Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Department of Justice announced investigation of major television networks for antitrust violations — After ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC rallied together in response to Trump's ban of CNN from the White House, the Department of Justice announced it is investigating the five major television networks for breaking antitrust laws. The announcement followed the networks' coordinated public opposition to the journalist ban.

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• White House bars Politico from Air Force One press pool; CNN also repeatedly excluded — The White House refused to allow Politico on Air Force One on Monday, preventing the news organization from fulfilling its press corps pool responsibilities. This follows a pattern: news outlets filed a lawsuit on September 21 alleging the ban violates the First and Fifth Amendments. Judge Timothy Kelly sided with the plaintiffs and issued a temporary restraining order requiring the Trump administration to reinstate journalists' press badges. Since then, the White House has repeatedly barred CNN from traveling on Air Force One on days when it was CNN's turn to be the TV pool representative. The Trump administration appears to be justifying these restrictions by claiming access to the White House complex differs from access to tight spaces like Air Force One. Judge Kelly is scheduled to hold a hearing on Thursday over the news outlets' request for a preliminary injunction.
• White House blocks Politico from Air Force One pool rotation — The White House decided to block Politico from riding on Air Force One and called numerous other outlets to ask one to fill the primary print slot for the out-of-town pool rotation. Each of those outlets declined to step in, leaving the pool slot unfilled.
• Trump administration defended restrictions on news organizations' press access — The Trump administration continued to defend its decision to restrict press access for reporters from CNN, MSNBC, and Politico on journalistic conduct grounds. CNN, MSNBC, and Politico filed a federal court challenge, asking a judge to continue blocking the restrictions and to rule on long-term protections. The judge previously ordered temporary relief and is expected to rule on permanent protections.

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• Federal judge issues temporary restraining order restoring press credentials — US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order on 26 September requiring the White House to restore credentials for CNN, MS Now, and Politico journalists for 14 days. In his ruling, Kelly stated there was no evidence the ban was motivated by national security concerns, noting Trump himself cited negative reporting and lack of truthfulness as reasons. The order temporarily resolved the dispute, allowing affected journalists entry to the executive complex.
• Federal judge ordered White House to restore press access — Six days after President Trump banned CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from the White House, federal Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, ordered the outlets' access restored. The judge found the outlets were likely to succeed in demonstrating their press passes were revoked without due process. The order was effective for 14 days. Reporters were initially turned away Thursday morning before badges were reactivated. The ruling did not address CNN's removal from the White House video pool.

Supporting reports

• White House blocks CNN and MS Now from state dinner coverage — Hours after CNN, MS Now, and Politico journalists were granted delayed entry to the White House on Thursday morning (after being initially denied entry), CNN's editorial team and an MS Now reporter were blocked from covering a state dinner commemorating Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit. This occurred after the federal court order mandating restoration of their White House access.
• White House blocks CNN from Air Force One travel — The Trump White House excluded CNN from traveling aboard Air Force One on Saturday, preventing the network from fulfilling its rotating TV press pool duties covering the president's trip to Tennessee for a college football game. This followed the administration's revocation of White House access for CNN, Politico, and MS Now a week earlier, citing unfavorable coverage. A federal judge had ordered restoration of access after the outlets sued on First Amendment grounds, but CNN and MS Now were later blocked from covering a state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping.
• White House excludes CNN from Air Force One press pool — The White House barred CNN from the presidential press pool covering Trump's travel to Tennessee for a college football game on September 26, despite CNN being a member of the five-major-network pool and scheduled to provide television footage. Trump posted on social media that outlets perpetrating "FAKE NEWS" should not be allowed in the White House, later telling reporters he supports a free press but opposes "fake news."
• White House reimposed ban on CNN from Air Force One pool coverage — On 27 September, despite the federal court's temporary restraining order, the White House barred CNN from joining the press pool traveling with the president on Air Force One. Attorney General Blanche claimed this was routine practice and not a denial of access. The action defied the judicial order and reignited the dispute after other outlets had briefly refused pool coverage in solidarity with the three banned outlets.

