Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• 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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• California Billionaire Tax Initiative Qualifies for November Ballot — California's proposed Billionaire Tax Act, which would impose a one-time 5% wealth tax on residents worth over $1 billion, has gathered sufficient signatures to qualify for the November 2026 ballot, state officials announced Wednesday. The measure, backed by the Service Employees International Union–United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW), aims to fund healthcare, food assistance, and education programs. Governor Gavin Newsom and prominent tech billionaires including Larry Page, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sergey Brin have opposed the tax; Brin spent at least $82 million fighting it. The SEIU-UHW has until June 25 to decide whether to proceed or negotiate a modified 2% version with Newsom.

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• RNC chair makes false claim about UFC event viewership — RNC Chair Joe Gruters claimed that more people watched the UFC Freedom 250 event held on the White House lawn than watched the Super Bowl. Paramount reported that 8.2 million people watched the UFC event, which is a fraction of typical marquee sporting events. The Super Bowl LX audience was 125.6 million viewers, meaning Gruters was off by 117.4 million viewers. The bulletin notes that despite the outlandish falsehood, the administration continues to prioritize preferred narratives over factual accuracy.

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• Italian PM Meloni denounces Trump for fabricated claims about G7 encounter — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni released a video statement denouncing Trump for lying about their interaction at the G7 summit. Trump had claimed in a La7 TV interview that Meloni "begged" him for a photograph and that he took it out of pity. Meloni stated his claims were "completely fabricated" and called his behavior "childish and needlessly confrontational" and unworthy of the U.S. presidency. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelled his scheduled U.S. visit for June 21–22 in protest. Undersecretary Fazzolani stated Trump was "wrecking historic relations between the US and Europe."

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• Trump administration plans record number of denaturalization cases — CNN reported that the Trump administration is ramping up efforts to revoke the citizenship of naturalized Americans, with plans to file at least 250 denaturalization cases by October. Trump's Justice Department has filed 29 denaturalization cases in less than two months, compared to only 166 cases filed between 2008 and June 12 of this year. The acceleration represents an unprecedented assault on citizenship rights.

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• Georgia Republicans decline to redraw congressional map despite Trump pressure and Supreme Court ruling — During a special legislative session, Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns announced that Republican lawmakers would not redraw the state's congressional districts, defying calls from Donald Trump to do so following a Supreme Court decision in April that weakened Voting Rights Act protections for minority voters. Burns cited the need for a deliberate, transparent process with public input and a rushed timeline. The governor had called the session for 2028 redistricting, not the 2026 elections. Democratic opposition, including protests by Senator Raphael Warnock and Tennessee representative Justin Jones, also influenced the decision.

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• House Judiciary Committee Democrats demand records and interviews from Harvard and Bard over Epstein ties — Rep. Jamie Raskin, top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, issued formal requests to Harvard University and Bard College demanding comprehensive records, financial documents, and communications related to Jeffrey Epstein's donations, faculty relationships, and involvement in admissions and research. Raskin also requested a transcribed interview with outgoing Bard president Leon Botstein. The requests cite incomplete prior investigations (Harvard in 2008 and 2019) and allege Epstein leveraged university ties to traffic women while rehabilitating his reputation. Both universities have until July 1 to respond.

