2026 in the United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following is a list of events of the year 2026 in the United States, as well as predicted and scheduled events that have not yet occurred.
July 4, 2026, will be the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States from the United Kingdom.[1]
Under the second year of Donald Trump's second presidency, the United States has engaged in attacks against its adversaries. In January 2026, the U.S. launched a military raid in Venezuela that captured its president Nicolás Maduro. In February 2026, the U.S. launched a major attack on Iran with Israel with the stated goal of regime change, killing its leader Ali Khamenei. Domestically, the US underwent two partial government shutdowns, with the first lasting four days, from January 31 to February 3, and the second lasting approximately 76 days, from February 14 to April 30, becoming the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and impacting the US Department of Homeland Security, with the core issue regarding the funding of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In addition, 2026 saw the first major judicial actions against prediction markets, in particular Kalshi and the usage of its platform and other prediction markets to bypass state regulations on sports betting, with Nevada being the first to land a court-enforced ban of Kalshi and Arizona being the first to file criminal charges against Kalshi.[2]
In science and technology, the most prominent story so far has been the April 2026 NASA mission Artemis II, the first crewed deep-space mission since 1972. Artemis II sent four astronauts—including the first woman, person of color, and Canadian—to circumnavigate the Moon.[3]
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being held across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico from June to July; and planned events include the 2026 midterms in November.
Incumbents
Federal government
State governments
Elections
The midterm elections are scheduled to be held on November 3. In the federal government, the offices up for election are all 435 seats of the House of Representatives, and roughly one third of the Senate. Most states and territories will hold elections for their governors and legislatures.[4]
In the Senate, nine senators have announced their intention not to seek re-election this cycle, including five Republicans and four Democrats. Republican seats in Maine, North Carolina, and Ohio are seen as vulnerable, while Democrats will be defending seats in Georgia, Michigan, and New Hampshire.[5] In the House, numerous states have redrawn their congressional districts ahead of the election, with Republicans attempting to strengthen their narrow margins.[6]
On the state level, 36 states and three territories will hold gubernatorial elections, and most states and territories will hold elections for their legislatures. Many major cities, including Long Beach, Los Angeles, Louisville, Newark, Oakland, Oklahoma City, St. Petersburg, and Washington, D.C., will also elect their mayors and municipal governments.[7][8]
Events
January
- January 1 – Zohran Mamdani is sworn in as the Mayor of New York City, the first Muslim and Asian American to hold the office.[9]
- January 3 – The U.S. launch airstrikes on Venezuela and captures Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The operation is named Absolute Resolve.[10]
- January 4 – 31st Critics' Choice Awards: One Battle After Another and its director Paul Thomas Anderson win Best Picture and Best Director respectively. Films Frankenstein and Sinners and television series Adolescence win four awards each.[11][12]
- January 5
- Maduro and his wife appear in a federal court in Manhattan and plead not guilty to drugs and weapon charges.[13]
- New coins celebrating the Semiquincentennial, featuring pilgrims, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, begin circulating.[14]
- Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announces he will not seek reelection amidst the Minnesota fraud scandal.[15]
- The Corporation for Public Broadcasting votes to dissolve itself.[16]
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rewrites its childhood vaccine schedule, reducing the number of shots universally recommended from 17 to 11.[17]
- January 7
- Killing of Renée Good: A 37-year-old woman is shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[18]
- Trump announces that the United States will withdraw from 66 international organizations.[19]
- The Department of State suspends all ongoing assistance programs to Somalia.[20]
- Two people are killed and six others are injured in a mass shooting during a funeral at a LDS Church meetinghouse in Salt Lake City, Utah.[21][22]
- January 10 – 2025–26 measles outbreak: North Carolina experiences a surge in measles over the past week, with cases rising to 310 in the state alone. Nearly 2,500 are reported nationally.[23]
- January 11
- Federal prosecutors open a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell over the testimony he gave to a Senate committee about renovations to Federal Reserve buildings.[24]
- Low-cost airline Allegiant Air purchase Sun Country Airlines for $1.5 billion.[25][26]
- Three inmates are killed, thirteen others are hospitalized, and a guard is injured when violence breaks out at the Washington State Prison in Davisboro, Georgia.[27]
- January 12
- January 13
- The Trump administration designates the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, the Islamic Group in Lebanon, and the Islamic Action Front in Jordan as foreign terrorist organizations for their support of Hamas.[29]
- Meta announces the closure of the studios Armature Studio, Sanzaru Games, and Twisted Pixel.[30] In addition, they announced more than 1,000 workers would be laid off in their Reality Labs business.[31]
- January 14
- January 17 – Trump confirms that European countries will be hit with a 10% tariff on "all or any goods" exported to the US from February 1, amid the dispute over Greenland.[35]
- January 19 – The Indiana Hoosiers defeat the Miami Hurricanes 27–21 in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship, winning their first national title.[36]
- January 20 – DHS launches "Operation Catch of the Day", a surge in immigration enforcement in Maine, primarily in the cities of Lewiston and Portland.[37]
- January 22
- The United States leaves the World Health Organization.[38]
- Trump's Executive Order 14253 is carried out, removing exhibits commemorating the history of slavery in the United States at the President's House.[39]
- January 23 – The Office of Foreign Assets Control imposes sanctions on British-Palestinian activist Zaher Birawi, alleging that he has ties with Hamas.[40]
- January 23–26 – A major winter storm and cold wave impacts over 30 states and kills at least 85 people, with over 15 states of emergency being declared.[41][42][43]
- January 24
- Trump threatens Canada with 100% tariffs on all goods if the country's prime minister Mark Carney strikes a trade deal with China.[44]
- Killing of Alex Pretti: A 37-year-old man is shot and killed by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[45]
- One person is killed and 14 others are injured in a gas explosion and multiple-alarm fire at a 17-story apartment building in the Bronx, New York City.[46]
- January 25
- Over a million people are without power across the South and at least 10,000 flights are canceled due to the winter storm.[47]
- Six people are killed when a Bombardier Challenger 650 aircraft crashes at Bangor International Airport in Maine.[48]
- January 27 – Representative Ilhan Omar is attacked during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis when an audience member sprays a chemical substance at her. A 55-year-old man is arrested and charged with third-degree assault, while Omar herself is uninjured.[49]
- January 28
- FBI investigation into the 2020 United States presidential election in Georgia: The Federal Bureau of Investigation raids the election center in Fulton County, Georgia.[50]
- Amazon announces 16,000 job layoffs in its second round of corporate reduction.[51]
- January 29 – Journalist and former CNN host Don Lemon is arrested by federal authorities after he reported on a protest inside a church in St. Paul, Minnesota earlier in the month.[52]
- January 30
- Three million pages related to the Epstein Files, including 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, are released to the public, implicating many high-profile public figures worldwide.[53]
- Killing of Brian Thompson: Judge Margaret Garnett dismisses the federal murder and weapon charges against Luigi Mangione, ruling out the death penalty against Mangione. However, the judge maintains the stalking charges, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.[54]
- January 31
- Five people, including a 6-year-old, are wounded in a shooting at the Mardi Gras parade in Clinton, Louisiana.[55]
- Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, is abducted from her home in the Catalina Foothills area north of Tucson, Arizona.[56][57][58]
- A federal government shutdown begins.[59]
February
- February 1 – The 68th Annual Grammy Awards are held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, honoring the best in music from September 2024 to August 2025.[60] "Luther" by Kendrick Lamar and SZA wins Record of the Year while Debí Tirar Más Fotos by Bad Bunny wins Album of the Year, the first Spanish-language album to do so.[61][62] Kendrick Lamar wins five awards and surpasses Jay-Z as the most awarded hip-hop artist in Grammy Awards history.[63]
