Revision as of 22:13, 17 November 2018 view sourceMandruss (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users64,222 edits cite cleanup← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 17:24, 23 December 2024 view source Space4Time3Continuum2x (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users15,677 edits →Travel ban: Rmv. Wrong place (stuff he said during 2016 campaign) and does not belong in top bio. Has its own section in Donald_Trump_2016_presidential_campaign#Temporary_Muslim_ban_proposal. | ||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|President-elect and 45th president of the United States}} | |||
{{Other uses}}<!-- DO NOT CHANGE without prior consensus, see ], item 17. --> | |||
{{Other uses|Donald Trump (disambiguation)}} | |||
{{pp-move-indef|small=yes}} | |||
{{pp-extended|small=yes}} | |||
{{short description|45th President of the United States}} | |||
{{Use American English|date=November 2020}} | |||
{{pp-30-500|small=yes}} | |||
{{Use |
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}} | ||
{{bots|deny=InternetArchiveBot}}<!-- Per ], item 25. --> | |||
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2018}} | |||
{{Infobox |
{{Infobox officeholder | ||
|image = Donald Trump official portrait.jpg<!-- DO NOT CHANGE the picture without prior consensus |
| image = Donald Trump official portrait.jpg<!-- DO NOT CHANGE the picture without prior consensus; see ], item 1. --> | ||
|alt = Head shot of |
| 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 | |||
|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 | | office = ] | ||
|vicepresident = ] | | vicepresident = ] (elect) | ||
|term_start = January 20, |
| term_start = January 20, 2025 | ||
|term_end = | | term_end = | ||
| |
| 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). --> | |||
|successor = | |||
| office1 = President of the United States | |||
|birth_name = Donald John Trump | |||
| vicepresident1 = ] | |||
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1946|6|14}} | |||
| term_start1 = January 20, 2017 | |||
|birth_place = ], ] <!-- DO NOT CHANGE this location without prior consensus, do not add Jamaica, NY state or U.S. etc, please see ], item 2. --> | |||
| term_end1 = January 20, 2021 | |||
|party = ] (1987–1999, 2009–2011, 2012–present) | |||
| predecessor1 = ] | |||
|otherparty = {{plainlist| | |||
| successor1 = Joe Biden | |||
* ] (until 1987, 2001–2009) | |||
| birth_name = Donald John Trump | |||
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|6|14}} | |||
| birth_place = ], New York City, U.S.<!-- DO NOT CHANGE (or add to) this location without prior consensus; please see ], item 2. --> | |||
| party = ] (1987–1999; 2009–2011; 2012–present) | |||
| otherparty = {{plainlist| | |||
* ] (1999–2001) | * ] (1999–2001) | ||
* ] (2001–2009) | |||
* ] (2011–2012)}} | |||
* ] (2011–2012) | |||
|spouse = {{plainlist| | |||
}} | |||
* {{marriage|]|April 7, 1977|March 22, 1992|end=divorced}} | |||
| spouse = {{plainlist| | |||
* {{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|]|January 22, 2005}}}} | * {{marriage|]|January 22, 2005}} | ||
}} | |||
|children = {{flatlist| | | children = {{flatlist| | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
* ] <!-- DO NOT CHANGE this link without prior consensus, see ], item 10. -->}} | |||
|parents = {{Ublist|]|]}} | |||
|relatives = ] | |||
|awards = ] | |||
|residence = {{plainlist| | |||
* ] (official/primary) | |||
* ] (]) | |||
* ] (]) | |||
* ] (private/secondary) | |||
}} | }} | ||
| father = ] | |||
|alma_mater = ] (] in ]) <!-- DO NOT CHANGE this college or diploma without prior consensus, see ], item 18. --> | |||
| mother = ] | |||
|net_worth = ]3.1 billion (March 2018)<!-- DO NOT CHANGE this value without prior consensus, see ], item 5. -->{{efn|name=Wealth}} | |||
| relatives = ] | |||
|profession = {{hlist|Politician|businessman|]}} | |||
| |
| awards = ] | ||
| occupation = {{hlist|]|]|]}} | |||
|signature_alt = Donald J Trump stylized autograph, in ink | |||
| signature = Donald Trump (Presidential signature).svg | |||
|website = {{plainlist| | |||
| signature_alt = Donald J. Trump stylized autograph, in ink | |||
* {{URL|donaldjtrump.com|Official website}} | |||
| 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}}}} | |||
* {{URL|whitehouse.gov/administration/president-trump|White House website}} | |||
| 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}} | |||
* {{URL|twitter.com/POTUS|Presidential Twitter}} | |||
| 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 was a businessman and television personality.<!-- 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. --> | |||
Trump was born and raised in the New York City borough of ]. He received an economics degree from the ] and was appointed president of his family's real estate business in 1971, renamed it ], and expanded it from Queens and ] into ]. The company built or renovated skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump later started various side ventures, including licensing his name for real estate and consumer products. He managed the company until ]. He co-authored ], including '']''. He owned the ] and ] beauty pageants from 1996 to 2015, and he produced and hosted the ] show, '']'', from 2003 to 2015. '']'' estimates his net worth to be $3.1 billion.<!-- DO NOT CHANGE net worth without prior consensus, see ], item 5. --> | |||
'''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 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 '']''. | |||
Trump entered the ] as a ] and defeated sixteen opponents in the ]. Commentators described ] as ], ], and ]. His campaign received extensive ]; many of his public statements were controversial or false.<!-- DO NOT CHANGE this sentence without prior consensus, see ], item 7. --> Trump was elected president in a surprise victory over Democratic nominee ]. He became ] and ] person ever to assume the presidency, the first without ],<!-- DO NOT CHANGE "prior military or government service" without prior consensus, see ], item 8. --> and ] to have won the election while losing the popular vote.{{efn|Under the American system for presidential elections, it is possible for the winner to have received fewer votes over all (the popular vote). As of Trump's victory, this has occurred five times since 1824. For more, see ].}} His election and policies have sparked ].<!-- DO NOT CHANGE this sentence without prior consensus, see ], item 20. --> Many of his ] have been perceived as racially charged or racist.<!-- DO NOT CHANGE this sentence without prior consensus, see ], item 30. --> | |||
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. | |||
During ], 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 signed ] which cut tax rates for individuals and businesses and also rescinded the ] provision of the ] and ] for oil drilling. He enacted ] that had imposed stricter constraints on banks in the aftermath of the ]. He pursued his ] agenda in foreign policy, withdrawing the U.S. from the ] trade negotiations, the ] on climate change, and ]. He ], ] on various goods, triggering ], and ] with the aim of denuclearization. He nominated two justices to the ], ] and ]. | |||
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. | |||
After Trump ], the ] appointed ] as ] to investigate "any ] and/or coordination" between the Trump campaign and the Russian government in ]. Trump has repeatedly denied accusations of collusion and ], calling the investigation a politically motivated "]". | |||
== Early life and education == | |||
{{TOC limit|3}} | |||
], 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 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}}. | |||
== Family and personal life == | |||
=== Early life and education === | |||
]<!-- 18th birthday was in June 1964; graduation was in May 1964; yearbook photo was even earlier-->{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}}<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.classmates.com/yearbooks/New-York-Military-Academy/32008 |title=The 75th Anniversary Shrapnel |publisher=NYMA |date=Spring 1964 |accessdate=January 21, 2017 |page=107 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122215658/http://www.classmates.com/yearbooks/New-York-Military-Academy/32008 |archive-date=January 22, 2017 |dead-url=yes }}</ref>]] | |||
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}} | |||
Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946, at the Jamaica Hospital, Queens, New York City.<ref name="Birth Certificate">{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/page?id=13248168|title=Certificate of Birth |publisher=Department of Health – City of New York – Bureau of Records and Statistics |via=] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512232306/https://abcnews.go.com/US/page?id=13248168 |archivedate=May 12, 2016 |dead-url=yes |access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Birth Certificate 2">{{cite web |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 |dead-url=no |accessdate=October 23, 2018}}</ref> He is the son of ], a real estate developer, and ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/26/nyregion/fred-c-trump-postwar-master-builder-of-housing-for-middle-class-dies-at-93.html|title=Fred C. Trump, Postwar Master Builder of Housing for Middle Class, Dies at 93|last=Rozhon|first=Tracie|date=June 26, 1999|website=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107060621/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/26/nyregion/fred-c-trump-postwar-master-builder-of-housing-for-middle-class-dies-at-93.html |archive-date=January 7, 2018 |dead-url=no|accessdate=October 3, 2018}}</ref> | |||
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> | |||
Trump grew up in ], and attended the ] from kindergarten through seventh grade.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}}<ref>{{cite web|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=The New York Times|date=September 22, 2015|accessdate=November 7, 2018}}</ref> At age 13, he was enrolled in the ], a private boarding school, after his parents discovered that he had made frequent trips into Manhattan without their permission.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}}<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/young-donald-trump-military-school/2016/06/22/f0b3b164-317c-11e6-8758-d58e76e11b12_story.html |title=Confident. Incorrigible. Bully: Little Donny was a lot like candidate Donald Trump |first1=Paul |last1=Schwartzman |first2=Michael E. |last2=Miller |date=June 22, 2016 |newspaper=] |accessdate=April 2, 2017 |url-access=limited}}</ref> | |||
==Personal life== | |||
In 1964, Trump enrolled at ].{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}}<ref name=bostonglobe-20150828>{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Viser |title=Even in college, Donald Trump was brash |newspaper=] |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> After two years, he transferred to the ] of the ].<ref name=bostonglobe-20150828 />{{sfn|Blair|2005|p=}} While at Wharton, he worked at the family business, Elizabeth Trump & Son.<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 |newspaper=] |date=September 3, 2015|accessdate=January 17, 2016 |first=Max |last=Ehrenfreund|url-access=limited}}</ref> He graduated in May 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics.<ref name=bostonglobe-20150828 /><ref>{{cite web |title=The Best Known Brand Name in Real Estate |date=Spring 2007 |website=] |url=https://www.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/125anniversaryissue/trump.html|accessdate=April 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.archives.upenn.edu/primdocs/upg/upg7/upg7_1968.pdf |title=Two Hundred and Twelfth Commencement for the Conferring of Degrees |publisher=University of Pennsylvania |date=May 20, 1968}}</ref> | |||
=== Family === | |||
While in college from 1964 to 1968, Trump obtained four student deferments from serving in the military.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-donald-trump-military-20160803-snap-htmlstory.html |title=How deferments protected Donald Trump from serving in Vietnam |last=Lee |first=Kurtis |date=August 4, 2016 |newspaper=] |accessdate=August 4, 2016}}</ref><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 |publisher=] |first=Brian |last=Montopoli |accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref> In 1966, he was deemed fit for service based upon a medical examination and in July 1968, after graduating from college, was briefly classified as eligible to serve by a local draft board. In October 1968, he was given a medical deferment which he later attributed to ], and classified as 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 the December 1969 ], Trump's birthday, June 14, received a high number which would have given him a low probability to be called to military service even without the 1-Y.<ref name="Whitlock21July" /><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 |last=Eder |first=Steve |last2=Philipps |first2=Dave |author2link=David Philipps |date=August 1, 2016 |newspaper=] |accessdate=August 2, 2016 |url-access=limited}}</ref><ref name="RG">{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trumps-vietnam-draft-records-secret-documents-deferments/story?id=13492639 |title=Donald Trump's Own Secret: Vietnam Draft Records |last=Goldman |first=Russell |date=April 29, 2011 |publisher=] |accessdate=August 1, 2016}}</ref> In 1972, he was reclassified as {{nowrap|4-F}}, disqualifying him for service.<ref name="SE" /><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 |publisher=] |date=August 2, 2016 |accessdate=October 16, 2018}}</ref> | |||
{{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|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> | |||
Trump's ancestors originated from the German village of ] in the ] on his father's side, and from the ] in Scotland on his mother's side. All of his grandparents and his mother were born in ].{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} | |||
=== Views === | |||
Trump's paternal grandfather, ], first immigrated to the United States in 1885 at the age of 16 and became a citizen in 1892.<ref name="brothelgoldrush" /> He amassed a fortune operating boomtown restaurants and boarding houses in the Seattle area and the ] region of Canada during ].<ref name="brothelgoldrush">{{cite news |first=Alexander |last=Panetta |title=Donald Trump's grandfather ran Canadian brothel during gold rush |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/trump-canada-yukon-1.3235254 |publisher=] |accessdate=December 10, 2015 |date=September 19, 2015}}</ref> On a visit to Kallstadt, he met ] and married her in 1902. The couple permanently settled in New York in 1905.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} Frederick died from influenza during the ].{{sfn|Blair|2015a|p=}} | |||
Many of Trump's comments and actions have been ].<ref>Multiple sources: | |||
Trump's father ] was born in 1905 in ]. Fred started working with his mother in real estate when he was 15, shortly after his father's death. Their company, "E. Trump & Son",{{efn|Some modern sources, including Donald Trump's '']'', refer to the company as "Elizabeth Trump & Son."<ref>{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Ye6e_VxM00kC&pg=PA67 |page = 67|first1 = Donald|last1 = Trump|first2 = Tony|last2 = Schwartz|title = The Art of the Deal|year = 1987|publisher=Random House|isbn = 978-0-345-47917-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kheDBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA874|title=Pop Culture Places: An Encyclopedia of Places in American Popular Culture|page=874|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-39883-4|author1=Knight|first1=Gladys L.|date=August 11, 2014}}</ref> Contemporary sources, however, refer to it as "E. Trump & Son."<ref>{{cite news |title=Advertisement for E. Trump & Son |newspaper=] |date=November 6, 1927 |page=D3 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19995039/e_trump_son_advertisement/ |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Real estate news |newspaper=] |date=May 5, 1930 |page=8 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19995184/real_estate_news/|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>}} founded in 1923,<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 |date=December 4, 2001 |page=120}}</ref> was primarily active in the ] of ] and ]. Fred eventually built and sold thousands of houses, barracks, and apartments.{{sfn|Blair|2015a|p=}}<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 |newspaper=]|accessdate=July 24, 2016}}</ref> In 1971, Donald Trump was made president of the company, which was later renamed ].{{sfn|Blair|2005|p=}} | |||
*{{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=]}} | |||
In spite of his ], "Fred Trump sought to pass himself off as Swedish amid anti-German sentiment 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|publisher=] |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/28/politics/trump-family-heritage/index.html }}</ref> Donald Trump propagated this story in ''The Art of the Deal''.<ref name="CNN Swedish" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Donald Trump claimed he was of Swedish ancestry – but it's a lie|first=Vilhelm|last=Carlström|date=November 28, 2017|work=]|url=https://nordic.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-told-the-world-he-was-of-swedish-ancestry---but-its-a-lie-2016-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=For Donald Trump's Family, an Immigrant's Tale With 2 Beginnings |first=Jason|last=Horowitz|date=August 21, 2016|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/22/us/politics/for-donald-trumps-family-an-immigrants-tale-with-2-beginnings.html}}</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>] | |||
Trump's mother ] was born in ], Scotland. At age 18 in 1930, she immigrated to New York, where she worked as a maid.<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=Pilon /><ref>{{cite news |title=The Ancestral German Home of the Trumps |first=Sally |last=McGrane |date=April 29, 2016 |work=] |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-ancestral-german-home-of-the-trumps|accessdate=April 2, 2017}}</ref> | |||
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> | |||
=== Wives, siblings, and descendants === | |||
{{Main|Family of Donald Trump}} | |||
Trump grew up with three elder siblings—], Fred Jr., and Elizabeth—as well as a younger brother named Robert. Maryanne is an inactive ] judge on the ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.law360.com/articles/888127/3rd-circ-judge-trump-s-sister-stops-hearing-cases |title=3rd Circ. Judge, Trump's Sister, Stops Hearing Cases |first=Cara |last=Mannion |date=February 3, 2017 |newspaper=] |accessdate=April 2, 2017}}</ref> | |||
== Business career == | |||
Trump has five children by three marriages, as well as nine grandchildren.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Puente |first1=Maria |title=Eric and Lara Trump announce birth of son, POTUS' ninth grandchild |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2017/09/12/eric-and-lara-trump-announce-birth-son-potus-ninth-grandchild/658130001/ |accessdate=September 12, 2017 |newspaper=] |date=September 12, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/03/27/trumps-daughter-ivanka-gives-birth-to-third-child.html |title=Trump's daughter, Ivanka, gives birth to third child |publisher=] |agency=] |date=March 27, 2016 |accessdate=March 28, 2016}}</ref> His first two marriages ended in widely publicized divorces.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/01/fashion/melania-trump-the-silent-partner.html |title=Melania Trump, the Silent Partner |date=September 30, 2015 |work=] |first=Guy |last=Trebay}}</ref> | |||
{{Main|Business career of Donald Trump}} | |||
{{Further|Business projects of Donald Trump in Russia|Tax returns of Donald Trump}} | |||
In 1977, Trump married Czech model ] at the ] in Manhattan, in a ceremony performed by the Reverend ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/2015/07/donald-ivana-trump-divorce-prenup-marie-brenner |title=After The Gold Rush |work=] |first=Marie |last=Brenner |authorlink=Marie Brenner |date=September 1990 |accessdate=January 10, 2016}} "They were married in New York during Easter of 1977. Mayor Beame attended the wedding at Marble Collegiate Church. Donald had already made his alliance with Roy Cohn, who would become his lawyer and mentor.</ref><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 |quote=Mr. Trump married his first wife, Ivana, at Marble, in a ceremony performed by one of America's most famous ministers, the Rev. Norman Vincent Peale.}}</ref> They had three children: ] (born 1977), ] (born 1981), and ] (born 1984). Ivana became a naturalized United States citizen in 1988.<ref>{{cite news |agency=] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1899&dat=19880527&id=LiEgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YmYFAAAAIBAJ&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 |newspaper=] |agency=] |date=March 16, 2017 |accessdate=May 6, 2017}}</ref> | |||
===Real estate=== | |||
In October 1993, Maples gave birth to Trump's daughter, who was named ] in honor of high-end retailer ].<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 |newspaper=] |accessdate=July 24, 2016}}</ref> Maples and Trump were married two months later in December 1993.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://articles.philly.com/1993-12-21/news/25943197_1_trump-wedding-marla-maples-richest-man |title=The Donald Bids Hearts For Marla Trump Wedding Draws 1,100 Friends, But Not Many Stars |work=] |date=December 21, 1993 |accessdate=August 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222115146/http://articles.philly.com/1993-12-21/news/25943197_1_trump-wedding-marla-maples-richest-man |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |dead-url=yes}}</ref> They 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 ].<ref name=NYT-20161002>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/02/fashion/tiffany-the-other-trump.html |title=The Other Trump |newspaper=] |first=Alessandra |last=Stanley |authorlink=Alessandra Stanley |date=October 1, 2016 |accessdate=May 6, 2017}}</ref> | |||
]|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=}} | |||
] as president on January 20, 2017. From left to right: Trump, his wife ], and his children ], ], ], ], and ].]] | |||
In 2005, Trump married his third wife, Slovenian model ], at ] Episcopal Church in ].<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> In 2006, Melania became a United States citizen<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nypost.com/2015/08/16/melania-trump-would-be-a-first-lady-for-the-ages/ |title=Melania Trump would be a first lady for the ages |first=Marissa |last=Charles |work=] |date=August 16, 2015|accessdate=May 4, 2017}}</ref> and gave birth to a son, ].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Choron |first1=Harry |last2=Choron |first2=Sandy |title=Money |date=2011 |publisher=Chronicle Books |isbn=978-1-4521-0559-8 |page=251 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YEdwW78QWj0C&pg=PA251}}</ref><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 |publisher=] |date=March 7, 2014}}</ref> Melania became ] when Trump became president in January 2017.<ref name=NYT-Nov2016>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/09/us/politics/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-president.html |title=Donald Trump Is Elected President in Stunning Repudiation of the Establishment |work=] |last=Flegenheimer |first=Matt |last2=Barbaro |first2=Michael |date=November 9, 2016 |accessdate=September 1, 2017}}</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 million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|100|1973}} 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> | |||
Upon his inauguration as president, Trump delegated the management of his real estate business to his two adult sons, Eric and Don 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 |first=Eric |last=Lipton |authorlink=Eric Lipton |first2=Susanne |last2=Craig |author2link=Susanne Craig |date=February 12, 2017 |newspaper=] |accessdate=May 7, 2017}}</ref> His daughter Ivanka resigned from the Trump Organization and moved to Washington, D.C., with her husband ]. She serves as an assistant to the president,<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 |newspaper=]}}</ref> and he is a ] in the White House.<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael S. |last=Schmidt |authorlink=Michael S. Schmidt |first2=Eric |last2=Lipton |author2link=Eric Lipton |first3=Charlie |last3=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 |newspaper=] |date=January 21, 2017 |accessdate=May 7, 2017}}</ref> | |||
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> | |||
=== Religion === | |||
Trump is a Presbyterian.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite news |first=Katie |last=Glueck |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/trump-religious-dealmaking-dividends-232277 |title=Trump's religious dealmaking pays dividends |newspaper=] |date=December 7, 2016 |accessdate=April 3, 2017 |quote=Trump is a Presbyterian, and speculation is already underway over whether, and where, he might go to church regularly in Washington.}}</ref><ref name=unplugged>{{cite news |url=https://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=42268 |title=Trump Unplugged |last=Mattera |first=Jason |authorlink=Jason Mattera |date=March 14, 2011 |website=] |quote=I am a Protestant. I am a Presbyterian within the Protestant group and I go to Church as much as I can. |accessdate=March 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316171032/http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=42268 |archive-date=March 16, 2011 |dead-url=yes }}</ref> His ancestors were ] on his paternal grandfather's side in Germany{{sfn|Blair|2015b|p=}} and ] on his mother's side in Scotland.<ref>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Geoghegan |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/us/few-rooting-for-donald-trump-on-his-mother-s-scottish-island-1.2663636 |title=Few rooting for Donald Trump on his mother's Scottish island |newspaper=] |date=May 28, 2016|accessdate=April 3, 2017}}</ref> His parents married in a Manhattan Presbyterian church in 1936.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=29}} As a child, he attended the ] in Jamaica, Queens, where he had his ].<ref name="BarronNYT" /> In the 1970s, his parents joined the Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan,<ref name="WaPo.March.18.17">{{cite news |last1=Schwartzman |first1=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> part of the ].<ref name="Christian Post 20150828" /> The pastor at Marble, ], ministered to Trump's family and mentored him until Peale's death in 1993.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}}<ref name="WaPo.March.18.17" /> Trump has cited Peale and his works during interviews when asked about the role of religion in his personal life.<ref name="WaPo.March.18.17" /> In August 2015 Trump told reporters, "I am Presbyterian Protestant. I go to Marble Collegiate Church," adding that he attends many different churches because he travels a lot.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/08/28/politics/donald-trump-church-member/index.html |title=Church says Donald Trump is not an 'active member' |last=Scott |first=Eugene |date=August 28, 2018 |publisher=] |accessdate=October 10, 2018}}</ref> The Marble Collegiate Church then issued a statement noting that Trump and his family have a "longstanding history" with the church, but that he "is not an active member".<ref name="Christian Post 20150828">{{cite news |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/marble-collegiate-church-says-donald-trump-is-not-an-active-member-143991/ |title=Marble Collegiate Church Says Donald Trump Is Not an Active Member |work=] |first=Leonardo |last=Blair |date=August 28, 2015 |accessdate=October 10, 2018}}</ref> | |||
====Manhattan and Chicago developments==== | |||
Trump said he was "not sure" whether he ever asked God for forgiveness, stating "If I do something wrong, I just try and make it right. I don't bring God into that picture." He said he tries to take ] as often as possible because it makes him "feel cleansed".<ref name=":1">{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/07/18/politics/trump-has-never-sought-forgiveness/ |title=Trump believes in God, but hasn't sought forgiveness |first=Eugene |last=Scott |date=July 19, 2015 |publisher=] |accessdate=April 3, 2017}}</ref> While ], Trump referred to '']'' as his second favorite book after the Bible, saying, "Nothing beats the Bible."<ref name=Weigel11Aug>{{cite news |work=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/08/11/in-michigan-trump-attacks-china-critiques-auto-bailout-and-judges-bernie-sanders-weak/ |title=In Michigan, Trump attacks China, critiques auto bailout, and judges Bernie Sanders 'weak' |date=August 11, 2015 |accessdate=August 22, 2015 |first=David |last=Weigel |authorlink=David Weigel}}</ref> '']'' reported that ] nationwide thought "that his heart was in the right place, that his intentions for the country were pure."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nytimes.com/2016/01/19/us/politics/evangelicals-see-donald-trump-as-man-of-conviction-if-not-faith.html |title=Evangelicals See Donald Trump as Man of Conviction, if Not Faith |newspaper=] |first1=Maggie |last1=Haberman |author1link=Maggie Haberman |first2=Thomas |last2=Kaplan |date=January 18, 2016|accessdate=April 3, 2017}}</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 million city property tax abatement arranged for him by his father who also, jointly with ], guaranteed a $70 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 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" /> | |||
Trump has associations with a number of Christian spiritual leaders, including Florida pastor ], who has been called his "closest spiritual confidant."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/10/21/politics/trump-religion-gospel/ |title=The guilt-free gospel of Donald Trump |first=Daniel |last=Burke |publisher=] |date=October 24, 2016 |accessdate=January 17, 2017}}</ref> In 2015, he released a list of religious advisers, including ], ], ], ], ], and others.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/trump-campaign-announces-evangelical-executive-advisory-board |title=Trump campaign announces evangelical executive advisory board |date=June 21, 2016 |accessdate=January 17, 2017 |publisher=Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118140319/https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/trump-campaign-announces-evangelical-executive-advisory-board |archivedate=January 18, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2016/june-web-only/whos-who-of-trumps-tremendous-faith-advisors.html|title=Who's Who of Trump's 'Tremendous' Faith Advisers|work=] |accessdate=May 10, 2018}}</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> | |||
=== Health === | |||
{{Main|Health of Donald Trump}} | |||
Trump does not drink alcohol, a reaction to ]'s chronic alcoholism and early death.<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 |newspaper=] |last=Horowitz |first=Jason |date=January 2, 2016 |accessdate=July 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=McAfee |first=Tierney |url=https://www.people.com/article/donald-trump-brother-fred-death-alcoholism |title=Donald Trump Opens Up About His Brother's Death from Alcoholism: It Had a "Profound Impact on My Life" |magazine=] |date=October 8, 2015 |quote=here are a few hard and fast principles that he himself lives by: no drugs, no cigarettes and no alcohol. Trump's abstinence from alcohol was largely shaped by the death of his brother, Fred Jr., from alcoholism in 1981.}}</ref> He also said that he has never smoked cigarettes or consumed drugs, including marijuana.<ref>{{cite news |title=Part 2: Donald Trump on 'Watters' World' |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fN5OLqxNqc |accessdate=September 4, 2016 |work=Watters' World |publisher=] |date=February 6, 2016 |quote=WATTERS: "Have you ever smoked weed?" TRUMP: "No, I have not. I have not. I would tell you 100 percent because everyone else seems to admit it nowadays, so I would actually tell you. This is almost like, it's almost like 'Hey, it's a sign'. No, I have never. I have never smoked a cigarette, either."}}</ref> In December 2015, Trump's personal physician, ], released a superlative-laden<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/dr-harold-bornstein-trump-wrote-health-letter_us_5ae8f5f7e4b06748dc8d591f|title=Trump's Doctor Says Trump Basically Wrote That Glowing Health Letter: Report|last=Herreria|first=Carla|date=May 1, 2018|work=Huffington Post|accessdate=October 10, 2018}}</ref> letter of health praising Trump for "extraordinary physical strength and stamina".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.donaldjtrump.com/images/uploads/Health_Record.pdf |title=Statement on Donald J. Trump record of health |first=Harold |last=Bornstein |authorlink=Harold Bornstein |date=December 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204090045/https://www.donaldjtrump.com/images/uploads/Health_Record.pdf |archive-date=February 4, 2016 |accessdate=June 3, 2018}}</ref> Bornstein later said that Trump himself had dictated the contents.<ref>{{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 |publisher=] |date=May 1, 2018 |accessdate=May 20, 2018}}</ref> A followup medical report showed Trump's blood pressure, liver and thyroid functions to be in normal ranges, and that he takes a ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Sam |last=Frizell |url=https://time.com/4495117/donald-trump-doctors-letter/ |title=Donald Trump's Doctor's Letter Reveals He is Overweight, But 'In Excellent Health' |work=] |date=September 15, 2016 |accessdate=April 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/19/us/politics/donald-trump-health.html |title=A Doctor's Assessment of Whether Donald Trump's Health Is 'Excellent' |work=] |first=Lawrence K. |last=Altman |date=September 18, 2016 |accessdate=October 20, 2017}}</ref> In January 2018, Trump was examined by White House physician ], who stated that he was in excellent health and that his cardiac assessment revealed no medical issues,<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump's first full presidential physical exam, explained |url=https://www.vox.com/2018/1/11/16863254/trump-physical-exam-mental-health |work=] |first1=Eliza |last1=Barclay |first2=Julia |last2=Belluz |author2link=Julia Belluz |date=January 16, 2018 |accessdate=January 18, 2017}}</ref> although his weight and cholesterol level were higher than recommended.<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> Several outside cardiologists commented that Trump's weight, lifestyle, and ] level ought to have raised serious concerns about his cardiac health.<ref name=nyt-20180117>{{cite news |first1=Michael D. |last1=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 |newspaper=] |date=January 17, 2018 |accessdate=June 3, 2018}}</ref> | |||
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> | |||
=== Wealth === | |||
], with gold-infused glass<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael J. |last=Mishak |title=Trump's tower a sore spot on the Strip |date=April 30, 2011 |accessdate=November 11, 2016 |website=] |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2011/apr/30/nation/la-na-0430-trump-vegas-20110430 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018102438/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/apr/30/nation/la-na-0430-trump-vegas-20110430 |archive-date=October 18, 2016 |dead-url=yes }}</ref>]] | |||
==== Atlantic City casinos ==== | |||
Trump is the beneficiary of several trust funds set up by his father and paternal grandmother beginning in 1949.<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 |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> In 1976, ] set up trust funds of $1 million (${{Inflation|US|1|1976|r=1}} million in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars) for each of his five children and three grandchildren. Donald Trump received annual payments from his trust fund, for example, $90,000 in 1980 and $214,605 in 1981.<ref name="Kessler160303" /> By 1993, when Trump took two loans totaling $30 million from his siblings, their anticipated shares of Fred's estate amounted to $35 million each.<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><ref name="Kessler160303" /> Upon Fred Trump's death in 1999, his will divided $20 million after taxes among his surviving children.<ref name="Kessler160303" /><ref name=Rozhon26June>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/26/nyregion/fred-c-trump-postwar-master-builder-of-housing-for-middle-class-dies-at-93.html |title=Fred C. Trump, Postwar Master Builder of Housing for Middle Class, Dies at 93 |first=Tracy |last=Rozhon |date=June 26, 1999 |accessdate=August 19, 2015 |work=]}}</ref><ref name="For Donald Trump, Lessons From a Brother's Suffering">{{cite news |last=Horowitz |first=Jason |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=] |date=January 2, 2016 |quote=Then came the unveiling of Fred Sr.'s will, which Donald had helped draft. It divided the bulk of the inheritance, at least $20 million, among his children and their descendants, 'other than my son Fred C. Trump Jr.'}}</ref> | |||
] 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 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 million in ] and completed for $1.1 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 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> | |||
Trump has often said that 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 |publisher=] |first=Scott |last=Stump |date=October 26, 2015 |accessdate=November 13, 2016}}</ref> In October 2018, ''The New York Times'' published an ''exposé'' drawing on more than 100,000 pages of tax returns and financial records from Fred Trump's businesses, and interviews with former advisers and employees. The ''Times'' concluded that Donald Trump "was a millionaire by age 8",<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 |newspaper=] |date=October 2, 2018 |accessdate=October 3, 2018}}</ref> and that he had received at least $413 million (adjusted for inflation) from his father's business empire over his lifetime.<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 ''Times'', Trump borrowed at least $60 million from his father, and largely failed to reimburse him.<ref name="takeaways"/> The paper also described a number of purportedly fraudulent tax schemes, for example when Fred Trump sold shares in ''Trump Palace'' condos to his son well below their purchase price, thus masking what could be considered a hidden donation, and benefiting from a tax write-off.<ref name="Tax_Schemes"/> A lawyer for Trump said the "allegations of fraud and tax evasion are 100 percent false, and highly defamatory". A spokesman for the New York State tax department said the agency was "vigorously pursuing all appropriate areas of investigation".<ref>{{cite news |work=] |first=Jon |last=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> New York City officials also indicated they are examining the matter.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/04/us/politics/donald-trump-fred-trump-tax-schemes.html |title=New York Regulators Examine the Trump Family's Tax Schemes |work=] |accessdate=October 6, 2018}}</ref> | |||
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 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> | |||
Trump appeared on the initial '']'' list of richest Americans in 1982 with an estimated $200 million fortune shared with his father.<ref name=wang-20160324>{{cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Wang |title=The Ups And Downs Of Donald Trump: Three Decades On And Off The Forbes 400 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferwang/2016/03/24/the-ups-and-downs-of-donald-trump-three-decades-on-and-off-the-forbes-400/ |work=] |date=March 24, 2016 |accessdate=June 9, 2018}}</ref> Former '']'' reporter Jonathan Greenberg stated in 2018 that during the 1980s Trump had deceived him about his actual net worth and his share of the family assets in order to appear on the list.<ref name="WP-20180420">{{cite news |last=Greenberg |first=Jonathan |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 |work=] |date=April 20, 2018 |accessdate=April 20, 2018}}</ref><ref name="CNN-20180420">{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/20/politics/trump-john-barron-forbes-wealth/index.html |title=A new allegation says Trump lied about his wealth. Here's what we do know |publisher=] |first=Byron |last=Wolf |date=April 20, 2018 |accessdate=April 20, 2018}}</ref> Trump made the '']'' list for the first time in 1989,<ref name=atlantic-20110204>{{cite news |title=A History of Donald Trump's Net Worth Publicity (1988–2011) |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/04/weve-been-trying-figure-out-how-much-trump-worth-20-years/349875/ |first = Elspeth |last = Reeve |work=] |date = April 21, 2011 |accessdate=June 7, 2018}}</ref> but he was dropped from the ''Forbes 400'' from 1990 to 1995 following business losses.<ref name=wang-20160324 /> In 2005, Deutsche Bank loan documents pegged Trump's net worth at $788 million, while ''Forbes'' quoted $2.6 billion and journalist ] gave a range of $150 million to $250 million.<ref name=atlantic-20110204 /> In its 2018 billionaires ranking, ''Forbes'' estimated Trump's net worth at $3.1 billion<!-- DO NOT CHANGE without prior consensus, see ], item 5. -->{{efn|name=Wealth|This estimate is by ''Forbes'' in their annual ranking. ] listed Trump's net worth as $2.48 billion on May 31, 2018,<ref name="BBI">{{cite news |title=Bloomberg Billionaires Index – Donald Trump |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/donald-j-trump/ |publisher=] |accessdate=July 16, 2018 |date=May 31, 2018}}</ref> and ] listed it as at least $3.8 billion on July 16, 2018.<ref name="WX">{{cite web |title=Donald John Trump – Wealth-X Dossiersier |url=https://www.wealthx.com/dossier/donald-john-trump/ |website=] |accessdate=July 16, 2018}}</ref>}} (766th in the world, 248th in the U.S.)<ref name="forbes-2018-billionaires">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/donald-trump/?list=billionaires |title=The World's Billionaires – No. 766 Donald Trump |magazine=] |year=2018 |accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> making him one of the ]. 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=] |accessdate=October 3, 2018}}</ref> | |||
==== Clubs ==== | |||
When he filed mandatory financial disclosure forms with the ] (FEC) in July 2015, Trump claimed a net worth of about $10 billion;<ref name="financial-pr" /> however FEC figures cannot corroborate this estimate because they only show each of his largest buildings as being worth "over $50 million", yielding total assets worth more than $1.4 billion and debt over $265 million.<ref name="Yahoo News FEC" /> Trump reported a yearly income of $362 million for 2014<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 |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 |dead-url=yes}}</ref> and $611 million from January 2015 to May 2016.<ref name="cnn-20160519" /> | |||
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> | |||
=== Side ventures === | |||
A 2016 analysis of Trump's business career in '']'' concluded that his performance since 1985 had been "mediocre compared with the stock market and property in New York."<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> A subsequent analysis in '']'' similarly noted that Trump's estimated net worth of $100 million in 1978 would have increased to $6 billion by 2016 if he had invested it in a typical retirement fund, and concluded that "Trump is a mix of braggadocio, business failures, and real success."<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> | |||
{{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]] | |||
] 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 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> | |||
Trump stated in a 2007 deposition, "My net worth fluctuates, and it goes up and down with markets and with attitudes and with feelings, even my own feelings."<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=August 10, 2016 |first=David A. |last=Fahrenthold |authorlink=David Fahrenthold |first2=Robert Jr. |last2=O'Harrow |title=Trump: A True Story |accessdate=October 14, 2018 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/2016-election/trump-lies/}}</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> | |||
== Business career == | |||
{{Main|Business career of Donald Trump}} | |||
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" /> | |||
=== Real estate === | |||
], the headquarters of The Trump Organization, in ]]] | |||
In 1968, Trump began his career at his father Fred's real estate development company, E. Trump & Son, which, among other interests, owned middle-class rental housing in New York City's outer boroughs.{{sfn|Trump|Schwartz|2009|p=46}}<ref name=Mahler /> Trump worked for his father to revitalize the Swifton Village apartment complex in Cincinnati, Ohio, which the elder Trump had bought in 1964.<ref>{{cite news |last=Korte |first=Gregory |url=https://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/09/01/loc_complex_was_troubled.html |title=Complex was troubled from beginning |newspaper=] |date=September 1, 2002 |accessdate=May 20, 2018}}</ref><ref name="mk">{{cite news |last=Kelly |first=Meg |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2018/02/28/the-tall-tale-of-president-trumps-cincinnati-success/ |title=The tall tale of President Trump's Cincinnati 'success'|newspaper=] |date=February 28, 2018 |accessdate=May 19, 2018}}</ref> The management of the property was sued for racial discrimination in 1969; the suit "was quietly settled at Fred Trump's direction."<ref name="mk" /> The Trumps sold the property in 1972, with vacancy on the rise.<ref name="mk" /> | |||
In 1988, Trump purchased the ], financing the purchase with $380 million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|380|1988}} 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> | |||
When his father became chairman of the board in 1971, Trump was promoted to president of the company and renamed it The Trump Organization.{{sfn|Blair|2005|p=}}<ref>{{cite news |first=Conor |last=Kelly |title=Meet Donald Trump: Everything You Need To Know (And Probably Didn't Know) About The 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate |date=July 27, 2015 |publisher=] |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/meet-donald-trump-2016-republican-presidential-candidate/story?id=32108595}}</ref> In 1973, he and his father ] when the ] contended in a lawsuit that their company systematically discriminated against African Americans who wished to rent apartments. The Department alleged that the Trump Organization had screened out people based on race and not low income as the Trumps had stated. Under an agreement reached in 1975, the Trumps made no admission of wrongdoing and made the ] an intermediary for qualified minority applicants.<ref name="LookingBack">{{cite news |last=Dunlap |first=David W. |authorlink=David W. Dunlap |date=July 30, 2015 |title=1973: Meet Donald Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/times-insider/2015/07/30/1973-meet-donald-trump |newspaper=] |quote=Trump Management ... was also to allow the league to present qualified applicants for every fifth vacancy ... Trump himself said he was satisfied that the agreement did not 'compel the Trump Organization to accept persons on welfare as tenants unless as qualified as any other tenant.'}}</ref><ref name="kranish">{{cite news |last1=Kranish |first1=Michael |author1link=Michael Kranish |last2=O'Harrow |first2=Robert Jr. |date=January 23, 2016 |title=Inside the government's racial bias case against Donald Trump's company, and how he fought it |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 |newspaper=] |quote=Civil rights groups in the city viewed the Trump company as just one example of a nationwide problem of housing discrimination. But targeting the Trumps provided a chance to have an impact, said ], who was then chairwoman of the city's human rights commission. 'They were big names.'}}</ref> Trump's attorney at the time was ], who valued both positive and negative publicity, and responded to attacks with forceful counterattacks; Trump later emulated Cohn's style.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} | |||
] | |||
==== Manhattan developments ==== | |||
In 1992, Trump, his siblings ], Elizabeth, and ], 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.<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 1978, Trump launched his Manhattan real estate business by purchasing a 50 percent stake in the derelict Commodore Hotel, located next to ]. The purchase was funded largely by a $70 million construction loan that was guaranteed jointly by Fred Trump and the Hyatt hotel chain.<ref name="Kessler160303" />{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} When the remodeling was finished, the hotel reopened in 1980 as the ].{{sfn|Wooten|2009|p=32–35}} | |||
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> | |||
The same year, Trump obtained the rights to develop ], a 58-story, {{convert|664|ft|m|-high|adj=mid}} 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 |newspaper=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/08/magazine/the-expanding-empire-of-donald-trump.html}}</ref><ref name="wdc150915">{{cite news |last=Dohan|first=William C. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/29/business/dealbook/decades-old-questions-over-trumps-wealth-and-education.html |title=Decades-Old Questions Over Trump's Wealth and Education |work=] |date=September 28, 2015 |accessdate=June 9, 2018}}</ref> To make way for the new building, a crew of undocumented Polish workers demolished the historic ] store, including ] features that had initially been marked for preservation.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} The building was completed in 1983 and houses both the primary penthouse condominium residence of Trump and the headquarters of The Trump Organization.<ref name=TrumpTowerResidence>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/30/us/politics/new-york-primary.html |title=With the New York Presidential Primary, the Circus Is Coming Home |first1=Matt |last1=Flegenheimer |first2=Maggie |last2=Haberman |author2link=Maggie Haberman |newspaper=] |date=March 29, 2016 |accessdate=March 29, 2016}}</ref><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 |newspaper=] |date=December 9, 2016 |accessdate=December 9, 2016}}</ref> Architectural critic ] said in 1983 that he was surprised to find the tower's atrium was "the most pleasant interior public space to be completed in New York in some years".{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}}<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=April 4, 1983 |first=Paul |last=Goldberger |authorlink=Paul Goldberger |title=Architecture: Atrium of Trump Tower is a Pleasant Surprise |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/04/arts/architecture-atrium-of-trump-tower-is-a-pleasant-surprise.html}}</ref> | |||
==== Trump University ==== | |||
]'s ] after the Trump renovation]] | |||
{{Main|Trump University}} | |||
In 1980, repairs began on ]'s ], with an anticipated two-and-a-half year construction time frame. Because of flaws in the design and numerous problems during construction, the project remained unfinished by May 1986 and was estimated to require another 18 months and $2 million to $3 million to complete.<ref name="scorecard">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/21/nyregion/new-york-hopes-to-learn-from-rink-trump-fixed-wollman-rink-scorecard.html |title=New York Hopes to Learn From Rink Trump Fixed; Wollman Rink Scorecard |newspaper=] |date=November 21, 1986 |accessdate=May 9, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Bloomberg L.P">{{cite news |last1=Freedlander |first1=David |title=A 1980s New York City Battle Explains Donald Trump's Candidacy |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/features/2015-09-29/a-1980s-new-york-city-battle-explains-donald-trump-s-candidacy |accessdate=October 23, 2016 |publisher=] |date=September 29, 2015}}</ref> Trump was awarded a contract as the general contractor in June 1986 to finish the repairs by December 15 with a cost ceiling of $3 million, with the actual costs to be reimbursed by the city.<ref name="Bloomberg L.P" /> Trump hired an architect, a construction company, and a Canadian ice-rink manufacturer and completed the work in four months, $775,000 under budget.<ref name="Bloomberg L.P" /> He operated the rink for a year and gave some of the profits to charity and public works projects<ref name="Trump reports large profit from Wollman Rink">{{cite news |last1=Rosenthal |first1=Andrew |author1link=Andrew Rosenthal |title=Trump reports large profit from Wollman Rink |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/01/nyregion/trump-reports-large-profit-from-wollman-rink.html |newspaper=] |date=April 1, 1987 |accessdate=November 27, 2017}}</ref> in exchange for the rink's ] rights.<ref name=Fahrenthold-161029>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-boasts-of-his-philanthropy-but-his-giving-falls-short-of-his-words/2016/10/29/b3c03106-9ac7-11e6-a0ed-ab0774c1eaa5_story.html |title=Trump boasts about his philanthropy. But his giving falls short of his words. |work=] |date=October 29, 2016 |accessdate=July 3, 2018 |last=Fahrenthold |first=David A. |authorlink=David Fahrenthold}}</ref><ref name="Bloomberg L.P" /> Trump managed the rink from 1987 to 1995. He received another contract in 2001 which was extended until 2021.<ref name="purnick">{{cite news |last=Purnick |first=Joyce |authorlink=Joyce Purnick |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/donald-trump-don-love-riding-high-polls-nyc-bad-side-article-1.145485 |title=The Donald Trump we know (and don't love): He's riding high in polls, but NYC's seen his bad side |newspaper=] |date=May 1, 2011 |accessdate=May 10, 2018}}</ref><ref name="kravitz">{{cite news |last1=Kravitz |first1=Derek |last2=Podkul |first2=Cezary |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-said-he-made-21-million-in-income-from-his-new-york-city-contracts |title=Trump Said He Made $21 Million in Income From His New York Contracts. He Actually Made a Lot Less. |publisher=] |date=February 28, 2017 |accessdate=May 10, 2018}}</ref> According to journalist ], Trump's "Wollman success was also the stuff of a carefully crafted, self-promotional legend."<ref name="purnick" /> While the work was in progress, Trump called numerous press conferences, for example for the completion of the laying of the pipes and the pouring of the cement.<ref name="geist">{{cite news |last=Geist |first=William E. |authorlink=Bill Geist |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/15/nyregion/about-new-york-pssst-here-s-a-secret-trump-rebuilds-ice-rink.html |title=Trump reports large profit from Wollman Rink |newspaper=] |date=November 15, 1986 |accessdate=May 10, 2018}}</ref> In 1987, he also unsuccessfully tried to get the city to rename the landmark after him; the Trump logo is prominently displayed on the railing encircling the rink, on the ],<ref name="purnick" /> on the rental skates,<ref name="kravitz" /> and on the rink's website.<ref name="kravitz" /><ref name="kula">{{cite news |last1=Kula |first1=Irwin |author1link=Irwin Kula |last2=Hatkoff |first2=Craig |author2link=Craig Hatkoff |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/offwhitepapers/2015/08/24/donald-trump-and-the-wollman-rinking-of-american-politics/ |title=Donald Trump And The Wollman Rinking of American Politics |work=] |date=August 24, 2015 |accessdate=May 10, 2018}}</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 1988 Trump acquired the ] in Manhattan for $407 million and appointed his wife Ivana to manage its operation.{{sfn|Wooten|2009|p=65–66}} Trump invested $50 million to restore the building, which he called "the Mona Lisa".{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} According to hotel expert Thomas McConnell, the Trumps boosted it from a three-star to a four-star ranking. They sold it in 1995, by which time Ivana was no longer involved in the hotel's day-to-day operations.<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 |newspaper=] |first1=David |last1=Stout |author1link=David Stout |first2=Kenneth |last2=Gilpin |date=April 12, 1995 |accessdate=May 6, 2017}}</ref> | |||
