The Trump Presidency: Year One

One year ago Saturday, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States, kicking off an unpredictable year.

From day one, Trump dominated headlines, publicly feuding with rivals and pushing policies that upended the Washington consensus.

It was a year of highs and lows for the president. Trump and Republicans suffered a tough defeat when they failed to pass ObamaCare repeal. But they rebounded by passing a massive tax overhaul by year’s end.

Hanging over the policy fights, though, were the constant controversies at the White House, from press secretary Sean Spicer’s claim that the inauguration was the most watched ever to the firestorm over Trump’s alleged “shithole countries” remark.

Here’s a look back at Trump’s unprecedented first year in office.

January 20 – March 30, 2017 

Jan. 20: Donald J. Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. In his inaugural address, Trump talks of a nation in crisis and vows to end what he calls “American carnage.” Groups of anti-Trump protesters take to the streets, smashing windows in downtown D.C. Photos and videos from the day show fewer people in attendance than during former President Obama’s 2008 inauguration.

Jan. 21: Hundreds of thousands of people across the country take part in the Women’s March to protest the new president. Some estimates say close to half a million people joined the march in Washington. At an impromptu news conference in the evening, press secretary Sean Spicer blasts the media over its coverage of the inauguration crowd size. “This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe,” he insists.

(OPINION: One year after the Women’s March, expect a year of action in 2018)

Jan. 23: On his first full workday, Trump meets business leaders and promises to cut at least 75 percent of government regulations. He signs an order freezing all new federal hiring. Then, making good on a campaign promise, the president formally withdraws from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. In the afternoon, Trump hosts his first meeting with congressional leaders from both parties and repeats his claim that millions of illegal votes were cast against him to help Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton win the popular vote.

Jan. 24: Trump signs an executive order speeding up approval for the controversial Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, halted under Obama. In a tweet about gun violence in Chicago, he warns that if the city does not stop the “carnage” he will “send in the Feds!”

Jan. 25: In the morning, the president tweets that he is launching a “major investigation into VOTER FRAUD” and announces plans to unveil his nominee to the Supreme Court on Feb. 2. At the Department of Homeland Security, he signs executive orders on immigration, cutting federal funds for “sanctuary cities” and ordering agencies to begin work on a border wall. In his first interview from the White House, Trump vows construction on the border wall will begin in “months.”

Jan. 26: Trump threatens to cancel a meeting with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto after the foreign leader refuses to pay for the border wall. Shortly after, Peña Nieto says he is canceling the meeting.

Jan. 27: Late in the evening, Trump signs an executive order banning travel to the U.S from seven majority-Muslim countries and suspending admission for refugees, resulting in chaos and confusion at airports across the country. A statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day fails to mention Jewish people or anti-Semitism, drawing criticism.

Jan. 28: Protesters gather at airports around the country to challenge Trump’s travel ban. The ban also sows chaos as officials struggle to determine who is covered by the order. A federal judge in New York issues an emergency stay temporarily preventing the administration from detaining individuals. Trump speaks with world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The Turnbull call gets heated when the leaders clash on a refugee deal. “Putin was a pleasant call,” Trump reportedly tells Turnbull. “This is ridiculous.”

Jan. 29: William “Ryan” Owens, a member of Navy SEAL Team 6, is killed in a firefight in Yemen, becoming the first service member to die during Trump’s presidency. Fourteen enemy militants and as many as 30 civilians, including children, die in the raid, raising questions about the decision.

Jan. 30: Acting attorney general Sally Yates refuses to defend Trump’s travel order. Yates is quickly fired and Dana Boente, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, is sworn in. In a statement, the White House says Yates “betrayed the Department of Justice.”

Jan. 31: The president taps Neil Gorsuch to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) protest Trump’s immigration orders from the steps of the Supreme Court. In response, Trump dubs the Democratic leader “Fake Tears Chuck Schumer.”

Feb. 1: Trump urges Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to break with years of precedent and kill the filibuster rule. “If you can, Mitch, go nuclear.” Iran tests a ballistic missile and national security adviser Michael Flynn says the administration is “officially putting Iran on notice.”

Feb. 2: At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump promises to “get rid of and totally destroy” the Johnson Amendment, which limits church political activity. Appearing on MSNBC’s “Hardball,” Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway cites the fictitious “Bowling Green massacre” as justification for the travel ban. Trump raises the prospect of denying federal funds for the University of California, Berkeley after school officials cancel an event by Milo Yiannopoulos due to violent protests.

Feb. 3: Trump takes to Twitter to blast Arnold Schwarzenegger, Iran, “FAKE NEWS” and “professional anarchists.” The administration announces new sanctions on Iran in response to its ballistic missile test.

Feb. 4: After the Department of Homeland Security suspends the travel ban to comply with a court order, Trump blasts the judge on Twitter. “The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned,” he writes. Trump also defends Putin, after an interviewer calls the Russian leader a “killer.” “What, you think our country’s so innocent?” Trump responds.

Feb. 5: When an appellate court rejects the Department of Justice’s request to keep the travel ban in place, Trump criticizes the judges. “Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad,” the president writes on Twitter.

Feb. 6: Trump calls poor poll numbers “fake news.” In his first speech to military service members, he accuses the “very, very dishonest press” of not reporting on terrorist attacks.

Feb. 7: Mike Pence becomes the first vice president to have to cast a tie-breaking vote on a Cabinet nominee, confirming Betsy DeVos as Education secretary.

Feb. 8: Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch reportedly tells Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) in a meeting that Trump’s criticism of the federal judiciary is “disheartening” and “demoralizing.” A Gorsuch spokeswoman denies the remark was about Trump. The president blasts Nordstrom on Twitter after the department store drops his daughter Ivanka Trump’s clothing line.

Feb. 9: The Washington Post reports that Flynn discussed sanctions in phone calls with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Flynn previously denied such conversations.

During a meeting with senators, Trump claims he was the victim of voter fraud. Trump also calls Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) “Pocahontas” repeatedly and says he’s glad she is becoming the face of the Democratic Party, according to attendees. When a court denies another Justice Department request to keep the travel ban in effect, Trump tweets: “SEE YOU IN COURT.”

Feb. 10: Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe travel together to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. Trump says he may sign a new travel ban order.

Feb. 11: Trump says he will negotiate the cost of the border wall “WAY DOWN” after an official estimate sets the price tag as high as $21 billion. North Korea launches its first missile test of Trump’s presidency. Trump and Abe plan their response from the dining room at Mar-a-Lago while members of the resort watch.

Feb. 13: Flynn resigns as national security adviser after reports he misled Pence and other White House officials about his meeting with the Russian ambassador.

Feb. 14: The New York Times reports Trump campaign aides and associates, including Paul Manafort, made contacts with Russian officials during the campaign.

Feb. 15: Trump responds to the Times report, tweeting his frustration with the intelligence community and media. “This Russian connection non-sense is merely an attempt to cover-up the many mistakes made in Hillary Clinton’s losing campaign,” he writes on Twitter.

Feb. 16: At a marathon news conference to nominate Alexander Acosta as Labor secretary, Trump hits back at critics, calling his administration a “fine-tuned machine,” defending Flynn as a “fine man,” and calling the media “dishonest people.” He adds that leaks from his administration are “real, but the news is fake.” Trump also bristles at a question about how he will fight anti-Semitism. “I am the least anti-Semitic person that you’ve ever seen in your entire life. … [and] the least racist person,” he says.

Feb. 18: Trump holds a campaign-style rally in Florida, blaming Obama and the media’s “lies, misrepresentations and false stories” for his early struggles. He refers to a nonexistent terror attack “last night in Sweden.”

Feb. 19: On “Face the Nation,” chief of staff Reince Priebus says Americans should take the president “seriously” when he calls the press the “enemy.”

Feb. 20: Trump taps H.R. McMaster as his new national security adviser.

Feb. 21: Trump tours the new National Museum of African American History and Culture, and speaks against racism and anti-Semitism. “Today and every day of my presidency, I pledge to do everything I can to continue that promise of freedom for African-Americans and for every American,” he says.

Feb. 22: The administration rolls back Obama-era protections for transgender students.

Feb. 24: The administration blocks reporters from The New York Times, Politico and CNN from a press gaggle in Spicer’s office, drawing criticism. AP and Time magazine skip the gaggle in protest. Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Committee, calling “fake news” the “enemy of the people” and mentions that citing anonymous sources shouldn’t be “allowed.”

Feb. 25: Trump tweets that he will not be attending the annual White House correspondents’ dinner: “Please wish everyone well and have a great evening!”

Feb. 27: Trump unveils his budget proposal, which would seek sharp cuts to federal agencies, but a $54 billion increase to defense spending.

Feb. 28: Trump makes his first address to Congress. “The time for trivial fights is behind us,” he says. He highlights his goals, including ObamaCare repeal and reforming the tax code. The speech is well-received. “Donald Trump did indeed become presidential tonight,” McConnell says.

March 1: The Washington Post reports that Jeff Sessions twice met with Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Kislyak during Trump’s campaign, which he previously failed to disclose under oath. The attorney general denies discussing campaign business with Kislyak. Lawmakers push Sessions to recuse himself from the investigation into Russia’s election meddling.

March 2: Sessions recuses himself from any inquiries into Russian interference in the election. Trump tweets that “real story is all of the illegal leaks of classified and other information” and calls the investigation a “total ‘witch hunt!’ ”

March 4: Trump accuses Obama of wiretapping Trump Tower during the campaign. “This is McCarthyism,” the president tweets. “How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process,” he adds. “This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!” An Obama spokesman denies the charge.

March 6: Trump signs an updated travel ban removing Iraq from the list of banned countries and establishing clearer guidance on enforcing the ban. House Republicans release their ObamaCare repeal bill. Republican Sens. John McCain (Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.) ask the president to provide proof of his wiretapping claims.

March 9: FBI Director James Comey meets with congressional leaders and top members of the intelligence committees amid Trump’s wiretapping claims.

March 10: Sessions asks for the resignation of 46 U.S. attorneys appointed by Obama. Supporters call it a typical action by a new administration, but many of those forced to resign say they were not given prior notice.

March 11: Preet Bharara says he was fired as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York after refusing to resign. Bharara claims Trump had asked him to stay when they met during the transition.

March 13: “He doesn’t really believe that President Obama tapped his phone personally,” Spicer says about the president’s claims. Spicer says Trump was speaking about “surveillance” broadly.

March 14: MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow shares two pages of Trump’s 2005 tax return form, showing he paid roughly $38 million in taxes on $150 million in income. The disclosure sparks speculation over who leaked the forms. The White House calls the leak “illegal.”

