Donald Trump begins his first full calendar year as President.
The Trump administration announces it will withhold the scheduled millions of military aid toPakistan with President Trump declaring it a terrorist "safe haven".[2]
Via Twitter, President Trump threatens to cut off U.S. aid to thePalestinian Authority, claiming the Palestinians were no longer willing to negotiate on a peace process with the Israelis—seemingly after his December 2017 decision to recognizeJerusalem as the capital ofIsrael.[6]
Wednesday,January 3
President Trump disbands his Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity.[7][8]
President Trump issues a statement describingSteve Bannon, former CEO of the Trump campaign, as having "very little to do with our historic victory" and as having "lost his mind", following the publication of excerpts from a forthcoming book byMichael Wolff in which Bannon is said to describeDonald Trump Jr.,Paul Manafort andJared Kushner'smeeting with Natalia Veselnitskaya as "treasonous" and "unpatriotic". Wolff's book also describes Bannon's confidence that Trump Sr. knew of the meeting at the time.[9][10][11][12]
Wolff'sFire and Fury is published. President Trump describes it on Twitter as a "phony book", "full of lies, misrepresentations and sources that don't exist".[18]
President Trump leaves forCamp David for a weekend of meetings with his Cabinet, Republican party leaders, and Vice President Pence. It is reported that a decision is expected concerning whether the administration will move next to welfare reform or infrastructure.[20]
President Trump tweets that he is "a very stable genius", praising his own "mental stability". Also within the tweet, he says he became president "on the first try",[24] despitehaving run as aReform Party candidate in2000.[25]
President Trump declares "everyone found that, after a year of study, there's been absolutely no collusion... between us and the Russians." Meanwhile, thespecial counsel investigation into such matters are still in progress with no declared findings.[26]
President Trump holds a bipartisan meeting with members of Congress discussing the topic ofimmigration.[31]
District judgeWilliam Alsup rules that theDACA program must remain in place while litigation continues over the Trump administration's September5 decision to end it. The next morning, Trump describes the U.S. court system as "broken and unfair".[32]
Secretary Zinke announces that Florida will be exempted from oil drilling under the new policy announced on January 4.[33]
Wednesday,January 10
President Trump describes SenatorDianne Feinstein as "sneaky" and a "disgrace" following her unilateral publication on January9 of the Simpson testimony of August 2017 concerning research into potential crimes in respect of the 2016 election.[34]
President Trump reiterates that he will be reviewinglibel law, describing the current law as "a sham and a disgrace".[35]
President Trump and Norwegian Prime Minister Erne Solberg
Thursday,January 11
The Trump administration announces new state guidelines thatMedicaid recipients may be required to work or volunteer, or enroll in education.[37]
The Washington Post reports that President Trump, in a meeting with SenatorsLindsey Graham (R-SC) andDick Durbin (D-IL) regarding immigration law reform, referred toHaiti andAfrican countries as "shithole countries" and expressed preference for immigrants fromNorway.[38] On the following day, Trump denies using the term, but says he used tough language in regards to the countries;[39] Senator Durbin affirmed that Trump had made those remarks.[40]
President Trump cancels a planned visit to the UK, blaming his predecessor,Barack Obama, for a "bad deal" on the new embassy due to be opened in London, despite the fact it was agreed underGeorge W. Bush.[44]
The Wall Street Journal reports that, in October 2016, President Trump's lawyer,Michael Cohen, arranged a payment of $130,000 to theadult-film actressStormy Daniels in exchange for her silence regarding a 2006 extramarital affair.[45] Cohen denies that Trump had sexual relations with Daniels.[46] Fellow adult-film actressAlana Evans said Daniels told her she had "ended up with Donald in his hotel room".[47]
Secretary of StateRex Tillerson co-hosts with Canadian Foreign Affairs MinisterChrystia Freeland the first of two days of talks inVancouver concerning the North Korea crisis.[50]
The Wall Street Journal reports that Jared Kushner was warned in early 2017 by U.S. intelligence officials that his friendWendi Deng Murdoch may be a Chinese spy.[52]
President Trump's former Chief StrategistSteve Bannon is questioned at a private sitting of the House Intelligence Committee. He is issued with a subpoena during the meeting upon citingexecutive privilege to refuse questions about the Trump transition and administration, but maintains his refusal.[54][55]
