Trump Administration:Abuses of Power

A record of the Trump administration's abuses of power, with reporting, court rulings and original documents.

Reported action

The U.S. military killed two survivors of a boat strike.

The White House acknowledged a second strike on a suspected drug boat on September 2, 2025. AP reported that two men survived the first attack and were killed in the second.

Pete Hegseth denied giving the reported order to kill everyone. The precise orders and responsibility for the second strike remain disputed.

See the evidence Full case and sources

"Two men survived that first attack, which killed nine others, and were clinging to the wreckage, the newspaper reported."

Associated Press

AP's report on the second strike, citing The Washington Post, December 1, 2025.

Read the reporting
Next: Trump's retaliation against a law firm
Judicial finding

A court struck down Trump's retaliation against Perkins Coie.

Trump's executive order targeted Perkins Coie's security clearances, access to federal facilities and government contracting. On May 2, 2025, Judge Beryl Howell found the order was unconstitutional retaliation for the firm's protected activity.

The district court ruled for Perkins Coie and issued a permanent injunction against the order.

Full case and sources

"This purpose amounts to no more than unconstitutional retaliation for plaintiff's First Amendment protected activity."

Judge Howell's ruling

Judge Beryl A. Howell, Perkins Coie LLP v. U.S. Department of Justice, May 2, 2025, page 74.

Read the ruling (PDF)
Next: a commutation that canceled criminal restitution
Reported action

A seven-year fraud sentence. About twelve days served.

Trump commuted David Gentile's sentence on November 26, 2025. The warrant released him and eliminated further criminal restitution. Politico reported that the grant relieved a $15.5 million restitution obligation.

Gentile's conviction stands. The grant did not erase all civil claims or receivership recoveries. The White House defended him and disputed the fraud case.

Full case and sources

"AN IMMEDIATE COMMUTATION OF HIS ENTIRE SENTENCE TO TIME SERVED WITH NO FURTHER FINES, RESTITUTION, PROBATION, OR OTHER CONDITIONS"

The signed clemency warrant

President Donald J. Trump, November 26, 2025. The quoted language is on page 1; the signature and date are on page 2.

Read the warrant (PDF)
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How the administration used its power

Explore the rest of the record by issue.

Deportation, detention and deadly force

Courts found due-process violations in deportations. Human-rights investigators documented torture at CECOT. Other cases cover fatal federal shootings and military strikes.

Retaliation against critics

Trump's administration targeted law firms, journalists, universities and political opponents. Courts struck down some of those actions as unconstitutional retaliation.

Pardons, money and access

Trump granted clemency to allies and donors. His family's businesses used a memecoin contest to offer dinner access to the president and pursued foreign property deals. Officials and advisers also negotiated private work alongside government roles.

Defying courts and weakening oversight

The administration ignored court orders, withheld funding approved by Congress and removed independent watchdogs.

Read the full record

Search all 106 entries by name or issue. Filter by evidence type and follow the links to the sources.

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Sources and evidence

The entries link to court decisions, public records and reporting. Labels identify the source of each claim.

Judicial finding
A court's ruling, with the stage of the case identified.
Reported action
An action documented in public records or news reporting.
Allegation
A claim by an identified source that remains disputed or unproven.
Legal assessment
Legal analysis by an expert or organization, such as the UN human-rights office.
Institutional concern
Conflicts of interest, political favoritism or weakened oversight.

Read the full methodologyExplore the source collections

Covers actions since January 20, 2025. Check the linked sources and court records for later developments.