Trump Deploys the National Guard in D.C.
- In an August 11 press conference, Trump pledged to crack down on violence and homelessness in D.C. He has since deployed 800 National Guard troops to bolster law enforcement officers in the city. However, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has openly criticized the Trump administration’s decision, where statistics showcase that crime is at a 30-year low.
- Washingtonians have since taken to the streets to protest Trump’s D.C. takeover.
The White House Launches a TikTok Account
- On Tuesday, August 19, the White House launched an official TikTok account. Meanwhile, Trump extended the deadline three times during his second term, as the app’s future in the U.S. remains unclear. Currently, the platform has over 580K followers.
Trump Threatens to Fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
- On Friday, August 22, Trump threatened to fire Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Lisa Cook if she failed to resign from her position. Within both presidential terms, Trump pressured the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. However, experts worry that if Trump replaces Cook, his Republican appointees would make up the majority of the Federal Reserve, which was designed to be independent of White House control.
- On Tuesday, August 26, Cook stated, through her lawyer Abbe Lowell, that she would pursue legal action against Trump to halt any potential termination efforts.
Trump Talks About Deploying the National Guard to Other U.S. Cities
- On Friday, August 22, following the D.C. takeover, Trump threatened to deploy National Guard troops to other major U.S. cities, starting with Chicago. In an early August press conference, Trump openly announced his plan to potentially send troops to Los Angeles, New York City, Baltimore, and Oakland to “eradicate crime”, which drew public criticism for being largely Democratic cities that happen to have Black mayors.
U.S. Immigration Officials Threaten to Deport Kilmar Ábrego García to Uganda
- Following Kilmar Ábrego García’s declined offer to be deported to Costa Rica, U.S. immigration officials vocalized their intent to deport García to Uganda in a court filing on Saturday, August 23. Per The Guardian, the Costa Rica proposal was offered to the Maryland resident on Thursday, August 21, in exchange for remaining in jail and pleading guilty to human smuggling charges.
- However, on Wednesday, August 27, a federal judge in Maryland temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to deport García to Uganda until an October 6 hearing.
Flag Burning Executive Order
- On Monday, August 25, Trump signed an executive order to prosecute citizens who engage in burning the American flag. According to the AP, Trump desires to have those who burn the flag required to stay in jail for one year. In the EO, Trump urges Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue litigation to challenge the Supreme Court’s 1989 ruling, citing flag burning as a First Amendment right.
Cashless Bail Termination Executive Order
- On Monday, August 25, Trump signed an executive order threatening to withhold federal funding from local or state governments that offer cashless bail.
Trump Ends Kamala Harris’s Secret Service Protection
- On Thursday, August 28, Trump revoked Kamala Harris’s Secret Service protection, extended by former President Joe Biden before he left office. Although former presidents receive Secret Service protection for life, vice presidents receive six months of protection after leaving office. Biden extended Harris’s protection for an extra year before Trump’s cancellation.
Donald Trump’s Whereabouts Circulate on Social Media
- Stemming from concerns about Trump’s health, social media users began speculating about the President’s whereabouts. Rumors started spreading after users noted that Trump hadn’t made a public appearance since a Wednesday Cabinet meeting and his schedule was cleared for the weekend. The phrase “Trump is dead” trended on X with over 200,000 posts. This also follows J.D. Vance’s comments made in a USA Today interview on Wednesday, August 27.
- On Saturday, August 30, Trump was shown heading to his Virginia golf club on a golf cart with his grandchildren.