Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Stars and Stripes staff sue Pentagon for First Amendment violation — Erik Slavin, Lara Korte, and Max Lederer sued Defense Secretary Hegseth, the Defense Department, Principal Deputy Assistant Andrew Brey, and Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, alleging they were fired in retaliation for speaking as private citizens in support of press freedom and for the publication's reporting on deteriorating conditions aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln. The suit alleges a "blatant violation" of the First Amendment and "extraordinary censorship efforts."

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• Pentagon fires Stars and Stripes staff — Defense Secretary Hegseth oversaw the firing of three staffers at the military publication Stars and Stripes: Erik Slavin (editor-in-chief), Lara Korte (Middle East reporter), and Max Lederer (publisher, who was pushed out immediately after announcing his end-of-September retirement). The firings followed the publication's coverage of deteriorating conditions aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln during extended deployment.

Supporting reports

• DHS deployed 19 USC 1509 administrative summonses to obtain records on journalists, non-profits, and unions without judicial oversight — The Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security has systematically used an obscure customs law (19 USC 1509) to issue administrative summonses demanding records from social media companies and telecommunications providers targeting journalists (Georgia Fort, Don Lemon, Megyn Kelly, Brendan Gutenschwager, Democracy Now), unions (SEIU, Communications Workers of America), and left-leaning non-profits (Sunrise Movement, Voices for Racial Justice). The summonses bypass judicial review required for search warrants and include secrecy directives. Fort's six-month phone records from T-Mobile and YouTube account information were obtained after a federal judge had twice rejected similar warrant requests in February 2026, citing lack of probable cause.
• Trump administration uses customs law to obtain journalist records without judicial oversight — The Trump administration deployed an obscure legal maneuver to obtain private information on journalists, non-profits, and unions without judicial oversight. The Department of Homeland Security served Google with an administrative summons citing 19 USC 1509, a customs statute, to obtain YouTube account information for journalist Georgia Fort and Don Lemon. The summons bypassed judicial review required for search warrants, which a judge had twice rejected for lacking probable cause. DHS officials used the customs provision—designed to investigate import duties and taxes—to investigate a domestic protest at a Minneapolis church that the journalists were covering.

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• Stars and Stripes reporter Liz Korte fired by Secretary Hegseth — Stars and Stripes published the final column from reporter Liz Korte after she was fired by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The article detailed the plight of military families displaced by the Iran war.

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• Freelance Reporter Subpoenaed in Leak Investigation — A freelance reporter, Matthew Cole, is fighting a subpoena from the Trump administration seeking to force him to reveal his sources for a New York Times article about a failed top-secret mission in North Korea. The subpoena is part of an intensified campaign to investigate leaks of government secrets by pressuring reporters to divulge their sources.

