View source for Presidency of Donald Trump

{{pp-protected|reason=AE action|expiry=06:49, January 28, 2021|small=yes}}
{{short description|administration beginning 2017}}
{{very long|rps=125|date=February 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{for timeline}}
{{Infobox presidency
| image = Donald Trump official portrait.jpg
| of = Donald Trump
| term_start = January 20, 2017
| term_end = present
| president = Donald Trump
| president_link = President of the United States
| cabinet = ''[[Cabinet of Donald Trump|See list]]''
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| election = [[2016 presidential election in the united states|2016]]
| seat = [[White House]]
| predecessor = Barack Obama
| successor = 
| seal = Seal of the President of the United States.svg
| seal_caption = Seal of the President
| website_url = http://donaldjtrump.com/
}}
{{Donald Trump series}}

The '''presidency of Donald Trump''' began at noon [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]] on January 20, 2017, when [[Donald Trump]] was [[Inauguration of Donald Trump|inaugurated]] as the [[List of Presidents of the United States|45th]] [[president of the United States]], succeeding [[Barack Obama]]. A [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], Trump was a businessman and [[reality television]] personality from [[New York City]] at the time of his [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 presidential election]] victory over [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee [[Hillary Clinton]]. While Trump lost the [[popular vote (representative democracy)|popular vote]] by nearly 3 million votes, he won the [[Electoral College (United States)|Electoral College]] vote, 304 to 227,<ref>{{cite web|title=2016 Presidential Electoral and Popular Vote|url=https://transition.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2016/federalelections2016.pdf#page=11|publisher=[[Federal Election Commission]]|date=March 1, 2018|accessdate=May 28, 2018}}</ref> in a presidential contest that American intelligence agencies believe was targeted by [[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections|a Russian sabotage campaign]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Naylor |first1=Brian |title=Intelligence Chiefs 'Stand More Resolutely' Behind Finding Of Russia Election Hacking |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/01/05/508355408/intelligence-chiefs-stand-more-resolutely-behind-finding-of-russia-election-hack |accessdate=8 January 2019 |work=NPR.org |agency=NPR News |date=5 January 2017 |language=en}}</ref> By the end of his first year in office, [[Opinion polling on the Donald Trump administration|opinion polls]] showed Trump to be the least popular president in modern history.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-year-in-trumps-approval-rating/|title=How Trump Ranks In Popularity vs. Past Presidents |work=[[FiveThirtyEight]]|author=[[Harry Enten]]|date=January 19, 2018|accessdate=January 21, 2018}}</ref> 

Trump repealed [[Environmental issues in the United States|environmental protections]] intended to address [[Global warming|anthropogenic climate change]]. He ended the [[Clean Power Plan]], [[United States withdrawal from the Paris Agreement|withdrew]] from the [[Paris Agreement]] on [[climate change mitigation]], and urged for subsidies to increase fossil fuel production,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/01/climate/trump-coal-nuclear-power.html|title=Trump Orders a Lifeline for Struggling Coal and Nuclear Plants|last=Plumer|first=Brad|date=June 1, 2018|website=[[New York Times]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref> calling man-made climate change a hoax. Trump failed in his efforts to repeal the [[Affordable Care Act]], but signed legislation eliminating the individual mandate provision. He enacted [[Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act|a partial repeal of the Dodd-Frank Act]] that had previously imposed stricter constraints on banks in the aftermath of the [[2008 financial crisis]] and withdrew from the [[Trans-Pacific Partnership]]. Trump signed the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017]], which lowered corporate and estate taxes, and most individual income tax rates on a temporary basis. 

Trump's [[Intervention (international law)|interventionist]] and [[Unilateralism|unilateralist]] foreign policy drew the United States closer to [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Israel]].  He [[2017 United States–Saudi Arabia arms deal|agreed to sell 110 billion dollars of arms to Saudi Arabia]], [[United States recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli capital|recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel]], [[United States withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action|withdrew the United States from the Iran Deal]], and issued [[Executive Order 13769|a controversial executive order]] denying entry into the U.S. to citizens from several Muslim-majority countries. [[Mexico–United States barrier#Trump administration|Trump’s demand for federal funding of a U.S.–Mexico border wall]] resulted in [[United States federal government shutdown of 2018–2019|the 2018–2019 government shutdown]] (the longest in American history) and followed with Trump's declaration of a [[National Emergency Concerning the Southern Border of the United States|national emergency regarding the U.S. southern border]]. He ended the [[Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals]] (DACA) program. Trump also appointed [[Neil Gorsuch]] and [[Brett Kavanaugh]] to the Supreme Court. 

After Trump [[Dismissal of James Comey|dismissed]] FBI Director [[James Comey]] in 2017, a [[special counsel]] was appointed to take over an existing FBI [[Special Counsel investigation (2017–present)|investigation]] into [[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections|Russian interference in the 2016 elections]] and related matters, including coordination or [[Links between Trump associates and Russian officials|links]] between the [[Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016|Trump campaign]] and the [[Government of Russia|Russian government]]. The investigation has resulted in several [[Criminal charges brought in the Special Counsel investigation (2017–present)|indictments and guilty pleas]] involving Trump campaign advisors and staff.

==2016 presidential election==
{{main|United States presidential election, 2016}}
{{further|United States elections, 2016|Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016|Republican Party presidential primaries, 2016|2016 Republican National Convention}}
[[File:ElectoralCollege2016.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|Trump defeated Democrat [[Hillary Clinton]] in the 2016 presidential election, taking 304 of the 538 electoral votes. Five other individuals received electoral votes from [[Faithless electors in the United States presidential election, 2016|faithless electors]].
]]
On 9 November 2016, Republicans [[Donald Trump]] of New York and Governor [[Mike Pence]] of Indiana won the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 election]], defeating Democrats former Secretary of State [[Hillary Clinton]] of New York and Senator [[Tim Kaine]] of Virginia. Trump won 304 electoral votes compared to Clinton's 227, though Clinton won a [[Plurality (voting)|plurality]] of the popular vote.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/19/us/elections/electoral-college-results.html|title=A Historic Number of Electors Defected, and Most Were Supposed to Vote for Clinton|date=December 19, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

Trump made false claims that massive amounts of [[Electoral fraud|voter fraud]] – up to 5 million illegal votes – in Clinton's favor occurred during the election, and he called for a major investigation after taking office. Numerous studies have found no evidence of widespread voter fraud.<ref name="merica1">{{cite news |last1=Merica|first1=Dan|last2=Bradner|first2=Eric|last3=Schleifer|first3=Theodore|title=Trump calls for 'major investigation' into voter fraud|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/25/politics/trump-calls-for-major-investigation-into-voter-fraud/|publisher=CNN|date=January 25, 2017|accessdate=January 25, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/voter-fraud|title=Myth of Voter Fraud - Brennan Center for Justice|website=www.brennancenter.org|accessdate=July 28, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2018/jan/04/donald-trump/donald-trump-says-theres-substantial-evidence-vote/|title=Trump wrong on substantial evidence of voter fraud|publisher=Politifact|accessdate=July 28, 2018}}</ref>

==Transition period and inauguration==
{{main|Presidential transition of Donald Trump|Inauguration of Donald Trump}}
[[File:Shinzō Abe and Donald Trump (3).jpg|thumb|Japanese Prime Minister [[Shinzō Abe]] and President-elect Donald Trump, November 17, 2016]] 
Prior to the election, Trump named [[Chris Christie]] as the leader of his [[Presidential transition of Donald Trump|transition team]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Bender|first=Michael C.|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-transition-team-planning-first-months-in-office-1478699360|title=Donald Trump Transition Team Planning First Months in Office |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=November 10, 2016|accessdate=November 10, 2016}}</ref> After the election, Vice President-elect Mike Pence replaced Christie as chairman of the transition team, while Christie became a vice-chairman alongside Senator [[Jeff Sessions]] of Alabama, retired Army Lt. Gen. [[Michael T. Flynn]], former New York City Mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]], former presidential candidate [[Ben Carson]], and former House Speaker [[Newt Gingrich]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Pence will lead Trump transition|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/11/politics/pence-will-lead-trump-transition/index.html|publisher=CNN|accessdate=November 11, 2016}}</ref> Trump's transition team launched the website [[greatagain.gov]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lawler|first1=Richard|title=Donald Trump's 'Transition Team' launches GreatAgain.gov|url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/09/this-is-happening/|website=Engadget|date=November 9, 2016|accessdate=November 11, 2016}}</ref>

Trump was [[Inauguration of Donald Trump|inaugurated]] on January 20, 2017. Accompanied by his wife, [[Melania Trump]], Donald Trump was sworn in by [[Chief Justice of the United States|Chief Justice]] [[John Roberts]].<ref name="inaugurated1">{{cite news |last1=Fahrenthold|first1=David |authorlink=David Fahrenthold |last2=Rucker|first2=Philip|last3=Wagner|first3=John|title=Donald Trump is sworn in as president, vows to end 'American carnage'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-to-be-sworn-in-marking-a-transformative-shift-in-the-countrys-leadership/2017/01/20/954b9cac-de7d-11e6-ad42-f3375f271c9c_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 20, 2017|accessdate=January 20, 2017}}</ref> In his seventeen-minute inaugural address, Trump made a broad condemnation of contemporary America, pledging to end "American carnage" and saying that America's "wealth, strength and confidence has dissipated".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-inauguration-speech-analysis-20170120-story.html|title=Raw, angry and aggrieved, President Trump's inaugural speech does little to heal political wounds|last=Barabak|first=Mark Z.|date=January 20, 2018|work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=February 21, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/20/donald-trump-transition-of-power-president-first-speech|title='American carnage': Donald Trump's vision casts shadow over day of pageantry|last=Pilkington|first=Ed|date=January 21, 2018|work=The Guardian|accessdate=February 21, 2018}}</ref> Trump repeated the "America First" slogan that he had used in the campaign and promised that "[e]very decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American factories".<ref name="inaugurated1"/> At age seventy, Trump surpassed Ronald Reagan and became the [[List of presidents of the United States by age|oldest person]] to assume the presidency,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-oldest-president-us-history-2016-11|title=Donald Trump is oldest president elected in US history|publisher=Business Insider|date=November 9, 2016|accessdate=November 10, 2016}}</ref> and the first without any prior government or military experience.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/11/11/13587532/donald-trump-no-experience|title=Donald Trump is the only US president ever with no political or military experience|publisher=Vox|date=January 23, 2017|accessdate=February 22, 2017}}</ref>

==Personnel==
{{Trump cabinet infobox}}
{{Further|Political appointments of Donald Trump}}

The Trump administration has been characterized by high turnover, particularly among White House staff. By the end of Trump's first year in office, 34 percent of his original staff had resigned, been fired, or been reassigned.<ref name="Trimble">{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2017-12-28/trumps-white-house-has-highest-turnover-rate-in-40-years |title=Trump White House Has Highest Turnover in 40 Years |last=Trimble |first=Megan |date=December 28, 2017 |work=U.S. News |accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> {{As of|2018|3|pre=early}}, 43 percent of senior White House positions had turned over. Both figures set a record for recent presidents{{emdash}}more change in the first 13 months than his four immediate predecessors saw in their first two years.<ref name="Keith">{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/03/07/591372397/white-house-staff-turnover-was-already-record-setting-then-more-advisers-left |title=White House Staff Turnover Was Already Record-Setting. Then More Advisers Left |last=Keith |first=Tamara |work=NPR |accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref>

On September 5, 2018, ''The New York Times'' published an article entitled "I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/05/opinion/trump-white-house-anonymous-resistance.html|title=Opinion - I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=September 6, 2018}}</ref> written by an anonymous senior official in the Trump administration. The author asserted that "many of the senior officials in his own administration are working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations." The author continued, "we believe our first duty is to this country, and the president continues to act in a manner that is detrimental to the health of our republic," adding, "The root of the problem is the president’s amorality." Trump said of the author on Twitter that "the Times must, for National Security purposes, turn him/her over to government at once!"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1037485664433070080|title=Donald J. Trump on Twitter|publisher=[[Twitter]]|accessdate=September 6, 2018}}</ref>

===Cabinet===
{{Main|Cabinet of Donald Trump}}
{{further|Formation of Donald Trump's cabinet}}
Days after the presidential election, Trump announced that he had selected RNC Chairman [[Reince Priebus]] as his [[White House Chief of Staff|Chief of Staff]], a position that does not require Senate confirmation.<ref name="mshear1">{{cite news |last1=Shear|first1=Michael |last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie |author2link=Maggie Haberman |last3=Rappeport|first3=Alan |title=Donald Trump Picks Reince Priebus as Chief of Staff and Stephen Bannon as Strategist|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/14/us/politics/reince-priebus-chief-of-staff-donald-trump.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 13, 2016|accessdate=November 14, 2016}}</ref> Priebus and Senior Counselor [[Steve Bannon]] were named as "equal partners" within the [[White House]] power structure, although Bannon was not an official member of the Cabinet.<ref name="ktumulty1">{{cite news |last1=Tumulty |first1=Karen |authorlink=Karen Tumulty |title=Priebus faces daunting task bringing order to White House that will feed off chaos|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/priebus-faces-daunting-task-bringing-order-to-white-house-that-will-feed-off-chaos/2017/01/01/5a2ba9e4-cd31-11e6-a87f-b917067331bb_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 1, 2016|accessdate=January 2, 2017}}</ref> Aside from the vice president and the chief of staff, the remaining [[Cabinet of the United States|Cabinet-level positions]] required Senate confirmation. On November 18, Trump announced his first Cabinet designee, choosing Alabama Senator [[Jeff Sessions]] for the position of Attorney General.<ref name="stokols18nov2016">{{cite news |last1=Stokols|first1=Eli|title=What Trump's early picks say about his administration|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/trump-cabinet-selections-231617|newspaper=Politico|date=November 18, 2016|accessdate=November 18, 2016}}</ref> Trump continued to name designees for various positions in November, December, and January. Former Georgia Governor [[Sonny Perdue]] was announced as the nominee for [[United States Secretary of Agriculture|Secretary of Agriculture]] on January 19, completing Trump's initial slate of Cabinet nominees.<ref name="perdue1">{{cite news |last1=Mooney|first1=Chris|last2=Wagner|first2=John|title=Trump picks Sonny Perdue for agriculture secretary|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-picks-sonny-perdue-for-agriculture-secretary/2017/01/18/a26abbc0-ddec-11e6-ad42-f3375f271c9c_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 19, 2017|accessdate=January 19, 2017}}</ref>

In February 2017, Trump formally announced his cabinet structure, elevating the [[Director of National Intelligence]] and [[Director of the Central Intelligence Agency|Director of the CIA]] to cabinet level. The [[Council of Economic Advisers#Chairmen and members|Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers]], which had been added to the cabinet by Obama in 2009, was removed from the cabinet. Trump's cabinet consists of 24 members, more than Barack Obama at 23 or George W. Bush at 21.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/president-trump-announces-his-full-cabinet-roster-044552214.html|title=President Trump announces his full Cabinet roster|accessdate=February 9, 2017}}</ref> Trump is the first incoming president to benefit from the 2013 [[Filibuster in the United States Senate#Changes in 2013|filibuster reform]], which eased the use of [[cloture]] on executive and lower-level judicial nominees, reducing the amount required to invoke from an [[Absolute majority|absolute]] [[supermajority]] of three-fifths to a bare [[majority]].<ref name="cillfilibusterreform">{{cite news |last1=Cillizza|first1=Chris |authorlink=Chris Cillizza |title=How Harry Reid caused Donald Trump's very conservative Cabinet|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/05/looking-for-someone-to-blame-for-trumps-cabinet-try-harry-reid/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 5, 2017|accessdate=January 5, 2017}}</ref> His final initial Cabinet-level nominee, U.S. Trade Representative [[Robert Lighthizer]], was confirmed on May 12, 2017.<ref name="lighthizer1">{{cite news |last1=Phippen|first1=J. Weston|title=The Senate confirms Trump's NAFTA Negotiator|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2017/05/senate-confirm-robert-lighthizer/526419/|accessdate=May 12, 2017|work=The Atlantic|date=May 11, 2017}}</ref>

In July 2017, [[John F. Kelly]], who had served as [[United States Secretary of Homeland Security|Secretary of Homeland Security]], replaced Priebus as Chief of Staff.<ref name="bender1">{{cite news |last1=Bender|first1=Bryan|last2=Hesson|first2=Ted|last3=Beasley|first3=Stephanie|title=How John Kelly got West Wing cleanup duty|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/28/who-is-white-house-chief-of-staff-john-kelly-241106|accessdate=July 29, 2017|newspaper=Politico|date=July 28, 2017}}</ref> Bannon was fired in August 2017, leaving Kelly as one of the most powerful individuals in the White House.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rucker|first1=Philip|last2=Parker|first2=Ashley|title=During a summer of crisis, Trump chafes against criticism and new controls|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/during-a-summer-of-crisis-trump-chafes-against-criticism-and-new-controls/2017/08/31/8fb32d72-8d97-11e7-91d5-ab4e4bb76a3a_story.html|accessdate=April 5, 2018|publisher=Washington Post|date=August 31, 2017}}</ref> In September 2017, [[Tom Price (American politician)|Tom Price]] resigned as [[United States Secretary of Health and Human Services|Secretary of Health and Human Services]] amid criticism over [[Tom Price private jet scandal|his use of private charter jets]] for his personal travel. [[Don J. Wright]] replaced Price as acting Secretary of Health and Human Services.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/09/29/trump-to-decide-friday-night-whether-to-fire-hhs-secretary-price/|title=Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price resigns after criticism for taking charter flights at taxpayer expense|last=Goldstein|first=Amy|date=September 29, 2017|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=September 29, 2017|last2=Wagner|first2=John}}</ref> [[Kirstjen Nielsen]] succeeded Kelly as Secretary in December 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/12/06/kirstjen-m-nielsen-sworn-sixth-homeland-security-secretary |title=Kirstjen M. Nielsen Sworn-in as the Sixth Homeland Security Secretary |date=December 6, 2017 |website=Department of Homeland Security |accessdate=December 6, 2017}}</ref> Secretary of State [[Rex Tillerson]] was fired via a tweet in March 2018; Trump appointed [[Mike Pompeo]] to replace Tillerson and [[Gina Haspel]] to succeed Pompeo as the Director of the CIA.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mangan|first1=Dan|title=Rex Tillerson found out he was fired as secretary of State from President Donald Trump's tweet|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/13/tillerson-learned-he-was-fired-from-trumps-tweet.html|accessdate=April 5, 2018|publisher=CNBC|date=March 13, 2018}}</ref> In the wake of a series of controversies, [[Scott Pruitt]] resigned as [[Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency|Administrator]] of the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] in July 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dennis |first1=Brady |last2=Eilperin |first2=Juliet |title=Scott Pruitt steps down as EPA head after ethics, management scandals |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/trump-epa-head-steps-down-after-wave-of-ethics-management-scandals/2018/07/05/39f4251a-6813-11e8-bea7-c8eb28bc52b1_story.html |accessdate=July 5, 2018 |publisher=Washington Post |date=July 5, 2018}}</ref> Deputy Administrator Andrew Wheeler is slated to serve as acting administrator beginning July 9, 2018. At the time of Pruitt's resignation, he is the fifth member of Trump's cabinet to resign or be fired since Trump took office.<ref name=Hersher-180705>{{cite web | url=https://www.npr.org/2018/07/05/594078923/scott-pruitt-out-at-epa | title=Scott Pruitt Out At EPA | work=[[NPR]] | date=July 5, 2018 | accessdate=July 5, 2018 | first=Rebecca | last=Hersher | first2=Brett | last2=Neelyin}}</ref><ref name="CBS Pruitt resign">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/scott-pruitt-resigns-epa-andrew-wheeler-interim-today-2018-07-05-live-updates/ |title=EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt resigns |last=News |first=CBS |date=July 5, 2018 |website=cbsnews.com |accessdate=July 5, 2018}}</ref>

Since taking office, Trump has made two [[Unsuccessful nominations to the Cabinet of the United States|unsuccessful cabinet nominations]]. [[Andrew Puzder]] was nominated for the position of Secretary of Labor in 2017, while [[Ronny Jackson]], who had previously served as the [[Physician to the President|president's physician]], was nominated as Secretary of Veterans Affairs in 2018. Each withdrew their name from consideration after facing opposition in the Senate.<ref name="cforan1">{{cite news|last1=Foran|first1=Claire|last2=Summers|first2=Juana|last3=Diamond|first3=Jeremy|title=Ronny Jackson withdraws as VA secretary nominee|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/26/politics/ronny-jackson-va-nominee/index.html|accessdate=May 2, 2018|publisher=CNN|date=April 26, 2018}}</ref>

===Notable departures===
{{main|List of Trump administration dismissals and resignations}}
In the first 13 months of the administration of Donald Trump, the White House staff had a higher turnover than the previous four presidents had in the first two years of their respective administrations. By March 2018, White House staff turnover was estimated at 43%.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Keith|first1=Tamara|title=White House Staff Turnover Was Already Record-Setting. Then More Advisers Left|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/03/07/591372397/white-house-staff-turnover-was-already-record-setting-then-more-advisers-left|work=NPR|date=March 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Dunn Tenpas|first1=Kathryn|title=Why is Trump's staff turnover higher than the 5 most recent presidents?|url=https://www.brookings.edu/research/why-is-trumps-staff-turnover-higher-than-the-5-most-recent-presidents/|website=Brookings|accessdate=March 13, 2018|date=January 19, 2018}}</ref>

====Firing of Michael Flynn====

On February 13, 2017, Trump fired Michael Flynn from the post of National Security Adviser<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shear|first1=Michael|title=How the White House Explains Waiting 18 Days to Fire Michael Flynn|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/us/politics/michael-flynn-russia.html|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=August 10, 2017}}</ref> on grounds that he had lied to Vice President Pence about his communications with the Russian Ambassador to the United States, [[Sergey Kislyak]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Boyer|first1=Dave|title=Trump made right call in firing Flynn, White House says|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/27/white-house-trump-made-right-call-firing-flynn/|newspaper=The Washington Times|accessdate=August 10, 2017}}</ref> Flynn was fired amidst the ongoing controversy concerning [[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections]] and accusations that Trump's electoral team colluded with Russian agents. In May 2017, [[Sally Yates]] testified before the Senate Judiciary's Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism that she had told White House Counsel Don McGahn in late January 2017 that Flynn had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other administration officials and warned that Flynn was potentially compromised by Russia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sally Yates says she warned White House that Flynn was a blackmail risk|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/08/politics/sally-yates-senate-testimony/index.html|publisher=CNN|accessdate=August 10, 2017}}</ref> Flynn remained in his post for another two weeks and was fired after ''[[The Washington Post]]'' broke the story. Yates was fired by Donald Trump on January 30 because "she defiantly refused to defend his executive order closing the nation's borders to refugees and people from predominantly Muslim countries".<ref name=NYT-Shear>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/30/us/politics/trump-immigration-ban-memo.html|title=Trump Fires Acting Attorney General Who Defied Him|last=Shear|first=Michael D.|last2=Landler|first2=Mark|author2link=Mark Landler|last3=Apuzzo|first3=Matt|author3link=Matt Apuzzo|last4=Lichtblau|first4=Eric|author4link=Eric Lichtblau|date=January 30, 2017|accessdate=October 19, 2017}}</ref>

====Firing of James Comey====
{{Main|Dismissal of James Comey}}

On May 9, 2017, Trump fired FBI Director [[James Comey]] citing Comey's handling of the [[Hillary Clinton email controversy]].<ref name="comeyfired1">{{cite news|last1=Shear|first1=Michael D.|last2=Apuzzo|first2=Matt|author2link=Matt Apuzzo|title=F.B.I. Director James Comey Is Fired by Trump|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/us/politics/james-comey-fired-fbi.html|accessdate=May 12, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 9, 2017}}</ref> Trump had relied on a memo written by Deputy Attorney General [[Rod Rosenstein]] that criticized Comey for publicly announcing that the case involving Hillary Clinton's emails would not be prosecuted.<ref name="rosensteinmemo1">{{cite news|last1=Savage|first1=Charlie|authorlink=Charlie Savage|title=Deputy Attorney General's Memo Breaks Down Case Against Comey|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/09/us/politics/comey-fbi-memo-rod-rosenstein.html|accessdate=May 12, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 9, 2017}}</ref> Many Trump critics accused him of using Comey's handling of the Clinton investigation as a pretext for Comey's dismissal; instead, these critics argue that Comey was dismissed due to his investigation into the Trump administration's ties with Russia.<ref name="comeypretextall1">{{cite news|last1=Savage|first1=Charlie|authorlink=Charlie Savage|title=Critics Say Trump Broke the Law in Firing Comey. Proving It Isn't So Easy.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/11/us/politics/obstruction-of-justice-fbi.html|accessdate=May 12, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 11, 2017}}</ref> Days after firing Comey, Trump stated that he would have fired Comey regardless of Rosenstein's recommendations, describing Comey as a "showboat".<ref name="showboat1">{{cite news|last1=Conway|first1=Madeline|last2=Lima|first2=Cristiano|title=Trump says it was his call to fire 'showboat' Comey|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/11/trump-on-firing-showboat-james-comey-238271|access-date=May 12, 2017|newspaper=Politico|date=May 11, 2017}}</ref> In the aftermath of Comey's firing, various news outlets compared the firing to the "[[Saturday Night Massacre]]", a [[constitutional crisis]] that occurred during [[Richard Nixon]]'s administration.<ref name="gkrieg1">{{cite news|last1=Krieg|first1=Gregory|title=Is this a constitutional crisis? 'Still no' but...|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/12/politics/trump-comey-constitutional-crisis/|accessdate=May 12, 2017|publisher=CNN|date=May 12, 2017}}</ref><ref name="cc2">{{cite news|last1=Rosen|first1=Jeffrey|authorlink=Jeffrey Rosen|title=Does Comey's Dismissal Fit the Definition of a Constitutional Crisis?|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/05/president-trump-james-comey-constitutional-crisis/526299/|accessdate=May 12, 2017|work=The Atlantic|date=May 11, 2017}}</ref><ref name="cc3">{{cite news|title=Is This a Constitutional Crisis?|url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/05/09/comey-trump-firing-is-this-a-constitutional-crisis-215118|accessdate=May 12, 2017|newspaper=Politico|date=May 9, 2017}}</ref>

Comey had previously prepared seven detailed memos, four of which contained [[Classified information in the United States|classified]] information, documenting most of his meetings and telephone conversations with President Trump.<ref name= Schmidt/> He provided some of the memos to his friend [[Daniel Richman]], who then released the substance of the memos to the press.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/04/23/comey-the-memos-and-the-question-of-whats-classified/|title=Analysis &#124; There’s still no evidence Comey leaked classified information to the media|website=Washington Post}}</ref> Comey later told the Senate Intelligence Committee that he created written records immediately after his conversations with Trump because he "was honestly concerned that he [Trump] might lie about the nature of our meeting".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/comey-worried-trump-might-lie-about-meetings-2017-6|title=COMEY: I documented my meetings with Trump because 'I was honestly concerned that he might lie' about them|last=Bertrand|first=Natasha|date=June 8, 2017|publisher=Business Insider|access-date=July 19, 2017}}</ref> In his memo about a February 14, 2017, Oval Office meeting, Comey says Trump attempted to persuade him to abort the investigation into General Flynn.<ref name="Schmidt" >{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/16/us/politics/james-comey-trump-flynn-russia-investigation.html|title=Comey Memo Says Trump Asked Him to End Flynn Investigation|last=Schmidt|first=Michael S.|authorlink=Michael S. Schmidt|date=May 16, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 16, 2017}}</ref>

====Resignation of Jim Mattis====

On December 19, 2018, Trump abruptly announced that the remaining 2,000 American troops in Syria would be withdrawn, having overruled the recommendations of his military and civilian advisors. Mattis met with Trump the following day in a final effort to persuade the president to reconsider the decision, to no avail. He then submitted his resignation to Trump, effective February 28, 2019. His resignation letter contained language that appeared to criticize Trump's worldview, praising NATO, which Trump has often derided, as well as the Defeat-ISIS coalition that Trump had just decided to abandon. Mattis also stated the need for "treating allies with respect and also being clear-eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors", and remaining "resolute and unambiguous" against authoritarian states such as China and Russia. He wrote that Trump has "the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/a-sad-day-for-america-washington-fears-a-trump-unchecked-by-mattis/2018/12/20/faef8da0-04ac-11e9-b6a9-0aa5c2fcc9e4_story.html|title=‘A sad day for America’: Washington fears a Trump unchecked by Mattis|website=Washington Post}}</ref>

===Judicial nominees===
{{Further|Donald Trump Supreme Court candidates|List of federal judges appointed by Donald Trump|Donald Trump judicial appointment controversies}}

On January 31, 2017, Trump [[Neil Gorsuch Supreme Court nomination|nominated]] federal appellate judge [[Neil Gorsuch]] to the Supreme Court to fill the vacancy which arose after the February 2016 death of [[Antonin Scalia]] and which had not been filled under the then-president Obama because of Republican obstruction.<ref name=":39">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-27/mcconnell-cements-a-legacy-for-trump-with-reshaped-u-s-courts|title=McConnell Cements a Legacy for Trump With Reshaped Courts|date=April 27, 2018|work=Bloomberg.com|accessdate=May 10, 2018}}</ref> Gorsuch's appointment was confirmed on April 7, 2017, in a 54–45 vote.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/us/politics/neil-gorsuch-supreme-court.html|title=Neil Gorsuch Confirmed by Senate as Supreme Court Justice|last=Liptak|first=Adam |authorlink=Adam Liptak |date=April 7, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=April 7, 2017|last2=Flegenheimer|first2=Matt}}</ref> Prior to this nomination, the support of three-fifths of the Senate had effectively been required for the confirmation of Supreme Court nominees due to the Senate [[Filibuster in the United States Senate|filibuster]]. However, the Senate's Republican majority changed the rules for the filibuster via the so-called "[[nuclear option]]," and the confirmation of Supreme Court justices now requires only a simple majority vote.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/06/us/politics/neil-gorsuch-supreme-court-senate.html|title=Senate Republicans Deploy 'Nuclear Option' to Clear Path for Gorsuch|last=Flegenheimer|first=Matt|date=April 6, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=April 7, 2017}}</ref>

In June 2018, Associate Justice [[Anthony Kennedy]], widely considered to be the key swing vote on the Supreme Court, announced his retirement.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pramuk |first1=Jacob |last2=Steinberg |first2=Marty |title=Anthony Kennedy retiring from Supreme Court |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/27/anthony-kennedy-retiring-from-supreme-court.html |accessdate=August 26, 2018 |publisher=CNBC |date=June 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Robert |title=Justice Kennedy, the pivotal swing vote on the Supreme Court, announces his retirement |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/justice-kennedy-the-pivotal-swing-vote-on-the-supreme-court-announces-retirement/2018/06/27/a40a8c64-5932-11e7-a204-ad706461fa4f_story.html |accessdate=August 26, 2018 |publisher=Washington Post |date=June 27, 2018}}</ref> On July 9, 2018, Trump [[Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination|nominated]] [[Brett Kavanaugh]], a judge on the [[United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit|D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals]], to fill the vacancy caused by Associate Justice [[Anthony Kennedy]] impending retirement.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump Announces Brett Kavanaugh as Supreme Court Nominee: Full Video and Transcript |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/09/us/politics/trump-supreme-court-announcement-transcript.html |accessdate=August 26, 2018 |publisher=New York Times |date=July 9, 2018}}</ref>  During the [[Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination|confirmation process]], Kavanaugh was accused of sexually assaulting [[Christine Blasey Ford]], currently a professor in clinical psychology at [[Palo Alto University]], while they were both in high school.  On October 6, the Senate voted 50–48 to confirm Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45774174|title=Brett Kavanaugh confirmation: Victory for Trump in Supreme Court battle|publisher=BBC|date=7 October 2018}}</ref>

By November 2018, Trump had appointed 29 judges to the [[United States courts of appeals]], more than any other president in the first two years of a presidential term.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cancryn |first1=Adam |title=Even if Democrats win, Trump has them beat on the courts |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/05/trump-courts-elections-judges-960754 |accessdate=January 12, 2019 |publisher=Politico |date=November 5, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wheeler |first1=Russell |title=Appellate Court vacancies may be scarce in coming years, limiting Trump’s impact |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2018/12/06/trump-impact-on-appellate-courts/ |accessdate=January 12, 2019 |publisher=Brookings |date=December 6, 2018}}</ref> Compared to President Obama, Trump has nominated fewer non-white and female judges.<ref name="jgramclich1">{{cite news|last1=Gramlich|first1=John|title=Trump's appointed judges are a less diverse group than Obama's|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/03/20/trumps-appointed-judges-are-a-less-diverse-group-than-obamas/|accessdate=May 11, 2018|publisher=Pew Research Center|date=March 20, 2018}}</ref> ''Bloomberg News'' noted that Trump's judicial nominees tended to be young and favored by the conservative [[Federalist Society]].<ref name=":39" />

==First year==
{{See also|First 100 days of Donald Trump's presidency|Timeline of the presidency of Donald Trump}}

One of Trump's major first year accomplishments, made as part of a "100-day [[Promise|pledge]]", was the confirmation of [[Neil Gorsuch]] as an [[Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States]]. Structurally, President Trump had the advantage of a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] majority in the U.S. [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and the [[United States Senate|Senate]], but was unable to fulfill his major pledges in his first 100 days and had an [[United States presidential approval rating|approval rating]] of between 40 and 42 percent, "the lowest for any first-term president at this point in his tenure".<ref name="PBS_T100_First100_04_24" /> Although he tried to make progress on one of his key economic policies—the dismantling of the [[Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act]]—his failure to repeal the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] (ACA) in the first 100 days was a major setback. He reversed his position on a number of issues including labeling China as a [[Currency intervention|currency manipulator]],<ref name="FOX_T100_WSJ">{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/12/trump-says-wont-label-china-currency-manipulator.html |title=Trump says he won't label China a currency manipulator |date=April 12, 2017 |accessdate=April 28, 2017 |work=Fox News via AP}}</ref><ref name="WSJ_T100_TWEXB">{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-says-dollar-getting-too-strong-wont-label-china-currency-manipulator-1492024312 |title=Trump Says Dollar 'Getting Too Strong,' Won't Label China a Currency Manipulator: President leaves open possibility of renominating Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen |author1=Gerard Baker |author2=Carol E. Lee |author3=Michael C. Bender |last-author-amp=yes |date=April 12, 2017 |accessdate=April 28, 2017 |location=Washington}}</ref> NATO, launching the [[2017 Shayrat missile strike]] without [[Declaration of war by the United States|congressional approval]], the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] (NAFTA), renomination of [[Janet Yellen]] as [[Chair of the Federal Reserve]],<ref name="FOX_T100_WSJ" /><ref name="WSJ_T100_TWEXB" /> and the nomination of [[Export–Import Bank of the United States|Export-Import Bank]] directors. Supporters claimed that as the first person in history to have been elected President who has never held any military, political, or government office of any type, he therefore faced a steep [[learning curve]].<ref name="PBS_T100_First100_04_24">{{cite news |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/episode/pbs-newshour-full-episode-april-24-2017/ |work=PBS Newshour |title=What have we learned from President Trump's first 100 days? |date=April 24, 2017 |accessdate= April 27, 2017}}</ref>

