Rule of law
Tracking the criminal activity of the Trump administration
A running record of illegal and unconstitutional conduct, organized by category and backed by court rulings, reporting, and watchdog investigations.
Illegal gifts
In May 2025, Qatar gifted Trump a $400 million luxury jet for use as Air Force One — the largest gift from a foreign government to a U.S. president in history. Constitutional scholars, including Rep. Jamie Raskin, say the Emoluments Clause requires Congress's consent before accepting it; Trump did not seek it.
"[This is a] pretty textbook case of a violation of the Emoluments Clause," said Richard Briffault, a Columbia Law School professor specializing in government ethics — particularly if the jet is later transferred to Trump's presidential library, which would make it a personal gift rather than one to the United States.
— NPR, "Ethics experts worry about the implications of Trump accepting Qatar's luxury plane" (May 12, 2025)
Further reading: PBS NewsHour · CREW, "The Intensifying Threat of Donald Trump's Emoluments" · American Oversight
Defying courts & Congress
Researchers tracking the administration's response to adverse rulings describe a pattern of "legalistic noncompliance" — using legal language and procedural delay to mask defiance. Separately, the administration has moved ahead on major construction projects that courts or Congress said required authorization first.
"The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!" — U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, granting a preliminary injunction in March 2026 halting construction of a new White House ballroom until Congress authorizes it. The Supreme Court allowed construction to continue in August 2026 while the underlying case proceeds.
— NPR, "Judge rules White House ballroom construction must halt until Congress OK's it" (March 31, 2026)
A similar fight is underway over Trump's planned 250-foot triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial: veterans' groups are suing to block it, arguing the administration lacks congressional authorization to build it, with excavation set to begin in September 2026 regardless.
Further reading: Protect Democracy, "The Trump Administration's Conflict With the Courts, Explained" · NPR, Supreme Court ballroom ruling · CBS News, arch excavation · Just Security Litigation Tracker
Defense Department
Federal judges have twice found Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's Pentagon acted unconstitutionally within months of each other, and a separate ruling found an earlier domestic troop deployment illegal.
"Senator Kelly was reprimanded for exercising his First Amendment right to speak on matters of public concern," wrote Judge Richard Leon, ruling in February 2026 that Hegseth unlawfully retaliated against Sen. Mark Kelly over a video urging service members to refuse illegal orders.
— CNN, "Judge says Pete Hegseth is unlawfully retaliating against Sen. Mark Kelly over 'illegal orders' video" (February 12, 2026)
The D.C. Circuit separately ruled that Hegseth's ban on transgender service members already serving in the military was illegal, though it can still bar new transgender recruits. And in September 2025, a federal judge ruled that Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles earlier that year was unlawful.
Further reading: Courthouse News, transgender troop ban ruling · The Hill
Voting rights
A federal court struck down key parts of Trump's 2026 executive order restricting mail-in voting and centralizing voter-roll data, just months before the midterms — though the Supreme Court later let part of it take effect while the underlying case continues.
"The federal government does not have the authority to create centralized lists of adult citizens or decide who can vote by mail," ruled Judge Indira Talwani, adding that "no law enacted by Congress delegates authority to control mail-in voting to USPS." The injunction covers 23 states and the District of Columbia.
— Votebeat, "Judge blocks key pillars of Trump executive order restricting mail voting in 2026 election" (June 25, 2026)
Further reading: ACLU press release · Campaign Legal Center, on a second unconstitutional voting order · Votebeat, Supreme Court partially lifts injunction
Illegal executive orders
Trump signed 228 executive orders between January 2025 and January 2026 — including 143 in his first 100 days, more than seven times the historical pace. At least 33 of them are already facing federal court challenges; during his first term, the administration prevailed in only 22% of similar legal challenges.
"The Constitution, not the president, determines who is recognized as a native-born citizen," the Supreme Court held in a 6-3 ruling striking down Trump's executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants — with Chief Justice Roberts writing the majority opinion, joined by Trump appointees Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.
— ACLU, "Supreme Court Rules to Protect Birthright Citizenship in Landmark Case" (June 30, 2026)
The Supreme Court also struck down Trump's tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in a separate 6-3 ruling in February 2026, holding that "IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs" — invalidating both the "reciprocal" tariffs on most trading partners and the tariffs tied to the fentanyl and immigration emergencies.
Further reading: States United Democracy Center, "Executive (Dis)Order" · WilmerHale, on the IEEPA tariffs ruling