Trump Action Archive

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• Trump border czar states denaturalization and deportation of Omar is possible — Tom Homan, Trump's "border czar," stated on Fox News that the federal government could "of course" denaturalize and deport Representative Ilhan Omar if evidence supports it. Homan described denaturalization as a "long, tedious process" that has been used before. His comments were the first explicit remarks by a named top Trump administration official linking denaturalization and deportation to Omar since the October 12 raid on her home.

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• Former President Obama condemns targeting of Omar and warns of broader threat — Former President Barack Obama posted on X condemning the Trump administration's investigation into Representative Ilhan Omar, stating "the full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president." Obama urged all Americans to defend Omar regardless of political affiliation, warning that if this becomes normalized, "there's no reason to believe it will stop with her – or that future presidents, in either party, won't do the same."

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• Trump made inflammatory statements targeting Somali immigrants in Minnesota — Trump accused Somali immigrants of taking over Minnesota and associated them with crime and violence. He repeatedly urged residents to "fight back" and mentioned that the federal government could intervene if requested by Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey. His statements followed reports of criminal investigations involving Somali American individuals, including an alleged plot against the Mall of America.

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• Trump declared "Artificial Intelligence" terminology an enemy position — Trump posted that the White House considers anyone using the term "Artificial Intelligence" rather than "Super Intelligence" to be "THE ENEMY." The statement represents an attempt to control language and terminology used in public discourse and government.
• Trump labeled those refusing to use "Super Intelligence" terminology as enemies — Following a recent executive order directing federal agencies to replace "AI" (Artificial Intelligence) with "SI" (Super Intelligence) in communications, Trump publicly labeled those who refuse to adopt the preferred terminology as "THE ENEMY" and enemies of the White House. The order represents an attempt to control language use across federal agencies.

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• Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment and refuses to testify at Senate Covid hearing — Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and declined to answer questions at a Senate committee hearing on Covid-19 origins called by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul. Fauci stated Paul's goal was to embarrass, intimidate, and land him "behind bars." Paul responded by threatening a contempt vote and removing one of Fauci's attorneys from the room. The hearing became contentious, with Republican senators demanding apologies and attacking Fauci's credibility while Democrats defended him as a victim of harassment.
• Rand Paul announces intent to pursue contempt of Congress vote against Fauci — Following Fauci's invocation of the Fifth Amendment during the Senate hearing, Senator Rand Paul told reporters he intends to call a vote for contempt of Congress the following week in the committee on homeland security and governmental affairs. Paul stated there would be "repercussions" for Fauci's refusal to testify. Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri joined in, asserting Fauci has no Fifth Amendment rights in this context and accused him of contempt for Congress and the American people.
• Rand Paul chairs Senate hearing on Covid origins; Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment and declines testimony — Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared before a Republican-led Senate committee hearing chaired by Senator Rand Paul, ostensibly to investigate Covid-19 origins. Fauci, citing his attorneys' advice and invoking the Fifth Amendment, declined to answer questions throughout the hearing. Paul had asserted that Fauci could bear responsibility for the pandemic due to NIH funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Fauci characterized Paul's investigation as an "unhinged obsession." Paul indicated he intends to call a vote for contempt of Congress the following week.
• Republican senators attack Fauci's pandemic record and scientific credibility — Multiple Republican senators used the hearing to criticize Fauci on various grounds. Senator Ron Johnson accused Fauci of covering up unfavorable vaccine information, calling vaccines "experimental gene therapy." Senator Bernie Moreno demanded Fauci apologize for military vaccine mandates, pandemic business closures, and a mask-enforcement arrest, calling him a "total and complete disgrace." Senator Joni Ernst criticized use of aborted fetal tissue in research. Democratic Senator Gary Peters warned the hearing was scapegoating one official for a crisis involving hundreds of officials across administrations.
• Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment during Senate testimony — Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right during a Senate hearing led by Senator Rand Paul, where he faced aggressive questioning regarding his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci stated that he believed the hearing was aimed at vindicating Paul's public claims for his imprisonment, and he refrained from answering questions over 100 times.
• Senator Rand Paul subpoenas Fauci to testify — Senator Rand Paul, now chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, subpoenaed Dr. Anthony Fauci to appear before the committee. Fauci's lawyers noted Paul's history of calling for Fauci's imprisonment, which influenced Fauci's decision to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights during the testimony.
• Republicans continue to target Fauci amid political tensions — Republicans, including Senator Rand Paul, have intensified their attacks on Dr. Anthony Fauci, accusing him of lying about the origins of COVID-19 and calling for his arrest. This campaign has been fueled by the release of Fauci's private diary, which Republicans have used to further their narrative against him, despite a lack of evidence of wrongdoing.

