According to Five Thirty-Eight, President Trump’s average public approval rating on 31 December 2017 stood at 37.9%, representing a quarterly decline of 0.7 percentage points, and a decline of 7.6 percentage points since his inauguration on 20 January 2017.[1]
President Trump addresses the nation in regards to the mass shooting in Las Vegas offering his condolences to the victims and their families, while praising the first responders at the scene.[4]
President Trump meets with the governors of Maine, Mississippi, Kentucky and New Hampshire at the White House to discuss cutting federal regulations.[5]
President Trump holds talk in the White House with the Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to discuss improving trade relations between both countries.[6]
President Trump has dinner with Republican members of Congress at the White House to discuss immigration reform and improving border security.[7]
President Trump meets with US Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth Mapp on board the USS Kearsarge to discuss the territory’s immediate funding needs in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.[8]
President Trump and the First Lady attend a briefing in San Juan, Puerto Rico with senior military personnel and government officials, including Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rosselló on hurricane recovery efforts in Puerto Rico.[9]
Vice President Pence meets with representative of local businesses, community leaders and families, with Arizona Governor Doug Ducey in Phoenix, Arizona, to discuss efforts for tax reform.[10]
President Trump greets soldiers stationed on board the USS Kearsarge
Wednesday October 4
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson states the administration is preparing for options ahead of the October 15, 2017 deadline on whether Iran is complying with the 2015 nuclear accord.[11]
It is reported that UN Ambassador Nikki Haley has been formally reprimanded for violating the Hatch Act.[13]
President Trump meets Las Vegas shooting victim Tiffany Huizar
Thursday October 5
President Trump has a briefing and dinner with senior military leaders at the White House to discuss the current situation with Iran and North Korea. [14]
Vice President Pence holds a meeting of the National Space Council with several White House officials and space industry executives focusing on moving away from the current outsourcing of manned launches and building a foundation to send Americans to Mars.[15][16]
President Trump marks the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at the White House, and speaks of recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and of the people suffering under the governments of Cuba and Venezuela.[18]
President Trump signs a proclamation honoring October 6 as the National day of Manufacturing, stating that jobs are coming back to the United States with the creation of thousands of new manufacturing jobs.[19][20]
President Trump approves an emergency declaration that will allow federal resources to supplement local efforts and allow FEMA to coordinate disaster relief efforts in Louisiana in preparation for Hurricane Nate.[21]
President Trump and the First Lady commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month
President Trump attends a fundraiser in Greensboro, North Carolina, to raise funds for his reelection campaign and the Republican National Committee.[24]
Vice President Pence and the Second Lady lay flowers at a memorial in Las Vegas
Sunday October 8
At President Trump’s prior request, Vice President Pence walks out of an NFL football game after fifteen 49er playerskneel during the national anthem. The White House states that it ‘will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our flag, or our national anthem’.[25][26][27]
Vice President Pence stands for the national anthem prior to leaving an NFL game
Vice President Pence holds a fundraiser at Newport Beach, California, to raise funds for Republican Congressmen and to promote the administration’s tax-cut initiative.[28]
President Trump approves a federal disaster declaration for California in response to the Californian wildfires that will provide funding to state, local and tribal governments to help fight the fires and rebuilding efforts.[33]
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White House, to discuss NAFTA and US-Canadian trade possibilities.[35]
President Trump holds a campaign rally at the Harrisburg International Airport in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at which he promotes his tax-cut initiative.[36]
President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White House
Thursday October 12
President Trump signs an executive order which directs cabinet agencies to develop rules that would expand access to less expensive, less comprehensive insurance policies with fewer benefits and fewer protections for consumers than those mandated under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.[37]
President Trump announces at the White House that he will not certify the Iranian nuclear deal, while giving Congress time to come up with tougher requirements to certify compliance of the deal and imposing sanctions Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.[41]
President Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign files its quarterly finance report with the FEC. The filing discloses a legal bill of $1.1m paid from campaign funds in connection with the Russia investigations.[43]
President Trump has a working lunch with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Vice President Pence to discuss legislative issues such as the budget, tax reform and immigration.[45]
Responding to questions at the White House, President Trump makes his first public comments on the four Special Forces soldiers killed in a suspected ISIS ambush on October 4 and further comments on former presidents calls and letters to the families of slain American troops during their time in office.[46][47]
Tuesday October 17
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting at the White House with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to discuss Greek efforts to reform their economy and military ties between both countries.[48]
President Trump holds a Diwali celebration at the White House.[49]
President Trump addresses the Heritage Foundation’s President’s Club Meeting, speaking of ‘American values’ and his administration’s tax reform efforts.[50]
Vice President Pence attends a small business gathering in Lancaster, New York, to discuss the administration’s tax reform efforts.[51][52]
President Trump holds a phone conversation with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds to discuss concerns about the administration’s biofuels policy.[55]
The latest version of President Trump’s travel ban is blocked by U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson shortly before it comes into effect.[56]
Thursday October 19
President Trump meets with Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló at the White House to discuss the island’s recovery efforts after Hurricane Maria.[57]
President Trump attends a gala dinner at the Kuwaiti Embassy, where the Kuwait-American Foundation is trying to raise money for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and to honor First Lady Melania Trump for her dedication to causes affecting women and children in the US and abroad.[58][59]
President Trump nominates Joseph J. Simons, an anti-trust lawyer to head the Federal Trade Commission, including Noah Phillips, chief counsel for Senator John Cornyn and Rohit Chopra, a consumer advocate to fill the remaining two seats at the Commission.[60]
Friday October 20
President Trump holds a meeting in the White House with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss counter-terrorism, Korea and the Middle East.[61][62]
President Trump sits with UN Secretary General António Guterres in the Oval Office
Sunday October 22
President Trump holds a conference call with Republican Congressman calling on them to pass the Senate budget and work on tax reform.[63]
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson attends a co-operation council in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, attended by Saudi Arabia and Iraq, where he calls on Iran to remove its paramilitary forces from Iraqi territory.[64]
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to discuss the North Korean nuclear threat, defence and economic relationship between both countries, whilst overseeing the signing ceremony between Singapore Airlines and Boeingfor US$13.8 billion worth of new planes.[66][67]
President Trump holds a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House for Captain Gary Michael Rose who was wounded in combat during Operation Tailwind in the Vietnam War. [68]
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson holds meetings in Kabul, Afghanistan with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his officials on discussing strategies on ending the conflict in the country.[69]
Tuesday October 24
President Trump holds an awards ceremony at the White House as part of National Minority Enterprise Development Week.[70]
President Trump meets with Republican Senators at the Capitol to call for unity within the party and to discuss tax reform.[72]
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson holds meetings in Islamabad, Pakistan, with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, concerning the combating of extremist fighters.[73]
President Trump attends a briefing in Dallas, Texas on the recovery efforts by Hurricane Harvey and addressing the long-term flood mitigation plans in the state.[74]
President Trump holds a fundraiser to raise funds for his re-election campaign and the Republican National Committee, while holding a discussion round-table with his supporters at the Belo Mansion in Dallas.[75]
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson holds meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss bilateral trade and defense between both countries.[76]
US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley in a meeting with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit in Juba, South Sudan calls on the president to find ways to end the conflict in the country. [77]
Thursday October 26
President Trump signs a presidential memorandum declaring a nationwide public health emergency and ordering all federal agencies to take measures to reduce the number of opioid deaths in the country.[78] No funds are allocated from the public health emergency fund.[79]
Shortly following the surrender of former Trump campaign officials Paul Manafort and Rick Gates to the FBI on twelve charges of conspiracy and money laundering between 2006 and 2015, President Trump states on Twitter that the charges refer to events from “years ago” and that “there is NO COLLUSION!”.[80][81][82]
Following the announcement of a guilty plea from George Papadopolous concerning lying to the FBI about meetings with Russians in 2016, Press Secretary Sanders describes Papadopoulos having held a ‘limited’, ‘volunteer’ position in the Trump campaign. Sanders contradicts Mueller’sindictment which details that Papadopoulos was encouraged to meet with Russian officials by a high-ranking Trump campaign official, named as Sam Clovis by The Washington Post. [83][84]
At a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Abe, President Trump discusses new arms sales to Japan and encourages the country to shoot down North Korean missiles.[97]
President Trump leaves Japan for South Korea. He takes part in a joint press conference at the Blue House with President Moon Jae-in, and visits Camp Humphreys.[98]
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross denies hiding his large stake in a shipping company which has business ties to the Putin family, following the release of the Paradise Papers.[99][100][101]
Tuesday November 7
At a press conference in South Korea, President Trump announces that he “hoped to God” not to have to use military force against North Korea, and urges Kim Jong-un to negotiate.[102]
Former Senior Adviser to the President, Carl Icahn, is subpoenaed for information related to his work on biofuels policy while a part of the administration.[105]
Thursday November 9
Continuing his tour of Asia, President Trump signs a number of binding and non-binding gas, aviation, communications and food-crop deals with China’s President Xi. Speaking alongside Xi in Beijing, Trump refers to the U.S.-Chinese trade imbalance, praising China for “taking advantage” of prior U.S. administrations.[106][107]
The State Department rejects an essay released by Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, which claims that the continuing depletion of State officials under the Trump administration will “forfeit the game to our adversaries”.[108]
Friday November 10
On the penultimate leg of his Asian tour, President Trump arrives Saturday morning UTC+7 at an APEC CEO summit in Da Nang, Vietnam. In a speech to delegates, he talks of “chronic trade abuses”, and of Kim Jong-un’s “twisted fantasies of […] nuclear blackmail”, urging Russia and China to place pressure on North Korea.[109][110]
Vice President Pence joins other senior Republicans in stating that Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore ought to abandon his election campaign if there is truth in allegations of historical sexual activity with minors, as published by The Washington Post on Thursday 9th.[111][112]
President Trump returns to Washington from Manila at the end of his five-nation tour of Asia.[114]
Attorney General Jeff Sessions testifies to the House Judiciary Committee. He states that he now recalls learning of contact between Russians and the Trump campaign, but denies previously lying under oath. He announces he has no reason to disbelieve those who accuse Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexual activity with young girls.[115][116]
Thursday November 16
President Trump visits the U.S. Capitol in advance of the passing by House Republicans without Democratic votes (227-205) of a $1.4tn “Tax Cut and Jobs Act” in support of Trump’s tax-cut initiative. Among numerous proposals are included a cut in corporate tax from 35% to 20%, and the abolition of the Family Flexibility Credit, the estate tax and the alternative minimum tax.[117][118]
President Trump announces that North Korea will be reinstated to the United States’ list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, from which it was removed in October 2008.[121][122]
The administration announces an end to the temporary residency program for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, effective July 2019.[123]
President Trump hosts a White House event honoring Second World War Navajocode talker veterans. The White House later states that it is ‘ridiculous’ to suggest that Trump’s reiteration at the event of the name ‘Pocahontas’ to describe Senator Elizabeth Warren is racist, following protestation by the National Congress of American Indians and others.[133][134][135]
Politico reports that White House ethics lawyer James Schultz has recently resigned.[137]
Tuesday November 28
President Trump informs reporters at the White House of his administration’s resolve following a new North Korean missile test which, it is believed, for the first time places Washington D.C. within range of the KPA.[138]
Wednesday November 29
President Trump announces “additional major sanctions” against North Korea following a telephone conversation with China’s President Xi.[139]
Jeff Sessions testifies at a private meeting of the House Intelligence Committee. According to ranking member Schiff, Sessions refuses to say whether or not President Trump asked him to hinder the Russia investigation.[153][154]
Seven of the nine judges on the Supreme Court lift the lower court injunctions on President Trump’s third-version travel ban, thereby permitting its enforcement against the nations of Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Venezuela and North Korea. Unlike previous iterations, the ban has no expiry date.[163][164]
President Trump holds a rally at Pensacola, Florida, near the Alabama border, at which he exhorts the Alabamian electorate to vote for Senate candidate Roy Moore on 12 December.[177]
Speaking at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council convened following Trump’s Jerusalem announcement of December 6, Ambassador Haley announces that the US considers an Israeli-Palestinian peace to be “closer […] than ever before”. France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and the U.K. issue a joint statement opposing Trump’s decision.[178]
Deputy National Security Adviser Dina Powell announces her resignation.[179]
Hope Hicks is interviewed by Mueller’s team for a second day.[180]
Vice President Pence’s office describes as “unfortunate” a decision by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to cancel a December 19 meeting between the two during Pence’s upcoming visit to the Middle East.[182]
President Trump signs a policy directive at the White House, ordering NASA to reprioritize manned voyages, including a return to the Moon and a mission to Mars.[184]
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly rejects a request by the Trump administration to enforce the President’s ban on transgender soldiers while the government’s appeal is ongoing.[185]
Congressional Republicans reach a deal on aspects of President Trump’s tax plan. Trump indicates that he will support a corporate tax rate of 21%.[190]
It is announced that the director of communications for the White House’s Office of Public Liaison, Omarosa Manigault, is to resign on 20 January 2018.[191] Contrary reports indicate that Manigault was dismissed by Chief of Staff John Kelly and physically removed from the White House grounds.[192][193][194][195]
President Trump speaks by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to engender co-operation over the North Korean missile threat.[197]
Speaking at the White House, President Trump describes the FBI as acting disgracefully and states that people are angry. Trump shortly thereafter addresses a group of largely non-FBI graduates from a program at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, stating “I have your back 100%”.[200][201][202]
Speaking to reporters, President Trump reiterates his description of the matter of Russian collusion as a ‘hoax’ and replies that “we’ll see what happens” in response to questions about the possible pardoning of Michael Flynn.[203]
Sunday December 17
President Putin telephones President Trump to thank the CIA for its assistance in preventing a planned terrorist bombing at St. Petersburg’s Kazan Cathedral.[204]
President Trump publishes his first National Security Strategy and delivers a concomitant address, condemning North Korea as a rogue state and positioning China and Russia as U.S. rivals with whom his administration will attempt to “build a great partnership”. Climate change is omitted from the strategy.[205][206][207][208][209]
The U.S. blocks a resolution by the other 14 members of the UN Security Council calling for a retraction of President Trump’s recent statement recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Ambassador Haley describes the resolution as an insult which “won’t be forgotten”.[210]
Vice President Pence, previously due to leave for Egypt today, delays until January his visit to the Middle East, in order to oversee voting on President Trump’s tax bill.[211]
Tuesday December 19
The House of Representatives passes a revised version of President Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act without Democratic votes, 227-203.[212][213]
Elections for the Virginia House of Representatives split evenly between Republicans and Democrats following recounts. Lots are later drawn on 4 January 2018, giving Republicans a 51-49 control of the House.[214][215]
Ambassador Haley states that she will be ‘taking names’ of countries who vote in favor of the December 21 UN resolution against the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and passing them to President Trump who has suggested cutting aid to countries who do so.[216]
Wednesday December 20
The Senate passes President Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act shortly after midnight without Democratic votes, 51 to 48. A procedural mistake in the House on December 19 necessitates a second vote in the House, which later passes in favor, 224 to 201.[217][218][219] The wide-ranging bill includes a cut to corporate tax from 35% to 21%, a reduction to the pool of estate-tax payers, alters each tax bracket, and reduces the rate for the highest earners. The bill also permits oil drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and removes the individual mandate from Obamacare. President Trump announces that the bill represents a repeal of Obamacare, and that it will be replaced by “something that will be much better”. The legislation is financed by debt.[220][221]
The State Department announces the approval of a $41.5m sale of small arms to Ukraine.[222]
Thursday December 21
Vice President Pence arrives in Afghanistan to visit troops and speak with Afghan leaders. In a speech at Bagram Airfield, he announces “I believe victory is closer than ever before.”[223]
The United Nations votes 128 to 9 in favor of a demand that the U.S. retract its recent declaration concerning Jerusalem. US Ambassador Haley describes the vote as ‘null and void’.[224][225]
Press Secretary Sanders announces that the White House does not intend to remove Robert Mueller from the Russia investigation, and states “We look forward to seeing this hoax wrap up very soon.”[226]
Judge George B. Daniels dismisses a lawsuit by CREW against President Trump in respect of the Constitution’s emoluments clause. Daniels rules that only Congress has authority in such a matter, not the courts.[227]
Friday December 22
President Trump signs into law the $1.5 trillion tax bill passed by Congress on December 20.[228]
President Trump retires to Mar-a-Lago for the Christmas holiday.[229]
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rules unanimously that the current version of the travel ban exceeds presidential authority. The ban remains in effect during an additional appeals process.[230]
President Trump expresses disappointment following reporting by South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo that China has been illegally supplying oil to North Korea.[232]
In an interview with The New York Times, President Trump states that he believes that Mueller will treat him fairly and will exonerate him.[233]
Friday December 29
Trump’s Labor Department continues the policy of the Obama Administration of issuing waivers to banks convicted of manipulating the global interest rate Libor. Deutsche Bank and UBS are allowed to manage retirement funds for three years, while Barclays, Citigroup, and JPMorganare allowed to do the same for five years. At the time, Trump and his businesses owe Deutsche Bank at least $130 million.[234][235][236]
Real GDP growth increased at an annual rate of 3.2%, despite a particularly bad 2017 Atlantic hurricane season. This was due to an increase in consumer spending, private inventory investment, non-residential fixed investment, increased exports, decreased imports, and increased federal government spending. This gain was offset by residential fixed investment and local government spending.[1][2]
According to FiveThirtyEight, President Trump concluded this quarter with an approval rating of 38.6%, representing a quarterly decline of 1%, and a decline of 6.9% since his inauguration.[3]
President Trump speaks by telephone to German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussing issues including climate change, the Women’s Entrepreneurship Financing Initiative and trade.[8]
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson states that the US “will never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea”.[13]
The number of US states refusing to comply with President Trump’s Commission on Election Integrity is reported to have risen to 44.[14]
President Trump hosts military personnel and their families for a picnic and fireworks show at the White House as part of Independence Day celebrations.[15]
Ambassador Haley informs the UN Security Council that the US is prepared to deploy any of its military options to defend itself and its allies from North Korea if other options fail.[17]
Kris Kobach, vice-chairman of the Commission on Election Integrity has confirmed that 20 states have provided them with voter information, while 14 states and the District of Columbia have refused to do so.[18]
Thursday, July 6
President Trump attends a joint press conference in Warsaw with Polish President Andrzej Duda, reaffirming the US commitment to NATO, and citing the “severe” options available in respect of North Korea.[19][20]
President Trump, with the First Lady, attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Warsaw Uprising Monument, and delivers a speech in defense of shared democratic values and calling on Russia to cease all destabilizing activity.[21][22]
President Trump attends the Three Seas Initiative to discuss the reduction of Central and Eastern European nations’ dependency on Russian oil and gas imports and increasing US LNG imports.[23]
President Trump meets with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovicprivately to discuss issues including security and energy.[24]
President Trump meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Hotel Atlantic to discuss issues such as trade, climate change, global security and the threat of North Korea’s nuclear program.[26]
President Trump attends the Northeast Asia Security Dinner, discussing with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe calling on China to restrain North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.[27]
President Trump attends the G20 summit hosted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.[30]
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, during which he reiterates the call for Mexico to pay for the border wall.[31]
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling for improved relations.[32] An undisclosed second meeting between the two occurs later in the day.[33][34]
Secretary of State Tillerson appoints Kurt Volker Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations.[35]
President Trump and President Vladimir Putin at the 2017 G-20 Hamburg Summit.
