{"id":220592,"date":"2026-01-15T11:38:53","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T16:38:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aclu.org\/?post_type=press_release&p=220592"},"modified":"2026-01-15T13:02:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T18:02:58","slug":"aclu-marks-the-first-year-of-trumps-return-with-new-report-and-video-series","status":"publish","type":"press_release","link":"https:\/\/www.aclu.org\/press-releases\/aclu-marks-the-first-year-of-trumps-return-with-new-report-and-video-series","title":{"rendered":"ACLU Marks the First Year of Trump\u2019s Return with New Report and Video Series"},"menu_order":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-220592","press_release","type-press_release","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"subheading":"The \u201cDefeat, Delay, Dilute: ACLU Versus President Trump\u201d\u00a0report\u00a0examines\u00a0the\u00a0pivotal civil\u00a0rights and civil\u00a0liberties attacks\u00a0from\u00a0the president\u00a0and what\u00a0they\u00a0mean for the administration\u2019s priorities in\u00a02026. The Portraits of Protest\u00a0video series\u00a0puts\u00a0a face on those attacks\u00a0by featuring the\u00a0everyday people who\u00a0fought back.","date_and_time":"2026-01-15 11:45:00","featured_image":220618,"show_on_press_releases_landing_page":true,"components":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text","text":{"text":"NEW YORK \u2013 Ahead of the anniversary of President Trump\u2019s inauguration on Jan. 20, the American Civil Liberties Union today marked the first year of Trump\u2019s second term by releasing a new report titled \u201cDefeat, Delay, Dilute: ACLU Versus President Trump<\/i><\/a>,\u201d <\/i>which examines the organization\u2019s successes and challenges against the Trump administration across three main issue areas \u2013 safeguarding free speech, protecting immigrants\u2019 rights, and defending equal protection under the law \u2013 and what they mean for the administration\u2019s 2026 agenda.\r\n\r\nAs the report details, the ACLU has filed over 200 legal actions, with an almost 65 success rate in defeating, delaying, or diluting federal policies. Additionally, the report outlines the ACLU\u2019s Firewall for Freedom effort, which has passed more than 80 policies, including 51 state laws, using the power of state and local lawmakers to push back against the Trump agenda.\r\n\r\nAlongside the report, the ACLU also released Portraits of Protest<\/i><\/a>,<\/i> a video series that details the individual stories of people who courageously challenged President Trump\u2019s efforts to suppress their speech, identity, and advocacy. Together, the report and video series reveal the strategy, strength, and fortitude necessary to beat back the Trump administration\u2019s unlawful and unprecedented attacks on our most fundamental rights and freedoms.\r\n\r\n\u201cOne year into the Trump administration, there\u2019s one big take-away: We are only in a constitutional crisis if we allow it. President Trump\u2019s return to the White House unleashed near daily efforts to dismantle civil rights and civil liberties, intimidate marginalized communities, and upend the rule of law. Our response reflected a credo we\u2019ve held for 106 years: Rights endure not because leaders respect them, but because people and institutions insist on enforcing them,\u201d said Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU<\/b>. \u201cDemocracy doesn\u2019t defend itself \u2014 people defend democracy. And together, progress is possible even in the toughest of times.\u201d\r\n\r\nA few key takeaways from \u201cDefeat, Delay, Dilute: ACLU Versus President Trump\u201d <\/i>include:\r\n