March 15: A federal judge in Hawaii rules against Trump’s revised travel ban, saying it discriminates against Muslims. At a rally in Nashville, the president criticizes the decision, saying the ruling makes the U.S. “look weak.”

March 16: The Senate Intelligence Committee issues a statement finding no evidence of wiretapping. Spicer tells reporters the president “stands by” the claim and suggests British intelligence helped Obama wiretap Trump, repeating a claim from a Fox News analyst. A spokesman for Britain’s intelligence agency calls the allegation “utterly ridiculous.” The White House reportedly assures the United Kingdom that Spicer will not repeat those claims.

The House Budget Committee sends the ObamaCare repeal bill to the House floor.

March 17: Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel host a joint news conference at the White House. Trump revisits his wiretapping claims, joking that he and Merkel “have something in common perhaps.” Merkel’s phone was once tapped by the National Security Agency.

March 20: Comey testifies in front of the House Intelligence Committee about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and publicly confirms the existence of an FBI investigation for the first time. “The real story that Congress, the FBI and all others should be looking into is the leaking of Classified information. Must find leaker now!” Trump tweets before Comey’s testimony.

March 21: With opposition building to the House ObamaCare repeal bill, Trump goes to Capitol Hill to rally support. “Honestly, a loss is not acceptable, folks,” he tells GOP lawmakers. He singles out conservative Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) and says he will “come after” the Freedom Caucus leader if he doesn’t “get on board.” Anonymous White House officials give House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) a report saying Trump’s campaign aides may have been “incidentally” surveilled by intelligence agencies.

March 22: Nunes holds a news conference about the documents he received from the White House. “What I have read bothers me,” Nunes says to reporters. After the news conference, Nunes briefs the president on the documents at the White House. House Intelligence Committee ranking member Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) says Nunes didn’t share the documents with the rest of the committee before going public. McCain calls for a select committee or independent commission to take over the investigation headed by Nunes. “No longer does the Congress have credibility to handle this alone, and I don’t say that lightly,” McCain says.

March 23: A day before House leaders aim to vote on their health-care bill, frustrated House Freedom Caucus members meet with Trump. The president reportedly tells the caucus to “forget about the little shit” and warns of the political consequences of failing to pass ObamaCare repeal.

March 24: In a shocking move, Ryan pulls the ObamaCare bill from the House floor, amid opposition from conservative and centrist Republicans. Trump says he will move on from health care to other issues.

March 25: Trump expresses his desire to let ObamaCare fail on its own. “ObamaCare will explode and we will all get together and piece together a great healthcare plan for THE PEOPLE,” the president tweets. “Do not worry!”

March 26: Trump attacks conservatives on Twitter, blaming them for repeal’s failure. “Democrats are smiling in D.C. that the Freedom Caucus, with the help of Club For Growth and Heritage, have saved Planned Parenthood & Ocare,” he tweets.

March 27: Trump creates the White House Office of American Innovation and puts his son-in-law, senior adviser Jared Kushner, in charge. The New York Times reports that the Senate Intelligence Committee will question Kushner regarding his contacts with Russian ambassador Kislyak and a previously unreported meeting with the head of Russia’s state-run development bank.

March 28: Trump signs an executive order aimed at undoing Obama’s climate change initiative, the Clean Power Plan.

March 29: Trump signs an executive order commissioning a study of the federal government’s responses to drug addiction and the opioid crisis. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is to head the commission. Ivanka Trump officially becomes an adviser to the president

March 30: The New York Times reports that Nunes, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, received the documents on incidental surveillance from White House officials.

April 1 – June 30, 2017 

April 2: Kushner visits Iraq, his first trip abroad as Trump’s senior adviser.

April 3: Trump signs a bill repealing Obama-era internet privacy rules.

April 4: Syrian President Bashar Assad uses chemical weapons against his own citizens in a rebel-controlled town. Trump condemns the “heinous” attack and blames Obama for not controlling Assad. North Korea fires a test missile into the Sea of Japan.

April 5: Trump again addresses Syria, calling the gas attack “an affront to humanity.” He says the attack “crossed many, many lines, beyond a red line.” The president also claims that former Obama national security adviser Susan Rice may have committed a crime by seeking the identities of Trump officials caught up in surveillance. Trump does not offer proof for the allegations.

April 6: The president flies to his Mar-a-Lago resort to meet with Xi Jinping, the president of China, about North Korea and trade. McConnell invokes the nuclear option, eliminating the filibuster for Supreme Court picks to advance Gorsuch’s nomination. Nunes recuses himself from leading the House Intelligence Committee investigation into Russian collusion. Trump launches a cruise missile attack against Syrian targets in retaliation for the April 4 chemical attacks.

April 7: Neil Gorsuch is confirmed to the Supreme Court by the Senate.

April 9: National security adviser McMaster warns the U.S. could take further military action against Syria. Trump calls Navy commanders to thank them for the missile strike against Syria.

April 10: Justice Gorsuch is sworn in during a Rose Garden ceremony. Trump speaks with world leaders about the situation in Syria. He also tweets a “Happy Passover” message.

April 11: Spicer says during a press briefing that Adolf Hitler did not use chemical weapons against his own people, sparking ridicule. But while walking back those remarks he also calls concentration camps “Holocaust centers.” He apologizes for the Hitler remark, telling reporters “it was a mistake to do that.” Kansas state treasurer Ron Estes wins against Democrat James Thompson for CIA Director Mike Pompeo’s former seat in a race seen as an early referendum on the new administration.

April 12: Trump threatens to cut ObamaCare subsidies to force Democrats to the negotiating table on health care. During a news conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump says the military alliance is “no longer obsolete,” a change from his campaign rhetoric.

April 13: The president signs a law allowing states to deny Planned Parenthood funding and the Department of Health and Human Services issues a final ruling to shorten the ObamaCare enrollment period.

April 14: The White House announces that some visitor logs will be kept private, citing a federal court ruling which determined that Office of the President visitor logs may be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

April 15: North Korea conducts a failed missile launch while Pence is in South Korea for the first leg of his Asian tour. Stateside, thousands attend Tax Day protests to call on Trump to release his tax returns.

April 16: Trump dismisses the Tax Day protests. “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 calls for an investigation into who is funding the protests.

April 17: The president and first lady host the 139th White House Easter Egg Roll after reports questioning whether the White House was ready to pull off the event. Pence visits the demilitarized zone in South Korea.

April 18: Trump visits a Kenosha, Wis., tool factory where he signs his “Buy American and Hire American” order. The order calls on the federal government to enforce rules for buying American-made goods and to reform the H1-B visa program.

April 19: Trump hosts the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots at the White House. Patriots player Rob Gronkowski crashes Spicer’s press conference. Trump also signs a bill to make it easier for veterans to seek health care outside the VA system.

April 20: Trump orders the Commerce Department to look into cracking down on steel imports for national security. Trump’s self-imposed deadline for an intel assessment of Russian hacking and a blueprint for improving cybersecurity passes after 90 days.

April 21: Trump signs executive orders calling on the Treasury Department to look for ways to remove regulations from the tax code and to review Dodd-Frank.

April 22: To commemorate his 100th day in office, Trump announces that he will hold a rally on April 29, the same night as the White House correspondents’ dinner. Meanwhile, people concerned about the administration’s science policies hold a rally at the National Mall, the March for Science, with similar events across the country.

April 24: The administration announces new sanctions against Syria for the chemical weapon attack. Trump also holds a video call with astronauts on the International Space Station.

April 26: The administration offers an outline for its tax-reform plan, which would slash rates for individuals and businesses. Trump signs an executive order asking the Interior Department to review federal monument designations.

April 27: House Republicans again delay plans to vote on an ObamaCare repeal bill amid mounting opposition from conservatives and centrists.

April 28: Trump speaks at the NRA convention in Atlanta and vows to help the group defend gun rights. North Korea launches a new missile, but the test fails.

April 29: The president celebrates his 100th day in office with a rally in Harrisburg, Pa., competing with the White House Correspondents Dinner, which he calls a “very, very boring event.” North Korea launches another test missile.

April 30: In a CBS News interview, Trump suggests China could be behind election hacks.

May 2: Trump calls Putin and discusses the Syrian conflict, North Korea and counterterrorism efforts in the Middle East. Trump says the country might need a “good shutdown” ahead of a spending fight.

May 3: Comey testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee, and defends his handling of the probe into Clinton’s email server. “It makes me mildly nauseous to think we had an impact on the election,” he says.

May 4: A revised ObamaCare repeal bill passes the House. House Republicans hold a celebration with Trump at the Rose Garden.

May 5: Trump’s pick for Army secretary, Tennessee state Sen. Mark Green, withdraws from consideration over anti-Muslim and anti-LGBT remarks.

May 7: Trump tweets, “When will the Fake Media ask about the Dems dealings with Russia & why the [Democratic National Committee] DNC wouldn’t allow the FBI to check their server or investigate?” after a report that the FBI was denied access to the DNC’s hacked servers.

May 8: Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee and says she warned the White House that Flynn was vulnerable to blackmail and had lied about his contact with Russian officials.

May 9: In a bombshell move, Trump fires Comey as FBI director. Trump says he made the decision at the recommendation of Attorney General Sessions, and that the firing was due to Comey’s handling of the Clinton email investigation. Comey learns about his firing from a television report.

May 10: Trump defends his firing of Comey and mocks Democrats for rushing to the former FBI chief’s defense after criticizing him during the election. Trump meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and ambassador Kislyak. The meeting is closed to U.S. journalists, but the Kremlin releases a photo of the meeting.

May 11: The New York Times reports that Trump asked Comey for his loyalty during a one-on-one White House dinner shortly after the inauguration. Trump sets up a presidential advisory commission to investigate voter fraud in the election.

May 12: Trump floats ending White House press briefings, writing “Maybe the best thing to do would be to cancel all future ‘press briefings’ and hand out written responses for the sake of accuracy???” He also threatens Comey on Twitter: “James Comey better hope that there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!”

May 14: Lawmakers from both parties call on Trump to release any recordings he has of talks with Comey.

May 15: The Washington Post reports that Trump shared classified information on the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) with Russian officials during a meeting the previous week. The White House refuses to say if there are secret tapes of Comey.

May 16: Trump meets with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the White House. Turkish security attacks protesters in Washington, D.C. During a press briefing, national security adviser McMaster defends Trump’s decision to share classified information with Russia, calling it “consistent with the routine sharing of information between the president and any leaders with whom he’s engaged.” The New York Times reports that, according to a memo Comey wrote shortly after a February meeting with Trump, the president asked him to halt the investigation into Flynn.