Saturday, July 8
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May, promising to expedite a new trade deal.[36]
The Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative is launched by First Daughter Ivanka Trump and the World Bank whereby the US commits USD50million to the fund.[37]
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, welcoming increased US participation in the ASEAN-US Summit, East Asia Summit, and APEC.[38]
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to discuss trade issues and North Korea.[39]
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, promising to work on doing more trade deals and business between both countries.[40]
President Trump together with Chinese President Xi Jinping agrees that both countries should put more pressure on North Korea.[41]
Hours after promoting the idea in which he stated “Putin and I discussed forming an impenetrable cybersecurity unit so that election hacking, and many other negative things, will be guarded and safe,” Trump said that he did not think it could actually happen.[44]
Vice President Pence and retired United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills.
Tuesday, July 11
President Trump speaks by telephone to Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to congratulate him on liberation of Mosul and to stress the need for a total defeat of ISIS.[48]
Secretary Tillerson meets with Saudi Foreign Minister al-Jubeir in Jeddah.
Thursday, July 13
President Trump and the First Lady arrives in Paris, France, for a two-day state visit.[52]
President Trump hosts a ceremony in the American embassy in Paris honoring Second World War veterans.[53]
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace discussing counter-terrorism and international affairs.[54]
Vice President Pence, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, attends a US governor’s meeting in Rhode Island for talks on health care and NAFTA.[58]
President Trump launches “Made in America Week” at the White House by showcasing products made in all 50 states.[59]
President Trump at the White House Made in America showcase.
Tuesday, July 18
Vice President Pence attends the Retail Advocates Summit organized by the National Retail Federation promoting tax reform.[60]
President Trump nominates former Utah governor Jon Huntsman Jr. as ambassador to Russia.[61]
President Trump, Vice President Pence, and National Security Adviser McMaster have lunch with service members.
Wednesday, July 19
President Trump attends the first meeting of the Commission on Election Integrity chaired by Vice President Pence, calling for a full investigation of the electoral process.[62]
President Trump has a luncheon with Republican senators in the White House, calling on them to work on repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act.[63]
President Trump hosts “Made in America” roundtable event at the White House with CEOS of American companies, calling for a crackdown on counterfeit goods from overseas.[64]
President Trump has a meeting at The Pentagon with his national security team covering areas such as troop levels in Afghanistan and the fight against IS.[67]
President Trump announces USD500 million will be made available for the production of domestic glass pharmaceutical packaging to representatives from Merck, Pfizer and Corning.[68]
President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Secretary Mattis outside the Pentagon.
Friday, July 21
President Trump signs an executive ordering a review of the U.S. defense industrial base and military supply chains.[69]
Press Secretary Sean Spicer resigns from his post effective at the end of August.[71]
President Trump honors the surviving members of the USS Arizonaduring a visit to the White House.[72]
H. R. McMaster dismisses Rich Higgins from the National Security Council following the exposure of a memorandum authored by Higgins outlining a conspiracy theory concerning a plot to destroy Trump’s presidency by the media, bankers, Islamists, cultural Marxists, and the Republican and Democratic parties.[73][74][75]
Secretary Mattis meets Pearl Harbor survivor Donald Stratton.
President Trump meets with families described by the White House as ‘victims’ of the Affordable Care Act, holding a press conference urging Senators to repeal and replace it.[77]
President Trump attends the 2017 National Scout Jamboree at Glen Jean, West Virginia, praising the organization and its values.[78] The Boy Scout’s chief executive issues a formal apology on 27 July for the speech’s “political rhetoric”.[79]
Jared Kushner issues a statement at the White House denying all collusion with Russian officials, following a meeting with the Senate Intelligence Committee.[80]
President Trump visits the 2017 National Scout Jamboree in West Virginia.
Tuesday, July 25
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri at the White House to discuss the humanitarian problem in Syria, Hezbollah and anti-terrorism.[81]
President Trump promises more help to veterans during a private gathering of local veteran organizations at Struthers, Ohio, as part of American Heroes Week.[82]
President Trump holds a campaign style rally in Youngstown, Ohio, touting the successes of his administration.[83]
President Trump honors veteran Bob Bishop at the AMVETS Post 44 Salute to American Heroes.
President Trump announces a USD10 billion investment by Chinese company Foxconn to build a manufacturing facility in Wisconsin, with a USD3 billion tax-funded subsidy to be paid to Foxconn.[87][88][89]
President Trump nominates Kansas Governor Sam Brownback as ambassador of the Office of International Religious Freedom.[90]
President Trump addresses law enforcement officers at Suffolk County Community College calling for increased border security and a crackdown on transnational crime.[96]
Saturday, July 29
President Trump describes Republican Senators as looking like “fools” following a 49-51 vote against his initiative to repeal the Affordable Care Act.[97]
President Trump threatens to end healthcare cost-sharing subsidies to insurers and lawmakers.[98]
Kelly is sworn in as the White House Chief of Staff.[99]
Scaramucci is removed as the White House Communications Director 16 days before taking office, following crude remarks made in an interview to The New Yorker.[100][101]
President Trump awards the Medal of Honor at the White House to James McCloughan, a former army medic who served during the Vietnam War.[103]
Press Secretary Sanders states her belief that President Trump was “joking”, when asked about allegations that he promoted police brutality at a speech to law enforcement officers at Suffolk County Community College on 28 July.[104]
President Trump presents the Medal of Honor to Specialist Five James C. McCloughan.
President Trump, as part of ‘American Dream Week’, holds a small business owners event at the White House touting American growth.[105]
Vice President Pence and Montenegrin Prime Minister Duško Marković.
Wednesday, August 2
President Trump signs a Congressional bill (H.R.3364) limiting his ability to ease sanctions against Russia, despite describing the bill as “flawed” and “unconstitutional”.[106]
President Trump’s campaign team hands over 20,000 pages of documents to the Senate Judiciary Committee in relation to the ongoing investigations concerning Russian collusion with Trump’s election campaign team.[107]
President Trump introduces a new bill entitled ‘The Raise Act’ which proposes to replace the current permanent employment-immigration framework with a merit- and skill-based immigration system.[108]
President Trump alongside Senator Tom Cotton and Senator David Perdue.
Thursday, August 3
President Trump hosts a Veterans Affairs Telehealth Services event at the White House unveiling a new service for veterans allowing patients to schedule health care appointments from their smartphones or home computers.[113]
President Trump and Secretary Shulkin unveil a new Telehealth service for veterans.
Friday, August 4
President Trump and Vice President Pence visit the FEMA headquarters to review preparations and emergency responses for the upcoming hurricane season.[115]
President Trump discusses in a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron increased cooperation in Iraq, Syria and countering Iranian influence in the Middle East.[116]
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announces a crackdown on individuals who leak classified or sensitive national security information, as well as a review of the way in which journalists are subpoenaed.[117]
Sunday, August 6
President Trump has a phone conversation with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, discussing ways to stop the North Korean nuclear program.[118]
Secretary of State Tillerson attends the ASEAN summit in Manila to push its members and partners to apply more pressure on North Korea to halt its nuclear program.[119]
Secretary Tillerson Speaks at the 10th Lower Mekong Initiative Ministerial Meeting.
Secretary of State Tillerson has discussions with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai on regional security and trade in Bangkok.[124]
Secretary of State Tillerson meets with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in Kuala Lumpur to discuss international relations and trade.[125]
President Trump holds a press briefing at Bedminster, New Jersey, calling for tougher enforcement to combat the opioid problem in the country.[126]
Wednesday, August 9
President Trump draws attention on Twitter to the ‘power’ of the US nuclear arsenal.[127]
President Trump speaks by telephone with Senator Mitch McConnell; he complains that McConnell is not protecting him from the Senate’s Russia inquiry.[128][129]
Defense Secretary Mattis warns North Korea that an attack on the US or its allies will prompt “the destruction of its people”.[130]
Secretary Mattis speaks with the crew of USS Kentuckyduring a visit to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor.
Thursday, August 10
President Trump talks to reporters about his “fire and fury” warning, stating that “if anything, maybe that statement wasn’t tough enough.”[131]
President Trump declares that the opioid crisis is a national emergency that will need a lot of attention and money to combat.[132]
President Trump states that he is “very thankful” that Vladimir Putin ordered the removal of 755 US diplomatic posts from Russia, reducing the US state payroll.[133]
Friday, August 11
President Trump states on Twitter that America’s military capabilities against North Korea are “locked and loaded”.[134]
President Trump retracts his statement thanking Vladimir Putin on August 10th and states that his original comment was sarcastic.[138]
President Trump holds a workforce and apprenticeship discussion with Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and Secretary of Labor Alex Acostaon ways to help Americans access affordable education and training which, according to a White spokesperson, will equip them with relevant skills to help them secure good jobs.[139]
Saturday, August 12
President Trump speaks to Chinese President Xi Jinping who requests restraint concerning tensions in the Korean peninsula.[140]
President Trump signs the Veterans Affairs Choice and Quality Employment Act that will provide veterans private medical care using government funds for the next six months.[141]
President Trump condemns the violence from all sides at a far-right rally at Charlottesville, Virginia, and calls for law and order to be restored.[142]He notably opted to omit any mention of the murder of counter-protester Heather Heyer in his address, and also chose not to single out or specifically condemn the alt-right protester, James Alex Fields, for Heyer’s murder, nor to specifically condemn the neo-Nazi movement that had invited Fields to attend the protest, thus effectively equating Heyer’s murder with the minor incidents of disorderly conduct carried out by the counter-protesters. Trump faced bipartisan criticism for these omissions.[143]
Sunday, August 13
Vice President Pence arrives in Colombia meeting with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos to cover trade, business and investment opportunities in both countries.[144]
Speaking in a press conference in Cartagena, Vice President Pence condemns neo-Nazism and the Ku Klux Klan, and rejects allegations that President Trump had failed to censure white supremacists explicitly in his previous remarks, saying the media has overblown the issue.[145][146]
President Trump again condemns the violence that took place at the rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.[148]
President Trump signs an executive order authorizing the US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to begin investigations into Chinese trade practices that harm American businesses, with particular focus on intellectual property and advanced technology.[149]
President Trump speaks by phone to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on finding ways to prevent North Korea launching ballistic missiles at Guam across Japanese territory.[150]
Attorney General Sessions decries the August 12 Charlottesville vehicle attack as “domestic terrorism”.[151]
The CEOs of Merck, Intel and Under Armour resign from the American Manufacturing Council in protest at President Trump’s response to the Charlottesville rally.[152]
Tuesday, August 15
President Trump signs an executive order calling for federal departments to speed up the permits process for construction of transportation, water and other infrastructure projects. He revokes regulations intended to manage and prevent flooding.[153][154]
President Trump holds a press conference at which he goes “off teleprompter” and reverts to his earlier apportioning of blame in Charlottesville, apparently equally, to both sides. At this same news conference he voices his personal support of the rationale of the Alt-right’s claim that General Lee was a historical figure of similar historical importance to Lincoln, Washington and Jefferson, and that he therefore supported the Alt-Right’s rationale for protesting against the removal of the Charlottesville statue of General Lee.[155]
Vice President Pence holds meetings with Argentinian President Mauricio Macri in Buenos Aires, Argentina, focusing on strengthening business ties between both countries.[157]
Vice President Pence and President Mauricio Macri participate in a joint press conference.
Wednesday, August 16
President Trump appoints Hope Hicks as interim White House Communications Director, replacing Scaramucci.[158]
President Trump signs a veterans’ education bill to provide college assistance for military veterans and increase these payments if they complete science, technology and engineering courses.[163]
In Santiago, Chile, Vice President Pence has a meeting with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to build business ties between both countries and to call for Chile to break its diplomatic ties with North Korea.[164]
President Trump scraps plans initiated by Executive Order on July 19 for the setup of an Advisory Council on Infrastructure.[166][167]
President Trump holds meetings with the Small Business Administration chief Linda McMahon on finding ways to help small business who have difficulty getting loans and finding the right workers.[168]
The White House announces a deal whereby the United States can resume exports of pork to Argentina for the first time since 1992.[169]
Vice President Pence has meetings with Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela focusing on commercial and security ties, as well as tackling drug trafficking, illegal migration and money laundering, culminating with a tour of the Panama Canal.[170]
Vice President Pence and President Juan Carlos Varel meet in Panama.
Friday, August 18
President Trump directs the United States Cyber Command be elevated to the status of a Unified Combatant Command focusing improving national defense.[171][172]
17 members of the White House arts and humanities advisory panelresign, delivering an open letter condemning President Trump for his “support of the hate groups and terrorists who killed and injured fellow Americans in Charlottesville”.[176]
President Trump signs Global War on Terrorism War Memorial Act authorizing the construction of a memorial to the US servicemen, who participated in the global war on terrorism.[177]
President Trump holds a conference at Camp David with his national security team to discuss military options in Afghanistan.[178]
President Trump at the signing of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Act.
Saturday, August 19
President Trump praises 30,000 protestors against a right-wing ‘Free Speech Rally’ in Boston for “speaking out against bigotry and hate”, and criticizes “anti-police agitators”.[179][180]
President Trump gives an address at Fort Myer, Virginia, regarding the war in Afghanistan, reaffirming the United States’ military commitment to the Afghanistan government while disavowing all toleration of shelter of the Taliban by Pakistan.[181]
Seven members of the National Infrastructure Advisory Council send a letter of resignation to the White House, asserting that President Trump is paying “insufficient attention” to cyber-security threats to the nation’s infrastructure.[183][184]
President Trump speaks at a press conference at Conmy Hall at Fort Myer, Virginia.
Tuesday, August 22
President Trump tours a U.S. Customs & Border Protection facility in Yuma, Arizona, meeting with Marines and border patrol agents, and inspecting border security technology and equipment.[185]
President Trump holds a political rally in Phoenix, Arizona, reiterating his condemnation of the violence at Charlottesville, accusing the media distorted the coverage of his response, while commenting on his administration’s achievements.[186] He announces a willingness to shut down the federal government if Congress refuses to allocate funds for his Mexican wall policy.[187][188]
US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, in a meeting with the International Atomic Energy Agency officials at Vienna, Austria, calls for the nuclear watchdog to inspect Iranian military sites to verify compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.[189]
President Trump, Chief of Staff Kelly, and Acting Commissioner McAleenan overview border wall prototypes.
Wednesday, August 23
President Trump in a speech to the American Legion in Reno, Nevada, calls for Americans to unite and reiterates the themes of his campaign, including crime, terrorism, manufacturing and infrastructure.[190]
The White House instructs the Pentagon to develop a policy on transgender service members, notably considering their individual combat deployability, and curtailing subsidies for medical treatment or operations.[191]
President Trump signs the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization bill intended to allow better options and transparency for veterans when appealing benefit claims.[192]
Vice President Pence in a speech to South Florida Venezuelans in Doral, Florida, mentions that the United States will use the full measure of its economic and diplomatic power to end the political repression in Venezuela.[193]
State Department science envoy Daniel Kammen resigns in protest at President Trump’s response to the violence at Charlottesville on August 12.[194]
President Trump monitors the situation with Hurricane Harvey from Camp David, Maryland,[197] and signs a disaster proclamation that will guarantee federal aid to the region affected.[198]
President Trump issues a presidential pardon for Sheriff Joe Arpaio who was convicted of criminal contempt in a case involving his department’s racial profiling policy, praising Arpaio’s life work in protecting the public from crime and illegal immigration.[199]
President Trump signs an executive order barring the United States financial system from any dealings in new bonds and stocks issued by the Venezuelan government and its state oil company Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A..[200]
U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley criticizes the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon commander Major General Michael Beary for not tackling the flow of illegal arms to Hezbollah-dominated Southern Lebanon. The US does not provide proof to back up her claims.[202]
President Trump meets with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö at the White House to discuss terrorism, Afghanistan, Russia, the Baltic Sea and the Arctic.[203]
President Trump signs an executive order to restore the flow of surplus military equipment to local and state police agencies.[204]
President Trump, in a phone call with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, accepts Singapore’s offer of the use of its Texas-based Chinook helicopters to assist in Hurricane Harvey disaster-relief efforts.[208]
President Trump, Senator John Cornyn, and Senator Ted Cruz in Texas.
President Trump posts on Twitter that the United States has been paying North Korea “extortion money” and that “talking is not the answer”.[210]
Vice President Pence in a speech to the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s annual business summit called for tax overhaul reform, describing the current tax system as deleterious to employment and entrepreneurialism.[211]
President Trump speaks at Springfield, Missouri.