Supporting reports

• Department of Justice subpoenaed New York Times reporters over Air Force One security reporting — The Department of Justice, through U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton, issued subpoenas to New York Times reporters Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt. The subpoenas order the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday regarding an alleged violation of federal criminal law related to leaking national security information. The reporters had published a story on Wednesday reporting that the Secret Service had security concerns about the new Air Force One Boeing 747-8 and recommended the president use an older plane during his return from the NATO summit in Türkiye due to escalating Iran tensions. FBI Director Kash Patel conducted an 8-hour investigation from the White House to identify the anonymous sources.
• DOJ subpoenaed New York Times journalists over Air Force One reporting — The Trump administration issued subpoenas on Friday to several journalists at the New York Times after the outlet reported on security concerns involving Trump's new Qatari-donated Air Force One. The subpoenas seek to force the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday. NYT General Counsel David McCraw called the action "an attempt to prevent the public from knowing what is happening in their country by intimidating journalists from doing their jobs." Fox chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin posted that the action "should alarm every American."
• New York Times Journalists Subpoenaed Over Trump Air Force One Coverage — The Trump administration subpoenaed several New York Times journalists to testify before a federal grand jury about their reporting on security concerns surrounding Trump's new Air Force One, which was donated by Qatar. The subpoenas followed a White House meeting where FBI Director Kash Patel was directed to lead a leak investigation into the newspaper's reporting. The Times' top newsroom lawyer called the move a violation of press freedom protections in the Constitution.
• DOJ subpoenas New York Times reporters — The Department of Justice issued subpoenas to reporters from the New York Times regarding a story about security concerns related to the new Air Force One plane. The subpoenas require the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury about an alleged violation of federal criminal law concerning the leaking of national security information. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, nominated by Trump to be the next director of national intelligence, is overseeing the subpoenas. The DOJ stated that the reporters are not targets, but the act of subpoenaing journalists raises concerns about press freedom.
• DOJ issues subpoenas to New York Times journalists — The Trump administration, through the Department of Justice, issued subpoenas to multiple New York Times journalists seeking to compel their testimony before a federal grand jury in Manhattan. The subpoenas followed the Times' reporting on security concerns regarding Trump's new Qatari-gifted aircraft, which cited anonymous sources. An FBI official had previously contacted the Times requesting the article be withheld on national security grounds and demanded disclosure of sources, which the Times refused. The Times' legal counsel condemned the subpoenas as threatening constitutional press freedom.
• DOJ issued subpoenas to New York Times journalists — The Department of Justice issued subpoenas to four New York Times journalists—Julian Barnes, Eric Lipton, and Eric Schmitt—demanding they appear before a grand jury and disclose confidential sources. The subpoenas relate to the Times' reporting on security concerns surrounding the new Air Force One aircraft. The New York Times filed a motion to quash the subpoenas, arguing they were intended to punish the newspaper for its coverage and violated journalists' constitutional rights.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon and DOJ establish joint taskforce to identify and prosecute press leaks — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the creation of a joint Pentagon-DOJ taskforce to identify and prosecute unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information to the press. Hegseth delegated tasking authority to the Pentagon's Office of General Counsel to request records and support across the department for media leak investigations. The announcement follows the Trump administration's issuance of subpoenas to New York Times journalists who reported on security concerns regarding Trump's new Qatari-gifted aircraft. The taskforce represents an escalation in the administration's crackdown on leaks and press freedom.

Supporting reports

• FBI investigates New York Times reporter Elizabeth Williamson after critical reporting on Patel's girlfriend's security — The FBI investigated New York Times reporter Elizabeth Williamson after she wrote an article raising concerns about security arrangements surrounding Kash Patel's girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins. The investigation represents potential retaliation against a journalist for reporting on matters related to a senior government official.

Supporting reports

• FBI launched criminal leak investigation targeting journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick — The FBI, under Director Kash Patel, launched a criminal "insider threat investigation" into who leaked information to journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick for her article on Patel. Ken Dilanian and Carol Leonnig reported that such investigations typically target government officials suspected of disclosing state secrets or classified documents, but focusing on leaks to a reporter is "highly unusual." The investigation could allow FBI agents to obtain Fitzpatrick's phone records and examine her social media contacts. FBI sources expressed concern that agents felt coerced to proceed despite knowing the investigation was improper.
• FBI executed search warrant at office of Virginia Democratic state senator — Trump's FBI executed a search warrant at the office of Virginia state Senate President Pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas, who was at the center of the state's redistricting efforts. The search targeted a Democratic lawmaker actively involved in protecting voting rights and fair redistricting. No public explanation was provided for the warrant, and the timing coincided with Republican efforts to suppress Democratic electoral gains.
• FBI launched criminal leak investigation targeting Atlantic magazine journalist — The FBI launched a criminal "insider threat" investigation focusing on journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick, who wrote an unflattering account of FBI Director Kash Patel's work habits for The Atlantic magazine last month. The investigation is unusual because it did not stem from classified information disclosure and is focused on leaks to a reporter. Fitzpatrick's story cited two dozen anonymous sources reporting that Patel's alcohol consumption and erratic behavior had caused concern among FBI officials. The investigation could enable FBI agents to obtain her phone records, search her name through FBI databases, and examine her social media contacts.
• FBI launched criminal probe into Atlantic reporter's sources — The FBI launched a highly unusual criminal probe into leaks to a reporter from The Atlantic in relation to an article she wrote about FBI Director Kash Patel's drinking habits and unexplained absences, which Patel sued the outlet over last month. An FBI spokesperson denied the investigation exists and claimed reporting about it was "completely false." The probe targets a journalist's sources and reporting on a federal official.