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.{{sfn|D'Antonio|2015|pp=282–283}} Shortly after he won the 2016 presidential election, he agreed to pay a total of $25 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> | |||
In 1994, Trump's company refurbished the Gulf and Western Building on ] with design and structural enhancements turning it into a 44-story luxury residential and hotel property<ref name=NYT>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/17/realestate/for-a-troubled-building-a-new-twist.html |title=For a Troubled Building, a New Twist |last=Dunlap |first=David W. |authorlink=David W. Dunlap |work=] |date=July 17, 1994 |accessdate=November 18, 2016}}</ref><ref name=Trump-tries>{{cite news |last=Muschamp |first=Herbert |authorlink=Herbert Muschamp |title=Trump Tries to Convert 50's Style into 90's Gold; Makeover Starts on Columbus Circle Hotel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/21/nyregion/trump-tries-convert-50-s-style-into-90-s-gold-makeover-starts-columbus-circle.html |newspaper=] |date=June 21, 1995 |accessdate=January 18, 2017}}</ref> known as ].{{sfn|Wooten|2009|p=108}} | |||
=== Foundation === | |||
In 1996, Trump acquired the Bank of Manhattan Trust Building, which was a vacant seventy-one story skyscraper on Wall Street. After an extensive renovation, the high-rise was renamed the Trump Building at ].{{sfn|Wooten|2009|p=81–82}} In 1997, he began construction on ], which he dubbed ], a multi-building development along the ]. He and the other investors in the project ultimately sold their interest for $1.8 billion in 2005 in what was then the biggest residential sale in the history of New York City.<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. |newspaper=] |date=June 1, 2005 |accessdate=May 17, 2016}}</ref> From 1994 to 2002, Trump owned a 50 percent share of the ]. He intended to rename it "Trump Empire State Building Tower Apartments" if he had been able to boost his share.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=April 17, 2016 |first=Aaron |last=Elstein |title=Trump's lost Empire: The deal that marked the Donald's turn from New York real estate |url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20160417/REAL_ESTATE/160419898/the-deal-that-marked-donald-trump-s-turn-from-new-york-real-estate-and-led-him-to-find-other-ways-to-remain-in}}</ref>{{sfn|Pacelle|2001|p=18}} In 2001, Trump completed ].<ref name="Emporis">{{cite web |publisher=] |url=https://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=100377 |title=Trump World Tower |accessdate=May 22, 2008}}</ref> In 2002, Trump acquired the former Hotel Delmonico, which was renovated and reopened in 2004 as the ]; the building consisted of 35 stories of luxury condominiums.{{sfn|Wooten|2009|p=86–87}} | |||
{{Main|Donald J. Trump Foundation}} | |||
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 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 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" /> | |||
==== Palm Beach estate ==== | |||
{{Main|Mar-a-Lago}} | |||
] | |||
In 1985, Trump acquired the ] estate in ], for $10 million, $7 million for the real estate and $3 million for the furnishings.<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 =Forbes| date =April 23, 2018|accessdate=July 4, 2018}}</ref><ref name="APNews_3-29-1988">{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/7e30551e15715cb19a0a0906f407a91d |title=Trump Fights Property Taxes |website=AP News |date=March 29, 1988 |accessdate=July 4, 2018}}</ref> His initial offer of $28 million had been rejected, and he was able to obtain the property for the lower price after a real-estate market "slump".<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=townandcountrymag.com |accessdate=July 3, 2018}}</ref> The home was built in the 1920s by heiress and socialite ].<ref name="Luongo">{{Cite news |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/history-mar-a-lago-180965214/ |title=The Ironic History of Mar-a-Lago |last=Luongo |first=Michael |date=November 2017 |work=] |accessdate=December 9, 2017}}</ref> After her death, her heirs unsuccessfully tried to donate the property to the government before putting it up for sale.<ref name="Luongo" /><ref name="jm_rsh">{{cite news |last1=Jordan |first1=Mary |author1link=Mary Jordan (journalist) |last2=Helderman |first2=Rosalind S. |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/inside-trumps-palm-beach-castle-and-his-30-year-fight-to-win-over-the-locals/2015/11/14/26c49a58-88b7-11e5-be8b-1ae2e4f50f76_story.html |title=Inside Trump's Palm Beach castle and his 30-year fight to win over the locals |website=] |date=October 14, 2015 |accessdate=July 4, 2018}}</ref> In addition to using a wing of the estate as a home, Trump turned Mar-a-Lago into a private club. In order to join, prospective members had to pay an initiation fee<ref name="RLee">{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Robert |url=https://golftips.golfweek.com/golf-initiation-fees-work-20725.html |title=How Do Golf Initiation Fees Work? |website=] |accessdate=July 4, 2018}}</ref> and annual dues.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} The initiation fee was $100,000 until 2016; it was doubled to $200,000 in January 2017.<ref name="samD10-9-17">{{cite web |last=Dangremond |first=Sam|url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/a9606/mar-a-lago-facts/ |title=Here's What We Know About the Membership of Mar-a-Lago |website=Town&Country|date=October 9, 2017|accessdate=July 4, 2018}}</ref><ref name="rf_1-25-2017">{{cite news |last=Frank |first=Robert |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/25/mar-a-lago-membership-fee-doubles-to-200000.html |title=Mar-a-Lago membership fee doubles to $200,000 |publisher=] |date=January 25, 2017 |accessdate=July 4, 2018}}</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> | |||
==== Atlantic City casinos ==== | |||
After New Jersey legalized casino gambling in 1977, Trump traveled to ] to explore new business opportunities. Seven years later, he opened ] hotel and casino; the project was built by Trump with financing from the ], who also managed its operation.{{sfn|Wooten|2009|p=57–58}} It was renamed "Trump Plaza" soon after it opened.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} The casino's poor financial results exacerbated disagreements between Trump and Holiday Corp., which led to Trump's paying $70 million in May 1986 to buy out their interest in the property.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump Stake in Holiday |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/05/business/company-news-trump-stake-in-holiday.html|accessdate=May 31, 2017 |work=] |date=September 5, 1986}}</ref><ref name="crudele">{{cite news |last1=Crudele |first1=John |author1link=John Crudele |title=Holiday Corp. Plans Restructuring |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/13/business/holiday-corp-plans-restructuring.html|accessdate=May 31, 2017 |work=] |date=November 13, 1986}}</ref> Trump also acquired a partially completed building in Atlantic City from the ] for $320 million; when completed in 1985, that hotel and casino became ], and Trump's wife ] managed that property until 1988.{{sfn|Wooten|2009|p=59–60}}{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} | |||
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.<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 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> | |||
] in ]]] | |||
Trump acquired his third casino in Atlantic City, the ], in 1988 while it was under construction, through a complex transaction with ] and ].<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 completed at a cost of $1.1 billion and opened 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>{{cite news |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/new-owner-of-trumps-taj-mahal-wants-to-make-casino-great-again/ |title=New owner wants to make Trump's Taj Mahal casino great again |date=May 20, 2016 |first=Wayne |last=Parry |agency=] |work=] |accessdate=August 14, 2016}}</ref> The project was financed with $675 million in ]<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 |agency=United Press International |date=April 9, 1991 |accessdate=March 21, 2016}}</ref> and was a major gamble by Trump.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} The project underwent debt restructuring the following year,<ref name=abc>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-filed-bankruptcy-times/story?id=13419250 |first=Amy |last=Bingham |title=Donald Trump's Companies Filed for Bankruptcy 4 Times |publisher=] |date=April 21, 2011 |accessdate=February 20, 2015}}</ref> leaving Trump with 50 percent ownership.<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 sold his airline, ], and his 282-foot (86 m) megayacht, 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><ref name=Schneider19May>{{cite news |url=https://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20122177,00.html |title=The Donald Ducks Out |date=May 19, 1997 |accessdate=September 10, 2015 |work=] |first=Karen S. |last=Schneider}}</ref>{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} | |||
=== Legal affairs and bankruptcies === | |||
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 |newspaper=] |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 Taj Mahal in 1996 and underwent bankruptcy restructuring in 2004 and 2009, leaving Trump with 10 percent ownership in the Trump Taj Mahal and other Trump casino properties.<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> Trump 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|work=]|accessdate=May 6, 2018}}</ref> | |||
{{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" /> | |||
==== Golf courses ==== | |||
{{Main|Donald Trump and golf}} | |||
] and golf course in ], Scotland]] | |||
{{As of|December 2016}}, the Trump Organization owns or operates 18 golf course and golf resorts in the United States and abroad.<ref name=CNNMoney>{{cite news |last1=Garcia |first1=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 |publisher=] |date=December 29, 2016}}</ref> According to Trump's FEC personal financial disclosure, his 2015 golf and resort revenue amounted to $382 million,<ref name="Financial 2015">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-stat/graphics/politics/trump-archive/docs/trump-fec-financial-disclosure-2015.pdf |title=Donald Trump Personal Financial Disclosure Form 2015 |work=] |date=July 15, 2015}}</ref><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 |publisher=] |date=May 19, 2016 |accessdate=May 20, 2016}}</ref> while his three European golf courses did not show a profit.<ref name=Melby19July>{{cite news |publisher=] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-07-19/trump-is-richer-in-property-and-deeper-in-debt-in-new-valuation |title=Trump Is Richer in Property and Deeper in Debt in New Valuation |date=July 19, 2016 |first=Caleb |last=Melby |quote=In the year that Donald Trump was transformed ... into the presumptive Republican nominee, the value of his golf courses and his namesake Manhattan tower soared ... His net worth rose to $3 billion on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index ...}}</ref> | |||
During the 1980s, more than 70 banks had lent Trump $4 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> | |||
Trump began acquiring and constructing golf courses in 1999; his first property was the ] in ].<ref name=Golf2007>{{cite web|title=Donald Trump: King of Clubs |url=http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/donald-trump-king-clubs|website=]|date=February 21, 2007|accessdate=August 5, 2018}}</ref> By 2007, he owned four courses around the U.S.<ref name=Golf2007 /> Following the ], he began purchasing existing golf courses and re-designing them.<ref name=USAToday>{{cite news|last=DiMeglio|first=Steve|title=Donald Trump brings new life to world of golf |work=]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2015/03/03/donald-trump-national-doral-miami-wgc/24322605/|date=March 3, 2015|accessdate=July 21, 2018}}</ref> His use of these courses during his presidency was controversial. Despite frequently criticizing his predecessor ] for his numerous golf outings, Trump golfed 11 times during his first eight weeks in office.<ref name=GolfDigest2017>{{cite web|last=Beall |first=Joel|title=President Trump appears to still really like golf, makes 11th trip to course in eight weeks in office|url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/president-trump-appears-to-still-really-like-golf-makes-11th-trip-to-course-in-eight-weeks-as-president |accessdate=July 21, 2018|date=March 20, 2017}}</ref> According to ], Trump visited Trump-owned golf courses 91 times in 2017, although the White House does not disclose whether or not the president actually played on each of those visits.<ref name=CNN>{{cite news |last=Cillizza |first=Chris |authorlink=Chris Cillizza |publisher=] |title=Donald Trump's huge golf hypocrisy |url=http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/03/politics/donald-trump-golf-analysis/index.html |accessdate=July 21, 2018 |date=January 3, 2018}}</ref> | |||
=== |
=== Wealth === | ||
{{Main| |
{{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]] | |||
] in Chicago]] | |||
The Trump Organization expanded its business into branding and management by licensing the Trump name for a large number of building projects that are owned and operated by other people and companies. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, The Trump Organization expanded its footprint beyond New York with the branding and management of various developers' ] around the world. These included projects in ], ], ], ], ], and ]. There are also Trump-branded buildings in Dubai, ], Istanbul, 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 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 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}} | |||
The Trump name has also been licensed for various consumer products and services, including foodstuffs, apparel, adult learning courses, and home furnishings. In 2011, ''Forbes''{{'}} financial experts estimated the value of the Trump ] at $200 million. Trump disputed this valuation, saying his brand was worth about $3 billion.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://blogs.forbes.com/kerenblankfeld/2011/04/28/donald-trump-on-his-brand-value-forbes-numbers-are-ridiculous/ |title=Donald Trump on His Brand Value: Forbes' Numbers Are Ridiculous |work=] |first=Keren |last=Blankfeld}}</ref> According to an analysis by ''The Washington Post'', there are more than 50 licensing or management deals involving Trump's name, which have generated at least $59 million in yearly revenue for his companies.<ref>{{cite news |first=Aaron |last=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 |date=January 25, 2017 |accessdate=December 12, 2017}}</ref> | |||
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> | |||
=== Lawsuits and bankruptcies === | |||
{{Main|Legal affairs of Donald Trump}} | |||
{{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=Dive into Donald Trump's thousands of lawsuits |url=https://www.usatoday.com/pages/interactives/trump-lawsuits/ |accessdate=April 17, 2018 |work=]}}</ref> {{as of|2016}}, he or one of his companies had been the plaintiff in 1,900 cases and the defendant in 1,450. With Trump or his company as plaintiff, more than half the cases have been against gamblers at his ]s who had failed to pay off their debts. With Trump or his company as a defendant, the most common type of case involved personal injury cases at his hotels. In cases where there was a clear resolution, Trump's side won 451 times and lost 38.<ref name="USATodayAnalysis">{{cite news |title=Exclusive: Trump's 3,500 lawsuits unprecedented for a presidential nominee |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/06/01/donald-trump-lawsuits-legal-battles/84995854/ |accessdate=June 2, 2016 |newspaper=] |date=June 2, 2016 |first1=Nick |last1=Penzenstadler |first2=Susan |last2=Page |author2link=Susan Page |quotation=About 100 additional disputes centered on other issues at the casinos. Trump and his enterprises have been named in almost 700 personal-injury claims and about 165 court disputes with government agencies ... Due to his branding value, Trump is determined to defend his name and reputation.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/282008-trump-brags-about-winning-record-in-lawsuits |title=Trump brags about winning record in lawsuits |work=] |date=June 2, 2016 |last=Savransky |first=Rebecca}}</ref> | |||
Trump self-reported his net worth over a wide range: from a low of minus $900 million in 1990,{{efn|Trump acknowledged a negative net worth in 1990 of minus $900 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 million.{{sfn|O'Brien|2005|p=150–151}}}} to a high of $10 billion in 2015.{{sfn|Johnston|2021|p=20}} 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 ]—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 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> | |||
Trump has never filed for ], although in 1990 he came within one missed bank loan payment of doing so, agreeing to a deal that temporarily ceded management control of his company to his banks and put him on a spending allowance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/27/business/banks-approve-loans-for-trump-but-take-control-of-his-finances.html|title=Banks Approve Loans for Trump, But Take Control of His Finances|first=Richard D.|last=Hylton|publisher=|accessdate=October 13, 2018}}</ref> Trump claimed to have initiated this deal with his banks as he saw the downturn in the real estate market, but bankers involved in the matter stated they initiated the negotiations before Trump had realized there was a problem.<ref name="auto">{{cite news |publisher=] |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> His hotel and casino businesses have been declared bankrupt six times between 1991 and 2009 in order to re-negotiate debt with banks and owners of stock and bonds.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/06/donald-trump-companies-bankruptcy-atlantic-city |title=4 Times Donald Trump's Companies Declared Bankruptcy |work=] |date=June 29, 2015 |accessdate=January 17, 2016 |first=Bryan |last=Hood}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/donald-trump-questioned-his-bankruptcies-279717 |first=Hao |last=Li |title=Donald Trump Questioned on His Bankruptcies |work=] |date=April 12, 2011 |accessdate=February 19, 2015}}</ref> Because the businesses used ], they were allowed to operate while negotiations proceeded. Trump was quoted by ''Newsweek'' in 2011 saying, "I do play with the bankruptcy laws – they're very good for me" as a tool for trimming debt.<ref name=publicintegrity1>{{cite news |last1=Stone |first1=Peter |title=Donald Trump's lawsuits could turn off conservatives who embrace tort reform |url=https://www.publicintegrity.org/2011/05/05/4478/donald-trumps-lawsuits-could-turn-conservatives-who-embrace-tort-reform |accessdate=March 14, 2016 |work=The Center for Public Integrity |date=May 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Howard |author1link=Howard Kurtz |title=Kurtz: The Trump Backlash |url=https://www.newsweek.com/kurtz-trump-backlash-66503|accessdate=March 14, 2016 |work=] |date=April 24, 2011}}</ref> The six bankruptcies were the result of over-leveraged hotel and casino businesses in Atlantic City and New York: ] (1991), ] (1992), ] (1992), ] (1992), Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts (2004), and ] (2009).<ref name=six>{{cite news |last1=Winter |first1=Tom |title=Trump Bankruptcy Math Doesn't Add Up |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-bankruptcy-math-doesn-t-add-n598376 |publisher=] |accessdate=October 8, 2016}}</ref><ref name="forbes-bankruptcy">{{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> | |||
== Media career == | |||
During the 1980s, more than 70 banks had lent Trump $4 billion,<ref name="auto"/> but in the aftermath of his corporate bankruptcies of the early 1990s, most major banks declined to lend to him, with a notable exception of ].<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> | |||
{{Main|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 ].<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> | |||
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> | |||
=== Side ventures === | |||
After Trump took over the family real estate firm in 1971 and renamed it The Trump Organization, he expanded its real estate operations and ventured into other business activities. The company eventually became the umbrella organization for several hundred individual business ventures and partnerships.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33644498 |title=Five take-aways from Donald Trump's financial disclosure |publisher=] |date=July 23, 2015 |accessdate=January 17, 2016 |first=Anthony |last=Zurcher}}</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> | |||
==== Sports ==== | |||
In September 1983, Trump purchased the ]—an American football team that played in the ] (USFL). 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 antitrust lawsuit 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 |publisher=] |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/13255737/five-things-know-donald-trump-usfl-experience}}</ref><ref name=Morris>{{cite web | 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> | |||
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 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> | |||
Trump operated golf courses in several countries.<ref name=Markazi /> He hosted several boxing matches at the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, including ] against ].<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> He also acted as a financial advisor to ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/12/sports/sports-of-the-times-trump-promoter-or-adviser.html |title=Sports of The Times; Trump: Promoter Or Adviser? |accessdate=February 11, 2011 |date=July 12, 1988 |work=] |first=Dave |last=Anderson |authorlink=Dave Anderson (sportswriter)}}</ref> 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 2021, Trump, who had been a member of ] since 1989, resigned to avoid a disciplinary hearing regarding the January 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> | |||
==== Miss Universe ==== | |||
], awarded in 2007]] | |||
{{Main|Miss Universe|Miss USA|Miss Teen USA}} | |||
From 1996 to 2015, Trump owned part or all of the ] pageants.<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 15, 2015 |work=] |accessdate=January 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Donald Trump just sold off the entire Miss Universe Organization |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-sells-miss-universe-img-2015-9 |accessdate=May 6, 2016 |work=] |date=September 14, 2015}}</ref> The pageants include ] and ]. His management of this business involved his family members—daughter Ivanka once hosted Miss Teen USA.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} He became dissatisfied with how CBS scheduled the pageants, and took both Miss Universe and Miss USA 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 |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> | |||
== Early political aspirations (1987–2014)== | |||
Following Trump's controversial statements about illegal Mexican immigrants during his 2015 presidential campaign kickoff speech, NBC ended its business relationship with him, stating that it would no longer air the Miss Universe or Miss USA pageants on its networks.<ref name="hollywoodreporter">{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/nbc-cuts-ties-donald-trump-805706?facebook_20150629 |title=NBC Cuts Ties With Donald Trump Over "Derogatory Statements," Pulls Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants |first=Kate |last=Stanhope |date=June 29, 2015 |work=] |accessdate=June 30, 2015}}</ref> In September 2015, Trump bought NBC's share of the Miss Universe Organization and then sold the entire company to the WME/IMG talent agency.<ref>{{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 15, 2015 |work=] |accessdate=February 5, 2016}}</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> | |||
==== Trump University ==== | |||
{{Main|Trump University}} | |||
Trump University was a for-profit education company that was founded by Trump and his associates, Michael Sexton and Jonathan Spitalny. The company ran a real estate training program and charged between $1,500 and $35,000 per course.<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 |newspaper=] |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=Vanity Fair |accessdate=March 6, 2016}}</ref><ref name=nyt511>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Barbaro |title=New York Attorney General Is Investigating Trump's For-Profit School |date=May 19, 2011 |newspaper=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/20/nyregion/trumps-for-profit-school-said-to-be-under-investigation.html}}</ref> In 2005, New York State authorities notified the operation that its use of the word "university" was misleading and violated state law. After a second such notification in 2010, the name of the company was changed to the "Trump Entrepreneurial Institute".<ref name="AppealsCourt2016" /> Trump was also found personally liable for failing to obtain a business license for the operation.<ref name="reuters.2014">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/16/us-trump-nyag-lawsuit-idUSKCN0I52MW20141016 |first=Karen |last=Freifeld |title=New York judge finds Donald Trump liable for unlicensed school |agency=Reuters |date=October 16, 2014 |accessdate=February 20, 2015}}</ref> | |||
== 2016 presidential election== | |||
Ronald Schnackenberg, a sales manager for Trump University, said in a testimony that he was reprimanded for not trying harder to sell a $35,000 real estate class to a couple who could not afford it.<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 |last=Barbaro |first=Michael |last2=Eder |first2=Steve |date=May 31, 2016 |website=] |accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> Schnackenberg said that he believed "Trump University was a fraudulent scheme" which "preyed upon the elderly and uneducated to separate them from their money."<ref name=ronald_tu /> | |||
=== 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> | |||
In 2013, New York State filed a $40 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 3, 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 |newspaper=] |date=February 27, 2016 |accessdate=February 27, 2016}}</ref> In addition, two class-action civil lawsuits were filed in federal court relating to Trump University; they named Trump personally as well as his companies.<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> During the ], Trump criticized presiding Judge ], alleging bias in his rulings because of his Mexican heritage.<ref name=RappeportNYT>{{cite news |last=Rappeport |first=Alan |date=June 3, 2016 |title=That Judge Attacked by Donald Trump? He's Faced a Lot Worse |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/04/us/politics/donald-trump-university-judge-gonzalo-curiel.html |newspaper=] |accessdate= June 4, 2016}}</ref><ref name=Ford>{{cite magazine |last=Ford |first=Matt |date=June 3, 2016 |title=Why Is Donald Trump So Angry at Judge Gonzalo Curiel? |magazine=The Atlantic |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/06/donald-trump-gonzalo-curiel/485636/|accessdate=June 3, 2016}}</ref> Shortly after Trump won the presidency, the parties agreed to a settlement of all three pending cases, whereby Trump paid a total of $25 million and denied any wrongdoing.<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><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/donald-trump-nearing-settlement-trump-university-fraud-case-article-1.2878780 |title=Donald Trump Agrees to Pay $25 Million in Trump University Settlement |date=November 18, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=November 18, 2016}}</ref> | |||
] ] 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> | |||
=== Foundation === | |||
{{Main|Donald J. Trump Foundation}} | |||
The Donald J. Trump Foundation is a U.S.-based private foundation<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> that was established in 1988 for the initial purpose of giving away proceeds from the book ''Trump: The Art of the Deal''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/13-3404773 |title=Donald J Trump Foundation Inc – GuideStar Profile |publisher=] |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> The foundation's funds have mostly come from donors other than Trump,<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. |newspaper=]}}</ref> who has not given personally to the charity since 2008.<ref name="WaPoMissing" /> | |||
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> | |||
The foundation's tax returns show that it has given to health care and sports-related charities, as well as conservative groups.<ref>Solnik, Claude. , '']'' (September 15, 2016): "charitable giving to conservative political groups, healthcare and sports-related charities."</ref> In 2009, for example, the foundation gave $926,750 to about 40 groups, with the biggest donations going to the ] ($100,000), the ] ($125,000), the ] ($156,000), and the ] ($100,000).<ref name="SearchingforEvid">{{Cite news |first1=David A. |last1=Fahrenthold |author1link=David Fahrenthold |first2=Danielle |last2=Rindler |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/2016-election/trump-charity-donations/ |title=Searching for evidence of Trump's personal giving |website=] |date=August 18, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Qiu |first1=Linda |title=Yes, Donald Trump has given to the Clinton Foundation |url=https://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2016/aug/28/david-plouffe/yes-donald-trump-donated-100000-clinton-foundation/ |website=politifact |accessdate=October 17, 2018}}</ref> From 2004 to 2014, the top donors to the foundation were Vince and Linda McMahon of ], who donated $5 million to the foundation after Trump appeared at ] in 2007.<ref name="WaPoMissing" /> Trump later named Linda McMahon as ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/07/trump-picks-wrestling-magnate-linda-mcmahon-to-lead-small-business-administration.html |title=Trump picks wrestling magnate Linda McMahon to lead Small Business Administration |last=Pramuk |first=Jacob |date=December 7, 2016 |publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
==== Financial disclosures ==== | |||
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 |first=Chris |last=Cillizza |authorlink=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 notified the Trump Foundation that the foundation appeared to be in violation of New York laws regarding charities, ordering 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 |publisher=] |accessdate=September 25, 2016 |last1=Bradner |first1=Eric |last2=Frehse |first2=Rob |quotation=The Post had reported that the recipients of five charitable contributions listed by the Trump Foundation had no record of receiving those donations. But the newspaper updated its report after CNN questioned the accuracy of three of the five donations it had cited.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://fortune.com/2016/09/14/donald-trump-foundation/ |title=Trump Foundation Falls Under Investigation By New York Attorney General |date=September 14, 2016 |last=Toh |first=Michelle|accessdate=September 27, 2016 |website=]}}</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> A Trump spokesman called the Attorney General's investigation a "partisan hit job".<ref name="hit" /> In response to mounting complaints, Trump's team announced in late December 2016 that the Trump Foundation would be dissolved to remove "even the appearance of any conflict with role as President."<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 |newspaper=] |accessdate=December 25, 2016}}</ref> According to an IRS filing in November 2017, the foundation intended to shut down and distribute its assets (about $970,000) to other charities. However, the New York Attorney General's office had to complete their ongoing investigation before the foundation could legally shut down,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/donald-trump-shutting-down-his-charitable-foundation-n822636|title=Donald Trump is shutting down his charitable foundation |date=November 20, 2017|publisher=]|accessdate=November 28, 2017}}</ref> and in June 2018 they filed a civil suit against the foundation for $2.8 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 |publisher=] |first1=Chris |last1=Isidore |first2=Melanie |last2=Schuman |date=June 14, 2018 |accessdate=June 15, 2018}}</ref> The suit names Trump himself as well as his adult children Donald Jr., Eric, and Ivanka.<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> | |||
{{Further|Tax returns of Donald Trump}} | |||
Trump's FEC-required reports listed assets above $1.4 billion and outstanding debts of at least $315 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> | |||
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 he had declared a loss of $916 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> | |||
==== Results ==== | |||
{{Main|2016 United States presidential election}} | |||
On November 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 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 21, 2017|alt=Pennsylvania Ave., completely packed with protesters, mostly women, many wearing pink and holding signs with progressive feminist slogans]] | |||
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 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 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> | |||
== First presidency (2017–2021) == | |||
{{Main|First presidency of Donald Trump}} | |||
{{For timeline|Timeline of the Donald Trump presidencies}} | |||
=== Early actions === | |||
{{See also|First presidential transition of Donald Trump|First 100 days of the first Donald Trump presidency}} | |||
] administered by ] ] at ], January 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 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> | |||
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> | |||
=== Conflicts of interest === | === Conflicts of interest === | ||
{{See also|First presidency of Donald Trump#Ethics}} | |||
Before being inaugurated as president, Trump moved his businesses into a revocable trust 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 |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name="BBC041817">{{cite news |title=A list of Trump's potential conflicts |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38069298 |publisher=] |date=April 18, 2017}}</ref> According to ethics experts, as long as Trump continues to profit from his businesses, the measures taken by Trump do not help to avoid conflicts of interest.<ref name="Venook">{{cite news |last1=Venook |first1=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 would affect his businesses, ethics experts recommend that Trump sell off his businesses.<ref name="BBC041817" /> Multiple lawsuits have been filed alleging that Trump is violating the ] of the ] due to his business interests; they argue that these interests allow foreign governments to influence him.<ref name="Venook" /><ref name="LaFraniere">{{cite news |last1=LaFraniere |first1=Sharon |author1link=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> Previous presidents in the modern era have either divested their holdings or put them in blind trusts,<ref name="NPR012018" /> and he is the first president to be sued over the emoluments clause.<ref name="LaFraniere" /> | |||
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> | |||
== Media career == | |||
=== Books === | |||
{{Main|Bibliography of Donald Trump}} | |||
Trump has published numerous books. His first published book in 1987 was '']'', in which Trump is credited as co-author with ], who has stated that he did all the writing for the book.<ref name=Kruse>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/06/01/donald-trump-deals-negotiation-art-of-deal-218584 |title=He Pretty Much Gave In to Whatever They Asked For |website=] |date=June 1, 2018 |accessdate=June 11, 2018 |last=Kruse |first=Michael}}</ref><ref name=janemayer>{{cite news |website=] |accessdate=June 19, 2017 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/07/25/donald-trumps-ghostwriter-tells-all |title=Donald Trump's Ghostwriter Tells All |first=Jane |last=Mayer |authorlink=Jane Mayer |date=July 25, 2016}}</ref><ref name="JaneM160720">{{cite news |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/donald-trump-threatens-the-ghostwriter-of-the-art-of-the-deal |title=Donald Trump Threatens the Ghostwriter of "The Art of the Deal" |last=Mayer |first=Jane |authorlink=Jane Mayer |website=] |date=July 20, 2016 |accessdate=June 11, 2018}}</ref> It reached the top of the ], stayed there for 13 weeks, and altogether held a position on the list for 48 weeks.<ref name=janemayer /> According to '']'', "The book expanded Trump's renown far beyond New York City, promoting an image of himself as a successful dealmaker and tycoon."<ref name=janemayer /> | |||
Trump's published writings shifted post-2000 from stylized memoirs to financial tips and political opinion.<ref name=lozada>{{cite news |first=Carlos |last=Lozada |work=] |title=I just binge-read eight books by Donald Trump. Here's what I learned. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/book-party/wp/2015/07/30/i-just-binge-read-eight-books-by-donald-trump-heres-what-i-learned/ |date=July 30, 2015 |accessdate=June 18, 2017 }}</ref> | |||
=== |
=== Domestic policy === | ||
{{Main|Economic policy of the first Donald Trump administration|Environmental policy of the first Donald Trump administration|Social policy of Donald Trump}} | |||
==== Wrestling ==== | |||
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 1988 and 1989, Trump hosted ] and ] at ], and he has been an active participant in several World Wrestling shows.<ref name=wwebio>{{cite web |url=https://www.wwe.com/superstars/donald-trump |title=Donald Trump bio |publisher=] |accessdate=March 14, 2015}}</ref> In 2013, he was inducted into the celebrity wing of the ] at ] for his contributions to the promotion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wwe.com/classics/wwe-hall-of-fame/donald-trump-announced-for-wwe-hall-of-fame-26090724 |title=Donald Trump announced for WWE Hall of Fame |first=Ryan |last=Murphy |publisher=]}}</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 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> | |||
==== ''The Apprentice'' ==== | |||
In 2003, Trump became the executive producer and host of the NBC reality show '']'', in which contestants competed for a one-year management job with the Trump Organization; applicants were successively eliminated from the game with the ] "You're fired".<ref name="jk-8-7-15">{{cite news |first=Jacob |last=Koffler |title=Donald Trump's 16 Biggest Business Failures and Successes |date=August 7, 2015 |work=] |url=https://time.com/3988970/donald-trump-business/}}</ref><ref name="Kruse" /><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 went on to be co-host of '']'', in which celebrities compete to win money for their charities.<ref name="jk-8-7-15" /><ref name="born_7-17-16" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Nussbaum |first=Emily |authorlink=Emily Nussbaum |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/07/31/the-tv-that-created-donald-trump |title=The TV That Created Donald Trump |work=] |date=July 31, 2017 |accessdate=July 8, 2018}}</ref> | |||
Under Trump, the federal budget deficit increased by almost 50 percent, to nearly $1 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 percent, reaching $27.75 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 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> | |||
In February 2015, Trump stated that he was "not ready" to sign on for another season of the show because of the possibility of a presidential run.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20150227/NEWS0605/150229334/1010/Art |work=] |title=Trump won't renew 'Apprentice' so that he might focus on a presidential run |first=Paul |last=Feely |date=February 27, 2015 |accessdate=July 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710152015/http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20150227%2FNEWS0605%2F150229334%2F1010%2FArt |archive-date=July 10, 2015 |dead-url=yes }}</ref> Despite this, NBC announced they were going ahead with production of a 15th season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2015/03/nbc-still-planning-for-apprentice-despite-donald-trumps-204171.html |work=] |title=NBC still planning for 'Apprentice,' despite Donald Trump's presidential claims |first=Dylan |last=Byers |authorlink=Dylan Byers |date=March 18, 2015 |accessdate=July 28, 2015}}</ref> In June, after widespread negative reaction stemming from Trump's campaign announcement speech, NBC released a statement saying, "Due to the recent derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants, NBCUniversal is ending its business relationship with Mr. Trump."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bgr.com/2015/06/29/nbc-fires-donald-trump-the-apprentice/ |title=NBC Just Fired Presidential Hopeful Donald Trump from 'The Apprentice' |first=Jacob |last=Siegel |date=June 29, 2015 |website=] |accessdate=July 28, 2015}}</ref> | |||
Trump is the only modern U.S. president to leave office with a smaller workforce than when he took office, by 3 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> | |||
==== Acting ==== | |||
{{Main|Donald Trump filmography}} | |||
Trump has made ] in 12 films and 14 television series,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/casting-notes-donald-trump-cameos-in-wall-street-2-jeremy-piven-and-kate-walsh-go-to-canada/ |title=Casting Notes: Donald Trump Cameos in Wall Street 2; Jeremy Piven and Kate Walsh go to Canada |first=Russ |last=Fischer|publisher=] |date=November 30, 2009 |accessdate=September 18, 2018}}</ref> including as the father of one of the characters in '']''.<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> He performed a song with ] at the ] in 2005.<ref>{{cite news|last=Shanley|first=Patrick|url = https://www.businessinsider.com/megan-mullally-donald-trump-emmys-stephen-colbert-2016-12 |title =Emmys Flashback: When Trump Sang the 'Green Acres' Theme in Overalls|work =The Hollywood Reporter| date =September 15, 2016|accessdate=July 14, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Nededog|first=Jethro|url = https://www.businessinsider.com/megan-mullally-donald-trump-emmys-stephen-colbert-2016-12 |title =Megan Mullally regrets helping Trump with a 'landslide' win: 'I'm not giving him any points'|work =Business Insider| date =December 15, 2016|accessdate=July 14, 2018}}</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 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 receives a pension as a member of the ].<ref name="jh_2016">{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-did-donald-trump-get-810566 |title=How Did Donald Trump Get a $110K SAG Pension? |newspaper=] |date=July 22, 2015 |accessdate=January 17, 2016 |first=Jonathan |last=Handel}}</ref> His financial disclosure forms mentioned an annual pension of $110,000 in 2016 and $85,000 in 2017.<ref name="jh_2016" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-07-23/inside-candidate-trump-s-110-000-hollywood-pension-disclosure |title=Inside Donald Trump's $110,000 Hollywood Pension Disclosure |publisher=] |date=July 22, 2015 |accessdate=January 17, 2016 |first=Christopher |last=Palmeri}}</ref><ref name="jh-2017">{{cite news|last=Handler|first=Jonathan|url =https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/trump-ethics-filing-again-shows-sag-pension-entertainment-income-1014417|title =Trump Ethics Filing Reveals SAG Pension, Entertainment Income|work =The Hollywood Reporter| date =June 16, 2017|accessdate=July 14, 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> | |||
=== Radio and television commentary === | |||
Starting in the 1990s, Trump was a guest about 24 times on the nationally syndicated '']'' on talk radio.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}} Trump also had his own short-form talk radio program called '']'' (one to two minutes on weekdays) from 2004 to 2008.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Massie |first1=Christopher |last2=Kaczynski |first2=Andrew |author2link=Andrew Kaczynski |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/christophermassie/theres-hours-of-audio-of-donald-trumps-nationally-syndicated |title=There Are Hours Of Audio Of Donald Trump's Nationally Syndicated Radio Show In The 2000s |work=] |date=March 16, 2016 |accessdate=October 21, 2018}}</ref><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}}</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, Trump was given a weekly unpaid guest commentator spot on '']'' that continued until he started his Presidential candidacy in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last=Grynbaum |first=Michael M. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/01/business/media/fox-news-trump-bill-shine.html/|title =Fox News Once Gave Trump a Perch. Now It's His Bullhorn. |work=] |date=July 1, 2018 |accessdate=July 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gertz |first=Matthew |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/01/05/trump-media-feedback-loop-216248 |title=I've Studied the Trump-Fox Feedback Loop for Months. It's Crazier Than You Think. |work=] |date=January 5, 2018 |accessdate=July 8, 2018}}</ref><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 |publisher=] |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> | |||
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 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> | |||
== Public profile == | |||
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 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> | |||
=== Approval ratings === | |||
Presidential ] taken during the first ten months of Trump's term have shown him to be the least popular U.S. president in the history of modern opinion polls.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.langerresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/1193a3TrumpYearLater.pdf |title=ABC News/Washington Post Poll: A year after his surprise election, 65 percent say Trump's achieved little |first=Gary |last=Langer |date=November 5, 2017 |publisher=Langer Research Associates |accessdate=November 5, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/220742/trump-job-approval-slipped-third-quarter.aspx |title=Trump Job Approval Slips to 36.9% in His Third Quarter |first=Jeffrey M. |last=Jones |publisher=] |date=October 20, 2017 |accessdate=October 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/poll-trumps-performance-lags-behind-even-tepid-public-expectations/2017/11/04/35d2a912-bf4d-11e7-959c-fe2b598d8c00_story.html |title=Poll: Trump's performance lags behind even tepid public expectations |work=] |date=November 5, 2017 |last1=Balz |first1=Dan |author1link=Dan Balz |last2=Clement |first2=Scott}}</ref> A ] global poll conducted in July 2017, found "a median of just 22 percent has confidence in Trump to do the right thing when it comes to international affairs". This compares to a median of 64 percent rate of confidence for his predecessor ]. Trump received a higher rating in only two countries: Russia and Israel.<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Image Suffers as Publics Around World Question Trump's Leadership|url=https://www.pewglobal.org/2017/06/26/u-s-image-suffers-as-publics-around-world-question-trumps-leadership/|website=Pew Research Center|accessdate=January 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111013256/http://www.pewglobal.org/2017/06/26/u-s-image-suffers-as-publics-around-world-question-trumps-leadership/|archive-date=January 11, 2018|dead-url=yes}}</ref> An August 2017 POLITICO/Morning consult poll found on some measures "that majorities of voters have low opinions of his character and competence".<ref>{{cite news |title=Poll: Trump hits new low after Charlottesville |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/23/trump-charlottesville-polls-241917 |newspaper=] |date=August 23, 2017}}</ref> Trump is the only elected president who did not place first on Gallup's poll of men Americans most admired in his first year in office, coming in second behind Barack Obama.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fortune.com/2017/12/28/gallup-most-admired-man-and-woman-obama-clinton/|title=Trump Is the Only Elected U.S. President Not to Be Named America's Most Admired Man In His First Year|last=Bach|first=Natasha|website=Fortune|date=December 28, 2017|accessdate=June 11, 2018}}</ref><ref name="gallup1678">{{cite web|url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/1678/most-admired-man-woman.aspx|title=Most Admired Man and Woman|website=Gallup|accessdate=June 12, 2018}}</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> | |||
=== False statements === | |||
{{Main|Veracity of statements by Donald Trump}} | |||
As president, Trump has frequently made false statements in public speeches and remarks.<ref name="Qiu">{{cite news |first=Linda |last=Qiu |title=Fact-Checking President Trump Through His First 100 Days |date=April 29, 2017 |website=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/29/us/politics/fact-checking-president-trump-through-his-first-100-days.html}}</ref><ref name="KesslerLee">{{cite news |first=Glenn |last=Kessler |authorlink=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |first2=Michelle Ye Hee |last2=Lee |title=President Trump's first 100 days: The fact check tally |date=May 1, 2017 |website=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/05/01/president-trumps-first-100-days-the-fact-check-tally/}}</ref><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> 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="Qiu" /> 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 Trump's 649th day in office, the ''Post''{{'}}s tally exceeded 6,400 false or misleading claims, and—in the seven weeks leading up to the midterm elections—it had risen to an average of 30 per day<ref>{{cite news |work=] |first1=Glenn |last1=Kessler |author1link=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |first2=Salvador |last2=Rizzo |first3=Meg |last3=Kelly |title=President Trump has made 6,420 false or misleading claims over 649 days|date=November 2, 2018 |accessdate=November 2, 2018 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/11/02/president-trump-has-made-false-or-misleading-claims-over-days/}}</ref> from 4.9 during his first 100 days in office.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=September 13, 2018 |first=Glenn |last=Kessler |authorlink=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |first2=Salvador |last2=Rizzo |first3=Meg |last3=Kelly |title=President Trump has made more than 5,000 false or misleading claims |accessdate=October 16, 2018 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/09/13/president-trump-has-made-more-than-false-or-misleading-claims/}}</ref> In general, news organizations have been hesitant to label these statements as "lies".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/25/reader-center/donald-trump-lies-falsehoods.html |title=Lies? False Claims? When Trump's Statements Aren't True |date=June 25, 2018 |work=] |accessdate=July 7, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dale |first1=Daniel |title=Donald Trump has spent a year lying shamelessly. It hasn't worked |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/analysis/2017/12/22/donald-trump-has-spent-a-year-lying-shamelessly-it-hasnt-worked.html |accessdate=July 14, 2018 |work=] |date=December 22, 2017}}</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> | |||
=== Racial views === | |||
{{Main|Racial views of Donald Trump}} | |||
Trump has a history of making racially controversial remarks and taking actions that are perceived as racially motivated.<ref>* {{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/12/us/politics/trump-racism.html |title=A President Who Fans, Rather Than Douses, the Nation's Racial Fires |newspaper=] |date=January 12, 2018 |first=Peter |last=Baker |authorlink=Peter Baker (journalist)}} | |||
* {{cite news |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/we-must-denounce-trumps-racist-actions-not-just-his-racist-words/ |title=We Must Denounce Trump's Racist Actions, Not Just His Racist Words |publisher=] |date=January 11, 2018 |accessdate=January 12, 2018 |last=Warren |first=Dorian}} | |||
* {{cite news |url=https://fortune.com/2016/06/07/donald-trump-racism-quotes/ |title=Is Donald Trump Racist? Here's What the Record Shows |website=] |date=June 7, 2016 |accessdate=January 12, 2018 |last=D'Antonio |first=Michael |authorlink=Michael D'Antonio}} | |||
* {{cite news |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/trumps-long-history-of-racism-w497876 |title=Trump's Long History of Racism |work=] |date=August 15, 2017 |accessdate=January 12, 2018 |last=Berney |first=Jesse}}</ref> 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 |last=Mahler |first=Jonathan |last2=Eder |first2=Steve}}</ref><ref name=pbs-20170822 /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.vox.com/2016/7/25/12270880/donald-trump-racism-history|title=Donald Trump's long history of racism, from the 1970s to 2018 |work=]}}</ref> He was accused of racism for insisting that 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 continued to maintain this position as late as 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/donald-trump-says-central-park-five-are-guilty-despite-dna-n661941 |title=Donald Trump Says Central Park Five Are Guilty, Despite DNA Evidence |last=Sarlin |first=Benjy |date=October 7, 2016 |publisher=] |accessdate=January 13, 2018}}</ref> | |||
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> | |||
Starting in 2011, Trump was a major proponent of ] alleging that Barack Obama was born in Kenya, and questioned his eligibility to serve as president.<ref name=NYT2016>{{cite news |last1=Parker |first1=Ashley |author1link=Ashley Parker |last2=Eder |first2=Steve |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/03/us/politics/donald-trump-birther-obama.html |title=Inside the Six Weeks Donald Trump Was a Nonstop 'Birther' |newspaper=] |date=July 2, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-perpetuated-birther-movement-years/story?id=42138176 |title=How Donald Trump Perpetuated the 'Birther' Movement for Years |publisher=] |date=September 16, 2016 |first=Alana |last=Abramson}}</ref> Trump later took credit for pushing the White House to release the "long-form" birth certificate from ],<ref name="released">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/us/politics/28obama.html |title=With Document, Obama Seeks to End 'Birther' Issue |work=] |last=Shear |first=Michael D. |date=April 27, 2011 |accessdate=August 27, 2016}}</ref><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?' |first=Lucy |last=Madison |publisher=] |date=April 27, 2011 |accessdate=May 9, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.trump.com/biography/ |title=Donald J. Trump – Biography |publisher=] |accessdate=August 27, 2016 |archive-date=August 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828101458/https://www.trump.com/biography/ |dead-url=no |quote=In 2011, after failed attempts by both Senator McCain and Hillary Clinton, Mr. Trump single handedly forced President Obama to release his birth certificate, which was lauded by large segments of the political community.}}</ref> and he stated during his presidential campaign that his stance had made him "very popular".<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 |publisher=] |last=Keneally |first=Meghan |date=September 18, 2015 |accessdate=August 27, 2016}}</ref> In September 2016, he publicly acknowledged that Obama was born in the United States, and falsely asserted that the rumors had been started by ] and her ].<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 |authorlink=Maggie Haberman |first2=Alan |last2=Rappeport |date=September 16, 2016 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/17/us/politics/donald-trump-birther-obama.html}}</ref> | |||