Thursday, August 31
The Trump administration announces a cut of 90% to the Affordable Care Act’s advertising budget.[212]
Vice President Pence arrives in Corpus Christi, Texas, to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey and meet with people affected by the storm.[213]
Energy Secretary Rick Perry authorizes the Strategic Petroleum Reserveto release oil supplies to combat fuel price spikes, due to shutdown of oil refineries in Texas which were affected by Hurricane Harvey.[214]
President Trump will donate $1 million of his own funds to recovery efforts in Texas according to the White House.[215]
Defense Secretary James Mattis signs orders to deploy additional troops to Afghanistan as part of the Trump’s new military strategy in the region.[216]
President Trump signs a declaration designating 3 September 2017, as a “Day of Prayer” for victims of Hurricane Harvey.[217]
The Department of Justice in a court filing makes its first official confirmation that neither it nor the FBI have evidence to support President Trump’s allegation that then-President Obama wiretapped Trump Tower in New York.[218]
President Trump and First Lady Melania meet with and help to distribute food and supplies to victims of Hurricane Harvey at the NRG Center in Houston, Texas.[220][221]
Following the latest North Korean nuclear test, President Trump and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin raise the possibility of ceasing trade with countries trading with North Korea.[224]
Defense Secretary Mattis publicly states: “We are not looking to the total annihilation of a country, namely North Korea, but […] we have many options to do so”.[224]
In an emergency UN Security Council meeting, United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley states that the United States will present a new UN sanctions resolution to punish North Korea for the latest nuclear test.[225]
Tuesday, September 5
Attorney General Sessions announces at a special briefing that, at President Trump’s order, the Department of Homeland Security will immediately cease to accept applications to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. It is confirmed that current DACA recipients will be unaffected until 5 March 2018. Trump shortly thereafter calls on Congress to “legalize DACA”.[226][227][228]
In response to the North Korea threat, President Trump states that he will allow South Korea and Japan to purchase additional sophisticated military equipment from the United States.[229]
In a phone conversation, President Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull agree on the need for the international community to exert maximum diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea.[230]
President Trump holds a tax summit at the White House with his top advisors and Republican leaders to discuss reforming the U.S. tax system.[231]
The head of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Javier Palomarez, resigns from Trump’s National Diversity Council in protest at the DACA announcement.[232]
Wednesday, September 6
President Trump meets with Congressional leaders from both parties to discuss disaster relief for the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, raising the debt ceiling to prevent a government shutdown and federal spending legislation.[233]
President Trump declares emergencies in Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Hurricane Irma, instructing the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts.[234]
At an oil refinery at Mandan, North Dakota, President Trump speaks to a friendly crowd calling for the restoration of American competitive edge, using tax cuts and reform.[235][236]
President Trump holds talks with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at the White House regarding developing economic, financial, and commercial ties between both countries.[237]
President Trump talks to officials led by Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York and Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey about the Gateway Tunnel project as part of the administration’s avowed priority on modernizing the nation’s infrastructure.[238]
President Trump approves South Carolina’s request for an emergency declaration in the state in preparation for Hurricane Irma.[239]
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos confirms that there will be rollback of the college campus sexual assault directives or Title IX guidelines put in place during the Obama administration, asserting that the system has failed sexual assault survivors and those wrongly accused.[240][241]
The United States Justice Department filed a legal brief on behalf of the United States in the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing for a constitutional right for businesses to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and, implicitly, gender identity.[91]
President Trump signs a disaster $15.25 billion relief bill for Hurricane Harvey and Irma, which includes raising the federal debt ceiling for the next three months.[243]
President Trump signs the Hurricane Harvey relief bill at Camp David.
Saturday, September 9
At Camp David, President Trump and his cabinet hold team-building sessions, hurricane briefings and strategy meetings, with special focus on Hurricane Irma and tax reform.[244]
President Trump speaks by phone to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, agreeing to further strengthen bilateral relations and increase stability in the Middle East.[245]
Sunday, September 10
President Trump approves a disaster declaration for Florida which will authorize federal funding for areas affected by Hurricane Irma and will reimburse local and the state authorities for costs of response and recovery.[246]
During a visit to FEMA headquarters in Washington, Vice President Pence made assurances that the federal assistance was on its way to help the people of Florida recover from the effects of Hurricane Irma.[247]
President Trump and the First Lady lay a wreath at the September 11memorial at The Pentagon, and later pay tribute to the nearly 3,000 Americans killed that day, pledging to continue to confront radical Islamic terrorism.[248]
President Trump speaks at the Pentagon on the anniversary of 9/11.
Tuesday, September 12
President Trump holds meetings with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak at the White House focusing on trade, Islamic terrorism and Malaysian interest in Trump’s infrastructure program.[249]
President Trump holds a dinner with a group of bipartisan senators at the White House to discuss tax reform.[250]
It is reported that Trump’s team has for the first time submitted documents to Special Counsel Robert Mueller.[251]
Secretary Mattis meets with Portuguese Defense Minister José Azeredo Lopes.
Wednesday, September 13
President Trump declares September 15-October 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month.[252]
President Trump hosts a bipartisan dinner at the White House to discuss tax reform and find ways to come up with legislation dealing with DACA recipients.[253][254]
Daniel Craig withdraws from Trump’s nomination to be deputy administrator of FEMA.[255]
President Trump and Vice President Pence travel to Fort Myers, Florida, to be briefed on Hurricane Irma relief efforts with state and federal leaders, while praising first responders and local officials for their work and lives saved.[256][257]
President Trump, Vice President Pence and the First Lady help to distribute food and supplies to survivors of Hurricane Irma at Naples, Florida.[258]
President Trump and the First Lady host a White House dinner reception for the White House Historical Association whose mission to protect, preserve, and provide public access to the history of the White House.[261]
Vice President Pence’s press secretary Marc Lotter announces his departure from the White House.[263]
President Trump in a phone call to Jewish leaders and rabbis reaffirms the administration’s strong support for Israel and honors the upcoming celebration of High Holy Days such as Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashana.[264]
President Trump and the First Lady meet with military families and watch an air show at Andrew Airforce Base, with the President honoring the resolve of the nation’s Air Force and warning foes and international terrorist groups that the U.S. military would respond to any threats.[265]
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis meets with his Mexican counterparts in the Mexico City to reinforce military ties and take part in commemorations of Mexico’s independence day.[266]
President Trump, in a phone call to South Korean President Moon Jae-in, pledges to impose stronger sanctions on North Korea to counter its missile and nuclear programs.[267]
President Trump attends the ‘Reforming the United Nations: Management, Security, and Development’ forum at the United Nations, calling on members to pay more for joint projects such as peacekeeping missions.[268]
President Trump has a bilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss a possible future peace deal between the Israelis and Palestinians, and alleged Iranian aggression in the Middle East.[269]
President Trump has dinner meeting with Latin American leaders such as Brazilian President Michel Temer, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela and Argentinian Vice President Gabriela Michetti to discuss the restoration of democracy in Venezuela.[271]
Vice President Pence appoints Alyssa Farah as his press secretary, replacing Marc Lotter.[272]
President Trump meets with President Michel Temer.
Tuesday, September 19
In his maiden speech to the United Nations General Assembly, President Trump announces that if Kim Jong-un, dubbed “Rocket Man”, forces the United States to defend itself or its allies, the United States will “totally destroy” North Korea. Trump also indicates the possibility of further action against Venezuelan President Maduro’s regime, denounces Iran as a “corrupt dictatorship”, and describes the Iranian nuclear deal as an “embarrassment”. He calls on the UN to work together to solve such issues.[273][274]
President Trump attends a lunch meeting hosted by UN Secretary General António Guterres, seated with the leaders of Japan, South Korea, Turkey, and others.[note 1][275]
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to discuss solving the dispute between Qatar and the Arab states.[276]
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordandiscussing the issue of fighting terrorism in the Middle East and praising Jordan for taking refugees from Syria.[277][278]
President Trump in a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbaspromised to work on a peace deal between the Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East.[277][279]
President Trump hosts a working lunch with African Union leader Alpha Conde and leaders from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Namibia, Senegal, Uganda and South Africa, discussing economic opportunities in the African continent and the security situation South Sudan and Congo.[280][281]
President Trump and UK Prime Minister Theresa May hold discussions on issues of common interest such as trade, North Korea and Iran.[282][283]
President Trump in a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisimentions he was considering the resumption of the foreign military aid to Egypt which was frozen over concerns of its human rights record.[284]
Long-time aide and confidant to Mr. Trump, Keith Schiller, leaves his position as the Director of Oval Office Operations.[285]
Thursday, September 21
President Trump has a bilateral meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to discuss the Afghanistan war strategy in combating Islamist terrorists.[286]
President Trump and Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko discuss issues such as trade between both countries and the security situation in Ukraine.[287]
President Trump signs an executive order targeting individuals and companies trading with North Korea, including sanctions on foreign banks.[288]
President Trump has a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in to discuss about the recent provocations by North Korea.[289]
President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe in a bilateral meeting agree on their support for UN sanctions on North Korea.[290]
The White House has instructed the Environment Protection Agency to begin ordering employees to attend anti-leaking class to reinforce their compliance with laws and rules against leaking classified or sensitive government information to the media or outside parties.[292]
Vice President Pence discussed the administration’s efforts in tax reform in front of a crowd at the Flagship Enterprise Center, Anderson, Indiana.[294]
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has officially rescinded the previous administration’s guidelines on colleges and universities in handling sexual misconduct claims under Title IX and introduced new guidelines in reporting these claims.[295]
Sunday, September 24
President Trump signs a new presidential proclamation introducing new travel restrictions on countries such as North Korea, Venezuela, and Chad along with countries such as Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Libya and Iran listed under Executive Order 13780.[296][297]
President Trump signs a presidential memorandum directing the Department of Education to allocate at least $200 million per year in grant funds to the study of science and engineering.[298]
President Trump hosts a dinner with the several conservative grassroot leaders at the White House to discuss tax reform.[299]
President Trump attends a briefing on damage caused Hurricane Mariaon the island of Puerto Rico, promising to visit the island and send more aid.[303]
President Trump has a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy at the White House to discuss both countries commitments in combating terrorism, the situations with North Korea and Venezuela and their opposition to Catalonia’s independence from Spain.[304]
President Trump headlines an RNC fundraiser in New York City.[305]
A third attempt at a Senate vote on President Trump’s initiative to repeal the Affordable Care Act is abandoned.[306]
Defense Secretary James Mattis meets with Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi to discuss defense, trade and technology.[307]
Secretary Tillerson shakes hands with Holy See Secretary Paul Gallagher.
Wednesday, September 27
President Trump discusses his plan to reform the tax system in Indianapolis, Indiana calling for the sweeping tax cuts, reducing the personal income tax brackets and corporate taxes and eliminating the estate tax.[309][310]
Defense Secretary James Mattis arrives in Kabul, Afghanistan with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and discuss the security situation in the country and combating the Taliban.[311]
It is reported that the White House is conducting an investigation into the use of private email accounts by senior members of the administration, including Jared Kushner, for official business.[316]
Secretary Tillerson and Secretary DeVos with Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong.
Friday, September 29
President Trump speaks to the National Association of Manufacturers about the economy and his tax plan.[317]
Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price resigns from his position after reports of criticism over extensive use of private jets, with President Trump naming Don J. Wright, a deputy assistant secretary of health, to serve as acting secretary.[318][319]
Vice President Pence receives a briefing on Hurricane Maria.
Saturday, September 30
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson meets with Chinese President Xi Jinpingin Beijing, China to discuss bilateral relations between both countries and President Trump’s upcoming visit to China in November.[320]
Real GDP growth increased at an annual rate of 2.6%, up from a slow 0.7% in the preceding quarter. This was due to a smaller decrease in private inventory investment, an acceleration in PCE, and an upswing in federal government spending. These gains were offset by decreases in exports and fixed investments.[1] On June 30, 2017 the US national debt stood at $19.84 trillion,[2] representing a quarterly decline of approximately 0.01%[3] and a decline of approximately 0.46% since President Trump’s inauguration.[4]
According to FiveThirtyEight, President Trump concluded this quarter with an approval rating of 39.9%, representing a quarterly decline of 0.6%, and a decline of 5.6% since his inauguration.[5]
President Trump meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the White House, praising Sisi’s leadership and offering continuing support for Egypt’s anti-terrorism measures.[11]
President Trump signs a congressional resolution allowing Internet Service Providers to collect and sell their customers’ online usage history with greater ease.[13] President Trump signs three other bills that day.[14]
President Trump signs a memorandum to reform the Military Selective Service Process.[15]
Press Secretary Sean Spicer announces the donation of President Trump’s full quarterly salary ($78,333.32) to the National Park Service, following planned cuts.[17][18]
The Department of the Interior proposes the repeal of repeal the Consolidated Federal Oil & Gas and Federal & Indian Coal Valuation Reform Rule.[19]
After a working lunch with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, President Trump and Vice President Pence walk along the West Colonnade.
Tuesday, April 4
President Trump delivers a speech to North America’s Building Trades Union (NABTU) at the Washington Hilton, reiterating his intention to remove construction regulations, and highlighting his approval of the new phase of the Keystone Pipeline.[21]
Following a chemical attack in Syria which kills numerous civilians, President Trump calls the attack “reprehensible” and criticizes the Obama administration for not doing more to regulate chemical weapons.[22]
Reed Cordish, Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental and Technology Initiatives, chairs a meeting at the White House for business leaders, attended by President Trump and Vice President Pence.[25]
President Trump directs emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Program lands located in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas; the three states most heavily impacted by ongoing wildfires which began on March 6, 2017.[26]
The Department of Labor responds to Trump’s February 3 memorandum concerning the Fiduciary Duty Rule.[27]
The Department of State cuts funding to the UN Population Fund, a fund focused on reproductive health and family planning.[28]
President Trump suggests, offering no evidence, that former National Security Advisor Susan Rice may have committed a crime by seeking the names of the members of his team who may have been incidentally mentioned on the intercepted communications of foreigners; a charge denied by Rice.[32]
Defense Secretary Mattis meets with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
Thursday, April 6
President Trump orders a strike on the Shayrat Air Base in Homs, Syria, using 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles in retaliation for the chemical weapons attack on April 4. The strike is the first targeted attack by the United States military on the Ba’athistSyrian government forces since the war began.[34] Delivering a statement at Mar-a-Lago, Trump declares an intent to protect American national security by deterring the use of chemical weaponry.[35]
Chinese President Xi Jinping is met at Palm Beach International Airportby Secretary of State Tillerson.[36] Shortly following, he is escorted to Mar-a-Lago where President Trump greets him upon arrival prior to a formal dinner.[37]
The Department of Labor delays enforcement of OSHA’s Crystalline Silica Rule by three months.[39]
Secretary of the Interior Zinke appoints Aurelia Skipwith as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and Katharine MacGregor as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management.[40]
The USS Ross (DDG-71)fires a tomahawk land attack missile on Syria from the Mediterranean Sea, stationed off of Rota, Spain.
Friday, April 7
President Trump and President Xi Jinping continue talks during the second day at Mar-a-Lago, concerning trade and North Korea.[42]President Xi leaves on schedule later on the same day.[43]
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump with President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan of China.
Saturday, April 8
President Trump sends a letter of notification to Congress concerning his recent missile strike against Syrian government forces and indicating the possibility of further action.[49]
President Trump speaks by telephone with the Acting President of South Korea, Hwang Kyo-ahn.[50]
Sunday, April 9
President Trump issues a statement on Twitter condemning a pair of fatal terrorist bombings in the Egyptian cities of Tanta and Alexandria and expressing his confidence in President Sisi’s ability to respond.[51]
In an interview with CBS, Secretary of State Tillerson suggests that the positions of China and of the United States on the North Korean nuclear program are growing increasingly aligned.[52]
The Trump administration announces that a US Navy battle group headed by the USS Carl Vinson, diverting from plans to visit Australian ports, is moving towards the Korean Peninsula.[53] This statement is later questioned following the publication four days later of photographs of the Vinson off the coast of Indonesia en route to the Indian Ocean.[54]
Secretary of State Tillerson declares in advance of a visit to Moscow that the rule of the al-Assad family is ending.[63]
Press Secretary Spicer makes a televised apology following controversial remarks made at a White House press briefing concerning Adolf Hitlerand the use of chemical weapons.[64]
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos formally withdraws a pair of memoranda from the Obama administration which required the office of Federal Student Aid to increase help for Student Loan debtors.[65]
Wednesday, April 12
President Trump holds a joint press conference at the White House with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, responding to perceived structural changes within the organization by retracting his prior accusations of NATO’s obsolescence.[66]
Secretary of State Tillerson meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. At a joint press conference, they agree to improve their relations with bilateral dialogue.[67] Tillerson later meets with President Putin at the Kremlin.[68]
President Trump indicates three major economic policy reversals: that he would no longer label China as a currency manipulator; that he no longer wanted to eliminate the Import-Export Bank; and that he may consider reappointing Janet Yellen as chairwoman of the Federal Reserve.[69]
President Trump Holds a Joint Press Conference with Secretary General Stoltenberg.
Thursday, April 13
President Trump states that “North Korea is a problem. The problem will be taken care of”, expressing confidence that Chinese President Xi Jinping will solve the problem.[71] Trump issues a tweet stating that if China fails to resolve the issue, the US and its allies will instead.[72]
The Department of the Treasury launches sanctions against ISIS suppliers, and organizations of abusive prisons in Iran.[74][75]
President Trump signs a bill into law nullifying a pending federal regulation that would have disallowed states to withhold money from abortion providers.[76][77]
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announces sweeping “back-to-basics agenda” at the Harvey Mine in Sycamore, Pennsylvania.[78] The Environmental Protection Agency announces plans to reconsider the ELG rule, which aims to reduce steam electric power plant pollutants.[79][80]
The Trump administration verifies that it will discontinue the practice of voluntarily releasing the White House visitors’ log, following the filing of a federal-court lawsuit on April 10 by a group of organizations, including CREW, demanding the publication of such material under the Freedom of Information Act.[81][82]
President Trump proclaims April 15 through April 23, 2017, as National Park Week.[88]
The United States Department of Justice issued a two-sentence court filing that said it had dropped its lawsuit against the state of North Carolina over House Bill 2, which was filed in 2016 by the Obama administration, because the North Carolina legislature had replaced House Bill 2 with House Bill 142.[89]
Saturday, April 15
Tax Day March rallies are held throughout the United States.[90] President Trump responds the following day in two tweets, saying “the election is over”.[91][92]
Tax Day March demonstrators on Minnesota capitol grounds.
Sunday, April 16
Vice President Pence arrives in South Korea at the start of an Asia-Pacific diplomatic tour. Speaking in Seoul, Pence denounces as a “provocation” a failed North Korean missile test carried out that morning, and reiterates the United States’ commitment to South Korean defense.[93][94]
Seoul
Tokyo
Jakarta
Sydney
Vice President Pence’s diplomatic tour of the Asia-Pacific from April 16–April 23.
Vice President Pence visits the Korean Demilitarized Zone near the South Korean city of Paju. In a statement to the press, Pence declares an end to the “era of strategic patience” concerning the North Korean missile program and demands that they abandon their nuclear ambitions.[95]
Vice President Pence with General Leem Ho-Young near the demilitarized zone in South Korea.
Tuesday, April 18
President Trump visits the headquarters of tool manufacturer Snap-on in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to sign Executive Order 13788, which intends to prevent abuse of the H-1B visa program and to give preference to US-made products.[97]
Vice President Pence arrives in Tokyo, Japan, as part of an Asia-Pacific tour.[98]
Secretary of Defense James Mattis travels to Saudi Arabia to discuss security in the region.[99]
Riyadh
Cairo
Doha
Ambouli
Secretary of Defence Mattis’s tour of the Middle East and Africa from April 18–April 23.
Vice President Pence delivers a speech aboard the USS Ronald Reaganmoored at Yokosuka, Japan, to 2,500 members of the United States and of the Japanese armed forces, condemning North Korea’s threat to international security and stating that America’s “shield stands guard and sword stands ready”.[102]
Vice President Pence on the USS Ronald Reagan docked in Yokosuka, Japan.
Thursday, April 20
President Trump signs a memorandum directing the Department of Commerce to begin an investigation on whether steel imports are a threat to U.S. national security, and another which provides initial reports on the implementation of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.[103][104]
Secretary of Defense Mattis travels to Egypt to discuss security in the region and participates in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Unknown Soldier Memorial.[99]
President Trump Holds a Joint Press Conference with Italian Prime Minister Gentiloni.
