From Trump vs. Musk’s online feud and ICE protests in L.A. to public media budget cuts and “No Kings” protests across the country, here are the top nationwide political events that happened in June.
Trump vs. Musk Feud Erupts on X
- Ex-DOGE employee Elon Musk targeted Trump in a series of X posts on June 6. In the since-deleted messages, Musk detailed his disdain for Trump’s proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, among the allegations of the president’s involvement in the Epstein files. “Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and Republicans would be 51-59 in the Senate,” the tech billionaire wrote. On June 11, Musk apologized, stating that he regretted some of his writings.
ICE Protests Commence in Los Angeles, CA
- Protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began in Los Angeles, CA, on June 6. The demonstrations began after ICE agents reportedly targeted day laborers within the Los Angeles Fashion District, arresting over 40 immigrants at places like Home Depot and Ambiance Apparel.
- On June 8, Trump deployed the National Guard in L.A. “to restore order.”
- Trump sent an additional 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to LA following protest escalation on June 9.
DOJ Announces Its Plans to Prioritize Cases Revoking U.S. Citizenship
- On June 11, the Department of Justice announced its plans to prioritize cases involving revoking U.S. citizenship from Americans who committed certain crimes. In a memo, Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate wrote, “The Civil Division shall prioritize and maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings in all cases permitted by law and supported by the evidence.”
House Approves Trump’s Request to Cut Public Media Funding
- On June 12, the House of Representatives approved Trump’s demand to cut almost 9.4 billion in federal funding from public media broadcasters, including PBS and NPR. According to AP, the package targets foreign aid programs and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, in addition to thousands of public radio and television programs nationwide. The vote was 214-212.
“No Kings” Protests Draw Crowds Nationwide
- The “No Kings” protests were a series of anti-Trump demonstrations that occurred across the United States on June 14, nationally known as “No Kings Day” by organizers. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) estimated that more than five million people rallied at over 2,100 events across the nation.
Mahmoud Khalil Released from ICE Detention Center
- On June 20, Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil was released on bail from an ICE detention center in Jena, Louisiana. This comes after his arrest on March 8 by ICE agents at his Columbia on-campus apartment.
The U.S. Strikes Three of Iran’s Nuclear Facilities
- According to The New York Times, a U.S. official said that six B-2 bombers dropped 12 “bunker buster” bombs on Fordo, an underground Iranian nuclear facility, on June 22. Additionally, Navy submarines fired 30 cruise missiles at nuclear sites in Natanz and Isfahan. The reasoning behind these strikes was to prevent Iran from developing fission weapons, per the Trump administration.