Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• US Congress passes 10-day extension of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act section 702 — Both chambers of Congress voted on April 18 to pass a brief 10-day extension of section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa), a warrantless surveillance law, after Republican infighting blocked attempts at a longer reauthorization. The law allows national security agencies to collect texts and emails sent to and from foreigners outside the US without a warrant, with Americans' communications potentially swept up incidentally. A rare coalition of progressive Democrats and hardline Republicans opposed an unchanged extension, demanding a warrant requirement for Americans' communications. The House vote occurred after midnight following two failed procedural votes.
• Became Law: FISA Amendments Act Extension — Congress passed and the President signed legislation extending Title VII surveillance authorities of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act through April 30, 2026. The measure amends the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, preserving federal intelligence-gathering powers on foreign targets and their communications. The law became Public Law 119-84, authorizing continued bulk collection and monitoring frameworks.

Supporting reports

• US appeals court grants stay allowing White House ballroom construction to resume — A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia granted the Trump administration a stay on Friday, allowing construction of a $400 million White House ballroom at the site of the demolished East Wing to continue. The stay reversed a district court order halting construction over questions of whether Trump had authority to raze the East Wing and build the ballroom without congressional approval. The appeals court's action permits below-ground construction, including national security facilities, to proceed while the case proceeds toward a June 5 hearing.

Supporting reports

• Department of Justice settled Michael Flynn lawsuit for $1.2 million — The Department of Justice settled a lawsuit brought by Trump's former national security advisor Michael Flynn for $1.2 million. Flynn had sued for $50 million on grounds of malicious prosecution after pleading guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russians before Trump took office. The settlement was cited by Democratic lawmakers as an example of potential abuse of power through government settlements of baseless lawsuits.

Supporting reports

• Trump filed $10 billion lawsuit against IRS over tax information leak — Trump, along with his sons Donald Jr. and Eric, filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS after an IRS contractor during his first term leaked some of his tax information along with that of more than 400,000 other taxpayers to two news outlets. Trump claimed the leak caused "reputational and financial harm, public embarrassment, unfairly tarnished their business reputations, portrayed them in a false light, and negatively affected President Trump, and the other Plaintiffs' public standing." The lawsuit amount exceeds 80% of the IRS's annual budget.
• Watchdog organizations filed briefs challenging Trump's IRS lawsuit — Several watchdog organizations filed briefs challenging Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS. Democracy Forward argued that the case is "extraordinary because the President controls both sides of the litigation, which raises the prospect of collusive litigation tactics" and that "the conflicts of interest make it uncertain whether the Department of Justice will zealously defend the public [treasury]" in the same manner as it has against other plaintiffs claiming related damages.

Supporting reports

• Summary judgment ruling — State of Oregon v. Kennedy (D. Or.) 6:25-cv-02409 — In an opinion and judgment , Judge Kasubhai granted Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment, vacating and enjoining enforcement of the Department of Health and Human Services's Dec. 18 Declaration and holding that it unlawfully threatened to cut federal funding to providers of gender-affirming care for minors. “This case highlights a leader's unserious regard for the rule of law,” the judge wrote.
• Federal judge overturns Trump administration ban on gender-affirming care for children — U.S. District Judge Mustafa T Kasubhai in Oregon issued a 49-page decision overturning the Trump administration's ban on gender-affirming care for minors, which had been implemented via an HHS declaration by RFK Jr in December 2025. The judge found the policy violated administrative law and the Medicare statute, barred the administration from implementing similar policies under other names, and called the administration's legal arguments "a bald-faced lie." The ruling allows healthcare systems to resume providing gender-affirming care and blocks the proposed rule preventing Medicaid and Medicare from paying for such care.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge blocks Nexstar-Tegna media merger — A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the $6.2 billion merger between Nexstar Media Group and Tegna after eight states and DirecTV sued to stop it on antitrust grounds. An appeal is virtually certain.