Trump signed 24 [[Executive order (United States)|executive orders]] in his first 100 days, the most [[List of executive actions by Donald Trump|executive orders]] of any President since [[World War II]].<ref name="PBS_T100_First100_04_26">{{cite news |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/trumps-first-100-days-compares-past-presidencies/|title=How Trump's first 100 days compares to past presidencies|date=April 26, 2017 |accessdate=April 26, 2017}}</ref> He also signed 22 [[presidential memoranda]], 20 [[presidential proclamation]]s, and 28 [[Bill (United States Congress)|bills]].<ref name="politifact_2017" /> About a dozen of those bills roll-back regulations finalized during the last months of his immediate predecessor [[Barack Obama]]'s presidency using the [[Congressional Review Act]].<ref name="theatlantic_T100_cra">{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/04/barack-obamas-seven-year-presidency/521928/ |title=Barack Obama's Seven-Year Presidency: The lone legislative accomplishment of Donald Trump's first 100 days will likely be erasing the final months of his predecessor's tenure|last=Berman|first=Russell|publisher=''The Atlantic'' |accessdate=April 6, 2017|date=April 6, 2017}}</ref><ref name="RPC_T100_CRA">{{cite web |url=https://www.rpc.senate.gov/cra-tracking |title=CRA Tracking |date=nd |accessdate=April 18, 2017|agency=[[Senate Republican Policy Committee]] (CRA)}}</ref><ref name="theatlantic_T100_planned_parenthood">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/03/pence-congress-planned-parenthood/521349/ |title=Mike Pence Brings Congress One Step Closer to Defunding Planned Parenthood: The vice president broke a tie on a Senate vote to overturn a regulation that protects the clinics |last=Green |first=Emma |date=March 30, 2017 |accessdate=April 10, 2017 |magazine=[[The Atlantic]]}}</ref> Most of the other bills are "small-scale measures that appoint personnel, name federal facilities or modify existing programs."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/331140-trump-disappointed-in-congressional-gop |title=Trump 'disappointed' in congressional GOP |last=Fabian |first=Jordan |date=April 28, 2017 |accessdate=April 28, 2017}}</ref> None of Trump's bills are considered to be "major bills"—based on a "longstanding political-science standard for 'major bills'."<ref name="politifact_2017">{{cite web |url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2017/apr/24/donald-trump/how-do-donald-trumps-first-100-days-rate-historica/ |title=How do Donald Trump's first 100 days rate historically? |last=Jacobson |first=Louis |date=April 24, 2017 |accessdate=April 27, 2017}}</ref> Presidential historian [[Michael Beschloss]] said that "based on a legislative standard"—which is what the first 100 days has been judged on since the tenure of President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], who enacted 76 laws in 100 days including nine that were "major"—"Trump is really pretty low down on the list."<ref name="PBS_T100_First100_04_26" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-first-100-days-how-compare-obama-bush-clinton-2017-4|title=TRUMP'S FIRST 100 DAYS: Here's how they compare with Obama's, Bush's, and Clinton's|first=Rebecca Harrington, Skye Gould, Andy|last=Kiersz|website=Business Insider}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/opinion/donald-trumps-first-100-days-the-worst-on-record.html|title=Opinion - Donald Trump’s First 100 Days: The Worst on Record|first=David|last=Leonhardt|date=April 26, 2017|publisher=|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2017/apr/24/donald-trump/how-do-donald-trumps-first-100-days-rate-historica/|title=How do Donald Trump's first 100 days rate historically?|website=@politifact}}</ref>

On January 31, [[Neil Gorsuch Supreme Court nomination|Trump nominated]] U.S. Appeals Court judge [[Neil Gorsuch]] to fill the seat on the [[United States Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] previous held by Justice [[Antonin Scalia]] until his death in 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-picks-colo-appeals-court-judge-neil-gorsuch-for-supreme-court/2017/01/31/2b08a226-e55e-11e6-a547-5fb9411d332c_story.html |title=Trump picks Colo. appeals court judge Neil Gorsuch for Supreme Court |last=Barnes |first=Robert |date=January 31, 2017 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=February 1, 2017}}</ref> Gorsuch was confirmed by the Senate on April 7, 2017.<ref name="NYTvotecount">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/04/07/us/politics/gorsuch-confirmation-vote.html,%20https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/04/07/us/politics/gorsuch-confirmation-vote.html|title=How Senators Voted on the Gorsuch Confirmation|first1=Audrey|last1=Carlsen|first2=Wilson|last2=Andrews|date=April 7, 2017|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>

In December 2017, Trump signed the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017]], which cut the corporate tax rate to 21 percent, lowered personal tax brackets, increased child tax credit, doubled the [[Estate tax in the United States|estate tax]] threshold to $11.2&nbsp;million, and limited the state and local tax deduction to $10,000.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/15/us/politics/final-republican-tax-bill-cuts.html |title=What's in the Final Republican Tax Bill |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |first1=Wilson |last1=Andrews |first2=Alicia |last2=Parlapiano |date=December 15, 2017 |accessdate=December 22, 2017}}</ref> The reduction in individual tax rates ends in 2025. While people would generally get a tax cut, those with higher incomes would see the most benefit.<ref name="BBC tax cuts">{{cite news |last1=Sherman |first1=Natalie |last2=Palumbo |first2=Daniele |title=Can Trump claim credit for bonus rush? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-42812453 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=January 26, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtzleben |first1=Danielle |title=CHARTS: See How Much Of GOP Tax Cuts Will Go To The Middle Class |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/12/19/571754894/charts-see-how-much-of-gop-tax-cuts-will-go-to-the-middle-class |publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref> Households in the lower or middle class would also see a small tax increase after the tax cuts expire. The bill is estimated to increase deficits by $1.5&nbsp;trillion over 10 years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Seipel |first1=Arnie |last2=Kurtzleben |first2=Danielle |title=Trump Celebrates Legislative Win After Congress Passes $1.5 Trillion Tax Cut Bill |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/12/20/572157392/gop-poised-for-tax-victory-after-a-brief-delay |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=December 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Berman |first1=Russell |title=What's in—and Out of—the Final Republican Tax Bill |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/12/final-trump-republican-tax-bill-promises-details/548603/ |work=[[The Atlantic]] |date=December 12, 2017}}</ref>

==Leadership style and philosophy==

Trump reportedly eschews reading detailed briefing documents, including the [[President's Daily Brief]], in favor of receiving oral briefings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/breaking-with-tradition-trump-skips-presidents-written-intelligence-report-for-oral-briefings/2018/02/09/b7ba569e-0c52-11e8-95a5-c396801049ef_story.html|title=Breaking with tradition, Trump skips president’s written intelligence report and relies on oral briefings|website=Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/01/americas-first-post-text-president/549794/|title=The President Who Doesn't Read|first=David A.|last=Graham|date=January 5, 2018|website=The Atlantic}}</ref> Intelligence briefers reportedly repeat the president's name and title in order to keep his attention.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-intelligence-reports-white-house-read-them-mentioned-name-president-a7740726.html|title=Donald Trump will only read intelligence reports if he is mentioned in them, White House sources claim|date=May 17, 2017|website=The Independent}}</ref><ref name="time.com">{{cite web|url=http://time.com/5518947/donald-trump-intelligence-briefings-national-security/|title='Willful Ignorance.' Inside President Trump's Troubled Intel Briefings|website=Time}}</ref> He is also known to acquire information by watching up to eight hours of television each day, most notably Fox News programs such as ''[[Fox & Friends]]'' and ''[[Hannity]]'', whose broadcast talking points Trump sometimes repeats in public statements, particularly in early morning tweets.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/09/us/politics/donald-trump-president.html|title=Inside Trump’s Hour-by-Hour Battle for Self-Preservation|first1=Maggie|last1=Haberman|first2=Glenn|last2=Thrush|first3=Peter|last3=Baker|date=December 9, 2017|publisher=|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/04/22/media/president-trump-fox-news/index.html|title=Watch President Trump repeat Fox News talking points|first=Jackie|last=Wattles|date=April 22, 2018|website=CNNMoney}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://politi.co/2Av9v0f|title=I’ve Studied the Trump-Fox Feedback Loop for Months. It’s Crazier Than You Think.|first=Matthew|last=Gertz|website=POLITICO Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/trump-fox-and-friends-influence-video-twitter-tweets-fox-news-1274231|title=Video compilation shows 30 times Trump repeated 'Fox & Friends' talking points in 2018|first=Daniel Moritz-Rabson On 12/28/18 at 6:04|last=PM|date=December 28, 2018|website=Newsweek}}</ref> Trump reportedly expresses anger if intelligence analysis contradicts his beliefs or public statements, with two briefers stating they have been instructed by superiors to not provide Trump with information that contradicts his public statements.<ref name="time.com"/>

Trump has reportedly fostered chaos as a management technique, resulting in low morale and policy confusion among his staff, although he has maintained his White House runs like a "well-oiled machine."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/01/us/politics/trump-chaos-oval-office.html|title=Trump’s Chaos Theory for the Oval Office Is Taking Its Toll|first1=Mark|last1=Landler|first2=Maggie|last2=Haberman|date=March 1, 2018|publisher=|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/13/business-professors-discuss-donald-trumps-chaotic-management-style.html|title=Business professors discuss Donald Trump's chaotic management style|first=Ruth|last=Umoh|date=March 13, 2018|website=www.cnbc.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-friends-exclusive-trump-blasts-nyt-op-ed-writer-says-it-may-be-a-deep-state-person|title='Fox & Friends' exclusive: Trump blasts NYT op-ed writer, says ‘it may be a deep state person’|date=September 7, 2018|website=Fox News}}</ref> Jeffrey Pfeffer, professor of [[organizational behavior]] at [[Stanford]], noted that Trump possesses several management qualities that are prevalent among many leaders, including [[narcissism]] and dishonesty, but added, "With a modicum of management skill he could have gotten his wall, and he would probably be on the path to re-election. But he has very few accomplishments to his credit.” Presidential historian [[Doris Kearns Goodwin]] found Trump lacks several traits of an effective leader, including “humility, acknowledging errors, shouldering blame and learning from mistakes, empathy, resilience, collaboration, connecting with people and controlling unproductive emotions.”<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/10/business/trump-staff-turnover-leadership.html|title=Why Trump’s Unusual Leadership Style Isn’t Working in the White House|first=James B.|last=Stewart|date=January 10, 2019|publisher=|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' reported that "before taking office, Mr. Trump told top aides to think of each presidential day as an episode in a television show in which he vanquishes rivals."<ref name="auto1"/>

In January 2018, ''[[Axios]]'' reported that Trump's working hours were typically around 11am to 6pm (a later start and an earlier end compared to the beginning of his presidency) and that he was holding fewer meetings during his working hours, in order to accommodate Trump's desire for more unstructured free time (labelled as "executive time").<ref>{{cite web |last1=Swan |first1=Jonathan |title=Scoop: Trump's secret, shrinking schedule |url=https://www.axios.com/scoop-trumps-secret-shrinking-schedule-1515364904-ab76374a-6252-4570-a804-942b3f851840.html |publisher=[[Axios]] |accessdate=February 12, 2019}}</ref> Later that year, [[Politico]] reported Trump's schedule for October 22-26 that he never started work earlier than 11am, had large amounts of "executive time" and only a total of two hours of policy briefings in five days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://politi.co/2AxP4TN|title=9 hours of ‘Executive Time’: Trump’s unstructured days define his presidency|last=Johnson|first=Eliana|last2=Lippman|first2=Daniel|website=POLITICO|language=en|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/10/trump-schedule-executive-time|title=Report: Trump Clocks in About Three Hours of Work on a Good Day|last=Levin|first=Bess|date=2018-10-29|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)#The Hive|The Hive]]|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref> In 2019, ''Axios'' published Trump's schedule from November 7, 2018 to February 1, 2019, and calculated that around 60% of the time between 8am to 5pm was "executive time".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/donald-trump-private-schedules-leak-executive-time-34e67fbb-3af6-48df-aefb-52e02c334255.html|title=Scoop: Insider leaks Trump's "Executive Time"-filled private schedules|last=McCammond|first=Alexi|last2=Swan|first2=Jonathan|date=2019-02-03|website=[[Axios]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/02/04/there-are-two-types-trump-executive-time-one-each-side-political-debate/|title=There are two types of Trump ‘executive time,’ one for each side of the political debate|last=Bump|first=Philip|date=2019-02-04|work=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref>

=== False and misleading statements ===
{{main|Veracity of statements by Donald Trump}}

As president, Trump has made so many false statements in public speeches, remarks, and in [[Twitter#Tweets|tweets]], that media commentators and [[fact-checker]]s have described the rate of his falsehoods as unprecedented in politics.<ref name="McGranahan">{{cite journal |last=McGranahan |first=Carole |url=https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/amet.12475|title=An anthropology of lying: Trump and the political sociality of moral outrage |journal=[[American Ethnologist]] |date=May 2017 |volume=44 |issue=2 |pages=243–248 |doi=10.1111/amet.12475}}</ref><ref name=Kessler-181230>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/12/30/year-unprecedented-deception-trump-averaged-false-claims-day/?noredirect=on | title=A year of unprecedented deception: Trump averaged 15 false claims a day in 2018 | work=[[The Washington Post]] | date=December 30, 2018 | accessdate=January 10, 2019 | first=Glenn | last=Kessler}}</ref><ref name=Glasser-180803>{{cite news | url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-trumps-washington/trumps-escalating-war-on-the-truth-is-on-purpose | title=It’s True: Trump Is Lying More, and He’s Doing It on Purpose | work=[[The New Yorker]] | date=August 3, 2018 | accessdate=January 10, 2019 | first=Susan | last=Glasser}}</ref><ref name=Konnikova /><ref>Sheryl Gay Stolberg, [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/07/us/politics/lies-trump-obama-mislead.html Many Politicians Lie. But Trump Has Elevated the Art of Fabrication.], ''New York Times'' (August 7, 2017).</ref> His falsehoods have also become a distinctive part of his political identity.<ref name=Glasser-180803/>

During the first year of Trump's presidency, ''The Washington Post's'' fact-checker wrote, "President Trump is the most fact-challenged politician that The Fact Checker has ever encountered... the pace and volume of the president's misstatements means that we cannot possibly keep up."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ye|first1=Hee Lee Michelle|last2=Kessler|first2=Glenn|last3=Kelly|first3=Meg|title=President Trump has made 1,318 false or misleading claims over 263 days|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/10/10/president-trump-has-made-1318-false-or-misleading-claims-over-263-days|work=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=November 5, 2017}}</ref> By August 2018, the pace of the false statements had seemed to have increased substantially. In June and July alone 968 new incidences had been noted, and a total of 4,229 "false or misleading" statements had by then been recorded in his tenure. Immigration issues led the subject list at that point, with 538 recorded mendacities.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2018/08/01/president-trump-has-made-4229-false-or-misleading-claims-in-558-days/ President Trump has made 4,229 false or misleading claims in 558 days], ''[[Washington Post]]'', Glenn Kessler, Salvador Rizzo and Meg Kelly, August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.</ref>

Senior administration officials have also regularly given false, misleading or tortured statements&nbsp;to the media.<ref name=":14">{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/15/trump-russia-trust-problem-238422|title=Trump's trust problem|work=Politico|accessdate=May 16, 2017}}</ref> By May 2017, ''Politico'' reported that the repeated untruths by senior officials made it difficult for the media to take official statements seriously.<ref name=":14"/>

Trump's presidency started out with a series of falsehoods initiated by Trump himself. The day after his inauguration, he falsely accused the media of lying about the size of the inauguration crowd. Then he proceeded to exaggerate the size, and [[Sean Spicer]] backed up his claims.<ref name="Jaffe_1/22/2017" /><ref name="PolitiFact_1/21/2017">{{cite web | title=From the archives: Sean Spicer on Inauguration Day crowds | website=PolitiFact | date=January 21, 2017 | url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2017/jan/21/sean-spicer/trump-had-biggest-inaugural-crowd-ever-metrics-don/ | accessdate=March 30, 2018}}</ref><ref name="FactCheck_1/23/2017">{{cite web | title=The Facts on Crowd Size | website=FactCheck | date=January 23, 2017 | url=https://www.factcheck.org/2017/01/the-facts-on-crowd-size/ | accessdate=March 30, 2018}}</ref> When Spicer was accused of intentionally misstating the figures, [[Kellyanne Conway]], in an interview with NBC's [[Chuck Todd]], defended Spicer by stating that he merely presented "[[alternative facts]]".<ref name="Jaffe_1/22/2017">{{cite web | last=Jaffe | first=Alexandra | url=http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/wh-spokesman-gave-alternative-facts-inauguration-crowd-n710466 | title=Kellyanne Conway: WH Spokesman Gave 'Alternative Facts' on Inauguration Crowd | publisher=NBC News | accessdate=January 22, 2017 }}</ref> Other notable claims by Trump which [[fact checking|fact checkers]] rated false include the claim that his electoral college victory was a "landslide"<ref name="PolitiFact_12/11/2016">{{cite web | title=Trump's electoral college victory not a 'massive landslide' | website=PolitiFact | date=December 11, 2016 | url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/dec/12/donald-trump/donald-trumps-electoral-college-victory-was-not-ma/ | accessdate=March 30, 2018}}</ref><ref name="FactCheck_11/29/2016">{{cite web | title=Trump Landslide? Nope | website=FactCheck | date=November 29, 2016 | url=https://www.factcheck.org/2016/11/trump-landslide-nope/ | accessdate=March 30, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Seipel_12/11/2016">{{cite web | last=Seipel | first=Arnie | title=FACT CHECK: Trump Falsely Claims A 'Massive Landslide Victory' | website=NPR | date=December 11, 2016 | url=https://www.npr.org/2016/12/11/505182622/fact-check-trump-claims-a-massive-landslide-victory-but-history-differs | accessdate=March 30, 2018}}</ref> and that Hillary Clinton received 3-5 million illegal votes.<ref name="PolitiFact_11/27/2016">{{cite web | title=Pants on Fire for Trump claim that millions voted illegally | website=PolitiFact | date=November 27, 2016 | url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/nov/28/donald-trump/donald-trumps-pants-fire-claim-millions-illegal-vo/ | accessdate=March 30, 2018}}</ref>

By Trump's 700th day in office, ''The Washington Post''{{'}}s tally exceeded 7,500 false or misleading claims,<ref>{{cite news |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=December 20, 2018 |title=In 700 days, President Trump has made 7,546 false or misleading claims |accessdate=December 22, 2018 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-claims-database/ |archivedate=December 21, 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221101414/https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-claims-database/}}</ref> and—in the seven weeks leading up to the midterm elections—it had risen to an average of 30 per day<ref>{{cite news |work=[[The Washington Post]] |first1=Glenn |last1=Kessler |author1link=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |first2=Salvador |last2=Rizzo |first3=Meg |last3=Kelly |title=President Trump has made 6,420 false or misleading claims over 649 days|date=November 2, 2018 |accessdate=November 2, 2018 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/11/02/president-trump-has-made-false-or-misleading-claims-over-days/}}</ref> from 4.9 during his first 100 days in office.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=September 13, 2018 |first=Glenn |last=Kessler |authorlink=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |first2=Salvador |last2=Rizzo |first3=Meg |last3=Kelly |title=President Trump has made more than 5,000 false or misleading claims |accessdate=October 16, 2018 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/09/13/president-trump-has-made-more-than-false-or-misleading-claims/}}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' found that Trump averaged 15 false statements per day during 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediaite.com/online/unprecedented-deception-washington-post-analysis-finds-trump-averaged-15-false-claims-a-day-in-2018/|title=‘Unprecedented Deception’: Washington Post Analysis Finds Trump Averaged 15 False Claims a Day in 2018|publisher=|accessdate=December 31, 2018}}</ref>

As of February 2019, Trump's most repeated falsehoods, each repeated during his presidency over 100 times, were that a U.S. [[trade deficit]] would be a "loss" for the country, that the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017]] passed during his term was the largest tax cut in American history, that the American economy was the strongest ever during his administration, and that the [[Trump wall]] was already being built.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kessler |first1=Glenn |last2=Fox |first2=Joe |title=The false claims that Trump keeps repeating |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/fact-checker-most-repeated-disinformation/ |work=[[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=19 February 2019}}</ref>

===Rule of law===

Shortly before Trump secured the 2016 Republican nomination, ''The New York Times'' reported that "legal experts across the political spectrum say" Trump's rhetoric reflected "a constitutional worldview that shows contempt for the First Amendment, the separation of powers and the rule of law," adding "many conservative and libertarian legal scholars warn that electing Mr. Trump is a recipe for a constitutional crisis."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/04/us/politics/donald-trump-constitution-power.html|title=Donald Trump Could Threaten U.S. Rule of Law, Scholars Say|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=November 18, 2018}}</ref> A group named “[[Originalism|Originalists]] Against Trump” declared in October 2016, "Trump’s long record of statements and conduct have shown him indifferent or hostile to the Constitution’s basic features."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/10/the-originalists-against-trump-manifesto/504437/|title=The 'Originalists Against Trump' Manifesto|first=Conor|last=Friedersdorf|date=October 18, 2016|publisher=The Atlantic|accessdate=November 18, 2018}}</ref> As the Trump presidency unfolded, numerous prominent conservative Republicans expressed similar concerns that Trump's perceived disregard for the rule of law betrayed conservative principles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhpr.org/post/bill-kristol-really-wants-someone-challenge-trump#stream/0|title=Bill Kristol Really Wants Someone to Challenge Trump|first=Peter|last=Biello|publisher=NHPR|accessdate=November 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/08/the-president-is-a-crook/568123/|title=The President Is a Crook|first=David|last=Frum|date=August 22, 2018|publisher=The Atlantic|accessdate=November 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/bet-collusion-mr-president-article-1.3599626|title=You bet there's collusion: And other reasons Donald Trump should be nervous after Robert Mueller's indictments|first=Max|last=Boot|publisher=[[New York Daily News]]|accessdate=November 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/25/opinion/republicans-midterms-trump.html|title=Opinion - Republicans Against Trump|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=November 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>"Just in time: A new Republican group seeks to protect Mueller," ''Washington Post'', April 11, 2018: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/04/11/just-in-time-a-new-republican-group-seeks-to-protect-mueller/</ref> ''The Times'' reported in November 2018 that more than a dozen members of the conservative-libertarian [[Federalist Society]] — which had been instrumental in selecting Trump's appointments to federal courts — "are urging their fellow conservatives to speak up about what they say are the Trump administration’s betrayals of bedrock legal norms."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/14/us/politics/conservative-lawyers-trump.html|title=Conservative Lawyers Say Trump Has Undermined the Rule of Law|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=November 18, 2018}}</ref>

During the first two years of his presidency, Trump repeatedly sought to influence the Justice Department to investigate those he saw as his political adversaries — including Hillary Clinton, the Democratic National Committee, James Comey and the FBI — regarding a variety of persistent allegations, at least some of which had already been investigated or debunked.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/03/trump-doj-investigate-hillary-clinton-244505|title=Trump ratchets up call for DOJ to investigate Hillary Clinton|publisher=[[Politico]]|accessdate=November 21, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/20/politics/donald-trump-justice-department-campaign/index.html|title=Trump demands Justice Department examine whether it or FBI spied on campaign|first=Maegan Vazquez, Laura Jarrett and Dana Bash,|last=CNN|publisher=[[CNN]]|accessdate=November 21, 2018}}</ref> In spring 2018, Trump told White House counsel [[Don McGahn]] that he wanted to order the DOJ to prosecute Clinton and Comey, but McGahn advised Trump that such action would constitute abuse of power and invite possible impeachment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/20/us/politics/president-trump-justice-department.html|title=Trump Wanted to Order Justice Dept. to Prosecute Comey and Clinton|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=November 21, 2018}}</ref> In May 2018 Trump demanded the DOJ to investigate "whether or not the FBI/DOJ infiltrated or surveilled the Trump Campaign for Political Purposes,” which the DOJ referred to its inspector general.<ref name="nytimes.com2">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/20/us/politics/trump-mueller.html|title=Trump Demands Inquiry Into Whether Justice Dept. ‘Infiltrated or Surveilled’ His Campaign|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=November 21, 2018}}</ref> Although it is not unlawful for a president to exert influence on the DOJ to open an investigation, presidents have assiduously avoided doing so to prevent perceptions of political interference.<ref name="nytimes.com2"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/11/20/us/politics/ap-us-trump-prosecutions.html|title=Report: Trump Wanted to Prosecute Comey, Hillary Clinton|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=November 21, 2018}}</ref> Some of Trump's congressional allies asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions to appoint a special counsel to investigate the FBI and an alleged [[Uranium One controversy]] involving Clinton;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/376159-13-house-republicans-call-on-sessions-to-appoint-second-special-counsel|title=13 House Republicans call on Sessions to appoint second special counsel|first=Julia|last=Manchester|date=February 28, 2018|publisher=The Hill|accessdate=November 21, 2018}}</ref> Sessions instead appointed in May 2018 federal prosecutor [[John W. Huber|John Huber]] to examine the matters and make a recommendation as to whether a special counsel was justified.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/29/politics/sessions-prosecutor-fbi-misconduct-clinton-uranium-one-special-counsel/index.html|title=Sessions does not appoint second special counsel|author=Laura Jarrett|publisher=[[CNN]]|accessdate=November 21, 2018}}</ref> Sessions otherwise resisted demands by Trump and his allies for investigations, causing Trump to repeatedly express frustration, saying at one point, "I don't have an attorney general."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/09/19/649475687/trump-again-slams-jeff-sessions-i-don-t-have-an-attorney-general|title=Trump Again Slams Jeff Sessions: 'I Don't Have An Attorney General'|publisher=[[NPR]]|accessdate=November 21, 2018}}</ref> [[Matthew Whitaker]], a Trump loyalist whom the president appointed to succeed Sessions as Acting Attorney General in November 2018, had in 2017 reportedly provided private advice to Trump on how the White House might pressure the Justice Department to investigate the president's adversaries, including appointing a special counsel to investigate the FBI and Hillary Clinton.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/11/9/18080656/matthew-whitaker-trump-hillary-clinton-sessions-attorney-general|title=Exclusive: Trump loyalist Matthew Whitaker was counseling the White House on investigating Clinton|publisher=Vox|accessdate=November 21, 2018}}</ref> In 2014, Whitaker criticized ''[[Marbury v. Madison]]'', the 1803 landmark Supreme Court decision that established the bedrock principle of [[judicial review]] that empowered courts to strike down statutes and government actions that contravene the Constitution.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/08/us/politics/matthew-whitaker-courts-inferior.html|title=Acting Attorney General Matthew G. Whitaker Once Criticized Supreme Court’s Power|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=November 21, 2018}}</ref>

In an extraordinary rebuke of a sitting president, in November 2018 [[Chief Justice of the United States|Supreme Court Chief Justice]] [[John Roberts]] responded to Trump's characterization of a judge who had ruled against his policies as an "Obama judge," adding "That’s not law."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/20/us/politics/trump-appeals-court-ninth-circuit.html|title=Trump Takes Aim at Appeals Court, Calling It a ‘Disgrace’|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=November 21, 2018}}</ref> Roberts wrote, "We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them. That independent judiciary is something we should all be thankful for.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/rebuking-trumps-criticism-of-obama-judge-chief-justice-roberts-defends-judiciary-as-independent/2018/11/21/6383c7b2-edb7-11e8-96d4-0d23f2aaad09_story.html|title=Rebuking Trump’s criticism of ‘Obama judge,’ Chief Justice Roberts defends judiciary as ‘independent’|website=Washington Post}}</ref>

===Relationship with the media===
[[File:President Donald J. Trump Departs the South Lawn (30744805897).jpg|thumb|Trump speaks to reporters on the White House South Lawn in November 2018]]
[[File:President Trump's First 100 Days- 45 (33573172373).jpg|thumb|President Donald Trump talking to the press, March 21, 2017, before signing S.422, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act, in the Oval Office]]
Early into his presidency, the administration developed a highly contentious relationship with the media, repeatedly describing it as the "[[fake news]] media" and "the [[enemy of the people]]".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bondarenko|first1=Veronika|title=Trump keeps saying 'enemy of the people' — but the phrase has a very ugly history|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/history-of-president-trumps-phrase-an-enemy-of-the-people-2017-2|publisher=Business Insider|accessdate=October 25, 2017}}</ref> Through August 2018, at least three journalists received threatening phone calls from men calling them the enemy of the people, with one suspect being arrested by the FBI for making death threats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/kenvogel/status/1031645012008873984|title=Kenneth P. Vogel on Twitter|website=Twitter|accessdate=August 30, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/03/opinion/trump-fake-news-enemy.html|title=Opinion - Trump Will Have Blood on His Hands|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=August 30, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediaite.com/online/man-charged-with-sending-death-threats-to-boston-globe-after-trump-editorial-youre-the-enemy-of-the-people/|title=Man Charged With Sending Death Threats to Boston Globe After Trump Editorial: ‘You’re the Enemy of the People’|website=www.mediaite.com|accessdate=August 30, 2018}}</ref> Trump both privately and publicly mused about taking away critical reporters' White House press credentials (despite, during his campaign, promising not to do so once he became President).<ref name=":17">{{Cite news|url=http://money.cnn.com/2018/05/09/media/president-trump-press-credentials/index.html|title=Trump's latest shot at the press corps: 'Take away credentials?'|last=Collins|first=Brian Stelter and Kaitlan|work=CNNMoney|accessdate=May 9, 2018}}</ref> At the same time, the Trump White House gave temporary press passes to far-right pro-Trump fringe outlets, such as ''[[InfoWars]]'' and ''[[The Gateway Pundit]]'', which are known for publishing hoaxes and conspiracy theories.<ref name=":17" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/infowars-granted-white-house-press-credentials-2017-5?r=US&IR=T|title=Conspiracy outlet InfoWars was granted temporary White House press credentials|work=Business Insider|accessdate=May 9, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Grynbaum_2/13/2017">{{cite news | last=Grynbaum | first=Michael M. | title=White House Grants Press Credentials to a Pro-Trump Blog | website=[[The New York Times]] | date=February 13, 2017 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/13/business/the-gateway-pundit-trump.html | accessdate=June 4, 2018}}</ref>

On his first day in office, Trump falsely accused journalists of understating the size of the crowd at his inauguration, and  called the media "among the most dishonest human beings on earth". Trump's clams were notably defended by Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, who claimed that the inauguration crowd had been the biggest in history, a claim disproven by photographs.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/21/us/politics/trump-white-house-briefing-inauguration-crowd-size.html|title=With False Claims, Trump Attacks Media on Turnout and Intelligence Rift|first1=Julie Hirschfeld|last1=Davis|first2=Matthew|last2=Rosenberg|date=January 21, 2017 |accessdate=April 30, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Trump's senior adviser Kellyanne Conway then defended Sean Spicer when asked about the falsehood, saying that it was an "[[alternative fact]]", not a falsehood.<ref name="Jaffe_1/22/2017" />

On February 16, less than a month into his presidency, Trump held a press conference claiming that the media was not speaking for the people, but for special interests. He claimed that they were dishonest, out of control and doing a disservice to the American people.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/16/us/politics/donald-trump-press-conference-transcript.html "Full Transcript and Video: Trump News Conference"], ''The New York Times'', February 16, 2017.</ref> On February 17, 2017, Trump tweeted, "The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @CNN) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People!" <ref name="Washington Post 2018">{{cite web | title=Trump makes it explicit: Negative coverage of him is fake coverage | website=Washington Post | date=May 9, 2018 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/05/09/trump-makes-it-explicit-negative-coverage-of-him-is-fake-coverage/ | accessdate=May 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/02/17/president-donald-trump-twitter-media-enemy-of-the-american-people/|title=Trump Calls Media 'Enemy Of The American People' In Latest Attack|agency=Associated Press|publisher=KPIX |date=February 17, 2017|accessdate=February 17, 2017}}</ref> Trump's first press conference was also the last (as of January 2019).<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump's last press conference |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/apps/g/page/politics/trumps-last-press-conference/2140/ |accessdate=12 January 2019 |work=The Washington Post}}</ref> For comparison, Barack Obama had held 11 solo press conferences by the end of his first year, George W. Bush held five, and Bill Clinton held 12.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Joyella|first1=Mark|title=Trump Has Abandoned The Press Briefing Room And Reporters Should Too|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2018/02/15/trump-has-abandoned-the-press-briefing-room-and-reporters-should-too/#13b83bccf69e|website=Forbes|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}</ref>

Also in February, Trump objected to news media's reliance on [[anonymous source]]s for some of its news. Four days later, a [[BuzzFeed]] report detailed Trump's own request to be quoted only as a "senior administration official" at a "private meeting with national news anchors", with the internet media website citing "attendees at the meeting".<ref>Perlberg, Steven, and Adrian Carrasquillo, [https://www.buzzfeed.com/stevenperlberg/trump-gets-anonymity-after-dissing-anonymous-sources "Trump Gets Anonymity After Dissing Anonymous Sources"], BuzzFeed, February 28, 2017. Including a link to [[Jake Tapper|Tapper, Jake]]; [[Wolf Blitzer]] and Tal Kopan, [http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/28/politics/trump-immigration-bill/ "Trump envisions bill allowing many immigrants to stay in US"], CNN, March 1, 2017. The CNN [[Article (publishing)|article]] uses the phrase "senior administration official" as a citation in its text. Per BuzzFeed, Tapper and Blitzer were two of the attendees at the meeting. Retrieved March 22, 2017.</ref>

On February 24, the administration blocked reporters from ''The New York Times'', BuzzFeed News, CNN, ''Los Angeles Times'' and ''Politico'' from attending an off-camera briefing with Press Secretary [[Sean Spicer]]. Reporters from ''Time'' magazine and The Associated Press chose not to attend the briefing in protest at the White House's actions. ''The New York Times'' described the move as "a highly unusual breach of relations between the White House and its press corps", and the [[White House Correspondents' Association]] issued a statement of protest.<ref name=":8">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/24/us/politics/white-house-sean-spicer-briefing.html|title=White House Bars Times and 2 Other News Outlets From Briefing|last=Grynbaum|first=Michael M.|date=February 24, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=February 24, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/reporters-blocked-white-house-gaggle-235360|title=White House selectively blocks media outlets from briefing with Spicer|last=Gold|first=Hadas|date=February 24, 2017|newspaper=Politico|accessdate=February 24, 2017}}</ref>

In March, all major U.S. television networks declined to air a paid campaign ad placed by the 2020 Trump campaign which included a graphic claiming that mainstream media is "fake news". In a statement, CNN said that they "requested that the advertiser remove the false graphic that the mainstream media is 'fake news'". [[Lara Trump]], daughter-in-law to Trump and adviser for his campaign, called the rejection a "chilling precedent against free speech rights", and "an unprecedented act of censorship in America that should concern every freedom-loving citizen".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yee|first1=Lawrence'|title=All Major TV Networks Block Trump's Fake News' Ad|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/donald-trump-fake-news-ad-1202410560/#!|work=Variety|accessdate=October 26, 2017}}</ref>

The relationship between Trump, the media, and fake news has been studied. One study found that between October 7 and November 14, 2016, while 1 in 4 Americans visited a [[fake news website]], "Trump supporters visited the most fake news websites, which were overwhelmingly pro-Trump" and "almost 6 in 10 visits to fake news websites came from the 10% of people with the most conservative online information diets".<ref name="Guess_Nyhan_Reifler_1/9/2018">{{cite web | last1=Guess | first1=Andrew | last2=Nyhan | first2=Brendan | last3=Reifler | first3=Jason | date=January 9, 2018 | title=Selective Exposure to Misinformation: Evidence from the consumption of fake news during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign | website=Dartmouth.edu | url=https://www.dartmouth.edu/~nyhan/fake-news-2016.pdf | accessdate=February 4, 2018 }}</ref><ref name="Allcott">{{cite journal | author1=H. Allcott | author2=M.Gentzkow | year=2017 | title=Social Media and Fake News in the 2016 election | journal=Journal of Economic Perspectives | volume=31 | number=2 | pages=211–236 | accessdate=May 3, 2017 | url=https://web.stanford.edu/~gentzkow/research/fakenews.pdf | doi=10.1257/jep.31.2.211 }}</ref> [[Brendan Nyhan]], one of the authors of the study by researchers from [[Princeton University]], [[Dartmouth College]], and the [[University of Exeter]], stated in an interview: "People got vastly more misinformation from Donald Trump than they did from fake news websites".<ref>{{cite web | last=Sarlin | first=Benjy | title='Fake news' went viral in 2016. This professor studied who clicked. | website=NBC News | date=January 14, 2018 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/fake-news-went-viral-2016-expert-studied-who-clicked-n836581 | accessdate=February 4, 2018}}</ref>

In May 2018, Trump tweeted that "91% of the Network News about me is negative (Fake)." ''The Washington Post'' described this Trump making it "explicit" that negative coverage on him has to be fake.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bump|first1=Philip|title=Trump makes it explicit: Negative coverage of him is fake coverage|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/05/09/trump-makes-it-explicit-negative-coverage-of-him-is-fake-coverage|work=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=May 23, 2018}}</ref> Also that month, journalist [[Lesley Stahl]] recounted that after Trump won the 2016 presidential election, he had told her that he kept attacking the media to "demean" and "discredit", "so when you write negative stories about me no one will believe you".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Thomsen|first1=Jacqueline|title='60 Minutes' correspondent: Trump said he attacks the press so no one believes negative coverage|url=http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/388855-60-minutes-correspondent-trump-said-he-attacks-the-press-so-no-one|publisher=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|accessdate=May 23, 2018}}</ref>

Also in May 2018, Trump attacked ''The New York Times'' on their coverage of a White House briefing on the [[2018 North Korea–United States summit]]. Trump claimed that the anonymous "senior White House official" that the newspaper quoted "doesn't exist", instructing: "Use real people, not phony sources". Following Trump's claim, journalists provided audio evidence of the official being introduced as Matt Pottinger of the National Security Council, with White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah insisting that Pottinger's anonymity was required. The White House's invitation for the briefing to journalists also surfaced.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lucey|first1=Catherine|title=Trump's 'phony' source turns out to be White House official|url=https://www.apnews.com/198bbbd69a1349f288b56c1088ac32e1/Trump's-'phony'-source-turns-out-to-be-White-House-official|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=May 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Delk|first1=Josh|title=Audio discredits Trump's claim that White House official 'doesn't exist'|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/389526-audio-revealed-from-source-trump-claimed-doesnt-exist|publisher=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|accessdate=May 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Rolli|first1=Bryan|title=Trump claims reporters' source doesn't exist—the media responds by proving Trump dead wrong|url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/donald-trump-white-house-source|work=[[The Daily Dot]]|accessdate=May 27, 2018}}</ref>

''[[The Boston Globe]]'' called for a nationwide refutation of Trump's "dirty war" against the media, with the hashtag #EnemyOfNone. Over 300 news outlets joined the campaign. ''[[The New York Times]]'' called Trump's attacks "dangerous to the lifeblood of democracy" and published excerpts from dozens of further publications. ''[[The New York Post]]'' wrote, "It may be frustrating to argue that just because we print inconvenient truths doesn't mean that we're fake news, but being a journalist isn't a popularity contest. All we can do is to keep reporting."  ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'' wrote, "If the press is not free from reprisal, punishment or suspicion for unpopular views or information, neither is the country. Neither are its people"<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-45204397 Trump's 'dirty war' on media draws editorials in 300 US outlets] ''[[BBC]]''</ref>

On August 16, 2018 the Senate unanimously passed a resolution affirming that "the press is not the enemy of the people,"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-unanimously-passes-resolution-declaring-the-press-is-not-the-enemy-of-the-people/|title=Senate adopts resolution declaring "the press is not the enemy of the people"|publisher=[[CBS News]]|accessdate=August 16, 2018}}</ref> marking the second time the Senate had unanimously rebuked Trump within a month.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/politics/in-98-0-vote-senate-rebukes-trump-s-consideration-of-allowing-russia-to-question-ambassadors|title=In 98-0 vote, Senate rebukes Trump's consideration of allowing Russia to question ambassadors|date=July 19, 2018|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|accessdate=August 16, 2018}}</ref>

In August 2018, Trump began accusing internet companies Google, Facebook and Twitter of suppressing conservative viewpoints and positive information about him. On his Twitter account, he posted a brief video asserting that Google had promoted President Barack Obama's State of the Union addresses on its home page, while not promoting his.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1034907478566359041|title=Donald J. Trump on Twitter|website=Twitter|accessdate=August 30, 2018}}</ref> [[Buzzfeed News]] and others noted that Google had, in fact, promoted Trump's 2018 address.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/janelytvynenko/trump-claims-google-didnt-promote-his-state-of-the-union|title=Trump Claims Google Is Biased Against Him. The Search Giant And This Screenshot Say Otherwise.|publisher=Buzz Feed|accessdate=August 30, 2018}}</ref> Although Google did not promote Trump's January 2017 address to a joint session of Congress, it also did not promote Obama's February 2009 address, as neither were technically State of the Union addresses.

