Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Columbia Political Review staff writers resign and go on hiatus over article association fears — Three staff writers at Columbia Political Review have resigned and four additional writers have taken hiatus, citing fear that their association with certain articles could jeopardize their safety or future career prospects. Editor Adam Kinder attributes the departures to mounting pressure from the Trump administration's targeting of pro-Palestinian speech and activism.
• Columbia Political Review removes nearly a dozen articles and halts publication of additional pieces — Adam Kinder, editor of Columbia Political Review, reports the publication has been asked to remove nearly a dozen articles and halt publication of over a dozen more in recent weeks. The publication has complied with all takedown requests. Kinder attributes the requests to mounting pressure and student fears of retaliation from the Trump administration for expressing disagreement with its policies.
• National student journalism organizations issue alert on editorial norms amid repression — A coalition of national student journalism organizations issued an alert on Friday calling on student papers to reconsider longstanding editorial norms around unpublishing stories and anonymization. The alert acknowledges that the recommendations "stand in opposition to how many of us as journalism educators have taught and advised our students over the years," but states "these are not normal times," reflecting the unprecedented pressure on student media from Trump administration enforcement.
• Stanford Daily receives surge of article takedown requests from contributors — Greta Reich, editor of Stanford Daily, reports a rapid escalation in takedown requests from sources and opinion writers in recent weeks. Requests have ranged from anonymity demands to removal of bylines and blurring of identifying images. One international student staff editor resigned entirely, citing fear of association with articles that could jeopardize their safety or career prospects.
• Student journalists remove bylines and request article takedowns fearing Trump administration retaliation — Student journalists across US universities are removing their names from published articles, requesting full takedowns, and resigning from editorial roles amid fears of legal repercussions and deportation. The trend accelerated following the arrest of Tufts graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk, detained by ICE after writing a pro-Palestinian op-ed, and Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, arrested over pro-Palestinian protest involvement. University newspaper editors report international students are particularly vulnerable, though US citizens are also requesting anonymization. Major publications including Columbia Political Review, Stanford Daily, and Purdue Exponent have complied with takedown requests.
• University of Virginia Cavalier Daily staffer resigns over visa safety concerns — An immigrant staff member of the Cavalier Daily resigned from the editorial board after the publication ran pieces about Trump's policies on universities, specifically regarding immigrants and pro-Palestine activism. The student was advised by the university's international studies office that public association with these articles could pose risks to their visa status. Editor Naima Sawaya acknowledged that the current climate differs from the publication's historical refusal of takedown requests.
• Student journalists unpublishing stories amid fears of Trump administration repercussions — The Guardian reported that student journalists are unpublishing stories, retracting their bylines from published articles, and resigning from campus newsrooms amid fears of repercussions from the Trump administration.

Supporting reports

• VP Vance expressed disagreement with Yemen military operation in Signal chat — Vice President JD Vance texted concerns about the planned Houthi military operation in a Signal group chat, stating "I think we are making a mistake" and noting that only 3% of U.S. trade and 40% of European trade runs through the Suez Canal, suggesting the public may not understand the necessity of the operation. Secretary Hegseth responded by defending the operation as necessary to restore freedom of navigation and reestablish deterrence, citing risks of leaks and Israeli action if delayed.
• Secretary of Defense Hegseth shared classified military operational details via unsecured Signal messaging — Jeffrey Goldberg reported in The Atlantic that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth texted him classified war plans for missile strikes against Houthis in Yemen approximately two hours before the operation commenced. Hegseth's message, sent at 11:44 a.m., included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing. Goldberg was subsequently added to a Signal group chat called "Houthi PC small group" with 18 senior officials including VP JD Vance, NSA Mike Waltz, DNI Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The White House National Security Council confirmed the incident occurred but characterized it as an "inadvertent" addition to the chain.
• Trump administration discussed military strike on Houthis via unsecure Signal app — On March 24, Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic reported that senior Trump administration officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, discussed a military strike on Houthis in Yemen using an unsecure commercial Signal messaging app. Hegseth posted precise details of munitions and aircraft involved. The app was configured to auto-delete messages in violation of the Presidential Records Act. Neither President Trump nor the acting Joint Chiefs chairman was included; White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller apparently made the strike decision based on his interpretation of Trump's wishes. The White House declared the matter "closed" on March 31 without investigation or resignations.