- February 3 – The government shutdown ends with a bill that funds DHS for two weeks.[64]
- February 4
- The Central Intelligence Agency announces it will no longer publish The World Factbook.[65]
- Decline of newspapers: The Washington Post announces 300 journalist layoffs, roughly one-third of its employees, as part of a major restructuring.[66]
- February 5
- The New START treaty limiting strategic nuclear weapons with Russia expires.[67]
- Three people are killed and seven others are injured when a car crashes into a 99 Ranch Market in Westwood, Los Angeles, California.[68]
- February 6 – Trump shares a video on social media depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. Trump receives bipartisan condemnation.[69]
- February 8 – Super Bowl LX is played at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California,[70] with the Seattle Seahawks prevailing over the New England Patriots. Bad Bunny headlines halftime show with special guests Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, while Kid Rock performs at the Turning Point alternate All-American Halftime Show.[71]
- February 10 – Trump threatens the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, saying the U.S. should be "fully compensated for everything" it has given to Canada, and demanding that Ottawa "treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve".[72][73][74][75]
- February 11 – The Federal Aviation Administration abruptly announces a 10-day temporary flight restriction (TFR) over El Paso, Texas and surrounding areas (specifically a 10-mile radius surrounding El Paso International Airport). All air traffic is prohibited, including civilian airliners, general aviation, and medical flights. The FAA states that the TFR is because of an 'incursion' of cartel-operated drones. Despite the initial 10-day window, flights resume only hours later.[76]
- February 12
- The Endangerment Finding of 2009, regulating six greenhouse gases as air pollution, is repealed by the Environmental Protection Agency.[77]
- At least six people are killed in a killing spree in Sarasota and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.[78]
- White House "border czar" Tom Homan announces that ICE will end its recent immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities, Minnesota.[79]
- February 14 – A second shutdown affecting only the Department of Homeland Security begins.[80]
- February 16 – A mass shooting occurs at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, during a high school ice hockey game. The attack results in the deaths of three people, and three others hospitalized.[81]
- February 17
- Tributes are paid to Jesse Jackson following the announcement of the civil rights leader's death at the age of 84.[82][83]
- Tricia McLaughlin resigns as Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs in the United States Department of Homeland Security and will leave the Trump administration amidst backlash about Trump's hardline immigration policies.[84]
- An avalanche kills eight skiers northwest of Lake Tahoe in California.[85][86]
- San Antonio Express-News publishes a story about Tony Gonzales's affair [87]
- February 19 – Trump announces he is transferring $10 billion from the US government to his "Board of Peace" which he chairs.[88]
- February 20 – Legal affairs of the second Trump presidency: The U.S. Supreme Court holds in a 6–3 ruling that the IEEPA does not give the President the power to set tariffs, striking down Trump's sweeping emergency tariffs via executive orders.[89][90][91]
- February 21 – Trump announces that he will increase global tariffs to 15% following the Supreme Court decision the previous day, effective from February 24.[92]
- February 22 – A 21-year-old man is shot and killed after entering the secure perimeter of Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. The suspect is described as a white male carrying a shotgun and fuel can.[93]
- February 24
- Meta agrees to purchase millions of artificial intelligence chips from AMD, with AMD committing to supply up to six gigawatts of graphics processing units and issuing Meta warrants convertible into 160 million shares as part of a long-term partnership.[94]
- Trump delivers the first official State of the Union Address of his second term to a joint session of Congress.[95]
- February 25 – 2026 Cuban boat incident: Cuban border guards are involved in a shoot-out with ten people on board a US-registered boat. Five of the boat's passengers are killed, and five are injured.[96]
- February 26 – The Kansas Legislature suspends the driver licenses of all transgender residents, overriding a veto from Governor Laura Kelly.[97]
- February 27
- An extra-governmental group is reportedly working with the Trump administration to draft an executive order which would declare a national emergency and give the Trump administration extended powers over the administration of the 2026 United States elections. Trump denies his knowledge of the existence of such an executive order.[98]
- Anthropic rejects a Pentagon request to loosen security safeguards on the Claude large language model for potential use in mass surveillance and autonomous weapons systems.[99] In response, Trump orders federal agencies to stop using Anthropic's technology, and OpenAI signs a deal with DOD.[100]
- February 28
- Iran War: The U.S. and Israel launch attacks on cities in Iran, and assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.[101] Iran launches retaliatory strikes against U.S. and Israeli military bases in the Gulf, with explosions reported in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as additional spillover in Jordan and Syria.[102]
- Iran war protests
- Anti-war protests are held in cities such as New York City, Portland, and Philadelphia.[103][104][105]
- In Washington DC, anti-war protests organized by groups such as 50501 and Code Pink are held near the White House. Additionally, diaspora protests are held near the World War I Memorial with demonstrators holding American and Israeli flags praising the strikes.[106]
- An anti-war protest is held in Los Angeles at the City Hall to call for an end to American military actions in the Middle East. American actress and activist Jane Fonda takes part in the protest.[107]
March
- March 1
- 2026 Austin bar shooting: Four people are killed, including the perpetrator, and 15 others are injured in a mass shooting at a bar in Austin, Texas. The FBI investigate the attack as potential terrorism, with the possible motive being linked to the U.S. strikes on Iran.[108]
- 2026 attack on the United States consulate in Karachi: In Karachi, Pakistan, protesters supportive of the Iranian government attempt to storm the U.S. consulate. The Marine Security Guard opened fire, killing several protesters.[109]
- March 2
- March 3
- Six U.S. soldiers are reported to have died when an "unmanned aircraft system" evaded air defenses to hit a command centre in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait. These are the first American troops killed in the Iran War.[112]
- Trump orders Treasury Secretary Bessent to "cut off all dealings" with Spain, after Spain refuses to grant the U.S. permission to use jointly operated bases to continue its attacks in Iran.[113]
- March 4 – DOD Secretary Hegseth announces that a U.S. submarine has sunk an Iranian naval frigate in the Indian Ocean with a single Mark 48 torpedo, the first such sinking of an enemy ship since World War II. The Sri Lankan navy reports the IRIS Dena went down in the Indian Ocean, with 140 people on board missing.[114][115][116]
- The U.S. House Ethics Committee launched a formal investigation into Tony Gonzales.[117][118]
- March 4–5 – The Senate and House of Representatives reject War Powers Resolutions to halt Trump's actions in the 2026 Iran War without congressional approval.[119][120]
- March 5–17 – The 2026 World Baseball Classic is held in the United States, including Puerto Rico, as well as in Japan. The championship game is held at LoanDepot Park in Miami.[121]
- March 5
- Trump appoints DHS Secretary Noem as the "Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas," a security initiative focusing on the Western Hemisphere. Trump nominates U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin to replace Noem as DHS Secretary.[122]
- The Pentagon officially designates artificial intelligence company Anthropic a supply chain risk – the first time the government has given this label to a domestic firm. Anthropic states it will challenge the decision in court.[123]
- March 6 – Virginia passes legislation to prohibit schools from teaching about falsehoods of the January 6 United States Capitol attack.[124]
- March 7 – Trump hosts the first Shield of the Americas summit in Doral, Florida, with 12 Latin American countries in attendance.[125]
- Mach 10 – U.S. federal judge Sarah D. Morrison rules that the prediction market Kalshi constitutes as gambling and must adhere to state gambling regulations.[126]
- March 11 – 2026 Minab school attack: A preliminary inquiry finds that the U.S. is at fault for an airstrike which killed 168–180 people at a girls' only elementary school of in Minab, Iran.[127]
- March 12
- Temple Israel synagogue attack: A suspected attacker is killed after a vehicle rams into a synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan, and travels "with purpose down the hall of the building".[128]