In October 2018, [[Donald Trump|Trump]] praised US representative [[Greg Gianforte]] for assaulting political reporter [[Ben Jacobs (journalist)|Ben Jacobs]] in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/19/us/politics/trump-greg-gianforte-montana.html|title=‘That’s My Kind of Guy,’ Trump Says of Republican Lawmaker Who Body-Slammed a Reporter|last=Cochrane|first=Emily|date=19 October 2018|work=New York Times|access-date=2018-10-20|language=en}}</ref> According to analysts, the incident marked the first time the President has "openly and directly praised a violent act against a journalist on American soil".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/oct/18/trump-greg-gianforte-assault-guardian-ben-jacobs|title=Trump praises Gianforte for assault on Guardian reporter: 'He's my guy'|last=Pilkington|first=Ed|date=2018-10-19|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-10-19}}</ref> Later that month, as CNN and prominent Democrats were targeted with bombs, Trump initially condemned the bomb attempts but shortly thereafter blamed the "Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News" for causing "a very big part of the Anger we see today in our society."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/25/politics/trump-blames-media-for-anger-after-attacks/index.html|title=Trump claims media to blame for 'anger' after bombs sent to CNN, Dems|last=CNN|first=Veronica Stracqualursi and Liz Stark,|work=CNN|access-date=2018-10-25}}</ref>

In a May 2017 interview with NBC News anchorman [[Lester Holt]], Trump stated he was thinking of "this Russia thing" when he decided to fire FBI Director James Comey.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/05/12/politics/trump-comey-russia-thing/index.html|title=Trump says he considered 'this Russia thing' when firing FBI Director Comey|author=James Griffiths|publisher=[[CNN]]|accessdate=October 20, 2018}}</ref> Trump's statement raised concerns of potential obstruction of justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/30/us/politics/questions-mueller-wants-to-ask-trump-russia.html|title=The Questions Mueller Wants to Ask Trump About Obstruction, and What They Mean|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=October 20, 2018}}</ref> In May 2018 Trump denied firing Comey because of the Russia investigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/31/politics/trump-russia-investigation/index.html|title=Trump, again, denies firing Comey over Russia despite saying exactly that at the time|author=Veronica Stracqualursi|publisher=[[CNN]]|accessdate=October 20, 2018}}</ref> In August 2018 Trump tweeted that "Holt got caught fudging my tape on Russia," followed by his attorney [[Jay Sekulow]] asserting in September 2018 that NBC had edited the Trump interview.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/video/2018/08/30/trump-claims-nbc-fudged-his-tape-on-come?videoId=459616885&videoChannel=118261|title=Trump claims NBC 'fudged' his tape on Comey firing|publisher=[[Reuters]]|accessdate=October 20, 2018|via=www.reuters.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2018/09/20/jay-sekulow-claim-nbc-edited-trump-interview-briggs-bts-es-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/robert-mullers-investigation/|title=Sekulow: NBC edited Trump interview on Comey|publisher=[[CNN]]|accessdate=October 20, 2018}}</ref> Neither Trump nor Sekulow produced evidence that the tape had been modified.

Following a contentious Trump press conference on November 7, 2018 in which CNN reporter [[Jim Acosta]] was criticized by Trump and press secretary [[Sarah Sanders]] for perceived disruptive behavior, including an alleged assault on a White House intern as she attempted to take a microphone from Acosta, the White House revoked Acosta's press pass. [[CNN v. Trump|CNN sued Trump]] and several of his aides six days later, asserting that Acosta's due process and First Amendment rights had been violated.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/13/media/cnn-sues-trump/index.html|title=CNN sues President Trump and top White House aides for barring Jim Acosta|author=Brian Stelter|publisher=[[CNN]]|accessdate=November 16, 2018}}</ref> The case was heard by [[Timothy J. Kelly|Timothy Kelly]], a Trump appointee to the [[United States District Court for the District of Columbia|District Court for the District of Columbia]] who ruled on November 16 that Acosta's due process rights had been violated and his press pass must be restored. Kelly made no ruling on the First Amendment issue.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/16/business/media/cnn-acosta-trump.html|title=CNN’s Jim Acosta Must Have White House Credentials Restored, Judge Rules|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=November 16, 2018}}</ref> Sanders faced criticism for tweeting a video clip that originated from [[Paul Joseph Watson]] of [[Infowars]] purporting to prove the alleged assault, which differed from original video of the incident, resulting in a misleading impression that Acosta had aggressively thrust his hand at the intern.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/08/business/media/infowars-white-house-jim-acosta-cnn.html|title=Trump Administration Uses Misleading Video to Justify Barring of CNN’s Jim Acosta|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=November 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>"White House shares doctored video to support punishment of journalist Jim Acosta," ''Washington Post'', November 8, 2018: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/11/08/white-house-shares-doctored-video-support-punishment-journalist-jim-acosta/</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2018/11/8/18074966/sarah-sanders-infowars-cnn-jim-acosta-banned|title=White House press secretary uses fake Infowars video to justify banning CNN reporter|publisher=Vox|accessdate=November 16, 2018}}</ref> Later asked if the video had been altered, Trump aide Kellyanne Conway replied, "That’s not altered, that’s sped up," likening it to a television replay of a sporting event.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/kellyanne-conway-says-jim-acosta-video-was-sped-not-doctored-n935196|title=Kellyanne Conway says Jim Acosta video was 'sped up,' but not 'doctored'|publisher=[[NBC News]]|accessdate=November 16, 2018}}</ref>

===Use of Twitter===
{{Main|Donald Trump on social media|List of nicknames used by Donald Trump}}
Trump continued the use of [[Twitter]] from the [[Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016#Use of Twitter|presidential campaign]]. Trump has continued to personally tweet from @realDonaldTrump, his personal account, while his staff tweet on his behalf using the official @POTUS account. His use of Twitter has been unconventional for a president, initiating controversy and becoming news in their own right.<ref name="independent1">{{cite news|author=Andrew Buncombe|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-twitter-tweets-no-regrets-interview-financial-times-a7664641.html|title=Donald Trump does not regret sending any of his tweets|date=April 3, 2017|newspaper=The Independent|accessdate=April 30, 2017}}</ref> The Trump administration has described Trump's tweets as "official statements by the President of the United States".<ref>{{cite news|author=Elizabeth Landers|title=Spicer: Tweets are Trump's official statements|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/06/politics/trump-tweets-official-statements/index.html|publisher=CNN|date=June 6, 2017|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720220333/http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/06/politics/trump-tweets-official-statements/index.html|archivedate=July 20, 2017}}</ref> A federal judge ruled in May 2018 that Trump's blocking of other Twitter users due to opposing political views violated the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution]] and that he must unblock them; however, according to a plaintiff, Trump has yet to comply with the unblocking order.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Zhao|first1=Christina|title=Trump ignores court ruling that he can't block Twitter critics: 'President thinks he's above the law'|url=http://www.newsweek.com/trump-ignores-court-ruling-he-cant-block-critics-twitter-president-thinks-hes-943315?piano_t=1|work=[[Newsweek]]|accessdate=May 25, 2018}}</ref> The administration has appealed the court's ruling.<ref>{{cite news|author=Brent D. Griffiths|title=Justice Dept. appeals ruling in Trump Twitter-blocking case|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/04/justice-department-appeals-court-ruling-on-trump-twitter-blocking-case-624160|work=[[Politico]]|accessdate=June 5, 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Twitter activity of Donald Trump.png|thumb|Twitter activity of Donald Trump from his first tweet in May 2009 to September 2017. Retweets are not included.]]
His tweets have been reported as ill-considered, impulsive, vengeful,<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/3/30/15114408/trump-tweets-freedom-caucus-new-york-times|title=Were those Trump tweets impulsive or strategic? The latest in a continuing series.|publisher=Vox|accessdate=April 30, 2017}}</ref><ref name="nytimes1">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/30/us/politics/freedom-caucus-donald-trump.html|title='We Must Fight Them': Trump Goes After Conservatives of Freedom Caucus|first1=Glenn|last1=Thrush |authorlink=Glenn Thrush |first2=Jonathan|last2=Martin|date=March 30, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=April 30, 2017}}</ref> and [[bullying]],<ref name="Schwarz_12/11/2017">{{cite web | last=Schwarz | first=Sam | title=Donald Trump bullied CNN anchor Don Lemon, network says after presidential tweet | website=Newsweek | date=December 11, 2017 | url=http://www.newsweek.com/cnn-responds-trumps-tweet-calls-him-bully-744613 | accessdate=January 8, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Cillizza_11/27/2017">{{cite news | last=Cillizza | first=Chris | title=Bully in Chief: Donald Trump proves it again with his 'Pocahontas' attack | website=CNN | date=November 27, 2017 | url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/27/politics/donald-trump-pocahontas-analysis/index.html | accessdate=January 9, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Cillizza_10/10/2017">{{cite news | last=Cillizza | first=Chris | title=Donald Trump is acting like a fifth-grade bully | website=CNN | date=October 10, 2017 | url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/10/politics/trump-corker-liddle/index.html | accessdate=January 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kraus|first=Rachel|title=Trump's called Elizabeth Warren 'Pocahontas' at least 26 times—and it's not OK|url=https://mashable.com/2017/11/28/trump-called-warren-pocahontas-at-least-26-times/#RIhOXdqr4sqM|accessdate=April 26, 2018|work=Mashable|date=November 28, 2017|quote=A "nickname" might sound harmless. But as we saw with "Crooked Hillary," Trump's epithetical bullying helps cement lies as truth, painting complicated situations and individuals with one wide, ugly stroke.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Benen|first=Steve|title=Treasury's Mnuchin tries to defend Trump's offensive antics|url=http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/treasurys-mnuchin-tries-defend-trumps-offensive-antics|accessdate=April 26, 2018|work=MSNBC|date=March 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Holden Vacanti Gilroy|first=Rosie|title=Donald Trump's Nicknames For Everybody He Dislikes, Ranked On A Scale He Would Understand|url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/160378-donald-trumps-nicknames-for-everybody-he-dislikes-ranked-on-a-scale-he-would-understand|accessdate=April 26, 2018|work=Bustle|date=May 12, 2016|quote=Just like the common elementary school bully, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is a big fan of nicknames.}}</ref> often being made late at night or in the early hours of the morning. His tweets about a Muslim ban were successfully turned against his administration to halt two versions of travel restrictions from Muslim-majority countries.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/2017/03/blocked-immigration-ban-proves-trumps-tweets-will-haunt-presidency/|title=A court just blocked Trump's second immigration ban, proving his tweets will haunt his presidency|first=Issie|last=Lapowsky|work=Wired|accessdate=April 30, 2017}}</ref> He has used Twitter to threaten and intimidate his political opponents and potential political allies needed to pass bills. While trying to pass the [[Efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act|repeal and replacement]] of the Affordable Care Act, Trump attacked the conservative [[House Freedom Caucus]], whose votes he needed.<ref name="nytimes1" /> Trump repeatedly used belittling nicknames such as [[Marco Rubio|Little Marco]], [[Ted Cruz|Lyin' Ted]], and [[Hillary Clinton|Crooked Hillary]] for his opponents during his campaign and [[List of nicknames used by Donald Trump|continued the practice]] once elected, such as [[Dianne Feinstein|Sneaky Dianne Feinstein]] and [[Dick Durbin|Dicky Durbin]]. He used the nickname "Rocket Man" for [[Kim Jong Un]] of North Korea both in tweets and at a United Nations meeting.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/20/opinions/trumps-self-inflicted-humiliation-via-twitter-dantonio/index.html|title=Trump's self-inflicted humiliation via Twitter|first=Michael|last=D'Antonio|publisher=CNN|accessdate=April 30, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Selk|first1=Avi|title=Rocket Man' enters Trump's U.N. speech — and the president's universe of belittling nicknames|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/09/17/from-sleepy-eyes-to-rocket-man-a-compendium-of-belittling-nicknames-trump-has-invented/|publisher=The Washington Post The Fix blog|accessdate=October 26, 2017}}</ref>

Many tweets appear to be based on stories that Trump has seen in the media, including far-right news websites such as [[Breitbart News|Breitbart]], and television shows such as ''[[Fox & Friends]]''.<ref>{{cite news|accessdate=June 4, 2018|title=A Trump tweet echoed RT and Breitbart criticisms of the FBI's Russia distraction|url=https://www.vox.com/world/2018/2/20/17029860/trump-rt-breitbart-fbi-russia|newspaper=Vox}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|accessdate=June 4, 2018|title=Trump's Fox News Addiction Is Even Worse Than We Knew|url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a20681265/trump-fox-news-sean-hannity/|newspaper=Esquire|date=May 14, 2018}}</ref> One notable example is the [[Trump Tower wiretapping allegations]] which appeared to originate in an unsubstantiated claim by [[Andrew Napolitano]] on Fox News.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-napolitano-fox-news-20170320-story.html|title=Fox News pulls Judge Napolitano over his Trump wiretap claims|last=Battaglio|first=Stephen|website=latimes.com|accessdate=May 14, 2018}}</ref> Despite a lack of evidence for the claims, Trump continued to push the claim in media and through Twitter.<ref name="autogenerated2" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Trump is still live tweeting 'Fox & Friends'|url=http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/18/media/trump-fox-friends-tweet/index.html|publisher=CNN|accessdate=November 5, 2017}}</ref>

Trump has used Twitter to attack [[United States federal judge|federal judges]] who have ruled against him in court cases.<ref>Kristine Phillips, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/04/26/all-the-times-trump-personally-attacked-judges-and-why-his-tirades-are-worse-than-wrong/ All the times Trump personally attacked judges — and why his tirades are 'worse than wrong'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103144335/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/04/26/all-the-times-trump-personally-attacked-judges-and-why-his-tirades-are-worse-than-wrong/|date=November 3, 2017}}, ''Washington Post'' (April 26, 2017).</ref> Trump has also used Twitter to criticize officials within his own administration, including then-[[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[Rex Tillerson]], then-[[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]] [[H. R. McMaster]], [[United States Deputy Attorney General|Deputy Attorney General]] [[Rod Rosenstein]], and at various times [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]] [[Jeff Sessions]].<ref name=":71">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/01/28/upshot/donald-trump-twitter-insults.html|title=The 459 People, Places and Things Donald Trump Has Insulted on Twitter: A Complete List|last=Lee|first=Jasmine C.|date=2016|work=The New York Times|accessdate=May 14, 2018|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Tillerson was eventually fired via a tweet by Trump.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Singletary|first1=Michelle|title=Trump dumped Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a tweet. What's the worst way you've been fired?|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/get-there/wp/2018/03/15/trump-dumped-secretary-of-state-rex-tillerson-in-a-tweet-whats-the-worst-way-youve-been-fired/|work=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=March 18, 2018}}</ref> Trump has also tweeted that his [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] is part of the [[Deep state in the United States|American "deep state"]];<ref>{{cite web|title=Trump again at war with 'deep state' Justice Department|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/01/02/politics/president-donald-trump-deep-state/index.html|publisher=CNN|accessdate=March 18, 2018}}</ref> that "there was tremendous leaking, lying and corruption at the highest levels of the [[FBI]], Justice & [[United States Department of State|State]]" [[United States federal executive departments|Departments]];<ref name=":71" /> and that the [[Special Counsel investigation (2017–present)|special counsel investigation]] is a "[[Witch hunt|WITCH HUNT]]!"<ref>{{cite web|last1=Griffiths|first1=Brent|title=Trump slams Comey, mentions Mueller for first time in tweet|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/17/trump-james-comey-andrew-mccabe-fbi-469008|publisher=[[Politico]]|accessdate=March 18, 2018}}</ref> In August 2018, Trump used Twitter to write that Attorney General Jeff Sessions "should stop" the special counsel investigation immediately; he also referred to it as "rigged" and its investigators as biased.<ref name=Morin-180801>{{cite web | url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/01/trump-calls-on-sessions-to-stop-mueller-probe-755030 | title=Trump calls on Sessions to stop Mueller probe | work=[[Politico]] | date=August 1, 2018 | accessdate=August 1, 2018 | first=Rebecca | last=Morin}}</ref><ref name=Chiacu-180801>{{cite web | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia/trump-says-attorney-general-should-stop-mueller-probe-right-now-idUSKBN1KM539 | title=Trump says attorney general should stop Mueller probe 'right now' | work=[[Reuters]] | date=August 1, 2018 | accessdate=August 1, 2018 | first=Doina | last=Chiacu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-sessions-twitter-stop-rigged-witch-hunt/story?id=56962100|title=Trump to Sessions: Shut down Russia probe|last=Keneally|first=Meghan|last2=Mallin|first2=Alexander|date=August 1, 2018|website=[[ABC News]]|accessdate=August 1, 2018}}</ref> On January 14, 2019, Donald Trump fed the National Champion Clemson Tiger football team fast food on silver platters.  He tweeted that he paid for the food himself.

== Domestic policy ==
{{See also|Social policy of Donald Trump}}

=== Abortion and fetal tissue research ===

{{Main|Abortion policy of Donald Trump}}
Trump, in his first few days in office, signed an executive order reinstating the [[Mexico City policy]] that requires all foreign [[non-governmental organization]]s that receive federal funding to refrain from performing or promoting abortion as a method of family planning in other countries.<ref name=":32">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2018/12/18/latest-un-draft-resolution-america-has-problem-with-one-condemning-violence-against-girls/|title=U.S. alone in its opposition to parts of a U.N. draft resolution addressing violence against girls|date=2018|work=The Washington Post|access-date=}}</ref> In 2018, the United States was the only country to oppose a nonbinding draft resolution in the United Nations designed to combat violence against women; the administration raised concern about a reference to "sexual and reproductive health", which it believed could be interpreted as support for abortion rights.<ref name=":32" /> The administration also argued that resolution might conflate "physical violence against women with sexual harassment."<ref name=":32" /> In 2018, the Trump administration prohibited scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from acquiring new fetal tissue for research.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/12/trump-administration-has-quietly-barred-nih-scientists-acquiring-fetal-tissue|title=Updated: NIH says cancer study also hit by fetal tissue ban|last=Wadm|first=Meredith|last2=Ec. 13|date=2018-12-07|website=Science {{!}} AAAS|language=en|access-date=2018-12-14|last3=2018|last4=Am|first4=11:45}}</ref>

The administration geared HHS funding towards abstinence education programs for teens rather than the comprehensive sexual education programs that the Obama administration funded.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/384208-trump-admin-announces-abstinence-focused-overhaul-of-teen-pregnancy|title=Trump admin announces abstinence-focused overhaul of teen pregnancy program|last=Hellmann|first=Jessie|date=2018-04-20|work=TheHill|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en}}</ref>

=== Consumer protections ===
In October 2017, Vice President Pence cast the [[List of tie-breaking votes cast by vice presidents of the United States|tie-breaking vote]] in the Senate to reverse a [[Consumer Financial Protection Bureau]] (CFPB) rule that placed limits on [[mandatory arbitration]] and made it easier for aggrieved consumers to pursue [[class action]]s against banks. Financial firms lobbied for years against the rule; the Associated Press characterized the reversal as a victory for Wall Street banks.<ref name="Bloomberg-Dex">{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-25/consumer-bureau-s-arbitration-rule-overturned-by-vote-in-senate|title=The Senate Voted to Make It Harder to Sue Banks|last=Dexheimer|first=Elizabeth|date=October 24, 2017|publisher=[[Bloomberg News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/big-banks-score-win-with-scrapping-of-consumer-dispute-rule/2017/10/25/1c15fc2a-b9a0-11e7-9b93-b97043e57a22_story.html|title=Consumers lose chance to sue banks in win for Wall Street|last=Sweet|first=Ken|date=October 25, 2017|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=October 29, 2017}}</ref>

In December 2017, the Trump administration scrapped a proposed rule from the Obama administration that airlines disclose baggage fees.<ref name=":48">{{Cite news|url=http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/363956-trump-admin-scraps-obama-era-proposal-requiring-airlines-to-disclose|title=Trump admin scraps Obama-era proposal requiring airlines to disclose bag fees|last=Zanona|first=Melanie|date=December 8, 2017|work=TheHill|accessdate=December 11, 2017}}</ref> The Trump administration reduced enforcement of regulations against airlines; the fines levied by the administration in 2017 were less than half of what the Obama administration did the year before.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/as-airline-rules-relax-under-trump-heres-a-survival-guide-to-flying-in-2018/2017/12/27/693795ee-e444-11e7-833f-155031558ff4_story.html|title=Perspective {{!}} As airline rules relax under Trump, here's a survival guide to flying in 2018|last=Elliott|first=Christopher|date=December 28, 2017|work=Washington Post|accessdate=January 3, 2018|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

Under Mick Mulvaney's tenure the CFPB reduced enforcement of rules that protected consumers from predatory [[Payday loan|payday lenders]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.propublica.org/article/consumer-financial-protection-bureau-drops-investigation-of-high-cost-lender|title=Newly Defanged, Top Consumer Protection Agency Drops Investigation of High-Cost Lender|date=January 23, 2018|website=ProPublica|others=Paul Kiel|accessdate=January 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/8ed9d74512e646ff8449732930323240|title=Payday lenders, watchdog agency exhibit cozier relationship|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=March 6, 2018}}</ref>

=== Criminal justice ===
[[File:Ann Wagner Statement on President Signing FOSTA into Law.jpg|thumb|Trump has signed new anti-sex-trafficking legislation on April 16, 2018]]
In November 2017, the ''New York Times'' summarized the Trump administration's "general approach to law enforcement" as "cracking down on violent crime", "not regulating the police departments that fight it", and overhauling "programs that the Obama administration used to ease tensions between communities and the police."<ref name=":44">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/21/us/trump-justice-department-police.html|title=How Trump's Hands-Off Approach to Policing Is Frustrating Some Chiefs|last=Eder|first=Steve|date=November 21, 2017|work=The New York Times|accessdate=November 22, 2017|last2=Protess|first2=Ben|issn=0362-4331|last3=Dewan|first3=Shaila}}</ref>

[[File:The 36th Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service (34535435862).jpg|thumb|right|Trump [[Peace Officers Memorial Day|pays tribute]] to fallen police officers, May 15, 2017]]
In July 2017, the Department of Justice reinstated the use of [[asset forfeiture]], which is the practice of seizing the property of crime suspects who have not been charged or convicted with a crime. This meant that local authorities in the 24 states that banned the practice or limited its use so that it could now seize property from individuals who have not even been charged with a crime if the property is forwarded to the federal government.<ref name=":11">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sessions-signals-more-police-property-seizures-coming-from-justice-department/|title=Sessions reinstates asset forfeiture policy at Justice Department|accessdate=July 19, 2017}}</ref> Previously, in February 2017, when a sheriff complained about a state senator who proposed legislation to end asset forfeiture, Trump responded, "Who is the state senator? Do you want to give his name?&nbsp;We'll destroy his career."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2017/02/07/trump-offers-destroy-texas-senator-help-rockwall-sheriff|title=Trump offers to 'destroy' Texas senator to help Rockwall sheriff|date=February 7, 2017|newspaper=Dallas News|accessdate=February 7, 2017}}</ref>

Trump appeared to advocate [[police brutality]] in a July 2017 speech to police officers,<ref>{{cite news|title=Donald Trump seemingly endorses police brutality|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-long-island-brutality-police-suffolk-a7866071.html|accessdate=February 6, 2018|work=Independent|date=July 28, 2017}}</ref> prompting criticism from law enforcement agencies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/29/nyregion/trump-police-too-nice.html|title=Police Criticize Trump for Urging Officers Not to Be 'Too Nice' With Suspects|last=Rosenthal|first=Brian M.|date=July 29, 2017|accessdate=July 19, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

==== Presidential pardons and commutations ====
{{Main|List of people granted executive clemency by Donald Trump}}
Trump has issued a number of [[Federal pardons in the United States|presidential pardons]]. In August 2017, he [[Pardon of Joe Arpaio|pardoned Sheriff Joe Arpaio]], who had been convicted of [[contempt of court]] for failing to comply with court orders to stop racially profiling Hispanics.<ref name=":73" /> In March 2018 he pardoned [[Kristian Saucier]], a sailor convicted for taking pictures aboard a [[nuclear submarine]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Olson |first=Wyatt |url=https://www.stripes.com/news/us/trump-pardons-sailor-convicted-of-photographing-sub-s-nuclear-propulsion-system-1.515957 |title=Trump pardons sailor convicted of photographing sub's nuclear propulsion system |work=Stars and Stripes |date=March 9, 2018 |accessdate=March 10, 2018}}</ref> In April 2018, Trump pardoned [[Scooter Libby|Lewis "Scooter" Libby]], chief of staff to former Vice President Dick Cheney, who was convicted of obstruction of justice and perjury in the [[Plame affair grand jury investigation|investigation of the leak of the covert identity]] of [[Central Intelligence Agency]] officer [[Valerie Plame|Valerie Plame Wilson]].<ref name=":73" /> In May 2018, Trump granted a posthumous pardon to black heavyweight boxer [[Jack Johnson (boxer)|Jack Johnson]], who had been convicted in 1913 for taking his white girlfriend across state lines, per the "moral purity" [[Mann Act]] of 1910.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44244687|title=Trump pardons black heavyweight champion|date=May 24, 2018|work=BBC News|accessdate=May 31, 2018}}</ref> That same month, Trump pardoned conservative pundit [[Dinesh D'Souza]], who was convicted of illegal campaign contributions in a 2012 Senate race.<ref name=":73" /> ''The New York Times'' remarked that Trump took no action on more than 10,000 pending applications and that he solely used his pardon power on "public figures whose cases resonated with him given his own grievances with investigators."<ref name=":73">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/31/us/politics/dsouza-pardon.html|title=Trump Wields Pardon Pen to Confront Justice System|date=May 31, 2018|work=The New York Times|accessdate=June 1, 2018|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In June 2018, Trump commuted the sentence of Alice Johnson, a 63-year old who was serving a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense, after Kim Kardashian met Trump to lobby for her cause.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44390737|title=Trump grants Kardashian's clemency plea|date=June 6, 2018|work=BBC News|accessdate=June 6, 2018}}</ref> In July 2018, Trump pardoned two Oregon ranchers who were convicted of intentionally setting fires on public land in Oregon, and whose prison sentences prompted armed protestors led by [[Bundy standoff|Clive Bundy]] to violently seize the [[Malheur National Wildlife Refuge]] in Oregon for 41 days in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/7060f760f76f4608a72359f2ddcc98be|title=Heroes or criminals? Trump pardons 2 Oregon ranchers|work=AP News|accessdate=July 15, 2018}}</ref>

=== Defense ===
During 2018, Trump asserted he had secured the largest defense budget authorization ever, the first military pay raise in ten years, and that military spending was at least 4.0% of GDP, “which got a lot bigger since I became your president.” All his assertions were false.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2018/07/12/donald-trumps-defense-spending-exaggerations-fact-check/779303002/|title=Fact check: President Trump’s defense spending exaggerations|publisher=[[USA Today]]|accessdate=November 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2018/may/10/donald-trump/did-donald-trump-sign-first-military-pay-raise-10-/|title=Did Trump sign the first military pay raise in 10 years?|publisher=Politifact|accessdate=November 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/25/us/politics/fact-check-trump-naval-academy-speech.html|title=3 False Claims From Trump’s Naval Academy Speech|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=November 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/13/us/politics/fact-check-trump-military-spending.html|title=Trump Goes for Broke on Claim Military Received No Money Before His Watch. (He’s Still Wrong.)|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=November 25, 2018}}</ref>

As a candidate and as president, Trump called for a major build-up of American military capabilities, including increasing the nuclear arsenal tenfold. He stated he was open to allowing Japan and South Korea to acquire nuclear weapons. He announced in October 2018 that America would withdraw from the [[Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty]] with Russia to enable America to counter increasing Chinese intermediate nuclear missile capabilities in the Pacific. In December 2018, Trump complained about the amount America spends on an “uncontrollable arms race” with Russia and China. Trump stated the $716 billion America is now spending on the “arms race” was “Crazy!,” after praising his increased defense spending five months earlier. The total fiscal 2019 defense budget authorization was $716 billion, although missile defense and nuclear programs comprised about $10 billion of the total.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/08/us/politics/donald-trump-speech.html|title=Donald Trump Vows to Bolster Nation’s Military Capacities|first1=Ashley|last1=Parker|first2=Matthew|last2=Rosenberg|date=September 7, 2016|publisher=|accessdate=December 5, 2018|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/02/world/middleeast/obama-nuclear-security-summit-iran.html|title=Obama Rebukes Donald Trump’s Comments on Nuclear Weapons|first=Mark|last=Landler|date=April 1, 2016|publisher=|accessdate=December 5, 2018|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/19/us/politics/russia-nuclear-arms-treaty-trump-administration.html|title=U.S. to Tell Russia It Is Leaving Landmark I.N.F. Treaty|first1=David E.|last1=Sanger|first2=William J.|last2=Broad|date=October 19, 2018|publisher=|accessdate=December 5, 2018|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>"Trump Wanted Tenfold Increase in Nuclear Arsenal, Surprising Military," ''NBC News'', October 11, 2017: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/trump-wanted-dramatic-increase-nuclear-arsenal-meeting-military-leaders-n809701
</ref>

=== Drug policy ===
{{Main|Cannabis policy of the Donald Trump administration}}In May 2017 departure from the Obama DOJ's policy to reduce long jail sentencing for minor drug offenses, [[Jeff Sessions|Sessions]] ordered federal prosecutors to seek maximum sentencing for [[Drug offence|drug offenses]].<ref name=":9" /> According to ''The New York Times'', the action ran "contrary to the growing bipartisan consensus coursing through Washington and many state capitals in recent years — a view that America was guilty of excessive incarceration and that large prison populations were too costly in tax dollars and the toll on families and communities."<ref name=":9">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/14/us/politics/jeff-sessions-criminal-sentencing.html|title=Bipartisan View Was Emerging on Sentencing. Then Came Jeff Sessions.|last=Hulse|first=Carl|date=May 14, 2017|work=The New York Times|accessdate=May 14, 2017}}</ref>

In January 2018 move that created uncertainty regarding the legality of recreational and medical marijuana, Sessions rescinded federal policy that had barred federal law enforcement officials from aggressively enforcing federal cannabis law in states where the drug is legal.<ref name=":52">{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/19f6bfec15a74733b40eaf0ff9162bfa|title=Sessions ending federal policy that let legal pot flourish|accessdate=January 4, 2018|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The Trump administration's decision contradicted then-candidate Trump's statement that marijuana legalization should be "up to the states".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-justice-marijuana/trump-administration-to-end-obama-era-marijuana-policy-source-idUSKBN1ET1MU|title=Trump administration drops Obama-era easing of marijuana prosecutions|date=2018|work=Reuters|accessdate=January 8, 2018}}</ref> That same month, the Department of Veterans Affairs said that it would not research cannabis as a potential treatment against PTSD and chronic pain; veterans organizations had pushed for such a study.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://taskandpurpose.com/va-will-not-study-medical-marijuana-ptsd-chronic-pain/|title=VA Says It Will Not Study Effects Of Medical Marijuana On PTSD And Chronic Pain|last=Clark|first=James|date=January 16, 2018|work=Task & Purpose|accessdate=January 17, 2018}}</ref>

===Economy===
{{main|Economic policy of Donald Trump}}
{{see also|2018 United States federal budget|Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017}}

{| class="wikitable" align="right" style="margin-left:1em; text-align:center"
|+ Economic indicators and federal finances under the Obama and Trump administrations
<br>''$ represent U.S. trillions of [[Real versus nominal value (economics)|unadjusted]] dollars''
|-
! rowspan="2"|Year
! rowspan="2"|Unemploy-<br>ment<ref>Civilian Unemployment Rate, Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=mCWW</ref>
! rowspan="2"| [[Gross Domestic Product|GDP]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Table 1.1.5. Gross Domestic Product|url=https://www.bea.gov/iTable/print.cfm?fid=B5067FE4A93BE2A1FEF2E6837F9CAB786B5F8C30B98347B777894CE2533ACE707637254ABBC0CB4A6EE2D814F3EA8D7678F43F20CB63E27D47D106BEE4D96276|website=[[Bureau of Economic Analysis]]|publisher=[[United States Department of Commerce]]|accessdate=March 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GDPA|title=Gross Domestic Product|last=U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis|date=January 1, 1929|website=FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis|accessdate=December 13, 2018}}</ref>
! rowspan="2"| [[Real gross domestic product|RGDP %]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Gross Domestic Product, Full Release & Tables, Table 1|url=https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gross-domestic-product|website=[[Bureau of Economic Analysis]]|publisher=[[United States Department of Commerce]]|date=September 27, 2018|accessdate=October 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Trump’s Numbers October 2018 Update|url=https://www.factcheck.org/2018/10/trumps-numbers-october-2018-update/|website=[[Factcheck.org]]|date=October 12, 2018|accessdate=November 3, 2018}}</ref>
| colspan="4" style="background:honeydew"|Fiscal Data<ref>Federal receipts, outlays and deficits, Office of Management and Budget via FRED: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=mr42</ref><ref>Federal Debt Held by the Public, US Treasury via FRED: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=mCXl</ref>
|-
! Receipts!! Outlays !! Deficit !! Debt
|- style="background:papayawhip"
| ''ending'' || colspan="3"|''Dec 31 (Calendar Year)'' || colspan="4"|''Sep 30 (Fiscal Year)''{{ref|fiscalyear}}
|-
|- style="background:white"
! 2013*
| 7.4%
| $16.785
| 1.8%
| $2.775
| $3.455
| - $0.680
| $12.0
|-
! 2014*
| 6.2%
| $17,522
| 2.5%
| $3.021
| $3.506
| - $0.485
| $12.9
|-
! 2015*
| 5.3%
| $18,219
| 2.9%
| $3.250
| $3.688
| - $0.438
| $13.1
|-
! 2016*
| 4.9%
| $18.707
| 1.6%
| $3.268
| $3.853
| - $0.585
| $14.2
|-
! 2017
| 4.4%
| $19.485
| 2.2%
| $3.315
| $3.981
| - $0.666
| $14.7
|-
! 2018 
| 3.9%
| $20.411 est
| 3.1% est
| $3.329
| $4.108
| - $0.799
| $15.8
|}

