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Revision as of 04:29, 8 November 2020 view sourceGorillaWarfare (talk | contribs)Edit filter managers, Autopatrolled, Oversighters, Administrators118,938 editsm Changed protection level for "Donald Trump": extending 12 more hours per activity on similar articles ( (expires 17:57, 8 November 2020 (UTC)) (expires 17:57, 8 November 2020 (UTC)))← Previous edit Revision as of 15:34, 23 December 2024 view source ErnestKrause (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users6,697 edits →Initial response: Paragraph breaks for 1 and 2 sentence paragraphs.Next edit →
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{{short description|45th president of the United States}} {{Short description|President-elect and 45th president of the United States}}
{{other uses}} {{Other uses|Donald Trump (disambiguation)}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
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{{Use American English|date=November 2020}}
{{pp-dispute|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{bots|deny=InternetArchiveBot}}<!-- Per ], item 25. -->
{{use American English|date=August 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder {{Infobox officeholder
| image = Donald Trump official portrait.jpg<!-- DO NOT CHANGE the picture without prior consensus; see ], item 1. --> | image = Donald Trump official portrait.jpg<!-- DO NOT CHANGE the picture without prior consensus; see ], item 1. -->
| alt = Official White House portrait. Head shot of Trump smiling in front of the U.S. flag, wearing a dark blue suit jacket with American flag lapel pin, white shirt, and light blue necktie. | alt = Official White House presidential portrait. Head shot of Trump smiling in front of the U.S. flag, wearing a dark blue suit jacket with American flag lapel pin, white shirt, and light blue necktie.
| caption = Official portrait, 2017
| caption = <!-- DO NOT ADD A CAPTION without prior consensus, see ], item 46. -->
| office = ]
| order = 45th<!-- DO NOT ADD A LINK. Please discuss any proposal on the talk page first. Most recent discussion at ] had a weak consensus to keep the status-quo of no link. -->
| office = President of the United States | vicepresident = ] (elect)
| vicepresident = ] | term_start = January 20, 2025
| term_start = January 20, 2017 | term_end =
| term_end = <!--January 20, 2021--> | succeeding = ]
<!--| predecessor = ]-->| order1 = 45th<!--and 47th--><!-- DO NOT ADD A LINK. Please discuss any proposal on the talk page first. Most recent discussion at ] had a weak consensus to keep the status-quo (no link). -->
| predecessor = ]
| office1 = President of the United States
| successor = ] (])<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lahut |first1=Jake |title=Why Decision Desk HQ and Insider called the election for Joe Biden |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/why-ddhq-and-business-insider-called-the-election-for-biden-2020-11 |website=Business Insider}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2020 Latest: Parties, prayer after Biden wins presidency|url=https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-virginia-media-ee442a479ad8a9a4ca28ae085c2f339b|website=The Associated Press}}</ref>
| vicepresident1 = ]
| term_start1 = January 20, 2017
| term_end1 = January 20, 2021
| predecessor1 = ]
| successor1 = Joe Biden
| birth_name = Donald John Trump | birth_name = Donald John Trump
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1946|6|14}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|6|14}}
| birth_place = ], New York City<!-- DO NOT CHANGE (or add to) this location without prior consensus; please see ], item 2. --> | birth_place = ], New York City, U.S.<!-- DO NOT CHANGE (or add to) this location without prior consensus; please see ], item 2. -->
| party = ] ({{hlist|class=inline | 1987–1999 | 2009–2011 | 2012–present }}) | party = ] (1987–1999; 2009–2011; 2012–present)
| otherparty = {{plainlist| | otherparty = {{plainlist|
* ] (1999–2001) * ] (1999–2001)
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}} }}
| spouse = {{plainlist| | spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|]|April 7, 1977|March 22, 1992|end=divorced}} * {{marriage|]|April 9, 1977|December 11, 1990|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|]|December 20, 1993|June 8, 1999|end=divorced}} * {{marriage|]|December 20, 1993|June 8, 1999|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|]<br>|January 22, 2005}} * {{marriage|]|January 22, 2005}}
}} }}
| children = {{flatlist| | children = {{flatlist|
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ]<!-- DO NOT CHANGE this link without prior consensus; see ], item 10. -->
}}
| parents = {{plainlist|
* ]
* ]
}}
| relatives = ]
| awards = ]
| residence = ]
| alma_mater = ] (] in ])<!-- DO NOT CHANGE this college or diploma without prior consensus, see ], item 18. -->
| net_worth = <!-- Keep empty, per ], item 47. -->
| signature = Donald Trump Signature.svg
| signature_alt = Donald J Trump stylized autograph, in ink
| website = {{plainlist|
* {{URL|https://donaldjtrump.com|Official website}}
* {{URL|https://whitehouse.gov/administration/president-trump|White House website}}
}} }}
| father = ]
| mother = ]
| relatives = ]
| awards = ]
| occupation = {{hlist|]|]|]}}
| signature = Donald Trump (Presidential signature).svg
| signature_alt = Donald J. Trump stylized autograph, in ink
| website = {{#invoke:list|unbulleted|{{URL|https://www.donaldjtrump.com|Campaign website}}|{{URL|https://www.trumplibrary.gov/|Presidential library}}|{{URL|https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/|White House archives}}}}
| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Donald Trump speaks on declaration of Covid-19 as a Global Pandemic by the World Health Organization.ogg|title=Donald Trump's voice|type=speech|description=Donald Trump speaks on the declaration of ] by the ].<br />Recorded on March 11, 2020}}
| education = ] (])<!-- DO NOT CHANGE this college or diploma without prior consensus, see ], item 63. -->
}} }}
{{Donald Trump series}} {{Donald Trump series}}
<!-- NOTE: Changes to the lead are regularly discussed on the talk page. PLEASE DO NOT EDIT WAR. If you make a change that is reverted, please open a discussion or contribute to an existing one, per ]. Consensus items marked "DO NOT CHANGE" require prior discussion. -->
'''Donald John Trump''' (born June 14, 1946) is the ] and current ]. Before entering politics, he ] and ].<!-- DO NOT CHANGE the first paragraph without prior consensus; see ], item 17. -->


<!-- NOTE: Changes to the lead are regularly discussed on the talk page. DO NOT EDIT WAR. If you make a change that is reverted, please open a discussion or contribute to an existing one, per ]. Consensus items marked "DO NOT CHANGE" require prior discussion. If you add or remove a sentence with a section link, please also add or remove the hidden reminder following the section heading. -->
Born and raised in ], New York City, Trump attended ] for two years and received a ] in economics from the ]. He became president of ]'s ] business in 1971, renamed it ], and expanded its operations to building or renovating skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump later started ], mostly by licensing his name. Trump and his businesses have been involved in more than 4,000 state and federal ], including six bankruptcies. He owned the ] brand of ]s from 1996 to 2015, and produced and hosted the ] series '']'' from 2004 to 2015.
'''Donald John Trump''' (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th ] from 2017 to 2021.<!-- DO NOT CHANGE preceding sentence without prior consensus; see ], item 50. --> Having won the ] as the nominee of the ], he is the ] and will be ] on January&nbsp;20, 2025.


Trump graduated with a ] in economics from the ] in 1968. Becoming president of the ] in 1971, he focused on luxury accommodation. After a series of business bankruptcies in the 1990s, he ]. From 2004 to 2015, he produced and hosted the reality television series '']''.
] have been described as ], ], ], and ]. He entered the ] as a ] and was elected in a surprise ] victory over ] nominee ] while ].{{efn|name=electoral-college|Presidential elections in the United States are decided by the ]. Each state names a number of electors equal to its representation in ], and (in most states) all delegates vote for the winner of the local state vote. Consequently, it is possible for the ] to have received fewer votes from the country's total population (the popular vote). This situation has occurred ].}} He became ] first-term U.S. president{{efn|] was older upon his second-term inauguration.}} and the first without ]. His election and policies have sparked ].<!-- DO NOT CHANGE this sentence without prior consensus; see ], item 20. --> Trump has made ] during his ] and ]. The statements have been documented by ]s, and the media have widely described the phenomenon as unprecedented in American politics.<!-- DO NOT CHANGE this sentence without prior consensus; see ], item 35. --> Many of his ] have been characterized as racially charged or racist.<!-- DO NOT CHANGE this sentence without prior consensus, see ], item 30. -->


During his presidency, Trump ] on citizens from several Muslim-majority countries, citing security concerns; after ], the Supreme Court upheld ].<!-- DO NOT CHANGE this sentence IN ANY WAY without prior consensus; see ], item 23. --> He enacted ] for individuals and businesses, rescinding the ] penalty of the ], but has ] the ACA as a whole. He appointed ], ] and ] to the ]. In foreign policy, Trump has pursued an ] agenda, withdrawing the U.S. from the ] trade negotiations, the ] on ], and the ]. He ] which triggered ], ] and ]. Trump met three times with North Korean leader ], but talks on ] broke down in 2019. Trump won the ] as the Republican nominee. ] included ordering ] on several Muslim-majority countries, expanding the ], and implementing ].<!-- This sentence must contain a summary of Trump's actions on immigration, including the Muslim travel ban, the wall, and the family separation policy; see ], item 52. --> He rolled back more than 100 environmental policies and regulations, signed the ] of 2017, and nominated ], ] and ] to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2018, he initiated a trade war with China. He withdrew the U.S. from international agreements on climate, trade, and the nuclear program of Iran. He met with North Korean leader ] without progress on denuclearization.<!-- DO NOT REMOVE preceding sentence without prior consensus; see ], item 44. --> In response to the ], he downplayed its severity, contradicted guidance from international public health bodies, and signed the ] economic stimulus. He was impeached ] for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and ] for incitement of insurrection; the ] acquitted him in both cases.


Trump's politics and rhetoric led to the ] movement. Many of his comments and actions have been characterized as racially charged, racist, and misogynistic.<!--DO NOT CHANGE preceding sentence without prior consensus, see ], items 30 and 51.--> He ] and ] during his campaigns and presidency, to a degree unprecedented in American politics.<!--DO NOT CHANGE preceding sentence without prior consensus; see ], items 49 and 53.--> After his first term, ] as one of the worst presidents in American history.<!--DO NOT CHANGE preceding sentence without prior consensus; see ], item 54.--> He lost the ] but did not concede, falsely claiming widespread electoral fraud and ], including through his involvement in the ]. In civil proceedings, Trump was found liable ], and ]. In May 2024, he was found guilty ], making him the first U.S. president to be convicted of a felony. He faced ] related to his interference in the 2020 election and ], which were dismissed after his victory in the 2024 election.
A ] led by ] found that Trump and his campaign welcomed and encouraged ] under the belief that it would be politically advantageous, but did not find sufficient evidence to press charges of ] or coordination with Russia.{{efn|name=coordination|Mueller, Robert (March 2019). . '''I'''. p. 2. "In connection with that analysis, we addressed the factual question whether members of the Trump Campaign 'coordinat'{{snd}}a term that appears in the appointment order{{snd}}with Russian election interference activities. Like collusion, 'coordination' does not have a settled definition in federal criminal law. We understood coordination to require an agreement{{snd}}tacit or express{{snd}}between the Trump Campaign and the Russian government on election interference. That requires more than the two parties taking actions that were informed by or responsive to the other's actions or interests. We applied the term coordination in that sense when stating in the report that the investigation did not establish that the Trump Campaign coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities." }} Mueller also investigated Trump for ], and ] neither indicted nor exonerated Trump on that offense. After Trump ] his political rival ], the House of Representatives ] in December 2019 for ] and ]. The Senate ] of both charges in February 2020.


== Early life and education ==
Trump reacted slowly to the ]; he downplayed the threat, ignored or contradicted many recommendations from health officials, and promoted false information about unproven treatments and the availability of testing.<!-- DO NOT CHANGE the preceding sentence without prior consensus. See ], item 48. -->
], 1964]] <!-- DO NOT MOVE this image to the right. Depending on user configuration, the infobox+navbox may push the photo down, making it adjacent to unrelated prose. -->


Trump was born on June&nbsp;14, 1946, at ] in ], New York City, the fourth child of ] and ].{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|pp=30, 37}} He is of German and Scottish descent.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=v}} He grew up with his older siblings, ], ], and Elizabeth, and his younger brother, ], in a mansion in the ] neighborhood of Queens.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/23/us/politics/donald-trumps-old-queens-neighborhood-now-a-melting-pot-was-seen-as-a-cloister.html|title=Donald Trump's Old Queens Neighborhood Contrasts With the Diverse Area Around It|first=Jason|last=Horowitz|work=]|date=September 22, 2015|access-date=November 7, 2018}}</ref> He was a millionaire in 2024 dollars by age eight. Beginning when Trump was three, his father gave each of his children $6,000 every year, the maximum allowed without incurring a gift tax, and, to avoid taxes, made them landlords of two of his housing developments, paying each $13,928 in rent every year.{{sfn|Buettner|Craig|2024|pp=30–31}}.
In the ], major news organizations have projected that Trump lost his bid for re-election.


Trump attended the private college-preparatory ] through seventh grade.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|pp=33, 38}} He was a difficult child and showed an early interest in his father's business.{{sfn|D'Antonio|2015|pp=40–41}} His father enrolled him in ], a private boarding school, to complete secondary school.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=38}}
{{toclimit|3}}


In 1964, Trump enrolled at ]. Two years later, he transferred to the ] of the ],{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|pp=45, 47}} graduating in May 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in economics.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archives.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/commencement-program-1968.pdf|pages=19–21|title=Two Hundred and Twelfth Commencement for the Conferring of Degrees|work=]|date=May 20, 1968|access-date=March 31, 2023}}</ref> He was exempted from the draft during the Vietnam War due to ] in his heels.{{sfn|D'Antonio|2015|pp=69–71}} In 2015, he threatened his high school, colleges, and the ] with legal action if they released his academic records.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ashford|first=Grace|date=February 27, 2019|title=Michael Cohen Says Trump Told Him to Threaten Schools Not to Release Grades|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/27/us/politics/trump-school-grades.html|work=]}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
=== Early life ===
], Queens, N.Y.]]
] yearbook photo]]


==Personal life==
Trump was born on June 14, 1946, at Jamaica Hospital in the borough of ], New York City.<ref name="Birth Certificate">{{cite news |title=Certificate of Birth |publisher=Department of Health – City of New York – Bureau of Records and Statistics |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/page?id=13248168 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512232306/https://abcnews.go.com/US/page?id=13248168 |archive-date=May 12, 2016 |via=]}}</ref><ref name="Birth Certificate 2">{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/20110328125536753.pdf |title=Certificate of Birth: Donald John Trump |publisher=The Jamaica Hospital |via=] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110409070650/https://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/20110328125536753.pdf |archivedate=April 9, 2011 |url-status=live |accessdate=October 23, 2018}}</ref> His father was ], a Bronx-born real estate developer whose parents were German immigrants. His mother was Scottish-born housewife ]. Trump grew up in the ] neighborhood of Queens and attended the ] from kindergarten through seventh grade.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/23/us/politics/donald-trumps-old-queens-neighborhood-now-a-melting-pot-was-seen-as-a-cloister.html |title=Donald Trump's Old Queens Neighborhood Contrasts With the Diverse Area Around It |first=Jason |last=Horowitz |work=] |date=September 22, 2015 |accessdate=November 7, 2018}}</ref> At age 13, he was enrolled in the ], a private boarding school.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}}
In 1964, he enrolled at ]. Two years later he transferred to the ], graduating in May 1968 with a ] in economics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.archives.upenn.edu/primdocs/upg/upg7/upg7_1968.pdf |pages=19–21 |title=Two Hundred and Twelfth Commencement for the Conferring of Degrees |publisher=] |date=May 20, 1968 |archivedate=July 19, 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719213709/https://www.archives.upenn.edu/primdocs/upg/upg7/upg7_1968.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Viser |title=Even in college, Donald Trump was brash |work=] |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2015/08/28/donald-trump-was-bombastic-even-wharton-business-school/3FO0j1uS5X6S8156yH3YhL/story.html |date=August 28, 2015 |accessdate=May 28, 2018}}</ref> Profiles of Trump published in ''The New York Times'' in 1973 and 1976 erroneously reported that he had graduated first in his class at Wharton, but he had never made the school's honor roll.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=May 20, 2018 |first=Avi |last=Selk |title=It's the 50th anniversary of the day Trump left college and (briefly) faced the draft |accessdate=March 3, 2019 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/05/20/its-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-day-trump-left-college-and-nearly-had-to-go-to-war/}}</ref> In 2015, Trump's lawyer ] threatened Fordham University and the New York Military Academy with legal action if they released Trump's academic records.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ashford |first1=Grace |title=Michael Cohen Says Trump Told Him to Threaten Schools Not to Release Grades |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/27/us/politics/trump-school-grades.html |work=] |accessdate=June 9, 2019 |date=February 27, 2019}}</ref>

==== Military deferment ====

While in college, Trump obtained four student ] deferments.<ref name="defer">{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-avoided-vietnam-with-deferments-records-show |title=Donald Trump avoided Vietnam with deferments, records show |date=April 29, 2011 |website=] |first=Brian |last=Montopoli |accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref> In 1966, he was deemed fit for military service based upon a medical examination, and in July 1968 a local draft board classified him as eligible to serve.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.archives.gov/foia/donald-trump-selective-service-draft-card.html |title=Donald John Trump's Selective Service Draft Card and Selective Service Classification Ledger |date=August 15, 2016 |website=] |access-date=September 23, 2019}} – via Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)</ref> In October 1968, he was medically deferred and classified {{nowrap|1-Y}} (unqualified for duty except in the case of a national emergency).<ref name="Whitlock21July">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/questions-linger-about-trumps-draft-deferments-during-vietnam-war/2015/07/21/257677bc-2fdd-11e5-8353-1215475949f4_story.html |title=Questions linger about Trump's draft deferments during Vietnam War |last=Whitlock |first=Craig |authorlink=Craig Whitlock |date=July 21, 2015 |work=] |accessdate=April 2, 2017|url-access=limited}}</ref> In 1972, he was reclassified {{nowrap|4-F}} due to ], which permanently disqualified him from service.<ref name="SE">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/02/us/politics/donald-trump-draft-record.html |title=Donald Trump's Draft Deferments: Four for College, One for Bad Feet |last1=Eder |first1=Steve |last2=Philipps |first2=Dave |author2link=David Philipps |date=August 1, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=August 2, 2016 |url-access=limited}}</ref><ref name="emery">{{cite news |last=Emery |first=David |url=https://www.snopes.com/news/2016/08/02/donald-trumps-draft-deferments/ |title=Donald Trump's Draft Deferments |website=] |date=August 2, 2016 |accessdate=October 16, 2018}}</ref>


=== Family === === Family ===
{{Further|Family of Donald Trump}}
In 1977, Trump married Czech model ].{{sfn|Blair|2015|p=300}} They had three children: ] (b. 1977), ] (b. 1981), and ] (b. 1984). The couple divorced in 1990, following his affair with model and actress ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Baron|first=James|date=December 12, 1990|title=Trumps Get Divorce; Next, Who Gets What?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/12/nyregion/trumps-get-divorce-next-who-gets-what.html|access-date=March 5, 2023|work=]}}</ref> He and Maples married in 1993 and divorced in 1999. They have one daughter, ] (b. 1993), whom Maples raised in California.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hafner|first=Josh|date=July 19, 2016|title=Get to know Donald's other daughter: Tiffany Trump|url=https://usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/07/19/who-is-tiffany-trump/87321708/|access-date=July 10, 2022|work=]}}</ref> In 2005, he married Slovenian model ].{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=266}} They have one son, ] (b. 2006).<ref>{{cite news|date=July 2, 2021|title=Donald Trump Fast Facts|url=https://cnn.com/2013/07/04/us/donald-trump-fast-facts/|access-date=September 29, 2021|work=]}}</ref>


=== Health ===
{{Main|Family of Donald Trump}}
{{Main|Age and health concerns about Donald Trump}}
{{Further|Trump family}}
Trump says he has never drunk alcohol, smoked cigarettes, or used drugs.<!-- DO NOT CHANGE preceding sentence without prior consensus; see ], item 67. --><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/30/us/trump-biden-alcohol.html|title=In Trump and Biden, a Choice of Teetotalers for President|last=Nagourney|first=Adam|date=October 30, 2020|work=]|accessdate=February 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/kavanaugh-likes-beer--but-trump-is-a-teetotaler-he-doesnt-like-drinkers/2018/10/02/783f585c-c674-11e8-b1ed-1d2d65b86d0c_story.html|title=Kavanaugh likes beer — but Trump is a teetotaler: 'He doesn't like drinkers.'|last1=Parker|first1=Ashley|last2=Rucker|first2=Philip|date=October 2, 2018|newspaper=]|access-date=February 5, 2021}}</ref> He sleeps about four or five hours a night.<!-- DO NOT CHANGE preceding sentence without prior consensus; see ], item 67. --><ref>{{cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3970379/donald-trump-sleep-hours-night/|title=Donald Trump sleeps 4–5 hours each night; he's not the only famous 'short sleeper'|last=Dangerfield|first=Katie|date=January 17, 2018|work=]|accessdate=February 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|first1=Douglas|last1=Almond|first2=Xinming|last2=Du|journal=]|title=Later bedtimes predict President Trump's performance|volume=197|doi=10.1016/j.econlet.2020.109590|date=December 2020|pmid=33012904 |pmc=7518119 | issn=0165-1765}}</ref> He has called golfing his "primary form of exercise", but usually does not walk the course.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thegolfnewsnet.com/golfnewsnetteam/2018/07/14/donald-trump-exercise-golf-cart-turnberry-110166/|title=Donald Trump says he gets most of his exercise from golf, then uses cart at Turnberry|work=Golf News Net|date=July 14, 2018|access-date=July 4, 2019|first=Ryan|last=Ballengee}}</ref> He considers exercise a waste of energy because he believes the body is "like a battery, with a finite amount of energy", which is depleted by exercise.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/trump-thinks-that-exercising-too-much-uses-up-the-bodys-finite-energy/2017/05/12/bb0b9bda-365d-11e7-b4ee-434b6d506b37_story.html|first=Rachael|last=Rettner|title=Trump thinks that exercising too much uses up the body's 'finite' energy|newspaper=]|date=May 14, 2017|access-date=September 29, 2021}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Donnell|Rutherford|1991|p=133}} In 2015, his campaign released a letter from his longtime personal physician, ], stating that he would "be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency".<ref name="dictation">{{cite news|first1=Alex|last1=Marquardt|first2=Lawrence III|last2=Crook|title=Exclusive: Bornstein claims Trump dictated the glowing health letter|url=https://cnn.com/2018/05/01/politics/harold-bornstein-trump-letter/|work=]|date=May 1, 2018|access-date=May 20, 2018}}</ref> In 2018, Bornstein said Trump had dictated the contents of the letter and that three of Trump's agents had seized his medical records in a February 2017 raid on Bornstein's office.<ref name="dictation"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-doc-says-trump-bodyguard-lawyer-raided-his-office-took-n870351|title=Trump doctor Harold Bornstein says bodyguard, lawyer 'raided' his office, took medical files|last=Schecter|first=Anna|date=May 1, 2018|work=]|access-date=June 6, 2019}}</ref>


==== Parents and siblings ==== === Views ===


Many of Trump's comments and actions have been ].<ref>Multiple sources:
{{Main|Fred Trump|Mary Anne MacLeod Trump}}


*{{cite web |last=Lopez |first=German |date=February 14, 2019 |title=Donald Trump's long history of racism, from the 1970s to 2019 |url=https://www.vox.com/2016/7/25/12270880/donald-trump-racist-racism-history |access-date=June 15, 2019 |work=]}}
Fred Trump started working in real estate with his mother ] when he was 15, after his father ] had died in the ].<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=April 30, 2020 |first=Susan B. |last=Glasser |authorlink=Susan Glasser |title=History According to Trump: The President and the 1917 Pandemic That Wasn't |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-trumps-washington/trump-and-the-1917-pandemic-that-wasnt}}</ref> By 1926, their company, "]", was active in the ] of Queens and ].<ref name="Blair1">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PmrwtRTQ3fMC&pg=PA120 |title=The Trumps: Three Generations That Built an Empire |isbn=978-0-7432-1079-9 |last=Blair |first=Gwenda |authorlink=Gwenda Blair |publisher=] |location=New York |date=December 4, 2001 |pages=120–122}}</ref> It would grow to build and sell tens of thousands of houses, barracks, and apartments.<ref name=dad>{{cite news |last=Blair |first=Gwenda |authorlink=Gwenda Blair |date=August 24, 2015 |title=The Man Who Made Trump Who He Is |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/08/the-man-who-made-trump-who-he-is-121647 |magazine=] |accessdate=July 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rozhon |first=Tracie |date=June 26, 1999 |title=Fred C. Trump, Postwar Master Builder of Housing for Middle Class, Dies at 93 |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/26/nyregion/fred-c-trump-postwar-master-builder-of-housing-for-middle-class-dies-at-93.html |access-date=January 29, 2017}}</ref> Fred claimed to be Swedish amid the ] sparked by World War II;<ref name="CNN Swedish">{{cite news |title=Trump's family denied German heritage for years |first=Jennifer |last=Hansler |date=November 28, 2017 |website=] |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/28/politics/trump-family-heritage/index.html}}</ref> Donald Trump also claimed Swedish heritage until 1990.<ref name=McGrane-160429>{{cite news |title=The Ancestral German Home of the Trumps |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-ancestral-german-home-of-the-trumps |date=April 29, 2016 |last=McGrane |first=Sally |magazine=] |access-date=May 23, 2020}}</ref> Trump's mother Mary Anne MacLeod was born in Scotland.<ref name=Pilon>{{cite news |title=Donald Trump's Immigrant Mother |first=Mary |last=Pilon |authorlink=Mary Pilon |date=June 24, 2016 |work=] |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/donald-trumps-immigrant-mother |accessdate=April 2, 2017}}</ref> Fred and Mary were married in 1936 and raised their family in Queens.<ref name=McGrane-160429/> Trump grew up with three elder siblings{{snd}}], Fred Jr., and Elizabeth{{snd}}and younger brother ].<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=April 11, 2019 |first=Ashley |last=Collman |title=Meet Donald Trump's siblings, the oldest of whom just retired as a federal judge |accessdate=November 2, 2019 |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-sibling-bios-judge-sister-alcoholic-brother-retirees-2018-10}}</ref>
*{{cite news |last=Desjardins |first=Lisa |date=January 12, 2018 |title=Every moment in Trump's charged relationship with race |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/every-moment-donald-trumps-long-complicated-history-race |access-date=January 13, 2018 |work=]}}
*{{cite news |last=Dawsey |first=Josh |author-link=Josh Dawsey |date=January 11, 2018 |title=Trump's history of making offensive comments about nonwhite immigrants |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-attacks-protections-for-immigrants-from-shithole-countries-in-oval-office-meeting/2018/01/11/bfc0725c-f711-11e7-91af-31ac729add94_story.html |access-date=January 11, 2018 |newspaper=]}}
*{{cite news |last=Weaver |first=Aubree Eliza |date=January 12, 2018 |title=Trump's 'shithole' comment denounced across the globe |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/12/trump-shithole-comment-reaction-337926 |access-date=January 13, 2018 |work=] |ref={{harvid|Weaver|2018b}}}}
*{{cite news |last1=Stoddard |first1=Ed |last2=Mfula |first2=Chris |date=January 12, 2018 |title=Africa calls Trump racist after 'shithole' remark |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-immigration-reaction/africa-calls-trump-racist-after-shithole-remark-idUSKBN1F11VC |access-date=October 1, 2019 |work=]}}</ref> In national polling, about half of respondents said that he is racist; a greater proportion believed that he emboldened racists.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 3, 2018 |title=Harsh Words For U.S. Family Separation Policy, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Voters Have Dim View Of Trump, Dems On Immigration |url=https://poll.qu.edu/Poll-Release-Legacy?releaseid=2554 |access-date=July 5, 2018 |work=]}}</ref> Several studies and surveys found that racist attitudes fueled his political ascent and were more important than economic factors in determining the allegiance of Trump voters.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lopez |first=German |date=December 15, 2017 |title=The past year of research has made it very clear: Trump won because of racial resentment |url=https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/12/15/16781222/trump-racism-economic-anxiety-study |access-date=January 14, 2018 |work=]}}</ref> Racist and ] attitudes are a powerful indicator of support for Trump.{{sfn|Lajevardi|Oskooii|2018}} He has also been accused of racism for insisting a group of black and Latino teenagers were guilty of raping a white woman in the 1989 ], even after they were exonerated in 2002 when the actual rapist confessed and his DNA matched the evidence. In October 2024, the men sued Trump for defamation after he said in a televised September debate that they had committed the crime and killed the woman.<ref>{{cite news|last=Diaz|first=Jaclyn|url=https://www.npr.org/2024/09/11/nx-s1-5108632/central-park-five-trump-debate|title=The Central Park 5 are suing Trump over Philly debate comments|work=]|date=October 21, 2024|access-date=November 27, 2024}}</ref>


In 2011, when he was reportedly considering a presidential run, Trump became the leading proponent of the racist ], alleging that Barack Obama, the first black U.S. president, was not born in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web |last=John |first=Arit |date=June 23, 2020 |title=From birtherism to 'treason': Trump's false allegations against Obama |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-06-23/trump-obamagate-birtherism-false-allegations |access-date=February 17, 2023 |work=]}}</ref> In April, he claimed credit for pressuring the White House to publish the "long-form" birth certificate, which he considered fraudulent, and later said this made him "very popular".<ref>{{cite web |last=Keneally |first=Meghan |date=September 18, 2015 |title=Donald Trump's History of Raising Birther Questions About President Obama |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trumps-history-raising-birther-questions-president-obama/story?id=33861832 |access-date=August 27, 2016 |work=]}}</ref> In September 2016, amid pressure, he acknowledged that Obama was born in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |author-link1=Maggie Haberman |last2=Rappeport |first2=Alan |author-link2=Alan Rappeport |date=September 16, 2016 |title=Trump Drops False 'Birther' Theory, but Floats a New One: Clinton Started It |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/17/us/politics/donald-trump-birther-obama.html |access-date=October 12, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> In 2017, he reportedly expressed birther views privately.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |author-link1=Maggie Haberman |last2=Martin |first2=Jonathan |author-link2=Jonathan Martin (journalist) |date=November 28, 2017 |title=Trump Once Said the 'Access Hollywood' Tape Was Real. Now He's Not Sure. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/28/us/politics/trump-access-hollywood-tape.html |access-date=June 11, 2020 |work=]}}</ref>]
==== Wives and children ====


Trump has a history of belittling women when speaking to the media and on social media.{{sfn|Rothe|Collins|2019}}<ref name="Shear">{{cite news |last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |author-link1=Michael D. Shear |last2=Sullivan |first2=Eileen |author-link2=Eileen Sullivan |date=October 16, 2018 |title='Horseface,' 'Lowlife,' 'Fat, Ugly': How the President Demeans Women |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/16/us/politics/trump-women-insults.html |access-date=August 5, 2020 |newspaper=]}}</ref> He made lewd comments, disparaged women's physical appearances, and referred to them using derogatory epithets.<ref name="Shear" /> At least 25 women publicly ], including rape, kissing without consent, groping, looking under women's skirts, and walking in on naked teenage pageant contestants. He has denied the allegations.<ref name="no26">{{cite news |last=Osborne |first=Lucy |date=September 17, 2020 |title='It felt like tentacles': the women who accuse Trump of sexual misconduct |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/17/amy-dorris-donald-trump-women-who-accuse-sexual-misconduct |access-date=June 6, 2024 |newspaper=]}}</ref> In October 2016, a 2005 "]" recording surfaced in which ] about kissing and groping women without their consent, saying that, "when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. ... Grab 'em by the ]."<ref>{{cite web|last=Timm|first=Jane C.|title=Trump caught on hot mic making lewd comments about women in 2005|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/trump-hot-mic-when-you-re-star-you-can-do-n662116|work=]|date=October 7, 2016|access-date=June 10, 2018}}</ref> Trump characterized the comments as "locker-room talk",<ref>{{cite web |last1=Penington |first1=Bill |title=What Exactly Is 'Locker-Room Talk'? Let an Expert Explain |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/11/sports/what-exactly-is-locker-room-talk-let-an-expert-explain.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=December 14, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Fahrenthold |first1=David |title=Trump recorded having extremely lewd conversation about women in 2005 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-recorded-having-extremely-lewd-conversation-about-women-in-2005/2016/10/07/3b9ce776-8cb4-11e6-bf8a-3d26847eeed4_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=December 14, 2024}}</ref> and the incident's widespread media exposure led to Trump's first public apology during his 2016 presidential campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/08/us/politics/donald-trump-women.html|title=Donald Trump Apology Caps Day of Outrage Over Lewd Tape|date=October 7, 2016|work=]|access-date=October 8, 2016|last1=Burns|first1=Alexander|author-link1=Alex Burns (journalist)|last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie|author-link2=Maggie Haberman|last3=Martin|first3=Jonathan|author-link3=Jonathan Martin (journalist)}}</ref>
] as president by Chief Justice ] on January 20, 2017. From left: Trump, wife ], and his children ], ], ], ], and ].]]

In 1977, Trump married ] model ].{{sfn|Blair|2015|p=300}} They have three children, ] (born 1977), ] (born 1981), and ] (born 1984), and ten grandchildren.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nbcmontana.com/news/nation-world/lara-and-eric-trump-welcome-second-child |title=Lara and Eric Trump welcome second child |work=] |date=August 20, 2019 |access-date=August 21, 2019}}</ref> Ivana became a naturalized United States citizen in 1988.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |agency=] |via=Google News |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1899&dat=19880527&id=LiEgAAAAIBAJ&pg=5053,3823442 |title=Ivana Trump becomes U.S. citizen |date=May 27, 1988 |accessdate=August 21, 2015}}</ref> The couple divorced in 1992, following Trump's affair with actress ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/16/ivana-trump-write-memoir-about-raising-us-presidents-donald-children |title=Ivana Trump to write memoir about raising US president's children |work=] |agency=] |date=March 16, 2017 |accessdate=May 6, 2017}}</ref> Maples and Trump married in 1993<ref>{{cite news |last=Capuzzo |first=Mike |title=Marla Finally Becomes Mrs. Trump It Was 'Paparazzi' Aplenty And Glitz Galore As The Couple Pledged Their Troth. |work=] |date=December 21, 1993 |accessdate=June 20, 2019 |url=http://articles.philly.com/1993-12-21/news/25940050_1_donald-trump-ivana-storybook-wedding |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119050108/http://articles.philly.com/1993-12-21/news/25940050_1_donald-trump-ivana-storybook-wedding |archivedate=January 19, 2016}}</ref> and had one daughter, ] (born 1993).<ref name=Slate07202016>{{cite news |last=Graham |first=Ruth |date=July 20, 2016 |title=Tiffany Trump's Sad, Vague Tribute to Her Distant Father |url=https://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2016/07/20/tiffany_trump_s_sad_vague_rnc_speech.html |work=] |accessdate=July 24, 2016}}</ref> They were divorced in 1999,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20723536,00.html |title=Marla Maples Still Loves Donald Trump |work=] |first=Sheila Cosgrove |last=Baylis |date=August 7, 2013 |accessdate=May 6, 2017}}</ref> and Tiffany was raised by Marla in California.<ref name=NYT-20161002>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/02/fashion/tiffany-the-other-trump.html |title=The Other Trump |work=] |first=Alessandra |last=Stanley |authorlink=Alessandra Stanley |date=October 1, 2016 |accessdate=May 6, 2017}}</ref> In 2005, Trump married ]n model ].<ref name=Post52208>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40186-2005Jan26.html |title=Donald Trump, Settling Down |work=] |first=Tina |last=Brown |authorlink=Tina Brown |date=January 27, 2005 |accessdate=May 7, 2017}}</ref> They have one son, ] (born 2006).<ref>{{cite news |title=Donald Trump Fast Facts |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/04/us/donald-trump-fast-facts/ |accessdate=March 10, 2015 |website=] |date=March 7, 2014}}</ref> Melania gained U.S. citizenship in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gunter |first=Joel |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43256318 |title=What is the Einstein visa? And how did Melania Trump get one? |date=March 2, 2018 |access-date=August 2, 2019 |website=]}}</ref>

=== Religion ===

Trump went to ] and was ] in 1959 at the ] in Jamaica, Queens.<ref name="BarronNYT"/><ref name=inactive>{{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=Eugene |title=Church says Donald Trump is not an 'active member' |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/28/politics/donald-trump-church-member/index.html |accessdate=May 26, 2020 |work=] |date=August 28, 2015}}</ref> In the 1970s, his parents joined the ] in Manhattan, which belongs to the ].<ref name="BarronNYT"/><ref name="WaPo.March.18.17">{{cite news |last=Schwartzman |first=Paul |title=How Trump got religion – and why his legendary minister's son now rejects him |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/how-trump-got-religion--and-why-his-legendary-ministers-son-now-rejects-him/2016/01/21/37bae16e-bb02-11e5-829c-26ffb874a18d_story.html |accessdate=March 18, 2017 |work=] |date=January 21, 2016}}</ref> The pastor at Marble, ],<ref name="BarronNYT">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/06/nyregion/donald-trump-marble-collegiate-church-norman-vincent-peale.html |title=Overlooked Influences on Donald Trump: A Famous Minister and His Church |work=] |first=James |last=Barron |authorlink=James Barron (journalist) |date=September 5, 2016 |accessdate=October 13, 2016}}</ref> ministered to Trump's family until Peale's death in 1993.<ref name="WaPo.March.18.17" /> Trump has described Peale as a mentor.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} In 2015, after Trump said he attends Marble, the church publicly stated he "is not an active member" of the church.<ref name=inactive/> In November 2019, Trump appointed his personal pastor, televangelist ], to the White House ].<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=October 31, 2019 |first1=Jeremy W. |last1=Peters |author1link=Jeremy W. Peters |first2=Maggie |last2=Haberman |author2link=Maggie Haberman |title=Paula White, Trump's Personal Pastor, Joins the White House |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/us/politics/paula-white-trump.html}}</ref> In October 2020, Trump said that he now identifies as a ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Exclusive: Trump, confirmed a Presbyterian, now identifies as 'non-denominational Christian' |url=https://religionnews.com/2020/10/23/exclusive-trump-confirmed-a-presbyterian-now-identifies-as-non-denominational-christian/ |work=] |date=October 23, 2020 |first1=Jack |last1=Jenkins |first2=Maina |last2=Mwaura}}</ref>

=== Health and lifestyle ===

Trump ].<ref name="nytimesalc">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/03/us/politics/for-donald-trump-lessons-from-a-brothers-suffering.html |title=For Donald Trump, Lessons From a Brother's Suffering |work=] |last=Horowitz |first=Jason |date=January 2, 2016 |accessdate=July 24, 2016}}</ref> He says he has never smoked tobacco or ].<ref name="smoke">{{Cite news |last=Hotakainen |first=Rob |url=https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article94034152.html |title=Clinton, Trump both say they've never smoked pot |date=August 8, 2016 |access-date=July 5, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> He likes ] and French cuisine.<ref>{{cite news |last=Parker |first=Ashley |authorlink=Ashley Parker |title=Donald Trump's Diet: He'll Have Fries With That |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/09/us/politics/donald-trump-diet.html |website=] |accessdate=June 10, 2019 |date=August 8, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/07/politics/trump-health/index.html |title=Ahead of annual physical, Trump has not followed doctor's orders |website=] |first1=Jeremy |last1=Diamond |author1link=Jeremy Diamond |first2=Kevin |last2=Liptak |date=February 7, 2019 }}</ref> He has said he prefers three to four hours of sleep per night.<ref>{{cite news |title=Donald Trump is the poster child of sleep deprivation: Arianna Huffington |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/17/donald-trump-is-poster-child-of-sleep-deprivation-arianna-huffington.html |website=] |accessdate=June 10, 2019 |date=January 17, 2017 |first1=Sam |last1=Meredith |first2=Tania |last2=Bryer |author2link=Tania Bryer}}</ref> He has called golfing his "primary form of exercise" but usually does not walk the course.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thegolfnewsnet.com/golfnewsnetteam/2018/07/14/donald-trump-exercise-golf-cart-turnberry-110166/ |title=Donald Trump says he gets most of his exercise from golf, then uses cart at Turnberry |work=Golf News Net |date=July 14, 2018 |access-date=July 4, 2019}}</ref> He considers exercise a waste of energy, because he believes the body is "like a battery, with a finite amount of energy" which is depleted by exercise.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/trump-thinks-that-exercising-too-much-uses-up-the-bodys-finite-energy/2017/05/12/bb0b9bda-365d-11e7-b4ee-434b6d506b37_story.html |first=Rachael |last=Rettner |title=Trump thinks that exercising too much uses up the body's 'finite' energy |work=] |date=May 14, 2017}}</ref>

In 2015, ], who had been Trump's personal physician since 1980, wrote that Trump would "be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency" in a letter released by the Trump campaign.<ref name="dictation">{{cite news |first1=Alex |last1=Marquardt |first2=Lawrence III |last2=Crook |title=Bornstein claims Trump dictated the glowing health letter |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/01/politics/harold-bornstein-trump-letter/index.html |website=] |date=May 1, 2018 |accessdate=May 20, 2018}}</ref> In 2018, Bornstein said Trump had dictated the contents of the letter and that three agents of Trump had removed his medical records in February 2017 without authorization.<ref name="dictation"/><ref name="Schechter">{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-doc-says-trump-bodyguard-lawyer-raided-his-office-took-n870351 |title=Trump doctor Harold Bornstein says bodyguard, lawyer 'raided' his office, took medical files |last=Schecter |first=Anna |date=May 1, 2018 |work=] |accessdate=June 6, 2019}}</ref>

Statements by White House physicians ] and ] in 2018, 2019, and 2020 said Trump was healthy overall, but was ].<ref name=time-20180117>{{cite news |url=https://time.com/5105096/donald-trump-physical-exam-transcript/ |first=Jamie |last=Ducharme |title=The White House Doctor Called President Trump's Health 'Excellent'. Here's the Full Summary of His Physical Exam |work=] |date=January 17, 2018 |accessdate=January 18, 2018}}</ref><ref name="obese">{{cite news |last1=Howard |first1=Jacqueline |last2=Liptak |first2=Kevin |title=Trump in 'very good health overall' but obese, according to physical exam results |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/14/health/trump-physical-results-2019-bn/index.html |website=] |accessdate=February 15, 2019 |date=February 14, 2019}}</ref><ref name="summary">{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Katie |last2=Altman |first2=Lawrence K. |date=June 3, 2020 |title=Trump 'Remains Healthy' After Taking Hydroxychloroquine, His Doctor Says |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/03/us/politics/trump-physical-hydroxychloroquine.html |access-date=June 20, 2020}}</ref><ref name="memo">{{cite news |last=Conley |first=Sean P. |authorlink=Sean Conley |date=June 3, 2020 |title=President Donald J. Trump's Periodic Physical Exam |url=https://media.arkansasonline.com/news/documents/2020/06/03/Trump_Physical_Exam.pdf |access-date=June 19, 2020 |publisher=Physician to the President |via=]}}</ref> Several outside cardiologists commented that Trump's 2018 ] level of 143 did not indicate excellent health.<ref name=nyt-20180117>{{cite news |first1=Michael D. |last1=Shear |author1link=Michael D. Shear |first2=Gina |last2=Kolata |author2link=Gina Kolata |title=Trump's Physical Revealed Serious Heart Concerns, Outside Experts Say |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/17/us/politics/trump-physical-heart-health-cholesterol.html |work=] |date=January 17, 2018 |accessdate=June 3, 2018}}</ref> Trump's 2019 ] score indicates he suffers from a common form of ].<ref>{{cite news |last=Gupta |first=Sanjay |authorlink=Sanjay Gupta |title=President Trump has a common form of heart disease |date=February 1, 2018 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/01/17/health/trump-heart-disease-gupta/index.html |website=] |accessdate=June 10, 2019}}</ref>

Trump was ] with ] on October 2, 2020, and treated with the antiviral drug ], the steroid ], and an unapproved experimental antibody drug made by ].<ref name="downplay">{{cite news |last1=Olorunnipa |first1=Toluse |author1link=Toluse Olorunnipa |last2=Dawsey |first2=Josh |author2link=Josh Dawsey |title=Trump returns to White House downplaying virus that hospitalized him and turned West Wing into a 'ghost town' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-walter-reed-discharge-mask/2020/10/05/91edbe9a-071a-11eb-859b-f9c27abe638d_story.html |accessdate=October 5, 2020 |work=] |date=October 5, 2020}}</ref><ref name=Thomas-20201005>{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Katie |last2=Kolata |first2=Gina |author2link=Gina Kolata |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/02/health/trump-antibody-treatment.html |title=President Trump Received Experimental Antibody Treatment |work=] |date=October 5, 2020 |access-date=October 6, 2020}}</ref> He was discharged on October 5.<ref name="downplay"/> <!--INFORMATION ABOUT TRUMP'S COVID-19 DIAGNOSIS IS IN THE COVID-19 SECTION. DO NOT ADD A DUPLICATE HERE.-->

=== Wealth ===

{{Main|Wealth of Donald Trump}}
{{See also|Tax returns of Donald Trump}}

In 1982, Trump was listed on the initial '']'' list of wealthy individuals as having a share of his family's estimated $200&nbsp;million net worth. His financial losses in the 1980s caused him to be dropped from the list between 1990 and 1995.<ref name=OBrien2005Oct>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/23/business/yourmoney/whats-he-really-worth.html |title=What's He Really Worth? |first=Timothy L. |last=O'Brien |authorlink=Timothy L. O'Brien |accessdate=February 25, 2016 |date=October 23, 2005 |work=]}}</ref> In its 2020 billionaires ranking, ''Forbes'' estimated Trump's net worth at $2.1&nbsp;billion<!-- Updated annually per ], item 5. Otherwise, DO NOT CHANGE this value without prior consensus. -->{{efn|name=Wealth|This estimate is by ''Forbes'' in their annual ranking. ] listed Trump's net worth as $2.97&nbsp;billion in June 2019,<ref name="BBI">{{cite news |title=Bloomberg Billionaires Index–Donald Trump |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/donald-j-trump/ |website=] |access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref> and Wealth-X listed it as at least $3.2&nbsp;billion in April 2019.<ref name="WX">{{cite web |title=Donald John Trump–Wealth-X Dossier |url=https://www.wealthx.com/dossier/donald-john-trump/ |website=Wealth-X |access-date=May 9, 2019 |archivedate=April 18, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418084832/https://www.wealthx.com/dossier/donald-john-trump/}}</ref>}} (1,001st in the world, 275th in the U.S.)<ref name="forbes-billionaires">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/donald-trump/?list=billionaires |title=#1001 Donald Trump |magazine=] |year=2020 |accessdate=April 13, 2020}}</ref> making him one of the ] and the first billionaire American president.<ref name="forbes-billionaires"/> During the three years since Trump announced his presidential run in 2015, Forbes estimated his net worth declined 31% and his ranking fell 138 spots.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-forbes-wealthiest-people-in-the-us-list-2018-10 |title=Trump has fallen 138 spots on Forbes' wealthiest-Americans list, his net worth down over $1 billion, since he announced his presidential bid in 2015 |work=] |date=October 3, 2018 |first=John |last=Walsh |accessdate=October 3, 2018}}</ref> When he filed mandatory financial disclosure forms with the ] in July 2015, Trump claimed a net worth of about $10&nbsp;billion;<ref name="financial-pr">{{cite web |url=https://www.donaldjtrump.com/images/uploads/DJT_PFD_Statement_(1).pdf |title=Donald J. Trump Files Personal Financial Disclosure Statement With Federal Election Commission |first1=Corey R. |last1=Lewandowski |author1link=Corey Lewandowski |first2=Hope |last2=Hicks |author2link=Hope Hicks |date=July 15, 2015 |accessdate=March 8, 2016 |archive-date=March 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309043101/https://www.donaldjtrump.com/images/uploads/DJT_PFD_Statement_%281%29.pdf}}</ref> however, FEC figures cannot corroborate this estimate because they only show each of his largest buildings as being worth over $50&nbsp;million, yielding total assets worth more than $1.4&nbsp;billion and debt over $265&nbsp;million.<ref name="Yahoo News FEC"/>
] in 1985,<ref>{{cite news |first1=Elizabeth |last1=Kastor |first2=Donnie |last2=Radcliffe |title=Trump lied to me about his wealth to get onto the Forbes 400. Here are the tapes. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1985/02/12/fahds-night-fanfare-fit-for-a-king/670e92d3-f181-48b9-9ffa-abe2a30ddedf/ |work=] |date=February 12, 1985 |access-date=May 28, 2020}}</ref> with U.S. president ] and First Lady ]]]

Journalist Jonathan Greenberg reported in 2018 that Trump, using the pseudonym "]" and claiming to be a Trump Organization official, called him in 1984 to falsely assert that he owned "in excess of ninety percent" of the Trump family's business, to secure a higher ranking on the ] list of wealthy Americans. Greenberg also wrote that ''Forbes'' had vastly overestimated Trump's wealth and wrongly included him on the Forbes 400 rankings of 1982, 1983, and 1984.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=April 20, 2018 |first=Jonathan |last=Greenberg |title=Trump lied to me about his wealth to get onto the Forbes 400. Here are the tapes. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/trump-lied-to-me-about-his-wealth-to-get-onto-the-forbes-400-here-are-the-tapes/2018/04/20/ac762b08-4287-11e8-8569-26fda6b404c7_story.html}}</ref>

Trump has often said he began his career with "a small loan of one million dollars" from his father, and that he had to pay it back with interest.<ref name="small-loan">{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/26/donald-trump-my-dad-gave-me-a-small-loan-of-1-million-to-get-started.html |title=Donald Trump: My dad gave me 'a small loan' of $1 million to get started |website=] |first=Scott |last=Stump |date=October 26, 2015 |accessdate=November 13, 2016}}</ref> In October 2018, ''The New York Times'' reported that Trump "was a millionaire by age 8", borrowed at least $60&nbsp;million from his father, largely failed to reimburse him, and had received $413&nbsp;million (adjusted for inflation) from his father's business empire over his lifetime.<ref name="takeaways">{{cite news |last1=Barstow |first1=David |author1link=David Barstow |last2=Craig |first2=Susanne |author2link=Susanne Craig |last3=Buettner |first3=Russ |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/02/us/politics/donald-trump-wealth-fred-trump.html |title=11 Takeaways From The Times's Investigation Into Trump's Wealth |work=] |date=October 2, 2018 |accessdate=October 3, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Tax_Schemes">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/02/us/politics/donald-trump-tax-schemes-fred-trump.html |title=Trump Engaged in Suspect Tax Schemes as He Reaped Riches From His Father |work=] |last1=Barstow |first1=David |author1link=David Barstow |last2=Craig |first2=Susanne |author2link=Susanne Craig |last3=Buettner |first3=Russ |date=October 2, 2018 |accessdate=October 2, 2018}}</ref> According to the report, Trump and his family committed tax fraud, which a lawyer for Trump denied. The tax department of New York said it is investigating.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |first1=Jon |last1=Campbell |first2=Joseph |last2=Spector |title=New York could levy hefty penalties if Trump tax fraud is proven |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/10/03/new-york-trump-tax-fraud/1512265002/ |date=October 3, 2018 |accessdate=October 5, 2018}}</ref><ref name="AP2018-12-16"/> Trump's investments underperformed the stock market and the New York property market.<ref name="econ_From">{{cite news |title=From the Tower to the White House |work=] |date=February 20, 2016 |accessdate=February 29, 2016 |url=https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21693230-enigma-presidential-candidates-business-affairs-tower-white |quote=Mr Trump's performance has been mediocre compared with the stockmarket and property in New York.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Ana |last=Swanson |title=The myth and the reality of Donald Trump's business empire |date=February 29, 2016 |website=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/02/29/the-myth-and-the-reality-of-donald-trumps-business-empire/}}</ref> Forbes estimated in October 2018 that the value of Trump's personal brand licensing business had declined by 88% since 2015, to $3&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/02/trump-forbes-400-spot-tumbles-as-net-worth-declines.html |title=Trump tumbles down the Forbes 400 as his net worth takes major hit |first=Kevin |last=Breuninger |date=October 2, 2018 |website=] |accessdate=January 4, 2019}}</ref>

Trump's tax returns from 1985 to 1994 show net losses totaling $1.17&nbsp;billion over the ten-year period, in contrast to his claims about his financial health and business abilities. ''The New York Times'' reported that "year after year, Mr. Trump appears to have lost more money than nearly any other individual American taxpayer," and Trump's "core business losses in 1990 and 1991{{snd}}more than $250&nbsp;million each year{{snd}}were more than double those of the nearest taxpayers in the I.R.S. information for those years". In 1995 his reported losses were $915.7&nbsp;million.<ref name=Buettner-190508>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/05/07/us/politics/donald-trump-taxes.html |title=Decade in the Red: Trump Tax Figures Show Over $1 Billion in Business Losses |work=] |date=May 8, 2019 |accessdate=May 8, 2019 |first1=Russ |last1=Buettner |first2=Susanne |last2=Craig |author2link=Susanne Craig}}</ref><ref name=Friedersdorf-190508>{{cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/05/trump-taxes/588967/ |title=The Secret That Was Hiding in Trump's Taxes |work=] |date=May 8, 2019 |accessdate=May 8, 2019 |first=Conor |last=Friedersdorf |authorlink=Conor Friedersdorf}}</ref>

According to a September 2020 analysis by '']'' of twenty years of data from Trump's ], Trump had accumulated hundreds of millions of ]s in losses, and deferred declaring $287&nbsp;million in forgiven debt as taxable income.<ref name="Buettner 2020-09-27">{{cite news |last1=Buettner |first1=Russ |last2=Craig |first2=Susanne |author2link=Susanne Craig |last3=McIntire |first3=Mike |date=September 27, 2020 |title=Trump's Taxes Show Chronic Losses and Years of Income Tax Avoidance |work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/09/27/us/donald-trump-taxes.html|access-date=September 28, 2020}}</ref> According to the analysis, Trump's main sources of income were his share of revenue from '']'' and income from businesses in which he was a minority partner, while his majority-owned businesses were largely running at losses.<ref name="Buettner 2020-09-27" /> A significant portion of Trump's income was in ]s due to his losses, which enables him to avoid paying income tax, or paying as little as $750, for several years.<ref name="Buettner 2020-09-27" /> Over the past decade, Trump has been balancing his businesses' losses by selling and taking out loans against assets, including a $100&nbsp;million ] on ] (due in 2022) and the liquidation of over $200&nbsp;million in stocks and bonds.<ref name="Buettner 2020-09-27" /> Trump has personally guaranteed $421&nbsp;million in debt, most of which is due to be repaid by 2024. If he is re-elected and unable to repay or refinance the debt, the lenders may consider foreclosing on a sitting president, an unprecedented situation.<ref name="Leonhardt 2020-09-27">{{cite news |last=Leonhardt |first=David |authorlink=David Leonhardt |date=September 27, 2020 |title=18 Revelations From a Trove of Trump Tax Records |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/27/us/trump-taxes-takeaways.html |access-date=September 28, 2020}}</ref> The tax records also showed Trump had unsuccessfully pursued business deals in China, including by developing a partnership with a major government-controlled company.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-tax-records-china-f086bba3b691acdc51535412f77f2c8e |title=Report: Tax records show Trump tried to land China projects |date=October 21, 2020 |website=]}}</ref>

Trump has a total of over $1&nbsp;billion in debts, borrowed to finance his assets, reported ''Forbes'' in October 2020. Around $640&nbsp;million or more was owed to various banks and trust organizations. Around $450&nbsp;million was owed to unknown creditors. However, Trump's assets still outvalue his debts, reported Forbes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Dan |title=Donald Trump Has At Least $1 Billion In Debt, More Than Twice The Amount He Suggested |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2020/10/16/donald-trump-has-at-least-1-billion-in-debt-more-than-twice-the-amount-he-suggested/#64a3599b4330 |accessdate=October 17, 2020 |work=] |date=October 16, 2020}}</ref>


== Business career == == Business career ==

{{Main|Business career of Donald Trump}} {{Main|Business career of Donald Trump}}
{{Further|Business projects of Donald Trump in Russia}}


{{Further|Business projects of Donald Trump in Russia|Tax returns of Donald Trump}}
=== Real estate ===


===Real estate===
] in ]]]
]|date=April 1, 2019|access-date=July 28, 2024}}</ref>]]


Starting in 1968, Trump was employed at his father's real estate company, Trump Management, which owned racially segregated middle-class rental housing in New York City's outer boroughs.<ref name="Mahler">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/28/us/politics/donald-trump-housing-race.html|title='No Vacancies' for Blacks: How Donald Trump Got His Start, and Was First Accused of Bias|work=]|date=August 27, 2016|access-date=January 13, 2018|last1=Mahler|first1=Jonathan|last2=Eder|first2=Steve}}</ref><ref name="Rich NYMag">{{cite news|first=Frank|last=Rich|author-link=Frank Rich|title=The Original Donald Trump|url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/04/frank-rich-roy-cohn-the-original-donald-trump.html|work=]|date=April 30, 2018|access-date=May 8, 2018}}</ref> In 1971, his father made him president of the company and he began using the ] as an ].{{sfn|Blair|2015|p=}}
While a student at Wharton and after graduating in 1968, Trump worked at his father Fred's real estate company, Trump Management, which owned middle-class rental housing in New York City's outer boroughs.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/09/03/if-donald-trump-followed-this-really-basic-advice-hed-be-a-lot-richer |title=The real reason Donald Trump is so rich |work=] |date=September 3, 2015 |accessdate=January 17, 2016 |first=Max |last=Ehrenfreund |url-access=limited}}</ref><ref name=Mahler />{{sfn|Trump|2020|p=89}} In 1971, he became president of the company and began using ] as an ].{{sfn|Blair|2015b|p=}} The business had previously used the names Fred C. Trump Organization,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/06/29/archives/bid-made-to-start-warbasse-housing.html |title=Bid Made to Start Warbasse Housing |work=] |date=June 29, 1959 |access-date=August 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Wanted to purchase (advertisement) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19890919/fred-c-trump-organization-advertisement/ |work=] |date=August 8, 1969 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 28, 2020}}</ref> Fred Trump Organization,<ref>{{cite news |last=Ryan |first=Harry |title=Real estate |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24271973/real-estate/ |work=] |date=February 11, 1961 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Controller |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24272037/controller/ |work=] |date=December 23, 1951 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 28, 2020}}</ref> and Trump Organization,<ref>{{cite news |title=6 Bikinied Beauties Attend Demolishing Of Coney Landmark |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/09/22/archives/6-bikinied-beauties-attend-demolishing-of-coney-landmark.html |work=] |date=September 22, 1966 |access-date=August 28, 2020}} (Subscription required to read full article.)</ref> but had not had a single formal name. It was registered as a corporation in 1981.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trump Organization Inc/The |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/3603126Z:US |website=] |access-date=August 28, 2020}}</ref>


] was Trump's ], lawyer, and mentor for 13 years in the 1970s and 1980s.<ref name="Mahler2016Cohn">{{cite news|last1=Mahler|first1=Jonathan|last2=Flegenheimer|first2=Matt|title=What Donald Trump Learned From Joseph McCarthy's Right-Hand Man|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/21/us/politics/donald-trump-roy-cohn.html|access-date=May 26, 2020|work=]|date=June 20, 2016}}</ref> In 1973, Cohn helped Trump countersue the U.S. government for $100&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|100|1973}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}){{Inflation/fn|US}} over its charges that Trump's properties had racial discriminatory practices. Trump's counterclaims were dismissed, and the government's case was settled with the Trumps signing a consent decree agreeing to desegregate.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=]|date=January 23, 2016|first1=Michael|last1=Kranish|author-link1=Michael Kranish|first2=Robert Jr.|last2=O'Harrow|title=Inside the government's racial bias case against Donald Trump's company, and how he fought it|access-date=January 7, 2021|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/inside-the-governments-racial-bias-case-against-donald-trumps-company-and-how-he-fought-it/2016/01/23/fb90163e-bfbe-11e5-bcda-62a36b394160_story.html}}</ref> Helping Trump projects, Cohn was a ] whose Mafia connections controlled construction unions.{{sfn|Johnston|2016|pp=45–46}} Cohn introduced political consultant ] to Trump, who enlisted Stone's services to deal with the federal government.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brenner|first=Marie|title=How Donald Trump and Roy Cohn's Ruthless Symbiosis Changed America|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/06/donald-trump-roy-cohn-relationship|access-date=May 26, 2020|work=]|date=June 28, 2017}}</ref>
==== Manhattan developments ====


Between 1991 and 2009, he filed for ] bankruptcy protection for six of his businesses: the ] in Manhattan, the casinos in ], and the ] company.<ref>{{cite news|last=Qiu|first=Linda|url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2016/jun/21/hillary-clinton/yep-donald-trumps-companies-have-declared-bankrupt/|title=Yep, Donald Trump's companies have declared bankruptcy...more than four times|work=]|date=June 21, 2016|access-date=May 25, 2023}}</ref>
Trump attracted public attention in 1978 with the launch of his family's first Manhattan venture, the renovation of the derelict ], adjacent to ]. The financing was facilitated by a $400&nbsp;million city property tax abatement arranged by Fred Trump,<ref>{{cite news |first=Frank |last=Rich |authorlink=Frank Rich |title=The Original Donald Trump |url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/04/frank-rich-roy-cohn-the-original-donald-trump.html |work=] |date=April 29, 2018 |accessdate=May 8, 2018}}</ref> who also joined Hyatt in guaranteeing $70&nbsp;million in bank construction financing.<ref name="Kessler160303">{{cite news |first=Glenn |last=Kessler |authorlink=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |title=Trump's false claim he built his empire with a 'small loan' from his father |date=March 3, 2016 |work=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/03/03/trumps-false-claim-he-built-his-empire-with-a-small-loan-from-his-father}}</ref>{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} The hotel reopened in 1980 as the ],{{sfn|Wooten|2009|pp=32–35}} and that same year, Trump obtained rights to develop ], a ] skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Expanding Empire of Donald Trump |date=April 8, 1984 |first=William |last=Geist |authorlink=Bill Geist |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/08/magazine/the-expanding-empire-of-donald-trump.html}}</ref> The building houses the headquarters of the Trump Organization and was Trump's primary residence until 2019.<ref name="TrumpTowerResidence1">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/09/nyregion/donald-trump-new-york-protests.html |title=Donald Trump Loves New York. But It Doesn't Love Him Back. |first=Alexander |last=Burns |authorlink=Alex Burns (journalist) |work=] |date=December 9, 2016 |accessdate=December 9, 2016}}</ref><ref name=moved>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/us/politics/trump-new-york-florida-primary-residence.html |title=Trump, Lifelong New Yorker, Declares Himself a Resident of Florida |work=] |last=Haberman |first=Maggie |authorlink=Maggie Haberman |date=October 31, 2019 |accessdate=January 24, 2020}}</ref>


====Manhattan and Chicago developments====
In 1988, Trump acquired the ] in Manhattan with a loan of $425&nbsp;million from a consortium of banks. Two years later, the hotel filed for bankruptcy protection, and a reorganization plan was approved in 1992.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump's Plaza Hotel bankruptcy plan approved |work=] |date=December 12, 1992 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/12/business/company-news-trump-s-plaza-hotel-bankruptcy-plan-approved.html |agency=] |accessdate=July 18, 2019}}</ref> In 1995, Trump lost the hotel to Citibank and investors from Singapore and Saudi Arabia, who assumed $300&nbsp;million of the debt.<ref name="NYT-19950412">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/12/business/trump-is-selling-plaza-hotel-to-saudi-and-asian-investors.html |title=Trump Is Selling Plaza Hotel To Saudi and Asian Investors |work=] |first1=David |last1=Stout |author1link=David Stout |first2=Kenneth |last2=Gilpin |date=April 12, 1995 |accessdate=July 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Satow |first=Julie |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-05-23/that-time-trump-sold-the-plaza-hotel-at-an-83-million-loss |title=That Time Trump Sold the Plaza Hotel at an $83 Million Loss |website=] |date=May 23, 2019 |accessdate=July 18, 2019}}</ref>
Trump attracted public attention in 1978 with the launch of his family's first Manhattan venture, the renovation of the derelict ], adjacent to Grand Central Terminal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ny.curbed.com/2019/4/3/18290394/trump-grand-hyatt-nyc-commodore-hotel|work=]|first=James|last=Nevius|date=April 3, 2019|title=The winding history of Donald Trump's first major Manhattan real estate project}}</ref> The financing was facilitated by a $400&nbsp;million city property tax abatement arranged for him by his father who also, jointly with ], guaranteed a $70&nbsp;million bank construction loan.<ref name="Rich NYMag" /><ref>{{cite news|first=Glenn|last=Kessler|author-link=Glenn Kessler (journalist)|title=Trump's false claim he built his empire with a 'small loan' from his father|date=March 3, 2016|access-date=September 29, 2021|newspaper=]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/03/03/trumps-false-claim-he-built-his-empire-with-a-small-loan-from-his-father}}</ref> The hotel reopened in 1980 as the ],{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} and that same year, he obtained rights to develop ], a mixed-use skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Expanding Empire of Donald Trump|date=April 8, 1984|access-date=September 29, 2021|first=William E.|last=Geist|author-link=Bill Geist|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/08/magazine/the-expanding-empire-of-donald-trump.html}}</ref> The building houses the headquarters of the Trump Corporation and Trump's ] and was his primary residence until 2019.<ref name="moved">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/us/politics/trump-new-york-florida-primary-residence.html|title=Trump, Lifelong New Yorker, Declares Himself a Resident of Florida|work=]|last=Haberman|first=Maggie|author-link=Maggie Haberman|date=October 31, 2019|access-date=January 24, 2020}}</ref>


In 1988, Trump acquired the Plaza Hotel with a loan from a consortium of sixteen banks.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/04/business/company-news-trump-revises-plaza-loan.html|title=Trump Revises Plaza Loan|work=]|date=November 4, 1992|access-date=May 23, 2023}}</ref> The hotel filed for bankruptcy protection in 1992, and a reorganization plan was approved a month later, with the banks taking control of the property.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump's Plaza Hotel Bankruptcy Plan Approved|work=]|date=December 12, 1992|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/12/business/company-news-trump-s-plaza-hotel-bankruptcy-plan-approved.html|agency=]|access-date=May 24, 2023}}</ref> In 1995, he defaulted on over $3&nbsp;billion of bank loans, and the lenders seized the Plaza Hotel along with most of his other properties in a "vast and humiliating restructuring" that allowed him to avoid personal bankruptcy.<ref name="plaza">{{cite news|last=Segal|first=David|author-link=David Segal (reporter)|title=What Donald Trump's Plaza Deal Reveals About His White House Bid|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/17/business/what-donald-trumps-plaza-deal-reveals-about-his-white-house-bid.html|work=]|date=January 16, 2016|access-date=May 3, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/12/business/trump-is-selling-plaza-hotel-to-saudi-and-asian-investors.html|title=Trump Is Selling Plaza Hotel To Saudi and Asian Investors|work=]|first1=David|last1=Stout|author-link1=David Stout|first2=Kenneth N.|last2=Gilpin|date=April 12, 1995|access-date=July 18, 2019}}</ref> The lead bank's attorney said of the banks' decision that they "all agreed that he'd be better alive than dead".<ref name="plaza" />
In 1996, Trump acquired a vacant 71-story skyscraper at ]. After an extensive renovation, the high-rise was renamed the Trump Building.{{sfn|Wooten|2009|pp=81–82}} In the early 1990s, Trump won the right to develop a {{convert|70|acre|ha|adj=on}} tract in the ] neighborhood near the ]. Struggling with debt from other ventures in 1994, Trump sold most of his interest in the project to Asian investors who were able to finance completion of the project, ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/01/nyregion/trump-group-selling-west-side-parcel-for-1.8-billion.html |title=Trump Group Selling West Side Parcel for $1.8 billion |last=Bagli |first=Charles V. |work=] |date=June 1, 2005 |accessdate=May 17, 2016}}</ref>


In 1996, Trump acquired and renovated the mostly vacant 71-story skyscraper at ], later rebranded as the Trump Building.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} In the early 1990s, he won the right to develop a {{convert|70|acre|ha|adj=on}} tract in the ] neighborhood near the Hudson River. Struggling with debt from other ventures in 1994, he sold most of his interest in the project to Asian investors, who financed the project's completion, ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/01/nyregion/trump-group-selling-west-side-parcel-for-18-billion.html|title=Trump Group Selling West Side Parcel for $1.8 billion|last=Bagli|first=Charles V.|work=]|date=June 1, 2005|access-date=May 17, 2016}}</ref>
==== Palm Beach estate ====


Trump's last major construction project was the 92-story mixed-use ] in Chicago which opened in 2008. In 2024, the ] that the Internal Revenue Service was investigating whether he had twice written off losses incurred through construction cost overruns and lagging sales of residential units in the building he had declared to be worthless on his 2008 tax return.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kiel|first1=Paul|last2=Buettner|first2=Russ|url=https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-irs-audit-chicago-hotel-taxes|title=IRS Audit of Trump Could Cost Former President More Than $100 Million|work=]|date=May 11, 2024|access-date=August 26, 2024}}</ref>
{{Main|Mar-a-Lago}}
]

In 1985, Trump acquired the ] estate in ].<ref name="CP-W">{{cite news |last=Peterson-Withorn |first=Chase |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chasewithorn/2018/04/23/donald-trump-has-gained-more-than-100-million-on-mar-a-lago/#2fbdf3da5adc |title=Donald Trump Has Gained More Than $100 Million On Mar-a-Lago |work=] |date=April 23, 2018 |accessdate=July 4, 2018}}</ref> Trump used a wing of the estate as a home, while converting the remainder into a private club with an initiation fee and annual dues.<ref name="town&countryprice">{{cite web |url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/home-decor/a7144/mar-a-lago-history/ |title=A History of Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump's American Castle |last=Dangremond |first=Sam |date=December 22, 2017 |website=] |accessdate=July 3, 2018}}</ref> In 2019, Trump declared Mar-a-Lago his primary residence.<ref name = moved/>


==== Atlantic City casinos ==== ==== Atlantic City casinos ====
] in ]]]
In 1984, Trump opened ], a hotel and casino, with financing and management help from the ].<ref name="fall" /> It was unprofitable, and he paid Holiday $70&nbsp;million in May 1986 to take sole control.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} In 1985, he bought the unopened Atlantic City Hilton Hotel and renamed it ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Saxon|first=Wolfgang|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/04/28/nyregion/trump-buys-hilton-s-hotel-in-atlantic-city.html|title=Trump Buys Hilton's Hotel in Atlantic City|work=]|date=April 28, 1986|access-date=May 25, 2023}}</ref> Both casinos filed for ] bankruptcy protection in 1992.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/03/09/Trumps-Castle-and-Plaza-file-for-bankruptcy/3105700117200/|title=Trump's Castle and Plaza file for bankruptcy|work=]|date=March 9, 1992|access-date=May 25, 2023}}</ref>


Trump bought a third Atlantic City venue in 1988, the ]. It was financed with $675&nbsp;million in ] and completed for $1.1&nbsp;billion, opening in April 1990.<ref name="fall" /> He filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1991. Under the provisions of the restructuring agreement, he gave up half his initial stake and personally guaranteed future performance.<ref>{{cite news|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/05/business/company-news-taj-mahal-is-out-of-bankruptcy.html|title=Company News; Taj Mahal is out of Bankruptcy|access-date=May 22, 2008|date=October 5, 1991}}</ref> To reduce his $900&nbsp;million of personal debt, he sold the ] airline; his megayacht, the '']'', which had been leased to his casinos and kept docked; and other businesses.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2011/04/29/fourth-times-a-charm-how-donald-trump-made-bankruptcy-work-for-him/|title=Fourth Time's A Charm: How Donald Trump Made Bankruptcy Work For Him|work=]|date=May 29, 2011|access-date=January 27, 2022|last=O'Connor|first=Claire}}</ref>
] in ]]]


In 1995, Trump founded Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR), which assumed ownership of the Trump Plaza.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump Plaza casino stock trades today on Big Board|work=]|first=Floyd|last=Norris|author-link=Floyd Norris|date=June 7, 1995|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/07/business/trump-plaza-casino-stock-trades-today-on-big-board.html|access-date=December 14, 2014}}</ref> THCR purchased the Taj Mahal and the Trump Castle in 1996 and went bankrupt in 2004 and 2009, leaving him with 10&nbsp;percent ownership.<ref name="fall">{{cite news|url=https://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/08/16/donald-trump-atlantic-city-empire/|title=The Truth About the Rise and Fall of Donald Trump's Atlantic City Empire|work=]|date=August 16, 2015|access-date=March 21, 2016|first=Dan|last=McQuade}}</ref> He remained chairman until 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://fortune.com/2016/03/10/trump-hotel-casinos-pay-failure/|title=How Donald Trump Made Millions Off His Biggest Business Failure|last=Tully|first=Shawn|date=March 10, 2016|work=]|access-date=May 6, 2018}}</ref>
In 1984, Trump opened ] hotel and casino in ], with financing from the ], who also managed the operation. Gambling had been legalized there in 1977 to revitalize the once-popular seaside destination.{{sfn|Wooten|2009|pp=57–58}} The property's poor financial results worsened tensions between Holiday and Trump, who paid Holiday $70&nbsp;million in May 1986 to take sole control of the property.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} Earlier, Trump had also acquired a partially completed building in Atlantic City from the ] for $320&nbsp;million. Upon its completion in 1985, that hotel and casino were called ]. Trump's then-wife Ivana managed it until 1988.{{sfn|Wooten|2009|pp=59–60}}{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}}


==== Clubs ====
Trump acquired a third casino in Atlantic City, the ], in 1988 in a highly leveraged transaction.<ref>{{cite news |title=Seven Acquisitive Executives Who Made Business News in 1988: Donald Trump–Trump Organization; The Artist of the Deal Turns Sour into Sweet |last=Cuff |first=Daniel |date=December 18, 1988 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/27/business/seven-acquisitive-executives-who-made-business-1988-donald-trump-trump.html |accessdate=May 27, 2011 |work=]}}</ref> It was financed with $675&nbsp;million in ] and completed at a cost of $1.1&nbsp;billion, opening in April 1990.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/08/business/trump-s-taj-open-at-last-with-a-scary-appetite.html |title=Trump's Taj – Open at Last, With a Scary Appetite |date=April 8, 1990 |last=Glynn |first=Lenny |work=] |accessdate=August 14, 2016}}</ref><ref name=UPI9April>{{cite news |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/04/09/Trump-reaches-agreement-with-bondholders-on-Taj-Mahal/7261671169600/ |title=Trump reaches agreement with bondholders on Taj Mahal |website=] |date=April 9, 1991 |accessdate=March 21, 2016}}</ref>{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} The project went bankrupt the following year,<ref name = UPI9April/> and the reorganization left Trump with only half his initial ownership stake and required him to pledge personal guarantees of future performance.<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/05/business/company-news-taj-mahal-is-out-of-bankruptcy.html |title=Taj Mahal is out of Bankruptcy |accessdate=May 22, 2008 |date=October 5, 1991}}</ref> Facing "enormous debt", he gave up control of his money-losing airline, ], and sold his ], the '']'', which had been indefinitely docked in Atlantic City while leased to his casinos for use by wealthy gamblers.<ref name=Hylton>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/11/business/trump-is-reportedly-selling-yacht.html |title=Trump Is Reportedly Selling Yacht |website=] |date=May 11, 1990 |accessdate=July 3, 2018 |last=Hylton |first=Richard}}</ref>{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|pp=}}
In 1985, Trump acquired the ] estate in Palm Beach, Florida.<ref>{{cite news|last=Peterson-Withorn|first=Chase|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chasewithorn/2018/04/23/donald-trump-has-gained-more-than-100-million-on-mar-a-lago/|title=Donald Trump Has Gained More Than $100 Million On Mar-a-Lago

|work=]|date=April 23, 2018|access-date=July 4, 2018}}</ref> In 1995, he converted the estate into a private club with an initiation fee and annual dues. He continued to use a wing of the house as a private residence.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/home-decor/a7144/mar-a-lago-history/|title=A History of Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump's American Castle|last1=Dangremond|first1=Sam|last2=Kim|first2=Leena|date=December 22, 2017|work=]|access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref> He declared the club his primary residence in 2019.<ref name="moved" /> The Trump Organization began ] in 1999.<ref name="CNN">{{cite news|last=Garcia|first=Ahiza|title=Trump's 17 golf courses teed up: Everything you need to know|url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/12/29/news/donald-trump-golf-courses/|access-date=January 21, 2018|work=]|date=December 29, 2016}}</ref> It owns fourteen and manages another three Trump-branded courses worldwide.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/lists/take-a-look-at-the-golf-courses-owned-by-donald-trump/|title=Take a look at the golf courses owned by Donald Trump|work=]|date=July 24, 2020|access-date=July 7, 2021}}</ref>
In 1995, Trump founded ] (THCR), which assumed ownership of Trump Plaza, Trump Castle, and the ] in ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump Plaza casino stock trades today on Big Board |work=] |first=Floyd |last=Norris |authorlink=Floyd Norris |date=June 7, 1995 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/07/business/trump-plaza-casino-stock-trades-today-on-big-board.html |accessdate=December 14, 2014}}</ref> THCR purchased the Taj Mahal in 1996 and underwent successive bankruptcies in 2004, 2009, and 2014, leaving Trump with only ten percent ownership.<ref name=McQuade16Aug>{{cite news |url=https://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/08/16/donald-trump-atlantic-city-empire/ |title=The Truth About the Rise and Fall of Donald Trump's Atlantic City Empire |work=] |date=August 16, 2015 |accessdate=March 21, 2016 |first=Dan |last=McQuade}}</ref> He remained chairman of THCR until 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://fortune.com/2016/03/10/trump-hotel-casinos-pay-failure/ |title=How Donald Trump Made Millions Off His Biggest Business Failure |last=Tully |first=Shawn |date=March 10, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=May 6, 2018}}</ref>

==== Golf courses ====

{{Main|Donald Trump and golf}}

The Trump Organization began acquiring and constructing golf courses in 1999.<ref name=CNNMoney>{{cite news |last=Garcia |first=Ahiza |title=Trump's 17 golf courses teed up: Everything you need to know |url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/12/29/news/donald-trump-golf-courses/index.html |accessdate=January 21, 2018 |website=] |date=December 29, 2016}}</ref> It owned 16 golf courses and resorts worldwide and operated another two {{as of|lc=y|December 2016}}.<ref name="cnn-20160519">{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/05/18/news/trump-finances/ |title=A peek at Donald Trump's finances |first1=Cristina |last1=Alesci |author1link=Cristina Alesci |first2=Laurie |last2=Frankel |first3=Jeanne |last3=Sahadi |website=] |date=May 19, 2016 |accessdate=May 20, 2016}}</ref>

From his inauguration until the end of 2019, Trump spent around one of every five days at one of his golf clubs.<ref>{{cite news |first=Betsy |last=Klein |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/31/politics/trump-golfing-vacation/index.html |title=Trump spent 1 of every 5 days in 2019 at a golf club |website=] |date=December 31, 2019|access-date=February 22, 2020}}</ref>

=== Branding and licensing ===


=== Side ventures ===
{{See also|List of things named after Donald Trump}} {{See also|List of things named after Donald Trump}}
] at a 1985 press conference in Trump Tower|alt=Trump, Doug Flutie, and an unnamed official standing behind a lectern with big, round New Jersey Generals sign, with members of the press seated in the background]]
] in Chicago]]
] has licensed the Trump name for consumer products and services, including foodstuffs, apparel, learning courses, and home furnishings.<ref name="neckties">{{cite news|newspaper=]|date=April 13, 2018|access-date=September 29, 2021|first1=Zane|last1=Anthony|first2=Kathryn|last2=Sanders|first3=David A.|last3=Fahrenthold|author-link3=David Fahrenthold|title=Whatever happened to Trump neckties? They're over. So is most of Trump's merchandising empire.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/whatever-happened-to-trump-ties-theyre-over-so-is-most-of-trumps-merchandising-empire/2018/04/13/2c32378a-369c-11e8-acd5-35eac230e514_story.html}}</ref> According to '']'', there are more than 50 licensing or management deals involving his name, and they have generated at least $59&nbsp;million in revenue for his companies.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Aaron|last1=Williams|first2=Anu|last2=Narayanswamy|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/world/trump-worldwide-licensing/|title=How Trump has made millions by selling his name|newspaper=]|date=January 25, 2017|access-date=December 12, 2017}}</ref> By 2018, only two consumer goods companies continued to license his name.<ref name="neckties" />


In September 1983, Trump purchased the ], a team in the ]. After the 1985 season, the league folded, largely due to his attempt to move to a fall schedule (when it would have competed with the ] for audience) and trying to force a merger with the NFL by bringing an antitrust suit.<ref>{{cite news|first=Arash|last=Markazi|author-link=Arash Markazi|title=5 things to know about Donald Trump's foray into doomed USFL|date=July 14, 2015|access-date=September 30, 2021|work=]|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/13255737/five-things-know-donald-trump-usfl-experience}}</ref>
After the Trump Organization's financial losses in the early 1990s, it refocused its business on branding and licensing the Trump name for projects owned and operated by other people and companies.<ref name="NYer Branding">{{cite news |last=Cassidy |first=John |authorlink=John Cassidy (journalist) |title=Donald Trump's Business Failures Were Very Real |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/donald-trumps-business-failures-were-very-real |work=] |date=May 10, 2019 |accessdate=November 9, 2019}}</ref> In the late 2000s and early 2010s, it expanded this branding and management business to ] located around the world, including ]; ]; ]; ]; ]; and ]. There were also Trump-branded buildings in Dubai, ], ], Manila, Mumbai, and Indonesia.<ref name="Forbes-20170320">{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferwang/2017/03/20/these-foreign-businessmen-are-paying-donald-trump-the-most-money/ |title=From Manila to Hawaii, Meet The Licensing Partners Who Paid Trump The Most |work=] |first=Jennifer |last=Wang |date=March 20, 2017 |accessdate=May 6, 2017}}</ref>


Trump and his Plaza Hotel hosted several boxing matches at the ].<ref name="fall" />{{sfn|O'Donnell|Rutherford|1991|p=137–143}} In 1989 and 1990, he lent his name to the ] cycling stage race, an attempt to create an American equivalent of European races such as the ] or the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/04/donald-trump-2016-tour-de-trump-bike-race-213801|title=The Strange Tale of Donald Trump's 1989 Biking Extravaganza|first=Kevin|last=Hogan|work=]|date=April 10, 2016|access-date=April 12, 2016}}</ref>
The Trump name has also been licensed for various consumer products and services, including foodstuffs, apparel, adult learning courses, and home furnishings.<ref name="overseas">{{cite news |last=Lee |first=Michelle Ye Hee |title=How many Trump products were made overseas? Here's the complete list. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/08/26/how-many-trump-products-were-made-overseas-heres-the-complete-list/ |work=] |date=August 26, 2016 |access-date=May 17, 2019}}</ref><ref name="neckties">{{cite news |work=] |date=April 13, 2018 |first1=Zane |last1=Anthony |first2=Kathryn |last2=Sanders |first3=David A. |last3=Fahrenthold |author3link=David Fahrenthold |title=Whatever happened to Trump neckties? They're over. So is most of Trump's merchandising empire. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/whatever-happened-to-trump-ties-theyre-over-so-is-most-of-trumps-merchandising-empire/2018/04/13/2c32378a-369c-11e8-acd5-35eac230e514_story.html}}</ref> According to an analysis by ''The Washington Post'', there are more than fifty licensing or management deals involving Trump's name, which have generated at least $59&nbsp;million in yearly revenue for his companies.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Aaron |last1=Williams |first2=Anu |last2=Narayanswamy |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/world/trump-worldwide-licensing/ |title=How Trump has made millions by selling his name |work=] |date=January 25, 2017 |accessdate=December 12, 2017}}</ref> By 2018 only two consumer goods companies continued to license his name.<ref name="neckties"/>


From 1986 to 1988, Trump purchased significant blocks of shares in various public companies while suggesting that he intended to take over the company and then sold his shares for a profit,<ref name="Buettner-190508">{{cite news |last1=Buettner |first1=Russ |last2=Craig |first2=Susanne |author-link2=Susanne Craig |date=May 7, 2019 |title=Decade in the Red: Trump Tax Figures Show Over $1 Billion in Business Losses |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/05/07/us/politics/donald-trump-taxes.html |access-date=May 8, 2019 |work=]}}</ref> leading some observers to think he was engaged in ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mattingly|first1=Phil|last2=Jorgensen|first2=Sarah|url=https://cnn.com/2016/08/22/politics/donald-trump-activist-investor/|title=The Gordon Gekko era: Donald Trump's lucrative and controversial time as an activist investor|work=]|date=August 23, 2016|access-date=September 14, 2022}}</ref> '']'' found that he initially made millions of dollars in such stock transactions, but "lost most, if not all, of those gains after investors stopped taking his takeover talk seriously".<ref name="Buettner-190508" />
=== Legal affairs and bankruptcies ===


In 1988, Trump purchased the ], financing the purchase with $380&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|380|1988}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}){{Inflation/fn|US}} in loans from a syndicate of 22 banks. He renamed the airline ] and operated it until 1992.<ref name="TA">{{cite news|work=]|title=The Crash of Trump Air|first=Barbara|last=Peterson|date=April 13, 2017|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-crash-of-trump-air|access-date=May 17, 2023}}</ref> He defaulted on his loans in 1991, and ownership passed to the banks.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4343030/donald-trump-failures/|title=10 Donald Trump Business Failures|magazine=]|date=October 11, 2016|access-date=May 17, 2023}}</ref>
{{Main|Legal affairs of Donald Trump|List of lawsuits involving Donald Trump}}


]
] ] served as Trump's lawyer and mentor for 13 years in the 1970s and 1980s.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hornaday |first1=Ann |title=A portrait of an infamous fixer – and his most famous pupil – in 'Where's My Roy Cohn?' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/a-portrait-of-an-infamous-fixer--and-his-most-famous-pupil--in-wheres-my-roy-cohn/2019/09/24/73013ed0-dca5-11e9-bfb1-849887369476_story.html |accessdate=May 26, 2020 |work=] |date=September 24, 2019}}</ref><ref name=Mahler2>{{cite news |last1=Mahler |first1=Jonathan |last2=Flegenheimer |first2=Matt |title=What Donald Trump Learned From Joseph McCarthy's Right-Hand Man |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/21/us/politics/donald-trump-roy-cohn.html |accessdate=May 26, 2020 |work=] |date=June 20, 2016}}</ref> According to Trump, they were so close that Cohn sometimes waived fees due to their friendship.<ref name=Mahler/> In 1973, Cohn helped Trump counter-sue the United States government for $100&nbsp;million over its charges that Trump's properties had racial discriminatory practices; in 1975 an agreement was struck for Trump's properties to change their practices.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dunlap |first1=David |title=1973 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/times-insider/2015/07/30/1973-meet-donald-trump/ |accessdate=May 26, 2020 |date=July 30, 2015}}</ref> It was Cohn who introduced political consultant ] to Trump, who enlisted Stone's services to deal with the federal government.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brenner |first1=Julie |title=How Donald Trump and Roy Cohn's Ruthless Symbiosis Changed America |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/06/donald-trump-roy-cohn-relationship |accessdate=May 26, 2020 |work=] |date=June 28, 2017}}</ref>
In 1992, Trump, his siblings ], Elizabeth, and ], and his cousin John W. Walter, each with a 20&nbsp;percent share, formed All County Building Supply & Maintenance Corp. The company had no offices and is alleged to have been a shell company for paying the vendors providing services and supplies for Trump's rental units, then billing those services and supplies to Trump Management with markups of 20–50&nbsp;percent and more. The owners shared the proceeds generated by the markups. The increased costs were used to get state approval for increasing the rents of his rent-stabilized units.<ref name="Tax_Schemes">{{cite news |last1=Barstow |first1=David |author-link1=David Barstow |last2=Craig |first2=Susanne |author-link2=Susanne Craig |last3=Buettner |first3=Russ |date=October 2, 2018 |title=Trump Engaged in Suspect Tax Schemes as He Reaped Riches From His Father |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/02/us/politics/donald-trump-tax-schemes-fred-trump.html |access-date=October 2, 2018 |work=]}}</ref>


In 1996, Trump purchased the ] pageants, including ] and ].{{sfn|Haberman|2022|pp=129–130}} Due to disagreements with CBS about scheduling, he took both pageants to NBC in 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/22/business/three-beauty-pageants-leaving-cbs-for-nbc.html|title=Three Beauty Pageants Leaving CBS for NBC|date=June 22, 2002|first=Jim|last=Rutenberg|author-link=Jim Rutenberg|access-date=August 14, 2016|work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2002/06/22/there-she-goes-pageants-move-to-nbc/2ba81b9a-bf67-4f3e-b8d6-1c2cc881ed19/|title=There She Goes: Pageants Move to NBC|date=June 22, 2002|first=Lisa|last=de Moraes|author-link=Lisa de Moraes|newspaper=]|access-date=August 14, 2016}}</ref> In 2007, he received a star on the ] for his work as producer of Miss Universe.<ref>{{cite news|last=Zara|first=Christopher|author-link=Christopher Zara|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/4023036/why-the-heck-does-donald-trump-have-a-walk-of-fame-star-anyway-its-not-the-reason-you-think|title=Why the heck does Donald Trump have a Walk of Fame star, anyway? It's not the reason you think|work=]|date=October 26, 2016|access-date=June 16, 2018}}</ref> NBC and Univision dropped the pageants in June 2015 in reaction to Trump's comments about Mexican immigrants.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/06/29/nbc-dumps-trump/29471971/|title=NBC to Donald Trump: You're fired|work=]|first=Maria|last=Puente|date=June 29, 2015|access-date=July 28, 2015}}</ref>
{{As of|April 2018}}, Trump and his businesses had been involved in more than 4,000 state and federal legal actions, according to a running tally by '']''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Donald Trump: Three decades, 4,095 lawsuits |url=https://www.usatoday.com/pages/interactives/trump-lawsuits/ |accessdate=April 17, 2018 |work=]}}</ref>

While Trump has not filed for ], his over-leveraged hotel and casino businesses in Atlantic City and New York filed for ] protection six times between 1991 and 2009.<ref name="CO">{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2011/04/29/fourth-times-a-charm-how-donald-trump-made-bankruptcy-work-for-him/ |first=Clare |last=O'Connor |title=Fourth Time's A Charm: How Donald Trump Made Bankruptcy Work For Him |work=] |date=April 29, 2011 |accessdate=February 19, 2015}}</ref><ref name="TW">{{cite news |last=Winter |first=Tom |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-bankruptcy-math-doesn-t-add-n598376 |title=4Trump Bankruptcy Math Doesn't Add Up |work=] |date=June 24, 2016 |accessdate=February 26, 2020}}</ref> They continued to operate while the banks restructured debt and reduced Trump's shares in the properties.<ref name="CO"/><ref name="TW"/>

During the 1980s, more than 70 banks had lent Trump $4&nbsp;billion,<ref name="ArtOfTheSpin">{{cite news |work=] |date=July 17, 2016 |first=Emily |last=Flitter |title=Art of the spin: Trump bankers question his portrayal of financial comeback |accessdate=October 14, 2018 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-bankruptcies-insig/art-of-the-spin-trump-bankers-question-his-portrayal-of-financial-comeback-idUSKCN0ZX0GP}}</ref> but in the aftermath of his corporate bankruptcies of the early 1990s, most major banks declined to lend to him, with only ] still willing to lend money.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=December 8, 2017 |first=Allan |last=Smith |title=Trump's long and winding history with Deutsche Bank could now be at the center of Robert Mueller's investigation |accessdate=October 14, 2018 |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-deutsche-bank-mueller-2017-12}}</ref>

In April 2019, the ] issued ]s seeking financial details from Trump's banks, Deutsche Bank and ], and his accounting firm, ]. In response, Trump sued the banks, Mazars, and committee chairman ] to prevent the disclosures.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump sues Deutsche Bank and Capital One over Democrat subpoenas |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48102647 |work=] |date=April 30, 2019 |accessdate=May 1, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=April 22, 2019 |last1=Fahrenthold |first1=David |author1link=David Fahrenthold |last2=Bade |first2=Rachael |last3=Wagner |first3=John |title=Trump sues in bid to block congressional subpoena of financial records |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-sues-in-bid-to-block-congressional-subpoena-of-financial-records/2019/04/22/a98de3d0-6500-11e9-82ba-fcfeff232e8f_story.html |work=] |accessdate=May 1, 2019}}</ref> In May, ] judge ] ruled that Mazars must comply with the subpoena,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/20/us/politics/trump-financial-records.html |title=Accountants Must Turn Over Trump's Financial Records, Lower-Court Judge Rules |first=Charlie |last=Savage |authorlink=Charlie Savage |date=May 20, 2019 |work=]}}</ref> and judge ] of the ] ruled that the banks must also comply.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/judge-rejects-trumps-request-to-halt-congressional-subpoenas-for-his-banking-records/2019/05/22/28f9b93a-7ccd-11e9-8bb7-0fc796cf2ec0_story.html |title=Judge rejects Trump's request to halt congressional subpoenas for his banking records |website=] |date=May 22, 2019 |first1=Renae |last1=Merle |first2=Michael |last2=Kranish |author2link=Michael Kranish |first3=Felicia |last3=Sonmez}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/22/business/deutsche-bank-trump-subpoena.html |title=Deutsche Bank Can Release Trump Records to Congress, Judge Rules |first=Emily |last=Flitter |date=May 22, 2019 |work=]}}</ref> Trump's attorneys appealed the rulings,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newsweek.com/trump-subpoena-appeal-merrick-garland-court-1431543 |title=Trump's appeal to keep finances away from Democrats goes to court headed by Merrick Garland |date=May 21, 2019 |website=] |first=Alexandra |last=Hutzler}}</ref> arguing that Congress was attempting to usurp the "exercise of law-enforcement authority that the Constitution reserves to the executive branch".<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=June 10, 2019 |first=Mikhaila |last=Vogel |title=Trump Legal Team Files Brief in Mazars Appeal |accessdate=June 12, 2019 |url=https://www.lawfareblog.com/trump-legal-team-files-brief-mazars-appeal}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=May 28, 2019 |first=Renae |last=Merle |title=House subpoenas for Trump's bank records put on hold while President appeals |accessdate=May 28, 2019 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/05/29/house-subpoenas-trumps-bank-records-put-hold-while-president-appeals/}}</ref>

=== Side ventures ===
] baseball game at ]]]
In September 1983, Trump purchased the ], a team in the ]. After the 1985 season, the league folded, largely due to Trump's strategy of moving games to a fall schedule (where they competed with the ] for audience) and trying to force a merger with the NFL by bringing an ] against the organization.<ref name=Markazi>{{cite news |first=Arash |last=Markazi |authorlink=Arash Markazi |title=5 things to know about Donald Trump's foray into doomed USFL |date=July 14, 2015 |website=] |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/13255737/five-things-know-donald-trump-usfl-experience}}</ref><ref name=Morris>{{cite news |url=https://fortune.com/2017/09/24/donald-trump-nfl-usfl/ |title=Donald Trump Fought the NFL Once Before. He Got Crushed |website=] |date=September 24, 2017 |accessdate=June 22, 2018 |last=Morris |first=David}}</ref>

Trump's businesses have hosted several boxing matches at the ] adjacent to and promoted as taking place at the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/25/sports/trump-gets-tyson-fight.html |title=Trump Gets Tyson Fight |accessdate=February 11, 2011 |date=February 25, 1988 |work=]}}</ref>{{sfn|O'Donnell|Rutherford|1991|p=137}} In 1989 and 1990, Trump lent his name to the ] cycling stage race, which was an attempt to create an American equivalent of European races such as the ] or the ].<ref name=Hogan>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/04/donald-trump-2016-tour-de-trump-bike-race-213801 |title=The Strange Tale of Donald Trump's 1989 Biking Extravaganza |first=Kevin |last=Hogan |work=] |date=April 10, 2016 |accessdate=April 12, 2016}}</ref>

In the late 1980s, Trump mimicked the actions of Wall Street's so-called ]s, whose tactics had attracted wide public attention. Trump began to purchase significant blocks of shares in various public companies, leading some observers to think he was engaged in the practice called ], or feigning the intent to acquire the companies and then pressuring management to repurchase the buyer's stake at a premium. ''The New York Times'' found that Trump initially made millions of dollars in such stock transactions, but later "lost most, if not all, of those gains after investors stopped taking his takeover talk seriously".<ref name=Buettner-190508/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/06/business/american-air-gets-trump-bid-of-7.5-billion.html |title=American Air Gets Trump Bid Of $7.5 Billion |first=Agis |last=Salpukas |date=October 6, 1989 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/02/23/nyregion/trump-ends-his-struggle-to-gain-control-of-bally.html |title=Trump Ends His Struggle to Gain Control of Bally |first=Donald |last=Janson |date=February 23, 1987 |work=]}}</ref>

In 1988, Trump purchased the defunct ] shuttle, with 21 planes and landing rights in New York City, Boston, and Washington, D.C. He financed the purchase with $380&nbsp;million from 22 banks, rebranded the operation the ], and operated it until 1992. Trump failed to earn a profit with the airline and sold it to ].<ref name="plane_rumour">{{cite news |last=Kessler |first=Glenn |authorlink=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/08/11/too-good-to-check-sean-hannitys-tale-of-a-trump-rescue/ |title=Too good to check: Sean Hannity's tale of a Trump rescue |work=] |date=August 11, 2016 |accessdate=March 14, 2019}}</ref>
]]]