Friday, April 21
President Trump signs one executive order and two memorandums. The executive order directs Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to review the U.S. tax code to recommend unnecessary regulations to remove, and the two memorandums direct the Treasury Secretary to review portions of the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.[107][108]
On the final leg of his Asia-Pacific diplomatic tour, Vice President Pence is met at Sydney Airport by Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.[109]
Secretary of Defense Mattis visits Israel to meet with President Reuben Rivlin, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman, and participates in a wreath-laying ceremony at the World Holocaust Remembrance Center.[99]
Secretary of Defense Mattis meets with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
Vice President Pence meets Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbullat Kirribilli House.[112] At a later joint press conference at Admiralty House, Pence says that the United States will honor a refugee deal with Australia; a deal previously described by President Trump as “dumb”, and which led to a truncated phone call on February 1.[113]
Secretary of Defense Mattis travels to Qatar to discuss security in the region.[99]
The Department of Commerce orders a 20% tariff on lumber imports from Canada, worth about $1 billion.[118]
President Trump talks via video conference with NASA astronauts Commander Peggy Whitson to congratulate her for breaking the record for most time in space of any American astronaut.
Trump signs an executive order, “Promoting Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in America.” The executive order instructs the Secretary of Agriculture to chair an interagency task force to examine legislative, regulatory, and policy changes in support of rural America.[120]
U.S. District Judge William Orrick III issues a preliminary injunction blocking President Trump’s Executive Order 13768 of 25 January, which ordered the withholding of federal funds from cities which refuse to comply with federal immigration enforcement measures.[121]
Secretary of Agriculture Perdue attends a Farmer’s Roundtable on his first day in office.
Wednesday, April 26
President Trump welcomes the Senate to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building prior to their briefing with the Secretary of Defense, State, Director of National Intelligence, and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the issue of North Korea. Pence and the four officials brief the House of Representatives at the Capitol complex later in the day.[122]
Steve Mnuchin and Gary Cohn release President Trump’s tax-reform outline plan, the proposals of which include among other items a cut in the rate of business tax from 35% to 15%, a simplification of the tax system by reducing seven existing tax brackets to three, and the elimination of the alternative minimum tax.[123][124]
Trump signs a pair of executive orders for reviews of national monuments and of public schools.[125][126]
Secretary of State Tillerson and Secretary of Defense Mattis lead a briefing on North Korea for members of the house and senate.[127]
President Trump signs the Antiquities Executive Order at the U.S Department of the Interior.
Thursday, April 27
Speaking at the Oval Office, President Trump praises President Xi Jinping’s diplomacy in respect of North Korea but warns of the continuing possibility of a “major, major conflict.”[128]
President Trump meets with Argentine President Mauricio Macri at the White House.[129]
A renewed attempt to secure a Congressional vote on President Trump’s plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act is abandoned.[130]
President and First Lady Trump with President Macri and First Lady Awanda of Argentina at the White House.
Speaking at a meeting of the U.N. Security Council, Secretary of State Tillerson calls for support from the international community to limit the North Korean missile program, warning that the U.S. mainland may soon be in range and that inaction may have “catastrophic consequences”.[132]
Ambassador Haley and Secretary Tillerson with UN Under-Secretary-General Feltman Before Chairing a UN Security Council Meeting.
Saturday, April 29
North Korea conducts another missile test from Bukchang, which fails shortly after liftoff. President Trump condemns this action as an insult to China.[133]
President Trump speaks by telephone with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to discuss North Korea, following a series of missile tests.[134][135]Trump invites Duterte to meet him at the White House, drawing criticism from international human rights organizations due to concerns regarding the latter’s drug war.[136]
In an interview with Bloomberg News, President Trump expresses an openness to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un under the right circumstances.[139]
Press Secretary Spicer confirms that Congress is currently under whip in preparation for a new attempt to secure a vote on President Trump’s plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.[140]
Tuesday, May 2
President Trump speaks by telephone with President Putin for the first time since the Khan Shaykhun chemical attack. They discuss the ongoing Syrian Civil War, Middle Eastern terrorism, and issues concerning the North Korean nuclear missile program,[141] and agree to meet in person.[142]
In a pair of tweets, President Trump suggests the abandonment of existing supermajority voting rules in the Senate, in favor of the principle of simple majority.[143]
Secretary of State Tillerson delivers remarks at the Model United NationsConference at the State Department.[144]
The House of Representatives votes 217-213 in favor of repealing and replacing major parts of the Affordable Care Act.[147]
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Pruitt recuses himself from a number of lawsuits which he had helped to bring against the EPA.[148]
Secretary of State Tillerson with Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN Member States.
Friday, May 5
Mark Green withdraws from President Trump’s nomination for the position of Secretary of the Army following prior controversial remarks made by Green concerning Muslims and concerning the LGBT community.[149]
At least five scientists on the Board of Scientific Counselors are informed by the Environmental Protection Agency that their terms will not be renewed.[150]
President Trump and French President-elect Emmanuel Macron speak by telephone and arrange to meet during a NATO summit scheduled for 25 May in Belgium.[152]
President Trump issues a series of tweets which describe allegations of collusion with Russia as a hoax, and which suggest that the ongoing investigations are a waste of taxpayers’ money.[153]
Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Crime and Terrorism subcommittee about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.[154] Yates asserts that the Trump administration knew that former National Security Advisor Michael T. Flynn was vulnerable to Russian blackmail at least 18 days before he was dismissed.[155] Clapper states that he was unaware of the FBI investigation into Russian electoral interference during his tenure.[156]
Secretary of Defense Mattis visits Copenhagen, to meet with representatives from 15 countries leading the campaign against ISIS. Mattis also meets Danish Minister of Defense Claus Hjort Frederiksen to discuss European security and NATO alliance, and Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen to re-affirm the close ties between Denmark and the U.S.[157]
Vice President Pence participates in an honor flight reception in the Indian Treaty Room.
In an interview with CNN, President Trump’s CounselorKellyanne Conway denies that Comey’s dismissal is part of a White House cover-up.[161]
Secretary of State Tillerson signs an agreement that expands the sharing of intelligence between the United States and Georgia.[162]
Secretary of Defense Mattis attends a Global Coalition on the Defeat of ISIS meeting at Eigtveds Pakhus in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Wednesday, May 10
Following a separate meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Secretary of State Tillerson at the State Department earlier in the day, President Trump meets with Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in the Oval Office; a meeting at which Trump divulges classified information.[163]
President Trump meets with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at the White House.[164]
Vice President Pence describes Trump’s dismissal of James Comey as “the right decision at the right time”.[165]
President Trump speaks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the Oval Office.
Thursday, May 11
President Trump signs an executive order to initiate an investigation of allegations of voter fraud during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, under a commission to be chaired by Vice President Pence.[167]
In an interview with NBC, President Trump explains that he had decided to dismiss James Comey prior to and without regard to a recommendation from the Attorney General’s office.[168]
President Trump suggests on Twitter and in an interview broadcast on 13 May the possibility of ceasing the practice of White House press briefings in favor of written statements.[171][172]
President Trump tweets a warning to Comey that he ought to “hope that there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press”. When questioned at the daily briefing, Press Secretary Spicer does not confirm or deny that conversations at the White House have been recorded.[173]
At Virginia’s Liberty University, President Trump delivers his first college commencement speech as sitting President, with the theme of perseverance.[175] During the graduation speech he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the university.[176][177]
Attorney General Sessions and Secretary of Homeland Security Kelly attend a candlelight vigil for officers killed in the line of duty.
Sunday, May 14
The White House describes North Korea as a “flagrant menace” in response to the test-launch of a missile from near Kusung into the Sea of Japan.[178]
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting and joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.[184]
President Trump issues a pair of tweets explaining that he has a right to share information with Russia for counter-terrorism reasons.[182]
National Security Advisor McMaster holds a White House press briefing at which he describes the President’s conversation with Lavrov and Kislyak as “wholly appropriate”.[185]
The White House issues a denial that President Trump asked Comey on 14 February 2017 to end the FBI investigation into Michael Flynn.[186]House Oversight Committee Chair Jason Chaffetz requests from the FBI all material on Comey’s meetings with Trump.[187]
President Trump and President Erdoğan give a joint statement in the Roosevelt Room at the White House.
Vice President Pence becomes the first sitting vice president to form a political action committee, filing paperwork to create the Great America Committee.[189][190]
President Trump delivers the commencement address to 199 cadets during the 136th U.S. Coast Guard Academy Commencement.
Thursday, May 18
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting and joint press conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.[193]
At the press conference, President Trump denies telling Comey to end the FBI investigation into Michael Flynn, denies any collusion between his campaign and Russia, and reiterates his claim that he is the subject of a “witch hunt”.[194][193]
Vice President Pence denies that he knew prior to March 2017 that Flynn was under federal investigation.[195]
White House Director of Communications, Michael Dubke, resigns, agreeing to continue in his position at least until the end of President Trump’s upcoming foreign visit.[196]
Following a private Senate briefing by Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein, three Senators confirm that Rosenstein believed that President Trump planned to dismiss Comey prior to Rosenstein’s recommendation.[197][198]
Friday, May 19
President Trump leaves Washington D.C. for Saudi Arabia on his first official foreign tour.[199]
The White House does not dispute reports that President Trump called former FBI Director Comey a “nut job” and said that firing him “relieved pressure” in a meeting with Russian officials. Press Secretary Spicer accuses Comey of “grandstanding” and impeding the relationship with Russia.[200]
Riyadh
Jerusalem/Bethlehem
Rome/Vatican
Brussels
Taormina
President Trump’s first international trip from May 19 to May 27.
President Trump signs an arms deal worth more than $350 billion and various other investment agreements with Saudi Arabia.[202]
President Trump arrives at the Murabba Palace.
Sunday, May 21
President Trump delivers a speech to more than fifty leaders of Muslim-majority nations at an Arab Islamic American Summit at the King Abdulaziz Conference Centre in Riyadh, condemning the alleged funding of terrorism by Iran.[203]
The White House publishes President Trump’s first full budget proposal. Allocations include $1.6bn for a Mexican border wall and a 10% increase in military spending. Reductions include an $800bn cut to Medicaid, a $190bn cut to food stamps, cuts to Meals on Wheels and drug treatment programs, and the elimination of student loan subsidies. The budget assumes economic growth of 3% to avoid adding to the deficit.[212][213]
President Trump at the Israel Museum shaking hands with Prime Minister Netanyahu.
President Trump holds bilateral meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, praising Italy’s efforts in combating terrorism.[215]
President Trump hosts a lunch meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the United States ambassador’s residence in Brussels.[219]
At the new NATO headquarters President Trump unveils a memorial to the September 11 attacks.[220] In a speech to NATO leaders, President Trump criticizes member states for their levels of defence spending and receives a commitment from NATO to formally join the international anti-ISIS coalition.[221]
The federal appeals court in Richmond, Virginia, refuses to reinstate President Trump’s travel ban, citing religious discrimination. The Justice Department declares an intent to appeal to the Supreme Court.[222]
President Trump with President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk.
Friday, May 26
President Trump attends the 43rd G7 summit with world leaders of G7 in Taormina, Italy to discuss world issues such as trade, climate change and the migration crisis.[223][224] Trump criticizes the large imports of German automobiles into the United States, pointing to the large US trade deficit with Germany.[225] Trump refuses to commit the United States to the Paris Agreement on climate change and cutting greenhouse emissions.[226]
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe to discuss the threat of North Korea’s ballistic missile program.[227]
Secretary of State Tillerson meets with Secretary Johnson in London with regards to the Manchester bombing that occurred on May 22.[228]
G7 leaders at the 43rd G7 summit.
Saturday, May 27
President Trump continues discussions with G7 leaders on a whole range of issues, agreeing on a communique on fighting protectionism in international trade, but disagreeing with a majority of a leaders on endorsing the Paris climate change accord.[229]
President Trump addresses American troops stationed in Italy at the Naval Air Station Sigonella before leaving for the United States.[230]
At a press briefing, National Security Advisor McMaster remarks that he “would not be concerned”, when responding to questions about a recent report that Kushner had discussed with Kislyak the possibility of creating a secret communication channel between President Trump’s team and the Kremlin.[231][232]
President Trump speaks to U.S. service members at the Naval Air Station in Sigonella, Italy.
Sunday, May 28
President Trump issues an extended series of tweets, describing many recent White House leaks as ‘fake news’, and questioning the use of anonymous sources by the media.[233]
President Trump is briefed on a new missile test-launch by North Korea, which is alleged to have discharged into waters within Japan’s exclusive economic zone.[234]
Answering questions concerning reports of an attempt by the Trump team to set up a secret line of communication with the Kremlin, Homeland Security Secretary Kelly states, “Any channel of communications, back or otherwise, is a good thing.”[235]
President Trump performs a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery and gives a speech honoring those who have died fighting for the U.S., giving special mention to the fallen son of Homeland Security Secretary Kelly.[236]
Vice President Pence hosts more than 200 bicycle-riders at the annual Project Hero Memorial Day Bike Ride at the Vice President’s residence.[237]
President Trump delivers the Memorial Day address at Arlington National Cemetery
Tuesday, May 30
President Trump reiterates on Twitter his proposal to abandon the Senate’s tradition of supermajority voting, in order to accelerate legislation.[238]
The resignation (tendered 18 May) of President Trump’s Director of Communications, Michael Dubke, is confirmed.[196]
Wednesday, May 31
President Trump hosts Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the White House and oversees the signing of trade deals worth USD$17 billion between both countries.[239]
President Trump signs the long-standing waiver resolving not to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.[247]
Friday, June 2
President Trump signs The American Law Enforcement Heroes Act to provide federal grants to those federal and state law enforcement agencies that hire and train veterans; and The Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Improvement Act that reduces the backlog of families awaiting approval of survivor benefits of public safety officers killed in the line of duty.[248]
Saturday, June 3
President Trump issues a pair of tweets sending a message of support to the UK and promoting his administration’s halted travel ban following a briefing on a major terrorist incident in London.[249]
Sunday, June 4
On Twitter, President Trump criticizes London Mayor Sadiq Khan‘s response to the terrorist incident, drawing condemnation from members of the United Kingdom’s governing and opposition parties, including Prime Minister May.[250][251]
President Trump delivers an evening speech at Ford’s Theater‘s annual fundraising gala, remarking on international security questions and denouncing the London terror attack of June 3.[252]
President Trump and First Lady Melania at Ford’s Theater.
President Trump announces plans to modernize and privatize the United States air traffic control system.[253]
In a series of tweets, President Trump praises his initial “travel ban“, and blames the Justice Department for the “watered-down” revised version he signed on March 6.[254]
Speaking publicly during a diplomatic visit to Australia with Secretary of Defense Mattis, Secretary of State Tillerson suggests that China ought to take stronger action to prevent North Korea from developing a nuclear missile.[255]
Press Secretary Spicer confirms that President Trump’s tweets are to be “considered official statements by the President of the United States”.[258][259]
Wednesday, June 7
President Trump announces his nomination of Christopher A. Wray for the directorship of the FBI.[260]
President Trump gives a speech in Cincinnati, Ohio, detailing government plans to overhaul the nation’s infrastructure and replace Obamacare.[261]
President Trump addresses the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s annual conference in Washington.[263]
James Comey testifies to the Senate Intelligence Committee in an open hearing in which he reiterates his statement that President Trump was not under investigation by the FBI during his tenure, but does not explicitly confirm whether or not he considers the President to have obstructed any investigation.[264][265] He confirms that Michael Flynn was under criminal investigation prior to his removal from the administration.[266]
Friday, June 9
President Trump announces in a speech at the Department of Transportation that he will set up a special council to speed up the permit process to build roads and bridges.[267]
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting and joint press conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, discussing issues such as NATO,[268] and accusing James Comey of lying under oath on 8 June.[269]
President Trump holds his first full cabinet meeting at the White House since his inauguration, blaming the Democrats for delaying some of his nominees.[270]
A second federal court rejects President Trump’s appeal to lift the injunction against Executive Order 13780, citing a lack of ‘sufficient justification’ for the travel ban.[273]
Tuesday, June 13
President Trump hosts a luncheon at the White House with Republican senators to discuss the repeal of Affordable Care Act.[274]
President Trump promotes opening technical apprenticeships to teenagers in a workforce development roundtable discussion in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[275]
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump visit congressman Steve Scalise, who was critically wounded in the Virginia shooting incident a day earlier.[279]
DNIDan Coats meets with the Senate Intelligence Committee in closed session to address issues from his testimony of June 7.[282]
President Trump signs an executive order promoting apprenticeships, increasing the funding for job-training programs by 5.5%, and giving more freedom to third-party companies and schools to craft these programs.[283][284]
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump attends the investiture ceremony of Justice Neil Gorsuch at the Supreme Court.[285]
Secretaries Tillerson and Kelly participate in the Senior Leaders Meeting at the Conference on Prosperity and Security in Central America in Miami.
Friday, June 16
Candice Jackson‘s, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Operations and Outreach in the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Education and the Office’s Acting Assistant Secretary, new guidelines for bathroom policy for transgender students for the Trump administration is released to the public.[286][287]
In a Twitter post, President Trump confirms that he is under investigation for obstruction of justice, reiterating his claim that it is a ‘witch hunt’.[288]
The presidential Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, led by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, holds its first meeting at the White House.[290]
President Trump signs the National Security Presidential Memorandum on Strengthening the Policy of the United States’ Toward Cuba.
Saturday, June 17
President Trump sends a message of support via Twitter to the families of the USS Fitzgerald crew members recently killed and injured in a collision in the Sea of Japan.[291][292]
President Trump, with the First Lady, makes his first visit to Camp David.[293]
President Trump hosts Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela at the White House, to discuss organized crime, drug trafficking and illegal migration.[295]
President Trump hosts the heads of major American technology companies at the White House for the first meeting of the American Technology Council.[298]
Tuesday, June 20
President Trump meets with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at the White House, as new sanctions against Russia are announced.[299]
President Trump declares on Twitter that China’s effort to restrain the North Korean nuclear program has failed.[300]
Energy Secretary Rick Perry warns of the domestic threat posed by America’s nuclear waste.[301]
President Trump and President Petro Poroshenko at the White House.
President Trump holds a campaign rally at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, speaking of his plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, and reiterating his criticism of the Democratic Party and of the mainstream media.[303]
Attorney General Sessions introduces the National Public Safety Partnership initiative, pledging federal resources to help twelve cities combat crime.[304]
Vice President Pence holds the National Summit on Crime Reduction and Public Safety at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda hotel, featuring discussions on drug abuse and violent crime.[305]
Thursday, June 22
President Trump hosts many emerging technology leaders at the American Leadership in Emerging Technology event at the White House to discuss modernizing government technology and upcoming drone technology.[306]
President Trump confirms that he made no recordings of his conversations with James Comey.[307]
President Trump meets with the president of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach to discuss Los Angeles’s bid to host the Olympics in 2024.[308]
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosts the first congressional picnic in the White House South Lawn, while paying tribute to congressman Scalise.[309]
President Trump and Vice President Pence accompanied by their wives at the 2017 Congressional Picnic.