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> | |||
] in Charlottesville published by the White House]] | |||
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=Political Science Quarterly |date=March 2018 |volume=133 |issue=1 |pages=9–34 |doi=10.1002/polq.12737}}</ref> Trump launched his campaign with a speech in which he stated: "When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. ... They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapists, and some, I assume, are good people."<ref name="AnnouncingCandidacy" /><ref name="6/15/15transcript" /><ref>{{cite news|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|publisher=]|date=September 1, 2016}}</ref> Later, his attacks on a Mexican-American judge were 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=] |accessdate=January 13, 2018}}</ref> His comments following ], were seen as implying a moral equivalence between the white supremacist marchers and those who protested them.<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 |publisher=] |accessdate=January 13, 2018}}</ref> In a January 2018 Oval Office meeting to discuss immigration legislation with Congressional leaders, Trump reportedly referred to El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, and African countries as "shitholes".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2018/01/trump-say-immigration-meeting/ |title=What Did Trump Say at Immigration Meeting? |publisher=] |first=Eugene |last=Kiely |date=January 16, 2018 |accessdate=February 19, 2018 |quote=Durbin quoted the president as saying of African nations, 'Those shitholes send us the people that they don't want.'}}</ref> His remarks were condemned as racist worldwide, as well as by many members of Congress.<ref name=zack>{{cite news |last=Beauchamp |first=Zack |title=Trump's "shithole countries" comment exposes the core of Trumpism |work=] |date=January 11, 2018 |url=https://www.vox.com/2018/1/11/16880804/trump-shithole-countries-racism |accessdate=January 11, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Dawsey |first=Josh |title=Trump's history of making offensive comments about nonwhite immigrants |newspaper=] |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}}</ref><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}}</ref> Trump has denied accusations of racism multiple times, saying he is the "least racist person".<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump's own words revive debate over whether he's racist |url=https://www.apnews.com/bce2dc7a054e4541bc77e2971c1bde4e/Trump%2527s-own-words-revive-debate-over-whether-he%2527s-racist |publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Donald Trump denies being a racist after 'shithole' row |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42685356 |publisher=] |accessdate=January 15, 2018}}</ref> | |||
=== Race relations === | |||
Trump's racially insensitive statements<ref name=pbs-20170822>{{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}}</ref> have been condemned by many observers in the U.S. and around the world,<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=] |accessdate=January 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/11/british-mps-condemn-racist-incompetent-trump.html|title=British MPs Condemn 'Racist,' 'Incompetent' Trump for Endorsing 'Vile Fascist' Group |last=Raymond |first=Adam K. |date=November 30, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=January 13, 2018}}</ref> but accepted by his supporters either as a rejection of ]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-s-history-breaking-decorum-remarks-race-ethnicity-n837181 |title=Trump's history of breaking decorum with remarks on race, ethnicity |last=Salama |first=Vivian |date=January 12, 2018 |publisher=] |accessdate=January 13, 2018}}</ref><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 |publisher=] |accessdate=January 13, 2018}}</ref> or because they harbor similar racial sentiments.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump's 'shithole' comment is his new rock bottom |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/01/11/politics/trump-rock-bottom/index.html |accessdate=January 13, 2018 |publisher=] |date=January 12, 2018}}</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-didnt-make-people-vote-trump-racism-did/ |accessdate=January 13, 2018 |work=] |date=May 8, 2017}}</ref> Several studies and surveys have stated that racist attitudes and racial resentment have fueled Trump's political ascendance, and have become more significant than economic factors in determining party allegiance of 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}}</ref> In a June 2018 ] poll, 49 percent of respondents believed that Trump is racist while 47 percent believed he is not. Additionally, 55 percent said he "has emboldened people who hold racist beliefs to express those beliefs publicly."<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 name=Marcin>{{cite web | 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 | website=] | date=July 5, 2018 | accessdate=July 5, 2018 | first=Tim | last=Marcin}}</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> | |||
=== Relationship with the press === | |||
] | |||
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> | |||
Throughout his career, Trump has sought media attention. His interactions with the press turned into what some sources called a "love-hate" relationship.<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}}</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 |publisher=] |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/10/opinions/donald-trump-biography-michael-dantonio/index.html}}</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> | |||
During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump accused the press of intentionally misinterpreting his words and of being biased,<ref name=Walsh-160724 /><ref name=Blake-150706 /> although he benefited from a record amount of free media coverage, elevating his standing in the Republican primaries.<ref name=Cillizza-160614 /> After winning the election, Trump told journalist ] that 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> Into his presidency, much of the press coverage of Trump and his administration was negative.<ref name=Bump-180509>{{cite news |title=Trump makes it explicit: Negative coverage of him is fake coverage |website=] |date=May 9, 2018 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/05/09/trump-makes-it-explicit-negative-coverage-of-him-is-fake-coverage/ |last=Bump |first=Philip |accessdate=May 9, 2018}}</ref><ref name=AP-170217>{{cite news |url=https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/02/17/president-donald-trump-twitter-media-enemy-of-the-american-people/ |title=Trump Calls Media 'Enemy Of The American People' In Latest Attack |agency=] |publisher=] |location=San Francisco, California |date=February 17, 2017|accessdate=February 17, 2017}}</ref> | |||
=== Pardons and commutations === | |||
Trump has often referred to the press as "fake news media" and "the enemy of the people".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bondarenko|first1=Veronika|title=Trump keeps saying 'enemy of the people' — but the phrase has a very ugly history|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/history-of-president-trumps-phrase-an-enemy-of-the-people-2017-2|work=]|accessdate=October 25, 2017}}</ref> He has privately and publicly mused about taking away critical reporters' White House press credentials (despite, during his campaign, promising not to do so once he became president).<ref name=":17">{{Cite news |url=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?' |first=Brian |last=Stelter |authorlink=Brian Stelter |first2=Kaitlan |last2=Collins |author2link=Kaitlan Collins |publisher=] |accessdate=May 9, 2018}}</ref> On his first day in office, Trump falsely accused journalists of understating the size of the crowd at his inauguration, and called the media "among the most dishonest human beings on earth". | |||
{{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> | |||
=== Immigration === | |||
The relationship between Trump, the media, and ] has been studied. One study found that between October 7 and November 14, 2016, while one in four Americans visited a ], "Trump supporters visited the most fake news websites, which were overwhelmingly pro-Trump" and "almost 6 in 10 visits to fake news websites came from the 10 percent of people with the most conservative online information diets".<ref name="Guess_Nyhan_Reifler_1/9/2018">{{cite web |last1=Guess |first1=Andrew |last2=Nyhan |first2=Brendan |author2link=Brendan Nyhan |last3=Reifler |first3=Jason |date=January 9, 2018 |title=Selective Exposure to Misinformation: Evidence from the consumption of fake news during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign |website=Dartmouth.edu |url=https://www.dartmouth.edu/~nyhan/fake-news-2016.pdf |accessdate=February 4, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Allcott">{{cite journal |author1=H. Allcott |author2=M.Gentzkow |year=2017 |title=Social Media and Fake News in the 2016 election |journal=Journal of Economic Perspectives |volume=31 |number=2 |pages=211–236 |accessdate=May 3, 2017 |url=https://web.stanford.edu/~gentzkow/research/fakenews.pdf |doi=10.1257/jep.31.2.211}}</ref> ], one of the authors of the study by researchers from ], ], and the ], stated in an interview on NBC News: "People got vastly more misinformation from Donald Trump than they did from fake news websites".<ref>{{cite web | last=Sarlin | first=Benjy | title='Fake news' went viral in 2016. This professor studied who clicked | publisher=] | date=January 14, 2018 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/fake-news-went-viral-2016-expert-studied-who-clicked-n836581 | accessdate=February 4, 2018}}</ref> | |||
{{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> | |||
=== Popular culture === | |||
{{Main|Donald Trump in popular culture|Donald Trump in music}} | |||
Trump has been the subject of comedians, flash cartoon artists, and online caricature artists. He has been parodied regularly on ] by ], ], and ], and in '']'' as ]. '']'' episode "]", written during his ], anticipated a future Trump presidency. A dedicated 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> | |||
==== Travel ban ==== | |||
Trump's wealth and lifestyle had been a fixture of ] lyrics since the 1980s, as 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 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><ref>{{cite news |title=Eminem attacks Donald Trump: 'He's got people brainwashed' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/dec/20/eminem-attacks-donald-trump-people-brainwashed |website=] |date=December 20, 2017 |first=Ben |last=Beaumont-Thomas |accessdate=August 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Why top protest songs in hip-hop don't mention Donald Trump: 'He's irrelevant to the movement' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/top-protest-songs-hip-hop-mention-donald-trump/story?id=56822845 |publisher=] |date=July 28, 2018 |first=Deena |last=Zaru |accessdate=August 27, 2018}}</ref> | |||
{{Main|Trump travel ban}} | |||
{{Further|Executive Order 13769|Executive Order 13780}} | |||
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, 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 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> | |||
=== Social media === | |||
{{Main|Donald Trump on social media}} | |||
Trump's presence on social media has attracted attention worldwide since he joined ] in March 2009. He communicated heavily on Twitter during the 2016 election campaign, and has continued to use this channel during his presidency. The attention on Trump's Twitter activity has significantly increased since he was sworn in as president. He uses Twitter as a direct means of communication with the public, sidelining the press.<ref name="federalist-sidelining">{{cite web |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> Many of the assertions he tweeted have been proven false.<ref name="NYT-20170427">{{cite news |last=Qui |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 |newspaper=] |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/ |newspaper=] |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 |newspaper=] |date=June 24, 2017 |accessdate=June 25, 2017}}</ref> | |||
The temporary order was replaced by ] 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.<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 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> | |||
=== Recognitions === | |||
{{further|List of honors and awards received by Donald Trump}} | |||
In December 2016, '']'' named Trump as its "]".<ref name=PersonYear>{{cite news |last1=Gibbs |first1=Nancy |author1link=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> In an interview on '']'', he said he was honored by the award, but he took issue with the magazine for referring to him as the "President of the Divided States of America."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=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><ref>{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Julie Hirschfeld |title=Mitt Romney Still in the Running for Secretary of State, Trump Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/07/us/politics/mitt-romney-donald-trump-secretary-of-state.html |accessdate=December 7, 2016 |work=] |date=December 7, 2016}}</ref> In the same month, he was named '']'' ].<ref name="FT 2016">{{cite news |last1=Luce |first1=Edward |author1link=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> In December 2016, '']'' ranked Trump the ], after ] and before ].<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/ |newspaper=] |date=December 2016|accessdate=December 14, 2016}}</ref> In 2015, ] revoked the honorary Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) it had granted Trump in 2010, stating that "Mr. Trump has made a number of statements that are wholly incompatible with the ethos and values of the university."<ref name="Scot">{{cite news|title=Donald Trump: Robert Gordon University strips honorary degree|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35054360|publisher=] |accessdate=December 9, 2015 |date=May 3, 2018}}</ref> | |||
==== Family separation at the border ==== | |||
== Political career == | |||
{{Main|Trump administration family separation policy}} | |||
{{#invoke:multiple image| | |||
| direction = vertical | |||
| width = 220 | |||
| image1 = Ursula (detention center) 1.png | |||
| alt1 = Children sitting within a wire mesh compartment | |||
| image2 = Ursula (detention center) 2.jpg | |||
| 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 | |||
}} | |||
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 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"/> | |||
=== Political activities up to 2015 === | |||
Trump's political party affiliation has changed numerous times over the years. He registered as a Republican in Manhattan in 1987,<ref name="PolitiFact.24.Aug.15" /> switched to Independent in 1999, Democrat in 2001, and back to Republican in 2009.<ref name="PolitiFact.24.Aug.15">{{cite news |last1=Gillin |first1=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 |publisher=] |date=August 24, 2015}}</ref> He made donations to both the Democratic and the Republican party, party committees, and candidates until 2010 when he stopped donating to Democrats and increased his donations to Republicans considerably.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kurtzleben|first=Danielle|url = https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/07/28/426888268/donald-trumps-flipping-political-donations?t=1536218394951 |title =Most of Donald Trump's Political Money Went To Democrats — Until 5 Years Ago|work =NPR| date =July 28, 2015|accessdate=September 5, 2018}}</ref> | |||
==== Trump wall and government shutdown ==== | |||
In 1987 Trump spent $94,801 ({{Inflation|US|94,801|1987|fmt=eq}}) to place full-page advertisements in three major newspapers, proclaiming that "America should stop paying to defend countries that can afford to defend themselves."<ref>{{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 |newspaper=] |first=Michael |last=Oreskes |authorlink=Michael Oreskes |date=September 2, 1987 |accessdate=February 17, 2016}}</ref> The advertisements also advocated for "reducing the budget deficit, working for peace in Central America, and speeding up nuclear disarmament negotiations with the Soviet Union."<ref name="democrat.gala">{{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 |newspaper=] |date=November 18, 1987}}</ref> After rumors of a presidential run, Trump was invited by Democratic senator ] of Massachusetts, ] ] of Texas, and Arkansas congressman ], to host a fundraising dinner for Democratic Congressional candidates and to switch parties. Anthony told ''The New York Times'' that "the message Trump has been preaching is a Democratic message." Asked whether the rumors were true, Trump denied being a candidate, but said, "I believe that if I did run for President, I'd win."<ref name="democrat.gala" /> According to a ] poll in December 1988, Trump was the tenth most admired man in America.{{sfn|Kranish|Fisher|2017|p=}}{{sfn|Gallup|1990|p=}} | |||
{{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 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 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> | |||
==== 2000 presidential campaign ==== | |||
{{Main|Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2000}} | |||
To prevent another imminent shutdown in February 2019, Congress passed and Trump signed a funding bill that included $1.375 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 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 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 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. | |||
In 1999, Trump filed an ] to seek the nomination of the ] for the 2000 presidential election.<ref name="NYTimes.Revolution" /><ref>{{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 eventually dropped out of the race, but still went on to win the Reform Party primaries in California and Michigan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ballot-access.org/2011/12/25/donald-trump-ran-for-president-in-2000-in-several-reform-party-presidential-primaries/ |title=Ballot Access News – Donald Trump Ran For President in 2000 in Several Reform Party Presidential Primaries |publisher=ballot-access.org |accessdate=July 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://primary2000.sos.ca.gov/returns/pres/00.htm |title=CA Secretary of State – Primary 2000 – Statewide Totals |publisher=ca.gov |accessdate=July 1, 2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216145038/https://primary2000.sos.ca.gov/returns/pres/00.htm |archivedate=February 16, 2015 }}</ref> After his run, Trump left the party due to the involvement of ], ], and ].<ref name="NYTimes.Revolution">{{cite news |first=Donald J. |last=Trump |title=What I Saw at the Revolution |date=February 19, 2000 |newspaper=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/19/opinion/what-i-saw-at-the-revolution.html}}</ref> Trump also considered running for president in 2004.<ref>{{cite news |last=Travis |first=Shannon |title=Was he ever serious? How Trump strung the country along, again |url=https://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/05/16/trump.again/ |publisher=] |accessdate=June 7, 2015 |date=May 17, 2011}}</ref> In 2005, Trump said that he voted for ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/2005/01/20/donald-trump-in-no-spin-zone.html |title=Donald Trump in the No Spin Zone |publisher=] |date=January 20, 2005 |accessdate=June 17, 2018}}</ref> In 2008, he endorsed Republican ] for president.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/18/trump-endorses-mccain/ |title=Trump endorses McCain |publisher=] |date=September 18, 2008 |accessdate=July 12, 2016}}</ref> | |||
=== Foreign policy === | |||
] in February 2011]] | |||
{{Main|Foreign policy of the first Donald Trump administration}} | |||
{{See also|List of international presidential trips made by Donald Trump#First presidency (2017–2021)}} | |||
] leaders at the ] in France, 2019|alt=Trump and other G7 leaders sit at a conference table]] | |||
==== 2012 presidential speculation ==== | |||
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> | |||
Trump publicly speculated about running for president in ], and made his first speaking appearance at the ] (CPAC) in February 2011. The speech is credited for helping kick-start his political career within the Republican Party.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.towleroad.com/2011/02/goproud-leads-trump-in-2012-movement-at-cpac/ |title=GOProud Leads 'Trump in 2012' Movement at CPAC |publisher=] |date=February 10, 2011}}</ref> | |||
On May 16, 2011, Trump announced he would not run for president in the 2012 election.<ref name=cnnnotrunning>{{cite news |author=CNN Political Unit |title=Trump not running for president |url=https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/16/breaking-trump-not-running-for-president/ |date=May 16, 2011 |publisher=] |accessdate=May 16, 2011}}</ref> In February 2012, Trump endorsed ] for president.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump endorses Romney, cites tough China position and electability |date=February 2, 2012 |publisher=] |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/02/trump-plans-to-endorse-romney-sources-say.html}}</ref> | |||
==== Trade ==== | |||
Trump's presidential ambitions were generally not taken seriously at the time.<ref>{{cite news |last1=MacAskill |first1=Ewen |author1link=Ewen MacAskill |title=Donald Trump bows out of 2012 US presidential election race |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/may/16/donald-trump-us-presidential-race |newspaper=] |date=May 16, 2011|quote=Few US political commentators took his campaign seriously and many suggested he was only in it for the publicity.}}</ref> Trump's moves were interpreted by some media as possible promotional tools for his reality show ''The Apprentice''.<ref name=cnnnotrunning /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2011/0210/Donald-Trump-says-he-might-run-for-president.-Three-reasons-he-won-t |title=Donald Trump says he might run for president. Three reasons he won't. |work=] |date=February 10, 2011 |accessdate=April 21, 2011}}</ref><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 |first=Maggie |last=Haberman |authorlink=Maggie Haberman |first2=Alexander |last2=Burns |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> | |||
{{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 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 ==== | ||
{{See also|Russia–United States relations#First Trump administration (2017–2021)}} | |||
In 2013, Trump was a featured CPAC speaker.<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 |publisher=] |accessdate=March 6, 2013}}</ref> In a sparsely-attended speech, he railed against illegal immigration while seeming to encourage immigration from Europe, bemoaned Obama's "unprecedented media protection", advised against harming Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, and suggested that 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 |publisher=] |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 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> | |||
] 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> | |||
In October 2013, New York Republicans circulated a memo suggesting Trump should run for governor of the state 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 February 2014 Quinnipiac poll had shown 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 |publisher=] |accessdate=February 9, 2017}}</ref> In February 2015, Trump told NBC that he was not prepared to sign on for another season of ''The Apprentice'', as he mulled his political future.<ref name=Feely1>{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Feely |title=Trump won't renew 'Apprentice' so that he might focus on a presidential run |date=February 27, 2015 |website=] |url=https://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20150227/NEWS0605/150229334 |accessdate=July 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712222329/http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20150227%2FNEWS0605%2F150229334 |archive-date=July 12, 2018 |dead-url=yes }}</ref> | |||
=== |
==== East Asia ==== | ||
==== |
===== China, Hong Kong, Taiwan ===== | ||
{{See also|China–United States relations#First Trump administration (2017–2021)}} | |||
{{Main|Republican Party presidential primaries, 2016}} | |||
], July |
] 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> | |||
On June 16, 2015, Trump announced his candidacy for President of the United States at Trump Tower in Manhattan. In the speech, Trump discussed ], ] of American jobs, the ], and ], which all remained large priorities during the campaign. He also announced his campaign slogan: "]".<ref name="6/15/15transcript">{{cite speech |url=https://time.com/3923128/donald-trump-announcement-speech/ |title=Here's Donald Trump's Presidential Announcement Speech |via=] |first=Donald |last=Trump |author-link=Donald Trump |date=June 16, 2015 |location=Trump Tower, New York City}} ''Transcript of full speech''</ref><ref name="AnnouncingCandidacy">{{cite web |title=Donald Trump Presidential Campaign Announcement Full Speech (C-SPAN) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apjNfkysjbM |website=YouTube |publisher=] |accessdate=June 2, 2018 |format=Video |date=June 16, 2015}}</ref> Trump said his wealth would make him immune to pressure from campaign donors.<ref>{{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> He declared that he was funding his own campaign,<ref>{{cite tweet |user=realDonaldTrump |author-link=Donald Trump |number=640280850182090752 |title=By self-funding my campaign, I am not controlled by my donors, special interests or lobbyists. I am only working for the people of the U.S.! |date=September 5, 2015 |accessdate=June 7, 2018}}</ref> but according to ''The Atlantic'', "Trump's claims of self-funding have always been dubious at best and actively misleading at worst."<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> | |||
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> | |||
In the primaries, Trump stood among seventeen candidates vying for the 2016 Republican nomination; this was the largest presidential field in American history.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://time.com/3948922/jim-gilmore-virginia-2016/|title=More People Are Running for Presidential Nomination Than Ever|last=Linshi|first=Jack|date=July 7, 2015|accessdate=February 14, 2016|website=Time}}</ref> Trump's 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|title=How Donald Trump Evolved From a Joke to an Almost Serious Candidate|work=]|accessdate=July 23, 2018}}</ref> | |||
===== North Korea ===== | |||
On ], Trump won the plurality of the vote, and he remained the front-runner throughout the remainder of the primaries. By March 2016, Trump became poised to win the Republican nomination.<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—which prompted the remaining candidates Cruz and ] to suspend their presidential campaigns—] 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> | |||
{{See also|North Korea–United States relations#First Trump administration (2017–2021)|2017–2018 North Korea crisis|2018–19 Korean peace process}} | |||
] 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> | |||
=== General election === | |||
{{Main|Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016}} | |||
After becoming the presumptive Republican nominee, Trump shifted his focus to the ]. Trump began campaigning against Hillary Clinton, who became the presumptive Democratic nominee on June 6, 2016. | |||
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> | |||
Clinton had established a significant lead over Trump in ] throughout most of 2016. In early July, Clinton's lead narrowed in national polling averages following the FBI's re-opening of its investigation into her ongoing ].<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 |date=July 19, 2016 |publisher=] |last2=Lapinski |first2=John |last3=Psyllos |first3=Stephanie}}</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> | |||
==== Middle East ==== | |||
] at the ], July 2016]] | |||
On July 15, 2016, Trump announced his selection of 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|publisher=]}}</ref> Four days later on July 19, Trump and Pence 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 |publisher=]}}</ref> The list of convention speakers and attendees included former presidential nominee ], but the other prior nominees did not attend.<ref name="missing">{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-conventions/9-elephants-room-rnc-what-s-missing-speakers-list-n609471 |title=9 Elephants in the Room at RNC: Who's Missing From the Speakers List |last=Timm |first=Jane C. |date=July 17, 2016 |accessdate=August 16, 2016 |publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/05/politics/john-mccain-jeff-flake-donald-trump/ |title=Flake, McCain split over backing Trump |last=Raju |first=Manu |authorlink=Manu Raju |date=May 5, 2016 |accessdate=May 7, 2016 |publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
===== Afghanistan ===== | |||
Two days later, Trump officially accepted the nomination in a 76-minute speech. The historically long speech received mixed reviews, with net negative viewer reactions according to CNN and Gallup polls.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-rnc-ratings-20160722-snap-story.html |title=35 million TV viewers watch Donald Trump's acceptance speech at GOP convention |last=Battaglio |first=Stephen |date=July 22, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=July 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/07/25/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-poll/index.html |title=Trump bounces into the lead |last=Agiesta |first=Jennifer |accessdate=August 3, 2016 |publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/194000/first-time-trump-image-par-clinton.aspx |title=For First Time, Trump's Image on Par With Clinton's |last=Newport |first=Frank |date=July 26, 2016 |accessdate=August 3, 2016 |website=]}}</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 ===== | |||
On September 26, 2016, Trump and Clinton faced off in ], which was held at ] in ], and moderated by ] anchor ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uspresidentialelectionnews.com/2016-debate-schedule/2016-presidential-debate-schedule/|title=2016 Presidential Debate Schedule|last=Central|first=2016 Election|date=September 23, 2015|accessdate=September 30, 2016}}</ref> The TV broadcast was the most watched presidential debate in United States history.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/09/27/media/debate-ratings-record-viewership/index.html |title=Debate breaks record as most-watched in U.S. history |last=Stelter |first=Brian |authorlink=Brian Stelter |date=September 27, 2016 |accessdate=September 30, 2016 |publisher=]}}</ref> The ] was held at ] in Saint Louis, Missouri. The beginning of that debate was dominated by references to a recently leaked tape of ], which Trump countered by referring to alleged sexual misconduct on the part of Bill Clinton. Prior to the debate, Trump had invited four women who had accused Clinton of impropriety to a press conference. The ] was held on October 19 at the ]. 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|publisher=]}}</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|publisher=]}}</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 ===== | ||
], 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]] | |||
{{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 web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37982000|title=Trump's promises before and after election|date=September 19, 2017|publisher=]}}</ref> to pre-empt domestic Islamic terrorism, and aggressive military action against the ]. During the campaign Trump repeatedly called ] "obsolete".<ref>{{Cite journal|issn=0146-3373|year=2018|doi=10.1080/01463373.2018.1438485|publisher=]|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}}</ref> | |||
Trump actively supported the ] against the ] and in 2017 signed a $110 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> | |||
His political positions have been described as ],<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=What Is Populism?|last=Muller|first=Jan-Werner|publisher=]|year=2016|isbn=978-0-8122-9378-4|location=|page=101|quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/27/magazine/how-can-donald-trump-and-bernie-sanders-both-be-populist.html |title=How Can Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders Both Be 'Populist'? |last=Kazin |first=Michael |authorlink=Michael Kazin |date=March 22, 2016 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/donald-trump-working-class-voters-219231 |title=Trump's 6 populist positions |last=Becker |first=Bernie |date=February 13, 2016 |website=]}}</ref> and some of his views cross party lines. For example, his economic campaign plan calls for large reductions in income taxes and deregulation,<ref name="Donaldjtrump.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/tax-reform |title=Tax Reform | Donald J Trump for President |publisher=Donaldjtrump.com |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104052211/https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/tax-reform |archivedate=January 4, 2016 |deadurl=yes |accessdate=January 6, 2016}}</ref> consistent with Republican Party policies, along with significant infrastructure investment,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/16/one-thing-donald-trump-got-right-about-how-the-u-s-is-spending-its-money/ |title=Liberals will love something Donald Trump said last night |last=Ehrenfreund |first=Max |date=December 16, 2015 |website=]}}</ref> usually considered a Democratic Party policy.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-democrats-support-infrastructure-overhaul-pledge-1-trillion-rebuild-president-elect-a7488396.html |title=Democrats can finally agree with Donald Trump on something |last=Sharman |first=Jon |date=December 21, 2016 |accessdate=December 21, 2016 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/01/trump-infrastructure-cities/512432/ |title=Would Trump's Infrastructure Plan Fix America's Cities? |last=Williams |first=Mason B. |date=January 7, 2017 |website=]}}</ref> According to political writer ], Trump may be a "fairly conventional American populist when it comes to his policy views", but he attracts ], sometimes by making outrageous comments.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/04/did-media-reporters-create-trump-2016-campaign-213840 |title=Did We Create Trump? |last=Shafer |first=Jack |authorlink=Jack Shafer |date=May 2016 |quote=... Trump's outrageous comments about John McCain, Muslims, the 14th Amendment and all the rest ...|website=]}}</ref>{{sfn|Trump|Schwartz|2009|p=}} | |||
===== Syria ===== | |||
Trump has 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><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 |newspaper=]}}</ref> '']'' has described his positions as "eclectic, improvisational and often contradictory",<ref name="real Donald" /> 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 |publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
] at the White House in May 2017]] | |||
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> | |||
=== Campaign rhetoric === | |||
In his campaign, Trump said that he disdained ]; he also stated that the media had intentionally misinterpreted his words, and he made other claims of adverse ].<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 |quote='If the disgusting and corrupt media covered me honestly and didn't put false meaning into the words I say, I would be beating Hillary by 20 percent,' Trump also tweeted Sunday.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Ted |last=Koppel |authorlink=Ted Koppel |title=Trump: "I feel I'm an honest person" |date=July 24, 2016 |publisher=] |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-i-feel-im-an-honest-person/ |quote='Well, I think that I'm an honest person,' Trump said. 'I feel I'm an honest person. And I don't mind being criticized at all by the media, but I do wanna – you know, I do want them to be straight about it.'}}</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> In part due to his fame, and due to his willingness to say things other candidates would not, and because a candidate who is gaining ground automatically provides a compelling news story, Trump received an unprecedented amount of ] during his run for the presidency, which elevated 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> | |||
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> | |||
Fact-checking organizations have denounced Trump for making a record number of false statements compared to other candidates.<ref name="whoppers">{{cite news |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2015/12/the-king-of-whoppers-donald-trump/ |title=The 'King of Whoppers': Donald Trump |publisher=] |date=December 21, 2015}}</ref><ref name="year">{{cite web |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 |publisher=] |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> At least four major publications—''Politico'', ''The Washington Post'', ''The New York Times'', and the ''Los Angeles Times''—have pointed out lies or falsehoods in his campaign statements, with the ''Los Angeles Times'' saying that "Never in modern presidential politics has a major candidate made false statements as routinely as Trump has".<ref>{{cite news |publisher=] |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> ] said that Trump's campaign statements were often opaque or suggestive.<ref>{{cite news |last=McCammon |first=Sarah |title=Donald Trump's controversial speech often walks the line |publisher=] |date=August 10, 2016 |quote=Many of Trump's opaque statements seem to rely on suggestion and innuendo.}}</ref> | |||
===== Iran ===== | |||
Trump's penchant for ] is believed to have roots in the New York real estate scene, where Trump established his wealth and where puffery abounds.<ref name="reuters-20150828" /> Trump has called his public speaking style "truthful hyperbole", an effective political tactic that may, however, backfire for overpromising.<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 |agency=] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-hyperbole-insight-idUSKCN0QX11X20150828 |quote=Trump's penchant for exaggeration could backfire – he risks promising voters more than he can deliver ... Optimistic exaggeration ... is a hallmark of the cutthroat New York real estate world where many developers, accustomed to ramming their way into deals, puff up their portfolios. 'A little hyperbole never hurts,' he wrote ... For Trump, exaggerating has always been a frequent impulse, especially when the value of his Trump brand is disputed.}}</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 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"/> | |||
=== White supremacist support === | |||
According to ], the Trump campaign was remarkable for bringing fringe ideas, beliefs, and organizations into the mainstream.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Barkun |first=Michael |author-link=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 |issn=1556-1836}}</ref> During his presidential campaign, Trump was accused of pandering to white supremacists.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lopez |first1=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 |last1=Blow |first1=Charles M. |author1link=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 |last1=White |first1=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 |url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2016/11/09/white-nationalists-and-alt-right-celebrate-trump%E2%80%99s-victory |publisher=] |accessdate=November 10, 2016}}</ref> and repeatedly refused to condemn David Duke, the Ku Klux Klan or white supremacists, in an interview on CNN's '']'', saying that 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}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lozada |first1=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 was an enthusiastic supporter of Trump throughout the 2016 primary and election, and has stated that 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> | |||
=== Personnel === | |||
After repeated questioning by reporters, Trump said that he disavowed David Duke and the KKK.<ref>{{cite news |title=Donald Trump 'Disavows' David Duke's Remarks on 'Jewish Extremists' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/05/05/donald-trump-is-pressured-to-reject-david-dukes-remarks-on-jewish-extremists/ |work=] |date=May 5, 2016 |first=Maggie |last=Haberman |authorlink=Maggie Haberman}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Trump disavows 'alt-right' supporters |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38069469 |publisher=] |date=November 23, 2016}}</ref><ref name="cnnduke">{{cite news |publisher=] |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> Trump said on ]'s '']'': "I disavowed him. I disavowed the KKK. Do you want me to do it again for the 12th time? I disavowed him in the past, I disavow him now."<ref name="cnnduke"/> | |||
{{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 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 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/> | |||
The ] movement coalesced around 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/ |newspaper=] |date=June 3, 2016}}</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 |publisher=]}}</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> | |||
Members of the alt-right enthusiastically supported Trump's campaign.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hawley |first1=George |title=Making Sense of the Alt-Right |date=2017 |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-231-54600-3}}</ref> | |||
In August 2016, he appointed ]—the executive chairman of ]—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> Trump personally condemned the alt-right in an interview after the election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump disavows 'alt-right' supporters |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38069469 |publisher=] |date=November 22, 2016 |accessdate=October 25, 2017}}</ref> | |||
On May 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> | |||
=== Financial disclosures === | |||
As a presidential candidate, Trump disclosed details of his companies, assets, and revenue sources to the extent required by the FEC. His 2015 report listed assets above $1.4 billion and outstanding debts of at least $265 million.<ref name="Yahoo News FEC">{{cite news |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/donald-trump-wealth-details-released-federal-regulators-165854286--finance.html/ |publisher=] |title=Donald Trump wealth details released by federal regulators |accessdate=August 9, 2015 |deadurl=yes |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 name="images.businessweek.com"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075146/https://images.businessweek.com/cms/2015-07-22/7-22-15-Report.pdf |date=March 4, 2016 }} (U.S. OGE Form 278e). '']''. July 15, 2015.</ref> The 2016 form showed little change.<ref name="cnn-20160519" /> | |||
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 ] during his presidential campaign or afterward,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/05/11/romney-calls-decision-by-trump-not-to-release-tax-returns-disqualifying.html |title=Romney calls decision by Trump not to release tax returns 'disqualifying' |date=May 11, 2016 |accessdate=July 18, 2016 |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name="cc180417">{{cite news |last=Cillizza |first=Chris |authorlink=Chris Cillizza |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/17/politics/tax-day-trump-returns/index.html |title=Happy Tax Day! Donald Trump still has never released his tax returns! |publisher=] |date=April 17, 2018 |accessdate=June 9, 2018}}</ref> contrary to usual practice by every candidate since ] in 1976 and to his promise in 2014 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 |date=May 11, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=July 19, 2016}}</ref><ref name="jd170126">{{cite news |last=Disis |first=Jill |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/01/23/news/economy/donald-trump-tax-returns/index.html |title=Presidential tax returns: It started with Nixon. Will it end with Trump? |publisher=] |date=January 26, 2017 |accessdate=June 9, 2018}}</ref><ref name="kpe160226">{{cite news |last=Erb |first=Kelly Phillip |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2016/02/26/trump-wont-release-tax-returns-citing-irs-audit-is-it-a-legitimate-excuse/#1b365d58736c |title=Trump Won't Release Tax Returns, Citing IRS Audit: Is It A Legitimate Excuse? |work=] |date=August 12, 2016 |accessdate=June 9, 2018}}</ref> Trump's refusal led to speculation that he was hiding something.<ref name="Collinson25Feb">{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/02/24/politics/mitt-romney-donald-trump-taxes/ |title=Donald Trump rejects Mitt Romney's ironic tax attack |last1=Collinson |first1=Stephen |date=February 25, 2016 |accessdate=February 25, 2016 |publisher=] |last2=Diamond |first2=Jeremy |author2link=Jeremy Diamond (journalist) |last3=Khan |first3=Hasan}}</ref> He said that his tax returns were being audited, 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 |last=Isidore |first=Chris |date=February 26, 2016 |accessdate=February 26, 2016 |last2=Sahadi |first2=Jeanne |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name="Browning26Feb">{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-02-26/trump-s-12-years-of-audits-very-unusual-ex-irs-agent-says |title=Trump's 12 Years of Audits 'Very Unusual,' Ex-IRS Agent Says |last=Browning |first=Lynnley |date=February 26, 2016 |publisher=] |accessdate=February 26, 2016}}</ref> Trump has told the press that his tax rate was 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 |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name="Politico24Jan">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/donald-trump-tax-returns-218160 |title=Trump vows to release his tax returns |last=Wilhelm |first=Colin |date=January 24, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=February 22, 2016 |quote=It's a little tax}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/02/26/468278769/fact-check-donald-trump-cant-release-his-taxes-while-being-audited |title=Fact-Check: Donald Trump Can't Release His Taxes While Being Audited? |last=Zarroli |first=Jim |date=February 26, 2016 |publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
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 8, 2019, of 706 key positions, 433 had been filled (61 percent) and he had no nominee for 264 (37 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> | |||
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 declared a loss of $916 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 |newspaper=]}}</ref> He said that he did use the tax code to avoid paying taxes.<ref name="2debatetranscript">{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/2016-presidential-debate-transcript-229519 |title=Full transcript: Second 2016 presidential debate |author=Politico Staff |work=] |date=October 10, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/10/01/us/politics/donald-trump-taxes.html |title=Pages From Donald Trump's 1995 Income Tax Records |date=October 1, 2016 |newspaper=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/02/us/politics/donald-trump-taxes.html |title=Donald Trump Tax Records Show He Could Have Avoided Taxes for Nearly Two Decades, The Times Found |first=David |last=Barstow |authorlink=David Barstow |first2=Susanne |last2=Craig |author2link=Susanne Craig |first3=Russ |last3=Buettner |first4=Megan |last4=Twohey |author4link=Megan Twohey |date=October 1, 2016 |newspaper=]}}</ref> | |||
=== Judiciary === | |||
On March 14, 2017, the first two pages of Trump's 2005 federal income tax returns were leaked to ] and shown on ]. The document states that Trump had a gross adjusted income of $150 million and paid $38 million in federal taxes. The White House confirmed the authenticity of these documents and stated: "Despite this substantial income figure and tax paid, it is totally illegal to steal and publish tax returns."<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 |newspaper=] |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 |last1=Jagoda |first1=Naomi |accessdate=March 15, 2017 |website=]}}</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> | |||
=== Sexual misconduct allegations === | |||
{{Main|Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape|Donald Trump sexual misconduct allegations}} | |||
A total of 19 women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct {{as of|2017|12|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/12/what-about-the-19-women-who-accused-trump/547724/ |title=What About the 19 Women Who Accused Trump of Sexual Misconduct? |last=Ford |first=Matt |website=] |date=December 7, 2017}}</ref> Trump and his campaign have denied {{as of|2016|10|lc=y}} all of the sexual misconduct accusations, which Trump has called "false smears", and alleged a conspiracy against him.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/10/12/media/new-york-times-donald-trump-lawsuit-threat/ |title=Donald Trump threatens to sue New York Times over sexual harassment report |last=Byers |first=Dylan |authorlink=Dylan Byers |date=October 12, 2016 |accessdate=October 13, 2016 |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name="Fox Trump demands retraction">{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/10/13/trump-demands-nyt-retracts-libelous-article-about-alleged-assault-as-new-claims-emerge.html |title=Trump demands NYT retracts 'libelous article' about alleged assault as new claims emerge |date=October 13, 2016 |accessdate=October 13, 2016 |publisher=]}}</ref><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 |date=October 13, 2016 |newspaper=] |accessdate=October 13, 2016}}</ref> | |||
=== COVID-19 pandemic === | |||
Two days before the ], a ] surfaced in which Trump was heard bragging about forcibly kissing and groping women.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/donald-trump-surrogates-have-their-own-baggage-women-voters-n673056|title=Donald Trump Surrogates Have Their Own Baggage With Women Voters|last=Sakuma|first=Amanda|date=October 26, 2016|publisher=]|quote=... newly unearthed audio recordings showed Trump bragging about forcibly kissing women and grabbing them by the genitals.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2016/10/14/more-women-accuse-donald-trump-aggressive-sexual-behavior/Dq1F8bLwre4dOAgEeFazxN/story.html|title=More women accuse Trump of aggressive sexual behavior|last=Jan|first=Tracy|date=October 14, 2016|quote=Trump has been confronted with a slew of allegations of sexual misconduct over the past week, starting with a report in ''The Washington Post'' of a 2005 tape featuring him bragging about forcibly kissing women and grabbing them by the genitals.|website=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/09/us-election-donald-trump-calls-republican-leaders-traitors-and-h/|title=US presidential debate recap: Polls split on whether Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton won poisonous argument|last1=Lawler|first1=David|date=October 13, 2016|last2=Henderson|first2=Barney|quote=... it was a matter of minutes before the lewd tape, in which Mr Trump brags about 'grabbing p----' and forcibly kissing women, was brought up.|last3=Allen|first3=Nick|last4=Sherlock|first4=Ruth|website=]}}</ref> The ] recording was captured on a studio bus in which Trump and ] were preparing to film an episode of ''].'' In the tape, Trump said: "I just start kissing them ... I don't even wait. And when you're a star, they let you do it, you can do anything ... grab 'em by the pussy."<ref name=NBC080716>{{cite news |last1=Timm |first1=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 |publisher=] |date=October 7, 2016 |accessdate=June 10, 2018}}</ref> During the recording, Trump also spoke of his efforts to seduce a married woman, saying he "moved on her very heavily".<ref name=NBC080716 /> | |||
{{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in the United States}} | |||
{{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}} | |||
==== Initial response ==== | |||
Trump's language on the tape was described by the media as "vulgar", "sexist", and descriptive of ]. The incident prompted him to make his 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 |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |author2link=Maggie Haberman |last3=Martin |first3=Jonathan |author3link=Jonathan Martin (journalist)}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://crcconnection.com/2016/10/08/donald-trumps-vulgar-conversation-about-women-caught-on-hot.html |title=Donald Trump's vulgar conversation about women caught on hot mic |last=Jensen |first=Salvatore |date=October 8, 2016 |work=Cosumnes Connection |accessdate=October 8, 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009190958/https://crcconnection.com/2016/10/08/donald-trumps-vulgar-conversation-about-women-caught-on-hot.html |archivedate=October 9, 2016}}</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><ref>{{cite news |url=https://fox59.com/2016/10/08/pence-to-fill-in-for-donald-trump-saturday-following-video-leak/ |title=Pence to fill in for Donald Trump Saturday following video leak |last=Stacey |first=Madison |date=October 8, 2016 |accessdate=October 8, 2016 |publisher=] |location=Indianapolis, Indiana}}</ref> with many Republicans withdrawing their endorsements of his candidacy and some urging him to quit the race.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/10/07/the-gops-brutal-responses-to-the-new-trump-video-broken-down/ |title=Here's the fast-growing list of Republicans calling for Donald Trump to drop out |last=Blake |first=Aaron |date=October 8, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=October 8, 2016}}</ref> Subsequently, at least 15 women<!-- The source says 17, but 2 of them were preexisting, and this section has separated the new allegations from the preexisting ones. --><ref name="Vox">{{cite news |url=https://www.vox.com/2016/10/13/13269448/trump-sexual-assault-allegations |title=A brief guide to the 17 women Trump has allegedly assaulted, groped or harassed |last1=Nelson |first1=Libby |last2=Frostenson |first2=Sarah |date=October 20, 2016 |accessdate=October 21, 2016 |work=]}}</ref> came forward with new accusations of sexual misconduct, including unwanted kissing and groping, resulting in widespread media coverage.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-growing-list-of-women-who-have-stepped-forward-to-accuse-trump-of-touching-them-inappropriately/2016/10/15/a65ddf1c-92df-11e6-9c85-ac42097b8cc0_story.html |title=The growing list of women who have stepped forward to accuse Trump of touching them inappropriately |last1=Helderman |first1=Rosiland |work=] |accessdate=October 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-accusers-sexual-assault-153559631.html |title=The women who have accused Donald Trump |last=Stableford |first=Dylan |date=October 17, 2016 |publisher=] |accessdate=October 18, 2016}}</ref> In his two public statements in response to the controversy, Trump alleged that former President Bill Clinton had "abused women" and that Hillary had bullied her husband's victims.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-defends-lewd-2005-conversation-about-women-as-locker-room-banter/ |title="I never said I'm a perfect person," Trump says about lewd comments |date=October 7, 2016 |accessdate=December 11, 2016 |publisher=] |agency=]}}</ref> | |||
