Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Emails revealed ICE coordination with Iranian officials on deportations — Newly released emails show that ICE officials communicated with Iranian officials while arranging deportation flights that returned more than 100 Iranians in late 2025 and early 2026. The records document discussions involving passenger lists and last-minute changes, and reporting indicates that someone may have been deported mistakenly.

Supporting reports

• National average gasoline price reaches $4.11 per gallon; diesel at $5.57 — Gas market expert Patrick DeHaan reported that the national average gasoline price reached $4.11 per gallon on Friday morning, with diesel at $5.57 per gallon, just 25 cents below its all-time record of $5.82 per gallon. Prices are slowly inching upward.

Supporting reports

• White House issues fact sheet promoting Trump administration economic and law-enforcement claims for South Carolina — The White House published a fact sheet titled "President Trump and Republicans Deliver for South Carolina Families" on August 21, 2026. The document claims credit for tax cuts (no federal tax on overtime, no tax on Social Security for seniors), crime reductions (homicides down 18–21%, aggravated assaults down 12–18%, robberies down 21–24%), and private investment announcements totaling billions of dollars across multiple sectors and counties in South Carolina. The fact sheet attributes these outcomes to "America First leadership" and pro-growth policies.

Supporting reports

• Texas appeals court reduces Sandy Hook judgment against Alex Jones from $50m to $1.5m — A Texas third court of appeals unanimously ruled to slash the $50 million judgment against Alex Jones and Free Speech Systems to $1.5 million over false Sandy Hook shooting hoax claims. The court found that Sandy Hook parents Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis failed to demonstrate sufficient evidence that harassment from Jones's conspiracy theories exceeded the state's $750,000 damages cap. The ruling does not affect a separate $1.4 billion Connecticut judgment. Jones remains in bankruptcy proceedings while fighting to retain control of Infowars.

Supporting reports

• Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel concludes Foreign Service Grievance Board violates Article II — The Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel issued an opinion concluding that the Foreign Service Grievance Board's statutory authority to reverse disciplinary decisions by the Secretary of State violates Article II of the Constitution. The opinion, signed by Assistant Attorney General T. Elliot Gaiser, holds that final decision-making power over Foreign Service personnel must rest with the presidentially accountable Secretary of State, not an independent board. The DOJ advised that the FSGB may continue to hear grievances but the Secretary will retain final authority going forward.

Supporting reports

• Judge Wilson rules California oil pipeline can continue operating under Trump's Defense Production Act order — Federal Judge Stephen Wilson ruled that the Sable offshore oil pipeline off Santa Barbara can continue operating, overriding California state opposition. The Trump administration invoked the Defense Production Act (DPA) in March 2026 to order the pipeline's reopening, citing national security and energy supply needs during the Iran war. Wilson found the DPA order pre-empts conflicting state law, including California's trespass claims. The judge fined Sable $1.5 million for violating a consent decree but allowed operations to proceed under federal oversight rather than state authority.
• Federal court upholds Defense Production Act order requiring Santa Ynez Pipeline operation against California state obstruction — The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ruled that a Defense Production Act order issued by the Secretary of Energy preempts California state law and environmental challenges to the Santa Ynez Pipeline's operation. The court rejected California's motion for a preliminary injunction, held that federal law bars state trespass claims against pipeline operations, modified an existing consent decree to place pipeline safety oversight under federal rather than state authority, and clarified that state courts cannot enforce injunctions conflicting with federal directives. The Department of Justice announced the ruling as a victory for national energy security.

Supporting reports

• Supreme Court stays preliminary injunction in National Park Service v. National Trust for Historic Preservation — The Supreme Court, by order of Chief Justice Roberts, stayed a preliminary injunction issued on April 16, 2026, by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Case No. 1:25-cv-4316) in the matter of National Park Service, et al. v. National Trust for Historic Preservation. The stay is effective pending further order from the Chief Justice or the full Court. The order does not specify the underlying legal dispute or the scope of the enjoined conduct.

Supporting reports

• DHS drastically downgrades non-citizen voter claims in Nevada after public allegations — On 16 July, Trump claimed DHS had found approximately 278,000 non-citizens registered to vote across four states. In follow-up letters, DHS softened this to a "ceiling" of potential non-citizens. After meeting with Nevada election officials on 21 August, DHS admitted it had manually confirmed only 185 non-citizens on Nevada's voter rolls—a dramatic reduction from the initially claimed 15,903. DHS acknowledged the larger figure was "preliminary" and lacked full manual review. Nevada's Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar stated the state would not disenfranchise eligible voters without the highest confidence of ineligibility.

