Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Washington Post reported corporate donors to Trump ballroom project received federal contracts — A watchdog report detailed that more than half of the publicly identified corporate donors to Trump's White House ballroom project received new or expanded federal contracts worth collectively over $50 billion. Fourteen of 27 known corporate donors secured additional federal business following their contributions. Lockheed Martin received approximately $43.8 billion in new contracts; Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Palantir also received increased federal contracts. Many donating companies simultaneously faced federal enforcement actions that were eased or suspended under the Trump administration.
• Fourteen Trump ballroom project donors won over $50 billion in federal contracts — According to reporting by Jonathan Edwards of the Washington Post on June 4, 2026, fourteen of the twenty-seven known donors to Trump's $400 million ballroom project have won new or expanded federal contracts totaling over $50 billion since making their donations. The pattern suggests a direct correlation between donations to the president's personal project and receipt of federal contract awards.

Supporting reports

• May jobs report shows 172,000 jobs added with unemployment at 4.3% — The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the May jobs report showing 172,000 jobs added and unemployment holding at 4.3%. Trump subsequently complained on Truth Social that stocks should be rising on the news. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett appeared on Fox News claiming Wall Street "just doesn't understand" the Trump economy is creating a golden age, and later told C-SPAN he would need to get an update on whether China has started buying American farmers' products as promised.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration dismantles deep-ocean observation system — The Trump administration is tearing out a $368 million deep-ocean observation system that monitors marine ecosystems, coastal environments, and ocean currents affecting climate change. The U.S. began operating the system in 2016 and expected it to continue for 25 years. The action aligns with Project 2025's criticism of federal science programs for paying too much attention to climate change. Democrats have pledged to fight the plan.

Supporting reports

• Department of Energy announces $17.5 billion in loans to Westinghouse for nuclear reactor construction — In June 2026, the Department of Energy announced $17.5 billion in loans to Westinghouse and local utility and energy companies to build 10 large-scale commercial nuclear reactors across the United States. Westinghouse had filed for bankruptcy in 2017 when its nuclear technology projects exceeded cost and timeline estimates. The timing of this loan announcement coincides with the administration's approval of the Saudi Arabia nuclear deal, which will generate billions in contracts for Westinghouse.

Supporting reports

• Trump proclamation modifies aluminum, steel, and copper tariff regimes under Section 232 — President Trump issued Proclamation 11032, modifying tariff regimes on aluminum, steel, and copper imports established under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The proclamation expands the 15 percent reduced-duty category to include agricultural equipment and residential HVAC systems; temporarily modifies tariffs on mobile industrial equipment; adds aluminum lithographic plates and steel racks to tariff coverage; and lowers the threshold for products to qualify as "entirely" American-made from 95 percent to 85 percent. Tariffs take effect June 8, 2026, with a sunset date of December 31, 2027, after which prior rates apply.
• President Trump issued proclamation modifying tariff regimes on aluminum, steel, and copper imports — President Trump issued a proclamation on June 1, 2026, modifying tariff regimes established under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 for imports of aluminum, steel, and copper products. The proclamation expands the 15 percent reduced duty category to include agricultural equipment and residential HVAC systems; temporarily modifies tariffs on mobile industrial equipment; adds aluminum lithographic plates and steel racks to tariff coverage; and lowers the threshold for products to qualify as "entirely" American-made from 95 percent to 85 percent. The modifications take effect June 8, 2026, and remain in effect through December 31, 2027.
• President Trump signed proclamation adjusting tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper imports — The White House issued a fact sheet announcing that President Trump signed a proclamation on June 1, 2026, adjusting tariffs on imported metals and related equipment. The proclamation reduces tariffs on agricultural equipment from 25% to 15%, expands industrial equipment categories subject to 15% tariffs, and offers a 10% duty rate for foreign companies using at least 85% U.S.-melted or -smelted steel and aluminum. The changes are temporary, expiring December 31, 2027. The fact sheet claims the tariffs have spurred domestic steel production, positioning the U.S. as the third-largest steel producer in 2025, and states that over 4 million tons of new steelmaking capacity is expected within two years.

Supporting reports

• Tech billionaires fund unprecedented spending in California primary elections and ballot measures — Tech billionaires including Sergey Brin ($82m), Chris Larsen ($26m), and executives from Google, Meta, and other firms have deployed hundreds of millions of dollars across California's June 2 primary election and November ballot measures. Spending targets gubernatorial candidate Matt Mahan, state legislative races, local campaigns, and ballot initiatives including a billionaire tax. Google and Meta jointly funded a Super Pac with $10m; Brin alone funded opposition to a proposed 5% billionaire tax. The tech industry spent $39m lobbying California in 2025 alone, exceeding oil and gas spending.