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• White House replaced CNN with Real America's Voice News for Air Force One pool duties — The White House removed CNN from television pool duties on Air Force One during Trump's trip to a college football game in Tennessee on September 26, replacing it with right-wing network Real America's Voice News. This action occurred days after a federal judge temporarily blocked the White House's press ban against CNN, MSNBC, and Politico. The White House later removed CNN from pool coverage for Trump's Thursday trip to Texas and Oklahoma, and other networks refused to substitute, leaving the TV pool dark.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge orders Trump administration to restore White House press credentials to banned outlets — U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued an early-morning order on Thursday requiring the Trump administration to restore press credentials to journalists from CNN, MS Now, and Politico for a 14-day period. The judge found the administration likely violated due process and First Amendment protections when it revoked the outlets' hard passes on Saturday without advance notice or opportunity to be heard. Kelly ruled the standards cited by the White House were "so vague" as to be constitutionally inadequate and expressed skepticism that national security was the actual motivation, noting Trump's content-based statements about the ban. A hearing on a preliminary injunction was scheduled during the 14-day restoration period.
• Federal judge ordered White House to restore press credentials for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico reporters — U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a 14-day restraining order requiring the White House to immediately restore press credentials for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico reporters after Trump banned them. The judge found the news organizations were likely to succeed on their claim that their passes were revoked without due process. When reporters attempted to cover Trump's event with Chinese President Xi, they were initially denied access in defiance of the court order, prompting attorneys to file an emergency motion. The White House eventually admitted the reporters after other media outlets joined a boycott.
• U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly granted media outlets' request to block Trump's White House ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico — After a hearing on Trump's Friday ban of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House campus, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly (appointed by Trump in 2017) granted the media outlets' request for a temporary restraining order, finding that the administration's national security justification was pretextual. Kelly noted that the stories the White House objected to were "routine" and that one was based on a White House press call. Kelly ordered the credentials of 78 journalists restored immediately.

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• ICE agents assault and arrest independent photographer John Abernathy during Minneapolis immigration protest — During a Trump administration immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, ICE agents tackled independent photographer John Abernathy while he documented a protest. A photograph showed him on the ground with pepper spray running down his face. The incident exemplified ICE's aggressive tactics against both immigrants and US citizens defending them, and demonstrated that journalists were not immune to the agency's violence. Abernathy managed to toss his camera to another photographer to preserve his images.

Supporting reports

• Trump announced ban of CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from White House — Trump announced that CNN, MSNBC, and Politico are banned from the White House "effective immediately," accusing them of reporting what he calls "fake news." Reuters reported that Trump said the ban could extend to additional news organizations. Trump told reporters "I don't want them here" and said he would take the ban "as far as you can." The administration has not explained how the restriction would work, and the Associated Press reported that journalists from the affected outlets remained on White House grounds Friday afternoon.
• Trump bans MS Now, CNN, and Politico reporters from White House grounds — President Trump ordered the removal of reporters from MS Now, CNN, and Politico from White House grounds, effective immediately, citing what he claimed was constant "fake news" reporting. On Saturday morning, journalists from these outlets were denied access and had their press passes confiscated by the Secret Service at security gates. Trump stated the decision was "cumulative" over two years and said he was considering banning additional outlets. The White House Correspondents' Association and press freedom advocates condemned the action as unconstitutional.
• Secret Service confiscates press badges and denies White House access — On September 19, reporters from CNN, MSNBC, and Politico attempting to enter the White House press complex were denied entry by security personnel, and Secret Service agents confiscated their press credentials. This enforcement action followed Trump's announcement the previous day banning the three outlets from White House facilities.
• Trump banned CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from White House — Trump issued a directive banning CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from the White House. The ban surprised many senior Trump staffers, who learned of it only through Trump's Truth Social post while Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was out of town. The press shop was initially blindsided and unsure how to respond. A source close to the White House confirmed the ban is "real and permanent as far as POTUS is concerned." Discussions were already underway about adding more news organizations, with Trump specifically citing the New York Times and Washington Post as possible additions.