- 2026 Old Dominion University shooting: A former National Guardsman opens fire at an ROTC class at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, killing the instructor and injuring two cadets. Cadets subdue the shooter, with one fatally stabbing him.[129]
- CNN reports that the Pentagon and National Security Council significantly underestimated Iran's willingness to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to U.S. military strikes while planning the ongoing operation.[130]
- March 13
- March 14 – Trump announces that U.S. forces have "totally obliterated" all military targets on Kharg Island, which handles the vast majority of Iran's oil exports.[133]
- March 15 – The 98th Academy Awards are held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, honoring the best films released in 2025. One Battle After Another wins the Academy Award for Best Picture.[134][135]
- March 16
- A federal judge blocks the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices changes to vaccine policy, including revisions to the childhood immunization schedule. The judge rules that the policy changes were arbitrary and capricious and that HHS Secretary Kennedy illegally fired and replaced committee members.[136]
- Trump urges allied countries to assist in securing and reopening the Strait of Hormuz following its effective closure by Iran.[137]
- March 17
- Joe Kent resigns as director of the National Counterterrorism Center, citing disagreement over American involvement in the Iran war.[138]
- Trump criticizes NATO and other U.S. allies, saying he's been told they "don't want to get involved" in the Iran war.[139]
- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes files the first criminal charges against Kalshi, alleging that the prediction market is hosting illegal gambling and breaking state law by betting on elections.[140]
- March 18
- 2026 Minab school attack: Win Without War protestors display children's backpacks on Capitol Hill in protest of Minab elementary school airstrike that killed 160 children. Several Democrats from Congress attend the protest.[141]
- The highest March temperature ever recorded in the U.S. occurs, reaching 109 °F (43 °C) near Martinez Lake, Arizona, amid a particularly strong heatwave across the south and southwest. The record is broken again on March 20, reaching 112 °F (44.4 °C).[142]
- March 19 – The Pentagon seeks $200 billion in additional funds for the Iran War.[143]
- March 20
- A jury in California rules that Elon Musk misled Twitter investors before his $44bn purchase of the company in 2022.[144]
- A Nevada court rules that Kalshi cannot operate in the state without obtaining a gaming license from the Nevada Gaming Commission.[145]
- March 21
- Trump issues a warning that if Iran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, Washington will "hit and obliterate" the country's power plants, starting with the largest.[146]
- An anti-war protest is held in Philadelphia to call for U.S. Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick to bring an end to the war.[147]
- In the NCAA Tournament, 11th seed Texas upsets 3rd seed Gonzaga in the Round of 32 to reach the Sweet Sixteen, becoming the first team to go from the First Four to the Sweet Sixteen since the UCLA Bruins did so in 2021.[148][149]
- March 22 – Air Canada Express Flight 8646: Two pilots are killed and more than 40 passengers injured when a Bombardier CRJ700 collides with a firetruck while attempting to cross a runway at LaGuardia Airport, New York.[150]
- March 23
- Trump announces a postponement of U.S. strikes against Iranian power plants after what he calls "productive" negotiations.[151] However, Iran's foreign ministry denies that such talks have taken place.[152]
- 2026 United States federal government shutdowns: ICE agents are sent to airports to assist TSA agents who are without pay.[153]
- A jury in California finds that Bill Cosby is liable for raping a woman by the name of Donna Motsinger in 1972 and awards $19 million in damages to her.[154]
- The Trump administration announces that it will pay $1 billion to French company TotalEnergies to cancel planned offshore wind farms in the Atlantic and instead pursue fossil fuel projects.[155]
- March 24
- The U.S. Senate confirms Markwayne Mullin as the 9th DHS Secretary in a 54–45 vote. Secretary Mullin is the first member of the Cherokee Nation to serve in the U.S. Cabinet.[156]
- Former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin is held in contempt of court and is sentenced to either 60 days in prison or a $500 fine.[157]
- Democrat Emily Gregory wins a special election to represent the 87th House district of Florida which contains Mar-a-Lago.[158]
- March 25
- Expansion of the NBA: The National Basketball Association Board of Governors approve a vote to explore expansion bids in Las Vegas and Seattle.[159]
- A jury in California finds that Meta and YouTube are liable for social media addiction.[160]
- Iran dismisses a peace plan proposed by the U.S., calling the demands "excessive". The White House warns Iran that Donald Trump will "ensure they are hit harder than ever before" if the country refuses to accept defeat.[161]
- The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously holds that internet service providers are not liable for the copyright infringement of their users if the ISP did not intend its services to be used for infringement.[162]
- Trump signs an executive order requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration.[163]
- March 26
- Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores appear in a New York federal court for their latest hearing, faced with charges of narcoterrorism and weapons offenses.[164][165]
- Treasury Secretary Bessent announces that Trump's signature will appear on U.S. paper currency, the first time a sitting president's signature will appear instead of the Treasurer and Secretary of the Treasury.[166]
- March 27
- A House Ethics Committee panel finds that Florida Democratic Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick committed ethics violations in misappropriating federal disaster money for her re-election campaign.[167]
- A federal appeals court overturns a $16.1billion judgment against Argentina over their nationalization of oil firm YPF.
- March 28
- Protests against Donald Trump: The third No Kings protests are held in all 50 U.S. states against the policies of Trump and his administration including the Iran war, ICE operations, and the January shootings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti.[168][169]
- In the NCAA Tournament, the Arizona Wildcats reach the Final Four for the first time since 2001. Additionally, Illinois reaches the Final Four for the first time since 2005.[170][171]
- 3,500 U.S. troops arrive in the Middle East with the USS Tripoli (LHA-7), as strikes between Israel and Iran continue.[172]
- March 30 – Trump and his son Eric unveil the plans for Trump's presidential library in Miami, Florida, at the Miami Dade College campus. Trump plans for the library to also be a hotel.[173]
- March 31
- AAA reports the average price of gas in the United States has risen to $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022.[174]
- Trump signs an executive order directing DHS to create voter lists and USPS to mail ballots only to people on the list.[175]
- A federal judge rules that Trump's Executive Order 14290 barring federal funding for NPR and PBS violates the First Amendment.[176]
- The U.S. Supreme Court rules 8–1 that talk therapy used in conversion therapy is protected speech under the First Amendment and orders lower courts to apply strict scrutiny to a Colorado law banning conversion therapy on minors. This ruling potentially strikes down existing restrictions on conversion therapy in the U.S.[177]
April
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- April 1
- Trump says US military action in Iran could end in "two to three weeks", and that the US will "leave whether we have a deal or not" once he's certain Iran cannot build a nuclear weapon "for years".[180]
- NASA launches the Artemis II lunar flyby mission from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. With a crew of four astronauts – Reid Wiseman (Commander) Victor Glover (Pilot), Christina Koch (Mission specialist), and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen (Mission specialist) – it also becomes the first time a person of color, a woman, and a non-United States citizen have left low Earth orbit.[181][182]
- The Supreme Court hears oral arguments over the constitutionality of Trump's Executive Order 14160 ending birthright citizenship. Trump is in attendance, a first for a sitting president.[183][184]
- The DOJ publishes an opinion that the Presidential Records Act is an unconstitutional overreach of congressional power, and advises Trump that he can refuse to hand over records to the National Archives and Records Administration at the end of his term.[185]
- April 2
- Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is replaced by Todd Blanche in an acting capacity.[186]
- Defense Secretary Hegseth fires three high-ranking U.S. Army generals: Chief Staff Randy George, Chief of Chaplins William Green Jr., and T2COM Commander David Hodne. The Pentagon did not provide a reason.[187]
- The Colorado Court of Appeals vacates the nine-year sentence of 2020 election denier Tina Peters on First Amendment free speech grounds and remands the case for resentencing.[188]
