In the final quarter of 2017, the real U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2.9%. The growth rate was primarily due to positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures (PCE), nonresidential fixed investment, exports, residential fixed investment, state and local government spending, and federal government spending.[1]
According to Five Thirty-Eight, President Trump's average public approval rating on December 31, 2017, stood at 37.9%, representing a quarterly decline of 0.7 percentage points, and a decline of 7.6 percentage points since his inauguration on January 20, 2017.[2]
President Trump addresses the nation in regards to the mass shooting in Las Vegas, offering his condolences to the victims and their families while praising the first responders at the scene.[5]
President Trump meets with the governors of Maine, Mississippi, Kentucky and New Hampshire at the White House to discuss cutting federal regulations.[6]
President Trump meets with U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth Mapp on board the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) to discuss the territory's immediate funding needs in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.[9]
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend a briefing in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with senior military personnel and government officials, including Governor Ricardo Rosselló, on hurricane recovery efforts.[10]
Vice President Pence meets with representative of local businesses, community leaders and families, with Arizona Governor Doug Ducey in Phoenix, Arizona, to discuss efforts for tax reform.[11]
President Trump greets soldiers stationed on board the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3)
Wednesday October 4
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson states the administration is preparing for options ahead of the October 15, 2017, deadline on whether Iran is complying with the 2015 nuclear accord.[12]
It is reported that UN Ambassador Nikki Haley has been formally reprimanded for violating the Hatch Act.[14]
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump meet Las Vegas shooting victim Tiffany Huizar
Thursday October 5
President Trump has a briefing and dinner with senior military leaders at the White House to discuss the current situation with Iran and North Korea.[15]
Vice President Pence holds a meeting of the National Space Council with several White House officials and space industry executives focusing on moving away from the current outsourcing of manned launches and building a foundation to send Americans to Mars.[16][17]
President Trump celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month at the White House, and speaks of recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and of the people suffering under the governments of Cuba and Venezuela.[19]
President Trump signs a proclamation honoring October 6 as the National day of Manufacturing, stating that jobs are coming back to the United States with the creation of thousands of new manufacturing jobs.[20][21]
President Trump approves an emergency declaration that will allow federal resources to supplement local efforts and allow FEMA to coordinate disaster relief efforts in Louisiana in preparation for Hurricane Nate.[22]
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month
President Trump attends a fundraiser in Greensboro, North Carolina, to raise funds for his reelection campaign and the Republican National Committee.[25]
Vice President Pence and the Second Lady lay flowers at a memorial in Las Vegas
Sunday October 8
At President Trump's prior request, Vice President Pence walks out of an NFL football game after fifteen 49er playerskneel during the national anthem. The White House says it "will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our flag, or our national anthem".[26][27][28]
Vice President Pence stands for the national anthem prior to leaving an NFL game
Vice President Pence holds a fundraiser at Newport Beach, California, to raise funds for Republican Congressmen and to promote the administration's tax-cut initiative.[29]
President Trump approves a federal disaster declaration for California in response to the Californian wildfires that will provide funding to state, local and tribal governments to help fight the fires and rebuild.[33]
President Trump holds a campaign rally at the Harrisburg International Airport in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at which he promotes his tax-cut initiative.[36]
President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Thursday October 12
President Trump signs an executive order which directs cabinet agencies to develop rules that would expand access to less expensive, less comprehensive insurance policies with fewer benefits and fewer protections for consumers than those mandated under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.[37]
President Trump announces at the White House that he will not certify the Iranian nuclear deal, while giving Congress time to come up with tougher requirements to certify compliance of the deal and imposing sanctions Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[41]
President Trump's 2020 re-election campaign files its quarterly finance report with the FEC. The filing discloses a legal bill of $1.1m paid from campaign funds in connection with the Russia investigations.[43]
President Trump has a working lunch with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Vice President Pence to discuss legislative issues such as the budget, tax reform and immigration.[45]
Responding to questions at the White House, President Trump makes his first public comments on the four Special Forces soldiers killed in a suspected ISIS ambush on October4 and further comments on former presidents calls and letters to the families of slain American troops during their time in office.[46][47]
