House rapid response team posted on social media calling Holmes a "disgraceful, humiliating embarrassment to her alleged profession." In an escalation, the account then targeted Holmes's children directly, posting that "Someday, your children will come across your disgusting and inhumane question. They will be sickened and embarrassed to have a parent be so callous and vindictive."

Supporting reports

• Scott Jennings made inflammatory statements about Black voters and communists — Conservative commentator Scott Jennings stated on his podcast that "Black voters have been voting against the socialists, only to be ruled in many cases by privileged white commies" and asked "Did you ever notice, by the way, how violent these people are?" He then stated "Now El-Sayed's best friend is out there calling for Black voters to be lynched. Beneath all the smiles and dancing videos, there's nothing but hate and violence in the heart of these Communists."
• The New Republic reported Hasan Piker preparing defamation lawsuit against Scott Jennings — The New Republic reported that left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker appears to be preparing to sue conservative commentator Scott Jennings for defamation. Jennings posted a heavily edited, intentionally misleading video that made it appear Piker was expressing extreme hostility toward Black voters and calling for lynchings. With full context, Piker's remarks were sarcastic.

Supporting reports

• Trump dismissed USS Abraham Lincoln crew conditions report as fake news — When asked about conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, Trump called the reporter "fake news" and refused to answer. When another reporter asked the same question, Trump claimed a retired admiral told him the ship was "beautifully maintained and taken care of," dismissing the original report as false without providing substantive evidence.

Supporting reports

• White House Communications Director Steve Cheung attacked Senator Ossoff — White House Communications Director Steve Cheung responded to Ossoff's criticism by calling him a "cuck loser" and stating he should "look deep into his soul and ask himself why he's a miserable person who hates this country," characterizing him as a "radical, extremist Dumocrat."
• White House communications director attacks senator with vulgar insults on social media — Steven Cheung, Trump's director of communications, posted a vulgar attack on Senator Jon Ossoff on X (formerly Twitter) after Ossoff criticized Trump at a campaign rally in Georgia. Cheung misspelled Ossoff's name as "Jon Jackoff" and called him a "cuck loser," accusing him of hating the country. Trump followed with his own insults, calling Ossoff a "Pee-wee Herman lookalike." The White House Rapid Response account also attacked a CNN reporter who had asked Trump about Ossoff, invoking her children in the attack.

Supporting reports

• California assembly passes diaper chemical disclosure legislation — California's assembly passed legislation (68-1 vote) requiring diaper manufacturers to disclose all intentionally added chemicals on a public webpage by 2028 and on packaging by January 1, 2029. The bill addresses health risks from toxic substances—phthalates, PFAS, lead, formaldehyde, and volatile organic compounds—that accumulate in diapers worn continuously against infants' thin, absorbent skin. The measure is expected to advance to the state senate and is supported by over 150 public health groups.

Supporting reports

• RFK Jr. and Trump made false claims about vaccine safety at press conference — At a press conference, Trump and RFK Jr. claimed that childhood vaccines cause autism and that the combined MMR vaccine is lethal and the size of a soda bottle. RFK Jr. stated the CDC website is "outdated" when confronted with CDC data showing no scientific evidence for separating the MMR vaccine. When asked about the soda-bottle claim, RFK Jr. deflected by saying "people make their own assessment." These claims contradict established scientific consensus and CDC guidance.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration claimed Iran military destroyed and all objectives achieved — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth made escalating false claims about the Iran war: on day 9 claiming Iranian surrender was guaranteed, on day 14 claiming Iran's military had been destroyed, and on day 40 claiming every objective had been achieved. These claims were made four months ago and have proven false, with the war continuing. Sen. Ossoff characterized this as systematic lying about the war.

Supporting reports

• Trump made false claims about economic and crime statistics — Trump posted on Truth Social a lengthy statement claiming credit for numerous achievements, including "Total Border Control," "Most Successful Stock Market in History (81 Record Days in a year and a half!)," "Biggest Investment in our Country in History (19.2 Trillion Dollars!)," "Lowest Crime Rate in Recorded History," "Lowest Murder Rate since 1900 — 125 years!," "Highest Number of People that have Jobs in the United States, EVER," and "Biggest Drop in Drug Prices, over 500%." Many of these claims are either false or misleading.

Supporting reports

• Trump stages photo-op misrepresenting drug price article to credit himself instead of Biden — Donald Trump held a staged photo-op at Joint Base Andrews on Friday, displaying a Washington Post headline about record drug price drops while omitting the article's attribution of the decline to Biden's Inflation Reduction Act. The White House and press secretary Karoline Leavitt amplified the image on social media with the caption "POV: you bring the receipts," falsely implying Trump caused the price drop. Experts quoted in the Post article attributed the decline to Medicare's negotiating power under Biden's 2022 law, not Trump policies.

Supporting reports

• Polymarket spread false vaccine misinformation on social media — Polymarket, a prediction market platform that has marketed itself as a "global truth machine," spread misinformation through its official X accounts. Most recently, a Polymarket account posted a false graphic claiming that babies in the U.S. receive 72 vaccine injections, a claim contradicted by multiple independent fact checkers.

Supporting reports

• Trump made false claims about inflation and Strait of Hormuz — President Trump claimed that "prices are dropping fast," that "Iran is going absolutely fine," and that the U.S. "totally controls the Strait of Hormuz." In fact, the Consumer Price Index is up 3.4 percent compared to the previous year, and traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is near a three-month low, indicating the strait is effectively closed.