- April 3 – A United States Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle is shot down over Iran during combat operations. Both crew members are later rescued.[189] During the rescue mission, an A-10 Thunderbolt II is also hit and crashes, though its pilot ejects safely and is recovered.[190]
- April 4 – 2025–26 NHL season: In ice hockey, the Buffalo Sabres clinched the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 2010–11 season, ending their 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought.[191][192]
- April 5
- Trump posts an expletive-laden message on Truth Social threatening to destroy Iranian power plants and bridges if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, writing: "Open the Fuckin' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH!"[193]
- The 2026 NCAA Division I women's basketball championship game is held at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona, in which the UCLA Bruins beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 79–51 to win their first title.[194]
- April 6
- The crew of Artemis II breaks the record for the furthest humans have ever been from Earth, reaching a maximum distance of 252,757 miles (406,773 km) as they travel around the far side of the Moon.[195]
- The Supreme Court vacates a federal appeals court ruling that upheld former Trump advisor Steve Bannon's criminal conviction for contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the January 6th Committee. The DOJ moves to formally dismiss Bannon's convictions.[196]
- The 2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game is held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, in which the Michigan Wolverines beat the UConn Huskies 69–63 to win their second title and first since 1989.[197]
- April 7
- Iran War:
- Trump warns that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" unless Iran reaches a deal on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and sets a deadline of 20:00 EDT.[198]
- Following Trump's threat to "end its civilization", Democrats and former Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene call for the invocation of the 25th amendment of the United States Constitution. Additionally, Democrats call for Trump to be impeached.[199]
- Trump announces a two-week ceasefire that was mediated via Pakistan. He agrees to "suspend the bombing and attacks on Iran for a period of two weeks", subject to Iran agreeing to the "complete, immediate and safe opening" of the Strait of Hormuz, and to allow time for an agreement to be reached.[200]
- Assistant District Attorney Clay Fuller, a Trump-endorsed Republican, wins the special election in Georgia to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned in January following a public fallout with Trump.[201]
- Judge Chris Taylor, the Democratic-backed candidate, wins election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The result expands the court's liberal majority to 5–2.[202]
- AI firm Anthropic announces a new model for its Claude language model, named Mythos, designed for locating cybersecurity vulnerabilities and debugging.[203][204]
- Iran War:
- April 8
- Trump threatens 50% tariffs on countries who distribute weapons to Iran.[205]
- Gilgo Beach serial killings: Rex Heuermann pleas guilty to killing eight women between 1993 and 2010 on Long Island.[206]
- Jasveen Sangha is sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for distributing ketamine that resulted in the death of Friends actor Matthew Perry in 2023.[207]
- April 9
- The DNC votes against a resolution to limit AIPAC influence.[208]
- Melania Trump delivers a rare public statement at the White House denying any connection to Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. She calls allegations linking her to Epstein "lies" and urges Congress to hold public hearings for survivors of Epstein's sex trafficking.[209][210]
- The FBI launches an antitrust investigation into the NFL.[211][212]
- April 10
- Iran War: U.S. inflation rises to 3.3% year-on-year in March, a two-year high, driven by higher energy and goods prices linked to disruptions caused by the Iran War.[213]
- Artemis II successfully returns to Earth, splashing down safely in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. The four crew members are extracted from the capsule and taken by helicopter to the USS John P Murtha.[214]
- April 11
- Iran and the United States hold ceasefire talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, making it the first highest-level engagement between the two countries since the Iranian Revolution in 1979. The U.S. delegation is led by Vance.[215]
- The U.S. Central Command has confirmed that the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Frank Peterson and USS Michael Murphy have crossed the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the strait is clear of sea mines.[216][217][218]
- A probe against Eric Swalwell over the sexual assault allegations against him is launched by the Manhattan District Attorney.[219][220]
- April 12
- Rory McIlroy wins the Masters Tournament for the second straight year, the first golfer to do so since Tiger Woods in 2001–02.[221]
- Eric Swalwell suspends his California gubernatorial campaign after four women accuse him of sexual assault and harassment.[222]
- April 13
- The United States begins a naval blockade of Iran amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis.[223][224]
- Eric Swalwell (D-CA14) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX23) resign from Congress following sexual misconduct allegations.[225][226]
- A federal judge dismisses Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over articles linking him to Jeffrey Epstein's birthday book because Trump failed to plausibly allege "actual malice".[227]
- April 15 – John Eastman is disbarred in California for his role in attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election.[228]
- April 16
- Justin Fairfax, the former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (2018–2022), murders his wife Cerina while their two kids are present, before committing suicide.[229]
- The Trump administration cancels $73M funding for New York for failing to vet foreign truck drivers.[230]
- The DOJ opens an investigation against Eric Swalwell.[231][232]
- Singer D4vd is arrested as the main suspect of the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez.[233][234]
- The U.S. complete the withdrawal of their armed forces from Syria after being in the country since 2014.[235]
- April 17
- A federal appeals court allows the Trump administration to continue construction on the White House ballroom until at least June, in response to a lower court injunction ruling that the president requires congressional approval for the ballroom.[236][237]
- Liz Conmy, a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives, dies in a plane crash in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.[238]
- April 18 – Reactions to the Iran War: During the Coachella festival, The Strokes denounce the US-Israel strikes against Iran and accuse the Central Intelligence Agency of using violence to promote regime change while performing Oblivius.[239][240]
- April 19 – Eight children are killed and two other people are injured in a mass shooting at multiple locations in Shreveport, Louisiana. The perpetrator is killed by police.[241]
- April 20
- Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigns amid abuse of power allegations. Keith E. Sonderling becomes Acting Secretary of Labor.[242]
- Around 62 U.S. military veterans are arrested by the U.S. Capitol Police inside the United States Capitol in Washington, DC during a protest against the Iran War after occupying the Cannon House Office Building.[243][244] Among those arrested are Center on Conscience & War executive director Mike Prysner and client Tyler Romero.[245]
- The Onion implements a new plan to acquire InfoWars from far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones after an earlier plan was rejected by a judge.[246]
- Tim Cook announces he will step down as Apple's CEO and become Executive Director. John Ternus is chosen as Apple's next CEO, effective September 1, 2026.[247]
- FBI Director Kash Patel sues The Atlantic in a $250 million defamation lawsuit over an article claiming that Patel is an alcoholic.[248]
- April 21
- Trump says that he extended the Iran truce to allow time for an Iranian proposal to be submitted at Pakistan's request.[249]
- 2026 Virginia redistricting amendment: Voters in Virginia approve a redistricting referendum aimed at boosting Democrats' chance of winning seats in the upcoming midterms.[250]
- The DOJ charges the Southern Poverty Law Center with defrauding donors with payments to white nationalist informants.[251]
- April 22 – A chemical accident in Institute, West Virginia leaves two dead and 30 others injured.[252]
- April 23
- Trump orders the US Navy to destroy any Iranian boats laying mines in the Hormuz.[253]
- Acting Attorney General Blanche reclassifies marijuana to a Schedule III drug.[254][255]
- Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders approve Paramount Skydance's proposed acquisition of the company in a deal valued at $111 billion including debt, moving the merger a step closer to completion pending regulatory approval.[256][257]
- A shooting at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge leaves five injured and one dead.[258]
- April 24 – Trump fires all 24 members of the National Science Board, the body that oversees the National Science Foundation.[259]
- April 25