The first confirmed case of ] in the U.S. was reported on January 20, 2020.{{sfn|Holshue|DeBolt|Lindquist|Lofy|2020}} The outbreak was officially declared a public health emergency by ] ] 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|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 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 6, Trump signed the ], which provided $8.3 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 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 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 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 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> | |||
=== Election to the presidency === | |||
{{Main|United States presidential election, 2016}} | |||
] | |||
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 a smaller share of the popular vote than Clinton, which made him the fifth person to be elected president ].<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>{{efn|Records on this matter date from the year 1824. The number "five" includes the elections of 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000, and 2016. 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 web|last = Cheney|first = Kyle|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>}} Clinton was ahead nationwide by 2.1 percentage points, with 65,853,514 votes ({{percentage|<!-- CLINTON: --> 65,853,514|<!-- TOTAL: --> 136,669,276|2|pad=yes}}) to 62,984,828 votes ({{percentage|<!-- TRUMP: --> 62,984,828|<!-- TOTAL: --> 136,669,276|2|pad=yes}}); neither candidate reached a ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Official 2016 Presidential General Election Results |url=https://transition.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2016/federalelections2016.pdf |publisher=] |date=December 2017 |accessdate=February 12, 2018}}</ref> | |||
==== White House Coronavirus Task Force ==== | |||
Trump's victory was considered a stunning political upset by most observers, as polls had consistently showed Hillary Clinton with a nationwide—though diminishing—lead, as well as a favorable advantage in most of the competitive states. Trump's support had been modestly underestimated throughout his campaign,<ref>{{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> and many observers blamed errors in polls, partially attributed to pollsters overestimating Clinton's support among well-educated and nonwhite voters, while underestimating Trump's support among white working-class voters.<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><!-- Likely a combination of multiple factors, don't simplify with just one explanation. --> | |||
] on March 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]] | |||
Actually, the polls were relatively accurate,<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=January 17, 2017 |first=Nate |last=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 |title=The Media Has A Probability Problem |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-media-has-a-probability-problem/}}</ref> | |||
Trump established the ] on January 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 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|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> | |||
Trump won 30 states, including ], ], and ], which had been called a ] of Democratic strongholds since the 1990s. Clinton won 20 states and the ]. | |||
Trump's victory marked the return of a Republican White House combined with ] both chambers of ]. | |||
==== World Health Organization ==== | |||
Trump is ], even after ] for ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-richest-us-president-in-history-2017-1 |title=Donald Trump is officially the richest US president in history |last=Martin |first=Emmie |date=January 23, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=September 9, 2017}}</ref> He is also ].<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>{{cite news |first=Jesse |last=Yomtov |title=Where Trump ranks among least experienced presidents |date=November 8, 2016 |website=] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/11/08/donald-trump-experience-president/93504134/}}</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> Of the 43{{efn|] was the ].<ref name="Will Trump Be The 44th Or 45th President? Yes And Yes NPR Ethics Handbook">{{cite news |title=Will Trump Be The 44th Or 45th President? Yes And Yes NPR Ethics Handbook |url=http://ethics.npr.org/memos-from-memmott/will-trump-be-the-44th-or-45th-president-yes-and-yes/ |publisher=] |accessdate=June 4, 2017}}</ref>}} previous presidents, 38 had held prior elective office, two had not held elective office but had served in the Cabinet, and three had never held public office but had been commanding generals.<ref name="voxexp" /> | |||
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 ==== | |||
=== Protests === | |||
{{Further|COVID-19 testing in the United States}} | |||
{{Main|Protests against Donald Trump}} | |||
] | |||
Some rallies during the primary season were accompanied by protests or violence, including attacks on Trump supporters and vice versa 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 |last=Moyer |first=Justin Wm. |date=March 11, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=August 31, 2016 |last2=Starrs |first2=Jenny |last3=Larimer |first3=Sarah}}</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 |last=Sullivan |first=Sean |date=June 3, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=August 31, 2016 |last2=Miller |first2=Michael E.}}</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 |publisher=]}}</ref> Trump's election victory sparked protests across the United States, in opposition to his policies and his inflammatory statements. Trump initially said on Twitter that these were "professional protesters, incited by the media", and were "unfair", but he later tweeted, "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 |newspaper=] |accessdate=November 14, 2016}}</ref> | |||
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"/> | |||
In the weeks following Trump's inauguration, massive anti-Trump demonstrations took place, such as the ], which gathered 2,600,000 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. |date=January 22, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=January 22, 2017 |last2=Schouten |first2=Fredreka |edition=online}}</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 |last1=Buncombe |first1=Andrew |date=January 22, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=January 15, 2017}}</ref> Moreover, marches against his ] began across the country on January 29, 2017, just nine days after his inauguration.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thinkprogress.org/muslim-ban-protests-344f6e66022e/ |title=Here's your list of all the protests happening against the Muslim Ban – ThinkProgress |publisher=Thinkprogress.org |accessdate=September 18, 2018}}</ref> | |||
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 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> | |||
== Presidency == | |||
{{Main|Presidency of Donald Trump}} | |||
{{for timeline|Timeline of the presidency of Donald Trump}} | |||
==== Political pressure on health agencies ==== | |||
=== Early actions === | |||
{{Main|Political interference with science agencies by the first Trump administration}} | |||
{{See also|Presidential transition of Donald Trump|First 100 days of Donald Trump's presidency}} | |||
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> | |||
Trump was ] 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, re-instatement 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 |last1=Quigley |first1=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> | |||
==== Outbreak at the White House ==== | |||
On January 31, Trump ] U.S. Appeals Court judge ] to fill the seat on the ] previous held by Justice ] until his death in 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-picks-colo-appeals-court-judge-neil-gorsuch-for-supreme-court/2017/01/31/2b08a226-e55e-11e6-a547-5fb9411d332c_story.html |title=Trump picks Colo. appeals court judge Neil Gorsuch for Supreme Court |last=Barnes |first=Robert |date=January 31, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=February 1, 2017}}</ref> | |||
{{Main|White House COVID-19 outbreak}} | |||
] for COVID-19 treatment on October 2, 2020|alt=Donald Trump, wearing a black face mask, boards Marine One, a large green helicopter, from the White House lawn]] | |||
On October 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 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 ==== | |||
=== Domestic policy === | |||
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 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 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> | |||
=== 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> | |||
{{Main|Economic policy of Donald Trump|Trump tariffs}} | |||
==== Financial ==== | |||
In December 2017, Trump signed the ], which cut the corporate tax rate to 21 percent, lowered personal tax brackets, increased child tax credit, doubled the ] threshold to $11.2 million, and limited the state and local tax deduction to $10,000.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/15/us/politics/final-republican-tax-bill-cuts.html |title=What's in the Final Republican Tax Bill |newspaper=] |first1=Wilson |last1=Andrews |first2=Alicia |last2=Parlapiano |date=December 15, 2017 |accessdate=December 22, 2017}}</ref> The reduction in individual tax rates ends in 2025. While people would generally get a tax cut, those with higher incomes would see the most benefit.<ref name="BBC tax cuts">{{cite news |last1=Sherman |first1=Natalie |last2=Palumbo |first2=Daniele |title=Can Trump claim credit for bonus rush? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-42812453 |publisher=] |date=January 26, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtzleben |first1=Danielle |title=CHARTS: See How Much Of GOP Tax Cuts Will Go To The Middle Class |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/12/19/571754894/charts-see-how-much-of-gop-tax-cuts-will-go-to-the-middle-class |publisher=]}}</ref> Households in the lower or middle class would also see a small tax increase after the tax cuts expire. The bill is estimated to increase deficits by $1.5 trillion over 10 years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Seipel |first1=Arnie |last2=Kurtzleben |first2=Danielle |title=Trump Celebrates Legislative Win After Congress Passes $1.5 Trillion Tax Cut Bill |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/12/20/572157392/gop-poised-for-tax-victory-after-a-brief-delay |publisher=] |date=December 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Berman |first1=Russell |title=What's in—and Out of—the Final Republican Tax Bill |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/12/final-trump-republican-tax-bill-promises-details/548603/ |work=] |date=December 12, 2017}}</ref> | |||
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> | |||
==== Russian election interference ==== | |||
] | |||
{{Main|Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections|Timelines related to Donald Trump and Russian interference in United States elections}} | |||
Trump adopted his current views on trade issues in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Schlesinger | first1=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 | publisher='']'' | accessdate=November 15, 2018}}</ref> Trump has been described as a ]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://business.financialpost.com/fp-comment/lawrence-solomon-donald-trumps-protectionism-fits-right-in-with-republicans |title=Lawrence Solomon: Donald Trump's protectionism fits right in with Republicans |accessdate=July 22, 2016}}</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 |last=Epstein |first=Reid J. |date=June 28, 2016 |last2=Nelson |first2=Colleen McCain |work=] {{subscription required}} |accessdate=July 22, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/11/us/politics/-trade-donald-trump-breaks-200-years-economic-orthodoxy-mercantilism.html |title=On Trade, Donald Trump Breaks With 200 Years of Economic Orthodoxy |last=Appelbaum |first=Binyamin |date=March 10, 2016 |newspaper=] |accessdate=July 22, 2016}}</ref> because he criticized ],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-calls-nafta-a-disaster/ |title=Trump calls NAFTA a "disaster" |date=September 25, 2015 |publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/07/06/news/economy/trump-nafta/ |title=Election 2016: Your money, your vote. Yes, 'President Trump' really could kill NAFTA – but it wouldn't be pretty |date=July 6, 2016 |accessdate=September 1, 2016 |publisher=]}}</ref> cancelled negotiations towards the ] (TPP),<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 |publisher=] |accessdate=March 12, 2018}}</ref> imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum,<ref name=Turak>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/02/trumps-protectionist-steel-tariffs-criticized-by-economist-adam-posen.html |title='Straight up stupid,' 'incompetent' and 'misguided': Economist Adam Posen rips Trump's tariffs |publisher=] |date=March 2, 2018 |accessdate=March 15, 2018 |last=Turak |first=Natasha}}</ref><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 proposed to significantly raise tariffs on Chinese and Mexican exports to the United States.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trumps-contempt-for-the-free-market/2015/10/21/2f61d87c-7815-11e5-bc80-9091021aeb69_story.html |title=Donald Trump's contempt for the free market |last=Lane |first=Charles |date=October 21, 2015 |newspaper=] |accessdate=July 22, 2016}}</ref><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> He has also been critical of the ], threatening to leave unless his proposed tariffs are accepted.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-conventions/trump-i-m-running-against-hillary-not-rest-world-n615581 |title=Trump: I'm Running Against Clinton, Not 'Rest of the World' |accessdate=July 31, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/policy/finance/289005-trump-suggests-leaving-wto-over-import-tax-proposal |title=Trump suggests leaving WTO over import tax proposal |work=] |last=Needham |first=Vicki |date=July 24, 2016 |accessdate=July 31, 2016}}</ref> | |||
{{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> | |||
In March 2018, Trump signed an order imposing import tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum, with exemptions for Canada, Mexico, and possibly other countries.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43337951 |title=Trump tariffs: US President imposes levy on steel and aluminium |date=March 8, 2018 |publisher=] |accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref> In response, the EU imposed retaliatory tariffs targeting $3.4 billion in U.S. exports.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/en/eus-retaliatory-tariffs-on-us-products-come-into-effect/a-44342588 |title=EU's retaliatory tariffs on US products come into effect |website=] |date=June 22, 2018 |accessdate=June 24, 2018}}</ref><ref name=Ewing>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/21/business/economy/europe-tariffs-trump-trade.html |title=Europe Retaliates Against Trump Tariffs |website=] |date=June 21, 2018 |accessdate=June 24, 2018 |last=Ewing |first=Jack}}</ref> | |||
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 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 July, the United States and China imposed tariffs on $34 billion of each other's goods,<ref name=Boudreau-180706>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/06/trump-china-tariffs-farmers-672103 |title=Trump country hit hard by Chinese tariffs |website=] |date=July 6, 2018 |accessdate=July 6, 2018 |first=Catherine |last=Boudreau}}</ref><ref name=Hjelmgaard-180706>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/07/06/trade-war-china-retaliates-after-trump-launches-34-billion-import-duties/762301002/ |title=Trump launches $34 billion trade war and China 'immediately' fires back |website=] |date=July 6, 2018 |accessdate=July 6, 2018 |first=Kim |last=Hjelmgaard}}</ref> expanded to $50 billion in August.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.caixinglobal.com/2018-06-15/us-imposes-tariffs-on-50-billion-of-chinese-imports-101271958.html |title=Trade War Back on Stage With New U.S. Tariffs - Caixin Global |work=Caixin |first1=Han |last1=Wei |first2=Zhang |last2=Qi |date=June 15, 2018 |accessdate=August 9, 2018}}</ref> In September the U.S. introduced a 10% tariff on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, poised to increase to 25% by the end of the year, and threatened further tariffs on an additional $267 billion if China retaliates.<ref name=Reuters-20180918>{{cite news |first1=Yawen |last1=Chen |first2=David |last2=Lawder |title=China says Trump forces its hand, will retaliate against new U.S. tariffs |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-tariffs/trump-slaps-tariffs-on-200-billion-in-chinese-goods-threatens-267-billion-more-idUSKCN1LX2M3 |publisher=] |date=September 18, 2018 |accessdate=September 23, 2018}}</ref> China countered the move with a 10% tariff on $60 billion of U.S. imports,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/18/china-says-new-tariffs-on-us-goods-worth-60-billion-effective-sept-24.html |title=China hits back: It will impose tariffs on $60 billion worth of US goods effective Sept. 24 |publisher=] |date=September 18, 2018 |first=Tae |last=Kim}}</ref> which combined with the previous round of tariffs, covers almost all $110 billion of U.S. imports to China.<ref name=Reuters-20180918 /> | |||
==== FBI Crossfire Hurricane and 2017 counterintelligence investigations ==== | |||
According to some analysts, the escalating ]<ref name=Zaharia-180706>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/how-trade-war-with-us-can-hurt-china-and-economies-including-australia-20180706-p4zpv2.html |title=How trade war with US can hurt China and economies including Australia |website=] |date=July 6, 2018 |accessdate=July 6, 2018 |first=Marius |last=Zaharia}}</ref> could impact $2{{nbsp}}trillion in global trade.<ref name=Kool-180706>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/economy/2018/07/06/tariffs-china-us-potential-2-trillion-trade-war-fallout/762018002/ |title=Analysis: Tariffs from China, US have potential for $2 trillion trade war fallout |website=] |date=July 6, 2018 |accessdate=July 6, 2018 |first=Tom |last=Kool}}</ref><ref name=Chang-180703>{{cite news |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/fitch-warns-president-trumps-trade-fight-could-cost-the-world-2-trillion-in-global-trade-2018-07-03 |title=Fitch warns President Trump's trade fight could cost the world $2 trillion in global trade |website=] |date=July 3, 2018 |accessdate=July 6, 2018 |first=Sue |last=Chang}}</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 ==== | ||
{{Main|Mueller special counsel investigation|Mueller report|Criminal charges brought in the Mueller special counsel investigation}} | |||
{{Main|Environmental policy under the Trump administration}} | |||
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> | |||
While campaigning Trump's energy policy advocated domestic support for both fossil and renewable energy sources in order to curb reliance on Middle-Eastern oil and possibly turn the U.S. into a net energy exporter.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/an-america-first-energy-plan |title=An America first energy plan |date=May 26, 2016 |accessdate=December 3, 2016 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203120726/https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/an-america-first-energy-plan |archivedate=December 3, 2016}}</ref> However following his election his "America First Energy Plan" did not mention renewable energy and instead focused on fossil fuels.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/03/business/energy-environment/trump-energy-plan-climate.html|title=Trump Got Nearly $1 Million in Energy-Efficiency Subsidies in 2012|last=Tabuchi|first=Hiroko|date=March 3, 2017|work=]|accessdate=May 27, 2018}}</ref> Environmentalists have expressed concerns because he has announced plans to make large budget cuts in programs that research renewable energy and to roll back Obama-era policies directed at curbing climate change and limiting environmental pollution.<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 |publisher=] |accessdate=May 27, 2018}}</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> | |||
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 |newspaper=] |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 |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> and his former ] chief, ], does not believe that carbon emissions are the main cause of global warming. While admitting that the climate is warming, Pruitt believes that warming is not necessarily harmful and could be beneficial.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Embury-Dennis |first1=Tom |title=Trump's environment chief Scott Pruitt suggests climate change could be good for humanity |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/scott-pruitt-epa-global-warming-good-humanity-trump-climate-change-environment-protection-agency-a8200196.html |website=] |accessdate=February 27, 2018}}</ref> Based on numerous studies, climate experts disagree with his position.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bacon |first1=John|title=Scientists rebuff EPA chief's claim that global warming may be good |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/02/08/epa-chief-scott-pruitt-global-warming-may-good-thing/318850002/ |website=] |accessdate=May 28, 2018}}</ref> | |||
On June 1, 2017, Trump announced ], making the U.S. the only nation in the world to not ratify the agreement.<ref name=autogeneratedlcv>{{cite web |url=https://www.lcv.org/assets/docs/presidential-candidates-on.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018073305/https://www.lcv.org/assets/docs/presidential-candidates-on.pdf |archivedate=October 18, 2016 |publisher=] |title=In Their Own Words: 2016 Presidential Candidates on Climate Change |format=PDF |accessdate=July 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/01/politics/trump-paris-climate-decision/index.html |title=Trump on Paris accord: 'We're getting out' |last1=Liptak |first1=Kevin |last2=Acosta |first2=Jim |date=June 1, 2017 |publisher=] |accessdate=June 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dennis |first1=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/ |website=] |accessdate=May 28, 2018}}</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> | |||
==== Government size and deregulation ==== | |||
Trump's early policies have favored ]. He signed a ] disapproval resolution, the first in 16 years and second overall.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Adriance |first1=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 |publisher=] |accessdate=March 8, 2017}}</ref> During his first six weeks in office, he abolished ninety federal regulations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Farand |first1=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 |quotation=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> | |||
=== First impeachment === | |||
On January 23, 2017, Trump ordered a ], except for those working in certain areas.<ref name="NYT_federal-hiring-freeze_2017">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/23/us/politics/federal-hiring-freeze.html |title=Trump Orders Broad Hiring Freeze for Federal Government |first=Michael D. |last=Shear |date=January 23, 2017 |accessdate=January 23, 2017 |work=]}}</ref><ref name="Fox_News_2017_hiring-freeze">{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/24/trump-orders-hiring-freeze-for-much-federal-government.html |publisher=] |title=Trump Orders Hiring Freeze for Much of Federal Government |date=January 24, 2017 |accessdate=March 6, 2017}}</ref> The ] of the ] told a ] that hiring freezes have not proven to be effective in reducing costs.<ref name="eyoder">{{cite news |last=Yoder |first=Eric |title=Hiring freeze could add to government's risk, GAO chief warns |newspaper=] |date=February 16, 2017 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/02/16/hiring-freeze-could-add-to-governments-risk-gao-chief-warns/ |quotation='We've looked at hiring freezes in the past by prior administrations and they haven't proven to be effective in reducing costs and they cause some problems if they're in effect for a long period of time,' Comptroller General Gene Dodaro told a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing.}}</ref> Unlike some past freezes, the current freeze bars agencies from adding contractors to make up for employees leaving.<ref name="eyoder" /> A week later Trump signed ], which directed administrative agencies to repeal two existing regulations for every new regulation they issue.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump Signs Executive Order to Drastically Cut Federal Regs |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/30/trump-signs-executive-order-to-drastically-cut-federal-regs.html |date=January 30, 2017 |publisher=] | accessdate=March 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=The White House, Office of the Press Secretary |author1link=White House Office of the Press Secretary |title=Presidential Executive Order on Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/30/presidential-executive-order-reducing-regulation-and-controlling|accessdate=May 16, 2017 |date=January 30, 2017}}</ref> Agency defenders expressed opposition to Trump's criticisms, saying that 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/ |quotation=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> | |||
{{Main|First impeachment of Donald Trump|Trump–Ukraine scandal}} | |||
] <span class="nowrap">({{USBill|116|H. Res.|755}})</span>, December 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 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 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 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> | |||
==== Health care ==== | |||
In 1999, Trump told '']'': "I believe in universal healthcare."<ref name="Kertscher">{{cite news |last1=Kertscher |first1=Tom |title=Donald Trump wants to replace Obamacare with a single-payer health care system, GOP congressman says |url=https://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2015/sep/11/reid-ribble/donald-trump-wants-replace-obamacare-single-payer-/ |website=Politifact Wisconsin |accessdate=January 12, 2017 |date=September 11, 2015}}</ref> Trump's 2000 book, ''The America We Deserve'', argued strongly for a ] system based on the ],<ref name="AWD2000">{{cite book |last1=Trump |first1=Donald |title=The America We Deserve |date=2000 |publisher=Renaissance Books |location=Los Angeles |isbn=978-1-58063-131-0 |pages=258–278 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PV6qZU_xev8C&pg=PT258 |accessdate=January 12, 2017}}</ref> and he has voiced admiration for the ].<ref name="Kertscher" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Millward |first1=David |title=Trump under attack as he praises NHS care |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11789000/Trump-under-attack-as-praises-NHS-care.html|accessdate=January 25, 2017 |work=] |date=August 7, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Learmonth |first1=Andrew |title=US presidential hope Donald Trump hails the NHS in Scotland |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/14898942.US_presidential_hope_Donald_Trump_hails_the_NHS_in_Scotland/|accessdate=January 25, 2017 |work=] |date=August 8, 2015}}</ref> | |||
] | |||
During his campaign, Trump repeatedly vowed to repeal and replace ] (ACA or "Obamacare").<ref name="Kodjak">{{cite news |last1=Kodjak |first1=Alison |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><ref name="Walsh">{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Deirdre |last2=Lee |first2=MJ |title=Trump wants Obamacare repeal 'quickly,' but Republicans aren't ready |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/10/politics/paul-ryan-obamacare-repeal-and-replace/index.html |accessdate=January 12, 2017 |publisher=] |date=January 10, 2017}}</ref> Shortly after taking office, he urged Congress to repeal and replace it. In May of that year, the ] voted to repeal it.<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> Over the course of several months' effort, however, the Senate was unable to pass any version of a repeal bill.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/07/27/politics/health-care-debate-thursday/index.html |title=GOP Obamacare repeal bill fails in dramatic late-night vote |date=July 28, 2017 |publisher=] |accessdate=July 31, 2017}}</ref> Trump has expressed a desire to "let Obamacare fail", and the Trump administration has 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 tax reform Trump signed into law at the end of his first year in office effectively repealed ] that was a major element of the Obamacare health insurance system; this repeal is scheduled to be implemented in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |first=Robert |last=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 news |work=] |date=December 20, 2017 |first=Timothy |last=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/}}</ref> | |||
On December 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 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 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 === | |||
{{Main| |
{{Main|Second impeachment of Donald Trump|Second impeachment trial of Donald Trump}} | ||
] signing the second impeachment of Trump]] | |||
Trump favored changing the 2016 Republican platform to affirm ] in the three exceptional 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 |publisher=]}}</ref> He has said that he is committed to appointing ] justices.<ref name="60min" /> 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 |publisher=] |first=Ariane |last=De Vogue |date=November 15, 2016 |accessdate=November 30, 2016}}</ref> | |||
On January 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 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 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 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> | |||
Trump supports a broad interpretation of the ] and 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><ref name="OWSAR">{{cite web |title=Second Amendment Rights |url=https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/second-amendment-rights |website=Donald J. Trump for President|accessdate=May 22, 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107050849/https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/second-amendment-rights |archivedate=January 7, 2016 |quote=There has been a national background check system in place since 1998 ... Too many states are failing to put criminal and mental health records into the system ... What we need to do is fix the system we have and make it work as intended.}}</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 |publisher=] |date=June 20, 2016 |first=Gregory |last=Krieg}}</ref> Trump opposes ] but supports legalizing ].<ref name="Cannabis">{{cite web |title=Donald Trump on Marijuana |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4541840/donald-trump-marijuana |publisher=] |accessdate=October 17, 2018}}</ref> He 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 |publisher=] |last1=Diamond |first1=Jeremy |author1link=Jeremy Diamond (journalist) |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=] |last1=Foderaro |first1=Lisa |accessdate=March 15, 2016}}</ref> as well as the use of ] and "a hell of a lot worse" methods.<ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=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 |newspaper=] |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 |publisher=] |date=February 6, 2016 |accessdate=February 9, 2016}}</ref> | |||
== 2020 presidential election == | |||
=== Immigration === | |||
{{Main|Immigration policy of Donald Trump}} | |||
], January 25, 2017]] | |||
Trump's proposed immigration policies were a topic of bitter and contentious debate during the campaign. He promised to build a more substantial ] on the ] to keep out ] and vowed that 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 |publisher=] |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 |publisher=]|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> He said that deportation would focus on criminals, visa overstays, and security threats.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abc13.com/politics/trump-vows-no-amnesty-in-immigration-speech/1493776/ |title=Trump retreats on deportations, vows no amnesty |date=September 1, 2016 |agency=]|accessdate=September 2, 2016}}</ref> | |||
=== Defeat to Biden === | |||
{{Main|2020 United States presidential election|Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign}} | |||
{{Further|Executive Order 13769|Executive Order 13780}} | |||
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 million and began 2019 with $19.3 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 billion and spent $800 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> | |||
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 |first=Eugene |last=Scott |title=Trump: My Muslim friends don't support my immigration ban |date=December 13, 2015 |publisher=] |url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/13/politics/donald-trump-muslim-ban-state-of-the-union/}}</ref><ref name=Barro>{{cite news |first=Josh |last=Barro |title=How Unpopular Is Trump's Muslim Ban? Depends How You Ask |date=December 15, 2015 |website=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/16/upshot/how-unpopular-is-trumps-muslim-ban-depends-how-you-ask.html |quote=Donald J. Trump's proposal to bar Muslim noncitizens from entering the United States ...}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Jill |last1=Colvin |first2=Bill |last2=Barrow |title=Donald Trump's supporters see plenty of sense in views that his critics denounce |date=December 14, 2015 |website=] |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2015-12-14/trump-supporters-shrug-off-the-fuss-say-he-gets-it |quote=He said American citizens, including Muslim members of the military, would be exempt, as would certain world leaders and athletes coming to the U.S. to compete.}}</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 says Muslim ban only applies to those from terrorism-heavy countries |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-donald-trump-muslim-ban-20160625-story.html |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 ...}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher=] |date=June 13, 2016 |first=Scott |last=Detrow |title=Trump Calls To Ban Immigration From Countries With 'Proven History Of Terrorism' |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/06/13/481910989/trump-expands-immigration-ban-to-countries-with-proven-history-of-terrorism |quote=I will suspend immigration from areas of the world where there's a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe or our allies until we fully understand how to end these threats.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/07/22/us/politics/trump-immigration-ban-how-could-it-work.html |title=Trump Vows to Stop Immigration From Nations 'Compromised' by Terrorism. How Could It Work? |last=Park |first=Haeyoun |date=July 22, 2016 |newspaper=] |accessdate=July 25, 2016}}</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 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 3, receiving 81.3 million votes (51.3 percent) to Trump's 74.2 million (46.8 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> | |||
On January 27, 2017, Trump signed ], which suspended admission of refugees for 120 days and denied entry to citizens of ], ], ], ], ], ], and ] for 90 days, citing security concerns. The order was imposed without warning and took effect immediately.<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 |publisher=]|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 |publisher=] |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=] |accessdate=July 19, 2017}}</ref> The administration then clarified that visitors with a ] were exempt from the ban.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |last2=Cooper |first2=Helene |title=Trump Bars Refugees and Citizens of 7 Muslim Countries |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/27/us/politics/trump-syrian-refugees.html |accessdate=January 28, 2017 |work=] |date=January 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=January 29, 2017 |first=Peter |last=Baker |authorlink=Peter Baker (journalist) |title=Travelers Stranded and Protests Swell Over Trump Order |accessdate=November 12, 2018 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/us/politics/white-house-official-in-reversal-says-green-card-holders-wont-be-barred.html}}</ref> | |||
==== Rejection of results ==== | |||
On January 30, ], 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) |publisher=] |date=January 30, 2017 |accessdate=March 12, 2018}}</ref> Trump immediately dismissed her.<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement on the Appointment of Dana Boente as Acting Attorney General |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/30/statement-appointment-dana-boente-acting-attorney-general |publisher=The White House |accessdate=August 29, 2017 |date=January 30, 2017}}</ref><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 |newspaper=] |accessdate=August 29, 2017 |date=January 30, 2017 |first=Michael D. |last=Shear |first2=Mark |last2=Landler |first3=Matt |last3=Apuzzo |author3link=Matt Apuzzo |first4=Eric |last4=Lichtblau}}</ref> ] were filed against the order, and on February 5 a federal judge in Seattle blocked its implementation.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=February 4, 2017 |first=Devlin |last=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 |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 |last1=Chakraborty |first1=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 |publisher=] | accessdate=March 6, 2017}}</ref><ref name="BBC.March.6.17" /> Again federal judges in three states blocked its implementation.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=] |date=March 15, 2017 |first=Dan |last=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> On June 26, 2017, 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> | |||
{{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 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> | |||
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, and 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 with injunctions, the Supreme Court allowed the September version to go into full effect on December 4.<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 |agency=Reuters}}</ref> In January 2018, the Supreme Court announced that it would hear a challenge to the travel ban.<ref name=NYT-20180119>{{cite news|last1=Liptak|first1=Adam|title=Supreme Court to Consider Challenge to Trump's Latest Travel Ban|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/19/us/politics/supreme-court-trump-travel-ban.html|accessdate=January 26, 2017|work=]|date=January 19, 2018}}</ref> The Court heard oral arguments on April 25,<ref>{{cite news |title=Key moments from the Supreme Court travel ban hearing |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/25/politics/supreme-court-travel-ban-hearing/index.html |first=Joan |last=Biskupic |publisher=] |date=April 25, 2018 |accessdate=May 24, 2018}}</ref><ref name=NYT-20180119 /> and ultimately upheld the travel ban in a June 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 | publisher=] | date=June 26, 2018 | accessdate=June 26, 2018 | last=Wagner | first=Meg | last2=Ries | first2=Brian}}</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> | |||
==== DACA ==== | |||
While running for president, Trump said that he intended to repeal the ] (DACA) on "day one" of his presidency. The program, introduced in 2012, allowed people who had either entered or remained in the United States illegally as minors to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and be eligible for a work permit.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-daca-20170216-story.html |title=The White House has found ways to end protection for 'Dreamers' while shielding Trump from blowback |first=Brian |last=Bennett |first2=Michael A. |last2=Memoli |date=February 16, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=February 22, 2017}}</ref> | |||
The Electoral College formalized Biden's victory on December 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 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> | |||
In September 2017, Attorney General ] announced that the DACA program would be repealed after six months.<ref name=nytimes-20170905>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/05/us/politics/trump-daca-dreamers-immigration.html |title=Trump Moves to End DACA and Calls on Congress to Act |last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |last2=Hirschfeld Davis |first2=Julie |date=September 5, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=September 6, 2017}}</ref> Trump argued that "top legal experts" believed that DACA was unconstitutional, and called on Congress to use the six-month delay to pass legislation solving the "Dreamers" issue permanently.<ref name="Kopan">{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/05/politics/daca-trump-congress/index.html |title=Trump ends DACA, but gives Congress window to save it |last=Kopan |first=Tal |authorlink=Tal Kopan |publisher=] |date=September 5, 2017}}</ref> {{As of|2018|3}}, when the delay expired, no legislation had been agreed on DACA.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Tal |last1=Kopan |author1link=Tal Kopan |title=DACA's March 5 'deadline' marks only inaction |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/05/politics/daca-deadline-march-5-passing-immigration-courts/index.html |publisher=] |date=March 5, 2018}}</ref> Several states immediately challenged the DACA rescission in court.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kopan |first1=Tal |author1link=Tal Kopan |title=Blue states sue Trump over DACA |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/06/politics/daca-trump-states-lawsuits/index.html |publisher=] |date=September 6, 2017 |accessdate=September 6, 2017}}</ref> Two injunctions in January and February 2018 allowed renewals of applications and stopped the rolling back of DACA, and in April 2018 a federal judge ordered the acceptance of new applications; this would go into effect in 90 days.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jordan |first1=Miriam |title=U.S. Must Resume DACA and Accept New Applications, Federal Judge Rules |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/24/us/daca-dreamers-trump.html |work=] |date=April 24, 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> | |||
==== Family separation at border ==== | |||
{{Main|Trump administration family separation policy}} | |||
=== January 6 Capitol attack === | |||
In April 2018, Trump enacted a ] immigration policy that took adults irregularly entering the U.S. into custody for criminal prosecution and forcibly separated children from parents, eliminating the policy of previous administrations that made exceptions for families with children.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/danvergano/health-effects-parent-child-separation | title=Immigrant Children Who Are Forcibly Separated From Their Parents Face Long-Term Trauma | last=Vergano | first=Dan | accessdate=June 20, 2018 | date=June 15, 2018 | work=] News}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | last =Bachega | first =Hugo | title =Separation of migrant families: What other countries do | publisher=] | date =June 7, 2018 | url =https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44374756}}</ref> By mid-June, more than 2,300 children had been placed in shelters, including "tender age" shelters for babies and toddlers,<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=June 20, 2018 |first=Garance |last=Burke |first2=Martha |last2=Mendoza |title=Toddlers Separated From Parents at the Border Are Being Detained in 'Tender Age' Shelters |accessdate=July 24, 2018 |url=http://time.com/5316764/toddler-immigrants-tender-age-shelters/ |deadurl=yes |archivedate=June 20, 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620044511/http://time.com/5316764/toddler-immigrants-tender-age-shelters/}}</ref> culminating in demands from Democrats, Republicans, Trump allies, and religious groups 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 | dead-url=yes | df=mdy-all }}</ref> Trump falsely asserted that his administration was merely following the law.<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=Maiead}}</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 |publisher=] |date=June 15, 2018 |accessdate=June 18, 2018 |last=Sarlin |first=Benjy}}</ref> | |||
{{Main|January 6 United States Capitol attack}} | |||
On June 20, Trump signed an executive order to end family separations at the U.S. border.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=June 20, 2018 |first=Michael D. |last=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 a federal judge in San Diego issued a preliminary injunction requiring the Trump administration to stop detaining immigrants parents separately from their minor children, and to reunite family groups that had been separated at the border.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/26/politics/federal-court-order-family-separations/index.html|title=Federal judge orders reunification of parents and children, end to most family separations at border|last=Jarrett|first=Laura|date=June 27, 2018|publisher=]|accessdate=June 28, 2018}}</ref> | |||
{{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 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 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> | |||
=== Foreign policy === | |||
{{Main|Foreign policy of the Donald Trump administration|Foreign policy of Donald Trump}} | |||
] in Italy]] | |||
], and Egyptian President ] at the ] in Saudi Arabia]] | |||
== Inter-presidency (2021–present) == | |||
Trump has been described as a ]<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 |first2=Robert |last2=Costa |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> and as an American ].<ref name="nationalinterest.org">{{cite news |url=https://nationalinterest.org/feature/donald-trump-american-nationalist-14237 |title=Donald Trump, American Nationalist |newspaper=] |date=November 3, 2015}}</ref> He has repeatedly stated that he supports an "]" foreign policy.<ref>{{cite news |first=Christiane |last=Amanpour |title=Donald Trump's speech: 'America first,' but an America absent from the world |date=July 22, 2016 |publisher=] |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/07/22/opinions/donald-trump-speech-amanpour/}}</ref> He supports increasing United States military defense spending,<ref name="nationalinterest.org" /> but favors decreasing United States spending on ] and in the Pacific region.<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> He says America should look inward, stop "nation building", and re-orient its resources toward domestic needs.<ref name="rucker" /> | |||
{{Split section|Inter-presidency of Donald Trump |discuss={{TALKPAGENAME}}#Split proposed |date=December 2024}} | |||
{{See also|Personal and business legal affairs of Donald Trump|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 ].<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> | |||
In order to confront the ] (ISIS), Trump in 2015 called for seizing the oil in ISIS-occupied areas, using U.S. air power and ground troops.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=November 2, 2016 |first=David |last=Corn |title=Trump Once Called for Sending US Ground Troops to Fight ISIS and "Take That Oil" |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/11/trump-secret-plan-combat-troops-isis-oil-iraq-syria/}}</ref> In 2016, Trump advocated sending 20,000 to 30,000 U.S. troops to the region,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/03/11/politics/donald-trump-30000-troops-isis/ |title=Trump wants 30,000 troops. Would that defeat ISIS? |last=Gaouette |first=Nicole |date=March 11, 2016 |publisher=] |accessdate=July 12, 2016}}</ref> a position he later retracted.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2016-03-21/the-latest-early-voting-begins-ahead-of-wisconsin-primary |title=Donald Trump now says he would "never ever" deploy 20,000 to 30,000 American troops to combat Islamic State militants, despite suggesting he would be open to that at a recent debate |date=March 21, 2016 |work=] |agency=] |accessdate=July 12, 2016}}</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> | |||
Trump has praised ]'s President ],<ref>{{cite news |publisher=] |date=March 4, 2018 |title=US President Donald Trump praises China's Xi Jinping for consolidating grip on power |url=https://www.dw.com/en/us-president-donald-trump-praises-chinas-xi-jinping-for-consolidating-grip-on-power/a-42817441}}</ref> ] President ],<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 |author1=Jonathan Lemire |author2=Jill Colvin}}</ref> ]ian President ],<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> ]'s President ],<ref>{{cite news |publisher=] |date=September 21, 2017 |first=Margaret |last=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> King ]<ref>{{cite news |publisher=] |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> and Italy's Prime Minister ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tpi.it/2018/06/15/trump-elogia-conte/|title=Donal Trump elogia il premier italiano Giuseppe Conte: "È fantastico" – Video|date=June 15, 2018|publisher=}}</ref> On April 7, 2017, Trump ordered a ] against a Syrian airfield in retaliation for the ].<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 |publisher=]|date=April 7, 2017}}</ref> On April 13, 2018, he announced ] against the regime of ] ], following a suspected chemical attack near ].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/04/13/trump-announces-u-s-military-strikes-in-syria.html |title=Trump announces U.S. military strikes in Syria |date=April 13, 2018 |publisher=] |accessdate=April 14, 2018}}</ref> According to investigative journalist ], Trump had ordered his Defense Secretary James Mattis to assassinate Assad, but Mattis declined.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump wanted Syria's Assad assassinated, Bob Woodward claims in extraordinary new book |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-bob-woodward-fear-book-syria-assad-kill-claims-a8523176.html |work=] |date=September 4, 2018 |first=Chris |last=Stevenson}}</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> | |||
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}}</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=] |date=May 21, 2018}}</ref><ref name=Phelps-170520>{{cite news |title =Trump signs $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia on 'a tremendous day' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-signs-110-billion-arms-deal-saudi-arabia/story?id=47531180 |publisher=] |date=May 20, 2017 |accessdate=July 6, 2018 |first=Jordyn |last=Phelps |first2=Ryan |last2=Struyk}}</ref> Trump also praised his relationship with ]'s powerful Crown Prince ].<ref name="prince"/> | |||
=== Business activities === | |||
In November 2017, the Trump administration tightened the rules on trade with ] and individual visits to the county, undoing the Obama administration's ]. According to an administration official, the new rules were intended to hinder trade with businesses with ties to the Cuban military, intelligence and security services.<ref>{{cite news|last1=DeYoung|first1=Karen|title=White House implements new Cuba policy restricting travel and trade|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/white-house-implements-new-cuba-policy-restricting-travel-and-trade/2017/11/08/a5597dee-c49b-11e7-aae0-cb18a8c29c65_story.html|work=]|date=November 8, 2017}}</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 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 === | |||
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 |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 Trump's pre-election position critical of further involvement in Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gordon |first1=Michael R. |last2=Schmitt |first2=Eric |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> U.S. officials said then that they aimed to "force the Taliban to negotiate a political settlement"; in January 2018, however, Trump spoke against talks with the Taliban.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rampton |first1=Roberta |last2=Landay |first2=Jonathan |title=Trump rejects peace talks with Taliban in departure from Afghan strategy |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-blast-trump/trump-rejects-peace-talks-with-taliban-in-departure-from-afghan-strategy-idUSKBN1FI2BU |publisher=] |date=January 29, 2018}}</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 ==== | ||
{{Main|FBI investigation into Donald Trump's handling of government documents|FBI search of Mar-a-Lago|Smith special counsel investigation}} | |||
{{Main|Iran–United States relations#2017–present: Trump administration | United States withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action}} | |||
] | |||
During the campaign Trump maintained that "Iran is now the dominant Islamic power in the ] and on the road to nuclear weapons."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://jewishjournal.com/news/nation/186652/|title=Trump targets Clinton on tenure at State Dept.|last=JacobK|date=June 22, 2016|work=]|accessdate=March 25, 2017}}</ref> He ] the ] (JCPOA or "Iran nuclear deal") that was negotiated with the United States, Iran, and five other world powers in 2015, calling it "terrible" and saying that the Obama administration negotiated the agreement "from desperation."<ref name="KatyTurIranInterview">{{cite news |publisher=] |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> At one point he said that despite opposing the content of the deal, he would attempt to enforce it rather than abrogate it.<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}}</ref> However, in a speech to the ] (AIPAC) in March 2016, Trump said that his "number-one priority is to dismantle the disastrous deal with Iran."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://time.com/4267058/donald-trump-aipac-speech-transcript/ |title=Read Donald Trump's Speech to AIPAC |last=Begley |first=Sarah |magazine=Time |accessdate=May 16, 2016}}</ref> | |||
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 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> | |||
], Tehran, December 11, 2017]] | |||
Following Iran’s ballistic missile tests on January 29, 2017, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on 25 Iranian individuals and entities in February 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Borger|first1=Julian|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 Flynnr|work=The Guardian|date = February 2, 2017|accessdate=November 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/as0004.aspx |title=Treasury Sanctions Supporters of Iran's Ballistic Missile Program and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – Qods Force |publisher=Treasury.gov |date=February 13, 2017 |accessdate=June 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Trump administration tightens Iran sanctions, Tehran hits back|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-usa-idUSKBN15H253|agency=Reuters|date=February 3, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Borger|first1=Julian|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=The Guardian |date = February 3, 2017|accessdate=November 9, 2018}}</ref> | |||
On November 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> | |||