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• Trump bans CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from White House — President Trump announced via Truth Social that he is immediately banning CNN, MS Now (MSNBC), and Politico from the White House, citing their coverage as "fake news." At an Oval Office event, Trump defended the ban, stating he does not believe courts should allow "fake news" to be written. He suggested additional media outlets could face similar bans. CNN, Politico, and the White House Correspondents' Association condemned the action as unconstitutional, while legal experts noted the White House press pool is a public forum under the First Amendment.
• Trump bans CNN, MSNOW, and Politico from White House — Trump announced an immediate ban of CNN, MSNOW (formerly MSNBC), and Politico from White House access, citing their reporting as "fake news." Trump alleged that Politico received an "$8 Million Dollar subscription" from the U.S. government under the Biden administration and characterized this as corruption. He stated that other "Fake News Media Outlets" would follow. Trump framed the ban as a response to outlets' coverage of the presidency and administration.
• Trump defends White House media ban citing First Amendment question — When asked how he justifies banning CNN, Politico, and MSNOW from the White House given that every president takes an oath to uphold the Constitution, including the First Amendment, Trump responded: "Because they're fake news." Trump did not address the constitutional question raised.

Supporting reports

• Trump dismissed ABC reporter Rachel Scott during press availability — Trump snapped at ABC News reporter Rachel Scott when she attempted to ask questions about his proposed stimulus payments and tariff refund checks at the RNC convention in Dallas. He repeatedly told her "Not you" and called her "the worst," refusing to answer her questions. Video of the exchange spread widely on social media.
• Media analysis documented Trump's pattern of aggressive behavior toward female reporters — Newsweek and media scholars documented that Trump has engaged in a pattern of high-profile confrontations with female journalists during his second term. Communications lecturer Amy Tatum analyzed Trump's physical behavior toward Scott, noting he used hand gestures to dismiss her, stepped closer to her, and leaned in to make her stop talking—behavior she characterized as fitting a pattern of dismissing women and representing "a new, even more aggressive level of behavior."

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• Federal judge declines to block Pentagon from firing Stars and Stripes journalists — US District Judge Trevor McFadden ruled that the Pentagon may proceed with firing Stars and Stripes journalists Max Lederer, Erik Slavin, and Lara Korte without legal impediment. The journalists had sued to challenge their terminations, arguing the Pentagon violated their First Amendment rights after they spoke about the publication's need for editorial independence. McFadden concluded the firings were lawful because the journalists gave pre-approved interviews in their official capacity, not as private citizens, and found no clear First Amendment violation.

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."

Supporting reports

• 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.

Supporting reports

• Three journalists sue Pentagon for retaliatory firing from Stars and Stripes — Three employees of Stars and Stripes—a government-funded military news outlet—filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Defense and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, alleging they were fired in retaliation for reporting on deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and for defending press freedom in a CBS News interview. The plaintiffs claim their dismissals violated First Amendment rights and were illegal. Publisher Max Lederer refused to comply with the firing order and retired instead; he was subsequently dismissed.

Supporting reports

• 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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• Pentagon fires publisher, editor, and reporter of Stars and Stripes military news outlet — The Pentagon terminated Max Lederer (publisher), Erik Slavin (editor), and Lara Korte (reporter) from Stars and Stripes, citing insubordination. The firings followed the outlet's reporting on crew conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and statements by staff defending editorial independence from Pentagon control. Lederer, who had served 19 years, was set to retire in September. All three received termination notices with five-day appeal periods. The dismissals reflect escalating conflict between the Trump administration's Pentagon and the military news outlet over press freedom and editorial autonomy.