Prior to Trump's election, the American economy had been expanding for over seven years, with steady growth in employment, a declining unemployment rate, and steadily rising home values, stock values and household income/wealth. Trump's economic policies centered around tax cuts, deregulation, trade protectionism and immigration reduction. As candidate and president, Trump claimed his policies would spur much higher GDP growth, stating in December 2017, "I see no reason why we don't go to 4, 5, even 6 percent,"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-06/trump-s-picture-of-6-growth-makes-him-rosiest-among-the-rosy|title=Trump Paints Picture of 6% Growth, Passing Even the Rosiest Forecasts|date=December 6, 2017|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=May 29, 2018}}</ref> figures that economists generally consider impossible to achieve on a sustained basis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://money.cnn.com/2016/10/11/news/economy/trump-four-percent-growth-economists/index.html|title=Trump promises 4% growth. Economists say no way.|first=Patrick|last=Gillespie|publisher=[[CNN]]|accessdate=May 29, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/25/economists-dont-buy-trumps-3-percent-gdp-growth-target.html|title=Economists don't buy Trump's 3 percent GDP growth target|first=John W.|last=Schoen|date=September 25, 2017|publisher=[[CNBC]]|accessdate=May 29, 2018}}</ref> In July 2018, Trump stated, "We have added 3.7 million new jobs since the election, a number that is unthinkable if you go back to the campaign. Nobody would have said it." During the 19 months since the election, nearly 3.7 million jobs were created; during the 19 months prior to the election, 4.3 million jobs were created.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/27/business/economy/trump-gdp-fact-check.html|title=Trump’s Numbers on ‘Amazing’ Economy Sometimes Don’t Add Up|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=August 1, 2018}}</ref> Trump also stated, "More than 10 million additional Americans had been added to food stamps, past years. But we’ve turned it all around." [[Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program|SNAP]] participation had been steadily declining since December 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/27/business/economy/trump-gdp-fact-check.html|title=Trump’s Numbers on ‘Amazing’ Economy Sometimes Don’t Add Up|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=August 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fb.org/market-intel/snap-participation-dips-to-lowest-level-in-eight-years|title=SNAP Participation Dips to Lowest Level in Eight Years|publisher=American Farm Bureau Federation|accessdate=August 1, 2018}}</ref>

During the 2016 campaign, Trump proposed $1 trillion in infrastructure investments.<ref name="handicapping1" /> In February 2018, Trump released a $1.5 trillion federal infrastructure plan, but left the details of the plan for Congress to solve, including how to pay for it. Congress showed little enthusiasm for the plan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/377681-trumps-infrastructure-push-hits-wall-in-congress|title=Trump's infrastructure push hits wall in Congress|first=Dustin|last=Weaver|date=March 10, 2018|publisher=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|accessdate=May 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/27/cornyn-trump-infrastructure-might-not-happen-2018-430097|title=Congress punctures Trump's infrastructure and aviation plans, in one day|publisher=[[Politico]]|accessdate=May 12, 2018}}</ref>

One of the administration's first actions was to indefinitely suspend a cut in fee rates for HUD mortgages implemented by the Obama administration. The cut in fee rates would have saved individuals with lower credit scores around $500 per year on a typical loan.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-fha-rate-cut-explained-20170123-story.html|title=Trump's team suspended a mortgage insurance rate cut. Here's what that means|last=Khouri|first=Andrew|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=January 23, 2017}}</ref>

In September 2017, the DOJ announced it would not defend in courts a mandate that would have extended overtime benefits to more than 4 million workers.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/349221-justice-department-drops-appeal-to-save-obama-overtime-rule|title=Justice Department drops appeal to save Obama overtime rule|last=Bowden|first=John|date=September 5, 2017|work=The Hill|accessdate=September 7, 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Treasury Secretary Nominee Steve Mnuchin Opening Statement (C-SPAN).webm|thumb|Nominee Steven Mnuchin delivers his opening statement before the Senate Finance Committee at the confirmation hearing for him to become Secretary of the Treasury.]]<!--Replace with updated numbers when he enters office-->In September 2017, the administration proposed [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017|a tax overhaul]]. The proposal would reduce the corporate tax rate to 20% (from 35%) and eliminate the estate tax. On individual tax returns it would change the number of tax brackets from seven to three, with tax rates of 12%, 25%, and 35%; apply a 25% tax rate to business income reported on a personal tax return; eliminate the [[alternative minimum tax]]; eliminate personal exemptions; double the standard deduction; and eliminate many itemized deductions (specifically retaining the deductions for mortgage interest and charitable contributions).<ref name=":34">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/27/us/politics/trump-tax-cut-plan-middle-class-deficit.html|title=Trump Proposes the Most Sweeping Tax Overhaul in Decades|last=Davis|first=Julie Hirschfeld|date=September 27, 2017|work=The New York Times|accessdate=September 27, 2017|last2=Rappeport|first2=Alan}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tax/trumps-tax-plan-to-propose-deep-u-s-rate-cuts-lacks-revenue-details-idUSKCN1C213M|title=Trump proposal slashes taxes on businesses, the rich; fuels deficit worries|year=2017|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=September 27, 2017}}</ref>
[[File:Donald Trump and Mike Pence meet with automobile industry leaders.jpg|thumb|Trump and Vice-President Pence met with key [[Automotive industry in the United States|automobile industry]] leaders, January 24, 2017]]

According to ''The New York Times'', the plan would result in a "huge windfall" for the very wealthy but would not benefit those in the bottom third of the income distribution.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/27/us/politics/trump-tax-plan-wealthy-middle-class-poor.html|title=Trump Tax Plan Benefits Wealthy, Including Trump|first=Binyamin|last=Appelbaum|date=September 27, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name=":34" /> The nonpartisan [[Tax Policy Center]] estimated that the richest 0.1% and 1% would benefit the most in raw dollar amounts and percentage terms from the tax plan, earning 10.2% and 8.5% more income after taxes respectively.<ref name=":37">{{cite news |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/9/29/16384274/big-six-tax-reform-congress-trump-tax-policy-center|title=The numbers are in: Trump's tax plan is a bonanza for the rich, not the middle class|publisher=Vox|accessdate=September 29, 2017}}</ref> Middle-class households would on average earn 1.2% more after tax, but 13.5% of middle class households would see their tax burden increase.<ref name=":37" /> The poorest fifth of Americans would earn 0.5% more.<ref name=":37" /> Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin argued that the corporate income tax cut will benefit workers the most; however, the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation, Congressional Budget Office and many economists estimated that owners of capital would benefit vastly more than workers.<ref name=":36">{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/treasury-removes-paper-at-odds-with-mnuchins-take-on-corporate-tax-cuts-winners-1506638463|title=Treasury Removes Paper at Odds With Mnuchin's Take on Corporate-Tax Cut's Winners|last=Rubin|first=Richard|date=September 28, 2017|work=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=September 29, 2017}}</ref> A preliminary estimate by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget found that the tax plan would add more than $2 trillion over the next decade to the federal debt,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/28/us/politics/trump-tax-cuts-deficit-republicans-congress.html|title=With Tax Cuts on the Table, Once-Mighty Deficit Hawks Hardly Chirp|last=Kaplan|first=Thomas|date=September 28, 2017|work=The New York Times|accessdate=September 28, 2017}}</ref> while the Tax Policy Center found that it would add $2.4 trillion to the debt.<ref name=":37" />
[[File:Donald and Melania Trump arrive to the Murabba Palace, escorted by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, May 2017.jpg|thumb|During President Trump's first foreign trip to [[Saudi Arabia]], Trump announced an [[2017 United States–Saudi Arabia arms deal|arms deal with Saudi Arabia]], May 2017]]

In January 2018, ''ProPublica'' analyzed specific claims made by President Trump about job creation in companies during the first year of his presidency; Trump claimed that 2.4 million jobs had been or would be created as a result of his policies. ''ProPublica'' found that only 136,000 new jobs were created, and that only 63,000 of those jobs could be potentially attributed to Trump's policies.<ref name=":60">{{Cite news|url=https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/trump-job-promises|title=What Happened to All the Jobs Trump Promised?|work=ProPublica|accessdate=January 29, 2018}}</ref>

For the first year when the Trump administration was fully in charge of the budget, the fiscal year of 2018, the federal government was on track to borrow nearly a trillion dollars; "this is the first time borrowing has jumped this much (as a share of GDP) in a non-recession time since Ronald Reagan was president." The budget shortfall was primarily due to the GOP's 2017 tax reform.<ref name=":61">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/02/03/the-u-s-government-is-set-to-borrow-nearly-1-trillion-this-year/|title=Analysis {{!}} The U.S. government is set to borrow nearly $1 trillion this year, an 84 percent jump from last year|last=Long|first=Heather|date=February 3, 2018|work=Washington Post|accessdate=February 4, 2018|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

During his tenure, Trump repeatedly sought to intervene in the economy in ways to determine corporate winners and losers.<ref name=":74">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/from-electricity-to-steel-trump-becoming-increasingly-active-in-trying-to-shape-the-economy/2018/06/01/c1a0692c-65b3-11e8-a69c-b944de66d9e7_story.html|title=Breaking from GOP orthodoxy, Trump increasingly deciding winners and losers in the economy|last=Mufson|first=Steven|date=June 1, 2018|work=Washington Post|accessdate=June 2, 2018|last2=Lynch|first2=David J.|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> This was a shift from Republican orthodoxy. Trump, for example, sought to compel power grid operators to buy coal and nuclear energy, and sought tariffs on metals to protect domestic metal producers.<ref name=":74" /> Trump also publicly attacked Boeing and Lockheed Martin, sending their stocks tumbling.<ref name=":74" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/22/lockheed-martin-shares-take-another-tumble-after-trump-tweet.html|title=Lockheed Martin shares take another tumble after Trump tweet|last=Wang|first=Christine|date=December 23, 2016|work=CNBC|accessdate=June 2, 2018}}</ref> Trump repeatedly singled out Amazon for criticism and advocated steps that would harm the company, such as ending a mutually lucrative arrangement between Amazon and the US Postal Service and raising taxes on Amazon.<ref name=":74" /><ref name=":75">{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/31/politics/donald-trump-attacks-amazon-washington-post/index.html|title=Trump keeps up attacks on Amazon, WaPo|last=CNN|first=Veronica Stracqualursi,|work=CNN|accessdate=June 2, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":76">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/02/business/media/to-trump-its-the-amazon-washington-post-to-its-editor-thats-baloney.html|title=To Trump, It's the 'Amazon Washington Post.' To Its Editor, That's Baloney.|date=April 2, 2018|work=The New York Times|accessdate=June 2, 2018|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Trump linked his criticism of Amazon to the fact that Amazon is owned by Jeff Bezos, who also owns ''The Washington Post'', which Trump has derided as "fake news".<ref name=":75" /><ref name=":76" /> Trump expressed vociferous opposition to the merger between Time Warner (the parent company of ''CNN'') and AT&T.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-time-warner-m-a-at-t/att-wins-court-approval-to-buy-time-warner-over-trump-opposition-idUSKBN1J82QX|title=AT&T wins court approval to buy Time Warner over Trump opposition|last=Bartz|first=Diane|work=U.S.|accessdate=July 15, 2018}}</ref>

In March 2018, Trump announced tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, triggering a series of [[tit for tat]] tariffs and threatened additional tariffs from multiple nations, which by June 2018 had escalated into what some characterized as a [[trade war]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/video/2018/07/02/we-are-definitely-in-a-trade-war-say-experts-trump-tariffs-china-wto-world-trade-organization.html|title=We are definitely in a trade war, say experts|website=CNBC|accessdate=July 2, 2018}}</ref> The trade dispute disrupted global commerce, with the ''New York Times'' noting that "shipments are slowing at ports and airfreight terminals around the world. Prices for crucial raw materials are rising. At factories from Germany to Mexico, orders are being cut and investments delayed. American farmers are losing sales as trading partners hit back with duties of their own."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/16/business/tariffs-trade-war.html|title=Just the Fear of a Trade War Is Straining the Global Economy|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=June 17, 2018}}</ref> By June 2018, negative effects of the Trump tariffs policy had begun to ripple through the American economy, in particular the agriculture sector.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tariffs-start-to-ripple-their-way-through-the-u-s-economy-1529400600|title=Tariffs Start to Ripple Their Way Through the U.S. Economy|first=Josh|last=Zumbrun|date=June 19, 2018|publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|accessdate=June 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/22/us/politics/donald-trump-tariffs-trade-war.html|title=Lobsters, Small-Batch Whiskey and Trump's Trade War|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=June 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trade-fight-threatens-farm-belt-businesses-1530529201|title=Trade Fight Threatens Farm Belt Businesses|last=Newman|first=Jesse|date=July 2, 2018|publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|accessdate=July 2, 2018}}</ref> In July 2018, China retaliated with a $34{{nbsp}}billion in tariffs on U.S. goods.<ref name=Boudreau-180706>{{cite web | url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/06/trump-china-tariffs-farmers-672103 | title=Trump country hit hard by Chinese tariffs|publisher=[[Politico]] | date=July 6, 2018 | accessdate=July 6, 2018 | first=Catherine | last=Boudreau}}</ref><ref name=Hjelmgaard-180706>{{cite web | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/07/06/trade-war-china-retaliates-after-trump-launches-34-billion-import-duties/762301002/ | title=Trump launches $34 billion trade war and China 'immediately' fires back |publisher=[[USA Today]] | date=July 6, 2018 | accessdate=July 6, 2018 | first=Kim | last=Hjelmgaard}}</ref> Trump had signaled that he might impose an additional $200{{nbsp}}billion in tariffs if China imposed their own tariffs, with the potential for a further $200{{nbsp}}billion, in an escalating trade war.<ref name=Zaharia-180706>{{cite web | url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/how-trade-war-with-us-can-hurt-china-and-economies-including-australia-20180706-p4zpv2.html | title=How trade war with US can hurt China and economies including Australia|publisher=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] | date=July 6, 2018 | accessdate=July 6, 2018 | first=Marius | last=Zaharia}}</ref>

Upon taking office, Trump halted trade negotiations with the European Union on the [[Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership]] (TTIP), which had been under way since 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/world/europe/donald-trump-us-eu-trade.html|title=Europe Averts a Trade War With Trump. But Can It Trust Him?|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=July 28, 2018}}</ref><ref name="nytimes.com1">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/us/politics/trump-trade-european-union.html|title=Trump’s Trade Truce With Europe Has a Familiar Feel: It Mirrors Obama’s Path|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=July 28, 2018}}</ref> In May 2018, Trump initiated a trade conflict with the EU by imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/05/31/news/economy/united-states-steel-aluminum-tariffs/index.html|title=Trump hits allies with metal tariffs; Mexico, EU and Canada vow to retaliate|first=Jeremy Diamond and Julia|last=Horowitz|publisher=[[CNN]]|accessdate=July 28, 2018}}</ref> for which the EU retaliated in June with tariffs of their own,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-retaliates-against-trumps-metal-tariffs/|title=EU retaliates against Trump’s metal tariffs|date=June 20, 2018|publisher=[[Politico]]|accessdate=July 28, 2018}}</ref> with Trump threatening to escalate the conflict with additional tariffs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/06/22/e-u-trade-tariffs-take-effect-in-latest-rift-between-u-s-and-its-closest-allies/|title=Trump threatens Europe with 20 percent tariffs on auto imports, escalating trade showdown with U.S. allies|publisher=Washington Post|accessdate=July 28, 2018}}</ref> In July 2018, Trump and the EU declared a truce of sorts, announcing they would enter into negotiations for an agreement similar to the TTIP.<ref name="nytimes.com1"/>

''The New York Times'' reported on August 5, 2018 that two major American steel companies with close ties to senior Trump administration officials had succeeded in blocking requests from 1,600 American manufacturing companies for waivers of the steel tariffs, compelling them to purchase more expensive American steel. [[Nucor]] had financed a documentary made by [[Peter Navarro]], Trump's Director of the [[White House National Trade Council]], and [[US Steel]] had previously been represented in legal matters by Trump's [[United States Trade Representative|trade representative]] [[Robert Lighthizer]] and his deputy [[Jeffrey Gerrish]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/05/us/politics/nucor-us-steel-tariff-exemptions.html|title=Steel Giants With Ties to Trump Officials Block Tariff Relief for Hundreds of Firms|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=August 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/07/24/news/companies/whirlpool-washing-machines-trump-tariffs/index.html|title=Whirlpool loved Trump's tariffs. Now it's struggling|first=Nathaniel|last=Meyersohn|publisher=[[CNN]]|accessdate=August 8, 2018}}</ref>

A July 2018 paper, which used the [[synthetic control method]], found no evidence that Trump had an impact on the US economy during his 18 months in office.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://voxeu.org/article/stable-genius-estimating-trump-effect-us-economy|title=Stable genius: Estimating the 'Trump effect' on the US economy|last=Born|first=Benjamin|last2=Müller|first2=Gernot|date=July 18, 2018|website=VoxEU.org|accessdate=July 24, 2018|last3=Schularick|first3=Moritz|last4=Sedláček|first4=Petr}}</ref>

Analysis conducted by [[Bloomberg News]] at the end of Trump's second year in office found that his economy ranked sixth among the last seven presidents, based on fourteen metrics of economic activity and financial performance.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=January 28, 2019 |first=Matthew A. |last=Winkler |authorlink=Matthew Winkler (journalist) |title=Ranking the Trump Economy |accessdate=January 28, 2019 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-01-28/trump-economy-lags-clinton-s-obama-s-reagan-s-and-even-carter-s}}</ref>

During his February 2019 State of the Union Address, Trump asserted, "Wages are rising at the fastest pace in decades, and growing for blue collar workers, who I promised to fight for, faster than anyone else."<ref>https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/05/politics/donald-trump-state-of-the-union-2019-transcript/index.html</ref> However, [[Real versus nominal value (economics)|nominal]] wage growth for production and nonsupervisory workers averaged 3.0% during 2018, the highest rate since 2009. Adjusted for inflation, the 2018 average growth rate for such workers was 0.5%, the highest rate since 2016, when real wages rose 1.2%. Real wage growth was lower during both of Trump’s first two years in office than during any of the preceding four years.<ref>https://fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=mZBk</ref>

=== Education ===
[[File:Betsy DeVos and Donald Trump visit Saint Andrew's Catholic School, March 2017.jpg|thumb|U.S. Secretary of Education [[Betsy DeVos]] and President Trump visit Saint Andrew's Catholic School in [[Orlando, Florida]], March 3, 2017]]
In March 2017, the Trump administration revoked an Obama administration memo which provided protections for people in default on student loans.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2017/03/17/trump-administration-rolls-back-protections-for-people-in-default-on-student-loans/|title=Trump administration rolls back protections for people in default on student loans|newspaper=The Washington Post|accessdate=March 18, 2017}}</ref> In September 2017, the Department of Education announced that it would cancel agreements with the CFPB to police student loan fraud.<ref name=":27">{{cite news|url=http://thehill.com/policy/finance/349223-education-dept-ends-agreement-to-work-with-consumer-bureau-on-student-loan|title=DeVos ends agreement to work on student loan fraud|last=Lane|first=Sylvan|date=September 5, 2017|work=The Hill|accessdate=September 7, 2017}}</ref> In August 2018, Seth Frotman, the CFPB student loan ombudsman, resigned, accusing the Trump administration of undermining the CFPB's work on protecting student borrowers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/08/27/642199524/student-loan-watchdog-quits-blames-trump-administration|title=Student Loan Watchdog Quits, Says Trump Administration 'Turned Its Back' On Borrowers|work=NPR|accessdate=August 27, 2018}}</ref>

In September 2017, the Trump administration scrapped an Obama administration guidance on how schools and universities should combat sexual harassment and sexual violence. DeVos criticized the guidance for undermining the rights of those accused of sexual harassment.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/22/us/devos-colleges-sex-assault.html|title=Betsy DeVos Reverses Obama-era Policy on Campus Sexual Assault Investigations|access-date=2018-10-24|language=en}}</ref>

In May 2018, a ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' investigation found that DeVos had marginalized an investigative unit within the Department of Education which under Obama investigated predatory activities by for-profit colleges. The unit had been scaled down from a dozen employees to three, and had been repurposed to process student loan forgiveness applications and focus on smaller compliance cases. An investigation started under Obama into the practices of DeVry Education Group, which operates for-profit colleges, was halted in early 2017, and the former dean at DeVry was made into the supervisor for the investigative unit later that summer. DeVry paid a $100 million fine in 2016 for defrauding students.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/13/business/education-department-for-profit-colleges.html|title=Education Department Unwinds Unit Investigating Fraud at For-Profits|date=May 13, 2018|work=The New York Times|accessdate=May 13, 2018|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In August 2018, the administration rescinded a regulation that restricted federal funding and financial aid to for-profit colleges unable to demonstrate that college graduates had a reasonable debt-to-earnings ratio after entering the job market.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/10/us/politics/betsy-devos-for-profit-colleges.html|title=DeVos Ends Obama-Era Safeguards Aimed at Abuses by For-Profit Colleges|accessdate=August 11, 2018}}</ref>

=== Election integrity ===
On the eve of the 2018 mid-term elections, ''Politico'' described the Trump administration's efforts to combat election propaganda as "rudderless". At the same time, U.S. intelligence agencies warned about "on-going campaigns" by Russia, China and Iran to influence American elections.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/31/2018-elections-security-disinformation-trump-administration-response-949703|title=Inside the Trump administration’s rudderless fight to counter election propaganda|work=POLITICO|access-date=2018-11-05|language=en}}</ref>

=== Environment and energy ===
[[File:Donald Trump rally in Huntington (a) .png|thumb|2017 Trump rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Trump hold a placard that reads "TRUMP DIGS COAL"]]
{{Further|Environmental policy of the Trump administration}}

By December 2018, the administration had overturned or was in process of rolling back 78 environmental regulations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/05/climate/trump-environment-rules-reversed.html|title=76 Environmental Rules on the Way Out Under Trump|last=Popovich|first=Nadja|accessdate=July 24, 2018}}</ref> A 2018 study in the ''[[American Journal of Public Health]]'' found that that in the first six months of Pruitt's tenure as EPA head the agency adopted a pro-business attitude unlike that of any previous administration. The study argued that the EPA "moved away from the public interest and explicitly favored the interests of the regulated industries." The study found that the agency was vulnerable to [[regulatory capture]] and that the consequences for public and environmental health could be far-reaching.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Dillon|first=Lindsey|last2=Sellers|first2=Christopher|last3=Underhill|first3=Vivian|last4=Shapiro|first4=Nicholas|last5=Ohayon|first5=Jennifer Liss|last6=Sullivan|first6=Marianne|last7=Brown|first7=Phil|last8=Harrison|first8=Jill|last9=Wylie|first9=Sara|date=April 2018|title=The Environmental Protection Agency in the Early Trump Administration: Prelude to Regulatory Capture|journal=American Journal of Public Health|volume=108|issue=S2|pages=S89–S94|doi=10.2105/ajph.2018.304360|issn=0090-0036|pmc=5922212|pmid=29698086}}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' summarized Pruitt's leadership of the EPA in 2017 as follows, "In legal maneuvers and executive actions, in public speeches and closed-door meetings with industry groups, he has moved to shrink the agency's reach, alter its focus, and pause or reverse numerous environmental rules. The effect has been to steer the EPA in the direction sought by those being regulated. Along the way, Pruitt has begun to dismantle former president Barack Obama's environmental legacy, halting the agency's efforts to combat climate change and to shift the nation away from its reliance on fossil fuels."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/under-scott-pruitt-a-year-of-tumult-and-transformation-at-epa/2017/12/26/f93d1262-e017-11e7-8679-a9728984779c_story.html|title=How Scott Pruitt turned the EPA into one of Trump's most powerful tools|last=Dennis|first=Brady|date=December 31, 2017|work=Washington Post|accessdate=January 2, 2018|last2=Eilperin|first2=Juliet|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> In December 2017, a ''New York Times'' analysis of EPA enforcement data found that the Trump administration had adopted a far more lenient approach to enforcing federal pollution laws than the Obama and Bush administrations. The Trump administration brought fewer cases against polluters, sought a lower total of civil penalties and made fewer requests of companies to retrofit facilities to curb pollution. According to the ''New York Times'', "confidential internal E.P.A. documents show that the enforcement slowdown coincides with major policy changes ordered by Mr. Pruitt's team after pleas from oil and gas industry executives."<ref name=":47">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/10/us/politics/pollution-epa-regulations.html|title=Under Trump, E.P.A. Has Slowed Actions Against Polluters, and Put Limits on Enforcement Officers|last=Lipton|first=Eric|date=December 10, 2017|work=The New York Times|accessdate=December 11, 2017|last2=Ivory|first2=Danielle|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 2018, the Trump administration referred the lowest number of pollution cases for criminal prosecution in 30 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/d72a4d3dfb584d15949c88917b48ddf9|title=EPA criminal action against polluters hits 30-year low|last=Knickmeyer|first=Ellen|date=2019-01-15|website=AP NEWS|access-date=2019-01-20}}</ref> Two years into Trump's presidency, ''The New York Times'' wrote he had "unleashed a regulatory rollback, lobbied for and cheered on by industry, with little parallel in the past half-century."<ref name=":35">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/12/26/us/politics/donald-trump-environmental-regulation.html,%20https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/12/26/us/politics/donald-trump-environmental-regulation.html|title=President Trump’s Retreat on the Environment Is Affecting Communities Across America|last=Lipton|first=Eric|date=2018-12-26|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-12-27|last2=Eder|first2=Steve|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|last3=Branch|first3=John}}</ref>

Moments after Trump's inauguration, the White House removed all references to climate change on its website, with the sole exception of mentioning Trump's intention to eliminate the Obama administration's climate change policies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/us/politics/trump-white-house-website.html|title=With Trump in Charge, Climate Change References Purged From Website|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=July 10, 2018}}</ref> By April, the EPA had removed climate change material on its website, including detailed climate data and scientific information.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/04/28/epa-website-removes-climate-science-site-from-public-view-after-two-decades/|title=EPA website removes climate science site from public view after two decades|website=Washington Post|accessdate=July 10, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-epa-climatechange-idUSKBN15906G|title=Trump administration tells EPA to cut climate page from website: sources|date=January 25, 2017|accessdate=January 25, 2017|publisher=Reuters}}</ref> Anticipating political interference that could result in loss of government data on climate, scientists had already sourced links and copied the data into independent servers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/12/13/scientists-are-frantically-copying-u-s-climate-data-fearing-it-might-vanish-under-trump/|title=Scientists are frantically copying U.S. climate data, fearing it might vanish under Trump|date=December 13, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

In January 2017, the administration instituted a temporary [[media blackout]] for the EPA, saying that this was to make sure the messages going out reflected the new administration's priorities.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/washington/la-na-trailguide-updates-trump-administration-orders-media-1485281190-htmlstory.html|title=Trump Administration Orders Media Blackout at EPA|date=January 24, 2017|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=January 25, 2017|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In February 2017, the administration ended its earlier freeze on EPA contract and grant approvals, and the appearance of some EPA press releases that week indicated the media blackout was partially lifted.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wvva.com/story/34421248/2017/02/03/epa-media-blackout-partially-lifted-trump-allows-spending-to-move-forward|title=EPA media blackout partially lifted, Trump allows spending to move forward|agency=Associated Press |publisher=WVVA |accessdate=February 20, 2017}}</ref> The EPA hired an opposition research firm associated with the Republican Party for $120,000 in a [[no-bid contract]] to investigate EPA employees who had expressed criticism of the management of the EPA under Pruitt's tenure.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/15/us/politics/epa-scott-pruitt-foia.html|title=Executive at Consultancy Hired by E.P.A. Scrutinized Agency Employees Critical of Trump|last=Lipton|first=Eric|date=December 15, 2017|work=The New York Times|accessdate=December 16, 2017|last2=Friedman|first2=Lisa|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In March 2018, leaked memos showed that EPA employees had been issued guidelines to use [[climate change denial]] talking points in official communications about climate change.<ref name=":67">{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/epa-climate-adaptation_us_5abbb5e3e4b04a59a31387d7|title=Leaked Memo: EPA Issues Approved Talking Points Downplaying Climate Change|last=Kaufman|first=Alexander C.|date=March 28, 2018|work=Huffington Post|accessdate=March 28, 2018}}</ref> In October 2018, the EPA disbanded a 20-expert panel on pollution which advised the EPA on the appropriate threshold levels to set for air quality standards.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/11/climate/epa-disbands-pollution-science-panel.html|title=E.P.A. to Disband a Key Scientific Review Panel on Air Pollution|access-date=2018-10-24|language=en}}</ref>

In February 2017, Trump and Congress removed a rule that required oil, gas and mining firms to disclose how much they paid foreign governments. The industries claimed the rule gave global rivals a competitive edge, although EU, Canadian, Russian, Chinese and Brazilian energy firms are bound by similar requirements.<ref name=":4">{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/14/trump-and-gop-killed-energy-corruption-rule-for-no-good-reason-advocates-say.html|title=Trump and GOP killed an energy anti-corruption rule for no good reason, advocates say|last=DiChristopher|first=Tom|date=February 14, 2017|accessdate=February 15, 2017|publisher=CNBC}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-usa-resources-transparency-idUKKBN15I0ID|title=U.S. transparency reversal stings Canadian, European oil firms|last=Williams|first=Ernest Scheyder and Nia|publisher=Reuters UK|accessdate=February 15, 2017}}</ref> The administration withdrew from the international [[Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative]] (EITI). EITI was aimed at fighting corruption by requiring the disclosure of payments and donations made by oil, gas and mining companies to governments.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-eiti/u-s-withdraws-from-extractive-industries-anti-corruption-effort-idUSKBN1D2290?il=0|title=U.S. withdraws from extractive industries anti-corruption effort|last1=Simon|first1=Julia|accessdate=November 3, 2017|agency=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>
[[File:Scott Pruitt official portrait (cropped).jpg|left|thumb|upright|The official portrait of Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator.]]
The administration invalidated the [[Stream Protection Rule]], a regulation intended to prevent coal mining debris from being dumped into nearby streams, and to lessen the impact of coal mining on groundwater and surface waters.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Trump-signs-repeal-of-rule-to-protect-waterways-from-coal-mining-waste/3691487291556/|title=Trump signs repeal of rule to protect waterways from coal mining waste|work=UPI|accessdate=May 2, 2018}}</ref> The administration rolled back regulations which limited dumping by power plants of toxic wastewater containing metals like arsenic and mercury into public waterways,<ref name=":2">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/04/13/trump-administration-halts-obama-era-rule-aimed-at-curbing-toxic-wastewater-from-coal-plants/|title=Trump administration halts Obama-era rule aimed at curbing toxic wastewater from coal plants|newspaper=The Washington Post|accessdate=April 14, 2017}}</ref> Obama-era regulations on [[Health effects of coal ash|coal ash]] (carcinogenic leftover waste produced by coal plants),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/18/health/epa-coal-ash-standards-bn/index.html|title=EPA rolls back Obama-era coal ash regulations|last=CNN|first=Nadia Kounang,|work=CNN|accessdate=July 24, 2018}}</ref> and an Obama-era executive order on protections for oceans, coastlines and lakes which was enacted after the [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/06/20/trump-just-erased-an-obama-era-policy-to-protect-the-oceans/|title=Trump just erased an Obama-era policy to protect the oceans|last=Fears|first=Darryl|date=June 20, 2018|work=Washington Post|accessdate=June 22, 2018|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> The EPA sought to repeal a regulation which required oil and gas companies to restrict emissions of [[methane]], a potent [[greenhouse gas]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/white-house-pressured-epa-on-changes-to-methane-leak-rule/|title=White House Pressured EPA on Changes to Methane Leak Rule|last=News|first=Maxine Joselow, E&E|work=Scientific American|access-date=2018-10-24|language=en}}</ref> In July 2018, the EPA granted a loophole allowing a small set of trucking companies to skirt emissions rules, allowing the firms to produce trucks that emit 40 to 55 times the air pollutants of other new trucks.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/06/us/glider-trucks-loophole-pruitt.html|title='Super Polluting' Trucks Receive Loophole on Pruitt's Last Day|accessdate=July 7, 2018}}</ref>

In March 2017, Trump issued an executive order reversing multiple Obama administration policies meant to tackle climate change. Trump said he was "putting an end to the war on coal", removing "job-killing regulations" and "restrictions on American energy" to make "America wealthy again". Trump ended the moratorium on federal coal leasing, revoked several Obama executive orders including the [[Presidential Climate Action Plan]], and also removed guidance for federal agencies on taking climate change into account during [[National Environmental Policy Act]] action reviews. Trump also ordered reviews and possibly modifications to several directives, such as the [[Clean Power Plan]] (CPP), the estimate for the "social cost of carbon" emissions, carbon dioxide emission standards for new coal plants, [[methane emissions]] standards from [[oil extraction|oil]] and [[natural gas]] extraction, as well as any regulations inhibiting domestic energy production.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Plumer|first1=Brad|title=Trump's big new executive order to tear up Obama's climate policies, explained|url=https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/3/27/14922516/trump-executive-order-climate|publisher=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]|accessdate=April 2, 2017}}</ref> A 2019 projection by the [[Energy Information Administration]] estimated that coal production without CPP would decline over coming decades at a faster rate than indicated in the agency's 2017 projection, which had assumed the CPP was in effect.<ref>"US coal output forecast to fall despite Trump revival efforts," ''Financial Times'', January 26, 2019: https://twitter.com/Ed_Crooks/status/1089186288220192768</ref>

That same month, the EPA rejected a ban on the toxic pesticide [[chlorpyrifos]], which the EPA's own agency staff had recommended banning due to extensive research showing adverse health effects on children. In August 2018, a federal court ordered the EPA to ban the pesticide, because EPA heads had ignored conclusions of the EPA's own scientists.<ref name=":35" />

In June 2017, Trump announced U.S. withdrawal from the [[Paris Agreement]], a 2015 [[climate change]] accord reached by 200 nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions, defying broad global backing for the plan.<ref name=":69">{{cite news |title=Trump Will Withdraw U.S. From Paris Climate Agreement|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/01/climate/trump-paris-climate-agreement.html|date=June 1, 2017|work=The New York Times}}</ref>

The administration suspended a number of large research programs, such as a $1 million [[National Academy of Sciences]] (NAS) study on the public health effects of [[Mountaintop removal mining|mountaintop removal coal-mining]],<ref name=":24">{{cite news|url=http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-politics/20170821/trumps-interior-department-moves-to-stop-mountaintop-removal-study|title=Trump's Interior Department moves to stop mountaintop removal study|work=Charleston Gazette-Mail|accessdate=August 22, 2017}}</ref> a $580,000 NAS study intended to make offshore drilling safer,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/12/21/this-study-aimed-to-make-offshore-drilling-safer-trump-just-put-a-stop-to-it/|title=This study aimed to make offshore drilling safer. Trump just put a stop to it.|last=Fears|first=Darryl|date=December 21, 2017|work=Washington Post|accessdate=January 10, 2018|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> a multimillion-dollar program that distributed grants for research the effects of [[Toxicity|chemical exposure on children]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://thehill.com/regulation/energy-environment/375725-major-epa-reorganization-will-end-science-research-program|title=Major EPA reorganization will end science research program|last=Lejeune|first=Tristan|date=February 26, 2018|work=TheHill|accessdate=February 27, 2018}}</ref> and $10-million-a-year research line for NASA's Carbon Monitoring System.<ref name=":53">{{Cite journal|last=Voosen|first=Paul|date=May 11, 2018|title=NASA cancels carbon monitoring research program|url=http://science.sciencemag.org/content/360/6389/586|journal=Science|volume=360|issue=6389|pages=586–587|bibcode=2018Sci...360..586V|doi=10.1126/science.360.6389.586|issn=0036-8075|pmid=29748262}}</ref> The administration unsuccessfully sought to kill aspects of [[NASA Earth Science|NASA's climate science]] program.<ref name=":53" />