Trump reportedly lobbied "dozens" of European officials against doing business with Iran during the May ]; this likely violated the terms of the JCPOA, under which the U.S. may not pursue "any policy specifically intended to directly and adversely affect the normalization of trade and economic relations with Iran." The Trump administration certified in July 2017 that Iran had upheld its end of the agreement.<ref>{{cite news |last=Aleem |first=Zeeshan |url=https://www.vox.com/2017/7/21/16003746/trump-iran-deal-zarif |title=Iran says the US is violating the nuclear deal. It has a point |website=] |date=July 21, 2017 |accessdate=July 22, 2017}}</ref> On May 18, 2018, Trump announced the United States' unilateral departure from the JCPOA.<ref>{{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|agency=]|accessdate=May 8, 2018}}</ref> | |||
==== Criminal referral by the House January 6 Committee ==== | |||
==== Israel ==== | |||
{{Main|United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack}} | |||
] at ], May 2017]] | |||
On December 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> | |||
Regarding the ], Trump has stated the importance of being a neutral party during potential negotiations, while also having stated that he is "a big fan of Israel".<ref name="consol">{{cite news |title=Would Donald Trump be 'neutral' between Israel and its enemies? |url=https://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2016/mar/01/conservative-solutions-pac/would-donald-trump-be-neutral-between-israel-and-i/ |publisher=] |accessdate=October 17, 2018}}</ref> During the campaign he said he would relocate ] to ] from its current location, ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Moving US embassy to Jerusalem may be slipping down Trump's agenda |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/23/us-embassy-jerusalem-trump-israel|accessdate=February 4, 2017 |work=] |agency=Reuters |date=January 23, 2017}}</ref> On May 22, 2017, Trump was the first U.S. president to visit the ] in Jerusalem, during his first foreign trip, which included Israel, Italy, ], and ].<ref>{{cite news |work=] |date=May 24, 2017 |first=Mark |last=Landler |first2=Jason |last2=Horowitz |title=With Gift and in Conversation, Vatican Presses Trump on Climate Change |accessdate=May 14, 2018 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/world/europe/pope-trump-vatican-meet.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rafferty |first=Andrew |date=May 23, 2017 |title=Trump Becomes First Sitting U.S. President to Visit Western Wall |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/trumps-first-foreign-trip/trump-becomes-first-sitting-u-s-president-visit-western-wall-n762891 |publisher=] |accessdate=May 24, 2017}}<br />{{cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Luke |last2=Holland |first2=Steve |date=May 23, 2017 |title=In U.S. presidential first, Trump prays at Jerusalem's Western Wall |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-israel-wall-idUSKBN18I1V6 |agency=] |location=London, England|accessdate=May 24, 2017}}<br />{{cite news |last=Diamond |first=Jeremy |authorlink=Jeremy Diamond (journalist) |date=May 23, 2017 |title=Trump makes historic visit to Western Wall |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/05/22/politics/trump-israel-western-wall/ |publisher=] |accessdate=May 24, 2017}}</ref> Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on December 6, 2017, despite criticism and warnings from world leaders. Trump added that he would initiate the process of establishing a new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/06/trump-move-embassy-jerusalem-israel-reaction-281973 |last=Nelson |first=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> which was later opened on May 14, 2018.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |title=US Embassy opens in Jerusalem: 'When Trump makes a promise, he keeps it' |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5260407,00.html |accessdate=July 25, 2018 |date=May 14, 2018}}</ref> The ] condemned the move, adopting a resolution that "calls upon all States to refrain from the establishment of diplomatic missions in the Holy City of Jerusalem" in an emergency session on December 21, 2017.<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 |publisher=] |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 |newspaper=] |date=December 21, 2017 |accessdate=December 21, 2017}}</ref> | |||
==== |
==== State criminal indictments ==== | ||
{{Main|Georgia election racketeering prosecution}} | |||
As a candidate Trump questioned whether he, as president, would automatically extend ],<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/21/us/politics/donald-trump-issues.html |title=Donald Trump Sets Conditions for Defending NATO Allies Against Attack |date=July 20, 2016 |last=Sanger |first=David E. |authorlink=David E. Sanger |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |author2link=Maggie Haberman |newspaper=] |accessdate=July 31, 2016}}</ref> and suggested that he might leave NATO unless changes are made to the alliance.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2016/05/whats-trumps-position-on-nato/ |title=What's Trump's Position on NATO? |publisher=] |accessdate=July 31, 2016}}</ref> As president, he reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to NATO in March 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-senate-nato-russia-republicans-562655 |title=Trump supports NATO, but Senate holds up expansion |date=March 1, 2017 |agency=Reuters |work=]|accessdate=May 2, 2017}}</ref> However, he has repeatedly accused fellow NATO members of paying less than their fair share of the expenses of the alliance.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Peter |author1link=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 |accessdate=July 12, 2018 |work=] |date=May 26, 2018}}</ref> | |||
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 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> | |||
==== North Korea ==== | |||
] at ] in June 2018]] | |||
During the campaign and the early months of his presidency, Trump said he hoped that China would help to rein in North Korea's nuclear ambitions and missile tests.<ref name="over" /> However, North Korea accelerated ] and ] leading to increased tension.<ref name="over">{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/04/17/524316419/pence-tells-north-korea-the-era-of-strategic-patience-is-over |title=Pence Tells North Korea: 'The Era Of Strategic Patience Is Over' |last=Kennedy |first=Merrit |date=April 17, 2017 |publisher=] |accessdate=April 19, 2017}}</ref> In July, the country tested two long-range missiles identified by Western observers as ]s, potentially capable of reaching ], ], and the U.S. mainland.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/07/29/asia/north-korea-intercontinental-ballistic-missile-test/index.html |title=US slams North Korea missile test as Kim claims 'whole US mainland' in reach |last=Lendon |first=Brad |date=July 30, 2017 |publisher=] |accessdate=August 11, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wright |first1=David |title=North Korean ICBM Appears Able to Reach Major US Cities |url=https://allthingsnuclear.org/dwright/new-north-korean-icbm |website=All Things Nuclear |publisher=] |accessdate=July 28, 2017 |date=July 28, 2017}}</ref> In August, Trump dramatically escalated his rhetoric against North Korea, warning that further provocation against the U.S. would be met with "fire and fury like the world has never seen."<ref name="philly">{{cite news |url=https://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/presidential/trump-escalates-rhetoric-on-threat-from-north-korea-20170810.html |title=Trump escalates rhetoric on threat from North Korea |last1=Rucker |first1=Philip |last2=Deyoung |first2=Karen |date=August 10, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=August 11, 2017}}</ref> North Korean leader ] then threatened to direct the country's next missile test toward ].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2017-08-10/north-korea-details-plan-to-fire-missile-salvo-toward-guam |title=Trump doubles down on 'fire and fury' vow as wargames near |last=Talmadge |first=Eric |last2=Lemire |first2=Jonathan |date=August 11, 2017 |agency=] |work=] |accessdate=September 30, 2017}}</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 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> | |||
On June 12, 2018, after several rounds of preliminary staff-level meetings, Trump and Kim held ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump-Kim summit: Kim Jong Un gave unwavering commitment to denuclearisation, says Trump |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/north-korean-leader-kim-gave-unwavering-commitment-to-denuclearisation-trump |website=] |accessdate=June 13, 2018 |date=June 12, 2018}}</ref> In a joint declaration, both countries vowed to "join their efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula", while North Korea repeated its April 2018 promise to "work towards the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."<ref>{{cite web |title=Joint Statement of President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the Singapore Summit |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/joint-statement-president-donald-j-trump-united-states-america-chairman-kim-jong-un-democratic-peoples-republic-korea-singapore-summit/ |website=The White House |accessdate=June 12, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Rosenfeld">{{cite news |last1=Rosenfeld |first1=Everett |title=Document signed by Trump and Kim includes four main elements related to 'peace regime' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/12/trump-and-kim-sign-agreement-document-after-summit-in-singapore.html |publisher=] |accessdate=June 12, 2018 |date=June 12, 2018}}</ref> | |||
==== |
==== Federal criminal indictments ==== | ||
{{Main|Federal prosecution of Donald Trump (classified documents case)|Federal prosecution of Donald Trump (election obstruction case)}} | |||
{{Main|Russia–United States relations}} | |||
], July 2017]] | |||
During his campaign and as president, Trump repeatedly said that he wants 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 |publisher=]|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> and he has praised Russian President ] as a strong leader.<ref>{{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 |date=November 14, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=March 14, 2017 |last2=Markon |first2=Jerry |last3=DeYoung |first3=Karen}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/trump-putin-bromance |title=Trump and Putin's Bromance Could Change the World |last=Conrad |first=Peter |date=January 13, 2017 |work=] |accessdate=May 29, 2017}}</ref> Trump had pledged to hold a summit meeting with Putin,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Oliphant |first1=Roland |last2=Millward |first2=David |title=Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin ready to hold summit following historic phone call |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/28/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-hold-historic-telephone-call/|accessdate=May 31, 2017 |work=] |date=January 28, 2017}}</ref> stating that Russia could help the U.S. in ].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/trump-suggests-us-accept-russias-annexation-crimea/ |title=Trump suggests U.S. accept Russia's annexation of Crimea |date=August 1, 2016 |work=] |agency=] |accessdate=February 19, 2017}}</ref> According to Putin 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}}</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}}</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 |publisher=] |date=March 30, 2018}}</ref> | |||
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 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 and Putin met in a ] in Helsinki on July 16, 2018. Trump drew harsh bipartisan criticism in the United States for appearing to side with Putin's denial of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, rather than accepting the findings of the ].<ref name="zurcher">{{cite news |last1=Zurcher |first1=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 |publisher=] |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> His comments were strongly criticized by many congressional Republicans and most media commentators, even those who normally support him.<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|publisher=]|accessdate=July 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-allies-abandoning-him-after-putin-press-conference-2018-7|title=Trump's staunchest media allies are facing their biggest test yet — and some of them are finally abandoning him|last=Relman|first=Eliza|date=July 18, 2018|work=]|accessdate=July 18, 2018}}</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> | |||
=== Personnel === | |||
{{Main|Political appointments by Donald Trump}} | |||
The Trump administration has been characterized by high turnover, particularly among White House staff. By the end of Trump's first year in office, 34 percent of his original staff had resigned, been fired, or been reassigned.<ref name="Trimble">{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2017-12-28/trumps-white-house-has-highest-turnover-rate-in-40-years |title=Trump White House Has Highest Turnover in 40 Years |last=Trimble |first=Megan |date=December 28, 2017 |work=] |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 |publisher=] |date=July 2, 2018 |accessdate=July 3, 2018 |agency=]}}</ref> Both figures set a record for recent presidents{{emdash}}more change in the first 13 months than his four immediate predecessors saw in their first two years.<ref name="Keith">{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/03/07/591372397/white-house-staff-turnover-was-already-record-setting-then-more-advisers-left |title=White House Staff Turnover Was Already Record-Setting. Then More Advisers Left |last=Keith |first=Tamara |publisher=] |accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> Notable early departures included National Security Advisor ] (after just 25 days in office), Chief of Staff ], replaced by retired Marine General ] on July 28, 2017,<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 |first=Peter |last=Baker |authorlink=Peter Baker (journalist) |first2=Maggie |last2=Haberman |author2link=Maggie Haberman}}</ref> and Press Secretary ].<ref name="Keith" /> Close personal aides to Trump such as ], ], ] and ], have quit or been forced out.<ref name=Brookings /> | |||
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 been slow to appoint second-tier officials in the executive branch, saying that many of the positions are unnecessary. {{As of|2017|10}}, there were hundreds of sub-cabinet positions vacant.<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 |publisher=] |accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> At the end of his first year in office, ] reported that "of the roughly 600 key executive branch positions, just 241 have been filled, 135 nominated candidates await confirmation while 244 slots have no nominee at all."<ref name="one year">{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/one-year-into-trump-presidency-key-executive-branch-positions-remain-unfilled/ |title=One year into Trump's presidency, hundreds of key executive branch positions remain unfilled |date=January 19, 2018 |publisher=] |accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref>{{needs update|date=June 2018}} | |||
==== Criminal conviction in the 2016 campaign fraud case ==== | |||
==== Cabinet ==== | |||
{{Main| |
{{Main|Prosecution of Donald Trump in New York|Stormy Daniels–Donald Trump scandal}} | ||
{{See also|Personal and business legal affairs of Donald Trump#Payments related to alleged affairs|Karen McDougal#Alleged affair with Donald Trump}} | |||
] | |||
Trump's ] included U.S. Senator from Alabama ] as ],<ref name=nominations-20161118>{{cite pr |url=https://www.greatagain.gov/news/president-elect-donald-j-trump-selects-us-senator-jeff-sessions-attorney-general-lt-gen-michael.html |title=President Donald J. Trump Selects U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions for Attorney General, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn as Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency |location=New York City |publisher=Office of the President Elect and of the Vice President Elect |date=November 18, 2016 |accessdate=November 18, 2016}}</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 |publisher=]|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 |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 |newspaper=] |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}}</ref> | |||
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> | |||
While most of Trump's nominees were approved by the GOP majority in the Senate, the confirmation of education reform activist ] as ]<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=David |title=Betsy Devos, billionaire philanthropist, picked as Trump education secretary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/23/betsy-devos-education-secretary-trump-administration |accessdate=November 23, 2016 |work=] |date=November 23, 2016}}</ref> required Vice President Pence to cast a rare ], the first in a Cabinet nominee's Senate confirmation.<ref>{{cite news |title=DeVos Confirmed as Education Secretary, Pence Casts Historic Tie-Breaking Vote |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/07/devos-confirmed-as-education-secretary-pence-casts-historic-tie-breaking-vote.html |date=February 7, 2017 |publisher=] |accessdate=February 8, 2017}}</ref> | |||
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> | |||
Two of Trump's 15 original cabinet members were gone within 15 months: Health and Human Services Secretary ] was forced to resign in September 2017 due to excessive use of private charter jets and military aircraft, and Trump replaced 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 |publisher=] |accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt resigned in July 2018 amidst multiple investigations into his 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 |publisher=] |date=July 5, 2018 |accessdate=July 5, 2018 |first=Rebecca |last=Hersher |first2=Brett |last2=Neelyin}}</ref> | |||
=== |
==== Civil judgments ==== | ||
{{Main|New York business fraud lawsuit against the Trump Organization|E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump}} | |||
==== Russian interference ==== | |||
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 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.<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> | |||
{{Main|Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections|Links between Trump associates and Russian officials}} | |||
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 |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 US presidential election. Russia's goals were to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, 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 that "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> Later, in testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee on June 8, he affirmed he has "no doubt" that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, adding "they did it with purpose and sophistication".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/videos/james-comey-no-doubt-russia-interfered-in-2016-election/ |title=James Comey: "No doubt" Russia interfered in 2016 election |date=June 8, 2017 |accessdate=June 8, 2017 |publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
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 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 million in damages. In March, he posted a $91.6 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's connections to 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 for several years 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 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 |last1=Nesbit |first1=Jeff |date=August 15, 2016 |work=] |accessdate=February 28, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/21/us/roger-stone-donald-trump-russia.html |title=Roger Stone, the 'Trickster' on Trump's Side, Is Under F.B.I. Scrutiny |last=Haberman |first=Maggie |authorlink=Maggie Haberman |date=March 21, 2017 |work=]}}</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 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 |date=May 18, 2017 |accessdate=May 19, 2017 |agency=Reuters |last2=Landay |first2=Jonathan |last3=Strobel |first3=Warren}}</ref> On December 29, 2016, Flynn talked with Russian Ambassador ] about sanctions that had been imposed the same day; Trump later fired Flynn for falsely claiming he had not discussed the sanctions.<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 |date=February 14, 2017 |accessdate=March 2, 2017 |publisher=] |last2=Borger |first2=Gloria |last3=Diamond |first3=Jeremy |author3link=Jeremy Diamond (journalist)}}</ref> | |||
== 2024 presidential election == | |||
==== Dismissal of James Comey ==== | |||
{{Main| |
{{Main|Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign}} | ||
{{Further|2024 Republican Party presidential primaries|2024 United States presidential election|Second presidential transition of Donald Trump}} | |||
On May 9, 2017, Trump dismissed FBI Director James Comey. He first attributed this action to recommendations from Attorney General ] and Deputy AG ],<ref name=Apuzzo>{{cite news |first=Michael D. |last=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> On May 11, Trump stated that 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 |newspaper=] |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> | |||
{{See also|Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania|Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Florida}} | |||
] | |||
According to a ] of a private conversation on February 14, 2017, Trump said he "hoped" Comey would drop the investigation into Michael Flynn.<ref name="Wilber">{{cite news |last1=Wilber |first1=Del Quentin |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> | |||
On November 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 percent of the donations to his ]. His campaign had paid $100 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 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> | |||
In March and April, Trump had told Comey that the ongoing suspicions formed a "cloud" impairing his presidency,<ref name="comeytestimony">{{cite web |last1=Comey |first1=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 |format=PDF |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 |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 |publisher=] |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 |publisher=] |date=May 22, 2017}}</ref> Comey eventually testified on June 8 that while he was director, the FBI investigations did not target 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 |newspaper=] |first1=Glenn |last1=Thrush |author1link=Glenn Thrush |first2=Maggie |last2=Haberman |author2link=Maggie Haberman |date=June 8, 2017 |accessdate=June 9, 2017}}</ref> In a statement on Twitter Trump implied that he had "tapes" of conversations with Comey, before later stating that he did not in fact have such tapes.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Mark |last1=Landler |first2=Maggie |last2=Haberman |author2link=Maggie Haberman |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/22/us/politics/trump-comey-tapes.html |title=Trump Says He Did Not Tape Comey Conversations |work=] |date=June 22, 2017}}</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" /> | |||
==== Special counsel ==== | |||
] in Paris on December 7, 2024]] On July 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> | |||
{{Main|Special Counsel investigation (2017–present)}} | |||
On May 17, 2017, ] ] appointed ], a former ], to serve as ] for the ] (DOJ). In this capacity, Mueller oversees the ] into "any links and/or coordination between Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump, and any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/05/17/us/politics/document-Robert-Mueller-Special-Counsel-Russia.html |title=Rod Rosenstein's Letter Appointing Mueller Special Counsel |last1=Rosenstein |first1=Rod |date=May 17, 2017 |website=] |dead-url=no |accessdate=May 18, 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518015032/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/05/17/us/politics/document-Robert-Mueller-Special-Counsel-Russia.html |archivedate=May 18, 2017}}</ref> Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bump|first1=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 is also investigating the Trump campaign's possible ties to ], the ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump Jr. and Other Aides Met With Gulf Emissary Offering Help to Win Election |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/19/us/politics/trump-jr-saudi-uae-nader-prince-zamel.html |work=] |date=May 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Joshua |last=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> | |||
== Political practice and rhetoric == | |||
''The Washington Post'' reported that days after Comey's dismissal the special counsel started investigating whether Trump had obstructed justice.<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 |quote=Trump is officially under investigation... Special counsel investigating Trump for possible obstruction of justice... The president is being investigated...}}</ref> Trump's lawyer ] stated that he had not been notified of any such investigation.<ref>{{cite interview |last=Sekulow |first=Jay |author-link=Jay Sekulow |interviewer=] |title=Transcript: Jay Sekulow on "Face the Nation," June 18, 2017 |work=] |publisher=] |date=June 18, 2017 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transcript-jay-sekulow-on-face-the-nation-june-18-2017/ |accessdate=June 19, 2017 |quote=SEKULOW: The president is not and has not been under investigation. <br /> DICKERSON: How do you know? <br /> SEKULOW: Because we've received no notice of investigation. There has been no notification from the special counsel's office that the president is under investigation.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-06-18/trump-not-under-investigation-for-obstruction-lawyer-tells-nbc |title=Trump Not Under Investigation for Obstruction, Lawyer Says |date=June 18, 2017 |publisher=]}}</ref> ABC News later reported that the special counsel was gathering preliminary information about possible ] but had not launched a full-scale investigation.<ref name="thomas17">{{cite news |last=Thomas |first=Pierre |date=June 19, 2017 |title=Where things stand with special counsel Mueller's Russia probe |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/things-stand-special-counsel-muellers-russia-probe/story?id=48142304 |publisher=] |quote=According to sources familiar with the process ... n assessment of evidence and circumstances will be completed before a final decision is made to launch an investigation of the president of the United States regarding potential obstruction of justice.}}</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> | |||
=== Link to hate crimes === | |||
In January 2018, ''The New York Times'' reported that Trump had ordered Mueller to be fired in June, after learning that Mueller was investigating possible obstruction of justice, but backed down after White House Counsel ] said he would quit;<ref>{{cite news |first1=Michael S. |last1=Schmidt |author1link=Michael S. Schmidt |first2=Maggie |last2=Haberman |author2link=Maggie Haberman |title=Trump Ordered Mueller Fired, but Backed Off When White House Counsel Threatened to Quit |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/25/us/politics/trump-mueller-special-counsel-russia.html |newspaper=] |date=January 25, 2018}}</ref> Trump called the report "fake news".<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump denies trying to fire Mueller |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42827507 |publisher=] |accessdate=January 26, 2018 |date=January 25, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Helderman">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-moved-to-fire-mueller-in-june-bringing-white-house-counsel-to-the-brink-of-leaving/2018/01/25/9184a49e-0238-11e8-bb03-722769454f82_story.html |title=Trump moved to fire Mueller in June, bringing White House counsel to the brink of leaving |work=] |date=January 26, 2018 |accessdate=January 26, 2018 |last=Helderman |first=Rosalind |last2=Dawsey |first2=Josh |url-access=limited}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' reported in April 2018 that Trump had again wanted the investigation shut down in early December 2017, but stopped after learning the news reports he based his decision on were incorrect.<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> In April 2018, following an FBI raid on the office and home of Trump's private attorney ], Trump mused aloud about firing Mueller.<ref name="NBC041118">{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/white-house-president-trump-has-power-fire-mueller-n864556 |title=White House: President Trump 'certainly believes he has the power' to fire Mueller |last=Salama |first=Vivian |date=April 10, 2018 |publisher=] |accessdate=April 11, 2018}}</ref> | |||
{{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 | 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> | |||
In January 2018, ''The Washington Post'' reported that Mueller wants to interview Trump about the removal of Michael Flynn and James Comey.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Leonnig |first1=Carol D. |last2=Horwitz |first2=Sari |last3=Dawsey |first3=Josh |title=Mueller seeks to question Trump about Flynn and Comey departures |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mueller-seeks-to-question-trump-about-flynn-and-comey-departures/2018/01/23/e6652db6-0068-11e8-9d31-d72cf78dbeee_story.html |work=] |date=January 23, 2018}}</ref> Trump has expressed a willingness to do the interview; according to ''The New York Times'', some of his lawyers have warned against doing so. Mueller can subpoena Trump to testify if Trump refuses.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump's lawyers want him to refuse Mueller interview request: NY Times |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-lawyers/trumps-lawyers-want-him-to-refuse-mueller-interview-request-ny-times-idUSKBN1FQ0BC |publisher=] |date=February 6, 2018}}</ref> {{As of|March 2018}}, Trump is reportedly a "subject" of the investigation, meaning his conduct is being looked at, but not a "target" which would indicate the likelihood of criminal charges.<ref name=subject>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mueller-told-trumps-attorneys-the-president-remains-under-investigation-but-is-not-currently-a-criminal-target/2018/04/03/d7832cf0-36c1-11e8-acd5-35eac230e514_story.html |title=Mueller told Trump's attorneys the president remains under investigation but is not currently a criminal target |first1=Carol D. |last1=Leonnig |first2=Robert |last2=Costa |date=April 3, 2018 |newspaper=]}}</ref> | |||
=== Truthfulness === | |||
In August 2018, Trump wrote that Attorney General Jeff Sessions "should stop" the special counsel investigation "right now"; he also referred to it as a "rigged witch hunt".<ref name=Morin-180801>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/01/trump-calls-on-sessions-to-stop-mueller-probe-755030 |title=Trump calls on Sessions to stop Mueller probe |website=] |date=August 1, 2018 |accessdate=August 1, 2018 |first=Rebecca |last=Morin}}</ref><ref name=Chiacu-180801>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia/trump-says-attorney-general-should-stop-mueller-probe-right-now-idUSKBN1KM539 |title=Trump says attorney general should stop Mueller probe 'right now' |publisher=] |date=August 1, 2018 |accessdate=August 1, 2018 |first=Doina |last=Chiacu}}</ref><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 |last=Keneally |first=Meghan |last2=Mallin |first2=Alexander |date=August 1, 2018 |publisher=] |accessdate=August 1, 2018}}</ref> | |||
{{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]] | |||
==== Other legal affairs ==== | |||
{{Main|Legal affairs of Donald Trump}} | |||
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> | |||
Adult film actress ] has alleged that she and Trump had an affair in 2006,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Luckhurst |first1=Toby |title=The Stormy Daniels-Donald Trump story explained |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43334326 |publisher=] |accessdate=March 11, 2018}}</ref> which Trump denied.<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> In January 2018, it was reported that just before the 2016 presidential election Daniels was paid $130,000 by Trump's attorney ] as part of a ] (NDA); Cohen later said he paid her with his own money.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/13/politics/michael-cohen-stormy-daniels-payment/index.html |title=Trump's lawyer says he paid $130,000 to porn star ahead of election |last1=Tatum |first1=Sophie |last2=Cuomo |first2=Chris |date=February 14, 2018 |publisher=] |accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref> In February 2018, Daniels sued Cohen's company asking to be released from the NDA and be allowed to tell her story. Cohen obtained a ] to keep her from discussing the case.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-tries-silence-stormy-daniels-n854646 |title=Trump lawyer Michael Cohen tries to silence adult-film star Stormy Daniels |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Sarah |date=March 8, 2018 |publisher=] |accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-tries-move-stormy-daniels-lawsuit-federal-court-claims-she-n857491 |title=Trump tries to move Stormy Daniels lawsuit to federal court, claims she owes him $20 million |last1=Fitzpatrick |first1=Sarah |last2=Connor |first2=Tracy |date=March 16, 2018 |publisher=] |accessdate=March 17, 2018}}</ref> In March, Daniels claimed in court that the NDA never came into effect because Trump did not sign it personally.<ref>{{cite news |work=] |title=Stormy Daniels files lawsuit against Trump |first=Brandon |last=Carter |quote=Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, claims in her suit filed Tuesday that the nondisclosure agreement is not valid because Trump never signed the deal, according to documents revealed publicly by her attorney, Michael Avenatti. |date=March 6, 2018 |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/377095-stormy-daniels-files-lawsuit-against-trump-report}}</ref> In April, Trump said that he did not know about Cohen paying Daniels, why Cohen had made the payment or where Cohen got the money from.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-06/donald-trump-says-he-didnt-know-about-payment-to-stormy-daniels/9625396 |publisher=] |title=Trump breaks his silence on payment to porn star Stormy Daniels |date=April 6, 2018 |accessdate=May 3, 2018}}</ref> In May, Trump's annual financial disclosure revealed that he reimbursed Cohen in 2017 for payments related to Daniels.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/05/16/611660586/trump-acknowledges-financial-liability-for-stormy-daniels-payment |title=Trump Acknowledges Financial 'Liability' For Stormy Daniels Payment |publisher=] |accessdate=May 16, 2018}}</ref> In August 2018, in a case brought by the office of the ],<ref name=otherinvestigations>{{cite news |date=September 2, 2018 |last1=Blumenthal |first1=Paul |title=It's Not Just Robert Mueller. President Donald Trump Faces Six Separate Investigations And Lawsuits |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-investigations_us_5b85861de4b0511db3d229d7 |work=] |accessdate=September 3, 2018}}</ref> Cohen pleaded guilty in federal court to breaking campaign finance laws, admitting to paying ] of $130,000 to Daniels and $150,000 indirectly to '']'' model ], and said that he did it at the direction of Trump,<ref>{{cite news |first1=Larry |last1=Neumeister |first2=Tom |last2=Hays |title=Cohen pleads guilty, implicates Trump in hush-money scheme |url=https://apnews.com/74aaf72511d64fceb1d64529207bde64 |agency=] |date=August 22, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Trump accused of directing hush money |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45265546 |publisher=] |date=August 22, 2018}}</ref> with the aim of influencing the presidential election.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 24, 2018 |last1=Wise |first1=Justin |title=Shep Smith: Trump's 'hush money' wasn't about sex but about influencing election |url=http://thehill.com/homenews/media/403526-shep-smith-trumps-hush-money-payments-arent-about-sex-theyre-about-influencing |work=] |accessdate=August 25, 2018}}</ref> In response, Trump said that he only knew about the payments "later on", and that he paid back Cohen personally, not out of campaign funds.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Singman |first1=Brooke |title=Trump insists he learned of Michael Cohen payments 'later on,' in 'Fox & Friends' exclusive |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/08/22/trump-insists-learned-michael-cohen-payments-later-on-in-fox-friends-exclusive.html |publisher=] |accessdate=August 23, 2018}}</ref> Cohen also said he would cooperate fully with the ] into collusion with Russia.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45270339 |title=Trump ex-lawyer 'happy' to aid Russia probe |date=August 22, 2018 |publisher=]}}</ref> ''The Wall Street Journal'' reported on November 9, 2018, that federal prosecutors have evidence of Trump’s "central role" in payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal that violated campaign-finance laws.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-played-central-role-in-hush-payoffs-to-stormy-daniels-and-karen-mcdougal-1541786601 |title=Donald Trump Played Central Role in Hush Payoffs to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal |first=Joe |last=Palazzolo |first2=Nicole |last2=Hong |first3=Michael |last3=Rothfeld |first4=Rebecca Davis |last4=O'Brien |first5=Rebecca |last5=Ballhaus |work=] |accessdate=November 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>Full access to WSJ article via Twitter> https://twitter.com/rebeccaballhaus/status/1060956637211570176</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> | |||
] ] and ] ] have ] alleging that President Trump violated the ] of the United States Constitution by continuing to profit from his businesses, such as the ], as well as receiving foreign government payments through his businesses.<ref name=otherinvestigations/><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/new-york-files-suit-against-president-trump-alleging-his-charity-engaged-in-illegal-conduct/2018/06/14/c3cbf71e-6fc9-11e8-bd50-b80389a4e569_story.html |title=New York files suit against President Trump, alleging his charity engaged in 'illegal conduct' |last=Fahrenthold |first=David A. |authorlink=David Fahrenthold |date=June 14, 2018 |work=] |accessdate=June 14, 2018}}</ref> | |||
=== Conspiracy theories === | |||
] ] has ] against President Trump, alleging that his charity, the ], had under his direction illegally coordinated with the 2016 Trump campaign, as well as made other illegal payments to benefit Trump and his businesses.<ref name=otherinvestigations/><ref>{{cite news |last1=LaFrainere |first1=Sharon |title=Maryland and D.C. Sue Trump Over His Private Businesses |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/12/us/trump-lawsuit-private-businesses.html |accessdate=June 12, 2017 |newspaper=] |date=June 12, 2017}}</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> | |||
=== Impeachment efforts === | |||
{{Main|Efforts to impeach Donald Trump}} | |||
] delivers a speech calling for impeachment of President Trump, June 2017.]] | |||
Formal efforts to start the process of ] against Trump, who took office in January 2017, have been initiated by ] ] and ], both ].<ref name="greensherman">See: | |||
* {{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/06/07/reps-green-and-sherman-announce-plan-to-file-articles-impeachment.html |publisher=] |date=June 7, 2017 |accessdate=June 7, 2017 |title=Reps. Green and Sherman announce plan to file articles of impeachment |first=Brooke |last=Singman}} | |||
* For the draft resolutions, see: {{citation |first=Brad |last=Sherman |authorlink=Brad Sherman |url=https://sherman.house.gov/sites/sherman.house.gov/files/SHERMA_017_xml.pdf |title=Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors |publisher=] |date=June 12, 2017 |accessdate=June 12, 2017}} and {{citation |url=https://www.congress.gov/crec/2017/05/17/CREC-2017-05-17-pt1-PgH4227-5.pdf |date=May 17, 2017 |accessdate=May 17, 2017 |title=Calling for Impeachment of the President |work=] |first=Al |last=Green |authorlink=Al Green (politician) |volume=63 |number=85 |pages=H4227–H4228 |publisher=]}} ( {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609214304/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9Au1cwXN8M|date=June 9, 2017}})</ref><ref name=rollcall>{{cite news |url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/democratic-rep-sherman-files-article-of-impeachment-against-trump|title=Democratic Rep. Sherman Drafts Article of Impeachment Against Trump|date=June 12, 2017|accessdate=June 12, 2017|work=]}}</ref> Other people and groups have asserted that Trump has engaged in impeachable activity during ].<ref name="Independent-1-20-2017">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-impeachment-effort-website-rootsaction-emoluments-clause-conflict-of-interest-ethics-a7538406.html |title=Website aiming to impeach Donald Trump so popular it crashed |first=Rachael |last=Revesz |date=January 20, 2017 |accessdate=January 20, 2017 |newspaper=]}}</ref><ref name="WashPost-1-20-2017">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/01/20/the-campaign-to-impeach-president-trump-has-begun/ |title=The campaign to impeach President Trump has begun |first=Matea |last=Gold |date=January 20, 2017 |accessdate=January 20, 2017 |newspaper=]}}</ref> Talk of impeachment began before Trump took office.<ref name="VanityFair">{{cite news |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/12/democrats-pave-the-way-to-impeach-donald-trump |title=Democrats Are Paving the Way to Impeach Donald Trump |first=Emily Jane |last=Fox |date=December 15, 2016 |accessdate=December 15, 2016 |work=]}}</ref><ref name="ZT2016">{{cite news |last=Teachout |first=Zephyr |authorlink=Zephyr Teachout |date=November 17, 2016 |accessdate=November 17, 2016 |title=Trump's Foreign Business Ties May Violate the Constitution |url=https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2016/11/17/would-trumps-foreign-business-ties-be-constitutional/trumps-foreign-business-ties-may-violate-the-constitution |newspaper=]}}</ref> | |||
=== Social media === | |||
Serious proposals to impeach Trump for obstruction of justice were made in May 2017, after Trump fired FBI Director ]<ref name=hamedy>{{cite news |first=Saba |last=Hamedy |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/10/politics/richard-blumenthal-james-comey-cnntv/ |title=Blumenthal: Comey firing 'may well produce impeachment proceedings' |publisher=] |date=May 11, 2017 |accessdate=May 11, 2017}}</ref><ref name=roarty>{{cite news |first=Alex |last=Roarty |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article149758184.html |title=Democrats talk of an 'impeachment clock' for Trump |publisher=] |date=May 10, 2017 |accessdate=May 10, 2017}}</ref><ref name=easley>{{Cite news |url=http://thehill.com/homenews/house/332772-dem-reps-trump-is-moving-towards-impeachment |title=Dem reps: Trump is 'moving' toward impeachment |last=Easley |first=Jonathan |date=May 10, 2017 |accessdate=May 10, 2017 |work=]}}</ref> and allegations surfaced that Trump had asked Comey to drop the investigation against ].<ref name="arewegetting">{{cite news |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2017/05/16/cnn_wolf_blitzer_are_we_moving_toward_impeachment_of_trump.html |title=CNN's Wolf Blitzer: "Are We Getting Closer" To Impeachment Of Donald Trump? |publisher=] |date=May 16, 2017 |accessdate=May 16, 2017}}</ref> A December 2017 resolution of impeachment failed in the House by a 58–364 margin.<ref name="DeBonis">{{cite news |last1=DeBonis |first1=Mike |title=House votes to kill Texas lawmaker's Trump impeachment effort |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/06/house-democratic-leaders-oppose-texas-lawmakers-trump-impeachment-effort/ |website=] |date=December 6, 2017}}</ref> Since the ] control both the House and the ], the likelihood of impeachment during the 2017–2019 ] is considered remote.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bump |first1=Philip |title=No matter how bad it gets for him, here's why Trump isn't getting impeached this year |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/07/14/no-matter-how-bad-it-gets-for-him-heres-why-trump-isnt-getting-impeached-this-year |accessdate=July 14, 2017 |work=] |date=July 14, 2017}}</ref><ref name="NYT-Dems">{{cite news |title=Pledge to Impeach Trump, a Key Donor Demands of Democrats |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/11/us/tom-steyer-trump-impeachment.html |website=] |accessdate=October 17, 2018}}</ref> | |||
{{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 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> | |||
Trump has argued against his own impeachment because "I don't think they can impeach somebody that's doing a great job".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Micklethwait |first1=John |last2=Jacobs |first2=Jennifer |last3=Talev |first3=Margaret |title=Trump Says Democrats Can't Impeach Him Because He's Doing a 'Great Job' |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-30/trump-says-his-great-job-means-democrats-can-t-impeach-him |publisher=] |accessdate=September 5, 2018}}</ref> | |||
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> | |||
Independently of impeachment, some commentators have speculated that Trump could be stripped of his powers and duties for incapacity under the ].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://globalnews.ca/news/3454725/theres-a-process-to-remove-incapable-presidents-but-it-probably-wont-be-used-on-trump-yet/ |title=There's a process to remove incapable presidents, but it probably won't be used on Trump – yet |first=Patrick |last=Cain |publisher=Globalnews.ca |date=May 16, 2017 |accessdate=May 16, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Parton |first1=Heather Digby |authorlink=Digby (blogger) |title=Efforts to impeach Donald Trump |url=http://www.salon.com/2017/01/25/dont-look-now-its-president-pence-donald-trump-can-be-deposed-even-without-impeachment/ |work=] |date=January 25, 2017 |accessdate=January 25, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Prokop |first1=Andrew |title=The 25th Amendment, explained: how a president can be declared unfit to serve |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/2/9/14488980/25th-amendment-trump-pence |work=] |date=January 12, 2018 |accessdate=January 12, 2018}}</ref> | |||
=== |
=== Relationship with the press === | ||
{{ |
{{Further|First presidency of Donald Trump#Relationship with the news media}} | ||
] | |||
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> | |||
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> | |||
Trump signaled his intention to run for a second term by filing with the FEC within 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> 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=Azfamily.com |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 |dead-url=yes |df=mdy-all }}</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> By January 2018, Trump's reelection committee had $22 million in hand<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-31/trump-s-2020-re-election-committee-has-22-1-million-in-bank |title=Trump's 2020 Re-Election Committee Has $22.1 Million in the Bank |last=McCormick |first=John |last2=Jacobs |first2=Jennifer |date=January 31, 2018 |publisher=] |accessdate=March 24, 2018}}</ref> and it had raised a total amount exceeding $50 million towards the 2020 campaign {{as of|July 2018|lc=yes}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00580100/?tab=summary |title=Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. / Presidential – Principal campaign committee / Financial summary |website=www.fec.gov |publisher=] |date=June 30, 2018 |accessdate=August 15, 2018}}</ref> | |||
== |
== Assessments == | ||
=== Public image === | |||
'''Footnotes''' | |||
{{Main|Public image of Donald Trump}} | |||
{{notelist}} | |||
{{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 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> | |||
'''Citations''' | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
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 percent approval rating in the ], 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.<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 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 percent—the lowest of any president since modern polling began—and a record-low average of 41 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> | |||
'''Bibliography''' | |||
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> | |||
{{See also|Bibliography of Donald Trump}} | |||
<!--This section is ONLY for books that are cited in footnotes of this Misplaced Pages article.--> | |||
{{Refbegin|30em|indent=yes}} | |||
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AiFeQZhakXQC |title=Donald Trump: Master Apprentice |last=Blair |first=Gwenda |authorlink=Gwenda Blair |publisher=] |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-7432-7510-1 |ref=harv}} | |||
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ig1ZCgAAQBAJ |title=Donald Trump: The Candidate |last=Blair |first=Gwenda |authorlink=Gwenda Blair |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2015a |isbn=978-1-4391-2937-1 |ref=harv}} | |||
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uJifCgAAQBAJ |title=The Trumps: Three Generations That Built an Empire |last=Blair |first=Gwenda |authorlink=Gwenda Blair |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2015b|orig-year=First published 2001 |isbn=978-1-5011-3936-9 |ref=harv}} | |||
* {{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 |ref=harv}} | |||
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-Xjp3R1PqO4C |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 |ref=harv}} | |||
* {{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=Simon & Schuster |year=2017 |orig-year=First published 2016 |isbn=978-1-5011-5652-6 |ref=harv |title-link=Trump Revealed}} | |||
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mTB6Ip_FW-UC |title=Taming the Beast: Wall Street's Imperfect Answers to Making Money |last=Light |first=Larry |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-118-08420-5 |ref=harv}} | |||
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ye6e_VxM00kC |title=Trump: The Art of the Deal |first1=Donald J. |last1=Trump |first2=Tony |last2=Schwartz |author2link=Tony Schwartz (author) |publisher=] |year=2009 |orig-year=First published 1987 |isbn=978-0-446-35325-0 |ref=harv}} | |||
* {{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 |ref=harv}} | |||
{{refend}} | |||
== |
=== Scholarly === | ||
{{Further|Historical rankings of presidents of the United States#2021 C-SPAN|}} | |||
{{Library resources box|by=yes}} | |||
<!-- No more links | |||
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> | |||
Please be cautious adding more external links. | |||
== Notes == | |||
Misplaced Pages is not a collection of links and should not be used for advertising. | |||
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css"/><div class="reflist reflist-lower-alpha"><references group="lower-alpha"/></div> | |||
== References == | |||
Excessive or inappropriate links will be removed. | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
== Works cited == | |||
See Misplaced Pages:External links and Misplaced Pages:Spam for details. | |||
=== Books === | |||
<!-- This section is ONLY for books that are cited in footnotes of this Misplaced Pages article. --> | |||
{{Refbegin|30em}} | |||
* {{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|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|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|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|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=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|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 === | |||
If there are already suitable links, propose additions or replacements on | |||
{{Refbegin|30em}} | |||
the article's talk page, or submit your link to the relevant category at | |||
* {{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 }} | |||
DMOZ (dmoz.org) and link there using {{Dmoz}}. | |||
* {{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§ion=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}} | |||
{{refend}} | |||
== External links == | |||
--> | |||
{{Library resources box|by=yes}} | |||
* | |||
<!-- Please be cautious about adding external links. | |||
* on Twitter (official) | |||
See Misplaced Pages:External links and Misplaced Pages:Spam for details. | |||
* on Twitter (personal)<!-- DO NOT CHANGE without prior consensus, see ], item 9. --> | |||
If there are already suitable links, propose additions or replacements on the article's talk page or submit your link to the relevant category at DMOZ (dmoz.org) and link there using {{Dmoz}}. --> | |||
* | |||
* |
* <!-- DO NOT CHANGE without prior consensus; see ], item 9. --> | ||
* {{C-SPAN}} | |||
* . ''The New York Times''. | |||
* {{IMDb name}} | |||
* . '']''. | |||
* on ] | |||
* on the ] | * on the ] | ||
* |
* from ] website (courtesy of the ]) | ||
* at ] | |||
* | |||
{{Donald Trump |
{{Donald Trump}} | ||
{{ |
{{US presidents}} | ||
{{#invoke:navboxes|top | |||
{{US Presidents}} | |||
|title = Offices and distinctions | |||
{{United States presidential election, 2016}} | |||
|state = collapsed}} | |||
{{Republican Party (United States)}} | |||
{{s-start}} | |||
{{s-ppo}} | |||
{{s-bef|before=]}} | |||
{{s-ttl|title=] ] for President of the United States|years=], ], ] }} | |||
{{s-non|reason=Most recent}} | |||
{{s-break}} | |||
{{s-off|usa}} | |||
{{s-bef|before=]}} | |||
{{s-ttl|title=]|years=2017–2021}} | |||
{{s-aft|after=]}} | |||
{{s-break}} | |||
{{s-end}} | |||
{{#invoke:navboxes|bottom}} | |||
{{Trump businesses}} | {{Trump businesses}} | ||
{{Trump media}} | |||
{{Subject bar | {{Subject bar | ||
|commons = y | |||
|book1 = Donald Trump | |||
|n = y | |||
|book2 = Business career of Donald Trump | |||
|book3 = Presidency of Donald Trump | |||
|book4 = Campaigns of Donald Trump | |||
|book5 = Donald Trump in popular culture | |||
|book6 = Timeline of the presidency of Donald Trump | |||
|book7 = Online Trump Supporters | |||
|book8 = Donald Trump, President of the United States | |||
|portal1 = Donald Trump | |||
|portal2 = Biography | |||
|portal3 = Business and economics | |||
|portal4 = Conservatism | |||
|portal5 = Government of the United States | |||
|portal6 = New York City | |||
|portal7 = New York | |||
|portal8 = Right-wing populism | |||
|portal9 = Republican Party | |||
|commons = y | |||
|n = y | |||
|n-search = Category:Donald Trump | |n-search = Category:Donald Trump | ||
|wikt |
|wikt = y | ||
|wikt-search = Category:en:Donald Trump | |wikt-search = Category:en:Donald Trump | ||
|q |
|q = y | ||
|s |
|s = y | ||
|s-search = Author:Donald John Trump | |s-search = Author:Donald John Trump | ||
|d |
|d = y | ||
|d-search = Q22686 | |d-search = Q22686 | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{#invoke:Portal bar|main|1980s|1990s|2000s|2010s|2020s|Biography|Business|Conservatism|COVID-19|Florida|New York (state)|New York City|Politics|Television|United States}} | |||
{{Authority control|MBA=}} | |||
{{#invoke:Authority control|authorityControl}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Trump, Donald |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Trump, Donald}} | ||
] |
] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] |
Latest revision as of 17:24, 23 December 2024
President-elect and 45th president of the United States For other uses, see Donald Trump (disambiguation).