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• California appeals court rules Huntington Beach photo ID requirement unlawful and preempted by state law — In November 2025, a California appeals court ruled that Huntington Beach's photo ID voting requirement was unlawful and preempted by state law. The court sided with California's argument that voting rights and election rules are matters of statewide concern and that local governments cannot impose voting restrictions that conflict with state law. The California Supreme Court later declined to hear the city's appeal, leaving the ruling in place.
• Cochise County, Arizona Republican supervisors attempted full hand count audit of early ballots in 2022 — In 2022, Cochise County, Arizona Republican supervisors attempted to launch a full hand count audit of early ballots, despite warnings from state and county officials. A judge blocked the plan, and an Arizona appeals court later affirmed that the county could not conduct a full hand count of all early ballots. After losing the hand count fight, county supervisors also delayed certification of the 2022 election results before complying with a court order.
• U.S. Department of Justice sued Thornapple, Wisconsin over removal of accessible voting machines — The U.S. Department of Justice, under President Joe Biden, sued Thornapple, Wisconsin after the town stopped using accessible voting machines. The DOJ argued that the move violated the Help America Vote Act, a federal law requiring polling places to give voters with disabilities the same opportunity to vote privately and independently as other voters. The town eventually agreed to bring accessible machines back.
• Huntington Beach, California passed local photo ID voting requirement for municipal elections in 2024 — In 2024, Huntington Beach voters approved Measure 1, a local charter amendment that would have required voters to show photo ID at the polls for municipal elections beginning in 2026. The measure became a test case for whether a charter city could impose voting restrictions that state law does not permit. California argued that voting rights and election rules are matters of statewide concern and that local governments cannot create conflicting rules.
• Luzerne County, Pennsylvania county manager removed all ballot drop boxes ahead of 2024 election — In 2024, the Luzerne County manager moved to remove all ballot drop boxes ahead of the election, citing security concerns. The decision came after the county board of elections had already approved using the drop boxes. Voting rights groups sued, arguing that the manager lacked authority to override the board's decision. The drop boxes were later restored following legal action.
• North Carolina Republican-controlled county election boards advance plans to cut early voting locations — Ahead of the 2026 primary, Republican-controlled county election boards in North Carolina advanced plans to cut early voting locations, remove campus polling places, and eliminate Sunday voting in several counties. In Guilford County, local Republicans targeted early voting sites at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and North Carolina A&T State University, the nation's largest historically Black university. In Jackson County, Republican board members moved to remove a longstanding early voting site at Western Carolina University. The Republican-controlled state election board later rejected campus voting sites in those counties and cut Sunday voting in others.
• Nye County, Nevada county officials moved to count ballots by hand after fraud claims — Nye County, Nevada officials moved to count ballots by hand after false claims about widespread fraud fueled distrust of voting machines. The Nevada Supreme Court limited parts of the plan before the 2022 midterms, the secretary of state's office halted the count after a legal challenge, and the county ultimately used machines as its primary vote-counting method while running a parallel hand count.
• Otero County, New Mexico Republican commissioners refused to certify 2022 primary results — In Otero County, New Mexico, Republican commissioners refused to certify 2022 primary election results, claiming they did not trust the county's vote tabulators despite offering no evidence of problems. The commission also voted to discontinue secured drop boxes and state voting machines, even after being told it lacked legal authority to do so.
• Wausau, Wisconsin mayor removed city's ballot drop box in September 2024 — In September 2024, Wausau Mayor Doug Diny removed the city's only ballot drop box from outside City Hall, posing for photos in a hard hat and work gloves as he removed it. The box was later returned, and the city's ethics board found that Diny violated Wausau's ethics policy. Prosecutors declined to charge him criminally.

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• ICE purchases immigrant tax identifier records from data broker — 404 Media reported that ICE appears to be buying records of tax identifiers of immigrants from a data broker as part of a $10 million contract that could potentially be a workaround of a court order banning ICE from obtaining those records. The purchase suggests an attempt to circumvent judicial restrictions on ICE's access to sensitive personal financial data.

Supporting reports

• Deaths in ICE detention more than double under Trump administration — Reuters reported that the number of people who have died in ICE detention centers has more than doubled since Trump's second term began, rising from one death per year for every 3,848 detainees between 2009 and 2024 to one death for every 1,630 people under Trump. The sharp increase in mortality rates reflects conditions in ICE facilities under the current administration's immigration enforcement policies.

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• Environmental and immigrant advocacy groups file lawsuit seeking permanent closure of 'Alligator Alcatraz' — An alliance of environmental groups including Friends of the Everglades, Center for Biological Diversity, and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians, represented by attorney Paul Schwiep, announced plans to return to Miami district court this month to pursue permanent closure of the detention facility and full restoration of the Everglades site. The groups cite lack of government transparency, ongoing environmental damage from diesel generators and light pollution, and detainee maltreatment as grounds for closure.
• Judge Kathleen Williams' preliminary injunction ordering closure of 'Alligator Alcatraz' reversed on appeal — A three-judge appeals panel reversed a preliminary injunction issued by Miami district court judge Kathleen Williams that had ordered closure of the detention center. The appeals panel included the wife of a lawyer whose company earned millions of dollars working for the DeSantis administration, raising questions about judicial impartiality and potential conflicts of interest in the reversal.
• DHS announces relocation of detainees from 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention facility — The Department of Homeland Security announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Florida authorities have moved detainees from the "Alligator Alcatraz" soft-sided immigration detention facility in the Everglades, citing the start of Atlantic hurricane season for safety reasons. However, environmental and immigrant advocacy groups remain skeptical, noting continued supply deliveries and lack of transparency about long-term plans. Activists vow to pursue legal action for permanent closure and site restoration.
• ICE relocates detainees from Alligator Alcatraz detention facility — US Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the relocation of all detainees from the Alligator Alcatraz detention center in Ochopee, Florida, citing hurricane season safety. ICE did not disclose the number of detainees moved or their destination facilities. The facility, which opened in July 2025 and cost Florida $1.2 million daily, had faced widespread allegations of human rights abuses including shackling detainees in metal cages, denying food and water, and coercing detainees to sign English-language documents they could not understand.
• Department of Homeland Security cancels plans for Social Circle ICE detention center — The Department of Homeland Security announced the cancellation of plans to convert a warehouse in Social Circle, Georgia into an immigration detention center that would have held up to 10,000 people. The federal government had purchased the warehouse for $128 million in February 2026. The cancellation follows sustained local opposition, including a lawsuit filed by the town and advocacy from elected representatives. This reversal is part of a broader pullback under new homeland security director Markwayne Mullin.