In 1992, Trump, his siblings Maryanne, Elizabeth, and Robert, and cousin John W. Walter, each with a 20 percent share, formed All County Building Supply & Maintenance Corp. The company had no offices and is alleged to have been a shell company for paying the vendors providing services and supplies for Trump's rental units, and then billing those services and supplies to Trump Management with markups of 20–50 percent and more. The proceeds generated by the markups were shared by the owners.<ref name="Tax_Schemes"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Blair |first=Gwenda |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/10/07/trump-new-york-times-tax-evasion-221082 |title=Did the Trump Family Historian Drop a Dime to the New York Times? |work=] |date=October 17, 2018 |accessdate=August 14, 2020}}</ref> The increased costs were used as justification to get state approval for increasing the rents of Trump's rent-stabilized units.<ref name="Tax_Schemes"/>

From 1996 to 2015, Trump owned all or part of the ] pageants, including ] and ].<ref name="pageantsaleWME">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/15/business/media/trump-sells-miss-universe-organization-to-wme-img-talent-agency.html |title=Trump Sells Miss Universe Organization to WME-IMG Talent Agency |date=September 14, 2015 |first=John |last=Koblin |work=] |accessdate=January 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-sells-miss-universe-img-2015-9 |title=Donald Trump just sold off the entire Miss Universe Organization |date=September 14, 2015 |first=Jethro |last=Nededog |work=] |accessdate=May 6, 2016}}</ref> Due to disagreements with ] about scheduling, he took both pageants to ] in 2002.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/22/business/three-beauty-pageants-leaving-cbs-for-nbc.html |title=Three Beauty Pageants Leaving CBS for NBC |date=June 22, 2002 |first=Jim |last=Rutenberg |authorlink=Jim Rutenberg |accessdate=August 14, 2016 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2002/06/22/there-she-goes-pageants-move-to-nbc/2ba81b9a-bf67-4f3e-b8d6-1c2cc881ed19/ |title=There She Goes: Pageants Move to NBC |date=June 22, 2002 |first=Lisa |last=de Moraes |authorlink=Lisa de Moraes |work=] |accessdate=August 14, 2016}}</ref> In 2007, Trump received a star on the ] for his work as producer of Miss Universe.<ref name="cz160129">{{cite news |last=Zara |first=Christopher |authorlink=Christopher Zara |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/4023036/why-the-heck-does-donald-trump-have-a-walk-of-fame-star-anyway-its-not-the-reason-you-think |title=Why the heck does Donald Trump have a Walk of Fame star, anyway? It's not the reason you think |work=] |date=October 29, 2016 |accessdate=June 16, 2018}}</ref> After ] and ] dropped the pageants from their broadcasting lineups in June 2015,<ref name="mp">{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/06/29/nbc-dumps-trump/29471971/ |title=NBC to Donald Trump: You're fired |work=] |first=Maria |last=Puente |date=July 1, 2015 |access-date=July 28, 2015}}</ref> Trump bought NBC's share of the Miss Universe Organization and sold the entire company to ].<ref name="pageantsaleWME"/>


==== Trump University ==== ==== Trump University ====

{{Main|Trump University}} {{Main|Trump University}}


In 2004, Trump co-founded ], a company that sold real estate training courses priced from $1,500 to $35,000.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gitell |first=Seth |date=March 8, 2016 |title=I Survived Trump University |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/03/i-survived-trump-university-213710 |work=] |accessdate=March 18, 2016}}</ref><ref name=vf>{{cite news |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2014/01/trump-university-fraud-scandal |title=Big Hair on Campus: Did Donald Trump Defraud Thousands of Real Estate Students? |last=Cohan |first=William D. |authorlink=William D. Cohan |website=] |accessdate=March 6, 2016}}</ref> After New York State authorities notified the company that its use of the word "university" violated state law, its name was changed to Trump Entrepreneur Initiative in 2010.<ref name=nyt511>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Barbaro |authorlink=Michael Barbaro |title=New York Attorney General Is Investigating Trump's For-Profit School |date=May 19, 2011 |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/20/nyregion/trumps-for-profit-school-said-to-be-under-investigation.html}}</ref> In 2005, Trump co-founded ], a company that sold real estate seminars for up to $35,000. After New York State authorities notified the company that its use of "university" violated state law (as it was not an academic institution), its name was changed to the Trump Entrepreneur Initiative in 2010.{{sfn|D'Antonio|2015|pp=281–282}}


In 2013, the State of New York filed a $40&nbsp;million civil suit against Trump University; the suit alleged that the company made false statements and defrauded consumers.<ref name="AppealsCourt2016">{{cite news |first=David |last=Halperin |title=NY Court Refuses to Dismiss Trump University Case, Describes Fraud Allegations |date=March 1, 2016 |website=] |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/davidhalperin/ny-court-refuses-to-dismi_b_9358360.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/02/27/donald-trumps-misleading-claim-that-hes-won-most-of-lawsuits-over-trump-university/ |first=Michelle Ye Hee |last=Lee |title=Donald Trump's misleading claim that he's 'won most of' lawsuits over Trump University |work=] |date=February 27, 2016 |accessdate=February 27, 2016}}</ref> In addition, two ]s were filed in federal court against Trump and his companies. Internal documents revealed that employees were instructed to use a hard-sell approach, and former employees testified that Trump University had defrauded or lied to its students.<ref name=twofront>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/08/26/trump-entrepreneur-initiative-case/2700811/ |title=Trump faces two-front legal fight over 'university' |work=] |first=Kevin |last=McCoy |date=August 26, 2013}}</ref><ref name=ronald_tu>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/01/us/politics/donald-trump-university.html |title=Former Trump University Workers Call the School a 'Lie' and a 'Scheme' in Testimony |last1=Barbaro |first1=Michael |author1link=Michael Barbaro |last2=Eder |first2=Steve |date=May 31, 2016 |website=] |accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/06/01/480279246/hard-sell-the-potential-political-consequences-of-the-trump-university-documents |title=Hard Sell: The Potential Political Consequences of the Trump University Documents |last=Montenaro |first=Domenico |date=June 1, 2016 |publisher=] |accessdate=June 2, 2016}}</ref> Shortly after he won the presidency, Trump agreed to pay a total of $25&nbsp;million to settle the three cases.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/19/us/politics/trump-university.html |title=Donald Trump Agrees to Pay $25 Million in Trump University Settlement |last=Eder |first=Steve |date=November 18, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=November 18, 2016}}</ref> In 2013, the State of New York filed a $40&nbsp;million civil suit against Trump University, alleging that the company made false statements and defrauded consumers. Additionally, two class actions were filed in federal court against Trump and his companies. Internal documents revealed that employees were instructed to use a hard-sell approach, and former employees testified that Trump University had defrauded or lied to its students.{{sfn|D'Antonio|2015|pp=282–283}} Shortly after he won the 2016 presidential election, he agreed to pay a total of $25&nbsp;million to settle the three cases.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/19/us/politics/trump-university.html|title=Donald Trump Agrees to Pay $25 Million in Trump University Settlement|last=Eder|first=Steve|date=November 18, 2016|work=]|access-date=November 18, 2016}}</ref>


=== Foundation === === Foundation ===

{{Main|Donald J. Trump Foundation}} {{Main|Donald J. Trump Foundation}}


The Donald J. Trump Foundation was a private foundation established in 1988.<ref name=":0b">{{cite news |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133404773 |title=Nonprofit Explorer – ProPublica |website=] |first1=Mike |last1=Tigas |first2=Sisi |last2=Wei |accessdate=September 9, 2016}}</ref><ref name=":1b">{{cite news |first=David A. |last=Fahrenthold |authorlink=David Fahrenthold |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/09/01/trump-pays-irs-a-penalty-for-his-foundation-violating-rules-with-gift-to-florida-attorney-general/ |title=Trump pays IRS a penalty for his foundation violating rules with gift to aid Florida attorney general |website=] |date=September 1, 2016}}</ref> In the foundation's final years its funds mostly came from donors other than Trump, who did not donate any personal funds to the charity from 2009 until 2014.<ref name="WaPoMissing">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-portrait-of-trump-the-donor-free-rounds-of-golf-but-no-personal-cash/2016/04/10/373b9b92-fb40-11e5-9140-e61d062438bb_story.html |title=Missing from Trump's list of charitable giving: His own personal cash |date=April 10, 2016 |first1=David A. |last1=Fahrenthold |author1link=David Fahrenthold |last2=Helderman |first2=Rosalind S. |author2link=Rosalind Helderman |work=]}}</ref> The foundation gave to health care and sports-related charities, as well as conservative groups.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=September 15, 2016 |first=Claude |last=Solnik |title=Taking a peek at Trump's (foundation) tax returns |url=https://libn.com/2016/09/15/taking-a-peek-at-trumps-foundation-tax-returns/}}</ref> The Donald J. Trump Foundation was a ] established in 1988.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133404773|title=Nonprofit Explorer|work=]|first1=Mike|last1=Tigas|first2=Sisi|last2=Wei|date=May 9, 2013|access-date=September 9, 2016}}</ref> From 1987 to 2006, Trump gave his foundation $5.4&nbsp;million which had been spent by the end of 2006. After donating a total of $65,000 in 2007–2008, he stopped donating any personal funds to the charity,<ref name="retool">{{cite news|first=David A.|last=Fahrenthold|author-link=David Fahrenthold|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-donald-trump-retooled-his-charity-to-spend-other-peoples-money/2016/09/10/da8cce64-75df-11e6-8149-b8d05321db62_story.html|title=How Donald Trump retooled his charity to spend other people's money|newspaper=]|date=September 10, 2016|access-date=March 19, 2024}}</ref> which received millions from other donors, including $5&nbsp;million from ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Pallotta|first=Frank|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/08/18/media/vince-mcmahon-donald-trump-payments/index.html|title=Investigation into Vince McMahon's hush money payments reportedly turns up Trump charity donations|work=]|date=August 18, 2022|access-date=March 19, 2024}}</ref> The foundation gave to health- and sports-related charities, conservative groups,<ref>{{cite news|work=]|date=September 15, 2016|access-date=September 30, 2021|first=Claude|last=Solnik|title=Taking a peek at Trump's (foundation) tax returns|url=https://libn.com/2016/09/15/taking-a-peek-at-trumps-foundation-tax-returns/}}</ref> and charities that held events at Trump properties.<ref name="retool" />


In 2016, ''The Washington Post'' reported that the charity had committed several potential legal and ethical violations, including alleged self-dealing and possible tax evasion.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=September 15, 2016 |first1=Chris |last1=Cillizza |author1link=Chris Cillizza |first2=David A. |last2=Fahrenthold |author2link=David Fahrenthold |title=Meet the reporter who's giving Donald Trump fits |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/the-fix/wp/2016/09/15/how-the-reporter-behind-the-trump-foundation-stories-does-it/}}</ref> Also in 2016, the New York State attorney general's office said the foundation appeared to be in violation of New York laws regarding charities and ordered it to immediately cease its fundraising activities in New York.<ref name="hit">{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/13/politics/eric-schneiderman-donald-trump-foundation/ |title=NY attorney general is investigating Trump Foundation practices |date=September 14, 2016 |website=] |accessdate=September 25, 2016 |last1=Bradner |first1=Eric |last2=Frehse |first2=Rob}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=October 3, 2016 |first=David A. |last=Fahrenthold |authorlink=David Fahrenthold |title=Trump Foundation ordered to stop fundraising by N.Y. attorney general's office |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-foundation-ordered-to-stop-fundraising-by-ny-attorney-generals-office/2016/10/03/1d4d295a-8987-11e6-bff0-d53f592f176e_story.html}}</ref> Trump's team announced in December 2016 that the foundation would be dissolved.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/24/trump-university-shut-down-conflict-of-interest |title=Donald Trump to dissolve his charitable foundation after mounting complaints |last=Jacobs |first=Ben |authorlink=Ben Jacobs (journalist) |date=December 24, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=December 25, 2016}}</ref> In 2016, ''The Washington Post'' reported that the charity committed several potential legal and ethical violations, including alleged self-dealing and possible ].<ref>{{cite news|first1=Chris|last1=Cillizza|author-link1=Chris Cillizza|first2=David A.|last2=Fahrenthold|author-link2=David Fahrenthold|title=Meet the reporter who's giving Donald Trump fits|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/09/15/how-the-reporter-behind-the-trump-foundation-stories-does-it/|newspaper=]|date=September 15, 2016|access-date=June 26, 2021}}</ref> Also in 2016, the New York attorney general determined the foundation to be in violation of state law, for soliciting donations without submitting to required annual external audits, and ordered it to cease its fundraising activities in New York immediately.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=]|date=October 3, 2016|access-date=May 17, 2023|first=David A.|last=Fahrenthold|author-link=David Fahrenthold|title=Trump Foundation ordered to stop fundraising by N.Y. attorney general's office|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-foundation-ordered-to-stop-fundraising-by-ny-attorney-generals-office/2016/10/03/1d4d295a-8987-11e6-bff0-d53f592f176e_story.html}}</ref> Trump's team announced in December 2016 that the foundation would be dissolved.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/24/trump-university-shut-down-conflict-of-interest|title=Donald Trump to dissolve his charitable foundation after mounting complaints|last=Jacobs|first=Ben|author-link=Ben Jacobs (journalist)|date=December 24, 2016|work=]|access-date=December 25, 2016}}</ref>


In June 2018 the New York attorney general's office filed a civil suit against the foundation, Trump, and his adult children, seeking $2.8&nbsp;million in restitution and additional penalties.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/14/politics/new-york-lawsuit-trump-foundation/index.html |title=New York attorney general sues Trump Foundation |website=] |first1=Chris |last1=Isidore |first2=Melanie |last2=Schuman |date=June 14, 2018 |accessdate=June 15, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/392392-five-things-to-know-about-the-lawsuit-against-the-trump-foundation |title=Five things to know about the lawsuit against the Trump Foundation |last=Thomsen |first=Jacqueline |date=June 14, 2018 |work=] |accessdate=June 15, 2018}}</ref> In December 2018, the foundation ceased operation and disbursed all its assets to other charities.<ref name=Goldmacher-181218>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/18/nyregion/ny-ag-underwood-trump-foundation.html |title=Trump Foundation Will Dissolve, Accused of 'Shocking Pattern of Illegality' |work=] |date=December 18, 2018 |accessdate=May 9, 2019 |first=Shane |last=Goldmacher}}</ref> In November 2019, a New York state judge ordered Trump to pay $2&nbsp;million to a group of charities for misusing the foundation's funds, in part to finance his presidential campaign.<ref name=Katersky-191107>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-foundation-ordered-pay-2m-collection-nonprofits-part/story?id=66827235 |title=President Donald Trump ordered to pay $2M to collection of nonprofits as part of civil lawsuit |work=] |date=November 7, 2019 |accessdate=November 7, 2019 |first=Aaron |last=Katersky}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50338231 |title=Judge orders Trump to pay $2m for misusing Trump Foundation funds |date=November 8, 2019 |work=] |accessdate=March 5, 2020}}</ref> In June 2018, the New York attorney general's office filed a civil suit against the foundation, Trump, and his adult children, seeking $2.8&nbsp;million in restitution and additional penalties.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/392392-five-things-to-know-about-the-lawsuit-against-the-trump-foundation|title=Five things to know about the lawsuit against the Trump Foundation|last=Thomsen|first=Jacqueline|date=June 14, 2018|work=]|access-date=June 15, 2018}}</ref> In December 2018, the foundation ceased operation and disbursed its assets to other charities.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/18/nyregion/ny-ag-underwood-trump-foundation.html|title=Trump Foundation Will Dissolve, Accused of 'Shocking Pattern of Illegality'|work=]|date=December 18, 2018|access-date=May 9, 2019|first=Shane|last=Goldmacher}}</ref> In November 2019, a New York state judge ordered Trump to pay $2&nbsp;million to a group of charities for misusing the foundation's funds, in part to finance his presidential campaign.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-foundation-ordered-pay-2m-collection-nonprofits-part/story?id=66827235|title=President Donald Trump ordered to pay $2M to collection of nonprofits as part of civil lawsuit|work=]|date=November 7, 2019|access-date=November 7, 2019|first=Aaron|last=Katersky}}</ref>


=== Conflicts of interest === === Legal affairs and bankruptcies ===
{{Main|Personal and business legal affairs of Donald Trump}}


According to a review of state and federal court files conducted by '']'' in 2018, Trump and his businesses had been involved in more than 4,000 state and federal legal actions.<ref>{{cite news|title=Donald Trump: Three decades, 4,095 lawsuits |work=] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/pages/interactives/trump-lawsuits/ |access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref> While he has not filed for ], his over-leveraged hotel and casino businesses in Atlantic City and New York filed for ] protection six times between 1991 and 2009.<ref name="TW">{{cite news|last=Winter|first=Tom|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-bankruptcy-math-doesn-t-add-n598376|title=Trump Bankruptcy Math Doesn't Add Up|work=]|date=June 24, 2016|access-date=February 26, 2020}}</ref> They continued to operate while the banks restructured debt and reduced his shares in the properties.<ref name="TW" />
], then the prime minister of Turkey, attended the opening of ] AVM in 2012.]]


During the 1980s, more than 70 banks had lent Trump $4&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite news|work=]|date=July 17, 2016|first=Emily|last=Flitter|title=Art of the spin: Trump bankers question his portrayal of financial comeback|access-date=October 14, 2018|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-bankruptcies-insig/art-of-the-spin-trump-bankers-question-his-portrayal-of-financial-comeback-idUSKCN0ZX0GP}}</ref> After his corporate bankruptcies of the early 1990s, most major banks, with the exception of Deutsche Bank, declined to lend to him.<ref>{{cite news|work=]|date=December 8, 2017|first=Allan|last=Smith|title=Trump's long and winding history with Deutsche Bank could now be at the center of Robert Mueller's investigation|access-date=October 14, 2018|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-deutsche-bank-mueller-2017-12}}</ref> After the ], the bank decided not to do business with him or his company in the future.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Riley|first1=Charles|last2=Egan|first2=Matt|title=Deutsche Bank won't do any more business with Trump|url=https://cnn.com/2021/01/12/investing/deutsche-bank-trump/|access-date=September 14, 2022|work=]|date=January 12, 2021}}</ref>
Before being inaugurated as president, Trump moved his businesses into a ] run by his eldest sons and a business associate.<ref name="NPR012018">{{cite news |first=Marilyn |last=Geewax |title=Trump Has Revealed Assumptions About Handling Presidential Wealth, Businesses |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/01/20/576871315/trump-has-revealed-assumptions-about-handling-presidential-wealth-businesses |website=] |date=January 20, 2018}}</ref><ref name="BBC041817">{{cite news |title=A list of Trump's potential conflicts |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38069298 |work=] |date=April 18, 2017}}</ref> According to ethics experts, this measure does not help avoid conflicts of interest, because Trump continues to profit from his businesses.<ref name="Venook">{{cite news |last=Venook |first=Jeremy |title=Trump's Interests vs. America's, Dubai Edition |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/08/donald-trump-conflicts-of-interests/508382/ |work=] |date=August 9, 2017}}</ref> Because Trump would have knowledge of how his administration's policies affect his businesses, ethics experts recommend selling the businesses.<ref name="BBC041817" /> Though Trump said he would eschew "new foreign deals", the Trump Organization has since pursued expansions of its operations in Dubai, Scotland, and the Dominican Republic.<ref name="Venook"/>


=== Wealth ===
Pending lawsuits allege that Trump is violating the ] and ]s of the ].<ref name=CRSRpt>{{cite report|title=In Focus: The Emoluments Clauses of the U.S. Constitution|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/IF11086.pdf|date=August 19, 2020|publisher=Congressional Research Service}}</ref> The plaintiffs say that Trump's business interests could allow foreign governments to influence him.<ref name=CRSRpt/><ref name="Venook" /><ref name="LaFraniere">{{cite news |last=LaFraniere |first=Sharon |authorlink=Sharon LaFraniere |title=Lawsuit on Trump Emoluments Violations Gains Traction in Court |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/25/us/politics/trump-emoluments-lawsuit.html |date=January 25, 2018 |work=] |accessdate=January 25, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Polantz">{{cite news |title=Appeals court lets emoluments lawsuit against Trump proceed |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/14/politics/appeals-court-emoluments-trump-hotel/index.html |date=May 14, 2020 |first1=Katelyn |last1=Polantz |first2=Devan |last2=Cole |work=]}}</ref> ] reported in 2019 that representatives of at least 22 foreign governments, including some facing charges of corruption or human rights abuses, appeared to have spent money at Trump Organization businesses during his presidency.<ref>{{cite news |title=Reps of 22 foreign governments have spent money at Trump properties |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/reps-22-foreign-governments-have-spent-money-trump-properties-n1015806 |work=] |date=June 12, 2019 |first1=Shelby |last1=Hanssen |first2=Ken |last2=Dilanian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=How Trump's businesses are booming with lobbyists, donors and governments |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/19/donald-trump-businesses-hotels-conflict-of-interest |work=] |date=July 19, 2019 |first=Peter |last=Stone}}</ref> The litigation marks the first time that the Emoluments Clauses have been substantively litigated in court.<ref name=CRSRpt/><ref name="Polantz" /> As president, Trump mocked the Emoluments Clause as "phony".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/10/21/donald-trump-mocks-constitution-emoluments-clause-phony/4055162002/ |title='Phony'. Donald Trump mocks 'emoluments' clause of U.S. Constitution that bans foreign gifts |last1=Subramanian |first1=Courtney |last2=Collins |first2=Michael |last3=Jackson |first3=David |date=October 21, 2019 |work=] |access-date=December 8, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Venook" />
{{Main|Wealth of Donald Trump}}
] with President ] and First Lady ]|alt=Ivana Trump and King Fahd shake hands, with Ronald Reagan standing next to them smiling]]


Trump has often said he began his career with "a small loan of a million dollars" from his father and that he had to pay it back with interest.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stump |first=Scott |date=October 26, 2015 |title=Donald Trump: My dad gave me 'a small loan' of $1 million to get started |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/26/donald-trump-my-dad-gave-me-a-small-loan-of-1-million-to-get-started.html |access-date=November 13, 2016 |work=]}}</ref> He borrowed at least $60&nbsp;million from his father, which he did not wholly repay.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Barstow |first1=David |author-link1=David Barstow |last2=Craig |first2=Susanne |author-link2=Susanne Craig |last3=Buettner |first3=Russ |date=October 2, 2018 |title=11 Takeaways From The Times's Investigation into Trump's Wealth |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/02/us/politics/donald-trump-wealth-fred-trump.html |access-date=October 3, 2018 |work=]}}</ref><ref name="Tax_Schemes">{{cite news |last1=Barstow |first1=David |author-link1=David Barstow |last2=Craig |first2=Susanne |author-link2=Susanne Craig |last3=Buettner |first3=Russ |date=October 2, 2018 |title=Trump Engaged in Suspect Tax Schemes as He Reaped Riches From His Father |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/02/us/politics/donald-trump-tax-schemes-fred-trump.html |access-date=October 2, 2018 |work=]}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=December 2024}}
== Media career ==


Trying to get a higher ranking on the ] list of wealthy Americans, Trump called journalist Jonathan Greenberg in 1984, pretending to be a Trump Organization official named "]".<ref>{{cite news |last=Greenberg |first=Jonathan |date=April 20, 2018 |title=Trump lied to me about his wealth to get onto the Forbes 400. Here are the tapes. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/trump-lied-to-me-about-his-wealth-to-get-onto-the-forbes-400-here-are-the-tapes/2018/04/20/ac762b08-4287-11e8-8569-26fda6b404c7_story.html |access-date=September 29, 2021 |newspaper=]}}</ref>
{{Main|Media career of Donald Trump}}


Trump self-reported his net worth over a wide range: from a low of minus $900&nbsp;million in 1990,{{efn|Trump acknowledged a negative net worth in 1990 of minus $900&nbsp;million in his book '']''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Donald Trump revealed $900 million business loss in '97 book|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/oct/3/trump-revealed-900-million-business-loss-97-book/|last=Boyer|first=Dave|date=October 3, 2016|access-date=December 18, 2024|work=]}}</ref> ] explains in his book '']'' that ''Forbes'' dropped Trump from its list of wealthiest Americans from 1990–1995. Not until 1997 did ''Forbes'' acknowledge Trump's 1990 negative net worth of minus $900&nbsp;million.{{sfn|O'Brien|2005|p=150–151}}}} to a high of $10&nbsp;billion in 2015.{{sfn|Johnston|2021|p=20}} According to ''Forbes'', Trump's wealth in 2024 was comprised of approximately $1.1&nbsp;billion in real estate, $1&nbsp;billion in golf clubs and resorts, and $3.5&nbsp;billion in stock in ]—today his primary asset.<ref name=Forbes>{{cite news|title=Here's How Much Donald Trump Is Worth|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/article/the-definitive-networth-of-donaldtrump/|date=November 4, 2024|access-date=December 15, 2024|work=]|first=Dan|last=Alexander|orig-date=September 27, 2024}}</ref> As of December 2024, ''Forbes'' listed Trump's net worth at $6.3&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite news|title=Profile: Donald Trump|date=December 16, 2024|access-date=December 16, 2024|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/donald-trump/|work=]}}</ref>
=== Books ===


== Media career ==
{{Main|Bibliography of Donald Trump}}
{{Main|Media career of Donald Trump}}

{{See also|Bibliography of Donald Trump}}
Trump has written up to 19 books on business, financial, or political topics, though he has employed ghostwriters to actually write them.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-books-tweet-ghostwriter-tim-o-brien-tony-schwartz-writer-response-a8431271.html |title=Trump boasted about writing many books - his ghostwriter says otherwise |work=] |first=Andrew |last=Buncombe |date=July 18, 2016 |accessdate=October 11, 2020}}</ref> Trump's first book, '']'' (1987), was on the ] for 48 weeks. While Trump was credited as co-author, the entire book was ] by ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/07/25/donald-trumps-ghostwriter-tells-all |title=Donald Trump's Ghostwriter Tells All |magazine=] |first=Jane |last=Mayer |authorlink=Jane Mayer |date=July 18, 2016 |accessdate=June 19, 2017}}</ref> According to '']'', "The book expanded Trump's renown far beyond New York City, promoting an image of himself as a successful dealmaker and tycoon." Trump has called the book his second favorite after the Bible.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Neil |first=Luke |date=June 2, 2020 |title=What do we know about Trump's love for the Bible? |work=] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/02/what-do-we-know-about-trumps-love-for-the-bible |access-date=June 11, 2020}}</ref>
Trump has produced 19 books under his name, most written or co-written by ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-books-tweet-ghostwriter-tim-o-brien-tony-schwartz-writer-response-a8431271.html|title=Trump boasted about writing many books – his ghostwriter says otherwise|work=]|first=Andrew|last=Buncombe|date=July 4, 2018|access-date=October 11, 2020}}</ref> His first book, '']'' (1987), was a ]. While he was credited as co-author, the entire book was written by ]. '']'' said the book made Trump famous as an "emblem of the successful tycoon".<ref name="JM">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/07/25/donald-trumps-ghostwriter-tells-all|title=Donald Trump's Ghostwriter Tells All|magazine=]|first=Jane|last=Mayer|author-link=Jane Mayer|date=July 18, 2016|access-date=June 19, 2017}}</ref>

=== WWF/WWE ===
Trump has had a sporadic relationship with the ] promotion ] (World Wrestling Entertainment) since the late 1980s.<ref name="myth">{{cite news |last=Lelinwalla |first=Mark |url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/138117/20160304/donald-trumps-history-wwe.htm |title=Looking Back At Donald Trump's WWE Career |website=Tech Times |date=March 4, 2016|access-date=July 6, 2019}}</ref><ref name=wwebio>{{cite web |url=https://www.wwe.com/superstars/donald-trump |title=Donald Trump bio |website=] |accessdate=March 14, 2015}}</ref> He was inducted into the celebrity wing of the ].<ref name="chief heel">{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Chris |last2=Wetherbee |first2=Brandon |url=https://slate.com/culture/2016/12/donald-trump-learned-his-political-moves-from-wwe.html |title=Heel in Chief |work=] |date=December 9, 2016 |access-date=March 5, 2019}}</ref> Most notably, he shaved ]'s head bald after ] represented him in a Hair vs. Hair match against ] at WWE's annual flagship event ] in 2007.

=== ''The Apprentice'' ===

{{Main|The Apprentice (American TV series)}}

In 2003, Trump became the co-producer and host of ''The Apprentice'', a ] in which Trump played the role of a powerful ] and contestants competed for a year of employment at the Trump Organization. Trump winnowed out contestants with his famous ] "You're fired".<ref name="born_7-17-16">{{cite news |last1=Grynbaum |first1=Michael M. |last2=Parker |first2=Ashley |author2link=Ashley Parker |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/17/business/media/donald-trump-apprentice.html |title=Donald Trump the Political Showman, Born on 'The Apprentice' |work=] |date=July 16, 2016 |accessdate=July 8, 2018}}</ref> He later co-hosted '']'', in which celebrities competed to win money for charities.<ref name="born_7-17-16" />

=== Acting ===

{{Main|Donald Trump filmography}}

Trump has made ] in eight films and television shows.<ref name=Atlantic>{{cite news |first=Adrienne |last=LaFrance |title=Three Decades of Donald Trump Film and TV Cameos |date=December 21, 2015 |website=] |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/12/three-decades-of-donald-trump-film-and-tv-cameos/421257/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lockett |first=Dee |url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/06/donald-trump-was-in-the-little-rascals.html |title=Yes, Donald Trump Did Actually Play a Spoiled Rich Kid's Dad in The Little Rascals |work=Vulture |date=June 21, 2016 |accessdate=July 14, 2018}}</ref>

=== Talk shows ===

Starting in the 1990s, Trump was a guest about 24 times on the nationally syndicated '']''.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} He also had his own short-form talk radio program called '']'' (one to two minutes on weekdays) from 2004 to 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.people.com/people/article/0,,632500,00.html |title=The Donald to Get New Wife, Radio Show |work=] |date=April 29, 2004 |accessdate=November 19, 2013 |first=Stephen M. |last=Silverman |authorlink=Stephen M. Silverman}}</ref><!-- Only sources I find are from 2004 like this: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040607005748/en/Trumped!-Donald-Trump-Biggest-Launch-Radio-History --><ref>{{cite news |first=Bob |last=Tedeschi |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/06/technology/now-for-sale-online-the-art-of-the-vacation.html |title=Now for Sale Online, the Art of the Vacation |work=] |date=February 6, 2006 |accessdate=October 21, 2018}}</ref> In 2011, he was given a weekly unpaid guest commentator spot on '']'', a role that continued until he became a presidential candidate in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last=Montopoli |first=Brian |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-gets-regular-fox-news-spot/ |title=Donald Trump gets regular Fox News spot |website=] |date=April 1, 2011 |accessdate=July 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Grossman |first1=Matt |last2=Hopkins |first2=David A. |title=How the conservative media is taking over the Republican Party |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/09/09/how-the-conservative-media-is-taking-over-the-republican-party/ |accessdate=October 19, 2018 |work=] |date=September 9, 2016}}</ref>

== Political career ==

{{Main|Political career of Donald Trump}}

=== Political activities up to 2015 ===

] in June 2000]]

Trump's political party affiliation changed numerous times. He registered as a Republican in Manhattan in 1987, switched to the Reform Party in 1999, the Democratic Party in 2001, and back to the Republican Party in 2009.<ref name="PolitiFact.24.Aug.15">{{cite news |last=Gillin |first=Joshua |title=Bush says Trump was a Democrat longer than a Republican 'in the last decade' |url=https://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2015/aug/24/jeb-bush/bush-says-trump-was-democrat-longer-republican-las/ |accessdate=March 18, 2017 |website=] |date=August 24, 2015}}</ref>

In 1987, Trump placed full-page advertisements in three major newspapers,<ref name="hint">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/02/nyregion/trump-gives-a-vague-hint-of-candidacy.html |title=Trump Gives a Vague Hint of Candidacy |work=] |first=Michael |last=Oreskes |authorlink=Michael Oreskes |date=September 2, 1987 |accessdate=February 17, 2016}}</ref> advocating peace in Central America, accelerated nuclear disarmament talks with the Soviet Union, and reduction of the federal budget deficit by making American allies pay "their fair share" for military defense.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/18/us/trump-urged-to-head-gala-of-democrats.html |title=Trump Urged To Head Gala Of Democrats |work=] |date=November 18, 1987 |first=Fox |last=Butterfield}}</ref> He ruled out running for local office but not for the presidency.<ref name="hint"/>

==== 2000 presidential campaign ====

{{Main|Donald Trump 2000 presidential campaign}}

In 1999, Trump filed an ] to seek the nomination of the ] for the 2000 presidential election.<ref name=NYTimes.Revolution>{{cite news |first=Donald J. |last=Trump |title=What I Saw at the Revolution |date=February 19, 2000 |website=] |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/19/opinion/what-i-saw-at-the-revolution.html}}</ref><ref name=Winger-111225>{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Winger |authorlink=Richard Winger |title=Donald Trump Ran For President in 2000 in Several Reform Party Presidential Primaries |date=December 25, 2011 |website=] |url=https://ballot-access.org/2011/12/25/donald-trump-ran-for-president-in-2000-in-several-reform-party-presidential-primaries/}}</ref> A July 1999 poll matching him against likely Republican nominee ] and likely Democratic nominee ] showed Trump with seven percent support.<ref>{{cite news |title=Donald Trump eyeing a run at the White House |last=Johnson |first=Glen |work=Standard-Speaker |location=Hazelton, Pennsylvania}}</ref> Trump dropped out of the race in February 2000.<ref>{{cite news |last=Clift |first=Eleanor |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-last-time-trump-wrecked-a-party |title=The Last Time Trump Wrecked a Party |work=] |date=April 13, 2017 |accessdate=February 25, 2020}}</ref>

==== 2012 presidential speculation ====

]

Trump speculated about running against President Barack Obama in ], making his first speaking appearance at the ] (CPAC) in February 2011 and giving speeches in early primary states.<ref name="McA">{{cite news |last=MacAskill |first=Ewen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/may/16/donald-trump-us-presidential-race |title=Donald Trump bows out of 2012 US presidential election race |work=] |date=May 16, 2011 |access-date=February 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bobic |first1=Igor |last2=Stein |first2=Sam |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-cpac_n_58adc0f4e4b03d80af7141cf |title=How CPAC Helped Launch Donald Trump's Political Career |work=] |date=February 22, 2017 |access-date=February 28, 2020}}</ref> In May 2011 he announced he would not run.<ref name="McA"/>

Trump's presidential ambitions were generally not taken seriously at the time.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/11/donald-trump-cpac-president-act_n_821923.html |title=Donald Trump Brings His 'Pretend To Run For President' Act To CPAC |work=] |accessdate=April 21, 2011 |first=Jason |last=Linkins |date=February 11, 2011}}</ref> Before the 2016 election, ''The New York Times'' speculated that Trump "accelerated his ferocious efforts to gain stature within the political world" after Obama lampooned him at the ] Dinner in April 2011.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=March 12, 2016 |first1=Maggie |last1=Haberman |author1link=Maggie Haberman |first2=Alexander |last2=Burns |author2link=Alex Burns (journalist) |title=Donald Trump's Presidential Run Began in an Effort to Gain Stature |accessdate=April 13, 2018 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/13/us/politics/donald-trump-campaign.html}}</ref>


Trump had cameos in many films and television shows from 1985 to 2001.<ref>{{cite news|first=Adrienne|last=LaFrance|title=Three Decades of Donald Trump Film and TV Cameos|date=December 21, 2015|work=]|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/12/three-decades-of-donald-trump-film-and-tv-cameos/421257/}}</ref>
In 2011, the superintendent of the New York Military Academy at the time, Jeffrey Coverdale, ordered the headmaster of the school, Evan Jones, to give him Trump's academic records so he could keep them secret, according to Jones. Coverdale confirmed that he had been asked to hand the records over to members of the school's board of trustees who were Trump's friends, but he refused to and instead sealed them on campus. The incident reportedly happened days after Trump demanded the release of Obama's academic records.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 5, 2019 |last1=Fisher |first1=Marc |authorlink=Marc Fisher |title='Grab that record': How Trump's high school transcript was hidden |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/grab-that-record-how-trumps-high-school-transcript-was-hidden/2019/03/05/8815b7b8-3c61-11e9-aaae-69364b2ed137_story.html |website=] |accessdate=June 9, 2019}}</ref>


Starting in the 1990s, Trump was a guest 24 times on the nationally syndicated '']''.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} He had his own short-form talk radio program, '']'', from 2004 to 2008.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Massie|first1=Christopher|last2=Kaczynski|first2=Andrew|title=There Are Hours Of Audio Of Donald Trump's Nationally Syndicated Radio Show In The 2000s|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/christophermassie/theres-hours-of-audio-of-donald-trumps-nationally-syndicated|website=]|access-date=December 6, 2024|date=March 16, 2016}}</ref> From 2011 until 2015, he was a guest commentator on '']''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Grossmann|first1=Matt|last2=Hopkins|first2=David A.|title=How the conservative media is taking over the Republican Party|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/09/09/how-the-conservative-media-is-taking-over-the-republican-party/|access-date=October 19, 2018|newspaper=]|date=September 9, 2016}}</ref>
==== 2013–2015 ====


From 2004 to 2015, Trump was co-producer and host of reality shows ''The Apprentice'' and '']''. On the shows, he was a superrich and successful chief executive who eliminated contestants with the ] "you're fired". ''The New York Times'' called his portrayal a "highly flattering, highly fictionalized version of Mr. Trump".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Grynbaum|first1=Michael M.|last2=Parker|first2=Ashley|author-link2=Ashley Parker|date=July 16, 2016|title=Donald Trump the Political Showman, Born on 'The Apprentice'|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/17/business/media/donald-trump-apprentice.html|access-date=July 8, 2018}}</ref> The shows remade his image for millions of viewers nationwide.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|pp=213–217}} With the related licensing agreements, they earned him more than $400&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news|last=Poniewozik |first=James |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/28/arts/television/trump-taxes-apprentice.html |title=Donald Trump Was the Real Winner of 'The Apprentice' |work=] |date=September 28, 2020 |access-date=October 18, 2023}}</ref>
In 2013, Trump spoke at CPAC again;<ref name="CPAC1">{{cite news |title=Donald Trump to address CPAC |url=https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/donald-trump-address-cpac-205409450--politics.html |website=] |date=March 5, 2013 |first=Chris |last=Moody |accessdate=March 6, 2013}}</ref> he railed against illegal immigration, bemoaned Obama's "unprecedented media protection", advised against harming Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, and suggested the government "take" Iraq's oil and use the proceeds to pay a million dollars each to families of dead soldiers.<ref>{{cite news |first=Lucy |last=Madison |title=Trump: Immigration reform a "suicide mission" for GOP |date=March 15, 2013 |website=] |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-immigration-reform-a-suicide-mission-for-gop/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Dan |last=Amira |title=Photos of Donald Trump Delivering His Self-Aggrandizing CPAC Speech to a Half-Empty Ballroom |date=March 15, 2013 |website=] (magazine) |url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/03/donald-trump-cpac-speech-empty-seat-photos.html}}</ref> He spent over $1&nbsp;million that year to research a possible 2016 candidacy.<ref name="NYPost2016">{{cite news |title=Trump researching 2016 run |date=May 27, 2013 |website=] |url=https://pagesix.com/2013/05/27/trump-researching-2016-run/}}</ref>


In October 2013, New York Republicans circulated a memo suggesting that Trump ] in 2014 against ]. Trump responded that while New York had problems and its taxes were too high, he was not interested in the governorship.<ref>{{cite news |last=Spector |first=Joseph |title=N.Y. Republicans want Donald Trump to run for governor |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/10/14/trump-new-york-governor/2979589/ |work=] |date=October 14, 2013 |accessdate=October 31, 2013}}</ref> A poll showed Trump losing to the more popular Cuomo by 37 points in a hypothetical election.<ref>{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Jake |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-trumped-by-andrew-cuomo-in-new-york-governor-race-poll-finds/ |title=Trump trumped by Cuomo in N.Y. governor race, poll finds |date=February 13, 2014 |website=] |accessdate=February 9, 2017}}</ref> In 2021, Trump, who had been a member of ] since 1989, resigned to avoid a disciplinary hearing regarding the January&nbsp;6 attack.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rao|first=Sonia|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/02/04/trump-resigns-screen-actors-guild/|title=Facing expulsion, Trump resigns from the Screen Actors Guild: 'You have done nothing for me'|newspaper=]|date=February 4, 2021|access-date=February 5, 2021}}</ref> Two days later, the union permanently barred him.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harmata|first=Claudia|url=https://people.com/tv/sag-aftra-bans-donald-trump-future-readmission/|title=Donald Trump Banned from Future Re-Admission to SAG-AFTRA: It's 'More Than a Symbolic Step'|work=]|date=February 7, 2021|access-date=February 8, 2021}}</ref>


== Early political aspirations (1987–2014)==
Trump's attorney ] said that he sent letters to the New York Military Academy and Fordham in May 2015, threatening legal action if the schools ever released Trump's grades or SAT scores. Fordham confirmed receipt of the letter as well as a phone call from a member of the Trump team.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.vox.com/2019/2/27/18243099/michael-cohen-trump-fordham-grades |title=Michael Cohen: I threatened Fordham to keep quiet about Trump's SAT scores and grades |last=Coaston |first=Jane |date=February 27, 2019 |work=] |accessdate=March 3, 2020}}</ref>
{{Further|Political career of Donald Trump}}
], June 2000|alt=Donald Trump shakes hands with Bill Clinton in a lobby; Trump is speaking and Clinton is smiling, and both are wearing suits.]]
Trump registered as a Republican in 1987;<ref name="reg">{{cite news|last=Gillin|first=Joshua|title=Bush says Trump was a Democrat longer than a Republican 'in the last decade'|url=https://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2015/aug/24/jeb-bush/bush-says-trump-was-democrat-longer-republican-las/|access-date=March 18, 2017|work=]|date=August 24, 2015}}</ref> a member of the ], the New York state affiliate of the ], in 1999;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/10/25/trump.cnn/|title=Trump Officially Joins Reform Party|work=]|date=October 25, 1999|access-date=December 26, 2020}}</ref> a Democrat in 2001; a Republican in 2009; unaffiliated in 2011; and a Republican in 2012.<ref name="reg"/>


] 2011|alt=Trump, leaning heavily onto a lectern, with his mouth open mid-speech and a woman clapping politely next to him]]In 1987, Trump placed full-page advertisements in three major newspapers,<ref name="hint">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/02/nyregion/trump-gives-a-vague-hint-of-candidacy.html|title=Trump Gives a Vague Hint of Candidacy|work=]|first=Michael|last=Oreskes|author-link=Michael Oreskes|date=September 2, 1987|access-date=February 17, 2016}}</ref> expressing his views on foreign policy and how to eliminate the federal budget deficit.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/18/us/trump-urged-to-head-gala-of-democrats.html|title=Trump Urged To Head Gala Of Democrats|work=]|date=November 18, 1987|access-date=October 1, 2021|first=Fox|last=Butterfield}}</ref> In 1988, he approached ], asking to be put into consideration to be Republican nominee ]'s running mate. Bush found the request "strange and unbelievable".{{sfn|Meacham|2016|p=326}}<ref>{{cite news|title=George W. Bush 'surprised' by dad's criticism, author says|last=Gass|first=Nick|date=November 6, 2015|access-date=December 20, 2024|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/george-w-bush-father-book-215588|work=]}}</ref> Trump ] in the ] for three months, but withdrew from the race in February 2000.<ref>{{cite news|first=Richard|last=Winger|author-link=Richard Winger|title=Donald Trump Ran For President in 2000 in Several Reform Party Presidential Primaries|date=December 25, 2011|access-date=October 1, 2021|website=]|url=https://ballot-access.org/2011/12/25/donald-trump-ran-for-president-in-2000-in-several-reform-party-presidential-primaries/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Clift|first=Eleanor|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-last-time-trump-wrecked-a-party|title=The Last Time Trump Wrecked a Party|work=]|date=July 18, 2016|access-date=October 14, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Nagourney|first=Adam|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/politics/camp/021400wh-ref-trump.html|title=Reform Bid Said to Be a No-Go for Trump|work=]|date=February 14, 2000|access-date=December 26, 2020}}</ref> In 2011, Trump speculated about running against President Barack Obama in ], making his first speaking appearance at the ] (CPAC) in February and giving speeches in early primary states.<ref name="McA">{{cite news|last=MacAskill|first=Ewen|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/may/16/donald-trump-us-presidential-race|title=Donald Trump bows out of 2012 US presidential election race|work=]|date=May 16, 2011|access-date=February 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Bobic|first1=Igor|last2=Stein|first2=Sam|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-cpac_n_58adc0f4e4b03d80af7141cf|title=How CPAC Helped Launch Donald Trump's Political Career|work=]|date=February 22, 2017|access-date=February 28, 2020}}</ref> In May, he announced he would not run.<ref name="McA"/> His presidential ambitions were generally not taken seriously at the time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-cpac-president-act_n_821923|title=Donald Trump Brings His 'Pretend To Run For President' Act To CPAC|work=]|access-date=September 14, 2022|first=Jason|last=Linkins|date=February 11, 2011}}</ref>
=== 2016 presidential campaign ===


== 2016 presidential election==
=== Campaign ===
{{Main|Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign}} {{Main|Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign}}
{{further|2016 Republican Party presidential primaries|2016 United States presidential election#General election campaign}}
Trump announced his candidacy in June 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lerner |first=Adam B. |date=June 16, 2015 |title=The 10 best lines from Donald Trump's announcement speech |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/donald-trump-2016-announcement-10-best-lines-119066 |access-date=June 7, 2018 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Graham |first=David A. |date=May 13, 2016 |title=The Lie of Trump's 'Self-Funding' Campaign |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/05/trumps-self-funding-lie/482691/ |access-date=June 7, 2018 |work=]}}</ref> ] was initially not taken seriously by political analysts, but he quickly rose to the top of opinion polls.<ref>{{cite news |last=Reeve |first=Elspeth |date=October 27, 2015 |title=How Donald Trump Evolved From a Joke to an Almost Serious Candidate |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/123228/how-donald-trump-evolved-joke-almost-serious-candidate |access-date=July 23, 2018 |magazine=]}}</ref> He became the front-runner in March 2016<ref>{{cite news |last=Bump |first=Philip |date=March 23, 2016 |title=Why Donald Trump is poised to win the nomination and lose the general election, in one poll |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/03/23/why-donald-trump-is-poised-to-win-the-nomination-and-lose-the-general-election-in-one-poll/ |access-date=October 1, 2021 |newspaper=]}}</ref> and was declared the presumptive Republican nominee in May.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nussbaum |first=Matthew |date=May 3, 2016 |title=RNC Chairman: Trump is our nominee |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/05/reince-priebus-donald-trump-is-nominee-222767 |access-date=May 4, 2016 |work=]}}</ref>


Trump's fame and provocative statements earned him an unprecedented amount of ], elevating his standing in the Republican primaries.<ref name="Cillizza-160614">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/06/14/this-harvard-study-is-a-powerful-indictment-of-the-medias-role-in-donald-trumps-rise/|title=This Harvard study is a powerful indictment of the media's role in Donald Trump's rise|first=Chris|last=Cillizza|author-link=Chris Cillizza|date=June 14, 2016|access-date=October 1, 2021|newspaper=]}}</ref> He adopted the phrase "truthful hyperbole", coined by his ghostwriter Tony Schwartz, to describe his public speaking style.<ref name="JM" /><ref>{{cite news|first1=Emily|last1=Flitter|first2=James|last2=Oliphant|title=Best president ever! How Trump's love of hyperbole could backfire|date=August 28, 2015|access-date=October 1, 2021|work=]|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-hyperbole-insight-idUSKCN0QX11X20150828}}</ref> His campaign statements were often opaque and suggestive,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/08/10/489476187/trump-s-second-amendment-comment-fit-a-pattern-of-ambiguous-speech|last=McCammon|first=Sarah|title=Donald Trump's controversial speech often walks the line|work=]|date=August 10, 2016|access-date=October 1, 2021}}</ref> and a record number were false.<ref name="whoppers">{{cite news|title=The 'King of Whoppers': Donald Trump|url=https://www.factcheck.org/2015/12/the-king-of-whoppers-donald-trump/|work=]|access-date=March 4, 2019|date=December 21, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2015/dec/21/2015-lie-year-donald-trump-campaign-misstatements/|title=2015 Lie of the Year: the campaign misstatements of Donald Trump|work=]|date=December 21, 2015|access-date=October 1, 2021|first1=Angie Drobnic|last1=Holan|author-link1=Angie Drobnic Holan|first2=Linda|last2=Qiu}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Paul|last=Farhi|title=Think Trump's wrong? Fact checkers can tell you how often. (Hint: A lot.)|date=February 26, 2016|access-date=October 1, 2021|newspaper=]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-existential-crisis-of-professional-factcheckers-in-the-year-of-trump/2016/02/25/e994f210-db3e-11e5-81ae-7491b9b9e7df_story.html}}</ref> He said he disdained ] and frequently made claims of ].<ref name="Walsh-160724">{{cite news|first=Kenneth T.|last=Walsh|author-link=Kenneth T. Walsh|title=Trump: Media Is 'Dishonest and Corrupt'|date=August 15, 2016|access-date=October 1, 2021|work=]|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-08-15/trump-media-is-dishonest-and-corrupt}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/07/06/donald-trumps-failing-war-on-political-correctness/|title=Donald Trump is waging war on political correctness. And he's losing.|first=Aaron|last=Blake|date=July 6, 2016|access-date=October 1, 2021|newspaper=]}}</ref>
==== Republican primaries ====


] ] led Trump in ] throughout the campaign, but, in early July, her lead narrowed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/data-points/poll-clinton-trump-now-tied-gop-convention-kicks-n611936|title=Poll: Clinton and Trump Now Tied as GOP Convention Kicks Off|last1=Hartig|first1=Hannah|last2=Lapinski|first2=John|last3=Psyllos|first3=Stephanie|date=July 19, 2016|access-date=October 1, 2021|work=]}}</ref> In mid-July he selected Indiana governor ] as his running mate,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/15/donald-trump-officially-names-mike-pence-as-his-vp.html|title=Donald Trump officially names Mike Pence for VP|last=Levingston|first=Ivan|date=July 15, 2016|access-date=October 1, 2021|work=]}}</ref> and the two were officially nominated at the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-closes-the-deal-becomes-republican-nominee-for-president|title=Trump closes the deal, becomes Republican nominee for president|date=July 19, 2016|access-date=October 1, 2021|work=]}}</ref> Trump and Clinton faced off in ] in September and October 2016. He twice refused to say whether he would accept the result of the election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2016-37706499|title=US presidential debate: Trump won't commit to accept election result|date=October 20, 2016|access-date=October 27, 2016|work=]}}</ref>
{{See also|2016 Republican Party presidential primaries}}
], July 2015]]


Trump described NATO as "obsolete"<ref>{{cite news|first=Jenna|last=Johnson|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/04/12/trump-on-nato-i-said-it-was-obsolete-its-no-longer-obsolete/|title=Trump on NATO: 'I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete.'|newspaper=]|date=April 12, 2017|access-date=November 26, 2019}}</ref>{{sfn|Edwards|2018|loc="On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly called North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 'obsolete'"}} and espoused views that were described as ] and protectionist.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rucker|first1=Philip|author-link1=Philip Rucker|last2=Costa|first2=Robert|author-link2=Robert Costa (journalist)|date=March 21, 2016|access-date=August 24, 2021|title=Trump questions need for NATO, outlines noninterventionist foreign policy|newspaper=]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/03/21/donald-trump-reveals-foreign-policy-team-in-meeting-with-the-washington-post/}}</ref> His campaign platform emphasized renegotiating ] and free trade agreements such as ], strongly enforcing immigration laws, and building ] along the ]. Other campaign positions included pursuing ] while opposing climate change regulations, modernizing ], repealing and replacing the ], abolishing ] education standards, ], simplifying the ] while reducing taxes, and imposing ]s on imports by companies that offshore jobs. He advocated increasing military spending and extreme vetting or banning of immigrants from Muslim-majority countries.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37982000|title=Trump's promises before and after the election|date=September 19, 2017|access-date=October 1, 2021|work=]}}</ref> Trump's proposed immigration policies were a topic of bitter debate during the 2016 campaign. He promised to build ] on the ] to restrict illegal movement and vowed that Mexico would pay for it.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 6, 2017 |title=Donald Trump's Mexico wall: Who is going to pay for it? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37243269 |access-date=December 9, 2017 |work=]}}</ref> He pledged to deport millions of ],<ref>{{cite news |date=August 19, 2015 |title=Donald Trump emphasizes plans to build 'real' wall at Mexico border |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/donald-trump-emphasizes-plans-to-build-real-wall-at-mexico-border-1.3196807 |access-date=September 29, 2015 |work=]}}</ref> and criticized ] for incentivizing "]".<ref>{{cite news |last=Oh |first=Inae |date=August 19, 2015 |title=Donald Trump: The 14th Amendment is Unconstitutional |url=https://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2015/08/donald-trump-has-some-thoughts-about-the-constitution |access-date=November 22, 2015 |work=]}}</ref> According to an analysis in '']'', Trump made "explicitly racist appeals to whites" during his 2016 presidential campaign.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Schaffner |first1=Brian F. |author-link1=Brian Schaffner |last2=Macwilliams |first2=Matthew |last3=Nteta |first3=Tatishe |date=March 2018 |title=Understanding White Polarization in the 2016 Vote for President: The Sobering Role of Racism and Sexism |journal=] |volume=133 |issue=1 |pages=9–34 |doi=10.1002/polq.12737 |doi-access=free}}</ref> In particular, his campaign launch speech drew criticism for claiming Mexican immigrants were "bringing drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapists";<ref>{{cite web |last=Wolf |first=Z. Byron |date=April 6, 2018 |title=Trump basically called Mexicans rapists again |url=https://cnn.com/2018/04/06/politics/trump-mexico-rapists/ |access-date=June 28, 2022 |work=]}}</ref> in response, NBC fired him from ''Celebrity Apprentice''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 13, 2015 |title=NBC Officially Fires Trump From 'Celebrity Apprentice' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/nbc-officially-fires-trump-celebrity-apprentice-n409381 |access-date=November 9, 2024 |work=] |agency=]}}</ref>
On June 16, 2015, Trump announced his candidacy for President of the United States.<ref name="spectacle">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/donald-trump-2016-announcement-10-best-lines-119066 |first=Adam B. |last=Lerner |title=The 10 best lines from Donald Trump's announcement speech |work=] |date=June 16, 2015 |accessdate=June 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/05/trumps-self-funding-lie/482691/ |title=The Lie of Trump's 'Self-Funding' Campaign |work=] |first=David A. |last=Graham |date=May 13, 2016 |accessdate=June 7, 2018}}</ref> His campaign was initially not taken seriously by political analysts, but he quickly rose to the top of opinion polls.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/123228/how-donald-trump-evolved-joke-almost-serious-candidate |date=October 27, 2015 |first=Elspeth |last=Reeve |title=How Donald Trump Evolved From a Joke to an Almost Serious Candidate |work=] |accessdate=July 23, 2018}}</ref>

On ], Trump received the most votes, and he remained the front-runner throughout the primaries.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/03/23/why-donald-trump-is-poised-to-win-the-nomination-and-lose-the-general-election-in-one-poll/ |title=Why Donald Trump is poised to win the nomination and lose the general election, in one poll |last=Bump |first=Philip |date=March 23, 2016 |work=]}}</ref> After a landslide win in ] on May 3, 2016{{snd}}which prompted the remaining candidates Cruz and ] to suspend their presidential campaigns{{snd}}] chairman ] declared Trump the presumptive Republican nominee.<ref name="politico_priebus">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/05/reince-priebus-donald-trump-is-nominee-222767 |title=RNC Chairman: Trump is our nominee |last=Nussbaum |first=Matthew |date=May 3, 2016 |accessdate=May 4, 2016 |work=]}}</ref>

==== General election campaign ====

] had a significant lead over Trump in ] throughout most of 2016. In early July, her lead narrowed in national polling averages.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/amp/poll-clinton-trump-now-tied-gop-convention-kicks-n611936 |title=Poll: Clinton and Trump Now Tied as GOP Convention Kicks Off |last1=Hartig |first1=Hannah |last2=Lapinski |first2=John |last3=Psyllos |first3=Stephanie |date=July 19, 2016 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/2016-general-election-trump-vs-clinton |title=2016 General Election: Trump vs. Clinton |accessdate=October 3, 2016 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_clinton-5491.html |title=General Election: Trump vs. Clinton |accessdate=October 3, 2016 |website=RealClearPolitics}}</ref>
] at the ], July 2016]]

On July 15, 2016, Trump announced his selection of Indiana governor ] as his vice presidential running mate.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/15/donald-trump-officially-names-mike-pence-as-his-vp.html |title=Donald Trump officially names Mike Pence for VP |last=Levingston |first=Ivan |date=July 15, 2016 |website=]}}</ref> Four days later, the two were officially nominated by the Republican Party at the Republican National Convention.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/07/19/republicans-start-process-to-nominate-trump-for-president.html |title=Trump closes the deal, becomes Republican nominee for president |date=July 19, 2016 |website=]}}</ref>

Trump and Clinton faced off in ] in September and October 2016. Trump's refusal to say whether he would accept the result of the election, regardless of the outcome, drew particular attention, with some saying it undermined democracy.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2016-37706499 |title=US presidential debate: Trump won't commit to accept election result |date=October 20, 2016 |accessdate=October 27, 2016 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-20/how-the-us-media-viewed-the-third-presidential-debate/7950418 |title=How US media reacted to the third presidential debate |date=October 20, 2016 |accessdate=October 27, 2016 |website=]}}</ref>

==== Political positions ====

{{Main|Political positions of Donald Trump}}

Trump's campaign platform emphasized renegotiating ] and free trade agreements such as ] and the ], strongly enforcing immigration laws, and building ] along the U.S.–Mexico border. His other campaign positions included pursuing ] while opposing climate change regulations such as the ] and the ], modernizing and expediting ], repealing and replacing the ], abolishing ] education standards, ], simplifying the ] while reducing taxes for all economic classes, and imposing ]s on imports by companies that offshore jobs. During the campaign, he also advocated a largely ] approach to foreign policy while increasing military spending, extreme vetting or banning immigrants from Muslim-majority countries<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37982000 |title=Trump's promises before and after election |date=September 19, 2017 |work=]}}</ref> to pre-empt domestic Islamic terrorism, and aggressive military action against the ]. During the campaign Trump repeatedly called ] "obsolete".<ref>{{cite news |first=Jenna |last=Johnson |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/04/12/trump-on-nato-i-said-it-was-obsolete-its-no-longer-obsolete/ |title=Trump on NATO: 'I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete.' |work=] |date=April 12, 2017 |accessdate=November 26, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |issn=0146-3373 |year=2018 |doi=10.1080/01463373.2018.1438485 |title=Make America Great Again: Donald Trump and Redefining the U.S. Role in the World |quote=On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly called North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 'obsolete'. |journal=] |volume=66 |issue=2<!-- |pages=176–195 --> |page=176 |first=Jason A. |last=Edwards|s2cid=149040989 }}</ref>

Trump's political positions and rhetoric are ].<ref name=":2">{{cite book |title=What Is Populism? |last=Muller |first=Jan-Werner |publisher=] |year=2016 |isbn=978-0-8122-9378-4 |page=101}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first1=Todd |last1=Donovan |first2=David |last2=Redlawsk |title=Donald Trump and right-wing populists in comparative perspective |volume=28 |issue=2 |year=2018 |journal=Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17457289.2018.1441844|pages=190–207|doi=10.1080/17457289.2018.1441844 |s2cid=148746487 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first1=Thomas |last1=Ferguson |first2=Benjamin I. |last2=Page |first3=Jacob |last3=Rothschild |first4=Arturo |last4=Chang |first5=Jie |last5=Chen |title= The Roots of Right-Wing Populism: Donald Trump in 2016 |volume=49 |issue=2 |year=2020 |journal=International Journal of Political Economy |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08911916.2020.1778861?|pages=102–123|doi=10.1080/08911916.2020.1778861 |s2cid=221061555 }}</ref> He supported or leaned toward varying political positions over time.<ref name="davida.fahrenthold">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/08/17/20-times-donald-trump-has-changed-his-mind-since-june/ |title=20 times Donald Trump has changed his mind since June |last=Fahrenthold |first=David A. |authorlink=David Fahrenthold |date=August 17, 2015 |work=]}}</ref><ref name="thehillFLIP">{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/247643-meet-the-press-tracks-trumps-flip-flops |title='Meet the Press' tracks Trump's flip-flops |last=Hensch |first=Mark |date=July 12, 2015 |work=]}}</ref> '']'' has described his positions as "eclectic, improvisational and often contradictory",<ref name="real Donald">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/will-the-real-donald-trump-please-stand-up-120607 |title=Will the real Donald Trump please stand up? |last=Noah |first=Timothy |authorlink=Timothy Noah |date=July 26, 2015 |work=]}}</ref> while NBC News counted "141 distinct shifts on 23 major issues" during his campaign.<ref name="nbcnews.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/full-list-donald-trump-s-rapidly-changing-policy-positions-n547801 |title=A Full List of Donald Trump's Rapidly Changing Policy Positions |last=Timm |first=Jane C. |accessdate=July 12, 2016 |website=]}}</ref>

==== Campaign rhetoric ====

In his campaign, Trump said he disdained ] and frequently made claims of ].<ref name=Walsh-160724>{{cite news |first=Kenneth T. |last=Walsh |authorlink=Kenneth T. Walsh |title=Trump: Media Is 'Dishonest and Corrupt' |date=August 15, 2016 |website=] |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-08-15/trump-media-is-dishonest-and-corrupt}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Ted |last=Koppel |authorlink=Ted Koppel |title=Trump: "I feel I'm an honest person" |date=July 24, 2016 |website=] |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-i-feel-im-an-honest-person/}}</ref><ref name=Blake-150706>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/07/06/donald-trumps-failing-war-on-political-correctness/ |title=Donald Trump is waging war on political correctness. And he's losing. |first=Aaron |last=Blake |date=July 6, 2015 |work=]}}</ref> His fame and provocative statements earned him an unprecedented amount of ], elevating his standing in the Republican primaries.<ref name=Cillizza-160614>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/06/14/this-harvard-study-is-a-powerful-indictment-of-the-medias-role-in-donald-trumps-rise/ |title=This Harvard study is a powerful indictment of the media's role in Donald Trump's rise |first=Chris |last=Cillizza |authorlink=Chris Cillizza |date=June 14, 2016 |work=]}}</ref>

Trump made a record number of false statements compared to other candidates;<ref name="whoppers"/><ref name="year">{{cite news |url=https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2015/dec/21/2015-lie-year-donald-trump-campaign-misstatements/ |title=2015 Lie of the Year: the campaign misstatements of Donald Trump |website=] |date=December 21, 2015 |first1=Angie Drobnic |last1=Holan |author1link=Angie Drobnic Holan |first2=Linda |last2=Qiu}}</ref><ref name="wapo-false">{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Farhi |title=Think Trump's wrong? Fact checkers can tell you how often. (Hint: A lot.) |date=February 26, 2016 |website=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-existential-crisis-of-professional-factcheckers-in-the-year-of-trump/2016/02/25/e994f210-db3e-11e5-81ae-7491b9b9e7df_story.html}}</ref> the press reported on his campaign lies and falsehoods, with the ''Los Angeles Times'' saying, "Never in modern presidential politics has a major candidate made false statements as routinely as Trump has."<ref>{{cite news |website=] |url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/09/25/media/newspapers-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-lies/index.html |title=The weekend America's newspapers called Donald Trump a liar |first=Brian |last=Stelter |authorlink=Brian Stelter |date=September 26, 2016}}</ref> His campaign statements were often opaque or suggestive.<ref>{{cite news |last=McCammon |first=Sarah |title=Donald Trump's controversial speech often walks the line |website=] |date=August 10, 2016 |quote=Many of Trump's opaque statements seem to rely on suggestion and innuendo.}}</ref>

Trump adopted the phrase "truthful hyperbole", coined by his ghostwriter ], to describe his public speaking style.<ref name="reuters-20150828">{{cite news |first1=Emily |last1=Flitter |first2=James |last2=Oliphant |title=Best president ever! How Trump's love of hyperbole could backfire |date=August 28, 2015 |work=] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-hyperbole-insight-idUSKCN0QX11X20150828}}</ref><ref name=Konnikova />

==== <span id="White supremacist support"></span> Support from the far right ====

According to ], the Trump campaign was remarkable for bringing fringe ideas, beliefs, and organizations into the mainstream.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Barkun |first=Michael |authorlink=Michael Barkun |year=2017<!-- |issn=0954-6553 (print) --> |title=President Trump and the ''Fringe'' |journal=] |volume=29<!-- |pages=437–443 --> |issue=3 |page=437 |doi=10.1080/09546553.2017.1313649 |s2cid=152199771 |issn=1556-1836}}</ref> During his presidential campaign, Trump was accused of pandering to white supremacists.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lopez |first=German |title=We need to stop acting like Trump isn't pandering to white supremacists |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/8/13/16140504/trump-charlottesville-white-supremacists |accessdate=January 2, 2018 |work=] |date=August 14, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Blow |first=Charles M. |authorlink=Charles M. Blow |title=Is Trump a White Supremacist? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/18/opinion/trump-white-supremacist.html |work=] |date=September 18, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kharakh |first1=Ben |last2=Primack |first2=Dan |title=Donald Trump's Social Media Ties to White Supremacists |url=https://fortune.com/donald-trump-white-supremacist-genocide/ |work=] |date=March 22, 2016}}</ref> He retweeted open racists,<ref>{{cite news |last=White |first=Daniel |title=Trump Criticized for Retweeting Racist Account |url=https://time.com/4190482/donald-trump-twitter-racist-retweet/ |work=] |date=January 26, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=White Nationalists and the Alt-Right Celebrate Trump's Victory |date=November 9, 2016 |url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2016/11/09/white-nationalists-and-alt-right-celebrate-trump%E2%80%99s-victory |website=] |accessdate=November 10, 2016}}</ref> and repeatedly refused to condemn ], the ] or white supremacists, in an interview on CNN's '']'', saying he would first need to "do research" because he knew nothing about Duke or white supremacists.<ref>{{cite news |title=Donald Trump Refuses to Condemn KKK, Disavow David Duke Endorsement |url=https://time.com/4240268/donald-trump-kkk-david-duke/ |accessdate=January 20, 2018 |work=] |date=February 28, 2016 |first=Melissa |last=Chan}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lozada |first=Carlos |title=Donald Trump and the alt-right: A marriage of convenience |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/book-party/wp/2016/12/30/donald-trump-and-the-alt-right-a-marriage-of-convenience/ |accessdate=March 18, 2017 |work=] |date=December 30, 2016}}</ref> Duke himself enthusiastically supported Trump throughout the 2016 primary and election, and has said he and like-minded people voted for Trump because of his promises to "take our country back".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.vox.com/2017/8/12/16138358/charlottesville-protests-david-duke-kkk |title="Why we voted for Donald Trump": David Duke explains the white supremacist Charlottesville protests |last=Nelson |first=Libby |date=August 12, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=August 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/08/15/david-duke-reaction-trump-news-conference/570517001/ |title=Former KKK leader David Duke praises Trump for his 'courage' |last=Cummings |first=William |date=August 15, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=August 18, 2018}}</ref>

After repeated questioning by reporters, Trump said he disavowed Duke and the Klan.<ref name="cnnduke">{{cite news |website=] |date=March 3, 2016 |first=Eugene |last=Scott |title=Trump denounces David Duke, KKK |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/03/03/politics/donald-trump-disavows-david-duke-kkk/index.html}}</ref>

The ] movement coalesced around and enthusiastically supported Trump's candidacy,<ref name="WPechoes">{{cite news |last=Ohlheiser |first=Abby |title=Anti-Semitic Trump supporters made a giant list of people to target with a racist meme |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2016/06/03/anti-semitic-trump-supporters-made-a-giant-list-of-people-to-target-with-a-racist-meme/ |work=] |date=June 3, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hawley |first=George |title=Making Sense of the Alt-Right |date=2017 |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-231-54600-3}}</ref> due in part to its ] and ].<ref>{{cite news |last=Weigel |first=David |authorlink=David Weigel |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/racial-realists-are-cheered-by-trumps-latest-strategy/2016/08/20/cd71e858-6636-11e6-96c0-37533479f3f5_story.html |title='Racialists' are cheered by Trump's latest strategy |work=] |date=August 20, 2016 |accessdate=June 23, 2018}}</ref><ref name="CNNexplained">{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/08/25/politics/alt-right-explained-hillary-clinton-donald-trump/ |title=Clinton is attacking the 'Alt-Right' – What is it? |first=Gregory |last=Krieg |accessdate=August 25, 2016 |date=August 25, 2016 |website=]}}</ref><ref name="ft">{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e148d930-6cdb-11e6-9ac1-1055824ca907.html |title='Alt-right' movement makes mark on US presidential election |first=Demetri |last=Sevastopulo |work=]}}</ref>

In August 2016, he appointed ]{{snd}}the executive chairman of ]{{snd}}as his campaign CEO; Bannon described Breitbart News as "the platform for the alt-right".<ref>{{cite news |title=Clickbait scoops and an engaged alt-right: everything to know about Breitbart News |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/nov/15/breitbart-news-alt-right-stephen-bannon-trump-administration |accessdate=November 18, 2016 |work=] |date=November 15, 2016 |first=Jason |last=Wilson}}</ref> In an interview days after the election, Trump condemned supporters who celebrated his victory with Nazi salutes.<ref name=BBC.Disavows>{{cite news |title=Trump disavows 'alt-right' supporters |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38069469 |work=] |date=November 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=November 23, 2016 |title=Donald Trump's New York Times Interview: Full Transcript |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/23/us/politics/trump-new-york-times-interview-transcript.html}}</ref>


==== Financial disclosures ==== ==== Financial disclosures ====
{{Further|Tax returns of Donald Trump}}
As a candidate, Trump's FEC-required reports listed assets above $1.4&nbsp;billion<ref name="Yahoo News FEC">{{cite news |first1=Jeff|last1=Horwitz|first2=Stephen|last2=Braun|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/donald-trump-wealth-details-released-federal-regulators-165854286--finance.html/ |website=] |title=Donald Trump wealth details released by federal regulators |date=July 22, 2015 |accessdate=August 9, 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801033902/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/donald-trump-wealth-details-released-federal-regulators-165854286--finance.html |archivedate=August 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=] |via=] |date=July 15, 2015 |title=Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report (U.S. OGE Form 278e) |url=https://images.businessweek.com/cms/2015-07-22/7-22-15-Report.pdf |archivedate=July 23, 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723053945/https://images.businessweek.com/cms/2015-07-22/7-22-15-Report.pdf}}</ref> and outstanding debts of at least $315&nbsp;million.<ref name="cnn-20160519" />
Trump's FEC-required reports listed assets above $1.4&nbsp;billion and outstanding debts of at least $315&nbsp;million.<ref name="disclosure">{{cite news |last1=Diamond |first1=Jeremy |last2=Frates |first2=Chris |date=July 22, 2015 |title=Donald Trump's 92-page financial disclosure released |url=https://cnn.com/2015/07/22/politics/donald-trump-personal-financial-disclosure/ |access-date=September 14, 2022 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|work=]|via=]|date=July 15, 2015|title=Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report (U.S. OGE Form 278e)|url=https://images.businessweek.com/cms/2015-07-22/7-22-15-Report.pdf|archive-date=July 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723053945/https://images.businessweek.com/cms/2015-07-22/7-22-15-Report.pdf|access-date=December 21, 2023}}</ref>

Trump has not released ], contrary to the practice of every major candidate since 1976 and his promises in 2014 and 2015 to do so if he ran for office.<ref name="Rappeport">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/05/11/donald-trump-breaks-with-recent-history-by-not-releasing-tax-returns/ |title=Donald Trump Breaks With Recent History by Not Releasing Tax Returns |last=Rappeport |first=Alan |authorlink=Alan Rappeport |date=May 11, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=July 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Qiu |first1=Linda |title=Pence's False claim that Trump 'hasn't broken' tax return promise |url=https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/oct/05/mike-pence/pences-false-claim-trump-hasnt-broken-tax-return-p/ |work=] |access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> He said his tax returns were being audited (in actuality, audits do not prevent release of tax returns), and his lawyers had advised him against releasing them.<ref name="CNNtax26Feb">{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/02/26/pf/taxes/trump-tax-returns-audit/ |title=Trump says he can't release tax returns because of audits |last1=Isidore |first1=Chris |last2=Sahadi |first2=Jeanne |date=February 26, 2016 |accessdate=February 26, 2016 |website=]}}</ref> Trump has told the press his tax rate is none of their business, and that he tries to pay "as little tax as possible".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/13/politics/donald-trump-tax-rate-none-of-your-business/ |title=Trump on his tax rate: 'None of your business' |last=Kopan |first=Tal |authorlink=Tal Kopan |date=May 13, 2016 |website=]}}</ref> He did not release ], contrary to the practice of every major candidate since 1976 and his promises in 2014 and 2015 to do so if he ran for office.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/05/11/donald-trump-breaks-with-recent-history-by-not-releasing-tax-returns/|title=Donald Trump Breaks With Recent History by Not Releasing Tax Returns|last=Rappeport|first=Alan|author-link=Alan Rappeport|date=May 11, 2016|work=]|access-date=July 19, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Qiu|first=Linda|title=Pence's False claim that Trump 'hasn't broken' tax return promise|url=https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/oct/05/mike-pence/pences-false-claim-trump-hasnt-broken-tax-return-p/|work=]|date=October 5, 2016|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> He said his tax returns were being ], and that his lawyers had advised him against releasing them.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/02/26/pf/taxes/trump-tax-returns-audit/|title=Trump says he can't release tax returns because of audits|last1=Isidore|first1=Chris|last2=Sahadi|first2=Jeanne|date=February 26, 2016|access-date=March 1, 2023|work=]}}</ref> After a lengthy court battle to block release of his tax returns and other records to the ] for a criminal investigation, including two appeals by Trump to the ], in February 2021 the high court allowed the records to be released to the prosecutor for review by a grand jury.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://cnn.com/2021/02/22/politics/supreme-court-trump-taxes-vance/|title=Supreme Court allows release of Trump tax returns to NY prosecutor|first=Ariane|last=de Vogue|date=February 22, 2021|access-date=September 14, 2022|work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Jessica|last=Gresko|url=https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-donald-trump-tax-rercords-3aee14146906351ee9dd34aa7b6f4386|title=Supreme Court won't halt turnover of Trump's tax records|date=February 22, 2021|access-date=October 2, 2021|work=]}}</ref>

In October 2016, portions of Trump's state filings for 1995 were leaked to a reporter from ''The New York Times''. They show that Trump had declared a loss of $916&nbsp;million that year, which could have let him avoid taxes for up to 18 years. During the second presidential debate, Trump acknowledged using the deduction, but declined to provide details such as the specific years it was applied.<ref name="nyt-20161010">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/10/us/politics/donald-trump-taxes.html |title=Donald Trump Acknowledges Not Paying Federal Income Taxes for Years |last1=Eder |first1=Steve |last2=Twohey |first2=Megan |author2link=Megan Twohey |date=October 10, 2016 |work=]}}</ref>

On March 14, 2017, the first two pages of Trump's 2005 federal income tax returns were leaked to ]. The document states that Trump had a gross adjusted income of $150&nbsp;million and paid $38&nbsp;million in federal taxes. The White House confirmed the authenticity of the documents.<ref name="nyt-taxes">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/14/us/politics/donald-trump-taxes.html |title=Trump Wrote Off $100 Million in Business Losses in 2005 |last1=Baker |first1=Peter |author1link=Peter Baker (journalist) |last2=Drucker |first2=Jesse |last3=Craig |first3=Susanne |author3link=Susanne Craig |last4=Barstow |first4=David |author4link=David Barstow |date=March 15, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=March 15, 2017}}</ref><ref name="hill-taxes">{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/324016-wh-releases-trump-tax-info-ahead-of-msnbc-report-made-150m-in-2005 |title=WH releases Trump tax info ahead of MSNBC report: He paid $38M in federal taxes in '05 |last=Jagoda |first=Naomi |accessdate=March 15, 2017 |website=]}}</ref>

In 2019, the ] sought Trump's personal and business tax returns from 2013 to 2018 from the ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/79e6935010f94b399bb5e967ad6c1ec2 |title=House chairman asks IRS for 6 years of Trump's tax returns |first=Marcy |last=Gordon |date=April 4, 2019 |website=]}}</ref> Treasury Secretary ] refused to turn over the documents,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/treasury-says-it-will-miss-democrats-deadline-for-turning-over-trump-tax-returns/2019/04/10/14319f9c-5bce-11e9-842d-7d3ed7eb3957_story.html |title=Treasury says it will miss Democrats' deadline for turning over Trump tax returns, casts skepticism over request |website=] |date=April 10, 2019 |first1=Jeff |last1=Stein |first2=Damian |last2=Paletta |author2link=Damian Paletta}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/23/donald-trump-tax-returns-deadline-1288760 |title=IRS blows deadline to hand over Trump tax returns |first=Aaron |last=Lorenzo |website=] |date=April 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/us/politics/trump-tax-returns-mnuchin.html |title=Steven Mnuchin Refuses to Release Trump's Tax Documents to Congress |first=Alan |last=Rappeport |authorlink=Alan Rappeport |date=May 6, 2019 |work=]}}</ref> and ultimately defied a ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/mnuchin-defies-subpoena-for-president-trumps-tax-returns-11558123367 |title=Mnuchin Defies Subpoena for President Trump's Tax Returns |first=Richard |last=Rubin |date=May 17, 2019 |work=]}}</ref> A fall 2018 draft IRS legal memo asserted that tax returns must be provided to Congress upon request, unless a president invokes executive privilege, contradicting the administration's position.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/confidential-draft-irs-memo-says-tax-returns-must-be-given-to-congress-unless-president-invokes-executive-privilege/2019/05/21/8ed41834-7b1c-11e9-8bb7-0fc796cf2ec0_story.html |title=Confidential draft IRS memo says tax returns must be given to Congress unless president invokes executive privilege |website=] |date=May 21, 2019 |first1=Jeff |last1=Stein |first2=Josh |last2=Dawsey |author2link=Josh Dawsey}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/22/steven-mnuchin-irs-trump-tax-returns-1339270 |title=Mnuchin dismisses IRS memo saying Congress must be given Trump's tax returns |first=Toby |last=Eckert |website=] |date=May 22, 2019}}</ref>


In October 2016, portions of Trump's state filings for 1995 were leaked to a reporter from ''The New York Times''. They show that he had declared a loss of $916&nbsp;million that year, which could have let him avoid taxes for up to 18 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/10/us/politics/donald-trump-taxes.html|title=Donald Trump Acknowledges Not Paying Federal Income Taxes for Years|last1=Eder|first1=Steve|last2=Twohey|first2=Megan|author-link2=Megan Twohey|date=October 10, 2016|access-date=October 2, 2021|work=]}}</ref>
==== Election to the presidency ====


==== Results ====
{{Main|2016 United States presidential election}} {{Main|2016 United States presidential election}}
]


On November 8, 2016, Trump received 306 pledged ] versus 232 for Clinton. The official counts were 304 and 227 respectively, after ].<ref>{{cite news |first1=Kiersten |last1=Schmidt |first2=Wilson |last2=Andrews |title=A Historic Number of Electors Defected, and Most Were Supposed to Vote for Clinton |date=December 19, 2016 |accessdate=January 31, 2017 |website=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/19/us/elections/electoral-college-results.html}}</ref> Trump received nearly 2.9&nbsp;million fewer popular votes than Clinton, which made him the fifth person to be elected president ].{{efn|Records on this matter date from the year 1824. The number "five" includes the elections of ], ], ], ], and ]. Despite their similarities, some of these five elections had peculiar results; e.g. ] trailed in ''both'' the national popular vote and the electoral college in 1824 (since no one had a majority in the electoral college, Adams was chosen by the House of Representatives), and ] in 1876 remains the only losing candidate to win an actual majority of the popular vote (rather than just a ]).<ref>{{cite book |last=Thomas |first=G. Scott |title=Counting the Votes: A New Way to Analyze America's Presidential Elections |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XvxPCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA125 |page=125 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |date=2015 |isbn=978-1-4408-3883-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Cheney |first=Kyle |authorlink=Kyle Cheney (journalist) |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/donald-trump-electoral-college-232665 |title=Trump lawyer cites 1876 crisis to rebuke Electoral College suit |website=] |date=December 14, 2016}}</ref>}}<ref>{{cite web |last=Desilver |first=Drew |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/12/20/why-electoral-college-landslides-are-easier-to-win-than-popular-vote-ones/ |title=Trump's victory another example of how Electoral College wins are bigger than popular vote ones |website=] |date=December 20, 2017}}</ref> Clinton was ahead nationwide, with 65,853,514 votes ({{percentage|<!-- CLINTON: --> 65,853,514|<!-- TOTAL: --> 136,669,276|2|pad=yes}}) compared to Trump's 62,984,828 votes ({{percentage|<!-- TRUMP: --> 62,984,828|<!-- TOTAL: --> 136,669,276|2|pad=yes}}).<ref>{{cite web |title=Official 2016 Presidential General Election Results |url=https://transition.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2016/federalelections2016.pdf |website=] |date=December 2017 |accessdate=February 12, 2018}}</ref> On November&nbsp;8, 2016, Trump received 306 pledged ] versus 232 for Clinton, although, after elector ], the official count was ultimately 304 to 227.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Kiersten|last1=Schmidt|first2=Wilson|last2=Andrews|title=A Historic Number of Electors Defected, and Most Were Supposed to Vote for Clinton|date=December 19, 2016|access-date=January 31, 2017|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/19/us/elections/electoral-college-results.html}}</ref> The fifth person to be elected president ],{{efn|name=electoral-college|Presidential elections in the U.S. are decided by the ]. Each state names a number of electors equal to its representation in ] and (in most states) all electors vote for the winner of their state's popular vote.}} he received nearly 2.9&nbsp;million fewer votes than Clinton.<ref>{{cite news|last=Desilver|first=Drew|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/12/20/why-electoral-college-landslides-are-easier-to-win-than-popular-vote-ones/|title=Trump's victory another example of how Electoral College wins are bigger than popular vote ones|website=]|date=December 20, 2016|access-date=October 2, 2021}}</ref> He was the only president who neither served in the military nor held any government office prior to becoming president.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/11/11/13587532/donald-trump-no-experience|title=Donald Trump will be the only US president ever with no political or military experience|last=Crockett|first=Zachary|date=November 11, 2016|work=]|access-date=January 3, 2017}}</ref>
] in Washington, D.C., on January&nbsp;21, 2017|alt=Pennsylvania Ave., completely packed with protesters, mostly women, many wearing pink and holding signs with progressive feminist slogans]]
] and president-elect Trump on November 10, 2016]]
Trump won 30 states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, states which had been considered a ] of Democratic strongholds since the 1990s. Clinton won 20 states and the District of Columbia. His victory marked the return of an ] Republican government—a Republican president combined with Republican control of both chambers of Congress.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=]|date=November 9, 2016|access-date=October 2, 2021|first=Amber|last=Phillips|title=Republicans are poised to grasp the holy grail of governance|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/09/republicans-are-about-to-reach-the-holy-grail-of-governance/}}</ref>
Trump's victory was a political upset.<ref name=Maxwell>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/election-results-2016-clinton-trump-231070 |title=Trump pulls off biggest upset in U.S. history |work=] |date=November 9, 2016 |first=Maxwell |last=Tani |accessdate=November 9, 2016}}</ref> Polls had consistently shown Clinton with a ]{{snd}}though diminishing{{snd}}lead, as well as a favorable advantage in most of the ]. Trump's support had been modestly underestimated, while Clinton's had been overestimated.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/10/upshot/why-trump-won-working-class-whites.html |title=Why Trump Won: Working-Class Whites |work=] |date=November 9, 2016 |first=Nate |last=Cohn |accessdate=November 9, 2016}}</ref> The polls were relatively accurate,<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=January 17, 2017 |first=Nate |last=Silver |authorlink=Nate Silver |title=Can You Trust Trump's Approval Rating Polls? |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/can-you-trust-polling-in-the-age-of-trump/}}</ref> but media outlets and pundits alike showed overconfidence in a Clinton victory despite a large number of undecided voters and a favorable concentration of Trump's core constituencies in competitive states.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=September 21, 2017 |first=Nate |last=Silver |authorlink=Nate Silver |title=The Media Has A Probability Problem |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-media-has-a-probability-problem/}}</ref>


Trump's election victory ] in major U.S. cities.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Logan|first1=Brian|last2=Sanchez|first2=Chris|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/anti-donald-trump-protest-united-states-2016-11|title=Protests against Donald Trump break out nationwide|date=November 10, 2016|work=]|access-date=September 16, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Mele|first1=Christopher|last2=Correal|first2=Annie|title='Not Our President': Protests Spread After Donald Trump's Election|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/10/us/trump-election-protests.html|work=]|date=November 9, 2016|access-date=May 10, 2024}}</ref> On the day after his inauguration, an estimated 2.6&nbsp;million people worldwide, including an estimated half million in Washington, D.C., protested against him in the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/21/womens-march-aims-start-movement-trump-inauguration/96864158/|title=At 2.6 million strong, Women's Marches crush expectations|last1=Przybyla|first1=Heidi M.|last2=Schouten|first2=Fredreka|date=January 21, 2017|work=]|access-date=January 22, 2017}}</ref>
Trump won 30 states; included were ], ], and ], which had been part of what was considered a ] of Democratic strongholds since the 1990s. Clinton won 20&nbsp;states and the ]. Trump's victory marked the return of an ] Republican government{{snd}}a Republican White House combined with Republican control of both chambers of ].<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=November 9, 2016 |first=Amber |last=Phillips |title=Republicans are poised to grasp the holy grail of governance |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/09/republicans-are-about-to-reach-the-holy-grail-of-governance/}}</ref>


== First presidency (2017–2021) ==
Trump is the oldest person to take office as president.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/06/14/481991965/its-trumps-birthday-if-he-wins-hed-be-the-oldest-president-ever-to-take-office |title=It's Trump's Birthday. If He Wins, He'd Be The Oldest President Ever To Take Office |last=Kurtzlebel |first=Danielle |date=June 14, 2016 |website=] |accessdate=May 3, 2019}}</ref> He is also ] who did not serve in the military or hold any government office prior to becoming president.<ref>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Weber |title=Donald Trump will be the first U.S. president with no government or military experience |date=November 9, 2016 |website=] |url=https://theweek.com/speedreads/660840/donald-trump-first-president-no-government-military-experience}}</ref><ref name="voxexp">{{cite news |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/11/11/13587532/donald-trump-no-experience |title=Donald Trump will be the only US president ever with no political or military experience |last=Crockett |first=Zachary |date=November 11, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=January 3, 2017}}</ref>
{{Main|First presidency of Donald Trump}}
{{For timeline|Timeline of the Donald Trump presidencies}}


==== Protests ==== === Early actions ===
{{See also|First presidential transition of Donald Trump|First 100 days of the first Donald Trump presidency}}
] administered by ] ] at ], January&nbsp;20, 2017.|alt=Trump, with his family watching, raises his right hand and places his left hand on the Bible as he takes the oath of office. Roberts stands opposite him administering the oath.]]


] on January&nbsp;20, 2017. During his first week in office, he signed ], authorizing interim procedures in anticipation of repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare"), withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, reinstatement of the ], advancement of the ] and ] construction projects, reinforcement of border security, and a planning and design process to construct a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico.<ref>{{cite news|last=Quigley|first=Aidan|title=All of Trump's executive actions so far|url=https://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2017/01/all-trump-executive-actions-000288|access-date=January 28, 2017|work=]|date=January 25, 2017}}</ref>
{{Main|Protests against Donald Trump}}
] in Washington on January 21, 2017, a day after Trump's inauguration]]


Trump's daughter Ivanka and son-in-law ] became his ] and ], respectively.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2017/03/family-affair|author=V.V.B|title=Ivanka Trump's new job|date=March 31, 2017|access-date=April 3, 2017|newspaper=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Michael S.|last1=Schmidt|author-link1=Michael S. Schmidt|first2=Eric|last2=Lipton|author-link2=Eric Lipton|first3=Charlie|last3=Savage|author-link3=Charlie Savage (author)|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/21/us/politics/donald-trump-jared-kushner-justice-department.html|title=Jared Kushner, Trump's Son-in-Law, Is Cleared to Serve as Adviser|work=]|date=January 21, 2017|access-date=May 7, 2017}}</ref>
Some rallies during the primary season were accompanied by protests or violence, both inside and outside the venues.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/03/10/trump-protester-sucker-punched-at-north-carolina-rally-videos-show/ |title=Trump supporter charged after sucker-punching protester at North Carolina rally |last1=Moyer |first1=Justin Wm. |author1link=Justin Moyer |last2=Starrs |first2=Jenny |last3=Larimer |first3=Sarah |date=March 11, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=August 31, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/06/03/ugly-bloody-scenes-in-san-jose-as-protesters-attack-trump-supporters-outside-rally/ |title=Ugly, bloody scenes in San Jose as protesters attack Trump supporters outside rally |last1=Sullivan |first1=Sean |last2=Miller |first2=Michael E. |date=June 3, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=August 31, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/27/politics/donald-trump-san-diego-protesters/ |title=Pro-Trump, anti-Trump groups clash in San Diego |last=Diamond |first=Jeremy |authorlink=Jeremy Diamond (journalist) |date=May 28, 2016 |accessdate=August 31, 2016 |website=]}}</ref> Trump's election victory sparked protests across the United States, in opposition to his policies and his inflammatory statements. Trump initially tweeted that these were "professional protesters, incited by the media" and "unfair", but later "Love the fact that the small groups of protesters last night have passion for our great country."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/11/10/trump-tweet-professional-protesters-media/93624612/ |title=Trump calls protests 'unfair' in first controversial tweet as president-elect |last=Cummings |first=William |date=November 11, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=November 27, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://uk.businessinsider.com/trump-tweets-that-protesters-have-passion-for-our-great-country-2016-11 |title=Trump says protesters have 'passion for our great country' after calling demonstrations 'very unfair' |last=Colson |first=Thomas |date=November 11, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=November 14, 2016}}</ref>


=== Conflicts of interest ===
In the weeks following Trump's inauguration, massive anti-Trump demonstrations took place, such as the ], which gathered 2.6&nbsp;million people worldwide,<ref name="USAToday01a">{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/21/womens-march-aims-start-movement-trump-inauguration/96864158/ |title=At 2.6 million strong, Women's Marches crush expectations |last1=Przybyla |first1=Heidi M. |last2=Schouten |first2=Fredreka |date=January 22, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=January 22, 2017}}</ref> including 500,000 in Washington alone.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/womens-march-on-washington-pink-pussy-hat-500000-donald-trump-resist-latest-a7540396.html |title=We asked ten people why they felt empowered wearing a pink 'pussy' hat |last=Buncombe |first=Andrew |date=January 22, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=January 15, 2017}}</ref> Marches against his ] began across the country on January 29, 2017, just nine days after his inauguration.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thinkprogress.org/muslim-ban-protests-344f6e66022e/ |title=Here's your list of all the protests happening against the Muslim Ban |work=] |date=January 28, 2017 |first=Adrienne Mahsa |last=Varkiani |accessdate=September 18, 2018}}{{better source|date=February 2020}}</ref>
{{See also|First presidency of Donald Trump#Ethics}}
Before being inaugurated, Trump moved his businesses into a ],<ref>{{cite news|first=Marilyn|last=Geewax|title=Trump Has Revealed Assumptions About Handling Presidential Wealth, Businesses|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/01/20/576871315/trump-has-revealed-assumptions-about-handling-presidential-wealth-businesses|work=]|date=January 20, 2018|access-date=October 2, 2021}}</ref><ref name="BBC041817">{{cite news|title=Donald Trump: A list of potential conflicts of interest|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38069298|work=]|date=April 18, 2017|access-date=October 2, 2021}}</ref> rather than a ] or equivalent arrangement "to cleanly sever himself from his business interests".<ref>{{Cite news|first1=Karen|last1=Yourish|first2=Larry|last2=Buchanan|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/12/us/politics/ethics-experts-trumps-conflicts-of-interest.html|access-date=September 3, 2024|title=It 'Falls Short in Every Respect': Ethics Experts Pan Trump's Conflicts Plan|work=]|date=January 12, 2017}}</ref> He continued to profit from his businesses and to know how his administration's policies affected his businesses.<ref name="BBC041817"/><ref name="Venook">{{cite news|last=Venook|first=Jeremy|title=Trump's Interests vs. America's, Dubai Edition|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/08/donald-trump-conflicts-of-interests/508382/|work=]|date=August 9, 2017|access-date=October 2, 2021}}</ref> Although he said he would eschew "new foreign deals", the Trump Organization pursued expansions of its operations in Scotland, Dubai, and the Dominican Republic.<ref name="BBC041817"/><ref name="Venook"/> Lobbyists, foreign government officials, and Trump donors and allies generated hundreds of millions of dollars for his resorts and hotels.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stone|first=Peter|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/19/donald-trump-businesses-hotels-conflict-of-interest|title=How Trump's businesses are booming with lobbyists, donors and governments|work=]|date=July 19, 2019|access-date=November 20, 2024}}</ref>


Trump was sued for violating the ] and ]s of the ], marking the first time that the clauses had been substantively litigated.<ref name=CRSRpt>{{cite report|title=In Focus: The Emoluments Clauses of the U.S. Constitution|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/IF11086.pdf|date=August 19, 2020|access-date=October 2, 2021|work=]}}</ref> One case was dismissed in lower court.<ref>{{cite news|last=LaFraniere|first=Sharon|author-link=Sharon LaFraniere|title=Lawsuit on Trump Emoluments Violations Gains Traction in Court|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/25/us/politics/trump-emoluments-lawsuit.html|date=January 25, 2018|work=]|access-date=January 25, 2018}}</ref> Two were dismissed by the U.S. Supreme Court as moot after the end of his term.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://cnn.com/2021/01/25/politics/emoluments-supreme-court-donald-trump-case/|title=Supreme Court dismisses emoluments cases against Trump|first1=Ariane|last1=de Vogue|first2=Devan|last2=Cole|work=]|date=January 25, 2021|access-date=September 14, 2022}}</ref>
== Presidency (2017–present) ==

{{Main|Presidency of Donald Trump}}
{{for timeline|Timeline of the Donald Trump presidency}}

=== Early actions ===

{{See also|Presidential transition of Donald Trump|First 100 days of Donald Trump's presidency}}
], ], ].]]