May 17: Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appoints former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a new special counsel for the Russia probe. During his commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Trump says, “No politician in history … has been treated worse or more unfairly.”

May 18: Trump criticizes the Russia probe on Twitter, calling it “the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!” He also calls for a special counsel to investigate Clinton. During a combative press conference, Trump strongly denies asking Comey to end the probe into Flynn.

May 19: Trump departs for Saudi Arabia, the initial stop on his first foreign trip as president. Comey agrees to testify publicly before the Senate Intelligence Committee. A New York Times report claims Trump told the Russians during a meeting earlier in the month that firing “nut job” Comey eased the pressure from the Russia probe.

(OPINION: Trump won at foreign policy in his first year)

May 20: Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia, where he signs a $110 billion arms deal between the U.S. and the Saudis.

May 21: A photo of Trump, the first lady, the president of Egypt and the king of Saudi Arabia touching a glowing orb goes viral. Trump gives a speech to leaders of the Muslim world at the Arab Islamic American Summit, calling on them to work together to fight “Islamic extremism.”

May 22: Trump leaves Saudi Arabia for a two-day stop in Israel. He holds a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

May 23: Trump visits Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial. “This place and this entire nation are a testament to the unbreakable spirit of the Jewish people and the hope that light can shine the path beyond the darkness,” he says in a speech. Later, he faces criticism for writing in the guest book: “It is a great honor to be here with all of my friends — so amazing and will never forget!” The White House unveils Trump’s first budget, which calls for boosting defense spending and sharp cuts to social programs.

May 24: The president and first lady meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican. Trump says they had a “fantastic” meeting. Thousands of anti-Trump protesters gather in Brussels, where the president arrives for a NATO summit.

May 25: The Washington Post reports that Kushner is now a focus in the Russia investigation. At the NATO summit in Brussels, Trumps scolds allies for not paying the organization more for defense spending.

May 26: A report claims Kushner discussed setting up a secret channel between the transition team and Russia to talk policy on Syria and other matters.

May 27: Trump declines to join other nations at the G-7 in signing a pledge in support of the Paris climate accord. In a speech to troops in Italy, he calls his foreign trip a “home run.”

May 30: Comedian Kathy Griffin faces widespread backlash after a photo where she holds up a fake, decapitated Trump head.

May 31: “Covfefe” trends on social media after a late-night Trump tweet. Asked about the tweet, Spicer says “the president and a small group of people know exactly what meant,” refusing to admit the mistake. Trump later jokes: “Who can figure out the true meaning?” CNN drops Kathy Griffin from its annual New Year’s Eve coverage.

June 1: Trump officially pulls the United States out of the Paris climate accord, keeping a campaign promise. The move is criticized by foreign leaders and many in the business community. Disney CEO Bob Iger and Tesla founder Elon Musk resign from the business advisory council in response. The Senate Intelligence Committee announces that Comey will testify publicly.

June 2: Trump signs two bills regarding law enforcement, offering federal grants to agencies that hire military veterans and help victims of slain officers receive benefits.

June 3: Terrorists attack pedestrians on London Bridge, killing seven and wounding dozens. Trump tweets his support of British authorities: “Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the U.K., we will be there – WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!” The White House weighs blocking Comey from testifying. The AP reports Mueller is conducting a criminal probe into Flynn and Manafort.

June 4: Trump criticizes the London mayor’s response to the terror attack. “At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is ‘no reason to be alarmed!’” The mayor’s spokesperson says he has “more important things to do than respond to Donald Trump’s ill-informed tweet that deliberately takes out of context his remarks urging Londoners not to be alarmed when they saw more police – including armed officers – on the streets.” He also touts his travel ban: “We must stop being politically correct and get down to the business of security for our people. If we don’t get smart it will only get worse.”

June 5: The White House says it will not invoke executive privilege to block Comey from testifying.

June 6: Reports say Sessions had offered to resign. Spicer says the president’s tweets are to be considered official statements. Six Middle Eastern countries cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing the country of sponsoring terror. The president takes credit for the action, saying he encouraged leaders in the region to pressure Qatar during his Mideast trip. The head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), appears stunned when told of the president’s remarks on Qatar.

June 7: Trump taps former federal prosecutor Christopher Wray to replace Comey as FBI director. He holds a campaign-like rally in Cincinnati and touts his infrastructure plan.

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, NSA director Michael Rogers, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee regarding Comey’s firing. The intelligence officials decline to answer questions about their conversations with Trump but say they never felt inappropriate pressure. A closed hearing is scheduled for June 15.

June 8: In a dramatic hearing, Comey testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee. He details meetings with Trump, claiming the president asked him to pledge his loyalty. “Lordy, I hope there are tapes,” he says, in reference to Trump’s May 12 tweet. He also reveals that he turned over memos of his discussions with the president to Mueller but does not say if the president is under investigation. And he confirms Flynn was under investigation before he was fired. Finally, the former FBI head emphasizes that Russia interfered with the election: “There should be no fuzz on this whatsoever.”

June 9: On Twitter, the president accuses Comey of lying under oath in the Senate hearing. “Despite so many false statements and lies, total and complete vindication…and WOW, Comey is a leaker!” During a press briefing, Trump denies asking Comey for a pledge of loyalty. He says he is “100 percent” willing to testify under oath against Comey. Trump offers his commitment to defend NATO allies in the event of an attack.

June 10: Sessions says he will testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee regarding Comey.

June 13: Attorney General Sessions testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee. He declines to detail his conversations with Trump and says he has no recollection of any meetings with the Russian Ambassador at the Mayflower Hotel, contradicting reports after Comey’s testimony. He defends remarks at his confirmation hearing that he had not met with Russian officials, a statement he later corrected: “That was a fair and correct response for the question as I understood it.”

June 14: House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and three others are shot in Alexandria, Va., during practice for a congressional baseball game. The Washington Post reports that Mueller is expanding his probe to include possible obstruction of justice by Trump.

June 15: Trump visits Scalise in the hospital. “Just left hospital. Rep. Steve Scalise, one of the truly great people, is in very tough shape – but he is a real fighter,” he tweets. The Washington Post reports that Mueller is also investigating Kushner’s business dealings. Director of National Intelligence Coats testifies in a closed session with the Senate Intelligence Committee about his private conversations with Trump.

June 16: Trump announces a rollback of Obama’s Cuba policies at a rally in Miami.

The president appears to confirm he is under investigation for obstruction of justice, He tweets:“ I am being investigated for firing the FBI Director by the man who told me to fire the FBI Director! Witch Hunt.”

June 19: Trump meets with the leaders of major tech companies at the White House. He also offers condolences to the family of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died after being detained in North Korea.

June 20: The White House announces new sanctions on Russia over Ukraine. Trump tweets that China is failing to contain North Korea: “While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi & China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried!”

June 22: The president admits on Twitter that he did not record his conversations with former FBI Director Comey. “With all of the recently reported electronic surveillance, intercepts, unmasking and illegal leaking of information, I have no idea whether there are ‘tapes’ or recordings of my conversations with James Comey, but I did not make, and do not have, any such recordings.” The Senate unveils its ObamaCare repeal bill.

June 23: Trump appears on “Fox and Friends” and discusses the Russia probe, including Mueller. “Well, he’s very, very good friends with Comey, which is very bothersome,” he says of Mueller. “But he’s also — we’re going to have to see. I mean we’re going to have to see in terms — look, there has been no obstruction. There has been no collusion. There has been leaking by Comey.” Trump tweets: “Just out: The Obama Administration knew far in advance of November 8th about election meddling by Russia. Did nothing about it. WHY?” The tweets refer to a Washington Post report that the Obama administration was hesitant to act after discovering Russian interference in the election.

June 24: Trump lashes out against the five GOP senators who oppose the ObamaCare repeal bill. “I cannot imagine that these very fine Republican Senators would allow the American people to suffer a broken ObamaCare any longer!”

June 25:  The president rehashes the 2016 election on Twitter. “Hillary Clinton colluded with the Democratic Party in order to beat Crazy Bernie Sanders. Is she allowed to so collude? Unfair to Bernie.”

June 26: The Supreme Court reinstates some parts of the travel ban and agrees to hear the case in October.

June 27: McConnell postpones the health-care repeal vote until after the July 4 recess. Trump meets with GOP senators at the White House to win their support.

June 28: The president meets with the families of victims of crimes committed by immigrants in the country illegally. Trump holds his first 2020 campaign fundraiser at his hotel in Washington, D.C.

June 29: Trump tweets about MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” hosts, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. “I heard poorly rated @Morning_Joe speaks badly of me (don’t watch anymore). Then how come low I.Q. Crazy Mika, along with Psycho Joe, came to Mar-a-Lago 3 nights in a row around New Year’s Eve, and insisted on joining me. She was bleeding badly from a face-lift. I said no!” Lawmakers from both parties criticize the remarks.

June 30: “If Republican Senators are unable to pass what they are working on now, they should immediately REPEAL, and then REPLACE at a later date!” President Trump writes on Twitter. The hosts of “Morning Joe,” hit back at Trump as “unhinged” and “unfit” for office.

July 1 – September 30, 2017 

July 2: Trump tweets a video mashup from an old wrestling show appearance, this time showing him bodyslamming the CNN logo, heating up the feud between the president and network.

July 3: North Korea launches an intercontinental ballistic missile toward Japan, and Trump condemns the action on Twitter saying, “Does [Kim Jong Un] have anything better to do with his life?” Trump also calls on China, suggesting it is time the country puts a “heavy move” on North Korea.

July 5: Trump leaves for the G-20 Summit in Warsaw. The United Nations Security Council holds an emergency meeting about North Korea. Trump congratulates the Secret Service for their 152nd anniversary.

July 6: Trump meets with Polish President Andrzej Duda and later attends a Warsaw wreath-laying ceremony where he speaks of the importance of Western democratic values. “Our values will prevail,” he says. Trump later tweets: “THE WEST WILL NEVER BE BROKEN.”

July 7: Trump meets face-to-face with Putin for the first time since becoming president. A week later it is learned that the two also had a secret, undisclosed meeting. On Twitter,, Trumps says “Everyone here is talking about why John Podesta refused to give the DNC server to the FBI and the CIA. Disgrace!”

July 8: The New York Times reports that Donald Trump Jr., then-campaign manager Paul Manafort and Trump’s son-in-law Kushner met at Trump Tower in June 2016 with a Russian lawyer. In a statement, Trump Jr. describes it as a meeting about Russian adoptions.

July 9: Donald Trump Jr. says the Russian lawyer he met with had promised damaging information on Democratic presidential nominee Clinton. The president backtracks on a proposal to create a joint cybersecurity unit with Russia after lawmakers pan the idea.