Wednesday,January 17
In an Oval Office interview forReuters, President Trump accuses Russia of harming Chinese/American efforts to solve the ongoingNorth Korean nuclear crisis.[56]
In Touch Weekly publishes excerpts from a 2011 interview with adult-film actress Stormy Daniels alleging a 2006 extramarital affair with Trump. The magazine describes her passing apolygraph and her friend's and ex-husband's both corroborating the interview.[57]
The House passes a short-term government budget in advance of a deadline of midnight January 19–20.[60]
It is widely reported that Hungarian police have an active arrest warrant, issued on September 17, 2016, against former Trump White House advisorSebastian Gorka. The warrant concerns alleged abuse of firearms.[61][62][63][64]
Friday,January 19
President Trump states on Twitter that Democratic votes will be needed in the Senate to prevent agovernment shutdown at midnight. He writes, "but they want illegal immigration and weak borders".[60]
German periodicalManager Magazin reports thatDeutsche Bank has presented to Germany's financial authority,BaFin, evidence concerning "suspicious money transfers" by White House advisor Jared Kushner.MM reports that this information is due to be handed to Robert Mueller's inquiry.[65] Deutsche Bank on January 22 denies the report, and announces that it is taking legal action.[66]
Saturday,January 20
President Trump completes his first year in office.
Afederal government shutdown begins, after the Senate fails to pass a continuing resolution to maintain funding for the government.[67]
Vice President Pence arrives inCairo, Egypt at the start of a tour of Africa and the Middle East.[68]
President Trump on the phone in the Oval Office[69]
Sunday,January 21
Vice President Pence meets withKing Abdullah II of Jordan inAmman. Abdullah criticizes the decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. Pence reaffirms U.S. respect towards Jordan's role as the guardian of Jerusalem's Islamic holy sites.[70]
During the third day of the federal government shutdown, President Trump accuses theDemocratic Party of precipitating the shutdown "in the interests of their far left base".[71][72]
Vice President Pence delivers a speech at Israel'sKnesset, announcing that the U.S. will relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by the end of 2019. A number of Arab members of Parliament are ejected while protesting.[76][77]
President Trump announces during remarks at the White House that he is willing to testify to Mueller under oath, stating, "I would love to do it, and I would like to do it as soon as possible."[79]
The New York Times first reports that President Trump ordered the dismissal of the special counsel,Robert Mueller, in June 2017, on three alleged pretexts of conflicts of interest, but retreated upon the threatened resignation of White House counselDon McGahn; this elevated concerns of possible obstruction of justice. The report is confirmed byThe Washington Post.[81][82]
The Trump administration submits five reports to Congress as mandated by theCountering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), including two versions (one classified) of the report "regarding senior political figures and oligarchs in the Russian Federation and Russianparastatal entities".[86] The unclassified list published the following day by the Treasury Department contains names of 210 people, including 96Russian tycoons close to presidentVladimir Putin with wealth of $1billion or more, as well as top Russian statespersons and officials, excluding Vladimir Putin, all information having been drawn from public sources.[87]
Deputy FBI DirectorAndrew McCabe resigns from his position, but remained as part of the FIB, after criticism from President Trump in preceding weeks. McCabe had been expected to step down in March.[89][90]
President Trump congratulates Azar after being sworn in as the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Tuesday,January 30
President Trump delivers his first officialState of the Union Address with a wide-ranging speech covering matters of natural disasters, terrorism, immigration, economic growth, patriotism and theU.S. nuclear arsenal. He calls on Congress for a $1.5 trillion infrastructure investment bill and an end to political division.[91][92][93]
Treasury SecretarySteve Mnuchin announces that U.S. sanctions against Russian oligarchs will follow the previous day's list, and denies that the administration is "slow-walking" the process.[95]
President Trump delivers his first official State of the Union Address.