Supporting reports

• 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

• 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

• 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

• DOJ official encouraged prosecutors to "go big" and "go loud" in prosecuting protesters — A top Justice Department official encouraged prosecutors to "go big" and "go loud" when pursuing criminal charges against people who protested against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, according to reporting. The Minneapolis case is one of several the DOJ has brought across the U.S. leveling charges against wide swaths of protesters, including cases in Texas where prosecutors secured decades-long sentences for nine people protesting outside an ICE facility.
• Law enforcement provided false information in criminal case against journalist Georgia Fort — Federal law enforcement officials, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), provided false information to federal judges in at least 15 search warrant applications and to a grand jury in the case against independent journalist Georgia Fort, who was charged alongside nearly 40 others after interrupting a Minnesota church service to protest an ICE official serving as a pastor. The Justice Department later conceded the false claims. Fort's lawyers filed motions on Thursday seeking dismissal, arguing the prosecution violates the First Amendment, fails to state an actual crime, and is vindictive retaliation against her journalism.
• Prosecutors charged journalist Georgia Fort with conspiracy to interfere with religious rights for documenting anti-ICE protest — Journalist Georgia Fort was charged with conspiracy to interfere with the religious rights of parishioners after she entered and documented a protest at Cities church in St Paul, Minnesota, where demonstrators interrupted a service upon learning an ICE official was a pastor. Fort's lawyers argue the prosecution is vindictive retaliation targeting her for her journalism and for amplifying a message the government opposes, violating the First Amendment.
• Prosecutors made false claims in search warrant applications regarding protest conduct — In search warrant applications, prosecutors claimed a congregant had broken her arm during the protest when she had not, and made other false characterizations of Fort's conduct, including claims she conspired with others in advance when evidence showed she arrived late and was not present for planning discussions. Prosecutors also claimed Fort blocked a van from leaving when her own livestream showed the van left easily.
• Journalist Georgia Fort indicted for covering anti-ICE protest; seeks dismissal on First Amendment grounds — Attorneys for Twin Cities journalist Georgia Fort asked a federal judge to dismiss charges against her for covering an anti-ICE protest at a St. Paul church, arguing the indictment violates her First Amendment rights. Fort was indicted alongside former CNN host Don Lemon and dozens of protesters on charges of conspiring against the right of religious freedom at a place of worship. Her attorneys argue the 19-page indictment contains no allegation of physical force, threats, or blocking the church entrance, and that her role was to observe and document. Magistrate Judge John Docherty twice refused to sign search warrants for Fort's and Lemon's YouTube accounts, finding they violated the Privacy Protection Act of 1980. A government attorney acknowledged a mischaracterization in an affidavit at a July hearing.

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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.

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• FCC receives petitions to deny ABC license renewals; ex-officials warn of constitutional violation — The FCC, led by Chairman Brendan Carr, received petitions from conservative groups (Media Research Center and Center for American Rights) to deny license renewals for eight ABC-owned television stations. The petitions followed an "extremely unusual" early renewal order issued by the FCC in late April after criticism of ABC by Donald Trump. A coalition of former FCC chairs and senior officials from both parties filed a response warning the proceeding is "unprecedented" and violates the Communications Act and Constitution by seeking to censor speech and send a "chilling message" to broadcasters based on editorial content the administration dislikes.

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• Trump defended subpoenaing family members of journalists — When asked whether it is appropriate to subpoena family members of journalists to obtain information, Trump stated he did not know what was appropriate and claimed that Barack Obama did it "all the time," asserting a double standard in how his actions are treated compared to his predecessor's.

Supporting reports

• Trump Administration Sought Phone Records of NYT Reporters and Relatives — The Trump administration issued subpoenas seeking phone records of New York Times reporters dating back to January 1, as well as records of their relatives, in connection with an investigation into the Times's reporting on security concerns regarding Trump's new Air Force One, donated by Qatar. The Times characterized the move as a "bad-faith effort to intimidate the journalists and chill their ability to report on the administration." The DOJ later withdrew the subpoenas.