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• Trump addresses Faith & Freedom Coalition, attacks Democrats as "godless communists" — President Trump spoke at the Faith & Freedom Coalition's Road to Majority conference in Washington on Friday, seizing on Democratic primary wins by progressive candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to portray Democrats as communists threatening Christianity and "traditional American way of life." Trump claimed communists want to "mutilate" transgender children, "restart the war on Christians," and that assassinations are "a very important element of their ideology." House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed the messaging, listing alleged radical positions of leftwing candidates running for Congress.
• Trump called Democratic opponents "animals" and "communists" — At a Faith and Freedom Coalition convention in Washington, Trump called Democratic political opponents "hard core, godless communists" and "animals," framing them as a "horrible thread of cancer" permeating the country. The rhetoric was deployed as midterm messaging following Democratic primary victories by progressive candidates in New York.
• Trump launched midterm campaign theme attacking Democrats as communists — Trump delivered a speech on June 26, 2026 launching a new midterm election theme characterizing Democrats as communists and framing the election as necessary to prevent a communist takeover of America. Trump based his premise on candidates endorsed by New York state legislator Zohran Mamdani who won their primary elections. Trump stated that communists are "godless," will "close your churches," and want to "end religion," and characterized them as "animals." Trump also made statements suggesting he would be "the greatest communist in history" if he implemented free rent and free food policies.

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• Federal judge orders release of Wisconsin mosque president detained by ICE in apparent retaliation for Palestinian rights advocacy — U.S. District Judge James Patrick Hanlon ordered the release of Salah Sarsour, president of Wisconsin's largest mosque, after finding that immigration officials probably detained him in retaliation for his public advocacy for Palestinian rights. Sarsour, a legal permanent resident since 1998, was arrested on March 30, 2026, by plainclothes ICE officers. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had personally signed a memo declaring Sarsour deportable despite his green card, citing his Palestinian rights work. The judge found the detention violated Sarsour's First Amendment rights and noted the Heritage Foundation had proposed targeting prominent foreign-born Muslims and Palestinian rights leaders as part of a campaign to deport or discredit them.

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• Fifteen anti-ICE protesters indicted for conspiracy in Minneapolis — Fifteen anti-ICE protesters in Minneapolis were indicted on conspiracy charges. Federal investigators infiltrated Signal encrypted chat groups used by the protesters to coordinate their activities, raising concerns about surveillance of protected protest activity and the use of undercover infiltration tactics.

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• Federal indictment unsealed against eight pro-Palestinian activists for alleged intimidation campaign — Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment against eight pro-Palestinian activists accused of conspiring to run a criminal intimidation campaign against University of Michigan officials to force divestment from Israel-linked companies. The indictment describes vandalism, fake corpses placed on a board member's lawn, spray-painted anti-Israel messages at the president's home, and use of social media to broadcast threats. Six defendants made initial appearances in federal court in Detroit on Wednesday; one was arrested in Wisconsin and one remained at large.