In August 2017, the administration rolled back regulations requiring the federal government to account for climate change and sea-level rise when building infrastructure.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/15/climate/flooding-infrastructure-climate-change-trump-obama.html|title=Trump Signs Order Rolling Back Environmental Rules on Infrastructure|last=Friedman|first=Lisa|date=August 15, 2017|work=The New York Times|accessdate=August 29, 2017}}</ref>

By October 2017, the EPA expedited the process for approving new chemicals and made the process of evaluating the safety of those chemicals less stringent. Officials and longtime scientists at the EPA expressed concerns that the agency's ability to stop hazardous chemicals was being compromised.<ref name="NYT 2018-10-21">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/21/us/trump-epa-chemicals-regulations.html|title=Why Has the E.P.A. Shifted on Toxic Chemicals? An Industry Insider Helps Call the Shots|last=Lipton|first=Eric|date=October 21, 2017|work=The New York Times|accessdate=October 21, 2017}}</ref> Internal emails showed that Pruitt's aides in early 2018 prevented the publication of a health study showing that some toxic chemicals endanger humans at far lower levels than the EPA previously characterized as safe.<ref name=":77">{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/14/emails-white-house-interfered-with-science-study-536950|title=White House, EPA headed off chemical pollution study|work=POLITICO|accessdate=May 14, 2018}}</ref> The aides said that the study would be a "potential public relations nightmare" and would attract the attention of the public, media and Congress.<ref name=":77" /> The chemical in question was present in high quantities around a number of military bases, including in the ground water.<ref name=":80">{{Cite news|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/149280/military-drinking-water-crisis-white-house-tried-hide|title=The Military Drinking-Water Crisis the White House Tried to Hide|work=The New Republic|accessdate=June 23, 2018}}</ref> The non-disclosure of the study and the delay in public knowledge of the findings may have prevented the government from updating the infrastructure at the bases and individuals who lived near the bases from avoiding the tap water.<ref name=":80" /> In June 2018, the EPA scaled back its health and safety risk assessments of chemicals.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/07/us/politics/epa-toxic-chemicals.html|title=The Chemical Industry Scores a Big Win at the E.P.A.|date=June 7, 2018|work=The New York Times|accessdate=June 8, 2018|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

[[File:Donald Trump signs orders to green-light the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines.jpg|thumb|Trump signing the Presidential memoranda to advance the construction of the [[Keystone Pipeline|Keystone XL]] and [[Dakota Access Pipeline|Dakota Access pipeline]]s. January 24, 2017]]
In December 2017, the administration sharply reduced the size of two national monuments in Utah by approximately two million acres, making it the largest reduction of public land protections in American history.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/04/us/trump-bears-ears.html|title=Trump Slashes Size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Monuments|last=Turkewitz|first=Julie|date=December 4, 2017|work=The New York Times|accessdate=December 5, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Shortly afterwards, Interior Secretary Zinke advocated for downsizing four additional national monuments and change the way that six additional monuments were managed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/zinke-backs-shrinking-more-national-monuments-shifting-management-of-10-others/2017/12/05/e116344e-d9e5-11e7-b1a8-62589434a581_story.html|title=Zinke backs shrinking more national monuments and shifting management of 10|last=Eilperin|first=Juliet|date=December 5, 2017|work=Washington Post|accessdate=December 6, 2017|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

In December 2017, President Trump - who had repeatedly called [[Scientific opinion on climate change|scientific consensus on climate]] a "hoax" before becoming President - for the first time as President called into question climate change by falsely implying that cold weather at the end of December meant that climate change was not occurring.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/28/politics/trump-global-warming-tweet/index.html|title=Trump tweets that 'cold' East Coast 'could use a little bit of' global warming|author=Dan Merica|work=CNN|accessdate=December 29, 2017}}</ref>

In January 2018, the administration singled out the state of Florida as an exemption from the administration's offshore drilling plan. The move stirred controversy because it came after the Governor of Florida, Republican Rick Scott (who was considering a 2018 Senate run), complained about the offshore drilling plan. The move raised ethical questions because Trump owns a resort in Florida and because Florida is a swing state that Trump would like to win in the 2020 presidential election. ''NBC News'' said that the decision had the appearance of "transactional favoritism" and that it was likely to lead to lawsuits.<ref name=":57">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/trump-looks-he-s-playing-favorites-florida-offshore-relief-n836381|title=Trump looks like he's playing favorites with Florida offshore relief|work=NBC News|accessdate=January 10, 2018}}</ref>

That same month, the administration enacted 30% tariffs on solar panels. The American solar energy industry is highly reliant on foreign parts (80% of parts are made abroad); as a result, the tariffs could raise the costs of solar energy, reduce innovation and reduce jobs in the industry — which in 2017 employed nearly four times as many American workers as the coal industry.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/23/us/politics/trump-solar-tariffs.html|title=Trump's Solar Tariffs Are Clouding the Industry's Future|last=Swanson|first=Ana|date=2018|work=The New York Times|accessdate=January 24, 2018|last2=Plumer|first2=Brad|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":59">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-22/trump-taxes-solar-imports-in-biggest-blow-to-clean-energy-yet|title=Trump's Solar Tariffs Mark Biggest Blow to Renewables Yet|date=January 22, 2018|work=Bloomberg.com|accessdate=January 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usenergyjobs.org/|title=2018 U.S. Energy and Employment Report, p. 38|website=usenergyjobs|accessdate=July 10, 2018}}</ref> ''Bloomberg News'' described the move as the Trump administration "most targeted strike on the [renewables] industry" in a series of actions taken to undermine renewables.<ref name=":59" />

In April 2018, Pruitt announced a policy change within the EPA whereby EPA regulators would be prohibited from considering scientific research unless the raw data of the research was made publicly available. This would limit EPA regulators' use of much environmental research, given that participants in many such studies provide personal health information which is kept confidential.<ref name=":65">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/24/climate/epa-science-transparency-pruitt.html|title=E.P.A. Announces a New Rule. One Likely Effect: Less Science in Policymaking.|date=April 24, 2018|work=The New York Times|accessdate=April 25, 2018|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The EPA cited two bipartisan reports and various nonpartisan studies about the use of science in government to defend the decision. However, the authors of those reports dismissed that the EPA followed their instructions, with one author saying, "They don't adopt any of our recommendations, and they go in a direction that's completely opposite, completely different. They don't adopt any of the recommendations of ''any'' of the sources they cite."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/04/how-the-epas-new-secret-science-rule/558878/|title=Scott Pruitt's New Rule Could Completely Transform the EPA|last=Meyer|first=Robinson|work=The Atlantic|accessdate=April 26, 2018}}</ref>

In June 2018, [[David Cutler]] and [[Francesca Dominici]] of [[Harvard University]] estimated conservatively that the Trump administration's modifications to environmental rules could result in over 80 000 additional U.S. deaths and widespread respiratory ailments.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Cutler|first=David|last2=Dominici|first2=Francesca|authorlink1=David Cutler|authorlink2=Francesca Dominici|date=June 12, 2018|title=A Breath of Bad Air: Cost of the Trump Environmental Agenda May Lead to 80 000 Extra Deaths per Decade|url=https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2684596|journal=JAMA|volume=319|issue=22|pages=2261|doi=10.1001/jama.2018.7351|issn=0098-7484}}</ref> In August 2018, the Trump administration's own analysis showed that the administration's loosening of restrictions on coal plants could cause up to 1,400 premature deaths and 15,000 new cases of respiratory problems.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/climate/epa-coal-pollution-deaths.html|title=Cost of New E.P.A. Coal Rules: Up to 1,400 More Deaths a Year|accessdate=September 1, 2018}}</ref>

In July 2018, the administration proposed to change the [[Endangered Species Act of 1973|Endangered Species Act]] to eliminate automatic protections for threatened plant and animal species, and make it easier to remove species from the list.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44892275|title=The cost of Trump's Endangered Species Act proposal|last=Matza|first=Max|date=July 20, 2018|work=BBC News|accessdate=July 24, 2018}}</ref>

The day after Thanksgiving 2018, the administration released the [[Fourth National Climate Assessment]] (NCA4), a long-awaited study conducted by numerous federal agencies that found “the evidence of human-caused climate change is overwhelming and continues to strengthen, that the impacts of climate change are intensifying across the country, and that climate-related threats to Americans' physical, social, and economic well-being are rising.”<ref>“Major Trump administration climate report says damages are ‘intensifying across the country',” ''Washington Post'', November 23, 2018: https://www.washingtonpost.com/energy-environment/2018/11/23/major-trump-administration-climate-report-says-damages-are-intensifying-across-country/?noredirect=on</ref> Two days earlier, Trump had repeated his many previous assertions that a current cold weather spell calls global warming science into question, a notion that has been repeatedly debunked by climate scientists.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/adam-sobel-president-trump-global-warming-tweet-climate-change/|title=Climate scientist calls Trump's global warming tweet an "often debunked assertion"|publisher=[[CBS News]]|accessdate=November 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2017/12/28/its-cold-outside-but-doesnt-mean-climate-change-isnt-real/987948001/|title=It's cold outside, but that doesn't mean climate change isn't real|publisher=[[USA Today]]|accessdate=November 25, 2018}}</ref> [[Steven Milloy]], a climate-change denier who served on Trump's EPA transition team, called the report a product of the so-called [[deep state]], adding "We don’t care. In our view, this is made-up hysteria anyway." He noted that the Administration did not alter the report's findings but rather chose to release it the day after Thanksgiving "on a day when nobody cares, and hope it gets swept away by the next day’s news."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/25/climate/trump-climate-report.html|title=Trump Administration’s Strategy on Climate: Try to Bury Its Own Scientific Report|publisher=|accessdate=November 27, 2018}}</ref>

In December 2018, the administration joined Russia and the gulf states of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in stopping the Katowice climate change conference from welcoming an October 2018 IPCC report on the dangers of climate change.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46496967|title=US, Saudis and Russia block climate report|last=McGrath|first=Matt|date=2018-12-08|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-12-09|language=en-GB}}</ref>

That same month, the administration rolled back major [[Clean Water Act]] protections. Studies by the Obama-era EPA suggest that up to two-thirds of California's inland freshwater streams would lose protections under the rule change.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-clean-water-20181211-story.html|title=Trump administration unveils major Clean Water Act rollback|last=Halper|first=Evan|website=latimes.com|access-date=2018-12-14}}</ref>

=== Government size and regulations ===
''The New York Times'' found in November 2018 that the administration had "presided over a sharp decline in financial penalties against banks and big companies accused of malfeasance," relative to the Obama administration.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/03/us/trump-sec-doj-corporate-penalties.html|title=Trump Administration Spares Corporate Wrongdoers Billions in Penalties|access-date=2018-11-05|language=en}}</ref>

In the first six weeks of his tenure, Trump suspended — or in a few cases, revoked — over 90 regulations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump-Era Trend: Industries Protest. Regulations Rolled Back. A Dozen Examples|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3480299-10-Examples-Industries-Push-Followed-by-Trump.html#document/p60/a341284|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]'' (via [[DocumentCloud]])|accessdate=March 7, 2017}}</ref> In January 2017, Trump ordered a [[2017 United States federal hiring freeze|temporary government-wide hiring freeze]] of the civilian work force (excluding staff in the military, national security, public safety and offices of new presidential appointees). In February 2017, said he did not intend to fill many of the governmental positions that were still vacant, as he considered them unnecessary;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/28/trump-no-plans-to-fill-unnecessary-appointed-positions.html|title=Trump: No Plans to Fill 'Unnecessary' Appointed Positions|last1=Derespina|first1=Cody|date=February 28, 2017|accessdate=March 6, 2017|publisher=[[Fox News Channel]]}}</ref> there were nearly 2,000 vacant government positions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/25/politics/donald-trump-cabinet-vacancies/|title=Trump Still Has to Fill Nearly 2,000 Vacancies|last1=Kessler|first1=Aaron|date=February 25, 2017|accessdate=March 6, 2017|publisher=CNN|last2=Kopan|first2=Tal}}</ref> The hiring freeze was lifted in April 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/04/12/523473051/trump-lifting-federal-hiring-freeze|title=Trump Lifting Federal Hiring Freeze|publisher=[[NPR]]|accessdate=April 3, 2018}}</ref>

In early 2017, Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to slash two existing regulations for every new one (without spending on regulations going up).<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump Signs Executive Order to Drastically Cut Federal Regs|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/30/trump-signs-executive-order-to-drastically-cut-federal-regs.html|date=January 30, 2017|publisher=[[Fox News Channel]]|accessdate=March 6, 2017}}</ref> A September 2017 [[Bloomberg BNA]] review found that due to unclear wording in the order and the large proportion of regulations that it exempts, the order had had little effect since it was signed.<ref name="Bloomberg 2-for-1">{{cite news|last1=Bolen|first1=Sheryl|title=Trump's 2-for-1 Regulatory Policy Yields Minimal Results|url=https://www.bna.com/trumps-2for1-regulatory-n73014470324/|date=September 29, 2017|publisher=[[Bloomberg BNA]]|accessdate=October 31, 2017}}</ref> The Trump [[Office of Management and Budget|OMB]] released an analysis in February 2018 indicating that the economic benefits of regulations significantly outweigh the economic costs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/regulation/administration/375684-wh-quietly-issues-report-to-congress-showing-benefits-of|title=WH quietly issues report to Congress showing benefits of regulations|last=Rowland|first=Geoffrey|date=2018-02-26|work=TheHill|access-date=2018-10-24|language=en}}</ref>

In July 2018, the administration ended the requirement that nonprofits, including political advocacy groups who collect so-called "[[dark money]]", disclose the names of large donors to the Internal Revenue Service.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/17/us/politics/irs-will-no-longer-force-kochs-and-other-groups-to-disclose-donors.html?partner=rss&emc=rss|title=I.R.S. Will No Longer Force Kochs and Other Groups to Disclose Donors|accessdate=July 17, 2018}}</ref> Later that year, the Senate voted to overturn the administration's rule change.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/senate-votes-to-overturn-trump-administration-donor-disclosure-rule-for-dark-money-groups/2018/12/12/92d8d93a-fe3d-11e8-ad40-cdfd0e0dd65a_story.html?utm_term=.462751ed6304|title=Senate votes to overturn Trump administration donor disclosure rule for ‘dark money’ groups|author=Michelle Ye Hee Lee|date=2018|publisher=The Washington Post}}</ref>

=== Guns ===
{{see also|Repeal of the Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007}}
In February 2017, the administration rolled back an Obama-era regulation prohibiting gun ownership among the approximately 75,000 individuals who received Social Security checks due to mental illness and who were deemed unfit to handle their financial affairs.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Vitali|first1=Ali|title=Trump Signs Bill Revoking Obama-Era Gun Checks for People With Mental Illnesses|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-signs-bill-revoking-obama-era-gun-checks-people-mental-n727221|publisher=[[NBC News]]|accessdate=February 16, 2018}}</ref>

In March 2018, Trump instructed the DOJ to ban [[bump stocks]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/01/politics/trump-bump-fire-stocks/index.html|title=Trump says ban on 'bump stocks' coming|last=CNN|first=Betsy Klein and Laura Jarrett,|work=CNN|access-date=2018-10-24}}</ref>

=== Health care ===
[[File:CBO AHCA Health Insurance Coverage Impact.png|thumb|upright=1.8|CBO estimated in May 2017 that the Republican AHCA would reduce the number of persons with health insurance by 23 million during 2026, relative to current law.<ref name="CBO_Score2">{{cite web|url=https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/115th-congress-2017-2018/costestimate/hr1628aspassed.pdf|title=American Healthcare Act Cost Estimate (May 2017)|publisher=Congressional Budget Office|date=May 24, 2017|accessdate=May 24, 2017}}</ref>]]
{{Further|2017 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act replacement proposals}}
The 2010 [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] (also known as "Obamacare" or the ACA) elicited major opposition from the Republican Party from its inception, and Trump called for a repeal of the law during the 2016 election campaign.<ref name="haberkorn1">{{cite news|last1=Haberkorn|first1=Jennifer|title=Trump victory puts Obamacare dismantling within reach|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/trump-victory-obamacare-risk-231090|newspaper=Politico|date=November 9, 2016|accessdate=November 18, 2016}}</ref> On taking office, Trump promised to pass a healthcare bill that would cover everyone and result in better and less expensive insurance.<ref name="handicapping1">{{cite news|title=Handicapping Trump's first 100 days|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-first-100-days-policy-233871|newspaper=Politico|date=January 20, 2017|accessdate=January 20, 2017}}</ref>
[[File:Alex Azar official portrait (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Alex Azar WWSG Photo]]
Congressional Republicans made two serious efforts to repeal the ACA. First, in March 2017, Trump endorsed the [[American Health Care Act of 2017|American Health Care Act (AHCA)]], a Republican bill to repeal and replace the ACA.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/other/352587-timeline-the-gop-effort-to-repeal-and-replace-obamacare|title=TIMELINE: The GOP's failed effort to repeal ObamaCare|last=Perks|first=Ashley|date=2017-09-26|work=TheHill|access-date=2018-10-24|language=en}}</ref> Opposition from several House Republicans, including both moderate and conservatives, led to the defeat of this version of the bill on March 24, 2017.<ref name=":5" /> At the time, Trump stated that the "best thing politically is to let Obamacare explode".<ref name="lawofland1">{{cite news |last1=Goldstein|first1=Amy|last2=Eilperin|first2=Juliet|title=Affordable Care Act remains 'law of the land,' but Trump vows to explode it|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/affordable-care-act-remains-law-of-the-land-but-trump-vows-to-explode-it/2017/03/24/4b7a2530-10c3-11e7-ab07-07d9f521f6b5_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 24, 2016}}</ref> Several weeks later on May 4, the [[United States House of Representatives|House]] narrowly voted in favor of a new version of the AHCA to repeal the ACA, sending the bill to the [[US Senate|Senate]] for deliberation.<ref name=":5" /> Over the next weeks the Senate made several attempts to create a repeal bill; however, all the proposals were ultimately rejected in a series of Senate votes in late July.<ref name=":5" /> Trump reacted by alternately urging Congress to keep trying and threatening to "let Obamacare implode".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-trump-obamacare-implode-health-secretary-tom-price/story?id=48925529|title=President Trump won't let Obamacare 'implode,' Health Secretary Tom Price says|last=Zink|first=Nicki|date=July 30, 2017|publisher=ABC News|accessdate=July 31, 2017}}</ref> The individual mandate was ultimately repealed in December 2017 by the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act]]. The [[Congressional Budget Office|CBO]] estimated in May 2018 that the repeal of the individual mandate would increase the number of uninsured by 8 million and that individual healthcare insurance premiums increased by 10% between 2017 and 2018.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=CBO’s Revised View Of Individual Mandate Reflected In Latest Forecast|url=https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20180605.966625/full/|language=en|doi=10.1377/hblog20180605.966625/full/}}</ref>

Trump repeatedly expressed a desire to "let Obamacare fail", and the Trump administration has been accused of trying to "sabotage Obamacare" by various actions.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/18/trump-tweet-obamacare-repeal-failure-240664|title=Trump says he plans to 'let Obamacare fail'|last=Nelson|first=Louis|date=July 18, 2017|work=Politico|accessdate=September 29, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Jeffrey">{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/trump-obamacare-sabotage-enrollment-cuts_us_59a87bffe4b0b5e530fd5751|title=Trump Ramps Up Obamacare Sabotage With Huge Cuts To Enrollment Programs|last=Young|first=Jeffrey|date=August 31, 2017|publisher=HuffPost|accessdate=September 29, 2017}}</ref> The open enrollment period was cut from 12 weeks to 6, the advertising budget for enrollment was cut by 90%, and organizations helping people shop for coverage got 39% less money.<ref name=":25">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-healthcare-cbo/obamacare-enrollment-to-fall-in-2018-and-beyond-after-cuts-cbo-idUSKCN1BP2Z5|title=Obamacare enrollment to fall in 2018 and beyond after cuts: CBO|accessdate=September 14, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/31/trump-obamacare-outreach-cuts-242225|title=Trump administration slashes Obamacare outreach|last=Pradhan|first=Rachana|date=August 31, 2017|work=Politico|accessdate=September 29, 2017}}</ref> In September 2017, the administration ordered HHS regional directors not to participate in state open enrollment events, as they had in previous years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/katenocera/the-trump-administration-wont-support-state-obamacare|title=The Trump Administration Is Pulling Out Of Obamacare Enrollment Events|last1=Nocera|first1=Kate|last2=McLeod|first2=Paul|date=September 27, 2017|publisher=Buzzfeed|accessdate=September 29, 2017}}</ref> A September 2017 report by the [[Congressional Budget Office|(CBO)]] found that ACA enrollment at health care exchanges would be lower in 2018 and future years than its previous forecasts due to the Trump administration's cuts to advertisement spending for enrollment, a smaller enrollment window, and less outreach. The CBO also found that insurance premiums would rise sharply in 2018 due to the Trump administration's refusal to commit to continuing paying ACA subsidies, which added uncertainty to the insurance market and led insurers to raise premiums for fear they will not get subsidized.<ref name=":25" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/overnights/350745-overnight-health-care-cbo-obamacare-uncertainty-will-lead-to-15|title=Overnight Health Care: CBO predicts 15 percent ObamaCare premium hike {{!}} Trump calls Sanders single-payer plan 'curse on the US' {{!}} Republican seeks score of Sanders's bill|last=Hellmann|first=Jessie|date=September 14, 2017|work=The Hill|accessdate=September 14, 2017}}</ref> In June 2018, the administration sided with a lawsuit to overturn the ACA, including protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/07/obamacare-trump-administration-court-case-texas-606930|title=Trump administration backs court case to overturn key Obamacare provisions|work=POLITICO|accessdate=June 8, 2018}}</ref> On October 4, 2018, Trump stated “Some of the Democrats have been talking about ending (coverage for) pre-existing conditions,” and 20 days later he tweeted “Republicans will totally protect people with Pre-Existing Conditions, Democrats will not!”<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/trump-tweet-health-care-preexisting-conditions-4f8bacb6-2422-4c2b-8e18-1dc1377b9b87.html|title=A reality check on that Trump tweet about pre-existing conditions|website=Axios|accessdate=October 29, 2018}}</ref> Politifact rated Trump's statement about Democrats as “Pants on Fire,” also noting that eighteen attorneys general and two governors, all Republicans, filed a federal lawsuit in February 2018 that would end coverage for pre-existing conditions, and that the Trump administration had chosen to not challenge the suit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2018/oct/05/donald-trump/donald-trumps-pants-fire-claim-about-democrats-pre/|title=Trump's 86th Pants on Fire claim is a health care doozy|publisher=[[Politifact]]|accessdate=October 29, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/21/us/politics/fact-check-trump-pre-existing-health-conditions-.html|title=Trump Claims to Protect Pre-Existing Health Conditions. That’s Not What the Government Says.|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=October 29, 2018}}</ref>

In October 2017, the administration ended subsidy payments to health insurance companies, saying that they are "moving toward lower costs and more options in the health care market".<ref name=NYT-Pear>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/us/politics/trump-obamacare-executive-order-health-insurance.html|title=Trump to Scrap Critical Health Care Subsidies, Hitting Obamacare Again|newspaper=The New York Times|last=Pear|first=Robert|last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie |author2link=Maggie Haberman |last3=Abelson|first3=Reed|date=October 12, 2017|accessdate=October 14, 2017}}</ref> The decision was expected to raise premiums in 2018 for middle-class families by an average of about 20% nationwide and cost the federal government nearly $200 billion more than it saved over a ten-year period.<ref name=":43">{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/10/13/557541856/halt-in-subsidies-for-health-insurers-expected-to-drive-up-costs-for-middle-clas|title=Halt In Subsidies For Health Insurers Expected To Drive Up Costs For Middle Class|accessdate=October 14, 2017|publisher=NPR}}</ref> People with lower incomes would be unaffected because the ACA provides tax credits that ensure their out-of-pocket insurance costs remain stable.<ref name=":43" /> The administration made it easier for businesses to use health insurance plans that are not covered by several of the ACA's protections, such as to protect individuals with preexisting conditions.<ref name=":23">{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/18/politics/trump-pre-existing-conditions/index.html|title=Trump: 'All Republicans' support pre-existing conditions, but White House policy says otherwise|last=CNN|first=Betsy Klein,|work=CNN|access-date=2018-10-29}}</ref> During the 2018 mid-term election campaign, Trump said that "all Republicans", him included, supported protections for individuals with preexisting conditions; at the time, the administration had supported attempts both in Congress and in the courts to roll back the ACA (and its protections for preexisting conditions).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/24/trump-pledges-to-protect-obamacare-pre-existing-conditions-as-midterms-loom.html|title=Trump keeps promising to protect pre-existing condition coverage — but his policies say otherwise|last=Pramuk|first=Jacob|date=2018-10-24|work=CNBC|access-date=2018-10-29}}</ref><ref name=":23" />

In October 2017, the administration modified a requirement that employer-provided health insurance policies had to cover&nbsp;birth control methods free of charge to women so that any company or nonprofit could opt out of the requirement if they had religious or moral objections to birth control.<ref name=":40">{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/10/06/555970210/trump-ends-requirement-that-employer-health-plans-pay-for-birth-control|title=Trump Guts Requirement That Employer Health Plans Pay For Birth Control|accessdate=October 6, 2017|publisher=NPR}}</ref> Survey results indicate that more than 10% of companies with more than 200 employees would opt out of birth control coverage if they had the option to whereas the administration said that no more than 120,000 women&nbsp;would be affected.<ref name=":41">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/upshot/doubtful-science-behind-arguments-to-restrict-birth-control-access.html|title=Doubtful Science Behind Arguments to Restrict Birth Control Access|last=Carroll|first=Aaron E.|date=October 10, 2017|work=The New York Times|accessdate=October 10, 2017}}</ref> In justifying the action, the administration said that contraceptive use caused harms, such as risky sex behavior, cited the potential side effects of contraceptives, and asserted that the relationship between contraceptive use and unintended pregnancy was uncertain and complex.<ref name=":41" /> Indiana University professor of pediatrics Aaron E. Carroll noted "there is ample evidence that contraception works, that reducing its expense leads to more women who use it appropriately, and that using it doesn't lead to riskier sexual behavior."<ref name=":41" />

In December 2017, the administration reduced enforcement of penalties against nursing homes that harm residents.<ref name=":50">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/24/business/trump-administration-nursing-home-penalties.html|title=Trump Administration Eases Nursing Home Fines in Victory for Industry|last=Rau|first=Jordan|date=December 24, 2017|work=The New York Times|accessdate=December 26, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In February 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it would cut 80% of its efforts to stop infectious-disease epidemics worldwide due to budget cuts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2018/02/01/cdc-to-cut-by-80-percent-efforts-to-prevent-global-disease-outbreak/|title=CDC to cut by 80 percent efforts to prevent global disease outbreak|last=Sun|first=Lena H.|date=February 1, 2018|work=Washington Post|accessdate=February 4, 2018|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

As a candidate and throughout his presidency, Trump said he would cut the costs of pharmaceuticals. During his first seven months in office, there were 96 price hikes for every drug price cut.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/health_care/trump-says-new-proposal-will-lower-some-us-drug-prices/2018/10/25/db16c92a-d8ca-11e8-8384-bcc5492fef49_story.html|title=Trump says goal of proposal is to lower some US drug prices|website=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2018-11-05}}</ref> In May 2018, Trump announced that he would not allow Medicare to use its bargaining power to negotiate lower drug prices from pharmaceutical companies, abandoning a promise he made as candidate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/trumps-drug-price-retreat-adds-to-list-of-abandoned-populist-promises/2018/05/14/1989ace8-5781-11e8-858f-12becb4d6067_story.html|title=Trump's drug price retreat adds to list of abandoned populist promises|last=Paletta|first=Damian|date=May 14, 2018|work=Washington Post|accessdate=May 14, 2018|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Shortly after the 2018 mid-term elections, the large pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced a price increase for dozens of drugs, after it had reportedly bowed to pressure not to do so earlier by the Trump administration.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-to-raise-prices-on-41-drugs-1542398034|title=Pfizer to Raise Prices on 41 Drugs in January|last=Hopkins|first=Jonathan D. Rockoff and Jared S.|work=WSJ|access-date=2018-11-23|language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Opioid epidemic ====
[[File:Jean Moser speaking at the National Opioid Takeback Day.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|right|Donald Trump at the 15th Annual Opioid Takeback Day]]
In September 2017, Trump nominated Tom Marino to lead the [[Office of National Drug Control Policy]] and become the nation's drug czar.<ref name=":28" /> In October 2017, Marino withdrew his name from consideration after a joint ''Washington Post'' and 60 Minutes investigation found that Marino had been the chief architect of a bill that crippled the enforcement powers of the DEA and worsened the [[Opioid epidemic|opioid crisis in the United States]].<ref name=":28">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/10/17/trump-says-drug-czar-nominee-tom-marino-is-withdrawing-after-washington-post60-minutes-investigation/|title=Trump says drug czar nominee Tom Marino is withdrawing after Washington Post/'60 minutes' investigation|last=Gearan|first=Anne|date=October 17, 2017|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=October 17, 2017}}</ref>

In November 2017, it was announced that Kellyanne Conway would lead White House efforts to combat the [[opioid epidemic]]; Conway had no experience or expertise on matters of public health, substance abuse, or law enforcement.<ref name=":62">{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/06/kellyanne-conway-opioid-drug-czar-325457|title=Kellyanne Conway's 'opioid cabinet' sidelines drug czar's experts|work=POLITICO|accessdate=February 6, 2018}}</ref> Conway sidelined drug experts and opted instead for the use of political staff. In February 2018, Politico wrote that the administration's "main response" to the opioid crisis had "so far has been to call for a border wall and to promise a "just say no" campaign."<ref name=":62" />

In October 2017, the administration declared a 90-day public health emergency over the [[opioid epidemic]] and pledged to urgently mobilize the federal government in response to the crisis. On January 11, 2018, 12 days before the declaration ran out, Politico noted that "beyond drawing more attention to the crisis, virtually nothing of consequence has been done."<ref name=":58">{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/11/opioids-epidemic-trump-addiction-emergency-order-335848|title=Trump declared an opioids emergency. Then nothing changed.|work=POLITICO|accessdate=January 11, 2018}}</ref> The administration had not proposed any new resources or spending, had not started the promised advertising campaign to spread awareness about addiction, and had yet to fill key public health and drug positions in the administration.<ref name=":58" /> In January 2018, ''The Washington Post'' reported that one of the top officials at the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which is tasked with multibillion-dollar anti-drug initiatives and curbing the opioid epidemic, was a 24-year old campaign staffer from the Trump 2016 campaign who lied on his CV and whose stepfather went to jail for manufacturing illegal drugs; after the administration was contacted about the official's qualifications and CV, the administration gave him a job with different tasks in the ONDCP.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/meet-the-24-year-old-trump-campaign-worker-appointed-to-help-lead-the-governments-drug-policy-office/2018/01/13/abdada34-f64e-11e7-91af-31ac729add94_story.html|title=Meet the 24-year-old Trump campaign worker appointed to help lead the government's drug policy office|last=Jr|first=Robert O'Harrow|date=January 13, 2018|work=Washington Post|accessdate=January 14, 2018|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

=== Housing and urban policy ===
[[File:HUD Secretary, Ben Carson.jpg|thumb|[[United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development]], [[Ben Carson]], on the first day of the job.]]
In December 2017, ''The Economist'' described the [[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development|Department of Housing and Urban Development]] (HUD), led by [[Ben Carson]], as "directionless".<ref name=":46">{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21731792-whatever-barack-obama-did-current-policy-do-opposite-hud-embodies?fsrc=scn/tw/te/bl/ed/|title=HUD embodies the pathologies afflicting the White House|work=The Economist|accessdate=December 5, 2017}}</ref> Most of the top HUD positions were unfilled and Carson's leadership was "inconspicuous and inscrutable".<ref name=":46" /> Of the policies that HUD was enacting, ''The Economist'' wrote, "it is hard not to conclude that the governing principle at HUD is to take whatever the Obama administration was doing, and do the opposite."<ref name=":46" /> Under Carson's tenure, HUD scaled back the enforcement of fair housing laws, and halted several fair housing investigations started by the Obama administration.<ref name=":68">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/28/us/ben-carson-hud-fair-housing-discrimination.html|title=Under Ben Carson, HUD Scales Back Fair Housing Enforcement|last=Thrush|first=Glenn|date=March 28, 2018|work=The New York Times|accessdate=March 29, 2018|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In March 2018, HUD removed the words "inclusive" and "free from discrimination" from its mission statement.<ref name=":68" />

In June 2017, the administration designated [[Lynne Patton]], an event planner who had worked on the Trump campaign and planned Eric Trump's wedding, to lead HUD's New York and New Jersey office (which oversees billions of federal dollars).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/26/us/politics/lynne-patton-hud.html|title='Give Me a Chance,' Trump Associate-Turned-Housing-Official Says|last=Alcindor|first=Yamiche|date=June 26, 2017|work=The New York Times|accessdate=January 25, 2018|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

=== Disaster relief ===

[[File:President Trump signing Hurricane Harvey bill.jpg|left|thumb|President Trump signs the Hurricane Harvey relief bill at [[Camp David]], September 8, 2017]]

==== Hurricane Harvey ====
On August 28, 2017, the [[Category 4 typhoon|Category 4]] [[Hurricane Harvey]] made landfall in southeastern [[Texas]], and caused 40-60 inch rainfall and massive flooding in the [[Houston]] area. The next day, Trump visited [[Corpus Christi, Texas]] near where Harvey made landfall, and then visited the [[Austin, Texas]] Emergency Operations Center.<ref name=":26" /> During the Corpus Christi visit he praised the work of [[FEMA]] administrator [[Brock Long]], Texas Senators [[Ted Cruz]] and [[John Cornyn]], and Texas Governor [[Greg Abbott]], and praised the crowd size.<ref name=":26">{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/29/trump-texas-hurricane-harvey-242148|title=Trump relishes role as chief executive of Harvey response|work=Politico|accessdate=August 30, 2017}}</ref> Politico wrote that during his visit, "the president didn't meet a single storm victim, see an inch of rain or get near a flooded street."<ref name=":26" /> In September, Trump personally donated $1 million designated for hurricane relief to twelve organizations, in what [[Glenn Thrush]] called "one of the largest financial commitments made by a sitting president to a charitable cause".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/31/us/trump-harvey-donation.html?mcubz=3|title=Trump Pledges $1 Million Donation to Harvey's Victims|last=Thrush|first=Glenn|authorlink=Glenn Thrush|date=August 31, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=September 2, 2017}}</ref> On September 8, Trump signed into law H.R. 601, which among other spending actions designated $15 billion for Hurricane Harvey relief.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/news-wrap-trump-signs-15-billion-hurricane-harvey-relief-bill/|title=News Wrap: Trump signs $15 billion Hurricane Harvey relief bill|date=September 8, 2017|work=PBS Newshour|accessdate=September 27, 2017}}</ref>

==== Hurricane Irma ====
On September 10, two weeks after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas and Louisiana, the [[Category 4 typhoon|Category 4]] [[Hurricane Irma]] hit the southwestern tip of Florida and then moved up Florida Gulf coast causing extensive damage and prolonged power outages. Trump visited the damage area and relief efforts on September 14, promising full financial backing for the state's recovery.<ref>Olorunnipa, Toluse. [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-14/trump-tours-hurricane-irma-damage-in-florida-as-recovery-begins "Trump Vows '100 Percent' Backing for Florida's Irma Recovery"], [[Bloomberg News]] (September 14, 2017).</ref>