Supporting reports

• FBI Director Kash Patel denies excess drinking allegations and threatens lawsuit against The Atlantic — The Atlantic published a report on April 18, 2026, citing allegations from two dozen current and former officials that FBI Director Kash Patel drinks to excess, has been unreachable during his tenure, and has had security detail difficulty waking him. Patel denied the allegations and threatened to sue The Atlantic, posting on X that the story was "false" and a "hit piece." The report also noted concerns among officials about Patel's fitness to lead the agency and public safety implications.
• FBI Director Kash Patel portrayed as poor manager with alcohol issues and security concerns — An article in The Atlantic by Sarah Fitzpatrick portrayed FBI Director Kash Patel as a poor manager who is terrified of losing his job, whose overuse of alcohol, tendency to disappear, and purges of FBI agents who had investigated Trump endangers national security. Fitzpatrick noted that Patel has retained his position by using the FBI to target Trump's perceived enemies, but his focus on matters like whether FBI merchandise looks "fierce" has led officials to conclude "we don't have a real functioning FBI director."
• Atlantic reports concerns about FBI Director Kash Patel's conduct — The Atlantic published a report describing multiple current and former officials' accounts of FBI Director Kash Patel exhibiting a pattern of excessive drinking to the point of obvious intoxication, missed meetings, and periods of being unreachable during critical moments. In one instance, he reportedly told allies he had been fired over a routine IT issue, causing widespread confusion and calls to the White House. Morale inside the FBI is described as collapsing, and officials are raising national security concerns about the leadership. Patel denies everything and says he will sue.
• Atlantic publishes article on Kash Patel's management and conduct — Sarah Fitzpatrick published an article in The Atlantic on April 18 portraying FBI Director Kash Patel as a poor manager who fears losing his job, whose overuse of alcohol, tendency to disappear, and purges of FBI agents who investigated Trump endanger national security.
• Kash Patel denounces Atlantic drinking problem story; announces defamation lawsuit — FBI Director Kash Patel responded to an Atlantic article alleging he has a serious drinking problem affecting his work by posting on social media and appearing on Fox News, denying the allegations and vowing his lawyer will file a defamation lawsuit on Monday. The Atlantic reported multiple instances of Patel's erratic behavior, including a panic-driven "freak-out" when he believed he had been locked out of a work computer, and accounts from officials describing "obvious intoxication" at private clubs and difficulty waking him during work hours.

Supporting reports

• Trump holds Oval Office press conference with Joe Rogan, bans press questions — Trump held a press conference in the Oval Office alongside Joe Rogan focused on psychedelic drugs. He then kicked the press out before questions could be asked, preventing journalists from questioning him about the Strait of Hormuz closure, collapsed talks, and other major developments.
• Trump ejects reporters from Oval Office when asked about Iran claims — Trump kicked reporters out of the Oval Office on Saturday when they attempted to ask questions about his Iran peace claims, including a question from CBS reporter Olivia Rinaldi about vessels allegedly fired upon by Iranian gunboats. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) criticized the action, stating "The Strait of Hormuz just closed again today, and the press are demanding answers on behalf of the American people. Trump kicks them out of the Oval Office. Shameful."

Supporting reports

• Trump declares Iran victory; Strait of Hormuz remains closed and Iran denies agreement — Two days after Trump posted 13 celebratory messages on Truth Social declaring Iran had agreed to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and surrendered to all his demands, the strait remained closed, Iran stated they had agreed to nothing, and Iranian forces fired on vessels attempting to transit. The Trump administration scrambled to organize another round of peace talks scheduled for Tuesday in Pakistan, but Iran denied any plans to attend and disputed Trump's characterization of events.
• Trump announced Iran wanted to close Strait of Hormuz and accused Iran of blackmail — President Trump stated that Iran wanted to "close up the strait again, you know, as they've been doing for years, and they can't blackmail us." Trump's characterization contradicted the factual timeline: the strait remained open until Trump began bombing Iran on February 28, 2026. Trump's use of the term "blackmail" lacked public evidence of threats to expose secrets or threats of harm associated with the Iran crisis.

Supporting reports

• Treasury quietly extends Russian oil license — Treasury Secretary Bessent stated two days prior that the U.S. would not renew sanctions waivers on Russian or Iranian oil. Two days later, Treasury quietly extended a license allowing Russian oil transactions for another month via a late Friday night press release, with no announcement, press conference, or explanation.