] as the 45th president of the United States on January 20, 2017. During his first week in office, he signed ]: interim procedures in anticipation of repealing the ] ("Obamacare"), withdrawal from the ] negotiations, reinstatement of the ], unlocking the ] and ] construction projects, reinforcing border security, and beginning the planning and design process to construct a ].<ref name=exec-summary>{{cite news |last=Quigley |first=Aidan |title=All of Trump's executive actions so far |url=https://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2017/01/all-trump-executive-actions-000288 |accessdate=January 28, 2017 |work=] |date=January 25, 2017}}</ref>

Upon inauguration, Trump delegated the management of his real estate business to his sons Eric and Donald Jr.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/12/us/politics/eric-trump-donald-trump-jr.html |title=Trump Sons Forge Ahead Without Father, Expanding and Navigating Conflicts |first1=Eric |last1=Lipton |author1link=Eric Lipton |first2=Susanne |last2=Craig |author2link=Susanne Craig |date=February 12, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=May 7, 2017}}</ref> His daughter Ivanka and her husband ] became ] and ], respectively.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2017/03/family-affair |author=V.v.B |title=Ivanka Trump's new job |date=March 31, 2017 |accessdate=April 3, 2017 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Michael S. |last1=Schmidt |author1link=Michael S. Schmidt |first2=Eric |last2=Lipton |author2link=Eric Lipton |first3=Charlie |last3=Savage |author3link=Charlie Savage |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/21/us/politics/donald-trump-jared-kushner-justice-department.html |title=Jared Kushner, Trump's Son-in-Law, Is Cleared to Serve as Adviser |work=] |date=January 21, 2017 |accessdate=May 7, 2017}}</ref>


=== Domestic policy === === Domestic policy ===
{{Main|Economic policy of the first Donald Trump administration|Environmental policy of the first Donald Trump administration|Social policy of Donald Trump}}
==== Economy and trade ====
Trump took office at the height of the longest ] in American history,<ref name=VanDam>{{cite news|first=Andrew |last=Van Dam|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/01/08/trump-jobs-record/|newspaper=]|title=Trump will have the worst jobs record in modern U.S. history. It's not just the pandemic.|date=January 8, 2021|access-date=October 2, 2021}}</ref> which began in 2009 and continued until February 2020, when the ] began.<ref>{{cite news|last=Smialek|first=Jeanna|date=June 8, 2020|title=The U.S. Entered a Recession in February|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/08/business/economy/us-economy-recession-2020.html|access-date=June 10, 2020}}</ref>


In December 2017, Trump signed the ]. It reduced tax rates for businesses and individuals and set the penalty associated with the ]'s individual mandate to $0.<ref>{{cite news|last=Long|first=Heather|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/15/the-final-gop-tax-bill-is-complete-heres-what-is-in-it/|title=The final GOP tax bill is complete. Here's what is in it.|newspaper=]|date=December 15, 2017|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref><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|work=]|first1=Wilson|last1=Andrews|first2=Alicia|last2=Parlapiano|date=December 15, 2017|access-date=December 22, 2017}}</ref> The Trump administration claimed that the act would not decrease government revenue, but 2018 revenues were 7.6&nbsp;percent lower than projected.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gale|first=William G.|url=https://www.brookings.edu/policy2020/votervital/did-the-2017-tax-cut-the-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act-pay-for-itself/|title=Did the 2017 tax cut—the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—pay for itself?|work=]|date=February 14, 2020|access-date=July 31, 2021}}</ref>
{{Main|Economic policy of Donald Trump}}
{{See also|Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017|Trump tariffs}}


Under Trump, the federal budget deficit increased by almost 50&nbsp;percent, to nearly $1&nbsp;trillion in 2019.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Long|first1=Heather|last2=Stein|first2=Jeff|title=The U.S. deficit hit $984 billion in 2019, soaring during Trump era|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/10/25/us-deficit-hit-billion-marking-nearly-percent-increase-during-trump-era/|access-date=June 10, 2020|newspaper=]|date=October 25, 2019}}</ref> By the end of his term, the ] increased by 39&nbsp;percent, reaching $27.75&nbsp;trillion, and the U.S. ] hit a post-World War II high.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Allan|last1=Sloan|first2=Cezary|last2=Podkul|url=https://www.propublica.org/article/national-debt-trump|work=]|title=Donald Trump Built a National Debt So Big (Even Before the Pandemic) That It'll Weigh Down the Economy for Years|date=January 14, 2021|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref> Trump also failed to deliver the $1&nbsp;trillion infrastructure spending plan on which he had campaigned.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bliss|first=Laura|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-16/what-did-all-those-infrastructure-weeks-add-up-to|title=How Trump's $1 Trillion Infrastructure Pledge Added Up|work=]|date=November 16, 2020|access-date=December 29, 2021}}</ref>
The period of economic expansion that began in June 2009 continued until February 2020, when ] began.<ref name="recession">{{cite news |last1=Smialek |first1=Jeanna |date=June 8, 2020 |title=The U.S. Entered a Recession in February |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/08/business/economy/us-economy-recession-2020.html |accessdate=June 10, 2020}}</ref> Throughout his presidency, Trump mischaracterized the economy as the best in American history.<ref name="greatesteconomy">{{cite news |last=Kessler |first=Glenn |authorlink=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |date=September 7, 2018 |title=President Trump's repeated claim: 'The greatest economy in the history of our country' |work=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/09/07/president-trumps-repeated-claim-greatest-economy-history-our-country/ |accessdate=May 27, 2019}}</ref>


Trump is the only modern U.S. president to leave office with a smaller workforce than when he took office, by 3&nbsp;million people.<ref name=VanDam/><ref>{{Cite news|last=Burns|first=Dan|date=January 8, 2021|title=Trump ends his term like a growing number of Americans: out of a job|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN29D31G/|access-date=May 10, 2024|work=]}}</ref>
In December 2017, Trump signed ] that permanently cut the corporate tax rate to 21 percent, lowered personal income tax rates until 2025, increased child tax credits, doubled the ] exemption 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 |work=] |first1=Wilson |last1=Andrews |first2=Alicia |last2=Parlapiano |date=December 15, 2017 |accessdate=December 22, 2017}}</ref>


Trump rejects the ].<ref>{{cite news|first1=Ashley|last1=Parker|author-link1=Ashley Parker|first2=Coral|last2=Davenport|title=Donald Trump's Energy Plan: More Fossil Fuels and Fewer Rules|date=May 26, 2016|access-date=October 3, 2021|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/27/us/politics/donald-trump-global-warming-energy-policy.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Jason|last=Samenow|author-link=Jason Samenow|title=Donald Trump's unsettling nonsense on weather and climate|date=March 22, 2016|access-date=October 3, 2021|newspaper=]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/03/22/donald-trumps-unsettling-nonsense-on-weather-and-climate}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Lemire|first1=Jonathan|last2=Madhani|first2=Aamer|last3=Weissert|first3=Will|last4=Knickmeyer|first4=Ellen|date=September 15, 2020|title=Trump spurns science on climate: 'Don't think science knows'|url=https://apnews.com/article/climate-climate-change-elections-joe-biden-campaigns-bd152cd786b58e45c61bebf2457f9930|access-date=May 11, 2024|work=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Plumer |first1=Brad |last2=Davenport |first2=Coral |date=December 28, 2019 |title=Science Under Attack: How Trump Is Sidelining Researchers and Their Work |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/28/climate/trump-administration-war-on-science.html |access-date=May 11, 2024 |work=]}}</ref> He reduced the budget for renewable energy research by 40&nbsp;percent and reversed Obama-era policies directed at curbing climate change.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump proposes cuts to climate and clean-energy programs|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/how-trump-is-changing-science-environment|date=May 3, 2019|work=]|access-date=November 24, 2023}}</ref> He ], making the U.S. the only nation to not ratify it.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dennis|first=Brady|title=As Syria embraces Paris climate deal, it's the United States against the world|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/11/07/as-syria-embraces-paris-climate-deal-its-the-united-states-against-the-world|newspaper=]|date=November 7, 2017|access-date=May 28, 2018}}</ref>
]


Trump aimed to boost the production and exports of ]s.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gardner|first=Timothy|title=Senate confirms Brouillette, former Ford lobbyist, as energy secretary|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-energy-brouillette/senate-confirms-brouillette-former-ford-lobbyist-as-energy-secretary-idUSKBN1Y62E6|access-date=December 15, 2019|work=]|date=December 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/mt-state-wire-climate-ap-top-news-climate-change-ca-state-wire-2b44ced0e892d7e988e40a486d875b5d|work=]|title=Trump's fossil fuel agenda gets pushback from federal judges|first=Matthew|last=Brown|date=September 15, 2020|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref> Natural gas expanded under Trump, but coal continued to decline.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lipton |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Lipton |date=October 5, 2020 |title='The Coal Industry Is Back,' Trump Proclaimed. It Wasn't. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/05/us/politics/trump-coal-industry.html |access-date=October 3, 2021 |work=]}}</ref><ref name=Subramaniam>{{cite news|first=Tara|last=Subramaniam|url=https://cnn.com/2021/01/30/politics/trump-broken-promises/|title=From building the wall to bringing back coal: Some of Trump's more notable broken promises|work=]|date=January 30, 2021|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref> He rolled back more than 100 federal environmental regulations, including those that curbed ], air and water pollution, and the use of toxic substances. He weakened protections for animals and environmental standards for federal infrastructure projects, and expanded permitted areas for drilling and resource extraction, such as allowing ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Popovich|first1=Nadja|last2=Albeck-Ripka|first2=Livia|last3=Pierre-Louis|first3=Kendra|title=The Trump Administration Rolled Back More Than 100 Environmental Rules. Here's the Full List.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/climate/trump-environment-rollbacks-list.html|work=]|date=January 20, 2021|access-date=December 21, 2023}}</ref>
Trump is a skeptic of multilateral trade agreements, believing they incentivize unfair commercial practices, favoring bilateral trade agreements, as they allow one party to withdraw if the other party is believed to be behaving unfairly. Trump adopted his current skepticism of trade liberalization in the 1980s, and sharply criticized ] during the Republican primary campaign in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schlesinger |first=Jacob M. |title=Trump Forged His Ideas on Trade in the 1980s – And Never Deviated |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-forged-his-ideas-on-trade-in-the-1980sand-never-deviated-1542304508 |date=November 15, 2018 |work=] |accessdate=November 15, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-lays-out-protectionist-views-in-trade-speech-1467145538 |title=Donald Trump Lays Out Protectionist Views in Trade Speech |last1=Epstein |first1=Reid J. |last2=Nelson |first2=Colleen McCain |date=June 28, 2016 |work=] {{subscription required}} |accessdate=July 22, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-calls-nafta-a-disaster/ |title=Trump calls NAFTA a "disaster" |date=September 25, 2015 |website=]}}</ref> He withdrew the U.S. from the ] (TPP) negotiations,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/23/politics/trump-tpp-things-to-know/index.html |title=Trump's TPP withdrawal: 5 things to know |last=Bradner |first=Eric |date=January 23, 2017 |website=] |accessdate=March 12, 2018}}</ref> imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports,<ref name=Inman>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/mar/10/war-over-steel-trump-tips-global-trade-turmoil-tariffs |title=The war over steel: Trump tips global trade into new turmoil |work=] |date=March 10, 2018 |accessdate=March 15, 2018 |last=Inman |first=Phillip}}</ref> and launched a ] with China by sharply increasing tariffs on 818 categories (worth $50&nbsp;billion) of Chinese goods imported into the U.S.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/01/07/donald-trump-says-he-favors-big-tariffs-on-chinese-exports/ |title=Donald Trump Says He Favors Big Tariffs on Chinese Exports |last=Haberman |first=Maggie |authorlink=Maggie Haberman |date=January 7, 2016 |website=] |accessdate=July 22, 2016}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-ministry/trump-sets-tariffs-on-50-billion-in-chinese-goods-beijing-strikes-back-idUSKBN1JB0KC |title=Trump sets tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese goods; Beijing strikes |date=June 16, 2018 |work=] |first1=David |last1=Lawder |first2=Ben |last2=Blanchard}}</ref> On several occasions, Trump has said incorrectly that these import tariffs are paid by China into the ].<ref name="Newburger-190512">{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/12/kudlow-says-us-will-pay-for-china-tariffs-contradicting-trump.html |title=Kudlow acknowledges US will pay for China tariffs, contradicting Trump |website=] |date=May 12, 2019 |accessdate=May 20, 2019 |first=Emma |last=Newburger}}</ref> Although Trump pledged during his 2016 campaign to significantly reduce the U.S.'s large ], the U.S. trade deficit reached its highest level in 12 years under his administration.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/dd93ecd3cafc5df88a8f9f4a61693b07 |work=] |title=US trade deficit surges in July to highest in 12 years |date=September 2, 2020 |first=Martin |last=Crutsinger}}</ref>


In 2017, Trump signed ], which directed that, for every new regulation, federal agencies "identify" two existing regulations for elimination, although it did not require elimination.<ref>{{cite news|last=Plumer|first=Brad|url=https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/1/30/14441430/trump-executive-order-regulations|title=Trump wants to kill two old regulations for every new one issued. Sort of.|work=]|date=January 30, 2017|access-date=March 11, 2023}}</ref> He dismantled many federal regulations on health,<ref>{{cite news|last=Thompson|first=Frank W.|url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2020/10/09/six-ways-trump-has-sabotaged-the-affordable-care-act/|title=Six ways Trump has sabotaged the Affordable Care Act|work=]|date=October 9, 2020|access-date=January 3, 2022}}</ref><ref name="midnight">{{cite news|last1=Arnsdorf|first1=Isaac|last2=DePillis|first2=Lydia|last3=Lind|first3=Dara|last4=Song|first4=Lisa|last5=Syed|first5=Moiz|last6=Osei|first6=Zipporah|url=https://projects.propublica.org/trump-midnight-regulations/|title=Tracking the Trump Administration's "Midnight Regulations"|work=]|date=November 25, 2020|access-date=January 3, 2022}}</ref> labor,<ref>{{cite news|last=Poydock|first=Margaret|url=https://www.epi.org/blog/president-trump-has-attacked-workers-safety-wages-and-rights-since-day-one/|title=President Trump has attacked workers' safety, wages, and rights since Day One|work=]|date=September 17, 2020|access-date=January 3, 2022}}</ref><ref name="midnight"/> and the environment,<ref>{{cite news|last=Baker|first=Cayli|url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2020/12/15/the-trump-administrations-major-environmental-deregulations/|date=December 15, 2020|access-date=January 29, 2022|title=The Trump administration's major environmental deregulations|work=]}}</ref><ref name="midnight"/> among others, including a bill that made it easier for severely mentally ill persons to buy guns.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Grunwald|first=Michael|title=Trump's Secret Weapon Against Obama's Legacy|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/04/donald-trump-obama-legacy-215009/|magazine=]|date=April 10, 2017|access-date=January 29, 2022}}</ref> During his first six weeks in office, he delayed, suspended, or reversed ninety federal regulations,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lipton|first1=Eric|last2=Appelbaum|first2=Binyamin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/05/us/politics/trump-deregulation-guns-wall-st-climate.html|title=Leashes Come Off Wall Street, Gun Sellers, Polluters and More|work=]|date=March 5, 2017|access-date=January 29, 2022}}</ref> often "after requests by the regulated industries".<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|work=]|via=]|access-date=January 29, 2022|date=March 5, 2017}}</ref> The ] found that 78&nbsp;percent of his proposals were blocked by courts or did not prevail over litigation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Roundup: Trump-Era Agency Policy in the Courts|url=https://policyintegrity.org/trump-court-roundup|work=]|date=April 25, 2022|access-date=January 8, 2022}}</ref>
Despite a campaign promise to eliminate the national debt in eight years, Trump as president has approved large increases in government spending, as well as the 2017 tax cut. As a result, the American government's budget deficit has increased by almost 50%, to nearly $1{{nbsp}}trillion in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Long |first1=Heather |last2=Stein |first2=Jeff |title=The U.S. deficit hit $984 billion in 2019, soaring during Trump era |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/10/25/us-deficit-hit-billion-marking-nearly-percent-increase-during-trump-era/ |accessdate=June 10, 2020 |work=] |date=October 26, 2019}}</ref> In 2016, the year before Trump took office, the ] was around $19{{nbsp}}trillion; by mid-2020, it had increased to $26{{nbsp}}trillion under the Trump administration.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blake |first1=Aaron |title=The GOP's decision to keep its 2016 platform is, well, a little awkward for Trump |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/06/11/gops-decision-keep-its-2016-platform-is-well-little-awkward-trump/ |accessdate=July 12, 2020 |work=] |date=June 12, 2020}}</ref>


During his campaign, Trump vowed to repeal and replace the ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Kodjak|first=Alison|author-link=Alison Kodjak|title=Trump Can Kill Obamacare With Or Without Help From Congress|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/11/09/501203831/trump-can-kill-obamacare-with-or-without-help-from-congress|access-date=January 12, 2017|work=]|date=November 9, 2016}}</ref> In office, he scaled back the Act's implementation through executive orders.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/us/politics/trump-executive-order-obamacare.html|title=Trump Issues Executive Order Scaling Back Parts of Obamacare|last1=Davis|first1=Julie Hirschfeld|author-link1=Julie Hirschfeld Davis|last2=Pear|first2=Robert|author-link2=Robert Pear|date=January 20, 2017|work=]|access-date=January 23, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/10/12/news/economy/trump-health-care-executive-order/index.html|title=What's in Trump's health care executive order?|first=Tami|last=Luhby|work=]|date=October 13, 2017|access-date=October 14, 2017}}</ref> He expressed a desire to "let Obamacare fail"; his administration halved the ] and drastically reduced funding for enrollment promotion.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://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=]|access-date=September 29, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://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|work=]|access-date=September 29, 2017}}</ref> In June 2018, the Trump administration ] that the elimination of the financial penalties associated with the individual mandate had rendered the Act unconstitutional.<ref name=StolbergACA>{{cite news|first=Sheryl Gay|last=Stolberg|title=Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Strike Down Affordable Care Act|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/26/us/politics/obamacare-trump-administration-supreme-court.html|work=]|date=June 26, 2020|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Obamacare Must 'Fall,' Trump Administration Tells Supreme Court|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/06/26/883819835/obamacare-must-fall-trump-administration-tells-supreme-court|work=]|first=Mark|last=Katkov|date=June 26, 2020|access-date=September 29, 2021}}</ref> Their pleading would have eliminated ] for up to 23&nbsp;million Americans, but was unsuccessful.<ref name=StolbergACA/> During the 2016 campaign, Trump promised to protect funding for Medicare and other social safety-net programs. In January 2020, he expressed willingness to consider cuts to them.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/22/us/politics/medicare-trump.html|title=Trump Opens Door to Cuts to Medicare and Other Entitlement Programs|first1=Alan|last1=Rappeport|author-link1=Alan Rappeport|first2=Maggie|last2=Haberman|author-link2=Maggie Haberman|date=January 22, 2020|access-date=January 24, 2020|work=]}}</ref>
In April 2020, the official unemployment rate rose to 14.7% due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was an underestimation of the actual unemployment rate, but still was the highest level of unemployment since 1939.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rugaber |first=Christopher |title=US unemployment surges to a Depression-era level of 14.7% |url=https://apnews.com/908d7a004c316baceb916112c0a35ed0 |accessdate=June 10, 2020 |work=] |date=May 9, 2020}}</ref>


In response to the ], Trump signed legislation in 2018 to increase funding for drug treatments, but was widely criticized for failing to make a concrete strategy. U.S. opioid overdose deaths declined slightly in 2018, but surged to a record 50,052 in 2019.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mann|first=Brian|date=October 29, 2020|title=Opioid Crisis: Critics Say Trump Fumbled Response To Another Deadly Epidemic|work=]|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/10/29/927859091/opioid-crisis-critics-say-trump-fumbled-response-to-another-deadly-epidemic|access-date=December 13, 2020}}</ref>
Analysis published by ''The Wall Street Journal'' in October 2020 found the trade war Trump initiated in early 2018 did not achieve the primary objective of reviving American manufacturing, nor did it result in the ] of factory production.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zumbrun |first1=Josh |title=China Trade War Didn't Boost U.S. Manufacturing Might |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-trade-war-didnt-boost-u-s-manufacturing-might-11603618203 |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |date=October 25, 2020}}</ref>


Trump barred organizations that provide abortions or abortion referrals from receiving federal funds.<ref>{{cite news|title=Abortion: How do Trump and Biden's policies compare?|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54003808 |work=]|access-date=July 17, 2023|date=September 9, 2020}}</ref> He said he supported "traditional marriage", but considered the ] of ] "settled".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://cnn.com/2016/11/14/politics/trump-gay-marriage-abortion-supreme-court/|title=Trump: Same-sex marriage is 'settled', but Roe v Wade can be changed|work=]|first=Ariane|last=de Vogue|date=November 15, 2016|access-date=November 30, 2016}}</ref> His administration rolled back key components of the Obama administration's workplace protections against ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://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 Makes Them Vulnerable to Discrimination|work=]|first=Mary Emily|last=O'Hara|date=March 30, 2017|access-date=July 30, 2017}}</ref> His attempted rollback of anti-discrimination protections for ] patients in August 2020 was halted by a federal judge after a Supreme Court ruling extended employees' civil rights protections to ] and sexual orientation.<ref>{{cite news|last=Luthi|first=Susannah|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/17/judge-trump-rollback-transgender-health-397332|title=Judge halts Trump's rollback of transgender health protections|work=]|date=August 17, 2020|access-date=November 8, 2023}}</ref>
==== Energy and climate ====


Trump has said he is ] to ], although his views have shifted over time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://cnn.com/2016/06/20/politics/donald-trump-gun-positions-nra-orlando/|title=The times Trump changed his positions on guns|work=]|date=June 20, 2016|access-date=October 3, 2021|first=Gregory|last=Krieg}}</ref> After several ] during his term, he said he would propose legislation related to guns, but he abandoned that effort in November 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-quietly-abandons-proposing-ideas-to-curb-gun-violence-after-saying-he-would-following-mass-shootings/2019/10/31/8bca030c-fa6e-11e9-9534-e0dbcc9f5683_story.html|title=Trump abandons proposing ideas to curb gun violence after saying he would following mass shootings|newspaper=]|first=Josh|last=Dawsey|author-link=Josh Dawsey|date=November 1, 2019|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref> His administration took an ], revoking ] that provided protections for states that legalized marijuana.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bures|first=Brendan|date=February 21, 2020|access-date=October 3, 2021|title=Trump administration doubles down on anti-marijuana position|work=]|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/marijuana/sns-tft-trump-anti-marijuana-stance-20200221-jfdx4urbb5bhrf6ldtfpxleopi-story.html}}</ref>
{{Main|Environmental policy of the Donald Trump administration|Climate change in the United States}}


Trump is a long-time advocate of capital punishment.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wolf|first=Zachary B.|title=Trump returns to the death penalty as Democrats turn against it|url=https://cnn.com/2019/07/27/politics/death-penalty-trump-democrats/|work=]|access-date=September 18, 2022|date=July 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Honderich|first=Holly|title=In Trump's final days, a rush of federal executions|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55236260|work=]|date=January 16, 2021|access-date=September 18, 2022}}</ref> Under his administration, the ] 13 prisoners, more than in the previous 56 years combined, ending a 17-year moratorium.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Michael|last1=Tarm|first2=Michael|last2=Kunzelman|title=Trump administration carries out 13th and final execution|url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-wildlife-coronavirus-pandemic-crime-terre-haute-28e44cc5c026dc16472751bbde0ead50|work=]|date=January 15, 2021|access-date=January 30, 2022}}</ref> In 2016, he said he supported the use of interrogation torture methods such as ].<ref>{{cite news|last=McCarthy|first=Tom|title=Donald Trump: I'd bring back 'a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/06/donald-trump-waterboarding-republican-debate-torture|work=]|date=February 7, 2016|access-date=February 8, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz, Donald Trump Advocate Bringing Back Waterboarding|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/ted-cruz-donald-trump-advocate-bringing-back-waterboarding-36764410|work=]|date=February 6, 2016|access-date=February 9, 2016}}</ref>
Trump rejects the ].<ref name="ParkerDavenport">{{cite news |first1=Ashley |last1=Parker |author1link=Ashley Parker |first2=Coral |last2=Davenport |title=Donald Trump's Energy Plan: More Fossil Fuels and Fewer Rules |date=May 26, 2016 |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/27/us/politics/donald-trump-global-warming-energy-policy.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Jason |last=Samenow |authorlink=Jason Samenow |title=Donald Trump's unsettling nonsense on weather and climate |date=March 22, 2016 |website=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/03/22/donald-trumps-unsettling-nonsense-on-weather-and-climate}}</ref> He made large budget cuts to programs that research renewable energy and rolled back Obama-era policies directed at curbing climate change.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump proposes cuts to climate and clean-energy programs |url=https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/03/how-trump-is-changing-science-environment |date=February 12, 2018 |website=] |accessdate=May 27, 2018 |first1=Michael |last1=Greshko |first2=Laura |last2=Parker |first3=Brian Clark |last3=Howard |first4=Daniel |last4=Stone |first5=Alejandra |last5=Borunda |first6=Sarah |last6=Gibbens}}</ref> In June 2017, Trump announced ], making the U.S. the only nation in the world to not ratify the agreement.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dennis |first=Brandy |title=As Syria embraces Paris climate deal, it's the United States against the world |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/11/07/as-syria-embraces-paris-climate-deal-its-the-united-states-against-the-world |work=] |accessdate=May 28, 2018}}</ref> At the ], Trump skipped the sessions on climate change but said afterward during a press conference that he is an environmentalist.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Teirstein |first1=Zoya |title=Donald 'I'm an environmentalist' Trump skips G7 climate meeting |url=https://grist.org/article/donald-im-an-environmentalist-trump-skips-g7-climate-meeting/ |website=] |date=August 26, 2019 |accessdate=August 27, 2019}}</ref>


=== Race relations ===
Trump has rolled back federal regulations aimed at curbing ] emissions, air pollution, water pollution, and the usage of toxic substances. One example is the ]. He relaxed environmental standards for federal infrastructure projects, while expanding permitted areas for drilling and resource extraction, such as allowing ]. Trump also weakened protections for animals.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Popovich |first1=Nadja |last2=Albeck-Ripka |first2=Livia |last3=Pierre-Louis |first3=Kendra |title=The Trump Administration Is Reversing 100 Environmental Rules. Here's the Full List. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/climate/trump-environment-rollbacks.html |accessdate=June 2, 2020 |work=] |date=May 20, 2020}}</ref> Trump's energy policies aimed to boost the production and exports of coal, oil, and natural gas.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gardner |first1=Timothy |title=Senate confirms Brouillette, former Ford lobbyist, as energy secretary |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-energy-brouillette/senate-confirms-brouillette-former-ford-lobbyist-as-energy-secretary-idUSKBN1Y62E6 |accessdate=December 15, 2019 |work=] |date=December 3, 2019}}</ref>
Trump's comments on the 2017 ], condemning "this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides" and stating that there were "very fine people on both sides", were criticized as implying a ] between the ] demonstrators and the counter-protesters.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kessler |first=Glenn |author-link=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |date=May 8, 2020 |title=The 'very fine people' at Charlottesville: Who were they? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/05/08/very-fine-people-charlottesville-who-were-they-2/ |access-date=October 23, 2021 |newspaper=]}}</ref>


In a January 2018 discussion of immigration legislation, Trump reportedly referred to El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, and African nations as "shithole countries".<ref>{{cite web |last=Beauchamp |first=Zack |date=January 11, 2018 |title=Trump's "shithole countries" comment exposes the core of Trumpism |url=https://www.vox.com/2018/1/11/16880804/trump-shithole-countries-racism |access-date=January 11, 2018 |work=]}}</ref> His remarks were condemned as racist.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wintour |first1=Patrick |author-link1=Patrick Wintour |last2=Burke |first2=Jason |author-link2=Jason Burke |last3=Livsey |first3=Anna |date=January 13, 2018 |title='There's no other word but racist': Trump's global rebuke for 'shithole' remark |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jan/12/unkind-divisive-elitist-international-outcry-over-trumps-shithole-countries-remark |access-date=January 13, 2018 |work=]}}</ref>
====Deregulation ====
During his presidency, Trump has ] on health, labor, and the environment, among other topics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/interactives/tracking-deregulation-in-the-trump-era/ |date=November 2, 2020 |title=Tracking deregulation in the Trump era |publisher=]}}</ref> Trump signed 15 ] resolutions repealing federal regulations, becoming the second president to sign a CRA resolution, and the first president to sign more than one CRA resolution.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Adriance |first=Sam |title=President Trump Signs First Congressional Review Act Disapproval Resolution in 16 Years |url=https://www.natlawreview.com/article/president-trump-signs-first-congressional-review-act-disapproval-resolution-16-years |date=February 16, 2017 |magazine=] |accessdate=March 8, 2017}}</ref> During his first six weeks in office, he delayed, suspended or reversed ninety federal regulations.<ref>{{cite news |last=Farand |first=Chloe |title=Donald Trump Disassembles 90 Federal State Regulations in Just Over a Month in White House |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-federal-state-regulations-month-oval-office-white-house-us-president-deregulate-a7614031.html |date=March 6, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=March 7, 2017}}</ref><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 |work=] |via=] |accessdate=March 7, 2017 |date=March 5, 2017 |quote=More than 90 Obama-era federal regulations have been revoked or delayed or enforcement has been suspended, in many cases based on requests from the industries the rules target.}}</ref>


In July 2019, Trump tweeted that four Democratic congresswomen—all minorities, three of whom are native-born Americans—should "]" to the countries they "came from".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rogers |first1=Katie |last2=Fandos |first2=Nicholas |author-link2=Nicholas Fandos |date=July 14, 2019 |title=Trump Tells Congresswomen to 'Go Back' to the Countries They Came From |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/14/us/politics/trump-twitter-squad-congress.html |access-date=September 30, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> Two days later the House of Representatives voted 240–187, mostly along party lines, to condemn his "racist comments".<ref>{{cite web |last=Mak |first=Tim |date=July 16, 2019 |title=House Votes To Condemn Trump's 'Racist Comments' |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/07/16/742236610/condemnation-of-president-delayed-by-debate-can-lawmakers-call-trump-tweets-raci |access-date=July 17, 2019 |work=]}}</ref> ] publications and social media praised his remarks, which continued over the following days.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Simon |first1=Mallory |last2=Sidner |first2=Sara |author-link2=Sara Sidner |date=July 16, 2019 |title=Trump said 'many people agree' with his racist tweets. These white supremacists certainly do. |url=https://cnn.com/2019/07/16/politics/white-supremacists-cheer-trump-racist-tweets-soh/ |access-date=July 20, 2019 |work=]}}</ref> He continued to make similar remarks during his 2020 campaign.<ref>{{cite web |last=Choi |first=Matthew |date=September 22, 2020 |title='She's telling us how to run our country': Trump again goes after Ilhan Omar's Somali roots |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/22/trump-attacks-ilhan-omar-420267 |access-date=October 12, 2021 |work=]}}</ref>
On January 30, 2017, Trump signed ], which directed that for every new regulation administrative agencies issue "at least two prior regulations be identified for elimination".<ref>{{cite news |last=Plumer |first=Brad |url=https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/1/30/14441430/trump-executive-order-regulations |title=Trump wants to kill two old regulations for every new one issued. Sort of. |website=] |date=January 30, 2017 |access-date=April 18, 2020}}</ref> Agency defenders expressed opposition to Trump's criticisms, saying the bureaucracy exists to protect people against well-organized, well-funded interest groups.<ref name="mcalabresi">{{cite news |last=Calabresi |first=Massimo |title=Inside Donald Trump's War against the State |magazine=] |date=March 9, 2017 |url=https://time.com/4696428/donald-trump-war-state-government/ |quote=Staffed by experts who oversee an open governmental process, they say, the federal bureaucracy exists to protect those who would otherwise be at the mercy of better-organized, better-funded interests.}}</ref>


In June 2020, during the ], federal law-enforcement officials controversially removed a largely peaceful crowd of lawful protesters from ], outside the ].<ref name="wb">{{cite news|last1=Leonnig|first1=Carol D.|author-link1=Carol D. Leonnig|last2=Zapotosky|first2=Matt|last3=Dawsey|first3=Josh|author-link3=Josh Dawsey|last4=Tan|first4=Rebecca|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/barr-personally-ordered-removal-of-protesters-near-white-house-leading-to-use-of-force-against-largely-peaceful-crowd/2020/06/02/0ca2417c-a4d5-11ea-b473-04905b1af82b_story.html|title=Barr personally ordered removal of protesters near White House, leading to use of force against largely peaceful crowd|newspaper=]|date=June 2, 2020|access-date=June 3, 2020}}</ref><ref name="bumpline">{{cite news|last=Bump|first=Philip|date=June 2, 2020|title=Timeline: The clearing of Lafayette Square|newspaper=]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/06/02/timeline-clearing-lafayette-square/|access-date=June 6, 2020}}</ref> Trump then posed with a Bible for ] at the nearby ],<ref name="wb"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gittleson|first1=Ben|last2=Phelps|first2=Jordyn|title=Police use munitions to forcibly push back peaceful protesters for Trump church visit|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/national-guard-troops-deployed-white-house-trump-calls/story?id=71004151|access-date=June 29, 2021|work=]|date=June 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=O'Neil|first=Luke|date=June 2, 2020|title=What do we know about Trump's love for the Bible?|work=]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/02/what-do-we-know-about-trumps-love-for-the-bible|access-date=June 11, 2020}}</ref> with religious leaders condemning both the treatment of protesters and the photo opportunity itself.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stableford|first1=Dylan|last2=Wilson|first2=Christopher|title=Religious leaders condemn teargassing protesters to clear street for Trump|url=https://news.yahoo.com/religious-leaders-condemn-gassing-protesters-to-clear-street-for-trump-192800782.html|access-date=June 8, 2020|work=]|date=June 3, 2020}}</ref> Many retired military leaders and defense officials condemned his proposal to use the U.S. military against anti-police-brutality protesters.<ref>{{cite news|title=Scores of retired military leaders publicly denounce Trump|url=https://apnews.com/article/252914f8a989a740544be6d4992d044c|access-date=June 8, 2020|work=]|date=June 6, 2020}}</ref>
==== Health care ====
During his campaign, Trump vowed to ] and replace the ],<ref name="Kodjak">{{cite news |last=Kodjak |first=Alison |authorlink=Alison Kodjak |title=Trump Can Kill Obamacare With Or Without Help From Congress |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/11/09/501203831/trump-can-kill-obamacare-with-or-without-help-from-congress |accessdate=January 12, 2017 |work=] |publisher=] |date=November 9, 2016}}</ref> and shortly after taking office, Trump urged Congress to do so. In May 2017, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed ] in a party-line vote,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/331937-house-passes-obamacare-repeal |title=House passes Obamacare repeal |last=Sullivan |first=Peter |date=May 4, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=July 31, 2017}}</ref> but repeal proposals were narrowly voted down in the Senate after three Republicans joined all Democrats in opposing it.<ref>{{cite news |first=Leigh Ann |last=Caldwell |title=Obamacare Repeal Fails: Three GOP Senators Rebel in 49-51 Vote |work=] |url= https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-gop-effort-repeal-obamacare-fails-n787311 |date=July 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Haeyoun |last1=Park |first2=Alicia |last2=Parlapiano |first3=Margot |last3=Sanger-Katz |author3link=Margot Sanger-Katz |title=The Three Plans to Repeal Obamacare That Failed in the Senate This Week |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/07/25/us/which-health-bill-will-the-senate-vote-on.html |date=July 28, 2020}}</ref>


=== Pardons and commutations ===
Trump scaled back the implementation of the ACA through ]<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/us/politics/trump-executive-order-obamacare.html |title=Trump Issues Executive Order Scaling Back Parts of Obamacare |last1=Davis |first1=Julie Hirschfeld |author1link=Julie Hirschfeld Davis |last2=Pear |first2=Robert |author2link=Robert Pear |date=January 20, 2017 |work=] |access-date=January 23, 2017}}</ref> and ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/10/12/news/economy/trump-health-care-executive-order/ |title=What's in Trump's health care executive order? |first=Tami |last=Luhby |work=] |date=October 13, 2017 |accessdate=October 14, 2017}}</ref> Trump has expressed a desire to "let Obamacare fail"; his administration cut the ACA ] in half and drastically reduced funding for advertising and other ways to encourage enrollment.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://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=] |accessdate=September 29, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Jeffrey">{{cite news |url=https://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 |work=] |accessdate=September 29, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://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=] |accessdate=September 29, 2017}}</ref> The ] signed by Trump effectively repealed the ACA's ] in 2019,<ref>{{cite news |first=Robert |last=Pear |author1link=Robert Pear |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/18/us/politics/tax-cut-obamacare-individual-mandate-repeal.html |title=Without the Insurance Mandate, Health Care's Future May Be in Doubt |work=] |date=December 18, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Sullivan |url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/362838-senate-gop-repeals-obamacare-mandate |title=Senate GOP repeals ObamaCare mandate |work=] |date=December 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |journal=] |date=December 20, 2017 |first=Timothy |last=Jost |authorlink=Timothy Jost |title=The Tax Bill And The Individual Mandate: What Happened, And What Does It Mean? |url=https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20171220.323429/full/ |doi=10.1377/hblog20171220.323429 |doi-broken-date=November 3, 2020}}</ref> and a budget bill Trump signed in 2019 repealed the ], medical device tax, and ].<ref name=CadillacRepealed>{{cite news |url=https://www.hrdive.com/news/trump-signs-bill-repealing-aca-cadillac-tax-granting-relief-for-employer/569551/ |work=HR Dive |first=Ryan |last=Golden |date=December 23, 2019 |accessdate=December 24, 2019 |title=Trump signs bill repealing ACA Cadillac tax, granting 'relief' for employers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1865/text |publisher=Congress.gov |title=Text – H.R.1865 – 116th Congress (2019-2020): Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020}}</ref> As president, Trump has falsely claimed he saved the coverage of pre-existing conditions provided by the ACA;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politifact.com/health-check/statements/2020/jan/15/donald-trump/trumps-claim-he-saved-pre-ex-conditions-part-fanta/ |title=Trump's claim that he 'saved' pre-ex conditions 'part fantasy, part delusion' |website=] |date=January 14, 2020 |first=Shefali |last=Luthra |accessdate=September 9, 2020}}</ref> in fact, the Trump administration has ] seeking to strike down the entire ACA, including protections for those with pre-existing conditions.<ref name=StolbergACA>{{cite news |first=Sheryl Gay |last=Stolberg |title=Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Strike Down Affordable Care Act |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/26/us/politics/obamacare-trump-administration-supreme-court.html |work=] |date=June 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Obamacare Must 'Fall,' Trump Administration Tells Supreme Court |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/06/26/883819835/obamacare-must-fall-trump-administration-tells-supreme-court |work=] |first=Mark |last=Katkov |date=June 23, 2020}}</ref> If successful, the lawsuit would eliminate ] for up to 23 million Americans.<ref name=StolbergACA/> As a 2016 candidate, Trump promised to protect funding for Medicare and other social safety-net programs, but in January 2020 he suggested he was willing to consider cuts to such programs.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/22/us/politics/medicare-trump.html |title=Trump Opens Door to Cuts to Medicare and Other Entitlement Programs |first1=Alan |last1=Rappeport |author1link=Alan Rappeport |first2=Maggie |last2=Haberman |author2link=Maggie Haberman |date=January 22, 2020 |accessdate=January 24, 2020 |work=]}}</ref>
{{Further|List of people granted executive clemency by Donald Trump}}

Trump granted 237 requests for clemency, fewer than all presidents since 1900 with the exception of ] and ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Gramlich|first=John|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/01/22/trump-used-his-clemency-power-sparingly-despite-a-raft-of-late-pardons-and-commutations/|title=Trump used his clemency power sparingly despite a raft of late pardons and commutations|publisher=]|date=January 22, 2021|access-date=July 23, 2023}}</ref> Only 25 of them had been vetted by the Justice Department's ]; the others were granted to people with personal or political connections to him, his family, and his allies, or recommended by celebrities.<ref name="road">{{cite news|last=Vogel|first=Kenneth P.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/27/us/politics/trump-pardons.html|title=The Road to Clemency From Trump Was Closed to Most Who Sought It|work=]|date=March 21, 2021|access-date=July 23, 2023}}</ref><ref name="OloDaw">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-pardon-power-russia-probe-mueller/2020/12/24/c55000c8-45fd-11eb-b0e4-0f182923a025_story.html|date=December 24, 2020|access-date=October 3, 2021|title=Trump wields pardon power as political weapon, rewarding loyalists and undermining prosecutors|newspaper=]|first1=Toluse|last1=Olorunnipa|first2=Josh|last2=Dawsey|author-link2=Josh Dawsey}}</ref> In his last full day in office, he granted 73 pardons and commuted 70 sentences.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Kevin|last1=Johnson|first2=David|last2=Jackson|first3=Dennis|last3=Wagner|url=https://usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/19/donald-trump-pardons-steve-bannon-white-house/4209763001/|title=Donald Trump grants clemency to 144 people (not himself or family members) in final hours|date=January 19, 2021|work=]|access-date=July 23, 2023}}</ref> Several Trump allies were not eligible for pardons under Justice Department rules, and in other cases the department had opposed clemency.<ref name="road"/> The pardons of three military service members convicted of or charged with violent crimes were opposed by military leaders.<ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Dave|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/15/us/trump-pardons.html|title=Trump Clears Three Service Members in War Crimes Cases|work=]|date=November 22, 2019|access-date=April 18, 2024}}</ref>
==== Social issues ====

{{Main|Social policy of Donald Trump}}

Trump favored modifying the 2016 Republican platform opposing abortion, to allow for exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and circumstances endangering the health of the mother.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/04/21/politics/donald-trump-republican-platform-abortion/ |title=Trump: I would change GOP platform on abortion |last=Wright |first=David |date=April 21, 2016 |website=]}}</ref> He has said he is committed to appointing "]" justices,<ref name="60min" /> pledging in 2016 to appoint justices who would "automatically" overturn '']''.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Meridith |last1=McGraw |first2=Nancy |last2=Cook |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/25/trump-supreme-court-abortion-421443 |title=Trump walks abortion tightrope on SCOTUS pick |work=] |date=September 25, 2020}}</ref> He says he personally supports "traditional marriage"<ref name="MEhren2">{{cite news |first=Max |last=Ehrenfreund |title=Here's what Donald Trump really believes |date=July 22, 2015 |website=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/07/22/heres-what-donald-trump-really-believes/}}</ref> but considers the ] of ] a "settled" issue.<ref name="60min">{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/14/politics/trump-gay-marriage-abortion-supreme-court/ |title=Trump: Same-sex marriage is 'settled', but Roe v Wade can be changed |website=] |first=Ariane |last=De Vogue |date=November 15, 2016 |accessdate=November 30, 2016}}</ref> Despite the statement by Trump and the White House saying they would keep in place a 2014 executive order from the Obama administration which created federal workplace protections for LGBT people,<ref>{{cite news |last=Peters |first=Jeremy W. |authorlink=Jeremy W. Peters |title=Obama's Protections for L.G.B.T. Workers Will Remain Under Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/30/us/politics/obama-trump-protections-lgbt-workers.html |accessdate=February 2, 2017 |work=] |date=January 30, 2017}}</ref> in March 2017, the Trump administration rolled back key components of the Obama administration's workplace protections for LGBT people.<ref name=NBCNews>{{cite news |url=https://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 Makes Them Vulnerable to Discrimination |website=] |first=Mary Emily |last=O'Hara |access-date=July 30, 2017}}</ref>

Trump says he is ] to ] in general,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newsweek.com/brief-history-donald-trumps-stance-gun-rights-461705 |title=A brief history of Donald Trump's stance on gun rights |work=] |last=Gorman |first=Michele |date=May 20, 2016}}</ref> although his views have shifted over time.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/20/politics/donald-trump-gun-positions-nra-orlando/ |title=The times Trump changed his positions on guns |website=] |date=June 20, 2016 |first=Gregory |last=Krieg}}</ref> After several ] during his term, Trump initially said he would propose legislation to curtail gun violence, but abandoned the idea in November 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-quietly-abandons-proposing-ideas-to-curb-gun-violence-after-saying-he-would-following-mass-shootings/2019/10/31/8bca030c-fa6e-11e9-9534-e0dbcc9f5683_story.html |title=Trump abandons proposing ideas to curb gun violence after saying he would following mass shootings |work=] |first=Josh |last=Dawsey |authorlink=Josh Dawsey |date=November 1, 2019}}</ref> The Trump administration has taken an ],<ref>{{cite news |first=Brendan |last=Bures |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/marijuana/sns-tft-trump-anti-marijuana-stance-20200221-jfdx4urbb5bhrf6ldtfpxleopi-story.html |title=Trump administration doubles down on anti-marijuana position |work=] |date=February 21, 2020}}</ref> revoking ] that provided protections for states that legalized marijuana.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Natalie |last1=Fertig |first2=Paul |last2=Demko |title=Marijuana vote poses November risk for Democrats |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/09/marijuana-vote-risk-democrats-410257 |work=] |date=September 9, 2020}}</ref> Trump favors ];<ref name="Cop_killers">{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/10/politics/donald-trump-police-officers-death-penalty/ |title=Trump: Death penalty for cop killers |date=December 11, 2015 |website=] |last=Diamond |first=Jeremy |authorlink=Jeremy Diamond |accessdate=March 15, 2016}}</ref><ref name="FullPageAd1989">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/01/nyregion/angered-by-attack-trump-urges-return-of-the-death-penalty.html |title=Angered by Attack, Trump Urges Return of the Death Penalty |date=May 1, 1989 |work=] |last=Foderaro |first=Lisa W. |accessdate=March 15, 2016}}</ref> under Trump, the first ] in 17 years took place.<ref name=GersteinFirst>{{cite news |first=Josh |last=Gerstein |title=Trump administration carries out first federal execution in 17 years |work=] |date=July 14, 2020 |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/14/supreme-court-federal-execution-injunction-360490}}</ref> Five more federal prisoners were executed, making the total number of federal executions under Trump higher than all of his predecessors combined going back to 1963.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-executions/u-s-puts-convicted-killer-to-death-in-6th-federal-execution-under-trump-idUSKCN26D1GJ |work=] |date=September 22, 2020 |first=Jonathan |last=Allen |title=U.S. puts convicted killer to death in 6th federal execution under Trump}}</ref> In 2016, Trump said he supported the use of ] and "a hell of a lot worse" methods <ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Tom |title=Donald Trump: I'd bring back 'a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/06/donald-trump-waterboarding-republican-debate-torture |work=] |accessdate=February 8, 2016}}</ref><ref name="ABC News">{{cite news |title=Ted Cruz, Donald Trump Advocate Bringing Back Waterboarding |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/ted-cruz-donald-trump-advocate-bringing-back-waterboarding-36764410 |website=] |date=February 6, 2016 |accessdate=February 9, 2016}}</ref> but later apparently recanted, at least partially, his support for ] due to the opposition of Defense Secretary ].<ref>{{cite journal |first=Ron E. |last=Hassner |title=What Do We Know about Interrogational Torture? |journal=International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence |volume=33 |issue=1 |date=2020 |pages=4–42 |doi=10.1080/08850607.2019.1660951 |s2cid=213244706 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08850607.2019.1660951?journalCode=ujic20}}</ref>

==== Pardons and commutations ====

{{Main|List of people granted executive clemency by Donald Trump}}

In 2017, Trump pardoned ], a former Arizona sheriff who was convicted of ] for disobeying a court order to halt the ] of Latinos.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-grants-pardon-former-sheriff-joe-arpaio-n796191 |title=President Trump Grants Pardon for Former Sheriff Joe Arpaio |first1=Vaughn |last1=Hillyard |first2=Phil |last2=Helsel |work=] |date=August 26, 2017 |access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> In March 2018, he pardoned former Navy sailor ], who was convicted of taking classified photographs of a submarine.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/03/09/592440282/trump-pardons-ex-navy-sailor-sentenced-for-photos-of-submarine |title=Trump Pardons Ex-Navy Sailor Sentenced For Photos of Submarine |first=Ryan |last=Lucas |work=] |date=March 9, 2018 |access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> In April 2018, Trump pardoned ], a political aide to former Vice President ]. Libby had been convicted of obstruction of justice, ] and ] to the FBI.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/13/president-trump-plans-to-pardon-former-cheney-chief-of-staff-scooter-libby.html |title=President Trump pardons former Cheney chief of staff Scooter Libby |first1=Mike |last1=Calia |first2=Jacob |last2=Pramuk |date=April 13, 2018 |work=] |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref> In June 2018 he pardoned conservative commentator ], who had made illegal political campaign contributions.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-offers-pardon-to-conservative-pundit-dinesh-dsouza-for-campaign-finance-violations/2018/05/31/b4939a08-64d5-11e8-a768-ed043e33f1dc_story.html |title=Trump pardons conservative pundit Dinesh D'Souza, suggests others also could receive clemency |work=] |first1=Philip |last1=Rucker |author1link=Philip Rucker |first2=Josh |last2=Dawsey |author2link=Josh Dawsey |first3=John |last3=Wagner |date=June 1, 2018 |access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref> That month he also commuted the life sentence of ], a non-violent drug trafficking offender, following a request by celebrity ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-has-commuted-the-life-sentence-of-alice-marie-johnson-a-woman-whose-case-was-championed-by-kim-kardashian/2018/06/06/ce5bbf20-69a7-11e8-9e38-24e693b38637_story.html |title=Trump has commuted the life sentence of Alice Marie Johnson, a woman whose case was championed by Kim Kardashian |work=] |first1=John |last1=Wagner |first2=Sari |last2=Horwitz |date=June 6, 2018 |access-date=June 13, 2018}}</ref> In February 2020, Trump pardoned white-collar criminals ], ], and ], and ] former Illinois governor ]'s 14-year corruption sentence.<ref name="Commutation">{{cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Peter |author1link=Peter Baker (journalist) |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |author2link=Maggie Haberman |last3=Shear |first3=Michael D. |author3link=Michael D. Shear |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/18/us/politics/trump-pardon-debartolo.html |title=Trump Commutes Corruption Sentence of Governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois |date=February 18, 2020 |work=] |access-date=February 18, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Seidel |first1=Jon |last2=Sneed |first2=Michael |last3=Sweet |first3=Lynn |author3link=Lynn Sweet |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2020/2/18/20792391/rod-blagojevich-trump-clemency-illinois-governor-patti |title=President frees imprisoned ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevioch-now a grateful 'Trumpocrat' |date=February 19, 2020 |access-date=February 20, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> In July 2020, Trump commuted the 40-month sentence for his friend and adviser Roger Stone, who had been soon due to report to prison for covering up for Trump during the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gregorian |first1=Dareh |last2=Bennett |first2=Geoff |last3=Williams |first3=Pete |title=Trump commutes Roger Stone's prison sentence after he was convicted of covering up for the president |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-commutes-roger-stone-s-prison-sentence-after-he-was-n1138981 |accessdate=July 11, 2020 |work=] |date=July 11, 2020}}</ref>

==== Lafayette Square protester removal and photo op ====
{{Main|Donald Trump photo op at St. John's Church}}
{{external media
| float = right
| width = 300px
| video1 = {{YouTube|link=no|id=JxYmILDya0A|title=A video timeline of the crackdown on protesters before Trump's photo op}} (The Washington Post) (12:12)
| video2 = {{YouTube|link=no|id=0oRQF68psdY|title=Trump Stands In Front of Church Holding Bible After Threatening Military Action Against Protesters}} (NBC) (2:40)
| video3 = {{YouTube|link=no|id=5ShnqmiKLE8|title=President Trump walks across Lafayette Park to St. John's Church}} {{nowrap|(C-SPAN)}} (7:46)
}}
On June 1, 2020, federal law enforcement officials used batons, rubber bullets, ],<ref name="wb">{{cite news |last1=Leonnig |first1=Carol D. |author1link=Carol D. Leonnig |last2=Zapotosky |first2=Matt |last3=Dawsey |first3=Josh |author3link=Josh Dawsey |last4=Tan |first4=Rebecca |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/barr-personally-ordered-removal-of-protesters-near-white-house-leading-to-use-of-force-against-largely-peaceful-crowd/2020/06/02/0ca2417c-a4d5-11ea-b473-04905b1af82b_story.html |title=Barr personally ordered removal of protesters near White House, leading to use of force against largely peaceful crowd |work=] |date=June 2, 2020 |access-date=June 3, 2020}}</ref> ]s, and smoke to remove a largely peaceful crowd of protesters from ], outside the White House. The removal had been ordered by Attorney General ].<ref name="wb" /><ref name="bumpline">{{Cite news |last=Bump |first=Philip |date=June 6, 2020 |title=Timeline: The clearing of Lafayette Square |work=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/06/02/timeline-clearing-lafayette-square/ |access-date=June 6, 2020}}</ref> Trump then walked to ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lowe |first1=Lindsay |title=A look at damage inside historic St. John's Church, which burned during protests |url=https://www.today.com/news/look-damage-inside-historic-st-john-s-church-washington-dc-t182954 |accessdate=June 6, 2020 |work=] |date=June 2, 2020}}</ref> He posed for photographs holding a Bible, with Cabinet members and other officials later joining him in photos.<ref name="wb"/><ref name="bumpline"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Blake |first=Aaron |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/06/03/2-new-developments-reinforce-how-problematic-trumps-church-photo-op-was/ |title=2 new developments reinforce how problematic Trump's church photo op was |work=] |date=June 3, 2020 |access-date=June 13, 2020}}</ref>

Religious leaders condemned the treatment of protesters and the photo opportunity itself.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stableford |first1=Dylan |last2=Wilson |first2=Christopher |title=Religious leaders condemn teargassing protesters to clear street for Trump |url=https://news.yahoo.com/religious-leaders-condemn-gassing-protesters-to-clear-street-for-trump-192800782.html |accessdate=June 8, 2020 |work=] |date=June 3, 2020}}</ref><ref name="clash">{{Cite news |last1=Rucker |first1=Philip |author1link=Philip Rucker |last2=Parker |first2=Ashley |author2link=Ashley Parker |date=June 14, 2020 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/lafayette-square-clash-still-reverberating-becomes-an-iconic-episode-in-donald-trumps-presidency/2020/06/13/9ddcc348-acb8-11ea-9063-e69bd6520940_story.html |title=Lafayette Square clash, still reverberating, becomes an iconic episode in Donald Trump's presidency |work=]}}</ref> Many retired military leaders and defense officials condemned Trump's proposal to use the U.S. military against the protesters.<ref name="clash"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Scores of retired military leaders publicly denounce Trump |url=https://apnews.com/252914f8a989a740544be6d4992d044c |accessdate=June 8, 2020 |work=] |date=June 6, 2020}}</ref> The chairman of the ], General ], later apologized for accompanying Trump on the walk and thereby "creat the perception of the military involved in domestic politics".<ref name="apology">{{Cite news |last=Lamothe |first=Dan |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2020/06/11/pentagons-top-general-apologizes-appearing-alongside-trump-lafayette-square/ |title=Pentagon's top general apologizes for appearing alongside Trump in Lafayette Square/ |date=June 11, 2020 |access-date=July 5, 2020 |work=]}}</ref>


=== Immigration === === Immigration ===

{{Main|Immigration policy of Donald Trump}} {{Main|Immigration policy of Donald Trump}}
As president, he frequently described illegal immigration as an "invasion" and conflated immigrants with the criminal gang ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/08/08/trump-immigrants-rhetoric-criticized-el-paso-dayton-shootings/1936742001/|title=A USA Today analysis found Trump used words like 'invasion' and 'killer' at rallies more than 500 times since 2017|last=Fritze|first=John|work=]|access-date=August 9, 2019|date=August 8, 2019}}</ref> Trump drastically escalated immigration enforcement, including implementing harsher immigration enforcement policies against asylum seekers from Central America than any modern U.S. president.{{sfn|Johnson|2017a}}{{sfn|Johnson|Cuison-Villazor|2019}}


From 2018 onward, Trump ]<ref>{{cite news|last=Mitchell|first=Ellen|title=Pentagon to send a 'few thousand' more troops to southern border|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/427519-pentagon-to-send-a-few-thousand-more-troops-to-southern-border|access-date=June 4, 2020|work=]|date=January 29, 2019}}</ref> to stop most Central American migrants from seeking asylum. In 2020, his administration widened the ] to further restrict immigrants who might use government benefits from getting permanent residency.<ref>{{cite news|last=Snow|first=Anita|title=Crackdown on immigrants who use public benefits takes effect|url=https://apnews.com/article/e069e5a84057752a8535b1abe5d2ba6d|access-date=June 4, 2020|work=]|date=February 25, 2020}}</ref> He reduced the number of ] to record lows. When he took office, the annual limit was 110,000; he set a limit of 18,000 in the 2020 fiscal year and 15,000 in the 2021 fiscal year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Donald Trump has cut refugee admissions to America to a record low|url=https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/11/04/donald-trump-has-cut-refugee-admissions-to-america-to-a-record-low|access-date=June 25, 2020|newspaper=]|date=November 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Trump Virtually Cuts Off Refugees as He Unleashes a Tirade on Immigrants|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/us/politics/trump-refugees.html|work=]|date=October 1, 2020|access-date=September 30, 2021|first1=Zolan|last1=Kanno-Youngs|author-link1=Zolan Kanno-Youngs|first2=Michael D.|last2=Shear|author-link2=Michael D. Shear}}</ref> Additional restrictions implemented by the Trump administration caused significant bottlenecks in processing refugee applications, resulting in fewer refugees accepted than the allowed limits.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hesson|first=Ted|title=Trump ending U.S. role as worldwide leader on refugees|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/11/trump-refugee-decrease-immigration-044186|access-date=June 25, 2020|work=]|date=October 11, 2019}}</ref>
Trump's proposed immigration policies were a topic of bitter and contentious debate during the campaign. He promised to build ] on the ] to keep out ] and vowed Mexico would pay for it.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37243269 |title=Who pays for Donald Trump's wall? |date=February 6, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=December 9, 2017}}</ref> He pledged to massively deport ],<ref name="CBC_August29_2015">{{cite news |title=Donald Trump emphasizes plans to build 'real' wall at Mexico border |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/donald-trump-emphasizes-plans-to-build-real-wall-at-mexico-border-1.3196807 |website=] |accessdate=September 29, 2015 |date=August 19, 2015}}</ref> and criticized ] for creating "]".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2015/08/donald-trump-has-some-thoughts-about-the-constitution |title=Donald Trump: The 14th Amendment is Unconstitutional |work=] |date=August 19, 2015 |accessdate=November 22, 2015 |first=Inae |last=Oh}}</ref> As president, he frequently described illegal immigration as an "invasion" and conflated immigrants with the gang ], though research shows undocumented immigrants have a lower crime rate than native-born Americans.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/08/08/trump-immigrants-rhetoric-criticized-el-paso-dayton-shootings/1936742001/ |title=A USA TODAY analysis found Trump used words like 'invasion' and 'killer' at rallies more than 500 times since 2017 |last=Fritze |first=John |website=] |access-date=August 9, 2019 |date=August 8, 2019}}</ref>

Trump has attempted to drastically escalate immigration enforcement.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Johnson |first1=Kevin |title=Immigration and civil rights in the Trump administration: Law and policy making by executive order |journal=] |date=2017 |volume=57 |issue=3 |pages=611–665 |url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/saclr57&div=21&id=&page= |accessdate=June 1, 2020}}</ref> Some of the results are harsher immigration enforcement policies against asylum seekers from Central America than any modern U.S. president.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Johnson |first1=Kevin |last2=Cuison-Villazor |first2=Rose |title=The Trump Administration and the War on Immigration Diversity |journal=] |date=May 2, 2019 |url=https://heinonline.org/hol-cgi-bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/wflr54&section=21 |accessdate=June 1, 2020}}</ref><ref name=Ricciardelli/> This was accompanied by the Trump administration's mandating in 2018 that immigration judges must complete 700 cases a year to be evaluated as performing satisfactorily.<ref>{{cite news |last=Spagat |first=Elliot |title=Justice Department imposes quotas on immigration judges |url=https://apnews.com/3b1f1f09171141b5b99dece73afbf202/Justice-Department-imposes-quotas-on-immigration-judges |accessdate=June 4, 2020 |work=] |date=April 3, 2018}}</ref> Although Trump pledged to deport "millions of illegal aliens," that did not occur.<ref>{{cite news |first=Zolan |last=Kanno-Youngs |authorlink=Zolan Kanno-Youngs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/11/us/politics/trump-deportations-undocumented-immigrants.html |title=Promises Aside, Deportations Under Trump Dropped in Last Year |work=] |date=December 11, 2019}}</ref> Under Trump, migrant apprehensions at the U.S.&ndash;Mexico border rose to their highest level in 12 years, but deportations remained below the record highs of fiscal years 2012&ndash;2014.<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=Gramlich |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/03/02/how-border-apprehensions-ice-arrests-and-deportations-have-changed-under-trump/ |title=How border apprehensions, ICE arrests and deportations have changed under Trump |publisher=] |date=March 2, 2020}}</ref>

From 2018 onwards, Trump ],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mitchell |first1=Ellen |title=Pentagon to send a 'few thousand' more troops to southern border |url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/427519-pentagon-to-send-a-few-thousand-more-troops-to-southern-border |accessdate=June 4, 2020 |work=] |date=January 29, 2019}}</ref> in 2019 was allowed by the Supreme Court to stop most Central American migrants from seeking U.S. asylum,<ref>{{cite news |last=Liptak |first=Adam |authorlink=Adam Liptak |title=Supreme Court Says Trump Can Bar Asylum Seekers While Legal Fight Continues |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/11/us/politics/supreme-court-trump-asylum.html |accessdate=June 4, 2020 |work=] |date=September 11, 2019}}</ref> and from 2020 used the ] to restrict immigrants using government benefits from getting permanent residency via ]s.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rosenberg |first1=Mica |title=New U.S. rule targeting poor immigrants sows fear, confusion, advocates say |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration/new-u-s-rule-targeting-poor-immigrants-sows-fear-confusion-advocates-say-idUSKCN20I2BW |accessdate=June 4, 2020 |work=] |date=February 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Snow |first1=Anita |title=Crackdown on immigrants who use public benefits takes effect |url=https://apnews.com/e069e5a84057752a8535b1abe5d2ba6d |accessdate=June 4, 2020 |work=] |date=February 25, 2020}}</ref> Trump has reduced the number of ] into the U.S. to record lows. When Trump took office, the annual limit was 110,000; Trump set a limit of 18,000 in the 2020 fiscal year and 15,000 in the 2021 fiscal year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Donald Trump has cut refugee admissions to America to a record low |url=https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/11/04/donald-trump-has-cut-refugee-admissions-to-america-to-a-record-low |accessdate=June 25, 2020 |work=] |date=November 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Trump Virtually Cuts Off Refugees as He Unleashes a Tirade on Immigrants |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/us/politics/trump-refugees.html |work=] |date=October 1, 2020 |first1=Zolan |last1=Kanno-Youngs |authorlink=Zolan Kanno-Youngs |first2=Michael D. |last2=Shear |author2link=Michael D. Shear}}</ref> Additional restrictions implemented by the Trump administration caused (potentially long-lasting) bottlenecks in processing refugee applications, resulting in fewer refugees accepted compared to the allowed limits.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hesson |first1=Ted |title=Trump ending U.S. role as worldwide leader on refugees |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/11/trump-refugee-decrease-immigration-044186 |accessdate=June 25, 2020 |work=] |date=October 11, 2019}}</ref>


==== Travel ban ==== ==== Travel ban ====
{{Main|Trump travel ban}}
{{Further|Executive Order 13769|Executive Order 13780}}
Following the ], Trump proposed to ban ] foreigners from entering the U.S. until stronger vetting systems could be implemented.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pilkington|first=Ed|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/07/donald-trump-ban-all-muslims-entering-us-san-bernardino-shooting|title=Donald Trump: ban all Muslims entering US|work=]|date=December 8, 2015|access-date=October 10, 2020}}</ref> He later reframed the proposed ban to apply to countries with a "proven history of terrorism".<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=]|date=June 25, 2016|access-date=October 3, 2021|first=Jenna|last=Johnson|title=Trump now proposes only Muslims from terrorism-heavy countries would be banned from U.S.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/06/25/trump-now-says-muslim-ban-only-applies-to-those-from-terrorism-heavy-countries/}}</ref>


On January&nbsp;27, 2017, Trump signed ], which suspended admission of refugees for 120 days and denied entry to citizens of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen for 90 days, citing security concerns. The order took effect immediately and without warning, causing chaos at airports.<ref name="frontline">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/28/airports-us-immigration-ban-muslim-countries-trump|title=US airports on frontline as Donald Trump's travel ban causes chaos and protests|date=January 28, 2017|work=]|first1=Joanna|last1=Walters|first2=Edward|last2=Helmore|first3=Saeed Kamali|last3=Dehghan|access-date=July 19, 2017}}</ref><ref name="airport">{{cite news|title=Protests erupt at airports nationwide over immigration action|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/protests-airports-immigration-action-president-trump/|work=]|date=January 28, 2017|access-date=March 22, 2021}}</ref> ] the next day,<ref name="frontline"/><ref name="airport"/> and ] resulted in ].<ref>{{cite news|work=]|date=February 4, 2017|access-date=October 3, 2021|first1=Devlin|last1=Barrett|first2=Dan|last2=Frosch|title=Federal Judge Temporarily Halts Trump Order on Immigration, Refugees|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/legal-feud-over-trump-immigration-order-turns-to-visa-revocations-1486153216}}</ref> A March&nbsp;6 ], which excluded Iraq and gave other exemptions, again was blocked by federal judges in three states.<ref>{{cite news|work=]|date=March 15, 2017|access-date=October 3, 2021|first1=Dan|last1=Levine|first2=Mica|last2=Rosenberg|title=Hawaii judge halts Trump's new travel ban before it can go into effect|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-court-idUSKBN16M17N}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Trump signs new travel ban directive|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39183153|access-date=March 18, 2017|work=]|date=March 6, 2017}}</ref> In a ], the ] ruled that the ban could be enforced on visitors who lack a "credible claim of a ''bona fide'' relationship with a person or entity in the United States".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-travel-ban-supreme-court-20170626-story.html|title=Limited version of Trump's travel ban to take effect Thursday|work=]|first=Mark|last=Sherman|agency=]|date=June 26, 2017|access-date=August 5, 2017}}</ref>
{{Main|Executive Order 13769|Executive Order 13780}}


The temporary order was replaced by ] on September&nbsp;24, 2017, which restricted travel from the originally targeted countries except Iraq and Sudan, and further banned travelers from North Korea and Chad, along with certain Venezuelan officials.<ref>{{cite news|last=Laughland|first=Oliver|date=September 25, 2017|title=Trump travel ban extended to blocks on North Korea, Venezuela and Chad|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/25/trump-travel-ban-extended-to-blocks-on-north-korea-and-venezuela|work=]|access-date=October 13, 2017}}</ref> After lower courts partially blocked the new restrictions, the Supreme Court allowed the September version to go into full effect on December&nbsp;4, 2017,<ref>{{cite news|title=Supreme Court lets Trump's latest travel ban go into full effect|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-immigration/supreme-court-lets-trumps-latest-travel-ban-go-into-full-effect-idUSKBN1DY2NY|first=Lawrence|last=Hurley|date=December 4, 2017|access-date=October 3, 2021|work=]}}</ref> and ultimately upheld the travel ban in a ruling in June 2019.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wagner|first1=Meg|last2=Ries|first2=Brian|last3=Rocha|first3=Veronica|url=https://cnn.com/politics/live-news/supreme-court-travel-ban/|title=Supreme Court upholds travel ban|work=]|date=June 26, 2018|access-date=June 26, 2018}}</ref>
Following the ], Trump made a controversial proposal to ban Muslim foreigners from entering the United States until stronger vetting systems could be implemented.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pilkington |first=Ed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/07/donald-trump-ban-all-muslims-entering-us-san-bernardino-shooting |title=Donald Trump: ban all Muslims entering US |work=] |date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=October 10, 2020}}</ref> He later reframed the proposed ban to apply to countries with a "proven history of terrorism".<ref name=Scots>{{cite news |work=] |date=June 25, 2016 |first=Jenna |last=Johnson |title=Trump now proposes only Muslims from terrorism-heavy countries would be banned from U.S. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/06/25/trump-now-says-muslim-ban-only-applies-to-those-from-terrorism-heavy-countries/ |quote= reporter asked Trump if would be OK with a Muslim from Scotland coming into the United States and he said it 'wouldn't bother me'. Afterward, Hicks said in an email that Trump's ban would now just apply to Muslims in terror states&nbsp;...}}</ref>

On January 27, 2017, Trump signed ], which suspended admission of refugees for 120 days and denied entry to citizens of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen for 90 days, citing security concerns. The order took effect immediately and without warning.<ref name="BBC.March.6.17">{{cite news |title=Trump signs new travel ban directive |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39183153 |accessdate=March 18, 2017 |work=] |date=March 6, 2017}}</ref> Confusion and protests caused chaos at airports.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Grinberg |first1=Emanuella |last2=Park |first2=Madison |title=2nd day of protests over Trump's immigration policies |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/29/politics/us-immigration-protests/ |accessdate=March 18, 2017 |website=] |date=January 30, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/28/airports-us-immigration-ban-muslim-countries-trump |title=US airports on frontline as Donald Trump's travel ban causes chaos and protests |date=January 28, 2017 |work=] |first1=Joanna |last1=Walters |first2=Edward |last2=Helmore |first3=Saeed Kamali |last3=Dehghan |accessdate=July 19, 2017}}</ref> ], the acting ], directed Justice Department lawyers not to defend the executive order, which she deemed unenforceable and unconstitutional;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/30/politics/donald-trump-immigration-order-department-of-justice/index.html |title=Trump fires acting AG after she declines to defend travel ban |first1=Evan |last1=Perez |first2=Jeremy |last2=Diamond |author2link=Jeremy Diamond (journalist) |website=] |date=January 30, 2017 |accessdate=March 12, 2018}}</ref> Trump immediately dismissed her.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump Fires Acting Attorney General Who Defied Him |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/30/us/politics/trump-immigration-ban-memo.html |work=] |accessdate=August 29, 2017 |date=January 30, 2017 |first1=Michael D. |last1=Shear |author1link=Michael D. Shear |first2=Mark |last2=Landler |author2link=Mark Landler |first3=Matt |last3=Apuzzo |author3link=Matt Apuzzo |first4=Eric |last4=Lichtblau |author4link=Eric Lichtblau}}</ref> ] were filed against the order, and a federal judge ].<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=February 4, 2017 |first1=Devlin |last1=Barrett |first2=Dan |last2=Frosch |title=Federal Judge Temporarily Halts Trump Order on Immigration, Refugees |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/legal-feud-over-trump-immigration-order-turns-to-visa-revocations-1486153216}}</ref><ref name="LiptakStands">{{cite news |work=] |date=February 5, 2017 |first=Adam |last=Liptak |authorlink=Adam Liptak |title=Where Trump's Travel Ban Stands |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/05/us/politics/trumps-travel-ban.html}}</ref> On March 6, Trump issued ], which excluded Iraq, gave specific exemptions for ], and removed priorities for Christian minorities.<ref name="Chakraborty3/6/17">{{cite news |last=Chakraborty |first=Barnini |title=Trump Signs New Immigration Order, Narrows Scope of Travel Ban |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/03/06/trump-signs-new-immigration-order-narrows-scope-travel-ban.html |date=March 6, 2017 |website=] |accessdate=March 6, 2017}}</ref><ref name="BBC.March.6.17" /> Again federal judges in three states blocked its implementation.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=March 15, 2017 |first1=Dan |last1=Levine |first2=Mica |last2=Rosenberg |title=Hawaii judge halts Trump's new travel ban before it can go into effect |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-court-idUSKBN16M17N}}</ref> In a ], the ] ruled that the ban could be enforced on visitors who lack a "credible claim of a ''bona fide'' relationship with a person or entity in the United States".<ref name="TravelBanScotus1">{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-travel-ban-supreme-court-20170626-story.html |title=Trump says Supreme Court decision on travel ban a 'clear victory for our national security' |work=] |first=Mark |last=Sherman |agency=] |date=June 26, 2017 |accessdate=June 27, 2017}}</ref>

The temporary order was replaced by ] on September 24, 2017, which permanently restricts travel from the originally targeted countries except Iraq and Sudan, and further bans travelers from North Korea and Chad, along with certain Venezuelan officials.<ref name="Guardian.Oct.10.13">{{cite news |last=Laughland |first=Oliver |date=September 25, 2017 |title=Trump travel ban extended to blocks on North Korea, Venezuela and Chad |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/25/trump-travel-ban-extended-to-blocks-on-north-korea-and-venezuela |work=] |accessdate=October 13, 2017}}</ref> After lower courts partially blocked the new restrictions, the Supreme Court allowed the September version to go into full effect on December 4, 2017,<ref>{{cite news |title=Supreme Court lets Trump's latest travel ban go into full effect |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-immigration/supreme-court-lets-trumps-latest-travel-ban-go-into-full-effect-idUSKBN1DY2NY |first=Lawrence |last=Hurley |date=December 4, 2017 |work=]}}</ref> and ultimately upheld the travel ban in a June 2019 ruling.<ref name=Wagner>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/supreme-court-travel-ban/index.html |title=Supreme Court upholds Trump's travel ban |website=] |date=June 26, 2018 |accessdate=June 26, 2018 |last1=Wagner |first1=Meg |last2=Ries |first2=Brian}}</ref>

==== Family separation at border ====


==== Family separation at the border ====
{{Main|Trump administration family separation policy}} {{Main|Trump administration family separation policy}}
{{multiple image {{#invoke:multiple image|
| direction = vertical | direction = vertical
| width = 220 | width = 220
| image1 = Ursula (detention center) 1.png | image1 = Ursula (detention center) 1.png
| alt1 = Children sitting within a wire mesh compartment | alt1 = Children sitting within a wire mesh compartment
| image2 = Ursula (detention center) 2.jpg | image2 = Ursula (detention center) 2.jpg
| alt2 = Children and juveniles in a wire mesh compartment, showing sleeping mats and thermal blankets on floor | alt2 = Children and juveniles in a wire mesh compartment, showing sleeping mats and thermal blankets on floor
| footer = Children sitting within a wire mesh compartment in the ] in ], June 2018 | footer = Children sitting within a wire mesh compartment in the ] in ], June 2018
}} }}
The Trump administration separated more than 5,400 children of migrant families from their parents at the U.S.–Mexico border, a sharp increase in the number of family separations at the border starting from the summer of 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pearle|first=Lauren|title=Trump administration admits thousands more migrant families may have been separated than estimated|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-administration-unsure-thousands-migrant-families-separated-originally/story?id=60797633|access-date=May 30, 2020|work=]|date=February 5, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Spagat">{{cite news|last=Spagat|first=Elliot|date=October 25, 2019|title=Tally of children split at border tops 5,400 in new count|work=]|url=https://apnews.com/article/c654e652a4674cf19304a4a4ff599feb|access-date=May 30, 2020}}</ref> In April 2018, the administration announced a "]" policy whereby adults suspected of ] were to be detained and criminally prosecuted while their children were taken away as unaccompanied alien minors.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Davis|first1=Julie Hirschfeld|author-link1=Julie Hirschfeld Davis|last2=Shear|first2=Michael D.|author-link2=Michael D. Shear|title=How Trump Came to Enforce a Practice of Separating Migrant Families|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/16/us/politics/family-separation-trump.html|work=]|access-date=May 30, 2020|date=June 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Savage|first=Charlie|author-link=Charlie Savage (author)|title=Explaining Trump's Executive Order on Family Separation|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/20/us/politics/family-separation-executive-order.html|work=]|access-date=May 30, 2020|date=June 20, 2018}}</ref> The policy was unprecedented in previous administrations and sparked public outrage.<ref name="Domonoske">{{cite news|last1=Domonoske|first1=Camila|last2=Gonzales|first2=Richard|date=June 19, 2018|title=What We Know: Family Separation And 'Zero Tolerance' At The Border|work=]|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/06/19/621065383/what-we-know-family-separation-and-zero-tolerance-at-the-border|access-date=May 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Epstein|first=Jennifer|title=Donald Trump's family separations bedevil GOP as public outrage grows|url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/donald-trump-s-family-separations-bedevil-gop-as-public-outrage-grows-20180618-p4zm9h.html|access-date=May 30, 2020|via=]|work=]|date=June 18, 2018}}</ref> Trump falsely asserted that his administration was merely following the law, blaming Democrats, despite the separations being his administration's policy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/immigration-border-crisis/despite-claims-gop-immigration-bill-would-not-end-family-separation-n883701|title=Despite claims, GOP immigration bill would not end family separation, experts say|work=]|date=June 15, 2018|access-date=June 18, 2018|last=Sarlin|first=Benjy}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Davis|first1=Julie Hirschfeld|author-link1=Julie Hirschfeld Davis|last2=Nixon|first2=Ron|author-link2=Ron Nixon|date=May 29, 2018|title=Trump Officials, Moving to Break Up Migrant Families, Blame Democrats|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/29/us/politics/trump-democrats-immigrant-families.html|access-date=December 29, 2020}}</ref>


Although Trump originally argued that the separations could not be stopped by an executive order, he acceded to intense public objection and signed an executive order in June 2018, mandating that migrant families be detained together unless "there is a concern" of a risk to the child.<ref>{{cite news|last=Beckwith|first=Ryan Teague|title=Here's What President Trump's Immigration Order Actually Does|url=https://time.com/5317703/trump-family-separation-policy-executive-order/|access-date=May 30, 2020|magazine=]|date=June 20, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=]|date=June 20, 2018|first1=Michael D.|last1=Shear|author-link1=Michael D. Shear|first2=Abby|last2=Goodnough|first3=Maggie|last3=Haberman|author-link3=Maggie Haberman|title=Trump Retreats on Separating Families, but Thousands May Remain Apart|access-date=June 20, 2018|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/20/us/politics/trump-immigration-children-executive-order.html}}</ref> On June&nbsp;26, 2018, Judge ] concluded that the Trump administration had "no system in place to keep track of" the separated children, nor any effective measures for family communication and reunification;<ref>{{cite news|last=Hansler|first=Jennifer|title=Judge says government does a better job of tracking 'personal property' than separated kids|url=https://cnn.com/2018/06/27/politics/family-separation-federal-judge-personal-property-comment/|access-date=May 30, 2020|work=]|date=June 27, 2018}}</ref> Sabraw ordered for the families to be reunited and family separations stopped except in limited circumstances.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/27/us-immigration-must-reunite-families-separated-at-border-federal-judge-rules|title=Judge orders US to reunite families separated at border within 30 days|last=Walters|first=Joanna|date=June 27, 2018|work=]|access-date=May 30, 2020}}</ref> After the order, the administration separated more than a thousand migrant children from their families; the ] contended that the administration had abused its discretion and asked Sabraw to more narrowly define the circumstances warranting separation.<ref name="Spagat"/>
The Trump administration has separated more than 5,400 migrant children from their parents at the U.S.&ndash;Mexico border while the families attempted to enter the U.S.<ref name=Spagat>{{cite news |last=Spagat |first=Elliot |title=Tally of children split at border tops 5,400 in new count |url=https://apnews.com/c654e652a4674cf19304a4a4ff599feb |accessdate=May 30, 2020 |work=] |date=October 25, 2019}}</ref> The Trump administration sharply increased the number of family separations at the border starting from the summer of 2017, before an official policy was announced in 2018; this was not reported publicly until January 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pearle |first1=Lauren |title=Trump administration admits thousands more migrant families may have been separated than estimated |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-administration-unsure-thousands-migrant-families-separated-originally/story?id=60797633 |accessdate=May 30, 2020 |work=] |date=February 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Long |first1=Colleen |last2=Alonso-Zaldivar |first2=Ricardo |title=Watchdog: Thousands more children may have been separated |url=https://apnews.com/c648954057594364b01a38b8d16701ac |accessdate=May 30, 2020 |work=] |date=January 18, 2019}}</ref>


==== Trump wall and government shutdown ====
In April 2018, the Trump administration announced a "]" policy whereby every adult suspected of ] would be criminally prosecuted.<ref name=Farivar>{{cite news |last1=Farivar |first1=Masood |title=Sessions Announces 'Zero-Tolerance' Policy on Illegal Border Crossings |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/jeff-sessions-zero-tolerance-policy-illegal-entry-us/4336134.html |work=] |accessdate=May 30, 2020}}</ref><ref name=davisshear>{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Julie Hirschfeld |author1link=Julie Hirschfeld Davis |last2=Shear |first2=Michael D. |author2link=Michael D. Shear |title=How Trump Came to Enforce a Practice of Separating Migrant Families |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/16/us/politics/family-separation-trump.html |website=] |accessdate=May 30, 2020 |date=June 16, 2018}}</ref> This resulted in family separations, as the migrant adults were put in criminal detention for prosecution, while their children were taken away as unaccompanied alien minors.<ref>{{cite news |last=Savage |first=Charlie |authorlink=Charlie Savage |title=Explaining Trump's Executive Order on Family Separation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/20/us/politics/family-separation-executive-order.html |website=] |accessdate=May 30, 2020 |date=June 20, 2018}}</ref> The children would be brought to immigration detention, immigrant shelters, tent camps, or metal cages, with the stated aim of releasing them to relatives or sponsors.<ref name=Domonoske>{{cite news |last1=Domonoske |first1=Camila |last2=Gonzales |first2=Richard |title=What We Know: Family Separation And 'Zero Tolerance' At The Border |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/06/19/621065383/what-we-know-family-separation-and-zero-tolerance-at-the-border |accessdate=May 30, 2020 |work=] |date=June 19, 2018}}</ref> Administration officials described the policy as a way to deter illegal immigration.<ref name=Domonoske/><ref name=davisshear/>
{{Main|Trump wall|2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown}}
].|alt=Trump speaks with U.S. Border Patrol agents. Behind him are black SUVs, four short border wall prototype designs, and the current border wall in the background]]
One of Trump's central campaign promises was to build a {{convert|1,000|mi|km|adj=on}} border wall to Mexico and have Mexico pay for it.<ref name="timm">{{cite news|last=Timm|first=Jane C.|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/fact-check-mexico-never-paid-it-what-about-trump-s-n1253983|title=Fact check: Mexico never paid for it. But what about Trump's other border wall promises?|work=]|date=January 13, 2021|access-date=December 21, 2021}}</ref> By the end of his term, the U.S. had built "{{convert|40|mi|km|disp=sqbr}} of new primary wall and {{convert|33|mi|km|disp=sqbr}} of secondary wall" in locations where there had been no barriers and {{convert|365|mi|km}} of primary or secondary border fencing replacing dilapidated or outdated barriers.<ref>{{cite news|last=Farley|first=Robert|url=https://www.factcheck.org/2020/12/trumps-border-wall-where-does-it-stand/|title=Trump's Border Wall: Where Does It Stand?|work=]|date=February 16, 2021 |access-date=December 21, 2021}}</ref>


In 2018, Trump refused to sign any ] from Congress unless it allocated $5.6&nbsp;billion for the border wall,<ref>{{cite news|first1=Julie Hirschfeld|last1=Davis|author-link1=Julie Hirschfeld Davis|first2=Michael|last2=Tackett|author-link2=Michael 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|work=]|date=January 2, 2019|access-date=January 3, 2019}}</ref> resulting in the federal government partially shutting down for 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019, the ].<ref name=Gambino>{{cite news|last1=Gambino|first1=Lauren|last2=Walters|first2=Joanna|title=Trump signs bill to end $6bn shutdown and temporarily reopen government|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/25/shutdown-latest-news-trump-reopens-government-deal-democrats|access-date=May 31, 2020|work=]|date=January 26, 2019|agency=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pramuk|first=Jacob|title=Trump signs bill to temporarily reopen government after longest shutdown in history|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/25/senate-votes-to-reopen-government-and-end-shutdown-without-border-wall.html|access-date=May 31, 2020|work=]|date=January 25, 2019}}</ref> Around 800,000 government employees were ]ed or worked without pay.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fritze|first=John|title=By the numbers: How the government shutdown is affecting the US|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/24/government-shutdown-has-wide-impact-numbers/2666872002/|access-date=May 31, 2020|work=]|date=January 24, 2019}}</ref> Trump and Congress ended the shutdown by approving temporary funding that provided delayed payments to government workers, but no funds for the wall.<ref name=Gambino/> The shutdown resulted in an estimated permanent loss of $3&nbsp;billion to the economy, according to the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/28/government-shutdown-cost-the-economy-11-billion-cbo.html|title=The government shutdown cost the economy $11 billion, including a permanent $3 billion loss, Congressional Budget Office says|last=Mui|first=Ylan|date=January 28, 2019|work=]|access-date=May 31, 2020}}</ref> About half of those polled blamed Trump for the shutdown, and his approval ratings dropped.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bacon|first=Perry Jr.|title=Why Trump Blinked|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/government-shutdown-ends/|work=]|date=January 25, 2019|access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref>
The policy of family separations had no precedent in previous administrations<ref name=Domonoske/> and sparked public outrage,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Epstein |first1=Jennifer |title=Donald Trump's family separations bedevil GOP as public outrage grows |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/donald-trump-s-family-separations-bedevil-gop-as-public-outrage-grows-20180618-p4zm9h.html |accessdate=May 30, 2020 |work=] |date=June 18, 2018}}</ref> with Democrats, Republicans, Trump allies, and religious groups demanding that the policy be rescinded.<ref name=Colvin>{{cite news |url=https://time.com/5314595/donald-trump-family-separation-policy-dividing-republicans/ |title=President Trump's Family Separation Policy Is Dividing Republicans |website=] |date=June 18, 2018 |accessdate=June 18, 2018 |last=Colvin |first=Jill |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618091110/http://time.com/5314595/donald-trump-family-separation-policy-dividing-republicans/ |archive-date=June 18, 2018}}</ref> Trump falsely asserting that his administration was merely following the law, blaming Democrats, when in fact this was his administration's policy.<ref name=Davis>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/15/us/politics/trump-immigration-separation-border.html |title=Separated at the Border From Their Parents: In Six Weeks, 1,995 Children |website=] |date=June 15, 2018 |accessdate=June 18, 2018 |last=Davis |first=Julie}}</ref><ref name=McArdle>{{cite news |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/news/white-house-blames-democrats-for-separation-of-families-at-border/ |title=White House Blames Democrats for Separation of Families at Border |website=] |date=June 15, 2018 |accessdate=June 18, 2018 |last=McArdle |first=Mairead}}</ref><ref name=Sarlin>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/immigration-border-crisis/despite-claims-gop-immigration-bill-would-not-end-family-separation-n883701 |title=Despite claims, GOP immigration bill would not end family separation, experts say |website=] |date=June 15, 2018 |accessdate=June 18, 2018 |last=Sarlin |first=Benjy}}</ref> More than 2,300 children were separated as a result of the "zero tolerance policy", the Trump administration revealed in June 2018.<ref name=Domonoske/>


To prevent another imminent shutdown in February 2019, Congress passed and Trump signed a funding bill that included $1.375&nbsp;billion for {{convert|55|mi|km}} of bollard border fencing.<ref name=Wilkie>{{cite news|last1=Pramuk|first1=Jacob|last2=Wilkie|first2=Christina|title=Trump declares national emergency to build border wall, setting up massive legal fight|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/15/trump-national-emergency-declaration-border-wall-spending-bill.html|access-date=May 31, 2020|work=]|date=February 15, 2019}}</ref> He also declared a ], intending to divert $6.1&nbsp;billion of funds Congress had allocated to other purposes.<ref name=Wilkie/> ] a ] to overturn the declaration, and the Senate voted against a ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Carney|first=Jordain|title=Senate fails to override Trump veto over emergency declaration|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/466313-senate-fails-to-override-trumps-emergency-declaration-veto|access-date=May 31, 2020|work=]|date=October 17, 2019}}</ref> Legal challenges to the diversion of $2.5&nbsp;billion originally meant for the ]'s drug interdiction efforts<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-allows-trump-to-use-military-funds-for-border-wall-construction/|title=Supreme Court allows Trump to use military funds for border wall construction|first=Melissa|last=Quinn|date=December 11, 2019|work=]|access-date=September 19, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{ussc|name=Trump v. Sierra Club|docket=19A60|volume=588|year=2019|el=no}}</ref> and $3.6&nbsp;billion originally meant for military construction<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/01/09/794969121/appeals-court-allows-trump-to-divert-3-6-billion-in-military-funds-for-border-wa|title=Appeals Court Allows Trump To Divert $3.6 Billion In Military Funds For Border Wall|first=Bobby|last=Allyn|date=January 9, 2020|access-date=September 19, 2022|work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite court|litigants=El Paso Cty. v. Trump|vol=982|reporter=F.3d|opinion=332|court=5th Cir.|date=December 4, 2020|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCOURTS-ca5-19-51144/USCOURTS-ca5-19-51144-0 |access-date=September 19, 2022}}</ref> were unsuccessful.
Although Trump originally argued that the issue could not be solved via executive order, he proceeded to sign an executive order on June 20, 2018, mandating that migrant families be detained together, unless the administration judged that doing so would harm the child.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Beckwith |first1=Ryan |title=Here's What President Trump's Immigration Order Actually Does |url=https://time.com/5317703/trump-family-separation-policy-executive-order/ |accessdate=May 30, 2020 |work=] |date=June 20, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=June 20, 2018 |first1=Michael D. |last1=Shear |author1link=Michael D. Shear |first2=Abby |last2=Goodnough |first3=Maggie |last3=Haberman |author3link=Maggie Haberman |title=Trump Retreats on Separating Families, but Thousands May Remain Apart |accessdate=June 20, 2018 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/20/us/politics/trump-immigration-children-executive-order.html}}</ref> On June 26, 2018, a federal judge concluded that the Trump administration had "no system in place to keep track of" the separated children, nor any effective measures for family communication and reunification;<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hansler |first1=Jennifer |title=Judge says government does a better job of tracking 'personal property' than separated kids |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/27/politics/family-separation-federal-judge-personal-property-comment/index.html |accessdate=May 30, 2020 |work=] |date=June 27, 2018}}</ref> the judge ordered for the families to be reunited, and family separations stopped, except in the cases where the parent(s) are judged unfit to take care of the child, or if there is parental approval.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/27/us-immigration-must-reunite-families-separated-at-border-federal-judge-rules |title=Judge orders US to reunite families separated at border within 30 days |last=Walters |first=Joanna |date=June 27, 2018 |website=] |accessdate=May 30, 2020}}</ref>

In 2019, the Trump administration reported that 4,370 children were separated from July 2017 to June 2018.<ref name=Spagat/> Even after the June 2018 federal court order, the Trump administration continued to practice family separations, with more than a thousand migrant children separated.<ref name=Spagat/>

==== Migrant detentions ====

{{Main|Trump administration migrant detentions}}
] were reported by inspectors from the federal government in June 2019.<ref name=OIGjuly2019>{{cite web |title=Management Alert – DHS Needs to Address Dangerous Overcrowding and Prolonged Detention of Children and Adults in the Rio Grande Valley (Redacted) |url=https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2019-07/OIG-19-51-Jul19_.pdf |publisher=] |accessdate=July 13, 2019 |date=July 2, 2019}}</ref>]]

While the Obama administration detained and deported migrants at high rates, the Trump administration took it to a significantly higher level.<ref name=Ricciardelli>{{cite journal |last1=Ricciardelli |first1=Lauren |last2=Nackerud |first2=Larry |last3=Cochrane |first3=Katherine |last4=Sims |first4=India |last5=Crawford |first5=Latifa |last6=Taylor |first6=Demetria |title=A Snapshot of Immigration Court at Stewart Detention Center: How Social Workers Can Advocate & Advance Social Justice Efforts in the United States |journal=Critical Social Work |date=July 18, 2019 |volume=20 |issue=1 |url=https://ojs.uwindsor.ca/index.php/csw/article/view/5960 |accessdate=May 31, 2019 |doi=10.22329/csw.v20i1.5960 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

The ] inspections of migrant detention centers in 2018 and 2019 found that ] (CBP) "in many instances" violated federal guidelines for detaining migrant children for too long before passing them to the ]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Duehren |first1=Andrew |title=U.S. Government Watchdog Reports Faults in DHS Migrant Family Separation Policy |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-government-watchdog-reports-faults-in-dhs-migrant-family-separation-policy-1538506696 |accessdate=May 30, 2020 |work=] |date=October 2, 2018}}</ref> and that migrants were detained for prolonged periods under dangerous conditions failing federal standards, enduring dangerous overcrowding and poor hygiene and food.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |last1=Haynes |first1=Danielle |title=Watchdog: 'Dangerous overcrowding' of migrant processing center |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2019/05/31/Watchdog-Dangerous-overcrowding-of-migrant-processing-center/6021559326553/ |accessdate=May 30, 2020 |date=May 31, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kiely |first1=Eugene |last2=Farley |first2=Robert |last3=Robertson |first3=Lori |title=Confusion at the Border |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2019/07/confusion-at-the-border/ |website=] |accessdate=May 30, 2020 |date=July 3, 2019}}</ref> CBP Commissioner ] said in 2019 that there was a "border security and a humanitarian crisis" and that the immigration system was at a "breaking point".<ref>{{cite news |first1=Daniel |last1=Borunda |first2=Aaron |last2=Martinez |title=CBP commissioner visits El Paso border, says immigration system at 'breaking point' |url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2019/03/27/live-us-customs-and-border-protection-talks-el-paso-border-crisis-immigration/3282390002/ |work=] |date=March 27, 2019}}</ref>

The treatment of the detained migrants resulted in a public outcry by July 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ferris |first1=Sarah |title=Dems seize offensive against Trump after detention center outrage |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/07/03/democrats-trump-immigration-detention-centers-border-1398414 |accessdate=May 30, 2020 |work=] |date=July 3, 2019}}</ref> That month, Trump reacted to criticism of the migrant detentions by saying if the migrants were unhappy about the conditions of the detention facilities, "just tell them not to come."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brice |first1=Makini |title=Trump says immigrants 'unhappy' with detention centers should stay home |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration/trump-says-immigrants-unhappy-with-detention-centers-should-stay-home-idUSKCN1TY1A5 |website=] |accessdate=July 22, 2019 |date=May 30, 2020}}</ref>

In August 2019, the administration attempted to change the 1997 ] that limits detention of migrant families to 20 days; the new policy allowing indefinite detention was blocked before it would go into effect.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cooke |first1=Kristina |title=U.S. judge blocks Trump rule on migrant child detention |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration/us-judge-blocks-trump-rule-on-migrant-child-detention-idUSKBN1WC2ED |accessdate=June 24, 2020 |work=] |date=September 28, 2019}}</ref>

==== 2018–2019 federal government shutdown ====

{{Main|2018–19 United States federal government shutdown}}
].]]