President Trump signs the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, making it easier to dismiss employees for wrongdoing and adding protections for whistle-blowers.[311]
President Trump cuts $400,000 of funding from Life After Hate, a non-profit group which helps people to leave the Ku Klux Klan and other white-supremacist and Nazi organizations.[312]
The Supreme Court reinstates, as of 29 June, President Trump’s executive order temporarily banning travelers and refugees from six Muslim-majority countries (with the caveat that they have no direct ties to the US), in advance of a full hearing scheduled for October 2017.[315]
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House.[316]
The White House releases a statement warning that should Syrian President Bashar al-Assad conduct “another mass murder attack using chemical weapons, he and his military will pay a heavy price.” Nikki Haleystates that Russia and Iran would share any blame.[317][318]
President Trump meets with GOP senators at the White House concerning the pending health care bill.[321]
President Trump and Ivanka Trump meet with Chibok schoolgirls at the White House.
Wednesday, June 28
President Trump meets with the families of victims of illegal immigrantsand calls on Congress to enact new law-enforcement legislation.[322]
President Trump meets with state governors and tribal and local leaders at the White House to discuss American energy independence.[323]
Vice President Pence delivers a speech at Tendon Manufacturing in Bedford, Ohio, concerning tax cuts and employment, and stating that the Affordable Care Act will be repealed by the end of summer 2017.[324]
National Security Advisor McMaster confirms that he is preparing a military option for Trump in respect of North Korea.[325]
President Trump speaks by telephone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss issues such as America’s support of the YPGin Syria and the extradition of Fethullah Gülen who is accused of masterminding the 2016 Turkish coup.[334]
President Trump reiterates a prior suggestion to repeal the Affordable Care Act immediately, and replace it later.[335]
In the first quarter of 2017, the real US GDP increased at an annual rate of 0.7 percent, the slowest growth since the first quarter of 2014. The growth was primarily due to an increase in business structures and equipment (such as mining and wells), industrial supplies and materials (such as petroleum), and services. This was offset by decreases in motor vehicles and parts, private inventory investment, and government spending.[1] On 31 March 2017, the U.S. national debt stood at $19.8 trillion[2] representing a quarterly decline of 0.65%.[3]
According to denied reports in December 2017, while seated at Trump’s inauguration speech, forthcoming National Security Advisor Michael Flynntexts a former business partner that Russian sanctions blocking a private Russian-backed plan to build nuclear plants in the Middle East will now be ‘ripped up’.[6][7][8][9]
White House Press SecretarySean Spicer criticizes the media for inaccurately representing the presidential inauguration attendance.[21]Spicer does not take questions from the press and is criticized for making inaccurate statements.[22][23][24]
Following President Trump’s inauguration, Israel approves the construction of 566 new settlement homes in East Jerusalem – an action that had been made illegal by a UN resolution passed during the Obama administration.[29]
President Trump says 3–5 million illegal votes cost him the popular vote in a private meeting with congressional leaders.[35]
President Trump speaks with Egyptian PresidentAbdel Fattah el-Sisi, saying that the United States remains committed to their relationship and to continue military assistance to Egypt, discussing ways the United States could support Egypt’s economic reform program.[28]
President Trump signs Executive Order 13766, which expedites environmental reviews and approvals for future infrastructure projects.[40]
President Trump signs four memoranda. Two of them reverse the Obama administration’s halt on the Keystone XL[41] and Dakota Access[42] oil pipelines, the latter of which has been the subject of protests by the Standing Rock tribe. President Trump says these projects will recover 28,000 jobs. Another memorandum requires that the pipelines use domestic steel[43] (a directive shortly overturned by the White House in respect of Keystone[44]), and the last calls for “expedited reviews of and approvals for” manufacturing facilities and “reductions in regulatory burdens” affecting domestic manufacturing.[45]
Michael Flynn is interviewed by the FBI about prior conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.[47] Flynn pleads guilty on 1 December 2017 to lying during the interview.[48][49]
President Trump issues Executive Order 13768 cutting federal funding for sanctuary cities who refuse to comply with immigration enforcement measures. The order also increases border patrol and immigration officers and changes deportation standards.[53]
Acting Attorney General Sally Yates informs White House Counsel Don McGahn that National Security Advisor Michael Flynn‘s public account of his interactions with Russian officials during the transition were untruthful, making him vulnerable to blackmail.[60][61]
President Trump meeting Theresa May, his first diplomatic visitor as President
Friday, January 27
President Trump speaks with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto on the phone to discuss Mexico–United States relations in lieu of their canceled meeting.[62]
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting and joint press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May at the White House, where they discuss sanctions on Russia, NATO, US torture policy. May is the first foreign leader to visit Trump since his inauguration.[63][64]
President Trump has a one-on-one dinner with FBI Directory James Comey. Later news reports state that Trump asks Comey to pledge loyalty to Trump, and Comey demurs. The White House denies this version of events.[68]
Trump advisor George Papadopoulos is interviewed by the FBI concerning Russian meetings in 2016. He pleads guilty in October 2017 to making omissions and false statements during the interview.[69][70]
President Trump signs Executive Order 13770, which enacts a five-year ban on lobbying for presidential appointees after leaving the White House.[72] He also enacts a lifetime ban for officials lobbying on behalf of a foreign government and directs his generals to put together a plan within 30 days for Defeating ISIS.[73]
Executive Order 13769 goes into effect. Iran says it will take reciprocal action against the United States.[74] U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly in New York grants a stay of the executive order that allows people with valid visas who landed in the U.S. to temporarily remain in the country.[75]
President Trump signs a memorandum to create a plan within 30 days to defeat ISIS, and another to restructure the National and HomelandSecurity Councils by downgrading the Chiefs of Staff and appointing the Assistant to the President and Chief Strategist Steve Bannon.[76][77]
The Yakla raid, the first commando raid authorized by President Trump, leads to the death of Chief petty officerWilliam Owens, 14 members of the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula as reported by the United States government, and 14–25 Yemeni or other nationality civilian casualties, including American Nawar “Nora” al-Awlaki.[80][81]
Federal judges in the states of Massachusetts, Virginia, and Washington sign orders halting implementation of parts of Executive Order 13769.[82]Chief of Staff Priebus states that people from the affected countries who have a green card, will not be prevented from returning to the United States.[83]
A petition, launched Sunday to cancel President Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom in October, tops 1 million signatures, passing the threshold for British Parliament debate, eventually reaching 1.8 million.[88]A British government spokesman says the state visit would still go ahead as planned.[89]
The Iraqi Parliament votes in favor of a reciprocal travel ban on American citizens if President Trump’s executive order barring citizens of Iraq and six other Muslim-majority countries is not reversed. The Iraqi travel ban will not be implemented while tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers and contractors are involved in the fight against ISIL.[90]
President Trump visits Dover Air Force Base for the arrival of the remains of Navy SEAL Chief Special Warfare Operator William Owens who had been killed in action in Yemen three days prior, the first known combat death under the Trump administration.[93]
President Trump discusses a refugee agreement in a truncated phone call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, describing it to Turnbull as a ‘disgusting deal’.[95][96]
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick resigns from the president’s business advisory council, citing a concern that his participation would be seen as an endorsement of Trump.[106]
A Palestinian boy and Israeli soldier in front of the Israeli West Bank Barrier.
President Trump signs a memorandum directing the Department of Laborto review a fiduciary rule signed during the Obama administration before its implementation in April.[108]
President Trump institutes economic sanctions on 13 Iranian individuals and 12 companies from the nation[109] after a recent ballistic missile test.[110]
The Senate confirms Betsy DeVos as 11th Secretary of Education by a vote of 51–50. As president of the Senate, Vice President Mike Pence is the first vice president since 1945,[122] to cast a tie-breaking vote to confirm a Cabinet member.[123]
Aboard Air Force One, President Trump tells reporters he is considering issuing a revised policy banning citizens of certain countries traveling to the United States.[139]
A Joint Press Conference with President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
Saturday, February 11
President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe play golf together at the Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida and reportedly discuss the “future of the world, future of the region, and future of Japan and the United States,” as well as a North Korean Pukkuksong-2 missile which was test-launched during the meeting.[140][141]
Joint statement by President Trump and Prime Minister Shinzō Abe.
FBI Director James Comey and other officials give President Trump a briefing on counter-terrorism in the Oval Office.[149][150] According to a statement Comey would later make to the Senate Intelligence Committee, after the briefing, Trump speaks to Comey one-on-one about the FBI investigation of Mike Flynn, saying “I hope you can let this go”.[151]
President Trump signs H.J.Res.41 into law, which nullifies a federal law requiring resource extraction issuers to disclose payments made for “commercial development of oil, natural gas, or minerals”, or with foreign and domestic governments. Trump is the first president in sixteen years to sign a Congressional Review Act disapproval resolution.[155][156][157]
President Trump and Secretary of Education DeVos at a parent-teacher conference meeting.
Wednesday, February 15
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting and joint press conference at the White House with Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu. Trump calls on Netanyahu to “hold back” the construction of settlements in the West Bank.[158]
Chief of Staff Priebus asks Deputy Director of the FBIAndrew G. McCabe to publicly dispute reports that associates of President Trump had been in regular communication with Russian agents, and is rebuffed.[161]
Under Secretary of State Shannon meets with Indonesian Ambassador to the U.S. Budi Bowoleksono.[162]
Secretary of the Treasury Mnuchin appoints Eli Miller as Treasury Chief of Staff.[163]
President Trump Hosts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.
President Trump holds a press conference, defending his administration, criticizing “dishonest” press coverage thereof, denying Russian connections, and questioning Hillary Clinton’s conduct towards Russia.[166][167]
Robert Harward, a former Vice Admiral, declines President Trump’s offer to replace Mike Flynn as National Security Advisor.[168]
Secretary of State Tillerson meets with foreign ministers of G20 countries in Bonn, Germany.[170]
Secretary of Defense Mattis says that the United States is not currently prepared to collaborate with Russia on military matters, including future anti-ISIL U.S. operations.[171]
George Papadopoulos is interviewed for a second time by the FBI. In the following days, he deletes his Facebook account which he had run since 2005 (containing correspondence concerning Russia), opens a new Facebook account and changes his telephone number.[172][173]
Secretary of State Tillerson attends a meeting on the Syrian Civil Warand meets with foreign ministers from three more countries during his trip to Bonn, Germany.[178]
President Trump’s weekly address on February 17, 2017.
Saturday, February 18
President Trump holds a rally in Melbourne, Florida, attended by an estimated 9,000 supporters, where he defends his actions and criticizes the media.[179]
Vice President Pence speaks at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, touching upon the issues of terrorism and defense spending.[180]
President Trump speaking to supporters at a campaign-style rally in Melbourne, Florida.
The Trump administration announces the creation of 15,000 new positions in immigration enforcement, with the intention of deporting illegal immigrants.[184] The Trump administration releases a memo that sets the policy for the deportation of undocumented migrants accused of any crime.[185]
President Trump Speaks at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Wednesday, February 22
The Trump administration rescinds a bathroom policy for transgender students that had been instated by the Obama administration.[186]
Secretary of State Tillerson and Secretary of Homeland Security Kelly arrive in Mexico for bilateral talks with the government of President Enrique Peña Nieto.[188]
President Trump Discusses the Federal Budget.
Thursday, February 23
President Trump meets with 24 manufacturing CEOs at the White House.[189]
It is confirmed that six White House staff members, including Chief Digital Officer Gerrit Lansing, were removed from their positions earlier in the month after failing FBI background checks.[190]
Press Secretary Spicer tells reporters that the administration plans on increasing enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act against recreational cannabis use.[191]
Attorney General Sessions rescinds a memorandum signed by former President Obama meant to phase out private federal US prisons.[192]
President Trump gives a speech in Oxon Hill, Maryland to the 2017 Conservative Political Action Conference. In the speech, he addresses numerous themes including immigration, ISIS and coal mining, and media reliability, suggesting limits on the use of anonymous sources by news agencies.[196]
President Trump signs Executive Order 13777, requiring all federal agencies to create task forces to determine which regulations hurt the U.S. economy.[198]
Former President George W. Bush offers implicit criticism of the Trump administration’s handling the free press and religious freedom on the TODAY show.[208]
President Trump at the National Governors Association Meeting.
Tuesday, February 28
Ahead of his Congress speech, President Trump meets privately with national news anchors, signaling his willingness to enact an immigration reform bill that could grant legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants.[210]
President Trump signs Executive Orders 13778 and 13779. The first initiates a review of the Clean Water Rule, and the second is meant to “Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities”.[213][214]
President Trump signs a bill removing restrictions on the purchase of guns by persons with mental illnesses.[215]
President Trump releases his 2017 Trade Policy Agenda.[225]
Secretary of Commerce Ross addresses employees.
Thursday, March 2
President Trump tells reporters that he has “total” confidence in Attorney General Sessions, then delivers a speech aboard the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, reiterating his commitment to increased military spending.[226][227][228]
Attorney General Sessions recuses himself from any inquiries involving allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 American election.[229]
On his first day, Secretary of the Interior Zinke signs two secretarial orders reducing regulations on hunting and angling on public lands.[234]
The Environmental Protection Agency withdraws its request for information on equipment and emissions at existing operations for the oil and gas industry in response to H.J.Res.41.[235]
President Donald Trump’s weekly address aboard the Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier.
Friday, March 3
President Trump and Secretary of Education DeVos visit Saint Andrew Catholic School in Orlando, Florida.[236]
President Trump attends an evening Republican fundraising event at the Four Seasons hotel in Palm Beach, Florida.[237]
President Trump and Secretary of Education DeVos with students of Saint Andrew Catholic School.
Saturday, March 4
In a series of tweets, President Trump publicly accuses former President Obama of intercepting communications at his offices in New York City’s Trump Tower in October 2016; Obama spokesman Kevin Lewis denies the claim.[239]
March 4 Trump rallies are held throughout the United States.
Mexico opens legal aid centers in its 50 U.S. consulates to defend its citizens’ rights amid the United States “crackdown” on illegal immigration.[240]Public Safety MinisterRalph Goodale says Canada will not tighten its border because more migrants, reacting to the United States immigration crackdown, are illegally crossing into Canada from the U.S.[241]
James R. Clapper, a former Director of National Intelligence, denies the wiretapping claims of President Trump’s election campaign and states that the agencies he supervised found “no evidence of collusion” between the Trump campaign and Russian officials.[242]
Congressman Devin Nunes, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, agrees to a demand from the White House for an investigation into abuses of executive power by former President Obama.[243]
President Trump speaks on the telephone with Prime Minister Shinzō Abeto voice his support for Japan in reaction to new reports of North Korean missile tests.[247]
The White House verifies that President Trump has not conferred with the FBI over allegations of wiretapping by the previous administration.[248]
The states of Washington, New York, Oregon and Massachusetts join Minnesota and Hawaii’s legal challenge to President Trump’s forthcoming travel ban.[258][259]
In an interview with Fox News, Vice President Pence states that he learns from the day’s news reports that Michael Flynn was acting as an unregistered foreign agent of the Turkish government during the campaign.[260]
President Trump leads an NEC meeting with CEOs of small and community banks.
Secretary of State Tillerson meets with the Ambassadors to the United States of ASEAN Member States, as well as Iraqi Minister of Oil Jabbar Al-Luaibi.[265]
Secretary of Health and Human Services Price announces his commitment to greater Medicaid flexibility for states.[266]
Secretary of the Treasury Mnuchin announces the appointment of four senior staff.[267]
A brainstorming session with members of congress on replacing the Affordable Care Act. March 10, 2017.
Saturday, March 11
President Trump meets with Secretary of Homeland Security Kelly, Secretary of the Treasury Mnuchin, Secretary of Commerce Ross and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Shulkin at the Trump National Golf Club, where they discuss healthcare and the economy.[269]
President Trump signs Executive Order 13781, to reduce operating costs of the federal government.[270][271]
Press Secretary Spicer states that Trump’s wiretapping tweet was misinterpreted by the media, saying that Trump meant that the Obama administration was responsible, not Obama personally.[272]
Secretary of State Tillerson meets with the Foreign Ministers of Tunisia, Greece, and Saudi Arabia.[273]
Rachel Maddow discloses a portion of Trump’s 2005 tax returns (both sides of his Form 1040), mailed to David Cay Johnston by an unnamed source.[275] The form shows a payment of $38.4 million on a $49.5 million adjusted gross income, accounting for $103.2 million in losses that year.[276] The White House verifies the cited figures and condemns the public release as “totally illegal.”[277]
Vice President Pence swears in Seema Verma as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Verma and Secretary of Health and Human Services Price reemphasize their commitment to states’ roles in Medicaid programs.[278]
President Trump makes remarks at the American Center for Mobility at Willow Run in Ypsilanti, Michigan[280] and later holds a political rally in Nashville, Tennessee, at which he criticizes the court rulings against the travel ban.[281]
Rep. Nunes reports that the House Intelligence Committee has not discovered any evidence supporting Trump’s wiretapping claim.[282]
Federal Judge Watson issues a temporary nationwide restraining order on the revised travel ban.[283]
During a televised town hall event, Secretary of Health and Human Services Price says that it should be up to individual states to determine whether vaccinations should be required.[285]
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Carson responds to President Trump’s proposed budget cuts to his department, saying it “recognizes a greater role for State and local governments, and the private sector to address community and economic development needs”.[290]
Executive Order 13780 is scheduled to be put into effect. A second U.S. federal judge, Theodore D. Chuang of Maryland, grants that state’s motion for a temporary restraining order on President Trump’s revised travel ban.[294]
GCHQ denies all involvement in the alleged wiretapping of Trump Tower,[297][298] prompting the Trump administration to issue a formal apology to the United Kingdom with assurances that the allegation will not be repeated.[299][300]
Secretary of State Tillerson visits South Korea to discuss international threats and indicates the possibility of military action against North Korea.[301]
The White House announces that it will appeal the Hawaii ruling against the revised travel ban.[302]
Secretary of State Tillerson meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yiin Beijing, to discuss the North Korean missile program.[306]
Secretary of the Treasury Mnuchin meets with G-20 country finance ministers, where he defends the Trump administration’s trade policy of economic protectionism.[307][308]
President Trump signs a memorandum which “delegate to the Secretary of State the functions and authorities vested in the President by” the “Updated Plan for Verification and Monitoring of Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and Fissile Material” section of the National Defense Authorization Act.[320][321]
President Trump with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi at the White House.