Tuesday October 17
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting and joint press conference with Greek Prime MinisterAlexis Tsipras at the White House to discuss Greek efforts to reform their economy and military ties between both countries.[48]
President Trump holds a Diwali celebration at the White House.[49]
Vice President Pence attends a small business gathering in Lancaster, New York, to discuss the administration's tax reform efforts.[50][51]
President Trump holds a phone conversation with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds to discuss concerns about the administration's biofuels policy.[54]
The latest version of President Trump's travel ban is blocked by U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson shortly before it comes into effect.[55]
Thursday October 19
President Trump meets with Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló at the White House to discuss the island's recovery efforts after Hurricane Maria.[56]
President Trump attends a gala dinner at the Kuwaiti Embassy, where the Kuwait–American Foundation is trying to raise money for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and to honor First Lady Melania Trump for her dedication to causes affecting women and children in the U.S. and abroad.[57][58]
President Trump nominates Joseph J. Simons, an anti-trust lawyer to head the Federal Trade Commission, including Noah Phillips, chief counsel for Senator John Cornyn and Rohit Chopra, a consumer advocate to fill the remaining two seats at the Commission.[59]
President Trump holds a conference call with Republican Congressman calling on them to pass the Senate budget and work on tax reform.[63]
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson attends a co-operation council in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, attended by Saudi Arabia and Iraq, where he calls on Iran to remove its paramilitary forces from Iraqi territory.[64]
President Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Singaporean Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong at the White House to discuss the North Korean nuclear threat, defence and economic relationship between both countries, whilst overseeing the signing ceremony between Singapore Airlines and Boeing for $13.8 billion worth of new planes.[66][67]
President Trump holds a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House for Captain Gary Michael Rose who was wounded in combat during Operation Tailwind in the Vietnam War.[68]
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson holds meetings in Kabul, Afghanistan with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his officials on discussing strategies on ending the conflict in the country.[69]
President Trump and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Tuesday October 24
President Trump holds an awards ceremony at the White House as part of National Minority Enterprise Development Week.[70]
President Trump meets with Republican Senators at the Capitol to call for unity within the party and to discuss tax reform.[72]
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson holds meetings in Islamabad, Pakistan, with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, concerning the combating of extremist fighters.[73]
President Trump attends a briefing in Dallas, Texas on the recovery efforts by Hurricane Harvey and addressing the long-term flood mitigation plans in the state.[74]
President Trump holds a fundraiser to raise funds for his re-election campaign and the Republican National Committee, while holding a discussion round-table with his supporters at the Belo Mansion in Dallas.[75]
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson holds meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss bilateral trade and defense.[76]
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley in a meeting with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit in Juba, South Sudan, calls on the president to find ways to end the conflict in the country.[77]
Thursday October 26
President Trump signs a presidential memorandum declaring a nationwide public health emergency and ordering all federal agencies to take measures to reduce the number of opioid deaths in the country.[78] No funds are allocated from the public health emergency fund.[79]
Shortly following the surrender of former Trump campaign officials Paul Manafort and Rick Gates to the FBI on twelve charges of conspiracy and money laundering between 2006 and 2015, President Trump states on Twitter that the charges refer to events from "years ago" and that "there is NO COLLUSION!"[80][81][82]
Following the announcement of a guilty plea from George Papadopolous concerning lying to the FBI about meetings with Russians in 2016, Press Secretary Sanders describes Papadopoulos having held a 'limited', 'volunteer' position in the Trump campaign. Sanders contradicts Mueller's indictment which details that Papadopoulos was encouraged to meet with Russian officials by a high-ranking Trump campaign official, named as Sam Clovis by The Washington Post.[83][84]
President Trump holds a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe at the Akasaka Palace to discuss new arms sales to Japan and encourages the country to shoot down North Korean missiles.[101]
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross denies hiding his large stake in a shipping company which has business ties to the Putin family, following the release of the Paradise Papers.[102][103][104]
President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe at the Akasaka Palace
