Donald Trump-related activity tracking.
2026
Mar24
A Reuters/Ipsos poll published March 24 shows President Trump's approval rating has fallen to 36% from 40% the previous week, marking the lowest point since his return to the White House. The decline is attributed to rising oil prices and widespread public dissatisfaction with the war in Iran, where the US recently suffered its first casualties. Trump's handling of the conflict has drawn criticism for false claims and aggressive rhetoric, while his related assets, like Trump Media (DJT) stock, have also seen declines.
David Sacks, the White House AI Czar, publicly defended President Trump's plan to permit the sale and export of AI chips to multiple countries, including those in the Gulf region. This plan aims to expand AI chip export controls globally, requiring US licenses for accelerators from companies like Nvidia and AMD. The policy will feature a tiered approval process based on the scale of computing power, with simplified reviews for smaller exports and stricter scrutiny for large-scale deployments, influenced by Silicon Valley figures like Sacks and diverging from the previous administration's more restrictive approach.
Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon suggested deploying U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers at airports as a "test run" for the 2026 midterm elections, aiming to prevent illegal voting. The proposal has been supported by some conservatives while being criticized by Democrats who are concerned about the implications of such a presence at airports.
President Trump has rejected a bipartisan deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), stating there will be "No deals with the Democrats" until they approve the "Save America Act". The rejected proposal, put forth by Senate Republicans, would have funded most of DHS while seeking separate funding for ICE. The move prolongs a partial government shutdown, now in its 39th day, leaving agencies like the TSA with staff working without pay and causing significant absences. Republicans are now considering a party-line budget reconciliation bill as an alternative.
Mar23
Donald Trump has stated that voter ID verification falls under the purview of homeland security . This is part of a broader legislative push, reflected in proposals like the 'SAVE Act,' which would require states to submit voter rolls to the Department of Homeland Security for citizenship verification and mandate frequent purges of these lists . The proposal also aims to ban universal mail-in voting and has been bundled with controversial social issues, such as restrictions on transgender athletes . Critics argue these measures are designed to create voting hurdles for specific demographics, while supporters see them as essential for election security .
President Trump announced a five-day pause on military strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure, citing "productive talks," a claim Iran has denied. This announcement followed a 48-hour ultimatum he had issued just days prior. The move triggered a broad market relief rally, causing crude oil prices to drop while stocks, including Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT), and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin saw gains.
On March 23-24, U.S. President Trump announced that the U.S. and Iran were engaged in "very good and productive" discussions, claiming Iran is serious about reaching a settlement . This statement, made on Truth Social and at an event in Tennessee, marked a sharp reversal from his recent hawkish rhetoric, including threats of significant military action . While the news was seen as a potential "turning point" by Germany's Foreign Minister and triggered a risk-on market reaction, with Bitcoin surging , Iran has publicly denied that any negotiations are taking place .
President Trump has stated he will not compromise on an airport funding issue, which is part of a larger shutdown of funding appropriations. The dispute stems from the bundling of Transportation Security Administration funding with that of the entire Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Trump is using the threat of airport disruption to pressure Democrats into approving the larger DHS funding package, and has threatened to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to airports if Democrats do not concede.
Donald Trump stated that he does not want to see "nuclear dust" and that an agreement has been reached on the matter. This follows a period of escalating rhetoric towards Iran, where he threatened "unprecedented military force," questioned "finishing off" the country, and threatened to destroy a major gas field. His public statements have been noted as contradictory, attempting to appease different factions.
Following President Trump's announcement of a five-day pause on military strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure, the US dollar fell sharply, reversing recent gains. The move, described as the first sign of de-escalation since the conflict began, came after constructive talks were reported. This triggered a broad market rally, with oil prices dropping significantly and risk assets like Trump Media's stock (DJT) and Bitcoin surging on improved investor sentiment. Prior to the announcement, traders had been betting on further dollar strength amid rising geopolitical tensions.