- Trump is evacuated after a shooting occurs at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. One law enforcement officer is struck in a bullet-resistant vest and is expected to recover. A 31-year-old male suspect is subdued and taken into custody.[260][261]
- The US military announces that its strike on an alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific killed two people.[262]
- April 26 – 2026 NASCAR Cup Series: In NASCAR, a 26-car pileup occurs during the Jack Link's 500 at the Talladega Superspeedway after driver Bubba Wallace was pushed from outside.[263]
- April 27
- The suspect in the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting is charged with attempting to assassinate the president, along with weapon offences relating to the incident at the Washington DC Hilton. He does not enter a plea.[264]
- King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in the US for a state visit.[265]
- April 28 – Former FBI director James Comey is indicted on federal charges of threatening the president. The charges are related to a post he made in May 2025, which included a photo of seashells on the beach arranged to spell "86 47".[266]
- April 29
- The Washington Post reports that the USS Gerald R. Ford will exit the Middle East and return to Virginia in the coming days after spending 10 months at sea.[267][268][269]
- Louisiana v. Callais: The Supreme Court, in a 6–3 decision, rules that Louisiana's new redistricting map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander under the Fifteenth Amendment.[citation needed]
- April 30
- Camp Mystic in Texas withdraws an application to reopen during the summer in the wake of the floods in July 2025.[270]
- Trump signs a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security, the Secret Service, the Coast Guard, FEMA, TSA, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, ending a 76-day partial government shutdown.[271][272][273]
- In ice hockey, the Minnesota Wild defeat the Dallas Stars in six games in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs following a 5–2 victory to win a playoff series for the first time since 2015, ending an 11-year drought.[274]
May
- May 1
- Iran War: President Donald Trump notifies lawmakers in Congress that the Iran war has been "terminated" ahead of a 60-day deadline under the War Powers Resolution which military operations must halt unless lawmakers authorize military force.[275]
- 2026 May Day protests: May Day protests are held across the U.S., including an economic blackout as part of 3,500 "May Day Strong" events across the country. Additionally, demonstrations are held outside institutions such as the New York Stock Exchange.[276][277]
- British singer Zayn Malik cancels all U.S. concert events for his upcoming Konnakol tour after being hospitalized for an unknown illness.[278][279]
- May 2
- 2026 Kentucky Derby: In horse racing, American racehorse Golden Tempo wins the 152nd Kentucky Derby after entering the race with a 24–1 odds, making Cherie DeVaux the first female trainer to win the derby.[280]
- Spirit Airlines announces it has gone out of business after 34 years.[281]
- May 3 – Iran War: President Trump announces Operation Project Freedom in an effort to secure commercial traffic across the Strait of Hormuz.[282]
- May 4
- Iran War:
- The U.S. Central Command confirms the launch of Operation Project Freedom in an effort to secure commercial traffic across the Strait of Hormuz.[283][284]
- Danish shipping company Maersk reports that the Alliance Fairfax, a US-flagged vehicle carrier operated by subsidiary Farrell Lines, has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz accompanied by U.S. military assets as part of Project Freedom.[285]
- Iran is reported to have fired missiles and drones at military and commercial ships.[286]
- Trump tells reporters that US forces shot down seven Iranian "fast boats".[287]
- Iran War:
- May 5
- Iran War:
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces that Operation Epic Fury has concluded.[288][289]
- President Trump announces that Operation Project Freedom has been paused, citing progress in negotiations.[290]
- CNN hosts the Californian Governor primary debate[291][292]
- Vivek Ramaswamy wins the Republican nomination for the governor of Ohio.[293][294]
- Tanner Horner is sentenced to death after pleading guilty to the murder of Athena Strand, a 7-year-old girl he took from her Texas home while delivering a Christmas gift.[295]
- Iran War:
- May 6
- Iran War: Amid negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz crisis, President Trump says that the U.S.–Israeli war against Iran could end if Iran accepts a U.S. proposal, but warns that bombing would resume at "a much higher level and intensity" if it rejects the terms. Iran says it is reviewing the proposal.[296]
- Former collegiate American football quarterback Stephen Garcia, who played for the University of South Carolina, announces he has been diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer.[297]
- May 7 – The U.S. Department of State along with other federal agencies orders an investigation of all 53 Mexican consulates throughout the country. The Trump administration accuses former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of utilizing Mexican consulates in the U.S. to monitor political activities.[298]
- May 8
- Tariffs in the second Trump administration: The U.S. Court of International Trade rules that the 10% global tariffs imposed by Trump are illegal.[299]
- In college basketball, the NCAA Division I men's and women's tournaments will expand to 76 teams beginning next year.[300]
- The Pentagon releases declassified documents about UFOs and extraterrestrial life.[301][302]
- May 10 – Six people are found dead inside a boxcar on a Union Pacific freight train in Laredo, Texas.[303]
- May 12
- 2025–2026 United States redistricting: The Republican-led South Carolina Senate rejects redistricting efforts to redraw the congressional districts in South Carolina, including efforts to eliminate the seat represented by congressman Jim Clyburn.[304]
- American autonomous driving technology company Waymo recalls 3,800 robotaxis over risks that they could enter flooded areas.[305]
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- May 13–15 – President Trump makes a state visit to China and meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.[306]
- May 13 – The U.S. Senate confirms Kevin Warsh as the Chair of the Federal Reserve in a 54–45 vote. Warsh will succeed Jerome Powell at the end of the latter's term.[307]
- May 14
- Federal employees sue USDA and Secretary Brooke Rollins on First Amendment grounds over proselytizing Christian messaging in work emails.[308]
- Mike Banks resigns as U.S. Border Patrol Chief, saying he wanted to spend time with family.[309] Bank's resignation came weeks after the Washington Examiner alleged that he engaged in sex tourism in Colombia and Thailand.[310]
- May 16 – 2026 Long Island Rail Road strike: Five unions representing over 3,500 workers for the Long Island Rail Road, the largest commuter rail system in North America, go on strike to negotiate a new contract with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City.[311]
- May 18 – Five people, including two gunmen, are killed in a mass shooting at a mosque in San Diego, California.[312]
- May 18–19 – The DOJ announces they reached a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service to resolve Trump's $10 billion lawsuit regarding the 2020 leak of his tax returns to The New York Times. Trump drops the lawsuit but will receive a $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization fund" to give to people who were prosecuted by the Biden administration.[313] A day later, the DOJ reveals that the settlement terms include that the IRS is "forever barred and precluded" from investigating past tax returns filed by President Trump, his family and his businesses.[314]
- May 19 – U.S. Representative Thomas Massie loses the Republican primary for his congressional seat in Kentucky to Trump-endorsed Ed Gallrein. Massie is one of the most prominent Republican critics of the Trump administration.[315] The race is the most expensive U.S. House primary in American history, with over $32 million spent in ad spending.[316]
- May 20
- The U.S. House of Representatives passes the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act in a 396–13 vote, a legislation aimed at helping the cost-of-living and housing in the United States.[317][318]
- Two U.S. Capitol Police officers who helped defend the Capitol building during the January 6, 2021 riot file a lawsuit to block January 6 rioters from receiving payouts from a $1.776 billion settlement fund.[319]
- MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak: American passengers quarantined in Nebraska following exposure to the hantavirus on MV Hondius, including a North Carolina resident, will remain in quarantine until the end of May.[320]
- Vanessa Trump, ex-wife of Donald Trump's son Donald Trump Jr., announces that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.[321]
- U.S. doctor Peter Stafford who contracted Ebola in DRC is flown to Germany for treatment.[322]
- The DOJ indicts former First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Raúl Castro for crimes related to the 1996 shootdown of Brothers to the Rescue aircraft.[323][324]
- May 21
- DNC chair Ken Martin releases the full autopsy report into the Democratic Party's defeat in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, including criticism into the presidential campaign of then-US Vice President Kamala Harris.[325][326]