On December 22, 2018, the federal government was partially shut down after Trump declared that any funding extension must include $5.6&nbsp;billion in federal funds for a ] to partly fulfill his campaign promise.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Julie Hirschfeld |last1=Davis |author1link=Julie Hirschfeld Davis |first2=Michael |last2=Tackett |author2link=Michael 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 |work=] |date=January 2, 2019 |access-date=January 3, 2019}}</ref> The shutdown was caused by a lapse in funding for nine federal departments, affecting about one-fourth of federal government activities.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wamsley |first=Laurel |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/01/09/683642605/how-is-the-shutdown-affecting-america-let-us-count-the-ways |title=How Is The Shutdown Affecting America? Let Us Count The Ways |date=January 9, 2019 |website=]}}</ref> Trump said he would not accept any bill that did not include funding for the wall, and Democrats, who control the House, said they would not support any bill that does. Senate Republicans have said they will not advance any legislation Trump would not sign.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Damian |last1=Paletta |author1link=Damian 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 |work=] |date=January 2, 2019 |access-date=January 3, 2019}}</ref> In earlier negotiations with Democratic leaders, 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=] |date=January 9, 2019 |accessdate=January 10, 2019 |first1=David |last1=Nakamura |author1link=David Nakamura |first2=Seung Min |last2=Kim |author2link=Seung Min Kim}}</ref>

As a result of the shutdown, about 380,000 government employees were ]ed and 420,000 government employees worked without pay.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fritze |first1=John |title=By the numbers: How the government shutdown is affecting the US |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/24/government-shutdown-has-wide-impact-numbers/2666872002/ |accessdate=May 31, 2020 |work=] |date=January 27, 2020}}</ref> According to a ] estimate, the shutdown resulted in a permanent loss of $3&nbsp;billion to the U.S. economy.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/28/government-shutdown-cost-the-economy-11-billion-cbo.html |title=Government shutdown cost the economy $11 billion: CBO |last=Mui |first=Ylan |date=January 28, 2019 |website=] |access-date=May 31, 2020}}</ref> About half of Americans blamed Trump for the shutdown, and Trump's approval ratings dropped.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bacon |first1=Perry |title=Why Trump Blinked |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/government-shutdown-ends/ |work=] |date=January 25, 2019}}</ref>

On January 25, 2019, Congress unanimously approved a temporary funding bill that provided no funds for the wall but would provide delayed paychecks to government workers. Trump signed the bill that day, ending the shutdown at 35 days. It was the ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gambino |first1=Lauren |last2=Walters |first2=Joanna |title=Trump signs bill to end $6bn shutdown and temporarily reopen government |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/25/shutdown-latest-news-trump-reopens-government-deal-democrats |accessdate=May 31, 2020 |work=] |date=January 26, 2019 |agency=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pramuk |first1=Jacob |title=Trump signs bill to temporarily reopen government after longest shutdown in history |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/25/senate-votes-to-reopen-government-and-end-shutdown-without-border-wall.html |accessdate=May 31, 2020 |work=] |date=January 25, 2019}}</ref>

Since the government funding was temporary, another shutdown loomed. On February 14, 2019, Congress approved a funding bill that included $1.375&nbsp;billion for 55 miles of border fences, in lieu of Trump's intended wall.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pramuk |first1=Jacob |title=Congress passes bill to prevent another US government shutdown, sending it to Trump |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/14/congress-votes-to-pass-spending-bill-and-avoid-government-shutdown.html |accessdate=May 31, 2020 |work=] |date=February 14, 2019}}</ref> Trump signed the bill the next day.<ref name=Wilkie>{{cite news |last1=Pramuk |first1=Jacob |last2=Wilkie |first2=Christina |title=Trump declares national emergency to build border wall, setting up massive legal fight |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/15/trump-national-emergency-declaration-border-wall-spending-bill.html |accessdate=May 31, 2020 |work=] |date=February 15, 2019}}</ref>

==== National emergency regarding the southern border ====

On February 15, 2019, after Trump received from Congress only $1.375&nbsp;billion for border fencing after demanding $5.7&nbsp;billion for the Trump wall, he declared a ], in hopes of getting another $6.7&nbsp;billion without congressional approval, using funds for military construction, ], and money from the Treasury.<ref name=Wilkie/> In doing so, Trump acknowledged that he "didn't need to" declare a national emergency, but he "would rather do it much faster".<ref name=Wilkie/>

Congress twice passed resolutions to block Trump's national emergency declarations, but Trump vetoed both and there were not enough votes in Congress for a ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fabian |first1=Jordan |title=Trump issues first veto, warning of 'reckless' resolution |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/434212-trump-issues-first-veto-on-emergency-declaration |accessdate=May 31, 2020 |work=] |date=March 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Montoya-Galvez |first1=Camilo |title=Attempt to override Trump veto on national emergency resolution fails in House |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/attempt-to-override-trump-veto-on-national-emergency-resolution-fails-in-house/ |accessdate=May 31, 2020 |work=] |date=March 26, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Carney |first1=Jordain |title=Senate fails to override Trump veto over emergency declaration |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/466313-senate-fails-to-override-trumps-emergency-declaration-veto |accessdate=May 31, 2020 |work=] |date=October 17, 2019}}</ref> Trump's decision to divert other government funding to fund the wall resulted in legal challenges. In July 2019, the Supreme Court allowed Trump to use $2.5&nbsp;billion (originally meant for anti-drug programs) from the Department of Defense to build the Trump wall.<ref>{{cite news |last1=De Vogue |first1=Ariane |title=Supreme Court clears way for Trump admin to use Defense funds for border wall construction |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/26/politics/supreme-court-pentagon-border-wall-construction/index.html |accessdate=May 31, 2020 |work=] |date=July 27, 2019}}</ref><ref name=MQuinn>{{cite news |last1=Quinn |first1=Melissa |title=Federal judge blocks Trump administration from using Pentagon funds for wall |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-judge-blocks-trump-administration-from-using-pentagon-funds-for-wall/ |accessdate=May 31, 2020 |work=] |date=December 11, 2019}}</ref> In December 2019, a federal judge stopped the Trump administration from using $3.6&nbsp;billion of military construction funds for the Trump wall.<ref name=MQuinn/>

==== Trump wall ====

{{Main|Trump wall}}

As a presidential candidate, Trump promised to construct a wall along the U.S.&ndash;Mexico border to prevent migration.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yen |first1=Hope |last2=Long |first2=Colleen |last3=Woodward |first3=Calvin |title=Trump's shift on concrete wall, tariff myth |url=https://apnews.com/d47a6370e5dd41289f86fc9d5e19c3d5 |work=] |accessdate=May 31, 2020}}</ref> In 2017, the border had 654 miles of primary fencing, 37 miles of secondary fencing and 14 miles of tertiary fencing.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cunningham |first1=Anne |title=Deporting Immigrants |date=December 15, 2017 |publisher=Greenhaven Publishing |isbn=9781534502406 |page=151 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nntmDwAAQBAJ |accessdate=May 31, 2020}}</ref> Trump's target, from 2015 to 2017, was 1,000 miles of wall.<ref name=wallisawall>{{cite news |last1=Cummings |first1=William |title='A WALL is a WALL!' Trump declares. But his definition has shifted a lot over time |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2019/01/08/trump-wall-concept-timeline/2503855002/ |accessdate=May 31, 2020 |work=] |date=January 31, 2019}}</ref> The Trump administration set a target of 450 miles of new or renovated barriers by December 2020, with an ultimate goal of 509 miles of new or renovated barriers by August 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miroff |first1=Nick |last2=Blanco |first2=Adrian |title=Trump ramps up border-wall construction ahead of 2020 vote |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/national/immigration/border-wall-progress/ |accessdate=May 31, 2020 |work=] |date=February 6, 2020}}</ref> Even into 2020, Trump has repeatedly provided false assertions that Mexico is paying for the Trump wall, although American taxpayers are footing the bill from funds being diverted from the U.S. Department of Defense.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Woodward |first1=Calvin |title=AP FACT CHECK: Trump revives false claim on wall at CPAC |url=https://apnews.com/28e60e866f6d32cdadedd126e292eba7 |accessdate=May 31, 2020 |date=March 1, 2020 |work=]}}</ref>

In October 2018, the administration revealed two miles of replacement fences made of steel posts, which it called the first section of Trump's 'wall', although earlier that year Border Patrol had said the project was unrelated to the Trump wall and had been long planned (dating to 2009).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Flores |first1=Adolfo |title=A Plaque Says This Fence In Southern California Is The First Completed Section Of Trump's Border Wall |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/adolfoflores/immigration-wall-border-trump-dedication-fence |accessdate=May 31, 2020 |work=] |date=October 26, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Satherley |first1=Dan |title=Donald Trump's wall 'different than a fence' |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2018/10/donald-trump-s-wall-different-than-a-fence.html |accessdate=May 31, 2020 |work=] |date=October 29, 2018}}</ref> In December 2018 and January 2019, Trump tweeted out a design of a steel fence, and a picture of a fence, while declaring "the wall is coming."<ref name=wallisawall/>

By November 2019, the Trump administration had replaced around 78 miles of the ] along the border; these replacement barriers were not walls, but fences made of ].<ref name=AlVal>{{cite news |last1=Alvarez |first1=Priscilla |last2=Valencia |first2=Nick |title=The private border wall group is building again, this time in Texas |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/15/politics/fisher-industries-border-wall/index.html |accessdate=May 30, 2020 |work=] |date=November 16, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Nichols |first1=Chris |title=Nancy Pelosi stated on November 17, 2019 in an interview on "Face the Nation": President Trump "hasn't built any new (border) wall" during his time in office. |url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/nov/23/nancy-pelosi/mostly-true-nancy-pelosis-claim-president-trump-ha/ |accessdate=May 31, 2020 |work=] |date=November 22, 2019}}</ref> The administration in November 2019 said it had "just started breaking ground" to build new barriers in areas where no structure existed.<ref name=AlVal/> By May 2020, the Trump administration had replaced 172 miles of dilapidated or outdated design barriers, and constructed 15 miles of new border barriers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Valverde |first1=Miriam |title=Donald Trump stated on May 19, 2020 in a speech: "On the Southern border, as you know, the wall is going up, it's going up very rapidly. We're at 182 miles." |url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/may/20/donald-trump/facts-donald-trumps-claim-182-miles-border-wall-co/ |accessdate=May 31, 2020 |work=] |date=May 20, 2020}}</ref>


=== Foreign policy === === Foreign policy ===
{{Main|Foreign policy of the Donald Trump administration}} {{Main|Foreign policy of the first Donald Trump administration}}
{{See also|List of international presidential trips made by Donald Trump#First presidency (2017–2021)}}
], ], ] and other leaders at the ] in France, 2019]]
], and Egyptian president ] at the ] in Saudi Arabia]]


] leaders at the ] in France, 2019|alt=Trump and other G7 leaders sit at a conference table]]
Trump describes himself as a "nationalist"<ref>{{cite news |first=William |last=Cummings |title='I am a nationalist': Trump's embrace of controversial label sparks uproar |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/10/24/trump-says-hes-nationalist-what-means-why-its-controversial/1748521002/ |work=] |date=October 24, 2018}}</ref> and his foreign policy as "]";<ref>{{cite news |first=Christiane |last=Amanpour |authorlink=Christiane Amanpour |title=Donald Trump's speech: 'America first', but an America absent from the world |date=July 22, 2016 |website=] |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/07/22/opinions/donald-trump-speech-amanpour/}}</ref><ref name=Bennhold>{{cite news |first=Katrin |last=Bennhold |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/06/world/europe/germany-troop-withdrawal-america.html |newspaper=] |title=Has 'America First' Become 'Trump First'? Germans Wonder |date=June 6, 2020}}</ref> he has espoused ], ], and ] views.<ref name="Cassidy">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/donald-trump-is-transforming-the-g-o-p-into-a-populist-nativist-party |title=Donald Trump Is Transforming the G.O.P. Into a Populist, Nativist Party |last=Cassidy |first=John |magazine=] |date=February 29, 2016 |accessdate=March 5, 2016}}</ref><ref name="rucker">{{cite news |first1=Philip |last1=Rucker |author1link=Philip Rucker |first2=Robert |last2=Costa |author2link=Robert Costa (journalist) |title=Trump questions need for NATO, outlines noninterventionist foreign policy |date=March 21, 2016 |website=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/03/21/donald-trump-reveals-foreign-policy-team-in-meeting-with-the-washington-post/}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kupchan |first=Charles A. |date=September 27, 2020 |title=Isolationism Is Not a Dirty Word |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/09/virtue-isolationism/616499/ |magazine=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kagan |first=Robert |authorlink=Robert Kagan |date=September 23, 2018 |title='America First' Has Won |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/23/opinion/trump-foreign-policy-america-first.html |access-date=October 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Forsby |first=Andreas Bøje |date=November 2016 |title=Putting America First Could Give China The Edge |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep13102 |journal=DIIS Policy Brief}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Donald Trump reveals his isolationist foreign-policy instincts |date=May 22, 2016 |website=] |url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2016/03/aipac-and-foreign-policy}}</ref>
Trump described himself as a "nationalist"<ref>{{cite news|first=William|last=Cummings|title='I am a nationalist': Trump's embrace of controversial label sparks uproar|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/10/24/trump-says-hes-nationalist-what-means-why-its-controversial/1748521002/|work=]|date=October 24, 2018|access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref> and his foreign policy as "]".<ref name=Bennhold>{{cite news|first=Katrin|last=Bennhold|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/06/world/europe/germany-troop-withdrawal-america.html|work=]|title=Has 'America First' Become 'Trump First'? Germans Wonder|date=June 6, 2020|access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref> He praised and supported ], ], and authoritarian governments.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://carnegieendowment.org/2018/10/01/can-u.s.-democracy-policy-survive-trump-pub-77381|title=Can U.S. Democracy Policy Survive Trump?|last1=Carothers|first1=Thomas|last2=Brown|first2=Frances Z.|date=October 1, 2018|website=]|access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref> Unpredictability, uncertainty, and inconsistency characterized foreign relations during his tenure.<ref name=Bennhold/>{{sfn|McGurk|2020}} Tensions between the U.S. and its European allies were strained under Trump.<ref>{{cite news|first=Ana|last=Swanson|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/business/economy/trump-european-union-trade.html|title=Trump Administration Escalates Tensions With Europe as Crisis Looms|date=March 12, 2020|access-date=October 4, 2021|work=]}}</ref> He criticized ] and privately suggested on multiple occasions that the U.S. should ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Baker|first=Peter|author-link=Peter Baker (journalist)|date=May 26, 2017 |access-date=October 4, 2021|title=Trump Says NATO Allies Don't Pay Their Share. Is That True?|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/26/world/europe/nato-trump-spending.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Barnes|first1=Julian E.|last2=Cooper|first2=Helene|author-link2=Helene Cooper|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|work=]|date=January 14, 2019 |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref>


==== Trade ====
His foreign policy has been marked by repeated praise and support of ] and ] ] and criticism of ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://carnegieendowment.org/2018/10/01/can-u.s.-democracy-policy-survive-trump-pub-77381 |title=Can U.S. Democracy Policy Survive Trump? |last1=Carothers |first1=Thomas |last2=Brown |first2=Frances Z. |date=October 1, 2019 |website=] |access-date=October 19, 2019}}</ref> Trump has cited Israel's ],<ref>{{Cite news |last=LaFranchi |first=Howard |date=March 22, 2019 |title=Trump-Netanyahu: True bromance, or marriage of convenience? |work=] |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2019/0322/Trump-Netanyahu-True-bromance-or-marriage-of-convenience |access-date=October 17, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title='Only the Strong Survive.' How Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu Is Testing the Limits of Power |url=https://time.com/longform/benjamin-netanyahu-interview/ |work=] |date=July 11, 2019 |first=Brian |last=Bennett |access-date=October 17, 2020}}</ref> the Philippines' ],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3857619/donald-trump-praises-philippines-duterte/ |title=Donald Trump repeatedly praises Philippines' President Duterte during Asia trip |website=] |date=November 13, 2017 |first1=Jonathan |last1=Lemire |first2=Jill |last2=Colvin}}</ref> Egypt's ],<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=May 21, 2017 |first=Rachael |last=Revesz |title=Donald Trump praises Egypt President al-Sisi and plans trip to Cairo |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-praises-egypt-president-abdel-fattah-al-sisi-safety-visit-cairo-saudi-arabia-meeting-a7747171.html}}</ref> Turkey's ],<ref>{{cite news |website=] |date=September 21, 2017 |first1=Margaret |last1=Talev |first2=Jennifer |last2=Jacobs |title=Trump Praises Erdogan for 'High Marks' Amid Crackdown Concerns |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-21/trump-praises-erdogan-for-high-marks-amid-crackdown-concerns}}</ref> Russia's ],<ref name="Putin">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/11/14/trump-faces-backlash-over-appointing-bannon-as-a-top-aide-a-choice-critics-say-will-empower-white-nationalists/ |title=Trump, Putin agree in phone call to improve 'unsatisfactory' relations between their countries, Kremlin says |last1=Viebeck |first1=Elise |last2=Markon |first2=Jerry |author2link=Jerry Markon |last3=DeYoung |first3=Karen |author3link=Karen DeYoung |date=November 14, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=March 14, 2017}}</ref> King ],<ref>{{cite news |website=] |date=November 6, 2017 |first=Angelica |last=LaVito |title=Trump praises Saudi king after crackdown |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/06/trump-praises-saudi-king-after-crackdown.html}}</ref> Brazil's ],<ref>{{cite news |website=] |agency=] |date=January 1, 2019 |title=Trump praises Brazil's new President Bolsonaro after he vowed to 'strengthen democracy' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/01/trump-praises-brazils-new-president-bolsonaro-after-he-vowed-to-strengthen-democracy-.html}}</ref> India's ],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dalmia |first=Shikha |date=February 26, 2020 |title=While Trump Was Praising Modi for Religious Freedom, Modi-Supporting Hindus Slaughtered Muslims in the Streets |url=https://reason.com/2020/02/26/while-trump-was-praising-modi-for-religious-freedom-modi-supporting-hindus-slaughtered-muslims-in-the-streets/ |access-date=October 17, 2020 |website=]}}</ref><ref name="wapost-modi">{{cite news |title=In India, Trump validates Modi's divisive agenda |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/24/india-trump-validates-modis-divisive-agenda/ |work=] |date=February 24, 2020}}</ref> Hungary's ],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/03/trump-xi-jinping-dictators/554810/ |title=Nine Notorious Dictators, Nine Shout-Outs From Donald Trump |first=Krishnadev |last=Calamur |date=March 4, 2018 |website=]}}</ref> and Poland's ] as examples of good leaders.<ref>{{cite news |title=Poland's clash of values in presidential election |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53190016 |work=] |date=June 28, 2020}}</ref>
{{See also|Trump tariffs}}
Trump withdrew the U.S. from the ] (TPP) negotiations,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://cnn.com/2017/01/23/politics/trump-tpp-things-to-know/|title=Trump's TPP withdrawal: 5 things to know|last=Bradner|first=Eric|date=January 23, 2017|work=]|access-date=March 12, 2018}}</ref> imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/mar/10/war-over-steel-trump-tips-global-trade-turmoil-tariffs|title=The war over steel: Trump tips global trade into new turmoil|work=]|date=March 10, 2018|access-date=March 15, 2018|last=Inman|first=Phillip}}</ref> and launched a ] by sharply increasing tariffs on 818 categories (worth $50&nbsp;billion) of Chinese goods imported into the U.S.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-ministry/trump-sets-tariffs-on-50-billion-in-chinese-goods-beijing-strikes-back-idUSKBN1JB0KC|title=Trump sets tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese goods; Beijing strikes back|date=June 15, 2018|access-date=October 3, 2021|work=]|first1=David|last1=Lawder|first2=Ben|last2=Blanchard}}</ref> While he said that import tariffs are paid by China into the ], they are paid by American companies that import goods from China.<ref>{{cite news|last=Singh|first=Rajesh Kumar|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-tariffs-explainer-idUSKCN1UR5YZ|title=Explainer: Trump's China tariffs – Paid by U.S. importers, not by China|work=]|date=August 2, 2019|access-date=November 27, 2022}}</ref> Although he pledged during the campaign to significantly reduce the U.S.'s ], they skyrocketed under Trump.<ref name="Palmer 2021">{{cite news|last1=Palmer|first1=Doug| title=America's trade gap soared under Trump, final figures show|work=]|date=February 5, 2021|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/05/2020-trade-figures-trump-failure-deficit-466116|access-date=June 1, 2024}}</ref> Following a 2017–2018 renegotiation, the ] (USMCA) became effective in July 2020 as the successor to NAFTA.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rodriguez|first=Sabrina|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/24/north-american-trade-deal-to-take-effect-on-july-1-207402|title=North American trade deal to take effect on July 1|date=April 24, 2020|access-date=January 31, 2022|work=]}}</ref>


==== Russia ====
As a candidate, Trump questioned the need for ];<ref name="rucker"/> as president, he repeatedly and publicly criticized NATO and the U.S.'s NATO allies, and has privately suggested on multiple occasions that the United States should withdraw from NATO.<ref>{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Peter |authorlink=Peter Baker (journalist) |title=Trump Says NATO Allies Don't Pay Their Share. Is That True? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/26/world/europe/nato-trump-spending.html|work=]|date=May 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |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 |last1=Barnes |first1=Julian E. |last2=Cooper |first2=Helene |author2link=Helene Cooper |date=January 14, 2019 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/03/us/politics/trump-nato-withdraw.html |title=Allies and Former U.S. Officials Fear Trump Could Seek NATO Exit in a Second Term |last=Crowley |first=Michael |authorlink=Michael Crowley (journalist) |date=September 3, 2019 |work=]}}</ref> Hallmarks of foreign relations during Trump's tenure include unpredictability and uncertainty,<ref name=Bennhold/> a lack of a consistent foreign policy,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/iran/2020-01-22/cost-incoherent-foreign-policy |title=The Cost of an Incoherent Foreign Policy: Trump's Iran Imbroglio Undermines U.S. Priorities Everywhere Else |first=Brett |last=McGurk |authorlink=Brett McGurk |work=] |date=January 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-08-20/trump-s-true-foreign-policy-chaos |title=Trump's True Foreign Policy: Chaos |first=Hal |last=Brands |authorlink=Hal Brands |work=] |date=August 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first=Richard |last=Haass |authorlink=Richard Haass |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2020-08-11/present-disruption |title=Present at the Disruption: How Trump Unmade U.S. Foreign Policy |magazine=] |date=September–October 2020}}</ref> and strained and sometimes antagonistic relationships with the U.S.'s European allies.<ref name=Bennhold/><ref>{{cite news |first=Ana |last=Swanson |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/business/economy/trump-european-union-trade.html |title=Trump Administration Escalates Tensions With Europe as Crisis Looms |date=March 12, 2012 |work=]}}</ref>
{{See also|Russia–United States relations#First Trump administration (2017–2021)}}
] and Trump shaking hands at the ], June 2019|alt=Trump and Putin, both seated, lean over and shake hands]]
The Trump administration weakened the toughest sanctions imposed by the U.S. after Russia's ].<ref>{{cite news|first=Patricia|last=Zengerle|title=Bid to keep U.S. sanctions on Russia's Rusal fails in Senate|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-sanctions/bid-to-keep-u-s-sanctions-on-russias-rusal-fails-in-senate-idUSKCN1PA2JB|work=]|date=January 16, 2019|access-date=October 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Jeanne|last=Whalen|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/01/16/rare-rebuke-trump-administration-some-gop-lawmakers-advance-measure-oppose-lifting-russian-sanctions/|title=In rare rebuke of Trump administration, some GOP lawmakers advance measure to oppose lifting Russian sanctions|newspaper=]|date=January 15, 2019|access-date=October 5, 2021}}</ref> Trump withdrew the U.S. from the ], citing alleged Russian noncompliance,<ref>{{cite news|first=Shannon|last=Bugos|title=U.S. Completes INF Treaty Withdrawal|url=https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2019-09/news/us-completes-inf-treaty-withdrawal|website=]|date=September 2019|access-date=October 5, 2021}}</ref> and supported a potential return of Russia to the ].<ref name="G8">{{cite news|last=Panetta|first=Grace|date=June 14, 2018|title=Trump reportedly claimed to leaders at the G7 that Crimea is part of Russia because everyone there speaks Russian|work=]|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-claims-crimea-is-part-of-russia-since-people-speak-russian-g7-summit-2018-6|access-date=February 13, 2020}}</ref>


Trump repeatedly praised and, according to some critics, rarely criticized Russian president ]<ref>{{cite news|last=Baker|first=Peter|author-link=Peter Baker (journalist)|date=August 10, 2017|title=Trump Praises Putin Instead of Critiquing Cuts to U.S. Embassy Staff|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/10/world/europe/putin-trump-embassy-russia.html|access-date=June 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Nussbaum|first=Matthew|date=April 8, 2018|access-date=October 5, 2021|title=Trump blames Putin for backing 'Animal Assad'|work=]|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/08/trump-putin-syria-attack-508223}}</ref> but opposed some actions of the Russian government.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nord Stream 2: Trump approves sanctions on Russia gas pipeline|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50875935|work=]|date=December 21, 2019|access-date=October 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Trump expelling 60 Russian diplomats in wake of UK nerve agent attack|url=https://cnn.com/2018/03/26/politics/us-expel-russian-diplomats/|work=]|first1=Jeremy|last1=Diamond|author-link1=Jeremy Diamond|first2=Allie|last2=Malloy|first3=Angela|last3=Dewan|date=March 26, 2018|access-date=October 5, 2021}}</ref> After he met Putin at the ] in 2018, he drew bipartisan criticism for accepting Putin's denial of ] rather than the findings of U.S. intelligence agencies.<ref>{{cite news|last=Zurcher|first=Anthony|title=Trump-Putin summit: After Helsinki, the fallout at home|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44830012|access-date=July 18, 2018|work=]|date=July 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/07/trump-putin/565238/|title=Trump Sides With the Kremlin, Against the U.S. Government|last=Calamur|first=Krishnadev|date=July 16, 2018|work=]|access-date=July 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://cnn.com/2018/07/16/politics/congress-reaction-trump-putin-comments/|title=Top Republicans in Congress break with Trump over Putin comments|last=Fox|first=Lauren|date=July 16, 2018|work=]|access-date=July 18, 2018}}</ref>
==== Syria====
Trump ordered ] and ] against the Assad regime in Syria, in retaliation for the ] and ]s, respectively.<ref name="bbcnewssyriawartrumpsmissilestrike">{{cite news |title=Syria war: Trump's missile strike attracts US praise – and barbs |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39529605 |accessdate=April 8, 2017 |work=] |date=April 7, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-strikes-syria-after-suspected-chemical-attack-by-assad-regime |first=Kathleen |last=Joyce |title=US strikes Syria after suspected chemical attack by Assad regime |date=April 14, 2018 |website=] |accessdate=April 14, 2018}}</ref>


==== East Asia ====
In December 2018, Trump declared "we have won against ISIS," contradicting Department of Defense assessments, and ordered the withdrawal of all troops from Syria.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/us/politics/trump-syria-turkey-troop-withdrawal.html |title=Trump withdraws U.S. Forces From Syria, Declaring 'We Have Won Against ISIS' |first1=Mark |last1=Landler |author1link=Mark Landler |first2=Helene |last2=Cooper |author2link=Helene Cooper |first3=Eric |last3=Schmitt |author3link=Eric P. Schmitt |date=December 19, 2018 |work=] |accessdate=December 31, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Syria conflict: Trump's withdrawal plan shocks allies |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46628811 |accessdate=December 20, 2018 |work=] |date=December 20, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Borger |first1=Julian |author1link=Julian Borger |last2=Chulov |first2=Martin |title=Trump shocks allies and advisers with plan to pull US troops out of Syria |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/19/us-troops-syria-withdrawal-trump |accessdate=December 20, 2018 |work=] |date=December 20, 2018}}</ref> Mattis resigned the next day in opposition to Trump's foreign policy, calling his decision an abandonment of the U.S.'s ] who played a key role in fighting ISIS.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cooper |first=Helene |authorlink=Helene Cooper |title=Jim Mattis, Defense Secretary, Resigns in Rebuke of Trump's Worldview |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/20/us/politics/jim-mattis-defense-secretary-trump.html |accessdate=December 21, 2018 |work=] |date=December 20, 2018}}</ref> One week after his announcement, Trump said he would not approve any extension of the American deployment in Syria.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=January 6, 2019 |first=Karoun |last=Demirjian |authorlink=Karoun Demirjian |title=Contradicting Trump, Bolton says no withdrawal from Syria until ISIS destroyed, Kurds' safety guaranteed |accessdate=January 6, 2019 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/bolton-promises-no-troop-withdrawal-from-syria-until-isis-contained-kurds-safety-guaranteed/2019/01/06/ee219bba-11c5-11e9-b6ad-9cfd62dbb0a8_story.html}}</ref> In January 2019, national security advisor ] announced America would remain in Syria until ISIS is eradicated and Turkey guarantees it will not strike the Kurds.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=January 6, 2019 |first1=David E. |last1=Sanger |author1link=David E. Sanger |first2=Noah |last2=Weiland |first3=Eric |last3=Schmitt |author3link=Eric P. Schmitt |title=Bolton Puts Conditions on Syria Withdrawal, Suggesting a Delay of Months or Years |accessdate=January 6, 2019 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/06/world/middleeast/bolton-syria-pullout.html}}</ref>


===== China, Hong Kong, Taiwan =====
]
{{See also|China–United States relations#First Trump administration (2017–2021)}}
In October 2019, after Trump spoke to Turkish president ], the White House acknowledged Turkey would carry out a ], and ] were withdrawn from the area. The statement also passed responsibility for the area's captured ISIS fighters to Turkey.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chappell |first1=Bill |last2=Neuman |first2=Scott |title=In Major Policy Shift, U.S. Will Stand Aside As Turkish Forces Extend Reach In Syria |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/10/07/767777899/in-major-policy-shift-u-s-will-stand-aside-as-turkish-forces-extend-reach-in-syr |accessdate=October 11, 2019 |work=] |date=October 7, 2019}}</ref> As a result, Turkey launched an invasion, attacking and ] American-allied ] in the area. Later that month, the U.S. House of Representatives, in a rare bipartisan vote of 354 to 60, condemned Trump's withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria, for "abandoning U.S. allies, undermining the struggle against ISIS, and spurring a humanitarian catastrophe".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/16/house-condemns-trumps-syria-pull-out-000286 |title=House condemns Trump's Syria withdrawal |last=O'Brien |first=Connor |date=October 16, 2019 |website=] |access-date=October 17, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/16/us/politics/house-vote-trump-syria.html |title=In Bipartisan Rebuke, House Majority Condemns Trump for Syria Withdrawal |last=Edmondson |first=Catie |date=October 16, 2019 |work=] |access-date=October 17, 2019}}</ref>
] at the ], December 2018|alt=Donald Trump and Xi Jinping stand next to each other, both smiling and wearing suits]]
Trump repeatedly accused China of taking unfair advantage of the U.S.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-idUSKCN1UX1WO|title=Trump says China is 'killing us with unfair trade deals'|date=August 7, 2019|work=]|access-date=August 24, 2019|first1=Nandita|last1=Bose|first2=Andrea|last2=Shalal}}</ref> He ] that was widely characterized as a failure,<ref>{{cite news|title=More pain than gain: How the US-China trade war hurt America|last1=Hass|first1=Ryan|last2=Denmark|first2=Abraham|url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2020/08/07/more-pain-than-gain-how-the-us-china-trade-war-hurt-america/|work=]|date=August 7, 2020 |access-date=October 4, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=How China Won Trump's Trade War and Got Americans to Foot the Bill|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-11/how-china-won-trump-s-good-and-easy-to-win-trade-war|work=]|date=January 11, 2021 |access-date=October 4, 2021}}</ref> sanctioned ] for alleged ties to Iran,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2019/05/21/huawei-why-facing-sanctions-and-who-get-hurt-most/3750738002/|title=Huawei sanctions: Who gets hurt in dispute?|work=]|date=May 21, 2019|access-date=August 24, 2019|first1=Frank|last1=Bajak|first2=Michael|last2=Liedtke}}</ref> significantly increased visa restrictions on Chinese students and scholars,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://time.com/5600299/donald-trump-china-trade-war-students/|title=Trump's Trade War Targets Chinese Students at Elite U.S. Schools|magazine=]|date=June 3, 2019|access-date=August 24, 2019}}</ref> and classified China as a ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/06/trade-war-china-responds-to-us-after-claim-of-being-a-currency-manipulator.html|title=China responds to US after Treasury designates Beijing a 'currency manipulator'|last=Meredith|first=Sam|date=August 6, 2019|work=]|access-date=August 6, 2019}}</ref> He juxtaposed verbal attacks on China with praise of ] leader ],<ref>{{cite news|last=Sink|first=Justin|date=April 11, 2018|access-date=October 5, 2021|title=Trump Praises China's Xi's Trade Speech, Easing Tariff Tensions|work=]|url=https://www.industryweek.com/the-economy/article/22025453/trump-praises-chinas-xis-trade-speech-easing-tariff-tensions}}</ref> which was attributed to trade war negotiations.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nakamura|first=David|author-link=David Nakamura|date=August 23, 2019|title=Amid trade war, Trump drops pretense of friendship with China's Xi Jinping, calls him an 'enemy'|newspaper=]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/amid-trade-war-trump-drops-pretense-of-friendship-with-chinas-xi-jinping-calls-him-an-enemy/2019/08/23/2063e80e-c5bb-11e9-b5e4-54aa56d5b7ce_story.html|access-date=October 25, 2020}}</ref> After initially praising ], he began a campaign of criticism in March 2020.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Jeff|last1=Mason|first2=Matt|last2=Spetalnick|first3=Alexandra|last3=Alper|date=March 18, 2020|title=Trump ratchets up criticism of China over coronavirus|work=]|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-trump-china-idUSKBN2153N5|access-date=October 25, 2020}}</ref>


Trump said he resisted punishing China for ] against ethnic minorities in ] for fear of jeopardizing trade negotiations.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump held off sanctioning Chinese over Uighurs to pursue trade deal|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53138833|work=]|date=June 22, 2020|access-date=October 5, 2021}}</ref> In July 2020, ] and visa restrictions against senior Chinese officials, in response to expanded mass ] holding more than a million of the country's ] minority.<ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Chinese Officials Over Mass Detention of Muslims|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/09/world/asia/trump-china-sanctions-uighurs.html|work=]|date=July 9, 2020|access-date=October 5, 2021|first1=Pranshu|last1=Verma|first2=Edward|last2=Wong|author-link2=Edward Wong}}</ref>
==== Saudi Arabia and Yemen====
Trump actively supported the ] against the ] and signed a $110&nbsp;billion agreement to sell arms to Saudi Arabia.<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=] |date=March 20, 2018 |first=Katrina |last=Manson}}</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=] |agency=] |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 |website=] |date=May 20, 2017 |accessdate=July 6, 2018 |first1=Jordyn |last1=Phelps |first2=Ryan |last2=Struyk}}</ref>


==== Afghanistan==== ===== North Korea =====
{{See also|North Korea–United States relations#First Trump administration (2017–2021)|2017–2018 North Korea crisis|2018–19 Korean peace process}}
U.S. troop numbers in ] increased from 8,500 to 14,000, {{as of|2017|1|lc=y}},<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jaffe |first1=Greg |last2=Ryan |first2=Missy |author2link=Missy Ryan |title=Up to 1,000 more U.S. troops could be headed to Afghanistan this spring |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/up-to-1000-more-us-troops-could-be-headed-to-afghanistan-this-spring/2018/01/21/153930b6-fd1b-11e7-a46b-a3614530bd87_story.html |work=] |date=January 21, 2018}}</ref> reversing his pre-election position critical of further involvement in Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gordon |first1=Michael R. |author1link=Michael R. Gordon |last2=Schmitt |first2=Eric |author2link=Eric P. Schmitt |last3=Haberman |first3=Maggie |author3link=Maggie Haberman |title=Trump Settles on Afghan Strategy Expected to Raise Troop Levels |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/20/world/asia/trump-afghanistan-strategy-mattis.html |work=] |date=August 20, 2017}}</ref> On February 29, 2020, the Trump administration signed a conditional ],<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S.-Taliban Deal: India should Chalk-out a New Strategy |url=https://opedcolumn.news.blog/2020/03/21/us-taliban-deal-india-should-chalk-out-a-new-strategy/ |last=Rai |first=Manish |website=OpedColumn.News.Blog}}</ref> which calls for the ] in 14 months if the Taliban uphold the terms of the agreement.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/afghanistan-us-taliban-peace-deal-signing/2020/02/29/b952fb04-5a67-11ea-8efd-0f904bdd8057_story.html |title=U.S. signs peace deal with Taliban agreeing to full withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan |last=George |first=Susannah |date=February 29, 2020 |website=]}}</ref>
] at the ], June 2018|alt=Trump and Kim shake hands on a stage with U.S. and North Korean flags in the background]]


In 2017, when ] were increasingly seen as a serious threat,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Adam|last2=Meko|first2=Tim|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/12/21/what-made-north-koreas-weapons-programs-so-much-scarier-in-2017/|title=What made North Korea's weapons programs so much scarier in 2017|newspaper=]|date=December 21, 2017|access-date=July 5, 2019}}</ref> Trump escalated his rhetoric, warning that North Korean aggression would be met with "fire and fury like the world has never seen".<ref name=Windrem>{{cite news|last1=Windrem|first1=Robert|last2=Siemaszko|first2=Corky|last3=Arkin|first3=Daniel|date=May 2, 2017|title=North Korea crisis: How events have unfolded under Trump|work=]|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/north-korea-crisis-how-events-have-unfolded-under-trump-n753996|access-date=June 8, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Borger|first=Julian|author-link=Julian Borger|title=Donald Trump threatens to 'totally destroy' North Korea in UN speech|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/19/donald-trump-threatens-totally-destroy-north-korea-un-speech|access-date=June 8, 2020|work=]|date=September 19, 2017}}</ref> In 2017, he declared that he wanted North Korea's "complete denuclearization", and engaged in ] with leader ].<ref name=Windrem/><ref>{{cite news|last=McCausland|first=Phil|title=Kim Jong Un Calls President Trump 'Dotard' and 'Frightened Dog'|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/north-korea-s-kim-jong-un-calls-president-trump-frightened-n803631|access-date=June 8, 2020|work=]|date=September 22, 2017}}</ref> After this period of tension, he and Kim exchanged at least 27 letters in which the two men described a warm personal friendship.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://cnn.com/2020/09/09/politics/transcripts-kim-jong-un-letters-trump/|work=]|date=September 9, 2020|access-date=October 5, 2021|title=Transcript: Kim Jong Un's letters to President Trump}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title='A magical force': New Trump-Kim letters provide window into their 'special friendship'|date=September 9, 2020|access-date=October 5, 2021|last1=Gangel|first1=Jamie|author-link1=Jamie Gangel|last2=Herb|first2=Jeremy|work=]|url=https://cnn.com/2020/09/09/politics/kim-jong-un-trump-letters-rage-book/}}</ref> In March 2019, he lifted some U.S. ] against the advice of his Treasury Department.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/22/world/asia/north-korea-sanctions.html|work=]|date=March 22, 2019|access-date=September 30, 2021|title=Trump Overrules Own Experts on Sanctions, in Favor to North Korea|first=Alan|last=Rappeport|author-link=Alan Rappeport}}</ref>
==== Iran ====


Trump, the first sitting U.S. president to meet a North Korean leader, met Kim three times: ] in 2018, ] in 2019, and ] in 2019.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Peter|last1=Baker|author-link1=Peter Baker (journalist)|first2=Michael|last2=Crowley|author-link2=Michael Crowley (journalist)|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/30/world/asia/trump-north-korea-dmz.html|title=Trump Steps Into North Korea and Agrees With Kim Jong-un to Resume Talks|work=]|date=June 30, 2019|access-date=October 5, 2021}}</ref> However, no ] agreement was reached,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/12/world/asia/korea-nuclear-trump-kim.html|work=]|date=June 12, 2020|access-date=October 5, 2021|title=Two Years After Trump-Kim Meeting, Little to Show for Personal Diplomacy|first1=David E.|last1=Sanger|author-link1=David E. Sanger|first2=Choe|last2=Sang-Hun|author-link2=Choe Sang-hun}}</ref> and talks in October 2019 broke down after one day.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-us-news-ap-top-news-north-korea-vietnam-c66474b67b3e41cdad6d21ba3385ddc2|title=North Korea Says Nuclear Talks Break Down While U.S. Says They Were 'Good'|first1=Jari|last1=Tanner|first2=Matthew|last2=Lee|work=]|date=October 5, 2019 |access-date=July 21, 2021}}</ref> While conducting no nuclear tests since 2017, North Korea continued to build up its arsenal of nuclear bombs and ballistic missiles.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kim Jong Un's Nuclear Weapons Got More Dangerous Under Trump|first=Jon|last=Herskovitz|work=]|date=December 28, 2020|access-date=October 5, 2021|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-28/four-ways-kim-jong-un-got-more-dangerous-under-trump-sanctions}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trump-kim-north-korea-nuclear/2020/09/30/2b7305c8-032b-11eb-b7ed-141dd88560ea_story.html|newspaper=]|access-date=October 5, 2021|date=September 30, 2020|title=As Kim wooed Trump with 'love letters', he kept building his nuclear capability, intelligence shows|last1=Warrick|first1=Joby|author-link1=Joby Warrick|last2=Denyer|first2=Simon|author-link2=Simon Denyer}}</ref>
{{See also|Iran–United States relations#2017–present: Trump administration | United States withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action|2019–20 Persian Gulf crisis}}


==== Middle East ====
Trump has described the regime in Iran as "the rogue regime", although he has also asserted he does not seek regime change.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Weiler |first1=Yuram Abdullah |title=What is Basij and how does it function against U.S. and Zionism? |url=http://english.khamenei.ir/news/5306/What-is-Basij-and-how-does-it-function-against-U-S-and-Zionism |website=Khamenei.ir |accessdate=February 6, 2019 |date=December 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=May 27, 2019 |first=Michael |last=Kranish |authorlink=Michael Kranish |title=Trump says he is not seeking 'regime change' in Iran |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-says-he-is-not-seeking-regime-change-in-iran/2019/05/27/94d3053a-808d-11e9-933d-7501070ee669_story.html}}</ref>


===== Afghanistan =====
Trump repeatedly criticized the ] (JCPOA), a nuclear deal negotiated with the United States, Iran, and five other world powers in 2015.<ref name="KatyTurIranInterview">{{cite news |website=] |date=July 14, 2015 |first=Katy |last=Tur |authorlink=Katy Tur |title=Donald Trump Weighs in on Iran Deal |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/donald-trump-weighs-iran-deal-n391926}}</ref><ref name="AP180508"/><ref>{{cite news |first=Igor |last=Bobic |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-iran-deal_55d0a844e4b0ab468d9d907e |title=Donald Trump Would Not Rip Up The Iran Deal |work=] |date=August 16, 2015 |accessdate=August 17, 2019}}</ref> In May 2018, Trump announced ] from the JCPOA.<ref name="AP180508">{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/cead755353a1455bbef08ef289448994/Trump-decides-to-exit-nuclear-accord-with-Iran |title=Trump declares US leaving 'horrible' Iran nuclear accord |last=Lederman |first=Josh |date=May 8, 2018 |work=] |accessdate=May 8, 2018}}</ref> After withdrawing from the agreement, Trump administration moved forward with a policy of "maximum pressure" on Iran via economic sanctions, but without support of other parties to the deal.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/world/middleeast/trump-iran-nuclear-deal.html |title=Trump Abandons Iran Nuclear Deal He Long Scorned |first=Mark |last=Landler |authorlink=Mark Landler |date=May 8, 2018 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newsweek.com/despite-us-pressure-europeans-remain-united-russia-china-preserve-iran-nuclear-deal-1529024 |title=Despite U.S. pressure, Europeans remain "united" with Russia and China to "preserve" Iran nuclear deal, diplomats say |first=Jason |last=Lemon |date=September 1, 2020 |website=]}}</ref> The Trump State Department had certified Iran's compliance with the deal in July 2017, but Iran began breaching its terms in May 2020, and by September the ] reported the country had ten times the amount of enriched uranium allowed under the deal.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/07/17/537793465/state-department-certifies-irans-compliance-with-nuclear-deal |title=State Department Certifies Iran's Compliance With Nuclear Deal |website=] |date=July 17, 2017 |first=Scott |last=Neuman}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran-un-sanctions-idUSKCN25F2S4 |title=Pompeo warns Russia, China against ignoring move to reimpose U.N. sanctions on Iran |first=Andrea |last=Shalal |date=August 19, 2020 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-54033441 |title=Iran's enriched uranium stockpile '10 times limit' |date=September 5, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> During the summer of 2020 the United States attempted to "snap back" pre-deal sanctions by asserting to the ] that it remained a participant in the deal, but only the ] voted with the United States on the proposal.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/08/20/904475552/pompeo-tries-starting-snapback-clock-to-restore-sanctions-against-iran-by-u-n |title=Pompeo Tries Starting 'Snapback' Clock To Restore Sanctions Against Iran By U.N. |website=] |date=August 20, 2020 |first=David |last=Welna}}</ref>
] meeting with Taliban delegation in ] in September 2020|alt=U.S. and Taliban officials stand spaced apart in a formal room]]
U.S. troop numbers in Afghanistan increased from 8,500 in January 2017 to 14,000 a year later,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jaffe|first1=Greg|last2=Ryan|first2=Missy|date=January 21, 2018|access-date=October 4, 2021|title=Up to 1,000 more U.S. troops could be headed to Afghanistan this spring|newspaper=]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/up-to-1000-more-us-troops-could-be-headed-to-afghanistan-this-spring/2018/01/21/153930b6-fd1b-11e7-a46b-a3614530bd87_story.html|author-link2=Missy Ryan}}</ref> reversing Trump's preelection position critical of further involvement in Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gordon|first1=Michael R.|author-link1=Michael R. Gordon|last2=Schmitt|first2=Eric|author-link2=Eric P. Schmitt|last3=Haberman|first3=Maggie|author-link3=Maggie Haberman|date=August 20, 2017|access-date=October 4, 2021|title=Trump Settles on Afghan Strategy Expected to Raise Troop Levels|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/20/world/asia/trump-afghanistan-strategy-mattis.html}}</ref> In February 2020, his administration signed the ], which called for the ] in 14 months "contingent on a guarantee from the Taliban that Afghan soil will not be used by terrorists with aims to attack the United States or its allies" and for the U.S. to seek the release of 5,000 ] imprisoned by the Afghan government.<ref>{{cite news|last1=George|first1=Susannah|last2=Dadouch|first2=Sarah|last3=Lamothe|first3=Dan|date=February 29, 2020|access-date=October 4, 2021|title=U.S. signs peace deal with Taliban agreeing to full withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan|newspaper=]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/afghanistan-us-taliban-peace-deal-signing/2020/02/29/b952fb04-5a67-11ea-8efd-0f904bdd8057_story.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Mashal|first=Mujib|date=February 29, 2020|title=Taliban and U.S. Strike Deal to Withdraw American Troops From Afghanistan|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/29/world/asia/us-taliban-deal.html|access-date=December 29, 2020}}</ref><ref name="5,000">{{cite news|last1=Kiely|first1=Eugene|last2=Farley|first2=Robert|url=https://www.factcheck.org/2021/08/timeline-of-u-s-withdrawal-from-afghanistan/|title=Timeline of U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan|work=]|date=August 17, 2021 |access-date=August 31, 2021}}</ref> By the end of his term, 5,000 Taliban had been released, and, despite the Taliban continuing attacks on Afghan forces and integrating ] members into its leadership, U.S. troops had been reduced to 2,500.<ref name="5,000"/>


===== Israel =====
Following ] in January 2017, the Trump administration sanctioned 25 Iranian individuals and entities.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Borger |first1=Julian |author1link=Julian Borger |last2=Smith |first2=David |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/01/iran-trump-michael-flynn-on-notice |title=Trump administration 'officially putting Iran on notice', says Michael Flynn |work=] |date=February 2, 2017 |accessdate=November 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Trump administration tightens Iran sanctions, Tehran hits back |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-usa-idUSKBN15H253 |work=] |date=February 3, 2016 |last=Torbati |first=Yeganeh}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Borger |first1=Julian |author1link=Julian Borger |last2=Smith |first2=David |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/03/trump-administration-iran-sanctions |title=Trump administration imposes new sanctions on Iran |work=] |date=February 3, 2017 |accessdate=November 9, 2018}}</ref> In August 2017, Trump signed ] ], Russia, and North Korea.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-nuclear-usa-sanctions-idUSKBN1AI2N0 |title=Iran says new U.S. sanctions violate nuclear deal, vows 'proportional reaction' |website=] |date=August 2, 2017}}</ref>
Trump supported many of the policies of Israeli Prime Minister ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Sommer|first=Allison Kaplan|date=July 25, 2019|title=How Trump and Netanyahu Became Each Other's Most Effective Political Weapon|work=]|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-how-trump-and-netanyahu-became-each-other-s-most-effective-political-weapon-1.7569757|access-date=August 2, 2019}}</ref> Under Trump, the U.S. ]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nelson|first1=Louis|last2=Nussbaum|first2=Matthew|date=December 6, 2017|title=Trump says U.S. recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital, despite global condemnation|work=]|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/06/trump-move-embassy-jerusalem-israel-reaction-281973|access-date=December 6, 2017}}</ref> and ] over the ],<ref>{{cite news|last=Romo|first=Vanessa|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/03/25/706588932/trump-formally-recognizes-israeli-sovereignty-over-golan-heights?t=1617622343037|title=Trump Formally Recognizes Israeli Sovereignty Over Golan Heights|work=]|date=March 25, 2019 |access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref> leading to international condemnation including from the ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gladstone|first1=Rick|last2=Landler|first2=Mark|author-link2=Mark Landler|date=December 21, 2017|title=Defying Trump, U.N. General Assembly Condemns U.S. Decree on Jerusalem|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/21/world/middleeast/trump-jerusalem-united-nations.html|access-date=December 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Huet|first=Natalie|date=March 22, 2019|access-date=October 4, 2021|title=Outcry as Trump backs Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights|work=]|agency=]|url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/03/22/outcry-as-trump-backs-israeli-sovereignty-over-golan-heights}}</ref> In 2020, the White House hosted the signing of the ] between Israel and the ] and ] to normalize their foreign relations.<ref>{{cite news|last=Crowley|first=Michael|author-link=Michael Crowley (journalist)|date=September 15, 2020|title=Israel, U.A.E. and Bahrain Sign Accords, With an Eager Trump Playing Host|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/15/us/politics/trump-israel-peace-emirates-bahrain.html|access-date=February 9, 2024}}</ref>


===== Saudi Arabia =====
In May 2017, strained relations between the U.S. and Iran escalated when Trump deployed military bombers and a carrier group to the Persian Gulf. Trump hinted at war on social media, provoking a response from Iran for what Iranian foreign minister ] called "genocidal taunts".<ref name=Budryk-190519>{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/444502-trump-i-will-not-let-iran-have-nuclear-weapons |title=Trump: 'I will not let Iran have nuclear weapons' |work=] |date=May 19, 2019 |accessdate=May 20, 2019 |first=Zack |last=Budryk}}</ref><ref name=Chamberlain-190519>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-war-iran-never-threaten-united-states |title=Trump says war will mean 'official end of Iran', warns 'never threaten the United States again' |work=] |date=May 19, 2019 |accessdate=May 20, 2019 |first=Samuel |last=Chamberlain}}</ref><ref name=Wintour-190520>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/20/iran-trump-tweet-genocidal-taunts |title=Iran hits back at Trump for tweeting 'genocidal taunts' |work=] |date=May 20, 2019 |accessdate=May 20, 2019 |first=Patrick |last=Wintour}}</ref> Trump and Saudi Crown Prince ] are allies in the ].<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. Tells Saudi Arabia Oil Attacks Were Launched From Iran |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-tells-saudi-arabia-oil-attacks-were-launched-from-iran-11568644126 |work=] |date=September 17, 2019 |first1=Dion |last1=Nissenbaum |first2=Summer |last2=Said |first3=Jared |last3=Malsin}}</ref> Trump approved the deployment of additional U.S. troops to Saudi Arabia and the ] following the ] which the United States has blamed on Iran.<ref>{{cite news |title=US to deploy more troops to Saudi Arabia after attack on oil industry |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/sep/20/us-troops-saudia-arabia-iran-oil-industry-attack |work=] |agency=] |date=September 20, 2019}}</ref>
], and Egyptian president ] at the ] in Saudi Arabia|alt=Trump, King Salman of Saudi Arabia, and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi place their hands on a glowing white orb light at waist level]]
], January 3, 2020]]


Trump actively supported the ] against the ] and in 2017 signed a $110&nbsp;billion agreement to sell arms to ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Phelps|first1=Jordyn|last2=Struyk|first2=Ryan|date=May 20, 2017|title=Trump signs $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia on 'a tremendous day'|work=]|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-signs-110-billion-arms-deal-saudi-arabia/story?id=47531180|access-date=July 6, 2018}}</ref> In 2018, the U.S. provided limited intelligence and logistical support for the intervention.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Holland|first1=Steve|last2=Bayoumy|first2=Yara|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-saudi-idUSKBN1GW2CA|title=Trump praises U.S. military sales to Saudi as he welcomes crown prince|work=]|date=March 20, 2018|access-date=June 2, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-saudi-whitehouse-idUSKBN1GX1PP/|first1=Doina|last1=Chiacu|first2=Idrees|last2=Ali|title=Trump, Saudi leader discuss Houthi 'threat' in Yemen: White House|work=]|date=March 21, 2018|access-date=June 2, 2021}}</ref> Following the ], which the U.S. and Saudi Arabia blamed on ], he approved the deployment of 3,000 additional U.S. troops, including two ] and a ] system, to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stewart|first1=Phil|last2=Ali|first2=Idrees|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-aramco-attacks-exclusive-idUSKBN1WQ21Z/ |title=U.S. says deploying more forces to Saudi Arabia to counter Iran threat|work=]|date=October 11, 2019 |access-date=October 4, 2021}}</ref>
On January 2, 2020, Trump ordered ] that killed Iranian general and ] commander ], Iraqi ] commander ], and eight other people.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/02/world/middleeast/qassem-soleimani-iraq-iran-attack.html |title=U.S. Strike in Iraq Kills Qassim Suleimani, Commander of Iranian Forces |last1=Crowley |first1=Michael |author1link=Michael Crowley (journalist) |last2=Hassan |first2=Falih |last3=Schmitt |first3=Eric |author3link=Eric P. Schmitt |date=January 2, 2020 |work=] |access-date=January 3, 2020}}</ref> Trump publicly threatened to attack Iranian cultural sites, or react "in a disproportionate manner" if Iran retaliated; though such attacks by the U.S. would violate international law as war crimes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Swart |first1=Mia |title=Trump, his tweets and international law |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/trump-tweets-international-law-200107064935688.html |accessdate=June 14, 2020 |work=] |date=January 8, 2020}}</ref> Several days later, Iran retaliated with airstrikes against ] in Iraq. Initially the Trump administration claimed no Americans suffered injuries and Trump said injuries were not "very serious", but by February 2020, more than a hundred ] were diagnosed in U.S. troops.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zaveri |first1=Mihir |title=More Than 100 Troops Have Brain Injuries From Iran Missile Strike, Pentagon Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/10/world/middleeast/iraq-iran-brain-injuries.html |accessdate=June 8, 2020 |work=] |date=February 10, 2020}}</ref>


==== Israel ==== ===== Syria =====
] at the White House in May 2017]]

{{See also|Israel–United States relations#Trump administration (2017–present)|Abraham Accords}}
] at ], May 2017]]

Trump supported the policies of Israeli Prime Minister ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-how-trump-and-netanyahu-became-each-other-s-most-effective-political-weapon-1.7569757 |title=How Trump and Netanyahu Became Each Other's Most Effective Political Weapon |work=] |first=Allison Kaplan |last=Sommer |date=July 25, 2019 |access-date=August 2, 2019}}</ref> Under Trump, the U.S. ] in 2017, and opened an embassy in Jerusalem in May 2018.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/06/trump-move-embassy-jerusalem-israel-reaction-281973 |last1=Nelson |first1=Louis |last2=Nussbaum |first2=Matthew |title=Trump says U.S. recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital, despite global condemnation |website=] |date=December 6, 2017 |accessdate=December 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Eglash |first=Ruth |title=Under banner of peace, U.S. opens embassy in Jerusalem. Sixty miles away, dozens of Palestinians are killed. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/jerusalem-gears-up-to-embrace-the-new-us-embassy/2018/05/14/1d6707dc-5558-11e8-a6d4-ca1d035642ce_story.html |work=] |date=May 14, 2018 |access-date=September 26, 2020 }}</ref> The ] adopted ] the move.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/ES-10/L.22&Submit=Search&Lang=E |title=Illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory – Turkey and Yemen: draft resolution – Status of Jerusalem |website=] |date=December 19, 2017 |accessdate=December 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/21/world/middleeast/trump-jerusalem-united-nations.html |title=Defying Trump, U.N. General Assembly Condemns U.S. Decree on Jerusalem |first=Rick |last=Gladstone |work=] |date=December 21, 2017 |accessdate=December 21, 2017}}</ref> In March 2019, Trump reversed decades of U.S. policy by ] ] of the ],<ref>{{cite news |title='The jungle is back.' With his Golan Heights tweet, Trump emboldens the annexation agendas of the world's strongmen |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-the-jungle-is-back-with-his-golan-heights-tweet-trump-will/ |work=] |date=March 22, 2019 |first=Mark |last=MacKinnon |authorlink=Mark MacKinnon}}</ref> a move condemned by the ] and the ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Outcry as Trump backs Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights |url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/03/22/outcry-as-trump-backs-israeli-sovereignty-over-golan-heights |website=] |date=March 22, 2019 |first=Natalie |last=Huet |agency=]}}</ref>

==== China ====

{{See also|China–United States relations#Trump's presidency (2017–)|China–United States trade war}}
] ] at 2018 G20 Summit]]

Before and during his presidency, Trump has repeatedly accused China of taking unfair advantage of the U.S.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-idUSKCN1UX1WO |title=Trump says China is 'killing us with unfair trade deals' |date=August 7, 2019 |work=] |access-date=August 24, 2019 |first1=Nandita |last1=Bose |first2=Andrea |last2=Shalal}}</ref> During his presidency, Trump has ], sanctioned ] for its alleged ties to Iran,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2019/05/21/huawei-why-facing-sanctions-and-who-get-hurt-most/3750738002/ |title=Huawei sanctions: Who gets hurt in dispute? |website=] |access-date=August 24, 2019 |first1=Frank |last1=Bajak |first2=Michael |last2=Liedtke}}</ref> significantly increased visa restrictions on Chinese students and scholars,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://time.com/5600299/donald-trump-china-trade-war-students/ |title=Trump's Trade War Targets Chinese Students at Elite U.S. Schools |website=] |date=June 3, 2019 |access-date=August 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/04/25/716032871/visas-are-the-newest-weapon-in-u-s-china-rivalry |title=Visas Are The Newest Weapon In U.S.-China Rivalry |work=] |date=April 25, 2019 |first=Emily |last=Feng |access-date=August 24, 2019}}</ref> and classified China as a "]".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/06/trade-war-china-responds-to-us-after-claim-of-being-a-currency-manipulator.html |title=China responds to US after Treasury designates Beijing a 'currency manipulator' |last=Meredith |first=Sam |date=August 6, 2019 |work=] |access-date=August 6, 2019}}</ref> Trump has also juxtaposed verbal attacks on China with praise of ] ] ],<ref>{{cite news |last=Sink |first=Justin |date=April 11, 2018 |title=Trump Praises China's Xi's Trade Speech, Easing Tariff Tensions |work=] |url=https://www.industryweek.com/the-economy/article/22025453/trump-praises-chinas-xis-trade-speech-easing-tariff-tensions}}</ref> which has been attributed to trade war negotiations with the leader.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nakamura |first=David |authorlink=David Nakamura |date=August 23, 2019 |title=Amid trade war, Trump drops pretense of friendship with China's Xi Jinping, calls him an 'enemy' |work=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/amid-trade-war-trump-drops-pretense-of-friendship-with-chinas-xi-jinping-calls-him-an-enemy/2019/08/23/2063e80e-c5bb-11e9-b5e4-54aa56d5b7ce_story.html |access-date=October 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=August 2020 |title=China hawks latch on to Trump's campaign against Beijing |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a4529344-6808-4f33-902e-4fc47218df56 |access-date=October 25, 2020 |website=]}}</ref> After initially praising China for its handling of the ],<ref>{{cite news |last=Ward |first=Myah |date=April 15, 2020 |title=15 times Trump praised China as coronavirus was spreading across the globe |work=] |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/15/trump-china-coronavirus-188736}}</ref> he began a campaign of criticism over its response starting in March.<ref>{{Cite news |first1=Jeff |last1=Mason |first2=Matt |last2=Spetalnick |first3=Alexandra |last3=Alper |date=March 18, 2020 |title=Trump ratchets up criticism of China over coronavirus |work=] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-trump-china-idUSKBN2153N5 |access-date=October 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first1=Nahal |last1=Toosi |first2=Lara |last2=Seligman |date=May 22, 2020 |title=Trump seizes a new cudgel to bash China: Taiwan |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/trump-seizes-a-new-cudgel-to-bash-china-taiwan/ |access-date=October 25, 2020 |website=]}}</ref>

Trump said he resisted punishing China for its ] against ethnic minorities in the northwestern ] region for fear of jeopardizing trade negotiations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump held off sanctioning Chinese over Uighurs to pursue trade deal |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53138833 |work=] |date=June 22, 2020}}</ref> In July 2020, ] and visa restrictions against senior Chinese officials, including Xinjiang ] ],<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump administration sanctions Chinese officials over human rights abuses |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/506575-trump-administration-sanctions-chinese-officials-over-human-rights |work=] |date=July 9, 2020 |first=Brett |last=Samuels}}</ref> a member of ]'s powerful ], who expanded mass ] holding more than a million members of the country's ] ] minority.<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Chinese Officials Over Mass Detention of Muslims |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/09/world/asia/trump-china-sanctions-uighurs.html |work=] |date=July 9, 2020 |first1=Pranshu |last1=Verma |first2=Edward |last2=Wong |author2link=Edward Wong}}</ref>

==== North Korea ====

{{See also|North Korea–United States relations}}
] at ], June 2018.]]

In 2017, ] were increasingly seen as a serious threat.<ref name="scarier">{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Adam |last2=Meko |first2=Tim |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/12/21/what-made-north-koreas-weapons-programs-so-much-scarier-in-2017/ |title=What made North Korea's weapons programs so much scarier in 2017 |work=] |date=December 21, 2017 |access-date=July 5, 2019}}</ref> In August 2017, Trump escalated his rhetoric, warning that North Korean threats would be met with "fire and fury like the world has never seen".<ref name=Windrem>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/north-korea-crisis-how-events-have-unfolded-under-trump-n753996 |title=North Korea crisis: How events have unfolded under Trump |last1=Windrem |first1=Robert |last2=Siemaszko |first2=Corky |last3=Arkin |first3=Daniel |date=November 30, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=June 8, 2020}}</ref> North Korea responded by releasing plans for missile tests that would land near ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/10/north-korea-details-guam-strike-trump-load-of-nonsense#maincontent |title=North Korea details Guam strike plan and calls Trump 'bereft of reason' |last=Borger |first=Julian |authorlink=Julian Borger |date=August 11, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=June 8, 2020}}</ref> In a September 2017 speech at the ], Trump said the U.S. would "totally destroy North Korea" if "forced" to defend itself or its allies.<ref>{{cite news |last=Borger |first=Julian |authorlink=Julian Borger |title=Donald Trump threatens to 'totally destroy' North Korea in UN speech |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/19/donald-trump-threatens-totally-destroy-north-korea-un-speech |accessdate=June 8, 2020 |work=] |date=September 19, 2017}}</ref> Also in September 2017, Trump increased sanctions on North Korea, declared that he wanted North Korea's "complete denuclearization", and engaged in ] with leader ].<ref name=Windrem/><ref>{{cite news |last1=McCausland |first1=Phil |title=Kim Jong Un Calls President Trump 'Dotard' and 'Frightened Dog' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/north-korea-s-kim-jong-un-calls-president-trump-frightened-n803631 |accessdate=June 8, 2020 |work=] |agency=] |date=September 22, 2017}}</ref> After this period of tension in 2017, however, Trump and Kim exchanged at least 27 letters (described by Trump as "love letters"), in which the two men describe a warm personal friendship.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/09/politics/transcripts-kim-jong-un-letters-trump/index.html |publisher=] |date=September 9, 2020 |title=Transcript: Kim Jong Un's letters to President Trump}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='A magical force': New Trump-Kim letters provide window into their 'special friendship' |date=September 9, 2020 |first1=Jamie |last1=Gangel |author1link=Jamie Gangel |first2=Jeremy |last2=Herb |work=]|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/09/politics/kim-jong-un-trump-letters-rage-book/index.html}}</ref>

In March 2018, Trump immediately agreed to Kim's proposal for a meeting.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=March 10, 2018 |first1=Peter |last1=Baker |author1link=Peter Baker (journalist) |first2=Choe |last2=Sang-Hun |author2link=Choe Sang-hun |title=With Snap 'Yes' in Oval Office, Trump Gambles on North Korea |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/10/world/asia/trump-north-korea.html}}</ref> In June 2018, Trump and Kim ].<ref name=Meixler>{{cite news |last1=Meixler |first1=Eli |title=President Trump and Kim Jong Un Just Agreed to Work Toward Denuclearization. Read the Full Text Here |url=https://time.com/5309425/donald-trump-kim-jong-un-summit-document-full-text/ |accessdate=June 8, 2020 |work=] |date=June 12, 2018}}</ref> Kim affirmed his intent "to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,"<ref name=Meixler/> but a ] in ] in February 2019 terminated abruptly without an agreement.<ref name=Wong>{{cite news |last=Wong |first=Edward |authorlink=Edward Wong |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/28/world/asia/trump-kim-vietnam-summit.html |title=Trump's Talks With Kim Jong-un Collapse, and Both Sides Point Fingers |website=] |date=February 28, 2019 |access-date=March 1, 2019}}</ref> Both countries blamed each other and offered differing accounts of the negotiations.<ref name=Wong/> In June 2019, Trump, Kim, and South Korean President ] held ] in the ], marking the first time a sitting U.S. president had set foot in North Korea. Trump and Kim agreed to resume negotiations.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/trump-confirms-meet-kim-dmz-190630050353219.html |title=Trump meets North Korea's Kim at DMZ in landmark visit |work=] |date=June 30, 2019 |access-date=July 8, 2019}}</ref> Bilateral talks in October 2019 were unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://time.com/5693526/north-korea-us-nuclear-diplomacy-sweden/ |title=North Korea Says Nuclear Talks Break Down While U.S. Says They Were 'Good' |first1=Jari |last1=Tanner |first2=Matthew |last2=Lee |work=] |date=October 5, 2019 |access-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007060513/https://time.com/5693526/north-korea-us-nuclear-diplomacy-sweden/ |archive-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref>

==== Russia ====


Trump ordered ] and ] against the Assad regime in Syria, in retaliation for the ] and ]s, respectively.<ref>{{cite news|title=Syria war: Trump's missile strike attracts US praise – and barbs|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39529605|access-date=April 8, 2017|work=]|date=April 7, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-strikes-syria-after-suspected-chemical-attack-by-assad-regime|first=Kathleen|last=Joyce|title=US strikes Syria after suspected chemical attack by Assad regime|date=April 14, 2018|work=] |access-date=April 14, 2018}}</ref> In December 2018, he declared "we have won against ISIS", contradicting Department of Defense assessments, and ordered the withdrawal of troops from Syria.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/us/politics/trump-syria-turkey-troop-withdrawal.html|title=Trump withdraws U.S. Forces From Syria, Declaring 'We Have Won Against ISIS'|first1=Mark|last1=Landler|author-link1=Mark Landler|first2=Helene|last2=Cooper|author-link2=Helene Cooper|first3=Eric|last3=Schmitt|author-link3=Eric P. Schmitt|date=December 19, 2018|work=]|access-date=December 31, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Borger|first1=Julian|author-link1=Julian Borger|last2=Chulov|first2=Martin|title=Trump shocks allies and advisers with plan to pull US troops out of Syria|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/19/us-troops-syria-withdrawal-trump|access-date=December 20, 2018|work=]|date=December 20, 2018}}</ref> Mattis resigned in protest, calling Trump's decision an abandonment of the U.S.'s ] who played a key role in fighting ISIS.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cooper|first=Helene|author-link=Helene Cooper|title=Jim Mattis, Defense Secretary, Resigns in Rebuke of Trump's Worldview|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/20/us/politics/jim-mattis-defense-secretary-trump.html|access-date=December 21, 2018|work=]|date=December 20, 2018}}</ref>
{{See also|Russia–United States relations}}
], June 2019]]


In 2019, after Trump spoke to Turkish president ], ] were withdrawn from the area and Turkey ], attacking and ] American-allied ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=McKernan|first1=Bethan|last2=Borger|first2=Julian|last3=Sabbagh|first3=Dan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/09/turkey-launches-military-operation-in-northern-syria-erdogan|title=Turkey launches military operation in northern Syria|work=]|date=October 9, 2019 |access-date=September 28, 2021}}</ref> The U.S. House of Representatives voted 354–60 to condemn Trump's withdrawal from northern Syria.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/16/house-condemns-trumps-syria-pull-out-000286|title=House condemns Trump's Syria withdrawal|last=O'Brien|first=Connor|date=October 16, 2019|work=]|access-date=October 17, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/16/us/politics/house-vote-trump-syria.html|title=In Bipartisan Rebuke, House Majority Condemns Trump for Syria Withdrawal|last=Edmondson|first=Catie|date=October 16, 2019|work=]|access-date=October 17, 2019}}</ref>
During his campaign and as president, Trump has repeatedly asserted that he desires better relations with Russia.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-urges-good-relationship-with-russia-in-tweets/ |title=Donald Trump urges 'good relationship' with Russia in tweets |last=Flores |first=Reena |date=January 7, 2017 |website=] |accessdate=May 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/trump-gop-russia-sanctions/ |title=GOP warns Trump not to lift Russia sanctions after call with Putin |last=Berry |first=Lynn |date=January 29, 2017 |agency=] |work=] |accessdate=May 2, 2017}}</ref> According to Russian President ] and some political experts and diplomats, the ], which were already at the lowest level since the end of the ], have further deteriorated since Trump took office in January 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title=US–Russia relations fail to improve in Trump's first year and they are likely to get worse |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-first-year-inauguration-anniversary-russia-vladimir-putin-relations-moscow-a8168801.html |work=] |date=January 19, 2018 |first=Oliver |last=Carroll}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Vladimir Putin says US–Russia relations are worse since Donald Trump took office |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-us-russia-relations-worse-military-syria-chemical-attack-barack-obama-a7679796.html |work=] |date=April 12, 2017 |first=Samuel |last=Osborne}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=U.S.-Russian relations worst Ambassador Antonov can remember |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u-s-russian-relations-worst-ambassador-antonov-can-remember-n861391 |website=] |date=March 30, 2018 |first=Alexander |last=Smith}}</ref>


===== Iran =====
Trump has criticized Russia about the ] gas pipeline from Russia to Germany,<ref>{{cite news |title=Nord Stream 2: Trump approves sanctions on Russia gas pipeline |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50875935 |work=] |date=December 21, 2019}}</ref> and the ],<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump expelling 60 Russian diplomats in wake of UK nerve agent attack |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/26/politics/us-expel-russian-diplomats/index.html |work=] |first1=Jeremy |last1=Diamond |author1link=Jeremy Diamond |first2=Allie |last2=Malloy |first3=Angela |last3=Dewan |date=March 26, 2018}}</ref> but remained silent on the ] poisoning,<ref>{{cite news |first1=Michael |last1=Crowley |author1link=Michael Crowley (journalist) |first2=Maggie |last2=Haberman |author2link=Maggie Haberman |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/03/us/politics/trump-russia-navalny-poisoning.html |newspaper=] |date=September 3, 2020 |title=As Others Condemn Putin Critic's Poisoning, Trump Just Wants to 'Get Along'}}</ref> and sent mixed messages regarding Crimea.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pager |first=Tyler |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/trump-crimea-sanctions-russia-226292 |title=Trump to look at recognizing Crimea as Russian territory, lifting sanctions |website=] |date=July 27, 2016 |access-date=February 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Panetta |first=Grace |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-claims-crimea-is-part-of-russia-since-people-speak-russian-g7-summit-2018-6 |title=Trump reportedly claimed to leaders at the G7 that Crimea is part of Russia because everyone there speaks Russian |website=] |date=June 14, 2018 |access-date=February 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Trump expects Russia to return Crimea to Ukraine: White House |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-ukraine/trump-expects-russia-to-return-crimea-to-ukraine-white-house-idUSKBN15T2IY |work=] |date=February 14, 2017}}</ref>
In May 2018, Trump ] from the ], the 2015 agreement that lifted most economic sanctions against Iran in return for restrictions on ].<ref name="AP180508">{{cite news|last1=Lederman|first1=Josh|last2=Lucey|first2=Catherine|date=May 8, 2018|title=Trump declares US leaving 'horrible' Iran nuclear accord|work=]|url=https://apnews.com/article/cead755353a1455bbef08ef289448994/Trump-decides-to-exit-nuclear-accord-with-Iran|access-date=May 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/world/middleeast/trump-iran-nuclear-deal.html|title=Trump Abandons Iran Nuclear Deal He Long Scorned|first=Mark|last=Landler|author-link=Mark Landler|date=May 8, 2018|access-date=October 4, 2021|work=]}}</ref> In August 2020, his administration unsuccessfully attempted to use the nuclear deal to have the UN reimpose sanctions against Iran.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nichols|first=Michelle|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-nuclear-un-idUSKBN2AI2Y9|title=U.S. rescinds Trump White House claim that all U.N. sanctions had been reimposed on Iran|work=]|date=February 18, 2021 |access-date=December 14, 2021}}</ref> Analysts determined that, after the U.S. withdrawal, Iran moved closer to developing a nuclear weapon.<ref name="close">{{cite news|last=Hennigan|first=W.J.|title='They're Very Close.' U.S. General Says Iran Is Nearly Able to Build a Nuclear Weapon|url=https://time.com/6123380/iran-near-nuclear-weapon-capability/|magazine=]|date=November 24, 2021 |access-date=December 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Donevan |first1=Connor |last2=Dorning |first2=Courtney |last3=Kelly |first3=Mary Louise |date=May 30, 2023 |title=5 years after U.S. left Iran nuclear deal, more enriched Uranium and much less trust |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/05/30/1178919266/trump-abandoned-the-nuclear-deal-5-years-ago-could-the-u-s-stop-a-bomb-from-iran |access-date=November 3, 2024 |work=]}}</ref>


On January&nbsp;1, 2020, Trump ordered the ], who had planned nearly every significant Iranian and ] operation over the preceding two decades.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/02/world/middleeast/qassem-soleimani-iraq-iran-attack.html|title=U.S. Strike in Iraq Kills Qassim Suleimani, Commander of Iranian Forces|last1=Crowley|first1=Michael|author-link1=Michael Crowley (journalist)|last2=Hassan|first2=Falih|last3=Schmitt|first3=Eric|author-link3=Eric P. Schmitt|date=January 2, 2020|work=]|access-date=January 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Baker|first1=Peter|author-link1=Peter Baker (journalist)|last2=Bergman|first2=Ronen|author-link2=Ronen Bergman|last3=Kirkpatrick|first3=David D.|author-link3=David D. Kirkpatrick|last4=Barnes|first4=Julian E.|last5=Rubin|first5=Alissa J.|author-link5=Alissa J. Rubin|date=January 11, 2020|title=Seven Days in January: How Trump Pushed U.S. and Iran to the Brink of War|website=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/11/us/politics/iran-trump.html |access-date=November 8, 2022}}</ref> Iran retaliated with ] in Iraq. Dozens of soldiers sustained traumatic brain injuries. Trump downplayed their injuries, and they were initially denied ] medals and the associated benefits.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Horton|first1=Alex|last2=Lamothe|first2=Dan|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2021/12/08/purple-heart-iran-missile-attack/|title=Army awards more Purple Hearts for troops hurt in Iranian attack that Trump downplayed|newspaper=]|date=December 8, 2021|access-date=November 8, 2021}}</ref><ref name="close"/>
Trump announced in October 2018 that he was withdrawing the U.S. from the ], citing alleged Russian non-compliance.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/20/trump-us-nuclear-arms-treaty-russia |title=Trump says US will withdraw from nuclear arms treaty with Russia |last=Pengelly |first=Martin |date=October 20, 2018 |website=]}}</ref> In 2017, Trump signed the ];<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump signs bill approving new sanctions against Russia |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/02/politics/donald-trump-russia-sanctions-bill/index.html |work=] |date=August 3, 2017}}</ref> in 2018, however, the Trump administration lifted other U.S. sanctions imposed on Russia after its ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Patricia |last=Zengerle |title=Bid to keep U.S. sanctions on Russia's Rusal fails in Senate |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-sanctions/bid-to-keep-u-s-sanctions-on-russias-rusal-fails-in-senate-idUSKCN1PA2JB |work=] |date=January 16, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Jeanne |last=Whalen |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/01/16/rare-rebuke-trump-administration-some-gop-lawmakers-advance-measure-oppose-lifting-russian-sanctions/ |title=In rare rebuke of Trump administration, some GOP lawmakers advance measure to oppose lifting Russian sanctions |newspaper=] |date=January 15, 2019}}</ref> As a presidential candidate, Trump described Putin as a strong leader.<ref name="Putin"/> After he met Putin at the ] in July 2018, Trump drew bipartisan criticism for siding with Putin's denial of ], rather than accepting the findings of the ].<ref name="zurcher">{{cite news |last=Zurcher |first=Anthony |title=Trump-Putin summit: After Helsinki, the fallout at home |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44830012 |accessdate=July 18, 2018 |work=] |date=July 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/07/trump-putin/565238/ |title=Trump Sides With the Kremlin, Against the U.S. Government |last=Calamur |first=Krishnadev |date=July 16, 2018 |work=] |accessdate=July 18, 2018}}</ref><ref name="break">{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/16/politics/congress-reaction-trump-putin-comments/index.html |title=Top Republicans in Congress break with Trump over Putin comments |last=Fox |first=Lauren |date=July 16, 2018 |website=] |accessdate=July 18, 2018}}</ref> Trump has repeatedly praised, and rarely criticized, Putin.<ref name=BakerAugust10>{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Peter |authorlink=Peter Baker (journalist) |title=Trump Praises Putin Instead of Critiquing Cuts to U.S. Embassy Staff |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/10/world/europe/putin-trump-embassy-russia.html |accessdate=June 7, 2020 |work=] |date=August 10, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Syria-blame">{{cite news |title=Trump blames Putin for backing 'Animal Assad' |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/08/trump-putin-syria-attack-508223 |work=] |first=Matthew |last=Nussbaum |date=April 8, 2018}}</ref>


=== Personnel === === Personnel ===
{{Main|Political appointments of the first Trump administration|First cabinet of Donald Trump}}
The Trump administration had a high turnover of personnel, particularly among White House staff. By the end of his first year in office, 34&nbsp;percent of his original staff had resigned, been fired, or been reassigned.<ref>{{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=]|access-date=March 16, 2018}}</ref> {{As of|2018|7|pre=early}}, 61&nbsp;percent of his senior aides had left<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/395222-ap-trump-admin-sets-record-for-white-house-turnover|title=AP: Trump admin sets record for White House turnover|work=]|date=July 2, 2018|access-date=July 3, 2018|last=Wise|first=Justin}}</ref> and 141 staffers had left in the previous year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-white-house-sets-turnover-records-analysis-shows-n888396|title=Trump White House sets turnover records, analysis shows|work=]|date=July 2, 2018|access-date=July 3, 2018|agency=]}}</ref> Both figures set a record for recent presidents—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=]|date=March 7, 2018|access-date=March 16, 2018}}</ref> Notable early departures included National Security Advisor ] (after just 25 days), and Press Secretary ].<ref name="Keith"/> Close personal aides to Trump including Bannon, ], ], and ] quit or were forced out.<ref name=Brookings>{{cite news|first1=Kathryn Dunn|last1=Tenpas|first2=Elaine|last2=Kamarck|first3=Nicholas W.|last3=Zeppos|url=https://www.brookings.edu/research/tracking-turnover-in-the-trump-administration/|title=Tracking Turnover in the Trump Administration|date=March 16, 2018|website=]|access-date=March 16, 2018}}</ref> Some later returned in different posts.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rogers|first1=Katie|last2=Karni|first2=Annie|author-link2=Annie Karni|title=Home Alone at the White House: A Sour President, With TV His Constant Companion|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/23/us/politics/coronavirus-trump.html|access-date=May 5, 2020|work=]|date=April 23, 2020}}</ref> He publicly disparaged several of his former top officials, calling them incompetent, stupid, or crazy.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cillizza|first=Chris|author-link=Chris Cillizza|title=Donald Trump makes terrible hires, according to Donald Trump|url=https://cnn.com/2020/06/19/politics/trump-mulvaney-bolton-hiring/|access-date=June 24, 2020|work=]|date=June 19, 2020}}</ref>


Trump had four ], marginalizing or pushing out several.<ref name=Keither>{{cite news|last=Keith|first=Tamara|date=March 6, 2020|access-date=October 5, 2021|title=Mick Mulvaney Out, Mark Meadows in As White House Chief Of Staff|work=]|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/03/06/766025774/mick-mulvaney-out-as-white-house-chief-of-staff}}</ref> ] was replaced after seven months by retired Marine general ].<ref>{{cite news|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/28/us/politics/reince-priebus-white-house-trump.html|title=Reince Priebus Pushed Out After Rocky Tenure as Trump Chief of Staff|first1=Peter|last1=Baker|author-link1=Peter Baker (journalist)|first2=Maggie|last2=Haberman|author-link2=Maggie Haberman|date=July 28, 2017|access-date=October 6, 2021}}</ref> Kelly resigned in December 2018 after a tumultuous tenure in which his influence waned, and Trump subsequently disparaged him.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fritze|first1=John|last2=Subramanian|first2=Courtney|last3=Collins|first3=Michael|date=September 4, 2020|access-date=October 6, 2021|title=Trump says former chief of staff Gen. John Kelly couldn't 'handle the pressure' of the job|work=]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/09/04/trump-gen-john-kelly-couldnt-handle-pressure-chief-staff/5720974002/}}</ref> Kelly was succeeded by ] as acting chief of staff; he was replaced in March 2020 by ].<ref name=Keither/>
{{Main|Political appointments by Donald Trump|Cabinet of Donald Trump}}
{{See also|Formation of Donald Trump's Cabinet}}
]


On May&nbsp;9, 2017, Trump ]. While initially attributing this action to Comey's conduct in the investigation about ], Trump said a few days later that he was concerned with Comey's role in the ongoing Trump-Russia investigations, and that he had intended to fire Comey earlier.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stanek|first=Becca|date=May 11, 2017|title=President Trump just completely contradicted the official White House account of the Comey firing|work=]|url=https://theweek.com/speedreads/698368/president-trump-just-completely-contradicted-official-white-house-account-comey-firing|access-date=May 11, 2017}}</ref> At a private conversation in February, he said he hoped Comey would drop the investigation into Flynn.<ref name="cloud">{{cite news|last1=Schmidt|first1=Michael S.|author-link1=Michael S. Schmidt|last2=Apuzzo|first2=Matt|author-link2=Matt Apuzzo|date=June 7, 2017|title=Comey Says Trump Pressured Him to 'Lift the Cloud' of Inquiry|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/07/us/politics/james-comey-statement-testimony.html|access-date=November 2, 2021}}</ref> In March and April, he asked Comey to "lift the cloud impairing his ability to act" by saying publicly that the FBI was not investigating him.<ref name="cloud"/><ref>{{cite news|date=June 8, 2017|title=Statement for the Record Senate Select Committee on Intelligence James B. Comey|url=https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/os-jcomey-060817.pdf|access-date=November 2, 2021|publisher=]|page=7}}</ref>
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=] |accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> {{As of|2018|7|pre=early}}, 61 percent of Trump's senior aides had left<ref name="Wise -180702">{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/395222-ap-trump-admin-sets-record-for-white-house-turnover |title=AP: Trump admin sets record for White House turnover |website=] |date=July 2, 2018 |accessdate=July 3, 2018 |last=Wise |first=Justin}}</ref> and 141 staffers had left in the past year.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-white-house-sets-turnover-records-analysis-shows-n888396 |title=Trump White House sets turnover records, analysis shows |website=] |date=July 2, 2018 |accessdate=July 3, 2018 |agency=]}}</ref> Both figures set a record for recent presidents{{snd}}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 |website=] |accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> Notable early departures included National Security Advisor ] (after just 25 days in office), and Press Secretary ].<ref name="Keith" /> Close personal aides to Trump including ], ], ], and ] have quit or been forced out.<ref name=Brookings /> Some, like Hicks and McEntee, later returned to the White House in different posts.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Katie |last2=Karni |first2=Annie |author2link=Annie Karni |title=Home Alone at the White House: A Sour President, With TV His Constant Companion |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/23/us/politics/coronavirus-trump.html |accessdate=May 5, 2020 |work=] |date=April 23, 2020}}</ref> Trump has disparaged several of his former top officials as incompetent, stupid, or crazy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cillizza |first1=Chris |title=Donald Trump makes terrible hires, according to Donald Trump |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/19/politics/trump-mulvaney-bolton-hiring/index.html |accessdate=June 24, 2020 |work=] |date=June 19, 2020}}</ref>


Trump lost three of his 15 original cabinet members within his first year.<ref name="538 Cabinet">{{cite news|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-incredibly-and-historically-unstable-first-year-of-trumps-cabinet/|title=The Incredibly And Historically Unstable First Year Of Trump's Cabinet|last=Jones-Rooy|first=Andrea|date=November 29, 2017|work=]|access-date=March 16, 2018}}</ref> Health and Human Services secretary ] was forced to resign in September 2017 due to excessive use of private charter jets and military aircraft.<ref name="538 Cabinet"/><ref name=Brookings/> Environmental Protection Agency administrator ] resigned in 2018 and Secretary of the Interior ] in January 2019 amid multiple investigations into their conduct.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/07/05/594078923/scott-pruitt-out-at-epa|title=Scott Pruitt Out at EPA|work=]|date=July 5, 2018|access-date=July 5, 2018|first1=Rebecca|last1=Hersher|first2=Brett|last2=Neely}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Eilperin|first1=Juliet|last2=Dawsey|first2=Josh|author-link2=Josh Dawsey|last3=Fears|first3=Darryl|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/interior-secretary-zinke-resigns-amid-investigations/2018/12/15/481f9104-0077-11e9-ad40-cdfd0e0dd65a_story.html|title=Interior Secretary Zinke resigns amid investigations|newspaper=]|date=December 15, 2018|access-date=August 7, 2024}}</ref>
Trump has had four ],<ref name=Keither>{{cite news |first=Tamara |last=Keith |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/03/06/766025774/mick-mulvaney-out-as-white-house-chief-of-staff |title=Mick Mulvaney Out, Mark Meadows In As White House Chief Of Staff |work=] |date=March 6, 2020}}</ref> marginalizing or pushing out several.<ref name=WeakerKelly>{{cite news |title=Chief of staff John Kelly's position in the White House looks weaker as President Trump asserts himself and chaos reign |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/30/trump-chief-of-staff-john-kelly-power-wanes-as-chaos-reigns.html |work=] |date=March 30, 2018}}</ref><ref name=LemireLucey>{{cite news |first1=Jonathan |last1=Lemire |first2=Catherine |last2=Lucey |title='Tired of being told no,' Trump freezes out chief of staff |date=April 6, 2018 |work=] |url=https://apnews.com/article/1ee81c8bcba1436db9fbfd03bf1fef12}}</ref> ] was replaced after seven months by retired Marine general ].<ref name=Baker>{{cite news |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/28/us/politics/reince-priebus-white-house-trump.html |title=Reince Priebus Pushed Out After Rocky Tenure as Trump Chief of Staff |first1=Peter |last1=Baker |authorlink=Peter Baker (journalist) |first2=Maggie |last2=Haberman |author2link=Maggie Haberman}}</ref> Kelly resigned in December 2018 after a tumultuous tenure<ref name=Fritze>{{cite news |work=] |first1=John |last1=Fritze |first2=Courtney |last2=Subramanian |first3=Michael |last3=Collins |date=September 4, 2020 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/09/04/trump-gen-john-kelly-couldnt-handle-pressure-chief-staff/5720974002/ |title=Trump says former chief of staff Gen. John Kelly couldn't 'handle the pressure' of the job}}</ref> in which his influence waned,<ref name=WeakerKelly/><ref name=LemireLucey/> and Trump subsequently disparaged him.<ref name=Fritze/> Kelly was succeeded by ] as acting chief of staff; he was replaced in March 2020 by ].<ref name=Keither/>


Trump was slow to appoint second-tier officials in the executive branch, saying many of the positions are unnecessary. In October 2017, there were still hundreds of sub-cabinet positions without a nominee.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/10/12/557122200/trump-leaves-top-administration-positions-unfilled-says-hollow-government-by-des|title=Trump Leaves Top Administration Positions Unfilled, Says Hollow Government By Design|last=Keith|first=Tamara|date=October 12, 2017|work=]|access-date=March 16, 2018}}</ref> By January&nbsp;8, 2019, of 706 key positions, 433 had been filled (61&nbsp;percent) and he had no nominee for 264 (37&nbsp;percent).<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=]|date=January 8, 2019|access-date=October 6, 2021|title=Tracking how many key positions Trump has filled so far|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-administration-appointee-tracker/database/}}</ref>
Trump's Cabinet nominations included U.S. senator from Alabama ] as ],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/19/us/politics/jeff-sessions-donald-trump-attorney-general.html |title=Jeff Sessions, as Attorney General, Could Overhaul Department He's Skewered |last=Lichtblau |first=Eric |authorlink=Eric Lichtblau |date=November 18, 2016 |work=] |access-date=December 19, 2019}}</ref> financier ] as ],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38141686 |title=Former US banker Steve Mnuchin confirms he will be US treasury secretary |date=November 30, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=November 30, 2016}}</ref> retired Marine Corps general ] as ],<ref>{{cite news |last=Lamothe |first=Dan |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-has-chosen-retired-marine-gen-james-mattis-for-secretary-of-defense/2016/12/01/6c6b3b74-aff9-11e6-be1c-8cec35b1ad25_story.html |title=Trump has chosen retired Marine Gen. James Mattis for secretary of defense |work=] |accessdate=December 1, 2016}}</ref> and ] CEO ] as ].<ref>{{cite news |work=] |first1=Michael D. |last1=Shear |author1link=Michael D. Shear |first2=Maggie |last2=Haberman |author2link=Maggie Haberman |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/12/us/politics/rex-tillerson-secretary-of-state-trump.html |title=Rex Tillerson, Exxon C.E.O., chosen as Secretary of State |date=December 12, 2016 |accessdate=December 26, 2016}}</ref> Trump also brought on board politicians who had opposed him during the presidential campaign, such as neurosurgeon ] as ],<ref>{{cite news |first=Trip |last=Gabriel |title=Trump Chooses Ben Carson to Lead HUD |date=December 5, 2016 |accessdate=December 5, 2016 |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/05/us/politics/ben-carson-housing-urban-development-trump.html}}</ref> and South Carolina governor ] as ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sc-gov-nikki-haley-tapped-to-be-trumps-un-ambassador/2016/11/23/c1395cb6-b144-11e6-8616-52b15787add0_story.html |work=] |title=Gov. Nikki Haley tapped to be Trump's U.N. ambassador |date=November 23, 2016 |accessdate=November 23, 2016 |first=Robert |last=Costa |authorlink=Robert Costa (journalist)}}</ref>


=== Judiciary ===
Two of Trump's 15 original Cabinet members were gone within 15 months: ] ] was forced to resign in September 2017 due to excessive use of private charter jets and military aircraft, and Trump replaced Tillerson as Secretary of State with ] in March 2018 over disagreements on foreign policy.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-incredibly-and-historically-unstable-first-year-of-trumps-cabinet/ |title=The Incredibly And Historically Unstable First Year Of Trump's Cabinet |last=Jones-Rooy |first=Andrea |date=November 29, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref><ref name=Brookings>{{cite news |url=https://www.brookings.edu/research/tracking-turnover-in-the-trump-administration/ |title=Tracking Turnover in the Trump Administration |date=March 16, 2018 |website=] |accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> In 2018, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and Interior Secretary ] resigned amid multiple investigations into their conduct.<ref name=Hersher-180705>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/07/05/594078923/scott-pruitt-out-at-epa |title=Scott Pruitt Out At EPA |website=] |date=July 5, 2018 |accessdate=July 5, 2018 |first1=Rebecca |last1=Hersher |first2=Brett |last2=Neelyin}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-ryan-zinke-resigns-interior-secretary-20181215-story.html |title=Ryan Zinke resigns as interior secretary amid multiple investigations |first1=Juliet |last1=Eilperin |first2=Josh |last2=Dawsey |author2link=Josh Dawsey |work=] |accessdate=January 3, 2019}}</ref>
{{Further|List of federal judges appointed by Donald Trump|Donald Trump judicial appointment controversies}}
]|alt=Donald Trump and Amy Coney Barrett walk side by side along the West Wing Colonnade; American flags hang between the columns to their right]]
Trump appointed 226 ], including 54 to the ] and ] to the ]: ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Gramlich|first=John|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/01/13/how-trump-compares-with-other-recent-presidents-in-appointing-federal-judges/|title=How Trump compares with other recent presidents in appointing federal judges|publisher=]|date=January 13, 2021 |access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref> His Supreme Court nominees were noted as having politically shifted the Court to the right.<ref>{{cite news|work=]|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/26/trump-legacy-supreme-court-422058|title=Trump's legacy is now the Supreme Court|first=Anita|last=Kumar|date=September 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=]|title=Trump's Lasting Legacy: Conservative Supermajority on Supreme Court|first=Masood|last=Farivar|date=December 24, 2020|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/usa_trumps-lasting-legacy-conservative-supermajority-supreme-court/6199935.html|access-date=December 21, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Nine Black Robes: Inside the Supreme Court's Drive to the Right and Its Historic Consequences|first=Joan|last=Biskupic|author-link=Joan Biskupic|url=https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2023/06/02/nine-black-robes-supreme-court|date=June 2, 2023|work=]|access-date=December 21, 2023}}</ref> In the 2016 campaign, he pledged that ''Roe v. Wade'' would be overturned "automatically" if he were elected and provided the opportunity to appoint two or three anti-abortion justices. He later took credit when ''Roe'' was overturned in '']''; all three of his Supreme Court nominees voted with the majority.<ref>{{cite news|magazine=]|title=Trump takes credit for Dobbs decision but worries it 'won't help him in the future'|first=Grayson|last=Quay|date=June 25, 2022 |url=https://theweek.com/donald-trump/1014657/trump-takes-credit-for-dobbs-decision-but-worries-it-wont-help-him-in-the |access-date=October 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=]|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-was-able-kill-roe-v-wade-rcna84897|first=Sahil|last=Kapur|title=Trump: 'I was able to kill Roe v. Wade'|date=May 17, 2023|access-date=December 21, 2023}}</ref>


Trump disparaged courts and judges he disagreed with, often in personal terms, and questioned the judiciary's constitutional authority. His attacks on the courts drew rebukes from observers, including sitting federal judges, concerned about the effect of his statements on the ] and public confidence in the judiciary.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Abby|last1=Phillip|first2=Robert|last2=Barnes|first3=Ed|last3=O'Keefe|title=Supreme Court nominee Gorsuch says Trump's attacks on judiciary are 'demoralizing'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/supreme-court-nominee-gorsuch-says-trumps-attacks-on-judiciary-are-demoralizing/2017/02/08/64e03fe2-ee3f-11e6-9662-6eedf1627882_story.html|newspaper=]|date=February 8, 2017|access-date=October 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Katie|last=Shepherd|title=Trump 'violates all recognized democratic norms,' federal judge says in biting speech on judicial independence|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/11/08/judge-says-trump-violates-democratic-norms-judiciary-speech/|newspaper=]|date=November 8, 2019|access-date=October 6, 2021}}</ref>
Trump has been slow to appoint second-tier officials in the executive branch, saying many of the positions are unnecessary. In October 2017, there were still hundreds of sub-cabinet positions without a nominee.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/10/12/557122200/trump-leaves-top-administration-positions-unfilled-says-hollow-government-by-des |title=Trump Leaves Top Administration Positions Unfilled, Says Hollow Government By Design |last=Keith |first=Tamara |date=October 12, 2017 |website=] |accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> By January 8, 2019, of 706 key positions, 433 had been filled (61%) and Trump had no nominee for 264 (37%).<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=January 8, 2019 |title=Tracking how many key positions Trump has filled so far |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-administration-appointee-tracker/database/}}</ref>

==== Dismissal of James Comey ====

{{Main|Dismissal of James Comey}}

On May 9, 2017, Trump dismissed FBI director ]. He first attributed this action to recommendations from Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy AG ],<ref name=Apuzzo>{{cite news |first1=Michael D. |last1=Shear |author1link=Michael D. Shear |first2=Matt |last2=Apuzzo |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 10, 2017 |work=] |date=May 10, 2017}}</ref> which criticized Comey's conduct in the investigation about ].<ref name=Guardian-20170509>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/09/james-comey-fbi-fired-donald-trump |title=Donald Trump fires FBI director Comey over handling of Clinton investigation |last=Smith |first=David |date=May 9, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=May 9, 2017}}</ref> A few days later, Trump said he was concerned with the ongoing "Russia thing"<ref name=Barrett-20170511>{{cite news |last1=Barrett |first1=Devlin |last2=Rucker |first2=Philip |author2link=Philip Rucker |title=Trump said he was thinking of Russia controversy when he decided to fire Comey |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-says-fbi-director-comey-told-him-three-times-he-wasnt-under-investigation-once-in-a-phone-call-initiated-by-the-president/2017/05/11/2b384c9a-3669-11e7-b4ee-434b6d506b37_story.html |work=] |date=May 11, 2017 |accessdate=May 12, 2017}}</ref> and that he had intended to fire Comey earlier, regardless of DOJ advice.<ref name=theweek-20170511>{{cite news |url=https://theweek.com/speedreads/698368/president-trump-just-completely-contradicted-official-white-house-account-comey-firing |title=President Trump just completely contradicted the official White House account of the Comey firing |date=May 11, 2017 |work=] |first=Becca |last=Stanek |accessdate=May 11, 2017}}</ref>

According to a ] of a private conversation on February 14, 2017, Trump said he "hoped" Comey would drop the investigation into National Security Advisor ].<ref name="Wilber">{{cite news |last1=Wilber |first1=Del Quentin |author1link=Del Quentin Wilber |last2=Viswanatha |first2=Aruna |title=Trump Asked Comey to Drop Flynn Investigation, According to Memo Written by Former FBI Director |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-asked-comey-to-drop-flynn-investigation-according-to-memo-written-by-former-fbi-director-1494974774 |work=] {{subscription required}} |date=May 16, 2017 |accessdate=May 16, 2017}}</ref>
In March and April, Trump had told Comey the ongoing suspicions formed a "cloud" impairing his presidency,<ref name="comeytestimony">{{cite web |last=Comey |first=James |title=Statement for the Record Senate Select Committee on Intelligence |url=https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/os-jcomey-060817.pdf |website=United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence |publisher=United States Government |accessdate=June 7, 2017 |page=7 |date=June 8, 2017}}</ref> and asked him to publicly state that he was not personally under investigation.<ref name="schmidt">{{cite news |last1=Schmidt |first1=Michael S. |author1link=Michael S. Schmidt |last2=Goldman |first2=Adam |author2link=Adam Goldman |title=Comey to Testify Trump Pressured Him to Say He Wasn't Under Investigation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/07/us/politics/james-comey-statement-testimony.html |accessdate=June 7, 2017 |work=] |date=June 7, 2017}}</ref> He also asked intelligence chiefs ] and ] to issue statements saying there was no evidence that his campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 election.<ref name=Sciutto>{{cite news |last1=Sciutto |first1=Jim |last2=Watkins |first2=Eli |title=Trump asked DNI, NSA to deny evidence of Russia collusion |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/05/22/politics/donald-trump-intelligence-community/index.html |website=] |date=May 23, 2017}}</ref> Both refused, considering this an inappropriate request, although not illegal.<ref name=Dilanian>{{cite news |last1=Dilanian |first1=Ken |last2=Windrem |first2=Robert |title=Trump Asked Top Intel Officials to Push Back Publicly on Russia Probe |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-asked-top-intel-officials-push-back-publicly-russia-probe-n763336 |website=] |date=May 22, 2017}}</ref> Comey eventually testified on June{{nbsp}}8 that, while he was director, the FBI investigations had not targeted Trump himself.<ref name="comeytestimony" /><ref name=nyt-20110608>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/08/us/politics/trump-speech-faith-freedom-coalition.html |title='I Was Right': As Trump Watches Comey on TV, Anxiety Yields to Relief |work=] |first1=Glenn |last1=Thrush |author1link=Glenn Thrush |first2=Maggie |last2=Haberman |author2link=Maggie Haberman |date=June 8, 2017 |accessdate=June 9, 2017}}</ref>

=== Impeachment ===

{{Main|Impeachment of Donald Trump}}
{{See also|Trump–Ukraine scandal}}

==== Impeachment by the House of Representatives ====

{{Further|Impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump}}
] {{Nowrap|({{USBill|116|H. Res.|755}})}}, December&nbsp;18,&nbsp;2019]]

During much of Trump's presidency, Democrats were divided on the question of impeachment.<ref>{{cite news |title='Reluctant impeachment': Will Pelosi ever be swayed to go there? |first=Lindsey |last=McPherson |url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/congress/reluctant-impeachment-will-pelosi-ever-swayed-go |work=] |date=May 24, 2019}}</ref> Fewer than 20 representatives in the House supported impeachment by January 2019; after the Mueller Report was released in April and special counsel Robert Mueller testified in July, this number grew to around 140 representatives.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bump |first1=Philip |title=The most important number in the impeachment fight keeps getting smaller |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/24/most-important-number-impeachment-fight-right-now/ |accessdate=October 1, 2019 |work=] |date=September 25, 2019}}</ref>

In August 2019, a ] filed a complaint with the ] about a July 25 phone call between Trump and President of Ukraine ], during which Trump had pressured Zelensky to investigate ] and Democratic presidential primary candidate ] and his son ], adding that the White House had attempted to cover-up the incident.<ref name="undermine">{{cite news |last1=Bump |first1=Philip |title=Trump wanted Russia's main geopolitical adversary to help undermine the Russian interference story |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/25/trump-wanted-russias-main-geopolitical-adversary-help-him-undermine-russian-interference-story/ |accessdate=October 1, 2019 |work=] |date=September 25, 2019}}</ref> The whistleblower further stated that the call was part of a wider pressure campaign by Trump's personal attorney Giuliani and the Trump administration which may have included withholding financial aid from Ukraine in July 2019 and canceling Vice President Pence's May 2019 Ukraine trip.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/26/politics/whistleblower-complaint-released/index.html |title=Whistleblower says White House tried to cover up Trump's abuse of power |publisher=] |date=September 26, 2019 |access-date=September 26, 2019 |first1=Marshall |last1=Cohen |first2=Katelyn |last2=Polantz |first3=David |last3=Shortell}}</ref> Trump later confirmed having withheld military aid from Ukraine and offered contradictory reasons for the decision.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Forgey |first1=Quint |title=Trump changes story on withholding Ukraine aid |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/24/donald-trump-ukraine-military-aid-1509070 |accessdate=October 1, 2019 |work=] |date=September 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=John |last1=Wagner |first2=Felicia |last2=Sonmez |first3=Colby |last3=Itkowitz |title=Live updates: Top Democrat warns White House 'we're not fooling around' on impeachment inquiry |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-impeachment-whistleblower/2019/10/02/80df829a-e494-11e9-b403-f738899982d2_story.html |accessdate=October 2, 2019 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kramer |first1=Andrew E. |title=Ukraine to Review Criminal Case on Owner of Firm Linked to Biden's Son |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/04/world/europe/ukraine-biden-burisma.html |accessdate=October 4, 2019 |work=] |date=October 4, 2019}}</ref>

House speaker ] initiated ] on September 24, 2019.<ref name="Fandos">{{cite news |work=] |date=September 24, 2019 |first=Nicholas |last=Fandos |authorlink=Nicholas Fandos |title=Nancy Pelosi Announces Formal Impeachment Inquiry of Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/24/us/politics/democrats-impeachment-trump.html}}</ref><ref name="The Washington Post">{{cite news |last1=Rucker |first1=Philip |author1link=Philip Rucker |last2=Bade |first2=Rachael |last3=Costa |first3=Robert |author3link=Robert Costa (journalist) |title=Trump deflects and defies as Democrats speed up impeachment strategy |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-deflects-and-defies-as-democrats-speed-up-impeachment-strategy/2019/09/25/d73de84a-dfc9-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html |accessdate=September 26, 2019 |work=] |date=September 25, 2019}}</ref> The Trump administration subsequently released a memorandum of the July 25 phone call, confirming that after Zelensky mentioned purchasing American anti-tank missiles, Trump asked Zelensky to investigate and to discuss these matters with Giuliani and Attorney General Barr.<ref name="undermine"/><ref name="abcnews.go.com">{{cite news |last1=Santucci |first1=John |last2=Mallin |first2=Alexander |last3=Thomas |first3=Pierre |author3link=Pierre Thomas (journalist) |last4=Faulders |first4=Katherine |title=Trump urged Ukraine to work with Barr and Giuliani to probe Biden: Call transcript |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/transcript-trump-call-ukraine-includes-talk-giuliani-barr/story?id=65848768 |accessdate=October 1, 2019 |work=] |date=September 25, 2019}}</ref> The testimony of multiple administration officials and former officials confirmed that this was part of a broader effort to further Trump's personal interests by giving him an advantage in the upcoming presidential election.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/2019/09/24/whistleblower-complaint/assets/amp.html |title=Newsgraphics: Read The Whistleblower Complaint |date=September 24, 2019 |website=] |access-date=October 2, 2019}}</ref> In October 2019, ], the ], testified before congressional committees that soon after arriving in Ukraine in June 2019, he found that Zelensky was being subjected to pressure directed by Trump and led by Giuliani. According to Taylor and others, the goal was to coerce Zelensky into making a public commitment to investigate the company that employed Hunter Biden, as well as rumors about Ukrainian involvement in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/22/us/trump-impeachment-ukraine.html |title=Ukraine Envoy Testifies Trump Linked Military Aid to Investigations, Lawmaker Says |last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |author1link=Michael D. Shear |last2=Fandos |first2=Nicholas |author2link=Nicholas Fandos |date=October 22, 2019 |work=] |access-date=October 22, 2019}}</ref> He said it was made clear that until Zelensky made such an announcement, the administration would not release scheduled military aid for Ukraine and not invite Zelensky to the White House.<ref name=":3">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/22/us/politics/william-taylor-testimony.html |title=6 Key Revelations of Taylor's Opening Statement to Impeachment Investigators |last=LaFraniere |first=Sharon |authorlink=Sharon LaFraniere |date=October 22, 2019 |work=] |access-date=October 23, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/22/william-taylor-ukraine-testimony-trump-054259 |title=William Taylor testifies about deep-seated push for Ukraine quid pro quo |last1=Cheney |first1=Kyle |author1link=Kyle Cheney (journalist) |last2=Desiderio |first2=Andrew |date=October 22, 2019 |website=] |access-date=October 22, 2019}}</ref> Zelensky denied that he felt pressured by Trump.<ref name="Zelensky Pressure">{{cite news |url=https://time.com/5686305/zelensky-ukraine-denies-trump-pressure/ |title='Nobody Pushed Me.' Ukrainian President Denies Trump Pressured Him to Investigate Biden's Son |last=Law |first=Tara |date=September 25, 2019 |work=] |access-date=November 20, 2019}}</ref>

In December 2019, the ] published a report authored by Democrats on the committee, stating that "the impeachment inquiry has found that President Trump, personally and acting through agents{{Nbsp}}... solicited the interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, to benefit his reelection." The report said Trump had withheld military aid and a White House invitation to pressure Ukraine to announce investigations into Trump's political rivals. Furthermore, the report stated that Trump "openly and indiscriminately" defied impeachment proceedings by telling his administration officials to ignore subpoenas.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mascaro |first1=Lisa |last2=Jalonick |first2=Mary Clare |first3=Zeke |last3=Miller |first4=Colleen |last4=Long |first5=Eric |last5=Tucker |first6=Jill |last6=Colvin |agency=] |title=House Releases 300-Page Report Outlining Evidence for Trump's Impeachment |url=https://time.com/5743345/house-releases-trump-impeachment-report/ |accessdate=December 11, 2019 |work=] |date=December 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Weiland |first1=Noah |title=Impeachment Briefing: The Democratic Report |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/03/us/politics/impeachment-briefing-the-democratic-report.html |accessdate=December 11, 2019 |work=] |date=December 3, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Intel-Report">{{cite web |url=https://intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/the_trump-ukraine_impeachment_inquiry_report.pdf |title=Report of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Pursuant to H. Res. 660 in Consultation with the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs |date=December 3, 2019 |publisher=] |access-date=December 5, 2019}}</ref>{{Rp|8,208}} House Republicans released a draft of a countering report the previous day, saying that the evidence "does not prove any of these Democrat allegations."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/12/02/house-gop-draft-report-defends-president-trump-impeachment-inquiry/2590245001/ |title=House GOP report on impeachment inquiry defends Trump's dealings with Ukraine |work=] |date=December 2, 2019 |accessdate=December 12, 2019 |first1=Bart |last1=Jansen |first2=Christal |last2=Hayes}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/12/02/784183484/read-republican-report-on-the-impeachment-inquiry |title=Republican Report On The Impeachment Inquiry |work=] |date=December 2, 2019 |accessdate=December 12, 2019}}</ref>

On December 13, 2019, the House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to pass two articles of impeachment: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.<ref name=Siegel>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-judiciary-committee-set-vote-trump-impeachment-articles/story?id=67706093 |last1=Siegel |first1=Benjamin |last2=Faulders |first2=Katherine |title=House Judiciary Committee passes articles of impeachment against President Trump |date=December 13, 2019 |work=] |accessdate=December 13, 2019}}</ref> After debate, the House of Representatives impeached Trump with both articles on December 18.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gregorian |first1=Dareh |title=Trump impeached by the House for abuse of power, obstruction of Congress |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/trump-impeached-house-abuse-power-n1104196 |accessdate=December 18, 2019 |work=] |date=December 18, 2019}}</ref>

==== Impeachment trial in the Senate ====

{{Main|Impeachment trial of Donald Trump}}

The Senate impeachment trial began on January 16, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last=Herb |first=Jeremy |title=Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump officially begins |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/16/politics/senate-impeachment-trial-starts/index.html |accessdate=January 18, 2020 |website=] |date=January 16, 2020}}</ref> On January 22, the Republican Senate majority rejected amendments proposed by the Democratic minority to call witnesses and subpoena documents; evidence collected during the House impeachment proceedings was entered into the Senate record.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/senate-passes-mcconnell-impeachment-rules-after-nearly-13-hours-debate-n1119861 |title=Senate passes McConnell impeachment rules after nearly 13 hours of debate |work=] |first=Dareh |last=Gregorian |date=January 22, 2020 |accessdate=January 22, 2020}}</ref>

For three days, January 22–24, the impeachment managers for the House presented their case to the Senate. They cited evidence to support charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and asserted that Trump's actions were exactly what the founding fathers had in mind when they included an impeachment process in the Constitution.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-detail-abuse-of-power-charge-against-trump-as-republicans-complain-of-repetitive-arguments/2020/01/23/3fb149b4-3e05-11ea-8872-5df698785a4e_story.html |title=Democrats detail abuse-of-power charge against Trump as Republicans complain of repetitive arguments |date=January 23, 2019 |work=] |accessdate=January 27, 2020 |first1=Seung Min |last1=Kim |author1link=Seung Min Kim |first2=John |last2=Wagner |first3=Karoun |last3=Demirjian |author3link=Karoun Demirjian}}</ref>
]'' reporting his acquittal by the Senate]]<!-- wp:caption "Not every image ..." -->

Responding over the next three days, the Trump legal team did not deny the facts as presented in the charges but said Trump had not broken any laws or obstructed Congress.<ref name="brazen">{{cite news |work=] |date=January 22, 2020 |first1=Michael D. |last1=Shear |author1link=Michael D. Shear |first2=Nicholas |last2=Fandos |author2link=Nicholas Fandos |title=Trump's Defense Team Calls Impeachment Charges 'Brazen' as Democrats Make Legal Case |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/18/us/politics/house-trump-impeachment.html|access-date=January 30, 2020}}</ref> They argued that the impeachment was "constitutionally and legally invalid" because Trump was not charged with a crime and that abuse of power is not an impeachable offense.<ref name="brazen"/>

On January 31, the Senate voted against allowing subpoenas for witnesses or documents; 51 Republicans formed the majority for this vote.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Herb |first1=Jeremy |last2=Mattingly |first2=Phil |last3=Raju |first3=Manu |author3link=Manu Raju |last4=Fox |first4=Lauren |title=Senate impeachment trial: Wednesday acquittal vote scheduled after effort to have witnesses fails |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/31/politics/senate-impeachment-trial-last-day/index.html |accessdate=February 2, 2020 |work=] |date=January 31, 2020}}</ref> Thus, this became the first impeachment trial in U.S. history without witness testimony.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bookbinder |first=Noah |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/01/09/senate-has-conducted-15-impeachment-trials-it-heard-witnesses-every-one/ |title=The Senate has conducted 15 impeachment trials. It heard witnesses in every one. |work=] |date=January 9, 2020 |access-date=February 8, 2020}}</ref> On February 5, Trump was acquitted of both charges in a vote nearly along party lines, with Republican ] voting to convict on one of the charges.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fandos |first=Nicholas |authorlink=Nicholas Fandos |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/05/us/politics/trump-acquitted-impeachment.html |title=Trump Acquitted of Two Impeachment Charges in Near Party-Line Vote |work=] |date=February 5, 2020 |access-date=February 7, 2020}}</ref>

Following his acquittal, Trump began removing impeachment witnesses and political appointees and career officials he deemed insufficiently loyal.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=February 22, 2020 |first=Peter |last=Baker |authorlink=Peter Baker (journalist) |title=Trump's Efforts to Remove the Disloyal Heightens Unease Across His Administration |accessdate=February 22, 2020 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/22/us/politics/trump-disloyalty-turnover.html}}</ref>


=== COVID-19 pandemic === === COVID-19 pandemic ===
{{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in the United States}}

{{Main|COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|U.S. federal government response to the COVID-19 pandemic|Trump administration communication during the COVID-19 pandemic}} {{Further|U.S. federal government response to the COVID-19 pandemic|Communication of the Trump administration during the COVID-19 pandemic}}
{{See also|Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States}}
] into law on March&nbsp;6, 2020.]]