U.S. stock index futures declined amid escalating Middle East tensions after President Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face military action. The move, part of a four-week conflict, has pushed Brent crude to around $112 a barrel and fueled market fears of oil supply disruptions and rising inflation. This has prompted a flight from riskier assets, with Wall Street having already experienced four consecutive weeks of losses.
Following weeks of escalating tensions and military strikes, U.S. President Trump has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, demanding the complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. If Iran fails to comply, the U.S. has threatened to destroy its power plants. This threat, made around March 21-22, caused an immediate negative reaction in European stock futures. Iran has previously stated any attack would lead to a full blockade of the crucial energy channel. The ultimatum marks a critical inflection point in a conflict that has reportedly been ongoing for over three weeks.
Amid escalating Middle East tensions that have caused US stock indices to fall, President Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran on March 21. The demand is for the complete and un-threatened reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, with the threat of striking Iran's power plants if the deadline is not met. This follows weeks of increasingly aggressive rhetoric and actions from the Trump administration, including threats against Iranian assets and discussions of potential military options to force the strait open. While critics have condemned the move as reckless, some reports suggest the Trump team has simultaneously begun discussing conditions for potential negotiations with Iran.
Mar22
President Trump is deploying Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to assist the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at U.S. airports starting Monday. This action is a response to a Department of Homeland Security funding impasse with Democrats, which has caused TSA staff shortages and operational issues. The stated purpose is to help with security screening and apprehend undocumented immigrants. Trump blamed Democrats for withholding funds and endangering national security, while some officials note the move may not solve long security lines.
Mar21
President Trump announced he expects the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to take action next Monday. This follows a series of large-scale immigration enforcement operations under his administration, such as 'Operation Metropolitan Sweep' in Minneapolis, which involved thousands of federal agents and resulted in over 4,000 arrests in Minnesota by early February 2026. These actions have been met with significant public opposition and protests, particularly after a fatal shooting of a US citizen during an operation in January 2026, with one poll showing 50% support for abolishing the agency.
A partial U.S. government shutdown has left over 61,000 TSA employees working without pay, leading to a staffing crisis at airports. High absenteeism, with rates near 10%, and hundreds of resignations are causing long security lines, flight delays, and travel disruptions. The situation coincides with the peak spring break travel season, prompting airline CEOs to urge Congress for a resolution. Officials warn that the crisis could worsen, potentially forcing smaller airports to close if the shutdown continues. The shutdown stems from a political impasse over Department of Homeland Security funding.
Mar20
Following a series of escalating threats against Iran throughout March, including vows of "unprecedented military force" and "fierce bombing" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz , U.S. President Trump's latest comment suggests a significant de-escalation. He stated that regarding passage through the strait, "at some point, it will open by itself." This follows his earlier attempts to pressure NATO allies into a naval coalition, an effort that reportedly received a sparse response , and threats to destroy a major gas field if Iran attacked Qatar . His aggressive rhetoric had previously caused market anxiety .
President Trump congratulated FCC Chairman Brendan Carr for his work on 'fake news'. This followed Trump labeling news about the Iran conflict as 'fake news', after which Carr, who had recently visited Trump, threatened to revoke the licenses of broadcast companies for spreading misinformation. The chairman's comments, seen as an ultimatum, warned media against negative coverage of the war and have created significant pressure on press freedom.
President Trump reiterated he will not sign any legislation until Congress first passes the SAVE America Act, a bill focused on stricter voter ID rules. This stance creates major uncertainty for other bills, including the Clarity Act and GENIUS Act for crypto regulation. Despite previously urging swift passage of these crypto bills to keep innovation in the U.S., his new condition effectively stalls their progress in the Senate, which requires a 60-vote threshold for controversial legislation that is unlikely to be met.
According to sources, President Trump has instructed senior advisors to adopt a new strategy for his mass deportation policy, aiming to lower its profile. Acknowledging that some past policies were too harsh and that voters dislike the term "mass deportation," Trump is shifting the focus. The new approach will emphasize the deportation of violent criminals rather than broad-scale removals, a change in rhetoric that was privately floated to Republicans earlier in the week.