Supporting reports

• 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

• Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promoted alternative health approaches over vaccines — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promoted the belief that health depends on strong immune systems fortified through "healthy living, clean water, and good nutrition" rather than reliance on vaccines proven to prevent infectious diseases. Kennedy has made unsubstantiated claims about measles deaths in Texas being caused by malnutrition and has associated with anti-vaccine movements, while promising to explore alternative treatments for measles including vitamins rather than promoting vaccination.

Supporting reports

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced elimination of shell company ownership disclosure requirements — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the Treasury Department will no longer require shell companies to disclose the name, address, and identification of people who own an interest of more than 25% or who exercise "significant control" over the company, reversing requirements established in the 2021 Corporate Transparency Act. Bessent justified the elimination by characterizing the disclosure requirements as an undue burden on businesses, despite Congress designing the law to combat money laundering.

Supporting reports

• Trump refuses to disclose countries involved in beef trade deal — When asked by reporters which countries were involved in a beef trade deal, Trump refused to provide the information, stating "I don't want to say." The refusal to disclose the terms or parties to a trade agreement prevents public and congressional scrutiny of the deal's terms and beneficiaries.

Supporting reports

• Trump's lawyer threatens $5bn lawsuit against Center for American Progress over National Guard report — Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Alejandro Brito, sent a letter to the Center for American Progress (CAP) threatening a $5 billion lawsuit unless the think tank retracts a July 2026 report concluding that National Guard deployments in Washington DC, Memphis, and Los Angeles failed to measurably reduce crime despite costing $1.7 billion. CAP released a statement defending its research as factual analysis protected by the First Amendment and refusing to retract. The threat targets the organization's publication of policy analysis critical of the Trump administration's military deployment strategy.

Supporting reports

• DOJ defends prosecution of James Comey over Instagram seashell post — The US Department of Justice filed court documents defending its prosecution of former FBI director James Comey, arguing that his May 2025 Instagram post featuring seashells arranged to read "8647" could reasonably be interpreted as a threat against President Trump. Prosecutors claimed there is "no serious dispute" that the image constituted a coded message meaning "kill" or "get rid of" the president. Comey was indicted in April 2026 on charges of making a threat against the US president and transmitting it across state lines. Comey's legal team argues the post is protected speech and seeks dismissal on grounds of vindictive and selective prosecution.

Supporting reports

• ICE detains boat captain following fatal capsizing incident in New York harbor — Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana, captain of a boat that capsized near the Statue of Liberty on August 8, killing a 27-year-old woman and her five-month-old daughter, was taken into custody by ICE on August 20. DHS announced it intends to deport him, claiming he entered the US illegally in 2007 and lied to border patrol. Hernandez faces federal charges for misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated he will be "swiftly removed" after facing criminal justice.

Supporting reports

• Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot resigned after three months under Hegseth — John Ullyot, who served as chief spokesman for the Pentagon, left his position after three months working under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Ullyot criticized Hegseth's involvement of his wife in sensitive official duties, including sharing details of impending military operations, stating that the defense secretary faced no consequences for this conduct.

Supporting reports

• California Energy Commission unanimously approves tire efficiency standards for replacement tires — The California Energy Commission unanimously approved new regulations mandating that replacement tires meet energy-efficiency standards equivalent to those on new vehicles, effective in two phases beginning in 2029 and 2033. The rules are designed to reduce emissions by 2 million metric tons annually and save drivers nearly $1 billion per year in fuel costs. Industry groups including Goodyear and Yokohama opposed the standards, citing increased costs of $6–$10 per tire, while Michelin supported them. The Trump administration has separately sued California over other green-car restrictions.