In December 2019, the ] of ] erupted in ], China; the virus spread worldwide within weeks.<ref name="WHOpandemic2">{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020 |title=WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – 11 March 2020 |date=March 11, 2020 |publisher=] |access-date=March 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Coronavirus disease 2019 |url=https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 |publisher=] |accessdate=March 15, 2020}}</ref> The first confirmed case in the United States was reported on January 20, 2020.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Holshue |first=Michelle L. |display-authors=etal |date=March 5, 2020 |title=First Case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the United States |journal=] |volume=382 |issue=10 |pages=929–936 |doi=10.1056/NEJMoa2001191 |pmid=32004427|pmc=7092802 }}</ref> The outbreak was officially declared a public health emergency by ] (HHS) ] ] on January 31, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hein |first=Alexandria |date=January 31, 2020 |title=Coronavirus declared public health emergency in US |url=https://www.foxnews.com/health/coronavirus-declared-public-health-emergency-in-us |access-date=October 2, 2020 |website=]}}</ref>

Trump's public discussions of the dangers of the virus were different than his private understanding. In February 2020, Trump publicly suggested that ] was more dangerous than COVID-19 and asserted that the outbreak in the U.S. was "very much under control" and would soon be over, but he told ] at the time that COVID-19 was "deadly" and "tricky" to handle because of ]. In March 2020, Trump privately told Woodward, "I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down, because I don't want to create a panic." Trump's comments to Woodward were made public in September 2020.<ref>{{cite news |date=September 10, 2020 |title=Trump deliberately downplayed virus, book says |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54094559 |access-date=September 18, 2020 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Mike |last1=Hayes |first2=Meg |last2=Wagner |first3=Veronica |last3=Rocha |date=September 9, 2020 |title=Tapes of Trump's conversations released |url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-woodward-book-09-09-2020/h_5bb44945ec0cf0eba9cdd92ab28fde3c |access-date=September 18, 2020 |website=]}}</ref> A ] study concluded that Trump was the "likely the largest driver" of ] in the first five months of 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Coleman |first1=Justine |title=Study finds Trump was 'the largest driver of the COVID-19 misinformation' early in pandemic |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/519226-study-finds-trump-was-the-largest-driver-of-the-covid-19 |accessdate=October 4, 2020 |work=] |date=October 1, 2020}}</ref>


==== Initial response ==== ==== Initial response ====
The first confirmed case of ] in the U.S. was reported on January&nbsp;20, 2020.{{sfn|Holshue|DeBolt|Lindquist|Lofy|2020}} The outbreak was officially declared a public health emergency by ] ] on January&nbsp;31, 2020.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hein|first=Alexandria|date=January 31, 2020|title=Coronavirus declared public health emergency in US|url=https://www.foxnews.com/health/coronavirus-declared-public-health-emergency-in-us|access-date=October 2, 2020|work=]}}</ref>
Trump initially ignored persistent public health warnings and calls for action from health officials within his administration and Secretary Azar.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-04-19/coronavirus-outbreak-president-trump-slow-response|title=How Trump let the U.S. fall behind the curve on coronavirus threat|work=]|date=April 19, 2020|access-date=November 27, 2024|first1=David S.|last1=Cloud|first2=Paul|last2=Pringle|author-link2=Paul Pringle|first3=Eli|last3=Stokols|author-link3=Eli Stokols}}</ref> Throughout January and February he focused on economic and political considerations of the outbreak.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kelly|first=Caroline|date=March 21, 2020|title=Washington Post: US intelligence warned Trump in January and February as he dismissed coronavirus threat|work=]|url=https://cnn.com/2020/03/20/politics/us-intelligence-reports-trump-coronavirus/|access-date=April 21, 2020}}</ref> In February 2020 he publicly asserted that the outbreak in the U.S. was less deadly than ], was "very much under control", and would soon be over.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/timeline-president-donald-trump-changing-statements-on-coronavirus/|title=A timeline of what Trump has said on coronavirus|last=Watson|first=Kathryn|date=April 3, 2020|work=]|access-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref> On March&nbsp;19, he privately told ] that he was deliberately "playing it down, because I don't want to create a panic".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gangel|first1=Jamie|author-link1=Jamie Gangel|last2=Herb|first2=Jeremy|last3=Stuart|first3=Elizabeth|date=September 9, 2020|title='Play it down': Trump admits to concealing the true threat of coronavirus in new Woodward book|url=https://cnn.com/2020/09/09/politics/bob-woodward-rage-book-trump-coronavirus|access-date=September 14, 2022|work=]}}</ref>


By mid-March, most global financial markets had ] in response to the pandemic.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Partington|first1=Richard|last2=Wearden|first2=Graeme|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/09/global-stock-markets-post-biggest-falls-since-2008-financial-crisis|title=Global stock markets post biggest falls since 2008 financial crisis|date=March 9, 2020|work=]|access-date=March 15, 2020}}</ref> On March&nbsp;6, Trump signed the ], which provided $8.3&nbsp;billion in emergency funding for federal agencies.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump signs emergency coronavirus package, injecting $8.3 billion into efforts to fight the outbreak|url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/trump-signs-billion-emergency-funding-package-fight-coronavirus-legislation-covid19-020-3-1028972206|work=]|first=Gina|last=Heeb|date=March 6, 2020|access-date=October 6, 2021}}</ref> On March&nbsp;11, the ] (WHO) recognized COVID-19 as a ],<ref name="WHOpandemic2">{{cite news|url=https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020|title=WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – 11 March 2020|date=March 11, 2020|work=]|access-date=March 11, 2020}}</ref> and he announced partial travel restrictions for most of Europe, effective March&nbsp;13.<ref>{{cite news|title=Coronavirus: What you need to know about Trump's Europe travel ban|url=https://www.thelocal.dk/20200312/trump-imposes-travel-ban-from-europe-over-coronavirus-outbreak|work=]|date=March 12, 2020|access-date=October 6, 2021}}</ref> That same day, he gave his first serious assessment of the virus in a nationwide Oval Office address, calling the outbreak "horrible" but "a temporary moment" and saying there was no financial crisis.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-address.html|title=In Rare Oval Office Speech, Trump Voices New Concerns and Old Themes|last1=Karni|first1=Annie|author-link1=Annie Karni|last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie|author-link2=Maggie Haberman|date=March 12, 2020|work=]|access-date=March 18, 2020}}</ref> On March&nbsp;13, he declared a ], freeing up federal resources.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://cnn.com/2020/03/13/politics/donald-trump-emergency/|title=Trump declares national emergency – and denies responsibility for coronavirus testing failures|last=Liptak|first=Kevin|date=March 13, 2020|work=]|access-date=March 18, 2020}}</ref> He claimed that "anybody that wants a test can get a test", despite test availability being severely limited.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://khn.org/news/donald-trumps-wrong-claim-that-anybody-can-get-tested-for-coronavirus/|title=Donald Trump's Wrong Claim That 'Anybody' Can Get Tested For Coronavirus|last=Valverde|first=Miriam|date=March 12, 2020|work=]|access-date=March 18, 2020}}</ref> On March 27, he signed the ]—a $2.2 trillion ] bill—into law following bipartisan negotiations in Congress, becoming the largest stimulus in U.S. history.<ref name="NY Times stimulus united senate">{{cite news |last1=Hulse |first1=Carl |last2=Cochrane |first2=Emily |title=As Coronavirus Spread, Largest Stimulus in History United a Polarized Senate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/us/coronavirus-senate-stimulus-package.html |website=] |date=March 26, 2020 |access-date=November 27, 2024 }}</ref><ref name="AP Trump signs 2.2">{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Andrew |last2=Fram |first2=Alan |last3=Kellman |first3=Laurie |last4=Superville |first4=Darlene |title=Trump signs $2.2T stimulus after swift congressional votes |url=https://apnews.com/2099a53bb8adf2def7ee7329ea322f9d |work=] |date=March 28, 2020 |access-date=November 27, 2024 }}</ref> On April&nbsp;22, Trump signed an executive order restricting some forms of immigration.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump's immigration executive order: What you need to know|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/trump-immigration-executive-order-200423185402661.html|work=]|date=April 23, 2020|access-date=October 6, 2021}}</ref> In late spring and early summer, with infections and deaths continuing to rise, he adopted a strategy of blaming the states rather than accepting that his initial assessments of the pandemic were overly optimistic or his failure to provide presidential leadership.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Michael D.|last1=Shear|author-link1=Michael D. Shear|first2=Noah|last2=Weiland|first3=Eric|last3=Lipton|author-link3=Eric Lipton|first4=Maggie|last4=Haberman|author-link4=Maggie Haberman|first5=David E.|last5=Sanger|author-link5=David E. Sanger|title=Inside Trump's Failure: The Rush to Abandon Leadership Role on the Virus|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/18/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-response-failure-leadership.html|access-date=July 19, 2020|work=]|date=July 18, 2020}}</ref>
Trump was slow to address the spread of the disease, initially dismissing the imminent threat and ignoring persistent public health warnings and calls for action from health officials within his administration and Secretary Azar.<ref name="Cloud-200419">{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-04-19/coronavirus-outbreak-president-trump-slow-response |title=How Trump let the U.S. fall behind the curve on coronavirus threat |work=] |date=April 19, 2020 |accessdate=April 21, 2020 |first1=David |last1=Cloud |first2=Paul |last2=Pringle |author2link=Paul Pringle |first3=Eli |last3=Stokols |author3link=Eli Stokols}}</ref><ref name="NYT 4 11 20">{{cite news |first1=Eric |last1=Lipton |author1link=Eric Lipton |first2=David E. |last2=Sanger |author2link=David E. Sanger |first3=Maggie |last3=Haberman |author3link=Maggie Haberman |first4=Michael D. |last4=Shear |author4link=Michael D. Shear |first5=Mark |last5=Mazzetti |author5link=Mark Mazzetti |first6=Julian E. |last6=Barnes |title=He Could Have Seen What Was Coming: Behind Trump's Failure on the Virus |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/11/us/politics/coronavirus-trump-response.html |accessdate=April 11, 2020 |work=] |date=April 11, 2020}}</ref> Instead, throughout January and February he focused on economic and political considerations of the outbreak.<ref name="Kelly-200321">{{cite news |last=Kelly |first=Caroline |date=March 21, 2020 |title=Washington Post: US intelligence warned Trump in January and February as he dismissed coronavirus threat |work=] |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/20/politics/us-intelligence-reports-trump-coronavirus/index.html |accessdate=April 21, 2020}}</ref><ref name="NYT 4 11 20" /> By mid-March, most global financial markets had ] in response to the emerging pandemic.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Partington |first1=Richard |last2=Wearden |first2=Graeme |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/09/global-stock-markets-post-biggest-falls-since-2008-financial-crisis |title=Global stock markets post biggest falls since 2008 financial crisis |date=March 9, 2020 |work=] |access-date=March 15, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Laura |last1=He |first2=Clare |last2=Duffy |first3=Julia |last3=Horowitz |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/08/investing/stock-dow-futures-coronavirus/index.html |title=US stocks halted after falling 7%. Global stocks plunge as oil crashes and coronavirus fear spreads |date=March 9, 2020 |access-date=March 15, 2020 |website=]}}</ref> Trump continued to claim that a vaccine was months away, although HHS and ] (CDC) officials had repeatedly told him that ] would take 12–18 months.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/02/12/804628081/timetable-for-a-vaccine-against-the-new-coronavirus-maybe-this-fall |title=Timetable for a Vaccine Against the New Coronavirus? Maybe This Fall |work=] |first=Joe |last=Palca |authorlink=Joe Palca |date=February 12, 2020 |access-date=March 3, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Allen-200305">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/05/coronavirus-trump-vaccine-rhetoric-121796 |title=Trump gets a fact check on coronavirus vaccines – from his own officials |work=] |date=March 5, 2020 |accessdate=April 12, 2020 |first1=Arthur |last1=Allen |author1link=Arthur Allen (author) |first2=Meredith |last2=McGraw}}</ref> Trump also falsely claimed that "anybody that wants a test can get a test," despite the availability of tests being severely limited.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://khn.org/news/donald-trumps-wrong-claim-that-anybody-can-get-tested-for-coronavirus/ |title=Donald Trump's Wrong Claim That 'Anybody' Can Get Tested For Coronavirus |last=Valverde |first=Miriam |date=March 12, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=March 18, 2020}}</ref><ref name="AP-200411">{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2020-04-11/trump-and-his-trail-of-unmet-promises-in-coronavirus-fight |title=Trump Leaves Trail of Unmet Promises in Coronavirus Response |work=] |first=Calvin |last=Woodward |date=April 11, 2020 |accessdate=April 12, 2020 |agency=]}}</ref>

On March 6, Trump signed the ] into law, which provided $8.3&nbsp;billion in emergency funding for federal agencies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump signs emergency coronavirus package, injecting $8.3 billion into efforts to fight the outbreak |url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/trump-signs-billion-emergency-funding-package-fight-coronavirus-legislation-covid19-020-3-1028972206 |work=] |first=Gina |last=Heeb |date=March 6, 2020}}</ref> On March 11, the ] (WHO) recognized the spread of COVID-19 as a ],<ref name="WHOpandemic2"/> and Trump announced partial travel restrictions for most of Europe, effective March 13.<ref>{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: What you need to know about Trump's Europe travel ban |url=https://www.thelocal.dk/20200312/trump-imposes-travel-ban-from-europe-over-coronavirus-outbreak |work=] |date=March 12, 2020}}</ref> That same day, he gave his first serious assessment of the virus in a nationwide Oval Office address, calling the outbreak "horrible" but "a temporary moment" and saying there was no financial crisis.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-address.html |title=In Rare Oval Office Speech, Trump Voices New Concerns and Old Themes |last1=Karni |first1=Annie |author1link=Annie Karni |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |author2link=Maggie Haberman |date=March 12, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=March 18, 2020}}</ref> On March 13, he declared a ], freeing up federal resources.<ref name="Politico 3 13 2020">{{cite news |last1=Oprysko |first1=Caitlin |work=] |title='I don't take responsibility at all': Trump deflects blame for coronavirus testing fumble |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/13/trump-coronavirus-testing-128971 |accessdate=April 11, 2020 |date=March 13, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Frum April 2020">{{cite news |last1=Frum |first1=David |title=This Is Trump's Fault |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/04/americans-are-paying-the-price-for-trumps-failures/609532/ |accessdate=April 11, 2020 |work=] |date=April 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/13/politics/donald-trump-emergency/index.html |title=Trump declares national emergency – and denies responsibility for coronavirus testing failures |last=Liptak |first=Kevin |date=March 13, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=March 18, 2020}}</ref>

On April 22, Trump signed an executive order restricting some forms of ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump's immigration executive order: What you need to know |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/trump-immigration-executive-order-200423185402661.html |work=] |date=April 23, 2020}}</ref> In late spring and early summer, with infections and death counts continuing to rise, he adopted a strategy of blaming the states for the growing pandemic, rather than accepting that his initial assessments of the course of the pandemic were overly-optimistic or his failure to provide presidential leadership.<ref name="NYT 719 Failure">{{cite news |first1=Michael D. |last1=Shear |author1link=Michael D. Shear |first2=Noah |last2=Weiland |first3=Eric |last3=Lipton |author3link=Eric Lipton |first4=Maggie |last4=Haberman |author4link=Maggie Haberman |first5=David E. |last5=Sanger |author5link=David E. Sanger |title=Inside Trump's Failure: The Rush to Abandon Leadership Role on the Virus |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/18/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-response-failure-leadership.html |accessdate=July 19, 2020 |work=] |date=July 19, 2020}}</ref>


==== White House Coronavirus Task Force ==== ==== White House Coronavirus Task Force ====
] on March 15, 2020.]] ] on March&nbsp;15, 2020.|alt=Trump speaks in the West Wing briefing room with various officials standing behind him, all in formal attire and without face masks]]
Trump established the ] on January 29, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-outbreak-task-force-created-by-trump-to-lead-us-government-response-to-wuhan-virus/ |title=Trump creates task force to lead U.S. coronavirus response |work=] |date=January 30, 2020 |access-date=October 10, 2020}}</ref> Beginning in mid-March, Trump held a daily task force press conference, joined by medical experts and other administration officials,<ref name=Karni>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/23/us/politics/coronavirus-trump-briefing.html |title=In Daily Coronavirus Briefing, Trump Tries to Redefine Himself |last=Karni |first=Annie |authorlink=Annie Karni |date=March 23, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=April 8, 2020}}</ref> sometimes disagreeing with them by promoting unproven treatments.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/us/politics/coronavirus-trump-malaria-drug.html |title=Trump's Aggressive Advocacy of Malaria Drug for Treating Coronavirus Divides Medical Community |first1=Peter |last1=Baker |author1link=Peter Baker (journalist) |first2=Katie |last2=Rogers |first3=David |last3=Enrich |author3link=David Enrich |first4=Maggie |last4=Haberman |author4link=Maggie Haberman |date=April 6, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=April 8, 2020}}</ref> Trump was the main speaker at the briefings, where he praised his own response to the pandemic, frequently criticized rival presidential candidate ], and denounced members of the ].<ref name=Karni/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://time.com/5812588/donald-trump-coronavirus-briefings-message-campaign/ |title='He's Walking the Tightrope.' How Donald Trump Is Getting Out His Message on Coronavirus |last=Berenson |first=Tessa |date=March 30, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=April 8, 2020}}</ref> On March 16, he acknowledged for the first time that the pandemic was not under control and that months of disruption to daily lives and a recession might occur.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dale |first=Daniel |authorlink=Daniel Dale |title=Fact check: Trump tries to erase the memory of him downplaying the coronavirus |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/17/politics/fact-check-trump-always-knew-pandemic-coronavirus/index.html |accessdate=March 19, 2020 |work=] |date=March 17, 2020}}</ref> His repeated use of the terms "Chinese virus" and "China virus" to describe ] drew criticism from health experts.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.vox.com/2020/3/18/21185478/coronavirus-usa-trump-chinese-virus |title=Trump's new fixation on using a racist name for the coronavirus is dangerous |last=Scott |first=Dylan |accessdate=March 19, 2020 |date=March 18, 2020 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newsweek.com/who-langauge-stigmatizing-coronavirus-trump-chinese-1493172 |title=WHO expert condemns language stigmatizing coronavirus after Trump repeatedly calls it the "Chinese virus" |date=March 19, 2020 |accessdate=March 19, 2020 |last=Georgiou |first=Aristos |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/488311-us-china-relationship-worsens-over-coronavirus |title=US-China relationship worsens over coronavirus |last=Beavers |first=Olivia |website=] |date=March 19, 2020 |accessdate=March 19, 2020}}</ref> Trump established the ] on January&nbsp;29.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-outbreak-task-force-created-by-trump-to-lead-us-government-response-to-wuhan-virus/|title=Trump creates task force to lead U.S. coronavirus response|work=]|date=January 30, 2020|access-date=October 10, 2020}}</ref> Beginning in mid-March, he held a daily task force press conference, joined by medical experts and other administration officials,<ref name=Karni>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/23/us/politics/coronavirus-trump-briefing.html|title=In Daily Coronavirus Briefing, Trump Tries to Redefine Himself|last=Karni|first=Annie|author-link=Annie Karni|date=March 23, 2020|work=]|access-date=April 8, 2020}}</ref> sometimes disagreeing with them by promoting unproven treatments.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/us/politics/coronavirus-trump-malaria-drug.html|title=Trump's Aggressive Advocacy of Malaria Drug for Treating Coronavirus Divides Medical Community|first1=Peter|last1=Baker|author-link1=Peter Baker (journalist)|first2=Katie|last2=Rogers|first3=David|last3=Enrich|author-link3=David Enrich|first4=Maggie|last4=Haberman|author-link4=Maggie Haberman|date=April 6, 2020|work=]|access-date=April 8, 2020}}</ref> On March&nbsp;16, he acknowledged for the first time that the pandemic was not under control and that months of disruption to daily lives and a recession might occur.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dale|first=Daniel|author-link=Daniel Dale|title=Fact check: Trump tries to erase the memory of him downplaying the coronavirus|url=https://cnn.com/2020/03/17/politics/fact-check-trump-always-knew-pandemic-coronavirus/|access-date=March 19, 2020|work=]|date=March 17, 2020}}</ref> His repeated use of "Chinese virus" and "China virus" to describe COVID-19 drew criticism from health experts.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newsweek.com/who-langauge-stigmatizing-coronavirus-trump-chinese-1493172|title=WHO expert condemns language stigmatizing coronavirus after Trump repeatedly calls it the 'Chinese virus'|date=March 19, 2020|access-date=March 19, 2020|last=Georgiou|first=Aristos|work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/488311-us-china-relationship-worsens-over-coronavirus|title=US-China relationship worsens over coronavirus|last=Beavers|first=Olivia|work=]|date=March 19, 2020|access-date=March 19, 2020}}</ref>


By early April, as the pandemic worsened and amid criticism of his administration's response, Trump refused to admit any mistakes in his handling of the outbreak, instead blaming the media, Democratic state governors, the previous administration, China, and the WHO.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lemire |first1=Jonathan |title=As pandemic deepens, Trump cycles through targets to blame |url=https://apnews.com/58f1b869354970689d55ccae37c540f3 |accessdate=May 5, 2020 |work=] |date=April 10, 2020}}</ref> By mid-April 2020, some national news agencies began limiting live coverage of his daily press briefings, with '']'' reporting that "] and false statements from Trump alternate with newsworthy pronouncements from members of his White House Coronavirus Task Force, particularly coronavirus response coordinator ] and ] Director ]."<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=April 16, 2020 |first=Erik |last=Wemple |authorlink=Erik Wemple |title=More news outlets are bailing on Trump's coronavirus briefings |accessdate=April 16, 2020 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/16/more-news-outlets-are-bailing-trumps-coronavirus-briefings/}}</ref> The daily coronavirus task force briefings ended in late April, after a briefing at which Trump suggested the dangerous idea of ingesting bleach or injecting a disinfectant to treat COVID-19;<ref>{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: Outcry after Trump suggests injecting disinfectant as treatment |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52407177 |accessdate=August 11, 2020 |work=] |date=April 24, 2020}}</ref> the comment was widely condemned by medical professionals.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Aratani |first1=Lauren |title=Why is the White House winding down the coronavirus taskforce? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/05/white-house-coronavirus-taskforce-winding-down-why |accessdate=June 8, 2020 |work=] |date=May 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: Trump says virus task force to focus on reopening economy |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52563577 |accessdate=June 8, 2020 |work=] |date=May 6, 2020}}</ref> By early April, as the pandemic worsened and amid criticism of his administration's response, Trump refused to admit any mistakes in his handling of the outbreak, instead blaming the media, Democratic state governors, the previous administration, China, and the WHO.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lemire|first=Jonathan|title=As pandemic deepens, Trump cycles through targets to blame|url=https://apnews.com/article/58f1b869354970689d55ccae37c540f3|access-date=May 5, 2020|work=]|date=April 9, 2020}}</ref> The daily coronavirus task force briefings ended in late April, after a briefing at which he suggested the dangerous idea of injecting a disinfectant to treat COVID-19;<ref>{{cite news|title=Coronavirus: Outcry after Trump suggests injecting disinfectant as treatment|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52407177|access-date=August 11, 2020|work=]|date=April 24, 2020}}</ref> the comment was widely condemned by medical professionals.<ref>{{cite news|last=Aratani|first=Lauren|title=Why is the White House winding down the coronavirus taskforce?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/05/white-house-coronavirus-taskforce-winding-down-why|access-date=June 8, 2020|work=]|date=May 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Coronavirus: Trump says virus task force to focus on reopening economy|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52563577|access-date=June 8, 2020|work=]|date=May 6, 2020}}</ref> In early May, Trump proposed the phase-out of the coronavirus task force and its replacement with another group centered on reopening the economy. Amid a backlash, he said the task force would "indefinitely" continue.<ref>{{cite news|last=Liptak|first=Kevin|title=In reversal, Trump says task force will continue 'indefinitely' – eyes vaccine czar|url=https://cnn.com/2020/05/06/politics/trump-task-force-vaccine/|access-date=June 8, 2020|work=]|date=May 6, 2020}}</ref> By the end of May, the coronavirus task force's meetings were sharply reduced.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Acosta|first1=Jim|author-link1=Jim Acosta|last2=Liptak|first2=Kevin|last3=Westwood|first3=Sarah|title=As US deaths top 100,000, Trump's coronavirus task force is curtailed|url=https://cnn.com/2020/05/28/politics/donald-trump-coronavirus-task-force/|access-date=June 8, 2020|work=]|date=May 29, 2020}}</ref>

]'s president ] visited the ] on June 24, 2020, the first foreign leader to do so since the start of the pandemic.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump's first foreign visitor amid pandemic is Poland's president |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/24/politics/donald-trump-andrzej-duda-coronavirus/index.html |work=] |last1=Liptak |first1=Kevin |date=June 24, 2020}}</ref>]]
In early May, Trump proposed that the coronavirus task force should be phased out, to accommodate another group centered on reopening the economy. Amid a backlash, Trump publicly said the task force would continue on "indefinitely".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Liptak |first1=Kevin |title=In reversal, Trump says task force will continue 'indefinitely' – eyes vaccine czar |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/06/politics/trump-task-force-vaccine/index.html |accessdate=June 8, 2020 |work=] |date=May 6, 2020}}</ref> By the end of May, the coronavirus task force's meetings were sharply reduced.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Acosta |first1=Jim |author1link=Jim Acosta |last2=Liptak |first2=Kevin |last3=Westwood |first3=Sarah |title=As US deaths top 100,000, Trump's coronavirus task force is curtailed |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/28/politics/donald-trump-coronavirus-task-force/index.html |accessdate=June 8, 2020 |work=] |date=May 29, 2020}}</ref>

==== Pandemic response program terminated ====

In September 2019, the Trump administration terminated the ] program, a $200&nbsp;million ] research program that had been initiated by the ] (USAID) in 2009 to provide early warning of pandemics abroad.<ref name="LATimes_PREDICT">{{cite news |last1=Baumgaertner |first1=Emily |last2=Rainey |first2=James |url=https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-04-02/coronavirus-trump-pandemic-program-viruses-detection |title=Trump administration ended pandemic early-warning program to detect coronaviruses |work=] |date=April 2, 2020 |access-date=May 30, 2020}}</ref><ref name="CNN_PREDICT">{{cite news |first=Zachary |last=Cohen |date=April 10, 2020 |accessdate=July 10, 2020 |title=Trump administration shuttered pandemic monitoring program, then scrambled to extend it |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/10/politics/trump-usaid-prevent-program-coronavirus/index.html |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McNeil |first=Donald G. Jr. |authorlink=Donald McNeil Jr. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/25/health/predict-usaid-viruses.html |title=Scientists Were Hunting for the Next Ebola. Now the U.S. Has Cut Off Their Funding. |date=October 25, 2019 |access-date=July 11, 2020 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |accessdate=July 10, 2020 |title=Trump administration cut pandemic early warning program in September |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/03/trump-scrapped-pandemic-early-warning-program-system-before-coronavirus |date=April 3, 2020 |website=] |first=Oliver |last=Milman}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Kayla |last1=Epstein |date=April 3, 2020 |accessdate=July 10, 2020 |title=The Trump administration stopped funding a pandemic warning program just a few months before the novel coronavirus outbreak |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/us-cut-pandemic-warning-project-before-coronavirus-outbreak-2020-4 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Conor |last=Finnegan |date=February 12, 2020 |accessdate=July 10, 2020 |title=Trump budget proposes cuts to global health amid two global health crises |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-budget-proposes-cuts-global-health-amid-global/story?id=68911515 |website=]}}</ref> The program trained scientists in sixty foreign laboratories to detect and respond to viruses that have the potential to cause pandemics. One such laboratory was the Wuhan lab that first identified the virus that causes COVID-19. After revival in April 2020, the program was given two 6-month extensions to help fight COVID-19 in the U.S. and other countries.<ref name="LATimes_PREDICT"/><ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. Will Revive Global Virus-Hunting Effort Ended Last Year |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/30/health/predict-pandemic-usaid.html |last1=McNeil |first1=Donald G. Jr. |author1link=Donald McNeil Jr. |last2=Kaplan |first2=Thomas |work=] |date=September 2, 2020 |accessdate=October 21, 2020}}</ref>

==== Pressure to abandon pandemic shutdown mandates early ====

In April 2020, Republican-connected groups organized ] against the measures state governments were taking to combat the pandemic;<ref name="Grauniad-Right">{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Jason |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/17/far-right-coronavirus-protests-restrictions |title=The rightwing groups behind wave of protests against Covid-19 restrictions |date=April 17, 2020 |work=] |access-date=April 18, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Andone |first=Dakin |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/16/us/protests-coronavirus-stay-home-orders/index.html |title=Protests Are Popping Up Across the US over Stay-at-Home Restrictions |date=April 17, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> Trump encouraged the protests on Twitter,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |author1link=Michael D. Shear |last2=Mervosh |first2=Sarah |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/17/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-governors.html |title=Trump Encourages Protest Against Governors Who Have Imposed Virus Restrictions |date=April 17, 2020 |work=] |access-date=April 19, 2020}}</ref> even though the targeted states did not meet the Trump administration's own guidelines for reopening.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/493701-trump-support-for-protests-threatens-to-undermine-social-distancing |title=Trump support for protests threatens to undermine social distancing rules |last1=Chalfant |first1=Morgan |last2=Samuels |first2=Brett |date=April 20, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=July 10, 2020}}</ref> He first supported, then later criticized, Georgia Governor ]'s plan to reopen some nonessential businesses,<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump approved of Georgia's plan to reopen before bashing it |url=https://apnews.com/a031d395d414ffa655fdc65e6760d6a0 |work=] |accessdate=April 28, 2020 |date=April 24, 2020 |first1=Jonathan |last1=Lemire |first2=Ben |last2=Nadler}}</ref> which was a key example of Trump often reversing his stances in his communication during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blake |first1=Aaron |title=12 of Trump's worst coronavirus contradictions |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/23/12-trumps-worst-coronavirus-contradictions/ |accessdate=May 13, 2020 |work=] |date=April 24, 2020}}</ref> Throughout the spring he increasingly pushed for ending the restrictions as a way to reverse the damage to the country's economy.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/18/trump-reopening-economy-193885 |title=Trump's unspoken factor on reopening the economy: Politics |last=Kumar |first=Anita |date=April 18, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=July 10, 2020}}</ref>

Despite record numbers of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. from mid-June onward and an increasing percentage of positive test results, Trump continued to mostly downplay the pandemic, including his claim in early July 2020 that 99% of COVID-19 cases are "totally harmless", a claim which contradicts health officials in the U.S.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blake |first1=Aaron |title=President Trump, coronavirus truther |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/07/06/trump-throws-caution-wind-coronavirus/ |accessdate=July 11, 2020 |work=] |date=July 6, 2020}}</ref> He also began insisting that all states should open schools to in-person education in the fall despite a July spike in reported cases.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/07/07/888157257/white-house-pushes-to-reopen-schools-despite-a-surge-in-coronavirus-cases |title=Trump Pledges To 'Pressure' Governors To Reopen Schools Despite Health Concerns |last=Sprunt |first=Barbara |date=July 7, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=July 10, 2020}}</ref>

==== Controversy over face masks as strategy for pandemic mitigation ====

Trump has refused to ] at most public events, contrary to his own administration's April 2020 guidance that Americans should wear masks in public.<ref name=99days>{{cite news |last1=Danner |first1=Chas |title=99 Days Later, Trump Finally Wears a Face Mask in Public |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/07/trump-finally-wears-a-face-mask-in-public-covid-19.html |accessdate=July 12, 2020 |work=] |date=July 11, 2020}}</ref> and despite nearly unanimous consensus by the medical community that masks are important to preventing the spread of the virus.<ref name="WAPost_Mask">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/06/25/trumps-dumbfounding-refusal-encourage-wearing-masks/ |title=Trump's dumbfounding refusal to encourage wearing masks |last=Blake |first=Aaron |date=June 25, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=July 10, 2020}}</ref> By June, Trump had said masks were a "double-edged sword"; ridiculed Biden for wearing masks; continually emphasized that mask-wearing was optional; and suggested that wearing a mask is a political statement against him personally.<ref name="WAPost_Mask"/> Trump's contradictory example to medical recommendations weakened national efforts to mitigate the pandemic.<ref name=99days/><ref name="WAPost_Mask"/>


==== World Health Organization ==== ==== World Health Organization ====
Prior to the pandemic, Trump criticized the WHO and other international bodies, which he asserted were taking advantage of U.S. aid.<ref name="Politico_WHO">{{cite news|last=Ollstein|first=Alice Miranda|title=Trump halts funding to World Health Organization|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/14/trump-world-health-organization-funding-186786|access-date=September 7, 2020|work=]|date=April 14, 2020}}</ref> His administration's proposed 2021 federal budget, released in February, proposed reducing WHO funding by more than half.<ref name="Politico_WHO"/> In May and April, he accused the WHO of "severely mismanaging" COVID-19, alleged without evidence that the organization was under Chinese control and had enabled the Chinese government's concealment of the pandemic's origins,<ref name="Politico_WHO"/><ref name="CNN_WHO">{{cite news|last1=Cohen|first1=Zachary|last2=Hansler|first2=Jennifer|last3=Atwood|first3=Kylie|last4=Salama|first4=Vivian|last5=Murray|first5=Sara|author-link5=Sara Murray (journalist)|title=Trump administration begins formal withdrawal from World Health Organization|url=https://cnn.com/2020/07/07/politics/us-withdrawing-world-health-organization/|access-date=July 19, 2020|work=]|date=July 7, 2020}}</ref><ref name="BBC_WHO">{{cite news|title=Coronavirus: Trump moves to pull US out of World Health Organization|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53327906|access-date=August 11, 2020|work=]|date=July 7, 2020}}</ref> and announced that he was withdrawing funding for the organization.<ref name="Politico_WHO"/> These were seen as attempts to distract from his own mishandling of the pandemic.<ref name="Politico_WHO"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Wood|first=Graeme|author-link=Graeme Wood (journalist)|title=The WHO Defunding Move Isn't What It Seems|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/04/trump-threatens-defund-world-health-organization/610030/|access-date=September 7, 2020|work=]|date=April 15, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Amber|title=Why exactly is Trump lashing out at the World Health Organization?|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/08/why-exactly-is-president-trump-lashing-out-world-health-organization/|access-date=September 8, 2020|newspaper=]|date=April 8, 2020}}</ref> In July 2020, he announced the formal withdrawal of the U.S. from the WHO, effective July 2021.<ref name="CNN_WHO"/><ref name="BBC_WHO"/> The decision was widely condemned by health and government officials as "short-sighted", "senseless", and "dangerous".<ref name="CNN_WHO"/><ref name="BBC_WHO"/>


==== Pressure to abandon pandemic mitigation measures ====
Prior to the pandemic, Trump had been critical of the WHO and other international bodies as taking advantage of U.S. aid.<ref name="Politico_WHO">{{cite news |last1=Ollstein |first1=Alice Miranda |title=Trump halts funding to World Health Organization |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/14/trump-world-health-organization-funding-186786 |accessdate=September 7, 2020 |work=] |date=April 14, 2020}}</ref> His administration's proposed 2021 federal budget, released in February, had reduced WHO funding by more than half.<ref name="Politico_WHO"/> In May and April, Trump accused the WHO of "severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus" and alleging without evidence that the organization was under Chinese control and had enabled the Chinese government's concealment of the origins of the pandemic.<ref name="Politico_WHO"/><ref name="CNN_WHO">{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Zachary |last2=Hansler |first2=Jennifer |last3=Atwood |first3=Kylie |last4=Salama |first4=Vivian |last5=Murray |first5=Sara |author5link=Sara Murray (journalist) |title=Trump administration begins formal withdrawal from World Health Organization |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/07/politics/us-withdrawing-world-health-organization/index.html |accessdate=July 19, 2020 |work=] |date=July 7, 2020}}</ref><ref name="BBC_WHO">{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: Trump moves to pull US out of World Health Organization |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53327906 |accessdate=August 11, 2020 |work=] |date=July 7, 2020}}</ref> He then announced that he was withdrawing funding for the organization.<ref name="Politico_WHO"/> Trump's criticisms and actions regarding the WHO were seen as attempts to distract attention from his own mishandling of the pandemic.<ref name="Politico_WHO"/><ref name="Atlantic_WHO">{{cite news |last=Wood |first=Graeme |authorlink=Graeme Wood (journalist) |title=The WHO Defunding Move Isn't What It Seems |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/04/trump-threatens-defund-world-health-organization/610030/ |accessdate=September 7, 2020 |work=] |date=April 15, 2020}}</ref><ref name="WA_Post_WHO">{{cite news |last=Phillips |first=Amber |title=Why exactly is Trump lashing out at the World Health Organization? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/08/why-exactly-is-president-trump-lashing-out-world-health-organization/ |accessdate=September 8, 2020 |work=] |date=April 8, 2020}}</ref> In July 2020, Trump announced the formal withdrawal of the United States from the WHO effective July 2021.<ref name="CNN_WHO"/><ref name="BBC_WHO"/> The decision was widely condemned by health and government officials as "short-sighted", "senseless", and "dangerous".<ref name="CNN_WHO"/><ref name="BBC_WHO"/>
{{Further|COVID-19 testing in the United States}}


In April 2020, Republican-connected groups organized ] against the measures state governments were taking to combat the pandemic;<ref>{{cite news|last=Wilson|first=Jason|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/17/far-right-coronavirus-protests-restrictions|title=The rightwing groups behind wave of protests against Covid-19 restrictions|date=April 17, 2020|work=]|access-date=April 18, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Andone|first=Dakin|url=https://cnn.com/2020/04/16/us/protests-coronavirus-stay-home-orders/|title=Protests Are Popping Up Across the US over Stay-at-Home Restrictions|date=April 16, 2020|access-date=October 7, 2021|work=]}}</ref> Trump encouraged the protests on Twitter,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shear|first1=Michael D.|author-link1=Michael D. Shear|last2=Mervosh|first2=Sarah|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/17/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-governors.html|title=Trump Encourages Protest Against Governors Who Have Imposed Virus Restrictions|date=April 17, 2020|work=]|access-date=April 19, 2020}}</ref> although the targeted states did not meet his administration's guidelines for reopening.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/493701-trump-support-for-protests-threatens-to-undermine-social-distancing|title=Trump support for protests threatens to undermine social distancing rules|last1=Chalfant|first1=Morgan|last2=Samuels|first2=Brett|date=April 20, 2020|work=]|access-date=July 10, 2020}}</ref> In April 2020, he first supported, then later criticized, ] Governor ]'s plan to reopen some nonessential businesses.<ref>{{cite news|title=Trump approved of Georgia's plan to reopen before bashing it|url=https://apnews.com/article/a031d395d414ffa655fdc65e6760d6a0|work=]|access-date=April 28, 2020|date=April 24, 2020|first1=Jonathan|last1=Lemire|first2=Ben|last2=Nadler}}</ref> Throughout the spring he increasingly pushed for ending the restrictions to reverse the damage to the country's economy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/18/trump-reopening-economy-193885|title=Trump's unspoken factor on reopening the economy: Politics|last=Kumar|first=Anita|date=April 18, 2020|work=]|access-date=July 10, 2020}}</ref> He often refused to ] at public events, contrary to his administration's April 2020 guidance to wear masks in public<ref name=99days>{{cite news|last=Danner|first=Chas|title=99 Days Later, Trump Finally Wears a Face Mask in Public|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/07/trump-finally-wears-a-face-mask-in-public-covid-19.html|access-date=July 12, 2020|work=]|date=July 11, 2020}}</ref> and despite nearly unanimous medical consensus that masks are important to preventing spread of the virus.<ref name="WAPost_Mask">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/06/25/trumps-dumbfounding-refusal-encourage-wearing-masks/|title=Trump's dumbfounding refusal to encourage wearing masks|last=Blake|first=Aaron|date=June 25, 2020|newspaper=]|access-date=July 10, 2020}}</ref> His contradiction of medical recommendations weakened national efforts to mitigate the pandemic.<ref name=99days/><ref name="WAPost_Mask"/>
==== Testing ====


In June and July Trump said several times that the U.S. would have fewer cases of coronavirus if it did less testing, that having a large number of reported cases "makes us look bad".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/14/trump-says-us-would-have-half-the-number-of-coronavirus-cases-if-it-did-half-the-testing.html |title=Trump says U.S. would have half the number of coronavirus cases if it did half the testing |last=Higgins-Dunn |first=Noah |date=July 14, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=August 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/07/23/trumps-right-that-with-less-testing-we-record-fewer-cases-fact-thats-already-happening/ |title=Trump is right that with lower testing, we record fewer cases. That's already happening. |last=Bump |first=Philip |date=July 23, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=August 26, 2020}}</ref> The CDC guideline was that any person exposed to the virus should be "quickly identified and tested" even if they are not showing symptoms, because asymptomatic people can still spread the virus.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/26/cdc-quietly-revises-coronavirus-guidance-to-downplay-importance-of-testing-for-asymptomatic-people.html |title=CDC quietly revises coronavirus guidance to downplay importance of testing for asymptomatic people |last=Feuer |first=Will |date=August 26, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=August 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/25/world/covid-19-coronavirus.html |title=The C.D.C. changes testing guidelines to exclude those exposed to virus who don't exhibit symptoms. |date=August 26, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=August 26, 2020}}</ref> In August 2020, however, the CDC quietly lowered its recommendation for testing, advising that people who have been exposed to the virus, but are not showing symptoms, "do not necessarily need a test". The change in guidelines was made by HHS political appointees under Trump administration pressure, against the wishes of CDC scientists.<ref name="CNN-testing-pressure">{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/26/politics/cdc-coronavirus-testing-guidance/index.html |title=CDC was pressured 'from the top down' to change coronavirus testing guidance, official says |date=August 26, 2020 |work=] |first1=Nick |last1=Valencia |first2=Sara |last2=Murray |author2link=Sara Murray (journalist) |first3=Kristen |last3=Holmes |accessdate=August 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/26/world/covid-19-coronavirus.html#link-3392d8f0 |title=The C.D.C. was pressured to change guidance on testing asymptomatic people exposed to the virus. |date=August 26, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=August 26, 2020}}</ref><ref name=Gumbrecht>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/18/health/covid-19-testing-guidance-cdc-hhs/index.html |title=Controversial coronavirus testing guidance came from HHS and didn't go through CDC scientific review, sources say |date=September 18, 2020 |work=] |first1=Jamie |last1=Gumbrecht |first2=Sanjay |last2=Gupta |author2link=Sanjay Gupta |first3=Nick |last3=Valencia |accessdate=September 18, 2020}}</ref> The following day, the testing guideline was changed back to its original recommendation, stressing that anyone who has been in contact with an infected person should be tested.<ref name=Gumbrecht/> In June and July, Trump said several times that the U.S. would have fewer cases of coronavirus if it did less testing, that having a large number of reported cases "makes us look bad".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/14/trump-says-us-would-have-half-the-number-of-coronavirus-cases-if-it-did-half-the-testing.html|title=Trump says U.S. would have half the number of coronavirus cases if it did half the testing|last=Higgins-Dunn|first=Noah|date=July 14, 2020|work=]|access-date=August 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/07/23/trumps-right-that-with-less-testing-we-record-fewer-cases-fact-thats-already-happening/|title=Trump is right that with lower testing, we record fewer cases. That's already happening.|last=Bump|first=Philip|date=July 23, 2020|newspaper=]|access-date=August 26, 2020}}</ref> The CDC guideline at the time was that any person exposed to the virus should be "quickly identified and tested" even if they are not showing symptoms, because asymptomatic people can still spread the virus.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/26/cdc-quietly-revises-coronavirus-guidance-to-downplay-importance-of-testing-for-asymptomatic-people.html|title=CDC quietly revises coronavirus guidance to downplay importance of testing for asymptomatic people|last=Feuer|first=Will|date=August 26, 2020|work=]|access-date=August 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/25/world/covid-19-coronavirus.html|title=The C.D.C. changes testing guidelines to exclude those exposed to virus who don't exhibit symptoms.|date=August 26, 2020|work=]|access-date=August 26, 2020}}</ref> In August 2020 the CDC quietly lowered its recommendation for testing, advising that people who have been exposed to the virus, but are not showing symptoms, "do not necessarily need a test". The change in guidelines was made by HHS political appointees under Trump administration pressure, against the wishes of CDC scientists.<ref name="CNN-testing-pressure">{{cite news|url=https://cnn.com/2020/08/26/politics/cdc-coronavirus-testing-guidance/|title=CDC was pressured 'from the top down' to change coronavirus testing guidance, official says|date=August 26, 2020|work=]|first1=Nick|last1=Valencia|first2=Sara|last2=Murray|author-link2=Sara Murray (journalist)|first3=Kristen|last3=Holmes|access-date=August 26, 2020}}</ref><ref name=Gumbrecht>{{cite news|url=https://cnn.com/2020/09/18/health/covid-19-testing-guidance-cdc-hhs/|title=Controversial coronavirus testing guidance came from HHS and didn't go through CDC scientific review, sources say|date=September 18, 2020|work=]|first1=Jamie|last1=Gumbrecht|first2=Sanjay|last2=Gupta|author-link2=Sanjay Gupta|first3=Nick|last3=Valencia|access-date=September 18, 2020}}</ref> The day after this ] was reported, the testing guideline was changed back to its original recommendation.<ref name=Gumbrecht/> Despite record numbers of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. from mid-June onward and an increasing percentage of positive test results, Trump largely continued to downplay the pandemic, including his false claim in early July 2020 that 99&nbsp;percent of COVID-19 cases are "totally harmless".<ref>{{cite news|last=Blake|first=Aaron|title=President Trump, coronavirus truther|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/07/06/trump-throws-caution-wind-coronavirus/|access-date=July 11, 2020|newspaper=]|date=July 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/05/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-factcheck.html|title=Trump Falsely Claims '99 Percent' of Virus Cases Are 'Totally Harmless'|work=]|date=July 5, 2020|access-date=October 7, 2021|first1=Roni Caryn|last1=Rabin|first2=Chris|last2=Cameron}}</ref> He began insisting that all states should resume in-person education in the fall despite a July spike in reported cases.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/07/07/888157257/white-house-pushes-to-reopen-schools-despite-a-surge-in-coronavirus-cases|title=Trump Pledges To 'Pressure' Governors To Reopen Schools Despite Health Concerns|last=Sprunt|first=Barbara|date=July 7, 2020|work=]|access-date=July 10, 2020}}</ref>


==== Political pressure on health agencies ==== ==== Political pressure on health agencies ====
{{Main|Trump administration political interference with science agencies}} {{Main|Political interference with science agencies by the first Trump administration}}
Trump repeatedly pressured federal health agencies to take particular actions that he favored,<ref name="CNN-testing-pressure"/> such as giving approval to unproven treatments that he favored <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/06/15/hydroxychloroquine-authorization-revoked-coronavirus/ |work=] |date=June 15, 2020 |title=FDA pulls emergency approval for antimalarial drugs touted by Trump as covid-19 treatment |first1=Laurie |last1=McGinley |first2=Carolyn Y. |last2=Johnson}}</ref><ref name=pressed/> or speeding up the approval of vaccines.<ref name=pressed>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/12/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-treatment-vaccine.html |title=Trump Pressed for Plasma Therapy. Officials Worry, Is an Unvetted Vaccine Next? |date=September 12, 2020 |work=] |first1=Sharon |last1=LaFraniere |author1link=Sharon LaFraniere |first2=Noah |last2=Weiland |first3=Michael D. |last3=Shear |author3link=Michael D. Shear |accessdate=September 13, 2020}}</ref> Trump administration political appointees at HHS sought to gain control over the communications from the CDC, to remove any reporting that undermined Trump's claims that the COVID-19 pandemic was under control. CDC resisted many of the changes, but increasingly allowed HHS personnel to review articles and suggest changes before publication.<ref name=Diamond>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/11/exclusive-trump-officials-interfered-with-cdc-reports-on-covid-19-412809 |title=Trump officials interfered with CDC reports on Covid-19 |last=Diamond |first=Dan |date=September 11, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=September 14, 2020}}</ref><ref name=Sun>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/09/12/trump-control-over-cdc-reports/ |title=Trump officials seek greater control over CDC reports on coronavirus |last=Sun |first=Lena H. |date=September 12, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=September 14, 2020}}</ref> Trump alleged without evidence that FDA scientists were part of a "]" opposing him, and delaying approval of vaccines and treatments to hurt him politically.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Laurie |last1=McGinley |first2=Carolyn Y. |last2=Johnson |first3=Josh |last3=Dawsey |author3link=Josh Dawsey |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/08/22/trump-without-evidence-accuses-deep-state-fda-slow-walking-coronavirus-vaccines-treatments/ |title=Trump without evidence accuses 'deep state' at FDA of slow-walking coronavirus vaccines and treatments |date=August 22, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> Trump repeatedly pressured federal health agencies to take actions he favored,<ref name="CNN-testing-pressure"/> such as approving unproven treatments<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/06/15/hydroxychloroquine-authorization-revoked-coronavirus/|newspaper=]|date=June 15, 2020|access-date=October 7, 2021|title=FDA pulls emergency approval for antimalarial drugs touted by Trump as covid-19 treatment|first1=Laurie|last1=McGinley|first2=Carolyn Y.|last2=Johnson}}</ref><ref name=pressed>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/12/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-treatment-vaccine.html|title=Trump Pressed for Plasma Therapy. Officials Worry, Is an Unvetted Vaccine Next?|date=September 12, 2020|work=]|first1=Sharon|last1=LaFraniere|author-link1=Sharon LaFraniere|first2=Noah|last2=Weiland|first3=Michael D.|last3=Shear|author-link3=Michael D. Shear|access-date=September 13, 2020}}</ref> or speeding up vaccine approvals.<ref name=pressed/> Trump administration political appointees at HHS sought to control CDC communications to the public that undermined his claims that the pandemic was under control. CDC resisted many of the changes, but increasingly allowed HHS personnel to review articles and suggest changes before publication.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/11/exclusive-trump-officials-interfered-with-cdc-reports-on-covid-19-412809|title=Trump officials interfered with CDC reports on Covid-19|last=Diamond|first=Dan|date=September 11, 2020|work=]|access-date=September 14, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/09/12/trump-control-over-cdc-reports/|title=Trump officials seek greater control over CDC reports on coronavirus|last=Sun|first=Lena H.|date=September 12, 2020|newspaper=]|access-date=September 14, 2020}}</ref> Trump alleged without evidence that FDA scientists were part of a "]" opposing him and delaying approval of vaccines and treatments to hurt him politically.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Laurie|last1=McGinley|first2=Carolyn Y.|last2=Johnson|first3=Josh|last3=Dawsey|author-link3=Josh Dawsey|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/08/22/trump-without-evidence-accuses-deep-state-fda-slow-walking-coronavirus-vaccines-treatments/|title=Trump without evidence accuses 'deep state' at FDA of slow-walking coronavirus vaccines and treatments|date=August 22, 2020|access-date=October 7, 2021|newspaper=]}}</ref>


==== Effect of Trump's response on the 2020 presidential campaign ==== ==== Outbreak at the White House ====
{{Main|White House COVID-19 outbreak}}
By July 2020, Trump's handling of the ] became a major issue for the 2020 presidential election.<ref name="Election_NBCNews">{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/warning-signs-flash-trump-wisconsin-pandemic-response-fuels-disapproval-n1232646 |title=Warning signs flash for Trump in Wisconsin as pandemic response fuels disapproval |date=July 5, 2020 |work=] |first1=Adam |last1=Edelman |accessdate=September 14, 2020}}</ref> Democratic challenger ] sought to make the election a referendum on Trump's performance on the COVID-19 pandemic and the economy.<ref name="Election_WSJ">{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-biden-enter-a-contentious-stage-in-the-presidential-race-11599485222 |title=Trump, Biden Enter a Contentious Stage in the Presidential Race |date=September 7, 2020 |work=] |first1=Catherine |last1=Lucey |first2=Ken |last2=Thomas |accessdate=September 14, 2020}}</ref> Polls indicated voters blamed Trump for continued pandemic problems<ref name="Election_NBCNews"/> and disbelieved his rhetoric concerning the virus, with an ]/] poll indicating 65% of Americans disapproving of his pandemic response.<ref name="Election_ABC">{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/deep-skepticism-trumps-coronavirus-response-endures-poll/story?id=72974847 |title=Deep skepticism for Trump's coronavirus response endures: POLL |date=September 13, 2020 |work=] |first1=Kendall |last1=Karson |accessdate=September 14, 2020}}</ref> In the final months of the campaign, Trump repeatedly claimed that the United States was "rounding the turn" in managing the pandemic despite increasing numbers of reported cases and deaths.<ref name="Election_Rounding">{{cite news |url=https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-us-rounding-turn-covid-trump-claims-1542145 |title=Fact Check: Is U.S. 'Rounding the Turn' On COVID, as Trump Claims? |date=October 26, 2020 |work=] |first1=Matthew |last1=Impelli |accessdate=October 31, 2020}}</ref> A few days before the November 3 election, the United States reported more than 100,000 cases in a single day for the first time.<ref name="Election_100K">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-record/u-s-reports-world-record-of-more-than-100000-covid-19-cases-in-single-day-idUSKBN27G07S |title=U.S. reports world record of more than 100,000 COVID-19 cases in single day |date=October 31, 2020 |work=] |first1=Anurag |last1=Maan |accessdate=October 31, 2020}}</ref>
] for COVID-19 treatment on October&nbsp;2, 2020|alt=Donald Trump, wearing a black face mask, boards Marine One, a large green helicopter, from the White House lawn]]
On October&nbsp;2, 2020, Trump tweeted that he had tested positive for ], part of a White House outbreak.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Liptak|first1=Kevin|last2=Klein|first2=Betsy|date=October 5, 2020|title=A timeline of Trump and those in his orbit during a week of coronavirus developments|url=https://cnn.com/2020/10/02/politics/timeline-trump-coronavirus/|access-date=October 3, 2020|work=]}}</ref> Later that day ] at ], reportedly due to fever and labored breathing. He was treated with antiviral and experimental antibody drugs and a steroid. He returned to the White House on October&nbsp;5, still infectious and unwell.<ref name="downplay">{{cite news|last1=Olorunnipa|first1=Toluse|author-link1=Toluse Olorunnipa|last2=Dawsey|first2=Josh|author-link2=Josh Dawsey|title=Trump returns to White House, downplaying virus that hospitalized him and turned West Wing into a 'ghost town'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-walter-reed-discharge-mask/2020/10/05/91edbe9a-071a-11eb-859b-f9c27abe638d_story.html|access-date=October 5, 2020|newspaper=]|date=October 5, 2020}}</ref><ref name="sicker">{{cite news|last1=Weiland|first1=Noah|last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie|author-link2=Maggie Haberman|last3=Mazzetti|first3=Mark|author-link3=Mark Mazzetti|last4=Karni|first4=Annie|author-link4=Annie Karni|date=February 11, 2021|title=Trump Was Sicker Than Acknowledged With Covid-19|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/us/politics/trump-coronavirus.html |access-date=February 16, 2021}}</ref> During and after his treatment he continued to downplay the virus.<ref name="downplay"/> In 2021, it was revealed that his condition had been far more serious; he had dangerously low blood oxygen levels, a high fever, and lung infiltrates, indicating a severe case.<ref name="sicker"/> In January 2021, he received a COVID-19 vaccination.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Acosta|first1=J.|last2=Kelly|first2=C.|title= Donald and Melania Trump received Covid vaccine at the White House in January|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/01/politics/trump-melania-vaccinated-white-house/index.html|work=]|date=March 1, 2021|access-date=November 8, 2024}}</ref>


==== Effects on the 2020 presidential campaign ====
==== Hospitalization with COVID-19 ====
By July 2020, Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic had become a major issue in the presidential election.<ref name="Election_NBCNews">{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/warning-signs-flash-trump-wisconsin-pandemic-response-fuels-disapproval-n1232646|title=Warning signs flash for Trump in Wisconsin as pandemic response fuels disapproval|date=July 5, 2020|work=]|first=Adam|last=Edelman|access-date=September 14, 2020}}</ref> Biden sought to make the pandemic the central issue.<ref>{{cite news|last=Strauss|first=Daniel|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/14/joe-biden-donald-trump-coronavirus-covid-19|title=Biden aims to make election about Covid-19 as Trump steers focus elsewhere|date=September 7, 2020|work=]|access-date=November 4, 2021}}</ref> Polls suggested voters blamed Trump for his pandemic response<ref name="Election_NBCNews"/> and disbelieved his rhetoric concerning the virus, with an ]/] poll indicating 65&nbsp;percent of respondents disapproved of his pandemic response.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/deep-skepticism-trumps-coronavirus-response-endures-poll/story?id=72974847|title=Deep skepticism for Trump's coronavirus response endures: POLL|date=September 13, 2020|work=]|first=Kendall|last=Karson|access-date=September 14, 2020}}</ref> In the final months of the campaign, he repeatedly said that the U.S. was "rounding the turn" in managing the pandemic, despite increasing cases and deaths.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-us-rounding-turn-covid-trump-claims-1542145|title=Fact Check: Is U.S. 'Rounding the Turn' On COVID, as Trump Claims?|date=October 26, 2020|work=]|first=Matthew|last=Impelli|access-date=October 31, 2020}}</ref> A few days before the November&nbsp;3 election, the U.S. reported more than 100,000 cases in a single day for the first time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-record/u-s-reports-world-record-of-more-than-100000-covid-19-cases-in-single-day-idUSKBN27G07S|title=U.S. reports world record of more than 100,000 COVID-19 cases in single day|date=October 31, 2020|work=]|first=Anurag|last=Maan|access-date=October 31, 2020}}</ref>
]
{{further|White House COVID-19 outbreak}}

On October 2, 2020, Trump announced that he had tested positive for the coronavirus.<ref name="liptak">{{cite news |last1=Liptak |first1=Kevin |last2=Klein |first2=Betsy |date=October 5, 2020 |title=A timeline of Trump and those in his orbit during a week of coronavirus developments |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/02/politics/timeline-trump-coronavirus/index.html |access-date=October 3, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> He was admitted to ] that day and treated with the antiviral drug remdesevir, the steroid dexamethasone, and the unapproved experimental antibody ].<ref name="downplay"/><ref name=Thomas-20201005/> He was discharged on October 5.<ref name="downplay"/> White House physician Sean Conley announced on October 12 that Trump has tested negative for COVID-19 on consecutive days.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Betsy |last=Klein |title=Trump's doctor says the President has tested negative on consecutive days |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/12/politics/trump-health-coronavirus/index.html |access-date=October 25, 2020 |website=]}}</ref>


=== Investigations === === Investigations ===
After he assumed office, Trump was the subject of increasing Justice Department and congressional scrutiny, with investigations covering his election campaign, transition, and inauguration, actions taken during his presidency, his ], personal taxes, and ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Woodward|first1=Calvin|last2=Pace|first2=Julie|title=Scope of investigations into Trump has shaped his presidency|url=https://apnews.com/article/6d6361fdf19846cb9eb020d9c6fbfa5a|access-date=December 19, 2018|work=]|date=December 16, 2018}}</ref> There were ten federal criminal investigations, eight state and local investigations, and twelve congressional investigations.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Buchanan|first1=Larry|last2=Yourish|first2=Karen|title=Tracking 30 Investigations Related to Trump|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/05/13/us/politics/trump-investigations.html|access-date=October 4, 2020|work=]|date=September 25, 2019}}</ref>


==== Financial ====
{{Further2
In April 2019, the ] issued ]s seeking financial details from Trump's banks, Deutsche Bank and ], and his accounting firm, ]. He sued the banks, Mazars, and committee chair ] to prevent the disclosures.<ref>{{cite news|date=April 22, 2019|last1=Fahrenthold|first1=David A.|author-link1=David Fahrenthold|last2=Bade|first2=Rachael|last3=Wagner|first3=John|title=Trump sues in bid to block congressional subpoena of financial records|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-sues-in-bid-to-block-congressional-subpoena-of-financial-records/2019/04/22/a98de3d0-6500-11e9-82ba-fcfeff232e8f_story.html|newspaper=]|access-date=May 1, 2019}}</ref> In May, ] judge ] ruled that Mazars must comply with the subpoena,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/20/us/politics/trump-financial-records.html|title=Accountants Must Turn Over Trump's Financial Records, Lower-Court Judge Rules|first=Charlie|last=Savage|author-link=Charlie Savage (author)|date=May 20, 2019|access-date=September 30, 2021|work=]}}</ref> and judge ] of the ] ruled that the banks must also comply.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/judge-rejects-trumps-request-to-halt-congressional-subpoenas-for-his-banking-records/2019/05/22/28f9b93a-7ccd-11e9-8bb7-0fc796cf2ec0_story.html|title=Judge rejects Trump's request to halt congressional subpoenas for his banking records|newspaper=]|date=May 22, 2019|access-date=September 30, 2021|first1=Renae|last1=Merle|first2=Michael|last2=Kranish|author-link2=Michael Kranish|first3=Felicia|last3=Sonmez|author-link3=Felicia Sonmez}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/22/business/deutsche-bank-trump-subpoena.html|title=Trump's Financial Secrets Move Closer to Disclosure|first1=Emily|last1=Flitter|first2=Jesse|last2=McKinley|first3=David|last3=Enrich|author-link3=David Enrich|first4=Nicholas|last4=Fandos|author-link4=Nicholas Fandos|date=May 22, 2019|access-date=September 30, 2021|work=]}}</ref> Trump's attorneys appealed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newsweek.com/trump-subpoena-appeal-merrick-garland-court-1431543|title=Donald Trump's Subpoena Appeals Now Head to Merrick Garland's Court|date=May 21, 2019|access-date=August 24, 2021|work=]|first=Alexandra|last=Hutzler}}</ref> In September 2022, the committee and Trump agreed to a settlement about Mazars, and the accounting firm began turning over documents.<ref>{{cite news|last=Broadwater|first=Luke|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/17/us/politics/mazars-accounting-trump-documents.html|title=Trump's Former Accounting Firm Begins Turning Over Documents to Congress|work=]|date=September 17, 2022 |access-date=January 28, 2023}}</ref>
|Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (<!--
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The ] FBI investigation into possible links between Russia and the Trump campaign was launched in mid-2016 during the campaign season. Since he assumed the presidency, Trump has been the subject of increasing Justice Department and congressional scrutiny, with investigations covering his election campaign, transition and inauguration, actions taken during his presidency, along with his ], personal taxes, and ].<ref name="AP2018-12-16">{{cite news |last1=Woodward |first1=Calvin |last2=Pace |first2=Julie |title=Scope of investigations into Trump has shaped his presidency |url=https://apnews.com/6d6361fdf19846cb9eb020d9c6fbfa5a |accessdate=December 19, 2018 |work=] |date=December 16, 2018}}</ref> There are 30 open investigations of Trump, including ten federal criminal investigations, eight state and local investigations, and twelve Congressional investigations.<ref name="NYT_Inv">{{cite news |last1=Buchanan |first1=Larry |last2=Yourish |first2=Karen |title=Tracking 30 Investigations Related to Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/05/13/us/politics/trump-investigations.html |accessdate=October 4, 2020|work=] |date=September 25, 2020}}</ref> A book by ], published in 2020, summarizes evidence against Trump as if he were on trial before a jury.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=July 31, 2020 |first=Ron |last=Elving |title=In 'True Crimes,' Toobin Presents A Summation For The Jury In The Case Against Trump |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/07/31/897055924/in-true-crimes-toobin-presents-a-summation-for-the-jury-in-the-case-against-trum}}</ref>

==== Hush payments ====

{{Main|Stormy Daniels–Donald Trump scandal}}
{{See also|Legal affairs of Donald Trump#Payments related to alleged affairs|Karen McDougal#Alleged affair with Donald Trump}}
] in 2010]]

] (AMI) paid $150,000 to '']'' model ] in August 2016,<ref name="WSJT">{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/national-enquirer-shielded-donald-trump-from-playboy-models-affair-allegation-1478309380 |title=National Enquirer Shielded Donald Trump From Playboy Model's Affair Allegation |last1=Palazzolo |first1=Joe |last2=Rothfeld |first2=Michael |last3=Alpert |first3=Lukas |work=] |date=November 4, 2016 |access-date=February 17, 2018}}</ref> and Trump's attorney ] paid $130,000 to ] ] in October 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43334326 |title=Why the Stormy Daniels-Donald Trump story matters |last=Luckhurst |first=Toby |work=] |date=May 3, 2018}}</ref> Both women were paid for ]s regarding their alleged affairs with Trump between 2006 and 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/08/21/how-the-campaign-finance-charges-against-michael-cohen-may-implicate-trump |title=How the campaign finance charges against Michael Cohen implicate Trump |work=] |first=Philip |last=Bump |date=August 21, 2018 |access-date=July 25, 2019}}</ref> Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to breaking campaign finance laws, saying he had arranged both payments at the direction of Trump in order to influence the presidential election.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/74aaf72511d64fceb1d64529207bde64 |title=Cohen pleads guilty, implicates Trump in hush-money scheme |last1=Neumeister |first1=Larry |last2=Hays |first2=Tom |date=August 22, 2018 |work=]}}</ref> AMI admitted paying McDougal to prevent publication of stories that might damage Trump's electoral chances.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/prosecutors-media-company-admitted-it-paid-off-playboy-model-to-protect-trump-before-election/ |title=National Enquirer owner admits to paying off Playboy model to protect Trump |last1=Watson |first1=Kathryn |website=] |accessdate=July 22, 2019}}</ref> Trump denied the affairs, and claimed he was not aware of Cohen's payment to Daniels, but reimbursed him in 2017.<ref name="Nelson">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/07/trump-stormy-daniels-payment-444133 |title=White House on Stormy Daniels: Trump 'denied all these allegations' |last=Nelson |first=Louis |date=March 7, 2018 |work=] |accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/08/22/trump-insists-learned-michael-cohen-payments-later-on-in-fox-friends-exclusive.html |title=Trump insists he learned of Michael Cohen payments 'later on', in 'Fox & Friends' exclusive |last=Singman |first=Brooke |accessdate=August 23, 2018 |website=] |date=August 22, 2018}}</ref> Federal prosecutors asserted that Trump had been involved in discussions regarding non-disclosure payments as early as 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/federal-prosecutors-recommend-substantial-prison-term-for-former-trump-lawyer-michael-cohen/2018/12/07/e144f248-f7f3-11e8-8c9a-860ce2a8148f_story.html |title=Court filings directly implicate Trump in efforts to buy women's silence, reveal new contact between inner circle and Russian |work=] |last1=Barrett |first1=Devlin |last2=Zapotosky |first2=Matt |date=December 7, 2018 |access-date=December 7, 2018}}</ref> Court documents showed that the FBI believed Trump was directly involved in the payment to Daniels, based on calls he had with Cohen in October 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-cohen/documents-detail-trump-teams-efforts-to-arrange-payment-to-porn-star-idUSKCN1UD18D |title=FBI documents point to Trump role in hush money for porn star Daniels |last1=Allen |first1=Jonathan |last2=Stempel |first2=Jonathan |work=] |date=July 18, 2019 |access-date=July 22, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.apnews.com/2d4138abfd0b4e71a63c94d3203e435a |title=Records detail frenetic effort to bury stories about Trump |last1=Mustian |first1=Jim |work=] |date=July 19, 2019 |access-date=July 22, 2019}}</ref> Federal prosecutors closed the investigation,<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=July 19, 2019 |first=Jim |last=Mustian |title=Why no hush-money charges against Trump? Feds are silent |url=https://apnews.com/0543a381b39a42d09c27567274477983}}</ref> but days later the ] subpoenaed the Trump Organization and AMI for records related to the hush payments<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/01/nyregion/trump-cohen-stormy-daniels-vance.html |title=Manhattan D.A. Subpoenas Trump Organization Over Stormy Daniels Hush Money |first1=Ben |last1=Protess |first2=William K. |last2=Rashbaum |work=] |date=August 1, 2019 |access-date=August 2, 2019}}</ref> and in August subpoenaed eight years of tax returns for Trump and the Trump Organization.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=September 16, 2019 |first1=William K. |last1=Rashbaum |first2=Ben |last2=Protess |title=8 Years of Trump Tax Returns Are Subpoenaed by Manhattan D.A. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/nyregion/trump-tax-returns-cy-vance.html}}</ref>


==== Russian election interference ==== ==== Russian election interference ====
{{Main|Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections|Timelines related to Donald Trump and Russian interference in United States elections}}
{{See also|Senate Intelligence Committee report on Russian interference in the 2016 United States presidential election|Steele dossier}}


In January 2017, American intelligence agencies—the ], the ], and the ], represented by the ]—jointly stated with "]" that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election to favor the election of Trump.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/06/us/politics/trump-russia-intelligence-agencies-cia-fbi-nsa.html|title=Trump Misleads on Russian Meddling: Why 17 Intelligence Agencies Don't Need to Agree|last=Rosenberg|first=Matthew|author-link=Matthew Rosenberg|date=July 6, 2017|access-date=October 7, 2021|work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Sanger|first=David E.|author-link=David E. Sanger|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/06/us/politics/russia-hack-report.html|title=Putin Ordered 'Influence Campaign' Aimed at U.S. Election, Report Says|work=]|date=January 6, 2017 |access-date=October 4, 2021}}</ref> In March 2017, FBI Director ] told Congress, "he FBI, as part of our counterintelligence mission, is investigating the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. That includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government, and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia's efforts."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/03/its-official-the-fbi-is-investigating-trumps-links-to-russia/520134/|title=It's Official: The FBI Is Investigating Trump's Links to Russia|last=Berman|first=Russell|date=March 20, 2017|work=]|access-date=June 7, 2017}}</ref>
{{Main|Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections}}
{{See also|Senate Intelligence Committee report on Russian interference in the 2016 United States presidential election|Links between Trump associates and Russian officials|Steele dossier|Trump-Ukraine scandal}}


Many suspicious<ref>{{cite news|last=Harding|first=Luke|title=How Trump walked into Putin's web|work=]|date=November 15, 2017|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/nov/15/how-trump-walked-into-putins-web-luke|access-date=May 22, 2019}}</ref> ] were discovered and the relationships between Russians and "team Trump", including Manafort, Flynn, and Stone, were widely reported by the press.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/13/donald-trump-russia-vladimir-putin-us-election-hack|title=Trump's relationship with Russia – what we know and what comes next|last=McCarthy|first=Tom|date=December 13, 2016|work=]|access-date=March 11, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/03/03/the-web-of-relationships-between-team-trump-and-russia/|title=The web of relationships between Team Trump and Russia|last=Bump|first=Philip|date=March 3, 2017|newspaper=]|access-date=March 11, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://time.com/4433880/donald-trump-ties-to-russia/|title=Donald Trump's Many, Many, Many, Many Ties to Russia|last=Nesbit|first=Jeff|date=August 2, 2016|magazine=]|access-date=February 28, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/08/19/paul-manaforts-complicated-ties-to-ukraine-explained/|title=Paul Manafort's complicated ties to Ukraine, explained|last=Phillips|first=Amber|date=August 19, 2016|newspaper=]|access-date=June 14, 2017}}</ref> Members of Trump's campaign and his White House staff, particularly Flynn, were in contact with Russian officials both before and after the election.<ref>{{cite news|title=We Still Don't Know What Happened Between Trump and Russia|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/11/we-still-dont-know-what-happened-between-trump-and-russia/602116/|work=]|date=November 15, 2019|access-date=October 7, 2021|first=David A.|last=Graham}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-contacts-idUSKCN18E106|title=Exclusive: Trump campaign had at least 18 undisclosed contacts with Russians: sources|last1=Parker|first1=Ned|last2=Landay|first2=Jonathan|last3=Strobel|first3=Warren|date=May 18, 2017|access-date=May 19, 2017|work=]}}</ref> On December&nbsp;29, 2016, Flynn talked with Russian Ambassador ] about sanctions that were imposed that same day; Flynn later resigned in the midst of controversy over whether he misled Pence.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://cnn.com/2017/02/13/politics/michael-flynn-white-house-national-security-adviser/|title=Flynn resigns amid controversy over Russia contacts|last1=Murray|first1=Sara|author-link1=Sara Murray (journalist)|last2=Borger|first2=Gloria|author-link2=Gloria Borger|last3=Diamond|first3=Jeremy|author-link3=Jeremy Diamond (journalist)|date=February 14, 2017|access-date=March 2, 2017|work=]}}</ref> Trump told Kislyak and ] in May 2017 he was unconcerned about Russian interference in U.S. elections.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trump-told-russian-officials-in-2017-he-wasnt-concerned-about-moscows-interference-in-us-election/2019/09/27/b20a8bc8-e159-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html|title=Trump told Russian officials in 2017 he wasn't concerned about Moscow's interference in U.S. election|newspaper=]|date=September 27, 2019|access-date=October 8, 2021|first1=Shane|last1=Harris|author-link1=Shane Harris|first2=Josh|last2=Dawsey|author-link2=Josh Dawsey|first3=Ellen|last3=Nakashima|author-link3=Ellen Nakashima}}</ref> Trump and his allies promoted ] that Ukraine, rather than Russia, interfered in the 2016 election—which was also promoted by Russia to ] Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/22/us/politics/ukraine-russia-interference.html|title=Charges of Ukrainian Meddling? A Russian Operation, U.S. Intelligence Says|first1=Julian E.|last1=Barnes|first2=Matthew|last2=Rosenberg|author-link2=Matthew Rosenberg|date=November 22, 2019|access-date=October 8, 2021|work=]}}</ref>
In January 2017, American intelligence agencies{{snd}}the ], the ], and the ], represented by the ]{{snd}}jointly stated with "]" that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election to favor the election of Trump.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/06/us/politics/trump-russia-intelligence-agencies-cia-fbi-nsa.html |title=Trump Misleads on Russian Meddling: Why 17 Intelligence Agencies Don't Need to Agree |last=Rosenberg |first=Matthew |authorlink=Matthew Rosenberg |date=July 6, 2017 |work=]}}</ref><ref name="Declassified Report">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/06/us/politics/document-russia-hacking-report-intelligence-agencies.html |title=Intelligence Report on Russian Hacking |date=January 6, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=January 8, 2017 |page=ii |quote=We assess Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S. presidential election. Russia's goals were to undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process, denigrate Secretary ], and harm her electability and potential presidency. We further assess Putin and the Russian Government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump. We have high confidence in these judgments.}}</ref> In March 2017, FBI Director ] told Congress "the FBI, as part of our counterintelligence mission, is investigating the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. That includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government, and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia's efforts."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/03/its-official-the-fbi-is-investigating-trumps-links-to-russia/520134/ |title=It's Official: The FBI Is Investigating Trump's Links to Russia |last=Berman |first=Russell |date=March 20, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=June 7, 2017}}</ref>


==== FBI Crossfire Hurricane and 2017 counterintelligence investigations ====
The connections between Trump associates and Russia have been widely reported by the press.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/13/donald-trump-russia-vladimir-putin-us-election-hack |title=Trump's relationship with Russia – what we know and what comes next |last=McCarthy |first=Tom |date=December 13, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=March 11, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/03/03/the-web-of-relationships-between-team-trump-and-russia/ |title=The web of relationships between Team Trump and Russia |last=Bump |first=Philip |date=March 3, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=March 11, 2017}}</ref> One of Trump's campaign managers, ], had worked from December 2004 until February 2010 to help pro-Russian politician ] win the Ukrainian presidency.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/08/19/paul-manaforts-complicated-ties-to-ukraine-explained/ |title=Paul Manafort's complicated ties to Ukraine, explained |last=Phillips |first=Amber |date=August 19, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=June 14, 2017}}</ref> Other Trump associates, including former National Security Advisor ] and political consultant ], have been connected to Russian officials.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Risen |first1=James |title=Roger Stone Made His Name as a Dirty Trickster, but the Trump-Russia Cover-Up May Finally Bring Him Down |url=https://theintercept.com/2019/01/26/roger-stone-made-his-name-as-a-dirty-trickster-but-the-trump-russia-coverup-may-finally-bring-him-down/ |work=] |date=January 26, 2019}}</ref><ref name="many">{{cite news |url=https://time.com/4433880/donald-trump-ties-to-russia/ |title=Donald Trump's Many, Many, Many, Many Ties to Russia |last=Nesbit |first=Jeff |date=August 15, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=February 28, 2017}}</ref> Russian agents were overheard during the campaign saying they could use Manafort and Flynn to influence Trump.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/335035-nyt-russians-discussed-using-manafort-flynn-to-influence-trump |title=NYT: Russians discussed using Manafort, Flynn to influence Trump |last=Williams |first=Katie Bo |date=May 24, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=May 28, 2017}}</ref> Members of Trump's campaign and later his White House staff, particularly Flynn, were in contact with Russian officials both before and after the November election.<ref>{{cite news |title=We Still Don't Know What Happened Between Trump and Russia |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/11/we-still-dont-know-what-happened-between-trump-and-russia/602116/ |work=] |date=November 15, 2019 |first=David A. |last=Graham}}</ref><ref name="Reuters2">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-contacts-idUSKCN18E106 |title=Exclusive: Trump campaign had at least 18 undisclosed contacts with Russians: sources |last1=Parker |first1=Ned |last2=Landay |first2=Jonathan |last3=Strobel |first3=Warren |date=May 18, 2017 |accessdate=May 19, 2017 |work=]}}</ref> On December 29, 2016, Flynn talked with Russian Ambassador ] about sanctions that had been imposed the same day; Flynn later resigned in the midst of controversy over whether he misled Pence.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/02/13/politics/michael-flynn-white-house-national-security-adviser/ |title=Flynn resigns amid controversy over Russia contacts |last1=Murray |first1=Sara |author1link=Sara Murray (journalist) |last2=Borger |first2=Gloria |author2link=Gloria Borger |last3=Diamond |first3=Jeremy |author3link=Jeremy Diamond (journalist) |date=February 14, 2017 |accessdate=March 2, 2017 |website=]}}</ref> Trump had told Kislyak and ] in May 2017 he was unconcerned about Russian interference in U.S. elections.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trump-told-russian-officials-in-2017-he-wasnt-concerned-about-moscows-interference-in-us-election/2019/09/27/b20a8bc8-e159-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html |title=Trump told Russian officials in 2017 he wasn't concerned about Moscow's interference in U.S. election |website=] |date=September 26, 2019 |first1=Shane |last1=Harris |author1link=Shane Harris |first2=Josh |last2=Dawsey |author2link=Josh Dawsey |first3=Ellen |last3=Nakashima |author3link=Ellen Nakashima}}</ref>
In July 2016, the FBI launched an investigation, codenamed ], into possible links between Russia and the Trump campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Apuzzo |first1=Matt |author-link=Matt Apuzzo |last2=Goldman |first2=Adam |author-link2=Adam Goldman |last3=Fandos |first3=Nicholas |author-link3=Nicholas Fandos |date=May 16, 2018 |title=Code Name Crossfire Hurricane: The Secret Origins of the Trump Investigation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/16/us/politics/crossfire-hurricane-trump-russia-fbi-mueller-investigation.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=December 21, 2023 |work=]}}</ref> After Trump fired FBI director James Comey in May 2017, the FBI opened a counterintelligence investigation into Trump's personal and ].<ref>{{cite news|work=]|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/fbi-agent-who-helped-launch-russia-investigation-says-trump-was-n1239442|title=FBI agent who helped launch Russia investigation says Trump was 'compromised'|access-date=December 21, 2023|first=Ken|last=Dilanian|date=September 7, 2020}}</ref> Crossfire Hurricane was transferred to the Mueller investigation,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.9news.com.au/world/crossfire-hurricane-trump-russia-investigation-started-with-alexander-downer-interview/16121e23-bdfc-4f32-9822-e4a7f841e3e4|work=]|title=Crossfire Hurricane: Trump Russia investigation started with Alexander Downer interview|first=Nick|last=Pearson|date=May 17, 2018|access-date=December 21, 2023}}</ref> but Deputy Attorney General ] ended the investigation into Trump's direct ties to Russia while giving the bureau the false impression that the ]'s special counsel investigation would pursue the matter.<ref name="never">{{Cite news |last=Schmidt |first=Michael S. |author-link=Michael S. Schmidt |date=August 30, 2020 |title=Justice Dept. Never Fully Examined Trump's Ties to Russia, Ex-Officials Say |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/30/us/politics/trump-russia-justice-department.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 8, 2021 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-rosenstein-idUSKBN23330H|title=Rosenstein to testify in Senate on Trump-Russia probe|work=]|date=May 27, 2020|access-date=October 19, 2021}}</ref>


==== Mueller investigation ====
Trump and his allies have promoted ] that Ukraine, rather than Russia, interfered in the 2016 election{{snd}}which has also been promoted by Russia to ] Ukraine.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/22/us/politics/ukraine-russia-interference.html |title=Charges of Ukrainian Meddling? A Russian Operation, U.S. Intelligence Says |first1=Julian E. |last1=Barnes |first2=Matthew |last2=Rosenberg |author2link=Matthew Rosenberg |date=November 22, 2019 |work=]}}</ref> After the ] was hacked, Trump firstly claimed it withheld "its server" from the FBI (in actuality there were more than 140 servers, of which digital copies were given to the FBI); secondly that ], the company which investigated the servers, was Ukraine-based and Ukrainian-owned (in actuality, CrowdStrike is U.S.-based, with the largest owners being American companies); and thirdly that "the server" was hidden in Ukraine. Members of the Trump administration have spoken out against the conspiracy theories.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pelley |first=Scott |authorlink=Scott Pelley |title=Why President Trump asked Ukraine to look into a DNC "server" and CrowdStrike |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-crowdstrike-ukraine-server-conspiracy-theory-60-minutes-2020-02-16/ |accessdate=February 18, 2020 |work=] |date=February 16, 2020}}</ref>
{{Main|Mueller special counsel investigation|Mueller report|Criminal charges brought in the Mueller special counsel investigation}}
In May 2017, Rosenstein appointed former FBI director Mueller ] for the ] (DOJ), ordering him to "examine 'any links and/or coordination between the Russian government' and the Trump campaign". He privately told Mueller to restrict the investigation to criminal matters "in connection with Russia's 2016 election interference".<ref name="never"/> The special counsel also investigated whether Trump's ] as FBI director constituted obstruction of justice<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/06/15/the-president-is-under-investigation-for-obstruction-of-justice-how-did-we-get-here/|title=Trump Is Officially under Investigation. How Did We Get Here?|newspaper=]|last=Vitkovskaya|first=Julie|date=June 16, 2017|access-date=June 16, 2017}}</ref> and the Trump campaign's possible ties to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, ], ], Israel, and China.<ref>{{cite news|first=Joshua|last=Keating|author-link=Joshua Keating|title=It's Not Just a "Russia" Investigation Anymore|url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/03/mueller-investigation-spreads-to-qatar-israel-uae-china-turkey.html|work=]|date=March 8, 2018|access-date=October 8, 2021}}</ref> Trump sought to fire Mueller and shut down the investigation multiple times, but backed down after his staff objected or after changing his mind.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Haberman|first1=Maggie|author-link1=Maggie Haberman|last2=Schmidt|first2=Michael S.|author-link2=Michael S. Schmidt|title=Trump Sought to Fire Mueller in December|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/10/us/politics/trump-sought-to-fire-mueller-in-december.html|work=]|date=April 10, 2018|access-date=October 8, 2021}}</ref>


In March 2019, Mueller gave ] to Attorney General ],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/22/robert-mueller-submits-special-counsels-russia-probe-report-to-attorney-general-william-barr.html|title=Mueller probe ends: Special counsel submits Russia report to Attorney General William Barr|last=Breuninger|first=Kevin|date=March 22, 2019|work=]|access-date=March 22, 2019}}</ref> which Barr purported to summarize ]. A federal court, and Mueller himself, said Barr mischaracterized the investigation's conclusions and, in so doing, confused the public.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/mueller-complained-that-barrs-letter-did-not-capture-context-of-trump-probe/2019/04/30/d3c8fdb6-6b7b-11e9-a66d-a82d3f3d96d5_story.html|title=Mueller complained that Barr's letter did not capture 'context' of Trump probe|first1=Devlin|last1=Barrett|first2=Matt|last2=Zapotosky|date=April 30, 2019|newspaper=]|access-date=May 30, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/mueller-report-attorney-general-william-barr/2020/03/05/3fa7afce-5f2c-11ea-b29b-9db42f7803a7_story.html|title=Judge cites Barr's 'misleading' statements in ordering review of Mueller report redactions|newspaper=]|first1=Spencer S.|last1=Hsu|first2=Devlin|last2=Barrett|date=March 5, 2020|access-date=October 8, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/us/politics/mueller-report-barr-judge-walton.html|title=Judge Calls Barr's Handling of Mueller Report 'Distorted' and 'Misleading'|first=Charlie|last=Savage|author-link=Charlie Savage (author)|work=]|date=March 5, 2020|access-date=October 8, 2021}}</ref> Trump repeatedly claimed that the investigation exonerated him; the Mueller report expressly stated that it did not.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Hope|last1=Yen|first2=Calvin|last2=Woodward|title=AP FACT CHECK: Trump falsely claims Mueller exonerated him|url=https://apnews.com/article/130932b573664ea5a4d186f752bb8d50|date=July 24, 2019|access-date=October 8, 2021|work=]}}</ref> A redacted version of the report, publicly released in April 2019, found that Russia interfered in 2016 to favor Trump.<ref>{{cite news|title=Main points of Mueller report|date=January 16, 2012 |url=https://www.afp.com/en/news/15/main-points-mueller-report-doc-1fr5vv1|work=]|access-date=April 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420143436/https://www.afp.com/en/news/15/main-points-mueller-report-doc-1fr5vv1|archive-date=April 20, 2019}}</ref> Despite "numerous links between the Russian government and the Trump campaign", the report found that the prevailing evidence "did not establish" that Trump campaign members conspired or coordinated with Russian interference.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ostriker|first1=Rebecca|last2=Puzzanghera|first2=Jim|last3=Finucane|first3=Martin|last4=Datar|first4=Saurabh|last5=Uraizee|first5=Irfan|last6=Garvin|first6=Patrick|title=What the Mueller report says about Trump and more|url=https://apps.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/graphics/2019/03/mueller-report/|work=]|date=April 18, 2019|access-date=April 22, 2019}}</ref><ref name="takeaways">{{cite news|last=Law|first=Tara|title=Here Are the Biggest Takeaways From the Mueller Report|date=April 18, 2019|url=https://time.com/5567077/mueller-report-release/|magazine=]|access-date=April 22, 2019}}</ref> The report revealed sweeping Russian interference<ref name="takeaways"/> and detailed how Trump and his campaign welcomed and encouraged it, believing it would benefit them electorally.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lynch|first1=Sarah N.|last2=Sullivan|first2=Andy|date=April 18, 2018|title=In unflattering detail, Mueller report reveals Trump actions to impede inquiry|work=]|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-idUSKCN1RU0DN |access-date=July 10, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=]|date=July 24, 2019|first=Mark|last=Mazzetti|author-link=Mark Mazzetti|title=Mueller Warns of Russian Sabotage and Rejects Trump's 'Witch Hunt' Claims|access-date=March 4, 2020|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/24/us/politics/trump-mueller-testimony.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=]|date=May 30, 2019|last=Bump|first=Philip|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/05/30/trump-briefly-acknowledges-that-russia-aided-his-election-falsely-says-he-didnt-help-effort/|access-date=March 5, 2020|title=Trump briefly acknowledges that Russia aided his election – and falsely says he didn't help the effort}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Polantz|first1=Katelyn|last2=Kaufman|first2=Ellie|last3=Murray|first3=Sara|url=https://cnn.com/2020/06/19/politics/mueller-report-rerelease-fewer-redactions/|title=Mueller raised possibility Trump lied to him, newly unsealed report reveals|work=]|date=June 19, 2020|access-date=October 30, 2022}}</ref>
On November 2, 2020, newly released passages from the Mueller report regarding ] indicated that "federal prosecutors could not establish that the ] amounted to campaign contributions benefitting Trump’s election chances" and that publication of those emails are likely protected by the ].<ref>{{Cite news |title=New: Mueller Investigated Julian Assange, WikiLeaks, And Roger Stone For DNC Hacks And Election Law Violations |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jasonleopold/new-mueller-investigated-julian-assange-wikileaks-and-roger |access-date=November 3, 2020 |website=] |date=November 3, 2020 |first1=Jason |last1=Leopold |author1link=Jason Leopold |first2=Ken |last2=Bensinger}}</ref>