At a speech in Cincinnati, Ohio, President Trump claims that Congressional Democrats, who "were like death and un-American" in not applauding during his State of the Union speech, were "treasonous" and that "we call thattreason".[99][100]
Tuesday,February 6
While Congress was preparing a continuing resolution for a temporary budget, President Trump declared, "I'd love to see a shutdown" if American immigration laws were not tightened. He also said "it's worth it for our country".[101]
President Trump sends his $4.4 trillion 2019budget proposal toCongress.[108]
President Trump introduces his $1.5 trillion federal infrastructure plan to several governors and mayors at theWhite House.[109]
Tuesday,February 13
President Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen acknowledged that in 2016 he paid $130,000 of his own money to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels. Cohen further said thatThe Trump Organization and theTrump campaign were not involved in the payment and did not reimburse him.[110] It was earlier reported that the payment washush money for Daniels' silence regarding an alleged extramarital affair with Trump in 2006.[111]
Wednesday,February 14
Thursday,February 15
President Trump addresses the nation in regards to theschool shooting in Parkland offering his condolences to the victims and their families.[112]
The New Yorker reports that President Trump had a nine-month extramarital affair withPlayboy modelKaren McDougal from June 2006, citing handwritten memoirs by McDougal provided by her friend.The New Yorker also corroborated a 2016Wall Street Journal report thatAmerican Media, Inc (AMI) had paid $150,000 for exclusive rights to McDougal's story, but never published it. AMI has described the story as not credible, and a spokesperson for the White House denied the affair.[113]
In a private speech to Republican donors atMar-a-Lago, President Trump says "it's great" that Chinese PresidentXi Jinping was able to become "president for life", and that "maybe we'll have to give that a shot some day."[129]
President Trump and Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven
Wednesday,March 7
White House Press SecretarySarah Huckabee Sanders says President Trump's personal attorneys have won an arbitration case against adult-film actress Stormy Daniels.[134]NBC News reports that Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, on February 27 initiated a private arbitration case against Daniels and obtained a restraining order that states that Daniels will face penalties if she discusses, in public, her alleged relationship with Trump. Daniels has filed a lawsuit that her non-disclosure agreement regarding her alleged relationship with Trump is invalid because Trump never signed it.[135]
U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tooke resigns from his post.[136]
Thursday,March 8
President Trump signs proclamations which will imposetariffs on imported steel and aluminum from most countries in 15 days.Canada andMexico are initially exempted from these tariffs while they talk with the U.S. about renegotiatingNAFTA.[137]
President Trump meets with video-game executives to discuss how violent video games might contribute to mass shootings.[139]
Friday,March 9
President Trump pardonsKristian Saucier, who was convicted of unauthorized possession and retention of national defense information.[140]
White House Press SecretarySarah Huckabee Sanders says the White House would need to see "concrete and verifiable steps" toward the denuclearization of North Korea before Trump would meet with Kim Jong-un. An unidentified Trump official tellsThe Wall Street Journal that Trump has still accepted Jong-un's invitation.[141]
The Trump administration proposes gun and school safety measures, including improving the system of background checks and training school personnel to handle firearms.[143]
John McEntee, a long-time personal assistant to President Trump, is fired and escorted from the White House. McEntee then joins Trump's re-election campaign as a senior adviser, along withKatrina Pierson.[148]
Andrew McCabe, former acting director of the FBI who was due to retire with benefits in two days, was fired from the FBI by Attorney GeneralJeff Sessions on the recommendation of FBI disciplinary officials for "lack of candor".[152]
TheKremlin announces President Trump's call to congratulate Russian President Vladimir Putin on his election victory.[153] National security advisers warned Trump against the call.[154]
President Trump and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman of Saudi Arabia
Wednesday,March 21
Thursday,March 22
H. R. McMaster resigns as National Security Adviser andJohn Bolton, a former ambassador to the United Nations, is named to succeed him.[156]
Friday,March 23
The White House issues a memorandum onJim Mattis's recommended military policies, which state thattransgender personnel are "disqualified from military service except under limited circumstances".[157]
The U.S. charges and sanctions nine Iranians and the Iranian company Mabna Institute for hacking and attempting to hack hundreds of universitieson behalf of the Iranian government.[158]
^Seung, Min Kim; Everett, Burgess; and Schor, Elana (January 22, 2018)."Congress votes to end shutdown".Politico.Archived from the original on January 22, 2018. RetrievedJanuary 23, 2018.
^Prokop, Andrew (February 24, 2018)."Democrats' response to the Nunes memo was just released".Vox. RetrievedFebruary 24, 2018.Here's the full text of the Schiff memo... Democrats on the committee led by Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) accused the memo of being misleading, and put together their own memo in response.
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