Timeline
All 303 entries in chronological order by start date.
1960s
False Military Claims: The Bone Spurs Diagnosis, the Purple Heart, and Claims of Superior Military Knowledge
Documented Falsehoods
Trump Family Tax Schemes: $413 Million in Fraudulent Transfers from Fred Trump's Empire
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Inflated Claims About Education and Intelligence: Wharton Transfer Misrepresented, Suppressed Transcripts, and Self-Declared Genius
Documented Falsehoods
1970s
DOJ Housing Discrimination: Federal Consent Decree for Systematic Racial Bias in Rental Properties
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
Jessica Leeds Accusation: Alleged Groping on a First-Class Flight in the Late 1970s
Treatment of Individuals: Cruelty, Defamation, and Degradation
Asbestos Denial: False Safety Claims Contradicting Federal Documentation at Trump Properties
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
1980s
The Bonwit Teller Art Destruction: Trump Promised Art Deco Treasures to the Metropolitan Museum, Then Had Them Jackhammered
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Over 500 Shell Companies and LLCs: How the Trump Organization Used Corporate Structures to Obscure Ownership, Shield Liability, and Complicate Investigations
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
The John Barron and John Miller Aliases: Trump Posed as His Own Publicist to Plant Stories, Inflate His Wealth, and Fabricate His Personal Life
Documented Falsehoods
Unpaid Contractors: Decades of Documented Non-Payment Across Hundreds of Vendors and Workers
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
Wage Theft and Labor Exploitation at Trump Properties: Documented Cases of Unpaid Overtime, Tip Confiscation, and Subminimum Wages
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
Polish Workers Lawsuit: Undocumented Demolition Workers Underpaid and Denied Union Benefits During Trump Tower Construction (Diduck v. Kaszycki & Sons)
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
Squeezing Tenants: Trump's Pattern of Using Lease Terms, Harassment, and Litigation to Force Out Renters and Commercial Occupants
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
100 Central Park South: Tenant Harassment Campaign and Federal RICO Dismissal
Treatment of Individuals: Cruelty, Defamation, and Degradation
Lies About His Net Worth: Trump's Decades-Long Pattern of Inflating His Wealth, the 'John Barron' Forbes Deception, and the Financial Statements That Became the Basis of Civil Fraud Charges
Documented Falsehoods
New Jersey Casino Regulatory History: Anti-Money Laundering Violations, FinCEN Penalties, and Organized Crime Associations
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
SLAPP Litigation: Pattern of Strategic Lawsuits to Silence Journalists, Critics, and Political Opponents
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
USFL v. NFL: Trump's Role in the Fall Schedule Gamble That Destroyed a Professional Football League
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Frivolous Litigation as Intimidation: Trump's Pattern of Using Defamation Lawsuits to Silence Critics and Journalists
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Bankrupting Small Businesses Through Non-Payment: The Edward Friel Jr. Cabinet Company and Trump's Pattern of Stiffing Contractors
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Suing Journalists Who Question His Wealth: Trump's Decades-Long Pattern of Using Litigation to Suppress Unfavorable Press Coverage
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
USFL v. NFL: $1 Antitrust Verdict After Trump-Led Strategy Collapsed the League
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
False Wealth Claims: Exposed by Tax Records Showing Billion-Dollar Losses and $413 Million in Paternal Transfers
Documented Falsehoods
Trump Foundation: Court-Ordered Dissolution for Illegal Self-Dealing and Campaign Finance Violations
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse
Trump's Personal Charitable Giving Record: Decades of Inflated Claims, Foundation Funded by Others, and No Personal Donations After 2008
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse
Trump Casino Junk Bonds: Billions Lost by Investors While Trump Collected Millions in Personal Compensation
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Freehold Music Center: Piano Dealer Forced to Accept 70 Cents on the Dollar for Trump Taj Mahal Supply Contract
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
Central Park Five: Full-Page Death Penalty Ads and Refusal to Acknowledge Exoneration
Treatment of Individuals: Cruelty, Defamation, and Degradation
Failed Trump-Branded Ventures: A Pattern of Misleading Marketing Across Vodka, Steaks, Airlines, Mortgage, Magazine, and Other Licensed Products
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
1990s
Atlantic City Casino Regulatory Violations: Fines, Discrimination Citations, and Anti-Money Laundering Failures
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Pattern of Unpaid Legal Counsel: Law Firms and Attorneys Alleging Nonpayment for Services
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
Anti-Union Practices Across Trump Properties: Union Busting in Las Vegas, the Taj Mahal Strike, and a Pattern of Preferring Non-Union Labor
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
Casino Bankruptcies: Six Chapter 11 Filings, $82 Million in Personal Compensation While Investors Lost Billions
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Trump Village Rent Overcharge Scheme: Tenants Sued Over Decades of Fraudulently Inflated Rents at Fred Trump's Brooklyn Properties
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Jill Harth Lawsuit: Federal Complaint Alleging Groping and Attempted Rape from 1992 to 1997
Treatment of Individuals: Cruelty, Defamation, and Degradation
Attempted Eminent Domain Seizure of a Widow's Home: Trump Tried to Take Vera Coking's Property for a Casino Parking Lot
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