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• House oversight committees visit federal prison housing Ghislaine Maxwell to investigate preferential treatment allegations — Staff from the House oversight and judiciary committees visited the minimum-security federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas, on June 17, 2026, to investigate allegations that Ghislaine Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking scheme, received preferential treatment. Democratic lawmakers Robert Garcia and Jamie Raskin reported that Bureau of Prisons leadership "repeatedly shut down" questioning and could not provide information about Maxwell's "extraordinary treatment," allegations of sexual assault, and retaliation against whistleblowers. The BOP disputed the characterization, stating it facilitated a transparent visit and addressed topics raised.

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• DOJ settles FTCA claims for Michael Flynn and Carter Page for $1.25 million each — The Department of Justice agreed to settle Federal Tort Claims Act claims filed by Michael Flynn, former national security adviser, and Carter Page, Trump's foreign policy adviser, for $1.25 million each earlier in 2026. These settlements use the judgment fund, the same perpetual appropriation that would have funded Trump's scrapped "anti-weaponization fund."
• January 6 defendants pursue FTCA claims for millions in compensation from Trump administration — January 6 defendants convicted of assaulting police officers are filing Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) claims seeking millions in compensation from the Trump administration. The DOJ has unchecked discretion to settle these claims from the judgment fund, a perpetual congressional appropriation. Defendants including Kenneth Joseph Thomas, John George Todd III, and Andrew Taake are seeking $1–2.5 million each, claiming unfair prosecution. The FTCA process offers an alternative to Trump's scrapped $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" after bipartisan backlash. All defendants have received Trump pardons.

Supporting reports

• Former Secretary of State Blinken posted criticism of Iran war outcome — Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken posted on June 17, 2026, that by Trump's own terms the war was a failure. He stated the Iranian regime remained intact and its military wing more empowered, while the Iranian people were more impoverished, repressed, and desperate. Blinken noted the only achievement of the ceasefire was the likely reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which had been open before the war started, and that the U.S. would apparently pay Iran to do so. He warned not to expect a return to normal any time soon, if at all.
• Republican senators publicly criticized Iran memorandum of understanding — Multiple Republican senators expressed strong opposition to the Iran MOU on June 17, 2026. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who had lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger one month prior, posted that "Reagan is rolling over in his grave," stating Iran's nuclear ambitions were not curbed and that Iran had learned threatening the Strait of Hormuz works. Cassidy characterized the deal as "the worst foreign policy blunder in decades," noting that before the war the strait was open and Iran was under sanctions, but now thirteen Americans were dead, families had paid billions at the pump, sanctions would be lifted, and bombing had stopped. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS), a Trump loyalist, defended Iran's right to possess missiles despite Trump's stated reason for starting the war being to end Iran's missile program.
• Senator Jon Ossoff commented on Trump's international competence at G7 — Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) told a MeidasTouch reporter on June 17, 2026, that the president had been humiliated on the world stage and that many Americans were increasingly concerned about his stability and capacity in office. Ossoff stated it was deeply distressing to Americans across the political spectrum to see a president so incompetent and incapable attempting and failing to represent the nation internationally.
• Senate Republicans voice criticism of Iran deal terms — Multiple Senate Republicans publicly criticized the Iran deal on June 18. Senator Bill Cassidy called it "the worst foreign policy blunder in decades," noting that 13 Americans died in the conflict, families paid billions at the pump, and Iran learned that threatening the Strait of Hormuz works. Senator Ted Cruz said the deal appeared "ill-advised" and criticized giving "billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics." Senator Thom Tillis expressed concern about a reported $300 billion fund for Iran. Senator Lindsey Graham initially expressed skepticism but shifted to cautious support after speaking with special envoy Steve Witkoff.