July 11: Trump Jr. releases his emails detailing the setup of the meeting with the Russian lawyer offering compromising information on Clinton. In one email, in regards to the promise of damaging information on Clinton, Trump Jr. tells an intermediary: “If it’s what you say I love it especially later in the summer.”

July 12: Trump tells Reuters he was not aware of Trump Jr.’s June 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer until several days ago. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Wray, Trump’s nominee for FBI director, defends the Russia probe and vows to be independent. Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman (Calif.) introduces articles of impeachment against Trump.

July 13: Trump arrives for a two day visit in Paris and meets with French President Emmanuel Macron. McConnell unveils a revised ObamaCare repeal bill.

July 14: The president and first lady attend the Bastille Day parade in Paris.

July 15: Trump hires a new lawyer, former federal prosecutor Ty Cobb, for the Russia probe. McConnell delays a planned health-care vote as McCain recovers from a surgery in Arizona.

July 17: Trump defends his son over the Russia meeting. “Most politicians would have gone to a meeting like the one Don jr attended in order to get info on an opponent. That’s politics!” Trump tweets. The president recertifies Iran’s compliance with the nuclear deal.

July 18: The GOP effort to repeal ObamaCare appears to stall after moderate senators come out against the revised bill. Trump announces new sanctions on Iran over its support for terrorism and its ballistic missile program.

July 19: Republican senators attend a White House lunch where they discuss the ObamaCare repeal effort with Trump. “I don’t think we should leave town unless we have a health insurance plan,” he says. McCain reveals that he has brain cancer. Trump tells The New York Times he would not have nominated Sessions if he knew he would recuse himself.

July 20: The president meets national security officials at the Pentagon to discuss the fight against ISIS and tells a reporter “we’ll see” when asked if more troops will be sent to Afghanistan. Sessions says he will stay on, despite Trump’s criticism. Bloomberg reports that Mueller is investigating Trump’s business deals.

July 21: Anthony Scaramucci is appointed as new White House communications director and Sean Spicer resigns as press secretary, effective Sept. 1. Scaramucci ends his first press conference with a kiss to the press corps.

July 24: After a two-hour meeting with the Senate Intelligence Committee, Kushner tells reporters, “All of my actions were proper and occurred in the normal course of events of a very unique campaign,” adding, “I did not collude with Russia.” Trump attends the National Scout Jamboree in Glen Jean, W.Va., where he attacks Obama and rips the media. He is criticized for making political remarks at a Boy Scout event.

July 25: Trump steps up his attacks on Sessions, saying he took a “very weak position” on Clinton and on intelligence leaks. He refuses to say if he is planning to fire the attorney general. Trump holds a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, where he defends his record and his approach to the presidency. “With the exception of the late, great Abraham Lincoln, I can be more presidential than any president that’s ever held this office,” he says.

July 26: In a series of early morning tweets, Trump announces that transgender troops will no longer be permitted to serve in the armed forces, citing the “medical costs and disruption” of transgender troops. The surprise announcement comes at a time when Defense Secretary James Mattis is on vacation and appears to catch top brass off guard. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson tells reporters he is “not going anywhere” after reports speculating he may resign.

July 27: The president awards the Medal of Valor to five officers who were first responders to the congressional baseball practice shooting in Alexandria, Va., on June 14. The New Yorker publishes a profanity-laden interview with Scaramucci that includes him attacking chief of staff Priebus.

July 28: In a dramatic early morning vote, the Senate fails to pass ObamaCare repeal, with McCain delivering one of the three Republican “no” votes. “As I said from the beginning, let ObamaCare implode, then deal. Watch!” Trump tweets. He says Republicans voting “no” let the country down. In the afternoon, the president taps Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly as his new chief of staff, firing Priebus. Trump announces the move on Twitter as Air Force One returns to Washington from a trip to New York.

July 29: Trump calls on McConnell to “go nuclear” and replace the “very outdated filibuster rule.” He says Republicans will “look like fools,” if they don’t. “Many great Republican bills will never pass, like Kate’s Law and complete Healthcare. Get smart!” Trump tweets.

July 30: Putin orders a 60 percent reduction of U.S. staff at the American embassy in Russia in retaliation after Trump signs a Russia sanctions bill.

July 31: Kelly is sworn in as White House chief of staff. Scaramucci is fired as communications director after 10 turbulent days on the job.

Aug. 1: The Senate overwhelmingly confirms Wray as the new FBI director. The Washington Post reports the president was personally involved in drafting Trump Jr.’s statement about his 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer.

Aug. 2: Trump signs a Russia sanctions bill but criticizes it as “seriously flawed.”

Aug. 3: The Wall Street Journal reports that Mueller has impaneled a grand jury. West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announces he is switching political parties to become a Republican during a rally with Trump.

Aug. 4: The State Department officially begins to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate deal. With Congress gone until September, Trump also begins a 17-day trip to his golf course in Bedminster, N.J.

Aug. 7: Trump blasts Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) as a “phony Vietnam con artist,” referencing a controversy where the lawmaker misspoke about his military record. Blumenthal had expressed concerns about cracking down on leakers.

Aug. 8: Trump says North Korea “will be met with fire and fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before,” if it continues to threaten U.S. allies, after a report the country has expanded its nuclear capabilities.

Aug. 9: North Korea threatens an attack on Guam. Trump feuds with McConnell, criticizing him on Twitter for not repealing ObamaCare. McConnell, in an interview, had said Trump came into office with “excessive expectations,” reportedly angering the president.

Aug. 10: Trump declares the opioid crisis a national emergency. Asked about North Korea, Trump says maybe his “fire and fury” statement “wasn’t tough enough.” And the president keeps hammering on McConnell, tweeting “get back to work and put Repeal & Replace, Tax Reform & Cuts and a great Infrastructure Bill on my desk for signing. You can do it.”

Aug. 11: White nationalists carrying tiki torches march at night in Charlottesville, Va., to protest the removal of a Confederate statue. Trump tweets: “Military solutions are now fully in place” should North Korea “act unwisely.” Trump also floats a possible “military option” for Venezuela after violence in the country between the government and opposition protesters.

Aug. 12: A car allegedly driven by a man with links to racist groups plows into a crowd of counterprotesters in Charlottesville, killing a woman, Heather Heyer, and injuring more than a dozen others. Trump sparks an uproar after condemning the violence, but saying “many sides” were to blame. “We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides — on many sides,” Trump says at a press conference from his Bedminster golf course.

Aug. 13: The White House tries to clarify Trump’s remarks, saying he condemns violence by “white supremacists, KKK, neo-Nazi and all extremist groups.” The new statement comes after criticism from lawmakers in both parties.

Aug. 14: Trump returns to the White House and in public comments tries to calm the firestorm over Charlottesville. He says “racism is evil” and for the first time specifically criticizes the KKK, neo-Nazis and other hate groups for the deadly violence in Charlottesville. Later in the day, he also blasts “fake news media” for their coverage of his remarks. CEOs from Under Armour, Intel Corp and Merck & Co Inc. resign from Trump’s manufacturing council over the controversy. Trump also endorses Sen. Luther Strange in Alabama’s GOP Senate primary.  

Aug. 15: A defiant Trump doubles down on his claim that there is “blame on both sides” for the Charlottesville violence in a contentious press conference at Trump Tower in New York. Trump says liberal counterprotesters, who he dubs the alt-left, were also responsible. Trump criticizes the move to remove Confederate statues, asking reporters if they would remove statues of George Washington because he was a slave owner.

Aug. 16: Trump disbands his economic councils after a wave of CEOs step down in protest over his response to Charlottesville.

Aug. 17: Trump tweets a new defense of “beautiful” Confederate statues, saying it is “sad” that the “history and culture” of the U.S. is being removed. After a terror attack in Barcelona, Spain, Trump resurrects a dubious story that Gen. John Pershing had Muslim prisoners in the Philippines executed with bullets dipped in pig’s blood.

Aug. 18: Trump fires chief strategist Stephen Bannon. Bannon says he will return to Breitbart and “go to war” for Trump.

Aug. 19: A conservative free speech rally in Boston passes without incident despite the presence of counterprotesters. Trump praises the police response and dubs many of other counterprotesters “anti-police agitators.” In a later tweet, he praises those who were “speaking out against bigotry and hate.” The White House says the Trumps will not attend the annual Kennedy Center Honors to avoid any “political distraction.”

Aug. 21: Trump takes in the solar eclipse from the White House. Trump briefly takes off his protective glasses and looks up at the sky. A staffer is heard shouting “don’t look!” Later, Trump watches the eclipse reach its apex with his glasses back on. Trump unveils his new Afghan strategy, which involves more troops and a harder line on Pakistan.

Aug. 22: Trump holds a campaign-style rally in Phoenix. He fiercely defends his response to Charlottesville and blasts the media. He also mocks anti-fascist protesters, “Antifa!” Trump also hints he will soon pardon controversial former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was convicted of ignoring court orders to stop racially profiling Hispanics.

Aug. 24: Trump speaks to the governors of Texas and Louisiana as Hurricane Harvey is set to make landfall. In a tweet, he criticizes GOP leaders, saying they made a “mess” of the debt ceiling.

Aug. 25: Trump issues a presidential pardon for former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, calling him an “American patriot.” Sebastian Gorka, a special assistant to Trump, leaves the White House. Trump signs a memo directing the Pentagon to stop accepting transgender troops.

Aug. 26: Trump praises the Federal Emergency Management Agency for its response to Category 4 Hurricane Harvey, tweeting: “We have fantastic people on the ground, got there long before #Harvey. So far, so good!

Aug. 27: On “Fox News Sunday,” Tillerson says Trump “speaks for himself” on Charlottesville, a surprising rebuke from a Cabinet member.

Aug. 29: The president and first lady arrive in Corpus Christi, Texas, to observe the recovery from Hurricane Harvey. Trump takes a hands-on approach to the disaster, but also faces criticism from some who claim he did not show enough empathy during the trip. He praises the crowd size at one event, saying “what a crowd, what a turnout.”

Aug. 30: Trump launches his effort to sell “once-in-a-generation” tax reform, with a speech in Springfield, Mo.

Aug. 31: The White House says Trump will donate $1 million to Harvey recovery efforts. Trump cuts funding for ObamaCare outreach ahead of the enrollment period. The administration orders Russia to close a San Francisco consulate and two other facilities in retaliation after Moscow forces the U.S. to cut the number of its diplomatic personnel.

Sept. 1: Trump claims Comey “exonerated” Clinton before the email probe was over. His claims come after GOP senators write about evidence that suggests Comey began writing a statement clearing Clinton before interviewing her.