Treatment of Native Americans: Opposing Tribal Sovereignty as a Business Competitor, Questioning Racial Identity, and Using Slurs at a Ceremony Honoring Veterans
Treatment of Individuals
Doe v. Trump: Anonymous Federal Lawsuit Alleging Sexual Assault of a Minor at a Party Hosted by Jeffrey Epstein
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Phantom Philanthropy: Trump's Pattern of Appearing at Charity Events He Did Not Support, Claiming Credit for Donations He Did Not Make, and the 1996 AIDS Nursery Incident
Documented Falsehoods
E. Jean Carroll Verdict: Civil Liability for Sexual Abuse and Defamation ($88.3 Million in Total Damages)
Treatment of Individuals: Cruelty, Defamation, and Degradation
Pageant Dressing Room Intrusions: Trump's Self-Described Practice of Walking In on Contestants at Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA
Treatment of Individuals
Trump Taj Mahal: $10 Million FinCEN Penalty for Willful Anti-Money Laundering Violations
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Undisclosed Debt and Deutsche Bank Entanglements: $421 Million in Personal Loans During the Presidency
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Deutsche Bank Lending Relationship: Over $2 Billion in Loans from a Bank Facing Russian Money Laundering Sanctions
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
False Claims About Self-Made Wealth: The 'Small Loan of a Million Dollars' Myth and the Documented $413 Million Inheritance
Documented Falsehoods
Trump Model Management: Immigration Violations and Financial Exploitation of Foreign Models
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
2000s
Tax Avoidance Patterns: Paying $750 in Federal Income Tax, Reporting Chronic Losses, and Claiming a Disputed $72.9 Million Refund
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Undocumented Workers at Trump Golf Clubs: Years of Employment, Supervisors Providing Fake Documents, and Mass Firings
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
The Giving Pledge Gap: Trump's Pattern of Promised Donations and Undelivered Charitable Commitments
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse
Foreign Government Spending at Trump Properties: Saudi, Kuwaiti, Qatari, and Other Foreign Government Payments Beyond the Washington Hotel
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
9/11 False Claims: Fabricating a Role at Ground Zero, Promoting a Debunked Conspiracy Theory, and Collecting a Recovery Grant Meant for Small Businesses
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse
The Bayrock Group and Felix Sater: Trump's Business Partnership with a Convicted Felon He Claimed Not to Know
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Andrew Tesoro: Architect Stiffed on $140,000 in Fees for Trump National Golf Club Westchester Clubhouse
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
The Apprentice NDAs: Non-Disclosure Agreements Used to Suppress Information About Trump's Conduct on the Set of His Television Show
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Sexist Treatment of Women on The Apprentice: Accounts from Contestants, Crew, and Former Staff
Treatment of Individuals
Charity as a Stage: Trump Used Others' Philanthropic Events for Self-Promotion and Steered Charity Donations to Mar-a-Lago
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse
Trump University: $25 Million Settlement for Fraud and Misrepresentation
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Trump Institute: Fraudulent Seminars Using Plagiarized Materials and Deceptive Marketing
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Trump Organization Criminal Tax Fraud: Felony Convictions for 15-Year Off-the-Books Compensation Scheme
Criminal Matters
Allen Weisselberg Tax Fraud Guilty Plea: 15 Felony Counts for a 15-Year Scheme at the Trump Organization
Criminal Matters
Trump-Branded Real Estate That Defrauded International Buyers: Failed Licensing Projects in Baja Mexico, Fort Lauderdale, Toronto, Panama, and SoHo
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
Trump Organization Criminal Tax Fraud: Fifteen-Year Scheme of Unreported Executive Compensation
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Trump University Instructor Qualifications Fraud: Scripted Deception, Fabricated Credentials, and the 'Hand-Picked' Marketing Claim
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Access Hollywood Tape and Pattern of Sexual Misconduct Allegations (20+ Accusers)
Treatment of Individuals: Cruelty, Defamation, and Degradation
Sexual Misconduct Allegations: The Access Hollywood Tape, 26-Plus Accusers, and Threats to Sue
Treatment of Individuals
Natasha Stoynoff Accusation: Alleged Forcible Kissing at Mar-a-Lago in 2005, Corroborated by Six Witnesses
Treatment of Individuals: Cruelty, Defamation, and Degradation
Profiting from Charity at Mar-a-Lago: How Trump Charged Nonprofits Full Venue Rates While Claiming Credit for Their Philanthropic Work
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse
The Trump Network and ACN: Endorsing Multi-Level Marketing Schemes for Millions in Undisclosed Payments
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Trump Ocean Club Panama: Misrepresented Sales, Criminal Buyers, and a Violent Management Dispute
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Self-Dealing Purchases: Charity Funds Used to Buy Personal Items Including Portraits and a Tim Tebow Helmet
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse
Eric Trump Foundation and St. Jude: Charity Golf Fundraiser Revenue Redirected Through Trump Organization Properties
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse
Silencing Accusers: The Catch-and-Kill System, NDAs, and Legal Threats Used to Suppress Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Phantom Charitable Donations: The Washington Post Investigation into Trump's Unfulfilled Pledges to Give to Charity
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse
Trump SoHo: Buyer Fraud Settlement and Abandoned Criminal Investigation After Attorney Donations to DA