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• Adam Schiff introduces legislation to bar January 6 defendants from federal compensation — Democratic Senator Adam Schiff introduced legislation to prohibit anyone convicted of January 6-related offenses from receiving payouts from the federal government. The bill would amend the FTCA to bar those pardoned for January 6 actions from filing eligible claims, directly targeting the Trump administration's use of the judgment fund to compensate violent insurrectionists.

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• Trump cancels Jay Clayton's DNI confirmation hearing — On June 17 at 3:54 a.m. Washington time, Trump posted on Truth Social from France that he was cancelling the Senate Intelligence Committee's scheduled confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton as permanent DNI, which was set to occur that day. Trump cited Democrats' alleged gamesmanship over the FISA extension and his desire to appoint a new U.S. attorney to replace Clayton. The practical effect was to ensure that Pulte would serve as acting DNI, as only two days remained before Gabbard's departure on June 19.
• Trump cancelled Senate confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton as DNI — On June 17, just hours before a Senate Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing was scheduled to begin, Trump posted that "we are cancelling the Senate Hearing RE: DNI today." This action prevented the confirmation of U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton, allowing William Pulte to become acting DNI instead. Clayton had been nominated after members of both parties objected to Pulte's appointment, but Trump used the cancellation to bypass the Senate confirmation process entirely.

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• Labor Department threatens to withhold unemployment insurance administrative funds from states — Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling sent letters to 53 states and union territories demanding action against "waste, fraud, and abuse" in unemployment insurance programs and threatened to withhold administrative funds for the first time in history. Sonderling appeared on Fox News claiming Democrat-led states including California, New York, and Illinois had the highest fraud instances but provided no evidence. He stated he would "cut off the states' administrative funds" if states did not comply.
• Department of Labor threatens to withhold administrative funds from states over unemployment fraud claims — Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling sent letters to 53 states and territories demanding action against "waste, fraud, and abuse" in unemployment insurance programs, threatening to withhold administrative funds from states for the first time in history. The agency made specific claims about California ($20bn owed), New York ($2m daily losses), and Illinois ($320m improper payments) but provided no supporting data. The letter singled out Democratic-led states despite Republican states reporting higher improper payment rates.

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• Federal agents shot and killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota — Federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol shot and killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota. The deaths occurred during enforcement actions related to immigration enforcement and sparked protests that the White House considered suppressing through invocation of the Insurrection Act.
• ICE agents killed two civilians during Minnesota immigration crackdown without facing charges — During "Operation Metro Surge," a controversial immigration enforcement crackdown in Minnesota beginning in late 2025, ICE agents killed two people—Renee Good and Alex Pretti—in the streets. The agents who killed them have not faced charges. The U.S. Attorney stated the killings are under investigation and charges are possible, but no action has been taken. The deaths sparked further protests and community mobilization.

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• Fifteen people charged with conspiracy to impede federal officers over response to Minnesota immigration enforcement — The U.S. Attorney for Minnesota announced charges against 15 people for conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers in response to a controversial immigration enforcement crackdown ("Operation Metro Surge") that killed two civilians. Prosecutors alleged the defendants were part of Minneapolis-based "antifa" groups that coordinated monitoring of ICE agents, set up blockades at federal buildings, and used encrypted communications. Twelve were arrested; one was already in custody; two remain at large. The charges come as the office has dropped 18 of 36 prior cases related to the crackdown.
• U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen charged fifteen people with conspiracy to impede federal immigration officers — U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota Daniel Rosen announced charges against fifteen people with conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers over their behavior during a federal immigration crackdown in Minneapolis the previous year. The crackdown resulted in the deaths of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Rosen alleged the defendants are part of two "antifa" groups that "violently oppose immigration law enforcement." At the press conference, prosecutors introduced a Facebook post from one accused person stating "We need to become ungovernable." Rosen stated the people were "charged not for what they said but what they did" but did not answer questions about whether law enforcement officers were injured.