==== Hurricane Maria ====
On September 20, 2017, Puerto Rico was struck by [[Category 4 typhoon|Category 4]] [[Hurricane Maria]], causing widespread devastation, knocking out the power system and phone towers, destroying buildings, and causing widespread flooding. The Trump administration came under criticism for a delayed response to the humanitarian crisis on the island.<ref name=":31">{{cite news |url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/trump-puerto-rico-atlantic-ocean-2017-9?r=US&IR=T|title=Trump addresses criticism over Puerto Rico disaster response: 'It's out in the ocean — you can't just drive your trucks there'|publisher=Business Insider|accessdate=September 27, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":33">{{cite news |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-visit-hurricane-ravaged-puerto-rico-amid-criticism/story?id=50101038|title=Trump to visit hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, says he is 'very proud' of response |date=September 27, 2017|publisher=ABC News|accessdate=September 27, 2017}}</ref> Politicians on both sides of the aisle had called for immediate aid for Puerto Rico, and criticized Trump for focusing on a feud with the NFL instead.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/26/politics/trump-puerto-rico-response/index.html|title=Trump ramps up Puerto Rico response amid criticism|author=Jeremy Diamond |author2=Kevin Liptak|publisher=CNN|accessdate=September 27, 2017}}</ref> Trump did not comment on Puerto Rico for several days while the crisis was unfolding.<ref name=":31" /> According to ''The Washington Post'', the White House did not feel a sense of urgency until "images of the utter destruction and desperation — and criticism of the administration's response — began to appear on television."<ref name=":30" /> Trump later dismissed the criticism, saying he was "very proud" of an "amazing" response<ref name=":33" /> and that efforts to distribute necessary supplies and services were "doing well". ''The Washington Post'' noted, "on the ground in Puerto Rico, nothing could be further from the truth."<ref name=":30">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/politics/lost-weekend-how-trumps-time-at-his-golf-club-hurt-the-response-to-maria/2017/09/29/ce92ed0a-a522-11e7-8c37-e1d99ad6aa22_story.html|title=Lost weekend: How Trump's time at his golf club hurt the response to Maria|newspaper=The Washington Post|accessdate=September 30, 2017}}</ref> [[Carmen Yulín Cruz]], the mayor of Puerto Rico's capital [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], repeatedly criticized US relief efforts, saying that they were not reaching the people who needed the aid; on September 29 she made a desperate plea for help, saying that people are "dying, starving, thirsty".<ref name=":38">{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/30/us/puerto-rico-hurricane-recovery/index.html|title=Puerto Rico: Mayor pleads for better response; Trump hits back|publisher=CNN|accessdate=September 30, 2017}}</ref> Trump responded by criticizing Puerto Rico officials, saying that they had "poor leadership ability" and "want everything to be done for them", and repeatedly pointing out Puerto Rico's debt crisis.<ref name=":38" /> On September 28 the Army dispatched Lt. Gen. [[Jeffrey S. Buchanan]] to Puerto Rico to assess the situation and see how the military could be more effective in helping.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/28/aid-trickling-into-puerto-rico-but-thousands-supplies-still-stuck-port/711894001/|title=U.S. military dispatches three-star general to Puerto Rico amid charges of supply snafus|last=Stanglin|first=Doug|work=USA Today|accessdate=September 30, 2017}}</ref>

In January 2018, FEMA officially ended its humanitarian mission in Puerto Rico; at the time of FEMA's departure, one third of Puerto Rico residents still lacked electricity and some places lacked running water.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/01/29/581511023/fema-to-end-food-and-water-aid-for-puerto-rico|title=FEMA To End Food And Water Aid For Puerto Rico|work=NPR.org|accessdate=January 30, 2018}}</ref> A March 2018 Politico analysis of the administration's response indicated that the administration and Trump himself showed far more attention to Hurricane Harvey in Texas and that the response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico was slower and weaker.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/27/donald-trump-fema-hurricane-maria-response-480557|title=How Trump favored Texas over Puerto Rico|work=POLITICO|accessdate=March 27, 2018}}</ref>  An academic study by the [[New England Journal of Medicine]] estimated that the number of hurricane-related deaths during the period September 20, 2017 to December 31, 2017 was around 4,600 (range 793-8,498)<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kishore|first=Nishant|display-authors=etal|date=May 29, 2018|title=Mortality in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria|journal=New England Journal of Medicine |volume=379 |issue=2 |pages=162–170 |doi=10.1056/nejmsa1803972 |pmid=29809109 |issn=0028-4793}}</ref> The official death rate due to Maria reported by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is 2,975; the figure was based on an independent investigation by [[George Washington University]] commissioned by the governor of Puerto Rico.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-45338080|title=Puerto Rico hurricane death toll jumps|date=August 29, 2018|work=BBC News|accessdate=August 31, 2018}}</ref> Trump claimed, without evidence, that the official death rate was wrong and that the Democrats were trying to make him "look as bad as possible". Other Republicans, such as Paul Ryan and Florida governor Rick Scott distanced themselves from Trump's statements.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/13/politics/trump-puerto-rico-death-toll/index.html|title=Trump falsely claims nearly 3,000 Americans in Puerto Rico 'did not die'|authors=Betsy Klein and Maegan Vazquez|publisher=[[CNN]]|accessdate=October 20, 2018}}</ref>

==== California wildfires ====
In November 2018, while California was experiencing was [[2018 California wildfires|one of its most destructive wildfires]], Trump blamed the fires on "gross" and "poor" "mismanagement" of forests by California, saying that there was no other reason for these wildfires. ''The New York Times'' described Trump's claims as misleading, noting that the fires in question were not "forest fires", that most of the forest was owned by federal agencies, and that climate change in part contributed to the fires.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/12/us/politics/fact-check-trump-california-fire-tweet.html|title=Trump’s Misleading Claims About California’s Fire ‘Mismanagement’|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|department=Fact Check|first=Kendra |last=Pierre-Louis|date=November 12, 2018|access-date=2018-11-14|language=en}}</ref>

=== Immigration ===

{{Main|Immigration policy of Donald Trump}}
{{see also|Immigration reform}}
[[File:Kirstjen Nielsen official photo (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Kirstjen Nielsen]] is the 6th [[United States Secretary of Homeland Security|Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security]]]]

Trump has repeatedly characterized [[Illegal immigration to the United States|illegal immigrants]] as criminals, although multiple studies have found they have lower crime and incarceration rates than native-born Americans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/22/us/politics/trump-immigration-borders-family-separation.html|title=Trump Highlights Immigrant Crime to Defend His Border Policy. Statistics Don't Back Him Up.|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=June 24, 2018}}</ref> Prior to taking office, Trump promised to deport the 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States and to build a [[Mexico–United States barrier|wall]] along the [[Mexico–United States border]].<ref name="stareen18november2016">{{cite news |last1=Tareen|first1=Sophia|title=Trump's election triggers flood of immigration questions|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2016/1118/Trump-s-election-triggers-flood-of-immigration-questions|newspaper=The Christian Science Monitor|date=November 18, 2016|accessdate=November 18, 2016}}</ref> In January 2017, Trump signed [[Executive Order 13767|an executive order]] directing the DHS Secretary to begin work on a wall.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/25/donald-trump-sign-mexico-border-executive-order|title=Trump signs order to begin Mexico border wall in immigration crackdown|newspaper=The Guardian|date=January 25, 2017}}</ref> An internal DHS report estimated that Trump's wall would cost $21.6 billion and take 3.5 years to build (far higher than the Trump 2016 campaign's estimate ($12 billion) and the $15 billion estimate from Republican congressional leaders).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://reuters.com/article/usa-trump-immigration-wall-idINKBN15O2ZZ|title=Trump border 'wall' to cost $21.6 billion, take 3.5 years to build: Homeland Security internal report|last=Ainsley|first=Julia Edwards|date=|work=|accessdate=February 10, 2017|publisher=Reuters}}</ref> Other analyses estimated a total cost of up to $25 billion, with the cost of private land acquisitions and fence maintenance pushing the total cost up further.<ref name="Loiaconi">Stephen Loiaconi, [http://wjla.com/news/nation-world/trumps-border-wall-could-be-costly-ineffective-experts-say "Experts: Trump's border wall could be costly, ineffective"], [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] (August 18, 2015).</ref> In August 2017, the transcript of the January 2017 phone call between Trump and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto was leaked; in the phone call, Trump conceded that he would fund the border wall, not by charging Mexico as he promised during the campaign, and implored the Mexican President to stop saying publicly that the Mexican government would not pay for the border wall.<ref name=":19">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/you-cannot-say-that-to-the-press-trump-urged-mexican-president-to-end-his-public-defiance-on-border-wall-transcript-reveals/2017/08/03/0c2c0a4e-7610-11e7-8f39-eeb7d3a2d304_story.html|title=Trump urged Mexican president to end his public defiance on border wall, transcript reveals|newspaper=The Washington Post|accessdate=August 3, 2017}}</ref> In January 2018, the administration proposed spending $18 billion over the next 10 years on the wall, more than half of the $33 billion spending blueprint for border security.<ref name=":56">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/08/us/politics/trump-border-wall-funding-surveillance.html|title=To Pay for Wall, Trump Would Cut Proven Border Security Measures|last=Nixon|first=Ron|date=2018|work=The New York Times|accessdate=January 9, 2018|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Trump's plan would reduce funding for border surveillance, radar technology, patrol boats and customs agents; experts and officials say that these are more effective at curbing illegal immigration and preventing terrorism and smuggling than a border wall.<ref name=":56" />

In February 2017, Trump stated, "According to data provided by the Department of Justice, the vast majority of individuals convicted of terrorism and terrorism-related offenses since 9/11 came here from outside of our country." Fact-checkers found that most of those convictions were for cases of terrorism that did not occur in America but were prosecuted in America, and many other cases involved non-violent offenses like fraud or immigration violations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2017/mar/02/donald-trump/trump-misleads-claim-about-terrorism-convictions-9/|title=Details behind Trump's claim on terrorism convictions|publisher=[[Politifact]]|accessdate=August 1, 2018}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/08/15/president-trumps-claim-that-foreigners-comprise-the-vast-majority-of-terrorism-convictions-since-911/|title=Analysis - President Trump’s claim that foreigners are responsible for ‘the vast majority’ of terrorism convictions since 9/11|website=Washington Post|accessdate=August 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lawfareblog.com/what-data-really-show-about-terrorists-who-came-here-part-iii-what-if-you-included-domestic|title=What the Data Really Show About Terrorists Who 'Came Here,' Part III: What If You Included Domestic Terrorism Cases?|date=April 11, 2017|publisher=Law Fare|accessdate=August 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lawfareblog.com/justice-department-finds-no-responsive-records-support-trump-speech|title=The Justice Department Finds 'No Responsive Records' to Support a Trump Speech|date=July 31, 2018|publisher=Law Fare|accessdate=August 1, 2018}}</ref> Moreover, an April 2017 analysis by the [[Government Accountability Office]] found that between September 12, 2001 and December 31, 2016, 73% of violent extremist incidents resulting in deaths were perpetrated by far right wing violent extremist groups, while 27% were perpetrated by radical Islamist violent extremists.<ref name="auto"/>

The administration embraced the [[RAISE Act|Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy (RAISE) Act]] in August 2017. The RAISE Act sought to reduce legal immigration levels to the U.S. by 50% by halving the number of [[Permanent residence (United States)|green cards]] issued, capping [[refugee]] admissions at 50,000 a year and ending the [[Diversity Immigrant Visa|visa diversity lottery]].<ref name=":110">{{cite news|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/business/wharton-study-immigration-proposal-will-lead-to-less-economic-growth-and-fewer-jobs-20170810.html|title=Wharton study: Immigration proposal will lead to less economic growth and fewer jobs|work=Philadelphia Daily News|accessdate=August 11, 2017}}</ref>

In August 2017, the administration terminated a program that granted temporary legal residence to unaccompanied Central American minors. 2,714 individuals would need to renew their legal residence status through other more difficult immigrant channels.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-administration-ends-obama-era-protection-program-for-central-american-minors/2017/08/16/8101507e-82b6-11e7-ab27-1a21a8e006ab_story.html|title=Trump administration ends Obama-era protection program for Central American minors|first1=David|last1=Nakamura|work=The Washington Post|date=August 16, 2017}}</ref> In November 2017, the [[Temporary Protected Status]] (TPS) granted to 60,000 Haitians following the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]] was revoked.<ref name=":55">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-administration-to-end-provisional-residency-for-200000-salvadorans/2018/01/08/badfde90-f481-11e7-beb6-c8d48830c54d_story.html|title=200,000 Salvadorans may be forced to leave the U.S. as Trump ends immigration protection|last=Miroff|first=Nick|date=January 8, 2018|work=Washington Post|accessdate=January 8, 2018|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> In January 2018, the administration announced that approximately 200,000 Salvadorans, who were given Temporary Protected Status in the U.S. after a series of devastating earthquakes in 2001, would have their residency permits revoked; which means that they will have to leave the country, seek new permits or stay as undocumented immigrants.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/08/us/salvadorans-tps-end.html|title=Trump Administration Says That Nearly 200,000 Salvadorans Must Leave|last=Jordan|first=Miriam|date=2018|work=The New York Times|accessdate=January 8, 2018|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The Salvadorans are parents to an estimated 190,000 U.S.-born children.<ref name=":55" /> In October 2018, a federal judge blocked the administration's attempt to deport the TPS recipients, citing what the judge said was Trump's racial "animus against non-white, non-European immigrants."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/10/03/judge-blocks-trump-administration-deporting-immigrants-under-tps/1517268002/|title=Federal judge blocks Trump from deporting hundreds of thousands of immigrants under TPS|work=USA TODAY|accessdate=October 4, 2018}}</ref>

An analysis released by Trump's [[Department of Health and Human Services]] in September 2017 was found to have removed earlier findings that refugees entering America had a $63 billion net positive effect on tax revenues between 2005 and 2014, with the final report counting only the costs that refugees incur.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/18/us/politics/refugees-revenue-cost-report-trump.html|title=Trump Administration Rejects Study Showing Positive Impact of Refugees|accessdate=June 25, 2018}}</ref> In July 2018, Sessions rescinded a DOJ guidance on refugees and asylum seekers' right to work, thus prohibiting them from working in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://thehill.com/regulation/international/395440-sessions-rescinds-guidance-on-refugees-asylum-seekers-right-to-work|title=Sessions rescinds DOJ guidance on refugees, asylum seekers' right to work|last=Thomsen|first=Jacqueline|date=July 3, 2018|work=TheHill|accessdate=July 4, 2018}}</ref>

In October 2017, Secretary of Defense Mattis added additional background checks for non-citizens who served in the military and extended the time that the service members had to serve before they could receive necessary paperwork to pursue US citizenship. As a result of these changes, the number of service members who applied for citizenship through their service declined by 65% in the first quarter of fiscal year 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/05/03/naturalizations-drop-65-percent-for-service-members-seeking-citizenship-after-mattis-memo|title=Naturalizations drop 65 percent for service members seeking citizenship after Mattis memo|last=Copp|first=Tara|date=May 3, 2018|work=Military Times|accessdate=May 4, 2018}}</ref>

In December 2017, the administration announced that it would make it illegal for spouses of [[H-1B visa]] holders to work in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/15/technology/h1b-visa-spouses-h4-trump/index.html?iid=hp-stack-dom|title=Trump will stop spouses of H-1B visa holders from working|last=Mullen|first=Jethro|work=CNNMoney|accessdate=December 15, 2017}}</ref>

In January 2018, Trump was widely criticized after referring to Haiti, El Salvador, and African nations in general as "shithole countries" at a bipartisan meeting on immigration. Multiple international leaders condemned his remarks as racist.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/african-nations-slam-trump-s-vulgar-remarks-reprehensible-racist-n837486|title=African nations slam Trump's vulgar remarks as "racist"|work=NBC News|accessdate=January 15, 2018}}</ref>

By February 2018, arrests of undocumented immigrants by ICE increased by 40% during Trump's tenure. Arrests of noncriminal undocumented immigrants were twice as high as during Obama's final year in office. Arrests of undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions only increased slightly.<ref name=":63">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-takes-shackles-off-ice-which-is-slapping-them-on-immigrants-who-thought-they-were-safe/2018/02/11/4bd5c164-083a-11e8-b48c-b07fea957bd5_story.html|title=Trump takes 'shackles' off ICE, which is slapping them on immigrants who thought they were safe|last=Miroff|first=Nick|date=February 11, 2018|work=Washington Post|accessdate=February 12, 2018|last2=Sacchetti|first2=Maria|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

In March 2018, the Commerce Department announced that it would add a citizenship question to the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]]. Experts noted that the inclusion of such a question would likely result in severe undercounting of the population and faulty data, as undocumented immigrants would be less likely to respond to the census.<ref name=":66">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/26/us/politics/census-citizenship-question-trump.html|title=Despite Concerns, Census Will Ask Respondents if They Are U.S. Citizens|last=Baumgaertner|first=Emily|date=March 26, 2018|work=The New York Times|accessdate=March 27, 2018|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> [[Blue states]], especially California, are therefore likely to get less congressional apportionment and fund apportionment than they would otherwise get, because they have larger undocumented populations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/27/politics/blue-states-lose-citizenship-question-census/index.html|title=Blue states are far more likely to lose money and power over Census citizenship question|last=CNN|first=Analysis by Harry Enten,|work=CNN|accessdate=March 27, 2018}}</ref> In response, [[Xavier Becerra]], California's attorney general, announced his attention to sue the administration over the decision.<ref name=":66" /> Similar suits were filed in New York, Washington D.C., and several cities. The [[American Civil Liberties Union]] (ACLU) and immigrants' rights organizations sued in June 2018.<ref name=Bahrampour>{{cite web | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/aclu-sues-us-government-over-census-citizenship-question/2018/06/06/119f629c-69ac-11e8-9e38-24e693b38637_story.html?noredirect=on | title=ACLU sues U.S. government over census citizenship question | work=[[The Washington Post]] | date=June 6, 2018 | accessdate=June 20, 2018 | last=Bahrampour | first=Tara}}</ref> [[United States District Court for the Southern District of New York|Federal District Court]] judge [[Jesse M. Furman|Jesse Furman]] blocked the administration plan on January 15, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/15/us/census-citizenship-question.html|title=Court Blocks Trump Administration From Asking About Citizenship in Census|first=Michael|last=Wines|date=January 15, 2019|publisher=|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>

In July 2018, experts noted that due to the administration's strict border security policy, there was an increase in criminality and lawlessness along the US-Mexico border. There was a strengthening of ties between human smugglers, organized crime and corrupt local law enforcement along the US-Mexico border, and that organized crime groups were preying on asylum seekers who were prevented by US authorities from filing for asylum.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/19/americas/trump-migration-border-smuggling/index.html|title=Trump's immigration policies were supposed to make the border safer. Experts say the opposite is happening.|last=CNN|first=Ray Sanchez, Nick Valencia and Tal Kopan,|work=CNN|accessdate=July 24, 2018}}</ref>

During the 2018 mid-term election campaign, Trump sent nearly 5,600 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border for the stated purpose of protecting the United States against a caravan of Central American migrants.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/10/us/deployed-inside-the-united-states-the-military-waits-for-the-migrant-caravan.html|title=Deployed Inside the United States: The Military Waits for the Migrant Caravan|access-date=2018-11-10|language=en}}</ref> The Pentagon had previously concluded that the caravan posed no threat to the U.S. The border deployment was estimated to cost as much as $220 million by the end of the year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/05/trump-border-deployments-could-cost-220-million-pentagon-sees-no-caravan-threat.html|title=Trump's border deployments could cost $220 million as Pentagon sees no threat from migrant caravan|last=Macias|first=Amanda|date=2018-11-05|work=CNBC|access-date=2018-11-05}}</ref> With daily warnings from Trump about the dangers of the caravan during the mid-terms, the frequency and intensity of the caravan rhetoric nearly stopped after election day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/38870e6a25d5469292253b4b716ecc17|title=Remember the caravan? After vote, focus on migrants fades|date=2018-11-13|work=AP NEWS|access-date=2018-11-14}}</ref>

During his February 2019 State of the Union address, Trump asserted that the border city of El Paso, Texas once had one of the highest violent crime rates in the nation but became one of America's safest cities after a border barrier was built there in 2009. He repeated a variation of that assertion at a rally in El Paso days later. Those assertions were false: El Paso never had one of the country's highest violent crime rates, its rate had long been lower than the average of comparably-sized cities, and the rate had been declining steadily since 1993.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2019/feb/08/donald-trump/no-border-barrier-did-not-drive-down-crime-el-paso/|title=No, border barrier did not bring down crime in El Paso|website=@politifact}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/12/us/politics/trump-rally-fact-check.html|title=Trump Repeats False Claim About El Paso Crime, This Time in El Paso|first=Linda|last=Qiu|date=February 12, 2019|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> Also at that rally, large banners appeared over the stage declaring "Finish the Wall," in contrast to the previous slogan of "Build the Wall." The following day, Trump stated "we’re building a lot of wall" and tweeted "it is being built as we speak!" No new barrier construction had yet begun during his presidency.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/fox-news-shepard-smith-shuts-down-trumps-claim-hes-building-the-wall-simply-not-true/|title=Fox News’ Shepard Smith Shuts Down Trump’s Claim He’s Building the Wall: ‘Simply Not True’}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/chuck-todd-says-trump-engaging-in-unprecedented-level-of-deception-hes-pretending-to-build-the-wall/|title=Chuck Todd Says Trump Engaging in ‘Unprecedented Level’ of Deception: He’s ‘Pretending’ to Build the Wall}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1095469449052868610|title=....Will be getting almost $23 BILLION for Border Security. Regardless of Wall money, it is being built as we speak!|first=Donald J.|last=Trump|date=February 12, 2019}}</ref> Starting in February 2019 14 miles of new barriers are slated to be built.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lu |first1=Denise |title=The Border Wall: What Has Trump Built So Far? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/01/05/us/border-wall.html |website=The New York Times |accessdate=13 February 2019 |language=en |date=5 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Colvin |first1=Jill |last2=Weissert |first2=Will |title=In Texas, President Trump Backs Wall While Beto O'Rourke Argues Walls Cause More Problems |url=http://time.com/5527470/texas-president-trump-beto-orourke-walls-border/ |website=Time |accessdate=13 February 2019 |language=en |date=12 February 2019}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Period!!Refugee Program<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/slashes-number-refugees-ready-resettle-170928033816715.html|title=US slashes number of refugees it is ready to resettle|website=www.aljazeera.com|accessdate=October 20, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/slashes-number-refugees-admit-30000-180917225659912.html|title='Shameful': US slashes number of refugees it will admit to 30,000|website=www.aljazeera.com|accessdate=October 20, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| 2018 || 45,000
|-
| 2019 || 30,000
|}

====Family separation policy====
{{Main|Trump administration family separation policy}}
{{See also|Protests against Trump administration family separation policy}}
[[File:Stop Separating Immigrant Families Press Conference and Rally Chicago Illinois 6-5-18.jpg|thumb|June 2018 protest against the [[Trump administration family separation policy]], in Chicago, Illinois.]]
In May 2018, the administration announced it would separate children from parents caught unlawfully crossing the southern border into the United States. Parents were routinely charged with a [[misdemeanor]] and jailed; their children were placed in separate detention centers with no established procedure to track them or reunite them with their parent after they had served time for their offence, generally only a few hours or days.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jarrett |first1=Laura |title=Federal judge orders reunification of parents and children, end to most family separations at border |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/26/politics/federal-court-order-family-separations/index.html |website=CNN |accessdate=July 24, 2018}}</ref> Later that month, Trump falsely accused Democrats of creating that policy, despite it originating from his own administration, and urged Congress to "get together" and pass an immigration bill.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/28/us/trump-immigrant-children-lost.html|title=Did the Trump Administration Separate Immigrant Children From Parents and Lose Them?|date=May 28, 2018|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=May 28, 2018|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> Members of Congress from both parties condemned the practice and pointed out that the White House could end the separations on its own; Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said, "President Trump could stop this policy with a phone call."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vox.com/2018/6/19/17478350/republicans-family-separations-trump-midterms|title=Republicans are starting to worry that voters will punish them for family separations|last=Zhou|first=Li|date=June 19, 2018|work=Vox|accessdate=June 20, 2018}}</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' quoted a White House official as saying that Trump's decision to separate migrant families was to gain political leverage to force Democrats and moderate Republicans to accept hardline immigration legislation.<ref name=":78">{{cite web |last1=Scherer |first1=Michael |last2=Dawsey |first2=Josh |title=Trump cites as a negotiating tool his policy of separating immigrant children from their parents |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-cites-as-a-negotiating-tool-his-policy-of-separating-immigrant-children-from-their-parents/2018/06/15/ade82b80-70b3-11e8-bf86-a2351b5ece99_story.html?noredirect=on |work=[[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=June 17, 2018}}</ref>

Six weeks into the implementation of the "zero tolerance" policy, at least 2,300 migrant children had been separated from their families.<ref name=":79" /> The [[American Academy of Pediatrics]], the [[American College of Physicians]] and the [[American Psychiatric Association]] condemned the policy, with the American Academy of Pediatrics saying that the policy was causing "irreparable harm" to the children.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/14/health/immigrant-family-separation-doctors/index.html|title=Doctors saw immigrant kids separated from their parents. Now they're trying to stop it.|last=CNN|first=Catherine E. Shoichet,|work=CNN|accessdate=June 15, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":78" /> The policy was extremely unpopular, more so than any major piece of legislation in recent memory.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/06/19/the-extraordinary-unpopularity-of-trumps-family-separation-policy-in-one-graph/|title=Analysis {{!}} The extraordinary unpopularity of Trump's family separation policy (in one graph)|last=Sides|first=John|date=June 19, 2018|work=Washington Post|accessdate=June 20, 2018|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Images of children held in cage-like detention centers, interviews of sobbing mothers who had no idea where their children were and had not heard from them for weeks and months, and an audio of sobbing children resulted in an outrage calling the practice "inhumane," "cruel" and "evil."<ref name=":79" /> On June 30, [[Protests against Trump administration family separation policy|a national protest]] 
drew hundreds of thousands of protesters from all 50 states to demonstrate in more than 600 towns and cities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Thousands across U.S. join 'Keep Families Together' march to protest family separation |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/thousands-across-u-s-join-keep-families-together-march-protest-n888006 |website=NBC News |accessdate=July 21, 2018}}</ref> All four living former [[First Ladies of the United States]]&mdash;[[Rosalynn Carter]], [[Hillary Clinton]], [[Laura Bush]], and [[Michelle Obama]]&mdash;condemned the policy of separating children from their parents.<ref>Matt Stevens & Sarah Mervosh, [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/19/us/politics/first-ladies-trump-family-separation.html All 4 Living Former First Ladies Condemn Trump Border Policy That Separates Families], ''New York Times'' (July 21, 2018).</ref> Amidst the growing outrage, [[Department of Homeland Security|DHS]] secretary [[Kirstjen Nielsen]] falsely claimed on June 17, "We do not have a policy of separating families at the border. Period."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.factcheck.org/2018/06/nielsens-rhetoric-on-family-separations/|title=Nielsen's Rhetoric on Family Separations|date=June 20, 2018|publisher=Fact Check}}</ref>

On June 20, 2018, amid worldwide outrage and enormous political pressure to roll back his policy, Trump signed an executive order to end family separations at the U.S. border, unilaterally reversing his policy.<ref name=":79">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/20/us/politics/trump-immigration-children-executive-order.html|title=Trump Retreats on Separating Families, Signing Order to Detain Them Together|accessdate=June 20, 2018}}</ref> He had earlier said that "you can't do it through an executive order."<ref name=":79" /> As the result of a class-action lawsuit filed by the [[American Civil Liberties Union]], on June 26, U.S. District Judge [[Dana Sabraw]] issued a nationwide [[preliminary injunction]] against the family-separation policy.<ref name="FedJudgeInjunction">Michael D. Shear, Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Thomas Kaplan & Robert Pear, [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/26/us/politics/family-separations-congress-states.html Federal Judge in California Issues Injunction Halting Government From Separating Families], ''New York Times'' (June 26, 2018).</ref><ref name="PrelimInjunctionText">[https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000164-3f39-d1bc-afef-7fbbdf010001 Order Granting Plaintiffs' Motion for Classwide Preliminary Injunction], ''Ms. L., et al. v. U.S. immigration & Customs Enforcement, et al.'', Case No. 18-cv-0428 (S.D. Cal. June 26, 2018).</ref> In his opinion, Sabraw wrote that the federal government "readily keeps track of personal property of detainees in criminal and immigration proceedings", yet "has no system in place to keep track of, provide effective communication with, and promptly produce alien children."<!---<ref name=Gerstein />-- no ref details? ---> The injunction required the government to reunite separated families within 30 days except where not appropriate.<ref name="FedJudgeInjunction" /><ref name="PrelimInjunctionText" />

On July 26, the administration said that 1,442 children had been reunited with their parents while 711 remain in government shelters because their cases are still under review, their parents have criminal records, or they are no longer in the United States. Administration officials state that 431 parents of those children have already been deported without their children. Officials said they will work with the court to return the remaining children, including the children whose parents have been deported.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hundreds of migrant children remain in custody, though most separated families are reunited at court deadline |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-administration-reunites-majority-of-separated-families-by-court-deadline/2018/07/26/7db6263c-9102-11e8-8322-b5482bf5e0f5_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |accessdate=August 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bacon |first1=John |title=Are immigrant family reunions likely? 463 parents may have been deported without kids |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/07/24/immigration-parents-may-have-been-deported-without-kids/824904002/ |website=USA Today |accessdate=July 24, 2018}}</ref>

====Immigration order====

{{see also|Executive Order 13769|Executive Order 13780|s:Proclamation 9645}}
[[File:Trump_signing_order_January_27.jpg|thumb|Trump signing [[Executive Order 13769]] at the [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]] as the Vice President [[Mike Pence]] and Secretary of Defense [[James Mattis]] look on, January 27, 2017]]
During his first nine months in office, Trump issued several directives aimed at restricting entry of certain people into the United States. Each directive was [[Legal challenges to the Trump travel ban|challenged in court]].

On January 27, 2017, Trump signed an [[Executive Order 13769|executive order]] which indefinitely suspended admission of asylum seekers fleeing the [[Syrian Civil War]], suspended admission of all other refugees for 120 days, and denied entry to citizens of [[Iraq]], [[Iran]], [[Libya]], [[Somalia]], [[Sudan]], [[Syria]] and [[Yemen]] for 90 days. The order also established a religious test for refugees from Muslim nations by giving priority to refugees of other religions over Muslim refugees.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/27/us/politics/trump-syrian-refugees.html|title=Trump Bars Refugees and Citizens of 7 Muslim Countries|last=Shear|first=Michael D.|date=January 27, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=January 28, 2017|last2=Cooper|first2=Helene}}</ref> Later, the administration seemed to reverse a portion of part of the order, effectively exempting visitors with a [[Permanent residence (United States)|green card]].<ref name="Shear">Peter Baker, [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/us/politics/white-house-official-in-reversal-says-green-card-holders-wont-be-barred.html "White House Official, in Reversal, Says Green Card Holders Won't Be Barred"], ''[[The New York Times]]'' (January 29, 2017).</ref> After the order was challenged in the federal courts, several federal judges issued rulings [[Injunction|enjoining]] the government from enforcing the order.<ref name="Shear" /> On January 30, Trump [[Dismissals of Sally Yates and Daniel Ragsdale|fired]] acting Attorney General [[Sally Yates]] after she stated she would not defend the order in court; Yates was replaced by [[Dana Boente]], who stated the DOJ would defend the order.<ref name="tschleifer1">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/30/politics/dana-boente-acting-attorney-general/|title=New acting attorney general set for brief tenure|last1=Schleifer|first1=Theodore|date=January 31, 2017|accessdate=January 31, 2017|publisher=CNN}}</ref>

A [[Executive Order 13780|new executive order]] was signed in March which places limits on travel to the U.S. from six different countries for 90 days, and by all refugees who do not possess either a visa or valid travel documents for 120 days.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/06/donald-trump-travel-ban-nigeria-executive-order/|title=Donald Trump's travel ban: President facing new legal threat as FBI investigate 300 refugees for links to Isil|last1=Alexander|first1=Harriet|date=March 7, 2017|accessdate=June 26, 2017|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> The new executive order revoked and replaced the former Executive Order 13769 issued in January.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/06/politics/trump-new-travel-ban-executive-order-full-text/index.html|title=Trump travel ban: Read the full executive order|date=March 6, 2017|accessdate=June 26, 2017|publisher=CNN}}</ref>

On June 26, the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] partially [[Stay of execution|stayed]] certain injunctions that were put on the order by two federal appeals courts earlier, allowing the executive order to mostly go into effect. On October 10 the Court dismissed the case, saying that the orders had been replaced by a new proclamation, so challenges to the previous executive orders are moot.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/10/10/victory-trump-supreme-court-dismisses-travel-ban-case/752401001/|title=In victory for Trump, Supreme Court dismisses travel ban case|last1=Wolf|first1=Richard|last2=Korte|first2=Gregory|work=[[USA Today]] |date=October 10, 2017|accessdate=October 20, 2017}}</ref>

On September 24, 2017, Trump signed a proclamation that placed limits on the six countries in the second executive order and added [[Chad]], [[North Korea]], and [[Venezuela]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lawfareblog.com/white-house-updates-travel-ban-summary|title=White House Updates to the Travel Ban: A Summary|first=Russell|last=Spivak|publisher=[[Lawfare (blog)|Lawfare]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|date=September 25, 2017|accessdate=October 19, 2017}}</ref> On October 17, 2017, Judge [[Derrick Watson]], of the [[United States District Court for the District of Hawaii]] issued another temporary [[restraining order]] in response to a [[petition]] by the [[Hawaii|state of Hawaii]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/federal-judge-blocks-trumps-third-travel-ban/2017/10/17/e73293fc-ae90-11e7-9e58-e6288544af98_story.html|title=Federal judge blocks Trump's third travel ban|first=Matt|last=Zapotosky|work=[[The Washington Post]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|date=October 17, 2017|accessdate=October 19, 2017}}</ref> On December 4, 2017, the Supreme Court allowed the September 2017 travel restrictions to go into effect while legal challenges in Hawaii and Maryland are heard. The decision effectively bars most citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad and North Korea from entry into the United States along with some groups of people from Venezuela.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/04/us/politics/trump-travel-ban-supreme-court.html|publisher=The New York Times|title=Supreme Court Allows Trump Travel Ban to Take Effect|author=Liptak, Adam|date=December 4, 2017|accessdate=December 5, 2017}}</ref>

====2018–2019 federal government shutdown====
{{main|United States federal government shutdown of 2018–2019}}
On December 22, 2018 the federal government was partially shut down after Trump demanded $5.7&nbsp;billion in federal funds for a [[Mexico–United States barrier#Trump administration|U.S.–Mexico border wall]] to partly fulfill his campaign promise. The House and Senate lacked votes necessary to support his funding demand and to overcome Trump's refusal to sign the appropriations last passed by Congress into law.<ref>{{Cite news |first1=Julie Hirschfeld |last1=Davis |first2=Michael |last2=Tackett |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/02/us/politics/trump-congress-shutdown.html |title=Trump and Democrats Dig In After Talks to Reopen Government Go Nowhere |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 2, 2019 |access-date=January 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first1=Damian |last1=Paletta |first2=Erica |last2=Werner |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/trump-falsely-claims-mexico-is-paying-for-wall-demands-taxpayer-money-before-meeting-with-top-democrats/2019/01/02/408bf86e-0e97-11e9-8938-5898adc28fa2_story.html |title=Trump falsely claims Mexico is paying for wall, demands taxpayer money for wall in meeting with Democrats |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=January 2, 2019 |access-date=January 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/04/politics/shutdown-donald-trump-nancy-pelosi/index.html |title=Trump says he could keep shutdown going for months or years |last=Liptak |first=Kevin |date=January 4, 2019 |publisher=[[CNN]] |accessdate=January 4, 2019}}</ref> In negotiations with Democrat leaders leading up to the shutdown, Trump commented that he would be "proud to shut down the government for border security."<ref name=Nakamura-190109>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/hes-a-gut-politician-trumps-go-to-negotiating-tactics-not-working-in-shutdown-standoff/2019/01/09/c7bb5ff2-142b-11e9-b6ad-9cfd62dbb0a8_story.html |title='He's a gut politician': Trump's go-to negotiating tactics aren't working in shutdown standoff |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=January 9, 2019 |accessdate=January 10, 2019 |first=David |last=Nakamura |first2=Seung Min |last2=Kim}}</ref><ref name=Pramuk-190104>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/04/pelosi-schumer-face-trump-over-border-wall-amid-government-shutdown-.html |title=Democrats face off with Trump (again) over border wall as government shutdown enters 14th day |publisher=[[CNBC]] |date=January 4, 2019 |accessdate=January 10, 2019 |first=Jacob |last=Pramuk}}</ref><ref name=Everett-181211>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/11/trump-border-wall-congress-budget-1055433 |title=Trump says he's 'proud' to shut down government during fight with Pelosi and Schumer |work=[[Politico]] |date=December 11, 2018 |accessdate=January 10, 2019 |first=Burgess |last=Everett |first2=Sarah |last2=Ferris |first3=Caitlin |last3=Oprysko}}</ref> The shutdown, which was ended on January 25, 2019, was the longest shutdown in U.S. history, and at over one month in duration it has surpassed the previously longest shutdown of the 21-day [[United States federal government shutdowns of 1995–1996|shutdown of 1995–96]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/01/09/us/politics/longest-government-shutdown.html |title=This Government Shutdown Is One of the Longest Ever |last=Gates |first=Guilbert |date=January 9, 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=January 10, 2019}}</ref> By mid-January 2019, the White House [[Council of Economic Advisors]] estimated that each week of the shutdown reduced GDP by 0.1 percentage points, the equivalent of 1.2 points per quarter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/video/2019/01/15/white-house-doubles-its-estimate-of-shutdown-impact-on-gdp.html|title=White House doubles its estimate of shutdown impact on GDP|website=www.cnbc.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/15/us/politics/government-shutdown-economy.html|title=Shutdownâ€™s Economic Damage Starts to Pile Up, Threatening an End to Growth|first=Jim|last=Tankersley|date=January 15, 2019|publisher=|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>