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Fake Charitable Pledges: Pattern of Unfulfilled Donations and the 2016 Veterans Fundraiser
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse
The Trump Network: A Multi-Level Marketing Vitamin Scheme Built on Pseudoscience and Celebrity Endorsement
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
2010s
Charity Golf Tournaments: Trump's Pattern of Hosting Charitable Events at His Courses While Pocketing Fees and Rigging Prize Payouts
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse
New York Civil Fraud: Judicial Finding of Years of Financial Fraud Through Systematic Asset Inflation
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Two Sets of Books: The Trump Organization's Practice of Maintaining Inflated Financial Statements for Lenders and Deflated Valuations for Tax Authorities
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Trump Organization India Projects: Licensing Deals with Politically Connected Developers and Blurred Lines Between Diplomacy and Business
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Trump Tower Manila and Trump Tower Punta del Este: Licensing Deals with a Philippine Trade Envoy and a Financially Troubled Uruguayan Project
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Birther Conspiracy: Five Years of False Claims That Obama Was Not Born in the United States
Documented Falsehoods on Matters of Public Consequence
Pattern of Racist and Racially Charged Statements: From Birtherism to 'Shithole Countries' to 'Go Back Where You Came From'
Treatment of Individuals
Ivanka Trump Clothing Line: Documented Sweatshop Conditions in Indonesian and Chinese Factories
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
Trump Towers Istanbul: Licensing Fees from Erdogan-Connected Developer While Shaping U.S. Policy Toward Turkey
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
The Trump Tower Baku Project: A Hotel Deal Linked to an Azerbaijani Oligarch Family with Ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
The Trump International Hotel Lease Sale: $375 Million Exit After Years of Government Patronage Inflated the Property's Value
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
Florida Regulatory Record: Hundreds of Health Code Violations at Trump Doral and Mar-a-Lago
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Mar-a-Lago and Trump Properties: H-2B Visa Violations and Rejection of American Workers
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
Bondi Donation: $25,000 Trump Foundation Gift to Florida Attorney General While Trump University Investigation Was Under Consideration
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Trump International Hotel Las Vegas: Years of Refusing to Bargain with Unionized Workers Despite NLRB Orders
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
The Paint Spot: Small Business Forced to Litigate for $32,535 Owed by Trump National Doral Miami
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
Rally Violence Promotion: Documented Encouragement of Violence Against Protesters and Political Opponents
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
Hush Money Conspiracy: Catch-and-Kill Scheme with AMI and Michael Cohen
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
False Claims About Crime and Immigration: Overstated Crime Rates, Fabricated Statistics, and Contradicted Assertions About Immigrant Criminality
Documented Falsehoods
False Claims About Trade Deals: NAFTA as 'the Worst Deal Ever,' USMCA Similarities, Tariff Misrepresentations, and the Growing Trade Deficit with China
Documented Falsehoods
The Perpetual Healthcare Plan: Years of Promising a Replacement for the Affordable Care Act That Never Existed
Documented Falsehoods
Trump's Tax Return Battle: Years of Legal Obstruction Followed by Revelations of Minimal Tax Payments and Failed IRS Audits
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Dehumanizing Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric: From 'Rapists' to 'Poisoning the Blood' Across Three Campaigns
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
Amplification of Conspiracy Theories: Ted Cruz's Father and the JFK Assassination, Anti-Vaccine Misinformation, Promotion of Alex Jones, and False Claims About Antifa
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
Dehumanizing Language About Immigrants: 'Animals,' 'Vermin,' 'Poisoning the Blood,' and the Use of Eliminationist Rhetoric
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
The Trump Effect on Hate Crimes: Academic Studies and FBI Data Documented Increases in Hate Crimes Correlated with Trump's Rhetoric and Rallies
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
Attacks on Journalists: Mocking a Disability, Gendered Insults, and Targeting of Individual Reporters
Treatment of Individuals
Refusal to Divest or Disclose: Breaking the Norms of Presidential Financial Transparency
Democratic Norm Violations
The Degradation of Presidential Discourse: Profanity, Personal Insults, and the Collapse of Rhetorical Norms from the Presidential Platform
Democratic Norm Violations and Institutional Erosion
Attacks on Gold Star Families and Military Service Members
Treatment of Individuals: Cruelty, Defamation, and Degradation
Trump Tower Moscow: Pursuing a Russian Business Deal During the 2016 Campaign While Publicly Denying Russian Connections
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
Wages Are Too High, Too Low, and Irrelevant: Trump's Contradictory Positions on the Federal Minimum Wage While It Remained Frozen at $7.25
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
Felony Conviction: 34 Counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree (New York, 2024)
Criminal Matters
Embrace and Praise of Authoritarian Leaders: Admiration for Kim Jong Un, Putin, Xi Jinping, Erdogan, Duterte, and Orban, and Authoritarian Self-Identification
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
Erosion of Church-State Separation: Bible Photo Op, 'Chosen One' Declaration, and Transactional Alliance with Christian Nationalism
Abuse of Official Power