Supporting reports

• EAC vice-chair McCormick declines to discuss prior controversial statements — Christy McCormick, the EAC's Republican vice-chair, declined to discuss her prior conspiratorial statements claiming Democrats rely on votes from "illegal citizens" to win elections. When asked if she regretted the comments, McCormick stated they were under "some sort of investigation" but declined to specify which investigation. The EAC did not clarify her statement. Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read renewed calls for McCormick's resignation, citing the need for the EAC to remain bipartisan and focused on technical election administration.

Supporting reports

• Trump signed Executive Order 14401 accelerating FDA review and access to psychedelic drugs for serious mental illness treatment. — President Trump signed Executive Order 14401 on April 18, 2026, directing federal agencies to accelerate research, clinical trials, and FDA approval pathways for psychedelic drugs (including ibogaine) to treat serious mental illnesses and reduce suicide rates. The order allocates $50 million from HHS existing funds for state-federal collaboration, establishes Right to Try access for eligible patients, directs the Attorney General to expedite rescheduling of Schedule I substances that complete Phase 3 trials, and mandates data-sharing between HHS, FDA, VA, and private sector partners. The order cites a 37 percent increase in suicide rates from 2000–2018 and notes veteran suicide rates are twice the general population.
• Trump administration issues executive order to accelerate psychedelic medication access — On 18 April 2026, the Trump administration signed an executive order directing federal agencies to accelerate access to psychedelic medications for people with serious mental illnesses. The order mandates inter-agency collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies to share data and increase clinical trial participation, and directs the Drug Enforcement Administration to reschedule psychedelics that complete FDA approval. Legal experts characterize the order's concrete legal impact as minimal, though its symbolic value—reinforced by a high-profile press conference featuring podcaster Joe Rogan and former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell—may influence policy direction and signal Republican openness to psychedelic research.
• Trump issues executive order accelerating psychedelic drug approvals for serious mental illness treatment — President Trump signed an executive order on April 18, 2026, directing federal agencies to accelerate approval pathways for psychedelic drugs (including ibogaine compounds) to treat serious mental illnesses. The order mandates FDA prioritization of Breakthrough Therapy-designated psychedelics, establishes Right to Try access for eligible patients, allocates $50 million in HHS funding for state-federal collaboration, and directs the Attorney General to expedite rescheduling of Schedule I substances that complete Phase 3 clinical trials. The order targets treatment gaps for patients unresponsive to standard therapies, particularly veterans with high suicide rates.
• White House issued fact sheet on executive order accelerating psychedelic drug treatments for serious mental illness — The White House published a fact sheet on April 18, 2026, describing an executive order signed by President Trump directing the FDA to issue Commissioner's National Priority Vouchers for psychedelic drugs with Breakthrough Therapy designations, establishing a Right to Try pathway for investigational psychedelics, allocating $50 million through ARPA-H for state-matched psychedelic research, and directing the Attorney General to initiate rescheduling reviews upon Phase 3 trial completion. The fact sheet frames the order as addressing mental illness and veteran suicide rates.
• White House signed executive order accelerating psychedelic drug approvals for serious mental illness — President Trump signed Executive Order 14401 directing the FDA to prioritize review of psychedelic drugs (including ibogaine) with Breakthrough Therapy designation, allocate $50 million to state-federal collaboration programs, establish Right to Try pathways for eligible patients, facilitate data-sharing between HHS, FDA, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and direct the Attorney General to expedite rescheduling of Schedule I substances that complete Phase 3 trials for approved mental health treatments.
• President Trump signed executive order accelerating psychedelic drug research and access for mental health treatment — On April 20, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to accelerate research into and improve access to psychedelic drugs—particularly ibogaine and psilocybin—as treatments for serious mental illnesses, with emphasis on veterans suffering from PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, and suicide risk. The order directs HHS, FDA, DOJ, and VA to collaborate on clinical trials, regulatory pathways, Right to Try expansions, and rescheduling considerations. The White House states the order includes $50 million in federal funding for ibogaine research and aims to reduce barriers that have forced veterans to seek treatment outside the United States.
• Rep. Auchincloss questioned FDA approval of psychedelics as political appeasement — During RFK Jr.'s budget hearing, Rep. Auchincloss questioned whether Trump granted FDA approval for psychedelics to appease Joe Rogan and shore up support from his base amid the disastrous Iran war. Auchincloss stated: "In order to appease Rogan's ire, he grants FDA approval" and argued that "safety and efficacy should be the standards by which psychedelics are approved, not the president's attempt to shore up support from his base for a disastrous war in Iran."