President Trump holds a joint press conference with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the Blue House.[105]
At a press conference in South Korea, President Trump announces that he "hoped to God" not to have to use military force against North Korea, and urges Kim Jong-un to negotiate.[106]
Former Senior Adviser to the President, Carl Icahn, is subpoenaed for information related to his work on biofuels policy while a part of the administration.[109]
President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Forbidden City
Thursday November 9
President Trump signs a number of binding and non-binding gas, aviation, communications and food-crop deals with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Speaking alongside President Xi Jinping in Beijing, President Trump refers to the U.S.-Chinese trade imbalance, praising China for "taking advantage" of prior U.S. administrations.[110][111]
The State Department rejects an essay released by Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, which claims that the continuing depletion of State officials under the Trump administration will "forfeit the game to our adversaries".[112]
President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People
In a speech to delegates, President Trump talks of "chronic trade abuses", and of Kim Jong-un's "twisted fantasies of [...] nuclear blackmail", urging Russia and China to place pressure on North Korea.[113][114]
Vice President Pence joins other senior Republicans in stating that Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore ought to abandon his election campaign if there is truth in allegations of historical sexual activity with minors, as published by The Washington Post on Thursday 9th.[115][116]
President Trump returns to Washington from Manila at the end of his five-nation tour of Asia.[118]
Attorney General Jeff Sessions testifies to the House Judiciary Committee. He states that he now recalls learning of contact between Russians and the Trump campaign, but denies previously lying under oath. He announces he has no reason to disbelieve those who accuse Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexual activity with young girls.[119][120]
Wednesday November 15
Thursday November 16
President Trump visits the U.S. Capitol in advance of the passing by House Republicans without Democratic votes (227-205) of a $1.4tn "Tax Cut and Jobs Act" in support of Trump's tax-cut initiative. Among numerous proposals are included a cut in corporate tax from 35% to 20%, and the abolition of the Family Flexibility Credit, the estate tax and the alternative minimum tax.[121][122]
President Trump announces that North Korea will be reinstated to the United States' list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, from which it was removed in October 2008.[125][126]
The administration announces an end to the temporary residency program for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, effective July 2019.[127]
President Trump hosts a White House event honoring Second World War Navajocode talker veterans. The White House later states that it is 'ridiculous' to suggest that Trump's reiteration at the event of the name 'Pocahontas' to describe Senator Elizabeth Warren is racist, following protestation by the National Congress of American Indians and others.[140][141][142]
Politico reports that White House ethics lawyer James Schultz has recently resigned.[144]
First Lady Melania Trump unveils the 2017 Christmas decorations
Tuesday November 28
President Trump informs reporters at the White House of his administration's resolve following a new North Korean missile test which, it is believed, for the first time places Washington D.C. within range of the KPA.[145]
Wednesday November 29
President Trump announces "additional major sanctions" against North Korea following a telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping.[146]
Jeff Sessions testifies at a private meeting of the House Intelligence Committee. According to ranking member Schiff, Sessions refuses to say whether or not President Trump asked him to hinder the Russia investigation.[160][161]
Seven of the nine judges on the Supreme Court lift the lower court injunctions on President Trump's third-version travel ban, thereby permitting its enforcement against the nations of Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Venezuela and North Korea. Unlike previous iterations, the ban has no expiry date.[170][171]
President Trump holds a rally at Pensacola, Florida, near the Alabama border, at which he exhorts the Alabamian electorate to vote for Senate candidate Roy Moore on 12 December.[184]
Speaking at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council convened following Trump's Jerusalem announcement of December 6, Ambassador Haley announces that the U.S. considers an Israeli-Palestinian peace to be "closer [...] than ever before". France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and the U.K. issue a joint statement opposing Trump's decision.[185]
Deputy National Security Adviser Dina Powell announces her resignation.[186]
Hope Hicks is interviewed by Mueller's team for a second day.[183]
Vice President Pence's office describes as "unfortunate" a decision by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to cancel a December 19 meeting between the two during Pence's upcoming visit to the Middle East.[188]
President Trump signs a policy directive at the White House, ordering NASA to reprioritize manned voyages, including a return to the Moon and a mission to Mars.[190]
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly rejects a request by the Trump administration to enforce the President's ban on transgender soldiers while the government's appeal is ongoing.[86]