• Atlantic editor added to White House Signal group chat discussing Yemen airstrikes — The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a Signal group chat in which Trump administration officials, including Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, discussed and coordinated airstrikes against Houthis in Yemen. The breach was revealed when Goldberg published an article about it on Monday. Democratic senators interrogated intelligence officials Tulsi Gabbard and John Ratcliffe at a Senate hearing, criticizing the "sloppy, careless" handling of sensitive military operational details. The Defense Department had warned against Signal use due to Russian hacking threats.
• White House security breach: classified Yemen war plans shared via Signal with journalist — Senior Trump administration officials—including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and others—inadvertently included Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg in a Signal group chat discussing classified military plans for US strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. Signal is not approved by the US government for classified communications. Goldberg discovered the breach, removed sensitive material including a CIA officer's identity, and published an account. The NSC confirmed the "inadvertent" inclusion; Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it "one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence" in recent memory.
• Atlantic editor Goldberg disputes national security adviser Waltz's explanation for Signal group chat inclusion — Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic, publicly disputed National Security Adviser Mike Waltz's account of how Goldberg was added to a Trump administration Signal group chat discussing imminent U.S. military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. Waltz claimed Goldberg's contact was "sucked into" his phone via another contact; Goldberg countered on NBC's Meet the Press that the explanation was implausible and that Waltz had simply mistakenly added him because his number was already in Waltz's phone. The NSC confirmed message authenticity and said it was reviewing the incident.
• Trump administration officials share sensitive military plans in leaked Signal group chat — Pete Hegseth, US defense secretary, and other Trump administration officials including Vice President JD Vance and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz discussed sensitive details of a US airstrike in Yemen in a Signal group chat. Journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the Atlantic, was mistakenly added to the chat. The Atlantic published details on 24 March, triggering controversy. A subsequent poll found 54% of registered voters and 38% of Republicans believe Hegseth should resign. Trump has declined to fire anyone involved, dismissing the incident as a "glitch."
• Jeffrey Goldberg revealed Signal group chat with classified military plans — Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, published a bombshell article revealing he had been added to a Signal group chat of senior Trump administration officials, including Cabinet members, that focused on highly-sensitive, detailed plans for military strikes in Yemen. National security adviser Mike Waltz later took "full responsibility" for the breach. The chat contained classified information about strike timings, planes, and drones.
• White House accidentally shared classified Yemen war plans via Signal group chat with journalist — Senior Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, accidentally added Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal group chat containing highly sensitive military plans regarding airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen. The messages were set to auto-delete within four weeks, potentially violating the Federal Records Act. The White House confirmed the leak but characterized it as "deep and thoughtful policy coordination," while lawmakers from both parties condemned it as a catastrophic security breach and called for investigations.
• White House security breach: classified Yemen strike planning discussed in compromised Signal group chat — Senior Trump administration officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and others, discussed operational details of a planned military strike on Yemen in an encrypted Signal group chat. The chat was compromised when National Security Adviser Waltz invited Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to the group without authorization. Participants discussed messaging strategy, operational security concerns, and geopolitical implications. The Atlantic withheld publication of sensitive "TEAM UPDATE" material citing risk to U.S. servicemen and operations.
• White House officials' Signal chat group accidentally leaked to journalist — A journalist from The Atlantic was accidentally added to a Signal messaging group containing deliberations by 18 senior Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, regarding planning for strikes on Houthis in Yemen. The leak exposed operational security failures, classified military planning details, and internal disagreements on sensitive foreign policy matters. The incident revealed use of an unapproved commercial messaging app for highly classified discussions instead of secure government facilities.
• Secretary of Defense Hegseth and senior officials planned military strikes on Yemen via unsecure Signal messaging app — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other senior administration officials discussed and planned military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen using Signal, a commercial messaging app. National Security Advisor Waltz added Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to the chat without authorization. Hegseth uploaded precise attack details before the operation, exposing timing and targeting information. The chat was set to auto-delete messages after four weeks and was conducted on personal, unsecure devices vulnerable to foreign intelligence penetration.