Tuesday, March 21
President Trump signs a bill which defines the budget and objectives of NASA, including a crewed mission to Mars as early as 2033.[322][323] The draft 2018 budget expands support of public-private partnerships for deep-space habitation, revives a supersonic flight research program, strengthens NASA’s cybersecurity, increases focus on planetary science and robotic exploration, cancels the Europa lander and Asteroid Redirect Mission, terminates four Earth science missions, and eliminates the NASA Office of Education, resulting in an overall 0.8% budget decrease.[288]:43–44
President Trump is briefed by Devin Nunes, who also holds a news conference at the White House, on the evidence concerning Trump’s wiretapping allegations which he was shown on the White House grounds on the previous day.[327]
President Trump offers British Prime Minister Theresa May the United States’ full support, following a briefing by National Security Advisor McMaster on a fatal terrorist attack carried out near the Palace of Westminster in London.[328][329]
Secretary of State Tillerson hosts a summit of 68 nations in Washington to discuss anti-ISIS strategy.[330]
Secretary of Homeland Security Kelly meets with President of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez.[331]
The first major Congressional vote on President Trump’s planned repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act is postponed until March 24.[332][333]
President Trump signs a memorandum and a presidential notice to “continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13664 with respect to South Sudan“.[334][335]
Secretary of State Tillerson orders US diplomatic missions to identify “populations warranting increased scrutiny”.[336]
Secretary of Homeland Security Kelly meets with President Juan Orlando Hernandez of Honduras.
Friday, March 24
With the consent of President Trump, House SpeakerPaul Ryanindefinitely postpones the first major Congressional vote on the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, due to lack of support from both sides of Congress.[337][338]
President Trump and Secretary of Defense Mattis host a group of prior medal recipients at the White House on the eve of National Medal of Honor Day.[339]
During a visit to the Osceola County, Florida campus of Valencia College, Secretary of Education DeVos says she is considering the extension of federal financial aid for students that were year-round and interested in placing more focus on community colleges.[344]
The Department of Labor pushes back the Examinations of Working Places in Metal and Nonmetal Mines rule by two months.[345]
President Trump Makes a Statement on Healthcare Law.
Vice President Pence delivers an evening speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) at Washington D.C.’s Verizon Center, reaffirming the United States’ commitments to Israeli defense, and to prevent Iran’s nuclear program from producing a weapon.[347]
At the daily White House press briefing, Attorney General Sessions outlines plans to withhold funds and grants from sanctuary cities which refuse to fully enforce federal immigration laws.[351]
President Trump signs four Congressional Review Act disapproval resolutions into law, eliminating regulations from the Obama administration. One repeals the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The second removes regulations on teacher preparedness. The third deregulates resource management planning, and the fourth nullifies the rule Federal Acquisition Regulation and Fair Pay and Safe Workspaces.[352][353][354][355]
President Trump and Vice President Pence meet with Medal of Honor Recipients.
Press Secretary Spicer denies allegations that the White House attempted to prevent former acting Attorney General Sally Yates from testifying to the House Intelligence Committee.[358]
Secretary of the Interior Zinke hosts media call about lifting the coal moratorium and American energy independence.[360]
The Trump administration announced it would remove “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as proposed subjects for possible inclusion on the Decennial Census and/or American Community Survey in the future.[361]
President Trump and Vice President Pence speak about Executive Order 13783.
Wednesday, March 29
President Trump signs Executive Order 13784 to combat drug addiction and the opioid epidemic.[362] Trump also hosts a meeting in the Cabinet Room, concerning opioids and drug abuse.[363]
President Trump issues a presidential notice continuing Executive Order 13694, which “[blocks] the property of certain persons engaging in significant malicious cyber-enabled activities”.[364]
Secretary of the Interior Zinke signs a secretarial order scaling back regulations on natural resources from the Obama administration.[365]
Federal Judge Watson converts the temporary restraining order on President Trump’s travel ban into an indefinite preliminary injunction, citing evidence of a religious objective in violation of the Establishment Clause.[366][367]
Secretary of Education DeVos delivers her first extended policy address at the Brookings Institution, stating an interest in implementing choice policies and criticizing policies from the Obama administration.[369]
President Trump calls FBI Director James Comey, asserts that he wasn’t involved with Russian hookers and asks Comey to “lift the cloud” of the Russia investigation.[151]
The US Department of Justice issues a statement that it disagrees with Federal Judge Watson’s March 29 ruling against the revised travel ban and that it will continue its legal contest to reactivate the ban.[372]
Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn seeks immunity from the FBI in exchange for testimony on White House links to Russia.[373]
Vice President Pence casts his second tie-breaking vote, voting to advance a bill to defund Planned Parenthood.[374]
President Trump issues a tweet describing as a “witch hunt” allegations of links between Russia and his associates, and recommending that Michael Flynn requests immunity in return for testimony to the intelligence authorities.[377]
President Trump signs two executive orders aimed at preventing foreign trade abuses. The signing occurs behind closed doors after Trump leaves the public ceremony without signing the orders.[378]
President Trump signs an executive order, as with Executive Order 13775, which provides an order of succession within the Department of Justice.[379]
President Trump and Vice President Pence meet with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the White House.[380]
The Department of the Treasury announces new sanctions against North Korea in response to Kim Jong Un‘s continuing nuclear missile program.[381]
District Judge David J. Hale rules against a freedom of speech defense by President Trump’s lawyers, permitting to proceed a lawsuit in which three plaintiffs allege that Trump incited violence at a presidential campaign rally in 2016.[382][383]
The White House would like you to know it has accomplished things
Donald Trump’s team sent out an email blast this morning to the press titled “President Trump’s 100 Days of Historic Accomplishments.” The list, which includes headings such as “getting the government out of the way,” contains comparisons to what former presidents had completed at this point in their terms. The list also highlights that Trump has signed 30 executive orders since taking office in January, compared to former President Barack Obama’s 19.
WH blasting out new email this morning listing first 100 days accomplishments
Trump’s email blast comes despite criticism from the president about the concept of using the first 100 days to judge effectiveness. In the last week, Trump has called the benchmark “not very meaningful” and suggested it’s overrated as a tool of evaluating a presidency.
The two fake news polls released yesterday, ABC & NBC, while containing some very positive info, were totally wrong in General E. Watch!
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The public weighs in
A new poll has some bad news for the president. Donald Trump’s approval rating is at 42 percent with just days left until he reaches his 100-day mark, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll released Sunday. That’s the lowest for any president at this point in their term since pollsters began tracking it in the 1940s. For comparison, former President Barack Obama had a 69-percent approval rating at this juncture of his first term.
I am committed to keeping our air and water clean but always remember that economic growth enhances environmental protection. Jobs matter!
Trump unhappy with ‘100 days’ benchmark
The president has a bone to pick with the “first 100 days” benchmark used to evaluate how a presidency is going. Donald Trump criticized the standard in a tweet Friday, calling it “ridiculous” and insinuating the media would not give him credit for his successes. Trump’s main victory since entering office, which he highlighted in his post, has been the confirmation of Supreme Court justice Neil Gorsuch. Many of his other notable moves, such as his travel ban or healthcare replacement, have failed to be instituted.
Failing @nytimes, which has been calling me wrong for two years, just got caught in a big lie concerning New England Patriots visit to W.H.
Patriots visit the White House
With just 10 days left of Trump’s first 100 days in office, the White House played host to the New England Patriots today. The visit is in honor of their victory earlier this year at Super Bowl LI. The president met with the team’s players and gave remarks where he singled out around seven team members for their performance. But one player not in attendance was quarterback Tom Brady, who cited personal family matters as his reason for staying home. Donald Trump has long touted his friendship with Brady, but Brady wasn’t the only player to skip. Several team members opted out of the visit due to political disagreements with the president.
Dems failed in Kansas and are now failing in Georgia. Great job Karen Handel! It is now Hollywood vs. Georgia on June 20th.
New executive order says ‘Buy American’
On Tuesday, Donald Trump signed a new executive order essentially stating “Buy American; Hire American.” The order is meant to reduce the number of low-wage foreign workers in the country and improve the amount of job opportunities for American employees. The initiative is in line with his “America First” theme for his first 100 days in office, but defies his campaign rhetoric, where he suggested it would be unfair to crack down on H1-B visa holders.
Just learned that Jon @Ossoff, who is running for Congress in Georgia, doesn’t even live in the district. Republicans, get out and vote!
Next target: Jon Ossoff
The president stepped into campaign mode once again when he got involved in the Georgia special election. The election is being held to fill Tom Price’s congressional seat, following his confirmation as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Trump began tweeting about the main Democratic candidate, Jon Ossoff, after polls made it clear that Ossoff was the leading character in the race. The district in question isn’t exactly a Republican stronghold; Trump won by less than 2 percent back in November. Nevertheless, it was expected that Ossoff would fall short of the 50 percent marker he needs to avoid a runoff election later this year.
I did what was an almost an impossible thing to do for a Republican-easily won the Electoral College! Now Tax Returns are brought up again?
Trump’s White House visitor logs will be private
The White House has announced that most of the visitor logs for those stopping by the Oval Office will remain private. Citing “grave national security risks and privacy concerns,” the Trump administration will not willingly disclose the names of the president’s vistors. Unless the White House amends this policy, it could take years for that information to be revealed.
The president signed off today on a resolution that will allow states to defund family planning centers such as Planned Parenthood if they provide abortion services. The resolution overturns a late Obama-era policy that prevented the government from defunding these providers for any reason other than lack of “ability to deliver services to program beneficiaries in an effective manner.”
Though Republicans have long held a stance against taxpayer money being used to pay for abortion services, it’s a solution without a problem. The Hyde Amendment has prevented tax dollars from being used for abortion services for decades.
Jobs are returning, illegal immigration is plummeting, law, order and justice are being restored. We are truly making America great again!
The president is disturbed by the United Airlines video
The White House said Tuesday that Donald Trump has seen the viral video of United Airlines passenger Dr. David Dao being forcibly deplaned and that Trump is “disturbed” by the video. White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters during his daily briefing that he believes anyone would be bothered by how Dao was treated. “I don’t think anyone looks at that video and isn’t a little disturbed that another human being is treated that way,” Spicer said.
No troops in Syria… for now
In an interview set to air Wednesday morning on Fox Business, the president said that the U.S. is not putting ground troops in war-torn Syria. Literally. “We’re not going into Syria,” Trump told Fox’s Maria Bartiromo. Trump’s interview comes amid questions about the White House’s next move, after he ordered missile strikes last week against a Syrian airbase. The strikes were a response to Syrian leader Bashar Assad, who is suspected of using chemical weapons against his people last week in an attack that killed dozens.
“Look, what I did should have been done by the Obama administration a long time before I did it,” Trump said. “And you would have had a much better – I think Syria would be a lot better off right now than it has been.”
North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.
Trump makes his mark on SCOTUS
Trump’s Supreme Court pick Neil Gorsuch was sworn onto the highest bench in the country Monday. His swearing in marks the president’s first landmark success with Congress since taking office. Gorsuch will serve as the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s replacement, more than a year after Scalia passed away. Gorsuch is considered very similar to Scalia in how he will decide cases, being a constitutional originalist.
The president ordered airstrikes on the Al-Shayrat airbase in Homs, Syria on Thursday, in retaliation for a chemical weapon attack that killed more than 100 people. The attack is suspected to be the work of Bashar Assad’s government, and these airstrikes are the first targeted U.S. action against Assad since the Syrian civil war began six years ago.
The administration says the site of the strikes was chosen because U.S. officials tracked the planes that carried the chemical weapons using radar. In remarks shortly after the strikes, Trump said they were “in this vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons.”
Eleven weeks in, Trump says he’s had the one of the most successful 13 weeks…?
Donald Trump said Thursday that he thinks his administration has had “one of the most successful 13 weeks in the history of the presidency.” There are just two problems: First, he’s had one of the most controversial terms in history to date, with multiple Cabinet picks stepping down, ongoing investigations into his campaign’s ties with Russia, a failed healthcare bill, and low poll numbers.
Second, he’s only been in office for 11 weeks.
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Bannon removed from the National Security Council
White House senior adviser Steve Bannon has been removed from the National Security Council, according to reports. On Tuesday, President Trump signed an executive order reorganizing the NSC. In it, he restored the director of national intelligence, CIA director, and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to full participation and removed Bannon from the panel. The White House did not announce the move publicly, so it wasn’t reported on until Wednesday. A White House source said Bannon can still attend any meeting where his expertise is needed, CNN reported.
As a reminder, Bannon has zero national security experience; rather he previously served as the publisher of alt-right white nationalist new org, Breitbart. His appointment did not require senate approval. We do not yet know why Bannon was removed, but we’re chalking it up to common sense.
Donald Trump is not done tweeting about Hillary Clinton. On Monday morning, the president tweeted about his former Democratic rival and her campaign manager, saying “Was the brother of John Podesta paid big money to get the sanctions on Russia lifted? Did Hillary know?” Shortly after, he followed up with a sarcastic question about whether or not Clinton apologized for an instance where she was provided questions in advance of an interview. The tweets appear to be an attempt to deflect growing criticism of his administration’s ties with Russia. Clinton has largely remained out of the spotlight since losing the election in November.
White House financial disclosures show that everyone is rich.
The White House released its employees’ financial disclosures Friday night; and to no one’s surprise, they showed enormous wealth. According to the documents, senior adviser Steve Bannon has more than $1 million in his bank account and has made significant income from his rental properties. Bannon values his consulting business at somewhere between $5 and $25 million, the disclosures show.
Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, both list far higher numbers. Because Ivanka Trump was only just given an official title, her personal disclosure hasn’t been completed yet, but her assets appear on her husband’s forms. The two could be worth as much as $740 million, reports show. Much of their fortune comes from Kushner’s real estate holdings and Trump’s business.
The president’s former campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, is also a financial success. The disclosures show that she was worth as much as $40 million before she was named a White House staffer.
The president revived his fight against the Freedom Caucus on Thursday morning, tweeting that the ultra-conservative congressional group would damage Republicans in 2018. Trump has been highly critical of the Caucus since they aligned against his replacement healthcare plan, despite the fact that many moderate Republicans were also opposed to the bill.
If climate change was a hoax, it won’t be for long. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order undoing many of former President Obama’s climate change regulations. The order directs the Environmental Protection Agency to begin the process of withdrawing from the Clean Power Plan, an Obama-era regulation that called for the replacement of coal-powered plants with new wind and solar farms.
The order also calls into question whether Trump will abide by the landmark Paris climate change agreements that the U.S. signed just a short time ago. The U.S. has agreed to cut its emissions by 26 percent over the next decade. Experts say such measures are essential to prevent the temperature from rising more than 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature they agree spells global catastrophe down the line.
The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals is reportedly considering hearing the revised travel ban case with its full bench-rather than the panel of three judges who would normally hear it. In an order on Monday, the court asked both the government and the plaintiffs to address whether the full bench should hear arguments.
If all 15 active judges hear the case, it could potentially spell good new for opponents of the ban. The 4th Circuit is made up of nine Democratic appointees, five Republicans, and one appointed by a Democratic and later confirmed under a Republican. Basically: It skews left.
Donald Trump’s landmark replacement for Obamacare was shot down Friday when the House of Representatives decided not to even bother voting on it. The president and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan decided to pull the bill from consideration after it became clear it would fail if it went to vote.
The American Health Care Act’s rejection means that Obamacare will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
White House bans laptops in carry-ons for eight Muslim countries
On Tuesday, the Trump administration announced that people flying nonstop to the U.S. from 10 airports in Muslim-majority countries would no longer be allowed to bring laptops in their carry-on luggage. Passengers are allowed to check them in with their baggage, however. The airports are spread across eight countries: Morocco, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar.
The administration has cited the need to do so for security but didn’t say there was any specific new threat or intelligence. Several hours after the announcement, the U.K. made a similar move, though their ban affects some different airports than the U.S. ban does.
Donald Trump went after allegations that he has ties to the Russian government again Monday, just hours before FBI director James Comey is set to testify in front of Congress. In a series of tweets, Trump wrote that the “The Democrats made up and pushed the Russian story as an excuse for running a terrible campaign.” He added that “the real story that Congress, the FBI and all others should be looking into is the leaking of Classified information. Must find leaker now!”
Comey is expected to testify about Russian involvement in November’s presidential election, which committees in both houses of Congress have been investigating.
On Sunday, Donald Trump concluded his fifth weekend in Florida since taking office. Though Trump was regularly critical of former President Obama taking vacations, he has spent more than half of his weekends as president at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. Trump also spent time holding meetings at his local golf club, according to his press pool, where he may have stepped out “to hit some golf balls,” the Palm Beach Post reported.
Sooo, Trump’s budget is cool if you don’t like PBS or the environment
Donald Trump released his budget plan Thursday, and it cuts pretty much everything people expected. Among the agencies that would take hits are the Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency, PBS, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and many more. Almost no departments are spared from cuts-the only ones without any cuts are Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs. But Trump did manage to find $2 billion for a down payment on the wall.
A federal judge in Hawaii blocked Donald Trump’s revised travel ban Wednesday evening, just one night before it was set to take effect. The new ban was a watered-down version of the first, excluding some of the more controversial policies-like the ban on green card holders. The Trump administration argued that the new executive order addressed all the legal criticism of the first, but Judge Derrick Watson was unimpressed. Watson wrote that a “reasonable, objective observer” would still view the ban as an attempt to discriminate against members of one religion (despite Trump’s statements to the contrary.)
A second judge ruled similarly in Maryland just hours later.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released it’s official estimates on the GOP’s Obamacare replacement plan today, and the news wasn’t good. According to the report, it’s projected that 14 million people would lose coverage next year under the new House bill. The number of uninsured would grow to 24 million by 2026.
The White House pushed back hard on the report, saying it disagrees “strenuously.” Health Secretary Tom Price said it will cover more individuals and lower costs. As for the estimate that 14 million people would lose coverage, he said, “It’s just not believable is what we would suggest.”
Trump endorsed the plan last week, despite the fact that, back in January, Trump told the Washington Post his health-care law would include “insurance for everybody.”
Red alert! The president went an entire day without tweeting on Sunday, capping off a contentious weekend with radio silence. That may not seem notable; but as The Hill reported, Trump has tweeted more than 260 times since his inauguration, meaning he averages more than five per day.
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The first thing we do, let’s fire all the lawyers
Over the weekend, the Trump administration asked for the immediate resignation of 26 U.S. attorneys from the Obama era. That’s pretty normal for a new administration, but Trump is drawing rebuke from Democrats for his handling of one specific case. Preet Bharara, who served as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, declined to resign from his post and was fired-even though Trump had reportedly personally asked him to stay in his role. Bharara announced that he was fired on Twitter:
Friday marked the halfway point in Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office, the time period generally used to determine how effective a new administration has been. In that time, Trump has signed 16 executive orders, which is on pace with former President Barack Obama. But unlike Obama, Trump’s first 50 days have been marred with controversy. Protests and court battles derailed his first travel ban, the replacement plan for Obamacare has been almost universally panned, and several members of his administration are under investigation for ties to Russian officials.