Supporting reports

• U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve falls to lowest level since early 2024 — The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell to 357 million barrels, an 8 million barrel decline, reaching its lowest level since early 2024 and approaching levels not seen since 1983, per GasBuddy's Patrick De Haan.
• U.S. crude oil inventories fall to critical levels with industry warning of catastrophic price spikes — Politico reported that the oil industry is privately warning the Trump administration that U.S. crude stocks have fallen eight consecutive weeks and are now 3% below the five-year average. Gasoline stocks are 5% below average. Total U.S. commercial petroleum inventories are down 52 million barrels since the war began. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was tapped for 8 million barrels last week, bringing it near its July 2023 low. Exxon's Senior VP warned Brent crude could hit $150–$160 per barrel. Gas is already at $4.26 nationally, $1.28 higher than before the war. Industry executives warned of "tank bottom" conditions and potential catastrophic price spikes by mid-to-late June. The White House denied receiving private industry warnings.
• U.S. crude oil stocks fell to lowest level in two decades — According to Financial Times reporting and U.S. government data, crude and petroleum product stocks fell by 10.6 million barrels in one week to 1.57 billion barrels—the lowest level since 2004. The Trump administration has been draining strategic petroleum reserves to contain surging prices caused by the Iran war. Industry analysts warned that oil prices are poised to rise sharply again within weeks. Bob McNally, president of Rapidan Energy Group, warned that prices could reach $200 per barrel this summer unless the Strait of Hormuz was reopened, and cautioned that such prices could trigger economic and financial system instability.
• U.S. oil reserves at lowest level in twenty-two years — According to reporting by Jamie Smyth of the Financial Times on June 4, 2026, U.S. oil reserves have fallen to their lowest level in twenty-two years. The administration released reserves to attempt to control oil prices that have skyrocketed following Trump's war on Iran, which prompted closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world's oil passed before the conflict. Oil industry analysts warned that prices will rise further if the crisis is not resolved.

Supporting reports

• Miami-Dade County agrees to purchase Fisher Island fuel depot property from HRP Group for $400 million — Miami-Dade County officials reached an agreement in principle to purchase a fuel depot property on Fisher Island from developer HRP Group for $400 million. HRP Group had acquired the land for $180 million in September 2025 and stood to gain a $220 million profit without developing the site. The county moved to acquire the property to preserve a Depression-era fuel depot critical to Miami's cruise industry, which services the world's busiest cruise port. The deal prompted lawsuits from the Fisher Island Community Association challenging its legality and from residents questioning the county's negotiating competence.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon awarded Dell $9.7 billion contract after Trump stock purchase and promotion — The Pentagon awarded Dell a roughly $9.7 billion contract this week. Trump purchased between $1 million and $5 million of Dell stock in February, publicly told people to "go out and buy a Dell," and those shares later climbed. His holdings are not in a blind trust. Defense officials say the deal followed a competitive process and saves money. Watchdogs say the appearance of self-dealing is problematic, and appearance is precisely what conflict-of-interest rules exist to prevent.

Supporting reports

• MIT reported 20 percent decline in federally funded research — MIT President Sally Kornbluth announced that federally funded research at MIT has declined by 20 percent compared to the previous year, representing a significant loss for one of the nation's most influential research institutions. The decline will also result in a reduction of approximately 500 graduate students, or about 20 percent of MIT's graduate student population. The decline reflects the impact of Trump administration policies on federal research funding.

Supporting reports

• Trump Jr. profits from drone war through Unusual Machines stake — The Pentagon's $1.1 billion Drone Dominance program is targeting 300,000 low-cost attack drones by the end of 2027. The Trump administration is in talks to direct funding to companies including Unusual Machines, in which Donald Trump Jr. is an adviser and shareholder. Stocks across the drone sector surged 33 to 57 percent on the news of the program. This represents family war-profiteering occurring simultaneously with American personnel injuries at a Kuwaiti air base.

Supporting reports

• Commodity Futures Trading Commission transformed into ally of crypto and prediction market industries — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the agency tasked with regulating cryptocurrency and prediction markets—sectors to which the Trump family has significant financial ties—has cut a substantial portion of its workforce and installed leaders sympathetic to crypto and prediction market companies. The agency has effectively become an ally to the industries it is supposed to regulate, representing regulatory capture.

Supporting reports

• White House intervened in Pentagon loan to company with Trump Jr. ties — The Pentagon announced a $620 million loan to Vulcan Elements, a firm with ties to Donald Trump Jr. A ProPublica investigation found that the request for the loan was made by Peter Navarro, a White House adviser to Trump and a friend of Trump Jr.'s. The intervention represents potential nepotism and misuse of federal lending authority for personal benefit.

Supporting reports

• Trump fined $200 for failing to disclose tens of millions in stock trades — Trump was fined $200 for failing to disclose stock trades worth tens of millions of dollars within the legally required 45-day window. One undisclosed trade involved Trump purchasing up to $50,000 in TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of the UFC, shortly before he began heavily promoting a UFC event at the White House. The purchase preceded the event and associated publicity.