• Der Spiegel reports Trump officials' private data accessible online via hacked dumps and commercial providers — German magazine Der Spiegel reported that mobile phone numbers, email addresses, and passwords belonging to US national security officials—including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard—were discoverable online through commercial data-search services and hacked data dumps. The exposure followed the officials' use of Signal to discuss sensitive military plans for airstrikes on Yemen. The NSC stated that Waltz's accounts had been changed in 2019, but the report raised concerns about potential foreign espionage during the recent classified communications.
• Mike Waltz accepts responsibility for Signal group chat leak including journalist Jeffrey Goldberg — Michael Waltz, Trump's national security adviser, claimed "full responsibility" for creating a Signal group chat that inadvertently included Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg. The group, containing Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other senior officials, discussed operational details of planned airstrikes on Houthis in Yemen. Waltz said he could not explain how Goldberg's number ended up in the chat, though he suggested the journalist may have deliberately infiltrated it. The breach exposed highly sensitive national security information and drew criticism from Senate Democrats.
• White House Signal Chat Leak Reveals Security Breach — A leak from a Signal chat involving senior Trump administration officials revealed that top-secret military plans concerning US attacks on the Houthis in Yemen were inadvertently sent to a journalist. The chat also contained disparaging remarks about European allies, highlighting a lack of secure communication practices within the administration. This breach raises concerns about the handling of sensitive information and the potential impact on global stability, as it exposes the administration's reckless approach to national security matters.
• Signal chat leak reveals classified military details shared by Trump cabinet officials — A Signal group chat used by Trump administration officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, leaked to the Atlantic, containing operational details about US military strikes in Yemen. The messages included launch times of F-18 fighter jets, bomb-drop schedules, and Tomahawk missile timelines sent before operations occurred. Despite potential violations of classification protocols, federal record-keeping laws, and the Presidential Records Act, White House officials deny the messages were classified. A watchdog lawsuit seeks to compel preservation of the messages.
• Signal group chat leak: journalist Jeffrey Goldberg accidentally added to White House national security discussion — Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was accidentally added to a Signal group chat that included the U.S. defense secretary, White House national security adviser, and intelligence community heads discussing plans to strike Yemen. Goldberg reported on the leak, prompting administration officials including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to publicly attack him, calling him a "loser" and "deceitful" journalist. The incident raised questions about operational security and accountability within Trump's cabinet.
• The Atlantic published screenshots of classified Signal messages discussing Yemen military strikes — The Atlantic published screenshots of the Signal group chat messages in which senior administration officials discussed and planned military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. The messages revealed that Secretary of Defense Hegseth had uploaded precise attack details including timing and targeting information before the operation commenced. The publication followed administration officials' repeated denials that classified information had been shared, and came after The Atlantic's reporters determined there was clear public interest in disclosing the information.
• Trump national security team discusses Yemen airstrikes on Signal messaging app with journalist present — President Trump's national security team, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, conducted planning discussions about airstrikes on Houthi forces in Yemen via the Signal messaging app. Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was added to the group chat and witnessed the discussions in real time. Goldberg subsequently published an article about the incident and later released a transcript of the chat. The leak prompted bipartisan congressional concern about the handling of sensitive information on an unsecured platform known to be targeted by Russian hackers.

Supporting reports

• White House issues promotional fact sheet claiming executive accomplishments in first month — The White House published a fact sheet titled "America Is Back — and President Trump Is Just Getting Started" on February 20, 2025, listing claimed accomplishments across border enforcement, economic policy, energy, military matters, and domestic governance. The document asserts that President Trump has "already accomplished more than most presidents do in their entire term" after one month in office. It attributes specific policy actions including border emergency declarations, tariff implementations, military deployments, regulatory rollbacks, and personnel changes across federal agencies.
• White House issues compilation release touting departmental accomplishments after one month — The White House published a compilation release on February 21, 2025, in which it aggregated statements from eight federal departments (Homeland Security, Interior, Education, Housing and Urban Development, State, Transportation, Defense, and Health and Human Services) describing their claimed accomplishments during President Trump's first month in office. The release does not announce new policy but curates existing departmental messaging around themes including border security, energy development, education policy, military readiness, and what the administration characterizes as reversals of prior policies.