- West Nile virus in the United States: Texas reports its first case of West Nile virus of 2026 in Harris County.[327]
- A chemical leak at a GKN Aerospace plant tank in Garden Grove, California, forces over 40,000 residents to evacuate due to the risk of methyl methacrylate leaking into the surrounding areas or the tank exploding.[328]
- CBS airs the final episode of Stephen Colbert's Late Show.[329] CBS's official reason for cancelling Colbert's show was financial difficulties, but commentators believe it was due to pressure from the Trump administration over Colbert's frequent criticisms.[330] Trump posts an AI-generated video on Truth Social depicting him throwing Colbert into a garbage dumpster.[331]
- May 22
- Tulsi Gabbard resigns as Director of National Intelligence, citing her husband's recent bone cancer diagnosis. According to a source familiar with her departure, she was compelled to leave by the White House.[332]
- Trump announces he will posthumously award Welles Crowther the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his heroism and sacrifice during the 9/11 attacks. Crowther is widely remembered as the "The Man in the Red Bandana".[333]
- The Department of Homeland Security announces that people with temporary visas must return to their home countries to apply for green cards.[334]
- Federal judge Waverly Crenshaw dismisses DOJ criminal charges filed against Kilmar Abrego Garcia for human smuggling, ruling that DOJ's allegations was retaliation for his successful lawsuit challenging his deportation to El Salvador.[335]
- May 23
- May 2026 White House shooting: A gunman opens fire at a security booth outside the White House complex in Washington, D.C., before being fatally shot by the Secret Service. A bystander is also injured and is in critical condition.[336][337]
- Hasan Piker and Medea Benjamin are subpoenaed by US officials over their Cuban trip.[338]
- May 24 – At least 19 people are injured in Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, during a stampede at an annual motorcycle rally.[339]
- May 25
- Iran War:
- Trump honors the 13 servicemembers who were killed during the Operation Epic Fury phase of the Iran war at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day.[340]
- The US Central Command reports "self-defense" strikes on Iran, saying that the ceasefire is still in place, with several Iranian soldiers reportedly killed. According to Iranian sources, prior to the US attacks, the Iranian military targeted a ship at sea.[341][342]
- 2026 NBA playoffs: In basketball, the New York Knicks eliminate the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games with a 130–93 victory at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, to win the NBA Eastern Conference and advance to the 2026 NBA Finals, their first appearance in the NBA Finals since 1999. They will face the winner of the Western Conference finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.[343][344]
- Iran War:
- May 26
- The South Carolina Senate rejects a redistricting effort to eliminate the state's single majority-Black district, held by Democrat U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn, before the upcoming U.S. midterms.[345][346]
- Joe Biden sues the DOJ to block the release of private audio recordings with his biographer Mark Zwonitzer for the 2017 memoir, Promise Me, Dad. The recordings were obtained during Special Counsel Robert Hur's probe into Biden's handling of classified documents after his vice presidency.[347]
- The DOJ charges Michele Spagnuolo, a Google engineer, with breaking federal insider trading laws because of $2.7 million in bets related to Google he placed on Polymarket, a prediction market, between October and December 2025.[348]
- May 27
- The American Cancer Society announces that blood tests will be included for colorectal cancer screenings amidst a rise in colon cancer in young adults. The recommendations also reaffirm that screenings should begin at age 45.[349][350]
- Former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is diagnosed with thyroid cancer.[351]
- CNN reports that the DOJ opened a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, accusing her of perjury during her defamation and sexual abuse lawsuit against Trump.[352]
- Meta launches paid subscriptions plans for Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.[353]
- May 28
- Axios reports that U.S. and Iran negotiators have reached a ceasefire extension deal, pending Trump's approval.[354]
- At least three people are killed, four others are injured, and 11 more are reported missing in an explosion at an apartment building in Dallas, Texas.[355]
- Former CIA official David Rush is accused of stealing $40 million of gold bars.[356]
- CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss appoints former New York Times journalist Nick Bilton as the executive director of 60 Minutes, following a series of firings on 60 Minutes staff amid pressure from the Trump Administration.[357][358]
- The White House launches aliens.gov, an extraterrestrial themed website that lambasts illegal immigration in the U.S.[359]
- May 29
- Federal judge Leonie Brinkema blocks the distribution of the Trump administration's $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund while lawsuits are being litigated.[360]
- Federal judge Christopher R. Cooper orders the Trump administration to reopen the Kennedy Center and remove Trump's name from it, ruling that congressional approval is required.[361]
- In ice hockey, the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Montreal Canadiens in five games during the Eastern Conference Finals to advance to the 2026 Stanley Cup finals, making it their first appearance in the Stanley Cup since 2006.[362]
- May 30
- The San Antonio Spurs defeat the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in seven games to win the Western Conference finals and reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014, where they will face the New York Knicks.[363]
- The U.S. Southern Command announces that it conducted a strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing three male "narco-terrorists".[364]
- Trump names himself as the headliner for the "Great American State Fair" semiquincentennial event, organized by Freedom 250, in Washington D.C., after several artists pull out over concerns that the event became politicized by Trump. Martina McBride, Young MC, Bret Michaels, and the Commodores were among the artists who pulled out. A revised lineup includes artists such as Flo Rida, Milli Vanilli, and Vanilla Ice.[365]
- May 31 – The National Basketball Association announces that the logo for the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy will be displayed on the basketball courts of Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, and Madison Square Garden in New York City for the upcoming NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks, making it the first time the logo decal will be placed on the NBA court during the NBA Finals since 2009.[366]
June
- June 1
- Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier files a lawsuit in state court against OpenAI, accusing ChatGPT of security lapses that promoted violent conduct. This lawsuit is the first to be filed by a state against ChatGPT.[367]
- The Trump administration announces that it will walk away from a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund amid pushback from GOP members of Congress, including majority leader John Thune, and a lingering court battle demanding an explanation for the arrangement.[368][369] However, acting Attorney General Blanche clarifies that the IRS is still barred from auditing Trump's previous tax records.[370]
- U.S. spending on data center construction is reported to have reached $50.7 billion in April 2026, surpassing public construction spending on transportation structures for the first time.[371]
- Axios reports that Trump yelled at Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel's escalation in Lebanon amid a ceasefire, which threatened the U.S.-Iran negotiations to end the Iran War. Trump allegedly told Netanyahu, "You're fucking crazy. You'd be in prison if it weren't for me. I'm saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this."[372] Trump later confirms he had called Netanyahu "crazy".[373]
- CBS News fires 60 Minutes journalist Scott Pelley after he criticizes the new leadership during a meeting.[374]
- The DC Court of Appeals rules in a split decision that the Trump administration's ban on transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military is likely unconstitutional. The court's decision protects active service members from being dismissed, but doesn't abolish the ban on recruitment.[375]
- June 2
- The U.S. Supreme Court allows Alabama to redistrict its congressional map for the upcoming midterm elections. The new map favors the Republican Party.[376]
- Trump names businessman Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gubbard who resigned.[377]
- The New York Times reports that the DOJ is investigating former U.S. Representative George Santos for insider trading on Kalshi by betting on himself that he would not show up to the 2026 State of the Union Address.[378]
- The Trump administration proposes a 10% tariff on countries who failed to enforce bans on products made with forced labor.[379]
- Trump suggests that the UFC Arena being built on the White House's South Lawn for the June 14th UFC Freedom 250 fights could be a permanent installation, likening it to France's decision to keep the Eiffel Tower after the 1889 Paris Exposition.[380]