Veterans Fundraiser: $6 Million Raised at Iowa Rally with Months-Long Delay in Distribution
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse
Veterans Fundraiser as Debate Alternative: Using a Charitable Event for Political Advantage
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse
The Trump Foundation's Final Accounting: Court-Supervised Dissolution, $2 Million in Restitution, and a Complete Record of Self-Dealing
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse
Jacobus v. Trump: Defamation Lawsuit by Republican Consultant over Twitter Attacks
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Nwanguma v. Trump: The Louisville Rally Lawsuit Over Incitement of Violence Against Protesters
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
George Papadopoulos Guilty Plea: Trump Campaign Adviser Lied to FBI About Russian Contacts
Criminal Matters
Rick Gates Guilty Plea: Conspiracy Against the United States and Lying to the FBI
Criminal Matters
Tom Barrack Prosecution: Trump's Inaugural Committee Chairman Charged with Acting as an Unregistered Foreign Agent for the UAE
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
Attacks on the Judiciary: Racial Targeting of Judges and Erosion of Judicial Independence
Democratic Norm Violations
The Trump Tower Meeting: Campaign Officials Met with a Russian Lawyer Promising Dirt on Clinton, Then Trump Dictated a Misleading Cover Story
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Politicization of the Federal Judiciary: Rushed Barrett Confirmation, Personal Attacks on Judges, and Efforts to Undermine Judicial Independence
Abuse of Official Power
Dehumanizing and Threatening Rhetoric Toward Political Opponents: From 'Lock Her Up' to 'Vermin'
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
Soliciting Foreign Campaign Assistance: 'Russia, If You're Listening,' the Ukraine Pressure Campaign, and the Public Request to China
Abuse of Official Power
The 'Second Amendment People' Comment: Suggesting Gun Owners Could Act Against Hillary Clinton (August 2016)
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
Inflated Generosity Claims: Presidential Salary Donations Offset by Agency Cuts, Unsubstantiated Charitable Giving, and Credit for Others' Philanthropy
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse
The Phantom Infrastructure Plan: Four Years of Promised Investment That Never Materialized
Documented Falsehoods
Pattern of Threatened Lawsuits Never Filed: Litigation Threats as a Tool of Intimidation Against Accusers, Media Organizations, and Investigators
Treatment of Individuals
The Nonexistent Michigan 'Man of the Year' Award: A Fabricated Honor Trump Repeated More Than Twenty Times Despite No Evidence It Existed
Documented Falsehoods
Attacks on Voting Rights: Opposition to Mail-In Voting, False Voter Fraud Claims, Voter ID Restrictions, and Efforts to Suppress Turnout
Democratic Norm Violations
Treatment of Mitt Romney: The Dinner Photo, the Endorsement-to-Exile Arc, and the Pattern of Punishing Intraparty Dissent
Treatment of Individuals
Undermining U.S. Intelligence Agencies: Nazi Germany Comparison, Helsinki Deference, and Classified Disclosure to Russian Officials
Democratic Norm Violations
Politicization of the Intelligence Community: Sharing Classified Intelligence with Russia, Compromising a CIA Source, and Attacking Intelligence Leaders
Democratic Norm Violations
Gutting the Office of Government Ethics: Walter Shaub's Resignation in Protest and the Transition from Compliance to Defiance on Executive Branch Ethics
Democratic Norm Violations
Summer Zervos Defamation Lawsuit: Presidential Immunity Challenge and Withdrawal Without Compensation
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Presidential Inaugural Committee: $750,000 Settlement for Misuse of Nonprofit Funds and Hotel Overpayments
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse
Trump International Hotel DC: $3.7 Million in Foreign Government Payments and GSA Lease Violations
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
Mar-a-Lago: Pay-for-Access and Security Breaches at the 'Winter White House'
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
Doral G7 and Government Spending at Trump Properties: Self-Dealing Through Federal Business
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
Taxpayer Costs of Presidential Golf Trips: Over $150 Million Spent at Trump-Owned Properties During First Term
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
Trump Organization Foreign Licensing Deals During the Presidency: Ongoing Business Relationships in Countries Where U.S. Foreign Policy Was Active
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
Jared Kushner's Business Conflicts While Serving as Senior White House Adviser: 666 Fifth Avenue Bailout, Foreign Entanglements, and Security Clearance Failures
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
3,400 Conflicts of Interest: Trump's Refusal to Divest From His Businesses During the Presidency
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
Ghost Bookings at Trump Hotels: Foreign Governments Reserved Rooms They Never Used, Effectively Making Payments to the President's Business
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
30,573 False or Misleading Claims: Washington Post Fact Checker Database (2017 to 2021)
Documented Falsehoods on Matters of Public Consequence
False Claims About the Inherited Economy: Trump Took Credit for Trends That Began Under Obama
Documented Falsehoods
Promoting Political Violence Through Social Media: 'When the Looting Starts, the Shooting Starts' and the Pattern of Violent Rhetoric on Digital Platforms
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
Disability Rights Rollbacks: Special Olympics Funding Cuts, Program Reductions, and Erosion of Disability Protections
Treatment of Individuals
Pattern of Retaliatory Attacks on Former Allies: Public Humiliation, Forced Departures, and Personal Vilification of Loyalists Who Dissented
Treatment of Individuals
Anti-Labor Record: NLRB Stacking, Minimum Wage Rollbacks, Erosion of Worker Protections, and Opposition to Organized Labor