Supporting reports

• Kash Patel sued The Atlantic and journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick for defamation — FBI Director Kash Patel filed a defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic magazine and journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick, seeking $250 million in damages over Fitzpatrick's April 17 article detailing Patel's drinking and inability to perform his job. The Atlantic and Fitzpatrick stood by the story, which was sourced from two dozen sources, and Fitzpatrick reported that additional informants came forward after publication to corroborate her findings.
• Kash Patel files $250 million defamation lawsuit against the Atlantic and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick — Kash Patel filed a lawsuit in US District Court for the District of Columbia against the Atlantic magazine and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick, seeking $250 million in damages. Patel's attorneys characterized the Atlantic's reporting on his alleged excessive alcohol consumption and whiskey bottle distribution as "a sweeping, malicious and defamatory hit piece." This lawsuit follows an earlier Atlantic report alleging Patel's excessive drinking and claims that security personnel struggled to wake him on multiple occasions.
• Kash Patel filed defamation suit against The Atlantic and journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick — FBI Director Kash Patel filed a defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic magazine and journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick in response to her article reporting that FBI personnel were alarmed by what they said was erratic behavior and excessive drinking by Patel. Fitzpatrick's story included reporting that Patel was known to drink to the point of intoxication and that on occasion his security detail had trouble waking him in the morning. Patel has denied the allegations.

Supporting reports

• Trump threatened to jail journalist and compel source disclosure — During the press conference, Trump threatened to jail the journalist who first reported details about a missing U.S. airman, stating he would force the media company to reveal the source or face imprisonment. Trump stated: "We're going to go to media company who released it and say 'national security, give it up or go to jail.'" The journalist identified was Amit Segal, an Israeli journalist with proximity to Netanyahu. Trump repeated the threat: "The person that did the story will go to jail if he doesn't say."

Supporting reports

• Department of Homeland Security issued hundreds of subpoenas to tech companies for social media account data — The Department of Homeland Security sent Google, Meta, and other tech companies hundreds of administrative subpoenas seeking names, emails, phone numbers, and identifying data for social media accounts that criticize ICE or monitor its operations. Google, Meta, Reddit, and Discord reportedly complied with some subpoenas. These were administrative subpoenas not signed by a judge but issued directly by DHS.