Donald Trump | |
---|---|
Official portrait, 2017 | |
President-elect of the United States | |
Assuming office January 20, 2025 | |
Vice President | JD Vance (elect) |
Succeeding | Joe Biden |
45th President of the United States | |
In office January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021 | |
Vice President | Mike Pence |
Preceded by | Barack Obama |
Succeeded by | Joe Biden |
Personal details | |
Born | Donald John Trump (1946-06-14) June 14, 1946 (age 78) Queens, New York City, U.S. |
Political party | Republican (1987–1999; 2009–2011; 2012–present) |
Other political affiliations |
|
Spouses |
|
Children | |
Parents |
|
Relatives | Trump family |
Education | University of Pennsylvania (BS) |
Occupation | |
Awards | Full list |
Signature | |
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 | |
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
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 TrumpIn 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 TrumpTrump 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.
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 TrumpReal estate
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
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 TrumpThe 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.
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 UniversityIn 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 FoundationThe 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 TrumpAccording 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 TrumpTrump 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 TrumpTrump 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 TrumpTrump 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.
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 campaignTrump 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.
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 TrumpTrump'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 electionOn 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.
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 presidencyTrump 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 § EthicsBefore 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 TrumpTrump 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 TrumpTrump 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 TrumpAs 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 13780On 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 compartment in the Ursula detention facility in McAllen, Texas, June 2018The 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 shutdownOne 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 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 tariffsTrump 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)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)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 processIn 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. 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 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 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 TrumpThe 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 controversiesTrump 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 StatesInitial 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 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 StatesIn 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 administrationTrump 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 outbreakOn 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 dossierIn 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 investigationIn 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 scandalIn 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.
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 TrumpOn 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 campaignBreaking 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 StatesAt 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.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) |
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 investigationWhen 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 AttackOn 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 prosecutionIn 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 TrumpDuring 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. TrumpIn 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 FloridaOn 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.
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.
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 TrumpBeginning 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 dehumanizationResearch 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 TrumpAs 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 TrumpBefore 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 TrumpTrump'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 mediaTrump 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 cultureA 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-SPANIn 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
- 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.
- 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.
- Attributed to multiple references:
- Attributed to multiple sources:
References
- Kranish & Fisher 2017, pp. 30, 37.
- Kranish & Fisher 2017, p. v.
- Horowitz, Jason (September 22, 2015). "Donald Trump's Old Queens Neighborhood Contrasts With the Diverse Area Around It". The New York Times. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- Buettner & Craig 2024, pp. 30–31.
- Kranish & Fisher 2017, pp. 33, 38.
- D'Antonio 2015, pp. 40–41.
- Kranish & Fisher 2017, p. 38.
- Kranish & Fisher 2017, pp. 45, 47.
- "Two Hundred and Twelfth Commencement for the Conferring of Degrees" (PDF). University of Pennsylvania. May 20, 1968. pp. 19–21. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- D'Antonio 2015, pp. 69–71.
- Ashford, Grace (February 27, 2019). "Michael Cohen Says Trump Told Him to Threaten Schools Not to Release Grades". The New York Times.
- Blair 2015, p. 300.
- Baron, James (December 12, 1990). "Trumps Get Divorce; Next, Who Gets What?". The New York Times. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
- Hafner, Josh (July 19, 2016). "Get to know Donald's other daughter: Tiffany Trump". USA Today. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- Kranish & Fisher 2017, p. 266.
- "Donald Trump Fast Facts". CNN. July 2, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- Nagourney, Adam (October 30, 2020). "In Trump and Biden, a Choice of Teetotalers for President". The New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- Parker, Ashley; Rucker, Philip (October 2, 2018). "Kavanaugh likes beer — but Trump is a teetotaler: 'He doesn't like drinkers.'". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- Dangerfield, Katie (January 17, 2018). "Donald Trump sleeps 4–5 hours each night; he's not the only famous 'short sleeper'". Global News. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- Almond, Douglas; Du, Xinming (December 2020). "Later bedtimes predict President Trump's performance". Economics Letters. 197. doi:10.1016/j.econlet.2020.109590. ISSN 0165-1765. PMC 7518119. PMID 33012904.
- Ballengee, Ryan (July 14, 2018). "Donald Trump says he gets most of his exercise from golf, then uses cart at Turnberry". Golf News Net. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
- Rettner, Rachael (May 14, 2017). "Trump thinks that exercising too much uses up the body's 'finite' energy". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- O'Donnell & Rutherford 1991, p. 133.
- ^ Marquardt, Alex; Crook, Lawrence III (May 1, 2018). "Exclusive: Bornstein claims Trump dictated the glowing health letter". CNN. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
- Schecter, Anna (May 1, 2018). "Trump doctor Harold Bornstein says bodyguard, lawyer 'raided' his office, took medical files". NBC News. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
- Multiple sources:
- Lopez, German (February 14, 2019). "Donald Trump's long history of racism, from the 1970s to 2019". Vox. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
- Desjardins, Lisa (January 12, 2018). "Every moment in Trump's charged relationship with race". PBS NewsHour. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
- Dawsey, Josh (January 11, 2018). "Trump's history of making offensive comments about nonwhite immigrants". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
- Weaver, Aubree Eliza (January 12, 2018). "Trump's 'shithole' comment denounced across the globe". Politico. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
- Stoddard, Ed; Mfula, Chris (January 12, 2018). "Africa calls Trump racist after 'shithole' remark". Reuters. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- "Harsh Words For U.S. Family Separation Policy, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Voters Have Dim View Of Trump, Dems On Immigration". Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
- Lopez, German (December 15, 2017). "The past year of research has made it very clear: Trump won because of racial resentment". Vox. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
- Lajevardi & Oskooii 2018.
- Diaz, Jaclyn (October 21, 2024). "The Central Park 5 are suing Trump over Philly debate comments". NPR. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- John, Arit (June 23, 2020). "From birtherism to 'treason': Trump's false allegations against Obama". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- Keneally, Meghan (September 18, 2015). "Donald Trump's History of Raising Birther Questions About President Obama". ABC News. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
- Haberman, Maggie; Rappeport, Alan (September 16, 2016). "Trump Drops False 'Birther' Theory, but Floats a New One: Clinton Started It". The New York Times. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
- Haberman, Maggie; Martin, Jonathan (November 28, 2017). "Trump Once Said the 'Access Hollywood' Tape Was Real. Now He's Not Sure". The New York Times. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
- Rothe & Collins 2019.
- ^ Shear, Michael D.; Sullivan, Eileen (October 16, 2018). "'Horseface,' 'Lowlife,' 'Fat, Ugly': How the President Demeans Women". The New York Times. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
- Osborne, Lucy (September 17, 2020). "'It felt like tentacles': the women who accuse Trump of sexual misconduct". The Guardian. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- Timm, Jane C. (October 7, 2016). "Trump caught on hot mic making lewd comments about women in 2005". NBC News. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- Penington, Bill. "What Exactly Is 'Locker-Room Talk'? Let an Expert Explain". The New York Times. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- Fahrenthold, David. "Trump recorded having extremely lewd conversation about women in 2005". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- Burns, Alexander; Haberman, Maggie; Martin, Jonathan (October 7, 2016). "Donald Trump Apology Caps Day of Outrage Over Lewd Tape". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- Handy, Bruce (April 1, 2019). "Trump Once Proposed Building a Castle on Madison Avenue". The Atlantic. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
- Mahler, Jonathan; Eder, Steve (August 27, 2016). "'No Vacancies' for Blacks: How Donald Trump Got His Start, and Was First Accused of Bias". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
- ^ Rich, Frank (April 30, 2018). "The Original Donald Trump". New York. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
- Blair 2015, p. 250.
- Mahler, Jonathan; Flegenheimer, Matt (June 20, 2016). "What Donald Trump Learned From Joseph McCarthy's Right-Hand Man". The New York Times. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- Kranish, Michael; O'Harrow, Robert Jr. (January 23, 2016). "Inside the government's racial bias case against Donald Trump's company, and how he fought it". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- Johnston 2016, pp. 45–46.
- Brenner, Marie (June 28, 2017). "How Donald Trump and Roy Cohn's Ruthless Symbiosis Changed America". Vanity Fair. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- Qiu, Linda (June 21, 2016). "Yep, Donald Trump's companies have declared bankruptcy...more than four times". PolitiFact. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- Nevius, James (April 3, 2019). "The winding history of Donald Trump's first major Manhattan real estate project". Curbed.
- Kessler, Glenn (March 3, 2016). "Trump's false claim he built his empire with a 'small loan' from his father". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- Kranish & Fisher 2017, p. 84.
- Geist, William E. (April 8, 1984). "The Expanding Empire of Donald Trump". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- ^ Haberman, Maggie (October 31, 2019). "Trump, Lifelong New Yorker, Declares Himself a Resident of Florida". The New York Times. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
- "Trump Revises Plaza Loan". The New York Times. November 4, 1992. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- "Trump's Plaza Hotel Bankruptcy Plan Approved". The New York Times. Reuters. December 12, 1992. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
- ^ Segal, David (January 16, 2016). "What Donald Trump's Plaza Deal Reveals About His White House Bid". The New York Times. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- Stout, David; Gilpin, Kenneth N. (April 12, 1995). "Trump Is Selling Plaza Hotel To Saudi and Asian Investors". The New York Times. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
- Kranish & Fisher 2017, p. 298.
- Bagli, Charles V. (June 1, 2005). "Trump Group Selling West Side Parcel for $1.8 billion". The New York Times. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- Kiel, Paul; Buettner, Russ (May 11, 2024). "IRS Audit of Trump Could Cost Former President More Than $100 Million". ProPublica. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ McQuade, Dan (August 16, 2015). "The Truth About the Rise and Fall of Donald Trump's Atlantic City Empire". Philadelphia. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
- Kranish & Fisher 2017, p. 128.
- Saxon, Wolfgang (April 28, 1986). "Trump Buys Hilton's Hotel in Atlantic City". The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- "Trump's Castle and Plaza file for bankruptcy". United Press International. March 9, 1992. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- "Company News; Taj Mahal is out of Bankruptcy". The New York Times. October 5, 1991. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
- O'Connor, Claire (May 29, 2011). "Fourth Time's A Charm: How Donald Trump Made Bankruptcy Work For Him". Forbes. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- Norris, Floyd (June 7, 1995). "Trump Plaza casino stock trades today on Big Board". The New York Times. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
- Tully, Shawn (March 10, 2016). "How Donald Trump Made Millions Off His Biggest Business Failure". Fortune. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
- Peterson-Withorn, Chase (April 23, 2018). "Donald Trump Has Gained More Than $100 Million On Mar-a-Lago". Forbes. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- Dangremond, Sam; Kim, Leena (December 22, 2017). "A History of Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump's American Castle". Town & Country. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- Garcia, Ahiza (December 29, 2016). "Trump's 17 golf courses teed up: Everything you need to know". CNN Money. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
- "Take a look at the golf courses owned by Donald Trump". Golfweek. July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ Anthony, Zane; Sanders, Kathryn; Fahrenthold, David A. (April 13, 2018). "Whatever happened to Trump neckties? They're over. So is most of Trump's merchandising empire". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- Williams, Aaron; Narayanswamy, Anu (January 25, 2017). "How Trump has made millions by selling his name". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
- Markazi, Arash (July 14, 2015). "5 things to know about Donald Trump's foray into doomed USFL". ESPN. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
- O'Donnell & Rutherford 1991, p. 137–143.
- Hogan, Kevin (April 10, 2016). "The Strange Tale of Donald Trump's 1989 Biking Extravaganza". Politico. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
- ^ Buettner, Russ; Craig, Susanne (May 7, 2019). "Decade in the Red: Trump Tax Figures Show Over $1 Billion in Business Losses". The New York Times. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- Mattingly, Phil; Jorgensen, Sarah (August 23, 2016). "The Gordon Gekko era: Donald Trump's lucrative and controversial time as an activist investor". CNN. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- Peterson, Barbara (April 13, 2017). "The Crash of Trump Air". The Daily Beast. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- "10 Donald Trump Business Failures". Time. October 11, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ Barstow, David; Craig, Susanne; Buettner, Russ (October 2, 2018). "Trump Engaged in Suspect Tax Schemes as He Reaped Riches From His Father". The New York Times. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
- Haberman 2022, pp. 129–130.
- Rutenberg, Jim (June 22, 2002). "Three Beauty Pageants Leaving CBS for NBC". The New York Times. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
- de Moraes, Lisa (June 22, 2002). "There She Goes: Pageants Move to NBC". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
- Zara, Christopher (October 26, 2016). "Why the heck does Donald Trump have a Walk of Fame star, anyway? It's not the reason you think". Fast Company. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
- Puente, Maria (June 29, 2015). "NBC to Donald Trump: You're fired". USA Today. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
- D'Antonio 2015, pp. 281–282.
- D'Antonio 2015, pp. 282–283.
- Eder, Steve (November 18, 2016). "Donald Trump Agrees to Pay $25 Million in Trump University Settlement". The New York Times. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
- Tigas, Mike; Wei, Sisi (May 9, 2013). "Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
- ^ Fahrenthold, David A. (September 10, 2016). "How Donald Trump retooled his charity to spend other people's money". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
- Pallotta, Frank (August 18, 2022). "Investigation into Vince McMahon's hush money payments reportedly turns up Trump charity donations". CNN. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
- Solnik, Claude (September 15, 2016). "Taking a peek at Trump's (foundation) tax returns". Long Island Business News. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
- Cillizza, Chris; Fahrenthold, David A. (September 15, 2016). "Meet the reporter who's giving Donald Trump fits". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
- Fahrenthold, David A. (October 3, 2016). "Trump Foundation ordered to stop fundraising by N.Y. attorney general's office". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- Jacobs, Ben (December 24, 2016). "Donald Trump to dissolve his charitable foundation after mounting complaints". The Guardian. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
- Thomsen, Jacqueline (June 14, 2018). "Five things to know about the lawsuit against the Trump Foundation". The Hill. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
- Goldmacher, Shane (December 18, 2018). "Trump Foundation Will Dissolve, Accused of 'Shocking Pattern of Illegality'". The New York Times. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
- Katersky, Aaron (November 7, 2019). "President Donald Trump ordered to pay $2M to collection of nonprofits as part of civil lawsuit". ABC News. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
- "Donald Trump: Three decades, 4,095 lawsuits". USA Today. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
- ^ Winter, Tom (June 24, 2016). "Trump Bankruptcy Math Doesn't Add Up". NBC News. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- Flitter, Emily (July 17, 2016). "Art of the spin: Trump bankers question his portrayal of financial comeback". Reuters. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
- Smith, Allan (December 8, 2017). "Trump's long and winding history with Deutsche Bank could now be at the center of Robert Mueller's investigation". Business Insider. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
- Riley, Charles; Egan, Matt (January 12, 2021). "Deutsche Bank won't do any more business with Trump". CNN. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- Stump, Scott (October 26, 2015). "Donald Trump: My dad gave me 'a small loan' of $1 million to get started". CNBC. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- Barstow, David; Craig, Susanne; Buettner, Russ (October 2, 2018). "11 Takeaways From The Times's Investigation into Trump's Wealth". The New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
- Greenberg, Jonathan (April 20, 2018). "Trump lied to me about his wealth to get onto the Forbes 400. Here are the tapes". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- Boyer, Dave (October 3, 2016). "Donald Trump revealed $900 million business loss in '97 book". The Washington Times. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- O'Brien 2005, p. 150–151.
- Johnston 2021, p. 20.
- Alexander, Dan (November 4, 2024) . "Here's How Much Donald Trump Is Worth". Forbes. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
- "Profile: Donald Trump". Forbes. December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
- Buncombe, Andrew (July 4, 2018). "Trump boasted about writing many books – his ghostwriter says otherwise". The Independent. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ Mayer, Jane (July 18, 2016). "Donald Trump's Ghostwriter Tells All". The New Yorker. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
- LaFrance, Adrienne (December 21, 2015). "Three Decades of Donald Trump Film and TV Cameos". The Atlantic.
- Kranish & Fisher 2017, p. 166.
- Massie, Christopher; Kaczynski, Andrew (March 16, 2016). "There Are Hours Of Audio Of Donald Trump's Nationally Syndicated Radio Show In The 2000s". BuzzFeed. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
- Grossmann, Matt; Hopkins, David A. (September 9, 2016). "How the conservative media is taking over the Republican Party". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- Grynbaum, Michael M.; Parker, Ashley (July 16, 2016). "Donald Trump the Political Showman, Born on 'The Apprentice'". The New York Times. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
- Kranish & Fisher 2017, pp. 213–217.
- Poniewozik, James (September 28, 2020). "Donald Trump Was the Real Winner of 'The Apprentice'". The New York Times. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- Rao, Sonia (February 4, 2021). "Facing expulsion, Trump resigns from the Screen Actors Guild: 'You have done nothing for me'". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- Harmata, Claudia (February 7, 2021). "Donald Trump Banned from Future Re-Admission to SAG-AFTRA: It's 'More Than a Symbolic Step'". People. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ Gillin, Joshua (August 24, 2015). "Bush says Trump was a Democrat longer than a Republican 'in the last decade'". PolitiFact. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
- "Trump Officially Joins Reform Party". CNN. October 25, 1999. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- Oreskes, Michael (September 2, 1987). "Trump Gives a Vague Hint of Candidacy". The New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
- Butterfield, Fox (November 18, 1987). "Trump Urged To Head Gala Of Democrats". The New York Times. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- Meacham 2016, p. 326.
- Gass, Nick (November 6, 2015). "George W. Bush 'surprised' by dad's criticism, author says". Politico. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
- Winger, Richard (December 25, 2011). "Donald Trump Ran For President in 2000 in Several Reform Party Presidential Primaries". Ballot Access News. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- Clift, Eleanor (July 18, 2016). "The Last Time Trump Wrecked a Party". The Daily Beast. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
- Nagourney, Adam (February 14, 2000). "Reform Bid Said to Be a No-Go for Trump". The New York Times. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ MacAskill, Ewen (May 16, 2011). "Donald Trump bows out of 2012 US presidential election race". The Guardian. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
- Bobic, Igor; Stein, Sam (February 22, 2017). "How CPAC Helped Launch Donald Trump's Political Career". HuffPost. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
- Linkins, Jason (February 11, 2011). "Donald Trump Brings His 'Pretend To Run For President' Act To CPAC". HuffPost. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- Lerner, Adam B. (June 16, 2015). "The 10 best lines from Donald Trump's announcement speech". Politico. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
- Graham, David A. (May 13, 2016). "The Lie of Trump's 'Self-Funding' Campaign". The Atlantic. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
- Reeve, Elspeth (October 27, 2015). "How Donald Trump Evolved From a Joke to an Almost Serious Candidate". The New Republic. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- Bump, Philip (March 23, 2016). "Why Donald Trump is poised to win the nomination and lose the general election, in one poll". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- Nussbaum, Matthew (May 3, 2016). "RNC Chairman: Trump is our nominee". Politico. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^ Cillizza, Chris (June 14, 2016). "This Harvard study is a powerful indictment of the media's role in Donald Trump's rise". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- Flitter, Emily; Oliphant, James (August 28, 2015). "Best president ever! How Trump's love of hyperbole could backfire". Reuters. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- McCammon, Sarah (August 10, 2016). "Donald Trump's controversial speech often walks the line". NPR. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- ^ "The 'King of Whoppers': Donald Trump". FactCheck.org. December 21, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
- Holan, Angie Drobnic; Qiu, Linda (December 21, 2015). "2015 Lie of the Year: the campaign misstatements of Donald Trump". PolitiFact. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- Farhi, Paul (February 26, 2016). "Think Trump's wrong? Fact checkers can tell you how often. (Hint: A lot.)". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- Walsh, Kenneth T. (August 15, 2016). "Trump: Media Is 'Dishonest and Corrupt'". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- Blake, Aaron (July 6, 2016). "Donald Trump is waging war on political correctness. And he's losing". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- Hartig, Hannah; Lapinski, John; Psyllos, Stephanie (July 19, 2016). "Poll: Clinton and Trump Now Tied as GOP Convention Kicks Off". NBC News. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- Levingston, Ivan (July 15, 2016). "Donald Trump officially names Mike Pence for VP". CNBC. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- "Trump closes the deal, becomes Republican nominee for president". Fox News. July 19, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- "US presidential debate: Trump won't commit to accept election result". BBC News. October 20, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
- Johnson, Jenna (April 12, 2017). "Trump on NATO: 'I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete.'". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
- Edwards 2018, "On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly called North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 'obsolete'".
- Rucker, Philip; Costa, Robert (March 21, 2016). "Trump questions need for NATO, outlines noninterventionist foreign policy". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- "Trump's promises before and after the election". BBC. September 19, 2017. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- "Donald Trump's Mexico wall: Who is going to pay for it?". BBC. February 6, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
- "Donald Trump emphasizes plans to build 'real' wall at Mexico border". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. August 19, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
- Oh, Inae (August 19, 2015). "Donald Trump: The 14th Amendment is Unconstitutional". Mother Jones. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
- Schaffner, Brian F.; Macwilliams, Matthew; Nteta, Tatishe (March 2018). "Understanding White Polarization in the 2016 Vote for President: The Sobering Role of Racism and Sexism". Political Science Quarterly. 133 (1): 9–34. doi:10.1002/polq.12737.
- Wolf, Z. Byron (April 6, 2018). "Trump basically called Mexicans rapists again". CNN. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- "NBC Officially Fires Trump From 'Celebrity Apprentice'". NBC News. Associated Press. August 13, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- Diamond, Jeremy; Frates, Chris (July 22, 2015). "Donald Trump's 92-page financial disclosure released". CNN. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure Report (U.S. OGE Form 278e) (PDF). U.S. Office of Government Ethics (Report). July 15, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 23, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2023 – via Bloomberg Businessweek.
- Rappeport, Alan (May 11, 2016). "Donald Trump Breaks With Recent History by Not Releasing Tax Returns". The New York Times. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
- Qiu, Linda (October 5, 2016). "Pence's False claim that Trump 'hasn't broken' tax return promise". PolitiFact. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- Isidore, Chris; Sahadi, Jeanne (February 26, 2016). "Trump says he can't release tax returns because of audits". CNN. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
- de Vogue, Ariane (February 22, 2021). "Supreme Court allows release of Trump tax returns to NY prosecutor". CNN. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- Gresko, Jessica (February 22, 2021). "Supreme Court won't halt turnover of Trump's tax records". AP News. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- Eder, Steve; Twohey, Megan (October 10, 2016). "Donald Trump Acknowledges Not Paying Federal Income Taxes for Years". The New York Times. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- Schmidt, Kiersten; Andrews, Wilson (December 19, 2016). "A Historic Number of Electors Defected, and Most Were Supposed to Vote for Clinton". The New York Times. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- Desilver, Drew (December 20, 2016). "Trump's victory another example of how Electoral College wins are bigger than popular vote ones". Pew Research Center. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- Crockett, Zachary (November 11, 2016). "Donald Trump will be the only US president ever with no political or military experience". Vox. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
- Phillips, Amber (November 9, 2016). "Republicans are poised to grasp the holy grail of governance". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- Logan, Brian; Sanchez, Chris (November 10, 2016). "Protests against Donald Trump break out nationwide". Business Insider. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
- Mele, Christopher; Correal, Annie (November 9, 2016). "'Not Our President': Protests Spread After Donald Trump's Election". The New York Times. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- Przybyla, Heidi M.; Schouten, Fredreka (January 21, 2017). "At 2.6 million strong, Women's Marches crush expectations". USA Today. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
- Quigley, Aidan (January 25, 2017). "All of Trump's executive actions so far". Politico. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
- V.V.B (March 31, 2017). "Ivanka Trump's new job". The Economist. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
- Schmidt, Michael S.; Lipton, Eric; Savage, Charlie (January 21, 2017). "Jared Kushner, Trump's Son-in-Law, Is Cleared to Serve as Adviser". The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
- Geewax, Marilyn (January 20, 2018). "Trump Has Revealed Assumptions About Handling Presidential Wealth, Businesses". NPR. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- ^ "Donald Trump: A list of potential conflicts of interest". BBC. April 18, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- Yourish, Karen; Buchanan, Larry (January 12, 2017). "It 'Falls Short in Every Respect': Ethics Experts Pan Trump's Conflicts Plan". The New York Times. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- ^ Venook, Jeremy (August 9, 2017). "Trump's Interests vs. America's, Dubai Edition". The Atlantic. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- Stone, Peter (July 19, 2019). "How Trump's businesses are booming with lobbyists, donors and governments". The Guardian. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- In Focus: The Emoluments Clauses of the U.S. Constitution (PDF). Congressional Research Service (Report). August 19, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- LaFraniere, Sharon (January 25, 2018). "Lawsuit on Trump Emoluments Violations Gains Traction in Court". The New York Times. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- de Vogue, Ariane; Cole, Devan (January 25, 2021). "Supreme Court dismisses emoluments cases against Trump". CNN. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ Van Dam, Andrew (January 8, 2021). "Trump will have the worst jobs record in modern U.S. history. It's not just the pandemic". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- Smialek, Jeanna (June 8, 2020). "The U.S. Entered a Recession in February". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- Long, Heather (December 15, 2017). "The final GOP tax bill is complete. Here's what is in it". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
- Andrews, Wilson; Parlapiano, Alicia (December 15, 2017). "What's in the Final Republican Tax Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- Gale, William G. (February 14, 2020). "Did the 2017 tax cut—the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—pay for itself?". Brookings Institution. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
- Long, Heather; Stein, Jeff (October 25, 2019). "The U.S. deficit hit $984 billion in 2019, soaring during Trump era". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- Sloan, Allan; Podkul, Cezary (January 14, 2021). "Donald Trump Built a National Debt So Big (Even Before the Pandemic) That It'll Weigh Down the Economy for Years". ProPublica. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- Bliss, Laura (November 16, 2020). "How Trump's $1 Trillion Infrastructure Pledge Added Up". Bloomberg News. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
- Burns, Dan (January 8, 2021). "Trump ends his term like a growing number of Americans: out of a job". Reuters. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- Parker, Ashley; Davenport, Coral (May 26, 2016). "Donald Trump's Energy Plan: More Fossil Fuels and Fewer Rules". The New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- Samenow, Jason (March 22, 2016). "Donald Trump's unsettling nonsense on weather and climate". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- Lemire, Jonathan; Madhani, Aamer; Weissert, Will; Knickmeyer, Ellen (September 15, 2020). "Trump spurns science on climate: 'Don't think science knows'". AP News. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- Plumer, Brad; Davenport, Coral (December 28, 2019). "Science Under Attack: How Trump Is Sidelining Researchers and Their Work". The New York Times. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- "Trump proposes cuts to climate and clean-energy programs". National Geographic Society. May 3, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- Dennis, Brady (November 7, 2017). "As Syria embraces Paris climate deal, it's the United States against the world". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
- Gardner, Timothy (December 3, 2019). "Senate confirms Brouillette, former Ford lobbyist, as energy secretary". Reuters. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
- Brown, Matthew (September 15, 2020). "Trump's fossil fuel agenda gets pushback from federal judges". AP News. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- Lipton, Eric (October 5, 2020). "'The Coal Industry Is Back,' Trump Proclaimed. It Wasn't". The New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- Subramaniam, Tara (January 30, 2021). "From building the wall to bringing back coal: Some of Trump's more notable broken promises". CNN. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- Popovich, Nadja; Albeck-Ripka, Livia; Pierre-Louis, Kendra (January 20, 2021). "The Trump Administration Rolled Back More Than 100 Environmental Rules. Here's the Full List". The New York Times. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- Plumer, Brad (January 30, 2017). "Trump wants to kill two old regulations for every new one issued. Sort of". Vox. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- Thompson, Frank W. (October 9, 2020). "Six ways Trump has sabotaged the Affordable Care Act". Brookings Institution. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ Arnsdorf, Isaac; DePillis, Lydia; Lind, Dara; Song, Lisa; Syed, Moiz; Osei, Zipporah (November 25, 2020). "Tracking the Trump Administration's "Midnight Regulations"". ProPublica. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- Poydock, Margaret (September 17, 2020). "President Trump has attacked workers' safety, wages, and rights since Day One". Economic Policy Institute. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- Baker, Cayli (December 15, 2020). "The Trump administration's major environmental deregulations". Brookings Institution. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
- Grunwald, Michael (April 10, 2017). "Trump's Secret Weapon Against Obama's Legacy". Politico Magazine. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
- Lipton, Eric; Appelbaum, Binyamin (March 5, 2017). "Leashes Come Off Wall Street, Gun Sellers, Polluters and More". The New York Times. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
- "Trump-Era Trend: Industries Protest. Regulations Rolled Back. A Dozen Examples". The New York Times. March 5, 2017. Retrieved January 29, 2022 – via DocumentCloud.
- "Roundup: Trump-Era Agency Policy in the Courts". Institute for Policy Integrity. April 25, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
- Kodjak, Alison (November 9, 2016). "Trump Can Kill Obamacare With Or Without Help From Congress". NPR. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
- Davis, Julie Hirschfeld; Pear, Robert (January 20, 2017). "Trump Issues Executive Order Scaling Back Parts of Obamacare". The New York Times. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- Luhby, Tami (October 13, 2017). "What's in Trump's health care executive order?". CNN. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
- Nelson, Louis (July 18, 2017). "Trump says he plans to 'let Obamacare fail'". Politico. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
- Young, Jeffrey (August 31, 2017). "Trump Ramps Up Obamacare Sabotage With Huge Cuts To Enrollment Programs". HuffPost. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
- ^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (June 26, 2020). "Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Strike Down Affordable Care Act". The New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- Katkov, Mark (June 26, 2020). "Obamacare Must 'Fall,' Trump Administration Tells Supreme Court". NPR. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- Rappeport, Alan; Haberman, Maggie (January 22, 2020). "Trump Opens Door to Cuts to Medicare and Other Entitlement Programs". The New York Times. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
- Mann, Brian (October 29, 2020). "Opioid Crisis: Critics Say Trump Fumbled Response To Another Deadly Epidemic". NPR. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
- "Abortion: How do Trump and Biden's policies compare?". BBC News. September 9, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
- de Vogue, Ariane (November 15, 2016). "Trump: Same-sex marriage is 'settled', but Roe v Wade can be changed". CNN. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
- O'Hara, Mary Emily (March 30, 2017). "LGBTQ Advocates Say Trump's New Executive Order Makes Them Vulnerable to Discrimination". NBC News. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
- Luthi, Susannah (August 17, 2020). "Judge halts Trump's rollback of transgender health protections". Politico. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- Krieg, Gregory (June 20, 2016). "The times Trump changed his positions on guns". CNN. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- Dawsey, Josh (November 1, 2019). "Trump abandons proposing ideas to curb gun violence after saying he would following mass shootings". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- Bures, Brendan (February 21, 2020). "Trump administration doubles down on anti-marijuana position". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- Wolf, Zachary B. (July 27, 2019). "Trump returns to the death penalty as Democrats turn against it". CNN. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- Honderich, Holly (January 16, 2021). "In Trump's final days, a rush of federal executions". BBC. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- Tarm, Michael; Kunzelman, Michael (January 15, 2021). "Trump administration carries out 13th and final execution". AP News. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
- McCarthy, Tom (February 7, 2016). "Donald Trump: I'd bring back 'a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding'". The Guardian. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
- "Ted Cruz, Donald Trump Advocate Bringing Back Waterboarding". ABC News. February 6, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
- Kessler, Glenn (May 8, 2020). "The 'very fine people' at Charlottesville: Who were they?". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- Beauchamp, Zack (January 11, 2018). "Trump's "shithole countries" comment exposes the core of Trumpism". Vox. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
- Wintour, Patrick; Burke, Jason; Livsey, Anna (January 13, 2018). "'There's no other word but racist': Trump's global rebuke for 'shithole' remark". The Guardian. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
- Rogers, Katie; Fandos, Nicholas (July 14, 2019). "Trump Tells Congresswomen to 'Go Back' to the Countries They Came From". The New York Times. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
- Mak, Tim (July 16, 2019). "House Votes To Condemn Trump's 'Racist Comments'". NPR. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
- Simon, Mallory; Sidner, Sara (July 16, 2019). "Trump said 'many people agree' with his racist tweets. These white supremacists certainly do". CNN. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
- Choi, Matthew (September 22, 2020). "'She's telling us how to run our country': Trump again goes after Ilhan Omar's Somali roots". Politico. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
- ^ Leonnig, Carol D.; Zapotosky, Matt; Dawsey, Josh; Tan, Rebecca (June 2, 2020). "Barr personally ordered removal of protesters near White House, leading to use of force against largely peaceful crowd". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- Bump, Philip (June 2, 2020). "Timeline: The clearing of Lafayette Square". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- Gittleson, Ben; Phelps, Jordyn (June 3, 2020). "Police use munitions to forcibly push back peaceful protesters for Trump church visit". ABC News. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
- O'Neil, Luke (June 2, 2020). "What do we know about Trump's love for the Bible?". The Guardian. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
- Stableford, Dylan; Wilson, Christopher (June 3, 2020). "Religious leaders condemn teargassing protesters to clear street for Trump". Yahoo! News. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- "Scores of retired military leaders publicly denounce Trump". AP News. June 6, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- Gramlich, John (January 22, 2021). "Trump used his clemency power sparingly despite a raft of late pardons and commutations". Pew Research Center. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
- ^ Vogel, Kenneth P. (March 21, 2021). "The Road to Clemency From Trump Was Closed to Most Who Sought It". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
- Olorunnipa, Toluse; Dawsey, Josh (December 24, 2020). "Trump wields pardon power as political weapon, rewarding loyalists and undermining prosecutors". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- Johnson, Kevin; Jackson, David; Wagner, Dennis (January 19, 2021). "Donald Trump grants clemency to 144 people (not himself or family members) in final hours". USA Today. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
- Phillips, Dave (November 22, 2019). "Trump Clears Three Service Members in War Crimes Cases". The New York Times. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
- Fritze, John (August 8, 2019). "A USA Today analysis found Trump used words like 'invasion' and 'killer' at rallies more than 500 times since 2017". USA Today. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
- Johnson 2017a.