Supporting reports

• Multiple food product recalls issued for salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria contamination — Multiple food product recalls were issued in 2026 for contamination with salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, including frozen organic blueberries sold across eight states, fresh jalapeños from Taylor Farms, 1.5 million dozen eggs sold across six states, and numerous prepared foods, salad dressings, soups, bakery items, and ready-to-eat products. FDA records show a steady stream of recalls throughout 2026, reflecting the broader food safety crisis.
• Federal funding cuts reduced food safety inspection capacity by more than 40 percent — Federal funding cuts scaled back the ability of federal agencies to conduct food inspections and provide grants to state and local health departments, reducing food safety detection systems by more than 40 percent. These cuts directly contributed to the largest cyclospora outbreak in U.S. history, with at least 9,481 people in 17 states falling ill from contaminated lettuce from Taylor Farms, and thousands more cases under investigation.

Supporting reports

• House Oversight Committee chair threatens Leon Black with contempt for non-cooperation — Representative James Comer, Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, issued a letter threatening to hold private equity investor Leon Black in contempt of Congress if he does not fully cooperate with the panel's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Black, a former Epstein client who paid him roughly $170 million in fees between 2012 and 2017, had his June deposition cut short after refusing to answer questions about non-disclosure agreements. Comer demanded Black produce all NDAs and appear for a September 3, 2026 deposition; Black's attorneys sought to limit scope, delay the interview, and obtain a contempt immunity promise.

Supporting reports

• Complaint filed: Democratic National Committee v. U.S. Department of Justice (D.D.C. 1:26-cv-02928) — The Democratic National Committee filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that the Department of Justice, FBI, and Criminal Division violated the Freedom of Information Act by failing to respond to February 2026 FOIA requests seeking records on any planned inspection or seizure of ballots, voting machines, and voting system components ahead of federal election certification. The DNC filed the requests after President Trump's January 2026 statements regretting not seizing voting machines after the 2020 election and an FBI raid that month seizing archived ballots from a Georgia county election office. The DNC seeks an order compelling production of non-exempt responsive records, a detailed Vaughn index of withheld material, and an injunction against further withholding.

Supporting reports

• Trump appealed to Supreme Court to override lower courts' rulings on ballroom construction authority — Trump appealed to the Supreme Court seeking to override lower courts' rulings that he lacks the authority to build a ballroom structure without congressional permission. The ballroom project has become a point of controversy, with Trump spending significant time and resources on Washington, D.C. renovation and beautification projects while the administration faces other pressing issues.
• Supreme Court deadline set for Trump ballroom construction intervention — Tomorrow (August 21, 2026) is the deadline for the Supreme Court to intervene on Trump's ballroom construction project. If the Court chooses not to take the case, construction must be halted based on a prior court order.
• Supreme Court temporarily halts lower court order blocking White House ballroom construction — Chief Justice John Roberts signed a temporary order on Friday permitting construction of Trump's controversial White House ballroom to continue while the Supreme Court considers an emergency appeal from the administration. An appeals court had ordered work to stop pending legal review, concluding the project likely requires congressional approval. The administration argued the 90,000-square-foot ballroom and underground military facility are critical to presidential security. Democrats criticized the decision as "rubber stamping Trump's vanity-driven, gilded corruption." The project, already 65% complete after 10 months, is expected to cost over $400 million.

Supporting reports

• Senator Chris Coons criticized Hegseth's handling of classified information — Senator Chris Coons, a senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated that Defense Secretary Hegseth's involvement of his wife in classified matters is "not normal." Coons noted that Hegseth has one of the highest levels of classification access and cannot simply hand that access to his wife.

Supporting reports

• Senator Jon Ossoff criticized White House dysfunction and military decisions — Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) appeared on MSNBC to criticize the White House, stating that staffers are adults and public officials paid by taxpayers with immense power in positions of public trust. Ossoff criticized Natalie Harp for printing Trump's "daily dose of delusion and flattery," Peter Navarro for steering taxpayer-funded loans to Trump family investments, and Pete Hegseth for "deluding the president daily into deepening this quagmire in the Middle East." Ossoff stated that sailors on the USS Lincoln are fighting a war based on lies while Trump plays with his ballroom and retreats into a circle of sycophantic aides.

Supporting reports

• FCC chair Brendan Carr coordinated with White House and right-wing media on broadcast license matters — Documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request and lawsuit from Democracy Forward revealed that FCC chair Brendan Carr has been working closely with the White House and right-wing media, including Fox News Channel and the chair of Sinclair Broadcast Group, regarding broadcast license matters. Carr has been talking and meeting with White House officials while overseeing license renewal decisions.

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."