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
Environmental Deregulation Harming Workers and Communities: EPA Rollbacks, Paris Climate Withdrawal, Weakened Emissions Standards, and Reduced Workplace Safety Enforcement
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
Nepotism: Appointment of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump as Senior White House Advisers
Democratic Norm Violations
Destruction of Presidential Records: Torn Documents, Flushed Papers, and Missing White House Files
Democratic Norm Violations
Violations of Presidential Records Preservation Requirements: Private Communications, Unsecured Messaging, and Systematic Failure to Archive Official Records
Democratic Norm Violations
Hollowing Out the Diplomatic Corps: Firing Career Ambassadors, Purging Expertise, and Leaving Senior State Department Positions Unfilled
Democratic Norm Violations
Government by 'Acting' Officials: Circumventing Senate Confirmation Through Extended Use of Temporary Designations
Democratic Norm Violations
Executive Orders Used to Bypass Congress: Implementing Policy Through Unilateral Presidential Action
Democratic Norm Violations
Governance by Social Media: Using Twitter to Announce Policy, Fire Officials, and Attack Individuals
Democratic Norm Violations
The Normalization of Presidential Dishonesty: How 30,573 False Claims in One Term Changed the Relationship Between the Presidency and Truth
Democratic Norm Violations
Michael Cohen Testimony: Allegations That Trump Directed False Statements to Congress and Signed Reimbursement Checks in Office
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
Destroying Evidence Under Investigation: Allegations of Document Shredding, Phone Wiping, and Server Deletion by Trump and His Employees
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
Hatch Act Violations: White House RNC Convention and Kellyanne Conway
Abuse of Official Power
Weaponization of the Department of Justice: Demands to Investigate Political Opponents, Obamagate, and Pressure on Attorneys General
Abuse of Official Power
Inaugural Crowd Size and the Pattern of Inflating Metrics: False Claims About Audience Numbers and Ratings
Documented Falsehoods
Emoluments Clause Lawsuits: Three Federal Cases Alleging Constitutional Violations Through Business Profits
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
Michael Flynn Guilty Plea, DOJ Motion to Dismiss, and Presidential Pardon: National Security Adviser Convicted of Lying to the FBI
Criminal Matters
Politicization of the Department of Homeland Security: Using CBP and ICE as Political Tools and Installing an Illegally Serving Secretary
Democratic Norm Violations
Firing of Acting Attorney General Sally Yates: Dismissed After Refusing to Defend the Travel Ban and Warning About Michael Flynn
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
Muslim Travel Ban: Executive Orders Restricting Entry from Muslim-Majority Countries
Democratic Norm Violations and Institutional Erosion
Promoting Trump-Branded Products from the White House: Goya Beans, Ivanka's Fashion Line, and the Use of Official Office for Commercial Endorsement
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
Attacks on Press Freedom: 'Enemy of the People' Rhetoric and Revocation of Press Credentials
Democratic Norm Violations and Institutional Erosion
Boycotting the White House Correspondents' Dinner: Trump Broke a 36-Year Presidential Tradition and Ordered Administration Officials to Stay Away
Democratic Norm Violations
The 'Nobody Knew' Pattern: Trump Repeatedly Claimed Ignorance on Behalf of the Entire Country to Excuse His Own Lack of Preparation
Documented Falsehoods
Elliott Broidy Guilty Plea: Top Trump Fundraiser Acted as Unregistered Foreign Agent for Chinese and Malaysian Interests
Criminal Matters
Politicization of the Census and Redistricting: The Citizenship Question and the Hofeller Files
Abuse of Official Power
Ivanka Trump China Trademarks: Foreign Government Approvals Coinciding with Diplomatic Engagements
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
Firing of FBI Director James Comey During Active Russia Investigation (May 2017)
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
Attempts to Fire Special Counsel Mueller and Obstruct the Russia Investigation (2017-2019)
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
Threats to Withdraw from NATO and Encouragement of Russian Aggression Against Allied Nations
Abuse of Official Power
Family Separation Policy: Thousands of Children Separated from Parents at the Border Under Zero Tolerance
Treatment of Individuals: Cruelty, Defamation, and Degradation
Rollback of Overtime and Tip Protections: Trump DOL Narrowed Worker Safeguards Benefiting Millions
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
Blocking the FBI Headquarters Relocation to Protect the Trump Hotel from Competition: A Federal Building Decision Shaped by Personal Financial Interest
Abuse of Official Power
Hope Hicks and the Misleading Trump Tower Meeting Statement: Crafting a False Narrative Aboard Air Force One
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
Public Humiliation of Jeff Sessions: Trump's Sustained Campaign of Insults Against His Own Attorney General for Recusing from the Russia Investigation
Treatment of Individuals
Treatment of John Kelly: Trump's Attacks on His Former Chief of Staff After Kelly Confirmed 'Losers and Suckers' Comments
Treatment of Individuals
Refusal to Implement Russia Sanctions Passed by Congress with Veto-Proof Majorities (CAATSA)
Abuse of Official Power
Charlottesville 'Very Fine People on Both Sides' Statements
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
Alleged Pardon Offer to Julian Assange: Conditioning Clemency on Denying Russian Involvement in DNC Email Hack
Abuse of Official Power
Refusal to Participate in Traditional Presidential Functions: Skipping the Kennedy Center Honors and Using Ceremonies for Political Purposes
Democratic Norm Violations and Institutional Erosion
Controversial Pardons: Pattern of Clemency for Political Allies and January 6 Defendants