- Johnson & Cuison-Villazor 2019.
- Mitchell, Ellen (January 29, 2019). "Pentagon to send a 'few thousand' more troops to southern border". The Hill. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- Snow, Anita (February 25, 2020). "Crackdown on immigrants who use public benefits takes effect". AP News. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- "Donald Trump has cut refugee admissions to America to a record low". The Economist. November 4, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- Kanno-Youngs, Zolan; Shear, Michael D. (October 1, 2020). "Trump Virtually Cuts Off Refugees as He Unleashes a Tirade on Immigrants". The New York Times. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
- Hesson, Ted (October 11, 2019). "Trump ending U.S. role as worldwide leader on refugees". Politico. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ Walters, Joanna; Helmore, Edward; Dehghan, Saeed Kamali (January 28, 2017). "US airports on frontline as Donald Trump's travel ban causes chaos and protests". The Guardian. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
- ^ "Protests erupt at airports nationwide over immigration action". CBS News. January 28, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- Barrett, Devlin; Frosch, Dan (February 4, 2017). "Federal Judge Temporarily Halts Trump Order on Immigration, Refugees". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- Levine, Dan; Rosenberg, Mica (March 15, 2017). "Hawaii judge halts Trump's new travel ban before it can go into effect". Reuters. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- "Trump signs new travel ban directive". BBC News. March 6, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
- Sherman, Mark (June 26, 2017). "Limited version of Trump's travel ban to take effect Thursday". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
- Laughland, Oliver (September 25, 2017). "Trump travel ban extended to blocks on North Korea, Venezuela and Chad". The Guardian. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
- Hurley, Lawrence (December 4, 2017). "Supreme Court lets Trump's latest travel ban go into full effect". Reuters. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- Wagner, Meg; Ries, Brian; Rocha, Veronica (June 26, 2018). "Supreme Court upholds travel ban". CNN. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
- Pearle, Lauren (February 5, 2019). "Trump administration admits thousands more migrant families may have been separated than estimated". ABC News. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- ^ Spagat, Elliot (October 25, 2019). "Tally of children split at border tops 5,400 in new count". AP News. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- Davis, Julie Hirschfeld; Shear, Michael D. (June 16, 2018). "How Trump Came to Enforce a Practice of Separating Migrant Families". The New York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- Savage, Charlie (June 20, 2018). "Explaining Trump's Executive Order on Family Separation". The New York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- Domonoske, Camila; Gonzales, Richard (June 19, 2018). "What We Know: Family Separation And 'Zero Tolerance' At The Border". NPR. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- Epstein, Jennifer (June 18, 2018). "Donald Trump's family separations bedevil GOP as public outrage grows". Bloomberg News. Retrieved May 30, 2020 – via The Sydney Morning Herald.
- Sarlin, Benjy (June 15, 2018). "Despite claims, GOP immigration bill would not end family separation, experts say". NBC News. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- Davis, Julie Hirschfeld; Nixon, Ron (May 29, 2018). "Trump Officials, Moving to Break Up Migrant Families, Blame Democrats". The New York Times. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- Beckwith, Ryan Teague (June 20, 2018). "Here's What President Trump's Immigration Order Actually Does". Time. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- Shear, Michael D.; Goodnough, Abby; Haberman, Maggie (June 20, 2018). "Trump Retreats on Separating Families, but Thousands May Remain Apart". The New York Times. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
- Hansler, Jennifer (June 27, 2018). "Judge says government does a better job of tracking 'personal property' than separated kids". CNN. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- Walters, Joanna (June 27, 2018). "Judge orders US to reunite families separated at border within 30 days". The Guardian. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- Timm, Jane C. (January 13, 2021). "Fact check: Mexico never paid for it. But what about Trump's other border wall promises?". NBC News. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
- Farley, Robert (February 16, 2021). "Trump's Border Wall: Where Does It Stand?". FactCheck.org. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
- Davis, Julie Hirschfeld; Tackett, Michael (January 2, 2019). "Trump and Democrats Dig in After Talks to Reopen Government Go Nowhere". The New York Times. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- ^ Gambino, Lauren; Walters, Joanna (January 26, 2019). "Trump signs bill to end $6bn shutdown and temporarily reopen government". The Guardian. Reuters. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
- Pramuk, Jacob (January 25, 2019). "Trump signs bill to temporarily reopen government after longest shutdown in history". CNBC. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
- Fritze, John (January 24, 2019). "By the numbers: How the government shutdown is affecting the US". USA Today. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
- Mui, Ylan (January 28, 2019). "The government shutdown cost the economy $11 billion, including a permanent $3 billion loss, Congressional Budget Office says". CNBC. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
- Bacon, Perry Jr. (January 25, 2019). "Why Trump Blinked". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- ^ Pramuk, Jacob; Wilkie, Christina (February 15, 2019). "Trump declares national emergency to build border wall, setting up massive legal fight". CNBC. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
- Carney, Jordain (October 17, 2019). "Senate fails to override Trump veto over emergency declaration". The Hill. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
- Quinn, Melissa (December 11, 2019). "Supreme Court allows Trump to use military funds for border wall construction". CBS News. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
- Trump v. Sierra Club, No. 19A60, 588 U.S. ___ (2019)
- Allyn, Bobby (January 9, 2020). "Appeals Court Allows Trump To Divert $3.6 Billion In Military Funds For Border Wall". NPR. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
- El Paso Cty. v. Trump, 982 F.3d 332 (5th Cir. December 4, 2020).
- Cummings, William (October 24, 2018). "'I am a nationalist': Trump's embrace of controversial label sparks uproar". USA Today. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ Bennhold, Katrin (June 6, 2020). "Has 'America First' Become 'Trump First'? Germans Wonder". The New York Times. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- Carothers, Thomas; Brown, Frances Z. (October 1, 2018). "Can U.S. Democracy Policy Survive Trump?". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
- McGurk 2020.
- Swanson, Ana (March 12, 2020). "Trump Administration Escalates Tensions With Europe as Crisis Looms". The New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- Baker, Peter (May 26, 2017). "Trump Says NATO Allies Don't Pay Their Share. Is That True?". The New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- Barnes, Julian E.; Cooper, Helene (January 14, 2019). "Trump Discussed Pulling U.S. From NATO, Aides Say Amid New Concerns Over Russia". The New York Times. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- Bradner, Eric (January 23, 2017). "Trump's TPP withdrawal: 5 things to know". CNN. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
- Inman, Phillip (March 10, 2018). "The war over steel: Trump tips global trade into new turmoil". The Guardian. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
- Lawder, David; Blanchard, Ben (June 15, 2018). "Trump sets tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese goods; Beijing strikes back". Reuters. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- Singh, Rajesh Kumar (August 2, 2019). "Explainer: Trump's China tariffs – Paid by U.S. importers, not by China". Reuters. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
- Palmer, Doug (February 5, 2021). "America's trade gap soared under Trump, final figures show". Politico. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- Rodriguez, Sabrina (April 24, 2020). "North American trade deal to take effect on July 1". Politico. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
- Zengerle, Patricia (January 16, 2019). "Bid to keep U.S. sanctions on Russia's Rusal fails in Senate". Reuters. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- Whalen, Jeanne (January 15, 2019). "In rare rebuke of Trump administration, some GOP lawmakers advance measure to oppose lifting Russian sanctions". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- Bugos, Shannon (September 2019). "U.S. Completes INF Treaty Withdrawal". Arms Control Association. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- Panetta, Grace (June 14, 2018). "Trump reportedly claimed to leaders at the G7 that Crimea is part of Russia because everyone there speaks Russian". Business Insider. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
- Baker, Peter (August 10, 2017). "Trump Praises Putin Instead of Critiquing Cuts to U.S. Embassy Staff". The New York Times. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- Nussbaum, Matthew (April 8, 2018). "Trump blames Putin for backing 'Animal Assad'". Politico. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- "Nord Stream 2: Trump approves sanctions on Russia gas pipeline". BBC News. December 21, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- Diamond, Jeremy; Malloy, Allie; Dewan, Angela (March 26, 2018). "Trump expelling 60 Russian diplomats in wake of UK nerve agent attack". CNN. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- Zurcher, Anthony (July 16, 2018). "Trump-Putin summit: After Helsinki, the fallout at home". BBC. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
- Calamur, Krishnadev (July 16, 2018). "Trump Sides With the Kremlin, Against the U.S. Government". The Atlantic. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
- Fox, Lauren (July 16, 2018). "Top Republicans in Congress break with Trump over Putin comments". CNN. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
- Bose, Nandita; Shalal, Andrea (August 7, 2019). "Trump says China is 'killing us with unfair trade deals'". Reuters. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
- Hass, Ryan; Denmark, Abraham (August 7, 2020). "More pain than gain: How the US-China trade war hurt America". Brookings Institution. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- "How China Won Trump's Trade War and Got Americans to Foot the Bill". Bloomberg News. January 11, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- Bajak, Frank; Liedtke, Michael (May 21, 2019). "Huawei sanctions: Who gets hurt in dispute?". USA Today. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
- "Trump's Trade War Targets Chinese Students at Elite U.S. Schools". Time. June 3, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
- Meredith, Sam (August 6, 2019). "China responds to US after Treasury designates Beijing a 'currency manipulator'". CNBC. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
- Sink, Justin (April 11, 2018). "Trump Praises China's Xi's Trade Speech, Easing Tariff Tensions". IndustryWeek. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- Nakamura, David (August 23, 2019). "Amid trade war, Trump drops pretense of friendship with China's Xi Jinping, calls him an 'enemy'". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
- Mason, Jeff; Spetalnick, Matt; Alper, Alexandra (March 18, 2020). "Trump ratchets up criticism of China over coronavirus". Reuters. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
- "Trump held off sanctioning Chinese over Uighurs to pursue trade deal". BBC News. June 22, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- Verma, Pranshu; Wong, Edward (July 9, 2020). "U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Chinese Officials Over Mass Detention of Muslims". The New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- Taylor, Adam; Meko, Tim (December 21, 2017). "What made North Korea's weapons programs so much scarier in 2017". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
- ^ Windrem, Robert; Siemaszko, Corky; Arkin, Daniel (May 2, 2017). "North Korea crisis: How events have unfolded under Trump". NBC News. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- Borger, Julian (September 19, 2017). "Donald Trump threatens to 'totally destroy' North Korea in UN speech". The Guardian. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- McCausland, Phil (September 22, 2017). "Kim Jong Un Calls President Trump 'Dotard' and 'Frightened Dog'". NBC News. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- "Transcript: Kim Jong Un's letters to President Trump". CNN. September 9, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- Gangel, Jamie; Herb, Jeremy (September 9, 2020). "'A magical force': New Trump-Kim letters provide window into their 'special friendship'". CNN. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- Rappeport, Alan (March 22, 2019). "Trump Overrules Own Experts on Sanctions, in Favor to North Korea". The New York Times. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
- Baker, Peter; Crowley, Michael (June 30, 2019). "Trump Steps Into North Korea and Agrees With Kim Jong-un to Resume Talks". The New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- Sanger, David E.; Sang-Hun, Choe (June 12, 2020). "Two Years After Trump-Kim Meeting, Little to Show for Personal Diplomacy". The New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- Tanner, Jari; Lee, Matthew (October 5, 2019). "North Korea Says Nuclear Talks Break Down While U.S. Says They Were 'Good'". AP News. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
- Herskovitz, Jon (December 28, 2020). "Kim Jong Un's Nuclear Weapons Got More Dangerous Under Trump". Bloomberg News. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- Warrick, Joby; Denyer, Simon (September 30, 2020). "As Kim wooed Trump with 'love letters', he kept building his nuclear capability, intelligence shows". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- Jaffe, Greg; Ryan, Missy (January 21, 2018). "Up to 1,000 more U.S. troops could be headed to Afghanistan this spring". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- Gordon, Michael R.; Schmitt, Eric; Haberman, Maggie (August 20, 2017). "Trump Settles on Afghan Strategy Expected to Raise Troop Levels". The New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- George, Susannah; Dadouch, Sarah; Lamothe, Dan (February 29, 2020). "U.S. signs peace deal with Taliban agreeing to full withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- Mashal, Mujib (February 29, 2020). "Taliban and U.S. Strike Deal to Withdraw American Troops From Afghanistan". The New York Times. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- ^ Kiely, Eugene; Farley, Robert (August 17, 2021). "Timeline of U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan". FactCheck.org. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
- Sommer, Allison Kaplan (July 25, 2019). "How Trump and Netanyahu Became Each Other's Most Effective Political Weapon". Haaretz. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- Nelson, Louis; Nussbaum, Matthew (December 6, 2017). "Trump says U.S. recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital, despite global condemnation". Politico. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- Romo, Vanessa (March 25, 2019). "Trump Formally Recognizes Israeli Sovereignty Over Golan Heights". NPR. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- Gladstone, Rick; Landler, Mark (December 21, 2017). "Defying Trump, U.N. General Assembly Condemns U.S. Decree on Jerusalem". The New York Times. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
- Huet, Natalie (March 22, 2019). "Outcry as Trump backs Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights". Euronews. Reuters. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- Crowley, Michael (September 15, 2020). "Israel, U.A.E. and Bahrain Sign Accords, With an Eager Trump Playing Host". The New York Times. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- Phelps, Jordyn; Struyk, Ryan (May 20, 2017). "Trump signs $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia on 'a tremendous day'". ABC News. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
- Holland, Steve; Bayoumy, Yara (March 20, 2018). "Trump praises U.S. military sales to Saudi as he welcomes crown prince". Reuters. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- Chiacu, Doina; Ali, Idrees (March 21, 2018). "Trump, Saudi leader discuss Houthi 'threat' in Yemen: White House". Reuters. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- Stewart, Phil; Ali, Idrees (October 11, 2019). "U.S. says deploying more forces to Saudi Arabia to counter Iran threat". Reuters. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- "Syria war: Trump's missile strike attracts US praise – and barbs". BBC News. April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
- Joyce, Kathleen (April 14, 2018). "US strikes Syria after suspected chemical attack by Assad regime". Fox News. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
- Landler, Mark; Cooper, Helene; Schmitt, Eric (December 19, 2018). "Trump withdraws U.S. Forces From Syria, Declaring 'We Have Won Against ISIS'". The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
- Borger, Julian; Chulov, Martin (December 20, 2018). "Trump shocks allies and advisers with plan to pull US troops out of Syria". The Guardian. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
- Cooper, Helene (December 20, 2018). "Jim Mattis, Defense Secretary, Resigns in Rebuke of Trump's Worldview". The New York Times. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
- McKernan, Bethan; Borger, Julian; Sabbagh, Dan (October 9, 2019). "Turkey launches military operation in northern Syria". The Guardian. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
- O'Brien, Connor (October 16, 2019). "House condemns Trump's Syria withdrawal". Politico. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
- Edmondson, Catie (October 16, 2019). "In Bipartisan Rebuke, House Majority Condemns Trump for Syria Withdrawal". The New York Times. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
- Lederman, Josh; Lucey, Catherine (May 8, 2018). "Trump declares US leaving 'horrible' Iran nuclear accord". AP News. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
- Landler, Mark (May 8, 2018). "Trump Abandons Iran Nuclear Deal He Long Scorned". The New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- Nichols, Michelle (February 18, 2021). "U.S. rescinds Trump White House claim that all U.N. sanctions had been reimposed on Iran". Reuters. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ Hennigan, W.J. (November 24, 2021). "'They're Very Close.' U.S. General Says Iran Is Nearly Able to Build a Nuclear Weapon". Time. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- Donevan, Connor; Dorning, Courtney; Kelly, Mary Louise (May 30, 2023). "5 years after U.S. left Iran nuclear deal, more enriched Uranium and much less trust". NPR. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- Crowley, Michael; Hassan, Falih; Schmitt, Eric (January 2, 2020). "U.S. Strike in Iraq Kills Qassim Suleimani, Commander of Iranian Forces". The New York Times. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- Baker, Peter; Bergman, Ronen; Kirkpatrick, David D.; Barnes, Julian E.; Rubin, Alissa J. (January 11, 2020). "Seven Days in January: How Trump Pushed U.S. and Iran to the Brink of War". The New York Times. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
- Horton, Alex; Lamothe, Dan (December 8, 2021). "Army awards more Purple Hearts for troops hurt in Iranian attack that Trump downplayed". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
- Trimble, Megan (December 28, 2017). "Trump White House Has Highest Turnover in 40 Years". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- Wise, Justin (July 2, 2018). "AP: Trump admin sets record for White House turnover". The Hill. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- "Trump White House sets turnover records, analysis shows". NBC News. Associated Press. July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- ^ Keith, Tamara (March 7, 2018). "White House Staff Turnover Was Already Record-Setting. Then More Advisers Left". NPR. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ Tenpas, Kathryn Dunn; Kamarck, Elaine; Zeppos, Nicholas W. (March 16, 2018). "Tracking Turnover in the Trump Administration". Brookings Institution. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- Rogers, Katie; Karni, Annie (April 23, 2020). "Home Alone at the White House: A Sour President, With TV His Constant Companion". The New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- Cillizza, Chris (June 19, 2020). "Donald Trump makes terrible hires, according to Donald Trump". CNN. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ Keith, Tamara (March 6, 2020). "Mick Mulvaney Out, Mark Meadows in As White House Chief Of Staff". NPR. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- Baker, Peter; Haberman, Maggie (July 28, 2017). "Reince Priebus Pushed Out After Rocky Tenure as Trump Chief of Staff". The New York Times. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- Fritze, John; Subramanian, Courtney; Collins, Michael (September 4, 2020). "Trump says former chief of staff Gen. John Kelly couldn't 'handle the pressure' of the job". USA Today. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- Stanek, Becca (May 11, 2017). "President Trump just completely contradicted the official White House account of the Comey firing". The Week. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ^ Schmidt, Michael S.; Apuzzo, Matt (June 7, 2017). "Comey Says Trump Pressured Him to 'Lift the Cloud' of Inquiry". The New York Times. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
- "Statement for the Record Senate Select Committee on Intelligence James B. Comey" (PDF). United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. June 8, 2017. p. 7. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
- ^ Jones-Rooy, Andrea (November 29, 2017). "The Incredibly And Historically Unstable First Year Of Trump's Cabinet". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- Hersher, Rebecca; Neely, Brett (July 5, 2018). "Scott Pruitt Out at EPA". NPR. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
- Eilperin, Juliet; Dawsey, Josh; Fears, Darryl (December 15, 2018). "Interior Secretary Zinke resigns amid investigations". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- Keith, Tamara (October 12, 2017). "Trump Leaves Top Administration Positions Unfilled, Says Hollow Government By Design". NPR. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- "Tracking how many key positions Trump has filled so far". The Washington Post. January 8, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- Gramlich, John (January 13, 2021). "How Trump compares with other recent presidents in appointing federal judges". Pew Research Center. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
- Kumar, Anita (September 26, 2020). "Trump's legacy is now the Supreme Court". Politico.
- Farivar, Masood (December 24, 2020). "Trump's Lasting Legacy: Conservative Supermajority on Supreme Court". Voice of America. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- Biskupic, Joan (June 2, 2023). "Nine Black Robes: Inside the Supreme Court's Drive to the Right and Its Historic Consequences". WBUR-FM. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- Quay, Grayson (June 25, 2022). "Trump takes credit for Dobbs decision but worries it 'won't help him in the future'". The Week. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
- Kapur, Sahil (May 17, 2023). "Trump: 'I was able to kill Roe v. Wade'". NBC News. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- Phillip, Abby; Barnes, Robert; O'Keefe, Ed (February 8, 2017). "Supreme Court nominee Gorsuch says Trump's attacks on judiciary are 'demoralizing'". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- Shepherd, Katie (November 8, 2019). "Trump 'violates all recognized democratic norms,' federal judge says in biting speech on judicial independence". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- Holshue et al. 2020.
- Hein, Alexandria (January 31, 2020). "Coronavirus declared public health emergency in US". Fox News. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- Cloud, David S.; Pringle, Paul; Stokols, Eli (April 19, 2020). "How Trump let the U.S. fall behind the curve on coronavirus threat". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- Kelly, Caroline (March 21, 2020). "Washington Post: US intelligence warned Trump in January and February as he dismissed coronavirus threat". CNN. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- Watson, Kathryn (April 3, 2020). "A timeline of what Trump has said on coronavirus". CBS News. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
- Gangel, Jamie; Herb, Jeremy; Stuart, Elizabeth (September 9, 2020). "'Play it down': Trump admits to concealing the true threat of coronavirus in new Woodward book". CNN. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- Partington, Richard; Wearden, Graeme (March 9, 2020). "Global stock markets post biggest falls since 2008 financial crisis". The Guardian. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
- Heeb, Gina (March 6, 2020). "Trump signs emergency coronavirus package, injecting $8.3 billion into efforts to fight the outbreak". Business Insider. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- "WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – 11 March 2020". World Health Organization. March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
- "Coronavirus: What you need to know about Trump's Europe travel ban". The Local. March 12, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- Karni, Annie; Haberman, Maggie (March 12, 2020). "In Rare Oval Office Speech, Trump Voices New Concerns and Old Themes". The New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- Liptak, Kevin (March 13, 2020). "Trump declares national emergency – and denies responsibility for coronavirus testing failures". CNN. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- Valverde, Miriam (March 12, 2020). "Donald Trump's Wrong Claim That 'Anybody' Can Get Tested For Coronavirus". Kaiser Health News. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- Hulse, Carl; Cochrane, Emily (March 26, 2020). "As Coronavirus Spread, Largest Stimulus in History United a Polarized Senate". The New York Times. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- Taylor, Andrew; Fram, Alan; Kellman, Laurie; Superville, Darlene (March 28, 2020). "Trump signs $2.2T stimulus after swift congressional votes". AP News. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- "Trump's immigration executive order: What you need to know". Al Jazeera. April 23, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- Shear, Michael D.; Weiland, Noah; Lipton, Eric; Haberman, Maggie; Sanger, David E. (July 18, 2020). "Inside Trump's Failure: The Rush to Abandon Leadership Role on the Virus". The New York Times. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- "Trump creates task force to lead U.S. coronavirus response". CBS News. January 30, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
- Karni, Annie (March 23, 2020). "In Daily Coronavirus Briefing, Trump Tries to Redefine Himself". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- Baker, Peter; Rogers, Katie; Enrich, David; Haberman, Maggie (April 6, 2020). "Trump's Aggressive Advocacy of Malaria Drug for Treating Coronavirus Divides Medical Community". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- Dale, Daniel (March 17, 2020). "Fact check: Trump tries to erase the memory of him downplaying the coronavirus". CNN. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- Georgiou, Aristos (March 19, 2020). "WHO expert condemns language stigmatizing coronavirus after Trump repeatedly calls it the 'Chinese virus'". Newsweek. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- Beavers, Olivia (March 19, 2020). "US-China relationship worsens over coronavirus". The Hill. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- Lemire, Jonathan (April 9, 2020). "As pandemic deepens, Trump cycles through targets to blame". AP News. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- "Coronavirus: Outcry after Trump suggests injecting disinfectant as treatment". BBC News. April 24, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- Aratani, Lauren (May 5, 2020). "Why is the White House winding down the coronavirus taskforce?". The Guardian. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- "Coronavirus: Trump says virus task force to focus on reopening economy". BBC News. May 6, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- Liptak, Kevin (May 6, 2020). "In reversal, Trump says task force will continue 'indefinitely' – eyes vaccine czar". CNN. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- Acosta, Jim; Liptak, Kevin; Westwood, Sarah (May 29, 2020). "As US deaths top 100,000, Trump's coronavirus task force is curtailed". CNN. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- ^ Ollstein, Alice Miranda (April 14, 2020). "Trump halts funding to World Health Organization". Politico. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ Cohen, Zachary; Hansler, Jennifer; Atwood, Kylie; Salama, Vivian; Murray, Sara (July 7, 2020). "Trump administration begins formal withdrawal from World Health Organization". CNN. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Trump moves to pull US out of World Health Organization". BBC News. July 7, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- Wood, Graeme (April 15, 2020). "The WHO Defunding Move Isn't What It Seems". The Atlantic. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- Phillips, Amber (April 8, 2020). "Why exactly is Trump lashing out at the World Health Organization?". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- Wilson, Jason (April 17, 2020). "The rightwing groups behind wave of protests against Covid-19 restrictions". The Guardian. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
- Andone, Dakin (April 16, 2020). "Protests Are Popping Up Across the US over Stay-at-Home Restrictions". CNN. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- Shear, Michael D.; Mervosh, Sarah (April 17, 2020). "Trump Encourages Protest Against Governors Who Have Imposed Virus Restrictions". The New York Times. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- Chalfant, Morgan; Samuels, Brett (April 20, 2020). "Trump support for protests threatens to undermine social distancing rules". The Hill. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
- Lemire, Jonathan; Nadler, Ben (April 24, 2020). "Trump approved of Georgia's plan to reopen before bashing it". AP News. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- Kumar, Anita (April 18, 2020). "Trump's unspoken factor on reopening the economy: Politics". Politico. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
- ^ Danner, Chas (July 11, 2020). "99 Days Later, Trump Finally Wears a Face Mask in Public". New York. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
- ^ Blake, Aaron (June 25, 2020). "Trump's dumbfounding refusal to encourage wearing masks". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
- Higgins-Dunn, Noah (July 14, 2020). "Trump says U.S. would have half the number of coronavirus cases if it did half the testing". CNBC. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- Bump, Philip (July 23, 2020). "Trump is right that with lower testing, we record fewer cases. That's already happening". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- Feuer, Will (August 26, 2020). "CDC quietly revises coronavirus guidance to downplay importance of testing for asymptomatic people". CNBC. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- "The C.D.C. changes testing guidelines to exclude those exposed to virus who don't exhibit symptoms". The New York Times. August 26, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ Valencia, Nick; Murray, Sara; Holmes, Kristen (August 26, 2020). "CDC was pressured 'from the top down' to change coronavirus testing guidance, official says". CNN. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ Gumbrecht, Jamie; Gupta, Sanjay; Valencia, Nick (September 18, 2020). "Controversial coronavirus testing guidance came from HHS and didn't go through CDC scientific review, sources say". CNN. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- Blake, Aaron (July 6, 2020). "President Trump, coronavirus truther". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
- Rabin, Roni Caryn; Cameron, Chris (July 5, 2020). "Trump Falsely Claims '99 Percent' of Virus Cases Are 'Totally Harmless'". The New York Times. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- Sprunt, Barbara (July 7, 2020). "Trump Pledges To 'Pressure' Governors To Reopen Schools Despite Health Concerns". NPR. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
- McGinley, Laurie; Johnson, Carolyn Y. (June 15, 2020). "FDA pulls emergency approval for antimalarial drugs touted by Trump as covid-19 treatment". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- ^ LaFraniere, Sharon; Weiland, Noah; Shear, Michael D. (September 12, 2020). "Trump Pressed for Plasma Therapy. Officials Worry, Is an Unvetted Vaccine Next?". The New York Times. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- Diamond, Dan (September 11, 2020). "Trump officials interfered with CDC reports on Covid-19". Politico. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
- Sun, Lena H. (September 12, 2020). "Trump officials seek greater control over CDC reports on coronavirus". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
- McGinley, Laurie; Johnson, Carolyn Y.; Dawsey, Josh (August 22, 2020). "Trump without evidence accuses 'deep state' at FDA of slow-walking coronavirus vaccines and treatments". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- Liptak, Kevin; Klein, Betsy (October 5, 2020). "A timeline of Trump and those in his orbit during a week of coronavirus developments". CNN. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ Olorunnipa, Toluse; Dawsey, Josh (October 5, 2020). "Trump returns to White House, downplaying virus that hospitalized him and turned West Wing into a 'ghost town'". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ Weiland, Noah; Haberman, Maggie; Mazzetti, Mark; Karni, Annie (February 11, 2021). "Trump Was Sicker Than Acknowledged With Covid-19". The New York Times. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- Acosta, J.; Kelly, C. (March 1, 2021). "Donald and Melania Trump received Covid vaccine at the White House in January". CNN. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ Edelman, Adam (July 5, 2020). "Warning signs flash for Trump in Wisconsin as pandemic response fuels disapproval". NBC News. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
- Strauss, Daniel (September 7, 2020). "Biden aims to make election about Covid-19 as Trump steers focus elsewhere". The Guardian. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- Karson, Kendall (September 13, 2020). "Deep skepticism for Trump's coronavirus response endures: POLL". ABC News. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
- Impelli, Matthew (October 26, 2020). "Fact Check: Is U.S. 'Rounding the Turn' On COVID, as Trump Claims?". Newsweek. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
- Maan, Anurag (October 31, 2020). "U.S. reports world record of more than 100,000 COVID-19 cases in single day". Reuters. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
- Woodward, Calvin; Pace, Julie (December 16, 2018). "Scope of investigations into Trump has shaped his presidency". AP News. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
- Buchanan, Larry; Yourish, Karen (September 25, 2019). "Tracking 30 Investigations Related to Trump". The New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
- Fahrenthold, David A.; Bade, Rachael; Wagner, John (April 22, 2019). "Trump sues in bid to block congressional subpoena of financial records". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
- Savage, Charlie (May 20, 2019). "Accountants Must Turn Over Trump's Financial Records, Lower-Court Judge Rules". The New York Times. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
- Merle, Renae; Kranish, Michael; Sonmez, Felicia (May 22, 2019). "Judge rejects Trump's request to halt congressional subpoenas for his banking records". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
- Flitter, Emily; McKinley, Jesse; Enrich, David; Fandos, Nicholas (May 22, 2019). "Trump's Financial Secrets Move Closer to Disclosure". The New York Times. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
- Hutzler, Alexandra (May 21, 2019). "Donald Trump's Subpoena Appeals Now Head to Merrick Garland's Court". Newsweek. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- Broadwater, Luke (September 17, 2022). "Trump's Former Accounting Firm Begins Turning Over Documents to Congress". The New York Times. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- Rosenberg, Matthew (July 6, 2017). "Trump Misleads on Russian Meddling: Why 17 Intelligence Agencies Don't Need to Agree". The New York Times. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- Sanger, David E. (January 6, 2017). "Putin Ordered 'Influence Campaign' Aimed at U.S. Election, Report Says". The New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- Berman, Russell (March 20, 2017). "It's Official: The FBI Is Investigating Trump's Links to Russia". The Atlantic. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
- Harding, Luke (November 15, 2017). "How Trump walked into Putin's web". The Guardian. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
- McCarthy, Tom (December 13, 2016). "Trump's relationship with Russia – what we know and what comes next". The Guardian. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
- Bump, Philip (March 3, 2017). "The web of relationships between Team Trump and Russia". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
- Nesbit, Jeff (August 2, 2016). "Donald Trump's Many, Many, Many, Many Ties to Russia". Time. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
- Phillips, Amber (August 19, 2016). "Paul Manafort's complicated ties to Ukraine, explained". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
- Graham, David A. (November 15, 2019). "We Still Don't Know What Happened Between Trump and Russia". The Atlantic. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- Parker, Ned; Landay, Jonathan; Strobel, Warren (May 18, 2017). "Exclusive: Trump campaign had at least 18 undisclosed contacts with Russians: sources". Reuters. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
- Murray, Sara; Borger, Gloria; Diamond, Jeremy (February 14, 2017). "Flynn resigns amid controversy over Russia contacts". CNN. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
- Harris, Shane; Dawsey, Josh; Nakashima, Ellen (September 27, 2019). "Trump told Russian officials in 2017 he wasn't concerned about Moscow's interference in U.S. election". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- Barnes, Julian E.; Rosenberg, Matthew (November 22, 2019). "Charges of Ukrainian Meddling? A Russian Operation, U.S. Intelligence Says". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- Apuzzo, Matt; Goldman, Adam; Fandos, Nicholas (May 16, 2018). "Code Name Crossfire Hurricane: The Secret Origins of the Trump Investigation". The New York Times. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- Dilanian, Ken (September 7, 2020). "FBI agent who helped launch Russia investigation says Trump was 'compromised'". NBC News. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- Pearson, Nick (May 17, 2018). "Crossfire Hurricane: Trump Russia investigation started with Alexander Downer interview". Nine News. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ^ Schmidt, Michael S. (August 30, 2020). "Justice Dept. Never Fully Examined Trump's Ties to Russia, Ex-Officials Say". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- "Rosenstein to testify in Senate on Trump-Russia probe". Reuters. May 27, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- Vitkovskaya, Julie (June 16, 2017). "Trump Is Officially under Investigation. How Did We Get Here?". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
- Keating, Joshua (March 8, 2018). "It's Not Just a "Russia" Investigation Anymore". Slate. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- Haberman, Maggie; Schmidt, Michael S. (April 10, 2018). "Trump Sought to Fire Mueller in December". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- Breuninger, Kevin (March 22, 2019). "Mueller probe ends: Special counsel submits Russia report to Attorney General William Barr". CNBC. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
- Barrett, Devlin; Zapotosky, Matt (April 30, 2019). "Mueller complained that Barr's letter did not capture 'context' of Trump probe". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
- Hsu, Spencer S.; Barrett, Devlin (March 5, 2020). "Judge cites Barr's 'misleading' statements in ordering review of Mueller report redactions". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- Savage, Charlie (March 5, 2020). "Judge Calls Barr's Handling of Mueller Report 'Distorted' and 'Misleading'". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- Yen, Hope; Woodward, Calvin (July 24, 2019). "AP FACT CHECK: Trump falsely claims Mueller exonerated him". AP News. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- "Main points of Mueller report". Agence France-Presse. January 16, 2012. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
- Ostriker, Rebecca; Puzzanghera, Jim; Finucane, Martin; Datar, Saurabh; Uraizee, Irfan; Garvin, Patrick (April 18, 2019). "What the Mueller report says about Trump and more". The Boston Globe. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ^ Law, Tara (April 18, 2019). "Here Are the Biggest Takeaways From the Mueller Report". Time. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- Lynch, Sarah N.; Sullivan, Andy (April 18, 2018). "In unflattering detail, Mueller report reveals Trump actions to impede inquiry". Reuters. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- Mazzetti, Mark (July 24, 2019). "Mueller Warns of Russian Sabotage and Rejects Trump's 'Witch Hunt' Claims". The New York Times. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
- Bump, Philip (May 30, 2019). "Trump briefly acknowledges that Russia aided his election – and falsely says he didn't help the effort". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
- Polantz, Katelyn; Kaufman, Ellie; Murray, Sara (June 19, 2020). "Mueller raised possibility Trump lied to him, newly unsealed report reveals". CNN. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
- Barrett, Devlin; Zapotosky, Matt (April 17, 2019). "Mueller report lays out obstruction evidence against the president". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
- Farley, Robert; Robertson, Lori; Gore, D'Angelo; Spencer, Saranac Hale; Fichera, Angelo; McDonald, Jessica (April 18, 2019). "What the Mueller Report Says About Obstruction". FactCheck.org. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ^ Mascaro, Lisa (April 18, 2019). "Mueller drops obstruction dilemma on Congress". AP News. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
- Segers, Grace (May 29, 2019). "Mueller: If it were clear president committed no crime, "we would have said so"". CBS News. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
- Cheney, Kyle; Caygle, Heather; Bresnahan, John (December 10, 2019). "Why Democrats sidelined Mueller in impeachment articles". Politico. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- Blake, Aaron (December 10, 2019). "Democrats ditch 'bribery' and Mueller in Trump impeachment articles. But is that the smart play?". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- Zapotosky, Matt; Bui, Lynh; Jackman, Tom; Barrett, Devlin (August 21, 2018). "Manafort convicted on 8 counts; mistrial declared on 10 others". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
- Mangan, Dan (July 30, 2018). "Trump and Giuliani are right that 'collusion is not a crime.' But that doesn't matter for Mueller's probe". CNBC. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- "Mueller investigation: No jail time sought for Trump ex-adviser Michael Flynn". BBC. December 5, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- Barrett, Devlin; Zapotosky, Matt; Helderman, Rosalind S. (November 29, 2018). "Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, pleads guilty to lying to Congress about Moscow project". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- Weiner, Rachel; Zapotosky, Matt; Jackman, Tom; Barrett, Devlin (February 20, 2020). "Roger Stone sentenced to three years and four months in prison, as Trump predicts 'exoneration' for his friend". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ Bump, Philip (September 25, 2019). "Trump wanted Russia's main geopolitical adversary to help undermine the Russian interference story". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- Cohen, Marshall; Polantz, Katelyn; Shortell, David; Kupperman, Tammy; Callahan, Michael (September 26, 2019). "Whistleblower says White House tried to cover up Trump's abuse of power". CNN. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- Fandos, Nicholas (September 24, 2019). "Nancy Pelosi Announces Formal Impeachment Inquiry of Trump". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- Forgey, Quint (September 24, 2019). "Trump changes story on withholding Ukraine aid". Politico. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- Graham, David A. (September 25, 2019). "Trump's Incriminating Conversation With the Ukrainian President". The Atlantic. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- Santucci, John; Mallin, Alexander; Thomas, Pierre; Faulders, Katherine (September 25, 2019). "Trump urged Ukraine to work with Barr and Giuliani to probe Biden: Call transcript". ABC News. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- "Document: Read the Whistle-Blower Complaint". The New York Times. September 24, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
- Shear, Michael D.; Fandos, Nicholas (October 22, 2019). "Ukraine Envoy Testifies Trump Linked Military Aid to Investigations, Lawmaker Says". The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
- LaFraniere, Sharon (October 22, 2019). "6 Key Revelations of Taylor's Opening Statement to Impeachment Investigators". The New York Times. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
- Siegel, Benjamin; Faulders, Katherine; Pecorin, Allison (December 13, 2019). "House Judiciary Committee passes articles of impeachment against President Trump". ABC News. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
- Gregorian, Dareh (December 18, 2019). "Trump impeached by the House for abuse of power, obstruction of Congress". NBC News. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- Kim, Seung Min; Wagner, John; Demirjian, Karoun (January 23, 2020). "Democrats detail abuse-of-power charge against Trump as Republicans complain of repetitive arguments". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
- ^ Shear, Michael D.; Fandos, Nicholas (January 18, 2020). "Trump's Defense Team Calls Impeachment Charges 'Brazen' as Democrats Make Legal Case". The New York Times. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
- Herb, Jeremy; Mattingly, Phil; Raju, Manu; Fox, Lauren (January 31, 2020). "Senate impeachment trial: Wednesday acquittal vote scheduled after effort to have witnesses fails". CNN. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- Bookbinder, Noah (January 9, 2020). "The Senate has conducted 15 impeachment trials. It heard witnesses in every one". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
- Wilkie, Christina; Breuninger, Kevin (February 5, 2020). "Trump acquitted of both charges in Senate impeachment trial". CNBC. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- Baker, Peter (February 22, 2020). "Trump's Efforts to Remove the Disloyal Heightens Unease Across His Administration". The New York Times. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- Naylor, Brian (January 11, 2021). "Impeachment Resolution Cites Trump's 'Incitement' of Capitol Insurrection". NPR. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
- Fandos, Nicholas (January 13, 2021). "Trump Impeached for Inciting Insurrection". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- Blake, Aaron (January 13, 2021). "Trump's second impeachment is the most bipartisan one in history". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- Levine, Sam; Gambino, Lauren (February 13, 2021). "Donald Trump acquitted in impeachment trial". The Guardian. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- Fandos, Nicholas (February 13, 2021). "Trump Acquitted of Inciting Insurrection, Even as Bipartisan Majority Votes 'Guilty'". The New York Times. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
- Watson, Kathryn; Quinn, Melissa; Segers, Grace; Becket, Stefan (February 10, 2021). "Senate finds Trump impeachment trial constitutional on first day of proceedings". CBS News. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- Morehouse, Lee (January 31, 2017). "Trump breaks precedent, files as candidate for re-election on first day". KTVK. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
- Graham, David A. (February 15, 2017). "Trump Kicks Off His 2020 Reelection Campaign on Saturday". The Atlantic. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
- Martin, Jonathan; Burns, Alexander; Karni, Annie (August 24, 2020). "Nominating Trump, Republicans Rewrite His Record". The New York Times. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
- Balcerzak, Ashley; Levinthal, Dave; Levine, Carrie; Kleiner, Sarah; Beachum, Lateshia (February 1, 2019). "Donald Trump's campaign cash machine: big, brawny and burning money". Center for Public Integrity. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- Goldmacher, Shane; Haberman, Maggie (September 7, 2020). "How Trump's Billion-Dollar Campaign Lost Its Cash Advantage". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- Egkolfopoulou, Misyrlena; Allison, Bill; Korte, Gregory (September 14, 2020). "Trump Campaign Slashes Ad Spending in Key States in Cash Crunch". Bloomberg News. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- Haberman, Maggie; Corasaniti, Nick; Karni, Annie (July 21, 2020). "As Trump Pushes into Portland, His Campaign Ads Turn Darker". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
- Bump, Philip (August 28, 2020). "Nearly every claim Trump made about Biden's positions was false". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
- Dale, Daniel; Subramaniam, Tara; Lybrand, Holmes (August 31, 2020). "Fact check: Trump makes more false claims about Biden and protests". CNN. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
- Hopkins, Dan (August 27, 2020). "Why Trump's Racist Appeals Might Be Less Effective In 2020 Than They Were In 2016". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- Kumar, Anita (August 8, 2020). "Trump aides exploring executive actions to curb voting by mail". Politico. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- Saul, Stephanie; Epstein, Reid J. (August 31, 2020). "Trump Is Pushing a False Argument on Vote-by-Mail Fraud. Here Are the Facts". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- Bogage, Jacob (August 12, 2020). "Trump says Postal Service needs money for mail-in voting, but he'll keep blocking funding". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- Sonmez, Felicia (July 19, 2020). "Trump declines to say whether he will accept November election results". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- Browne, Ryan; Starr, Barbara (September 25, 2020). "As Trump refuses to commit to a peaceful transition, Pentagon stresses it will play no role in the election". CNN. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- "Presidential Election Results: Biden Wins". The New York Times. December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- "2020 US Presidential Election Results: Live Map". ABC News. December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ Holder, Josh; Gabriel, Trip; Paz, Isabella Grullón (December 14, 2020). "Biden's 306 Electoral College Votes Make His Victory Official". The New York Times. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
- "With results from key states unclear, Trump declares victory". Reuters. November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- King, Ledyard (November 7, 2020). "Trump revives baseless claims of election fraud after Biden wins presidential race". USA Today. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
- Helderman, Rosalind S.; Viebeck, Elise (December 12, 2020). "'The last wall': How dozens of judges across the political spectrum rejected Trump's efforts to overturn the election". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
- Blake, Aaron (December 14, 2020). "The most remarkable rebukes of Trump's legal case: From the judges he hand-picked". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
- Woodward, Calvin (November 16, 2020). "AP Fact Check: Trump conclusively lost, denies the evidence". AP News. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- Liptak, Adam (December 11, 2020). "Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election". The New York Times. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
- Smith, David (November 21, 2020). "Trump's monumental sulk: president retreats from public eye as Covid ravages US". The Guardian. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
- Lamire, Jonathan; Miller, Zeke (November 9, 2020). "Refusing to concede, Trump blocks cooperation on transition". AP News. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- Timm, Jane C.; Smith, Allan (November 14, 2020). "Trump is stonewalling Biden's transition. Here's why it matters". NBC News. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
- Rein, Lisa (November 23, 2020). "Under pressure, Trump appointee Emily Murphy approves transition in unusually personal letter to Biden". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
- Naylor, Brian; Wise, Alana (November 23, 2020). "President-Elect Biden To Begin Formal Transition Process After Agency OK". NPR. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- Ordoñez, Franco; Rampton, Roberta (November 26, 2020). "Trump Is In No Mood To Concede, But Says Will Leave White House". NPR. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- Gardner, Amy (January 3, 2021). "'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". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ Kumar, Anita; Orr, Gabby; McGraw, Meridith (December 21, 2020). "Inside Trump's pressure campaign to overturn the election". Politico. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
- Cohen, Marshall (November 5, 2021). "Timeline of the coup: How Trump tried to weaponize the Justice Department to overturn the 2020 election". CNN. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
- Haberman, Maggie; Karni, Annie (January 5, 2021). "Pence Said to Have Told Trump He Lacks Power to Change Election Result". The New York Times. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- Fausset, Richard; Hakim, Danny (February 10, 2021). "Georgia Prosecutors Open Criminal Inquiry Into Trump's Efforts to Subvert Election". The New York Times. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
- Haberman, Maggie (January 20, 2021). "Trump Departs Vowing, 'We Will Be Back in Some Form'". The New York Times. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
- Arkin, William M. (December 24, 2020). "Exclusive: Donald Trump's martial-law talk has military on red alert". Newsweek. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- Gangel, Jamie; Herb, Jeremy; Cohen, Marshall; Stuart, Elizabeth; Starr, Barbara (July 14, 2021). "'They're not going to f**king succeed': Top generals feared Trump would attempt a coup after election, according to new book". CNN. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- Breuninger, Kevin (July 15, 2021). "Top U.S. Gen. Mark Milley feared Trump would attempt a coup after his loss to Biden, new book says". CNBC. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- Gangel, Jamie; Herb, Jeremy; Stuart, Elizabeth (September 14, 2021). "Woodward/Costa book: Worried Trump could 'go rogue,' Milley took top-secret action to protect nuclear weapons". CNN. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- Schmidt, Michael S. (September 14, 2021). "Fears That Trump Might Launch a Strike Prompted General to Reassure China, Book Says". The New York Times. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- Savage, Charlie (January 10, 2021). "Incitement to Riot? What Trump Told Supporters Before Mob Stormed Capitol". The New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
- "Donald Trump Speech 'Save America' Rally Transcript January 6". Rev. January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Tan, Shelley; Shin, Youjin; Rindler, Danielle (January 9, 2021). "How one of America's ugliest days unraveled inside and outside the Capitol". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
- Panetta, Grace; Lahut, Jake; Zavarise, Isabella; Frias, Lauren (December 21, 2022). "A timeline of what Trump was doing as his MAGA mob attacked the US Capitol on Jan. 6". Business Insider. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
- Gregorian, Dareh; Gibson, Ginger; Kapur, Sahil; Helsel, Phil (January 6, 2021). "Congress confirms Biden's win after pro-Trump mob's assault on Capitol". NBC News. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Rubin, Olivia; Mallin, Alexander; Steakin, Will (January 4, 2022). "By the numbers: How the Jan. 6 investigation is shaping up 1 year later". ABC News. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
- Cameron, Chris (January 5, 2022). "These Are the People Who Died in Connection With the Capitol Riot". The New York Times. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
- Terkel, Amanda (May 11, 2023). "Trump says he would pardon a 'large portion' of Jan. 6 rioters". NBC. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- Wolfe, Jan (January 27, 2021). "Explainer: Why Trump's post-presidency perks, like a pension and office, are safe for the rest of his life". Reuters. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- Quinn, Melissa (January 27, 2021). "Trump opens 'Office of the Former President' in Florida". CBS News. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- Spencer, Terry (January 28, 2021). "Palm Beach considers options as Trump remains at Mar-a-Lago". AP News. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- Durkee, Allison (May 7, 2021). "Trump Can Legally Live At Mar-A-Lago, Palm Beach Says". Forbes. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- Solender, Andrew (May 3, 2021). "Trump Says He'll Appropriate 'The Big Lie' To Refer To His Election Loss". Forbes. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ Wolf, Zachary B. (May 19, 2021). "The 5 key elements of Trump's Big Lie and how it came to be". CNN. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- Balz, Dan (May 29, 2021). "The GOP push to revisit 2020 has worrisome implications for future elections". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- Bender, Michael C.; Epstein, Reid J. (July 20, 2022). "Trump Recently Urged a Powerful Legislator to Overturn His 2020 Defeat in Wisconsin". The New York Times. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- Goldmacher, Shane (April 17, 2022). "Mar-a-Lago Machine: Trump as a Modern-Day Party Boss". The New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
- Paybarah, Azi (August 2, 2022). "Where Trump's Endorsement Record Stands Halfway through Primary Season". The New York Times. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- Castleman, Terry; Mason, Melanie (August 5, 2022). "Tracking Trump's endorsement record in the 2022 primary elections". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
- Lyons, Kim (December 6, 2021). "SEC investigating Trump SPAC deal to take his social media platform public". The Verge. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
- "Trump Media & Technology Group Corp". Bloomberg News. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
- Harwell, Drew (March 26, 2024). "Trump Media soars in first day of public tradings". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- Bhuyian, Johana (February 21, 2022). "Donald Trump's social media app launches on Apple store". The Guardian. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- Lowell, Hugo (March 15, 2023). "Federal investigators examined Trump Media for possible money laundering, sources say". The Guardian. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- Durkee, Alison (March 15, 2023). "Trump's Media Company Reportedly Under Federal Investigation For Money Laundering Linked To Russia". Forbes. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- Roebuck, Jeremy (May 30, 2024). "Donald Trump conviction: Will he go to prison? Can he still run for president? What happens now?". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- Sisak, Michael R. (May 30, 2024). "Trump Investigations". AP News. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- "Keeping Track of the Trump Criminal Cases". The New York Times. May 30, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ Lybrand, Holmes; Cohen, Marshall; Rabinowitz, Hannah (August 12, 2022). "Timeline: The Justice Department criminal inquiry into Trump taking classified documents to Mar-a-Lago". CNN. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
- Montague, Zach; McCarthy, Lauren (August 9, 2022). "The Timeline Related to the F.B.I.'s Search of Mar-a-Lago". The New York Times. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
- Haberman, Maggie; Thrush, Glenn (August 13, 2022). "Trump Lawyer Told Justice Dept. That Classified Material Had Been Returned". The New York Times. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
- ^ Barrett, Devlin; Dawsey, Josh (August 12, 2022). "Agents at Trump's Mar-a-Lago seized 11 sets of classified documents, court filing shows". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
- ^ Haberman, Maggie; Thrush, Glenn; Savage, Charlie (August 12, 2022). "Files Seized From Trump Are Part of Espionage Act Inquiry". The New York Times. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- Barrett, Devlin; Dawsey, Josh; Stein, Perry; Harris, Shane (August 12, 2022). "FBI searched Trump's home to look for nuclear documents and other items, sources say". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
- Swan, Betsy; Cheney, Kyle; Wu, Nicholas (August 12, 2022). "FBI search warrant shows Trump under investigation for potential obstruction of justice, Espionage Act violations". Politico. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
- Thrush, Glenn; Savage, Charlie; Haberman, Maggie; Feuer, Alan (November 18, 2022). "Garland Names Special Counsel for Trump Inquiries". The New York Times. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- Tucker, Eric; Balsamo, Michael (November 18, 2022). "Garland names special counsel to lead Trump-related probes". AP News. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- Feuer, Alan (December 19, 2022). "It's Unclear Whether the Justice Dept. Will Take Up the Jan. 6 Panel's Charges". The New York Times. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- Scannell, Kara; del Valle, Lauren (December 6, 2022). "Trump Organization found guilty on all counts of criminal tax fraud". CNN. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- Sisek, Michael R. (January 13, 2023). "Trump Organization fined $1.6 million for tax fraud". AP News. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
- Lowell, Hugo; Wicker, Jewel (August 15, 2023). "Donald Trump and allies indicted in Georgia over bid to reverse 2020 election loss". The Guardian. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- Drenon, Brandon (August 25, 2023). "What are the charges in Trump's Georgia indictment?". BBC News. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- Pereira, Ivan; Barr, Luke (August 25, 2023). "Trump mug shot released by Fulton County Sheriff's Office". ABC News. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- Rabinowitz, Hannah (August 31, 2023). "Trump pleads not guilty in Georgia election subversion case". CNN. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- Bailey, Holly (March 13, 2024). "Georgia judge dismisses six charges in Trump election interference case". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
- Barrett, Devlin; Dawsey, Josh; Stein, Perry; Alemany, Jacqueline (June 9, 2023). "Trump Put National Secrets at Risk, Prosecutors Say in Historic Indictment". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- Greve, Joan E.; Lowell, Hugo (June 14, 2023). "Trump pleads not guilty to 37 federal criminal counts in Mar-a-Lago case". The Guardian. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
- Schonfeld, Zach (July 28, 2023). "5 revelations from new Trump charges". The Hill. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- Savage, Charlie (June 9, 2023). "A Trump-Appointed Judge Who Showed Him Favor Gets the Documents Case". The New York Times.
