Donald Trump threatens lawsuit against Center for American Progress

President Donald Trump has threatened a defamation lawsuit against the Center for American Progress (CAP) following a report by the think tank that challenged his administration's use of the National Guard to combat urban crime. In a social media post, Trump characterized the report as a “Radical Left SCAM” and criticized various corporations and individuals—including Apple, Google, Walmart, and Bill Gates—for supporting the organization.

The report, presented by Chandler Hall of CAP, argued that the $1.7 billion deployment of the National Guard in cities like Washington, D.C., had “NO impact on Crime.” Trump countered these findings by stating that crime has decreased significantly since he took office.

Prior to the litigation threat, investigators from the Heritage Foundation had reportedly used hundreds of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to compile records on CAP leaders and their connections to the Biden administration. These requests targeted communications involving CAP president Neera Tanden and board members such as Antony Blinken and Jane Hartley, as well as the financial activities of benefactor Hansjörg Wyss.