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• Secretary of Defense Hegseth invoked Great Replacement theory at D-Day commemoration — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, speaking in France at a D-Day commemoration, invoked the Great Replacement conspiracy theory—which claims that white European and American culture is being undermined by immigration from Africa and Asia. He characterized immigration to European nations as an "invasion" and questioned whether European capitals would "do something about that invasion," perverting a commemoration of the Allied defense of democracy against fascism into a platform for white nationalist ideology.
• Hegseth uses D-Day speech to attack European immigration policy — On the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered remarks at Normandy in which he used the occasion to criticize European immigration policy. He stated that "different European beaches are stormed by different dangerous ideologies" today and questioned when European capitals would act against what he characterized as an invasion of migrants arriving by boat.
• Secretary of Defense rejects foundational U.S. government belief — During a commemoration of D-Day, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth rejected the foundational belief that the government should promote the general welfare, instead framing the event as a call against perceived threats from immigration.
• Pete Hegseth delivered speech at D-Day ceremony invoking immigration as "invasion" — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth delivered a speech at the Normandy D-Day ceremony in which he characterized immigration to European countries as an "invasion" comparable to military threats. He stated: "Different European beaches are stormed by different dangerous ideologies such as in Spain, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria. Boats and men arrive. When will European capitals do something about that invasion?" He framed the speech around the sacrifice of D-Day soldiers.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth delivers D-day speech comparing European immigration to military invasion — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at the American military cemetery in Normandy on the 82nd anniversary of D-day, suggested that the freedom allied forces fought for in 1944 now risked being "upended" by a "new invasion" of migrants threatening Europe. He asked: "When will European capitals do something about that invasion, or is it too late?" The speech was widely denounced for weaponizing a solemn military commemoration to advance anti-immigration rhetoric aligned with far-right movements.

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• Trump posted call for rally echoing January 6 language — Trump posted on social media that he was "ordering my Representatives to look at the feasibility of doing an AMERICA IS BACK Rally on Wednesday, Washington, D.C., same time, same location. Only Great Patriots invited—It will be a Wild and Beautiful Celebration of America!" The language ("will be wild") directly echoed his December 19, 2020, tweet calling his base to Washington, D.C., on January 6th: "Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!"

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• Kristi Noem falsely claimed protester Alex Pretti was brandishing gun before killing by immigration officers — Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wrongly claimed that protester Alex Pretti was "brandishing" his gun before he was killed by immigration officers in Minnesota. She called him a domestic terrorist. Markwayne Mullin, her replacement, initially called Pretti "deranged" at his confirmation hearing but later said he regretted the comment. The false characterization of a killed protester by a cabinet secretary represents a weaponization of official authority to justify lethal force.

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• Trump posts about arresting Senator Mark Kelly — In early morning social media posts, Trump reposted a random account calling for Senator Mark Kelly to be arrested with "Lock him up" exclamation points. The post was part of a series of posts beginning around 3 a.m. in which Trump reposted random MAGA accounts.

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• Trump launches racist tirade against Somalia and Rep. Ilhan Omar — On March 16, Trump made inflammatory statements in the Oval Office calling Somalia "maybe a fourth-world nation" where they "shoot people all over the place" and accused Somalis of coming to the US to "steal" billions of dollars. He also repeated baseless claims that Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), a U.S. citizen, is in the country illegally and directed his new White House anti-fraud task force to investigate her, calling her a "ringleader" without evidence.

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• Laura Loomer accused Tucker Carlson of being Iranian asset; created list of alleged foreign agents — Laura Loomer posted that Tucker Carlson is an Iranian asset and should be jailed, questioning why he would oppose the U.S. killing the Ayatollah. Loomer stated she created a list of conservative influencers she believes are taking money from Iran, Russia, and Qatar and provided supporting evidence to the DOJ. Loomer accused all listed individuals of violating FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) and stated they deserve jail time.

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• Mike Johnson declines to condemn anti-Muslim comments by Republican lawmakers — House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to condemn Islamophobic statements made by Republican congressmen Andy Ogles (Tennessee) and Randy Fine (Florida), who claimed Muslims do not belong in America and compared Muslims to dogs. When pressed at a House GOP retreat press conference, Johnson said he had spoken to the members about their "tone" but did not discipline them. Instead, Johnson characterized concerns about "sharia law" as a "serious problem" animating the comments, without specifying who was calling for it. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for Johnson to hold the members accountable.