Abuse of Official Power
False Claims Regarding Natural Disaster Response: Puerto Rico Death Toll Denial, Inadequate Hurricane Maria Relief, and Diversion of FEMA Funds
Documented Falsehoods
Conditioning Disaster Relief on Political Loyalty: Delayed Aid to California, Puerto Rico, and Other States That Opposed Trump
Abuse of Official Power
Paul Manafort Criminal Convictions: Eight Federal Felony Counts and Subsequent Plea Deal, Sentencing, and Presidential Pardon
Criminal Matters
The Unprecedented Scope of Criminal Charges Among Trump Associates: A Pattern of Convictions, Pardons, and Obstruction Across Multiple Investigations
Criminal Matters
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017: Legislation Marketed as Worker Relief That Primarily Benefited Corporations and the Wealthy
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
Census Manipulation: Blocked Citizenship Question and Excluded Undocumented Immigrants from Apportionment
Democratic Norm Violations and Institutional Erosion
Tampering with the 2020 Census: Shortened Counting Timelines, Political Pressure, and the Documented Undercounting of Black, Hispanic, and Native American Communities
Abuse of Official Power
Disbanding the Pandemic Preparedness Team: Trump Eliminated the NSC Directorate for Global Health Security Before COVID-19
Abuse of Official Power
Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman Convictions: Giuliani Associates Convicted of Funneling Foreign Money into U.S. Elections and Trump's Political Orbit
Criminal Matters
Use of the State Department for Personal and Political Purposes: Pompeo's RNC Speech from Jerusalem, Giuliani's Shadow Diplomacy, and the Recall of Ambassador Yovanovitch
Abuse of Official Power
Abuse of Security Clearances: Overruling Intelligence Officials to Grant Clearances to Kushner and Ivanka Trump, and Revoking Brennan's Clearance in Apparent Retaliation
Abuse of Official Power
Claiming Credit for the Veterans Choice Act: Trump Repeatedly Said He Signed a Law That Obama Signed in 2014
Documented Falsehoods
Attacks on Federal Reserve Independence: Threatening to Fire Jerome Powell and Using Political Pressure to Influence Monetary Policy
Abuse of Official Power
QAnon Embrace: Amplification of Conspiracy Movement Through Social Media, Rallies, and Private Events
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
Michael Cohen's Guilty Plea Implicating Trump as 'Individual-1' Who Directed Campaign Finance Violations
Criminal Matters
When the Inner Circle Turns: The Unprecedented Number of Former Senior Officials Who Publicly Warned Against Trump After Serving in His Administration
Democratic Norm Violations
Paul Manafort's Breach of Cooperation: Lying to Mueller's Prosecutors While Sharing Information with Trump's Legal Team Through a Joint Defense Agreement
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
Mockery of Christine Blasey Ford: Trump's Rally Reenactment of Sexual Assault Testimony During the Kavanaugh Confirmation
Treatment of Individuals
Radicalizing Effect: Domestic Terrorists Who Cited Trump's Rhetoric in Their Manifestos, Court Filings, and Public Statements
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
Using the Military as a Political Prop: The Pre-Midterm Border Deployment That Cost Hundreds of Millions and Ended After Election Day
Abuse of Official Power
Politicization of the U.S. Military: Border Deployments, July 4th Display, National Guard Against Protesters, and Partisan Pressure on Military Leaders
Democratic Norm Violations
False Claims About Presidential Accomplishments: The Border Wall, the Economy, and the Defeat of ISIS
Documented Falsehoods
Systematic Harm to Immigrants and Asylum Seekers: Remain in Mexico, Title 42 Expulsions, and Migrant Protection Protocols
Treatment of Individuals
Roger Stone's Obstruction and Trump's Intervention: Conviction, Sentencing Override, Prosecutor Resignations, Commutation, and Full Pardon
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
Unpaid Campaign Rally Bills: Trump's Refusal to Pay the City of El Paso and a Pattern of Unpaid Municipal Security Costs
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Abuse of Emergency Powers: National Emergency Declaration to Fund Border Wall After Congressional Refusal
Democratic Norm Violations
Diverting $3.6 Billion in Military Construction Funds to Build the Border Wall After Congress Refused Funding
Abuse of Official Power
New York AG Investigation into Trump Organization Insurance Practices: Inflated Assets in Applications to Insurers
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Trump's Claim That Wind Turbine Noise Causes Cancer and a Pattern of Anti-Science Public Statements
Documented Falsehoods
Retaliatory Firings: Removal of Lt. Col. Vindman, Ambassador Yovanovitch, and Other Impeachment Witnesses
Abuse of Official Power
Calling Meghan Markle 'Nasty' and Then Denying It: A Case Study in Gaslighting Captured on Audio
Treatment of Individuals
Racist Attacks on Congresswomen of Color: Trump Told the 'Squad' to 'Go Back' to Their Countries, and the House Voted to Condemn His Remarks
Treatment of Individuals
Illegal Withholding of Ukraine Military Aid: GAO Finding of Impoundment Control Act Violation
Abuse of Official Power
The White House Counsel's Role in the Ukraine Cover-Up: Moving the Call Transcript to a Classified Server and Resisting Congressional Oversight
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
First Impeachment: Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress Over Ukraine Pressure Campaign
Abuse of Official Power
Ukraine Pressure Campaign: The July 25, 2019 Phone Call with President Zelensky
Abuse of Official Power
Hurricane Dorian and Sharpiegate: Altered NOAA Forecast Map and Political Pressure on Weather Scientists
Documented Falsehoods
Attacks on the Biden Family: Mocking a Stutter, Disparaging Hunter Biden's Addiction, and Using Government Power to Investigate a Political Rival's Relatives
Treatment of Individuals
Political Interference with Weather Forecasting: NOAA Pressure, Commerce Department Directives, and Scientific Integrity Violations