Trump has made strides toward keeping some of his more realistic campaign promises. His administration has caused either the repeal or delay of more than 90 Obama-era federal regulations, and he withdrew the U.S. from the TPP trade deal. An executive order he signed allowed work to recommence on the Dakota Access Pipeline, despite ongoing protests in North Dakota.
One thing Trump has not accomplished is a major legislative victory. At this point in his presidency, Obama had passed an $800 billion economic stimulus package through Congress as well as a law making it easier for women to sue over equal pay discrepancies. Trump is looking to make a repeal of the Affordable Care Act his first landmark achievement in Congress, but he has so far been unsuccessful.
Donald Trump has chosen Jon Huntsman, a Republican who ran for president in 2012, as his ambassador to Russia. This will be Huntsman’s third ambassadorship: He represented the United States to Singapore under George H.W. Bush, and to China under Barack Obama. It will also likely be his most heavily scrutinized role, as the Trump administration is investigated for alleged ties to Russian officials during his presidential campaign. Huntsman originally endorsed Trump for office, but had called on him to drop out after the release of a vulgar tape where Trump described grabbing women to Billy Bush.
Sean Spicer tries to explain what Trump is talking about
Donald Trump has “no regrets” about accusing former President Barack Obama of wiretapping him, at least, not according to Sean Spicer. The White House press secretary gave a news conference on Tuesday where he attempted to explain some of the president’s more controversial recent statements. Spicer said the president is waiting for the results of an investigation into his claims, despite the fact that there is no evidence to support his accusations.
Spicer also touched on Trump’s claim that Obama released 122 “vicious” Guantanamo Bay inmates that have since returned to fighting. In reality, Obama released just nine of those prisoners; the other 113 were released by George W. Bush’s administration. Spicer acknowledged that Trump’s comments were incorrect.
Donald Trump signed a new executive order today banning people from six Muslim-majority countries from applying for visas to the United States. The new ban, which no longer includes Iraq, bars citizens from those six countries from entering the U.S. for 90 days and suspends refugee admissions for 120 days. It will also slash the number of refugee admissions for this year from 110,000 to 50,000.
The new ban comes as a response to legal criticism of the first version, which argued that Trump’s ban amounted to little more than religious discrimination. It also opens the door to adding more countries. Trump will ask the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department to determine whether any other countries should be included in future travel bans, the Daily Beast reported.
Donald Trump and a Russian official’s rejection of the Jeff Sessions allegations are weirdly similar.
Trump went off on Twitter on Thursday night. In his tweet-storm, the POTUS attacked Democrats for what he called their “witch hunt” of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The tweets came several hours after Sessions held a news conference recusing himself from any investigation of the Trump campaign’s ties with Russia.
Then, Friday morning, a Russian official seemed to agree with Trump’s assessment. Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov borrowed a phrase from Trump and told a Russian state media outlet that the investigation was a “witch hunt,” Reuters reported.
Trump is pretty much ignoring Sessions allegations
UPDATE (4:52 PM EST): Jeff Sessions held a news conference Thiursday afternoon where he announced that he would recuse himself from any investigation into Russia’s actions during election season. In the conference, Sessions said “that since [he] had involvement with the campaign, [he] should not be involved in any campaign investigation.”
UPDATE (2:38 PM EST): The president has spoken out. On Thursday, Trump reportedly said he has “total confidence” in Jeff Sessions and that he “doesn’t think” the attorney general should recuse himself from the investigation into possible Russian activity.
ORIGINAL STORY: On Wednesday night, reports broke claiming that Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke with the Russian ambassador twice before the November election, despite saying he didn’t during his confirmation hearing. Democrats are up in arms, demanding Sessions’ resignation from his post. Even some Republicans are saying Sessions must, at a minimum, recuse himself from investigations into whether Russia attempted to interfere in the election.
One person not demanding answers, however, appears to be the president. In a statement Thursday morning, the White House denounced the allegations, saying “This is the latest attack against the Trump Administration by partisan Democrats. General Sessions met with the ambassador in an official capacity as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which is entirely consistent with his testimony.”
And Trump hasn’t spoken out on Twitter, either. His only tweet (so far) since the news broke was an early-morning message about the stock market.
The president signed two bills Tuesday to “empower women.” The bills are H.R. 321, which “directs NASA to encourage women and girls to study science technology engineering, mathematics, and aerospace” and H.R. 255, which “authorizes the National Science Foundation to use existing entrepreneurial programs to recruit and support women.”
Trump’s daughter Ivanka reportedly has been pushing for women-focused legislation. She released a statement about the bills, saying she “[looks] forward to working alongside [her] father to champion the economic empowerment of women and girls and encouraging gender diversity in STEM fields is critical to that mission.”
Trump gives a presidential speech
Donald Trump gave a speech Tuesday night in front of a joint session of Congress, where he took a much more conciliatory tone than any speech to date. In his speech, Trump discussed a healthcare overhaul, rebuilding the military and asked both sides of the aisle to put aside their fights and work together.
One of the most emotional parts of his speech came as he addressed Carryn Owens, the wife of Ryan Owens, who died in a raid in Yemen shortly after Trump took office.
But the speech was not devoid of his usual rhetoric: Trump also made some of his frequent claims, suggesting immigration enforcement makes us safer (studies show it drives crime up), saying 94 million people are unemployed (a misleading statistic), and claiming most terrorists are foreign-born (that’s false).
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White House will no longer contest Texas voter ID law
A lawyer for a voting rights group said Monday that the Justice Department told them it will no longer challenge Texas’ voter ID law in court, the Associated Press reported. The move represents an about-face from the Obama administration’s stance; in 2013, former President Obama’s government joined a lawsuit challenging the statute.
Last summer, a federal appeals court found that the law discriminates against minorities and the poor and ordered changes before the presidential election. The Trump administration’s position under new Attorney General Jeff Sessions is not necessarily surprising. Voter ID laws generally are divided on strict party lines.
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Another one bites the dust
The president lost yet another one of his Cabinet appointees Sunday when Philip Bildren, his nominee for Secretary of the Navy, withdrew from consideration. Bilden cited difficulties meeting the government’s ethics guidelines and the financial sacrifice he would have to make as his reason for withdrawing. Bilden isn’t the first Trump nominee to remove themself from the running; Trump’s pick for Secretary of the Army, Vincent Viola, also dropped out over business interests earlier this month.
Rumors that Bilden would quit were first reported February 18 by CBS, but White House press secretary Sean Spicer claimed on Twitter at the time that the report was false.
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Trump breaks up with the Correspondent’s Dinner
Donald Trump is following in Ronald Reagan’s footsteps by becoming the first president since to skip the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. Of course, when Reagan bailed on the press, he was recovering from an assassination attempt. Trump announced his plans via Twitter on Saturday, writing “I will not be attending the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner this year. Please wish everyone well and have a great evening!”
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The White House tries to literally stop the presses
The New York Times, CNN and Politico were among the news outlets banned from attending today’s White House press briefing-an escalation of the already historically poor relations between the media and the Trump administration. Press secretary Sean Spicer handpicked which outlets would be allowed to attend an off-camera media huddle. NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox News were allowed to attend, along with conservative outlets like the Washington Times and Breitbart, but other outlets chose to boycott the event.
The White House Correspondents Association released a statement condemning the action, saying “We encourage the organizations that were allowed in to share the material with others in the press corps who were not. The board will be discussing this further with White House staff.”
Trump’s CPAC speech, in a nutshell
The president spoke today at the Conservative Political Action Conference, known as CPAC, and repeated some of his favorite talking points.
Trump used a large chunk of his speech to continue his attacks on the “mainstream media,” to criticize NAFTA, suggest that Sweden’s crime rate is going up (it’s not), and claim that intelligence agency leaks are made up.
He also discussed the Affordable Care Act, saying that “Obamacare covers very few people” and claiming that many Americans had their healthcare taken away from them. In reality, roughly 20 million Americans became insured under the Affordable Care Act, and there are no reliable studies suggesting that “many” people lost their healthcare plans.
Trump also spoke about Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, once again claiming that the agency endorsed him for president. Numerous outlets have debunked that claim; federal agencies cannot endorse political candidates. A union representing ICE employees did endorse Trump, but not the agency itself.
White House wants the FBI to help them handle the press… Sad!
White House chief of staff Reince Priebus is in hot water after asking a top FBI official to dispute reports that Trump’s campaign advisers were talking to Russian intelligence agents during the election. A White House official reportedly said Priebus made the request after hearing from the FBI that it believed a New York Times report detailing the allegations was inaccurate. The FBI has not taken a public stance on this issue.
Democrats are angry about the request, arguing that the contact was inappropriate. “The White House is simply not permitted to pressure the FBI to make public statements about a pending investigation of the president and his advisers,” said Michigan Rep. John Conyers, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, the AP reported.
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Trump makes it one whole (work) day without Twitter
Stop the presses. For the first time since taking office, Donald Trump made it a whole day without tweeting… sort of. The president was noticeably absent from Twitter until 5:53 PM on Thursday, when he broke his nearly 34-hour silence to tweet out a link to a Fox Business report about the stock market.
S&P 500 Edges Higher After Trump Renews Jobs Pledge
U.S. stocks edged higher on Thursday, buoyed by energy stocks and a renewed pledge by President Donald Trump to chief executives of major U.S. companies to bring back millions of jobs to the United…
Spicer says Trump will lift transgender bathroom protections
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said today that Donald Trump will rescind federal guidelines allowing transgender students to use bathrooms that match their gender identity. This would be a major reversal of an Obama administration policy that trans advocates say is necessary to protect transgender students. In a press conference, Spicer said “The president has made it clear throughout the campaign that he is a firm believer in states’ rights and that certain issues like this are not best dealt with at the federal level.”
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos reportedly resisted the idea at first, until Trump sided with Attorney General Jeff Sessions and asked her to drop her objection. In addition to its impact on schools throughout the country, the new guidance could affect future Supreme Court cases, particularly one scheduled to be heard next month that involves a transgender student from Virginia who was denied bathroom access.
The White House released expanded immigration guidelines today that will dramatically increase the number of people targeted for deportation. Under former President Obama, immigration officials focused their efforts of undocumented immigrants who had been convicted of violent crimes. The new directives target people who have been convicted of any crime, including those who “have abused any program related to receipt of public benefits,” reported The New York Times.
Bizarrely, administration officials reportedly confirmed that the U.S. plans to deport anyone who enters the country illegally from Mexico back there, even if they are not actually from Mexico. The new guidelines will not affect people under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, but the new policy is likely to result in a major increase in deportations.
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One month down
Monday marked the end of the chaotic first month of Donald Trump’s presidency. In his first month in office, Trump has signed 23 executive orders, the most notable being his Muslim travel ban, which is currently mired in court proceedings. He faced his first staff shakeup just 24 days in when his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, resigned over controversial dealings with Russia. So far, he has spent one-quarter of his presidency in Florida, where he raised eyebrows for receiving a classified security briefing at a public dinner table at his Mar-a-Lago resort, and his campaign is under investigation by intelligence agencies for alleged collusion with Russia to hack the Democratic National Committee and influence the outcome of last year’s election.
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#LastNightInSweden
The Swedish embassy in Washington, D.C. is asking the State Department for an explanation over comments Donald Trump made yesterday suggesting there was a terror attack in Sweden. During his rally in Florida, Trump discussed national security and said, “You look at what’s happening in Germany. You look at what’s happening last night in Sweden.”
The only problem is that nothing happened Thursday night in Sweden. After the rally, the hashtag “#LastNightInSweden” went viral, and former Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt tweeted: “Sweden? Terror attack? What has he been smoking? Questions abound.”
The White House has not yet clarified Trump’s remarks.
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Trump begins campaigning for 2020, because that’s a good use of his time
Although Donald Trump has been in office for less than a month, he’s already kicked off his re-election campaign. Despite a difficult week in the White House, Trump held a campaign-style rally in Florida on Saturday, where he doubled down on his feud with the media-at-large and reiterated his campaign promises. The rally drew roughly 9,000 to see Trump speak but garnered criticism for taking precious time away from his duties when the White House is in flux. Trump has not yet nominated a replacement for former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
The event was hosted by his campaign group rather than the White House, which is highly unusual this early in a presidency. Trump filed paperwork for his re-election bid shortly after taking office. In contrast, it took former President Obama more than two years to file for his own re-election campaign.
Trump tried to appoint Bob Harward, but he said no, no, no
Retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward turned down an offer Thursday from the Trump administration to become the new national security adviser. Harward was considered a top pick for Michael Flynn’s vacated post, and had previously served as Defense Secretary Mattis’ deputy when Mattis was in charge of U.S. Central Command. The White House said Friday that Harward turned down the offer because of the time commitment, but severalnews outlets are reporting that Harward was concerned about not being allowed to form his own team. The national security adviser role is often a highly sought-after position, so Harward’s rejection is notable.
Today’s news conference was… interesting
Donald Trump held a news conference this afternoon where he attacked the media (again), falsely claimed that he won the election in a landslide (again), asked a veteran black reporter if she was friends with the Congressional Black Caucus and criticized intelligence agencies for their “absolutely real [leaks]” of fake news.
He also made bizarre comments about uranium, asking reporters: “You know what uranium is, right? It’s a thing called nuclear weapons and other things. Like lots of things are done with uranium, including some bad things.”
Trump’s conference was impromptu and puzzling, perhaps a harbinger of new media practices from the White House.
Trump set to announce new labor secretary pick
Less than 24 hours after Donald Trump’s labor secretary pick Andrew Puzder withdrew his nomination, Trump is set to name a new one. He is expected to nominate Alexander Acosta, dean of Florida International University Law School. Acosta served as assistant attorney general at the Department of Justice under President George W. Bush, where he worked in the civil rights division. If confirmed, Acosta would be the first Hispanic member of Trump’s Cabinet.
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Trump picks the option “both parties like” to solve Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Donald Trump threw away decades of diplomatic policy on Wednesday when he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a joint conference, Trump said he was “looking at two-state and one-state” options to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict before adding “I like the one that both parties like. I’m very happy with the one that both parties like.”
Of course, there is not really an option that “both parties like,” which is part of the reason the conflict has lasted more than 50 years. The Palestinians are unlikely to accept any deal that doesn’t give them a sovereign state, and Netanyahu is facing pressure from far-right members of his government to annex parts of the West Bank. Trump, for his part, did tell Netanyahu during the conference that he wants Israel to stop expanding settlements while they work on a deal and emphasized that both sides will need to compromise. But this message is somewhat undercut by Trump’s refusal to commit to a two-state solution.
Intelligence agencies reportedly withholding intel from Trump
The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that U.S. intelligence officials have withheld information from Donald Trump because “they are concerned it could be leaked or compromised.” The report cites anonymous current and former officials and underscores that none of the sources know of an instance where information about security threats was withheld. This is not unheard of; intelligence agencies have withheld information from past presidents when they deemed it necessary to protect sources. What makes this instance different is the officials citing the president’s discretion as their reason for withholding.
Andrew Puzder withdraws his labor secretary nomination
Donald Trump’s secretary of labor nominee Andrew Puzder withdrew his nomination today, just one day before he was scheduled to appear before the Senate. Puzder, a fast-food executive, had been facing growing pushback from Senate Democrats and Republicans alike after several scandals. Among them: that his family once employed an undocumented immigrant and past abuse allegations that rocketed into the public sphere after Politico obtained tape from an episode of Oprah where his ex-wife accused Puzder of leaving “permanent” damage from physical abuse.
Puzder’s withdrawal is the latest blow to the Trump administration, after a chaotic week that saw the resignation of national security adviser Michael Flynn less than one month into his tenure.
It wasn’t just Michael Flynn
Several of Donald Trump’s allies, including former campaign manager Paul Manafort, were speaking with Russian officials during the election season, the New York Times reports. The “repeated contacts” between Trump allies and Russia were leaked by four current and former American officials, who intercepted the communications last year. Intelligence agencies have not yet found anything to suggest that the Trump campaign was colluding with Russia to interfere with the election, but the agencies were reportedly worried because of the amount of contact that came while Trump was speaking highly of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the campaign trail.
Manafort strongly rejected these claims. “I have no idea what this is referring to” he said in a statement. “I have never knowingly spoken to Russian intelligence officers, and I have never been involved with anything to do with the Russian government or the Putin administration or any other issues under investigation today.” He then added, “It’s not like these people wear badges that say, ‘I’m a Russian intelligence officer.'”
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PSA: Do not shine cell phones at classified documents
Donald Trump is facing criticism from Democrats and security analysts after reports broke that he read sensitive documents in public at his Mar-a-Lago resort over the weekend. A member of the resort, Richard Agazio (who has since deleted his Facebook), posted photos online of Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reviewing the documents at a dinner table while staff shined cell phones lights on them. As many have pointed out, aiming an internet-connected cell phone at classified documents is extremely inappropriate, as these devices’ cameras and audio can be hacked. Furthermore, it’s troublesome that Trump chose to receive classified information in a room full of his resort guests, most of whom likely do not have security clearances.
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*Mike drop*
UPDATE (11:21 PM EST): National security adviser Michael Flynn abruptly resigned from office Monday night after the Justice Department told the White House it believed he could be subject to blackmail by Russian entities. Flynn was in office for less than a month when reports began to circulate that he had deliberately misled Vice President Mike Pence about a conversation he had with the Russian ambassador prior to Trump’s inauguration. Keith Kellogg will reportedly serve as the interim national security adviser until President Trump selects a new nominee.
Trump loves Flynn, loves him not
No one really knows where President Trump stands on his national security adviser, Michael Flynn. Late last week, reports surfaced suggesting Flynn misled Vice President Mike Pence about a conversation he had with Russia’s ambassador about lifting sanctions. Since then, Trump’s response-and the responses from his administration-have been mixed. Trump first suggested Friday that he was unaware of the controversy. Since then, several prominent members of his Cabinet have hedged, refusing to give a direct answer on whether Trump is considering replacing Flynn. Such an early staff shakeup would be very unusual, particularly because Trump has left the National Security Council with an unprecedentedamount of vacant positions.
Hundreds arrested in immigration raids around the U.S.
Hundreds of undocumented immigrants were arrested this week in raids across the country, marking the first major move toward enforcing President Trump’s campaign promise to deport the 11 million people living in the U.S. without visas. The raids, which Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) called “routine,” targeted people living in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago and the Carolinas.
Similar raids during the Obama administration targeted undocumented immigrants with criminal records. The new raids are different, because ICE officials also rounded up immigrants with no convictions. In January, Trump broadened the criteria the Department of Homeland Security can use to target undocumented immigrants, allowing them to include people with minor or no criminal records.