The report also detailed multiple acts of potential obstruction of justice by Trump, but "did not draw ultimate conclusions about the President's conduct".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Barrett|first1=Devlin|last2=Zapotosky|first2=Matt|title=Mueller report lays out obstruction evidence against the president|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/attorney-general-to-provide-overview-of-mueller-report-at-news-conference-before-its-release/2019/04/17/8dcc9440-54b9-11e9-814f-e2f46684196e_story.html|newspaper=]|date=April 17, 2019|access-date=April 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.factcheck.org/2019/04/what-the-mueller-report-says-about-obstruction/|title=What the Mueller Report Says About Obstruction|last1=Farley|first1=Robert|last2=Robertson|first2=Lori|last3=Gore|first3=D'Angelo|last4=Spencer|first4=Saranac Hale|last5=Fichera|first5=Angelo|last6=McDonald|first6=Jessica|date=April 18, 2019|work=]|access-date=April 22, 2019}}</ref> Investigators decided they could not "apply an approach that could potentially result in a judgment that the President committed crimes" as an ] opinion stated that a sitting president could not be indicted,<ref name="LM">{{cite news|last=Mascaro|first=Lisa|title=Mueller drops obstruction dilemma on Congress|url=https://apnews.com/article/35829a2b010248f193d1efd00c4de7e5|work=]|date=April 18, 2019|access-date=April 20, 2019}}</ref> and investigators would not accuse him of a crime when he cannot clear his name in court.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/robert-mueller-statement-today-report-investigation-trump-2016-election-live-updates-2019-05/|title=Mueller: If it were clear president committed no crime, "we would have said so"|last=Segers|first=Grace|date=May 29, 2019|work=]|access-date=June 2, 2019}}</ref> The report concluded that Congress, having the authority to take action against a president for wrongdoing, "may apply the obstruction laws".<ref name="LM"/> The House of Representatives subsequently launched an ] following the ], but did not pursue an article of impeachment related to the Mueller investigation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Why Democrats sidelined Mueller in impeachment articles|first1=Kyle|last1=Cheney|author-link1=Kyle Cheney (journalist)|first2=Heather|last2=Caygle|first3=John|last3=Bresnahan|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/10/democrats-sidelined-mueller-trump-impeachment-080910|work=]|date=December 10, 2019|access-date=October 8, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/10/democrats-ditch-bribery-mueller-trump-impeachment-articles-is-that-smart-play/|title=Democrats ditch 'bribery' and Mueller in Trump impeachment articles. But is that the smart play?|first=Aaron|last=Blake|date=December 10, 2019|access-date=October 8, 2021|newspaper=]}}</ref> Several Trump associates pleaded guilty or were convicted in connection with Mueller's investigation and related cases, including Manafort<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/manafort-jury-suggests-it-cannot-come-to-a-consensus-on-a-single-count/2018/08/21/a2478ac0-a559-11e8-a656-943eefab5daf_story.html|title=Manafort convicted on 8 counts; mistrial declared on 10 others|last1=Zapotosky|first1=Matt|last2=Bui|first2=Lynh|last3=Jackman|first3=Tom|last4=Barrett|first4=Devlin|date=August 21, 2018|newspaper=]|access-date=August 21, 2018}}</ref> and Flynn.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mangan|first=Dan|title=Trump and Giuliani are right that 'collusion is not a crime.' But that doesn't matter for Mueller's probe|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/30/giuliani-is-right-collusion-isnt-a-crime-but-that-wont-help-trump.html|work=]|date=July 30, 2018|access-date=October 8, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mueller investigation: No jail time sought for Trump ex-adviser Michael Flynn|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46449950|work=]|date=December 5, 2018|access-date=October 8, 2021}}</ref> Trump's former attorney ] pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about Trump's 2016 attempts to reach a deal with Russia to build ]. Cohen said he had made the false statements on behalf of Trump.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/michael-cohen-trumps-former-lawyer-pleads-guilty-to-lying-to-congress/2018/11/29/5fac986a-f3e0-11e8-bc79-68604ed88993_story.html|title=Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, pleads guilty to lying to Congress about Moscow project|date=November 29, 2018|newspaper=]|first1=Devlin|last1=Barrett|first2=Matt|last2=Zapotosky|first3=Rosalind S.|last3=Helderman|author-link3=Rosalind S. Helderman|access-date=December 12, 2018}}</ref> In February 2020, Stone was sentenced to 40 months in prison for lying to Congress and witness tampering. The sentencing judge said Stone "was prosecuted for covering up for the president".<ref>{{cite news|first1=Rachel|last1=Weiner|first2=Matt|last2=Zapotosky|first3=Tom|last3=Jackman|first4=Devlin|last4=Barrett|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/roger-stone-sentence-due-thursday-in-federal-court/2020/02/19/2e01bfc8-4c38-11ea-9b5c-eac5b16dafaa_story.html|title=Roger Stone sentenced to three years and four months in prison, as Trump predicts 'exoneration' for his friend|newspaper=]|date=February 20, 2020|access-date=March 3, 2020}}</ref>
==== 2017 FBI counterintelligence inquiry ====
After Trump fired FBI director ] in May 2017, the FBI opened a counterintelligence investigation into Trump's personal and ]. Within days of its opening, deputy attorney general ] curtailed the inquiry, giving the bureau the impression that the incipient ] would pursue it, though Rosenstein instructed Mueller not to, effectively ending the inquiry.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/30/us/politics/trump-russia-justice-department.html |title=Justice Dept. Never Fully Examined Trump's Ties to Russia, Ex-Officials Say |first=Michael S. |last=Schmidt |authorlink=Michael S. Schmidt |date=August 30, 2020 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/peter-strzok-defends-belief-trump-compromised-by-russia-their-leverage-renders-him-incapable-of-defending-national-interest/ |title=Peter Strzok Defends Belief Trump 'Compromised' by Russia: Their Leverage Renders Him 'Incapable' of Defending National Interest |first=Ken |last=Meyer |date=September 13, 2020 |work=]}}</ref>


==== Special counsel investigation ==== === First impeachment ===
{{Main|First impeachment of Donald Trump|Trump–Ukraine scandal}}
] <span class="nowrap">({{USBill|116|H. Res.|755}})</span>, December&nbsp;18, 2019|alt=Nancy Pelosi presides over a crowded House of Representatives chamber floor during the impeachment vote]]
In August 2019, a ] filed a complaint with the ] about a July&nbsp;25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian president ], during which Trump had pressured Zelenskyy to investigate CrowdStrike and Democratic presidential candidate Biden and his son ].<ref name="undermine">{{cite news|last=Bump|first=Philip|title=Trump wanted Russia's main geopolitical adversary to help undermine the Russian interference story|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/25/trump-wanted-russias-main-geopolitical-adversary-help-him-undermine-russian-interference-story/|access-date=October 1, 2019|newspaper=]|date=September 25, 2019}}</ref> The whistleblower said that the White House had attempted to cover up the incident and that the call was part of a wider campaign by the Trump administration and Trump attorney ] that may have included withholding financial aid from Ukraine in July 2019 and canceling Pence's May 2019 Ukraine trip.<ref name="abuse">{{cite news|last1=Cohen|first1=Marshall|last2=Polantz|first2=Katelyn|last3=Shortell|first3=David|last4=Kupperman|first4=Tammy|last5=Callahan|first5=Michael|url=https://cnn.com/2019/09/26/politics/whistleblower-complaint-released/|title=Whistleblower says White House tried to cover up Trump's abuse of power|work=]|date=September 26, 2019|access-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref>


House Speaker ] initiated ] on September&nbsp;24.<ref>{{cite news|work=]|date=September 24, 2019|access-date=October 8, 2021|first=Nicholas|last=Fandos|author-link=Nicholas Fandos|title=Nancy Pelosi Announces Formal Impeachment Inquiry of Trump|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/24/us/politics/democrats-impeachment-trump.html}}</ref> Trump then confirmed that he withheld military aid from Ukraine, offering contradictory reasons for the decision.<ref>{{cite news|last=Forgey|first=Quint|title=Trump changes story on withholding Ukraine aid|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/24/donald-trump-ukraine-military-aid-1509070|access-date=October 1, 2019|work=]|date=September 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=David A.|last=Graham|access-date=July 7, 2021|title=Trump's Incriminating Conversation With the Ukrainian President|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/09/what-the-transcript-of-trumps-insane-call-with-the-ukrainian-president-showed/598780/|date=September 25, 2019|work=]}}</ref> On September&nbsp;25, his administration released a memorandum of the phone call which confirmed that, after Zelenskyy mentioned purchasing American anti-tank missiles, Trump asked him to discuss investigating Biden and his son with Giuliani and Barr.<ref name="undermine"/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Santucci|first1=John|last2=Mallin|first2=Alexander|last3=Thomas|first3=Pierre|author-link3=Pierre Thomas (journalist)|last4=Faulders|first4=Katherine|title=Trump urged Ukraine to work with Barr and Giuliani to probe Biden: Call transcript|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/transcript-trump-call-ukraine-includes-talk-giuliani-barr/story?id=65848768|access-date=October 1, 2019|work=]|date=September 25, 2019}}</ref> The testimony of multiple administration officials and former officials confirmed that this was part of a broader effort to further Trump's personal interests by giving him an advantage in the upcoming presidential election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/2019/09/24/whistleblower-complaint/assets/amp.html|title=Document: Read the Whistle-Blower Complaint|date=September 24, 2019|work=]|access-date=October 2, 2019}}</ref> In October, ], the ], testified before congressional committees that soon after arriving in Ukraine in June 2019, he found that Zelenskyy was being subjected to pressure directed by Trump and led by Giuliani. According to Taylor and others, the goal was to coerce Zelenskyy into making a public commitment to investigate the company that employed ], as well as rumors about Ukrainian involvement in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/22/us/trump-impeachment-ukraine.html|title=Ukraine Envoy Testifies Trump Linked Military Aid to Investigations, Lawmaker Says|last1=Shear|first1=Michael D.|author-link1=Michael D. Shear|last2=Fandos|first2=Nicholas|author-link2=Nicholas Fandos|date=October 22, 2019|work=]|access-date=October 22, 2019}}</ref> He said it was made clear that until Zelenskyy made such an announcement, the administration would not release scheduled military aid for Ukraine and not invite Zelenskyy to the White House.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/22/us/politics/william-taylor-testimony.html|title=6 Key Revelations of Taylor's Opening Statement to Impeachment Investigators|last=LaFraniere|first=Sharon|author-link=Sharon LaFraniere|date=October 22, 2019|work=]|access-date=October 23, 2019}}</ref>
{{Main|Special Counsel investigation (2017–2019)|Mueller report}}
] version of the '']'' released by the ] on April 18, 2019]]


]
On May 17, 2017, former ] ] appointed ], a former ], to serve as ] for the ] (DOJ) investigating "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 name="Mueller_Report">{{cite web |publisher=U.S. Department of Justice |date=March 2019 |first=Robert S. III |last=Mueller |title=Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election |url=https://www.justice.gov/storage/report.pdf |quote=The Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election in sweeping and systematic fashion. In connection with that analysis, we addressed the factual question whether members of the Trump Campaign 'coordinat'{{snd}}a term that appears in the appointment order{{snd}}with Russian election interference activities. Like collusion, 'coordination' does not have a settled definition in federal criminal law. We understood coordination to require an agreement{{snd}}tacit or express{{snd}}between the Trump Campaign and the Russian government on election interference. That requires more than the two parties taking actions that were informed by or responsive to the other's actions or interests. We applied the term coordination in that sense when stating in the report that the investigation did not establish that the Trump Campaign coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities.}}</ref><ref name="Rosenstein_5/17/2017"/> thus taking over the existing "]" FBI investigation into the matter.<ref name="Rosenstein_5/17/2017">{{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 |last=Rosenstein |first=Rod |date=May 17, 2017 |website=] |accessdate=May 18, 2017}}</ref> The special counsel also investigated whether Trump's ] as FBI director constituted obstruction of justice, and possible campaign ties to other national governments.<ref name=Vitkovskaya>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/06/15/the-president-is-under-investigation-for-obstruction-of-justice-how-did-we-get-here/ |title=Trump Is Officially under Investigation. How Did We Get Here? |work=] |last=Vitkovskaya |first=Julie |date=June 16, 2017 |accessdate=June 16, 2017 }}</ref> Trump repeatedly denied any collusion between his campaign and the Russian government.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bump |first=Philip |title=Analysis {{!}} Trump and the White House have denied Russian collusion more than 140 times |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/01/11/trump-and-the-white-house-have-denied-russian-collusion-more-than-140-times/ |work=] |date=January 11, 2018}}</ref> Mueller also investigated the Trump campaign's possible ties to ], the ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Joshua |last=Keating |authorlink=Joshua Keating |title=It's Not Just a "Russia" Investigation Anymore |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/03/mueller-investigation-spreads-to-qatar-israel-uae-china-turkey.html |work=] |date=March 8, 2018}}</ref>
On December&nbsp;13, the ] voted along party lines to pass two articles of impeachment: one for ] and one for ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-judiciary-committee-set-vote-trump-impeachment-articles/story?id=67706093|last1=Siegel|first1=Benjamin|last2=Faulders|first2=Katherine|last3=Pecorin|first3=Allison|title=House Judiciary Committee passes articles of impeachment against President Trump|date=December 13, 2019|work=]|access-date=December 13, 2019}}</ref> After debate, the House of Representatives ] Trump on both articles on December&nbsp;18.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gregorian|first=Dareh|title=Trump impeached by the House for abuse of power, obstruction of Congress|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/trump-impeached-house-abuse-power-n1104196|access-date=December 18, 2019|work=]|date=December 18, 2019}}</ref>During the trial in January 2020, the House impeachment managers cited evidence to support charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress and asserted that Trump's actions were exactly what the founding fathers had in mind when they created the impeachment process.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-detail-abuse-of-power-charge-against-trump-as-republicans-complain-of-repetitive-arguments/2020/01/23/3fb149b4-3e05-11ea-8872-5df698785a4e_story.html|title=Democrats detail abuse-of-power charge against Trump as Republicans complain of repetitive arguments|date=January 23, 2020|newspaper=]|access-date=January 27, 2020|first1=Seung Min|last1=Kim|author-link1=Seung Min Kim|first2=John|last2=Wagner|first3=Karoun|last3=Demirjian|author-link3=Karoun Demirjian}}</ref> Trump's lawyers did not deny the facts as presented in the charges, but said that he had not broken any laws or obstructed Congress.<ref name="brazen">{{cite news|work=]|date=January 18, 2020|first1=Michael D.|last1=Shear|author-link1=Michael D. Shear|first2=Nicholas|last2=Fandos|author-link2=Nicholas Fandos|title=Trump's Defense Team Calls Impeachment Charges 'Brazen' as Democrats Make Legal Case|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/18/us/politics/house-trump-impeachment.html|access-date=January 30, 2020}}</ref> They argued that the impeachment was "constitutionally and legally invalid" because he was not charged with a crime and that abuse of power is not an impeachable offense.<ref name="brazen"/> On January&nbsp;31, the Senate voted against allowing subpoenas for witnesses or documents.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Herb|first1=Jeremy|last2=Mattingly|first2=Phil|last3=Raju|first3=Manu|author-link3=Manu Raju|last4=Fox|first4=Lauren|title=Senate impeachment trial: Wednesday acquittal vote scheduled after effort to have witnesses fails|url=https://cnn.com/2020/01/31/politics/senate-impeachment-trial-last-day/|access-date=February 2, 2020|work=]|date=January 31, 2020}}</ref> The impeachment trial was the first in U.S. history without witness testimony.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bookbinder|first=Noah|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/01/09/senate-has-conducted-15-impeachment-trials-it-heard-witnesses-every-one/|title=The Senate has conducted 15 impeachment trials. It heard witnesses in every one.|newspaper=]|date=January 9, 2020|access-date=February 8, 2020}}</ref> Trump was acquitted of both charges by the Republican majority. Senator ] was the only Republican who voted to convict him on one charge, the abuse of power.<ref>{{cite news|work=]|date=February 5, 2020|title=Trump acquitted of both charges in Senate impeachment trial|last1=Wilkie|first1=Christina|last2=Breuninger|first2=Kevin|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/05/trump-acquitted-in-impeachment-trial.html|access-date=February 2, 2021}}</ref> Following his acquittal, he fired impeachment witnesses and other political appointees and career officials he deemed insufficiently loyal.<ref>{{cite news|work=]|date=February 22, 2020|first=Peter|last=Baker|author-link=Peter Baker (journalist)|title=Trump's Efforts to Remove the Disloyal Heightens Unease Across His Administration|access-date=February 22, 2020|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/22/us/politics/trump-disloyalty-turnover.html}}</ref>


=== Second impeachment ===
Trump sought to fire Mueller on several occasions{{snd}}in June 2017, December 2017, and April 2018{{snd}}and close the investigation but backed down after his staff objected or after changing his mind.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |author1link=Maggie Haberman |last2=Schmidt |first2=Michael S. |author2link=Michael S. Schmidt |title=Trump Sought to Fire Mueller in December |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/10/us/politics/trump-sought-to-fire-mueller-in-december.html |work=] |date=April 10, 2018}}</ref> He bemoaned the recusal of his first Attorney General Jeff Sessions regarding Russia matters, and believed Sessions should have stopped the investigation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-sessions-twitter-stop-rigged-witch-hunt/story?id=56962100 |title=Trump to Sessions: Shut down Russia probe |last1=Keneally |first1=Meghan |last2=Mallin |first2=Alexander |date=August 1, 2018 |website=] |accessdate=August 1, 2018}}</ref>
{{Main|Second impeachment of Donald Trump|Second impeachment trial of Donald Trump}}
] signing the second impeachment of Trump]]
On January&nbsp;11, 2021, an article of impeachment charging Trump with ] against the U.S. government was introduced to the House.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/trump-impeachment-effort-live-updates/2021/01/11/955631105/impeachment-resolution-cites-trumps-incitement-of-capitol-insurrection|title=Impeachment Resolution Cites Trump's 'Incitement' of Capitol Insurrection|first=Brian|last=Naylor|work=]|date=January 11, 2021|access-date=January 11, 2021}}</ref> The House voted 232–197 to impeach him on January&nbsp;13, making him the first U.S. president to be impeached twice.<ref name=SecondImpeachment>{{cite news|last=Fandos|first=Nicholas|author-link=Nicholas Fandos|title=Trump Impeached for Inciting Insurrection|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/us/politics/trump-impeached.html|access-date=January 14, 2021|date=January 13, 2021}}</ref> Ten Republicans voted for the impeachment—the most members of a party ever to vote to impeach a president of their own party.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/01/13/trumps-second-impeachment-is-most-bipartisan-one-history/|title=Trump's second impeachment is the most bipartisan one in history|last=Blake|first=Aaron|date=January 13, 2021|newspaper=]|access-date=January 19, 2021}}</ref>


On February&nbsp;13, following a ], Trump was acquitted when the Senate vote fell ten votes short of the two-thirds majority required to convict; seven Republicans joined every Democrat in voting to convict, the most bipartisan support in any Senate impeachment trial of a president or former president.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Levine|first1=Sam|last2=Gambino|first2=Lauren|date=February 13, 2021|title=Donald Trump acquitted in impeachment trial|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/13/donald-trump-acquitted-impeachment-trial|work=]|access-date=February 13, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Fandos|first=Nicholas|author-link=Nicholas Fandos|date=February 13, 2021|title=Trump Acquitted of Inciting Insurrection, Even as Bipartisan Majority Votes 'Guilty'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/13/us/politics/trump-impeachment.html|work=]|access-date=February 14, 2021}}</ref> Most Republicans voted to acquit him, although some held him responsible but felt the Senate did not have jurisdiction over former presidents (he had left office on January&nbsp;20; the Senate voted 56–44 that the trial was constitutional).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Watson|first1=Kathryn|last2=Quinn|first2=Melissa|last3=Segers|first3=Grace|last4=Becket|first4=Stefan|date=February 10, 2021|title=Senate finds Trump impeachment trial constitutional on first day of proceedings|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/trump-impeachment-trial-senate-constitutional-day-1/|work=]|access-date=February 18, 2021}}</ref>
On March 22, 2019, Mueller concluded his investigation and gave ] to Attorney General William Barr.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/22/robert-mueller-submits-special-counsels-russia-probe-report-to-attorney-general-william-barr.html |title=Mueller probe ends: Special counsel submits Russia report to Attorney General William Barr |last=Breuninger |first=Kevin |date=March 22, 2019 |website=] |access-date=March 22, 2019}}</ref> On March 24, Barr sent ] to Congress summarizing the "principal conclusions" in the report. He quoted Mueller as stating "while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him." Barr further wrote that he and Rosenstein did not see sufficient evidence to prove obstruction of justice.<ref name=Pramuk>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/24/attorney-general-william-barr-to-release-mueller-russia-probe-findings.html |title=Trump did not collude with Russia, says Mueller, and is cleared of obstruction by the attorney general |first1=Jacob |last1=Pramuk |first2=Spencer |last2=Kimball |date=March 24, 2019 |website=] |access-date=March 24, 2019}}</ref> Trump interpreted Mueller's report as a "complete exoneration", a phrase he repeated multiple times in the ensuing weeks.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-47687956/mueller-report-a-complete-exoneration-donald-trump |title=Mueller report a 'complete exoneration' – Donald Trump |date=March 24, 2019 |work=] |accessdate=June 1, 2019}}</ref> Mueller privately complained to Barr on March 27 that his summary did not accurately reflect what the report said,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/mueller-complained-that-barrs-letter-did-not-capture-context-of-trump-probe/2019/04/30/d3c8fdb6-6b7b-11e9-a66d-a82d3f3d96d5_story.html |title=Mueller complained that Barr's letter did not capture 'context' of Trump probe |first1=Devlin |last1=Barrett |first2=Matt |last2=Zapotosky |date=April 30, 2019 |website=] |access-date=May 30, 2019}}</ref> and some legal analysts called the Barr letter misleading.<ref name="testcomm2">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/04/19/mueller-report-analysis-legal-experts-226662 |title=The Surprises in the Mueller Report |date=April 19, 2019 |website=]}}</ref>


== 2020 presidential election ==
A redacted version of the report was released to the public on April 18, 2019. The first volume found that Russia interfered to favor Trump's candidacy and hinder Clinton's.<ref name=AFPpoints>{{cite news |title=Main points of Mueller report |url=https://www.afp.com/en/news/15/main-points-mueller-report-doc-1fr5vv1 |website=] |accessdate=April 20, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420143436/https://www.afp.com/en/news/15/main-points-mueller-report-doc-1fr5vv1 |archivedate=April 20, 2019}}</ref> Despite "numerous links between the Russian government and the Trump campaign", the prevailing evidence "did not establish" that Trump campaign members conspired or coordinated with Russian interference.<ref name="GlobeGraphic">{{cite news |last1=Ostriker |first1=Rebecca |last2=Puzzanghera |first2=Jim |last3=Finucane |first3=Martin |last4=Datar |first4=Saurabh |last5=Uraizee |first5=Irfan |last6=Garvin |first6=Patrick |title=What the Mueller report says about Trump and more |url=https://apps.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/graphics/2019/03/mueller-report/ |website=] |accessdate=April 22, 2019}}</ref><ref name="TIMErelease">{{cite news |last=Law |first=Tara |title=Here Are the Biggest Takeaways From the Mueller Report |date=April 18, 2019 |url=http://time.com/5567077/mueller-report-release/ |work=] |accessdate=April 22, 2019}}</ref> The report states that Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election was illegal and occurred "in sweeping and systematic fashion",<ref name="Mueller_Report"/> and it details how Trump and his campaign welcomed and encouraged foreign interference believing they would politically benefit.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=July 24, 2019 |first=Mark |last=Mazzetti |authorlink=Mark Mazzetti |title=Mueller Warns of Russian Sabotage and Rejects Trump's 'Witch Hunt' Claims |accessdate=March 4, 2020 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/24/us/politics/trump-mueller-testimony.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=April 19, 2019 |first=Lucien |last=Bruggeman |title=What did the Mueller report reveal about Trump's overtures to the Russians? |accessdate=March 4, 2020 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/mueller-report-reveal-trumps-overtures-russians/story?id=62511529}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=May 30, 2019 |last=Bump |first=Philip |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/05/30/trump-briefly-acknowledges-that-russia-aided-his-election-falsely-says-he-didnt-help-effort/ |accessdate=March 5, 2020 |title=Trump briefly acknowledges that Russia aided his election – and falsely says he didn't help the effort |quote=Mueller's investigation bolstered those findings and demonstrated ways in which Trump and his campaign aided or encouraged those interference efforts, even if unwittingly.}}</ref>


=== Defeat to Biden ===
The second volume of the Mueller report dealt with possible obstruction of justice by Trump.<ref name="WaPoLays">{{cite news |last1=Barrett |first1=Devlin |last2=Zapotosky |first2=Matt |title=Mueller report lays out obstruction evidence against the president |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/attorney-general-to-provide-overview-of-mueller-report-at-news-conference-before-its-release/2019/04/17/8dcc9440-54b9-11e9-814f-e2f46684196e_story.html |work=] |date=April 17, 2019 |accessdate=April 20, 2019}}</ref> The report did not exonerate Trump of obstruction inasmuch as investigators were not confident of his innocence after examining his intent and actions.<ref name="FactCheck11">{{cite news |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2019/04/what-the-mueller-report-says-about-obstruction/ |title=What the Mueller Report Says About Obstruction |last1=Farley |first1=Robert |last2=Robertson |first2=Lori |last3=Gore |first3=D'Angelo |last4=Spencer |first4=Saranac Hale |last5=Fichera |first5=Angelo |last6=McDonald |first6=Jessica |date=April 19, 2019 |website=] |access-date=April 22, 2019}}</ref> Investigators decided they could not "apply an approach that could potentially result in a judgment that the President committed crimes" as an ] opinion stated that a sitting president could not be indicted, and investigators would not accuse him of a crime when he cannot clear his name in court.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/robert-mueller-statement-today-report-investigation-trump-2016-election-live-updates-2019-05/ |title=Mueller: If it were clear president committed no crime, "we would have said so" |last=Segers |first=Grace |date=May 29, 2019 |work=] |accessdate=June 2, 2019}}</ref> The report concluded that Congress, having the authority to take action against a president for wrongdoing, "may apply the obstruction laws".<ref name=APdilemma>{{cite news |last=Mascaro |first=Lisa |title=Mueller drops obstruction dilemma on Congress |url=https://www.apnews.com/35829a2b010248f193d1efd00c4de7e5 |work=] |date=April 18, 2019 |accessdate=April 20, 2019}}</ref> Congress subsequently launched an ] following the ], albeit it ultimately did not press charges related to the Mueller investigation.
{{Main|2020 United States presidential election|Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign}}
Breaking with precedent, Trump filed to run for a second term within a few hours of assuming the presidency.<ref>{{cite news |last=Morehouse |first=Lee |date=January 31, 2017 |title=Trump breaks precedent, files as candidate for re-election on first day |url=https://www.azfamily.com/story/34380443/trump-breaks-precedent-files-on-first-day-as-candidate-for-re-election |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202210255/https://www.azfamily.com/story/34380443/trump-breaks-precedent-files-on-first-day-as-candidate-for-re-election |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |access-date=February 19, 2017 |work=]}}</ref> He held his first reelection rally less than a month after taking office<ref>{{cite news |last=Graham |first=David A. |date=February 15, 2017 |title=Trump Kicks Off His 2020 Reelection Campaign on Saturday |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/02/trump-kicks-off-his-2020-reelection-campaign-on-saturday/516909/ |access-date=February 19, 2017 |work=]}}</ref> and officially became the ] in August 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Jonathan |author-link1=Jonathan Martin (journalist) |last2=Burns |first2=Alexander |author-link2=Alex Burns (journalist) |last3=Karni |first3=Annie |author-link3=Annie Karni |date=August 24, 2020 |title=Nominating Trump, Republicans Rewrite His Record |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/24/us/politics/republican-convention-recap.html |access-date=August 25, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> In his first two years in office, Trump's reelection committee reported raising $67.5&nbsp;million and began 2019 with $19.3&nbsp;million in cash.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Balcerzak |first1=Ashley |last2=Levinthal |first2=Dave |last3=Levine |first3=Carrie |last4=Kleiner |first4=Sarah |last5=Beachum |first5=Lateshia |date=February 1, 2019 |title=Donald Trump's campaign cash machine: big, brawny and burning money |url=https://publicintegrity.org/politics/donald-trump-money-campaign-2020/ |access-date=October 8, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> By July 2020, his campaign and the Republican Party had raised $1.1&nbsp;billion and spent $800&nbsp;million, losing their cash advantage over Biden.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goldmacher |first1=Shane |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |author-link2=Maggie Haberman |date=September 7, 2020 |title=How Trump's Billion-Dollar Campaign Lost Its Cash Advantage |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/07/us/politics/trump-election-campaign-fundraising.html |access-date=October 8, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> The cash shortage forced the campaign to scale back advertising spending.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Egkolfopoulou |first1=Misyrlena |last2=Allison |first2=Bill |last3=Korte |first3=Gregory |date=September 14, 2020 |title=Trump Campaign Slashes Ad Spending in Key States in Cash Crunch |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-14/trump-campaign-slashes-ad-spending-in-key-states-in-cash-crunch |access-date=October 8, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> Trump campaign advertisements focused on crime, claiming that cities would descend into lawlessness if Biden won.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |author-link1=Maggie Haberman |last2=Corasaniti |first2=Nick |last3=Karni |first3=Annie |author-link3=Annie Karni |date=July 21, 2020 |title=As Trump Pushes into Portland, His Campaign Ads Turn Darker |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/21/us/politics/trump-portland-federal-agents.html |access-date=July 25, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> He repeatedly misrepresented Biden's positions<ref>{{cite news |last=Bump |first=Philip |date=August 28, 2020 |title=Nearly every claim Trump made about Biden's positions was false |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/08/28/nearly-every-claim-trump-made-about-bidens-positions-was-false/ |access-date=October 9, 2021 |newspaper=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dale |first1=Daniel |author-link1=Daniel Dale |last2=Subramaniam |first2=Tara |last3=Lybrand |first3=Holmes |date=August 31, 2020 |title=Fact check: Trump makes more false claims about Biden and protests |url=https://cnn.com/2020/08/31/politics/trump-kenosha-briefing-fact-check/ |access-date=October 9, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> and shifted to appeals to racism.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hopkins |first=Dan |date=August 27, 2020 |title=Why Trump's Racist Appeals Might Be Less Effective In 2020 Than They Were In 2016 |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-trumps-racist-appeals-might-be-less-effective-in-2020-than-they-were-in-2016 |access-date=May 28, 2021 |work=]}}</ref>


Starting in the spring of 2020, Trump began to sow doubts about the election, claiming without evidence that the election would be rigged and that the expected widespread use of mail balloting would produce massive election fraud.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kumar |first=Anita |date=August 8, 2020 |title=Trump aides exploring executive actions to curb voting by mail |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/08/trump-wants-to-cut-mail-in-voting-the-republican-machine-is-helping-him-392428 |access-date=August 15, 2020 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Saul |first1=Stephanie |author-link1=Stephanie Saul |last2=Epstein |first2=Reid J. |date=August 31, 2020 |title=Trump Is Pushing a False Argument on Vote-by-Mail Fraud. Here Are the Facts. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/article/mail-in-voting-explained.html |access-date=October 8, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> When, in August, the House of Representatives voted for a $25&nbsp;billion grant to the U.S. Postal Service for the expected surge in mail voting, he blocked funding, saying he wanted to prevent any increase in voting by mail, creating a ].<ref>{{cite news |last=Bogage |first=Jacob |date=August 12, 2020 |title=Trump says Postal Service needs money for mail-in voting, but he'll keep blocking funding |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/08/12/postal-service-ballots-dejoy/ |access-date=August 14, 2020 |newspaper=]}}</ref> He repeatedly refused to say whether he would accept the results if he lost and commit to a ].<ref>{{cite news |last=Sonmez |first=Felicia |author-link=Felicia Sonmez |date=July 19, 2020 |title=Trump declines to say whether he will accept November election results |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-declines-to-say-whether-he-will-accept-november-election-results/2020/07/19/40009804-c9c7-11ea-91f1-28aca4d833a0_story.html |access-date=October 8, 2021 |newspaper=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Browne |first1=Ryan |last2=Starr |first2=Barbara |author-link2=Barbara Starr |date=September 25, 2020 |title=As Trump refuses to commit to a peaceful transition, Pentagon stresses it will play no role in the election |url=https://cnn.com/2020/09/25/politics/pentagon-election-insurrection-act/ |access-date=October 8, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> Biden won the election on November&nbsp;3, receiving 81.3&nbsp;million votes (51.3&nbsp;percent) to Trump's 74.2&nbsp;million (46.8&nbsp;percent)<ref name="vote1">{{cite news |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Presidential Election Results: Biden Wins |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/results-president.html |access-date=December 11, 2020 |work=]}}</ref><ref name="vote2">{{cite news |date=December 10, 2020 |title=2020 US Presidential Election Results: Live Map |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Elections/2020-us-presidential-election-results-live-map |access-date=December 11, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> and 306 ] votes to Trump's 232.<ref name="formalize">{{cite news |last1=Holder |first1=Josh |last2=Gabriel |first2=Trip |author-link2=Trip Gabriel |last3=Paz |first3=Isabella Grullón |date=December 14, 2020 |title=Biden's 306 Electoral College Votes Make His Victory Official |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/14/us/elections/electoral-college-results.html |access-date=October 9, 2021 |work=]}}</ref>
==== Associates ====


==== Rejection of results ====
{{See also|Criminal charges brought in the Special Counsel investigation (2017–2019)}}
{{Further|Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|2020–21 United States election protests|Election denial movement in the United States}}


At 2 a.m. the morning after the election, with the results still unclear, Trump declared victory.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 4, 2020 |title=With results from key states unclear, Trump declares victory |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-election-trump-statement/with-results-from-key-states-unclear-trump-declares-victory-idUKKBN27K0U3 |access-date=November 10, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> After Biden was projected the winner days later, Trump baselessly alleged election fraud.<ref>{{cite news |last=King |first=Ledyard |date=November 7, 2020 |title=Trump revives baseless claims of election fraud after Biden wins presidential race |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/11/07/joe-biden-victory-president-trump-claims-election-far-over/6202892002/ |access-date=November 7, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> He and his allies filed many ], which were rejected by at least 86 judges in both the ] and ], including by federal judges appointed by Trump himself, finding no factual or legal basis.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Helderman |first1=Rosalind S. |author-link1=Rosalind S. Helderman |last2=Viebeck |first2=Elise |date=December 12, 2020 |title='The last wall': How dozens of judges across the political spectrum rejected Trump's efforts to overturn the election |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/judges-trump-election-lawsuits/2020/12/12/e3a57224-3a72-11eb-98c4-25dc9f4987e8_story.html |access-date=October 9, 2021 |newspaper=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Blake |first=Aaron |date=December 14, 2020 |title=The most remarkable rebukes of Trump's legal case: From the judges he hand-picked |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/12/14/most-remarkable-rebukes-trumps-legal-case-judges-he-hand-picked/ |access-date=October 9, 2021 |newspaper=]}}</ref> His allegations were also refuted by state election officials.<ref>{{cite news |last=Woodward |first=Calvin |date=November 16, 2020 |title=AP Fact Check: Trump conclusively lost, denies the evidence |url=https://apnews.com/article/ap-fact-check-trump-conclusively-lost-bbb9d8c808021ed65d91aee003a7bc64 |access-date=November 17, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> On December&nbsp;11, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear ] that asked the court to overturn the election results in four states won by Biden.<ref>{{cite news |last=Liptak |first=Adam |author-link=Adam Liptak |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/politics/supreme-court-election-texas.html |access-date=October 9, 2021 |work=]}}</ref>
In August 2018, former Trump campaign chairman ] was ] on eight felony counts of false tax filing and bank fraud.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/manafort-jury-suggests-it-cannot-come-to-a-consensus-on-a-single-count/2018/08/21/a2478ac0-a559-11e8-a656-943eefab5daf_story.html |title=Manafort convicted on eight counts; mistrial declared on ten others |last1=Zapotosky |first1=Matt |last2=Bui |first2=Lynh |last3=Jackman |first3=Tom |last4=Barrett |first4=Devlin |date=August 21, 2018 |work=] |access-date=August 21, 2018}}</ref> Trump said he felt very badly for Manafort and praised him for resisting the pressure to make a deal with prosecutors. According to ], Trump's personal attorney, Trump had sought advice about pardoning Manafort but was counseled against it.<ref name="Leonnig823">{{cite news |last1=Leonnig |first1=Carol D. |author1link=Carol D. Leonnig |last2=Dawsey |first2=Josh |author2link=Josh Dawsey |date=August 23, 2018 |title=Trump sought his lawyers' advice weeks ago on possibility of pardoning Manafort, Giuliani says |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-sought-his-lawyers-advice-weeks-ago-on-possibility-of-pardoning-manafort-but-they-counseled-against-it-giuliani-says/2018/08/23/17dce5c6-a70a-11e8-8fac-12e98c13528d_story.html |work=] |access-date=August 23, 2018}}</ref>


Trump withdrew from public activities in the weeks following the election.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=David |date=November 21, 2020 |title=Trump's monumental sulk: president retreats from public eye as Covid ravages US |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/21/trump-monumental-sulk-president-retreats-from-public-eye-covid-ravages-us |access-date=October 9, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> He initially blocked government officials from cooperating in ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lamire |first1=Jonathan |last2=Miller |first2=Zeke |author-link2=Zeke Miller |date=November 9, 2020 |title=Refusing to concede, Trump blocks cooperation on transition |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-virus-outbreak-elections-voting-fraud-and-irregularities-2d39186996f69de245e59c966d4d140f |access-date=November 10, 2020 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Timm |first1=Jane C. |last2=Smith |first2=Allan |date=November 14, 2020 |title=Trump is stonewalling Biden's transition. Here's why it matters. |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/trump-stonewalling-biden-s-transition-here-s-why-it-matters-n1247768 |access-date=November 26, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> After three weeks, the administrator of the ] declared Biden the "apparent winner" of the election, allowing the disbursement of transition resources to his team.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rein |first=Lisa |date=November 23, 2020 |title=Under pressure, Trump appointee Emily Murphy approves transition in unusually personal letter to Biden |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gsa-emily-murphy-transition-biden/2020/11/23/c0f43e84-2de0-11eb-96c2-aac3f162215d_story.html |access-date=November 24, 2020 |newspaper=]}}</ref> Trump still did not formally concede while claiming he recommended the GSA begin transition protocols.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Naylor |first1=Brian |last2=Wise |first2=Alana |date=November 23, 2020 |title=President-Elect Biden To Begin Formal Transition Process After Agency OK |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/biden-transition-updates/2020/11/23/937956178/trump-administration-to-begin-biden-transition-protocols |access-date=December 11, 2020 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ordoñez |first1=Franco |last2=Rampton |first2=Roberta |date=November 26, 2020 |title=Trump Is In No Mood To Concede, But Says Will Leave White House |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/biden-transition-updates/2020/11/26/939386434/trump-is-in-no-mood-to-concede-but-says-will-leave-white-house |access-date=December 11, 2020 |work=]}}</ref>
In November 2018, Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about Trump's 2016 attempts to reach a deal with Russia to build ]. Cohen said he had made the false statements on behalf of Trump, who was identified as "Individual-1" in the court documents.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/michael-cohen-trumps-former-lawyer-pleads-guilty-to-lying-to-congress/2018/11/29/5fac986a-f3e0-11e8-bc79-68604ed88993_story.html |title=Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, pleads guilty to lying to Congress about Moscow project |date=November 29, 2018 |work=] |first1=Devlin |last1=Barrett |first2=Matt |last2=Zapotosky |first3=Rosalind S. |last3=Helderman |author3link=Rosalind Helderman |accessdate=December 12, 2018}}</ref>


The Electoral College formalized Biden's victory on December&nbsp;14.<ref name="formalize" /> From November to January, Trump repeatedly sought help to ], personally pressuring Republican local and state office-holders,<ref>{{cite news |last=Gardner |first=Amy |date=January 3, 2021 |title='I just want to find 11,780 votes': In extraordinary hour-long call, Trump pressures Georgia secretary of state to recalculate the vote in his favor |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-raffensperger-call-georgia-vote/2021/01/03/d45acb92-4dc4-11eb-bda4-615aaefd0555_story.html |access-date=January 20, 2021 |newspaper=]}}</ref> Republican state and federal legislators,<ref name="pressure">{{cite news |last1=Kumar |first1=Anita |last2=Orr |first2=Gabby |last3=McGraw |first3=Meridith |date=December 21, 2020 |title=Inside Trump's pressure campaign to overturn the election |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/21/trump-pressure-campaign-overturn-election-449486 |access-date=December 22, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> the Justice Department,<ref>{{cite news |last=Cohen |first=Marshall |date=November 5, 2021 |title=Timeline of the coup: How Trump tried to weaponize the Justice Department to overturn the 2020 election |url=https://cnn.com/2021/11/05/politics/january-6-timeline-trump-coup/ |access-date=November 6, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> and Vice President Pence,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |author-link1=Maggie Haberman |last2=Karni |first2=Annie |author-link2=Annie Karni |date=January 5, 2021 |title=Pence Said to Have Told Trump He Lacks Power to Change Election Result |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/05/us/politics/pence-trump-election-results.html |access-date=January 7, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> urging various actions such as ], or a request for Georgia officials to "find" votes and announce a "recalculated" result.<ref name="pressure" /> On February&nbsp;10, 2021, Georgia prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into Trump's efforts to subvert the election in Georgia.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fausset |first1=Richard |last2=Hakim |first2=Danny |date=February 10, 2021 |title=Georgia Prosecutors Open Criminal Inquiry Into Trump's Efforts to Subvert Election |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/10/us/politics/trump-georgia-investigation.html |access-date=February 11, 2021 |work=]}}</ref>
The five Trump associates who have pleaded guilty or have been convicted in Mueller's investigation or related cases include Paul Manafort, deputy campaign manager ], foreign policy advisor ], Michael Flynn, and Michael Cohen.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mangan |first=Dan |title=Trump and Giuliani are right that 'collusion is not a crime.' But that doesn't matter for Mueller's probe |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/30/giuliani-is-right-collusion-isnt-a-crime-but-that-wont-help-trump.html |website=] |date=July 30, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=<!-- staff writers; no byline --> |title=Mueller investigation: No jail time sought for Trump ex-adviser Michael Flynn |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46449950 |work=] |date=December 5, 2018}}</ref>


Trump did not attend ].<ref>{{cite news |last=Haberman |first=Maggie |author-link=Maggie Haberman |date=January 20, 2021 |title=Trump Departs Vowing, 'We Will Be Back in Some Form' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/20/us/politics/trump-presidency.html |access-date=January 25, 2021 |work=]}}</ref>
In February 2020, Trump campaign adviser ] was sentenced to over three years in jail, after being convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering regarding his attempts to learn more about hacked Democratic emails during the 2016 election. The sentencing judge said Stone "was prosecuted for covering up for the president".<ref name=WP-200220>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/roger-stone-sentence-due-thursday-in-federal-court/2020/02/19/2e01bfc8-4c38-11ea-9b5c-eac5b16dafaa_story.html |title=Roger Stone sentenced to three years and four months in prison, as Trump predicts 'exoneration' for his friend |work=] |date=February 20, 2020 |accessdate=March 3, 2020}}</ref>


==== 2019 congressional investigation ==== === January 6 Capitol attack ===
{{Main|January 6 United States Capitol attack}}
{{For timeline|Timeline of the January 6 United States Capitol attack}}
]
In December 2020, '']'' reported ] was on red alert, and ranking officers had discussed what to do if Trump declared ]. The Pentagon responded with quotes from defense leaders that the military has no role in the outcome of elections.<ref>{{cite news |last=Arkin |first=William M. |date=December 24, 2020 |title=Exclusive: Donald Trump's martial-law talk has military on red alert |url=https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-donald-trumps-martial-law-talk-has-military-red-alert-1557056 |access-date=September 15, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> When Trump moved supporters into positions of power at the Pentagon after the November 2020 election, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ] and CIA director ] became concerned about a possible ] attempt or military action against China or Iran.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gangel |first1=Jamie |author-link1=Jamie Gangel |last2=Herb |first2=Jeremy |last3=Cohen |first3=Marshall |last4=Stuart |first4=Elizabeth |last5=Starr |first5=Barbara |author-link5=Barbara Starr |date=July 14, 2021 |title='They're not going to f**king succeed': Top generals feared Trump would attempt a coup after election, according to new book |url=https://cnn.com/2021/07/14/politics/donald-trump-election-coup-new-book-excerpt/ |access-date=September 15, 2021 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Breuninger |first=Kevin |date=July 15, 2021 |title=Top U.S. Gen. Mark Milley feared Trump would attempt a coup after his loss to Biden, new book says |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/15/mark-milley-feared-coup-after-trump-lost-to-biden-book.html |access-date=September 15, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> Milley insisted that he should be consulted about any military orders from Trump, including the use of nuclear weapons.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gangel |first1=Jamie |author-link1=Jamie Gangel |last2=Herb |first2=Jeremy |last3=Stuart |first3=Elizabeth |date=September 14, 2021 |title=Woodward/Costa book: Worried Trump could 'go rogue,' Milley took top-secret action to protect nuclear weapons |url=https://cnn.com/2021/09/14/politics/woodward-book-trump-nuclear/ |access-date=September 15, 2021 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Schmidt |first=Michael S. |author-link=Michael S. Schmidt |date=September 14, 2021 |title=Fears That Trump Might Launch a Strike Prompted General to Reassure China, Book Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/14/us/politics/peril-woodward-book-trump.html |access-date=September 15, 2021 |work=]}}</ref>


On January&nbsp;6, 2021, while ] was taking place in the U.S. Capitol, Trump held a noon rally at ] in Washington, D.C., where he called for the election result to be overturned and urged his supporters to "fight like hell" and "take back our country" by marching to the Capitol.<ref>{{cite news |last=Savage |first=Charlie |author-link=Charlie Savage (author) |date=January 10, 2021 |title=Incitement to Riot? What Trump Told Supporters Before Mob Stormed Capitol |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/10/us/trump-speech-riot.html |access-date=January 11, 2021 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=January 6, 2021 |title=Donald Trump Speech 'Save America' Rally Transcript January 6 |url=https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/donald-trump-speech-save-america-rally-transcript-january-6 |access-date=January 8, 2021 |website=]}}</ref> Many supporters did, joining a crowd already there. The mob broke into the building, disrupting certification and causing the evacuation of Congress.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tan |first1=Shelley |last2=Shin |first2=Youjin |last3=Rindler |first3=Danielle |date=January 9, 2021 |title=How one of America's ugliest days unraveled inside and outside the Capitol |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/interactive/2021/capitol-insurrection-visual-timeline/ |access-date=May 2, 2021 |newspaper=]}}</ref> During the violence, Trump posted messages on ] without asking the rioters to disperse. At 6&nbsp;p.m., he tweeted that the rioters should "go home with love & in peace", calling them "great patriots" and repeating that the election was stolen.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Panetta |first1=Grace |last2=Lahut |first2=Jake |last3=Zavarise |first3=Isabella |last4=Frias |first4=Lauren |date=December 21, 2022 |title=A timeline of what Trump was doing as his MAGA mob attacked the US Capitol on Jan. 6 |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/timeline-what-trump-was-doing-as-his-mob-attacked-the-capitol-on-jan-6-2022-7 |access-date=June 1, 2023 |work=]}}</ref> After the mob was removed, Congress reconvened and confirmed Biden's win in the early hours of the following morning.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gregorian |first1=Dareh |last2=Gibson |first2=Ginger |last3=Kapur |first3=Sahil |last4=Helsel |first4=Phil |date=January 6, 2021 |title=Congress confirms Biden's win after pro-Trump mob's assault on Capitol |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/congress-begin-electoral-vote-count-amid-protests-inside-outside-capitol-n1253013 |access-date=January 8, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> According to the Department of Justice, more than 140 police officers were injured, and five people died.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rubin |first1=Olivia |last2=Mallin |first2=Alexander |last3=Steakin |first3=Will |date=January 4, 2022 |title=By the numbers: How the Jan. 6 investigation is shaping up 1 year later |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/numbers-jan-investigation-shaping-year/story?id=82057743 |access-date=June 4, 2023 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Cameron |first=Chris |date=January 5, 2022 |title=These Are the People Who Died in Connection With the Capitol Riot |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/05/us/politics/jan-6-capitol-deaths.html |access-date=January 29, 2022 |work=]}}</ref> In March 2023, Trump collaborated with incarcerated rioters on a ]. In June, he said that, if reelected, he would pardon many of them.<ref>{{cite news |last=Terkel |first=Amanda |date=May 11, 2023 |title=Trump says he would pardon a 'large portion' of Jan. 6 rioters |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-says-pardon-large-portion-jan-6-rioters-rcna83873 |access-date=June 3, 2023 |work=]}}</ref>
In March 2019, the ] launched a broad investigation of Trump for possible obstruction of justice, corruption, and abuse of power.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/house-judiciary-committee-launches-probe-191841170.html |title=House Judiciary Committee launches probe into possible obstruction by Trump |date=March 3, 2019 |accessdate=March 3, 2019 |website=]}}</ref> Committee chairman ] sent letters demanding documents to 81 individuals and organizations associated with Trump's presidency, business, and private life, saying it is "very clear that the president obstructed justice".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/house-panel-widen-trump-probe-request-documents-190303172658255.html |title=US: House panel to widen Trump probe, request documents |date=March 3, 2019 |accessdate=March 3, 2019 |website=]}}</ref><ref name="Fandos-190304">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/04/us/politics/trump-obstruction.html |title=With Sweeping Document Request, Democrats Launch Broad Trump Corruption Inquiry |last=Fandos |first=Nicholas |authorlink=Nicholas Fandos |date=March 4, 2019 |work=] |accessdate=March 6, 2019}}</ref> Three other committee chairmen wrote the White House and State Department requesting details of Trump's communications with Putin, including any efforts to conceal the content of those communications.<ref name="Fandos-190304" /> The White House refused to comply, asserting that presidential communications with foreign leaders are protected and confidential.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/21/politics/trump-putin-white-house-rejects/index.html |title=White House rejects Dem requests for info on Putin communications |last1=Herb |first1=Jeremy |date=March 21, 2019 |accessdate=March 21, 2019 |website=] |last2=Brown |first2=Pamela |author2link=Pamela Brown (journalist)}}</ref>


== Inter-presidency (2021–present) ==
===Judiciary===
{{Split section|Inter-presidency of Donald Trump |discuss={{TALKPAGENAME}}#Split proposed |date=December 2024}}
{{Main|List of federal judges appointed by Donald Trump|Donald Trump judicial appointment controversies}}
{{See also|Personal and business legal affairs of Donald Trump|Legal affairs of Donald Trump as president}}
Trump has appointed more than 200 ] who were confirmed by the Senate.<ref name=WheelerFriday>{{cite web |first=Russell |last=Wheeler |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2020/06/26/trumps-200th-judicial-appointment-less-than-meets-the-eye/ |publisher=] |work=FixGov |title=Trump's 200th judicial appointment: Less than meets the eye |date=June 26, 2020}}</ref><ref name=Hulse>{{cite news |first=Carl |last=Hulse |authorlink=Carl Hulse |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/24/us/trump-senate-judges-wilson.html |title=With Wilson Confirmation, Trump and Senate Republicans Achieve a Milestone |work=] |date=June 24, 2020}}</ref> Senate Republicans, led by Senate Majority Leader ], have rapidly confirmed Trump's judicial appointees, usually against unified Democratic opposition.<ref name=Hulse/><ref name=Ruiz>{{cite news |first1=Rebecca R. |last1=Ruiz |first2=Robert |last2=Gebeloff |first3=Steve |last3=Eder |first4=Ben |last4=Protess |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/14/us/trump-appeals-court-judges.html |title=A Conservative Agenda Unleashed on the Federal Courts |date=March 14, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> Trump's appointments have shifted the federal judiciary to the ].<ref name=Ruiz/> Trump's judicial appointments have been overwhelmingly white men,<ref name=Ruiz/><ref name=Cohen>{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Cohen |date=July 1, 2020 |url=https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/trump-and-mcconnells-overwhelmingly-white-male-judicial-appointments |publisher=] |title=Trump and McConnell's Overwhelmingly White Male Judicial Appointments}}</ref> and are younger on average than appointees by Trump's predecessors.<ref name=Ruiz/> Many are affiliated with the ].<ref name=Ruiz/>


Trump lives at his Mar-a-Lago club, having established an office there as provided for by the ].<ref name=moved/><ref>{{cite web|last=Wolfe|first=Jan|title=Explainer: Why Trump's post-presidency perks, like a pension and office, are safe for the rest of his life|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-impeachment-benefits-explai-idUSKBN29W238|work=]|date=January 27, 2021 |access-date=February 2, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Quinn|first=Melissa|title=Trump opens 'Office of the Former President' in Florida|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-office-former-president-florida/|work=]|date=January 27, 2021 |access-date=February 2, 2021}}</ref> He is entitled to live there legally as a club employee.<ref>{{cite web|last=Spencer|first=Terry|title=Palm Beach considers options as Trump remains at Mar-a-Lago|url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-fort-lauderdale-florida-mar-a-lago-melania-trump-fd4fd80c6a2d7ef23a274c0597700730|work=]|date=January 28, 2021 |access-date=February 2, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Durkee|first=Allison|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/05/07/trump-can-legally-live-at-mar-a-lago-palm-beach-says/|title=Trump Can Legally Live At Mar-A-Lago, Palm Beach Says|work=]|date=May 7, 2021|access-date=March 7, 2024}}</ref>
Trump has made three nominations to the ]: ], ], and ].<ref name=Barrett>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/25/us/politics/amy-coney-barrett-supreme-court.html |title=Trump Selects Amy Coney Barrett to Fill Ginsburg's Seat on the Supreme Court |first1=Peter |last1=Baker |author1link=Peter Baker (journalist) |first2=Maggie |last2=Haberman |author2link=Maggie Haberman |date=September 25, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> ] in 2017 in a mostly ] of 54&ndash;45, after Republicans invoked the "]" (a historic change to Senate rules removing the 60-vote threshold for advancing Supreme Court nominations) to defeat a Democratic ].<ref name=Caldwell>{{cite news |first=Leigh Ann |last=Caldwell |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/neil-gorsuch-confirmed-supreme-court-after-senate-uses-nuclear-option-n743766 |work=] |title=Neil Gorsuch Confirmed to Supreme Court After Senate Uses 'Nuclear Option' |date=April 7, 2020}}</ref> Trump's predecessor ] ] in 2016 to fill the vacancy, left by the death of ], but Senate Republicans under McConnell refused to consider the nomination in the last year of Obama's presidency, angering Democrats.<ref name=Caldwell/> ] in 2018 to replace retiring Justice ]; the Senate confirmed Kavanaugh in a mostly party-line vote of 50–48, after a bitter confirmation battle centered on ]'s allegation that Kavanaugh had attempted to rape her when they were teenagers, which Kavanaugh denied.<ref>{{cite news |first=Sheryl Gay |last=Stolberg |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/06/us/politics/brett-kavanaugh-supreme-court.html |date=October 6, 2018 |title=Kavanaugh Is Sworn In After Close Confirmation Vote in Senate |work=]}}</ref> In 2020, weeks before the elections, ] ] to fill the vacancy left by the death of Justice ].<ref name=Barrett/> On October 26, 2020, the Senate voted 52–48 to confirm her nomination.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Veronica |last=Rocha |date=October 27, 2020 |title=Amy Coney Barrett's Senate confirmation vote |url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/amy-coney-barrett-senate-confirmation-vote/index.html |access-date=October 27, 2020 |website=]}}</ref>


] concerning the ] were commonly referred to as the "]" in the press and by his critics. In May 2021, he and his supporters attempted to co-opt the term, using it to refer to the election itself.<ref>{{cite web|last=Solender|first=Andrew|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2021/05/03/trump-says-hell-appropriate-the-big-lie-to-refer-to-his-election-loss/|title=Trump Says He'll Appropriate 'The Big Lie' To Refer To His Election Loss|work=]|date=May 3, 2021 |access-date=October 10, 2021}}</ref><ref name="key">{{cite web|last=Wolf|first=Zachary B.|url=https://cnn.com/2021/05/19/politics/donald-trump-big-lie-explainer/|title=The 5 key elements of Trump's Big Lie and how it came to be|work=]|date=May 19, 2021 |access-date=October 10, 2021}}</ref> The Republican Party used his false election narrative to justify the ] in its favor.<ref name="key"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Balz|first=Dan|author-link=Dan Balz|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-big-lie-elections-impact/2021/05/29/d7992fa2-c07d-11eb-b26e-53663e6be6ff_story.html|title=The GOP push to revisit 2020 has worrisome implications for future elections|newspaper=]|date=May 29, 2021 |access-date=June 18, 2021}}</ref> As late as July 2022, he was still pressuring state legislators to overturn the 2020 election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/21/us/politics/trump-wisconsin-election-call.html|title=Trump Recently Urged a Powerful Legislator to Overturn His 2020 Defeat in Wisconsin|last1=Bender|first1=Michael C.|author-link1=Michael C. Bender|last2=Epstein|first2=Reid J.|date=July 20, 2022|work=]|access-date=August 13, 2022}}</ref>
As president, Trump has disparaged courts and judges whom he disagrees with, often in personal terms, and has questioned the judiciary's constitutional authority. Trump's attacks on the courts have drawn rebukes from observers, including sitting federal judges, who are concerned with the effect of Trump's statements on the ] and public confidence in the judiciary.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Abby |last1=Phillip |first2=Robert |last2=Barnes |first3=Ed |last3=O'Keefe |title=Supreme Court nominee Gorsuch says Trump's attacks on judiciary are 'demoralizing' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/supreme-court-nominee-gorsuch-says-trumps-attacks-on-judiciary-are-demoralizing/2017/02/08/64e03fe2-ee3f-11e6-9662-6eedf1627882_story.html |work=] |date=February 8, 2017}}</ref><ref name=OwnWords>{{cite report |title=In His Own Words: The President's Attacks on the Courts |url=https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/his-own-words-presidents-attacks-courts |publisher=] |date=February 14, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Katie |last=Shepherd |title=Trump 'violates all recognized democratic norms,' federal judge says in biting speech on judicial independence |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/11/08/judge-says-trump-violates-democratic-norms-judiciary-speech/ |work=] |date=November 8, 2019}}</ref>


Unlike other former presidents, Trump continued to dominate his party; he has been described as a modern ]. He continued fundraising, raising more than twice as much as the Republican Party itself, and profited from fundraisers many Republican candidates held at Mar-a-Lago. Much of his focus was on how elections are run and on ousting election officials who had resisted his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. In the ] he endorsed over 200 candidates for various offices, ] his false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him.<ref>{{cite web|last=Goldmacher|first=Shane|title=Mar-a-Lago Machine: Trump as a Modern-Day Party Boss|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/17/us/politics/trump-mar-a-lago.html|access-date=July 31, 2022|work=]|date=April 17, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Paybarah|first=Azi|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/02/us/politics/trump-endorsements-midterm-primary-election.html|title=Where Trump's Endorsement Record Stands Halfway through Primary Season|work=]|date=August 2, 2022|access-date=August 3, 2022}}</ref><ref name="lat">{{cite web|last1=Castleman|first1=Terry|last2=Mason|first2=Melanie|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-05-03/trump-endorsements-2022-election|title=Tracking Trump's endorsement record in the 2022 primary elections|work=]|date=August 5, 2022|access-date=August 6, 2022}}</ref>
=== 2020 presidential campaign ===
{{main|Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign}}
{{see also|2020 United States Postal Service crisis}}
Trump signaled his intention to run for a second term by filing with the FEC within a few hours of assuming the presidency.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-hints-at-re-election-bid-vowing-eight-years-of-great-things/article/2612632 |title=Trump hints at re-election bid, vowing 'eight years' of 'great things' |last=Westwood |first=Sarah |work=] |date=January 22, 2017 |accessdate=February 19, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Jessica |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/06/18/733505037/trump-set-to-officially-launch-reelection-but-hasnt-he-been-running-all-along?t=1594367350966 |title=Trump Set To Officially Launch Reelection Bid, But Hasn't He Been Running All Along? |date=June 18, 2019 |access-date=July 9, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> This transformed his 2016 election committee into a 2020 reelection one.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.azfamily.com/story/34380443/trump-breaks-precedent-files-on-first-day-as-candidate-for-re-election |title=Trump breaks precedent, files as candidate for re-election on first day |publisher=] |location=Phoenix, Arizona |first=Lee |last=Morehouse |date=January 31, 2017 |accessdate=February 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202210255/http://www.azfamily.com/story/34380443/trump-breaks-precedent-files-on-first-day-as-candidate-for-re-election |archive-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref> Trump marked the official start of the campaign with a rally in ], on February 18, 2017, less than a month after taking office.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/02/trump-kicks-off-his-2020-reelection-campaign-on-saturday/516909/ |title=Trump Kicks Off His 2020 Reelection Campaign on Saturday |last=Graham |first=David A. |work=] |date=February 15, 2017 |accessdate=February 19, 2017}}</ref> In his first two years in office, Trump's reelection committee reported raising $67.5&nbsp;million, allowing him to begin 2019 with $19.3&nbsp;million cash on hand.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://publicintegrity.org/politics/donald-trump-money-campaign-2020/ |publisher=] |date=February 1, 2019 |first1=Ashley |last1=Balcerzak |first2=Dave |last2=Levinthal |first3=Carrier |last3=Levine |first4=Sarah |last4=Kleiner |first5=Lateshia |last5=Beachum |title=Donald Trump's campaign cash machine: big, brawny and burning money}}</ref> From the beginning of 2019 through July 2020, the Trump campaign and Republican Party raised $1.1&nbsp;billion, but spent $800&nbsp;million of that amount, evaporating their formerly large cash advantage over the Democratic nominee former Vice President ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/07/us/politics/trump-election-campaign-fundraising.html |title=How Trump's Billion-Dollar Campaign Lost Its Cash Advantage |work=] |date=September 7, 2020 |first1=Shane |last1=Goldmacher |first2=Maggie |last2=Haberman |author2link=Maggie Haberman}}</ref> The campaign's cash crunch forcing a scale-back in advertising spending.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Misyrlena |last1=Egkolfopoulou |first2=Bill |last2=Allison |first3=Gregory |last3=Korte |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-14/trump-campaign-slashes-ad-spending-in-key-states-in-cash-crunch |work=] |date=September 14, 2020 |title=Trump Campaign Slashes Ad Spending in Key States in Cash Crunch}}</ref>


=== Business activities ===
Trump became the ] on August 24, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Jonathan |author1link=Jonathan Martin (journalist) |last2=Burns |first2=Alexander |author2link=Alex Burns (journalist) |last3=Karni |first3=Annie |author3link=Annie Karni |title=Nominating Trump, Republicans Rewrite His Record |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/24/us/politics/republican-convention-recap.html |work=] |date=August 25, 2020 |access-date=August 25, 2020}}</ref> Starting in spring 2020, Trump began to sow doubts about the election, repeatedly warning that the election would be "rigged"<ref name="Politico-Rigged">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/25/donald-trump-rigged-election-talk-fears-274477 |title=Trump sees a 'rigged election' ahead. Democrats see a constitutional crisis in the making. |last=Siders |first=David |date=May 25, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=August 15, 2020}}</ref> and claiming without evidence that the expected widespread use of mail balloting would produce "massive election fraud".<ref name="Politico-Mail">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/08/trump-wants-to-cut-mail-in-voting-the-republican-machine-is-helping-him-392428 |title=Trump aides exploring executive actions to curb voting by mail |last=Kumar |first=Anita |date=August 8, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=August 15, 2020}}</ref><ref name="NYT-MailFraud">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/article/mail-in-voting-explained.html |title=Trump Is Pushing a False Argument on Vote-by-Mail Fraud. Here Are the Facts. |first1=Stephanie |last1=Saul |author1link=Stephanie Saul |first2=Reid J. |last2=Epstein |date=August 31, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> When the House of Representatives voted for a $25&nbsp;billion grant to the U.S. Postal Service, to allow it to handle the expected surge in mail voting, Trump blocked funding, saying he wanted to prevent any increase in voting by mail.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/08/12/postal-service-ballots-dejoy/ |title=Trump says Postal Service needs money for mail-in voting, but he'll keep blocking funding |last=Bogage |first=Jacob |date=August 12, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=August 14, 2020}}</ref> In what ''The New York Times'' called an "extraordinary breach of presidential decorum", Trump raised the idea on July 30 of delaying the election.<ref name=NYT-200730>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/30/us/elections/biden-vs-trump.html |title=2020 Election Live Updates: Republicans Rebuke Trump for Floating Delaying Election, Something He Cannot Do |work=] |date=July 30, 2020 |accessdate=July 30, 2020}}</ref> He has repeatedly refused to say whether he will accept the results of the election and commit to a ] if he loses.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-declines-to-say-whether-he-will-accept-november-election-results/2020/07/19/40009804-c9c7-11ea-91f1-28aca4d833a0_story.html |title=Trump declines to say whether he will accept November election results |last=Sonmez |first=Felicia |date=July 19, 2020 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Ryan |last1=Browne |first2=Barbara |last2=Starr |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/25/politics/pentagon-election-insurrection-act/index.html |title=As Trump refuses to commit to a peaceful transition, Pentagon stresses it will play no role in the election |work=] |date=September 25, 2020}}</ref>
In February 2021, Trump registered a new company, ] (TMTG), for providing "social networking services" to U.S. customers.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lyons |first=Kim|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/6/22820389/sec-trump-spac-deal-investigation-truth-social-media-platform-public|title=SEC investigating Trump SPAC deal to take his social media platform public |work=] |date=December 6, 2021 |access-date=December 30, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/1934403D:US|title=Trump Media & Technology Group Corp |work=] |access-date=December 30, 2021}}</ref> In March 2024, TMTG merged with ] ] and became a ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Harwell |first=Drew|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/03/25/truth-social-trump-media-stock-market-billions/|title=Trump Media soars in first day of public tradings|newspaper=] |date=March 26, 2024 |access-date=March 28, 2024}}</ref> In February 2022, TMTG launched ], a social media platform.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bhuyian|first=Johana|date=February 21, 2022|title=Donald Trump's social media app launches on Apple store|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/21/donald-trumps-social-media-app-truth-social-launches-on-apple-store|access-date=May 7, 2023|work=]}}</ref> {{as of|2023|3|lc=n}}, Trump Media, which had taken $8&nbsp;million from Russia-connected entities, was being investigated by federal prosecutors for possible money laundering.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lowell|first=Hugo|date=March 15, 2023|title=Federal investigators examined Trump Media for possible money laundering, sources say|work=]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/15/trump-media-investigated-possible-money-laundering|access-date=April 5, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Durkee |first=Alison |title=Trump's Media Company Reportedly Under Federal Investigation For Money Laundering Linked To Russia |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/03/15/trumps-media-company-reportedly-under-federal-investigation-for-money-laundering-linked-to-russia/ |date=March 15, 2023 |access-date=March 15, 2023 |website=]}}</ref>


=== Investigations, criminal indictments and convictions, civil lawsuits ===
Trump campaign advertisements have focused on crime, claiming that cities would descend into lawlessness if his opponent Biden, won the presidency.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/21/us/politics/trump-portland-federal-agents.html |title=As Trump Pushes Into Portland, His Campaign Ads Turn Darker |date=July 21, 2020 |work=] |first1=Maggie |last1=Haberman |author1link=Maggie Haberman |first2=Nick |last2=Corasaniti |first3=Annie |last3=Karni |author3link=Annie Karni |accessdate=July 25, 2020}}</ref> Trump has repeatedly misrepresented Biden's positions during the campaign.<ref>{{cite news |first=Gregory |last=Korte |title=Trump's Speech Misrepresents Biden's Positions, Economic Facts |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-28/trump-s-speech-misrepresents-biden-s-positions-economic-facts |work=] |date=August 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Philip |last=Bump |title=Nearly every claim Trump made about Biden's positions was false |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/08/28/nearly-every-claim-trump-made-about-bidens-positions-was-false/ |work=] |date=August 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Daniel |last1=Dale |author1link=Daniel Dale |first2=Tara |last2=Subramaniam |first3=Holmes |last3=Lybrand |title=Fact check: Trump makes more false claims about Biden and protests |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/31/politics/trump-kenosha-briefing-fact-check/index.html |work=] |date=August 31, 2020}}</ref> Several sources described Trump's campaign message as shifting to "racist rhetoric" in an attempt to reclaim voters lost from his base.<ref name=Allen-200709>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/desperate-trump-bets-racism-2020-election-n1233116 |title=A desperate Trump bets on racism in 2020 election |work=] |date=July 9, 2020 |accessdate=July 8, 2020 |first=Jonathan |last=Allen}}</ref><ref name="Costa -200709">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-racism-white-nationalism-republicans/2020/07/04/2b0aebe6-bbaf-11ea-80b9-40ece9a701dc_story.html |title=Trump's push to amplify racism unnerves Republicans who have long enabled him |work=] |date=July 9, 2020 |accessdate=July 4, 2020 |first1=Robert |last1=Costa |author1link=Robert Costa (journalist) |first2=Philip |last2=Rucker |author2link=Philip Rucker}}</ref>
Trump is ] to be convicted of a crime and the first major-party candidate to run for president after a felony conviction.<ref>{{cite news|last=Roebuck|first=Jeremy|url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/donald-trump-guilty-verdict-what-next-prison-election-20240530.html|title=Donald Trump conviction: Will he go to prison? Can he still run for president? What happens now?|work=]|date=May 30, 2024|access-date=June 1, 2024}}</ref> As of May 2024, he faces numerous criminal charges and civil cases.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sisak|first=Michael R.|url=https://apnews.com/projects/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/|title=Trump Investigations|work=]|date=May 30, 2024|access-date=June 1, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/us/trump-investigations-charges-indictments.html|title=Keeping Track of the Trump Criminal Cases|work=]|date=May 30, 2024|access-date=June 1, 2024}}</ref>


==== FBI investigations ====
On November 7, 2020, after four days of vote counting, most major news outlets projected Biden as the winner of the presidential election.<ref name=projected>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/11/07/us/election-results |title=Election 2020 Live Updates: Joseph R. Biden Jr. Has Won the Presidency |date=November 7, 2020 |work=] |accessdate=7 November 2020}}</ref> Trump indicated that he does not accept this result and said "this election is far from over". He revived his claims of election fraud and said he will continue to launch legal challenges in key swing states.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/11/07/joe-biden-victory-president-trump-claims-election-far-over/6202892002/|title=Trump revives baseless claims of election fraud after Biden wins presidential race|last=King|first=Ledyard|date=November 7, 2020|work=USA Today|accessdate=7 November 2020}}</ref>
{{Main|FBI investigation into Donald Trump's handling of government documents|FBI search of Mar-a-Lago|Smith special counsel investigation}}
]
When Trump left the White House in January 2021, he took government materials with him to Mar-a-Lago. By May 2021, the ] (NARA) realized that important documents had not been turned over to them and asked his office to locate them. In January 2022, they retrieved 15 boxes of White House records from Mar-a-Lago. NARA later informed the Department of Justice that some of the retrieved documents were classified material.<ref name="cnn-tl">{{cite web|last1=Lybrand|first1=Holmes|last2=Cohen|first2=Marshall|last3=Rabinowitz|first3=Hannah|url=https://cnn.com/2022/08/09/politics/doj-investigation-trump-documents-timeline/|title=Timeline: The Justice Department criminal inquiry into Trump taking classified documents to Mar-a-Lago|work=]|date=August 12, 2022|access-date=August 14, 2022}}</ref> The Justice Department began an investigation<ref>{{cite web|last1=Montague|first1=Zach|last2=McCarthy|first2=Lauren|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/us/politics/trump-classified-records-timeline.html|title=The Timeline Related to the F.B.I.'s Search of Mar-a-Lago|date=August 9, 2022|work=]|access-date=August 14, 2022}}</ref> and sent Trump a subpoena for additional material.<ref name="cnn-tl"/> Justice Department officials visited Mar-a-Lago and received some classified documents from his lawyers,<ref name="cnn-tl"/> one of whom signed a statement affirming that all material marked as classified had been returned.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/13/us/politics/trump-classified-material-fbi.html|title=Trump Lawyer Told Justice Dept. That Classified Material Had Been Returned|last1=Haberman|first1=Maggie|author-link1=Maggie Haberman|last2=Thrush|first2=Glenn|author-link2=Glenn Thrush|date=August 13, 2022|work=]|access-date=August 14, 2022}}</ref>


On August&nbsp;8, 2022, FBI agents searched Mar-a-Lago to recover government documents and material Trump had taken with him when he left office in violation of the ],<ref name="bddj0812"/><ref name="NYT-20220812"/> reportedly including some related to nuclear weapons.<ref name="nuclear">{{cite news|last1=Barrett|first1=Devlin|last2=Dawsey|first2=Josh|author-link2=Josh Dawsey|last3=Stein|first3=Perry|last4=Harris|first4=Shane|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/08/11/garland-trump-mar-a-lago/|title=FBI searched Trump's home to look for nuclear documents and other items, sources say|newspaper=]|date=August 12, 2022 |access-date=August 12, 2022}}</ref> The search warrant indicates an investigation of potential violations of the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice laws.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Swan|first1=Betsy|author-link1=Betsy Woodruff Swan|last2=Cheney|first2=Kyle|author-link2=Kyle Cheney (journalist)|last3=Wu|first3=Nicholas|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/12/search-warrant-shows-trump-under-investigation-for-potential-obstruction-of-justice-espionage-act-violations-00051507|title=FBI search warrant shows Trump under investigation for potential obstruction of justice, Espionage Act violations|work=]|date=August 12, 2022|access-date=August 12, 2022}}</ref> The items taken in the search included 11 sets of classified documents, four of them tagged as "top secret" and one as "top secret/SCI", the highest level of classification.<ref name="bddj0812">{{cite news|last1=Barrett|first1=Devlin|last2=Dawsey|first2=Josh|author-link2=Josh Dawsey|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/08/12/trump-warrant-release/|title=Agents at Trump's Mar-a-Lago seized 11 sets of classified documents, court filing shows|newspaper=]|date=August 12, 2022|access-date=August 12, 2022}}</ref><ref name="NYT-20220812">{{cite web|last1=Haberman|first1=Maggie|author-link1=Maggie Haberman|last2=Thrush|first2=Glenn|author-link2=Glenn Thrush|last3=Savage|first3=Charlie|author-link3=Charlie Savage (author)|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/12/us/trump-espionage-act-laws-fbi.html|title=Files Seized From Trump Are Part of Espionage Act Inquiry|date=August 12, 2022|work=]|access-date=August 13, 2022}}</ref>
== Public profile ==
=== Approval ratings ===


On November&nbsp;18, 2022, U.S. attorney general ] appointed federal prosecutor ] as a ] to oversee the federal criminal investigations into Trump retaining government property at Mar-a-Lago and ].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Thrush|first1=Glenn|author-link1=Glenn Thrush|last2=Savage|first2=Charlie|author-link2=Charlie Savage (author)|last3=Haberman|first3=Maggie|author-link3=Maggie Haberman|last4=Feuer|first4=Alan|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/18/us/politics/trump-special-counsel-garland.html|title=Garland Names Special Counsel for Trump Inquiries|date=November 18, 2022|work=]|access-date=November 19, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Tucker|first1=Eric|last2=Balsamo|first2=Michael|url=https://apnews.com/article/politics-donald-trump-merrick-garland-government-and-550c01de053c08db4d53ca57f315feb6|title=Garland names special counsel to lead Trump-related probes|date=November 18, 2022|work=]|access-date=November 19, 2022}}</ref>
{{Further|Opinion polling on the Donald Trump administration}}


==== Criminal referral by the House January 6 Committee ====
At the end of Trump's second year, his two-year average Gallup approval rating was the lowest of any president since World War II.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-average-approval-rating-first-two-years-lowest-any-president-1293785 |title=Donald Trump Approval Rating Average in First Two Years is Lowest For Any President Since World War II |first=Jessica |last=Kwong |date=January 16, 2019 |website=] |accessdate=January 25, 2019}}</ref> In January 2020, his Gallup rating reached 49%,<ref>{{cite news |last=Samuels |first=Brett |date=February 24, 2020 |title=Trump hits highest Gallup approval rating of his presidency |work=] |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/481360-trump-hits-highest-gallup-approval-rating-of-his-presidency |accessdate=March 3, 2020}}</ref> the highest point since he took office, with 63% of those polled approving his handling of the economy.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cummings |first=William |date=February 13, 2020 |title=Six in 10 Americans say they feel better off after first 3 years of Trump, poll says |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/02/13/gallup-poll-says-6-10-americans-feel-better-off-3-years-after-trump/4747228002/ |access-date=October 17, 2020 |website=]}}</ref> His approval and disapproval ratings have been unusually stable.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 21, 2018 |title=Trump Approval More Stable Than Approval for Prior Presidents |url=https://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/245567/trump-approval-stable-approval-prior-presidents.aspx |access-date=January 17, 2020 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/trumps-approval-rating-is-incredibly-steady-is-that-weird-or-the-new-normal/ |title=Trump's Approval Rating Is Incredibly Steady. Is That Weird Or The New Normal? |last=Skelley |first=Geoffrey |date=March 28, 2019 |work=] |accessdate=March 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/presidential-approval-poll-tracker-n1102776 |title=Trump's approval rating steady despite impeachment: NBC News/Wall Street Journal polls |date=December 17, 2019 |work=] |accessdate=March 3, 2020}}</ref>
{{Main|United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack}}
On December&nbsp;19, 2022, the ] recommended criminal charges against Trump for ], conspiracy to defraud the United States, and inciting or assisting an insurrection.<ref>{{cite web|first=Alan|last=Feuer|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/19/us/politics/jan-6-trump-justice-dept.html|title=It's Unclear Whether the Justice Dept. Will Take Up the Jan. 6 Panel's Charges|work=]|date=December 19, 2022|access-date=March 25, 2023}}</ref>


==== State criminal indictments ====
In ] asking Americans to name the man they admire the most, Trump placed second to Obama in 2017 and 2018, and tied with Obama for most admired man in 2019.<ref name="gallup1678">{{cite news |url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/1678/most-admired-man-woman.aspx |title=Most Admired Man and Woman |website=] |accessdate=June 12, 2018}}</ref> Since Gallup started conducting the poll in 1948,<ref name="tie"/> Trump is the first elected president not to be named most admired in his first year in office.<ref name="tie">{{cite news |last=Panetta |first=Grace |work=] |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-barack-obama-tie-2019-most-admired-man-gallup-2019-12 |title=Donald Trump and Barack Obama are tied for 2019's most admired man in the US |date=December 30, 2019 |access-date=July 24, 2020}}</ref>
{{Main|Georgia election racketeering prosecution}}


In December 2022, following a jury trial, the Trump Organization was ] of criminal tax fraud, conspiracy, and falsifying business records in connection with a tax-fraud scheme stretching over 15 years. In January 2023, the organization was fined the maximum $1.6&nbsp;million, and its chief financial officer ] was sentenced to jail and probation after a plea deal. Trump was not personally charged in the case.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Scannell|first1=Kara|last2=del Valle|first2=Lauren|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/06/politics/trump-organization-fraud-trial-verdict/index.html|work=]|title=Trump Organization found guilty on all counts of criminal tax fraud|date=December 6, 2022|access-date=September 3, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Sisek|first=Michael R.|title=Trump Organization fined $1.6 million for tax fraud|url=https://apnews.com/article/politics-legal-proceedings-new-york-city-donald-trump-manhattan-e2f1d01525dafb64be8738c8b4f32085|work=]|date=January 13, 2023|access-date=September 3, 2024}}</ref>
Globally, a ] poll on 134 countries comparing the approval ratings of U.S. leadership between the years 2016 and 2017 found that only in 29 of them did Trump lead Obama in job approval,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Datta |first=Monti |title=3 countries where Trump is popular |url=http://theconversation.com/3-countries-where-trump-is-popular-120317 |access-date=October 15, 2020 |website=]}}</ref> with more international respondents disapproving rather than approving of the Trump administration. Overall ratings were similar to those in the last two years of the ].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018 |title=Rating World Leaders: 2016-2017 The U.S. vs. Germany, China and Russia (page 9)|url=https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000161-0647-da3c-a371-867f6acc0001 |publisher=] |via=]}}</ref>


Later in August, a ], grand jury indicted Trump on 13 charges, including racketeering, for his efforts to subvert the election outcome in Georgia; multiple Trump campaign officials were also indicted.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lowell|first1=Hugo|last2=Wicker|first2=Jewel|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/14/donald-trump-georgia-indictment-2020-election|title=Donald Trump and allies indicted in Georgia over bid to reverse 2020 election loss|work=]|date=August 15, 2023|access-date=December 22, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Drenon|first=Brandon|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66503668|title=What are the charges in Trump's Georgia indictment?|work=]|date=August 25, 2023|access-date=December 22, 2023}}</ref> He surrendered, ] at Fulton County Jail, and was released on bail pending trial.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pereira|first1=Ivan|last2=Barr|first2=Luke|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-mug-shot-released-georgia-sheriffs-office/story?id=102544727|title=Trump mug shot released by Fulton County Sheriff's Office|work=]|date=August 25, 2023|access-date=August 25, 2023}}</ref> He pleaded not guilty.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rabinowitz|first=Hannah|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/31/politics/trump-not-guilty-plea-fulton-county/index.html|title=Trump pleads not guilty in Georgia election subversion case|work=]|date=August 31, 2023|access-date=August 31, 2023}}</ref> On March&nbsp;13, 2024, the judge dismissed three of the 13 charges against him.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bailey|first=Holly|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/03/13/trump-georgia-election-case-charges-dropped/|title=Georgia judge dismisses six charges in Trump election interference case|date=March 13, 2024|access-date=March 14, 2024|newspaper=]}}</ref>
=== Social media ===


==== Federal criminal indictments ====
{{Main|Donald Trump on social media}}
{{Main|Federal prosecution of Donald Trump (classified documents case)|Federal prosecution of Donald Trump (election obstruction case)}}


In June 2023, following a ], a ] in Miami indicted Trump on 31 counts of "willfully retaining national defense information" under the ], one count of ], and one count each of conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding government documents, corruptly concealing records, concealing a document in a federal investigation and scheming to conceal their efforts.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Barrett|first1=Devlin|last2=Dawsey|first2=Josh|author-link2=Josh Dawsey|last3=Stein|first3=Perry|last4=Alemany|first4=Jacqueline|author-link4=Jacqueline Alemany|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/06/09/trump-tape-classified-documents/|title=Trump Put National Secrets at Risk, Prosecutors Say in Historic Indictment|newspaper=]|date=June 9, 2023|access-date=June 10, 2023}}</ref> He pleaded not guilty.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Greve|first1=Joan E.|last2=Lowell|first2=Hugo|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/13/trump-arraignment-not-guilty-charges-mar-a-lago-documents-court|title=Trump pleads not guilty to 37 federal criminal counts in Mar-a-Lago case|work=]|date=June 14, 2023|access-date=June 14, 2023}}</ref> A superseding indictment the following month added three charges.<ref>{{cite news|title=5 revelations from new Trump charges |first=Zach |last=Schonfeld |url=https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4124168-revelations-from-new-trump-charges/ |access-date=August 4, 2023 |work=]|date=July 28, 2023 }}</ref> The judge assigned to the case, ], was appointed to the bench by Trump and had previously issued rulings favorable to him in a ], some of which were overturned by an appellate court.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/09/us/politics/trump-documents-judge-aileen-cannon.html|title=A Trump-Appointed Judge Who Showed Him Favor Gets the Documents Case|newspaper=]|date=June 9, 2023 |first=Charlie |last=Savage |author-link=Charlie Savage (author)}}</ref> She moved slowly on the case, indefinitely postponed the trial in May 2024, and dismissed it on July 15, ruling that the special counsel's appointment was unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tucker|first=Eric|url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-classified-documents-smith-c66d5ffb7ba86c1b991f95e89bdeba0c|title=Federal judge dismisses Trump classified documents case over concerns with prosecutor's appointment|work=]|date=July 15, 2024|access-date=July 15, 2024}}</ref> On August&nbsp;26, Special Counsel Smith appealed the dismissal.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mallin|first=Alexander|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/26/us/politics/trump-documents-appeal-jack-smith.html|title=Prosecutors Appeal Dismissal of Trump Documents Case|work=]|date=August 26, 2024|access-date=August 27, 2024}}</ref>
Trump's presence on social media has attracted attention worldwide since he joined ] in March 2009. He frequently tweeted during the 2016 election campaign and has continued to do so as president. As of October 2020, Trump has more than 85&nbsp;million Twitter followers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 50 Twitter users sorted by Followers |url=https://socialblade.com/twitter/top/50 |work=] |accessdate=October 2, 2020}}</ref>


In August 2023, a Washington, D.C., federal grand jury indicted Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. He was charged with conspiring to ], obstruct the certification of the Electoral College vote, and ] to have their votes counted, and ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Barrett|first1=Devlin|last2=Hsu|first2=Spencer S.|last3=Stein|first3=Perry|last4=Dawsey|first4=Josh|author-link4=Josh Dawsey|last5=Alemany|first5=Jacqueline|author-link5=Jacqueline Alemany|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/08/01/trump-indictment-jan-6-2020-election/|title=Trump charged in probe of Jan. 6, efforts to overturn 2020 election|newspaper=]|date=August 2, 2023|access-date=August 2, 2023}}</ref> He pleaded not guilty.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sneed|first1=Tierney|last2=Rabinowitz|first2=Hannah|last3=Polantz|first3=Katelyn|last4=Lybrand|first4=Holmes|url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/03/politics/arraignment-trump-election-interference-indictment/index.html|title=Donald Trump pleads not guilty to January 6-related charges|work=]|date=August 3, 2023|access-date=August 3, 2023}}</ref> On November 25, the judge dismissed the case ] after the prosecution filed a motion to dismiss citing Department of Justice policy.<ref name="dismiss">{{cite news|last1=Stein|first1=Perry|last2=Hsu|first2=Spencer S.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/11/25/trump-cases-motion-to-dismiss-jack-smith/|title=With D.C. case dismissed, Trump is no longer under federal indictment|newspaper=]|date=November 25, 2024|access-date=November 26, 2024}}</ref>
By the end of May 2020, Trump had written about 52,000 tweets.<ref name="BBCTweets">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52815552 |title=Twitter tags Trump tweet with fact-checking warning |date=May 27, 2020 |work=] |access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref> These include 22,115 tweets over seven years before his presidential candidacy, 8,159 tweets during the {{frac|1|1|2}} years of his candidacy and transition period, and 14,186 tweets over the first three years of his presidency.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trumptwitterarchive.com/archive |title=Search |website=Trump Twitter Archive |access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref>


On November 25, the prosecution, citing Department of Justice policy prohibiting the prosecution of a sitting president, requested the dismissal of the D.C. case and Trump's removal as a co-defendant in the classified documents case. The D.C. case was dismissed ] that same day. The next day, the ] dropped Trump from the appeal.<ref>{{cite news|last=Halpert|first=Madeline|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gvd7kxxj5o|title=Special counsel's last criminal case against Trump dismissed|date=November 26, 2024|access-date=November 30, 2024}}</ref>
Trump has frequently used Twitter as a direct means of communication with the public, sidelining the press.<ref name="federalist-sidelining">{{cite news |url=https://thefederalist.com/2017/01/23/donald-trumps-social-media-use-key-sidelining-press-2/ |title=Donald Trump's Social Media Use Is Key To Sidelining The Press |first=Dustin |last=Steeve |date=January 23, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=May 31, 2017}}</ref> A White House press secretary said early in his presidency that Trump's tweets are official statements by the president of the United States,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/06/politics/trump-tweets-official-statements/index.html |title=Spicer: Tweets are Trump's official statements |first=Elizabeth |last=Landers |date=June 6, 2017 |work=]}}</ref> employed for announcing policy or personnel changes. In March 2018, Trump fired his Secretary of State ] by tweet.<ref>{{cite news |last=Singletary |first=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=] |accessdate=March 18, 2018}}</ref>


==== Criminal conviction in the 2016 campaign fraud case ====
Many of Trump's tweets contain false assertions.<ref name="NYT-20170427">{{cite news |last=Qiu |first=Linda |title=Fact-Checking President Trump Through His First 100 Days |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/29/us/politics/fact-checking-president-trump-through-his-first-100-days.html |work=] |date=April 27, 2017 |accessdate=June 25, 2017}}</ref><ref name="WP-20170501">{{cite news |last1=Kessler |first1=Glenn |author1link=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |last2=Lee |first2=Michelle Ye Hee |title=Fact Checker Analysis – President Trump's first 100 days: The fact check tally |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/05/01/president-trumps-first-100-days-the-fact-check-tally/ |work=] |date=May 1, 2017 |accessdate=June 25, 2017}}</ref><ref name="CT-20170624">{{cite news |last1=Drinkard |first1=Jim |last2=Woodward |first2=Calvin |title=Fact check: Trump's missions unaccomplished despite his claims |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/factcheck/ct-fact-check-trump-missions-20170624-story.html |work=] |date=June 24, 2017 |accessdate=June 25, 2017}}</ref>
{{Main|Prosecution of Donald Trump in New York|Stormy Daniels–Donald Trump scandal}}
In May 2020, Twitter began tagging some Trump tweets with fact-checking warnings<ref name="BBCTweets"/><ref name="Twitter refutes">{{cite news |last1=Conger |first1=Kate |last2=Alba |first2=Davey |author2link=Davey Alba |title=Twitter Refutes Inaccuracies in Trump's Tweets About Mail-In Voting |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/26/technology/twitter-trump-mail-in-ballots.html |accessdate=July 7, 2020 |work=] |date=May 26, 2020}}</ref><ref name="first label">{{cite news |last=Dwoskin |first=Elizabeth |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/05/26/trump-twitter-label-fact-check/ |title=Twitter labels Trump's tweets with a fact check for the first time |date=May 27, 2020|access-date=July 7, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> and labels for violations of Twitter rules.<ref name="second label">{{cite news |last=Dwoskin |first=Elizabeth |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/05/29/inside-twitter-trump-label/ |title=Twitter's decision to label Trump's tweets was two years in the making |date=May 30, 2020|access-date=July 7, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> Trump responded by threatening to "strongly regulate" or "close down" social media platforms.<ref name="BBCTweets"/><ref name="lashing out">{{cite news |last=Dwoskin |first=Elizabeth |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/05/27/trump-twitter-label/ |title=Trump lashes out at social media companies after Twitter labels tweets with fact checks |date=June 14, 2020|access-date=May 28, 2020 |work=]}}</ref>
{{See also|Personal and business legal affairs of Donald Trump#Payments related to alleged affairs|Karen McDougal#Alleged affair with Donald Trump}}


During the 2016 presidential election campaign, ] (AMI), publisher of the '']'',<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ellison|first1=Sarah|author-link1=Sarah Ellison|last2=Farhi|first2=Paul|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/publisher-of-the-national-enquirer-admits-to-hush-money-payments-made-on-trumps-behalf/2018/12/12/ebf24b76-fe49-11e8-83c0-b06139e540e5_story.html|title=Publisher of the National Enquirer admits to hush-money payments made on Trump's behalf|newspaper=]|date=December 12, 2018|access-date=January 17, 2021}}</ref> and a company set up by Cohen paid '']'' model ] and adult film actress ] for keeping silent about their alleged affairs with Trump between 2006 and 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/08/21/how-the-campaign-finance-charges-against-michael-cohen-may-implicate-trump|title=How the campaign finance charges against Michael Cohen implicate Trump|newspaper=]|first=Philip|last=Bump|date=August 21, 2018|access-date=July 25, 2019}}</ref> Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to breaking campaign finance laws, saying he had arranged both payments at Trump's direction to influence the presidential election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/74aaf72511d64fceb1d64529207bde64|title=Cohen pleads guilty, implicates Trump in hush-money scheme|last1=Neumeister|first1=Larry|last2=Hays|first2=Tom|date=August 22, 2018|access-date=October 7, 2021|work=]}}</ref> Trump denied the affairs and said he was not aware of Cohen's payment to Daniels, but he reimbursed him in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/07/trump-stormy-daniels-payment-444133|title=White House on Stormy Daniels: Trump 'denied all these allegations'|last=Nelson|first=Louis|date=March 7, 2018|work=]|access-date=March 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-insists-he-learned-of-michael-cohen-payments-later-on-in-fox-friends-exclusive|title=Trump insists he learned of Michael Cohen payments 'later on', in 'Fox & Friends' exclusive|last=Singman|first=Brooke|access-date=August 23, 2018|work=]|date=August 22, 2018}}</ref> Federal prosecutors asserted that Trump had been involved in discussions regarding nondisclosure payments as early as 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/federal-prosecutors-recommend-substantial-prison-term-for-former-trump-lawyer-michael-cohen/2018/12/07/e144f248-f7f3-11e8-8c9a-860ce2a8148f_story.html|title=Court filings directly implicate Trump in efforts to buy women's silence, reveal new contact between inner circle and Russian|newspaper=]|last1=Barrett|first1=Devlin|last2=Zapotosky|first2=Matt|date=December 7, 2018|access-date=December 7, 2018}}</ref> Court documents showed that the FBI believed he was directly involved in the payment to Daniels, based on calls he had with Cohen in October 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-cohen/documents-detail-trump-teams-efforts-to-arrange-payment-to-porn-star-idUSKCN1UD18D|title=FBI documents point to Trump role in hush money for porn star Daniels|last1=Allen|first1=Jonathan|last2=Stempel|first2=Jonathan|work=]|date=July 18, 2019|access-date=July 22, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/2d4138abfd0b4e71a63c94d3203e435a|title=Records detail frenetic effort to bury stories about Trump|last=Mustian|first=Jim|work=]|date=July 19, 2019|access-date=July 22, 2019}}</ref> Federal prosecutors closed the investigation in 2019,<ref>{{cite web|work=]|date=July 19, 2019|access-date=October 7, 2021|first=Jim|last=Mustian|title=Why no hush-money charges against Trump? Feds are silent|url=https://apnews.com/article/0543a381b39a42d09c27567274477983}}</ref> but in 2021, the ] and ] opened a criminal investigations into his business activities.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Harding|first1=Luke|last2=Holpuch|first2=Amanda|date=May 19, 2021|title=New York attorney general opens criminal investigation into Trump Organization|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/19/new-york-investigation-into-trump-organization-now-criminal-says-attorney-general|work=] |access-date=May 19, 2021}}</ref> The Manhattan DA's Office subpoenaed the Trump Organization and AMI for records related to the payments<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/01/nyregion/trump-cohen-stormy-daniels-vance.html|title=Manhattan D.A. Subpoenas Trump Organization Over Stormy Daniels Hush Money|first1=Ben|last1=Protess|first2=William K.|last2=Rashbaum|work=]|date=August 1, 2019|access-date=August 2, 2019}}</ref> and Trump and the Trump Organization for eight years of tax returns.<ref>{{cite web|work=]|date=September 16, 2019|first1=William K.|last1=Rashbaum|first2=Ben|last2=Protess|title=8 Years of Trump Tax Returns Are Subpoenaed by Manhattan D.A.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/nyregion/trump-tax-returns-cy-vance.html|access-date=October 7, 2021}}</ref>
=== False statements ===


In March 2023, a New York grand jury indicted Trump on 34 felony counts of ] to book the hush money payments to Daniels as business expenses, in an attempt to influence the 2016 election.<ref>{{cite news|last=Barrett|first=Devlin|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/05/29/jurors-must-be-unanimous-convict-trump-can-disagree-underlying-crimes/|title=Jurors must be unanimous to convict Trump, can disagree on underlying crimes|newspaper=]|date=May 29, 2024|access-date=June 15, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Scannell|first1=Kara|last2=Miller|first2=John|last3=Herb|first3=Jeremy|last4=Cole|first4=Devan|url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/30/politics/donald-trump-indictment/index.html|title=Donald Trump indicted by Manhattan grand jury on 34 counts related to fraud|work=]|date=March 31, 2023|access-date=April 1, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Marimow|first=Ann E.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/04/04/trump-charges-34-counts-felony/|title=Here are the 34 charges against Trump and what they mean|newspaper=]|date=April 4, 2023|access-date=April 5, 2023}}</ref> The trial began in April 2024, and in May a jury convicted him on all 34 counts.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Reiss|first1=Adam|last2=Grumbach|first2=Gary|last3=Gregorian|first3=Dareh|last4=Winter|first4=Tom|last5=Frankel|first5=Jillian|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/donald-trump-verdict-hush-money-trial-rcna152492|title=Donald Trump found guilty in historic New York hush money case |work=]|date=May 30, 2024|access-date=May 31, 2024}}</ref> In December, the judge upheld the conviction, rejecting Trump's argument of presidential immunity and clearing the way for a Trump appeal.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Protess|first1=Ben|last2=Christobek|first2=Kate|title=Judge Denies Trump's Bid to Throw Out Conviction Over Immunity Ruling|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/nyregion/trump-immunity-criminal-case.html|work=]|date=December 16, 2024|access-date=December 21, 2024}}</ref>
{{Main|Veracity of statements by Donald Trump}}
] from ''The Washington Post'',<ref name=Kessler.FMC/> the ''Toronto Star'',<ref name=TorontoStar_20190605>{{cite news |last=Dale |first=Daniel |authorlink=Daniel Dale |title=Donald Trump has now said more than 5,000 false things as president |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/analysis/2019/06/05/donald-trump-has-now-said-more-than-5000-false-claims-as-president.html |work=] |date=June 5, 2019}}</ref> and CNN<ref name=Dale_20200309>{{cite news |last1=Dale |first1=Daniel |title=Trump is averaging about 59 false claims per week since ... July 8, 2019. |url=https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/1237083913496989702 |date=March 9, 2020}} ()</ref> compiled data on "false or misleading claims" (orange background), and "false claims" (violet foreground), respectively.]]