Abuse of Official Power
Blanket Defiance of Congressional Oversight: Refusal to Comply with Impeachment Subpoenas, Blocked Witnesses, Withheld Documents, and the Rejected 'Absolute Immunity' Claim
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
Retaliation Against Whistleblowers: Ukraine Whistleblower Threats and Vindman Firings
Treatment of Individuals: Cruelty, Defamation, and Degradation
Real-Time Witness Intimidation: Trump Tweeted Attacks Against Marie Yovanovitch While She Testified in the Impeachment Hearing
Treatment of Individuals
2020s
Political Interference with CDC and FDA During COVID-19: Edited Scientific Reports and Hydroxychloroquine Pressure
Abuse of Official Power
Using the State of the Union for Partisan Spectacle: The Rush Limbaugh Medal of Freedom and the Erosion of Bipartisan Ceremony in 2020
Abuse of Official Power
COVID-19 Misinformation: Private Admission of Danger While Publicly Downplaying the Virus
Documented Falsehoods on Matters of Public Consequence
COVID Workplace Safety Failures: OSHA Refused Emergency Standards While Trump Ordered Meatpacking Plants to Remain Open
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
Attacking Mail-In Voting While Using It Himself: Trump Voted by Mail in Florida While Calling the Same Method Fraudulent and 'Cheating'
Democratic Norm Violations
Politicization of the COVID-19 Response: Trump Threatened to Withhold Vaccines from States with Critical Governors and Made the Pandemic a Partisan Weapon
Abuse of Official Power
Opposition to Paid Sick Leave and Family Leave: Trump Administration Regulations That Narrowed Worker Protections During COVID-19
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
False Claims About Voting by Mail: Trump Alleged Massive Fraud Despite His Own Administration's Findings and His Own Use of Mail-In Ballots
Documented Falsehoods
LIBERATE MICHIGAN: Trump's Call to Defy COVID-19 Lockdown Orders and the Armed Occupation of the Michigan State Capitol
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
Interference with the United States Postal Service: DeJoy Appointment, Mail Sorting Machine Removal, and Suppression of Mail-In Voting Infrastructure Before the 2020 Election
Abuse of Official Power
Threats to Deploy the Military Against Domestic Protesters: Trump Asked About Shooting George Floyd Demonstrators
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
Lafayette Square: Use of Federal Force Against Peaceful Protesters for Presidential Photo Opportunity
Abuse of Official Power
Removal of SDNY U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman: Premature Resignation Announcement and Firing During Active Investigation of Trump Allies
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
Using the White House as a Campaign Venue: The 2020 RNC, the Barrett Super-Spreader Event, and the Abraham Accords Ceremony
Democratic Norm Violations
Attacks on the Constitutional Order: Calling for 'Termination' of the Constitution, Embracing Dictatorial Language, and Refusing to Commit to Peaceful Transfers of Power
Democratic Norm Violations
From 'Stand Back and Stand By' to Presidential Pardon: The Proud Boys Seditious Conspiracy Arc
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
Schedule F: The Executive Order Designed to Strip Civil Service Protections from Tens of Thousands of Federal Workers and Enable a Political Purge of the Bureaucracy
Abuse of Official Power
Election Technology Defamation: Trump's Amplification of False Claims About Dominion Voting Systems and the Resulting Legal Fallout
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Fox News Dominion Voting Systems Settlement: $787.5 Million Resolution Exposing Trump's Election Lies as Source Material
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Post-Election Litigation Campaign: 62 Lawsuits Filed to Overturn the 2020 Election Results, Nearly All Dismissed
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Newsmax Defamation Settlements: $40 Million to Smartmatic and $67 Million to Dominion for Amplifying False Election Fraud Claims
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Federal Election Obstruction Indictment: Four Felony Counts for Conspiracy to Overturn 2020 Election
Criminal Matters
Georgia RICO Indictment: 41-Count Racketeering Case for Conspiracy to Overturn 2020 Election Results
Criminal Matters
The Surge in Threats Against Election Workers: How Trump's Targeting of Specific Officials and Processes Generated Thousands of Documented Threats Nationwide
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
Refusal to Accept 2020 Election Results and Disruption of the Presidential Transition
Democratic Norm Violations and Institutional Erosion
Obstruction of the Peaceful Transfer of Power: Trump's Refusal to Concede in 2020-2021 Contrasted with Biden's Full Cooperation in 2024
Democratic Norm Violations
Assault on Election Infrastructure: Pressuring State Officials, Calling for Termination of Constitutional Rules, and Encouraging Legislatures to Override the Popular Vote
Democratic Norm Violations
Mark Meadows's Text Messages: Communications Revealing Coordination on January 6 and His Refusal to Cooperate with the Congressional Investigation
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
The 'Big Lie': Sustained False Claims That the 2020 Election Was Stolen
Documented Falsehoods on Matters of Public Consequence
Monetizing the Presidency: The Save America PAC Slush Fund, Legal Bill Payments, and the Merchandising of Political Office
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse
Giuliani's $148 Million Defamation Verdict: Consequences for Spreading Trump's Election Fraud Claims Against Georgia Election Workers
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Attacks on Election Workers: Ruby Freeman, Shaye Moss, and the $148 Million Defamation Verdict
Treatment of Individuals: Cruelty, Defamation, and Degradation
DOJ Weaponization: Attempted Installation of Jeffrey Clark to Overturn 2020 Election
Abuse of Official Power