The 9th Circuit Court is not here for Donald Trump’s travel ban. In a unanimous decision released Thursday evening, the appeals court ruled againstthe government, meaning Trump’s ban will remain suspended. The court’s decision said that the government “had not shown a likelihood of success on its merits,” or, in other words, the appeals court doesn’t believe the law will be upheld in court. Although this is a setback for Trump’s travel ban, it is not expected to be the end of the legal battle over the executive order. The government is expected to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
Trump’s legal battle with Washington State continues
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Tuesday night over Donald Trump’s immigration ban. The government is appealing a decision handed down by U.S. District Court Judge James Robart, who ruled last Friday that the ban was temporarily suspended nationwide. The three-judge appeals court panel is expected to rule in the next few days on whether the ban should be “immediately” reinstated or if the lower court’s suspension should remain in place. If they choose not to reinstate the ban, then it’s possible that the case would move forward with Robart. However, it’s more likely that the government will appeal to the Supreme Court.
Trump gives out fake news to the National Sheriffs Association
Donald Trump was criticized by media Tuesday for once again citing inaccurate murder rate statistics-this time, during a speech at the National Sheriffs Association. During his speech, Trump said “the murder rate in our country is the highest it’s been in 47 years.” This is patently wrong; the murder rate in the U.S. is actually at its lowest, according to FBI crime data. Trump has been repeatedlycritiqued in the past for claiming the murder rate is up but appears to be sticking with his claim.
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Trump escalates his feud with the media
President Trump continued his attacks on the media Monday, accusing the New York Times of “making up stories [and] sources” and later accusing the press of intentionally covering up terrorist attacks in Europe. Though Trump has called the Times a “failing” newspaper regularly since he began campaigning in 2015, today’s unsubstantiated accusations are an escalation of his feud with the outlet.
In the afternoon, Trump gave a speech at United States Central Command, where he suggested the media is refusing to report on terrorism in Europe. He did not specify what attacks he is referring to and offered no evidence to support this claim, but said “In many cases the very, very dishonest press doesn’t want to report it.” It’s troubling that Trump continues to attack the legitimacy of any news company that publishes negative coverage about him; earlier in the day, he called “any” negative polls about his immigration ban illegitimate.
Russia wants an apology over Putin being called a “killer”
Russia is asking for an apology over comments Fox News host Bill O’Reilly made in an interview with Donald Trump that aired Sunday. In the interview, O’Reilly called Russian President Vladimir Putin “a killer,” and Trump did not disagree. He instead responded that “There are a lot of killers. We’ve got a lot of killers. What do you think? Our country’s so innocent?” Republicans and Democrats alike have criticized Trump for his refusal to condemn Putin and his authoritarian style of governing.
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Trump says Obamacare replacement could take a year
Donald Trump said in an interview aired Sunday that a replacement for Obamacare could take “till sometime into next year,” a notable walk-back from his earlier promises to have the Affordable Care Act repealed quickly. As recently as January 11th, Trump was suggesting that former President Obama’s landmark healthcare act would be overturned as soon as his pick for secretary of health and human services was confirmed. The walk-back suggests that the protests from Americans nationwide-as well as some members of Congress-who argue that repealing Obamacare without a replacement plan would be disastrous are having an effect.
Appeals court delivers a blow to Trump’s immigration ban
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals refused early Sunday morning to immediately reinstate Donald Trump’s immigration and travel ban, delivering a blow to the administration. Instead, the appeals court asked both sides-the Department of Justice and the State of Washington-to file legal briefs by Monday afternoon before the court makes its final decision. What this means is that the ban will remain suspended until at least Monday, and anyone affected by it can continue to enter the country. But regardless of how the appellate court rules, it is likely this case will quickly make its way to the Supreme Court.
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Federal judge puts a stop to Trump’s immigration ban
The Department of Homeland Security announced this morning that they are suspending “any and all actions implementing…the Executive Order” after a Republican-appointed federal judge suspended the ban nationwide. The State Department also announced this morning that they have begun re-issuing visas to travelers from the seven countries affected by Trump’s ban, and have notified Customs & Border Protection that approved refugees, travelers with valid visas, and green card holders are to be admitted. Trump’s press secretary Sean Spicer has already announced that the Department of Justice will appeal the court’s order.
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Trump rolls back financial regulations because his friends “can’t borrow money”
President Trump signed an executive order Friday that scales back large portions of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial regulations, which were designed after the recession to prevent banks from speculating with consumers’ money. Trump-and the financial industry-have been critical of Dodd-Frank for a long time, with Trump promising on the campaign trail to overturn it.
At a meeting with business leaders Friday, Trump said, “We expect to be cutting a lot out of Dodd-Frank, because frankly, I have so many people, friends of mine that had nice businesses, they can’t borrow money.” Though people commonly disagree over how much the financial industry should be regulated, it is noteworthy that the president has openly stated that he’s making policy to help his friends.
States plan to sue the president over the immigration ban
Hawaii has reportedly joined the growing number of states suing Donald Trump over his immigration ban. The state’s attorney general, Doug Chin, announced at a press conference that they would file paperwork in court today to challenge the ban. Several other states-Washington, New York, Virginia and Massachusetts-have already filed a suit, arguing that the ban is unconstitutional. Current legal challenges against the ban surround everything from due process to the establishment clause, which prohibits laws that favor specific religions. If these challenges are successful in district court, it is likely they will be appealed and potentially make their way up to the Supreme Court.
House Republicans repeal a ban on mentally ill people buying guns
The House GOP has overturned an Obama-era gun control regulation that would have helped prevent people with documented mental illnesses from buying guns. The policy meant that people who can’t manage their finances because of a mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder would be reported to the FBI so their names would appear during background checks. The National Rifle Association, as well as some disability advocacy groups, opposed the measure for being discriminatory-and now it’s off the table.
Kellyanne Conway makes up a massacre on MSNBC
White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway defended Trump’s immigration in a TV interview Thursday by saying that people didn’t know “that President Obama had a six-month ban on the Iraqi refugee program after two Iraqis came here to this country, were radicalized and they were the masterminds behind the Bowling Green massacre. It didn’t get covered.” That’s true; it didn’t get covered-because it didn’t happen.
First of all, former President Obama never banned Iraqi refugees. Instead, he ordered a re-vetting of more than 57,000 Iraqi refugees, which caused a temporary delay in admitting new ones.
Second, there was no massacre at Bowling Green. Conway later clarified that she meant “Bowling Green terrorists,” but the two men she’s referring to-Waad Ramadan Alwan and Mohanad Shareef Hammadi, who settled in Bowling Green, Kentucky-never carried out (or even planned) an attack on U.S. soil. They were arrested for trying to get weapons to Al Qaeda in Iraq.
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Spicer uses attack Iran didn’t carry out to justify putting them “on notice”
At a press conference Thursday, White House press secretary Sean Spicer falsely claimed that Iran attacked a U.S. naval ship, which would be an act of war. In reality, the attack was carried out by Houthi rebels on a Saudi Arabian ship, the Intercept reported. Spicer’s comments were an attempt to justify the White House putting Iran “on notice” several days before, and he has not yet addressed his false statement that Iran was behind the attack.
Trump wants to build a bridge between church and state
Donald Trump said at this morning’s National Prayer Breakfast that he wants to “destroy” the Johnson Amendment, a federal law that prevents tax-exempt churches from engaging in political activity. Trump had promised evangelical voters that he would overturn the amendment during his campaign, but to do so as president would require approval from Congress. It also would mark a serious move away from the separation of church and state that has been a traditional hallmark of American democracy.
Trump prays for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s TV ratings
Trump is now feuding with Arnold Schwarzenegger. At this morning’s National Prayer Breakfast, the president referenced leaving The Apprentice and how “the ratings went right down the tubes.” He then said he wanted to pray for Arnold Schwarzenegger, “for those ratings.” Schwarzenegger, the former governor of California, fired back on Twitter, saying “Hey Donald. I have a great idea. Why don’t we switch jobs? You take over TV, cause you’re such an expert in ratings. And I take over your job, so that people can finally sleep comfortably again.” Trump’s comments may have been a joke, but they represent a departure from how former presidents have addressed the breakfast.
Republicans suddenly care about having a full Supreme Court
The New York Times reported yesterday that President Trump is encouraging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to “go nuclear” with the Supreme Court vote if Democrats try to stall his pick. The so-called nuclear option would allow Republicans to approve Trump nominee Neil Gorsuch by simple majority, rather than with the traditional 60 votes. This would be an expansion of an action Democrats took in November 2013, when they used the nuclear option to eliminate filibusters on executive branch nominations and federal judicial appointments other than the Supreme Court. But Democrats are furious that Republicans are asking for a smooth confirmation process after stalling action on Obama nominee Merrick Garland for almost a full year.
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U.S.-Australia relations go down under
On Wednesday, Donald Trump threatened to break an international deal on Twitter.
The tweet was the latest in a new dispute between Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, after Trump shouted at Turnbull during a scheduled call, told Turnbull it was “the worst call by far” that he’d had with a foreign leader, and then hung up 25 minutes into what was expected to be an hourlong talk. Australia is one of the United States’ staunchest allies, so Trump’s treatment of Turnbull raised some eyebrows, and some worry this could cause a rift in the countries’ relationship.
Republicans push Trump nominees through without Democrats present
The Republican-run Senate Finance Committee approved two of Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks-Steve Mnuchin for the treasury and Tom Price for the department of health and human services-by overriding a rule that requires at least one Democrat to be present. (Democrats were boycotting the committee meeting for a second straight day.) The move is an unusual about-face from normal procedures-and will likely increase tensions between the parties.
Trump’s Black History Month speech is about everything but black history
Donald Trump gave a speech today in honor of Black History Month, but spent most of it talking about himself, how he did with black voters in the election, and why CNN is “fake news.” Although Trump referenced several African-American heroes, most mentions were brief. He also seemed to claim during his speech that he got “substantially more [black votes] than other candidates who had run in the past years.” This is false; exit polls showed that Hillary Clinton won around 88 percent of the black vote.
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Trump nominates Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court
In a primetime livestream, Trump announced Neil Gorsuch as his nominee to fill Antonin Scalia’s nearly year-long vacant seat on the Supreme Court. He’s very much in the mold of Scalia, a “textualist” conservative who many believe-based in part on his famous decision to allow Hobby Lobby to deny employees contraception coverage for religious reasons-could put women’s reproductive rights in jeopardy if confirmed. (Read 10 key takeaways about Gorusch here.)
Now, the confirmation process begins in the Senate, where Gorsuch needs 60 votes-eight of which must come from Democrats-to be confirmed.
Trump meets with his potential Supreme Court nominees ahead of announcement
The New York Times reports that Trump is meeting with his top two choices for Supreme Court nominee today ahead of his official announcement, which will take place at 8 p.m. The two judges are Neil Gorsuch and Thomas Hardiman.
Trump won’t touch LGBT rights
Despite rumors that the Trump administration had drafted a new executive order that would affect federal benefits, adoption rights, and access to services for LGBT citizens, the White House issued a statement this morning saying the president would let Obama’s protections stand. “President Trump continues to be respectful and supportive of L.G.B.T.Q. rights, just as he was throughout the election,” the statement said.
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Trump fires acting Attorney General Sally Yates
Just over two hours after she told the DOJ not to defend Trump’s immigration ban, he fired her. In a press release, he claimed that Yates had “betrayed the Department of Justice” by refusing to enact the order. His administration swore in Dana Boente, U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Virginia, as her replacement.
Acting Attorney General Sally Yates tells Department of Justice not to defend the immigration ban
In a tweet, the president referred to the mainstream media as “the opposition party,” an idea introduced by Steve Bannon last week in an interview with the New York Times. Trump’s ongoing feud with the media is unusual; though most presidents conflict with media outlets at some point, Trump’s statements about what the press’ role is, comments about holding reporters “accountable” for treating him “unfairly” (which is to say reporting on his actions), and repeated attacks on the legitimacy of certain legacy news outlets are a notable escalation.
Trump announces that he’ll announce his Supreme Court nominee tomorrow
In a bit of reality-TV flair, President Trump teased that he will announce his Supreme Court pick tomorrow at 8 p.m. (two days earlier than originally planned, which may be an attempt to shift the news narrative away from the immigration ban). Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley also announced today that Democrats will filibuster any pick other than Merrick Garland, who was Obama’s nominee to replace the late Antonin Scalia nearly a year ago, and who Republicans have actively resisted confirming so Trump could make the pick instead.
Trump institutes new federal regulation swap
Trump signed an executive order this morning that for every new federal regulation, two must be revoked.
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The White House softens the immigration ban-but only for green card holders and permanent residents
Senior White House official Reince Priebus appeared to reverse the administration’s position on green card holders Sunday. In an interview, Priebus said that the immigration and travel ban would not apply to permanent residents “moving forward.” But he also added that people traveling to and from the listed countries-potentially including U.S. citizens-could be subject to extra questioning if Customs officials deem them “suspicious.
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People continue to be detained at airports
Customs and Border Protection is reportedly ignoring the court order and continuing to detain people with valid visas at airports across the country.
A federal judge assists detained refugees and requests further legal review of the ban
A federal judge ruled around 9 p.m. that the government could not return refugees to their country of origin until further legal review of the ban. Several other judges have since ruled along similar lines.
Steve Bannon gets unprecedented power on the National Security Council
The Trump administration downgraded the national director of intelligence and joint chiefs of staff from their permanent positions on the National Security Council and replaced them with White House senior adviser Steve Bannon, the former publisher of alt-right white nationalist news hub Breitbart. Restructuring the National Security Council this way puts the controversial Bannon-whose appointment to Trump’s administration did not require Senate confirmation-in a key decision-making position about war and other critical threats to the country.
Protests erupt amid refugee ban outrage
Thousands of protesters demonstrated across the country in reaction to what Democrats-and Trump advisor Rudy Giuliani-are referring to as the “Muslim ban,” the implementation of which has resulted in the detention of refugees and green card and visa holders at airports across the U.S. Because the executive order was drafted without the input of various government agencies, it took officials by surprise, and they’re struggling to determine who can enter the country and who, now, cannot.
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Trump signs a monumental executive order preventing citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States
President Trump signed a controversial refugee ban that, under the auspices of preventing radical Islamic terrorists from committing crimes against our citizens, bars all Syrian refugees from entering the country indefinitely, halts the remaining refugee program for 120 days, and blocks any entry by citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen for 90 days, regardless of visa status. It’s worth noting that the ban excludes countries where Trump has business ties.
The White House shows unprecedented support for the March For Life demonstration
President Trump tweeted out his support for the anti-abortion March For Life, saying their demonstration is “so important.” Vice President Mike Pence spoke at the rally, making him the highest ranked public official to ever speak at the annual March For Life event.
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Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto cancels his meeting with President Trump
President Trump tweeted Thursday that if Mexico is unwilling to pay for his proposed border wall-one of his campaign promises-that they should cancel the planned meeting between the two countries. Following this announcement, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto did cancel the meeting, saying “This morning we have informed the White House that I will not attend the meeting scheduled for next Tuesday with the POTUS.”
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Trump does his first White House interview
The president’s first interview-with ABC’s David Muir-aired tonight. He doubled down on false claims about the size of his inauguration crowd and the amount of voter fraud in the United States. See the interview’s five most talked-about moments here.
Trump orders the construction of the wall
He’s making good on what is perhaps his most notorious campaign promise: to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. Today he signed an executive order that directs the government to “take all appropriate steps to immediately plan, design, and construct a physical wall along the southern border, using appropriate materials and technology to most effectively achieve complete operational control…”
What remains to be seen-but is hotly contested-is who will pay for it.
Trump orders an immigrations and customs enforcement hiring increase
Trump orders large-scale investigation into voter fraud
Despite all evidence to the contrary, President Trump remains convinced that millions of Americans voted illegally in the 2016 presidential election-and maintains that none of these alleged illegal voters cast ballots for him. After reporters point out that if it were true, it would be a massive blow to democracy (and suggest that he put his money where his mouth is and investigate if he truly believes it), he announced that he will, in fact, order an investigation.
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Trump orders approval of the Dakota Access Pipeline construction project
Trump released a memorandum restarting construction on the Dakota Access Pipeline, which the Obama administration had effectively squashed. The Dakota Access Pipeline has faced significant opposition from environmentalists and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe because the pipeline crosses through the Tribe’s sacred land and could impact the quality of their drinking water.
Trump signals that the Keystone XL pipeline will resume construction again
President Trump released a memorandum allowing TransCanada to re-submit its petition to build the Keystone XL pipeline, which has faced serious opposition from environmental activists.
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Trump signs a federal hiring freeze
Donald Trump signed a presidential memo freezing hiring on all federal government roles, excluding military and national security positions.
Trump reinstates an international abortion gag order
The president has implemented a Reagan-era policy preventing foreign NGOs from receiving U.S. funds if they perform or promote abortions. This policy has flip-flopped with every recent president-Bill Clinton revoked the rule during his time in office, George W. Bush reinstated it, and Barack Obama revoked it again in 2009.
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Kellyanne Conway says the White House’s crowd size claims are “alternative facts”
Kellyanne Conway appeared on NBC’s Meet the Pressand told Chuck Todd that President Trump and White House press secretary Sean Spicer’s false claims about the size of President Trump’s inaugural crowd are “alternative facts.” Shortly afterward, #alternativefacts went viral online.
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Trump speaks about his crowd size and the media at the CIA
President Trump visited the CIA and, in front of the Memorial Wall commemorating fallen agents, gave a seemingly unscripted and wide-ranging speech. He said the media is to blame for making it sound like he “had a feud” with the agencies, although Trump personally criticized the intelligence community several times prior to the meeting.
Press secretary Sean Spicer rails against the media in first briefing
At his first press briefing after the inauguration, in his first official capacity as journalists’ liaison to the White House, press secretary Sean Spicer lambasted the media for what he claims is unfair reporting about the inauguration crowd size. Watch here.
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Trump waives rules that would prevent cabinet members from serving
Donald Trump’s first executive order suspends a planned decrease in mortgage rates for first-time home buyers that was announced in the final weeks of former President Obama’s term. While Republicans say the move is an effort to prevent another taxpayer bailout of Wall Street, Democrats argue that it only raises costs for low-income and middle-class home buyers.
The administration also releases an executive order directing federal agencies to “waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the implementation” of any part of the Affordable Care Act that creates an “economic burden” for states.
Inauguration Day gets a special name
Among his first official actions is to declare January 20, 2017, the “National Day of Patriotic Devotion.” Other presidents have named their inaugural days; historically, the names are chosen to mark an American value. Former President Obama, for example, named his 2009 inauguration the “National Day of Renewal and Reconciliation.”
Trump takes office
Today Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. In his speech, he promises to end “American carnage” and says that his administration will prioritize “America first.”
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Alex Infohub 