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• Stephen Miller posted about Democrats not standing for anti-immigrant statement — Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, described as an adherent of the Great Replacement theory and key figure driving the administration's anti-migrant crusade, posted on social media that zero Democrats stood for the foundational principle that leaders must serve citizens before "invaders," calling it "a more stunning moment in Congress." Miller's post made clear the anti-immigrant moment had been deliberately scripted for the State of the Union address.

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• Trump attacks Supreme Court justices by name and threatens future retaliation — During a White House press briefing on February 21, 2026, Trump publicly denounced six Supreme Court justices who voted against his tariff authority, calling them a "disgrace to the nation" and "unpatriotic." He praised the three dissenters (Kavanaugh, Thomas, Alito) and attacked two of his own appointees, Barrett and Gorsuch, describing them as "an embarrassment to their families" and suggesting they would be excluded from the State of the Union. Trump alleged without evidence that the court had been "swayed by foreign interests."

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• Trump administration officials embrace Great Replacement theory in immigration policy — The article traces the historical lineage of conspiracy theories used to consolidate political power, from Senator Joe McCarthy's 1950 anticommunist accusations through the modern Great Replacement theory. It documents how Trump and his team—including Vice President J.D. Vance, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem—have adopted rhetoric defining non-white Americans as a threat and are making the purging of Brown and Black people central to federal policy. The piece notes Trump's September address to the UN General Assembly warning European nations that immigration is "destroying your heritage" and his 2024 campaign's false claims about migrant crime and Venezuelan gangs.

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• Trump attacked Olympic skier Hunter Hess on social media — President Trump posted a social media attack on U.S. Olympic skier Hunter Hess, calling him "a real Loser" for expressing mixed emotions about representing the country during the Winter Olympics. Hess had stated that representing the U.S. brought up mixed emotions given current political circumstances. Trump criticized Hess for trying out for the team and suggested he should not be on it.
• Trump attacks Olympic freestyle skier Hunter Henderson on Truth Social — President Trump posted on Truth Social attacking freestyle skier Hunter Henderson, calling him "a real loser" and claiming he does not represent the country. Henderson was actively competing for the United States at the Winter Olympics. Henderson had previously made comments about moral conflict representing the country while the government enforces aggressive immigration policies against migrant communities. Trump's attack occurred while Henderson was competing on the world stage.

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• DOJ Civil Rights Division opened investigation into church protest for potential FACE Act violations. — DOJ Civil Rights Division Chief Harmeet Dhillon announced an investigation into potential violations of the federal FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act) by protesters who disrupted a Sunday service at Cities Church in Minneapolis to protest a pastor they claimed works for ICE. Dhillon stated that houses of worship are protected spaces and that the First Amendment does not protect disrupting a prayer service. She indicated the investigation will determine how many people were involved and how many charges will be brought.
• Harmeet Dhillon announced potential prosecution under Ku Klux Klan Act. — DOJ Civil Rights Division Chief Harmeet Dhillon stated on Benny Johnson's podcast that she is looking at prosecuting Don Lemon and the church protesters under the Ku Klux Klan Act, which makes it illegal to terrorize and violate citizens' civil rights. She warned that "the fullest force of the federal govt is going to come down and prevent this from happening and put people away for a long time." She also characterized protesters as "godless people" unfamiliar with houses of worship.
• DOJ Assistant Attorney General threatens Black journalist with KKK Act prosecution — On MLK Day, Justice Department Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon threatened to invoke the Ku Klux Klan Act to bring conspiracy charges against Black journalist Don Lemon after he covered an anti-ICE protest inside a St. Paul, Minnesota church. Later in the week, a federal magistrate judge rejected the DOJ's initial attempt to bring charges against Lemon.
• Justice Department threatens Black journalist with KKK Act conspiracy charge on MLK Day — Harmeet Dhillon, the Justice Department's Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, threatened to invoke the Ku Klux Klan Act to bring a conspiracy charge against Black journalist Don Lemon after he covered an anti-ICE protest inside a St. Paul church on MLK Day. A federal magistrate judge later rejected the Justice Department's initial attempt to bring charges against Lemon.