Abuse of the Pardon Power for Personal and Political Loyalty: Clemency for Allies Convicted in Connection with Trump's Own Conduct
Democratic Norm Violations
The Raffensperger Call: Trump's Hour-Long Pressure Campaign to Overturn the Georgia Election Results
Abuse of Official Power
Destroyed Phone Records: Secret Service Texts from January 5-6, 2021, Deleted During 'Device Migration' After Watchdog Requested Them
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
Second Impeachment: Incitement of Insurrection Following the January 6 Capitol Attack
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
January 6 Capitol Attack: House Select Committee Findings and Criminal Referrals
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
Trial by Combat: Rudy Giuliani's Incitement at the January 6 Rally as Trump's Personal Attorney Acting at His Direction
Incitement, Endorsement, and Encouragement of Violence
The Seven-Hour Gap: Missing White House Phone Records from January 6, 2021
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
Rigging the Gig Economy: Trump's DOL Rules Made It Easier to Classify Workers as Independent Contractors, Stripping Employee Protections
Labor, Contractor, and Employment Abuses
Federal Classified Documents Indictment: 40 Felony Counts for Willful Retention of National Defense Information
Criminal Matters
The $2 Billion Kushner-Saudi Investment: Saudi Arabia Funded Jared Kushner's Firm After He Shaped Favorable Middle East Policy
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Allen Weisselberg's Serial Legal Proceedings and the Unanswered Question: Why No Trump Family Member Was Individually Charged Despite Organizational Convictions
Criminal Matters
Trump Media and Truth Social: SEC Fraud Charges Against SPAC, Insider Trading Convictions, and the Digital World Acquisition Corp Merger
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Executive Privilege Abuse: Claiming Presidential Privilege After Leaving Office to Delay the January 6 Investigation
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
Steve Bannon's Criminal Contempt of Congress: Conviction, Sentencing, and Imprisonment for Defying the January 6 Committee Subpoena
Criminal Matters
Contempt of Congress Conviction: Peter Navarro's Refusal to Comply with January 6 Committee Subpoena
Criminal Matters
Civil Contempt of Court: Trump Fined $110,000 for Failing to Comply with Attorney General Subpoena
Criminal Matters
E. Jean Carroll Defamation Verdict: $83.3 Million Jury Award for 'Remarkably Reprehensible' Conduct
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Attacks on Jurors and Witnesses During Active Trials: Gag Order Violations Across Multiple Jurisdictions
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
Witness Intimidation and Gag Order Violations: Social Media Attacks During Active Legal Proceedings
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
Targeting Judges' Families: Trump's Public Attacks on Judge Merchan's Daughter, Judge Engoron's Clerk, and a Pattern of Judicial Intimidation
Treatment of Individuals
Weisselberg Perjury: Felony Conviction for Lying Under Oath During Civil Fraud Trial
Obstruction of Legal and Investigative Processes
Weaponizing Defamation Lawsuits from the Oval Office: The ABC, CBS, Des Moines Register, and Pulitzer Board Cases of 2024 and 2025
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Cryptocurrency, Meme Coins, and the Presidency: Trump's World Liberty Financial Venture, the $TRUMP and $MELANIA Tokens, and Second-Term Emoluments Concerns
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
Rolling Back Crypto Regulation While Holding Crypto Assets: The Trump Family's World Liberty Financial and the SEC's Retreat from Enforcement
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
The CBS News Lawsuit: Trump Sued for $10 Billion Over a 60 Minutes Interview, Then Collected $16 Million in Settlement
Civil Fraud and Business Deception
Conditioning Disaster Relief on Political Compliance: Trump Threatened to Withhold Federal Wildfire Aid from California Over Water Policy and Voter ID Demands
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse
The $TRUMP Meme Coin Dinner: Selling Presidential Access to Top Cryptocurrency Holders
Emoluments and Constitutional Financial Violations
The 2025 Tariff Regime: Economists Called It the Largest Tax Increase in Decades as Markets Crashed and Consumer Costs Surged
Financial Fraud and Manipulation
Second-Term Democratic Norm Violations: Gutting of Federal Agencies, Mass Firings of Civil Servants, DOGE and Unauthorized Access to Government Systems, and Defiance of Court Orders
Democratic Norm Violations
Undermining the Peaceful Transfer of Power: Second Inauguration as an Act of Political Dominance (January 2025)
Democratic Norm Violations
DOGE and the Breach of Government Data Systems: Elon Musk's Operatives Accessing Social Security, Treasury, and IRS Records
Democratic Norm Violations
DOGE-Driven Mass Firings: The Dismantling of the Professional Civil Service Through Unprecedented Terminations of Federal Employees
Democratic Norm Violations
Dismantling of USAID: Shutdown of the 64-Year-Old Foreign Aid Agency Affecting Millions of Recipients Worldwide
Democratic Norm Violations and Institutional Erosion
Attempting to End Birthright Citizenship by Executive Order: A Direct Challenge to the 14th Amendment Blocked by Every Court That Reviewed It
Abuse of Official Power
2025 Mass Deportation Operations: Rescission of Protected Areas Policy, Courthouse and Church Arrests, and Detention of U.S. Citizens
Abuse of Official Power
2025 Tariff War: Unilateral Trade Escalation Triggering Retaliation, Agricultural Collapse, and Consumer Price Increases
Abuse of Official Power
Defiance of Federal Court Orders in the Second Term: Slow-Walking Reinstatement of Fired Workers, Ignoring Funding Freeze Injunctions, and Contempt Warnings from Federal Judges
Democratic Norm Violations
Targeting Nonprofit Organizations: Executive Actions to Revoke Tax-Exempt Status of Universities and Advocacy Groups Critical of Administration Policies
Charitable and Philanthropic Abuse