Sept. 2: The president and first lady return to Texas and Louisiana to distribute supplies to those hit by Hurricane Harvey. The Justice Department concludes there is no evidence Obama wiretapped Trump Tower in 2016.

Sept. 3: North Korea conducts its sixth nuclear test and claims it detonated a hydrogen bomb. Trump meets with military leaders at the White House and floats ending trade with any country that does business with North Korea. Later, when asked if the U.S. will attack North Korea, he replies “we’ll see.”

Sept. 5: The president decides to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an Obama-era program that protects people brought to the country illegally as children from deportation. Trump, though, sets a six-month phaseout, giving Congress time to act.

Sept. 6: Trump approves emergency declarations as Hurricane Irma heads toward Florida and Puerto Rico. Trump surprises Republicans and cuts a deal with Democrats to raise the debt ceiling and fund the government through Dec. 15.

Sept. 7: Trump Jr. tells Senate investigators he took a meeting with a Russian lawyer promising dirt on Clinton to determine the Democratic nominee’s “fitness” for office.

Sept. 8: Trump again blasts Republicans on Twitter, just days after he shocked his party by cutting a spending deal with Democrats. Trump calls the filibuster a “Repub Death Wish.” He later signs the three-month spending and debt deal he negotiated.

Sept. 9: Trump meets at Camp David with Cabinet officials to prepare for Hurricane Irma which battered the Caribbean and is heading to Florida. On Twitter, he urges those who haven’t evacuated to do so.

Sept. 11: The president and first lady attend a 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon. In a speech, Trump vows to do “whatever we must to keep our people safe.”

Sept. 12: White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says federal prosecutors should consider bringing a case against former FBI Director Comey if he broke any laws. The Supreme Court lifts restrictions on Trump’s travel ban. A unanimous House sends Trump a resolution urging him to condemn white supremacists.

Sept. 13: Democrats claim they have a deal with Trump on DACA protections but White House officials push back. Sanders calls on ESPN to fire host Jemele Hill for calling Trump a white supremacist. In late night tweets, Trump hits back at Clinton over her memoir of the campaign. Trump says Clinton “blames everybody (and every thing) but herself.”

Sept. 14: Trump faces criticism from conservatives over his push for an immigration deal. In an early morning tweet, Trump says there is no DACA deal yet. He later adds that “we’re not looking at amnesty.” Trump and Pence travel to Florida to review recovery efforts after Hurricane Irma. On the flight home, Trump revisits his response to the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, saying there were “pretty bad dudes on the other side also.” Trump later signs a resolution condemning white supremacists.

Sept. 15: Trump appears to criticize the British response to a terror attack in London. Trump claims the “loser terrorist” behind the attack was “in the sights of Scotland Yard.” British officials say his response was “unhelpful.” Trump also blasts ESPN over Hill, who called him a white supremacist. “ESPN is paying a really big price for its politics (and bad programming). People are dumping it in RECORD numbers. Apologize for untruth!” he tweets. An 11-year-old supporter of the president, Frank Giaccio, gets his wish and mows the White House lawn.

Sept. 17: In an early Sunday morning tweet, Trump mocks North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as “Rocket Man” for firing two missiles over Japan. Trump also shares a video that appears to show him knocking down Clinton with a golf ball.

Sept. 19: Trump delivers his maiden address to the U.N. General Assembly. He calls Kim a “Rocket Man” on a “suicide mission.” Trump also blasts the Iran nuclear deal as an “embarrassment” and vows to always put America first.

Sept. 20: Trump holds meetings at the U.N., including with British Prime Minister Theresa May and with Arab leaders to push forward the peace process. Hurricane Maria hits Puerto Rico, cutting power to almost all of the island. Politico reports that Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price used private jets for travel that cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars.

Sept. 21: Trump approves disaster declarations for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Officials warn much of Puerto Rico could be without power for six months. The president hits North Korea with new sanctions.

Sept. 22: Trump calls reports Russian groups bought election ads on Facebook a “hoax.” He touts being the most tweeted about world leader at the U.N. General Assembly. Trump holds a rally in Alabama for Strange who is facing a primary challenge from judge Roy Moore. During the rally, Trump says NFL owners should fire players who kneel during the national anthem. “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. He is fired.’ ” In Washington, Senate Republicans appear to lack the votes to pass a new ObamaCare repeal bill. Trump swipes at senators who opposed the bill and says the GOP will repeal ObamaCare “eventually.”

Sept. 23: Trump’s NFL comments spark a firestorm. Athletes slam Trump for his remarks, but the president doubles down, tweeting that athletes should “find something else to do” if they kneel during the anthem. Trump also says that NBA star Stephen Curry is no longer welcome at the White House after the player says he doesn’t want to visit. Trump again mocks Kim Jong Un, this time as “Little Rocket Man” on Twitter.

Sept. 24: In a morning tweet, Trump says if NFL fans “refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast. Fire or suspend!” He also slams the league, claiming “attendance and ratings are WAY DOWN.” Trump’s comments are condemned across the league, with many teams and players protesting. Trump tells reporters his criticism of NFL players has “nothing to do with race.” The administration rolls out a new, revised travel ban, this time targeting eight countries.

Sept. 25: The White House defends Trump’s fight with the NFL. “I think that it’s always appropriate for the president of the United States to defend our flag, to defend our national anthem,” Sanders says. Trump officials are sent to Puerto Rico to assess the damage from Hurricane Maria amid growing calls for the administration to do more. Critics warn of a crisis with much of the island without power and few relief supplies available.

Sept. 26: Trump calls on the NFL to ban kneeling during the national anthem. The president says he will visit hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, which he calls “literally destroyed.” Democrats and Puerto Rican officials urge Trump to provide more help. Moore defeats incumbent Strange, Trump’s pick, in the Alabama GOP primary. Trump appears to delete tweets backing Strange immediately after the race is called and congratulates Moore on the win.

Sept. 27: Republicans unveil their long-awaited tax reform framework. Trump touts the plan in a speech in Indianapolis. Trump says he is not happy with Price who is mired in a controversy over his use of private jets billed to taxpayers.

Sept. 28: In an interview, Trump says his fight over the NFL “is an important issue” and “not a distraction.” Price says he believes he still has the “confidence” of the president. Trump temporarily lifts shipping restrictions on Puerto Rico to boost relief efforts. Trump praises first responders in Puerto Rico, but slams the media claiming they are not covering the disaster “fairly.”

Sept. 29: Trump pitches his tax plan to manufacturers, calling it a “giant, beautiful, massive, the biggest ever in our country, tax cut.” Trump says the recovery effort in Puerto Rico is slowed because it is an island, “surrounded by water.” In an emotional press conference, San Juan’s mayor rips the administration’s efforts. Price resigns as HHS secretary over his use of private and military jets for work travel.

Sept. 30: Trump defends his administration’s response to Puerto Rico and slams the islands officials for showing “such poor leadership ability.” “They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort,” the president tweets. Trump also says San Juan’s mayor is being “nasty” with her criticisms.

October 1, 2017 – January 19, 2018

Oct. 1: Trump again blasts Puerto Rican officials, this time as “politically motivated ingrates” and praises his response to the hurricane. He also tweets that Secretary of State Tillerson is “wasting his time” seeking a diplomatic resolution to North Korean nuclear power. “Save your energy Rex, we’ll do what has to be done!” A man in Las Vegas commits the largest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, killing 59 and wounding more than 500.

Oct. 2: “We are here for you, and we are praying for you,” Trump says in a speech about the Las Vegas shooting. He calls the shooting “an act of pure evil.”

Oct. 3: The president and the first lady arrive in Puerto Rico to encourage hurricane recovery efforts. The president praises the efforts of rescue workers and first responders, but is criticized by Democrats for saying to victims that they have “thrown our budget a little out of whack” and comparing the death toll to the much deadlier Hurricane Katrina, which he calls a “real catastrophe.” Later, he tells Fox News that Puerto Rico can “say goodbye” to its $74 billion public debt, causing confusion among its creditors. During one stop on the island, he tosses paper towels and other supplies into the crowd.

Oct. 4: Trump travels to Las Vegas, telling survivors of the mass shooting, “You’re not alone.” White House budget director Mick Mulvaney walks back Trump’s earlier remarks on forgiving Puerto Rico’s debt. “I would not take it word for word,” he said. “We are not going to deal with the fundamental difficulties Puerto Rico had before the storm.” Four U.S. Green Berets are killed in an ambush in Niger. An NBC News report claims Tillerson called Trump a “moron.” The State Department later denies the claim and Trump rips the NBC News report.

Oct. 5: At an event with senior military officials and their spouses, Trump tells reporters the gathering may be “the calm before the storm.” Asked what he means, Trump responds “you’ll find out.” In a tweet, the president endorses Ed Gillespie in the Virginia governor’s race and accuses his Democratic opponent, Ralph Northam, of being weak on gangs.

Oct. 6: Trump eliminates ObamaCare’s birth control mandate.

Oct. 7: The president says to reporters that he wishes Tillerson would “be a little bit tougher.” In an interview with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, he says he will give peace “a shot” before moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Oct. 8: In a series of tweets, the president blasts Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), saying he “begged” for his endorsement and calling him “largely responsible for the horrendous Iran deal.” “It’s a shame the White House has become an adult day care center,” Corker fires back on Twitter. “Someone obviously missed their shift this morning.” In a later interview, Corker says the president’s unpredictable comments on North Korea could put the country “on the path to World War III.” Pence leaves an NFL game when some players kneel during the national anthem. “I left today’s Colts game because President Trump and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem,” his statement reads. Trump tweets his support of Pence. The White House delivers a list of demands in exchange for any deal to protect DACA program participants.

Oct. 9: Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt says the administration will soon repeal the Clean Power Plan, the centerpiece of Obama’s climate agenda. On Fox News, Bannon says he is preparing primary challengers for every incumbent Republican besides Ted Cruz (R-Texas). The president golfs with Graham, an occasional critic and key voice on foreign policy and health care. According to Graham, Trump shoots a 73.

Oct. 10: Trump repeats his false claim that the U.S. is the “highest taxed nation in the world” and promises “the largest tax cuts in the history of this country.” The administration later explains that Trump was referring to the corporate tax rate, not the overall rate. Trump offers “to compare IQ tests” in response to reports Tillerson called him a moron. “And I can tell you who is going to win,” Trump adds.