=== LGBT policy ===
{{Main|Social policy of Donald Trump#LGBT issues}}
{{see also|LGBT rights in the United States}}

On January 31, 2017, Trump said his administration would keep intact the [[Executive Order 13672|2014 executive order]] that protects employees from anti-LGBTQ workplace discrimination while working for federal contractors.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/dominicholden/trump-keep-the-lgbt-workplace-protections|title=Trump Says He'll Uphold Obama's Order Protecting LGBT Federal Workers|last=Holden|first=Dominic|date=January 31, 2017|accessdate=August 1, 2017|publisher=Buzzfeed}}</ref> However, in March 2017, the Trump administration rolled back key components of the Obama administration's workplace protections for LGBT people.<ref name=":22">{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/lgbtq-advocates-say-trump-s-news-executive-order-makes-them-n740301|title=LGBTQ advocates say Trump's new executive order removes protections against job discrimination|publisher=NBC News|accessdate=July 30, 2017}}</ref> The Trump administration rescinded requirements that federal contractors prove that they are complying with the LGBT workplace protections, which makes it difficult to tell if a contractor had refrained from discriminatory practices against LGBT individuals.<ref name=":22" /> LGBT advocates argued that this was a signal that the Trump administration would not enforce workplace violations against LGBT people.<ref name=":22" />

In February 2017, the Trump administration rescinded an Obama directive (interpreting [[gender identity under Title IX]]) that allowed transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms matching their chosen gender identity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Trotta|first1=Daniel|title=Trump revokes Obama guidelines on transgender bathrooms|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-lgbt-idUSKBN161243|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=March 5, 2017}}</ref>

In March 2017, the administration rolled back efforts to collect data on LGBT Americans.<ref name=":42">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/30/lgbt-rights-under-trump|title='Death by a thousand cuts': LGBT rights fading under Trump, advocates say|last=Siddiqui|first=Sabrina|date=March 30, 2017|work=The Guardian|accessdate=July 30, 2017}}</ref> The HHS removed a question about sexual orientation in a survey of the elderly.<ref name=":42" /> The U.S. Census Bureau, which had planned to ask about sexual orientation and gender identity in the 2020 Census and the American Community Survey, scrapped those plans in March 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/29/521921287/u-s-census-to-leave-sexual-orientation-gender-identity-questions-off-new-surveys|title=U.S. Census To Leave Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity Questions Off New Surveys|publisher=NPR |accessdate=July 30, 2017}}</ref> In December 2017, the CDC was reportedly prohibited from using the term "transgender";<ref name=":49">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/cdc-gets-list-of-forbidden-words-fetus-transgender-diversity/2017/12/15/f503837a-e1cf-11e7-89e8-edec16379010_story.html|title=CDC gets list of forbidden words: fetus, transgender, diversity|last=Sun|first=Lena H.|date=December 15, 2017|work=Washington Post|accessdate=December 16, 2017|last2=Eilperin|first2=Juliet|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> the CDC Director denied the report.<ref name="autogenerated3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/cdc-director-says-there-are-no-banned-words-at-the-agency|title=CDC director says there are 'no banned words' at the agency |work=PBS|accessdate=June 10, 2018}}</ref>

On July 26, 2017, Trump tweeted that transgender individuals would not be allowed "to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military", citing the alleged "disruption" and "tremendous medical costs" of having transgender service members.<ref name=":16">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40729996|title=Trump: Transgender people 'can't serve' US military|date=July 26, 2017|accessdate=July 26, 2017|publisher=BBC News}}</ref> However, a RAND study of 18 countries that allow transgender individuals to serve in the military found "little or no impact on unit cohesion, operational effectiveness, or readiness".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/7/26/16034040/trump-transgender-military-study|title=Trump: allowing transgender military service would hurt combat readiness. Actual research: nope.|publisher=Vox|accessdate=July 26, 2017}}</ref> Also, according to ''[[Scientific American]]'', studies have shown that the medical costs for transgender service members would be "minimal".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/cost-of-medical-care-for-transgender-service-members-would-be-minimal-studies-show/|title=Cost of Medical Care for Transgender Service Members Would Be Minimal, Studies Show|last=Joseph |first=Andrew|work=Scientific American|accessdate=July 26, 2017}}</ref> According to the Rand Corporation, about 4,000 active-duty and reserve service members were transgender in 2016.<ref name=":16" /> The ban was blocked by a federal court.<ref>{{cite web|author=W.J. Hennigan|url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-trump-transgender-20171030-story.html|title=Federal court blocks Trump's ban on transgender people in the military|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=October 30, 2017 |accessdate=May 4, 2018}}</ref> In March 2018, Trump announced a new policy on transgender service members, namely a ban on those with a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, which would effectively be a ban on most transgender service members.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-house-announces-ban-on-most-transgender-service-members/|title=White House announces ban on most transgender service members|accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> The policy was [[Stay of proceedings|stayed]] in ''[[Karnoski vs. Trump]]'' (Western District of Washington) on April 13, 2018, when the court ruled that the 2018 memorandum essentially repeated the same issues as its predecessor order from 2017, that transgender service members (and transgender individuals as a class) were a [[protected class]] entitled to [[strict scrutiny]] of adverse laws (or at worst, a [[quasi-suspect class]]), and ordered that matter continue to a full trial hearing on the legality of the proposed policy.<ref>{{cite web|author=1917 GMT (0317 HKT) October 30, 2017|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/30/politics/judge-blocks-trump-transgender-military-ban/index.html|title=Judge blocks enforcement of transgender military ban - CNNPolitics|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=October 30, 2017|accessdate=May 4, 2018}}</ref>

In July 2017, the DOJ argued in court that federal civil rights law did not ban employers from discriminating against employees based on sexual orientation. The Obama administration had decided that it did.<ref name=":18">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/nyregion/justice-department-gays-workplace.html|title=Justice Department Says Rights Law Doesn't Protect Gays|last=Feuer|first=Alan|date=July 27, 2017|work=The New York Times|accessdate=July 28, 2017}}</ref>

In September 2017, the DOJ filed a brief on behalf of a baker who was found to have violated the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act by refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex couple. ''The Washington Post'' described the decision as part of "a series of steps the Trump administration has taken to rescind Obama administration positions favorable to gay rights".<ref name=":29">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/in-major-supreme-court-case-justice-dept-sides-with-baker-who-refused-to-make-wedding-cake-for-gay-couple/2017/09/07/fb84f116-93f0-11e7-89fa-bb822a46da5b_story.html|title=In major Supreme Court case, Justice Dept. sides with baker who refused to make wedding cake for gay couple|date=September 7, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|accessdate=September 7, 2017}}</ref>

In October 2017, Sessions ordered the DOJ to no longer side with transgender plaintiffs in workplace discrimination lawsuits invoking the Civil Rights Act.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/05/us/politics/transgender-civil-rights-act-justice-department-sessions.html|title=In Shift, Justice Dept. Says Law Doesn't Bar Transgender Discrimination|last=Savage|first=Charlie |authorlink=Charlie Savage |date=October 5, 2017|work=The New York Times|accessdate=October 6, 2017}}</ref>

=== Science ===
The administration marginalized the role of science in policymaking. It was the first administration since 1941 not to name a White House science advisor. While preparing for talks with Kim Jong Un, the White House did not do so with the assistance of a White House science adviser or senior counselor trained in nuclear physics. The position of chief scientist in the State Department or the Department of Agriculture was not filled. The administration nominated Sam Clovis to be chief scientist in the Agriculture Department, but he had no scientific background and the White House later withdrew the nomination. The administration successfully nominated Jim Bridenstine, who had no background in science and rejected the scientific consensus on climate change, to lead NASA. The Interior Department, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Food and Drug Administration disbanded advisory committees.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/09/climate/trump-administration-science.html|title=In the Trump Administration, Science Is Unwelcome. So Is Advice.|date=June 9, 2018|work=The New York Times|accessdate=June 9, 2018|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In March 2017, the Energy Department prohibited the use of the term "climate change".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/energy-department-climate-change-phrases-banned-236655|title=Energy Department climate office bans use of phrase 'climate change'|work=POLITICO|accessdate=December 16, 2017}}</ref> In December 2017, the administration sent a list to the [[Center for Disease Control Boys|Center for Disease Control (CDC)]] on words that the agency that was prohibited from using in its official communications.<ref name=":49" /> These words included "transgender," "fetus," "evidence-based," "science-based," "vulnerable," "entitlement," and "diversity."<ref name=":49" /> The Director of the CDC denied these reports.<ref name="autogenerated3"/>

=== Veterans affairs ===
Prior to David Shulkin's firing in April 2018, ''The New York Times'' described the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a "rare spot of calm in the Trump administration". Shulkin built upon changes started under the Obama administration to do a long-term overhaul of the VA system.<ref name=":15">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/04/us/politics/va-medical-system-chaos.html|title=V.A. Medical System Staggers as Chaos Engulfs Its Leadership|last=Philipps|first=Dave|date=May 4, 2018|work=The New York Times|accessdate=May 4, 2018|last2=Fandos|first2=Nicholas|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In May 2018, legislation to increase veterans' access to private care was stalled, as was a VA overhaul which sought to synchronize medical records.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/who-wants-to-work-there-now-trumps-ronny-jackson-fiasco-may-be-the-least-of-vas-worries/2018/05/02/e1c64af0-44cf-11e8-8569-26fda6b404c7_story.html|title=Exodus from Trump's VA: When the mission of caring for veterans 'is no longer a reason for people to stay'|last=Rein|first=Lisa|date=May 3, 2018|work=Washington Post|accessdate=May 4, 2018|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> In May 2018, there were reports of a large number of resignations of senior staffers and a major re-shuffling.<ref name=":15" />

In August 2018, ''ProPublica'' reported that a group of three wealthy Mar-a-Lago patrons, who had no experience in the military or the government, formed an "informal council" that strongly shaped VA decision-making, including involving a $10 billion contract to modernize veterans’ health records. The trio, which VA staff referred to as "the Mar-a-Lago Crowd", spoke to VA staff daily, and provided instructions on policy and personnel decisions at the agency.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.propublica.org/article/ike-perlmutter-bruce-moskowitz-marc-sherman-shadow-rulers-of-the-va|title=The Shadow Rulers of the VA|last=Arnsdorf|first=Isaac|date=August 7, 2018|website=ProPublica|accessdate=August 10, 2018}}</ref> The [[Government Accountability Office]] announced on November 19, 2018 that it would investigate the matter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/26/mar-a-lago-trump-investigation-va-contracts-1015803|title=Watchdog office to probe Mar-a-Lago members' influence at VA|publisher=[[Politico]]|accessdate=November 26, 2018}}</ref>

During the 2018 mid-term election campaign, Trump repeatedly and inaccurately took credit for the Veterans Choice Program, saying it was his "greatest idea" and that it took 44 years for the law to pass. The law in question was signed by President Obama in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.factcheck.org/2018/10/trumps-greatest-idea-for-a-2014-law/|title=Trump's 'Greatest Idea' for a 2014 Law - FactCheck.org|date=2018-10-24|work=FactCheck.org|access-date=2018-10-26|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Voting rights ===
Under the first 18 months of the administration, the DOJ  "launched no new efforts to roll back state restrictions on the ability to vote, and instead often sides with them."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/12/us/voting-rights-voter-id-suppression.html|title=Voting Rights Advocates Used to Have an Ally in the Government. That’s Changing.|accessdate=August 13, 2018}}</ref>

Trump has repeatedly, without evidence, alleged that there is widespread voter fraud, and did so specifically for both the 2016 elections and the 2018 mid-term elections.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/11/09/666018707/trump-scott-spread-claims-of-voter-fraud-as-florida-race-narrows|title=As Florida Races Narrow, Trump And Scott Spread Claims Of Fraud Without Evidence|work=NPR.org|access-date=2018-11-10|language=en}}</ref> In May 2017, the administration created the [[Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity]] (commonly referred to as the Voter Fraud Commission), with the stated purpose to review the extent of voter fraud. The commission was created in the wake of Trump's false claim that millions of unauthorized votes cost him the popular vote in the [[2016 United States presidential election]]. It was chaired by Vice President [[Mike Pence]], while the vice chair and day-to-day administrator was [[Kansas Secretary of State]] [[Kris Kobach]], best known for promoting restrictions on access to voting. The commission began its work by requesting each state to turn over detailed information about all registered voters in their database. Most states rejected the request, citing privacy concerns or state laws.<ref name="CNN">{{cite news| author1= Liz Stark| author2=Grace Hauck| date= July 5, 2017| publisher= CNN| url= http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/03/politics/kris-kobach-letter-voter-fraud-commission-information/index.html| title= Forty-four states and DC have refused to give certain voter information to Trump commission| accessdate= July 11, 2017}}</ref>

Multiple lawsuits were filed against the commission. In November 2017, [[Maine Secretary of State]] [[Matthew Dunlap]], a Democratic member of the commission, said that Kobach was refusing to share working documents and scheduling information with him and the other Democrats on the commission. He filed suit, and in December a federal judge ordered the commission to hand over the documents.<ref name=":54">{{Cite news|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2018/01/06/trump-administration-resists-turning-over-documents-to-dunlap/|title=Trump refuses to release documents to Maine secretary of state despite judge's order|date=January 6, 2018|work=Portland Press Herald|accessdate=January 7, 2018}}</ref> In January 2018, the Trump administration disbanded the commission, and informed Dunlap that it would not obey the court order to provide the documents because the commission no longer existed. In the announcement disbanding the commission, Trump blamed states for not handing over requested voter information to the commission, while still maintaining that there was "substantial evidence of voter fraud", an assertion which is contrary to existing research and expert assessments, which have shown voter fraud to be extremely rare.<ref name=":51">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/03/us/politics/trump-voter-fraud-commission.html|title=Trump Disbands Commission on Voter Fraud|last=Haag|first=Matthew|date=2018|work=The New York Times|accessdate=January 4, 2018|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://time.com/5087064/donald-trump-voter-fraud-commission-dissolved/|title=President Trump Dissolves His Voter Fraud Commission|website=Time|accessdate=January 4, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|date=2018-02-01|title=An exploration of Donald Trump's allegations of massive voter fraud in the 2016 General Election|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026137941730166X|journal=Electoral Studies|language=en|volume=51|pages=123–142|doi=10.1016/j.electstud.2017.09.002|issn=0261-3794}}</ref> Election integrity experts argued that the commission was disbanded because of the lawsuits, which would have led to greater transparency and accountability in the commission and thus prevented the Republican members of the commission from producing a sham report to justify restrictions on voting rights.<ref name=":54" /> In January 2018, it was revealed that the Commission had, in its requests for Texas voter data, specifically asked for data that identifies voters with Hispanic surnames.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/trump-election-fraud-commission-bought-texas-election-data-flagging-hispanic-voters/2018/01/22/2791934a-fd55-11e7-ad8c-ecbb62019393_story.html|title=Trump voting commission bought Texas election data flagging Hispanic voters|last=Hsu|first=Spencer S.|date=January 22, 2018|work=Washington Post|accessdate=January 22, 2018|last2=Wagner|first2=John|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

=== White nationalists and Charlottesville rally ===
{{See also|Unite the Right rally}}

[[File:Trump Welcome Parties in Greensboro (37312321470).jpg|thumb|right|[[Protests against Donald Trump|Anti-Trump protest]] in Greensboro by the [[Anti-fascism|anti-fascist]] groups [[Democratic Socialists of America]] and the [[Industrial Workers of the World]]]]
On August 13, 2017, Trump condemned violence "on many sides" after [[2017 Unite the Right rally|a gathering]] of hundreds of [[White nationalism|white nationalists]] in [[Charlottesville, Virginia]], the previous day (August 12) turned deadly. A white supremacist drove a car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing one woman and injuring 19 others.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/13/republicans-and-democrats-speak-out-after-trump-faults-many-sides-at-white-nationalist-rally.html|title=Republicans and Democrats speak out after Trump faults 'many sides' at white nationalist rally|publisher=CNBC|date=August 13, 2017|accessdate=August 13, 2017}}</ref> According to Sessions, that action met the definition of domestic terrorism.<ref name="Reeves">{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-white-nationalists-charlottesville-20170814-story.html|title=Emboldened white nationalists say Charlottesville is just the beginning|last=Reeves|first=Jay|date=August 14, 2017|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=September 27, 2017}}</ref> During the rally there had been other violence, as some counter-protesters charged at the white nationalists with swinging clubs and mace, throwing bottles, rocks, and paint.<ref>Costello, Tom. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73VkD5CeEv8&t=128 "Charlottesville Fact Check: Were Both Sides To Blame For Violence?"] [[Today (U.S. TV program)|Today Show]] (August 16, 2016).</ref><ref>Gunter, Joel. [https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-40952796/what-trump-said-versus-what-i-saw "What Trump Said Versus What I Saw"], [[BBC News]] (August 16, 2017).</ref><ref>Alexander, Harriet. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/15/alt-left-donald-trump-said-violent-charlottesville/ "What is the 'alt Left' that Donald Trump said was 'very violent' in Charlottesville?"], ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'' (August 16, 2017): "photos and videos from Saturday's riot does show people dressed in black, their faces covered, engaging the neo-Nazis in violent confrontation."</ref> Trump did not expressly mention Neo-Nazis, [[white supremacy|white supremacists]], or the [[alt-right]] movement in his remarks on August 13,<ref name=":20">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/12/politics/trump-statement-alt-right-protests/index.html|title=Trump condemns 'hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides' in Charlottesville|author=Dan Merica|publisher=CNN|accessdate=August 13, 2017}}</ref> but the following day (August 14) he did denounce white supremacists.<ref>Nakamura, David. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/08/14/trump-denounces-kkk-neo-nazis-as-justice-department-launches-civil-rights-probe-into-charlottesville-death/ "Trump denounces KKK, neo-Nazis as 'repugnant' as he seeks to quell criticism of his response to Charlottesville"], ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (August 14, 2017).</ref> He condemned "the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups".<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump decries KKK, neo-Nazi violence in Charlottesville|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/08/trump-decries-kkk-neo-nazi-violence-charlottesville-170814194807356.html|date=August 14, 2017|accessdate=August 15, 2017|publisher=Al Jazeera}}</ref> Then the next day (August 15), he again blamed "both sides".<ref name="NYT-20170815">{{cite news |last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |author2link=Maggie Haberman |title=Trump Defends Initial Remarks on Charlottesville; Again Blames 'Both Sides' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/15/us/politics/trump-press-conference-charlottesville.html |date=August 15, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |accessdate=August 15, 2017 }}</ref>
 
Many Republican and Democratic elected officials condemned the violence and hatred of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and alt-right activists. Trump came under criticism from world leaders<ref>{{cite news |last1=Toosi |first1=Nahal |title=World leaders condemn Trump's remarks on neo-Nazis|url=http://www.politico.eu/article/world-leaders-condemn-trumps-remarks-on-neo-nazis/|publisher=Politico|accessdate=August 17, 2017|date=August 16, 2017}}</ref> and politicians,<ref name=":21">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/12/us/trump-charlottesville-protest-nationalist-riot.html|title=Trump's Remarks on Charlottesville Violence Are Criticized as Insufficient|last=Thrush|first=Glenn |authorlink=Glenn Thrush |date=August 12, 2017|work=The New York Times|accessdate=August 13, 2017|last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie |author2link=Maggie Haberman}}</ref><ref name=":20" /> as well as a variety of religious groups<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pink|first1=Aiden|title=Orthodox Rabbinical Group Condemns Trump Over Charlottesville|url=http://forward.com/fast-forward/380204/orthodox-rabbinical-group-condemns-trump-over-charlottesville/|work=The Forward|accessdate=August 17, 2017|date=August 16, 2017}}</ref> and anti-hate organizations<ref>{{cite web |title=ADL Condemns President Trump's Remarks|url=https://www.adl.org/news/press-releases/adl-condemns-president-trumps-remarks|publisher=ADL|accessdate=August 17, 2017|date=August 15, 2017}}</ref> for his remarks, which were seen as muted and equivocal.<ref name=":21" /> ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that Trump "was the only national political figure to spread blame for the 'hatred, bigotry and violence' that resulted in the death of one person to 'many sides{{' "}},<ref name=":21" /> and said that Trump had "buoyed the white nationalist movement on Tuesday as no president has done in generations".<ref name="Glenn">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/15/us/politics/trump-charlottesville-white-nationalists.html?mcubz=0&_r=0|title=Trump Gives White Supremacists an Unequivocal Boost|last1=Thrush|first1=Glenn|authorlink=Glenn Thrush |last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie |author2link=Maggie Haberman |date=August 15, 2017|work=The New York Times|accessdate=September 27, 2017}}</ref> White nationalist groups felt "emboldened" after the rally and planned additional demonstrations.<ref name = "Reeves" />

==Foreign policy==
{{Main|Foreign policy of the Donald Trump administration}}
{{see also|List of international presidential trips made by Donald Trump}}

The stated aims of the foreign policy of the Donald Trump administration include a focus on security, by fighting terrorists abroad and strengthening border defenses and immigration controls; an expansion of the U.S. military; an "America First" approach to trade; and diplomacy whereby "old enemies become friends".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/01/20/510837911/the-trump-foreign-policy-doctrine-in-3-points|title=The Trump Foreign Policy Doctrine — In 3 Points|last=Montanaro|first=Domenico|date=January 20, 2017|work=NPR|accessdate=27 March 2017}}</ref> The [[Foreign policy of Donald Trump|foreign policy positions expressed by Trump during his presidential campaign]] changed frequently, so that it was "difficult to glean a political agenda, or even a set of clear, core policy values ahead of his presidency."<ref name="TimmTracks">{{cite web|author=Jane C. Timm|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/full-list-donald-trump-s-rapidly-changing-policy-positions-n547801|title=The 141 Stances Donald Trump Took During His White House Bid|publisher=NBC News|date=March 30, 2016}}</ref>

''The New York Times'' reported on January 14, 2019 that on several occasions during 2018 Trump privately stated he wanted America to withdraw from [[NATO]]. Top defense and national security officials such as [[Jim Mattis]] and [[John R. Bolton|John Bolton]] reportedly "scrambled to keep American strategy on track without mention of a withdrawal that would drastically reduce Washington’s influence in Europe and could embolden Russia for decades."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/us/politics/nato-president-trump.html|title=Trump Discussed Pulling U.S. From NATO, Aides Say Amid New Concerns Over Russia|first1=Julian E.|last1=Barnes|first2=Helene|last2=Cooper|date=January 14, 2019|publisher=|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>

A January 2019 intelligence community assessment found that Iran was not pursuing nuclear weapons and North Korea was unlikely to relinquish its nuclear arsenal. Both assessments directly contradicted core tenets of Trump's stated foreign policy. The [[United States Intelligence Community|intelligence community]] also assessed that Trump's trade policies and unilateralism had damaged traditional alliances and induced foreign partners to seek new relationships.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/29/us/politics/intelligence-chiefs-senate-threats-.html|title=U.S. Intelligence Chiefs Contradict Trump on North Korea and Iran|first1=David E.|last1=Sanger|first2=Julian E.|last2=Barnes|date=January 29, 2019|publisher=|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> The day after the heads of the intelligence community presented their findings in public testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Trump referred to them as “extremely passive and naive” and "wrong" in their assessments. The following day, Trump asserted the press had misquoted the intelligence chiefs' testimony to fabricate a conflict, claiming he and the intelligence community were "on the same page!” In a subsequent interview with ''The New York Times'', Trump falsely asserted that the intelligence community had characterized Iran as "essentially, a wonderful place.” <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/intelligence-officials-were-misquoted-after-public-hearing-trump-claims/2019/01/31/339952ce-25a7-11e9-ad53-824486280311_story.html|title=Intelligence officials were ‘misquoted’ after public hearing, Trump claims|website=Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/01/us/politics/trump-new-york-times-interview.html|title=What Do You Learn About Trump in an 85-Minute Interview?|first1=Peter|last1=Baker|first2=Maggie|last2=Haberman|date=February 1, 2019|publisher=|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>

On February 5, 2019 the Senate voted overwhelmingly to rebuke Trump for his decisions to [[American-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War#December 2018|withdraw troops from Syria]] and Afghanistan. Drafted by majority leader [[Mitch McConnell]], the measure was supported by nearly all Republicans and was the second time in two months that the Republican-controlled Senate had criticized the president's foreign policy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/31/us/politics/senate-vote-syria-afghanistan.html|title=Senate Rebukes Trump Over Troop Withdrawals From Syria and Afghanistan|first=Catie|last=Edmondson|date=January 31, 2019|publisher=|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/05/politics/senate-passes-middle-east-policy-bill/index.html|title=Senate approves Middle East policy bill urging the President to keep US troops in Afghanistan, Syria|first=Ted Barrett and Ashley Killough|last=CNN|website=CNN}}</ref>

== Ethics ==
{{see also|Lobbying in the United States}}

During the 2016 campaign, Trump promised to "drain the swamp in Washington D.C." - a phrase that usually refers to entrenched corruption and lobbying in D.C. - and he proposed a series of ethics reforms.<ref name="bschrekinger11182016">{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/trump-proposes-ethics-reform-229911|title=Trump proposes ethics reforms|date=October 17, 2016|newspaper=Politico|last1=Schrekinger|first1=Ben|accessdate=November 18, 2016}}</ref> However, according to federal records and interviews, there has been a dramatic increase in lobbying by corporations and hired interests during Trump's tenure, particularly through the office of the Vice-President Mike Pence.<ref name=wapopence>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/pence-turns-vps-office-into-gateway-for-lobbyists-to-influence-the-trump-administration/2018/06/14/75675bfa-6424-11e8-a69c-b944de66d9e7_story.html|title=Pence turns VP's office into gateway for lobbyists to influence the Trump administration|first1=Michael|last1=Scherer|first2=Josh|last2=Dawsey|first3=Anu|last3=Narayanswamy|date=June 15, 2018|publisher=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=June 22, 2018}}</ref> About twice as many lobbying firms contacted Pence, compared to previous presidencies, among them representatives of major energy firms and drug companies.<ref name=wapopence/> In many cases, the lobbyists have charged their clients millions of dollars for access to the vice president, and then have turned around and donated the money to Pence's political causes.<ref name=wapopence/>

Among his proposals was a five-year ban on serving as a lobbyist after working in the executive branch.<ref name="bschrekinger11182016" /> Trump's transition team also announced that registered lobbyists would be barred from serving in the Trump administration.<ref name="cho18november2016">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/11/16/trump-administration-will-ban-lobbyists-enact-five-year-lobbying-ban-after-leaving-government/|title=Trump administration will ban lobbyists, enact five-year lobbying ban after leaving government|date=November 16, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|last1=Ho|first1=Catherine|accessdate=November 18, 2016}}</ref> However, an Obama era ban on lobbyists taking administrative jobs was lifted<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gidda|first1=Mirren|title=Trump Transition Team Members Turn to Lobbying, Despite Six-month Ban|url=http://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-lobbying-drain-swamp-transition-team-michael-flynn-594026|accessdate=May 20, 2017|work=Newsweek|date=May 3, 2017}}</ref> and at least nine transition officials became lobbyists within the first 100 days.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump transition staffers head to K Street despite lobbying ban|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/03/trump-lobbying-ban-transition-237850|accessdate=May 20, 2017}}</ref>

One of Trump's campaign promises was that he would not accept a presidential salary. In keeping with this pledge, Trump donated the entirety of his first two quarterly salaries as president to government agencies.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/trumpometer/promise/1341/take-no-salary/|title=Trump-O-Meter: Take no salary|publisher=[[PolitiFact]]|accessdate=September 7, 2017}}</ref>

=== Potential conflicts of interest===
Trump's presidency has been marked by significant public concern about [[conflict of interest]] stemming from his diverse business ventures. In the lead up to his inauguration, Trump promised to remove himself from the day-to-day operations of his businesses.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/11/us/politics/trump-press-conference-transcript.html|title=Donald Trump's News Conference: Full Transcript and Video|date=January 11, 2017|newspaper=''The New York Times''|accessdate=April 30, 2017}}</ref> Trump placed his sons [[Eric Trump]] and [[Donald Trump Jr.]] at the head of his businesses claiming that they would not communicate with him regarding his interests. However critics noted that this would not prevent him from having input into his businesses and knowing how to benefit himself, and Trump continued to receive quarterly updates on his businesses.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/24/eric-trump-business-conflicts-of-interest|title=Eric Trump says he will keep father updated on business despite 'pact'|first=Alan|last=Yuhas|date=March 24, 2017|newspaper=''The Guardian''|accessdate=April 30, 2017}}</ref> As his presidency progressed, he failed to take steps or show interest in further distancing himself from his business interests resulting in numerous potential conflicts.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/04/donald-trump-conflicts-of-interests/508382/|title=Donald Trump's Conflicts of Interest: A Crib Sheet|first=Jeremy|last=Venook|work=The Atlantic|accessdate=April 30, 2017}}</ref>

Many ethics experts found Trump's plan to address conflicts of interest between his position as president and his private business interests to be entirely inadequate; [[Norman L. Eisen]] and [[Richard Painter]], who served as the chief White House ethics lawyers for Barack Obama and [[George W. Bush]], respectively, stated that the plan "falls short in every respect".<ref name="YourishBuchanan">Karen Yourish & Larry Buchanan, [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/12/us/politics/ethics-experts-trumps-conflicts-of-interest.html It 'Falls Short in Every Respect': Ethics Experts Pan Trump's Conflicts Plan], ''The New York Times'' (January 12, 2017).</ref> Unlike every other president in the last 40 years, Trump did not put his business interests in a [[blind trust]] or equivalent arrangement "to cleanly sever himself from his business interests". Eisen stated that Trump's case is "an even more problematic situation because he's receiving foreign government payments and other benefits and things of value that's expressly prohibited by the Constitution of the United States" in the [[Foreign Emoluments Clause]].<ref name="YourishBuchanan" />

In January 2018, a year into his presidency, a survey found that he "continues to own stakes in hundreds of businesses, both in this country and abroad."<ref>{{cite web|title=Trump Ethics Monitor: Has The President Kept His Promises?|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/02/17/513724796/trump-ethics-monitor-has-the-president-kept-his-promises|publisher=''NPR''|accessdate=January 20, 2018}}</ref>

After Trump took office, the [[watchdog group]] [[Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington]], represented by a number of constitutional scholars, sued him<ref name="Riback">{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/23/why-trumps-business-conflicts-cant-and-wont-just-be-swept-aside-commentary.html|title=Why Trump's business conflicts can't—and won't—just be swept aside|author=Chris Riback|date=January 23, 2017|publisher=''CNBC''}}</ref> for violations of the Foreign Emoluments Clause (a [[United States Constitution|constitutional]] provision that bars the president or any other federal official from taking gifts or payments from foreign governments), because his hotels and other businesses accept payment from foreign governments.<ref name="Riback"/><ref name="FahrentholdJan22">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/liberal-watchdog-group-sues-trump-alleging-he-violated-constitutional-ban/2017/01/22/5e8b35c2-e113-11e6-a547-5fb9411d332c_story.html|title=Liberal watchdog group sues Trump, alleging he violated constitutional ban|first1=David A.|last1=Fahrenthold|authorlink=David Fahrenthold|first2=Jonathan|last2=O'Connell|newspaper=''The Washington Post''|date=January 23, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author1=[[David Fahrenthold|David A. Fahrenthold]]|author2=Jonathan O'Connell|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/what-is-the-emoluments-clause-does-it-apply-to-president-trump/2017/01/23/12aa7808-e185-11e6-a547-5fb9411d332c_story.html|title=What is the 'Emoluments Clause'? Does it apply to President Trump?|newspaper=''The Washington Post''|date=January 23, 2017}}</ref> CREW separately filed a complaint with the [[General Services Administration]] (GSA) over [[Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C.]]; the 2013 lease that Trump and the GSA signed "explicitly forbids any elected government official from holding the lease or benefiting from it".<ref name="Horowitz">Julia Horowitz, [http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/20/news/trump-conflicts-inauguration/ President Trump hit immediately with ethics complaint], ''CNN'' (January 20, 2017).</ref> The GSA said that it was "reviewing the situation".<ref name="Horowitz" /> By May 2017, the ''[[CREW v. Trump]]'' lawsuit had grown with additional plaintiffs and alleged violations of the [[Domestic Emoluments Clause]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/18/lawsuit-against-trump-over-foreign-payments-expands.html|title=Lawsuit accusing Trump of violating the Constitution just expanded|date=April 18, 2017|agency=''Reuters''|dead-url=yes|archivedate=April 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421030442/http://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/18/lawsuit-against-trump-over-foreign-payments-expands.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/us/politics/trump-crew-lawsuit-constitution.html|title=Watchdog Group Expands Lawsuit Against Trump|date=April 18, 2017|last1=LaFraniere|first1=Sharon|newspaper=''The New York Times''|accessdate=June 11, 2017}}</ref><ref name="CREW201705">{{cite press release|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|url=https://www.citizensforethics.org/press-release/crew-v-trump-adds-new-plaintiff/|title=CREW v. Trump Adds New Plaintiff|publisher=Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington|date=May 10, 2017|accessdate=June 10, 2017}}</ref> In June 2017, attorneys from the [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] filed a motion to dismiss the case on the grounds that the plaintiffs had no right to sue<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/06/09/532302106/trump-administration-calls-for-lawsuit-about-his-businesses-to-be-dismissed|title=Trump Administration Calls For Lawsuit About His Businesses To Be Dismissed|first1=Marilyn|last1=Geewax|date=June 9, 2017|accessdate=June 10, 2017|publisher=''NPR''}}</ref> and that the described conduct was not illegal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-emoluments-foreign-government-payments-2017-6|title=Justice Department argues it's fine for Trump to take payments from foreign governments, citing George Washington|publisher=''Business Insider''|date=June 10, 2017|accessdate=June 10, 2017|first1=Allan|last1=Smith}}</ref> Also in June 2017, two more lawsuits were filed based on the [[Foreign Emoluments Clause]]: ''[[D.C. and Maryland v. Trump]]'',<ref name="nytimes-12jun2017">{{cite news|last1=LaFrainere|first1=Sharon|title=Maryland and D.C. Sue Trump Over His Private Businesses|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/12/us/trump-lawsuit-private-businesses.html|accessdate=June 12, 2017|newspaper=''[[The New York Times]]''|date=June 12, 2017}}</ref><ref name="wapo-12jun2017">{{cite news|last1=Davis|first1=Aaron C.|title=D.C. and Maryland sue President Trump, alleging breach of constitutional oath|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-and-maryland-to-sue-president-trump-alleging-breach-of-constitutional-oath/2017/06/11/0059e1f0-4f19-11e7-91eb-9611861a988f_story.html|accessdate=June 12, 2017|newspaper=''[[The Washington Post]]''|date=June 12, 2017}}</ref> and ''[[Blumenthal v. Trump]]'', which was signed by more than one-third of the voting members of [[United States Congress|Congress]].<ref name="globe-14jun2017">{{cite news|last1=Bykowicz|first1=Julie|title=Democrats in Congress are the latest to sue President Trump|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2017/06/13/democrats-congress-are-latest-sue-president-trump/1tG7Mqk5tO4kxjHDh94ABO/story.html|accessdate=June 14, 2017|agency=''[[Associated Press]]''|newspaper=''[[Boston Globe]]''|date=June 14, 2017}}</ref> [[United States District Judge]] [[George B. Daniels]] dismissed the CREW case on December 21, 2017, holding that plaintiffs lacked [[Standing (law)|standing]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/judge-dismisses-lawsuit-alleging-trump-violated-constitution/2017/12/21/31011510-e697-11e7-ab50-621fe0588340_story.html|title=Judge dismisses lawsuit alleging Trump violated Constitution|date=December 21, 2017}}</ref><ref name="OrderGrantingMotDismiss">''[https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/EmolumentsDismissal.pdf Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington v. Trump]'', 17 Civ. 458 (S.D.N.Y. December 21, 2017).</ref> ''D.C. and Maryland v. Trump'' cleared three judicial hurdles to proceed to the [[Discovery (law)|discovery]] phase during 2018,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/28/us/trump-emoluments-lawsuit.html|title=Lawsuit Over Trump’s Ties to His Businesses Is Allowed to Advance|first=Sharon|last=LaFraniere|date=March 28, 2018|publisher=''The New York Times''|accessdate=January 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/25/us/politics/trump-emoluments-lawsuit.html|title=In Ruling Against Trump, Judge Defines Anticorruption Clauses in Constitution for First Time|first=Sharon|last=LaFraniere|date=July 25, 2018|publisher=''The New York Times''|accessdate=January 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/02/us/politics/trump-emoluments-lawsuit-evidence.html|title=Judge Orders Evidence to Be Gathered in Emoluments Case Against Trump|first=Sharon|last=LaFraniere|date=November 2, 2018|publisher=''The New York Times''|accessdate=January 3, 2019}}</ref> with prosecutors issuing 38 subpoenas to Trump's businesses and cabinet departments in December before the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit|Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals]] issued a [[Stay of proceedings|stay]] days later at the behest of the Justice Department, pending hearings in March 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-attorneys-general-subpoena-trump-irs-20181204-story.html|title=2 attorneys general issue subpoenas to Trump entities in Washington hotel case|first=Jonathan O'Connell, Ann E. Marimow and David a|last=Fahrenthold|publisher=''The Chicago Tribune''|accessdate=January 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/17/us/politics/justice-department-trump-emoluments.html|title=Justice Department Asks Court to Halt Emoluments Case Against Trump|first=Sharon|last=LaFraniere|date=December 17, 2018|publisher=''The New York Times''|accessdate=January 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-emoluments-idUSKCN1OJ30R|title=U.S. appeals court grants Trump request for halt to emoluments case|date=December 21, 2018|publisher=''Reuters''|accessdate=January 3, 2019}}</ref>