Supporting reports

• FBI Director Kash Patel launches investigation into Signal group chats used by protesters — FBI Director Kash Patel announced on January 26 that he launched an investigation into Signal group chats used by protesters in Minnesota to share information about federal immigration agents, including their locations and license plate numbers. The move targets legally obtained information and the act of recording law enforcement officials, both protected by the First Amendment.
• Justice Department appeals to Eighth Circuit after judge declines to issue arrest warrants for CNN anchor and protesters — Federal prosecutors sought Chief Judge Schiltz's assistance in arresting former CNN anchor Don Lemon and others linked to an anti-ICE church protest. After Schiltz declined to overturn a magistrate's denial of arrest warrants, the Justice Department appealed directly to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. The circuit court rejected the government's request, prompting Schiltz to write letters criticizing the Justice Department's approach and highlighting the flood of "illegal" detention cases overwhelming Minnesota courts.
• FBI director announced investigation of Signal chats of Minneapolis observers — FBI Director Kash Patel told a right-wing podcaster that the FBI will investigate Signal chats of those organized in Minneapolis to observe and record federal agents, to determine if they endangered federal agents. Podcaster Benny Johnson suggested the chats were "coordinated infrastructure" and asked the FBI to "take a crack at trying to get rid of this infrastructure the way they approach the mob or cartels or other terrorist networks."
• TikTok suppresses anti-ICE videos following Oracle acquisition — Following TikTok's acquisition by an Oracle-led consortium in late January 2026, users reported inability to upload videos critical of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Law professor Stephen Vladeck reported his anti-ICE video remained "under review" for nine hours; comedian Megan Stalter and California State Sen. Scott Wiener also reported suppression. TikTok attributed the issue to a data center outage, but the timing coincided with Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison's known Trump loyalty, raising concerns about state influence over the platform's content moderation.
• Federal agents arrested journalist Don Lemon on FACE Act and civil rights conspiracy charges — More than two dozen federal agents arrested independent journalist Don Lemon late on January 29, charging him with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and conspiring to hurt the exercise of rights—a Reconstruction-era law originally used against the Ku Klux Klan. Lemon had filmed protesters disrupting a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 18 at a white nationalist church with ties to the Trump administration. A magistrate judge and federal judge had both refused to issue warrants; the administration then sought indictment via federal grand jury. Lemon stated he would plead not guilty and continue his journalism.
• Federal agents arrest Don Lemon and three journalists — On January 29, federal agents arrested Don Lemon and three other journalists in relation to their coverage of an anti-ICE protest inside a St. Paul, Minnesota church. Lemon has been charged with conspiring to deprive others of their civil rights and violating the FACE Act by allegedly obstructing access to a house of worship. The arrests come one week after a federal magistrate judge rejected the Justice Department's initial request to bring charges. Lemon's lawyer Abbe Lowell called the move an "unprecedented attack on the First Amendment" and a "transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration."
• Federal magistrate and district judge refused to issue arrest warrants for Don Lemon — A federal magistrate judge refused to issue a warrant for Don Lemon and his producer, stating prosecutors had not shown evidence justifying arrest. When the administration asked a federal judge to overturn that decision, the judge also refused, calling the request "unprecedented." The administration then escalated the case to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which also refused to intervene.
• DOJ charges Don Lemon and three others with civil rights crimes related to Minnesota church protest — The Department of Justice charged former CNN anchor Don Lemon and three others with federal civil rights crimes, alleging they interfered with religious freedom at a church in Minnesota earlier in January. Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles on Thursday while covering the Grammy Awards and released Friday. The charges also invoked the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. A federal magistrate judge had previously declined to sign an arrest warrant for Lemon, but the DOJ proceeded with charges anyway. The White House celebrated the arrest on social media.
• Don Lemon arrested on charges connected to Minnesota church protest — Ex-CNN anchor Don Lemon, 59, was arrested on charges related to a Minnesota church protest. Lemon, who was terminated by CNN in 2023 following allegations of problematic behavior toward female colleagues and controversial on-air remarks, has since worked as an independent journalist on YouTube. The arrest marks a significant development in his career trajectory following his departure from mainstream media.
• Federal agents arrest journalist Georgia Fort for covering ICE protest at Minnesota church — Georgia Fort, an independent Minnesota journalist, was arrested at her home on January 30 after covering a January 18 protest at St. Paul's Cities church, where a pastor reportedly works for ICE. Fort was charged alongside Don Lemon under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) and conspiracy statutes—charges experts call unprecedented against journalists. The DOJ pursued the case aggressively after a federal judge and appeals court initially refused to charge the journalists; a grand jury eventually secured an indictment. Fort livestreamed her arrest and has since been unable to cover related stories due to legal and safety concerns.
• Federal agents conduct search of Fort's home and question her children — When federal agents arrested Georgia Fort at her home on January 30, approximately two dozen agents remained outside for hours after her arrest. As Fort's family attempted to leave, agents stopped them in the driveway and questioned her children about whether they possessed her laptop or cellphone. Fort's daughters, aged 17, 8, and 7, were terrified by the encounter. The youngest daughter now discusses ICE daily; the oldest has experienced nightmares. Fort stated agents could have waited until children left for school and questioned why so many agents were needed to arrest a journalist.
• Journalist Don Lemon arrested by Trump administration after covering anti-ICE protest — Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested on January 30, 2026, by federal agents at a Los Angeles hotel while covering the Grammy Awards. The Trump administration obtained a federal grand jury indictment against Lemon, independent journalist Georgia Fort, and others on charges of conspiracy and interfering with worshippers' constitutional rights during an anti-immigration enforcement protest at a Minnesota church on January 18. A federal magistrate judge had previously refused to sign an arrest warrant for Lemon. On February 8, Lemon spoke publicly about the arrest, characterizing it as an attack on press freedom and warning that democracy becomes "hollow" when the First Amendment is threatened.
• Federal agents arrested journalist Georgia Fort and two protest participants — Federal agents arrested independent journalist Georgia Fort of Minnesota, along with two protest participants, Trahern Jeen Crews and Jamael Lydell Lundy, in connection with the January 18 church protest in St. Paul. All four people arrested in the past 24 hours are Black.
• Don Lemon arrested on federal civil rights charges — Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested by federal authorities and charged with federal civil rights crimes in connection with a protest at a Minnesota church service earlier in January. The Department of Homeland Security stated Lemon was charged with conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshipers. His attorney Abbe Lowell stated Lemon's "constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done" and characterized the arrest as "an unprecedented attack on the first amendment." Career DOJ prosecutors in Minnesota and Louisiana refused to be involved in charging Lemon and other journalists who covered the Minneapolis church protests, believing the evidence does not support the charges.