Oct. 11: Trade talks begin between the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discuss the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) at the White House. “So we’ll see what happens with NAFTA, but I’ve been opposed to NAFTA for a long time, in terms of the fairness of NAFTA,” the president says. “It is frankly disgusting the press is able to write whatever it wants to write,” he adds in a joint appearance with Trudeau. Later, he speaks to a crowd of truck drivers and manufacturers near Harrisburg, Pa., to sell his tax plan. After returning to the White House, Trump goes after the media again, tweeting that broadcast licenses “must be challenged and, if appropriate, revoked.”

(OPINION: We’re hoping 2018 will be a year of decisive action on trade)

Oct. 12: The president signs an executive order aimed at “starting the process” to repeal ObamaCare. The order directs agencies to update regulations put in place by the health-care law. The administration also announces that it is ending cost-sharing subsidies for insurers.

Oct. 13: Trump speaks at the Values Voter Summit, a conference of Christian conservatives. Later, the president lays out his Iran strategy and announces he will not recertify the Iran nuclear deal, leaving it up to Congress to maintain the deal. Corker steps up his war of words with the president. He rips Trump for trying to “castrate” Tillerson with tweets and public statements undercutting diplomatic solutions in North Korea and Iran. “When you publicly castrate your secretary of state, you take that off the table,” Corker says.

Oct. 15: North Korea calls Trump a “war merchant and strangler of peace” and accuses the president of creating a “hair trigger situation” on the Korean peninsula after the U.S. and South Korea make plans for military drills. Secretary of State Tillerson responds to Corker’s castration remark on CNN, saying, “I checked, I’m fully intact.” He adds that he will continue seeking diplomacy with North Korea “until the first bomb drops.”

Oct. 16: Trump meets McConnell for lunch at the White House as the two try to end their public feud. Trump says they are “together totally” and “very united.” Asked out the death of four Green Berets on Oct. 4 and whether he has reached out to the families, the president claims to reporters that Obama did not call the families of fallen soldiers. “The traditional way, if you look at President Obama and other presidents, most of them didn’t make calls, a lot of them didn’t make calls,” he says. “I like to call when it’s appropriate, when I think I’m able to do it.” Former Obama staffers react, calling the claim ”outrageous and disrespectful.” The National Constitution Center awards the Liberty Medal to McCain. In his acceptance speech, McCain excoriates “half-baked, spurious nationalism” as “unpatriotic,” saying “we live in a land made of ideals, not blood and soil.”

Oct. 17: The president pulls his chief of staff into the fight over his claim that Obama didn’t call the families of slain soldiers. Trump tells reporters Obama never called Kelly when his son was killed in action. Trump says he has called “virtually all” of the families. Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) gives The Washington Post an account of Trump’s call to the widow of a slain Green Beret. “He knew what he was signing up for, but I guess it hurts anyway,” Wilson claims the president said. The White House denies that account. Wilson later accuses Trump of forgetting the soldier’s name. “The President’s conversations with the families of American heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice are private,” the White House says. The day before it is set to begin, a federal judge in Hawaii blocks the third travel ban nationwide, a ruling the administration calls “deeply flawed.”

Oct. 18: The president tweets Wilson “totally fabricated” what he said to the Gold Star widow and claims to have proof. Chief of staff Kelly defends Trump in a press conference. Kelly explains the process of breaking the news of a soldier’s death to a family and says it was “not a criticism” when he told Trump that Obama didn’t call him. He personally blasts Wilson for publicizing the conversation. The president implores the NFL to require players to stand for the national anthem. “Too much talk, not enough action,” he tweets. “Stand for the National Anthem.”

Oct. 19: Trump meets with the governor of Puerto Rico, who requests additional disaster aid. The president rates his administration’s response to the hurricane. “I would give myself a 10,” he says. Trump speculates that “Russia, the FBI or the Dems (or all)” paid for the opposition research “Fake Dossier” compiled by a former British spy who was later interviewed as part of the special Russia investigation. He tweets his thoughts on the Gold Star controversy. “The Fake News is going crazy with wacky Congresswoman Wilson(D), who was SECRETLY on a very personal call, and gave a total lie on content!”

Oct. 20: Billionaire political activist Tom Steyer starts a petition to impeach Trump.

Oct. 21: Trump, on Twitter, says he plans to allow the opening of secret files on the assassination of former President Kennedy.

Oct. 23: Trump again denies the Gold Star widow’s account that he forgot her husband’s name during their phone call, saying on Twitter that he “spoke his name from beginning, without hesitation!”

Oct. 24: Trump launches another Twitter assault on Corker. He tweets that the “lightweight” Republican from Tennessee “couldn’t get elected dogcatcher.” The retiring senator calls Trump an “utterly untruthful president” and says he will be remembered for “the debasement of our nation.” The president addresses Senate Republicans’ policy lunch. Hours later, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) announces he will not run for another term. In a scathing speech from the Senate floor, he condemns the president’s “reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior” and his fellow Republicans for their silence. “I have children and grandchildren to answer to, and so, Mr. President, I will not be complicit,” Flake adds.

Oct. 25: The Washington Post reports that the Clinton campaign and DNC helped fund the opposition research that produced the controversial, unverified dossier linking Trump associates to Russia. In response, Trump quotes a Fox News report on Twitter: “The victim here is the President.”

Oct. 26: Trump declares the opioid crisis a public health emergency.

Oct. 27: Mueller files the first charges in the Russia probe. The White House says its official stance is that all of the women accusing Trump of sexual harassment are lying. Trump congratulates Republican leaders on Twitter for passing a budget resolution, opening the door to tax reform. “Now for biggest Tax Cuts,” he writes. The administration declassifies thousands of files relating to the Kennedy assassination. The president invites members of the White House press corps and their children into the Oval Office for a pre-Halloween celebration. “I cannot believe the media produced such beautiful children,” he jokes.

Oct. 28: The president says he hopes the release of Kennedy assassination files “put any and all conspiracy theories to rest.”

Oct. 29: Trump, in a series of tweets, calls for an investigation into Clinton’s ties to the dossier with unverified claims about him. His tweets come after a Washington Post report that a lawyer working for the Clinton campaign and DNC helped fund the dossier. “Never seen such Republican ANGER & UNITY as I have concerning the lack of investigation on Clinton made Fake Dossier,” the president tweets.

Oct. 30: The special counsel investigating Russia indicts former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his business partner Richard Gates on charges of money laundering, conspiracy and failing to register as a foreign lobbyist. It is revealed that George Papadopoulos, a former volunteer foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign, pleaded guilty months before to lying to the FBI and has been cooperating with the investigation. A U.S. district court rules that Trump’s ban on transgender people in the military cannot be enforced while it is challenged in court.

Oct. 31: A man in a rented truck drives over a busy lower Manhattan bike path, killing eight and injuring 12. Officials call it the deadliest terror attack in New York City since Sept. 11, 2001. Trump says on Twitter that he “ordered” Homeland Security to “step up our already Extreme Vetting Program” after the New York City attack. He writes that “Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!” Bloomberg reports that Papadopoulos told a Russian contact that high-level Trump campaign officials had approved a meeting between the two parties and that the adviser suggested the U.K. as a potential site for the meeting. The president tweets “Few people knew the young, low level volunteer named George, who has already proven to be a liar. Check the DEMS!”

Nov. 1: Trump feuds with Schumer over immigration after the New York City attack, tweeting: “The terrorist came into our country through what is called the ‘Diversity Visa Lottery Program,’ a Chuck Schumer beauty,” he writes. “I want merit based.” Schumer accuses Trump of politicizing a tragedy. Just before midnight, Trump tweets that the New York City attacker “SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!”

Nov. 2: The GOP unveils its tax reform bill. Trump nominates Jerome Powell as chairman the Federal Reserve. A Twitter employee deactivates Trump’s account for 11 minutes.

Nov. 3: On Twitter, the president calls for the Department of Justice to investigate Clinton and the DNC over a joint fundraising deal. He leaves for a 12-day trip to Asia.

Nov. 4: Air Force One lands in Japan after a visit to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Trump meets with Japanese Prime Minister Abe. Abe bring matching hats that read “Donald & Shinzo, Make Alliance Even Greater.”

Nov. 5: The president golfs with Abe and top-ranked Japanese professional Hideki Matsuyama. An Air Force veteran kills 26 churchgoers in a small town near San Antonio.

Nov. 6: Trump addresses the shooting from Tokyo. “This isn’t a guns situation,” the president says. “This is a mental health problem at the highest level. It’s a very, very sad event.” With the Virginia gubernatorial race a day away, Trump urges voters to back Gillespie. “The state of Virginia economy, under Democrat rule, has been terrible. If you vote Ed Gillespie tomorrow, it will come roaring back!”

Nov. 7: Trump travels to South Korea but is unable to visit the demilitarized zone because of bad weather. “North Korea is not the paradise your grandfather envisioned,” Trump says in a speech directed at Kim Jong Un. “It is a hell that no person deserves.” He sends two tweets on Virginia’s election day supporting Gillespie. After Gillespie loses, Trump turns on him. “Ed Gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what I stand for. Don’t forget, Republicans won 4 out of 4 House seats, and with the economy doing record numbers, we will continue to win, even bigger than before,” he writes.

Nov. 8: On the first anniversary of his election, Trump tweets “Congratulations to all of the ‘DEPLORABLES’ and the millions of people who gave us a MASSIVE (304-227) Electoral College landslide victory!”

Nov. 10: The White House addresses the sexual misconduct allegations against GOP Alabama Senate candidate Moore. Sanders says Moore should drop out if the claims are true.

Nov. 11: Aboard Air Force One in Vietnam, the president says he has asked Russian President Putin if he interfered with the 2016 presidential election multiple times, and that he believes Putin “means it” when he denies it. The president defends himself on Twitter. “When will all the haters and fools out there realize that having a good relationship with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. There always playing politics – bad for our country. I want to solve North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, terrorism, and Russia can greatly help,” he writes. Later, he knocks North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. “Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me ‘old,’ when I would NEVER call him ‘short and fat?’ Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend – and maybe someday that will happen,” he tweets.

Nov. 12: Trump tries to clarify his comments about the 2016 election, saying that he supports U.S. intelligence agencies. “What I said is, I believe [Putin] believes that,” Trump says at a press conference in Hanoi, Vietnam. “I believe that he feels that he and Russia did not meddle in the election. As to whether I believe it or not, I’m with our agencies, especially as currently constituted, with their leadership.”

Nov. 13: Trump meets controversial Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte, who has faced criticism for extrajudicial executions of drug offenders. The White House says Trump briefly discussed human rights. Duterte’s team denies that. Sessions considers a second special counsel to investigate Clinton-related matters.

Nov. 14: Sessions is grilled before the House Judiciary Committee. He says he now recalls a meeting at Trump Tower including Russia-linked campaign aide Papadopoulos. Sessions says he has always told the truth about what he remembered, calling the campaign a “form of chaos.” Three UCLA basketball players charged with shoplifting in China return home after the president intervenes with Chinese President Xi.