In February 2017, Trump senior advisor [[Kellyanne Conway]] promoted the clothing line of [[Ivanka Trump]] in a TV appearance from the White House briefing room. [[Office of Government Ethics]] director [[Walter Shaub]] requested disciplinary action in a letter to the [[White House Counsel]]'s office.<ref name="Gold">Matea Gold, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ethics-office-says-kellyanne-conway-likely-broke-federal-rules/2017/02/14/0899e94c-f2ed-11e6-a9b0-ecee7ce475fc_story.html Chaffetz, Cummings support ethics office opinion that Conway likely broke rules], ''The Washington Post'' (February 14, 2017).</ref> Under federal ethics regulations, federal employees are barred from using their public office to endorse products.<ref name="Gold" />

===Saudi Arabia===
{{See also|Saudi Arabia lobby in the United States|2017 United States–Saudi Arabia arms deal}}

In March 2018, ''The New York Times'' reported that [[George Nader (businessman)|George Nader]] turned Trump's major fundraiser [[Elliott Broidy]] "into an instrument of influence at the White House for the rulers of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates...High on the agenda of the two men...was pushing the White House to remove Secretary of State [[Rex Tillerson|Rex W. Tillerson]]", a top defender of the [[Iran nuclear deal framework|Iran nuclear deal]] in Donald Trump's administration, and "backing confrontational approaches to Iran and Qatar".<ref>"[https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/21/us/politics/george-nader-elliott-broidy-uae-saudi-arabia-white-house-influence.html?mtrref=undefined&auth=login-email How 2 Gulf Monarchies Sought to Influence the White House]". ''The New York Times.'' March 21, 2018.</ref>

Trump actively supported the [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen]] against the [[Houthis]].<ref name="prince">{{cite news |title=Trump praises arms sales as he meets Saudi crown prince |url=https://www.ft.com/content/94204940-2c47-11e8-9b4b-bc4b9f08f381 |work=[[Financial Times]] |date=March 20, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Senate Votes Down Ending Trump's Support for Saudi-led War in Yemen |url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/senate-votes-down-ending-trump-s-support-for-saudi-led-war-in-yemen-1.5931874 |work=[[Haaretz]] |date=May 21, 2018}}</ref><ref name=Phelps-170520>{{cite news |title =Trump signs $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia on 'a tremendous day' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-signs-110-billion-arms-deal-saudi-arabia/story?id=47531180 |publisher=[[ABC News]] |date=May 20, 2017 |accessdate=July 6, 2018 |first=Jordyn |last=Phelps |first2=Ryan |last2=Struyk}}</ref> Trump also praised his relationship with [[Saudi Arabia]]'s powerful Crown Prince [[Mohammad bin Salman]].<ref name="prince"/> 
On May 20, 2017, Trumpand [[Saudi Arabia]]'s [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud]] signed a series of letters of intent for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to purchase arms from the United States totaling US$110 billion immediately,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/International/truth-president-trumps-110-billion-saudi-arms-deal/story?id=47874726|title=The truth about President Trump's $110 billion Saudi arms deal|date=|website=abc news|access-date=2017-05-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2017/05/20/trump-signs-off-on-110b-arms-deal-in-saudi-arabia/|title=Trump signs off on $110B arms deal in Saudi Arabia|last=Linge|first=Mary Kay|date=2017-05-20|website=New York Post|access-date=2017-05-21}}</ref> and $350 billion over 10 years.<ref name=cnbc-20170520 /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-saudi-arabia-arms-deal-sale-arab-nato-gulf-states-a7741836.html|title=Donald Trump to announce $380bn arms deal to Saudi Arabia – one of the largest in history|date=2017-05-17|work=The Independent|access-date=2017-05-21|language=en-GB}}</ref> The transfer was widely seen as a counterbalance against the influence of Iran in the region<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-21/what-do-we-know-about-saudi-arabias-arms-deal-with-america/8544892|title=What's the goal of America's arms deal with Saudi Arabia?|date=2017-05-21|work=ABC News|access-date=2017-05-21|language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/president-donald-trump-arrives-in-saudi-arabia-as-overseas-trip-starts-1495263979|title=Donald Trump, Saudi Arabia Sign Agreements in Move to Counterbalance Iran|last=Lee|first=Carol E.|date=2017-05-20|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2017-05-21|last2=Stancati|first2=Margherita|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> and a "significant" and "historic" expansion of [[United States relations with Saudi Arabia]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-latest-saudi-arabia-billions-arms-deal-military-sales-a7746601.html|title=Trump signs $110bn arms deal with Saudi Arabia|date=2017-05-20|work=The Independent|access-date=2017-05-21|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2017/5/20/15626638/trump-saudi-arabia-arms-deal|title=What America’s new arms deal with Saudi Arabia says about the Trump administration|date=2017-05-20|website=Vox|access-date=2017-05-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/20/rex-tillerson-saudi-arabia-arms-deal-investment-historic-moment-238637|title=Tillerson hails 'historic moment' in U.S.-Saudi relations|work=POLITICO|access-date=2017-05-21}}</ref><ref name=cnbc-20170520>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/20/us-saudi-arabia-seal-weapons-deal-worth-nearly-110-billion-as-trump-begins-visit.html|title=US-Saudi Arabia ink historic 10-year weapons deal worth $350 billion as Trump begins visit|last=David|first=Javier E.|date=2017-05-20|website=CNBC|access-date=2017-05-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2017/05/20/Trump-signs-110B-defense-deal-receives-warm-welcome-in-Saudi-Arabia/8291495280862/|title=Trump signs $110B defense deal, receives warm welcome in Saudi Arabia|work=UPI|access-date=2017-05-21|language=en}}</ref>

In October 2018, amid widespread condemnation of Saudi Arabia for the murder of prominent Saudi journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi, the Trump administration pushed back on the condemnation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/16/world/middleeast/pompeo-saudi-arabia-turkey.html|title=Trump Jumps to the Defense of Saudi Arabia in Khashoggi Case|access-date=2018-10-17|language=en}}</ref> After the CIA assessed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman ordered the murder of Khashoggi, Trump rejected the assessment and said that the CIA only had "feelings" on the matter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-brushes-aside-cia-assertion-that-crown-prince-ordered-killing-defends-him-and-saudi-arabia/2018/11/22/d3bdf23c-ee70-11e8-96d4-0d23f2aaad09_story.html|title=Trump brushes aside CIA assertion that crown prince ordered killing, defends him and Saudi Arabia|website=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2018-11-23}}</ref>

=== Russia ===
{{See also|Links between Trump associates and Russian officials|Business projects of Donald Trump in Russia|Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections}}
[[File:Robert Mueller, 2012.jpg|thumb|Then-FBI Director Robert Mueller on July 20, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)]]
American intelligence sources have stated with "high confidence" that the Russian government [[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections|attempted to intervene]] in the 2016 presidential election to favor the election of Trump,<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. government officially accuses Russia of hacking campaign to interfere with elections |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Ellen |last=Nakashima |date=October 7, 2016 |accessdate=January 25, 2017 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-government-officially-accuses-russia-of-hacking-campaign-to-influence-elections/2016/10/07/4e0b9654-8cbf-11e6-875e-2c1bfe943b66_story.html}}</ref> and that members of Trump's campaign were in contact with Russian government officials both before and after the presidential election.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schmidt |first1=Michael S. |authorlink=Michael S. Schmidt |last2=Mazzetti |first2=Mark |author2link=Mark Mazzetti |last3=Apuzzo |first3=Matt |author3link=Matt Apuzzo |title=Trump Campaign Aides Had Repeated Contacts With Russian Intelligence|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/us/politics/russia-intelligence-communications-trump.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 14, 2017}}</ref> In May 2017, the [[United States Department of Justice]] appointed [[Robert Mueller]] as special counsel to [[Special Counsel investigation (2017–present)|investigate]] "any links and/or coordination between Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump, and any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/05/17/us/politics/document-Robert-Mueller-Special-Counsel-Russia.html|title=Rod Rosenstein's Letter Appointing Mueller Special Counsel|last1=Rosenstein|first1=Rod|authorlink=Rod Rosenstein|date=May 17, 2017|publisher=The New York Times|dead-url=no|accessdate=May 18, 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518015032/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/05/17/us/politics/document-Robert-Mueller-Special-Counsel-Russia.html|archivedate=May 18, 2017}}</ref> Because of the Russian interference and subsequent investigation, many members of Trump's administration have come under special scrutiny regarding past ties to Russia or actions during the campaign. Several of Trump's top advisers, including [[Paul Manafort]] and [[Michael T. Flynn]], who had official positions before Trump replaced them, have strong ties to Russia.<ref name="Black" /> Several others had meetings with Russians during the campaign which they did not initially disclose.<ref name=npr071117>{{cite web |title=Donald Trump Jr.'s Emails About Meeting With Russian Lawyer, Annotated |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/07/11/536670194/donald-trump-jr-s-emails-about-meeting-with-russian-lawyer-annotated |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=July 11, 2017 |accessdate=July 12, 2017}}</ref><ref name="KnewofOutreach">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-campaign-adviser-pleaded-guilty-to-lying-about-russian-contacts/2017/10/30/d525e712-bd7d-11e7-97d9-bdab5a0ab381_story.html |work= The Washington Post | accessdate= October 30, 2017 | date=October 30, 2017| title=Top campaign officials knew of Trump adviser's outreach to Russia|first1= Rosalind S. |last1=Helderman |first2= Tom |last2=Hamburger}}</ref><ref name="aentous1">{{cite news |last1=Entous|first1=Adam|last2=Nakashima|first2=Ellen|last3=Miller|first3=Greg|title=Sessions met with Russian envoy twice last year, encounters he later did not disclose|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/sessions-spoke-twice-with-russian-ambassador-during-trumps-presidential-campaign-justice-officials-say/2017/03/01/77205eda-feac-11e6-99b4-9e613afeb09f_story.html|accessdate=March 7, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 1, 2017}}</ref>

Trump himself hosted the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow, in partnership with Russian-Azerbaijani billionaire [[Aras Agalarov]]. On many occasions since 1987, Trump and his children and other associates have traveled to Moscow to explore potential business opportunities, such as a failed attempt to build a Trump Tower Moscow. Between 1996 and 2008 Trump's company submitted at least eight trademark applications for potential real estate development deals in Russia. However, as of 2017 he has no known investments or businesses in Russia.<ref name="Meagan">{{cite news |last1=Twohey|first1=Megan|last2=Eder|first2=Steve|title=For Trump, Three Decades of Chasing Deals in Russia|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 16, 2017|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/16/us/politics/donald-trump-russia-business.html|accessdate=January 22, 2017}}</ref><ref name="abcnews">{{cite news |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/russia-trump-political-conflict-zone/story?id=42263092|title=From Russia With Trump: A Political Conflict Zone|last1=Mosk|first1=Matthew|last2=Ross|first2=Brian |author2link=Brian Ross (journalist) |last3=Reevell|first3=Patrick|date=September 22, 2016|publisher=ABC News|accessdate=February 27, 2017}}</ref> Trump said in 2017, "I can tell you, speaking for myself, I own nothing in Russia. I have no loans in Russia. I don't have any deals in Russia."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-idUSKBN15V2PK|title=Trump dismisses Russia controversy as 'scam' by hostile media|date=February 16, 2017|last1=Holland|first1=Steve|last2=Rampton|first2=Roberta |publisher=Reuters|accessdate=February 23, 2017}}</ref> In 2008, his son Donald Trump Jr. said "Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets" and "we see a lot of money pouring in from Russia".<ref name="Black">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/11/politics/trump-ties-with-russia/|title=These are Trump's ties to Russia|last1=Black|first1=Nelli|first2=Curt|last2=Devine|date=January 12, 2017|publisher=CNN|accessdate=February 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Nesbit|first1=Jeff |authorlink=Jeffrey A. Nesbit |title=Donald Trump's Many, Many, Many, Many Ties to Russia|url=http://time.com/4433880/donald-trump-ties-to-russia/|work=Time|accessdate=February 28, 2017|ref=August 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Helderman|first1=Rosalind|title=Here's what we know about Donald Trump and his ties to Russia|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/heres-what-we-know-about-donald-trump-and-his-ties-to-russia/2016/07/29/1268b5ec-54e7-11e6-88eb-7dda4e2f2aec_story.html|date=July 29, 2016|accessdate=February 28, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

During his January 2017 confirmation hearings as the attorney general nominee before the Senate, then-Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) was asked by Senator Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) if he had been "in contact with anyone connected to any part of the Russian government about the 2016 election, either before or after election day?" Sessions' single word response was "No", which raised questions about what appeared to be deliberate omission of two meetings he had in 2016 with Russian Ambassador [[Sergey Kislyak]]. Sessions later amended his testimony saying he "never met with any Russian officials to discuss issues of the campaign".<ref name="aentous1"/> He said that in March 2016, he had twice met with Ambassador Kislyak, and "stood by his earlier remarks as an honest and correct answer to a question".<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=Sessions clarifies Russia testimony, insists he was honest|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/03/06/sessions-clarifies-russia-testimony-insists-was-honest.html|accessdate=March 7, 2017|publisher=Fox News Channel |date=March 6, 2017}}</ref> Officials with the DOJ stated that when Sessions met with Kislyak, it was not as a Trump campaign surrogate, rather it was "in his capacity as a member of the armed services panel".<ref name="aentous1"/> Following his amended statement, Sessions recused himself from any investigation regarding connections between Trump and Russia.<ref name="ljarrett1">{{cite news |last1=Jarrett|first1=Laura|title=Sessions recusal: What's next?|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/02/politics/special-counsel-jeff-sessions-recusal/|accessdate=March 7, 2017|publisher=CNN|date=March 3, 2017}}</ref>

In May 2017, [[Donald Trump]] discussed [[Donald Trump revelation of classified information to Russia|highly classified intelligence]] in an [[Oval Office]] meeting with the Russian foreign minister [[Sergey Lavrov]] and ambassador [[Sergey Kislyak]], providing details that could expose the source of the information and the manner in which it was collected.<ref name="NYRosenberg">{{cite news |last1=Rosenberg|first1=Matthew|last2=Schmitt|first2=Eric|title=Trump Revealed Highly Classified Intelligence to Russia, in Break With Ally, Officials Say|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/15/us/politics/trump-russia-classified-information-isis.html|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=May 15, 2017|date=May 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lee|first1=Carol E.|last2=Harris|first2=Shane|title=Trump Shared Intelligence Secrets With Russians in Oval Office Meeting|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-denies-trump-gave-classified-information-to-russian-officials-1494890345|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=May 16, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Dan Merica |author2=[[Jake Tapper]] |author3=[[Jim Sciutto]] |title=Sources: Trump shared classified info with Russians|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/15/politics/trump-russia-classified-information/index.html|publisher=CNN|accessdate=May 16, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://lawfareblog.com/bombshell-initial-thoughts-washington-posts-game-changing-story|title=Bombshell: Initial Thoughts on the Washington Post's Game-Changing Story|date=May 15, 2017|publisher=Lawfare}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/national-security-experts-consequence-of-trump-russia-classified-info-2017-5|title=National security experts: Trump's sharing classified info with Russia 'may breach his oath of office'|publisher=Business Insider}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Harriet Agerholm |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-russia-classified-information-breach-oath-of-office-us-president-national-security-a7737866.html|title=National security lawyers say there is now a 'clear legal basis' to impeach Trump|date=May 16, 2017|newspaper=The Independent }}</ref>
The intelligence was about an [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIS]] plot. A Middle Eastern ally provided the intelligence which had the highest level of classification and was not intended to be shared widely.<ref name="NYRosenberg" /> ''The New York Times'' reported that "Mr. Trump's disclosure does not appear to have been illegal - the president has the power to declassify almost anything. But sharing the information without the express permission of the ally who provided it was a major breach of espionage etiquette, and could jeopardize a crucial [[Intelligence sharing|intelligence-sharing]] relationship".<ref name="NYRosenberg" /> The White House, through [[National Security Advisor]] [[H. R. McMaster]], issued a limited denial, saying that the story "as reported" was not correct,<ref name="Goldsmith">[[Jack Goldsmith]], Susan Hennessey, Quinta Jurecic, Matthew Kahn, [[Benjamin Wittes]], Elishe Julian Wittes, [https://lawfareblog.com/bombshell-initial-thoughts-washington-posts-game-changing-story Bombshell: Initial Thoughts on the Washington Post's Game-Changing Story], [[Lawfare (blog)|Lawfare]] (May 15, 2017).</ref> and stated that no "intelligence sources or methods" were discussed.<ref name="Reuters">{{cite news |last1=Mason|first1=Jeff|last2=Zengerle|first2=Patricia|title=Trump revealed intelligence secrets to Russians in Oval Office: officials|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-idUSKCN18B2MX|publisher=Reuters|date=May 16, 2017}}</ref> McMaster did not deny that information had been disclosed.<ref name="Goldsmith" /><ref>Aaron Blake, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/05/15/the-white-house-isnt-denying-that-trump-gave-russia-classified-information-not-really/ The White House isn't denying that Trump gave Russia classified information — not really], ''The Washington Post'' (May 15, 2017).</ref> The following day Trump stated on Twitter that Russia is an important ally against terrorism and that he had an "absolute right" to share classified information with Russia.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/333550-trump-i-had-absolute-right-to-share-facts-with-russia|title=Trump: I have 'absolute right' to share facts with Russia|last=Savransky|first=Rebecca|date=May 16, 2017|newspaper=The Hill|accessdate=May 16, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/05/16/trump-acknowledges-facts-shared-with-russian-envoys-during-white-house-meeting/|title=McMaster: Trump's sharing of sensitive intelligence with Russia was 'wholly appropriate'|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

In October 2017, former Trump campaign advisor [[George Papadopoulos]] pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements to the FBI regarding his contacts with Russian agents. During the campaign he had tried repeatedly but unsuccessfully to set up meetings in Russia between Trump campaign representatives and Russian officials.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/file/1007341/download|title=Plea Offer and Defendant's Acceptance|work=United States v. George Papadopoulos|date=October 5, 2017|publisher=United States Department of Justice}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/file/1007346/download|title=Statement of Facts of Guilt|work=United States v. George Papadopoulos|publisher=United States Department of Justice|date=October 5, 2017}}</ref> The guilty plea was part of a plea bargain whereby Papadopoulos cooperates with the Mueller investigation.<ref name=NYTGuilty>{{cite news |first1=Matt |last1=Apuzzo | first2= Michael S. |last2=Schmidt |authorlink1=Matt Apuzzo |authorlink2=Michael S. Schmidt |title=Trump Campaign Adviser Met With Russian to Discuss 'Dirt' on Clinton|work=The New York Times |date=October 30, 2017 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/30/us/politics/george-papadopoulos-russia.html }}</ref>

In February 2018, when Special Counsel Mueller indicted more than a dozen Russians and three entities for interference in the 2016 election, Trump's response was to assert that the indictment was proof that his campaign did not collude with the Russians.<ref name=":64">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/17/us/politics/trump-russia.html|title=Trump's Conspicuous Silence Leaves a Struggle Against Russia Without a Leader|last=Baker|first=Peter|date=February 17, 2018|work=The New York Times|accessdate=February 18, 2018|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' noted that Trump "voiced no concern that a foreign power had been trying for nearly four years to upend American democracy, much less resolve to stop it from continuing to do so this year."<ref name=":64" /> A day after the indictment, Trump used the FBI's alleged failure to stop the [[Stoneman Douglas High School shooting|Stoneman Douglas High School shooter]] to call for the end to investigations of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-blasts-fbi-over-parkland-shooting-says-too-much-time-n849121|title=Trump blasts FBI over school shooting, says "too much time" on Russia|work=NBC News|accessdate=February 18, 2018}}</ref>

In July 2018, the special counsel's office indicted 12 Russian intelligence operatives and accused them of conspiring to interfere in the 2016 US elections, by hacking servers and emails of the Democratic Party and the Hillary Clinton campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2018/7/13/17568806/mueller-russia-intelligence-indictment-full-text|title=Read: Mueller indictment against 12 Russian spies for DNC hack|publisher=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]|accessdate=July 28, 2018}}</ref> The indictments were made before Trump's meeting with Putin in Helsinki, in which Trump supported Putin's denial that Russia was involved and criticized American law enforcement and intelligence community (subsequently Trump partially walked back some of his comments).<ref name=trump_intelligence>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/18/world/europe/trump-intelligence-russian-election-meddling-.html|title=From the Start, Trump Has Muddied a Clear Message: Putin Interfered|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=July 28, 2018}}</ref> A few days later, it was reported that Trump had actually been briefed on the veracity and extent of Russian cyber-attacks two weeks before his inauguration, back in December 2016, including the fact that these were ordered by Putin himself.<ref name=trump_intelligence/> The evidence presented to him at the time included text and email conversations between Russian military officers as well as information from a source close to Putin. According to the report, at the time, in the classified meeting, Trump "sounded grudgingly convinced".<ref name=trump_intelligence/>

''The Washington Post'' reported on January 12, 2019 that Trump had gone to "extraordinary lengths" to keep details of his private conversations with Russian president Putin secret, including in one case by retaining his interpretor's notes and instructing the linguist to not share the contents of the discussions with anyone in the administration. As a result, there were no detailed records, even in classified files, of Trump's conversations with Putin on five occasions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-has-concealed-details-of-his-face-to-face-encounters-with-putin-from-senior-officials-in-administration/2019/01/12/65f6686c-1434-11e9-b6ad-9cfd62dbb0a8_story.html|title=Trump has concealed details of his face-to-face encounters with Putin from senior officials in administration|website=Washington Post}}</ref> [[The Financial Times]] reported on January 29, 2019 that there were no American aides present when Trump met privately with Putin at the [[2018 G20 Buenos Aires summit]] in November/December 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/427505-trump-putin-talked-at-g20-without-us-translator-note-taker-report|title=Trump, Putin talked at G20 without US translator, note-taker: report|first=Brett|last=Samuels|date=January 29, 2019|website=TheHill}}</ref>

=== Transparency and data availability ===
''The Washington Post'' reported in May 2017, "a wide variety of information that until recently was provided to the public, limiting access, for instance, to disclosures about workplace violations, energy efficiency, and&nbsp;animal welfare abuses" had been removed or tucked away. The Obama administration had used the publication of enforcement actions taken by federal agencies against companies as a way to name and shame companies that engaged in unethical and illegal behaviors.<ref name=":10">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/under-trump-inconvenient-data-is-being-sidelined/2017/05/14/3ae22c28-3106-11e7-8674-437ddb6e813e_story.html|title=Under Trump, inconvenient data is being sidelined|newspaper=The Washington Post|accessdate=May 15, 2017}}</ref>

The Trump administration stopped the Obama administration policy of logging visitors to the White House, making it difficult to tell who has visited the White House.<ref name=":10" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/washington/la-na-essential-washington-updates-on-taxes-and-visitor-logs-white-house-1492471167-htmlstory.html|title=On taxes and visitor logs, White House grapples with transparency questions|last=Memoli|first=Michael A.|date=April 17, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=May 15, 2017}}</ref> Nathan Cortez of the [[Southern Methodist University]]'s [[Dedman School of Law]], who studies the handling of public data, said that the Trump administration, unlike the Obama administration, was taking transparency "in the opposite direction".<ref name=":10" />

===Cost of trips===
According to several reports, Trump's and his family's trips in the first month of his presidency cost the US taxpayers nearly as much as former President Obama's travel expenses for an entire year. When Obama was president, Trump frequently criticized him for taking vacations which were paid for with public funds.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-costs-trips-security-taxpayer-barack-obama-month-year-a7586261.html|title=In a month, the Trump family has cost taxpayers almost as much as the Obamas did in a year|date=February 17, 2017 |newspaper=The Independent}}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' reported that Trump's atypically lavish lifestyle is far more expensive to the taxpayers than what was typical of former presidents and could end up in the hundreds of millions of dollars over the whole of Trump's term.<ref name="trump family travels">{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/trump-familys-elaborate-lifestyle-a-logistical-nightmare--at-taxpayer-expense/2017/02/16/763cce8e-f2ce-11e6-a9b0-ecee7ce475fc_story.html|title=Trump family’s elaborate lifestyle is a ‘logistical nightmare’ — at taxpayer expense|website=Washington Post}}</ref>

==Elections during the Trump presidency==
{| class="wikitable" align="right" style="margin-left:1em;
|+ [[Party divisions of United States Congresses|Republican seats in Congress]]
|-
! Congress
! Senate
! House
|-
! {{party shading/Republican}} | [[115th United States Congress|115th]]{{Ref|timeline}}

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 52
| {{party shading/Republican}}| 241
|-
! [[116th United States Congress|116th]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}| 53
| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 200
|}

===2018 mid-term elections===
{{main|United States elections, 2018}}
In the 2018 mid-term elections, Democrats won control of the House of Representatives, while Republicans expanded their majority in the Senate.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cillizza|first1=Chris|title=2018 was a WAY better election for Democrats than most people seem to think|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/09/politics/2018-democrats-midterms/index.html|accessdate=November 12, 2018|publisher=CNN|date=November 10, 2018}}</ref>

==Historical evaluations and public opinion==
{{Main|Opinion polling on the Donald Trump administration}}
{{See also|United States presidential approval rating}}

===Popular polling===
[[File:Gallup Poll-Approval Rating-Donald Trump.svg|thumb|right|upright=2|Gallup approval polling
{{Legend|#FF1919|Disapprove}}
{{Legend|#FFFF19|Unsure}}
{{Legend|#3AFC3A|Approve}}]]

At the time of the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 election]], polls by [[Gallup (company)|Gallup]] found Trump had a favorable rating around 35% and an unfavorable rating around 60%, while Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton held a favorable rating of 40% and an unfavorable rating of 57%.<ref name="gallup1">{{cite web |title=Presidential Election 2016: Key Indicators|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/189299/presidential-election-2016-key-indicators.aspx|publisher=Gallup|accessdate=November 15, 2016}}</ref> 2016 was the first election cycle in modern presidential polling in which both major-party candidates were viewed so unfavorably.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/06/03/us/elections/trump-and-clinton-favorability.html|title=Clinton and Trump Have Terrible Approval Ratings. Does It Matter?|date=June 3, 2016|website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/americans-distaste-for-both-trump-and-clinton-is-record-breaking/|title=Americans' Distaste For Both Trump And Clinton Is Record-Breaking|date=May 5, 2016|publisher=FiveThirtyEight}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Aaron Blake|date=August 31, 2016|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/08/31/a-record-number-of-americans-now-dislike-hillary-clinton/|title=A record number of Americans now dislike Hillary Clinton|publisher=The Washington Post The Fix blog}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://monmouth.edu/polling-institute/reports/MonmouthPoll_US_082916/|title=Clinton Holds Lead Amid Record High Dislike of Both Nominees|publisher=Monmouth University}}</ref> By January 20, 2017, [[United States presidential inauguration|Inauguration Day]], Trump's approval rating average was 42%, the lowest rating average for an incoming president in the history of modern polling.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/17/us/politics/donald-trump-obama-approval-rating.html|title=Trump Entering White House Unbent and Unpopular|last=Baker|first=Peter|authorlink=Peter Baker (author)|date=January 17, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=January 20, 2017}}</ref>

Trump’s approval rating during his first term has been “incredibly stable (and also historically low)” within a band from about 36% to 43%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/21/politics/family-separation-midterms-analysis/index.html|title=Separated immigrant children move people's hearts, but will it move their votes?|last=Enten|first=Harry|date=June 21, 2018|website=CNN.com|access-date=}}</ref> His two-year average Gallup approval rating was the lowest of any president since World War II.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-average-approval-rating-first-two-years-lowest-any-president-1293785|title=Donald Trump's average approval rating in the first two years is the lowest for any president since World War II|first=Jessica Kwong On 1/16/19 at 11:01|last=AM|date=January 16, 2019|website=Newsweek}}</ref>

===Historians===

Political scientist [[Norman Ornstein]] argues that many writers have tried to put Trump in perspective:
:Among President Trump’s major accomplishments is the booming industry in books about him, his administration, the state of democracy in America, the rise of autocracy in America and abroad, the reasons for his rise, the bases of his support, the state of the Republican Party, the state of his mental health or lack thereof, the chaos in his White House and so on. Not all are strictly about Trump — the fact is the conditions and dynamics that brought us Trump long preceded him, and the changes in the fabric of our Republic are paralleled by changes in other longstanding democracies around the globe.<ref>Norman Ornstein, [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/07/books/review/alan-wolfe-politics-petulance-lawrence-lessig-america-compromised.html "Two Leading Intellectuals Analyze What Ails America" ''New York Times'' Dec. 7, 2018]</ref>
==Democracy backsliding==
   
Since the beginning of the [[presidency of Donald Trump]], ratings of U.S. democracy had already sharply plunged in the United States.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.v-dem.net/media/filer_public/3f/19/3f19efc9-e25f-4356-b159-b5c0ec894115/v-dem_democracy_report_2018.pdf|title=Democracy for All? V-Dem Annual Democracy Report 2018|last=Staff|first=|date=May 28, 2018|website=[[Varieties of Democracy]]|pages=5–6, 16, 19–22, 27–32, 36, 46, 48, 54, and 56.|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=February 15, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://brightlinewatch.org/wave7/|title=Bright Line Watch: Wave VII|last=Staff|first=|date=November 15, 2018|website=[[Bright Line Watch]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=February 15, 2019|quote=The trajectories sketched by V-Dem and by the Bright Line Watch experts are remarkably consistent over time, though the Bright Line Watch assessments are a bit more tempered (slightly higher than V-Dem from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th, slightly lower since). Notably, both indices drop sharply in the last few years of the series. V-Dem’s data end in 2017 but Bright Line Watch experts perceive further decline in 2018 (from 76 in 2015 to 69 in 2017 to 64 now). We interpret this decline as a response to the events of the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the Trump presidency.}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2017/united-states|title=Freedom in the World 2017 {{!}} United States|last=Staff|first=|date=|website=[[Freedom House]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=February 15, 2019|quote=The United States is arguably the world’s oldest democracy. Its people benefit from a vibrant electoral system, a strong rule-of-law tradition, robust freedoms of expression and religious belief, and a wide array of other civil liberties. The United States remains a major destination point for immigrants and has largely been successful in integrating newcomers from all backgrounds. However, in recent years the country’s democratic institutions have suffered some erosion, as reflected in legislative gridlock, dysfunction in the criminal justice system, and growing disparities in wealth and economic opportunity.}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2018/united-states|title=Freedom in the World 2018 {{!}} United States|last=Staff|first=|date=|website=[[Freedom House]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=February 15, 2019|quote=Newly elected president Donald Trump, who took office in January, defied ethical standards observed by his recent predecessors, for instance by retaining and promoting his private business empire while in office, naming his daughter and son-in-law as presidential advisers, and refusing to divulge his tax records.}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2019/united-states|title=Freedom in the World 2019 {{!}} United States|last=Staff|first=|date=|website=[[Freedom House]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=February 15, 2019|quote=Since 2017, the Trump administration has presented a number of new challenges to existing norms of government ethics and probity. Anti-corruption watchdogs criticized President Trump for shifting management of his real-estate development empire to his children rather than divesting ownership or establishing a stronger structural barrier between himself and his businesses. This lack of separation raised concerns that the president was using his office for personal enrichment, or that his official decisions were influenced by his private business interests; lawsuits that were ongoing in 2018 focused on a constitutional rule that forbids officeholders from receiving compensation, or “emoluments,” from foreign governments, which Trump was accused of doing through his businesses. The president, his staff, and special interest groups of foreign and domestic origin all frequently visited and held events at Trump-branded properties in the United States during his first two years in office, generating publicity and income. Trump’s decision to appoint his daughter and son-in-law as presidential advisers prompted similar concerns about their own business interests, as well as accusations of nepotism. The Trump administration also notably undercut conflict-of-interest restrictions for White House and executive branch appointees. Although the president issued an executive order in 2017 that limited appointees’ ability to shift to lobbying work after leaving government, the same order eased restrictions on lobbyists moving into government, and the administration initially resisted efforts to disclose waivers allowing appointees to skirt the rules that remained. In practice, many Trump nominees received such waivers. Journalistic and congressional investigations have routinely found conflicts of interest and other ethical violations among nominees and appointees, and key officials including the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the secretary of the interior stepped down amid ethics scandals during 2018.}}</ref> According to the 2018 V-Dem Annual Democracy Report for the United States, there has been "a significant [[democratic backsliding]] in the United States [since the [[Inauguration of Donald Trump]]] ... attributable to weakening constraints on the executive."<ref name=":1" /> Independent assessments by [[Freedom House]] and [[Bright Line Watch]] found a similar decline on checks on executive power, along with a significant decline in overall democratic functioning.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4"/>

==See also==
{{Commons category|Presidency of Donald Trump}}
{{Wikipedia books
 |1=Presidency of Donald Trump
}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Efforts to impeach Donald Trump]]
* [[List of executive actions by Donald Trump]] 
* [[Make America Great Again]] – 2016 campaign slogan
* [[Political positions of Donald Trump]]
* [[Protests against Donald Trump]]
* [[Timeline of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections]]
* [[Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (2017)]]
* [[Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (2018)]]
* [[Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (2019)]]
* ''[[The Waldo Moment#Reception|Black Mirror: The Waldo Moment]]''
{{div col end}}

==Notes==
# {{note|timeline}} A small portion of the 115th Congress (January 3, 2017 – January 19, 2017) took place under President Obama.
# {{note|election}} In [[United States presidential election, 1824|1824]], there were six states in which electors were legislatively appointed, rather than popularly elected, so it is uncertain what the national popular vote would have been if all presidential electors had been popularly elected.
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==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Trump presidency|state=expanded}}
{{Donald Trump}}
{{US Presidential Administrations}}
{{Special Counsel investigation (2017–present)}}

[[Category:Presidency of Donald Trump| ]]
[[Category:Presidencies of the United States|Trump, Donald]]
[[Category:2010s in the United States]]
[[Category:History of the United States (1991–present)]]
[[Category:Donald Trump]]
[[Category:2017 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]