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• Tom Homan claims peaceful protesters could be classified as terrorists — Tom Homan appeared on Meet the Press and claimed that Renee Nicole Good and peaceful demonstrators could fall under the definition of "terrorism." This statement is designed to silence dissent and criminalize protest. Homan also faced allegations that he took $50,000 in cash as a quid pro quo from someone seeking favors within the Trump regime, and refused to answer questions about the money, whether it was returned, or whether he would support FBI release of recorded evidence.
• Tom Homan defended labeling of protester as domestic terrorist — Tom Homan, appearing on NBC, defended ICE Secretary Kristi Noem's characterization of Renee Good as a "domestic terrorist." When asked if anyone who protests ICE is a domestic terrorist, Homan stated it is "a case by case basis" and that if one "looks up the definition of terrorism," it could apply. Homan also stated that "saying this officer is a murderer is dangerous" and called for an end to "hateful rhetoric," while simultaneously defending the characterization of a shooting victim as a terrorist.

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• Trump endorses baseless claim that Renee Good killing witness was paid agitator — At a White House press event on Friday, President Trump endorsed Vice President JD Vance's unsubstantiated assertion that Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Wednesday, was part of a "leftwing network" attempting to incite violence. Trump claimed that a person heard screaming "shame" repeatedly in video of the killing must have been "a professional troublemaker" and "probably a paid agitator," dismissing the screams as evidence of coordination rather than genuine horror at a fatal shooting. The president's claim contradicts hundreds of documented incidents of ordinary citizens protesting ICE operations.