Supporting reports

• ICE deploys tear gas, pepper balls, and body slams against protesters and journalists in Broadview, Illinois — ICE agents, alongside Illinois state police and Cook County sheriff's office, deployed tear gas and pepper balls against protesters gathered at an ICE processing facility in Broadview, Illinois on Friday. Videos show agents body-slamming protesters to the ground. Journalists covering the protests were also attacked—a CBS Chicago reporter was hit with a pepper ball from 50 feet away; a Chicago Sun-Times reporter was tear-gassed; and an Unraveled Press reporter was detained. Legal observers were similarly targeted. The facility, not designed as a detention center, holds nearly 5,000 detainees statewide under "Operation Midway Blitz."
• ICE agents deploy tear gas against protesters in multiple U.S. cities — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents used tear gas and other force against peaceful protesters in Portland, Washington DC, and Chicago during enforcement operations. The article references unspecified brutality by the Administration and an unwarranted raid on a Chicago apartment building, indicating escalating use of force against civilian demonstrators opposing immigration enforcement actions.

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• Secretary of State Rubio threatens visa revocation for Kirk critics — Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Jerusalem on Monday, reiterated threats to revoke visas for foreign nationals who "celebrate" Charlie Kirk's killing or engage in "negative and destructive behavior." Rubio's deputy, Chris Landau, previously instructed consular officers to undertake "appropriate action" when assessing visas for anyone "praising, rationalizing, or making light of" Kirk's death.

Supporting reports

• Deputy Secretary of State suggested stripping visas from Kirk death celebrants — Christopher Landau, deputy secretary of state, suggested the administration would strip visas from individuals who celebrated Charlie Kirk's death, signaling use of immigration enforcement as a tool for political retaliation.
• Secretary of State Rubio threatens visa revocation for Kirk critics — Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Jerusalem on Monday, reiterated threats to revoke visas for foreign nationals who "celebrate" Charlie Kirk's killing or engage in "negative and destructive behavior." Rubio's deputy, Chris Landau, previously instructed consular officers to undertake "appropriate action" when assessing visas for anyone "praising, rationalizing, or making light of" Kirk's death.

Supporting reports

• FBI accessed private Signal group chat of immigration court-watch activists — The FBI gained access to encrypted Signal conversations of New York immigration activists organizing "courtwatch" efforts to monitor public federal immigration court proceedings. An August 2025 joint FBI-NYPD report quoted from the private chat and characterized court watchers as "anarchist violent extremist actors," despite the courtwatch activities being non-violent legal observation of public hearings. The report was distributed to law enforcement agencies nationwide. The method of access to the encrypted platform remains unclear.

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.