- June 3
- The U.S. House passes a resolution by a vote of 215–208 to limit Trump's war powers and end hostilities in the Iran War, with four Republicans (Tom Barrett (MI), Warren Davidson (OH), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), and Thomas Massie (KY)) joining all Democrats.[381] The resolution is seen as symbolic as it would need to pass the U.S. Senate and survive a presidential veto; Trump derides the defecting Republicans as "grandstanders".[382]
- Senate Republicans have stripped a $1 billion funding for security upgrades to the proposed White House ballroom from a revised budget reconciliation bill.[383]
- Arizona reports its first death of the Sin Nombre strain of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.[384]
- Actor James Handy is killed in his Los Angeles home following a fatal stabbing wound. The son of Handy's girlfriend is later arrested.[385]
- Gallup releases a poll saying support for same-sex marriage in the U.S. has declined after two decades of growth, with 65% of adults saying it should be legal, down from 71% in 2022 and 2023.[386][387]
- June 4
- The Kennedy Center orders staff to remove all references to Donald Trump's name from the building following a court ruling.[388][389]
- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes says she will seek new indictments against fake electors involved in attempting to overturn the 2020 election in the state following a denial of an appeal by Mayes that would require prosecutors to send the case back to the grand jury.[390]
- The U.S. House passes legislation to provide new aid to Ukraine and new sanctions on Russia.[391]
- ICE ends a Biden-era policy to report detainee deaths that occur within 30 days of leaving custody.[392]
- June 5
- Federal judge John McConnell Jr. strikes down the Trump Administration's policy that halted asylum and green card proceedings for applicants from 39 countries. The ruling states ICE's actions are arbitrary and capricious and ignore the law.[393][394]
- The National Football League's Chicago Bears vote to advance plans for stadium development in Hammond in northwest Indiana to replace Soldier Field as its home stadium. However, the site of the stadium still remains determined.[395]
- The FDA says that Target has recalled two types of baby wipes due to bacterial contamination.[396]
- NASA orders four astronauts of the Crew-12 mission to prepare to evacuate the International Space Station due to an air leak on Russia's Zvezda service module. The order is rescinded two hours later as the air leaks are sealed.[397]
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright announces a nuclear microreactor developed by Antares Nuclear at the Idaho National Laboratory reached criticality, a milestone for the Trump administration's development of nuclear energy.[398]
- NBC News reports that the Pentagon raised the threat of Israeli spying on the U.S. to the highest level; Israeli and American officials deny the veracity of the report.[399]
- June 6 – Iran War: The United States military strikes Iranian coastal radar sites after shooting down Iranian drones launched towards the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responds by launching missiles and drones towards U.S. military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait.[400][401]
- June 7 – In an interview with NBC News' Meet the Press, Trump repeats unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 United States presidential election and ongoing California primary elections were "rigged", and declines to rule out compensation for some people prosecuted over the January 6 United States Capitol attack. Trump walks out after journalist Kristen Walker presses him to provide evidence of his claims.[402]
- June 8
- Federal judge Leo Sorokin voids President Trump's $100,000 fee requirement for H-1B visa applications, ruling that Trump lacked congressional authority to impose what amounted to a tax on the programme.[403]
- The Kennedy Center removes Donald Trump's name from the building following the ruling.[404]
- A U.S. Army Apache helicopter crashes near the Strait of Hormuz. The crew is rescued safely.[405]
- Trump attends Game 3 of the NBA Finals, becoming the first sitting president to do so.[406]
- Trump nominates Todd Blanche to serve as the U.S. attorney general, where he currently serves in an acting capacity.[407]
- The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform releases a report accusing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison of being aware of widespread fraud in federally-funded social programs.[408] Vance refers both officials to the Department of Justice for criminal fraud investigation.[409]
- June 9
- Controversial candidate Graham Platner wins the Democratic primary for the US Senate election in Maine.[410]
- Iran War: The U.S. military launches new strikes against Iran in response to the downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, further straining a fragile ceasefire.[411]
- June 10
- Trump quips "I love inflation" despite inflation reaching a three-year high of 4.2%, up from 3.8% a month earlier, driven by rising energy costs.[412]
- Trump signs legislation providing nearly $70 billion to fund ICE and the Border Patrol through the remainder of his term, ending a nearly six-month dispute over Department of Homeland Security funding.[413]
- 2026 NBA Finals: In basketball, the New York Knicks rally from a 29-point deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 107–106 in Game 4, taking a 3–1 series lead in the NBA Finals after OG Anunoby tipped in the game-winning basket with 1.2 seconds remaining. The comeback is the largest in NBA Finals history, surpassing the Boston Celtics 24-point comeback in Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals.[414]
- The Florida Supreme Court declines to block a new Republican-drawn congressional map from being used in the midterm elections. The map could enable Republicans to gain as many as four additional seats in the U.S. House.[415]
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- June 11 to July 19 – The United States is co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico and hosting the majority of games during the tournament, including all games past the quarterfinals of the knockout stage including the final, which will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
- June 11
- Trump nominates US Attorney Jay Clayton as the Director of National Intelligence, withdrawing his nomination for Bill Putte amid congressional pushback.[416]
- The U.S. becomes the world's biggest exporter of oil, surpassing Russia and Saudi Arabia, amid the trade disruptions caused by the Ukrainian and Iran Wars.[417]
- June 12
- Elon Musk's SpaceX makes the largest-ever stock market debut, with a valuation of more than $2 trillion, making Musk the first and only US dollar trillionaire.[418]
- 2026 FIFA World Cup: The U.S. men's national soccer team wins its opening match, 4–1, against Paraguay in the FIFA World Cup in SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.[419]
- The U.S. Department of Commerce issues an export control directive requiring Anthropic to suspend access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 artificial intelligence models by foreign nationals, citing national security concerns. Anthropic disables the models for all users in order to comply.[420]
- Trump announces that an American strike killed Niño Guerrero, the "terrorist" leader of Venezuelan transnational organized crime syndicate Tren de Aragua. Trump states that the military action was coordinated with Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodriguez.[421]
- June 13
- 2026 UFL season: In American football, the Louisville Kings defeat the DC Defenders, 27–20, to win their first United Bowl championship in their inaugural year in the United Football League.[422]
- 2026 NBA Finals: In basketball, the New York Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs 94–90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to win their first championship title since 1973 and their third overall. They also become the first team out of the four major league teams in the New York metropolitan area to win a championship since the New York Giants in 2011.[423]
- Trump's name is removed from the Kennedy Center.[424]
- June 14
- Iran War: Trump and Iran announce that they have reached an agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump also says that he has authorized the lifting of the US naval blockade of Iran. The US military later clarifies that the blockade will remain in effect until the agreement is signed on 19 June.[425][426]
- 2026 NBA Finals:
- Police arrest 63 people outside Madison Square Garden in New York City, U.S., after 10 police officers were injured during celebrations of the New York Knicks winning the NBA Finals.[427]
- Gunshots are reported overnight on 42nd Street and Broadway in New York City with one teen shot and several buses being damaged during celebrations.[428]
- The UFC Freedom 250 event, named after the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, is held on the South Lawn of the White House. The event coincides with Trump's 80th birthday.[429]
- June 15
- Iran War: US Vice President JD Vance announces that the Islamabad Memorandum was digitally signed by the US and Iran the previous day.[430]
- Eight people are killed in a B-52 bomber crash in California.[431]