Congressional Republicans reach a deal on aspects of President Trump's tax plan. Trump indicates that he will support a corporate tax rate of 21%.[195]
It is announced that the director of communications for the White House's Office of Public Liaison, Omarosa Manigault, is to resign on January 20, 2018.[196] Contrary reports indicate that Manigault was dismissed by Chief of Staff John Kelly and physically removed from the White House grounds.[197][198][199][200]
President Trump speaks by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to engender co-operation over the North Korean missile threat.[202]
Speaking at the White House, President Trump describes the FBI as acting disgracefully and states that people are angry. Trump shortly thereafter addresses a group of largely non-FBI graduates from a program at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, stating "I have your back 100%".[205][206][207]
Speaking to reporters, President Trump reiterates his description of the matter of Russian collusion as a 'hoax' and replies that "we'll see what happens" in response to questions about the possible pardoning of Michael Flynn.[202]
Saturday December 16
Sunday December 17
Russian President Vladimir Putin telephones President Trump to thank the CIA for its assistance in preventing a planned terrorist bombing at St. Petersburg's Kazan Cathedral.[208]
President Trump publishes his first National Security Strategy and delivers a concomitant address, condemning North Korea as a rogue state and positioning China and Russia as U.S. rivals with whom his administration will attempt to "build a great partnership". Climate change is omitted from the strategy.[209][210][211]
The U.S. blocks a resolution by the other 14 members of the UN Security Council calling for a retraction of President Trump's recent statement recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Ambassador Haley describes the resolution as an insult which "won't be forgotten".[212]
Vice President Pence, previously due to leave for Egypt today, delays until January his visit to the Middle East, in order to oversee voting on President Trump's tax bill.[213]
Tuesday December 19
The House of Representatives passes a revised version of President Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act without Democratic votes, 227-203.[214][215]
Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates split evenly between Republicans and Democrats following recounts. Lots are later drawn on January 4, 2018, giving Republicans a 51-49 control of the House.[216][217]
Ambassador Haley states that she will be "taking names" of countries who vote in favor of the December 21 UN resolution against U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and passing them to President Trump, who has suggested cutting aid to countries who do so.[218]
Wednesday December 20
The Senate passes President Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act shortly after midnight without Democratic votes, 51 to 48. A procedural mistake in the House on December 19 necessitates a second vote in the House, which later passes in favor, 224 to 201.[219][215][220] The wide-ranging bill includes a cut to corporate tax from 35% to 21%, a reduction to the pool of estate-tax payers, alters each tax bracket, and reduces the rate for the highest earners. The bill also permits oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and removes the individual mandate from Obamacare. President Trump announces that the bill represents a repeal of Obamacare, and that it will be replaced by "something that will be much better". The legislation is financed by debt.[221][222]
The State Department announces the approval of a $41.5m sale of small arms to Ukraine.[223]
Thursday December 21
Vice President Pence arrives in Afghanistan to visit troops and speak with Afghan leaders. In a speech at Bagram Airfield, he announces "I believe victory is closer than ever before."[224]
The United Nations votes 128 to9 in favor of a demand that the U.S. retract its recent declaration concerning Jerusalem. U.S. Ambassador Haley describes the vote as 'null and void'.[225][226]
Press Secretary Sanders announces that the White House does not intend to remove Robert Mueller from the Russia investigation, and states "We look forward to seeing this hoax wrap up very soon."[227]
Judge George B. Daniels dismisses a lawsuit by CREW against President Trump in respect of the Constitution's emoluments clause. Daniels rules that only Congress has authority in such a matter, not the courts.[228]
Friday December 22
President Trump signs into law the $1.5 trillion tax bill passed by Congress on December 20.[229]
President Trump retires to Mar-a-Lago for the Christmas holiday.[230]
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rules unanimously that the current version of the travel ban exceeds presidential authority. The ban remains in effect during an additional appeals process.[231]
Ambassador to Panama John Feeley submits a letter of resignation.[234]
Thursday December 28
President Trump expresses disappointment following reporting by South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo that China has been illegally supplying oil to North Korea.[235]
In an interview with The New York Times, President Trump states that he believes that Mueller will treat him fairly and will exonerate him.[236]
Friday December 29
Trump's Labor Department continues the policy of the Obama Administration of issuing waivers to banks convicted of manipulating the global interest rate Libor. Deutsche Bank and UBS are allowed to manage retirement funds for three years, while Barclays, Citigroup, and JPMorgan are allowed to do the same for five years. At the time, Trump and his businesses owe Deutsche Bank at least $130 million.[237][238][239]
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