The Trump Administration Rebrands Department of Defense to ‘Department of War’
- On September 5, Trump signed an executive order to rename the Department of Defense to the ‘Department of War.’ Trump cites that name change as “sharpening the Department’s focus on its own national interest.”
Charlie Kirk Assassination Timeline
- On September 10, right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at a Turning Point USA event on the campus of Utah Valley University. He was 31 years old.
- In honor of Kirk, Trump directed all American flags to be flown at half-staff until sunset on September 14.
- Kirk’s murder sparked nationwide outrage, especially among conservative groups who demanded punishment for those accused of mocking or celebrating his death.
- According to the AP, Tyler Robinson, 22, of Washington, Utah, was arrested and will be charged with aggravated murder.
- Kirk’s funeral service took place on September 21 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Racial Profiling for ICE Raids
- On September 8, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision that permits racial profiling as grounds for ICE raids in Southern California. According to NPR, ICE operations have expanded in Massachusetts and Illinois, while remaining active in Washington, D.C.
DOJ Deletes Study About Far-Right Extremism
- Around September 11 or 12, the U.S. Department of Justice quietly removed a study titled “What NIJ Research Tells Us About Domestic Terrorism” from its website, which found that far-right extremists killed far more Americans than any other domestic terrorist group.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! Suspension Timeline
- On September 17, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was pulled from the air indefinitely following Kimmel’s comments about Trump’s response to the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
- The program’s suspension sparked widespread criticism, resulting in nationwide boycotts against Disney, ABC, Nexstar Media Group, and Sinclair Broadcast Group.
- On September 22, Disney and ABC announced the return of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday, September 23. The show garnered 6.3 million viewers on ABC.
- On September 26, Nexstar and Sinclair announced the return of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC affiliate stations.
Trump Links Tyneol with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- On September 22, Trump advised pregnant women not to take acetaminophen, commonly known in the U.S. as the painkiller Tylenol. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it would attach a label to the drug bottle, citing a possible association between Tylenol and autism spectrum disorder in children.
- However, according to the Los Angeles Times, medical experts say the “evidence” that suggests this potentiality is factually inaccurate.
Executive Order “Saving TikTok”
- On September 25, Trump signed an executive order paving the way for a new TikTok deal that could transfer majority ownership of the app to a U.S. company.
Trump Plans to Deploy National Guard in Portland, Oregon
- On September 27, Trump announced his plans to deploy at least 200 National Guard troops to the “war-ravaged” city of Portland, Oregon, to protect ICE facilities for the next two months.
- Oregon has responded to this declaration by suing the Trump administration, citing the military deployment as “unlawful.”
Trump Plans to Place a 100% Tariff on Foreign-Made Films
- In a Truth Social post on September 29, Trump announced a 100% tariff on all foreign-made movies. According to CNN, Trump did not specify when the tariff would be enacted.
A Government Shutdown has Been Enacted
- A government shutdown was enacted, following congressional lawmakers’ failure to agree on a government spending bill by September 30.
- What does this mean? Thousands of federal workers could be suspended or required to work without pay. Operations that are deemed essential, including social security, immigration enforcement, and air traffic control, will continue as normal. However, other services can be delayed.