==== Civil judgments ====
As president, Trump has frequently made false statements in public speeches and remarks.<ref name="NYT-20170427"/><ref name="WP-20170501"/><ref>{{cite news |first=Linda |last=Qiu |title=In One Rally, 12 Inaccurate Claims From Trump |date=June 22, 2017 |website=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/22/us/politics/factcheck-donald-trump-iowa-rally.html}}</ref> The misinformation has been documented by ]s; academics and the media have widely described the phenomenon as unprecedented in American politics.<ref name=unprecedenteduntruths>
{{Main|New York business fraud lawsuit against the Trump Organization|E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump}}
* {{cite journal |last=McGranahan |first=Carole |title=An anthropology of lying: Trump and the political sociality of moral outrage |journal=] |date=May 2017 |volume=44 |issue=2 |pages=243–248 |doi=10.1111/amet.12475 |quote=It has long been a truism that politicians lie, but with the entry of Donald Trump into the U.S. political domain, the frequency, degree, and impact of lying in politics are now unprecedented Donald Trump is different. By all metrics and counting schemes, his lies are off the charts. We simply have not seen such an accomplished and effective liar before in U.S. politics.}}
In September 2022, the attorney general of New York filed a civil fraud case against Trump, his three oldest children, and the Trump Organization.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Scannell|first1=Kara|title=New York attorney general files civil fraud lawsuit against Trump, some of his children and his business|url=https://cnn.com/2022/09/21/politics/trump-new-york-attorney-general-letitia-james-fraud-lawsuit/index.html|access-date=September 21, 2022|work=]|date=September 21, 2022}}</ref> During the investigation leading up to the lawsuit, Trump was fined $110,000 for failing to turn over records subpoenaed by the attorney general.<ref>{{cite news|work=]|last=Katersky|first=Aaron|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/court-upholds-fine-imposed-trump-failure-comply-subpoena/story?id=97195194|title=Court upholds fine imposed on Trump over his failure to comply with subpoena|date=February 14, 2023|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref> In an August 2022 ], he invoked his ] more than 400 times.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bromwich|first1=Jonah E.|last2=Protess|first2=Ben|last3=Rashbaum|first3=William K.|date=August 10, 2022|title=Trump Invokes Fifth Amendment, Attacking Legal System as Troubles Mount|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/10/nyregion/trump-james-deposition-fifth-amendment.html|work=]|access-date=August 11, 2011}}</ref> The presiding judge ruled in September 2023 that Trump, his adult sons, and the Trump Organization repeatedly committed fraud and ordered their New York business certificates canceled and their business entities sent into receivership for dissolution.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kates |first1=Graham |title=Donald Trump and his company "repeatedly" violated fraud law, New York judge rules |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-company-violated-fraud-law-new-york-judge-rules/ |work=] |date=September 26, 2023}}</ref> In February 2024, the court found him liable, ordered him to pay a penalty of more than $350&nbsp;million plus interest, for a total exceeding $450&nbsp;million, and barred him from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation or legal entity for three years. He said he would appeal the verdict. The judge also ordered the company to be overseen by the monitor appointed by the court in 2023 and an independent director of compliance, and that any "restructuring and potential dissolution" would be the decision of the monitor.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bromwich|first1=Jonah E.|last2=Protess|first2=Ben|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/nyregion/trump-civil-fraud-trial-ruling.html|title=Trump Fraud Trial Penalty Will Exceed $450 Million|work=]|date=February 17, 2024|access-date=February 17, 2024}}</ref>
* {{cite news |work=] |date=August 7, 2017 |first=Sheryl Gay |last=Stolberg |authorlink=Sheryl Gay Stolberg |title=Many Politicians Lie. But Trump Has Elevated the Art of Fabrication. |accessdate=March 11, 2019 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/07/us/politics/lies-trump-obama-mislead.html |quote=President Trump, historians and consultants in both political parties agree, appears to have taken what the writer ] once called 'the conflict between truth and politics' to an entirely new level.}}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/12/30/year-unprecedented-deception-trump-averaged-false-claims-day/ |title=A year of unprecedented deception: Trump averaged 15 false claims a day in 2018 |work=] |date=December 30, 2018 |accessdate=February 20, 2019 |first=Glenn |last=Kessler |authorlink=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |quote='When before have we seen a president so indifferent to the distinction between truth and falsehood, or so eager to blur that distinction?' presidential historian ] said of Trump in 2018.}}
* {{cite news |work=] |date=February 6, 2017 |first=Mark Z. |last=Barabak |title=There's a long history of presidential untruths. Here's why Donald Trump is 'in a class by himself' |accessdate=March 11, 2019 |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-trump-presidential-lies-2017-story.html |quote=White House scholars and other students of government agree there has never been a president like Donald Trump, whose volume of falsehoods, misstatements and serial exaggerations{{snd}}on matters large and wincingly small{{snd}}place him 'in a class by himself', as Texas A&amp;M's ] put it.}}
* {{cite news |work=] |date=December 22, 2017 |first=Daniel |last=Dale |authorlink=Daniel Dale |title=Donald Trump has spent a year lying shamelessly. It hasn't worked |accessdate=March 4, 2019 |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/analysis/2017/12/22/donald-trump-has-spent-a-year-lying-shamelessly-it-hasnt-worked.html |quote='We've had presidents that have lied or misled the country, but we've never had a serial liar before. And that's what we're dealing with here,' said ], the prominent Rice University presidential historian.}}
* {{cite news |website=] |date=May 9, 2018 |first=Chris |last=Cillizza |authorlink=Chris Cillizza |title=President Trump lied more than 3,000 times in 466 days |accessdate=March 4, 2019 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/01/politics/donald-trump-3000/index.html |quote=We've never had a president with such a casual relationship to the truth&nbsp;... The sheer rate of Trump's untruth-telling is staggering. It is unprecedented.}}
* {{cite web |website=] |date=2017 |first=Heidi Taksdal |last=Skjeseth |title=All the president's lies: Media coverage of lies in the US and France |url=https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2017-10/Taksdal%20Skjeseth%2C%20All%20the%20President%27s%20Lies%20-%20Media%20Coverage%20of%20lies%20in%20the%20US%20and%20France.pdf |quote=...{{nbsp}}a president who is delivering untruths on an unprecedented scale. Mr Trump did this both while running for president, and he has continued to do so in office. There is no precedent for this amount of untruths in the U.S.}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Stern |first1=Donnel |title=Constructivism in the Age of Trump: Truth, Lies, and Knowing the Difference |journal=Psychoanalytic Dialogues |date=May 9, 2019 |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=189–196 |doi=10.1080/10481885.2019.1587996 |s2cid=164971149 |quote=Donald Trump lies so often that some have wondered whether he has ] We expect politicians to stretch the truth. But Trump is a whole different animal. He lies as a policy.}}
* {{cite news |last1=Grosz |first1=Stephen |title=The real reason Donald Trump lies |url=https://www.ft.com/content/b752121c-127a-11e9-a581-4ff78404524e |website=] |accessdate=June 25, 2019 |date=January 9, 2019 |quote=We all lie, but we don't lie like President Trump. He is the most extravagant, reckless, inexhaustible fibber of our era.}}</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=] |date=August 3, 2018 |accessdate=January 10, 2019 |first=Susan |last=Glasser |authorlink=Susan Glasser}}</ref><ref name=Konnikova>{{cite news |last=Konnikova |first=Maria |authorlink=Maria Konnikova |title=Trump's Lies vs. Your Brain |website=] |date=January 20, 2017 |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/donald-trump-lies-liar-effect-brain-214658 |accessdate=March 31, 2018}}</ref> This behavior was similarly observed when he was a presidential candidate.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Finnegan |first1=Michael |title=Scope of Trump's falsehoods unprecedented for a modern presidential candidate |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-false-statements-20160925-snap-story.html |work=] |accessdate=March 4, 2019 |quote=Never in modern presidential politics has a major candidate made false statements as routinely as Trump has.}}</ref><ref name="whoppers">{{cite news |title=The 'King of Whoppers': Donald Trump |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2015/12/the-king-of-whoppers-donald-trump/ |website=] |accessdate=March 4, 2019 |quote=In the 12 years of FactCheck.org's existence, we've never seen his match. |date=December 21, 2015}}</ref> His falsehoods have also become a distinctive part of his political identity.<ref name=Glasser-180803/>


In May 2023, a New York jury in a federal lawsuit brought by journalist ] in 2022 ("Carroll II") found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation and ordered him to pay her $5&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sullivan|first1=Becky|last2=Bernstein|first2=Andrea|last3=Marritz|first3=Ilya|last4=Lawrence|first4=Quil|title=A jury finds Trump liable for battery and defamation in E. Jean Carroll trial|url=https://www.npr.org/2023/05/09/1174975870/trump-carroll-verdict|work=]|date=May 9, 2023|access-date=May 10, 2023}}</ref> He asked for a new trial or a reduction of the award, arguing that the jury had not found him liable for rape. He also separately countersued Carroll for defamation. The judge for the two lawsuits ruled against him,<ref name="bid">{{cite web|last=Orden|first=Erica|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/19/trump-loses-bid-new-trial-carroll-00107025|title=Trump loses bid for new trial in E. Jean Carroll case|work=]|date=July 19, 2023|access-date=August 13, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Scannell |first=Kara |date=August 7, 2023 |title=Judge dismisses Trump's defamation lawsuit against Carroll for statements she made on CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/07/politics/e-jean-carroll-trump-defamation-lawsuit-dismissed/index.html |access-date=August 7, 2023 |work=]}}</ref> writing that Carroll's accusation of "rape" is "substantially true".<ref name="Reiss_Gregorian_8/7/2023">{{cite web|last1=Reiss|first1=Adam|last2=Gregorian|first2=Dareh|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/judge-tosses-trumps-counterclaim-e-jean-carroll-finding-rape-claim-sub-rcna98577|title=Judge tosses Trump's counterclaim against E. Jean Carroll, finding rape claim is 'substantially true'|work=]|date=August 7, 2023|access-date=August 13, 2023}}</ref> He appealed both decisions.<ref name="bid"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Stempel|first=Jonathan|url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/trump-appeals-dismissal-defamation-claim-against-e-jean-carroll-2023-08-10/|title=Trump appeals dismissal of defamation claim against E. Jean Carroll|work=]|date=August 10, 2023|access-date=August 17, 2023}}</ref> In January 2024, the jury in the defamation case brought by Carroll in 2019 ("Carroll I") ordered him to pay Carroll $83.3&nbsp;million in damages. In March, he posted a $91.6&nbsp;million bond and appealed.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kates|first=Graham|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-posts-bond-e-jean-carroll-case-91-million/|title=Trump posts $91 million bond to appeal E. Jean Carroll defamation verdict|work=]|date=March 8, 2024|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref>
Trump uttered "at least one false or misleading claim per day on 91 of his first 99 days" in office, according to ''The New York Times'',<ref name="NYT-20170427"/> and 1,318 total in his first 263 days in office, according to the "Fact Checker" political analysis column of ''The Washington Post''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Michelle Ye Hee |last2=Kessler |first2=Glenn |author2link=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |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=] |date=October 10, 2017 |accessdate=November 5, 2017}}</ref> By the ''Post''{{'}}s tally, it took Trump 601 days to reach 5,000 false or misleading statements and another 226 days to reach the 10,000 mark.<ref name=Kessler-190429>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/04/29/president-trump-has-made-more-than-false-or-misleading-claims/ |title=President Trump has made more than 10,000 false or misleading claims |work=] |date=April 29, 2019 |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |first1=Glenn |last1=Kessler |author1link=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |first2=Salvador |last2=Rizzo |first3=Meg |last3=Kelly}}</ref> For the seven weeks leading up to the midterm elections, it rose to an average of thirty per day<ref>{{cite news |work=] |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 hundred days in office.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=September 13, 2018 |first1=Glenn |last1=Kessler |author1link=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 ''Post''{{'}}s reported tally is 22,247 as of August&nbsp;27, 2020,<ref name=Kessler.FMC>{{cite news |work=] |date=October 22, 2020 |first1=Glenn |last1=Kessler |author1link=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |first2=Salvador |last2=Rizzo |first3=Meg |last3=Kelly |title=Trump is averaging more than 50 false or misleading claims a day |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/10/22/president-trump-is-averaging-more-than-50-false-or-misleading-claims-day/}}</ref> with the 2019 total more than double the cumulative total of 2017 and 2018.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=January 20, 2020 |first1=Glenn |last1=Kessler |author1link=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |first2=Salvador |last2=Rizzo |first3=Meg |last3=Kelly |title=President Trump made 16,241 false or misleading claims in his first three years |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/01/20/president-trump-made-16241-false-or-misleading-claims-his-first-three-years/}}</ref>


== 2024 presidential election ==
Some of Trump's falsehoods are inconsequential, such as his claims of a large crowd size during his inauguration.<ref name="PolitiFact_1/21/2017">{{cite news |title=Donald Trump had biggest inaugural crowd ever? Metrics don't show it |publisher=] |date=January 21, 2017 |first=Linda |last=Qiu |url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2017/jan/21/sean-spicer/trump-had-biggest-inaugural-crowd-ever-metrics-don/ |access-date=March 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205200625/http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2017/jan/21/sean-spicer/trump-had-biggest-inaugural-crowd-ever-metrics-don/ |archive-date=February 5, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Rein_3/6/2017">{{cite news |last=Rein |first=Lisa |title=Here are the photos that show Obama's inauguration crowd was bigger than Trump's |website=] |date=March 6, 2017 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/03/06/here-are-the-photos-that-show-obamas-inauguration-crowd-was-bigger-than-trumps/ |accessdate=March 8, 2017}}</ref> Others have had more far-reaching effects, such as Trump's promotion of unproven antimalarial drugs as a treatment for COVID‑19 in a press conference and on Twitter in March 2020.<ref name=20200319washingtonpost>{{cite news |last=Nisen |first=Max |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/trump-is-overhyping-unproven-coronavirus-drugs/2020/03/19/ed1ff4e2-6a1a-11ea-b199-3a9799c54512_story.html |title=Trump Is Overhyping Unproven Coronavirus Drugs |date=March 19, 2020 |work=] |access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref><ref name="M.Spring">{{cite news |last=Spring |first=Marianna |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-52731624 |title=Coronavirus: The human cost of virus misinformation |date=May 27, 2020 |work=] |access-date=June 13, 2020}}</ref> The claims had consequences worldwide, such as a shortage of these drugs in the United States and ] in Africa and South Asia.<ref name=20200323washingtonpost>{{cite news |last=Rowland |first=Christopher |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/20/hospitals-doctors-are-wiping-out-supplies-an-unproven-coronavirus-treatment/ |title=As Trump touts an unproven coronavirus treatment, supplies evaporate for patients who need those drugs |date=March 23, 2020 |work=] |access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref><ref name=wsj1158498189>{{cite news |last1=Parkinson |first1=Joe |last2=Gauthier-Villars |first2=David |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-claim-that-malaria-drugs-treat-coronavirus-sparks-warnings-shortages-11584981897 |title=Trump Claim That Malaria Drugs Treat Coronavirus Sparks Warnings, Shortages |date=March 23, 2020 |work=] |access-date=March 26, 2020 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The state of ] obtained nearly a million doses for its hospitals, even though most of them did not want the drug.<ref name="Atterbury-Dixon">{{cite news |last1=Atterbury |first1=Andrew |last2=Dixon |first2=Matt |url=https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2020/06/11/florida-ordered-1-million-doses-of-a-trump-touted-drug-hospitals-didnt-want-it-1292638 |title=Florida ordered 1M doses of a Trump-touted drug. Hospitals didn't want it |date=June 11, 2020 |work=] |access-date=June 13, 2020}}</ref> Other misinformation, such as Trump's retweet of unverified videos of a far-right British nationalist group in November 2017, serves Trump's domestic political purposes.<ref name="AZurcher">{{cite news |last=Zurcher |first=Anthony |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42171550 |title=Trump's anti-Muslim retweet fits a pattern |date=November 29, 2017 |work=] |access-date=June 13, 2020}}</ref> As a matter of principle, Trump does not apologize for his falsehoods.<ref name="JAllen">{{cite news |last1=Allen |first1=Jonathan |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/does-being-president-trump-still-mean-never-having-say-you-n952841 |title=Does being President Trump still mean never having to say you're sorry? |date=December 31, 2018 |work=] |access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref>
{{Main|Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign}}
{{Further|2024 Republican Party presidential primaries|2024 United States presidential election|Second presidential transition of Donald Trump}}
{{See also|Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania|Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Florida}}


]
Despite the frequency of Trump's falsehoods, the media rarely referred to them as "lies",<ref name="DGreenberg">{{cite news |last=Greenberg |first=David |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/the-perils-of-calling-trump-a-liar-214704 |title=The Perils of Calling Trump a Liar |date=January 28, 2017 |work=] |access-date=June 13, 2020}}</ref><ref name="DBouder">{{cite news |last=Bouder |first=David |url=https://apnews.com/88675d3fdd674c7c9ec70f170f6e4a1a/News-media-hesitate-to-use-'lie'-for-Trump's-misstatements |title=News media hesitate to use 'lie' for Trump's misstatements |date=August 29, 2018 |work=] |access-date=June 13, 2020}}</ref> a word that has in the past been avoided out of respect for the presidential office.<ref name="DGreenberg"/><ref name="DBouder"/> Nevertheless, in August 2018 ''The Washington Post'' declared for the first time that some of Trump's misstatements (statements concerning hush money paid to ] and ''Playboy'' model ]) were lies.<ref name="GKessler">{{cite news |last=Kessler |first=Glenn |authorlink=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/08/23/not-just-misleading-not-merely-false-lie/ |title=Not just misleading. Not merely false. A lie. |date=August 23, 2018 |work=] |access-date=June 13, 2020}}</ref><ref name="DBouder"/>
On November&nbsp;15, 2022, Trump announced his candidacy for the ] and set up a fundraising account.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Arnsdorf |first1=Isaac |last2=Scherer |first2=Michael |author-link2=Michael Scherer |date=November 15, 2022 |title=Trump, who as president fomented an insurrection, says he is running again |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/15/trump-2024-announcement-running-president/ |access-date=December 5, 2022 |newspaper=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Schouten |first=Fredreka |date=November 16, 2022 |title=Questions about Donald Trump's campaign money, answered |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/16/politics/donald-trump-war-chest-presidential-campaign/index.html |access-date=December 5, 2022 |work=]}}</ref> In March 2023, the campaign began diverting 10&nbsp;percent of the donations to his ]. His campaign had paid $100&nbsp;million towards his legal bills by March 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goldmacher |first1=Shane |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |author-link2=Maggie Haberman |date=June 25, 2023 |title=As Legal Fees Mount, Trump Steers Donations Into PAC That Has Covered Them |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/25/us/politics/trump-donations-legal-fees.html |access-date=June 25, 2023 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Escobar |first1=Molly Cook |last2=Sun |first2=Albert |last3=Goldmacher |first3=Shane |date=March 27, 2024 |title=How Trump Moved Money to Pay $100 Million in Legal Bills |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/03/27/us/politics/trump-cases-legal-fund.html |access-date=April 3, 2024 |work=]}}</ref> In December 2023, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled Trump disqualified for the Colorado Republican primary for his role in inciting the January&nbsp;6, 2021, attack on Congress. In March 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court ] in a unanimous decision, ruling that Colorado lacks the authority to enforce ], which bars insurrectionists from holding federal office.<ref>{{cite news |last=Levine |first=Sam |date=March 4, 2024 |title=Trump was wrongly removed from Colorado ballot, US supreme court rules |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/04/trump-scotus-colorado-ruling |access-date=June 23, 2024 |work=]}}</ref>
]}}</ref>]]
During the campaign, Trump made increasingly violent and authoritarian statements.<ref name="NYT Authoritarian Bent">{{cite news |last1=Bender |first1=Michael C. |author-link1=Michael C. Bender |last2=Gold |first2=Michael |date=November 20, 2023 |title=Trump's Dire Words Raise New Fears About His Authoritarian Bent |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/20/us/politics/trump-rhetoric-fascism.html |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Stone |first=Peter |date=November 22, 2023 |title='Openly authoritarian campaign': Trump's threats of revenge fuel alarm |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/22/trump-revenge-game-plan-alarm |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Colvin |first1=Jill |last2=Barrow |first2=Bill |date=December 7, 2023 |title=Trump's vow to only be a dictator on 'day one' follows growing worry over his authoritarian rhetoric |url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-hannity-dictator-authoritarian-presidential-election-f27e7e9d7c13fabbe3ae7dd7f1235c72 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=LeVine |first=Marianne |date=November 12, 2023 |title=Trump calls political enemies 'vermin', echoing dictators Hitler, Mussolini |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/12/trump-rally-vermin-political-opponents |newspaper=]}}</ref> He also said that he would weaponize the FBI and the Justice Department against his political opponents<ref>{{Cite news |last=Levine |first=Sam |date=November 10, 2023 |title=Trump suggests he would use FBI to go after political rivals if elected in 2024 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/10/trump-fbi-rivals-2024-election |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Vazquez |first=Maegan |date=November 10, 2023 |title=Trump says on Univision he could weaponize FBI, DOJ against his enemies |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/09/trump-interview-univision/ |newspaper=]}}</ref> and use the military to go after Democratic politicians and those that do not support his candidacy.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stracqualursi |first=Veronica |date=October 14, 2024 |title=Trump suggests using military against 'enemy from within' on Election Day |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/13/politics/trump-military-enemy-from-within-election-day/index.html |work=]}}</ref><ref name="Lerer 10152024">{{cite news |last1=Lerer |first1=Lisa |last2=Gold |first2=Michael |date=October 15, 2024 |title=Trump Escalates Threats to Political Opponents He Deems the 'Enemy' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/15/us/politics/trump-opponents-enemy-within.html |work=]}}</ref> He used harsher, more dehumanizing anti-immigrant rhetoric than during his presidency.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Gold |first1=Michael |last2=Huynh |first2=Anjali |date=April 2, 2024 |title=Trump Again Invokes 'Blood Bath' and Dehumanizes Migrants in Border Remarks |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/02/us/politics/trump-border-blood-bath.html |access-date=April 3, 2024 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Savage |first1=Charlie |author-link1=Charlie Savage (author) |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |author-link2=Maggie Haberman |last3=Swan |first3=Jonathan |author-link3=Jonathan Swan |date=November 11, 2023 |title=Sweeping Raids, Giant Camps and Mass Deportations: Inside Trump's 2025 Immigration Plans |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/11/us/politics/trump-2025-immigration-agenda.html |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Layne |first1=Nathan |last2=Slattery |first2=Gram |last3=Reid |first3=Tim |date=April 3, 2024 |title=Trump calls migrants 'animals', intensifying focus on illegal immigration |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-expected-highlight-murder-michigan-woman-immigration-speech-2024-04-02/ |access-date=April 3, 2024 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Philbrick |first1=Ian Prasad |last2=Bentahar |first2=Lyna |date=December 5, 2023 |title=Donald Trump's 2024 Campaign, in His Own Menacing Words |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/05/us/politics/trump-2024-president-campaign.html |access-date=May 10, 2024 |work=]}}</ref> His harsher rhetoric against his political enemies has been described by some historians and scholars as authoritarian, ],{{Efn|name=Fascist|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="Axios Fascist">{{cite news|title=Trump campaign defends "vermin" speech amid fascist comparisons|url=https://www.axios.com/2023/11/13/trump-vermin-fascist-language-speech|work=]|date=November 13, 2023|last=Basu|first=Zachary|access-date=December 8, 2023}}</ref><ref name="The Atlantic Fascist">{{cite news|last=Browning|first=Christopher R.|date=July 25, 2023|title=A New Kind of Fascism|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/07/trump-second-term-isolationist-fascism/674791/|work=]|access-date=December 8, 2023}}</ref><ref name="ABC News Vermin">{{cite news|title=Trump compares political opponents to 'vermin' who he will 'root out', alarming historians|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-compares-political-opponents-vermin-root-alarming-historians/story?id=104847748|work=]|date=November 13, 2023|last1=Kim|first1=Soo Rin|last2=Ibssa|first2=Lalee|access-date=December 8, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Ward|first=Myah|date=October 12, 2024|title=We watched 20 Trump rallies. His racist, anti-immigrant messaging is getting darker.|work=]|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/12/trump-racist-rhetoric-immigrants-00183537|access-date=October 12, 2024}}</ref>}} and unlike anything a political candidate has ever said in American history.<ref name="NYMag Never Sounded Like This">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/27/magazine/trump-rallies-rhetoric.html|title=Donald Trump Has Never Sounded Like This|work=]|date=April 27, 2024|access-date=April 27, 2024|last1=Homans|first1=Charles}}</ref><ref name="Lerer 10152024" /><ref name="Applebaum18">{{Cite news|last=Applebaum|first=Anne|date=October 18, 2024|title=Trump Is Speaking Like Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini|work=]|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/10/trump-authoritarian-rhetoric-hitler-mussolini/680296/|access-date=October 18, 2024}}</ref> ] also arose during the campaign, with several medical experts highlighting an increase in rambling, ] and ].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Peter |last2=Freedman |first2=Dylan |date=October 6, 2024 |title=Trump's Speeches, Increasingly Angry and Rambling, Reignite the Question of Age |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/06/us/politics/trump-speeches-age-cognitive-decline.html |access-date=November 6, 2024 |work=]}}</ref>


Trump mentioned "rigged election" and "election interference" earlier and more frequently than in the 2016 and 2020 campaigns and refused to commit to accepting the 2024 election results.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lane |first1=Nathan |last2=Ulmer |first2=Alexandra |date=May 16, 2024 |title=Trump, allies are laying the groundwork to contest potential election loss |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-allies-are-laying-groundwork-contest-potential-election-loss-2024-05-16/ |access-date=September 12, 2024 |work=]}}</ref><ref name="NYTDoubts" /> Analysts for ''The New York Times'' described this as an intensification of his "heads I win; tails you cheated" rhetorical strategy; the paper said the claim of a rigged election had become the backbone of the campaign.<ref name="NYTDoubts" />
In 2020, Trump was a significant source of disinformation on national voting practices and the COVID-19 virus.<ref name="Politico-Mail"/> <ref name="NYT-MailFraud"/><ref name="USAT-Disinfo">{{cite news |last=Guynn |first=Jessica |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/10/05/trump-covid-19-coronavirus-disinformation-facebook-twitter-election/3632194001/ |title=From COVID-19 to voting: Trump is nation's single largest spreader of disinformation, studies say |date=October 5, 2020 |work=] |access-date=October 7, 2020}}</ref> Trump's attacks on mail-in ballots and other election practices served to weaken public faith in the integrity of the 2020 presidential election,<ref name="Politico-Rigged"/><ref name="AP-Elections">{{cite news |last=Riccardi |first=Nicholas |url=https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-election-2020-ap-fact-check-elections-voting-fraud-and-irregularities-8c5db90960815f91f39fe115579570b4 |title=AP FACT CHECK: Trump's big distortions on mail-in voting |date=September 17, 2020 |work=] |access-date=October 7, 2020}}</ref> while his disinformation about the pandemic dangerously delayed and weakened the national response to it.<ref name="USAT-Disinfo"/><ref name="NYT 4 11 20"/><ref name="Time-BeatIt">{{cite news |last1=Bergengruen |first1=Vera |last2=Hennigan |first2=W.J. |url=https://time.com/5896709/trump-covid-campaign/ |title='You're Gonna Beat It.' How Donald Trump's COVID-19 Battle Has Only Fueled Misinformation |date=October 6, 2020 |work=] |access-date=October 7, 2020}}</ref>
] in Paris on December 7, 2024]] On July&nbsp;13, 2024, Trump's ear was grazed by a bullet<ref name="Browne-2024">{{Cite news |last1=Browne |first1=Malachy |last2=Lum |first2=Devon |last3=Cardia |first3=Alexander |date=July 26, 2024 |title=Speculation Swirls About What Hit Trump. An Analysis Suggests It was a Bullet |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/26/us/politics/trump-shooter-bullet-trajectory-ear.html |access-date=July 29, 2024 |work=]}}</ref> ] at a campaign rally in ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Bill |last2=Cohen |first2=Miles |date=July 16, 2024 |title=Gunman opened fire at Trump rally as witnesses say they tried to alert police |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/witnesses-trump-assassination-attempt-gunman-roof-shooting/story?id=111947616 |access-date=July 17, 2024 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=July 14, 2024 |title=AP PHOTOS: Shooting at Trump rally in Pennsylvania |url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-rally-shooting-photo-gallery-561478b3f90c950c741eeaa24c6dc159 |access-date=July 23, 2024 |work=]}}</ref> Two days later, the ] nominated him as their presidential candidate, with Senator ] as his running mate.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Astor |first=Maggie |date=July 15, 2024 |title=What to Know About J.D. Vance, Trump's Running Mate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/15/us/politics/who-is-jd-vance-trump-vp.html |access-date=July 15, 2024 |work=]}}</ref> On September 15, 2024, he was targeted in another ].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Debusmann |first1=Bernd Jr |last2=Yousif |first2=Nadine |date=September 23, 2024 |title=Suspect described Trump 'assassination attempt' in pre-written note |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c89ly20vvgvo |access-date=November 21, 2024 |work=]}}</ref> Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States in November 2024, defeating incumbent vice president Kamala Harris,<ref>{{Cite news|title=2024 Presidential Election Results|url=https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/|date=November 25, 2024|access-date=November 25, 2024 |work=]}}</ref> and making him the second president in U.S. history after ] in ] to be elected to a nonconsecutive second term.<ref>{{cite news|last=Treisman|first=Rachel|date=November 4, 2024|title=Trump is hoping to win non-consecutive terms. Only one president has done it|url=https://www.npr.org/2024/11/04/g-s1-32048/grover-cleveland-trump-non-consecutive-terms|access-date=November 9, 2024|work=]}}</ref> The ] and ] described it as an extraordinary comeback.<ref name="TPO_2">{{cite news |last1=Sheerin |first1=Jude |last2=Murphy |first2=Matt |date=November 6, 2024 |title=Trump pulls off historic White House comeback |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62l5zdv7zko |access-date=November 9, 2024 |work=] |quote=Projections suggest he is likely to win the overall popular vote nationally}}</ref><ref name="TWT_1">{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Zeke |author-link1=Zeke Miller |last2=Price |first2=Michelle L. |last3=Weissert |first3=Will |last4=Colvin |first4=Jill |date=November 6, 2024 |title=Trump wins the White House in political comeback rooted in appeals to frustrated voters |url=https://apnews.com/article/election-day-trump-harris-white-house-83c8e246ab97f5b97be45cdc156af4e2 |access-date=November 9, 2024 |work=] |quote=an extraordinary comeback for a former president}}</ref>


== Political practice and rhetoric ==
Some view the nature and frequency of Trump's falsehoods as having profound and corrosive consequences on democracy.<ref name="MTomasky">{{cite news |last=Tomasky |first=Michael |authorlink=Michael Tomasky |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/11/opinion/trump-lies.html |title=Why Does Trump Lie? |date=June 11, 2020 |work=] |access-date=June 13, 2020}}</ref> James Pfiffner, professor of policy and government at George Mason University, wrote in 2019 that Trump lies differently from previous presidents, because he offers "egregious false statements that are demonstrably contrary to well-known facts"; these lies are the "most important" of all Trump lies. By calling facts into question, people will be unable to properly evaluate their government, with beliefs or policy irrationally settled by "political power"; this erodes ], wrote Pfiffner.<ref name="Pfiffner">{{cite book |last=Pfiffner |first=James P. |editor-last1=Lamb |editor-first1=Charles M. |editor-last2=Neiheisel |editor-first2=Jacob R. |title=Presidential Leadership and the Trump Presidency: Executive Power and Democratic Government |location=New York |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |date=2019 |pages=17–40 |chapter=The Lies of Donald Trump: A Taxonomy |url=https://pfiffner.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Pfiffner-The-Lies-of-Donald-Trump-A-Taxonomy.pdf |isbn=978-3-030-18979-2}}</ref>
{{Further|Trumpism|Political positions of Donald Trump|Rhetoric of Donald Trump}}
Beginning with his 2016 campaign, Trump's politics and rhetoric led to the creation of a ] known as ].<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Brien|first=Timothy L.|author-link=Timothy L. O'Brien|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-11-01/trumpism-has-deep-roots-in-american-history-and-it-will-outlast-trump|title=The Peculiarly American Roots of Trumpism|work=]|date=November 1, 2024|access-date=November 26, 2024}}</ref> Professor Mary Stuckey identified his rhetoric as using vitriol: "demeaning language, ], and exclusion".{{sfn|Stuckey|2020|p=366}} Professor ] found he used ] about immigrants and minorities{{sfn|Jacobson|2020|p=782}} that other researchers found were essential to his support.{{sfn|Mason|Wronski|Kane|2021}} His political base has been compared to a ].{{efn|name=Cult|Attributed to multiple sources:{{sfn|Sundahl|2022|loc=" a model for distinguishing between popularity and personality cults based on three parameters covering a representational and social practice dimension... Trump and Putin belong in the domain of personality cults"}}{{sfn|Franks|Hesami|2021|loc="Results of the current study... may lend credence to accusations that some Trump supporters have a cult-like loyalty to the 45th president"}}{{sfn|Adams|2021|p=256}}{{sfn|Reyes|2020|p=869}}{{sfn|Diamond|2023|p=96|loc="The cult of Trumpism fosters and exploits paranoia and allegiance to an all-powerful, charismatic figure, contributing to a social milieu at risk for the erosion of democratic principles and the rise of fascism"}}{{sfn|Hassan|2019|p=xviii|loc="...Trump employs many of the same techniques as prominent cult leaders"}}<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ben-Ghiat|first=Ruth|author-link=Ruth Ben-Ghiat|date=December 19, 2020|title=Op-Ed: Trump's formula for building a lasting personality cult|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-12-09/donald-trump-strongman-personality-cult|access-date=October 4, 2023|work=]}}</ref>}} Trump's political positions are ],{{sfn|Ross|2024|p=298|loc="In 2016, a populist won the presidential election in the United States."}}{{sfn|Urbinati|2019}} more specifically described as ].{{sfn|Campani|Concepción|Soler|Savín|2022}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Chotiner|first=Isaac|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/redefining-populism|title=Redefining Populism|magazine=]|date=July 29, 2021|access-date=October 14, 2021}}</ref> '']'' described them as "eclectic, improvisational and often contradictory".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/will-the-real-donald-trump-please-stand-up-120607|title=Will the real Donald Trump please stand up?|last=Noah|first=Timothy|author-link=Timothy Noah|date=July 26, 2015|access-date=October 1, 2021|work=]}}</ref> He helped bring far-right fringe ideas and organizations into the mainstream.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bierman|first=Noah|date=August 22, 2016|title=Donald Trump helps bring far-right media's edgier elements into the mainstream|work=]|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-media-20160820-snap-story.html|access-date=October 7, 2021}}</ref> The ] movement coalesced around and supported his candidacy, due in part to its ] and ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Weigel|first=David|author-link=David Weigel|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/racial-realists-are-cheered-by-trumps-latest-strategy/2016/08/20/cd71e858-6636-11e6-96c0-37533479f3f5_story.html|title='Racialists' are cheered by Trump's latest strategy|newspaper=]|date=August 20, 2016|access-date=June 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://cnn.com/2016/08/25/politics/alt-right-explained-hillary-clinton-donald-trump/|title=Clinton is attacking the 'Alt-Right' – What is it?|first=Gregory|last=Krieg|access-date=August 25, 2016|date=August 25, 2016|work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pierce|first=Matt|title=Q&A: What is President Trump's relationship with far-right and white supremacist groups?|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-09-30/la-na-pol-2020-trump-white-supremacy|work=]|date=September 20, 2020|access-date=October 7, 2021}}</ref> He has a strong ]. He appeals to ],{{sfn|Perry|Whitehead|Grubbs|2021|p=229}} and his rallies take on the symbols, rhetoric and agenda of Christian nationalism.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Peter|first=Smith|date=May 18, 2024|title=Jesus is their savior, Trump is their candidate. Ex-president's backers say he shares faith, values|url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-christian-evangelicals-conservatives-2024-election-43f25118c133170c77786daf316821c3|access-date=November 23, 2024|work=]}}</ref>


=== Promotion of conspiracy theories === === Link to hate crimes ===
{{further|Rhetoric of Donald Trump#Violence and dehumanization}}


Research suggests Trump's rhetoric is associated with an increased incidence of hate crimes.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kunzelman |first1=Michael |last2=Galvan |first2=Astrid |date=August 7, 2019 |title=Trump words linked to more hate crime? Some experts think so |url=https://apnews.com/article/7d0949974b1648a2bb592cab1f85aa16 |access-date=October 7, 2021 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Feinberg |first1=Ayal |last2=Branton |first2=Regina |last3=Martinez-Ebers |first3=Valerie |date=March 22, 2019 |title=Analysis &#124; Counties that hosted a 2016 Trump rally saw a 226 percent increase in hate crimes |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/03/22/trumps-rhetoric-does-inspire-more-hate-crimes/ |access-date=October 7, 2021 |newspaper=]}}</ref> During his 2016 campaign, he urged or praised physical attacks against protesters or reporters.<ref>{{cite web |last=White |first=Daniel |date=February 1, 2016 |title=Donald Trump Tells Crowd To 'Knock the Crap Out Of' Hecklers |url=https://time.com/4203094/donald-trump-hecklers/ |access-date=August 9, 2019 |magazine=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Koerner |first=Claudia |date=October 18, 2018 |title=Trump Thinks It's Totally Cool That A Congressman Assaulted A Journalist For Asking A Question |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/claudiakoerner/trump-gianforte-congressman-assault-journalist-montana |access-date=October 19, 2018 |work=]}}</ref> Numerous defendants investigated or prosecuted for violent acts and hate crimes, including participants in the storming of the U.S. Capitol, cited his rhetoric in arguing that they were not culpable or should receive leniency.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tracy |first=Abigail |date=August 8, 2019 |title="The President of the United States Says It's Okay": The Rise of the Trump Defense |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/08/donald-trump-domestic-terrorism-el-paso |access-date=October 7, 2021 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Helderman |first1=Rosalind S. |author-link1=Rosalind S. Helderman |last2=Hsu |first2=Spencer S. |last3=Weiner |first3=Rachel |date=January 16, 2021 |title='Trump said to do so': Accounts of rioters who say the president spurred them to rush the Capitol could be pivotal testimony |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-rioters-testimony/2021/01/16/01b3d5c6-575b-11eb-a931-5b162d0d033d_story.html |access-date=September 27, 2021 |newspaper=]}}</ref> A nationwide review by ABC News in May 2020 identified at least 54 criminal cases from August 2015 to April 2020 in which he was invoked in direct connection with violence or threats of violence mostly by white men and primarily against minorities.<ref>{{cite web |last=Levine |first=Mike |date=May 30, 2020 |title='No Blame?' ABC News finds 54 cases invoking 'Trump' in connection with violence, threats, alleged assaults. |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/blame-abc-news-finds-17-cases-invoking-trump/story?id=58912889 |access-date=February 4, 2021 |work=]}}</ref>
Before and throughout his presidency, Trump has ], including "]", the ] theory, ] and ].<ref>
* {{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/01/us/politics/donald-trump-conspiracy-theories.html |title=Even as He Rises, Donald Trump Entertains Conspiracy Theories |first=Maggie |last=Haberman |authorlink=Maggie Haberman |date=February 29, 2016 |work=]}}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/26/president-trump-loves-conspiracy-theories-has-he-ever-been-right/ |title=President Trump loves conspiracy theories. Has he ever been right? |first=Philip |last=Bump |website=] |date=November 26, 2019}}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/02/politics/trump-conspiracy-theorists-qanon/index.html |title=The Conspiracy-Theorist-in-Chief clears the way for fringe candidates to become mainstream |first=Maeve |last=Reston |website=] |date=July 2, 2020}}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/26/us/politics/klausutis-letter-jack-dorsey.html |title=Trump Pushes a Conspiracy Theory That Falsely Accuses a TV Host of Murder |first1=Peter |last1=Baker |author1link=Peter Baker (journalist) |first2=Maggie |last2=Astor |date=May 26, 2020 |work=]}}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/28/us/politics/trump-conspiracy-theories-spygate.html |title=With 'Spygate,' Trump Shows How He Uses Conspiracy Theories to Erode Trust |first1=Julie Hirschfeld |last1=Davis |author1link=Julie Hirschfeld Davis |first2=Maggie |last2=Haberman |author2link=Maggie Haberman |date=May 28, 2018 |work=]}}
</ref> In October 2020, Trump retweeted a QAnon follower who asserted that ] was still alive, a ] had been killed in his place and "Biden and Obama may have had ] killed."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/15/politics/donald-trump-osama-bin-laden-conspiracy-theory-fact-check/index.html |title=Fact-checking the dangerous bin Laden conspiracy theory that Trump touted |first1=Tara |last1=Subramaniam |first2=Holmes |last2=Lybrand |website=] |date=October 15, 2020}}</ref>


=== Relationship with the press === === Truthfulness ===
{{Main|False or misleading statements by Donald Trump}}


] from ''The Washington Post'',<ref name="database">{{cite news |last1=Kessler |first1=Glenn |author-link1=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |last2=Kelly |first2=Meg |last3=Rizzo |first3=Salvador |last4=Lee |first4=Michelle Ye Hee |author-link4=Michelle Ye Hee Lee |date=January 20, 2021 |title=In four years, President Trump made 30,573 false or misleading claims |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/trump-claims-database/ |access-date=October 11, 2021 |newspaper=]}}</ref> the ''Toronto Star'',<ref>{{cite web |last=Dale |first=Daniel |author-link=Daniel Dale |date=June 5, 2019 |title=Donald Trump has now said more than 5,000 false things as president |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/analysis/2019/06/05/donald-trump-has-now-said-more-than-5000-false-claims-as-president.html |access-date=October 11, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> and CNN<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dale |first1=Daniel |author-link=Daniel Dale |last2=Subramiam |first2=Tara |date=March 9, 2020 |title=Fact check: Donald Trump made 115 false claims in the last two weeks of February |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/09/politics/fact-check-trump-false-claims-february/index.html |access-date=November 1, 2023 |work=]}}</ref> compiled data on "false or misleading claims" (orange background), and "false claims" (violet foreground), respectively.|alt=Chart depicting false or misleading claims made by Trump]]
{{Further|Presidency of Donald Trump#Relationship with the news media}}
]


As a candidate and as president, Trump frequently made false statements in public remarks<ref name="finnegan">{{cite news |last=Finnegan |first=Michael |date=September 25, 2016 |title=Scope of Trump's falsehoods unprecedented for a modern presidential candidate |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-false-statements-20160925-snap-story.html |access-date=October 10, 2021 |work=]}}</ref><ref name="whoppers"/> to an extent unprecedented in ].<ref name="finnegan"/><ref name="glasser">{{cite web |last=Glasser |first=Susan B. |author-link=Susan Glasser |date=August 3, 2018 |title=It's True: Trump Is Lying More, and He's Doing It on Purpose |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-trumps-washington/trumps-escalating-war-on-the-truth-is-on-purpose |access-date=January 10, 2019 |magazine=]}}</ref><ref name="Konnikova">{{cite web |last=Konnikova |first=Maria |author-link=Maria Konnikova |date=January 20, 2017 |title=Trump's Lies vs. Your Brain |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/donald-trump-lies-liar-effect-brain-214658 |access-date=March 31, 2018 |work=]}}</ref> His falsehoods are a distinctive part of his political identity<ref name="glasser"/> and have been described as ].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kakutani |first1=Michiko |title=The Death of Truth: Notes on Falsehood in the Age of Trump |date=2018 |publisher=] |isbn=9780525574842 |pages=94–104 |chapter=The Firehose of Falsehood: Propaganda and Fake News |author-link=Michiko Kakutani |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vlw_DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT94}}</ref> His false and misleading statements were documented by ]s, including at ''The Washington Post'', which tallied 30,573 false or misleading statements made by him during his first presidency,<ref name="database"/> increasing in frequency over time.<ref name="TermUntruth">{{cite news |last1=Kessler |first1=Glenn |author-link1=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |last2=Kelly |first2=Meg |last3=Rizzo |first3=Salvador |last4=Shapiro |first4=Leslie |last5=Dominguez |first5=Leo |date=January 23, 2021 |title=A term of untruths: The longer Trump was president, the more frequently he made false or misleading claims |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/timeline-trump-claims-as-president/ |access-date=October 11, 2021 |newspaper=]}}</ref>
Throughout his career, Trump has sought media attention, with a "love-hate" relationship with the press.<ref name=Parnes>{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/385245-trumps-love-hate-relationship-with-the-press |title=Trump's love-hate relationship with the press |website=] |date=April 28, 2018 |accessdate=July 4, 2018 |last=Parnes |first=Amy}}</ref><ref name=Ingram-160301>{{cite news |url=https://fortune.com/2016/03/01/media-love-hate-trump/ |title=Love and Hate: The Media's Co-Dependent Relationship With Donald Trump |website=] |date=March 1, 2016 |accessdate=July 4, 2018 |last=Ingram |first=Mathew}}</ref><ref name=AN-170124>{{cite news |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1043476/science-technology |title=Trump's love-hate relationship with media intensifies |website=] |date=January 24, 2017 |accessdate=July 4, 2018 |first=Ben |last=Flanagan}}</ref> Trump began promoting himself in the press in the 1970s.<ref name=Dantonio-160710>{{cite interview |title=Who is Donald Trump? |date=July 10, 2016 |accessdate=July 4, 2018 |last=D'Antonio |first=Michael |website=] |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/10/opinions/donald-trump-biography-michael-dantonio/index.html}}</ref> Fox News anchor ] and former House speaker ] have characterized Trump as a "]" who makes controversial statements to see people's "heads explode".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/bret-baier-trump-likes-trolling-the-left-to-watch-heads-explode-even-if-he-contradicts-himself/ |title=Bret Baier: Trump Likes Trolling the Left to Watch 'Heads Explode', Even If He Contradicts Himself |work=] |date=July 24, 2018 |first=Josh |last=Feldman}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/07/magazine/paul-ryan-speakership-end-trump.html |title=This Is the Way Paul Ryan's Speakership Ends |first=Mark |last=Leibovich |authorlink=Mark Leibovich |date=August 7, 2018 |work=]}}</ref>


Some of Trump's falsehoods were inconsequential, such as his repeated claim of the "]".<ref>{{cite web |last=Qiu |first=Linda |date=January 21, 2017 |title=Donald Trump had biggest inaugural crowd ever? Metrics don't show it |url=https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2017/jan/21/sean-spicer/trump-had-biggest-inaugural-crowd-ever-metrics-don/ |access-date=March 30, 2018 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rein |first=Lisa |date=March 6, 2017 |title=Here are the photos that show Obama's inauguration crowd was bigger than Trump's |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/03/06/here-are-the-photos-that-show-obamas-inauguration-crowd-was-bigger-than-trumps/ |access-date=March 8, 2017 |newspaper=]}}</ref> Others had more far-reaching effects, such as his promotion of antimalarial drugs as an unproven treatment for COVID-19,<ref>{{cite web |last=Wong |first=Julia Carrie |author-link=Julia Carrie Wong |date=April 7, 2020 |title=Hydroxychloroquine: how an unproven drug became Trump's coronavirus 'miracle cure' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/06/hydroxychloroquine-trump-coronavirus-drug |access-date=June 25, 2021 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Spring |first=Marianna |date=May 27, 2020 |title=Coronavirus: The human cost of virus misinformation |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-52731624 |access-date=June 13, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> causing a U.S. shortage of these drugs and ] in Africa and South Asia.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rowland |first=Christopher |date=March 23, 2020 |title=As Trump touts an unproven coronavirus treatment, supplies evaporate for patients who need those drugs |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/20/hospitals-doctors-are-wiping-out-supplies-an-unproven-coronavirus-treatment/ |access-date=March 24, 2020 |newspaper=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Parkinson |first1=Joe |last2=Gauthier-Villars |first2=David |date=March 23, 2020 |title=Trump Claim That Malaria Drugs Treat Coronavirus Sparks Warnings, Shortages |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-claim-that-malaria-drugs-treat-coronavirus-sparks-warnings-shortages-11584981897 |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 26, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> Other misinformation, such as misattributing a rise in crime in ] to the "spread of radical Islamic terror", served his domestic political purposes.<ref>{{cite web |last=Zurcher |first=Anthony |date=November 29, 2017 |title=Trump's anti-Muslim retweet fits a pattern |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42171550 |access-date=June 13, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> His attacks on mail-in ballots and other election practices weakened public faith in the integrity of the 2020 presidential election,<ref>{{cite web |last=Siders |first=David |date=May 25, 2020 |title=Trump sees a 'rigged election' ahead. Democrats see a constitutional crisis in the making. |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/25/donald-trump-rigged-election-talk-fears-274477 |access-date=October 9, 2021 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Riccardi |first=Nicholas |date=September 17, 2020 |title=AP Fact Check: Trump's big distortions on mail-in voting |url=https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-election-2020-ap-fact-check-elections-voting-fraud-and-irregularities-8c5db90960815f91f39fe115579570b4 |access-date=October 7, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> while his disinformation about the pandemic delayed and weakened the national response to it.<ref name="NYT 4 11 20">{{cite news|first1=Eric|last1=Lipton|author-link1=Eric Lipton|first2=David E.|last2=Sanger|author-link2=David E. Sanger|first3=Maggie|last3=Haberman|author-link3=Maggie Haberman|first4=Michael D.|last4=Shear|author-link4=Michael D. Shear|first5=Mark|last5=Mazzetti|author-link5=Mark Mazzetti|first6=Julian E.|last6=Barnes|title=He Could Have Seen What Was Coming: Behind Trump's Failure on the Virus|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/11/us/politics/coronavirus-trump-response.html|access-date=April 11, 2020|work=]|date=April 11, 2020}}</ref><ref name="USAT-Disinfo">{{cite web |last=Guynn |first=Jessica |date=October 5, 2020 |title=From COVID-19 to voting: Trump is nation's single largest spreader of disinformation, studies say |url=https://usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/10/05/trump-covid-19-coronavirus-disinformation-facebook-twitter-election/3632194001/ |access-date=October 7, 2020 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bergengruen |first1=Vera |last2=Hennigan |first2=W.J. |date=October 6, 2020 |title='You're Gonna Beat It.' How Donald Trump's COVID-19 Battle Has Only Fueled Misinformation |url=https://time.com/5896709/trump-covid-campaign/ |access-date=October 7, 2020 |magazine=]}}</ref> Trump habitually does not apologize for his falsehoods.<ref>{{cite web |last=Allen |first=Jonathan |date=December 31, 2018 |title=Does being President Trump still mean never having to say you're sorry? |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/does-being-president-trump-still-mean-never-having-say-you-n952841 |access-date=June 14, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> Until 2018, the media rarely referred to Trump's falsehoods as lies, including when he repeated demonstrably false statements.<ref>{{cite web |last=Greenberg |first=David |author-link=David Greenberg (historian) |date=January 28, 2017 |title=The Perils of Calling Trump a Liar |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/the-perils-of-calling-trump-a-liar-214704 |access-date=June 13, 2020 |work=]}}</ref><ref name="DBauder">{{cite web |last=Bauder |first=David |date=August 29, 2018 |title=News media hesitate to use 'lie' for Trump's misstatements |url=https://apnews.com/8d3c7387eff7496abcd0651124caf891 |access-date=September 27, 2023 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=June 5, 2019 |title=Lies? The news media is starting to describe Trump's 'falsehoods' that way. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/lies-the-news-media-is-starting-to-describe-trumps-falsehoods-that-way/2019/06/05/413cc2a0-8626-11e9-a491-25df61c78dc4_story.html |access-date=April 11, 2024 |newspaper=]}}</ref>
In the campaign, Trump benefited from a record amount of free media coverage, elevating his standing in the Republican primaries.<ref name=Cillizza-160614/> ''New York Times'' writer ] wrote in 2018 that Trump's media dominance, which enthralls the public and creates "can't miss" ]-type coverage, was politically beneficial for him.<ref name="ChozickNYT">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/29/sunday-review/trump-2020-reality-tv.html |title=Why Trump Will Win a Second Term |last=Chozick |first=Amy |authorlink=Amy Chozick |date=September 29, 2018 |work=] |access-date=September 22, 2019}}</ref>


=== Conspiracy theories ===
Throughout his 2016 presidential campaign and his presidency, Trump has accused the press of bias, calling it the "fake news media" and "the ]".<ref name=Walsh-160724 /><ref>{{cite news |last=Bondarenko |first=Veronika |title=Trump keeps saying 'enemy of the people' – but the phrase has a very ugly history |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/history-of-president-trumps-phrase-an-enemy-of-the-people-2017-2 |work=] |accessdate=October 25, 2017}}</ref> After winning the election, journalist ] recounted Trump's saying he intentionally demeaned and discredited the media "so when you write negative stories about me no one will believe you."<ref>{{cite news |last=Thomsen |first=Jacqueline |title='60 Minutes' correspondent: Trump said he attacks the press so no one believes negative coverage |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/388855-60-minutes-correspondent-trump-said-he-attacks-the-press-so-no-one |work=] |accessdate=May 23, 2018}}</ref>
{{Main|List of conspiracy theories promoted by Donald Trump}}


Before and throughout his presidency, Trump promoted numerous conspiracy theories, including ], the ], the conspiracy theory movement ], the ] theory, ], that ] and Obama and Biden had members of ] killed, and ].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fichera |first1=Angelo |last2=Spencer |first2=Saranac Hale |date=October 20, 2020 |title=Trump's Long History With Conspiracy Theories |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2020/10/trumps-long-history-with-conspiracy-theories/ |access-date=September 15, 2021 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Subramaniam |first1=Tara |last2=Lybrand |first2=Holmes |date=October 15, 2020 |title=Fact-checking the dangerous bin Laden conspiracy theory that Trump touted |url=https://cnn.com/2020/10/15/politics/donald-trump-osama-bin-laden-conspiracy-theory-fact-check/ |access-date=October 11, 2021 |work=]}}</ref><ref name="Haberman2016">{{cite web |last=Haberman |first=Maggie |author-link=Maggie Haberman |date=February 29, 2016 |title=Even as He Rises, Donald Trump Entertains Conspiracy Theories |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/01/us/politics/donald-trump-conspiracy-theories.html |access-date=October 11, 2021 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bump |first=Philip |date=November 26, 2019 |title=President Trump loves conspiracy theories. Has he ever been right? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/26/president-trump-loves-conspiracy-theories-has-he-ever-been-right/ |access-date=October 11, 2021 |newspaper=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Reston |first=Maeve |date=July 2, 2020 |title=The Conspiracy-Theorist-in-Chief clears the way for fringe candidates to become mainstream |url=https://cnn.com/2020/07/02/politics/trump-conspiracy-theorists-qanon/ |access-date=October 11, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> In at least two instances, Trump clarified to press that he believed the conspiracy theory in question.<ref name="Haberman2016"/> During and since the 2020 presidential election, Trump promoted various conspiracy theories for his defeat.<ref>{{cite web |last=Perkins |first=Tom |date=November 18, 2020 |title=The dead voter conspiracy theory peddled by Trump voters, debunked |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/18/dead-voter-conspiracy-theory-debunked |access-date=October 11, 2021 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Cohen |first=Li |date=January 15, 2021 |title=6 conspiracy theories about the 2020 election – debunked |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/presidential-election-2020-conspiracy-theories-debunked/ |access-date=September 13, 2021 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McEvoy |first=Jemima |date=December 17, 2020 |title=These Are The Voter Fraud Claims Trump Tried (And Failed) To Overturn The Election With |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2020/12/17/these-are-the-voter-fraud-claims-trump-tried-and-failed-to-overturn-the-election-with/ |access-date=September 13, 2021 |work=]}}</ref>
Trump has privately and publicly mused about revoking the press credentials of journalists he views as critical.<ref name=":17">{{cite news |url=https://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?' |first1=Brian |last1=Stelter |author1link=Brian Stelter |first2=Kaitlan |last2=Collins |author2link=Kaitlan Collins |website=] |accessdate=May 9, 2018}}</ref> His administration moved to revoke the press passes of two White House reporters, which were restored by the courts.<ref name="auto2">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/30/business/media/trump-media-2019.html |title=After Another Year of Trump Attacks, 'Ominous Signs' for the American Press |first=Michael M. |last=Grynbaum |date=December 30, 2019 |work=]}}</ref> In 2019, a member of the foreign press reported many of the same concerns as those of media in the U.S., expressing concern that a normalization process by reporters and media results in an inaccurate characterization of Trump.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/20/as-a-foreign-reporter-visiting-the-us-i-was-stunned-by-trumps-press-conference |title=As a foreign reporter visiting the US I was stunned by Trump's press conference |last=Taylor |first=Lenore |authorlink=Lenore Taylor |date=September 20, 2019 |work=] |access-date=September 22, 2019}}</ref> The Trump White House held about a hundred formal press briefings in 2017, declining by half during 2018 and to two in 2019.<ref name="auto2"/>


=== Social media ===
Trump has employed the legal system as an intimidation tactic against the press.<ref name="Atlantic_Press">{{cite news |work=] |date=March 11, 2020 |first1=Joshua A.|last1=Geltzer |first2=Neal K.|last2=Katyal |title=The True Danger of the Trump Campaign's Defamation Lawsuits |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/true-danger-trump-campaigns-libel-lawsuits/607753/|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref> In early 2020, the Trump campaign sued ''The New York Times'', ''The Washington Post'', and CNN for alleged defamation.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=March 3, 2020 |first=David |last=Folkenflik |authorlink=David Folkenflik |title=Trump 2020 Sues 'Washington Post,' Days After 'N.Y. Times' Defamation Suit |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/03/03/811735554/trump-2020-sues-washington-post-days-after-ny-times-defamation-suit}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=March 6, 2020 |first1=Brian |last1=Flood |first2=Brooke |last2=Singman |title=Trump campaign sues CNN over 'false and defamatory' statements, seeks millions in damages |url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/trump-campaign-sues-cnn-false-defamatory-statements-millions-damages.amp}}</ref> These lawsuits lacked merit and were not likely to succeed, however.<ref name="Atlantic_Press"/><ref name="TheHill_Press">{{cite news |work=] |date=March 8, 2020 |first=Justin |last=Wise |title=Trump escalates fight against press with libel lawsuits |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/486273-trump-escalates-fight-against-press-with-libel-lawsuits|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref> Their design and effect is to intimidate journalists and the press.<ref name="Atlantic_Press"/><ref name="TheHill_Press"/>
{{Main|Social media use by Donald Trump}}


Trump's social media presence attracted worldwide attention after he joined Twitter in 2009. He tweeted frequently during his 2016 campaign and as president until Twitter banned him after the January&nbsp;6 attack.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Conger |first1=Kate |last2=Isaac |first2=Mike |date=January 16, 2021 |title=Inside Twitter's Decision to Cut Off Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/16/technology/twitter-donald-trump-jack-dorsey.html |access-date=October 10, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> He often used Twitter to communicate directly with the public and sideline the press.<ref name="gone">{{cite web |last1=Madhani |first1=Aamer |last2=Colvin |first2=Jill |date=January 9, 2021 |title=A farewell to @realDonaldTrump, gone after 57,000 tweets |url=https://apnews.com/article/twitter-donald-trump-ban-cea450b1f12f4ceb8984972a120018d5 |access-date=October 10, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> In June 2017, the White House press secretary said that his tweets were official presidential statements.<ref>{{cite web |last=Landers |first=Elizabeth |date=June 6, 2017 |title=White House: Trump's tweets are 'official statements' |url=https://cnn.com/2017/06/06/politics/trump-tweets-official-statements/ |access-date=October 10, 2021 |work=]}}</ref>
=== Racial views ===


After years of criticism for allowing Trump to post misinformation and falsehoods, Twitter began to tag some of his tweets with fact-checks in May 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dwoskin |first=Elizabeth |date=May 27, 2020 |title=Twitter labels Trump's tweets with a fact check for the first time |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/05/26/trump-twitter-label-fact-check/ |access-date=July 7, 2020 |newspaper=]}}</ref> In response, he tweeted that social media platforms "totally silence" conservatives and that he would "strongly regulate, or close them down".<ref>{{cite news |last=Dwoskin |first=Elizabeth |date=May 27, 2020 |title=Trump lashes out at social media companies after Twitter labels tweets with fact checks |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/05/27/trump-twitter-label/ |access-date=May 28, 2020 |newspaper=]}}</ref> In the days after the storming of the Capitol, he was banned from ], ], Twitter and other platforms.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fischer |first1=Sara |last2=Gold |first2=Ashley |date=January 11, 2021 |title=All the platforms that have banned or restricted Trump so far |url=https://www.axios.com/platforms-social-media-ban-restrict-trump-d9e44f3c-8366-4ba9-a8a1-7f3114f920f1.html |access-date=January 16, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> The loss of his social media presence diminished his ability to shape events<ref>{{cite news |last=Timberg |first=Craig |date=January 14, 2021 |title=Twitter ban reveals that tech companies held keys to Trump's power all along |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/01/14/trump-twitter-megaphone/ |access-date=February 17, 2021 |newspaper=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Alba |first1=Davey |last2=Koeze |first2=Ella |last3=Silver |first3=Jacob |date=June 7, 2021 |title=What Happened When Trump Was Banned on Social Media |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/06/07/technology/trump-social-media-ban.html |access-date=December 21, 2023 |work=]}}</ref> and prompted a dramatic decrease in the volume of misinformation shared on Twitter.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dwoskin |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Timberg |first2=Craig |date=January 16, 2021 |title=Misinformation dropped dramatically the week after Twitter banned Trump and some allies |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/01/16/misinformation-trump-twitter/ |access-date=February 17, 2021 |newspaper=]}}</ref> In February 2022, he launched social media platform ] where he only attracted a fraction of his Twitter following.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harwell |first1=Drew |last2=Dawsey |first2=Josh |author-link2=Josh Dawsey |date=November 7, 2022 |title=Trump once reconsidered sticking with Truth Social. Now he's stuck. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/11/07/trump-once-reconsidered-sticking-with-truth-social-now-hes-stuck/ |access-date=May 7, 2023 |newspaper=]}}</ref> ], after ], reinstated his Twitter account in November 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mac |first1=Ryan |last2=Browning |first2=Kellen |date=November 19, 2022 |title=Elon Musk Reinstates Trump's Twitter Account |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/19/technology/trump-twitter-musk.html |access-date=November 21, 2022 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Dang |first1=Sheila |last2=Coster |first2=Helen |date=November 20, 2022 |title=Trump snubs Twitter after Musk announces reactivation of ex-president's account |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/musks-twitter-poll-showing-narrow-majority-want-trump-reinstated-2022-11-20/ |access-date=May 10, 2024 |work=]}}</ref> ]' two-year ban lapsed in January 2023, allowing him to return to Facebook and Instagram,<ref>{{cite news |last=Bond |first=Shannon |date=January 23, 2023 |title=Meta allows Donald Trump back on Facebook and Instagram |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/01/25/1146961818/trump-meta-facebook-instagram-ban-ends |work=]}}</ref> although in 2024, he continued to call the company an "]".<ref>{{cite news |last=Egan |first=Matt |date=March 11, 2024 |title=Trump calls Facebook the enemy of the people. Meta's stock sinks |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/11/tech/trump-tiktok-facebook-meta/index.html |work=]}}</ref>
{{Main|Racial views of Donald Trump}}


=== Relationship with the press ===
Many of Trump's comments and actions have been seen as racially charged.<ref>Multiple sources:
{{Further|First presidency of Donald Trump#Relationship with the news media}}
* {{cite news |work=] |last1=Lopez |first1=German |title=Donald Trump's long history of racism, from the 1970s to 2019 |url=https://www.vox.com/2016/7/25/12270880/donald-trump-racist-racism-history |accessdate=June 15, 2019 |date=February 14, 2019}}
]
* {{cite news |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/every-moment-donald-trumps-long-complicated-history-race |title=Every moment in Trump's charged relationship with race |date=January 12, 2018 |work=] |accessdate=January 13, 2018}}
Trump sought media attention throughout his career, sustaining a "love-hate" relationship with the press.<ref>{{cite web |last=Parnes |first=Amie |date=April 28, 2018 |title=Trump's love-hate relationship with the press |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/385245-trumps-love-hate-relationship-with-the-press |access-date=July 4, 2018 |work=]}}</ref> In the 2016 campaign, he benefited from a record amount of free media coverage, elevating his standing in the Republican primaries.<ref name="Cillizza-160614"/> ''The New York Times'' writer ] wrote in 2018 that his media dominance enthralled the public and created "must-see TV".<ref>{{cite web |last=Chozick |first=Amy |author-link=Amy Chozick |date=September 29, 2018 |title=Why Trump Will Win a Second Term |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/29/sunday-review/trump-2020-reality-tv.html |access-date=September 22, 2019 |work=]}}</ref> As a candidate and as president, Trump frequently accused the press of bias, calling it the "fake news media" and "the ]".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hetherington |first1=Marc |author-link1=Marc Hetherington |last2=Ladd |first2=Jonathan M. |date=May 1, 2020 |title=Destroying trust in the media, science, and government has left America vulnerable to disaster |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2020/05/01/destroying-trust-in-the-media-science-and-government-has-left-america-vulnerable-to-disaster/ |access-date=October 11, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> In 2018, journalist ] said that he had privately told her that he intentionally discredited the media "so when you write negative stories about me no one will believe you".<ref>{{cite web |last=Thomsen |first=Jacqueline |date=May 22, 2018 |title='60 Minutes' correspondent: Trump said he attacks the press so no one believes negative coverage |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/388855-60-minutes-correspondent-trump-said-he-attacks-the-press-so-no-one |access-date=May 23, 2018 |work=]}}</ref>
* {{cite news |title=A history of Donald Trump's racially charged statements |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/a-history-of-donald-trump-s-racially-charged-statements |accessdate=October 3, 2019 |work=] |agency=] |date=July 16, 2019}}
* {{cite news |last=Dawsey |first=Josh |authorlink=Josh Dawsey |title=Trump's history of making offensive comments about nonwhite immigrants |work=] |date=January 11, 2018 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-attacks-protections-for-immigrants-from-shithole-countries-in-oval-office-meeting/2018/01/11/bfc0725c-f711-11e7-91af-31ac729add94_story.html |accessdate=January 11, 2018}}
* {{cite news |title=Trump's 'shithole' comment denounced across the globe |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/12/trump-shithole-comment-reaction-337926 |accessdate=January 13, 2018 |work=] |date=January 12, 2018 |first=Aubree Eliza |last=Weaver}}
* {{cite news |last1=Stoddard |first1=Ed |last2=Mfula |first2=Chris |title=Africa calls Trump racist after 'shithole' remark |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-immigration-reaction/africa-calls-trump-racist-after-shithole-remark-idUSKBN1F11VC |accessdate=October 1, 2019 |work=] |date=January 12, 2018 |quote=African politicians and diplomats labeled U.S. President Donald Trump a racist on Friday.}}</ref> He has repeatedly denied he is racist, asserting: "I am the least racist person there is anywhere in the world."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-denies-racism-most-americans-dont-believe-him |title=As Trump denies racism, most Americans don't believe him |last=Benen |first=Steve |date=August 1, 2019 |website=]}}</ref> Many of his supporters say the way he speaks reflects his rejection of ], while others accept it because they share such beliefs.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://morningconsult.com/2017/06/29/poll-majority-trump-voters-say-political-correctness-right/ |title=Poll: Majority of Trump Voters Say His Political Correctness Is 'About Right' |last=Nichols |first=Laura |date=June 29, 2017 |accessdate=January 13, 2018 |website=]}}</ref><ref name="nation-20170508">{{cite news |title=Economic Anxiety Didn't Make People Vote Trump, Racism Did |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/economic-anxiety-didn't-make-people-vote-trump-racism-did/ |accessdate=January 13, 2018 |work=] |date=May 8, 2017 |first1=Sean |last1=McElwee |first2=Jason |last2=McDaniel}}</ref> Scholars have discussed Trump's rhetoric in the context of ].<ref>
*{{cite journal |last=Inwood |first=Joshua |date=2018 |title=White supremacy, white counter-revolutionary politics, and the rise of Donald Trump |journal=Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space |volume=37 |issue=4 |pages=579–596 |doi=10.1177/2399654418789949|s2cid=158269272}}
*{{cite journal |last=Giroux |first=Henry A. |date=2017 |title=White nationalism, armed culture and state violence in the age of Donald Trump |journal=Philosophy & Social Criticism |volume=43 |issue=9 |pages=887–910 |doi=10.1177/0191453717702800|s2cid=151410842}}
*{{cite journal |last=Bobo |first=Lawrence D. |date=2017 |title=The empire strikes back: Fall of the Postracial Myth and Stirrings of Renewed White Supremacy |journal=Du Bois Review: Social Science Research on Race |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=1–5 |doi=10.1017/S1742058X1700008X}}
*{{cite journal |last=Sanchez |first=James Chase |date=2018 |title=Trump, the KKK, and the Versatility of White Supremacy Rhetoric |journal=Journal of Contemporary Rhetoric |volume=8 |issue=1/2 |pages=44–56 |doi=10.1177/2399654418789949|s2cid=158269272}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Pulido |first1=Laura |first2=Tianna |last2=Bruno |first3=Cristina |last3=Faiver-Serna |first4=Cassandra |last4=Galentine |date=2018 |title=Environmental Deregulation, Spectacular Racism, and White Nationalism in the Trump Era |journal=Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics |volume=109 |issue=2 |pages=520–532 |doi=10.1080/24694452.2018.1549473|s2cid=159402163}}
</ref>


As president, Trump mused about revoking the press credentials of journalists he viewed as critical.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stelter |first1=Brian |author-link1=Brian Stelter |last2=Collins |first2=Kaitlan |author-link2=Kaitlan Collins |date=May 9, 2018 |title=Trump's latest shot at the press corps: 'Take away credentials?' |url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/05/09/media/president-trump-press-credentials/index.html |access-date=November 22, 2024 |work=]}}</ref> His administration moved to revoke the press passes of two White House reporters, which were restored by the courts.<ref name="The New York Times">{{cite web |last=Grynbaum |first=Michael M. |date=December 30, 2019 |title=After Another Year of Trump Attacks, 'Ominous Signs' for the American Press |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/30/business/media/trump-media-2019.html |access-date=October 11, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> The Trump White House held about a hundred formal press briefings in 2017, declining by half during 2018 and to two in 2019.<ref name="The New York Times"/> Trump also deployed the legal system to intimidate the press.<ref name="Atlantic_Press">{{cite web |last1=Geltzer |first1=Joshua A. |last2=Katyal |first2=Neal K. |date=March 11, 2020 |title=The True Danger of the Trump Campaign's Defamation Lawsuits |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/true-danger-trump-campaigns-libel-lawsuits/607753/ |access-date=October 1, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> The Trump campaign sued ''The New York Times'', ''The Washington Post'', and CNN for defamation in opinion pieces about Russian election interference. All the suits were dismissed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/03/donald-trump-lawsuit-new-york-times-mary-trump|title=US judge throws out Donald Trump's lawsuit against New York Times|date=May 3, 2023|access-date=November 25, 2024|work=The Guardian}}</ref> By 2024, he repeatedly voiced support for outlawing political dissent and criticism he considers misleading or challenges his claims to power,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kapur |first=Sahil |date=October 13, 2024 |title='Totally illegal': Trump escalates rhetoric on outlawing political dissent and criticism |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/totally-illegal-trump-escalates-rhetoric-outlawing-political-dissent-c-rcna174280 |access-date=November 23, 2024 |work=NBC News }}</ref> and that media companies should be investigated and prosecuted for treason for displaying "bad stories" about him and possibly lose their broadcast licenses if they refuse to name confidential sources.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Folkenflik |first=David |date=October 21, 2024 |title=Could Trump's threats against news outlets carry weight if he wins the presidency? |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/10/21/nx-s1-5150039/could-trumps-threats-against-news-outlets-carry-weight-if-he-wins-the-presidency |access-date=November 23, 2024 |work=NPR}}</ref>
Several studies and surveys have found that racist attitudes fueled Trump's political ascendance and have been more important than economic factors in determining the allegiance of Trump voters.<ref name="nation-20170508" /><ref name="vox-20171215">{{cite news |title=The past year of research has made it very clear: Trump won because of racial resentment |url=https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/12/15/16781222/trump-racism-economic-anxiety-study |accessdate=January 14, 2018 |work=] |date=December 15, 2017 |first=German |last=Lopez}}</ref> Racist and ] attitudes have been shown to be a powerful indicator of support for Trump.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lajevardi |first1=Nazita |last2=Oskooii |first2=Kassra A. R. |date=2018 |title=Old-Fashioned Racism, Contemporary Islamophobia, and the Isolation of Muslim Americans in the Age of Trump |journal=Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=112–152 |doi=10.1017/rep.2017.37}}</ref> In national polling, about half of Americans say that Trump is racist; a greater proportion believe that he has emboldened racists.<ref name="Marcin">{{cite news |url=https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-racist-44-percent-white-americans-poll-survey-new-1007434 |title=44 Percent Of White Americans Think Donald Trump Is Racist, New Poll Finds |last=Marcin |first=Tim |date=July 5, 2018 |accessdate=July 5, 2018 |website=]}}</ref><ref name="Quinnipiac-180703">{{cite web |url=https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2554 |title=Harsh Words For U.S. Family Separation Policy, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Voters Have Dim View Of Trump, Dems On Immigration |website=] |date=July 3, 2018 |accessdate=July 5, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=William |last=Cummins |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/07/31/donald-trump-racist-majority-say-quinnipiac-university-poll/1877168001/ |title=A majority of voters say President Donald Trump is a racist, Quinnipiac University poll finds |work=] |date=July 31, 2019}}</ref>


== Assessments ==
In 1975, he settled a 1973 Department of Justice lawsuit that alleged housing discrimination against black renters.<ref name="Mahler">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/28/us/politics/donald-trump-housing-race.html |title='No Vacancies' for Blacks: How Donald Trump Got His Start, and Was First Accused of Bias |work=] |date=August 27, 2016 |accessdate=January 13, 2018 |last1=Mahler |first1=Jonathan |last2=Eder |first2=Steve}}</ref> He has also been accused of racism for insisting a group of black and Latino teenagers were guilty of raping a white woman in the 1989 ], even after they were exonerated by DNA evidence in 2002. He has maintained his position on the matter into 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ransom |first1=Jan |title=Trump Will Not Apologize for Calling for Death Penalty Over Central Park Five |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/18/nyregion/central-park-five-trump.html |accessdate=June 29, 2019 |work=] |date=June 18, 2019}}</ref>
=== Public image ===
{{Main|Public image of Donald Trump}}
{{See also|Donald Trump in popular culture}}


A Gallup poll in 134 countries comparing the approval ratings of U.S. leadership between 2016 and 2017 found that Trump led Obama in job approval in only 29 countries, most of them non-democracies;<ref>{{cite web |last=Datta |first=Monti |date=September 16, 2019 |title=3 countries where Trump is popular |url=https://theconversation.com/3-countries-where-trump-is-popular-120317 |access-date=October 3, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> approval of U.S. leadership plummeted among allies and G7 countries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rating World Leaders: 2018 The U.S. vs. Germany, China and Russia |url=https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000161-0647-da3c-a371-867f6acc0001 |access-date=October 3, 2021 |work=]}} Page 9</ref> By mid-2020, only 16&nbsp;percent of international respondents to a 13-nation ] poll expressed confidence in him, lower than China's ] and Russia's ].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wike |first1=Richard |last2=Fetterolf |first2=Janell |last3=Mordecai |first3=Mara |date=September 15, 2020 |title=U.S. Image Plummets Internationally as Most Say Country Has Handled Coronavirus Badly |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2020/09/15/us-image-plummets-internationally-as-most-say-country-has-handled-coronavirus-badly/ |access-date=December 24, 2020 |publisher=]}}</ref>
Trump relaunched his political career in 2011 as a leading proponent of ] alleging that Barack Obama, the first black U.S. president, was not born in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last=Farley |first=Robert |url=https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/feb/14/donald-trump/donald-trump-says-people-who-went-school-obama-nev/ |title=Donald Trump says people who went to school with Obama never saw him |website=] |date=February 14, 2011 |access-date=January 31, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Moody |first=Chris |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/03/politics/donald-trump-first-speech-to-cpac/index.html |title=Gay conservatives who helped kickstart Trump's GOP career have serious regrets |website=] |date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=February 1, 2020}}</ref> In April 2011, Trump claimed credit for pressuring the White House to publish the "long-form" birth certificate, which he considered fraudulent, and later saying this made him "very popular".<ref name="Madison27April">{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-takes-credit-for-obama-birth-certificate-release-but-wonders-is-it-real/ |title=Trump takes credit for Obama birth certificate release, but wonders 'is it real?' |last=Madison |first=Lucy |date=April 27, 2011 |accessdate=May 9, 2011 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trumps-history-raising-birther-questions-president-obama/story?id=33861832 |title=Donald Trump's History of Raising Birther Questions About President Obama |website=] |last=Keneally |first=Meghan |date=September 18, 2015 |accessdate=August 27, 2016}}</ref> In September 2016, amid pressure, he acknowledged that Obama was born in the U.S. and falsely claimed the rumors had been started by ] during ].<ref name="nyt-drops">{{cite news |work=] |title=Trump Drops False 'Birther' Theory, but Floats a New One: Clinton Started It |first1=Maggie |last1=Haberman |author1link=Maggie Haberman |first2=Alan |last2=Rappeport |author2link=Alan Rappeport |date=September 16, 2016 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/17/us/politics/donald-trump-birther-obama.html}}</ref> In 2017, he reportedly still expressed birther views in private.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |author1link=Maggie Haberman |last2=Martin |first2=Jonathan |author2link=Jonathan Martin (journalist) |date=November 28, 2017 |title=Trump Once Said the 'Access Hollywood' Tape Was Real. Now He's Not Sure. |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/28/us/politics/trump-access-hollywood-tape.html |access-date=June 11, 2020}}</ref>


During his first presidency, research from 2020 found that Trump had a stronger impact on popular assessments towards American political parties and partisan opinions than any president since the ].{{sfn|Jacobson|2020|p=763}} In 2021, Trump was identified as the only president never to reach a 50&nbsp;percent approval rating in the ], which dates to 1938, partially due to a record-high partisan gap in his approval ratings: 88&nbsp;percent among Republicans and 7&nbsp;percent among Democrats.<ref name="Jones">{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Jeffrey M. |date=January 18, 2021 |title=Last Trump Job Approval 34%; Average Is Record-Low 41% |url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/328637/last-trump-job-approval-average-record-low.aspx |access-date=October 3, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> His early ratings were unusually stable, ranging between 35 and 49&nbsp;percent.<ref>{{cite web |last=Klein |first=Ezra |author-link=Ezra Klein |date=September 2, 2020 |title=Can anything change Americans' minds about Donald Trump? The eerie stability of Trump's approval rating, explained. |url=https://www.vox.com/2020/9/2/21409364/trump-approval-rating-2020-election-voters-coronavirus-convention-polls |access-date=October 10, 2021 |work=]}}</ref> He finished his term with a rating between 29 and 34&nbsp;percent—the lowest of any president since modern polling began—and a record-low average of 41&nbsp;percent throughout his presidency.<ref name="Jones"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Enten |first=Harry |date=January 16, 2021 |title=Trump finishes with worst first term approval rating ever |url=https://cnn.com/2021/01/16/politics/trump-approval-analysis/ |access-date=October 3, 2021 |work=]}}</ref>
According to an analysis in '']'', Trump made "explicitly racist appeals to whites" during his 2016 presidential campaign.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Schaffner |first1=Brian F. |author1link=Brian Schaffner |last2=Macwilliams |first2=Matthew |last3=Nteta |first3=Tatishe |title=Understanding White Polarization in the 2016 Vote for President: The Sobering Role of Racism and Sexism |journal=] |date=March 2018 |volume=133 |issue=1 |pages=9–34 |doi=10.1002/polq.12737}}</ref> In particular, his campaign launch speech drew widespread criticism for claiming Mexican immigrants were "bringing drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapists."<ref>{{cite news |first=Katie |last=Reilly |title=Here Are All the Times Donald Trump Insulted Mexico |url=https://time.com/4473972/donald-trump-mexico-meeting-insult/ |accessdate=January 13, 2018 |work=] |date=August 31, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Five Insults Donald Trump Has Fired At Mexicans In The Presidential Race |url=https://news.sky.com/story/five-insults-donald-trump-has-fired-at-mexicans-in-the-presidential-race-10559438 |accessdate=January 13, 2018 |website=] |date=September 1, 2016}}</ref> His later comments about a Mexican-American judge presiding over a civil suit regarding ] were also criticized as racist.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/08/us/politics/paul-ryan-donald-trump-gonzalo-curiel.html |title=Paul Ryan Calls Donald Trump's Attack on Judge 'Racist', but Still Backs Him |date=June 7, 2016 |work=] |first1=Jennifer |last1=Steinhauer |author1link=Jennifer Steinhauer |first2=Jonathan |last2=Martin |author2link=Jonathan Martin (journalist) |first3=David M. |last3=Herszenhorn |accessdate=January 13, 2018}}</ref>
In ] asking Americans to name the man they admire the most, he placed second to Obama in 2017 and 2018, tied with Obama for first in 2019, and placed first in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 28, 2006 |title=Most Admired Man and Woman|url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/1678/most-admired-man-woman.aspx|access-date=October 3, 2021|work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Budryk|first=Zack|date=December 29, 2020 |title=Trump ends Obama's 12-year run as most admired man: Gallup |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/531906-trump-ends-obamas-12-year-run-as-most-admired-man-gallup |access-date=December 31, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> Since ] started conducting the poll in 1946, he was the first elected president not to be named most admired in his first year in office.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bach|first=Natash|date=December 28, 2017|title=Trump Is the Only Elected U.S. President Not to Be Named America's Most Admired Man In His First Year|url=https://fortune.com/2017/12/28/gallup-most-admired-man-and-woman-obama-clinton/|access-date=November 19, 2024|work=]}}</ref>
] in Charlottesville.]]