- June 16 – SpaceX announces a US$60 billion all-stock deal to acquire Cursor, the developer of the AI coding assistant Cursor, with the transaction expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.[432]
- June 17
- Iran War:
- The Pentagon reveals that xAI's Grok model was utilized by the US during the war.[433]
- Trump states that if he does not like the agreement with Iran, the United States will "go right back to dropping bombs".[434]
- Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sign a memorandum of understanding to end the war. Trump signs the document at the Palace of Versailles, during a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron following the G7 summit.[435]
- 2027–2028 United States redistricting: Republicans in the Georgia General Assembly reject an attempt by Governor Brian Kemp to redistrict Georgia’s congressional districts for the 2028 U.S. House of Representatives elections in the state after State House Speaker Jon G. Burns announced that he will not hold a vote to do so.[436]
- Iran War:
- June 18
- Iran War: Primary mediator Pakistan states that the signing of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding to end the war implies Tehran will reopen the Hormuz "instantly" and the American blockade of Iranian ports will end "immediately."[437]
- MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak: Two more passengers who were on the MV Hondius cruise ship during the hantavirus outbreak exit the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, bringing the total number of people remaining in quarantine to six.[438]
- After over 35 years in service, the U.S. Air Force retires the Boeing VC-25A aircraft used as Air Force One.[439]
- The Barack Obama Presidential Center is dedicated in Chicago, with all living former presidents except Trump in attendance.[440]
- June 19
- Trump officially unveils the Qatari-gifted Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews.[441]
- The Department of Justice opens an investigation into Major League Baseball (MLB) after the league warned three San Francisco Giants players for writing Bible verses over their rainbow logo caps before a Pride Night game.[442]
- June 21
- Iran War: Trump issues a threat to invade Iran if they close the Strait of Hormuz, following Iran's claim of its closure due to Israeli strikes in Lebanon. He warns that they "won't even make it back to their fucking country," suggesting a potential threat against Iranian negotiators in Switzerland.[443]
- MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak: The last American passenger exits the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, officially ending the quarantine for Americans who were affected by the hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship.[444]
- The Washington Post publishes an investigation into Tulsi Gabbard's relationship with Chris Butler and the Science of Identity Foundation, alleging that confidential memos from her congressional career showed outside political and policy guidance. Gabbard's office and representatives of the foundation reject the report, calling the allegations false and anti-Hindu bigotry.[445]
- June 22 – In college baseball, the Oklahoma Sooners baseball team defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels to win the College World Series for the first time since their 1994 season.[446][447][448]
- June 23
- Iran War: The Senate, by a vote of 50–48, mandates the United States to either end its war operations or seek congressional consent to continue fighting.[449]
- 2026 NBA draft: The 80th edition of the NBA draft is held at the Barclays Center, with the Washington Wizards selecting former Brigham Young University (BYU) freshman AJ Dybantsa with the first-overall pick.[450]
- The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passes in the United States House of Representatives, sending it to President Trump for his signature.[451]
- June 24 – President Trump cancels a planned signing ceremony for the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, saying that he will not sign the bill until Congress passes the unrelated SAVE America Act, a voter identification and proof-of-citizenship bill.[452][453]
- June 25
- 2026 Utah wildfires: Utah Governor Spencer Cox announces a state of emergency and temporary restrictions on fireworks through the Fourth of July weekend until July 5 due to ongoing wildfires in the state, including the Cottonwood Fire.[454]
- In Mullin v. Al Otro Lado, the U.S. Supreme Court rules 6–3 that migrants stopped on the Mexican side of the U.S.–Mexico border have not "arrived in the United States" for the purposes of federal immigration law, allowing the federal government to revive its "metering" policy for asylum seekers at border crossings.[455]
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirms that the Alligator Alcatraz detention center in Ochopee, Florida, will close operations, a year after it opened.[456]
- June 26
- Iran War: Trump accuses Iran of violating the truce with the US by launching drone attacks on ships in the Hormuz.[457] The United States Central Command later announces that in retaliation to the alleged truce violations, the US hit Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, as well as coastal radar stations.[458]
- Former national security adviser John Bolton pleads guilty to improperly retaining classified material.[459]
- Flash floods hit Kentucky, leaving four dead.[460][461]
- June 27
- Iran War: The US military announces that it struck Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities at the commander-in-chief's direction in retaliation for an alleged Iranian attack against a ship in the Hormuz.[462] Trump accuses Iran of repeatedly violating the ceasefire memorandum, expressing doubt about their ability to learn from past mistakes. He warns of a potential point where the U.S. will be forced to militarily "complete the job", stating that if this occurs, the Iranian regime could cease to exist.[463]
- Trump nominates Lance Schroyer, former Oklahoma State trooper, as ICE Director.[464][465]
- June 28 – Iran War: The U.S. and Iran agree to stop the exchange of attacks between them.[466]
- June 29
- In Trump v. Slaughter, the Supreme Court rules 6–3 that the president may remove Federal Trade Commission commissioners at will, overturning the 1935 precedent set by Humphrey's Executor v. United States and expanding presidential removal power over independent regulatory agencies. In a separate 5–4 ruling in Trump v. Cook, the Court leaves in place an injunction blocking President Donald Trump's attempted removal of Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Lisa D. Cook, holding that Federal Reserve governors retain for-cause removal protections.[467][468]
- The Supreme Court declines to hear President Trump's appeal of a $5 million civil judgment in E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump, leaving in place a jury verdict finding him liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll.[469]
- Former American football running back Chris Johnson announces in an interview on the Good Morning America that he has been diagnosed with ALS.[470][471]
- June 30
- Iran War: Iran announces that it was unable to export any oil during the US blockade of its ports.[472]
- In Trump v. Barbara, the Supreme Court rules 5-4 that birthright citizenship is guaranteed under the Fourteenth Amendment and strikes down Trump's Executive Order 14160. Justice Kavanaugh concurs that Trump’s Executive Order should be struck down, but dissents in that birthright citizenship is established by a congressional law rather than the Constitution.[473][474]
- In West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox, the Supreme Court rules 6–3 that states may ban transgender athletes from participating in women and girls' sports.[475][476]
- In National Republican Senatorial Committee v. FEC, the Supreme Court rules 6–3 that federal limits on political parties for campaign finance violate the First Amendment's Free Speech Clause and strikes down those provisions in the Federal Election Campaign Act.[477][478]
- Ford issues a recall order of over 741,000 vehicles, mainly F-150, Explorer, Expedition, Lincoln Aviator, and Navigator models, due to a transmission issue that may damage the park system.[479]
July
- July 1
- US President Donald Trump deploys the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System and Marine Air Defence Integrated System in the Luzon Strait and southern Japanese islands as part of the US military's regional war plan to defend Taiwan and deter a future Chinese invasion.[480]
- Trump takes his first flight in the new Air Force One, which was gifted by Qatar.[481]
- Three American soldiers are injured and one soldier is missing after their MH-60S Seahawk helicopter went down in the Arabian Sea.[482]
- July 3 — A man dies after setting himself on fire outside the UN in New York, with activists and reports identifying him as a pro-Tibet advocate.[483]
Predicted and scheduled events
July
- July 4 – The United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary as a nation.[484]
August
- August 12 – A total solar eclipse is predicted to occur at the Moon's descending node of the orbit in North America and Europe. The total eclipse will pass over the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean and northern Spain.[485]
September
- September 26 – The execution of convicted murderer Christa Pike is scheduled to take place.[486]
November
- November 3 – The 2026 United States midterm elections are scheduled to be held.[487]