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• Federal government charged six people in Illinois with conspiracy over ICE detention facility protest, later dropped charges — The federal government charged six people in Illinois with conspiracy over a protest at the Broadview detention facility. The government later dropped the charges amid claims of prosecutorial misconduct. One of the defendants, Kat Abughazaleh, noted on social media that the Minneapolis charges mirror the ones she faced, highlighting a pattern of federal conspiracy prosecutions against protesters opposing immigration enforcement.
• Federal prosecutors dropped 18 of 36 cases related to Minnesota immigration crackdown — The U.S. Attorney's office for Minnesota has dropped 18 of 36 cases filed against protesters and others in connection with "Operation Metro Surge." One dropped case involved a judge calling a charging document a "false affidavit." Despite this track record of failed prosecutions, the office announced 15 new conspiracy charges against protesters, with the U.S. Attorney asserting "the evidence will prove it all out."
• Nearly 40 people, including journalists, charged over protest at St. Paul church; local prosecutors declined to charge — Nearly 40 people, including journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, face federal charges over a protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where a pastor reportedly worked as an ICE official. Local prosecutors declined to charge the protesters, but the federal government proceeded with charges, demonstrating a divergence between local and federal prosecutorial decisions on the same conduct.
• Trump administration categorized "antifa" as domestic terror organization — The Trump administration, in a prior action referenced in the article, categorized "antifa" (antifascist activism) as a "domestic terror organization." The article notes this occurred in fall 2025. The categorization is now being invoked in prosecutions of protesters opposing immigration enforcement, with prosecutors using the label to describe defendants' alleged affiliations without defining what "antifa" constitutes.
• Federal prosecutors dropped or declined to prosecute majority of immigration enforcement assault cases — Federal prosecutors in Minnesota have dropped eighteen of thirty-six cases charging people with assaulting or impeding immigration agents brought in December and January, and have entered nonprosecution agreements in eleven additional cases. Magistrate Judge David Schultz previously called one of the prosecutors' charging documents a "false affidavit" in April. The pattern of dropped and declined prosecutions suggests significant evidentiary or legal problems with the original charges.

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• Trump administration categorized "antifa" as domestic terror organization — The Trump administration, in a prior action referenced in the article, categorized "antifa" (antifascist activism) as a "domestic terror organization." The article notes this occurred in fall 2025. The categorization is now being invoked in prosecutions of protesters opposing immigration enforcement, with prosecutors using the label to describe defendants' alleged affiliations without defining what "antifa" constitutes.

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• Florida attorney general sues TikTok for violating state child social media ban — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a civil lawsuit against TikTok in St. Lucie County, alleging the company violated Florida's law restricting social media access for children under 14 and requiring parental consent for 15–16-year-olds. The complaint charges TikTok with exposing children to harmful sexual content, drugs, nudity, and addictive features (unlimited scrolling, push notifications), and with deceiving parents about content risks by misrepresenting the platform's age rating. Uthmeier stated TikTok is designed to keep children on screens for hours daily.

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• Alaska elections director bars candidate Dan Sullivan from primary ballot — Alaska's elections director Carol Beecher ruled that Daniel J Sullivan Jr, a former teacher who filed to run as a Republican against incumbent Senator Dan S Sullivan, cannot appear on the August 18 primary ballot. Beecher determined Sullivan's candidacy was filed "to confuse or mislead" voters rather than as a good-faith candidacy, citing his recent party switch, use of a new nickname, website resemblance to the incumbent, and ties to a Democratic campaign consultant. Sullivan can challenge the ruling in court before ballots print June 28.

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• White House East Wing renovation costs balloon to $600 million with taxpayer funding — The Washington Post obtained internal contractor documents showing Trump's White House East Wing renovation, including a new ballroom, underground bunker, and security facilities, has grown from the $200 million Trump promised to an estimated $600 million. More than half is expected to come from taxpayers through the Secret Service, White House Military Office, and Executive Residence. Tens of millions in taxpayer funds were approved before Trump stated in March that "We have no taxpayer putting up 10 cents." The White House responded that Trump and donors are paying for the ballroom itself, ignoring other project costs.
• Trump administration approved tens of millions in taxpayer funds for White House ballroom addition — The Washington Post reported that while Trump assured the public that private donors would pay for a White House ballroom addition, the White House had already approved tens of millions of taxpayer dollars for the contractor building the addition. Internal cost estimates were significantly higher than administration officials had acknowledged in public comments or court filings. Project summaries showed the work was projected to rely heavily on taxpayer dollars from the moment it was announced.