=== Scholarly ===
Trump's comments in reaction to the ] were interpreted, by some, as implying a ] between white supremacist demonstrators and counter-protesters.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/15/politics/trump-charlottesville-delay/index.html |title=Trump: 'Both sides' to blame for Charlottesville |last=Merica |first=Dan |date=August 26, 2017 |website=] |accessdate=January 13, 2018}}</ref>
{{Further|Historical rankings of presidents of the United States#2021 C-SPAN|}}


In the ] "Presidential Historians Survey 2021",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/presidentsurvey2021/|title=Presidential Historians Survey 2021|work=] |access-date=June 30, 2021}}</ref> historians ranked Trump as the fourth-worst president. He rated lowest in the leadership characteristics categories for moral authority and administrative skills.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sheehey|first=Maeve|date=June 30, 2021|title=Trump debuts at 41st in C-SPAN presidential rankings|work=]|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/30/trump-cspan-president-ranking-497184 |access-date=March 31, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Brockell|first=Gillian|title=Historians just ranked the presidents. Trump wasn't last.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/06/30/presidential-rankings-2021-cspan-historians/ |access-date=July 1, 2021|newspaper=]|date=June 30, 2021}}</ref> The ]'s 2022 survey ] 43rd out of 45 presidents. He was ranked near the bottom in all categories except for luck, willingness to take risks, and party leadership, and he ranked last in several categories.<ref name="scri_22">{{cite web|url=https://scri.siena.edu/2022/06/22/american-presidents-greatest-and-worst/|title=American Presidents: Greatest and Worst|work=]|date=June 22, 2022|access-date=July 11, 2022}}</ref> In 2018 and 2024, surveys of members of the ] ranked him the worst president.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rottinghaus |first1=Brandon |last2=Vaughn |first2=Justin S. |date=February 19, 2018 |title=Opinion: How Does Trump Stack Up Against the Best—and Worst—Presidents? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/02/19/opinion/how-does-trump-stack-up-against-the-best-and-worst-presidents.html |access-date=July 13, 2024 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Chappell |first=Bill |date=February 19, 2024 |title=In historians' Presidents Day survey, Biden vs. Trump is not a close call |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/02/19/1232447088/historians-presidents-survey-trump-last-biden-14th |work=]}}</ref>
In a January 2018 ] meeting to discuss immigration legislation, he reportedly referred to El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, and African nations as "shithole countries".<ref name="zack">{{cite news |url=https://www.vox.com/2018/1/11/16880804/trump-shithole-countries-racism |title=Trump's "shithole countries" comment exposes the core of Trumpism |last=Beauchamp |first=Zack |date=January 11, 2018 |work=] |accessdate=January 11, 2018}}</ref> His remarks were condemned as racist worldwide, as well as by many members of Congress.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump's 'shithole' comment denounced across the globe |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/12/trump-shithole-comment-reaction-337926 |accessdate=January 13, 2018 |work=] |date=January 12, 2018 |first=Aubree Eliza |last=Weaver}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jan/12/unkind-divisive-elitist-international-outcry-over-trumps-shithole-countries-remark |title='There's no other word but racist': Trump's global rebuke for 'shithole' remark |date=January 13, 2018 |work=] |first1=Patrick |last1=Wintour |author1link=Patrick Wintour |first2=Jason |last2=Burke |author2link=Jason Burke |first3=Anna |last3=Livsey |accessdate=January 13, 2018}}</ref>

In July 2019, Trump tweeted that four Democratic members of Congress{{snd}}all four minority women, three of them native-born Americans{{snd}}should "]" to the countries they "came from".<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=July 14, 2019 |first1=Katie |last1=Rogers |first2=Nicholas |last2=Fandos |author2link=Nicholas Fandos |title=Trump Tells Congresswomen to 'Go Back' to the Countries They Came From |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/14/us/politics/trump-twitter-squad-congress.html}}</ref> Two days later the House of Representatives voted 240–187, mostly along party lines, to condemn his "racist comments".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/07/16/742236610/condemnation-of-president-delayed-by-debate-can-lawmakers-call-trump-tweets-raci |title=House Votes To Condemn Trump's 'Racist Comments' |last=Mak |first=Tim |date=July 16, 2019 |website=] |accessdate=July 17, 2019}}</ref> ] publications and social media sites praised his remarks, which continued over the following days.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/16/politics/white-supremacists-cheer-trump-racist-tweets-soh/index.html |title=Trump said 'many people agree' with his racist tweets. These white supremacists certainly do. |last1=Simon |first1=Mallory |last2=Sidner |first2=Sara |author2link=Sara Sidner |date=July 16, 2019 |website=] |accessdate=July 20, 2019}}</ref> Trump continued to make similar remarks during his 2020 campaign.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/22/trump-attacks-ilhan-omar-420267 |work=] |title='She's telling us how to run our country': Trump again goes after Ilhan Omar's Somali roots |date=September 22, 2020 |first=Matthew |last=Choi}}</ref>

=== Misogyny and allegations of sexual assault and sexual misconduct ===

{{Main|Donald Trump sexual misconduct allegations|Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape}}

Trump has a history of insulting or demeaning comments against women.<ref name="NYTimes_Trump_insults">{{cite news |first1=Michael D. |last1=Shear |author1link=Michael D. Shear |first2=Eileen |last2=Sullivan |author2link=Eileen Sullivan |title='Horseface,' 'Lowlife,' 'Fat, Ugly': How the President Demeans Women |date=October 16, 2018 |website=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/16/us/politics/trump-women-insults.html |accessdate=August 5, 2020}}</ref><ref name="BBC_Trump_talks">{{cite news |first=Ritu |last=Prasad |title=How Trump talks about women – and does it matter? |date=November 29, 2019 |website=] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50563106 |accessdate=August 5, 2020}}</ref> After being questioned about his behavior during an ] by Fox News journalist and debate moderator ] in August 2015, Trump brushed off the question and implied that she was treating him unfairly. In an interview the next day, Trump said of Kelly, "You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her wherever."<ref name="WAPost_Kelly">{{cite news |first=Philip |last=Rucker |authorlink=Philip Rucker |title=Trump says Fox's Megyn Kelly had 'blood coming out of her wherever' |date=August 8, 2015 |website=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/08/07/trump-says-foxs-megyn-kelly-had-blood-coming-out-of-her-wherever/ |accessdate=August 5, 2020}}</ref><ref name="People_Kelly">{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Carlson |title=Donald Trump: 'Only a Deviant' Would Think Megyn Kelly 'Blood' Comment Was About Menstruating |date=August 9, 2015 |website=] |url=https://people.com/celebrity/donald-trump-only-a-deviant-thinks-megyn-kelly-comment-was-about-menstruating/ |accessdate=August 5, 2020}}</ref> The comment was widely viewed as referring to menstrual blood.<ref name="People_Kelly"/> Trump denied the comment was about menstruation and insisted that what he said was appropriate.<ref name="NBC_Kelly">{{cite news |first=Aaron |last=Joseczyk |title=Donald Trump on Megyn Kelly: 'What I Said Was Appropriate' |date=August 9, 2015 |website=] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/trump-what-i-said-was-appropriate-n406661 |accessdate=August 5, 2020}}</ref><ref name="People_Kelly"/> Trump incurred bipartisan condemnation for his comments.<ref name="People_Kelly"/>

In October 2016, two days before the ], a 2005 "]" recording surfaced in which Trump was heard bragging about kissing and groping women without their consent, saying "when you're a star, they let you do it, you can do anything&nbsp;... grab 'em by the ]."<ref name=NBC080716>{{cite news |last=Timm |first=Jane C. |title=Trump caught on hot mic making lewd comments about women in 2005 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/trump-hot-mic-when-you-re-star-you-can-do-n662116 |website=] |date=October 7, 2016 |accessdate=June 10, 2018}}</ref> The incident's widespread media exposure led to Trump's first public apology during the campaign<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/08/us/politics/donald-trump-women.html |title=Donald Trump Apology Caps Day of Outrage Over Lewd Tape |date=October 7, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=October 8, 2016 |last1=Burns |first1=Alexander |author1link=Alex Burns (journalist) |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |author2link=Maggie Haberman |last3=Martin |first3=Jonathan |author3link=Jonathan Martin (journalist)}}</ref> and caused outrage across the political spectrum.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/299895-kaine-on-lewd-trump-tapes-makes-me-sick-to-my-stomach |title=Kaine on lewd Trump tapes: 'Makes me sick to my stomach' |last=Hagen |first=Lisa |date=October 7, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=October 8, 2016}}</ref>

At least twenty-six women have publicly accused Trump of sexual misconduct {{as of|2020|09|lc=y}}, including his then-wife Ivana. There were allegations of rape, violence, being kissed and groped without consent, looking under women's skirts, and walking in on naked women.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nelson |first1=Libby |last2=McGann |first2=Laura |title=E. Jean Carroll joins at least 21 other women in publicly accusing Trump of sexual assault or misconduct |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/6/21/18701098/trump-accusers-sexual-assault-rape-e-jean-carroll |accessdate=June 25, 2019 |date=June 21, 2019 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rupar |first1=Aaron |title=Trump faces a new allegation of sexually assaulting a woman at Mar-a-Lago |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/10/9/20906567/trump-karen-johnson-sexual-assault-mar-a-lago-barry-levine-monique-el-faizy-book |accessdate=April 27, 2020 |work=] |date=October 9, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Osborne |first=Lucy |date=September 17, 2020 |title='It felt like tentacles': the women who accuse Trump of sexual misconduct |work=] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/sep/17/amy-dorris-donald-trump-women-who-accuse-sexual-misconduct |access-date=September 28, 2020}}</ref> In 2016, he denied all accusations, calling them "false smears", and alleged there was a conspiracy against him.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/14/us/politics/donald-trump-women.html |title=Donald Trump Calls Allegations by Women 'False Smears' |last1=Healy |first1=Patrick |last2=Rappeport |first2=Alan |author2link=Alan Rappeport |date=October 13, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=October 13, 2016}}</ref>

=== Allegations of inciting violence ===

Some research suggests Trump's rhetoric causes an increased incidence of hate crimes.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/7d0949974b1648a2bb592cab1f85aa16 |title=Trump words linked to more hate crime? Some experts think so |last1=Kunzelman |first1=Michael |last2=Galvan |first2=Astrid |date=August 7, 2019 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/03/22/trumps-rhetoric-does-inspire-more-hate-crimes/ |title=Analysis &#124; Counties that hosted a 2016 Trump rally saw a 226 percent increase in hate crimes |website=] |first1=Ayal |last1=Feinberg |first2=Regina |last2=Branton |first3=Valerie |last3=Martinez-Ebers}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |journal=] |last1=Rushin |first1=Stephen |last2=Edwards |first2=Griffin Sims |date=January 14, 2018 |title=The Effect of President Trump's Election on Hate Crimes |ssrn=3102652}}</ref> During the ], he urged or praised physical attacks against protesters or reporters.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://time.com/4203094/donald-trump-hecklers/ |title=Donald Trump Tells Crowd To "Knock the Crap Out Of" Hecklers |last=White |first=Daniel |date=February 1, 2016 |website=] |access-date=August 9, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/claudiakoerner/trump-gianforte-congressman-assault-journalist-montana |title=Trump Thinks It's Totally Cool That A Congressman Assaulted A Journalist For Asking A Question |last=Koerner |first=Claudia |date=October 18, 2018 |website=] |access-date=August 9, 2019}}</ref> Since then, some defendants prosecuted for hate crimes or violent acts cited Trump's rhetoric in arguing that they were not culpable or should received a lighter sentence.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/08/donald-trump-domestic-terrorism-el-paso |title="The President of the United States Says It's Okay": The Rise of the Trump Defense |last=Tracy |first=Abigail |date=August 8, 2019 |website=]}}</ref> In August 2019 it was reported that a man who allegedly assaulted a minor for perceived disrespect toward the national anthem had cited Trump's rhetoric in his own defense.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/national-anthem-assault-curt-brockway-wally-trump-boy-rodeo |title=Trump's "Rhetoric" Inspired This Man To Assault A 13-Year-Old For Wearing A Hat During The Anthem, His Lawyer Said |last=Reinstein |first=Julia |date=August 8, 2019 |website=] |access-date=August 9, 2019}}</ref> In August 2019, a nationwide review by ABC News identified at least 36 criminal cases in which Trump was invoked in direct connection with violence or threats of violence. Of these, 29 were based around someone echoing presidential rhetoric, while the other seven were someone protesting it or not having direct linkage.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/blame-abc-news-finds-17-cases-invoking-trump/story?id=58912889 |title='No Blame?' ABC News finds 36 cases invoking 'Trump' in connection with violence, threats, alleged assaults. |date=August 14, 2019 |first=Mike |last=Levine |publisher=] |access-date=August 16, 2019}}</ref>

=== Popular culture ===

{{Main|Donald Trump in popular culture|Donald Trump in music}}

Trump has been the subject of parody, comedy, and caricature. He has been parodied regularly on ] by ], ], and ], and in '']'' as ]. '']'' episode "]"{{snd}}written during his ]{{snd}}anticipated a Trump presidency. A parody series called '']'' debuted in April 2017 on ], while another one called '']'' debuted on ] in February 2018.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/04/donald-trump-impression-gets-a-comedy-central-show/521718/ |title='Donald Trump' Gets a Comedy Central Series |first=Megan |last=Garber |work=] |date=April 3, 2017 |accessdate=April 4, 2017}}</ref>

Trump's wealth and lifestyle had been a fixture of ] lyrics since the 1980s; he was named in hundreds of songs, most often in a positive tone.<ref name=538-hiphop /><ref>{{cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3PDW6g1ceU |title=25 years of Donald Trump mentions in hip hop |via=YouTube |author=mantolius |date=February 25, 2016 |accessdate=November 15, 2016}}</ref> Mentions of Trump in hip-hop turned negative and pejorative after he ran for office in 2015.<ref name=538-hiphop>{{cite news |url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/clinton-trump-hip-hop-lyrics |title=Hip-Hop Is Turning On Donald Trump |work=] |date=July 14, 2016 |first=Allison |last=McCann}}</ref>

=== Recognition ===

{{Further|List of honors and awards received by Donald Trump}}

In 1983, Trump received the ], after he helped fund two playgrounds, a park, and a reservoir in Israel.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-inside-donald-trump-s-history-of-donations-in-israel-1.5469673 |title=Inside Donald Trump's History of Donations in Israel |work=] |first=Judy |last=Maltz |date=May 9, 2017 |access-date=October 13, 2019}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite news |first=Judy |last=Maltz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-when-trump-helped-resettle-evacuated-israelis-1.5468499 |title=Trump Once Helped Finance Resettlement of Israelis Evacuated From Sinai |date=May 4, 2017 |work=]}}</ref> In 1986, he received the ] in recognition of "patriotism, tolerance, brotherhood and diversity",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.snopes.com/trump-received-ellis-island-award-in-1986/ |title=Did Donald Trump Receive an Ellis Island Award in 1986? |first=Dan |last=Evon |date=September 5, 2016 |website=]}}</ref> and in 1995 was awarded the President's Medal from the ] for his support of youth programs.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28799230/the_philadelphia_inquirer/ |title=Trump to be honored for working with youths |date=May 25, 1995 |work=]}}</ref> He has been awarded five honorary doctorates, but one was revoked by ] in 2015 after Trump called for a Muslim ban, citing Trump's speech being "wholly incompatible{{nbsp}}... with the ethos and values of the university". The remaining awards are ]'s honorary doctorate of laws in 1988, ]'s honorary doctorate of humane letters in 2004, and ]'s honorary doctorates of business and law in 2012 and 2017 respectively.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/05/13/trump-has-now-been-awarded-five-honorary-doctorates-and-stripped-of-one/ |title=Donald Trump has now been awarded five honorary doctorates – and stripped of one |date=May 14, 2017 |website=] |first=Callum |last=Borchers |accessdate=June 5, 2020}}</ref>

In December 2016, '']'' named Trump as its "]",<ref name=PersonYear>{{cite news |last=Gibbs |first=Nancy |authorlink=Nancy Gibbs |title=Why Donald Trump is TIME's Person of the Year |url=https://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2016-donald-trump-choice/ |accessdate=December 7, 2016 |work=] |date=December 7, 2016}}</ref> but Trump took issue with the magazine for referring to him as the "President of the Divided States of America".<ref>{{cite news |last=Kim |first=Eun Kyung |title=Donald Trump: Mitt Romney is still in the running for secretary of state |url=https://www.today.com/news/donald-trump-mitt-romney-still-running-secretary-state-t105685 |accessdate=December 7, 2016 |work=] |date=December 7, 2016}}</ref> In the same month, he was named '']'' ]<ref name="FT 2016">{{cite news |last=Luce |first=Edward |authorlink=Edward Luce |title=FT Person of the Year: Donald Trump |url=https://www.ft.com/content/b7bb61ec-c054-11e6-81c2-f57d90f6741a |accessdate=December 17, 2017 |work=] |date=December 12, 2016}}</ref> and was ranked by ''Forbes'' the ] after ].<ref>{{cite news |title=The World's Most Powerful People |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2016/12/14/the-worlds-most-powerful-people-2016/ |work=] |date=December 2016 |accessdate=December 14, 2016}}</ref> As president, Trump received the ] from Saudi Arabia in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-latest-saudi-arabia-highest-civilian-honour-king-abdulaziz-al-saud-collar-gold-a7746566.html |title=Donald Trump awarded with Saudi Arabia's highest civilian honour within hours of landing in the country |last1=Wilts |first1=Alexandra |date=May 20, 2017 |work=]|access-date=May 20, 2017}}</ref>


== Notes == == Notes ==
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css"/><div class="reflist reflist-lower-alpha"><references group="lower-alpha"/></div>

{{notelist}}


== References == == References ==

{{reflist}} {{reflist}}


=== Works cited === == Works cited ==
=== Books ===

<!-- This section is ONLY for books that are cited in footnotes of this Misplaced Pages article. --> <!-- This section is ONLY for books that are cited in footnotes of this Misplaced Pages article. -->
{{Refbegin|30em}} {{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book |title=Trump: The Deals and the Downfall |last=Barrett |first=Wayne |authorlink=Wayne Barrett |publisher=] |year=2016 |orig-year=First published 1992 |edition=First Regan Art Paperback |isbn=978-1-682450-79-6}} Paperback title: ''The greatest show on Earth{{snd}}The deals, the downfall, the reinvention''. * {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uJifCgAAQBAJ|title=The Trumps: Three Generations That Built an Empire|last=Blair|first=Gwenda|author-link=Gwenda Blair|publisher=]|year=2015|orig-year=2001|isbn=978-1-5011-3936-9}}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ig1ZCgAAQBAJ |title=Donald Trump: The Candidate |last=Blair |first=Gwenda |authorlink=Gwenda Blair |publisher=] |year=2015a |isbn=978-1-4391-2937-1}} * {{cite book|last1=Buettner|first1=Russ|author1-link=Russ Buettner|last2=Craig|first2=Susanne|author2-link=Susanne Craig|title=]|publisher=]|date=2024|isbn=978-0-593-29864-0}}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uJifCgAAQBAJ |title=The Trumps: Three Generations That Built an Empire |last=Blair |first=Gwenda |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2015b |orig-year=2001 |isbn=978-1-5011-3936-9}} * {{cite book|title=Never enough : Donald Trump and the pursuit of success|last=D'Antonio|first=Michael|author-link=Michael D'Antonio|date=2015|publisher=Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-1-250-04238-5}}
* {{cite book|title=Confidence man: the making of Donald Trump and the breaking of America|last=Haberman|first=Maggie|author-link=Maggie Haberman|date=2022|publisher=Penguin Press|isbn=978-0-593-29734-6}}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G7Tf_1GzlHEC |title=The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion 1989 |last=Gallup |first=George Jr. |authorlink=George Gallup Jr. |publisher=] |year=1990 |isbn=978-0-8420-2344-3}}
* {{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/empire00mitc |url-access=registration |title=Empire: A Tale of Obsession, Betrayal, and the Battle for an American Icon |last=Pacelle |first=Mitchell |publisher=] |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-471-23865-2}} * {{cite book|last1=Hassan |first1=Steven |author-link=Steven Hassan |year=2019 |title=The Cult of Trump|publisher=Simon & Schuster |pages= |isbn=978-1-9821-2733-6 }}
* {{cite book|last=Johnston|first=David Cay|author-link=David Cay Johnston|year=2016|title=]|publisher=]|isbn=978-1-61219-658-9}}
* {{cite book |title=Trump Revealed: The Definitive Biography of the 45th President |last1=Kranish |first1=Michael |author1link=Michael Kranish |last2=Fisher |first2=Marc |author2link=Marc Fisher |publisher=] |year=2017 |orig-year=First published 2016 |isbn=978-1-5011-5652-6 |title-link=Trump Revealed}}
* {{cite book|last=Johnston|first=David Cay|author-link=David Cay Johnston|date=2021|title=The Big Cheat: How Donald Trump Fleeced America And Enriched Himself And His Family|publisher=]|isbn=978-1-9821-7804-8}}
* {{cite book |title=Trumped! |last1=O'Donnell |first1=John R. |last2=Rutherford |first2=James |publisher=Crossroad Press Trade Edition |year=1991 |orig-year=First published 1991 |isbn=978-1946025-26-5 |title-link=Trumped! (book)}}
* {{cite book |title=Too Much and Never Enough |last=Trump |first=Mary L. |authorlink=Mary L. Trump |publisher=] |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-9821-4146-2 |title-link=Too Much and Never Enough}} * {{cite book|title=Trump Revealed: The Definitive Biography of the 45th President|last1=Kranish|first1=Michael|author-link1=Michael Kranish|last2=Fisher|first2=Marc|author-link2=Marc Fisher|publisher=]|year=2017|orig-year=2016|isbn=978-1-5011-5652-6|title-link=Trump Revealed}}
* {{cite book|last=O'Brien|first=Timothy L.|author-link=Timothy L. O'Brien|publisher=]|date=2005|title=]|isbn=978-0-446-57854-7}}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NIPOonZnkDEC |title=Donald Trump: From Real Estate to Reality TV |last=Wooten |first=Sara |publisher=] |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-7660-2890-6}}
* {{cite book|first=Jon|last=Meacham|author-link=Jon Meacham|title=Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush|date=2016|publisher=]|isbn=978-0-8129-7947-3}}
* {{cite book|title=Trumped!|last1=O'Donnell|first1=John R.|last2=Rutherford|first2=James|publisher=Crossroad Press Trade Edition|year=1991|isbn=978-1-946025-26-5|title-link=Trumped! (book)}}
{{refend}}<!-- Resolve 5 harv no-citation script warnings in the cite bundle in #Racial_views -->{{cite whitelink|CITEREFLopez2019|CITEREFDesjardins2018|CITEREFDawsey2018|CITEREFStoddardMfula2018|CITEREFWeaver2018b}}
{{sfn whitelist|CITEREFKranishFisher2017|CITEREFBlair2015|CITEREFO'DonnellRutherford1991}}

=== Journals ===
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{Cite journal |last1=Adams |first1=Kenneth Alan |date=Spring 2021 |title=The Trump Death Cult |url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/c5d4601ebe8dcb232f9ab2965e900d70/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=35407 |journal=Journal of Psychohistory |volume=48 |issue=4 |access-date=November 6, 2024 |pages=256–276 |issn=0145-3378 }}
* {{Cite journal |last1=Campani |first1=Giovanna |last2=Concepción |first2=Sunamis Fabelo |last3=Soler |first3=Angel Rodriguez | last4=Savín |first4=Claudia Sánchez |date=November 2, 2022 |title=The Rise of Donald Trump Right-Wing Populism in the United States: Middle American Radicalism and Anti-Immigration Discourse |journal=Societies |volume=12 |issue=6 |page=154 |doi=10.3390/soc12060154 |doi-access=free }}
* {{Cite journal |last1=Diamond |first1=Michael J. |date=February 22, 2023 |title=Perverted Containment: Trumpism, Cult Creation, and the Rise of Destructive American Populism |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07351690.2023.2163147 |journal=Psychoanalytic Inquiry |volume=43 |issue=2 |pages=96–109|doi=10.1080/07351690.2023.2163147}}
* {{cite journal|year=2018|doi=10.1080/01463373.2018.1438485|title=Make America Great Again: Donald Trump and Redefining the U.S. Role in the World|journal=]|volume=66|issue=2<!--|pages=176–195 -->|page=176|first=Jason A.|last=Edwards}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Franks |first1=Andrew S. |last2=Hesami|first2=Farhang|title=Seeking Evidence of The MAGA Cult and Trump Derangement Syndrome: An Examination of (A)symmetric Political Bias|journal=Societies |volume=11 |issue=3 |date=September 18, 2021 |pages=113 |doi=10.3390/soc11030113 |doi-access=free}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Holshue|first1=Michelle L.|last2=DeBolt|first2=Chas|last3=Lindquist|first3=Scott|last4=Lofy|first4=Kathy H.|last5=Wiesman|first5=John|last6=Bruce|first6=Hollianne|last7=Spitters|first7=Christopher|last8=Ericson|first8=Keith|last9=Wilkerson|first9=Sara|last10=Tural|first10=Ahmet|last11=Diaz|first11=George|date=March 5, 2020|title=First Case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the United States|journal=]|volume=382|issue=10|pages=929–936|doi=10.1056/NEJMoa2001191|pmid=32004427|pmc=7092802}}
* {{Cite journal |last1=Jacobson |first1=Gary C. |author-link=Gary Jacobson|date=October 24, 2020 |title=Donald Trump and the Parties: Impeachment, Pandemic, Protest, and Electoral Politics in 2020 |journal=Presidential Studies Quarterly |volume=50 |issue=4 |pages=762–795 |issn=0360-4918 |doi=10.1111/psq.12682}}
* {{cite journal|last=Johnson|first=Kevin R.|title=Immigration and civil rights in the Trump administration: Law and policy making by executive order|journal=]|year=2017a|volume=57|issue=3|pages=611–665|url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/saclr57&div=21&id=&page=}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Johnson|first1=Kevin R.|last2=Cuison-Villazor|first2=Rose|title=The Trump Administration and the War on Immigration Diversity|journal=]|date=May 2, 2019|url=https://heinonline.org/hol-cgi-bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/wflr54&section=21|pages=575–616|volume=54|issue=2}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Mason |first1=Liliana |last2=Wronski |first2=Julie |last3=Kane |first3=John V. |title=Activating Animus: The Uniquely Social Roots of Trump Support |journal=American Political Science Review|volume=115 |issue=4 |year=2021 |pages=1508–1516 |doi=10.1017/S0003055421000563}}
* {{cite journal|url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/iran/2020-01-22/cost-incoherent-foreign-policy|title=The Cost of an Incoherent Foreign Policy: Trump's Iran Imbroglio Undermines U.S. Priorities Everywhere Else|first=Brett|last=McGurk|author-link=Brett McGurk|journal=]|date=January 22, 2020}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Lajevardi |first1=Nazita |last2=Oskooii |first2=Kassra A. R. |year=2018 |title=Old-Fashioned Racism, Contemporary Islamophobia, and the Isolation of Muslim Americans in the Age of Trump |journal=Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=112–152 |doi=10.1017/rep.2017.37}}
* {{Cite journal|last1=Perry|first1=Samuel L.|last2=Whitehead|first2=Andrew L.|last3=Grubbs|first3=Joshua B.|date=April 21, 2021|title=The Devil That You Know: Christian Nationalism and Intent to Change One's Voting Behavior For or Against Trump in 2020|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S175504832100002X/type/journal_article|journal=Politics and Religion|volume=15|issue=2 |pages=229–246|doi=10.1017/S175504832100002X|hdl=11244/334967|hdl-access=free}}
* {{Cite journal |last1=Reyes |first1=Antonio |date=May 4, 2020 |title=I, Trump The cult of personality, anti-intellectualism and the Post-Truth era |url=https://www.jbe-platform.com/content/journals/10.1075/jlp.20002.rey |journal=Journal of Language and Politics |volume=19 |issue=6 |pages=869–892 |issn=1569-2159 |doi=10.1075/jlp.20002.rey}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Rothe |first1=Dawn L. |last2=Collins |first2=Victoria E. |date=November 17, 2019 |title=Turning Back the Clock? Violence against Women and the Trump Administration |journal=Victims & Offenders |volume=14 |issue=8 |pages=965–978 |doi=10.1080/15564886.2019.1671284}}
* {{Cite journal |last1=Ross |first1=Bertrall L. |date=October 2024 |title=Polarization, Populism, and the Crisis of American Democracy |url=https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-lawsocsci-041922-035113 |journal=Annual Review of Law and Social Science |volume=20 |access-date=December 20, 2024 |pages=293–308 |issn=1550-3631 |doi=10.1146/annurev-lawsocsci-041922-035113 }}
* {{Cite journal |last1=Stuckey |first1=Mary E. |date=February 20, 2020 |title='The Power of the Presidency to Hurt': The Indecorous Rhetoric of Donald J. Trump and the Rhetorical Norms of Democracy |journal=Presidential Studies Quarterly |volume=50 |issue=2|pages=366–391 |doi=10.1111/psq.12641}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Sundahl |first1=Anne-Mette Holmgård |title=Personality Cult or a Mere Matter of Popularity? |journal= International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society |volume=36 |issue=4 |date=May 4, 2022 |pages=431–458 |doi=10.1007/s10767-022-09423-0 |pmid=35528318 |pmc=9066393}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Urbinati |first=Nadia |date=May 2019 |title=Political Theory of Populism |url=https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-polisci-050317-070753 |journal=Annual Review of Political Science |volume=22 |access-date=December 20, 2024 |pages=111–127 |issn=1094-2939 |doi=10.1146/annurev-polisci-050317-070753}}
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Revision as of 15:34, 23 December 2024

President-elect and 45th president of the United States For other uses, see Donald Trump (disambiguation).

Donald Trump
Official White House presidential portrait. Head shot of Trump smiling in front of the U.S. flag, wearing a dark blue suit jacket with American flag lapel pin, white shirt, and light blue necktie.Official portrait, 2017
President-elect of the United States
Assuming office
January 20, 2025
Vice PresidentJD Vance (elect)
SucceedingJoe Biden
45th President of the United States
In office
January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021
Vice PresidentMike Pence
Preceded byBarack Obama
Succeeded byJoe Biden
Personal details
BornDonald John Trump
(1946-06-14) June 14, 1946 (age 78)
Queens, New York City, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (1987–1999; 2009–2011; 2012–present)
Other political
affiliations
Spouses
Ivana Zelníčková ​ ​(m. 1977; div. 1990)​
Marla Maples ​ ​(m. 1993; div. 1999)​
Melania Knauss ​(m. 2005)​
Children
Parents
RelativesTrump family
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania (BS)
Occupation
AwardsFull list
SignatureDonald J. Trump stylized autograph, in ink
Website
Donald Trump's voice Donald Trump speaks on the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization.
Recorded on March 11, 2020
This article is part of
a series aboutDonald Trump
Business and personal
45th & 47th President of the
United States
Tenure
Policies
Appointments (first  · second)
Presidential campaigns
Impeachments
Civil and criminal prosecutions
COVID-19 pandemic
Seal of the President of the United States

Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Having won the 2024 presidential election as the nominee of the Republican Party, he is the president-elect and will be inaugurated as the 47th president on January 20, 2025.

Trump graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. Becoming president of the family real estate business in 1971, he focused on luxury accommodation. After a series of business bankruptcies in the 1990s, he launched side ventures. From 2004 to 2015, he produced and hosted the reality television series The Apprentice.

Trump won the 2016 presidential election as the Republican nominee. His immigration policy included ordering a travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries, expanding the U.S.–Mexico border wall, and implementing a family separation policy. He rolled back more than 100 environmental policies and regulations, signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and nominated Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2018, he initiated a trade war with China. He withdrew the U.S. from international agreements on climate, trade, and the nuclear program of Iran. He met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without progress on denuclearization. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he downplayed its severity, contradicted guidance from international public health bodies, and signed the CARES Act economic stimulus. He was impeached in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and in 2021 for incitement of insurrection; the Senate acquitted him in both cases.

Trump's politics and rhetoric led to the Trumpism movement. Many of his comments and actions have been characterized as racially charged, racist, and misogynistic. He promoted conspiracy theories and made false and misleading statements during his campaigns and presidency, to a degree unprecedented in American politics. After his first term, scholars and historians ranked him as one of the worst presidents in American history. He lost the 2020 presidential election but did not concede, falsely claiming widespread electoral fraud and attempting to overturn the results, including through his involvement in the January 6 Capitol attack. In civil proceedings, Trump was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation in 2023, and financial fraud in 2024. In May 2024, he was found guilty of falsifying business records, making him the first U.S. president to be convicted of a felony. He faced more felony indictments related to his interference in the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents, which were dismissed after his victory in the 2024 election.

Early life and education

A black-and-white photograph of Trump as a teenager, smiling, wearing a dark pseudo-military uniform with various badges and a light-colored stripe crossing his right shoulder
Trump at New York Military Academy, 1964

Trump was born on June 14, 1946, at Jamaica Hospital in Queens, New York City, the fourth child of Fred Trump and Mary Anne MacLeod Trump. He is of German and Scottish descent. He grew up with his older siblings, Maryanne, Fred Jr., and Elizabeth, and his younger brother, Robert, in a mansion in the Jamaica Estates neighborhood of Queens. He was a millionaire in 2024 dollars by age eight. Beginning when Trump was three, his father gave each of his children $6,000 every year, the maximum allowed without incurring a gift tax, and, to avoid taxes, made them landlords of two of his housing developments, paying each $13,928 in rent every year..

Trump attended the private college-preparatory Kew-Forest School through seventh grade. He was a difficult child and showed an early interest in his father's business. His father enrolled him in New York Military Academy, a private boarding school, to complete secondary school.

In 1964, Trump enrolled at Fordham University. Two years later, he transferred to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in May 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in economics. He was exempted from the draft during the Vietnam War due to bone spurs in his heels. In 2015, he threatened his high school, colleges, and the College Board with legal action if they released his academic records.

Personal life

Family

Further information: Family of Donald Trump

In 1977, Trump married Czech model Ivana Zelníčková. They had three children: Donald Jr. (b. 1977), Ivanka (b. 1981), and Eric (b. 1984). The couple divorced in 1990, following his affair with model and actress Marla Maples. He and Maples married in 1993 and divorced in 1999. They have one daughter, Tiffany (b. 1993), whom Maples raised in California. In 2005, he married Slovenian model Melania Knauss. They have one son, Barron (b. 2006).

Health

Main article: Age and health concerns about Donald Trump

Trump says he has never drunk alcohol, smoked cigarettes, or used drugs. He sleeps about four or five hours a night. He has called golfing his "primary form of exercise", but usually does not walk the course. He considers exercise a waste of energy because he believes the body is "like a battery, with a finite amount of energy", which is depleted by exercise. In 2015, his campaign released a letter from his longtime personal physician, Harold Bornstein, stating that he would "be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency". In 2018, Bornstein said Trump had dictated the contents of the letter and that three of Trump's agents had seized his medical records in a February 2017 raid on Bornstein's office.

Views

Many of Trump's comments and actions have been described as racist. In national polling, about half of respondents said that he is racist; a greater proportion believed that he emboldened racists. Several studies and surveys found that racist attitudes fueled his political ascent and were more important than economic factors in determining the allegiance of Trump voters. Racist and Islamophobic attitudes are a powerful indicator of support for Trump. He has also been accused of racism for insisting a group of black and Latino teenagers were guilty of raping a white woman in the 1989 Central Park jogger case, even after they were exonerated in 2002 when the actual rapist confessed and his DNA matched the evidence. In October 2024, the men sued Trump for defamation after he said in a televised September debate that they had committed the crime and killed the woman.

In 2011, when he was reportedly considering a presidential run, Trump became the leading proponent of the racist "birther" conspiracy theory, alleging that Barack Obama, the first black U.S. president, was not born in the U.S. In April, he claimed credit for pressuring the White House to publish the "long-form" birth certificate, which he considered fraudulent, and later said this made him "very popular". In September 2016, amid pressure, he acknowledged that Obama was born in the U.S. In 2017, he reportedly expressed birther views privately.

Answering questions about the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville

Trump has a history of belittling women when speaking to the media and on social media. He made lewd comments, disparaged women's physical appearances, and referred to them using derogatory epithets. At least 25 women publicly accused him of sexual misconduct, including rape, kissing without consent, groping, looking under women's skirts, and walking in on naked teenage pageant contestants. He has denied the allegations. In October 2016, a 2005 "hot mic" recording surfaced in which Trump bragged about kissing and groping women without their consent, saying that, "when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. ... Grab 'em by the pussy." Trump characterized the comments as "locker-room talk", and the incident's widespread media exposure led to Trump's first public apology during his 2016 presidential campaign.

Business career

Main article: Business career of Donald Trump Further information: Business projects of Donald Trump in Russia and Tax returns of Donald Trump

Real estate

Trump in 1985 with a model of one of his aborted Manhattan development projects

Starting in 1968, Trump was employed at his father's real estate company, Trump Management, which owned racially segregated middle-class rental housing in New York City's outer boroughs. In 1971, his father made him president of the company and he began using the Trump Organization as an umbrella brand.

Roy Cohn was Trump's fixer, lawyer, and mentor for 13 years in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1973, Cohn helped Trump countersue the U.S. government for $100 million (equivalent to $686 million in 2023) over its charges that Trump's properties had racial discriminatory practices. Trump's counterclaims were dismissed, and the government's case was settled with the Trumps signing a consent decree agreeing to desegregate. Helping Trump projects, Cohn was a consigliere whose Mafia connections controlled construction unions. Cohn introduced political consultant Roger Stone to Trump, who enlisted Stone's services to deal with the federal government.

Between 1991 and 2009, he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for six of his businesses: the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, the casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and the Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts company.

Manhattan and Chicago developments

Trump attracted public attention in 1978 with the launch of his family's first Manhattan venture, the renovation of the derelict Commodore Hotel, adjacent to Grand Central Terminal. The financing was facilitated by a $400 million city property tax abatement arranged for him by his father who also, jointly with Hyatt, guaranteed a $70 million bank construction loan. The hotel reopened in 1980 as the Grand Hyatt Hotel, and that same year, he obtained rights to develop Trump Tower, a mixed-use skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan. The building houses the headquarters of the Trump Corporation and Trump's PAC and was his primary residence until 2019.

In 1988, Trump acquired the Plaza Hotel with a loan from a consortium of sixteen banks. The hotel filed for bankruptcy protection in 1992, and a reorganization plan was approved a month later, with the banks taking control of the property. In 1995, he defaulted on over $3 billion of bank loans, and the lenders seized the Plaza Hotel along with most of his other properties in a "vast and humiliating restructuring" that allowed him to avoid personal bankruptcy. The lead bank's attorney said of the banks' decision that they "all agreed that he'd be better alive than dead".

In 1996, Trump acquired and renovated the mostly vacant 71-story skyscraper at 40 Wall Street, later rebranded as the Trump Building. In the early 1990s, he won the right to develop a 70-acre (28 ha) tract in the Lincoln Square neighborhood near the Hudson River. Struggling with debt from other ventures in 1994, he sold most of his interest in the project to Asian investors, who financed the project's completion, Riverside South.

Trump's last major construction project was the 92-story mixed-use Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago which opened in 2008. In 2024, the New York Times and ProPublica reported that the Internal Revenue Service was investigating whether he had twice written off losses incurred through construction cost overruns and lagging sales of residential units in the building he had declared to be worthless on his 2008 tax return.

Atlantic City casinos

The entrance of the Trump Taj Mahal, a casino in Atlantic City. It has motifs evocative of the Taj Mahal in India.
Entrance of the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City

In 1984, Trump opened Harrah's at Trump Plaza, a hotel and casino, with financing and management help from the Holiday Corporation. It was unprofitable, and he paid Holiday $70 million in May 1986 to take sole control. In 1985, he bought the unopened Atlantic City Hilton Hotel and renamed it Trump Castle. Both casinos filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1992.

Trump bought a third Atlantic City venue in 1988, the Trump Taj Mahal. It was financed with $675 million in junk bonds and completed for $1.1 billion, opening in April 1990. He filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1991. Under the provisions of the restructuring agreement, he gave up half his initial stake and personally guaranteed future performance. To reduce his $900 million of personal debt, he sold the Trump Shuttle airline; his megayacht, the Trump Princess, which had been leased to his casinos and kept docked; and other businesses.

In 1995, Trump founded Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts (THCR), which assumed ownership of the Trump Plaza. THCR purchased the Taj Mahal and the Trump Castle in 1996 and went bankrupt in 2004 and 2009, leaving him with 10 percent ownership. He remained chairman until 2009.

Clubs

In 1985, Trump acquired the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. In 1995, he converted the estate into a private club with an initiation fee and annual dues. He continued to use a wing of the house as a private residence. He declared the club his primary residence in 2019. The Trump Organization began building and buying golf courses in 1999. It owns fourteen and manages another three Trump-branded courses worldwide.

Side ventures

See also: List of things named after Donald Trump
Trump, Doug Flutie, and an unnamed official standing behind a lectern with big, round New Jersey Generals sign, with members of the press seated in the background
Trump and New Jersey Generals quarterback Doug Flutie at a 1985 press conference in Trump Tower

The Trump Organization has licensed the Trump name for consumer products and services, including foodstuffs, apparel, learning courses, and home furnishings. According to The Washington Post, there are more than 50 licensing or management deals involving his name, and they have generated at least $59 million in revenue for his companies. By 2018, only two consumer goods companies continued to license his name.

In September 1983, Trump purchased the New Jersey Generals, a team in the United States Football League. After the 1985 season, the league folded, largely due to his attempt to move to a fall schedule (when it would have competed with the NFL for audience) and trying to force a merger with the NFL by bringing an antitrust suit.

Trump and his Plaza Hotel hosted several boxing matches at the Atlantic City Convention Hall. In 1989 and 1990, he lent his name to the Tour de Trump cycling stage race, an attempt to create an American equivalent of European races such as the Tour de France or the Giro d'Italia.

From 1986 to 1988, Trump purchased significant blocks of shares in various public companies while suggesting that he intended to take over the company and then sold his shares for a profit, leading some observers to think he was engaged in greenmail. The New York Times found that he initially made millions of dollars in such stock transactions, but "lost most, if not all, of those gains after investors stopped taking his takeover talk seriously".

In 1988, Trump purchased the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle, financing the purchase with $380 million (equivalent to $979 million in 2023) in loans from a syndicate of 22 banks. He renamed the airline Trump Shuttle and operated it until 1992. He defaulted on his loans in 1991, and ownership passed to the banks.

A red star with a bronze outline and "Donald Trump" and a TV icon written on it in bronze, embedded in a black terrazzo sidewalk
Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

In 1992, Trump, his siblings Maryanne, Elizabeth, and Robert, and his cousin John W. Walter, each with a 20 percent share, formed All County Building Supply & Maintenance Corp. The company had no offices and is alleged to have been a shell company for paying the vendors providing services and supplies for Trump's rental units, then billing those services and supplies to Trump Management with markups of 20–50 percent and more. The owners shared the proceeds generated by the markups. The increased costs were used to get state approval for increasing the rents of his rent-stabilized units.

In 1996, Trump purchased the Miss Universe pageants, including Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. Due to disagreements with CBS about scheduling, he took both pageants to NBC in 2002. In 2007, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work as producer of Miss Universe. NBC and Univision dropped the pageants in June 2015 in reaction to Trump's comments about Mexican immigrants.

Trump University

Main article: Trump University

In 2005, Trump co-founded Trump University, a company that sold real estate seminars for up to $35,000. After New York State authorities notified the company that its use of "university" violated state law (as it was not an academic institution), its name was changed to the Trump Entrepreneur Initiative in 2010.

In 2013, the State of New York filed a $40 million civil suit against Trump University, alleging that the company made false statements and defrauded consumers. Additionally, two class actions were filed in federal court against Trump and his companies. Internal documents revealed that employees were instructed to use a hard-sell approach, and former employees testified that Trump University had defrauded or lied to its students. Shortly after he won the 2016 presidential election, he agreed to pay a total of $25 million to settle the three cases.

Foundation

Main article: Donald J. Trump Foundation

The Donald J. Trump Foundation was a private foundation established in 1988. From 1987 to 2006, Trump gave his foundation $5.4 million which had been spent by the end of 2006. After donating a total of $65,000 in 2007–2008, he stopped donating any personal funds to the charity, which received millions from other donors, including $5 million from Vince McMahon. The foundation gave to health- and sports-related charities, conservative groups, and charities that held events at Trump properties.

In 2016, The Washington Post reported that the charity committed several potential legal and ethical violations, including alleged self-dealing and possible tax evasion. Also in 2016, the New York attorney general determined the foundation to be in violation of state law, for soliciting donations without submitting to required annual external audits, and ordered it to cease its fundraising activities in New York immediately. Trump's team announced in December 2016 that the foundation would be dissolved.

In June 2018, the New York attorney general's office filed a civil suit against the foundation, Trump, and his adult children, seeking $2.8 million in restitution and additional penalties. In December 2018, the foundation ceased operation and disbursed its assets to other charities. In November 2019, a New York state judge ordered Trump to pay $2 million to a group of charities for misusing the foundation's funds, in part to finance his presidential campaign.

Legal affairs and bankruptcies

Main article: Personal and business legal affairs of Donald Trump

According to a review of state and federal court files conducted by USA Today in 2018, Trump and his businesses had been involved in more than 4,000 state and federal legal actions. While he has not filed for personal bankruptcy, his over-leveraged hotel and casino businesses in Atlantic City and New York filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection six times between 1991 and 2009. They continued to operate while the banks restructured debt and reduced his shares in the properties.

During the 1980s, more than 70 banks had lent Trump $4 billion. After his corporate bankruptcies of the early 1990s, most major banks, with the exception of Deutsche Bank, declined to lend to him. After the January 6 Capitol attack, the bank decided not to do business with him or his company in the future.

Wealth

Main article: Wealth of Donald Trump
Ivana Trump and King Fahd shake hands, with Ronald Reagan standing next to them smiling
Trump (rightmost) and wife Ivana at a 1985 state dinner for King Fahd of Saudi Arabia with President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan

Trump has often said he began his career with "a small loan of a million dollars" from his father and that he had to pay it back with interest. He borrowed at least $60 million from his father, which he did not wholly repay.

Trying to get a higher ranking on the Forbes 400 list of wealthy Americans, Trump called journalist Jonathan Greenberg in 1984, pretending to be a Trump Organization official named "John Barron".

Trump self-reported his net worth over a wide range: from a low of minus $900 million in 1990, to a high of $10 billion in 2015. According to Forbes, Trump's wealth in 2024 was comprised of approximately $1.1 billion in real estate, $1 billion in golf clubs and resorts, and $3.5 billion in stock in Trump Media & Technology Group—today his primary asset. As of December 2024, Forbes listed Trump's net worth at $6.3 billion.

Media career

Main article: Media career of Donald Trump See also: Bibliography of Donald Trump

Trump has produced 19 books under his name, most written or co-written by ghostwriters. His first book, The Art of the Deal (1987), was a New York Times Best Seller. While he was credited as co-author, the entire book was written by Tony Schwartz. The New Yorker said the book made Trump famous as an "emblem of the successful tycoon".

Trump had cameos in many films and television shows from 1985 to 2001.

Starting in the 1990s, Trump was a guest 24 times on the nationally syndicated Howard Stern Show. He had his own short-form talk radio program, Trumped!, from 2004 to 2008. From 2011 until 2015, he was a guest commentator on Fox & Friends.

From 2004 to 2015, Trump was co-producer and host of reality shows The Apprentice and The Celebrity Apprentice. On the shows, he was a superrich and successful chief executive who eliminated contestants with the catchphrase "you're fired". The New York Times called his portrayal a "highly flattering, highly fictionalized version of Mr. Trump". The shows remade his image for millions of viewers nationwide. With the related licensing agreements, they earned him more than $400 million.

In 2021, Trump, who had been a member of SAG-AFTRA since 1989, resigned to avoid a disciplinary hearing regarding the January 6 attack. Two days later, the union permanently barred him.

Early political aspirations (1987–2014)

Further information: Political career of Donald Trump
Donald Trump shakes hands with Bill Clinton in a lobby; Trump is speaking and Clinton is smiling, and both are wearing suits.
Trump and President Bill Clinton, June 2000

Trump registered as a Republican in 1987; a member of the Independence Party, the New York state affiliate of the Reform Party, in 1999; a Democrat in 2001; a Republican in 2009; unaffiliated in 2011; and a Republican in 2012.

Trump, leaning heavily onto a lectern, with his mouth open mid-speech and a woman clapping politely next to him
Trump speaking at CPAC 2011

In 1987, Trump placed full-page advertisements in three major newspapers, expressing his views on foreign policy and how to eliminate the federal budget deficit. In 1988, he approached Lee Atwater, asking to be put into consideration to be Republican nominee George H. W. Bush's running mate. Bush found the request "strange and unbelievable". Trump was a candidate in the 2000 Reform Party presidential primaries for three months, but withdrew from the race in February 2000. In 2011, Trump speculated about running against President Barack Obama in the 2012 election, making his first speaking appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February and giving speeches in early primary states. In May, he announced he would not run. His presidential ambitions were generally not taken seriously at the time.

2016 presidential election

Campaign

Main article: Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign Further information: 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries and 2016 United States presidential election § General election campaign

Trump announced his candidacy in June 2015. His campaign was initially not taken seriously by political analysts, but he quickly rose to the top of opinion polls. He became the front-runner in March 2016 and was declared the presumptive Republican nominee in May.

Trump's fame and provocative statements earned him an unprecedented amount of free media coverage, elevating his standing in the Republican primaries. He adopted the phrase "truthful hyperbole", coined by his ghostwriter Tony Schwartz, to describe his public speaking style. His campaign statements were often opaque and suggestive, and a record number were false. He said he disdained political correctness and frequently made claims of media bias.

Trump speaking in front of an American flag behind a lectern, wearing a black suit and red hat. The lectern sports a blue "TRUMP" sign.
Trump campaigning in Arizona, March 2016

Hillary Clinton led Trump in national polling averages throughout the campaign, but, in early July, her lead narrowed. In mid-July he selected Indiana governor Mike Pence as his running mate, and the two were officially nominated at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Trump and Clinton faced off in three presidential debates in September and October 2016. He twice refused to say whether he would accept the result of the election.

Trump described NATO as "obsolete" and espoused views that were described as noninterventionist and protectionist. His campaign platform emphasized renegotiating U.S.–China relations and free trade agreements such as NAFTA, strongly enforcing immigration laws, and building a new wall along the U.S.–Mexico border. Other campaign positions included pursuing energy independence while opposing climate change regulations, modernizing services for veterans, repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, abolishing Common Core education standards, investing in infrastructure, simplifying the tax code while reducing taxes, and imposing tariffs on imports by companies that offshore jobs. He advocated increasing military spending and extreme vetting or banning of immigrants from Muslim-majority countries. Trump's proposed immigration policies were a topic of bitter debate during the 2016 campaign. He promised to build a wall on the Mexico–U.S. border to restrict illegal movement and vowed that Mexico would pay for it. He pledged to deport millions of illegal immigrants residing in the U.S., and criticized birthright citizenship for incentivizing "anchor babies". According to an analysis in Political Science Quarterly, Trump made "explicitly racist appeals to whites" during his 2016 presidential campaign. In particular, his campaign launch speech drew criticism for claiming Mexican immigrants were "bringing drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapists"; in response, NBC fired him from Celebrity Apprentice.

Financial disclosures

Further information: Tax returns of Donald Trump

Trump's FEC-required reports listed assets above $1.4 billion and outstanding debts of at least $315 million. He did not release his tax returns, contrary to the practice of every major candidate since 1976 and his promises in 2014 and 2015 to do so if he ran for office. He said his tax returns were being audited, and that his lawyers had advised him against releasing them. After a lengthy court battle to block release of his tax returns and other records to the Manhattan district attorney for a criminal investigation, including two appeals by Trump to the U.S. Supreme Court, in February 2021 the high court allowed the records to be released to the prosecutor for review by a grand jury.

In October 2016, portions of Trump's state filings for 1995 were leaked to a reporter from The New York Times. They show that he had declared a loss of $916 million that year, which could have let him avoid taxes for up to 18 years.

Results

Main article: 2016 United States presidential election

On November 8, 2016, Trump received 306 pledged electoral votes versus 232 for Clinton, although, after elector defections on both sides, the official count was ultimately 304 to 227. The fifth person to be elected president while losing the popular vote, he received nearly 2.9 million fewer votes than Clinton. He was the only president who neither served in the military nor held any government office prior to becoming president.

Pennsylvania Ave., completely packed with protesters, mostly women, many wearing pink and holding signs with progressive feminist slogans
Women's March in Washington, D.C., on January 21, 2017

Trump won 30 states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, states which had been considered a blue wall of Democratic strongholds since the 1990s. Clinton won 20 states and the District of Columbia. His victory marked the return of an undivided Republican government—a Republican president combined with Republican control of both chambers of Congress.

Trump's election victory sparked protests in major U.S. cities. On the day after his inauguration, an estimated 2.6 million people worldwide, including an estimated half million in Washington, D.C., protested against him in the Women's Marches.

First presidency (2017–2021)

Main article: First presidency of Donald Trump For a chronological guide, see Timeline of the Donald Trump presidencies.

Early actions

See also: First presidential transition of Donald Trump and First 100 days of the first Donald Trump presidency
Trump, with his family watching, raises his right hand and places his left hand on the Bible as he takes the oath of office. Roberts stands opposite him administering the oath.
Trump takes the oath of office administered by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. at the Capitol, January 20, 2017.

Trump was inaugurated on January 20, 2017. During his first week in office, he signed six executive orders, authorizing interim procedures in anticipation of repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare"), withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, reinstatement of the Mexico City policy, advancement of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipeline construction projects, reinforcement of border security, and a planning and design process to construct a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico.

Trump's daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner became his assistant and senior advisor, respectively.

Conflicts of interest

See also: First presidency of Donald Trump § Ethics

Before being inaugurated, Trump moved his businesses into a revocable trust, rather than a blind trust or equivalent arrangement "to cleanly sever himself from his business interests". He continued to profit from his businesses and to know how his administration's policies affected his businesses. Although he said he would eschew "new foreign deals", the Trump Organization pursued expansions of its operations in Scotland, Dubai, and the Dominican Republic. Lobbyists, foreign government officials, and Trump donors and allies generated hundreds of millions of dollars for his resorts and hotels.

Trump was sued for violating the Domestic and Foreign Emoluments Clauses of the U.S. Constitution, marking the first time that the clauses had been substantively litigated. One case was dismissed in lower court. Two were dismissed by the U.S. Supreme Court as moot after the end of his term.

Domestic policy

Main articles: Economic policy of the first Donald Trump administration, Environmental policy of the first Donald Trump administration, and Social policy of Donald Trump

Trump took office at the height of the longest economic expansion in American history, which began in 2009 and continued until February 2020, when the COVID-19 recession began.

In December 2017, Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. It reduced tax rates for businesses and individuals and set the penalty associated with the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate to $0. The Trump administration claimed that the act would not decrease government revenue, but 2018 revenues were 7.6 percent lower than projected.

Under Trump, the federal budget deficit increased by almost 50 percent, to nearly $1 trillion in 2019. By the end of his term, the U.S. national debt increased by 39 percent, reaching $27.75 trillion, and the U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio hit a post-World War II high. Trump also failed to deliver the $1 trillion infrastructure spending plan on which he had campaigned.

Trump is the only modern U.S. president to leave office with a smaller workforce than when he took office, by 3 million people.

Trump rejects the scientific consensus on climate change. He reduced the budget for renewable energy research by 40 percent and reversed Obama-era policies directed at curbing climate change. He withdrew from the Paris Agreement, making the U.S. the only nation to not ratify it.

Trump aimed to boost the production and exports of fossil fuels. Natural gas expanded under Trump, but coal continued to decline. He rolled back more than 100 federal environmental regulations, including those that curbed greenhouse gas emissions, air and water pollution, and the use of toxic substances. He weakened protections for animals and environmental standards for federal infrastructure projects, and expanded permitted areas for drilling and resource extraction, such as allowing drilling in the Arctic Refuge.

In 2017, Trump signed Executive Order 13771, which directed that, for every new regulation, federal agencies "identify" two existing regulations for elimination, although it did not require elimination. He dismantled many federal regulations on health, labor, and the environment, among others, including a bill that made it easier for severely mentally ill persons to buy guns. During his first six weeks in office, he delayed, suspended, or reversed ninety federal regulations, often "after requests by the regulated industries". The Institute for Policy Integrity found that 78 percent of his proposals were blocked by courts or did not prevail over litigation.

During his campaign, Trump vowed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. In office, he scaled back the Act's implementation through executive orders. He expressed a desire to "let Obamacare fail"; his administration halved the enrollment period and drastically reduced funding for enrollment promotion. In June 2018, the Trump administration joined 18 Republican-led states in arguing before the Supreme Court that the elimination of the financial penalties associated with the individual mandate had rendered the Act unconstitutional. Their pleading would have eliminated health insurance coverage for up to 23 million Americans, but was unsuccessful. During the 2016 campaign, Trump promised to protect funding for Medicare and other social safety-net programs. In January 2020, he expressed willingness to consider cuts to them.

In response to the opioid epidemic, Trump signed legislation in 2018 to increase funding for drug treatments, but was widely criticized for failing to make a concrete strategy. U.S. opioid overdose deaths declined slightly in 2018, but surged to a record 50,052 in 2019.

Trump barred organizations that provide abortions or abortion referrals from receiving federal funds. He said he supported "traditional marriage", but considered the nationwide legality of same-sex marriage "settled". His administration rolled back key components of the Obama administration's workplace protections against discrimination of LGBTQ people. His attempted rollback of anti-discrimination protections for transgender patients in August 2020 was halted by a federal judge after a Supreme Court ruling extended employees' civil rights protections to gender identity and sexual orientation.

Trump has said he is opposed to gun control, although his views have shifted over time. After several mass shootings during his term, he said he would propose legislation related to guns, but he abandoned that effort in November 2019. His administration took an anti-marijuana position, revoking Obama-era policies that provided protections for states that legalized marijuana.

Trump is a long-time advocate of capital punishment. Under his administration, the federal government executed 13 prisoners, more than in the previous 56 years combined, ending a 17-year moratorium. In 2016, he said he supported the use of interrogation torture methods such as waterboarding.

Race relations

Trump's comments on the 2017 Unite the Right rally, condemning "this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides" and stating that there were "very fine people on both sides", were criticized as implying a moral equivalence between the white supremacist demonstrators and the counter-protesters.

In a January 2018 discussion of immigration legislation, Trump reportedly referred to El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, and African nations as "shithole countries". His remarks were condemned as racist.

In July 2019, Trump tweeted that four Democratic congresswomen—all minorities, three of whom are native-born Americans—should "go back" to the countries they "came from". Two days later the House of Representatives voted 240–187, mostly along party lines, to condemn his "racist comments". White nationalist publications and social media praised his remarks, which continued over the following days. He continued to make similar remarks during his 2020 campaign.

In June 2020, during the George Floyd protests, federal law-enforcement officials controversially removed a largely peaceful crowd of lawful protesters from Lafayette Square, outside the White House. Trump then posed with a Bible for a photo-op at the nearby St. John's Episcopal Church, with religious leaders condemning both the treatment of protesters and the photo opportunity itself. Many retired military leaders and defense officials condemned his proposal to use the U.S. military against anti-police-brutality protesters.

Pardons and commutations

Further information: List of people granted executive clemency by Donald Trump

Trump granted 237 requests for clemency, fewer than all presidents since 1900 with the exception of George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush. Only 25 of them had been vetted by the Justice Department's Office of the Pardon Attorney; the others were granted to people with personal or political connections to him, his family, and his allies, or recommended by celebrities. In his last full day in office, he granted 73 pardons and commuted 70 sentences. Several Trump allies were not eligible for pardons under Justice Department rules, and in other cases the department had opposed clemency. The pardons of three military service members convicted of or charged with violent crimes were opposed by military leaders.

Immigration

Main article: Immigration policy of Donald Trump

As president, he frequently described illegal immigration as an "invasion" and conflated immigrants with the criminal gang MS-13. Trump drastically escalated immigration enforcement, including implementing harsher immigration enforcement policies against asylum seekers from Central America than any modern U.S. president.

From 2018 onward, Trump deployed nearly 6,000 troops to the U.S.–Mexico border to stop most Central American migrants from seeking asylum. In 2020, his administration widened the public charge rule to further restrict immigrants who might use government benefits from getting permanent residency. He reduced the number of refugees admitted to record lows. When he took office, the annual limit was 110,000; he set a limit of 18,000 in the 2020 fiscal year and 15,000 in the 2021 fiscal year. Additional restrictions implemented by the Trump administration caused significant bottlenecks in processing refugee applications, resulting in fewer refugees accepted than the allowed limits.

Travel ban

Main article: Trump travel ban Further information: Executive Order 13769 and Executive Order 13780

Following the 2015 San Bernardino attack, Trump proposed to ban Muslim foreigners from entering the U.S. until stronger vetting systems could be implemented. He later reframed the proposed ban to apply to countries with a "proven history of terrorism".

On January 27, 2017, Trump signed Executive Order 13769, which suspended admission of refugees for 120 days and denied entry to citizens of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen for 90 days, citing security concerns. The order took effect immediately and without warning, causing chaos at airports. Protests began at airports the next day, and legal challenges resulted in nationwide preliminary injunctions. A March 6 revised order, which excluded Iraq and gave other exemptions, again was blocked by federal judges in three states. In a decision in June 2017, the Supreme Court ruled that the ban could be enforced on visitors who lack a "credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States".

The temporary order was replaced by Presidential Proclamation 9645 on September 24, 2017, which restricted travel from the originally targeted countries except Iraq and Sudan, and further banned travelers from North Korea and Chad, along with certain Venezuelan officials. After lower courts partially blocked the new restrictions, the Supreme Court allowed the September version to go into full effect on December 4, 2017, and ultimately upheld the travel ban in a ruling in June 2019.

Family separation at the border

Main article: Trump administration family separation policy Children sitting within a wire mesh compartmentChildren and juveniles in a wire mesh compartment, showing sleeping mats and thermal blankets on floorChildren sitting within a wire mesh compartment in the Ursula detention facility in McAllen, Texas, June 2018

The Trump administration separated more than 5,400 children of migrant families from their parents at the U.S.–Mexico border, a sharp increase in the number of family separations at the border starting from the summer of 2017. In April 2018, the administration announced a "zero tolerance" policy whereby adults suspected of illegal entry were to be detained and criminally prosecuted while their children were taken away as unaccompanied alien minors. The policy was unprecedented in previous administrations and sparked public outrage. Trump falsely asserted that his administration was merely following the law, blaming Democrats, despite the separations being his administration's policy.

Although Trump originally argued that the separations could not be stopped by an executive order, he acceded to intense public objection and signed an executive order in June 2018, mandating that migrant families be detained together unless "there is a concern" of a risk to the child. On June 26, 2018, Judge Dana Sabraw concluded that the Trump administration had "no system in place to keep track of" the separated children, nor any effective measures for family communication and reunification; Sabraw ordered for the families to be reunited and family separations stopped except in limited circumstances. After the order, the administration separated more than a thousand migrant children from their families; the ACLU contended that the administration had abused its discretion and asked Sabraw to more narrowly define the circumstances warranting separation.

Trump wall and government shutdown

Main articles: Trump wall and 2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown
Trump speaks with U.S. Border Patrol agents. Behind him are black SUVs, four short border wall prototype designs, and the current border wall in the background
Trump examines border wall prototypes in Otay Mesa, California.

One of Trump's central campaign promises was to build a 1,000-mile (1,600 km) border wall to Mexico and have Mexico pay for it. By the end of his term, the U.S. had built "40 miles of new primary wall and 33 miles of secondary wall" in locations where there had been no barriers and 365 miles (587 km) of primary or secondary border fencing replacing dilapidated or outdated barriers.

In 2018, Trump refused to sign any appropriations bill from Congress unless it allocated $5.6 billion for the border wall, resulting in the federal government partially shutting down for 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019, the longest U.S. government shutdown in history. Around 800,000 government employees were furloughed or worked without pay. Trump and Congress ended the shutdown by approving temporary funding that provided delayed payments to government workers, but no funds for the wall. The shutdown resulted in an estimated permanent loss of $3 billion to the economy, according to the Congressional Budget Office. About half of those polled blamed Trump for the shutdown, and his approval ratings dropped.

To prevent another imminent shutdown in February 2019, Congress passed and Trump signed a funding bill that included $1.375 billion for 55 miles (89 km) of bollard border fencing. He also declared a national emergency on the southern border, intending to divert $6.1 billion of funds Congress had allocated to other purposes. He vetoed a joint resolution to overturn the declaration, and the Senate voted against a veto override. Legal challenges to the diversion of $2.5 billion originally meant for the Department of Defense's drug interdiction efforts and $3.6 billion originally meant for military construction were unsuccessful.

Foreign policy

Main article: Foreign policy of the first Donald Trump administration See also: List of international presidential trips made by Donald Trump § First presidency (2017–2021)
Trump and other G7 leaders sit at a conference table
Trump with the other G7 leaders at the 45th summit in France, 2019

Trump described himself as a "nationalist" and his foreign policy as "America First". He praised and supported populist, neo-nationalist, and authoritarian governments. Unpredictability, uncertainty, and inconsistency characterized foreign relations during his tenure. Tensions between the U.S. and its European allies were strained under Trump. He criticized NATO allies and privately suggested on multiple occasions that the U.S. should withdraw from NATO.

Trade

See also: Trump tariffs

Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, and launched a trade war with China by sharply increasing tariffs on 818 categories (worth $50 billion) of Chinese goods imported into the U.S. While he said that import tariffs are paid by China into the U.S. Treasury, they are paid by American companies that import goods from China. Although he pledged during the campaign to significantly reduce the U.S.'s trade deficits, they skyrocketed under Trump. Following a 2017–2018 renegotiation, the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) became effective in July 2020 as the successor to NAFTA.

Russia

See also: Russia–United States relations § First Trump administration (2017–2021)
Trump and Putin, both seated, lean over and shake hands
Vladimir Putin and Trump shaking hands at the G20 Osaka summit, June 2019

The Trump administration weakened the toughest sanctions imposed by the U.S. after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea. Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, citing alleged Russian noncompliance, and supported a potential return of Russia to the G7.

Trump repeatedly praised and, according to some critics, rarely criticized Russian president Vladimir Putin but opposed some actions of the Russian government. After he met Putin at the Helsinki Summit in 2018, he drew bipartisan criticism for accepting Putin's denial of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election rather than the findings of U.S. intelligence agencies.

East Asia

China, Hong Kong, Taiwan
See also: China–United States relations § First Trump administration (2017–2021)
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping stand next to each other, both smiling and wearing suits
Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the G20 Buenos Aires summit, December 2018

Trump repeatedly accused China of taking unfair advantage of the U.S. He launched a trade war against China that was widely characterized as a failure, sanctioned Huawei for alleged ties to Iran, significantly increased visa restrictions on Chinese students and scholars, and classified China as a currency manipulator. He juxtaposed verbal attacks on China with praise of Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, which was attributed to trade war negotiations. After initially praising China's handling of COVID-19, he began a campaign of criticism in March 2020.

Trump said he resisted punishing China for its human rights abuses against ethnic minorities in Xinjiang for fear of jeopardizing trade negotiations. In July 2020, his administration imposed sanctions and visa restrictions against senior Chinese officials, in response to expanded mass detention camps holding more than a million of the country's Uyghur minority.

North Korea
See also: North Korea–United States relations § First Trump administration (2017–2021), 2017–2018 North Korea crisis, and 2018–19 Korean peace process
Trump and Kim shake hands on a stage with U.S. and North Korean flags in the background
Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Singapore summit, June 2018

In 2017, when North Korea's nuclear weapons were increasingly seen as a serious threat, Trump escalated his rhetoric, warning that North Korean aggression would be met with "fire and fury like the world has never seen". In 2017, he declared that he wanted North Korea's "complete denuclearization", and engaged in name-calling with leader Kim Jong Un. After this period of tension, he and Kim exchanged at least 27 letters in which the two men described a warm personal friendship. In March 2019, he lifted some U.S. sanctions against North Korea against the advice of his Treasury Department.

Trump, the first sitting U.S. president to meet a North Korean leader, met Kim three times: in Singapore in 2018, in Hanoi in 2019, and in the Korean Demilitarized Zone in 2019. However, no denuclearization agreement was reached, and talks in October 2019 broke down after one day. While conducting no nuclear tests since 2017, North Korea continued to build up its arsenal of nuclear bombs and ballistic missiles.

Middle East

Afghanistan
U.S. and Taliban officials stand spaced apart in a formal room
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meeting with Taliban delegation in Qatar in September 2020

U.S. troop numbers in Afghanistan increased from 8,500 in January 2017 to 14,000 a year later, reversing Trump's preelection position critical of further involvement in Afghanistan. In February 2020, his administration signed the United States–Taliban deal, which called for the withdrawal of foreign troops in 14 months "contingent on a guarantee from the Taliban that Afghan soil will not be used by terrorists with aims to attack the United States or its allies" and for the U.S. to seek the release of 5,000 Taliban imprisoned by the Afghan government. By the end of his term, 5,000 Taliban had been released, and, despite the Taliban continuing attacks on Afghan forces and integrating Al-Qaeda members into its leadership, U.S. troops had been reduced to 2,500.

Israel

Trump supported many of the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Under Trump, the U.S. recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, leading to international condemnation including from the UN General Assembly, European Union, and Arab League. In 2020, the White House hosted the signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to normalize their foreign relations.

Saudi Arabia
Trump, King Salman of Saudi Arabia, and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi place their hands on a glowing white orb light at waist level
Trump, King Salman of Saudi Arabia, and Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the 2017 Riyadh summit in Saudi Arabia

Trump actively supported the Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen against the Houthis and in 2017 signed a $110 billion agreement to sell arms to Saudi Arabia. In 2018, the U.S. provided limited intelligence and logistical support for the intervention. Following the 2019 attack on Saudi oil facilities, which the U.S. and Saudi Arabia blamed on Iran, he approved the deployment of 3,000 additional U.S. troops, including two Patriot batteries and a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Syria
Trump and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the White House in May 2017

Trump ordered missile strikes in 2017 and 2018 against the Assad regime in Syria, in retaliation for the Khan Shaykhun and Douma chemical attacks, respectively. In December 2018, he declared "we have won against ISIS", contradicting Department of Defense assessments, and ordered the withdrawal of troops from Syria. Mattis resigned in protest, calling Trump's decision an abandonment of the U.S.'s Kurdish allies who played a key role in fighting ISIS.

In 2019, after Trump spoke to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, U.S. troops in northern Syria were withdrawn from the area and Turkey invaded northern Syria, attacking and displacing American-allied Kurds. The U.S. House of Representatives voted 354–60 to condemn Trump's withdrawal from northern Syria.

Iran

In May 2018, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the 2015 agreement that lifted most economic sanctions against Iran in return for restrictions on Iran's nuclear program. In August 2020, his administration unsuccessfully attempted to use the nuclear deal to have the UN reimpose sanctions against Iran. Analysts determined that, after the U.S. withdrawal, Iran moved closer to developing a nuclear weapon.

On January 1, 2020, Trump ordered the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, who had planned nearly every significant Iranian and Iranian-backed operation over the preceding two decades. Iran retaliated with missile strikes against two U.S. airbases in Iraq. Dozens of soldiers sustained traumatic brain injuries. Trump downplayed their injuries, and they were initially denied Purple Heart medals and the associated benefits.

Personnel

Main articles: Political appointments of the first Trump administration and First cabinet of Donald Trump

The Trump administration had a high turnover of personnel, particularly among White House staff. By the end of his first year in office, 34 percent of his original staff had resigned, been fired, or been reassigned. As of early July 2018, 61 percent of his senior aides had left and 141 staffers had left in the previous year. Both figures set a record for recent presidents—more change in the first 13 months than his four immediate predecessors saw in their first two years. Notable early departures included National Security Advisor Michael Flynn (after just 25 days), and Press Secretary Sean Spicer. Close personal aides to Trump including Bannon, Hope Hicks, John McEntee, and Keith Schiller quit or were forced out. Some later returned in different posts. He publicly disparaged several of his former top officials, calling them incompetent, stupid, or crazy.

Trump had four White House chiefs of staff, marginalizing or pushing out several. Reince Priebus was replaced after seven months by retired Marine general John F. Kelly. Kelly resigned in December 2018 after a tumultuous tenure in which his influence waned, and Trump subsequently disparaged him. Kelly was succeeded by Mick Mulvaney as acting chief of staff; he was replaced in March 2020 by Mark Meadows.

On May 9, 2017, Trump dismissed FBI director James Comey. While initially attributing this action to Comey's conduct in the investigation about Hillary Clinton's emails, Trump said a few days later that he was concerned with Comey's role in the ongoing Trump-Russia investigations, and that he had intended to fire Comey earlier. At a private conversation in February, he said he hoped Comey would drop the investigation into Flynn. In March and April, he asked Comey to "lift the cloud impairing his ability to act" by saying publicly that the FBI was not investigating him.

Trump lost three of his 15 original cabinet members within his first year. Health and Human Services secretary Tom Price was forced to resign in September 2017 due to excessive use of private charter jets and military aircraft. Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt resigned in 2018 and Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke in January 2019 amid multiple investigations into their conduct.

Trump was slow to appoint second-tier officials in the executive branch, saying many of the positions are unnecessary. In October 2017, there were still hundreds of sub-cabinet positions without a nominee. By January 8, 2019, of 706 key positions, 433 had been filled (61 percent) and he had no nominee for 264 (37 percent).

Judiciary

Further information: List of federal judges appointed by Donald Trump and Donald Trump judicial appointment controversies
Donald Trump and Amy Coney Barrett walk side by side along the West Wing Colonnade; American flags hang between the columns to their right
Trump and his third Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett

Trump appointed 226 Article III judges, including 54 to the courts of appeals and three to the Supreme Court: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. His Supreme Court nominees were noted as having politically shifted the Court to the right. In the 2016 campaign, he pledged that Roe v. Wade would be overturned "automatically" if he were elected and provided the opportunity to appoint two or three anti-abortion justices. He later took credit when Roe was overturned in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization; all three of his Supreme Court nominees voted with the majority.

Trump disparaged courts and judges he disagreed with, often in personal terms, and questioned the judiciary's constitutional authority. His attacks on the courts drew rebukes from observers, including sitting federal judges, concerned about the effect of his statements on the judicial independence and public confidence in the judiciary.

COVID-19 pandemic

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in the United States Further information: U.S. federal government response to the COVID-19 pandemic and Communication of the Trump administration during the COVID-19 pandemic See also: Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States

Initial response

The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was reported on January 20, 2020. The outbreak was officially declared a public health emergency by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar on January 31, 2020. Trump initially ignored persistent public health warnings and calls for action from health officials within his administration and Secretary Azar. Throughout January and February he focused on economic and political considerations of the outbreak. In February 2020 he publicly asserted that the outbreak in the U.S. was less deadly than influenza, was "very much under control", and would soon be over. On March 19, he privately told Bob Woodward that he was deliberately "playing it down, because I don't want to create a panic".

By mid-March, most global financial markets had severely contracted in response to the pandemic. On March 6, Trump signed the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, which provided $8.3 billion in emergency funding for federal agencies. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized COVID-19 as a pandemic, and he announced partial travel restrictions for most of Europe, effective March 13. That same day, he gave his first serious assessment of the virus in a nationwide Oval Office address, calling the outbreak "horrible" but "a temporary moment" and saying there was no financial crisis. On March 13, he declared a national emergency, freeing up federal resources. He claimed that "anybody that wants a test can get a test", despite test availability being severely limited. On March 27, he signed the CARES Act—a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill—into law following bipartisan negotiations in Congress, becoming the largest stimulus in U.S. history. On April 22, Trump signed an executive order restricting some forms of immigration. In late spring and early summer, with infections and deaths continuing to rise, he adopted a strategy of blaming the states rather than accepting that his initial assessments of the pandemic were overly optimistic or his failure to provide presidential leadership.

White House Coronavirus Task Force

Trump speaks in the West Wing briefing room with various officials standing behind him, all in formal attire and without face masks
Trump conducts a COVID-19 press briefing with members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force on March 15, 2020.

Trump established the White House Coronavirus Task Force on January 29. Beginning in mid-March, he held a daily task force press conference, joined by medical experts and other administration officials, sometimes disagreeing with them by promoting unproven treatments. On March 16, he acknowledged for the first time that the pandemic was not under control and that months of disruption to daily lives and a recession might occur. His repeated use of "Chinese virus" and "China virus" to describe COVID-19 drew criticism from health experts.

By early April, as the pandemic worsened and amid criticism of his administration's response, Trump refused to admit any mistakes in his handling of the outbreak, instead blaming the media, Democratic state governors, the previous administration, China, and the WHO. The daily coronavirus task force briefings ended in late April, after a briefing at which he suggested the dangerous idea of injecting a disinfectant to treat COVID-19; the comment was widely condemned by medical professionals. In early May, Trump proposed the phase-out of the coronavirus task force and its replacement with another group centered on reopening the economy. Amid a backlash, he said the task force would "indefinitely" continue. By the end of May, the coronavirus task force's meetings were sharply reduced.

World Health Organization

Prior to the pandemic, Trump criticized the WHO and other international bodies, which he asserted were taking advantage of U.S. aid. His administration's proposed 2021 federal budget, released in February, proposed reducing WHO funding by more than half. In May and April, he accused the WHO of "severely mismanaging" COVID-19, alleged without evidence that the organization was under Chinese control and had enabled the Chinese government's concealment of the pandemic's origins, and announced that he was withdrawing funding for the organization. These were seen as attempts to distract from his own mishandling of the pandemic. In July 2020, he announced the formal withdrawal of the U.S. from the WHO, effective July 2021. The decision was widely condemned by health and government officials as "short-sighted", "senseless", and "dangerous".

Pressure to abandon pandemic mitigation measures

Further information: COVID-19 testing in the United States

In April 2020, Republican-connected groups organized anti-lockdown protests against the measures state governments were taking to combat the pandemic; Trump encouraged the protests on Twitter, although the targeted states did not meet his administration's guidelines for reopening. In April 2020, he first supported, then later criticized, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp's plan to reopen some nonessential businesses. Throughout the spring he increasingly pushed for ending the restrictions to reverse the damage to the country's economy. He often refused to mask at public events, contrary to his administration's April 2020 guidance to wear masks in public and despite nearly unanimous medical consensus that masks are important to preventing spread of the virus. His contradiction of medical recommendations weakened national efforts to mitigate the pandemic.

In June and July, Trump said several times that the U.S. would have fewer cases of coronavirus if it did less testing, that having a large number of reported cases "makes us look bad". The CDC guideline at the time was that any person exposed to the virus should be "quickly identified and tested" even if they are not showing symptoms, because asymptomatic people can still spread the virus. In August 2020 the CDC quietly lowered its recommendation for testing, advising that people who have been exposed to the virus, but are not showing symptoms, "do not necessarily need a test". The change in guidelines was made by HHS political appointees under Trump administration pressure, against the wishes of CDC scientists. The day after this political interference was reported, the testing guideline was changed back to its original recommendation. Despite record numbers of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. from mid-June onward and an increasing percentage of positive test results, Trump largely continued to downplay the pandemic, including his false claim in early July 2020 that 99 percent of COVID-19 cases are "totally harmless". He began insisting that all states should resume in-person education in the fall despite a July spike in reported cases.

Political pressure on health agencies

Main article: Political interference with science agencies by the first Trump administration

Trump repeatedly pressured federal health agencies to take actions he favored, such as approving unproven treatments or speeding up vaccine approvals. Trump administration political appointees at HHS sought to control CDC communications to the public that undermined his claims that the pandemic was under control. CDC resisted many of the changes, but increasingly allowed HHS personnel to review articles and suggest changes before publication. Trump alleged without evidence that FDA scientists were part of a "deep state" opposing him and delaying approval of vaccines and treatments to hurt him politically.

Outbreak at the White House

Main article: White House COVID-19 outbreak
Donald Trump, wearing a black face mask, boards Marine One, a large green helicopter, from the White House lawn
Trump boards Marine One for COVID-19 treatment on October 2, 2020

On October 2, 2020, Trump tweeted that he had tested positive for COVID-19, part of a White House outbreak. Later that day he was hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, reportedly due to fever and labored breathing. He was treated with antiviral and experimental antibody drugs and a steroid. He returned to the White House on October 5, still infectious and unwell. During and after his treatment he continued to downplay the virus. In 2021, it was revealed that his condition had been far more serious; he had dangerously low blood oxygen levels, a high fever, and lung infiltrates, indicating a severe case. In January 2021, he received a COVID-19 vaccination.

Effects on the 2020 presidential campaign

By July 2020, Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic had become a major issue in the presidential election. Biden sought to make the pandemic the central issue. Polls suggested voters blamed Trump for his pandemic response and disbelieved his rhetoric concerning the virus, with an Ipsos/ABC News poll indicating 65 percent of respondents disapproved of his pandemic response. In the final months of the campaign, he repeatedly said that the U.S. was "rounding the turn" in managing the pandemic, despite increasing cases and deaths. A few days before the November 3 election, the U.S. reported more than 100,000 cases in a single day for the first time.

Investigations

After he assumed office, Trump was the subject of increasing Justice Department and congressional scrutiny, with investigations covering his election campaign, transition, and inauguration, actions taken during his presidency, his private businesses, personal taxes, and charitable foundation. There were ten federal criminal investigations, eight state and local investigations, and twelve congressional investigations.

Financial

In April 2019, the House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas seeking financial details from Trump's banks, Deutsche Bank and Capital One, and his accounting firm, Mazars USA. He sued the banks, Mazars, and committee chair Elijah Cummings to prevent the disclosures. In May, DC District Court judge Amit Mehta ruled that Mazars must comply with the subpoena, and judge Edgardo Ramos of the Southern District Court of New York ruled that the banks must also comply. Trump's attorneys appealed. In September 2022, the committee and Trump agreed to a settlement about Mazars, and the accounting firm began turning over documents.

Russian election interference

Main articles: Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections and Timelines related to Donald Trump and Russian interference in United States elections See also: Senate Intelligence Committee report on Russian interference in the 2016 United States presidential election and Steele dossier

In January 2017, American intelligence agencies—the CIA, the FBI, and the NSA, represented by the Director of National Intelligence—jointly stated with "high confidence" that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election to favor the election of Trump. In March 2017, FBI Director James Comey told Congress, "he FBI, as part of our counterintelligence mission, is investigating the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. That includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government, and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia's efforts."

Many suspicious links between Trump associates and Russian officials and spies were discovered and the relationships between Russians and "team Trump", including Manafort, Flynn, and Stone, were widely reported by the press. Members of Trump's campaign and his White House staff, particularly Flynn, were in contact with Russian officials both before and after the election. On December 29, 2016, Flynn talked with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak about sanctions that were imposed that same day; Flynn later resigned in the midst of controversy over whether he misled Pence. Trump told Kislyak and Sergei Lavrov in May 2017 he was unconcerned about Russian interference in U.S. elections. Trump and his allies promoted a conspiracy theory that Ukraine, rather than Russia, interfered in the 2016 election—which was also promoted by Russia to frame Ukraine.

FBI Crossfire Hurricane and 2017 counterintelligence investigations

In July 2016, the FBI launched an investigation, codenamed Crossfire Hurricane, into possible links between Russia and the Trump campaign. After Trump fired FBI director James Comey in May 2017, the FBI opened a counterintelligence investigation into Trump's personal and business dealings with Russia. Crossfire Hurricane was transferred to the Mueller investigation, but Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein ended the investigation into Trump's direct ties to Russia while giving the bureau the false impression that the Robert Mueller's special counsel investigation would pursue the matter.

Mueller investigation

Main articles: Mueller special counsel investigation, Mueller report, and Criminal charges brought in the Mueller special counsel investigation

In May 2017, Rosenstein appointed former FBI director Mueller special counsel for the Department of Justice (DOJ), ordering him to "examine 'any links and/or coordination between the Russian government' and the Trump campaign". He privately told Mueller to restrict the investigation to criminal matters "in connection with Russia's 2016 election interference". The special counsel also investigated whether Trump's dismissal of James Comey as FBI director constituted obstruction of justice and the Trump campaign's possible ties to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Qatar, Israel, and China. Trump sought to fire Mueller and shut down the investigation multiple times, but backed down after his staff objected or after changing his mind.

In March 2019, Mueller gave his final report to Attorney General William Barr, which Barr purported to summarize in a letter to Congress. A federal court, and Mueller himself, said Barr mischaracterized the investigation's conclusions and, in so doing, confused the public. Trump repeatedly claimed that the investigation exonerated him; the Mueller report expressly stated that it did not. A redacted version of the report, publicly released in April 2019, found that Russia interfered in 2016 to favor Trump. Despite "numerous links between the Russian government and the Trump campaign", the report found that the prevailing evidence "did not establish" that Trump campaign members conspired or coordinated with Russian interference. The report revealed sweeping Russian interference and detailed how Trump and his campaign welcomed and encouraged it, believing it would benefit them electorally.

The report also detailed multiple acts of potential obstruction of justice by Trump, but "did not draw ultimate conclusions about the President's conduct". Investigators decided they could not "apply an approach that could potentially result in a judgment that the President committed crimes" as an Office of Legal Counsel opinion stated that a sitting president could not be indicted, and investigators would not accuse him of a crime when he cannot clear his name in court. The report concluded that Congress, having the authority to take action against a president for wrongdoing, "may apply the obstruction laws". The House of Representatives subsequently launched an impeachment inquiry following the Trump–Ukraine scandal, but did not pursue an article of impeachment related to the Mueller investigation. Several Trump associates pleaded guilty or were convicted in connection with Mueller's investigation and related cases, including Manafort and Flynn. Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about Trump's 2016 attempts to reach a deal with Russia to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Cohen said he had made the false statements on behalf of Trump. In February 2020, Stone was sentenced to 40 months in prison for lying to Congress and witness tampering. The sentencing judge said Stone "was prosecuted for covering up for the president".

First impeachment

Main articles: First impeachment of Donald Trump and Trump–Ukraine scandal
Nancy Pelosi presides over a crowded House of Representatives chamber floor during the impeachment vote
Members of House of Representatives vote on two articles of impeachment (H.Res. 755), December 18, 2019

In August 2019, a whistleblower filed a complaint with the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community about a July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which Trump had pressured Zelenskyy to investigate CrowdStrike and Democratic presidential candidate Biden and his son Hunter. The whistleblower said that the White House had attempted to cover up the incident and that the call was part of a wider campaign by the Trump administration and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani that may have included withholding financial aid from Ukraine in July 2019 and canceling Pence's May 2019 Ukraine trip.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi initiated a formal impeachment inquiry on September 24. Trump then confirmed that he withheld military aid from Ukraine, offering contradictory reasons for the decision. On September 25, his administration released a memorandum of the phone call which confirmed that, after Zelenskyy mentioned purchasing American anti-tank missiles, Trump asked him to discuss investigating Biden and his son with Giuliani and Barr. The testimony of multiple administration officials and former officials confirmed that this was part of a broader effort to further Trump's personal interests by giving him an advantage in the upcoming presidential election. In October, William B. Taylor Jr., the chargé d'affaires for Ukraine, testified before congressional committees that soon after arriving in Ukraine in June 2019, he found that Zelenskyy was being subjected to pressure directed by Trump and led by Giuliani. According to Taylor and others, the goal was to coerce Zelenskyy into making a public commitment to investigate the company that employed Hunter Biden, as well as rumors about Ukrainian involvement in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He said it was made clear that until Zelenskyy made such an announcement, the administration would not release scheduled military aid for Ukraine and not invite Zelenskyy to the White House.

Trump displaying the headline "Trump acquitted"

On December 13, the House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to pass two articles of impeachment: one for abuse of power and one for obstruction of Congress. After debate, the House of Representatives impeached Trump on both articles on December 18.During the trial in January 2020, the House impeachment managers cited evidence to support charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress and asserted that Trump's actions were exactly what the founding fathers had in mind when they created the impeachment process. Trump's lawyers did not deny the facts as presented in the charges, but said that he had not broken any laws or obstructed Congress. They argued that the impeachment was "constitutionally and legally invalid" because he was not charged with a crime and that abuse of power is not an impeachable offense. On January 31, the Senate voted against allowing subpoenas for witnesses or documents. The impeachment trial was the first in U.S. history without witness testimony. Trump was acquitted of both charges by the Republican majority. Senator Mitt Romney was the only Republican who voted to convict him on one charge, the abuse of power. Following his acquittal, he fired impeachment witnesses and other political appointees and career officials he deemed insufficiently loyal.

Second impeachment

Main articles: Second impeachment of Donald Trump and Second impeachment trial of Donald Trump
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi seated at a table and surrounded by public officials. She is signing the second impeachment of Trump.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi signing the second impeachment of Trump

On January 11, 2021, an article of impeachment charging Trump with incitement of insurrection against the U.S. government was introduced to the House. The House voted 232–197 to impeach him on January 13, making him the first U.S. president to be impeached twice. Ten Republicans voted for the impeachment—the most members of a party ever to vote to impeach a president of their own party.

On February 13, following a five-day Senate trial, Trump was acquitted when the Senate vote fell ten votes short of the two-thirds majority required to convict; seven Republicans joined every Democrat in voting to convict, the most bipartisan support in any Senate impeachment trial of a president or former president. Most Republicans voted to acquit him, although some held him responsible but felt the Senate did not have jurisdiction over former presidents (he had left office on January 20; the Senate voted 56–44 that the trial was constitutional).

2020 presidential election

Defeat to Biden

Main articles: 2020 United States presidential election and Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign

Breaking with precedent, Trump filed to run for a second term within a few hours of assuming the presidency. He held his first reelection rally less than a month after taking office and officially became the Republican nominee in August 2020. In his first two years in office, Trump's reelection committee reported raising $67.5 million and began 2019 with $19.3 million in cash. By July 2020, his campaign and the Republican Party had raised $1.1 billion and spent $800 million, losing their cash advantage over Biden. The cash shortage forced the campaign to scale back advertising spending. Trump campaign advertisements focused on crime, claiming that cities would descend into lawlessness if Biden won. He repeatedly misrepresented Biden's positions and shifted to appeals to racism.

Starting in the spring of 2020, Trump began to sow doubts about the election, claiming without evidence that the election would be rigged and that the expected widespread use of mail balloting would produce massive election fraud. When, in August, the House of Representatives voted for a $25 billion grant to the U.S. Postal Service for the expected surge in mail voting, he blocked funding, saying he wanted to prevent any increase in voting by mail, creating a crisis in the Postal Service. He repeatedly refused to say whether he would accept the results if he lost and commit to a peaceful transition of power. Biden won the election on November 3, receiving 81.3 million votes (51.3 percent) to Trump's 74.2 million (46.8 percent) and 306 Electoral College votes to Trump's 232.

Rejection of results

Further information: Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election, 2020–21 United States election protests, and Election denial movement in the United States

At 2 a.m. the morning after the election, with the results still unclear, Trump declared victory. After Biden was projected the winner days later, Trump baselessly alleged election fraud. He and his allies filed many legal challenges to the results, which were rejected by at least 86 judges in both the state and federal courts, including by federal judges appointed by Trump himself, finding no factual or legal basis. His allegations were also refuted by state election officials. On December 11, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case from the Texas attorney general that asked the court to overturn the election results in four states won by Biden.

Trump withdrew from public activities in the weeks following the election. He initially blocked government officials from cooperating in Biden's presidential transition. After three weeks, the administrator of the General Services Administration declared Biden the "apparent winner" of the election, allowing the disbursement of transition resources to his team. Trump still did not formally concede while claiming he recommended the GSA begin transition protocols.

The Electoral College formalized Biden's victory on December 14. From November to January, Trump repeatedly sought help to overturn the results, personally pressuring Republican local and state office-holders, Republican state and federal legislators, the Justice Department, and Vice President Pence, urging various actions such as replacing presidential electors, or a request for Georgia officials to "find" votes and announce a "recalculated" result. On February 10, 2021, Georgia prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into Trump's efforts to subvert the election in Georgia.

Trump did not attend Biden's inauguration.

January 6 Capitol attack

Main article: January 6 United States Capitol attack For a chronological guide, see Timeline of the January 6 United States Capitol attack.
Trump speaking at the "Stop the Steal" rally on January 6

In December 2020, Newsweek reported the Pentagon was on red alert, and ranking officers had discussed what to do if Trump declared martial law. The Pentagon responded with quotes from defense leaders that the military has no role in the outcome of elections. When Trump moved supporters into positions of power at the Pentagon after the November 2020 election, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and CIA director Gina Haspel became concerned about a possible coup attempt or military action against China or Iran. Milley insisted that he should be consulted about any military orders from Trump, including the use of nuclear weapons.

On January 6, 2021, while congressional certification of the presidential election results was taking place in the U.S. Capitol, Trump held a noon rally at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., where he called for the election result to be overturned and urged his supporters to "fight like hell" and "take back our country" by marching to the Capitol. Many supporters did, joining a crowd already there. The mob broke into the building, disrupting certification and causing the evacuation of Congress. During the violence, Trump posted messages on Twitter without asking the rioters to disperse. At 6 p.m., he tweeted that the rioters should "go home with love & in peace", calling them "great patriots" and repeating that the election was stolen. After the mob was removed, Congress reconvened and confirmed Biden's win in the early hours of the following morning. According to the Department of Justice, more than 140 police officers were injured, and five people died. In March 2023, Trump collaborated with incarcerated rioters on a song to benefit the prisoners. In June, he said that, if reelected, he would pardon many of them.

Inter-presidency (2021–present)

It has been suggested that this section be split out into another article titled Inter-presidency of Donald Trump. (Discuss) (December 2024)
See also: Personal and business legal affairs of Donald Trump and Legal affairs of Donald Trump as president

Trump lives at his Mar-a-Lago club, having established an office there as provided for by the Former Presidents Act. He is entitled to live there legally as a club employee.

Trump's false claims concerning the 2020 election were commonly referred to as the "big lie" in the press and by his critics. In May 2021, he and his supporters attempted to co-opt the term, using it to refer to the election itself. The Republican Party used his false election narrative to justify the imposition of new voting restrictions in its favor. As late as July 2022, he was still pressuring state legislators to overturn the 2020 election.

Unlike other former presidents, Trump continued to dominate his party; he has been described as a modern party boss. He continued fundraising, raising more than twice as much as the Republican Party itself, and profited from fundraisers many Republican candidates held at Mar-a-Lago. Much of his focus was on how elections are run and on ousting election officials who had resisted his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. In the 2022 midterm elections he endorsed over 200 candidates for various offices, most of whom supported his false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him.

Business activities

In February 2021, Trump registered a new company, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), for providing "social networking services" to U.S. customers. In March 2024, TMTG merged with special-purpose acquisition company Digital World Acquisition and became a public company. In February 2022, TMTG launched Truth Social, a social media platform. As of March 2023, Trump Media, which had taken $8 million from Russia-connected entities, was being investigated by federal prosecutors for possible money laundering.

Investigations, criminal indictments and convictions, civil lawsuits

Trump is the only U.S. president or former president to be convicted of a crime and the first major-party candidate to run for president after a felony conviction. As of May 2024, he faces numerous criminal charges and civil cases.

FBI investigations

Main articles: FBI investigation into Donald Trump's handling of government documents, FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, and Smith special counsel investigation
Classified intelligence material found during search of Mar-a-Lago

When Trump left the White House in January 2021, he took government materials with him to Mar-a-Lago. By May 2021, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) realized that important documents had not been turned over to them and asked his office to locate them. In January 2022, they retrieved 15 boxes of White House records from Mar-a-Lago. NARA later informed the Department of Justice that some of the retrieved documents were classified material. The Justice Department began an investigation and sent Trump a subpoena for additional material. Justice Department officials visited Mar-a-Lago and received some classified documents from his lawyers, one of whom signed a statement affirming that all material marked as classified had been returned.

On August 8, 2022, FBI agents searched Mar-a-Lago to recover government documents and material Trump had taken with him when he left office in violation of the Presidential Records Act, reportedly including some related to nuclear weapons. The search warrant indicates an investigation of potential violations of the Espionage Act and obstruction of justice laws. The items taken in the search included 11 sets of classified documents, four of them tagged as "top secret" and one as "top secret/SCI", the highest level of classification.

On November 18, 2022, U.S. attorney general Merrick Garland appointed federal prosecutor Jack Smith as a special counsel to oversee the federal criminal investigations into Trump retaining government property at Mar-a-Lago and examining Trump's role in the events leading up to the Capitol attack.

Criminal referral by the House January 6 Committee

Main article: United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack

On December 19, 2022, the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack recommended criminal charges against Trump for obstructing an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and inciting or assisting an insurrection.

State criminal indictments

Main article: Georgia election racketeering prosecution

In December 2022, following a jury trial, the Trump Organization was convicted on 17 counts of criminal tax fraud, conspiracy, and falsifying business records in connection with a tax-fraud scheme stretching over 15 years. In January 2023, the organization was fined the maximum $1.6 million, and its chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg was sentenced to jail and probation after a plea deal. Trump was not personally charged in the case.

Later in August, a Fulton County, Georgia, grand jury indicted Trump on 13 charges, including racketeering, for his efforts to subvert the election outcome in Georgia; multiple Trump campaign officials were also indicted. He surrendered, was processed at Fulton County Jail, and was released on bail pending trial. He pleaded not guilty. On March 13, 2024, the judge dismissed three of the 13 charges against him.

Federal criminal indictments

Main articles: Federal prosecution of Donald Trump (classified documents case) and Federal prosecution of Donald Trump (election obstruction case)

In June 2023, following a special counsel investigation, a federal grand jury in Miami indicted Trump on 31 counts of "willfully retaining national defense information" under the Espionage Act, one count of making false statements, and one count each of conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding government documents, corruptly concealing records, concealing a document in a federal investigation and scheming to conceal their efforts. He pleaded not guilty. A superseding indictment the following month added three charges. The judge assigned to the case, Aileen Cannon, was appointed to the bench by Trump and had previously issued rulings favorable to him in a past civil case, some of which were overturned by an appellate court. She moved slowly on the case, indefinitely postponed the trial in May 2024, and dismissed it on July 15, ruling that the special counsel's appointment was unconstitutional. On August 26, Special Counsel Smith appealed the dismissal.

In August 2023, a Washington, D.C., federal grand jury indicted Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. He was charged with conspiring to defraud the U.S., obstruct the certification of the Electoral College vote, and deprive voters of the civil right to have their votes counted, and obstructing an official proceeding. He pleaded not guilty. On November 25, the judge dismissed the case without prejudice after the prosecution filed a motion to dismiss citing Department of Justice policy.

On November 25, the prosecution, citing Department of Justice policy prohibiting the prosecution of a sitting president, requested the dismissal of the D.C. case and Trump's removal as a co-defendant in the classified documents case. The D.C. case was dismissed without prejudice that same day. The next day, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit dropped Trump from the appeal.

Criminal conviction in the 2016 campaign fraud case

Main articles: Prosecution of Donald Trump in New York and Stormy Daniels–Donald Trump scandal See also: Personal and business legal affairs of Donald Trump § Payments related to alleged affairs, and Karen McDougal § Alleged affair with Donald Trump

During the 2016 presidential election campaign, American Media, Inc. (AMI), publisher of the National Enquirer, and a company set up by Cohen paid Playboy model Karen McDougal and adult film actress Stormy Daniels for keeping silent about their alleged affairs with Trump between 2006 and 2007. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to breaking campaign finance laws, saying he had arranged both payments at Trump's direction to influence the presidential election. Trump denied the affairs and said he was not aware of Cohen's payment to Daniels, but he reimbursed him in 2017. Federal prosecutors asserted that Trump had been involved in discussions regarding nondisclosure payments as early as 2014. Court documents showed that the FBI believed he was directly involved in the payment to Daniels, based on calls he had with Cohen in October 2016. Federal prosecutors closed the investigation in 2019, but in 2021, the New York State Attorney General's Office and Manhattan District Attorney's Office opened a criminal investigations into his business activities. The Manhattan DA's Office subpoenaed the Trump Organization and AMI for records related to the payments and Trump and the Trump Organization for eight years of tax returns.

In March 2023, a New York grand jury indicted Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to book the hush money payments to Daniels as business expenses, in an attempt to influence the 2016 election. The trial began in April 2024, and in May a jury convicted him on all 34 counts. In December, the judge upheld the conviction, rejecting Trump's argument of presidential immunity and clearing the way for a Trump appeal.

Civil judgments

Main articles: New York business fraud lawsuit against the Trump Organization and E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump

In September 2022, the attorney general of New York filed a civil fraud case against Trump, his three oldest children, and the Trump Organization. During the investigation leading up to the lawsuit, Trump was fined $110,000 for failing to turn over records subpoenaed by the attorney general. In an August 2022 deposition, he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 400 times. The presiding judge ruled in September 2023 that Trump, his adult sons, and the Trump Organization repeatedly committed fraud and ordered their New York business certificates canceled and their business entities sent into receivership for dissolution. In February 2024, the court found him liable, ordered him to pay a penalty of more than $350 million plus interest, for a total exceeding $450 million, and barred him from serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation or legal entity for three years. He said he would appeal the verdict. The judge also ordered the company to be overseen by the monitor appointed by the court in 2023 and an independent director of compliance, and that any "restructuring and potential dissolution" would be the decision of the monitor.

In May 2023, a New York jury in a federal lawsuit brought by journalist E. Jean Carroll in 2022 ("Carroll II") found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation and ordered him to pay her $5 million. He asked for a new trial or a reduction of the award, arguing that the jury had not found him liable for rape. He also separately countersued Carroll for defamation. The judge for the two lawsuits ruled against him, writing that Carroll's accusation of "rape" is "substantially true". He appealed both decisions. In January 2024, the jury in the defamation case brought by Carroll in 2019 ("Carroll I") ordered him to pay Carroll $83.3 million in damages. In March, he posted a $91.6 million bond and appealed.

2024 presidential election

Main article: Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign Further information: 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries, 2024 United States presidential election, and Second presidential transition of Donald Trump See also: Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania and Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Florida
Trump at a rally in Arizona, 2024

On November 15, 2022, Trump announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election and set up a fundraising account. In March 2023, the campaign began diverting 10 percent of the donations to his leadership PAC. His campaign had paid $100 million towards his legal bills by March 2024. In December 2023, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled Trump disqualified for the Colorado Republican primary for his role in inciting the January 6, 2021, attack on Congress. In March 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court restored his name to the ballot in a unanimous decision, ruling that Colorado lacks the authority to enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars insurrectionists from holding federal office.

Trump's escalation of election rigging claims before the 2024 election

During the campaign, Trump made increasingly violent and authoritarian statements. He also said that he would weaponize the FBI and the Justice Department against his political opponents and use the military to go after Democratic politicians and those that do not support his candidacy. He used harsher, more dehumanizing anti-immigrant rhetoric than during his presidency. His harsher rhetoric against his political enemies has been described by some historians and scholars as authoritarian, fascist, and unlike anything a political candidate has ever said in American history. Age and health concerns also arose during the campaign, with several medical experts highlighting an increase in rambling, tangential speech and behavioral disinhibition.

Trump mentioned "rigged election" and "election interference" earlier and more frequently than in the 2016 and 2020 campaigns and refused to commit to accepting the 2024 election results. Analysts for The New York Times described this as an intensification of his "heads I win; tails you cheated" rhetorical strategy; the paper said the claim of a rigged election had become the backbone of the campaign.

President-elect Trump with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris on December 7, 2024

On July 13, 2024, Trump's ear was grazed by a bullet in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler Township, Pennsylvania. Two days later, the 2024 Republican National Convention nominated him as their presidential candidate, with Senator JD Vance as his running mate. On September 15, 2024, he was targeted in another assassination attempt in Florida. Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States in November 2024, defeating incumbent vice president Kamala Harris, and making him the second president in U.S. history after Grover Cleveland in 1892 to be elected to a nonconsecutive second term. The Associated Press and BBC News described it as an extraordinary comeback.

Political practice and rhetoric

Further information: Trumpism, Political positions of Donald Trump, and Rhetoric of Donald Trump

Beginning with his 2016 campaign, Trump's politics and rhetoric led to the creation of a political movement known as Trumpism. Professor Mary Stuckey identified his rhetoric as using vitriol: "demeaning language, false equivalency, and exclusion". Professor Gary Jacobson found he used fearmongering about immigrants and minorities that other researchers found were essential to his support. His political base has been compared to a cult of personality. Trump's political positions are populist, more specifically described as right-wing populist. Politico described them as "eclectic, improvisational and often contradictory". He helped bring far-right fringe ideas and organizations into the mainstream. The alt-right movement coalesced around and supported his candidacy, due in part to its opposition to multiculturalism and immigration. He has a strong appeal to evangelical Christian voters. He appeals to Christian nationalists, and his rallies take on the symbols, rhetoric and agenda of Christian nationalism.

Link to hate crimes

Further information: Rhetoric of Donald Trump § Violence and dehumanization

Research suggests Trump's rhetoric is associated with an increased incidence of hate crimes. During his 2016 campaign, he urged or praised physical attacks against protesters or reporters. Numerous defendants investigated or prosecuted for violent acts and hate crimes, including participants in the storming of the U.S. Capitol, cited his rhetoric in arguing that they were not culpable or should receive leniency. A nationwide review by ABC News in May 2020 identified at least 54 criminal cases from August 2015 to April 2020 in which he was invoked in direct connection with violence or threats of violence mostly by white men and primarily against minorities.

Truthfulness

Main article: False or misleading statements by Donald Trump
Chart depicting false or misleading claims made by Trump
Fact-checkers from The Washington Post, the Toronto Star, and CNN compiled data on "false or misleading claims" (orange background), and "false claims" (violet foreground), respectively.

As a candidate and as president, Trump frequently made false statements in public remarks to an extent unprecedented in American politics. His falsehoods are a distinctive part of his political identity and have been described as firehosing. His false and misleading statements were documented by fact-checkers, including at The Washington Post, which tallied 30,573 false or misleading statements made by him during his first presidency, increasing in frequency over time.

Some of Trump's falsehoods were inconsequential, such as his repeated claim of the "biggest inaugural crowd ever". Others had more far-reaching effects, such as his promotion of antimalarial drugs as an unproven treatment for COVID-19, causing a U.S. shortage of these drugs and panic-buying in Africa and South Asia. Other misinformation, such as misattributing a rise in crime in England and Wales to the "spread of radical Islamic terror", served his domestic political purposes. His attacks on mail-in ballots and other election practices weakened public faith in the integrity of the 2020 presidential election, while his disinformation about the pandemic delayed and weakened the national response to it. Trump habitually does not apologize for his falsehoods. Until 2018, the media rarely referred to Trump's falsehoods as lies, including when he repeated demonstrably false statements.

Conspiracy theories

Main article: List of conspiracy theories promoted by Donald Trump

Before and throughout his presidency, Trump promoted numerous conspiracy theories, including Obama birtherism, the Clinton body count conspiracy theory, the conspiracy theory movement QAnon, the Global warming hoax theory, Trump Tower wiretapping allegations, that Osama bin Laden was alive and Obama and Biden had members of Navy SEAL Team 6 killed, and alleged Ukrainian interference in U.S. elections. In at least two instances, Trump clarified to press that he believed the conspiracy theory in question. During and since the 2020 presidential election, Trump promoted various conspiracy theories for his defeat.

Social media

Main article: Social media use by Donald Trump

Trump's social media presence attracted worldwide attention after he joined Twitter in 2009. He tweeted frequently during his 2016 campaign and as president until Twitter banned him after the January 6 attack. He often used Twitter to communicate directly with the public and sideline the press. In June 2017, the White House press secretary said that his tweets were official presidential statements.

After years of criticism for allowing Trump to post misinformation and falsehoods, Twitter began to tag some of his tweets with fact-checks in May 2020. In response, he tweeted that social media platforms "totally silence" conservatives and that he would "strongly regulate, or close them down". In the days after the storming of the Capitol, he was banned from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other platforms. The loss of his social media presence diminished his ability to shape events and prompted a dramatic decrease in the volume of misinformation shared on Twitter. In February 2022, he launched social media platform Truth Social where he only attracted a fraction of his Twitter following. Elon Musk, after acquiring Twitter, reinstated his Twitter account in November 2022. Meta Platforms' two-year ban lapsed in January 2023, allowing him to return to Facebook and Instagram, although in 2024, he continued to call the company an "enemy of the people".

Relationship with the press

Further information: First presidency of Donald Trump § Relationship with the news media
Trump, seated at the Resolute Desk in the White House, speaking to a crowd of reporters with boom microphones in front of him and public officials behind him
Trump talking to the press, March 2017

Trump sought media attention throughout his career, sustaining a "love-hate" relationship with the press. In the 2016 campaign, he benefited from a record amount of free media coverage, elevating his standing in the Republican primaries. The New York Times writer Amy Chozick wrote in 2018 that his media dominance enthralled the public and created "must-see TV". As a candidate and as president, Trump frequently accused the press of bias, calling it the "fake news media" and "the enemy of the people". In 2018, journalist Lesley Stahl said that he had privately told her that he intentionally discredited the media "so when you write negative stories about me no one will believe you".

As president, Trump mused about revoking the press credentials of journalists he viewed as critical. His administration moved to revoke the press passes of two White House reporters, which were restored by the courts. The Trump White House held about a hundred formal press briefings in 2017, declining by half during 2018 and to two in 2019. Trump also deployed the legal system to intimidate the press. The Trump campaign sued The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN for defamation in opinion pieces about Russian election interference. All the suits were dismissed. By 2024, he repeatedly voiced support for outlawing political dissent and criticism he considers misleading or challenges his claims to power, and that media companies should be investigated and prosecuted for treason for displaying "bad stories" about him and possibly lose their broadcast licenses if they refuse to name confidential sources.

Assessments

Public image

Main article: Public image of Donald Trump See also: Donald Trump in popular culture

A Gallup poll in 134 countries comparing the approval ratings of U.S. leadership between 2016 and 2017 found that Trump led Obama in job approval in only 29 countries, most of them non-democracies; approval of U.S. leadership plummeted among allies and G7 countries. By mid-2020, only 16 percent of international respondents to a 13-nation Pew Research poll expressed confidence in him, lower than China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin.

During his first presidency, research from 2020 found that Trump had a stronger impact on popular assessments towards American political parties and partisan opinions than any president since the Truman administration. In 2021, Trump was identified as the only president never to reach a 50 percent approval rating in the Gallup poll, which dates to 1938, partially due to a record-high partisan gap in his approval ratings: 88 percent among Republicans and 7 percent among Democrats. His early ratings were unusually stable, ranging between 35 and 49 percent. He finished his term with a rating between 29 and 34 percent—the lowest of any president since modern polling began—and a record-low average of 41 percent throughout his presidency. In Gallup's annual poll asking Americans to name the man they admire the most, he placed second to Obama in 2017 and 2018, tied with Obama for first in 2019, and placed first in 2020. Since Gallup started conducting the poll in 1946, he was the first elected president not to be named most admired in his first year in office.

Scholarly

Further information: Historical rankings of presidents of the United States § 2021 C-SPAN

In the C-SPAN "Presidential Historians Survey 2021", historians ranked Trump as the fourth-worst president. He rated lowest in the leadership characteristics categories for moral authority and administrative skills. The Siena College Research Institute's 2022 survey ranked him 43rd out of 45 presidents. He was ranked near the bottom in all categories except for luck, willingness to take risks, and party leadership, and he ranked last in several categories. In 2018 and 2024, surveys of members of the American Political Science Association ranked him the worst president.

Notes

  1. Trump acknowledged a negative net worth in 1990 of minus $900 million in his book The Art of the Comeback. Timothy L. O'Brien explains in his book TrumpNation that Forbes dropped Trump from its list of wealthiest Americans from 1990–1995. Not until 1997 did Forbes acknowledge Trump's 1990 negative net worth of minus $900 million.
  2. Presidential elections in the U.S. are decided by the Electoral College. Each state names a number of electors equal to its representation in Congress and (in most states) all electors vote for the winner of their state's popular vote.
  3. Attributed to multiple references:
  4. Attributed to multiple sources:

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