Nov. 15: Six Democrats introduce articles of impeachment. The president tweets: “Do you think the three UCLA Basketball Players will say thank you President Trump? They were headed for 10 years in jail!”

Nov. 16: The president responds on Twitter to sexual harassment allegations against Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), highlighting a photo of Franken pretending to grab a woman’s breasts. “The Al Frankenstien picture is really bad, speaks a thousand words. Where do his hands go in pictures 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 while she sleeps? And to think that just last week he was lecturing anyone who would listen about sexual harassment and respect for women. Lesley Stahl tape?”

Nov. 17: The White House dismisses comparisons between Trump and Franken over harassment allegations. “Sen. Franken has admitted wrongdoing and the president hasn’t. I think that’s a very clear distinction,” press secretary Sanders says. In an interview, Clinton says there are “lots of questions” about the legitimacy of the election.

Nov. 18: Trump responds on Twitter to Clinton: “Crooked Hillary Clinton is the worst (and biggest) loser of all time. She just can’t stop, which is so good for the Republican Party. Hillary, get on with your life and give it another try in three years!”

Nov. 19: Trump tweets that he should have left the UCLA basketball players in Chinese jails, saying they were “ungrateful” for his help.

Nov. 20: The administration designates North Korea a state sponsor of terrorism. Trump blasts NFL player Marshawn Lynch for only standing during the Mexican anthem during a game in Mexico City, urging the league to suspend him for the rest of the season.

Nov. 21: The president defends Alabama Senate candidate Moore. “He totally denies it,” Trump says of the allegations and offers his endorsement. “We don’t need a liberal person in there, a Democrat, Jones,” he says, referring to Doug Jones.

Nov. 24: Trump claims he turned down Time’s Person of the Year award. “Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named “Man (Person) of the Year,” like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot. I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!” Trump appoints Budget Director Mick Mulvaney as take over the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) as acting director. Departing director Richard Cordray elevates his top aide to deputy director, setting a clash for control of the agency.

Nov. 25: Trump praises Fox and accuses CNN International of promoting fake news abroad. He defends his move to appoint Mulvaney to head the CFPB, saying the agency has been a “total disaster.”

Nov. 27: At an event honoring Navajo Code Talkers from World War II, Trump mocks Warren, calling her “Pocahontas.” “It is deeply unfortunate that the president of the United States cannot even make it through a ceremony honoring these heroes without having to throw out a racial slur,” Warren responds.

Nov. 28: Democratic leaders pull out of a planned meeting at the White House with Trump and Republicans after the president criticizes them on Twitter. “Meeting with ‘Chuck and Nancy’ today about keeping government open and working. Problem is they want illegal immigrants flooding into our Country unchecked, are weak on Crime and want to substantially RAISE Taxes. I don’t see a deal!,” Trump writes. He later sits next to two empty chairs and rips Democrats for skipping the meeting.

Nov. 29: Trump retweets unverified videos purportedly showing violence by Muslims. The videos were posted by a member of Britain First, a far-right group. A spokesman for Britain’s prime minister also criticizes the tweets. Trump later tells Prime Minister May to focus on terrorism, not him. Trump calls for an investigation into the death of one of Joe Scarborough’s staffers when he was serving in Congress. The former intern’s death was determined to be the result of a heart condition.

Nov. 30: Undocumented immigrant Jose Ines Garcia Zarate is acquitted of the killing of Kate Steinle. The president blasts the verdict on Twitter: “A disgraceful verdict in the Kate Steinle case! No wonder the people of our Country are so angry with Illegal Immigration.”

Dec. 1: Flynn pleads guilty to lying to the FBI over his contacts with the Russian ambassador and agrees to cooperate in Robert Mueller’s probe. Flynn is the first official to hold a formal post in Trump’s administration to be brought down by the investigation.

Dec. 2: In an early morning vote, the GOP Senate passes their tax reform bill. Trump hails them as the “Biggest Tax Bill and Tax Cuts in history” in a tweet. Trump tells reporters there was “no collusion” with Russia. Later, in a tweet, Trump says he fired Flynn for lying to the FBI, an apparent shift. “I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI. He has pled guilty to those lies. It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide!” The new rationale leads some to question whether the president tried to obstruct justice. The New York Times reports that Mueller removed a top FBI agent from the probe for sending anti-Trump texts.

Dec. 3: Trump on Twitter says he “never asked Comey to stop investigating Flynn.” Trump’s lawyer, John Dowd, also says Saturday’s controversial tweet was “my mistake.” He said the tweet was intended to mean that Flynn had no reason to lie to the FBI. “I don’t know why the guy lied. He didn’t need to,” Dowd told Axios. Trump also criticizes the FBI, claiming its “reputation is in Tatters” and vows to fix the bureau.

Dec. 4: Trump rips the FBI over its treatment of Flynn, saying it was “very unfair” he was charged with a crime and not Clinton. “Hillary Clinton lied many times to the FBI. Nothing happened to her,” he told reporters. “Flynn lied and they destroyed his life. I think it’s a shame.” After weeks of keeping distance from the candidate, Trump also offers a full endorsement of Moore. “Go get ’em, Roy,” Trump says in a call. In Utah, Trump signs an order shrinking two national monuments. He also wins a legal victory when the Supreme Court allows the full travel ban to take effect.

Dec. 6: Trump formally recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a move that sparks criticism from the Arab world and many key American allies. He directs the State Department to begin the process for moving the U.S. embassy to that city. Trump Jr. makes his second appearance before the House Intelligence Committee. The House rejects a Democrat’s resolution to impeach Trump in a 364-58 vote. A day before a key meeting, Trump says a shutdown “could happen” and blames Democrats’ demands on immigration.

Dec. 7: FBI Director Wray defends the agency’s reputation before Congress in response to Trump’s attacks. Sanders quickly walks back remarks suggesting U.S. athletes might not participate in the 2018 Olympics in South Korea. The White House criticizes Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) after he says he will skip the opening of a civil rights museum Trump is attending.

Dec. 8: Trump signs a two-week bill to avoid a government shutdown. Trump rallies for Moore at an event in Pensacola, Fla. The president blasts CNN after the network is forced to issue a correction to one of its stories earlier in the day. “You should have been apologizing for the last two years,” he says.

Dec. 9: Trump calls on The Washington Post to fire a reporter, after the reporter apologized for a misleading tweet about the size of the crowd attending Trump’s Florida rally. A New York Times report claims Trump watches up to eight hours of TV a day.

Dec. 10: Trump claims the “fake news” media is not covering the country’s economic success under his watch. Seizing on a number of recent media mistakes, Trump calls “false” reporting, a “stain on America.” In a robocall, he urges Alabama voters to back Moore.

Dec. 11: Trump signs a directive to send Americans back to the moon. Three women who accused Trump of sexual harassment hold a press conference to demand Congress investigate their claims. Trump dismisses a report that he watches four to eight hours of TV a day as “false.”

Dec. 12: Trump blasts Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) for calling on him to resign because of allegations of sexual misconduct. Trump says Gillibrand used to come “begging” for donations and “would do anything for them.” Trump congratulates Democrat Jones on his stunning upset of Republican Moore in red-state Alabama. Trump tweets “a win is a win.”

Dec. 13: Trump claims he was right about the Senate race in Alabama and endorsed Strange in the GOP primary because he knew Moore couldn’t win the general election. The White House says senior aide Omarosa Manigault Newman plans to leave her post next month. Congressional Republican negotiators get a deal in principle on a tax-reform plan.

Dec. 14: Trump touts his work cutting back on regulations at a White House event and cuts a red ribbon with large scissors to symbolize the effort. In a controversial move, the Federal Communications Commission votes to repeal the Obama-era net neutrality rules.

Dec. 15: Trump rips the FBI just hours before he is to address graduates at the bureau’s training academy. “It’s a shame what’s happened with the FBI. But we’re going to rebuild the FBI; it’ll be bigger and better than ever,” he says about revelations that a top agent in the Clinton email probe texted messages critical of him. Trump also refuses to rule out pardoning Flynn. “We’ll see what happens,” he says.

Dec. 16: In a new fight, a Trump lawyer accuses Mueller of illegally obtaining transition team emails. Mueller obtains thousands of emails from the General Services Administration, where Trump transition staffers were housed, according to reports.

Dec. 17: Putin thanks Trump by phone for a CIA tip, which reportedly helped Russia thwart a terrorist plot. Trump tells reporters that he is not considering firing Mueller.

Dec. 18: Trump unveils his “America first” national security strategy in a speech. A Trump judicial nominee withdraws after an embarrassing hearing where he struggled to answer basic legal questions from a Republican senator.

Dec. 19: U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley says she will be “taking names” as the United Nations plans a General Assembly vote criticizing Trump’s Jerusalem decision.

Dec. 20: Congress passes a massive tax-reform bill. Lawmakers take a victory lap with a celebration at the White House. Trump hints at cutting foreign aid for countries that vote at the U.N. to condemn his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

(OPINION: We owe it to President Trump for being what we elected him to be — a successful CEO)

Dec. 21: “For the one-thousandth time, we have no intentions of firing Bob Mueller,” Sanders tells Fox News. Trump also praises “Fox and Friends” after a website calls it the “most influential” show, thanks to the president’s viewership. The U.N. votes to condemn Trump’s Jerusalem decision. Trump visits wounded service members at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Congress ends the year by passing a short-term spending bill to avoid a shutdown.

Dec. 22: Trump signs the GOP tax overhaul into law as well as a short-term spending bill to avoid a shutdown. He leaves Washington to spend the Christmas holiday at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Trump breaks with his predecessors by not holding a year-end press conference.

Dec. 23: Trump lashes out at FBI officials in tweets, suggesting that FBI Deputy Director McCabe may have been compromised by political donations to his wife from Democratic groups, and that James Comey is a leaker. Looking ahead to the midterms, Trump predicts “good” GOP candidates will “win BIG.”

Dec. 24: The president retweets a photo that appears to show the CNN logo in a splatter of blood on his shoe. Trump also holds a video call with troops abroad, praising their service and telling them “we’re winning.” In a lighter moment, the president and first lady take calls from children about Santa’s whereabouts. Trump tells one child the country has prosperity, and “now we want peace.” In a tweet, Trump says he was proud to have fought the “assault” against saying “Merry Christmas!” The president and first lady also attend a Christmas Eve service.

Dec. 25: In a video, the president wishes Americans a merry Christmas. The first lady celebrates the holiday by tweeting a Christmas selfie with a festive filter that includes a Santa hat and reindeer.