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• DHS and Trump administration frame shooting as self-defense and label victim as domestic terrorist — Within hours of the shooting, DHS and ICE officials characterized the incident as lawful self-defense. Trump amplified the narrative by posting that Good "violently, willfully, and viciously ran over" an ICE officer and that the agent "almost died." DHS leadership immediately began using the phrase "domestic terrorism" to describe Good's actions, establishing a federal narrative before full evidence was released to the public.
• DOJ civil rights division leader amplifies false claim about Renee Good shooting — Harmeet Dhillon, the Republican activist now leading the Justice Department's civil rights division, shared on X (formerly Twitter) Trump's false claim that Renee Good "violently, willfully and viciously ran over the ICE officer." Forensic analysis by the New York Times, Bellingcat, and other outlets has demonstrated this characterization is false. Dhillon's amplification of disproven claims while heading the civil rights division signals politicization of the office responsible for investigating police and federal law enforcement misconduct.
• Homeland Security Secretary Noem characterized Renee Good's actions as domestic terrorism — Following the fatal shooting of Renee Good on January 7, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly stated that Good had committed an act of "domestic terrorism," claiming she disobeyed officers' commands and attempted to "run a law enforcement officer over." This characterization preceded detailed video analysis that contradicted the account of the shooting.
• DHS Secretary Noem falsely labels Renee Good's death an "act of domestic terrorism" — Hours after the January 7 shooting, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed that Renee Good "attempt[ed] to kill or to cause bodily harm to agents" and described the incident as an "act of domestic terrorism." White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller also described the incident as "domestic terrorism" on X. Domestic terrorism is legally defined as a violent act intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or affect government conduct by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping. Good was driving home after taking her 6-year-old son to school, had no criminal record beyond a speeding ticket, and no known links to any terrorist group.
• Trump falsely claims Renee Good ran over ICE agent — On January 7, President Trump posted on Truth Social that Renee Good "violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer." Witness videos contradict this claim, showing the first shot occurred while Ross stood in front of Good's vehicle as she turned to avoid him, and subsequent shots while he stood to the side. Trump repeated the false claim to New York Times reporters the same day, claiming Good "ran him over," and showed reporters a video he said supported his narrative. When reporters noted the video did not show Good running over Ross, Trump called it a "terrible scene."
• ICE agent shoots and kills Minneapolis resident; Trump administration launches coordinated disinformation campaign — An ICE agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and poet, during a Minneapolis raid on January 8, 2026. Within hours, the Trump administration—including President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem—issued a coordinated series of false and misleading statements characterizing Good as a "domestic terrorist" and "violent rioter" who attempted to run over the officer. Video evidence contradicts these claims. Democratic officials, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, publicly denounced the falsehoods as "verifiably false" and "bullshit."
• Republican Randy Fine justifies killing of civilian by ICE — Republican Randy Fine appeared on television and justified the killing of Renee Good by stating that if Americans "get in the way of the government repelling a foreign invasion" they will "end up just like that lady did yesterday." The statement framed civilian death as an acceptable consequence of federal enforcement actions.
• Department of Homeland Security issued false statement about ICE shooting — The Department of Homeland Security posted a statement on social media claiming that Renee Nicole Good had "weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers" and that the shooting was an act of "domestic terrorism." The statement falsely claimed ICE officers were injured and recovering in the hospital. Video evidence contradicts these claims, showing the vehicle moving away from the officer and no evidence of officers being struck or injured. The statement also blamed "sanctuary politicians" for assaults on law enforcement.
• DHS and administration officials made false public statements about Minneapolis shooting — The Department of Homeland Security, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and President Trump made public statements claiming that federal agent Renee Nicole Good was shot in self-defense, contradicting video evidence from multiple witnesses. The administration's narrative was amplified by Fox News Channel, which shifted its coverage to align with official talking points as video evidence emerged.
• Trump posted false account of ICE shooting — President Trump posted on social media a false account of the shooting, claiming the officer "seems to have shot at her in self defense" and that "it is hard to believe that he is alive" because the woman "violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer." Video evidence shows the vehicle moving away from the officer and no contact between vehicle and officer. Trump blamed the incident on "the Radical Left" and called for Americans to "stand by and protect our Law Enforcement Officers."
• Vice President Vance made false claims about Minneapolis shooting — Vice President J.D. Vance held a press conference on the shooting and claimed that Renee Nicole Good was part of a "left wing network" and that she "aimed her car at a law enforcement officer and pressed on the accelerator." The New York Times published a slow-motion video analysis the same day demonstrating conclusively that the vehicle was turning away from the officer when he opened fire.
• White House press secretary attacked victim of federal shooting — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good as resulting from a "larger, sinister left-wing movement" and described federal law enforcement as "under organized attack." The statement blamed the victim and a political movement rather than addressing the circumstances of the shooting.
• Vice President Vance repeats false claims about shooting victim at press conference — Vice President JD Vance held a press conference where he repeated the administration's false narrative that Renee Good used her car as a weapon against ICE officers. He reduced her to "that woman," insisted she tried to run down an officer, and made unsubstantiated claims that she was part of "left-wing networks" targeting officers. He also attacked the press for reporting facts about the incident, accusing media of "putting law enforcement at risk."
• Vice President Vance repeats false claims about Renee Good shooting — On January 8, Vice President J.D. Vance repeated Trump's false claims about the shooting, stating "Ramming an ICE officer with your car, that's what justifies being shot." Vance later amplified a 47-second video of the incident that was selectively leaked to Alpha News, a right-wing outlet, before being released by DHS. Vance also claimed Good was "brainwashed" and a "victim of left-wing ideology," and told reporters that Ross has "absolute immunity" for Good's killing.
• White House Press Secretary falsely labels Renee Good an "insurrectionist" — On January 8, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed Renee Good was part of "a large, sinister left-wing movement" and described her as "a leftist insurrectionist who was purposefully and illegally obstructing law enforcement operations." Vice President Vance amplified these claims. Good was affiliated with ICE Watch, a loose coalition of citizens that alerts neighbors to ICE activity using whistles and messaging apps—activity that is legal and constitutionally protected. Good had no association with any violent or extremist group.
• Homeland Security Secretary and Vice President defend ICE shooting and attack victim's character — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Vice President JD Vance publicly defended ICE agent Jonathan E Ross's shooting of Renee Nicole Good, contradicting video evidence of the incident. Noem characterized Ross as "an experienced officer" following his training and noted he had been hospitalized. Vance claimed without evidence that Good was part of a "leftwing network" attempting to incite violence against law enforcement, calling her "a victim of leftwing ideology" who had been "brainwashed." Both officials asserted the agent acted in self-defense, contradicting widely circulated video footage showing Good reversing her car to allow ICE vehicles to pass before being shot multiple times.
• Trump administration justifies Minneapolis shooting as self-defense and labels victim as domestic terrorist — The Trump administration publicly justified the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent as "self-defense" and accused Good of engaging in "an act of domestic terrorism." This narrative contradicts witness video evidence widely shared online, which shows Good had turned her vehicle wheels away from the agent before he shot her three times as she attempted to drive away.
• Trump administration officials accuse shooting victim of domestic terrorism without evidence — President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem publicly accused Renee Nicole Good of "domestic terrorism" in connection with her fatal shooting by ICE, without providing evidence and before the official investigation was complete. Vance further asserted the agent enjoyed "absolute immunity" from prosecution, a claim contradicted by legal experts and state officials.
• Vice President Vance and DHS repost video of ICE shooting of Renee Good — Vice President J.D. Vance and the Department of Homeland Security reposted a cell phone video of the fatal shooting of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis. The video, which Vance claimed exonerated Ross, actually shows Good smiling and telling Ross "I'm not mad at you" before he shot her, then calling her a slur afterward. Vance captioned his repost: "What the press has done in lying about this innocent law enforcement officer is disgusting." The administration's framing contradicted the video's actual content.
• Noem falsely claims ICE agent received hospital treatment — Secretary Noem stated that the ICE agent involved in the shooting "went to the hospital. He was hit by the vehicle. He received treatment, was released, and is spending time with his family now." The bulletin reports this claim was false; the agent had no injuries and received no treatment.
• Trump discusses taking Machado's Nobel Peace Prize — Trump told Sean Hannity he understood Machado was coming to meet with him in the next week and that accepting a Nobel Peace Prize from her "would be a great honor." When asked if receiving her prize would change his view of her running the country, Trump said he would have to speak with her and that "I can't think of anybody in history that should get the Nobel prize more than me."
• Trump endorses Vance's characterization of Renee Good as agitator — When asked about Vance's suggestion that Renee Good was part of a broad left-wing network, Trump stated he had not seen the VP's statement but called him "generally very accurate" and characterized Good as "an agitator. Probably a paid agitator. She was not normal."