- Tucker, Eric (July 15, 2024). "Federal judge dismisses Trump classified documents case over concerns with prosecutor's appointment". AP News. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- Mallin, Alexander (August 26, 2024). "Prosecutors Appeal Dismissal of Trump Documents Case". The New York Times. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- Barrett, Devlin; Hsu, Spencer S.; Stein, Perry; Dawsey, Josh; Alemany, Jacqueline (August 2, 2023). "Trump charged in probe of Jan. 6, efforts to overturn 2020 election". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- Sneed, Tierney; Rabinowitz, Hannah; Polantz, Katelyn; Lybrand, Holmes (August 3, 2023). "Donald Trump pleads not guilty to January 6-related charges". CNN. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- Stein, Perry; Hsu, Spencer S. (November 25, 2024). "With D.C. case dismissed, Trump is no longer under federal indictment". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- Halpert, Madeline (November 26, 2024). "Special counsel's last criminal case against Trump dismissed". Retrieved November 30, 2024.
- Ellison, Sarah; Farhi, Paul (December 12, 2018). "Publisher of the National Enquirer admits to hush-money payments made on Trump's behalf". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- Bump, Philip (August 21, 2018). "How the campaign finance charges against Michael Cohen implicate Trump". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
- Neumeister, Larry; Hays, Tom (August 22, 2018). "Cohen pleads guilty, implicates Trump in hush-money scheme". AP News. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- Nelson, Louis (March 7, 2018). "White House on Stormy Daniels: Trump 'denied all these allegations'". Politico. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- Singman, Brooke (August 22, 2018). "Trump insists he learned of Michael Cohen payments 'later on', in 'Fox & Friends' exclusive". Fox News. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- Barrett, Devlin; Zapotosky, Matt (December 7, 2018). "Court filings directly implicate Trump in efforts to buy women's silence, reveal new contact between inner circle and Russian". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- Allen, Jonathan; Stempel, Jonathan (July 18, 2019). "FBI documents point to Trump role in hush money for porn star Daniels". Reuters. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
- Mustian, Jim (July 19, 2019). "Records detail frenetic effort to bury stories about Trump". AP News. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
- Mustian, Jim (July 19, 2019). "Why no hush-money charges against Trump? Feds are silent". AP News. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- Harding, Luke; Holpuch, Amanda (May 19, 2021). "New York attorney general opens criminal investigation into Trump Organization". The Guardian. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
- Protess, Ben; Rashbaum, William K. (August 1, 2019). "Manhattan D.A. Subpoenas Trump Organization Over Stormy Daniels Hush Money". The New York Times. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- Rashbaum, William K.; Protess, Ben (September 16, 2019). "8 Years of Trump Tax Returns Are Subpoenaed by Manhattan D.A." The New York Times. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- Barrett, Devlin (May 29, 2024). "Jurors must be unanimous to convict Trump, can disagree on underlying crimes". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- Scannell, Kara; Miller, John; Herb, Jeremy; Cole, Devan (March 31, 2023). "Donald Trump indicted by Manhattan grand jury on 34 counts related to fraud". CNN. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
- Marimow, Ann E. (April 4, 2023). "Here are the 34 charges against Trump and what they mean". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- Reiss, Adam; Grumbach, Gary; Gregorian, Dareh; Winter, Tom; Frankel, Jillian (May 30, 2024). "Donald Trump found guilty in historic New York hush money case". NBC News. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- Protess, Ben; Christobek, Kate (December 16, 2024). "Judge Denies Trump's Bid to Throw Out Conviction Over Immunity Ruling". The New York Times. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
- Scannell, Kara (September 21, 2022). "New York attorney general files civil fraud lawsuit against Trump, some of his children and his business". CNN. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
- Katersky, Aaron (February 14, 2023). "Court upholds fine imposed on Trump over his failure to comply with subpoena". ABC News. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- Bromwich, Jonah E.; Protess, Ben; Rashbaum, William K. (August 10, 2022). "Trump Invokes Fifth Amendment, Attacking Legal System as Troubles Mount". The New York Times. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
- Kates, Graham (September 26, 2023). "Donald Trump and his company "repeatedly" violated fraud law, New York judge rules". CBS News.
- Bromwich, Jonah E.; Protess, Ben (February 17, 2024). "Trump Fraud Trial Penalty Will Exceed $450 Million". The New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
- Sullivan, Becky; Bernstein, Andrea; Marritz, Ilya; Lawrence, Quil (May 9, 2023). "A jury finds Trump liable for battery and defamation in E. Jean Carroll trial". NPR. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ Orden, Erica (July 19, 2023). "Trump loses bid for new trial in E. Jean Carroll case". Politico. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- Scannell, Kara (August 7, 2023). "Judge dismisses Trump's defamation lawsuit against Carroll for statements she made on CNN". CNN. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- Reiss, Adam; Gregorian, Dareh (August 7, 2023). "Judge tosses Trump's counterclaim against E. Jean Carroll, finding rape claim is 'substantially true'". NBC News. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- Stempel, Jonathan (August 10, 2023). "Trump appeals dismissal of defamation claim against E. Jean Carroll". Reuters. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- Kates, Graham (March 8, 2024). "Trump posts $91 million bond to appeal E. Jean Carroll defamation verdict". CBS News. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- Arnsdorf, Isaac; Scherer, Michael (November 15, 2022). "Trump, who as president fomented an insurrection, says he is running again". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- Schouten, Fredreka (November 16, 2022). "Questions about Donald Trump's campaign money, answered". CNN. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- Goldmacher, Shane; Haberman, Maggie (June 25, 2023). "As Legal Fees Mount, Trump Steers Donations Into PAC That Has Covered Them". The New York Times. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- Escobar, Molly Cook; Sun, Albert; Goldmacher, Shane (March 27, 2024). "How Trump Moved Money to Pay $100 Million in Legal Bills". The New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- Levine, Sam (March 4, 2024). "Trump was wrongly removed from Colorado ballot, US supreme court rules". The Guardian. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ Yourish, Karen; Smart, Charlie (May 24, 2024). "Trump's Pattern of Sowing Election Doubt Intensifies in 2024". The New York Times. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
- Bender, Michael C.; Gold, Michael (November 20, 2023). "Trump's Dire Words Raise New Fears About His Authoritarian Bent". The New York Times.
- Stone, Peter (November 22, 2023). "'Openly authoritarian campaign': Trump's threats of revenge fuel alarm". The Guardian.
- Colvin, Jill; Barrow, Bill (December 7, 2023). "Trump's vow to only be a dictator on 'day one' follows growing worry over his authoritarian rhetoric". AP News.
- LeVine, Marianne (November 12, 2023). "Trump calls political enemies 'vermin', echoing dictators Hitler, Mussolini". The Washington Post.
- Levine, Sam (November 10, 2023). "Trump suggests he would use FBI to go after political rivals if elected in 2024". The Guardian.
- Vazquez, Maegan (November 10, 2023). "Trump says on Univision he could weaponize FBI, DOJ against his enemies". The Washington Post.
- Stracqualursi, Veronica (October 14, 2024). "Trump suggests using military against 'enemy from within' on Election Day". CNN.
- ^ Lerer, Lisa; Gold, Michael (October 15, 2024). "Trump Escalates Threats to Political Opponents He Deems the 'Enemy'". The New York Times.
- Gold, Michael; Huynh, Anjali (April 2, 2024). "Trump Again Invokes 'Blood Bath' and Dehumanizes Migrants in Border Remarks". The New York Times. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- Savage, Charlie; Haberman, Maggie; Swan, Jonathan (November 11, 2023). "Sweeping Raids, Giant Camps and Mass Deportations: Inside Trump's 2025 Immigration Plans". The New York Times.
- Layne, Nathan; Slattery, Gram; Reid, Tim (April 3, 2024). "Trump calls migrants 'animals', intensifying focus on illegal immigration". Reuters. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- Philbrick, Ian Prasad; Bentahar, Lyna (December 5, 2023). "Donald Trump's 2024 Campaign, in His Own Menacing Words". The New York Times. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- Basu, Zachary (November 13, 2023). "Trump campaign defends "vermin" speech amid fascist comparisons". Axios (website). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- Browning, Christopher R. (July 25, 2023). "A New Kind of Fascism". The Atlantic. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- Kim, Soo Rin; Ibssa, Lalee (November 13, 2023). "Trump compares political opponents to 'vermin' who he will 'root out', alarming historians". ABC News. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- Ward, Myah (October 12, 2024). "We watched 20 Trump rallies. His racist, anti-immigrant messaging is getting darker". Politico. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
- Homans, Charles (April 27, 2024). "Donald Trump Has Never Sounded Like This". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- Applebaum, Anne (October 18, 2024). "Trump Is Speaking Like Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini". The Atlantic. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
- Baker, Peter; Freedman, Dylan (October 6, 2024). "Trump's Speeches, Increasingly Angry and Rambling, Reignite the Question of Age". The New York Times. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- Lane, Nathan; Ulmer, Alexandra (May 16, 2024). "Trump, allies are laying the groundwork to contest potential election loss". Reuters. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- Browne, Malachy; Lum, Devon; Cardia, Alexander (July 26, 2024). "Speculation Swirls About What Hit Trump. An Analysis Suggests It was a Bullet". The New York Times. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
- Hutchinson, Bill; Cohen, Miles (July 16, 2024). "Gunman opened fire at Trump rally as witnesses say they tried to alert police". ABC News. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
- "AP PHOTOS: Shooting at Trump rally in Pennsylvania". AP News. July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- Astor, Maggie (July 15, 2024). "What to Know About J.D. Vance, Trump's Running Mate". The New York Times. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- Debusmann, Bernd Jr; Yousif, Nadine (September 23, 2024). "Suspect described Trump 'assassination attempt' in pre-written note". BBC News. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- "2024 Presidential Election Results". AP News. November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
- Treisman, Rachel (November 4, 2024). "Trump is hoping to win non-consecutive terms. Only one president has done it". NPR. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- Sheerin, Jude; Murphy, Matt (November 6, 2024). "Trump pulls off historic White House comeback". BBC. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
Projections suggest he is likely to win the overall popular vote nationally
- Miller, Zeke; Price, Michelle L.; Weissert, Will; Colvin, Jill (November 6, 2024). "Trump wins the White House in political comeback rooted in appeals to frustrated voters". AP News. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
an extraordinary comeback for a former president
- O'Brien, Timothy L. (November 1, 2024). "The Peculiarly American Roots of Trumpism". Bloomberg News. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- Stuckey 2020, p. 366.
- Jacobson 2020, p. 782.
- Mason, Wronski & Kane 2021.
- Sundahl 2022, " 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".
- Franks & Hesami 2021, "Results of the current study... may lend credence to accusations that some Trump supporters have a cult-like loyalty to the 45th president".
- Adams 2021, p. 256.
- Reyes 2020, p. 869.
- Diamond 2023, p. 96, "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".
- Hassan 2019, p. xviii, "...Trump employs many of the same techniques as prominent cult leaders".
- Ben-Ghiat, Ruth (December 19, 2020). "Op-Ed: Trump's formula for building a lasting personality cult". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- Ross 2024, p. 298, "In 2016, a populist won the presidential election in the United States.".
- Urbinati 2019.
- Campani et al. 2022.
- Chotiner, Isaac (July 29, 2021). "Redefining Populism". The New Yorker. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
- Noah, Timothy (July 26, 2015). "Will the real Donald Trump please stand up?". Politico. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
- Bierman, Noah (August 22, 2016). "Donald Trump helps bring far-right media's edgier elements into the mainstream". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- Weigel, David (August 20, 2016). "'Racialists' are cheered by Trump's latest strategy". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
- Krieg, Gregory (August 25, 2016). "Clinton is attacking the 'Alt-Right' – What is it?". CNN. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
- Pierce, Matt (September 20, 2020). "Q&A: What is President Trump's relationship with far-right and white supremacist groups?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- Perry, Whitehead & Grubbs 2021, p. 229.
- Peter, Smith (May 18, 2024). "Jesus is their savior, Trump is their candidate. Ex-president's backers say he shares faith, values". AP News. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- Kunzelman, Michael; Galvan, Astrid (August 7, 2019). "Trump words linked to more hate crime? Some experts think so". AP News. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- Feinberg, Ayal; Branton, Regina; Martinez-Ebers, Valerie (March 22, 2019). "Analysis | Counties that hosted a 2016 Trump rally saw a 226 percent increase in hate crimes". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- White, Daniel (February 1, 2016). "Donald Trump Tells Crowd To 'Knock the Crap Out Of' Hecklers". Time. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
- Koerner, Claudia (October 18, 2018). "Trump Thinks It's Totally Cool That A Congressman Assaulted A Journalist For Asking A Question". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- Tracy, Abigail (August 8, 2019). ""The President of the United States Says It's Okay": The Rise of the Trump Defense". Vanity Fair. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- Helderman, Rosalind S.; Hsu, Spencer S.; Weiner, Rachel (January 16, 2021). "'Trump said to do so': Accounts of rioters who say the president spurred them to rush the Capitol could be pivotal testimony". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- Levine, Mike (May 30, 2020). "'No Blame?' ABC News finds 54 cases invoking 'Trump' in connection with violence, threats, alleged assaults". ABC News. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
- ^ Kessler, Glenn; Kelly, Meg; Rizzo, Salvador; Lee, Michelle Ye Hee (January 20, 2021). "In four years, President Trump made 30,573 false or misleading claims". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- Dale, Daniel (June 5, 2019). "Donald Trump has now said more than 5,000 false things as president". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- Dale, Daniel; Subramiam, Tara (March 9, 2020). "Fact check: Donald Trump made 115 false claims in the last two weeks of February". CNN. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ Finnegan, Michael (September 25, 2016). "Scope of Trump's falsehoods unprecedented for a modern presidential candidate". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ Glasser, Susan B. (August 3, 2018). "It's True: Trump Is Lying More, and He's Doing It on Purpose". The New Yorker. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
- Konnikova, Maria (January 20, 2017). "Trump's Lies vs. Your Brain". Politico. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
- Kakutani, Michiko (2018). "The Firehose of Falsehood: Propaganda and Fake News". The Death of Truth: Notes on Falsehood in the Age of Trump. Crown/Archetype. pp. 94–104. ISBN 9780525574842.
- Kessler, Glenn; Kelly, Meg; Rizzo, Salvador; Shapiro, Leslie; Dominguez, Leo (January 23, 2021). "A term of untruths: The longer Trump was president, the more frequently he made false or misleading claims". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- Qiu, Linda (January 21, 2017). "Donald Trump had biggest inaugural crowd ever? Metrics don't show it". PolitiFact. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
- Rein, Lisa (March 6, 2017). "Here are the photos that show Obama's inauguration crowd was bigger than Trump's". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- Wong, Julia Carrie (April 7, 2020). "Hydroxychloroquine: how an unproven drug became Trump's coronavirus 'miracle cure'". The Guardian. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- Spring, Marianna (May 27, 2020). "Coronavirus: The human cost of virus misinformation". BBC News. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- Rowland, Christopher (March 23, 2020). "As Trump touts an unproven coronavirus treatment, supplies evaporate for patients who need those drugs". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- Parkinson, Joe; Gauthier-Villars, David (March 23, 2020). "Trump Claim That Malaria Drugs Treat Coronavirus Sparks Warnings, Shortages". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
- Zurcher, Anthony (November 29, 2017). "Trump's anti-Muslim retweet fits a pattern". BBC News. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- Siders, David (May 25, 2020). "Trump sees a 'rigged election' ahead. Democrats see a constitutional crisis in the making". Politico. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
- Riccardi, Nicholas (September 17, 2020). "AP Fact Check: Trump's big distortions on mail-in voting". AP News. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- Lipton, Eric; Sanger, David E.; Haberman, Maggie; Shear, Michael D.; Mazzetti, Mark; Barnes, Julian E. (April 11, 2020). "He Could Have Seen What Was Coming: Behind Trump's Failure on the Virus". The New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- Guynn, Jessica (October 5, 2020). "From COVID-19 to voting: Trump is nation's single largest spreader of disinformation, studies say". USA Today. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- Bergengruen, Vera; Hennigan, W.J. (October 6, 2020). "'You're Gonna Beat It.' How Donald Trump's COVID-19 Battle Has Only Fueled Misinformation". Time. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- Allen, Jonathan (December 31, 2018). "Does being President Trump still mean never having to say you're sorry?". NBC News. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- Greenberg, David (January 28, 2017). "The Perils of Calling Trump a Liar". Politico. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- Bauder, David (August 29, 2018). "News media hesitate to use 'lie' for Trump's misstatements". AP News. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- Farhi, Paul (June 5, 2019). "Lies? The news media is starting to describe Trump's 'falsehoods' that way". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- Fichera, Angelo; Spencer, Saranac Hale (October 20, 2020). "Trump's Long History With Conspiracy Theories". FactCheck.org. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- Subramaniam, Tara; Lybrand, Holmes (October 15, 2020). "Fact-checking the dangerous bin Laden conspiracy theory that Trump touted". CNN. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- ^ Haberman, Maggie (February 29, 2016). "Even as He Rises, Donald Trump Entertains Conspiracy Theories". The New York Times. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- Bump, Philip (November 26, 2019). "President Trump loves conspiracy theories. Has he ever been right?". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- Reston, Maeve (July 2, 2020). "The Conspiracy-Theorist-in-Chief clears the way for fringe candidates to become mainstream". CNN. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- Perkins, Tom (November 18, 2020). "The dead voter conspiracy theory peddled by Trump voters, debunked". The Guardian. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- Cohen, Li (January 15, 2021). "6 conspiracy theories about the 2020 election – debunked". CBS News. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
- McEvoy, Jemima (December 17, 2020). "These Are The Voter Fraud Claims Trump Tried (And Failed) To Overturn The Election With". Forbes. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
- Conger, Kate; Isaac, Mike (January 16, 2021). "Inside Twitter's Decision to Cut Off Trump". The New York Times. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- Madhani, Aamer; Colvin, Jill (January 9, 2021). "A farewell to @realDonaldTrump, gone after 57,000 tweets". AP News. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- Landers, Elizabeth (June 6, 2017). "White House: Trump's tweets are 'official statements'". CNN. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- Dwoskin, Elizabeth (May 27, 2020). "Twitter labels Trump's tweets with a fact check for the first time". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
- Dwoskin, Elizabeth (May 27, 2020). "Trump lashes out at social media companies after Twitter labels tweets with fact checks". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
- Fischer, Sara; Gold, Ashley (January 11, 2021). "All the platforms that have banned or restricted Trump so far". Axios. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- Timberg, Craig (January 14, 2021). "Twitter ban reveals that tech companies held keys to Trump's power all along". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- Alba, Davey; Koeze, Ella; Silver, Jacob (June 7, 2021). "What Happened When Trump Was Banned on Social Media". The New York Times. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- Dwoskin, Elizabeth; Timberg, Craig (January 16, 2021). "Misinformation dropped dramatically the week after Twitter banned Trump and some allies". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- Harwell, Drew; Dawsey, Josh (November 7, 2022). "Trump once reconsidered sticking with Truth Social. Now he's stuck". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- Mac, Ryan; Browning, Kellen (November 19, 2022). "Elon Musk Reinstates Trump's Twitter Account". The New York Times. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
- Dang, Sheila; Coster, Helen (November 20, 2022). "Trump snubs Twitter after Musk announces reactivation of ex-president's account". Reuters. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- Bond, Shannon (January 23, 2023). "Meta allows Donald Trump back on Facebook and Instagram". NPR.
- Egan, Matt (March 11, 2024). "Trump calls Facebook the enemy of the people. Meta's stock sinks". CNN.
- Parnes, Amie (April 28, 2018). "Trump's love-hate relationship with the press". The Hill. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- Chozick, Amy (September 29, 2018). "Why Trump Will Win a Second Term". The New York Times. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
- Hetherington, Marc; Ladd, Jonathan M. (May 1, 2020). "Destroying trust in the media, science, and government has left America vulnerable to disaster". Brookings Institution. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- Thomsen, Jacqueline (May 22, 2018). "'60 Minutes' correspondent: Trump said he attacks the press so no one believes negative coverage". The Hill. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
- Stelter, Brian; Collins, Kaitlan (May 9, 2018). "Trump's latest shot at the press corps: 'Take away credentials?'". CNN Money. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ Grynbaum, Michael M. (December 30, 2019). "After Another Year of Trump Attacks, 'Ominous Signs' for the American Press". The New York Times. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- Geltzer, Joshua A.; Katyal, Neal K. (March 11, 2020). "The True Danger of the Trump Campaign's Defamation Lawsuits". The Atlantic. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
- "US judge throws out Donald Trump's lawsuit against New York Times". The Guardian. May 3, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
- Kapur, Sahil (October 13, 2024). "'Totally illegal': Trump escalates rhetoric on outlawing political dissent and criticism". NBC News. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- Folkenflik, David (October 21, 2024). "Could Trump's threats against news outlets carry weight if he wins the presidency?". NPR. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- Datta, Monti (September 16, 2019). "3 countries where Trump is popular". The Conversation. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- "Rating World Leaders: 2018 The U.S. vs. Germany, China and Russia". Gallup. Retrieved October 3, 2021. Page 9
- Wike, Richard; Fetterolf, Janell; Mordecai, Mara (September 15, 2020). "U.S. Image Plummets Internationally as Most Say Country Has Handled Coronavirus Badly". Pew Research Center. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- Jacobson 2020, p. 763.
- ^ Jones, Jeffrey M. (January 18, 2021). "Last Trump Job Approval 34%; Average Is Record-Low 41%". Gallup. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- Klein, Ezra (September 2, 2020). "Can anything change Americans' minds about Donald Trump? The eerie stability of Trump's approval rating, explained". Vox. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- Enten, Harry (January 16, 2021). "Trump finishes with worst first term approval rating ever". CNN. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- "Most Admired Man and Woman". Gallup. December 28, 2006. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- Budryk, Zack (December 29, 2020). "Trump ends Obama's 12-year run as most admired man: Gallup". The Hill. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
- Bach, Natash (December 28, 2017). "Trump Is the Only Elected U.S. President Not to Be Named America's Most Admired Man In His First Year". Fortune (magazine). Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- "Presidential Historians Survey 2021". C-SPAN. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
- Sheehey, Maeve (June 30, 2021). "Trump debuts at 41st in C-SPAN presidential rankings". Politico. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- Brockell, Gillian (June 30, 2021). "Historians just ranked the presidents. Trump wasn't last". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- "American Presidents: Greatest and Worst". Siena College Research Institute. June 22, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
- Rottinghaus, Brandon; Vaughn, Justin S. (February 19, 2018). "Opinion: How Does Trump Stack Up Against the Best—and Worst—Presidents?". The New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- Chappell, Bill (February 19, 2024). "In historians' Presidents Day survey, Biden vs. Trump is not a close call". NPR.
Works cited
Books
- Blair, Gwenda (2015) . The Trumps: Three Generations That Built an Empire. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-5011-3936-9.
- Buettner, Russ; Craig, Susanne (2024). Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father's Fortune And Created The Illusion of Success. Penguin Press. ISBN 978-0-593-29864-0.
- D'Antonio, Michael (2015). Never enough : Donald Trump and the pursuit of success. Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-1-250-04238-5.
- Haberman, Maggie (2022). Confidence man: the making of Donald Trump and the breaking of America. Penguin Press. ISBN 978-0-593-29734-6.
- Hassan, Steven (2019). The Cult of Trump. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-9821-2733-6.
- Johnston, David Cay (2016). The Making of Donald Trump. Melville House Publishing. ISBN 978-1-61219-658-9.
- Johnston, David Cay (2021). The Big Cheat: How Donald Trump Fleeced America And Enriched Himself And His Family. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-9821-7804-8.
- Kranish, Michael; Fisher, Marc (2017) . Trump Revealed: The Definitive Biography of the 45th President. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-5011-5652-6.
- O'Brien, Timothy L. (2005). TrumpNation: The Art of Being The Donald. Warner Books. ISBN 978-0-446-57854-7.
- Meacham, Jon (2016). Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush. Random House. ISBN 978-0-8129-7947-3.
- O'Donnell, John R.; Rutherford, James (1991). Trumped!. Crossroad Press Trade Edition. ISBN 978-1-946025-26-5.
Journals
- Adams, Kenneth Alan (Spring 2021). "The Trump Death Cult". Journal of Psychohistory. 48 (4): 256–276. ISSN 0145-3378. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- Campani, Giovanna; Concepción, Sunamis Fabelo; Soler, Angel Rodriguez; Savín, Claudia Sánchez (November 2, 2022). "The Rise of Donald Trump Right-Wing Populism in the United States: Middle American Radicalism and Anti-Immigration Discourse". Societies. 12 (6): 154. doi:10.3390/soc12060154.
- Diamond, Michael J. (February 22, 2023). "Perverted Containment: Trumpism, Cult Creation, and the Rise of Destructive American Populism". Psychoanalytic Inquiry. 43 (2): 96–109. doi:10.1080/07351690.2023.2163147.
- Edwards, Jason A. (2018). "Make America Great Again: Donald Trump and Redefining the U.S. Role in the World". Communication Quarterly. 66 (2): 176. doi:10.1080/01463373.2018.1438485.
- Franks, Andrew S.; Hesami, Farhang (September 18, 2021). "Seeking Evidence of The MAGA Cult and Trump Derangement Syndrome: An Examination of (A)symmetric Political Bias". Societies. 11 (3): 113. doi:10.3390/soc11030113.
- Holshue, Michelle L.; DeBolt, Chas; Lindquist, Scott; Lofy, Kathy H.; Wiesman, John; Bruce, Hollianne; Spitters, Christopher; Ericson, Keith; Wilkerson, Sara; Tural, Ahmet; Diaz, George (March 5, 2020). "First Case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the United States". The New England Journal of Medicine. 382 (10): 929–936. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2001191. PMC 7092802. PMID 32004427.
- Jacobson, Gary C. (October 24, 2020). "Donald Trump and the Parties: Impeachment, Pandemic, Protest, and Electoral Politics in 2020". Presidential Studies Quarterly. 50 (4): 762–795. doi:10.1111/psq.12682. ISSN 0360-4918.
- Johnson, Kevin R. (2017a). "Immigration and civil rights in the Trump administration: Law and policy making by executive order". Santa Clara Law Review. 57 (3): 611–665.
- Johnson, Kevin R.; Cuison-Villazor, Rose (May 2, 2019). "The Trump Administration and the War on Immigration Diversity". Wake Forest Law Review. 54 (2): 575–616.
- Mason, Liliana; Wronski, Julie; Kane, John V. (2021). "Activating Animus: The Uniquely Social Roots of Trump Support". American Political Science Review. 115 (4): 1508–1516. doi:10.1017/S0003055421000563.
- McGurk, Brett (January 22, 2020). "The Cost of an Incoherent Foreign Policy: Trump's Iran Imbroglio Undermines U.S. Priorities Everywhere Else". Foreign Affairs.
- Lajevardi, Nazita; Oskooii, Kassra A. R. (2018). "Old-Fashioned Racism, Contemporary Islamophobia, and the Isolation of Muslim Americans in the Age of Trump". Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics. 3 (1): 112–152. doi:10.1017/rep.2017.37.
- Perry, Samuel L.; Whitehead, Andrew L.; Grubbs, Joshua B. (April 21, 2021). "The Devil That You Know: Christian Nationalism and Intent to Change One's Voting Behavior For or Against Trump in 2020". Politics and Religion. 15 (2): 229–246. doi:10.1017/S175504832100002X. hdl:11244/334967.
- Reyes, Antonio (May 4, 2020). "I, Trump The cult of personality, anti-intellectualism and the Post-Truth era". Journal of Language and Politics. 19 (6): 869–892. doi:10.1075/jlp.20002.rey. ISSN 1569-2159.
- Rothe, Dawn L.; Collins, Victoria E. (November 17, 2019). "Turning Back the Clock? Violence against Women and the Trump Administration". Victims & Offenders. 14 (8): 965–978. doi:10.1080/15564886.2019.1671284.
- Ross, Bertrall L. (October 2024). "Polarization, Populism, and the Crisis of American Democracy". Annual Review of Law and Social Science. 20: 293–308. doi:10.1146/annurev-lawsocsci-041922-035113. ISSN 1550-3631. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
- Stuckey, Mary E. (February 20, 2020). "'The Power of the Presidency to Hurt': The Indecorous Rhetoric of Donald J. Trump and the Rhetorical Norms of Democracy". Presidential Studies Quarterly. 50 (2): 366–391. doi:10.1111/psq.12641.
- Sundahl, Anne-Mette Holmgård (May 4, 2022). "Personality Cult or a Mere Matter of Popularity?". International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society. 36 (4): 431–458. doi:10.1007/s10767-022-09423-0. PMC 9066393. PMID 35528318.
- Urbinati, Nadia (May 2019). "Political Theory of Populism". Annual Review of Political Science. 22: 111–127. doi:10.1146/annurev-polisci-050317-070753. ISSN 1094-2939. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
External links
Library resources aboutDonald Trump
By Donald Trump
- Archive of Donald Trump's tweets
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Donald Trump at IMDb
- Donald Trump on the Internet Archive
- Biography of Donald Trump from The White House website (courtesy of the White House Historical Association)
Donald Trump | |
---|---|
| |
Life and politics | |
Family |
|
Books |
|
Campaigns |
|
Legal affairs | |
Related | |
|
Presidents of the United States | |
---|---|
Presidents and presidencies |
|
Presidency timelines | |
Offices and distinctions | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Businesses of Donald Trump | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
NYC properties | |||||
Hotels and resorts |
| ||||
Golf courses |
| ||||
Other current ventures | |||||
Name licensing | |||||
Former properties |
| ||||
Cancelled real estate projects |
| ||||
Former ventures |
|
Media by and about Donald Trump | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
See also: Media career of Donald Trump – Donald Trump in popular culture – Trump Productions – List of things named after Donald Trump | |||||||
Books |
| ||||||
Radio, TV and film |
| ||||||
Music |
| ||||||
Artwork | |||||||
Games | |||||||
Websites | |||||||
Related |
- Definitions from Wiktionary
- Media from Commons
- News from Wikinews
- Quotations from Wikiquote
- Texts from Wikisource
- Textbooks from Wikibooks
- Resources from Wikiversity
- Data from Wikidata
- 1980s
- 1990s
- 2000s
- 2010s
- 2020s
- Biography
- Business
- Conservatism
- COVID-19
- Florida
- New York (state)
- New York City
- Politics
- Television
- United States
- Donald Trump
- 1946 births
- Living people
- Trumpism
- 20th-century American businesspeople
- 20th-century American non-fiction writers
- 21st-century American businesspeople
- 21st-century American criminals
- 21st-century American non-fiction writers
- 21st-century Florida politicians
- 21st-century New York (state) politicians
- 21st-century presidents of the United States
- American billionaires
- American businesspeople convicted of crimes
- American businesspeople in real estate
- American casino industry businesspeople
- American chairpersons of corporations
- American conspiracy theorists
- American hoteliers
- American Internet company founders
- American male criminals
- American nationalists
- American people of German descent
- American people of Scottish descent
- American people of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- American politicians convicted of fraud
- American reality television producers
- American rhetoricians
- American shooting survivors
- American television hosts
- Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Florida
- Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania
- Businesspeople from Queens, New York
- Candidates in the 2000 United States presidential election
- Candidates in the 2016 United States presidential election
- Candidates in the 2020 United States presidential election
- Candidates in the 2024 United States presidential election
- COVID-19 conspiracy theorists
- Criminals from Manhattan
- Florida politicians convicted of crimes
- Florida Republicans
- Ig Nobel laureates
- Illeists
- Impeached presidents of the United States
- January 6 United States Capitol attack
- New York (state) independents
- New York (state) politicians convicted of crimes
- New York (state) Republicans
- New York Military Academy alumni
- People associated with the January 6 United States Capitol attack
- People charged with racketeering
- People from Jamaica, Queens
- People stripped of honorary degrees
- Presidents of the United States
- Reform Party of the United States of America politicians
- Republican Party (United States) presidential nominees
- Republican Party presidents of the United States
- Right-wing populists in the United States
- The State of Georgia v. Donald J. Trump, et al. defendants
- Television personalities from New York City
- Television producers from Queens, New York
- Time Person of the Year
- Trump family
- The Trump Organization employees
- Trump–Ukraine scandal
- United States Football League executives
- Wharton School alumni
- WWE Hall of Fame inductees