diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index 3c4cb6f..cf8b9b4 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ app.add_middleware(
 )
 
 # Gate control
-async def trigger_gate():
+async def trigger_gate(source: str = "api"):
     """Trigger the gate relay"""
     try:
         settings = app.state.current_settings
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ async def trigger_gate():
         
         # Log event
         timestamp = datetime.now().isoformat()
-        await add_event(timestamp, "gate triggered", "api")
+        await add_event(timestamp, "gate triggered", source)
         
         # Wait for specified duration
         await asyncio.sleep(trigger_duration)
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ async def trigger_gate():
         logger.error(f"Failed to trigger gate: {e}", exc_info=True)
         # Log failure
         timestamp = datetime.now().isoformat()
-        await add_event(timestamp, "gate trigger failed", "api", False)
+        await add_event(timestamp, "gate trigger failed", source, False)
         return False
 
 last_open_time = None
@@ -437,6 +437,10 @@ async def cleanup_old_events():
                             "DELETE FROM events WHERE timestamp < ?",
                             (cutoff_date,)
                         )
+                        await db.execute(
+                            "DELETE FROM gate_status WHERE timestamp < ?",
+                            (cutoff_date,)
+                        )
                         await db.commit()
                         logger.info(f"Cleaned up {count} events older than {cutoff_date}")
                 
@@ -462,7 +466,7 @@ async def handle_mqtt_command(should_open: bool):
         
         status_pin = settings.gpio.statusPin
         if should_open != (GPIO.input(status_pin) == GPIO.HIGH):
-            await trigger_gate()
+            await trigger_gate("mqtt")
     except Exception as e:
         logger.error(f"Error handling MQTT command: {e}")
 
@@ -471,17 +475,40 @@ async def handle_mqtt_command(should_open: bool):
 async def trigger():
     """Trigger the gate"""
     try:
-        success = await trigger_gate()
-        timestamp = datetime.now().isoformat()
-        
-        # Get current status after trigger
-        settings = app.state.current_settings or Settings()
-        current_status = GPIO.input(settings.gpio.statusPin) == GPIO.HIGH
-        
-        return {"success": success, "timestamp": timestamp, "isOpen": current_status}
+        result = await trigger_gate("api")
+        if result:
+            status = await get_status()
+            return {"success": True, "isOpen": status["isOpen"]}
+        return {"success": False}
     except Exception as e:
-        logger.error("Error triggering gate", exc_info=True)
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail="Failed to trigger gate")
+        logger.error(f"Failed to trigger gate: {e}", exc_info=True)
+        return {"success": False}
+
+@app.post("/api/events/clear")
+async def clear_events():
+    """Clear all events from the database except the latest gate status"""
+    try:
+        async with DBConnection() as db:
+            # Delete all events
+            await db.execute("DELETE FROM events")
+            
+            # Keep only the most recent gate status
+            await db.execute("""
+                DELETE FROM gate_status 
+                WHERE timestamp NOT IN (
+                    SELECT timestamp 
+                    FROM gate_status 
+                    ORDER BY timestamp DESC 
+                    LIMIT 1
+                )
+            """)
+            await db.commit()
+            
+        logger.info("Event logs cleared (preserved latest gate status)")
+        return {"success": True}
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.error(f"Failed to clear events: {e}", exc_info=True)
+        return {"success": False}
 
 @app.get("/api/status")
 async def get_status():
@@ -491,6 +518,8 @@ async def get_status():
         # HIGH (3.3V) means gate is open (receiving voltage)
         # LOW (0V) means gate is closed (no voltage)
         is_open = GPIO.input(settings.gpio.statusPin) == GPIO.HIGH
+        
+        # Update state machine
         gate_status.update(is_open)
         
         return {"isOpen": gate_status.is_open, "lastChanged": gate_status.last_changed}
diff --git a/frontend/src/App.tsx b/frontend/src/App.tsx
index 9967251..609e23c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -198,7 +198,29 @@ function App() {
 
                 {/* Recent Events */}
                 <div className="mt-6">
-                  <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold mb-2">Recent Events</h2>
+                  <div className="flex justify-between items-center mb-2">
+                    <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold">Recent Events</h2>
+                    <button
+                      onClick={async () => {
+                        try {
+                          if (window.confirm('Are you sure you want to clear all events?')) {
+                            await api.clearEvents();
+                            // Reload events
+                            const eventsData = await api.getEvents();
+                            setEvents(eventsData.events);
+                            setHasMoreEvents(eventsData.hasMore);
+                            setTotalEvents(eventsData.total);
+                          }
+                        } catch (err) {
+                          setError('Failed to clear events');
+                          console.error(err);
+                        }
+                      }}
+                      className="text-sm text-red-600 hover:text-red-800"
+                    >
+                      Clear Events
+                    </button>
+                  </div>
                   <div className="border rounded-lg divide-y divide-gray-200 max-h-96 overflow-y-auto">
                     {events.map((event, index) => (
                       <div key={index} className="px-3 py-2 hover:bg-gray-50 flex items-center justify-between text-sm">
diff --git a/frontend/src/api.ts b/frontend/src/api.ts
index 2b3cd86..2d7dd54 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api.ts
@@ -49,3 +49,13 @@ export async function updateSettings(settings: Settings): Promise<{ success: boo
     }
     return response.json();
 }
+
+export async function clearEvents(): Promise<{ success: boolean }> {
+  const response = await fetch(`${API_BASE}/events/clear`, {
+    method: 'POST',
+  });
+  if (!response.ok) {
+    throw new Error('Failed to clear events');
+  }
+  return response.json();
+}