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• Defense Secretary Hegseth issued formal censure of Senator Kelly for calling military to refuse unlawful orders — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a formal censure of Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy officer, stating that Kelly's call for military personnel to refuse unlawful orders "undermines the chain of command," "counsels disobedience," "creates confusion about duty," "brings discredit upon the armed forces," and "is conduct unbecoming an officer." Hegseth directed the Navy Secretary to investigate reducing Kelly's retirement grade. This action followed Kelly's November 18 participation in a video with five other Democratic veterans in Congress reminding military and intelligence personnel of their legal obligation to refuse orders that violate the law or Constitution.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth censured Senator Mark Kelly and threatened military pension cuts and criminal prosecution — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth censured Senator Mark Kelly, cut his military pension, threatened demotion, and warned of possible criminal prosecution after Kelly urged service members to obey their oath to the Constitution. The action appears to be retaliation for Kelly's public criticism of Hegseth and the Trump administration. Kelly responded by stating he would fight the censure and threats, characterizing Hegseth as "the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in our country's history" and asserting that Hegseth and Trump do not have the authority to suppress Americans' right to speak about their government.
• Defense Secretary Hegseth issues formal censure to Senator Mark Kelly and initiates rank-stripping proceedings — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a formal censure to Democratic Senator Mark Kelly on January 6, 2026, and initiated administrative proceedings to strip Kelly of his retired military rank and reduce his pension. Hegseth accused Kelly of making "seditious statements" after Kelly, along with five other Democratic lawmakers who are military or intelligence veterans, released a November 2025 video urging service members to uphold the Constitution and refuse unlawful orders. Hegseth cited Articles 133 and 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Kelly has 30 days to respond; the Navy Secretary must complete the rank review within 45 days.