Supporting reports

• Trump threatens bombing campaign if no Iran deal by Wednesday — Trump told reporters that if there is no deal with Iran by Wednesday, the U.S. would "have to start dropping bombs again." Earlier, he had told reporters Iran "agreed to everything," which the source characterizes as "blatant lies."
• Trump Threatens to Destroy Iranian Infrastructure — Former President Trump threatened to destroy every power plant and bridge in Iran, despite having declared the war over just 48 hours earlier. This statement adds to the volatility of the situation and raises concerns about potential escalations in conflict with Iran.
• Trump threatens to destroy all Iranian power plants and bridges if deal not reached — Trump posted that if Iran does not accept a "very fair and reasonable DEAL," the U.S. will "knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran," declaring "NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!" UN Ambassador Mike Waltz defended the threat on ABC and CBS, characterizing power plants and bridges as "legitimate military targets" and rejecting characterizations of such destruction as war crimes.
• Trump threatened military strikes on Iran if deal not signed — President Trump told Fox News that if Iran does not sign a proposed deal, "the whole country is going to get blown up" and threatened to "take out their bridges and their power plants." The statement was made approximately five hours before Trump posted on Truth Social claiming he was in no hurry to complete a deal and was under no pressure to do so, creating a contradiction in messaging about the urgency and status of Iran negotiations.

Supporting reports

• U.S. military prepares to board Iran-linked tankers and seize ships in international waters — According to U.S. officials cited by the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. military is preparing in coming days to board Iran-linked oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters, expanding its naval crackdown beyond the Middle East.
• U.S. military prepared to seize Iranian-linked oil tankers in international waters — The U.S. military announced preparation to board and seize commercial vessels linked to Iran in international waters as part of efforts to force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and abandon its nuclear program. The operation, termed "Economic Fury," follows the U.S. Navy's prior forcing of 23 ships to turn back from Iranian ports. The administration intends to take control of vessels globally that provide material support to Iran, including "dark fleet" vessels carrying Iranian oil.
• General Daniel Caine announced pursuit of Iranian-flagged vessels and dark fleet ships — General Daniel Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced that the U.S. military would "actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran," including dark fleet vessels carrying Iranian oil. Dark fleet vessels are defined as illicit or illegal ships evading international regulations, sanctions, insurance requirements, or other legal obligations.

Supporting reports

• General Daniel Caine announced pursuit of Iranian-flagged vessels and dark fleet ships — General Daniel Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, announced that the U.S. military would "actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel or any vessel attempting to provide material support to Iran," including dark fleet vessels carrying Iranian oil. Dark fleet vessels are defined as illicit or illegal ships evading international regulations, sanctions, insurance requirements, or other legal obligations.

Supporting reports

• Justice Department appoints Trump loyalist Joe diGenova to lead probe into officials who investigated Trump — The Justice Department announced the appointment of Joe diGenova, a Trump loyalist and 2020 election denier, to lead a Florida-based federal probe into intelligence and law enforcement officials who investigated Trump. DiGenova previously worked with Rudy Giuliani on efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and to obtain damaging information on then-candidate Joe Biden from Ukrainian officials. The appointment signals the administration's intent to investigate and potentially prosecute those who conducted prior investigations into Trump.
• Joe DiGenova sworn in to lead "Russia hoax investigation" — On April 20, 2026, Joe DiGenova, an 81-year-old former Trump election lawyer and conspiracy theorist, was sworn in to oversee a multi-year "grand conspiracy" investigation against Trump's perceived enemies, including former CIA director John Brennan. DiGenova stated that Trump "personally asked" him to lead the investigation and publicly sketched a grand conspiracy narrative framing investigations into Trump as a coordinated plot to deny him civil rights.