Dec. 26: On Twitter, Trump slams the FBI and Clinton over the Russia dossier, calling it “bogus” and a “pile of garbage.” The president also offers Kwanzaa greetings in a statement. “Together, let us celebrate during this joyous time the richness of the past and look with hope toward a brighter future.”

Dec. 27: Trump visits first responders in West Palm Beach, Fla., to thank them for their service. During the event, Trump says he has helped pass “a lot of legislation.” “I believe — and you would have to ask those folks who will know the real answer — we have more legislation passed, including the record was [former president] Harry Truman a long time ago. And we broke that record, so we got a lot done,” the president says. The Secret Service denies using a truck to block CNN from recording the president golfing during his holiday break.

Dec. 28: Trump knocks Vanity Fair on Twitter after the magazine apologizes for a video giving Clinton career advice. “Vanity Fair, which looks like it is on its last legs, is bending over backwards in apologizing for the minor hit they took at Crooked H,” the president tweets. The president also asks supporters to help pick the winner of a “Fake News Trophy.” In an interview with The New York Times, Trump says he believes Mueller will treat him fairly, but adds the Russia investigation makes the country “look very bad.” Trump again denies collusion but adds, “even if there was, it’s not a crime.” The president also predicts he will win in 2020 because “all forms of media will tank if I’m not in there … without me, their ratings are going down the tubes.” With the country facing record breaking cold temperatures, Trump also takes flak for tweeting that the U.S. could use some “good old Global Warming.”

Dec. 30: Trump defends his use of Twitter, saying it helps him fight back against a “VERY dishonest and unfair ‘press.’ ”

Dec. 31: Trump notes “big protests in Iran” and warns the country’s government the U.S. is watching its response. “The USA is watching very closely for human rights violations!” In the evening, Trump wishes Americans a Happy New Year. “As our Country rapidly grows stronger and smarter, I want to wish all of my friends, supporters, enemies, haters, and even the very dishonest Fake News Media, a Happy and Healthy New Year. 2018 will be a great year for America!”

(OPINION: Although some don’t want to admit it, Trump had a pretty good first year)

Jan. 1: In his first tweet of the year, Trump rips Pakistan. “The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools,” he tweets. In the evening, the president returns to Washington from Mar-a-Lago.

Jan. 2: Trump unleashes a flurry of tweets, 17, on his first full day back at the White House, taking credit for the safest year in commercial aviation, appearing to call for the Justice Department to “act” against Clinton adviser Huma Abedin and James Comey, threatening to cut off aid to the Palestinians and sharing plans for an event to unveil his “CORRUPT MEDIA AWARDS.” In the evening, Trump sparks an uproar after tweeting that he has a “much bigger & more powerful” nuclear launch button than Kim Jong Un. Critics call the tweet, directed at a nuclear-armed rival, rash and question his fitness as commander in chief.

Jan. 3: Excerpts from a forthcoming book by Michael Wolff include Bannon calling the meeting between Trump Jr. and a Russian lawyer “treasonous” and claiming there is “zero” chance Trump did not know about the meeting. Trump hits back in a scathing statement. “Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my presidency,” Trump says. “When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind.” In the evening, Trump announces he is disbanding his voter fraud panel after most states refused to share voter information.

Jan. 4: Reports claim Trump’s lawyers are trying to stop publication of Wolff’s book. The book’s publisher decides to move up sales of the book to Friday due to the large interest. Wolff thanks the president for the attention. The White House hits back hard at Wolff’s book and Bannon’s comments. Press secretary Sanders says Breitbart should consider cutting their ties with Bannon and dismisses the book as “pathetic” and riddled with errors. She also fires back at questions about the president’s mental fitness raised by the book as “disgraceful and laughable.” The president proposes a massive expansion of offshore drilling along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and suspends security aid for Pakistan. A New York Times report claims an aide to Attorney General Sessions asked a congressional aide for dirt on James Comey before his firing.

Jan. 5: Trump blasts the “Fake News Media” for unfair coverage as Wolff’s book goes on sale. “They should try winning an election. Sad!” he tweets. A fake parody of Wolff’s book claiming that Trump likes to watch a “gorilla channel” goes viral on Twitter and fools some media figures. Reports say Trump is seeking $18 billion for his border wall in budget negotiations. Trump heads to Camp David for a weekend summit with GOP leaders. Republican senators request a criminal probe into the author of the Trump dossier.

Jan. 6: Trump takes to Twitter early Saturday morning, blasting Wolff as a “loser” and claiming that “Sloppy Steve Bannon … cried when he got fired and begged for his job.” He also offers a stunning defense of his mental fitness, calling himself “a very stable genius” and “like, really smart.”

Jan. 7: White House senior adviser Stephen Miller has a contentious interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper. The two spar, with Miller dismissing Wolff’s book and criticizing CNN’s coverage of the president. Trump, on Twitter, praises Miller, saying he “destroyed” Tapper. A report from Axios says Trump is starting his day later, and scheduling periods of “executive time.” Bannon issues a new statement calling Trump Jr. a “patriot” and insisting his critical remarks in Wolff’s book were directed at Manafort. Bannon says his support for the president is “unwavering.” Oprah Winfrey sparks talk of a 2020 bid after delivering a moving speech during the Golden Globe awards.

Jan. 8: Reports say Trump’s lawyers are discussing a potential interview with Mueller, which could come in weeks. The White House says Trump would “welcome” the chance to run against Winfrey. The administration ends the protected status for 262,500 immigrants from El Salvador living in the U.S. Trump travels to Nashville, Tenn., to address the American Farm Bureau’s annual convention. He tells farmers he will secure them a better NAFTA deal. In the evening, Trump attends the first half of the NCAA college football championship game in Atlanta.

Jan. 9: Trump weighs in on speculation about a Winfrey presidential bid. “Yeah, I’ll beat Oprah. Oprah will be lots of fun,” he tells reporters, but adds, “I don’t think she’s going to run.” After a bipartisan meeting, Trump and lawmakers appear to agree to the parameters of a possible immigration deal which would protect DACA recipients, secure the Mexican border and change family-based migration rules and the visa lottery. But the White House later backs away from the deal. Bannon steps down from Breitbart News. A federal judge in San Francisco blocks Trump from ending the DACA program.

Jan. 10: The president slams Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) for releasing the transcript of an interview with the co-founder of the opposition research firm behind the controversial dossier on Trump. Trump calls Feinstein “sneaky” and says she should face a “tough primary.” Trump says he is open to talks with North Korea. In a prepared statement before a Cabinet meeting, Trump vows to take a “strong look” at libel laws in response to Wolff’s book. Trump says it is “unlikely” he will need to sit down with Mueller, declining to commit to an interview.

Jan. 11: Trump sparks confusion hours before the House is set to vote on legislation renewing the NSA’s warrantless surveillance program. The White House had endorsed the bill, but in an early morning tweet, Trump rips the “controversial” legislation. An hour and a half later, in a second tweet, he says he is in favor of the bill. The House later passes the bill. Trump faces bipartisan backlash after a report in The Washington Post claims he called Haiti, El Salvador and some African nations “shithole countries” during a meeting on immigration with senators. The White House initially does not deny the remarks. Shortly before midnight, Trump says he canceled a trip to London to open the new U.S. Embassy, claiming Obama made a “bad deal” and sold the former embassy site for “peanuts.” The decision to move the U.S. embassy began under former President George W. Bush.

Jan. 12: Trump addresses reports over the “shithole” remark. “The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used,” he tweets. Trump signs a proclamation honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) confirms the reports about Trump’s comments. Two GOP senators, though, say they do not recall Trump making the reported remarks during the meeting. Trump also dismisses a bipartisan deal on DACA as a “big step backward.” Trump undergoes his first physical in office. The White House physician says the president is in “excellent health.” The Wall Street Journal reports that a Trump lawyer paid to prevent an adult-film star from discussing an alleged consensual 2006 sexual encounter with Trump.

Jan. 13: As world leaders condemn Trump’s alleged remarks, he responds to the controversy with a two-word tweet: “America first!” Later in the day, a false emergency alert in Hawaii about an incoming ballistic missile sparks panic. State officials take nearly 40 minutes to correct the alert.

Jan. 14: Trump pushes back on criticism that he is racist over the alleged “shithole” countries remarks. “I’m not a racist,” he tells reporters. Trump also makes his first public comments on Hawaii’s false missile alert. “That was a state thing, but we are going to now get involved with them. I love that they took responsibility. They took total responsibility,” he says.

Jan. 15: On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Trump criticizes “Dickey Durbin,” saying the Illinois senator “totally misrepresented” his comments. “Deals can’t get made when there is no trust,” he tweets. Durbin says he stands by his remarks on the meeting and calls on the White House to release any recordings.

Jan. 16: The White House denies Trump is derailing immigration and spending talks, calling the controversy over the alleged “shithole” remark “an excuse” for Democrats unwilling to compromise. Trump later says he wants immigrants from “everywhere.” Bannon gives closed-door testimony before the House Intelligence Committee. The panel subpoenas Bannon after he declines to answer questions about the transition or his time in the White House. The White House physician declares Trump is in “excellent” health. He says he also performed a cognitive test at the president’s request and found him mentally fit for office.

Jan. 17: Reports claim Bannon’s attorney relayed questions from House investigators to the White House. The White House pushes back on claims it sought to limit the questions Bannon answered. In an interview, Trump touts his high scores on a cognitive test, suggesting he scored higher than prior presidents. In the evening, he unveils his “Fake News Awards,” with New York Times columnist Paul Krugman topping the list. A magazine publishes a 2011 interview with a former adult film star, claiming she had sex with Trump in 2006, when he was married to Melania Trump.

Jan. 18: Trump appears to break with House GOP leaders by criticizing their inclusion of funding for a children’s health program in a stopgap spending bill ahead of a close vote. The White House later reiterates support for the House short-term spending bill. Trump also pushes back on his chief of staff, Kelly, who reportedly told lawmakers that it was unlikely the border wall would be built. In a tweet, Trump insists his vision for a border wall “has never changed or evolved.” The administration also creates new protections for health-care workers who have religious objections to certain procedures.

Jan. 19: Trump’s first year in office ends with a government shutdown after Republicans and Democrats are unable to agree on a short-term funding bill.

 

Art: Al Goodwyn
Compiled by: Cole Gray, Dominic Mancini, Isaiah Seibert, Alexandra Aaron
Photos: Greg Nash, Getty Images
Video: Wes Jones, Adam DeRose, Lisa Ruhl
Art Direction: Ashley Perks
Edited by: Meghashyam Mali, Dustin Weaver, Linda Petre